Day 4 Masters Snooker

Good afternoon, welcome to Alexandra Palace, Dave four of the 2014

masters. Two left-handers going head to head, the fourth time they have

met, Neil Robertson against Mark Allen.

This should be an absolutely cracking match. Now he is in

business. Ding now leads 2-0. He has played that beautifully. It is two

each, game on. What a shot he has played there. He needs the yellow.

Good shot under the circumstances. He still trails by 4-3 but he is

right back in it. Absolutely amazing! He has played it superbly

well. Beautifully struck. What a turnaround. Shaun Murphy has won

three frames in a row and he leads five frames to four. The red is in

and he goes through to the quarterfinal, winning six to four.

He is a phenomenal player and that, for me, in the context of my season

so far is a massive win. A great atmosphere and what a baptism of

fire for Milkins this is. Right in the heart of the pocket.

Has he just lost his focus slightly? Just the pink slightly. In it goes

and you can see the fist pump. He still trails 5-1. His game just was

not good enough. A standing ovation from one of the Rolling Stones for

Ronnie O'Sullivan. I made a few mistakes but on the whole I felt

pretty solid tonight so I just had to wait and be patient and get some

chances. Mark Selby is through and he will

meet John Higgins. Marco Fu needs Judd Trump 6-5. He takes on Shaun

Murphy after his battle with Ding Junhui. Robin -- Robertson and Allen

play this afternoon for the right to play Stephen Maguire. World champion

Ronnie O'Sullivan is through after thrashing Milkins. All 1500 tickets

were snapped up for Ronnie O'Sullivan's match against Milkins

last night. Steve Davis was commentating. Amazing atmosphere for

that performance. Marks out of ten for Ronnie O'Sullivan? Ten out of

ten for his workmanlike atmosphere -- attitude. He did not get

disappointed if he missed shots. He looked very comfortable. Admittedly

Robert Milkins was a bit overawed by the situation but I liked how easily

Ronnie O'Sullivan scored amongst the balls and he did the hard work in

the first session and then coasted into winning. We had the afternoon

of Shaun Murphy beating doing some -- Ding Junhui. This could be Shaun

Murphy's opportunity. Ding missed one critical shot and Shaun Murphy

took his chance. It is a new streamlined Shaun Murphy, paying the

price, going through the hardships of getting ready for tournaments,

pretending he is Rocky. You need to find an edge and Shaun Murphy looks

a bit more hungry. This afternoon it is Neil Robertson taking on Mark

Allen. Neil Robertson very much the man of the moment. Is he going to

win this tournament? It is tough to do. He has been a winner here

before. It comes into the equation. You can't beat good preparation,

match practice is the best way and he has had more match practice than

any other player other than Mark Selby coming into this. That is good

preparation. Crucially, Mark Allen has a pretty poor record at the

Marsters. He is backstage now, does it affect his preparation? I think

Mark Allen is one of the grittier players on the circuit. You don't

expect him to crumble under this setup, like possibly Milkins bid.

This is the best matchup we have had so far. Mark Allen, if he is going

to become a winner regularly on the tour, if you can win this, you can

win the world Championship in a 1- table setup. Mark Allen will be

looking for a better performance in tournaments like this. That is the

big question, can Mark Allen stop Neil Robertson?

Neil Robertson's technique is superb. If you want an example of

pushing the queue through a gun barrel straight, that is what you

get with him. -- pushing the cue. His temperament is superb. He would

have made a great poker player, you don't know when he is under

pressure, he keeps the same poker face whether he has missed an easy

shot or knocked in a century break. When you talk about Star appeal, he

is one of those players, great long pot. That is why the public want to

watch him play. When it comes to break-building, his has improved

after the -- over the past few years. He certainly has become one

of the most consistent players after dropping off the main talk in the

early part of the millennium. He came back in the mid-2000s and he is

one of the rare players who has won the big three. He will have to play

his natural game. Sometimes he goes into his shell and does not play an

attacking game. The more attacking he is, the more dangerous he

becomes. Mark Allen is making his sixth

appearance here. He lost in the semifinals in 2011. He is looking to

put an end to a poor run against Robertson. He has been beaten twice

by the Aussie in the last two years. He has beaten Robertson in the

European tour event this season but Robertson has the upper hand with

six wins to three. John Parrott will be in the studio this afternoon but

at the moment he is in the commentary box.

It is fair to say, John, when this draw was made, this is definitely

the match of the first round. We have said throughout the tournament,

top 16 players, no easy matches, but this was a standout. Neil Robertson

is arguably playing as well as anybody in the world. Mark Allen, I

don't know what you expect from him. If you get the good Mark Allen he is

capable of beating anybody. He is a player who is not fazed by these

situations. Situations like this will inspire him. With a great

crowd, he loves the big occasion, Mark Allen. I am all forward to

this. He will push Neil Robertson quite close, I think. The Australian

has turned himself into some match player. When he first came to this

tournament he played Jimmy White and all he was was a potter. He has an

all-round game now. I think Mark Allen needs a good start, he needs

to start believing in himself. If you are not winning you can soon

lose your confidence. Give us a scoreline. I hope if Mark Allen gets

a good start he can really push Neil Robertson and maybe six - four, 6-5

either way. Let's get them under way. Robin Walker, it is all yours.

Just two places undergrads for the quarterfinals of the Dafabet Masters

and what an absolute humdinger we have an prospect. The fourth year in

a row they have gone toe to toe and last year it was an epic

confrontation. Please welcome one of the most exciting players on the

circuit. When he is on form he makes it look so easy. Masters

semifinalist and twice World Open champion, the pride of Northern

Ireland, Mark Allen! MUSIC: "Oh, So Quiet" by Bjork.

Mark, by your own high standards it has not been a great season so far.

This is exactly the kind of situation in which you thrive. If

you can't play well here, you don't deserve to be in this sport. Ladies

and gentlemen, Mark Allen is ready! His opponent, a player who is laying

down his marker as one of the sport's all-time greats. His victory

in the UK Championship last month secured him snooker's hat-trick. He

is the world number one. Can you hear The Thunder From Down Under? It

is Neil Robertson. MUSIC: "Heart Of Courage" by Two

Steps From Hell. Massive reception and well-deserved

after the tears and triumph at the UK Championship last month. You have

now done the big three, massive motivation to continue winning. It

was a great calendar year and no better way to finish it off, winning

the UK, to complete the Triple Crown. It is important to stay

motivated and keep the run going. I am sure it is going to be a great

match. Good luck. It is going to be a cracker!

Another great crowd at the 2014 Dafabet Masters. Time to hand you to

our commentary team. Good afternoon, everybody. Looking

forward to this wonderful matchup, Neil Robertson, UK champion to start

off 2014, against Mark Allen, as Steve Davis said, winner of this

event and many others. A cracking match, it should be. Absolutely. It

will be interesting to see how Mark Allen starts off. Nobody doubts his

ability. Just having a quiet word with the

referee about something. Everything seems to be in order. Two

left-handers as well. Two fantastic potters and break-ball players as

well. Well, he was always possibly a ring

on the side of safety. But what a fantastic pot. -- erring on the

side. Let's have a look at this. Right in

the heart of the pocket. Beautiful shot.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. It seemed to come off the cushion a bit

straight before the middle pocket. Making a minor adjustment here. With

this kind of shot you can make too much adjustment and slide off the

pack. You have to be a bit careful. You can over adjust. And that is the

case. I think he has left a red on. Not only that, he has left a lovely

angle for Neil Robertson. He can get back for the blue or a baulk colour.

He will be disappointed with that. He did not get enough side. He

wanted a bit more to widen the angle of the cue ball. They are always

tricky, these type of shots, particularly when the cue ball is so

close to the blue. A couple of inches towards the pink and you

would expect Neil to pot this blue but the fact it is so close, it is a

bit more difficult to judge. I will be very surprised if he does not

take this blue on. He was looking at the baulk vision. -- cushion.

He did not take it on, he played a safety, and it is not the best

safety. Because he has this red to the right corner here. He may regret

not going for the part here. -- the pot.

If it was later in the match, I can't see Neil Robertson refusing

pots like he did. Perhaps he thought, first frame, just settle

in. A bit nervy, this opening frame. He can have a go at this red.

Made the pot bit more difficult by using that pace. -- a bit.

It is not bad, is it? That is the second prize.

Never easy, those type of shots, coming across the nap of the table,

trying to hold for the black. It looked like he was getting down

to play the red on the left-hand side of the table.

He did not fancy trying to screw back and he has hit the red but it

is not the best shot by any means. There is the red to the far right

corner here. This is an important visit for Mark

Allen. You feel at the moment he is lacking a bit of confidence. If he

could make a frame -winning contribution at this visit, I think

that would really set hit -- settle him down for the rest of the match.

He has the chance, can he take it? The reds are wonderfully spread as

well. He does not have to worry about

going into the pack, at least for a few shots, because there are plenty

of reds available. And of course he always has that insurance of the red

over the right centre as well. The black is available into both

corners. So far helix nice and settled, striking the ball crisply.

-- he looked is -- looks. First poor shot, wanted a nice angle on the

black to make a cannon of the reds. That is a good recovery.

He still always has this red over the right centre. Looking from

behind the pocket, if he is going to try and -- try to get the right side

of the blue he will have two play it with quite a lot of side.

He is a bit straight. It shows you, that careless shot when he should

have had a good angle on the black and it has just snowballed. It is

not getting any easier. Hawk-eye says he just has a slight angle.

Well, if he has a slight angle he could certainly force the cue ball

down, but obviously Mark does not think so. If this goes in, he gets

the right side of the blue, he should get the frame. Good pot,

needs the angle on the blue. A little grimace will tell us it is

not the ideal angle. Can he force it?

Yes, he can. That is very, very good. Excellent shot. You see, he

just rounds the cue ball and forced the angle. -- bounced. 67 points

remaining, so this blue, a couple more reds and colours. He has the

red to the right middle, but could have been better.

He was perfect just to play a bit of screw back for the black. When he

came to the table this is just what he needed. This red will put him 58

points ahead with 51 remaining. Well played.

Yes, this has been a really good break for Mark Allen. He was in

trouble a couple of times but pulled out some really good pots. Just

looking at his sleeve there, it looks like his cuff link has become

undone! This is awkward, could take a while. He could need some help

from the referee. No, he has found the gap!

Of this red he would like to play up for the pink.

Highest break of the Masters so far is Marco Fu. What a good start it

would be for Mark Allen to make a century.

Never in doubt, was there? ! Excellent break for Mark Allen.

Great start. And certainly putting down a marker as he plays an

exhibition shot. He has played the double. But not

got it! Neil Robertson a little bit tentative for me in that first

frame. Nothing tentative about that for Mark Allen, Ben is the frame

with a wonderful break of 114. -- he wins the frame.

Before this match started we talked about whether his poor record would

be playing on his mind against Neil Robertson, but there is your answer.

Getting off to a good start means you are focused, not frightened, and

ready to rumble. It looks like we are in for a cracking match. John

Parrott, when you are playing the UK champion, that is exactly what you

need to do, pile on the pressure. Stamp your authority on the Mac. It

is important to get a good start for Mark Allen. -- authority on the Mac.

It is important that Mark Allen settled down early on. As I said

before, I don't think Mark Allen is the type of player you should be

worried about as a match player. He has great fighting qualities. He is

not frightened of anybody and he is probably champing at the bit to get

some results. He has done well on the European tour events but it is

the big occasions where everybody wants to win. Steve mentioned the

fighting qualities. The one thing about Neil Robertson, he likes a

battle. He wants to get into this frame and show Mark Allen that he is

here to play. Let's find out if Mark Allen has any further cuff link

trouble. A decent break off shot, by virtue

of the fact that he has not left a pot on. Can he just get past the

blue? That is what he is looking at. If he can't, then he is going to

have to play some kind of swerve. He could not have played that

better. There is certainly nothing wrong with his eyesight, John,

that's for sure. He Has he has got to be careful. He

could leave himself open to a very simple snooker here. If he leaves

the cue ball near the right-hand corner pocket, that one does go into

the left-hand corner pocket. The one which is just next to the black. He

has to be very, very careful with this shot.

This red does go, but is it a bit risky, and can he hold for the

black? I am not sure whether the angle is there, John. It was not the

best containing safety, really. APPLAUSE

That would have been a lot more difficult had the cue ball being

tight against the cushion, which was the aim.

This is not the best chance, obviously, with the black tied up

and the pink out of commission. This looks good, has he got the

angle? He could bring the black into play here. This will be an excellent

opportunity, if this goes right. Yes, good shot. Would have liked a

little bit more backspin on the cue ball.

JP that was the problem, it is very hard to see the angle when the cue

ball is so close to the object ball. Yes, I was a bit concerned when he

was playing the black. In the first frame, he had the blue but did not

want to play the pot. Whether he does not like using the rest so

much, I do not know. Oh, but he has been let off the hook. That is

something you cannot afford to do at this level. When your opponent

misses when he is in, you have after the start he made in the first

frame, Mark Allen, he will be very disappointed to miss that. Yes, that

was a good opportunity to turn the screw a little bit on Neil

Robertson. Now, an excellent chance. Let's see what sort of form

Neil Robertson is in. He will not be happy with that contact. A little

bit heavy. He wanted to be straighter on this blue.

But OK. -- that's OK. He did not have to go into the reds, because

there were a couple of loose ones available.

JOHN VIRGO: He is a little bit short, but obviously this red goes

through the gap. He judged that nicely. Just coming

round to see if the red immediately above the black is available into

the left corner. If it is, he can just roll it in, the blue.

He has overdone it. He is still on the red, but he wanted to be a

little bit shorter than that, so he will be going up for the blue

again, but he has got to judge the case as the second red. -- the kiss

off the second red. Well, that was a wonderful shot.

That is what we have come to expect from him, he just strokes them in.

That was magnificent. That is pure confidence in your cue action. Just

look at that. And that was the difference. He was

concentrating so much on position on the black, it just made that pot a

little bit more difficult to. He will be disappointed.

He has played that nicely. He did not want to risk trying to get

behind a baulk colour. You can never discount Neil

Robertson from putting anything. It is one of those, if you take it

on, you will be possibly going into the red next to the pink, or the one

to the left of that. So, not quite sure where the cue ball is going

here. Well, believe it or not, you played

the pot. Nicely played. Did not have to do

much with the cue ball to have position on the black. This is a

frame-winning chance. When he missed that black with the

rest earlier in the frame, he may have feared the worst, Neil

Robertson, but his opponent did not capitalise on it.

Overall assessment, John, both players are looking pretty good,

they looked to be cueing quite nicely. Yes, it looks set fair to be

the match we expected here. Good safety. Both players looking like

they can win a frame in one visit, should they get the opportunity.

Just trying to nudge that read into play, but there is no way Mark Allen

will continue anyway. It does not really matter. Mark

Allen concedes. Neil Robertson has got his first frame on the board.

Yes, settled in nicely, and JP, at the start, you said this was an

appetising drawer. You thought this was going to be one of the

highlights of the round. Yes, because it is two top-class players.

Neil Robertson will know that this is a tough draw. But I cannot help

thinking, he has won the first frame so well, Mark Allen, he has just

missed a trick. He had him under pressure. Neil has missed a shot

with the rest, but he has left him this into the middle. This was a

good chance for Mark Allen. He has got to clip is in. It is a shot he

really should get. And not only did he miss it, you put Robertson back

in amongst the balls. That's right. Effectively, he has earned the right

to have the chance to go to nil up, by winning that first frame. So,

there is the first bit of pressure on a player, which comes into the

equation. You have got your opponent in his chair, can you keep him in

his chair? The pressures on the tensions are there from the start.

Now, all of a sudden, it is back to square one for Mark Allen. It shows

at this level, JP, you have got to take your chances? There is so

little between the two of them. This is the elite, the top 16, in this

tournament. Wings like that can change matches.

JOHN VIRGO: Not the best break off from Mark Allen. He did not find the

baulk cushion. I do not think there is any pot here to attempt Neil. If

not, it is a fairly straightforward safety.

It was worth the risk. The only red he felt he could leave was the one

he was playing. No path back to baulk for Mark

Allen. This is why billiards never caught on, you know, Ken.

KEN DOHERTY: Yes, we may have a rerack here. Even if you could get

back to the baulk, there was the positivity of leaving a red. So,

start again. It has been amazing, the turnout, at

the Alexandra Palace. Absolutely wonderful to see. Great atmosphere.

Not a spare seat in the house. It is a wonderful venue, since we moved

here from the arena at Wembley. It has found a new home. Wonderful

atmosphere here. He has decided against a possible

plant, but he did have a little look at it.

Mark just coming to have a look at the same couple of reds.

That is careless. You have got to be aware of where the reds are going to

finish. To leave and easy starter like this, he may be fortunate that

the black does not go to the opposite corner. And it is not going

to be that easy to get back up the table for the blue. Easy starter,

but what follows? Is he on the black? Well, that is a

wonderful shot. Well played. That was the only colour he felt he could

get on, and he is on it. Well played. Yes, he has got a lovely

angle on the black as well. Natural angle to go into the reds,

but again, a very acute angle, these are very tricky.

I was a bit surprised he played it that way. He was just making sure of

the black, of course. Well, Neil Robertson put his hand up

to apologise, but that will not make Mark Allen feel any better. The good

thing for Mark Allen is that he did not have the angle to go into the

reds. Much too thin. And it is a nice

target, behind the green and brown. You would expect him to get close to

that target. He has decided to use the yellow. As long as you cover one

edge of the reds, that's not too bad. He may just be able to play a

swerve here. Good length once again from Neil

Robertson, and that is the key to safety. OK, you would like to get

some snookers, but if you can get that good length on the cue ball, it

makes it so much more difficult for your opponent. And this looks a very

good reply. We may see the cue power that Neil

Robertson possesses here. It is a great asset to have. Look at

the distance he has got on the cue ball. OK, he was nowhere near the

pot, but his first priority was getting the cue ball back near the

baulk cushion. That was an excellent safety shot.

Yes, and at first glance, that is a nice little nudge off the green. He

may be able to get through to play to the red close to the top cushion,

but you have got to catch these just right.

And he caught it too thick. That is one of the hardest safety shots in

the game, when the object ball is very close to the cushion. Now, will

he take this pot on? It is risky. I suppose what will put him off

here, and you can see it is over 25 minutes since Mark last potter the

ball, but he is not guaranteed position on a colour. -- potted a

ball. He could possibly go for the red

down the left-hand side of the table, and try to screw across

towards the centre. And he could still have the blue. Well, he went

full-blooded for the pink. Not quite sure whether Neil can get through to

this red here. Neil can certainly pop the red just

to the right of the pink, into the corner pocket, he is not sure

opposition on pink or black. When you are going into the other reds,

it makes the pot so much more difficult.

He may refuse everything here, and try and play a good safety shot.

The red which is closest to the corner pocket, he is not on that,

but it looks like he is playing a plant. This could go wrong... There

was an awful lot of distance between the reds, and I am not sure whether

that was the right choice of shot, John. It certainly does not look it

now, Ken. That was the problem. If the red did not go in, he did not

really know where it was going to finish up.

So, this is a nice, easy starter and a decent chance for Mark. It has

been awhile since he last potted a ball. But you have got to get your

cue arm flowing immediately, that is the nature of snooker.

You might be sitting down for half an hour, and then as soon as you get

a chance, everything has got to click together. The black is

available. He couldn't ask for a better

opportunity than this. I'm not quite sure he's on this red.

I would be very disappointed with that. He only had to play simple

little cannon on the red that he's closest to and he hit the wrong red.

He may be able to do just a small swerve.

A good recovery. He will be mightily relieved there. We say it is all

about fractions. For a fraction of a second it looked as though he was on

nothing. Just managed to play a little swerve to get to that red and

he's nicely on the black. He messed up again. That was a

little bit of a nervy one, John. He could have hit that, he had so much

room for error, he wanted to hit that three-quarter ball. Decelerate

a little bit. That's where he completed mishit the cannon. Just

didn't get the action on the cue ball. It seemed a straightforward

cannon. If he hits the red he made contact with, full ball. There's

Hawk-Eye. He knows how to play it. But after that bright start in the

opening frame, it's been a little disappointing since. He had half a

chance in the last frame. Missed the red to the middle and didn't make

the most of that opportunity. You could see the head-shake.

I'm very surprised that Neil missed this first time around. Doesn't look

as though he can leave anything. Just catch the red quarter ball.

Shouldn't be a problem. And now it is Mark Allen with the problem. He

could be regretting pulling back in there.

There's a possible escape just before the riot centre and try and

lay on the reds that are behind the black, but the difficulty is if he

goes by that red, he will leave it on. That's why he decided to go the

other side. This looks, well... That was the problem with leaving that

red open. I'm sure the middle of the two reds

below the pink in the bottom right hand corner pocket - a decent

opportunity for Neil Robertson here. Wow! That's surprising, John.

Funnily enough when he played the red to play on the pink it didn't go

in the middle of the pocket. I thought well, he nearly missed that

one, that will sharpen him up, keep him in focus, but it didn't.

He knew he would be on the pink but he should really have nudged the red

to the left of the black. Shouldn't have been running into the black.

Should have left the black on its spot.

Now it is imperative he gets a good angle here. Possibly off the pink.

That red that's just in the open that's available into the left

corner, he wants to be on that in such a way that he can maybe bring

the three reds to play and play on the black.

If he is straight, that is a very poor shot. I think he is straight,

John. He is dead straight and that's end of break. Can't possibly get on

that red that's closest to the black spot. That was extremely careless.

He will be very disappointed. It is just pot the six for the six

points and play safe. APPLAUSE Good length with the

safety. This is a tricky shot. If he decides

to try to get the cue ball back to baulk, the problem is that the two

reds - the three reds on the top cushion, should he hit the first red

on the way down, it is knocking the second towards the right-hand corner

pocket. He might drop a dead weight and leave the cue ball down this

area. That's an excellent shot. That is

the advantage of playing on these tables. That one ran as straight as

a die. In the snooker club in Salford he would have been lucky to

hit one of them. I don't blame Mark for that. He

didn't really want to snooker Neil on these three reds. He wants him to

hit them and if he does, as Ken was alluding to, maybe leave one on a

pot. He can't drop dead weight into them this time. He's got to try and

get back to baulk. Foul and a miss. What's worst, he

left the red to the right centre. Mark Allen comes to the table 23

points in front. Pot this red, nice angle on the colour. He could win

the frame. Doesn't have a problem potting the

red but it's the angle. I'm a little surprise he's going to have it back,

because even if he doesn't have an angle he could still pot the red and

black and maybe get another extra eight points. You can understand he

doesn't want to bring the three reds that are safe into play, but he

isn't going to gain much of an advantage here. I'm absolutely

amazing he's not played the red. You've got a chance to possibly win

the frame and you turn it down and have the ball replaced. All Neil

Robertson has to do is to play the same shot just a bit harder.

Foul and a miss. You said that was dead straight, John, but that

drifted a bit. Let's watch the cue ball here. It looks like for all the

world it is going to hit the first red, but you see it turn a little

bit. Well... When he first played it and left it short I thought he could

hit more of the reds than that. I'm not sure, if he can see the red

that's closest to the top cushion, if he can see that full ball, then

the referee has to warn him. I think Paul Collier said he didn't think he

could hit a full ball. For me that position looks like he could hit the

red closest to the top position. APPLAUSE

Mark Allen may still win this frame but I think he's missed a trick.

This red pots and the potting angle, he'll avoid the three reds near the

top cushion, so it may be worth taking on. He's one of the best long

Potters in the game. I don't see the safety. I think he's forced into

taking this on. I think he did take it on and he was

that far away he's left the red. That was tight on the cushion.

Couldn't do a lot with the cue ball, but he had the perfect angle of

coming around the black. You would favour the pink, I suppose. Should

have a bit more control of the cue ball, but he's playing the black.

Either or really. He still needs red colour red to

clinch the frame at this visit. Playing it nicely. A nice angle on

the black and one more red needed. This is frame ball. A little bit

tricky. It does mean that Neil Robertson

will... This frame just coming up to the

30-minute mark after the first frame took just less than 15 minutes, and

the second just less than 14 minutes. But it doesn't matter to

Mark Allen. He's got a two frames to one lead.

Fair to say he has found his rhythm after that shaky second frame. Yes,

and he seems to have settled down a little bit more. Neil Robertson has

missed a couple of balls I haven't seen him miss for a while and

doesn't look settled. For whatever reason, maybe he is feeling the

tension. He knows how big a match it is. He hasn't settled down, the

Australian. Any reason for him not settling down? Sometimes you don't

get the right shots. Sometimes you get a nice easy start and other

times you have to work for your opportunities. Mark Allen tried a

red. Looked like he stuck Neil Robertson up, and Neil Robertson

felt forced to play the plant, where he could have been given an easier

opportunity. At this level when you are playing against another top

class player you sometimes have to perhaps play risky shots to try and

get an opening a, even if they are not 50-50 shots. If they don't go

right you don't look as right amongst the balls. It is about

getting enough table time to feel comfortable and at the moment he is

not. I saw Mark Allen on the practise tables last night and you

had been to see Mark Allen as well. We'll see that later on. He looks

pretty well focused today. Yes, he was in a very good mood, confident.

He was looking forward to this match. I don't think he's the type

who is fazed by playing anybody. The venue won't be a problem. Robert

Milkins last night in his game with Ronnie O'Sullivan, it was new to Rob

and he didn't have the experience and was rabbit in the headlights.

But this guy isn't like that. You can understand why perhaps Robert

Milkins was perhaps caught in the med lights. If you can play in the

one-table set-up here in the Masters and be successful, it account be a

springboard for bigger things, the one-table set-up in the

championship. Can Neil Robertson bounce back? Let's find out.

Is it going to be a two-frame advantage to Mark Allen, or all

square when they go for their cup of tea? It is a big frame.

Hm. A double kiss. It can be costly. I don't think he's left anything too

easy for Neil. A few chances. I'm wondering how

much that missed pink in the last frame will un Neil Robertson a

little bit. It is a shock to the system when you miss a

straightforward pink like he did in the last frame. As John said, and

here is the pink coming up. A straightforward pot, two reds below

the pink, and a shock to the system. You've got to get it out of your

mind quickly. Not a bad shot from Neil Robertson.

At the moment, he is rocking. Hasn't settled yet.

APPLAUSE A good pot. This is a time now, an advantage for Mark Allen to

really press on here. This is the occasion where you sense

it is time to take advantage. You spoke John about how important

it was for Mark Allen to the off to a good start in this match, and

should he win the frame from this visit and hold a 2-1 lead, he'll be,

it will give him great confidence for the second session. But he must

take advantage of these types of situations.

He's got a heavy contact there. He must try and get down somewhere near

the black and reds there. Taken all the pace out of the cue

ball. The red just about went in but it

just got a little kiss on that red. Slowed the cue ball on. Is he on

this black? I think if he was, Ken, he would

have played it by now. APPLAUSE He played it well. Amazing

when you play and that time he played the left-hand side and how it

can kick the object call to the right. He's just about on this red

to the left corner here. I think he's cut a slight angle, so he

potted pit automatically on the black, but tricky.

Such a big shot wasn't it? When it het, once it het that one it never

goes. In sometimes off the fire draw it will drop, but once it hits the

cushion, what an opportunity that was for Mark Allen. He was perfectly

on the black. Plenty of reds available. Could have won the frame

from that visit. Too much topspin, and hitting that

red didn't help. A big shot now for Neil Robertson. Red over the bottom

left hand corner pocket. Only has to worry about the pot, blue or yellow.

A good pot on the yellow. He's on this red, now the last time he had

the option of playing this red he was worried about playing for the

black. He's got to be precise with his positional shot. He didn't fancy

it before. Will he play for the black this time? It is the easiest

ball to play for but if he is a fraction hard he will be on nothing.

Didn't want to risk it. Where's the pink going?

That's not ideal. Once he decided to play the cannon, in all fairness,

Ken, he should will have got the cannon on the reds. He had a big

target there. I'm very surprised he didn't drop that red. In anywhere

low on the black he would say he was going to be on it. He had the reds

above the black to cushion for position for the next pot, so I'm

very surprised, it was a sort of hit and hope for wasn't it?

APPLAUSE the cue ball needs to travel. The red in the middle of the

pack does go. An excellent pot. Le my try to deep screw, pot the red

into the left corner, Neil Robertson nine. . That was

purely and simply bad cueing. He played it with a trace of left-hand

side. He pushed the cue ball into the black. Not often he misses a pot

by that far. Mark Allen needs to take advantage

of these mistakes. He has an opportunity now to have a two-frame

advantage. Missed an easy pink in the last

frame. Missed that black. Worrying times. Yes, he hasn't settled down.

It is also his choice of shots. The red over the corner pocket. He

wasn't confident to hold for the black. Even holing for the black

when he could have gone for a blue or pink as well.

This is amazing what's happening here now. They are complaining about

the cue ball. They feel it is probably a little bit light. This is

like Wimbledon, "New balls, please." Where's the cue ball going? It's

gone back in the box. Where's the referee's assistant

going? Neil Robertson missed the black by so far, and that easy pink.

There's Michaela. Just got the white out of the tumble drier and back on

the table. He just tries to drop this in, so

you assume this is a plant. And a plant it was. If he runs past the

pink, he's perfect. Well, he found the gap.

Unbelievable. So, it started off really well, this

match, but it has gone a little bit scrappy now. Big frame, though,

nevertheless. Too thin, but he may not have done

too much damage, by the looks of it. JOHN VIRGO: You could say there that

the yellow has come to Neil's rescue. He needs a good safety now.

Needs to missed the brown. But he hits it full in the face. It is not

a good safety, and here is a chance for the Australian.

KEN DOHERTY: Yes, under normal circumstances, you would expect him

to pot this. But as we say, he has been a little bit nervy. But is

better. It never changes, this game. Sometimes, you have

opportunities, and you keep missing them. This red did not go in the

heart of the pocket, Mick -- which is why he got the cannon. He may

just try to get in behind the brown. KEN DOHERTY: Not the best shot he

has ever played. He has got to be careful here, Mark

Allen. He does not want to knock the red over, but he does have a

possible pot into the bottom left-hand corner. But that is very,

very Quite a way away with that. And we

are talking about a player who is regarded as probably the best potter

in the world at the moment. Pretty good. Whether it is a telling

snooker or not is another matter. It depends how far down the right-hand

side cushion Neil can hit. Does it reach?

REFEREE: Foul, and a miss. Mark Allen, four. No reason not to have

it replaced. APPLAUSE

REFEREE: Touching ball. That makes it a little bit easier for Mark

Allen, touching ball. The left-hand side of the table is much more

difficult for Neil Robertson. It is difficult to get the cue ball back,

safety wise. He is trying to get it up beside the

yellow. Not wide enough. No, that is a bad misjudgement, really. For a

player of his class to be that far out.

Now, I think he can pot this black and screw around the back of the red

to play for the red in the same pocket here.

Yes, he controlled it nicely. That now puts Neil Robertson one point in

the lead. It is not a formality to get to the winning line in this

frame, the way the reds are situated. He will have to play some

good shots. Yes, he is just having a look at the

school, doing his calculation is. Three reds, three blacks would make

it 33 points ahead, with 35 left on the table. So, he is going to need

that red close to the cushion. He is going to leave the angle. I

thought he would leave the red close to the cushion till last, but he is

taking the opportunity to take it out now.

A little unlucky to get the double kiss. But that is end of break. He

will go back to his seat with a 23 point lead, but still 43 remaining.

Apart from the yellow, the colours are in the open. So, this frame is

still very much in the balance. I was just wondering, John, would

you have possibly taken the red and black, and left that red till last,

in a better position, with just one red remaining? Yes, I suppose it

depends how you see it. He was nicely on the red to play for the

pink to leave the angle. Maybe he thought he would not get an better

opportunity. Maybe a bit unlucky to get the double kiss. It is all about

how the player sees it. Not the best safety shot from Mark Allen.

Normally, he is very good at ease. If I have one criticism of Neil, and

I respect his play very much, sometimes he over thinks a bit. He

should be downplaying this. I know he wants to get a good angle on the

blue, but just concentrate on the pot. He missed it by a long way. And

when you miss it by that far, you are lucky not to leave it. But what

he has done is to leave any easy safety shot. -- an easy safety shot.

He will try to get that cue ball up near the brown. Well, he decided to

go the other way. That, to me, does not give you any advantage. You may

have thought he would have got the snooker, but now he hasn't, he has

left an easy safety for Neil. He is a bit worried about knocking

the red over the corner pocket. In billiards, that would have been

very good, he would have got three points for that. Yes, his concern

was, the red was going towards the bottom right-hand corner pocket. He

did not want to leave it on. Had the cue ball not on in, he would have

been leaving a pot on anyway. He is just not all there, Neil Robertson.

If it had been going in, I might have said, where's the cue ball

going?! But it was nowhere near! But I will tell you what, Ken, it has

turned out to be a good safety. He has snookered Neil on both reds. He

will do well not to leave a pot on for his opponent here.

He may try to swerve it here. He is trusting a lot to luck here.

And he hasn't got it. A chance for Mark Allen.

There's a few problems to overcome, but the most obvious one is the

yellow. It is a chance to take a two frame advantage into the mid-session

interval. Yes, if you can get on this red and

somehow... OK, it is not going to be straightforward to get on the red

from here. The green is in the way. But where the blue is positioned,

and I am thinking a few shots ahead, and I am sure Mark Allen is

doing the same, the blue is in a nice place to try and bring that

yellow out. If he can get the cue ball up close to the blue, in

between the blue and the brown, he could have an opportunity to take

that yellow off the cushion. That is exactly what he has tried, and the

angle is perfect. Excellent shot from Mark Allen.

He has got to be careful of going in off in the middle pocket here. Has

he snookered himself on the blue? No, it is OK. He had a look at the

potting angle. He did not stop, so he must be perfect on this green -

and he is. Now, three points the difference. Brown, blue, pink

needed. Oh, he has run too far. So, he is

going to have to play a good shot. Neil Robertson may see a bit of

light at the end of the tunnel. He does not want to leave himself too

far from the frame ball pink. So, going round the angles...

Getting out the extension. The Australian knows he has not

performed in these first few frames. It would be a bonus if it was to

each. And it could be 3-1, if this pink drops... Not close! Not close.

So, Neil Robertson is still in this frame. Mark Allen has missed his

chance. He was concentrating on the cue ball

a little bit too much, I feel, though, Mark Allen. But there was a

lot of pressure on that pink. He may even get a snooker either

side of the black here. No, but good shot. And this is not

straightforward. Oh, he has played that well, played

it very well. That was a good shot, John if he had picked it up with his

hand, he could not have placed it any better than that. The age-old

problem, it is not so much hitting the pink, but can he get it safe?

Yes, he has got to come off this side cushion.

He has caught it to fall, and if it bounces, it will be on. As it

bounced enough? Well, he did not want to play the

pot, but boy, oh, boy, he could've played better safety than that. He

will be disgusted with that shot. A chance for Neil Robertson. Yes, it

is there. Where's the cue ball? It needs to slow up. Absolutely

perfect. Mark Allen will be kicking himself. Well, and Neil Robertson

will not believe his luck. It is amazing how a frame can turn round,

and this could be the pivotal framing this match. It looked

certain it was going to be 3-1. But now, the black goes in, and they go

into the mid-session interval, and the world number one and reigning UK

champion will be mightily relieved, because they go into the interval

all square! And you can guarantee that Mark

Allen will be kicking himself, but that is the reason why this fella is

the UK Champion, and why he is ranked number one in the world.

Before the tournament, Mark Allen gave an interview, praising Neil

Robertson for getting to world number one. And he says he knows

which shots to play at which time, and coping under pressure. And that

is the reason why he has won that frame? Yes, and you have but to have

different skills in your armoury. Being tenacious is one of them. Even

though the standard of Neil Robertsons play would have been

frustrating for him, he does not lose focus when it comes to the

crunch balls. It was an excellent pink repotted. From Mark Allen's

perspective, it was a chance to go 3-1 in front. But as it is, 2-2 is a

fair reflection on both players not reaching the heights we thought they

were going to. Both players have been feeding off each other's

mistakes. And of course, there was the cue ball but was changed.

Probably, they felt the cue ball was a bit on the light side. At this

level, the players are very conscious of the conditions, or the

balls playing factually different. The sets of balls we play with now

are supposed to be within tolerances of one gram. It sounds fantastic. I

do not know if that ball was like or not. It may just have been the

humidity, the conditions, we cannot tell, without weighing the ball.

They may just have thought it was a rogue cue ball. It is probably the

same one which Wally O'Sullivan played very well with yesterday. It

could be the cloth, anything. But when both players agree that there

is something wrong, but the ball is not playing right, it is time to

change it. Given that Mark Allen could've been going in 3-1 up, is

that going to affect him in the dressing room? No, I think he will

say, let's wipe the slate clean. That is the way to think about it.

Let's hopefully just try and ramp up the standard of it and see if I can

reassert myself in the next session just as we have seen often in this

tournament so far, the interval can change things. Whilst the first

session was flat, the interval, reset, start again, and it could be

a cracking second-half. For the moment, Steve, thank you very much

indeed. So, Neil Robertson is ranked number one in the world. He won the

UK championship in York in December, and Hazel has been to meet him.

You are held in really high esteem now as an all-round player. So many

of the great players have said that. How does that make you feel? When

you hear it from someone like John Higgins, Mark Williams, Stephen

Hendry, even Ronnie O'Sullivan has been really confident reader what's

my game as well, it is just incredible. These were my idols

growing up. To hear it from them from a serious point of view, that

they do actually mean it, it is just fantastic. I really look up to these

guys, because these were the players who inspired me to try and become

the player that I am now. So, yes, any kind of praise all recognition

from those sort of players is incredible. You have this natural

aggression, which you let out, and you go for long pots, and then you

take a step back, almost inhibiting yourself a bit, by becoming slightly

defensive at times, and then you go back again. Even this season, you

have said, after what happened against Robert Milkins, I am going

to play more quickly. Yes, when I played that much, I was playing

really well. I was-4 up. It was going back and forth. I am thinking,

if I tighten this up, I thought I was guaranteed to win if I made it a

bit tighter, but the opposite happened, it put me under a bit more

pressure. I lost every scrappy frame, it is something that I have

never had before, losing every single frame on the pink or black or

blue. It was incredible. After the match, I thought, I did not enjoy

that at all, even if I had won, I would not have enjoyed it, the

strain it would have put me under. I have seen a couple of Ronnie

O'Sullivan's interviews during the World Championships, and how he

always keeps going for it, not really reckless shots, but he keeps

attacking. And when you stop attacking in this game, you stop

scaring people. Judd Trump is probably at a bit of a crossroads

with his shot selection. When he won the UK, he was going for

everything, scaring people. The problem with being over attacking is

that you give your opponents lots of chances. You are kind of banking on

them bottling it, basically, which is what was happening against Judd,

people were getting too involved and bottling it against him. Now, he is

trying to win more on the merit of his game, trying to play really good

safety. And now, the fear has gone. So, people are not afraid of playing

him any more. There are definitely a much better player than when he won

the UK Championship, but he is nowhere near as scary to play. So,

what does he do, does he go back to being reckless and scaring people,

or play a much more rounded game but event it is something that I have

had to deal with. You are always adjusting. I have been much quicker

this season. I have been thinking more instinctive layabout shots.

Just getting down and playing them. -- instinctively about shots. I know

that people like Mark Allen have said that I play too slow. It was

not through me trying to slow them down, it was just me trying to make

the right decision. I have really enjoyed my snooker this season, I

have really enjoyed making the centuries. I do not think I have

played in enough events to be able to get to 100 centuries. But I am

just really enjoying my snooker at the moment, more than I have done.

65 but there was a real moment in York, Steve, when we were covering

the UK Championship, when Neil Robertson, in the other studios,

they come backstage and have a chat with us, and he seemed much more

relaxed in December, enjoying his snooker, enjoying the limelight?

Yes, it is interesting that he has picked up on the fact that other

players were saying he was a bit slow. I do think that every player

plays better and enjoys it when they are playing more naturally. Even

Peter Ebdon, who is considered to be a player who plays one shot at a

time, then resets for the next shot. But when you see a player

playing a bit quicker, upping the pace, they probably enjoy it a bit

more themselves. Neal Robinson -- Neil Robertson has done something

about it, and that is a phenomenal number of centuries in one season so

far. It would be amazing if he could get to 100. It shows you that he is

on form. For the moment, thank you very much indeed. John Parrott

brought his cue into work, so we thought we would make him work

during the mid-session interval. So, over to him in the Masters area,

where he is going to give us a masterclass, I presume, in choice of

shots. Over to you, JP. Yes, we are going to talk tactics today. The

other day we did safety. Today, in particular, shot selection. Look at

this table here. I have got in first, I am playing against the

Australian Neil Robertson. I have potted seven reds and seven colours,

but I have lost position. The first thing is, do not get upset with

yourself that you have lost position.

Do not just put the cue ball on the question. That is not enough. In

this situation, you have got to play something which we call a bit of an

insurance policy. You need to put the colour on the side cushion,

safe. I am going to give you yellow, brown and green. Which one should it

be? If you said yellow, go to the top of the class. I am trying to

play up, do not be too obsessed about the cue ball in this

instance. Play up the table, stick the yellow on the side cushion. I

would be fairly happy with that. Why is that a good shot? For three

reasons. One, the yellow, which was on its spot, that would have been an

easy pot. Secondly, you are playing against Australian Neil Robertson,

who is left-handed. Socially he cannot cue it the way he wants to.

And thirdly, even if he does pot this, and he screws back, the cue

ball is near the side cushion, and he is left with a horrible green

across the table, which he has got to control, to get on the brown. If

you play off the yellow, and you are right handed, if you have got a

right-handed opponent coming up, two of those things apply. So, this one,

for a right-hander, is still quite good. The green, you have got to be

a bit careful. If you play off the green, against Neil Robertson, a

left-hander, and the cue ball finishes over here behind it, he can

get out. Another dangerous fact, he does not have to do anything with

the cue ball, was the next bold to pot is the brown, which then gives a

natural angle to get back on the blue. So basically, the green would

leave him with a difficult shot, but the brown would actually be game

ball. These are things you have to think about. As for the brown

itself, if I was playing against Neil Robertson, I would want to play

the brown and stick it over on that cushion. The reason being, he is

going to have to hit it very hard to come back and once again, he is

going to have to use the rest. Just take a little bit of time to think

which ball should I play safe and where should I play it could reap

dividends. It could mean you winning the Masters or losing 6-5 and

heading up the M1. John, thank you. Let's look ahead to this evening's

match, Ricky Walden against Barry Hawkins.

Steve, I had a chat with Ricky Walden. They almost met in the UK

Championships in December. He said he's got unfinished business with

Barry Hawkins, given that Hawkins beat him in the Crucible semifinal,

so I'm looking forward to this one tonight. Yes, and they produced

fantastic snooker in the semifinal of the championship. From my

perspective looking at both players, both brilliant talents, Ricky Walden

changed his cue this season and went to a maple cue. It looked a bit

under the weather with it for a couple of months but now I think is

back to winning ways with it. He is looking to improve his game by

changing cues. Barry Hawkins, a soldier ild player. Ricky Walden,

very fluent. You say Barry Hawkins is a solid player but this season

he's only beaten mark Selby. It is probably so far as yet Barry Hawkins

hasn't proven himself at the top class level, even though he is a top

16 player. But that is no slight on his ability. It just shows you how

many great players are out there. Breaking into the top four would be

Barry Hawkins's next milestone, or even the top eight. But top 16 is so

difficult in the first place, let alone top eight or top four. There

are so many good players waiting to knock you out of the top 16, it is

hard enough staying in the top 16 let alone looking at how you will

progress. It will be nice for Barry Hawkins. His next job in hand is how

does he dominate the likes of a Ronnie O'Sullivan, a John Higgins or

Shaun Murphy? Mark Allen is looking to knock out the world number one

Neil Robertson, and he's been talking to John Parrott. You just

got married. Is that the end of Mark Allen the snooker player? Hopefully

also just the beginning. Hopefully I will be more settled and more

mature. I'm still 27. I'm quite young, I have a lot of time ahead.

Did you have a good day? It was a great day. I had my daughter over

for the day and my stepson looked well. A great day with family and

close friends. Have you changed yet? Hopefully not. She might say

otherwise but I think we get on pretty well. A long future ahead. We

are at the Masters this week at Alexandra Palace. For you what does

this tournament mean? It means a lot. I think I've mentioned it

before. I was here watching Queen I -- I was here watching when I was

15. A great atmosphere. I watched lots of the great players and my

idol Hendry lost in the final that year. It was great to see what I had

to aspire to. I put a lot of work in on the table as an amateur. I feel

blessed that I'm here to play in a tournament What for you sets this

tournament apart? It is the best players in the world that play it.

It is prestigious, a lot of history behind it. For the top 15 and

Ronnie. The way it should be. These tournaments are few and far between

that are for the top players alone. Lift be a great tournament to get

your name on the trophy. How much does it mean to you to add this to

your CV? Is I haven't got a great record. I won a lot of tournaments

recently. I have won four in 14 months. But there've been smaller

events or further afield. It is up for me to put that right. I don't

have a good record with the BBC. I would like to do that. Especially

being a UK player. All the attention that the BBC tournaments get, it

would be nice to get to the final and win the trophy.

Do you think it is inconsistency a little bit that have held you back?

Without a doubt it is inconsistency that's held me back, throughout my

career in general. To be honest it is there is not a lot I can do with

that. I've practised very hard throughout my professional career. I

can't really put my finger on why I'm inconsistent. It is one of those

things I have to live with. If I can get my B game better, I will be here

a long time to come. What about your form this season? I normally start

slow and what with getting married this year as well, practise wasn't a

priority at the start of the year. But I've been working very hard now

the last 4 or 5 months and I think my results are short starting to

show. Not so much in the major events. I have lost a lot of matches

but I won two events and defending my world Open title soon. A lot of

positives to take out of the season so far. Hopefully I can turn that

around in a major result this week. So for Mark Allen to progress to the

next level, Shaun Murphy has said he has become fit and lost weight. Is

the there anything you can do to make you a little better? Probably

the fitness thing. I have put on weight over the years. Since

becoming professional I've been living out of a suitcase, and having

a bad die at the time doesn't bode well. I've been practising hard.

I've been working closely with Terry Griffiths and may game is in good

shape. Maybe the fitness thing. So you don't think you've reached your

potential yet? Definitely not. I know how good I am and I want to

improve it. There's unanswered questions in my career so far. What

a fascinating interview with Mark Allen. He's having a good season.

When you look at his record this season he's won two European Tour

events back to back. But he's right there. He needs to win one of these

big tournaments. That's right, yes. To be a winner a on the circuit, any

type of winner is a success story, but everybody's programmed into the

three BBC events as being the majors. There are many tournaments

in China that are worth winning but being close to home you feel the

profile of these events is massive. Has he got enough today? This is the

key and fascinating question. Has he got enough to finish the job today

and beat Neil Robertson? I think he has got enough to finish off the

match. He's got something about him, street fighter qualities. At this

level a bit of grit and determination goes a long way.

Steve, thank you. So the players are back out. We are all set. 2-2, first

of six. Back to John and Ken. Thank you Jason. An interesting

interview from Mark Allen. Plenty of belief in his ability. Match evenly

poised, two frames all. Mark Allen breaks off this fifth frame. He will

be trying to re-establish himself in this match.

It is matches like these, John, particularly from Mark Allen's point

of view, that would give him a great deal of confidence should he

overcome someone like Neil Robertson, the world number one,

current UK champion. APPLAUSE I would say that Neil

Robertson is certainly one of the men to beat at the moment on the

tour. That was not what he was looking

for, as in red in the middle. He just stopped in his tracks there,

Mark. Played a good safety but you can see the red he played has tied

up the black. No player really likes to see that. When you get an

opportunity, you want that black in play. It is not now.

APPLAUSE Well, Mark just got down really quickly. He thought that red

may have been potable into the yellow pocket, but it's not.

A missed call. I thought if it potted into the green pocket it may

have taken that red on, but it doesn't pot. Just got to make a

minor adjustment. A little bit harder.

I think this red will pile into the right centre. It is not an easy pot

but he isn't going to gain much of an advantage here. It is certainly

worth going for. Try and use the yellow to stop the

cue ball and that's what he's done. That was a well-worked out shot. A

lovely angle on the brown now. Just before the middle pocket. Careered

into the reds and the pink. That was unlucky. Now he's trusting

a bit of luck and he didn't have it there. On a good day he could have

hit those reds and could have brought the black into play. I don't

know whether there's a red possible into the far left corner. Maybe it

doesn't go. If not, just a safety shot to play.

There is a pot on here to the left corner. He can stun around the back

of the black. APPLAUSE

A good pot and he's nicely on the blue.

A decision here as we see this wonderful pot. Well controlled

wasn't it? Nicely angled on the blue. A couple of reds he could play

on loosely but he could also bring the pink into play. A lovely shot.

Didn't have to hit it too hard. Just a nudge on the pink. A wonderful

little shot. Look at this. Hit on the left-hand side of the pink.

Could bring it into play. You've got to pot the red. Careless of Mark

Allen. What a gift this is for Neil

Robertson. You can only assume with that red that Mark Allen misthere

that he forgot. It is unforgivable really. You forget about the shot

and think about position on the next ball. But if you miss the pot, you

don't get the play the next shot. I don't believe he missed that red.

Particularly as he brought the pink into play. The pot success for both

players is poor. 86% and 80% for Neil Robertson. That's very low. It

has to be 90% and above to win matches of this standard.

That was a well-played shot. A tremendous amount of right-hand side

to keep the cue ball down in this area.

Excellent positional shot. Not easy to judge when the ball is so close

to the pocket. Tremendous backspin here. Let's look at the cue ball.

Almost like a drag ster. Would love the move the red that's

just below the pink. If you could nudge that out of the way that will

open the pink into both corner pockets. Might play a little cannon

on it here and pot the pink. I'm surprised he didn't move that

red out of the way. This pink will make the points all

square. Not an easy run to the winning line with the black tied up.

Mark Allen will be sitting there and suffering, because he's already

missed an opportunity. He'll be disappointed with that.

Needs to run past the pink for the pink in the same pocket as the red

and now all he's left with is a long blue. I'm not certain where the next

red comes from. I go back to that shot he had 4 or 5 shots ago, John.

Hit a simple pink to nudge the red below it out of the way. Would have

opened the pink and since even he's been struggling with position.

He's not concentrate yet. He's got a simple pit. If he hits the red just

below the pink, he opens the pink in both pockets, and the red to the

extreme red of the bunch of four pots, and that would have made the

break so much easier for himself. Baize he didn't play -- because he

didn't play that shot, he's been struggling with position all the way

through that break. He doesn't seem to have got any fluency going. He

overthinks it sometimes and doesn't get into a good rhythm. He can be a

free free-flowing player when he's in the mood, but he's been a little

bit tentative. This is a touching ball. If it's

the, it is an easy safety for Mark. Touching ball. And it is a touching

ball. That was careless. Anywhere up near the blue, he will be in a lot

of trouble. That was a country mile away. He's

put himself in this position, Neil Robertson, a careless shot leaving a

touching ball from a previous shot. He needs to hit this red this time.

He can clearly get through to it. He will get warned now. Foul and a

miss. Mark Allen four. He will get a warning. I just wonder, will he play

the double kiss here, John? I can hear Paul Collier warning Neil

Robertson if he doesn't make contact here it will cost him the frame. He

could play the double kiss on the red, but again, he's trusting it to

luck. I was saying the other day it has happened once in the Masters and

it was you that had the three misses. Alright John, thanks! But

why? Is he being stubborn and wanting to play the right shot?

Whatever a you do, make certain you hit the red.

APPLAUSE That was pretty brave and it has worked out a treat.

That was a very, very brave shot. If the cue ball had drifted slightly,

he was in a lot of trouble. But look at the position of it now. An

excellent shot. Foul and a miss. Neil Robertson

four. I can't see any reason why Neil won't have that replaced. If he

doesn't hit the red on the right-hand side, if he catches the

one below the pink, I get the feeling that hitting that thin he

would run into the pink. He isn't certain to get this safe. He just

managed to miss the pink. APPLAUSE Well, that turned out OK.

Just crept past the brown. Well played.

I think this is better than a snooker.

This is so difficult for Mark Allen. Concentrating so much on hitting the

cue ball properly. You take your eye off the object ball, but he will be

happy with that outcome. One of the hardest shots in the

game, that, transferring the eye line to cue ball to object ball. I'm

a little surprised Neil Robertson isn't playing the red to the left

middle here. From the opening frame he seems to

me to have in his mind not to take undue risks. He doesn't push the

boat out, leaves that to his opponent. Whether he's right or

wrong we'll wait and see. Too thin. That's why he's got too much pace in

the cue ball. Surely he will take this one on. He doesn't have to do

anything with it. If he pots the red, automatically on the pink.

Well, that wasn't even in the neighbourhood.

You can even assume that he isn't finding the middle of the cue ball.

He's putting an unintentional sign on.

Something disturbed him, so he got up. Can't put me finger on who it

was, there's too many people here. But an important pot if he is taking

it on. Both players struggling at the

moment. Just get the feeling, Ken, that the occasion is just getting

the better of them both. Yeah, possibly. Such a big

tournament. A big tournament to do well, of course.

But we've seen a lot of nerves from a lot of the players this week.

Shots you normally would not see them miss. Yes. Only 16 players in

it, and then all of a sudden, you are in the quarterfinal. So, this

first round takes on that bit more importance.

Nice position all shocked. -- positional shot.

So, he's come nicely on this thread. -- this red. If he has a nice angle

on the pink here, he could play to leave that red immediately above the

black, ring that into play. -- bring. Well, you's got the good

angle on the red but he's missed the pink! Would you believe that?!

If he had parted the pink, all of those balls would have been Neil

Robertson's but now a chance for Mark Allen.

Just a quick glance at the scoreboard. The black would put him

cue points ahead. -- two. So, no matter how he does it, he's going to

need the awkward blue. The black putting ten points in

front and then yellow, green, brown, another nine points, so that will

put him 19 in front with 18 remaining.

He's just overrun that slightly, so, yellow, green, brown to leave a

snooker. So, say UC it. -- there you see it.

And it is in! The frame now is won and Neil Robertson, running that

missed pink... And he nods so he concedes, and it

was a friend that could have gone either way, but it went the way of

Mark Allen. -- A-frame. He now leads 3-2.

That shot of Neil Robertson says it all. He misses the pink! And it

looked like such a simple shot, but for we run this, what was he doing?

Why did he miss it? He is trying to hold the cue ball to finish higher

on that red we can see to the left of the black. The reason being, you

want to pop that, flick the red off the black, just taking his eye off

the cue ball... Missed it there and he has left the perfect angle for

Mark Allen. Sticky yellow but the thicker he could pop that,

Mark Allen. Sticky yellow but the easier for yourself. And if he had

played another positional shot, he would have opened things up and made

things a lot easier in positioning. Helix subdued today. He will you

does. He is normally walking around the table, strutting like a

peacock. -- he looks subdued. The game unfolds because every day you

start out 0-0 and the match unfolds in a way you don't have real control

of if it goes wrong before you. And we have been talking about the

occasion because we did see Neil Robertson miss a long red as well.

So who is playing the part today? He just hasn't got going, firing on two

cylinders instead of six. Listen, it can all turn around. But at the

moment, it's not quite happening. JOHN VIRGO: Well, not the best break

of shop from Neil Robertson by any means. -- break-off shot.

I'd think he's on the red to the left of the pink. -- I do not think.

He needs to pop this, need to be high. -- pot.

He had to hit the pink full-ball there. And as you look... Is he on

this red to the left-hand corner pocket? It wasn't the best split on

the -- in the world. Good pot. Needed the split, hit it

with a lot of force, but not many reds moved.

Just past the two hour mark in this match. A futile and is, a few

misses. -- a few turns. But that's not gone too well. I

don't blame him playing the cannon but the red he hit, you need to hit

that full ball to keep the cue ball in the middle of the table.

Hmm... Well, he had a chance with that red and he missed it. And, of

course, missing it when you are in amongst the balls, it's unlikely you

were going to leave it safe. Yeah, you felt it was worth the risk

taking that red on, but difficult to stay on the black.

He has left an opportunity here for Neil Robertson. And he needs a good

break now because he hasn't looked settled at all in this match. As

John Parrott said in the studio, if he gets one good break, he could

sort of get going again. It's just noticeable that he's just

starting to pick up the pace here. Just beginning to pick up the pace a

bit. Which I feel is what he needs to do.

And he does fluctuate in average shot time. Maybe 20 seconds normally

for Mark Allen, but with Neil, it can get up to 28, sometimes I've

seen him in matches. No more than ten seconds per shot at

the moment, so maybe he feels he wants to pick up the pace just to

get things going, because he has been stopping and starting

throughout this match. And, as you said, John, sometimes he

overcomplicate things were taking a bit too much time, looking at too

many shots, instead of his first instinct for the shot he sees. Just

play it. Just taking a bit of time over this

now. He was entitled to think about that.

OK, you's not the blue but no problem. -- he's not.

That's a big target. Anywhere between those two reds on the

cushion and he will certainly have a go. Still this red goes up into the

yellow pocket or the left centre. He is 29 ahead, so red and blue or red

and black would be enough to leave Mark Allen needing a snooker.

Sorry, red and blue would only have been 35. But that was an excellent

shot. No how heroic on the black here. Just pot the black. -- no

heroics. So, he can make a century now.

Wasn't looking likely previously when he was missing so many shots.

Mark Allen is a great potter and thought it was worth the risk, but

having missed it, as they say, at the time, if you don't get away with

it, you are always going to leave your opponent with a chance.

Yeah, just what the doctor ordered, isn't it, for Neil Robertson here.

Well played! He will feel an awful lot better and he certainly got

going there, got a nice rhythm. Mark Allen will be disappointed but it is

the Australian now who levels three apiece. That was better.

Yeah, much better from Neil Robertson. That is what champions

are made of, Steve? Yes, and in the earlier part of the frame, it looked

like champions were not made of anything! He was off pace. It looked

like Mark Allen fancied the job and was just moving through the gears a

fraction, and the next minute, one mistake, that is all Neil Robertson

needed. 66 centuries this season. A phenomenal scorer, that is what he

is, but that is why he is world number one. A few pots he wouldn't

expect this afternoon but that is just like him. He can pick up the

mantle, get a century break, and then away he goes. It was

interesting that they talked in commentary about how he picked up

the pace a fraction. That is said by somebody who understands what it is

like to be out there. As we said, it wasn't firing on all cylinders but

what is it like if you are out there and you feel that happening? Just up

the pace, GU or sell for up, just get it going a fraction and try to

make it happen. -- G yourself up. Neil Robertson had been sitting in

the chair thinking exactly the same thing, just to get ahead here. But

he must forget about it now. He was a frame in front but now he has to

forget about it. He just has to forget and play from now. When you

see Neil Robertson playing like the number one in the world, and he just

got that break, what do that -- what does that do for your confidence? It

is like in a football match. If you are 1-0 up and you don't go 2-0 up,

that can haunt you. It is the same in snooker. If you get the chance to

go two frames clear and you don't take it, it can haunt you. If we

need a new pundit on Final Score, I will give you a ring!

JOHN VIRGO: Just a containing safety from Neil Robertson. This could

spark the match into a life here, Ken, the cars you just feel you are

going to get some response from Mark Allen. -- because.

A bit scrappy previously but that has liven things up a bit. Yes. He

has had his chances, Mark Allen. And he could certainly play the straight

pot down into the corner pocket now. The problem with playing this into

left-centre is the cue ball could career off into the reds.

And exactly that. That was the problem with playing the red like

that. He could have played it with so much more pace, forcing the cue

ball through the pack a bit more. He played it very, very delicately.

Yeah, and he could have played with a lot of side on it.

Yeah, with that shot, you could have played it with side, but then it

could have been missable. So he thought, I will just trust the lot

with position. And he didn't get any.

So, you's not put any real pressure on Mark Allen. -- we's not. -- he's

not. Careless. Well, this is very unusual for Neil

Robertson, isn't it, Ken? He is such a reliable long potter. But not

today. His long pot success is way down below his normal average. 50%.

Not good for Neil Robertson. They are the type of chances he normally

drives on. Not a great kiss on that red. The

pink may cut into the left corner but the potting angle is taking the

cue ball away from the reds. Rolled it in nicely, but, as I say,

because he had the angle on the pink, he couldn't get close to the

pink. This looks perfect if he could drop it in and come around the back

of the black and play for the lack in the same pocket. It's one rap

group you got to play with confidence. -- it's one you must

play with confidence. Well, there's plenty of room around

the back of the black. Mark Allen, under normal

circumstances, a very good long potter in his own right.

Neil just having a look if you can leave the cue ball somewhere where

the red is. -- he can. No safety shot to the ball end

because of that commission. Just has two by the will it hear Bob. -- just

has to bike is the bullet. -- white. Doesn't want to get involved in one

of these TP Tapie frames but sometimes the balls dictate how a

frame is played out. -- tip tap frames.

Sometimes under normal circumstances, players may ask for a

re-rack, but in this position, Mark Allen is in a better position

compared with Neil Robertson. He has just overhit it. If he had

been able to stop Neil rolling into the cluster, forcing him to come off

the side cushion, he may just leave the pot on. Obviously they could

look at one another and say, look, I've had enough of this, can we

start the frame again? Nobody would object to that. Unless somebody's

booked a restaurant! Ooh, ooh... Well, as I say, if he

can cover that main cluster with the black... He has overhit it. But

these reds are beginning to open up now. Yeah, and that is the

difficulty Neil Robertson will face. Mark Allen will open these reds up a

bit more, with the cue ball behind the black again, and it won't be so

easy to roll into them. Or it shouldn't be. Just makes things a

bit more tricky for Neil Robertson. He has to find a way back himself.

And, again, not a good shot. Should really have been tied to the bottom

cushion. -- tight. And it just seems he has stopped the

roll-up. If he had been tight, that would have been a telling shot. And

what is this red doing? He has knocked two on. So he always had the

advantage in that exchange and, I, like you, thought when he did not

get it tight to the top cushioning, he was giving him a chance but it

has not turned out that way. He might have been able to play this

red and grey for them blue but he won't mind playing for a baulk

collar. The reds couldn't be better spread. If there was one red you

would like to get rid of it would be the one next to the right-hand

corner. You would like the black available to go into both corner

pocket. That is something he will bear in mind. There are so many

Brits. People say to you sometimes how many shots ahead does the top

player look but you don't have to look that far ahead. As long as you

get a nice angle on one ball to get to another, then that is as far as

you want to look. The fact that there are so many reds in open

play, you have to read yourself options here. In this case, anywhere

in the middle of the table, the cue ball is obviously going to be on a

red. He is building up a lead. Oh, that is a bit short. He still

has the red on the ball. A bit tentative, that one.

He has to be careful he doesn't end up straight on this red. He has to

have an angle. Anywhere but straight on this red

and baulk. Oh, well, he thought it was a little bit too risky. He is

just about OK, he can just too past the blue. -- cue past the blue. As I

say, you would like to get rid of the red that is closest to the

right-hand corner. That way, the black is available to both corner

pockets and then you really feel that this is a frame-winning

opportunity. He held the cue ball welfare. -- he

held the cue ball well, there. The black puts him 50 points ahead

now. So, to reds and two colours will be

enough. -- two reds. Swansea has secured the

frame, he can concentrate on -- once he has secured the frame, he can

concentrate on making century break. That should be enough now. A

straightforward blue. Now, he can relax.

He has already made 114 in the first frame, 101 in the first frame,

dashed in the last frame, Neil Robertson. The possible Titov and --

another frame here. -- the possibility of another frame here.

Well, he will be disappointed about missing that and not making a

century but he will be very pleased to get his nose ahead once again in

this match. A better break from Mark Allen and he goes into 4-3 lead. It

all came down to that little tip tapping around the reds and Neil

Robertson have that possible red open to the pocket. He was digging

down on it and really want to get this red into the jaws of the

pocket, to keep the red up here, but we see what happens. That certainly

would have been his intention but he was so far out, the red came down

this end and was going to kiss another one, OK, and honoured the

day, you would get away with it, and when you look at the way the reds

are spread, well, it was short odds that Mark Allen was going to take

full advantage. So, Neil Robertson, back to square one, really. He made

a 100 a month break in nice, filament style in frame six. But he

didn't get much of a chance on that one. And Mark Allen, although he is

leading 4-3, he doesn't look that confident when he is in amongst the

balls. You get the feeling that both players are capable of missing the

unexpected shot which may be exciting but it has made it a bit

scrappy. So, eighth frame, Neil Robertson.

One frame behind. At the top of this match, we always thought it would be

close. As John Parrott said at the top of

the show, . But it is there to say that although we have had two

centuries, it is a bit below standard. That was a long, long way

away and very fortunate, having missed it by such a distance to get

it as safe as he has. Nowhere near the jaws. There, you

see it. Both players still short of the 90%.

That is careless of Neil Robertson, to leave it touching ball.

I just feel if one player just raised his game here, the match is

for the taking. And I include Neil Robertson even though he is 4-3

behind. This red just off the black,

normally, you would see him get down and gnocchis in. He is looking at

it. He is taking it on. He must be tubing across the ball,

he must be. /tubing across the ball. -- he must be cueing across the

ball. It is unlike Neal to be so far out with his putting. 45%, 50% for

Mark Allen. I will forgive them for mid-60s, 70%, I think that is fair

comment because of those long shots, but that is below the required

percentage of both players. The worrying thing for Neil Robertson is

not that he's just missing the horse, he is missing them by quite

some distance. Some of them not even going near the pocket, he is setting

the top cushion with some of them. She will have to make some sort of

adjustment. Maybe they are just not lining up properly, John. Normally,

he is so proficient with his long game, it is a big part of his game,

Neil Robertson. In these first round matches, you

win it and you are in the quarterfinal, ?200,000 to the winner

of this tournament. So, although it doesn't carry any world ranking

points, because it is an invitational event, the bank manager

will be pleased to see you on Monday morning!

He caught the blue. Sheik of the head. He has left a red to the right

corner, he has left one to the rest corner -- the left corner. Up at the

moment, you just don't feel as though he is certain to put these

mid-range walls, Neil Robertson. Choosing this one. She doesn't have

to do much with the cue ball to get a position on the black.

But it is not happening. It is as simple as that.

Of course, what goes on in your mind once you start missing a few, you

start to question whether you are hitting the cue ball in the middle

and it puts more and more pressure on Emory mid-range point you have to

play. -- on a very mid-range point. -- on every mid-range point. Neil

Robertson would be having a go at this red. It is certainly possible.

Mark Allen once said that Neil Robertson is very vulnerable at the

moment. It is time to capitalise on it.

He would love to get down from this brown onto the red that is covering

the black spot. But he doesn't have to on this occasion. If you reds out

in the open that he could possibly play on here. But he has played for

the one on the black spot and he has played it that well.

I can't believe he played it with so much. He still can put this red. He

is lucky to be on it, I tell you. He had as nice angle. He is nicely on

the brown. Once again, he is playing for this

red and B doesn't give the other one, he is pointing to the cue ball

as though he got a kick. If he doesn't kiss that read, I

don't think he will do enough. -- such red. The question is is there

another red he can put here? I am not so sure. Unless he can get one

of these upper left-hand corner. Maybe the one closest to the top

cushion he thinks will go. And it did. And that was an

excellent pot. But it is when he is having to move the cue ball

distances, he seems to have a problem with the pace of the shot.

But that was top draw. Playing for the red nearest to the

top cushion, he needs an angle. He got one.

He is maybe trying to get onto the black here, maybe. That looks pretty

good. He doesn't have to worry about it

going on the blue. He could play a little cannon and released the spot

here if he wishes. He probably felt it was a little bit dangerous.

Again, a positional shot that has gone until that are right. But he is

still OK, he can put this black into the left centre.

Well, we always say that in this game, the most important thing,

obviously potting, but cue ball control. The positional play is not

the best. Can he keep recovering with good pots? At the moment, there

is not much opposition. This is as poor as I have seen Neil

Robertson play for quite a while. He is usually so consistent. Was that a

fluke? Well, no. It seems that every time you got the

table, there is a pot on. He just about left this red on as well.

I am not quite sure what he will do here. He has the loose red over the

pocket. I am just wondering does he have an angle to try and put the

black and go into the bunch? Well, he didn't fancy there. I'm not quite

sure... Is he going to be on this red? He is OK.

The problem is, it is not ideal to stay on the black. The blue is not

on its spot. He will have to go for a baulk colour. He wouldn't want to

risk playing for the black here, it could go wrong.

He is just about on the yellow but not perfect. He will have to force

this in. That has ended the break. Very

bitty. It left Mark Allen are pretty

forward -- a pretty straightforward safety shot. Another chance the Neil

Robertson. It sponsored success is down to a mere 43% now. -- his pot

success. That is better. That is better.

He needs a good cue ball here. That is pretty good. But he has left this

red to the left corner. He couldn't have done much more. This is a tough

pot. He has missed easier ones and this today.

But that is two in a row, long pulse. And this has given him a real

opportunity. There, you see. Over ten foot

between the cue ball and the ball. Really well.

It is when you are playing the screw shot is, it is more obvious if it is

across the brawl. He only had the top of the white to hit and it

probably helped in the way. He is looking to see whether he can

just drop this in and play for the black in the opposite corner. It

wouldn't be a bad idea if he could do it. The pink is easy to get.

He needs an angle on the pink here. I don't know if any of those two

reds, we are looking at them now, at least one of them can go to the porn

a copy -- to the corner pocket. Just getting the cue ball cleaned. A

couple of options here as Mark Allen observes from his chair. He would

love to get that red closest to the black, he looks to take that away.

He is three points ahead. He is going to need the red close to the

right-hand cushion. He is only going to need the red. He would love to be

another inch high over the cue ball there, get the cue ball closer to