First Round: Judd Trump v Marco Fu Masters Snooker

Hello, a good afternoon to you and welcome back to the 20 17th Dafabet

masters. The crowd here at Ally Pally have been treated to some top

snooker. On Sunday, Ronnie O'Sullivan was

through to the quarterfinals. But yesterday, two former world

champions were knocked out. What can he do here? And easy

safety. The pot wins you the frame. The pot brings you

begins doing his impression of Mark Allen.

He didn't want to risk it. It is there anyway. It's in. What a great

match. John Higgins gives him a warm congratulations.

Mark Allen wins 6-5. Look at that shot as well. I will

tell you what, you will not see many better centuries than this, that's

for sure. Well played, Joe Perry. He will attempt the double into the

pocket. He has played the doubles.

132 from Stuart Bingham. Highest break of the tournament so far.

Fabulous stuff from Gentleman Joe. The Black For A Place In The

Quarterfinals. It's There. Joe Perry Has Caused A Big Upset In The

Dafabet Masters. He beats the world champion 6-1.

An excellent performance from Joe Perry. Two of champions in the

studio as we look forward to Judd Trump against Marco Fu. Good

afternoon. The reason we are at the table here is we are going to look

back at rather an unusual scenario yesterday, where we have two we

spotted blacks, and two contrasting styles. Let's look at how Stuart

Bingham played his shot. This is the modern way of playing

it. He is trying to play it on to the side cushion, that is the modern

way to do it. That is new school. Old School is John Higgins. He plays

the double is tight to the top cushion as possible. If he misses

the yellow pocket, he doesn't believe it over the middle pocket

with a pot on. It was shot. We are going to play a couple of shots for

you. You will play the first that we saw.

What are the advantages? The advantage is, in the old way,

they would go up and down the spots. But the cushions are softener, you

might leave a shot on. The more modern way, you get a black tight to

the right-hand cushion. It is a really difficult shot come

back. The only problem is, as long as you

don't leave the double to the middle pocket of corner, that is the chance

you take. But if you get it right, it puts the

onus on your opponent. It is quite a clever shot. Something like that.

It never leaves you. No doubt, the nerves jangling as

well is that a difficult shot. I will try to play it the other way.

I will play the double that John Higgins play. He didn't bash it and

go up and down, it was a controlled chance. A chance to knock it in, but

if you miss, you can leave it safe. We will see if we can do that. Not

there. Not in the pocket, but I would be

happy with that. The flat here, you have left that

on. OK, off you go! LAUGHTER

Does your decision-making dependent on waking or in the match? At that

point, with John Higgins, it was 4-4.

I would be in the opinion that if I was in the lead, and somebody had

come back to me. If the opponent have come back, I would have played

the John Higgins doubles. John Higgins at Mark Allen under more

pressure. Put the onus back on your opponent. He will view them.

It could have a big bearing on the game. You could play for an hour, it

can make a massive change. Our match for you is Judd Trump against Marco

Fu. Let's look ahead to the character heads.

This afternoon is in Judd Trump's favour, because Marco Fu, he has a

poor record against Trump, two wins am, that went down to the final

frame. We would like more of that today, please.

Every time we turn up at major tournaments, we talk about Judd

Trump, and we ask if it is his year. That he make the final this year.

You would expect so. Any of the top players he is capable of beating,

but he hasn't performed here, for some reason. The next might might be

a different player. It will be an interesting match because Marco Fu

is in form after winning before at Christmas. It will be very close. In

October, Judd won the Masters. It can give you huge confidence.

It absolutely does. He played one of the best matches I have ever seen at

this venue to beat Neil Robertson, 6-5 will stop you played the

semifinal the next day and he was flat. When he is at his

He has gone through peaks and troughs, but scoring - wise, one of

the best in the world. A bit of doubt eradicate it. If

Marco makes the quarterfinal does he need to get on the front foot early?

I think he needs do what he has been doing. There has been very few

players on the circuit who have been as consistent as he is. The players

know how good he is, the British public might not look a him as a

Ronnie O'Sullivan or Neil Robertson, this boy is a proper player. You

underestimate him at your peril. It is moments like this where

presenters put you on the spot. Who are you going to go for? 6-5 Marco.

I will go 6-5 Judd to make it even. We are the BBC in terms of balance.

Good afternoon it has been one of the highest quality starts to any

Dafabet masters in history. Every player has produced at least one

century and we are set for another rocking afternoon here at Ally

Pally. Please welcome, a player making his

11th appearance at the Masters. Runner-up six years ago,

semifinalist at the UK Championships last month. He went to Glasgow and

in spectacular fashion from 4-1 beat John Higgins for the Scottish Open.

He is in form, he is here and he is ready, from Hong Kong. Marco Fu.

And his opponent, arguably the most exciting player of his sqrenration,

winner of six ranking titles including the China open and this

season's European Masters, twice a semifinalist here at the Masters,

here it comes with his own brand of naughty snooker, the Ace in the

Pack, Judd Trump. Generation, winner of six ranking

titles including the China open and this season's

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

It is another wonderful atmosphere here. We are ready for this, live on

BBC Two. It is Judd Trump versus Marco Fu. Let us enjoy this one in

the company of Denis Taylor and Steve Davis.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you very much, Jason. And as you said, a terrific

atmosphere again at the Alexandra Palace. Judd won the toss, and a

pretty good break of shot. The white tight on the baulk cushion.

Well, he could see enough of it, but it's all safe, though. It will take

the players a while to get used to the table. It is very fast. But it

looks to be playing beautifully. Very responsive. You don't have to

hit the ball is too hard to get them where you want -- balls.

Straightaway, we might have an awkward frame with that red up the

other end of the table. It would be an early stalemate, it would have to

be said. It really. Marco is in form, so that

counts for a lot. This is a tough shot he is taking on here. Almost.

Where is the red button to? Is the ribbon and brown going to come to

his rescue? I think he has covered both the reds. A bit of a result

there. A rest with the Mac. He almost got it up. He covered both

the bid. APPLAUSE

Had been given for playing some kind of containment. There, but did play

an aggressive shot. This isn't so. Red at the bottom of the pack goes

now, so... Thought he was hampered by it as well.

Well that was an unexpected miss, he had to put quite a bit of power in

that. He didn't deliver the cue as smoothly as he would have liked. The

cue coming off his hand there. Not the greatest part of his game.

No problem for Judd Trump with the power game. He does get some action

on the cue ball. That is for sure, and that was quite a difficult shot.

He just pulled off there. The pot wasn't all that difficult

but it is not the pocket, and, you know, cue action there to draw that

cue ball back. APPLAUSE

What a fantastic shot that was. A chance, if he wants, to go into the

pack of the side cushion. APPLAUSE He has got everything he deserved

here. Fantastic shots he pulled out. Oh, just about. I thought for a

minute it would stay there. Just with that one shot potting the

brown, he has opened up the whole of the game here. A chance for Judd to

knock in a sizeable contribution here.

A little bit of body movement on the last shot as he struck the ball.

Trying to keep his head as still as possible.

Yes, quite a difficult thing to do, especially on a power shot, to keep

everything perfectly still. I think Marco moves a little bit on

the shot when he delivers a cue as well. It's just a mannerism. Judd

moves to the side a bit as he strikes the ball.

We know that his cue doesn't go through in a dead straight line.

It is just a pure, natural player, Judd Trump, just a natural snookered

talent. He is making very light work of this, though.

Very nice to watch. And he seems to have the pace of the table very

quickly. -- snooker talents. The frame is virtually over. Marco

with that one mistake, and you can't afford to miss blacks off the spot.

He was playing traverse side, Judd is switching hands, he is very good

with his opposite hand as well. Not quite in the league of Ronnie

O'Sullivan, but he is very good with his opposite hand.

Every chance now of making a century. It is going to be very,

very difficult. But that is what he can just concentrate now. He's made

a few centuries in his career, 422. I wonder if he will switch hands

again here. Yeah. He's hampered also with the

blue. And might be able to develop the last red, and could possibly

make a century if this works out. Well, it opponent 's deck -- for a

basic mistake. Yeah, the highest break in this year's Dafabet Masters

was made last evening by Stuart Bingham, but he lost to Joe Perry

6-1. But what a start for the Juggernaut as they call him.

You are playing the table, not just your opponent. It seems like against

certain opponents you have a good record, and some you don't. Perhaps

Judd fancies the job today. Century number ten in this year's

Masters. APPLAUSE It doesn't matter about the blue. He

got one chance and that was all he needed. A magnificent century break

gives Judd Trump the opening frame. It's 1-0.

Very asking people to take seats. If you plate, was there. -- the

referee. This looks like a pretty good break

of shot from Marco Fu. There might be a gap between blue and pink to

flick the reds and get back down the table.

Now, I think he may have been lucky. He could have left something a lot

easier than this. A horrible situation for Marco Fu. I

am not too sure what he can do, really. Very low value trying to cut

this red in. As long as he can get his cube download enough, perhaps he

has a chance. I thought he would have two Jack up in the air.

He is just about holding it. APPLAUSE

That would have been very difficult had he been up in the air on that

shot. Yeah, as the boys mentioned just

before the match started, about his win in the Scottish Masters against

John Higgins. 4-1 down, but beating John 9-4. John one of the form

players of the season. He really is a superb player, Marco.

Still a couple of potential banana skin is going about this break, so

he has had to play for these reds on the top cushion. Not so much of a

pocket to aim for a long a cushion, obviously. He would like to be high

on this black. Doesn't really want to be straight.

That's his fourth black. It's a bit early yet, but he has

made four maximum breaks in his career, Marco.

He made a maximum two years ago in the Masters, but I will never forget

his first in Scotland. He won a motorcar for the Masters. I think it

was the Scottish open, I think it was, and he won a motorcar, and he

didn't even have a licence. Once again, he isn't really

correctly on this black. It would have helped him out now in. Now he

will possibly play a slightly riskier shot. He got a flick on that

red. It was difficult to get high on that thread from that position. As

you can see, very difficult to get too much speed on the cue ball from

there. He will go straight into the yellow pocket. This would now be a

147 chance if this goes in. APPLAUSE And now the crowd acknowledge that

this is a potential chance for a maximum. The round of applause he

had for the red. He doesn't have to go into the pack

that quickly here. There's a few reds, when potted,

will open up paths for other reds. He has left himself to straight on

the black on a few occasions. Putting this red, he will leave

himself a bit of an angle on the black. It might be time to go into

the pack off this next black. Oh Filip

I think he knew immediately. Watch his head. He was straight up. He

knew he didn't hit that one correctly. Every chance of a counter

attack now. You can see what that miss meant to

Marco there. But he has left himself awkward here. It looks to be pretty

straight, but with his cue power, this is the sort of shot that Marco

missed in the opening frame, screwing back to reverse side.

Probably more difficult than that. And this red goes at the back in to

the left of the little group of reds. It is a very responsive pot

but he made that look easy. Wouldn't put it past him to nick in

frame. He is cueing well, walking round the table, looks very

focussed, if that red the bottom of the four goes. That opens things up

nicely. A bit too far? That is very tight indeed, he has

got the other one, which is slightly more difficult. This is thinner than

it looks on the TV though. Well played.

Tough shot from the jaw, has he got enough angle? He has the slightest

of angles and the red that he didn't quite get on, he has to punch it in

to get to the correct angle. Which he has done, and he played that

perfectly. He is on it this time. How well did he strike that. But as

you mentioned a long time ago, the reds were all clearing each other

and it is proving the case. He didn't have any cannons to play. As

one was potted, it left a path for another. Excellent shot there to get

once again high on that red. Doesn't need to collide with any other reds

here. This could be an early turning point

in this match, because Marco looked to be well on his way to taking the

frame, he was concentrating on all blacks. Apart from that one shot he

played where he misjudged the pace. Most of the time, he has been very

fine in control. Now he can be low on this red to go up the table for

one of the baulk colours, he has gone a massive favourite in in frame

now, a big steal. -- in this frame. What a frame to pinch this is, he

looks so good. Certainly in that opening frame, he is cueing really

well. Well, what a cracking frame of

snooker, the second frame is turning out to be.

Marco Fu on all blacks. Missed one and Judd Trump stepped in and played

the remaining balls with that magnificent break of 87. Now he

leads two frames to nil. What a start this is from Judd Trump Ken,

but Marco will be sitting thinking I was on a break of 56. I miss That

red and we talked before this game started, that Marco has to get on

the front foot He was chasing the 147. He was up off the shot. Very

disappointed, but not only that, like he made a 56 break but Judd

Trump took the balls to win the frame from that position. Came out

with cracking pots and positional shots, and cueing sublime at the

moment. Marco, he will be ruing that missed red because the frame is at

his mercy, that is what we say, make sure the frame first, but it was a

bad pot. The standard we have got right now, what have we had? Nine of

the players have made century breaks so far, look like we are on for ten.

It is fantastic quality. The top 16 players in the world, you expect a

high quality from round one, and like, you have to realise that every

match is almost, would be perfect for a final, you know, because that

is the way it is matched up. Players are playing a lot of good form and

Marco has come into the tournament with good form but he will be up

against it now. Terrific standard Denis. Unbelievable Jason. Marco is

just a couple of shots that have cost him. It would have to be, you

say a tale of two black, you can't afford to miss these, playing to

screw back and in fact the second was a red he missed on that maximum

break, but, there were two fairly comfortable pots, OK, he wanted to

drop it in to stay on the black, but, that he knew straightaway

there, that the form that Judd was showing he could lose the frame.

You have a situation where even if you come into a tournament as a

inwith e you still stamp your authority on the next match you

play, so, not too sure that Marco Fu sitting in his chair is

super-confident as he was the moment he potted the final balls up in

Scotland. A bit of a weak break off from Judd

Trump. Got to be careful though, Marco, he has to pot this, because

there is a gap round the back of the black but he could cannon into a

red, so he has to pot this, you would feel. Well, he just missed

that red on the right. And you would say he is OK, but with Judd Trump at

the table, you are never sure, as we show you the red, just wobble in the

jaws. This one that he is looking at, is very very difficult. This red

is a long way up the cushion, to be powering it in, he had a look at it.

I think he is probably choosing the right shot. The movement to our left

which makes his cue go across to the left as well. Well. Across the face

of the ball. Amazing how it happens. One of the great Welsh player, we

will show you the movement to the side. One of the great Welsh players

used to move forward a bit. Doug Mountjoy, not too well at the

moment, Doug, if you are watching get well soon. I know he likes to go

into Mark Williams club and practise every day, not the best at the

moment, but I am sure he will bounce straight back. Knowing Doug.

Not easy to put your opponent in a lot of trouble here. Unless of

course you could somehow find... I don't want to say anything now! Not

sure what he was doing there, very aggressive. Obviously going for the

pot but misjudged it by some way, thought he could get round the back

of the black but he hit it too far thick. Almost a safety shot behind

the yellow was the way forward. Nice if the pink doesn't spot for

Marco. There is his answer. Mustn't be touching that red. When the balls

are set up at the start of the match, with the triangle of balls

and the red at the apex of the pin, that mustn't be touching.

Interesting, wasn't it. You always are, Steve, very interesting. That

was a pretty poor positional shot from Marco, he was trying to get on

the blue in such a way he could have cannoned into the pink and reds but

he left himself straight on the blue. Can he make a better job of it

this time? Well, he decided to roll through for the black. Doesn't want

to be straight. If he has an angle he might get out to a red. Look at

that, he is really going to have to force that one in. That is the trap.

The trap no snooker player likes. He done very well there.

We say sometimes Marco lacks a bit of power, he got it all right there

on that shot. Giving himself a chance to keep this

going. Albeit with a spider.

I think the thing that stands Marco in good stead, he has a fabulous

temperament. But that is a shocker he has played there.

The only possible way keeping the break going now, is, as we show you

the poor positional shot, in fact the double is not even on. If he had

a chance he could have doubled that red and wouldn't have left anything.

What has he spotted, not a plant coming to the rescue, surely? Oh,

what a bonus this is. What a bonus, if this goes in. And there it is.

A lot lucky, really. Now, looks to be in a nice position. To try and

make amends for that last frame. Judd will be sitting in his chair, a

bit aggrieved, really. He has to take full advantage of to

that good fortune when suddenly the plant appeared.

Doesn't want to do what he did in the previous frame.

Nice little nudge to get the pink into the action as well.

Increasing his positional possibilities.

You have to fancy him from this position, Denis.

He would have to do something careless or have a kick.

Nis. He would have to do something

careless or have a kick. They are not hanging about. They are coming

up to the half hour mark. Third frame, almost over. 13 seconds?

Average shot time? Incredible. You see, 64 ahead, so, one more red

and anything above the yellow will be enough to leave Judd needing a

snooker, a quick glance at the score board. He had a bash at that. I

don't think he needed to... It seemed like he hit that harder than

needed to. I couldn't agree more, Steve. He didn't even get enough

screw on it, to, no wonder he was shaking his head.

Is he going to pay for that mistake? It is not as easy this time, he is

still a strong favourite the way the balls are situated, but the frame

should have been over. This would a steal. It is not so bad with these

reds on the left-hand side cushion, for Judd Trump being a left-hander.

Obviously Marco Fu is hoping they will cause a problem.

One or two good shots away from making that relatively easy

clearance. Play for the open red there and

probably going to leave himself an angle to knock that second red away?

Well, he has done it with that shot. I, like you, thought he would play

on the black and cannon that out but Judd had other ideas.

Every ball going in the middle of the pocket at the moment. He is

looking very confident. And now, as long as he gets a good

angle on this pink, he should be able to swing across nicely for the

red in the corner, screw back for the blue. He wasn't on the pink

properly. Thought he had an angle. Yes, if he can get nicely anywhere

in that circle being a left-hander it would be perfect. He had an angle

on the brown to get over to that position.

This looks pretty good. Looks very good.

I said Marco Fu had a terrific temperament, if he loses this frame,

what a test that will be, because he should have won this frame, and he

should have won the frame before. He has played this very nicely, that is

the only thing that could have gone wrong there, that blue to yellow.

I say the only thing, obviously other things can, but the way he has

cued so far, he has made very light work of this, and it is is a massive

steal, so much more than the last frame.

He looks very comfortable on the table

There will be one more frame gfr mid-session interval. Marco will

need that badly. He hasn't lost this one yet but you

can't see Judd making a mistake, the way he is cue, it is just

straightforward. Well, knowing the significance of

this frame, you could be forgiven for being nervous, but so far not

too Mitch never, a bit out of position.

-- not too much nerves. Just this black.

Well, it's happened again, Marco Fu had a magnificent break of 64.

Missed a sitter of a red and he had to sit and watch Judd Trump come to

the table, and clear up, and take the third frame. It is 3-0.

JASON MOHAMMAD: that feeling for Marco Fu, 35 minutes played and he

is 3-0. This is scintillating stuff from Judd Trump. Absolute class.

That was sell vanesque, a that is the best thing. He thought this will

be a good clear rarns. He still had a lot of work to do, but his cue

ball in that break was magnificent. To an inch all the way through and a

deserved win in that frame from a brilliant clearance. I don't know

whether Judd Trump has somewhere to to go, he is making short work of

this. 14 seconds a shot. That is unheard of. Like roller skates on

him! Clearance was class, there is no doubt about that. Marco Fu on the

other hand, he will be kicking himself, he has missed two easy reds

that cost him two frames, look at this. He only needs this red and

another colour. He tried to hit it with power. Steve said he didn't

enjoyed to do that. Has he hit that too hard. He hit it thick, so it

looks worse. I can understand saying he hit it hard, it looks like he hit

it hard, at the same time and it has been the case, the priority is knock

the ball in, play the next shot. He didn't do that. He came up off the

shot on the big, the more or less the frame-winning ball and he has to

stay down, normally, so still on the shot, but his head was coming up. He

has to cut that out. How much of that is down to the fact he knows he

was on a good break of 56, missed that red. It is playing on his mind.

Maybe he has not settled. Maybe that is the case, listen, Marco Fu the

way he has played in the last 12 months he hasn't missed many of

those reds. Judd Trump beat Marco Fu 5-1. He on for another thrashing.

-- is he on for another thrashing? DENNIS TAYLOR: Look at this. Average

shot time confirming it. 13 seconds. I mean, there is the-of-where rang

frame time. -- there is the average frame time. Just over 11 minutes.

And Judd's had a century. Marco 64. Five breaks over 50 in three frames.

I mean it is not like Marco has not backbench at the table. Look at the

pot red success rate. 97%. Een at the table. Look at the pot

red success rate. 97%. A bit of a problem here, Judd. Looks

like a double-kiss if he plays safe. What a great shot that was.

Fantastic effort. In some ways he has to sacrifice possibly running

through. But through is a lot of pressure on Marco Fu all of a sudden

so this red, everyone though on other occasions would be pretty

guaranteed, he has made it. Well done Marco Fu.

Not just potted it, got enough of an angle on the blue, that should he

want, he can go into the pack right hand side of the pink, could open

them up, or there is the loose red at the bottom of the pack, his

choice, he is playing for the loose one. I would have liked to have gone

into a bit of the pack there. I am not going to start arguing with

Marco, he is a winner. A lot of players would have gone

straight into the pink there. As I mentioned earlier he has made

435 centuries in his career, he knows how to break. This is tougher

going into it from the black. There is another one still

available, so... That helps, but after this one, it is going to start

getting more difficult. Quite a tight pack, and wile he couldn't

have guaranteed a nice split from the blue, it is not a guarantee off

the black either. He will be happy to see that red come over the

middle. And he will be happy to see a little

gap to cue between the reds, he is not hampered. Got plenty of action

on this one. White kept spinning. For a while it looked like he was

going to be in trouble. So what Marco Fu has to do is win

this frame in in visit. Wary of the fact that Judd Trump is chomping at

the bit for a counter punch. Nice if this red goes next to the pink.

3-1 at the mid-session interval. He wouldn't feel all that bad, because

he knows he could quite easily have won the last two frames. I mean he

made a break of 56 and lost that and then 64 and lost the previous frame.

Just cutting out the little mistakes he has been making, he hasn't made

many but they have been so costly the way Judd is playing.

He has to be careful with this next one, when he plays the red, he has

to play with top-spin to make sure he pushes through the other red and

leave pink or black. Top-spin applied, and, he is not hampered. He

is OK. This could turn out to be an

absolute cracking match. All of that match play temperament that Marco Fu

showed in coming back against John Higgins, he is going to need it

today. Showing a lot of character here,

isn't he, after what has just gone before in the two previous frames.

So he has been in first, in, well, all three frames.

That is the frame safe, and now he can settle down.

It is going to be roughly 45 minutes for four frames. That is going some.

He said he made a break of 56, 64 and a possible century here, but I

am 3-1 down. Tough game. Yeah, it remains to be

seen if those two frames that Judd Trump stole will come into the

equation at the end of the match. One thing is for certain, though,

Marco Fu amongst the balls. Looking every bit as fluent now.

A brilliant response, this, from the man from Hong Kong. It really is. He

can't beat the biggest break of the event. They have knocked these four

frames off as quick as John and Ken were talking about how to respot the

black. Marco playing a bit of an exhibition shot there.

APPLAUSE I can't wait for the second half of

this match. Absolutely fantastic from Marco Fu.

He looks a bit pleased with himself, and so he should be. That brilliant

frame takes into the mid-session interval, where he trails 3-1.

STUDIO: We have ten centurions. Marvellous stuff.

They are not giving any value for money. 44 minutes played, for frames

played. -- four frames. What a response from Marco Fu. A wonderful

100 break. He went about it a different way. He is more of a

cherry picker when he makes a break, but a fantastic response considering

what happened. You could see the confidence coming

back. A great response from Marco after losing those couple of frames,

or when they were at his mercy. They are making the table pockets look

like buckets. Believe me, we know they are not buckets, they are tied

pockets. They are making it look easy.

Do you think there is a difference when you come to the Masters, no

disrespect to the other players on the circuit at the UK Championship

or the Crucible, but you are playing the top 16 players here. If you find

yourself down, there is not long to get back into the match, and you

have to get off on the front foot. No place to hide on the table,

everything is on you. You are the centre of occasion. You are playing

the best, and you had to be at it from Bull one.

The players will be back shortly. In the meantime, Marco Fu made the

final in 2011 when it was at Wembley Arena. He lost to Ding Junhui.

Earlier this week he sat down for a chat with Ken.

Marco, welcome. The Masters is a special tournament. It is one of

those tournaments that the players like to put on the bucket list to

try to get their hands on the wonderful trophy. It is such a

prestigious event, because I have been watching this tournament since

I was a kid. A lot of classic moments from the Masters.

Your early days, though, you played in the conference centre originally.

It was first experience of the Masters.

I played Jimmy White. I got a wild card and played him the first time I

was there. I was speaking to Stephen Hendry before the match. Actually, a

week before the match. He was saying, first round, maybe, 1800

people, something like that. Be prepared for that...

the introduction of Jimmy White already scared me. Before you even

walked up the stairs, you could hear the crowd roaring. It was a special

place. What about the home now. You got to the final against Ding in

the arena, but that was a special moment. It was the first time we had

had two Asian players in a major tournament. Special for you guys.

Very special. It was a disappointing end to a very good tournament for

me. I had beaten 's top players to get to the final but would not play

well in the final, losing 10-4. I was very proud to get to the

final, both of us Asians, a lot of people tuned in to watch ask over

100 million people watching the final. A proud one for me, but

disappointed I didn't play better. What a week he has had, Marco Fu!

APPLAUSE You are a quiet, unassuming type of

character, personality, nothing phases you. You would be a great

poker player, but when you are on the table, it is a different story.

You are one of those silent assassins.

I try to control my emotions. I am not like the players like Stephen

Hendry, he has such a killer instinct. He doesn't really want to

beat you, he wants to kill you on the table! I haven't got that,

honestly. I just want to keep my emotions in control. That is my

strength. I want to keep myself calm and play my best snooker. But

sometimes I like a bit of motivation and inspiration for which some

players can black, but you can't have it both ways.

You seem to have got that back. You started off as world amateur

champion, coming into the game with a big reputation. You might have had

a lull, but now going into your 40s, you are coming into some fantastic

form, a great win in December against John Higgins in his own

backyard coming from 4-1 down. You are coming into the tournament with

confidence. I played very well in Scotland. It is just one of those

tournaments that you know straightaway, because the first two

matches I played really well, I knew I would be there a week. In the

final, it was my worst game of the week.

John Higgins will be happy to hear that! Cut!

It was just a great feeling to be able to win a tournament

convincingly. You really have to play well to win a tournament, and I

would love to obviously play Mark Selby, even if he doesn't play well,

you can win tournaments. You have become a family man, you

are married with two young daughters as well. Has it helped you settle

down a little bit more? It is not easy for players to live in another

country in a different environment, has it helped you? Having family

definitely settles me, because knowing that winning and losing is

not the most important thing, the most important thing is happiness

and health. Sometimes losing a match, going back home and being

able to play with them, you forget the pain of losing straightaway. It

is really good in that way, but the tough part is I need to be away from

home for a long time of the year. That is very, very difficult. That

is probably my biggest weakness, going into matches. But knowing that

if I lose, I can go back home and see them, it takes a bit off your

killer instinct, and it can be a weakness.

What about your opponent, Judd Trump, he comes with a big

reputation, a very exciting player, with a big fan base and big fan

following, particularly here in London. How will you approach that

game? Is it just another game to you? Do you play different players

differently? I try to play the same against different players, but it

will be a tough game. Playing Jud is like playing Ronnie or Jimmy in

London. But I have been here before, so I know what it takes to win. But

my record against him is not great, to be honest. But I am playing a

little bit better now. I have just went back a tournament, so the

feeling for this match is different compared to before. -- just won a

tournament. What does it mean for Marco Fu to lift that trophy on a

Sunday night? The Masters trophy. I have come close to winning double

crown events over the years. I have two semis in the world, and finals,

but I have never really won anything over the years. Triple Crown events

are the ones you love to win. Hopefully this is my week.

OK, very best of luck to you. STUDIO: He just abraded his 39th

birthday, still playing ever so well. -- celebrated. He is an

unassuming character. You would not know he is in the room at all, but a

lovely lad. He is playing fantastic. A huge frame before the interval. He

will be feeling better. It will be a cracking finale.

He lives and breathes it as well, Jason. Many years ago when I was

playing the circuits, one of his first matches was against me. He can

remember everything, I can't remember last week. He is a real

student of the game. He has never changed. He is a lovely lad now and

was then. He has been here since Sunday, I

think. Coming into practice every day with Wayne, his coach, so he is

a really lovable lad. And a worker. He is 39, fair play to Marco Fu, we

were in York in December, looking at the draw for the third round, where

six Chinese players were through to the third round. Not many of them

then progressed in the tournament. We endlessly talk about when a big

explosion is going to happen, when are the Chinese players going to

come through and threaten major finals? Let's ask Ken, playing with

them. Which ones have you seen? There are a couple of young lads.

The two lads that won the World Cup. There are three that stand out for

me. They are all around not even 20 yet. They are very young, but they

will be the next big thing from China.

We know how popular the sport is in China, especially with Ding Junhui.

The adulation for the players from Thailand, we need one from Germany,

Belgium, come on, boys, get the cue out and get practising. Thank you

very much indeed. If you are tuning in and want to get

up to speed with how the Masters is looking. Let's bring you up-to-date.

This is how we are shaping up. Ronnie O'Sullivan is the first man

through to the last eight. You'll Robertson and Ali Carter get

underway tonight at 8pm tonight on the red button. Judd Trump leads

Marco Fu 3-1. Mark Allen is through after beating John Higgins. Ding

Junhui saw off Kyren Wilson 6-3. Shaun Murphy takes on Barry Hawkins

tomorrow night. Two former Masters champion 's clash at 1pm tomorrow,

Selby against Williams. We want to know more about our

snooker players on the circuit here at the Masters, so we thought we

would get a graphologist to look at the handwriting of Neil Robertson.

This writing is very large, because from the top of the key to the

bottom of the GS 15 millimetres. They could be left-handed.

See a stroke that is expanding, it can be worrying, because there is an

increased pressure, pushing, and it can have a bullying quality. In this

situation, one can see that the writing style started light on the

left. It is a marvellous example of somebody in the right job, because

look at the fact that you have the cue coming off to the right, and

bouncing balls in the middle. He is symbolically saying, "This is the

job I want to do". He is optimistic. He has a writing baseline. He is

trying to do his best. But there is a tendency for him to try to do too

much. Do you see the way that there is a touching of the low zone to the

top of the next line. When you have the overlap of lines, it is somebody

who is doing too much. There can be too much going on that they're

planning ability can suffer. In addition to that, there is a

tremendous need to retain. If you look at the pressure under the

microscope, it is going from a light down stroke, to a heavy upstroke.

Actually, in writing, quite the opposite should be the case. This

down stroke should be heavy, and this upstroke should be lighter.

When you have this displaced pressure, as it is called, it is

somebody that has a tremendously strong need to retain, which is a

positive thing if you are a competitive player. There is an

extra stroke in some of the places. Look at the way that the O has been

finished. This is somebody who is a perfectionist. The issue here is,

when you have connected writing, somebody that is a logical thinker,

it can set up a slight indecision. I will do that, should I.

The actual follow-through is sometimes not complete. But slight

indecision about where should I go is showing in the structure of the

letters as well. Again, it would be interesting to

see this person playing, to see whether they move around the table

and consider a lot of shots before actually going forward and taking

that shot. STUDIO: I hope Adam never see the

notes I make, otherwise he would have a field day! He mentioned

indecision a few times. Can we relate that to Neal's west around

the table? Absolutely not. If anyone is focused

and knows what to do it is Neil. This is a tournament Neal has done

well in. He has had three finals in this venue, so he likes the venue.

He was beaten last year, the best best of 11 I have seen against Judd

Trump. He loves the big events. After a slight hiatus in the season

for him by his standards, he will be keyed up for this.

I talked to him about his 20 15th championship, and he crashed out in

the last 32 of the World Championship.

He has not regained his form from 2015. He is a class player. Even

class players go through peaks and troughs.

I am sure 2017 will be one of the forerunners for him.

He has just played in the championship league last week, 13

centuries, so he is back. Neal takes on Ali Carter this

evening. It is on the red button at 7pm, highlights on BBC Two with

Hazel. We have been looking at his game.

We have some fluid and heavy school was on the circuit, and Ali Carter

comes into that category. Yes, what an incredible match

player. Very tough to beat -- scorers.

He can get upset with himself sometimes.

What about his technique? His technique is one of the best in the

game. He has a short bridge, so he is close to the cue ball, keeping

very still on the shot. Times the ball really well.

The fact that he is centralised in his striking, ie he is not dominant

left or right, he can bring the cue back in a straight line, and push

back in a straight line. Not many players can do that.

He has had well-documented health problems, but to come back and wind

won't is amazing. Tremendous what he has done.

Tremendous fighting character. He works very hard. Perhaps I have been

on at him when I have tried to help Ali in the past. I always feel he

could be even better than he is. I feel that he did win more

tournaments than he has done. Sometimes I wish he had the

dedication of a Stuart Bingham or a Shaun Murphy, or a Mark Selby. But

that might just be his character. He likes to prepare for certain

tournaments, especially the World Championship, and it works for him.

He has arguably been unlucky to run into Ronnie O'Sullivan in two of

those finals. Absolutely. The way he was playing during the

World Championships, he would have had an outstanding chance against

any other player in the world to become world champion. I still

believe he can become world champion, because he has so many

things in his favour. Technically, he is brilliant. He has got a great

fighting mental attitude, he really, really does want to win badly. It

means an awful lot to him. It is quite interesting for me to work

closely with Ali. We have worked on a few things specifically on the

mental side of the game. I see a completely different player from the

player that I first started working with 4-5 years ago.

You are close to him. Do you honestly think he is ectopic player?

Absently. -- a top eight player. Ali has great bottle. Under pressure, he

is capable of doing whatever he needs to do.

STUDIO: And he is one of the sharpest dresses on the tour as

well. You can see how he gets on tonight in highlights on BBC Two

with Hazel, live coverage, 7pm, red button and online. You know where to

go. Every ball this year 's live on the BBC. Back to this afternoon,

Judd Trump leads Marco Fu 3-1. Marvellous entertainment.

All we want is more the same. Yes please.

A big frame for Marco, this one. Good stuff, back to our commentary

team, Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis. COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Jason. Let's

hope this match continues. From where it left. Fabulous from both

players. Of big breaks. Both players have had a century. Marco's to rivet

130 two win his first frame just before the mid-session interval. As

Ken Doherty said that, although it is best of 11, this is a key frame

coming up, 4-1. Look at the pot success rate, it has jumped up from

Marco to 93. Judd is still at 96. Only two points separate them. Just

a containing safety there. Only three different in balls

potted. I know there are three interested

spectators watching, his son Damian and his lovely wife Anneka have just

arrived back from hospital with their new baby boy Hunter that was

born yesterday. His grandad will soon put him to sleep listening to

Steve and me. Now, is he going to get away with

this? He has. I say he has Marco might

have a go with the red to the left corner, and leave himself on the

black. He can't get to that one. Not a good potting angle anyway.

Maybe he can see enough of it. Yeah, yeah, he can just see past the

brown. So he didn't get away with it there,

Judd. APPLAUSE You can see by the amount of time

Marco is studying this that it's not a foregone conclusion for position

on a red. A marvellous shot. If he's not on a

ball there, he can count himself very unlucky.

He might have to take a tricky one into the right middle. He is looking

to see if the one will go in the left middle pocket. That would be an

easier pot. If it does, there is a gap to screw. He can get through to

that one, just, I think. Just about. Doesn't really want to pot the pink,

I don't think. That could be the only reason why he didn't get

straight down on this. Taking a bit of time to work it out,

and now goes for the pink, so happy with the situation. I don't exactly

know where the pink spots. That's the only reason he didn't

want to be playing that. It ties up another red.

Oh... that is a bad mistake if he's not on this. He should have been

nowhere near that red. Tempting fate really.

He had to play it with a trace of side and he didn't get enough side

on it. It was so easy. Oh, that is careless. Didn't get the required

side on that. Quite a margin for error, played with left-hand side,

but not quite enough on it. That's a let off for Judd Trump.

So far in this match, nearly all of the unforced errors have come from

Marco Fu. But he is still potting nicely. APPLAUSE

That brown is nicely over the pocket. It was a poor safety shot

from Judd, it has to be said. That's not the best kiss in the

world. I suppose he had to play it that

way. He didn't have to try and shift everything around. And these are not

certainties. APPLAUSE Bit wider on the blue than he

wanted, so not trusting to luck this time by going into balls. He's

trying to keep it in open play. He's lost the cue ball a bit there.

I'm sure he wanted to be on the one to the left of the table.

Perhaps he was going for these two on the right-hand side, but he is

short of pace on bones. -- combos. So, a missable read now. -- short of

pace on those. APPLAUSE Good recovery pot, but the wrong

side of the blue. But that red to the left of the bunch is on for him

if he screws back a couple of feet. He can be on that, as you can see,

on the left side of the blue line there. He has to leave a

medium-range pot. Yeah, the only trouble with this is,

the cue ball in this break is doing a bit more mileage than he would

have wanted. Trying to get the right side of

balls from distance is harder than when you are close in. Once again,

looks to be a bit short on the blue. The worst scenario is straight.

REFEREE: Foul. Talked himself into playing that

with a bit of right-hand spin. Trying to twist the black in. Very

tight. Yeah, trying to play that with a trace of side is difficult.

He could have rolled the blue in and left the red. There is a read

between the black spot and the pack. He could have left that. But it was

a tricky pot. He was asking a little bit much to just bend it slightly to

create a potting angle on the black. Not much Judd Trump could do with

that shot other than get it down the table.

Got the pace wrong. Marco doesn't pot it, and now Judd Trump, should

he wish to, can open the reds up a bit more. You get the feeling that

Judd only needs one chance in a frame.

I don't know know... Marco can come down the right side of the table.

But he has to be careful with this red. Could sneak over the left

corner. It almost went right over the corner

as you predicted, Steve. But look at the cue ball, the length on that is

terrific, and while that is a big pocket, if he can't get through to

cut the one end that the near the pocket. Look where the cue ball is,

but there is no easy safety, he will have to attempt... He has not come

up to look at how the red is lying over the pocket but you feel as if

he has a big margin of error on that red that is is a bit further up. But

he is playing the safety or possibly the shot to nothing.

He has a good cue ball if it keeps running. What a shot this is. That

is a face fascinating situation. Perhaps the Judd Trump of old would

have got down and played the big pocket shot as we could call it in

the game, but Judd showing some maturity and perhaps just, waiting

for a better chance, not... Panicking at the first opportunity

an he has put the pressure on Marco here. Can Marco lay on the pack?

There is not much of a pack. Yes, a pack of three. Yes.

And very difficult to get through to the red, that is over the pocket. He

is trying to see if he can come off a couple of cushions, but this is so

tough here. It is not a bad effort if he hisses

the pink. It might be in the pocket though, but it wasn't a bad effort.

How has he not hit the red? The ultimate miss that.

If anything wasn't a miss it was that but it is a miss. Can he find

that angle again, it is going to be difficult. The referee is allowed to

not call a miss under those circumstances but the modern day way

is you call it. He has it this time and he has got away with it.

Well almost got away with it. The red will pot. It is not easy but it

will go. Oh. All of a sudden, I said it

wasn't easy and all of a sudden, from being in a terrible position,

Marco Fu is back at the table with a chance.

Yes, I think the reason he did get away with it, is that Judd Trump was

expecting an easy opportunity from that and all of a sudden he comes to

the table with a bit more pressure than he thought was possible. That

is the first relatively easy ball I think Judd has missed.

But that escape of Marco, he has to go so close to the pink, to even

give himself any chance of hitting that red. I mean that was pinpoint

accuracy, you won't see a better escape than that.

Watch how close he goes to the pink here, slides past. Amazing.

This is his third attempt to win this frame, in open play.

You would expect him to convert this chance.

Once again he just about gets on the right side of the colour. That

looked a bit lazy that cue ball, as it came back.

He is carrying on where he left off before the mid-session interval, is

Marco. As I say, he showed a lot of

character after losing two frames where he made breaks of 56 and 644

to bounce back with 130. This is the longest frame of the match so far,

but the balls did go a little awkward.

That is the frame safe. I think he didn't panic when he was

3-0 down because of what he did to John Higgins in the Scottish Open

final, he was 4-1 down and won eight frames in a row. You know, that is

always going to be in the back of your mind, so you don't tend to

panic, and he didn't. And it is two in a row to be one

behind. I did mention before the mid-session

interval, I thought this could be a cracking match, it could prove to

be. Because they are both playing really well. Both 95%, with the pot

success rate. Terrific stuff. This crowd is being royally entertained

here in the Ally Pally this afternoon.

He has currently got the same pot success rate, although it doesn't

feel like that for some reason. It feels like Marco has made more

mistakes, but that is the way it is. Well, that is another fabulous

clearance there from Marco Fu. Breaks of 130 and that break of 88

is only one behind now, it is 3-2 to Judd Trump. Long may this last,

because this is a cracker, it has the hallmarks of being another

blistering match here It had the look of that with Marco coming in in

good form. Judd having a good record against him and the two current

players in good form. There is a situation which is very strange,

where if you look at the table, Marco is in all sorts of trouble

here, and he has to get out of a snooker. He looks like he has enough

reds, you think he is he going to get out of this? If not lose the

frame be pegged back in the frame, and to his in a couple of shots

later, he gets in and wins the frame off it. But this was a brilliant

attempt. Sneaks past the pink. Hits the red. Doesn't get the double-kiss

in the first place, which is great but to get out of that. Judd missed

and he was back in. To get out of that is clever. He has showed a lot

of character, Marco. He has. He hasn't pressed the panic button.

That will come from the confidence of beating John Higgins in Scotland.

When you are playing well you don't press the panic Button. He is calm

and he has taken his chances as he got them. All 06 a sudden from Judd

Trump looking like he was going to runway with this he has been pegged

back. The deficits are worse and seem insurmountable when you have no

form but that is not the case with Marco. So a break of 88 has got

Marco Fu right back in this one. DENNIS TAYLOR: no easy way back down

the table so just the containing safety shot.

Well, that is very careless from Marco, there. The red shouldn't have

been anywhere near the yellow. He has overcut it. Manufacture He has

overcut it so lost a bit of his rhythm at the minute, Judd. He never

looked like missing in the three opening frames. Just overcut that,

probably with a trace of side on it. Not sure what, I think Marco hit

that far too hard. He was playing for the blue. If it hadn't caught

the middle pocket it might have finished up on the black. The red

close to the pocket, sometimes it is a bit difficult to judge what you

are doing with the cue ball. Take some shot to keep this break going.

A bit adventurous to play the two ball plant at distance. It is not

got the most cue power to be able to swing this round for the top

cushion. So trundling through, has he left himself... Enough of a gap

to play this outside red? Oh, there was a bit more of an angle, so he

couldn't do that. So he can get to this red.

Well recovered. And this time he has to go into the

pink, there is only one red, so plenty of power, try and hit the

pink full ball. Well he is still playing for the

loose red, that is amazing. Well I think, has he got there? Has it just

got there? Doesn't look like it. Well I, like you, thought that was

the time to go in. Ken was, John was saying in the studio it is not his

way to go into the pack. It wasn't perfect situation to go in, the pink

was away from the apex of the reds there. So many shots on the snooker

table you think I wish I could have that one again. Has he got this

behind the yellow? He needs to get it there.

Can Judd Trump just get past? I don't think so.

It is tight. So, a few questions on Judd know. --

now. 3-0 up, never nice to sacrifice a

3-0 lead, is it? Just lost a bit of rhythm, he needs a chance to get in

among the balls again. Meanwhile he has to play a few good

safeties to create that chance. And this is pretty good.

That nice flick on the brown has snookered Marco. He can't go down

the left-hand side. So a bit of danger here. He is not snookered on

the reds, so he, he has to go for one. Within three visit. If he

didn't like the situation he could go off the side cushion and play

into the pack or play a containing shot, but a bit of a problem.

Because he has to cover that red, that is near the right corner, and

he is looking over there, to see, he can find a path round to that

position, but he only has the blue to snooker Judd on. So let us see if

he can judge this, he will have to be perfect. He has found the gap.

But I think he has hit it a little bit too hard. It was tough that.

Yes, he has, but this is a big shot now. It is not a certainty. Choices

of reds. Enough distance it is not guaranteed.

As I say, he needs an easy starter just to get a bit of rhythm going.

It is a similar sort of shot for Marco Fu here.

He will be delighted with where the cue ball has ended up.

Wow. He had to give it a bash but he kept that cue on the line and this

black gives him a great chance if he can get this in and it's in.

What a match player, Marco Fu is. He has gone ahead in the pot success

department, Marco, he is now at 96. Fabulous stuff.

Well, from both players. And as you mentioned at the start,

Steve, they have played each other 11 times, and Judd Trump has won

nine of those, you wouldn't think it, the way Marco is going about

this. That is not marvellous, but he has

got pots on, but lost the cue ball a bit. When you think Dennis, how well

Judd Trump started this match off. He looked insinceable. Take --

invincible. Marco Fu has bags of experience and

that bit of confidence. He is making what could have been a very bad day

potentially a wonderful one. Ooh! Well, it has just turned into

bad day again. The twist and turns.

Now, earlier in the day, Judd Trump would have mopped these up. Bit more

difficult now He has played a shocker. Now he is forced with a

very tricky cut back. He thought he had enough side to swing it out

nicely on the black. Good recovery though.

That is what he can do, he is a devastating potter. There is a lot

more balls to be potted, but arguably that could be the most

important shot of the day for Judd Trump.

He committed to that black. Knew it was tough.

Will that be the Springboard for another counter attack?

Not the best opportunity. Opportunity.

Of the ones he had. A few reds round the pink that look awkward. Not sure

what he played for? Did he play for the one... The one below the pink.

That doesn't go, does it? Wonderfully on this black should he

want to go into the reds. Didn't get a great split. He is still in

position. That is my favourite shot of the

game. The stun run through. I really love that shot. Takes a lot of

practise to perfect that. That is a lovely shot. You hit it in

the centre and punch it, and the white just follows through about 18

inches. Cue ball has come a bit further away

from the cushion for it to be comfortable here. He has a bit of

stretching to do. I think he is just OK, just coming

round to check there, if the the red that is two from the pink will go.

He needs that red on the right side cushion. That is Marco Fu's current

insurance policy. He didn't feel as if the red would go, that is why he

played the cannon. It could have worked out a bit better for him.

Another good recovery pot. Just a lit check of the score board

to work out if he does need this red, he could have argued he should

have worked out earlier, but it would be highly critical to say

that! Yes, he has to move it, hasn't he, and needs a good angle now.

From where he has ended up, it is not easy to get this red out, to

guarantee collision with it. He is left handed, so not so easy to drop

on to the side cushion, so he is going for this to knock it out. Not

just the direction, it is the pace. Great effort. Great effort.

APPLAUSE Especially played from Judd Trump.

-- especially played from Judd Trump. And he will be feeling a lot

better and a lot of his sport earths will be, because Marco Fu was just

starting to take control of the match. -- supporters.

This has stopped the rot for Judd. Didn't get much of a chance, the two

previous frames. Just lost a bit of rhythm. Once he got in among them,

he has looked just the way he did at the start of this match.

Apparently Judd has been playing magnificent in practise in the build

up to this event. And he has answered a few questions here today.

4-2. JASON MOHAMMAD: when Marco was in, I

thought I wonder whether Judd is thinking to what happened in

December when he was 5-1 Apparently Judd has been playing

magnificent in practise in the build up to this event. And he has

answered a few questions here today. 4-2.

JASON MOHAMMAD: when Marco was in, I thought I wonder whether Judd is

thinking to what happened in December when he was 5-1 up against

John Higgins thinking "Oh no, I am not going here again." It can happen

like that. That was a very important frame for him, just to make that

break there, ultimately Marco will kick himself. He looked like he was

getting level in that and through him a lifeline. All credit to Judd,

he was starting to teeter. Under pressure, he missed a couple, you

know, but the one, the last shot, the black, knocking out the red, he

knew he had to get the red off. This is a great shot. Fantastic. It is

about the pace here, he didn't hit it too hard. He has #e6ry confidence

to knock it out and any sort of shot. There is is a bit of luck

involved in that shot. If you get cushion and you can knock it past.

The way he played it was right way to play, giving himself every

chance. When you are leading 4-2 does it make a difference? What it

makes a difference is when you look at being pegged at 3-3. He has gone,

he has gone out, gone to come back, he will get composure back and come

back and the 4-the is the difference, when you look like you

are being pegged 3-3. It will steady him a bit. During that frame, he was

looking a bit edgy because he missed a couple of easy reds and Marco was

looking like he was getting on top. Marco's decision making in that

particular frame, why didn't he go into the pack off the blue? He tried

to get on the loose red, instead of going on the run. Make the frame

from that position. You made a good point as we went into that six frame

as well, saying Marco hasn't played badly. He is playing well. This

there is moments of, lapses of concentration, whether it is never,

unlucky. The best players are here here. You might miss a shot like

that and get away with it with someone lower down the rankings but

you don't here. Let us see what Marco has as Judd Trump closes in on

a place in the last eight. DENNIS TAYLOR:. Best of 11, the

first player to six, still a lot of snooker to be played here this

afternoon, and just the odd mistake, and pretty careless one from Marco

in that last frame, cost him. Maybe knocked a bit of the

confidence out of him. He was right in and he missed one with the rest.

Look at this. It is just a straightforward, just roll it in.

And that would have got him back to three each. He was right in among

them there. And I think that might be the big

turning miss in this match. Did very well to get that cue ball

the correct side of the blue. Massive advantage the amount of cue

power Judd Trump has. A far greater range of shots than

his opponent can play. It is not something you can really learn to

do, hitting the ball hard, it is your reflexes, still got to get it

accurate. It is like a golf shot. You can't teach someone to spin the

ball back on the green. It is like, how can you teach someone to screw a

ball back, eight foot? Meanwhile, he... He has messed it up. Unless

something goes in the pack we can't see. It is pretty poor shot. Can't

work out what he was playing. Miles away from where he needed to

be, unless he was trying to get the cue ball in the middle of the table

to get it past the pink. He's ended up playing a pretty ropey shot.

Didn't get any action on the cue ball, perhaps he was coming down to

cannon the pink. Really don't know... Decent safety shot from

Marco, flicks the brown or doesn't, either way, pretty good.

This is a horrible one, this could go wrong. OK, so, he won't be too

disappointed with that. That was his feeler attempt, effectively getting,

see how the ball goes down the table, see if there's any roll off.

He decided to play it then, because he can't afford to hit this shot at

all sick. So you'd expect him to make the adjustment the second time.

-- at all thick. Not too far away from where it was.

Let's have a look where it was. We can show you, it was there. Where is

it now? Just a fraction. That's perfect.

Very well executed, even though it was second attempt. Still had to be

highly accurate on that shot. Marco has a similar type of shot to play,

similar position to put him back in but he's completely butchered it.

Hit that so thick, should have been behind the yellow again. What damage

has he done here? You've got to say, even though there's a lot of reds

clustered at the top of the table, it's a chance for 5-2.

Marco's hope is after messing this shot up, I don't think he even hit

the right to red. He's just got to that because there is a big traffic

jam up the top, that Judd doesn't get a good result of this shot.

Always plenty of traffic jams around Ally Pally, not far off the north

circular. He's got a red into the left corner and that pink is begging

to be potted. He has an escape route for this. Jam.

He didn't take any time at all to work that shot out. Looped it around

the black and all of a sudden it's opened up into a genuine

frame-winning chance. Wasting no time at all. Amongst the

balls he seems to be supremely confident.

First minor mistake. It's going to be a bit further away from this red,

but you can hardly call it a true mistake. This red is far enough away

from the cushion that he won't have any problems potting it. Positional

play is a bit more difficult. Just lost the cue ball. It's the

type of situation reminiscent of a shot Alex Higgins played on that

magnificent clearance against Jimmy White in 1982. Pot the blue to the

side cushion and then screw back to the top cushion. But he's got a much

easier pink. If it goes in, positionally, anyway. It's in. Great

shot. He's lost the cue ball, though.

I think that shot wasn't available to him, the Alex Higgins special. It

was hampered by all the other red sand colours. That's right, he would

have had to lean over them. He only just dropped the pink in and it

doesn't look like he's gone far enough, looks very tight. I don't

think it goes, Dennis. It really doesn't go, I'm telling you, that

doesn't go. I believe you, Steve, I believe you. He's never going to

play it. The trouble is, I'm not sure what

other shots he plays. Going to play a safety shot to

there. Whatever he decides he's a strong favourite, because he is 59

in front and only needs a red and any colour.

Makes it a bit easier for Marco Fu to put in a good safety.

Just got to be a wee bit careful of he's going to land on these reds,

because he could leave a pot bond. He might be better playing a two

cushion escape. If he could nestle on one of the reds to the left...

There you can see, that is the snookering shadow you can see. If he

just nestles on one on the left side of the table, he can leave one along

the cushion. Just got to be a wee bit careful here.

I think I'd rather play it slowly than putting pace in. He's got the

black tied up as it is. So this way he could shift the black out.

Well, Margo, I think, can pot this. Yes. -- Mark Owen.

Although, he might not be able to control the cue ball... To his

liking. That Green's a bit of a problem, perhaps.

He could have done with missing the pink and coming up and just nudging

the black. He would have been OK. He looked as if he was going to get

straight down and try to cut this in but he's had second thoughts.

Because this is just a massive frame for him. He has to win this, 5-2,

very little chance. If he's going to play the safety shot, he should play

the one on the left of the table because that clears and opens the

black a bit better. OK, so the black is available into the right corner.

I think I preferred the other safety shot.

That's a terrific return from Judd Trump there.

That's where his game really has improved, Steve. His safety game has

certainly improved. That's effectively where Marco could have

put Judd, I think. This is tough. Marco this has got to be thin. The

danger of the thin one. Has he got the blue coming to his rescue? Yes.

Judd is seething at the moment, thinking he's got away with that.

Judd is saying that's just lucky. That's a fantastic shot.

APPLAUSE That's a pretty good one as well.

APPLAUSE Excellent judgment of pace there

from Marco Fu. On these very fast tables the cue ball lazily gets back

behind the balkline. Just kept itself away from that

corner pocket enough. To at least give Marco a problem. He'll be

possibly tempted for the double here. It is a thin one. Great shot.

What a shot that is! What a brave double, although he's

only left the red he's missing, because he played the cue ball in a

clever way. We've seen Judd steel frames. This would be another one.

This is the key shot. He could bring both reds into play. He'd certainly

love to develop one of them into a portable decision. But make sure you

don't take your eye off the pot. -- pottable position. This is a tough

one, the black is available. He has to fully commit and roll this along

with the cushion. This is such a key shot. This is for- three or 5-2,

arguably. Great shot. All the hard work done,

you'd think. But this is the important mopping up another once

you're to get. -- you're expected to get.

Earlier in the match, frame a two and three, Marco had to sit in his

seat and watch Judd clear up and pinch both frames.

Judd Trump will be sitting in his chair, thinking that Marco Fu's got

away with this. That one red he left over the pocket, and just got a

fortunate snooker behind the blue. Couldn't have accounted for that.

And that's the difference. He's got to clear that from his mind, because

he still playing great snooker. Tough at the top.

The standard continue, just gone a little bit too far. Taking it for

granted, potting all these colours. The tricky little one is the brown

to blow. -- to blue. Leaving himself distance and not enough angle to go

around the table. A lifeline for Judd Trump.

He did pretty good with that but this is still quite a thin one.

What another cracking frame of snooker. These boys are treating us

to some fabulous snooker here this afternoon. What a clearance to keep

himself right in this year's Masters. Only one behind now, 4-3 to

Judd Trump. If you're just tuning in, the question is, where have you

been? It's not often you get members of the audience standing up, but a

few people are standing up and giving Marco a massive round of

applause. I clapped him, what a frame of snooker that was. I agree,

a little bit of luck when he chipped the red. It was only shot he had,

playing it thinking he might get behind the yellow, then he played a

double as well. He played a wonderful shot here. Could have

tried to clip it in, just went for the double. Look at the control of

the cue ball. The position on the pink was perfect. Great clearance

under pressure. As he's clearing up you think, he hasn't got the angle

on this, he's digging himself a bigger hole. But the execution, the

pink and black, tremendous. Got on the wrong side of the blue but there

was an inevitability about that. You just thought he was going to get the

clearance. The two players have played supremely well. This could be

any scoreline you like. It's worth reminding our viewers... I put you

on the spot in the practice room and you both went for 6-5. There's a

reason why we implore you! Is there?! Answers on a postcard. Let's

go back to Dennis and Steve. I'm certainly enjoying every minute

of this match. The breaks have been fantastic. Judd Trump has had 79, 50

three. Marco has had 56, 64 and 30, 88 and 50 eight. Brilliant stuff.

He's come up a little bit sure and maybe the red is going to come to

his rescue. Don't think he will get through to the one you can clearly

see there. He can't. Not too sure what Marco is looking

at here. Got to be kept with it, play off the side cushion to keep

the white ball in the jaws of the top corner pocket. Just checking

whether he fancies, whether Judd is going to go for a pot. He's changed

his mind. This doesn't go very good, he's overhit it I think, no, he's

OK. He thought he'd overhit it. Perhaps that does go, I don't know.

A genuine chance, a bit easier than I thought it was at first glance.

Judd will be disappointed he missed that. A great effort to get position

on the black, as well. Psychology plays such a big part in

the game of snooker. Judd would have been thinking in the last game, I'm

going 5-2 in front here. It looked odds-on that he was going to do

that, then all of a sudden he's back and he's just one in front. It's

just keeping yourself sitting in your chair in the correct, positive

frame of mind. It's an awful lot of work, mentally, to be able to do

that. The one thing this whole match,

Dennis, I don't think we've had, I don't want to bring it up really, I

don't think we've had one kick. I can't think of one, can you? The

table seems in good condition, balls playing wonderfully, I don't think

it's been an issue in the tournament, so far. Once the players

start trusting the balls to this level, the standard could go through

the roof. Well, I think the standard from all the players has been

superb. They are the top 16 players in the world. Playing at one table

venue, no distractions. That's why we're seeing such a high standard.

And that's why we're seeing some terrific crowds so far. We are only

on day three and the place has been packed most days. They love their

snooker in this part of the world. Of course, we've met people from all

over the country who have attended from different parts of the world,

also. Got a heavy contact there, but he's

OK. I told you not to mention kicks, Steve!

Is the first one, I think. Obviously as the table gets more and more

finger marks and roughed up, that may have an effect. Don't know if

that had anything to do with it. Table brushed and Ireland, or at

least brushed, in the interval. -- and ironed.

Definitely a chance here, for the highest break of the tournament. He

won't necessarily be thinking about that. He has a frame on his brain.

Didn't get that ideally right, that has he got the gap? Perfect.

Couldn't have asked for better. Here's a prediction, Dennis. Even

without red on the side cushion which looks pretty acute on the side

pocket, highest break of the tournament coming up. That's a big

prediction, Steve. But the way he's playing, you

wouldn't put it past him. The main thing is to secure the frame and get

himself back all square. From 3-0 down, that is quite an achievement.

This high standard continues. Marco just had a quick glance round

and he knows if he pops this red, Judd will need a snooker. 132 is the

highest break so far this year. Stuart Bingham made that last night

when he finished up losing 6-1 to Joe Perry.

I don't suppose losing 6-1 he'll be disappointed, he had a new baby

daughter on Saturday, so he would have been glad to get back home and

see his wife and daughter, who was born on Saturday. Not great on the

black. So, lost ideal position. Can he hold

for the blue? Too wide for that. A lower scoring colour, dropping a

few points. And while he's mopping this up, it's

getting to the stage where he may make the highest break of the event,

but it may not end up staying that. A nice little prize for the highest

break, ?10,000. Well, there's another magnificent

century. It is Marco's second in this year 's Masters. 137 now...

That's not great. It's going to be difficult now. 12

centuries so far on day three. Not quite. What a shame! A fabulous

effort, and that century break has got the man from Hong Kong all

square. It's four frames each, what a match. 12 centuries so far in the

Masters. We could be an course to see the breaking of the record. If

they keep playing like this, it was an believable match, wonderful

exhibition of how to keep close, tight cue ball control. Steve was

nearly right, I thought he was going to get the highest break as well.

Only nine players in the history of the sport have made over 400

centuries and Marco Fu is one of them, as is Judd Trump. If we said

to most people, tell me the nine people, Marco Fu's name possibly

wouldn't be in there. But we know how good he is. How has he got

himself back into this? Composure and confidence is a big thing. We

spoke numerous times about that when in December against John Higgins and

how well he played from 4-1 down to reel off nine frames in a row. He's

kept that going here. He looks in total control. Even when he was 3-0

down, he didn't panic, didn't push the boat out, just waited for his

chance in every chance he's got, he's taken. It's been fantastic up

until now. Now we are going to learn so much about this man's composure.

Yes, one thing he doesn't want to do is turn up to this event being one

of the top three we've got and let it go in the first round. It could

happen. To be honest, it's no disgrace whoever loses this match

because the standard has been so high. We have a best-of-3. The crowd

loving it, a bit noisy and there, Denis?

Just one fella got excited and shouted, it's nice to have the

atmosphere and a bit of noise between frames but not on the shot.

It was tried a few years ago to play the game of snooker with lots of

noise during play. It doesn't work at this game.

I was very lucky to go to India, where the game of snooker was

invented. I was playing on the table where the first frame of snooker was

played. A very emotional. And what happened, did he take a

slightly? He was only dropping it in and walked away very quickly.

He was playing a delicate little cannon. We've seen that a few times.

This could really open them up. There are plenty of loose threads

but he will probably open even more of them up.

He's certainly done that, that's for sure. Knowing full well it is not

guaranteed position of the ball. Once again, this short as well,

opening more reds up, now look at them. Two shots later he's got the

frame at his mercy. Absolutely dead straight, as you can

see. He knew he was going to make contact

with that red. It was then enough. Judd Trump looks to be in fantastic

form. Still have no idea about the outcome of this match. How often do

you play so well? Still the potential to come unstuck. I think

he's got the edge over Marco Fu. He could already have won the match.

That's how well he's played, even though he's made elementary

mistakes. They've both put on an unbelievable display for us. There's

been a break of over 50 in every single frame.

Short of pace but only needs this and the colour. Really doing the

damage. Bit of a stretch. He will be delighted with the

outcome of that. It was a little bit risky. Could have caught that read a

fraction thicker. That is to win the frame. Arguably, this is to win the

frame. Absolutely stunning, this snooker we are watching this

afternoon. It has been fascinating. Marco Fu has been playing a great

rearguard action. Really digging in. Even though it has been fast and

furious, it is a clash of styles. Different storylines unfolding.

Judd Trump has moved that read and has a chance to make his second

century break. You run out of words to describe what we are watching

this afternoon. He's not going to bother with the

black. What a fabulous response from Judd Trump.

This is remarkable stuff. I said we would learn about Judd Trump's

composure but also the bravery. He's been in front and look what he's

come up with. Fantastic cue ball control. Marco Fu will be

disappointed. That is all it takes. You've got to see fair play to Judd

Trump. He was up against that. They've been like two boxers, going

round and round. It is not over yet. They've got a few frames. Doug Trump

has got his nose in front and he needs one more. Every time Marco Fu

looks like he might go in front he makes a mistake. This has got one of

those 6-5 results written all over it. The speed they are playing at.

They've gone through those mainframes, very little time. He's

playing at Lake 14 seconds every shot. Even Marco Fu, under 20

seconds. Next time you go in your snooker club, plain mainframes of

snooker and see how long you have been there. I spoke to a few fans

and they said they wanted to come to this match because they knew it

would be high quality. It has that sort of recipe about it. He's very

consistent. It had the makings of a great match. In a tournament like

the Masters, what sort of effect does it have on you when you've only

got a few days to recover? I don't think it will have any sort of

effect. Whoever comes through this match will be bursting with

confidence and cannot wait for this. It will set them up for the rest of

the week. In other sports they say, when you're grading yourself through

tournaments you become battle hardened. We have seen this before

finals, Neil Robinson, with the greatest of respect to Sean, he was

out punch to. But not in first round. You have the euphoria of

winning, the confidence of it and you will kick on from there. You've

been in this position. He looks up at the scoreboard. What goes through

his mind? Trying to force your opponent to give you a moment and

know that when the opening comes along you are able to take it. They

know what they are watching. It has been a treat.

I think seven of the name frames have been just one visit. -- nine

frames. The crowd has been treated to an absolutely special match here.

An important flick on the blue. Has he got a problem with the brown? You

expect great snooker but it's not always the case. You get matches

that are this quality. Guaranteed in the 80s there was some scrappy

stuff. The cloth is lively, the balls are not getting tied up and

when you can and into the reds with the very like cloth the game opens

up more than it used to. I'm not disagreeing with that. It is a

chance to open up and get on the black. I know they are all in

clusters but it is a chance for the match. It's an early chance. Watch

the pink. They've been winning the frames with one visit. This frame

will take them into the next round. Can he produce a match-winning

break? Streams of raids. It may cause some problems.

What a time to pick out a long part there. Obviously getting closer to

the finishing line. The tension rises. He knows he is not far away

from a place in the quarterfinals if he can keep this together and

controlling the cue ball. It will get more difficult from now on.

He just needs one good positional shot to open the side. Perhaps a

cannon on one of the five reds. Now what? Can he get through the

gap? Yes, he's on it. He went through that gap and he is on this

gap. He's already 36 in front. This next shot could pave the way for a

match-winning break. He missed that. Luckily for him he did not get the

cannon in the way he intended. He's back at the table and he's got

a chance to lay a telling safety shot. Does he try and get it tight

in behind the yellow or is that risky? Does he just play for the

politician? I think the commission is probably a good choice.

With the black over the pocket it means everything is going to be safe

in that corner so it takes pressure off the safety shot. Is there a

chance of potting this off the black? Trying to play in-off the

black? He's got the safety in mind. Might even go direct but I don't

think he's playing that way. I'm not sure what he played, perhaps

he was trying to shift the black? Is the crossed ball-on? It could

possibly be on. That is far too risky but the cross double could be

on. He is coming round to look at that. I'm not sure that helps but

he's trying to telegraph what Judd Trump does.

He's possibly getting in behind the brown.

A bit short of pace. Perhaps he was hoping he would get the position if

he potted it. This is a bit dangerous. Just

playing the red below. Not great to play into this corner,

it is the red button will part into the right middle. Maybe coming off

the top condition, that is an option he's been looking at. He is standing

down the line of this. Can have a couple of goes at it. He's got a

fair chance of getting this right. With a bit more pace this would be

excellent but this is a possibility. Marvellous. He's come to fire. Could

not keep that cue ball from trundling down. The white ball is

going to do some work. If he does not pop the green it will cannon out

to the red so it is a thin one but I think he will take on. He cannot

refuse this black. I don't think he can play it's no -- play it slow. He

is. Great shot. Very unlucky. That is a difficult shot to play. Could

have gone off-line. That has left this shot very missable.

One good positional shot and he could be right in amongst them. This

looks pretty good, needs to pull up a little bit, he's played it

perfectly. Marco Fu has played some fantastic pressure shops and just

stroking the ball in. Much easier to power up pressure shot in but he is

supremely confident coming off the back of that victory in Scotland.

What a match this would be for him to win. Really up against that for

most of the day. What a frame this would be for him to win to take it

into the decider. You don't know how this will go.

I'm not sure he is ideally placed. He could screw it back in. Anyway

there and he would have struggled. Great opportunity. Judd Trump, first

in this frame. Messed up an ideal position so he cannot complain. It

has been punch and counterpunch. I thought Judd Trump was going to go

on and clinch the match. He got that all wrong.

Any harder and it would have gone up. Look at this going in-off the

jaw. Another clear run to the winning

post. What angle does he having the black? It looks perfect.

I thought that went but perhaps not. He's not ready yet.

If it is this tight then it's a big decision to risk playing it because

ideally you'd like to play that read by the pink to create.

This thread can go in but not from the position he was in. If he does

it from up the table he will get it easily. If he plays it shorter, he's

got the flick. Got just enough power. You'd expect him to get on

the colour. That kick spoiled things. He thought

he'd missed that when he got the heavy contact. He put a bit of

right-hand spin on it. This is one of the reasons you don't play with

the plain bowl. The boys in the studio will have a big smile on

their face because they both predicted 5- for either way.

One of them is going to be right. One of these players is going to

lose this match and which ever one it is is fully justified in going

outside and smashing their head against the wall, because it's just

been such a fantastic game. An exhibition type shot from Marco Fu.

This has been a delight. I've enjoyed every single minute. What a

standard they've produced. They both had two century breaks. Judd had a

chance to close the match out. It doesn't matter about the pink. The

man from Hong Kong is still in it. He takes that frame with a break of

80 and we are all square, 5-5. You can't beat a decider.

If the BBC World Snooker are listening, I want 50% of this. What

a cracking afternoon. We see it from tournaments and think how we can to

top this match that much but this has been wonderful stuff. Judd Mr

black off the spot. He's in the balls, trying to play a little

considered cannon here and just takes his eye of the black. Marco

goes on to win the frame. This is a wonderful shot, Marco had to make