First Round: Mark Selby v Mark Williams Masters Snooker

Good afternoon and welcome to

Alexandra Palace.

A fortnight ago, the PDC darts final

ended here at this famous old venue,

with Phil Taylor signing off after a

glittering career. Now snooker's

Masters tournament takes centre

stage, and we focus on Mark William,

who beat snooker's greatest ever

player in the most dramatic finals

we've ever seen at the Masters, 20

years ago.

COMMENTATOR: You cannot get any

closer!

This is incredible again.

Mark thought he had the black, but

the one that Stephen is left with,

the white close to the side cushion,

he is absolutely dead straight on

the black. This is not an easy shot.

Is that in! It will be this time,

I'm sure. The lead has got away from

Stephen Hendry. Nothing is easy,

Dennis, is it?

It wasn't the easiest

of blacks. It was absolutely

straight on. He had to roll it.

Tremendous joy! Really deserved for

young Mark Williams from Wales. He's

never been in front of this final

against the world number one until

the last frame. He's had a

tremendous week. He will is the 1998

Masters champion.

20 years on from that final, Mark

Williams has won 19 ranking titles,

but today comes up against the world

number one, a man who has won the

Masters three times, the first

coming ten years ago.

What a way to win! Mark Selby equals

the highest break, a break of 144.

He wins the 2008 Masters

championship. Unbelievable!

championship. Unbelievable!

He may

attempt the double to clinch this

year's Masters. It's right in the

middle of the pocket!

middle of the pocket! Ronnie comes

forward and shakes the hand of Mark

Selby. It has been a remarkable

final. It has been a remarkable

comeback from the Jester from

Leicester. He was 9-6 down, and he

won four frames in a row, and takes

the Masters for the second time.

He is enjoying every pot now! And

why not finish off with a trick

shot?

shot? Why not? He wants to pot the

black as well. Well played, Mark

Selby, and well played, Neil

Robertson. But in this final, Mark

Selby done good. He's won three

Masters titles now, and he is the

2017 Masters champion.

Masters titles now, and he is the

2017 Masters champion.

Well played. Good afternoon to you

and welcome to Alexandra Palace, and

Day one of the 2018 Masters. The

best players in the world. The top

16 are here, and what a week we have

ahead of us. This is how they line

up. The reigning champion, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, plays 2011 runner-up

Marco Fu.

Marco Fu. Mark Allen takes on Luca

Brecel, making his Masters debut.

Anthony McGill also making his first

appearance. 2011 winner, Ding

Junhui, plays Ryan Day, back at the

Masters. 2015 champion Shaun Murphy

up against Ali Carter. Barry

Hawkins, runner-up in 2016, takes on

Kyren Wilson. And world number one

Mark Selby takes on Mark Williams

today. It is going to be a special

match to kick off this year. Good

afternoon to Ken Doherty and Steve

Davis. There's something very

special about turning up at

Alexandra Palace, isn't there?

You

have to earn your place. It is a bun

fight now to get the spaces in this

event, such is the standard of the

players. The Masters has always been

a flagship event, but to think that

some people say that the sport is

struggling a bit. Day one, the venue

is packed.

The Crucible is very

special to us, as is York, but there

is something different about walking

up the steps here at Alexandra

Palace. There is a real buzz in the

crowd today.

There always is. It is

steeped in great history and

nostalgia. The tournament is only

second to the World Championships.

You have the best players in the

world, the top 16 in the world, and

every match could grace any final.

You are on TV, only one table, you

are centre stage. One of the best

tournaments.

And what a start we

have with these two today.

Proven

winners in this event. I think Mark

Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan are the

two players who have made this

tournament their own in recent

years. When it comes to a one-table

set-up, it seems to sort the men out

from the boys. Some of the players

like to get through on the outside

tables, because they are used to

that. But there is no hiding place

out there. Day one, round one, you

have to produce the best.

Can Mark

Williams pull off the odd shock?

Absolutely. He's playing some of the

best snooker he has ever played. One

of the most consistent players on

the circuit. He has won here, one

the World Championship and the UK.

He's going to give a tough match.

But he has changed. Look how young

he looked in that CT! He looks

different.

Testament to Mark

Williams, competing at the age of

42. Doing very well recently as

well. Even though Mark Selby is the

favourite, the start is important.

You want to get off to a good start.

Arguably, Mark Selby... You might

say Mark Williams wants to get off

to a better start.

Mark Williams has

a better form player.

Although Selby

has had a good season. I am going to

wish Stephen Hendry happy New Year,

but I am not expecting a return

greeting, when I ask in what his

memories are of that final against

Mark Williams!

I have won this thing

six times, but I am almost more

famous for missing that black! It

was one of those matches. I had

chances to win it. But that black

ball, just off straight, rolling it

in dead weight, is a tough shot.

Is

it

it hard to watch back?

Yes. That is

all you see these days, Mark

Williams' name, and the black ball

underneath it.

How special is this

tournament for snooker players?

This

was number two on my wish list every

season after the World Championship.

Mark Selby will want to prove why he

is world number one this week.

A

sparkling opening match, a great

match to kick off the tournament.

Absolutely. Two players who can win

ugly. They don't mind the scrappy

games, but fantastic tactical

brains. Mark Williams has won

tournaments. He will need to win

more frames in one visit and score

heavier to give himself a chance

today.

Thank you. Enjoy your week

here

today.

Thank you. Enjoy your week

here at Alexandra Palace. Let's see

how these two matchup.

how these two matchup. They have

been playing each other for years.

Selby won this meeting last year. He

has beaten the Welshman twice at the

Masters. We are all set for a

cracking match here. It is about to

get under way. Mr Dennis Taylor in

the hot seat.

A very good afternoon

and a warm welcome to be 2018

Dafabet Masters. And what a match we

have got lined up for you this

afternoon!

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

into the arena, a player who has won

the Masters title on two occasions.

Twice the world champion, the

reigning Northern Ireland open

champion, from South Wales, Mark

Williams!

MUSIC: Delilah by Tom Jones.

And Mark's opponent this afternoon,

a player who has won the Masters on

three occasions. He's been world

champion three times. He is the

reigning world professional snooker

champion, Mark Selby!

STUDIO: Such a prestigious

tournament in a truly wonderful

venue, one of the leading sporting

championships of the year. Live on

the BBC all year. A very warm

welcome to you, and a warm welcome

to our commentary team, Stephen

Hendry, and Dennis, who is running

up the stairs!

Thanks. An intriguing

first match of this Masters.

Mark Williams breaks off. He would

like to have that one again! He will

be nervous today, Mark Williams.

He's not been in this event for a

while. Doubting -- not doubting his

pedigree in the game. Catches the

read a little bit thin.

Not bad pot, but he's faced with a

tricky black, Mark Selby.

I think Mark Selby today... Normally

he doesn't mind playing scrappy

frames. He's got the perfect match

temperament. I think today he will

not want to get involved in that

against Mark Williams. A long way

off the black.

REFEREE:

Foul.

That was never the

natural angle to go in off this.

Obviously a brand-new cloth. Very

slippery.

Stephen mentioned before play

commenced, you can see some

fantastic tactical battles between

these players. They are excellent

safety players.

Well, he's pushed a red towards the

pocket, but I think the Greens will

be covering that one, so that makes

it very difficult for Mark to get a

good cue ball here. He might just

roll into these. It is a very quick

table, and I think that is going to

reach.

reach. Couldn't risk taking the cue

ball back down the table because of

that red near the left corner. Bit

of a stalemate now.

I think today,

Dennis, in terms of playing

containing safeties, you couldn't

get better players for that part of

the game than these two. This has

already got the makings of, well...

Either AV rack or a very long

exchange.

It is a touching ball. I

think they are going to have a

re-rack here. Couldn't see a way of

getting out of that stalemate. Was

that touching ball? Mark Selby, when

he agreed with Mark Williams, I

don't think he knew it was a

touching ball. With a touching ball,

he could have put the ball into an

awkward spot.

I think that is a

pretty good decision, but a

surprising one, with it being

touching. A fabulous crowd in this

afternoon. The atmosphere is

incredible. Standing in for Rob

Walker, who is doing the final of

the darts.

What a buzz to stand in front of

this crowd.

This venue, the

Alexandra Palace, has become

synonymous with this tournament now.

It's got an identity here. Not quite

the old Wembley conference Centre,

but pretty close.

REFEREE:

First frame. Mark Williams

to break.

Mark Williams, then, breaks up for

the second time in this opening

frame of this first 211. It's a

pretty good break of shot.

His first

attempt, he caught the pack weighed

too thin. That was a lot better. A

thicker contact on the fifth of red

of the triangle.

What you don't see very often from

these two players is very aggressive

safety shots, splitting the reds

open. They like to keep it quite

tight.

That was well negotiated through the

gap. Played it at a nice pace as

well. Left-hand side, stocked the

cue ball short. A decent chance,

this, with the open reds.

An excellent positional shot.

He floats the ball is in, Mark

Williams. A lot of the top players

prefer to play with a bit more pace,

stunt in. Mark Williams drops so

many in dead weight.

A chance to go into the bunch, if he

so wishes, but there's two or three

loose reds. A nice angle on the

black. Then possibly, Mark Williams

wouldn't go into the reds as soon as

some of the other players. The first

frame very important, so has to get

a good start in this match.

May have to use a touch of left-hand

side.

Nice to see Mark's wife and son

here.

here. Jo nearly back to her good old

self. She is a delightful lady. An

absolute gem. So is Keenan as well.

Mark Selby will be sitting in his

seat now, thinking he should have

played that touching ball, and tried

to put Mark in a bit of trouble.

I

think he definitely would have

played the shock-macro if he knew it

was a touching ball. But I think the

players had agreed beforehand.

players had agreed beforehand. Mark

Williams obviously played for the

red to the left middle. The first

tricky shot of the break coming up.

If he can reach it, I think he can

pot this and just stand past the

pink, and pot of the cushion for the

black. A very good shot.

Worth another look at that one. He

is perfect on the black to get onto

the red that's just do the right of

the little bunch there. A slight

angle to work with. He's played to

leave onto the middle pocket.

That

might have been a little bit of

adrenaline. He got into that cue

ball far too much. It's there. Great

shot. Exactly what he would have

wanted.

He made that look very easy. That

was a tough shot he took on there.

Just finished a little straight on

the black this time.

He's got into this well. He's played

that beautifully.

that beautifully. What a start for

the Welsh Potting Machine. That's

his nickname.

his nickname.

I had a few different

nicknames for him, but I don't think

I can say what they are!

U2 are still at it, winding each

other up. You've done it throughout

your whole careers.

Yes, when he was giving it to me, I

said I would get my own back up here

in the commentary box. But so far,

I've not been able to. This has been

a fantastic start.

Looking at a player here who's made

404 centuries in his professional

career. Made 21 this season, 26 last

season. Great to see Mark Williams

back where he belongs, world ranked

number ten at the moment.

Another good shot.

Makes the century. Absolutely

brilliant from Mark Williams.

brilliant from Mark Williams. The

first century in this year's Dafabet

masters. And that's a mark Williams

special. Never seen another player

able to do that.

Mark Selby had said before the match

that if there was one player he

wanted to avoid in the draw, it was

Mark Williams. And you can see why.

Another shot played under Ron. It's

remarkable how he can do that, and

screw the ball, and judge the weight

of the cueing like that.

It has been

a phenomenal break.

a phenomenal break. Before the

re-rack, it looked like it was going

to be a really scrappy first frame.

But this has been fantastic.

Oh, a kick on the black. What a

shame. After the re-rack, he had one

chance, and he made that magnificent

break. He leaves 1-0.

STUDIO: I promised you before this

programme that we were in for some

cracking snooker, but what a

programme that we were in for some

cracking snooker, but what a start

by Mark Williams. Nothing better

than to see him in full flow.

A

flawless start. They both looked a

bit edgy before the re-rack, but

that start was superb. I'm lucky to

get a kick on the black, otherwise

it would have been marvellous. A

good target to set for the rest of

the lads.

We know Mark Williams has

great pedigree within the game, and

in his pomp and prime you would have

expected a start like that. Since

then, things haven't gone so well,

but he's back in the top 16.

Something like that is a great

confidence booster, the fact you can

do it on centre stage. The table

looks lightning fast. Expect players

to overhit shots, overscrew, and

then these thin shots, they will

probably hit a few of those. The

cushions look very fast as well.

And

just the manner he dealt with the

break, floating around the table.

Looked like he was in a snooker

club, hitting a few balls for sleep

when you talk about great talents in

the game and natural ability,

sometimes Mark Williams would be

like that. He's got such great

ability and talent, not just the

flair, but the ability he's got.

What a fantastic start. Mark

Williams leads Mark Selby 1-0.

On the point of the table is

lightning fast, it's suits the way

Mark Williams plays.

He has a great

touch.

touch. Never see him overhit, in

terms of swinging at anything with

his cue. Oh, he got away with that.

Very lucky.

Very lucky.

Mark had tapped the

table for the shot. And Mark Selby

came to the table and tapped. You

can see Mark, good shot. Smiles all

around.

He did not go for the pot. No value

because the red next to the black is

blocking it. There was no value. He

almost got the kiss, but he was

safe.

I like this shot. That has cleared

the black. He is thinking

positively. Why would he not, after

the opening frame?

He does not have the same escape

route if he goes up past the yellow.

He could leave a red to the right

middle pocket, which is why he is

making sure he covers that red if he

plays that shot. He does not like

it.

Just a little bit of an awkward

frame with the way the two reds are

either side of the blue.

You will not see many mistakes made

with these players in this situation

will stop they both have all of the

patients in the world. They will

just keep finding good safety shots.

I think there will be very few

unforced errors today in the safety

Department.

Very unlucky. He picked one out. It

was very unfortunate indeed. To

knock the yellow in.

At least the penalty shot has not

left Mark Selby with a chance at a

red. But a chance to get a telling

safety shot. Moving the cue along

the cushion, trying to pick the spot

he would like to leave the cue ball.

And it was pretty clever, because he

knocked the other red away from the

middle pocket, the one that was

pottable. That was a clever little

shot.

We can look at the way Mark played

this. Look at this. The cannon on

the red. Very clever.

It is terrific to watch the high

breaks going in but also

entertaining to watch a good

tactical rattle to see who will make

the first mistake.

Just one of those frames where there

are three reds at the other end of

the table.

And what an effort. What an effort

that is.

that is. He screwed back a little

bit further than he wanted but the

in-off is not on because there is a

red over the middle pocket and he

can roll that. I said the in-off was

not on, the red near the middle

pocket, but it has worked out

perfectly. He almost knocked it in

the pocket.

He knew he could not go in-off. But

he almost planted the red in the

pocket.

And he is in first in the second

frame. Can he continue where he left

off in the opening frame?

It was

going to take something special to

end the safety exchange because both

players were playing high-quality,

tactical stuff.

tactical stuff. Obviously playing

this with an element of safety. He

would have left Mark Selby a similar

shot, should he have missed that. If

he continues the form of the

previous frame, this should be the

second frame over, the way the reds

are. He looks in control, composed,

focused. He is cueing beautifully.

The two reds touching, he may flick

one to the left.

Can he get through to the red? It is

tight. He played for the other one

and he overran that, but he... Well,

that will go through the gap. He

would like the red to the right,

rather than that. He can play for

the blue if he feels he will cannon

the red on the run through. I think

winning the Northern Ireland Open in

November has given Mark Williams a

boost. His first ranking title in a

couple of seasons. He lost in the UK

6-5. Two Ryan Day. But he had tip

trouble in that.

One more good shot here. It will

give him a great chance to secure

this second frame, but it is not

perfect.

It needed to pull up and it did.

What I thought was stopping him from

being a competitor as far as winning

majors was not winning enough frames

in one visit, not scoring heavily

enough. But that has been put to bed

this afternoon. An awesome start.

I think he is getting a great buzz

out of the terrific crowd this

afternoon. It is really helping him.

It is all about the red on the left

side of the table and being a

left-hander, it might not cause a

problem for the second century. He

can drop in behind it, or he can

move it. Being a left-hander, it is

how he feels. Playing to dropping

behind.

What a shame. Not back-to-back

centuries. But as Stephen said, he

got one chance and that was all that

was needed.

got one chance and that was all that

was needed. He now leads 2-0.

STUDIO: What is most impressive is

Mark Williams looks comfortable.

The

cue ball is on a string and he is

potting fantastic balls,

cue ball is on a string and he is

potting fantastic balls, a great red

to the middle and knocks in the

yellow. Look at this, very hard to

control. It set him on his way.

The

black was not too shabby. You cannot

underestimate how good a start this

is when all eyes are on view as a

player.

is when all eyes are on view as a

player. If the first frame had

unfolded with Mark Williams making a

bad break off and ball is going

scrappy, no way would this have

happened so a strange fluke that it

was restarted and suddenly Mark

Williams had a couple of shots to

get his ongoing and Mark Selby on

the back foot, which has happened to

Mark recently. It is tough as world

number one sometimes.

We have to

bear in mind, Mark was disappointed

to crash out of the UK Championship.

He had trouble with the tip. His

wife was ill, when he was in York,

but he should have won that match.

It came off the back of winning the

northern Ireland and going to then

play in York, tiredness might have

kicked in. He wanted to get home to

his wife, who had not been well, so

many factors involved. For Mark

Williams, he is the form player and

Mark Selby needs to start potting

balls quickly.

Mark Selby indeed has

a game on his hands.

Mark Selby has not had a pot to go

at. We had one before the re-rack in

the opening frame, but he has not

had a chance since.

What a way to start the match, a

break of 135.

Just a bit of distraction in his

eyeline. You could see the referee

holding up his hand. It could be a

photographer or someone in the

background.

The referee from Belgium. One of the

top referees and has been for many

years. He works in a hospital and

has time off for his referee duties.

What a fluke.

Awkward bridging. He caught the red

to thick and then he got the fluke

on the plant.

I am not sure... The black will not

go in the right corner and the red

might be blocking it from the left.

The pink is available.

It will not go in that pocket and

certainly not the other, so this is

not a good chance for Mark Williams

just yet. What a body blow if he

could knock a sizeable break in

after that fluke.

It was too far for the blue. I think

it will be a red to the right

corner. One of the reds above the

black. So, the first piece of bad

cueing that Mark Williams has put

into this match. There was a lot of

movement.

I do not think it will

cost him too many points, the fact

he missed the yellow, he did not get

the cue ball anywhere near he

wanted. They red will pot between

the pink and black, but there is no

colour available, so there is no

value in it. That is why he is not

even entertaining the pot.

He could have played that better.

Mark's target will be to get the

white somewhere near the yellow and

he might be able to take a shot to

nothing on. The red may pot into the

right corner.

It all depends on the angle he has

on the brown as to whether he can

get up to the reds. He has the angle

to get up to the red Mark Selby had

available, but it was no use to him

because there was no colour

available.

That was well played. He still has a

lot of work to do.

The red closest to the black

cushion, he played to finish lower

because he could have possibly

developed the black and flick the

red away to the right. If you place

this to the right corner, he is

trusting to luck with the position.

He gets top spin on the cue ball,

and he would be unlucky to not be on

anything. Well, he played that well.

The cue ball is going to the

cushion, but that was pretty well

controlled. The gap he finds.

It was not easy, tucked up on the

cushion, so the first half chance

falls to Mark Selby. When you are

tight on the cushion at that angle,

they are never easy. It is not a

good chance for Mark Selby. The

black is out, the pink is awkward,

the blue is off its spot.

He is

looking at the red to the right

corner. I think the pink is

available to the left middle.

At the moment it is a half chance.

Mark Selby will not see it that way.

He will look at it as an opportunity

to get his first frame on the board.

The black is tied up, but everything

else is pretty well situated.

With only the pink to play for,

pinpoint accuracy is required with

the position every shot.

He could've done with a good two,

more inches to make this pink

He could've done with a good two,

more inches to make this pink. He

could still hold for one of those to

the left corner.

It could have gone wrong.

As long as he is not dead straight

on the blue he is OK and he has a

slight angle to work with.

There are still a couple more reds

available into the left corner

pocket.

He is doing what Mark Selby does

well indeed, when his back is

against the wall, he produces his

best, usually.

The red just above the black and

cannon the other one away and leave

himself on the black. Would he be

too high, possibly?

He ran slightly out of position. We

saw Mark's wife Vikki watching on.

She knows he is faced with a tricky

shot.

shot. I think he took the risk out

of covering the black as Stephen

suggested and that is why it went

slightly wrong. He played a good

recovery shot. That is a pretty good

recovery shot if it keeps coming.

It was a natural angle on the blue

to drop on the reds but he still

have to play it, and he played it

well. He has turned this half chance

into a frame-winning visit, it looks

like. He needed it.

Just this red needed to leave Mark

Williams at the

Williams at the snookers required

stage. What a cracking match we have

on our hands here. One mistake and

the frame is over, at the moment.

Frame over. Can he flew the green?

Just the one mistake from Mark

Williams, the miss of the yellow,

which was all Mark Selby needed.

Williams, the miss of the yellow,

which was all Mark Selby needed.

STUDIO: Mark Selby comes firing out

of his corner. That is the beauty of

the Masters tournament, especially

when you have best of 11 matches.

You might be 2-0 in front, but all

you need is to take your eye off the

ball, and your opponent is back in

it.

That was a great frame. To get

off to a good run was an important

thing to do in that break. He knows

the significance of that, as great

champions do, and he settled down

quite

well, considering he hadn't hit a

ball in the first two frames.

Just

what he needed. Quite a few balls.

That's what great champions do. They

have the confidence, when a chance

comes their way, that they are going

to take it. Mark Williams will be

aware that if he goes two or three

frames, Mark Selby never gives up.

He has a history of flooring match

back when he's been so far behind.

When you are playing a great player,

you have to keep on top of them all

the time.

And there is pressure as

well.

You know if you miss, you are

giving him a chance.

We've had

breaks of 135, 89 from Williams, and

that one from Selby. That's only

going to get better.

Exceptional.

For Mark Selby, not having had the

best of seasons so far, to have the

temperament to prepare for this

event and get going, and then you

lose the first two frames to a

player who is just buzzing. The

temperament you need to not let your

head drop and not panic...

We are

talking about two champions here,

two guys who are very seasoned. They

know these championships so well,

and they can handle these moments.

They have been in this situation

many times. When you are out there,

Edu try and recall some of those

great matches you've been involved

in. Certain situations will remind

you of that. You will think, I did

it against this player while ago.

That will give you the calmness and

the confidence to think, if the

chance comes, I will do it again.

In

this position however many years

ago, however many champions to go --

championships ago, do you think you

have a chance?

championships ago, do you think you

have a chance?

As he has got older,

he will expect Mark Selby to produce

on the big stage. More impressed at

the moment with Mark Williams'

performance. Looks like a cracking

match is unfolding.

COMMENTATOR: Mark went out for a

couple of minutes there, but there's

no trophy there, I suddenly noticed.

It was shining in Mark's byline.

It was shining in Mark's byline. A

beautiful Waterford Crystal trophy.

It was potting Mark off a bit, so it

has been removed.

He's not been here

a few years, and his first match

back, he wants the trophy moved.

Have you still got the one they

presented to you. You won five, and

got the original trophy?

Yes, still

got it. I was very fortunate that

the sponsors did that.

the sponsors did that. It's strange,

though, because he only missed one

ball, Mark, so is potting him off?

The only mistake Mark Williams made

in the match was this one here. Just

didn't cue that as smoothly as the

rest. That is the only mistake he's

made in the match so far.

Once again, another awkward frame

here, with the red up on the green

spot.

I think, in this event, the Masters,

when you've got the best 16 players

in the world, although Mark Williams

hardly missed a ball the first two

frames, Mark Selby wouldn't be too

bothered. That's what you expect the

best to do. Sometimes when you are

playing in the field, you are in

your chair and you don't expect the

lower ranking players to do that.

But this will not upset Mark Selby

too much.

Not quite as intended. That cue ball

should have been tight to the baulk

cushion. A difficult shot he

attempted there. The cue ball

bounced a little bit, because he

raised the butt of the cue so much

in the air.

I think he was nicely on the pink,

but I think he's looking to see

where it gets re-spotted after he

pops it.

If it won't go back on its own spot,

it will have to go on the green

spot. That won't hinder Mark Selby

from getting on the red their back

it to the right of the pack if he

wishes.

He wobbled it a bit. Safely in the

pocket.

pocket. That tells the referee if

the ball will spot. I think there's

enough room. You need a steady hand

to do that.

Maybe there wasn't just enough room,

so it goes on to be only spot

available, the green.

They had a brilliant match here last

year in the first round. It went the

distance. Five frames all, and Mark

Selby knocked in... I think it was

an 80 plus match that clinched it.

The way both players are playing

here, I wouldn't be surprised if we

didn't have another 6-5 result.

Nice angle on the blue. Tricky going

into the pack because of that one

lose red just to the top of them.

You see, the cue ball just goes to

ride before the top spin takes

effect. That's why he didn't get

into the middle of the bunch with

the cue ball.

REFEREE:

Foul. Mark Williams, four.

That has cost him four points, but

he hasn't left anything easy for

Mark Williams here.

If he can find an angle... He

doesn't like it. He was thinking

about taking the red on and playing

up for the black, but decided to try

and put Mark Selby in a spot of

bother here. Oh, he's played the

double. I'm surprised. I'm surprised

he's done that.

I'm very surprised

as well. OK, he put the cue ball in

a place where he thought he couldn't

miss it, but a very risky shot. A

pretty simple safety shot could have

put Mark Selby in a lot of trouble.

He is excellent at doubles, Mark

Williams, to be fair, but they are

never guarantees.

never guarantees. The last thing you

want to be doing is giving Mark

Selby gifts.

As I mentioned earlier, these

matches are the best of 11. The

interval will be after this frame.

There may be a chance now that we

will go to that mid-session interval

all square, two frames each. Just

finished a little awkward there.

He has to be careful not to screw

off the reds and into the middle

pocket. That's OK. Played it well.

That's just OK. Always a little

concerned, when you are playing a

delicate cannon like that.

This blue will leave Mark Williams

needing a snooker.

This has been a match so far

befitting this event, a premier

event in World Snooker, the best

players in the world. A great match

so far. The first two frames to Mark

Williams. The second two to Mark

Selby.

Where is that white going? It

pulled up.

Here is a tester, Dennis.

Wants to drop this in dead weight

for the black. It's the sort of shot

he's pretty good at.

He looked round at Mark Selby and

said, that's enough. What a fabulous

match so far. Breaks of 135, 89 and

70, and all square at the

mid-session interval. Two frames

each.

STUDIO: I'm going to let

each.

STUDIO: I'm going to let you into a

secret here. On frame two, you said

it was going to go all the way. I

thought, have you seen the score?

Back you were bang on.

It's amazing

how one frame can change everything

sometimes. Mark Selby now looks the

stronger of the two players. He will

be much happier. Although Mark

Williams never missed a ball, Mark

Selby will be the happier of the two

players in the interval.

What seems

to happen, and I noticed it when I

played, in a game where you got off

to a good start and you hadn't

missed a ball, and you win the first

frame and the other guy doesn't pot

a ball, and then the same thing

happens... There is pressure on you

to keep on keeping the pressure on

your opponent. And at some stage you

are going to miss, and that is when

the bubble seems to burst. If the

other guy is strong enough, he gets

back into it. Doesn't matter how

good the start was... The other guy

gets his tail up because he has

recovered.

Take us into the dressing

room, Ken. If you are Mark Williams

now, you have played well, got a

break of 135 and 89, and somebody

like Mark Selby draws back at you,

what are you thinking?

If I was in

the dressing room, I would say, you

haven't missed a ball. It's 2-2. It

is a new match now when you go back

out. Just relax and keep doing what

you are doing. The interval has had

at a good time for Mark Williams.

But for Mark Selby, he will be going

into the dressing room thinking,

well, I have turned this match

around.

That is the beauty of the

Masters.

And it is interesting,

having in interval. And interval is

not what the players need in a game

of snooker sometimes. Obviously, the

crowd needs it. Mark Williams has

lost the chance to capitalise on

jumping the gun on Mark Selby. He's

back to square one. Certainly, he

will be going, I could have kept

that up, I could have done better.

There is a pressure on the guy in

front. Always has been, always will

be. Especially because you know, if

you get a great start, you can beat

your opponent 4-0 in the first

session. If you don't do that, you

can be disappointed.

Remember when

we were here two years ago, when

Ronnie O'Sullivan wiped the floor

with Ricky Walden in 45 minutes?

That can happen.

Anything can happen

when you are playing Ronnie

O'Sullivan. The standard of the

first four frames has been great. We

thought it was going to be a little

more safety, more tactical, but it

hasn't been like that at all. Both

players have scored well when

they've got the chance.

Lets focus

on Mark Selby. It has been a couple

of fantastic years with Leicester,

with Leicester winning the league,

and then Mark Selby doing so well in

snooker. He's not the only king

there.

there.

Jamie, good to see you.

An

interesting place, this. Looking

forward to seeing the history.

Shall

we have a look around?

Why not?

I

know it's been here for many years,

but I've not really set foot in the

place, which is a shame, being a

local lad from Leicester, and the

history in this building. Especially

when I used to practice at a club

down the road. It's nice to be here

today, and I'm sure I will leave

here with some great memories.

COMMENTATOR: What a win for Mark

Selby! His third world title.

I

still have to pinch myself a bit.

When I won it for the first time, it

was something I would always strive

for, as a professional. To win it

for a third time was remarkable.

Do

you feel like a legend? Because you

are a legend.

Do not really. I just

feel like I am Mark Selby, a lad who

grew up in Leicester, didn't have

much money. I'm the same person.

Is

that the secret of your success?

That you are the same person and you

don't get emotional?

Possibly. That

is a credit to my father. Keep your

feet on the ground, don't let

anything change you. I think I had

that instilled in me as a boy. One

of only four players to retain the

title.

You are currently on the

fourth longest run as world number

one as well. Some great players

above you have achieved that, Ray

Reardon, Steve Davis, Stephen

Hendry.

That seems strange. You just

asked me if I think I am a legend,

and I don't. But I'd class those

players as legends. To be in the

category with them, when I finish my

career, perhaps I will look at it

like that, but at the moment, I

don't see it like that.

don't see it like that.

We are going

to get you dressed for battle.

No

problem. Let's go.

It is the weight

that makes it heavy. That will go

round like that. Let's buckle you

up. This will hopefully protect you

from sword cuts.

Nothing like a

waistcoat! Lovely. I'm not sure

lovely... How did you know it was my

size?

It's a gift. I'm going to go

with Ebacc and breastplate now. This

is going to go over there like that.

You might have to hold on for -- to

me in a minute, so I don't collapse.

For a best-of-7, I might get away

with it, but not the 11s!

Do you

feel comfortable?

I could run the

100 metres in it! 32 waste, is it?

There we go. That's better. Let's

make the helmet fit. It might ruin

your hair a bit. Now that's a look,

isn't it?

What a look. This is

lovely. Beautiful. Look at that.

A

good two-handed sword there.

I'm

strong enough to hold it one-handed.

Go on!

Go on! That's why I'm all padded up.

I think I might keep the hat. I feel

like I've squeezed into a baked bean

tin. I'll be off then! Going for a

walk through town.

It's a good look.

Like a cricketer.

When you take all

that off, is going to be awful.

Like

Edward Scissorhands.

Being the world

champion three times, does that give

you an aura when you go out there?

I

suppose it gives you more of a fear

factor from your opponents when they

play you. I don't feel it gives me

an aura myself. If you go out there

and play well, it feels good, if

not, get back on the practice table.

To win the World Championships again

would be my aim. If I did have any

goals to set, that would be my aim.

would be my aim. If I did have any

goals to set, that would be my aim.

This is a big moment for Ronnie, to

break Stephen Hendry's record. He

will be absolutely delighted when he

reflects on this, because, for the

seventh time, he is Masters

champion. Congratulations.

No

seventh time, he is Masters

champion. Congratulations.

No

disrespect to any other player, but

Ronnie is still the pinnacle of our

sport. He is the one everyone is

aiming for. To play him in a final,

if I could pick anyone, it would be

him.

Is there a bigger respect

between the two of you, because he

has said complimentary things about

you?

I have played him in finals and

beaten him, so hopefully I have his

respect. I can just carry on and

keep doing what I'm doing. If I have

his respect, great, if not, I will

carry on doing what I'm doing.

Do

you only enjoy it if you win, or

would you still want to play beyond

tour if you are competitive?

I would

still play. You enjoy it more if you

are winning than if you are losing.

I still enjoy the practising, and I

still get a buzz when I go to the

tournaments. I am hopefully still at

the pinnacle of my career. I've

never played for the money since I

turned professional. I just want to

try and win as many tournaments as

possible. I've always enjoyed the

game.

game.

Mark Selby, some competitor,

isn't he? When you look at him at

the moment, it's probably a good

thing that Ronnie O'Sullivan is

still around, because any sport, you

want to chase the very best. We

could sit around and discuss all day

long whether Mark Selby all Ronnie

O'Sullivan is the best player on the

circuit.

I think Ronnie is the

barometer. If he wants to beat

anyone in the final, it would

definitely be Ronnie O'Sullivan. To

beat the best in the world in a

final, it is every player's dream.

They want to play against the best

players in the biggest finals.

Ronnie has set the benchmark, just

like Stephen Hendry did for the

likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Conversations we have had with Mark,

in the practice tables and the

studio and out and about, I get the

feeling he is not the type of player

who gets rattled. Do you think it

privately rattles him the fact that

the media focus on Ronnie O'Sullivan

and the fact he is still around,

despite the fact Mark Selby is the

world champion?

I don't think so. He

speaks highly of Ronnie, and has

respect for him. In what sport would

you have the world number one saying

he looks up to Ronnie O'Sullivan? In

another sport, they wouldn't say

that. They would say, I am the world

number one, look at me. That is why

he has had so much success. He is

very grounded and doesn't get

carried away, and just wants to win

trophies.

In other sports there is

the trash talking, which doesn't

happen in snooker.

We need more of

that!

Talking of trash talk, I have

no idea what has happened to snooker

trophies, but when I was watching as

a kid, they were much bigger. What

has happened?

This has been replaced

by Steve Davis, and you will

probably get more chat out of it

than Steve Davis. This is the Irish

Masters trophy. It is a trophy that

Steve has won before.

It is there

because we are going to have a chat

with Steve now and ask him about it.

He is far too modest and doesn't

want to spend too much time talking

about it!

Kvitova tour has been

created for the over 40s. If you are

an ex-snooker player and want to get

into the game, this is a chance for

you. I was brought into play at the

Irish Masters at short notice, and I

accidentally won it. Getting back to

the proper Masters here and how good

a player Mark Selby is, a superb

player. Technique wise, over the

years, we know from when he plays,

he

years, we know from when he plays,

he seems to move his head a lot. It

is not on the shot, but during the

preparation. He gets down and his

head seems to be swaying like this.

An unusual thing to do.

You are taught to keep as still as

possible when playing. Sometimes he

sways a little bit by going short

of. He wants to go shorter

sometimes. But fantastic Key West.

If you are watching from five, six

years ago, a lot of movement

beforehand -- cueist. It is

important to keep as still as

possible on the shot, which is

something I did not do in the 1985

final against Dennis Taylor on the

black and over the years I have been

asked to play that black again but

in the 1998 final against...

I see

where you are going.

We have some

footage of you playing this black.

It was not as close to the pocket as

that.

Fair enough. You are trying to

keep still on the shot.

Of course,

especially on these shots, dead

weight shots. Did it roll off? I

think it did. No, it didn't.

Would

you put the balls in the same

position. The black was over the

pocket. Was it their? Fair enough.

About their? Yes. It was a smelly

shot.

You want me to play it? Try to

keep your head still.

It is a

horrible cue, by the way. Exactly

the same result.

I cannot play that

shot. Unlucky, never mind. Another

ten, 20 years to go.

Back to the studio.

ten, 20 years to go.

Back to the studio.

STUDIO: Before we go back to the

match, we can remind you how we

STUDIO: Before we go back to the

match, we can remind you how we line

up this evening. You will not miss a

shot with the BBC coverage. Mark

Allen and Luca Brecel and highlights

also.

All the coverage on the BBC Sport

website and app. If you are joining

us, this is what you have missed so

far.

us, this is what you have missed so

far. Mark Selby and Mark Williams,

two players who know each other well

and a fantastic start from Mark

Williams with a break of 135 in

frame one. The Alexandra Palace

crowd loving this from Mark

Williams, rolling back the years. A

fantastic reds to set up a break of

89. Mark Selby fired back in frame

three with a break of 17. 14 minutes

and 30 seconds. -- 70. In frame

four, he'd drew level with 37 and 36

breaks, which means we went into the

mid-session interval two apiece.

And here we are, these are the live

pictures. The fans, having coffee or

tea, maybe something stronger on

this Sunday lunchtime, heading back

into their seats. Ken, it is a high

quality contest and this is what you

would expect.

Absolutely. Top

quality first four frames and

important this frame for Mark

Williams to steady the ship and stop

the run from Mark Selby and it will

be interesting to watch the opening

exchanges.

They have played each

other on so many occasions. Let's

hand you back to Stephen Hendry and

Dennis Taylor.

DENNIS TAYLOR: Thank you, Jason.

People are still coming back. A

packed house at the Alexandra

Palace. What a treat, watching for

the first four frames.

the first four frames. Mark

backstage as usual, having a little

sandwich, totally chilled out, as he

always is.

As I said earlier, there is nothing

Mark Selby did in the last two

frames that Mark Williams would not

have been surprised about. He would

have expected a reaction from his

opponent. He would have been

disappointed at missing the yellow

in frame three, because he was

flying at that point.

He may be able to take this red on,

although the angle is not good, no,

he can't, he will play the safety

shot. A little bit straighter, he

could have had a go and got on the

black in such a way he would not

have left anything available.

have left anything available.

There

seems to be a lot of noise in the

arena somewhere.

Not his best. A bit slack, that

safety shot.

REFEREE:

Foul.

What a miss that was.

He needed the red to stay tight,

cushion. He finished up screwing

into the pocket. If he had hit the

red fuller, that would not have

happened. And he underhit that. It

was a tricky red he was faced with.

I think he put everything into the

pot. They are difficult along the

cushions. He forgot to hit the white

hard enough. Should have been beyond

the baulk line.

The fact there is a red either side

of the bunch, the normal escape

route to the side of the reds is not

straightforward and he could leave a

pot on, so he will have to give this

a little bit of thought.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. That was a

misjudgement. He will have it put

back. Mark has blocked the one

cushion skate to the right side of

the reds, which is why he was trying

to go twice across -- one cushion

escape. He still has to be careful.

He could hit the wrong red and leave

a pot on.

He is just saying to the referee he

could not go off two cushions to

clip the red.

clip the red. Just a slight

adjustment was required.

Is that the pink? REFEREE: Foul and

a miss.

He is trying to get to the red just

behind the pink.

Because if he comes off two

cushions, if he hits that red, he

would need the other red, which is

why he is having to be precise to

avoid hitting that one.

This looked better. Yes, well

played.

In fact, there is no way back down

the table for Mark Williams. There

is not a lot available here.

That was all he could do. He just

hand speed tactical advantage to

Mark Selby. -- he handed the

tactical advantage to Mark Selby.

It is very fast flowing action in

the match so far. I expected a lot

more tactical play. Both players

have been playing so well. They got

a chance, that was all they needed

to take the frame. This might be a

more tactical frame now the black is

on the cushion.

That was unlucky to cannon and send

it right over the pocket. It always

can happen. He played the shot well

enough but he could not have

envisaged knocking it over the

pocket.

The first chance for this frame

falls to Mark Selby.

It was a nicely

controlled shot. A touch of drag on

the cue ball to make control easier.

Nicely on the blue.

He may play a cannon into the bunch

to the right of the pink. No.

to the right of the pink. No. Taking

the cue ball away from the pack.

He may be reluctant to play for the

pink. It will go on the black spot,

I think, if he pots it. He is

looking to see if it is available to

the left corner.

It is fascinating to watch different

players how they build their break.

Stephen suggested potting the blue

and the cannon. Quite a few players

would have played that shot. But

Mark is going about it in a slightly

different route. The concern is keep

knocking the ball is in. That is

what it is all about.

I do not think you plan to play this

but he is going into the bunch. And

that is why, because you never

guarantee control. He wanted to be

straight on the pink.

He made that look easy but almost

tight on the cushion. Needed

extremely good cueing.

extremely good cueing. And now he

has the pink in the open. And,

gradually, it is developing into a

decent chance.

That yellow, if it was on its spot,

that is where he would want to hit

the cushion with the cue ball where

the yellow is now so he will have to

play with left-hand side, side

cushion for red to the right corner

so he has played the shot a little

bit awkward. If he screws past the

yellow, he could get too much side.

That is why he played to bring the

cue ball on the right-hand side of

the table and that is good.

It has just finished awkward with

the angle. Straighter would have

been better to screw back off the

cushion for the pink. He can still

do it but it is a more awkward

angle.

I think he is OK.

He hit the last shot really well. It

was quite a good angle on the red.

You could see by the reaction of the

cue ball how well he timed it.

He seems to have moved up a gear,

Mark Selby. Just slowly starting to

dominate this match.

He could not do much in the first

two frames he lost, but since then,

an excellent reply.

I think it hurt him badly losing the

first round of the UK Championship.

He wants to be involved in the

biggest events until the end. I

think he has put in the hours on the

practice table since then.

When you

are reigning world champion and

world number one, those defeats do

not half hurt.

You could see the head movement.

Very slight now offer Mark Selby.

Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry were

talking about five, six years ago,

the movement was more than it is

now. You can see the eyes focused on

the object ball before he delivers

the cue.

For a top snooker player there is

still an incredible amount of

shaking in the head. I bet he does

not even feel it.

51 ahead, 51 on, or will he risk

going into the bunch? If you want to

keep the break going, he will have

to do.

He was unlucky. He made sure of the

blue. He is glancing at the

scoreboard. He knows Mark Williams

now needs a snooker. Unlucky to get

the double-kiss.

One four point snooker needed to tie

at the moment.

Almost achieved his goal. He was

trying to knock the green tight on

the baulk cushion.

That was short of pace. It would

have been a good shot played harder

so this red to make certain of this

fifth frame.

It does not matter about that. Mark

Williams will stay in his seat. He

got off to a flyer, leading 2-0 but

now the champion leading 3-2.

MUSIC.

It has been a fabulous career for

Mark Selby, 13 ranking titles and

winning this great championship on

three occasions. He looks focused

sitting in his seat. So Mark

Williams will be out in this frame

to get back to the way he started

the match. A lot of people did not

get back in after the mid-session

interval. They are just coming back

in. They will not allow them in

while the frame is on. A fabulous

crowd at Alexandra Palace. And

probably a lot of people here for

the first time and they will enjoy

the atmosphere. And they are saying

and absolutely cracking match. It is

still difficult to pick a winner but

you would have to say, Stephen, Mark

Selby, as you mentioned, he has

moved up a gear.

He seems to be

slowly stamping his authority on the

match. Mark Williams has not done

too much wrong but a couple of Slack

safety shots. The double in the

previous frame was risky.

I think

these people must have been out

watching you play that black! It was

unfair to make you recreate that.

One of the great finals I

commentated on, Stephen.

I managed

to miss it in the same way. I think

the tables run-off, definitely.

We are almost ready. A few more

spectators getting back into their

seats.

seats. Both players patiently

waiting. It is quite unusual for

this to happen.

It is not good, to

be fair. Both players will be

frustrated, especially Mark Selby

because he has the upper hand and

will want to keep up the momentum. I

think, finally, we have everyone in.

Not quite in their seats yet.

Not quite in their seats yet. But a

fantastic audience on the first

Sunday of the tournament, Dennis.

And then it is deathly quiet as Mark

Selby breaks off. They do not mind a

bit of noise, as long as it is not

on the shot.

He played the more aggressive safety

shot and a thick contact to open the

red clover lot but he might have

left one to the left middle. -- to

open the reds up. Pretty much no

idea where the cue ball is going. He

will settle for vat.

will settle for vat.

-- for vat. It

has turned out to be an amazing

safety shot. As Stephen said, he had

no idea what was happening with the

cue ball but he had a result. The

way Mark Selby is playing, and

little bit of good fortune coming at

the right time for Mark Williams.

That read is going very close to the

corner pocket. It is in!

I think he thought the red would

probably cannoned into the blue, or

maybe the yellow. It kept on going.

Good thing it did drop in, because

it could have left mark in with a

chance. He could have got through to

that red. Trying to keep the cue

ball as tight on the baulk cushion

as possible.

Left a tempter to the far right

corner.

Just wondering if that is the one he

could be tempted with. But there

might be another to the right middle

pocket, if it passes the reds. Could

play it in such a way that he

finishes on the black. I think that

red mustard pot.

You're right,

Dennis, that's the shot.

It's there.

It is a lot easier when you know

you're not leaving a lot, but still,

a great pot.

All of the sudden, he's

turned this into a great

opportunity.

Definitely starting to take a hold

of this match, Mark Selby.

As Steve Davis mentioned at the

start of the match, the table seems

to be very, very quick. That is how

the players prefer it. That last

shot that he played, he timed it so

well.

When you are playing well, these

vast tables are terrific to play on.

When you are struggling a little

bit, it's so easy to run out of

position. It has been such an

entertaining match so far. Mark

Williams with breaks of 135 and 89,

and then Mark Selby with two 70

breaks. Could be a few more here.

It's amazing. Just one point the

difference, in total points scored.

A little fly on the white. I think

it's gone. You could see it, just

crawling along the white there. It

is a little and! A baby and.

I think that's a first.

Didn't hit that one as well as he

would have liked. A slightly heavy

contact, but didn't get the action

at all on the cue ball. A little bit

of a jump on the black. Maybe that's

what caused the lack of pace.

He's just a bit in between both

shots here. The red that he looked

at first, to the right middle, is

quite a path for the cue ball to

miss the yellow.

I think he thought he was going to

get a full ball cannon on the yellow

to drop on a baulk colour, and I

think he took his eye off the ball.

That red won't pass the other red

into the middle pocket. The brown's

blocking the path through to the

red.

What a shot!

Probably have to say one of the best

in the business at that type of

shot. Just dropping it in.

shot. Just dropping it in.

Yes,

people used to always say, he was

one of the best single ball Potter.

I don't really know what that means,

but it was certainly a Mark Williams

special, when he dropped it in dead

weight. The sort of shot when you

are sat in the chair, like Mark

Selby, you don't think he's going to

go for it. Has he put himself in a

bit of bother here? He was a wee bit

unlucky that cannon. He's opened all

the game up,

and it's finished a bit awkward for

him. Probably hit that red a bit

fuller than he wanted. Still a bit

unlucky not to be nicely on an easy

read. This one is an awkward one.

Might have to play it with a trace

of side to make the potting angle.

I think, in practice, he probably

would have already been downplaying

that red with a touch of right-hand

side to square up the angle.

Now, what a chance. A fantastic

opening red.

Got a bit of a bounce there. He sort

of stopped in his tracks when he was

walking around the table.

walking around the table.

That

doesn't look as if it pots from that

angle.

An important visit to the table,

this is, for Mark Williams. He has

pretty much sat out for three

frames. Selby started to dominate

the match. This is a big moment.

He was back looking at those two

reds. It looks a bit tight, but

maybe the back one can go. Still got

two easy reds to go for here. Not a

bad choice of shot there. Brilliant

shot. Terrific thinking there,

because he knew he was bound to be

on a read. And he thought it was

very, very tight and that was going

to cause him a problem. No problem,

but they still need potting.

When

you talk about top players having a

great touch, that cannon was an

excellent example. The pacey played

it at, he hit the red exactly as he

wanted, half ball.

The yellow is obviously the only

problem you could see for Mark

Williams winning the frame at this

visit. Good idea to play the pink

here.

It's one of those he can play to

drop in behind the yellow, rather

than try to move it.

Just dropped in behind it. It's

perfect. He's played it really well.

Oh!

From the opening long read that he

dropped in dead weight, this has

been a tremendous response to Mark

Williams -- from Mark Williams to

losing three frames in a row.

That

is the reason he was one of the top

players in the game for so long. To

sit out for virtually to frames...

And produce this, is absolutely

superb.

Great snooker, coming just at the

right time. Mark Selby was getting

hold of this match, but Mark

Williams now all square.

STUDIO: This

Williams now all square.

STUDIO: This is utterly brilliant

from these two.

It's great. First

day, and a cracking match. From that

red that Mark Williams seemed to

casually not in. When you are

playing under pressure and you roll

that Reading, you've got to keep

your body and head as still as

possible. He is such a great player

in that department.

He came round to

have a look. Look where the cue ball

is. He's perfect on the black, but

he's not going to leave anything

unless the red jangles in the

pocket. A clever shot. But he had to

get it, and fully committed to it.

The way he went about winning the

frame from that position... After

being frozen out, that shows the

mark of a great champion.

And that

thing about keeping your head still.

It's not just when you hit the ball.

For club players, train yourself to

stay down on the shot long after the

ball has gone. That is the way to

play and practice. Stay down on the

shot, even though the cue ball has

left the cue. Stay there a bit

longer, and it beds in the fact that

your technique is strong enough that

your body will not move a muscle.

That is your best chance of keeping

your cue online.

A great piece of

analysis.

analysis. We saw him they're staying

down. Mark stayed down before the

cue ball hits the red.

You try and

exaggerate. You stay still, give the

cue enough chance of keeping as

still as possible. It's great for

any amateur watching. Once you have

hit the ball, stay down on it.

Even

if you miss it. It's good training.

Can I ask you about Mark Williams?

For all he has achieved in the game,

when we arrive at these tournaments

and we talk about him, he flattered

to deceive. But today there is

something different about him.

He is

one of the greats of the game, and

under pressure he is great. It's

good to see

under pressure he is great. It's

good to see him back centrestage,

because as a player, he adds a lot

to a tournament.

COMMENTATOR:

Dennis, you mentioned,

in a 6-5 last year, and I wouldn't

bet against another one here, the

way the match is going now. I must

admit, I thought Mark Selby was

possibly starting to pull away, but

that clearance from Mark Williams

shows he's back in this match.

That little tickle on the black

bear. He dropped his shoulders when

he potted the red.

What a flick that was. It looked, as

you said, as if he was going to be

out of position, and then all of a

sudden, watch this. Delightful.

He's got an angle on the blue to go

into the bunch. Is there a plant to

the left corner, with those reds? It

is an option, but I think the angle

he has on the blue...

A little bit surprised he isn't

playing the blue into the bunch.

Maybe he feels there is a bit too

much angle.

I'm not absolutely dead straight,

but because he has a distance

between the two reds... If he hit it

absolutely square on, that red is

going to the left of the park-macro.

So if he plays that first red as if

he is going to the left of the

pocket... And now, a key shot coming

up, brown and then into the bunch.

Plenty of pace. How is your luck? It

might be OK.

Couldn't have played it any better.

He can pot that red, but he's got to

be a bit careful, because of that

red then near the black. The brown,

potted with lots of left-hand side.

Just got to be a wee bit careful

here. Decided to go up.

here. Decided to go up. Blue all

baulk colour, because of that red to

the right of the black.

Didn't quite get into the cue ball

enough to be straight on this read

to the right corner. And drop on the

black.

I don't know if he has the angle to

drop the red in. There is a red to

the left to just brush off. Looks to

me as if he's got too much angle.

Played a top spin shot. I think he

played the shop I mentioned, but...

REFEREE:

Green ball.

The brown is preventing him from

hitting a red to get back down the

table. And the one that's near the

pink, he can only see it on one

side, so not a lot of use.

Had to be careful with that is and

try and get it thin. Not that thin!

REFEREE:

Frau and this. -- foul and

a miss.

Needs the thinnest of

contacts to stop the red from coming

off the cushion and double-kissing

the white. If he hits it on the sick

side, the White could go in to the

red on the right of the black. I

don't think he could hit this red,

surely?

REFEREE:

I'm definitely sure you can

hit it.

hit it. Mark?

When you are a player,