Day 1 Masters Snooker

Hallo. Happy New Year. What a year 2014 will be for sport with the

Winter Olympics, World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup all

on the horizon. Before all of that, an annual favour that never

disappoints. Here at Alexandra Palace in north London, we have

another week-long masterclass in the company of the best snooker players

in the game. MUSIC. It's a great one by John

Spencer. This is the second oldest event in

the sport. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Truman. A certain

member of our team should just about remember that. Steve Davis, you

might remember the UK tournament in York was missing him because he was

you're Gillian Jungle. Software else would you look for him other than in

the jungle? I am pleased to be back in the world of unreality! I did

miss you. I was thinking all the time about what was happening in

your. -- York. I did not get the results. When you came back, you

were straight into snooker with some success? That's correct. And I even

got to eat some normal food in between games! You won the Masters

three times in your career. The desert debate about whether this is

the second or third title in the world? I think The Prestige makes it

the second event. The kudos of being one of the elite few that is allowed

to play this event makes it the second most important. Only the top

16 in the world get to play in this. In 2014, these are then. Mark Selby

takes on Mark Davis of Sussex. Stuart Bingham is a genuine

contender, seventh in the world. Judd Trump will take on former

finalist Marco Fu. Ding Junhui will take on his fourth title against

Shaun Murphy. Neil Robertson loves Ali Pali. -- Ally Pally. It has been

four years since we have seen Joe Perry at the Masters. Ronnie

O'Sullivan returns to the Masters. He did not play last year. Robert

Milkins makes his debut. Let's give you the guided tour. The

spectators come in through the Palm Court. Let's go and see where the

matches take place. What games are they stand out matches for you? Neil

Robertson. Also Shaun Murphy. Stuart Bingham against John Higgins as

well. Nobody knows who will win matches. 128 players were in York.

But only 16 play here. With a couple of rounds against weaker opposition,

you can really get yourself going. But you can't do that here. You

might think the winner here would come from the big four. What is your

view? Players in form have a good chance. But John Higgins and Judd

Trump and Shaun Murphy, if they are the dark horses, what a standard!

You can win a ranking event, but I think it takes something special to

win a Masters. It is for the big occasion players. The true

performance. Did this event ever inhibits you? I think it can inhibit

every player. I won the event three years. -- three times. I think it

can inhibit the players. Few can match the record of Mark Selby, the

defending champion. He has made the final in four out of six

appearances. He seems tailor-made for this.

He beat Stephen Lee in 2008. He came storming back in 2010 beating Ronnie

O'Sullivan in a dramatic decider. Last year, he saw off Neil

Robertson. Quite a pedigree. What about his opponent today? Mark

Davis. After the age of 35, people could say you are coming to the end

of your career, but Mark Davis is playing some of the best snooker of

his life in his 40s. . Although he has got, the better he has got. Mark

Davis is an example to anybody thinking of turning professional.

His technique has stayed the same. He has always been a great potter.

He is a master with the stick. It doesn't have to a good technique,

stick with it and you will get the reward eventually. Mark Davis has

saved his best snooker for his 40s. You have to have a good temperament

to be able to do that. He has battled away for all those years.

Now he is reaping the rewards. He has become very consistent. He gets

to the latter stages of virtually every tournament he plays an. He is

one to watch. His weakness is his cue ball control. I don't think he

makes as big a break as he showed. You only get one chance. Can he do

it consistently with one terms? I am not too sure. It is a great turn on.

It is a privilege to be in an. You just want to make sure you can play

well. I am playing against someone who has won a lot of titles. But I

will concentrate on what I am doing. I will do the best I can and

hopefully if I play well I know I am good enough to beat anybody on the

day. But you have to go out and do it. And admirable achievement for

Mark Davis to be here for only the third time in 13 years. He is yet to

win a match at this stage of the Masters. People who make their

living from trying to predict sporting outcomes might be

interested in backing Mark Selby. He feels comfortable here. A lot more

money would go on him as he is a form horse. Why do you think Mark

Selby has been so successful? Some players are far more suited to

one-table set-up than others. You can't hide out there. When there are

four tables, you can sleep through. But this magnifies things. Can you

liken it to your love for one particular tournament? For me, the

Irish Masters which I won several times. Mark Davis has to do face

demons of not being found out today. If you can overcome them, he

can look forward to being champion. Let's meet some other members of the

team who are full timers, not a part timer like you! Happy New Year,

gentlemen. It is an honour to be there with former Masters champion

is. Dennis has won once. Stephen was very greedy and won six times. This

was the one I always wanted to win. You're putting up against the other

best players in the world. Packed house already. The atmosphere will

be fantastic. What a change from the UK Championship. Mark Selby plays

well here because there is one table with no distractions. Mark Selby has

not been at his a game for a while. He got to the final in York through

his battling qualities with a magnificent 147. Apart from that,

his scoring was not there. It will be interesting to see how he comes

out today. Mark Davis is competent. He will have to go out there. He is

playing his best snooker in his 40s. There is only one player can play on

the table. He will hope that he is playing on it more than Mark Selby

is. We look forward to your pearls of wisdom later. Our master of

ceremonies, Mark Walker, became a father for the first time, so

congratulations to him. Thank you. We are all set for the most

prestigious snooker judgement here at Alexandra Parade. The crowd or on

top voice. We have top quality entertainment for you every step of

the way. Please welcome, first of all, a player flourishing into his

40s. Twice a winner of the World Championship and showing the best

form of his life over the last couple of years, the Renaissance man

from Hastings, Mark Davis. MUSIC.

And his opponent, a player who in recent years has made this

tournament his own. One of the most colourful characters on the

circuit, with three titles here in the last six years, he is your

defending Masters champion, here's the Jester from Leicester, Mark

Selby! MUSIC.

A bit of a change in dress code this time. Normal ties for the afternoon

sessions and bow ties in the evening. We have gone all Downton

Abbey for you. Best of 11 frames. Let's get into it with Dennis and

Stephen. Happy New Year to everyone watching.

The usual handshake. Mark Davis has won the toss.

Pretty good break. You want to try to get the quite as close to the

ball cushion as possible. -- baulk cushion. That is not a good

shot. The red is right over the corner pocket.

Almost fold it in. -- followed it in. The crowd is fabulous.

If you cannot play well in this atmosphere, you should not be

playing snooker. He has got away with that. Red is

not set up for the middle pocket. He needed a thin edge. He might just

be OK. The pink might just be blocking that corner pocket. Foul.

It should not be a problem for Mark Davis to get some safety there. He

was disappointed with the UK Championship. He lost in the last

frame. He will want to make amends. He was a long way off. Quite a big

distance. He doesn't have to hit it flat then. But he has to hit up this

time otherwise he loses the frame. The cannon on the brown has left

possible pot, but not easy. Mark Selby played a lot of matches

not on top form. He got to the final against Neil Robertson. Great

performance from yours truly and come back and defeat him.

-- from the Australian. He thought he had that. It looks in from this

angle. The red beside the paint is on if he misses it.

-- beside the pink. I always found it difficult to play in the normal

type. It got in the way of the smoke a few. -- snooker cue.

We stopped wearing ties in the commentary box several years ago. I

was nearly strangled live on television.

Couldn't do much. He had to rely on the cannon. He was hoping to hit the

pink a little thinner. That was awkward.

Slightly cagey. I thought the blue was on to the right-centre. Doesn't

want to take undue risks at this stage.

Has that ran far enough? Mark having a look to see if he can get to the

potting angle. There are a lot of balls in the way to get the white

background the table. He could play slowly and go for the pink.

Mark Davis is a good tactical player. You would have to put Mark

Selby slightly ahead in that department.

Mark Davis' tactical play has forced that error. He gets a decent chance.

It jumped, but I don't think you would have potted that.

You can clearly see the red left the bed of the table. Not an easy

chance. The reds are nicely spread, but the colours are a little Oxford.

-- code. -- awkward. I don't think he has angle to come

back for the green. He has lots of choices. It would help to develop

the reds and the green. It is whether it is worth the risk. He

doesn't have to play the cannon. If he is dead straight on this, the

only colour he can play for would be the yellow.

He has the yellow available. Calculated risk but quite a good

one. Positive shot. He cued that well. He is having a

long, hard look at it, but he will finish on a colour because if he

heads up into the baulk area, the brown is available. He could leave a

lot year. This needs some good luck. I think he can get between the reds

to pop is in the left corner. -- pot.

He doesn't want to be straight on this one. He has a slight angle.

He has two easy reds left. Then two difficult ones near the green. Not a

formality to clinch the opening frame. He will cannon the two reds

and bring them into play. That is virtually a frame clincher,

you would say. He doesn't need a difficult one near the cushion.

Mark Davis did the hard work. It will be about bringing the black

into the open. He has taken these well. He looks comfortable now. He

just loves this tournament, Mark Selby. Mark Davis can only sit, and

I'm sure he knows the frame has slipped away. But he had his

chances. Oh, that has come of the cushion quite quick. He needs this

red. Shouldn't be a problem. Just a bit of background noise

putting Mark off there. Always nice to start with a decent

break. This looks like a frame-winning effort.

Doesn't matter about the green. That was a pretty good effort. Mark Davis

stays in the seat. The defending champion gets the first frame. He

leaves 1-0. HAZEL IRVINE: The defending champion off and running.

Let's show you how the bookmakers rate the favourites for this event.

You can see Ronnie O'Sullivan, despite not playing last year, is

the favourite. New Robertson is the second favourite after his victory

in York. -- Neil Robertson. A good price for Judd Trump. Maybe one of

the most generous prizes is for Marco Fu. If former finalist and

already a winner this year, and a cake he is playing Judd Trump in the

first round, but you never know. -- and OK come he is playing Judd

Trump. They don't make many mistakes, that is for sure. They may

think the winner will come from the bottom half. Neil Robertson has got

the knotty problem of Mark Allen in the first round, which will not be

easy. His price is built into that. A couple suck out for me. John

Higgins, that is unusual. The real dark horse is Ricky Walden. 50-1? He

is not even favourite. Stuart Bingham has improved so much that he

is now favourite for that matter. John Higgins playing Stuart Bingham

this evening. I'm told we have a bit of a problem here, a problem with

the ear pieces, and usually. They are having to swap them all. I don't

think they have to pay for them again. Those of them that have the

earpieces, and that will be the majority of the audience, I'm going

to have to swap. There is interference. We did have a bit of

commentary coming through earlier. It is a New Year, you know, one or

two of these things are sent to haunt us. In the meantime... That is

fantastic! I can bore you with where I have been. Tell us about the ties.

There's obviously a policy decision at head office. As soon as you go

away, the things they do. Daytime ties, nightmare. It gets in the way

of your cue action. They come out nice and smart and the first thing

they is yanked it across. Why does the not get in the way? It is an

awful thing to have wrapped around your neck at the best of times. At

least a bowtie is elasticated. But this big fat knot has got to be

yanked. I have been told that the audience have been asked to turn

back to their seats again. They are going to try to swap some more of

them at the end of the next frame. This is not exactly as planned, it

has to be said, for the opening day of the Masters. I think they bought

a dodgy lot of tea from a bloke in Romford. -- dear. Barry Hearn was

going past, he said, I will have some of that, a of person, 3000

dodgy earpieces. It is a nervous occasion for this man. He has been

here for 13 years and this is his third appearance. And he can't do

what he has just done, give away an easy opportunity. Mark Selby

sometimes takes time to settle down. He gave him an opportunity and Mark

Davis didn't make the most of it. Checking, checking, are you hearing

us? Checking, checking, are you hearing

At least everybody at home is hearing us. Dodgy earpieces. Is Del

Boy around? The corner of the middle pocket came

to his rescue there. He hit it too hard. It may not have left anything,

but it is better there than where it would have finished. A bit thick on

that safety shot. Looks as if the blue might come to his rescue. Or is

there a gap tween blue and black? Oh, it is tight. In fact, it is too

tight. He would need to bend it slightly. Looks to be in a room

there to play a bit of right-hand side. But he doesn't fancy it. This

isn't a safety shot that is easy. I think Mark can get past the blue

quite comfortably. A bit fortunate to have this blue in

the far corner. Reds are not too badly placed. The

pink is a bit awkward. Back for the blue and see what he can manage. The

pink is available. We know it will go into the right corner.

He has got the perfect angle on the blue. He has got a choice of shots

now. The fact the pink is available into

the right corner, that was the reason he didn't bother playing a

cannon into the reins there. But has he got a good enough angle to get on

the pink? That is not the best. He would have

to force that. It is just off the straight. Watch what he can do with

the cue ball and the anger he can create. He hasn't created the ankle

he thought he was going to do. So that is a slip from the ending

champion. -- defending. He can play for the red next to the black. He

can stun the cue ball, leave it close to where the blue is.

It is worth having another look at that. Those are what you would call

little confidence boosters. He has still got a possible one

there. He played it perfectly. Let's have a look at the White. One it

looked like it might get a favourable cannon. Didn't quite work

out as nice as it could have done. He has still got his red available.

One more positional shot needed. That was OK. He played around for

the blue, but he will take that. I think the pink will go in the black

spot, which is not a problem, either.

When you are playing well and cueing well, you always get the nice little

flick 's and everything just seems so easy. When you are struggling,

you get the wrong cannon and you are out of position. It is an example of

how good Mark Selby's temperament is. There was a long break between

frames. His mind is still on the job. It has not interrupted him at

all. I would have been very irritated with the break between the

first two frames. He is not doing much wrong at the

moment, Mark Selby. He is fully focused, cueing nicely.

A bit short this time. It just means he will leave the next pot slightly

more difficult. A bit surprised he has taken the black to the right

corner. It is a trickier shot. But the weight he is cueing, it will be

no problem. This is a little tester now.

There is another example of his cue action and how well he is cueing.

This table, it has to be said, is playing beautifully. He hardly

touched that and look at the action he got off the cue ball without

hardly hitting it. He is timing the ball perfectly.

He is playing at a nice pace as well. That equalled his break in the

opening frame. He had a break of 59. More to come here. It is going to be

another framework in break from Mark Selby. And Mark Davis, well, he had

a few chances, but he can't do much about this.

Might risk developing one of the reds.

That wasn't very nicely played. Just lost his concentration for a moment

there, but it is another splendid effort from the defending champion.

He took the opening frame with one chance. He has done the same in the

second frame. He now leads 2-0. Where are we going, boys? How we got

an interval coming up? What we are going to do is these fellas are

going to take a quick break. We are going to swap over the

remaining earpieces. We have got to the bottom of this. Some of them

were not transmitting the commentary from Dennis and Stephen. I'm not

sure if it is not a bargain! They couldn't hear the guys, and now they

are swapping them over. It will take a couple of minutes. That process is

underway. In the meantime we shall find out about Mark Selby's perfect

player. Cue action, I would have to pick

Shaun Murphy. He hits the ball really well. Ding Junhui is a great

builder. He has got many 147s in the past year.

Neil Robertson. Ding Junhui, when he makes breaks, the white ball is

never more than four inches behind the object ball, which is the object

of the game. Steve Davis, a legend. Neil Robertson, his temper and is

great. You don't ever know if he is winning or losing. He always gives

it his all and his hunger is second to none.

Judd Trump. The amount of times he parts a long ball and screws it back

ten times up the table. I don't think many players can play that

shot. Shaun Murphy. He is good with the rest. We are more or less the

same age, and in junior days, neither of us was so tall and we

were using it a lot. He would never miss a pot. Even now, he is very

good. I would have the say Mark Allen. In the World Championships,

when he played O'Sullivan, it is not easy to beat Ronnie at the best of

times, but to beat Ronnie at the best of times, but he beaten at the

Crucible, it showed great courage. Stephen Hendry. The amount of times

he used to do that when his back was against the wall is phenomenal.

O'Sullivan for that. He gets in front, he steam-rolled zoo. --

steam-rolled you. Ken Doherty. He gets his nickname for that reason.

He is good at pinching the scrappy frames. His awareness around the

table is great. Interesting to hear that Mark Selby

picked Mark Allen for bottle. Surely, he has got to be up there in

terms of mental toughness. He was, let's be honest, very good about

that, very modest. Surely he is right at the top of the game where

that is concerned. He could have been in a lot of those categories.

He is very modest. I'm being very critical, but I don't think we have

seen his best game for Wales. When he was winning properly come he was

winning with 100 breaks. It has morphed into a game that is

difficult to beat. I haven't seen him play his best game. He's getting

to the finals without winning at his best. That must be frustrating at

the moment. He has been struggling to find another gear. That is a

problem for all of the players, that is, how do they improve to the next

level is there is another level for them. They have reached such a

level, to ask them to do it again is tough. They are all having to

question themselves. It might to be a case of going back to what they

have done all right in the first place. In that situation, you are

trying to improve yourself. It doesn't actually work. Sometimes

there is no answer to that. One or two people have chipped away at him

and his reputation. Some have said perhaps he lacks the natural talents

they might have over the past few weeks. But they have elevated this

mental toughness to appoint where it is the best part of his game. Is

that fair to him? It is fair in the way he is playing. Because he is not

making it breaks, when he won it he did not just take a long time doing

it, just blew everybody away. It was 100, 100, 100. It was fantastic to

watch. It is not a criticism. He has just found our way to win on his

way. I'm sure he would like to be out there for as little time as

possible. It just hasn't happened. OK, right, as we analyse the merits

of these players, we shall head back. I'm sure everybody can now

hear Bennett and Stephen. What have they missed, gentlemen? -- Dennis.

Not a lot! The earpieces have been around for

awhile. We never used to have like that in the game. People somehow

want to listen to the commentary. I would rather just watched the

snooker. Both players seem very relaxed about having that

unscheduled interruption. I don't know if he has copy or tea in there.

Mark Davis works with Terry Griffiths. Good to see Terry back.

He is in fine health. He famously once had a cup of cocoa in his

match. But it was about 3.30 in the morning.

It is touching. That is useful for Mark Selby. He can even try and get

up behind the green. He can sort things out. He has got a

path past the green to get back down the table. Had a quick glance there

to make sure he wasn't knocking one over the left corner pocket.

He has to go thin if he is going to miss the red.

He just hit that a little thinner than intended. That is why there is

a possible pot for Mark. A bit of background noise, I don't

know where it is coming from but that is twice it has made Mark

getaway from the shot. It is certainly not in the audience. It is

backstage somewhere. There is a door that keeps banging somewhere. It is

just out of the arena. Who used to say that? Shut that

door! Larry Grayson, that is it. Younger ones won't remember. That

time, he wasn't able to keep his temperament in check. He will be

annoyed by that. I think he would have fancied that at the beginning.

Just a slight adjustment so that he doesn't hit the pink. He certainly

doesn't want to slip past the reds, all you can leave the one to the

left of the black. -- all he can. Good judgement this time. Touching

ball. Good shot. Pushed one over the

corner, but the green is on the way. Davis is in a spot of bother. He

might have to, some cushions and nestle in the reds.

-- come off some cushions. If he plays it at pace, he could be on the

black in the right corner. He has taken the safety option.

Just about OK, but he could be back in trouble again.

He is looking at the alternatives. It is all about covering the red in

the left corner pocket. Sometimes you can stand at the

bottom of the table and you just can't see a shot. You can see a get

out shot. That is OK. There was no way back

into the all? -- baulk area at that time.

Not the easiest of pots. But he made that looked easy. Doesn't matter

that he hasn't dropped on a colour. He can put Mark back in trouble.

Good cueing. He is in control of the match at the

moment. He has had a couple of chances. I don't where they can get

twice across the table to land on the redeye mentioned earlier. -- the

red I mentioned. Even if he hits this, he could still leave a pot on.

He didn't even look at the red car was closest to the black spot. Kept

that tight. Mark Davis leads to try and make

something happen. Without pushing the boat out too much. He won't get

many chances against Mark Selby because he will keep things tight

and just feed off Mark' mistakes. The one you're the green will pot.

-- near. Plenty of action on the cue ball. The red is available.

Not easy with the black on the side cushion.

I don't think the pink will go on its own spot. It does. Looks like it

may be pots to the right corner. Mark Selby is getting the best

chances in these frames. He has spotted some mark on the cue

ball. Perhaps getting the ball clean has

put him off as that was a poor positional shot.

I am not sure which of the reds is in play. He made a mess of that

position. There are a few possible path is

backed in the table. -- paths back down the table.

A little unlucky. Hasn't left anything for Mark Selby. Do you take

the chance? He might get an advantage if he misses the long one.

Playing ball striking made the pot slightly easier.

I think he hits screw shots better than anyone in the game. Times them

so well. The secret is the timing. The acceleration of the cue ball is

tremendous. Mark Selby is well over six feet

tall. Using his height advantage. Always looks elegant around the

table. He would look elegant in a bin minor. -- bin liner.

That was not a deep screw. Was very low on the white.

Beautifully controlled shot. Could quite easily have covered the pink

when he screwed into that red. It was not an easy chance.

The kick through it off on a different line. Took the pace out of

that. Change of plan because of that heavy contact.

That did not work out. He has misjudged the cannon. I think he

played to cannon both the reds. Barring a smoker, it will be 3-0 to

the defending champion. -- barring a snooker.

Four frames to be played before the mid-session interval. Mark Davis

will have to find something for the next frame. You badly need sit. --

he badly needs it. The defending champion leads 3-0. As you said,

Stephen, he looks comfortable and relaxed. Nothing is phasing him. He

is not doing much wrong. Mark Davis is not getting many chances. Mark

Selby looks quick around the table. More confident. This deep screw shot

is perfect to avoid the middle pocket. Tremendous timing. The angle

on this is so acute. Incredible timing. The normal angle would have

taken him into the brown. He looks focused. He has won the Masters

three times. Stephen, you hold the record of six which will take some

beating. You have the original trophy. Is it on the mantelpiece? I

am not telling you! Obviously that was a special moment to be given the

trophy. That was in the old Wembley conference Centre. Great camera work

on the trophy there are! It has not been much fun for Mark

Davis so far this afternoon. Unless something magic happens, his record

of not winning a match here not going to change.

He desperately needs to win this frame.

Mark Davis lost last year? Alan, 6-2. You need to go back to 2003

when he lost the wild card round 6-5 to Alan McManus.

The red to the left of the green is the one they need to keep covering.

That is why they are leaving the cue ball in that corner.

What about the pace of that short? The fact he is on the cushion means

he is restricted. That was such a good shot from Mark Selby.

Didn't think he had to play that as hard as that. Pushed a lot of reds

into the left cushion at that pace. What a great crowd we have here.

Response he got from the crowd with this full house was fantastic. They

are appreciating every shot that is played.

Mark Davis hasn't had many opportunities to improve his hot

success. -- pot success. It is a tough day at the office so

far for Mark Davis. He has lost eight times against this opponent.

He does work so hard at his game, Mark Davis. He is reaping the

rewards. He is in his 40s and playing the best snooker of his

career. But you can't play much snooker from your seat.

This looks like a much more confident Mark Selby. It doesn't

look to have any doubt in his mind at all in the shots he is playing.

Apart from at the end of the frames, when it doesn't matter, he has

missed an easy ball today. He is sending a message here to all the

players that he is going to be the one to beat. He is not going to give

up this Masters crown very easily. He pushed a lot of the reds towards

the side cushioning earlier. He hit it harder than he needed to. Now he

is just having to work out how he can bring a few of the reds back

into play. He seems to have the angle to screw

into them. He could develop something.

He has played for the one loose red, and he is OK. This was the shot

Stephen said. He didn't want to stick in the reds. That is the one

that knocked a few of them into the side cushioning.

A slight problem now. He is straight -ish on the black. He has got the

pink giving him a better position. Not much of an angle there. He could

possibly force the black in and play for red to the right centre. The two

are close together. I don't think it has got the angle to do that.

Looks like a double if he is going to keep this break going. Yeah, he

wouldn't leave a great deal if you double the red. He is just making

sure that one isn't available. He is making sure the right one isn't on.

To disturb something here was excellent.

Normally when you play doubles come you concentrate so much on the shot

that you forget the position. He is pretty good doubles. He had a bit of

pool experience. He was a world pool champion as well, Mark Selby full --

Mark Selby. That was amiss hit. -- a mishit. He

didn't get the side on it. Normally that would have cannoned into the

four reds. That is why he had a little quip with the crowd. It is

not going to be a framework in break but it is 58 and it puts him well in

control. Mark Davis, every time he comes to

the table the ball seems to be on but caution. -- that cushion.

58 minutes since his last pot. Can you believe it?

But you can't park then if you can't see them. -- pot them. A good cue

ball, but as is usually the case when you are struggling, that is the

sort of thing that happens. He gets a good cue ball. There's a path

through to one to the pocket. If this goes in, it could be the end of

this fourth frame. Oh, phone the police! Mark Selby has

missed an easy ball. There was a bit of pressure. He had brought all the

reds into play. You wouldn't expect him to miss it.

Got to make something of this opportunity.

First chance for quite some time. Just coming on to an hour since he

potted a ball. Can he pot a few more? Is asking a lot. There are

three difficult to read. He might try to develop the one near the

middle pocket here. He doesn't have to. He has played for the blue. He

could have screwed that in and played the red into play. I agree.

That is why he played the black as he did to leave the angle. We never

see the same situation the players see.

You want to be leaving the parts as easy as possible. Now he has got a

medium-range pot. -- departs. He knows that if there's 11 mistake,

it will before -0 it adds some pressure. -- one more mistake, it

will be 4-0. It adds some pressure. It would be some achievement if he

could somehow pull this frame out of the bag.

I think he will be playing the shot this time.

Played it beautifully. Any harder and he would have knocked it safe.

He judges into perfection. -- he judges it to perfection. You take

the easy ones first. If he was 3-0 up, he would have played the shot

between green and brown. It looks as if he might be able to

drop-in behind the red that is to the right of the pink. Not sure.

Maybe he hasn't got the angle to do that now. He may have to move it.

And he has removed it. He has done as horrific job with it. -- H

horrific job. -- a great job. Normally you would rather be on a

baulk colour. He has got angle here. I'm wondering if he can screw up

past the pink. It definitely won't pot into the middle pocket. He had

and it -- look at the angle. It was too cute. He -- to acute.

He doesn't want to go around the back of it. That was so unlucky.

That was a great effort. Now he is left with a bit of a dilemma. He has

got back double he can take on. But he knows it will be too risky. Have

a look at this here. He is so unlucky not to develop the red. He

is thinking about the double, but maybe a good safety here would give

him a chance. Oh, he hasn't hit it hard enough.

Mark Selby cannot this read up and down the table. He has a lot of

balls to snigger behind. -- Mark Selby can not this read.

That is exactly what he did. He shouldn't have had the chance to do

that. It was Mark Davis who played a poor safety shot. He acknowledged

the FAQ -- the fact. Now he is going to need a bit of luck to knock this

safe. And he hasn't. The red will pass the yellow. It would have gone

over the corner pocket if it didn't catch the jaw of the middle pocket.

It will pass the yellow, I feel. Just enough room.

A quick glance at the scoreboard. Just the yellow and green needed.

He got a kick and nearly missed the pot.

It's straightened up slightly and he was a bit anxious.

It is the first to 6 who goes through. Mark Davis, when we said he

needed the frame, he had a chance and played a poor safety shot at the

end of his effort. It is also comfortable for the defending

champion. A lot to think about at the mid-session interval for Mark

Davis. Well, I don't know why they do that.

He has had breaks of 59, 80, and 59 in that frame. Mark Selby goes to

the interval and he has won all four friends. 4-0. HAZEL IRVINE: Be the

offending champion is starting the New Year in solid form so far. --

the defending champion. He is starting the New Year in solid form.

So often, the first frame can be the most important from your

perspective. If it goes wrong, the whole you dig for yourself can get

deeper. Mark Selby has done a good job in making it a difficult

prospect for Mark Davis. Mark Selby has prayed that matter played

brilliantly. He has been so accurate. -- Mark Selby has played

brilliantly. He didn't make enough of his first opportunity, Davis. It

wasn't clear cut but he didn't score enough points. When you look at Mark

Davis in career terms, we said this earlier, he has made such wonderful

progress in his late 30s and all the -- early 40s. You might have

expected more after a brilliant season last time. Competitive

momentum comes into it. Selby looks to have continued with his form.

Mark set -- Mark Davis has had problems in as much as he hasn't had

competitive results recently. OK, he got a few -- through a couple of

qualifiers before Christmas but he hasn't excelled in the big event. He

is probably lacking a bit of confidence. And indeed, he is

playing a guy he has had two victories against in 15 matches.

That has got to be part of the equation. If you weigh up the things

that are problems for Mark Davis in this particular match, form, the

player he is playing, the fact he hasn't done well in this venue, the

scales look uneven. That is when you need a good start. And you haven't

got it. We are just getting started here this year in the Masters. The

finish line is on site in the PDO World Darts Championship. The final

is just some three hours away. We are going to be on the key. We'll be

be breaking out the bunting? -- will we be.

For a place in the World Championship final... He has done it

in! He has finally cracked it! Over the moon. That was a really tough

game against a good friend and fellow Scouser. So glad to be into

the final. For the match... He wins and takes his place in the

final! The ambition is to lift the trophy at the end of the day and get

some spray to keep it clean for the rest of the year. Everybody says I

am a nice guy to be around. Two hours before the match, I will get

my game face on. You have got to do that. I have got a massive task. But

I do believe I can beat him. Why not? It is what the play for all

year. Form goes out of the window. If you don't have this title on your

resume, it is not worth having. I have got to get him back and keep

him under pressure. I still don't like I have played my best on the

stage. There is more to come from Stephen bunting. Hopefully I can

produce my best in the final. You are talking about all the

champions. It is just an awesome achievement. The first one to get 21

in doubles, that is it, mate, tell you. You'll occur if I become world

champion, it will sink in then. 5.45 is when it gets underway. It is all

there in buckets at Lakeside. It is on BBC Two. It must be about 12

years ago that we first witnessed John Parrott try his first live

snooker demonstration as an analyst. It was an attempt to show us the

best way to break off. John broke off and missed the pack of raids

completely. Have we let him forget it? We have not. Therefore we

introduce a series of demonstrations that he volunteered for this week

called Masters class. No pressure, John. All yours.

Thank you for reminding me. People often say, John, safety play. We

don't like it, what can we do about it? We are going to get a routine.

You can play against a friend in the club. You can play for a cup of tea,

chocolate, whatever. You get a bit of tape. That is going to be the

scoring zone. We are going to play a safety shot, get the ball between

the commission and the tape. Thank you, Charles. We put a red behind

the pink on the outside. The idea is that the first player is good to

play for macro shots, one from there, two, three, four. The second

player will play the next four shots. The priority all the time is

to get the cue ball behind here. The score really should be committed to

pot the red, you get another point. -- should be, if you plot the red,

you get another point. The idea is to try and clip the red in. A bit

thin on the red, how is the cue ball going? Marvellous. Thank you, that

will do. Not perfect. I missed the red. Same thing again. Nice and thin

on the red. Not going to score anything with this one. The beauty

of this is, when you are the first player, you don't want to play all

16 shots one after the other. Then you will go to the right-hand side

and play the same thing and keep the scoring going. When you get really

advanced, start to pot the red and do it in areas like this. What you

have got to do with the cue ball, you put it in the same positions,

you have got to play the cue ball around the left-hand side and keep

inside the blue and get back. It is a difficult shot around the ankles.

If you hit the blue, you are penalised three points. Whatever you

do, don't hit the blue. Placing of the red, inside the blue and back

down here. -- plate fin off the red. It is looking good. It is looking

good. Bingo! Can you believe it? There you go. Still available for

exhibitions. Fantastic, John. He has had the cue out over Christmas.

Probably too sturdy pudding with. These classes are for people who

have played a bit of snooker. We always getting e-mails saying, how

can I improve this or that. That is for those with a modicum of skill.

Is it a good idea to practice like that with other people? Solo

practice or not just frames of snooker, would you have got to do is

make your practice routines enjoyable. -- what you have got to

do. You can put in an element of competition, you can make practice

less boring. You can do more hours. You are concentrating for longer.

Therefore you can improve your play. There is no point in practising if

you are not concentrating. What John has there is a clever way to work on

safety play where there is something at stake. We see this more and more

in a lot of sports. In Gulf they are chipping and parting with -- in

golf, they are chipping and putting with particular goals in mind. So

important. It is OK for a top-class player to just scatter a few balls

on the table and get their arm going before a match. If you're looking at

proper practice, you would just put the ball is on the table. There's

nothing else going on. You need to think about potting a ball and

potting them in the right place. It is the same for any type of play in

the game. There has got to be a purpose. Otherwise, anybody cannot

ball in. -- anybody can knock the ball in. It is a wait for the

players to get the best out of themselves in the shortest time.

There is your homework. Crack on with that at home or in the club. We

are going to get back to the action. There is only 16 players who

have qualified to come to this tournament. It feels like an elite

event. We do have a match that has the look and feel of a final this

evening. It features a four-time world champion and a double Masters

winner, John Higgins, who hasn't had a great deal of success in recent

months. He is taking on Essex pro Stuart Bingham, who is getting

closer to one of these big titles. Let's tell you more about the world

number seven. When I was younger, I remember

watching the 1985 final. Mum and dad got me a table when I was seven or

eight. I had it. I didn't have to run about like in football or

squash. I just loved it. It went from there. In an individual sport,

it is just you and the balls. You are not playing the player at the

end of the day. I just love it. When you get to a certain level, you have

to play it like a seriously. I go and play with my mates but I've read

you do it now. It ain't fun for me. It is a job, not in that way, but I

can't just get down and hit and hope. My mind fix on and I have got

to do that. They want to play me at pool, and I can't help it. With

having a young son now, I find it hard to get out the house. I prefer

to play with him a bit more. I still look forward to practice. Having a

family, it means so much more. What a great job we have got. I did lose

a few dreams over the years because it wasn't happening. It has made me

a bit more realistic. I have got to a few finals now. It can happen. I'm

chasing the dream with every tournament. He has to be one of the

most improved players in the game. Steve, you will have missed this,

that he had a wonderful run at the UK Championship. He put out Ronnie

O'Sullivan in a very composed fashion in what was a very good

performance and got so close to putting out Neil Robertson. He seems

to need one of these big titles to cement his reputation. Yes, but he

is an optimist. Even though we have now got a full calendar, we have

still heard players complaining about their lot. You don't hear that

from Stuart Bingham. He has grafted. He says, have cue, will travel. He

says, I am going to make the most of it. I don't know how long I have

lived in my career but I'm having a wonderful time. You can't beat

having a wonderful time. If you start to look at the negative

things, that is when the problems start. He has got a young baby. That

can, if you go the wrong way, make him less happy about the way things

are going. He is not thinking that way. He is thinking, I will go to

work for my family. You can't beat that. It is a great example to the

players coming into the game. Treat it like he does. And indeed,

passion. I read recently that he was at the Legends event a couple of

weeks ago just to watch, and loving being there and watching you guys

playing. And not complaining about practice. You can't beat it as an

attitude. That is a work ethic everybody should have if they can.

That work ethic has got him here. Who knows where it can get him. If

he is playing players who are not as happy with their situation, he is in

a better frame of mind coming into the matches. Talking of work ethic,

Mark Selby has got that men this work ethic. He is the top seed. He

is at the top of the draw. The man at the bottom is the World

Championships Ronnie O'Sullivan. If the draw were to work out, those two

would meet one another in next Sunday's final. In fact, Selby is

trying to equal Ronnie's total of four Masters titles this year.

What a way to win your first major tournament. He wins the 2008 Masters

championship. Absolutely brilliant from Mark Selby. Just to win any

tournament is a big achievement. Having Vicky and my friends and

family there makes it more special. The following year, you were beaten.

Then this amazing run continues in the Masters. You look back and get

to that final against Ronnie. I still remember walking down the

stairs. I had a good break to go 9-8. I thought he had a chance right

until the end. That was asking a bit too much. I can't believe he has

taken that short on. It was such a big occasion to play left-handed. I

knew I had one chance. The rivalry has remained pretty intense. How

would you characterise the nature of your rivalry? Ronnie is so naturally

talented. Then I really have to work at the game. There are two different

strategies. Every time I go to play Ronnie, you always know you're in

for a tough game. You have to be at your best or you will not win. I

have respect for him as a player. I'm sure he has respect for me. It

seems to bring out the best in both of you. The UK semifinal a few years

ago and he pulls out a maximum break in particular circumstances. That is

probably the best match I have played where I have lost. I thought

it could be my year to win the UK. Then he did something special like

that. The boy is a genius. He is one of only a few people who can do

that. New talks about different philosophies. Ronnie sees the

philosophy different to you because he says about your game that you

play and negative game with long bouts of safety. Is that accurate? I

try to work out percentages while I am playing. Same as everyone else.

If I am struggling, I might revert to that because a few are

struggling, I don't see the point of keeping playing long balls. I don't

think the percentages they are. With him coming out with that comment, I

know that is how he is thinking so I would be wrong if I wasn't playing

that kind of game against him because I know it is getting into

his head. I have one turn a month and achieved what I have achieved. I

must be doing something. What are you on track for? People ask me if I

would like to get back to number one. That is a name, but it is not

as much of a goal as it was before. At the back of my mind, the only

thing missing is a World Championships. Have you peaked? What

are you doing to make sure you haven't? The travelling comes to it

a lot now. You need to balance it a lot more for when you go to the

major treatments. All I can keep doing is put the hard-working. You

can play well but you are not guaranteed to win turn on is. --

tournaments. He has a very healthy work ethic. It was a pleasure to

speak to him and his lovely wife, Vicki. She is here today to support

him. Not sure whether he is drinking coffee, tea or water. Back to

Stephen and Dennis. Mark Davis is really up against

that. He was unfortunate in the fourth frame. Cameras away, please.

I can't see a comeback, but you never know. If he wins a couple of

frames quickly that will put pressure on Mark Selby.

These are key shots in the modern game.

That can give you an early chance if you can knock in a shot like that.

He is going to make Mark Davis work for every pot. Mark Davis has to

take more risks. Perhaps take on the board 50-50 ball. -- the odd.

The red on the left side of the table is a distraction.

I think the green has come to his rescue.

You never seem to get an advantage from playing the containing safety

shot like that. That was pottable. Didn't even look

at it. Total mishit from Mark Selby, but he

might have got away with it. One of the reds is available. The plant

would be a bonus. That is a bad misjudgement. He

needed to give more thought. Not a natural plant. He played at as if it

was not direct line. Didn't just enough. -- as if it was in a direct

line. Has he screwed it back far enough to

leave it safe? I think he has. Good length of the cue ball. No

problem, off two cushions and everything you see.

-- everything is safe. Foul and a miss. This should not be a problem.

The frame score and the match score is the same.

The cannon didn't help. Left a path through for the one to the left of

the black. Could part, but not the cannon he

desired. That is the last read that Mark

Davis. Mark Selby would finish on, but the cannon worked out well for

him. -- last red. When you are confident, these things happen for

you. Know, has he left along a red? --

now, has he left a long red? This is the first obvious red he has missed

in the match. Come on, Mark. Let's see if you can

knock in a few here. Good shot to get the far side of the

blue. He could do with a sizeable

contribution here to get some confidence going.

It is the first time he has been around the black spot area with a

chance. Sometimes you can go frame after frame of vote a chance. It is

what you need and he has got it this time.

Wanted to be playing for the black but might have to go for the blue.

I am just wondering if there is a possible plant on. If this shot

works out, he could give himself the first frame. It slipped away towards

the cushion. He wanted to hit the pink little fuller than that.

Good recovery. Never easy when you have to cannon into the reds, but he

played that well. He is marching round the table now. He knows he is

a couple of pots away from getting his first frame on the board.

As long as your opponent needs a couple of frames to clinch a match,

you have a chance. This is the start of the comeback.

Mark Selby has been well punished for that easy mess. He lost his

concentration and was focusing on the position.

It was a must win frame for Mark Davis and he has done it in style.

Always nice if you can win a frame with one visit. He will be feeling a

little better, but it is only the start of the long haul back. Doesn't

matter about that. Mark Selby made one mistake. Mark Davis took full

advantage. A real relief for him to finally get

on the board. We almost here is a great player. Sometimes you have to

do is change things a little and step it up and tried to take a few

risks and get yourself involved in the match. Thankfully he is now. Did

you notice his differing approach? You have to take the opportunities.

It was an excellent opening shot. He made it pay. He kept it in position

even though it was out fractionally. That is the sign of a good

professional. Even if you're not feeling 100%, you can still play the

right shots and give yourself a chance to make a break. He will be

sitting in his chair much more comfortably. How difficult is it to

be out there and remind yourself you are a brilliant player when things

are not going well? Everyday I need to remind myself. It is horrible. We

can all play when it is going well. It is the champions who can dig it

out when they are not 100%. He has finished up tight against the

yellow. There is not an easy out where he

can leave it safe. If you can guarantee that shot, you would try

it all the time. It is very difficult to land on anything and

leave it safe. Now read your cushion. -- no red near a cushion.

You are right, Stephen. There was no get out shot there.

He hit that a little harder than intended. Slight change of plan.

An unexpected chance for Mark Davis who could not wait to get out of his

chair. Are read into either corner pocket that Mark has missed. That

one more difficult than the mess in the previous frame. -- the miss.

This has to be struck well with left-hand side.

He has overrun that by 12 inches. Shouldn't be a problem.

He wants to punish Mark Selby and get another sizeable break like in

the previous frame. The cannon was a little thick.

He jabbed a little bit of that one and didn't get the action. He had to

be a bit careful. A bit more screw and he would have been perfect on

the black. He has made sure of the pot. He was

hoping the fight would slip past the red, but it has not. He has a choice

of reds to the left corner. This is Oxford. -- awkward.

He is having to bridge over the three beds. -- reds. That was a good

recovery. One of his great strengths. He has a

very good temperament. It is standing him in good stead. He has

given himself a chance. He is not that far in front in this frame that

he is doing well. There is one loose red. There is the

pot success rate. He was down to 77% that he did not have any chances

earlier on in the match. He needs a bit of luck. He needs a bit of luck

and the red has come off the cushion and blocked the path to the pocket.

How unlucky was that! He did not get the run of the ball. He could not

have played that much better. He was very unlucky to finish like that.

Sometimes you do not play a good shot that he played that perfectly.

That was painful when that happened. Another tricky one bridging over the

reds. Not this time. All of a sudden, Mark Selby, surely

he has not landed tight on the brown and covered everything. There is a

red to the tight corner pocket. How close is he to the brown? Have a

look at that! Mark Selby missed another sitter. He was near the

cushion but he would have knocked that in eight, nine out of ten.

Well, it was an easy pot. In the circumstances, it should have been

much easier until the white landed on the brown. The fact that Selby

had been so lucky was probably preying on his mind. He should have

had it much easier shot. That might just be the big turning

point in this match now. He had a great chance to get just two behind.

Surely do miss again. As I say, there were a couple of other easy

options until Mark landed on the brown.

This is probably what Selby needed after the Mrs. An easy opportunity.

There is only the one red. That is not too badly placed.

He did not hit that one well. It is still not a problem.

It just depends on the angle. It is all about the bread to the right of

the pig. -- the red to the right of the pink. He has other options. It

is about where he places the cue ball after this pot. It is a big

target to hit the pink and red together. It may be too straight to

do it here. It is going to be awkward now. You

cannot take the green and screw the cue ball off to conditions. -- two

conditions. 23, the difference. As we show you

this shot he played. The one that Steven mentioned. It is a thin snick

this. This red. It probably is the pacey play it at. -- the pace you

play it out. He played it with a bit of pace and

he only needs the blue. Mark Davis is seeing this frame slip away. It

looks like he was going to take it. He has left himself a long yellow.

He is just 19 in front. He needs the yellow and green. A similar shot to

the one he played previously. He must pot this yellow and screw off

to commissions and onto the green. -- two cushions and onto the green.

Psychologically, this would be a great frame for Mark Davies to take.

He thought he had been unlucky when he went into the pack. All that will

be forgotten if he can clear up and win the frame here.

He had to win the first two frames to get himself back into it. He will

not be happy with that shot. It is on the wrong side of the blue. He

had to play a longer pink to get back to the black.

That was the one. A bit of screw on the right-hand side.

He is coming up a bit short. In fact, he potted the pink into the

right side of the pocket. That is why he did not get onto the black.

He potted that too thick. He has almost missed it.

I think I would have tried to stun the cue ball of two cushions.

You cannot beat the excitement of it black ball finish.

He needs to be careful of the double-kiss. I'd agree he might have

to double it up towards the right corner pocket.

He has played it well. He has made a very good job of that.

Just watched the black ball go all the way around the angles and finish

somewhere close to the cushion. All the way around the angles. That is

near the middle pocket. He did not play it in there. He played it round

behind the black spot. He mishit that's likely. Can Mark cut the

black in? A big shot for the player here. In it goes. Well done, Mark

Davies. He keeps his hopes alive. It looked as if Mark Selby was going to

make the frame but he did not. This big audience of 1500 people at Ally

Pally loved that. There was one incident in that particular frame

that had the two of these guys in the studio talking and debating

whether one's glass is half full or half empty. Mark Selby has the red

in the corner pocket which you would expect him to knock in. He did not.

He queued badly and missed it. He has left a plant on the top. The cue

ball went down the table and is glued to the side of the brown. He

has covered both. He left Mark Davies the long red. That was

unlucky for Mark Davies. As a club player, that happens a lot of time.

The way to look at it, consider yourself lucky that the guy has

missed a shot and be prepared to play any type of shot that comes.

Getting down for the next shot should have been full of positivity

instead of negativity. I could not agree with you more. If you had done

at against me... Honestly, that is one of the biggest pieces of luck I

have ever seen, to be glued next to the brown. You know you should have

an easy shot and you have got a longer one instead. From the

perspective of Mark Selby, that that is firmly off the Gas. Mark Selby is

struggling a bit to keep the pressure on Mark Davies.

Not a bad break of shot from Mark Davies. He is back in this match.

It looked as if Mark Selby was going to win the frame. It would have been

match over. There were signs in that frame where

Mark Selby missed a few balls. This was the first of them. Normally he

would have put that in. This is another one he would normally have

knocked in. The boys were talking about where he had that slice of

good fortune to freeze the cue ball on the brown. That will cost him

four points. He needed a thin snick. Just past the two hours for this

opening round match in this year's Masters.

That was an excellent long pot. A bit unlucky to not to land nicely on

a colour. Back for the blue. Try to get on the

red to the right of the black. He does not have to get on that

thread but it is hampering the black somewhat. -- that read.

It looks like he has lost some composure.

He cannot quite get through to the one I mentioned.

He played it nicely. If the red to the right of the black is

available, he might just screw in behind that of the cushion and get

it out of the way. Sometimes you need your opponent to

wake you back up again. He has left an angle to go into

them. Topspin and a bit of side. He stuck a bit on that red. He is just

about OK. He played the shot so well, you can

see the arc on the cue ball. I think he is still OK even though he is

touching the red. He is not OK. He has not left

anything. Mark Davies will be pleased to be back at the table.

I did not fancy that shot at that pace. If he was going to take it

on, why not play for the black and go 100% all out for it?

If you play it slow, you are giving the ball a chance to drop into the

pocket. As you said, it would have been

better going full blow. In the first match of the

tournament, the cloth is brand-new and there is a bit more give.

He could not really take that shot on both side to get to the blue. He

made sure of the pot. He did not put any side on the cue ball whatsoever.

That was a good shot. I say that... How close is he to the black? He was

lucky previously. He is not lucky this time. He thought he was OK. He

thought he had a nice easy read. All of a sudden, the White has landed on

the black. Have a look at this! He is walking round the table. All of a

sudden, he thinks, maybe not. If he comes off the side cushion, this

will be some shot. If it was over the pocket, I would have fancied it

but this is so difficult to judge. We cannot believe the red has stayed

there. What a great effort! Mark Davies, if you ever needed a

break, it is now. That was so close.

Could he possibly pinch this frame and get back to just one behind? He

has the ability, the talent. This was the only read that was

slightly difficult. The other four are perfectly placed. Oh, Mark! You

took your eye of that. You took your concentration of that pot. What a

chance he has let slip! Nothing to do with pressure. That was just a

lapse in concentration. It looked like he was trying to get

the perfect position. He was always going to have an angle on the black.

You always get lots of turning points in matches. That is

definitely going to be one of them. He will have to do something very

careless not to win the frame. It looks like it will be 5-2 and

Mark Selby will just need that one frame for victory.

Mark still moves about a bit on the shot. You can still see that little

bit of movement. It is something that is probably natural to him. He

has learned to play with it. Look at the side he had on that. It

was an exhibition shop. -- shot. He won't bother about the yellow. Mark

Selby extensively. He is only one frame from victory. -- extends his

lead. What a turning point in that frame. Mark Selby looked as if he

would be comfortable and take the frame quite easily. All of a sudden,

he played a shot. He had his extension on. He parted the blue. He

thought, well, I played that perfectly. He glanced at the white

and then suddenly it nestles onto the black. He made a brave effort to

pot this read off to cushions. -- two cushions. He tried to get it

perfect. He didn't want to leave the cue ball too close to the cushion.

Look at the chances to pinch frames. That is what separates the top

players from the rest, to be able to rely on doing that every time. He

will be disappointed. That was the only read that was difficult. --

read. He tried to get absolutely spot on the black, which meant he

took his concentration slightly off the pot. He was thinking more of the

cue ball. That is a stonewall chance that he threw away. There we go.

That is history. He has got to do it all now. He has got to win all of

the remaining frames. You have got to give it your best

shot now, Mark. He will hopefully not it in. -- not.

His back is against the wall. All you can do is go out there and give

it your best shot. Sometimes your arm frees up a bit.

As you can see, there is still another red available at the back of

the bunch. He doesn't necessarily have to go into them. They are not a

good pack to go into. In fact, it has left an angle. This is a key

shot coming up. He has to make sure he gets enough action on the white

to come away from the reds. Always feel better screwing back on this

kind of shot. You can get the blue and possibly the pink.

Always difficult to judge when you play that kind of shot. He got into

that well. You can see he is hitting the cue ball right on the bottom. He

got hold of that too well. He opened the red is beautifully. -- the reds.

This is such a delicate shot. He knows this could be his last shot in

this year's Masters. This has got to go in because look at where the reds

are sitting. Is it there? Well played.

So difficult to judge when you are so close to the ball like that. This

is great stuff from Mark Davis after what happened in the previous frame.

It looked like he had a chance to get back to just one behind and he

missed that easy read. -- read. This is the reason he is number 14

in the world. Both players' highest break is 80 at

this point. This might supersede that.

He is taking these really well, though. Sometimes when your back is

against the wall, you just relax a bit, play your natural game. It is

nice for Mark after being 4-0 down. He would have been a bit

embarrassed. Now he is showing us what he is capable of. He is a very

fluent break-builder once he gets among the balls.

He can't do anything more than this. It is perfect snooker.

It would be nice if you could make a century. It is a great way to keep

yourself in the match. A great reception from this big

crowd in the Alexandra Palace for the first century in this year's

Masters. It comes at just the right time for Mark Davis. He is marching

around the table now. You would think he was leading 5-2. Another

small step and another comeback. Mark Selby is still the strong

favourite, but you just never know with this game.

That is a fabulous clearance from the likeable Mark Davis. He keeps

itself in this year's Masters. That was a superb century break. He

cleared the table with 136. But he is still 5-3 behind. HAZEL IRVINE:

The 100 and TH century of his career and it has come in the nick of time.

-- the 158 century. You have got to go and do it. After the red he

missed in the last frame down the right-hand side, it is a good

response. I'm sure some people are thinking it is all too late. He is

still in this match, however. At this point, Mark Selby must be

thanking his lucky stars he had such good cushion early on in the match.

All the time you are keeping yourself in contention, you have got

a chance. It is easy to win three frames on the spin. He is up against

a player who you need to make mistakes. But Mark Selby in the

second half of this marriage has made mistakes. It seems like he is a

different player after the interval. If you are Mark Davis, you have to

forget that you should be doing more of the same. He has got to try in

one visit. I can imagine Selby thinking, I am going to make it

difficult for him to get back into this. But they won 36 does the

confidence a power of good. It is good to see -- a 136. It is good to

see him showing the skills on television.

He is still here, Mark Davis. But for how much longer? That is the big

question. Can he win three frames in a row. Steve Davis said it has been

done before. But he is up against the defending champion. He is one of

the ultimate Masters. There is a prize of ?10,000 for the

highest break this year's Dafabet Masters. He is certainly leading the

way. You wouldn't think it would stand. It is a good target.

I will bet you a fiver it gets beaten.

You're not going to get an easy fiver that way!

Bit unlucky not to have a colour on that. Was it my eyes or did the

white ball go a bit to the right at the end? Let's have a look here.

Yeah, it turns right angles there. Could be a problem under the cloth.

Just as it finished, watch here, all of a sudden... It is not going to

make a lot of difference in that part of the table. If you had to

play a part slowly along that bowl cushion, though, it could be a

problem. -- if you had to play a part slowly along that baulk

cushion. They do check the table before play.

They make sure there is no turns. Now, this is a test of cueing. Not

bad, is it? Once again, the action he gets into it and the timing... He

delivers the cue. It all looks so easy. He has got a slight angle on

the brown to get up to the reds. He is playing with top spin. It is the

opposite shock to the previous one. -- the opposite shot.

Not a lot of angle to work on there. He is not playing it with top spin.

Another test coming up. Once again, striking down on the autumn of the

cue ball because he was straight on the brown.

Might just have enough angle to stun the cross for the black.

Look where the cue ball has finished up. He missed that completely. He

was trying the shot. He nearly fluked the red into the corner

pocket. Has he covered this one? Does it even going past the reds? --

go in. Has he covered the black? I think he

might have. Even if he could bend that around and make the pot, there

is no red available. It looks like the yellow and trying

to get this cue ball tight on the baulk cushion.

Well, Mark can't believe that one not going in.

He is just apologising. It will not make Mark feel much better,

especially the slots the brown in on a red. -- if he slots.

How many is he going to make from but fluked? -- from fat fluke?

Would be good to get the green out of the way. He would be straight on

this red. That is what helps the black.

It would be unfortunate for Mark Davis to go out like this, if Mark

Selby were to go on to win through that outrageous fluke to plant. But

you have got to take advantage. If you have some luck, capitalise on

it. You don't always get the run of the ball.

It is staying at 147. Another lapse in concentration. Does he all of a

sudden see the winning post? Don't think it was a bad contact.

I think he finished up getting a little bit of unwanted side on that.

That is the reason he's missed the black. He got a bit of left-hand

side on the cue ball. That is all I can think of. There

was a bit of deceleration with the cue. It is amazing how the top

players, the letter of Sadat happen in some frames -- the let office

that sometimes happen in some frames. -- the let offs.

A key shot coming up. He is 41 ahead. He is going to need one of

those difficult reds. He is going to have to do it off one of the baulk

colours because of the way he has finished on this red. Blue is

slightly in the way of playing a cannon in a couple of shots' time.

He is just about OK. He might be able to take the yellow and missed

the middle pocket and come straight up onto the three reds. I think he

can do it from the yellow. I'm not sure if he has got the angle

to do that. It is difficult from the brown. He may have to go twice

across the table. That is even more difficult.

A good effort but not quite good enough.

He just needs one will read to leave Mark Davis needing a snooker. -- one

more red. He has gone too far of the yellow. -- off the yellow.

It is a touching ball which gives Mark a few more options. If he can

find a spot-on the table which will leave things safe. He cannot move

the bread otherwise it will be a foul. -- the red.

He only needs this red. He had a look at the possible pot into the

middle but it is quite an acute angle.

That was a bit too hard for the Celica. -- the Celica.

He would like to play the red but the cue ball will be canning into

them. -- can he would like to bring the two reds

into play. That is what he will try. He needs to be so precise. He needs

a good cue ball. I do not think he has it. It was a brisk heater. He

has opened the game up completely. -- risk he took. He has left the

long red fork Mark Selby. It could be the frame-winner.

There is a lot more pressure on this shot.

He made a magnificent clearance in the last frame. Can he pull off a

clearance that would be just as good as the previous one to keep himself

in the match? I thought we were in for an early

afternoon at 4-0. Mark Davies had other ideas.

He played it well and made sure he left enough angle to get on the

yellow, anywhere between the brown and the yellow would be perfect.

He had a quick glance at the scoreboard but he needs to pop them

all to get himself just one frame behind.

He has underscrewed it slightly. He has given himself a problem and he

needs to go all the way around the angles. It should have been

straightforward. Now he has quite a bit to do with the cue ball. Here we

go. Keep your eye on that white ball.

It looks good. That was a terrific shot. Superb!

Can you believe it? Mark Davis is not finished yet. Mark Selby let him

off the hook. Didn't people love a fantastic clearance! He is just one

frame behind now at 5-4. We have a proper match on. Wasn't he composed

and calm! Even though Mark Selby had the controlling safety, Mark Davis

eventually got his chance. A half mistake in the safety led to the

mistake from Mark Selby. That is the nature of snooker. Nothing is as

clear cut and black and white as one player making a correct shot

totally. Mark Davis must be feeling very excited. He has got himself

back into it. We were just talking during that. Mark Selby, you just

wonder if the UK final last month my be playing on his mind. Suddenly he

has had this 4-0 lead. Do you think he is the kind of person who would

go into that sort of thinking? I do not think he is that battle scarred

yet. It may play on his mind. I agree with what Steve said in

commentary. If the two red had been saved, he would not have missed the

long red. It would have gone straight into the pocket. He knew it

was a massive shot with extra pressure and he missed. It is now

looking like a proper street fight. A fantastic performance by Mark

Davis. He was not feeling good at the start. Given equal play, a few

chances at the table, he has started to show what he is capable of. Mark

Selby knows he has it chance to finish this off and get himself into

the quarterfinal. -- he has a chance.

Not a bad break-off shot from Mark Selby. We are looking at a man who

has so much experience in this Masters. He will be tested here.

That has just nudged a read. He might think about taking that on to

the middle, maybe not. It is tight on the cushion. It is just a safety.

That is pretty good. He has covered the path down the left side of the

table. He let the white just slipped closer

to the cushion than he intended. It means the next positional shot, he

must be a bit careful. He played it well. What a great

chance! He has the red to the left of the black which could be

available. I will show you where he is striking

the cue ball to play that shot. All of a sudden, there is the

possibility that in the opening match of this year's Masters, we

could have a deciding frame and the defending champion, well, what a

deciding frame that would be! A long way to go but he has another fall

red is available to him. -- four reds available to him. He has

produced some great snooker. It has to be said that Mark Selby has let

standards slip since the interval. He has missed a lot of easy balls.

Mark Davis still has to do it when he comes to the table. Selby will

not be in a good state of mind, sat in his chair at the moment.

He has played Mark on eight occasions. He has won all eight of

them. All the eight victories, none of

them went to a deciding frame. A key shot coming up now. This could

pave the way to winning the frame. It is an awkward pack to go into

with the pink sitting at the back of the reds. There are two loose reds.

That is not a give me. He played the right shot. He missed the pink with

the cannon. He could have finished a lot easier than this.

You want to drop the reds in that he will not get position with that.

He could play a cannon to the red on the right of the red he is potting.

He almost missed the red. That is why he has lost position. He missed

the cannon will stop that is why he is faced with a very difficult pot.

He has a difficult blue to cut in. He has a 50 point lead. What a key

pot coming up! He is going to be hampered, is he?

The reds will be a distraction for him.

Just a fraction and it would have been straightforward.

That was all he could do because he was in such an awkward spot. 62

ahead. There he restricted with the cue ball.

-- very restricted with the cue ball. He needs a red and anything

from the blue upwards and Mark Selby would need a snooker.

That was able pretty good effort. He was perfectly on the Black hand he

knocked the Black had he not read would not leave anything easy. -- on

the black and he knocked the black. He did not intend to cannon the

black with the red. It is still possible. He wants to keep all the

balls in open play. Mark Davis would love to get them near the cushion.

If that keeps going, he has him in a spot of bother. Having said that,

you can see the one to the left of the blue.

If he takes this on, he is in a similar position to Mark Selby. All

the reds are in a good position to make a clearance. You cannot screw

the cue ball back to baulk because the blue is in the way.

He only just missed the double-kiss. He did not hit it as he

intended. The only thing with this, I do not think it is natural enough

to the middle pocket. If he cuts this in, I think he will go between

the green and the brown. I