0:00:35 > 0:00:39Good evening and welcome back to Alexandra Palace, the quarterfinals
0:00:39 > 0:00:45of the 2018 Masters continue. Three men are already through to the
0:00:45 > 0:00:54semifinals and tonight one more Place is up for grabs.
0:01:23 > 0:01:29# This is a wild game of survival.
0:01:38 > 0:01:44# This is a wild game of survival. John Parrott is alongside me for our
0:01:44 > 0:01:49one-hour special on BBC Two before we take you on to the red button.
0:01:49 > 0:01:56Your reaction to Judd Trump knocking out Shaun Murphy.Disappointing? It
0:01:56 > 0:02:01was a bit pedestrian. I think Judd Trump played well to get back to
0:02:01 > 0:02:104-4. But his safety play was the tipping point. But it was a good
0:02:10 > 0:02:13performance from Judd Trump in the end.Has it come on from the times
0:02:13 > 0:02:18when we have had to criticise them, especially for his safety play when
0:02:18 > 0:02:34he has been a bit rash?Today I
0:02:37 > 0:02:38he has been a bit rash?Today I saw him in the studio and he said he has
0:02:38 > 0:02:41played better with his safety play. Since 2010 he has got to stay in
0:02:41 > 0:02:47this from an early start.He was 3-0 down to Ding Junhui the other day
0:02:47 > 0:02:53and he got out of it and he ended up getting over the line, but he cannot
0:02:53 > 0:02:56get away with that twice in the road. Now they are master tactician
0:02:56 > 0:03:04is and you do not want to be 3-0 behind.What are you expecting from
0:03:04 > 0:03:09him today?He was 4-2 down to Anthony McGill and he managed to win
0:03:09 > 0:03:14that match and he got away with it. I expect him to start better. Thank
0:03:14 > 0:03:23you very much indeed.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52This is what you practice for, really.He won his first round and
0:03:52 > 0:04:00that is a big monkey off his back. He is a dangerous player. He is very
0:04:00 > 0:04:07hard to score against when he gets going.I won the first competition
0:04:07 > 0:04:11of the season and I do not feel any different because it, but there were
0:04:11 > 0:04:20a couple of close matches and I pulled on that and inner belief.
0:04:21 > 0:04:22pulled on that and inner belief. He is on everyone's short list for the
0:04:22 > 0:04:32best player who has ever played. I look forward to it.
0:04:32 > 0:04:38look forward to it.Have been playing for nearly quarter of a
0:04:38 > 0:04:42century, 24 years. It has been a long time. I have it twice. Apart
0:04:42 > 0:04:49from that, I still want to compete. It is going to be another packed
0:04:49 > 0:05:05house and I can't wait to go.I am delighted to be through.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07delighted to be through.A nice little Scotland against Wales clash
0:05:07 > 0:05:14to kick off your sporting weekend here.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19here. But Ryan Day has beaten the Scot in the World Championships at
0:05:19 > 0:05:23the Crucible in 2009. But John Higgins has won this title twice.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28Can he starred as the clear favourite? The players are standing
0:05:28 > 0:05:33by, let's join Rob Walker. Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
0:05:33 > 0:05:39It is Friday night, we are in north London and this is the 2018 masters.
0:05:39 > 0:05:57Tonight we complete the line-up for the semifinals with a rivalry that
0:07:56 > 0:08:08A very good evening. In for another cracking quarterfinal.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14cracking quarterfinal.Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. The first
0:08:14 > 0:08:23frame, John Higgins to break.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26frame, John Higgins to break.John did win the tours so he has got this
0:08:26 > 0:08:34first frame under way. Good length of the cue ball. Red coming halfway
0:08:34 > 0:08:35down the table.
0:08:41 > 0:08:48Might be able to have a go at this and not leave a great deal, but it
0:08:48 > 0:08:53just depends on the angle and the angle is not good, really. He tried
0:08:53 > 0:08:59it anyway.
0:09:02 > 0:09:14Nice way to start a match.Yeah, fantastic, long pot. A bit risky,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18particularly with the red just above it. It just about goes into that
0:09:18 > 0:09:30middle pocket. Good safety shot. He will be happy with the opener.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37will be happy with the opener. He is a different player. He said in the
0:09:37 > 0:09:43intro, he does not feel any different, but when you win your
0:09:43 > 0:09:47first major ranking tournament, it gives you that little bit of extra
0:09:47 > 0:09:55confidence.Could not agree more. The snooker behind the yellow. No
0:09:55 > 0:10:05problem. Coming off the and into the reds. He is a far better player now,
0:10:05 > 0:10:13Ryan Day, he always has been a great player. He has that inner belief now
0:10:13 > 0:10:19and that is so important in this game.There is always a seed of
0:10:19 > 0:10:29doubt until you win that first one. He is going to find himself in this
0:10:29 > 0:10:34particular situation quite a lot in this match. One of the best match
0:10:34 > 0:10:41players, if not the best that has ever played the game, John Higgins.
0:10:41 > 0:10:53The safety is always top notch, great knowledge of the angles.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56great knowledge of the angles. This that is not the best safety shot
0:10:56 > 0:11:04that Ryan has ever played.Pushed one towards the corner. An early
0:11:04 > 0:11:09chance for John Higgins. The cue ball is tucked up into the cushion,
0:11:09 > 0:11:20as you can see. Hit it absolutely spot on.
0:11:20 > 0:11:27spot on. This was not as easy as it looked.
0:11:27 > 0:11:34looked. -- was not as easy as it looked. John went off the buoyant
0:11:34 > 0:11:39against Anthony McGill but then he was back to his best again. I did
0:11:39 > 0:11:44not think he was going to win that encounter, but in the end, John just
0:11:44 > 0:11:54got stronger and stronger.
0:11:59 > 0:12:13He was attempting to get into the semifinal for six years.
0:12:14 > 0:12:20Lovely shot.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33Great cue power, struck that nicely, he could go into the reds here if he
0:12:33 > 0:12:40wished. Take the blue angle into the pack of reds, it does not fancy it.
0:12:40 > 0:12:52Maybe see a bit of his cue power here.
0:12:57 > 0:13:18He could try and get the pink back. Three or four pockets.
0:13:34 > 0:13:42He is having to work quite hard for these points. Just a little bit
0:13:42 > 0:13:48awkward, those three reds to the left of the black. Has he spotted
0:13:48 > 0:13:57something on that cue ball there? The referee is going to give it
0:13:57 > 0:14:06clean.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23That is two or three times he has not finished on the blue as he
0:14:23 > 0:14:29intended.
0:14:42 > 0:14:57That needs to pull up. Unless there is a plant.
0:14:57 > 0:15:04is a plant. He might be able to make this.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07this. In fact it is almost going straight into the middle of the
0:15:07 > 0:15:12pocket.
0:15:12 > 0:15:25pocket. Just a fraction between the two rates. I fancy him to get this.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31He could play it in such a way where he could run through with the cue
0:15:31 > 0:15:41ball and make it to the pink. It is very risky, though.
0:15:45 > 0:15:58Screwing back for the black. That was a risk. What has he left?
0:15:59 > 0:16:06Nothing into the left centre. John is having a look to see if this red
0:16:06 > 0:16:16can pull up towards the top left-hand corner pocket.
0:16:16 > 0:16:31APPLAUSE Good shot.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Good shot. I think the black will spot on its own spot.
0:17:27 > 0:17:37There are at least three reds still available for John.
0:17:40 > 0:17:50Those three near the black art out of the game at the moment.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02That was a great shot of John, watching him hit the centre of the
0:18:02 > 0:18:09ball.
0:18:27 > 0:18:36He has got an angle on the pink to develop those two rates.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46In fact, it looks as if one of them will go into the right middle
0:18:46 > 0:18:50pocket.
0:19:00 > 0:19:11Still a good shot.
0:19:20 > 0:19:28It will be interesting to see which way he goes about this. He needs to
0:19:28 > 0:19:33split those reds around the black. Try and take this red and maybe the
0:19:33 > 0:19:40blue.
0:19:41 > 0:19:49It looks a bit straight. I don't think he has got the perfect angle.
0:19:56 > 0:20:03Just tried to cannon into the left red. The one below the black is open
0:20:03 > 0:20:09into the bottom corner pocket. He misjudged it and it is the end of
0:20:09 > 0:20:14break.
0:20:39 > 0:20:52That is a much more difficult plant. He does not like it.
0:21:08 > 0:21:21REFEREE: John Higgins, 43.Ryan is now looking at another plant. It
0:21:21 > 0:21:28must be fairly close.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31must be fairly close. It is still more difficult than the one he
0:21:31 > 0:21:41missed previously but he is having a go at it.
0:21:41 > 0:21:48go at it. He might just get away with this. A little bit of good
0:21:48 > 0:22:00fortune there. But you always need that in this game.
0:22:17 > 0:22:28A very simple shot but very clever.
0:22:30 > 0:22:39He wants to keep this tight.
0:22:54 > 0:23:01This red Mayport here. No, decided against it. He has played a good
0:23:01 > 0:23:13safety shot. Very good. APPLAUSE
0:24:00 > 0:24:05APPLAUSE.
0:24:52 > 0:25:07Might be tempted here. If he can just get past the potting angle.
0:25:07 > 0:25:12But, everything is safe again, the pink coming to the rescue. Covering
0:25:12 > 0:25:19that red as you can see.That is a few times he has been quite
0:25:19 > 0:25:24fortunate. He missed the plant, the cue ball close to the red and the
0:25:24 > 0:25:29pink has come to his rescue the past couple of times now. The cue ball,
0:25:29 > 0:25:36trying to get up behind the brown here.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48It is a bit of cat and mouse at the moment, Ryan trying to bring the
0:25:48 > 0:25:55reds into play, John trying to tie them up.
0:26:15 > 0:26:21This I don't think he has covered it this time. And if it is dead
0:26:21 > 0:26:25straight, and it is, he would be hoping to lead the white where the
0:26:25 > 0:26:35red is and he would be on the black. Picking up something, the cue ball
0:26:35 > 0:26:45has had to be cleaned a few times. This he will be hitting the cue ball
0:26:45 > 0:26:53right down at the bottom, six o'clock, as you can imagine.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55APPLAUSE.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23He can clinch the frame without needing that two difficult reds at
0:27:23 > 0:27:30the left side of the table there. No problem getting up onto this one at
0:27:30 > 0:27:41the left of the black.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46the left of the black. He wants the weight to bounce a little. --.
0:27:46 > 0:27:54White.
0:27:59 > 0:28:06This it is a pretty good start for John Higgins here, even off the best
0:28:06 > 0:28:10of 11, always nice to get the first frame under your belt.
0:28:15 > 0:28:16APPLAUSE.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27He only needs the one snooker though, or else Ryan will be coming
0:28:27 > 0:28:33back to the table.
0:28:40 > 0:28:51John Higgins, 20.
0:28:54 > 0:29:06APPLAUSE. The white needs to pull up and it hasn't. Bit of tactical frame
0:29:06 > 0:29:12but in the end John Higgins to get comfortably and he leads by
0:29:12 > 0:29:16but in the end John Higgins to get comfortably and he leads by 1-0.
0:29:16 > 0:29:22That is exactly why John Higgins is a multiple title winner.His
0:29:22 > 0:29:27matchplay is superb. Ryan had a couple of chances, some plants did
0:29:27 > 0:29:31not work out. John got a 40 odd break at the start but he never
0:29:31 > 0:29:36seems to play the role shot. Shaun Murphy said earlier, I am waiting
0:29:36 > 0:29:44for him to pick the wrong shot, he will be waiting a while.He picked
0:29:44 > 0:29:45out the first red and I watched him
0:29:45 > 0:29:45will be waiting a while.He picked out the first red and I watched him
0:29:45 > 0:29:49closely, the way he walks around the table, he is so composed.This is
0:29:49 > 0:29:54the shot he is going to play. Excellent cueing, straight through
0:29:54 > 0:29:59the ball. It is amazing. His backhand actually shakes, he has
0:29:59 > 0:30:04always have that trade and you think, he is under pressure, and he
0:30:04 > 0:30:06just keeps knocking them in.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08think, he is under pressure, and he just keeps knocking them in.That is
0:30:08 > 0:30:16exactly what Ryan did not want. Against John Higgins and these
0:30:16 > 0:30:20serious competitors, you need to try and settle into a read them and you
0:30:20 > 0:30:26do not get presents with him. They have to earn everything. It is rare
0:30:26 > 0:30:31that he does not play the wrong shot and he never plays it badly. All of
0:30:31 > 0:30:38a sudden every time he comes to the table, you are under the cosh. There
0:30:38 > 0:30:43were a few shakes of their head from Ryan.He knows the importance of a
0:30:43 > 0:30:52good start. He got away with it the other day. Ding went quiet in that
0:30:52 > 0:30:55match. He knows full well he cannot do that with John Higgins.He will
0:30:55 > 0:31:09not fall asleep. Did you see the wasp?I thought that was very funny.
0:31:09 > 0:31:17We are going back to rejoin our commentators.
0:31:17 > 0:31:25We are waiting on some late comers. Take your seats, please.They are
0:31:25 > 0:31:29not allowed in during a frame. Quickly, please.
0:31:34 > 0:31:44The second frame, Ryan Day to break.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55These collisions stand to look a little bit lively. -- these
0:31:55 > 0:31:57conditions.
0:32:02 > 0:32:09They will get ready for tomorrow.
0:32:16 > 0:32:22They have already changed the cloth on the cushions so we do not get
0:32:22 > 0:32:31that many answers, but they still look lively.
0:32:31 > 0:32:38look lively. -- that many ounces.
0:32:41 > 0:32:46It was interesting what they were saying about the game of John
0:32:46 > 0:32:49Higgins, it is very rarely that you see him make a wrong decision, he
0:32:49 > 0:32:57may miss a pot, but he never makes a bad decision. I think if Ryan is
0:32:57 > 0:33:06going to beat him, he has to really attack him.
0:33:06 > 0:33:12attack him. He is not going to beat him in that type of safety matchplay
0:33:12 > 0:33:17exchange. He has got to stick to what he is good at it, trying to win
0:33:17 > 0:33:23the frame from one visit.John has had two attempts at pots in the
0:33:23 > 0:33:33corner pocket and he has not done it, he normally knocks those in. A
0:33:33 > 0:33:40lovely nudge on the brown but that was much more difficult than the one
0:33:40 > 0:33:44that Brian cut in to the one that John Mr, but a very favourable
0:33:44 > 0:33:54cannon. -- Ryan. Now, he can get right back up to the business end of
0:33:54 > 0:34:03the table. That is not the best of shots. He wanted to be further up
0:34:03 > 0:34:08the table to put the red into the left corner and play for the black
0:34:08 > 0:34:14which is only into that one pocket. The pig might be available, if he
0:34:14 > 0:34:24takes the one to the right corner. -- the pink. John just looking over
0:34:24 > 0:34:29his shoulder there, seeing the result of the shot. It is funny how
0:34:29 > 0:34:33some players like to watch what is going on and other players do not
0:34:33 > 0:34:40want to look at the table.
0:34:47 > 0:34:58If he pots this pig, the red to the left will pot. -- this pink. That
0:34:58 > 0:35:06red that you were talking about, he is on that nicely. These are the
0:35:06 > 0:35:11situations that you have got to make the most to put your opponent,
0:35:11 > 0:35:21particularly one like John under pressure.
0:35:34 > 0:35:43The directly above the black will go on the corner pocket. -- the red
0:35:43 > 0:35:49above the black. As he
0:35:49 > 0:35:51above the black. As he pots this, another lively bounce from the top
0:35:51 > 0:36:04condition. It comes up very very fast.
0:36:05 > 0:36:12Good recovery.
0:36:20 > 0:36:27There are still a couple of reds available, if he does not want to go
0:36:27 > 0:36:33from that angle, I think he will play for the red to the back of the
0:36:33 > 0:36:38bounce there, to the left, and now this next shot will really open
0:36:38 > 0:36:44things up. He has to be careful that he does not leave the cue ball near
0:36:44 > 0:36:52the site cushion while playing the shot. If he can avoid cannon name
0:36:52 > 0:37:06into the reds. He did well to create that angle there. He took all the
0:37:06 > 0:37:11loose ones away and now it is imperative that he gets a good angle
0:37:11 > 0:37:18on this one.
0:37:21 > 0:37:31He might just develop one, on potting this now. He might have
0:37:31 > 0:37:38developed all three there. I think they all pot into the same pocket
0:37:38 > 0:37:43where he is taking the black, that was a beautiful little cannon that
0:37:43 > 0:37:49he played there. He really is a great break-builder, he has made
0:37:49 > 0:37:57over 300 centuries. He suddenly put three reds on.
0:37:59 > 0:38:05three reds on. 314 centuries he has made.
0:38:06 > 0:38:13made. He made 39 last season and he is already on 21 this season, he is
0:38:13 > 0:38:20very gifted at cueing.
0:38:24 > 0:38:30It is a nice shot as well. Another couple of reds, he chose that
0:38:30 > 0:38:36perfectly. This is exactly what he would have liked, to try and win
0:38:36 > 0:38:42this frame in one visit. It sends out your signal, but if you make a
0:38:42 > 0:38:54mistake... You are in good stroke, you are feeling confident.It is
0:38:54 > 0:39:01quite reach, he is tall lad.
0:39:01 > 0:39:13quite reach, he is tall lad. -- it is quite a reach, he is a tall lad.
0:39:17 > 0:39:28I don't think you or I would have been able to play that shot, Dennis!
0:39:45 > 0:39:50Maybe if he pots this red, he can dislodge the two reds that are tied
0:39:50 > 0:39:57up.
0:40:05 > 0:40:11He missed the black, no century but he will be able -- he will be
0:40:11 > 0:40:16delighted to win the frame in one visit. Brian Day is off
0:40:16 > 0:40:18delighted to win the frame in one visit. Brian Day is off the mark, it
0:40:18 > 0:40:23is 1-1.That was more like the Ryan Day that we saw in that match
0:40:23 > 0:40:31against Ding Junhui.He has got to attack. If it comes to the tactical
0:40:31 > 0:40:35side, you think he will be second best, but he put in a lovely
0:40:35 > 0:40:35side, you think he will be second best, but he put in a lovely long
0:40:35 > 0:40:43red. This is a beautiful shot. He has to force this little cannon and
0:40:43 > 0:40:47he took three reds into play and this is the break.
0:40:47 > 0:40:48he took three reds into play and this is the break. He is a lovely
0:40:48 > 0:40:54scorer when he gets going. He has got massive hands. We saw the
0:40:54 > 0:41:02close-up. He has a lovely touch. He is a very good break-builder.
0:41:02 > 0:41:10Explain the philosophy. It is about making sure that you trying get some
0:41:10 > 0:41:13points on the board, does that mean that you go for every shop that you
0:41:13 > 0:41:19see or do you have to be that little more cautious. There is still a
0:41:19 > 0:41:25percentage in it, if it is 50-50 and your strength is knocking long ball
0:41:25 > 0:41:32then, then you do it. It is one of those things, if you are debating
0:41:32 > 0:41:36doing it, Mark Williams last night, I never saw him so negative.He
0:41:36 > 0:41:40looked like he was tentative the whole way through the match. He did
0:41:40 > 0:41:44not give himself a chance to score and you cannot do that and Ryan Day
0:41:44 > 0:41:48will not do that with John Higgins. If you fancy a shot, you need to
0:41:48 > 0:41:54take it on.I was talking to Mark's tame, and it was the unanimous
0:41:54 > 0:41:59verdict that he was not at it and you wonder if that's 6-5 on the
0:41:59 > 0:42:12opening day took a lot out of him. It could have done.We have all had
0:42:12 > 0:42:15bad days at the office. That was not tentative from Ryan Day, that was
0:42:15 > 0:42:17very positive, wonderful scoring. There we are, 1-1, perfectly poised.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21very positive, wonderful scoring. There we are, 1-1, perfectly poised.
0:42:21 > 0:42:28Third frame, John Higgins to break.
0:42:35 > 0:42:43This condition behind the ball is definitely bouncing bigger. The
0:42:43 > 0:42:49players are coming back out of the bottom end of the table, up to the
0:42:49 > 0:42:55colours rather than being close to the cushion. Let us see if he can
0:42:55 > 0:43:03start this third frame. Look at the position and the shot he played
0:43:03 > 0:43:12there as well. He thought that was in. I thought it was in when he hit
0:43:12 > 0:43:23it. It looked as if he was going to cover it, but he has not. Is he
0:43:23 > 0:43:32going into the reds here? He certainly is, certainly risky. It
0:43:32 > 0:43:39was definitely the correct shot. He was a bit unlucky to need the cue
0:43:39 > 0:43:47ball -- to leave the cue ball in that position.
0:44:12 > 0:44:18If Day does play the cue ball back into the baulk area, the red that is
0:44:18 > 0:44:26closest to the bottom corner cushion. That is why he may even try
0:44:26 > 0:44:32to play off to take that away from the pocket. He could try and the cue
0:44:32 > 0:44:36ball up near the yellow pocket but he has taken that one away.
0:44:42 > 0:44:48If he missed the brow, it would be a good shot. Excellent shot. Good
0:44:48 > 0:44:58weight off the cue ball -- if he missed the brown.
0:45:17 > 0:45:24Long way short this time off the safety.
0:45:24 > 0:45:30safety. The attempt that Day is looking at in the corner, he is
0:45:30 > 0:45:40thinking about it.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43thinking about it. It is not only a difficult pot, he would have to be
0:45:43 > 0:45:56very precise with the cue ball to get onto the black.
0:45:58 > 0:46:04APPLAUSE.
0:46:07 > 0:46:10It was excellent. That is what he had to do to give himself a chance
0:46:10 > 0:46:19at the black.
0:46:32 > 0:46:38He has had a quick look to see, at the bottom right-hand corner pocket,
0:46:38 > 0:46:47may just have enough of it. He is asking the referee just to re-spot
0:46:47 > 0:46:58it, which he can do, you are allowed to do that.He might be able to. He
0:46:58 > 0:47:01would have to bend it slightly looking at that picture, I am not
0:47:01 > 0:47:07sure if there is one available into the middle pocket. If there is, he
0:47:07 > 0:47:22will take that on. Yeah. That is the one. Up to the blue.
0:47:22 > 0:47:28APPLAUSE.
0:47:31 > 0:47:38And now he has got a few choices. Perfect angle on the blue. Split
0:47:38 > 0:47:47with the reds. Which he may elect to do, because it is very awkward to
0:47:47 > 0:47:55get on the two to the right of the black which would open the black up.
0:47:55 > 0:48:02Now, how is your luck, Ryan Day? It is not bad. I think he can get
0:48:02 > 0:48:09through to this one. It might be a bit tight, but I think he can see
0:48:09 > 0:48:15enough of that.
0:48:23 > 0:48:29He did not want that kiss on the blue, it is too straight now. He was
0:48:29 > 0:48:36a bit unfortunate when he did split that reds, that they red came down
0:48:36 > 0:48:40and covered the black into both pockets, but to keep it going, he
0:48:40 > 0:48:48would need to pot the blue and take the red from mid-distance or try and
0:48:48 > 0:48:54pot the brown.
0:49:18 > 0:49:26Ryan Day, 20. That is not a bad result in the end. He has not left
0:49:26 > 0:49:30anything easy for John Higgins, there is one possible red out will
0:49:30 > 0:49:36go into the bottom corner, but will he take that on and can they red and
0:49:36 > 0:49:41black? He might be able to find a gap past the black. He might be able
0:49:41 > 0:49:47to get around the table for it the blue or one of the colours. He has
0:49:47 > 0:49:53missed a few like this although he was further away, but he could do
0:49:53 > 0:50:01with knocking this one in.
0:50:09 > 0:50:22He has given himself a reasonable chance but that black is out of
0:50:22 > 0:50:31commission, but he has got five or six reds available. Now he can play
0:50:31 > 0:50:37for the pink this time, that would be a big help. In fact, the green is
0:50:37 > 0:50:42going to have to go on the pink spot, there is not enough room, but
0:50:42 > 0:50:50it does not make a great deal of difference.
0:50:52 > 0:50:58difference. It just means that he will be getting three points rather
0:50:58 > 0:51:03than six.
0:51:29 > 0:51:40He is not sure if that black pots there. That is very tight, he can
0:51:40 > 0:51:45forget about that for the time being.
0:52:05 > 0:52:09If he has an angle on the screen, he could try and stun the cue ball into
0:52:09 > 0:52:17the red and black,, bring the black into play if he can. He had the
0:52:17 > 0:52:22angle, I am a bit surprised he did not play that shot. A bit harder, he
0:52:22 > 0:52:28could have pushed that red away from the black.I think if he has got an
0:52:28 > 0:52:34angle on this, he can get onto the black, this was blocking the path of
0:52:34 > 0:52:40the black.
0:52:40 > 0:52:44the black. Still concentrating on the green. The black is still out of
0:52:44 > 0:52:49the game. He does not have to worry about the black, it would be
0:52:49 > 0:52:56helpful, but as long as he does not have to
0:52:57 > 0:53:02have to keep pottting blues and greens. He will need those two reds
0:53:02 > 0:53:13to win the frame from this visit. Now, try to get on this red to the
0:53:13 > 0:53:26right of the black. Has he hit it hard enough? It looks OK.
0:54:00 > 0:54:09After a few good pots, good positional play, he has worked
0:54:09 > 0:54:12himself into an excellent position here.
0:54:15 > 0:54:30Ten points ahead. Even three reds and three blacks would be 41. People
0:54:30 > 0:54:35need one of those two reds that are close to the left-hand side cushion,
0:54:35 > 0:54:48that would be the only hope for a Ryan Day, you would feel.
0:54:54 > 0:54:58People always ask you how many shots you are playing or thinking about,
0:54:58 > 0:55:08you saw John looking at the scorers. In his mind, he is thinking three
0:55:08 > 0:55:19reds, three blacks, 41 with 43 on the table.
0:55:27 > 0:55:32The thing with this strawberry behind the black, he can get onto it
0:55:32 > 0:55:38nicely, here's already thinking of where he wants to put it. The cue
0:55:38 > 0:55:44ball. Someone has a phone out, I think. At the front. John spotted in
0:55:44 > 0:55:50there.
0:55:50 > 0:55:56there. -- John spotted it there.
0:55:57 > 0:56:05This is key that he gets onto the colour with an angle to try and
0:56:05 > 0:56:09bring at least one of those reds into play.
0:56:23 > 0:56:24APPLAUSE.
0:56:29 > 0:56:33He might have played that to perfection, even screwed back and
0:56:33 > 0:56:40developed at least one of them. Yeah, he can do that.
0:56:40 > 0:56:55APPLAUSE. One good long pot and that would give him the third frame.
0:56:56 > 0:57:03It looks like he is going to take it on into the green pocket as we call
0:57:03 > 0:57:10it.
0:57:13 > 0:57:19Great shot, it is there. This has been a fabulous break from John
0:57:19 > 0:57:26Higgins.
0:57:31 > 0:57:37Sharp-macro, I don't think he will be too concerned. Ryan Day is coming
0:57:37 > 0:57:44back to the table -- Wow.
0:57:55 > 0:58:02Little tab on the table from John Higgins, that was an excellent shot.
0:58:02 > 0:58:08Straightforward shot. It would have been, off the right-hand side
0:58:08 > 0:58:21cushion, this may have to go off number macro cushions here. -- two.
0:58:28 > 0:58:36This APPLAUSE. OK, this is where we leave you on
0:58:36 > 0:58:40BBC Two but if you pressure red button or if you are on the move and
0:58:40 > 0:58:46you want to watch is on the app and website, you can do that now. Looks
0:58:46 > 0:58:52like a cracking match, and the highlights are on later. We are back
0:58:52 > 0:58:57tomorrow on BBC One for Judd Trump against Kyren Wilson, the first
0:58:57 > 0:59:02semifinal. We will see them, thank you for watching,