Semi-Final 3

0:00:37 > 0:00:40Hello, good evening. Welcome to a packed Alexandra Palace for the

0:00:40 > 0:00:47second semifinal of the UK Masters, featuring Scotland's John Higgins,

0:00:47 > 0:00:53twice Masters champion taking on Mark Allen, not the Ronnie

0:00:53 > 0:01:03O'Sullivan in the quarterfinals. -- who knocked out.

0:01:04 > 0:01:08-- who knocked out.It is a brutal sport. But that is why we play. That

0:01:08 > 0:01:11is the excitement of it. If these big tournaments were easy to win, we

0:01:11 > 0:01:17would all be doing it. He is playing with a lot of

0:01:17 > 0:01:20confidence right now. He has been playing great all year.

0:01:20 > 0:01:30A tough game.I've been on tour 13 years. Yet to win one of the three

0:01:30 > 0:01:34Triple Crown events. I fully believe I can do it. If I didn't, I wouldn't

0:01:34 > 0:01:40play. I have won nine tournaments around the world. There is no reason

0:01:40 > 0:01:44why I can't win one of the Triple Crown if not all three.

0:01:44 > 0:01:48I love watching him play. He is great to watch. We have always had

0:01:48 > 0:01:54good games together.John is one of the greatest ever in my opinion.

0:01:54 > 0:01:58Probably the top three or four of all time. We have had some great

0:01:58 > 0:02:03battles over the years. He has beaten me in some of the majors. I

0:02:03 > 0:02:07am confident in my own game. That is nothing against John. What I do

0:02:07 > 0:02:13believe if I play how I have done recently I will win. -- but.I am

0:02:13 > 0:02:17buzzing. I have never really done a great year but I have always enjoyed

0:02:17 > 0:02:21playing. It is a packed house for nearly every match. That is

0:02:21 > 0:02:26fabulous. I look forward to it.

0:02:26 > 0:02:30We are in the company of two legends this evening. Good evening to

0:02:30 > 0:02:34Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis. Does Mark Allen have enough to knock out

0:02:34 > 0:02:39John Higgins?Without a doubt. He has beaten them twice, and at this

0:02:39 > 0:02:46venue as well.Yeah, I think he is hungry enough as well. He must have

0:02:46 > 0:02:50had an agonising wait to get to the semifinals and perhaps the final of

0:02:50 > 0:02:53this event. He has been knocking on the door for a long time. You have

0:02:53 > 0:02:58to say, what is wrong with his game? Any of those good things he has

0:02:58 > 0:03:03improved on. The demolition of Ronnie O'Sullivan is a big

0:03:03 > 0:03:07confidence builder.It is a eight in the head-to-heads. But Mark has a

0:03:07 > 0:03:14good record against Higgins at the Masters?Yes, John Higgins is a

0:03:14 > 0:03:19winner here. His CV stands up very well. He can do a job on a player

0:03:19 > 0:03:26easily. Mark Allen has to be on his game.Without a doubt. It would be a

0:03:26 > 0:03:31fantastic match. It may not have the drama of this afternoon. There will

0:03:31 > 0:03:37be break-building from both. They are class acts.You expecting an

0:03:37 > 0:03:41aggressive match?I'm expecting a class match. They are classy

0:03:41 > 0:03:44break-builders. They play the game like everybody would like to play

0:03:44 > 0:03:49the game. I would love to play the game like them. I am sure Stephen

0:03:49 > 0:03:52appreciates their skills as well. You haven't got a clue what is going

0:03:52 > 0:03:57to happen, you never know what the storyline is going to be.You can

0:03:57 > 0:04:01say that again. Kyren Wilson, 5-2 against Judd Trump, and he roared

0:04:01 > 0:04:08back to knock him out 6-5. Judd started his own downfall with this

0:04:08 > 0:04:18most red. Kyren had a bit of good luck when this shot found its way

0:04:18 > 0:04:24onto the pink to build a match-winning break. And by the time

0:04:24 > 0:04:27this double turned into a trouble, Kyren was already past the winning

0:04:27 > 0:04:39post and through to his first final of a Triple Crown event.

0:04:41 > 0:04:45I hope Judd wasn't watching. Because this man said that defeat for Judd

0:04:45 > 0:04:51Trump is very damaging. Would you agree?Yeah, he should be

0:04:51 > 0:04:55disappointed with what happened today. From Kyren Wilson's

0:04:55 > 0:04:57perspective, he was offered a lifeline and he must be proud to

0:04:57 > 0:05:03have taken it.Strong views from you earlier. Have you had time to

0:05:03 > 0:05:07contemplate what you have said? Will you change your viewpoint?Not at

0:05:07 > 0:05:13all. He had the game done and dusted at 5-2. He played a crazy shot.

0:05:13 > 0:05:20Offered his opponent a lifeline and boy did he take it.You probably

0:05:20 > 0:05:25heard the boys saying Kyren Wilson could lift the title?Yes, and

0:05:25 > 0:05:27something like that could be a fillip to your career. When you are

0:05:27 > 0:05:33given a chance like that, that could be a pivotal moment in writing the

0:05:33 > 0:05:37record books.What was so special about how Kyren fought back for you?

0:05:37 > 0:05:43The body language for us in the studio, and Kyren said, actually I

0:05:43 > 0:05:50felt good, but the body-line which didn't look good. What stood out?

0:05:50 > 0:05:53When it mattered, under pressure, when he was offered the balls, he

0:05:53 > 0:05:58didn't refuse the chance. He has a good temperament, he has got a

0:05:58 > 0:06:02winning mentality. He will take his chances. Disappointment for Judd

0:06:02 > 0:06:06that he blew it and presented too many chances to his opponent.I

0:06:06 > 0:06:11certainly hope we is not watching. Looted and damaging for the rest of

0:06:11 > 0:06:15his career. Let's get back to tonight's Matt Bosher.

0:06:15 > 0:06:18-- match.

0:06:18 > 0:06:21tonight's Matt Bosher. -- match.Good evening, ladies and

0:06:21 > 0:06:25gentlemen. This is the last session of snooker ahead of tomorrow's UK

0:06:25 > 0:06:29Masters final. It has been a week of shocks, upset and comebacks. Which

0:06:29 > 0:06:34of these two Celtic giant will join Kyren Wilson in the showpiece

0:06:34 > 0:06:45showdown? It is time to find out. CHEERING.

0:06:50 > 0:06:55Please welcome one of the best break-builders in the modern game.

0:06:55 > 0:06:58Bidding for his first appearance in a Masters final. This three-time

0:06:58 > 0:07:06ranking event winners showed his class with a superb, nerveless 6-1

0:07:06 > 0:07:09win over defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarterfinals. He

0:07:09 > 0:07:14is a big occasion performer who will relish this tonight. He is the pride

0:07:14 > 0:07:20of Northern Ireland, he is Mark The Pistol Allen.

0:07:31 > 0:07:38MUSIC.

0:07:46 > 0:07:50And his opponent, one of the finest sportsmen Scotland has ever

0:07:50 > 0:07:54produced. Twice a Masters champion, bidding for his first final in 12

0:07:54 > 0:08:01years. In a career of incredible longevity, anyone is 29th ranking

0:08:01 > 0:08:04title earlier this season in India. A player of immense mental strength

0:08:04 > 0:08:10on and off the table. Four times champion of the world, the Wizard of

0:08:10 > 0:08:21Wishaw, John Higgins!

0:08:36 > 0:08:40Here we go. What a Saturday evening of entertainment we have got here at

0:08:40 > 0:08:47Alexandra Palace. Listen to the noise.

0:08:47 > 0:08:56Good evening everybody. It is cold outside. But boy, is it hot in the

0:08:56 > 0:09:01arena here at Alexandra Palace? By the wonderful reception. Everybody

0:09:01 > 0:09:07looking forward to this. And Ken, as Stephen and Steve said, all the

0:09:07 > 0:09:12makings of a classic semifinal? Absolutely, John. What a reception

0:09:12 > 0:09:15both players got coming down the stairs. Wonderful. Absolutely

0:09:15 > 0:09:20buzzing in here. I think it is going to be a classic. There is not a lot

0:09:20 > 0:09:31between them. Eight wins apiece in the head-to-heads. I think as the

0:09:31 > 0:09:34lads mentioned, that 6-1 demolition of Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last

0:09:34 > 0:09:43round by Mark Allen, it will give him all the confidence he needs.

0:09:43 > 0:09:47Yes, particularly as everybody was thinking that running was unbeatable

0:09:47 > 0:09:54at this venue. That was a real feather in Mark's cab. -- hat. He

0:09:54 > 0:10:03has got another legend to take on here.

0:10:03 > 0:10:11here. Great start! The perfect start.

0:10:11 > 0:10:20Fantastic opening pot. Nicely on the black as well. He can play a cannon

0:10:20 > 0:10:29onto the red just above the black. He didn't play that well.

0:10:29 > 0:10:32He didn't play that well. He has still got a red to the right centre.

0:10:32 > 0:10:43I think the pink is on to the left corner pocket.

0:10:45 > 0:10:53Yes, lucky to have this as an alternative. But he has not made the

0:10:53 > 0:10:59most of it! A little bit of tension in the arm, probably.

0:10:59 > 0:11:09Understandable. But it could be a costly miss. So close.

0:11:26 > 0:11:30Nice and straight on the pink. He doesn't have too much to do with the

0:11:30 > 0:11:39cue ball. Two reds to the right of the pack.

0:11:39 > 0:11:47I don't think the pink will spot on its own spot.

0:11:52 > 0:11:55its own spot. No. Directly in line with the spot and of course the top

0:11:55 > 0:12:00cushion.

0:12:05 > 0:12:15It's sort of messes those two reds. The bottom one was on. He may have

0:12:15 > 0:12:23to go for the blue.

0:12:28 > 0:12:33It is remarkable how John Higgins has regained his focus for the game.

0:12:33 > 0:12:40They say when you get over 40 you start to lose a little bit of edge.

0:12:40 > 0:12:43The last couple of seasons he has really come back to something like

0:12:43 > 0:12:48his best.

0:12:50 > 0:12:57his best. Number five in the world rankings. It is a compliment to his

0:12:57 > 0:13:08desire and is love the game. -- he is love of the game.

0:13:09 > 0:13:16is love of the game.29 ranking tournament wins. I think a couple

0:13:16 > 0:13:21behind Ronnie O'Sullivan and of course Stephen Hendry on 32. A

0:13:21 > 0:13:25fantastic achievement so far and still going. He needs a bit of luck

0:13:25 > 0:13:33here. Has he got it? It doesn't look like it.

0:13:51 > 0:13:57This red pots into the yellow pocket. Not easy. Great shot.

0:13:57 > 0:14:05Fantastic.

0:14:06 > 0:14:13Fantastic. He couldn't have played that much better.

0:14:22 > 0:14:26Playing that pink with a little bit of extra pace. He knew that red was

0:14:26 > 0:14:31never going to be easy. The closer he gets to the red, the easier it

0:14:31 > 0:14:35was going to be. Now there is a choice. Looking at it, I think you

0:14:35 > 0:14:44would probably play for the yellow. This is the last of the loose reds.

0:14:44 > 0:14:47Playing for the yellow he had doesn't have to do much with the cue

0:14:47 > 0:14:58ball. The next couple of shots could be key to this frame.

0:15:42 > 0:15:53He is playing the brown. Just a little bit too solid with not enough

0:15:53 > 0:16:04pace. Nothing to go out. -- at.He would like it or Tingwall. It is

0:16:04 > 0:16:14touching. A lot easier to play the safety shot. As long as the red

0:16:14 > 0:16:22doesn't move, of course, it is not foul. -- no foul.

0:16:27 > 0:16:37A couple of good pots in the break but he will be disappointed.

0:16:53 > 0:16:58He didn't hit that very well. He caught it much too thick. No harm

0:16:58 > 0:17:07done. He has not really put any pressure on John's safety shot. A

0:17:07 > 0:17:13wealth of experience, John Higgins.

0:17:21 > 0:17:28He has caught that a little bit thick as well.

0:17:52 > 0:18:01He has left the red to the left corner.

0:18:01 > 0:18:05corner. John Higgins will definitely take it on. It is whether you try to

0:18:05 > 0:18:10hold for the pink into the opposite corner, or screw across the face of

0:18:10 > 0:18:14the black. He probably feels he can play better if he screws across the

0:18:14 > 0:18:22face. He is looking at an alternative red. The one to the left

0:18:22 > 0:18:26corner looks the shot to play. But first frame, maybe he is just

0:18:26 > 0:18:34feeling a little bit nervy. No. As you would expect with John Higgins,

0:18:34 > 0:18:42playing the right shot.

0:18:48 > 0:19:03Great shot. Plays it positively, as you said. A nice flick of the red.

0:19:03 > 0:19:06But for that flick he may not have been on the black body deserves to

0:19:06 > 0:19:16be on the black. Good pot. -- but he deserves to be on the black. He

0:19:16 > 0:19:27played that nicely. Have to force it off the top cushion.

0:19:29 > 0:19:39He would like to get the red is close to this pot. He would like to

0:19:39 > 0:19:45take that after the spring. It would open up the other two reds. I am

0:19:45 > 0:19:53sure he will try to get onto this from the pink.

0:19:53 > 0:20:04from the pink. He just wants to take the loose ones first.

0:20:04 > 0:20:07the loose ones first. I'm sure the right-hand one of those two will go

0:20:07 > 0:20:11into the right corner. He would like to have been a little straighter on

0:20:11 > 0:20:15this red. He is now considering if he run through and leave himself on

0:20:15 > 0:20:25the pink. Striking low. He doesn't think he can play that shot. Back up

0:20:25 > 0:20:32for the blue. He nearly got into that too much. Now there is distance

0:20:32 > 0:20:37between the colour and the next red required. Hence the right smile.

0:20:37 > 0:20:45Avid of adrenaline. He overcooked that by some margin. That red I

0:20:45 > 0:20:57spoke about... He may try to get honest now. -- on it. Not this time.

0:20:57 > 0:21:03The top red of the two beside the pink will pot. It is not easy. Not

0:21:03 > 0:21:12as easy as he would have liked.

0:21:30 > 0:21:39And now he will have to play for the red that Ken suggested.

0:21:39 > 0:21:42red that Ken suggested. And you can never take these for granted,

0:21:42 > 0:21:45particularly if you're playing it with a little bit of pace, which you

0:21:45 > 0:21:56have too. The black is not available in the opposite corner.

0:21:57 > 0:21:59in the opposite corner.He has to play this with a little bit of

0:21:59 > 0:22:05left-hand side as well. As you said, John, a bit of pace. He played it

0:22:05 > 0:22:10nicely.

0:22:10 > 0:22:18nicely. Of course the good thing about potting that read now --

0:22:18 > 0:22:26red... It opens the pocket up nicely. A quick glance at the score.

0:22:26 > 0:22:38He is 51 ahead. He needs pink and one more red.

0:22:43 > 0:22:50A helpful little kiss. There is a red along the top cushion. If he

0:22:50 > 0:22:55rolls it in he will go 58 points in front with just 51 remaining. Only

0:22:55 > 0:23:04the red required.

0:23:04 > 0:23:15the red required. A good solid start from the twice Masters champion.

0:23:28 > 0:23:40At the moment three snookers to tie. Playing the double.

0:23:40 > 0:23:46Playing the double.This has been an excellent break. Very controlled. He

0:23:46 > 0:23:50has parted some good balls. The opening red was just fantastic. --

0:23:50 > 0:23:59potted. They look a little flick off the red but deserved every bit of

0:23:59 > 0:24:08it.The red has not gone in but that will be enough. A good solid start

0:24:08 > 0:24:15from John Higgins. A couple of long reds. A break of 33.

0:24:15 > 0:24:16He leads 1-0.

0:25:20 > 0:25:25John Higgins, what a record that is. When you look at his century breaks

0:25:25 > 0:25:33the last few years per season, they are not decreasing any. That is a

0:25:33 > 0:25:36great compliment to his desire. He is still putting the work in the

0:25:36 > 0:25:41practice. And of course all these tournamentss to play. You need to be

0:25:41 > 0:25:49focused.Absolutely.

0:25:53 > 0:25:58There is the wonderful Waterford Crystal trophy. Both players will be

0:25:58 > 0:26:02hoping to get their hands on that Sunday night. John, of course, as

0:26:02 > 0:26:07won it twice. The Paul Hunter trophy, as it is aptly named now,

0:26:07 > 0:26:16after the late great Paul Hunter. What a player he was.

0:26:16 > 0:26:20What a player he was. He won this Masters three times. John Higgins as

0:26:20 > 0:26:27won it twice. It has not always been his favourite tournament. The first

0:26:27 > 0:26:31time he has been in the semifinals in six years. That is quite

0:26:31 > 0:26:38incredible.

0:26:45 > 0:26:52I'm not quite certainly played the pot on the red there. That double

0:26:52 > 0:27:01case has left this red on for Mark. -- double case. -- kiss. Mark has

0:27:01 > 0:27:09got first chance in the opening frame. A tremendous long pot. This

0:27:09 > 0:27:15is the red in the middle and never had another chance after that. -- he

0:27:15 > 0:27:23missed the red in the middle.

0:27:24 > 0:27:25missed the red in the middle.He has just come little higher on the black

0:27:25 > 0:27:32than he would have liked. He could pot the pink.

0:27:36 > 0:27:39pot the pink. He is just seeing where the pink would spot if he does

0:27:39 > 0:27:53pot it. Pot the pink and stun the cue ball forward a couple of inches.

0:27:54 > 0:28:03And as in the first frame, the pink doesn't spot on its own spot. There

0:28:03 > 0:28:09you see, he is nicely on the red into the bottom corner pocket now.

0:28:17 > 0:28:21The chances Mark Allen was taking against Ronnie O'Sullivan, I think

0:28:21 > 0:28:34he won five of the six frames in one visit. Tremendous scoring.

0:28:38 > 0:28:41I know we have seen him quite a few times in recent years when we have

0:28:41 > 0:28:50done the tournament in Ireland in January. He is the type of player,

0:28:50 > 0:28:54Mark, that when he's on his game, you just feel there is not a ball on

0:28:54 > 0:28:57the table he couldn't pot if you went for it. He's that type of

0:28:57 > 0:29:04player. And in this type -- in this position... Somebody with a

0:29:04 > 0:29:12flashlight. In line with the shot. Not the best thing to do. He has got

0:29:12 > 0:29:18up and regrouped.

0:29:18 > 0:29:24up and regrouped. He is a tremendous break-builder. His style of cueing,

0:29:24 > 0:29:31short action, keeps nice control when playing little screws and

0:29:31 > 0:29:41stuns. He is tailor-made for it. Particularly on these fast cloths.

0:29:41 > 0:29:45He makes a series of nice little kisses and cannons around the pink

0:29:45 > 0:29:50spot. When you watch the cue ball it has -- he is always got tight

0:29:50 > 0:29:58control. That is the essence of a good break-builder.

0:30:01 > 0:30:04good break-builder. It wasn't a great pack to go into there.

0:30:04 > 0:30:11That is why he is on the loose red.

0:30:24 > 0:30:30One more loose red, it's the extreme receipt right at the bunch into the

0:30:30 > 0:30:37left centre.

0:30:44 > 0:30:49I am certain he would rather be on the red to the left centre. Would

0:30:49 > 0:30:51have been a straightforward positional shot. Now he is going to

0:30:51 > 0:30:54run into other reds. Not guaranteed position on the

0:30:54 > 0:30:59colour.

0:31:09 > 0:31:13He is wondering can he pot this red and brush off the red to the left of

0:31:13 > 0:31:23it. Try and send the cue ball back to the blue or a colour.

0:31:32 > 0:31:39If he hits the first red, the red he is closest to, that first, could end

0:31:39 > 0:31:42up on nothing. That's what's happened.

0:31:42 > 0:31:48He still has a shot on the black and possibly even the blue.

0:31:50 > 0:31:58More difficult than he would have liked.

0:32:07 > 0:32:14The choice is the black. If he plays a drag he could possibly go for that

0:32:14 > 0:32:18red nearest the cue ball now. Played it beautifully. Absolutely

0:32:18 > 0:32:25perfectly. APPLAUSE

0:32:25 > 0:32:30Fully committed. Had to be.

0:32:40 > 0:32:44Well, how many times do we see that? You see a player, looks as though he

0:32:44 > 0:32:49broke the back of the break, and played a great shot and then just no

0:32:49 > 0:32:55concentration. That's all I can put it down to on that red.Yeah. Missed

0:32:55 > 0:33:05the red into that same middle pocket in the first frame, it cost him.

0:33:05 > 0:33:16John can take this on to the red corner pocket and hold for the blue.

0:33:20 > 0:33:27They're never easy those, playing into a blind pocket. He knew that he

0:33:27 > 0:33:31could only really leave the one he was playing. You could say it was

0:33:31 > 0:33:37half a chance. John will be just pleased Mark Allen broke down when

0:33:37 > 0:33:41he did. Looked as though it could have been a frame-winning

0:33:41 > 0:33:50contribution.

0:33:57 > 0:34:01Played that nicely.

0:34:04 > 0:34:10Just to straighten up the cue ball. Leaves John in a bit of trouble

0:34:10 > 0:34:14here.

0:34:20 > 0:34:25Natural path of the cue ball and playing one of these reds is going

0:34:25 > 0:34:36towards that reds that's on the left side. So he has to avoid that.

0:34:36 > 0:34:38Where is the cue ball going!

0:34:51 > 0:35:03It's all about fractions, but this red, he is onto the right corner.

0:35:06 > 0:35:12Needs to stop short of the baulk line. And it has. So a choice of

0:35:12 > 0:35:19yellow or green. If he gets a good positional shot here, surely he will

0:35:19 > 0:35:23win the frame.

0:36:10 > 0:36:17The referee asked Mark to give him a second, it tells us the pink spot is

0:36:17 > 0:36:23still not available. 61 points the lead. Just looking for red, colour,

0:36:23 > 0:36:33red now, to get to the snookers required stage.

0:36:44 > 0:36:51May have to play a little cannon, just to go for the frame-winning red

0:36:51 > 0:36:58he needs. Played it perfectly.

0:37:00 > 0:37:07So this red, opening 70 points in front with 67 remaining.

0:37:13 > 0:37:19John Higgins, he only had a very difficult red to go at when Mark

0:37:19 > 0:37:24missed the red to the middle.

0:37:24 > 0:37:34That will mean John Higgins will not be coming back to the table.

0:37:40 > 0:37:51Early observations, but both players look very confident. Good stroke.

0:37:51 > 0:37:58Yeah, suppose the only thing is that Mark Allen has missed a couple of

0:37:58 > 0:38:06reds to the middle. One cost him the first frame, he got away with it in

0:38:06 > 0:38:09this.

0:38:09 > 0:38:15Both players have had their hand on the table from a neutral's point of

0:38:15 > 0:38:26view. So it can only improve from here.

0:38:37 > 0:38:42Delightful touch.

0:38:54 > 0:39:05Might just drop the pink in and leave the double on the red.

0:39:05 > 0:39:18This will certainly settle him down, Mark Allen.

0:39:50 > 0:39:58Mark Allen is up and running. STUDIO: High quality stuff as

0:39:58 > 0:40:01predicted by our two guests here in the studio. A good start.Yeah,

0:40:01 > 0:40:06nothing to suggest other than a classic match, both players look

0:40:06 > 0:40:10very sharp, composed, as you would expect, two obviously very

0:40:10 > 0:40:14experienced campaigners, but both looking good.Steve, what have you

0:40:14 > 0:40:18made of the opening exchanges? They've both settled in quickly. I

0:40:18 > 0:40:23think you expect this to be a hard-fought game, could be classy.

0:40:23 > 0:40:26Both players know the significance. And experienced enough to make it

0:40:26 > 0:40:31tell if they get a chance. The miss of the red to the middle pocket with

0:40:31 > 0:40:36Mark Allen, he felt he got half a kick which pushed it to the far jaw.

0:40:36 > 0:40:40John Higgins missed his chance and 1-1. Fair enough.In terms of John

0:40:40 > 0:40:43Higgins a couple of people on social media tonight, by the way you can

0:40:43 > 0:40:46get in touch with us, are saying what is it about John Higgins, how

0:40:46 > 0:40:51is he still doing this at this stage of his career? He seems to be down

0:40:51 > 0:40:56and he comes roaring back.It did look like he was dropping down the

0:40:56 > 0:41:00rankings a bit. He rejuvenated his career, as has Mark Williams as

0:41:00 > 0:41:07well. At one stage in the quarter-finals there were

0:41:07 > 0:41:10340-year-olds, and all three could have had a chance. -- three

0:41:10 > 0:41:1640-year-olds. He is a great match player, there is no parts of his

0:41:16 > 0:41:19game that are substandard. He always gives himself a chance to win.Given

0:41:19 > 0:41:25what we have seen today in poor decision-making, in the Trump and

0:41:25 > 0:41:28Wilson, both guilty of poor decision-making.You won't see that

0:41:28 > 0:41:34from either of these players tonight. The shots that Trump played

0:41:34 > 0:41:40and - you won't get that tonight. You will get a more, shall we say

0:41:40 > 0:41:51measured approach.OK, back we go.

0:41:53 > 0:41:59COMMENTATOR: That's left the red to the left corner.

0:41:59 > 0:42:01Will depend whether Mark thinks there is value in playing the pot

0:42:01 > 0:42:11and if he does can he get position on the black?

0:42:11 > 0:42:19APPLAUSE He can get position on the black.

0:42:19 > 0:42:28This break-off shot is really becoming a poison chalice.

0:42:48 > 0:42:58Will be disappointed. Normally so good at that shot. Just a simple

0:42:58 > 0:43:05cannon. This shot, the balls were very close. It was the previous one

0:43:05 > 0:43:11he will be disappointed with.Yeah, the cannon from the black. Very

0:43:11 > 0:43:14tentative and being left-handed this black is not an option.

0:43:14 > 0:43:20This is the one, should have played it with more pace. And no reason not

0:43:20 > 0:43:24to play with more pace because the red could have sprung others out.

0:43:24 > 0:43:29Maybe a little bit tentative. A big match.

0:43:29 > 0:43:35Never been to a Masters final.

0:43:35 > 0:43:42There you go. There is a piece of wood.

0:43:42 > 0:43:47LAUGHTER Can we ask for another one.Doesn't

0:43:47 > 0:43:58look straight. Amazing!

0:43:58 > 0:44:03Grab another one, please. Thanks. They were probably going to make a

0:44:03 > 0:44:06cue out of it and because it wasn't straight decided to make it into a

0:44:06 > 0:44:13spider. Have a look at this.

0:44:13 > 0:44:23LAUGHTER

0:44:30 > 0:44:37No one has noticed it all week.

0:44:39 > 0:44:49APPLAUSE Really funny if this was even more

0:44:49 > 0:44:57crooked than the first one. With it being a spider it's not as

0:44:57 > 0:45:00though you can roll it on the table to see if it's straight. They're all

0:45:00 > 0:45:12like that. Put this one back.Now we are going

0:45:12 > 0:45:23to improvise. Put the rest on top of the normal spider.

0:45:24 > 0:45:26Very precarious.

0:45:33 > 0:45:44In the end, yes, well played.

0:46:17 > 0:46:22Looks as though it could be a decent break of shot, certainly stopped the

0:46:22 > 0:46:26escape back to baulk. John may be able to get past the blue to this

0:46:26 > 0:46:31red on the left side. I don't see a path back to baulk off that one.

0:46:31 > 0:46:36It's the only one he can hit.

0:46:37 > 0:46:43Not too dissimilar to Mark Allen's opening red. The problem with this

0:46:43 > 0:46:51one is there is more pressure because of the reds.

0:46:51 > 0:46:57That's why he decided to play a safety shot. That's good match play

0:46:57 > 0:46:59from John Higgins.

0:47:01 > 0:47:05Couldn't afford to take that on F he missed it he was leaving a red to

0:47:05 > 0:47:10the right corner pocket. He may still have done.Just thinking he

0:47:10 > 0:47:18may just have overrun this. I think this red is potable.

0:47:18 > 0:47:24APPLAUSE

0:48:09 > 0:48:14The yellow not a problem being left-handed. But a bit to do with

0:48:14 > 0:48:19the cue ball here, has to force it back up the table.

0:48:19 > 0:48:24Looking to play on the red that's near the black spot.

0:48:26 > 0:48:33Could have played that better. He has underhit that.

0:48:33 > 0:48:40By some margin. Wanted to get on the red, either the black spot or the

0:48:40 > 0:48:43one above it.

0:48:43 > 0:48:47That's a bad miscalculation.

0:48:50 > 0:49:04Cue ball could have travelled another 18, maybe 20 inches.

0:49:19 > 0:49:23Now is the yellow coming to his rescue? Oh, dear, it is.

0:49:23 > 0:49:30Very fortunate there.

0:49:31 > 0:49:40How do you get to the red over the corner? How do you play to cover it?

0:50:04 > 0:50:07You just feel when you are playing that shot you are getting close to

0:50:07 > 0:50:15brown. But what else has he got on? If he wasn't so close to the yellow

0:50:15 > 0:50:20he could come off the left side cushion and nestle into the reds

0:50:20 > 0:50:24below the pink. He is thinking of trying to get there off four

0:50:24 > 0:50:25cushions.

0:50:26 > 0:50:31He has to get close to the left middle pocket if that's going to

0:50:31 > 0:50:36work.

0:50:36 > 0:50:43He will leave the red now.Foul and a miss.

0:50:44 > 0:50:51Mark Allen four.Miss called. Obviously won't be taken.Wonder

0:50:51 > 0:50:55will he play a little cannon here, plant one red onto the other and

0:50:55 > 0:51:02stay on the black? Didn't want to kiss the black on the

0:51:02 > 0:51:09way through with the cue ball and knocked it into a safer position.

0:51:28 > 0:51:41That was a pressure shot. Couldn't have played it much better.

0:51:41 > 0:51:52have played it much better. Must take his chance here, you feel.

0:51:54 > 0:52:06Got a big slice of luck when he covered that red with the yellow.

0:52:25 > 0:52:30That could have worked out better. A red to the far left corner but he

0:52:30 > 0:52:36was opening for something easier than this.

0:52:44 > 0:52:56No. A little bit jabby at that. I fancied him to knock it in.

0:52:56 > 0:53:02It was a good chance. He has not taken it.

0:53:02 > 0:53:10That will give John Higgins a little bit of hope. What has John got to go

0:53:10 > 0:53:16at?

0:53:18 > 0:53:24Left middle he is playing to.

0:53:28 > 0:53:38No. Always difficult those into a blind pocket.

0:53:38 > 0:53:43blind pocket. You have not got the pocket in the eye line so makes them

0:53:43 > 0:53:53difficult. Once again, not being punished for his mistakes, Mark.

0:53:57 > 0:54:02That struggled in.

0:54:18 > 0:54:23Wasn't easy. Trying to hold the cue ball for those two reds into the

0:54:23 > 0:54:36right centre. It made it more difficult. What can John Higgins do?

0:54:36 > 0:54:47Six minutes since John last potted a ball. Wow.

0:54:47 > 0:54:50ball. Wow. Tension out there.Yeah, both players have got their hand on

0:54:50 > 0:54:57the table. So you expect them to relax. But

0:54:57 > 0:55:00Mark Allen's been a little bit tentative the last couple of visits

0:55:00 > 0:55:05to the table. And didn't expect John Higgins to

0:55:05 > 0:55:10miss that.

0:55:37 > 0:55:48A big target into the reds. It's not too bad.

0:55:48 > 0:55:5547 points needed now. Looking for another three reds.

0:55:58 > 0:56:06Three reds nicely in the open. That would have clinched the frame.

0:56:42 > 0:56:55This red to go 62 points ahead with just 59 remaining.

0:56:56 > 0:57:00John Higgins is coming up to the 30th minute since he last potted a

0:57:00 > 0:57:06ball. Couple of half chances. And sometimes that's all you get at this

0:57:06 > 0:57:11level.

0:57:24 > 0:57:24Certainly

0:57:27 > 0:57:30It's whether John Higgins wants to play for snookers, he doesn't. He

0:57:30 > 0:57:36nods his concession. Mark Allen, not flawless, but will

0:57:36 > 0:57:41be happy with the scoreline. He leads 2-1.

0:57:41 > 0:57:44STUDIO: He will indeed. Right, Steve, your assessment of that third

0:57:44 > 0:57:50frame?Well, I like the way Mark Allen plays the game. The economy of

0:57:50 > 0:57:55movement, not just of the cue ball but also of his cue. We always talk

0:57:55 > 0:57:59about these cloths being super fast. The faster the cloth, the less

0:57:59 > 0:58:02distanks you have to pull the cue back in order to hit the ball, you

0:58:02 > 0:58:06don't have to hit it so hard. Players with a long back swing,

0:58:06 > 0:58:11they've got to hit the ball slowly or seem to go through slowly to play

0:58:11 > 0:58:18a soft shot. Mark Allen, short pull back and a sharper more positive

0:58:18 > 0:58:23delivery.Yeah the Daning we are the longer cue action is the

0:58:23 > 0:58:26deselleration going through. You miss everything thin. That's the

0:58:26 > 0:58:31biggest problem. Mark Allen is not going to get that, as Steve said,

0:58:31 > 0:58:35it's accelerating through the ball. There is little can go wrong when

0:58:35 > 0:58:39there is that short between the bridge hand and cue ball.We have

0:58:39 > 0:58:46had problems with wasps and flies. A problem with a spider.Yes, I have

0:58:46 > 0:58:50it here. This is the spider that Mark Allen there, didn't quite like

0:58:50 > 0:58:56this spider. Looked like it was bent there. Perhaps Uri Geller has been

0:58:56 > 0:59:02giving it special treatment, don't know. Doesn't look too bad to me.We

0:59:02 > 0:59:09looked at it during that frame. Anyway, back we go.

0:59:14 > 0:59:19COMMENTATOR: Not the best break-off shot.

0:59:19 > 0:59:25A bit careless from Mark. This will be a frame that John

0:59:25 > 0:59:30Higgins will know is very important. He doesn't want to go to the

0:59:30 > 0:59:33mid-session interval after this frame two behind.

0:59:33 > 0:59:40And gets the first chance at this red.

0:59:40 > 0:59:45In it goes! APPLAUSE

0:59:45 > 0:59:49Just over 30 minutes since he last potted a ball but that's sometimes

0:59:49 > 0:59:56the nature of snooker. What can he make of the chance?

0:59:56 > 1:00:08Don't think there is a straightforward red to play here?

1:00:12 > 1:00:16It is the age-old problem when you play that shot. If you don't hit the

1:00:16 > 1:00:25pink full on the face, the cue ball is bound to be coming towards this

1:00:25 > 1:00:33top cushion. Unless a red comes with it, he will be on nothing.

1:00:40 > 1:00:47He will be very disappointed. He gifted Mark Allen another chance

1:00:47 > 1:00:55here.

1:00:55 > 1:01:00here.Yeah, he was left that difficult shot. But the problem is

1:01:00 > 1:01:05that John has now opened up the reds, so this chance is an even

1:01:05 > 1:01:16better one will stop he doesn't have to play too many cannons early on.

1:01:16 > 1:01:21He just overran the cue ball slightly. He has to go in and out of

1:01:21 > 1:01:29baulk macro now. -- of baulk now. This looks pretty good. Looks very

1:01:29 > 1:01:36good.

1:01:36 > 1:01:42good. He has got a nice angle on this red. He can pot the red, stun

1:01:42 > 1:01:52off the top cushion and get the black into the same pocket.

1:02:08 > 1:02:18This is normally where he is so good. Tight control of the cue ball.

1:02:18 > 1:02:22Plenty of reds in the open. He may play a little cannon into the red

1:02:22 > 1:02:28and pink.

1:02:30 > 1:02:34and pink. Not this time. Maybe he should have. He hasn't played that

1:02:34 > 1:02:39very well.

1:02:39 > 1:02:43very well.I can only assume the red he is closest to, he has played for

1:02:43 > 1:02:51the left middle.

1:02:51 > 1:02:54the left middle. The red he is going to play now, you would have been on

1:02:54 > 1:03:02that if he had played the cannon.

1:03:03 > 1:03:04that if he had played the cannon. He has to judge how the cue ball will

1:03:04 > 1:03:10run through the other reds. We were singing his praises around the black

1:03:10 > 1:03:18spot area. But so far he has not been that person. -- impressive.

1:03:26 > 1:03:33That's not too bad. It's not tied on the cushion. It is a bit straight on

1:03:33 > 1:03:45the black. But at least he can dig down on the cue ball.

1:03:46 > 1:03:56Fawcett in off two-cushions. -- Fawcett in.

1:04:05 > 1:04:11Just look at how the reds are aligned up. All four of them pot

1:04:11 > 1:04:19into the bottom left hand corner pocket. -- are aligned up. No more

1:04:19 > 1:04:23cannons required.

1:04:28 > 1:04:38Almost like a practice routine, the way the reds are spread now.

1:05:06 > 1:05:11That is the only problem with going up for the blue. He didn't feel

1:05:11 > 1:05:15comfortable playing for the black. He has got the red on the left-hand

1:05:15 > 1:05:28side of the table. He can play it full hit. He is OK. But when you are

1:05:28 > 1:05:33in this position, if you can retain good position in and around the

1:05:33 > 1:05:36black spot area, particularly with the reds being at this end, it makes

1:05:36 > 1:05:48it so much more easy to manoeuvre the cue ball.

1:05:48 > 1:05:51the cue ball. You wouldn't expect any mistakes from here. This black

1:05:51 > 1:05:59would put him 50 points in front with just 75 remaining. So after

1:05:59 > 1:06:12this black, a couple of reds and colours would be sufficient.

1:06:12 > 1:06:17colours would be sufficient. After losing the first frame, to going to

1:06:17 > 1:06:21the mid-session interval with a two frame advantage, he will be well

1:06:21 > 1:06:29pleased.Yes, very similar to what happened against Ronnie O'Sullivan.

1:06:29 > 1:06:38He lost the very first frame and went on to win that match 6-1.

1:06:45 > 1:06:54Again, just slightly overran the cue ball.

1:07:31 > 1:07:38Two interesting spectators. Nick Baines from the Kaiser Chiefs and

1:07:38 > 1:07:43his dad, Allen, big snooker supporters. Nice to have you here,

1:07:43 > 1:07:49lads.

1:07:52 > 1:07:58This is much better from Mark Allen.

1:07:59 > 1:08:07In complete control of the cue ball during this break.

1:08:07 > 1:08:09during this break. Just one slip-up at the beginning. Other than that it

1:08:09 > 1:08:18has been very impressive. It concerned looking John Higgins. He

1:08:18 > 1:08:27started very well. Mr couple of reds. -- he missed a couple of reds.

1:08:27 > 1:08:38One in this frame and two in the last frame.

1:08:38 > 1:08:40last frame.You'd just get the feeling now that he is getting a

1:08:40 > 1:08:52head of steam up here, Mark Allen. What a shame. No century. The

1:08:52 > 1:08:57century breaks seem to have dried up recently. That won't bother Mark

1:08:57 > 1:09:03Allen, who takes a deserved lead into the mid-session interval.

1:09:03 > 1:09:07I'm not too sure if our cameras have shown you, but there are a couple of

1:09:07 > 1:09:11chaps in the crowd tonight wearing the Northern Ireland football

1:09:11 > 1:09:16shirts. The green and white army. They will be delighted? Very much

1:09:16 > 1:09:21so. Mark Allen is starting to look dangerous. John Higgins is starting

1:09:21 > 1:09:25to weaken a little bit, which is strange. He has missed a couple of

1:09:25 > 1:09:32easy shots. Weak efforts at pots. It is not like him. He will probably

1:09:32 > 1:09:36need to get his arm going again at the practice table.Did you see it

1:09:36 > 1:09:36going this way?

1:09:36 > 1:09:38the practice table.Did you see it going this way?

1:09:38 > 1:09:44No, I thought John Higgins would be strong. Mark Allen is doing a good

1:09:44 > 1:09:49job here this evening. He has made it look pretty effective, John

1:09:49 > 1:09:56Higgins. If he continues after the interval, which can sometimes change

1:09:56 > 1:10:03things, he could get through to the final with not too much stress.What

1:10:03 > 1:10:08is up with John Higgins tonight? Obviously Marquez making the most of

1:10:08 > 1:10:14his chances. Every day you turned up it is a different story line.

1:10:14 > 1:10:17Regardless of the storyline, your job is to turn it around if you got

1:10:17 > 1:10:21off to a bad start. That is something John Higgins is great at.

1:10:21 > 1:10:25You can't macro always get out of the blocks quickly. Therefore, as it

1:10:25 > 1:10:31-- if it goes wrong, as it did do with Kyren Wilson, the good players

1:10:31 > 1:10:39seem to be able to dig them out more than the average players.Mark Allen

1:10:39 > 1:10:42was one behind against Ronnie O'Sullivan went on to win the next

1:10:42 > 1:10:47six.This is almost a mirror image of this match. Loses the first frame

1:10:47 > 1:10:52and dominates the next three. He has made a 90 break. When he starts

1:10:52 > 1:10:56going, he is hard to stop. John Higgins will have to do something

1:10:56 > 1:11:03special.Mark Allen looks really cool, really in control.

1:11:03 > 1:11:12Very composed. John Higgins 3-1 down and he has been talking to Rob

1:11:12 > 1:11:15Walker. Your 24th year at the Masters. Can

1:11:15 > 1:11:22you remember the debut and the final against Robert -- runny? I can

1:11:22 > 1:11:28remember the debut. I've played Tony Drago. I think it was in a

1:11:28 > 1:11:36preliminary round. I managed to beat Tony five - four. -- 5-4. It was a

1:11:36 > 1:11:41great tournament, great venue, the conference centre.You've got a

1:11:41 > 1:11:45really weird record with the Masters. You have been in four

1:11:45 > 1:11:49finals and have won it twice. But we have not seen you in a final since

1:11:49 > 1:11:55you beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the epic match in 2006. In 24 years you

1:11:55 > 1:11:59have had a 12 first-round exits. Sometimes it goes brilliantly and

1:11:59 > 1:12:03other times you are uncharacteristically owed on your

1:12:03 > 1:12:09year early?Yes, maybe I enjoy Christmas too much! Baby that is

1:12:09 > 1:12:19what it is. -- maybe. I have played some very bad matches here. I have

1:12:19 > 1:12:24got out of it exactly what I deserved. I'm delighted to have won

1:12:24 > 1:12:27it twice and into a couple of finals, but I've never really had a

1:12:27 > 1:12:34great record at the Masters.All the titles you have won across all the

1:12:34 > 1:12:39years, where did the Indian open rank from the point of view of, it

1:12:39 > 1:12:45puts you on 29, one ahead of Steve Davis. Yet another season and yet

1:12:45 > 1:12:50another ranking title. Do they get more precious?Yeah, of course. It

1:12:50 > 1:12:59was tough in India. We flew the next day to a tournament in China. After

1:12:59 > 1:13:03every tournament I like to enjoy myself, have a few drinks and

1:13:03 > 1:13:10unwind. You don't know when the next one is going to come. That is the

1:13:10 > 1:13:14only tournament I didn't actually enjoy because afterwards I had one

1:13:14 > 1:13:18beer and then packed my case. Then we got picked up to go to the

1:13:18 > 1:13:25airport. I'd like to have enjoyed a bit better. But you have tournaments

1:13:25 > 1:13:33coming thick and fast. It was brilliant.Are you surprised in some

1:13:33 > 1:13:38ways that the class of T2, you and Ronnie and Mark, are still all

1:13:38 > 1:13:45ranking events? -- 92. We do have expected the next generation to have

1:13:45 > 1:13:50knocked all three of you metaphorically off the perch by now?

1:13:50 > 1:13:58No. Because I think the three of us just really good players. I don't

1:13:58 > 1:14:02think we will be going away anywhere quickly. I have still got the desire

1:14:02 > 1:14:09to compete with the best that we have got in the game. Obviously

1:14:09 > 1:14:16Ronnie has shown this year he is still competing for the top titles.

1:14:16 > 1:14:20Me and Mark Raby coming in for a couple of the smaller ones. But no,

1:14:20 > 1:14:25it is just we are good players. It is simple. We grew up through the

1:14:25 > 1:14:35amateur game when we were young. We know probably a lot of places, and

1:14:35 > 1:14:39baby the younger players have not learned it yet. If we can keep the

1:14:39 > 1:14:44appetite to practice, I'm sure we will still be competing for another

1:14:44 > 1:14:49few years with the best players. There will be loads of young players

1:14:49 > 1:14:55in their clubs who like watching you. And it would seem to me having

1:14:55 > 1:14:59been on the circuit at few years, one of your key strengths is the

1:14:59 > 1:15:03fact that you are so tough on the table mentally. Is that something

1:15:03 > 1:15:08that is instinctively in someone horrid isn't? Are can you teach

1:15:08 > 1:15:12someone to have that mental resolve when they are under immense pressure

1:15:12 > 1:15:17and things get tough?I don't think you can teach it. I think it is in

1:15:17 > 1:15:21building you. I have been lucky over the years. I have always had the

1:15:21 > 1:15:26desire. I have always said I have never had the same drive and desire

1:15:26 > 1:15:32that people like Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis have had. They are

1:15:32 > 1:15:36legends of the game. But you also have do add Ronnie O'Sullivan into

1:15:36 > 1:15:43that. I wouldn't say he has had the drive and determination the same as

1:15:43 > 1:15:46those two but he compensates for that by being the most naturally

1:15:46 > 1:15:51gifted player we have ever had in the game. He elevates himself up to

1:15:51 > 1:15:58those guys as well. I would probably be a couple of rungs below those

1:15:58 > 1:16:04three. But to be below those guys, there is no shame in that. I'm

1:16:04 > 1:16:07delighted that I have had a great career. I still think I'm going

1:16:07 > 1:16:13strong enough that I can add to titles I have won over the years. I

1:16:13 > 1:16:18think it is because I play an all-round game. If I can keep on

1:16:18 > 1:16:23having the desire to go and practice and things, I still think I can

1:16:23 > 1:16:29compete for a few more years yet with the best players.I'm really

1:16:29 > 1:16:34interested, I mean, how do you pick a highlight from everything you have

1:16:34 > 1:16:40won? I would like to float one title across that you -- that I remember

1:16:40 > 1:16:44so well. When you won the Welsh Open after your dad passed away, I

1:16:44 > 1:16:48couldn't believe how well you kept it together that week. It was a

1:16:48 > 1:16:52great final with Stephen. I know you are really good mates. From an

1:16:52 > 1:16:59outsider's point of view I think that is right up there. I couldn't

1:16:59 > 1:17:02get over the composer he displayed throughout that week. Is that one of

1:17:02 > 1:17:08your highlights?It would be. I think I was just on autopilot that

1:17:08 > 1:17:15season as well. Obviously I had come back. That was autopilot. I think

1:17:15 > 1:17:20even a couple of years after that I think I just put everything into

1:17:20 > 1:17:25that. That is what I mean. I don't think I have ever had that intensity

1:17:25 > 1:17:32that I had for those ten months. It really took it out of me. I don't

1:17:32 > 1:17:37think I done anything after that. I was just mentally in a bad place

1:17:37 > 1:17:41because of everything that happened. My dad and things. But this event, I

1:17:41 > 1:17:47love this event because it's one of the only events that I can go to

1:17:47 > 1:17:56that I have not... There are a lot of events that I go to nowadays,

1:17:56 > 1:18:02when my dad was always there with me, this is tough. It is tough when

1:18:02 > 1:18:07you lose a big part of your life is with you all the time. It is one of

1:18:07 > 1:18:15those things that when you come here,

1:18:15 > 1:18:19here, it's been a long career, it's been a good career, it's been a sad

1:18:19 > 1:18:24career. It's been a lot of things. I'm obviously delighted with the

1:18:24 > 1:18:28career I have had. I've got my family now as well. You keep on

1:18:28 > 1:18:33trying to have a good career and provide for them because that's what

1:18:33 > 1:18:38you do when you are a dad, I suppose.It has been a joy to watch

1:18:38 > 1:18:40you for the last few years. Long may it continue.

1:18:40 > 1:18:47Thanks.Another fine interview from Rob Walker.A very emotional John

1:18:47 > 1:18:55Higgins? Yeah, the journey you go on with your family, and your father

1:18:55 > 1:18:59follows you around. I know what that is like. You are a team. When the

1:18:59 > 1:19:04team changes, it is tough to continue. My father was very much

1:19:04 > 1:19:09involved.It must be tough going to those venues and always having your

1:19:09 > 1:19:14family there?Yeah, the start of your career your father takes you

1:19:14 > 1:19:18everywhere. Looks after you. You share Hotel rooms. They start you

1:19:18 > 1:19:25off. Obviously everywhere you go, John played so many events at Sony

1:19:25 > 1:19:29venues, that everyone will hold a different memory.Let's talk about

1:19:29 > 1:19:35the young pretenders. Who will be the next triple Crown winners?John

1:19:35 > 1:19:40was right. It was a correct answer. The fact those three, Ronnie

1:19:40 > 1:19:49especially, John, Mark, they are just still above the rest.You two

1:19:49 > 1:19:55Adair, Higgins, Ray Reardon... At some point these young guns are

1:19:55 > 1:20:01going to have to step up? Eventually. It will add meant of

1:20:01 > 1:20:05great players. The world of golf is not littered with players dominating

1:20:05 > 1:20:09all the time. There are a lot of players able to win. Domination is

1:20:09 > 1:20:14tough. Who will come along and knock everybody off their perch and be

1:20:14 > 1:20:18dominant? Very hard to say. Kyren Wilson is nicely placed. We thought

1:20:18 > 1:20:25Judd Trump was nicely placed, King John high.

1:20:25 > 1:20:28John high. -- ding. Until they start to win regularly, they will just be

1:20:28 > 1:20:32another one of the pack. They may be winners but they are just another

1:20:32 > 1:20:35one of the growing pack of players who win events.What do you think,

1:20:35 > 1:20:43Stephen?I find it hard to pick somebody that is going to come along

1:20:43 > 1:20:47and win three, four titles is season. I think there is a level.

1:20:47 > 1:20:53You got Mark Selby, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins. They are

1:20:53 > 1:21:00all quite similar to me. There is nobody who stands out. Nobody you

1:21:00 > 1:21:03think will win 20 titles before the end of his career. There is nobody

1:21:03 > 1:21:08like that.The flip side of that, there are so many good players out

1:21:08 > 1:21:12there. Maybe that is the problem. One player will win a title here and

1:21:12 > 1:21:19another one there?It is quite funny. If ever I got big -- beaten

1:21:19 > 1:21:23in the 80s are Stephen in the 90s, it was always said, it's good for

1:21:23 > 1:21:27the game that somebody else wins. But it is also really nice to have

1:21:27 > 1:21:30it dominant character in the game because in a way it is something to

1:21:30 > 1:21:36shoot at. It is good for the game to have a Tiger Woods or a Roger

1:21:36 > 1:21:40Federer. Everybody is, can he lose? Will he ever lose? Willie ever drop

1:21:40 > 1:21:47his guard?That is its own talking point. Perhaps one of the players is

1:21:47 > 1:21:51Kyren Wilson, who fought back terrifically well this afternoon. He

1:21:51 > 1:21:52was 5-2 down against

1:21:52 > 1:21:52terrifically well this afternoon. He was 5-2 down against Judd Trump but

1:21:52 > 1:21:59won the final frame decider. Judd started his own downfall with

1:21:59 > 1:22:03this mist red. It gave Kyren the opportunity to win the last frame.

1:22:03 > 1:22:10Kyren had a bit of good luck when this pot found its way onto the pink

1:22:10 > 1:22:16to build his match-winning break. By the time this double turned into a

1:22:16 > 1:22:21trouble, Kyren was already past the winning and through to his first

1:22:21 > 1:22:30final of a triple Crown event.

1:22:33 > 1:22:38I would like to think my family, my dad and my grandad, they are very

1:22:38 > 1:22:44strong minded people. I would definitely say I got my fighting

1:22:44 > 1:22:48qualities from my dad and grandad. It is not always easy to produce

1:22:48 > 1:22:53that out there, especially when you find yourself 5-2 down and you are

1:22:53 > 1:22:59struggling. Judd gave me a nice opening and 5-2 and I settled myself

1:22:59 > 1:23:04down. Judd's safety game really impressed me. It is probably

1:23:04 > 1:23:08something he has been working on quite hard. I was finding it really

1:23:08 > 1:23:11difficult. I may took a couple of liberties but it is just because he

1:23:11 > 1:23:17forced me into them really. -- I maybe took a couple of liberties. At

1:23:17 > 1:23:215- to your almost like a dead man, you have to start going for it, not

1:23:21 > 1:23:25go to mad. Maybe the yellow was a bit crazy but I fancied it, to be

1:23:25 > 1:23:31honest. They started going in, I find my game and grew in confidence.

1:23:31 > 1:23:35Firmly, that Masters trophy is the best looking trophy out of them all.

1:23:35 > 1:23:39I promised my mum she would have that one day. I will be trying my

1:23:39 > 1:23:40best to make sure that happens tomorrow.

1:23:40 > 1:23:45He is a top player and a top guy. We look forward to seeing Kyren Wilson

1:23:45 > 1:23:48in the final. You can enjoy it with us live on the BBC.

1:23:56 > 1:23:59John Higgins has a lot to do. 3-1 down

1:23:59 > 1:24:01John Higgins has a lot to do. 3-1 down at the interval. This is

1:24:01 > 1:24:06the story of the match. John Higgins going into his first Masters

1:24:06 > 1:24:12semifinal since 2012. He won the first frame. Mark Allen knocked in

1:24:12 > 1:24:19breaks of 47 and 63 to take the second. Into frame three, Mark Allen

1:24:19 > 1:24:23leads for the first time. Some problem with the spider, saying it

1:24:23 > 1:24:30is not straight. Mark Allen goes into the lead for the first time. I

1:24:30 > 1:24:36have to say, I completely agree with Steve Davis, looking remarkably cool

1:24:36 > 1:24:42and calm tonight. Potting this blue and setting a break of 90.

1:24:42 > 1:24:50Sealing the frame. And here come the players. Live pictures at Alexandra

1:24:50 > 1:24:54Palace. I have to you, what a wonderful noise in this remarkable

1:24:54 > 1:25:00venue will stop yes Jason, the atmosphere has been electric.

1:25:00 > 1:25:05It has been electric all week. Sometimes when you lose your start

1:25:05 > 1:25:08trancelike Ronnie O'Sullivan, it goes down a notch. That has not

1:25:08 > 1:25:16happened. -- Eurostar terms like Ronnie O'Sullivan. The match this

1:25:16 > 1:25:19afternoon got everybody excited. We have seen some wonderful snooker.

1:25:19 > 1:25:28The century breaks, they have dried up a little as we get near the end

1:25:28 > 1:25:32of the tournament?Yeah, we thought we would be in for a record number

1:25:32 > 1:25:40of centuries. 20 centuries after four days. They seem to have dried

1:25:40 > 1:25:48up since. They do change the cushion cloth midway through the tournament.

1:25:48 > 1:25:58It is a new cloth for the semifinals and final. We have always said,

1:25:58 > 1:26:02sometimes that can change the match. Stops a player getting into a

1:26:02 > 1:26:09rhythm. It be interesting to if the interval as meant a change for John

1:26:09 > 1:26:22Higgins.He is eyeing up a big shot here.

1:26:23 > 1:26:29He misted by the proverbial. He has not got away with it. He has left a

1:26:29 > 1:26:35nice easy starter for Mark Allen. Not the start that John needed to

1:26:35 > 1:26:42the second half of this match.

1:27:00 > 1:27:07He just overscrewed that cue ball. He is too straight on the blue. He

1:27:07 > 1:27:14will have to drop the blue in, take a red from mid-distance. He is

1:27:14 > 1:27:19coming down to have a look at this black. It doesn't pot into the

1:27:19 > 1:27:25bottom left-hand corner pocket. I'm it does. He has to stun this red in

1:27:25 > 1:27:35and he will be on the black. You see...

1:27:35 > 1:27:40see... Well, that was a bit twitchy. John Higgins having a look over Mark

1:27:40 > 1:27:48Allen's shoulder. That was a little bit twitchy.

1:27:49 > 1:27:56bit twitchy.Yeah. It always looks as if a player has hit it too hard

1:27:56 > 1:28:01when he misses the pot. That should have been a nice soft stun

1:28:01 > 1:28:09run-through. As you say, he didn't deliver the cue soft at all there.

1:28:09 > 1:28:12That might give John Higgins a little bit of hope, particularly if

1:28:12 > 1:28:18he can make the most of this opportunity. This could put a seed

1:28:18 > 1:28:24of doubt into Mark Allen's mind.

1:28:25 > 1:28:28of doubt into Mark Allen's mind. He is on the black.

1:28:54 > 1:29:02He died an unintentional kiss on the red. It is OK if the black goes into

1:29:02 > 1:29:08the right corner but it doesn't. -- he got an unintentional kiss. The

1:29:08 > 1:29:13pink obviously goes. He has underhit that. Still feeling a little bit

1:29:13 > 1:29:19edgy, John.

1:29:34 > 1:29:44That is not good. You can see the shake head. He wanted to be

1:29:44 > 1:29:54straighter on this. As you said John, he is a bit edgy.

1:29:54 > 1:29:59John, he is a bit edgy. He needs to find the gap between the reds in

1:29:59 > 1:30:02potting this read and get back on the blue. It is not straightforward.

1:30:02 > 1:30:09There is a gap.

1:30:14 > 1:30:21He has played it the other way but played it very nicely.

1:30:22 > 1:30:29Excellent shot.

1:30:43 > 1:30:48Looks like he has played for a red to the corner. Two reds in the

1:30:48 > 1:30:52middle, look very much mriek like a plant.

1:30:52 > 1:30:59-- like a plant. A bit of distance between the two

1:30:59 > 1:31:06balls, but just played the first one as though he was trying to pot that.

1:31:08 > 1:31:14Yeah, no problem. Would have preferred to have more of

1:31:14 > 1:31:28a bounce off the side cushion than he has got.

1:31:31 > 1:31:34Looks to have played that nicely. He can get through to the red to the

1:31:34 > 1:31:40right of the black. That's the one he wants to clear. Makes the black

1:31:40 > 1:31:50available into both corners. On it perfectly.

1:32:11 > 1:32:17Held the cue ball nicely for this red just above the black. Also has a

1:32:17 > 1:32:27red to the right centre as well but this is his preference.

1:32:27 > 1:32:33Has a lovely angle now. He can go into the two reds directly in line

1:32:33 > 1:32:39with the black near the pink spot.

1:32:39 > 1:32:49Played that nicely. A little bit close for comfort. Could have done

1:32:49 > 1:32:56with the cue ball in the open.

1:32:56 > 1:33:02Nicely played.It's difficult when you are hampered and he was. The

1:33:02 > 1:33:10advantage was he didn't have to do a lot with the cue ball.

1:33:18 > 1:33:23He is OK. Not inch perfect, not exactly what he played for, he will

1:33:23 > 1:33:29have to go for the blue. Has to be careful with that red near the left

1:33:29 > 1:33:32middle.

1:33:33 > 1:33:42Played that nicely.

1:33:42 > 1:33:46Of course this is where all his great experience will come in. He

1:33:46 > 1:33:49knows how important this visit is, particularly after the missed red

1:33:49 > 1:33:53from his opponent.

1:33:53 > 1:34:01You have to punish those mistakes. When this blue goes in, he will be

1:34:01 > 1:34:08looking for one more red and will be at the snookers required stage.

1:34:14 > 1:34:24This will put him 60 points ahead with 59 remaining.

1:34:26 > 1:34:31Well played John Higgins.

1:35:04 > 1:35:11Every chance now for John Higgins to make a century and it will be a

1:35:11 > 1:35:21landmark in his career because at the moment career centuries, 699.

1:35:21 > 1:35:27Looking for his 700th career century. Now.

1:35:35 > 1:35:43And the 26th of the tournament. Incredible landmark. Only Stephen

1:35:43 > 1:35:55Hendry with 775 and Ronnie O'Sullivan 900 plus mark.

1:36:00 > 1:36:06Played this nicely. Beautiful shot.

1:36:07 > 1:36:14What will please him most, not only getting this century, just withining

1:36:14 > 1:36:20the frame in one visit. Missed a few in the first session. That would

1:36:20 > 1:36:27have annoyed him. This is much better.

1:36:28 > 1:36:29APPLAUSE Century 700 in his career for John

1:36:29 > 1:36:35Higgins. Fantastic.Couldn't have come at a

1:36:35 > 1:36:41better time for him.

1:36:43 > 1:36:47The match is hotting up now. Fantastic.

1:36:47 > 1:36:52Yes, just what he needed to do. OK, he was given the opportunity by the

1:36:52 > 1:36:57bad miss from Mark Allen. But that's the game. Nobody's that good that

1:36:57 > 1:37:00they can pot everything. When they do make the mistake, particularly

1:37:00 > 1:37:05when you are 3-1 behind, you have to show character and you have to show

1:37:05 > 1:37:15your opponent if he makes a mistake he is going to cost him dear.

1:37:15 > 1:37:27He has done that here, it's been a marvellous break from John Higgins.

1:37:30 > 1:37:36Absolutely fantastic! 700th career century. 26th of the

1:37:36 > 1:37:40tournament. But, more importantly for John Higgins, winning a frame in

1:37:40 > 1:37:44one visit and showing Mark Allen that he is there to be reckoned

1:37:44 > 1:37:50with. He is one behind, though. It's 3-2.

1:37:50 > 1:37:52STUDIO: Brilliant stuff from John Higgins. Perfect response after the

1:37:52 > 1:37:57interval. That's what it means to our tournament centuries board. Up

1:37:57 > 1:38:03to 26. 31 is the Masters record. Wonderful stuff.

1:38:03 > 1:38:09Fantastic. Third player ever to make over 700 centuries, brilliant. It's

1:38:09 > 1:38:15been the strength of his game.He may not have had that chance because

1:38:15 > 1:38:18Mark Allen at the start of the frame, this shows you fractions in

1:38:18 > 1:38:23snooker. He has this red, he is going to screw back for the blue to

1:38:23 > 1:38:28the left middle. Watch where he ends up. Simplest shot. Don't even think

1:38:28 > 1:38:33about it. He left himself straight on the blue there, very careless. He

1:38:33 > 1:38:37couldn't get close to the reds. Perhaps it's him that makes the

1:38:37 > 1:38:42century.How often is that when the blue is not in the spot and the

1:38:42 > 1:38:46line. If the blue is in the spot you know that position entirely. Blue

1:38:46 > 1:38:52wasn't on-the-spot. He overscrewed it.A word on 700.Marvellous.

1:38:52 > 1:38:57Obviously Ronnie O'Sullivan is best placed to get 1,000 centuries. There

1:38:57 > 1:39:03are more tournaments in the season. Don't know if John Higgins can get

1:39:03 > 1:39:13to 1,000. Maybe until he is about 60 or 70!He has stayed in it.He

1:39:13 > 1:39:19needed that lifeline. Missed it by a mile, body language not good. You

1:39:19 > 1:39:23can't afford to give a player of his class chances like that. Now he has

1:39:23 > 1:39:27made that century. Who knows what happens from here.What happens when

1:39:27 > 1:39:30you make 131 like that, given the state of the game and what's at

1:39:30 > 1:39:34stake, what does that do to the mindset?You have dominated that

1:39:34 > 1:39:38particular time on the table. You have got into a rhythm. If you get

1:39:38 > 1:39:42good chances in the next frame you can just capitalise upon your rhythm

1:39:42 > 1:39:48and keep in the mode. It is about dominating the table. If you can

1:39:48 > 1:39:53actually then start to get a head of steam going then you can start

1:39:53 > 1:39:57pumping in frame-winning breaks left, right and centre. But it's

1:39:57 > 1:40:00tough against another player to guarantee dominating.Therefore put

1:40:00 > 1:40:06pressure on your opponent.

1:40:23 > 1:40:36A little bit pacy on and off the baulk cushion. But safe enough.

1:41:00 > 1:41:06A bigger bounce than he would have liked off that cushion. A couple of

1:41:06 > 1:41:10reds to go at.

1:41:10 > 1:41:16Try and take the red that's closest to the left centre pocket and maybe

1:41:16 > 1:41:22screw back for blue. Could only possibly leave this red if he misses

1:41:22 > 1:41:34it. That's the reason he is going to take this on.

1:41:37 > 1:41:44That's the only red... That's exactly what he has done.

1:41:53 > 1:42:06It's not cost him anything. Offered him up a real good chance.

1:43:06 > 1:43:14Just banged his cue on the floor as he was walking around. This isn't

1:43:14 > 1:43:20perfect. He managed to be able to hold for

1:43:20 > 1:43:23the blue.

1:43:26 > 1:43:37Certainly can pot the blue and hold for the loose red.

1:43:37 > 1:43:45He has tried to play for the red in the left middle, once again.

1:43:45 > 1:43:54Not a good position. He had a lot of room for error

1:43:54 > 1:43:59there. When we deal in fractions, you often say, John, that's a really

1:43:59 > 1:44:04bad miscalculation. Yet again.

1:44:05 > 1:44:12We did say how the intervals can change the rhythm of a match. All of

1:44:12 > 1:44:20a sudden he's gone a bit cold.

1:44:43 > 1:44:57Needs to miss the brown. He has done. Therefore, excellent safety.

1:45:38 > 1:45:44The way the reds are spread he will need a good length here. That's much

1:45:44 > 1:45:48too thick. Much too thick. Is the blue going to

1:45:48 > 1:45:57come to his rescue? Or maybe hampered by the yellow.

1:45:58 > 1:46:03A bit fortunate there was John Higgins. He could have left the red

1:46:03 > 1:46:06to the corner as well. But got one covering the other.

1:46:06 > 1:46:13There will be no hesitation to play this red to the right corner. But

1:46:13 > 1:46:19hampered by the yellow.

1:46:19 > 1:46:25Doesn't make it very appetising.

1:46:29 > 1:46:34APPLAUSE

1:46:35 > 1:46:41But he found one. Has that flick on the blue helped? It has. I can get

1:46:41 > 1:46:53through to the brown. -- he can get through to the brown.

1:47:04 > 1:47:13Tried to get on the red next to the pink but he is still OK. Needs to

1:47:13 > 1:47:18get top side of the blue. He hasn't done that. Wrong side.

1:47:18 > 1:47:28Will have to go in and out of baulk again.

1:47:33 > 1:47:40Needed that just to miss the yellow.

1:47:41 > 1:47:52Going to need another good shot here on the red.

1:47:55 > 1:48:01Very good pot.

1:48:01 > 1:48:09Played that well. Straight on the green. Also has the blue to the

1:48:09 > 1:48:19bottom corner pocket as well.

1:48:36 > 1:48:43Just hasn't got in position, has he? No, certainly making hard work of

1:48:43 > 1:48:45this.

1:48:46 > 1:48:51The one thing we can do, we mentioned this, if he puts his mind

1:48:51 > 1:48:59to it, he can pot anything. There is nothing beyond him.

1:49:07 > 1:49:12This time absolutely inch perfect on the blue.

1:49:12 > 1:49:17It's now a frame-winning chance.

1:49:50 > 1:50:01Still looking for three more reds.

1:50:07 > 1:50:14But you have to say it looks a formality.

1:50:14 > 1:50:29Red and black would put him 65 in front with 67 remaining.

1:50:29 > 1:50:36This is the last of the easy reds to get on.

1:50:36 > 1:50:42Just one good positional shot, should be OK.

1:50:44 > 1:50:56He is playing for the pink to the middle.

1:50:56 > 1:51:00That gave him a nice easy position on this red that he needs to clinch

1:51:00 > 1:51:11this frame. This is to go 65 ahead with 59 remaining.

1:51:12 > 1:51:15So John Higgins, who came back in the last frame with a marvellous

1:51:15 > 1:51:19break of 131. He's not had a chance, well a couple of half-chances in

1:51:19 > 1:51:26this frame. Not been able to take them.

1:51:26 > 1:51:30He won't be getting another one.

1:51:39 > 1:51:43Good response from Mark Allen.

1:51:53 > 1:51:58Some marvellous pots.

1:52:08 > 1:52:22It's been good snooker. 58 and counting here. He has to go in and

1:52:22 > 1:52:26out of baulk to tray to get onthe two reds.The yellow could come into

1:52:26 > 1:52:30play. He has to avoid the kiss on the yellow.

1:52:30 > 1:52:37Can he avoid the yellow? No.

1:52:37 > 1:52:49But he won't matter. John Higgins will not come back to the table.

1:52:54 > 1:53:00It was going to be interesting to see how Mark Allen resumed after

1:53:00 > 1:53:05lofdzings the last frame. But business as bush -- - after losing

1:53:05 > 1:53:07the last frame but business as usual.

1:53:07 > 1:53:11STUDIO: Good response.Yeah, I think he is the most efishent player at

1:53:11 > 1:53:14the moment amongst the balls in the whole opportunity. Going back to

1:53:14 > 1:53:18that point about economy of moving the cue ballwards and forwards, he

1:53:18 > 1:53:22seemed to be controlling the breaks very well around the top end of the

1:53:22 > 1:53:26table. If you are playing well and you are enjoying yourself out there

1:53:26 > 1:53:30you are going to suffer less from the tension and he seems to be

1:53:30 > 1:53:35playing pretty tension-free in what is a very big moment in his career.

1:53:35 > 1:53:39Steve has xhengsed -- mentioned, we have seen a different Mark Allen

1:53:39 > 1:53:42especially tonight, he looks calm. And looks like he is enjoying the

1:53:42 > 1:53:46moment.Very much so. I sat with him before the match with Ronnie

1:53:46 > 1:53:51O'Sullivan and I thought this was a massive match but I thought he sat

1:53:51 > 1:53:55there and was very relaxed and didn't look tense at all. He is the

1:53:55 > 1:54:00same tonight. It's important that he keeps this cushion of two frames

1:54:00 > 1:54:06because it's not easy in John Higgins position, you keep chasing.

1:54:06 > 1:54:10So keep piling on these frames and he is going to be hard to beat.The

1:54:10 > 1:54:14key word you used this afternoon is concentration at this level,

1:54:14 > 1:54:18something that Judd took his eye off the ball today.Very much so and

1:54:18 > 1:54:24that red in the last frame, even little shots like that might have

1:54:24 > 1:54:29cost him the frame ultimately, John Higgins made a century. It's got to

1:54:29 > 1:54:32be 100% concentration at this level. If we are being completely honest,

1:54:32 > 1:54:38did you expect Mark Allen to be in a semifinal on Saturday night?Well, I

1:54:38 > 1:54:41think everybody expected Ronnie O'Sullivan to beat him. We all know

1:54:41 > 1:54:46how good he is. Zip I expect him to be here? No, but we know he has a

1:54:46 > 1:54:51chance. From his perspective he has been bashing his head against a

1:54:51 > 1:54:57brick wall for a while trying to break into the elite majors win

1:54:57 > 1:55:02bunch and so he is getting closer, I feel. He's taken lots of knockbacks

1:55:02 > 1:55:06and still coming back for more punishment so good on him.If he

1:55:06 > 1:55:14wins two more frames he will be through to the final.

1:55:14 > 1:55:18COMMENTATOR: You get the feeling the way these frames are going that the

1:55:18 > 1:55:22first one in seems to, not necessarily win the frame in one

1:55:22 > 1:55:27visit, but build up a lead and then, I have not been too impressed with

1:55:27 > 1:55:34the safety consistently from both players, so if you can get in first

1:55:34 > 1:55:41and make 35, 40, you can sit on that lead. I remember one frame really

1:55:41 > 1:55:45against the head and that was when John Higgins made his 131 when Mark

1:55:45 > 1:55:50Allen got in and missed a straightforward red to the corner.

1:55:50 > 1:56:00But other than that, first in has been winning the frame.

1:56:00 > 1:56:07These safety exchanges at the beginning, very, very important.

1:56:18 > 1:56:23Yeah, couldn't agree more. Can't do much with this safety shot because

1:56:23 > 1:56:29of that red, it's gone up into baulk. Mark Allen has a shot here to

1:56:29 > 1:56:36go off the right side of the pack with a bit of left side. He is

1:56:36 > 1:56:40looking at a possible plant he could make. Not sure whether it's worth

1:56:40 > 1:56:50the risk. He has a 4-2 lead. It's a bit risky.Funnily enough when John

1:56:50 > 1:56:54Higgins played he did have a look at the possibility of this plant. Was

1:56:54 > 1:57:01he leaving it? I thought he thought it's too risky for Mark to go for.

1:57:01 > 1:57:04And it turns out he was probably right.

1:57:35 > 1:57:42Just going to roll off this red, put the cue ball down towards the bottom

1:57:42 > 1:57:49right pocket. Tried to get it as close to the jaws of the pocket as

1:57:49 > 1:58:01he could. Just come up a bit short.

1:58:05 > 1:58:09OK, it's close to the baulk cushion but he has left him on this red,

1:58:09 > 1:58:14really needed to be covering that red with the brown.

1:58:14 > 1:58:20He has left a tempter.John's eyeing up the pot into the right middle and

1:58:20 > 1:58:24a little bit concerned where the cue ball is going to go.

1:58:24 > 1:58:30He has the pot. Where is the cue ball going!

1:58:30 > 1:58:37I was concerned about that.Mark Allen four.

1:58:39 > 1:58:42Always had a look that cue ball was going to go close to the corner

1:58:42 > 1:58:47pocket.

1:59:14 > 1:59:18When you are playing off the side of the pack you are always aware that

1:59:18 > 1:59:24you are not knocking a red towards either corner pocket. That's why he

1:59:24 > 1:59:31played it with a bit more pace, that red that came out into the open of

1:59:31 > 1:59:34the table, just below the blue, he hit it hard enough to make sure it

1:59:34 > 1:59:40was away from the corner pocket.

1:59:54 > 2:00:01One of the better safety shots we have seen.

2:00:01 > 2:00:05He can get through to hit this red but can't see enough to play the

2:00:05 > 2:00:10pot. He is looking at it, don't blame him

2:00:10 > 2:00:15shaking his head. Don't see how he can get back to the baulk end. If he

2:00:15 > 2:00:20tries to come thin off this red, every possibility of a double kiss.

2:00:20 > 2:00:29He has to catch this just right.

2:00:29 > 2:00:35He just avoided the double-kiss. And that, believe me, is as good a

2:00:35 > 2:00:42safety shot as he has played all evening. Well played.

2:00:42 > 2:00:46evening. Well played. He had to catch this just right to avoid a

2:00:46 > 2:00:55double-kiss. That is a great reply from Mark Allen. Beginning to find

2:00:55 > 2:01:02the baulk cushion area now.

2:01:18 > 2:01:25That red has gone close to the left hand cushion makes this safety shot

2:01:25 > 2:01:30so much more difficult.

2:01:32 > 2:01:44so much more difficult. He may have to play a containing safety shot.

2:01:45 > 2:01:50But the problem of leaving the cue ball there is that the red left with

2:01:50 > 2:01:58the pink parts into the right centre. -- pots.

2:02:07 > 2:02:17Yeah. A poor choice from John Higgins. It is not often you would

2:02:17 > 2:02:25say that in a safety shot.No, two excellent safety shots from Mark

2:02:25 > 2:02:31Allen.

2:02:31 > 2:02:37Allen. You feel this was a frame John Higgins needed to win. Now Mark

2:02:37 > 2:02:44Allen with an opportunity to get in one frame of tomorrow's final.

2:03:26 > 2:03:29There is one red to the left of the black that is available to the right

2:03:29 > 2:03:36corner. He could play a cannon into the main bunch. That is what he is

2:03:36 > 2:03:42doing. How is your luck? Raid looks pretty good to me. It looks

2:03:42 > 2:03:47absolutely perfect.

2:03:49 > 2:03:55absolutely perfect.This is an excellent shot. He could not have

2:03:55 > 2:04:05played that any better. Fantastic. They are all there. He resigned look

2:04:05 > 2:04:14on John Higgins' face.Hoog defaming the worst. -- he will be filling the

2:04:14 > 2:04:19worst. When you are sat in that seat and you have no right of reply, you

2:04:19 > 2:04:23just have to sit there and hope that your opponent makes a mistake and

2:04:23 > 2:04:29you get back to the table.

2:04:30 > 2:04:32you get back to the table. It is hard to see where that mistake is

2:04:32 > 2:04:38going to come from though.

2:04:44 > 2:04:52He could play a little cannon into the two reds just above the black.

2:04:52 > 2:05:02It has worked out perfectly. It has brought those two reds into play.

2:05:09 > 2:05:14He is playing exactly the way he played against Ronnie O'Sullivan.

2:05:14 > 2:05:24Looking very composed.

2:06:43 > 2:06:52That is it. Snookers required. 68 points the lead,

2:06:52 > 2:07:00points the lead, just 67 available. Two very good safety shots from Mark

2:07:00 > 2:07:06Allen created this opening. It is a pity we will not see a century. We

2:07:06 > 2:07:14may see John Higgins play on. Just one snooker required.

2:07:32 > 2:07:43There you see it. 68 behind. 67 remaining. One snooker required. No.

2:07:43 > 2:07:49It just went away. And he looks at Mark Allen and says, that is enough

2:07:49 > 2:07:53if you like. And Mark Allen does like. He accepts the concession and

2:07:53 > 2:07:59is now one frame away from the UK Masters final for the first time in

2:07:59 > 2:08:00his career. He

2:08:00 > 2:08:04his career. He leads 5-2. Mark Allen so close,

2:08:04 > 2:08:11Stephen?Yes, and you have to say you wouldn't imagine the same thing

2:08:11 > 2:08:14happening that happened this afternoon, with Mark Allen going for

2:08:14 > 2:08:19a stupid shot to let his opponent, back in. John Higgins could still do

2:08:19 > 2:08:23that but it will be for the same reason as this afternoon. Mark Allen

2:08:23 > 2:08:28looks so solid, so confident. It is so crisp the way he strikes the

2:08:28 > 2:08:33ball. Every time he gets in it it looks like the frame is over.It

2:08:33 > 2:08:36looks inevitable like he is going to get through to the final and a new

2:08:36 > 2:08:42name on the trophy. Let's fast forward to the final, and he does

2:08:42 > 2:08:46get through, it could be a nervy one. Getting a major name on the

2:08:46 > 2:08:52trophy. The way he is looking, he is looking like a champion.When you

2:08:52 > 2:08:57are one frame away from reaching the final of such a prestigious event,

2:08:57 > 2:09:00Mark has obviously popped out to compose himself, what is that

2:09:00 > 2:09:05feeling like?He is very excited. He has look super composed all

2:09:05 > 2:09:12tournament. This is the Sword of State of mind a sports psychologist

2:09:12 > 2:09:17would want you in. He is floating around the table, his face has the

2:09:17 > 2:09:20same expression all the time. I fully expect him to come out the

2:09:20 > 2:09:26same way. There was a wee bit of a twitch in the final balls against

2:09:26 > 2:09:30Ronnie O'Sullivan. I don't see that tonight.It shows that you have to

2:09:30 > 2:09:33be very patient in the world of snooker to get a big trophy in the

2:09:33 > 2:09:37Cabinet. Gone are the days when you are going to get them easily. You

2:09:37 > 2:09:44get in the cue along with everybody else. You have to be ready to take

2:09:44 > 2:09:49your chance. You have to suffer disappointment along the way.You

2:09:49 > 2:09:56use that disappointment?Hopefully. It is great for Mark Allen to be

2:09:56 > 2:10:01producing better snooker now than what he was doing a few years ago.

2:10:01 > 2:10:05One thing about John Higgins, when his back is against the wall he has

2:10:05 > 2:10:06produced some fantastic comebacks.

2:10:06 > 2:10:06his back is against the wall he has produced some fantastic comebacks.

2:10:06 > 2:10:12I wouldn't write him off yet.Many of you telling us and which you are

2:10:12 > 2:10:19enjoying your Saturday night. I should remind you that Judd Trump

2:10:19 > 2:10:22was 5-2 ahead in his match this afternoon. Look what happened to

2:10:22 > 2:10:28Judd. Yes. I agree with Stephen. I don't

2:10:28 > 2:10:35expect him to play any rash shots. You have to go for your shots. You

2:10:35 > 2:10:41can't just park the bus. Somebody has to put the point on the board.

2:10:41 > 2:10:48But I do think it is imperative, and he didn't do it in the last frame

2:10:48 > 2:10:52because of excellent safety from Mark Allen, but John Higgins has to

2:10:52 > 2:10:57try to get in first in however many frames we play. His opening tactical

2:10:57 > 2:11:03exchanges are so important.

2:11:09 > 2:11:16That is a mistake from Mark. There is a red to the left corner. But

2:11:16 > 2:11:23position on the colour not guaranteed.

2:11:23 > 2:11:27guaranteed.There are not many players that can beat John Higgins

2:11:27 > 2:11:33in the safety Department. Until now, Mark Allen is getting the best of

2:11:33 > 2:11:40that part of the game. 84% safety success. 83 for John. This is a

2:11:40 > 2:11:46chance. Good shot.

2:11:54 > 2:12:01The problem may be after potting this black, where will the black

2:12:01 > 2:12:11spot? He has tried to move the red away from the black spot.

2:12:15 > 2:12:25It hasn't worked out.

2:12:38 > 2:12:48That is better.

2:13:15 > 2:13:21It would be risky to try and get the cue ball back to the Balkan. --

2:13:21 > 2:13:29baulk end.

2:13:36 > 2:13:41Mind you, sometimes you can get a player in so much trouble that he

2:13:41 > 2:13:47tries to pot his way out of the problem. If anyone can, Mark Allen

2:13:47 > 2:13:51can.

2:13:52 > 2:14:00can. He's looking at this red. He is looking at the putting angle. I

2:14:00 > 2:14:06think he's going to take on. He can't take it on. -- potting. This

2:14:06 > 2:14:12is a tough one.

2:14:13 > 2:14:16is a tough one. A long way away. The cue ball running loose. What is he

2:14:16 > 2:14:25going to leave? He has left a couple of pots. John Higgins would like

2:14:25 > 2:14:32them a lot more if that cue ball wasn't so close to the side cushion.

2:14:32 > 2:14:37Trying to pot his way out of trouble. Just the opening red that

2:14:37 > 2:14:44is the key.

2:14:45 > 2:14:55Well played. Believe me, when you are 5-2 down and every shot you this

2:14:55 > 2:15:00could be your last one, that was superb. He has got the chance. Can

2:15:00 > 2:15:08he take it?

2:15:46 > 2:15:50Not the greatest angle on the red into the corner pocket. So this red

2:15:50 > 2:15:59into the left centre.

2:16:01 > 2:16:05The red who would like to get on sooner rather than later is the one

2:16:05 > 2:16:10below and to the left of the black. That would clear the black for both

2:16:10 > 2:16:15corner pockets.

2:16:15 > 2:16:21corner pockets. Just couldn't get on it at the moment. He has got one

2:16:21 > 2:16:31red. He will have to play the black in the same pocket.

2:16:31 > 2:16:37Now an opportunity probably to pot the black and play for the red just

2:16:37 > 2:16:44to the left of it.

2:16:51 > 2:16:55You have just got to clear your mind of the score alone. Just concentrate

2:16:55 > 2:16:59on every pot at a time.

2:17:07 > 2:17:12That certainly opens things up now for John Higgins.

2:17:21 > 2:17:33A little bit of adrenaline on the back arm. He has overscrewed that.

2:17:45 > 2:17:53That is better. Nicely controlled. A red either side of the pink is maybe

2:17:53 > 2:17:59his next choice. Go down for the red closest to the black as well. He is

2:17:59 > 2:18:03having a look at that. He will try to put the cue ball in an area where

2:18:03 > 2:18:10he has got a choice of reds.

2:18:46 > 2:18:52You could cut the atmosphere with a knife.Everybody has come along to

2:18:52 > 2:18:58see a match this evening. John Higgins, with his visit, is not

2:18:58 > 2:19:03letting them down. This is real backs against the wall stuff from

2:19:03 > 2:19:13John.

2:19:13 > 2:19:19John. You wouldn't expect anything less from him though. As I say, the

2:19:19 > 2:19:22weather friends have gone this evening, it is so important to get

2:19:22 > 2:19:29his first chance.

2:19:42 > 2:19:50So the black, one more red and a colour.

2:19:50 > 2:20:01colour. It looks a formality now. This red would

2:20:01 > 2:20:08This red would put him 67 points in front with 67 remaining. He has just

2:20:08 > 2:20:15overdone a little bit. He will get a few more bite of the jury to book

2:20:15 > 2:20:18his place in the final but this frame looks to have gone now. And

2:20:18 > 2:20:22bingo ghostly green. Tremendous opening red from John Higgins. It

2:20:22 > 2:20:36has to be said. All the pressure in the world on it. And to be fair,

2:20:36 > 2:20:44since he potted that opening red he has never looked like missing.

2:21:13 > 2:21:24Nice angle on the black to bring those two reds into play. Just

2:21:24 > 2:21:30missed the little on those reds. He needs a good pot now to keep the

2:21:30 > 2:21:41break going. This is great stuff. A great response from a great

2:21:41 > 2:21:43champion.

2:21:57 > 2:22:01Not right. How about this for a 3-ball plant? He can get through to

2:22:01 > 2:22:09the red. It didn't look like it from our position. This could be century

2:22:09 > 2:22:14number 701.

2:22:29 > 2:22:37When he pots this black, we like the nice cheer.

2:22:37 > 2:22:42CHEERING.

2:22:52 > 2:23:0727th of the tournament. Creeping closer to the record of 31.

2:23:11 > 2:23:15All you want to know about John Higgins as a player, you have seen

2:23:15 > 2:23:25it here.

2:23:30 > 2:23:34A good safety shot put Mark Allen in trouble. Mark tried to pot is way

2:23:34 > 2:23:39out of it. The opening red was a stunner. And the rest of it was

2:23:39 > 2:23:44absolutely sublime. John Higgins hanging in there. Mark Allen will be

2:23:44 > 2:23:49taking this for granted. But he is still only one frame away from a

2:23:49 > 2:23:50place in the final.

2:23:50 > 2:23:55still only one frame away from a place in the final.

2:23:55 > 2:23:58701 centuries for Higgins. Yet another century on our board. We are

2:23:58 > 2:24:07up to 27. We are in the bronze position. 31 is the record. 2009. We

2:24:07 > 2:24:12have to praise John Higgins' fighting skills.His fighting skills

2:24:12 > 2:24:16are fantastic. He is 100% committed every frame. It doesn't matter about

2:24:16 > 2:24:20the scoreline. He gives everything he has got.As predicted by this

2:24:20 > 2:24:26man.It is what he has done. It is what he has done for the past 20, 30

2:24:26 > 2:24:32years as a professional when his back is against the wall. He'll

2:24:32 > 2:24:35against Stuart Bingham in China couple of years ago, he had three

2:24:35 > 2:24:41centuries in a row coming from behind to win the match. It wouldn't

2:24:41 > 2:24:46be surprised me if he did it again. The long ball he potted at the

2:24:46 > 2:24:53beginning, it was superb. Under pressure he is one of the best there

2:24:53 > 2:24:58has ever been.Stephen is right he showed the fighting skills against

2:24:58 > 2:25:03McGill?In the interview with Rob Walker he talked about the fighting

2:25:03 > 2:25:07skills and how you can't teach them. From that perspective you are born

2:25:07 > 2:25:12with it. I think even though we are talking about Mark Allen getting

2:25:12 > 2:25:17over the line, when he gets a chance he has to prove himself. He is not

2:25:17 > 2:25:21going to fall over the line.Mark Allen wouldn't have been surprised

2:25:21 > 2:25:27by the response. He wouldn't have liked it. But he won't be panicking

2:25:27 > 2:25:34because that is what he would have expected.Some in the crowd shouted,

2:25:34 > 2:25:41get in there. John didn't look like he was happy.Yes, there has been a

2:25:41 > 2:25:41bit

2:25:41 > 2:25:42he was happy.Yes, there has been a bit of that this week.

2:25:42 > 2:25:46You can do without it. You do get it at this venue.

2:25:46 > 2:25:51Respect the players.

2:25:53 > 2:26:05A decent break. There is a red that is available to the right corner. On

2:26:05 > 2:26:08the cushion. I don't see the potting angle giving him an opportunity for

2:26:08 > 2:26:13the black so I would be surprised if he took this on. Now just the

2:26:13 > 2:26:21containing safety.

2:26:27 > 2:26:32John is having a close look. He is looking to see if the red will pass

2:26:32 > 2:26:38the green. If it doesn't, he may... There is not all the pocket

2:26:38 > 2:26:44available. He has got a red to the left middle. If you can play that,

2:26:44 > 2:26:53it will take it on. And he is. -- he will take it on. It is not there. As

2:26:53 > 2:26:58I say, he felt that was the only red he could leave. The one going past

2:26:58 > 2:27:05the green, there you can see, there is maybe have a pocket available. --

2:27:05 > 2:27:14half. John Higgins doesn't fancy mark Allen potting it. -- Mark

2:27:14 > 2:27:22Allen.If you are dead behind it, you would be able to pot it. But

2:27:22 > 2:27:26such is the distance between the cue ball and the reds, it is so much

2:27:26 > 2:27:29more difficult. You have to be so precise.

2:27:34 > 2:27:44That was a long way away. He tried to play it in such a way that he

2:27:44 > 2:27:49wasn't going to leave the red he was playing. The cue ball has come far

2:27:49 > 2:27:55enough over for this red. It is an acute angle into the green pocket.

2:27:55 > 2:28:01But it is definitely on.

2:28:03 > 2:28:08Good shot.

2:28:14 > 2:28:20He has got a nice angle on the green. He will need a lot of cue

2:28:20 > 2:28:24power if he is going to go into the pack.

2:28:33 > 2:28:41He didn't go into them full. He will certainly be happy with the outcome.

2:28:41 > 2:28:46If he can't pot the one into the right corner pocket and hit the back

2:28:46 > 2:28:49along the cushion...

2:28:56 > 2:29:01He can play this in such a way that even if he misses it, it will stay

2:29:01 > 2:29:06in the jaws of the pocket. It takes the pressure off this pot. Still a

2:29:06 > 2:29:11tough pot. But knowing that you will not leave anything makes it just

2:29:11 > 2:29:18that little bit easier. Yes, he doesn't have to play it with

2:29:18 > 2:29:29any pace. Just let gravity take over. Let gravity take over! So he

2:29:29 > 2:29:39gets the first chance in this frame. He asked to leave himself low on the

2:29:39 > 2:29:47black here. -- he has to. Well, he didn't like it. Went for the blue

2:29:47 > 2:29:55instead. Now this time pot the blue, try to hit that pink fall in the

2:29:55 > 2:30:03face. He doesn't want to lose the cue ball.

2:30:03 > 2:30:16Didn't hit the pink full in the face. That is what happens.

2:31:30 > 2:31:40Imperative to get this cue ball tight to the baulk cushion now.

2:31:40 > 2:31:46That's poor, that is very poor. John will be kicking himself.

2:31:46 > 2:31:52You can't afford to do that. So unlike him.

2:31:52 > 2:31:57This red below the blue will go to the right corner. I would be

2:31:57 > 2:32:02surprised if Mark Allen doesn't take it on.

2:32:09 > 2:32:14APPLAUSE

2:32:17 > 2:32:24Just as you called it. Great pot.

2:32:27 > 2:32:30John Higgins will be kicking himself for hitting that yellow with the cue

2:32:30 > 2:32:36ball.

2:32:36 > 2:32:43What a chance for Mark Allen. Very loose safety from John. Here it

2:32:43 > 2:32:48is again.

2:33:13 > 2:33:27A bit of work to do with the cue ball here.

2:33:28 > 2:33:33Good shot.

2:33:33 > 2:33:39Probably back up for the blue. It's going to be a lovely target. If he

2:33:39 > 2:33:44can get a good angle on the blue, a lovely target of reds to go in and

2:33:44 > 2:33:52open up and give himself that frame and match-winning opportunity.

2:33:53 > 2:33:59Got to be careful there is no plants on there. He has played that well.

2:33:59 > 2:34:07Very well. Didn't hit it with a lot of pace. It was more controlled.

2:34:07 > 2:34:10Look at the result.

2:34:14 > 2:34:20He won't get a better chance than this for his first appearance in a

2:34:20 > 2:34:25Masters final.

2:34:25 > 2:34:30Just got to hold himself together. There will be a lot of tension in

2:34:30 > 2:34:44the arm. That I can assure you. But he has to try and control it.

2:35:28 > 2:35:35A quick glance at the scoreboard. The red next to the pink and two

2:35:35 > 2:35:39reds together make a little bit awkward. He is seeing if the two

2:35:39 > 2:35:44reds together are possibility a plant to the middle.

2:35:44 > 2:35:48We can have a look now.

2:35:48 > 2:35:53They can be made and also can be made to this corner. They're close

2:35:53 > 2:36:00enough together to be able to reverse the second red. He may play

2:36:00 > 2:36:08for the plant.

2:36:08 > 2:36:12This is to go 34 points in front. Still going to need three of the

2:36:12 > 2:36:18remaining reds. He is playing for the plant.

2:36:18 > 2:36:23Just wants reversing slightly. Hit the first red on the left side,

2:36:23 > 2:36:30it will push the second red to the right.

2:36:32 > 2:36:36And he played it... Well spotted. Makes position on the red that much

2:36:36 > 2:36:42easier.

2:36:52 > 2:36:59Nice control on that one. Still needs red, colour, red to leave John

2:36:59 > 2:37:07Higgins needing snookers.

2:37:16 > 2:37:21Just having a look here to see if this red is available, the one to

2:37:21 > 2:37:25the left of the pink. Not certain it is. If it isn't, he

2:37:25 > 2:37:31will have to play a cannon. He does have a nice angle on the

2:37:31 > 2:37:37black just to play that little cannon.This

2:37:44 > 2:37:58He thinks he can pot the red. Can he see enough of it?

2:38:00 > 2:38:06He could! And that's it.

2:38:07 > 2:38:15John Higgins's race is run. Didn't give up without a great

2:38:15 > 2:38:21fight. But Mark Allen has really done well this evening when he has

2:38:21 > 2:38:26got in amongst the balls. Not made 100s but has made enough to win

2:38:26 > 2:38:32frames. John Higgins congratulating him. I am certain he wishes him good

2:38:32 > 2:38:38luck for tomorrow. There is a delighted Mark Allen. In his first

2:38:38 > 2:38:43Masters final. One thing is certain tomorrow we are going to have a new

2:38:43 > 2:38:49nap on the trophy. We look forward to your company then! -- we will

2:38:49 > 2:38:54have a new name on the trophy.

2:38:54 > 2:38:57Thank you for fantastic commentary. What a result for Mark Allen. Just

2:38:57 > 2:39:01look how delighted he is waving to the crowd as well. Lots of Northern

2:39:01 > 2:39:07Ireland fans in tonight as well. His amazing run over John Higgins,

2:39:07 > 2:39:12brilliant performance.Absolutely. Got himself aligned very well. Great

2:39:12 > 2:39:19way to finish a match. You would never think a careless safety could

2:39:19 > 2:39:22cost you, Mark Allen pots a fantastic first red and it looked

2:39:22 > 2:39:25inevitable.A brilliant performance from Mark Allen, composed and

2:39:25 > 2:39:30effortless.Yeah, this is the most impressive I have ever seen him. He

2:39:30 > 2:39:33has had great wins and great matches. He has looked cool and calm

2:39:33 > 2:39:38and collected out there. When asked the questions, against good players,

2:39:38 > 2:39:42great players, he has produced a high standard of snooker. Very

2:39:42 > 2:39:45controlled. His positional play is magnificent at the moment. If he can

2:39:45 > 2:39:49keep controlling the ball that well he is going to be tough to beat.If

2:39:49 > 2:39:52you have knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins on the

2:39:52 > 2:39:56way to a final you walk in thinking let's have it.Absolutely. You

2:39:56 > 2:40:02couldn't ask for a tougher draw. Very impressive.Congratulations,

2:40:02 > 2:40:05the boys have been saying how cool and collected you were tonight.You

2:40:05 > 2:40:09want to be inside looking out! Didn't feel that way, felt edgy. But

2:40:09 > 2:40:13I think it's even better that I felt edgy and still played well.Great

2:40:13 > 2:40:18way to close the match, that long red.Yeah, I could have playeds it a

2:40:18 > 2:40:24shot to nothing, I thought this could be my chance. I knew I was

2:40:24 > 2:40:27going to be able to move reds next. John's 5-2 down but is never out of

2:40:27 > 2:40:30the match the way he can play. That's another reason why I took

2:40:30 > 2:40:33that red on the way I did. You never know if you are going to get another

2:40:33 > 2:40:36chance with John.Explain how you are feeling. Lots of people looking

2:40:36 > 2:40:40at social media, lots of people in Northern Ireland watching our

2:40:40 > 2:40:44coverage, how does it feel to have made the Masters final and a triple

2:40:44 > 2:40:48Crown event.It's good but I come here to win the tournament. If I

2:40:48 > 2:40:51don't win tomorrow it's going to be very disappointing, probably more to

2:40:51 > 2:40:55get so close and not win. I am not getting too far ahead of myself, I

2:40:55 > 2:40:59have another big match tomorrow. If I play the way I have been I think I

2:40:59 > 2:41:03have a good chance. If I win I will be happy for friends, family,

2:41:03 > 2:41:07followers and then for Northern Ireland also.I asked Stephanen the

2:41:07 > 2:41:10question, when you have knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins

2:41:10 > 2:41:13on the way to a final you must be thinking tomorrow is your day.

2:41:13 > 2:41:17Possibly. Every day is different. I am full of confidence because I have

2:41:17 > 2:41:21beat two of the very best of all time. Probably in the top four with

2:41:21 > 2:41:25two sitting to my right so I am doing something right. There is no

2:41:25 > 2:41:30God given right I will play that well tomorrow.Were you watching

2:41:30 > 2:41:34this afternoon's match?I managed to catch the end of it. Couldn't

2:41:34 > 2:41:39believe the plant Judd took on. He lives by the sword and dies by the

2:41:39 > 2:41:44sword at times.And not the finalist you would have expected, you are

2:41:44 > 2:41:48probably favourite?In big finals I have half decent record, even

2:41:48 > 2:41:52playing the best. I concentrate on my own game like I always do.The

2:41:52 > 2:41:55boys here and Ken as well have detected something different about

2:41:55 > 2:41:59the way you approached the Masters this year. Do you feel different?

2:41:59 > 2:42:04Tell me what they've said first!We were saying you looked composed,

2:42:04 > 2:42:08even before Ronnie's match you looked relaxed, composed, not tense.

2:42:08 > 2:42:15And around the table.I feel happy with my game. I - I have never been

2:42:15 > 2:42:18a worrier about who I play, I have always been a worrier of how I am

2:42:18 > 2:42:22going to play, at times I felt over the years I have struggled but I

2:42:22 > 2:42:26feel my game is in good shape, why worry, go out and perform.Were you

2:42:26 > 2:42:29aware of the Northern Ireland shirts in the crowd tonight? The Green

2:42:29 > 2:42:35Party and white army are here.They come -- the green and white Army are

2:42:35 > 2:42:38here. I got chatting to the guy that leads the group, it's from the

2:42:38 > 2:42:42Northern Ireland supporters club in London. I have said any time you

2:42:42 > 2:42:46want to come, let me know and I will sort the tickets, it's great when

2:42:46 > 2:42:50you know the crowd is not normally on your side, it's good seeing those

2:42:50 > 2:42:56shirts and hearing green and white army, you don't normally hear that

2:42:56 > 2:43:01at a snooker match.No football qualification...We will not talk

2:43:01 > 2:43:05about the referee. Long way to go yet and ten frames away.How is your

2:43:05 > 2:43:10form against him?He beat me earlier in the year in China in the semis.

2:43:10 > 2:43:15Real good match, just on the wrong end of a decider. We have always had

2:43:15 > 2:43:19close matches, haven't played that many times, he has shown what a good

2:43:19 > 2:43:22player he is and I expect him to perform tomorrow.You have provided

2:43:22 > 2:43:25a lot of entertainment tonight, thank you very much. We have enjoyed

2:43:25 > 2:43:28it here. Fantastic stuff, thank you very much. A quick reminder.

2:43:28 > 2:43:33Tomorrow it is the master final. You can watch it live with us here on

2:43:33 > 2:43:34the BBC.

2:43:35 > 2:43:39Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to have a brand new name on that

2:43:39 > 2:43:44Masters trophy tomorrow. Well done to Mark Allen. Thank you very much

2:43:44 > 2:43:47indeed, Stephen and Steve. Thank you for watching, we will see you

2:43:47 > 2:43:53tomorrow, bye.