Day 5 Masters Snooker

hello again. There was another late show here at Alexandra Palace in

north London in this Masters, when Ricky Walden, the 12th seed, grabbed

the last place in the quarterfinals, and, my goodness, he left it late.

His match, like another three in the eight first-round matches, went the

distance, to a final friend is I'd just it has left us with a

quarterfinal line-up which is hotter than an Australian summer. -- a

final frame decider. Can, so many close matches in that

opening round, is that the shape of things to come for the rest of the

tournament? I think so. The top 16 players in the world, up against

each other, you are always going to get close ones. Some of them, you

just could not call. It is such a toss of a coin at this stage. There

is only two players who came through that first round virtually

unscathed, Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins. John Higgins has come

under the radar a bit in this, but he has got a tough match against

Mark Selby. Yes, but a massive price on John Higgins to win this

tournament. He has won the Masters a couple of times, but he is up

against the defending champion. Two of the hardest match players on the

circuit. Again, you cannot really pick one. If anybody can blow away

the opposition, it is Ronnie O'Sullivan. Some of his fans must

have been a bit disappointed to have seen Mark Selby and Neil Robertson

scrape through. Yes, Neil Robertson is in the same half of the draw as

Ronnie O'Sullivan. And of course, Mark Selby has been Ronnie

O'Sullivan's nemesis here a couple of times. Yes, of all of the

players, in that first round, Ronnie was the most impressive, demolishing

Robert Milkins. His has been the standout performance. But there is

an awful long way to go. Two players playing this afternoon who have also

impressed, Shaun Murphy and Marco Fu? Yes, fantastic. Rocco food beat

Judd Trump in that final frame decider. Shaun Murphy was second

favourite against Ding Junhui, who was a massive favourite coming into

this tournament. Shaun Murphy once again produced some really good

snooker. I think this is going to be another classic, and once again, you

cannot call it. It is going to go all the way to six o'clock in the

evening tonight, that is for sure. So, this is the line-up, and what a

contest, with five Masters titles between them, Selby and begins, in a

repeat of that epic final of six years ago.

You would not want to miss any of those matches, would you? And you do

not have to digest -- you do not have to. We will be showing all of

them live over the next couple of days. But the one that this crowd is

looking forward to is Shaun Murphy against Marco Fu today. Marco is a

snooker star who tends to either fizzle out early or shine long and

brightly in major events. He burned with real intensity in his opening

match, knocking Judd Trump out. Could it be that the man from Hong

Kong is on a roll here? Marco probably lacks a little bit of

self belief. He burst onto the scene in his first season, getting through

to the final of the UK Championship, and everybody thought, here is a

rising star from the East. He is going to get right to the top. Then

he disappeared, but he has just got to get that self belief, because he

has certainly got the talent. He is another player blessed with

exceptional temperament. Not got the greatest of ability. He has hot

streaks. I have said on many occasions, I have great respect for

the overseas players, who come over to England, the hotbed of snooker,

living out of a suitcase, and Marco has been doing that for many years.

It is not easy. But now, he is married and settled, living in

England, and I think his game will improve. Marco Fu has a very unique

technique. There is no real cue action, he just points to cue at the

cue ball. He does not further it in and out, he just points the cue, and

his head moves slightly, but when he delivers that cue, it goes through

in a straight line. It is certainly a technique all of his own. I think

the reason he goes in and out of form is because I think he probably

needs to further the ball a few more times, and then he can probably be

more consistent. One of the nicest players on the circuit, always signs

autographs, one of nature's nice guys, a credit to the game. Well,

this year, Shaun Murphy's 10th attempt to land the title. He got

close in 2012 against Neil Robertson, and losing again to the

Aussie last year in the semifinal. He already has a world title and a

UK crown on his CV. He claimed that UK title against Marco Fu in the

final of 2008, which went down to a memorable final frame decider.

Ultimately it went the way of Shaun, who was helped by a fluke

pink. Nobody has forgotten that. But the Hong Kong player has won their

last two meetings. He went on to win that event, and with it, the second

major title of his career. There is a lot to get our teeth into today,

Steve Davis. Yes, I am here with our experts in the commentary box.

Firstly, John, Marco Fu can break the hearts of snooker players, even

if Shaun Murphy seems to be on a mission this week, a keep fit

campaign... Yes, Marco Fu just seems to creep up on you, really. I think

he will be very relieved to be in this second round, because it looked

for all the world he was going to lose to Judd Trump. As far as Shaun

was concerned, he started off well against Ding, and then it became

scrappy. Of the two, I think Marco will have better memories of the

first round. Looking at the head-to-heads, Ed Ling has won nine

of them, but more importantly, the big occasions, the World

Championship, and a qualifying match here at the Masters. Will that play

a part? It should not do. But with Marco, you never know. If he is in

the mood, he is a match for anyone. But yes, if you look at the

head-to-head, it could be that Shaun has the advantage. Stephen Hendry, a

master of the Masters here yourself, a lot of people have fallen over the

line this week? Yes, I have been a bit disappointed. A lot of players

started off really well in the first few frames, like Barry Hawkins last

night. But then they have seemed to go into their shell and they cannot

get over the winning line. It is a bit strange to see for supposedly

the top players in the world. Two players who did make it look easy,

John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan, the old brigade? I could not believe

that the other night, John Higgins, second favourite against Stuart

Bingham, I could never have that. He is always going to be there or

thereabouts in a tournament like this. Ronnie, if he plays, will win

the tournament, but it is not as easy as that. Gentlemen, thank you

very much. Over to Rob Walker. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It

is quarterfinal time here at the Masters, and what a way to

kick-start the drive for the semifinals! It is going to be a

rematch of the UK Championship final in 2008, and that was an absolute

cracker. Please welcome, first of all, a player who very much enjoyed

his first Masters match in three years on Monday, beating John Trump

in an absolute thriller. He has shot his way back up the world rankings

in the last two years, he is firmly back to his best. Please welcome,

the reigning Australian Open champion, it is Marco Fu!

MUSIC: "I've Gotta Feeling" by black Eyed Peas.

You'll return to the top has been rapid, and what a way to start your

tournament, beating Judd Trump? Yes, it was a very tough match. He is

doing very well, he is a dangerous opponent, so it was nice to win that

match against Judd. Best of luck, ladies and gentlemen, Marco Fu! And

his opponent, a new slimline physique, and new walk on music for

this New Year, and it is working. A tremendous comeback against Ding

Junhui on Tuesday, is that a season defining moment critic Mark Lees

welcome the former world and UK Champion, The Magician, Shaun

Murphy! MUSIC: "Superstition" by Stevie

Wonder. In every sense of the word, Shaun,

there is a spring in your step. Yes, New Year, new start. Best of luck.

They designed and woman, Shaun Murphy!

HAZEL IRVINE: Well, both of these men have reached the final before.

JOHN VIRGO: So, Shaun Murphy getting the first frame under way. Still

best of 11. Marco Fu, well, he looked as though

he was on his way out of the tournament at a few stages in his

last match against job Trump, but he will be highly relieved to be

playing. -- against Judd Trump. We were just saying, he is one of

these players, he does not seem to do a lot, but he scores so heavily,

sometimes, when he is really on his game? Hendry label yes, he is

probably not one of the marquee players, but as you said before, he

is a match for anybody, he scores as heavily as anybody when he gets

going. Just looking at those two reds, are

they in line for the far corner? But he did not think it was worth

risking. Even if he potted, he was not guaranteed to be on a colour.

But the reds are spread far and wide now. But the black is tied up, so,

there is not going to be a great opportunity. But a mistake here

could be costly. I will be looking to day for Shaun

to impose himself on the match. There is no doubt, he is by far the

most attacking player of the two. Well, he has left the pot on the

red, but with the black being tied up, Mark O'Meara not attempt it.

Just a fraction short, and that makes such a difference. If it had

been tight, this would have been a tough safety shot.

Well, once again, he has left him a chance on this red to the left

corner. STEPHEN HENDRY: Yes, you would see

several players going for this, and screwing back. But I do not think

Marco Fu has got that shot in his armoury. These tables are so fast

and so reactive, the shot is on. Yes, absolutely. You could envisage

one of the top players potting that and going up for the blue. But when

we see Marco Fu's cue action, it does not generate that type of

power. It was important he covered the red

which is in the baulk half of the table, which he appears to have

done. So, he is calling the shots, so to speak, at the moment.

He is just playing one red on to the other. With that red being in the

other half of the table, it was not that important which side of the

blue he ended up. The way the reds are situated, he obviously does not

have to do too much with the cue ball. He would love to have the pink

in play. The black is not so important.

But this is a nice opportunity to get your cue going. I do not think

the pink goes to the left corner, but it might go to the right middle.

You can see it there, it does not go into the corner pocket. Or he could

pop the blue and play the cannon on the pink to release it.

Well, he did play it, I think he did, anyway. Maybe not, maybe he did

play for this red. I'm potting this one, he should release the black for

the corner pocket. In this situation, where you do not

have to play the power shots, you fancy him to win the frame in one

visit. He usually keeps the cue ball on a pretty tight leash.

He went up for the blue and got the perfect angle.

He is very neat and tidy when he is in amongst the balls. Yes, and as we

were saying, he has got a nice touch, and if you can keep control

of the cue ball, every shot is easy. They are the best breaks, when

people watching can say, I could have potted that. That is all

because of good cue ball control. This black will put him 54 points in

front. After this, he will need probably three of the remaining

reds. But the way he has gone about it so far, you would not expect him

not to make the most of this opportunity. He won the safety

exchange. And he has got this chance.

However, he will be a little bit annoyed that he did not get a bit

more of an angle on this black. It should not cause a problem.

He played for an area where he thought he was bound to be nicely on

a red, but he is a bit hampered. He might be able to cannon off the

other red and leave himself on the pink. Well, he has left himself high

on the black, all with a tricky pink to the centre. But if we look at the

school board, if he pops the pink, he will be 69 in front, with just 67

remaining. But as I said, when he came a bit too straight on the

black, he made things a bit awkward. He played that confidently,

considering that was frame ball, he did not hold back on it. So, Shaun

Murphy has seen this first frame slip away. He did not have much of

an opportunity. You could say the red he attempted was a bit reckless.

Sometimes, if you have not got a safety shot on, you have got to try

and pot your way out of trouble. It quietly and efficiently, Marco goes

about his business. Well, he has missed, but the frame is well and

truly over. Shaun Murphy will come to the table, not with any idea of

winning the frame, but just for a bit of potting practice.

He was talking yesterday, Shaun, about, sometimes he thinks, like

they do in tennis, they should have a little practice on the table, and

maybe that is what he is doing. Yes, I think, in the first frame, you can

definitely get your arm going on the table.

He has potted some nice balls. The frame is well and truly over, but he

has had his bit of practice, and settled in. But for all the balls he

prodded at the end, it was Marco Fu, with a nice break of 76, who

clinched the first frame. Let's talk about the shot which let

Marco in. It was a tough shot for Shaun Murphy, who was left he thinks

he can probably try and pot this red, and round the back of the two

reds and the black and somehow perhaps get safe, but what he'd did

do was play the shot a bit too thick, colliding with a red, and all

of a sudden, he has stuck Marco Fu up with an easy one. But let's wind

it back to the shot before. What do you think he could have done, Ken?

That was some screw back! Well, a lot of players, particularly in the

modern day, they try and pot themselves out of trouble. Irani in

an awful lot of trouble. One shot he could have played was a half ball on

the plant. But I've think Shaun Murphy is not the type of player who

is going to play that type of shot, he just wants to try and pot his way

out of trouble. The commentators said that Murphy is the more

naturally aggressive player, and clearly, he wanted to try and impose

himself, but did it backfire? Yes, sometimes, those 50-50 decisions are

tough to get right. Sometimes there is no right answer. And you do not

want to let your opponent, we know how proficient Marco Fu is, you do

not want to give them easy opportunities. Want to try and make

it as hard as possible for him. You keep giving Marco Fu easy

opportunities like that, he will win every frame in one visit.

JOHN VIRGO: You get the feeling that if there is a long bout of safety,

that would suit Marco rather than Shaun and if Marco gets an

opportunity, he doesn't have to be opening the reds and power has his

way into them to bring them into play.

It is quite an interesting tactical affair, the beginning of each frame,

to see how it pans out. It is Shaun 's first real chance

while the frame is alive. For all that practice he had in the

first frame, it didn't help him with that one and I'm surprised he missed

that. And by so far. He should have been so tight behind

the yellow, there should have been no danger of any swerve or anything.

He could be a sloth -- he could play a swerve but it could be a bit

dangerous as there are one or two loose ones in that cluster.

The aggressive safety would be to try and open these reds up and get

the white somewhere between the yellow and brown.

He's not got a good white and he's left a red close to the corner

pocket, so whatever he was looking at, he didn't see this one.

He would like to play the red to the right of the black but I don't think

he can put it without kissing the black.

That was OK. Already a bit careless to leave him straight on the black.

If he had caught that read a bit fuller, it may have been all or

nothing. The strike had to be very good there to avoid

He has a nice angle on the black and has the pink available.

You can always tell when a player has come a bit straight on the ball

because if he was perfect on this ball, he would have played it by

now. The red he wanted to be on, he was a bit straight. He's had to play

that one and he has just overrun it slightly. He's not perfect on the

blue. It's just getting more awkward now.

He'd be unlucky not to be on any thing there with that shot.

I think he's thinking about maybe playing for the brown and a cannon

into those rates just below the pink. The pink has just separated so

it makes it a bit awkward. Unless you catch the pink full ball, it

might not bring the reds into play. The red is in but he is not perfect

on the black. Eventually the loss of tight cue

ball control caught up with him. When Marco was in, he had good

control of the cue ball so every shot was easy. Then Shaun started

not getting onto the ball is right and before you know where you are,

you are back sitting down. This would be a big ask to win the frame

at this visit, but a chance. Since I started commentating and watching a

lot of Shaun Murphy's matches, how many times it breaks down. He

doesn't win enough frames in one visit for me.

He has all the attributes to win frames in one visit. The cue Pat --

the power to open up the balls. Just the carelessness of the positional

shots. In the modern game, you might only

get one chance. You have to take it. He'll be disappointed with that. Not

what he played. He is on this yellow but it isn't what he played for.

This is the last of the easy reds so it is important it is a good angle.

He played for a choice of three reds and he has come a little bit in

between. He has won to the left middle and one to this right corner,

but I suppose if you are having a choice you would play the one to the

left middle. The one to this right corner is what we call playing into

a blind pocket. That was more tricky but beautifully

played. Shaun Murphy had in his chance and

if you lose positional shots caught him out in the end. -- E few loose

shots. His cue action is perfect in and

around the black. A good safety shot to finish off

with. Kissing the yellow wasn't ideal, but

when you just flick off it and you are near the baulk cushion, you soon

forgive yourself for not hitting it quite right.

He thought that was a safety but it has hit the pink and it is a chance

now for Marco Fu. He could have got the ball back to cue easily. A

mistake. Ideally, three cushions possibly for

the blue. I think we have a new favourite for

this frame now. Just seven points behind.

The only slight problem is the pink not being on its part, but it

doesn't look like a big problem. As long as he lands virtually straight

on the blue. And the pink for the second frame.

He looks in very good touch, does Marco Fu and Shaun will be

disappointed with the safety shot at the end. It was a careless mistake.

Marco Fu is on really good form and Shaun Murphy is obviously

disappointed. It looked like Marco Fu would take anything. He looks in

very predatory form today. You were talking about the patient's level he

displays out there. What he will try and do is feed of Shaun's mistakes

and wait and wait and try and force him into taking that ball that will

be quite difficult. As we saw, he is a very accomplished player and has

the cue ball on a string at the moment. When he gets those chances

and the ball presents themselves, he is very tough to beat. Most people

know that sometimes Shaun has do have a go. Is that a potential

weakness against a man like Marco? It is if that is the way the game

unfolds. Shaun Murphy was in amongst the balls and then the break broke

down. Stephen Henry talked about the fact it didn't convert in one visit

and then the safety shot that went awry and small things can add up

against top players who will take every opportunity and make you pay

for it. At this level, every mistake you make can be magnified. Whether

we look at the century breaks and how many people make per season and

how many you convert, it comes into the equation these days and you can

look at how often a player can convert. Mark century -- Marco Fu

makes more century breaks on every visit. The figures show you that he

is having a terrific season. He might have gone out in the opening

round of the UK Championship but that was a blip. And everyone has

blips and even at the top level. Shaun Murphy has a real tough match

on his hands. He will have to produce some of that really

top-class snooker to get back into this match. OK and it is Shaun to

play. JOHN VIRGO: Well he missed the part.

-- he missed the pot. The first chance to Shaun and he had

the same in the last frame and made the most of it. This time. What can

he do with this one? The way Shaun has played that, I

assume the red to the left of the pink goes into the opposite corner.

Well! Borley! You don't miss pinks like that. The way he has played it,

that top red must go into the left corner.

Would you play pink in and then going to the reds? That looks like

the obvious thing and that is what he has played. It is not as simple

as it looks because the pink is so far into the jaws of the pocket. He

will have to stand into the bunch. He played it well. He caught the

pack bit thin. The red to the right corner is not

too difficult but getting the position on the colour will be the

problem. Not guaranteed. That is his problem and we keep

saying about the problem with cue action and when he tries to inject

that type of power, he seems to lose rhythm. I think players like

O'Sullivan, and Murphy could even have played the black into the same

pocket and a slow screw under the black.

It is a style of play that Marco doesn't have.

But he scores very heavily in terms of century breaks. And the fact that

Shaun Murphy had to pay a safety shot there, he was fortunate, Marco,

not to leave a pot on. He may try and put the red to the

centre dead weight. No, a containing safety. I suppose

if the black doesn't put into the left corner, it is difficult to take

a read on. -- a red on. The black didn't go into that

corner, but it nearly went in the middle. Desperate to get that first

frame on the scoreboard, as any player would be.

Good line, and, I did not think it was going to get there, but what a

beautiful length! Apart from that last pot which he missed by quite a

distance, he has hardly put a foot wrong here, Marco. I was just

thinking, Shaun was to nail down in his first round, and against the

likes of Ding, you always think you will get chances, but against a

gallon, it is tough. Full never going to take risks. -- against

Marco. If you go behind against more attacking players, at least you know

they are going to give you chances. He is in a spot of bother here. The

reds are spread, and he has not got an easy return to baulk, if he has

one at all. He played the containing safety. Did not hit it as he

intended, and he has left a pot onto the right corner.

He could not have played that much better. Played it with sufficient

pace for the cue ball to come in and out of baulk.

You can always tell when a player is cueing well, when the ball goes

right into the heart of the pocket, is that brown did. Yes, and they are

always in perfect position as well. When you do not hit it well, and the

ball does not go into the middle of the pocket, you lose the cue ball.

Not certain whether the black, when it is respotted, is not going to be

tied up here. There is no other spot available. And now, the black is out

of commission, the pink is out of commission.

But as we were alluding to, some players, that would bother them. But

it will not bother Marco, he will just keep chipping away, going for

the blue... In a way, it is quite frustrating when you are sat in your

chair, waiting for him to take some risks, but no, he is just going to

take care of everything which is available. All of a sudden, you get

to the table and you are 50-60 behind. And Shaun already knows that

if Marco did make the mistake, the black is tied up, so he would be

unlikely to have a frame-winning opportunity. Oh, well, he has missed

one. Just playing that little soft stone, and the cue ball can just

sometimes slide off. Just a fraction too thin.

It is amazing this game, sometimes. You miss an easy ball, and you are

sat down, thinking, how did I miss that much of it and then you are

straight back at the table! The left-hand red of these three

obviously will pot. In doing so, he will bring the black back into play.

So this is a frame-winning chance. It is a bit tricky, the black will

not go back exactly on its spot. So it goes back closer to the top

cushion. He may even choose to play a cannon

on the red which is on the black spot.

I think that is what he played. Yes, it has gone wrong. The black hearse

to go as close to its own spot as it can, in a direct line with the

middle of the top cushion. So, it looks as though that is end of

break. Well, he has left this red along the

baulk cushion. If Shaun could knock this in... He might be able to roll

up behind one of the baulk colours. Well, maybe Shaun did not go for the

pot. He purposely played it into the jaws and sent it up the table.

Caught it too thick. Just avoided the double kiss. He was fortunate

there. Well, he did not see a safety, and

he took on a very difficult pot. And he missed it, but what was worse

than missing it, he has left it up, and also, he has brought the black

interplay. -- into play. This is not the easiest starter for

Shaun, but at least it is a chance. Well, I can understand him not going

for the pot, because he might have thought, I cannot get on a colour.

But I cannot believe he would play it like that.

STEPHEN HENDRY: You would think the reds have to be coming back up the

table. Far be it from me to give advice on safety, but that was a

poor one. Pot and cattle springs to mind. But no, it was a very strange

choice of shot. -- kettle. And it looks as though it is going to cost

him this frame. Worrying times for Shaun and his supporters.

Sometimes, when Shaun is playing, his first choice of shot is to go

for the pot, then he seems to outthink himself, and he says to

himself, I will not go for it. And then he plays the wrong shot.

That black puts Marco 54 points ahead, and with the red, it is 55

ahead, with only 51 remaining. And it is a simple red, to clinch the

third frame. I do not think he was happy with the contact, and he is

not the right side of the blue, but once he rolls this blew in, it will

be three snookers needed. That last safety shot of Shaun,

well, it did not come out of any book I have read.

And Shaun decides that is enough. He will be very disappointed.

So, let's have a think about this, and think what he is trying to do.

If the black had been tied up... Well, fair play, Shaun, I do not

think I would have been signing that. I would not have been, either.

He looks to me like he has got no fire in his belly. Show a bit of

anger. Sometimes you can be too nice in sport. Fair comment. So, if we go

back to this safety shot, if the black was tied up, I could maybe

understand trying to bring the black into play, but the black is in the

open, the reds are portable, why would you want to do that, when you

did not know where it was going to finish? Strange. Strange choice of

shot. And it cost him. He needs to get something going,

Shaun. As I said, Marco is not going to give you chances, he is going to

do everything quite well, he is not going to take many risks.

APPLAUSE Well, that is a good opening pot. He

could've a more advantageous kiss on the blue.

He is excellent with the rest, you have to say. If there is anyone

better, I have not seen him. He cues up exactly the same way he does when

his hand is on the table. Mid-session interval after this

frame. He will be desperate to get his first frame on the scoreboard.

It goes without saying, it makes a huge difference, two frames behind,

or four, which is what it could be. Well, he used all the pocket for

that black. Purposely playing that red so he

could screw into the cluster. He does not want to be too straight on

this black. He played that nicely, he played it

beautifully. Yes, that was a very confident stroke.

He could've done with another couple of inches on the cue ball there. I

don't think he will play for that red now.

Well, once again, displaying his cue power.

The main reason I think he played that, he did not have to do anything

with the cue ball. He was bound to be on the pink. In an ideal world,

you would like to be a bit closer to the pink than this. He will be

taking nothing for granted. Just a little bit short of pace. Can

he pot the red without moving the black? A bit further down, he could

just rolled the red in. Now, he will have to the cannon. He did not want

to risk playing for the black, so went up the table, and it has worked

out nicely. He will not be disappointed with that.

Did not get into the cue ball enough there. A little bit mystified by the

reaction of the cue ball there. With so much cue power, it is a surprise

he did not get far enough into the top cushion. I do not understand

that one. 49 points the lead. But there are still 91 remaining.

Again, broke down in the 40s, with a careless positional shot. It could

have cost him again. Maybe not. This is a thin one, so

you are not certain where the cue ball is going to finish. Make

certain of the Phancit... Well, that could not have finished much worse.

I do not think it is a case of just dropping the black in and being on

the red, you have got quite a bit to do with the cue ball.

He cued that nicely, but he is not out of the woods yet.

APPLAUSE An excellent pot there.

So, a choice of yellow or green. When he puts this yellow, he will be

60 in front with 75 remaining. So he will still need two more red 's.

Which is probably why he did not want to risk playing the cannon. He

has played a good positional shot. Stephen was singing his praises for

his use of the rest, let's hope it is not the commentator's curse.

Right in the heart of the pocket. This lack will put him 68 points in

front, with just 67 remaining. It looks as though that first frame is

going to go on the scoreboard for Shaun. And he will be mighty

relieved. He has needed a couple of chances,

that is the worrying thing, I suppose. I do not think Marco will

bother coming back to the table. The next time Marco leaves his seat,

he will be going to his dressing room. And he does concede. So, at

the mid-session interval, Shaun Murphy is on the scoreboard. Perhaps

not what we had expected early on in this match, but as the guys said,

Shaun will be relieved. I think possibly, they would agree with

Stephen Henry that Shaun has looked flat I would not be signing

autographs, 3-0 down. You would not want anybody within 20 yards of you

when you are 3-0 down! Particularly Stephen Hendry, you would be taking

your life into your hands! That he needs something to spark him. He

will be mightily relieved to get the first frame on the board, no doubt.

At again, 49er head, broke down once again. Bad positional play. If he is

going to win this match, he needs to be scoring much more heavily. As

Stephen Hendry said in commentary, he keeps breaking down. In glimpses,

we saw that against Ding, but he really needs to start producing the

70-80 breaks. We know he can do it. He was doing it last week. He is a

quintessential confidence player. He is a beautiful Key West, will be the

best that we have on the circuit, no doubt about it. And when he is going

around the table, he looks superbly confident, every now and again, he

will throw in a silly little shot, and it just comes out of the blue,

with Shaun Murphy, whether it is concentration or whatever, but that

is what is letting him down at the moment, and he needs to eradicate

that from his game. 3013 was a lean year for Shaun Murphy, in more ways

than one. But he also failed for the first time in a few years to get to

a major final. Despite all of that, when you speak to him, he remains

cheerful and optimistic that something good is just around the

corner. He is just a kind of glass half full person.

Eight years ago, it is now. Time marches on. Three world ranking

titles since. Is that enough for you? Absolutely not. It is one of

the disappointing factors of my career to date. I do not feel I have

won enough ranking events. It is something that I am very, very keen

to address. I am really targeting those now, that is where I want to

have real success. The Masters is high on my list, to complete my

triple Crown. Obviously, every year I enter the UK Championship and the

World Championships, to win them, not to turn up. So, in your view,

that has not been a decent return for the effort you have put in?

Absolutely not. But I have to qualify that by saying, probably the

last three years, I have got what I deserved out of it. In what respect?

I have not worked hard enough. It hit me last year when my manager and

best mate called me a part-time snooker player. That hurt. We were

in Antwerp for the European Tour event, sat down having a beer, I had

just driven over, a long drive from Manchester, checked in, had a beer

in the hotel. Things got said, and that really hurt. What hurt the most

was, I could not argue back. And I thought, yes, he is right, actually.

I am very, very lucky that I am surrounded by people who are that

passionate, they care enough, to say stuff like that. Things like that

are not easy to hear, but I knew what he meant and I knew he meant it

well. And since that, I have changed. Last couple of seasons has

seen frustration, with quarterfinals and semifinals, but I just wonder,

how frustrating has that been, and what do you do about it? Not to use

the same reason for everything, but I feel if I had activist and worked

as hard as I am doing now over the last few years, I would not have

made those stakes. -- if I had practised. I would have been better

prepared to Cope with all of the different things that you have to go

through as a sports person. And those mistakes that I kept making

would not have happened. I might have made them once or twice, but I

would not have made them for two years. Those semifinals would have

turned into finals, and perhaps some of those finals would have turned

into victories. I have probably been guilty of the last few years of not

being the best learner, not being honest enough with myself, and not

working hard enough. You'd talked about your team

earlier. You are a very good pianist and very few people realise this,

but your manager is pretty good as well, isn't he? Chris is the best

amateur pianist that I've ever seen, as far as I'm concerned. By

amateur I mean someone who doesn't do it for payment. We have a bit of

a paid -- game where we try and work out how long we were last on the

piano. -- we will last. I once saw a piano in Bahrain a few years ago and

I said, how long would I last on there? We didn't last a few

seconds. Someone came over and said, excuse me, it is not for people to

play on. We were in Shanghai a couple of weeks ago and there was a

piano in a restaurant we were in and we jumped on. They said, yes, it is

for playing. Don't get me wrong, I am not an amazing pianist, but Chris

is an people love to listen to him. Sitting in your beautiful house,

looking at you now, how happy are you? Is life good for you? It is the

best it has ever been. I have some fantastic people in my life. My

girlfriend is amazing. I am so lucky to hate -- have met her it was such

a chance meeting. She brings me down when I am upset and when I am over

the moon, she keeps me level-headed and I'm very lucky to be surrounded

by her and my manager and Chris and the rest of the family. I am a very

lucky person. Finally, Celine Dion. I knew I wouldn't get away with

that. I have got to learn that. That is my challenge for Sheffield.

Get a piano into the Winter Gardens. He has Celine Dion songs to get him

riled up four matches. He is a champion person and a champion

guide. As Stephen Hendry said, one of lives nice guys. Is the anger

necessary and does have it? There is no harm in being a nice guy. You can

be nice sitting in a chair or outside but when you are on the

table, niceness goes out the window. You have to be as tough as

you can be. OK. He has a tough climb on his hands today. He gave me a

masterclass in the piano, but we have in other masters class courtesy

of Steve Davis and these have been excellent. What have you got for us

today, Steve? Welcome to the office. We have been

talking all week about how to improve the proficient player and we

have talked about tactics. I will continue on the line of positional

play. In the last one, I talked about

being the right side of the ball so you can play an easy positional shot

for the next shot. Before you play a shot, decide where you want the cue

ball. Don't just think about the pot, think about where you want the

cue ball to be. Let us look at this setup. You have a nice easy read, a

black waiting to be parted, but the only other red to put after that is

that red. After you have ported that, you come off the cushion and

if you leave yourself low on the black, you can get onto the red. I

end up dead straight on the black. The worst place. But when you are

around this side of the table. Visualise where dead straight days

and sometimes that is difficult. You can't necessarily see where the line

of dead straight is from this position. So, wouldn't it be nice if

you had some sort of guideline and if you could draw a line on the

table in practice and extend the straight line so you could see and

use it as a training method. You can't draw a line with a piece of

chalk. It ruins the cloth and you can't brush it out. You could use

tailors chalk and with the permission of the club owner draw a

faint line, but failing that, , for the sake of a bit of practice, pick

a small item... I have some grapes from Ken. All of a sudden, you now

have the straight line. If you play a shot now to pot the red, now you

know where dead straight is. If you want to play short of that line, you

know where it is. You can put a couple of guides for the dead

straight shot for the pink as well and if you have some left over,

three second rule! Now, you can play short of the grape. At least you

know where the dead straight line is. Obviously, if you're snookered

by a great, have another one. That is my lesson for the day. Nicely

done. He has been searching Alexandra Palace for Maltesers and

couldn't find a single one. We have been joined by the gaffer here.

Barry Hearn, lovely to see you. Lovely to be here. How much are you

enjoying it? This session was always the one that was slightly down in

numbers, but apart from that... It is an iconic venue and has some

history with it. The tradition of the Masters over 28 years, this is

the best year we've ever had. The whole game and I know everyone

expects me to hype it, the whole game is great at the moment. Why

shouldn't the people come? Last month, 128 squeezed in. Is there

news? There was much debate about whether the championship would go

back to the Barbican Centre. We are going back to the Barbican Centre.

We love the venue and the people there. We didn't get it 100% right

with logistics but we will second time. We are getting there. With the

new layout, I think the players will like it. Ford tabled in the main

arena and four in the practice all and everybody plays one round

outside and then comes into the arena. There is so much competition

now and so many kids getting their chances. The top players have upped

their game because they need to and we are seeing upsets and we are

selling tickets. The greatest the monitor in the health of any sport

is, what's the live audience like? The ratings for this tournament are

well up and we are getting ready for the big one and that, this year, I

promise you now, will be the best World Championships you have ever

seen. Why a question me -- why? Simply because of the standard of

players. They can show the world their ability. We will change the

face of snooker in the first week of Sheffield. It will be spectacular.

These kids are like a pet -- breath of fresh air and the top players are

on the edge of their seats. I am so proud to hear what Sharon -- Shaun

Murphy said because young pros should listen to that. It is about

hard work and dedication and application, but on a fair, level

playing field. In the first week, you will see some proper drama. A

lot of tickets already sold. You mentioned Shaun Murphy and his

application. We were chatting the other day with Mark Allen and we

have had the conversation several times. With the one-table set-up,

why can't we allow the players do have some table time, particularly

when there is only the one table in use? It is something that happened

at the World Championships when table conditions changed for the

final. We should always evaluate these things and try it on and

experimental basis. Other players have said they don't want that

because of the cloth being be brushed afterwards. Logistically,

sometimes you don't get the chance to do that. But it is something we

should try. We should never be frightened to experiment. The

players don't have to come in when the crowd is there because that

would ruin the build-up. When the players coming with the music. But

if they came in when there was no crowd, maybe an hour beforehand, and

they only need five minutes. Nothing at all wrong with experimenting. We

should always be open to change and that is the way this game has been

run for the last few years. We have evaluated it over the last few years

and we should give it a crack. We will not please all the people all

the time. But everyone is working hard. From what you have seen over

the last few days, we have had for final frame decider is so far, who

is playing the best snooker? They are all playing in patches the best

snooker I have seen, but I haven't seen anyone be consistently

throughout the entire match... I have seen hiccups. Last night 's

match with Hawkins, there is a different level of pressure going on

in all of this. It is such a prestigious event, televised

globally and there is obviously quite a lot of money. Their prestige

is something else as well. The guys want to win. The sadness for sure --

Shaun there was maybe he could have won if you Championships. People

want their name on a trophy. Which Ronnie turns out, we don't know? And

that is one of the reasons people turn up to watch him. I don't think

there is one person head or shoulders, there are half a dozen.

Thank you for dropping by. Let us get back to the match now featuring

Marco Fu and 2013 was a big year for him because he became a dad for the

first time and she has been toddling around the venue with her mum,

surely. It led to one of the greatest patches of form he has ever

produced, and he won one of them in Australia last year. He has been

going great guns and it would appear that professionalism and parenthood

goes well, despite the lack of sleep.

Please welcome, reigning Australian open champion from Hong Kong, Marco

Fu! It is great to be back because it is such an important tournament.

It is sad that I dropped out of the top 16 two years ago. I had to miss

this to -- tournament two years in a row and watched it on TV so it is

nice to be back. I have improved a lot as a player in the last 18

months. I was changing a lot of things technically. I wasn't happy

with my cue action game at all. My coach helped me a lot. My technical

expertise is coming together now. Winning the Australian gives me a

lot of confidence. I have won a ranking event two years ago, but

when you win your first one you really want to win the second one.

To see if it is not a one-hit wonder. Mentally, I was prepared

coming into this tournament. In the first match, I coped quite well

under pressure. It is always nice to beat a player of Judd Trump's

calibre. It worked a bit at the beginning, but when you come to a

second stage you start to get a few more battle scars under you and you

are faced with tough opponents. They know what to expect from you. It

becomes difficult and everything has taken so long to get to where I am

now. I just want to fulfil my potential. The only difference

compared to other players is I never really expect to beat anyone. I does

want to fulfil my mental goals, just try to get the best out of myself. I

never think of winning or losing like other players do. I just want

to play my best snooker. Apart from the World Championship, this is

probably the toughest tournament to win. I got to the final a few years

ago so I would like to go one further this year.

The great thing going for him is his temperament. Nothing seems to faze

him. Here they come. Shaun Murphy knowing he has a lot to do. 1-3

behind to this man who hasn't played at the Masters since he was in the

final in 2011 when he was beaten by Ding Junhui. Back we go to John and

Stephen. JOHN VIRGO: Thank you Hazel. Quite

an interesting intermission. Always good to hear the views of Barry

Hearn. Very positive about the game, as well he might be. A decent enough

break of shot from Shaun. It depends if you can get past the

brown and to the middle pocket, he could come off a cushion.

That is an excellent shot. A little tap on the table from Shaun. As long

as the red isn't straight, he'll be taking it on. It is a shot he is

really good that normally. He hit completely the wrong side of

that thread. He had to cut it to the right and the ended up to the left.

That has left Marco with a nice easy starter. Not the start to the fifth

frame that Shaun was looking for. So far in this match, we have seen how

good Marco is with these opportunities.

He just underhit that slightly. He didn't want to be playing the red to

the right middle, but it looks like it's the one he'll have to play.

If he had nestled on that read full ball it would be very awkward. But

he is nicely on the red and he can cue easily enough to the cue ball.

In an ideal world, he wouldn't want to play for the red near the top

cushion. These are OK if you don't have to

play them with too much pace. I was going to say, he'll need an

angle on the black sooner or later. He's going to have to disturb

something. There is a plant that goes to the left corner.

I think that's what he has played for. At -- it looks as though he is

just going to the left jaw I don't think he can play the reverse plant.

Where it pushes the second red. There is a bit of distance between

them so he is playing the one... He didn't play for that. That is a

bonus! He had found a gap. I think he's playing the red to the

right of the pink spot now. He'll be a bit disappointed he's

come straight on the blue. He's just cueing now to show where he wants to

leave the cue ball. Absolutely plumb.

Maybe could have done with running through an inch or two more. Can he

reach it? There are six breads immediately

above the black and he can run the cue ball in the gap to open it up

perfectly. -- six reds. But he is trying to wheedle the map

-- them out because he doesn't possess that cue power. I still

think you have to pay -- plague the positive shot. That is why he is a

frustrating player because he doesn't take too many risks if he

doesn't have to. This black will put him 70 points in

front with 67 remaining. He has picked everything off one at

a time and it shows the different ways players play.

He'll be a bit disappointed with that positional shot, but the frame

looks to be well and truly over. There was a bank is there so maybe

that affected the positional shot. So, not the start that Shaun Murphy

needed in the second half of this match. Marco Fu marches on.

What is it about his break-building style that is so impressive, Steve?

He controls the cue ball. We were talking about break-building. The

years have listed -- experience understanding what is the right and

wrong shot. If you learn from those mistakes you become a better

break-builder and if you don't, you become the sort of player who is an

old dog who can't learn new tricks and you constantly make the same

mistakes in your positional play. Over the years, Marco Fu has become

a proficient break-builder and keeping in amongst the balls when

you have a chance to put a view is a great skill. So he is four - one

down, Shaun Murphy. What would you do in his situation? He have to

really up his game. He missed a pot by a long way at the beginning of

the frame and every time he does that, Marco Fu takes advantage.

Shaun has two try and make those breaks because he is getting chances

but not making breaks the way Marco is. Up until yesterday, with Neil

Robertson, he upped the pace a bit and I am not sure that is Shaun's

style to change his game. But you would try and make something work.

Try and play more defensively even. I am not saying it is right, but

change something. JOHN VIRGO: Now he has a nice

opening red. He has done that a feud times in this match, putting in a

nice opening ball. He played the cannon on the reds

and, OK, but there were a couple of loose reds he could have played on.

The green was a bit thinner than was ideal to play the cannon.

Marco was a long way off with that one and he has left a red to the

middle. He decided to play it into the far

left corner. And nicely on the pack to go into them.

He went into them and it could have worked out better. There are a

couple he can part, but he has a bit of work to do with the cue ball.

Played it nicely. He has got a nice angle on the blue,

Played it nicely. He has got a nice angle and he seems determined. You

feel certain he is going to go into the reds. I think that shows how he

is going to change it, he is going to have a go here. Every chance he

gets, I think he is going to attack. He has to win the frame at this

visit, I feel, in the context of this match. Again, could have done

with another couple of inches on the cue ball. He just has not had

complete control of his cue ball this afternoon. He will probably

play a cannon on the two reds above the back.

In an ideal world, he would like to get rid of that red which is near

the corner. But as Stephen said, he must win the frame at his visit, you

feel, just for his own self belief. This match is slipping away from

him. Now, he can get this red out of the

way, and make the black available into both corners.

He controlled that nicely. This red will take him 60 points in front,

with 59 remaining. So, snooker is needed for Marco Fu.

We will not see a century, but that was better from Shaun Murphy. Marco

Fu did not do a lot wrong, but Shaun looked as though he had improved

there. And perhaps he had a direct line to the voice of Steve Davis,

but he certainly picked the place up a bit. Much more fluent from him?

Yes, it can be the case that the balls dictate what shots you play,

but before he got in with that second break, he had potted the

green and gone in off, and we were thinking that was possibly the long

shot to play. But then, when he got on the blue, it was a completely

different break to the way Marco did it. He plays a positive shot here,

and just watch the reaction he gets off the blue. The pack splits

beautifully. As Stephen said in commentary, it was imperative that

he won the frame from that position. If he broke down again, it could've

been much over. But this will make Marco think a little bit. We spoke

about the way Marco Fu went about his break building - how great is

the contrast with the way Shaun goes about it? Shaun likes to get them

open very quickly, whereas Marco picks them off one by one. In this

match at least, he has got a much better control of the cue ball, and

he would rather pick reds off. Shaun on the other hand, like some of the

other top players, will just smash them open as quickly as possible and

try and win the frame as quickly as possible.

JOHN VIRGO: Whenever you play that type of pot, you always try to hit

it on the thin side, so that the cue ball can get back to the baulk end.

Shaun will be looking at trying to get in behind the green here. Not

quite. But I think the yellow made the blocking the path for a safety

down the left-hand side of the table. If it is, then Marco could be

in a spot of bother here. Normally, you would think, come off

the right-hand side cushion, but the brown is covering that path, so it

is not straightforward. He tried the thin one. REFEREE:

Foul, and a miss. Shaun Murphy, four.

No reason for Shaun not to have the ball replaced.

Of course, it is a dangerous shot, this. He might give it one more go,

trying to hit it thin, but if he misses it, he will be warned,

because he can clearly get through to the red. Well, he caught it thin,

and he has gone in-off. He will not be too unhappy with that. At least

it is safe. Well, that is an attacking safety,

which is OK, but it seems every time he plays that type of shot, he sends

awry Celts to the corner. OK, he has put distance between cue ball and

object ball, but this one is portable. -- he sends a red to the

corner. But Marco has not punished him.

STEPHEN HENDRY: Marco has scored well today, but his long game has

been poor. When you see where the black is, and

where the pink is, this could be a long frame.

I still think, the weather reds are spread, you would like to get the

first chance. -- the way the reds are spread.

He is trying to get back to the baulk end. He missed it on the way

up, caught it on the way back. A little tap on the table from Shaun.

Did he play it like that? Would you play it like that? I mean, OK, at

the angle he is coming, you can play to hit it thin, in the knowledge

that you will definitely get it on the way back. But I do not think I

would have been giving him a tap on the table for that! The red closest

to the left corner, I do not know if that cuts in.

Just played the red. He was trying to drop it in. But as long as he did

not get the double kiss. He knew he would be reasonably safe. And it is.

Justified applause for that. He did well to find the gap there. He had

to be very precise. That red is still there, close to

the left corner. No one seems to want to take it on. From the

player's view, it will look thinner than it does on the TV. I think it

is worth a go. Particularly, there does not look to be a

straightforward safety shot. As Stephen suggested, if he catches it

thin, he will come back up the table. But Shaun was not tempted by

it, and it does not look as though Marco is, either.

That's not bad. The main priority was not to leave a pot on, and it

does not look like he has. Must be a good chance to get in behind the

green this time. Does this pot go to the corner? Not

quite, I don't think. There may be half a pocket. Anyway,

change of plan. That's pretty good. But if he had

just missed the green, he may have got the snooker.

There is a path back to baulk, but it is one of those, you have got to

hit it really well. You do not want to leave it short, near the blue

spot. I do not think he is trying to get back to baulk.

Well, he has left a pot on this time. I am not sure about that

choice of shot, but he did not want to risk trying to get back to the

baulk end. APPLAUSE

He played it nicely. Nicely on the brown. Muck with all that safety

that has gone on, they never freed up the pink or black. So, still not

the best chance. Oh, that will help! The pink is now free somewhat.

He does not want to be playing for the pink until it goes on its spot

and at least is available into both middle pockets. It is understandable

he is giving this plenty of thought, because it is a tricky situation,

shot selection is of paramount importance.

Well, I think he has just about got a slight angle on this blue. And

obviously that red just below the pink is available to the right

corner just and this will really clear the pink spot.

He could have done with screwing back another inch.

Now, he can play for the red which is blocking the pink into the left

corner. This really is an opportunity where he should win the

frame. It has to be said, Stephen, and he

has played these really well, from the first red he potted, purposely

trying to free up the pink, he has had to work hard, and he has done

well. Yes, he looks a bit more focused around the table now. It is

important to be relaxed when you play matches, but at the same time,

I think Shaun was too relaxed. You would not like to wait until you

are for-1 down all the time to do it! No, it does not leave much

margin for error, does it? So, this pink will put him 73 points

in front, with just 67 remaining. So, another frame where he has just

needed the one visit. And there are did not look that much on. We were

saying that the pink and black were tied up. But a couple of good shots

early on to get that pink into the open, and he has made the most of

it. Would not normally have played for

the black, but as the frame is over, he thinks he may be able to make a

century. Oh, that is a pity. I did was an

excellent break of 81. There did not look that much on. But well played,

Shaun Murphy. Both players are leaving the arena.

This one has got to be in, me in my Superman onesie. This one was taken

in Shanghai. I cannot walk past a piano and see it free and not try

and knock a few Junes out. My coach Chris took that feature. This is me

at home, just having run the Manchester ten kilometre race, for a

Manchester hospital charity. This is the MCG in Australia. Neil Robertson

and his father took me to watch again, and we had a couple of nights

in Melbourne. Earlier in the summer, Hazel and the team came to the house

to do a bit of filming, and halfway through, I had to excuse myself, and

though she was, playing the piano. I have known Hazel for quite a long

time and never knew that she could do that. It was a really nice

surprise. And that was a surprise to me! I am not all that good,

certainly not in Mr Murphy's league. But I did have a go. Hidden talents,

which will remain hidden. But that Superman onesie is worth talking

about. It looks like he has actually been into the telephone box and

changed, because he is suddenly flying. Yes, it seems like he has

upped his pace around the table. It could be, if he has potted a few

balls, it does help you feel a bit more fired up. The difference

between looking flat and looking like you have got a spring in your

step, it is a fine dividing line. What would you prefer, onesie or

palm skirt? Me? I do not really care, really. That is all in the

past! What do you see different about Shaun? It is quite apparent

that he has picked up the pace a bit more, just like Neil Robertson did

against Mark Allen. The balls seem to be going in a lot sweeter. He has

that error of confidence. We said that he had to do something, and he

looks a bit more aggressive around the table. Steve, the shape of the

match now, suddenly, Marco having been so comfortable, what do you

detect about the way he is thinking? I do not think it is necessarily

anything to do with Marco dropping his standards, but all of a sudden,

it is slowly becoming the tournament of the last frame deciders. There is

every chance that this could go to the last frame. Four out of the

eight matches which have been played so far this week have indeed gone

the distance. Will this be the next?

Shaun played the six safely there. I think he was trying to ep up the

cluster. Catching the yellow he's left a pot on. This to me has been

the key in the last two frames. Marco Fu has had long pots. His

long-pot success is very low. Can he knock this one?

Close but it didn't go in. That to me is the difference. He's not been

getting in amongst the balls but has had a chance of a couple of long

pots in the frames and he hasn't been able to knock them in. His

long-pot success is down to 25%. APPLAUSE Knocked that one in but

needs that cue ball to slow up. Unless he's got a good angle on the

brown, he's got a slight angle. He's just looking to see if there's red

available to the left corner. If he goes for the brown, there must

be a red on. Otherwise you just touch up behind the yellow.

APPLAUSE This red, it just goes but it's one of those, if you were right

behind it, you couldn't miss it. But with the angle he's at, he's at, it

will look a lot tighter than it is. It didn't come far enough. The pink

may pot to the left corner. He's going to be disturbing reds

here. These aren't easy. As we saw, the pink didn't go in the

middle of the pocket. Sometimes that can make the difference between

being on the next ball or not. When they go into the heart of the

pocket, the cue ball goes where you intended it. You have to say a bit

unlucky. He'll be relieved that the pink went in after the wobbling that

it did. Just a safety shot left.

APPLAUSE He's made a pretty good fist of it.

The shaded area is the part that he can't get to because of the yellow.

This is dangerous. That was dangerous and he's left the red. I

don't think that's the red he intended to hit. I think he tried to

hit one of these in the main cluster, probably a quarter ball.

Not punished. Just gone slightly off the boil here, Marco. He was

punishing Shaun in the early stages of this match every mistake.

You would think play for an angle on green or brown to go into the pack.

Perhaps more pace. If you go into the pack off the blue, the pink is a

fair distance from the bunch, but he's got a loose red he can play for

here. He didn't hit it hard enough. That

was a poor shot. Trying to create the angle, but when

you do that, you don't want to get the pace in the cue ball if you had

the perfect angle on the black. He's got this red to the right middle,

but it's not certain he can get easy position on a colour.

APPLAUSE As I thought, he couldn't do much else but leave himself this

thin cut on the black. This is a little bit tricky.

APPLAUSE Played it very well.

He's using his cue power to screw into the reds.

APPLAUSE Couldn't have done much better than that.

He's taken a while but he looks to be in full stride now, does Shaun.

Nice control of the cue ball. If it nestled on the red that he is

closest to there and been hampered, he could have been end of break.

Just came into that a little too much. Played the stun run-through,

but he's OK. All he's got to do is concentrate

and leave a nice angle on the black each time and the frame should be

going his way. 55 points the lead now and just 59

remaining. Just the one red required to get to the snooker's required

stage. That's the highest break of the

match. Shaun in the last frame had 81. Frame six an 86 break. Really

starting to score now. But you need help from your opponent

sometimes. Marco Fu did have a chance but didn't punish Shaun. He's

been sat in his seat ever since. From being 4-1 in front it is now

going to be all square and the first century of the match, surely. Well

played, very well played indeed! APPLAUSE Took his time to get going

but he's putting down a marker to his opponent. If you make a mistake,

I'm the one who is going to punish you!

Playing the exhibition shot. Not quite there, but that was a terrific

break. Marco Fu had a chance. Missed a fairly easy red. Didn't punish

Shaun Murphy, but Shaun punished him. We are now all square at four

apiece. To me, Steven, that's been the difference. Shaun in the early

part of the match was making mistakes and Marco was taking

advantage. Since the interval, Marco isn't making the most of the

mistakes. No, and he's had a few half chances at long balls in the

match. You wouldn't think he would miss this thin. But his long game's

not been strong enough. I think in the early part of the match when

Shaun wasn't on it, Marco was capitalising on his mistakes. Now

he's got to force his way in to create a chance for himself, he's

not able to do it. Sometimes the balls can dictate. If you are not

with the easy starters, you have got to start knocking in a few long

balls to create opportunities. Marco is well down in that stat. It has

really swung in the way of Shaun Murphy at the moment, big time.

Shaun Murphy to break. Shaun gets frame nine under way. It

can all swing round so quickly, this game. The chance of a long red here

for Marco. At this level, you have to be

potting a large percentage of those. He's been fortunate he's not left

anything. That's a way in this a frame. Absolutely, otherwise you're

waiting for your opponent to make a mistake.

I agree, Marco has to up that long game, his pot percentage.

A brown's come to his rescue somewhat there. Maybe he can get

through to the red closest to the right middle. He'll be running into

the second red. He'll have to be careful where the cue ball finishes.

Couldn't be certain. Couldn't avoid the cannon. We started off this

match best of 11. It is now best of three, and anyone can win a best of

You've got to pot the blue first. A strange cue ball. Even if he potted

the blue, it was a long way from the reds. I can only assume he missed

the blue because he was trying to avoid the kiss on the yellow.

Can Marco take advantage of this unexpected chance? No. Once again,

unfortunate. He can't beat a bit of luck.

Just caught the green, but nevertheless it was a good effort to

get that cue ball back to the baulk end. Needed a thin contact.

Neither player at the moment seems to be able to avoid running into a

baulk colour, so it doesn't make it a good safety shot if you do that.

Looks a straightforward safety shot down the left-hand side of the

table. Obviously he doesn't want it too thin or too thick and collide

into the blue, but red or green are good targets at the baulk end. Too

thin. And too much pace. Too thick. Now, a couple of times in

this frame already Marco Fu's been fortunate when he's made a mistake.

I think Shaun hay have been fortunate here.

He's looking at the plant, and that isn't bad.

How are you feeling, Marco? Do you fancy the blue?

If he potted it, he would be on the red, but there is lots of pressure.

He's already seen his 4-1 lead disappear.

He could have made a better fist of it than that, but it's OK.

You can see there is a red that will go into the right corner, but he

can't play it, because it would be too dangerous. Trying to get up

behind the yellow again. Just a little too thin. He's left a... I

thought Shaun may be able to get past the green. No, he can't.

That was adventurous. Decided to go all out for the pot. Maybe thought

the only way he could leave was the one he was playing, although that

wasn't guaranteed. The one he did play, I think it is cuttable into

the far left corner. It is dangerous to play it slowly but you would

think it is bound to be on the pink or blue, if he was able to control

the cue ball. I would rather pot the one in the

yellow pocket than the one in the middle.

He's never really looked at the one in the far left corner. It is not

that difficult. We are getting to that stage in the

match now where every mistake is going to be magnified. I think I've

seen a few matches where they get near the winning line and players

have clammed up a bit. Look for the negative shot rather than go for the

victory. This frame has been going

12-and-a-half minutes. Surely not a re-whack?

Shaun, do you want to carry on? Not really. Well, there you go. We have

a re-rack. 12-and-a-half minutes wasted. I was just getting started.

STUDIO: Shaun says he was just getting started, but 12 minutes down

the swannee and we start all over again. In some respects, given

what's going on, it might not be a bad thing from Marco Fu's

perspective to have a little regroup out there? You look at the breaks,

so it is probably a good time for Marco Fu to regroup and slow things

down a bit. From Shaun Murphy's perspective, no I would want to keep

going. I wouldn't want a re-rack. Marco is under pressure and when you

have him under pressure, are you want to keep him at it. There's a

lot of spectators here today. One we met earlier on. This is Aaron. He is

nine years of age. He's here with his mum and dad. This is his first

experience of snooker. He is a massive snooker fan. It is his

favourite sport. I had a chat with his mum and dad earlier. He is

excited to be here and he's been smiling the entire match. Steve, you

met him? Yes. He does seem like an big snooker fan. His favourite

player is Neil Robertson, I believe. He has certainly got a great match

for his first match at a snooker event.

There is the possibility of a red to the left corner but no value in

taking it on, Marco does not believe.

He has played that pretty well. Just a little bit short of pace. The red

second from the left does cut. It is amazing how thick he hit that.

This is a corner ball pot and he has headed almost three quarters ball.

-- he has hit eight. A chance to play for the red next to

the black. Get rid of that... I cannot believe he has not played

for that. That was difficult. He went all out

for it. But as Stephen said, when he was on the blue, white he didn't

play for the red alongside the black... Unless it does not go. But

I think it goes. Yes, it went. He should have played for that.

That was Hawk-Eye showing you the shot that Stephen suggested he

played. He overtook that. -- Mcquay overhit it.

That could have worked out better. Obviously no problem with the pink

but he wanted to be on an easier red than this. Maybe Shaun would have

been better playing for the red. The only reason I say that, that would

have freed the black and then he could have thought about opening it

up. But he has knocked the black of its spot. It is all tied up now.

Unlucky not to be on something easier than this, it has to be said.

It may be worthwhile just coming off the caution. -- the caution.

Unusual to see Shaun miss a shot with a rest.

Ain't it goes. He is bound to be on the pink. That was perfect. These

are the type of opportunities that Marco was really scoring off in the

first three frames. He needs to doing that he needs to start doing

that again now if he is going to win this match.

He got that all wrong. He did not get enough bottom or left-hand side

on the cue ball. I don't think this paint passes the

blue. I suppose he could play the cut into the right middle.

The easiest ball to get on here would be the black. Just drop the

red in and come off the top cushion. He tried to get on the pink. It has

not worked out. It is just a safety shot now.

Another attempt at a long pot that did not work out. What has he left?

At first glance, nothing easy. The red to the left middle is

fraught with danger. We're getting into the nitty-gritty of this

matter. This is not the time to take any Anju risks. -- any risks.

Shaun has got to be very wary when he plays safe. He has got to make

certain he covers the path. I think he has used the blue. That has

covered the path of the red. That is the danger ball.

And that danger ball is now on. The problem is, where the colour comes

from is not certain. He is bound to run into the paint. -- the pink. But

in these situations, just make certain you get the pot.

That just about struggled in and avoided the kiss on the pink.

If that red had gone in the middle of the pocket, he would probably

have kissed the pink. He hated soulful -- he struck it soulful...

He will not be playing the pot here because he is not at a right angled

to get a nice position on the red. And having played it like that, he

should have got the snooker. A little shade of the head and a raise

of the eyebrows. He is not happy. I do not see the value of playing a

snooker there. He should have forced Marco into playing a safety shot.

Absolutely. It was a tough shot. I think Shaun

is just trying to make something happen. He does not really want to

get bogged down in this matter. We had nearly 13 minutes and we had a

re-racked. Now we are coming up to 14 minutes and still no result

inside. It is getting a bit bogged down. The balls keep getting mixed,

the game gets scrappy, the balls are not on their spots.

He played that well. That has worked out really well.

This is not a bad chance, this. He has already got a 22 point lead. If

you can make another 30, 40 break here... This could see him home in

this frame and put him one frame away from a place in the semifinal.

Anything but straight on this red and he will be OK because he will

have the brown to the right middle. He just over screwed that slightly.

He would like to be able to just run the brown in and run it down to the

Reds. He has got to be careful with this. It looks simple. But he can

miss this brown. He got into it too much. He did not

want the cannon on that red. Is there a bonus here? This red

goes. It looks as though it may go but he is refusing it. He is playing

safe. He has got a 34 point lead. He just got it wrong. Shaun comes

macro to the table 34 points behind. -- Shaun comes to the table. It is a

tall order for it him to win the frame at this visit. But whenever

you are at the table, there is a chance.

It is a decent chance. One more obvious red to the left corner after

this one, and that clears the red to the right corner. The red closest to

the baulk caution Willie Faloon on the black.

He can even play for the black ears if he chooses. -- the black if he

chooses. This is not a bad chance to win the frame.

He has got an angle on the pink. Maybe he will have to play for a red

into the right corner, the opposite corner from the pink. That is what

he has played. Just another role of that cue ball

would have been perfect. The reason I said that, then he

could have parted that red and left the last red, which is nowhere was.

It is a little bit awkward. He hit that last shot a little bit hard. He

has put the red next to the black spot.

I am sure he could get a clearly through to the yellow and bring the

yellow into play. He plays a snooker. As we say, it is not

getting out of the snooker is, it is playing it safe.

Whoever wins this frame is favourite for the match. It is very important

now, particularly when you are for-1 in front, to be fooled -- pulled

back to four apiece. Michael would love to get his nose in front once

more. He needs a good safety here. That was OK. He probably hated a

little more thinly than he would have wanted. -- he probably struck

it. That has worked out fine. You could

save the Black has come to his rescue. -- you could say. Shaun is

snookered and he has got to hit it and get it safe.

That is not particularly safe. He has not parted a lot of these today,

Marco Fu, what a time to get one. -- potted.

That was one of those have chances that at this level you have got to

be getting more often than not. He has missed it. And he has left Shaun

a chance. But he has missed it. Hit it too thick. That was probably a

good kiss at first glance. If he did not get the double kiss, I think

that red would have been over the far left corner. An easy safety shot

but at least he did not leave the red.

He is so close to the Queen that he cannot come off the right-hand side

cushion. -- he is so close to the green. This is very miscible. --

this can be easily missed. It is tough going off the baulk

cushion. It looks like a free ball to me. Free ball. If he does decide

to take the shot on, he could have it replaced. He does not have to

play it. If he is playing the pink, it will count as a red.

Those vital balls not going in at the moment.

If it was going to be a telling safety shot, he had to avoid the

kiss on the black ball. He hit that perfectly. I think you

can get through to it without a swerve. But if he swerves it, he can

hit it more fully. He has got to get it safe though. OK, there is a

little bit of insurance with the yellow being near the left and

cushion, but Shaun will be thinking, if he leaves Marco the chance of a

pot, it could cost him the frame. At least he has got it safe. But at

the moment you would say Marco Fu has got control of this tactical

exchange. This looks like a comfortable shot.

Just a fraction out. Just a fraction out from being a snooker.

APPLAUSE That's a pretty good shot. The important thing is getting the

object ball safe. A good pot. A bump on the middle

pocket, don't know if it helped him or not. Can he develop this yellow?

A good effort. But he's not made it any easier. Ten points behind.

Surely this yellow is too risky into the far left corner?

He's played the safety. Once the yellow slows up, it will be a good

one. He's got the snooker. Although Shaun Murphy's ten points behind, I

suggest he's now favourite for the frame.

APPLAUSE A good hit. He'll be happy with the outcome. Shaun can get

through to the yellow but he can't pot it. That was the priority for

Marco. Is there a gap? I think with a

little bit of left-hand side he can get through. He's going to play top

cushion first here. He's not self to get this safe. I suppose if you hit

it absolutely perfect like that you can!

APPLAUSE There was no raised hand from Marco, so that is where he was

playing, or intending. It is probably 1 or 2 in ten that you

would actually achieve it. He'd be a good poker player, Marco.

You wouldn't know what was going on in his hand.

This is a tough one. If you played it off a couple of cushions you've

got the problem that you might just leave it.

He wanted to play that with pace. That could be a good hit. Foul and a

miss. Marco Fu four. A miss! We all know what happens now with the rule.

It's gone a little bill silly to me, but there you go. The problem with

playing at this pace, even if he hits it, he's going to be in

trouble. That was absolutely amazing. I don't

know why Marco keeps walking. He's trying to nestle up. Doesn't

want to leave too much distance between the cue ball and the yellow.

He's hit it this time. APPLAUSE I think this yellow may go.

If it did go, I'm surprised he didn't play it. If you missed it

there's a good chance you were snookered behind the green and brown

and you would have the green to the left centre.

Didn't look like it was straight. If it was straight I'm even more

surprised he didn't play the pot. I think he's gone into a bit of a

shell at the moment, Marco, hasn't he.

Sometimes you've got to play to your ability. If you keep waiting for the

perfect chance to win the frame, sometimes it never comes. Shaun

looks in a positive mood as he is eyeing up the pot on this yellow.

APPLAUSE That's a good one and he's going to be nicely on the green. I

bet Marco wishes he had that yellow back now.

It is important he gets a good angle on the blue. He's just about got the

angle but he doesn't want to be too straight on this pink, even with his

cue power. I think he played to hit the side

cushion first before the baulk cushion. You can only assume he's

tried to force the angle and forced it too much. Does he take this pink

on? If you miss it you think you are going to leave it... But in it goes!

Good kiss on the black? APPLAUSE Shaun Murphy was 4-1 wine,

looked as though he is in real trouble. Marco Fu now trails Shaun

Murphy 5-4. What a turn-around this is for this

man, Murphy. Sometimes you wait for the right opportunities and they

don't come. Marco Fu had two yellow there is. When Shaun Murphy got out

of the snooker, like this o, with it is a straight pot. From this angle

it looks difficult, but when we saw it from behind the shot, all he had

to do was rub that in dead Wight. He could play the snooker on the green

or on the brown into the corner pocket. He played the safety shot.

He's had a great opportunity there, but there was another yellow

straight after that that he refused. Steven is right. Sometimes you just

have to take your chance the way Shaun Murphy did. Obviously the

problem for players is when to decide to press the go button. The

first one looked a bit tricky with whether he was going pot it. Wasn't

guaranteed to be perfect on the green. This one no guarantees he is

going to pot this yellow or be on the green. But as was mentioned,

somewhere down the line at this level of play you've got to take

risks. He played a poor safety shot. Shaun Murphy took the risk and even

though he looked like he was out of position, he kept going for the

shot, because momentum was on his side a bit. Knowing when to push it

is an art form in itself. But the whole frame was littered with

discussions over tactical nuances. What types of shot to play, what

safety shots to play. Did you put the ball back after a miss decision?

Players ultimately at this level, they win or lose based on a lot of

decision making. Exactly. The match can hinge on a decision like that.

Shaun Murphy was much more positive. Even that pink, that was no give-me.

It wasn't less tough than the yellow that Marco refused. Resaw Marco

against Judd Trump. He potted a great pink. He should have gone for

that yellow, no doubt. On that I don't think yellow that Marco passed

on, his long potting hasn't been up to scratch today and he's seemed

inhibited. Against Judd Trump he was taking them on and indeed potting

them. If you get into that frame of mind, that negative frame of mind,

that can happen. The telling moment was after Marco played the poor

safety shot and Shaun Murphy potted the yellow. The shake of the head

from Marco Fu told its own story. He knew he had messed up that frame. He

was in that state of mind where his long potting wasn't there today. He

isn't very confident with his long pots. Every long pot he went for he

was leaving it up. He wanted to hedge his bets but there comes a

point where you just have to take that shot on. Funnily enough, Ken,

if you are playing on the circuit in the early rounds in tournaments

against lesser opposition, is sometimes you can play a more

defensive game and it works. But when you start to play against the

top players in the world, it is kill or be killed. Yes. You can't wait

for them to keep making mistakes. That's a fair point. Marco, who has

had to stew on those decisions over the last few minutes comes in and

now the shoe is firmly on the other foot. It is Murphy in the driving

seat. One frame away and Fu is playing for his place in the

Masters. Straight away the chance of a red

for Shaun. He'll be playing it in such a way he will hope it will be

in a baulk colour. This won't be a shot to nothing.

Interesting to hear Steve stay when deciding to push, John, always push.

Well, it stood you in good stead, Steven, but not everybody had your

ability. But yes, I think Marco Fu if you is in this tournament because

he's a great player. He's got the ability. All of a sudden if you

spurn those opportunities, the you are not playing to your ability. Why

would you do that? Trying to take the easy way out all the time? Where

Steve is correct, you can't wait for chances against players in this

tournament. That was a poor safety. . Miles too

thin. Let's's see what Marco's got left in the locker.

Is he going to get past the blue? Good shot. Just about OK. I bet his

heart was in his mouth. It looked as though he wasn't going to get past

the blue. If he hadn't had done, he would have been snookered.

It is a bit look to see if it goes after you've played for it. I'm sure

it does go. The highest available is the yellow

spot. There's a red at the end of the

cluster. Marco's not one of those that goes into the bunch.

A little smile from Marco there as Michaela nearly fell over!

You would have thought with the angle he had on the red you would be

trying to nudge off the other reds rather than trying to avoid them.

That's the only reason I can see him missing this pot. You can see

physically how Marco Fu lifts his head to generate the power. If he

doesn't time the shot right, he misses it.

Shaun in the meantime had the cue ball cleaned. He is low on this

black, so it is the black that's the problem.

Didn't hit it thin enough. There was no problem. Position on the next

red, but will to pot the black first.

Looking for an angle on the blue, and just about got one.

He's played the cannon. He's definitely on one and if he can get

through to the one to the right corner, he'll be happy with that.

Just about on it. The black is just a matter of a deep

screw. The choice of the red to the corner or to the left-centre.

He wasn't missing that type of shot early in the match. That's been the

difference. Early on every time Shaun made a mistake he punished him

to the hilt. But it hasn't happened in the second half of this match.

That's why he is 5-4 behind. Shaun Murphy now with a nice easy starter.

But he's not good on the blue. Needs a good shot now.

The perfect angle. Maybe a red at the top of the bunch goes to the

left corner but I think this is the right time to go into the pack.

That's not bad. Maybe a little bit disappointed that he knocked that

red to the right-hand side cushion. I think he's going to need that. At

least he's got a nice easy red to continue with. One to the left.

I think he's got a choice of reds into this left corner

If he's going to win frame and match at this visit, that's going to be

the problem ball. He's going to have to think about

moving that red. He may even try it here.

I'm surprised he didn't take the chance there. Maybe it wasn't a nice

angle. Too much angle on the plaque. On the

practise table you float them in the left-hand side but that wasn't the

time to play with sides, so a tricky red to the middle, this. But nicely

played. And now he would like to leave himself in a position where he

could play the second last red. Now he can pot this... I would liked

him to leave more angle than this, but I think he's got enough angle to

pot this red and remove the red from the right-hand side cushion.

APPLAUSE He's done it. But as we always say, when you move a red

after potting a red, you're never certain to be good on the colour. I

think he never had the ideal angle on the red. That's why he couldn't

generate enough pace on the cue ball to get it off the cushion.

He's digging in. This makes the blue missable. But in it went!

APPLAUSE and Marco Fu must be fearing the worst now. A great

performance this by Shaun. 4-1 down. It is not the ideal thing when you

are 4-1 down to start producing the best, because you're leaving it a

bit too late. But every credit. Just the black needed. Snooker's

required. And Marco Fu will be ruing his missed opportunities,

particularly his long potting. A few decisions in the last frame may have

cost him dear. Misses the yellow. Two snookers

required. Marco obviously will play on. He'll be disappointed, Shaun,

that he didn't pot that yellow. Then there would have been no way back to

the table for Marco. 24-point snookers needed. There's

one of them. It is not a bad one if you can put the object ball in the

middle of the table -- two four-point snookers needed.