Day 3 Masters Snooker

# What comes around... Was into-macro good afternoon, our

apologies, our sincere apologies to our late start this afternoon, we

had a complete power outage here at Alexandra Palace in north London.

Not just in the palace but in the entire surrounding area and when we

find out who forgot to read the meter, they will be trouble! So we

are making up for lost time this afternoon as we get the live play

under on this third day of the Dafabet Masters here at Ally Pally.

It is worth the wait, I can tell you. This is one of the juiciest

ties of the first round. The 2011 Masters champion, Ding Junhui facing

the man who was runner-up in this very arena a couple of years ago,

Shaun Murphy. And Shaun having lost three stone over the last few

months, is a lean, mean fighting machine. He is hoping for an upturn

in his fortunes at the start of the New Year. This promises to be a

cracking match. Stephen Hendry and we have got Ron Walker our MC out in

the arena, he is generally put into his own electricity source, it is

all yours, let's get going. Absolutely, thanks, Hazel. Good

afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We are back. Never has there been a

greater sense of anticipation at the start of the first round match at

the Dafabet Masters, two the very best in the world and even though

they have been waiting for an hour and a quarter, they are now ready to

rock and roll and entertainers in fine style. Please welcome, a player

armed with new-found fitness and a new regime for the New Year. He also

recorded his second career 147 earlier this month, a former world

and UK champion, bidding this week for another super run to the Masters

final, he is a class act on and off the baize, here's the magician,

Shaun Murphy! Brilliant walk on music! And aids

and gentlemen, his opponent, a national hero in China, what a

season this fellow has had so far, winning the Indian open, the

Shanghai Masters and the international championship. He

joined the highest ranking of his career as world than the three,

Masters champion in 2011, ladies and gentlemen, enter the Dragon, Ding

Junhui! HAZEL IRVINE: Once again, best of 11

friends here and I think everybody really rubbing their hands now in

anticipation, this could be a cracking match and let's meet the

commentary team this afternoon, a couple of likely lads, Dennis Taylor

and John Parrott. Lovely to see you both. The first frame, Ding Junhui

to break. COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon

everybody stop we are back with live snooker after roughly an hour's

delay. As Hazel said, this should be an

absolutely cracking match. They are so evenly matched.

First shot on the table and his judgement is pretty good, the white

is very tight on the baulk cushion. The man in form, Ding, this year.

Three ranking titles in a row. The first one to do it since Stephen

Hendry almost 20 years ago. And it is the lean machine, Shaun Murphy

that attempts this long pot. He looks very fit, doesn't he? Yes,

and his game in good form as well. The new cue he has had for a while

is certainly working well. This is a fantastic matchup. Two brilliant

matches in the first round, Neil Robertson against Mark Allen as

well, those two released it out. He would have rather not caught the

middle pocket because he was coming round nicely for the black. Good

cueing. Just hitting the jaw of the pocket the which has left him the

wrong side of the blue. The crowds... Since the tournaments

have started, they have been fantastic. Even though we have the

power outage, they had still been in great form. They had to leave the

arena and were brought back in again. It took me back to the 70s. I

remember doing an exhibition in the miners strike and it was all lamps

in the working men's club. Nobody knew how many breaks I made!

It looks like the black is available. But not an easy shot. One

of those shots that can define a match. We know how good he is at the

top end of the table but he can get a lot of confidence from these.

He decided to screw back for the blue and there is the length of the

pot he was faced with. He felt like he was playing that if he did not

get it in, the White was in a safe position so he is perfect on the

blue. This is a great chance, I don't know

if he has got the angle to play the red that is closest to the left

corner pocket. This is what he has played right down at six o'clock if

you use the cue ball as a clock face and just look at the backspin.

The black and white poll showing at -- ball showing as it stops and

picks up pace as it continue spinning. He has got rid of that red

and now a great chance. He already looks like he is fine fettle, does

Ding. These two have played on 15

occasions, 8-6 to Shaun but Ding looks like he has the upper hand.

They have only played once in the Masters and that was 2009 and Ding

won. 6-4. It was at the same stage as this much is. -- this match is.

Interesting the way Ding played that last shot, I thought he might have

left it lower and played that red and then opened a few more out but

he has decided to do it the other way, he needs a good cannon into the

pack. You need to stun into these. Very clever, he used the left side

of the bunch for a bit of assurance there. Yellow marker better shot

than mine, that's for sure, he is perfect on the red in the middle and

consequently he has opened up two reds in the back of a cluster so

that was really well thought out. He is one of the game's guest

break-builders now, Ding. 57 centuries last season, he is already

on 39 this season. And that is the textbook stance that Ding has, a bit

more traditional. With the art of Ding's break-building, it is very

simplistic. Like anything, Dennis. When it is done well, it looks

simple. Good stance, good cue action and keeps his head still.

There is the stance, the forward foot ahead, some of them are square

on but Ding is more like the old traditional stance, the Joe Day this

type stance. -- Jo Davies. What a start, all great champions seem to

start well. The opening red, if you get it in it

gives you confidence and there is an example of it. His positional play

has been exemplary. He is so good to watch, Ding, the

way he goes about his break building.

Just coming up to seven minutes for this frame winning effort. Yes, a

great way to start the match. He could possibly make a total

clearance, and keep Shaun Murphy sitting in his chair. I know Shaun

is playing well, but the best way for Ding to keep him cold is to

knock all the balls in. He might just have an angle here to

screw back and to dislodge that red. Yes, he can do this.

Well, does that red go past the yellow, or does he have to cut it

into the other corner? He has had to cut it. Oh, no century break, but

what a way to start. He knocked in a long red, and he had a frame winning

break of 99. It is that kind of precision which

Shaun Murphy knows he is going to have to counter this afternoon. King

has done something that only you did 20 years ago, when three world

ranking events in a road. For you, what has been the feature about his

game that has clicked this season? It seems to be almost like the

second coming of Ding. He seemed to go through a stage, a couple of

years ago, when he did not seem to be enjoying it. This year I think he

has changed his management. He seems happy, and if you are happy, you are

going to play better snooker. Yes, he certainly seems happy away from

the table. There were a couple of shots in that opening frame... The

opening red, he cued a beautiful one. This one was a lovely shot. But

there was one which started of that break, where he's screwed back up to

the blue. This wasn't such a clever shot. He brought a couple of reds

interplay, and he made sure that he was going into the pack in exactly

the right place. That is the thing about break building, he is a very

clever break builder. Lovely little cannons and everything, without

having to smash them up. He looks so clean and so unfussy, and absolutely

deadly. DENNIS TAYLOR: Yes, that is the red

that we were talking about, it was a superb shot, to leave himself on the

blue. JOHN PARROTT: Yes, talking about

those three ranking victories, you could say they were certainly more

meritorious than Stephen's. I hate to say that about my friend, but he

has had extra matches to play to win those three tournaments. So, a

fantastic performance. Just to win a single ranking tournament these days

is good. So to win free on the bounce is very special. That was the

view of the opening red that he had. But was too thick, a poor safety

shot. I am not sure if Shaun can get past this red. There is one above

the pink which will definitely go. He was close to the cushion, but

thinner would have been better than thicker. This is not a

straightforward pot. The fact that the other one was over the pocket,

it was far enough away to make it difficult. And straightaway, Ding is

in with a good chance. It is a funny game, Dennis, isn't it? Dean has

played a pretty ordinary safety shot, and a couple of moments later

finds himself with the balls at his mercy once again. Other times, you

can play the best safety shot and end up losing the frame. A strange

game at times. He is thinking quite a few shots

ahead, working out around the black spot area what he can do in a few

shorts' time. Eventually, he may be able to get on

a red. He will be clearing the way to one particular pocket when he

gets this one. Yes, it will be interesting to see

how he goes about this. Now, can he bring this black

interplay? He seems to have a good angle on it. He needs a little bit

of good fortune. If he had hit that a little thinner,

he might have knocked the black away.

He played that well. And now, he is in business. That was a good shot.

If he cues like he did in the first frame, I fear the worst for Shaun

Murphy. This could be 2-0 in a blink. And as you mentioned, Ding

had played a poor safety shot, but he covered the red which was over

the pocket. And this is where psychology plays

such a big part in the game. Shaun would have been expecting to be able

to pot the one over the pocket. He knew he had to get that. It is all

about positive thinking, and it is easier said than done, when you are

working with a sports psychologist, they can tell you what to do, but

when you get out into the bearpit, as Cliff Thorburn used to say, it is

not always easy to pull it off. This is not absolutely

straightforward yet. He just needs to make sure he gets on to the next

red here. That should be fine. He played that

in such a way that he has two choices. Yes, that is what a top

professional dance. People think they are thinking five or six shots

ahead, but it is only a few shots, because they are putting themselves

in that kind of position, where they have a choice, so they can change

their mind. Just looking, if he was on that red on the right-hand side,

the advantage of that one would be that he would clear the path for the

pink as well. The pink will definitely go after this... Perfect.

You missed a trick once, Dennis, but I do not know what year it was!

I think the best way to describe Ding's break building is to say that

it is done with an economy of effort. Slightly over screwed that

one. He put a bit of extra side on it. That should be OK, but he wanted

to be straight on the pink. Now, is he on anything other than

the one he has just cannoned? I do not think he is. That was the one

thing which could have gone wrong. We were praising his break building,

but the previous shot was not up to his usual standards. Sometimes, you

trust a little bit to luck with the cannon. It is as if he wants to this

into the middle pocket, rather than take it to the corner.

We have often said it, if you play well, you get the luck with the

balls, and there is an example. To hit the yellow like that is a

massive slice of luck. He played for the red at the back.

Yes, once again, he has got an alternate shot, though.

And no real reason from this position where he should not up this

frame. Well, he came up just one point

short of the century in the opening frame. This will be another great

chance. Just make sure of the frame first,

and then concentrate on the possible century. What a start from this

Chinese sensation. Shaun Murphy has had one go at pot, and that is about

it, really. -- at a pot. That is what happens at this level, though,

isn't it, Dennis? He is perfectly capable, he knows

when his chance comes, he is going to score. Yes, that is where the

temperament comes in, when you are sitting in your seat, watching your

opponent make frame winning breaks, you have got to get yourself psyched

up. You have got to hope that you can do the same to him. But at the

moment, he has not had an easy chance, Shaun. Delicate little shot

into the left middle pocket now. If this goes in, and he holds for the

colour, he will get the century. Once again, very unlucky with

regards to the century break, but one chance was all he needed. Ding

now leads 2-0. I did say this could be one of the great ties of the

first round. Let's just remind you of the luck of the draw so far. --

them look -- the look of the draw so far. Marco Fu awaits the winner of

the match we are watching. Tomorrow, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen meet

for the fourth time at the Masters. Stephen Maguire resisted a last-gasp

charge from Joe Perry last night. Tonight, it is the return of The

Rocket, who missed the Masters last year.

DENNIS TAYLOR: Off we go, then, with frame number three.

A it on the thing side. He needs the brown to come to his rescue here.

I hate to say it, but this is a chance.

There are at least five reds available.

Well, he played that as a shot to nothing. But he has left it. So, a

first chance for The Magician, Shaun Murphy. He wanted to be a lot

further out into the table there. Now, he is having to rely on a

cannon. An example of Shaun being off the

table. But he has played that beautifully.

Well, he has misjudged that one, hitting it too hard. Yes, that was

poor judgment. He just tried to hold for the red to

the right of the bunch. But that was not an easy pot I any means.

Dean can go straight into the pack off this black.

Well, he cued right across that. He was playing your shot, John, but he

missed the pot by a long way. That is the kind of shocked which saps a

little bit of confidence away. Did not push the cue through in a

straight line. And now, Shaun can do what John said, pot black, off the,

into the bunch. And how is your luck? It has certainly opened the

reds up... He played that nicely, and that is a massive let off for

Shaun, because Ding has really missed an opportunity there. These

are absolutely lovely. So, that was a big part of the frame and the

match, really. He was definitely on top there,

Ding, but he has let him go. Yes, it is very early on, first to six, but

there are points in the match which can tell it all around. And maybe,

that might be one of those moments. Yes, he has been playing with a new

cue this season, Shaun. He made a maximum with it last week. He is

really happy with it. Yes, he has been working with Chris Henry for

the last few months, purchasing hard, working on his technique. I

remember practising with Shaun when he first came on the scene, and I

thought he had one of the best cue actions in the game.

A lovely player to watch when he is flowing.

And when he is in amongst the balls, he certainly does not hang around.

He is very quick around the table. Yes, we may have had a late start

here today, due to losing the power, but these boys are making up for it,

Dennis. Yes, four frames to be played before the mid-session

interval, and we have only been playing about 32 minutes.

I think if you were starting off playing snooker, and you wanted to

look at a few of the players, how they go about it, and how they cue,

I am pretty sure Shaun would be at the top of the list.

Shaun made 33 centuries last season. He has hit 16 this season. He will

have to pull out a good pot here to give himself a chance of a century.

No. Not quite. But he will not be too concerned.

And this is Shaun Murphy ran it 10th appearance in the Masters. He did

not fare too well at Wembley, but here at Alexandra Palace, his track

record is strong. He has been runner-up in the past and he was a

semifinalist last year. In fact, the Englishman has the superior record

in the head-to-head. But it was Ding who prevailed most recently, in the

Shanghai Masters, last year, en route to that historic winning run

of three titles in a row. Gentlemen, very high quality and pretty quick

so far? Yes, a great response by Shaun. He looked to have missed his

chance, Ding surprisingly missed a red. What does Shaun have to do to

counter what is clearly a very informed Ding? Well, he set out a

marker to say, I am going to score just as much as you. I think that

was a very important frame for Shaun Murphy. He had looked a bit nervous

at the beginning of that frame. JOHN PARROTT: Only what we expected

here this afternoon, two top-class players, who have both been in

excellent form. It looked like it was going to be a great match, and

so far, it is living up to the billing.

DENNIS TAYLOR: He may not be on a colour, but I will tell you what,

knocking that long red in will make Ding quickly forget about the one he

missed in the previous frame. That will restore his confidence, without

a doubt. Do not blame him for refusing the

blue. It was awkward bridging. That was a safety shot he had to be

careful with, he played that really well.

That is the second one down that side of the table that Ding has hit

on the thick side. I don't think it is too much damage but it is not

putting any pressure on Shaun by having the cue ball tight on the

bottom rail so he will need to brush up on that a little bit.

That was the right way to play it, round the angles. As long as you got

the cue ball there. It would be safe.

To Riddick shot, superb, horrific safety shot. -- to Riddick shot --

terrific. He was in a dangerous position there. But worked it to his

advantage. Just looking at the situation, Shaun

cannot, the backers in the way of the shot -- the black is in the way.

He might have to take this pot on because there is no safety.

What did I say about turning it to his advantage? What a pot that was.

That is a Shaun Murphy special. One of the reasons that he is called the

Magician. He certainly waved his magic wand there. That was the

length of the pot. For the next shot, Ding may have the

opportunity to play behind the green now. It was a brilliant shot he

played last time so Shaun is taking the opportunity now to put him in

the position. He had a good look, realise putting

the cue ball on the left hand side was no good so he shoved it over the

and what a good job he made of it. This time Ding can come off that

side cushion that Shaun could have played, he has to be very precise.

So close, that. He will have it put wax just a slight adjustment. -- put

back so just a slight adjustment. You can see the line there. It is

just a case of playing a contained safety here.

He hasn't hit it hard enough this time.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. The one thing he had to do was make

sure there was enough pace on the cue ball to reach that question.

That is a big mistake. From what should have been an easy shot for

somebody of Ding's abilities. The Blackwood be tied up, it will

still be available into one corner pocket. -- the black won't be tied

up. He can drop this in an comeback on

the black I think. The drag shot is when you hit the

white on the bottom and you can play with a bit more pace and it does

take the pace out of it. It is a lovely shots to watch and it looks

straightforward. Lots of people would not know that it has

happened. It seemed an ideal opportunity to

flick those two reds open. Not a plant, so he will come to those a

little later. This is a delicate little cannon

required. In between the two reds would be perfect for hitting one

red. He has played it nicely. We thought this would be a great

match, it is turning out to be a terrific battle. Ding breaks at 99,

84 and two opening frames, Shaun with the third frame and now this. A

nice subtle cannon required here. You do not need to make too many

mistakes at this level. The last frame he had the... Two

mistakes and that is it. It looks like 2-2 at the interval. And for

all the world, it looks like we might go to a deciding frame the way

both of these players are going. I think he has run out of position,

he is quickly looking at the scoreboard. That spoiled the chance

of a century break and still a six to seven possible points on the

board, and luckily for Shaun here 68 ahead. He'll be kicking himself, he

was to get this over and done with quickly. He will give himself some

mental anguish if he is not careful. One red and one colour, it would

have been over. They do not pay you for overtime in this sport.

How would you know about overtime, JP? Your last job was as a school

prefect! I was good at it, though! If you can knock this red end, we

can go to the mid-session interval. -- knock this read in.

Not many mistakes being made in this match.

We'll hanker back to the third frame where Ding Junhui was 2-0 up, had

Shaun Murphy on the rack and the mid range red, pots the black and splits

the pack up, it was looking that trouble but he didn't and since

then, Shaun has been in the ascendancy.

Ding with the slight favourite for this tie but at the beginning, it is

difficult to pick a winner. Doesn't matter about the red, they get the

mid-session interval and are both in fine form winning their frames with

one visit virtually, it is 2-2, game. As into-macro game on indeed.

And Stephen is quietly spurring because this is the way you like

your snigger. -- you like your snigger. This is what it is like --

your snooker. It is cut and thrust. It looked pretty ominous for Shaun

because Ding looked in great form. You mentioned that Ding missed one

shot in the third frame which he really had badly and sometimes it

does not matter if you miss a shot, it does not knock your company is

too much, but that does and since then he has looked shaky. In terms

of the way that Shaun is facing things, it was here when he was in

the semifinal last year, you were in the commentary box against Neil

Robertson where you identified some flaws last year in Shaun's game, he

was getting to 40 and then saw him losing concentration throughout the

bigger breaks. Seem to be sorting things out in that regard. He got

out of position. He loses concentration, plays careless

positional shots. I know he is working hard with Chris and I used

to work with him and it looks like he is sorting it out. Chris Henry,

his coach and he has been trying to improve matters. It has been a lean

couple of months for Shaun Murphy, because since 2011, that was the

last time he picked up a trophy and indeed as has been mentioned, he has

been working to try to remedy things with Chris but frustrating times for

him. But off the table, very different situation. He is very

happy in his personal life and he has lost three stone 's and as ever,

he is great company. You are considerably more svelte, a

lot of work has gone in. What have you been up to? I got to a point in

the summer where I just felt I was spiralling a little bit with my body

and, you know, I am meant to be in the prime of my life and I decided

to take a couple of steps to change and it has meant a complete rehash

of my diet. I am not on a diet, but I have changed what and the way I

eat. I have become more active. I just like living a better life.

Stopped drinking certain drinks. Something that colour cannot be good

for you! I suddenly discovered how good water is. Apparently! And yes,

it has been a complete change. It has given me a new lease of life, I

feel better about myself, I feel better when I put my suits on, when

I go to work. I feel better. So far, I have lost somewhere near two

stone. I am trying my best. I guess it will always be something I need

to work on but these long matches are difficult when you are under

pressure. And if you cannot be carrying around a bit more than you

should be, it has got to be good. The first time I saw you, you may be

most remarkable speech and you were full of self possession, I was

amazed. You have always been very mature, almost mature beyond your

years. I think it has been a benefit to me but from other people's point

of view, other people have seen me as thinking I am about myself or

untouchable and not in touch with certain people and maybe the younger

culture that is now getting into snooker. I don't know, but I have

certainly tried to take steps to be a little bit more rounded as an

individual and not be so black and white about things. I look back at

some of the things I have said in the past and think... I could have

sat on the fence a bit more there. The first time I play that the

Crucible, I had an interview afterwards and said I want to go

down in history as one of the greats of the game and be in the same

conversation as Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis and I was thinking, what

was I thinking? Why say that? Do you think people thought you were all

before your time? Guess, but growing up in a world of adults like I did,

from being eight years old growing up in a snooker club which is a very

adult culture, I grew up with men talking about things men talk

about. And from eight, nine, ten, 11, was exposed to things that you

don't find out about until your late teens and so perhaps when I grew up,

I was in more mature than my years. I think there is a lot more to you

than Mr clean cut but what I want to know is what is your idea of a wild

night out or in? I like nothing more than having nothing on for a few

years, -- days, calling my friends round for a few beers. That is

good, but you are the antithesis of the tortured genius in snooker. I

wondered how much it would frustrate you have the tortured genius and

those who are a bit wild seem to be the ones that are taking to the

hearts of the public. It doesn't bother me, looking back at one of my

role models in snooker, Mr Steve Davis. People thought he was a bit

untouchable and a bit interesting. Now everybody loves him. That tends

to be the British way. The British culture at the time likes to latch

onto the underdog and the bad boy. But in time, people do tend to come

out liking the professional, the good guy. And I think hopefully,

that is where I will be in a few years' time. He certainly is one of

the game's good guys and what has been missing over the last few

years, a killer instinct. How does he rediscover that winning

mentality. He has never been a prolific winner, he has won the

worlds but he has not won as many as people think you should have. These

are the tournaments you need to be winning. Four world ranking titles

he has won which is a slightly meagre return for a man of his

talents. Significantly, 16 Major 's semifinals is where he has come

unstuck and that is a telling statistic. Yes, quite a worrying one

because it means you are not able to go that extra little bit that it

takes to win. And it is something that may have been a decision to

make and go with Chris Henry, the mental side and that is what

separates the best from the very good, the metal ability to go that

extra mile and win the tournaments. He is holding his own today, and

great to see him performing like this. The last couple of days, we

have been royally entertained in our Masters classes, our series of

demonstrations for the intermediate players amongst you out there. We

have been entertained by John Parrott, and Steve Davis, and now it

is the turn of Ken Doherty, the art of Lake building. Go on, Rembrandt,

what have you got? We will try a John Parrott safety play. Positional

play yesterday, if you are in the club, this is about break-building,

keeping this ball, the most important ball on the table, keeping

it as closely to the object ball as possible and in this case, it will

be read and then a colour. We are seeing the two great protagonists

Ding Junhui and Shaun Murphy in those opening frames and how easy

they make their break-building. They keep them cue ball very close to the

next ball. This is just a little routine that some of the

professionals may use. I will use five red Sea, we'll start

with trying to part -- five red is here. Try to play five reds and by

blacks and all the colours, if you do that, you can turn it up a notch

and maybe take five pinks and then go on to blues and make it look

either. But watch the cue ball, when you are practising, you want to keep

this as close as possible to the next ball. We will try off a couple

of reds and a couple of blacks. I have potted one, thank you very

much. The crowd here anticipating a Ken

Doherty miss as usual on the demonstrations! But again, keeping

the cue ball as close to the black as possible.

And there you see, it is quite an easy game. That was always in.

You stay there, jazz, but worry about it. Who switch that? The other

red! There you see, it is pretty easy. So

I will turn it up a notch. Charles, hurry up! So you are in the club,

why not try pinks. This also helps to put the pink into the centre

pocket which is very important in break-building so keep the cue ball

close to the pink. And I have put another red. That's

what they do always on television, don't they? There you go. And there

you see, a pink again into the middle and if you want to move it up

a notch on to blues and then onto baulk colours, makes it an easy

game, doesn't it? Thank you. An easy game for colourblind Ken

Doherty! We are dissipating the arrival of Ronnie O'Sullivan, the

four times winner of this event. Last year he was on his sabbatical

away from snooker, this is his 20th appearance in this event but for the

man he will be facing, it is his first, but Milken 's, he makes his

debut this evening. -- Robert Milkins. Congratulations to Rob for

being among the elite and for getting here. But I am not sure he

would be looking at forward to this matchup. It was only a few weeks ago

he was rather thrashed by Ronnie 6-0 in the UK Championships, says

Stephen, what might we expect this evening? The only chance he has got

and he has got to get chances, Ronnie Campbell people away but you

are always going to get chances. At the UK he missed two unforgivable

balls in the middle pocket and it cost him two frames. He needs to cut

out his losses. The record books read 24 frames for O Sullivan, four

for Milkins in their three matches, it does not make pretty reading for

Milkins. How do you psych yourself up for some of the who has thank you

so much? You cannot, it is horrible. It is almost impossible for him to

come out of the match with any confidence. I don't know if he works

with anybody, Terry? He can work with him to try to relax, one shot

at a time and try not to miss easy balls. You have to say

congratulations to Milkins, he had for five wasted years by his own

admission a problem with drinking and gambling, he wasted his talents

and so a fantastic achievement for him to have got here. I have never

put him down as a top 16 player, but it shows how much he has improved

and his game has improved. A cracking story. As for Ronnie, this

event, clearly one of his favourites. What is it about this

event that suits his mentality and his form? The best players like the

biggest events, simple as that. The Masters, the world, the UK, Ronnie

has won mode of them. It gets his juices flowing, he looks forward to

them. Bet is probably -- it is properly the least hassle he can

have. Everybody will be looking forward to seeing him. It is due to

be on the red button and online later on so you will be able to see

it. Back to focusing on this much, with Ding Junhui and Shaun Murphy.

Ding Junhui is a superstar back in China and his every move is followed

on Twitter, their version where he has got something like 3 million

followers. Our version of Twitter, it has got a

few million and so I have lots of fans. It is very nice and quiet. A

good practice place, I like to stay half a year in China and have a year

in England so I keep quiet because for me, it is not easy.

When I am playing snooker, I will see my friends. I will have a chat

or have a beer, go to the cinema. I didn't play well in the start of

the season, in the few tournaments but I tried hard in the practice, I

fixed some little problems with my techniques and I will feel better

and have better concentration. I don't think too much about money.

I have to keep myself doing well and then I work hard, make sure I play

good. HAZEL IRVINE: He turned about the

China open as an 18-year-old in 2005 and won it and since then, his

population has been guaranteed. It is hard to overstate his success but

how comfortable do you think he is with his status and his own skin?

He's getting more used to it. The only tournament he does not seem to

be able to perform in is the world championship. Because of the weight

of expectation from China perhaps, I think the B expectation to win for

himself, and then everybody else. I used to try to win it for Scotland,

but I did not, I tried to win it for me. A Stephen Maguire said the other

day, he said there is lots more to come and he said he seems finally at

ease with himself and winning the titles and life is good for him, his

talent and his fame, he seems to take it in his stride. The other

players and noticing this. Yes, he seems more relaxed backstage, his

English is getting better so he is enjoying it more and then he will

play well. He has got a lovely sense of humour. He is back out again, and

we are poised to frames apiece with Shaun Murphy in a match that all of

us have been forward to and is living up to expectations, most

certainly. Back to John Parrott and Dennis Taylor. More of the same,

please gentlemen. In It was fabulous, wasn't it? I

cannot wait. Just a few latecomers coming back to the seats.

Note that this break. He needs the pro bowl to come to his rescue. That

is three times he has caught the ball too thick coming back down the

side of the table. He is going to just nestle into the

bunch. REFEREE: foul under miss. Yes, talking about Ding Junhui we in

China, we went for the meal with about 15 overs and when we came out,

you would not believe the code which was outside. But I have always

admired the overseas players coming to the United Kingdom. At the

moment, the referee is just asking for a bit of help from the monitor,

to make sure the ball is replaced in the rate position. But this is the

shot which Shaun should be getting. That was a little bit hard. Yes, he

should not have left him this shot. C what his confidence is like. He

was not missing anything in the first couple of frames. Confidence

back and 100% of the amount. Just a wee he played it, I thought he would

have lately cue ball drift down the rate for one of the baulk colours,

but he decided to hold it for the global into the middle.

I think he was looking at maybe running north to cushions of this

into the panic, but that is a very difficult shot. He is now coming

round to look at that possibility. , because it is so close to the

cushion, he cannot get to the bottom of the cue ball and play it as he

would've liked to. This is delicate, it is not going to

reach. He had to just drop the ten dead weight.

Now, this is a chance to open them up, but he did not get enough screw

on that. I am slightly surprised, because there was no real downside

to him hitting that a lot harder. No, slightly hampered by the cueing.

I just wonder of that middle pocket is effectively larger because of the

Bolivia. That might tempt him to take on the pink. When for the

corner and a good confidence pink. He did look at the possibility of a

safety shot and Heath he can pour less and no get back on the ball

blue, things could start opening up here. Yes, hitting the ball

beautifully at the moment, Shaun. Well, he tried to get into the

bunch. He was always going to have the chance of this red, so I do not

think he had any need to apologise, but I think they're just shows how

much power he has in that cue action.

He will have to be very delicate. I do not think he is on anything. I

think he should maybe have given that like a little more thought. He

should probably have stunned onto that. Yes, I think you are right.

No, what has he spotted? Not the best safety shot in the

world. He should have been very tight on the baulk cushion and he

has left a chance here for Ding. He has had a look to make sure he does

not leave anything else on offer this, but you OK.

Now, the kiss on the pink has left the red on. It was the only thing

which could have left the ball on. Ding is not in the form that he was

at the beginning of the match and, more worryingly, he is beginning to

give Shaun plenty of chances. There is someone high up in the

audience with a camera with the flash on it. There are three tables

them to put the cameras and the phones are we and off.

No real problem that he is on the wrong side of the blue, because

there are so many reds available. There is a wide margin for error.

You can see the right-hand side swinging it off the baulk cushion.

Yes, I think he would've liked to beam slightly closer to this rate,

but when you have a cue action like as, maybe he is not so worried, but

it has cost him. Yes, you are absolutely right, there is no reason

why he should not have been a lot closer to this. The game is all

about trying to make it as easy as you can for yourself. This is a very

important visit to the table for Ding. His standard has definitely

dipped it. He will be looking for a frame winning contribution in the

one visit. Straightaway, he has come up on the

wrong side of this red, salty he will have to go up for the blue.

Originally, that may be no bad thing, because looking at the pack,

I think if he is going to go into them, he would be much better going

into them from this, as opposed to people like. -- the black.

He did not get the Canon. I think he hit the wrong red. He was fortunate

to find this red into the centre. No, these are going to be the year

for the taking. It was interesting the way he played

that. He played that very slowly. It worked out all right. They are

all beginning to clear out of each other's way. That is what it is all

about, reducing the element of risk. He knows that when he pots one

red, he will clear path for another one at the same time. It will be

interesting to see what he plays here. It is all about the judgement.

No, he will kick himself if he does not win the frame from here.

So, to very easy red is available, which will be enough to leave Shaun

at least newcomers required stage. -- snookers required.

We felt that Ding had made a big mistake when he left that ball shot

when he was going for the blue, but then Shaun played a similar shot and

left himself too far away from that red. Yes, you really need to make

the most of every opportunity. So, Shaun coming back to the table,

but Edie Quire 's a lot of smokers. carrying on. From the point of view

of Ding, that was exactly what the doctor ordered. It was a good way to

let Shaun no he is still in a big match.

That is not a bad snooker, given how the baulk colours are placed.

Yes, we call him the Magician, but I think he will need to be to win this

frame. It has been done before, but

percentage-wise, it happens very rarely.

When we say it is just for, that is assuming that the player does not

fit any of them, you are obviously having to lay many more of them if

they are hitting, for example half of them. But no, just a bit of

rotting practice for Ding. He will just clearly is up in the

straightforward way. There are a few players who like to bash the balls

around and play exhibition shots, but that is not in his nature.

There is both of them going end. If you mistakes from both players, but

it is now 3-2 to Ding. A few interesting things happened there.

When Ding Junhui we left that to ball shot and on the commission, we

thought that he had given Shaun a big opportunity, but then Shaun did

exactly the same. This was the shot. He simply did not let this hard

enough. He still left himself with the shot, but all he needed to do

was hit it slightly harder and the red would have been virtually

unmissable. I still fancied him to knock this end and I am sure he did,

but that was the big mistake. After that, he never get back to the table

and lost the frame. But, he needs to simply forget about it.

Not too bad, but he has not got the break shot to perfection today. He

has left a possible pot. Now, where is this red going to

finish. That was one very good slice of good fortune. You are not

kidding. John may well come off the bottom cushion here and come right

behind it. The interesting to see what sort of

safety shot he plays here. You could take the red to the rate of the

bunch and open the pack, make it a very attacking safety shot. But this

was tough and I cannot believe that he has got away with this again. He

is very lucky. I do not think that was the hate shot to take on, but

what a result. A fairly easy safety shot. OK, you

do not know we are all there reds are going to finish. The black

finishing predators could mean a boat of safety play.

He is just going to drop dead weight into the side of the pack. The

referee said touching ball. It is easy for him to lean over and see

that, he is about six foot five. A couple of the referees would need a

set of stepladders to lean over and see that!

As ever, it is not just about the red you are contacting, you have to

be very careful not to promote one over the other corner. Well, he is

having a very good run of the balls at the moment, to put it mildly.

That is three shots in a row where he has got away with it.

If he had not hit the bump, the red that he hit, which have been left on

for Shaun. That is much better. Good pace on

the cue ball. Yes, when you get these frames where

there is a ball over the corner, the players tend to air on the side of

caution and stay well clear of that pocket. What becomes important as

covering the pocket on the other side and you can end up with a

lengthy safety battle. Yes, he is quick to have to be careful that he

does not deflect a red onto that black and put the black in.

I mentioned LLP had played a few shots down that side of the table

where he had not got the pace correct, but that was perfect.

Shaun has got to be careful that he covers the red in between the pack

and the blue. I do not know if he can contact

enough of that red to be able to come across the table twice and put

the cue ball back behind the brown and the green.

No, he did not have the angle to do that. Now, will this red next to the

pink pot? John is working every he could put the cue ball. He would

like to play it in such a way that he would not leave any other red on.

He has to avoid the red on the right-hand side of the table if he

takes this on. Yes, maybe the thin client of off the side of the pack

may be the order of the day here, a bit of patience. I do not blame him

for that. There was a lot of technical difficulty in the long

pot. I do not blame him for waiting. He might have to wait a while. The

last frame was the longest of the match. This one is going to be, the

way that the balls are now situated. And this of course, has come about

because of the position of the black.

Cannot get past the blue to clip off the reds. Shaun Murphy cannot see

the red to the left of the bunch. How has he found the gap? How has he

found that gap? To put the red over the pocket. That is unlucky. If you

tried to do that, you couldn't. If he had laid it a bit harder, the red

would have dropped in. Amazing. He is not having the best run of the

balls in this game. The first time Shaun Murphy plays a shot like that,

he puts the red over a whole. He cannot just drop it in because

when the black is re-spotted, it will cover the reds. There is

another red available, but he has hit it too hard. Not the greatest

shot by Ding's standards. He needed to hit that a bit thicker. He was

playing into an area, anywhere there and he would have a nice easy read.

But he overhit it. It wasn't a great safety by Ding

either. Chants missed. Hawk-Eye always gets it right. Ding

has not got this right. I thought he was going to slip past the green. He

has covered the red he sent over the pocket. At the moment it looks like

Ding will win this frame no matter what happens.

There was a possible part, but Shaun Murphy could not do much else. I

know someone who would not this red in. He is sitting next to me, John

Parrott. Let's see how Ding is off the cushion.

Not bad. Very difficult shots from that position. He queued that

beautifully. He left the cue do the work.

Difficult to judge that, when you are playing a screw shot and canning

off another ball. What is he looking at? None of those

reds are available, surely? It is not the easiest to play safe off.

Has to make sure he played that very thin.

He has got away with that one as well! He is certainly testing Shaun

Murphy's patients. He is blessed with a great temperaments, but with

some of the things happening out there, some of the older players

have been pulling faces. Having said that, he seemed to rush

into that. I think that is because of what has been going on. He looked

to just get down and have a go at a very difficult chance. No idea where

the cue ball was going to finish. I think it was the right shot to play,

but did not give it as much time that was required. It wasn't easy.

When there is no guarantee for position, sometimes you don't

concentrate hard enough. He may have to take the red in the

centre at the moment. He has decided to take this one instead and screw

it for either the pink or the blue. For all of the great play and the

skill these boys have got, sometimes you cannot beat a good run of the

balls. He has definitely had it in this frame, Ding Junhui.

Well, that is an awful shot. I never thought I would ever see Ding

playing that so bad. Overscrewed it. Shaun Murphy will not be believing

that. This is what Hawk-Eye would have

done. Congratulations Hawk-Eye, you are right.

I am getting a bit fed up of that Hawk-Eye, John.

That was a poor one. Did not get enough pace to get the red off the

cushion and back into safety. It is another chance the Ding.

What a shot he played there. Absolutely beautiful. What control.

He played it so softly as well. It was a natural cannon.

May have to come out round the angles for this. Could not avoid the

cannon on the two reds behind the black. Has slightly underhit that

one. Trickier shot than it looks. Has he got away with it again? He

has covered everything. It is unbelievable. He is definitely going

to pick some horses for me over the weekend.

Ding's le shot when he screwed around the angles, he just underhit

it. It is better to overhit it. Got to keep his patients here.

How hard has he had that? That is a shocker. One of the worst safety

shot I have ever seen Shaun Murphy play. I think he is getting

frustrated with what is going on out there. Just hit it too hard. He has

not played a good shot there, Ding. A little bit too much side. Should

not be a problem for the green. A nice, natural angle. Stunt across

and the red at the back of the bunch is available.

He did not heed to hit that hard. It was a straightforward pot with a

little bit of screw. We have seen a couple of those this afternoon. One

early on in the third frame, he cued across. Little bit of a kick there.

Seems like the only thing he hasn't had in this frame.

He had to be careful though with a delicate little cannon. I think he

is just about OK here. He has lost his rhythm at the

moment. He is overhitting everything. Just last a little bit

of composure. Ding let him off the hook and you have to punish those

mistakes. Even though he was over 30 points behind, he should have

punished Ding. It was one of those shots you had to be careful. Even if

he was low on the shot, he would have had a chance at it. Chance

gone. A very funny frame, this. In a perfect world he would like to move

the pink off the side cushion and play into the baulk area, but he

cannot do it. It is off the yellow but at the same time he does not

want to put it in a safe position either. He will be kicking himself.

That was a chance gone begging. The red to the right of the black,

if he takes the pot on he could cannon into the black. Just a safety

down the other side of the table. Knocking the brown off its spot is

to Ding's advantage as well. The average shot time has gone right

up. Pot success rate has dropped. But as

John said, it has been a funny frame. All started when the Black

was knocked over the right, corner pocket. We were already 26 minutes,

the first three frames lasted just over 26 minutes.

It is the old adage as well, when frames take this long, is when you

lose them. If you put your concentration in it and then win it,

at least you get reward. But if you put your concentration in it and

lose, you get nothing. Might be able to take the red onto the right

corner this time and get onto the back of the black. He is just

looking at that now. He needs to avoid a cannon into the black. There

is a couple of reds he can take to the right corner.

Not even going to bother with either of them. He feels he can cannon into

another ball, so keeping it tight. Not much to hide behind other than

the green. He needs to get close to that. He has swapped them round, the

red is safe, but the pink is back in play. Good shot. Look where the pink

has finished, John. If the pink is not there, Shaun Murphy could have

taken the red onto the right corner and avoid cannon in into the black.

Just dead weight on to this top red. A very bad misjudgement. One thing

he could not do was go that side of the red. Inside of it all day long,

but not there. Missed the red by a long way. That has cost him the

frame. In fact, I think Shaun Murphy will be glad to see the back of this

frame because he has had no run whatsoever. If I was in, I would be

splashing a bit of water on my face and start again. There has only ever

looked like one winner in this frame, the way the balls have run.

The difference is 53 and only 51 on the table. This was the delicate

screw shot back caused Shaun Murphy the problems.

Not much has happened in this frame. But he did have a chance there, you

are absolutely right. It is the only frame where we have

not had any breaks. The others were won with virtually

just one visit. He is not bothered about that. He knew the frame was

well and truly over. John Parrott, he is taking your advice and leaving

the arena. That was a frustrating frame for Shaun Murphy. Ding will be

delighted. Every other frame has had a 60 plus rake and that was the

first scrappy one we have had an frustrating for Shaun Murphy?

Ding got away with three or four chances with shops and safety shot.

When he did get his chance, he overscrewed the red into the corner

pocket and he will be kicking himself. It could be a pivotal frame

because Shaun Murphy looks a bit despondent after that and frustrated

as well. As long as it does not get to him. He is right getting out of

the arena and putting water on his face. It has gone, he cannot do

anything about it. But if he keeps thinking about it it could be the

pivotal frame in the match. Hard for Shaun Murphy to keep his rhythm when

so many things seemed to be con spiralling against him. He tried to

follow a read through, and he got a bit of a kick. He had a long look at

the cushion. Things were not going his way, but that is what happens in

snooker. It is tough when things run against you, but you have to try and

forget it. He was talking the other day about trying to have a better

game to grind results out. I think he does have two better his game.

With the top players, B there game is a lot better. If he gets that bad

he will find more consistency. Even Ding, when he is not playing at the

top of his form, he is a tough player to beat. That is what you

have to do sometimes. It is not always going to be good, because

sometimes you are not always on it, but it you give yourself

opportunities it helps. We talked about Judd Trump and you likened him

in some respects to Judd Trump, and if you are not at your fluent best

you are not enjoying it. Is it able to train yourself? My temperament in

scrappy matches was very poor. If I wasn't playing the way I wanted to

play, I would be very down in my chair.

Very interesting there. A The Games. Mine was my F game, John.

Sometimes it is difficult to blank all that away. In snooker you have

20 two balls -- 22 balls. Very strange things happen.

Best of 11, first to 6. Not just quite a problem yet for Shaun

Murphy. But he could do with this one. He was hoping to get in behind

the yellow or at Lee's locked the path of this red to the left of the

blue. The only thing is, the black is off its spot.

That is why he tried to get back up the table. Surely he hasn't covered

it again? It keeps on happening. Shaun Murphy has got to be patient

and hope things can turn around and the run of the ball changes.

That is to buckle of what happens when it is not running your way. --

typical. Tough to take at the moment for Shaun Murphy, I should imagine.

There is only one red available at the moment. He has got an angle so

he should be able to get onto it. Could go into the pack of reds if he

has a good enough angle, otherwise it is into that circle. It was into

the reds. Not so lucky this time. That red does not pass the blue, I

don't think. My go to the middle, but it is a thin one. If it passes

the blue, he has got a chance. He had enough angle to get into the

reds. The last frame lasted over 31

minutes. But already, this could be a lengthy frame, because if you look

at the blue and pink, right beside each other.

Very court. So, heavily on, there is only one colour on the spot. How

often do you see that? That was well played. But it does

mean that the black is out of commission no completely, even

though it was near the bottom cushion as it was.

Nobody really likes these types of frames, from the ball school very

court from the start. I think everyone likes to see the ball is

open and people scoring, certainly the players do. But, it counts just

as much as any other frame. It all adds up.

Be a brave statement to say anything was a frame winning chance, with the

balls set like this! But Shaun has this aid to bring the

book black into play. I am just wondering whether this has

got really right written all over it. -- re-rack.

He is not thinking about putting this into the middle, is he?

It is very close. What an effort that was.

Yes, I thought that would just done in slightly at the end. We noticed

earlier in the tournament that it was just pulling in slightly over

there. No, he is looking at the plant, but this could definitely be

missed, despite how close that Raiders to the centre.

I think I would much sooner pay fair to play this with a swear of. He

decided to take the one up into the top pocket. But that red will no cut

in, even though the right is on the top cushion.

You do not even think about the cue ball here. You simply just make sure

that you get the pot and worry about the fight ball later.

That is a result. He has not that red that he bumped into, back over

that centre pocket. That last shot is unbelievable. To

hit it at Bangor and then put it back over the centre pocket. It has

to be said, he has had a fantastic run of the balls.

Now, watch this again. Finishes raked over the centre. Absolutely

lovely. Now, as he come far enough? That is

tight. He had a choice of reds. He had this one or the one at the

bottom of the pack. It looks as if he is just about OK.

If the blue passes by the pink, which looks as if it does, he would

have been hard pressed to play that any better.

Obviously, it meant he could play the shot where he could just land

the cue ball into an area, so that if he was not one, he would be on

another. But not this time. An unexpectedness. He is such a good

player into the middle pocket. That may just give Shaun a little bit of

confidence. I think he just needs to score heavily in one visit. I do not

think I have seen him this red eye that far. He appears to have totally

lost his rhythm. He did not get near the pocket with this one. And sure

enough, he has left a gap to this one up at the top pocket.

Ding has to take full advantage year.

He now knows that he has got Shaun and of the course.

I wonder if he will try and get the pink back into play.

He did try, but he missed the red. What a strange frame. But actually,

he might not even have left anything again because of how close to the

pink the cue ball is. John is looking at it. -- Shaun. If he

cannot see that, that is another amazing get out for Ding. But having

said that, Ding appears to have lost a little bit of confidence, as well.

He has played a view careless ones. Yes, he seemed so concerned with a

cannon, that he actually forgot to pot their red. He is not sure if you

can see enough of this, he is asking the referee for advice! " how do I

know? " Says they're free! I did not think he can see enough of

that. We will shortly. If the pink moves.

There is a little bit of a gap. But forgetting that, he will have to

play a very good shot to get onto a colour. Yes, looking from here, it

works as if it will easily pass, but just been that little bit further

down the table, makes it court. he had to be on that occasion.

Great, Shaun, it is time to go to work, after everything that has

happened. If he can take this frame, it will be game on once again. Yes,

as a jumping, you have to put all these things behind you and move on.

There can be no complaints about this is a good chance.

There's a couple of very court red. Those around the black are not badly

placed. He me even play the cannon of this,

just nudge the one to the left of the black out of the way. It

actually looks as if he is going to run through and just can and the

other one. The only thing with that is that he has pushed the red

slightly closer to the cushion. Yes, it will be a mammoth effort to

win the frame at this visit. But even just putting together a

viewpoint, getting a bit of and fluency back.

But this is certainly not straightforward.

Now, this is the first of the court ones.

He made absolutely sure. He did not want to force that.

It did make that black much more difficult. Only just. They are all

very delicate shot no. Here's another one coming up.

Great shot. He has now got the angle to Kevin this red on the left-hand

side. -- Kevin. It must be very tight. He was hoping

to leave the red into the right middle. Yes, was interesting the way

that he played that. Did he play it a little bit too hard?

We will just show you that again. Yes, he had to just sit in behind it

a little more. Well, not a great shot there, but in the context of

what has gone before, he will be happy.

He has just got past the middle pocket. Ding Newly made a mess of

that. I think he missed an opportunity

there to move the bone out. -- the broom ball.

Yes, it's sitting on that side cushion is definitely in the favour

of shone. A round of applause, but he did not mean to play that and

apologises to Ding. He was meaning to send this rate round and leave

the cue ball on the top pocket. So, 27 points and the difference, 27

points on the table. We have heard everything on this match, surely be

not going to have a re-spotted black?

Excellent shot. Very clever, using the pink. No problem hitting it,

but, as ever, it is getting it safe. He will be wanting to stop

quickly. No, that is careless. He resorting

to send DLO back-up the table. He has got that safe, but he could be

in a spot of bother here. He needs an awful lot of side spin

on this, to come of the cushion. Shaun only needs the yellow, so that

was why he was tempted. He is knocking allsorts in. Well, he

did stay patient and that patients stayed. It was that break of 56 that

paved the way. He now trails for -3, but he is straight back in the game.

Yes, he looks much happier now. Yes, Ding Mr couple of easy bowls into

the middle just when it looked as if he was about to kill off the match,

because it would have been 5-2. His composure seemed to go? Yes, he

deftly was getting frustrated, but he finally made their most of it. He

needed a bit of inspiration. At one point, he could not see the wood

from the trees. Since the interval, the nature of the match is changed.

It has become a little more bogged down, scrappy. Who is pulling the

better snooker? Both of the players standard has dropped a lot, in terms

of pot success. Nobody is going in there, potting the opening long ball

and then cleaning up. It is getting very tense. This is the eighth

frame. So, Shaun breaks off in the frame

number eight. That last frame showed us why he has got such a very good

temperament. He was on the end of a bit of misfortune, but he came

through. He is right back in the match.

Yes, the last two frames, the longest frames of the match, the

bowls went very difficult. Prior to the interval, the frames were

finishing in one visit. As you can see, the average frame time has now

shot up. Not the best. A decent cue ball, but

not collude to the baulk cushion, but more importantly, he has left

this red down into the bottom left. And Emily Jones.

But back: On the red has left them slightly awkward. I think it will be

taking this on. But he has queued across a few. Yes, let us have a

look at this one. That was much better. He made contact with the

middle of the cue ball there. I am just wondering if he has actually

landed on one. It is tight. He is now looking at the plant.

I am pretty sure that the second red up that you can see, he could make

with a little bit of side spin. But now he has looked at another one.

Now it is the town of Ding to lose a little bit of composure. Now,

Shaun, what have you done? What a chance he has let slip.

Amazing. I didn't even know why he is plain that with stun. If he just

runs through slightly, he is guaranteed to be on the black.

There of a chance here for Shaun. Perhaps the run of the bowls is

changing. All of the sudden, maybe things have

turned around. I was about to say, that looked like

a natural angle to get down there. OK, you could say he left a slightly

tricky shot, but you did not expect him to miss that. Having got in

position, he forgot to look at the object ball.

I think he is just OK. Can just due to the side of the red. -- cue. Just

had to be a little bit careful. It is when you follow through,

sometimes the cue goes through. It gets thicker and you have to be

careful. It is amazing how Ding has just lost

his way. If you ask me at the minute who was

hitting the ball better I would say it was Shaun, but he keeps making

mistakes. But he is striking the ball with more authority than Ding.

It is official, it is definitely running awkward.

The fact that red is near the right corner pocket, looks like a safety

shot is going to be more difficult. I think he intentionally try to

cover that pocket with the pink. I think he played the slow pot and

thought, if I miss it, I will cover it. His neck shot would have been

interesting. It is tough out there at the moment.

There is a possible part, if not to the corner, to the middle. -- pot.

Ding needs to keep his composure. He is in the driving seat, but he knows

he should have had this match closed out.

He might be in the driving seat, but at the moment the car door is open.

He is not very safe in the driving seat.

At the moment it is by radar. He has just lost it. OK, he was on the

cushion, but he still should have knocked that in. He has given Shaun

another chance of a Shaun Murphy special. He knocked one in

previously screwed back too far. He is looking at the pot in the left

corner. Looking at a few options. DME! Is there anything else going to

happen in this match you can think of? It clipped the pink into the

pocket. Could he be any more unlucky? Incredible.

This is hard to believe. Settle down now, please. He cannot pot a ball.

This game would drive you mad. All he is looking for is a position on

one colour. But with the reds spread like that, and look where the cue

ball finished. It is amazing what can happen.

There is no safety shot on and the pot is so difficult. I say there is

no safety, but he could flick off the red and make it safe. Might be

better than trying to pot dipper will read like this with what is

going on at the moment. -- difficult read.

I am not so sure it is the right shot to take the pot on here. But he

has got to think of something. Hit the cushion first, send the red of

the table. You said it would be ironic if he

got down and knocked that in. I give up. I give up. He has to capitalise

on it, that is just one pot. He has overcut it. Can you believe it? Mrs

that yellow after potting that red. In Lancashire when the sort of

things happen, they would say your head is in a jam jar.

It is infectious at the moment. Sometimes that can happen.

I am wondering what he thinks the white is. It is very reactive and he

thinks there is something wrong with the cue ball. He overscrewed it

completely. It is the same white they had before the mid-interval.

Whatever it was, it was a poor shot. Especially with the yellow

hanging over the corner pocket, it is even worse.

He is going to need the green all the blue to come to his rescue. And

it has, as you can see. Ding has got to get his focus back here, because

he is still in the driving seat. If he wins this frame, he only needs

one more for a place in the quarterfinal. It is all about

composure. And the big difference in Ding these days, when things were

going well you would see him slumped in his seat. You never see that

these days. He has been working on that. He is now stood up here. It

has been one of the strangest matches. It was very fluent with

high scoring, but now it is hard work. Both players missing lots of

opportunities. Losing position. Potting success has been down. There

is a gap through here. Potting success has been down, like you said

but he can get on the black if he knocks this in.

You can't play a better shot than that. It was superb from Ding. Time

to put all that has gone before at the back of your mind and just go on

here and clinch the frame. The white is awkward. Pop that I get on the

black was brilliant. Just seems the ones that have been difficult and he

has needed a lot of concentration, he manages to do those. But some of

the easy shots he has missed, you would never believe those.

He has been a professional now for just over ten years. He has seen it

all, Ding. He looked for all of the world, he had lost it completely.

But the focus seems to be back with him again. No substitute for

experience. Cannot help but think that the last

shot Shaun Murphy had is going to be very costly indeed.

His mind must be scrambled at the moment.

That wasn't pressure, just a lapse in concentration.

Not a straightforward run to the winning line. The fact all of the

colours are off their spots with the exception of the pink. Just means

you have a little more work to do with the positional side of things

on this clearance. In an ideal world you would be playing on the brown.

Knock this in, brown will run down to the baulk area. The way things

have been happening today, keeping it simple might be a good idea.

He has looked at the brown, but it means he will be a little bit

further away from the yellow. If he takes the pink he can get closer to

the yellow. Just depends how he feels. The brown on its spot might

be much better, as John said. That is what he has decided on. But when

the object ball is as close to the pocket, it is always tricky to

control the cue ball. This is the key shot. In a perfect world he

would have liked to have been low on the brown. Sean feels confident

playing this way. -- Shaun. He played that well, it was one that

could have gone wrong. He won't need the black. Brown, blue and the pink

and we will be all square and problems for Ding.

I think he has gone a very strong favourite in this match if it is all

square. I think he is in better control of his cue action.

What an amazing match we have got on our hands. Ding at the moment, has

lost is way. Shaun Murphy is right back in it and is all square.

Amazing match. So many twists and turns. What is

happening? Ding has collapsed at the moment. Lost his composure. He is

getting chance after chance and that red with the rest. Straightforward.

You cannot believe it. There is this fantastic read, this is one of the

good shots. But the rest, all he has to do is pot it and go on and win

the frame. You cannot imagine this guy who has won three tournaments in

a row can miss that. It seemed to be the harder shots he was in control

of and the easy ones he was spelling all of the time? Out of the two

players, Shaun is coping the best with playing badly. Ding is looking

under pressure, looks irritated. Shaun looks calm in his chair when

he misses a shot, but Ding looks gutted about it. Do you agree with

John Parrott, Shaun Murphy is the stronger in this match washed and

Mark absolutely. But two frames ago it was the other way around. It is

amazing how the match can sometimes change on a ball, which so often

happens. In this tournament we have seen more misses from players. I

think it is the occasion, it is a huge tournament. The players want to

do well. That is why you are seeing more misses than you would at other

times. We have talked about the quality and the difference in

quality. I wonder how much the tension and the occasion has

contributed to that? They are here because they are the best players,

they should be coping with it. It has led to a fantastic situation

from our point of view. All square in this match, and if you are just

joining us, it has been delayed because of a power cut here in North

London. But this will keep us gripped all the way to the end of

our transmission at 6pm. Better break off from Ding, getting

the white almost into the cushion. Shaun stayed in the arena as Ding

went out for a comfort rate. It is unusual to be asked for an autograph

in the middle of a match, but the gentleman that he is, he signed it.

We showed the interview with Hazel before the match, and he has been a

model player since he has turned professional.

That does not make a great deal of this -- difference. This wasn't a

straightforward one, but he would normally knock that in. That is

another one he would normally never miss. Then he potted a fabulous read

and overcooked the yellow. But this is the one, this would have put him

firmly in the driving seat. Started out the best of 11, now the

best of three. There is going to be a gap, is

there? Shaun has just held his hand up, so it is now his turn to have a

run of the ball. He can play this off the angles here. Flick behind

The reds, send it down the table. Played it directly onto it, same

thing. I suppose we get so used to seeing the players making century

breaks, 80 and 90 each visit, so when we see the frames we have seen

this afternoon, it is unusual and we are quite shocked about it. Yes, it

is great to see the big breaks and winning frames in one visit, but for

the club players sitting at home, they enjoy watching this kind of

snooker, because they think, " I could have missed that". It is not

as easy as it looks, this. Superb! It really was. To dig down

on the cue ball from that position and control the part, was excellent.

-- pot. To get back control, he pushed the cue through in a

perfectly straight line. Difficult shot, lots of concentration,

straight into the middle of the pocket. It has been a very strange

performance. It has been the symbol once today,

like that. He may have taken his eye off it. His mind is in turmoil at

the moment. Beautifully struck. I am not

surprised, if he is not the best player in the world with the rest, I

don't know who is. Hugh did beautifully. -- cued. 89% for his

rest success. I don't know the one he missed. He is very good with it.

Looks as if it has put the pink out of commission. The black is tied

up. He could do with the blue back on its spot.

This will get the blue back onto its spot. He could have the pink in open

play in a couple of shots time. I don't think he is on a ball here.

He plays a cannon and has finished on absolutely nothing.

Poor shot from Ding. The opening red is simple, but it is all about

getting onto a colour. Yes, he may attempt to hold for the black,

knowing that he may have the pink in the middle if he misses it. He has

got the gap and is OK. No, this is a serious chance to lead 5-4.

He put so much right-hand side on that to slip past the red. Their

natural angle would of seen him cash into them.

He slightly under hit that. Wanted another couple of inches on that to

leave him the easy black and then the red on the bottom cushion. But

well played. He did well to hold the cue ball.

No, he just requires a little stun across for the black.

Yes, the opening pot was a cracker. A load of left-hand side there, so

that he would avoid the cannon. Yes, a lot of things have happened

today, he has missed a lot of balls and so has his opponent, but there

is no doubt that Shaun is most definitely striking the ball better.

I think a lot of this comes down to temperament. Shaun has the slightly

better temperament, I think you would have to say.

54 head anti-as one available into the bottom right.

If he goes on to take this frame, it will still be interesting, because I

still think that Ding will have plenty to offer. He will try and

just come out and do what he did in the opening two frames. Something

will have to change. He needs to find some form from somewhere. He

has missed a number of chances. But is that the little bit of help you

are talking about? He carelessly played that. He was trying to

squeeze that. He has completely had the wrong side of it. That is very

strange for someone of his quality to do that. He actually squeezed it

away from the pocket even though they were quite close together. If

he was playing as he had done in the first couple of frames of the match,

you would actually fancy Ding to win this from here. But here is that

attempted plant. A big misjudgement. These are the occasions when you

find out about yourself. There is a player sitting in the

studio with ten, Stephen Hendry, six times a winner of this tournament.

He was in this position so many times.

Yes, and as meat Ken was not too bad either.

Now, Shaun has two sit and suffer and hope that Ding Mrs.

But this would be a massive clearance.

That was awkward. He needed an angle on the black, but not quite this.

The cue ball slightly to the left would have been easier.

Now, the way he has finished, I would expect him to screw back here

to put himself on the red on the right-hand cushion. This would be a

very big steel. If he does clean-up here, every

credit to him. We are as this come from?

He has over screwed it, but should be OK. That is clear he wanted to

land it and know he will have to just drop this in with the

extension. Well played. That is an excellent

shot. Really has been good stuff so far,

this break. The year low is just off its own spot, which makes things

slightly more difficult. Yes, the natural angle will take

this back up the table. I would have preferred to play for the blue. Now,

tee shot coming up here. He is not going to be close to it.

And he may be hampered. He may well need the spider. I will hark back to

the previous shot. Why did he not make things simple for himself and

go up for one of the baulk colours? I do not understand that. He comes

off the side cushion and he will have a choice. He could have taken

that and put it back onto its spot. Whatever one he had landed on, it

would have given him a number of choices.

All in all, he will be disappointed not to finish the frame there. I

date Shaun cannot believe his luck. I suspect he thought the frame was

all over. Now, he would love to be able to knock the pink safe here.

That is a pretty good shot. The blue is covering the yellow. He did try

to knock the pink safe, but he will settle for that. Rather fortunate to

get the snooker behind the blue, because he was expecting the yellow

to finish somewhere near the pink spot.

Great shot to get that's where of on that. Just to clip it was great, but

to miss the cannon and the way back was even better.

Yes because on these fine cloth is, it is not so easy to put so much so

whereupon it, as it was with the old Flickr ones. -- thicker ones.

Shaun needs the yellow, the green and the bedroom.

Still very exciting to watch Kim and even though some of the quality of

the speaker has not been what we might have expected.

He may try and double the yellow back-up, but this will have to be

accurate. That is not bad. There is no value

in Shaun taking this on. Not totally straightforward. Now,

this is all about the pace. Not easy for Shaun.

He cannot pot that, so another good safety shot required.

And that is a useful cannon on the Brown.

Earlier on, it was Ding who was getting all the bits of good

fortune. Well, this could be a free ball as

well. 23 now the difference. If there is

no easy part on, he can get this replaced. Yes, this is the right

decision. FDL was lying over the pocket, you would have not won ball

into account and the yellow and then gone on to the yellow over the

pocket, but the way they are sitting, there was no point. The run

of the ball has changed. I thought he may have tried just coming down

slowly and nestling on the yellow. Well played.

Just needs to get good cueing here and he does not even need to worry

about the round ball. He can have no complaints, Ding. He

played some good shots there, but the last red that he played was a

stinker, it has to be said. Ding is meeting to smokers, but the

one thing in his favour is that the black sitting in that position makes

it a very good target. Might be a chance here. This could

be a chance for him to get in behind that lack.

He has got a choice. He could take the double on here are actually go

for the snooker behind the black. A decent shot therefrom Shaun. He

deliberately move the black out from the cushion, to make it more

difficult. But this is a pretty good attempt.

Excellent. Now, he has made a bit of a hash of

that. But he has fought the Brown. He was very fortunately. Anywhere

else on the table and the blue would have been very tough.

Would you have been tempted to pot the ball and then just play for one

snooker? Yes, I was just thinking about that a minute ago. Yes, it is

not be beyond the bounds of possibility you could get that.

This is now the longest frame of the match, 33 minutes.

I do not think Shaun Wilmington hitting the pink from here because

it is in a good position for snookers and he would much rather

see it out in the middle of the table.

Decisions, decisions. But the blue and then take the snooker of the

pink? Well, I definitely would have

spotted that look for the one snooker to tidy. One is hard

enough. All purely academic now. John is

trying a long double into the corner pocket, a trick shot. Ding Leaves

the arena, both players are. What a turnaround. Shaun has won three

frames in a row and now leads 5-4. I should want you that we will be

coming off here at six o'clock. This game will be broadcast on the red

button. We have got a lot to discuss from that last frame. Firstly, why

did he not pot the ball? I do not know if he has failed to look at the

scoreboard and his concentration has gone. It was so easy to do that and

then just rely on getting one snooker to tidy. I did not see him

looking at the scoreboard. I wonder if he did not know the actual

situation. That probably tells you a lot about his state of mind. Shaun

broke down at 36 and looked for all the world as if Ding was going to

clean up. Yes, John was absolutely spot on in commentary, he had to get

the cue ball further up the table to get an easier positional shot. It

was a terrible shot. You the body language that he was displaying

would be a positive for Shaun. Does that help when you see that sort of

behaviour? Sometimes, you do look after and just check what the body

language of your opponent is like. You can see him looking up there. He

is certainly not going to find any inspiration up there. It can give

you a bit of a boost. Now, can Ding come back? I think he has thrown

this match away. He should have been 5-2 ahead, but he has missed this

up. He still has a chance, but I think Shaun is no looking very

strong. Shaun needs just one more to book his place in the quarterfinal.

As I said, we have to leave you, but please post the red button or go to

the BBC spots website to see the conclusion of this match live.