Quarter-Final: Higgins v Bingham Masters Snooker

Weekend. Happily the odds are better than a than for some of the world's

top snooker players here in north London, as of now, only five remain

in this year's Dafabet Masters and that they are in a chance of bagging

the ?200,000 first prize. That is not a bad January payday, tonight

sees the last of the quarterfinal, and it a match up between two World

Champions, a four time version in John Higgins of Scotland and the

reigning Crucible king Stuart Bingham. They are really go to have

to go some to beat or Trump the standard that was on show this

afternoon here, in a power struggle between Mr Trump and Mr Robertson.

This is all the makings of a classic match. We have the double, has he?

He has. He has got it: Judd Trump marches

on, 2-0. Clean as a whistle.

And that's it. A 139. That is break of the tournament. Interval, two

apiece. He has played it absolutely perfect.

Make certain of black, let's see the 100. Well played. Very well played.

Well, he struck that absolutely beautifully.

Judd Trump had two centuries already in this match. This will be Neil

Robertson's second. Top quality. Still all to play for, four all.

Tremendous shot. We are seeing some snooker today. Fantastic. It is the

highest break of the tournament. Beating Neil Robertson's 139, with a

140. What a marvellous shot that was. It is all square, we have a

deciding frame to look forward to. What a shot! Unbelievable. What a

shot! Oh! Well, how did that drop? It has been absolutely sensational.

One of theiatest matches you will -- greatest matches you will have ever

see. Judd Trump is in the final. He wins a classic, six frames to five.

Well, three times Masters champion Steve Davis was commentating on that

match. Six centuries in 11 frames. It is first time in professional

snooker, the first time we have had six in a best of 11. How would you

sum it up Steve? It is about boring slug fests, no subtlety. Where was

the safety? Just pot something Yeah, yeah, yeah. Boredom aa side, how

important a win was that for Judd? To beat the inform player Neil

Robertson is a big feather I think in his cap. Even though he has

beaten him before. As Judd has been saying and people have been saying

round him, it is time to move through the gears, it is time to

start winning more events. He has responded very well by put himself

in the frame. He is through to the semifinal against Barry Hawkins.

This evening we have 39-year-old Stuart Bingham playing 40-year-old

Higgins Hurricanes for the right to face 40-year-old Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Bit your vintage It was supposed to be becoming a younger man's game.

Experience counts, if you are in shape you can play well. It will be

tough for them o tonight to emulate what happened. When you consider

there is different types of snooker that can entertain, 85 final it took

a 68 minutes to play one frame and we missed everything, that was

entertain, different types of matches, different tensions can

still entertain. That what you you think. Let us get the thoughts of

John and Stuart. Playing Stuart World Champion here

in London. He will have family and friend here supporting him. Again,

we look forward to it. It is great to play a World Champion in a big

tournament like the Masters. He is one of the best players that

has picked up a cue. His all round game is perfect. When he is on song

he is hard to beat. Same as Ronnie, obviously I love a challenge and

looking forward to it. I can't complain. It is a good

feeling, because coming to tournaments in the last two or three

years have been losing early and the form has been really bad, and I am

thinking, God, is this the way it is goes to go? It is great to come back

and play the way I know I can play. It is good to come to tournaments

thinking you can do something. Performances haven't been great.

They haven't been bad but they haven't been great. Similar to what

happened against Ding. In certain patches I was on for a match and a

couple of frames later I couldn't pot a ball. I will need to pick the

game up to what it was at the World Championships. To have a chance of

winning tonight. HAZEL IRVINE: The head-to-head point

to Higgins. Both of Stuarts win were in final frame deciders. Previous

matches were against Bingham BC. Before the crucible last year. I

wonder how much that counts, now in the equation, Steve? Possibly. But I

think John Higgins is the type of player that plays the table. He

doesn't mind where he is up to. John Higgins, couple of years ago, I

thought possibly he hit a bit of a brick wall and was going to start to

slide down the rankings but he proved everybody wrong. Never

underestimate him. Stuart Bingham is a different story. World Champion,

the best performance in his life. He has to recreate that, he has the

albatross round his neck of expectation, that now he is the

World Champion, he has to perform to a higher level. The best way to play

is to forget about everything and just play one ball at a time. Easier

said than done. It is his first quarterfinal. To what extent will he

are to improve from that match against Ding Junhui? Forget about

the match against Ding Junhui. Get over the line. I think once you get

your first match under the belt in any venue you can use that as a

Springboard to play better. Stuart Bingham has much more experience of

the one table set up, the Masters can be a very overawing event, even

if you have done very well in the World Championship. I know, I didn't

do that well in the master, it happens. Stuart will regardless of

what happened in the first match will come in in a different frame of

mind. You didn't do too well. Three Masters... Ladies and gentlemen,

think we are ready in here. 2,000 people in Alexander Palace and it is

time to get our Masters weekend under way. Rob Walker, let us get

them revved up. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. It is freezing cold,

it is Friday night but we are right here in Ally Pally for the last

quarterfinal in this year's Dafabet master, we are all set for a superb

weekend of snooker entertainment and it stars right here, right now.

Please welcome one of the finest sportsmen Scotland has ever

produced. Bidding for his eighth Masters semifinal, twice a winner

here in London. Four times a champion of the world, he is right

back to his very best, with two titles already this season. He is

the wizard of Wishaw John Higgins. And his opponent, he secured his

first Masters win with victory over Ding on Sunday, win over the Premier

League and the Aussie Open, but by far and away his finest moment came

with that incredible 17 day run in Sheffield last year. Ladies and

gentlemen, he is the reigning champion of the world, he is Stuart

Bingham. Haze we will use the next hour to

watch the opening exchanges of this final quarterfinal. And we will

spend it in the company of the all Ireland commentary double act Ken

Doherty and Denis Taylor. Evening lads. A good evening to everyone

watching. Different match. Different session,

and it is John Higgins who gets the first frame under way.

That match between Judd Trump and Neil Robertson certainly one of the

finest matches I have ever seen. What have we in store this evening?

Yes, an interesting question. Two great players. It is going to be

interesting what sort of confidence John Higgins will be bringing, a lot

of confidence to the table. He played excellent in the first round

encounter. Stuart Bingham has been struggling a bit, because he has won

the World Championship, and he, Steve Davis said a bit more

expectation. But even though he struggled against Ding Junhui,

certainly if you can struggle and win, Denis, if they take the

positives out of that. It would be nice to start with a plant, wouldn't

it. Once again it is amazing when you

take a plant like that on you forget about the cue ball. A number of

times you don't finish on the colour.

This is delicate. It mean, it is a tough little shot to get round on

the yellow. It can be a bit twitchy those shots,

rolling up behind the baulk colours. It's a good position to put Stuart

in. There is reds either side of the pack, he can't come off the cushion

and nestle in, he can't play for the one tight on the cushion because he

would leaf the one near the black, he will be need to be careful here.

Leave. Can he see enough of that side

cushion to come off it and into the bunch? Another side on that, I don't

know that is going to reach. REFEREE: Foul and a miss. John

Higgins four. John will have a look to see if

there is anything available. There might be a long straight red up into

the corner pocket, past the pink. He hit that poorly. Didn't miss many

of those against Liang Wenbo. He played very well in that match.

Three century, could have had a fourth but it was a nervous one. He

is bound to feel nervous, both player, they will get a few decent

pots. He played is in such way, he is a clever player, one of the

cleverest you will see. He wasn't leaving much. Nothing for Stuart to

go at. Just a safety shot. He has to find the gap here, to get

back down the table. He did find the gap. Hit it a little bit on the

thick side. There is a red coming over near the corner pocket.

He can get on to the black. I don't think it is dead straight.

APPLAUSE. So what a great opportunity for Stuart, he has a lot

of support here, he is from Basildon, only about an hour from

the venue. I know he had about 100 supporters came along for his first

match. Very popular player, is Stuart. A

terrific guy as well. Look at the reds here.

The way they are spread. Just got to be try and keep that cue ball on a

string. He is normally very proficient when

he gets in round the pink and black spot. Very heavy scorer. Almost had

a maximum, in his first match. Missed the yellow on 120. This is

where he is best at. He has a nice pace round the table. He is

confident. He is always on top form. One of the best players round the

pink and black spot, that's for sure.

And just as I say that... The commentator's curse comes into

effect. He wasn't expecting that one Denis. Well, I mean that is the the

easiest of pots he has just missed there. That will sap his confidence

somewhat, especially if John Higgins scores heavily here.

Because Stuart, I mean, he said himself, against Ding he almost made

a maximum, a couple of frames later he couldn't pot a ball. With Stuart

this season, being World Champion, he is trying probably too hard, you

know. He is is a great ambassador for the game,

you just sometimes try that little bit too hard, and it is amazing what

can be missed. He played that right into an area.

He had a chance of dropping on three reds.

So he didn't play specifically for one red there.

That wasn't the best shot in the world. OK. Still pretty

straightforward you would say, but this cue ball could have been a lot

closer to this red. In fact I think he was playing the red below the

pink to the right into the left hand corner pocket. A it bit of tension

in his arm. John was saying this table is

playing beautifully. Like all the players -- I think all the players

would agree with that. The amount of century breaks that have been made

and six centuries in that match this afternoon. Best of 11. That was some

going. I think the only time anything like that was, was Stephen

Hendry with you in the UK Championship, he made five centuries

in seven frames. Yes, seven centuries in ten.

UK Championship up in Preston. That was an incredible match this

afternoon, and great to see. Two players playing at the top of their

game, entertaining the crowd. We have had so many great matches

already this week. It is going to be another good one

tonight. Just having a look at score. Just

doing up the calculation, he is 17 points ahead. Head. 24 will be the

black. He will need another three reds and colours to secure this

frame. You can see him glancing at score.

He is working out the situation in his head, which this red and the

black, and then possibly his next choice will be the the red that is

on the right hand cushion. Maybe this red on the top cushion here.

Just away from the cushion, but it shouldn't be a problem. I say

shouldn't be a problem. What a miss. So we have seen a few very easy

misses, that was pretty straightforward, because the missed,

the cushion has been clinging to it. But he hit that very poorly there.

Can't play for that red that is closest to his hand there. Not from

this position. So it is not straightforward by any

means. It goes up into the green pocket as

well, into the right center, but he is taking it up into the green

pocket. That is all the way, good shot.

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE. It looks to be straight on this

blue. Has he got an angle. Almost dead straight. That is is a

bit unlucky. Any sort of angle, he could screw

back to the red. It is closest to the cue ball. The other way, he

could have got closer to the one down the bottom right hand corner

pocket. In an ideal world if he could get

the white. I have two whites on the table, anywhere near those as long

as he is not dead straight. He would be perfect to drop in behind that

red. Wants to miss the red.

And he has just, just about OK. Although he has knocked the red

nearer the cushion, so you would normally screw up for the blue, from

this position. To give yourself a chance to get on to the yellow.

Oh, he is just about OK. Straight off, he screws it back a couple of

feet. He has a great chance of taking this opening frame now.

He should never have had this chance, really. I mean, that was a

surprising miss from John Higgins. It really was.

Here, he wanted to drop it in and stay on the black. Always missable.

He cued that in nicely. That was very nicely cued indeed.

He has to be careful with this green, he doesn't want to overscrew

it. Played it well. Just glancing at the

score board. So he needs brown, blue and pink.

That looks about perfect. If it pulls up. Very fast this table,

isn't it Denis. It looked like it was going to stay below on blue. He

will have to take it mid range pink here.

So just the pink needed, and this will hurt John Higgins. The frame

was in this bag for him. And Stuart Bingham, he will pot the

black as well. It doesn't really matter about the black. He will be

absolutely delighted. That is a big confidence boost for the World

Champion,s John Higgins let him off the hook there and Stuart Bingham

takes the opening frame and leads 1-0.

HAZEL IRVINE: Quite an evasion for the World Champion. He has a lot of

fans in here in the London area, any way, what a strange frame in some

respects because he broke down on 24 with a relatively easy miss. That

could have set the tone tone for the whole evening It wasn't that hard a

shot. That shot, he wouldn't have missed during the World

Championship. That was a glaring error, more so than John Higgins'

error, along the top cushion, you can miss those. And funny how the

vagaries of snooker work, in as much as if John Higgins punishes

completely there, and all of a sudden goes 1-0 up, makes a break in

the next. Stuart Bingham's sitting in his chair thinking it is 23409

working for me. I am missing shots I should never miss. All of a sudden,

slate wiped clean, he forget about the shot. He made a good clearance

and he is 1-0 up and his tail is up. Indeed. From John Higgins' point of

view. It is ten years since he won the second of his two Masters title

and he has come here this year with a realistic chance of getting to a

fifth final and winning a third master title. Setbacks like that

don't phase someone like John, do they? No, and John Higgins can win,

could win a masters in a number of different way, having said that,

after what we saw this afternoon, there may only be one way to win

snooker tournaments now, and that is attack, attack, attack. Plenty of

attack in that match, ass you said this afternoon, with six century, 11

frame, that was a world record, I wonder what these guys are going to

give us this evening? APPLAUSE APPLAUSE.

A tap on the table tells us John can't have a go on this red over the

left hand corner pocket. Just covered it.

He has a safety shot but he is just double checking there to make sure

he can make it into a three ball plant. There is every chance the way

they are sitting he might squeeze it into the pocket. It is aiming for

the left as you can see. Let's see if it heads into the pocket.

Yes, well judged. He got a plant in the opening frame.

It is a bit better this time: He does love a plant, doesn't he. He

must do the gardening at home! But, he hadn't got the angle to pot

the brown and leave a red, so this time he is tucked in behind the

green. The first frame after the plant, he was in behind the yellow.

REFEREE: If Stuart comes off the right side cushion and lands in the

red, he could leave the red next to the pink. So, that's not really an

option. He might have to try to land on the two reds. That's near the

black, but even that isn't straight-forward. He could come into

the back of the reds from there. I think that's what he's trying.

He won't be happy with that one. That was an error. OK, it's not an

easy putt, but one you fancy Stuart to knock in here and get nicely on

the black as well. Oh. Well, you could see from the

body language that that ball drifted on the way down the table. Just

watch his cue here and the body language here. Watch it as he's

going up. Yeah. It's drifted off to the left. Has to be careful if he

take this is on he doesn't go into the middle pocket with the right.

Which of the reds is he taking? Away, that's the one that kept him

away from the middle pocket with the cue ball. One good positional shot

and it's not a bad opportunity. We show you that pot again.

Purposefully playing down for the red on the black spot. Get the black

back on its spot. Amazing, players always want to get

the black back on-the-spot straightaway, don't they, Dennis?

All the business is done down this end of the table.

You're looking at one of the greatest break builders in the came,

made 607 centuries. That's some going. -- game. Ronnie O'Sullivan

and Stephen Hendry are the only two players with more centuries than

this man. One good split on the reds here and

he'll have a terrific chance. He will e ready indicate that mistake

he made in the opening frame. Wanted the cue ball down another

couple of inches. He's come dead straight on this black.

Just coming around to see when he pots this red. No. He looks a little

bit nervous tonight, there's no doubt about that, John Higgins.

Under hitting the ball a couple of times. Over hit it a couple of

times. That was a bit more difficult than it should have been that red.

That all came from getting too straight on the previous black.

Close, but not close enough. You've got to be absolutely spot on with

these pockets. But that was a bit of a chance, it has to be said. John

has missed three-balls that he has looked a little bit edgy on.

If you're not comfortable, he has done the best thing there, get up

off the shot and start all over again.

He's got that red up next to the brown, it's available into both

corner pockets also. These four reds, he's looking at the scoreboard

to see how many pots he needs. So he'll play for that red that I

mentioned. Those four reds look to be all

blocking each other. I'm not sure if there's a plant on.

That's probably what he's looking at.

He's had a look at these two reds a couple of times. Looks pretty close.

Close to a plant. Just slightly going to the right hand side of the

pocket there, isn't it? Well, if he's not absolutely sure, he's got

the perfect angle to cannon into them here. We'll find out whether

the plant is on or whether he cannons the pink and red.

Well, does this red pass the pink? That's the question.

He only needs one more red there, you can clearly see, it

doesn't. So he hasn't clinched the frame.

Is he taking a double on here? He might risk it because he can play a

safe at the same time. There's something - he just seems a wee bit

unsettled this evening, John. A couple of times he's got down. Very

unusual. Looks like he's almost a little bit dizzy at times. Not quite

quite sure, there's something irritating I think he him. 'S taking

the double on here. There's something wrong with him. There's

something wrong with him. Definitely doesn't look himself. His eyes look

a little bit heavy, maybe he's got a touch of the flu.

Wow, that was another half chance for Stuart to get back into this

second frame. REFEREE: Thank you.

COMMENTATOR: Not a straight-forward pot, but it was a reasonable chance.

Yeah, if you've got a bit of a head cold, it never really affected me,

Ken, when you were playing because you concentrated a lot harder. You

know, it depends how bad it is. There is maybe nothing wrong with

John, but he just looks a little bit off. Yeah, quite funny. I remember

when Steve Davis won his last Masters crown, back in the

Conference Centre, I think he was 8-6 down to Ronnie O'Sullivan and

beat him 10-8. He was suffering from the flu all week and funnily said -

people have jabs to stop them getting the flu. He said I want a

jab to make me get the flu it makes me play better. John looked like he

was blinking his eyes, a little bit dizzy. Hopefully, it will settle and

he'll be feeling up for it. He'll try and clear the lot here

just to build on his confidence. Well, he needed a couple of chances,

but he won't be bothered. A nice break to get him up and running. One

frame all. If he seems unsettled we are not sure of the reason. I had a

chat with him this morning he seemed fine. What is your impression of how

he's playing in that frame? Struggling a little bit. And, he

turned down a plant to go into the reds and didn't get on one. That

frustrated him a bit. Disappointed with how he started off. Yeah, one

all, early days in the match that's yet to take off. It's not so much

how you start as how you finish. John will know that. Absolutely. We

talked about the in between them, eight wins to two for Higgins. 1999

was Stuart's first and only one of two wins. That was in the Welsh and

the semi-finals of the Premier League in 2012 not a sparkling

record against John. It's one of the questions we bring up, is it

significant? Does it have a bearing at this major status of a big

tournament like that? Well, I think, you know, he over the years John

Higgins has been a great player he has a great record against most

players. You could argue that Stuart Bingham has come of age as a snooker

player, started in the last couple of years himself, I think it's not

necessarily anything that's a problem for Stuart. It's not like

he's a bock player. . Don't think he has a problem with it. John Higgins

is one of the best tactical masters out there. If Stuart Bingham is not

up to that standard perhaps that is an issue. Stuart has shown he's

tactically aware as any player He showed that recently. When he won

the world title after so many years of trying. John, of course, is a

four time winner of that title. He hasn't won the World UK or the

Masters since 2011. How he would love to put that right this year.

COMMENTATOR: Yes he certainly would. It is so tough as the standard this

year has been quite incredible. Every match would make a good final

of any tournament. Now, that's the type of ball that

Stuart Bingham was knocking in when he won his world title in Sheffield.

Well, how unlucky was that is? He played the shot perfectly, he

stunned it rather than screwed it. It looked as if he opened everything

up and they've all sort of covered each other. Now a possibility red

into the left centre or even a cross double. Then he can get back on the

black. He wouldn't be leaving too much if he missed this, taking on

the double I think. Tough shot on the black. He will be

going into the reds as well. Looks good. Again, it has to be

said, very unlucky could have been on something a lot easier,

particular where the cue ball has finished on the side cushion.

-- particularly. Yeah, these are difficult, cutting it back into what

was a blind pocket, you can't see the pocket in your eye line. You're

just using your judgment. He's played it well. Wonderful little

touch on the black as well. Splay played it that way because of the

pace of the cue ball, the way he played it. One good positional shot

here. Look at the way the reds are situated. This will be, dare I say

it, four reds, four blacks. Yeah, I knew I shouldn't have said it! He's

still got a red into the left centre pocket, depending on the angle, he

might be able to get back for the black, if not, might need a little

cannon to leave the pink. I think he was trying to get on the

black there. Now, the blue will be his choice, but he's got to make

sure he misses the yellow to get back up to the reds. Even then, just

looking at them, as Stuart is there, they are all sort of blocking each

other into the right corner pocket. So he's got to not only pot the

blue, negotiate the yellow, but be pinpoint with the cue ball.

He couldn't avoid the yellow. But there's a lot pot into the right

corner. He'll automatically, you would have to say, finish on the

black. -- long. That's the one he initially looked at. He's now

looking at one into the left corner. Just as difficult.

May take this on because he may finish on the yellow if it goes in.

Hasn't got away with it. Sometimes, when you miss those, the ball runs

safe, it hasn't on this occasion. Another chance for Stuart.

Already 39 in front. Every chance here of getting another frame.

Yes, the type of shot you try to concentrate on the blue. If he's

going to take the blue on, he may take brown or green on as well.

Those are the type of shots, aren't they Dennis, you cut them into the

right centre and you've got to concentrate on the pot because you'd

think you'd have to be on one of these reds here.

Cued that in nicely off the side cushion. Never easy. Yeah, you can

only just hit the top of the cue ball when it's tight on the cushion.

We've seen players miscue with that type of shot.

A little bit low on this black. He may have to go into those four reds

now to try and hold the cue ball down here. This could go wrong. Just

got to be careful, a shake of the head, he's not too happy. Yeah, he's

not in a good position to get on the loose reds, which leg would do

because he's 51 in front, but the position the cue ball has finished

in has given him a slight problem here. Didn't risk the cannon, just

played for the loose red. Is he on it? That's the question? I'm not

sure. He might not have a pot here. Isn't it strange the way the mind

can sometimes work. If he's 51 behind he would have no hesitation

of potting that black and going into these four reds. He's just to build

on this red. Good pot. Look as bit straight on the black. May have to

take the pink into the left is there.

Now, you see, 65 ahead. He just needs red and any colour to secure

this third frame. Then he'll know that he'll be going to the

mid-session interval, certainly not behind and every chance he could be

3-1 in front. He certainly looks a lot more

confident than he did against Ding Junhui.

Yes. Ding was very poor against Stuart. I don't know what has

happened to Ding. He's been changing cues. His original one was a bit

Brittal at the end. -- Brittle at the end. He still had to beat him.

It doesn't matter now that he's ran out of position here. John will stay

in his seat. Might just be able to cut this back into the corner.

Well, as I say, it doesn't really matter about missing the blue, John

does stay in his seat. So the World Champion takes this third frame

heaven leads by 2-1. The story of a thin cut red to keep that break

going. That was the story of frame three? He had to play three good

shots in a row, the double then the cut back black then left with that

shot missable under pressure. Excellent recovery and knocked the

black into play. He looks sharp all of a sudden and will be delighted

with his play. When of a sudden and will be delighted

Crucible last year he never got past the quarter-finals in 20 years of

trying and came through and won the world title thchl is a different

atmosphere. You would think as a World Champion he would feel

instantly comfortable. Would that not be the case early on, Steve,

from his point of view? Well, it could be the fact that straight from

round one you are in a one table setup. That is not the case in the

Crucible. If I try to work out why I personally didn't feel I had a great

record at the Masters at the Conference Centre I couldn't put my

finger on what was. I used to think the atmosphere wasn't the same as

other venues. This is more like a venues muches you could argue this

is more nerve-wracking. Also the presence of Ronnie O'Sullivan in the

draw this time. As we look at this they are going into frame four, the

last before their interval. As promised we are leaving you on BBC

Two right now. We are already streaming this match on all of your

connected devices via the BBC Sport website and of course on the Red

Button you can continue to watch it live or if you have a Friday night

date elsewhere we won't hold it against, you will we? I will be back

at 11.05pm to see how it turns out then. That's it from the action from

the last of our quarter-finals here at Alexandra Palace from Steve and

me and the team, have a very Good Friday night and I hope to catch you

at 11.05pm. Bye, bye for now. -- good.