Quarter-Final: Match 4 Part 1 Masters Snooker

Good evening to you. It's been a big day for the 45th President across

the pond and an important evening for us in the 43rd playing of

snooker as Ally Pally. We still don't know who will rule in this

particular place come Sunday night. We are at the quarter-final stage.

One more match to be played in the quarters. These are the three who

have made it through. Defending champion, Ronnie

O'Sullivan could reign for a seventh time. Beating Neil Robertson in an

oddly fragmented match yesterday. Ronnie is to play Marco Fu tomorrow.

A former runner up in the event. Marco Fu's form is immaculate as

Mark Allen found to his cost, losing 6-3. All eyes on Mark Selby, the

world number one, who faced a tricky opponent in last year's runner up,

Barry Hawkins. Barry ground his way into the lead for a spectacular

frame. In the next, the Jester got in the scoring groove and levelled

the match with a 76. And by frame three, it was starting

to go wrong for Mark Selby, the reigning world and UK champion, and

by the interval, Hawkins had stretched his lead to two frames.

His long potting giving him the edge here.

After the break, Hawkins threw away a great opportunity, when he could

not split the reds, and Selby showed resilience with a gutsy 71.

Hawkins took the next, then Mark Selby made the only century in the

match to still remain in touch. Last year's runner up, Hawkins, he was on

top early in frame eight to go 5-3 in front. But Hawkins went through

again for the second semi-final, sell sexual abuse's chance of a slam

has gone. A great win for me. Up there with

one of my best wins definitely. Especially in a venue like this. Up

there with beating Ronnie in the Crucible. I think. He is the world

number one. Any time you beat the world number one, you are doing

something right. Obviously disappointed to lose. Not at any

stage did I stump my authority on the match. Barry was getting in

first in all of the frames apart from the last. I was clearing up

from behind. You can't keep doing that.

I seem to enjoy the big occasions. There is massive buzz when you win a

match like that. No better feeling. I am through to the final again.

And up next is Ding Junhui against owe Perry. The Chinese player has

only won once at Alexandra Palace, one match since then. This is the

second time ever that 42-year-old Joe Perry has gotten past this round

in the Masters. It is fully two years since they

faced one another. Two time Masters finalist is our trump card, Mr

Doherty. Quarter-final appearances off late have been rare for both of

these men. How nervy, how big an occasion for both? It is a nervous

occasion, a big occasion. There is a full house tonight. The semi-finals

of the Masters at stake. But they are experienced players. They love

this atmosphere. They want to perform. That's always a little bit

of pressure. I'm sure it will be a really good match.

Let's talk about Joe Perry. He had been in the doldrums. Not in great

form since a final last July. And then he beat the world number two

and the former world champion, Stuart Bingham. Where did it come

from! Beware of the guy with a care free attitude. He was not expecting

too much. It freed him up a little bit. I commentated on the match. I

saw him playing as well as he has for a long time. It is there, it is

just a matter of bringing it out. And his success at Alexandra Palace,

he had one at Wimbledon but that was way back.

When he is on form, he can beat anybody. But spriting he has only

won one match here but this is a good opportunity for Ding Junhui

now. A good opportunity for both players.

And they will not be playing Mark Selby but Barry Hawkins. And from

Mark's perspective the chance to become the fifth man to hold the

slam, that will hurt? He was really, really disappointed today. But fair

play to Barry Hawkins. Any time that Mark Selby posed the question to him

he answered with great aplomb. He played solid. He loves this

tournament. He was a finalist here last year. OK. Well a quarter-final

place to be decided. Who is making it to the semi-final? Rob Walker

officially in charge, over to you. Good evening ladies and gentlemen

what a match in prospect. Friday night, we're in London and that is

the last quarter-final of the Masters. A world-class weekend of

snooker starts right here, right now!

APPLAUSE Please, welcome a player in

unchartered territory, bidding for a first Masters semi-final in nine

visits. Booking his place after a win against Stuart Bingham. Runner

up at the World Open earlier in the season, here comes the gentleman,

Joe Perry. MUSIC:

"Happy." And his opponent, a player bidding for his first Masters

semi-final since 11, the year he won the title at Wembley. This year,

winning the Six reds and the Shanghai Masters. A national hero in

China, enter The Dragon, Ding Junhui!

APPLAUSE Oh, it's a lively crowd in tonight.

In charge in the commentary box are two former Masters champions,

Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor. Ready for a Friday night in, fellas?

We are, Hazel. And this crowd, once again, a fantastic reception for

both players. APPLAUSE

It's a beautiful trophy that they are playing for. Thank you. The

first frame. Joe Perry to break. Joe has won the toss. He's getting

the quarter-final under way. It was great to see Ding coming in with a

big smile on his face. In the early day, Ding, in a strange country, a

little shy but it's great to see that big smile. A very likeable lad,

Stephen, you have been in China with him a number of times, I'm sure.

Yeah, I think he has grown accost Yomed to the venue now. I remember

years ago he suffered at the hands of Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final.

But it has made him a stronger person and player for that

experience. I think you used to have a suit like that, Stephen, didn't

you? It's a little bit of tartan going on there.

See if Joe can carry on with the scoring. In his first-round match he

scored very heavily. Very impressive.

APPLAUSE A good pot to start. It is always

nice the first time. That was timed beautifully. He is looking as once

he pots the black it will be blocked up. It looks pretty straight on the

black. Not straightforward this little

opening. Easy to get in a red but obviously, after that, which colour

do you play for? Now he could play this red to the right corner and

stun it off the cushion and knock it away from the right-hand side of the

black. But I don't even know if the black can pot the left-hand corner.

It could be a power shot up for the blue.

He doesn't go. So that takes that out of the equation. This has to be

hit well. It's the top, left-hand side.

Now, does the pink go? I didn't see that one.

It's pretty tight. But he can just see enough of it.

If you hit the pink and the red at the same time, it's a foul shot but

clearly he made contact with the pink first. It's what is called a

split ball when you hit them both together. But that was definitely

the pink. I think this will be a high-scoring

match tonight. Both players are carrying form.

Both have two first-round centuries. It could be who makes the most of

their opportunities. He wants the cue ball to stop... Ding just caught

out there with the pace of the table. He has landed touching the

red so he can shoot it away down the table. Such a lively cloth. I think

that is the reason we have had so many century breaks, the table has

been playing beautifully. Well-judged to get in behind the

yellow. It's not an easy escape. No red to come off the curb good

afternooned just land on. He would like to land on the one to the left

of the black. But as you can see it's difficult to find an angle to

land tonne that one. He'll have to be precise with this.

Well, you can't get any better than that!

That was very well judged indeed there, from Joe Perry. Yeah, that

match, to beat Stuart Bingham 6-1, and that time, Stuart, in the only

frame he won, he made the highest break. 132 but that was surpassed by

Marco Fu who made a magnificent 140. Now that might be touching. It

seemed to nestle back. Because of the closeness to the pink

he can't get at the table. So no real advantage from the touching

ball this time. Don't forget he can't do much with

it. It's a little bit of a stalemate at

present. Ding Junhui with a 4-point advantage will want this resolved

before the referee might just say, a few more shots, Boyce and then maybe

set them up again. This time he can get up the table,

so no chance of a re-wrack. Back to normal!

This red will pass the gene, so. Ding Junhui caught that far too

thick, that's why the red came back up the table with the cue ball.

He can play it well, he can get a screw shot, he can get the white

somewhere on the angle to get back up to the reds. It depends on the

angle. Looking at the table he has a lovely

angle on the green. I don't think he will play his shot, as it's his

first scoring visit. But he has every chance of finishing

on a red. He has got the pink in the open. But maybe a bit too aggressive

at this stage of the first frame. If he does pot the pink, that's going

to be blocked up when it goes back on its own spot.

Always aims low on the cue ball, Dennis, doesn't he? A little bit

like Jimmy White. Touching the cloth, actually, and

delivering the cue slightly high every. -- lightly higher.

You could see the chalk transferring tonne the cloth when he played that

screw-back. That was a beautifully struck shot

it really was. It's the reason that the table is

brushed at the mid-session interval to get rid of all of the finger

marks, chalk marks. Nicely on the blue again. There is

an interested spectator. That's Joe's father, Peter. He's been here

for both his matches. Oh, hit the wrong ball there,

Stephen, didn't he. If he was going into the pink, he

needed a full-ball contact. He must have been going into the

pink but catching the side of this. There is still this red to the right

middle. It's a tough shot but it's the only one he can leave. Should he

miss it... No, a lovely shot! That is an ab-Hewitt cracking pot from

where the cue ball was. He just looks so relaxed out there.

He did against Stuart Bingham. A nice mannerism around the table.

Walker introduces Joe as Gentleman Joe Perry, and that's certainly what

he is. Fact he didn't pot the red cleanly,

means that the cue ball hadn't travelled as far as it would have

done. Somehow he has an awkward angle on the pink. He can play for

the red over on the left side cushion but it's not what he was

after. The other three are tied up

somewhat, they maybe available into the right middle pocket.

Well, he decided to take the more difficult pot to gain position.

If Ding has the angle he can follow through and flick the black away,

leaving himself on the pink. He's on this black. He's going to

have to go around the table. The red that's closest to the cue ball only

pots to the right corner. So between green and the brown.

He could go yellow and brown but he isn't anywhere near, you can see by

his reaction. He was a long way short that time.

So it's a close opening frame here. It's always nice, eve no-one the

best of 11, to get the first frame under your belt.

He didn't want the cannon on the yellow. This is a shot to nothing

for Joe Perry. He'll be playing a safety as well as

taking the pot on. Contact on the brown that he would

have liked. It almost looked certain like he was going to finish on the

yellow. So tacking the white in behind the yellow.

He couldn't risk trying to nestle on the yellow to block off the escape

route down the right side of the table. It happened earlier, I can't

remember who, planning to roll up on the ball but didn't reach it and

left a three ball after the foul. So Joe didn't want that to happen

there. I think he has blocked the escape route down the right side to

land on that right that is tight on the cushion.

I think Joe Perry is one of the best tactical players in the game. That

was very clever the way he played that shot.

He had to swerve it. Has he hit it hard enough? This is a good escape

because he had to swerve it to make the angle!

Stephen mentioned earlier, there, Joe Perry was one of the best

tactical players in the game, and proving it again there with that

very good safety. He doesn't have to swerve it this

time but head like the same outcome just to land on this red. That's

going to come up a long way short. It's a fast cloth but it's not that

fast. Joe will have a look at the red near the blue. If he is hammered

with the black he'll have it put back, and he is.

He must be careful not to overcompensate here.

Leave it to the left, to the corner pocket.

APPLAUSE He might be able to swing the white

over towards the yellow. He has to be careful not to put the red into

the pottable position. Head rather go for the bigger target

of the green and the brown but from this angle he can't really get over

there. As though he was frightened of

bringing that red into play. Will Ding attempt that?

Well, he has the white back up the table but it's costing him seven

pints it's left a half chance. He hit that far thicker than he

intended. Is that could prove to be a

frame-winner. 20 points the difference. The black

tied up so he's going to need the blue, the red and yellow. Needs to

pull over. Otherwise he will be the wrong side of the yellow when he

pops the blue. -- pops the. It needs to keep going. And it has. That is

why we have had so many century breaks. Just be alone needed to win

the opening frame. Just over 23 minutes.

Pretty solid first frame from Joe Perry. All departments of his game

look pretty sharp. On point with safety. Looks very confident.

It doesn't really matter, the fact that he hasn't got on the pink. Try

a little trick shot here. No fireworks in this opening frame.

Very tactical but Joe Perry looking very solid here this evening. He

takes the opening frame and leads 1-0. He's been scoring heavily.

There were a couple of pots bear that indicate the form is very much

with him. That particular shot, you have to be so accurate. Into the

middle pocket. There is the red that set up winning the frame. Safety has

always been very good. Those particular pots are evidence that

he's cueing very well. He has that carefree attitude. We

heard that he had fallen out of love with the game but it seems to be

working well for him. Can you identify with that? I think every

player can. Every player goes through the bad times as well as the

good ones. Sometimes you get so frustrated practising and practising

and you are not seeing the fruits of your labour. It can be very

frustrating. Every player would have gone through that, I'm sure. At the

age of 42, he's talked a lot about players of that vintage having an

awful lot to do with the younger players blowing hot and cold. They

might beat a big-name player and then they fall. The consistency,

does that come with it age? It's not a young man's game any more. It is

the fortysomethings playing better than they did in their 20s. It's

quite bizarre. It comes with age and experience. So many good young

players on the circuit now. A lot of the lads in their latte years are

playing some of their best snooker. Ding Junhui is 29, Joe Perry is 42.

It is the veteran who has taken the lead.

COMMENTATOR: A couple of veterans in the commentary box here. One a lot

older than the other. It will be great to see Stephen Hendry getting

his cue out again for the world seniors. Who knows, if he wins that,

gets a wild card, you might see the former world champion back at the

Crucible. Wouldn't that be something special?

I think he's just OK. I thought he was going to leave a red to the

right corner but he has gone far enough. To keep it safe. Not that

many years ago, they were all saying about a young man's game. But a lot

of the 40-year-old to well. The great John Spencer, three times

world champion, Ray Reardon, six times world champion, they were at

their peak in their early 40s. Played their best snooker. They had

a great final way back in 1975 at the New London Theatre. Somebody has

a problem with the APs. Can you turn it off for the time being. We are

hearing the interference in. It was one of the great finals, of the

Masters in 1975. John Spencer won it on the black.

Looks as though he can see enough of this red. Or is he playing the one

in front? It's quite difficult. Nice little double-kiss that led him

to miss that red. I think it would be a good strategy

for Ding to play aggressive safety shots to get the reds opened up.

This kind of exchange will suit Joe Perry more. I think, in my opinion,

he's the better tactical player, the clever player, in this sort of

situation. I think that just indicates what

Stephen was saying. 83% safety success to Ding's 77%.

He has the opportunity to play-off the bunch here. The more aggressive

shot. You can never be entirely sure whether reds will end up. So, he

will play the more conservative shot.

Ding will certainly open them up here, you feel. He might have fluked

it. It looked on. That shot. The red was always going to go towards that.

A three-ball plant. It's always going to go close. It's gone in his

favour. If this is dead straight on this

red, it could leave the black into the opposite corner and it clears

the black spot area. Fantastic petition will shot. -- fantastic

positional shot. What a chance now. That wasn't easy by any stretch. You

can see, there is no other reds available in that area. So he played

for that. Great shot. From that fluke, he did raise his hand, he has

created a great opportunity here. This is definitely his strength.

Very few, if any, in the game better, in my opinion. Absolutely.

He's up with the all-time greats in the century department. He has made

435 in his career. Meanwhile, he just overscrewed that

slightly. Should be much more comfortable on the black than this.

There's some of background noise. Ding Junhui can hear it. APPLAUSE

He might not be on a red. That was all caused by the previous

positional shot when he didn't get on the black, as intended. It's end

of break unless he takes on a very risky double. He can't really

because he would leave a read. Good safety shot. Like Stephen, I thought

he was going to go on and make a sizeable break there. APPLAUSE

This is the shot where he was hampered slightly. Just overscrewed

it slightly. I don't think it will be getting put

back. The pink is available. Needs a good positional shot. He can

get on the black. Something banged just as he knocked the pinking.

There was a noise. On his backswing. He couldn't even stop. Not sure if

it is backstage. This is a tough shot no. He got up

very quickly. Indicating immediately he got a bad contact. At first

glance, he hasn't seen anything. -- left anything.

Just that last shot that Ding played just as he was about to deliver the

cue, I certainly heard a noise. There was quite a bang somewhere. He

couldn't stop himself. Has he got away with that? He made a

mess of the safety shot. Look where the finished... So close to the red

he can't even planned the red in. It is far too thin, careered into the

other red. Look where the cue ball finished. No wonder Joe was

scratching his head. I don't know if you can see the bottom cushion. Just

missed the red to the right of the green. Get up to the red, get on the

black and clear up. The most important thing was to make

sure he potted the red. He has had to play that with check side to

secure the angle. That is a great shot. What a chance. These are

tough. Especially if you miss it, you are guaranteed to leave it on.

Just got into it a bit too much. It all depends on the angle he has on

the red. Just depends whether he can get the correct side of the blue to

keep the break going here. Pretty straight. APPLAUSE

He might just be able to screw back and leave the reds to the left of

the four reds and pink. That's where he wants to place the cue ball. Just

a matter of screwing it back about 18 inches. He is thinking about the

more difficult yellow. I think the blue is the better one. Just leave a

medium length pot. There is a shot to play lots of top spin of the

blue, four cushions to leave the black in the right-hand corner. He's

not look that that one. Or has he? I think he looked at the possible

plant. Once again, might get that red in the middle of those. If he

hadn't got into that area, he might have got onto that. But he can still

have a go at the plant. Pick a spot where you would want to hit the

first red. Hit the spot on the question just to the left of the

pocket. If he does take it on, it is an element of safety in his mind. In

fact, he's not even going to bother with the plant. APPLAUSE

What a pot that was. He's not on the green but he will be tight in behind

it. He will be disappointed that he

didn't win the frame at that visit. A couple of slack positional shots

earlier on. I think if he was straight on that

red to the yellow pocket he would take it on but the angle wasn't

right to come back for the black. Don't know if Joe can take this red

to the left corner and avoid contact with the black. I don't think so.

You need to get some contact on the cue ball. He's just had a look at

that shot you mention. He'll go close to the black, you'd say.

Change of plan. So important to get close to the

cushion. The modern day players are such good long potters. You will see

them setting up long pots to practice.

Almost got the snooker. Not quite. Needs to get back to the safety

area. We've had a couple of fairly

tactical frames. The first frame lasting almost 25 minutes. This one

has been going just over 21. He can take the red on this time and get

back down the table. Terrific cueing there. Tucked up

behind the brown. He hasn't covered the easy out to

the left-hand side of the table. Careless.

I think he can score enough without needing the rednecks to the pink.

He's looking good. -- without needing the red next to...

STUDIO: Joe Perry looking good for a 2-0 lead here. If you want to follow

this match, it continues all evening until the last ball drops via the

BBC sport app or the red button. If you've are the plans, I'll be back

later but in the meantime, from Ken and me it's farewell.

Why would James Delaney hate the India so?

If they have a fear of water, God help them.