Semi-Final 3 Masters Snooker

Hello, good evening. Welcome to a

packed Alexandra Palace for the

second semifinal of the UK Masters,

featuring Scotland's John Higgins,

twice Masters champion taking on

Mark Allen, not the Ronnie

O'Sullivan in the quarterfinals.

-- who knocked out.

-- who knocked out.

It is a brutal

sport. But that is why we play. That

is the excitement of it. If these

big tournaments were easy to win, we

would all be doing it.

He is playing with a lot of

confidence right now. He has been

playing great all year.

A tough game.

I've been on tour 13

years. Yet to win one of the three

Triple Crown events. I fully believe

I can do it. If I didn't, I wouldn't

play. I have won nine tournaments

around the world. There is no reason

why I can't win one of the Triple

Crown if not all three.

I love watching him play. He is

great to watch. We have always had

good games together.

John is one of

the greatest ever in my opinion.

Probably the top three or four of

all time. We have had some great

battles over the years. He has

beaten me in some of the majors. I

am confident in my own game. That is

nothing against John. What I do

believe if I play how I have done

recently I will win. -- but.

I am

buzzing. I have never really done a

great year but I have always enjoyed

playing. It is a packed house for

nearly every match. That is

fabulous.

I look forward to it.

We are in the company of two legends

this evening. Good evening to

Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis. Does

Mark Allen have enough to knock out

John Higgins?

Without a doubt. He

has beaten them twice, and at this

venue as well.

Yeah, I think he is

hungry enough as well. He must have

had an agonising wait to get to the

semifinals and perhaps the final of

this event. He has been knocking on

the door for a long time. You have

to say, what is wrong with his game?

Any of those good things he has

improved on. The demolition of

Ronnie O'Sullivan is a big

confidence builder.

It is a eight in

the head-to-heads. But Mark has a

good record against Higgins at the

Masters?

Yes, John Higgins is a

winner here. His CV stands up very

well. He can do a job on a player

easily. Mark Allen has to be on his

game.

Without a doubt. It would be a

fantastic match. It may not have the

drama of this afternoon. There will

be break-building from both. They

are class acts.

You expecting an

aggressive match?

I'm expecting a

class match. They are classy

break-builders. They play the game

like everybody would like to play

the game. I would love to play the

game like them. I am sure Stephen

appreciates their skills as well.

You haven't got a clue what is going

to happen, you never know what the

storyline is going to be.

You can

say that again. Kyren Wilson, 5-2

against Judd Trump, and he roared

back to knock him out 6-5. Judd

started his own downfall with this

most red. Kyren had a bit of good

luck when this shot found its way

onto the pink to build a

match-winning break. And by the time

this double turned into a trouble,

Kyren was already past the winning

post and through to his first final

of a Triple Crown event.

I hope Judd wasn't watching. Because

this man said that defeat for Judd

Trump is very damaging. Would you

agree?

Yeah, he should be

disappointed with what happened

today. From Kyren Wilson's

perspective, he was offered a

lifeline and he must be proud to

have taken it.

Strong views from you

earlier. Have you had time to

contemplate what you have said? Will

you change your viewpoint?

Not at

all. He had the game done and dusted

at 5-2. He played a crazy shot.

Offered his opponent a lifeline and

boy did he take it.

You probably

heard the boys saying Kyren Wilson

could lift the title?

Yes, and

something like that could be a

fillip to your career. When you are

given a chance like that, that could

be a pivotal moment in writing the

record books.

What was so special

about how Kyren fought back for you?

The body language for us in the

studio, and Kyren said, actually I

felt good, but the body-line which

didn't look good. What stood out?

When it mattered, under pressure,

when he was offered the balls, he

didn't refuse the chance. He has a

good temperament, he has got a

winning mentality. He will take his

chances. Disappointment for Judd

that he blew it and presented too

many chances to his opponent.

I

certainly hope we is not watching.

Looted and damaging for the rest of

his career. Let's get back to

tonight's Matt Bosher.

-- match.

tonight's Matt Bosher.

-- match.

Good evening, ladies and

gentlemen. This is the last session

of snooker ahead of tomorrow's UK

Masters final. It has been a week of

shocks, upset and comebacks. Which

of these two Celtic giant will join

Kyren Wilson in the showpiece

showdown? It is time to find out.

CHEERING.

Please welcome one of the best

break-builders in the modern game.

Bidding for his first appearance in

a Masters final. This three-time

ranking event winners showed his

class with a superb, nerveless 6-1

win over defending champion Ronnie

O'Sullivan in the quarterfinals. He

is a big occasion performer who will

relish this tonight. He is the pride

of Northern Ireland, he is Mark The

Pistol Allen.

MUSIC.

And his opponent, one of the finest

sportsmen Scotland has ever

produced. Twice a Masters champion,

bidding for his first final in 12

years. In a career of incredible

longevity, anyone is 29th ranking

title earlier this season in India.

A player of immense mental strength

on and off the table. Four times

champion of the world, the Wizard of

Wishaw, John Higgins!

Here we go. What a Saturday evening

of entertainment we have got here at

Alexandra Palace. Listen to the

noise.

Good evening everybody. It is cold

outside. But boy, is it hot in the

arena here at Alexandra Palace? By

the wonderful reception. Everybody

looking forward to this. And Ken, as

Stephen and Steve said, all the

makings of a classic semifinal?

Absolutely, John. What a reception

both players got coming down the

stairs. Wonderful. Absolutely

buzzing in here. I think it is going

to be a classic. There is not a lot

between them. Eight wins apiece in

the head-to-heads. I think as the

lads mentioned, that 6-1 demolition

of Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last

round by Mark Allen, it will give

him all the confidence he needs.

Yes, particularly as everybody was

thinking that running was unbeatable

at this venue. That was a real

feather in Mark's cab. -- hat. He

has got another legend to take on

here.

here. Great start! The perfect

start.

Fantastic opening pot. Nicely on the

black as well. He can play a cannon

onto the red just above the black.

He didn't play that well.

He didn't play that well. He has

still got a red to the right centre.

I think the pink is on to the left

corner pocket.

Yes, lucky to have this as an

alternative. But he has not made the

most of it! A little bit of tension

in the arm, probably.

Understandable. But it could be a

costly miss. So close.

Nice and straight on the pink. He

doesn't have too much to do with the

cue ball. Two reds to the right of

the pack.

I don't think the pink will spot on

its own spot.

its own spot. No. Directly in line

with the spot and of course the top

cushion.

It's sort of messes those two reds.

The bottom one was on. He may have

to go for the blue.

It is remarkable how John Higgins

has regained his focus for the game.

They say when you get over 40 you

start to lose a little bit of edge.

The last couple of seasons he has

really come back to something like

his best.

his best. Number five in the world

rankings. It is a compliment to his

desire and is love the game. -- he

is love of the game.

is love of the game.

29 ranking

tournament wins. I think a couple

behind Ronnie O'Sullivan and of

course Stephen Hendry on 32. A

fantastic achievement so far and

still going. He needs a bit of luck

here. Has he got it? It doesn't look

like it.

This red pots into the yellow

pocket. Not easy. Great shot.

Fantastic.

Fantastic. He couldn't have played

that much better.

Playing that pink with a little bit

of extra pace. He knew that red was

never going to be easy. The closer

he gets to the red, the easier it

was going to be. Now there is a

choice. Looking at it, I think you

would probably play for the yellow.

This is the last of the loose reds.

Playing for the yellow he had

doesn't have to do much with the cue

ball. The next couple of shots could

be key to this frame.

He is playing the brown. Just a

little bit too solid with not enough

pace. Nothing to go out. -- at.

He

would like it or Tingwall. It is

touching. A lot easier to play the

safety shot. As long as the red

doesn't move, of course, it is not

foul. -- no foul.

A couple of good pots in the break

but he will be disappointed.

He didn't hit that very well. He

caught it much too thick. No harm

done. He has not really put any

pressure on John's safety shot. A

wealth of experience, John Higgins.

He has caught that a little bit

thick as well.

He has left the red to the left

corner.

corner. John Higgins will definitely

take it on. It is whether you try to

hold for the pink into the opposite

corner, or screw across the face of

the black. He probably feels he can

play better if he screws across the

face. He is looking at an

alternative red. The one to the left

corner looks the shot to play. But

first frame, maybe he is just

feeling a little bit nervy. No. As

you would expect with John Higgins,

playing the right shot.

Great shot. Plays it positively, as

you said. A nice flick of the red.

But for that flick he may not have

been on the black body deserves to

be on the black. Good pot. -- but he

deserves to be on the black. He

played that nicely. Have to force it

off the top cushion.

He would like to get the red is

close to this pot. He would like to

take that after the spring. It would

open up the other two reds. I am

sure he will try to get onto this

from the pink.

from the pink. He just wants to take

the loose ones first.

the loose ones first. I'm sure the

right-hand one of those two will go

into the right corner. He would like

to have been a little straighter on

this red. He is now considering if

he run through and leave himself on

the pink. Striking low. He doesn't

think he can play that shot. Back up

for the blue. He nearly got into

that too much. Now there is distance

between the colour and the next red

required. Hence the right smile.

Avid of adrenaline. He overcooked

that by some margin. That red I

spoke about... He may try to get

honest now. -- on it. Not this time.

The top red of the two beside the

pink will pot. It is not easy. Not

as easy as he would have liked.

And now he will have to play for the

red that Ken suggested.

red that Ken suggested. And you can

never take these for granted,

particularly if you're playing it

with a little bit of pace, which you

have too. The black is not available

in the opposite corner.

in the opposite corner.

He has to

play this with a little bit of

left-hand side as well. As you said,

John, a bit of pace. He played it

nicely.

nicely. Of course the good thing

about potting that read now --

red... It opens the pocket up

nicely. A quick glance at the score.

He is 51 ahead. He needs pink and

one more red.

A helpful little kiss. There is a

red along the top cushion. If he

rolls it in he will go 58 points in

front with just 51 remaining. Only

the red required.

the red required. A good solid start

from the twice Masters champion.

At the moment three snookers to tie.

Playing the double.

Playing the double.

This has been an

excellent break. Very controlled. He

has parted some good balls. The

opening red was just fantastic. --

potted. They look a little flick off

the red but deserved every bit of

it.

The red has not gone in but that

will be enough. A good solid start

from John Higgins. A couple of long

reds. A break of 33.

He leads 1-0.

John Higgins, what a record that is.

When you look at his century breaks

the last few years per season, they

are not decreasing any. That is a

great compliment to his desire. He

is still putting the work in the

practice. And of course all these

tournamentss to play. You need to be

focused.

Absolutely.

There is the wonderful Waterford

Crystal trophy. Both players will be

hoping to get their hands on that

Sunday night. John, of course, as

won it twice. The Paul Hunter

trophy, as it is aptly named now,

after the late great Paul Hunter.

What a player he was.

What a player he was. He won this

Masters three times. John Higgins as

won it twice. It has not always been

his favourite tournament. The first

time he has been in the semifinals

in six years. That is quite

incredible.

I'm not quite certainly played the

pot on the red there. That double

case has left this red on for Mark.

-- double case. -- kiss. Mark has

got first chance in the opening

frame. A tremendous long pot. This

is the red in the middle and never

had another chance after that. -- he

missed the red in the middle.

missed the red in the middle.

He has

just come little higher on the black

than he would have liked. He could

pot the pink.

pot the pink. He is just seeing

where the pink would spot if he does

pot it. Pot the pink and stun the

cue ball forward a couple of inches.

And as in the first frame, the pink

doesn't spot on its own spot. There

you see, he is nicely on the red

into the bottom corner pocket now.

The chances Mark Allen was taking

against Ronnie O'Sullivan, I think

he won five of the six frames in one

visit. Tremendous scoring.

I know we have seen him quite a few

times in recent years when we have

done the tournament in Ireland in

January. He is the type of player,

Mark, that when he's on his game,

you just feel there is not a ball on

the table he couldn't pot if you

went for it. He's that type of

player. And in this type -- in this

position... Somebody with a

flashlight. In line with the shot.

Not the best thing to do. He has got

up and regrouped.

up and regrouped. He is a tremendous

break-builder. His style of cueing,

short action, keeps nice control

when playing little screws and

stuns. He is tailor-made for it.

Particularly on these fast cloths.

He makes a series of nice little

kisses and cannons around the pink

spot. When you watch the cue ball it

has -- he is always got tight

control. That is the essence of a

good break-builder.

good break-builder. It wasn't a

great pack to go into there.

That is why he is on the loose red.

One more loose red, it's the extreme

receipt right at the bunch into the

left centre.

I am certain he would rather be on

the red to the left centre. Would

have been a straightforward

positional shot. Now he is going to

run into other reds.

Not guaranteed position on the

colour.

He is wondering can he pot this red

and brush off the red to the left of

it. Try and send the cue ball back

to the blue or a colour.

If he hits the first red, the red he

is closest to, that first, could end

up on nothing.

That's what's happened.

He still has a shot on the black and

possibly even the blue.

More difficult than he would have

liked.

The choice is the black. If he plays

a drag he could possibly go for that

red nearest the cue ball now.

Played it beautifully. Absolutely

perfectly.

APPLAUSE

Fully committed. Had to be.

Well, how many times do we see that?

You see a player, looks as though he

broke the back of the break, and

played a great shot and then just no

concentration. That's all I can put

it down to on that red.

Yeah. Missed

the red into that same middle pocket

in the first frame, it cost him.

John can take this on to the red

corner pocket and hold for the blue.

They're never easy those, playing

into a blind pocket. He knew that he

could only really leave the one he

was playing. You could say it was

half a chance. John will be just

pleased Mark Allen broke down when

he did. Looked as though it could

have been a frame-winning

contribution.

Played that nicely.

Just to straighten up the cue ball.

Leaves John in a bit of trouble

here.

Natural path of the cue ball and

playing one of these reds is going

towards that reds that's on the left

side. So he has to avoid that.

Where is the cue ball going!

It's all about fractions, but this

red, he is onto the right corner.

Needs to stop short of the baulk

line. And it has. So a choice of

yellow or green. If he gets a good

positional shot here, surely he will

win the frame.

The referee asked Mark to give him a

second, it tells us the pink spot is

still not available. 61 points the

lead. Just looking for red, colour,

red now, to get to the snookers

required stage.

May have to play a little cannon,

just to go for the frame-winning red

he needs.

Played it perfectly.

So this red, opening 70 points in

front with 67 remaining.

John Higgins, he only had a very

difficult red to go at when Mark

missed the red to the middle.

That will mean John Higgins will not

be coming back to the table.

Early observations, but both players

look very confident. Good stroke.

Yeah, suppose the only thing is that

Mark Allen has missed a couple of

reds to the middle. One cost him the

first frame, he got away with it in

this.

Both players have had their hand on

the table from a neutral's point of

view.

So it can only improve from here.

Delightful touch.

Might just drop the pink in and

leave the double on the red.

This will certainly settle him down,

Mark Allen.

Mark Allen is up and running.

STUDIO: High quality stuff as

predicted by our two guests here in

the studio. A good start.

Yeah,

nothing to suggest other than a

classic match, both players look

very sharp, composed, as you would

expect, two obviously very

experienced campaigners, but both

looking good.

Steve, what have you

made of the opening exchanges?

They've both settled in quickly. I

think you expect this to be a

hard-fought game, could be classy.

Both players know the significance.

And experienced enough to make it

tell if they get a chance. The miss

of the red to the middle pocket with

Mark Allen, he felt he got half a

kick which pushed it to the far jaw.

John Higgins missed his chance and

1-1. Fair enough.

In terms of John

Higgins a couple of people on social

media tonight, by the way you can

get in touch with us, are saying

what is it about John Higgins, how

is he still doing this at this stage

of his career? He seems to be down

and he comes roaring back.

It did

look like he was dropping down the

rankings a bit. He rejuvenated his

career, as has Mark Williams as

well. At one stage in the

quarter-finals there were

340-year-olds, and all three could

have had a chance. -- three

40-year-olds. He is a great match

player, there is no parts of his

game that are substandard. He always

gives himself a chance to win.

Given

what we have seen today in poor

decision-making, in the Trump and

Wilson, both guilty of poor

decision-making.

You won't see that

from either of these players

tonight. The shots that Trump played

and - you won't get that tonight.

You will get a more, shall we say

measured approach.

OK, back we go.

COMMENTATOR: That's left the red to

the left corner.

Will depend whether Mark thinks

there is value in playing the pot

and if he does can he get position

on the black?

APPLAUSE

He can get position on the black.

This break-off shot is really

becoming a poison chalice.

Will be disappointed. Normally so

good at that shot. Just a simple

cannon. This shot, the balls were

very close. It was the previous one

he will be disappointed with.

Yeah,

the cannon from the black. Very

tentative and being left-handed this

black is not an option.

This is the one, should have played

it with more pace. And no reason not

to play with more pace because the

red could have sprung others out.

Maybe a little bit tentative.

A big match.

Never been to a Masters final.

There you go. There is a piece of

wood.

LAUGHTER

Can we ask for another one.

Doesn't

look straight.

Amazing!

Grab another one, please. Thanks.

They were probably going to make a

cue out of it and because it wasn't

straight decided to make it into a

spider.

Have a look at this.

LAUGHTER

No one has noticed it all week.

APPLAUSE

Really funny if this was even more

crooked than the first one.

With it being a spider it's not as

though you can roll it on the table

to see if it's straight. They're all

like that.

Put this one back.

Now we are going

to improvise. Put the rest on top of

the normal spider.

Very precarious.

In the end, yes, well played.

Looks as though it could be a decent

break of shot, certainly stopped the

escape back to baulk. John may be

able to get past the blue to this

red on the left side. I don't see a

path back to baulk off that one.

It's the only one he can hit.

Not too dissimilar to Mark Allen's

opening red. The problem with this

one is there is more pressure

because of the reds.

That's why he decided to play a

safety shot. That's good match play

from John Higgins.

Couldn't afford to take that on F he

missed it he was leaving a red to

the right corner pocket. He may

still have done.

Just thinking he

may just have overrun this. I think

this red is potable.

APPLAUSE

The yellow not a problem being

left-handed. But a bit to do with

the cue ball here, has to force it

back up the table.

Looking to play on the red that's

near the black spot.

Could have played that better. He

has underhit that.

By some margin. Wanted to get on the

red, either the black spot or the

one above it.

That's a bad miscalculation.

Cue ball could have travelled

another 18, maybe 20 inches.

Now is the yellow coming to his

rescue? Oh, dear, it is.

Very fortunate there.

How do you get to the red over the

corner? How do you play to cover it?

You just feel when you are playing

that shot you are getting close to

brown. But what else has he got on?

If he wasn't so close to the yellow

he could come off the left side

cushion and nestle into the reds

below the pink. He is thinking of

trying to get there off four

cushions.

He has to get close to the left

middle pocket if that's going to

work.

He will leave the red now.

Foul and

a miss.

Mark Allen four.

Miss called.

Obviously won't be taken.

Wonder

will he play a little cannon here,

plant one red onto the other and

stay on the black?

Didn't want to kiss the black on the

way through with the cue ball and

knocked it into a safer position.

That was a pressure shot. Couldn't

have played it much better.

have played it much better. Must

take his chance here, you feel.

Got a big slice of luck when he

covered that red with the yellow.

That could have worked out better. A

red to the far left corner but he

was opening for something easier

than this.

No. A little bit jabby at that.

I fancied him to knock it in.

It was a good chance.

He has not taken it.

That will give John Higgins a little

bit of hope. What has John got to go

at?

Left middle he is playing to.

No. Always difficult those into a

blind pocket.

blind pocket. You have not got the

pocket in the eye line so makes them

difficult. Once again, not being

punished for his mistakes, Mark.

That struggled in.

Wasn't easy. Trying to hold the cue

ball for those two reds into the

right centre. It made it more

difficult. What can John Higgins do?

Six minutes since John last potted a

ball. Wow.

ball. Wow. Tension out there.

Yeah,

both players have got their hand on

the table.

So you expect them to relax. But

Mark Allen's been a little bit

tentative the last couple of visits

to the table.

And didn't expect John Higgins to

miss that.

A big target into the reds.

It's not too bad.

47 points needed now. Looking for

another three reds.

Three reds nicely in the open.

That would have clinched the frame.

This red to go 62 points ahead with

just 59 remaining.

John Higgins is coming up to the

30th minute since he last potted a

ball. Couple of half chances. And

sometimes that's all you get at this

level.

Certainly

It's whether John Higgins wants to

play for snookers, he doesn't. He

nods his concession.

Mark Allen, not flawless, but will

be happy with the scoreline. He

leads 2-1.

STUDIO: He will indeed. Right,

Steve, your assessment of that third

frame?

Well, I like the way Mark

Allen plays the game. The economy of

movement, not just of the cue ball

but also of his cue. We always talk

about these cloths being super fast.

The faster the cloth, the less

distanks you have to pull the cue

back in order to hit the ball, you

don't have to hit it so hard.

Players with a long back swing,

they've got to hit the ball slowly

or seem to go through slowly to play

a soft shot. Mark Allen, short pull

back and a sharper more positive

delivery.

Yeah the Daning we are the

longer cue action is the

deselleration going through. You

miss everything thin. That's the

biggest problem. Mark Allen is not

going to get that, as Steve said,

it's accelerating through the ball.

There is little can go wrong when

there is that short between the

bridge hand and cue ball.

We have

had problems with wasps and flies. A

problem with a spider.

Yes, I have

it here. This is the spider that

Mark Allen there, didn't quite like

this spider. Looked like it was bent

there. Perhaps Uri Geller has been

giving it special treatment, don't

know. Doesn't look too bad to me.

We

looked at it during that frame.

Anyway, back we go.

COMMENTATOR: Not the best break-off

shot.

A bit careless from Mark.

This will be a frame that John

Higgins will know is very important.

He doesn't want to go to the

mid-session interval after this

frame two behind.

And gets the first chance at this

red.

In it goes!

APPLAUSE

Just over 30 minutes since he last

potted a ball but that's sometimes

the nature of snooker.

What can he make of the chance?

Don't think there is a

straightforward red to play here?

It is the age-old problem when you

play that shot. If you don't hit the

pink full on the face, the cue ball

is bound to be coming towards this

top cushion. Unless a red comes with

it, he will be on nothing.

He will be very disappointed. He

gifted Mark Allen another chance

here.

here.

Yeah, he was left that

difficult shot. But the problem is

that John has now opened up the

reds, so this chance is an even

better one will stop he doesn't have

to play too many cannons early on.

He just overran the cue ball

slightly. He has to go in and out of

baulk macro now. -- of baulk now.

This looks pretty good. Looks very

good.

good. He has got a nice angle on

this red. He can pot the red, stun

off the top cushion and get the

black into the same pocket.

This is normally where he is so

good. Tight control of the cue ball.

Plenty of reds in the open. He may

play a little cannon into the red

and pink.

and pink. Not this time. Maybe he

should have. He hasn't played that

very well.

very well.

I can only assume the red

he is closest to, he has played for

the left middle.

the left middle. The red he is going

to play now, you would have been on

that if he had played the cannon.

that if he had played the cannon. He

has to judge how the cue ball will

run through the other reds. We were

singing his praises around the black

spot area. But so far he has not

been that person. -- impressive.

That's not too bad. It's not tied on

the cushion. It is a bit straight on

the black. But at least he can dig

down on the cue ball.

Fawcett in off two-cushions. --

Fawcett in.

Just look at how the reds are

aligned up. All four of them pot

into the bottom left hand corner

pocket. -- are aligned up. No more

cannons required.

Almost like a practice routine, the

way the reds are spread now.

That is the only problem with going

up for the blue. He didn't feel

comfortable playing for the black.

He has got the red on the left-hand

side of the table. He can play it

full hit. He is OK. But when you are

in this position, if you can retain

good position in and around the

black spot area, particularly with

the reds being at this end, it makes

it so much more easy to manoeuvre

the cue ball.

the cue ball. You wouldn't expect

any mistakes from here. This black

would put him 50 points in front

with just 75 remaining. So after

this black, a couple of reds and

colours would be sufficient.

colours would be sufficient. After

losing the first frame, to going to

the mid-session interval with a two

frame advantage, he will be well

pleased.

Yes, very similar to what

happened against Ronnie O'Sullivan.

He lost the very first frame and

went on to win that match 6-1.

Again, just slightly overran the cue

ball.

Two interesting spectators. Nick

Baines from the Kaiser Chiefs and

his dad, Allen, big snooker

supporters. Nice to have you here,

lads.

This is much better from Mark Allen.

In complete control of the cue ball

during this break.

during this break. Just one slip-up

at the beginning. Other than that it

has been very impressive. It

concerned looking John Higgins. He

started very well. Mr couple of

reds. -- he missed a couple of reds.

One in this frame and two in the

last frame.

last frame.

You'd just get the

feeling now that he is getting a

head of steam up here, Mark Allen.

What a shame. No century. The

century breaks seem to have dried up

recently. That won't bother Mark

Allen, who takes a deserved lead

into the mid-session interval.

I'm not too sure if our cameras have

shown you, but there are a couple of

chaps in the crowd tonight wearing

the Northern Ireland football

shirts. The green and white army.

They will be delighted? Very much

so. Mark Allen is starting to look

dangerous. John Higgins is starting

to weaken a little bit, which is

strange. He has missed a couple of

easy shots. Weak efforts at pots. It

is not like him. He will probably

need to get his arm going again at

the practice table.

Did you see it

going this way?

the practice table.

Did you see it

going this way?

No, I thought John Higgins would be

strong. Mark Allen is doing a good

job here this evening. He has made

it look pretty effective, John

Higgins. If he continues after the

interval, which can sometimes change

things, he could get through to the

final with not too much stress.

What

is up with John Higgins tonight?

Obviously Marquez making the most of

his chances. Every day you turned up

it is a different story line.

Regardless of the storyline, your

job is to turn it around if you got

off to a bad start. That is

something John Higgins is great at.

You can't macro always get out of

the blocks quickly. Therefore, as it

-- if it goes wrong, as it did do

with Kyren Wilson, the good players

seem to be able to dig them out more

than the average players.

Mark Allen

was one behind against Ronnie

O'Sullivan went on to win the next

six.

This is almost a mirror image

of this match. Loses the first frame

and dominates the next three. He has

made a 90 break. When he starts

going, he is hard to stop. John

Higgins will have to do something

special.

Mark Allen looks really

cool, really in control.

Very composed. John Higgins 3-1 down

and he has been talking to Rob

Walker.

Your 24th year at the Masters. Can

you remember the debut and the final

against Robert -- runny? I can

remember the debut. I've played Tony

Drago. I think it was in a

preliminary round. I managed to beat

Tony five - four. -- 5-4. It was a

great tournament, great venue, the

conference centre.

You've got a

really weird record with the

Masters. You have been in four

finals and have won it twice. But we

have not seen you in a final since

you beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the

epic match in 2006. In 24 years you

have had a 12 first-round exits.

Sometimes it goes brilliantly and

other times you are

uncharacteristically owed on your

year early?

Yes, maybe I enjoy

Christmas too much! Baby that is

what it is. -- maybe. I have played

some very bad matches here. I have

got out of it exactly what I

deserved. I'm delighted to have won

it twice and into a couple of

finals, but I've never really had a

great record at the Masters.

All the

titles you have won across all the

years, where did the Indian open

rank from the point of view of, it

puts you on 29, one ahead of Steve

Davis. Yet another season and yet

another ranking title. Do they get

more precious?

Yeah, of course. It

was tough in India. We flew the next

day to a tournament in China. After

every tournament I like to enjoy

myself, have a few drinks and

unwind. You don't know when the next

one is going to come. That is the

only tournament I didn't actually

enjoy because afterwards I had one

beer and then packed my case. Then

we got picked up to go to the

airport. I'd like to have enjoyed a

bit better. But you have tournaments

coming thick and fast. It was

brilliant.

Are you surprised in some

ways that the class of T2, you and

Ronnie and Mark, are still all

ranking events? -- 92. We do have

expected the next generation to have

knocked all three of you

metaphorically off the perch by now?

No. Because I think the three of us

just really good players. I don't

think we will be going away anywhere

quickly. I have still got the desire

to compete with the best that we

have got in the game. Obviously

Ronnie has shown this year he is

still competing for the top titles.

Me and Mark Raby coming in for a

couple of the smaller ones. But no,

it is just we are good players. It

is simple. We grew up through the

amateur game when we were young. We

know probably a lot of places, and

baby the younger players have not

learned it yet. If we can keep the

appetite to practice, I'm sure we

will still be competing for another

few years with the best players.

There will be loads of young players

in their clubs who like watching

you. And it would seem to me having

been on the circuit at few years,

one of your key strengths is the

fact that you are so tough on the

table mentally. Is that something

that is instinctively in someone

horrid isn't? Are can you teach

someone to have that mental resolve

when they are under immense pressure

and things get tough?

I don't think

you can teach it. I think it is in

building you. I have been lucky over

the years. I have always had the

desire. I have always said I have

never had the same drive and desire

that people like Stephen Hendry and

Steve Davis have had. They are

legends of the game. But you also

have do add Ronnie O'Sullivan into

that. I wouldn't say he has had the

drive and determination the same as

those two but he compensates for

that by being the most naturally

gifted player we have ever had in

the game. He elevates himself up to

those guys as well. I would probably

be a couple of rungs below those

three. But to be below those guys,

there is no shame in that. I'm

delighted that I have had a great

career. I still think I'm going

strong enough that I can add to

titles I have won over the years. I

think it is because I play an

all-round game. If I can keep on

having the desire to go and practice

and things, I still think I can

compete for a few more years yet

with the best players.

I'm really

interested, I mean, how do you pick

a highlight from everything you have

won? I would like to float one title

across that you -- that I remember

so well. When you won the Welsh Open

after your dad passed away, I

couldn't believe how well you kept

it together that week. It was a

great final with Stephen. I know you

are really good mates. From an

outsider's point of view I think

that is right up there. I couldn't

get over the composer he displayed

throughout that week. Is that one of

your highlights?

It would be. I

think I was just on autopilot that

season as well. Obviously I had come

back. That was autopilot. I think

even a couple of years after that I

think I just put everything into

that. That is what I mean. I don't

think I have ever had that intensity

that I had for those ten months. It

really took it out of me. I don't

think I done anything after that. I

was just mentally in a bad place

because of everything that happened.

My dad and things. But this event, I

love this event because it's one of

the only events that I can go to

that I have not... There are a lot

of events that I go to nowadays,

when my dad was always there with

me, this is tough. It is tough when

you lose a big part of your life is

with you all the time. It is one of

those things that when you come

here,

here, it's been a long career, it's

been a good career, it's been a sad

career. It's been a lot of things.

I'm obviously delighted with the

career I have had. I've got my

family now as well. You keep on

trying to have a good career and

provide for them because that's what

you do when you are a dad, I

suppose.

It has been a joy to watch

you for the last few years. Long may

it continue.

Thanks.

Another fine interview from

Rob Walker.

A very emotional John

Higgins? Yeah, the journey you go on

with your family, and your father

follows you around. I know what that

is like. You are a team. When the

team changes, it is tough to

continue. My father was very much

involved.

It must be tough going to

those venues and always having your

family there?

Yeah, the start of

your career your father takes you

everywhere. Looks after you. You

share Hotel rooms. They start you

off. Obviously everywhere you go,

John played so many events at Sony

venues, that everyone will hold a

different memory.

Let's talk about

the young pretenders. Who will be

the next triple Crown winners?

John

was right. It was a correct answer.

The fact those three, Ronnie

especially, John, Mark, they are

just still above the rest.

You two

Adair, Higgins, Ray Reardon... At

some point these young guns are

going to have to step up?

Eventually. It will add meant of

great players. The world of golf is

not littered with players dominating

all the time. There are a lot of

players able to win. Domination is

tough. Who will come along and knock

everybody off their perch and be

dominant? Very hard to say. Kyren

Wilson is nicely placed. We thought

Judd Trump was nicely placed, King

John high.

John high. -- ding. Until they start

to win regularly, they will just be

another one of the pack. They may be

winners but they are just another

one of the growing pack of players

who win events.

What do you think,

Stephen?

I find it hard to pick

somebody that is going to come along

and win three, four titles is

season. I think there is a level.

You got Mark Selby, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, John Higgins. They are

all quite similar to me. There is

nobody who stands out. Nobody you

think will win 20 titles before the

end of his career. There is nobody

like that.

The flip side of that,

there are so many good players out

there. Maybe that is the problem.

One player will win a title here and

another one there?

It is quite

funny. If ever I got big -- beaten

in the 80s are Stephen in the 90s,

it was always said, it's good for

the game that somebody else wins.

But it is also really nice to have

it dominant character in the game

because in a way it is something to

shoot at. It is good for the game to

have a Tiger Woods or a Roger

Federer. Everybody is, can he lose?

Will he ever lose? Willie ever drop

his guard?

That is its own talking

point. Perhaps one of the players is

Kyren Wilson, who fought back

terrifically well this afternoon. He

was 5-2 down against

terrifically well this afternoon. He

was 5-2 down against Judd Trump but

won the final frame decider.

Judd started his own downfall with

this mist red. It gave Kyren the

opportunity to win the last frame.

Kyren had a bit of good luck when

this pot found its way onto the pink

to build his match-winning break. By

the time this double turned into a

trouble, Kyren was already past the

winning and through to his first

final of a triple Crown event.

I would like to think my family, my

dad and my grandad, they are very

strong minded people. I would

definitely say I got my fighting

qualities from my dad and grandad.

It is not always easy to produce

that out there, especially when you

find yourself 5-2 down and you are

struggling. Judd gave me a nice

opening and 5-2 and I settled myself

down. Judd's safety game really

impressed me. It is probably

something he has been working on

quite hard. I was finding it really

difficult. I may took a couple of

liberties but it is just because he

forced me into them really. -- I

maybe took a couple of liberties. At

5- to your almost like a dead man,

you have to start going for it, not

go to mad. Maybe the yellow was a

bit crazy but I fancied it, to be

honest. They started going in, I

find my game and grew in confidence.

Firmly, that Masters trophy is the

best looking trophy out of them all.

I promised my mum she would have

that one day. I will be trying my

best to make sure that happens

tomorrow.

He is a top player and a top guy. We

look forward to seeing Kyren Wilson

in the final. You can enjoy it with

us live on the BBC.

John Higgins has a lot to do.

3-1 down

John Higgins has a lot to do.

3-1 down at the interval. This is

the story of the match. John Higgins

going into his first Masters

semifinal since 2012. He won the

first frame. Mark Allen knocked in

breaks of 47 and 63 to take the

second. Into frame three, Mark Allen

leads for the first time. Some

problem with the spider, saying it

is not straight. Mark Allen goes

into the lead for the first time. I

have to say, I completely agree with

Steve Davis, looking remarkably cool

and calm tonight. Potting this blue

and setting a break of 90.

Sealing the frame. And here come the

players. Live pictures at Alexandra

Palace. I have to you, what a

wonderful noise in this remarkable

venue will stop yes Jason, the

atmosphere has been electric.

It has been electric all week.

Sometimes when you lose your start

trancelike Ronnie O'Sullivan, it

goes down a notch. That has not

happened. -- Eurostar terms like

Ronnie O'Sullivan. The match this

afternoon got everybody excited. We

have seen some wonderful snooker.

The century breaks, they have dried

up a little as we get near the end

of the tournament?

Yeah, we thought

we would be in for a record number

of centuries. 20 centuries after

four days. They seem to have dried

up since. They do change the cushion

cloth midway through the tournament.

It is a new cloth for the semifinals

and final. We have always said,

sometimes that can change the match.

Stops a player getting into a

rhythm. It be interesting to if the

interval as meant a change for John

Higgins.

He is eyeing up a big shot

here.

He misted by the proverbial. He has

not got away with it. He has left a

nice easy starter for Mark Allen.

Not the start that John needed to

the second half of this match.

He just overscrewed that cue ball.

He is too straight on the blue. He

will have to drop the blue in, take

a red from mid-distance. He is

coming down to have a look at this

black. It doesn't pot into the

bottom left-hand corner pocket. I'm

it does. He has to stun this red in

and he will be on the black. You

see...

see... Well, that was a bit twitchy.

John Higgins having a look over Mark

Allen's shoulder. That was a little

bit twitchy.

bit twitchy.

Yeah. It always looks

as if a player has hit it too hard

when he misses the pot. That should

have been a nice soft stun

run-through. As you say, he didn't

deliver the cue soft at all there.

That might give John Higgins a

little bit of hope, particularly if

he can make the most of this

opportunity. This could put a seed

of doubt into Mark Allen's mind.

of doubt into Mark Allen's mind. He

is on the black.

He died an unintentional kiss on the

red. It is OK if the black goes into

the right corner but it doesn't. --

he got an unintentional kiss. The

pink obviously goes. He has underhit

that. Still feeling a little bit

edgy, John.

That is not good. You can see the

shake head. He wanted to be

straighter on this. As you said

John, he is a bit edgy.

John, he is a bit edgy. He needs to

find the gap between the reds in

potting this read and get back on

the blue. It is not straightforward.

There is a gap.

He has played it the other way but

played it very nicely.

Excellent shot.

Looks like he has played for a red

to the corner. Two reds in the

middle, look very much mriek like a

plant.

-- like a plant.

A bit of distance between the two

balls, but just played the first one

as though he was trying to pot that.

Yeah, no problem.

Would have preferred to have more of

a bounce off the side cushion than

he has got.

Looks to have played that nicely. He

can get through to the red to the

right of the black. That's the one

he wants to clear. Makes the black

available into both corners.

On it perfectly.

Held the cue ball nicely for this

red just above the black. Also has a

red to the right centre as well but

this is his preference.

Has a lovely angle now. He can go

into the two reds directly in line

with the black near the pink spot.

Played that nicely. A little bit

close for comfort. Could have done

with the cue ball in the open.

Nicely played.

It's difficult when

you are hampered and he was. The

advantage was he didn't have to do a

lot with the cue ball.

He is OK. Not inch perfect, not

exactly what he played for, he will

have to go for the blue. Has to be

careful with that red near the left

middle.

Played that nicely.

Of course this is where all his

great experience will come in. He

knows how important this visit is,

particularly after the missed red

from his opponent.

You have to punish those mistakes.

When this blue goes in, he will be

looking for one more red and will be

at the snookers required stage.

This will put him 60 points ahead

with 59 remaining.

Well played John Higgins.

Every chance now for John Higgins to

make a century and it will be a

landmark in his career because at

the moment career centuries, 699.

Looking for his 700th career

century. Now.

And the 26th of the tournament.

Incredible landmark. Only Stephen

Hendry with 775 and Ronnie

O'Sullivan 900 plus mark.

Played this nicely. Beautiful shot.

What will please him most, not only

getting this century, just withining

the frame in one visit. Missed a few

in the first session. That would

have annoyed him. This is much

better.

APPLAUSE

Century 700 in his career for John

Higgins.

Fantastic.

Couldn't have come at a

better time for him.

The match is hotting up now.

Fantastic.

Yes, just what he needed to do. OK,

he was given the opportunity by the

bad miss from Mark Allen. But that's

the game. Nobody's that good that

they can pot everything. When they

do make the mistake, particularly

when you are 3-1 behind, you have to

show character and you have to show

your opponent if he makes a mistake

he is going to cost him dear.

He has done that here, it's been a

marvellous break from John Higgins.

Absolutely fantastic!

700th career century. 26th of the

tournament. But, more importantly

for John Higgins, winning a frame in

one visit and showing Mark Allen

that he is there to be reckoned

with. He is one behind, though. It's

3-2.

STUDIO: Brilliant stuff from John

Higgins. Perfect response after the

interval. That's what it means to

our tournament centuries board. Up

to 26. 31 is the Masters record.

Wonderful stuff.

Fantastic. Third player ever to make

over 700 centuries, brilliant. It's

been the strength of his game.

He

may not have had that chance because

Mark Allen at the start of the

frame, this shows you fractions in

snooker. He has this red, he is

going to screw back for the blue to

the left middle. Watch where he ends

up. Simplest shot. Don't even think

about it. He left himself straight

on the blue there, very careless. He

couldn't get close to the reds.

Perhaps it's him that makes the

century.

How often is that when the

blue is not in the spot and the

line. If the blue is in the spot you

know that position entirely. Blue

wasn't on-the-spot. He overscrewed

it.

A word on 700.

Marvellous.

Obviously Ronnie O'Sullivan is best

placed to get 1,000 centuries. There

are more tournaments in the season.

Don't know if John Higgins can get

to 1,000. Maybe until he is about 60

or 70!

He has stayed in it.

He

needed that lifeline. Missed it by a

mile, body language not good. You

can't afford to give a player of his

class chances like that. Now he has

made that century. Who knows what

happens from here.

What happens when

you make 131 like that, given the

state of the game and what's at

stake, what does that do to the

mindset?

You have dominated that

particular time on the table. You

have got into a rhythm. If you get

good chances in the next frame you

can just capitalise upon your rhythm

and keep in the mode. It is about

dominating the table. If you can

actually then start to get a head of

steam going then you can start

pumping in frame-winning breaks

left, right and centre. But it's

tough against another player to

guarantee dominating.

Therefore put

pressure on your opponent.

A little bit pacy on and off the

baulk cushion. But safe enough.

A bigger bounce than he would have

liked off that cushion. A couple of

reds to go at.

Try and take the red that's closest

to the left centre pocket and maybe

screw back for blue. Could only

possibly leave this red if he misses

it. That's the reason he is going to

take this on.

That's the only red... That's

exactly what he has done.

It's not cost him anything. Offered

him up a real good chance.

Just banged his cue on the floor as

he was walking around. This isn't

perfect.

He managed to be able to hold for

the blue.

Certainly can pot the blue and hold

for the loose red.

He has tried to play for the red in

the left middle, once again.

Not a good position.

He had a lot of room for error

there. When we deal in fractions,

you often say, John, that's a really

bad miscalculation.

Yet again.

We did say how the intervals can

change the rhythm of a match. All of

a sudden he's gone a bit cold.

Needs to miss the brown. He has

done. Therefore, excellent safety.

The way the reds are spread he will

need a good length here. That's much

too thick.

Much too thick. Is the blue going to

come to his rescue?

Or maybe hampered by the yellow.

A bit fortunate there was John

Higgins. He could have left the red

to the corner as well. But got one

covering the other.

There will be no hesitation to play

this red to the right corner. But

hampered by the yellow.

Doesn't make it very appetising.

APPLAUSE

But he found one. Has that flick on

the blue helped? It has. I can get

through to the brown. -- he can get

through to the brown.

Tried to get on the red next to the

pink but he is still OK. Needs to

get top side of the blue. He hasn't

done that. Wrong side.

Will have to go in and out of baulk

again.

Needed that just to miss the yellow.

Going to need another good shot here

on the red.

Very good pot.

Played that well. Straight on the

green. Also has the blue to the

bottom corner pocket as well.

Just hasn't got in position, has he?

No, certainly making hard work of

this.

The one thing we can do, we

mentioned this, if he puts his mind

to it, he can pot anything. There is

nothing beyond him.

This time absolutely inch perfect on

the blue.

It's now a frame-winning chance.

Still looking for three more reds.

But you have to say it looks a

formality.

Red and black would put him 65 in

front with 67 remaining.

This is the last of the easy reds to

get on.

Just one good positional shot,

should be OK.

He is playing for the pink to the

middle.

That gave him a nice easy position

on this red that he needs to clinch

this frame. This is to go 65 ahead

with 59 remaining.

So John Higgins, who came back in

the last frame with a marvellous

break of 131. He's not had a chance,

well a couple of half-chances in

this frame. Not been able to take

them.

He won't be getting another one.

Good response from Mark Allen.

Some marvellous pots.

It's been good snooker. 58 and

counting here. He has to go in and

out of baulk to tray to get onthe

two reds.

The yellow could come into

play. He has to avoid the kiss on

the yellow.

Can he avoid the yellow?

No.

But he won't matter. John Higgins

will not come back to the table.

It was going to be interesting to

see how Mark Allen resumed after

lofdzings the last frame. But

business as bush -- - after losing

the last frame but business as

usual.

STUDIO: Good response.

Yeah, I think

he is the most efishent player at

the moment amongst the balls in the

whole opportunity. Going back to

that point about economy of moving

the cue ballwards and forwards, he

seemed to be controlling the breaks

very well around the top end of the

table. If you are playing well and

you are enjoying yourself out there

you are going to suffer less from

the tension and he seems to be

playing pretty tension-free in what

is a very big moment in his career.

Steve has xhengsed -- mentioned, we

have seen a different Mark Allen

especially tonight, he looks calm.

And looks like he is enjoying the

moment.

Very much so. I sat with him

before the match with Ronnie

O'Sullivan and I thought this was a

massive match but I thought he sat

there and was very relaxed and

didn't look tense at all. He is the

same tonight. It's important that he

keeps this cushion of two frames

because it's not easy in John

Higgins position, you keep chasing.

So keep piling on these frames and

he is going to be hard to beat.

The

key word you used this afternoon is

concentration at this level,

something that Judd took his eye off

the ball today.

Very much so and

that red in the last frame, even

little shots like that might have

cost him the frame ultimately, John

Higgins made a century. It's got to

be 100% concentration at this level.

If we are being completely honest,

did you expect Mark Allen to be in a

semifinal on Saturday night?

Well, I

think everybody expected Ronnie

O'Sullivan to beat him. We all know

how good he is. Zip I expect him to

be here? No, but we know he has a

chance. From his perspective he has

been bashing his head against a

brick wall for a while trying to

break into the elite majors win

bunch and so he is getting closer, I

feel. He's taken lots of knockbacks

and still coming back for more

punishment so good on him.

If he

wins two more frames he will be

through to the final.

COMMENTATOR: You get the feeling the

way these frames are going that the

first one in seems to, not

necessarily win the frame in one

visit, but build up a lead and then,

I have not been too impressed with

the safety consistently from both

players, so if you can get in first

and make 35, 40, you can sit on that

lead. I remember one frame really

against the head and that was when

John Higgins made his 131 when Mark

Allen got in and missed a

straightforward red to the corner.

But other than that, first in has

been winning the frame.

These safety exchanges at the

beginning, very, very important.

Yeah, couldn't agree more. Can't do

much with this safety shot because

of that red, it's gone up into

baulk. Mark Allen has a shot here to

go off the right side of the pack

with a bit of left side. He is

looking at a possible plant he could

make. Not sure whether it's worth

the risk. He has a 4-2 lead. It's a

bit risky.

Funnily enough when John

Higgins played he did have a look at

the possibility of this plant. Was

he leaving it? I thought he thought

it's too risky for Mark to go for.

And it turns out he was probably

right.

Just going to roll off this red, put

the cue ball down towards the bottom

right pocket. Tried to get it as

close to the jaws of the pocket as

he could. Just come up a bit short.

OK, it's close to the baulk cushion

but he has left him on this red,

really needed to be covering that

red with the brown.

He has left a tempter.

John's eyeing

up the pot into the right middle and

a little bit concerned where the cue

ball is going to go.

He has the pot. Where is the cue

ball going!

I was concerned about that.

Mark

Allen four.

Always had a look that cue ball was

going to go close to the corner

pocket.

When you are playing off the side of

the pack you are always aware that

you are not knocking a red towards

either corner pocket. That's why he

played it with a bit more pace, that

red that came out into the open of

the table, just below the blue, he

hit it hard enough to make sure it

was away from the corner pocket.

One of the better safety shots we

have seen.

He can get through to hit this red

but can't see enough to play the

pot.

He is looking at it, don't blame him

shaking his head. Don't see how he

can get back to the baulk end. If he

tries to come thin off this red,

every possibility of a double kiss.

He has to catch this just right.

He just avoided the double-kiss. And

that, believe me, is as good a

safety shot as he has played all

evening. Well played.

evening. Well played. He had to

catch this just right to avoid a

double-kiss. That is a great reply

from Mark Allen. Beginning to find

the baulk cushion area now.

That red has gone close to the left

hand cushion makes this safety shot

so much more difficult.

so much more difficult. He may have

to play a containing safety shot.

But the problem of leaving the cue

ball there is that the red left with

the pink parts into the right

centre. -- pots.

Yeah. A poor choice from John

Higgins. It is not often you would

say that in a safety shot.

No, two

excellent safety shots from Mark

Allen.

Allen. You feel this was a frame

John Higgins needed to win. Now Mark

Allen with an opportunity to get in

one frame of tomorrow's final.

There is one red to the left of the

black that is available to the right

corner. He could play a cannon into

the main bunch. That is what he is

doing. How is your luck? Raid looks

pretty good to me. It looks

absolutely perfect.

absolutely perfect.

This is an

excellent shot. He could not have

played that any better. Fantastic.

They are all there. He resigned look

on John Higgins' face.

Hoog defaming

the worst. -- he will be filling the

worst. When you are sat in that seat

and you have no right of reply, you

just have to sit there and hope that

your opponent makes a mistake and

you get back to the table.

you get back to the table. It is

hard to see where that mistake is

going to come from though.

He could play a little cannon into

the two reds just above the black.

It has worked out perfectly. It has

brought those two reds into play.

He is playing exactly the way he

played against Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Looking very composed.

That is it. Snookers required. 68

points the lead,

points the lead, just 67 available.

Two very good safety shots from Mark

Allen created this opening. It is a

pity we will not see a century. We

may see John Higgins play on. Just

one snooker required.

There you see it. 68 behind. 67

remaining. One snooker required. No.

It just went away. And he looks at

Mark Allen and says, that is enough

if you like. And Mark Allen does

like. He accepts the concession and

is now one frame away from the UK

Masters final for the first time in

his career.

He

his career.

He leads 5-2. Mark Allen so close,

Stephen?

Yes, and you have to say

you wouldn't imagine the same thing

happening that happened this

afternoon, with Mark Allen going for

a stupid shot to let his opponent,

back in. John Higgins could still do

that but it will be for the same

reason as this afternoon. Mark Allen

looks so solid, so confident. It is

so crisp the way he strikes the

ball. Every time he gets in it it

looks like the frame is over.

It

looks inevitable like he is going to

get through to the final and a new

name on the trophy. Let's fast

forward to the final, and he does

get through, it could be a nervy

one. Getting a major name on the

trophy. The way he is looking, he is

looking like a champion.

When you

are one frame away from reaching the

final of such a prestigious event,

Mark has obviously popped out to

compose himself, what is that

feeling like?

He is very excited. He

has look super composed all

tournament. This is the Sword of

State of mind a sports psychologist

would want you in. He is floating

around the table, his face has the

same expression all the time. I

fully expect him to come out the

same way. There was a wee bit of a

twitch in the final balls against

Ronnie O'Sullivan. I don't see that

tonight.

It shows that you have to

be very patient in the world of

snooker to get a big trophy in the

Cabinet. Gone are the days when you

are going to get them easily. You

get in the cue along with everybody

else. You have to be ready to take

your chance. You have to suffer

disappointment along the way.

You

use that disappointment?

Hopefully.

It is great for Mark Allen to be

producing better snooker now than

what he was doing a few years ago.

One thing about John Higgins, when

his back is against the wall he has

produced some fantastic comebacks.

his back is against the wall he has

produced some fantastic comebacks.

I wouldn't write him off yet.

Many

of you telling us and which you are

enjoying your Saturday night. I

should remind you that Judd Trump

was 5-2 ahead in his match this

afternoon. Look what happened to

Judd.

Yes. I agree with Stephen. I don't

expect him to play any rash shots.

You have to go for your shots. You

can't just park the bus. Somebody

has to put the point on the board.

But I do think it is imperative, and

he didn't do it in the last frame

because of excellent safety from

Mark Allen, but John Higgins has to