First Round: Mark Selby v Mark Williams

0:00:37 > 0:00:39Good afternoon and welcome to Alexandra Palace.

0:00:39 > 0:00:46A fortnight ago, the PDC darts final ended here at this famous old venue,

0:00:46 > 0:00:52with Phil Taylor signing off after a glittering career. Now snooker's

0:00:52 > 0:00:56Masters tournament takes centre stage, and we focus on Mark William,

0:00:56 > 0:01:02who beat snooker's greatest ever player in the most dramatic finals

0:01:02 > 0:01:08we've ever seen at the Masters, 20 years ago.

0:01:14 > 0:01:20COMMENTATOR: You cannot get any closer!This is incredible again.

0:01:20 > 0:01:24Mark thought he had the black, but the one that Stephen is left with,

0:01:24 > 0:01:30the white close to the side cushion, he is absolutely dead straight on

0:01:30 > 0:01:38the black. This is not an easy shot.

0:01:41 > 0:01:54Is that in! It will be this time, I'm sure. The lead has got away from

0:01:54 > 0:02:00Stephen Hendry. Nothing is easy, Dennis, is it?It wasn't the easiest

0:02:00 > 0:02:06of blacks. It was absolutely straight on. He had to roll it.

0:02:06 > 0:02:16Tremendous joy! Really deserved for young Mark Williams from Wales. He's

0:02:16 > 0:02:20never been in front of this final against the world number one until

0:02:20 > 0:02:28the last frame. He's had a tremendous week. He will is the 1998

0:02:28 > 0:02:33Masters champion.

0:02:33 > 0:02:3820 years on from that final, Mark Williams has won 19 ranking titles,

0:02:38 > 0:02:44but today comes up against the world number one, a man who has won the

0:02:44 > 0:02:49Masters three times, the first coming ten years ago.

0:03:04 > 0:03:17What a way to win! Mark Selby equals the highest break, a break of 144.

0:03:17 > 0:03:27He wins the 2008 Masters championship. Unbelievable!

0:03:27 > 0:03:31championship. Unbelievable!He may attempt the double to clinch this

0:03:31 > 0:03:41year's Masters. It's right in the middle of the pocket!

0:03:41 > 0:03:44middle of the pocket! Ronnie comes forward and shakes the hand of Mark

0:03:44 > 0:03:50Selby. It has been a remarkable final. It has been a remarkable

0:03:50 > 0:03:56comeback from the Jester from Leicester. He was 9-6 down, and he

0:03:56 > 0:04:05won four frames in a row, and takes the Masters for the second time.

0:04:05 > 0:04:12He is enjoying every pot now! And why not finish off with a trick

0:04:12 > 0:04:17shot?

0:04:17 > 0:04:26shot? Why not? He wants to pot the black as well. Well played, Mark

0:04:26 > 0:04:31Selby, and well played, Neil Robertson. But in this final, Mark

0:04:31 > 0:04:39Selby done good. He's won three Masters titles now, and he is the

0:04:39 > 0:04:402017 Masters champion.

0:04:40 > 0:04:41Masters titles now, and he is the 2017 Masters champion.

0:04:41 > 0:04:47Well played. Good afternoon to you and welcome to Alexandra Palace, and

0:04:47 > 0:04:52Day one of the 2018 Masters. The best players in the world. The top

0:04:52 > 0:04:5816 are here, and what a week we have ahead of us. This is how they line

0:04:58 > 0:05:04up. The reigning champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, plays 2011 runner-up

0:05:04 > 0:05:09Marco Fu.

0:05:09 > 0:05:15Marco Fu. Mark Allen takes on Luca Brecel, making his Masters debut.

0:05:15 > 0:05:20Anthony McGill also making his first appearance. 2011 winner, Ding

0:05:20 > 0:05:28Junhui, plays Ryan Day, back at the Masters. 2015 champion Shaun Murphy

0:05:28 > 0:05:36up against Ali Carter. Barry Hawkins, runner-up in 2016, takes on

0:05:36 > 0:05:40Kyren Wilson. And world number one Mark Selby takes on Mark Williams

0:05:40 > 0:05:46today. It is going to be a special match to kick off this year. Good

0:05:46 > 0:05:50afternoon to Ken Doherty and Steve Davis. There's something very

0:05:50 > 0:05:56special about turning up at Alexandra Palace, isn't there?You

0:05:56 > 0:06:01have to earn your place. It is a bun fight now to get the spaces in this

0:06:01 > 0:06:06event, such is the standard of the players. The Masters has always been

0:06:06 > 0:06:12a flagship event, but to think that some people say that the sport is

0:06:12 > 0:06:16struggling a bit. Day one, the venue is packed.The Crucible is very

0:06:16 > 0:06:22special to us, as is York, but there is something different about walking

0:06:22 > 0:06:26up the steps here at Alexandra Palace. There is a real buzz in the

0:06:26 > 0:06:32crowd today.There always is. It is steeped in great history and

0:06:32 > 0:06:36nostalgia. The tournament is only second to the World Championships.

0:06:36 > 0:06:44You have the best players in the world, the top 16 in the world, and

0:06:44 > 0:06:48every match could grace any final. You are on TV, only one table, you

0:06:48 > 0:06:52are centre stage. One of the best tournaments.And what a start we

0:06:52 > 0:06:58have with these two today.Proven winners in this event. I think Mark

0:06:58 > 0:07:01Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan are the two players who have made this

0:07:01 > 0:07:06tournament their own in recent years. When it comes to a one-table

0:07:06 > 0:07:10set-up, it seems to sort the men out from the boys. Some of the players

0:07:10 > 0:07:15like to get through on the outside tables, because they are used to

0:07:15 > 0:07:22that. But there is no hiding place out there. Day one, round one, you

0:07:22 > 0:07:27have to produce the best.Can Mark Williams pull off the odd shock?

0:07:27 > 0:07:32Absolutely. He's playing some of the best snooker he has ever played. One

0:07:32 > 0:07:37of the most consistent players on the circuit. He has won here, one

0:07:37 > 0:07:42the World Championship and the UK. He's going to give a tough match.

0:07:42 > 0:07:47But he has changed. Look how young he looked in that CT! He looks

0:07:47 > 0:07:53different.Testament to Mark Williams, competing at the age of

0:07:53 > 0:07:5942. Doing very well recently as well. Even though Mark Selby is the

0:07:59 > 0:08:05favourite, the start is important. You want to get off to a good start.

0:08:05 > 0:08:09Arguably, Mark Selby... You might say Mark Williams wants to get off

0:08:09 > 0:08:16to a better start.Mark Williams has

0:08:24 > 0:08:29a better form player.Although Selby has had a good season. I am going to

0:08:29 > 0:08:31wish Stephen Hendry happy New Year, but I am not expecting a return

0:08:31 > 0:08:36greeting, when I ask in what his memories are of that final against

0:08:36 > 0:08:42Mark Williams!I have won this thing six times, but I am almost more

0:08:42 > 0:08:47famous for missing that black! It was one of those matches. I had

0:08:47 > 0:08:53chances to win it. But that black ball, just off straight, rolling it

0:08:53 > 0:09:00in dead weight, is a tough shot.Is it

0:09:00 > 0:09:03it hard to watch back?Yes. That is all you see these days, Mark

0:09:03 > 0:09:09Williams' name, and the black ball underneath it.How special is this

0:09:09 > 0:09:15tournament for snooker players?This was number two on my wish list every

0:09:15 > 0:09:19season after the World Championship. Mark Selby will want to prove why he

0:09:19 > 0:09:24is world number one this week.A sparkling opening match, a great

0:09:24 > 0:09:30match to kick off the tournament. Absolutely. Two players who can win

0:09:30 > 0:09:35ugly. They don't mind the scrappy games, but fantastic tactical

0:09:35 > 0:09:38brains. Mark Williams has won tournaments. He will need to win

0:09:38 > 0:09:43more frames in one visit and score heavier to give himself a chance

0:09:43 > 0:09:48today.Thank you. Enjoy your week here

0:09:48 > 0:09:51today.Thank you. Enjoy your week here at Alexandra Palace. Let's see

0:09:51 > 0:09:56how these two matchup.

0:09:59 > 0:10:01how these two matchup. They have been playing each other for years.

0:10:01 > 0:10:04Selby won this meeting last year. He has beaten the Welshman twice at the

0:10:04 > 0:10:09Masters. We are all set for a cracking match here. It is about to

0:10:09 > 0:10:16get under way. Mr Dennis Taylor in the hot seat.A very good afternoon

0:10:16 > 0:10:23and a warm welcome to be 2018 Dafabet Masters. And what a match we

0:10:23 > 0:10:29have got lined up for you this afternoon!

0:10:40 > 0:10:45Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome into the arena, a player who has won

0:10:45 > 0:10:51the Masters title on two occasions. Twice the world champion, the

0:10:51 > 0:10:53reigning Northern Ireland open champion, from South Wales, Mark

0:10:53 > 0:11:03Williams!

0:11:06 > 0:11:14MUSIC: Delilah by Tom Jones.

0:11:27 > 0:11:32And Mark's opponent this afternoon, a player who has won the Masters on

0:11:32 > 0:11:37three occasions. He's been world champion three times. He is the

0:11:37 > 0:11:44reigning world professional snooker champion, Mark Selby!

0:12:10 > 0:12:15STUDIO: Such a prestigious tournament in a truly wonderful

0:12:15 > 0:12:20venue, one of the leading sporting championships of the year. Live on

0:12:20 > 0:12:25the BBC all year. A very warm welcome to you, and a warm welcome

0:12:25 > 0:12:33to our commentary team, Stephen Hendry, and Dennis, who is running

0:12:33 > 0:12:44up the stairs!Thanks. An intriguing first match of this Masters.

0:12:44 > 0:12:54Mark Williams breaks off. He would like to have that one again! He will

0:12:54 > 0:12:57be nervous today, Mark Williams. He's not been in this event for a

0:12:57 > 0:13:05while. Doubting -- not doubting his pedigree in the game. Catches the

0:13:05 > 0:13:14read a little bit thin.

0:13:23 > 0:13:32Not bad pot, but he's faced with a tricky black, Mark Selby.

0:13:32 > 0:13:37I think Mark Selby today... Normally he doesn't mind playing scrappy

0:13:37 > 0:13:43frames. He's got the perfect match temperament. I think today he will

0:13:43 > 0:13:46not want to get involved in that against Mark Williams. A long way

0:13:46 > 0:13:55off the black.

0:14:13 > 0:14:23REFEREE:Foul.That was never the natural angle to go in off this.

0:14:23 > 0:14:28Obviously a brand-new cloth. Very slippery.

0:15:01 > 0:15:08Stephen mentioned before play commenced, you can see some

0:15:08 > 0:15:12fantastic tactical battles between these players. They are excellent

0:15:12 > 0:15:20safety players.

0:15:44 > 0:15:48Well, he's pushed a red towards the pocket, but I think the Greens will

0:15:48 > 0:15:55be covering that one, so that makes it very difficult for Mark to get a

0:15:55 > 0:16:01good cue ball here. He might just roll into these. It is a very quick

0:16:01 > 0:16:07table, and I think that is going to reach.

0:16:08 > 0:16:12reach. Couldn't risk taking the cue ball back down the table because of

0:16:12 > 0:16:21that red near the left corner. Bit of a stalemate now.I think today,

0:16:21 > 0:16:28Dennis, in terms of playing containing safeties, you couldn't

0:16:28 > 0:16:35get better players for that part of the game than these two. This has

0:16:35 > 0:16:42already got the makings of, well... Either AV rack or a very long

0:16:42 > 0:16:50exchange.It is a touching ball. I think they are going to have a

0:16:50 > 0:16:59re-rack here. Couldn't see a way of getting out of that stalemate. Was

0:16:59 > 0:17:04that touching ball? Mark Selby, when he agreed with Mark Williams, I

0:17:04 > 0:17:08don't think he knew it was a touching ball. With a touching ball,

0:17:08 > 0:17:13he could have put the ball into an awkward spot.I think that is a

0:17:13 > 0:17:17pretty good decision, but a surprising one, with it being

0:17:17 > 0:17:22touching. A fabulous crowd in this afternoon. The atmosphere is

0:17:22 > 0:17:27incredible. Standing in for Rob Walker, who is doing the final of

0:17:27 > 0:17:37the darts.

0:17:44 > 0:17:47What a buzz to stand in front of this crowd.This venue, the

0:17:47 > 0:17:49Alexandra Palace, has become synonymous with this tournament now.

0:17:49 > 0:17:51It's got an identity here. Not quite the old Wembley conference Centre,

0:17:51 > 0:17:56but pretty close.

0:18:04 > 0:18:13REFEREE:First frame. Mark Williams to break.

0:18:14 > 0:18:20Mark Williams, then, breaks up for the second time in this opening

0:18:20 > 0:18:28frame of this first 211. It's a pretty good break of shot.His first

0:18:28 > 0:18:34attempt, he caught the pack weighed too thin. That was a lot better. A

0:18:34 > 0:18:44thicker contact on the fifth of red of the triangle.

0:18:44 > 0:18:48What you don't see very often from these two players is very aggressive

0:18:48 > 0:18:54safety shots, splitting the reds open. They like to keep it quite

0:18:54 > 0:18:59tight.

0:19:33 > 0:19:39That was well negotiated through the gap. Played it at a nice pace as

0:19:39 > 0:19:44well. Left-hand side, stocked the cue ball short. A decent chance,

0:19:44 > 0:19:54this, with the open reds.

0:19:58 > 0:20:05An excellent positional shot.

0:20:05 > 0:20:09He floats the ball is in, Mark Williams. A lot of the top players

0:20:09 > 0:20:16prefer to play with a bit more pace, stunt in. Mark Williams drops so

0:20:16 > 0:20:20many in dead weight.

0:21:09 > 0:21:14A chance to go into the bunch, if he so wishes, but there's two or three

0:21:14 > 0:21:24loose reds. A nice angle on the black. Then possibly, Mark Williams

0:21:24 > 0:21:32wouldn't go into the reds as soon as some of the other players. The first

0:21:32 > 0:21:40frame very important, so has to get a good start in this match.

0:21:58 > 0:22:08May have to use a touch of left-hand side.

0:22:08 > 0:22:20Nice to see Mark's wife and son here.

0:22:20 > 0:22:27here. Jo nearly back to her good old self. She is a delightful lady. An

0:22:27 > 0:22:32absolute gem. So is Keenan as well.

0:22:50 > 0:22:55Mark Selby will be sitting in his seat now, thinking he should have

0:22:55 > 0:23:00played that touching ball, and tried to put Mark in a bit of trouble.I

0:23:00 > 0:23:04think he definitely would have played the shock-macro if he knew it

0:23:04 > 0:23:14was a touching ball. But I think the players had agreed beforehand.

0:23:14 > 0:23:16players had agreed beforehand. Mark Williams obviously played for the

0:23:16 > 0:23:23red to the left middle. The first tricky shot of the break coming up.

0:23:23 > 0:23:30If he can reach it, I think he can pot this and just stand past the

0:23:30 > 0:23:41pink, and pot of the cushion for the black. A very good shot.

0:23:41 > 0:23:47Worth another look at that one. He is perfect on the black to get onto

0:23:47 > 0:23:53the red that's just do the right of the little bunch there. A slight

0:23:53 > 0:24:05angle to work with. He's played to leave onto the middle pocket.That

0:24:05 > 0:24:10might have been a little bit of adrenaline. He got into that cue

0:24:10 > 0:24:18ball far too much. It's there. Great shot. Exactly what he would have

0:24:18 > 0:24:26wanted.

0:24:27 > 0:24:33He made that look very easy. That was a tough shot he took on there.

0:24:33 > 0:24:44Just finished a little straight on the black this time.

0:24:44 > 0:24:51He's got into this well. He's played that beautifully.

0:24:52 > 0:24:54that beautifully. What a start for the Welsh Potting Machine. That's

0:24:54 > 0:25:03his nickname.

0:25:03 > 0:25:06his nickname.I had a few different nicknames for him, but I don't think

0:25:06 > 0:25:15I can say what they are!

0:25:15 > 0:25:20U2 are still at it, winding each other up. You've done it throughout

0:25:20 > 0:25:28your whole careers.

0:25:34 > 0:25:41Yes, when he was giving it to me, I said I would get my own back up here

0:25:41 > 0:25:47in the commentary box. But so far, I've not been able to. This has been

0:25:47 > 0:25:55a fantastic start.

0:26:08 > 0:26:14Looking at a player here who's made 404 centuries in his professional

0:26:14 > 0:26:22career. Made 21 this season, 26 last season. Great to see Mark Williams

0:26:22 > 0:26:33back where he belongs, world ranked number ten at the moment.

0:26:39 > 0:26:48Another good shot.

0:26:53 > 0:26:59Makes the century. Absolutely brilliant from Mark Williams.

0:27:01 > 0:27:05brilliant from Mark Williams. The first century in this year's Dafabet

0:27:05 > 0:27:11masters. And that's a mark Williams special. Never seen another player

0:27:11 > 0:27:21able to do that.

0:27:39 > 0:27:46Mark Selby had said before the match that if there was one player he

0:27:46 > 0:27:52wanted to avoid in the draw, it was Mark Williams. And you can see why.

0:27:52 > 0:27:58Another shot played under Ron. It's remarkable how he can do that, and

0:27:58 > 0:28:05screw the ball, and judge the weight of the cueing like that.It has been

0:28:05 > 0:28:11a phenomenal break.

0:28:11 > 0:28:14a phenomenal break. Before the re-rack, it looked like it was going

0:28:14 > 0:28:25to be a really scrappy first frame. But this has been fantastic.

0:28:38 > 0:28:48Oh, a kick on the black. What a shame. After the re-rack, he had one

0:28:48 > 0:28:55chance, and he made that magnificent break. He leaves 1-0.

0:28:55 > 0:28:59STUDIO: I promised you before this programme that we were in for some

0:28:59 > 0:29:00cracking snooker, but what a

0:29:00 > 0:29:01programme that we were in for some cracking snooker, but what a start

0:29:01 > 0:29:07by Mark Williams. Nothing better than to see him in full flow.A

0:29:07 > 0:29:13flawless start. They both looked a bit edgy before the re-rack, but

0:29:13 > 0:29:16that start was superb. I'm lucky to get a kick on the black, otherwise

0:29:16 > 0:29:20it would have been marvellous. A good target to set for the rest of

0:29:20 > 0:29:25the lads.We know Mark Williams has great pedigree within the game, and

0:29:25 > 0:29:30in his pomp and prime you would have expected a start like that. Since

0:29:30 > 0:29:35then, things haven't gone so well, but he's back in the top 16.

0:29:35 > 0:29:48Something like that is a great confidence booster, the fact you can

0:29:48 > 0:29:51do it on centre stage. The table looks lightning fast. Expect players

0:29:51 > 0:29:53to overhit shots, overscrew, and then these thin shots, they will

0:29:53 > 0:29:58probably hit a few of those. The cushions look very fast as well.And

0:29:58 > 0:30:02just the manner he dealt with the break, floating around the table.

0:30:02 > 0:30:07Looked like he was in a snooker club, hitting a few balls for sleep

0:30:07 > 0:30:11when you talk about great talents in the game and natural ability,

0:30:11 > 0:30:16sometimes Mark Williams would be like that. He's got such great

0:30:16 > 0:30:21ability and talent, not just the flair, but the ability he's got.

0:30:21 > 0:30:34What a fantastic start. Mark Williams leads Mark Selby 1-0.

0:30:45 > 0:30:50On the point of the table is lightning fast, it's suits the way

0:30:50 > 0:30:59Mark Williams plays.He has a great touch.

0:30:59 > 0:31:03touch. Never see him overhit, in terms of swinging at anything with

0:31:03 > 0:31:14his cue. Oh, he got away with that. Very lucky.

0:31:14 > 0:31:22Very lucky.Mark had tapped the table for the shot. And Mark Selby

0:31:22 > 0:31:30came to the table and tapped. You can see Mark, good shot. Smiles all

0:31:30 > 0:31:32around.

0:31:51 > 0:32:00He did not go for the pot. No value because the red next to the black is

0:32:00 > 0:32:08blocking it. There was no value. He almost got the kiss, but he was

0:32:08 > 0:32:13safe.

0:32:18 > 0:32:29I like this shot. That has cleared the black. He is thinking

0:32:29 > 0:32:39positively. Why would he not, after the opening frame?

0:33:42 > 0:33:47He does not have the same escape route if he goes up past the yellow.

0:33:47 > 0:33:53He could leave a red to the right middle pocket, which is why he is

0:33:53 > 0:34:00making sure he covers that red if he plays that shot. He does not like

0:34:00 > 0:34:00it.

0:34:09 > 0:34:14Just a little bit of an awkward frame with the way the two reds are

0:34:14 > 0:34:23either side of the blue.

0:34:50 > 0:34:55You will not see many mistakes made with these players in this situation

0:34:55 > 0:34:58will stop they both have all of the patients in the world. They will

0:34:58 > 0:35:05just keep finding good safety shots. I think there will be very few

0:35:05 > 0:35:08unforced errors today in the safety Department.

0:35:18 > 0:35:27Very unlucky. He picked one out. It was very unfortunate indeed. To

0:35:27 > 0:35:35knock the yellow in.

0:35:36 > 0:35:41At least the penalty shot has not left Mark Selby with a chance at a

0:35:41 > 0:35:52red. But a chance to get a telling safety shot. Moving the cue along

0:35:52 > 0:36:03the cushion, trying to pick the spot he would like to leave the cue ball.

0:36:11 > 0:36:17And it was pretty clever, because he knocked the other red away from the

0:36:17 > 0:36:20middle pocket, the one that was pottable. That was a clever little

0:36:20 > 0:36:29shot.

0:36:29 > 0:36:37We can look at the way Mark played this. Look at this. The cannon on

0:36:37 > 0:36:44the red. Very clever.

0:38:12 > 0:38:18It is terrific to watch the high breaks going in but also

0:38:18 > 0:38:22entertaining to watch a good tactical rattle to see who will make

0:38:22 > 0:38:27the first mistake.

0:38:27 > 0:38:31Just one of those frames where there are three reds at the other end of

0:38:31 > 0:38:37the table.

0:38:37 > 0:38:46And what an effort. What an effort that is.

0:38:48 > 0:38:52that is. He screwed back a little bit further than he wanted but the

0:38:52 > 0:38:59in-off is not on because there is a red over the middle pocket and he

0:38:59 > 0:39:04can roll that. I said the in-off was not on, the red near the middle

0:39:04 > 0:39:08pocket, but it has worked out perfectly. He almost knocked it in

0:39:08 > 0:39:14the pocket.

0:39:14 > 0:39:20He knew he could not go in-off. But he almost planted the red in the

0:39:20 > 0:39:27pocket.

0:39:27 > 0:39:33And he is in first in the second frame. Can he continue where he left

0:39:33 > 0:39:42off in the opening frame?It was going to take something special to

0:39:42 > 0:39:45end the safety exchange because both players were playing high-quality,

0:39:45 > 0:39:51tactical stuff.

0:39:51 > 0:39:57tactical stuff. Obviously playing this with an element of safety. He

0:39:57 > 0:40:03would have left Mark Selby a similar shot, should he have missed that. If

0:40:03 > 0:40:07he continues the form of the previous frame, this should be the

0:40:07 > 0:40:13second frame over, the way the reds are. He looks in control, composed,

0:40:13 > 0:40:24focused. He is cueing beautifully.

0:41:22 > 0:41:30The two reds touching, he may flick one to the left.

0:41:55 > 0:42:02Can he get through to the red? It is tight. He played for the other one

0:42:02 > 0:42:08and he overran that, but he... Well, that will go through the gap. He

0:42:08 > 0:42:15would like the red to the right, rather than that. He can play for

0:42:15 > 0:42:20the blue if he feels he will cannon the red on the run through. I think

0:42:20 > 0:42:27winning the Northern Ireland Open in November has given Mark Williams a

0:42:27 > 0:42:36boost. His first ranking title in a couple of seasons. He lost in the UK

0:42:36 > 0:42:506-5. Two Ryan Day. But he had tip trouble in that.

0:43:06 > 0:43:11One more good shot here. It will give him a great chance to secure

0:43:11 > 0:43:15this second frame, but it is not perfect.

0:43:28 > 0:43:36It needed to pull up and it did.

0:43:43 > 0:43:47What I thought was stopping him from being a competitor as far as winning

0:43:47 > 0:43:53majors was not winning enough frames in one visit, not scoring heavily

0:43:53 > 0:44:05enough. But that has been put to bed this afternoon. An awesome start.

0:44:10 > 0:44:17I think he is getting a great buzz out of the terrific crowd this

0:44:17 > 0:44:19afternoon. It is really helping him.

0:44:34 > 0:44:39It is all about the red on the left side of the table and being a

0:44:39 > 0:44:44left-hander, it might not cause a problem for the second century. He

0:44:44 > 0:44:50can drop in behind it, or he can move it. Being a left-hander, it is

0:44:50 > 0:44:55how he feels. Playing to dropping behind.

0:45:10 > 0:45:15What a shame. Not back-to-back centuries. But as Stephen said, he

0:45:15 > 0:45:21got one chance and that was all that was needed.

0:45:21 > 0:45:24got one chance and that was all that was needed. He now leads 2-0.

0:45:24 > 0:45:28STUDIO: What is most impressive is Mark Williams looks comfortable.The

0:45:28 > 0:45:34cue ball is on a string and he is potting fantastic balls,

0:45:34 > 0:45:35cue ball is on a string and he is potting fantastic balls, a great red

0:45:35 > 0:45:39to the middle and knocks in the yellow. Look at this, very hard to

0:45:39 > 0:45:47control. It set him on his way.The black was not too shabby. You cannot

0:45:47 > 0:45:50underestimate how good a start this is when all eyes are on view as a

0:45:50 > 0:45:51player.

0:45:51 > 0:45:55is when all eyes are on view as a player. If the first frame had

0:45:55 > 0:46:01unfolded with Mark Williams making a bad break off and ball is going

0:46:01 > 0:46:07scrappy, no way would this have happened so a strange fluke that it

0:46:07 > 0:46:10was restarted and suddenly Mark Williams had a couple of shots to

0:46:10 > 0:46:14get his ongoing and Mark Selby on the back foot, which has happened to

0:46:14 > 0:46:20Mark recently. It is tough as world number one sometimes.We have to

0:46:20 > 0:46:26bear in mind, Mark was disappointed to crash out of the UK Championship.

0:46:26 > 0:46:32He had trouble with the tip. His wife was ill, when he was in York,

0:46:32 > 0:46:39but he should have won that match. It came off the back of winning the

0:46:39 > 0:46:43northern Ireland and going to then play in York, tiredness might have

0:46:43 > 0:46:48kicked in. He wanted to get home to his wife, who had not been well, so

0:46:48 > 0:46:54many factors involved. For Mark Williams, he is the form player and

0:46:54 > 0:47:00Mark Selby needs to start potting balls quickly.Mark Selby indeed has

0:47:00 > 0:47:06a game on his hands.

0:47:34 > 0:47:40Mark Selby has not had a pot to go at. We had one before the re-rack in

0:47:40 > 0:47:44the opening frame, but he has not had a chance since.

0:47:52 > 0:47:59What a way to start the match, a break of 135.

0:48:18 > 0:48:25Just a bit of distraction in his eyeline. You could see the referee

0:48:25 > 0:48:29holding up his hand. It could be a photographer or someone in the

0:48:29 > 0:48:37background.

0:48:37 > 0:48:41The referee from Belgium. One of the top referees and has been for many

0:48:41 > 0:48:51years. He works in a hospital and has time off for his referee duties.

0:48:52 > 0:48:54What a fluke.

0:49:02 > 0:49:12Awkward bridging. He caught the red to thick and then he got the fluke

0:49:12 > 0:49:13on the plant.

0:49:16 > 0:49:23I am not sure... The black will not go in the right corner and the red

0:49:23 > 0:49:27might be blocking it from the left. The pink is available.

0:49:42 > 0:49:47It will not go in that pocket and certainly not the other, so this is

0:49:47 > 0:49:54not a good chance for Mark Williams just yet. What a body blow if he

0:49:54 > 0:50:05could knock a sizeable break in after that fluke.

0:50:26 > 0:50:39It was too far for the blue. I think it will be a red to the right

0:50:39 > 0:50:49corner. One of the reds above the black. So, the first piece of bad

0:50:49 > 0:50:52cueing that Mark Williams has put into this match. There was a lot of

0:50:52 > 0:51:00movement.I do not think it will cost him too many points, the fact

0:51:00 > 0:51:05he missed the yellow, he did not get the cue ball anywhere near he

0:51:05 > 0:51:12wanted. They red will pot between the pink and black, but there is no

0:51:12 > 0:51:16colour available, so there is no value in it. That is why he is not

0:51:16 > 0:51:18even entertaining the pot.

0:51:22 > 0:51:28He could have played that better.

0:51:30 > 0:51:34Mark's target will be to get the white somewhere near the yellow and

0:51:34 > 0:51:39he might be able to take a shot to nothing on. The red may pot into the

0:51:39 > 0:51:47right corner.

0:51:53 > 0:51:57It all depends on the angle he has on the brown as to whether he can

0:51:57 > 0:52:07get up to the reds. He has the angle to get up to the red Mark Selby had

0:52:07 > 0:52:10available, but it was no use to him because there was no colour

0:52:10 > 0:52:16available.

0:52:17 > 0:52:27That was well played. He still has a lot of work to do.

0:52:27 > 0:52:32The red closest to the black cushion, he played to finish lower

0:52:32 > 0:52:38because he could have possibly developed the black and flick the

0:52:38 > 0:52:45red away to the right. If you place this to the right corner, he is

0:52:45 > 0:52:53trusting to luck with the position. He gets top spin on the cue ball,

0:52:53 > 0:53:01and he would be unlucky to not be on anything. Well, he played that well.

0:53:01 > 0:53:06The cue ball is going to the cushion, but that was pretty well

0:53:06 > 0:53:08controlled. The gap he finds.

0:53:21 > 0:53:26It was not easy, tucked up on the cushion, so the first half chance

0:53:26 > 0:53:30falls to Mark Selby. When you are tight on the cushion at that angle,

0:53:30 > 0:53:41they are never easy. It is not a good chance for Mark Selby. The

0:53:41 > 0:53:46black is out, the pink is awkward, the blue is off its spot.He is

0:53:46 > 0:53:51looking at the red to the right corner. I think the pink is

0:53:51 > 0:53:58available to the left middle.

0:54:15 > 0:54:23At the moment it is a half chance. Mark Selby will not see it that way.

0:54:23 > 0:54:31He will look at it as an opportunity to get his first frame on the board.

0:54:31 > 0:54:36The black is tied up, but everything else is pretty well situated.

0:55:32 > 0:55:37With only the pink to play for, pinpoint accuracy is required with

0:55:37 > 0:55:45the position every shot.

0:56:47 > 0:56:57He could've done with a good two, more inches to make this pink

0:56:57 > 0:57:01He could've done with a good two, more inches to make this pink. He

0:57:01 > 0:57:04could still hold for one of those to the left corner.

0:57:18 > 0:57:26It could have gone wrong.

0:57:38 > 0:57:44As long as he is not dead straight on the blue he is OK and he has a

0:57:44 > 0:57:51slight angle to work with.

0:58:03 > 0:58:06There are still a couple more reds available into the left corner

0:58:06 > 0:58:10pocket.

0:58:10 > 0:58:17He is doing what Mark Selby does well indeed, when his back is

0:58:17 > 0:58:21against the wall, he produces his best, usually.

0:58:31 > 0:58:37The red just above the black and cannon the other one away and leave

0:58:37 > 0:58:47himself on the black. Would he be too high, possibly?

0:58:49 > 0:59:01He ran slightly out of position. We saw Mark's wife Vikki watching on.

0:59:01 > 0:59:09She knows he is faced with a tricky shot.

0:59:09 > 0:59:15shot. I think he took the risk out of covering the black as Stephen

0:59:15 > 0:59:18suggested and that is why it went slightly wrong. He played a good

0:59:18 > 0:59:32recovery shot. That is a pretty good recovery shot if it keeps coming.

0:59:34 > 0:59:38It was a natural angle on the blue to drop on the reds but he still

0:59:38 > 0:59:46have to play it, and he played it well. He has turned this half chance

0:59:46 > 0:59:51into a frame-winning visit, it looks like. He needed it.

1:00:00 > 1:00:10Just this red needed to leave Mark Williams at the

1:00:10 > 1:00:13Williams at the snookers required stage. What a cracking match we have

1:00:13 > 1:00:24on our hands here. One mistake and the frame is over, at the moment.

1:01:26 > 1:01:34Frame over. Can he flew the green?

1:01:34 > 1:01:42Just the one mistake from Mark Williams, the miss of the yellow,

1:01:42 > 1:01:48which was all Mark Selby needed.

1:01:48 > 1:01:49Williams, the miss of the yellow, which was all Mark Selby needed.

1:01:49 > 1:01:54STUDIO: Mark Selby comes firing out of his corner. That is the beauty of

1:01:54 > 1:01:57the Masters tournament, especially when you have best of 11 matches.

1:01:57 > 1:02:03You might be 2-0 in front, but all you need is to take your eye off the

1:02:03 > 1:02:08ball, and your opponent is back in it.That was a great frame. To get

1:02:08 > 1:02:14off to a good run was an important thing to do in that break. He knows

1:02:14 > 1:02:18the significance of that, as great champions do, and he settled down

1:02:18 > 1:02:28quite

1:02:31 > 1:02:34well, considering he hadn't hit a ball in the first two frames.Just

1:02:34 > 1:02:36what he needed. Quite a few balls. That's what great champions do. They

1:02:36 > 1:02:39have the confidence, when a chance comes their way, that they are going

1:02:39 > 1:02:42to take it. Mark Williams will be aware that if he goes two or three

1:02:42 > 1:02:47frames, Mark Selby never gives up. He has a history of flooring match

1:02:47 > 1:02:55back when he's been so far behind. When you are playing a great player,

1:02:55 > 1:03:00you have to keep on top of them all the time.And there is pressure as

1:03:00 > 1:03:07well.You know if you miss, you are giving him a chance.We've had

1:03:07 > 1:03:11breaks of 135, 89 from Williams, and that one from Selby. That's only

1:03:11 > 1:03:20going to get better.Exceptional. For Mark Selby, not having had the

1:03:20 > 1:03:23best of seasons so far, to have the temperament to prepare for this

1:03:23 > 1:03:31event and get going, and then you lose the first two frames to a

1:03:31 > 1:03:36player who is just buzzing. The temperament you need to not let your

1:03:36 > 1:03:43head drop and not panic...We are talking about two champions here,

1:03:43 > 1:03:49two guys who are very seasoned. They know these championships so well,

1:03:49 > 1:03:54and they can handle these moments. They have been in this situation

1:03:54 > 1:03:58many times. When you are out there, Edu try and recall some of those

1:03:58 > 1:04:02great matches you've been involved in. Certain situations will remind

1:04:02 > 1:04:08you of that. You will think, I did it against this player while ago.

1:04:08 > 1:04:13That will give you the calmness and the confidence to think, if the

1:04:13 > 1:04:18chance comes, I will do it again.In this position however many years

1:04:18 > 1:04:25ago, however many champions to go -- championships ago, do you think you

1:04:25 > 1:04:26have a chance?

1:04:26 > 1:04:31championships ago, do you think you have a chance?As he has got older,

1:04:31 > 1:04:36he will expect Mark Selby to produce on the big stage. More impressed at

1:04:36 > 1:04:41the moment with Mark Williams' performance. Looks like a cracking

1:04:41 > 1:04:47match is unfolding. COMMENTATOR: Mark went out for a

1:04:47 > 1:04:54couple of minutes there, but there's no trophy there, I suddenly noticed.

1:04:54 > 1:05:01It was shining in Mark's byline.

1:05:01 > 1:05:07It was shining in Mark's byline. A beautiful Waterford Crystal trophy.

1:05:09 > 1:05:16It was potting Mark off a bit, so it has been removed.He's not been here

1:05:16 > 1:05:24a few years, and his first match back, he wants the trophy moved.

1:05:24 > 1:05:32Have you still got the one they presented to you. You won five, and

1:05:32 > 1:05:39got the original trophy?Yes, still got it. I was very fortunate that

1:05:39 > 1:05:46the sponsors did that.

1:05:46 > 1:05:49the sponsors did that. It's strange, though, because he only missed one

1:05:49 > 1:05:55ball, Mark, so is potting him off?

1:06:21 > 1:06:27The only mistake Mark Williams made in the match was this one here. Just

1:06:27 > 1:06:32didn't cue that as smoothly as the rest. That is the only mistake he's

1:06:32 > 1:06:36made in the match so far.

1:06:41 > 1:06:45Once again, another awkward frame here, with the red up on the green

1:06:45 > 1:06:53spot.

1:07:00 > 1:07:06I think, in this event, the Masters, when you've got the best 16 players

1:07:06 > 1:07:12in the world, although Mark Williams hardly missed a ball the first two

1:07:12 > 1:07:17frames, Mark Selby wouldn't be too bothered. That's what you expect the

1:07:17 > 1:07:22best to do. Sometimes when you are playing in the field, you are in

1:07:22 > 1:07:26your chair and you don't expect the lower ranking players to do that.

1:07:26 > 1:07:37But this will not upset Mark Selby too much.

1:07:48 > 1:07:53Not quite as intended. That cue ball should have been tight to the baulk

1:07:53 > 1:07:59cushion. A difficult shot he attempted there. The cue ball

1:07:59 > 1:08:06bounced a little bit, because he raised the butt of the cue so much

1:08:06 > 1:08:09in the air.

1:08:32 > 1:08:36I think he was nicely on the pink, but I think he's looking to see

1:08:36 > 1:08:46where it gets re-spotted after he pops it.

1:08:47 > 1:08:52If it won't go back on its own spot, it will have to go on the green

1:08:52 > 1:09:00spot. That won't hinder Mark Selby from getting on the red their back

1:09:00 > 1:09:10it to the right of the pack if he wishes.

1:09:10 > 1:09:19He wobbled it a bit. Safely in the pocket.

1:09:19 > 1:09:25pocket. That tells the referee if the ball will spot. I think there's

1:09:25 > 1:09:35enough room. You need a steady hand to do that.

1:09:36 > 1:09:40Maybe there wasn't just enough room, so it goes on to be only spot

1:09:40 > 1:09:46available, the green.

1:10:02 > 1:10:07They had a brilliant match here last year in the first round. It went the

1:10:07 > 1:10:14distance. Five frames all, and Mark Selby knocked in... I think it was

1:10:14 > 1:10:19an 80 plus match that clinched it. The way both players are playing

1:10:19 > 1:10:27here, I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't have another 6-5 result.

1:11:09 > 1:11:17Nice angle on the blue. Tricky going into the pack because of that one

1:11:17 > 1:11:26lose red just to the top of them.

1:12:07 > 1:12:14You see, the cue ball just goes to ride before the top spin takes

1:12:14 > 1:12:18effect. That's why he didn't get into the middle of the bunch with

1:12:18 > 1:12:21the cue ball.

1:12:34 > 1:12:45REFEREE:Foul. Mark Williams, four. That has cost him four points, but

1:12:45 > 1:12:50he hasn't left anything easy for Mark Williams here.

1:12:56 > 1:13:02If he can find an angle... He doesn't like it. He was thinking

1:13:02 > 1:13:07about taking the red on and playing up for the black, but decided to try

1:13:07 > 1:13:13and put Mark Selby in a spot of bother here. Oh, he's played the

1:13:13 > 1:13:22double. I'm surprised. I'm surprised he's done that.I'm very surprised

1:13:22 > 1:13:28as well. OK, he put the cue ball in a place where he thought he couldn't

1:13:28 > 1:13:35miss it, but a very risky shot. A pretty simple safety shot could have

1:13:35 > 1:13:43put Mark Selby in a lot of trouble. He is excellent at doubles, Mark

1:13:43 > 1:13:50Williams, to be fair, but they are never guarantees.

1:13:50 > 1:13:53never guarantees. The last thing you want to be doing is giving Mark

1:13:53 > 1:14:01Selby gifts.

1:14:04 > 1:14:09As I mentioned earlier, these matches are the best of 11. The

1:14:09 > 1:14:18interval will be after this frame.

1:14:20 > 1:14:27There may be a chance now that we will go to that mid-session interval

1:14:27 > 1:14:37all square, two frames each. Just finished a little awkward there.

1:14:37 > 1:14:42He has to be careful not to screw off the reds and into the middle

1:14:42 > 1:14:51pocket. That's OK. Played it well.

1:15:40 > 1:15:48That's just OK. Always a little concerned, when you are playing a

1:15:48 > 1:15:59delicate cannon like that.

1:16:03 > 1:16:13This blue will leave Mark Williams needing a snooker.

1:16:28 > 1:16:33This has been a match so far befitting this event, a premier

1:16:33 > 1:16:38event in World Snooker, the best players in the world. A great match

1:16:38 > 1:16:44so far. The first two frames to Mark Williams. The second two to Mark

1:16:44 > 1:16:59Selby.Where is that white going? It pulled up.Here is a tester, Dennis.

1:16:59 > 1:17:08Wants to drop this in dead weight for the black. It's the sort of shot

1:17:08 > 1:17:16he's pretty good at.

1:17:20 > 1:17:26He looked round at Mark Selby and said, that's enough. What a fabulous

1:17:26 > 1:17:34match so far. Breaks of 135, 89 and 70, and all square at the

1:17:34 > 1:17:37mid-session interval. Two frames each.

1:17:37 > 1:17:39STUDIO: I'm going to let

1:17:39 > 1:17:40each. STUDIO: I'm going to let you into a

1:17:40 > 1:17:46secret here. On frame two, you said it was going to go all the way. I

1:17:46 > 1:17:51thought, have you seen the score? Back you were bang on.It's amazing

1:17:51 > 1:17:56how one frame can change everything sometimes. Mark Selby now looks the

1:17:56 > 1:18:01stronger of the two players. He will be much happier. Although Mark

1:18:01 > 1:18:07Williams never missed a ball, Mark Selby will be the happier of the two

1:18:07 > 1:18:12players in the interval.What seems to happen, and I noticed it when I

1:18:12 > 1:18:15played, in a game where you got off to a good start and you hadn't

1:18:15 > 1:18:20missed a ball, and you win the first frame and the other guy doesn't pot

1:18:20 > 1:18:24a ball, and then the same thing happens... There is pressure on you

1:18:24 > 1:18:29to keep on keeping the pressure on your opponent. And at some stage you

1:18:29 > 1:18:36are going to miss, and that is when the bubble seems to burst. If the

1:18:36 > 1:18:39other guy is strong enough, he gets back into it. Doesn't matter how

1:18:39 > 1:18:45good the start was... The other guy gets his tail up because he has

1:18:45 > 1:18:50recovered.Take us into the dressing room, Ken. If you are Mark Williams

1:18:50 > 1:18:57now, you have played well, got a break of 135 and 89, and somebody

1:18:57 > 1:19:02like Mark Selby draws back at you, what are you thinking?If I was in

1:19:02 > 1:19:08the dressing room, I would say, you haven't missed a ball. It's 2-2. It

1:19:08 > 1:19:12is a new match now when you go back out. Just relax and keep doing what

1:19:12 > 1:19:21you are doing. The interval has had at a good time for Mark Williams.

1:19:21 > 1:19:26But for Mark Selby, he will be going into the dressing room thinking,

1:19:26 > 1:19:31well, I have turned this match around.That is the beauty of the

1:19:31 > 1:19:36Masters.And it is interesting, having in interval. And interval is

1:19:36 > 1:19:41not what the players need in a game of snooker sometimes. Obviously, the

1:19:41 > 1:19:47crowd needs it. Mark Williams has lost the chance to capitalise on

1:19:47 > 1:19:52jumping the gun on Mark Selby. He's back to square one. Certainly, he

1:19:52 > 1:19:57will be going, I could have kept that up, I could have done better.

1:19:57 > 1:20:03There is a pressure on the guy in front. Always has been, always will

1:20:03 > 1:20:07be. Especially because you know, if you get a great start, you can beat

1:20:07 > 1:20:13your opponent 4-0 in the first session. If you don't do that, you

1:20:13 > 1:20:18can be disappointed.Remember when we were here two years ago, when

1:20:18 > 1:20:23Ronnie O'Sullivan wiped the floor with Ricky Walden in 45 minutes?

1:20:23 > 1:20:26That can happen.Anything can happen when you are playing Ronnie

1:20:26 > 1:20:32O'Sullivan. The standard of the first four frames has been great. We

1:20:32 > 1:20:38thought it was going to be a little more safety, more tactical, but it

1:20:38 > 1:20:41hasn't been like that at all. Both players have scored well when

1:20:41 > 1:20:47they've got the chance.Lets focus on Mark Selby. It has been a couple

1:20:47 > 1:20:54of fantastic years with Leicester, with Leicester winning the league,

1:20:54 > 1:20:59and then Mark Selby doing so well in snooker. He's not the only king

1:20:59 > 1:21:06there.

1:21:07 > 1:21:09there.Jamie, good to see you.An interesting place, this. Looking

1:21:09 > 1:21:19forward to seeing the history.Shall we have a look around?Why not?I

1:21:19 > 1:21:23know it's been here for many years, but I've not really set foot in the

1:21:23 > 1:21:29place, which is a shame, being a local lad from Leicester, and the

1:21:29 > 1:21:33history in this building. Especially when I used to practice at a club

1:21:33 > 1:21:38down the road. It's nice to be here today, and I'm sure I will leave

1:21:38 > 1:21:42here with some great memories. COMMENTATOR: What a win for Mark

1:21:42 > 1:21:51Selby! His third world title.I still have to pinch myself a bit.

1:21:51 > 1:21:57When I won it for the first time, it was something I would always strive

1:21:57 > 1:22:02for, as a professional. To win it for a third time was remarkable.Do

1:22:02 > 1:22:08you feel like a legend? Because you are a legend.Do not really. I just

1:22:08 > 1:22:17feel like I am Mark Selby, a lad who grew up in Leicester, didn't have

1:22:17 > 1:22:21much money. I'm the same person.Is that the secret of your success?

1:22:21 > 1:22:26That you are the same person and you don't get emotional?Possibly. That

1:22:26 > 1:22:30is a credit to my father. Keep your feet on the ground, don't let

1:22:30 > 1:22:36anything change you. I think I had that instilled in me as a boy. One

1:22:36 > 1:22:43of only four players to retain the title.You are currently on the

1:22:43 > 1:22:47fourth longest run as world number one as well. Some great players

1:22:47 > 1:22:52above you have achieved that, Ray Reardon, Steve Davis, Stephen

1:22:52 > 1:22:58Hendry.That seems strange. You just asked me if I think I am a legend,

1:22:58 > 1:23:05and I don't. But I'd class those players as legends. To be in the

1:23:05 > 1:23:08category with them, when I finish my career, perhaps I will look at it

1:23:08 > 1:23:17like that, but at the moment, I don't see it like that.

1:23:18 > 1:23:21don't see it like that.We are going to get you dressed for battle.No

1:23:21 > 1:23:31problem. Let's go.It is the weight that makes it heavy. That will go

1:23:31 > 1:23:38round like that. Let's buckle you up. This will hopefully protect you

1:23:38 > 1:23:43from sword cuts.Nothing like a waistcoat! Lovely. I'm not sure

1:23:43 > 1:23:53lovely... How did you know it was my size?It's a gift. I'm going to go

1:23:53 > 1:24:00with Ebacc and breastplate now. This is going to go over there like that.

1:24:00 > 1:24:08You might have to hold on for -- to me in a minute, so I don't collapse.

1:24:08 > 1:24:15For a best-of-7, I might get away with it, but not the 11s!Do you

1:24:15 > 1:24:28feel comfortable?I could run the 100 metres in it! 32 waste, is it?

1:24:28 > 1:24:33There we go. That's better. Let's make the helmet fit. It might ruin

1:24:33 > 1:24:41your hair a bit. Now that's a look, isn't it?What a look. This is

1:24:41 > 1:24:53lovely. Beautiful. Look at that.A good two-handed sword there.I'm

1:24:53 > 1:25:02strong enough to hold it one-handed. Go on!

1:25:02 > 1:25:08Go on! That's why I'm all padded up. I think I might keep the hat. I feel

1:25:08 > 1:25:16like I've squeezed into a baked bean tin. I'll be off then! Going for a

1:25:16 > 1:25:23walk through town.It's a good look. Like a cricketer.When you take all

1:25:23 > 1:25:30that off, is going to be awful.Like Edward Scissorhands.Being the world

1:25:30 > 1:25:35champion three times, does that give you an aura when you go out there?I

1:25:35 > 1:25:40suppose it gives you more of a fear factor from your opponents when they

1:25:40 > 1:25:45play you. I don't feel it gives me an aura myself. If you go out there

1:25:45 > 1:25:50and play well, it feels good, if not, get back on the practice table.

1:25:50 > 1:25:56To win the World Championships again would be my aim. If I did have any

1:25:56 > 1:26:00goals to set, that would be my aim.

1:26:00 > 1:26:01would be my aim. If I did have any goals to set, that would be my aim.

1:26:01 > 1:26:07This is a big moment for Ronnie, to break Stephen Hendry's record. He

1:26:07 > 1:26:13will be absolutely delighted when he reflects on this, because, for the

1:26:13 > 1:26:18seventh time, he is Masters champion. Congratulations.No

1:26:18 > 1:26:19seventh time, he is Masters champion. Congratulations.No

1:26:19 > 1:26:22disrespect to any other player, but Ronnie is still the pinnacle of our

1:26:22 > 1:26:28sport. He is the one everyone is aiming for. To play him in a final,

1:26:28 > 1:26:34if I could pick anyone, it would be him.Is there a bigger respect

1:26:34 > 1:26:38between the two of you, because he has said complimentary things about

1:26:38 > 1:26:44you?I have played him in finals and beaten him, so hopefully I have his

1:26:44 > 1:26:49respect. I can just carry on and keep doing what I'm doing. If I have

1:26:49 > 1:26:55his respect, great, if not, I will carry on doing what I'm doing.Do

1:26:55 > 1:27:00you only enjoy it if you win, or would you still want to play beyond

1:27:00 > 1:27:07tour if you are competitive?I would still play. You enjoy it more if you

1:27:07 > 1:27:12are winning than if you are losing. I still enjoy the practising, and I

1:27:12 > 1:27:17still get a buzz when I go to the tournaments. I am hopefully still at

1:27:17 > 1:27:22the pinnacle of my career. I've never played for the money since I

1:27:22 > 1:27:26turned professional. I just want to try and win as many tournaments as

1:27:26 > 1:27:33possible. I've always enjoyed the game.

1:27:35 > 1:27:38game.Mark Selby, some competitor, isn't he? When you look at him at

1:27:38 > 1:27:42the moment, it's probably a good thing that Ronnie O'Sullivan is

1:27:42 > 1:27:47still around, because any sport, you want to chase the very best. We

1:27:47 > 1:27:51could sit around and discuss all day long whether Mark Selby all Ronnie

1:27:51 > 1:27:56O'Sullivan is the best player on the circuit.I think Ronnie is the

1:27:56 > 1:28:01barometer. If he wants to beat anyone in the final, it would

1:28:01 > 1:28:05definitely be Ronnie O'Sullivan. To beat the best in the world in a

1:28:05 > 1:28:11final, it is every player's dream. They want to play against the best

1:28:11 > 1:28:16players in the biggest finals. Ronnie has set the benchmark, just

1:28:16 > 1:28:25like Stephen Hendry did for the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan.

1:28:25 > 1:28:31Conversations we have had with Mark, in the practice tables and the

1:28:31 > 1:28:37studio and out and about, I get the feeling he is not the type of player

1:28:37 > 1:28:41who gets rattled. Do you think it privately rattles him the fact that

1:28:41 > 1:28:45the media focus on Ronnie O'Sullivan and the fact he is still around,

1:28:45 > 1:28:50despite the fact Mark Selby is the world champion?I don't think so. He

1:28:50 > 1:28:56speaks highly of Ronnie, and has respect for him. In what sport would

1:28:56 > 1:29:01you have the world number one saying he looks up to Ronnie O'Sullivan? In

1:29:01 > 1:29:05another sport, they wouldn't say that. They would say, I am the world

1:29:05 > 1:29:11number one, look at me. That is why he has had so much success. He is

1:29:11 > 1:29:15very grounded and doesn't get carried away, and just wants to win

1:29:15 > 1:29:19trophies.In other sports there is the trash talking, which doesn't

1:29:19 > 1:29:26happen in snooker.We need more of that!Talking of trash talk, I have

1:29:26 > 1:29:31no idea what has happened to snooker trophies, but when I was watching as

1:29:31 > 1:29:36a kid, they were much bigger. What has happened?This has been replaced

1:29:36 > 1:29:40by Steve Davis, and you will probably get more chat out of it

1:29:40 > 1:29:48than Steve Davis. This is the Irish Masters trophy. It is a trophy that

1:29:48 > 1:29:53Steve has won before.It is there because we are going to have a chat

1:29:53 > 1:29:57with Steve now and ask him about it. He is far too modest and doesn't

1:29:57 > 1:30:04want to spend too much time talking about it!Kvitova tour has been

1:30:04 > 1:30:10created for the over 40s. If you are an ex-snooker player and want to get

1:30:10 > 1:30:16into the game, this is a chance for you. I was brought into play at the

1:30:16 > 1:30:21Irish Masters at short notice, and I accidentally won it. Getting back to

1:30:21 > 1:30:28the proper Masters here and how good a player Mark Selby is, a superb

1:30:28 > 1:30:32player. Technique wise, over the years, we know from when he plays,

1:30:32 > 1:30:32he

1:30:32 > 1:30:35years, we know from when he plays, he seems to move his head a lot. It

1:30:35 > 1:30:40is not on the shot, but during the preparation. He gets down and his

1:30:40 > 1:30:47head seems to be swaying like this. An unusual thing to do.

1:30:48 > 1:30:53You are taught to keep as still as possible when playing. Sometimes he

1:30:53 > 1:30:57sways a little bit by going short of. He wants to go shorter

1:30:57 > 1:31:04sometimes. But fantastic Key West. If you are watching from five, six

1:31:04 > 1:31:13years ago, a lot of movement beforehand -- cueist. It is

1:31:13 > 1:31:17important to keep as still as possible on the shot, which is

1:31:17 > 1:31:23something I did not do in the 1985 final against Dennis Taylor on the

1:31:23 > 1:31:30black and over the years I have been asked to play that black again but

1:31:30 > 1:31:36in the 1998 final against...I see where you are going.We have some

1:31:36 > 1:31:41footage of you playing this black. It was not as close to the pocket as

1:31:41 > 1:31:48that.Fair enough. You are trying to keep still on the shot.Of course,

1:31:48 > 1:31:57especially on these shots, dead weight shots. Did it roll off? I

1:31:57 > 1:32:04think it did. No, it didn't.Would you put the balls in the same

1:32:04 > 1:32:12position. The black was over the pocket. Was it their? Fair enough.

1:32:12 > 1:32:19About their? Yes. It was a smelly shot.You want me to play it? Try to

1:32:19 > 1:32:29keep your head still.It is a horrible cue, by the way. Exactly

1:32:29 > 1:32:36the same result.I cannot play that shot. Unlucky, never mind. Another

1:32:36 > 1:32:38ten, 20 years to go. Back to the studio.

1:32:38 > 1:32:41ten, 20 years to go. Back to the studio.

1:32:41 > 1:32:45STUDIO: Before we go back to the match, we can remind you how we

1:32:45 > 1:32:46STUDIO: Before we go back to the match, we can remind you how we line

1:32:46 > 1:32:51up this evening. You will not miss a shot with the BBC coverage. Mark

1:32:51 > 1:33:03Allen and Luca Brecel and highlights also.

1:33:03 > 1:33:08All the coverage on the BBC Sport website and app. If you are joining

1:33:08 > 1:33:12us, this is what you have missed so far.

1:33:12 > 1:33:16us, this is what you have missed so far. Mark Selby and Mark Williams,

1:33:16 > 1:33:21two players who know each other well and a fantastic start from Mark

1:33:21 > 1:33:29Williams with a break of 135 in frame one. The Alexandra Palace

1:33:29 > 1:33:33crowd loving this from Mark Williams, rolling back the years. A

1:33:33 > 1:33:41fantastic reds to set up a break of 89. Mark Selby fired back in frame

1:33:41 > 1:33:51three with a break of 17. 14 minutes and 30 seconds. -- 70. In frame

1:33:51 > 1:33:59four, he'd drew level with 37 and 36 breaks, which means we went into the

1:33:59 > 1:34:08mid-session interval two apiece.

1:34:08 > 1:34:15And here we are, these are the live pictures. The fans, having coffee or

1:34:15 > 1:34:19tea, maybe something stronger on this Sunday lunchtime, heading back

1:34:19 > 1:34:24into their seats. Ken, it is a high quality contest and this is what you

1:34:24 > 1:34:29would expect.Absolutely. Top quality first four frames and

1:34:29 > 1:34:35important this frame for Mark Williams to steady the ship and stop

1:34:35 > 1:34:40the run from Mark Selby and it will be interesting to watch the opening

1:34:40 > 1:34:45exchanges.They have played each other on so many occasions. Let's

1:34:45 > 1:34:50hand you back to Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor.

1:34:50 > 1:34:54DENNIS TAYLOR: Thank you, Jason. People are still coming back. A

1:34:54 > 1:35:03packed house at the Alexandra Palace. What a treat, watching for

1:35:03 > 1:35:11the first four frames.

1:35:11 > 1:35:14the first four frames. Mark backstage as usual, having a little

1:35:14 > 1:35:24sandwich, totally chilled out, as he always is.

1:35:31 > 1:35:36As I said earlier, there is nothing Mark Selby did in the last two

1:35:36 > 1:35:40frames that Mark Williams would not have been surprised about. He would

1:35:40 > 1:35:45have expected a reaction from his opponent. He would have been

1:35:45 > 1:35:48disappointed at missing the yellow in frame three, because he was

1:35:48 > 1:35:50flying at that point.

1:36:04 > 1:36:10He may be able to take this red on, although the angle is not good, no,

1:36:10 > 1:36:15he can't, he will play the safety shot. A little bit straighter, he

1:36:15 > 1:36:20could have had a go and got on the black in such a way he would not

1:36:20 > 1:36:26have left anything available.

1:36:26 > 1:36:28have left anything available.There seems to be a lot of noise in the

1:36:28 > 1:36:29arena somewhere.

1:36:35 > 1:36:50Not his best. A bit slack, that safety shot.

1:37:04 > 1:37:17REFEREE:Foul.What a miss that was. He needed the red to stay tight,

1:37:17 > 1:37:26cushion. He finished up screwing into the pocket. If he had hit the

1:37:26 > 1:37:32red fuller, that would not have happened. And he underhit that. It

1:37:32 > 1:37:41was a tricky red he was faced with. I think he put everything into the

1:37:41 > 1:37:46pot. They are difficult along the cushions. He forgot to hit the white

1:37:46 > 1:37:56hard enough. Should have been beyond the baulk line.

1:37:57 > 1:38:02The fact there is a red either side of the bunch, the normal escape

1:38:02 > 1:38:07route to the side of the reds is not straightforward and he could leave a

1:38:07 > 1:38:17pot on, so he will have to give this a little bit of thought.

1:38:32 > 1:38:39REFEREE: Foul and a miss. That was a misjudgement. He will have it put

1:38:39 > 1:38:44back. Mark has blocked the one cushion skate to the right side of

1:38:44 > 1:38:51the reds, which is why he was trying to go twice across -- one cushion

1:38:51 > 1:39:00escape. He still has to be careful. He could hit the wrong red and leave

1:39:00 > 1:39:05a pot on.

1:39:10 > 1:39:16He is just saying to the referee he could not go off two cushions to

1:39:16 > 1:39:22clip the red.

1:39:25 > 1:39:27clip the red. Just a slight adjustment was required.

1:39:33 > 1:39:40Is that the pink? REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

1:39:40 > 1:39:51He is trying to get to the red just behind the pink.

1:39:55 > 1:40:00Because if he comes off two cushions, if he hits that red, he

1:40:00 > 1:40:05would need the other red, which is why he is having to be precise to

1:40:05 > 1:40:11avoid hitting that one.

1:40:11 > 1:40:20This looked better. Yes, well played.

1:40:23 > 1:40:29In fact, there is no way back down the table for Mark Williams. There

1:40:29 > 1:40:37is not a lot available here.

1:40:43 > 1:40:48That was all he could do. He just hand speed tactical advantage to

1:40:48 > 1:41:01Mark Selby. -- he handed the tactical advantage to Mark Selby.

1:41:54 > 1:42:01It is very fast flowing action in the match so far. I expected a lot

1:42:01 > 1:42:09more tactical play. Both players have been playing so well. They got

1:42:09 > 1:42:14a chance, that was all they needed to take the frame. This might be a

1:42:14 > 1:42:20more tactical frame now the black is on the cushion.

1:42:54 > 1:43:03That was unlucky to cannon and send it right over the pocket. It always

1:43:03 > 1:43:07can happen. He played the shot well enough but he could not have

1:43:07 > 1:43:14envisaged knocking it over the pocket.

1:43:20 > 1:43:29The first chance for this frame falls to Mark Selby.It was a nicely

1:43:29 > 1:43:34controlled shot. A touch of drag on the cue ball to make control easier.

1:43:34 > 1:43:41Nicely on the blue.

1:43:41 > 1:43:50He may play a cannon into the bunch to the right of the pink. No.

1:43:50 > 1:43:57to the right of the pink. No. Taking the cue ball away from the pack.

1:44:20 > 1:44:27He may be reluctant to play for the pink. It will go on the black spot,

1:44:27 > 1:44:31I think, if he pots it. He is looking to see if it is available to

1:44:31 > 1:44:34the left corner.

1:44:39 > 1:44:47It is fascinating to watch different players how they build their break.

1:44:47 > 1:44:53Stephen suggested potting the blue and the cannon. Quite a few players

1:44:53 > 1:45:03would have played that shot. But Mark is going about it in a slightly

1:45:03 > 1:45:11different route. The concern is keep knocking the ball is in. That is

1:45:11 > 1:45:16what it is all about.

1:45:16 > 1:45:23I do not think you plan to play this but he is going into the bunch. And

1:45:23 > 1:45:26that is why, because you never guarantee control. He wanted to be

1:45:26 > 1:45:32straight on the pink.

1:45:49 > 1:45:55He made that look easy but almost tight on the cushion. Needed

1:45:55 > 1:46:02extremely good cueing.

1:46:02 > 1:46:08extremely good cueing. And now he has the pink in the open. And,

1:46:08 > 1:46:16gradually, it is developing into a decent chance.

1:46:27 > 1:46:34That yellow, if it was on its spot, that is where he would want to hit

1:46:34 > 1:46:39the cushion with the cue ball where the yellow is now so he will have to

1:46:39 > 1:46:43play with left-hand side, side cushion for red to the right corner

1:46:43 > 1:46:50so he has played the shot a little bit awkward. If he screws past the

1:46:50 > 1:46:58yellow, he could get too much side. That is why he played to bring the

1:46:58 > 1:47:02cue ball on the right-hand side of the table and that is good.

1:47:15 > 1:47:21It has just finished awkward with the angle. Straighter would have

1:47:21 > 1:47:26been better to screw back off the cushion for the pink. He can still

1:47:26 > 1:47:34do it but it is a more awkward angle.

1:47:34 > 1:47:42I think he is OK.

1:47:46 > 1:47:55He hit the last shot really well. It was quite a good angle on the red.

1:47:55 > 1:48:00You could see by the reaction of the cue ball how well he timed it.

1:48:23 > 1:48:29He seems to have moved up a gear, Mark Selby. Just slowly starting to

1:48:29 > 1:48:36dominate this match.

1:48:39 > 1:48:43He could not do much in the first two frames he lost, but since then,

1:48:43 > 1:48:45an excellent reply.

1:48:51 > 1:48:58I think it hurt him badly losing the first round of the UK Championship.

1:48:58 > 1:49:05He wants to be involved in the biggest events until the end. I

1:49:05 > 1:49:11think he has put in the hours on the practice table since then.When you

1:49:11 > 1:49:15are reigning world champion and world number one, those defeats do

1:49:15 > 1:49:19not half hurt.

1:49:33 > 1:49:39You could see the head movement. Very slight now offer Mark Selby.

1:49:39 > 1:49:44Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry were talking about five, six years ago,

1:49:44 > 1:49:49the movement was more than it is now. You can see the eyes focused on

1:49:49 > 1:49:57the object ball before he delivers the cue.

1:50:03 > 1:50:06For a top snooker player there is still an incredible amount of

1:50:06 > 1:50:16shaking in the head. I bet he does not even feel it.

1:50:26 > 1:50:3151 ahead, 51 on, or will he risk going into the bunch? If you want to

1:50:31 > 1:50:38keep the break going, he will have to do.

1:50:38 > 1:50:44He was unlucky. He made sure of the blue. He is glancing at the

1:50:44 > 1:50:50scoreboard. He knows Mark Williams now needs a snooker. Unlucky to get

1:50:50 > 1:50:54the double-kiss.

1:51:38 > 1:51:51One four point snooker needed to tie at the moment.

1:51:54 > 1:51:58Almost achieved his goal. He was trying to knock the green tight on

1:51:58 > 1:52:01the baulk cushion.

1:52:15 > 1:52:21That was short of pace. It would have been a good shot played harder

1:52:21 > 1:52:24so this red to make certain of this fifth frame.

1:53:45 > 1:53:51It does not matter about that. Mark Williams will stay in his seat. He

1:53:51 > 1:53:57got off to a flyer, leading 2-0 but now the champion leading 3-2.

1:54:13 > 1:54:18MUSIC.

1:55:00 > 1:55:05It has been a fabulous career for Mark Selby, 13 ranking titles and

1:55:05 > 1:55:10winning this great championship on three occasions. He looks focused

1:55:10 > 1:55:14sitting in his seat. So Mark Williams will be out in this frame

1:55:14 > 1:55:21to get back to the way he started the match. A lot of people did not

1:55:21 > 1:55:25get back in after the mid-session interval. They are just coming back

1:55:25 > 1:55:30in. They will not allow them in while the frame is on. A fabulous

1:55:30 > 1:55:38crowd at Alexandra Palace. And probably a lot of people here for

1:55:38 > 1:55:44the first time and they will enjoy the atmosphere. And they are saying

1:55:44 > 1:55:47and absolutely cracking match. It is still difficult to pick a winner but

1:55:47 > 1:55:54you would have to say, Stephen, Mark Selby, as you mentioned, he has

1:55:54 > 1:55:58moved up a gear.He seems to be slowly stamping his authority on the

1:55:58 > 1:56:05match. Mark Williams has not done too much wrong but a couple of Slack

1:56:05 > 1:56:10safety shots. The double in the previous frame was risky.I think

1:56:10 > 1:56:16these people must have been out watching you play that black! It was

1:56:16 > 1:56:22unfair to make you recreate that. One of the great finals I

1:56:22 > 1:56:27commentated on, Stephen.I managed to miss it in the same way. I think

1:56:27 > 1:56:35the tables run-off, definitely.

1:56:35 > 1:56:45We are almost ready. A few more spectators getting back into their

1:56:45 > 1:56:55seats.

1:56:55 > 1:56:58seats. Both players patiently waiting. It is quite unusual for

1:56:58 > 1:57:05this to happen.It is not good, to be fair. Both players will be

1:57:05 > 1:57:08frustrated, especially Mark Selby because he has the upper hand and

1:57:08 > 1:57:14will want to keep up the momentum. I think, finally, we have everyone in.

1:57:14 > 1:57:23Not quite in their seats yet.

1:57:23 > 1:57:25Not quite in their seats yet. But a fantastic audience on the first

1:57:25 > 1:57:32Sunday of the tournament, Dennis.

1:57:43 > 1:57:52And then it is deathly quiet as Mark Selby breaks off. They do not mind a

1:57:52 > 1:58:01bit of noise, as long as it is not on the shot.

1:58:34 > 1:58:39He played the more aggressive safety shot and a thick contact to open the

1:58:39 > 1:58:44red clover lot but he might have left one to the left middle. -- to

1:58:44 > 1:58:54open the reds up. Pretty much no idea where the cue ball is going. He

1:58:54 > 1:59:00will settle for vat.

1:59:00 > 1:59:05will settle for vat.-- for vat. It has turned out to be an amazing

1:59:05 > 1:59:10safety shot. As Stephen said, he had no idea what was happening with the

1:59:10 > 1:59:15cue ball but he had a result. The way Mark Selby is playing, and

1:59:15 > 1:59:27little bit of good fortune coming at the right time for Mark Williams.

1:59:58 > 2:00:12That read is going very close to the corner pocket. It is in!

2:00:18 > 2:00:24I think he thought the red would probably cannoned into the blue, or

2:00:24 > 2:00:29maybe the yellow. It kept on going. Good thing it did drop in, because

2:00:29 > 2:00:38it could have left mark in with a chance. He could have got through to

2:00:38 > 2:00:44that red. Trying to keep the cue ball as tight on the baulk cushion

2:00:44 > 2:00:52as possible.

2:01:18 > 2:01:26Left a tempter to the far right corner.

2:01:26 > 2:01:32Just wondering if that is the one he could be tempted with. But there

2:01:32 > 2:01:38might be another to the right middle pocket, if it passes the reds. Could

2:01:38 > 2:01:43play it in such a way that he finishes on the black. I think that

2:01:43 > 2:01:56red mustard pot.You're right, Dennis, that's the shot.

2:01:59 > 2:02:02It's there.

2:02:09 > 2:02:16It is a lot easier when you know you're not leaving a lot, but still,

2:02:16 > 2:02:25a great pot.All of the sudden, he's turned this into a great

2:02:25 > 2:02:28opportunity.

2:02:37 > 2:02:50Definitely starting to take a hold of this match, Mark Selby.

2:03:38 > 2:03:43As Steve Davis mentioned at the start of the match, the table seems

2:03:43 > 2:03:49to be very, very quick. That is how the players prefer it. That last

2:03:49 > 2:03:58shot that he played, he timed it so well.

2:03:58 > 2:04:03When you are playing well, these vast tables are terrific to play on.

2:04:03 > 2:04:08When you are struggling a little bit, it's so easy to run out of

2:04:08 > 2:04:17position. It has been such an entertaining match so far. Mark

2:04:17 > 2:04:26Williams with breaks of 135 and 89, and then Mark Selby with two 70

2:04:26 > 2:04:35breaks. Could be a few more here.

2:04:46 > 2:04:56It's amazing. Just one point the difference, in total points scored.

2:04:56 > 2:05:05A little fly on the white. I think it's gone. You could see it, just

2:05:05 > 2:05:15crawling along the white there. It is a little and! A baby and.

2:05:15 > 2:05:19I think that's a first.

2:06:00 > 2:06:05Didn't hit that one as well as he would have liked. A slightly heavy

2:06:05 > 2:06:10contact, but didn't get the action at all on the cue ball. A little bit

2:06:10 > 2:06:22of a jump on the black. Maybe that's what caused the lack of pace.

2:06:22 > 2:06:29He's just a bit in between both shots here. The red that he looked

2:06:29 > 2:06:35at first, to the right middle, is quite a path for the cue ball to

2:06:35 > 2:06:43miss the yellow.

2:06:52 > 2:06:57I think he thought he was going to get a full ball cannon on the yellow

2:06:57 > 2:07:10to drop on a baulk colour, and I think he took his eye off the ball.

2:07:15 > 2:07:21That red won't pass the other red into the middle pocket. The brown's

2:07:21 > 2:07:30blocking the path through to the red.

2:07:30 > 2:07:39What a shot!

2:07:39 > 2:07:44Probably have to say one of the best in the business at that type of

2:07:44 > 2:07:52shot. Just dropping it in.

2:07:52 > 2:07:56shot. Just dropping it in.Yes, people used to always say, he was

2:07:56 > 2:08:01one of the best single ball Potter. I don't really know what that means,

2:08:01 > 2:08:05but it was certainly a Mark Williams special, when he dropped it in dead

2:08:05 > 2:08:10weight. The sort of shot when you are sat in the chair, like Mark

2:08:10 > 2:08:15Selby, you don't think he's going to go for it. Has he put himself in a

2:08:15 > 2:08:21bit of bother here? He was a wee bit unlucky that cannon. He's opened all

2:08:21 > 2:08:32the game up,

2:08:33 > 2:08:36and it's finished a bit awkward for him. Probably hit that red a bit

2:08:36 > 2:08:39fuller than he wanted. Still a bit unlucky not to be nicely on an easy

2:08:39 > 2:08:42read. This one is an awkward one. Might have to play it with a trace

2:08:42 > 2:08:50of side to make the potting angle.

2:08:57 > 2:09:01I think, in practice, he probably would have already been downplaying

2:09:01 > 2:09:13that red with a touch of right-hand side to square up the angle.

2:09:13 > 2:09:23Now, what a chance. A fantastic opening red.

2:09:32 > 2:09:37Got a bit of a bounce there. He sort of stopped in his tracks when he was

2:09:37 > 2:09:43walking around the table.

2:09:43 > 2:09:46walking around the table.That doesn't look as if it pots from that

2:09:46 > 2:09:53angle.

2:09:55 > 2:10:03An important visit to the table, this is, for Mark Williams. He has

2:10:03 > 2:10:08pretty much sat out for three frames. Selby started to dominate

2:10:08 > 2:10:17the match. This is a big moment.

2:10:22 > 2:10:31He was back looking at those two reds. It looks a bit tight, but

2:10:31 > 2:10:39maybe the back one can go. Still got two easy reds to go for here. Not a

2:10:39 > 2:10:46bad choice of shot there. Brilliant shot. Terrific thinking there,

2:10:46 > 2:10:52because he knew he was bound to be on a read. And he thought it was

2:10:52 > 2:10:58very, very tight and that was going to cause him a problem. No problem,

2:10:58 > 2:11:07but they still need potting.When you talk about top players having a

2:11:07 > 2:11:11great touch, that cannon was an excellent example. The pacey played

2:11:11 > 2:11:22it at, he hit the red exactly as he wanted, half ball.

2:11:43 > 2:11:48The yellow is obviously the only problem you could see for Mark

2:11:48 > 2:11:56Williams winning the frame at this visit. Good idea to play the pink

2:11:56 > 2:11:59here.

2:12:04 > 2:12:08It's one of those he can play to drop in behind the yellow, rather

2:12:08 > 2:12:11than try to move it.

2:12:16 > 2:12:28Just dropped in behind it. It's perfect. He's played it really well.

2:12:31 > 2:12:39Oh!

2:12:48 > 2:12:51From the opening long read that he dropped in dead weight, this has

2:12:51 > 2:12:59been a tremendous response to Mark Williams -- from Mark Williams to

2:12:59 > 2:13:05losing three frames in a row.That is the reason he was one of the top

2:13:05 > 2:13:13players in the game for so long. To sit out for virtually to frames...

2:13:13 > 2:13:25And produce this, is absolutely superb.

2:13:29 > 2:13:35Great snooker, coming just at the right time. Mark Selby was getting

2:13:35 > 2:13:40hold of this match, but Mark Williams now all square.

2:13:40 > 2:13:41STUDIO: This

2:13:41 > 2:13:42Williams now all square. STUDIO: This is utterly brilliant

2:13:42 > 2:13:49from these two.It's great. First day, and a cracking match. From that

2:13:49 > 2:13:53red that Mark Williams seemed to casually not in. When you are

2:13:53 > 2:13:57playing under pressure and you roll that Reading, you've got to keep

2:13:57 > 2:14:04your body and head as still as possible. He is such a great player

2:14:04 > 2:14:08in that department.He came round to have a look. Look where the cue ball

2:14:08 > 2:14:12is. He's perfect on the black, but he's not going to leave anything

2:14:12 > 2:14:18unless the red jangles in the pocket. A clever shot. But he had to

2:14:18 > 2:14:23get it, and fully committed to it. The way he went about winning the

2:14:23 > 2:14:26frame from that position... After being frozen out, that shows the

2:14:26 > 2:14:33mark of a great champion.And that thing about keeping your head still.

2:14:33 > 2:14:37It's not just when you hit the ball. For club players, train yourself to

2:14:37 > 2:14:43stay down on the shot long after the ball has gone. That is the way to

2:14:43 > 2:14:48play and practice. Stay down on the shot, even though the cue ball has

2:14:48 > 2:14:53left the cue. Stay there a bit longer, and it beds in the fact that

2:14:53 > 2:14:57your technique is strong enough that your body will not move a muscle.

2:14:57 > 2:15:02That is your best chance of keeping your cue online.A great piece of

2:15:02 > 2:15:10analysis.

2:15:10 > 2:15:13analysis. We saw him they're staying down. Mark stayed down before the

2:15:13 > 2:15:15cue ball hits the red.You try and exaggerate. You stay still, give the

2:15:15 > 2:15:20cue enough chance of keeping as still as possible. It's great for

2:15:20 > 2:15:25any amateur watching. Once you have hit the ball, stay down on it.Even

2:15:25 > 2:15:31if you miss it. It's good training. Can I ask you about Mark Williams?

2:15:31 > 2:15:34For all he has achieved in the game, when we arrive at these tournaments

2:15:34 > 2:15:40and we talk about him, he flattered to deceive. But today there is

2:15:40 > 2:15:44something different about him.He is one of the greats of the game, and

2:15:44 > 2:15:46under pressure he is great. It's good to see

2:15:46 > 2:15:50under pressure he is great. It's good to see him back centrestage,

2:15:50 > 2:15:59because as a player, he adds a lot to a tournament.

2:15:59 > 2:16:06COMMENTATOR:Dennis, you mentioned, in a 6-5 last year, and I wouldn't

2:16:06 > 2:16:11bet against another one here, the way the match is going now. I must

2:16:11 > 2:16:15admit, I thought Mark Selby was possibly starting to pull away, but

2:16:15 > 2:16:23that clearance from Mark Williams shows he's back in this match.

2:16:36 > 2:16:41That little tickle on the black bear. He dropped his shoulders when

2:16:41 > 2:16:44he potted the red.

2:16:52 > 2:16:59What a flick that was. It looked, as you said, as if he was going to be

2:16:59 > 2:17:12out of position, and then all of a sudden, watch this. Delightful.

2:17:14 > 2:17:19He's got an angle on the blue to go into the bunch. Is there a plant to

2:17:19 > 2:17:26the left corner, with those reds? It is an option, but I think the angle

2:17:26 > 2:17:33he has on the blue...

2:17:33 > 2:17:43A little bit surprised he isn't playing the blue into the bunch.

2:17:45 > 2:17:54Maybe he feels there is a bit too much angle.

2:18:01 > 2:18:09I'm not absolutely dead straight, but because he has a distance

2:18:09 > 2:18:15between the two reds... If he hit it absolutely square on, that red is

2:18:15 > 2:18:20going to the left of the park-macro. So if he plays that first red as if

2:18:20 > 2:18:29he is going to the left of the pocket... And now, a key shot coming

2:18:29 > 2:18:31up, brown and then into the bunch.

2:18:40 > 2:18:48Plenty of pace. How is your luck? It might be OK.

2:18:48 > 2:18:56Couldn't have played it any better. He can pot that red, but he's got to

2:18:56 > 2:19:03be a bit careful, because of that red then near the black. The brown,

2:19:03 > 2:19:09potted with lots of left-hand side. Just got to be a wee bit careful

2:19:09 > 2:19:15here. Decided to go up.

2:19:15 > 2:19:17here. Decided to go up. Blue all baulk colour, because of that red to

2:19:17 > 2:19:26the right of the black.

2:19:56 > 2:20:02Didn't quite get into the cue ball enough to be straight on this read

2:20:02 > 2:20:06to the right corner. And drop on the black.

2:20:26 > 2:20:33I don't know if he has the angle to drop the red in. There is a red to

2:20:33 > 2:20:45the left to just brush off. Looks to me as if he's got too much angle.

2:20:52 > 2:21:03Played a top spin shot. I think he played the shop I mentioned, but...

2:21:03 > 2:21:10REFEREE:Green ball.

2:21:38 > 2:21:45The brown is preventing him from hitting a red to get back down the

2:21:45 > 2:21:53table. And the one that's near the pink, he can only see it on one

2:21:53 > 2:22:01side, so not a lot of use.

2:22:01 > 2:22:09Had to be careful with that is and try and get it thin. Not that thin!

2:22:09 > 2:22:20REFEREE:Frau and this. -- foul and a miss.Needs the thinnest of

2:22:20 > 2:22:25contacts to stop the red from coming off the cushion and double-kissing

2:22:25 > 2:22:32the white. If he hits it on the sick side, the White could go in to the

2:22:32 > 2:22:37red on the right of the black. I don't think he could hit this red,

2:22:37 > 2:22:45surely?

2:22:46 > 2:22:54REFEREE:I'm definitely sure you can hit it.

2:22:54 > 2:23:01hit it. Mark?When you are a player, you know what shots you can play

2:23:01 > 2:23:06when you are down at the table. Let's have a look. That is before.

2:23:06 > 2:23:10That is where it is now. I think the referee has got that absolutely spot

2:23:10 > 2:23:14on.

2:23:19 > 2:23:28REFEREE:Foul, and a miss. Mark Selby, four.The three miss rule

2:23:28 > 2:23:36doesn't apply here, because he can't see a red full on.

2:23:36 > 2:23:40see a red full on. He's better off giving a few penalty points rather

2:23:40 > 2:23:43than leaving this to sick.

2:23:52 > 2:24:01APPLAUSE

2:24:13 > 2:24:19He didn't quite want it that thin, because Mark can have a go at this

2:24:19 > 2:24:20red.

2:24:31 > 2:24:46One good positional shot here, when potting the blue, and he could be

2:24:46 > 2:24:54around the black spot area.

2:24:54 > 2:24:57around the black spot area. 96% pot success rating, and Mark Williams

2:24:57 > 2:25:0692%. A very good standard of play here. Mark's

2:25:06 > 2:25:12here. Mark's potted four out of four long ones. Maybe that hasn't bounced

2:25:12 > 2:25:16far enough.

2:25:17 > 2:25:22The other one will go. Both reds are available.

2:25:29 > 2:25:34He played that well. It is a good chance now.

2:25:48 > 2:25:54He will want that one again. May have a red to the left middle. The

2:25:54 > 2:26:05last thing he wanted to be was low on this red. This red, near the pink

2:26:05 > 2:26:15spot, a tougher pot than he was wanting to play.

2:26:15 > 2:26:28Just not got pinpoint control of that cue ball yet in this break.

2:26:48 > 2:26:54And that can happen, when you keep struggling for perfect position.

2:26:54 > 2:27:02Sometimes it gets to you in the end. He probably took his eye off the

2:27:02 > 2:27:06pot. Concentrating on the cannon. We saw what happened in the previous

2:27:06 > 2:27:11frame. Selby made a break of 45, and was sitting in the seat as Mark

2:27:11 > 2:27:22Williams cleared up with an 81. Could that happen again?

2:27:22 > 2:27:24Could that happen again?He's not too bothered with the black going on

2:27:24 > 2:27:29the pink spot. It actually makes it easier. Straightaway, the green is

2:27:29 > 2:27:38the obstacle. Will he have that in the back of his mind? He will not be

2:27:38 > 2:27:42happy with that shot. He wanted to be straight on the black to this

2:27:42 > 2:27:52left middle. Didn't get into the cue. This is missable.

2:27:59 > 2:28:04It was the shot before, as you said, Stephen. That could definitely be

2:28:04 > 2:28:10very costly.

2:28:15 > 2:28:24From a psychological point of view, Mark Williams not being able -- if

2:28:24 > 2:28:30Mark Williams had pinched this frame, certainly would have been

2:28:30 > 2:28:36favourite.

2:28:36 > 2:28:40favourite.Mark Williams never gives anything away in his demeanour. But

2:28:40 > 2:28:48he will be fuming inside.

2:29:08 > 2:29:19Red, black, and one more red would be enough to clinch the frame.

2:30:07 > 2:30:12This is maybe the first sign of weakness from Mark Williams. A

2:30:12 > 2:30:15slight deceleration. Did not get into the cue ball. And he missed the

2:30:15 > 2:30:24black. You always look for turning point in matches, shots that aside

2:30:24 > 2:30:35matches. Could that be one? -- that decide matches.

2:30:37 > 2:30:41It is one of the most frustrating things, you have the chance and make

2:30:41 > 2:30:46a slight mistake and you have to sit and watch your opponent knock in the

2:30:46 > 2:30:52balls you should have been knocking him.

2:30:52 > 2:30:58-- knocking in.

2:31:22 > 2:31:26He will be very pleased, Mark Selby. Mark Williams had a chance to get

2:31:26 > 2:31:30back in the frame and did not take it and now Mark

2:31:30 > 2:31:33back in the frame and did not take it and now Mark Selby leads 4-3.

2:31:33 > 2:31:40STUDIO: The smile Mark Williams had when he first

2:31:40 > 2:31:45when he first came out, has gone. Critical, positional play sometimes

2:31:45 > 2:31:47is the way tension shows its

2:31:47 > 2:31:47Critical, positional play sometimes is the way tension shows its face in

2:31:47 > 2:31:54the game and this shot, he has to play a soft screw back. The problem

2:31:54 > 2:31:59with that is if you do not hit it positively enough you do not get

2:31:59 > 2:32:12back spin. It was a deft shot he had to play Andy -- and he underhits it.

2:32:12 > 2:32:15There was tension. Sometimes you can overhit them and if you do, you are

2:32:15 > 2:32:16on nothing.

2:32:16 > 2:32:20overhit them and if you do, you are on nothing.Can you get too good a

2:32:20 > 2:32:26start in a match like this, Steve and almost be too relaxed? We have

2:32:26 > 2:32:35been praising Mark.You can never get too good a start.You are right.

2:32:35 > 2:32:41Only as much as if the other guy comes back you are in a worse

2:32:41 > 2:32:47situation than the start. You feel you have thrown it away.You are

2:32:47 > 2:32:55right. If you said I will give you a two frame lead against Mark Selby,

2:32:55 > 2:33:02you would bite their hand. That Mr black. To get on the black in the

2:33:02 > 2:33:08middle, Mark Williams missed a trick. He was coming back, he had

2:33:08 > 2:33:14won a great previous frame. If he had won that he would have had Mark

2:33:14 > 2:33:18Selby where he needed him.We talk about Mark Williams winning the

2:33:18 > 2:33:22Northern Ireland Open, I suppose that is when you progress in

2:33:22 > 2:33:29tournaments.One of Mark Selby's strengths and any player in the game

2:33:29 > 2:33:34who is winning, at the end of the match, they are strong. The start,

2:33:34 > 2:33:40you do not know what will happen but if you get better as the match

2:33:40 > 2:33:44progresses and your adrenaline levels go up and start to perform at

2:33:44 > 2:33:51the business end, that is when you start to win the 6-5s, 5-4s and get

2:33:51 > 2:33:56yourself to the final.Mark Selby beat Mark Williams 6-5 at this stage

2:33:56 > 2:34:02at this venue last year.It could still go 6-5. Very small margins

2:34:02 > 2:34:10between them. Mark Williams could pass it off as if the missed black

2:34:10 > 2:34:14never happened. It will be interesting to see how much of an

2:34:14 > 2:34:19edge it will put on Mark Williams. I do not think it will have too much

2:34:19 > 2:34:24effect.Head scratching going on from Mark Williams. He needs to do

2:34:24 > 2:34:33something to stay in the Masters. Back to Dennis and Stephen.

2:34:37 > 2:34:42DENNIS TAYLOR: Every frame is a key frame, but this is very important.

2:34:42 > 2:34:47Mark Williams to draw level, Mark Selby to leave himself one frame

2:34:47 > 2:34:59away from victory. I have noticed with the break

2:34:59 > 2:35:06with the break of shot, the balls are opening out nicely.

2:36:02 > 2:36:16There is no easy escape back. He took the pot on.

2:36:16 > 2:36:20took the pot on. Played it as a shot did nothing but that is a Mark

2:36:20 > 2:36:24Williams special.

2:36:30 > 2:36:36When he came on the scene and turned professional in 1992, we said he was

2:36:36 > 2:36:41one of the greatest potters we had seen in the game and that proves he

2:36:41 > 2:36:48is still doing it all these years later.

2:36:50 > 2:36:56A fantastic pot but I was not sure about the second shot. He would

2:36:56 > 2:37:01never get that advantage by the green. May be placed the cue ball

2:37:01 > 2:37:12near the baulk cushion and make Mark Selby play a tough safety shot.

2:38:00 > 2:38:05Mark Williams has been left this red to the left corner but it is the

2:38:05 > 2:38:13path the cue ball will take that is making him refuse it.

2:38:17 > 2:38:26Excellent safety. Appreciation from his opponent.

2:38:33 > 2:38:41There is a path back down the table of the two reds to the left of the

2:38:41 > 2:38:56pink. He played it pretty well. That is another flick.

2:39:02 > 2:39:06It was always a good safety because if he misses the yellow the white

2:39:06 > 2:39:15goes close to the cushion, but that was a bonus.

2:39:22 > 2:39:30It was a well played shot, anyway.

2:39:30 > 2:39:41But that was a delightful nudge. Even if Mark Williams comes off the

2:39:41 > 2:39:45right side cushion to land on the red near the right corner, he could

2:39:45 > 2:39:53leave a pot on. If he risks coming off two cushion is to get back up

2:39:53 > 2:40:03the table, he would have to be so precise. A tough shot coming up.

2:40:03 > 2:40:08Sometimes when Mark Williams has to play two cushion escapes, he plays

2:40:08 > 2:40:12them one handed. I do not think he will do it here. The cue ball is

2:40:12 > 2:40:18just away.

2:40:30 > 2:40:35He must not be able to get to the two cushion escape otherwise he

2:40:35 > 2:40:44would have played that shot.

2:40:47 > 2:40:54There is a gap through the reds to play off the one next to the pink

2:40:54 > 2:40:59off the side top cushion, but it is such a narrow gap to find. Whichever

2:40:59 > 2:41:02way he goes, he will have to be so precise.

2:41:09 > 2:41:20The reason he is taking so long, almost two and a half minutes, it is

2:41:20 > 2:41:22such an important shot he will play.

2:41:41 > 2:41:51It is not often you get to three minutes thinking about a shot.

2:41:51 > 2:41:59LAUGHTER. REFEREE:Foul.

2:41:59 > 2:42:06REFEREE:Foul.Well, in the end, it is not that bad.

2:42:07 > 2:42:10is not that bad. He did it. Red first. He has got away with it,

2:42:10 > 2:42:16slightly.

2:42:16 > 2:42:26Three minutes and then that. That was a black, wasn't it?

2:42:26 > 2:42:30was a black, wasn't it?The referee can come and check. It was the

2:42:30 > 2:42:41black. REFEREE:They confirm it is the

2:42:41 > 2:42:52black. It was in a split second.

2:42:52 > 2:42:56black. It was in a split second.Do you want to put it back?

2:42:56 > 2:43:05LAUGHTER. Well, what a situation.Mark

2:43:05 > 2:43:09Williams was thinking three minutes about that shot.How long will the

2:43:09 > 2:43:16referee take? The fact he hit the black means it can be replaced. We

2:43:16 > 2:43:25will show you again. Can we count them? He hit the black. One, two,

2:43:25 > 2:43:28three

2:43:28 > 2:43:33them? He hit the black. One, two, three, four.

2:43:36 > 2:43:41three, four. There are five reds that need replacing.

2:43:41 > 2:43:50LAUGHTER. APPLAUSE

2:43:52 > 2:43:55With all the tension and all that is going on.

2:43:55 > 2:44:08He is a wind-up merchant. REFEREE:Thank you!

2:44:08 > 2:44:17He is one of the top referees, Olivier Marteel.

2:44:17 > 2:44:20Olivier Marteel.If Mark Williams plays the same shot, it does not

2:44:20 > 2:44:26matter if the reds are exactly... Look at the cheeky Mark Williams. He

2:44:26 > 2:44:36has nicked the white.

2:44:39 > 2:44:41has nicked the white. I think he will probably have to play this

2:44:41 > 2:44:50shot.Did anything else move?

2:44:53 > 2:44:58shot.Did anything else move? Where does it go?We can show you where

2:44:58 > 2:45:06they work. Let's have a look where they are now. It is not too bad.

2:45:14 > 2:45:18Yes, that is good. That will do. As Stephen said, it does not make a

2:45:18 > 2:45:28great deal of difference.

2:45:29 > 2:45:32great deal of difference. He is now starting to smile. I do not know

2:45:32 > 2:45:38what the referee will do when he starts to look for the white.Mark

2:45:38 > 2:45:44took three minutes to decide to play that shot. Surely if he plays it

2:45:44 > 2:45:48again, it will not take that long. The referee is looking for the

2:45:48 > 2:45:55white. APPLAUSE

2:45:55 > 2:46:01CHEERING

2:46:07 > 2:46:17That was a little bit of brilliance.

2:46:17 > 2:46:29What if he plays the same shot and fluked the red?It would take the

2:46:29 > 2:46:36house down.

2:46:38 > 2:46:44Here we go, attention all pockets. I tell you what, it still might not

2:46:44 > 2:46:54be... If he has hit a red, the white has left the arena. Check to make

2:46:54 > 2:47:06sure it is not chipped. He has not left anything easy.

2:47:06 > 2:47:15left anything easy.Back again, is it?

2:47:25 > 2:47:34Back to normal again. This is a key shot. He can cut the red. He could

2:47:34 > 2:47:43do with finding a gap between the other two reds, coming up the table.

2:47:45 > 2:47:52Where will the cue ball finish? I think he could just get past the

2:47:52 > 2:47:57blue. Well, he will need a little bit of swirls, that he will pot

2:47:57 > 2:48:02this.

2:48:02 > 2:48:11this. -- swerve. That was too much.

2:48:13 > 2:48:22He got too much swerve. He wanted to hit it on the side.

2:49:27 > 2:49:37It is Mark Selby's turn to think about the shot he has to play.

2:49:46 > 2:49:55I think it pulled up in time. I'm not sure. He wanted to get the white

2:49:55 > 2:50:03closer to the cushion. Is the pot on? No.

2:50:09 > 2:50:13He is just coming around the table to pick a spot he would like to put

2:50:13 > 2:50:16the cue ball in.

2:50:33 > 2:50:45Just over the two hours. A fascinating first round match.

2:50:45 > 2:50:52Every match in the Masters could be a final, with the top 16 playing.

2:50:52 > 2:50:59That is why it is one of the toughest tournaments to win.

2:51:14 > 2:51:24He could be in behind the yellow, is he? Oh, very good.

2:51:24 > 2:51:31he? Oh, very good. Not quite.

2:51:31 > 2:51:42He could pot this. You need good eyesight.

2:51:46 > 2:51:58eyesight. It just seemed to catch the cushion first. A flick on the

2:51:58 > 2:52:05red and he would have potted it.

2:52:18 > 2:52:27Judging by his body language he has not finished nicely on this yellow.

2:52:29 > 2:52:40A deep screw, right-hand side.

2:53:41 > 2:53:48This is already the longest frame so far.

2:53:52 > 2:53:58It has been fast and furious snooker up until now.

2:54:09 > 2:54:14There are still quite a few reds available to Mark Selby.

2:54:36 > 2:54:45I can see another five pottable reds available to him, if he can keep

2:54:45 > 2:54:52close control of the cue ball. It is a good chance to extend his lead to

2:54:52 > 2:54:585-3 and be one away from victory.

2:55:14 > 2:55:23He did not quite getting to that. I think he is just OK.

2:55:53 > 2:56:01He is looking for 67 points, which would leave Mark Williams at the

2:56:01 > 2:56:07snookers required stage. He wanted to leave the two reds for the right

2:56:07 > 2:56:13corner pocket. They are only available into the right corner and

2:56:13 > 2:56:21he overscrewed that. This is slightly more difficult now.

2:56:34 > 2:56:39I think he still has to play the pink. The only colour that offers

2:56:39 > 2:56:50the most straightforward position on the next red. He does not like it.

2:56:58 > 2:57:03If he had have got on the pink in such a way he could have screwed to

2:57:03 > 2:57:09where the circle is. He had to change his plan because of that.

2:57:54 > 2:58:08The open reds with pinks and blacks would be enough.

2:58:22 > 2:58:28He has been pretty impressive today, Mark Selby. He went 2-0 down doing

2:58:28 > 2:58:33nothing wrong and from then he has been very solid. He seems to be

2:58:33 > 2:58:38getting stronger as the match goes on.

2:59:36 > 2:59:42He has a chance of possibly making a century. He has to pot this and

2:59:42 > 2:59:50leave the angle on the black to disturb the two reds.

2:59:59 > 3:00:06Well, I think Mark is looking surprised.This

3:00:07 > 3:00:17surprised.This is like 9-ball, that going in. Great effort. But that

3:00:17 > 3:00:26looks like end of break. The red is touching, so it gives him a chance.

3:00:26 > 3:00:40That was not going to go in. An excellent break from Mark Selby.

3:00:40 > 3:00:44And Steve, you quite rightly predicted that that's what sets the

3:00:44 > 3:00:48very best players in the world apart from the rest. Mark Selby just

3:00:48 > 3:00:51getting into the final stages and looking to seal the deal as quickly

3:00:51 > 3:00:55as possible.It seems to be.

3:00:55 > 3:00:55The

3:00:55 > 3:01:01The likes of Mark Williams who have been world champion and one here as

3:01:01 > 3:01:06well, cutting edge players seem to get themselves out of trouble.What

3:01:06 > 3:01:11happened to Mark Williams?It's difficult to play someone who is

3:01:11 > 3:01:16such a tough match player. And possibly one of the best that we've

3:01:16 > 3:01:20ever seen. Steve Davis, John Higgins, Mark Selby have taken over

3:01:20 > 3:01:27that until. And even though he is not the top of his game, he's so

3:01:27 > 3:01:32hard to beat. He plays all the right shots, the safety is in the top 10%

3:01:32 > 3:01:37of everyone in the game. Even when he's not at the top, as I said. Is

3:01:37 > 3:01:43so hard to break down.I'm not trying to put a downer on this, it

3:01:43 > 3:01:47looks like the pockets are playing, once again, the bit generous, a

3:01:47 > 3:01:51brand-new cloth, they are very strongly templated. If the pockets

3:01:51 > 3:01:55are playing a bit easier, it sometimes the most accurate players

3:01:55 > 3:01:59in some ways they have an advantage. Once they get in, they don't ever

3:01:59 > 3:02:05get a miss, they don't get cheated by the table. Tight pockets, you get

3:02:05 > 3:02:08scrappy snooker which helps other players. If the pockets are playing

3:02:08 > 3:02:12more generous, the players who are more accurate position Lee starter

3:02:12 > 3:02:18home in on them and they are tough to beat.We should also say well

3:02:18 > 3:02:22done Mark Williams and Mark Selby for giving this crowd a chuckle, a

3:02:22 > 3:02:27lesson that snooker can be a lot of fun.Even under the pressure, and

3:02:27 > 3:02:32what they are playing for today, Mark Williams hiding the cue ball,

3:02:32 > 3:02:35it was quite funny.We're always laughing and joking around the

3:02:35 > 3:02:43table!Wonderful, alliterative Welsh humour. Back to Dennis. -- a little

3:02:43 > 3:02:44bit of Welsh humour.

3:02:50 > 3:02:53Mark Williams breaks off and he is hoping it's not good to be his last

3:02:53 > 3:02:59break of in this match.

3:02:59 > 3:03:04break of in this match. Because he's got to win three frames in a row.

3:03:04 > 3:03:16And he's got to be thinking about how he started the match. He

3:03:16 > 3:03:19how he started the match. He was victorious in two very quick match.

3:03:19 > 3:03:27Never write him off.

3:04:37 > 3:04:46REFEREE:Foul. What a cracking pot on the red.Amazing how he could

3:04:46 > 3:04:50knock the black in. He was hoping he might go around the back of the

3:04:50 > 3:05:02black but at that time to knock the backing, amazing.

3:05:03 > 3:05:07A little bit of misfortune, might just open the door slightly for the

3:05:07 > 3:05:10Welsh potting machine here.

3:05:16 > 3:05:23Again, you might have seen a stand into the bunch from that black. Stay

3:05:23 > 3:05:29on this thread that he's going to play, but he's got a different way

3:05:29 > 3:05:35of playing the game.

3:05:54 > 3:06:02Just likes to pick the reds off almost one by one.

3:06:16 > 3:06:21A little bit unlucky here to be honest. Hope to be a lot easier on

3:06:21 > 3:06:27this red.

3:06:27 > 3:06:32Happens so often. But as the follow-through shot. When you go

3:06:32 > 3:06:39through the bunch, and you get the cue ball jammed in the side cushion.

3:06:39 > 3:06:45I do think there's much use in taking the black on here. That's the

3:06:45 > 3:06:52well played and well executed shot. He's got a slight bit of angle. But

3:06:52 > 3:06:53not much there.

3:07:08 > 3:07:18Just decided to take the seven points. Rather than pot the black,

3:07:18 > 3:07:26but decided that the points might prove invaluable later on.

3:07:28 > 3:07:37That's a brave shot, offer cushion. -- often percussion.

3:07:37 > 3:07:43He's got the upper hand now with rolling in behind the yellow, but a

3:07:43 > 3:07:50terrific attempt there almost from the cushion.Look at the brown. No,

3:07:50 > 3:07:52this is the shot.

3:07:57 > 3:08:02I think we can possibly see that every game he is going to become

3:08:02 > 3:08:05more aggressive, take the shots on. That was an excellent shot. A clever

3:08:05 > 3:08:14shot, he could see, only read he could leave.And if he had had

3:08:14 > 3:08:19slipped past the yellow, he would have won the frame. The cake, he has

3:08:19 > 3:08:27got Mark in all sorts of trouble here.

3:08:27 > 3:08:31here. I think he was so determined, when he hit the yellow, that's when

3:08:31 > 3:08:42he thought about it. But as I mentioned, he will do well to do

3:08:42 > 3:08:43things safely here.

3:09:11 > 3:09:16That's about the best he could do, to make contact with the ball from

3:09:16 > 3:09:23that position was excellent.

3:09:28 > 3:09:32It's not bad, needs to keep on running otherwise he leaves the red

3:09:32 > 3:09:36to the right of the black. I think he has left that.

3:09:42 > 3:09:53So that 40 point advantage could disappear rapidly.

3:12:22 > 3:12:30Starting to look ominous now for Mark Williams. It's hard to see

3:12:30 > 3:12:37where Mark Selby will go wrong here.

3:13:35 > 3:13:42Looking better by the shot, Mark Selby.He could convert from this

3:13:42 > 3:13:47opportunity, if he does, it's a very good win this afternoon for Mark

3:13:47 > 3:13:54Selby. He'll because appointed he went out of the first round in the

3:13:54 > 3:14:00UK, this is the second of the triple Crown, he was 2-0 down, didn't do

3:14:00 > 3:14:06anything wrong, but if Selby does convert, he will have won six out of

3:14:06 > 3:14:12the last seven frames, very solid indeed.And if he does clinch the

3:14:12 > 3:14:17match here, he's got a bit of a break before his quarterfinal match,

3:14:17 > 3:14:23he won't play again until Friday. So probably will head home with his

3:14:23 > 3:14:30wife Vikki.

3:14:35 > 3:14:38There is Vikki there, watching on. Still got a little bit to do to

3:14:38 > 3:14:46clinch the match.

3:14:46 > 3:14:53Got a kick, he got a terrible kick there. Just when he was about to

3:14:53 > 3:14:59clinch the match should, this happens. You could see the red jump

3:14:59 > 3:15:11there. Amazing.That's incredible, it really is. Looked for all the

3:15:11 > 3:15:13money that it was game over, 6-3.

3:15:39 > 3:15:44Slight grimace there, left himself dead straight on the blue. He will

3:15:44 > 3:15:47be playing from further away than he would have liked. He will

3:15:47 > 3:15:53follow-through the cue ball. Straight enough to be able to play

3:15:53 > 3:15:58the bottom.

3:15:58 > 3:16:01the bottom.Well, it wobbled a little bit but safely in the pocket.

3:16:14 > 3:16:19I'm sure that he felt that he was in the quarterfinal, unless he gets

3:16:19 > 3:16:26kick. That's the sort of thing that happens in this game, when it's not

3:16:26 > 3:16:35your fault. It's pretty annoying.

3:16:42 > 3:16:47He was going to be in the quarterfinal, as it is, Mark

3:16:47 > 3:16:54Williams was offered a lifeline and he took it. He still trails Mark

3:16:54 > 3:16:56Selby by five frames to four.

3:16:59 > 3:17:02We are a few thought that Mark Selby was currently popping into this

3:17:02 > 3:17:05studio in the next five or ten minutes for a chat, but that's a

3:17:05 > 3:17:12cruel twist of fate.The sport is all about accuracy and under

3:17:12 > 3:17:15pressure playing well, but there's also an element of luck in any sport

3:17:15 > 3:17:19and one of the lucky thing that can happen in a game of snooker is the

3:17:19 > 3:17:22bad contact between cue ball and object ball. Destroyed the potting

3:17:22 > 3:17:26angle, look at his face. That is obviously what happened. Mark

3:17:26 > 3:17:30Williams was good enough to capitalise.You have been talking

3:17:30 > 3:17:34about staying down on the shots, and Mark Selby knew straightaway.He

3:17:34 > 3:17:41knew from the contact, obviously. It's one of those anomalies in the

3:17:41 > 3:17:44game that you have to contend with. If I had one criticism, I'd say he

3:17:44 > 3:17:47wasn't on the red straight enough. It was a poor positional shot, the

3:17:47 > 3:17:52cue ball could have been straighter, that's picking at straws slightly.

3:17:52 > 3:17:59But a twist of fate, and how much will it affect Mark Selby? You saw

3:17:59 > 3:18:03him talking to himself, Mark Williams, dead right, going out, let

3:18:03 > 3:18:07him stew in his chair, perfect time to go out after winning a frame.

3:18:07 > 3:18:12There was a shot of Mark Selby, if we look at him now, that's exactly

3:18:12 > 3:18:15the pose he was in when Mark Williams one that frame. And you

3:18:15 > 3:18:19thought, if you had a little speech bubble, you would wonder what you

3:18:19 > 3:18:23put in there, I don't think we could fill in what's going through his

3:18:23 > 3:18:28mind.Any good lip readers in the area would have known. But it's

3:18:28 > 3:18:31unlikely that he's going to stew for very long. There he is, still

3:18:31 > 3:18:37stewing! He's unlikely that he will let that spill into the next frame.

3:18:37 > 3:18:41Mark Williams is going to compose and soft as well. That was a good

3:18:41 > 3:18:46parent under pressure as well. All to play for, who is to say that Mark

3:18:46 > 3:18:52Williams can't make a recovery?Mark Williams knows he's very well in

3:18:52 > 3:19:01this.Yes, six - five still possible.I did say at the start of

3:19:01 > 3:19:08the afternoon, you said it was 6-5.

3:19:15 > 3:19:19Mark Selby gets this tenth frame under way, and not the best break

3:19:19 > 3:19:26off that he has made this afternoon. You'll want to put that heavy

3:19:26 > 3:19:37contact out of your mind as as possible, but easier said than done.

3:20:09 > 3:20:14Needs the brown to come to the rescue and I think it has, he has

3:20:14 > 3:20:24got the red over the left corner but he had a pretty good safety shot.

3:20:32 > 3:20:40I think you might be tempted to taking this read

3:20:55 > 3:21:00A fabulous long pot for Mark Williams but look where he put the

3:21:00 > 3:21:11cue ball. Oh, would you believe it? He potted the red and he left it in

3:21:11 > 3:21:16such a way that he wasn't leaving the red over the pocket, playing a

3:21:16 > 3:21:22shot to nothing, and then after that fabulous read, this is a blue that

3:21:22 > 3:21:33he would normally not in. -- not in. -- knock in. Not an easy positional

3:21:33 > 3:21:37shot here, the black only available into the pockets that he is taking

3:21:37 > 3:21:39this red.

3:21:43 > 3:21:49God is to find a path for the cue ball here. -- he has got to find a

3:21:49 > 3:21:57path. Those three red, or the reds behind the pink. Getting plenty of

3:21:57 > 3:22:02work on the cue ball, really striking down on it. Beautiful shot,

3:22:02 > 3:22:09brilliant shot.

3:22:10 > 3:22:15You won't see very many better controlled positional shots than

3:22:15 > 3:22:25that.

3:22:26 > 3:22:30This is that what he needed after what happened in the last frame, a

3:22:30 > 3:22:36good chance straightaway.

3:22:54 > 3:22:58Look how low he gets this, right down to the bottom of the cue ball,

3:22:58 > 3:23:06to get that action on it. Brilliant. You don't get to win three World

3:23:06 > 3:23:10Championship in the last four years without being able to cope with that

3:23:10 > 3:23:17kick and come straight back like this.

3:23:21 > 3:23:31Yes, snooker, granted, any sport at this level, is about temperament.

3:24:30 > 3:24:34A little bit of luck on that shot, going for the red on the left-hand

3:24:34 > 3:24:38side of the table to the right middle. He could power through off

3:24:38 > 3:24:49to cushions, he chose to play with a lot of left-hand side. A tough shot.

3:25:31 > 3:25:36That's turned out OK. He was a bit short with his safety shot, the fact

3:25:36 > 3:25:45that he has finished in front of the brown makes it quite difficult.

3:26:36 > 3:26:41Mark Selby, you might have heard that, tapped the chalk on the table

3:26:41 > 3:26:44for the acknowledgement of the good safety shot. They have had some

3:26:44 > 3:26:49great battles down the years, they first played each other way back in

3:26:49 > 3:26:571999. Mark Williams has good ten wins to Mark Selby's nine.

3:26:58 > 3:27:01Their first meeting, I'm sure Mark Selby has long forgotten, that was

3:27:01 > 3:27:12in the UK championship in 1999. Mark Williams defeated the reigning world

3:27:12 > 3:27:15champion 9-0, believe it or not.

3:27:56 > 3:28:04Far too thin. Much too thin a contact there. Unusual for Mark

3:28:04 > 3:28:12Selby in that sort of area.

3:28:41 > 3:28:45Pink goes to left corner so nothing to do with the cue ball here, just

3:28:45 > 3:28:52concentrating on keeping still.

3:29:27 > 3:29:34He's going to get a fixed contact on the bunch here. -- a fixed contact.

3:29:34 > 3:29:43He played it at a very soft pace but he needed to be harder than that.

3:29:43 > 3:29:46Played it at that pace because he didn't want to lose the cue ball

3:29:46 > 3:29:53near either corner pocket. Surely that doesn't go, is he looking at

3:29:53 > 3:29:59the plant?

3:30:08 > 3:30:15I don't think you can hit the first read thinly enough to make plant. If

3:30:15 > 3:30:21he was in behind the first red, he might have a chance of making it,

3:30:21 > 3:30:27but this has to be struck so thinly, percent of the other red onto the

3:30:27 > 3:30:32red to make the plant, I don't know if he can hit this hardener. -- hard

3:30:32 > 3:30:38enough.

3:30:38 > 3:30:44You see dead in line, so he'd have to hit that first red fullbore. I

3:30:44 > 3:30:45don't think the shot is on.

3:31:13 > 3:31:16And he is looking at a cut to the middle pocket.

3:31:35 > 3:31:48They lovely shot -- a lovely shot. Side on the cue ball to kill the

3:31:48 > 3:31:59pace. Do not take your eye off the pot. He's playing the cannon. Good

3:31:59 > 3:32:06shot.

3:32:08 > 3:32:14That little smile tells me he will have to bend it. Playing it with

3:32:14 > 3:32:21side. Yes, nicely played.

3:32:29 > 3:32:41Very difficult with the reds as they are.

3:32:41 > 3:32:46are. He could try to bring one interplay if he has a good enough

3:32:46 > 3:32:53angle, but I do not think he has. A little bit more angle he could have

3:32:53 > 3:32:59had the cannon and he would have been guaranteed to be on the one

3:32:59 > 3:33:07left of the blue spot.A long look at the red in the middle. He's

3:33:07 > 3:33:08taking on the double.

3:33:47 > 3:33:53A little unlucky.

3:33:53 > 3:34:12Would he risk it? This is tough, if he is taking it on. Brilliant.

3:34:12 > 3:34:19he is taking it on. Brilliant. Is it natural to cannon the red out?

3:34:31 > 3:34:42This attempt to develop that red. The other will pot, but it is tough.

3:34:42 > 3:34:49If you potted the red and black he would be 35 in front with 35 on the

3:34:49 > 3:35:01table. He changed his mind. He was going to play underarm.

3:35:12 > 3:35:21There is a chance now for Mark Selby. We show you the attempt. Once

3:35:21 > 3:35:32you touch the near jaw they do not go in. If that red does not pot into

3:35:32 > 3:35:46the middle, he could have the angle to nudge it out.

3:35:54 > 3:36:02An anxious look to see if he has covered that and I think he has.

3:36:02 > 3:36:07Yes.

3:36:22 > 3:36:30He had to bring that red interplay. Although he has the 27 point

3:36:30 > 3:36:34advantage, you would think that whoever pots the first red will take

3:36:34 > 3:36:44the frame. And in Mark's case, the match.

3:37:12 > 3:37:23Looking to see a piquancy enough to cut this red in.

3:37:25 > 3:37:34cut this red in. -- looking to see if he can see enough.

3:37:36 > 3:37:41It was a good effort. He left it over the pocket. We could have a

3:37:41 > 3:37:46deciding frame.

3:37:58 > 3:38:01You can guarantee Mark Selby is sitting in his chair, thinking about

3:38:01 > 3:38:08that kick on the red. Thinking that he should not still be in this

3:38:08 > 3:38:10arena.

3:38:18 > 3:38:27All credit to Mark Williams for keeping this alive.

3:38:32 > 3:38:36It has been a cracking match. The standard has been superb. I suppose

3:38:36 > 3:38:42it is fitting of a deciding frame. Although Stephen said it looked all

3:38:42 > 3:38:52over until that bad contact for Mark Selby.

3:38:56 > 3:39:05This is the special shot he has made his own.

3:39:13 > 3:39:21A terrific performance from the Welsh Potting Machine, as he is

3:39:21 > 3:39:29known. We have a deciding frame. What a match we have had this

3:39:29 > 3:39:32afternoon. All square. A

3:39:32 > 3:39:34What a match we have had this afternoon. All square. A one frame

3:39:34 > 3:39:37shoot out. STUDIO: Which pundit came into the

3:39:37 > 3:39:42arena and said it is going down to a final frame decider? Well done,

3:39:42 > 3:39:47Kenna. You could say it is deserving of going into the final frame

3:39:47 > 3:39:54decider because of the start Mark Williams had.The standard has been

3:39:54 > 3:40:01fantastic with good safety play. Great breaks. One visit. Thoroughly

3:40:01 > 3:40:07entertaining, enthralling, gripping. And it through the kick interplay.

3:40:07 > 3:40:12Mark Selby should have been into the quarterfinals 6-3 and now he looks

3:40:12 > 3:40:16the more nervous of the players.I think we will see high-scoring

3:40:16 > 3:40:23matches. The pockets look generous. Which is easy, sitting here! Coming

3:40:23 > 3:40:30down to the final frame in this match, we have been told, 62%, Mark

3:40:30 > 3:40:36Selby winning last frame deciders and 54% Mark Williams winning last

3:40:36 > 3:40:41frame decider is over his career. A fractional difference but on the day

3:40:41 > 3:40:49it is anybody's.Mark Williams was beaten 6-5 in this very arena in

3:40:49 > 3:40:53this championship against the same opponent last year. Will that play

3:40:53 > 3:41:00on his mind?I do not think so. Of the two, Mark Williams will be more

3:41:00 > 3:41:06confident because he has come from two frames back. The wind is him his

3:41:06 > 3:41:12sales. But as Steve said, fine margins. It is one chance and it

3:41:12 > 3:41:18could be all over for either Blair. They are clever tacticians. You

3:41:18 > 3:41:22would not think Mark Selby would still be upset about the kick but it

3:41:22 > 3:41:27could play on your mind, especially if he gets behind, that it is

3:41:27 > 3:41:33written in the stars he would lose. But the best champions are usually

3:41:33 > 3:41:39able to look forward and play one shot at a time. Your adrenaline will

3:41:39 > 3:41:45pump up. You usually get decent last frame decider is between two great

3:41:45 > 3:41:51players. I feel it is unlikely to be scrapping.You read my mind. As

3:41:51 > 3:41:57sport fans we often do not ask the questions that seem obvious. You

3:41:57 > 3:42:02have been in this situation, does the heartbeat faster in this

3:42:02 > 3:42:08situation?This is a big match for both players in the second biggest

3:42:08 > 3:42:15tournament of the calendar year and they both want to be in with a

3:42:15 > 3:42:18chance of getting into the quarterfinals so a lot of pressure.

3:42:18 > 3:42:24Even though they have been in this situation before, the pulses racing?

3:42:24 > 3:42:27It is that they are experienced enough to know they have to keep

3:42:27 > 3:42:33calm under pressure. They look for one good chance and also the first

3:42:33 > 3:42:37chance, because they know that could be the frame-winner.Mark Selby

3:42:37 > 3:42:45against Mark Williams. Wow. A final frame decider. Dennis and Stephen,

3:42:45 > 3:42:46take it away.

3:42:46 > 3:42:51frame decider. Dennis and Stephen, take it away.

3:42:52 > 3:42:57DENNIS TAYLOR: Mark might have been thinking about last year, in the

3:42:57 > 3:43:03deciding frame he got one chance and he made an 80 plus break to clinch

3:43:03 > 3:43:10it. But that was last year.

3:43:22 > 3:43:27Very little tactical play early on in this match. Both players playing

3:43:27 > 3:43:33superb snooker.

3:43:35 > 3:43:42As John Parrott always says, in the deciding frame you want one chance,

3:43:42 > 3:43:53that is all you want. Whether you take it is another story.

3:44:09 > 3:44:16That is an attacking safety shot. Catching the green was not the order

3:44:16 > 3:44:27of the day but he played in such a way that he opened up the reds.

3:44:44 > 3:44:56He does pot fantastic long balls. Nine out of ten he has potted.I was

3:44:56 > 3:44:59watching Mark Selby when the red went in and there was a little shake

3:44:59 > 3:45:06of the head. Almost like one of those resigned shakes of the head.

3:45:06 > 3:45:19You think after that kick, is it destined I lose this match.

3:45:21 > 3:45:24Mark Williams is normally good at taking match winning chances.

3:45:35 > 3:45:43An excellent shot.

3:46:12 > 3:46:22He lost 6-5 to Mark Selby last year. 2016 at this stage she lost 6-5 to

3:46:22 > 3:46:34Ronnie O'Sullivan. Will it be his year? There is a long way to go.

3:46:44 > 3:46:49He would love to get on the red to the right of the black, but he

3:46:49 > 3:46:51cannot at the moment.

3:47:00 > 3:47:05He tried to drop on it and it has gone a little bit far. It was

3:47:05 > 3:47:10difficult, he had to find the gap. If he finished in the gap and had

3:47:10 > 3:47:15been able to pot that he would have freed up the black and it would have

3:47:15 > 3:47:22been a terrific chance.

3:47:45 > 3:48:00He rescued the situation with an excellent pot. Again, a clever shot.

3:48:00 > 3:48:10He may have a red to this right corner. A thin cut back. He could

3:48:10 > 3:48:18play so he could put the cue ball near the cushion.

3:48:27 > 3:48:31The green is available and he has the angle to get back up to the

3:48:31 > 3:48:39reds.

3:48:39 > 3:48:52This has finished awkward.He is certainly not making it easy.

3:48:55 > 3:48:59But he keeps potting the balls.

3:49:39 > 3:49:53There was an untimely cough on his backswing.

3:49:54 > 3:50:02And just enough to upset his concentration. He got up from the

3:50:02 > 3:50:10shot and back down again.

3:50:17 > 3:50:27That was not good timing. Just enough to put him off.

3:50:32 > 3:50:37He has not played the best positional shot. He will need a good

3:50:37 > 3:50:39recovery.

3:50:42 > 3:50:54That was a shocker. So much margin for error.

3:50:55 > 3:51:04He will not even go for a pot now.

3:51:04 > 3:51:10He seems to have lost composure at the moment, Mark Selby.

3:51:26 > 3:51:31There is an escape route but he has to be careful he does not push a red

3:51:31 > 3:51:39over the right corner.

3:51:39 > 3:51:44over the right corner. He has come up short. But he did not want to hit

3:51:44 > 3:51:50it with more pace.

3:51:54 > 3:52:03Can Mark Selby create a chance for himself with a very good safety?

3:52:22 > 3:52:28Mark Selby is worried about doing exactly as mentioned, pushing a red

3:52:28 > 3:52:33towards the right corner.

3:52:33 > 3:52:52He knows one mistake and his Masters could be over.

3:53:16 > 3:53:23At first glance, Mark Williams might be forced into taking this red on. I

3:53:23 > 3:53:31do not see a shot on the left-hand side of the table to get the cue

3:53:31 > 3:53:41ball back to baulk. He might have to pot himself out of trouble.

3:53:54 > 3:53:58There was a generous round of applause for that excellent safety

3:53:58 > 3:54:06shot. It had to be very thin. With the black in this situation it is,

3:54:06 > 3:54:09it is an advantage for Mark Williams, with the 38 points

3:54:09 > 3:54:15advantage.

3:54:38 > 3:54:49Well that was a terrific long pot. And look at the gap he had to find.

3:54:54 > 3:55:03Two fairly easy reds and then we have four reds almost typed on the

3:55:03 > 3:55:08cushion behind the black -- tight on the cushion.

3:55:12 > 3:55:24This could go down to the covers. -- colours.

3:55:31 > 3:55:37He has left himself straight on the red. Does the black go to the left

3:55:37 > 3:55:47corner? Not the best angle.

3:55:51 > 3:56:02If he plays the cannon he is trusting to luck with the position.

3:56:08 > 3:56:21That will do. I said he trusted to luck and he got some.

3:56:33 > 3:56:43It would be some effort to win the match at this visit to the table.

3:56:44 > 3:56:48He would like to pot at least another couple of reds and blacks

3:56:48 > 3:56:50and get back into this frame.

3:56:57 > 3:57:07This time there was noise backstage that caused Mark to step away.

3:57:18 > 3:57:25He may have the angle to take the red out to the left of the other

3:57:25 > 3:57:31two.

3:57:31 > 3:57:42two.That was to thin. There is pressure on this.

3:57:48 > 3:57:53We have talked about the pockets playing generous. Mark Selby need

3:57:53 > 3:58:02that now.

3:58:02 > 3:58:14That was very good, playing for the father -- for knuckle.

3:58:28 > 3:58:38He has played it well. What an effort this is. From the reigning

3:58:38 > 3:58:48world champion. Four reds tied up on the back cushion.He has to get high

3:58:48 > 3:58:54on the black.

3:58:54 > 3:58:57on the black. He is dead straight, which is fine, he can just drop on

3:58:57 > 3:59:03this red. I do not know if he has the angle to follow through on two

3:59:03 > 3:59:14cushions. But he is just going to drop it in.Another tricky shot and

3:59:14 > 3:59:20the yellow being offered its spot makes it slightly more awkward, but

3:59:20 > 3:59:27all of his effort will be on this red.

3:59:27 > 3:59:41No. Can you believe it? They are always tricky.

3:59:41 > 3:59:49REFEREE:Quieten down, please.

3:59:49 > 3:59:53With the yellow off its spot, it makes it slightly awkward for the

3:59:53 > 4:00:05clearance.I wonder whether he will risk a cannon on the brown. If he

4:00:05 > 4:00:09plays to drop off the cushion and onto the yellow, there is definitely

4:00:09 > 4:00:19the brown but the green, as well, you could snooker yourself behind.

4:00:22 > 4:00:30He could hold it, that's a beautiful shot.Really dead straight. Have a

4:00:30 > 4:00:36look at the schools. Five frames all, 45 points all. What an opening

4:00:36 > 4:00:43match in this year's masters. And look at the points, just six points

4:00:43 > 4:00:50separating them.

4:01:02 > 4:01:17Pace on the cue ball needs to move on a little bit further.

4:01:18 > 4:01:27They could have gone anywhere on the brown there.

4:01:27 > 4:01:36Just the blue.

4:01:43 > 4:01:59What a match these two players have given us this afternoon. At and it's

4:01:59 > 4:02:07in, Mark Williams has one. -- the Welsh potting machine has done it.

4:02:07 > 4:02:11He takes the match by six frames to five.

4:02:15 > 4:02:22Just an unbelievable match. The opening game of this year's masters

4:02:22 > 4:02:26and what a game, two former champions and it's lived up to its

4:02:26 > 4:02:33billing. What a game, that's all you can say.Two great champions of the

4:02:33 > 4:02:38game have really entertained the crowd. You expected Mark Selby,

4:02:38 > 4:02:44after plotting to reds to get that last one but the tension rises. To

4:02:44 > 4:02:48be fair, it was never in. If it had dropped, it would have been a

4:02:48 > 4:02:51travesty. Mark Williams held himself together. The break-up but easy to

4:02:51 > 4:02:54get the colours.

4:02:54 > 4:03:02As Mark Selby looked like he was going to win again, he handled these

4:03:02 > 4:03:04big pressure moments, but Mark didn't look happy going down onto

4:03:04 > 4:03:09the shot.He didn't look happy. He needed to be high on the back so he

4:03:09 > 4:03:16could get closer with the cue ball to the red, never hit it well at

4:03:16 > 4:03:20all, that was the frame and match ball for both players. If the red

4:03:20 > 4:03:23would have gone in, Mark Selby would have won the match but Mark Williams

4:03:23 > 4:03:31held himself so well.The significance of this for Mark Selby,

4:03:31 > 4:03:34crashing out of the UK championship as well, this is a big moment.I

4:03:34 > 4:03:42tell you what, doesn't matter how many times you have one events...

4:03:42 > 4:03:46Congratulations! To keep on winning, especially as you get older, putting

4:03:46 > 4:03:52in great performances, I think as you get older, you get prouder.Well

4:03:52 > 4:03:59done, great to see you.It's like eventually quit act! -- eventually

4:03:59 > 4:04:08quest!I thought it was a good much all the way through. I got some good

4:04:08 > 4:04:12breaks. When I was 5-3 down, I went for a lot of difficult shots, I

4:04:12 > 4:04:16thought I wouldn't attack it and go out attacking. I done one shot in

4:04:16 > 4:04:20the last frame, if I lost that, I would have never have forgiven

4:04:20 > 4:04:24myself. Always rather go out on a pot than the safety. I turned the

4:04:24 > 4:04:31red, it wasn't easy. Looked like it was going to clear up. I would have

4:04:31 > 4:04:42been fuming. I don't mind losing but I don't want to play safe.That

4:04:42 > 4:04:46break of 135, the boys were glowing, you looked so relaxed and

4:04:46 > 4:04:49comfortable.I should have plotted the black, but I set it up well. I

4:04:49 > 4:05:00just missed it.Mark had a wide at the end, was he talking about the

4:05:00 > 4:05:09kit?Since we have used this mutual, we have had some kicks.I think we

4:05:09 > 4:05:14both played -- this new chalk. I think we both played quite well.I

4:05:14 > 4:05:19thought when you are down, it would not bother you because you have been

4:05:19 > 4:05:24playing so well.I have been playing so well all season, it's tough to

4:05:24 > 4:05:30beat Selby, I knew it was going to be tough. I didn't think I was going

4:05:30 > 4:05:35to lose until he had that kick.We have not got a microphone for you,

4:05:35 > 4:05:38hopefully will be able to use your dad's microphone, how does it feel

4:05:38 > 4:05:43to watch him play in such a alternating match, diesel is amazing

4:05:43 > 4:05:50that are ready you think he's as nervous -- do you get as nervous as

4:05:50 > 4:05:58him?Yeah.No swearing!You still gets tense when you walk out?I

4:05:58 > 4:06:03hardly ever get butterflies or nervous. The only time I got nervous

4:06:03 > 4:06:11was when I was 39, missed the red, wasn't easy but I should have got

4:06:11 > 4:06:16it, then I got the butterflies which is not like me.You still get the

4:06:16 > 4:06:21buzz going out, final frame in the match.This is what you want, you

4:06:21 > 4:06:26play table setups and qualifiers, it's difficult. You don't get to

4:06:26 > 4:06:30experience this very often now. Every time I come back, I enjoyed

4:06:30 > 4:06:34more.You have been having a good run recently. You must be proud of

4:06:34 > 4:06:39your performance to get back on top 16 but also starts to be

4:06:39 > 4:06:42competitive.That's a great feeling on your way up. Definitely, I have

4:06:42 > 4:06:47been in and out of top 16 for so many times. I have managed to claw

4:06:47 > 4:06:52my way back in again. I'm actually playing quite good stuff.I don't

4:06:52 > 4:06:56mind now. What about the fact that you have lost 6-5 to Selby in the

4:06:56 > 4:07:01first round in this venue last, does that play on your mind?I think the

4:07:01 > 4:07:09last two or three times I played here, I lost to run a 6-5 twice and

4:07:09 > 4:07:14Selby 6-5. It was five all again. So when the draw comes out, they are

4:07:14 > 4:07:17the two players I want to miss. I don't mind playing any of the other

4:07:17 > 4:07:23ones.Where have you found this resurgence of form? You've always

4:07:23 > 4:07:29the rate consistent but all of a sudden you have won a tournament,

4:07:29 > 4:07:34and you have been very consistent. It's no coincidence, it's Steve

4:07:34 > 4:07:39helping me with the site, and how I lay the ball. If you are in the

4:07:39 > 4:07:44white line before you get down, you have got a chance of potting it. I

4:07:44 > 4:07:49was so far out, no wonder I had not ported a long ball for five years.

4:07:49 > 4:07:56He won in Northern Ireland, are you practising more?Yeah, loads. I play

4:07:56 > 4:08:00with a couple of youngsters in the club, is to be fair, they are

4:08:00 > 4:08:06killing me, getting me in the club at 9am after dropping him off to

4:08:06 > 4:08:13school. And I'm still here at 5pm playing with those two. When I say I

4:08:13 > 4:08:17have had enough, they have another 11 after I've gone. It's pushing me

4:08:17 > 4:08:27on, I'm enjoying it as well.You can see your stats, 92%

4:08:27 > 4:08:31see your stats, 92% pot success. Stephen Hendry will still be

4:08:31 > 4:08:42whingeing, I could be 100% and he Would still whinge! We were talking

4:08:42 > 4:08:47about 20 years ago, you have changed in the last 20 years.I looked like

4:08:47 > 4:08:57him! You can't say much!But we do have to say, other sports need to