First Round: John Higgins v Mark Allen Masters Snooker

Good afternoon. Since 1975, the Masters has been producing some

unforgettable moments from Kirk Stevens's white suited 147, two Mark

Williams's triumph over Stephen Hendry, to Ken Doherty's black for a

maximum, to Paul Hunter's wrote back to the wall comebacks. And just when

you thought it couldn't get better, came the first day of this year 's

DAFABET Masters. No few sharp intakes of breath, all in pursuit of

this little beauty. Away we go for what should be a

fascinating week of snooker. He thought he would have a go at

that, but surely that was the wrong choice of shot.

What a chance this is. A little bit of pressure on it, as you can

imagine. No! Can you believe it?

Ronnie thought he was out, the anger Wenbo, how did he miss putting the

black in? We have a deciding frame. That's probably the best part of

this match so far. You can't take it away from the

defending champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan. And he goes through to

the next round, beating Liang Wenbo 6-5.

Slow down, slow down, slow down, cue ball. Slow down, slow down.

He's playing it to the left middle. Get in, you beauty. I'm lucky. Ding

Junhui will be very disappointed. -- unlucky.

Watched the right middle pocket. Watch the right middle pocket. Oh!

In goes black. Sheik of the hand. He moves into the second round. He

beats Kyren Wilson 6-3. Wenbo's twitch on the black that

would have given him between will be seared in his memory. O Sullivan's

and instinct kicked in after that after that emphatic century to win

the decider 6-5. After Ding's near miss, he finished the job 6-3,

despite admirable resistance from Kyren Wilson. Would you believe that

it was Ding's first victory ever at Alexandra Palace, and his first

victory since lifting the trophy at Wembley Arena in 2011.

You have seen a lot in this tournament, but as opening days ago,

that was pretty close to the top, wasn't it?

It certainly was. When we look at the situation, you could argue it

being unfair on Liang Wenbo, but we had an emergency board meeting last

night. The black has been officially upgraded to a twitch. And who would

miss a final black Rose! No names on that one. Ronnie felt

sorry for him, clearly. John, does it go down as one of the most

infamous misses in the sport? Honestly, he must have got to sleep

last night and thought it was a nightmare. But he has woken up this

morning and it is not a nightmare. On these tables, when you play these

shots, you can't hit the near one. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a

twitch. For Ding Junhui, he could have been

the first man to make two maximums in the first round. I think it was a

12th red to get position on the black. He was scrapping a long way

to get it going. This was a brilliant shot.

He went around the table. It was a break where you think to yourself,

no, he is not going to do it, then yes, he is going to do it. He just

lost position. We saw earlier, he had three foot to play the cue ball,

I thought he would get the maximum. A theatrical start at Alexandra

Palace in London. Let's see what Masters Monday brings for us. It

features two men that have already made maximums this season, the world

number three John Higgins, and become bitter, fiery Mark Allen, who

made his first at the UK Championship a few weeks. Despite

the fact that Higgins at having a fabulous season with two big

back-to-back wins and a runner up spot at the recent Scottish open

before Christmas, he is only just ahead in the head-to-head series.

7-6, and despite beating the Antrim man twice already this season, Allen

has knocked the Scott out of the Masters on two previous occasions

they have met. It was at this last 16 stage. Higgins understandably

wary in his pursuit of yet another triple Crown triumph.

I would dearly love to do well here. I would love to get through the

weekend. I have not done that for a fuel year 's. It would be great to

get through the weekend, and see what happens. Obviously, there is a

long way to go, and Mark is such a tough competitor to play against. I

have do enjoy it and see where it takes me.

John is a two-time winner of the Masters. Finding form in the last

three months, but his record in this event has been strangely

inconsistent. That is something you can possibly identify with.

I think this is his own individual event that comes out of the blue.

I don't think the track record during the season counts as much.

There might be some players who are better placed to come straight into

a big arena and play great straightaway, and others need to

ease into it. Maybe we are trying to read into it too much.

Three titles here, a lot of people said you should have had more

success in this one over the years. Everyone is on offer in the first

round, anybody can beat anybody. John Higgins tends to like this then

you better than he did when the arena.

He did not have a good record there, he didn't like the venue very much.

When he went to the Crucible first time, he did not like that either,

but he likes it more that he has won their more times. Mark Allen lost

position in a couple of frames against him last time, and John got

out of it. But this will be close. Mark loves this event. A decent

record, twice a semifinalist, only once going out in the opening round.

Why does it right in this atmosphere?

He is a big occasion player. He likes being the centre of attention.

As ever in the Masters, they have a stage for themselves. That is one of

the beautiful thing about this event. It feels like a final in

every session. Normal service is resumed, the best MC in the business

of Rob Walker is back, take it away. Happy 2017 to you.

Same to you, Hazel. I am delighted to be back at one of snooker's top

tournament. What a great start yesterday here at the DAFABET

Masters, Ronnie being taken all the way, and being going close to the

maximum. We are set for another afternoon of entertainment here at

the magnificent Alexandra Palace -- Ding. APPLAUSE

Please welcome one of the most exciting break-builders in the

modern game. Winning last year 's grand final, semis at the Masters

two years ago, making the last four in the Champion of champions earlier

in the season, the pride of Northern Ireland, here comes Mark The Pistol

Allen. And His Opponent, A Player That Has

Returned To His Very Best Form In The Last Few Months, Winning The

China Championship And The Champion Of Champions In November, Runner Up

In The Scottish Open Just Before Christmas Centres By, Twice Winner

Of The Masters, The Wizard Of Wishaw John Higgins. APPLAUSE

HAZEL IRVINE: Another 11 frame up this afternoon, we will be in the

company of Stephen Hendry and John Virgo. Good afternoon.

COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon, everybody. Good afternoon, Hazel.

This, to me, when the draw was made, was always going to be one of...

REFEREE: Can we have the commentary off, please.

COMMENTATOR: Sorry, guys. REFEREE: Paul, can you ring the

office? We are still hearing the commentary.

COMMENTATOR: We just had a slight problem there with the commentary

feed coming out into the audience, we don't want to put the players. I

was going to say, when the draw was made, this was one of the matches of

the first round, for me. Yeah, this has got all the

ingredients to be a 6-4 or a 6-5. If a player could win 6-1, it would be

John Higgins, with the form he is showing.

But I think it will be close. You can see the virtual reality

view, no path back to baulk, he has to come off the side cushion. No

room to run. REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

Not able to see John Higgins leaving a chance. He just needs a little bit

more pace into the cue ball. Just about missed the pink, but

touching Ball has been declared by our referee, so a nice, easy return

to ball for Mark Allen. This shot, I would be surprised if

he played the snooker here, Mark Allen. You can see where the reds

are, you can never gain an advantage with that. I would prefer to put the

ball into the jaws of the green pocket, and forced John into playing

a safety. Every chance of catching one thick there. You wouldn't expect

to make a mistake here, and he hasn't done. Excellent shot.

That's what John Higgins will do to you.

Absolutely. That's a wonderful safety shot. Now all of a sudden,

Mark Allen has got a problem. Didn't catch it quite right, but

doesn't appear to have left anything easy.

You have, as Steve Davis alluded to in the pre-match chat, there are no

easy games, these are the top 16 players in the world. From round

one, one-table situation, big crowd, always a great atmosphere.

And it's really settled in at the Alexandra Palace. When we first

started at the Wembley conference Centre, you thought, that couldn't

be matched, but this has certainly, well, the Masters has found a new

home, no doubt about that. This is a poor shot from John

Higgins. I thought he might have been tended to play a figure contact

of the bunch there, try to open them up a little bit. It is unforgivable

to kiss the yellow, really. This looks a good cue ball from Mark

Allen. The black becoming more and more

locked up. Just a fraction too hard. The idea

there was to try to stop the opponent playing safe down the

right-hand side of the table as we look, but he's not done that, as you

can see. Well, John has now stopped that

escape down the right-hand side, and it is a little bit congested on the

left-hand side. You have to catch the red very thin to get a return to

baulk. Just letting the REFEREE: Have a look, which suggests to me

that he is going to play this very thin safety, and it's got to be

thin. Couldn't have played it better, good

shot. REFEREE: Foul.

Better of rattling it in-off the jaws and staying this end.

It was one of those, like Mark Allen played previously, had to be caught

very thing, but as I say, fortunate for going off.

A little bit thick, but nothing really left.

Court that too fin. Where is the cue ball going? -- Finn thin.

Now, this time, John has sent one over to the corner. Does the blue,

to his rescue? It doesn't, so first chance of a pot.

Stopping short of the baulk line, will he be on a colour? Just

stopping in time. He is on the green.

The couple of roads above the black spot, if you bring the cue ball

down, you have a choice of those to the right. He will have to play the

one closest to the black spot. He needs the cue ball to stop again.

Yes, that's perfect. I noticed yesterday, Stephen, these

clocks are playing very, very quick. In a way, it is an advantage to have

the first chance. It gives you a chance to get used to

the pace of the table. A slippery, fast table suits Mark

Allen's game. The way he plays snooker, a very compact cue action.

Oh, he's missed that pink. He won't be happy about that. Very

surprising. He maybe took his eye off the pot.

Watching the cannon on the red. I know it's early in the first frame,

but these players, you don't expect them to take time to warm up.

He got the cannon, but didn't catch the red full enough, so he will only

get one point from that mistake. REFEREE: Yellow ball.

Just got to be a little bit wary when playing across the double here,

that you don't catch it to click and get a double-kiss.

No, he played it well. If it runs and the green covers the escape

route down the right side of the table, it is very good. But not

quite hard enough. Now, can he get past the green to

play safe down the right-hand side of the table? I'm not certain he

can. That's looking down the left side of the table. I just wonder

whether he can get past the green to hit one of the reds around the pink

spot area. If he can't, well, he can't, obviously. He's coming off

the side cushion. And not touching, which is

important. If it was touching, it would be straightforward safety.

Just not touching either red. Too thick on the safety. But of

course, we have had too much safety now, the reds are clustered

together. The Blackett out of commission. The pink is out of

commission. The portable red is now covered by the blue. -- pottable.

I think it was John's intention to bring the black back into play. He

has a good cue ball, don't get me wrong. He would have liked to have

released the black. Now, then. We'll John Higgins be

tempted. There is a red two up from the black, which is cut able. No. It

is too whiskey. -- risky. Playing the double. Oh, and not far

away. Noted, Stephen, as one of the best Doublers in the game.

Yes, one of the best I have seen. Well, that was half the chance.

That's why, of course, players don't like playing the double. If you hit

the wrong jaw comic you can leave a pot on, which it did. But Mark

couldn't take advantage of it. Well, as you can see, this would be

a very good pot, this. Only half the pocket is available.

Couldn't have played it better. What a good shot that was.

Well, there is obviously one to the left of the black that would go. He

would like the one to the right of the black to be pottable.

Yeah, it really helps a positional side of the shot if both reds go.

Didn't play to have the cue ball anywhere near to the yellow. He's

OK. Always got to be careful with this

type of shot. Don't take your eye off the pot. He's not certain to be

on a red. O'Connell well, that's a bonus. The

black now goes on the pink spot. He will settle for that. -- own, well.

This is the red he intended to be on, so he's played it. He's got that

read nicely in the open on the black spot, but still a lot of work to do.

Only one loose red to play for. -- he's got that red.

Certainly reinvented himself this season, hasn't he, Stephen, John?

Yeah, that six-week or two-month period before Christmas was

incredible run of form, with those two Invitational events

back-to-back, and getting to the final of the Scottish open. It was a

disappointing end, losing eight frames in a row against Marco Fu, so

you don't know whether he just ran out of steam or what. Perhaps in the

break over Christmas and the New Year he has recharged the batteries.

Just about stopped in time. I think it has, anyway. Yeah, his

performance in the Champion of champions where he beat Ronnie

O'Sullivan from 7-7, the last three frames was vintage John Higgins.

A bit fortunate to be on this red. That's not as he played it. To get

the second kiss was a bonus. There is a lot of things can go wrong on a

snooker table so when you have a bit of luck, take full advantage.

66 points he needs to get to, so another 26 from here, but easier

said than done. Considering where the balls were,

that was an excellent 46 break. Striking down, as he was, you could

see the cue flick up in the air, but he's not left anything.

Might have taken the risk of going for that there to the left hand side

of the pocket. The cue ball down towards the black. It wasn't going

to leave anything. APPLAUSE.

Well, it's OK, but if he's left a path to the red on the left hand

side, which he has, problem for John to get the cue ball back to the

baulk end. I don't think Mark minds John seeing this red, it means he

gets it away from the cushion, being 34 behind. He could be in trouble.

Big target behind brown and green. A bit surprised the way John played

that. I think he didn't really want to bring it away from the cushion.

He thought, if I'm bringing it away, I'll try and knock it and tie it up

with the other reds. He was never going to gain any great advantage

playing it like that. But one of the best tacticians in

the game, John Higgins, so I don't like to question his shot choice.

Yes, I'm certainly not going to question anyone in the tactical

department. But he won't be happy with that one. A choice of reds here

to either corner. On to the left is possibly the easier pot but where is

the cue ball going? Looks certain to run into one of the reds near the

top cushion so you'd be trusting him to look for the position. This the

more difficult pot. A bit edgy in this round to me Mark

Allen. Three pots now by quite a distance.

Somebody is taking their seat. I thought they had stewards on the

door stopping people coming in in the middle of a frame.

APPLAUSE. He's going to be on the blue.

Quite easy to get into the cue ball too much there and cannon the brown.

Great chance to win the opening frame. Yes. Two reds and two colours

would be enough. This red and one more colour would

need his opponent needing snookers because after this, there's only 51

remaining. So this black to go 54 points in the lead. With 51 left.

Quick glance at the score board. At the moment, only one snooker

required. And John Higgins may have got that snooker himself. OK easy to

hit but it will certainly encourage Mark Allen to play on here.

Very important there, he didn't leave Mark Allen a pot. He'll be a

wee bit annoyed that he hasn't finished this frame off. This frame

could go on for another 15-20 minutes now. It's already

approaching the half hour mark. I would like to have a little birth

bet though that this is going to be the longest frame of the match. I

expect both players to pick it up. They're both scorers when they get

in. It's a typical first frame. As you say, he'll be a little

annoyed because he should have been on the red that kept his opponent in

his seat. Snooker quite easy to hit but he doesn't really want to leave

a pot on. And he has done. So that will encourage Mark now to at least

pot two of the reds with blacks. A bit annoyed there. He wanted to

catch that thinner. Is he going to play the pot here? I

think he's going to send the red around the table. Played the pot. A

decent one. Those baulk colours are in good positions.

What you would try to do if you could is get the cue ball tight in

behind one of these baulk colours. Not bad. .

A little bit of room around this red. He had the one cushion escape.

At this level, if you leave the one cushion escape, you don't expect

your opponent to miss. Now, can he get enough bite in this cue ball to

stun the cue ball behind the brown? The red could career into the green

if he played that. If he tries to stun behind the green, good cueing

needed. He's trying to drop in behind it. He's played it pretty

well. The fact that John Higgins is

getting down quickly, the one cushion escape is on.

That's a bonus. He's got the snooker back.

It's easy to hit - needs to get it safe. Well, said easy to hit. That's

careless. He's hit the black, probably left a free ball, touches

the white, concedes. So it was a long, drawn out affair. And a little

bit of tension, you could see, in Mark Allen, but John Higgins won't

mind, he's got the first frame on the score board. 1-0.

32 minutes opening frame. Cagey stuff. John through in the end.

One of the best match-players in game and he always plays the right

shots and generally plays to a very high standard which is why he's won

the matches that he has over his career. A bit of a renaissance in

his career, played brilliant this season and, as ever, he's a match

for anybody. A proper renaissance. World number three, up from six at

the start of the season, the highest ranking since winning the title back

in 2011, that's season 2011-12. A couple of dips along the way, but

the longevity of the man is striking? Especially as you think as

you get older you don't handle the pressure matches as well. It's a

tightrope walk out there and these match tables are incredibly tricky

to play on, slippery as well. Watching the likes of John, he knows

how to cope with these types of tables. Even though he's supposed to

have a long back swing, a long pull back far longer than Mark Allen's

which is short and sharp and works well on these tables, I spotted that

John Higgins has his bridge hand close. The closer you have your

hand, that means you stop yourself pulling the cue back so far and you

could have a shorter back swing which is more controllable on the

faster cloths. OK. Technical tips. Now it's frame

two! Good tip that from Steve. Didn't

really help Mark Allen in that first frame. Stephen mentioned that he's

good on a quick table in and around the pink and black spot area. But he

missed that during that frame which probably knocked his confidence a

bit. I'm sure he'll put that behind him now.

When we talk about this super fine cloths, I can only equate it to

playing this in the middle. Not quite. I was just going to say, I

can only equate it to playing golf. I remember once playing in Dubai and

the greens were so fast and you feel when you're putting you're sort of

half quitting on the shot just to keep control of it.

I wonder if John will risk the cannon here.

Good, solid pot. But now he's got the problem of covering that red

that's over the left corner. Talking about the cloths again, if

you put this in a club, it would last a week. They are so super fine

and slippery but they lose their edge after just a few days' play.

They're not economical. Not compared with the cloths in the

Snooker Club, and I'm not having a go because they have to last six,

nine months. They've gone for a rerack immediately. A good idea

really. Didn't look as though there was going to be a sudden end to

that. Steve was talking about the cue action of Mark Allen and he's

right, a little jabby sort of action. But as we saw in the first

frame, he was in, first one in, and he had this pink to the middle and

just watch his cue action, a little short. Brings it back. And then

pushes it through. But to miss that and that would have been really a

knock to his confidence. If we get a Hans to see John Higgin's action,

it's pretty similar. Most of the top players these days, the tip of the

cue comes back to virtually between their thumb. Their thumb and

forefinger. So it's not a common cue action these days, Mark Allen's.

It's very effective when he gets going.

A tap on the table from John Higgins.

Going to play the snooker with pace. He is. Caught the blue. Couldn't

have played it much better. Can Mark have a two at the red and avoid the

kiss on the black? He could. Now, the cue ball needs to

run in and out of the baulk, needs to miss the green. He could have a

cut on the brown. Obviously an easy snooker but I don't think he's going

to get much advantage from that. Obviously he doesn't fancy the

brown. He's covered the left hand side

escape. But... What did he say, rerack? !

LAUGHTER. There was never really any danger of

John leaving him anything. Yes. A better shot would have been putting

the cue ball on the baulk cushion somewhere. He was never going to

gain advantage from that shot. It's difficult. It would have been

easier from where he was a second ago.

You can see the edge of the red on the left hand side of the table. But

you have to be careful, if you catch it too thick you could not go

towards the corner. Played it nicely but he may have

left a pot on. Just run far enough...

The applause was justified from the audience. Doesn't want the double

kiss. Got the double kiss. Choice of pink or black. Pink is an

easier pot and position. Excellent opportunity. I don't know

whether he feels the need to go into them.

Because there is a red on the right hand side of the table. That's the

one he's going to play for. He's got 39. He needs another 30 points. Then

the frame will be safe. But to do that, although there is still one

more loose red available, he's going to have to disturb that cluster at

some time to win the frame at this visit.

John Higgins' head visibly shakes. A couple of players, like Mark Selby,

there's a bit of movement there too. Gone into them and it couldn't have

worked out better. Surely he'll win the frame now.

APPLAUSE. One of the best scores a game of

snooker has ever seen if he gets in amongst that black ball and plays

the right shot. Knows exactly when the right time is

to go into the bunch. 656 century breaks he's made in his

career, third on the all-time list. I looked at the score board there. I

don't know why he's on 87. There was an air of inevitability

about this when John did get that chance.

Well played. Fifth century of the Masters so far, and this is only the

third match. APPLAUSE.

Good shot needed to get a position on the yellow. Needs to miss the

pink. Didn't quite. What do they call 111 at cricket - Nelson.

APPLAUSE. Well, that was a tremendous break

and John Higgins proved it once again, that he can score as well as

anyone when he gets in the balls and he now leads 2-0.

There was an incident in that frame where Mark Allen potted the first

red, Stephen and he had a choice, he had a thin brown, decided to play

the snooker behind the blue and you have a thought about this? To me,

this is lazy. To roll up behind the green is just gaining no advantage

whatsoever. We have seen a shot forward, John Higgins came off the

left side cushion and went into the bunch, then Mark Allen had to find

the baulk cushion off the next shot, whereas here if he doesn't want to

take the brown which I agree on the on the corner there, leave the cue

ball tight, force John to play into the bunch and open things up. To me

this was just a nothing shot. And also, because I didn't think about

it at the time, but why is he trying to cover the left hand side of the

table? It's the right hand side of the table he should have been

covering because he's two loose reds on the cluster which John could have

left, put his arm up and said thank you to the crowd but didn't gain any

advantage. Only had one more shot after that.

Well, that's a terrific pot. And having lost the first two frames, he

needs to, for his own self-confidence, take full advantage

of that to reflect opening red. -- that terrific opening red.

Yeah, that was a fabulous shot. He controlled that little cannon well

as well. I think he's got just enough angle

on the black to force the cue ball to the red in the same pocket.

A little shake of the head there when he got position on the black.

Deep screw, bit of right-hand side, nicely on this red.

But just misjudged the kiss off the second red. OK, he is still on the

black, but a bit thinner than he would have liked.

The three red Star victory in a line above the black, he would like to

cannon into the side of those three. That would hold the cue ball in the

centre of the table. He has done. He could have done with a wee bit more

pace, though. It is the red he wanted to play on, but he could have

hit it a wee bit harder. I think that's end of break. A possibility

of maybe piling the plant -- playing the plant to the left corner.

Those two reds to the left-hand side of the table. He can play it as a

shot to nothing. He doesn't appear to have looked at

that possibility. He just had a little sly look there.

He just cocked his head to one side. If he is going to play safe, I know

they are not in line, but if you play safe of the red, well, he is

playing this to the far right corner pocket.

Is it there? Not quite, but he's obviously played it in such a way

that he does not leave anything. Having said that, I think there is a

possibility of red to the white middle here, and if there is, that

was a very risky pot to go for. I think what John putts site remiss

is where the cue ball will screw back. He maybe we'll have to come

off the condition. He was worried about that, losing

the cue ball. Yeah, and it was one of those, if

you play it with too much pace, it makes the pot that much more

difficult. But he is still on this black.

Oh, but not quite. So, a second opportunity for Mark

Allen to get his first frame on the scoreboard. Nothing settles you

better than that. That's not a bad little nudge on the

red. All these nice positions, if you

come the wrong side of the blue, you have the red at baulk end. He will

be a little bit disappointed if he doesn't win the frame at this visit.

The reason he's looking at a baulk colour is, he feels that if he plays

the blue, he has two played a cannon. And he doesn't really want

to risk a cannon. It could go wrong. Unless he can pop one to this right

corner, it is not inch perfect. Well, he's obviously just about on

it, no problem. That equates, 52 ahead, 83

remaining, a couple of reds, a couple of colours. He is past the

snooker is required stage. -- -- snookers required stage. Red,

Lou, red needed. But needed two chances, Stephen. It was a risky red

that he played to the far right corner.

Yeah, if John had got on the black properly, or potted the black, he'd

have been mopping these up. -- red, blue, red.

Good snooker term, "Mopping these up"! That should be the

frame-winner. And now the black goes in. No way

that John Higgins will be getting back to the table. He will be

mightily relieved, Mark Allen. He has his first frame on the

scoreboard. He will feel a lot better now. That

opening red at the start of the frame will have given him a huge

confidence boost. Well, it didn't really matter. He

will be pleased to get his first frame on the scoreboard. John

Higgins had a chance, missed the black on the spot. Mark Allen did

the rest. 2-1, John Higgins. John, as you said, that first frame

of 32 minutes, we don't expect too many frames or buy a -- frames like

that in this match. Well, decent break-off shot. Any

time you don't leave a pot on nowadays, you consider it a good

break-off shot. Now, can John just get past the blue to play a thin

edge on this red? It would have to be mightily thin.

The shadows, so he can just hit the red. He has got to catch it thin

now. Not that thin. REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

I don't think it will be taken here, because there is a red to the right

corner. It is on for Mark Allen. Similar situation to John Higgins

playing a similar red with a cannon. Mark Allen, he has to play top half

black ball, but he hasn't got the pink to the middle.

Again, another good, long pot. He can certainly pot the pink, I

think he is just wondering where the pink will go after it has been

ported. Long pot success, but four out of six four Mark Allen. John

Higgins, one out of one. This time, it looks like he has come

pretty straight on the blue. It is not ideal. Right online.

Trying to pinch a bit of the pocket. You have got to say, a schoolboy

error, that. We could see along the line, it was going to be very

difficult to pinch a bit of the pocket. Never sacrificed the pot for

position. Pink obviously available into the

right corner. He just overran it slightly.

No problem. Good pot. Played the cannon well.

Little bit tricky, this black. But he will play it in such a way that

these are miss- able. It looked as if it just drifted up slightly.

The thing is, playing it at that pace, it could run over a finger

mark, a bit of tour, but it definitely looked as though it

pulled to the left. -- a bit of chalk. That is a let off

for Mark Allen. Can he make this Holmes to the left Middle?

-- this red to the left middle. A traffic opportunity to go into the

mid-session interval all square -- terrific. Some of the mistakes he

has made, I would suggest he would feel the better of the two players,

Stephen. Yeah, without a doubt.

When you find yourself 2-0 down in a match when there is an interval

after the fourth frame, you kind of thing 3-1 down is a decent was. 2-2

is a bonus. -- decent result. A quick glance at the scoreboard.

Maybe three of the remaining reds, depending what colours he gets on.

But he's overhit that. Played for the pink, but well, he's still on

the pink, but it's a lot more difficult than it should have been.

But right in the heart of the pocket, and a nice, traditional

shot. He's now looking for red, colour, red, to go in level at the

mid-session interval. So this red to go 49 point ahead

with only 43 remaining. No way that John Higgins will come

back to the table. John Higgins will be disappointed here. He's had

chances to stamp his authority on this. But they are going to go in

all square. John Higgins concedes. He will be disappointed. Mark Allen

will be absolutely delighted. He's made mistakes, but he is all square

at the mid-session interval, to live in two. HAZEL IRVINE:. A couple of

instances in the last round, with his cue action, we talked about the

contrasting cue action of them, how did it manifest itself?

Like Stephen said in commentary, I am not saying he can't play power

shots, but this is the disadvantage of having a short, it Japanese cue

action. A little bit pokey, really. This one, not much angle on this. I

understand what he's trying to do. Sometimes you have to put power in

at it can affect you. He will be delighted to get out to two after

those were stakes. It doesn't happen often.

Your view so far, Steve? There is always tension in the

match, perhaps both players haven't settled down. That is the nice thing

about best of 11, it gives people a chance, especially when you are

thrown in at the deep end, especially when you're first round

opponent is tough. When John looks at the record, it is

not something you actively look at before you play a match, but he will

be aware that Mark has turned him over a couple of times in this

arena. Is there a cagey Ness? Is eventually give you respect for

your opponent. You have the cream of the crop, and when the draw came

out, both of them would have gone, oh, no.

In my experience playing this event, as a separate event to the main tour

as much as the ranking events, coming in here to play a first round

opponent who is decent, I very rarely settled down that quickly.

Then you can be on the back foot for the rest of the match.

We saw what happened with Ronnie coming back yesterday and putting

the defending champion out, it is a tough ask the John Higgins today,

but it has been intriguing and interesting. In the last few months,

John Higgins, what a resurgence. Two back to back big wins and a

runner-up in the Scottish open, banking ?300,000 over the last 2.5

months. Christmas must have been good in the Higgins household.

Surging back up to world number three in the rankings. John Higgins

at the age of 41 is very definitely on the rise again. A fellow better

in old boy, pardon the expression, Ken Doherty had a big discussion

with him yesterday in our big interview.

We are at the Masters, a great tournament got 23 appearances this

year, winning twice, but in the mix you have had a lot of first round

defeat as well, so a bit of a hot and cold tournament for you.

It is too soon after Christmas. Too much turkey!

You know it is tough to get back into it. But I have lost 11 times in

the first round. I have never really settled at the Masters. Winning it a

couple of times and going to a couple of finals, but apart from

that, the record is not that great. Did you prefer the conference

centre? You had more success there. You won it twice in the conference

and. I feel better here. The conference

centre is such a fast arena. You can get lost quite easily. You can go

into your shell a little bit. Wembley Arena is pretty soulless,

such a big arena, but here, I like this event. I like this arena

better. Conference centre was special, but I feel a little bit war

at home here. It has created its own home now. At

Alexandra Palace, the crowds have been fantastic. It is a wonderful

atmosphere. It is great. The darts is played

here, and they get great crowd in. We get the tail end of that. Snooker

is maybe coming up, and that is why the crowds are so good.

Your best moment, the final frame decider against Ronnie O'Sullivan

back in 2000? My best moment was beating you.

I did want to say that, but I didn't want it coming from me.

1998, winning the Masters for the first time, it was a great

achievement. But then, obviously, winning the second time, that was

the last time it was at the conference centre. Beating Ronnie, I

lost a couple of heavy finals to Ronnie. I managed to clear up.

Is that one of the best ever clearances of your career?

I think that was special. The nerves and everything, and the atmosphere

of the crowd. Particularly the first round, that

first round never looked like it would drop, did it?

I don't know what happened, someone must have opened a door. I have

watched it back a few times, and I think, there is no way that is going

in. I was going over to shake his hand, because I thought it was never

reaching. And the rest is history. This

season, particularly, has been a revival for you in many ways. You've

had two tournaments on the bounce, then you had your 147 in a

tournament straight after that. You are back to almost like your best,

it would seem. Is that the same as how you feel?

I think it happened two years ago when I played Mark Allen. I played

as well as I can't wait. I lost 6-4 to him in a high-quality game. That

proved something to me, I can still play at a high level. If you keep

that up, you have every chance of doing OK. I have kept my level up in

tournaments, and it has been good enough to win tournaments.

What about this season itself, have you done anything different? Is it

sometimes a bit of confidence, a bit more psychological?

It is confidence. Although this year, winning a couple of big

tournaments, I think it was last year, as I say two years ago,

getting my confidence back. The last two years, it has been a

lot better. Mark Allen is your first round

opponent here, has your Christmas been curtailed a bit, have you had

too much turkey this time around? Will you be ready from the word go

against Mark Allen, because he has always been a tough opponent?

Has, and we have had some good battles. I have not an much

practising. Me and my wife went away for a few days over New Year, and it

was good to get a break to ourselves. I practised for a couple

of days, and I have to try to come in fresh and hopefully carry it on

now from the first half of the season. Never good to mention your

wife's age on ever. People say that. She is 40, but she

looks 20! That is one way of crawling out of a

hole. What about, it is a very special tournament, one of the

majors, you have won it twice, but you want your name engraved once

more? Of course I do. People say the

triple Crown, obviously it would be great to get through the weekend.

I've not done that now for a few years. It would be great to try to

get through to the weekend and see what happens. Obviously, you have a

long way to go, and Mark is a tough competitor to play against. I have

to try to enjoy it and see where it takes a.

HAZEL IRVINE: John mentioned the triple Crown, and how snooker

players measure their careers increasingly in terms of the triple

Crown. John is online, and another would get him into double figures.

Only you, Ronnie and Stephen Hendry are above him. It sparks a debate

for another time about how we classify majors, but in terms of

John's playability, he has an extraordinary record. For you, he

has always been at the top. He is up there with the best of

them. His break-building is outstanding. Every time you play

him, it is an examination. You are given a stern test. You come to the

table, you are in maximum trouble, and every time you play him you know

it will be a horrible afternoon. It is borne out by match statistics.

We have been having a look. These are basically the greatest match

players we have ever seen. Right at the top of the pile, a certain Mr

Davies with 920 wins in his matches. That career was over 150 years, but

he got there in the end! Interestingly when you look at

Ronnie O'Sullivan, his percentage tops everybody, 74%, but he's played

something like 60 tournaments fewer than John and, it just shows you

that he's right up there, only this man to beat. Steve? It's not really.

You can look at the figures in many different ways because my strike

rate wasn't as high as some of the others but I won a lot of matches

over a long period of time. Doing that, when you are possibly not

always playing at your best and there is a better standard around is

very difficult. But I wouldth you would have to say that all you could

say from the stats is, there are a few troopers in the game, John

Higgins is one of them. You can teach a lot of the game. You can

make sure your technique is as good as it can. You can learn and be

taught positional play but what you can't teach is what John Higgins has

which is a total desire on the table and you know every shot he's giving

it everything. That sometimes, temperament or whatever it is, is

something that's a lot harder to grasp. He's maintained this through

two pretty low periods in his career and he mentioned that match here in

2015 against Mark Allen and that was after a period where his confidence

dipped terribly and he'd been Tinkering around with different cues

and suddenly something like that sparks him back into life. It goes

to show it's about your level of performance. He lost that match and

he came back and said at last I can play and compete again, that's as

good as I can play. He lost the match but he came away getting

something from that tournament and since then he's kicked on. That can

also improve your enthusiasm for the game when you go to the practise

table. If you are not getting the results and confirmation that you

are doing well, that chore, that grind of going back to the practise

table which should be fun, can become something that isn't fun. He

made an interesting point about the Masters being so close to Christmas

and that lethargy that you get into. Did you experience that yourselves?

Yes, but what John's got, he's got a lot of match practise recently so

that would hold him in good stead. He played right up to Christmas. Two

or three days of graft, honestly, particularly in the middle of the

season, he'll be right back to it. By the way, Denise, you still look

20, don't you worry about that, John definitely got it right there!

Tonight, an intriguing match between two 40-somethings. Stuart Bingham,

former world champion and Joe Perry, another 40-something himself. Joe's

dad, Peter, is a former taxi driver, so it will be very interesting for

the Perry family to take a look into the curious Top Gear world of cab

driving that's been steered by a certain part-time cabby, Mr Steve

Davis. We have a bit of a problem with that

VT but I can assure you he didn't crash and he's still here to tell

the tale. Joe Perry's career, he's had a bit of a dip hasn't he, and

that came after a successful season in which he won his first world

ranking title after 20 years of graft. What do you make of him as a

personal player? He's stood the test of time well. I don't know how he

feels daily, but he's been there or thereabouts, kept himself in the top

16 quite well and you would have to say, without the word journeyman

which is sometimes used as a derogatory way of talking about a

player, he's a proper person who has decided he's a career player and

whether he wins or loses, he comes back and gives it everything for the

next match. You cannot ask for more than that, he just needs a few wins

in the trophy Cabinet. He's always a bit of a grafter out there and was

probably slightly nervous when he got back into the cab with Steve.

Anyone order a taxi? Hello, Joseph, how are you. Not bad.

Anyone still call you Joseph? My brother and my mum sometimes, my

mate when I play golf with him and I'm not performing. Only ever been

to one concert? Someone said to me you have got to two to one. Never

been to one? ! I'm not into music. It was one that I didn't enjoy. What

was it? Robbie Williams. Your own fault. The best thing about that was

ABC was the support Act and I quite enjoyed them. Do you get fed up with

hotels? I've just had an absolute crap breakfast. I always go into

them in trepidation. One of my hates is, I hate having a showinger in the

bath so if I go in a room and there's a shower in the bath...

Slippery. I hate it. It don't seem right for me. What about when the

shower curtain sucks up to you? ! What's the worst thing in the world,

the shower comes on and all of a sudden the shower curtain decides to

come and cuddle you. What's that all about? There's a fewers, Mark

Williams -- there's a few players, Mark Williams, you go into his room

and it's as messy as it can be, I'm not like that, I like to keep it

tidy. What would you say are your pet

hates? Well, I had one this morning. Really? One of my mates walked in my

room this morning and borrowed my roll-on. I didn't like it. Really?

Yes, that's not nice. Your hotel's perfect, everything hanging up

perfectly, a bit OCD? No, not OCD. You are getting that way though? Our

little collection of players, Mark Davis, he's OCD. Is he? All his

shoes will be in perfect order, toes will all be at the same bit. Every

time we go in, we'll kick 'em just to wind him up. On the circuit would

you be considered by your close mates, the players you hang around

with, glass half empty or half full, are you a bit of a moaner? I moan

purely for comedy value. Yes, I feel that, yes. I think I'm the same. I

do it to entertain them because people like Mark Davis and that,

they're very boring. Yes. But if you can get it out of him, they are good

company so I play on it really, it's my little character, I just play

point and try and have a laugh. Plenty of things to moan about. Yes.

More and more now. We are on our way to the venue now and there is no

practise slots available. I'll be moaning about that. Can't you pull

rank? That's not me really. I might have to do a bit of loitering and

nick a couple, but no, I'm not one for pulling rank, no. I remember

when you used to check out of airport car parks back in the day.

Yes. There used to be a convoy of six to get through. We had a convoy,

yes, I think five was our record. Getting out the car park. All going

through, yes. What were the consequences? Gerrard got called up

to Gatwick police station once. He was the only one. The worst that can

happen is, you end up having to pay your car park bill, so you either

get away with it or you don't. The secret world of the gelmen, Joe

Perry. If you invite him to your house, don't put him in your guest

room where there's a shower in the bath, he'll not be having it. Joe's

match will be live on the red button at 7. Every ball of the Masters is

live on the BBC either on BBC Two or on the red button so two platforms

for you and I'll be back at 11. 20, in fact I won't, I'm ahead of

myself, Jason Mohammed is coming, I get the night off. Jason is on duty

at 11. 20 and by the way, Marney Rose Bingham, a new member, has come

into the world, she did so, 8 pounds 2 ounces on Saturday, so

congratulations to Stuart and Michelle and I wonder whether that

will have the Danny Willet effect on Stuart bring ham as he comes in

tonight. What do you think? It's happened before. Absolutely, it

could do. Could be inspiring. We'll be hoping to hear from Stuart before

the end of the programme. He's here doing a bit of practise and I'm sure

Steve is going to dash out and have a word with him. But back to the

game. Certainly Steve will have found

something to moan about, Hazel will. But no good moaning, there's nothing

you can do about it. The players are back in the arena.

Chance of a long pot. Not there, but felt that the only one he could

leave was what he was seeling, the frame time just under 16 minutes,

not bad after a 32-minute opening frame. I told you it would get

better. Average shot 21 seconds each. That's

quick. Quick enough. Just makes it a bit more difficult

for John to play a safety shot and get the cue ball back to the baulk

end. Risky if he attempted it. So may just play the safety at this

end. Trying to cover that red near the

brown. Just dictating the safety exchange at the moment, is Mark

Allen. It would be too risky to go to the

baulk end this time. You need to get this cue ball as close as you can to

the top cushion. Well, has he left his cut to the

middle? Can John get to it? I think he can. He's looking at the

potting angle. That was careless. Just having a look to see where the

pink is going to go. It's going to have to go at the back of the pack

which is no problem. Leaving himself a little low on

this. Potting it, bringing the reds into play. The cue ball needs to run

a little bit though. May just be a gap he can get through to the green.

Rather the green than the blue. Nice, solid pot right in the heart

of the pocket. Always a good sign. I suggest pot the blue, leave the

cue ball where it is then the red left-to-middle and leave the blue to

go in the middle of the bunch. Oh, dear. Oh, dear, John. Didn't Seeta

one coming. My sentiments exactly. Maybe he was thinking two or three

shots ahead. Yes, let his mind drift. Easily done sometimes, you

just take a pot for granted. That will annoy him.

Does this pink pot? If he gets through to it, he can pot it then

open up all the reds. APPLAUSE.

He may play the double into the right middle if he feels as though

he's not going to leave anything on but the red he's playing.

Always got to be careful with the double though if it's the wrong side

of the pocket and doesn't go in, it can always come back to the cue

ball. John Higgins playing a double. He's

one of the best in the business. And that is why - no mistake.

APPLAUSE. In Canada they call that a bank

shot. It's a frame-winning opportunity

here. Three reds in-between the pink and black nicely available.

A red in the middle of the table at the far end.

Takes him 36 points in front. Needs to get to 67. Another 24 points

required. He's probably going to need after

this black three more reds. The reason I say that, is because with

the reds being at the baulk end of the table, he's going to take

low-value colours, you would have thought. So it's not a formality.

Quick glance at the score board. This to go 51 points in front, but

still 67 remaining. Red and black put him 59 in front

with 59 remaining. Still looking for one more red to get to snookers

required. Mark Allen went for a double and

missed it, left John Higgins a double, he got it. 3-2.

What an appetite for the game this man has and those stats prove it.

That win in 2006 against Ronnie O'Sullivan. I know you had the great

final black-ball game with Mark Williams but what a clearance he got

to beat Ronnie. Incredible. It was a double in that

one as well. I think John was quoted as saying

that now that there are so many tournaments, you don't have to spend

that much time on the practise table. I think it probably suits

John because, as you get older, that's the hard graft isn't it, the

practise? Yes, definitely. I think finding the appetite, the

desire to put in the four, five, six hours a day, as you get older,

becomes very difficult. So I think, like John said to me during the

Champions Cup victory, I think he only plays an hour a day now,

because you are playing so much snooker. It keeps you match sharp.

He'll be disappointed to have missed that. You always say with that type

of shot, if you are going to miss it, hit it thin and he hit it too

thick. This is a chance now for Mark Allen. I think what stood John

Higgins in good stead over the years, his technique's hardly

changed. Watch his cue action, it's so repetitive.

There are two ways of playing this, you can play a little cannon into

the two reds above the black and still be on the red at just above

the black. He decided to play for the loose red.

Decided to play the cannon that time around. But if he'd have played that

cannon previously, he'd have still been on the red that was just above

the black and now, it appears as though he's on nothing.

A lot to do with break-building in this game is shot selection. I think

this red goes the far left corner, he was looking for something easier

than this. He's played it beautifully. Good

shot. APPLAUSE.

Now, can he drop this in and hold for the red to the right corner?

Delicate shot. He's played it well. Might begin to to the gap with the

two reds that are together or to the right of the bunch. Got the red

first. It's OK. The red that he hit he just wants to miss going into the

gap and it would have been absolutely perfect.

Controlled the cue ball nicely there.

This is exactly what you've got to do at this level. Higgins misses the

long red, you have got to punish him for it. He's missed it so thick, the

cue ball was never going to get back to the table. Mark Allen's getting

the cue ball cleaned. Should have been easier on the red than this.

Put it to the left middle. It now becomes missable.

This match is warming up nicely, John. Yes. Always on paper looked to

be a cracker. They've played 13 times and it's 7-6 to John Higgins

in the head-to-heads. Played the cannon nicely, it's all

over now, surely. The road will put in 60s of an points ahead. 67

remaining. -- put him 67 points ahead.

And this is his highest break in the match so far. 67.

He's taken it very well. APPLAUSE 72, 70 three. -- 72, 73.

Doesn't matter about the blue. Potted a view good balls prior to

that, one mistake from Higgins, frame to Mark Allen.

STUDIO: A couple of shots in the frame, he kept well to keep it

going. Excellent long part, yellow pocket, lovely control, play this

well, straight into it, look where he left the cue ball, played it to

an area that was safe, also, if he knocks in the red, he just has to

drop the blue, which he does, and he is back in the break. -- pot. Well

sorted out, well executed. Unsurprising that it is this close,

because people thought this would go the full distance. Very difficult to

read it the winners of this first-round matches, such is the

standard, the bookmakers have to make someone a favourite, and then

there is an underdog. The pattern is something you picked up on, you were

in the UK, you watched the match. Similar sort of thing, John was

ahead, Mark got him back, the only reason Mark Allen lost that match

was that he lost this is an a couple of times, but he really had him on

the brink of defeat. Just wondering whether it will follow the same

thing. Similar match. You would expect it, because these two are

really evenly matched. COMMENTATOR: Good length of break

off, from John. CO-COMMENTATOR: Textbook break, opened up some reds.

How has he left this? He has done the opposite of what

John Higgins did in the previous frame, he has made sure he left it

thin. Make it safe. Foul. Miss. Mark Allen, four. Does

he put him back in, from where he rises, or does he have the cue ball

put back? I would have it put back, myself.

Quite interesting, at the start of the match, as Steve was saying in

the studio, this first-round matches, top 16 players, world

ranked number three, John Higgins, and Mark Allen, one of the top

seeds. He has got to hit it this time otherwise he will get a

warning. He is going to get a warning now. Mark Allen, four. And

you lose the frame. The bookies made John Higgins nine quarters on

favourite, he's looking at John because he now knows that John is

under pressure. I don't think he will be playing the think at this

time. I will have too warned you, John, you have got to hit a red this

time. He has given him a warning. This is the shot that John Higgins

did not want to play. But it wasn't that difficult, in the end. Now,

they have made John Higgins favourite, six quarters, Mark Allen,

I didn't see the difference that much in the arts. -- six quarters.

-- 6-4. The only reason is that he has won events this season. On the

move quickly there. Funny one, that, couldn't really put

any pressure on John. You think it would not be a problem for John to

play safe now, of this bread. But John could have played it better, if

he has not covered that read near the ball by the yellow, then it is

advantage Mark Allen. Well it looks like he can just get

past the pink. Down the right-hand side of the table. Courted much too

thick. That could spell danger. Nothing nicer coming to the table

after this situation, look at the reds, and the black is in the open.

Already made 80 in a previous frame. So you're scoring.

You wouldn't imagine that the cue ball is going to travel any great

distance. Mark Allen with a frame-winning break here. Very

disappointed with that one. I'm sure that he can pop this rate... Towards

the blue, now. Shake of the head, it's imperative that he gets a good

handle on the blue. Played it in such a way that he didn't want to

risk being alongside the blue. Chance of a colour. Probably played

the green. Cue ball travelling a bit further, in and around the black,

that cue ball is not travelling too far. A lot easier to control your

positional side of the play. Played that well, though, back in

prime position, good shot. Red, colour, red, all that's

required. 72 points is the lead, 75 remaining,

but not for long. After losing the first two frames, Mark Allen is

going to take the lead for the first time in the match. APPLAUSE

Starting to punish John Higgins heavily. For his mistakes. Just made

his highest break of the match, in the last, 81, looks like he can go

better than that here. The table does look an absolute

pleasure to play on. Lovely speed. Little soft screws.

Terrific break their from Mark Allen, now. Highest break in the

tournament now, held by Ronnie O'Sullivan, 121, ?10,000 prize for

the high break. Oh! He will be disappointed he missed that, but the

frame one, and for the first time in the match, it goes in front, he now

leads John Higgins, 4-3. As we say, Stephen, 81 in the frame

previous, 104 there are, all caused by catching it too thick. Yes. The

frame before this one, he has gone for a long ball to the left

corner... Obviously allowing a little bit of left-hand side, so he

has pushed the cue ball across... To the right. Caught this far too

thick, as you say, playing those shots do nothing, if you are going

to miss it, you tend to do are on the thin side, to get the cue ball

back to baulk, and the same here. The same one, playing with a trace

of left-hand side. -- err. Read near the left and cushion, playing this

one, courted much too thick, and once it is the other red and stayed

in this half of the table, it's big trouble. -- -- red. It spelt big

trouble. -- court it much too thick. -- it spelt big trouble. -- caught

it much too thick. Mark Allen did what he was supposed to do, and as

you say, John now I had for the first time and looking the stronger

player. You're never happy when you see that on the red, next to the

black. -- John now ahead the first time. First time that has happened

in this match, when players have been breaking, the black has stayed

in the clear. I disagree, I remember a couple of

times, when we have seen players playing long pots and try to disturb

the black and the red, funny how some people break of different, long

pot success, John Higgins need to improve that. Mark Allen, and...

APPLAUSE ... OK, that's as good as any long pot.

Perfect line, perfect length. Joe has got to catch this just right. --

John has got to. In the end decided not to play back to baulk, coming

off the side cushion, nestling on the reds near the top cushion. One

adrift by it, of course, if he does, he would leave it. Played it well.

Just flipped the green. Has a chance with this read to the right corner.

Play it as a shock for nothing. -- play it as a shot for nothing.

I'm sure if John was not hampered by the green, he may take on one of

these reds, on the right-hand side of the table. Well, he can just cue

passed it, only just. He should keep the cue straight. -- past. Where is

the cue ball going? Mark Allen, four. Always difficult when you are

cueing pass the ball like that, concentrating that much on keeping

the cue straight. The only advantage with the North,

he has not left Mark close to the next red. -- the only advantage with

the in-off. Doesn't look any read here that you would be tempted to

play the pot on, when you just made breaks of 104 and 81, sometimes you

are feeling confident. No, did not want to risk the pot, if he kisses

the yellow, it is not the best safety he has ever played. A chance

now for John Higgins to get the upper hand now in the safety

exchange. Good targets there, yellow, brown and green.

Catch this mighty thin otherwise it will come up the other end of the

table. Played that well. Something you don't see often, John Higgins in

the safety Department. Will that cue ball stopped, will it

stop... Mark Allen, four. Gravity. Settle down, please, thank you. I

thought it had stopped for a second. That is why the Apple fell from the

tree. The kiss on the brown has left the

pot on, you can stun it in and play for the black but more likely you

will run up for the blue, but it needs good accurate cueing, and he

has not ported a ball for over 27 minutes. And considering that,

excellent pot. APPLAUSE OK, a little bit thin on the blow,

but he won't mind that, he will play the cannon here, weighing the

cannon, he can bring the pink into play.

Not the best opportunity, went near the side cushion, the black is in a

tricky position at the moment. Just concentrating on trying to

accumulate points here rather than think too far ahead of himself. This

is a big moment in the match, for me.

13. Nearly got into it too much but it's OK.

19. This time, wrong side of the blue. Last thing he wanted. Can he

roll in the blue and find a red that is easily potted? I don't think so.

The other side of the blue line. I suppose he could screw back to the

right-hand side cushion and play for them one which is closer to the

right-hand corner, looking at the one around the pink spot area, but

certain to be on a colour of that, we'll see what he decides. He has

played for the one round the pink spot area, the problem with this, it

is easily missed and he has got to find a path for the cue ball to come

back up for the blue or play for the cannon, and hope for the black.

Don't miss the pot. Good pot. The way he played it, I think he was

trying to avoid the kiss on the second red, only a safety shot now.

At least if you pop the ball, you get the next shot. -- pot the ball.

It was always going to be difficult to score heavily from that

opportunity, green and black, awkward as they were.

More concerned with avoiding other reds and getting the cue ball back

to the ball can, he has not left any thing, should be a better safety

shot from John here. If he misses the yellow, it will be. He has just

flicked it. Hit it much too thick, John Higgins

gets another chance now. Trying to swing it round, just putting that

little bit of right-hand side... Super fine, if you don't time it

correctly, you push it to the left, much too thick. Twixt and between.

The only slight advantage with this, and it all depends on the potting

angle, I know that it is a thin cut, may cannon them together.

Concentrate on the pot. APPLAUSE That is what he did and he has been

a little unlucky, nudged the reds open. Just watch, for a moment, on

the reds, to the corner, and then the other one came and blocked it.

He's looked at it a couple of times. The only thing that would make me

want to play it, he's looking now, if he leaves the cue ball near the

top cushion, if the red goes in, he could play the snooker behind the

brown and leave Mark Allen in all kinds of trouble.

I wouldn't risk playing the pot and trying to play for a colour.

He's looking at the possibility a plant.

Ideally he'd like to leave the four reds that are closer together in

that same position. Can he get a better safety off this red?

Wasn't too worried about bringing the green into play. He's got the

yellow and brown in awkward positions. Should Mark Allen get the

next chance. Mark Allen will have no hesitation in bringing these four

reds into play. But he could have played it better

than that. This red cuts to the right middle. OK, you won't have

much clue where the cue ball's going. Make certain you pot the red

and trust the luck for position. If he gets on a colour, he's got the

frame at his %ery. -- mercy.

The one to the left is a more difficult pot. But he has more

control of the cue ball. Right in the heart of the pocket.

You've got to say that could be the frame winner. Good shot.

That's where we talk about making the right shot selection. If you

look where the cue ball finished, he didn't play any shot for nothing. He

played it so that if he got it, it won him the frame.

That's run on a little about the more than he wanted. But he's OK.

Probably need four of these remaining reds. I don't think he's

going to be bothering with pink or black.

It was a very weak safety shot from Mark Allen.

Every credit to John Higgins playing the right shot. He knew it would be

a frame win perit went in. That tells me he's not too bothered

now. He knows Mark Allen won't be coming back to the table.

And that's enough. So John Higgins needed a couple of chances. Now

we're all square. We started off best of 11. Now it's turned out to

be best of three. STUDIO: We're not complaining about

that. It's certainly an intriguing match so far. We talked about safety

and how John Higgins' safety has always been one of the key elements

of his game. Just in the last couple of frames, the guys in the

commentary box mention today as well, seems to be struggling a

little bit in that department today. If you look at the stats, yeah.

Sometimes they don't always tell the exact story. Playing against a great

player, you can't always hide the ball. These days, putting it tight

on the bottom cushion doesn't guarantee anything. How do you read

it? He had a couple of shots where he missed the ball completely one

side of the table. What he played down the other side he hit it thick.

It might welcome back one of those days when you're not in the middle

of the cue ball. The safety department is usually has backyard.

It's a great crowd, for a Monday afternoon, close to 1500 people

here. It's always so beautifully crowded this venue. I did notice

that in terms of pretournament sales, best ever. Seems to be one of

these tournaments that's growing and growing. Yeah, for all of the people

who think snooker is on the way out, even in the UK, we know worldwide

it's buzzing, but this proves that's not the case. People love watching a

live match. They do. John, it is a good crowd. For a January blues

situation, it does alleviate that a lot. A lot of people really look

forward to this. London's always been popular as a venue. What they

moved to Ally Pally, you never know when they come to a venue, but

people have come in their droves. Over the years they've had to up the

capacity every year because that many people wanted to come in. It's

gone from 1200, 1500, now 2,000 this year. Every year it's getter more

crowded. You can't go further back, otherwise you can't see the tables.

They cantilever the stands now. In this event, you bump into people you

know, I know from the London area, in this Essex area, the catchment is

quite big, obviously. I'm not absolutely sure, but I think there

are more snooker players come to watch the Matchers than would come

to watch some ranking events. Not just the sthoocker fans. I've even

seen Patsy Fagin in the room as we speak. Yesterday as well. His

birthday last night. Many happy returns of course. There he is,

yeah, here with his wife. It's always lovely to see him here. He

loves his snooker and a great player in his time as well. He was indeed.

Back we go, get to the sharp end of this now.

COMMENTATOR: Yes, we certainly are. A massive frame for John Higgins,

that last one. Mark Allen looked as though he was

on a role. John didn't win it with a big break, but it was a solid frame

he played. It makes this safety a little more

difficult for John. He hasn't got that open red in the

middle of the table that play-off. If you catch it fractionally

thicker, chance you'd leave it on. That's what he's done.

Once again Mark Allen getting the advantage in the safety exchange.

Could have done with another couple of rolls of the cue ball. Still a

thin cut on this red. He's going to do well to control the cue ball

here. If he misses the green, he's OK.

Well, he may just be able to pot the green. It begs the question: Where

does the next red come from? In practice you'll have two cushions

into the bunch here. Whether he does that at 4-4 situation, I would doubt

it. Playing for the open red. You can

only assume, yes, it does pass the main bunch and goes to the right

corner. Well, it was two that went. Can only

play the bottom one. Has he got the angle on the blue? He

has. Pot the blue, into the pink.

Couldn't have played it much better than that. He's finished absolutely

perfect. That's all you're looking for. It's an easy red to continue

with. He's got that. The blacks available into both

corners. Good chance. Can you turn your ear pieces down a

little bit. Thank you. If the ear pieces are up too loud,

then the players get a whiff of what we're saying.

Often when it hits the knuckles of the pockets, two, three times, they

don't go in. There was a black earlier for John Higgins like that.

The shot from Mark Allen with just enough pace to keep the direction.

He's got this red. He needs another 27 points.

He's got one loose red to the left of the cluster.

He needs more than two reds and two colours.

Down to just over 14 minutes a frame.

It's been excellent snooker. Has he got the angle on this?

The 16 best players in the world, a match in this situation, to be able

to win frames in one visit... Crucial to be a top-class snooker

player. Couldn't have worked out better.

Just a red and a colour needed. This blue to go 72 points in front

with just 67 remaining. Would you believe it? Has he got

position on the red? There's a red in the middle of those five that

will pot. Would you believe that? Quietly

please now, thank you. John Higgins came to the table 67

points behind. There were 67 remaining. He needs all blacks. And

the six colours to force a respot. Tall order.

There's not many players in snoocker in front of John that you'd put to

do this, though. Played that well. He'd like to have

been a bit straighter. No problem. Remember, he's got to

get blacks off every red. It's the red in between the blue and

pink that's so important he gets the right potting angle on that one. He

thinks he can do it this time around.

He could. Now it looks on. Now it looks on!

One good positional shot from black to yellow.

This looks inch perfect. Six colours to force a respoted black.

He miss aid straightforward blue. Mark Allen is sat in his chair

thinking heads or tails? That's the blue he missed, miss today because

he was playing it with left-hand side to get position.

That's just about inch perfect on the blue. Pot the blue and hold for

the pink in the same pocket. What character this man shows. He

has done all his career. Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. Boy

has he got a will to win. So it's a respoted black. As Stephen said,

Mark Allen will be thinking, "Heads or tails? John, you want to call it?

Tails? It's a head, it's your choice. John Higgins called tails.

It was heads. Mark Allen puts him in. Settle down, please. Quiet

please. People are coming in, this is

ridiculous. They should be stopped. They shouldn't be coming in during a

frame. He's played the double, where's it

going - is it coming over the middle pocket or running past it? Well,

you'd be a brave man to play the double. The double's on. But if you

play it and don't get, it you don't know where the blacks going to

finish. I think he's playing it. There it

goes. Well, what do you do here? Easy

safety. But the pot wins you the frame.

The pot wins you the frame! What a pot that was. And listen to the

roar. CHEERING

Absolutely superb pot on the black. He nearly threw it away. But a pot

like that deserved to win any frame. He's now one frame away from

victory. He leads John Higgins 5-4. STUDIO: A wry smile from John. We

heard it, Mark Allen, we heard it. What a pot to win it. What a frame

of snooker. Mark Allen nearly threw it away. This long pot, straight in,

a beauty. There he is, asking for the adulation which he certainly

deserved for a great shot like that. You also have to give it to John

Higgins, 67 on the table and he manages it. Both players showing

great character. The miss on the blue was something that could have

cost him. It was a very easy shot to be honest. He had to put a bit of

side spin on. From that position, John Higgins gets well back into it.

A fantastic frame of snooker. I don't know if that was relief or a

bit of like chest pumping there from Mark at the end, deservedly so.

Having to take that 67 break and then to have to knock a ball in,

easy to crumble. Your reading of that blue? What was on his mind? As

I was watching it live, I said the only way he could miss this shot is

to play the correct shot to get position. If he pots the blue he

wins the frame. To get position he had to half punch it in with a bit

of run inside. That did happen. He will be relieved to get over the

line. It's as if the energy levels have gone up a notch from both men,

the reaction from Mark there. And you could see the adrenaline

coursing through John's veins. Any type of sport where it's one on one,

the analogy with boxing may not be apparent, there's two gladiators in

there. They start off feeling each other end. They get into the fight.

Then you get pumped up by the end. Mark Allen will be walking out a

mixture of relief, but he'll be buzzing. He will try to keep things

under control when he comes back. He's such a combative player. He

seems to thrive on the increased energy. That's why we're all here. A

good idea to go out. He will be pumped up after knocking the black

in. Try to calm back down. It's not over yet. Mark Allen is one frame

away from completing a hat-trick of Masters wins over John Higgins. --

in round one. COMMENTATOR: Mark Allen breaks off

and after that last frame, which he nearly threw away, but what a

tremendous pot this was. Right in the heart of the pocket.

So relieved, I think. That's why he did that.

That's a tremendous opening red from John Higgins. You never count this

man out. Let's not forget, even though he lost the last frame, what

a tremendous 67 break he made to force the respot.

He's just making sure at the moment. Probably just a little bit too

straight. He had to force it over. I don't see him going into the bunch

here. His body language, you have to fancy

him winning the frame at this visit. He looks so focussed.

He may go into the main bunch. He may just play a cannon into the two

reds. That worked out perfect. He'll be

happy with that. Four reds into play.

Balls potted up till then 124 apiece.

This has been a tremendous match since the interval. Snooker of the

highest quality. The first frame was a bit scrappy.

But since then, it has been top quality stuff.

You'd expect that with the best two players in the world. That's what

you get and expect at at the Masters.

Two reds, two colours, that cluster of five, that will mean there's 67

left. He's got this red. That first long red was a carbon

copy of the one he missed by such a distance thick before.

When your back is against the wall, no problem.

The sign a great champion. This was the opening red.

He caught one too thick which cost him the frame. Trying to get into

the reds. He's into them. He's knocked them on. Well this is superb

stuff from John Higgins. Back firmly against the wall and one

chance. Brilliant. You knew at the beginning of the

frame, I sensed it would go 5-5 from this visit.

That's just what he does. I mean this in the best possible way, his

greatest asset, John Higgins, always has been, he late losing.

-- he hates losing. The red hasn't gone in. But it

doesn't matter. Mark Allen won't bother coming back to the table.

We've got a decider. Listen to the crowd!

The crowd are going to look forward to this.

John Higgins doing his impression of Mark Allen.

STUDIO: Who can blame him, both players really enjoying this

occasion, we are thoroughly enjoying this. What a response. There is a

camaraderie amongst the players, Mark Allen can see the funny side of

that, serious stuff, plenty of prize-money, but the game of snooker

has always been such a game of gentlemanly conduct, that is what

gives it that special edge. These two lads are just fighting out

there, and... I'm not going to say that there does not deserve to be a

loser but this match does deserve to go to the final frame, and after the

interval, absolutely. Who will come out of this? And straight into the

quarterfinals. SHOUTING

John Higgins, 30. Settle down, please is. -- settle

down, please. Quite, please. -- quiet.

23. 24. CO-COMMENTATOR: He can play the cue ball into the area for both

threads here, from the brown, in between the two reds, he will have a

choice. He will be tempted to play get now,

the one next to the middle pocket, obviously trickier than it looks on

screen. If he is straight on the black, it means he can't get close

to the awkward red, and he can't. Need a better angle on the black

than this. John Higgins maybe thinking this is a chance to come

back to the table. It's there. Quick glance at the

scoreboard, pot the blue, 25 points in front with 27 remaining, John

Higgins feeling the worst -- fearing the worst. That should be that, what

a match. Missed a black off the spot, I will

give him the benefit of the doubt and say that it was not the best of

contact, when the black jumped in the air, every credit, Mark holding

himself together. And he is now 31 points in the lead, 25 remaining.

Two snookers required. APPLAUSE

Is there a gap? There is always a gap!

Normally you think of one cushion to escape, at this level you would not

expect them to miss it. When the object balls are in the middle of

the table. The bit of doubt in your mind.

If John were to put green, brown and blue, he would need one snooker on

the pink too tight, at the moment, two required, but he is feeling to

keep more balls on the table, does not want the green in! He did not

want it in. Still two snooker is needed. He has called this much too

thin, he has left the brown, he has left the brown. John walks away from

the table. Dropped his shoulders, drops his head, this brown for the

match. Would you believe it! Well... I know it is two snooker 's,

but the match should have been over. Good shot, good shot. Needed at this

moment, fair play to John Higgins, taking time to tap on the table to

say, good shot. Needs to hit this and get it safe, he has got it safe.

And that pink and black and blue, in that line down the middle of the

table will give John Higgins some hope. This is not over just yet,

even though two snooker 's are needed.

It's a good line. It's a good line. But the brown has just come across

the table enough, not quite the snooker, even if it is an easy

swerve. I was thinking before, if he potted

the two colours, one snooker on the pink too tight, refused to pop the

green, will be playing the snooker of the brown, he's decided to pop

the brown. If he is going to pot it will he pop the blue? One snooker to

try on the pink? -- pot. That is the plan. The fact that Mark Allen

missed the very easy brown, moments ago, if he does get a snooker, has

put himself under pressure. Just ran a little bit too far. Can he get in

behind the black? Needs this to run, otherwise he will leave it for the

middle. The pink, for the match. He did not

want to risk it, he has played it over the corner, it is there anyway,

doesn't matter, it is in! What a great match, John Higgins gives him

warm congratulations, and Mark Allen has really done well, John Higgins

led 2-0 but Mark Allen battled away, after the interval, absolutely

top-class, could have gone either way, but in the end, it went the way

of the man from Antrim, Mark Allen, he has beaten the world number

three, John Higgins, through to the quarterfinals, he wins, 65 -- 6-5.

STUDIO: I'm sure that you haven't tried that one at home, a hat-trick

of triumphs in the first round from Alan over John Higgins, deserved the

drama and the dramatic finale, even when he missed the brown to the

yellow pocket, it was not done, it was not a done deal. You will

probably be very disappointed, first in among the balls, unforced error

's, including the black from the spot, at his level, unforgivable.

This is the lorry of the match in one shot, final frame, all you

looking for is every good chance, black the spot. -- this is the story

of the match. Mark Allen plays a great shot, does not play a good

shot there are, really good shot around the ankles, see him, he

thinks, come the wrong angle, potted a great shot, and once again, had to

die a thousand deaths to get over the line. But they got there. Missed

black in the final frame decider, just like the Wenbo. Not right at

the death. Impossible to tell who was going to win that. Mark Allen

will be delighted, nearly lost a frame from 6-7 in front and got

himself out of jail, and looks like he will lose that one, he will sleep

very nicely tonight, I'm sure. Here he comes, Judd Trump or Marco Fu to

come. Congratulations, what a match, we were quite happy with the

deciding frame going all the way, I sure you had other ideas. Some up,

three times you have not John out of the first round of the Masters, you

have the Indian sign over him. Got one back on him, lost a lot of good

plays lately, it is up to me to step up and beat these good players, I

was not at my best but I think I competed well, my safety was good.

Forced errors from John that I have not been doing recently, any win

against John is a good win. Frame number nine is where it was all

happening, after you got to 67, 67 on the table, did you know that he

was going to clear up and force the Reece Burke? Once he got the first

black, quite high on that, once he got that, you fancied him. -- force

the respot. And then you get a chance on it, after a couple of long

doubles, what is going through your mind? You just want a chance, I

could have played safe and thought, no,... Big pressure putt, you

deserve the accolades from the crowd, but it seemed like you were

really strong, not shaky, you got it to the top. I would rather be

positive rather than trying to drop it in. I don't believe I won it

there, because I don't feel great, but a win is a win. Pretty

confident. Yes, it was fun to do that, and John, great to see him do

it as well. Some people would say, look at him, but we know, that is

pot of the fun. A bit of fun, nothing directed at John, John knows

that, I broke off the next frame, he made 79! LAUGHTER.

Didn't work today. Again, tale of a missed black off the spot in the

final frame which lets you in again, your heart must have been in your

mouth. I will be honest, I fancied John to miss, he looked really

nervous, a lot of times playing shots and I was right behind him,

but his arm was all over the place. I have never really noticed that

before. Could be he does it every match. He does shake a bit, yes. You

said, more than... Raqqa a green nervous... Well, his arm was

definitely shaking. You can miss anything. The red before you played

here, you did not play it as she wanted. Had to play below the pink.

If I go above the pink, horrible shock. Even after that, it is not

great. Especially if you think, if you miss it, you have lost, because

all the colours are pretty much there, did not even play for the

yellow, just get the blue in the hole and it is pretty much over.

Under so much pressure there are, you think, two snookers, you are

pretty much guaranteed to win, you miss easy brown. Some people think,

two snookers, you all right, not this one. At no point are you

comfortable until the pink drops. Last time you beat him in the first

round, he went on the run to the semifinals, ironically he was saying

that match spot in him the revival. In terms of the positivity you will

take from that, good memories of another run to the semifinal. I love

the tournament, have never got to the final but I love the tournament,

you have to play well. You don't win any matches here by playing poorly.

I love the big occasion, when all eyes are on you and the opponent,

that is what you play for, you want to be in the big arenas in front of

the big crowds, even the matches I have lost, I love playing here.

Marco fee, just winning in Scotland, before the break. -- Marco Fu. Or,

Judd Trump, who will win that one? Current form, very tight, the

snooker that Marco played in Scotland were some of the best we

have ever seen and Judd Trump is capable of beating anyone on his

day, super aggressive. I'm going to Z back and watch. The good news is

that you are not going to have to worry about it. Actually I am going

to fly home tonight, and I will spend some time at home, because I

do not play until Thursday, they can slug it out and use energy. -- I'm

going to sit act and watch. You will be able to see Stuart Bingham and

Joe Perry tonight, 7pm, and I will be back, 1120, with highlights of

that. -- 11:20pm. Dank you so much for your company, this Masters

continues to enthrall, goodbye for now.

They want me to write and produce - for a boy band. Oh.