First Round: Mark Selby v Mark Williams Masters Snooker


First Round: Mark Selby v Mark Williams

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Transcript


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Good afternoon and welcome to

Alexandra Palace.

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A fortnight ago, the PDC darts final

ended here at this famous old venue,

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with Phil Taylor signing off after a

glittering career. Now snooker's

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Masters tournament takes centre

stage, and we focus on Mark William,

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who beat snooker's greatest ever

player in the most dramatic finals

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we've ever seen at the Masters, 20

years ago.

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COMMENTATOR: You cannot get any

closer!

This is incredible again.

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Mark thought he had the black, but

the one that Stephen is left with,

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the white close to the side cushion,

he is absolutely dead straight on

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the black. This is not an easy shot.

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Is that in! It will be this time,

I'm sure. The lead has got away from

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Stephen Hendry. Nothing is easy,

Dennis, is it?

It wasn't the easiest

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of blacks. It was absolutely

straight on. He had to roll it.

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Tremendous joy! Really deserved for

young Mark Williams from Wales. He's

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never been in front of this final

against the world number one until

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the last frame. He's had a

tremendous week. He will is the 1998

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Masters champion.

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20 years on from that final, Mark

Williams has won 19 ranking titles,

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but today comes up against the world

number one, a man who has won the

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Masters three times, the first

coming ten years ago.

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What a way to win! Mark Selby equals

the highest break, a break of 144.

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He wins the 2008 Masters

championship. Unbelievable!

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championship. Unbelievable!

He may

attempt the double to clinch this

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year's Masters. It's right in the

middle of the pocket!

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middle of the pocket! Ronnie comes

forward and shakes the hand of Mark

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Selby. It has been a remarkable

final. It has been a remarkable

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comeback from the Jester from

Leicester. He was 9-6 down, and he

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won four frames in a row, and takes

the Masters for the second time.

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He is enjoying every pot now! And

why not finish off with a trick

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shot?

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shot? Why not? He wants to pot the

black as well. Well played, Mark

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Selby, and well played, Neil

Robertson. But in this final, Mark

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Selby done good. He's won three

Masters titles now, and he is the

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2017 Masters champion.

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Masters titles now, and he is the

2017 Masters champion.

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Well played. Good afternoon to you

and welcome to Alexandra Palace, and

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Day one of the 2018 Masters. The

best players in the world. The top

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16 are here, and what a week we have

ahead of us. This is how they line

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up. The reigning champion, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, plays 2011 runner-up

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Marco Fu.

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Marco Fu. Mark Allen takes on Luca

Brecel, making his Masters debut.

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Anthony McGill also making his first

appearance. 2011 winner, Ding

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Junhui, plays Ryan Day, back at the

Masters. 2015 champion Shaun Murphy

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up against Ali Carter. Barry

Hawkins, runner-up in 2016, takes on

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Kyren Wilson. And world number one

Mark Selby takes on Mark Williams

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today. It is going to be a special

match to kick off this year. Good

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afternoon to Ken Doherty and Steve

Davis. There's something very

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special about turning up at

Alexandra Palace, isn't there?

You

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have to earn your place. It is a bun

fight now to get the spaces in this

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event, such is the standard of the

players. The Masters has always been

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a flagship event, but to think that

some people say that the sport is

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struggling a bit. Day one, the venue

is packed.

The Crucible is very

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special to us, as is York, but there

is something different about walking

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up the steps here at Alexandra

Palace. There is a real buzz in the

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crowd today.

There always is. It is

steeped in great history and

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nostalgia. The tournament is only

second to the World Championships.

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You have the best players in the

world, the top 16 in the world, and

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every match could grace any final.

You are on TV, only one table, you

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are centre stage. One of the best

tournaments.

And what a start we

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have with these two today.

Proven

winners in this event. I think Mark

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Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan are the

two players who have made this

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tournament their own in recent

years. When it comes to a one-table

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set-up, it seems to sort the men out

from the boys. Some of the players

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like to get through on the outside

tables, because they are used to

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that. But there is no hiding place

out there. Day one, round one, you

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have to produce the best.

Can Mark

Williams pull off the odd shock?

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Absolutely. He's playing some of the

best snooker he has ever played. One

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of the most consistent players on

the circuit. He has won here, one

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the World Championship and the UK.

He's going to give a tough match.

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But he has changed. Look how young

he looked in that CT! He looks

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different.

Testament to Mark

Williams, competing at the age of

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42. Doing very well recently as

well. Even though Mark Selby is the

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favourite, the start is important.

You want to get off to a good start.

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Arguably, Mark Selby... You might

say Mark Williams wants to get off

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to a better start.

Mark Williams has

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a better form player.

Although Selby

has had a good season. I am going to

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wish Stephen Hendry happy New Year,

but I am not expecting a return

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greeting, when I ask in what his

memories are of that final against

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Mark Williams!

I have won this thing

six times, but I am almost more

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famous for missing that black! It

was one of those matches. I had

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chances to win it. But that black

ball, just off straight, rolling it

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in dead weight, is a tough shot.

Is

it

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it hard to watch back?

Yes. That is

all you see these days, Mark

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Williams' name, and the black ball

underneath it.

How special is this

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tournament for snooker players?

This

was number two on my wish list every

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season after the World Championship.

Mark Selby will want to prove why he

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is world number one this week.

A

sparkling opening match, a great

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match to kick off the tournament.

Absolutely. Two players who can win

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ugly. They don't mind the scrappy

games, but fantastic tactical

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brains. Mark Williams has won

tournaments. He will need to win

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more frames in one visit and score

heavier to give himself a chance

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today.

Thank you. Enjoy your week

here

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today.

Thank you. Enjoy your week

here at Alexandra Palace. Let's see

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how these two matchup.

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how these two matchup. They have

been playing each other for years.

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Selby won this meeting last year. He

has beaten the Welshman twice at the

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Masters. We are all set for a

cracking match here. It is about to

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get under way. Mr Dennis Taylor in

the hot seat.

A very good afternoon

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and a warm welcome to be 2018

Dafabet Masters. And what a match we

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have got lined up for you this

afternoon!

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Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

into the arena, a player who has won

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the Masters title on two occasions.

Twice the world champion, the

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reigning Northern Ireland open

champion, from South Wales, Mark

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Williams!

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MUSIC: Delilah by Tom Jones.

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And Mark's opponent this afternoon,

a player who has won the Masters on

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three occasions. He's been world

champion three times. He is the

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reigning world professional snooker

champion, Mark Selby!

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STUDIO: Such a prestigious

tournament in a truly wonderful

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venue, one of the leading sporting

championships of the year. Live on

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the BBC all year. A very warm

welcome to you, and a warm welcome

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to our commentary team, Stephen

Hendry, and Dennis, who is running

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up the stairs!

Thanks. An intriguing

first match of this Masters.

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Mark Williams breaks off. He would

like to have that one again! He will

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be nervous today, Mark Williams.

He's not been in this event for a

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while. Doubting -- not doubting his

pedigree in the game. Catches the

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read a little bit thin.

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Not bad pot, but he's faced with a

tricky black, Mark Selby.

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I think Mark Selby today... Normally

he doesn't mind playing scrappy

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frames. He's got the perfect match

temperament. I think today he will

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not want to get involved in that

against Mark Williams. A long way

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off the black.

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REFEREE:

Foul.

That was never the

natural angle to go in off this.

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Obviously a brand-new cloth. Very

slippery.

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Stephen mentioned before play

commenced, you can see some

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fantastic tactical battles between

these players. They are excellent

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safety players.

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Well, he's pushed a red towards the

pocket, but I think the Greens will

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be covering that one, so that makes

it very difficult for Mark to get a

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good cue ball here. He might just

roll into these. It is a very quick

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table, and I think that is going to

reach.

0:16:010:16:07

reach. Couldn't risk taking the cue

ball back down the table because of

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that red near the left corner. Bit

of a stalemate now.

I think today,

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Dennis, in terms of playing

containing safeties, you couldn't

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get better players for that part of

the game than these two. This has

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already got the makings of, well...

Either AV rack or a very long

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exchange.

It is a touching ball. I

think they are going to have a

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

getting out of that stalemate. Was

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that touching ball? Mark Selby, when

he agreed with Mark Williams, I

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don't think he knew it was a

touching ball. With a touching ball,

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he could have put the ball into an

awkward spot.

I think that is a

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pretty good decision, but a

surprising one, with it being

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touching. A fabulous crowd in this

afternoon. The atmosphere is

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incredible. Standing in for Rob

Walker, who is doing the final of

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the darts.

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What a buzz to stand in front of

this crowd.

This venue, the

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Alexandra Palace, has become

synonymous with this tournament now.

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It's got an identity here. Not quite

the old Wembley conference Centre,

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but pretty close.

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REFEREE:

First frame. Mark Williams

to break.

0:18:040:18:13

Mark Williams, then, breaks up for

the second time in this opening

0:18:140:18:20

frame of this first 211. It's a

pretty good break of shot.

His first

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attempt, he caught the pack weighed

too thin. That was a lot better. A

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thicker contact on the fifth of red

of the triangle.

0:18:340:18:44

What you don't see very often from

these two players is very aggressive

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safety shots, splitting the reds

open. They like to keep it quite

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tight.

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That was well negotiated through the

gap. Played it at a nice pace as

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well. Left-hand side, stocked the

cue ball short. A decent chance,

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this, with the open reds.

0:19:440:19:54

An excellent positional shot.

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He floats the ball is in, Mark

Williams. A lot of the top players

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prefer to play with a bit more pace,

stunt in. Mark Williams drops so

0:20:090:20:16

many in dead weight.

0:20:160:20:20

A chance to go into the bunch, if he

so wishes, but there's two or three

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loose reds. A nice angle on the

black. Then possibly, Mark Williams

0:21:140:21:24

wouldn't go into the reds as soon as

some of the other players. The first

0:21:240:21:32

frame very important, so has to get

a good start in this match.

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May have to use a touch of left-hand

side.

0:21:580:22:08

Nice to see Mark's wife and son

here.

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here. Jo nearly back to her good old

self. She is a delightful lady. An

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absolute gem. So is Keenan as well.

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Mark Selby will be sitting in his

seat now, thinking he should have

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played that touching ball, and tried

to put Mark in a bit of trouble.

I

0:22:550:23:00

think he definitely would have

played the shock-macro if he knew it

0:23:000:23:04

was a touching ball. But I think the

players had agreed beforehand.

0:23:040:23:14

players had agreed beforehand. Mark

Williams obviously played for the

0:23:140:23:16

red to the left middle. The first

tricky shot of the break coming up.

0:23:160:23:23

If he can reach it, I think he can

pot this and just stand past the

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pink, and pot of the cushion for the

black. A very good shot.

0:23:300:23:41

Worth another look at that one. He

is perfect on the black to get onto

0:23:410:23:47

the red that's just do the right of

the little bunch there. A slight

0:23:470:23:53

angle to work with. He's played to

leave onto the middle pocket.

That

0:23:530:24:05

might have been a little bit of

adrenaline. He got into that cue

0:24:050:24:10

ball far too much. It's there. Great

shot. Exactly what he would have

0:24:100:24:18

wanted.

0:24:180:24:26

He made that look very easy. That

was a tough shot he took on there.

0:24:270:24:33

Just finished a little straight on

the black this time.

0:24:330:24:44

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

that beautifully.

0:24:440:24:51

that beautifully. What a start for

the Welsh Potting Machine. That's

0:24:520:24:54

his nickname.

0:24:540:25:03

his nickname.

I had a few different

nicknames for him, but I don't think

0:25:030:25:06

I can say what they are!

0:25:060:25:15

U2 are still at it, winding each

other up. You've done it throughout

0:25:150:25:20

your whole careers.

0:25:200:25:28

Yes, when he was giving it to me, I

said I would get my own back up here

0:25:340:25:41

in the commentary box. But so far,

I've not been able to. This has been

0:25:410:25:47

a fantastic start.

0:25:470:25:55

Looking at a player here who's made

404 centuries in his professional

0:26:080:26:14

career. Made 21 this season, 26 last

season. Great to see Mark Williams

0:26:140:26:22

back where he belongs, world ranked

number ten at the moment.

0:26:220:26:33

Another good shot.

0:26:390:26:48

Makes the century. Absolutely

brilliant from Mark Williams.

0:26:530:26:59

brilliant from Mark Williams. The

first century in this year's Dafabet

0:27:010:27:05

masters. And that's a mark Williams

special. Never seen another player

0:27:050:27:11

able to do that.

0:27:110:27:21

Mark Selby had said before the match

that if there was one player he

0:27:390:27:46

wanted to avoid in the draw, it was

Mark Williams. And you can see why.

0:27:460:27:52

Another shot played under Ron. It's

remarkable how he can do that, and

0:27:520:27:58

screw the ball, and judge the weight

of the cueing like that.

It has been

0:27:580:28:05

a phenomenal break.

0:28:050:28:11

a phenomenal break. Before the

re-rack, it looked like it was going

0:28:110:28:14

to be a really scrappy first frame.

But this has been fantastic.

0:28:140:28:25

Oh, a kick on the black. What a

shame. After the re-rack, he had one

0:28:380:28:48

chance, and he made that magnificent

break. He leaves 1-0.

0:28:480:28:55

STUDIO: I promised you before this

programme that we were in for some

0:28:550:28:59

cracking snooker, but what a

0:28:590:29:00

programme that we were in for some

cracking snooker, but what a start

0:29:000:29:01

by Mark Williams. Nothing better

than to see him in full flow.

A

0:29:010:29:07

flawless start. They both looked a

bit edgy before the re-rack, but

0:29:070:29:13

that start was superb. I'm lucky to

get a kick on the black, otherwise

0:29:130:29:16

it would have been marvellous. A

good target to set for the rest of

0:29:160:29:20

the lads.

We know Mark Williams has

great pedigree within the game, and

0:29:200:29:25

in his pomp and prime you would have

expected a start like that. Since

0:29:250:29:30

then, things haven't gone so well,

but he's back in the top 16.

0:29:300:29:35

Something like that is a great

confidence booster, the fact you can

0:29:350:29:48

do it on centre stage. The table

looks lightning fast. Expect players

0:29:480:29:51

to overhit shots, overscrew, and

then these thin shots, they will

0:29:510:29:53

probably hit a few of those. The

cushions look very fast as well.

And

0:29:530:29:58

just the manner he dealt with the

break, floating around the table.

0:29:580:30:02

Looked like he was in a snooker

club, hitting a few balls for sleep

0:30:020:30:07

when you talk about great talents in

the game and natural ability,

0:30:070:30:11

sometimes Mark Williams would be

like that. He's got such great

0:30:110:30:16

ability and talent, not just the

flair, but the ability he's got.

0:30:160:30:21

What a fantastic start. Mark

Williams leads Mark Selby 1-0.

0:30:210:30:34

On the point of the table is

lightning fast, it's suits the way

0:30:450:30:50

Mark Williams plays.

He has a great

touch.

0:30:500:30:59

touch. Never see him overhit, in

terms of swinging at anything with

0:30:590:31:03

his cue. Oh, he got away with that.

Very lucky.

0:31:030:31:14

Very lucky.

Mark had tapped the

table for the shot. And Mark Selby

0:31:140:31:22

came to the table and tapped. You

can see Mark, good shot. Smiles all

0:31:220:31:30

around.

0:31:300:31:32

He did not go for the pot. No value

because the red next to the black is

0:31:510:32:00

blocking it. There was no value. He

almost got the kiss, but he was

0:32:000:32:08

safe.

0:32:080:32:13

I like this shot. That has cleared

the black. He is thinking

0:32:180:32:29

positively. Why would he not, after

the opening frame?

0:32:290:32:39

He does not have the same escape

route if he goes up past the yellow.

0:33:420:33:47

He could leave a red to the right

middle pocket, which is why he is

0:33:470:33:53

making sure he covers that red if he

plays that shot. He does not like

0:33:530:34:00

it.

0:34:000:34:00

Just a little bit of an awkward

frame with the way the two reds are

0:34:090:34:14

either side of the blue.

0:34:140:34:23

You will not see many mistakes made

with these players in this situation

0:34:500:34:55

will stop they both have all of the

patients in the world. They will

0:34:550:34:58

just keep finding good safety shots.

I think there will be very few

0:34:580:35:05

unforced errors today in the safety

Department.

0:35:050:35:08

Very unlucky. He picked one out. It

was very unfortunate indeed. To

0:35:180:35:27

knock the yellow in.

0:35:270:35:35

At least the penalty shot has not

left Mark Selby with a chance at a

0:35:360:35:41

red. But a chance to get a telling

safety shot. Moving the cue along

0:35:410:35:52

the cushion, trying to pick the spot

he would like to leave the cue ball.

0:35:520:36:03

And it was pretty clever, because he

knocked the other red away from the

0:36:110:36:17

middle pocket, the one that was

pottable. That was a clever little

0:36:170:36:20

shot.

0:36:200:36:29

We can look at the way Mark played

this. Look at this. The cannon on

0:36:290:36:37

the red. Very clever.

0:36:370:36:44

It is terrific to watch the high

breaks going in but also

0:38:120:38:18

entertaining to watch a good

tactical rattle to see who will make

0:38:180:38:22

the first mistake.

0:38:220:38:27

Just one of those frames where there

are three reds at the other end of

0:38:270:38:31

the table.

0:38:310:38:37

And what an effort. What an effort

that is.

0:38:370:38:46

that is. He screwed back a little

bit further than he wanted but the

0:38:480:38:52

in-off is not on because there is a

red over the middle pocket and he

0:38:520:38:59

can roll that. I said the in-off was

not on, the red near the middle

0:38:590:39:04

pocket, but it has worked out

perfectly. He almost knocked it in

0:39:040:39:08

the pocket.

0:39:080:39:14

He knew he could not go in-off. But

he almost planted the red in the

0:39:140:39:20

pocket.

0:39:200:39:27

And he is in first in the second

frame. Can he continue where he left

0:39:270:39:33

off in the opening frame?

It was

going to take something special to

0:39:330:39:42

end the safety exchange because both

players were playing high-quality,

0:39:420:39:45

tactical stuff.

0:39:450:39:51

tactical stuff. Obviously playing

this with an element of safety. He

0:39:510:39:57

would have left Mark Selby a similar

shot, should he have missed that. If

0:39:570:40:03

he continues the form of the

previous frame, this should be the

0:40:030:40:07

second frame over, the way the reds

are. He looks in control, composed,

0:40:070:40:13

focused. He is cueing beautifully.

0:40:130:40:24

The two reds touching, he may flick

one to the left.

0:41:220:41:30

Can he get through to the red? It is

tight. He played for the other one

0:41:550:42:02

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

that will go through the gap. He

0:42:020:42:08

would like the red to the right,

rather than that. He can play for

0:42:080:42:15

the blue if he feels he will cannon

the red on the run through. I think

0:42:150:42:20

winning the Northern Ireland Open in

November has given Mark Williams a

0:42:200:42:27

boost. His first ranking title in a

couple of seasons. He lost in the UK

0:42:270:42:36

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

trouble in that.

0:42:360:42:50

One more good shot here. It will

give him a great chance to secure

0:43:060:43:11

this second frame, but it is not

perfect.

0:43:110:43:15

It needed to pull up and it did.

0:43:280:43:36

What I thought was stopping him from

being a competitor as far as winning

0:43:430:43:47

majors was not winning enough frames

in one visit, not scoring heavily

0:43:470:43:53

enough. But that has been put to bed

this afternoon. An awesome start.

0:43:530:44:05

I think he is getting a great buzz

out of the terrific crowd this

0:44:100:44:17

afternoon. It is really helping him.

0:44:170:44:19

It is all about the red on the left

side of the table and being a

0:44:340:44:39

left-hander, it might not cause a

problem for the second century. He

0:44:390:44:44

can drop in behind it, or he can

move it. Being a left-hander, it is

0:44:440:44:50

how he feels. Playing to dropping

behind.

0:44:500:44:55

What a shame. Not back-to-back

centuries. But as Stephen said, he

0:45:100:45:15

got one chance and that was all that

was needed.

0:45:150:45:21

got one chance and that was all that

was needed. He now leads 2-0.

0:45:210:45:24

STUDIO: What is most impressive is

Mark Williams looks comfortable.

The

0:45:240:45:28

cue ball is on a string and he is

potting fantastic balls,

0:45:280:45:34

cue ball is on a string and he is

potting fantastic balls, a great red

0:45:340:45:35

to the middle and knocks in the

yellow. Look at this, very hard to

0:45:350:45:39

control. It set him on his way.

The

black was not too shabby. You cannot

0:45:390:45:47

underestimate how good a start this

is when all eyes are on view as a

0:45:470:45:50

player.

0:45:500:45:51

is when all eyes are on view as a

player. If the first frame had

0:45:510:45:55

unfolded with Mark Williams making a

bad break off and ball is going

0:45:550:46:01

scrappy, no way would this have

happened so a strange fluke that it

0:46:010:46:07

was restarted and suddenly Mark

Williams had a couple of shots to

0:46:070:46:10

get his ongoing and Mark Selby on

the back foot, which has happened to

0:46:100:46:14

Mark recently. It is tough as world

number one sometimes.

We have to

0:46:140:46:20

bear in mind, Mark was disappointed

to crash out of the UK Championship.

0:46:200:46:26

He had trouble with the tip. His

wife was ill, when he was in York,

0:46:260:46:32

but he should have won that match.

It came off the back of winning the

0:46:320:46:39

northern Ireland and going to then

play in York, tiredness might have

0:46:390:46:43

kicked in. He wanted to get home to

his wife, who had not been well, so

0:46:430:46:48

many factors involved. For Mark

Williams, he is the form player and

0:46:480:46:54

Mark Selby needs to start potting

balls quickly.

Mark Selby indeed has

0:46:540:47:00

a game on his hands.

0:47:000:47:06

Mark Selby has not had a pot to go

at. We had one before the re-rack in

0:47:340:47:40

the opening frame, but he has not

had a chance since.

0:47:400:47:44

What a way to start the match, a

break of 135.

0:47:520:47:59

Just a bit of distraction in his

eyeline. You could see the referee

0:48:180:48:25

holding up his hand. It could be a

photographer or someone in the

0:48:250:48:29

background.

0:48:290:48:37

The referee from Belgium. One of the

top referees and has been for many

0:48:370:48:41

years. He works in a hospital and

has time off for his referee duties.

0:48:410:48:51

What a fluke.

0:48:520:48:54

Awkward bridging. He caught the red

to thick and then he got the fluke

0:49:020:49:12

on the plant.

0:49:120:49:13

I am not sure... The black will not

go in the right corner and the red

0:49:160:49:23

might be blocking it from the left.

The pink is available.

0:49:230:49:27

It will not go in that pocket and

certainly not the other, so this is

0:49:420:49:47

not a good chance for Mark Williams

just yet. What a body blow if he

0:49:470:49:54

could knock a sizeable break in

after that fluke.

0:49:540:50:05

It was too far for the blue. I think

it will be a red to the right

0:50:260:50:39

corner. One of the reds above the

black. So, the first piece of bad

0:50:390:50:49

cueing that Mark Williams has put

into this match. There was a lot of

0:50:490:50:52

movement.

I do not think it will

cost him too many points, the fact

0:50:520:51:00

he missed the yellow, he did not get

the cue ball anywhere near he

0:51:000:51:05

wanted. They red will pot between

the pink and black, but there is no

0:51:050:51:12

colour available, so there is no

value in it. That is why he is not

0:51:120:51:16

even entertaining the pot.

0:51:160:51:18

He could have played that better.

0:51:220:51:28

Mark's target will be to get the

white somewhere near the yellow and

0:51:300:51:34

he might be able to take a shot to

nothing on. The red may pot into the

0:51:340:51:39

right corner.

0:51:390:51:47

It all depends on the angle he has

on the brown as to whether he can

0:51:530:51:57

get up to the reds. He has the angle

to get up to the red Mark Selby had

0:51:570:52:07

available, but it was no use to him

because there was no colour

0:52:070:52:10

available.

0:52:100:52:16

That was well played. He still has a

lot of work to do.

0:52:170:52:27

The red closest to the black

cushion, he played to finish lower

0:52:270:52:32

because he could have possibly

developed the black and flick the

0:52:320:52:38

red away to the right. If you place

this to the right corner, he is

0:52:380:52:45

trusting to luck with the position.

He gets top spin on the cue ball,

0:52:450:52:53

and he would be unlucky to not be on

anything. Well, he played that well.

0:52:530:53:01

The cue ball is going to the

cushion, but that was pretty well

0:53:010:53:06

controlled. The gap he finds.

0:53:060:53:08

It was not easy, tucked up on the

cushion, so the first half chance

0:53:210:53:26

falls to Mark Selby. When you are

tight on the cushion at that angle,

0:53:260:53:30

they are never easy. It is not a

good chance for Mark Selby. The

0:53:300:53:41

black is out, the pink is awkward,

the blue is off its spot.

He is

0:53:410:53:46

looking at the red to the right

corner. I think the pink is

0:53:460:53:51

available to the left middle.

0:53:510:53:58

At the moment it is a half chance.

Mark Selby will not see it that way.

0:54:150:54:23

He will look at it as an opportunity

to get his first frame on the board.

0:54:230:54:31

The black is tied up, but everything

else is pretty well situated.

0:54:310:54:36

With only the pink to play for,

pinpoint accuracy is required with

0:55:320:55:37

the position every shot.

0:55:370:55:45

He could've done with a good two,

more inches to make this pink

0:56:470:56:57

He could've done with a good two,

more inches to make this pink. He

0:56:570:57:01

could still hold for one of those to

the left corner.

0:57:010:57:04

It could have gone wrong.

0:57:180:57:26

As long as he is not dead straight

on the blue he is OK and he has a

0:57:380:57:44

slight angle to work with.

0:57:440:57:51

There are still a couple more reds

available into the left corner

0:58:030:58:06

pocket.

0:58:060:58:10

He is doing what Mark Selby does

well indeed, when his back is

0:58:100:58:17

against the wall, he produces his

best, usually.

0:58:170:58:21

The red just above the black and

cannon the other one away and leave

0:58:310:58:37

himself on the black. Would he be

too high, possibly?

0:58:370:58:47

He ran slightly out of position. We

saw Mark's wife Vikki watching on.

0:58:490:59:01

She knows he is faced with a tricky

shot.

0:59:010:59:09

shot. I think he took the risk out

of covering the black as Stephen

0:59:090:59:15

suggested and that is why it went

slightly wrong. He played a good

0:59:150:59:18

recovery shot. That is a pretty good

recovery shot if it keeps coming.

0:59:180:59:32

It was a natural angle on the blue

to drop on the reds but he still

0:59:340:59:38

have to play it, and he played it

well. He has turned this half chance

0:59:380:59:46

into a frame-winning visit, it looks

like. He needed it.

0:59:460:59:51

Just this red needed to leave Mark

Williams at the

1:00:001:00:10

Williams at the snookers required

stage. What a cracking match we have

1:00:101:00:13

on our hands here. One mistake and

the frame is over, at the moment.

1:00:131:00:24

Frame over. Can he flew the green?

1:01:261:01:34

Just the one mistake from Mark

Williams, the miss of the yellow,

1:01:341:01:42

which was all Mark Selby needed.

1:01:421:01:48

Williams, the miss of the yellow,

which was all Mark Selby needed.

1:01:481:01:49

STUDIO: Mark Selby comes firing out

of his corner. That is the beauty of

1:01:491:01:54

the Masters tournament, especially

when you have best of 11 matches.

1:01:541:01:57

You might be 2-0 in front, but all

you need is to take your eye off the

1:01:571:02:03

ball, and your opponent is back in

it.

That was a great frame. To get

1:02:031:02:08

off to a good run was an important

thing to do in that break. He knows

1:02:081:02:14

the significance of that, as great

champions do, and he settled down

1:02:141:02:18

quite

1:02:181:02:28

well, considering he hadn't hit a

ball in the first two frames.

Just

1:02:311:02:34

what he needed. Quite a few balls.

That's what great champions do. They

1:02:341:02:36

have the confidence, when a chance

comes their way, that they are going

1:02:361:02:39

to take it. Mark Williams will be

aware that if he goes two or three

1:02:391:02:42

frames, Mark Selby never gives up.

He has a history of flooring match

1:02:421:02:47

back when he's been so far behind.

When you are playing a great player,

1:02:471:02:55

you have to keep on top of them all

the time.

And there is pressure as

1:02:551:03:00

well.

You know if you miss, you are

giving him a chance.

We've had

1:03:001:03:07

breaks of 135, 89 from Williams, and

that one from Selby. That's only

1:03:071:03:11

going to get better.

Exceptional.

For Mark Selby, not having had the

1:03:111:03:20

best of seasons so far, to have the

temperament to prepare for this

1:03:201:03:23

event and get going, and then you

lose the first two frames to a

1:03:231:03:31

player who is just buzzing. The

temperament you need to not let your

1:03:311:03:36

head drop and not panic...

We are

talking about two champions here,

1:03:361:03:43

two guys who are very seasoned. They

know these championships so well,

1:03:431:03:49

and they can handle these moments.

They have been in this situation

1:03:491:03:54

many times. When you are out there,

Edu try and recall some of those

1:03:541:03:58

great matches you've been involved

in. Certain situations will remind

1:03:581:04:02

you of that. You will think, I did

it against this player while ago.

1:04:021:04:08

That will give you the calmness and

the confidence to think, if the

1:04:081:04:13

chance comes, I will do it again.

In

this position however many years

1:04:131:04:18

ago, however many champions to go --

championships ago, do you think you

1:04:181:04:25

have a chance?

1:04:251:04:26

championships ago, do you think you

have a chance?

As he has got older,

1:04:261:04:31

he will expect Mark Selby to produce

on the big stage. More impressed at

1:04:311:04:36

the moment with Mark Williams'

performance. Looks like a cracking

1:04:361:04:41

match is unfolding.

COMMENTATOR: Mark went out for a

1:04:411:04:47

couple of minutes there, but there's

no trophy there, I suddenly noticed.

1:04:471:04:54

It was shining in Mark's byline.

1:04:541:05:01

It was shining in Mark's byline. A

beautiful Waterford Crystal trophy.

1:05:011:05:07

It was potting Mark off a bit, so it

has been removed.

He's not been here

1:05:091:05:16

a few years, and his first match

back, he wants the trophy moved.

1:05:161:05:24

Have you still got the one they

presented to you. You won five, and

1:05:241:05:32

got the original trophy?

Yes, still

got it. I was very fortunate that

1:05:321:05:39

the sponsors did that.

1:05:391:05:46

the sponsors did that. It's strange,

though, because he only missed one

1:05:461:05:49

ball, Mark, so is potting him off?

1:05:491:05:55

The only mistake Mark Williams made

in the match was this one here. Just

1:06:211:06:27

didn't cue that as smoothly as the

rest. That is the only mistake he's

1:06:271:06:32

made in the match so far.

1:06:321:06:36

Once again, another awkward frame

here, with the red up on the green

1:06:411:06:45

spot.

1:06:451:06:53

I think, in this event, the Masters,

when you've got the best 16 players

1:07:001:07:06

in the world, although Mark Williams

hardly missed a ball the first two

1:07:061:07:12

frames, Mark Selby wouldn't be too

bothered. That's what you expect the

1:07:121:07:17

best to do. Sometimes when you are

playing in the field, you are in

1:07:171:07:22

your chair and you don't expect the

lower ranking players to do that.

1:07:221:07:26

But this will not upset Mark Selby

too much.

1:07:261:07:37

Not quite as intended. That cue ball

should have been tight to the baulk

1:07:481:07:53

cushion. A difficult shot he

attempted there. The cue ball

1:07:531:07:59

bounced a little bit, because he

raised the butt of the cue so much

1:07:591:08:06

in the air.

1:08:061:08:09

I think he was nicely on the pink,

but I think he's looking to see

1:08:321:08:36

where it gets re-spotted after he

pops it.

1:08:361:08:46

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

it will have to go on the green

1:08:471:08:52

spot. That won't hinder Mark Selby

from getting on the red their back

1:08:521:09:00

it to the right of the pack if he

wishes.

1:09:001:09:10

He wobbled it a bit. Safely in the

pocket.

1:09:101:09:19

pocket. That tells the referee if

the ball will spot. I think there's

1:09:191:09:25

enough room. You need a steady hand

to do that.

1:09:251:09:35

Maybe there wasn't just enough room,

so it goes on to be only spot

1:09:361:09:40

available, the green.

1:09:401:09:46

They had a brilliant match here last

year in the first round. It went the

1:10:021:10:07

distance. Five frames all, and Mark

Selby knocked in... I think it was

1:10:071:10:14

an 80 plus match that clinched it.

The way both players are playing

1:10:141:10:19

here, I wouldn't be surprised if we

didn't have another 6-5 result.

1:10:191:10:27

Nice angle on the blue. Tricky going

into the pack because of that one

1:11:091:11:17

lose red just to the top of them.

1:11:171:11:26

You see, the cue ball just goes to

ride before the top spin takes

1:12:071:12:14

effect. That's why he didn't get

into the middle of the bunch with

1:12:141:12:18

the cue ball.

1:12:181:12:21

REFEREE:

Foul. Mark Williams, four.

That has cost him four points, but

1:12:341:12:45

he hasn't left anything easy for

Mark Williams here.

1:12:451:12:50

If he can find an angle... He

doesn't like it. He was thinking

1:12:561:13:02

about taking the red on and playing

up for the black, but decided to try

1:13:021:13:07

and put Mark Selby in a spot of

bother here. Oh, he's played the

1:13:071:13:13

double. I'm surprised. I'm surprised

he's done that.

I'm very surprised

1:13:131:13:22

as well. OK, he put the cue ball in

a place where he thought he couldn't

1:13:221:13:28

miss it, but a very risky shot. A

pretty simple safety shot could have

1:13:281:13:35

put Mark Selby in a lot of trouble.

He is excellent at doubles, Mark

1:13:351:13:43

Williams, to be fair, but they are

never guarantees.

1:13:431:13:50

never guarantees. The last thing you

want to be doing is giving Mark

1:13:501:13:53

Selby gifts.

1:13:531:14:01

As I mentioned earlier, these

matches are the best of 11. The

1:14:041:14:09

interval will be after this frame.

1:14:091:14:18

There may be a chance now that we

will go to that mid-session interval

1:14:201:14:27

all square, two frames each. Just

finished a little awkward there.

1:14:271:14:37

He has to be careful not to screw

off the reds and into the middle

1:14:371:14:42

pocket. That's OK. Played it well.

1:14:421:14:51

That's just OK. Always a little

concerned, when you are playing a

1:15:401:15:48

delicate cannon like that.

1:15:481:15:59

This blue will leave Mark Williams

needing a snooker.

1:16:031:16:13

This has been a match so far

befitting this event, a premier

1:16:281:16:33

event in World Snooker, the best

players in the world. A great match

1:16:331:16:38

so far. The first two frames to Mark

Williams. The second two to Mark

1:16:381:16:44

Selby.

Where is that white going? It

pulled up.

Here is a tester, Dennis.

1:16:441:16:59

Wants to drop this in dead weight

for the black. It's the sort of shot

1:16:591:17:08

he's pretty good at.

1:17:081:17:16

He looked round at Mark Selby and

said, that's enough. What a fabulous

1:17:201:17:26

match so far. Breaks of 135, 89 and

70, and all square at the

1:17:261:17:34

mid-session interval. Two frames

each.

1:17:341:17:37

STUDIO: I'm going to let

1:17:371:17:39

each.

STUDIO: I'm going to let you into a

1:17:391:17:40

secret here. On frame two, you said

it was going to go all the way. I

1:17:401:17:46

thought, have you seen the score?

Back you were bang on.

It's amazing

1:17:461:17:51

how one frame can change everything

sometimes. Mark Selby now looks the

1:17:511:17:56

stronger of the two players. He will

be much happier. Although Mark

1:17:561:18:01

Williams never missed a ball, Mark

Selby will be the happier of the two

1:18:011:18:07

players in the interval.

What seems

to happen, and I noticed it when I

1:18:071:18:12

played, in a game where you got off

to a good start and you hadn't

1:18:121:18:15

missed a ball, and you win the first

frame and the other guy doesn't pot

1:18:151:18:20

a ball, and then the same thing

happens... There is pressure on you

1:18:201:18:24

to keep on keeping the pressure on

your opponent. And at some stage you

1:18:241:18:29

are going to miss, and that is when

the bubble seems to burst. If the

1:18:291:18:36

other guy is strong enough, he gets

back into it. Doesn't matter how

1:18:361:18:39

good the start was... The other guy

gets his tail up because he has

1:18:391:18:45

recovered.

Take us into the dressing

room, Ken. If you are Mark Williams

1:18:451:18:50

now, you have played well, got a

break of 135 and 89, and somebody

1:18:501:18:57

like Mark Selby draws back at you,

what are you thinking?

If I was in

1:18:571:19:02

the dressing room, I would say, you

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

1:19:021:19:08

is a new match now when you go back

out. Just relax and keep doing what

1:19:081:19:12

you are doing. The interval has had

at a good time for Mark Williams.

1:19:121:19:21

But for Mark Selby, he will be going

into the dressing room thinking,

1:19:211:19:26

well, I have turned this match

around.

That is the beauty of the

1:19:261:19:31

Masters.

And it is interesting,

having in interval. And interval is

1:19:311:19:36

not what the players need in a game

of snooker sometimes. Obviously, the

1:19:361:19:41

crowd needs it. Mark Williams has

lost the chance to capitalise on

1:19:411:19:47

jumping the gun on Mark Selby. He's

back to square one. Certainly, he

1:19:471:19:52

will be going, I could have kept

that up, I could have done better.

1:19:521:19:57

There is a pressure on the guy in

front. Always has been, always will

1:19:571:20:03

be. Especially because you know, if

you get a great start, you can beat

1:20:031:20:07

your opponent 4-0 in the first

session. If you don't do that, you

1:20:071:20:13

can be disappointed.

Remember when

we were here two years ago, when

1:20:131:20:18

Ronnie O'Sullivan wiped the floor

with Ricky Walden in 45 minutes?

1:20:181:20:23

That can happen.

Anything can happen

when you are playing Ronnie

1:20:231:20:26

O'Sullivan. The standard of the

first four frames has been great. We

1:20:261:20:32

thought it was going to be a little

more safety, more tactical, but it

1:20:321:20:38

hasn't been like that at all. Both

players have scored well when

1:20:381:20:41

they've got the chance.

Lets focus

on Mark Selby. It has been a couple

1:20:411:20:47

of fantastic years with Leicester,

with Leicester winning the league,

1:20:471:20:54

and then Mark Selby doing so well in

snooker. He's not the only king

1:20:541:20:59

there.

1:20:591:21:06

there.

Jamie, good to see you.

An

interesting place, this. Looking

1:21:071:21:09

forward to seeing the history.

Shall

we have a look around?

Why not?

I

1:21:091:21:19

know it's been here for many years,

but I've not really set foot in the

1:21:191:21:23

place, which is a shame, being a

local lad from Leicester, and the

1:21:231:21:29

history in this building. Especially

when I used to practice at a club

1:21:291:21:33

down the road. It's nice to be here

today, and I'm sure I will leave

1:21:331:21:38

here with some great memories.

COMMENTATOR: What a win for Mark

1:21:381:21:42

Selby! His third world title.

I

still have to pinch myself a bit.

1:21:421:21:51

When I won it for the first time, it

was something I would always strive

1:21:511:21:57

for, as a professional. To win it

for a third time was remarkable.

Do

1:21:571:22:02

you feel like a legend? Because you

are a legend.

Do not really. I just

1:22:021:22:08

feel like I am Mark Selby, a lad who

grew up in Leicester, didn't have

1:22:081:22:17

much money. I'm the same person.

Is

that the secret of your success?

1:22:171:22:21

That you are the same person and you

don't get emotional?

Possibly. That

1:22:211:22:26

is a credit to my father. Keep your

feet on the ground, don't let

1:22:261:22:30

anything change you. I think I had

that instilled in me as a boy. One

1:22:301:22:36

of only four players to retain the

title.

You are currently on the

1:22:361:22:43

fourth longest run as world number

one as well. Some great players

1:22:431:22:47

above you have achieved that, Ray

Reardon, Steve Davis, Stephen

1:22:471:22:52

Hendry.

That seems strange. You just

asked me if I think I am a legend,

1:22:521:22:58

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

players as legends. To be in the

1:22:581:23:05

category with them, when I finish my

career, perhaps I will look at it

1:23:051:23:08

like that, but at the moment, I

don't see it like that.

1:23:081:23:17

don't see it like that.

We are going

to get you dressed for battle.

No

1:23:181:23:21

problem. Let's go.

It is the weight

that makes it heavy. That will go

1:23:211:23:31

round like that. Let's buckle you

up. This will hopefully protect you

1:23:311:23:38

from sword cuts.

Nothing like a

waistcoat! Lovely. I'm not sure

1:23:381:23:43

lovely... How did you know it was my

size?

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

1:23:431:23:53

with Ebacc and breastplate now. This

is going to go over there like that.

1:23:531:24:00

You might have to hold on for -- to

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

1:24:001:24:08

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

with it, but not the 11s!

Do you

1:24:081:24:15

feel comfortable?

I could run the

100 metres in it! 32 waste, is it?

1:24:151:24:28

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

make the helmet fit. It might ruin

1:24:281:24:33

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

isn't it?

What a look. This is

1:24:331:24:41

lovely. Beautiful. Look at that.

A

good two-handed sword there.

I'm

1:24:411:24:53

strong enough to hold it one-handed.

Go on!

1:24:531:25:02

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

I think I might keep the hat. I feel

1:25:021:25:08

like I've squeezed into a baked bean

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

1:25:081:25:16

walk through town.

It's a good look.

Like a cricketer.

When you take all

1:25:161:25:23

that off, is going to be awful.

Like

Edward Scissorhands.

Being the world

1:25:231:25:30

champion three times, does that give

you an aura when you go out there?

I

1:25:301:25:35

suppose it gives you more of a fear

factor from your opponents when they

1:25:351:25:40

play you. I don't feel it gives me

an aura myself. If you go out there

1:25:401:25:45

and play well, it feels good, if

not, get back on the practice table.

1:25:451:25:50

To win the World Championships again

would be my aim. If I did have any

1:25:501:25:56

goals to set, that would be my aim.

1:25:561:26:00

would be my aim. If I did have any

goals to set, that would be my aim.

1:26:001:26:01

This is a big moment for Ronnie, to

break Stephen Hendry's record. He

1:26:011:26:07

will be absolutely delighted when he

reflects on this, because, for the

1:26:071:26:13

seventh time, he is Masters

champion. Congratulations.

No

1:26:131:26:18

seventh time, he is Masters

champion. Congratulations.

No

1:26:181:26:19

disrespect to any other player, but

Ronnie is still the pinnacle of our

1:26:191:26:22

sport. He is the one everyone is

aiming for. To play him in a final,

1:26:221:26:28

if I could pick anyone, it would be

him.

Is there a bigger respect

1:26:281:26:34

between the two of you, because he

has said complimentary things about

1:26:341:26:38

you?

I have played him in finals and

beaten him, so hopefully I have his

1:26:381:26:44

respect. I can just carry on and

keep doing what I'm doing. If I have

1:26:441:26:49

his respect, great, if not, I will

carry on doing what I'm doing.

Do

1:26:491:26:55

you only enjoy it if you win, or

would you still want to play beyond

1:26:551:27:00

tour if you are competitive?

I would

still play. You enjoy it more if you

1:27:001:27:07

are winning than if you are losing.

I still enjoy the practising, and I

1:27:071:27:12

still get a buzz when I go to the

tournaments. I am hopefully still at

1:27:121:27:17

the pinnacle of my career. I've

never played for the money since I

1:27:171:27:22

turned professional. I just want to

try and win as many tournaments as

1:27:221:27:26

possible. I've always enjoyed the

game.

1:27:261:27:33

game.

Mark Selby, some competitor,

isn't he? When you look at him at

1:27:351:27:38

the moment, it's probably a good

thing that Ronnie O'Sullivan is

1:27:381:27:42

still around, because any sport, you

want to chase the very best. We

1:27:421:27:47

could sit around and discuss all day

long whether Mark Selby all Ronnie

1:27:471:27:51

O'Sullivan is the best player on the

circuit.

I think Ronnie is the

1:27:511:27:56

barometer. If he wants to beat

anyone in the final, it would

1:27:561:28:01

definitely be Ronnie O'Sullivan. To

beat the best in the world in a

1:28:011:28:05

final, it is every player's dream.

They want to play against the best

1:28:051:28:11

players in the biggest finals.

Ronnie has set the benchmark, just

1:28:111:28:16

like Stephen Hendry did for the

likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan.

1:28:161:28:25

Conversations we have had with Mark,

in the practice tables and the

1:28:251:28:31

studio and out and about, I get the

feeling he is not the type of player

1:28:311:28:37

who gets rattled. Do you think it

privately rattles him the fact that

1:28:371:28:41

the media focus on Ronnie O'Sullivan

and the fact he is still around,

1:28:411:28:45

despite the fact Mark Selby is the

world champion?

I don't think so. He

1:28:451:28:50

speaks highly of Ronnie, and has

respect for him. In what sport would

1:28:501:28:56

you have the world number one saying

he looks up to Ronnie O'Sullivan? In

1:28:561:29:01

another sport, they wouldn't say

that. They would say, I am the world

1:29:011:29:05

number one, look at me. That is why

he has had so much success. He is

1:29:051:29:11

very grounded and doesn't get

carried away, and just wants to win

1:29:111:29:15

trophies.

In other sports there is

the trash talking, which doesn't

1:29:151:29:19

happen in snooker.

We need more of

that!

Talking of trash talk, I have

1:29:191:29:26

no idea what has happened to snooker

trophies, but when I was watching as

1:29:261:29:31

a kid, they were much bigger. What

has happened?

This has been replaced

1:29:311:29:36

by Steve Davis, and you will

probably get more chat out of it

1:29:361:29:40

than Steve Davis. This is the Irish

Masters trophy. It is a trophy that

1:29:401:29:48

Steve has won before.

It is there

because we are going to have a chat

1:29:481:29:53

with Steve now and ask him about it.

He is far too modest and doesn't

1:29:531:29:57

want to spend too much time talking

about it!

Kvitova tour has been

1:29:571:30:04

created for the over 40s. If you are

an ex-snooker player and want to get

1:30:041:30:10

into the game, this is a chance for

you. I was brought into play at the

1:30:101:30:16

Irish Masters at short notice, and I

accidentally won it. Getting back to

1:30:161:30:21

the proper Masters here and how good

a player Mark Selby is, a superb

1:30:211:30:28

player. Technique wise, over the

years, we know from when he plays,

1:30:281:30:32

he

1:30:321:30:32

years, we know from when he plays,

he seems to move his head a lot. It

1:30:321:30:35

is not on the shot, but during the

preparation. He gets down and his

1:30:351:30:40

head seems to be swaying like this.

An unusual thing to do.

1:30:401:30:47

You are taught to keep as still as

possible when playing. Sometimes he

1:30:481:30:53

sways a little bit by going short

of. He wants to go shorter

1:30:531:30:57

sometimes. But fantastic Key West.

If you are watching from five, six

1:30:571:31:04

years ago, a lot of movement

beforehand -- cueist. It is

1:31:041:31:13

important to keep as still as

possible on the shot, which is

1:31:131:31:17

something I did not do in the 1985

final against Dennis Taylor on the

1:31:171:31:23

black and over the years I have been

asked to play that black again but

1:31:231:31:30

in the 1998 final against...

I see

where you are going.

We have some

1:31:301:31:36

footage of you playing this black.

It was not as close to the pocket as

1:31:361:31:41

that.

Fair enough. You are trying to

keep still on the shot.

Of course,

1:31:411:31:48

especially on these shots, dead

weight shots. Did it roll off? I

1:31:481:31:57

think it did. No, it didn't.

Would

you put the balls in the same

1:31:571:32:04

position. The black was over the

pocket. Was it their? Fair enough.

1:32:041:32:12

About their? Yes. It was a smelly

shot.

You want me to play it? Try to

1:32:121:32:19

keep your head still.

It is a

horrible cue, by the way. Exactly

1:32:191:32:29

the same result.

I cannot play that

shot. Unlucky, never mind. Another

1:32:291:32:36

ten, 20 years to go.

Back to the studio.

1:32:361:32:38

ten, 20 years to go.

Back to the studio.

1:32:381:32:41

STUDIO: Before we go back to the

match, we can remind you how we

1:32:411:32:45

STUDIO: Before we go back to the

match, we can remind you how we line

1:32:451:32:46

up this evening. You will not miss a

shot with the BBC coverage. Mark

1:32:461:32:51

Allen and Luca Brecel and highlights

also.

1:32:511:33:03

All the coverage on the BBC Sport

website and app. If you are joining

1:33:031:33:08

us, this is what you have missed so

far.

1:33:081:33:12

us, this is what you have missed so

far. Mark Selby and Mark Williams,

1:33:121:33:16

two players who know each other well

and a fantastic start from Mark

1:33:161:33:21

Williams with a break of 135 in

frame one. The Alexandra Palace

1:33:211:33:29

crowd loving this from Mark

Williams, rolling back the years. A

1:33:291:33:33

fantastic reds to set up a break of

89. Mark Selby fired back in frame

1:33:331:33:41

three with a break of 17. 14 minutes

and 30 seconds. -- 70. In frame

1:33:411:33:51

four, he'd drew level with 37 and 36

breaks, which means we went into the

1:33:511:33:59

mid-session interval two apiece.

1:33:591:34:08

And here we are, these are the live

pictures. The fans, having coffee or

1:34:081:34:15

tea, maybe something stronger on

this Sunday lunchtime, heading back

1:34:151:34:19

into their seats. Ken, it is a high

quality contest and this is what you

1:34:191:34:24

would expect.

Absolutely. Top

quality first four frames and

1:34:241:34:29

important this frame for Mark

Williams to steady the ship and stop

1:34:291:34:35

the run from Mark Selby and it will

be interesting to watch the opening

1:34:351:34:40

exchanges.

They have played each

other on so many occasions. Let's

1:34:401:34:45

hand you back to Stephen Hendry and

Dennis Taylor.

1:34:451:34:50

DENNIS TAYLOR: Thank you, Jason.

People are still coming back. A

1:34:501:34:54

packed house at the Alexandra

Palace. What a treat, watching for

1:34:541:35:03

the first four frames.

1:35:031:35:11

the first four frames. Mark

backstage as usual, having a little

1:35:111:35:14

sandwich, totally chilled out, as he

always is.

1:35:141:35:24

As I said earlier, there is nothing

Mark Selby did in the last two

1:35:311:35:36

frames that Mark Williams would not

have been surprised about. He would

1:35:361:35:40

have expected a reaction from his

opponent. He would have been

1:35:401:35:45

disappointed at missing the yellow

in frame three, because he was

1:35:451:35:48

flying at that point.

1:35:481:35:50

He may be able to take this red on,

although the angle is not good, no,

1:36:041:36:10

he can't, he will play the safety

shot. A little bit straighter, he

1:36:101:36:15

could have had a go and got on the

black in such a way he would not

1:36:151:36:20

have left anything available.

1:36:201:36:26

have left anything available.

There

seems to be a lot of noise in the

1:36:261:36:28

arena somewhere.

1:36:281:36:29

Not his best. A bit slack, that

safety shot.

1:36:351:36:50

REFEREE:

Foul.

What a miss that was.

He needed the red to stay tight,

1:37:041:37:17

cushion. He finished up screwing

into the pocket. If he had hit the

1:37:171:37:26

red fuller, that would not have

happened. And he underhit that. It

1:37:261:37:32

was a tricky red he was faced with.

I think he put everything into the

1:37:321:37:41

pot. They are difficult along the

cushions. He forgot to hit the white

1:37:411:37:46

hard enough. Should have been beyond

the baulk line.

1:37:461:37:56

The fact there is a red either side

of the bunch, the normal escape

1:37:571:38:02

route to the side of the reds is not

straightforward and he could leave a

1:38:021:38:07

pot on, so he will have to give this

a little bit of thought.

1:38:071:38:17

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. That was a

misjudgement. He will have it put

1:38:321:38:39

back. Mark has blocked the one

cushion skate to the right side of

1:38:391:38:44

the reds, which is why he was trying

to go twice across -- one cushion

1:38:441:38:51

escape. He still has to be careful.

He could hit the wrong red and leave

1:38:511:39:00

a pot on.

1:39:001:39:05

He is just saying to the referee he

could not go off two cushions to

1:39:101:39:16

clip the red.

1:39:161:39:22

clip the red. Just a slight

adjustment was required.

1:39:251:39:27

Is that the pink? REFEREE: Foul and

a miss.

1:39:331:39:40

He is trying to get to the red just

behind the pink.

1:39:401:39:51

Because if he comes off two

cushions, if he hits that red, he

1:39:551:40:00

would need the other red, which is

why he is having to be precise to

1:40:001:40:05

avoid hitting that one.

1:40:051:40:11

This looked better. Yes, well

played.

1:40:111:40:20

In fact, there is no way back down

the table for Mark Williams. There

1:40:231:40:29

is not a lot available here.

1:40:291:40:37

That was all he could do. He just

hand speed tactical advantage to

1:40:431:40:48

Mark Selby. -- he handed the

tactical advantage to Mark Selby.

1:40:481:41:01

It is very fast flowing action in

the match so far. I expected a lot

1:41:541:42:01

more tactical play. Both players

have been playing so well. They got

1:42:011:42:09

a chance, that was all they needed

to take the frame. This might be a

1:42:091:42:14

more tactical frame now the black is

on the cushion.

1:42:141:42:20

That was unlucky to cannon and send

it right over the pocket. It always

1:42:541:43:03

can happen. He played the shot well

enough but he could not have

1:43:031:43:07

envisaged knocking it over the

pocket.

1:43:071:43:14

The first chance for this frame

falls to Mark Selby.

It was a nicely

1:43:201:43:29

controlled shot. A touch of drag on

the cue ball to make control easier.

1:43:291:43:34

Nicely on the blue.

1:43:341:43:41

He may play a cannon into the bunch

to the right of the pink. No.

1:43:411:43:50

to the right of the pink. No. Taking

the cue ball away from the pack.

1:43:501:43:57

He may be reluctant to play for the

pink. It will go on the black spot,

1:44:201:44:27

I think, if he pots it. He is

looking to see if it is available to

1:44:271:44:31

the left corner.

1:44:311:44:34

It is fascinating to watch different

players how they build their break.

1:44:391:44:47

Stephen suggested potting the blue

and the cannon. Quite a few players

1:44:471:44:53

would have played that shot. But

Mark is going about it in a slightly

1:44:531:45:03

different route. The concern is keep

knocking the ball is in. That is

1:45:031:45:11

what it is all about.

1:45:111:45:16

I do not think you plan to play this

but he is going into the bunch. And

1:45:161:45:23

that is why, because you never

guarantee control. He wanted to be

1:45:231:45:26

straight on the pink.

1:45:261:45:32

He made that look easy but almost

tight on the cushion. Needed

1:45:491:45:55

extremely good cueing.

1:45:551:46:02

extremely good cueing. And now he

has the pink in the open. And,

1:46:021:46:08

gradually, it is developing into a

decent chance.

1:46:081:46:16

That yellow, if it was on its spot,

that is where he would want to hit

1:46:271:46:34

the cushion with the cue ball where

the yellow is now so he will have to

1:46:341:46:39

play with left-hand side, side

cushion for red to the right corner

1:46:391:46:43

so he has played the shot a little

bit awkward. If he screws past the

1:46:431:46:50

yellow, he could get too much side.

That is why he played to bring the

1:46:501:46:58

cue ball on the right-hand side of

the table and that is good.

1:46:581:47:02

It has just finished awkward with

the angle. Straighter would have

1:47:151:47:21

been better to screw back off the

cushion for the pink. He can still

1:47:211:47:26

do it but it is a more awkward

angle.

1:47:261:47:34

I think he is OK.

1:47:341:47:42

He hit the last shot really well. It

was quite a good angle on the red.

1:47:461:47:55

You could see by the reaction of the

cue ball how well he timed it.

1:47:551:48:00

He seems to have moved up a gear,

Mark Selby. Just slowly starting to

1:48:231:48:29

dominate this match.

1:48:291:48:36

He could not do much in the first

two frames he lost, but since then,

1:48:391:48:43

an excellent reply.

1:48:431:48:45

I think it hurt him badly losing the

first round of the UK Championship.

1:48:511:48:58

He wants to be involved in the

biggest events until the end. I

1:48:581:49:05

think he has put in the hours on the

practice table since then.

When you

1:49:051:49:11

are reigning world champion and

world number one, those defeats do

1:49:111:49:15

not half hurt.

1:49:151:49:19

You could see the head movement.

Very slight now offer Mark Selby.

1:49:331:49:39

Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry were

talking about five, six years ago,

1:49:391:49:44

the movement was more than it is

now. You can see the eyes focused on

1:49:441:49:49

the object ball before he delivers

the cue.

1:49:491:49:57

For a top snooker player there is

still an incredible amount of

1:50:031:50:06

shaking in the head. I bet he does

not even feel it.

1:50:061:50:16

51 ahead, 51 on, or will he risk

going into the bunch? If you want to

1:50:261:50:31

keep the break going, he will have

to do.

1:50:311:50:38

He was unlucky. He made sure of the

blue. He is glancing at the

1:50:381:50:44

scoreboard. He knows Mark Williams

now needs a snooker. Unlucky to get

1:50:441:50:50

the double-kiss.

1:50:501:50:54

One four point snooker needed to tie

at the moment.

1:51:381:51:51

Almost achieved his goal. He was

trying to knock the green tight on

1:51:541:51:58

the baulk cushion.

1:51:581:52:01

That was short of pace. It would

have been a good shot played harder

1:52:151:52:21

so this red to make certain of this

fifth frame.

1:52:211:52:24

It does not matter about that. Mark

Williams will stay in his seat. He

1:53:451:53:51

got off to a flyer, leading 2-0 but

now the champion leading 3-2.

1:53:511:53:57

MUSIC.

1:54:131:54:18

It has been a fabulous career for

Mark Selby, 13 ranking titles and

1:55:001:55:05

winning this great championship on

three occasions. He looks focused

1:55:051:55:10

sitting in his seat. So Mark

Williams will be out in this frame

1:55:101:55:14

to get back to the way he started

the match. A lot of people did not

1:55:141:55:21

get back in after the mid-session

interval. They are just coming back

1:55:211:55:25

in. They will not allow them in

while the frame is on. A fabulous

1:55:251:55:30

crowd at Alexandra Palace. And

probably a lot of people here for

1:55:301:55:38

the first time and they will enjoy

the atmosphere. And they are saying

1:55:381:55:44

and absolutely cracking match. It is

still difficult to pick a winner but

1:55:441:55:47

you would have to say, Stephen, Mark

Selby, as you mentioned, he has

1:55:471:55:54

moved up a gear.

He seems to be

slowly stamping his authority on the

1:55:541:55:58

match. Mark Williams has not done

too much wrong but a couple of Slack

1:55:581:56:05

safety shots. The double in the

previous frame was risky.

I think

1:56:051:56:10

these people must have been out

watching you play that black! It was

1:56:101:56:16

unfair to make you recreate that.

One of the great finals I

1:56:161:56:22

commentated on, Stephen.

I managed

to miss it in the same way. I think

1:56:221:56:27

the tables run-off, definitely.

1:56:271:56:35

We are almost ready. A few more

spectators getting back into their

1:56:351:56:45

seats.

1:56:451:56:55

seats. Both players patiently

waiting. It is quite unusual for

1:56:551:56:58

this to happen.

It is not good, to

be fair. Both players will be

1:56:581:57:05

frustrated, especially Mark Selby

because he has the upper hand and

1:57:051:57:08

will want to keep up the momentum. I

think, finally, we have everyone in.

1:57:081:57:14

Not quite in their seats yet.

1:57:141:57:23

Not quite in their seats yet. But a

fantastic audience on the first

1:57:231:57:25

Sunday of the tournament, Dennis.

1:57:251:57:32

And then it is deathly quiet as Mark

Selby breaks off. They do not mind a

1:57:431:57:52

bit of noise, as long as it is not

on the shot.

1:57:521:58:01

He played the more aggressive safety

shot and a thick contact to open the

1:58:341:58:39

red clover lot but he might have

left one to the left middle. -- to

1:58:391:58:44

open the reds up. Pretty much no

idea where the cue ball is going. He

1:58:441:58:54

will settle for vat.

1:58:541:59:00

will settle for vat.

-- for vat. It

has turned out to be an amazing

1:59:001:59:05

safety shot. As Stephen said, he had

no idea what was happening with the

1:59:051:59:10

cue ball but he had a result. The

way Mark Selby is playing, and

1:59:101:59:15

little bit of good fortune coming at

the right time for Mark Williams.

1:59:151:59:27

That read is going very close to the

corner pocket. It is in!

1:59:582:00:12

I think he thought the red would

probably cannoned into the blue, or

2:00:182:00:24

maybe the yellow. It kept on going.

Good thing it did drop in, because

2:00:242:00:29

it could have left mark in with a

chance. He could have got through to

2:00:292:00:38

that red. Trying to keep the cue

ball as tight on the baulk cushion

2:00:382:00:44

as possible.

2:00:442:00:52

Left a tempter to the far right

corner.

2:01:182:01:26

Just wondering if that is the one he

could be tempted with. But there

2:01:262:01:32

might be another to the right middle

pocket, if it passes the reds. Could

2:01:322:01:38

play it in such a way that he

finishes on the black. I think that

2:01:382:01:43

red mustard pot.

You're right,

Dennis, that's the shot.

2:01:432:01:56

It's there.

2:01:592:02:02

It is a lot easier when you know

you're not leaving a lot, but still,

2:02:092:02:16

a great pot.

All of the sudden, he's

turned this into a great

2:02:162:02:25

opportunity.

2:02:252:02:28

Definitely starting to take a hold

of this match, Mark Selby.

2:02:372:02:50

As Steve Davis mentioned at the

start of the match, the table seems

2:03:382:03:43

to be very, very quick. That is how

the players prefer it. That last

2:03:432:03:49

shot that he played, he timed it so

well.

2:03:492:03:58

When you are playing well, these

vast tables are terrific to play on.

2:03:582:04:03

When you are struggling a little

bit, it's so easy to run out of

2:04:032:04:08

position. It has been such an

entertaining match so far. Mark

2:04:082:04:17

Williams with breaks of 135 and 89,

and then Mark Selby with two 70

2:04:172:04:26

breaks. Could be a few more here.

2:04:262:04:35

It's amazing. Just one point the

difference, in total points scored.

2:04:462:04:56

A little fly on the white. I think

it's gone. You could see it, just

2:04:562:05:05

crawling along the white there. It

is a little and! A baby and.

2:05:052:05:15

I think that's a first.

2:05:152:05:19

Didn't hit that one as well as he

would have liked. A slightly heavy

2:06:002:06:05

contact, but didn't get the action

at all on the cue ball. A little bit

2:06:052:06:10

of a jump on the black. Maybe that's

what caused the lack of pace.

2:06:102:06:22

He's just a bit in between both

shots here. The red that he looked

2:06:222:06:29

at first, to the right middle, is

quite a path for the cue ball to

2:06:292:06:35

miss the yellow.

2:06:352:06:43

I think he thought he was going to

get a full ball cannon on the yellow

2:06:522:06:57

to drop on a baulk colour, and I

think he took his eye off the ball.

2:06:572:07:10

That red won't pass the other red

into the middle pocket. The brown's

2:07:152:07:21

blocking the path through to the

red.

2:07:212:07:30

What a shot!

2:07:302:07:39

Probably have to say one of the best

in the business at that type of

2:07:392:07:44

shot. Just dropping it in.

2:07:442:07:52

shot. Just dropping it in.

Yes,

people used to always say, he was

2:07:522:07:56

one of the best single ball Potter.

I don't really know what that means,

2:07:562:08:01

but it was certainly a Mark Williams

special, when he dropped it in dead

2:08:012:08:05

weight. The sort of shot when you

are sat in the chair, like Mark

2:08:052:08:10

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

go for it. Has he put himself in a

2:08:102:08:15

bit of bother here? He was a wee bit

unlucky that cannon. He's opened all

2:08:152:08:21

the game up,

2:08:212:08:32

and it's finished a bit awkward for

him. Probably hit that red a bit

2:08:332:08:36

fuller than he wanted. Still a bit

unlucky not to be nicely on an easy

2:08:362:08:39

read. This one is an awkward one.

Might have to play it with a trace

2:08:392:08:42

of side to make the potting angle.

2:08:422:08:50

I think, in practice, he probably

would have already been downplaying

2:08:572:09:01

that red with a touch of right-hand

side to square up the angle.

2:09:012:09:13

Now, what a chance. A fantastic

opening red.

2:09:132:09:23

Got a bit of a bounce there. He sort

of stopped in his tracks when he was

2:09:322:09:37

walking around the table.

2:09:372:09:43

walking around the table.

That

doesn't look as if it pots from that

2:09:432:09:46

angle.

2:09:462:09:53

An important visit to the table,

this is, for Mark Williams. He has

2:09:552:10:03

pretty much sat out for three

frames. Selby started to dominate

2:10:032:10:08

the match. This is a big moment.

2:10:082:10:17

He was back looking at those two

reds. It looks a bit tight, but

2:10:222:10:31

maybe the back one can go. Still got

two easy reds to go for here. Not a

2:10:312:10:39

bad choice of shot there. Brilliant

shot. Terrific thinking there,

2:10:392:10:46

because he knew he was bound to be

on a read. And he thought it was

2:10:462:10:52

very, very tight and that was going

to cause him a problem. No problem,

2:10:522:10:58

but they still need potting.

When

you talk about top players having a

2:10:582:11:07

great touch, that cannon was an

excellent example. The pacey played

2:11:072:11:11

it at, he hit the red exactly as he

wanted, half ball.

2:11:112:11:22

The yellow is obviously the only

problem you could see for Mark

2:11:432:11:48

Williams winning the frame at this

visit. Good idea to play the pink

2:11:482:11:56

here.

2:11:562:11:59

It's one of those he can play to

drop in behind the yellow, rather

2:12:042:12:08

than try to move it.

2:12:082:12:11

Just dropped in behind it. It's

perfect. He's played it really well.

2:12:162:12:28

Oh!

2:12:312:12:39

From the opening long read that he

dropped in dead weight, this has

2:12:482:12:51

been a tremendous response to Mark

Williams -- from Mark Williams to

2:12:512:12:59

losing three frames in a row.

That

is the reason he was one of the top

2:12:592:13:05

players in the game for so long. To

sit out for virtually to frames...

2:13:052:13:13

And produce this, is absolutely

superb.

2:13:132:13:25

Great snooker, coming just at the

right time. Mark Selby was getting

2:13:292:13:35

hold of this match, but Mark

Williams now all square.

2:13:352:13:40

STUDIO: This

2:13:402:13:41

Williams now all square.

STUDIO: This is utterly brilliant

2:13:412:13:42

from these two.

It's great. First

day, and a cracking match. From that

2:13:422:13:49

red that Mark Williams seemed to

casually not in. When you are

2:13:492:13:53

playing under pressure and you roll

that Reading, you've got to keep

2:13:532:13:57

your body and head as still as

possible. He is such a great player

2:13:572:14:04

in that department.

He came round to

have a look. Look where the cue ball

2:14:042:14:08

is. He's perfect on the black, but

he's not going to leave anything

2:14:082:14:12

unless the red jangles in the

pocket. A clever shot. But he had to

2:14:122:14:18

get it, and fully committed to it.

The way he went about winning the

2:14:182:14:23

frame from that position... After

being frozen out, that shows the

2:14:232:14:26

mark of a great champion.

And that

thing about keeping your head still.

2:14:262:14:33

It's not just when you hit the ball.

For club players, train yourself to

2:14:332:14:37

stay down on the shot long after the

ball has gone. That is the way to

2:14:372:14:43

play and practice. Stay down on the

shot, even though the cue ball has

2:14:432:14:48

left the cue. Stay there a bit

longer, and it beds in the fact that

2:14:482:14:53

your technique is strong enough that

your body will not move a muscle.

2:14:532:14:57

That is your best chance of keeping

your cue online.

A great piece of

2:14:572:15:02

analysis.

2:15:022:15:10

analysis. We saw him they're staying

down. Mark stayed down before the

2:15:102:15:13

cue ball hits the red.

You try and

exaggerate. You stay still, give the

2:15:132:15:15

cue enough chance of keeping as

still as possible. It's great for

2:15:152:15:20

any amateur watching. Once you have

hit the ball, stay down on it.

Even

2:15:202:15:25

if you miss it. It's good training.

Can I ask you about Mark Williams?

2:15:252:15:31

For all he has achieved in the game,

when we arrive at these tournaments

2:15:312:15:34

and we talk about him, he flattered

to deceive. But today there is

2:15:342:15:40

something different about him.

He is

one of the greats of the game, and

2:15:402:15:44

under pressure he is great. It's

good to see

2:15:442:15:46

under pressure he is great. It's

good to see him back centrestage,

2:15:462:15:50

because as a player, he adds a lot

to a tournament.

2:15:502:15:59

COMMENTATOR:

Dennis, you mentioned,

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

2:15:592:16:06

bet against another one here, the

way the match is going now. I must

2:16:062:16:11

admit, I thought Mark Selby was

possibly starting to pull away, but

2:16:112:16:15

that clearance from Mark Williams

shows he's back in this match.

2:16:152:16:23

That little tickle on the black

bear. He dropped his shoulders when

2:16:362:16:41

he potted the red.

2:16:412:16:44

What a flick that was. It looked, as

you said, as if he was going to be

2:16:522:16:59

out of position, and then all of a

sudden, watch this. Delightful.

2:16:592:17:12

He's got an angle on the blue to go

into the bunch. Is there a plant to

2:17:142:17:19

the left corner, with those reds? It

is an option, but I think the angle

2:17:192:17:26

he has on the blue...

2:17:262:17:33

A little bit surprised he isn't

playing the blue into the bunch.

2:17:332:17:43

Maybe he feels there is a bit too

much angle.

2:17:452:17:54

I'm not absolutely dead straight,

but because he has a distance

2:18:012:18:09

between the two reds... If he hit it

absolutely square on, that red is

2:18:092:18:15

going to the left of the park-macro.

So if he plays that first red as if

2:18:152:18:20

he is going to the left of the

pocket... And now, a key shot coming

2:18:202:18:29

up, brown and then into the bunch.

2:18:292:18:31

Plenty of pace. How is your luck? It

might be OK.

2:18:402:18:48

Couldn't have played it any better.

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

2:18:482:18:56

be a bit careful, because of that

red then near the black. The brown,

2:18:562:19:03

potted with lots of left-hand side.

Just got to be a wee bit careful

2:19:032:19:09

here. Decided to go up.

2:19:092:19:15

here. Decided to go up. Blue all

baulk colour, because of that red to

2:19:152:19:17

the right of the black.

2:19:172:19:26

Didn't quite get into the cue ball

enough to be straight on this read

2:19:562:20:02

to the right corner. And drop on the

black.

2:20:022:20:06

I don't know if he has the angle to

drop the red in. There is a red to

2:20:262:20:33

the left to just brush off. Looks to

me as if he's got too much angle.

2:20:332:20:45

Played a top spin shot. I think he

played the shop I mentioned, but...

2:20:522:21:03

REFEREE:

Green ball.

2:21:032:21:10

The brown is preventing him from

hitting a red to get back down the

2:21:382:21:45

table. And the one that's near the

pink, he can only see it on one

2:21:452:21:53

side, so not a lot of use.

2:21:532:22:01

Had to be careful with that is and

try and get it thin. Not that thin!

2:22:012:22:09

REFEREE:

Frau and this. -- foul and

a miss.

Needs the thinnest of

2:22:092:22:20

contacts to stop the red from coming

off the cushion and double-kissing

2:22:202:22:25

the white. If he hits it on the sick

side, the White could go in to the

2:22:252:22:32

red on the right of the black. I

don't think he could hit this red,

2:22:322:22:37

surely?

2:22:372:22:45

REFEREE:

I'm definitely sure you can

hit it.

2:22:462:22:54

hit it. Mark?

When you are a player,

you know what shots you can play

2:22:542:23:01

when you are down at the table.

Let's have a look. That is before.

2:23:012:23:06

That is where it is now. I think the

referee has got that absolutely spot

2:23:062:23:10

on.

2:23:102:23:14

REFEREE:

Foul, and a miss. Mark

Selby, four.

The three miss rule

2:23:192:23:28

doesn't apply here, because he can't

see a red full on.

2:23:282:23:36

see a red full on. He's better off

giving a few penalty points rather

2:23:362:23:40

than leaving this to sick.

2:23:402:23:43

APPLAUSE

2:23:522:24:01

He didn't quite want it that thin,

because Mark can have a go at this

2:24:132:24:19

red.

2:24:192:24:20

One good positional shot here, when

potting the blue, and he could be

2:24:312:24:46

around the black spot area.

2:24:462:24:54

around the black spot area. 96% pot

success rating, and Mark Williams

2:24:542:24:57

92%. A very good standard of play

here. Mark's

2:24:572:25:06

here. Mark's potted four out of four

long ones. Maybe that hasn't bounced

2:25:062:25:12

far enough.

2:25:122:25:16

The other one will go. Both reds are

available.

2:25:172:25:22

He played that well. It is a good

chance now.

2:25:292:25:34

He will want that one again. May

have a red to the left middle. The

2:25:482:25:54

last thing he wanted to be was low

on this red. This red, near the pink

2:25:542:26:05

spot, a tougher pot than he was

wanting to play.

2:26:052:26:15

Just not got pinpoint control of

that cue ball yet in this break.

2:26:152:26:28

And that can happen, when you keep

struggling for perfect position.

2:26:482:26:54

Sometimes it gets to you in the end.

He probably took his eye off the

2:26:542:27:02

pot. Concentrating on the cannon. We

saw what happened in the previous

2:27:022:27:06

frame. Selby made a break of 45, and

was sitting in the seat as Mark

2:27:062:27:11

Williams cleared up with an 81.

Could that happen again?

2:27:112:27:22

Could that happen again?

He's not

too bothered with the black going on

2:27:222:27:24

the pink spot. It actually makes it

easier. Straightaway, the green is

2:27:242:27:29

the obstacle. Will he have that in

the back of his mind? He will not be

2:27:292:27:38

happy with that shot. He wanted to

be straight on the black to this

2:27:382:27:42

left middle. Didn't get into the

cue. This is missable.

2:27:422:27:52

It was the shot before, as you said,

Stephen. That could definitely be

2:27:592:28:04

very costly.

2:28:042:28:10

From a psychological point of view,

Mark Williams not being able -- if

2:28:152:28:24

Mark Williams had pinched this

frame, certainly would have been

2:28:242:28:30

favourite.

2:28:302:28:36

favourite.

Mark Williams never gives

anything away in his demeanour. But

2:28:362:28:40

he will be fuming inside.

2:28:402:28:48

Red, black, and one more red would

be enough to clinch the frame.

2:29:082:29:19

This is maybe the first sign of

weakness from Mark Williams. A

2:30:072:30:12

slight deceleration. Did not get

into the cue ball. And he missed the

2:30:122:30:15

black. You always look for turning

point in matches, shots that aside

2:30:152:30:24

matches. Could that be one? -- that

decide matches.

2:30:242:30:35

It is one of the most frustrating

things, you have the chance and make

2:30:372:30:41

a slight mistake and you have to sit

and watch your opponent knock in the

2:30:412:30:46

balls you should have been knocking

him.

2:30:462:30:52

-- knocking in.

2:30:522:30:58

He will be very pleased, Mark Selby.

Mark Williams had a chance to get

2:31:222:31:26

back in the frame and did not take

it and now Mark

2:31:262:31:30

back in the frame and did not take

it and now Mark Selby leads 4-3.

2:31:302:31:33

STUDIO: The smile Mark Williams had

when he first

2:31:332:31:40

when he first came out, has gone.

Critical, positional play sometimes

2:31:402:31:45

is the way tension shows its

2:31:452:31:47

Critical, positional play sometimes

is the way tension shows its face in

2:31:472:31:47

the game and this shot, he has to

play a soft screw back. The problem

2:31:472:31:54

with that is if you do not hit it

positively enough you do not get

2:31:542:31:59

back spin. It was a deft shot he had

to play Andy -- and he underhits it.

2:31:592:32:12

There was tension. Sometimes you can

overhit them and if you do, you are

2:32:122:32:15

on nothing.

2:32:152:32:16

overhit them and if you do, you are

on nothing.

Can you get too good a

2:32:162:32:20

start in a match like this, Steve

and almost be too relaxed? We have

2:32:202:32:26

been praising Mark.

You can never

get too good a start.

You are right.

2:32:262:32:35

Only as much as if the other guy

comes back you are in a worse

2:32:352:32:41

situation than the start. You feel

you have thrown it away.

You are

2:32:412:32:47

right. If you said I will give you a

two frame lead against Mark Selby,

2:32:472:32:55

you would bite their hand. That Mr

black. To get on the black in the

2:32:552:33:02

middle, Mark Williams missed a

trick. He was coming back, he had

2:33:022:33:08

won a great previous frame. If he

had won that he would have had Mark

2:33:082:33:14

Selby where he needed him.

We talk

about Mark Williams winning the

2:33:142:33:18

Northern Ireland Open, I suppose

that is when you progress in

2:33:182:33:22

tournaments.

One of Mark Selby's

strengths and any player in the game

2:33:222:33:29

who is winning, at the end of the

match, they are strong. The start,

2:33:292:33:34

you do not know what will happen but

if you get better as the match

2:33:342:33:40

progresses and your adrenaline

levels go up and start to perform at

2:33:402:33:44

the business end, that is when you

start to win the 6-5s, 5-4s and get

2:33:442:33:51

yourself to the final.

Mark Selby

beat Mark Williams 6-5 at this stage

2:33:512:33:56

at this venue last year.

It could

still go 6-5. Very small margins

2:33:562:34:02

between them. Mark Williams could

pass it off as if the missed black

2:34:022:34:10

never happened. It will be

interesting to see how much of an

2:34:102:34:14

edge it will put on Mark Williams. I

do not think it will have too much

2:34:142:34:19

effect.

Head scratching going on

from Mark Williams. He needs to do

2:34:192:34:24

something to stay in the Masters.

Back to Dennis and Stephen.

2:34:242:34:33

DENNIS TAYLOR: Every frame is a key

frame, but this is very important.

2:34:372:34:42

Mark Williams to draw level, Mark

Selby to leave himself one frame

2:34:422:34:47

away from victory. I have noticed

with the break

2:34:472:34:59

with the break of shot, the balls

are opening out nicely.

2:34:592:35:06

There is no easy escape back. He

took the pot on.

2:36:022:36:16

took the pot on. Played it as a shot

did nothing but that is a Mark

2:36:162:36:20

Williams special.

2:36:202:36:24

When he came on the scene and turned

professional in 1992, we said he was

2:36:302:36:36

one of the greatest potters we had

seen in the game and that proves he

2:36:362:36:41

is still doing it all these years

later.

2:36:412:36:48

A fantastic pot but I was not sure

about the second shot. He would

2:36:502:36:56

never get that advantage by the

green. May be placed the cue ball

2:36:562:37:01

near the baulk cushion and make Mark

Selby play a tough safety shot.

2:37:012:37:12

Mark Williams has been left this red

to the left corner but it is the

2:38:002:38:05

path the cue ball will take that is

making him refuse it.

2:38:052:38:13

Excellent safety. Appreciation from

his opponent.

2:38:172:38:26

There is a path back down the table

of the two reds to the left of the

2:38:332:38:41

pink. He played it pretty well. That

is another flick.

2:38:412:38:56

It was always a good safety because

if he misses the yellow the white

2:39:022:39:06

goes close to the cushion, but that

was a bonus.

2:39:062:39:15

It was a well played shot, anyway.

2:39:222:39:30

But that was a delightful nudge.

Even if Mark Williams comes off the

2:39:302:39:41

right side cushion to land on the

red near the right corner, he could

2:39:412:39:45

leave a pot on. If he risks coming

off two cushion is to get back up

2:39:452:39:53

the table, he would have to be so

precise. A tough shot coming up.

2:39:532:40:03

Sometimes when Mark Williams has to

play two cushion escapes, he plays

2:40:032:40:08

them one handed. I do not think he

will do it here. The cue ball is

2:40:082:40:12

just away.

2:40:122:40:18

He must not be able to get to the

two cushion escape otherwise he

2:40:302:40:35

would have played that shot.

2:40:352:40:44

There is a gap through the reds to

play off the one next to the pink

2:40:472:40:54

off the side top cushion, but it is

such a narrow gap to find. Whichever

2:40:542:40:59

way he goes, he will have to be so

precise.

2:40:592:41:02

The reason he is taking so long,

almost two and a half minutes, it is

2:41:092:41:20

such an important shot he will play.

2:41:202:41:22

It is not often you get to three

minutes thinking about a shot.

2:41:412:41:51

LAUGHTER.

REFEREE:

Foul.

2:41:512:41:59

REFEREE:

Foul.

Well, in the end, it

is not that bad.

2:41:592:42:06

is not that bad. He did it. Red

first. He has got away with it,

2:42:072:42:10

slightly.

2:42:102:42:16

Three minutes and then that. That

was a black, wasn't it?

2:42:162:42:26

was a black, wasn't it?

The referee

can come and check. It was the

2:42:262:42:30

black.

REFEREE:

They confirm it is the

2:42:302:42:41

black. It was in a split second.

2:42:412:42:52

black. It was in a split second.

Do

you want to put it back?

2:42:522:42:56

LAUGHTER.

Well, what a situation.

Mark

2:42:562:43:05

Williams was thinking three minutes

about that shot.

How long will the

2:43:052:43:09

referee take? The fact he hit the

black means it can be replaced. We

2:43:092:43:16

will show you again. Can we count

them? He hit the black. One, two,

2:43:162:43:25

three

2:43:252:43:28

them? He hit the black. One, two,

three, four.

2:43:282:43:33

three, four. There are five reds

that need replacing.

2:43:362:43:41

LAUGHTER.

APPLAUSE

2:43:412:43:50

With all the tension and all that is

going on.

2:43:522:43:55

He is a wind-up merchant.

REFEREE:

Thank you!

2:43:552:44:08

He is one of the top referees,

Olivier Marteel.

2:44:082:44:17

Olivier Marteel.

If Mark Williams

plays the same shot, it does not

2:44:172:44:20

matter if the reds are exactly...

Look at the cheeky Mark Williams. He

2:44:202:44:26

has nicked the white.

2:44:262:44:36

has nicked the white. I think he

will probably have to play this

2:44:392:44:41

shot.

Did anything else move?

2:44:412:44:50

shot.

Did anything else move? Where

does it go?

We can show you where

2:44:532:44:58

they work. Let's have a look where

they are now. It is not too bad.

2:44:582:45:06

Yes, that is good. That will do. As

Stephen said, it does not make a

2:45:142:45:18

great deal of difference.

2:45:182:45:28

great deal of difference. He is now

starting to smile. I do not know

2:45:292:45:32

what the referee will do when he

starts to look for the white.

Mark

2:45:322:45:38

took three minutes to decide to play

that shot. Surely if he plays it

2:45:382:45:44

again, it will not take that long.

The referee is looking for the

2:45:442:45:48

white.

APPLAUSE

2:45:482:45:55

CHEERING

2:45:552:46:01

That was a little bit of brilliance.

2:46:072:46:17

What if he plays the same shot and

fluked the red?

It would take the

2:46:172:46:29

house down.

2:46:292:46:36

Here we go, attention all pockets. I

tell you what, it still might not

2:46:382:46:44

be... If he has hit a red, the white

has left the arena. Check to make

2:46:442:46:54

sure it is not chipped. He has not

left anything easy.

2:46:542:47:06

left anything easy.

Back again, is

it?

2:47:062:47:15

Back to normal again. This is a key

shot. He can cut the red. He could

2:47:252:47:34

do with finding a gap between the

other two reds, coming up the table.

2:47:342:47:43

Where will the cue ball finish? I

think he could just get past the

2:47:452:47:52

blue. Well, he will need a little

bit of swirls, that he will pot

2:47:522:47:57

this.

2:47:572:48:02

this. -- swerve. That was too much.

2:48:022:48:11

He got too much swerve. He wanted to

hit it on the side.

2:48:132:48:22

It is Mark Selby's turn to think

about the shot he has to play.

2:49:272:49:37

I think it pulled up in time. I'm

not sure. He wanted to get the white

2:49:462:49:55

closer to the cushion. Is the pot

on? No.

2:49:552:50:03

He is just coming around the table

to pick a spot he would like to put

2:50:092:50:13

the cue ball in.

2:50:132:50:16

Just over the two hours. A

fascinating first round match.

2:50:332:50:45

Every match in the Masters could be

a final, with the top 16 playing.

2:50:452:50:52

That is why it is one of the

toughest tournaments to win.

2:50:522:50:59

He could be in behind the yellow, is

he? Oh, very good.

2:51:142:51:24

he? Oh, very good. Not quite.

2:51:242:51:31

He could pot this. You need good

eyesight.

2:51:312:51:42

eyesight. It just seemed to catch

the cushion first. A flick on the

2:51:462:51:58

red and he would have potted it.

2:51:582:52:05

Judging by his body language he has

not finished nicely on this yellow.

2:52:182:52:27

A deep screw, right-hand side.

2:52:292:52:40

This is already the longest frame so

far.

2:53:412:53:48

It has been fast and furious snooker

up until now.

2:53:522:53:58

There are still quite a few reds

available to Mark Selby.

2:54:092:54:14

I can see another five pottable reds

available to him, if he can keep

2:54:362:54:45

close control of the cue ball. It is

a good chance to extend his lead to

2:54:452:54:52

5-3 and be one away from victory.

2:54:522:54:58

He did not quite getting to that. I

think he is just OK.

2:55:142:55:23

He is looking for 67 points, which

would leave Mark Williams at the

2:55:532:56:01

snookers required stage. He wanted

to leave the two reds for the right

2:56:012:56:07

corner pocket. They are only

available into the right corner and

2:56:072:56:13

he overscrewed that. This is

slightly more difficult now.

2:56:132:56:21

I think he still has to play the

pink. The only colour that offers

2:56:342:56:39

the most straightforward position on

the next red. He does not like it.

2:56:392:56:50

If he had have got on the pink in

such a way he could have screwed to

2:56:582:57:03

where the circle is. He had to

change his plan because of that.

2:57:032:57:09

The open reds with pinks and blacks

would be enough.

2:57:542:58:08

He has been pretty impressive today,

Mark Selby. He went 2-0 down doing

2:58:222:58:28

nothing wrong and from then he has

been very solid. He seems to be

2:58:282:58:33

getting stronger as the match goes

on.

2:58:332:58:38

He has a chance of possibly making a

century. He has to pot this and

2:59:362:59:42

leave the angle on the black to

disturb the two reds.

2:59:422:59:50

Well, I think Mark is looking

surprised.

This

2:59:593:00:06

surprised.

This is like 9-ball, that

going in. Great effort. But that

3:00:073:00:17

looks like end of break. The red is

touching, so it gives him a chance.

3:00:173:00:26

That was not going to go in. An

excellent break from Mark Selby.

3:00:263:00:40

And Steve, you quite rightly

predicted that that's what sets the

3:00:403:00:44

very best players in the world apart

from the rest. Mark Selby just

3:00:443:00:48

getting into the final stages and

looking to seal the deal as quickly

3:00:483:00:51

as possible.

It seems to be.

3:00:513:00:55

The

3:00:553:00:55

The likes of Mark Williams who have

been world champion and one here as

3:00:553:01:01

well, cutting edge players seem to

get themselves out of trouble.

What

3:01:013:01:06

happened to Mark Williams?

It's

difficult to play someone who is

3:01:063:01:11

such a tough match player. And

possibly one of the best that we've

3:01:113:01:16

ever seen. Steve Davis, John

Higgins, Mark Selby have taken over

3:01:163:01:20

that until. And even though he is

not the top of his game, he's so

3:01:203:01:27

hard to beat. He plays all the right

shots, the safety is in the top 10%

3:01:273:01:32

of everyone in the game. Even when

he's not at the top, as I said. Is

3:01:323:01:37

so hard to break down.

I'm not

trying to put a downer on this, it

3:01:373:01:43

looks like the pockets are playing,

once again, the bit generous, a

3:01:433:01:47

brand-new cloth, they are very

strongly templated. If the pockets

3:01:473:01:51

are playing a bit easier, it

sometimes the most accurate players

3:01:513:01:55

in some ways they have an advantage.

Once they get in, they don't ever

3:01:553:01:59

get a miss, they don't get cheated

by the table. Tight pockets, you get

3:01:593:02:05

scrappy snooker which helps other

players. If the pockets are playing

3:02:053:02:08

more generous, the players who are

more accurate position Lee starter

3:02:083:02:12

home in on them and they are tough

to beat.

We should also say well

3:02:123:02:18

done Mark Williams and Mark Selby

for giving this crowd a chuckle, a

3:02:183:02:22

lesson that snooker can be a lot of

fun.

Even under the pressure, and

3:02:223:02:27

what they are playing for today,

Mark Williams hiding the cue ball,

3:02:273:02:32

it was quite funny.

We're always

laughing and joking around the

3:02:323:02:35

table!

Wonderful, alliterative Welsh

humour. Back to Dennis. -- a little

3:02:353:02:43

bit of Welsh humour.

3:02:433:02:44

Mark Williams breaks off and he is

hoping it's not good to be his last

3:02:503:02:53

break of in this match.

3:02:533:02:59

break of in this match. Because he's

got to win three frames in a row.

3:02:593:03:04

And he's got to be thinking about

how he started the match. He

3:03:043:03:16

how he started the match. He was

victorious in two very quick match.

3:03:163:03:19

Never write him off.

3:03:193:03:27

REFEREE:

Foul. What a cracking pot

on the red.

Amazing how he could

3:04:373:04:46

knock the black in. He was hoping he

might go around the back of the

3:04:463:04:50

black but at that time to knock the

backing, amazing.

3:04:503:05:02

A little bit of misfortune, might

just open the door slightly for the

3:05:033:05:07

Welsh potting machine here.

3:05:073:05:10

Again, you might have seen a stand

into the bunch from that black. Stay

3:05:163:05:23

on this thread that he's going to

play, but he's got a different way

3:05:233:05:29

of playing the game.

3:05:293:05:35

Just likes to pick the reds off

almost one by one.

3:05:543:06:02

A little bit unlucky here to be

honest. Hope to be a lot easier on

3:06:163:06:21

this red.

3:06:213:06:27

Happens so often. But as the

follow-through shot. When you go

3:06:273:06:32

through the bunch, and you get the

cue ball jammed in the side cushion.

3:06:323:06:39

I do think there's much use in

taking the black on here. That's the

3:06:393:06:45

well played and well executed shot.

He's got a slight bit of angle. But

3:06:453:06:52

not much there.

3:06:523:06:53

Just decided to take the seven

points. Rather than pot the black,

3:07:083:07:18

but decided that the points might

prove invaluable later on.

3:07:183:07:26

That's a brave shot, offer cushion.

-- often percussion.

3:07:283:07:37

He's got the upper hand now with

rolling in behind the yellow, but a

3:07:373:07:43

terrific attempt there almost from

the cushion.

Look at the brown. No,

3:07:433:07:50

this is the shot.

3:07:503:07:52

I think we can possibly see that

every game he is going to become

3:07:573:08:02

more aggressive, take the shots on.

That was an excellent shot. A clever

3:08:023:08:05

shot, he could see, only read he

could leave.

And if he had had

3:08:053:08:14

slipped past the yellow, he would

have won the frame. The cake, he has

3:08:143:08:19

got Mark in all sorts of trouble

here.

3:08:193:08:27

here. I think he was so determined,

when he hit the yellow, that's when

3:08:273:08:31

he thought about it. But as I

mentioned, he will do well to do

3:08:313:08:42

things safely here.

3:08:423:08:43

That's about the best he could do,

to make contact with the ball from

3:09:113:09:16

that position was excellent.

3:09:163:09:23

It's not bad, needs to keep on

running otherwise he leaves the red

3:09:283:09:32

to the right of the black. I think

he has left that.

3:09:323:09:36

So that 40 point advantage could

disappear rapidly.

3:09:423:09:53

Starting to look ominous now for

Mark Williams. It's hard to see

3:12:223:12:30

where Mark Selby will go wrong here.

3:12:303:12:37

Looking better by the shot, Mark

Selby.

He could convert from this

3:13:353:13:42

opportunity, if he does, it's a very

good win this afternoon for Mark

3:13:423:13:47

Selby. He'll because appointed he

went out of the first round in the

3:13:473:13:54

UK, this is the second of the triple

Crown, he was 2-0 down, didn't do

3:13:543:14:00

anything wrong, but if Selby does

convert, he will have won six out of

3:14:003:14:06

the last seven frames, very solid

indeed.

And if he does clinch the

3:14:063:14:12

match here, he's got a bit of a

break before his quarterfinal match,

3:14:123:14:17

he won't play again until Friday. So

probably will head home with his

3:14:173:14:23

wife Vikki.

3:14:233:14:30

There is Vikki there, watching on.

Still got a little bit to do to

3:14:353:14:38

clinch the match.

3:14:383:14:46

Got a kick, he got a terrible kick

there. Just when he was about to

3:14:463:14:53

clinch the match should, this

happens. You could see the red jump

3:14:533:14:59

there. Amazing.

That's incredible,

it really is. Looked for all the

3:14:593:15:11

money that it was game over, 6-3.

3:15:113:15:13

Slight grimace there, left himself

dead straight on the blue. He will

3:15:393:15:44

be playing from further away than he

would have liked. He will

3:15:443:15:47

follow-through the cue ball.

Straight enough to be able to play

3:15:473:15:53

the bottom.

3:15:533:15:58

the bottom.

Well, it wobbled a

little bit but safely in the pocket.

3:15:583:16:01

I'm sure that he felt that he was in

the quarterfinal, unless he gets

3:16:143:16:19

kick. That's the sort of thing that

happens in this game, when it's not

3:16:193:16:26

your fault. It's pretty annoying.

3:16:263:16:35

He was going to be in the

quarterfinal, as it is, Mark

3:16:423:16:47

Williams was offered a lifeline and

he took it. He still trails Mark

3:16:473:16:54

Selby by five frames to four.

3:16:543:16:56

We are a few thought that Mark Selby

was currently popping into this

3:16:593:17:02

studio in the next five or ten

minutes for a chat, but that's a

3:17:023:17:05

cruel twist of fate.

The sport is

all about accuracy and under

3:17:053:17:12

pressure playing well, but there's

also an element of luck in any sport

3:17:123:17:15

and one of the lucky thing that can

happen in a game of snooker is the

3:17:153:17:19

bad contact between cue ball and

object ball. Destroyed the potting

3:17:193:17:22

angle, look at his face. That is

obviously what happened. Mark

3:17:223:17:26

Williams was good enough to

capitalise.

You have been talking

3:17:263:17:30

about staying down on the shots, and

Mark Selby knew straightaway.

He

3:17:303:17:34

knew from the contact, obviously.

It's one of those anomalies in the

3:17:343:17:41

game that you have to contend with.

If I had one criticism, I'd say he

3:17:413:17:44

wasn't on the red straight enough.

It was a poor positional shot, the

3:17:443:17:47

cue ball could have been straighter,

that's picking at straws slightly.

3:17:473:17:52

But a twist of fate, and how much

will it affect Mark Selby? You saw

3:17:523:17:59

him talking to himself, Mark

Williams, dead right, going out, let

3:17:593:18:03

him stew in his chair, perfect time

to go out after winning a frame.

3:18:033:18:07

There was a shot of Mark Selby, if

we look at him now, that's exactly

3:18:073:18:12

the pose he was in when Mark

Williams one that frame. And you

3:18:123:18:15

thought, if you had a little speech

bubble, you would wonder what you

3:18:153:18:19

put in there, I don't think we could

fill in what's going through his

3:18:193:18:23

mind.

Any good lip readers in the

area would have known. But it's

3:18:233:18:28

unlikely that he's going to stew for

very long. There he is, still

3:18:283:18:31

stewing! He's unlikely that he will

let that spill into the next frame.

3:18:313:18:37

Mark Williams is going to compose

and soft as well. That was a good

3:18:373:18:41

parent under pressure as well. All

to play for, who is to say that Mark

3:18:413:18:46

Williams can't make a recovery?

Mark

Williams knows he's very well in

3:18:463:18:52

this.

Yes, six - five still

possible.

I did say at the start of

3:18:523:19:01

the afternoon, you said it was 6-5.

3:19:013:19:08

Mark Selby gets this tenth frame

under way, and not the best break

3:19:153:19:19

off that he has made this afternoon.

You'll want to put that heavy

3:19:193:19:26

contact out of your mind as as

possible, but easier said than done.

3:19:263:19:37

Needs the brown to come to the

rescue and I think it has, he has

3:20:093:20:14

got the red over the left corner but

he had a pretty good safety shot.

3:20:143:20:24

I think you might be tempted to

taking this read

3:20:323:20:40

A fabulous long pot for Mark

Williams but look where he put the

3:20:553:21:00

cue ball. Oh, would you believe it?

He potted the red and he left it in

3:21:003:21:11

such a way that he wasn't leaving

the red over the pocket, playing a

3:21:113:21:16

shot to nothing, and then after that

fabulous read, this is a blue that

3:21:163:21:22

he would normally not in. -- not in.

-- knock in. Not an easy positional

3:21:223:21:33

shot here, the black only available

into the pockets that he is taking

3:21:333:21:37

this red.

3:21:373:21:39

God is to find a path for the cue

ball here. -- he has got to find a

3:21:433:21:49

path. Those three red, or the reds

behind the pink. Getting plenty of

3:21:493:21:57

work on the cue ball, really

striking down on it. Beautiful shot,

3:21:573:22:02

brilliant shot.

3:22:023:22:09

You won't see very many better

controlled positional shots than

3:22:103:22:15

that.

3:22:153:22:25

This is that what he needed after

what happened in the last frame, a

3:22:263:22:30

good chance straightaway.

3:22:303:22:36

Look how low he gets this, right

down to the bottom of the cue ball,

3:22:543:22:58

to get that action on it. Brilliant.

You don't get to win three World

3:22:583:23:06

Championship in the last four years

without being able to cope with that

3:23:063:23:10

kick and come straight back like

this.

3:23:103:23:17

Yes, snooker, granted, any sport at

this level, is about temperament.

3:23:213:23:31

A little bit of luck on that shot,

going for the red on the left-hand

3:24:303:24:34

side of the table to the right

middle. He could power through off

3:24:343:24:38

to cushions, he chose to play with a

lot of left-hand side. A tough shot.

3:24:383:24:49

That's turned out OK. He was a bit

short with his safety shot, the fact

3:25:313:25:36

that he has finished in front of the

brown makes it quite difficult.

3:25:363:25:45

Mark Selby, you might have heard

that, tapped the chalk on the table

3:26:363:26:41

for the acknowledgement of the good

safety shot. They have had some

3:26:413:26:44

great battles down the years, they

first played each other way back in

3:26:443:26:49

1999. Mark Williams has good ten

wins to Mark Selby's nine.

3:26:493:26:57

Their first meeting, I'm sure Mark

Selby has long forgotten, that was

3:26:583:27:01

in the UK championship in 1999. Mark

Williams defeated the reigning world

3:27:013:27:12

champion 9-0, believe it or not.

3:27:123:27:15

Far too thin. Much too thin a

contact there. Unusual for Mark

3:27:563:28:04

Selby in that sort of area.

3:28:043:28:12

Pink goes to left corner so nothing

to do with the cue ball here, just

3:28:413:28:45

concentrating on keeping still.

3:28:453:28:52

He's going to get a fixed contact on

the bunch here. -- a fixed contact.

3:29:273:29:34

He played it at a very soft pace but

he needed to be harder than that.

3:29:343:29:43

Played it at that pace because he

didn't want to lose the cue ball

3:29:433:29:46

near either corner pocket. Surely

that doesn't go, is he looking at

3:29:463:29:53

the plant?

3:29:533:29:59

I don't think you can hit the first

read thinly enough to make plant. If

3:30:083:30:15

he was in behind the first red, he

might have a chance of making it,

3:30:153:30:21

but this has to be struck so thinly,

percent of the other red onto the

3:30:213:30:27

red to make the plant, I don't know

if he can hit this hardener. -- hard

3:30:273:30:32

enough.

3:30:323:30:38

You see dead in line, so he'd have

to hit that first red fullbore. I

3:30:383:30:44

don't think the shot is on.

3:30:443:30:45

And he is looking at a cut to the

middle pocket.

3:31:133:31:16

They lovely shot -- a lovely shot.

Side on the cue ball to kill the

3:31:353:31:48

pace. Do not take your eye off the

pot. He's playing the cannon. Good

3:31:483:31:59

shot.

3:31:593:32:06

That little smile tells me he will

have to bend it. Playing it with

3:32:083:32:14

side. Yes, nicely played.

3:32:143:32:21

Very difficult with the reds as they

are.

3:32:293:32:41

are. He could try to bring one

interplay if he has a good enough

3:32:413:32:46

angle, but I do not think he has. A

little bit more angle he could have

3:32:463:32:53

had the cannon and he would have

been guaranteed to be on the one

3:32:533:32:59

left of the blue spot.

A long look

at the red in the middle. He's

3:32:593:33:07

taking on the double.

3:33:073:33:08

A little unlucky.

3:33:473:33:53

Would he risk it? This is tough, if

he is taking it on. Brilliant.

3:33:533:34:12

he is taking it on. Brilliant. Is it

natural to cannon the red out?

3:34:123:34:19

This attempt to develop that red.

The other will pot, but it is tough.

3:34:313:34:42

If you potted the red and black he

would be 35 in front with 35 on the

3:34:423:34:49

table. He changed his mind. He was

going to play underarm.

3:34:493:35:01

There is a chance now for Mark

Selby. We show you the attempt. Once

3:35:123:35:21

you touch the near jaw they do not

go in. If that red does not pot into

3:35:213:35:32

the middle, he could have the angle

to nudge it out.

3:35:323:35:46

An anxious look to see if he has

covered that and I think he has.

3:35:543:36:02

Yes.

3:36:023:36:07

He had to bring that red interplay.

Although he has the 27 point

3:36:223:36:30

advantage, you would think that

whoever pots the first red will take

3:36:303:36:34

the frame. And in Mark's case, the

match.

3:36:343:36:44

Looking to see a piquancy enough to

cut this red in.

3:37:123:37:23

cut this red in. -- looking to see

if he can see enough.

3:37:253:37:34

It was a good effort. He left it

over the pocket. We could have a

3:37:363:37:41

deciding frame.

3:37:413:37:46

You can guarantee Mark Selby is

sitting in his chair, thinking about

3:37:583:38:01

that kick on the red. Thinking that

he should not still be in this

3:38:013:38:08

arena.

3:38:083:38:10

All credit to Mark Williams for

keeping this alive.

3:38:183:38:27

It has been a cracking match. The

standard has been superb. I suppose

3:38:323:38:36

it is fitting of a deciding frame.

Although Stephen said it looked all

3:38:363:38:42

over until that bad contact for Mark

Selby.

3:38:423:38:52

This is the special shot he has made

his own.

3:38:563:39:05

A terrific performance from the

Welsh Potting Machine, as he is

3:39:133:39:21

known. We have a deciding frame.

What a match we have had this

3:39:213:39:29

afternoon. All square. A

3:39:293:39:32

What a match we have had this

afternoon. All square. A one frame

3:39:323:39:34

shoot out.

STUDIO: Which pundit came into the

3:39:343:39:37

arena and said it is going down to a

final frame decider? Well done,

3:39:373:39:42

Kenna. You could say it is deserving

of going into the final frame

3:39:423:39:47

decider because of the start Mark

Williams had.

The standard has been

3:39:473:39:54

fantastic with good safety play.

Great breaks. One visit. Thoroughly

3:39:543:40:01

entertaining, enthralling, gripping.

And it through the kick interplay.

3:40:013:40:07

Mark Selby should have been into the

quarterfinals 6-3 and now he looks

3:40:073:40:12

the more nervous of the players.

I

think we will see high-scoring

3:40:123:40:16

matches. The pockets look generous.

Which is easy, sitting here! Coming

3:40:163:40:23

down to the final frame in this

match, we have been told, 62%, Mark

3:40:233:40:30

Selby winning last frame deciders

and 54% Mark Williams winning last

3:40:303:40:36

frame decider is over his career. A

fractional difference but on the day

3:40:363:40:41

it is anybody's.

Mark Williams was

beaten 6-5 in this very arena in

3:40:413:40:49

this championship against the same

opponent last year. Will that play

3:40:493:40:53

on his mind?

I do not think so. Of

the two, Mark Williams will be more

3:40:533:41:00

confident because he has come from

two frames back. The wind is him his

3:41:003:41:06

sales. But as Steve said, fine

margins. It is one chance and it

3:41:063:41:12

could be all over for either Blair.

They are clever tacticians. You

3:41:123:41:18

would not think Mark Selby would

still be upset about the kick but it

3:41:183:41:22

could play on your mind, especially

if he gets behind, that it is

3:41:223:41:27

written in the stars he would lose.

But the best champions are usually

3:41:273:41:33

able to look forward and play one

shot at a time. Your adrenaline will

3:41:333:41:39

pump up. You usually get decent last

frame decider is between two great

3:41:393:41:45

players. I feel it is unlikely to be

scrapping.

You read my mind. As

3:41:453:41:51

sport fans we often do not ask the

questions that seem obvious. You

3:41:513:41:57

have been in this situation, does

the heartbeat faster in this

3:41:573:42:02

situation?

This is a big match for

both players in the second biggest

3:42:023:42:08

tournament of the calendar year and

they both want to be in with a

3:42:083:42:15

chance of getting into the

quarterfinals so a lot of pressure.

3:42:153:42:18

Even though they have been in this

situation before, the pulses racing?

3:42:183:42:24

It is that they are experienced

enough to know they have to keep

3:42:243:42:27

calm under pressure. They look for

one good chance and also the first

3:42:273:42:33

chance, because they know that could

be the frame-winner.

Mark Selby

3:42:333:42:37

against Mark Williams. Wow. A final

frame decider. Dennis and Stephen,

3:42:373:42:45

take it away.

3:42:453:42:46

frame decider. Dennis and Stephen,

take it away.

3:42:463:42:51

DENNIS TAYLOR: Mark might have been

thinking about last year, in the

3:42:523:42:57

deciding frame he got one chance and

he made an 80 plus break to clinch

3:42:573:43:03

it. But that was last year.

3:43:033:43:10

Very little tactical play early on

in this match. Both players playing

3:43:223:43:27

superb snooker.

3:43:273:43:33

As John Parrott always says, in the

deciding frame you want one chance,

3:43:353:43:42

that is all you want. Whether you

take it is another story.

3:43:423:43:53

That is an attacking safety shot.

Catching the green was not the order

3:44:093:44:16

of the day but he played in such a

way that he opened up the reds.

3:44:163:44:27

He does pot fantastic long balls.

Nine out of ten he has potted.

I was

3:44:443:44:56

watching Mark Selby when the red

went in and there was a little shake

3:44:563:44:59

of the head. Almost like one of

those resigned shakes of the head.

3:44:593:45:06

You think after that kick, is it

destined I lose this match.

3:45:063:45:19

Mark Williams is normally good at

taking match winning chances.

3:45:213:45:24

An excellent shot.

3:45:353:45:43

He lost 6-5 to Mark Selby last year.

2016 at this stage she lost 6-5 to

3:46:123:46:22

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Will it be his

year? There is a long way to go.

3:46:223:46:34

He would love to get on the red to

the right of the black, but he

3:46:443:46:49

cannot at the moment.

3:46:493:46:51

He tried to drop on it and it has

gone a little bit far. It was

3:47:003:47:05

difficult, he had to find the gap.

If he finished in the gap and had

3:47:053:47:10

been able to pot that he would have

freed up the black and it would have

3:47:103:47:15

been a terrific chance.

3:47:153:47:22

He rescued the situation with an

excellent pot. Again, a clever shot.

3:47:453:48:00

He may have a red to this right

corner. A thin cut back. He could

3:48:003:48:10

play so he could put the cue ball

near the cushion.

3:48:103:48:18

The green is available and he has

the angle to get back up to the

3:48:273:48:31

reds.

3:48:313:48:39

This has finished awkward.

He is

certainly not making it easy.

3:48:393:48:52

But he keeps potting the balls.

3:48:553:48:59

There was an untimely cough on his

backswing.

3:49:393:49:53

And just enough to upset his

concentration. He got up from the

3:49:543:50:02

shot and back down again.

3:50:023:50:10

That was not good timing. Just

enough to put him off.

3:50:173:50:27

He has not played the best

positional shot. He will need a good

3:50:323:50:37

recovery.

3:50:373:50:39

That was a shocker. So much margin

for error.

3:50:423:50:54

He will not even go for a pot now.

3:50:553:51:04

He seems to have lost composure at

the moment, Mark Selby.

3:51:043:51:10

There is an escape route but he has

to be careful he does not push a red

3:51:263:51:31

over the right corner.

3:51:313:51:39

over the right corner. He has come

up short. But he did not want to hit

3:51:393:51:44

it with more pace.

3:51:443:51:50

Can Mark Selby create a chance for

himself with a very good safety?

3:51:543:52:03

Mark Selby is worried about doing

exactly as mentioned, pushing a red

3:52:223:52:28

towards the right corner.

3:52:283:52:33

He knows one mistake and his Masters

could be over.

3:52:333:52:52

At first glance, Mark Williams might

be forced into taking this red on. I

3:53:163:53:23

do not see a shot on the left-hand

side of the table to get the cue

3:53:233:53:31

ball back to baulk. He might have to

pot himself out of trouble.

3:53:313:53:41

There was a generous round of

applause for that excellent safety

3:53:543:53:58

shot. It had to be very thin. With

the black in this situation it is,

3:53:583:54:06

it is an advantage for Mark

Williams, with the 38 points

3:54:063:54:09

advantage.

3:54:093:54:15

Well that was a terrific long pot.

And look at the gap he had to find.

3:54:383:54:49

Two fairly easy reds and then we

have four reds almost typed on the

3:54:543:55:03

cushion behind the black -- tight on

the cushion.

3:55:033:55:08

This could go down to the covers. --

colours.

3:55:123:55:24

He has left himself straight on the

red. Does the black go to the left

3:55:313:55:37

corner? Not the best angle.

3:55:373:55:47

If he plays the cannon he is

trusting to luck with the position.

3:55:513:56:02

That will do. I said he trusted to

luck and he got some.

3:56:083:56:21

It would be some effort to win the

match at this visit to the table.

3:56:333:56:43

He would like to pot at least

another couple of reds and blacks

3:56:443:56:48

and get back into this frame.

3:56:483:56:50

This time there was noise backstage

that caused Mark to step away.

3:56:573:57:07

He may have the angle to take the

red out to the left of the other

3:57:183:57:25

two.

3:57:253:57:31

two.

That was to thin. There is

pressure on this.

3:57:313:57:42

We have talked about the pockets

playing generous. Mark Selby need

3:57:483:57:53

that now.

3:57:533:58:02

That was very good, playing for the

father -- for knuckle.

3:58:023:58:14

He has played it well. What an

effort this is. From the reigning

3:58:283:58:38

world champion. Four reds tied up on

the back cushion.

He has to get high

3:58:383:58:48

on the black.

3:58:483:58:54

on the black. He is dead straight,

which is fine, he can just drop on

3:58:543:58:57

this red. I do not know if he has

the angle to follow through on two

3:58:573:59:03

cushions. But he is just going to

drop it in.

Another tricky shot and

3:59:033:59:14

the yellow being offered its spot

makes it slightly more awkward, but

3:59:143:59:20

all of his effort will be on this

red.

3:59:203:59:27

No. Can you believe it? They are

always tricky.

3:59:273:59:41

REFEREE:

Quieten down, please.

3:59:413:59:49

With the yellow off its spot, it

makes it slightly awkward for the

3:59:493:59:53

clearance.

I wonder whether he will

risk a cannon on the brown. If he

3:59:534:00:05

plays to drop off the cushion and

onto the yellow, there is definitely

4:00:054:00:09

the brown but the green, as well,

you could snooker yourself behind.

4:00:094:00:19

He could hold it, that's a beautiful

shot.

Really dead straight. Have a

4:00:224:00:30

look at the schools. Five frames

all, 45 points all. What an opening

4:00:304:00:36

match in this year's masters. And

look at the points, just six points

4:00:364:00:43

separating them.

4:00:434:00:50

Pace on the cue ball needs to move

on a little bit further.

4:01:024:01:17

They could have gone anywhere on the

brown there.

4:01:184:01:27

Just the blue.

4:01:274:01:36

What a match these two players have

given us this afternoon. At and it's

4:01:434:01:59

in, Mark Williams has one. -- the

Welsh potting machine has done it.

4:01:594:02:07

He takes the match by six frames to

five.

4:02:074:02:11

Just an unbelievable match. The

opening game of this year's masters

4:02:154:02:22

and what a game, two former

champions and it's lived up to its

4:02:224:02:26

billing. What a game, that's all you

can say.

Two great champions of the

4:02:264:02:33

game have really entertained the

crowd. You expected Mark Selby,

4:02:334:02:38

after plotting to reds to get that

last one but the tension rises. To

4:02:384:02:44

be fair, it was never in. If it had

dropped, it would have been a

4:02:444:02:48

travesty. Mark Williams held himself

together. The break-up but easy to

4:02:484:02:51

get the colours.

4:02:514:02:54

As Mark Selby looked like he was

going to win again, he handled these

4:02:544:03:02

big pressure moments, but Mark

didn't look happy going down onto

4:03:024:03:04

the shot.

He didn't look happy. He

needed to be high on the back so he

4:03:044:03:09

could get closer with the cue ball

to the red, never hit it well at

4:03:094:03:16

all, that was the frame and match

ball for both players. If the red

4:03:164:03:20

would have gone in, Mark Selby would

have won the match but Mark Williams

4:03:204:03:23

held himself so well.

The

significance of this for Mark Selby,

4:03:234:03:31

crashing out of the UK championship

as well, this is a big moment.

I

4:03:314:03:34

tell you what, doesn't matter how

many times you have one events...

4:03:344:03:42

Congratulations! To keep on winning,

especially as you get older, putting

4:03:424:03:46

in great performances, I think as

you get older, you get prouder.

Well

4:03:464:03:52

done, great to see you.

It's like

eventually quit act! -- eventually

4:03:524:03:59

quest!

I thought it was a good much

all the way through. I got some good

4:03:594:04:08

breaks. When I was 5-3 down, I went

for a lot of difficult shots, I

4:04:084:04:12

thought I wouldn't attack it and go

out attacking. I done one shot in

4:04:124:04:16

the last frame, if I lost that, I

would have never have forgiven

4:04:164:04:20

myself. Always rather go out on a

pot than the safety. I turned the

4:04:204:04:24

red, it wasn't easy. Looked like it

was going to clear up. I would have

4:04:244:04:31

been fuming. I don't mind losing but

I don't want to play safe.

That

4:04:314:04:42

break of 135, the boys were glowing,

you looked so relaxed and

4:04:424:04:46

comfortable.

I should have plotted

the black, but I set it up well. I

4:04:464:04:49

just missed it.

Mark had a wide at

the end, was he talking about the

4:04:494:05:00

kit?

Since we have used this mutual,

we have had some kicks.

I think we

4:05:004:05:09

both played -- this new chalk. I

think we both played quite well.

I

4:05:094:05:14

thought when you are down, it would

not bother you because you have been

4:05:144:05:19

playing so well.

I have been playing

so well all season, it's tough to

4:05:194:05:24

beat Selby, I knew it was going to

be tough. I didn't think I was going

4:05:244:05:30

to lose until he had that kick.

We

have not got a microphone for you,

4:05:304:05:35

hopefully will be able to use your

dad's microphone, how does it feel

4:05:354:05:38

to watch him play in such a

alternating match, diesel is amazing

4:05:384:05:43

that are ready you think he's as

nervous -- do you get as nervous as

4:05:434:05:50

him?

Yeah.

No swearing!

You still

gets tense when you walk out?

I

4:05:504:05:58

hardly ever get butterflies or

nervous. The only time I got nervous

4:05:584:06:03

was when I was 39, missed the red,

wasn't easy but I should have got

4:06:034:06:11

it, then I got the butterflies which

is not like me.

You still get the

4:06:114:06:16

buzz going out, final frame in the

match.

This is what you want, you

4:06:164:06:21

play table setups and qualifiers,

it's difficult. You don't get to

4:06:214:06:26

experience this very often now.

Every time I come back, I enjoyed

4:06:264:06:30

more.

You have been having a good

run recently. You must be proud of

4:06:304:06:34

your performance to get back on top

16 but also starts to be

4:06:344:06:39

competitive.

That's a great feeling

on your way up. Definitely, I have

4:06:394:06:42

been in and out of top 16 for so

many times. I have managed to claw

4:06:424:06:47

my way back in again. I'm actually

playing quite good stuff.

I don't

4:06:474:06:52

mind now. What about the fact that

you have lost 6-5 to Selby in the

4:06:524:06:56

first round in this venue last, does

that play on your mind?

I think the

4:06:564:07:01

last two or three times I played

here, I lost to run a 6-5 twice and

4:07:014:07:09

Selby 6-5. It was five all again. So

when the draw comes out, they are

4:07:094:07:14

the two players I want to miss. I

don't mind playing any of the other

4:07:144:07:17

ones.

Where have you found this

resurgence of form? You've always

4:07:174:07:23

the rate consistent but all of a

sudden you have won a tournament,

4:07:234:07:29

and you have been very consistent.

It's no coincidence, it's Steve

4:07:294:07:34

helping me with the site, and how I

lay the ball. If you are in the

4:07:344:07:39

white line before you get down, you

have got a chance of potting it. I

4:07:394:07:44

was so far out, no wonder I had not

ported a long ball for five years.

4:07:444:07:49

He won in Northern Ireland, are you

practising more?

Yeah, loads. I play

4:07:494:07:56

with a couple of youngsters in the

club, is to be fair, they are

4:07:564:08:00

killing me, getting me in the club

at 9am after dropping him off to

4:08:004:08:06

school. And I'm still here at 5pm

playing with those two. When I say I

4:08:064:08:13

have had enough, they have another

11 after I've gone. It's pushing me

4:08:134:08:17

on, I'm enjoying it as well.

You can

see your stats, 92%

4:08:174:08:27

see your stats, 92% pot success.

Stephen Hendry will still be

4:08:274:08:31

whingeing, I could be 100% and he

Would still whinge! We were talking

4:08:314:08:42

about 20 years ago, you have changed

in the last 20 years.

I looked like

4:08:424:08:47

him! You can't say much!

But we do

have to say, other sports need to

4:08:474:08:57

take a leaf out of the snooker

sport, because you had a bit of fun

4:08:574:09:00

pinching the cue ball.

I will

probably get fined for that. You're

4:09:004:09:03

not supposed to touch it.

It

certainly got the crowd going as

4:09:034:09:07

well. What did you think, you

thought, I'm going to have some fun?

4:09:074:09:11

My first hit it, he said it looks

like red, and I thought it was

4:09:114:09:20

blacked first. I knew it was going

to take ages so I thought I would

4:09:204:09:24

make the white. He said, he's got

the white! I had him they're going,

4:09:244:09:32

I don't know where it is!

You have

all sorts of luck in the game, you

4:09:324:09:39

can have a kick or get away with the

safety shots. To try and get away

4:09:394:09:45

from that snooker and twice not

leave him shot, that was

4:09:454:09:48

unbelievable.

Was there another

shot? I could not see another one.

4:09:484:09:53

To smash into the balls twice and

not leave your opponent a shot but

4:09:534:09:57

not the way it jumped off the table,

it was a result for me.

I thought,

4:09:574:10:01

happy days. You will not wait till

Friday, so home tonight?

Straight

4:10:014:10:05

home now. He will try and get a day

off school. I didn't say that!

No

4:10:054:10:12

child!

Teachers are watching!

His

eyes perked up, amazing!

The other

4:10:124:10:19

one was going to come up but he

said, I'm not coming to watch,

4:10:194:10:24

you're too boring.

Is he watching at

home?

He's probably on his Xbox, he

4:10:244:10:29

doesn't care how I get on!

Safe trip

back. Thank you both for coming in

4:10:294:10:34

to see us. We will see you on

Friday, Mark. Our match this evening

4:10:344:10:41

sees Luca Brecel taking on Mark

Allen.

4:10:414:10:50

Luca Brecel was born in Belgium. On

the 8th of March 1990.

He turned

4:10:504:11:01

professional in 2011.

In 2012, aged

17, he became the youngest man to

4:11:014:11:09

play at the Crucible.

He's already

won over half £1 million in prize

4:11:094:11:14

money.

His nickname is the Belgian

bullet.

In 2010, he was named Young

4:11:144:11:22

Belgian Sportsman of the year.

He

won the European Championships under

4:11:224:11:34

1920 was 14.

In August 2017, he

became the first player from

4:11:344:11:38

mainland Europe to win a ranking

event when he took the China

4:11:384:11:41

championship.

He is a big hip hop

fan.

This season has seen him into

4:11:414:11:48

the top 16 for the first time.

4:11:484:11:55

He is a big hip hop fan. So will

have these winning on the dance

4:11:554:12:00

floor tonight?

He plays with style

and panache, that's for certain. You

4:12:004:12:04

never know what shot he's going to

play. He compounds players, very

4:12:044:12:08

attacking. Identikit will be a -- I

do not think it will be a slow

4:12:084:12:14

match.

We saw him at the Crucible,

he was really great.

He has won his

4:12:144:12:19

first ranking tournament, full of

confidence, great potter, exciting

4:12:194:12:23

to watch. I think it's going to be

another cracking match. All of these

4:12:234:12:27

first round matches are potentially

cracking.

The very fact that he's

4:12:274:12:31

making his debut, does that make an

impact, taking on someone like Mark

4:12:314:12:36

Allen who has been here before?

This

could be because this is an over or

4:12:364:12:39

inventive. It's always been for new

commerce. -- this is a very awesome

4:12:394:12:44

venue. It was has been for

newcomers. He's playing the modern

4:12:444:12:50

form of the game, which has been

aggressive. It gets more aggressive

4:12:504:12:54

every era. If you play the game and

you start getting the ball is in,

4:12:544:12:58

your confidence can override the

arena so he's got a chance. The

4:12:584:13:02

worst thing would be to come in here

and go into his shell and don't

4:13:024:13:06

think that'll happen.

Do you think

you will get out on the front foot

4:13:064:13:09

early on?

That will be his but he's

playing a very experienced play in

4:13:094:13:14

Mark Allen, and of the outsiders,

outside the top four. He could have

4:13:144:13:21

good run here. Very dangerous

opponent, scores quickly but they

4:13:214:13:25

both play similar games. I think

Mark Allen, a bit of experience

4:13:254:13:29

might be the difference but as I

said, a close game.

Mark Allen a few

4:13:294:13:32

years talked in this very venue

about how we would love to win the

4:13:324:13:40

Masters.

4:13:404:13:43

If you suddenly became master of

woodworking, will you make?

Are you

4:13:434:13:49

mad? I have no DIY is killed at also

that would never happen. -- no DIY

4:13:494:13:59

skills. I'd like to have a go at

making a snooker table. I know their

4:13:594:14:04

slate involved but I would give it a

go.

What was the most memorable gift

4:14:044:14:07

you have ever received?

Probably

when I was younger, I got a snooker

4:14:074:14:12

table for Christmas. That sounds bad

but it's my most memorable. I was

4:14:124:14:18

getting into snooker at the time and

I remember waking up Christmas

4:14:184:14:21

morning, I was devastated that it

was not in the living room. I went

4:14:214:14:25

and sulked on my bed in my room. And

then I was in my half, I went

4:14:254:14:30

straight past the book a table in my

bedroom -- I walked straight past

4:14:304:14:38

Mike stick a table and didn't even

see it!

If your childhood had a

4:14:384:14:42

smell, what would it be?

Mud. When I

was younger, I used to always play

4:14:424:14:48

football and come in stinking of

mud. My mum used to want to kill me

4:14:484:14:52

all the time.

What would be your

spirit animal?

The dog. I think I'm

4:14:524:15:00

very loyal. I think people like me

for the most part. But there's

4:15:004:15:07

always a little bit of viciousness

in there as well.

What lied you tell

4:15:074:15:12

most often?

That I'm on a diet and

losing weight. That's the biggest

4:15:124:15:18

lie ever. I love my food too much.

4:15:184:15:25

So, Mark Allen gets his master 's

campaign underway at 7pm. As you can

4:15:254:15:33

see, it is on the red button. I did

that interview talking about his

4:15:334:15:38

attitude to snooker, practising, but

also many people saying, you never

4:15:384:15:41

know with Mark Allen what you're

going to get at is a bit frustrated

4:15:414:15:44

by some of that analysis.

Yeah, I

think he's been a bit inconsistent.

4:15:444:15:50

For someone who's very talented and

he can beat any of the top players

4:15:504:15:54

on his day, without a shadow of a

doubt, he has not talked up as many

4:15:544:15:58

victories that would have liked.

He's always there or thereabouts.

4:15:584:16:02

Always expecting a big run from him

at any stage. He just hasn't

4:16:024:16:10

produced the consistency is the like

of Selby and the other top players.

4:16:104:16:15

That's his downfall at the moment.

But that can change may quickly.

But

4:16:154:16:21

I think if you can get your name on

the trophy of one of the majors,

4:16:214:16:25

especially the BBC events, but even

the biggest one in China, break the

4:16:254:16:30

ice in the way, it can lead to

winning big events. It's tough to

4:16:304:16:35

get that first one because you're up

against some great players. One

4:16:354:16:41

great performance and winning this

event one year, all of a sudden,

4:16:414:16:44

it's not the albatross around your

shoulder.

The floodgates could open.

4:16:444:16:49

It's one thing to be described as, I

hear it a lot, people say Mark Allen

4:16:494:16:54

is a dangerous opponent for someone.

Converting that danger into going

4:16:544:16:58

really deep into the big tournaments

like these.

Yeah, and he has enough

4:16:584:17:06

chances to get in that situation and

he's got to dominate the top

4:17:064:17:10

players. I suppose he has not

dominated that many of the big

4:17:104:17:13

names, strong enough to outplay them

throughout the tournament.

He's

4:17:134:17:16

always knocking on the door on the

semis and finals, he's won a few big

4:17:164:17:21

ranking tournaments, but one of

these tournaments, it hits your

4:17:214:17:25

waiting for it to happen and it

hasn't happened.

If you want to

4:17:254:17:30

watch Mark Allen versus Luca Brecel,

it's on the red button live and then

4:17:304:17:42

on the app as well. We are back for

the highlights tonight. Tomorrow,

4:17:424:17:49

Ryan Day back at the Masters, taking

on Ding Junhui. Before we leave you,

4:17:494:17:55

which took about the application

this has forced the truck would we

4:17:554:17:58

should talk about the indication --

we should talk about the

4:17:584:18:05

implications this has four Mark

Selby.

It's nice to be in good form

4:18:054:18:09

coming into the tournament, but he

is a long match player. The World

4:18:094:18:15

Championship suits him. He likes to

keep on top of his technique and if

4:18:154:18:21

you think things are wrong, he will

be trying things to change them. So

4:18:214:18:24

it's tough.

You can see how much it

meant to him missing that last red,

4:18:244:18:30

you don't usually seek such emotion

from him and it will haunt him

4:18:304:18:34

today.

Thank you very much, thank

you for watching. 7pm on the red

4:18:344:18:39

button for further live coverage,

Williams leaves his mark on the

4:18:394:18:42

Masters.

4:18:424:18:49

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