First Round: Trump v Maguire Masters Snooker

Hello, just before and just after Christmas is a very special time for

the sport of snooker because two of the three biggest events in the

calendar will be staged. We have just had the UK Championship in York

and this is the Alexandra Palace in North London for the Masters. You

get a great view from London over here, it is the highest point in

London. You can see the gherkin, the city of London, Canary Wharf. It is

what is happening inside Ally Pally we are more interested in. London is

the traditional home for this event since the first staging in 1975. We

have been at Ally Pally five years and it has gone well with players

and families. The man many have come to see today is the fancy shoot

talent that is Judd Trump. The Masters is fun, no ranking

points, just go and enjoy it. The Masters is probably my

favourite, you do not get another atmosphere like the Masters.

I feel like it spurs me on and makes me want to play a little bit better.

I want to win every time I go into it, that is the main expectation for

me. Flashy, flamboyant and lightning

fast, the hallmarks of Judd Trump's game on form. You might use

different adjectives to describe our guest presenter Mr Peter Ebdon. A

slow burn but a burden on the less! I think so and I sometimes go for

crazy shots by Trump game has improved so much, but still trying.

Wait to have you with us and I improved so much, but still trying.

enjoyed your first commentary stint last night, how was it? It was

great, it was an absorbing and intense match and it was nice to see

the two great players also human and they really felt the pressure and

made a lot of mistakes and I think especially Ding is struggling. We

were talking about Stuart Bingham against Ding. Did you begin to think

about those shots sleeping? Yes, it was strange but they and you try to

go to sleep after winning a close match, you go through the shots you

have missed and the shot you could have played in your mind. Last night

when I was trying to sleep, I went through the shots both players had

missed! That was a complete nightmare. Commentary is a poisoned

chalice, you have found that out. In the match today featuring Judd

chalice, you have found that out. In Trump, he is only 26, how important

is this Masters because he has not won anything so far? A good

performance in the Championship last week but as he gets older, how does

he feel about the big three events like this? Judd is past it now at

the age of 26! He has no chance. He is a great player and he will go to

the World Championship with every chance of becoming world champion

this year. This tournament, the Masters, will be very high on his

priority and he would love to win this tournament as would all the

players and it is a question of his preparation, how hard he has worked

over Christmas and New Year and the same to Stephen Maguire. He has yet

to make a Masters final like you, still time, Peter! Today he faces

Stephen Maguire and this will be an interesting match because he might

approach that with a degree of trepidation. Stephen Maguire bundled

him out of the Masters at the same stage 12 months ago.

Stephen Maguire 2004 UK champion coming he had not won much until

recently that he converted the China Open of 2013. He is back in the

frame and he has produced decent stuff recently. Yes, she is one of

those players, on his game, with the best in the world. He has always

been very consistent. A tough match player, a lot of bottle, never

afraid of the big shot. Goes for it and takes his chances. When the key

killer shot comes up, Stephen always goes for it and never worries about

the consequences, he sees the shot to win and he goes for it. Another

player of the and my generation who came through as a junior, he was

always the same. He stood out from Scotland and everybody thought he

would be a world champion, multiple champion, a dominant force in the

game. And on form, he is on fire. He is as determined as anybody, he is

like a tiger and in those situations, match tough situations,

he never shirks an opportunity and he has tremendous bottle. He was

always very precise, a precise positional player. Watching Stephen

Hendry and Higgins up close, you would learn how to control the cue

ball and he is very dangerous. He has complete control of his

backswing. Some players when the cue back to fast because you have two

movements. Ring get back and push it forwards. You can be as good

technically as you want. But it back in the wrong position and you miss

the shot, his backswing is one of the best. And he has a lovely pause,

a delay to give himself time. Just to see the cue. I think with some

people in other sports and professions, you might think they

need that bit of extra fire. And with Stephen, I am not convinced it

helps him. When he does wrap the table and stamp his cue and gives

off that emotion, it is more detrimental to him than he thinks.

If there was a team acquire on his case every day making him go to bed

at night, whatever, sports psychologist, and he was playing for

himself and the team, I think he would be even more dangerous --

Maguire. I would be a brave man to tell him to go to bed early! I would

not like to say to him, I know that! I don't want that job, thanks very

much! Invitations are shoot at the Masters

to the world's top 16 players and Stephen Maguire is number 17 but he

was 16 when those invitations were made before Christmas. And he is at

his lowest world ranking for five years, how do you see his form? It

goes to prove how tough it is now, with so many good players and

especially in the tournaments we have to play prior to qualifying.

Those players even ranked outside the top 64 can all play and often

play like top 16 and top eight so it is really tough. He has been

something of a bogeyman for Judd Trump if you look at their record,

13 wins to six to Judd, and I wonder what Judd finds so difficult to cope

with in his game? I think Judd is used to being very aggressive in

terms of his play against his opponents. Stephen Maguire is quite

capable of being just as aggressive and if not more than anybody else so

I think that could be one reason why psychologically he has a very good

record against Judd so it would be a fascinating encounter. The stakes

are different as Judd is trying to continue the upward curve of his

career and you feel Stephen Maguire is trying to arrest declining

momentum. The thing is with Stephen, he has got the class, he is a former

momentum. The thing is with Stephen, UK champion and can win any

tournament. I would love to see him win a World Championship because he

is good enough. It will be interesting to follow his progress

over the next couple of seasons. He is a very popular player. But ahead

of any curve is a certain Steve Davis. Where are you?

In the commentary box with two legends, Dennis Taylor and John

Parrott. Stephen Maguire's records, 13-6 against Judd Trump. Snooker is

played on the table and the ball is the enemy, how can style, into the

equation? You set your stall out, like back in the 1980s. Weighing

against Jimmy White, Alex Higgins, totally different matches --

playing. And Judd is that an attacking player and everybody loves

to watch him but you will get chances, especially if he pushes it

too much. So Stephen Maguire likes to pick of an aggressive player so

does that say more about Stephen Maguire? I don't think he will

change his game but you know you will get more chances but if Judd is

on fire, you will not get many transistor it will be a fascinating

battle and interesting to see who is the winner after the winner of

Stephen last year. From the perspective of Judd, should he be

concerned he has a poor record against another player? More to be

concerned about is the level of his concentration. He let one get away

in the UK, he had Liang Wenbo beaten and he let that go. You should now

be at his peak and the next years of very important these tournaments and

he is a big occasion player. We saw him in the UK looking at the other

table and you cannot do that here, there is nothing else to look at,

just your table. We are not saying Stephen Maguire is a subpar

standard, but if Judd is going on coming he has to beat the likes of

Stephen Maguire and that is such a tough thing to guarantee. It has

proven how tough it is, the boys last night, Stuart Bingham and Ding

Junhui. They are struggling. Stephen has won his first match in the

Masters in all the years he has played. He has had four semifinals

and Judd has not produced the CPU needs to win. This is one of the

toughest to win, without doubt. Judd is the favourite to win, is that if

their reflection? Making people a favourite is difficult, you have the

green of the crop and you do not know. We saw yesterday an amazing

performance with Shaun Murphy missing the red three times and

missing a frame, you put the best players in and anything can happen.

The players are ready, over to Rob Walker.

This 2016 Masters has already started in style. The defending

Campion was knocked out on day one and the reigning world champion

agonisingly close to a 147. We are set for another great session of

snooker right here at the atmospheric Ally Pally.

APPLAUSE. Please welcome one of the best

aggressive break-builders in the sport. This is his 12th consecutive

appearance at the Masters, twice a semifinalist. Winner of five ranking

events titles including the UK semifinalist. Winner of five ranking

Championship in 2004, when he is good, he is on fire, he comes

Stephen Maguire! And his opponent, one of the

brightest stars of the modern game. He is a UK champion, the reigning

World Open champion and master semifinalist back in 2012. Here he

is with his own brand of naughty snooker, the ace in the pack, he is

Judd Trump! Both men know how to win one of the

big events, both former UK champions. It is the best of 11

frames and ready and waiting, John and Dennis, or yours.

Thank you and good afternoon to everyone. It is Judd Trump he gets

this first frame under way with a good length with his break shot.

APPLAUSE. No value in having a go at that red

because the black tied up at the moment. Pete Godwin, the table

fitter, did look at the table and we talked about it possibly drifting

off, Shaun Murphy missed red three times down the left-hand side. A

slight adjustment but little was wrong with the table. I think the

players were just getting a bit of side on it. This cloth in particular

is so lively. Yes, and the fact they are shaven and taken right down,

virtually nothing on them. So they very slippy and any unwanted is

exaggerated. This is a fascinating match and not many players will have

such a good record against Judd but Stephen Maguire has got one. Andy

looks like he was coming into really good form at the UK Championships --

and he looked like. But he came against the juggernaut that was Neil

Robertson and made a century first shot and had to sit in his chair at

the rest of the afternoon, the Australian was truly great that

afternoon. Sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and say, well

done. That is a possible plant. It is a

bit risky, you would not know what was happening with the cue ball. He

did not have the correct angle to go at it anyway. I just wonder because

he has played the safety away, the yellow, he may have left this full

Stephen Maguire because there is a path back to the baulk area, just

slightly off but it can be made and if Stephen Maguire can play the cue

ball into the baulk without getting a cannon, he will be taking it on.

Another bad kiss on the brown. He put everything into the plant and

was not quite sure what would happen with the cue ball. That is what he

was looking at and he was playing the first red to the right of the

pocket and he could not hit it any better. One of those situations

where Judd is probably wishing he had taken it on although he did not

have the natural position back into the six /6 macro area for safety but

unfortunately the safety, the plant was still there. -- baulk.

Now he has got a bit of an angle on this red and that depends on whether

he can develop the black, it is not going to be straightforward. The red

in the middle of the three, but that is not a good angle to knock the

other red out of the way. I can understand that. He knew if he

did not get that absolutely flush, he would get a cannon with the cue

ball coming back and he tried to pinch a bit to the left hand side of

the pocket and because of that, he missed it. The key power Judd has is

quite incredible, look at the white. He used another ball but he hardly

hit it and look where the white has finished. The screw takes effect and

the reverse side... It is effortless for him to screw back. As he has

proved again with the shot with the reverse side. He certainly has got

some shot in his armour, this boy. Yes, he is just slightly struggling

for the perfect position at the moment. Once again, a little bit

short. Blue is not a hindrance, a red to the left of the pink is

available. He has a choice of reds. Not totally ideal with the cue ball

so close to the cushion. As quickly as possible, he would

love to get the red as close to the black spot out of the way, get

position and it would become a lot easier for him. And that was

beautifully played. Good shot, that, Dennis. First frame on the table. It

is a good indication of how well you are cueing. That seemed to kick. He

is still on the blue and he would want to get on the red you

mentioned. It just jumped slightly. He still can take the blue and get

on the red John mentioned. That was a funny situation where it worked

out all right. He would have had an easier shot on the other side but it

was natural to come back down, wood shot all the same. -- wood shot. If

anything, it was too good. He certainly comes into this event

in good form, Judd. He was able to win his group in the Championship, a

lot of short matches over the best of five and he beat Mark Williams in

the group final. Ronnie O'Sullivan won his group and Judd Trump was the

second person to get through so he is in good form. Yes, I think Ronnie

reached a milestone, 800 century breaks in his career, quite

incredible. He has overtaken Stephen Hendry's record by over 50 centuries

now. Just a flick off and he was looking from behind but I think he

can get through. Yes, he just played that by flicking the red out.

Not bad. It is all right. I think it is all right. He may have to take

the one with the extension on the rest. I think it is an angle he can

get over the line. The black. It all depends. If he cannot hold it

directly, he will have to come off two questions we will see shortly.

A little bit of noise in the arena. Quickly disappeared. It is back

again! It has gone! Can he play that shot I mentioned or does he have to

use a couple? He could hold it. A slightly better shot than it looked

with AQ extension, it changes the weight and sometimes you do not get

the shot right. That was well judged. And he looks in fine Vettel.

Taking these very well. Not an easy start to the break, slightly out of

position. Since then, very good indeed.

I think he has finished rather straight on the black here. Which

means he has got a little bit more to do, as you can see. Just slightly

off. Not sure about this one. He is out of position. Getting straight on

the black caused a problem. I still thought he would get nicely on a red

and he is at the stage where a couple more and he wins the opening

frame with one visit. That is all he could do. Quite a

clever shot. Five reds in the Open, this is rife for a counter clearance

so try to get a ball safe which he nearly did with the pink.

He did have a go at the plant and it was quite tough. This red you can

clearly see, it still needs accurate cueing. Where is this red going and

where is the other going heading up the table? That is more important.

He is a little bit fortunate because it looks to be dead straight. Had

that red come off the cushion and he had a good chance for a counter

attack. He is very fortunate if he has left this straight. A long way

away with that pot, it is mid-range. I do not see what Stephen Maguire

can do with this. He played that well! That was far

from easy! He did that beautifully, he always had a bit more angle than

we thought but he still played it very well. And I mentioned this

frame was rife for a counter clearance and that was the shot

Stephen Plaid Cymru punched it in with a bit of sight, let's see if he

can mix a counter clearance. -- Stephen played that and he punched

it. He has actually got a chance here if

the screws of this black, he can play of the cushion and flick the

pink into the middle of the table so there is a chance to get the pink of

the cushion. Yes, played exactly as you

predicted, John. It has put the pink in a better position. Still not

ideal. You can see the cannon here. He was looking to hit it full and it

would have gone into the middle of the table. And this would be some

frame to pinch. Because Judd looked odds-on to take it with one visit.

Until he ran out of position on the straight black.

Or I will say, Dennis, I hope the rest of the matches like this first

frame because this is good stuff. Or those diva Maguire will not be

enamoured with that shot, and self hampered with both balls, he would

love to have that again -- Stephen Maguire. Yes, a lot of margin for

error and he overdid it slightly. And now with the spider as we show

you where the white finished. This is tough. He has very little to do

for position. In fact, he is not putting it in the middle of the

spider for some reason. He just uses the end. He is so close to the blue.

A super shot! It really is. I mean, just to roll it in would have been a

good shot, but to play it like this off spider, ten out of ten for that.

And as you said, the way this man has started, we could eat in for an

absolute cracker here this afternoon -- match. No surprise Stephen

Maguire slightly underhit that, he did not want to go close to the blue

again so slightly uncut. Go up for a colour would be my advice, make it

easier. One of those frames that will really hurt the opponent, this,

he should have won it. In fairness, he had two chances to win it and he

was position, the first time, Judd. Then he had the mid-range red and it

was quite a big pocket but he did not do it. We'll Stephen Maguire's

shot move the pink out into the Open and is it going to be the shot to

win the frame? He is just deciding now where he

wants to put the cue ball for the pink so he is already three shots

ahead. Does he do it from that corner, from the middle or the

opposite corner? You would think he would just screw

back about 12 inches and leave it for the corner, that is what he was

cueing up at earlier and now he is thinking whether he will leave it to

the middle. I think he has got too much angle. He would love that cue

ball to be straighter for that shot. He has got to negotiate something

else now. To be spot-on and that is not going

to be spot on. He is too close to the pink. He has finished dead

straight into the corner, he did not want to be that close to the pink.

Slightly awkward, these shots, so close, difficult to work out the

angle the good news is the cue ball is going towards the black so

concentrate as hard as you can on knocking the pink in and you have

got her position. What an opening frame! He is going

to win it in one visit and broke down his position, but what a cue

from Stephen Maguire, he pitches the opening frame and Leeds 1-0. If that

is what we are in forward will take it every Day of the week. Blistering

start that sends me strong message. Fantastic clearance under pressure.

Absolutely brilliant. Played a lovely shot on the black to flick

the pink into the open, brilliant clearance, wonderful. There was the

great tent in the bottom corner and the difficult shot with the spider

bridging over the blue. The spider was one you did not want to be

played but he played positively and cleverly. With a run through it make

the shot harder but took out the equation of sticking the other read

on. Clever shot in itself. I'm surprised Judd went for a long red

with top spin. He could have gone to the top of the table, which would

have been safe, but we get into is all the time. I'm talking about a

message, you wonder how much that is likely to unsettle a player into's

case, who has not won a match here since 2013. He has gone out Love --

out in the first round the last couple of years, surely that plays

on your mind? It will, but he seems to be doing very well, he is well

prepared and it is a fascinating encounter. It sure is.

Excellent break off, Stephen Maguire there. Sometimes after a frame where

you have a great clearance and won a friend, you don't break off

particularly well, you could see it in his face when he broke off there,

he is fully focused. Foul. Miss. Long way short with his

first attempt. He has so much side on this to make the angle. The brown

is anyway and the middle pocket is in the way, so he has to hit the

Christian below the middle pocket with so much side. Cutting would

help. -- cushion. That is a big advantage for Stephen Maguire in

touching. It is amazing of the break of shock the number of times you see

that red go next to the black and British out of commission. With

certain players, it's whatever red they head off the break-off shot.

A chance for Stephen to bring that red away from the black, play a

safety shot and bring the black interplay. Neither Blair wants the

black tied up. He is not doing that. I'm surprised. Maybe that is a bit

of tactics early on, going to make it hard work for you, we're going to

play proper matchplay. I am like you, I would like to have seen the

black interplay myself. Interesting choice of shot.

Unfortunate again. That red that has gone in the Balkan area has caused a

headache for Stephen, cannot get back down for the safety shot. --

baulk. That has brought the black interplay now. -- into play. A bit

of a stalemate with the red at the other end of the table.

Just felt that was worth the risk because if he potted it it could

have been on the Greene or brown or red. He could make it safe, that's

why he had a go at the tough pot. Quite useful on the left, Stephen

Maguire would just go and leave the ball but he knows the replay will be

for the other red. He played a clever little shot. He is a very

competent match there, Stephen Maguire, has been for a long time.

He had a go at that pot with safety in mind, but look where he has the

cue ball. That was intentional. His cue power is quite amazing. With

that type of shot on these class, it is so easy to miss the attempted pot

by a long way because if you get a little trace of unwanted side, it

did try to put that but almost hit it on the wrong side. -- did try to

pot that. Gradually this frame is getting back

to normal, a chance to knock another redback of the table -- another red

back up. It is going close to the corner pocket.

Yes, he has grown up practising with John Higgins and players of that

ilk. He knows how to play the game. Probably underachieved for the level

of his abilities, in my eyes he is a magnificent player, good matchplay,

good scorer. Shows you the standard in the game that he has not done as

well as he should have done, because he has got the lot.

Yes, Stephen always looks a little angry at the snooker table, way from

the table you could not meet a nice lad. He tries so hard and put

everything into being a very aggressive player. -- meet a nicer.

That cue ball. It is OK. Not easy to play ace and occur here -- to play

That cue ball. It is OK. Not easy to at snooker. The Greene is risky, a

little smile from Stephen. It is the brown, will he try and role in

behind the blue of the brown? Even that is tough.

Judged it very well. Twice across the table and into the left side of

the reds, as we look at it. It seems to be on. Has just got to guard

against this shot. Not too much side on and it drops. That is what he is

looking at. Well played. Already from the opening exchanges

it looks like Stephen Maguire is fully focused and will say, you have

to earn your opportunities today. My matchplay will be tough. I will not

give you anything. When you have played attacking

players in the past, that is what it is always like noes yes come got to

be able to mix it with the best if they want to play attacking snooker

you can do that as well, but with a player like this, you can keep him

quiet and away from the table and then when you get your chance, score

enough to win a frame, that is exactly what Stephen did in the

opening frame, but to be fair judge should have won the opening frame

when he was on 60, he ran out of position.

Not quite. It is a good target. The Greene, brown and blue. He has found

the gap there. We know he is chewing well -- tuning well -- cueing well.

Doesn't half boost your confidence. He has the perfect angle on the

black to stun out and leave another red. The black goes in, it is an

early chance on this second frame. That was a terrific opening read.

Beautifully played. Lots of players would have stunned that over but he

just dropped it in. Never touch the sides.

Just having a look to see if the red Google at the back -- could go at

the back. He is looking to see if the other one could go into the

corner if he gets this. But he is a bit straight on the

back, still OK, has a couple of reds, one either side of the pink he

can screw out. Just overcooked that slightly. He

wanted to be finishing somewhere around where the paint is. It is a

delicate shot he is looking at. He played a very good one with the

spider but I don't know if he can find the gap for this. I don't know

if he can roll it in or if he will have to stun between the reds and

black, it just depends. He could just stunning behind it, great

result. Does that red go, I wonder? If it doesn't, he has certainly got

a very good second prize because where he is finished on the black he

could certainly get into the pack. Really tight and where the camera

is, you can always make the balls look like they will go from behind

the pockets, but where Stephen is is the important one. That is really

tight. He can play into the pack if he wants to. He can get a nice

cannon on the red just to the right of the bottom one and that should

open a few out. He may have one to the medal, the

one closest to the pain. If he is on that, he is OK. -- to the middle.

Perfect example of seeing the poll was before he delivers the cue on

that last shot. -- the pause. Watch this shot as he feathers it a few

times and then stops, bang, straight through. It just gives the player

time to get his eyes focused on the ball before the strike. The final

mechanism before you deliver the cue. One or two players in the top

16 over the years have done it the other way around, but most unusual

to do that, take the cue back, pause, and then I is on the object

ball. Yes, I reverse and torrents used to look at the cue ball and

tried looking at the object ball and could not pot at ball. Yes, Mogra

watching and keeping well! -- hope you are. Definitely would have made

under a break if he had stuck at it. Just enough on the black to reach

and drop it in. He has taken this very well. Slightly hampered in his

cueing. To reds near the side cushion. Everything he has paced --

faced so far, nothing has been a problem.

One good cannon on the reds and he could clinch this second frame. Very

impressive. Looking at Stephen's body language,

they are all covering each other. Yes. You can see it. So importance

to get the correct cannon. Just wanted a slightly thicker contact on

the red. Just snakes the outside of one. He will play of the two reds on

the outside cushion because 65 ahead with 75 remaining, he will not move

them. What about a little cannon and knock the black on the cushion? It

would not be the worst shot. He tries to knock the black safe,

but just clipped it. He has got to be careful that the same thing does

not happen to him that has happened to Judd in the opening frame. He got

lucky, didn't want the double-kiss. Stephen Maguire is tapping the table

but maybe he did not see that. It just kicked it, centres on to the

line behind the yellow. Stephen Maguire might have to move one of

the reds the side cushion. I'm pretty sure he did not see the

double-kiss. I would not have been tapping the table.

That was a cracking plot, but he has just gone a little further with the

cue ball than he wanted. Still a chance to get up to the three reds.

The chance is there. One red safe, as was the pink in the previous

frame. One ball was out of commission, what can judge the of

this chance -- Judd. Interesting to see how he goes about removing that

red. The pink would be the ball he would be trying to move it off

normally, if he can get to the right-hand side and get the pink and

play a cannon, let's see how he goes about it. He has got himself back in

the frame and is at the table, but claimants will be difficult with the

red there. -- clearance. He was glancing at these core board

to see what colour he could take, maybe of the final red. I think he

has a few to play with without staying on the pink or black all the

way through. I just wondered whether he would try and come through a bit

further, part the red and flick the other one out. He had a chance to do

that. -- pot. Has got to make sure, he has a chance to stun the red by

the yellow, but this has got to go absolutely right.

I think he missed a trick a couple of shots at goal, should have played

on the red, potted it and flicked the other red of the cushion. Or to

go with the double? Know, playing behind the black and he has got the

snooker. 39 is the difference, but Stephen

looking around at the scoreboard and the way the balls are. That 39 is a

very vulnerable. Yes, and as ever with any snooker, it is not hitting

it, it is what you leave, or in this case it is not hitting it. They will

be going back when the blue is finished. He only moved to balls,

luckily, so the blue was on the brown spot. Add the killer was on

its spot. An easy replacing job. Foul. He needs this race to finish

tied on the cushion, but it's not going to. I think the one behind the

yellow definitely parts. What a chance for this. In a frame he did

not look like winning, he could return a favour. What a frame this

is. For all money come to look like a Stephen Maguire was going to go

2-0 ahead, now it looks like he has got to sit and suffer.

Has got to make sure 100% concentration is acquired, it looks

straightforward. Just slightly different with the blue on the brown

spot and the brown on the blue spot, should not cause a problem. Already

it is early days, but this is looking like a really good matchup.

Both players in very good form, one little slip or mistake is costing

frames. This is the standard of the game these days. These boys are very

proficient and it is showing. Cue balls on a string, taking these

are very well. We have had to absolutely

fascinating frames. I think I can get away with saying that it could

have been one each the other way. It could indeed. Larceny is rife in top

snooker. Quick comparison. Stephen is eight years older than Judd and

has won five world ranking titles. The last of those was the Welsh in

the winter months in 2013. He's trying to get back to his brilliant

best and ranking title so far is for, but it is a fascinating

encounter and the shape of this match, it shows you, there is no

safe place to be, even if you put 60 points on the board, you can always

guarantee someone will try and go back at you. Back in the 80s, if we

talk by the old-fashioned snooker, if you got is it full-bodied and

started putting bolts if you would probably get over the line, such as

the standard of players these days come out to be so careful to keep

your point under wraps. You need some luck under the weight and Peter

spotted something earlier that perhaps help judge out a bit. Judd

was trying to play this safety shot and get a double-kiss. It reflects

again and leaves Stephen in all sorts of trouble when he probably

would have had a shot to nothing or the opportunity to play a good

safety shot had the cue ball not flicked the red race against time.

That made a massive impact on the outcome of the frame because Stephen

then had to bring one of the save reds on the left side from the

Christian and Judd got the opportunity and ended up making of

the dusty break. -- away from the cushion. Is there any point in a

frame that you do feel safe? Any number for you or the line, any

break size you think is adequate now? Not against these top players.

No. Short and sharp. Back we go. To make the frame safe these days you

got to make enough to leave your opponent leaving snookers. Not

always that easy. You were saying that, even with two worst three

snooker is you never felt safe with Steve Davis. 80 plus is the way to

do it. Foul. The first one he has cued a cross. You can see it down

the line. I think he got a bit of unwanted side. Peter Ebdon in the

commentary box last night, when players were forcing a shop and got

a little bit of unwanted side they were missing the pot by a long way.

Judd gave a big sigh as soon as he made contact with that. He is

usually very proficient with that type of pot and that was a good

chance for him. Dead straight. And he did not push the cue through

absolutely in a straight line. I think that was a kick. I am

looking at the cue ball and where it has finished and he definitely got

heavy contact, John. No doubt about it and Judd was quite fortunate. If

that came of the table and went into an awkward spot, he could have left

it into the middle and into the corner. Stephen takes it on and he

gets the kick. Not a rocky passage for him. -- not an easy passage for

him. That is not a good bunch of reds to

go into. But Judd is probably the best in the game and playing it. --

at playing it. Watch the action he gets on this. A stone shot may be

better so he does not stick it into the back of the red and that is

where he is hitting the cue ball, slightly below centre so that is an

indication he will stun it. Is he going to change his mind? No, he

still going to do it. That is a great shot. The amount of players

use the playing the shot, hitting this is two -- the reds and bringing

it back to the cushion. That is the way he to play it and he deserves

everything for this contribution because that is the correct way to

play, and beautifully played. It is just being able to recognise the

shape of the pack sometimes going into it, what is going to happen. He

could not have hit that any better. He is all right, he can play pink or

black. Snookered on the black but all right on the pink.

I thought he nearly missed that. He certainly potted in the right side

of the pocket. A slightly anxious moment.

Playing very well today, Judd. It is his concentration that looks a lot

better than last week. At the UK, so many tables were going on and so

many distractions in the earlier rounds and in one chair, it was

looking at the other because his friend was playing. In between

frames, he was looking around and watching that and not completely

focused on his own match. A game away against Liang Wenbo and he

looked like he had won that. Nowhere else to look today, it is about the

one table, Dennis. Yes, this is why you turn

professional, to try and get yourself into a situation where you

play in an arena like this, with a great crowd again. On the second

day's play. No distractions. Judd is the type of player that relishes

this atmosphere. Yes, a slightly tricky situation,

playing the cannon. I do not know whether he is going to run off a

ball and went wrong but if he finishes on the back red, he has had

a result because that is too tight, surely. Possibly with a bit of side,

Dennis. He has to be careful if he is playing a little side. I don't

think it goes. He is better taking the one to the left of the pink, why

risk it if you are not sure? This is more difficult but if you can pot

the way he does, don't risk trying to pot a ball as tight as that. No.

It is kicked. Throwing the red to the left. And another frame whether

player is getting to almost 60 points. -- where the player. On that

occasion, it was not Judd's fault. All three frames panning out the

same. Yes, that red completely straightened on impact. Nearly going

into the Jaws. Really tough shot is Stephen Maguire

takes the red in the corner. For a moment, I thought he had not

in the blue as well! He might have to take the blue. Let's look at

this, he put everything into the pot and he almost knocked in the blue.

He just looked to see if it was yellow or green and if it was

yellow, he is hampered by the pink and the reds so a good shot required

again on the blue, it is far from easy. It is right in the middle of

everything here. It is just slightly awkward.

No. Yes, he knew that was a must get pot because he was handing the frame

to Judd. If that blue goes on, every chance of a counter attack. 59 in

front already so he just needs a colour and one more red to secure

this third frame. That was played perfectly. So much work. Just

incredible. It seems to be so much work but the economy of it. I must

try that sometime, that will be fun playing with all those balls out

there, they would be all over the place.

Fascinating tussle between these two great players.

I think they had a close encounter last year, 6-4, Stephen Maguire. You

would say it would go very close, the way both of them are playing

here. Just so little between them will stop you get the top 16 playing

together and it is sometimes a run of the ball here and there somebody

in slightly better form. As you say, they are all capable of scoring and

playing good matchplay. You don't know what you are going to get here.

I wonder, will he give us a bit of naughty snooker here? Clearing up.

He sometimes likes to play exhibition shots. At the moment,

keeping it straightforward. Go on, played the brown and right around

the table. Give us one of your specials here, Judd. There we go! He

missed the middle pocket and the pink.

The blue was never going to go in the pocket at that speed! Great play

from Judd and the frame could have gone either way. A great clearance

from Judd Trump and he now leads Stephen Maguire 2-1.

He is just warming up and so we! Good quality stuff and a beautiful

shot leading to the start of the break early that you spotters,

Peter. Judd played a fantastic black and not many players would play the

shot with this much power. A lot of right-hand side and with

perfect spin and he got what he deserved, it was a fantastic shot

and he won the frame. Is the tale going up for Judd? They both look

like they are cueing well but Judd got away with it. He was the first

frame by giving the chance for Stephen. At 2-1, it looks better.

Back to that shot, for club players playing a black, the tendency is to

look to the pack to see how they open up and you take your eye away

from the black. If you want to smash into the back, concentrate on

potting the ball and do not worry about the white.

When do you trust yourself to know if you do that, things will go your

way? Is there an adjustment period before you do that? Hitting it hard.

It is difficult on these tables. When you play with this much power,

you give yourself much more chance of missing the black. It is the

confidence of knowing you can strike the ball hard and accurately and

that is one of the greatest strengths of Judd.

Will we be seeing more of this? Is that a moth? It looks like it Hazel.

Moth gate this afternoon. Hopefully, they have not run off to

catch another one. So a very important frame, this. A big lead

for Stephen Maguire, you would think, and he has hit the ball well

this afternoon. If he goes into the mid-session interval 3-1 behind, he

will have it all to do. Yes, he had a go at the pot. He cued

across it. That red is all right. It may come

back across over the pocket but he is all right. Clever shot because he

was nicely on the blue and he could only lead with the one he was having

a go at. It is funny when you play those clever shots, you never seem

to pot the ball! Very good stuff this match. Great to watch. Two good

players, in very good form. Really focused today, Judd. And white would

he not? This is a massive tournament. -- wife. He has done a

couple of semifinals but never been in a final at the Masters so he

would like to put that right. Stephen Maguire has had four

semifinals. He has played in it on 12 occasions. Every match is a final

virtually, you have the top 16 players in the world. That is why it

is probably next a the World Championships the toughest to win.

You talk about the three majors, the UK and the Masters. It used to be

the Grand Prix was the fourth. But so many tournaments now all over the

world. A lot of them just the best seven. Which is a short sprint.

Compared to the best of 11, players would prefer this.

He is having a look to see if there is any plant available. It does not

look like there is any, to me. He has to be guarding the safety shot

here. Putting the red towards the corner pocket. Judd has made it more

difficult, a good length of the cue ball that he had. Very good reply

from Stephen Maguire. Excellent. If you cannot see any red, he may have

to play the screw back down off that. He is looking to see if he can

get down the gap to flick that red. That is tight and he would have to

go very close to the blue. To get that one. He is looking at the side

cushion. That is not straightforward. He has got to get

this with a bit of swerve. That is not bad. It has cost him four points

but he has the cue ball back down the table and that is not an easy

pot. Much better going end than rattling it in the Jaws. They come

back out into open play and you would be in trouble. Stephen is just

seeing if he can have a shot, he tries to swerve it. That does not go

as much as he would like, he gets it too thick. Stephen thinks he has

found a shot to nothing here. And he has. Well played.

Not a worst-case either. Yes. A little bonus whenever that happens,

you know that you have overhit it slightly. Very good pot and the

white could easily have slipped past the brown. But with the nudge, it

finished perfectly for him. You cannot beat a good nudge. And that

is not a good nudge. No, not ideal. I think the red goes... You want it

to tight into the middle. Closest does go past the yellow. I would

expect him to negotiate this. He was playing into an area where he

had a choice of reds. That looks a bit tight to me. Further up the

table, you have the choice of three reds into the left corner. Does the

black goat, Dennis? Does it go near the corner, is that why he is

playing it? -- go. He would have to play with a trace of sites to make

the angle. The black goes, as you can see. He would have loved to have

taken that on but he can get whacked to it in a couple of shots. -- back.

The table looks like it is beautifully, he hardly hit that. A

load of pace on it. Not the best, that one. The black is

only available into one pocket. So he still has a bit of work to do

here. He needs to keep ongoing, he does

not want to be dead straight on the blue. He has to take the pink if he

is straight on the blue. He is slightly scrapping for position.

Just being a bit off. Slightly off two or three shots. He was almost

straight so he did well to manufacture that. From the blue

almost being straight. A key shot coming up, if he can pot

the pink and get on the red so he can run through and leave the black

and he can really open things up. What angle has he got? I don't think

he has gone far enough. It is amazing how that inch or so can make

such a difference. Yes, it comes down the table a tiny bit further,

half a ball, perfect. You play a cannon off the black to split them

and it is a frame and an opportunity. He just comes short.

Still in play but it would have been so much easier. The referee having

to get the pink is near to its own spot. The spots occupied. Maybe he

can do. Guests. He knows he has to nudge the other red and thought he

could still flick it for the black -- yes.

That was the problem. He has covered it. Or has he? It does not look as

though it goes from here but maybe he can pot the black. If he is on

that, that is the right result. He did not intend to get the cannon

like that. That will pot with a bit of side. Looking at the way he is

setting up, it will pot straightaway. That is amazing. I was

thinking he would have to screw out to be on a colour. He was on it.

If the pink pots at the bottom, that is worth taking gone. And open up

the four reds. Try and leave it slightly low, which he has done. So

now it is all about how these split. We have had three great frames. Now

the players have clinched it with one visit. Can do it here? -- can do

it here? A couple of red into play but still not straightforward. --

reds. That is an excellent break, it

really is. He has not been perfect for most of this break. He has just

managed to keep it going. Probably had a bit of luck with that of the

cannon. The rest of it has been great hard match play snooker and he

has just kept the break going. Just picking the loose one off. Will

he desires. He has looked at the school board, he is 52 ahead. --

before he decides. He needs a difficult one of the five reds. And

he has got an angle now. And if he does cannon, the pink... Not quite a

full ball, you need to bring the two city -- reds into play. 53 has,

working out what he needs. If the get the blue, 58. He still has to

play the cannon here. This is trickier than it looks, it is not

ideal. You could play the cannon and slip and leave the cue ball near the

top cushion. You have to hope this goes right. We have not looked to

see if the red would go into the middle or we will find out shortly

if it is available. He has played the cannon and how is your look,

Stephen? It could have been better. He decided to play a lot firmer than

I thought. I do not blame him, you could play it soft and slip up. He

took his chances and has not been very fortunate. He could certainly

have hoped for something better but that was a chance he had to take.

Stephen Maguire, 54. Applause. Yet again, another frame

identical to the three previous. That is quite amazing. All of them

fascinating, it in their own right. The first thing Judd will do is what

he has been able to do in one shot. He has got two cushions off. As he

left Stephen Maguire a chance? It is not easy. We get used to seeing

these players not in these long pots but they are tough.

Where is this red going to finish? That is a chance for a counterattack

for Judd Trump. And could he somehow steal this fourth frame? An awful

lot to do. You would not put it past him. Yes. Not only did he leave the

red, he stuck the pink in a lovely spot. Judd get onto the red, that is

near the black. He has the red on the top cushion that is a problem.

We saw yesterday on the new table, it was not bad yesterday. Sliding in

a little bit. So maybe it might not be as difficult as it might be

normally. Just making sure he has enough room

for the red to pass, no problem. He does not want to be straight. And

that is just about perfect, he is well past it. The position that

would be straight. I am not sure if the red closest to the black goes

into the corner, that would be a bonus because if that goes, he can

pot that and flick the other to the right of the black away. We will

find out shortly if that is available to him.

There is the pink I mentioned earlier. If the red does go, the

pink was virtually perfect for it. In a perfect world he would leave

himself high on that, part it and flick the other red out. -- pot it.

I think he has come up short to do that. Quite a way short to pop that

and flick the other red away. Slightly more difficult now. That

looks to be a pretty good angle, but when you play this cannon, he could

do with coming into the middle of the red and black and make sure he

puts this red on. And he didn't, he hit it full ball, he wanted to play

the cannon. It is amazing, 12 shots ago he was coming up for the red,

all he had to do was be slightly high and that would have been much

easier, just did not get that position. Consequently it has gone

awry. Surely even Judd would not take that

on. Safe you acquired, you would think. -- safety required. It is not

straight forward off the red to the right. He cannot really get in

behind the green or close to the cushion and guarantees to leave the

red safe. I think the middle pocket is in play, that is ideally you

would like to be that if you play of the Reddit would have to be thin and

then you would not get it safe. I don't blame him taking some time

here. It is not straightforward. That was a risk. He has put himself

bang in trouble. It will not be a straightforward safety shot but if

Stephen Maguire judges this correctly, that is it also works of

trouble. He will be snooker is, he has the blue, pink and black to get

the snooker behind. Yes, it might have been good if it had come off,

but the shot Judd played put him in trouble and he knows it. Still feels

as if he should have played off the red on the right-hand side some way.

He will do well to get out of this. He has quite a bit of distance

between the red and the cue ball, so that is one good thing. One good

pot, and I don't think he will go into the middle pocket with the cue

ball, it will come back round the table towards the black if he gets

it. If he gets that angle. A bit of a free shot really.

Just the snooker now. It would have been a bonus to drop on the black,

but he is so good at that type of shot, Stephen Maguire. He has a

choice. You got to make sure you get him is no good rather than get it,

safe -- you get him snookered rather. He will need a good forming

here of the side cushion I hope he cannot can say. The only thing with

that shot is that he left them the chance to do it. I would have

thought he would try and get behind and block it. He did not make the

snooker difficult. Judd stopped in his tracks to see if this red will

cut in. He smiled tells you it is a very thin one. It will not cut in.

Although it is the best of 11, if you have a 3-1 lead at the end you

will be delighted and he maybe has a three shot. Part the red, missed the

yellow and brown and come back towards the black. He has cannons,

it is wrong, has he got away with it? He has. Goodness, he has a run

of the balls at times, doesn't he? I think Judd thought, if I hit this

right, he hit it two thing, which was why he canned the brown or

yellow, I was thinking that shot Stephen played with the spider

before was cracking, but this is more difficult. And usually

circumstances, much more pressure, 2-1 down.

Does not have to take it on, but when you see in there, you think to

yourself, it is a game ball. I think it was more difficult than

the previous one. That was a good choice. Only needs the red, as John

said, to leave Jed -- and Judd leading snookers. It was too risky

because it was so close to the blue. If he could miss the double case he

could get even in trouble. He just played up and down, did not think it

was possible to do that. Good cue ball.

This is a bit awkward. You would not risk just trying to get a snooker

behind the yellow and brown, it could roll off. Well he has tried

it. Now, that was very difficult. He has put himself in a spot of bother.

There is actually a shot if Judd wants to move the yellow of the

cushion. He had a few ways of playing it as I think there is other

ways to do it. Could have hit that much fervour is trying to get the

snooker behind pink or black and move the yellow out. But he did not

do it. Just having a little chat. I'm not

sure what he was saying. Yes, very dangerous frame for

Stephen Maguire just now. All of the balls are portable. Yellow has gone

from a unpromising position. It is all about trying to keep that

red safe. And he hasn't. This is a chance for

Judd Trump. I don't know if he can pass this red without moving the

yellow. He would love to be able to. If he pots this red he might have to

go into the yellow and hope he does not knock it safe somewhere. He has

to get up for a high value colour, doesn't he? That is the problem. I'm

struggling to see how he can get on one. If he was to get a red and blue

he would only be able to tie. Look at this shot. Unbelievable. I

think he thought he was going to clip the yellow as well and get much

more screw, and would have come right up towards the pink and black,

believe it or not. To get there without touching the yellow was

quite amazing. He will be disappointed not to get the pink or

black, it would have been some shot, but he can still win the frame in

this situation on a re-spotted black. It is difficult to get back

to the yellow, but get the blue and make sure you knock the blue then.

You still have a chance to at least tidy frame -- tie the frame.

It has been a fascinating for frames. Interval coming after this.

Will it be 2-2 or 3-1. We will know in a few minutes.

Both players, Judd has had breaks of 55 and 50 in the previous frame. 60

frame one. Stephen Maguire has had breaks of 50 word, 51 and 60.

Slightly bigger target for just a mat. Blue and green in that area, a

little too much side on it. At the chance to get behind blue. That

would have caused some trouble. But not quite.

Just wondering. At first I thought he might have been able to get past

the brown and hit the yellow from behind, but can he do that? I think

it is too close to the cushion to get the amount of side he would

need. That last shot of Stephen Maguire's was superb because he

brought the brown into a better position. You never know where they

are going to vanish when they play that type of shot -- finish. He had

played with a lot of side and a little touch of swerve to make the

angle. You can see he had to swerve around the black, that was a

terrific escape. Has got a couple of choices. He could go for the pot.

Which he has tried. And the blue has gone in the middle pocket, would you

believe it? Free ball, blue in the pocket, and

if the brown goes past the yellow, everything has gone wrong.

Can you believe that? The things that happen are snooker table? The

blue into the pocket is a good shot. Stephen cannot help himself from

smiling. The scenario is that Stephen Maguire has had breaks of

5461, 60, and he will be 3-1 behind as we show you that attempt at cut.

Bit of a risky one, but how the blue has gone in there. And then he got

the ultimate, Judd, everything you could hope for, free ball, five

points and a pot available. Being left-handed, the pinks are the wrong

side of the table, but Judd is so good with his right hand as well,

interesting to see whether he gets the rest out or a few pots it

right-handed. He is 11 behind, so he needs all three colours. Now he will

leave it with the rest. He has an angle to get over to the black. One

wore a good shot. Tricky little pot. Not certain, it looks easy on the

screen but we know at the front on these tables, they don't have,

there's still some to be done. One long straight pot on the black.

He will go to the midsection interval -- we will go to it -- he

will go to the midsection interval a very happy boy. Write down the cue

and it is there. He will be delighted! It has been a fascinating

tussle so far, the sort of match that had been 2-2 and could have

been 4-0, but in the end it is Judd Trump who leads 3-1. When you look

at the stat it is a tale of six plus 50 breaks but it is telling entirely

different story, isn't it? There was always luck involved in snooker. So

many times it is not obvious luck, but when the blue goes in the middle

pocket at that acute angle, as a player you sometimes go, well, the

writing was like it's on the wall for the Day. It will be tough to

turn it around. When Stephen Maguire not seen the blue that effectively

puts Judd over the line, you will lamenting his luck. He sat a pretty

bad run of the balls. Desperate luck and he will be devastated to be 3-1

down because he has played really well. Just the one of the balls has

not gone with him at all today apart from getting a really good long red

at the start of the previous frame and getting a nice cannon on the

brown, has gone wrong for him. He got to feel frame. He will be really

devastated. There is times when you get lucky or unlucky and your

opponents does not punish you, you forget about the luck, but when a

player, Judd Trump cleared up when he got the chance that Amedy look

easy at the end, it was very missable, that seems to magnify your

luck. Use it and two. Another Day the worst thing is the world can

happen and other guy misses a shot, totally forgotten. Exactly the

stoppage amid the point before that fourth frame that that frame was so

important Stephen Maguire because you could see the shackles coming

off Judd in frame three. Yes, the momentum is very much with Judd now

and in lots of matches Stephen would be 3-1 up instead of down by now. It

has been interesting. Absolutely. Especially the muggings in the first

part of the match. Yes. Since the first Masters, 1975, there is only

three guys that have come back the next year to successfully defend

their title. Cliff Thorburn and Stephen Hendry on a number of

occasions and most recently Paul Hunter, 2002. Yesterday the

defending champion, Shaun Murphy, from this year walked into the arena

hoping to join that gang. First job to beat world number 11, Mark Allen,

they squared up hearing the semis last year, Allen in dead on

rewriting the story this time and it was a half-century from the Northern

Irishman that security first frame. Murphy responded with a 68 to level

the match before a fantastic clearance of 137 saw Alan take a 2-1

advantage. Frames four and five were shared before the pivotal moment of

the match in frame six. Shone, fitting a tricky safety shot, twice

missed a thin attempt on the red and because he was not snooker, one more

foul and the frame would be automatically forfeited.

The miss and the frame. Such a harsh real! Normally you can find an

option somewhere, a way out you don't always want to play. But I

looked and every option I could see guaranteed to leave Mark Alpert

integer when the frame, me it was take a deep breath, remember your

routine, site the ball well, missed it completely and lose the frame.

It's crazy to think what he did, but you got to take it as it comes,

yielded many easy friends on tour and that is one of it. From the

other side, if it's me I don't clear if I leave everything on, I make

sure I hit something third time. If today for rising to advantage then

made a break of 104 get one frame of the wind. But every fighter, Sean

battled back to 5-4, making is first century of the match in the ninth.

Mark eventually got over the line to dig a scrappy ten frame and, more

importantly, a blaze in the quarterfinals. He is -- his sixth in

eight Masters appearances. I'm glad to come through, of easily have lost

a few close ones to Sean in recent years. To finally get one over him

is a bit of a feather in the cap. More please with the way I place. I

scored heavily from the first frame on words and got edgy in the last

frame, both missed a couple, but all in old played really good. That is

the level of snooker these days was 12 months quite plays that losing

and won the tournament. 12 months later and here was a great match, we

both played well and I have lost. That is the thing that makes the

master is so special. Every match could be a final, every single

player could win the tournament and it is really great to be involved,

just a shame and not involve any more. It is Mark Allen Huget is

6/4-final in eight appearances. Pretty decent record. What was your

view of events and fridge -- in frame six? It was incredible and I

just noticed on the final attempt that Sean was putting a lot of

right-hand side on that. He is probably good at it is because it is

striking is so hard. He has pulled its to the right. Mark Allen made

the point that if he had been in this iteration before, just make

sure you hit something, it doesn't matter where you leave everything.

That is his view but how difficult is it to go through with that?

Obviously a top-class player that is with three attempts he will get the

ball to go on the right path on one of the occasions. He might have seen

no other option, but there is obviously the possibility that even

if he had stuck Mark amongst the balls he was not guaranteed to clear

them up. Mark's view would be to make it awkward and hope the

opponent misses. I tend to agree with Mark but we have all been there

and I have missed three attempts if the table is not level, sometimes

that can come into the equation. I've got to say, if that happens to

me in the Masters I would have struggled to go in the press --

press conference and talk. What a great ambassador. How can you be

that good a loser? You're not, are you? He is a brilliant professional

and to take losing like that, it really takes a man and a true

professional sportsman. There is no doubt he is hurting, he has come

back to trying to defend that, that must be so frame yesterday. He would

have been really well prepared for this tournament. John is the type of

player that will be cutting back on the Christmas celebrations, New

Year, he will put a series of out of work in on the table. -- shone. He

will beast devastated and it shows what a brilliant professional years

to take it like that. Do you think that will fire him up for the rest

of the season? Properties the man of how he went out? In one respect I

would say that it's like is doesn't hurt enough but a few think OK, you

play the next tournament the same way he prepares, very professional,

but Stephen Hendry, losing like that, what straight at the door, it

might fire a player like that up. Sean is the same animal, total

professional, great player and budget every match in the same way

and one of the most gracious learners -- losers and gracious

winners, different for different people. Great to see him. Wonderful

filed last year, the 10th man to achieve the triple Crown and I know

that was a really big moment for him, as it would be for anyone. Last

night our first session involved the current world champion, Stewart

Bingham, he attended the bald eagle where he had never gone before

injury quarterfinal of the Masters. His seventh attempt. Stewart

Bingham, 2015, current world champion. Idiot question to start

that might sound silly, but has it sunk in yet? Eight deep. I don't

know. It is important for the rest of the season, in a way. I have

tried to forget it. Just get on with snooker, sounds stupid, but it is

like it's a hindrance. 20 years of trying to get there and pick up the

trophy, now I have the trophy, the pressure of it is immense more than

anything. You would rather have not won it? Of course not, but it feels

that way. That pressure and now to turn up to tournament and try not

forget it and get on with the job in hand. The pressure is only from

within. Nobody else is really putting the pressure on, it is your

own expectations. If the first couple of tournaments after, every

ball I missed I can see people saying he is world champion, he's

got to be the world champion ever. Stupid pressures like that.

Understandable that every pro-Blair has a reaction to something so big.

Some beagle go on but it's understandable if you drop down a

because of that. -- some people. I don't feel like I've had a bad

season with results but I have lost 4-5, 4-3, 5-4, to people like

Higgins, Fergal O'Brien, zoo long and good players, I've lost out in

deciders but because of the results it looks like I've had a bad season.

Not much breathing space, all players are good these days. Have

they raised their game a fraction? I thought that coming into this season

people would raise their game to play me. I remember when John

Higgins was world champion, Shaun Murphy, even yourself, I knew I was

playing a top player and you cannot help but raise your game. Obviously

I have that now. It has been a big learning curve. Obviously will not

forget about it, so let's talk about the World Championship. How do you

approach a quarterfinal match with Ronnie O'Sullivan? Not sure, really.

All of the eyes on him, I was watching the previous matches

against Matthew Stevens and his first match against Craig Steadman.

You could see he was not happy. There was obviously the issue

scenario that make the shoe scenario. It looked like a little

excuse. If he didn't perform didn't play well. I just thought that I'd

obviously when we played the referee was getting on his nerves and I

could see that, he is not on his game. I used that as a positive for

me. He said to me, the referee as I marathon, he is walking round

everywhere. I said yes, shut it off straightaway because I knew I had a

great chance of winning and knew I was playing well and he was on 60 or

70% of his game. It was a good performance but suddenly there is no

letting up and you're straight back into the semifinals. The one-table

set-up against Judd Trump. The night after beating Ronnie I will, 6am and

the first thing in my head was a winner's speech. Really? Yes. And

I've had that throughout my career and that is maybe been a let down.

Straightaway I knocked on the head, don't think that far ahead come of

Judd Trump in the semifinal and you got to play just as well or better

to have a chance and I will remember that the rest of my life. Suddenly

you are in the final. What was that my's sleep like? Probably the same

at the -- as the previous four nights, three Zebre four or five

hours sleep. It's something I've been striving for the last 25 years,

to be in a world final, and it's in front of me and I'm doing it. It is

unbelievable. -- three, four or five. Great player and a great

friend. That helped. If I was going out against giant or Ronnie or

someone like that in the final, it would have been different, I knew I

could go out and enjoy if I was not in the final I would watch to win

and hopefully the same frame for me. -- same for him for me. We had that

respect for each other and that helped massively. Give us an

overview of the final? Is to me a few frames to settle down once I

made that first frame, the 100 break, I went, I don't care if I get

beat. 18-1, 18-2. You don't think that will happen, but I made a 100

in the world final. I don't care what happens. Then suddenly you

start picking your game up and playing well and then I was just

enjoying the moment. A couple of instances where I am in the break

and actually cost to a certain number in a break and a gag came out

like you do in an exhibition. I'm thinking, what are you doing? You're

in a world final. The otherwise, you get the trophy, a marvellous moment.

Once the dust has settled, what was it like afterwards? Not just that

night, but for the next few days? Friends and family and well-wishers?

It was just a mad roller-coaster ride. I think it took me three weeks

to get back to normality. Just totally drained. From two weeks of

play. Everyone wanted a bit of the interviews and the TV work, things

like that. I did not really have time to sit back and enjoy it. I was

everywhere. It is still in a box, the trophy. I

do not want to get it out in case I damage it. It is in a box and nicely

protected from my son. The first half of the season, no silverware.

What is a success story for the rest of the year? One tournament?

Crucible curse. You have that to come. Exciting, but you still manage

to get your name on the trophy before then. Definitely. It was the

same as every other year. If you can win one trophy a year and you have

had a good year. I have got to two semi-finals and been pretty close. I

feel like my game is picking up the last couple of months. That is my

goal between now and the end of the year. What better way to celebrate

your rise as a legend within the game than winning this tournament?

Yes. It would be massive. It is not as high as the Crucible but it is

close. Watching it over the years it has so much history. My record here

is not great. I have looked in the programme and my highest rate is 91

in seven attempts. It has not been great. I will be looking to change

that. I have been trying a few different things coming into this

tournament. I stayed in a hotel last night. I normally commute from home.

I came up the night before to try to prepare for the tournament, like I

normally do. Good luck for the rest of the season.

It was great to year him admitting that after that victory over Ronnie

he had written his winner's speech in his head. It underlines the

difficulties of adjustment to your new status. When you won in 2002

what was the next season like? Not particularly good. I was conscious

that I wanted to be a good while champion and I did all the

exhibitions and all the public engagements and everything and it

takes away from your preparation for other tournaments. I spoke to

Stewart about it earlier in the season and my advice was to get on

the table and practice. Is it because there are more commitments

and more things to fulfil or is it being world champion? That you have

to live up to it? It's definitely changes you and it should change for

the best it brings a certain type of pressure as well. I was interested

in a couple of things that he said, that he almost wants to forget that

he is world champion and he does not want to see has trophy. I would be

reminding myself every day I was world champion. Everybody is

different. You have to get used to it with six world titles. Did it get

easier bearing the mantle? Yes. If you do it more than once. The year

after the first year is a strange year. I started to feel the heat in

the build-up to the following World Championship. I did OK in the early

part of walking out as world champion. It affects everybody in

different ways. It is not so much that you work out as world champion

and people are having a go at you rather than the other way round.

Your levels of expectation are hard to control and on anyone shot if you

are thinking I am world champion, I should get this, or putting more

pressure on yourself, the game can become from one minutes being a

great player and the next struggling and that is when you can come apart

at the seams and everybody is having a piece of you. He has not played

terribly, winning is most important, and it may be luck. You might win

the first tournament offices and with luck. If you get off to a bad

start then you are struggling. It did not happen at the UK

championship. Would it happen at the Masters last night? Let us find out.

After a scrappy start the match kicked off in frame three. Then got

a century for the first time ever at the Masters. A much prized maximum

looked on. Get in now. The next ball he had a tricky yellow. He has hit

it big. Did he get a thick or -- kick or did he hit it big? Email 3-1

in front. That will do nicely. The next four frame so sure that both

players struggled. Then the scores were level at 4-4. Ding has never

won at Alexandra Palace and he needed this yellow for a crucial

advantage. I thought that was in. The Essex man took that three-month

tearfully engineered a winning position in frame ten, edging over

the line 6-4, his first appearance in a quarterfinal year. Amazing. It

was a pretty breathtaking opening day. Shaun Murphy the defending

champion is gone. Mark Allen will face the winner of this match, Barry

Hawkins against Joe Perry. Judd Trump and Stephen Maguire were

enjoying this afternoon. Neil Robertson and Marco Fu will be on

Wednesday. Mark Selby is a three time when. The winner of that will

play the winner of Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams. Stuart Bingham

goes through. It is all very eventful, is specially in this

match. It is the moment, the young man, Judd Trump with a 3-1 advantage

with a very eventful few opening frames. It is back to the commentary

box. Thank you. It has been one of those

matches were Mike the scoreline could have read anything. It could

have been 3-1 Stephen Maguire. It looked odds-on that we were going to

be two frames all. It is 3-1 to the juggernaut. The best of 11. 3-1 is

not that bad. Looking to see of this red will pass

the blue. That looks tight. If it does not go

there he would have to take it to the middle. He feels he has a kick,

but it still might go in. It was tight, but the kick did not help. So

close to the pocket. There is a good shot we can show you. You can see

the red jumping. Otherwise he would have potted that.

Good shot from Stephen Maguire to make sure that he did not make

contact with the box colour. That is a poor shot from Stephen. He

was playing for the red to the left of the bunch of red and pink. He is

only going to score four points from that chance. Yes, just got too low

into the cue ball. Such is the level they card-playing that he would have

considered that a decent opportunity. You do not get too many

at this level. Good shot. Excellent. He hit that all wrong. He was just

trying to swing it rained. It was a tough shot they was attempting and

he just hit it completely the wrong way. He was trying to swing it round

the back. It was OK until the red he played cannoned into it and spoiled

it. Good example of playing a proper safety shot. Judd played a cracking

shot. It may did much more difficult for him to get back and because of

that he has got his opportunity. That is where his game has improved,

he has been working on his tactical game. He is not going to play the

way he plays the game -- change the way he plays the game, but if you

can do the business it is a tough format to beat. You have to create

the chances for yourself and he certainly did that with that

excellent safety that he played. It is worth another look. Lots of run

inside the angles and Ronnie could not have put it in a better spot. It

is what has been a little bit surprising when he has not won a

tournament last season. You thought when he was getting closer all the

time to Ronnie Sullivan and he eventually beat him in the final you

were waiting for him to kick on, that was the confidence he needed to

regularly be at the business end, but it has not happened for him.

Hopefully this week at the Masters it will kick-start him.

That has certainly opened things up. If you can get the cannon correctly

we will show you the split of the reds. Has to be a little bit careful

here. Just about OK. It is quite a thin one. The blue and pink are a

little awkward. Concentrate on the box colours. He is OK. If he lands

on the Brunei think he can still get to the green. I am checking to see

if it is touching. -- the referee. He looks pretty good with his

opposite hand, but he decides to make absolutely sure. Get the rest

out. It is one of those shots that is a little bit awkward for using

the rest. I do not blame him going back to playing best right-handed.

He is pretty proficient at it. Just awkward. That would not have been

any problem to you, Dennis. Look where the white has landed. Can you

get your breath? Wow. Anywhere except there. Yes, I used to hit

using the rest. I used to prefer switching hands. I was OK on certain

shots. Not the way some of these boys, they looks the same when they

switch hands. A letter I got from a gentleman at the World Championship

who said I love you switching hands, he said I would give my right arm to

be ambidextrous. You would have to be from Liverpool to make a remark

like that! So disappointed where that cue ball finished.

You feel as if it is a massive frame in the match. It is the first to 6,

so 4-1 is not the end of the world, but it would certainly be far less

of a task if Stephen Maguire could win this frame.

These are really tough shots. I would be surprised if Judd can get

this. It needs a delicate touch to get right tight behind the green. It

is one of those shots you do not want to leave it short and leave

yourself in trouble. It looks like Stephen Maguire can get through to

this red. Screw back into the baulk area. Where are the reds going to

finish? Got the good cue ball but you are never sure what is going to

happen when you have to hit it at that pace.

Good pot. Nicely controlled. Played the cannon onto the pink. It looks

like he is getting into the ascendancy. The scoreline will tell

you that, but that does not always pink the correct picture. It looks

as if he has started to motor a little bit. That has just finished

very awkward. He is looking at the blue.

Even that jumped. Terrible contact on that. He will be pleased to see

it go in with that jump. It left the bed of the cloth, but it went in. If

he is straight on the blue it could be the end of the break. He is going

to have to look at the more difficult pink. That looks dead

straight. Pink to keep the break going. A couple of reds available

into the corner if this goes in. Still not straightforward just yet.

I am with you. It looks as if he is starting to take control of this

match, Judd. I think that frame before the mid-session interval was

a big boost to him. It really was. He is pushing on from there.

Just trying to hold the sport so he can retain position, which he has

done. The outside red is pottable. I think he can bring the back into

play -- black. If he was dead straight he would roll it in for the

pink. You can see the angle. He is in pretty good shape. Good job he

did not hit it any harder. It is interesting how he switches

hands when he plays with the rest. A lot of the left-handed players seem

to do that, using their right hand with the rest.

Where is the red? The red has to pool up, and it has. He is starting

to look very good. That frame before the interval was absolutely massive.

He is carrying it on. It is going to take a big effort from Stephen

Maguire. He has been around long enough to know if you knuckle down

your still involved in the match. This man is starting to look very

good indeed. Yes, just sheer natural talent and

ability we are looking at here. He is one of those players that was

born to play the game of snooker. Complete natural. A little

exhibition shot. Look at that shot to get on the yellow.

We call it round the houses. He went round the houses twice to get to the

yellow. Yes, some shot. There is another one. Yes, no disrespect to

his opponent, he just likes to entertain. You cannot pot them all.

A fabulous effort from Judd Trump. That break of 69 expenses lead. He

leads 4-1. -- extends his lead. Looks very comfortable at the

moment, Judd. He knows he is up against one of the toughest match

players in the game. Stephen Maguire wants to get his hand on that

trophy. Judd Trump would love to get his hand on that beautiful crystal

trophy. Has he got away with that? I am not

sure if that red goes into the right corner. No. He has had a result. He

was playing that long pot in such a way that he would go round the back

of the red and he actually headed too thick. -- hit it.

This is a must win frame for Stephen Maguire. At 5-1 you would not give

him much of a chance. He will be giving this everything he has got to

try to keep themselves in this year's Masters. -- himself.

Not a good chance by any means. The pink is tied up and the like is a

bit awkward at the moment. -- black. Quite a bit of work to do here.

It is far from easy, this. I do not know whether he can risk playing for

the black here. Played it well. As long as he got a

tan and he was going to be OK. He took a long time on the shot, and

that was the reason. Played that very nicely. You feel that if he is

going to get back into this match this is exactly what he needs, a

decent chance to win a frame in one visit. Try to change the scoreline

quickly. You do not want to be embroiled in long hard frames. If

you can get back into the match quicker all the better. This is a

good chance. Situations like this where you have

to keep your belief. From what we have seen today we know he is

hitting the ball pretty well. As Peter said, there's not much wrong

with how is hitting it. A couple of frames could have gone the other

way. You have to believe when the opportunities come you can take

them. He has played well for being 3-1 down.

That red to the right of the black has been a little bit of a bug bail

in this effort. He might be able to screw back and get onto it. I am not

sure if he has the right angle to do that. Not quite. He had to play the

cannon. Even if he is straight I think he will be OK. He can screw

back with a little bit of reverse side of the cushion. He is straight.

He can screw back. Going along very nicely here.

He would love to win the frame with one visit. It sends a little message

out to Judd that he is far from finished here.

He has to be a little careful here v obviously that loose red row can see

below the cluster is available. If you play this, make sure you don't

stun up too far. Notice the way he played that stun

shot with a bit of side, just widen the angle to guarantee to be on

this. He is looking pretty good here.

Nice little cannon, and he should be on the red to the left-hand side

that we can see, that is available now.

Just checking to see if there is anything available in the middle

pocket but it doesn't look like it. He needs to get an angle to leave

himself the possibility of a cannon. Maybe the bottom one, he is just

looking at it now, maybe than will go.

He doesn't need to play the cannon. Can see that one up first. This has

been very good. Very good indeed. This is a sign of a true champion,

he is producing this, 4-1 behind. Fabulous break-builder Stephen

Maguire. He has made 312 centuries in his career.

The cue ball has been hardly out of place through this break. When it

looks simple it is very good. It is exactly what he has made this break

look. Nice little prize of ?10,000 in this

year's Masters for the highest break.

Mark Allen had a magnificent 137 against Shaun Murphy yesterday.

Stuart Bingham almost making a maximum break when he broke down on

the yellow. But no extra prize for the maximum, you still just get the

high break prize. No century break but I don't think

he will be be too disappointed by that. He would have loved to have

cleared up, but the more important part was he took the frame and he is

now just two behind, 4-2 to Judd Trump. HAZEL IRVINE: Reminding

everyone why he is still a major force in this game and so important

that frame from Steve. Yes, and to get it done and dusted in one go,

get on with the next and try and keep the momentum going, and the

difference between the best of nine and 11 is big. Got a birth more

breathing space, 4-1 behind in the best of nine is tough. When you have

played Stephen in the past, what are the hallmarks in of what makes him

so tough out there? I think the fact that he is very aggressive. He is

not afraid to take his shots on, no matter who he plays makes his

dangerous. I was very impressed there with the level of his

concentration, during that break. He was focussed, wonderfully well, so

this match is is a long way from being over, if he can maintain that

level of focus and concentration. The longer cheeps Judd off the table

the more hopeful will be of dampening down that enthusiasm he is

starting to show. You are aware you don't want to leave your opponent

with just that one frame to win. So the longer he can keep him on form,

the more the panic may set in. Judd Trump is an experienced player

himself, he will have his work cut out. Frame seven, here we go.

This would be a nice one to knock in, let us see if he can keep that

momentum going, as the boys were talking about in the studio.

Fabulous break in the last frame. Can he knock a long one in? Not

quite. Where is the red going to finish? Is it goes to finish over

that middle pocket? No, it is safe. So... Well, I think it is safe. He

has been due a bit of luck in this match. Not had a particularly good

run of the balls this afternoon. That is one he did get away.

Good shot there. Taken very quick of course, and there we have another

innovation as you can see on the left we have the table hearts

monitoring the temperature. The one on the right is apparently a new

inknow vairks it is a probe that is being used. It is inserted into one

of the cushions to see the temperatures of the cushionings 6789

sometimes the balls have been bouncing high and the table fitter

has come up with this, to try and keep an eye on that and see if the

conditions worsen, he will know what the they worsened at, so it is an

ongoing experiment and something worth looking at.

At, so it is an ongoing experiment and something worth looking at.

Amazing the innovations in snooker, in the '70s you went to play at the

holiday camp, giving exhibition, there was no table heart there's. In

fact the cushions used to be on the table to stop the ball from dropping

on the floor. Ball from dropping on the floor.

I bet you didn't have a bucket on the end of the table at your club

like they did at mine. Someone nicked the led off the roof. He has

played some good safety play has Judd, and there is another one

there. There you can see Judd at 90% with

his safety success rate, that is impressive.

Not as straight forward for Stephen the play the return safety shot.

-- to play the return safety shot. I don't know if he can squeeze through

a gap there, to get the side of the reds. He did but he caught it thick.

Yes, it is one of those shots that you have to get absolutely perfectly

right, because if you don't, and you get it a touch on the thick side you

know you will leave the cue ball down the table and not reach the

baulk area. That is what he did there.

Well, it wasn't completely easy that, he has to play with a bit of

drag to come back for the black, but I didn't expect him missing it. We

will show you the shot again but he has got away with it. When you do

miss, you can quite easily stick one up so a safety shot available.

They played 16 shots between them with the rest, that is the first one

that has been missed. Gone a bit scrappy this frame, but

it is just how it pans out. You never know how it is going to go.

Look at the reds behind the black spot area, green off its spot, blue

off it spot. Black off its spot. It is one of those frames that could be

One side of the table with that awkward but just as important.

One side of the table with that green being knocked off its spot, it

is no good for snookering behind anything, so... Makes it a bit more

awkward for the players to get the opponent in trouble.

Now then. A chance here, but if you are going to take this on it is not

easy and you have to be fully committed. You will be cannoning

into other ball, I think. Yes, I think if he pots this red he

will cannon the red nearest the cushion. If he doesn't the white

will go dangerously close to the right middle pocket. It is a natural

angle for the white to go over towards the right middle pocket. All

depends what pace he plays it at. But if he doesn't see an easy safety

shot he may have to take that on. What he is thinking about there, is

do I take the risk? And the answer is, yes, but keep an eye on that cue

ball. Couldn't avoid the cannon on that red, and it is a bit lucky, he

has the pink but there is no value in it. He is running up towards the

yellow if he took the pot on the pink on. But as ever he got the

priority right. Potted the ball, and sometimes you have to do that to get

yourself out of trouble. Couldn't avoid that cannon on the

red. Excellent shot from Judd. Well, can

he get past the... Well he can, but I tell you what, it is tough with

being close to the cushion. You have to cue this perfectly.

That wasn't as easy as it looked. Let us have a look. There is only a

couple of reds available, believe it or not, at the moment. One either

side of the black spot. He needs to keep travelling, otherwise he has

snookered himself on that one I mentioned. So that could be end of

break already, so that is a little careless. He has a lot of margin for

error there, John. He certainly did. He needed to be wider, he had more

of an area to play into that tight to the pink. He having a look at it.

That is a play at the side. Couldn't control the cue ball, and that is

end of break. Amazing that fraction, because if he

can see enough of it Yousaf Raza Gilaniing the side, he is -- on the

side. He has himself in all sorts of trouble. Can he see enough of the

side cushion here? In fact he is playing for the brown off two

cushions. Not a bad effort. Come off a bit

square there. He hasn't got the angle to play for

the green, otherwise he would play to land on that.