Semi-Final 2 Masters Snooker

Welcome to viewers on BBC Two. You

are watching live pictures of the

2018 Dafabet Masters, Judd Trump

leads Kyren Wilson by five frames to

four.

This is where we leave you on BBC

One, if you switch to BBC Two you

will not miss a shot. Bye for now.

Everything safe, Judd just having a

look to see if he would push a red

over the right conner. You have to

be aware of that.

He has pushed one towards the, for

the white to go into the middle at

that angle was amazing. He did push

a red towards the right corner, so

an early chance for Kyren.

I'm not

sure he played that red. He played

the one before it.

It is all going Kyren Wilson's way

at the moment, it seems.

Aggressive shot from Kyren Wilson,

unlucky he didn't get an easier

leave than this. He would have hoped

to have been on the blue, possibly

the black if we had the right split

from the reds.

But his is in

attacking mode at the moment. I am

sure he will take this green on to

get back up to the reds. There is

one there, near the blue, another

red that is available.

Has worked perfectly. He can nudge

the red away from the blue. That is

the best he has looked in the match.

The last couple of frames.

Think he will probably play for the

red below the blue, then try and get

a better angle on blue.

He has an inviting pack of reds to

go into. He doesn't have to go into

the pink. He can go into the side,

the right-hand side, if he gets the

right angle. He is not nicely placed

on the red though.

Would have liked to have got back on

the blue.

He can obviously go in from the

yellow. But it is not as nice as

going in from the blue, from how it

panned out. So overscrewed that blue

somewhat.

somewhat. Big shot now coming up.

Kyren Wilson has prepared himself

well. Here we go.

He doesn't want to

hit the pink. This is the line he

has got.

Misjudged...

Oh he is on it. What a

massive fluke that is.

If he can develop these balls from

that position, that is just an

enormous slice of luck.

OK, the pot is not guaranteed, is

it, Dennis and the position is not.

But you never know, plays it with

screw back. Back. Big shot.

You could see him lining up the cue

there. OK. He has missed a few with

the lest, but he is potting some

terrific ones with the rest in the

last couple of frame, and this,

well, ten out of ten for that.

Would have looked to have been

slightly closer to this side

cushion. How this match has turned

round.

There was nothing to suggestion that

Kyren Wilson was going to get back

in this match, the way he was

looking.

For all of that considered snooker

that Judd Trump had played up until

that one rash shot, it's that one

shot that everybody's talking about.

Even more so should Kyren Wilson

somehow win this match.

Where is this going to finish? That

will do nicely, the cannon on the

pink. That will do very nicely.

Maybe got a bit a kick there, but

he's OK, he is the correct side of

the blue. One shot can turn a match

on its head, and he showed you a few

times, the one that Judd had a go

at, certainly has changed things,

because he hasn't had a chance since

then.

Oh, what has he done here? What has

he done here? Is he OK? I think he

is. So all of a sudden, he is

getting little nudges and a run of

the ball, and quite deserves it, the

way he has played in the last couple

of frames.

Yes, just a bit of a distraction

that red there.

Well, who knows what is going to

happen in the rest of this match but

when you look back at career, there

is sometimes massive moments in how

matches shape out, and should Kyren

Wilson get out of this match and go

on to succeed in the final, looking

back at his career in years to come,

sliding doors moment, perhaps.

Already 49 ahead.

Definitely worrying times for Judd.

And great, Dennis, to win this in

one visit, to really keep the heat

on Judd Trump.

They are showing a

great deal of character, Kyren, he

really is.

He is finishing very

strongly.

What a last frame this could be,

assuming he gets over the line. What

a last frame.

He is looking for one

more red after the black.

Yes. He

has got red into the yellow pocket.

As a last resort.

So one good long pot, and we are

going to be all square, what a come

back this is!

It's there!

That was Kyren's parents you got a

glimpse of there, Sonia and Rob.

There they are. How proud will they

be, seeing this come back.

The crowd are absolutely loving this

come back.

It is going to be a last frame

decider, and it is sort of a toss of

a coin, but at the moment, the

momentum is all with Kyren Wilson,

this has been a brilliant come back,

it has to be said.

I don't think

anybody has doubted his pedigree, he

hasn't had a great game in the early

part of this match, was sadly out

with his positional play, but he's

stuck at his job and all of a sudden

his temperament has held up here.

He was given a lifeline by Judd

Trump. And all of a sudden, you

think Judd would like to play that

shot again, three frames have seem

to have evaporated, now he is so

much under pressure, trying to get

rid of the thoughts that that shot

has ruined his chance of getting to

the final, and he has one more frame

to play.

You have to say the favourite now is

Kyren Wilson.

24 centuries so far this year. Make

that 25.

that 25. His 30th century this

season.

They are loving this, and an

exciting finish we are going to have

to this first semifinal.

I think

both players will go out now, but

who is your money on for the final

frame?

frame?

That magnificent break of 107

has completed the come back and

Kyren Wilson is all square with Judd

Trump, it is 5-5. Amazing stuff, we

have had phenomenal snooker this

week and this is unbelievable,

because half an hour ago, John, we

thought that Judd Trump was on his

way to the final. Unbelievable.

This

is it, we keep going back to it, you

take liberties with this game, you

play a shot you shouldn't and this

is what can happen to you. It is

credit to Kyren. He didn't have his

A-game all a day but that shot has

changed the match. It gave him a

boost. He has found his form, he is

getting a good run of the balls, and

that is what happens when it start,

the momentum starts to go your way,

he is definitely favourite for the

last frame.

The crowd are giving him

a lift as well.

Yes, everybody loves

a come back and he has done it in

style. He has never looked in doubt.

He found a cue ball from somewhere,

the first half of this match, he

couldn't string two or three good

positional shots together. John said

he was luck yes two or three times

where he found perfect position in

fact, but, going into the final

frame, if he gets first chance, you

fancy he will do it. He will just

carry on.

He has the momentum. The

other thing, looking at the stats

here, 31 minutes and four seconds

Judd Trump last pot. That

That

counts a lot. We are back to the

same thing. A final frame decider,

you are looking for a chance and you

have got a chance to win the match,

whereas before you were playing to

get back in it so so it is a clean

slate, exactly right, so this is

what makes the final frame very

interesting.

So what is this, is

this mental attitude? Is this what

gets you threw?

Technique goes out

of the window in a final frame. It

is about who has got it. Who has got

it, to get through that. Who has got

it to take their opportunity, on

body language you would have you to

say Kyren is is a big favourite but

Judd has been here before, it is a

clean slate now, it is almost like

the first frame again. It is like a

new match all of a sudden, so Kyren,

he has got himself back in the

match. Now the pressure will go back

on him, now he can win the match.

This is no ordinary final frame

decider, what is at stake is a place

in the final. Neither has made the

final of a Masters before. Judd has

experience in big event, we have to

bear in mind this is Kyren Wilson's

second appearance, that is how well

he has done, if he makes the final,

what a story.

From 5-2 behind it

would be brilliant. As I say, when

you come to these things here, you

look at, you have momentum, you

could say Kyren has the momentum.

All you are looking for in a final

frame decide e you are just looking

for a chance, just let me have my

chance. Manufacture

Let us enjoy

this sound, because great noise

inside Ally Pally.

Try to settle down.

Here we go. That

is what it is all about. That trophy

there, one of these players is going

to be playing in the final, to try

and lift it.

and lift it.

Might be the most

exciting frame of the season so far.

A little birdie has total me that

Kyren Wilson has won 53% of final

frame deciders. To Judd's 49%, so

there is not a lot between them,

Kyren just got the edge, but as John

Parrott says, you just at some stage

want one chance in the deciding

frame.

That is a good shot.

The crowd have been fantastic, they

really have. The reception the

players got, it was like finals day.

Mostly they have appreciated the

come back from Kyren Wilson. There

will be plenty of Judd Trump fans

in, hoping their man gets across the

line.

Is he taking this on? No. Just the

safety.

safety. Too risky that one.

Will it bit a nervy tactical frame?

You don't get many of them these

days, high stakes here, a lot to

play for.

Good enough pace on the cue ball

there.

To stop Kyren Wilson screwing back

in to baulk.

Kyren maybe forced

Kyren maybe forced to play to the

top cushion here.

Believe it or not

it is 33, coming up to 34 minutes

since Judd's last pot. He has only

scores five points in the last three

frames.

-- scored.

Just OK.

Very risky red into the middle

pocket.

Couple of escape routes for Kyren.

He can see the reds past the green

and he can see the one near the left

side cushion, so it is the thin

snick off these right sides of the

table.

You could see the eyes there,

glancing from the cue ball to the

object ball. Just before delivering

the cue, you are looking at the

object ball.

Good safety. A bit of a

risk may be with this shot. Maybe

played it well.

If he didn't get the kiss there it

would have been absolutely perfect.

He will be able to flick the brown,

this escape route wouldn't have been

available to Kyren.

He is wary of

pushing a ball to the corner here,

so much so, he is going for this red

on the left-hand side side cushion,

don't want to get a double-kiss, I

don't think he will do.

don't think he will do. Close to

double-kiss territory but...

That's

a brilliant shot.

Judd should be able to play this red

and screw back back in to baulk. He

would be unlucky if the red somehow

fiddled its way back up the table

again.

Underrated safety player I think

Judd Trump, he needs all of his

tactical about here. There is path

through. Look another what, what a

shot that would be to take on at

this stage, you are not guaranteed

to get on the black.

He doesn't like

this shot.

It is the only type of containing

shot he can play, other than being

forced to play this pot. This is so

risky.

Well, he will weigh up the

situation, if he can't see an easy

safety shot he will have a go at

this. Boy, this is some shot he is

taking on here, or is he playing the

safety shot?

safety shot? Yes, just a safety

shot. And quite rightly so.

What you are seeing unfolding in

this frame, is the difference

between coming back in to the match,

and all of a sudden when you're

parity with your opponent, a

different mind-set, both players

trying to make sure they don't gift

their opponent an easy starter, what

has Judd spotted?

Oh!

Oh!

Steve, considering Judd hasn't

potted a ball for...

What a shot.

For 38 minutes, what an opener this

is. And an early chance.

Got that

cue ball out between the reds so

well. First chance, Judd Trump. What

can he make of it?

Black is asking to be potted at some

stage.

stage. The red by the black spot

might be a problem.

But there is a couple of bunches of

reds that need to be resolved.

Is he going to steady the ship?

He

has got himself on to the black,

pink is out of commission at the

moment, but... It was a great

opening red. A bit unlucky for Kyren

to leave that red in the way he

played the safety shot, but Judd did

pot a very good opener.

Could have left that slightly better

for himself. He is still OK, but

just another inch off the cushion

would have been better

It is

critical if this black go, Judd is

looking at it. It's not moving, does

it go in?

He has an angle to go up for the

blue. If it doesn't.

blue. If it doesn't. Can Good pace

on the cue ball again, Dennis, with

attention -- with the tension that

is in this match he has controlled

the white ball so far excellently.

It is still not a good chance yet.

We can see that the black was very

tight. It is difficult to get on the

red. If he could get on the red

there in a couple of shot's time

that might help. He has a lot do

from this position.

Red below the

pink goes, he has underhit that,

that is first mistake, underhit it

by quite a way.

Looks like he has got the thin cut

into the middle pocket, but it is a

lot thinner than it looks on the TV

screens here.

I suppose he is obligated to go for

it.

It is amazing, hadn't it had have

been a deciding frame I am sure he

would have canned in, he was trying

to make certain.

Not a plant on. Is

there a plant on? He is going to

make it. Oh dear. The thing about

this is he has to be so certain he

can get this. He can't risk playing

this, he has to be 100 certain --

100% certain.

There is a gap between the ball, we

know he has history of playing

glance, he has done them very well,

but such a critical time.

Thin rid. Is not easy.

I think he is looking at the safety

shot, is he?

Double. Good knows.

He can't make his mind up.

It was a

poor positional shot. He would have

been better overhitting that blue.

If it goes in it could be a match

winner.

I think the correct shot, absolutely

the correct shot that.

Not enough points to cause much

concern to his opponent. So first

chance to Judd Trump. Not converted.

That was a pretty good shot from

Judd there, it has left things

awkward here, going to catch this

one thin, to avoid the in-off to the

pocket. Not too thin that he catches

the other red there on the

right-hand side cushion.

right-hand side cushion. If there is

no shot available to him, just

looking at the situation, he is

going to go for the thin one.

going to go for the thin one.

Full

in the face. Right to the top

cushion is one way of containing the

situation, this is slightly riskier

if he mishits it but he has to

mis-hit it by quite some distance.

Well played.

Bit of pressure on that.

Judd

Judd Trump looks to have weathered a

bit of a storm. He looks more

focused out there at the moment than

he did watching those frames passed

by. -- pass by.

Well, that has

certainly opened things up and look

at this cue ball. A fraction a way

of getting in behind the yellow but

that has opened things up somewhat.

He certainly wasn't scared of trying

to get the black into play. Positive

thinking.

Is there a path for Wilson to try

and pop this red and get back down

around the baulk area? I think there

is.

Well, it was a good effort. He has

potted three or four like that in

the match but this is the deciding

frame, there was an awful lot of

pressure on that.

He missed it by

far enough that he didn't get the

correct angle with the cue ball but

he has left Judd very awkwardly

placed. Unless there is a plant on?

I don't think so.

This is quite horrible, isn't it? As

he got to get the extended rest out?

-- has he? It is a horrible shot to

play, that is. He could play the red

down the rail and screw back into

baulk but I don't see any other type

of shot. The red on the top cushion

to play safe off of to get back into

baulk but he wants to be more

aggressive than that. Is he talking

himself into a pot?

Nightmare. Nightmare shot.

What on earth happened there? Surely

there was a safer option?

Everything's been thrown away.

Everything's been thrown away. How

does he feel now?

Well, he has got to sit there and

see what Kyren can make of this

chance. It is not a good chance and

Judd has a 23 point advantage but he

thought long and hard and then took

on another risky plant. There was a

straightforward safety shot, it has

to be said.

And he has gone to get the black

back up on the spot straightaway.

Needs a bit of an angle. He has got

the red near the middle pocket, so

very positive thinking from Kyren.

So this is his chance. Judd has had

his opportunity.

Straight enough that it's a bit of a

problem.

Well, this is a thin one, you can

tell. Shaking their head. He just

finished a little awkward on that

black there, because the white

anywhere over the right side of the

table, that was an easy pot.

Dennis,

he might not be able to avoid, in

potting this red, assuming he can

cut it back, he may not be able to

avoid a collision with the other red

on the left-hand side of the

cushion. Such a thin cut, it is

tough to screw the ball.

Is interesting bit to luck or can

control it?

control it? Where is this red going?

It goes in... Now. He has made it a

big pocket, unmissable pink in the

middle pocket, I would suggest. I

think it is unmissable. He trusted

to luck and he has got a massive

amount, I think.

As long as he

catches the red thin, if the pink

doesn't go in direct.

As long as the

red is also not touching the

cushion, he won't get an immediate

double kiss.

What a semifinal we've been treated

to hear.

to hear. -- here. What else is left

in this fantastic match?

He has

owned a hit that, just about got

away with it. Thought he underhit it

a little bit more than that.

People ask you what it is like out

there under these conditions. It is

worse are the parents, isn't it?

They are more nervous than you are.

When you are out there, at this

stage of the match, you are playing

on pure instinct.

So far, every ball has gone in the

middle of the pocket.

He knows this is a golden

opportunity. He knows he has been

gifted it. Is he going to fulfil his

potential?

An awful long way to go yet, with a

few reds safe.

That has certainly put all four reds

on now. There were three fairly

difficult ones.

That was an

excellently controlled shot. Could

easily be forgiven for hitting it

harder. It is advantage Kyren Wilson

now.

He is going to need one of the

difficult three Reds on the table.

At the very least. And perhaps only

one.

It's a great effort here. Still

looking good.

The number he is

looking at there, on the right of

your screen, 67 points. If he can

get there, Judd will need a snooker.

On the red that he was just leaning

over, the one nearest the right

corner pocket, even that is not too

badly placed.

He needs high colours to only need

the one red. As you say, it is not a

bad red to get on.

Bit lucky. But the red has gone down

the table.

It's OK because he got an

angle on the pink to drop on the red

that he knocked up near the brown.

It is admissible into the middle

pocket, it is more of an angle than

it looks on the TV screen but I

think you would expect him to just

drop it in. Hasn't got to do much

with the cue ball.

It is there.

30 points the difference now, slowly

creeping towards a place in the

final. There are still a bit of work

to be done yet.

He needs 14 points

from two Reds.

Two pinks, one black, one blue.

Other than that, he is going to need

two of these difficult Reds on the

site cushion.

Can he had worked that out...

That red I mentioned, he can drop on

that one here.

Well, for all of the

inaccuracies of positional play that

Kyren Wilson showed that the start

of this match, he is on the brink of

an absolutely fantastic victory,

maybe the most important of his

life. He has shown great character,

he has improved as this match has

gone on. One more good positional

shot.

He has played for the loose red.

He

is going to need a little bit of

help here. He is going to need the

extension on his cue and the

extended rest. So, hasn't got

anything to do with the cue ball,

that will automatically finish on

the black. I mentioned earlier, he

did a defeat Judd in the 2015

Shanghai Masters, 10-9, deciding

frame.

He doesn't want to try to get

too clever with this. Just drop it

in. He is going to be on the black.

Doesn't necessarily need to get too

close to the black.

Absolutely amazing and what a

fantastic round of applause for just

potting that red there. He is still

looking at the scoreboard. Just this

black to leave Judd needing

snookers.

As sort of sigh of relief there.

Just one snooker too tight at the

moment, so the double would make

absolutely certain of a place in the

final.

Treble will do! Look at that, look

what it means to Kyren Wilson and

what a comeback. Judd Trump was 5-2

up and looked to be there. This is

some performance from the man from

Kettering.

What does this do to the

respective careers of both players?

What a turnaround.

It is hard to describe how he is

feeling outside, he is putting his

cheek said. It is hard to describe

how he feels but this has been the

best performance of his career, even

though he won a ranking event. It

doesn't matter about that. A

fantastic semifinal, Judd Trump

looked as though he was going to win

the match quite comfortably but the

man from Kettering won four frames

in a row and didn't he do it in

style? He gets himself through to

the final of the Dafabet Masters.

STUDIO: And look back, even time to

sign a few autographs. He has just

been through that, seemingly dead

and buried at 5-2, he rolls back to

win it and it still signing

autographs.

win it and it still signing

autographs. Fair play, Kyren Wilson.

If I can bring you into the studio,

John Parrott was giving him a huge

round of applause.

There are lots of

ingredients you need to be a

top-class took a player and one of

them is great. And that is what he

has shown today, didn't have is A

game at the start of the match,

couldn't make a break but from 5-2

down, from the mother Judd Trump

took the liberty with the thing, he

has been brilliant.

KEN DOHERTY: that'll give him so

much confidence going into the

final, to come through like that and

play the snooker, he has not just

done it through Skype -- scrappy

frames -- STEPHEN HENDRY: that'll

give him so much confidence. To me,

it seemed to be destiny.

He did seem

to have the run of the balls but you

have to give him his credit, John.

Like I said, Judd took the liberty

and the game has a way of turning it

around and not forgiving you and

Kyren started to pop balls, he had a

thin red in the middle, ended up

being perfect on the pink but from

then on, it was a brilliant break.

Kyren

then on, it was a brilliant break.

Kyren will come in for an interview

in a minute but let's have a look at

the moment of madness that cost Judd

Trump our place in the final.

He has

a few shots he can play here but it

is just not thinking clearly, it is

the pressure

is just not thinking clearly, it is

the pressure getting to you. You are

desperate to get the match won and

you're desperate to take any chance,

that is the frame of mind.

It is

composure at this stage of the game,

the stage of the tournament. Here he

comes, absolutely drained, Kyren,

well done. I just said, you have

just been through there and you have

been signing autographs. 5-2, we

honestly thought it was all over.

What a tremendous fightback, well

done.

Due know what it is, people

keep calling me the Warrior and I

thought, I haven't won a comeback in

years, so I am going to stick in

there and this venue, funny things

can happen here and the late, great

Paul Hunter made some awesome

comebacks and I was thinking of him

a little bit and trying to draw some

inspiration from some of the

comeback see made and just managed

to stick in there.

At 5-2 down, I

was saying to the boys, looking at

your body language, it is almost

like you were resigned to defeat.

I

am trying to stay in my chair the

same all the time, trying to make

things familiar all the time. It

might not look the most positive to

you guys but I'm trying to keep

things together all the time. I had

my chances in more or less every

single frame and kept running out of

position. I felt like the potting

was there and the queueing.

He found

the cue ball when it mattered, all

of those frames, all of a sudden,

you found the cue ball when it

mattered.

I just knew that I had to

start scoring in the 70s and 80s

from the interval, because I wasn't

doing that.

Isn't it funny how the

game can change, he has taken that

one liberty with the red, 5-2,

splattered the balls everywhere and

from the minute that happened, it

has just changed and you as a player

realise that, don't you?

I had my

chances, I made a good start from

the interval, a good 80 break and I

let myself a black down the rail and

I just under hit the red next to the

black and that would have been 3-3

because I would've answered the job

from 3-3 and Judd capitalised and as

you say, took the liberty and let me

settle. I just needed one frame to

get my ongoing from 5-2 down.

At one

point, there was an amazing yellow

in frame nine, did you just decide

on that shot straightaway?

I like to

think I'm an aggressive player and I

felt like Judd was quite

conservative.

We said that, he

seemed to have a game plan.

His

safety game, I was really impressed

with it and I thought, I'm going to

go over it and when my opportunities

came, I just thought I'd got to

start taking them, whether it is

taking a risk or not.

When you play

that red in the middle, everything

happened and then you were on the

pink, that was lovely.

I thought the

red was going to cover it.

Then it

went to the phage or and it was

like...

I am sure I saw a little

further drop-down.

You have that

break of 81 and Judd had a break of

96 but we were talking about the

fact that Judd hadn't spotted a ball

for 38 minutes, so that was

obviously your intention, to keep

him in his chair and away from the

table.

Yes, I lost my discipline a

little bit, I went for one of those

crazy ones as well but I felt I had

no shots so I wanted to take my

opportunities and when that wasn't

quite there, not taking the rash

shot... I know the yellow one was

rash but it is one I really fancied

and I just grew in confidence and

started to find my game.

Bet you

can't wait for tomorrow.

I am

buzzing, this is a sort of venue

where you want to be in a vinyl. I'm

knocking on the door this season, I

just need to ground myself tonight,

chill out and it is just another

match.

And your family here as well

today, lovely to see that.

Yeah, it

is brilliant. I had my brother and

my wife coming along after one of

the frames, just give me a little

cheer and it gave me a little boost,

really. It is nice to have them here

and give them something to cheer

for.

Talking about boosts, I have to

ask you about this crowd. I have

been asking these guys as well but

it's been a long time since they

walked out in a final frame decider

with so much at stake, are you aware

of the crowd and the "Come on,

Kyren," or do you block it out?

I

think leading up to and the first

couple of shots, but then you get

into a zone and you have to block it

off and not think about it. Last

year, I really struggled with that.

It was my debut and I didn't handle

the crowd very well whereas this

year, because I played so well in my

first game, that obviously helps, I

know I can do it so now I know I can

do it, all that doesn't matter and

it is playing the balls.

Your first

Masters final, how does that sound?

Awesome, one more to go.

Higgins or

Mark Allen?

I'm not bothered.

And it

goes on until midnight, that is what

you want.

They are both fantastic,

John has been there and done it and

Mark is one of the most consistent

on tour. It will be a tough game

every way but every game feels like

a final and is a tough game.

You

have thrilled us, though.

There are

lots of qualities as snooker player

need and grit and determination is

definitely one of them and you

showed it in spades.

Go and have a

cup of tea, brilliant. Let's a quick

look ahead to tonight's match, John

Higgins and Mark Allen, you can

watch it live tonight on BBC Two,

the whole match.

watch it live tonight on BBC Two,

the whole match. It is a two piece

in the head to heads. -- eight

apiece.

in the head to heads. -- eight

apiece.

The pistol, the sharpshooter amongst

the players, the shortest, most

compact cue action in the top part

of the game, I think. Pulls it back

a very short distance and delivers

it very sharply.

Yes, which I think,

from a technical point of view,

means there is not much to go wrong

in that action but I think it limits

the type, or the style of shots that

Mark and sometimes play.

He can play

power shots, though.

He can, but in

certain parts of the world, I think

he can suffer a little bit.

And yet,

having said that, he has won STEPHEN

HENDRY: big tournaments in China,

weather conditions generally play a

heavier.

-- he has won his

tournaments in China, where

conditions generally play a little

heavier. I think with his very short

action that he has got, and to be

perfectly honest, it is the sort of

action you saw in the clubs as an

amateur because the queues were so

heavy, you had to get through the

ball quickly. I think he has gone

shorter on his bridge, he used to be

longer, but what a wonderful player.

He gets his action on the ball

because he is very very wristy,

similar to Joe Swale, uses his

wrist, almost like a golfer, turns

his wrist over. I remember watching

Mark Ilott when he was an amateur

and I thought this lad is going to

do really well. He has got something

about him, that spark, that fight

and he has beaten top players on the

biggest stages.

He has immense

bottle. You know, he would be in

your top two or three people to

clear up if you needed someone to

clear up. He is not one to balk at

the pressure. He loves those moments

where you have got to do it now,

that is what he really enjoys and

away from that, a lot of people

might not know, but he is one of the

hardest working snooker players on

the tour.

It just hasn't happened at

the World Championship, because that

is considered to be the litmus Test.

So a good performance at the World

Championships somewhere down the

line would raise his stock even

higher.

I think so. I think the

Masters is the event he hasn't done

that well in so far in his career.

Semifinal of the World

Championships, final of the UK and,

as I say, perhaps not done that

great in the Masters but I don't

think it is the want of trying, I

think it is a case of when it is

going to happen, not if, with Mark.

I don't know anyone that really has

more hunger than Mark for the game.

Don't know anyone who tries harder.

Shaun Murphy absolutely right

although, crucially, John, Mark

Allen has beaten John Higgins on

three occasions here at the Masters.

He is not frightened of playing

anybody, he is a fabulous competitor

and a wonderful scorer, which he has

been doing really well all week. In

amongst the balls, he has a lovely

touch, heavy scorer and his cause in

streaks where he scores for five

frames quickly.

And when you have

beaten someone like O'Sullivan, you

walk into here full of confidence.

You should do but Mark said in his

interview it is just one match, even

though it was Ronnie O'Sullivan and

it was only halfway through towards

going when -- to win the tournament.

Mark Allen has every shot. Perhaps

as long game isn't as consistent as

some but he needs to start getting

to the end of these tournaments more

often. He is still not included in

the favourites to win these

tournaments, so he has a way to go

to get to that stage but he is well

capable of winning tonight and

tomorrow.

That is what we said at

the interval, he threatens to do

some damage at the latter stages of

the big BBC events.

I think he has

been unlucky as well, he has walked

into players playing unbelievably

and had hard draws. Lots of the

matches I see, he plays -- he play

somebody who is playing outstanding

to beat him. When John has beaten

them in the past, it is because John

Higgins has played at the peak of

his ability and one safety shot, one

Mr pot, that's all it's been. He

will continue to go close because he

is very much a top player.

Are you

expecting it to be a high-scoring

affair?

I would be very surprised if

it wasn't a very high quality match,

possibly three, maybe for centuries

because these guys are the top in

the world when it comes to getting

on the ball and scoring heavily.

That is John Higgins' biggest asset

throughout his career.

And these

guys have been talking about each

other's game.

It is hard, it's a hard sport, it's

a brutal sport but that's why we

play and that's the excitement of

that. With these tournaments were

easy to win, everybody would be

doing it.

He is playing a lot --

with a lot of confidence right now,

playing great all year and a great

win against Ronnie. So a tough,

tough game.

We have been 13 years

now on tour, yet to win one of the

Triple Crown events. I fully believe

in myself that I can do it and if I

didn't, I wouldn't play. I've won

nine tournaments around the world so

if I can win nine around the world,

there is no reason I can't win one

of the Triple Crown, if not all

three.

I like watching him play, he

is great to watch and I think we

have always had good games together.

John is one of the greatest ever in

my opinion, probably in the top

three or four of all time but we

have had some great battles over the

years and I have beaten him here at

the Masters already although he has

beaten me in some of the majors. I'm

confident in my own game. That's

nothing against John, that's the way

I've played recently.

You know, I'm

buzzing. I know I've never really

done great here but I've always

enjoyed playing, packed house nearly

every match and it's fabulous. I

look forward to it.

Her very young John Higgins in that

item there. It is 7pm, it is live

against Mark Allen on BBC Two. He

was runner-up against Ronnie

O'Sullivan losing 9-3 back in 1995,

John Higgins.

I have the table from

my house from 1995. I had Ronnie

O'Sullivan in the first-round four

dead and letting go, so I bought the

table for spite.

Let's talk briefly

about Judd Trump and how damaging

this defeat is going forward.

Very

damaging, he will take a long time

to get over that today. He has got

to look at his career because he

doesn't want to be known as the

flair player with all the talent but

no titles to his name. He has got to

think about it and the shots he

played today, they cost him.

And

damaging because of the position he

was in.

Absolutely and it changed

the circumstances of the match. It

is two shots, he will look at the

rash one at 5-2 and the plant in the

last frame, never the right shot.

That was a terrible shot. Kyren

Wilson comes in here full of

confidence, goes into the final

tomorrow and who knows who he is

going to get but there could be no

stopping Kyren.

He will be a very

dangerous opponent for whoever wins

tonight.

Thank you very much indeed,

that is it from us. Do join us this

evening, fantastic Saturday evening

entertainment coming from Alexandra

Palace. The second semifinal of the

2018 Dafabet Masters is John Higgins

against Mark Allen. We will see you

at 7pm live, goodbye for now.