Quarter-Final: Match 3 Masters Snooker

Hello. Good afternoon to you, welcome back to Alexandra Palace and

the 2017 Masters. We at the quarter-finals stage. Big crowd in

here today. Always a special atmosphere on a Friday afternoon.

Ronnie O'Sullivan safely through to the semifinals. He will meet Marco

Fu, who at the age of 39 is showing the type of form that could land him

his first ever Masters title. The longer he looks at this, the

more it's on. It's on! It's guaranteed, as well.

He has apologised, I don't know why. No attempt to get the right side of

the blue there. Just wants to get on with it. He can get 140 with the

pink. He is asking. He is asking somebody else. He played it to the

top! Hello! Superb.

Absolutely superb. It gives him a 5-2 lead with the highest break made

in the Masters this year so far. 140.

Marco has been the star of the tournament so far. Ronnie O'Sullivan

beat Neil Robertson yesterday. Marco was sparkling last night as you have

seen. Tomorrow afternoon will be a cracker. Today our live match for

you here on BBC Two, world champion Mark Selby taking on Barry Hawkins.

Tonight it's Ding Junhui taking on Joe Perry.

Good afternoon to you, Steve Davis alongside me this afternoon. Great

to see you. Marco Fu, last night you were in commentary, a brilliant

performance. Yes and the form of a player is always changing and it's

obvious that Marco Fu is in great form but what is fascinating with

Marco Fu is he has been around in the game long enough you would think

we have already seen what escapable of, but somehow he seems to have

generated another level. He is walking around the table with an air

of confidence I don't think I have seen. He looks relaxed and

comfortable and confident and he doesn't seem to be worried about

winning or losing, he is just playing. He gave himself so much to

do in that opening match against Judd Trump that he won. He was 3-0

down at one stage. Never was there any sense of panic at all in that

match? . That's the sign of somebody superconfident about his game. Has

Marco Fu regenerated himself and gone to another level? Can he win

this event? Can he win the big ones? That's the question then. Can he

win? Yeah, he can. He is well capable of it. Obviously the

standard of players around is so strong and he anything can happen,

you need to get off to a good start is to help but he is in the form of

his life. Absolutely. At the moment Marco Fu is going to be ?10,000

richer because he has the top break of 140. We have been treated to some

magnificent snooker this week. Great noise inside the venue last night

when he made that 140. Mark Selby, you expect him to get

more centuries. In the format of this Masters 28 is the record, we

are on 18 so far. It could be broken.

Our live match this afternoon here on BBC Two sees Barry Hawkins, last

year's runner-up taking on the main man, Mark Selby.

Mark Selby going for the triple Crown. Marks out of ten for his

performances so far? I think he probably say five after the first

round against Mark Williams. Talking about form, I am not sure you can

judge the absolute counterform like you can judge form over a season. If

you are looking at the performances of Barry Hawkins and Mark Selby in

the first round, yeah, Barry Hawkins is in good, Mark a bit dodgy. But

every match is different. Do you find, I have just seen Mark and he

looks relaxed, do you think given the fact he is the world champion as

well that he relishes big moments, big crowds here today, quarter-final

match? Yeah, he is a big occasion player. Barry Hawkins is also,

perhaps not regarded in the same way but he should be. Perhaps the X

Factor is there extra pressure on Mark trying to get this triple

Crown? If he feels any more pressure it's a tougher job for him. He was

in that position in 2013 in the World Championship and Barry Hawkins

beat him in the second round so there is added pressure. Barry has a

good record against Mark, they're close in matches. So expect a tough

match today. Don't expect Barry Hawkins to fold either. OK, thank

you very much. Let's have a chat with JP in the commentary box with

our boys this afternoon. I am and this is a cracking match.

As for Mark, if you are building a snooker player and add all those

qualities together he is pretty much it. He is one of probably the best,

he is up there as one of of the best match players of all time. So hard

to beat. He has won tournaments playing his B game and that's very

difficult. Every part of his game is so good and even when he is not at

the top of his game he can still beat you. He is going for this Grand

Slam, he will be trying to put that to the back of his mind, he will

keep getting reminded of that with the press, is that bringing extra

pressure? Certainly think he brought extra pressure in his first round

match against Mark Williams, to be taken to a decider. One significant

thing, we all remember Mark Williams getting a kick on the blue. He said

after, I still thought I was going to get another shot. What a

clearance it was to win frame and match. He can do it under pressure.

He is the man to beat. Thank you very much. Let's see how Mark Selby

can do this afternoon. Can he keep up his brilliant form?

Ken, the smartest dressed man in commentary!

Steve, I remember Barry Hawkins saying that's the greatest result of

his career, will he think about that today as he walks out here? I don't

know. Every match is another day. You get yourself ready for it. Mark

will be considered the favourite for this, but when you look at Barry's

CV, finalist here at the Masters and the World Championship, it's a good

pedigree. If Barry is going to win does he have to get off to a good

start just hanging on in there? It's nice to get a lead because you put

your opponent under pressure. But you have to go with the employee.

Barry can play as well from behind as in front. It's always nicer to

get off to a good start. Am I able to put you on the spoz as I have

been doing all week and say who is going to win? You can but you will

be left hanging for the answer! Thank you very much, I will ask you

again throughout the afternoon. When you look at Barry and the way he is

playing and he has made this final and knows this venue very well. Does

he walk in with added confidence? Yeah, and he has proven to himself

that he can play in the one table set-up at the Masters, some players

struggle to do that. The other thing that occurred to me this week is the

standard we have seen is always of a high standard, the fact we have had

lots of 6-5s in the afternoon, are you surprised by that? I didn't see

the script but apparently the night-time matches are quick so we

can all go home and the afternoon matches are comfortable. I just

think that perhaps there is a little bit more fire in the room in the

afternoon sessions when it's live on BBC. The night-time sessions, once

were the big occasions, somehow seem to be more flat. That's just an

observation. The afternoon sessions, massive. Let's hope we have another

cracking afternoon of snooker live here on BBC Two. It's Barry Hawkins

and Mark Selby. Good afternoon to our MC, Rob Walker. Good afternoon,

ladies and gentlemen. We are edging closer to the Crowning of the 2017

Masters champion. Today we complete the line-up for the semifinals with

a match between a three-time champion and one of last year's

finalists. We are ready to go again here at Alexandra Palace!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING Please welcome a player who has

really found his form at the Masters in the last two visits. Runner-up 12

months ago and on Wednesday night he beat former Masters champion Shaun

Murphy 6-1 with a cracking first round win, a two-time ranking event

winner, he is poised, he is ready, here comes The Hawk, Barry Hawkins!

And his opponent, a laidback man who has an iron will to win on the

table. Coming through yet another final frame decider against Mark

Williams in the first round, he has spent more than 100 consecutive

weeks as world number one, he is your reigning world and UK champion,

the Jester from Leicester, he is Mark Selby!

Your sporting weekend starts here on BBC Two live for you. Mark Selby and

Barry Hawkins. Good afternoon again to John and Ken.

Good afternoon, Jason. Good afternoon everybody. Very

interesting match-up this. Barry Hawkins to break. The world number

one, world champion, UK champion, but the form that Barry Hawkins has

shown in his last match when disposing of Shaun Murphy in double

quick time, he will be coming into this match with lots of confidence,

Ken. Yeah, absolutely. I spoke to him afterwards and he was delighted.

Of course he got to the final last year so he has bags of experience,

Barry Hawkins. Loves playing here at the Masters. It's going to be facing

a different proposition today. Mark Selby a man in form as you said. I

am wondering whether a little bit of added pressure of trying to hold all

three majors at the same time, whether it will have any effect, he

is not that type of individual to let it affect him too much, John? I

wouldn't have thought so. He has gone through periods where he's

openly admitted that he has doubted himself and his ability.

But I think he is at one with himself now.

World number one for 100 weeks. Caught that a bit too thick.

So the first chance goes to Barry. Quite some way away from that pot.

That will unnerve him slightly. Yeah, no matter how much practice

you do on the practice table, I saw Barry with his mentor, Terry

Griffiths, nothing like when you come out here and the atmosphere.

So Mark will be relieved to get this opportunity.

He has a nice angle on the yellow. I don't think he will be going into

the pack of reds. He may try to get to the red to the right of the pink.

I am wondering whether he is drop the red in and try and take the

black next, John. He would have a nice angle on the black, if he left

the cue ball below the pack of reds and got a nice angle on the black

and he could go into the pack of reds from the black. Sounds like a

good idea to me. He can run this through and bounce

off the top cushion. Oh! He got a kick.

He has took all the pace out of the cue ball. I don't think the black is

on now. Got a heavy contact. Struggled to go in the pocket.

Can he cut the black in? I think that was the plan, the one

you suggested, Ken. Once he finished there and couldn't pot the black, he

will be frustrated with that. I have been speaking to a few players, the

table has been playing magnificently all week. Haven't seen many bounces

off the cushions or many kicks. That is one of the few occasions where a

kick has really stopped a player in his tracks. Haven't seen many of

these this week. Look at it again. Watch the red leave the table.

By and large, over the week - that's probably one of the reasons we have

seen so many century breaks, 18 so far in the tournament.

Well on the way to beat the Masters record.

I think the record is 31 centuries. That's when we had a couple of

wildcard matches, we had extra matches. I think 28 may be the

record without the wildcard matches. We are well on the way to beat that.

Yeah, the standard seems to get higher.

When you get to the nitty gritty of a tournament, as we are now, playing

for a place in the semifinal, tension does build.

A quick glance at it. He will play the easier safety shot.

That red closest to the baulk cushion is the problem red here.

Could be a little while rolling into reds and trying to get the cue ball

back on the cushion. You are not going to get much change from these

two guyses, John. No, the referee, from Malta, has declared a touching

ball, but that's not going to ease the situation because as Ken said,

you can't play safe to the baulk end.

Another attempter left here, the one to the left of the pink, to the

right middle. That's why players don't like this

type of situation, because you keep leaving attempts and eventually

someone goes and gets it and it can be a frame-winner.

He is thinking about it. He is looking at the potting angle.

But deciding against it. We shouldn't be in a position where

we have a rerack here. There may be a gap to this red, into

the green pocket but it's fraught with a lot of danger, particularly

where the cue ball is, tight to the top cushion. Again just rolling into

the red may leave a touching ball here again.

If Barry can nudge one of these reds away, because the fact they're so

close together it's easy for Mark just to keep dropping into those

two, but when he gets one away it will make his next shot more

difficult and that's what Barry is doing here.

Yeah, the essential part of this is to get a good cue ball tight to the

top cushion and he has not done that.

Is this the time when Mark Selby pushes the boat out?

As you say, now there is no easy roll-up, Ken.

The tighter he gets to this cushion the more advantage he will gain.

That's not close enough. Yeah, he will be disappointed with

that, Mark. If he was tight to the top cushion here, he would have had

Barry Hawkins in a bit of trouble but now he can easily dig into the

cue ball here and get it back to the top cushion. Got to be careful with

where he knocks the red. That's a very good shot.

APPLAUSE Now the option of rolling up to a

red is not there now. Mark Selby is going to have to find a different

shot. He is looking to see does the green pot into the yellow pocket?

Because he could possibly have a go at this red into the left centre and

put the cue ball up near the top right corner and if the red goes in

he may be on the green. But I am not quite sure from our angle whether

that green pots, John. Looking at the way the reds are

situated, the next player to pot a red could have a frame-winning

opportunity. There is no doubt about that.

All the reds are in the open, apart from one near the left cushion.

That wouldn't stop someone winning the frame.

The fact he keeps looking at the green tells me he is going to take

this red on to the left centre. He thinks if he knocks it in,

possibly a green. Yeah it was a clever shot. Had the

red gone in he was on the green and the green must pot, obviously. But

the fact where the cue ball is he has covered the red into the yellow

pocket and he hasn't left Barry a straightforward pot.

Red into the left middle is covered, as well.

It was quite a clever shot he played there. Barry has to find a safety

position now. He may be tempted which by the red

closest to the cue ball, play it to the right corner pocket.

It's pretty straight. I know it's the first frame and he

has the memory of the last pot he played he missed. This is a bit more

difficult but he is taking it on. Oh! So close. I think he thought

that was in. Has he overscrewed it and left the

red to the opposite corner. You can see the look on his face, he thought

it was in. It looked in, as well.

He has overscrewed that cue ball and left a straightforward chance now

for Mark Selby. Let's look at this again.

And how close it was to going into the pocket.

In these situations it's easy to pot red and yellow but you want to start

getting on the higher value colours and that's why he is going to play

this red now to the left middle and play on the blue. He would like to

get those reds around the pink. He didn't finish too good on that

red. He is going to play the blue. Has to avoid the cannon on the

brown. Don't think it would be a problem. Well, I said it wouldn't be

a problem! He will be disappointed with that.

That was the only thing he had to do, was avoid the kiss. Someone of

his quality you didn't expect him to run into the brown.

Didn't make the most of that opportunity.

Very edgy start from both players. APPLAUSE

A good shot. Certainly not a straightforward

safety here. This could go wrong. Would you

believe it? He might have left a path to this red. The red he played,

if he doesn't kiss it, it could get back to the Balkan end. Could Barry

just get back to the yellow? He certainly can. Oh, but at the

moment, just a fraction out. You would have expected him to get that

into the right centre. It just hit the near jaw. I did not expect the

cue ball to go that far. He was trying to cover this red.

The thing is he was so close to the condition, he just concentrated

fully on the pot, he knew he would run into other balls, but to go in

and having had the pink and the red, you have got to say it was unlucky.

This is another chance for Barry. This one is a nice easy starter, you

would think. That was nicely played and judged,

to get top side of the blue. Just looking at the two red is planted in

the centre. He is having a quick look at them now. He still has the

loose red, left of the bank. That will be handy.

I can only assume he is playing for the planned. If he was playing for

the red to the left of the pink he would not have missed. The planned

it is. He needs to be careful he does not overrun the cue ball. Well,

not bad. A little bit closer to the condition than he would like. I

assume the red to the left of the pink doesn't go to the right middle.

If it did he should have played for it. So, maybe not as straightforward

as it looks. This blue will put the points all square. So, they are all

square. They might stay that way. Nothing easy here. He is trying to

get a half ball kiss on the red, try to bring it into play. It is still

be on the other red, the right centre. This is a difficult pot. He

played it nicely. He has got an angle on the green. A nice angle.

Another good solid pot there. This black will put on 12 points in

front. He will only need the three remaining reds. The way they are

situated, it will not be easy. Being a left-hander, it is no

problem for the left-hand red a long vacation. He might be on the top red

as well. This is a little test here. Never

easy. If he wanted to be better on the black, he would have maybe

didn't touch the side. A tough black, as you say. Rolled it in. You

just saw there, the black didn't go in the middle of the pocket, it went

in off the right-hand jaw. If he had got it straight in the middle he

would have been on the red. It just went in the wrong side of the

pocket, which meant he had the black too thick. He is 20 points in the

league, but there are still 43 remaining.

Well, there is always the double. He wouldn't say he is perfect on the

black again, but he has given himself a chance. The crowd realised

the red was in even before we did. No, no, he has missed it. Had it to

the far jaw. I didn't expect him to miss that. The only saving ball for

Barry might be the pink ball. I am just wondering if he has an angle on

the red to try to knock the encounter. -- knock the pink pound.

That is what he has tried to do, but he hasn't. He has not finished in

the ideal position here. If he plays the black he will have to play it

mission first to get the ball back up for the yellow. The other

alternative is to play the green. The big problem will be the pink and

that is why he tried to disturb it when potting the red.

Well, later on in the match I wouldn't expect him to miss that. On

his first frame we have seen a pupil is missed. It is the nature of the

first frame in a very important match.

Not on the green. The green is what he is in need of. He is in the lead,

but there are 25 points remaining. He certainly will not be taking this

green on. It is too difficult to cut it into the right-hand corner

pocket. He will try to get the cue ball up behind the brown. That is

pretty good. It looks very good indeed. An excellent shot. He is

on the green, but it looks like he will have to play a thin contact. We

have seen players missing the ball completely in a shot like this. That

is superb. That is a superb shot. To hit it that thing to get the green

and bring the pink into play, remember. This frame is all now down

to two parts of the green. This was an excellent shot. Also

clever. He played that in such a way that he was going to try to bring

the pink into play as well. He is going to try to double this a cross

and get the green somewhere. The middle of the top cushion. I think

the other thing that is commendable when he played that seen in green,

if he had missed the green he would have finished up needing a snooker.

A tough shot but very well worked out. It is not difficult to play

saviour because if you knock the green to the left corner pocket,

which is blocked by the black comedy Green will be safe. Barry couldn't

have played that much better in all honesty. An excellent shot. I

wouldn't think you would want to risk playing it straight. You would

like to come off the top cushion first, but I do not think that is an

option. People have to be very delicate here, otherwise he knocks

the black in. -- he will have two be. Delicate he was.

He was lucky he was able to get to the cushion first. The green

The question is does mark Selby? If it does cut it is a thin one. It

would be a natural for the cue ball to go back to the Bocking End and

get a position on the ground. Well, he doesn't think it does cut. Using

the jaw, he could not have played that any better. Great shot.

Straightforward for Barry to hit this green. He will be careful not

to hit it too hard. He will certainly be happy with that. Mark

Selby will not be taking this green on.

The free time is just coming up to 34 minutes now. Didn't played the

pot there. Disappointed though, he could have picked a better is than

that. It is in the 35th minute now, this frame. I was expected to be the

longest of the match. I know both of them have a good tactical game, but

it is built around potting and brick building. It is just a typical first

frame. Mark Selby is 75%, Barry is 78%. You are looking at 98%. I am

sure that is what it will end up at. It is just one of these first frame

encounters that get tense. I don't think that Mark Selby

thought it would go. In it went. You see the little shrug. Snooker is

required. Didn't think it went. Just squeezed in. Good shot. Use it. 25

ahead, 22 remaining. One snooker required. Barry will not

be taking this for granted. Nice balls to snooker behind.

This was amazing. I never thought of this. Just about went in. Hit the

edge of the pocket. I did not think it was possible, especially from

that distance. An excellent report. If you don't get the snooker, you

have got to get the ball safe and he has not done that. Mark knows that

if Barry Potts is brown, it is frame over. Where is the brown going?

Barry thought it was in. Has he played in the middle?

Decided to play the brown because he didn't think he could get the

snooker offered. Now it is all about Snickers. Barry was walking round

because he thought it was in. Your chair is the other way. It could be

costly. With the pink at one end and the black at the other, definitely a

chance. They are close enough to be cushion, both balls, to lay a good

snooker. That's what they say, if your

opponent needs a snooker, you play one. Mark Wood get a snooker of this

and less he is very lucky. He has also got to get the blue safe. He

has done a bad pot well. He is still within a glimmer of a chance to win

this frame. He will be lucky to get away with

this. He lost control of that. If you don't think you can get a

snooker, your priority is to get the object ball safe. That will keep you

in the frame. He still cannot pot that belief. OK, the pink is not in

a great position for a snooker now. If you could sneak the cue ball

behind that it would be a very good snooker, a very tough one to escape

from. He would have to be so accurate. He will not want to pot

the blue. 40 minutes it has been. As he hit it hard enough? Is it hard

enough? Just an inch or two. Not a bad line. It would have been a very

difficult snooker to escape from. Barry will be aware, he will not be

taking any liberties here to try to get the blue safe or knock it over a

pocket, tried to force Mark Selby into potting the blue. As you said,

he will not want to pot the blue and stage. He might have a chance here

of two or three conditions. Now, can Barry pot this blue into the left

centre? Is it not too risky? He might be concerned about knocking

the black in, one of the black, all the negative thoughts that go

through your mind. As I say, everybody is very keen watching

this, but I think this will be the slowest frame of the match. It has

gone in. Avoided the case on the black. No way Mark Selby will carry

on. Three snooker is needed on the pink and black. An impossible task.

The referee just waiting for him to call a halt. After a frame that

nearly took 42 minutes it goes to Barry Hawkins. He leads the world

champion by 1-0. Throughout this Masters, the afternoon session, we

have had scintillating snooker and that is the largest opening frame we

have had. You are right. There was one shot at the start when Mark

Selby had a shock when he was dropping the ball in with the rest

which makes a difference to the frame. A brilliant chance because if

he drops this in, comes on the black, it is a natural angle. He

could have won the frame in one visit. That one child changed the

game. It is highlighted by the fact Mark Selby was in amongst the balls

and got a flick Nicely on the red. I am sure the

black pots into the bottom right. He will just push off the red above it.

He has managed to miss it. Still, nicely on the black. It is

imperative now that he gets on the red that is to the right of the

black and cleared the black. He is perfect and the black. I don't know

what he is thinking about here. Maybe looking a future ahead. He has

to play for the red to the right of the black ear. He didn't. That does

surprise me. He might not get a better chance. And a recent wife he

wouldn't play for that? He was hedging his bets. He was guaranteed

to be on the spread and he just wants to be on the black little

straighter and so he can take the red. He was trying to play two shots

in one there. If he overran that he was on this red, if the overheated

he was on the red to the right of the black. Still a few options for

him here. He wanted to be a bit straighter. This red is stopping the

black being available to both corners. He cannot get position for

the black onto the left corner. He has had to play the cannon. If it

has gone wrong, he only has himself to blame. I totally agree. He didn't

have the confidence a couple of shots to the red out of the way. I

don't think he can bend it enough to get that bread. It might be the end

of the break. Let's have a look at that black he

played. He is probably playing it in such a way that if the overheads

that he will always be on this red here. He was still on the red to the

right of the black and probably wasn't confident enough to track it

straightaway. The first time he looked perfect. He

had the line. He had to hit it a little bit slower. It was essential

to get that red away from the black. That's not the best safety shot from

Mark unless it creeps behind the brown.

He is a bit fortunate there. He could well have left the red...

APPLAUSE That was a good pot, not perfect on

the yellow or brown, but a lot of the players now would screw this

brown into the right middle and screw off the baulk cushion but he

doesn't want anything to do with that.

Just looking there at Barry's expression, pulled his face a little

bit. He wanted to be tight to this yellow to cut out the one-cushion

escape. He has hit it a little bit too hard.

Yeah, there is the escape. A little bit of side, just to widen the

angle. Just overhit the cue ball slightly.

Wanted to be nestled tightly to that bunch of reds.

You can tell from Mark's body language he thought he had hit that

red too thick. This red is on to the right corner

and I think the black is available to the opposite corner.

It's across slightly. It just decelerated. So a chance here.

If you just half quit on the shot, the cue ball doesn't go... The only

downside for Mark is he is tight on to the cushion.

A good shot. A little bit surprising, but

obviously part of his game plan. He doesn't take too many undue risks.

He's playing the world champion, the world number one, UK champion, so he

will give him every respect. Good attacking safety. And Mark

Selby is in a real spot of bother here. If it doesn't get this safe,

then Barry Hawkins, you would think, would win this frame.

Sensational. Helen lucky to catch the blue. What a tremendous hit that

was. Unlucky, as I say, to make contact with the blue, which stopped

the White in its tracks. Yes, that was the great escape. Let's have a

look at this again. Got a perfect contact on the red, just so unlucky

to hit the blue full ball. Chance again for Barry Hawkins.

Just overran the cue ball slightly. Going into the red just above the

black ear and... Has to just be careful. Just had a quick look at

the red to the right centre. No. No. Still a bit edgy, both players.

Didn't expect him to miss that. Neither did I, he set up the frame

winning opportunity and didn't take it. And when you miss those few

chances, it can really hurt if you lose the frame.

It wasn't the cleanest hotpots, but it has gone in -- of pots. And it

has given a chance to Mark Selby. The three reds around the pink spot

area, certainly one is available into the right middle. Maybe the

bottom one, the one nearest the blackspot, is available to the right

corner. He has played for that read you

spoke about into the right centre. -- that red. Doesn't look like it is

touching ball, it may pot. Good part, back, into the centre. Now the

two reds above the black, I think the top one will pot. Not sure about

the bottom one. If he pots this read, try and get on

the pink here. -- this red. He's so good in these type of

situations, John, the back is against the wall a little bit, a

little bit nervy, but when he gets a chance to win the frame, he is so

deadly, his positional play is always very, very good. But he has

great bottle, as we say. Yes, and as you say, the positional side of it,

the cue ball control... It is or was made a little bit easier towards the

end of the frame because there is not the congestion of the Reds, you

don't have to play Canons. Although he ended up playing one there. If he

had been on the practice table, he would have played that with a lot

more left-hand side and played for the opposite corner, but a little

more tension in the arm, you don't want to risk playing with a lot of

side. Could have been better on this red. No problem. No the cue ball is

having to travel up and down the table. I think he is just about OK

on this Brown, deep screw on the -- off the cushion.

Looking at his body language there, I think he played the cannon on the

red, to hold for the pink. I am not sure there was any need to, plenty

of room around the red. He is going to need a good part on this blue

now. -- a good pot. Nicely on the red. And he can pop

this red and leave the cue ball somewhere in the vicinity where the

red is now and have a nice angle to get up for the yellow.

Is he a little bit straight? I think he may be. He didn't want to play

the yellow. He didn't want to be playing the yellow into the far left

corner, wants to be playing it in the far right corner because there

is always a possibility that if you don't screw back far enough, you

could snooker yourself with the brown coming down the other side of

the table -- and coming down the other side of the table, it wouldn't

be a danger. You can overdo it but he looks to have played this

absolutely inch perfect. Yellow, green and brown required.

Good angle on the green. If he pots it, bound to be on the brown.

In it goes and nicely on the brown and this brown will take him 23 in

front with only 18 remaining. So the disappointed Barry Hawkins

there. Yes, that Mr Black, a good opportunity. He has had a couple of

opportunities in this frame, Barry Hawkins, but Mark Selby showing a

lot of character here. He did it in his last match in the last frame

against Mark Williams. He is so good when his back is against the wall

and if you give him a chance, that is what -- he will take it and that

is what you're up against in this man. A 76 break, Mark Selby the

match. 1-1, that is more like it from the

world champion, but when will we see the Mark Selby we are used to seeing

at this tournament? It goes to show that when you are number one and

fancied to win, you can be nervous and make poor decisions. In the

beginning of the frame, he had a red in the corner off the far cushion

and you know the middle pocket is there, you know it is not moving,

but why play it at that place where you can bring the middle pocket into

play? He has looked a bit nervous in his chair and that break was a lot

better than it looked because he lost the cue ball a few times. You

don't expect Mark Selby to be nervous in an event like this, do

you? You would think not but I suppose every tournament, every

situation you come into on the day, if you don't get off to a wonderful

start, you don't settle down. I do think the start of a match, you

can't make yourself play well first frame but if you are in the zone,

sometimes you get off to a good start. But your form will always go

up and down, so perhaps he is not in the best of form, perhaps he hasn't

been practising well over Christmas and has lost a bit. On the other

hand, it may be the way the games have started. If I was Barry, I

would be kicking myself, in with good chances, the Black off the

spot, he should be 2-0 up. If you flick through the newspapers, when

they talk about Mark Selby, they talk about the triple Crown, he has

won the world championship, UK Championship. Does that help or we

don't know, we are not inside his brain but we don't know how much he

is carrying around with him as excess luggage, if you like, but

maybe it is having a bearing. What do you think, boys?

JOHN VIRGO: Just nice to be in a position to win the triple Crown!

KEN DOHERTY: we wouldn't know what it feels like. But I would like to

have been there. And embrace it. Maybe it is wearing a little bit, he

hasn't looked at his normal imperious best. Showed great form in

the UK championship, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final, but didn't

play particularly well against Mark Williams, although he made that

wonderful break in the last frame. Has looked a bit nervy in the

opening exchanges of this match, but maybe that last break will settle

him down a little bit. Yes, you have got to agree with JP in the studio,

Barry will be absolutely kicking himself. He played a terrific safety

shot, put Mark in trouble and then didn't take advantage.

Where has the cue ball gone? First time today, John. It is amazing how

many times that can happen. You have got a slight angle, you think you

can run through and you just catch it that little too full and bang,

you go in with it. And he had to force it back of the table because

you can see the black's tied up. Mark Selby will have do do the same

here. He knocks it in. And there is

probably value here in playing the blue and playing the cannon into the

king. The reason I say that is because the pink is tied up at the

moment and if he does hit the pink full ball with pace, there is a

chance the red could release the black. He has to hit this pink full

ball, lots of pace in it, screw. Well, it's not too bad. He didn't

get the screw but he is still on this red to the left corner pocket.

The only problem there is he hasn't brought the pink into play but he

will get another chance at it. It's amazing, when the red are just

slightly loose, he hit that pink absolutely perfect and hardly

anything moved. But they are just slightly loose, so

they are all going into one another and stopping one another from

moving. As Ken said, he has another chance to play the same shot. I see

no reason why he wouldn't, it is hard to win a frame with only the

blue and baulk colours available. There is definitely value going in

between the red and the pink into that little gap. He's a little

hesitant in case he may block that red but he should be OK. He needs

that pink into play. Didn't hit into the gap. And again, not on the red.

Just wanted to hit into the gap, but he cut the pink first -- caught the

pink first. Is this red on up into the green pocket?

Well, just about passes the blue but he will be more concerned where the

cue ball finishes, because there is a red ball over this right corner.

He doesn't want to leave that one, because this is a tough pot. It is

not there. A little bit surprised. I was

talking earlier about Barry Hawkins's game plan, I don't think

he would have been playing that red. It was a very risky shot to go for.

Just felt it was more out of frustration that he went through it,

he had an easy safety shot on. Pushed the boat out there.

Doesn't matter that he is the wrong side of the blue, that red on the

baulk cushion, he can play that easily enough. Points now all

square. It is not going to be the easiest to

win this frame in this visit. But there are more chances of you

winning it when you are at the table than when you are sat in your seat.

Yeah, well, not that last red, the second last red, has opened the path

of the pink into that bottom right-hand corner pocket, so have

got to wreck it on the brown and try and get the pink back on its spot.

It is a little straight but he can either screw for blue or pink.

He is coming around to have a look at the pink.

25 points, the lead now. So these three raids in the opener, with

pinks, would be enough to get into the snooker is required stage. So he

doesn't have to be concerned about bringing the black into play. Just

needs to keep close control of the cue ball.

He has become a very solid, reliable player over the last few seasons. He

certainly has. His all-round game is very good.

I think getting to the final of the World Championships certainly helped

him. And of course, he has got Terry Griffiths in his corner. He will be

giving him all the words that give relief to a player. -- belief to a

player. Sometimes you do doubt your ability when you are not getting

results. Yeah, he has been to, of course, the world final and won a

couple of ranking tournaments as well and was a finalist here last

year. That was a great experience -- wasn't a great experience, he only

won the one frame. But he has become very consistent over the last few

years and, of course, when you win those first ranking tournaments, it

gives you that extra little bit of confidence for the bigger stage.

Incurs the pink, nice can. Mark Selby won't be getting back to the

table here, I don't think -- in those the pink, nice cannon.

It is one of those situations, you might as well make certain of the

red because if he does that, Mark Selby won't be going back to the

table, you would think. So just make sure of this red, don't worry too

much about position. Well, it's not there, but as I say,

doubtful that Mark... Yes, another concession. So Mark Selby was all

guns blazing and no Barry Hawkins in a 2-1 lead.

Shia Barry Hawkins was very disappointing in the UK

Championships, but promising signs. Yes and from Mark Selby's position,

perhaps a few decisions he has made wrong. I hesitate to criticise the

world champion and UK number one, but I thought he was in trouble

playing this softer, he could have played it harder and this one, this

is eggs and baskets, I don't know how he was trying to get out of

jail, committing to a shot where he is guaranteed to stick his opponent

up. Very strange choice, he could be sitting there and will has knocked

it in but that's not the point. Percentage-wise, you go to the pack

and your disappointed you're not on one and force yourself to take one

but not Mark Selby, his shot selection is usually sorted out. Not

desperation but a little bit like trying to push the boat out.

It is easy setting up your end criticising. You do play the shot

you see. On another Day he would have taken different shots. Barry

Hawkins took his chance and he will keep taking them. He was nervous at

the start but that was an excellent break. It was very well constructed.

He had great shoot control. Barry immediately comes to the table. He

has a party to the left corner. It looks like a potting angle where he

could find a path back to the baulk and -- book end. He will be going

all out for this. A good opening red. He purposefully left the cue

ball short of the bold colours. Attacking the red just above the

black and it is absolutely inch perfect. He has a nice angle on this

red. He can push the red out of the way.

Just tidying up a few loose red Sea. Before he contemplates going into

the pack. He has a couple of choices here. They couple of reds to the

left corner. He has wandered to the right centre. -- he has won to the

right centre. The rate at the bottom of the pack is also available.

A little bit low. A little shake of the hit. He can pot this. There is

an alternative to the right middle that he has not look that yet. You

want to be on position where if you pocket you are guaranteed the next

ball. The red he is playing now, it is not guaranteed. Keep your eye on

the cue ball. Well, he just managed to get enough on it. That was a good

shot. When you play that type of back spin shot, the harder you

headed, the less chance you give it for the back spin to take effect. He

did that nicely. Obviously the pink spot is

available. He will have to get as close to his own spot as he can. It

looks to me as though it will be just above the black. For the red is

just above the black. Not touching. The direct line between the black,

the blue and the red. Pretty good. On the blue and I wouldn't think he

would risk playing a cannon here. From what we have seen so far, he is

quite prepared to take loose red balls early on in the break. The top

red of the cluster does go to the left corner. He undertook that a

fraction, but it shouldn't be a problem. If he gets a good angle on

the blue he might consider playing a little cannon. He has got to loose

red and he will be thinking he would be unlucky not to be on one of them.

He cannot win this frame without opening that little cluster of six.

He could play a little cannon, as you said. Just not the blue game. He

will always be on the red to the right centre if he gets a full ball.

He will have to get it from though at the apex red. And he didn't hit

the red at the top of the pack. Is he unlucky? Look at his body

language. He is not on it. I am surprised he played with so much

place. I did not think it was necessary. If he could've ended at

the top of the red he didn't need it. It is the end of the break. He

could be considered a little bit unlucky, but you always take a

chance when you play a cannon. A nice safety shot to finish with. A

44 point lead. Still 91 available. This is a big shock. He is more

intent on getting the cue ball back to the Balkans. He thought the red

might ruffle the jaws at this end, not at the other end.

This could be the frame-winner. Put it in a delightfully. He only has

two drop the blue in. He doesn't have to do anything with the cue

ball. That looks for my money likely will have a two frame advantage, the

interval. It has to be said, Mark Selby has still not found his best

form. No. The devoted could be coming at a good time for him to

gather himself, his thoughts, clear his hit a little bit, because he

looks a little bit nervous at the moment.

I think he is OK. I think you can avoid the kiss on the thing. He

couldn't. It has gone slightly wrong. What looked a formality is

not only more. On this the red is available. It looks as though it is.

Lucky to have this. He didn't have to do anything with the cue ball,

just roll the blinking. Just a red needed. He will go 64 ahead with 59

remaining. Well, it looked for all the world he could pot that red.

Maybe he couldn't. I would like to see that won the game. How did he

miss that? He has left a half chance here for

Mark Selby. 63 points behind, 67 remaining. This would be a blow to

Barry Hawkins, but this is the big shock. Not there. He won't be

getting another chance. It could have been a different game.

When Barry missed that red. Sometimes if you are having a bad

Day you give your opponent an easy start. That was a difficult shot he

left for Mark. Very difficult. He is trying to hold for the black as

well. Just came across it slightly. It has been pretty decent stuff

after the break Mark Selby in the second frame. It looked like he

would get going, but Barry rallied in the last two. I think Barry has

got a plan. I am not certain what Mark is planning. You can never

addicted what will happen, but in the last frame when he pushed the

ball out, played the very difficult rate, it is not something Barry

Hawkins would have played. We had a 42 minute first frame. We had a 20

minute frame and then one that only lasted 12 minutes. It has not been

slow since the first frame. He is taking these nicely. A break

of 63. His tea will taste nice during the mid-session interval. He

leads the world champion by 3-1. Initiative to Barry Hawkins. We will

talk about in a moment. Something is happening with Mark Selby. He does

look happy. That last chance was difficult. It was a difficult shot.

I don't know, he just looks so nervous. He is not imposing himself

at all. He is just not right at all. It is a two horse race but only one

is galloping. When I said, if you are giving marks out of ten for Mark

Selby you would give him a five. As we also said at the start, at any

one time in a game of snooker, there are players in form and going out of

form. We are so used to sing Mark Selby in good form, whether it is

imperious or great fighting form, it is a shock to see him a bit

underpowered. If he has come into some bad form, the fascination is

how does he dig himself out of this hole. Every time you go to the table

it is a new test. It is only snooker, it is not football that is

so energetic, but how much did the Mike Williams much to him mentally.

He went through the ringer. Has left a little sky. Barry Hawkins has the

lead and he has been talking to Ken Doherty because Barry was knocked

out quite surprisingly in the early stages of the UK championship in

York. Now he is keen to do well here and at the Crucible in April.

Welcome. Congratulations on your first round win. Six when -- 6-1

win. Not a bad start, beating John Murphy. Easier than you would have

expected. It a lot easier. To play pretty solid was quite pleasing. I

didn't expect to beat him with such an easy scoreline. He made a few

uncharacteristic mistakes, a couple of easy safety shot the giving me an

opportunity. I was delighted. You look very comfortable. Even from the

first ball. I felt pretty comfortable. I was very nervous. I

settled pretty quick and having the run last year helped me to settle a

bit quicker. Let's talk about last year. We have a lot in common

because Ronnie Beeney in a final. I was lucky to get one. I spoke to you

afterwards and he said I was embarrassed. Sometimes you get like

that. It hasn't affected you, is it? No, I was disappointed straight

after. You want to put a good show one for yourself. You want to win,

that is why you are there. To get battered 10-1 is demoralising. When

you are sitting out there, you just want to go home. Overall I can't be

too hard on myself. It was the final of the Masters. When you reflect on

it, easy it was a good run, a good experience. The next time, which he

did in the would championship, you got your revenge. Is that what you

reflect on? I think I did. I definitely worried about him more

than myself in the final. I didn't play my game at all. Taking nothing

away from Ronnie, when he starts steam-rolling, it is hard to stop

him. I was definitely worried about him. I did learn from the final and

tried to use that in the World Championship and not worry about him

as much. It worked out well for me. Was that one of the best

performances you have had on TV? To beat Ronnie was a love in as well?

Definitely one of the biggest wins of my career. To be Ronnie was

living in his own backyard, especially because he didn't play

badly at all cost of it was a great standard. Coming through that much

give me a little more confidence. We have won a couple of ranking

tournaments as well. The next stage is one of these majors. You have

been right at the business end of the would championship and the

Masters. It is good. You want to keep doing well. If I can win one of

the big ones, that would be great, because they are the majors. They

are the ones you watch on TV all the time. If I can win one of the big

ones by the time I am finished, that would be great. What about the

influence of Terry Griffiths, what influence has he had? Since you have

been with them you have gone up the levels. He has definitely help me. I

have been with them for maybe six years or something like that. As

soon as I started working with him I've noticed a change straightaway.

He covered a couple of technical things I was doing wrong that I

didn't notice. Sometimes it takes somebody like that to point them out

for you to realise you are doing something wrong. The only help you

can get is that. It can get a bit lonely out there. I listen to him

and I have been working with him for quite a while. He has definitely

made my game improve a bit. I would have known you for a long time on

the circuit. People watching you on TV as well. They don't know anything

about Barry Hawkins, away from the secretive. You keep your private

life private, but what do you do, what do you like doing, what other

sports do you do? Nothing. I just play snooker. I love going down the

social club and having a drink with my friends. When you are playing

snooker, it is serious. You are planning for your living. I try to

provide for my family and win tournaments and all that sort of

stuff. Behind the scenes I love having a laugh and joke and a few

beers with boys. I suppose, it has changed since the old days. It is

more professional manner. I am not but boring. As being a family Mann

changed a bit? Yes. Having a son, it is a cliche, but you look at things

differently. My life revolves around him and the wife. A term I get some

spirits and we do stuff together. It is so busy now, the jerk. You don't

get that much time at home. What about your next opponent? He is

going for the triple Crown. Only four other people have held the UK,

the world and the Masters in the same year. Mark Selby will be a

tough opponent. He is the best player by far in the world. So

consistent. He wins tournament with his second game. That shows you how

good he is. We have a similar game, a similar style. Not as well as him.

It is something that needs to improve a little bit more, my second

game. He inspires me. He works really hard on his game and I think

I am one of those players as well. If I am not of the time then I

notice the difference. I try to put the hours in when I can. He is

someone to the property and I keep working hard and he shows you what

you can achieve. Best of luck. What a lovely gentleman. What a nice

little watch that was. He is a lovely lad. I was chatting to him.

We were having a laugh and he is a good lad to have around. Have you

seen an improvement in his game when he has been working with Terry? We

have seen an improvement in his game over time. His stature is growing in

the game. There was a time when he was disregarded as a potential

champion in defence but he has got rid of that now. He is genuinely

guaranteed a top 16 players and has produced astonishing stuff. I am not

sure of the time frame from Terry Griffiths, if you do with Terry as a

coach, you have someone who is committed to you, not just your

technique, but mental well-being. Also someone who has been in the

pit. It is easy to live with someone when they have been there. Did you

expect Barry to push on? He unexpectedly made the final in 2013,

losing to Ronnie or southern. Did you expect him to push on after

that? It is difficult to push and because of how many players there

are cueing up with in the win tournaments. All you Kunduz put

yourself in the frame that you are now one of the elite. He has done

that. The next phase is can he have a period of time dominating the

game. It is so hard to do. Especially when there are so many

top players. The other players will look at the draw and see him and say

I am glad he is in my section. He is a great matchplay. Very confident,

thinks the game, works hard. You know you are in for a match with

them. He is 3-1 up against the world champion, a Mann he has trouble

against. I don't feel that in the situation today that if he gets the

chances he will baulk at them. After his first-round match, which him

well, it is not necessarily a yardstick. He might be in these and

a bit quicker mid-to-late than Mark Selby who struggled in his first

round match. The last three matches he played, he hasn't won a free over

Mark Selby. He has lost 4-0 and 3-0. Now he has a lead at the interval.

He can put the things that have gone before him behind and he is doing

that today. This is our first quarterfinal for you today. The

other is Joe Perry digging on Ding Junhui. Better a look at the hit to

hit here. They have played 14 matches. They first met in the

Masters in 2004, but Perry won the last meeting here two years ago.

Ding Junhui has been talking to Steve. Looking back at 2016, here is

a question, this moment? Winning the Shanghai Masters or final in the

World Championship? That is a big question. You want me to pick it?

What do you think? Winning is good. They would championship is still the

biggest event. I don't know. I think it is the final. This has always

been my dream, to get in the final first and then think about winning a

tournament. I've had one Shanghai before, this is the second time.

This is a good moment to win the second time, but they weren't final,

it was my first time. It is massive. You were very emotional when he won

in Shanghai. The few tears. Yes. I was so excited. That was your 12th

ranking event victory and only five players have won more than 12

events. You have a good record in building up. I hope I can do more. I

tried my best. I cannot stay in my best form of year, all season, all

of my career. I do however much I can because when I get older, I will

maybe not be as good. I want to win more. I wanted to try my best in

every tournament. If I can do better and better, when I am looking back

when I get older, I think I will have nothing to regret. I think I

have done a good jaw. There is nothing to think about, I missed

this or that. The only thing that really, and everybody talks about

it, the only thing left for the record it for you is the World

Championship. This last year he got to the final, it is another step

further forward. It is a big help. Mark Selby told me a lot. To do it

in a word final is a massive experience. You need to learn of the

tables, the different styles, because it is a different compared

to the semifinals. This is a new stage. And regularly practice

routines, you are just doing exactly the same, you are not changing

anything, you are not trying to get something else? I don't want to put

myself thinking too much, overthinking. I wanted to play

naturally. I try to play my regular game every shot. I want to be the

same in the match. Turning our attention to the Masters. You have

won the Masters in 2011. If you are back to the time of the famous match

with Ronnie, a long time back, you look at yourself now. DEV a

different person? Yes. I feel more relaxed. The crowd like you. Yes.

The one thing I will do good in is my jaw. If people come to watch.

Good luck today. Thank you. One of the first men through to the

quarter-finals and in many ways he has gone under the radar. We have

not spent much time talking about him. No, I don't think he is back to

his best. He did enough to win the other day. It's an interesting

match-up with Joe Perry. Originally he had a good record against him but

the last two occasions it's been Perry beat him 6-4 and 4-1, I think.

He has knocked him out in a couple of events. That's an interesting

match tonight. You sat opposite him, did you detect a more relaxed Ding

Junhui? We all do, it may be he has a better command of the English

language and you can have more chat with him, I think he has matured as

a person and player. He knows he can't win every match. He is a

little bit more philosophical I think because of that and probably a

better player. Yet the fact he got to the final of the World

Championship last year, even if there is no too much more room for

improvement he is still improving. You have to wonder as well whether

in many ways it goes back to what we were saying about Mark Selby and

talking about the triple Crown. We were always talking about Ding

Junhui and the world Crown and when is he going to win it? You wonder

whether he has come to terms with that added pressure? He has been

close. The semifinal before one year when he should have got through. He

is knocking on the door. It's so hard, so many good players about and

you have to hope it's your year. Maybe it's Joe Perry's year after

all he beat Joe Bingham. There's plenty of people that fancy the job

here. They know full well that every best of 11 matches is a winnable

experience these days. ' All fancy they're good enough. Every player

that comes to this tournament has won events, therefore, they have

inner confidence in some shape or form, even if they're not

necessarily totally in current form, they've won.

Yeah, Joe's going to be a dangerous opponent. The other day he was

saying he wasn't really enjoying his snooker and had been on a bad run

but nothing like winning a match to give you confidence. You can watch

it live on enBBC Two tonight. Then you will need to press your red

button and Hazel will have highlights on BBC Two.

Let's bring you up to date with this afternoon's quarter-final. Mark

Selby and Barry Hawkins. The world number one slightly

nervous as he walked out to the Alexandra Palace today.

Hawkins took the first frame with a fantastic pot. Mark didn't really

like that. Mark roared back in the second frame. With a break of 76.

Then this misread from Mark Selby allowed Barry Hawkins to get back

into it. He followed up with a break of 63 to lead 2-1.

Barry much more relaxed, move comfortable in frame four.

He leads at the mid session interval by 3-1.

Many a time the interval has changed the match. For him he will have to

hope it's happened today. If he plays like before he is in big

trouble in this match. We analyse these pictures a lot, Steve, when we

look at Mark there, there is something today that is affecting

him. Doesn't look content at all. I think once again he hasn't got a

good start. Every player would love to get off to a flyer. It hasn't

happened, so he is playing catch-up, hopefully from his perspective he

got a bit of rhythm going on the practice table. Can Barry Hawkins

seal a place in the semifinal? Let's join John.

Yes, a question to ask now for Mark Selby. When we talk about games like

this and I said before the interval, Ken, it's hard to have a game plan,

but there is certain shots you are going to take on and certain shots

you are going to refuse. At the moment I think that Barry Hawkins

seems more comfortable in his skin than Mark Selby. Yeah and

particularly in that frame where he took that risky red up into the

green pocket and left Barry a chance to win the Graham. It's amazing how

intervals can sometimes -- to win the frame. It's amazing how

intervals can sometimes win matches. He has left the pot here.

I didn't see him in the players' room or the press room in the

interval, Mark. Barry was in there talking with Terry. I assume Mark

went to the practice table. I did see him in the practice room. I

think he has to dig in now. You have to say there is not many

better players at digging in than Mark Selby. That's a mistake from

Barry. Left a chance for this red.

OK, it's not easy being close to the baulk cushion but it's a chance.

You can tell from the angle there it's not straightforward. Would have

liked to have been straighter on that red. The cue ball looks to be

going towards the blue. Again this is a tough pot.

If he misses it he will be leaving... Digging down into the cue

ball. Oh!

Well, thought he was going to get away with it there when the cue ball

careered into the red and black. Would have made it more difficult

playing it that way, John. As you say, if he rolled it in he would

have probably finished up not on a colour, trying to force the angle to

get on a colour. If this red goes to the right middle

he doesn't have a lot to do, Barry. He is bound to be on the black and

it definitely goes to the right middle.

APPLAUSE Played it very nicely.

A few reds in the open. He will be already contemplating about going

into the pack of reds. And working out how he is going to develop them.

Yeah, it's one of those situations, there is a red above the black which

is available sometime, if he could come low on that red, that's

separated from the bunch, he could pot that and bring other reds into

play. He has played on it almost

immediately. In potting this he can bring things

into play. Two ways of playing this, the run through or the screwback.

You felt as if you had more control with the screwback. Sometimes you

play with top spin it runs through too far.

How will he play it? Above centre or below centre?

Above centre. Keep your eye on the cue ball.

Controlled it lovely. Didn't play with too much pace so he

wasn't going to open too many reds but still brought in another couple

of reds into play. The red at the bottom of the pack to

the left pots, as well. He is not lacking in the cue power

department. He can play this both ways around the angles, or deep

screw it. He played it very nicely indeed.

Excellent shot. APPLAUSE

A similar situation, he could go up for the blue here, if he wishes.

Four reds, four blacks. But I am sure his main priority is winning

the frame. Will he stay on the black here?

Looks like he is going to. As I said, that red just above the

black to the left will pot into the bottom right corner pocket.

If he goes too far he always has the red into the left centre.

I don't think he will have maximum on his mind just yet. The obvious

shot here seems to be to play for the red to the left middle, leave a

nice angle on the blue to play the split.

He has not got a great angle on the black here to go into the reds.

The frame is more important than the maximum.

He didn't get op the red in the left middle to be able to play for the

blue. So it's back for the black. Needs a good angle on the black,

though. That's not it.

Too straight. More of an angle he could have

stunned off the top cushion into the reds. Now he is looking to see

anything is pottable by dropping the black in.

Maybe the outside red? Yeah, this red is the only one you

would say. Two reds at the bottom to the right and maybe a plant that he

could make into the right centre. But the obvious red is that one, the

extreme left of the bunch. That's not good, he is going to be

hampered by the black. Wanted to take that red on up into the yellow

pocket. He has looked at the two reds right of the pack.

Is is he going to have another look? No, he is going to take this up into

the yellow pocket. He won't be holding for the black this time.

Excellent shot! APPLAUSE

OK, wrong side of the blue but a nice angle - we watch that again. It

was a superb pot. Didn't go all out for good position.

He has got into the pack. What is he on?

Head down tells me nothing. You have to say a little bit unlucky

there. OK, could have hit it harder, but still it was a very good shot.

You would expect into a pack of seven reds and a pink something is

going to come out. Have to concentrate on getting that

cue ball tight to the baulk cushion. Yes, he will finish with a 62-point

lead, but still 83 remaining. In this situation you like to put a red

against the cushion, but don't do that and sacrifice a good safety.

Don't see the point in that. Mark Selby coming down this end of

the table, it must be pretty tight. There is a lot of distance between

cue ball and red, so he could swerve it.

It's a big shot. He knows if he makes a mess of it and leaves Barry

one more chance it will be end of frame.

But it's a terrific pot. APPLAUSE

A good pot this. Yeah, fantastic, wasn't it? As you said, John,

pressure on it, as well. Now, what can he do?

In a way it is unfortunate, I mean, he can play the brown, but the green

looks the obvious ball and the yellow is slightly hampering him.

Well, not really. Just about judging the pace of the shot.

He has played that very well. This would be a steal.

He has had a look at the red above the black.

That 62 point lead could soon evaporate with the position of the

balls at the moment. But again a bit of pressure on Mark Selby here. He

produced a good break in the second frame when he was behind. But since

then he's looked a little bit nervous, John. Yeah, doesn't look

comfortable with his game so far. But this could really be giving him

a big boost of confidence. 44 points behind and 59 remaining so

plenty of points to spare. That's the red he would like to get

on, the one to the left of the black.

I don't think the black pots. I think the red just above it does.

He will have to clear all these rip maining balls to win the frame at

this lift. -- remaining. He will be just happy to have the opportunity.

Yeah. A little awkward on this pink.

Wanted to be higher with the cue ball. He doesn't have the angle now.

Having a quick look at the blue. The problem is he if plays the pink

he will have to run around the two cushions. I don't think he is

straight enough to hold the spot. If he plays the pink he will have to

really cue this well to run around off two cushions.

He is leaving himself a red that he knows he will have to use the rest

with the extension. It's not perfect. He needs a good

angle on pink or blue here to get on the awkward last red.

Decided to go up for the blue and he's not quite far enough.

He is too straight. The pink is no good. He is looking

at the brown, swinging it round off two cushions. A tough pot.

Excellent pot. APPLAUSE

Yeah, it's OK. Would have loved to have been straighter on this red

because the cue ball is going into the black. Doesn't want to knock the

black safe. That's OK. Did that red go in off

the black or the cue ball? I think the cue ball just hit it on the way

around. Just have another look. Anyway, it went in. That's all you

are bothered about now. One good positional shot from pink to yellow

now. What a steal this would be.

He has played for it in the right middle. It needs to run.

Just about perfect, I think. Wouldn't fancy him missing now. Just

so good in these positions when he is behind and just enough points on

the table. He did it in frame two when he was behind. Yeah, it's like

his concentration goes up a notch. This could be a massive turning

point in this match. Barry Hawkins had a 62-point lead and went into

the pack of reds off the blue and nothing came available.

Well, just hold on a minute. Hold on a second. He has hit that much too

hard. With the black not being on its spot

and close to the pocket, you would think he would be able to get in and

out of baulk. Should have been easier than this.

It's OK. But it still needs due care and

attention. Superb! He leaves the arena. He knew

how big a frame that was. Barry Hawkins made a break of 62.

Matches and moments like this can turn on pivotal moments in sport and

that could be potentially be one. It's a tremendous clearance,

considering he has looked nervous and out of sorts. His cue ball

hasn't been great. Barry Hawkins, you are cursed. He has played a

brilliant shot off the blue, couldn't hit it any better. For all

those balls to split up like that, for all the world you think you are

going to be on one. Game over. To finish there He drops his head, so

unlucky. It's taken nothing away from the clearance. You couldn't hit

that harder, he controlled it as well as he could have done. He got

into that area of the pack. That's the way it goes in snooker, but from

there on in Mark Selby proves why, he may be a different style to

others in the game, he is still huge box office because the tightrope

walk he produces sometimes. We saw it in the World Championship against

Ronnie O'Sullivan under pressure. He is producing under pressure, where

other players would crumble and he is doing it on the table. That's why

he has great admiration amongst players and also the fans. John made

a good point in commentary, as if his concentration level goes up a

notch. It's like they need a challenge to get them going, it

might be the challenge that kicks him on, because he has been second

best. Your back is against the wall and sometimes you can think clearer.

At that point he is not woring about being champion, he has to clear the

balls. It probably focussed his mind. We have said this the mid

session interval comes at the wrong time for Barry, he is playing well.

Suddenly Mark has this opportunity to go back. There was a moment as

Mark was clearing up there, a moment our cameras caught Harry Hawkins. A

raised eyebrow. He knew what was going on. -- Barry. When you have

had a shot like Barry had and you know sitting in the chair the player

you are playing against is going to get the first long red, you just

know that. That was your chance to win the frame t didn't work out. A

funny thing and you are sitting there thinking he is going to make

this and it's the realisation he is going to clear up. Very much so.

It's all to play for. Barry Hawkins leads 3-2. Back to John and Ken.

Wondering will he take this red on? He could leave the cue ball in such

a way it would only leave the red should he miss, but a difficult pot.

He decided against it. He could have played that a little

bit better. He wanted that cue ball tight to this top cushion. He has

left a chance here for Mark Selby. Not sure he is on the red closest to

the black but he is on a red up into the green pocket.

Yeah, obviously can't get through to the red just to the right of the

black but he has this one to the far right.

No, so still not firing on all cylinders.

Here is the black in the last frame. A bit of a reaction here as well

from Mark Selby. Geeing himself up. He knew how important that break

could turn out to be. It only wins one frame.

Barry with a chance here. APPLAUSE

He is on the pink. He gets the first good chance.

The red above the black is the one I am sure he will be trying to get on

next because he can use that to open up some more reds. He has to stay

low on this, get the cue ball somewhere where it is now.

Could go into the pack here because he has a wonderful angle.

Normally he likes to mop up the open reds before he goes into the pack.

Certainly has a lovely angle here, John. Plenty of value going into the

pack because of the loose red. I was surprised when he potted the last

red he didn't try to screw off the bottom of the cluster and bring a

few into play. Once again decided against it. I

think he's come out, don't know whether he discussed it with Terry

before the match, not to take undue risks. Feeling that Mark may be

under pressure with this thought of winning the three majors and don't

push the boat out too far. So far, it's been working. You have

to say, as the guys in the studio said, in the last frame when he got

62 unlucky not to be on one of the reds. If he had been on one that

would have been the end of frame. He played that well.

He has landed perfect on the blue to play the cannon. He has to avoid the

loose one. That line of four, he wants to hit that one full in the

face. No, catch the loose one, or you're

likely to finish on nothing, and that's the case.

There's no need to miss this red. It just shows you he had a couple of

opportunities to bring the reds into play. He decided to play for the

loose reds, now he needs a good pot to keep this play going. He'll take

it on. But they are difficult, those.

Now, has he got away with it? P APPLAUSE

He can go back to his seat, now, Barry. He will be thinking he should

have made more of the chance, and he should.

He had a wonderful angle to go into the pack.

. Maybe he should have taken the opportunity then.

This is certainly no gimme, this red, into this pocket.

No. Overcut it! It wasn't straightforward. The cue ball in the

pocket... It make it is that much easier for Barry Hawkins. Cue

ball-in-hand, a choice of reds to play for. He's still got the problem

of bringing the reds, the main bunch of reds into the main play if he is

going to win the frame at this visit. But it's a chance. You would

think you'd want to do it now, Ken? Get a nice angle on this red.

Knowing you have the red in the far right-hand corner if it doesn't go

well. That's the reason he is taking this

on. Leaving the red as insurance. He doesn't have to go into the pack

with full pace here but he's got to try to hit that red right up the

pink spot for the ball, if he can. APPLAUSE

It's OK. It's OK. You know, when I looked at that

cluster, I thought, if that red were going off the pink into the pocket?

It was close enough. That would have deterred me from hitting it, it was

so much pace. But as you say, Ken, it's turned out all right.

It's a little thicker than was needed.

It dropped. Obviously the red in the middle of

the table will go. And he's landed on it absolutely plum. There was a

little shake of his head there, I don't know if that was a red he

would play for but he'll be happy with it.

I don't think it was but he'll certainly take it. This is a good

response from Barry Hawkins. Just a couple of pots away now to

reassert his two-frame advantage. That equates to just this red and

sexual abuse sexual abuse, as we have said, be two frames behind

again. Snookers required.

APPLAUSE It's always nice to win a frame when

your opponent has stolen a frame from you in the manner had did in

the last game. When you talk about turning points

in matches, you felt it would have been a turning point had Mark Selby

won this frame. . Yes.

But you could say that Barry's now steadied the ship somewhat.

Well, he won't be too bothered about missing the red.

A nod to the referee, on and Barry Hawkins reasserts that two-frame

lead at 4-2. What are we thinking chaps, one of the upsets of the

Masters? I don't think so. Barry Hawkins, by his nature is a top 16

player but at the moment he's in better form. The two players are

top-class. Mark is not firing on all cylinders and he's gone about his

game very well, Barry Hawkins. And a good temperament there, he had to

watch Mark Selby go ahead, and then there was a good response.

And there is a frustration for the player, you have some problems, and

it's not happening at the moment but he's running out of time.

And how much is it down to Barry catching Mark on an off day? It's an

advantage he has got. There are many times you catch a top player on an

off day and you crack at the chance of beating them. It is strength of

character. And talking about centuries earlier, 18 so far in the

tournament but yet to have one this afternoon.

Back to Ken. The obligatory red is being left on here.

Mark will take this on. He would love to knock this in.

Oh, at the moment he has a touch of the nearlyis and the kiss on brown

has not helped. As a player, Ken, that type of red

that Mark's played, halfway there, you would have thought he would have

potted it? He got so close, that's why he's left it.

His body language will tell us he might take this red on into the

bottom left-hand corner pocket, leaving the cue ball down on the

right-hand side. Pot a black. I think he was more concerned

leaving the cue ball near the top cushion.

If this has the pace, he could tie it behind the yellow here.

Just a fraction short, that was all. He doesn't have the edge of the

reds, then this could go wrong this safety shot. He could not the red

out of the right-hand corner pocket here. He's got to be careful.

He needs a cover. I think he may have got one. Fair play. He's got an

excellent cue ball but he hasn't got the cover. But the red being so

close to the side cushion is no gimme.

But... It begs the question, what's the alternative?

This is a possibility. A line up that red.

Trying to come back down the left-hand side of the table and try

to cover the red that's closest to the bottom right-hand corner pocket.

He could be knocking this red over the hol eas well.

Yeah, he needs a good cue ball, though, doesn't he? Oh, and he's got

one. That's an excellent shot. Top drawer.

Well, I can't see a pot-on. Well, not one that could get you on a

colour. He will have to be very accurate

with his contact on the red. So accurate.

He's got to catch that red just so. He's playing in another red but it's

a similar sort of line. Too thick. Too thick. So here's a

chance for Barry. I'm not certain of the availability of the black to the

left corner. a red to the left corner, that

wouldn't give him position on the black. Maybe that blacks just a

little too tight to go. He can still look for the blue. One

good pot and it will give him a great chance.

Excellent pot, right in the heart of the pock E

He's got an angle on the blue. Back up for the red close to the cue

ball here. The fact that the yellow and brown

weren't on the spots made it a simple shot. It's all about judging

the pace and he's done that perfectly. Let's have a look to see

if the pink is available... Not for now, I'm sure he'll play for the

blue but yes, that pink goes. Is he going to play for it now or

play this red with the rest? Head love the pink spot to be

available. I'm not sure whether it is or not. Where is the pink spot?

It's hidden! There it is. Pink won't go in its own spot but the highest

available, which would be the brown spot. He's going to have to

concentrate on the blue for the time being.

Yeah, this is the red that he'd love to get rid of. Thinking, a few shots

ahead here, he could get the top side of the blue and then try to get

on to that red to the left of the black. That's the one he's looking

at. If you can put the cue ball into a position to get on that red it

would be perfect to try to win the frame from this position, it would

open the black to both pockets. He has to be precise with this

positional shot. This is a good bit of key shot to

the frame. It looks inch-perfect. It looks

absolutely inch-perfect. Well, as long as he can pot this red and not

disturb the black... Nice little shot.

The chance is there now. Well, this game never creases to

amaze you. He looked as if he had done all the hard work. And maybe

that's what he thought. He just took the plaque for granted. You cannot

drop your guard for a second! What a miss.

He wants to play the red that's in the open. If he's straight enough, I

know he's close to the red but he's only got to dab it in, so to speak,

and he will be on the black. It was a good dab! It was a

dab-a-dab-doo! Now, what can Mark Selby do here? If ever he needed

another good frame-winning break, it's here.

He needs this start. He's done it on a couple of frames.

Well, Barry will be sat there, bemused and bewildered at missing

that black. Just thinking maybe he went too

straight on the red. Mark is in perfect position. Barry

will be sitting there and suffering. Just the angle to run around off two

cushions. He now takes the lead. He's got a

four-point advantage. Make that 11 points. So the red's in

the open. The one close to the right corner, he'll save that as a reserve

if he does run out of position. Just a matter of keeping your

concentration now, and not playing a careless shot as he opponent did.

Yes, and here's the black again. He got himself into a prime position

and then took his eye off the black, concentrating on the little cannon

into the reds. And we saw when Barry missed it, you

saw him stand up - it's a real shock to the system, isn't it? Shock

horror, it really is. Yes, this will probably hurt him a

lot more than the 62-point lead he had a couple of frames ago. And as

you said, John, it's the shock of missing it. It really unnerves you.

As you say, when he made the 62 break he could consider himself as

unlucky. And you can put that behind you, then.

But that wasn't the case here, 33 points to lead, red cover, red

required. He's hanging in there, Mark, no

doubt about it. He's been thrown a life line and he's Dooley taking it

so far. Just the blue and the red required.

He's got to be careful he doesn't cover the pocket with the other red

when he's screwing back to the side cushion. But no danger of that so.

This red to go 40 points ahead with just 35 remaining.

APPLAUSE So the miss on the black has cost

him the frame. And it's cost him not only the

frame, John but a 5-2 lead. One frame away from victory, it would

have been. Now all those negative thoughts will

be running through Barry's mind now. If he can get the pink, he can make

a century. He's got the red. He can make the century with the

black and the six remaining colours. Quite funny, Jason Mohammed in the

studio, said there hadn't been a century break in this match so far

but we might get to see one now. We've had 18 in the tournament so

far. This is again, John, it's been a

wonderful break under the pressure that he has been put under by his

opponent. Well not the right side of the blue but, the century's only for

record purposes. As far as he's concerned he's already made 452

centuries, which is amazing in the time he's been a pro. He played it

solid. Beautiful shot.

Took the gift that Barry hawkins offered him up. Easy, the black off

the spot. He's still one behind but he'll be

feeling a lot better now. We could be in for a long afternoon. That was

sheer class from Mark Selby. Yes, is the ultimate predator of the

game going to whoop in on the Hawk. But it is ominous, isn't it? All of

a sudden you get the feeling he is tuning in. It's a funny thing in

this game. He missed a spot on the black. He can't believe he's done it

himself. I'm not saying this is the reason for it but sometimes it

happens, after you have played a shot that is really good the one

before, because this is class. He is stunning this, not cannon the black

and miss the flick on the red. He is so happy with the shot he made, put

all of the cons station to that one and missed the next one.

And a they get into the comfort zone, and all of a sudden a lapse in

concentration? Yes, so glad to get that one done, and don't concentrate

on the next one. And sometimes, you put a fraction

more pressure on yourself. You could see the shock on his face. The hand

went like that, "oh, my God" And we read so much into the body language

from here. What I have to say is, where does he keep finding the

clearances from? He is second best, and when he comes to a clearance, he

keeps making them. And Mark Selby, he revels in all

different types of snooker. He enjoys the game. Everything's a

challenge and he rises to the challenge. 19 centuries. Very good

standards as you expect. The tables have been playing lovely. It will be

reclothed, the tables, they are only two days old. But it will be done

tomorrow night before the final. Steve, can you see us getting more

in the current stage as to where we are now? Could that record of

centuries be beaten? I think, from the current stage, I think that

record might be beaten. Not the best break off, Mark Selby. As I said,

when he stalled frame five, he's within one. He needs to get to make

the frames, turning points to get level. But he's given Barry a chance

here. And fair play to Barry. He is getting the disappointments

but it doesn't knock him off. On the next frame, he's potting.

Excellent pot. A little kiss on the red and it would have been top side

of the blue. But he's still OK. He can pot the blue and get down to the

two reds and the black spot. Especially the one to the right of

it. That's pretty good. He's on that red

perfectly. An excellent shot. Yes, he played for the red to the

left of the black now. Clearing the black for the corner pockets.

He won't be taking anything for granted, though. He looked as if he

was to win the last frame and missed the black off its spot, so that will

sharpen his senses somewhat. You could say he stalled all three

of them really. He's never really been first in and built up a lead in

any frame. He's always been playing catch-up in frames.

It's like he's been hanging on to Barry's coat tails. He will be

disappointed with that break, Mark Selby, to leave this opening red. It

was an excellent pot, nonetheless. He has plenty of options here,

Barry. This red will pot and when he pots this the one to the right of it

will be pottable, as well. Just kissed it into the pack. Certainly

to the right centre. He has a nice angle, as we see

Mark's break-off. Look at this. He has done this a couple of times,

just not swinging it in behind that yellow.

Yeah, you have - maybe a foot this side of the baulk line to get behind

the yellow. If you don't get behind the yellow

you are always going to - not perfect here but you wouldn't expect

Barry to miss this. Solid. I don't think the red at the

top of the cluster is available. We saw him nudge it into the cluster.

Ken mentioned it. He is going to have to play - there you see it

doesn't go. If he plays to the right of the pink he will cannon into the

pink. He may favour the one down the right side of the table.

If you can't avoid the pink, positional side could go wrong. Oh,

well, he could avoid it, so no problem.

Maybe a little bit more angle than he would like.

To win the frame at this visit he's got to bring some reds into play in

that cluster. Won't be happy with this. Won't be