First Round: Ding Junhui v Ryan Day

0:00:37 > 0:00:42Hello and welcome back to Alexandra Palace and the second day of the

0:00:42 > 0:00:49Masters. Today we feature a man who has led the Chinese invasion of the

0:00:49 > 0:00:53top rankings in the World Snooker, Ding Junhui. But he has had mixed

0:00:53 > 0:01:03fortunes here at the Masters.

0:01:20 > 0:01:23So his 14th appearance at the Masters. He lost to Ronnie

0:01:23 > 0:01:30O'Sullivan in the final in 2007 before he took the title in 2011.

0:01:30 > 0:01:35But since the event moved to Alexandra Palace in 2012 he has won

0:01:35 > 0:01:42just one match in six years, not a great record and that was last year.

0:01:42 > 0:01:47The man who he has to be today if he is to win just his second match here

0:01:47 > 0:01:54at Alexandra Palace is Ryan Day. He shook off his tag last year of being

0:01:54 > 0:01:59the best player in the world not to want a ranking event. Good to have

0:01:59 > 0:02:03him back at the Masters. We're looking forward to welcoming Ryan

0:02:03 > 0:02:07Day back to the Masters and also saying big hello to John Parrott

0:02:07 > 0:02:14making his first appearance at the Masters on the BBC. Having a day off

0:02:14 > 0:02:19yesterday? Nothing to do with a big football match! Great to have Ryan

0:02:19 > 0:02:25Day back at the Masters.A solid professional. He has that added

0:02:25 > 0:02:29confidence now from winning the tour. He has been a great player for

0:02:29 > 0:02:34a long time but he just needed that when to give him confidence.He is

0:02:34 > 0:02:40going to take some stopping.A tough match? And winning composed of

0:02:40 > 0:02:45momentum is like gold dust in any sport and if you do not have it,

0:02:45 > 0:02:49regardless of your performances in previous years, you are short of

0:02:49 > 0:02:54that match play and confidence. So Ding Junhui is coming into this

0:02:54 > 0:02:59match having had a fantastic season and really he has got to prove

0:02:59 > 0:03:07himself again and the first round is tough in any case.

0:03:07 > 0:03:12tough in any case.Well he has gotten beaten before and his

0:03:12 > 0:03:18confidence will be fragile which will not help.But he did win the

0:03:18 > 0:03:21world ( September. This is an entirely different event and

0:03:21 > 0:03:24something wrong with his performances here at Alexandra

0:03:24 > 0:03:29Palace, is that just the pressure of the venue?I have no idea, it is a

0:03:29 > 0:03:34strange one. He went for a long time not been able to win at the Crucible

0:03:34 > 0:03:39but no reason why he should not like this place.He has to get off to

0:03:39 > 0:03:44good start. Yes and even in the of 11 and matches that are even longer,

0:03:44 > 0:03:50a good start is essential as we saw yesterday with Mark William.It is a

0:03:50 > 0:03:56nice way to get. Well two matches already done. This is the draw and

0:03:56 > 0:04:02results so far.

0:04:02 > 0:04:08Ronnie O'Sullivan the reigning champion plays Marco Fu tomorrow.

0:04:08 > 0:04:13Mark Allen of Northern Ireland is through and faces Luca Brecel. John

0:04:13 > 0:04:17Higgins opens up against Anthony McGill and all Scotland clash was

0:04:17 > 0:04:22dark and light this afternoon is Ding Junhui taking on Ryan Day. Judd

0:04:22 > 0:04:29Trump twice a semifinalist plays Liang Wenbo. And Shaun Murphy takes

0:04:29 > 0:04:35on Ali Carter. Barry Hawkins the runner-up in 2016 faces Kyren

0:04:35 > 0:04:41Wilson. And what a match yesterday, Mark Williams beating Mark Selby

0:04:41 > 0:04:496-5. We really enjoyed that match yesterday. And the headlines in

0:04:49 > 0:04:53newspapers today saying Mark Williams, my time to shine. He asked

0:04:53 > 0:05:00for the trophy to be taken out because it was shining in his eyes!

0:05:00 > 0:05:05Your reaction to Mark Selby going out?I thought it was a horrible

0:05:05 > 0:05:13draw for both players. They have a similar record against each other.

0:05:13 > 0:05:18When the draw came out I thought it was going to be close.And Mark

0:05:18 > 0:05:22Selby said in an interview that he was the one player he wanted to

0:05:22 > 0:05:30avoid, Mark Williams.Mark Williams is a previous winner and on form he

0:05:30 > 0:05:34is a handful for anyone. But for Mark Selby it is tough because

0:05:34 > 0:05:40expectations on him are massive, world number one, world champion.

0:05:40 > 0:05:44And you know that all these players are capable but you still have to

0:05:44 > 0:05:47prove yourself as world champion. So for Mark Williams he will be

0:05:47 > 0:05:54delighted.The beauty of the Masters is anyone can beat anyone.

0:05:54 > 0:05:59Absolutely and this tournament tells you that every year. The best

0:05:59 > 0:06:04players, but not a great shock that he went out.Mark Selby will be

0:06:04 > 0:06:09watching that over and over again. Thinking that he could still be in

0:06:09 > 0:06:14the draw.There is always not involved and the longer session

0:06:14 > 0:06:19matches can negate that a bit but still missing that ball along the

0:06:19 > 0:06:23top cushion was critical for Mark Selby. Mark Williams I think did

0:06:23 > 0:06:29enough to put under pressure one person that will not say out loud

0:06:29 > 0:06:33but will be quite pleased that Mark Selby is out is Ronnie O'Sullivan.

0:06:33 > 0:06:38It makes his job a little bit easier.You're absolutely right.It

0:06:38 > 0:06:43opens up the draw. I'm not so sure it was completely open anyway. You

0:06:43 > 0:06:48would be looking at Ronnie O'Sullivan maybe as the favourite

0:06:48 > 0:06:53and maybe Mark Selby for the bottom half. But there are a lot of matches

0:06:53 > 0:06:58to be played before being able to think I'm lucky to avoid Mark Selby.

0:06:58 > 0:07:04I'm sitting on the fence for the four tournament. -- for the whole

0:07:04 > 0:07:13tournament. We are supposed to be experts, we haven't got a clue!A

0:07:13 > 0:07:17great day yesterday for Wales with Mark Williams.Another Welshman

0:07:17 > 0:07:20going through today? There's every chance. The start of the match today

0:07:20 > 0:07:27is very important. Ding Junhui could be a bit fragile and if Ryan Day

0:07:27 > 0:07:32could get off a good start, he has a say in the match was dubbed thank

0:07:32 > 0:07:38you very much and time to hand over to rob Walker.Good afternoon, it is

0:07:38 > 0:07:42the second day of the most prestigious invitational tournament

0:07:42 > 0:07:47in snooker, this is Alexandra Palace and China against Wales for a place

0:07:47 > 0:07:52in the quarterfinals.APPLAUSE

0:07:52 > 0:07:59and China against Wales for a place in the quarterfinals.APPLAUSE.

0:08:08 > 0:08:11Please welcome a player returning to the Masters for the first time in

0:08:11 > 0:08:15eight years. Quarterfinalist at Wembley in 2010, this will be his

0:08:15 > 0:08:19first walk down the stairs here at Alexandra Palace. Earlier this

0:08:19 > 0:08:23season in his 20th year as a pro he achieved a lifelong dream, taking

0:08:23 > 0:08:28his maiden ranking title at the Ricoh Masters. He is the pride of

0:08:28 > 0:08:40Wales, he's dynamite, he is Ryan Day.

0:08:47 > 0:08:55MUSIC: The Passenger by Iggy Pop.

0:08:57 > 0:09:00And his opponent, a man whose achievements have inspired a

0:09:00 > 0:09:05generation of players and fans back home. Twice the Masters finalist. He

0:09:05 > 0:09:09won the all Nations clash at Wembley in 2011 and earlier this season

0:09:09 > 0:09:14secured the 13th ranking title taking the World Open. He is without

0:09:14 > 0:09:20doubt the finest from China, enter the Dragon, Ding Junhui!

0:09:20 > 0:09:20APPLAUSE

0:09:20 > 0:09:25the Dragon, Ding Junhui! APPLAUSE.

0:09:40 > 0:09:47MUSIC: Breaking News by Jordan Chan.

0:09:47 > 0:09:51Well how lovely to see Ding Junhui walking in and smiling. This could

0:09:51 > 0:09:55be a more relaxed player. He has got to win here and he has a really

0:09:55 > 0:10:04tough match against Ryan Day.

0:10:06 > 0:10:13Thank you, Ding Junhui looking the joys of spring there.Absolutely.

0:10:13 > 0:10:19Looking forward to this match.

0:10:19 > 0:10:27Looking forward to this match. It could be quite close. In the early

0:10:27 > 0:10:32exchanges, Ding Junhui has not had the best of records here. A winner

0:10:32 > 0:10:38here in 2011. But his form of late has not been fantastic. He has been

0:10:38 > 0:10:42suffering a little bit from conjunctivitis as well. Hopefully

0:10:42 > 0:10:49he's OK and we're going to see what he's all about. And of course what

0:10:49 > 0:10:55this young man is all about as well, Ryan Day. Delighted to see him

0:10:55 > 0:10:59winning his first ranking tournament after being beaten in four previous

0:10:59 > 0:11:04finals.Absolutely, he is such a talent. Comes from a hotbed of

0:11:04 > 0:11:11snooker of course, Wales.

0:11:11 > 0:11:15snooker of course, Wales. There is the flight, may be the same as

0:11:15 > 0:11:19yesterday!

0:11:19 > 0:11:27--fly.

0:11:28 > 0:11:35At this level as per usual case of who could create the first chance

0:11:35 > 0:11:41and when you get the chance, can you score heavily. That is the secret of

0:11:41 > 0:11:51success at this level.

0:11:52 > 0:11:58That just caught the red, played too thick and careered into the other

0:11:58 > 0:12:06red. So the first chance to Ding Junhui.

0:12:06 > 0:12:13A good opening round. We talked about scoring heavily and not too

0:12:13 > 0:12:21many better in the game than this young man. He has made 147 six

0:12:21 > 0:12:28times.

0:12:28 > 0:12:32times. Right on top of the cue ball! Pretty hard to play when that is

0:12:32 > 0:12:41their! Steve Davis must've opened his

0:12:41 > 0:12:51wallet!

0:13:07 > 0:13:16He has underhit that and maybe broke his concentration. He could still

0:13:16 > 0:13:20part the red to the left of the black but a lot further down the

0:13:20 > 0:13:30table.

0:13:31 > 0:13:38A bit of a let off for Ryan Day. Ding Junhui just trying to get on

0:13:38 > 0:13:44that red to the bottom right-hand corner pocket.

0:13:52 > 0:13:58There is a gap between the red and the black. Found the gap but a long

0:13:58 > 0:14:08way away from the pot. He has got away with it.

0:14:16 > 0:14:22A little bit surprised with the record of Ding Junhui, only winning

0:14:22 > 0:14:31one match here.It is amazing, really. Such a talent.

0:14:31 > 0:14:34really. Such a talent. But you're playing the top players here from

0:14:34 > 0:14:37the first match and you have got to be right on your game from the

0:14:37 > 0:14:47start. He was just slightly below form and then you're out of it. The

0:14:47 > 0:14:52last two meetings in fact of these two players, Ryan Day has been the

0:14:52 > 0:15:02winner in both.

0:15:02 > 0:15:06winner in both. But they've had some good battles in big tournaments, the

0:15:06 > 0:15:10World Championships. The UK Championships. Not best-of-7

0:15:10 > 0:15:21affairs. We've had some really tough matches. Ryan Day, the word is

0:15:21 > 0:15:25overused but you would have to say he is an underachiever, he has so

0:15:25 > 0:15:35much ability.

0:15:35 > 0:15:38much ability.Maybe that win at the beginning of the season will just

0:15:38 > 0:15:45give him that extra bit of belief. Until you get that first ranking

0:15:45 > 0:15:48tournament win on the belt you're always that bit nervous against the

0:15:48 > 0:15:55top players. Maybe that bit of belief, that tournament will give

0:15:55 > 0:15:58him confidence against the top players and especially on occasions

0:15:58 > 0:16:04like this.

0:16:04 > 0:16:08like this.Now Ding Junhui knows that he is careering into the second

0:16:08 > 0:16:17red but just make sure of that pot and trust to luck. If it goes. Maybe

0:16:17 > 0:16:22should've played it with bit more pace. He is on the black, it is a

0:16:22 > 0:16:28tough one. A bit more pace required.

0:16:40 > 0:16:45I think that was a slight miscue, that is why he is looking at his

0:16:45 > 0:16:51tip. Did not really connect with the cue ball the way he wanted. So

0:16:51 > 0:16:59missed it by quite some margin.He's one of few players, when he is near

0:16:59 > 0:17:02the cushion, most players just strike down slightly but he keeps it

0:17:02 > 0:17:07parallel.

0:17:12 > 0:17:17This is an opportunity to get his hands on the table and get a few

0:17:17 > 0:17:23points on the scoreboard now, Ryan Day.Just coming around to have a

0:17:23 > 0:17:27look at the two reds. The one nearest the bottom right-hand corner

0:17:27 > 0:17:35pocket looks like it will pot. Also having a look to see if the second

0:17:35 > 0:17:42one will pass. Quite tight.

0:17:43 > 0:17:48one will pass. Quite tight. Hit this too hard. Wanted to be a bit

0:17:48 > 0:17:58straighter on this red.

0:18:08 > 0:18:15A double-kiss on the red but still OK.That was the danger, the

0:18:15 > 0:18:22double-kiss. But still on the black.

0:18:28 > 0:18:34That was the problem, he had to play with a lot of right-hand side and

0:18:34 > 0:18:40you put aside on and you have to allow for the throw and he did not

0:18:40 > 0:18:53judge it well. A lot of right-hand side.

0:19:12 > 0:19:18He has got the perfect angle for that red. Above the black and to the

0:19:18 > 0:19:29left. That is the one. He is on the other red of course perfectly.

0:19:29 > 0:19:30other red of course perfectly. One of the finest break-builders in the

0:19:30 > 0:19:38game. Hopefully we will see evidence of this today as he gets a kick on

0:19:38 > 0:19:43that cue ball.

0:19:44 > 0:19:51that cue ball. You can see the red jump.

0:20:03 > 0:20:03APPLAUSE

0:20:03 > 0:20:08APPLAUSE.

0:20:09 > 0:20:14Good recovery. He has got a lovely touch. That is why he is such a good

0:20:14 > 0:20:26break-builder.Some lovely moves. He was unlucky there to get the kick.

0:20:26 > 0:20:34He's going to play a different red to the one he would like. Landed

0:20:34 > 0:20:40absolutely plumb.

0:20:57 > 0:21:02When he pops this he will push another couple of reds into play.

0:21:02 > 0:21:13This will open things up.

0:21:24 > 0:21:33The two reds I'm sure we'll pot into the middle or bottom right-hand

0:21:33 > 0:21:42corner pocket. So not too much work to do with the cue ball.

0:21:49 > 0:21:55He has got a nice angle on it as you can see. Made light work of art,

0:21:55 > 0:22:06good shot. And one more red and the first frame is in the bag.

0:22:21 > 0:22:29The crowd recognising that that was the prime all. His opponent now

0:22:29 > 0:22:33leads the snooker. I do not think you will be coming back to the table

0:22:33 > 0:22:36when Ding Junhui has finished with ease. His cue ball has been

0:22:36 > 0:22:46absolutely pinpoint.

0:23:05 > 0:23:11Playing for this red in the right middle tells me that possibly the

0:23:11 > 0:23:23red just below the pink was not available, but it is now.

0:23:31 > 0:23:36Yesterday we spoke about how fast this table was playing. And Ding

0:23:36 > 0:23:47Junhui has certainly got the pace of it straightaway.

0:23:47 > 0:23:52it straightaway. Made 462 centuries in his career. Six times a 147. Only

0:23:52 > 0:23:59made nine centuries this season. 36 last season. That will be evidence

0:23:59 > 0:24:07of how his standard has dropped this season. This is a nice way to start

0:24:07 > 0:24:18his campaign for top here at the Masters.

0:24:18 > 0:24:25Masters.He finished last season so well. In the final of the World

0:24:25 > 0:24:32Championships with Mark Selby. Put in a great performance. Maybe this

0:24:32 > 0:24:36is a kick-start to the season if he has a good in this tournament.

0:24:36 > 0:24:45That's never looked in doubt. That was a tricky black he had to play. A

0:24:45 > 0:24:58good start. And Ryan Day just had to watch. And it was good watching.

0:24:58 > 0:25:01Amazing stuff from Ding Junhui and worthy of a little round of

0:25:01 > 0:25:14applause.Superb. I do not think too many players can move the cue ball

0:25:14 > 0:25:18less, his positional play is so accurate. And he makes every shot

0:25:18 > 0:25:22looks simple. That was a wonderful break. Ryan Day will be kicking

0:25:22 > 0:25:26himself. He was in first with a chance. We said he needed a good

0:25:26 > 0:25:32start. He had a good opportunity but fluffed his lines.Well a lot of

0:25:32 > 0:25:37pressure that Ding Junhui faces here, he took the lead in the

0:25:37 > 0:25:41opening match against Kyren Wilson last year and coming out in a

0:25:41 > 0:25:46similar mood this year.You can only play the shops that are presented to

0:25:46 > 0:25:51you and you either get them all you do not, that is the game of snooker.

0:25:51 > 0:25:54If your opponent starts missing at any time in the match it can give

0:25:54 > 0:26:01you more confidence. So it is a competition, you are vying for a

0:26:01 > 0:26:08table time. If you're on the table most the time it is good but if the

0:26:08 > 0:26:11other guy shows he's going to stand up against you it makes it harder so

0:26:11 > 0:26:18it is all about dominating the table. And Ding Junhui is a good

0:26:18 > 0:26:24dominant force. So Ryan Day has got to show some strength at some stage.

0:26:24 > 0:26:29But best of 11, you still have a chance.What about the pace of the

0:26:29 > 0:26:35table? It looks beautiful. You can see from the way that Ding Junhui

0:26:35 > 0:26:38made the break he has got it straightaway. You can expect the

0:26:38 > 0:26:44table to be in superb condition here, it always is.Expecting to

0:26:44 > 0:26:50break the century record this year? It is hard to say, it looks like the

0:26:50 > 0:26:54pocket is generous but it is a brand-new cloth in perfect

0:26:54 > 0:27:00condition. Today the table has bedded in a little bit.31 is the

0:27:00 > 0:27:18record. And we saw that fly.

0:27:41 > 0:27:54Playback in such a way that that was the only red he would be leaving.

0:27:59 > 0:27:59APPLAUSE

0:27:59 > 0:28:06APPLAUSE.

0:28:06 > 0:28:15Ryan Day will be disappointed from that chance in the first round.You

0:28:15 > 0:28:20have to play with right-hand side. The harder you play it the more that

0:28:20 > 0:28:24the cue ball will push. He just played it too slow. It is one of

0:28:24 > 0:28:33those things. This is the shot.

0:28:33 > 0:28:40those things. This is the shot. The side just took it in full stop the

0:28:40 > 0:28:44difference is because he had good position on the balls all the time,

0:28:44 > 0:28:48the black and the red to get back on the black, you do not have to use

0:28:48 > 0:28:58side. And it is so much easier then. So positional play, cue ball

0:28:58 > 0:29:01control, still the most important factors in the game when you get in

0:29:01 > 0:29:12with a chance.

0:29:38 > 0:29:41I think Ding Junhui will be tempted by the red that's just below the

0:29:41 > 0:29:54blue. Well, he's not. He's not going for it. Well, that surprises me.

0:29:54 > 0:30:04Well, he's now had second thoughts and he's taking it on. He missed it

0:30:04 > 0:30:13by a way, but it was the right shot. It was a shot to play.

0:30:16 > 0:30:20I mean you play those shots thinking its only red you can leave is the

0:30:20 > 0:30:28one you're playing and he didn't leave it.

0:30:28 > 0:30:31That's a bit careless there from Ryan. There is no way that red

0:30:31 > 0:30:38should have ran into the brown.

0:30:38 > 0:30:40should have ran into the brown.I'm sure he can try and drop this red

0:30:40 > 0:30:47in. It's a very acute angle, but...

0:30:51 > 0:31:01Well, decided against it. I'm a bit surprised there.

0:31:10 > 0:31:18This looks a good line. APPLAUSE

0:31:30 > 0:31:37Well, we did say he was suffering from conservativitis. There is

0:31:37 > 0:31:46nothing wrong with his eyesight. That was a really good shot there.

0:31:51 > 0:31:57He will be taking this one on to the bottom left-hand pocket and for the

0:31:57 > 0:32:01blue. There was a bit of movement on the last red he took to the blue. He

0:32:01 > 0:32:06missed it by quite some way. Maybe we'll get a good look at them here.

0:32:06 > 0:32:14The most important is sto stay so still on these type of shots.

0:32:15 > 0:32:25Much better. Much better. Excellent shot.

0:32:34 > 0:32:41He has got a choice of brown or blue. The blue wouldn't be too

0:32:41 > 0:32:46difficult.

0:32:48 > 0:32:54difficult. But he feels he wants to be in a nice position on the red.

0:32:54 > 0:33:07And it looks as though he's just hit correctly. Only just. But just is

0:33:07 > 0:33:08enough.

0:33:36 > 0:33:40Decided against potting the black and going into the pack. He will

0:33:40 > 0:33:47still be on this red, but back up for the blue here. It's a good angle

0:33:47 > 0:33:57to try and split these reds.

0:33:58 > 0:34:02Would like a little bit more angle.

0:34:20 > 0:34:23Yeah, just landed straight on that blue and couldn't generate enough

0:34:23 > 0:34:34pace. Tried to force it and that's why the cue ball drew wide off the

0:34:34 > 0:34:40pack.

0:35:30 > 0:35:37A nice little nudge off the green made it a better safety shot than it

0:35:37 > 0:35:41looked. So he has got to be careful here, has Ryan. Those two reds on

0:35:41 > 0:35:45the right-hand side of the table as we look at the problem balls if you

0:35:45 > 0:35:50like. So he, I was going to say he may come off the left-hand side

0:35:50 > 0:35:54cushion, but there is a red available to the other corner so he

0:35:54 > 0:35:57has got to avoid those two reds on the right-hand side of the table

0:35:57 > 0:36:05here at all costs. He's going to hit the red on the way up. Has he been

0:36:05 > 0:36:15lucky? At first glance maybe he has.

0:36:18 > 0:36:23He has been very lucky. He got away with that. He could have left the

0:36:23 > 0:36:31red closest to the left-hand corner pocket. Just a safety from Ding. Try

0:36:31 > 0:36:37and leave the cue ball maybe in the jaws of the grey pocket. He has

0:36:37 > 0:36:42decided against that. He has gone for a ball cushion, but somewhere in

0:36:42 > 0:36:52the jaws of that pocket may have been, he may have left this red on.

0:36:58 > 0:37:05He going for the thin cut here. He overcut t where is the cue ball

0:37:05 > 0:37:14going?That's the fourth today, John.

0:37:15 > 0:37:22John.He is a little unlucky because you know as well as I do, Ken. You

0:37:22 > 0:37:28look at that shot and think it's as thin as a can. To overcut it, you

0:37:28 > 0:37:37couldn't envisage that.

0:37:37 > 0:37:40couldn't envisage that. And now Ryan has got to sit-in his seat and

0:37:40 > 0:37:45wonder if he's going to get back to the table because Ding is that type

0:37:45 > 0:37:58of player that once he gets in, you fear the worst.

0:38:29 > 0:38:32Well, there is a surprise.

0:38:35 > 0:38:41There wasn't too much difficulty in that one.

0:38:41 > 0:38:46OK, Ding may not have left anything, but that will give Ryan a little bit

0:38:46 > 0:38:53of hope. That Ding Junhui isn't a machine and when he gets in, he

0:38:53 > 0:38:58isn't going to win every frame in each visit. He needs a good safety

0:38:58 > 0:39:05here and that cue ball tight to the cushion. Just like that. A good

0:39:05 > 0:39:13shot. APPLAUSE

0:39:44 > 0:39:52He has got to be looking to get that cue ball tight to the middle of the

0:39:52 > 0:39:57baulk cushion. Looks straightforward. Just got to get the

0:39:57 > 0:40:08pace right. He should have hit a little bit thicker than that for me.

0:40:08 > 0:40:12If this cue ball had of been tight he wouldn't have been abling to

0:40:12 > 0:40:21swing it round tight of three cushions as he can do now.

0:40:21 > 0:40:24cushions as he can do now. But nevertheless, maybe a chance here.

0:40:24 > 0:40:29Can't get lieu to the ones on the right corner, but the ones on the

0:40:29 > 0:40:33left corner are on and the one thing that he's blessed with Ryan Day, he

0:40:33 > 0:40:43has got plenty of cue power.

0:40:43 > 0:40:47has got plenty of cue power.He could try and pot this without - it

0:40:47 > 0:40:50looks, from his body expression, maybe it is a little bit too

0:40:50 > 0:40:54straight, but he maybe able to use the jaw of the pocket here. It looks

0:40:54 > 0:41:01like he's screwing back so it's dead straight. Well, it was a long way

0:41:01 > 0:41:10away. It cost him dearly. He might have been better just

0:41:10 > 0:41:14trying to pot the red and leave the cue ball somewhere where the red was

0:41:14 > 0:41:19and possibly take

0:41:22 > 0:41:26and possibly take it a little bit -- if he had the choice he might have

0:41:26 > 0:41:33played that shot a lot differently.

0:41:34 > 0:41:39It's such a difficult shot to play, John, from that Danes, of course,

0:41:39 > 0:41:44you know.

0:41:45 > 0:41:50you know.Yes, I agree with you. I didn't see a necessity to try and

0:41:50 > 0:41:57hit it that parred. Hard. We are only in round two. No need for that.

0:41:57 > 0:42:05And also he was bridging long.

0:42:05 > 0:42:09I say bridging long, you would have felt if he could have done, he would

0:42:09 > 0:42:18have tried to put his hand on the table. Anyway, Ding Junhui gets

0:42:18 > 0:42:28another good chance.

0:42:28 > 0:42:36He is only looking for another 26 points now from this visit.

0:42:37 > 0:42:43points now from this visit. To clinch this second frame. And Ryan

0:42:43 > 0:42:50Day's pot success is 43%. He had three ot of seven. -- out of seven.

0:42:50 > 0:42:58The fact that he only had seven pots to go at is remarkable and long pot

0:42:58 > 0:43:07success none out of three. So not the best start. Not the start he was

0:43:07 > 0:43:16looking for, but you remember, it is best of 11.

0:43:16 > 0:43:26Oh. Oh. Oh.Just the pace I think, took that in. He thought he missed

0:43:26 > 0:43:34it and that's why he jumped up.

0:43:34 > 0:43:41it and that's why he jumped up. How did that go in?I don't know. It got

0:43:41 > 0:43:48three ohs from me!

0:44:11 > 0:44:14APPLAUSE Frame ball.

0:44:43 > 0:44:48May take the red off this side cushion and knock it over the left

0:44:48 > 0:45:00middle. A delicate little shot. APPLAUSE

0:45:06 > 0:45:10Come across it a little bit, but Ryan says that's enough, he stays in

0:45:10 > 0:45:18his chair. So Ding Junhui wins the second frame and now goes into a 2-0

0:45:18 > 0:45:25lead against Ryan Day.

0:46:29 > 0:46:34So there he is, he'll be feeling very good about himself. He works a

0:46:34 > 0:46:41lot now on the mental side with Terry Griffiths. So, he'll keep him

0:46:41 > 0:46:54in a good place. The perfect start.

0:46:56 > 0:46:59That's the beautiful Waterford Crystal trophy that they're playing

0:46:59 > 0:47:11for this week. The Paul Hunter Trophy as it's aptly named.

0:47:11 > 0:47:18Beautiful.

0:47:21 > 0:47:28Of course, he won it three times, the great Paul Hunter. 10-9 in every

0:47:28 > 0:47:38final they won, John.Amazing. Amazing.7-2 down to Ronnie

0:47:38 > 0:47:42O'Sullivan and I think Fergal O'Brien.And beat Mark Williams one

0:47:42 > 0:47:49year. So it wasn't as if he was just picking up the pieces. Yes, just sad

0:47:49 > 0:48:02he was taken away so prematurely. So that's where it was and that's

0:48:02 > 0:48:09where it is now. Well, it looks perfect. A bit careless to hit the

0:48:09 > 0:48:13pink in all honesty. These 6 points could make all the difference at the

0:48:13 > 0:48:21end of this frame. It could make the difference between just needing the

0:48:21 > 0:48:30blue or the blue and the pink. Or the blue, pink and black.Or the

0:48:30 > 0:48:40blue, pink and black. Well, he has got to be careful, he's

0:48:40 > 0:48:43coming around the right-hand side of the table just to make sure he's not

0:48:43 > 0:48:48knocking a red while playing this shot. He's not knocking a red

0:48:48 > 0:48:55towards the left-hand corner pocket. Well, he has got to hit the reds

0:48:55 > 0:49:04first I suppose.

0:49:07 > 0:49:10Yes, a miss has been called, but Ding Junhui is probably thinking

0:49:10 > 0:49:14well, I would rather play it from here. There is a chance of getting

0:49:14 > 0:49:22in behind the green off this safety. If not the green, the brown.

0:49:22 > 0:49:30He played it pretty well. He wouldn't have expected Ryan to

0:49:30 > 0:49:34miss it again, but he has left a pot on here. Got to start knocking these

0:49:34 > 0:49:41in. And he has done! If he slows up he

0:49:41 > 0:49:46should be on the green. It needs to slow up. It's always the way, isn't

0:49:46 > 0:49:50it? You're desperate for a chance and he just ran that two or three

0:49:50 > 0:49:59inches too far.

0:50:44 > 0:50:46APPLAUSE Well, that was a wonderful escape.

0:50:46 > 0:50:56Lovely touch.

0:50:56 > 0:51:00He left Ryan Day with a little bit of trouble. He maybe wondering

0:51:00 > 0:51:05whether he can hit the red and use the knuckle of the middle pocket to

0:51:05 > 0:51:12get that cue ball down towards the baulk area.

0:51:19 > 0:51:25That's a possible shot. I'm not quite sure he can, he has got to

0:51:25 > 0:51:29tray and well. Is he going to try and use the knuckle? No, just

0:51:29 > 0:51:36pushing it to safety.

0:51:58 > 0:52:03Well, this red will cut, but he's going to play it with a lot of

0:52:03 > 0:52:08left-hand side. Which is what he did. Just to check it up. Has he had

0:52:08 > 0:52:15a result? Well, a little bit of one. This red

0:52:15 > 0:52:18would definitely have tempted Ding Junhui, but hampered by the brown.

0:52:18 > 0:52:25He won't be wanting to play it now.

0:52:42 > 0:52:45A weak safety.

0:52:47 > 0:52:52So Ryan may consider taking this red on. Just coming round to have a look

0:52:52 > 0:52:58what's available. Don't know where the black goes. Pink obviously is

0:52:58 > 0:53:06available and the blue. But he needs to knock this in. A big shot this.

0:53:06 > 0:53:09He has got it. APPLAUSE

0:53:09 > 0:53:19And the way he has played it tells me that the black must go.

0:53:19 > 0:53:26Yes, it does go. But it is a thin one and it's into what we call a

0:53:26 > 0:53:30blind pocket. That's because you can see the cue ball, the object ball,

0:53:30 > 0:53:36but you haven't got the pocket in line. So he needs to pick out the

0:53:36 > 0:53:49angle and commit. Much too thin. Much too thin.

0:54:03 > 0:54:08I think it has to be said at the moment, Ken, that Ding Junhui is not

0:54:08 > 0:54:13having to work too hard fond his chances.No, he's just picking up

0:54:13 > 0:54:21the piece, yeah. A missed black in the first round from Ryan. A missed

0:54:21 > 0:54:29pot in the second and it cost him the frame.

0:54:33 > 0:54:37I don't blame him for taking that black on, of course and if he pots

0:54:37 > 0:54:42it, he has got a good opportunity to try and win the frame himself, but

0:54:42 > 0:54:47it wasn't straightforward. It was just as you said, John, it was a

0:54:47 > 0:55:00blind pocket and it is always hard to see the angle.

0:55:39 > 0:55:45Just let that slip slightly.I've just put a little circle there,

0:55:45 > 0:55:48John, the black is pottable. But if he can get on that red to the left

0:55:48 > 0:55:52of the black after potting this red and the next black that would

0:55:52 > 0:55:56certainly open this frame up completely. And that's what he's

0:55:56 > 0:56:00going to try and target here and try and get on the black. A nice angle

0:56:00 > 0:56:05on the black. Just a little bit off straight. And when he nots black,

0:56:05 > 0:56:09try and get on that red. Just to the left of the black. That will in turn

0:56:09 > 0:56:15open the two reds just above it.

0:56:17 > 0:56:20open the two reds just above it. And that will give him the frame-winning

0:56:20 > 0:56:30chance now.

0:56:33 > 0:56:39Oh, he has missed it. Wow.

0:56:43 > 0:56:51It has to be said, he missed it by a long way. It begs the question when

0:56:51 > 0:56:59somebody misses when they're in amongst the balls, what has he left?

0:57:01 > 0:57:08The way Ryan is looking, not a lot.

0:57:13 > 0:57:18Well, he was very fortunate there, Ding Junhui, but this looks like a

0:57:18 > 0:57:21good shot. This looks like a good shot.

0:57:21 > 0:57:24APPLAUSE Has he got the snooker?

0:57:24 > 0:57:32Just about.

0:57:46 > 0:57:55APPLAUSE

0:57:55 > 0:57:59Of course, that's another thing that can happen at this game. Every time

0:57:59 > 0:58:05Ryan misses he leaves Ding a chance to get in and make a break. Ding

0:58:05 > 0:58:09Junhui misses and left nothing. That's the way it goes, isn't it,

0:58:09 > 0:58:16sometimes?Yes, roll of the ball. But he can't complain about the

0:58:16 > 0:58:26chances that he has had, Ryan Day. He just hasn't made enough of them.

0:58:26 > 0:58:33And this is a good line. This is very, very good, indeed.

0:58:33 > 0:58:39APPLAUSE Oh.

0:58:39 > 0:58:42Oh. He has definitely blocked the path down the right-hand side of the

0:58:42 > 0:58:47table.

0:59:02 > 0:59:08That's an option. He can just try and drop on the two reds that are

0:59:08 > 0:59:12close to the left-hand corner pocket. He has taken a bit more of

0:59:12 > 0:59:18an expansive route here. He doesn't want to leave a free ball. He

0:59:18 > 0:59:26doesn't want to leave a free ball here. Just short. I'm not sure why

0:59:26 > 0:59:31you doesn't come off the left-hand side cushion and just nestle into

0:59:31 > 0:59:39those two reds on the top cushion. Seems a pretty straightforward shot

0:59:39 > 0:59:47and big target as well.I can't give you a reason why not.

0:59:47 > 0:59:53The shot he's playing, you have got to hit it perfect. If he catches the

0:59:53 > 0:59:56reds too thick, he will possibly leave the frame on.

0:59:56 > 1:00:01As you say, that line just come off, just past the middle pocket and

1:00:01 > 1:00:14nestle on to the two reds near the cushion. A strange choice.

1:00:17 > 1:00:22Talking about the fact that he can hit this red to the left of the

1:00:22 > 1:00:30pink. To me he could always hear that. Might need a bit of side.

1:00:31 > 1:00:34that. Might need a bit of side.-- always hit that. He has not even

1:00:34 > 1:00:43looked at that. From this angle that is just a straightforward shot. Past

1:00:43 > 1:00:50the middle pocket.

1:00:50 > 1:00:52the middle pocket.If he catches it to think it could cost him the

1:00:52 > 1:01:04frame. -- too thick.Could be a free ball this time. The kiss on the

1:01:04 > 1:01:13green would have been a free ball. He has got to put it back again.

1:01:17 > 1:01:28Just place it on the spot.Maybe just feels that that shot, the two

1:01:28 > 1:01:35reds, the percussion is sliding ant it will miss the two reds. -- the

1:01:35 > 1:01:41percussion.

1:01:49 > 1:02:02This is where it was and this is where it is now. Looks perfect.

1:02:39 > 1:02:54Try number three. He got it this time.

1:02:56 > 1:03:06I'm sure he heard the referee saying

1:03:06 > 1:03:16to him I'm not boring you.I am not warning you!I thought he said

1:03:16 > 1:03:26boring you!

1:03:32 > 1:03:38Some of them have been annoying me over the years! When the misrule

1:03:38 > 1:03:53came in it changed the goalposts. The black ball going in. Is this a

1:03:53 > 1:04:02free ball? Probably not. He will have a look.

1:04:02 > 1:04:08have a look. You cannot be snookered by another red.

1:04:09 > 1:04:17by another red. If it is covered by another red, but the referee has not

1:04:17 > 1:04:27called it. So we assume it is not. Ryan of course has the option to

1:04:27 > 1:04:39make his opponent play from work the ball 's life.

1:04:39 > 1:04:44-- balls lie.

1:04:44 > 1:04:56Ryan Day has got to get a foothold in this match.

1:05:15 > 1:05:27That is not good enough. He has left a pot on.

1:05:27 > 1:05:33a pot on. He is bound to be on the yellow if he gets near the baulk

1:05:33 > 1:05:40line. Playing at the left corner as we look. Just has to get past the

1:05:40 > 1:05:53green. You do not want to nudge that green. He's OK, he's on yellow.

1:05:53 > 1:06:09He looks to have a nice angle on it. It needs to slow up. It looked like

1:06:09 > 1:06:23it was going to run out but its load up to much. -- it slowed up to much.

1:06:34 > 1:06:48He could play a little cannon on the red perhaps.

1:06:48 > 1:07:01He played it very well. A lovely shot. Nicely played.

1:07:18 > 1:07:26Average shot time for Ding Junhui just 19 seconds, pretty quick. This

1:07:26 > 1:07:36is a big target, he does not have to take it, he has a 46 point lead. He

1:07:36 > 1:07:54has played it very well. Could be a frame-winner. Such a lovely touch.

1:08:24 > 1:08:24APPLAUSE

1:08:24 > 1:08:34APPLAUSE.

1:09:02 > 1:09:08Ryan Day at the moment desperately looking for a frame. And no sign of

1:09:08 > 1:09:17it just yet. Ding Junhui leading by three frames to nil.

1:09:17 > 1:09:20A fantastic start by Ding Junhui and exactly the same start he had in

1:09:20 > 1:09:27that match against Kyren Wilson.It is a good start but Ryan Day has

1:09:27 > 1:09:32been so sloppy in this match. He has not made his opponent work hard for

1:09:32 > 1:09:37anything. Occasionally he has one of these matches where he does not seem

1:09:37 > 1:09:41to be focused or concentrating enough. Because everything has been

1:09:41 > 1:09:46self-inflicted today.I have been watching Ryan Day through that

1:09:46 > 1:09:50studio screen, a lot of grimacing and his body language Ruby Paul.You

1:09:50 > 1:09:55can read too much into things like that, it could be just on the day.

1:09:55 > 1:10:09It is a big occasion and one-table set-up it sorts people out. But if

1:10:09 > 1:10:12you do not get off to a good start you never settle. We've all been

1:10:12 > 1:10:14there, just a horrible situation. Your arms do not feel like your

1:10:14 > 1:10:17arms. The moment you make a decent break then you will settle. But

1:10:17 > 1:10:19getting to that chance against a good player like Ding Junhui gets

1:10:19 > 1:10:23harder and harder.Especially with the mid-session interval coming up.

1:10:23 > 1:10:27But if you're down it is hard to come back.He has got to start

1:10:27 > 1:10:33playing in this frame. He will be glad of the interval. It has just

1:10:33 > 1:10:38been, I know Ding Junhui has had a bit of a run as well, it seems every

1:10:38 > 1:10:48time Ryan Day comes back but he has been driving without due care and

1:10:48 > 1:10:51attention.We could be in danger of not giving Ding Junhui enough

1:10:51 > 1:10:55credit. Taking advantage of your opponent not playing well.Obviously

1:10:55 > 1:11:00but Ding Junhui is a tried and tested winner and a good front

1:11:00 > 1:11:05runner and from that perspective it gets harder for Ryan Day. Coming to

1:11:05 > 1:11:10this match obviously Ding Junhui is a favourite I'm sure even though he

1:11:10 > 1:11:15did not have the competitive momentum. And Ryan Day did well in

1:11:15 > 1:11:18the season but still you have to prove yourself in every event in the

1:11:18 > 1:11:24first round.Sometimes in these matches you can be trying as hard as

1:11:24 > 1:11:30you can and no matter how hard you try, every chance you get, you graft

1:11:30 > 1:11:34to get that but for Ding Junhui his chances have come easily today.And

1:11:34 > 1:11:44he looks relaxed as well.

1:11:45 > 1:11:56This is a must win frame. And I agree, he has not put Ding Junhui

1:11:56 > 1:12:00under any pressure whatsoever. A poor safety shot in that last frame

1:12:00 > 1:12:09when he had a good target to put Ding Junhui in trouble. And not as

1:12:09 > 1:12:24if Ding Junhui has been potting them off the lampshades.

1:12:24 > 1:12:27off the lampshades. When you consider his game is built around

1:12:27 > 1:12:34his potting but once again, poor safety. It is never going to be a

1:12:34 > 1:12:44good safety when you leave the cue ball on the baulk line. Safety

1:12:44 > 1:12:51success, 83% is always good for Ding Junhui. I think he should be up in

1:12:51 > 1:13:01the 90s on the safety.

1:13:01 > 1:13:08the 90s on the safety. This looks like a better length.

1:13:09 > 1:13:15like a better length.It is a must win frame for Ryan Day. To turn this

1:13:15 > 1:13:21match around.

1:13:21 > 1:13:27match around. It would be a difficult mountain to climb. What

1:13:27 > 1:13:39has he left this time? Nothing. It is a bit frustrating for Ryan Day.

1:13:39 > 1:13:45He has missed a few, Ding Junhui, he has not left a nice, easy

1:13:45 > 1:13:55opportunity for Ryan Day. To get a bit of confidence.That is a decent

1:13:55 > 1:14:02safety. Ding Junhui will have to be wary for the red on the right-hand

1:14:02 > 1:14:07side and avoid that to try to get the cue ball done the right-hand

1:14:07 > 1:14:17side.

1:14:38 > 1:14:50Just safety. -- just a containing safety.

1:15:05 > 1:15:13A little bit thin on that. Once again nothing easy left. And he

1:15:13 > 1:15:18knows it.

1:15:33 > 1:15:37If it misses the green this would be a very good safety. And it has. Good

1:15:37 > 1:15:44shot. Can he get the first chance in this frame that is what he is

1:15:44 > 1:15:49looking for.

1:16:15 > 1:16:25Much too thick. Ryan Day absolutely nothing to show for that hour of

1:16:25 > 1:16:33concentration.

1:16:33 > 1:16:42concentration. 290 days 18. The balls potted not much better. 73

1:16:42 > 1:16:52against five.

1:16:53 > 1:16:59If he can win the frame, Ryan Day, and go into the mid-session interval

1:16:59 > 1:17:04just two behind having not really played, he will go into the interval

1:17:04 > 1:17:11with a little bit of hope. And this looks to be a good line. If it

1:17:11 > 1:17:24bounces it could finish behind the green. A good shot.

1:17:52 > 1:18:02He would be hoping to try to nestle into the pack. Played pretty well.

1:18:02 > 1:18:09Unlucky for Ryan Day again, it makes the shop more difficult. A wry smile

1:18:09 > 1:18:13from him, you would expect it to be touching, it would make it so much

1:18:13 > 1:18:25easier for him if it was.Maybe the possibility of a planet.

1:18:25 > 1:18:31possibility of a planet. -- planet. He does not have to do much with the

1:18:31 > 1:18:39cue ball, he's bound to be on the black. There is a line between

1:18:39 > 1:18:57defence and attack, but I think I would be tempted by the plant.

1:18:57 > 1:19:04If the roles were reversed here, and Ryan Day was ahead by three he might

1:19:04 > 1:19:17go for this. But having a second look.

1:19:17 > 1:19:22look.There is enough distance between the two balls that it could

1:19:22 > 1:19:38be made. He is not going to play it. I think I would have been tempted.

1:20:33 > 1:20:45Not the best. He needed to get the cue ball back to the top cushion and

1:20:45 > 1:20:52has not done it. Possibly play a little cannon and nudge the black

1:20:52 > 1:21:09on. Not far away. But not there.

1:21:21 > 1:21:26The red on the right-hand side of the table, he is looking to see if

1:21:26 > 1:21:36he could play that to the far right corner.

1:21:36 > 1:21:44corner. He played to the middle and he got it. What is he on, does the

1:21:44 > 1:21:51green go to the left middle? Yes. He has got the first chance. He needs

1:21:51 > 1:22:01to take it. APPLAUSE

1:22:01 > 1:22:06to take it. APPLAUSE.

1:22:07 > 1:22:18That was a more confident stroke.

1:22:37 > 1:22:49A lot of smiling and headshaking. It should not be a problem on this

1:22:49 > 1:22:54green.

1:23:03 > 1:23:09The game can test you sometimes, test your patience and everything

1:23:09 > 1:23:18else. You just have to play the balls as they come.

1:23:20 > 1:23:24balls as they come. Nearly went badly wrong. I would not say this

1:23:24 > 1:23:32perfect. But if he can cue past the pink for the yellow or the green,

1:23:32 > 1:23:40brown would be an option. It is not too bad.

1:23:50 > 1:23:51APPLAUSE

1:23:51 > 1:23:58APPLAUSE. Amazingly enough that is his highest

1:23:58 > 1:24:04break in the match so far.

1:24:18 > 1:24:27In an ideal world that read closest to the red middle, he would like to

1:24:27 > 1:24:35leave it in case of emergency. Then if you get in trouble, you always

1:24:35 > 1:24:43have that as an insurance.He could play for the blue, try to get a nice

1:24:43 > 1:24:53angle on the blue. Then he could go into the pack knowing he has that

1:24:53 > 1:25:02read over the middle as insurance. He only needs to bring out two more

1:25:02 > 1:25:07reds from this bunch. Does not have to hit it with a tremendous amount

1:25:07 > 1:25:17of pace. That will do. Could've been bit better. But still nicely on this

1:25:17 > 1:25:22red.

1:25:23 > 1:25:27red. Want it to go into the middle of the pack are opposed to the side.

1:25:27 > 1:25:34He only knocked one out. Playing a bit of a cannon on that bunch of

1:25:34 > 1:25:46reds after. After this blue.

1:25:47 > 1:25:50reds after. After this blue. Did not get the ideal angle on the blue. He

1:25:50 > 1:26:01will have to do it from the black. A good shot.

1:26:01 > 1:26:13good shot. Just one good cannon to try to open up a few of the reds and

1:26:13 > 1:26:25that might give him the chance that he needs to win this frame.

1:26:28 > 1:26:28APPLAUSE

1:26:28 > 1:26:35APPLAUSE. He could not have played that any better. That was an

1:26:35 > 1:26:46excellent cannon. Played to perfection.

1:26:49 > 1:26:56Did not get through the second read as much as he liked. Still looking

1:26:56 > 1:27:10for another 24 points at this visit. Decided to go into them. It is OK,

1:27:10 > 1:27:17worked out absolutely inch perfect. Could not have played that any

1:27:17 > 1:27:27better.

1:27:36 > 1:27:42This is a lot better for Ryan Day. He will enjoy his cup of tea at the

1:27:42 > 1:27:50interval if he takes this frame. It will give him that little bit of

1:27:50 > 1:28:07hope. He has been a little bit at sea in the first few frames.

1:28:07 > 1:28:19Just this red now. Put him 63 head with just 59 remaining. He has

1:28:19 > 1:28:29missed it!

1:28:30 > 1:28:45I would say his heart skipped a beat.It looks to be wide.

1:28:45 > 1:28:49beat.It looks to be wide. And I think he will go in the interval now

1:28:49 > 1:28:52thinking that he's still in this match. He has done nothing in the

1:28:52 > 1:29:00first three frames. Played some good safety.

1:29:00 > 1:29:02safety. And got the first opportunity. And he has made the

1:29:02 > 1:29:12most of it. And Ding Junhui was leading by three frames and apart

1:29:12 > 1:29:16from that first frame with that great break, he has made a few

1:29:16 > 1:29:22mistakes since then. Ding Junhui concedes. They each go into the

1:29:22 > 1:29:31interval with a two frame advantage. Ding Junhui leading three frames to

1:29:31 > 1:29:34one. And maybe Ryan Day will now enjoy that cup of tea.That is

1:29:34 > 1:29:40exactly what he needed to do. He had that professional pride, he was not

1:29:40 > 1:29:44playing especially well but it has kicked in. I think is a wonderful

1:29:44 > 1:29:51striker the ball but he needed to be into the match and it has taken

1:29:51 > 1:29:56three frames for him to concentrate properly.Still a mountain to climb.

1:29:56 > 1:30:00He had a bit of an awkward start to the match. Did not get good position

1:30:00 > 1:30:04and that does not help. That is the first time he has got his hand on

1:30:04 > 1:30:07the table. He made what looked like a difficult first opening part of

1:30:07 > 1:30:12the break look quite easy. Got his arm going and now you can see that

1:30:12 > 1:30:21he is a class animal.And looking at the stats as

1:30:22 > 1:30:24the stats as well, pot success, 91, 90 3% yesterday.Today down to 83.

1:30:24 > 1:30:29That can happen in various matches. It will not always be up in the 90s.

1:30:29 > 1:30:35Just one of those things that can happen. But for Ryan Day, such a

1:30:35 > 1:30:39relief for him just to be two behind.

1:30:45 > 1:30:48Without trying to belittle anything because the players have been great.

1:30:48 > 1:30:53Ken a couple of times has the ball gone in when it has hit a cushion,

1:30:53 > 1:30:56sometimes you see a ball and it looks like it's hitting the jaw and

1:30:56 > 1:30:59then it seems to fall in and you think it should have wobbled and

1:30:59 > 1:31:03stayed out. If you are standing player side, you can see where the

1:31:03 > 1:31:08fall of the slate is, therefore you hit a jaw you know it will drop in.

1:31:08 > 1:31:12It appears on the brand-new cloth that the pockets are easier,

1:31:12 > 1:31:20especially the corners. The general consensus of play from players

1:31:20 > 1:31:27playing on them, are saying that the corners are playing quite generous,

1:31:27 > 1:31:30and the middles are tight, and they could do with being tightened up a

1:31:30 > 1:31:38bit.We have had 2-1 from Ryan and one from Ding in the previous frame.

1:31:38 > 1:31:44Where they have wobbled and gone in. If you kept the cloth on and played

1:31:44 > 1:31:47in a week's time, they wouldn't be dropping in then.If the game

1:31:47 > 1:31:53appears to become too easy from the punters point of view, you tighten

1:31:53 > 1:32:00the pockets up.Well, the punters are enjoying this one. Back with the

1:32:00 > 1:32:05live action shortly. It is a busy snooker year with lots of

1:32:05 > 1:32:14tournaments. Let's bring you up-to-date with the season so far.

1:32:57 > 1:33:11MUSIC: Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours by Stevie Wonder.

1:34:00 > 1:34:12Whilst we appreciate the endeavours of those snooker players, Stevie

1:34:12 > 1:34:18Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered kept us entertained.It is a great

1:34:18 > 1:34:24song. You have got fantastic opportunities.The other thing as

1:34:24 > 1:34:30well that the fans around the world, especially in China are loving the

1:34:30 > 1:34:34fact that the best players are going there?Now we have got a full

1:34:34 > 1:34:39calendar, it is 11 months of the year and there is cue school in the

1:34:39 > 1:34:42cut off part. It is desirable to have a tournament in your country,

1:34:42 > 1:34:47you have got to get in the cue, excuse the pun! You're going to be

1:34:47 > 1:34:51waiting for something to open up and then also the next phase of that is,

1:34:51 > 1:34:55if you want an event in your country, or you want to put an evint

1:34:55 > 1:35:01on, you have got to bid for it and put more prize money on and you are

1:35:01 > 1:35:03seeing the prize money slowly going up.

1:35:03 > 1:35:09Is it too much for the players? Too many tournaments?No. If the prize

1:35:09 > 1:35:13money goes up enough, all of a sudden the players are in a

1:35:13 > 1:35:16situation that's similar to golf or tennis and they can pick and choose

1:35:16 > 1:35:20and the next phase of that, the most ideal position would be two

1:35:20 > 1:35:23tournaments running concurrently in different countries, with top

1:35:23 > 1:35:27players choosing which ones they go to and then you are in a far

1:35:27 > 1:35:30healthier position.But there have been stories, haven't there, about

1:35:30 > 1:35:33the players who have been saying, John, they are worried about

1:35:33 > 1:35:37burn-out and would you say to them, grasp the opportunity to play

1:35:37 > 1:35:41snooker and win money and win tournaments and win trophies or is

1:35:41 > 1:35:44there a slight danger that given the travelling time as well there is the

1:35:44 > 1:35:47danger of burn-out?I think it is going to come down to individuals,

1:35:47 > 1:35:55isn't it? I think if you're prepared, I mean Shaun Murphy plays

1:35:55 > 1:35:58in everything and others may not want to do that. You can pick and

1:35:58 > 1:36:04choose your tournaments, you don't have to play in every one of them,

1:36:04 > 1:36:07but the opportunity is the big thing. It is as an individual what

1:36:07 > 1:36:12suits you.One man is missing from the Masters is Neil Robertson

1:36:12 > 1:36:17because he dropped out of the top 16. But he is doing media work and

1:36:17 > 1:36:22he has been speaking to Stephen Hendry. So you are probably the best

1:36:22 > 1:36:25player in this tournament that's been a top player and not played in

1:36:25 > 1:36:31this event. How does it feel? Currently in the top 16.This is

1:36:31 > 1:36:38like a major event. It feels strange to me?Yeah, I think, it has been

1:36:38 > 1:36:42the last couple of years, especially last season is the reason why I'm in

1:36:42 > 1:36:46this position now, you know, sort of some issues away from the table

1:36:46 > 1:36:50which I have not been able to prevent from happening. But yeah,

1:36:50 > 1:36:54everything is all good now. Fantastic win in Scotland and yeah,

1:36:54 > 1:36:58my game has never been in better shape really and I'm practising

1:36:58 > 1:37:02really well, so, yeah, I just thought I'd have a week in the

1:37:02 > 1:37:07studio and yeah, you know, enjoy it from an outsider's prospective.I

1:37:07 > 1:37:13watched you in the UK, you played really well, but you lost. You won

1:37:13 > 1:37:17in Scotland and that was your first ranking event for a while so it must

1:37:17 > 1:37:20have been a weight off your shoulders?Yeah, it was. I had been

1:37:20 > 1:37:25playing that well in tournaments probably about four weeks before the

1:37:25 > 1:37:29UK as well.You are practising and practising and when you're working

1:37:29 > 1:37:36hard it is great to get the benefits? That was the most

1:37:36 > 1:37:42rewarding thing from Scotland, finally paying dividends. Winning

1:37:42 > 1:37:45the Hong Kong Masters and the Scottish tournament and it is a

1:37:45 > 1:37:49great season tournament wise, I just need it start picking up a few few

1:37:49 > 1:37:54more rankings points.Have you got any targets you want to achieve by

1:37:54 > 1:38:00the season?I definitely want to push on with that momentum now.Move

1:38:00 > 1:38:04up the rankings?Get back up the rankings. It is never nice when you

1:38:04 > 1:38:08are around that 16 mark. I never thought it would be a position I'd

1:38:08 > 1:38:13find myself in not for many years anyway.For the UK Championship they

1:38:13 > 1:38:16had the posters and the billboards and the people in it, and you

1:38:16 > 1:38:20weren't in the poster. That would annoy me, you are one of the best

1:38:20 > 1:38:23players of the world and you are not considered?It is just one of those,

1:38:23 > 1:38:30I guess, it happened so quickly.The draws have gone up?When you win a

1:38:30 > 1:38:33big tournament like the UK Championship and if you don't defend

1:38:33 > 1:38:37the points then, you know, when that point in the season comes when

1:38:37 > 1:38:40you've got the winners points coming off, you can drop down a lot and we

1:38:40 > 1:38:44saw Ding Junhui a couple of years ago also fell out of the top 16 and

1:38:44 > 1:38:47had to qualify for the World Championships and ended up getting

1:38:47 > 1:38:52to the final. We will probably start to see that in a game a fair bit now

1:38:52 > 1:38:56with some players especially with some players who have great seasons

1:38:56 > 1:38:58where they win big tournaments having to defend them in two years'

1:38:58 > 1:39:03time.I was thinking back over the season you made 100 centuries. You

1:39:03 > 1:39:07have not reached that again. Do you still value making the big breaks

1:39:07 > 1:39:10and the centuries?Funnily enough that was the last season where you

1:39:10 > 1:39:15felt I could really give everything. Did that take over a little bit, the

1:39:15 > 1:39:18100 centuries. It felt in the World Championship you made it, that's

1:39:18 > 1:39:22what you wanted to do more?The most annoying thing was the following

1:39:22 > 1:39:25season I made a century and everyone is on Twitter saying do you think

1:39:25 > 1:39:29you are going to do it again? I started missing on 80 just to get

1:39:29 > 1:39:33people off my back about it! The pressure when I was in the 90s was

1:39:33 > 1:39:37just awful. You know, I got friends calling me and my dad is like if you

1:39:37 > 1:39:40are average this amount of centuries, per frame, are' going to

1:39:40 > 1:39:45end up getting it. When I did t it was a relief and then I think I've

1:39:45 > 1:39:49got a chance of doing it again. Maybe not this season, but I think

1:39:49 > 1:39:53you know in the next couple of seasons I think I can give it a good

1:39:53 > 1:39:59crack.I think you should have won the World Championship. When you

1:39:59 > 1:40:02were world champion, the way you were dominating games and dominating

1:40:02 > 1:40:06opponents. There is not many players out there that have got that

1:40:06 > 1:40:09arrogance going around a table. I appreciate. Because you have to have

1:40:09 > 1:40:14it. But obviously you've said you have had off table problems, but you

1:40:14 > 1:40:19have kind of lost that over the past four or five years?I got it back in

1:40:19 > 1:40:26spurts here and there. I had a really good spell when I won the

1:40:26 > 1:40:30champions UK, my goal is to maintain that throughout every season. I have

1:40:30 > 1:40:33got to be aggressive on the go. The most pleasing thing about Scotland

1:40:33 > 1:40:38was that I have got my long game back. If my hand is on the table,

1:40:38 > 1:40:41I'm going for the red no matter where it is and I've noticed in

1:40:41 > 1:40:47Scotland, it was scaring the life out of people because it puts

1:40:47 > 1:40:51pressure on their safety. So, you know, for this season practising

1:40:51 > 1:40:57more about two months straight leading into the UK, I was

1:40:57 > 1:41:02practising 200, 300 long balls per day. Now I am at the point where if

1:41:02 > 1:41:06my hand is on the table, the red is going on.When I was playing it

1:41:06 > 1:41:10could be a crazy long shot, but it puts the unknown into your opponent

1:41:10 > 1:41:16because I thinks I have got to get it because he is going to go for

1:41:16 > 1:41:20anything.I watched many YouTube videos of your matches and seen some

1:41:20 > 1:41:23of them that you take this unbelievable red and it wouldn't

1:41:23 > 1:41:29necessarily go in, but your opponent would come to the table and think,

1:41:29 > 1:41:34"I can't believe he has gone for that."It is good to have your

1:41:34 > 1:41:38opponent on the back foot. You are working at it, which is going to be

1:41:38 > 1:41:41strange for you. What's it like looking out at it when you're used

1:41:41 > 1:41:46to playing in it?I think it's probably, you make a lot less

1:41:46 > 1:41:51mistakes in the studio. Sort of like watching. Maybe you can forget how

1:41:51 > 1:41:56hard it is out there. What I will be is honest. Much like you are. I

1:41:56 > 1:42:01think that's...You say what you say.Will you fit in any practise

1:42:01 > 1:42:06this week?I will be practising while I'm here working. I thought

1:42:06 > 1:42:12I'd have a bit of time in between the matches today, so it went to a

1:42:12 > 1:42:16decider, so that's gone away. I will be hitting balls that's for sure. It

1:42:16 > 1:42:21is great to speak to you. All the best for the rest of the season.

1:42:21 > 1:42:25STUDIO: I saw Neil and it was strange shaking his hand and saying,

1:42:25 > 1:42:31"How are you?" When he is dressed for a TV studio and not dressed to

1:42:31 > 1:42:36play.He is one of the greatest players. He is a sensational player.

1:42:36 > 1:42:39I have seen Ronnie dominate opponents and play like, but when

1:42:39 > 1:42:43Neil Robertson is in that mode where he is knocking everything in, he is

1:42:43 > 1:42:47in a similar elk to Ronnie O'Sullivan for him not to be in, it

1:42:47 > 1:42:53is a head scratcher really. It is all linked to prize money and

1:42:53 > 1:42:55if you don't get to the final stages of events where the bigger prize

1:42:55 > 1:42:59money is you can drop down enough and as mentioned if you have to

1:42:59 > 1:43:02defend prize money points and they go off and you can drop down a lot,

1:43:02 > 1:43:06but it is an interesting thing talking about the way that he is

1:43:06 > 1:43:10deciding to play. Hand on the table, go for the shot, try and scare your

1:43:10 > 1:43:14opponent. I think it generally is the way that snooker is going.

1:43:14 > 1:43:19Everybody is realising you can't win by defending anymore. Tactics are

1:43:19 > 1:43:23important. That's in line with golf. You have got to go for the pin more

1:43:23 > 1:43:27often. You can't play conservative and just par a golf course anymore.

1:43:27 > 1:43:30The same for snooker players, you have got to try and kill before

1:43:30 > 1:43:34you're killed on the table. But in doing that and playing a more open

1:43:34 > 1:43:37game, you are going to fall on your face a bit as well because the other

1:43:37 > 1:43:41guy will mop up the tears.As we have discussed it is about the

1:43:41 > 1:43:45amount of tournaments that there are on the circuit as well and there are

1:43:45 > 1:43:51some very good players around. Let's talk about some good players. Judd

1:43:51 > 1:43:58Trump tonight.The Judd is 5-2 on to win the match. He is not that in my

1:43:58 > 1:44:02book. They have played plenty of times. They were regular practise

1:44:02 > 1:44:07partners together.

1:44:07 > 1:44:16partners together. He could be in for a tough night tonight.

1:44:16 > 1:44:19for a tough night tonight.You never know what type of Judd Trump turns

1:44:19 > 1:44:26up at the table. This was Ronnie out of the

1:44:26 > 1:44:34tournament.He knew. He knew.Judd Trump has got more form in the

1:44:34 > 1:44:42bigger events, but it

1:44:42 > 1:44:44bigger events, but it is a dangerous opponent. Expect a tough match

1:44:44 > 1:44:50today. Ronnie went on to win the

1:44:50 > 1:44:57tournament. You can watch that this evening on the red Button.

1:44:57 > 1:45:03We round up the day's action at 11.15pm on BBC Two.

1:45:03 > 1:45:05We're back live with Ding Junhui taking on Ryan Day. If you have

1:45:05 > 1:45:11missed any of it, this is for you!

1:45:11 > 1:45:18Ding was smiling as he walked out into the arena and in the mood

1:45:18 > 1:45:23today, rattling in 111 in the opening frame. A break of 58 despite

1:45:23 > 1:45:31that little wobble, Ryan Day unable to get a look in. And this pretty

1:45:31 > 1:45:34much sums up Ryan's day. Making mistakes. Ding taking full

1:45:34 > 1:45:39advantage.

1:45:50 > 1:45:54In frame 4 and another slice of luck. Another wobble. Ryan Day wins

1:45:54 > 1:45:59a frame. It is Ding Junhui who leads the Welshman by 3-1. OK, here come

1:45:59 > 1:46:12the players. The fans are back in their seats. Back to John and Ken.

1:46:12 > 1:46:16COMMENTATOR: Yes, now we're going to play to the finish. No more

1:46:16 > 1:46:27intervals. A few late comers just coming back into the arena.

1:46:31 > 1:46:42And Ding Junhui gets the fifth frame under way.

1:46:42 > 1:46:45under way. Just coming up to one hour and 14 minutes. Apart from the

1:46:45 > 1:46:54third frame which took over 22 minutes it has been pretty quick.

1:46:55 > 1:46:58Average shot time 19 for Ding. That's about normal. 26 seconds for

1:46:58 > 1:47:06Ryan. That's a bit on the slow side, but he's not had much to go at.

1:47:06 > 1:47:13Until the last frame before the interval.

1:47:28 > 1:47:33If he's going to go back to the baulk, he needs to find the baulk

1:47:33 > 1:47:42cushion here with this cue ball. That's not too bad.

1:47:42 > 1:47:45Now, of course, he gives Ding Junhui the problem that it puts a little

1:47:45 > 1:47:49bit of pressure on this safety with that red being in the middle of the

1:47:49 > 1:47:59table next to the blue.

1:48:03 > 1:48:11Well, there is a pot on here.

1:48:18 > 1:48:22And he doesn't have to do much with the cue ball to get on a nice

1:48:22 > 1:48:29position on the blue. He has got to fully commit to this.

1:48:29 > 1:48:36And fully commit he did and he played it well. A good shot.

1:48:36 > 1:48:44A great shot. Yes, the red above the black is his

1:48:44 > 1:48:57choice here. Into the corner pocket so he may

1:48:57 > 1:49:12elect to take this one first. Oh. Oh Ryan, what did you do?

1:49:13 > 1:49:19Well, just trying to pinch a bit it looked. But you cannot afford to

1:49:19 > 1:49:24miss when you're in and after a good opening red, what an opportunity he

1:49:24 > 1:49:30let go begging there.

1:49:30 > 1:49:32let go begging there.It wasn't his initial choice from the blue. He was

1:49:32 > 1:49:37trying to get on that red just above the black and he may have been

1:49:37 > 1:49:41better taking that one instead. He still shouldn't have missed a dead

1:49:41 > 1:49:52straight, but that's gone wrong from Ding.

1:50:09 > 1:50:15So a let off for Ryan Day. He didn't expect to be coming back

1:50:15 > 1:50:26to the table so soon.

1:50:36 > 1:50:41Yes, I think it is noticeable since the first frame and maybe half-way

1:50:41 > 1:50:44through the second frame, Ding Junhui has sort of dropped his

1:50:44 > 1:50:53standards somewhat. He has not been flawless by any

1:50:53 > 1:50:58means and his pot success was up in the 90s and it is now below 90 which

1:50:58 > 1:51:05is not great at this level.

1:51:05 > 1:51:12And long pot success, very low.

1:51:28 > 1:51:34This red has somehow gone over the corner. It's not going to be easy

1:51:34 > 1:51:39because it has gone to the other side cushion.

1:51:39 > 1:51:46And he's not even looking at it.

1:51:46 > 1:51:49And he's not even looking at it. He will be trying to find the target

1:51:49 > 1:51:57behind the yellow here. It's not gone behind the yellow. Has

1:51:57 > 1:52:03the brown covered it? No. So there is a chance here for Ryan.

1:52:03 > 1:52:09He doesn't want to overhit this. He has got enough cue power to screw

1:52:09 > 1:52:13this back a couple of inches and played it well and now he is on the

1:52:13 > 1:52:18black. APPLAUSE

1:52:18 > 1:52:26So another chance. Yes, nicely controlled. He doesn't

1:52:26 > 1:52:33have to go into the pack of reds here.

1:52:33 > 1:52:39here. He played that nicely.

1:52:39 > 1:52:47Just like in the last frame, he got an opportunity. He made a nice 79

1:52:47 > 1:52:57break. He would love to win the frame from this position here.

1:52:58 > 1:53:01frame from this position here. He may have detect add slight heavy

1:53:01 > 1:53:07contact on the cue ball and because of that, a bit straighter on this

1:53:07 > 1:53:10black than he would have liked and let's see if the red jumps. Very

1:53:10 > 1:53:17slightly.

1:53:40 > 1:53:48Just about stopped in time. I think this red is on to the right corner.

1:53:48 > 1:53:55Well, he's playing another one. You would have thought he would be up

1:53:55 > 1:53:58for the blue, you would have thought. I thought maybe the one

1:53:58 > 1:54:01that was in direct line to the cue ball to this right corner, but maybe

1:54:01 > 1:54:07that doesn't go.

1:54:13 > 1:54:17Just about got there, but with the red just to the right of the pink,

1:54:17 > 1:54:25he only has to roll the blue in for position.

1:54:29 > 1:54:34And he will have to go back up for the blue. Again, I'm not certain he

1:54:34 > 1:54:42has got the potting angle on this blue to play for the black.

1:54:53 > 1:54:57Now, there is a couple of loose reds. He has got a nice angle on the

1:54:57 > 1:55:01blue should he want to play a little cannon.

1:55:01 > 1:55:07I think he has got to be aggressive here, John and try and go into the

1:55:07 > 1:55:15pack of reds. Take his chance.It worked out

1:55:15 > 1:55:20better.

1:55:39 > 1:55:43And saoz an as he played that, he looked at where he finish on the

1:55:43 > 1:55:46black and there was a wry smile. No way should he have been straight on

1:55:46 > 1:56:00this black of the that's careless. -- of the black. That's careless.

1:56:00 > 1:56:06He is in a little bit of bother now. Anything but straight on the black

1:56:06 > 1:56:13and it was a formality to get on the next red.And that's the difference

1:56:13 > 1:56:18between the two players when they're break-building. Ding's cue ball is

1:56:18 > 1:56:23so much more of it on a string. Never any more than 18 inches away

1:56:23 > 1:56:32from his next pot. Ryan is struggling with the pace here.

1:56:32 > 1:56:42struggling with the pace here.At the needs to be careful here.

1:56:42 > 1:56:47He can't do much with the cue ball. He can't play the run through. A

1:56:47 > 1:56:54little bit of pressure on this blue now.

1:56:54 > 1:56:58Just tucking in the waistcoat because that red near this right

1:56:58 > 1:57:08corner could come into play.

1:57:10 > 1:57:25A good shot. A good shot. Now Couldn't have played that by near.

1:57:33 > 1:57:38-- couldn't have played that any better. A quick check of the scores,

1:57:38 > 1:57:4741 points ahead. And potting this red on the left-hand side of the

1:57:47 > 1:57:51three reds and it will open up the other two reds into the opposite

1:57:51 > 1:57:56corner pocket.

1:58:15 > 1:58:19Well, I suggest Ken this match has completely turned around on its

1:58:19 > 1:58:24head. When he was 3-0 down and struggling, Ryan and his safety play

1:58:24 > 1:58:28wasn't good, but as the guys in the studio said, it doesn't take much.

1:58:28 > 1:58:34Just get in with one frame in one visit and get your confidence and

1:58:34 > 1:58:41Ding Junhui who got a good chance in this frame ran out of position. And

1:58:41 > 1:58:46he won't be getting another one. APPLAUSE

1:58:46 > 1:58:51No, well Ryan is gaining a bit of confidence and Ding will be looking

1:58:51 > 1:59:03over his shoulder. A few doubts in his mind.

1:59:50 > 1:59:57A century in the first frame from Ding Junhui. A possibility now for

1:59:57 > 2:00:05Ryan Day to respond with a century of his own.

2:00:27 > 2:00:44The yellow for the century. Well played!

2:00:56 > 2:01:06We have a match on now. We certainly do.

2:01:08 > 2:01:15This looks good. Lovely.

2:01:23 > 2:01:31He was 3- nil down. Now a deficit of just one frame. And that was

2:01:31 > 2:01:44magnificent. 125 break. What a fine break from Ryan Day.

2:01:44 > 2:01:49That takes his career centuries to 312. This is the tournament 's

2:01:49 > 2:01:56entries so far, we've had five. 26 last year. That is the record, 2009.

2:01:56 > 2:02:02And we will break that record if we carry on like this.That was Ryan

2:02:02 > 2:02:08Day in full flow. Looking at this first shot, he has got something

2:02:08 > 2:02:16like 11 feet between the cue ball and object ball. If he just plays it

2:02:16 > 2:02:20dead it is a difficult shot on the black. So playing it with back spin,

2:02:20 > 2:02:23he needs another back spin and played with so much power to

2:02:23 > 2:02:29actually pull the cue ball back. He keeps his body very still but

2:02:29 > 2:02:34generates a load of power. He pulled the cue ball back about five or six

2:02:34 > 2:02:40inches. Giving it a frame-winning opportunity.He does have a spring

2:02:40 > 2:02:46back in his step.It has taken adversity for him to turn up, the

2:02:46 > 2:02:51real Ryan Day to turn up. I'm a massive fan of the way he hits the

2:02:51 > 2:02:56ball. I was expecting him to play like this from the start of the

2:02:56 > 2:03:01match but he was a bit apathetic at the beginning. Did not really make

2:03:01 > 2:03:07Ding Junhui work very hard but now he is outstanding.When you are 3-

2:03:07 > 2:03:14nil down, and really under it as well, what does that do to you?Well

2:03:14 > 2:03:17it is getting that first frame as we say on the board and then you can

2:03:17 > 2:03:23start to play a bit. But there is less pressure or tension when you

2:03:23 > 2:03:27start to go behind in one respect because you have less to lose. You

2:03:27 > 2:03:32could only try and get yourself out of a hole. Very rarely does a player

2:03:32 > 2:03:37with the collapse out there so at some stage these class players

2:03:37 > 2:03:37with the collapse out there so at some stage these class players are

2:03:37 > 2:03:43going to fight and that is what Ryan Day is doing.And if you are Ding

2:03:43 > 2:03:49Junhui?He has lost a bit of momentum. He has gone slightly off

2:03:49 > 2:03:54the boil. And despite the fact that he is still ahead, the moment -- at

2:03:54 > 2:04:01the moment the momentum is with his opponent.

2:04:06 > 2:04:20What does Ryan Day have in store in this sixth frame?

2:04:20 > 2:04:26Ryan Day breaks off, frame six. Can he repeat his recovery in this frame

2:04:26 > 2:04:38and get it all square? His pot success now better than Ding Junhui.

2:04:38 > 2:04:50It has been a bit of a turnaround.

2:05:05 > 2:05:11That was half a chance. But the way he has missed it, he has left the

2:05:11 > 2:05:25red on. Surprised that he played it so hard.

2:05:26 > 2:05:32so hard. That is why he has left the red into the middle. Let's see what

2:05:32 > 2:05:38Ding Junhui can make of this chance. I agree that he has just gone a

2:05:38 > 2:05:46little bit off the boil in the last few frames.

2:05:46 > 2:05:52few frames.No need to go into the pack of rents there. There is loose

2:05:52 > 2:05:59red here and at the bottom of the pack as well. If you get a nice

2:05:59 > 2:06:08angle with this black, it does not want to be straight.

2:06:10 > 2:06:20want to be straight. Just gone too far.

2:06:20 > 2:06:27far. He cannot now bring more of the reds into play.

2:06:37 > 2:06:44He needs to play this with top spin into the cushion, he will have to

2:06:44 > 2:06:52generate a lot of power in this shot. Did not get the power but may

2:06:52 > 2:07:01have got second best. Have a look at this, what a result.

2:07:01 > 2:07:06this, what a result. A wry smile from Ryan Day. That was very

2:07:06 > 2:07:17fortunate. He has not made the most of it. Tried to hold the cue ball

2:07:17 > 2:07:22for the blue but forgot about the plot.He has shown is in the last

2:07:22 > 2:07:26few frames he is good at missing them. When these players are playing

2:07:26 > 2:07:30well they never miss anything easily. The top players do not miss

2:07:30 > 2:07:40easy shots.

2:07:40 > 2:07:47easy shots. Ryan Day has played that beautifully. Nicely on the black. A

2:07:47 > 2:07:57big chance.

2:08:10 > 2:08:19He will have two negotiate the cue ball back up for pink or blue. A

2:08:19 > 2:08:31little kiss on the bed. -- the red. Blocking the path of the pink.This

2:08:31 > 2:08:37could have worked out better.

2:08:37 > 2:08:42could have worked out better. He could play safe but at this moment,

2:08:42 > 2:08:49I do not think the pink will cut to the right middle. So you would think

2:08:49 > 2:08:54that the green is the one to take on. A bit of pressure on it the way

2:08:54 > 2:09:04that the reds are. He is taking it on.

2:09:04 > 2:09:12on. I would like to get my hand closer to the cue ball than this.

2:09:12 > 2:09:22Bridging long.

2:09:23 > 2:09:29You just have to get yourself comfortable. It is a big shot. And

2:09:29 > 2:09:46it is a good one! He deserves a bit of luck. It is OK.Excellent pot.

2:09:46 > 2:09:52Could've done without kissing that red. Again it is not

2:09:52 > 2:09:58straightforward. He needs to use the second red to try to screw back for

2:09:58 > 2:10:04the pink.

2:10:04 > 2:10:15the pink. Overshot for pink.

2:10:22 > 2:10:34How does this look? He is on the red into the corner.

2:10:34 > 2:10:45into the corner.The run is beginning to turn.

2:10:54 > 2:10:57The black does not go to the right corner pocket at the moment, the way

2:10:57 > 2:11:09he played the red. Could've done with a bit more of a bounce. This is

2:11:09 > 2:11:15now a big visit in the context of the match. Ding Junhui had a good

2:11:15 > 2:11:24chance.

2:11:24 > 2:11:31chance. Starting to cue very nicely now, Ryan Day.

2:11:38 > 2:11:43One good positional shot possibly for the red to the right of the back

2:11:43 > 2:11:49with a two year the pink spot. And he has got on these nicely, an

2:11:49 > 2:11:54excellent shot.

2:11:55 > 2:11:58excellent shot.I assume the black does not go to the right corner.

2:11:58 > 2:12:03Every time he has gone for the pink with the blue he has finished the

2:12:03 > 2:12:09wrong side of the blue. If you were right behind it, you would fancy the

2:12:09 > 2:12:17black.

2:12:17 > 2:12:24black. Room for it to go into the left corner.

2:12:24 > 2:12:27left corner. Playing for the red closest to the cushion, the one

2:12:27 > 2:12:31making it slightly tight for the black. He decided to play for the

2:12:31 > 2:12:36other one, I do not blame him. To leave himself straight on this

2:12:36 > 2:12:44thread. 31 points from this position. Does not look that

2:12:44 > 2:12:58difficult. But we take nothing for granted.

2:13:00 > 2:13:04He has an angle just to screw out into the middle of the table. Giving

2:13:04 > 2:13:11himself the choice of a couple of reds.

2:13:11 > 2:13:22reds. Overscrew that by quite some distance.

2:13:26 > 2:13:32You cannot expect him to miss this. When the cue ball keeps going up and

2:13:32 > 2:13:41down the table, you can lose pinpoint position. He knows the

2:13:41 > 2:13:48importance of this visit.

2:13:48 > 2:13:54importance of this visit. You'd think this was a formality.

2:13:57 > 2:14:08think this was a formality. He played it nicely.

2:14:20 > 2:14:3034 points the lead.

2:14:31 > 2:14:48What a turnaround. He will be getting a bit concerned.

2:14:57 > 2:15:02No problem.

2:15:26 > 2:15:32You could see him getting another century. A good comeback from Ryan

2:15:32 > 2:15:37Day.

2:15:38 > 2:15:49Day. Three frames in a row. And of course Ding Junhui missed a very

2:15:49 > 2:15:54straightforward red into the left centre pocket.And was lucky to be

2:15:54 > 2:16:02on the red. And then to miss that was unforgivable. But fair play to

2:16:02 > 2:16:07Ryan Day, he did not have complete control of the cue ball but he has

2:16:07 > 2:16:23dug in and stop -- he has dug in.

2:16:26 > 2:16:36Pink and black for back-to-back centuries.

2:16:36 > 2:16:46centuries. Wonderful. Well played.

2:16:47 > 2:16:53He has just got the edge. All square at three apiece.

2:16:53 > 2:16:57Wonderful from Ryan Day and remember he worked so hard to get here. He's

2:16:57 > 2:17:02not going to give this up without a fight.It is brilliant, absolutely

2:17:02 > 2:17:10superb turnaround. Ding Junhui, he had an absolute result and a half.

2:17:10 > 2:17:15To split the pack and end up in the red in the middle he must've thought

2:17:15 > 2:17:19his birthday had come. Then all of a sudden he misses the bread and Ryan

2:17:19 > 2:17:25Day makes a wonderful contribution. The green was hampered, awkward, he

2:17:25 > 2:17:29potted a really good green. He tried to get on the pink for five times

2:17:29 > 2:17:38and had to fiddle around but it was superb.Snooker is a game of getting

2:17:38 > 2:17:42table time and not every sport is like that. If you could dominate the

2:17:42 > 2:17:46table, it is fascinating how you can be on top one minute and then the

2:17:46 > 2:17:52underdog. And at this moment Ryan Day has got the edge. Ding Junhui

2:17:52 > 2:17:59was not sparkling but that red pocket that he missed, those types

2:17:59 > 2:18:03of misses are quite debilitating. And going back for frame seven, he

2:18:03 > 2:18:09threw away that big league as well in the UK Championships.Sometimes

2:18:09 > 2:18:14that can leave a mental scar behind. Although as a top-class professional

2:18:14 > 2:18:21he will have forgotten about that by now. But it is just a poor record in

2:18:21 > 2:18:32this venue. Maybe a little bit surprised that

2:18:32 > 2:18:39Ding Junhui did not leave the arena. I know he has Terry Griffiths in his

2:18:39 > 2:18:43corner as a mind coach. Maybe he could help in slightly because he

2:18:43 > 2:18:49has gone off the boil. Ryan Day has played superbly but at the end of

2:18:49 > 2:18:57the day he has been allowed that chance.Totally agree. His

2:18:57 > 2:19:00concentration has gone at the moment. And that was quite evident

2:19:00 > 2:19:14with that straightforward red into the centre in the last frame.

2:19:19 > 2:19:26It will be interesting to see how Ding Junhui reacts.He had it all

2:19:26 > 2:19:33too easy on those first few frames. He has done it before in the past

2:19:33 > 2:19:41many times. Because of his record of late, he will not be bursting with

2:19:41 > 2:19:52confidence, that is for sure.

2:19:59 > 2:20:08All of the great players always find a way of getting their concentration

2:20:08 > 2:20:13back and Ding Junhui has done it many times over the years.As you

2:20:13 > 2:20:19say it will be interesting to see if and when he gets the opportunity,

2:20:19 > 2:20:24when he can start to score again. Like many modern-day players it is

2:20:24 > 2:20:31all built around their scoring ability.

2:20:31 > 2:20:38ability. Excellent pot from Ryan Day.

2:20:38 > 2:20:45Day. The only possible pot would be the brown.

2:20:47 > 2:20:52the brown. Maybe if he had not flicked that red. He cannot be too

2:20:52 > 2:20:57harsh on himself. Just playing safety off the green.

2:20:57 > 2:21:04harsh on himself. Just playing safety off the green.

2:21:04 > 2:21:10Concentrating on getting a good cue ball.

2:21:10 > 2:21:21ball. He has left a possible pot on which is a little bit careless.

2:21:30 > 2:21:33Ding Junhui has the advantage now in this safety exchange.Quite

2:21:33 > 2:21:40incredible. The cue ball almost in the identical place where Ding

2:21:40 > 2:21:45Junhui played it from.

2:21:48 > 2:21:51Junhui played it from. Cannot get through the gap between green and

2:21:51 > 2:21:55brown to play a safety shot off the remaining bunch of reds. Coming off

2:21:55 > 2:22:05this cushion. This has got to be very precise.

2:22:06 > 2:22:12very precise. He does not want to leave this red into the corner. It

2:22:12 > 2:22:18is tricky enough.

2:22:26 > 2:22:36A good pot.

2:22:36 > 2:22:42He could be picky but the pot was difficult enough. He had to be

2:22:42 > 2:22:52certain to pot the ball.

2:22:55 > 2:23:07Another good shot needed and control of the cue ball.

2:23:13 > 2:23:25Much too thin. And a little bit fortunate in all honesty. Slightly

2:23:25 > 2:23:37worrying signs for me. It all looked such a claim sailing. He had a pot

2:23:37 > 2:23:47success of over 90%, Ryan Day down 50%, what a turnaround.

2:24:02 > 2:24:14Trying to get the cue ball back up. He hit that all wrong.

2:24:15 > 2:24:16He hit that all wrong.Much too thin. Left the red to the right

2:24:16 > 2:24:22corner. When you're in the ascendancy the last thing you want

2:24:22 > 2:24:33is to give your opponent an easy chance. This is just mid-range.

2:24:33 > 2:24:50Controlled the cue ball nicely. What can he make of this opportunity now?

2:25:06 > 2:25:11Unless I'm mistaken, not a lot. He has misjudged that. He is on

2:25:11 > 2:25:19nothing.

2:25:19 > 2:25:25nothing. But scoring power has dried up.

2:25:33 > 2:25:42Just tried to run past the red, he made contact with it. All looking

2:25:42 > 2:25:47much more difficult now.

2:25:49 > 2:25:56much more difficult now. Playing the thin cut.

2:25:57 > 2:26:02thin cut. Worth taking on.

2:26:20 > 2:26:21APPLAUSE

2:26:21 > 2:26:26APPLAUSE.

2:26:26 > 2:26:34You do not seem any better rest shots done that. He's on the brown

2:26:34 > 2:26:41but I think the blue may be the option. The pink and black tied up

2:26:41 > 2:26:51at the moment.

2:27:04 > 2:27:11The red directly above the black probably his best option. Too much

2:27:11 > 2:27:19pace. Could be nowhere.

2:27:22 > 2:27:28pace. Could be nowhere. Quite unbelievable of judgment. -- quite

2:27:28 > 2:27:39an unbelievable error of judgment.

2:28:07 > 2:28:22A little bit thick with that. Left a mid range pot on.

2:28:22 > 2:28:39mid range pot on. Not guaranteed to be on a colour. And at full stretch.

2:28:40 > 2:28:44We see it so many times with players, they do not want to get the

2:28:44 > 2:28:54rest out. They are at full stretch and almost running out of cue.You

2:28:54 > 2:29:06have less control with that amount of cue.

2:29:10 > 2:29:20Needs a bit of luck. And he has had some. The run of the balls has

2:29:20 > 2:29:30definitely turned.

2:29:34 > 2:29:35APPLAUSE

2:29:35 > 2:29:39APPLAUSE.

2:29:41 > 2:29:53That is a good safety. Gap between the green and brown.

2:29:53 > 2:29:58the green and brown. Having to swerve, does not want to catch the

2:29:58 > 2:30:04red to fool and that is what he has done. I suppose he would be quite

2:30:04 > 2:30:15happy with that. Has not left anything too easy.

2:30:55 > 2:30:59This looks a good shot. APPLAUSE

2:30:59 > 2:31:13Excellent. A good line. Good length. Ding Junhui is asked the question

2:31:13 > 2:31:25now, to get this safe. I certainly can't see a return back to baulk.

2:31:34 > 2:31:39I'm just wondering if he is going for this red below the pink into

2:31:39 > 2:31:43this bottom reasoned corner pocket. He could take it on and try and

2:31:43 > 2:31:56leave the cue ball somewhere near the black. No, didn't fancy it.

2:31:56 > 2:32:01Yeah, just having to play the containing safety. OK, he may have

2:32:01 > 2:32:05left it safe, but he has put no pressure whatsoever on Ryan to play

2:32:05 > 2:32:11a better shot than that. He has got to try and get in behind that green

2:32:11 > 2:32:15if you can. I would say the yellow, but he has not got the angle for

2:32:15 > 2:32:24that.

2:32:27 > 2:32:34He has played it very well. So he is calling the shots at the moment, is

2:32:34 > 2:32:41Ryan Day.

2:32:41 > 2:32:44Ryan Day.The red that's closest to this right-hand side side cushion.

2:32:44 > 2:32:49If he can try and hit that full-ball and almost leave the cue ball in the

2:32:49 > 2:32:53jaws of the pocket. It looks like he's rolling up to it and hitting

2:32:53 > 2:33:00the cushion first.

2:33:06 > 2:33:11The proximity of the cue ball to the right-hand side cushion makes it

2:33:11 > 2:33:17extremely difficult.And he was straight it would just be a case for

2:33:17 > 2:33:21rolling it in for the black in the opposite corner, but it's not

2:33:21 > 2:33:26straight. This might be a bit too risky to take on. Particularly once

2:33:26 > 2:33:31again he has got a nice clip off the red and try and get in behind the

2:33:31 > 2:33:40green. I don't think now is the time to push the boat out.

2:33:54 > 2:34:02Could get behind the green that time.

2:34:02 > 2:34:13time. He has lost his advantage, Ryan Day.

2:34:17 > 2:34:21Oh, it's going to stay over the pocket. He needs the brown to come

2:34:21 > 2:34:31to his rescue and it has. Well, it has, but there is an easy swerve. It

2:34:31 > 2:34:36may just swerve the white slightly just to take the cue ball away from

2:34:36 > 2:34:48the pocket. A little bit right-hand side.

2:34:48 > 2:34:51APPLAUSE He could have hit that a little bit

2:34:51 > 2:34:55harder, I felt, and try and get that cue ball down into the middle of the

2:34:55 > 2:35:01table.

2:35:01 > 2:35:14table.The yellow does cut. But it's missable.

2:35:26 > 2:35:31The problem is with playing the yellow, it's just slightly less than

2:35:31 > 2:35:35quarter ball pot so the cue ball will be loose. There is no guarantee

2:35:35 > 2:35:43to be on the next red.

2:35:44 > 2:35:51But he took it on. Now, is he going to be on the red?

2:35:51 > 2:36:03He'll settle for that. That just shows you OK, a side ways glance,

2:36:03 > 2:36:08but he was always trusting to look for position. I think the problem is

2:36:08 > 2:36:13this red he just flicked by, he's straight on it. So it won't be easy

2:36:13 > 2:36:16to get on the next colour, but I think the way he played that yellow

2:36:16 > 2:36:24just shows you how his confidence is building as this match goes on.

2:36:24 > 2:36:29Maybe just the gap between the reds if he can screw directly straight

2:36:29 > 2:36:39back. Oh, didn't get into the cue ball at all. But yeah, I totally

2:36:39 > 2:36:46agree with you John. Ryan's confidence is certainly growing. All

2:36:46 > 2:36:56square in the points scored. It's amazing.

2:36:56 > 2:37:00amazing.Yeah, particularly it wasn't that long ago, was it 290 to

2:37:00 > 2:37:095 or something, yeah. Amazing.

2:37:16 > 2:37:24Well, a terrific pot. May not be on a colour here. But no prizes for

2:37:24 > 2:37:32guessing what happens next.He pulled one out of the fire there.

2:37:32 > 2:37:38That was a great pot.

2:37:38 > 2:37:46That was a great pot. Excellent. Well, this line of reds that are

2:37:46 > 2:37:51near the top cushion, you would think if you could just nestle on

2:37:51 > 2:37:59one of them, he wouldn't be leaving anything easy.

2:38:16 > 2:38:21There is the red above the black which maybe cuttable. You would have

2:38:21 > 2:38:25to get a double-kiss to lose that. At the needs to judge the pace

2:38:25 > 2:38:32right.

2:38:32 > 2:38:39This looks OK. He couldn't have played it any

2:38:39 > 2:38:44better. A good shot. APPLAUSE

2:38:44 > 2:38:51Ding Junhui immediately comes round and looks at a plant.

2:38:51 > 2:39:06It's as though he knew it was there. But he's not playing it.

2:39:20 > 2:39:29Well, this a good shot. That's a good shot. Very well played.

2:39:29 > 2:39:33APPLAUSE He must be getting slightly

2:39:33 > 2:39:37frustrated, but controlled himself then.

2:39:37 > 2:39:45Yes, the same path as the last shot. Has he got the legs? Has he got the

2:39:45 > 2:39:53legs?

2:39:53 > 2:39:56legs? I don't think Ding will put the cue ball back because he has got

2:39:56 > 2:40:08a free shot here. No.

2:40:46 > 2:40:55Slap, bang, in the middle of nowhere.

2:40:55 > 2:40:59It's not a formality. He could have played this yellow with a bit of

2:40:59 > 2:41:07pace and using the rest it makes it missable.

2:41:07 > 2:41:14But he has cued that lovely. And maybe a possibility here he

2:41:14 > 2:41:18could play for the pink.

2:41:19 > 2:41:24Yeah, I think it would be a good option to just try and stun or screw

2:41:24 > 2:41:29over towards the pink and try and get the pink back on its spot.It

2:41:29 > 2:41:36looks like he's going to go for the blue.

2:41:36 > 2:41:47Well, these pots are now starting to find the middle of the pocket.

2:41:53 > 2:41:56I'm just wondering John, do you think he might take the option of

2:41:56 > 2:42:01going into the black and the red just to the left of it here?

2:42:01 > 2:42:05Yeah, I think he will play for the red that's near the pink spot first

2:42:05 > 2:42:10and then the next time you get that good angle on the blue then I'd be

2:42:10 > 2:42:17considering going into them.

2:42:17 > 2:42:27A little bit closer to the cushion than I'm sure he would have liked.

2:42:39 > 2:42:44A little bit thinner on the blue. But ever he gets the perfect angle

2:42:44 > 2:42:50on the blue you know he's going to cannon into those four reds to the

2:42:50 > 2:43:01back of the black as Ken suggested.

2:43:05 > 2:43:09I'd still take the blue here. It looks like he's just dropping it in

2:43:09 > 2:43:16and trying to take the loose red. There's plenty of value of trying to

2:43:16 > 2:43:22pot it and go into the reds there. Now he's relying on getting a good

2:43:22 > 2:43:30angle off this red to try and bring those four awkward reds into play.

2:43:30 > 2:43:44Oh dear me. He missed that by the pro verbial mile. What happened

2:43:44 > 2:43:51there? Didn't even get in the jaws of the pocket.

2:43:51 > 2:44:02Only put that down to lack of concentration and that's no excuse.

2:44:19 > 2:44:23When he led 3-0 it looked all plain sailing, but if I was a Ding

2:44:23 > 2:44:35supporter I would be a bit concerned at the moment.

2:45:31 > 2:45:37Well, the referee called a miss, but that won't be taken. And will the

2:45:37 > 2:45:43angle he has got Ken, surely he will run into the reds here on the top

2:45:43 > 2:45:50cushion.Yes, he could stun into the reds and still be on the black.

2:45:50 > 2:45:54A bit close to the hole. He's in trouble here.

2:45:54 > 2:46:01He's in trouble here. Two reds gone over left corner pocket. He was

2:46:01 > 2:46:05hoping to be on the black. He's still on the black. He maybe forced

2:46:05 > 2:46:14into taking this black on. It's so difficult.

2:46:14 > 2:46:19difficult.Well, he has got to play a pot. So it might as well be the

2:46:19 > 2:46:23black. He has got to get down, play the

2:46:23 > 2:46:30shot and keep your head down. He's going to try and cut the blue

2:46:30 > 2:46:33in.Cut the blue in and he thinks it is an easier shot. He could be

2:46:33 > 2:46:49right. He has got to get it. Oh, overcut it. Overcut it.

2:46:49 > 2:46:51Oh, overcut it. Overcut it. I don't blame Ryan for playing the shot he

2:46:51 > 2:46:56did. The one previous, he was a little unlucky to come tight on to

2:46:56 > 2:47:03the cushion like that.

2:47:05 > 2:47:16It was a shot that if it went right to have won you the frame.

2:47:18 > 2:47:22Still a bit of work to do here.I was just thinking the same myself

2:47:22 > 2:47:26because he has not shown us any great form in the last few frames.

2:47:26 > 2:47:31So, it will be interesting to see what Ding Junhui can make of this

2:47:31 > 2:47:42opportunity. .He is looking at potting this red and leave an angle

2:47:42 > 2:47:48on the black to restore this red, but the way they have been going in

2:47:48 > 2:47:54along this top cushion, if he gets a nice angle on t he may not need to

2:47:54 > 2:47:58take it out. He has decided to because it can always go wrong just

2:47:58 > 2:48:06like that. It actually might not be too bad. He has got a

2:48:06 > 2:48:10straightforward simple snooker here behind the pink. The red over the

2:48:10 > 2:48:15middle pocket.

2:48:17 > 2:48:22APPLAUSE As you say, he was fortunate to have

2:48:22 > 2:48:26that red this such close proximity to the pink. It made it an easy

2:48:26 > 2:48:32snooker. Now the age old saying, it's not hitting the red, can Ryan

2:48:32 > 2:48:39get it safe?

2:48:39 > 2:48:44get it safe? As I say, it wasn't hitting the red, can he get it safe?

2:48:44 > 2:48:51And unfortunately because he caught it thin, he left the red to the

2:48:51 > 2:48:57corner.That's the red that's going to determine the outcome of this

2:48:57 > 2:49:02frame and that's closest to the right-side cushion. He has got a

2:49:02 > 2:49:06straightforward red here, Ding. He has got to get nicely on his next

2:49:06 > 2:49:16colour. And then try and get close to that red.

2:49:16 > 2:49:21to that red. Straight on this black. Deep screw off the cushion where he

2:49:21 > 2:49:36is now and back across for the red. Needed to go another six inches.

2:49:36 > 2:49:40This shot with the rest is going to be very tough, indeed. Will he take

2:49:40 > 2:49:48it on? He could take it on and bring the cue ball back into baulk. 22

2:49:48 > 2:50:01points ahead. He's going to need red and blue.

2:50:01 > 2:50:05and blue.The longest frame of the tournament so far.

2:50:05 > 2:50:11Decided not to play the risky pot, although it looks like it could have

2:50:11 > 2:50:15been a shot for nothing, but you never know. Looks an easy enough

2:50:15 > 2:50:22snooker to get out of this. Whenever there is a one cushion

2:50:22 > 2:50:28escape, but you just want to catch it too full and knock it over the

2:50:28 > 2:50:36far corner. Got to get this safe otherwise he'll lose the frame. Oh

2:50:36 > 2:50:48well, unforgivable to miss the red. And

2:50:49 > 2:50:52And if it's a free ball, well, not mentioned, I can't believe he has

2:50:52 > 2:50:58missed this.

2:50:58 > 2:51:02missed this. Just didn't get enough side on it. When you consider he was

2:51:02 > 2:51:07trying to get right in behind it and hit it full-ball, that was a bad

2:51:07 > 2:51:13misjudgement and he was lucky not to leave a free ball.I think the

2:51:13 > 2:51:17slower you hit these swerves, it gives the cue ball a bit more time

2:51:17 > 2:51:23to put a swerve to take. If he hit it with a bit more pace, I think

2:51:23 > 2:51:27it's more difficult where the referee has put it there. It has got

2:51:27 > 2:51:36to go towards the cushion a little bit.

2:51:41 > 2:51:45Having a word with the assistant referee.

2:51:45 > 2:51:54The VAR man! And that's how he wanted to hit it

2:51:54 > 2:51:58first time and he got it right second time and he got it safe and

2:51:58 > 2:52:08that was the maybe object of the exercise. There is he is, our VAR

2:52:08 > 2:52:13man.

2:52:17 > 2:52:29Too hard with the cue ball. Possible chance for Ryan Day.

2:52:33 > 2:52:42A long way away. Didn't fully commit to that.Yeah, you could sort of

2:52:42 > 2:52:48sense he was edging on the side of missing, don't leave it. Whereas you

2:52:48 > 2:52:55say, it was a chance. He has been showing good strength in

2:52:55 > 2:53:01the last few frames - oh, miscue. This could be a free ball and if it

2:53:01 > 2:53:06bounces Ryan Day will be on the black.

2:53:06 > 2:53:14REFEREE:And a free ball. Well, that's amazing.

2:53:14 > 2:53:23So what a turn around this could be and there you go. Just hit over the

2:53:23 > 2:53:27top, but we did say before when he plays near the cushion, he doesn't

2:53:27 > 2:53:31elevate the butt of the cue to strike down on the cue ball.

2:53:31 > 2:53:45Which most players do. And what a chance.

2:53:51 > 2:53:59It looks as though he has got a nice angle on yellow or brown. He has got

2:53:59 > 2:54:02to browns just slightly off the baulk cushion to be on the red. Now,

2:54:02 > 2:54:11let's have a look. He's going to need the pink no matter who. Just a

2:54:11 > 2:54:16quick glance at the scoreboard. With the pink not being on its spot it

2:54:16 > 2:54:25just makes it a little bit less straightforward.

2:54:35 > 2:54:39I think this has come to a stage here, Ken, it is about holding

2:54:39 > 2:54:44yourself together.Yeah. A massive frame.

2:54:44 > 2:54:51Ding will be worried that he may not get another shot. The big shots in

2:54:51 > 2:55:03this frame will be from blue to pink no doubt.

2:55:08 > 2:55:14Anywhere but straight on the blue. Yeah, the closer when he pots the

2:55:14 > 2:55:18blue, the easier the pink will be and that's what we will be looking

2:55:18 > 2:55:25for after this brown. Blue and pink. And make the comeback well and truly

2:55:25 > 2:55:36complete. 3-0 down. Blue and pink for 4-3 in front.

2:55:46 > 2:55:52Well, he must be confident with the rest. Because that's how he has

2:55:52 > 2:56:05played it. This pink for 4-3. Well done.

2:56:05 > 2:56:08APPLAUSE So Ryan Day has won the next four

2:56:08 > 2:56:13frames and Ding Junhui worrying times for him, 4-3 to the man from

2:56:13 > 2:56:14Wales.

2:56:14 > 2:56:15times for him, 4-3 to the man from Wales.

2:56:15 > 2:56:18This is just incredible. Rye rid hasn't played here for eight years

2:56:18 > 2:56:24and Ding has won just one match here at Alexandra Palace since he won in

2:56:24 > 2:56:292011. Is the Ally Pally curse about to strike again?Unless he picks up.

2:56:29 > 2:56:35It was mention add couple of frames ago that he has gone quiet. Ding has

2:56:35 > 2:56:40not been taking any of his chances. We are going to make an observation.

2:56:40 > 2:56:48This will be sad TV for snooker Anna racks and for snooker players. He is

2:56:48 > 2:56:53on to the cushion. He jacked up in the air, but miscued. We don't see

2:56:53 > 2:56:54that often from top

2:56:54 > 2:56:55the air, but miscued. We don't see that often from top class players.

2:56:55 > 2:56:59Here is the sad bit about this. There has been a new chalk that

2:56:59 > 2:57:03everybody has been raving about on the circuit and they are saying in

2:57:03 > 2:57:05practise it reduces kicks. It doesn't stop kicks all the time,

2:57:05 > 2:57:09we're seeing them out there on the table, but unfortunately from my

2:57:09 > 2:57:12prospective and I have not been playing with the stuff, right, it

2:57:12 > 2:57:16doesn't seem to be that great for me. I see, all I see is more

2:57:16 > 2:57:21miscues.We had that big kick yesterday in Mark Selby's match.It

2:57:21 > 2:57:25is not eliminating kicks, but I see more miscues in the last year since

2:57:25 > 2:57:30they have been using this chalk than ever before. So I can't say, because

2:57:30 > 2:57:36I have not practised with it, it is observational.The boys say it is

2:57:36 > 2:57:40harder to get on. The chalk we have been using goes on easily, but you

2:57:40 > 2:57:44have got to keep on top of it all the time. You need to use it a bit

2:57:44 > 2:57:47more, it doesn't go on as easily as the old stuff does and if you don't

2:57:47 > 2:57:51do it, you can get a lot of miscues. If you have got a chalk that doesn't

2:57:51 > 2:57:55stick and stay on the white ball, you have got a chalk that doesn't

2:57:55 > 2:57:59stay on the tip as much so there is a problem. We referred to Ding

2:57:59 > 2:58:07Junhui getting a fantastic start last year

2:58:10 > 2:58:16last year and being pegged back.He has done remarkably well. Momentum

2:58:16 > 2:58:20is a massive thing in sport. He has got momentum. Ding is struggling to

2:58:20 > 2:58:23get involved in the match. He doesn't look like he's going to

2:58:23 > 2:58:29score. His positional play is a bit awry and the level their' playing at

2:58:29 > 2:58:32and the capabilities of the players you're playing against with the

2:58:32 > 2:58:36scoring, matches can change very, very quickly.Steve, those two

2:58:36 > 2:58:45century breaks from Ryan, the 125 and the 105, has probably given him

2:58:45 > 2:58:49an extra Philip?Ding Junhui is a confident player if that makes

2:58:49 > 2:58:55sense. If all of a sudden, there is a few chinks in the armour...You

2:58:55 > 2:59:00can see a tad of an affect?His body language changes. From that

2:59:00 > 2:59:05prospective, I don't think he is this great shape. He is a great

2:59:05 > 2:59:08competitor, but yeah, it's worrying times for Ding in this match.What

2:59:08 > 2:59:11do you think, John? Yesterday we had Ken saying that he thought it would

2:59:11 > 2:59:16go all the way, he thought we would have 6-5, do you think it has legs?

2:59:16 > 2:59:21It could be that. At the moment, you would be saying not just because of

2:59:21 > 2:59:30the scoreline 4-3, it looks like it is Ryan Day's to lose.Sometimes

2:59:30 > 2:59:33Ding, the body language is, sometimes you need to fire yourself

2:59:33 > 2:59:37up. I know he's working with Terry Griffiths. Sometimes you need to

2:59:37 > 2:59:47give yourself a gee up or a come on like Peter ebb den.

2:59:48 > 2:59:53And Ryan Day walking out with a bit of a swagger and thinking I could go

2:59:53 > 2:59:58on to win this.He is perfectly capable. If he keeps scoring like

2:59:58 > 3:00:04this he would look like the winner. One Welshman through yesterday in

3:00:04 > 3:00:15mark Williams, can Ryan Day make it through?

3:00:19 > 3:00:26At the start of the match we were looking at their head to heads and

3:00:26 > 3:00:31Ding

3:00:31 > 3:00:43Ding Junhui had won eight and Ryan Day have won four.

3:00:43 > 3:00:45Day have won four.Ryan Day is a different sort of animal than a

3:00:45 > 3:00:53couple of years ago. He has grown in confidence.

3:00:54 > 3:00:58confidence. We talked about his ranking tournament win at the start

3:00:58 > 3:01:03of the season, that has given him an extra lift especially on the big

3:01:03 > 3:01:09stage against the top players. In the UK and World Championships of

3:01:09 > 3:01:13course. He has grown in stature in this match. He looked nervous at the

3:01:13 > 3:01:24beginning. He has a lot more confidence now. Stay on the black.

3:01:24 > 3:01:33Played that nicely. Perfectly. That is the type of shot you say -- you

3:01:33 > 3:01:42see Ronnie O'Sullivan playing a lot. Could not have played it better.

3:01:42 > 3:01:52Just over hip that's likely. -- overhit that slightly.Stay on the

3:01:52 > 3:02:03black.I just wonder how much work he has to do with the cue ball. May

3:02:03 > 3:02:11have to play for the black in the same pocket as the red. Anything but

3:02:11 > 3:02:22straight on this black.

3:02:35 > 3:02:43Should have gone up for the blue.He was trying to make the angle. Just

3:02:43 > 3:02:52the wrong side of straight. No need to play that red with that amount of

3:02:52 > 3:03:06pace. It appears that this is something, unless we cannot see,

3:03:06 > 3:03:10that he not making the most of this opportunity. It was a good

3:03:10 > 3:03:15opportunity

3:03:16 > 3:03:27opportunity for top -- good opportunity.

3:03:53 > 3:03:53APPLAUSE

3:03:53 > 3:04:04APPLAUSE. What a shot he pulled out of the bag.Fantastic shot. Nicely

3:04:04 > 3:04:11now on the black. He can use that as his inspiration to try to get back

3:04:11 > 3:04:18into this match, to get that spark back. He has certainly lost it.

3:04:18 > 3:04:26Sometimes it just takes one break just to get it back. Get your

3:04:26 > 3:04:39concentration and confidence. At the moment he has lost it.

3:04:39 > 3:04:47That shot could just be the catalyst, we will wait and see.

3:05:38 > 3:05:42There two raids in the middle of the bunch and if he hits them to hide

3:05:42 > 3:05:48there the

3:05:48 > 3:05:59there the possibility of a plant. Perfect, well played.

3:06:08 > 3:06:15A better shot than it looked.

3:06:25 > 3:06:32That double maybe just a bit of inspiration that he needed.

3:06:32 > 3:06:44Inspirational frustration, I do not know which but it went in.

3:06:44 > 3:06:46know which but it went in. This black will take him 15 points in

3:06:46 > 3:06:51front. He is going to need at least four of these reds to clinch the

3:06:51 > 3:07:01frame at this visit. Normally you would say a formality. But you would

3:07:01 > 3:07:12not say so just yet.

3:07:19 > 3:07:30That is a mistake. He could play the pink, probably a better angle on

3:07:30 > 3:07:35that.

3:07:38 > 3:07:46that. Played that well. Played it confidently and got the perfect

3:07:46 > 3:07:59line.That was a beautiful positional shot. Negotiated in

3:07:59 > 3:08:08between the green and brown, perfect.

3:08:08 > 3:08:25perfect.30 points to lead now. To red, to high value colours.

3:08:25 > 3:08:28red, to high value colours.That little kiss on the red has knocked

3:08:28 > 3:08:36those raids into an awkward position now.

3:08:36 > 3:08:41-- those two reds.

3:08:41 > 3:08:46He did not quite get that. He's going to be slightly hampered by the

3:08:46 > 3:08:54blue. This is not straightforward any more.

3:08:54 > 3:09:04any more. 51 remaining.

3:09:15 > 3:09:22Very disappointed, Ding Junhui. Just that simple little shot into the

3:09:22 > 3:09:30corner pocket, it nudged the other red into an awkward position. Now

3:09:30 > 3:09:43what can Ryan Day do good shot, great shot.

3:09:43 > 3:09:58How costly Wilbert de? -- will that be.

3:10:27 > 3:10:39We have a new favourite now for this frame.

3:10:45 > 3:10:59Decided to go for the blue. Absolutely inch perfect.

3:11:18 > 3:11:3720 points behind. Playing for the black. Here we go.

3:11:37 > 3:11:45black. Here we go. Careless to let it Rock.

3:11:45 > 3:11:52it Rock. Ryan Day has played that inch perfect on the yellow. Now

3:11:52 > 3:11:59needs up to and including the pink. To have a two frames advantage and

3:11:59 > 3:12:13just one frame away from the place in the quarterfinal.

3:12:15 > 3:12:22He must be used at what has happened. It looked to be all plain

3:12:22 > 3:12:31sailing. -- bemused. When he got back double and finished in amongst

3:12:31 > 3:12:40the balls you thought he is going to win this frame and level the match.

3:12:40 > 3:12:45But he's not going to get the opportunity to do it now because

3:12:45 > 3:12:56this pink is all that Ryan Day needs. It is five in a row! From 2-

3:12:56 > 3:13:03nil down. And he tries a trick shot. Just one frame away from a place in

3:13:03 > 3:13:11the quarterfinal. Ryan Day leads Ding Junhui by five frames to three.

3:13:11 > 3:13:16And look at that smile, he did not have that at the beginning of the

3:13:16 > 3:13:20match. And walking back to his chair just keeping an eye on the crowd as

3:13:20 > 3:13:24well and they're giving him a rapturous applause because this is

3:13:24 > 3:13:28some fight back.It has been brilliant from his point of view. As

3:13:28 > 3:13:32for Ding Junhui, he was just starting to get some momentum in the

3:13:32 > 3:13:38frame and then he goes and does that.It is an unforgivable error,

3:13:38 > 3:13:43just drops his cue back down into the position and the referee just

3:13:43 > 3:13:51spotted and at this level of something is unforced but what a

3:13:51 > 3:13:55great clearance from Ryan Day to make him pay for it.That is putting

3:13:55 > 3:13:59the knife in. These are fundamental mistakes that Ding Junhui is making.

3:13:59 > 3:14:04That one he will be disappointed with. It is one of those horrible

3:14:04 > 3:14:10situations. A few seasons ago he used to have a rest with a bend in

3:14:10 > 3:14:15it. He used to go round and play it and now we have not seen that. I

3:14:15 > 3:14:23thought it was a good idea.Many years ago a gentleman, probably

3:14:23 > 3:14:28before you were involved in snooker, Jason, invented something called the

3:14:28 > 3:14:32hook rest which had a bend in it so you could put it flat on the table

3:14:32 > 3:14:37and it has a hook in the middle and you could get more in line with the

3:14:37 > 3:14:41shot. While they are not around now I do not know because they were

3:14:41 > 3:14:57useful.When I was a kid I used to watch it, you mean professionally!

3:15:00 > 3:15:05I think there is enough modern-day equipment without having a hook

3:15:05 > 3:15:13rest!I agree with Steve, it was a great idea. They used to have won

3:15:13 > 3:15:17under the table and in that particular case where Ding Junhui

3:15:17 > 3:15:22was, you could put the rest on the table, the hook would bend around

3:15:22 > 3:15:26the blue and he would have been able to play that just as with the normal

3:15:26 > 3:15:33rest.No disadvantage in playing a poor positional shot. He could have

3:15:33 > 3:15:45used the spider. I know it makes it more difficult.

3:15:45 > 3:15:51We are not too sure why Ryan Day has used this opportunity now to go back

3:15:51 > 3:15:57out.Just someone in the crowd needs a bit of medical assistance. They

3:15:57 > 3:16:03are being carried out. It is all in hand.OK.And Ryan Day has popped up

3:16:03 > 3:16:08as well. He knew what was happening behind so just taking the chance to

3:16:08 > 3:16:14get out of the auditorium.

3:16:14 > 3:16:19get out of the auditorium. I do not know as I say why they got rid of

3:16:19 > 3:16:25that piece of equipment.With the rest you know it is an awkward

3:16:25 > 3:16:28position, you need to put the rest on the table and then you have the

3:16:28 > 3:16:32cross and you need to put the cue on and get clearance of the blue. Ding

3:16:32 > 3:16:36Junhui just dropped the cue down to get the right position on the white

3:16:36 > 3:16:42ball. He should have used the higher part of the cross perhaps. It is

3:16:42 > 3:16:53flatter one-way. What am I doing! It is like that but if it was the other

3:16:53 > 3:17:00way... No, I have completely gone. I'm not doing this any more.As you

3:17:00 > 3:17:03say someone has been taken ill in the auditorium. The officials seem

3:17:03 > 3:17:09to be having a conversation with the referee.I think it is being taken

3:17:09 > 3:17:14care of.You would be sitting pretty just, you do not know how long...

3:17:14 > 3:17:21I'm not too sure whether it has any effect on why Ryan Day left because

3:17:21 > 3:17:25he went for what seemed to happen in the crowd.A bit unclear. I think he

3:17:25 > 3:17:35sensed something was happening.Well he is back out now.

3:17:35 > 3:17:45Ryan Day walks back into the arena. After a small break.

3:17:45 > 3:17:48After a small break. Ding Junhui back firmly against the wall. The

3:17:48 > 3:17:59remaining three frames he needs to stay in this Masters.

3:17:59 > 3:18:04stay in this Masters. Very disappointed losing that last frame.

3:18:04 > 3:18:14On the other hand Ryan Day has completely turned this match around.

3:18:14 > 3:18:19All the stats lowdown on those first few frames, looked edgy and nervous

3:18:19 > 3:18:22but he got that most important frame for himself just before the

3:18:22 > 3:18:29interval. That was the springboard for this amazing comeback. The

3:18:29 > 3:18:47hardest to win is the last. He will be aware of that.

3:19:02 > 3:19:15Just catching the yellow. Turning it down in favour of the safety.

3:19:21 > 3:19:30The flick off the yellow has brought the green into play.

3:19:30 > 3:19:38the green into play. He can get to the one to the left of the pocket.

3:19:40 > 3:19:50Just not quite the same enough.

3:19:50 > 3:19:54-- thin enough.

3:19:54 > 3:20:07Where the colour comes from is anyone's guess.

3:20:35 > 3:20:43You may elect to take on this red. He has had a look at the pink. Worth

3:20:43 > 3:20:49having a go at this.

3:20:53 > 3:21:01having a go at this. Yes, a good pot. On the pink. Wiped its feet.

3:21:01 > 3:21:12But still excellent cueing.

3:21:17 > 3:21:28That looked nervy. This frame is always the hardest.

3:21:28 > 3:21:34always the hardest. That looked very nervy to me. He has a great

3:21:34 > 3:21:41opportunity to win this match if he keeps himself together. And he is

3:21:41 > 3:21:47going to get another chance. This is an amazing turnaround. Talk about

3:21:47 > 3:21:58football being a game of two halves. It is a bit like night and day.And

3:21:58 > 3:22:14Ding Junhui being night. I like it. That was a bit more positive. That

3:22:14 > 3:22:23is unlucky. He played the right shot. Nothing wrong with the choice.

3:22:23 > 3:22:29The only way to keep it

3:22:29 > 3:22:32The only way to keep it going now, he thought he was bound to be on the

3:22:32 > 3:22:39green. Then the red appeared from nowhere.

3:22:39 > 3:22:50nowhere.He has got to take on the brown.

3:22:50 > 3:22:54brown. Got a tremendous green under pressure a couple of frames ago. He

3:22:54 > 3:23:01is not bridging this time.

3:23:01 > 3:23:07is not bridging this time.Maybe it just squeezes in and it did. Now can

3:23:07 > 3:23:12he get past the brown. Have a look at his body language, he certainly

3:23:12 > 3:23:21can.That was a great shot. Not a lot of pocket to work with for the

3:23:21 > 3:23:26blue.

3:23:29 > 3:23:36blue.He got a reaction from that. Getting applause but I do not think

3:23:36 > 3:23:48he will be happy to take on this black. But what else can he do.

3:23:48 > 3:23:51black. But what else can he do. He did not expect the cue ball to

3:23:51 > 3:23:55spring up the table as it did. Of course he does not have to play the

3:23:55 > 3:24:00black.

3:24:23 > 3:24:31He felt that the red was waiting for him if he got that. But now what can

3:24:31 > 3:24:48Ding Junhui do? Straight on this yellow.

3:25:01 > 3:25:06He missed the red with the rest earlier in this frame.Not perfect

3:25:06 > 3:25:11here.

3:25:21 > 3:25:28Played that well. Played the cannon nicely to leave himself on the

3:25:28 > 3:25:35black. A few reds in the open but they all seem to be covering one

3:25:35 > 3:25:48another. This is a good positional shot.

3:25:48 > 3:25:52Walking around giving himself a little bit of thought. I do not

3:25:52 > 3:25:57think it is that straightforward although it may look it, I'm not

3:25:57 > 3:26:06certain that it is.

3:26:06 > 3:26:10certain that it is.A wonderful touch to get on that red. He's had a

3:26:10 > 3:26:19look at those couple of reds, having another look. And the couple of reds

3:26:19 > 3:26:28above the black as well. They almost look like at plant as well. The

3:26:28 > 3:26:31couple of reds to the left of the black are definitely a plant. He

3:26:31 > 3:26:44does not have to do much with the cue ball here.

3:26:49 > 3:26:57I think he could have played that better.

3:26:57 > 3:27:08better. Can he get to the angle of the first? He could.

3:27:08 > 3:27:13the first? He could. I just thought he may have come a fraction short.

3:27:13 > 3:27:26Maybe another plant at the bottom of those reds.

3:27:26 > 3:27:38those reds. Maybe after his next red and black.

3:27:40 > 3:27:45He has played that in such a way as to not disturb those couple of reds.

3:27:45 > 3:28:00As you can see there are plant in this corner. -- they are a plant.

3:28:00 > 3:28:05Basically what it means, the fact that it is a plant, he does not have

3:28:05 > 3:28:09to be playing any cannons. He does not have to trust to luck in this

3:28:09 > 3:28:22position. 30 points the lead. Still needing at least four of these reds.

3:28:22 > 3:28:31Played that nicely. Now a couple of reds to go here. The one next to the

3:28:31 > 3:28:43black and the one nearest to the pink.

3:28:47 > 3:28:50Almost got to the winning post in the last frame. But obviously

3:28:50 > 3:29:09failed. A few more pots away from winning this frame.

3:29:18 > 3:29:21We have been blessed with a couple of great matches already in this

3:29:21 > 3:29:28championship. Mark Selby and Mark Williams, a high-quality encounter.

3:29:28 > 3:29:31And last night Mark Allen against Luca Brecel another high-quality

3:29:31 > 3:29:37match.

3:29:37 > 3:29:41match. And in the same vein fantastic snooker, lots of nerves,

3:29:41 > 3:29:49lots of good breaks, lots of Mrs.

3:29:51 > 3:29:56-- misses.

3:29:56 > 3:30:01But really enthralling snooker here as so often the Alexandra Palace

3:30:01 > 3:30:08seems to produce. The match still very much alive.

3:30:15 > 3:30:19As all great champions do, they sometimes find something when

3:30:19 > 3:30:24they're at a point of no return. And that's what Ding Junhui has

3:30:24 > 3:30:31managed to find in this frame so far. Still got to do it in the next

3:30:31 > 3:30:39couple as well. He's still in with a shout. Good stuff.

3:30:39 > 3:30:46And a chance of fourth century of the match. Ding Junhui has made one.

3:30:46 > 3:30:53The 111 he made in the first frame and Ryan Day made 105 and 125 so the

3:30:53 > 3:30:56standard has been really good. There has been a few scrappy games, but

3:30:56 > 3:30:59that's just added to the excitement. You don't want everything being

3:30:59 > 3:31:08potted. You need a few misses and a uoohs and ahs.

3:31:19 > 3:31:26So this pink for the further century of the match.

3:31:29 > 3:31:35Quality. High, high quality. APPLAUSE

3:31:35 > 3:31:39Well, he misses a black. That doesn't matter, but Ding Junhui

3:31:39 > 3:31:46steps up to the plate there and produced and he is now within one of

3:31:46 > 3:31:53Ryan Day. Ryan Day still one away from victory.

3:31:53 > 3:31:55COMMENTATOR: We have had seven centuries already.

3:31:55 > 3:31:58COMMENTATOR: We have had seven centuries already. John it is a sell

3:31:58 > 3:32:02out tomorrow for Ronnie O'Sullivan, a big crowd, not a sell-out and

3:32:02 > 3:32:05being treated to another fantastic afternoon?Brilliant, I don't know

3:32:05 > 3:32:10how much they paid for their ticket, but they will have been glad with

3:32:10 > 3:32:14the standard that's on offer for them. Ryan Day will be kicking

3:32:14 > 3:32:17himself. He smashed into the pack at the beginning of that game and he

3:32:17 > 3:32:21didn't get on the green, but he potted a good blue, but it was the

3:32:21 > 3:32:28shot after that, Steve, when he lost the cue ball.As Ken said, if he

3:32:28 > 3:32:31potted it, it could have been the match winner, but it was a shot he

3:32:31 > 3:32:36didn't really want to be having to play. There was an easier way to go

3:32:36 > 3:32:40about things, but he has still got two bites of the cherry so you never

3:32:40 > 3:32:44know.What's thrilling with the Masters is the confidence you get

3:32:44 > 3:32:53from winning frames well and Ryan that with that 105 and 125, this is

3:32:53 > 3:32:57a test of Ryan's mental strength? The player that's behind is always

3:32:57 > 3:33:04dangerous because he has got less to lose, but Ding won't want to go out

3:33:04 > 3:33:08with waverper. He will be fighting. Sometimes it seems as if Ding hasn't

3:33:08 > 3:33:14got the fire in his belly. It is not a crit ysmt, it is the way he goes

3:33:14 > 3:33:16about his business, but sometimes, he looks a bit flat. Other players

3:33:16 > 3:33:21seem to have a bit more fire when they are sitting in their chair, but

3:33:21 > 3:33:28it is probably juths the way he looks.We have had a 6-5 between

3:33:28 > 3:33:35these two at the German Masters which Ding won and Ryan won a match

3:33:35 > 3:33:376-5 in the International Championship, are we thinking this

3:33:37 > 3:33:43is going the whole wra?Well, you are.It is not about me, John, I

3:33:43 > 3:33:50think you'll find. Well, not always!

3:33:56 > 3:34:04COMMENTATOR: Not the best break off.

3:34:07 > 3:34:14A terrific opening red and he has finished on the black.

3:34:14 > 3:34:17APPLAUSE It just shows you the difference

3:34:17 > 3:34:23having that cue ball near the baulk cushion.

3:34:23 > 3:34:33Well, where is the red ball going? Well, that is a result in a way.

3:34:33 > 3:34:37Because I doubt whether he was on anything, but for knocking that red

3:34:37 > 3:34:45towards the middle.

3:34:49 > 3:34:59Well, perfect on the blue for the smash if that what he feels like.

3:34:59 > 3:35:04Oh well. It's not unlucky. He played to

3:35:04 > 3:35:08cannon the pink full in the face and got into the cue ball too much.

3:35:08 > 3:35:20That's what he was after. Just catching the red half ball.

3:35:20 > 3:35:24catching the red half ball. A few twist and turns now and they're all

3:35:24 > 3:35:32gaining in magnitude. Every bit of bad luck, bad roll of

3:35:32 > 3:35:44the ball could cost you the match. So a chance for Ryan.

3:35:44 > 3:35:47So a chance for Ryan. Played it well. Played that with lots of

3:35:47 > 3:35:51bottom and just dragged it in to hold for the black. Played it

3:35:51 > 3:35:59nicely.Yes, just needs to nudge the two reds just above and to the right

3:35:59 > 3:36:05of the black here. Just nudge them into pottable position.

3:36:05 > 3:36:14He played that very well. He played it with a lot of power. Watch the

3:36:14 > 3:36:20cue ball bounce through the reds. That has certainly opened things up

3:36:20 > 3:36:25lovely now. The two reds above the black are open. When he pots this

3:36:25 > 3:36:33red he may go back up for the blue or a baulk colour here. Well, the

3:36:33 > 3:36:41pink is on as well. He won't get a better opportunity than this.

3:36:55 > 3:36:58We say it so many times, but it is just a case of holding yourself

3:36:58 > 3:37:05together now. But he has produced some good snooker in this match to

3:37:05 > 3:37:11get back into a winnable position. So, he shouldn't be doubting himself

3:37:11 > 3:37:22at this crucial moment.

3:37:34 > 3:37:40Just checking to see whether the pink will go into the left centre

3:37:40 > 3:37:47pocket. He will want to be straighter on this red to drop it in

3:37:47 > 3:37:52and get close to the black. Could play the red that's closest to the

3:37:52 > 3:37:58black, but then he's got to play a delicate little cannon on the black

3:37:58 > 3:38:01and that could go wrong.He is certainly giving it plenty of

3:38:01 > 3:38:06thought. The one thing you want to do in these swaugsz is don't over

3:38:06 > 3:38:16think it and lose your rhythm. -- situations is don't over think it

3:38:16 > 3:38:21and lose your rhythm. It looks as though he is on the black. He's down

3:38:21 > 3:38:28quick so he must like the potting angle.

3:38:30 > 3:38:34angle. Yes, he was absolutely inch perfect. I agree with you Ken,

3:38:34 > 3:38:41couldn't ask for a better chance than this.

3:39:06 > 3:39:13The red just by the pink is available into left middle. So still

3:39:13 > 3:39:19in good position.

3:39:24 > 3:39:28A nice screw back for the two reds on the right-hand side of the table.

3:39:28 > 3:39:33The red at the bottom of the bunch of four below the pink also pots,

3:39:33 > 3:39:39but I think where his cue is pointing there, two reds he'll have

3:39:39 > 3:39:50into the left centre and screw back in a straight line from here.

3:39:50 > 3:39:57Looking at Ding Junhui sat in his seat, you just wonder has his race

3:39:57 > 3:40:03been run? He'll be thinking he might not get

3:40:03 > 3:40:09back to the table.

3:40:09 > 3:40:16back to the table. And played that nicely. So, the frame and the match

3:40:16 > 3:40:24at his mercy.

3:40:30 > 3:40:36Well, it could have gone wrong, but the four-ball kiss on the red has

3:40:36 > 3:40:47left him once again in good position.

3:40:53 > 3:41:01Over two hours and 50 minutes so far. It has been a high quality,

3:41:01 > 3:41:08entertaining first round match here. We have seen already seen four

3:41:08 > 3:41:16centuries. We could see another one. Ryan certainly won't be thinking of

3:41:16 > 3:41:26that just glancing at the scores. He's 50 points ahead.

3:41:26 > 3:41:31He's 50 points ahead.Yes, 50 points ahead, that really equates to two

3:41:31 > 3:41:38reds, two pinks would do it.

3:41:53 > 3:41:59And a lesson for a lot of young, aspiring snooker players, I mean, at

3:41:59 > 3:42:043-0 it was just a one horse race, Ryan was doing absolutely nothing

3:42:04 > 3:42:08and wasn't contributing to the match and was putting Ding Junhui under no

3:42:08 > 3:42:13pressure whatsoever and now just a couple of pots away from victory.

3:42:13 > 3:42:17Against the world number four.That just shows you how quick a match can

3:42:17 > 3:42:22turn around. You never give up. Always keep

3:42:22 > 3:42:26fighting.

3:42:34 > 3:42:40REFEREE:Just hurry up, please. PHONE RINGS

3:42:40 > 3:42:45REFEREE:Please turn it off.It won't be putting Ryan off. He is in

3:42:45 > 3:42:49a comfort zone a the moment. He knows he only needs another red and

3:42:49 > 3:42:55a colour.

3:42:55 > 3:42:57a colour. And another disappointing performance from Ding Junhui, it has

3:42:57 > 3:43:07to be said.

3:43:08 > 3:43:15APPLAUSE

3:43:15 > 3:43:29A tremendous performance from Ryan Day. One more red just to make sure.