Quarter-Final 4 Masters Snooker

Good evening and welcome back to

Alexandra Palace, the quarterfinals

of the 2018 Masters continue. Three

men are already through to the

semifinals and tonight one more

Place is up for grabs.

# This is a wild game of survival.

# This is a wild game of survival.

John Parrott is alongside me for our

one-hour special on BBC Two before

we take you on to the red button.

Your reaction to Judd Trump knocking

out Shaun Murphy.

Disappointing? It

was a bit pedestrian. I think Judd

Trump played well to get back to

4-4. But his safety play was the

tipping point. But it was a good

performance from Judd Trump in the

end.

Has it come on from the times

when we have had to criticise them,

especially for his safety play when

he has been a bit rash?

Today I

he has been a bit rash?

Today I saw

him in the studio and he said he has

played better with his safety play.

Since 2010 he has got to stay in

this from an early start.

He was 3-0

down to Ding Junhui the other day

and he got out of it and he ended up

getting over the line, but he cannot

get away with that twice in the

road. Now they are master tactician

is and you do not want to be 3-0

behind.

What are you expecting from

him today?

He was 4-2 down to

Anthony McGill and he managed to win

that match and he got away with it.

I expect him to start better. Thank

you very much indeed.

This is what you practice for,

really.

He won his first round and

that is a big monkey off his back.

He is a dangerous player. He is very

hard to score against when he gets

going.

I won the first competition

of the season and I do not feel any

different because it, but there were

a couple of close matches and I

pulled on that and inner belief.

pulled on that and inner belief. He

is on everyone's short list for the

best player who has ever played. I

look forward to it.

look forward to it.

Have been

playing for nearly quarter of a

century, 24 years. It has been a

long time. I have it twice. Apart

from that, I still want to compete.

It is going to be another packed

house and I can't wait to go.

I am

delighted to be through.

delighted to be through.

A nice

little Scotland against Wales clash

to kick off your sporting weekend

here.

here. But Ryan Day has beaten the

Scot in the World Championships at

the Crucible in 2009. But John

Higgins has won this title twice.

Can he starred as the clear

favourite? The players are standing

by, let's join Rob Walker.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

It is Friday night, we are in north

London and this is the 2018 masters.

Tonight we complete the line-up for

the semifinals with a rivalry that

A very good evening. In for another

cracking quarterfinal.

cracking quarterfinal.

Thank you,

ladies and gentlemen. The first

frame, John Higgins to break.

frame, John Higgins to break.

John

did win the tours so he has got this

first frame under way. Good length

of the cue ball. Red coming halfway

down the table.

Might be able to have a go at this

and not leave a great deal, but it

just depends on the angle and the

angle is not good, really. He tried

it anyway.

Nice way to start a match.

Yeah,

fantastic, long pot. A bit risky,

particularly with the red just above

it. It just about goes into that

middle pocket. Good safety shot. He

will be happy with the opener.

will be happy with the opener. He is

a different player. He said in the

intro, he does not feel any

different, but when you win your

first major ranking tournament, it

gives you that little bit of extra

confidence.

Could not agree more.

The snooker behind the yellow. No

problem. Coming off the and into the

reds. He is a far better player now,

Ryan Day, he always has been a great

player. He has that inner belief now

and that is so important in this

game.

There is always a seed of

doubt until you win that first one.

He is going to find himself in this

particular situation quite a lot in

this match. One of the best match

players, if not the best that has

ever played the game, John Higgins.

The safety is always top notch,

great knowledge of the angles.

great knowledge of the angles. This

that is not the best safety shot

that Ryan has ever played.

Pushed

one towards the corner. An early

chance for John Higgins. The cue

ball is tucked up into the cushion,

as you can see. Hit it absolutely

spot on.

spot on. This was not as easy as it

looked.

looked. -- was not as easy as it

looked. John went off the buoyant

against Anthony McGill but then he

was back to his best again. I did

not think he was going to win that

encounter, but in the end, John just

got stronger and stronger.

He was attempting to get into the

semifinal for six years.

Lovely shot.

Great cue power, struck that nicely,

he could go into the reds here if he

wished. Take the blue angle into the

pack of reds, it does not fancy it.

Maybe see a bit of his cue power

here.

He could try and get the pink back.

Three or four pockets.

He is having to work quite hard for

these points. Just a little bit

awkward, those three reds to the

left of the black. Has he spotted

something on that cue ball there?

The referee is going to give it

clean.

That is two or three times he has

not finished on the blue as he

intended.

That needs to pull up. Unless there

is a plant.

is a plant. He might be able to make

this.

this. In fact it is almost going

straight into the middle of the

pocket.

pocket. Just a fraction between the

two rates. I fancy him to get this.

He could play it in such a way where

he could run through with the cue

ball and make it to the pink. It is

very risky, though.

Screwing back for the black. That

was a risk. What has he left?

Nothing into the left centre. John

is having a look to see if this red

can pull up towards the top

left-hand corner pocket.

APPLAUSE

Good shot.

Good shot. I think the black will

spot on its own spot.

There are at least three reds still

available for John.

Those three near the black art out

of the game at the moment.

That was a great shot of John,

watching him hit the centre of the

ball.

He has got an angle on the pink to

develop those two rates.

In fact, it looks as if one of them

will go into the right middle

pocket.

Still a good shot.

It will be interesting to see which

way he goes about this. He needs to

split those reds around the black.

Try and take this red and maybe the

blue.

It looks a bit straight. I don't

think he has got the perfect angle.

Just tried to cannon into the left

red. The one below the black is open

into the bottom corner pocket. He

misjudged it and it is the end of

break.

That is a much more difficult plant.

He does not like it.

REFEREE: John Higgins, 43.

Ryan is

now looking at another plant. It

must be fairly close.

must be fairly close. It is still

more difficult than the one he

missed previously but he is having a

go at it.

go at it. He might just get away

with this. A little bit of good

fortune there. But you always need

that in this game.

A very simple shot but very clever.

He wants to keep this tight.

This red Mayport here. No, decided

against it. He has played a good

safety shot. Very good.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE.

Might be tempted here. If he can

just get past the potting angle.

But, everything is safe again, the

pink coming to the rescue. Covering

that red as you can see.

That is a

few times he has been quite

fortunate. He missed the plant, the

cue ball close to the red and the

pink has come to his rescue the past

couple of times now. The cue ball,

trying to get up behind the brown

here.

It is a bit of cat and mouse at the

moment, Ryan trying to bring the

reds into play, John trying to tie

them up.

This I don't think he has covered it

this time. And if it is dead

straight, and it is, he would be

hoping to lead the white where the

red is and he would be on the black.

Picking up something, the cue ball

has had to be cleaned a few times.

This he will be hitting the cue ball

right down at the bottom, six

o'clock, as you can imagine.

APPLAUSE.

He can clinch the frame without

needing that two difficult reds at

the left side of the table there. No

problem getting up onto this one at

the left of the black.

the left of the black. He wants the

weight to bounce a little. --.

White.

This it is a pretty good start for

John Higgins here, even off the best

of 11, always nice to get the first

frame under your belt.

APPLAUSE.

He only needs the one snooker

though, or else Ryan will be coming

back to the table.

John Higgins, 20.

APPLAUSE. The white needs to pull up

and it hasn't. Bit of tactical frame

but in the end John Higgins to get

comfortably and he leads by

but in the end John Higgins to get

comfortably and he leads by 1-0.

That is exactly why John Higgins is

a multiple title winner.

His

matchplay is superb. Ryan had a

couple of chances, some plants did

not work out. John got a 40 odd

break at the start but he never

seems to play the role shot. Shaun

Murphy said earlier, I am waiting

for him to pick the wrong shot, he

will be waiting a while.

He picked

out the first red and I watched him

will be waiting a while.

He picked

out the first red and I watched him

closely, the way he walks around the

table, he is so composed.

This is

the shot he is going to play.

Excellent cueing, straight through

the ball. It is amazing. His

backhand actually shakes, he has

always have that trade and you

think, he is under pressure, and he

just keeps knocking them in.

think, he is under pressure, and he

just keeps knocking them in.

That is

exactly what Ryan did not want.

Against John Higgins and these

serious competitors, you need to try

and settle into a read them and you

do not get presents with him. They

have to earn everything. It is rare

that he does not play the wrong shot

and he never plays it badly. All of

a sudden every time he comes to the

table, you are under the cosh. There

were a few shakes of their head from

Ryan.

He knows the importance of a

good start. He got away with it the

other day. Ding went quiet in that

match. He knows full well he cannot

do that with John Higgins.

He will

not fall asleep. Did you see the

wasp?

I thought that was very funny.

We are going back to rejoin our

commentators.

We are waiting on some late comers.

Take your seats, please.

They are

not allowed in during a frame.

Quickly, please.

The second frame, Ryan Day to break.

These collisions stand to look a

little bit lively. -- these

conditions.

They will get ready for tomorrow.

They have already changed the cloth

on the cushions so we do not get

that many answers, but they still

look lively.

look lively. -- that many ounces.

It was interesting what they were

saying about the game of John

Higgins, it is very rarely that you

see him make a wrong decision, he

may miss a pot, but he never makes a

bad decision. I think if Ryan is

going to beat him, he has to really

attack him.

attack him. He is not going to beat

him in that type of safety matchplay

exchange. He has got to stick to

what he is good at it, trying to win

the frame from one visit.

John has

had two attempts at pots in the

corner pocket and he has not done

it, he normally knocks those in. A

lovely nudge on the brown but that

was much more difficult than the one

that Brian cut in to the one that

John Mr, but a very favourable

cannon. -- Ryan. Now, he can get

right back up to the business end of

the table. That is not the best of

shots. He wanted to be further up

the table to put the red into the

left corner and play for the black

which is only into that one pocket.

The pig might be available, if he

takes the one to the right corner.

-- the pink. John just looking over

his shoulder there, seeing the

result of the shot. It is funny how

some players like to watch what is

going on and other players do not

want to look at the table.

If he pots this pig, the red to the

left will pot. -- this pink. That

red that you were talking about, he

is on that nicely. These are the

situations that you have got to make

the most to put your opponent,

particularly one like John under

pressure.

The directly above the black will go

on the corner pocket. -- the red

above the black. As he

above the black. As he pots this,

another lively bounce from the top

condition. It comes up very very

fast.

Good recovery.

There are still a couple of reds

available, if he does not want to go

from that angle, I think he will

play for the red to the back of the

bounce there, to the left, and now

this next shot will really open

things up. He has to be careful that

he does not leave the cue ball near

the site cushion while playing the

shot. If he can avoid cannon name

into the reds. He did well to create

that angle there. He took all the

loose ones away and now it is

imperative that he gets a good angle

on this one.

He might just develop one, on

potting this now. He might have

developed all three there. I think

they all pot into the same pocket

where he is taking the black, that

was a beautiful little cannon that

he played there. He really is a

great break-builder, he has made

over 300 centuries. He suddenly put

three reds on.

three reds on. 314 centuries he has

made.

made. He made 39 last season and he

is already on 21 this season, he is

very gifted at cueing.

It is a nice shot as well. Another

couple of reds, he chose that

perfectly. This is exactly what he

would have liked, to try and win

this frame in one visit. It sends

out your signal, but if you make a

mistake... You are in good stroke,

you are feeling confident.

It is

quite reach, he is tall lad.

quite reach, he is tall lad. -- it

is quite a reach, he is a tall lad.

I don't think you or I would have

been able to play that shot, Dennis!

Maybe if he pots this red, he can

dislodge the two reds that are tied

up.

He missed the black, no century but

he will be able -- he will be

delighted to win the frame in one

visit. Brian Day is off

delighted to win the frame in one

visit. Brian Day is off the mark, it

is 1-1.

That was more like the Ryan

Day that we saw in that match

against Ding Junhui.

He has got to

attack. If it comes to the tactical

side, you think he will be second

best, but he put in a lovely

side, you think he will be second

best, but he put in a lovely long

red. This is a beautiful shot. He

has to force this little cannon and

he took three reds into play and

this is the break.

he took three reds into play and

this is the break. He is a lovely

scorer when he gets going. He has

got massive hands. We saw the

close-up. He has a lovely touch. He

is a very good break-builder.

Explain the philosophy. It is about

making sure that you trying get some

points on the board, does that mean

that you go for every shop that you

see or do you have to be that little

more cautious. There is still a

percentage in it, if it is 50-50 and

your strength is knocking long ball

then, then you do it. It is one of

those things, if you are debating

doing it, Mark Williams last night,

I never saw him so negative.

He

looked like he was tentative the

whole way through the match. He did

not give himself a chance to score

and you cannot do that and Ryan Day

will not do that with John Higgins.

If you fancy a shot, you need to

take it on.

I was talking to Mark's

tame, and it was the unanimous

verdict that he was not at it and

you wonder if that's 6-5 on the

opening day took a lot out of him.

It could have done.

We have all had

bad days at the office. That was not

tentative from Ryan Day, that was

very positive, wonderful scoring.

There we are, 1-1, perfectly poised.

very positive, wonderful scoring.

There we are, 1-1, perfectly poised.

Third frame, John Higgins to break.

This condition behind the ball is

definitely bouncing bigger. The

players are coming back out of the

bottom end of the table, up to the

colours rather than being close to

the cushion. Let us see if he can

start this third frame. Look at the

position and the shot he played

there as well. He thought that was

in. I thought it was in when he hit

it. It looked as if he was going to

cover it, but he has not. Is he

going into the reds here? He

certainly is, certainly risky. It

was definitely the correct shot. He

was a bit unlucky to need the cue

ball -- to leave the cue ball in

that position.

If Day does play the cue ball back

into the baulk area, the red that is

closest to the bottom corner

cushion. That is why he may even try

to play off to take that away from

the pocket. He could try and the cue

ball up near the yellow pocket but

he has taken that one away.

If he missed the brow, it would be a

good shot. Excellent shot. Good

weight off the cue ball -- if he

missed the brown.

Long way short this time off the

safety.

safety. The attempt that Day is

looking at in the corner, he is

thinking about it.

thinking about it. It is not only a

difficult pot, he would have to be

very precise with the cue ball to

get onto the black.

APPLAUSE.

It was excellent. That is what he

had to do to give himself a chance

at the black.

He has had a quick look to see, at

the bottom right-hand corner pocket,

may just have enough of it. He is

asking the referee just to re-spot

it, which he can do, you are allowed

to do that.

He might be able to. He

would have to bend it slightly

looking at that picture, I am not

sure if there is one available into

the middle pocket. If there is, he

will take that on. Yeah. That is the

one. Up to the blue.

APPLAUSE.

And now he has got a few choices.

Perfect angle on the blue. Split

with the reds. Which he may elect to

do, because it is very awkward to

get on the two to the right of the

black which would open the black up.

Now, how is your luck, Ryan Day? It

is not bad. I think he can get

through to this one. It might be a

bit tight, but I think he can see

enough of that.

He did not want that kiss on the

blue, it is too straight now. He was

a bit unfortunate when he did split

that reds, that they red came down

and covered the black into both

pockets, but to keep it going, he

would need to pot the blue and take

the red from mid-distance or try and

pot the brown.

Ryan Day, 20. That is not a bad

result in the end. He has not left

anything easy for John Higgins,

there is one possible red out will

go into the bottom corner, but will

he take that on and can they red and

black? He might be able to find a

gap past the black. He might be able

to get around the table for it the

blue or one of the colours. He has

missed a few like this although he

was further away, but he could do

with knocking this one in.

He has given himself a reasonable

chance but that black is out of

commission, but he has got five or

six reds available. Now he can play

for the pink this time, that would

be a big help. In fact, the green is

going to have to go on the pink

spot, there is not enough room, but

it does not make a great deal of

difference.

difference. It just means that he

will be getting three points rather

than six.

He is not sure if that black pots

there. That is very tight, he can

forget about that for the time

being.

If he has an angle on the screen, he

could try and stun the cue ball into

the red and black,, bring the black

into play if he can. He had the

angle, I am a bit surprised he did

not play that shot. A bit harder, he

could have pushed that red away from

the black.

I think if he has got an

angle on this, he can get onto the

black, this was blocking the path of

the black.

the black. Still concentrating on

the green. The black is still out of

the game. He does not have to worry

about the black, it would be

helpful, but as long as he does not

have to

have to keep pottting blues and

greens. He will need those two reds

to win the frame from this visit.

Now, try to get on this red to the

right of the black. Has he hit it

hard enough? It looks OK.

After a few good pots, good

positional play, he has worked

himself into an excellent position

here.

Ten points ahead. Even three reds

and three blacks would be 41. People

need one of those two reds that are

close to the left-hand side cushion,

that would be the only hope for a

Ryan Day, you would feel.

People always ask you how many shots

you are playing or thinking about,

you saw John looking at the scorers.

In his mind, he is thinking three

reds, three blacks, 41 with 43 on

the table.

The thing with this strawberry

behind the black, he can get onto it

nicely, here's already thinking of

where he wants to put it. The cue

ball. Someone has a phone out, I

think. At the front. John spotted in

there.

there. -- John spotted it there.

This is key that he gets onto the

colour with an angle to try and

bring at least one of those reds

into play.

APPLAUSE.

He might have played that to

perfection, even screwed back and

developed at least one of them.

Yeah, he can do that.

APPLAUSE. One good long pot and that

would give him the third frame.

It looks like he is going to take it

on into the green pocket as we call

it.

Great shot, it is there. This has

been a fabulous break from John

Higgins.

Sharp-macro, I don't think he will

be too concerned. Ryan Day is coming

back to the table -- Wow.

Little tab on the table from John

Higgins, that was an excellent shot.

Straightforward shot. It would have

been, off the right-hand side

cushion, this may have to go off

number macro cushions here. -- two.

This APPLAUSE.

OK, this is where we leave you on

BBC Two but if you pressure red

button or if you are on the move and

you want to watch is on the app and

website, you can do that now. Looks

like a cracking match, and the

highlights are on later. We are back

tomorrow on BBC One for Judd Trump

against Kyren Wilson, the first

semifinal. We will see them, thank

you for watching,