First Round: Ding Junhui v Ryan Day Masters Snooker


First Round: Ding Junhui v Ryan Day

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Transcript


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Hello and welcome back to Alexandra

Palace and the second day of the

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Masters. Today we feature a man who

has led the Chinese invasion of the

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top rankings in the World Snooker,

Ding Junhui. But he has had mixed

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fortunes here at the Masters.

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So his 14th appearance at the

Masters. He lost to Ronnie

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O'Sullivan in the final in 2007

before he took the title in 2011.

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But since the event moved to

Alexandra Palace in 2012 he has won

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just one match in six years, not a

great record and that was last year.

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The man who he has to be today if he

is to win just his second match here

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at Alexandra Palace is Ryan Day. He

shook off his tag last year of being

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the best player in the world not to

want a ranking event. Good to have

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him back at the Masters. We're

looking forward to welcoming Ryan

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Day back to the Masters and also

saying big hello to John Parrott

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making his first appearance at the

Masters on the BBC. Having a day off

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yesterday? Nothing to do with a big

football match! Great to have Ryan

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Day back at the Masters.

A solid

professional. He has that added

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confidence now from winning the

tour. He has been a great player for

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a long time but he just needed that

when to give him confidence.

He is

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going to take some stopping.

A tough

match? And winning composed of

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momentum is like gold dust in any

sport and if you do not have it,

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regardless of your performances in

previous years, you are short of

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that match play and confidence. So

Ding Junhui is coming into this

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match having had a fantastic season

and really he has got to prove

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himself again and the first round is

tough in any case.

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tough in any case.

Well he has

gotten beaten before and his

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confidence will be fragile which

will not help.

But he did win the

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world ( September. This is an

entirely different event and

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something wrong with his

performances here at Alexandra

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Palace, is that just the pressure of

the venue?

I have no idea, it is a

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strange one. He went for a long time

not been able to win at the Crucible

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but no reason why he should not like

this place.

He has to get off to

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good start. Yes and even in the of

11 and matches that are even longer,

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a good start is essential as we saw

yesterday with Mark William.

It is a

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nice way to get. Well two matches

already done. This is the draw and

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results so far.

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Ronnie O'Sullivan the reigning

champion plays Marco Fu tomorrow.

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Mark Allen of Northern Ireland is

through and faces Luca Brecel. John

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Higgins opens up against Anthony

McGill and all Scotland clash was

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dark and light this afternoon is

Ding Junhui taking on Ryan Day. Judd

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Trump twice a semifinalist plays

Liang Wenbo. And Shaun Murphy takes

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on Ali Carter. Barry Hawkins the

runner-up in 2016 faces Kyren

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Wilson. And what a match yesterday,

Mark Williams beating Mark Selby

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6-5. We really enjoyed that match

yesterday. And the headlines in

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newspapers today saying Mark

Williams, my time to shine. He asked

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for the trophy to be taken out

because it was shining in his eyes!

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Your reaction to Mark Selby going

out?

I thought it was a horrible

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draw for both players. They have a

similar record against each other.

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When the draw came out I thought it

was going to be close.

And Mark

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Selby said in an interview that he

was the one player he wanted to

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avoid, Mark Williams.

Mark Williams

is a previous winner and on form he

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is a handful for anyone. But for

Mark Selby it is tough because

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expectations on him are massive,

world number one, world champion.

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And you know that all these players

are capable but you still have to

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prove yourself as world champion. So

for Mark Williams he will be

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delighted.

The beauty of the Masters

is anyone can beat anyone.

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Absolutely and this tournament tells

you that every year. The best

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players, but not a great shock that

he went out.

Mark Selby will be

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watching that over and over again.

Thinking that he could still be in

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the draw.

There is always not

involved and the longer session

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matches can negate that a bit but

still missing that ball along the

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top cushion was critical for Mark

Selby. Mark Williams I think did

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enough to put under pressure one

person that will not say out loud

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but will be quite pleased that Mark

Selby is out is Ronnie O'Sullivan.

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It makes his job a little bit

easier.

You're absolutely right.

It

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opens up the draw. I'm not so sure

it was completely open anyway. You

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would be looking at Ronnie

O'Sullivan maybe as the favourite

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and maybe Mark Selby for the bottom

half. But there are a lot of matches

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to be played before being able to

think I'm lucky to avoid Mark Selby.

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I'm sitting on the fence for the

four tournament. -- for the whole

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tournament. We are supposed to be

experts, we haven't got a clue!

A

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great day yesterday for Wales with

Mark Williams.

Another Welshman

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going through today? There's every

chance. The start of the match today

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is very important. Ding Junhui could

be a bit fragile and if Ryan Day

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could get off a good start, he has a

say in the match was dubbed thank

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you very much and time to hand over

to rob Walker.

Good afternoon, it is

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the second day of the most

prestigious invitational tournament

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in snooker, this is Alexandra Palace

and China against Wales for a place

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in the quarterfinals.

APPLAUSE

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and China against Wales for a place

in the quarterfinals.

APPLAUSE.

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Please welcome a player returning to

the Masters for the first time in

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eight years. Quarterfinalist at

Wembley in 2010, this will be his

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first walk down the stairs here at

Alexandra Palace. Earlier this

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season in his 20th year as a pro he

achieved a lifelong dream, taking

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his maiden ranking title at the

Ricoh Masters. He is the pride of

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Wales, he's dynamite, he is Ryan

Day.

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MUSIC: The Passenger by Iggy Pop.

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And his opponent, a man whose

achievements have inspired a

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generation of players and fans back

home. Twice the Masters finalist. He

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won the all Nations clash at Wembley

in 2011 and earlier this season

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secured the 13th ranking title

taking the World Open. He is without

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doubt the finest from China, enter

the Dragon, Ding Junhui!

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APPLAUSE

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the Dragon, Ding Junhui!

APPLAUSE.

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MUSIC: Breaking News by Jordan Chan.

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Well how lovely to see Ding Junhui

walking in and smiling. This could

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be a more relaxed player. He has got

to win here and he has a really

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tough match against Ryan Day.

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Thank you, Ding Junhui looking the

joys of spring there.

Absolutely.

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Looking forward to this match.

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Looking forward to this match. It

could be quite close. In the early

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exchanges, Ding Junhui has not had

the best of records here. A winner

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here in 2011. But his form of late

has not been fantastic. He has been

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suffering a little bit from

conjunctivitis as well. Hopefully

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he's OK and we're going to see what

he's all about. And of course what

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this young man is all about as well,

Ryan Day. Delighted to see him

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winning his first ranking tournament

after being beaten in four previous

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finals.

Absolutely, he is such a

talent. Comes from a hotbed of

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snooker of course, Wales.

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snooker of course, Wales. There is

the flight, may be the same as

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yesterday!

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--fly.

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At this level as per usual case of

who could create the first chance

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and when you get the chance, can you

score heavily. That is the secret of

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success at this level.

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That just caught the red, played too

thick and careered into the other

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red. So the first chance to Ding

Junhui.

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A good opening round. We talked

about scoring heavily and not too

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many better in the game than this

young man. He has made 147 six

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times.

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times. Right on top of the cue ball!

Pretty hard to play when that is

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their!

Steve Davis must've opened his

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wallet!

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He has underhit that and maybe broke

his concentration. He could still

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part the red to the left of the

black but a lot further down the

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table.

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A bit of a let off for Ryan Day.

Ding Junhui just trying to get on

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that red to the bottom right-hand

corner pocket.

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There is a gap between the red and

the black. Found the gap but a long

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way away from the pot. He has got

away with it.

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A little bit surprised with the

record of Ding Junhui, only winning

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one match here.

It is amazing,

really. Such a talent.

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really. Such a talent. But you're

playing the top players here from

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the first match and you have got to

be right on your game from the

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start. He was just slightly below

form and then you're out of it. The

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last two meetings in fact of these

two players, Ryan Day has been the

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winner in both.

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winner in both. But they've had some

good battles in big tournaments, the

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World Championships. The UK

Championships. Not best-of-7

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affairs. We've had some really tough

matches. Ryan Day, the word is

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overused but you would have to say

he is an underachiever, he has so

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much ability.

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much ability.

Maybe that win at the

beginning of the season will just

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give him that extra bit of belief.

Until you get that first ranking

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tournament win on the belt you're

always that bit nervous against the

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top players. Maybe that bit of

belief, that tournament will give

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him confidence against the top

players and especially on occasions

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like this.

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like this.

Now Ding Junhui knows

that he is careering into the second

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red but just make sure of that pot

and trust to luck. If it goes. Maybe

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should've played it with bit more

pace. He is on the black, it is a

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tough one. A bit more pace required.

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I think that was a slight miscue,

that is why he is looking at his

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tip. Did not really connect with the

cue ball the way he wanted. So

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missed it by quite some margin.

He's

one of few players, when he is near

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the cushion, most players just

strike down slightly but he keeps it

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parallel.

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This is an opportunity to get his

hands on the table and get a few

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points on the scoreboard now, Ryan

Day.

Just coming around to have a

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look at the two reds. The one

nearest the bottom right-hand corner

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pocket looks like it will pot. Also

having a look to see if the second

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one will pass. Quite tight.

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one will pass. Quite tight. Hit this

too hard. Wanted to be a bit

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straighter on this red.

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A double-kiss on the red but still

OK.

That was the danger, the

0:18:080:18:15

double-kiss. But still on the black.

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That was the problem, he had to play

with a lot of right-hand side and

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you put aside on and you have to

allow for the throw and he did not

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judge it well. A lot of right-hand

side.

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He has got the perfect angle for

that red. Above the black and to the

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left. That is the one. He is on the

other red of course perfectly.

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other red of course perfectly. One

of the finest break-builders in the

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game. Hopefully we will see evidence

of this today as he gets a kick on

0:19:300:19:38

that cue ball.

0:19:380:19:43

that cue ball. You can see the red

jump.

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APPLAUSE

0:20:030:20:03

APPLAUSE.

0:20:030:20:08

Good recovery. He has got a lovely

touch. That is why he is such a good

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break-builder.

Some lovely moves. He

was unlucky there to get the kick.

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He's going to play a different red

to the one he would like. Landed

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absolutely plumb.

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When he pops this he will push

another couple of reds into play.

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This will open things up.

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The two reds I'm sure we'll pot into

the middle or bottom right-hand

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corner pocket. So not too much work

to do with the cue ball.

0:21:330:21:42

He has got a nice angle on it as you

can see. Made light work of art,

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good shot. And one more red and the

first frame is in the bag.

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The crowd recognising that that was

the prime all. His opponent now

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leads the snooker. I do not think

you will be coming back to the table

0:22:290:22:33

when Ding Junhui has finished with

ease. His cue ball has been

0:22:330:22:36

absolutely pinpoint.

0:22:360:22:46

Playing for this red in the right

middle tells me that possibly the

0:23:050:23:11

red just below the pink was not

available, but it is now.

0:23:110:23:23

Yesterday we spoke about how fast

this table was playing. And Ding

0:23:310:23:36

Junhui has certainly got the pace of

it straightaway.

0:23:360:23:47

it straightaway. Made 462 centuries

in his career. Six times a 147. Only

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made nine centuries this season. 36

last season. That will be evidence

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of how his standard has dropped this

season. This is a nice way to start

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his campaign for top here at the

Masters.

0:24:070:24:18

Masters.

He finished last season so

well. In the final of the World

0:24:180:24:25

Championships with Mark Selby. Put

in a great performance. Maybe this

0:24:250:24:32

is a kick-start to the season if he

has a good in this tournament.

0:24:320:24:36

That's never looked in doubt. That

was a tricky black he had to play. A

0:24:360:24:45

good start. And Ryan Day just had to

watch. And it was good watching.

0:24:450:24:58

Amazing stuff from Ding Junhui and

worthy of a little round of

0:24:580:25:01

applause.

Superb. I do not think too

many players can move the cue ball

0:25:010:25:14

less, his positional play is so

accurate. And he makes every shot

0:25:140:25:18

looks simple. That was a wonderful

break. Ryan Day will be kicking

0:25:180:25:22

himself. He was in first with a

chance. We said he needed a good

0:25:220:25:26

start. He had a good opportunity but

fluffed his lines.

Well a lot of

0:25:260:25:32

pressure that Ding Junhui faces

here, he took the lead in the

0:25:320:25:37

opening match against Kyren Wilson

last year and coming out in a

0:25:370:25:41

similar mood this year.

You can only

play the shops that are presented to

0:25:410:25:46

you and you either get them all you

do not, that is the game of snooker.

0:25:460:25:51

If your opponent starts missing at

any time in the match it can give

0:25:510:25:54

you more confidence. So it is a

competition, you are vying for a

0:25:540:26:01

table time. If you're on the table

most the time it is good but if the

0:26:010:26:08

other guy shows he's going to stand

up against you it makes it harder so

0:26:080:26:11

it is all about dominating the

table. And Ding Junhui is a good

0:26:110:26:18

dominant force. So Ryan Day has got

to show some strength at some stage.

0:26:180:26:24

But best of 11, you still have a

chance.

What about the pace of the

0:26:240:26:29

table? It looks beautiful. You can

see from the way that Ding Junhui

0:26:290:26:35

made the break he has got it

straightaway. You can expect the

0:26:350:26:38

table to be in superb condition

here, it always is.

Expecting to

0:26:380:26:44

break the century record this year?

It is hard to say, it looks like the

0:26:440:26:50

pocket is generous but it is a

brand-new cloth in perfect

0:26:500:26:54

condition. Today the table has

bedded in a little bit.

31 is the

0:26:540:27:00

record. And we saw that fly.

0:27:000:27:18

Playback in such a way that that was

the only red he would be leaving.

0:27:410:27:54

APPLAUSE

0:27:590:27:59

APPLAUSE.

0:27:590:28:06

Ryan Day will be disappointed from

that chance in the first round.

You

0:28:060:28:15

have to play with right-hand side.

The harder you play it the more that

0:28:150:28:20

the cue ball will push. He just

played it too slow. It is one of

0:28:200:28:24

those things. This is the shot.

0:28:240:28:33

those things. This is the shot. The

side just took it in full stop the

0:28:330:28:40

difference is because he had good

position on the balls all the time,

0:28:400:28:44

the black and the red to get back on

the black, you do not have to use

0:28:440:28:48

side. And it is so much easier then.

So positional play, cue ball

0:28:480:28:58

control, still the most important

factors in the game when you get in

0:28:580:29:01

with a chance.

0:29:010:29:12

I think Ding Junhui will be tempted

by the red that's just below the

0:29:380:29:41

blue. Well, he's not. He's not going

for it. Well, that surprises me.

0:29:410:29:54

Well, he's now had second thoughts

and he's taking it on. He missed it

0:29:540:30:04

by a way, but it was the right shot.

It was a shot to play.

0:30:040:30:13

I mean you play those shots thinking

its only red you can leave is the

0:30:160:30:20

one you're playing and he didn't

leave it.

0:30:200:30:28

That's a bit careless there from

Ryan. There is no way that red

0:30:280:30:31

should have ran into the brown.

0:30:310:30:38

should have ran into the brown.

I'm

sure he can try and drop this red

0:30:380:30:40

in. It's a very acute angle, but...

0:30:400:30:47

Well, decided against it. I'm a bit

surprised there.

0:30:510:31:01

This looks a good line.

APPLAUSE

0:31:100:31:18

Well, we did say he was suffering

from conservativitis. There is

0:31:300:31:37

nothing wrong with his eyesight.

That was a really good shot there.

0:31:370:31:46

He will be taking this one on to the

bottom left-hand pocket and for the

0:31:510:31:57

blue. There was a bit of movement on

the last red he took to the blue. He

0:31:570:32:01

missed it by quite some way. Maybe

we'll get a good look at them here.

0:32:010:32:06

The most important is sto stay so

still on these type of shots.

0:32:060:32:14

Much better. Much better. Excellent

shot.

0:32:150:32:25

He has got a choice of brown or

blue. The blue wouldn't be too

0:32:340:32:41

difficult.

0:32:410:32:46

difficult. But he feels he wants to

be in a nice position on the red.

0:32:480:32:54

And it looks as though he's just hit

correctly. Only just. But just is

0:32:540:33:07

enough.

0:33:070:33:08

Decided against potting the black

and going into the pack. He will

0:33:360:33:40

still be on this red, but back up

for the blue here. It's a good angle

0:33:400:33:47

to try and split these reds.

0:33:470:33:57

Would like a little bit more angle.

0:33:580:34:02

Yeah, just landed straight on that

blue and couldn't generate enough

0:34:200:34:23

pace. Tried to force it and that's

why the cue ball drew wide off the

0:34:230:34:34

pack.

0:34:340:34:40

A nice little nudge off the green

made it a better safety shot than it

0:35:300:35:37

looked. So he has got to be careful

here, has Ryan. Those two reds on

0:35:370:35:41

the right-hand side of the table as

we look at the problem balls if you

0:35:410:35:45

like. So he, I was going to say he

may come off the left-hand side

0:35:450:35:50

cushion, but there is a red

available to the other corner so he

0:35:500:35:54

has got to avoid those two reds on

the right-hand side of the table

0:35:540:35:57

here at all costs. He's going to hit

the red on the way up. Has he been

0:35:570:36:05

lucky? At first glance maybe he has.

0:36:050:36:15

He has been very lucky. He got away

with that. He could have left the

0:36:180:36:23

red closest to the left-hand corner

pocket. Just a safety from Ding. Try

0:36:230:36:31

and leave the cue ball maybe in the

jaws of the grey pocket. He has

0:36:310:36:37

decided against that. He has gone

for a ball cushion, but somewhere in

0:36:370:36:42

the jaws of that pocket may have

been, he may have left this red on.

0:36:420:36:52

He going for the thin cut here. He

overcut t where is the cue ball

0:36:580:37:05

going?

That's the fourth today,

John.

0:37:050:37:14

John.

He is a little unlucky because

you know as well as I do, Ken. You

0:37:150:37:22

look at that shot and think it's as

thin as a can. To overcut it, you

0:37:220:37:28

couldn't envisage that.

0:37:280:37:37

couldn't envisage that. And now Ryan

has got to sit-in his seat and

0:37:370:37:40

wonder if he's going to get back to

the table because Ding is that type

0:37:400:37:45

of player that once he gets in, you

fear the worst.

0:37:450:37:58

Well, there is a surprise.

0:38:290:38:32

There wasn't too much difficulty in

that one.

0:38:350:38:41

OK, Ding may not have left anything,

but that will give Ryan a little bit

0:38:410:38:46

of hope. That Ding Junhui isn't a

machine and when he gets in, he

0:38:460:38:53

isn't going to win every frame in

each visit. He needs a good safety

0:38:530:38:58

here and that cue ball tight to the

cushion. Just like that. A good

0:38:580:39:05

shot.

APPLAUSE

0:39:050:39:13

He has got to be looking to get that

cue ball tight to the middle of the

0:39:440:39:52

baulk cushion. Looks

straightforward. Just got to get the

0:39:520:39:57

pace right. He should have hit a

little bit thicker than that for me.

0:39:570:40:08

If this cue ball had of been tight

he wouldn't have been abling to

0:40:080:40:12

swing it round tight of three

cushions as he can do now.

0:40:120:40:21

cushions as he can do now. But

nevertheless, maybe a chance here.

0:40:210:40:24

Can't get lieu to the ones on the

right corner, but the ones on the

0:40:240:40:29

left corner are on and the one thing

that he's blessed with Ryan Day, he

0:40:290:40:33

has got plenty of cue power.

0:40:330:40:43

has got plenty of cue power.

He

could try and pot this without - it

0:40:430:40:47

looks, from his body expression,

maybe it is a little bit too

0:40:470:40:50

straight, but he maybe able to use

the jaw of the pocket here. It looks

0:40:500:40:54

like he's screwing back so it's dead

straight. Well, it was a long way

0:40:540:41:01

away. It cost him dearly.

He might have been better just

0:41:010:41:10

trying to pot the red and leave the

cue ball somewhere where the red was

0:41:100:41:14

and possibly take

0:41:140:41:19

and possibly take it a little bit --

if he had the choice he might have

0:41:220:41:26

played that shot a lot differently.

0:41:260:41:33

It's such a difficult shot to play,

John, from that Danes, of course,

0:41:340:41:39

you know.

0:41:390:41:44

you know.

Yes, I agree with you. I

didn't see a necessity to try and

0:41:450:41:50

hit it that parred. Hard. We are

only in round two. No need for that.

0:41:500:41:57

And also he was bridging long.

0:41:570:42:05

I say bridging long, you would have

felt if he could have done, he would

0:42:050:42:09

have tried to put his hand on the

table. Anyway, Ding Junhui gets

0:42:090:42:18

another good chance.

0:42:180:42:28

He is only looking for another 26

points now from this visit.

0:42:280:42:36

points now from this visit. To

clinch this second frame. And Ryan

0:42:370:42:43

Day's pot success is 43%. He had

three ot of seven. -- out of seven.

0:42:430:42:50

The fact that he only had seven pots

to go at is remarkable and long pot

0:42:500:42:58

success none out of three. So not

the best start. Not the start he was

0:42:580:43:07

looking for, but you remember, it is

best of 11.

0:43:070:43:16

Oh. Oh. Oh.

Just the pace I think,

took that in. He thought he missed

0:43:160:43:26

it and that's why he jumped up.

0:43:260:43:34

it and that's why he jumped up. How

did that go in?

I don't know. It got

0:43:340:43:41

three ohs from me!

0:43:410:43:48

APPLAUSE

Frame ball.

0:44:110:44:14

May take the red off this side

cushion and knock it over the left

0:44:430:44:48

middle. A delicate little shot.

APPLAUSE

0:44:480:45:00

Come across it a little bit, but

Ryan says that's enough, he stays in

0:45:060:45:10

his chair. So Ding Junhui wins the

second frame and now goes into a 2-0

0:45:100:45:18

lead against Ryan Day.

0:45:180:45:25

So there he is, he'll be feeling

very good about himself. He works a

0:46:290:46:34

lot now on the mental side with

Terry Griffiths. So, he'll keep him

0:46:340:46:41

in a good place. The perfect start.

0:46:410:46:54

That's the beautiful Waterford

Crystal trophy that they're playing

0:46:560:46:59

for this week. The Paul Hunter

Trophy as it's aptly named.

0:46:590:47:11

Beautiful.

0:47:110:47:18

Of course, he won it three times,

the great Paul Hunter. 10-9 in every

0:47:210:47:28

final they won, John.

Amazing.

Amazing.

7-2 down to Ronnie

0:47:280:47:38

O'Sullivan and I think Fergal

O'Brien.

And beat Mark Williams one

0:47:380:47:42

year. So it wasn't as if he was just

picking up the pieces. Yes, just sad

0:47:420:47:49

he was taken away so prematurely.

So that's where it was and that's

0:47:490:48:02

where it is now. Well, it looks

perfect. A bit careless to hit the

0:48:020:48:09

pink in all honesty. These 6 points

could make all the difference at the

0:48:090:48:13

end of this frame. It could make the

difference between just needing the

0:48:130:48:21

blue or the blue and the pink.

Or the blue, pink and black.

Or the

0:48:210:48:30

blue, pink and black.

Well, he has got to be careful, he's

0:48:300:48:40

coming around the right-hand side of

the table just to make sure he's not

0:48:400:48:43

knocking a red while playing this

shot. He's not knocking a red

0:48:430:48:48

towards the left-hand corner pocket.

Well, he has got to hit the reds

0:48:480:48:55

first I suppose.

0:48:550:49:04

Yes, a miss has been called, but

Ding Junhui is probably thinking

0:49:070:49:10

well, I would rather play it from

here. There is a chance of getting

0:49:100:49:14

in behind the green off this safety.

If not the green, the brown.

0:49:140:49:22

He played it pretty well.

He wouldn't have expected Ryan to

0:49:220:49:30

miss it again, but he has left a pot

on here. Got to start knocking these

0:49:300:49:34

in.

And he has done! If he slows up he

0:49:340:49:41

should be on the green. It needs to

slow up. It's always the way, isn't

0:49:410:49:46

it? You're desperate for a chance

and he just ran that two or three

0:49:460:49:50

inches too far.

0:49:500:49:59

APPLAUSE

Well, that was a wonderful escape.

0:50:440:50:46

Lovely touch.

0:50:460:50:56

He left Ryan Day with a little bit

of trouble. He maybe wondering

0:50:560:51:00

whether he can hit the red and use

the knuckle of the middle pocket to

0:51:000:51:05

get that cue ball down towards the

baulk area.

0:51:050:51:12

That's a possible shot. I'm not

quite sure he can, he has got to

0:51:190:51:25

tray and well. Is he going to try

and use the knuckle? No, just

0:51:250:51:29

pushing it to safety.

0:51:290:51:36

Well, this red will cut, but he's

going to play it with a lot of

0:51:580:52:03

left-hand side. Which is what he

did. Just to check it up. Has he had

0:52:030:52:08

a result?

Well, a little bit of one. This red

0:52:080:52:15

would definitely have tempted Ding

Junhui, but hampered by the brown.

0:52:150:52:18

He won't be wanting to play it now.

0:52:180:52:25

A weak safety.

0:52:420:52:45

So Ryan may consider taking this red

on. Just coming round to have a look

0:52:470:52:52

what's available. Don't know where

the black goes. Pink obviously is

0:52:520:52:58

available and the blue. But he needs

to knock this in. A big shot this.

0:52:580:53:06

He has got it.

APPLAUSE

0:53:060:53:09

And the way he has played it tells

me that the black must go.

0:53:090:53:19

Yes, it does go. But it is a thin

one and it's into what we call a

0:53:190:53:26

blind pocket. That's because you can

see the cue ball, the object ball,

0:53:260:53:30

but you haven't got the pocket in

line. So he needs to pick out the

0:53:300:53:36

angle and commit.

Much too thin. Much too thin.

0:53:360:53:49

I think it has to be said at the

moment, Ken, that Ding Junhui is not

0:54:030:54:08

having to work too hard fond his

chances.

No, he's just picking up

0:54:080:54:13

the piece, yeah. A missed black in

the first round from Ryan. A missed

0:54:130:54:21

pot in the second and it cost him

the frame.

0:54:210:54:29

I don't blame him for taking that

black on, of course and if he pots

0:54:330:54:37

it, he has got a good opportunity to

try and win the frame himself, but

0:54:370:54:42

it wasn't straightforward. It was

just as you said, John, it was a

0:54:420:54:47

blind pocket and it is always hard

to see the angle.

0:54:470:55:00

Just let that slip slightly.

I've

just put a little circle there,

0:55:390:55:45

John, the black is pottable. But if

he can get on that red to the left

0:55:450:55:48

of the black after potting this red

and the next black that would

0:55:480:55:52

certainly open this frame up

completely. And that's what he's

0:55:520:55:56

going to try and target here and try

and get on the black. A nice angle

0:55:560:56:00

on the black. Just a little bit off

straight. And when he nots black,

0:56:000:56:05

try and get on that red. Just to the

left of the black. That will in turn

0:56:050:56:09

open the two reds just above it.

0:56:090:56:15

open the two reds just above it. And

that will give him the frame-winning

0:56:170:56:20

chance now.

0:56:200:56:30

Oh, he has missed it. Wow.

0:56:330:56:39

It has to be said, he missed it by a

long way. It begs the question when

0:56:430:56:51

somebody misses when they're in

amongst the balls, what has he left?

0:56:510:56:59

The way Ryan is looking, not a lot.

0:57:010:57:08

Well, he was very fortunate there,

Ding Junhui, but this looks like a

0:57:130:57:18

good shot. This looks like a good

shot.

0:57:180:57:21

APPLAUSE

Has he got the snooker?

0:57:210:57:24

Just about.

0:57:240:57:32

APPLAUSE

0:57:460:57:55

Of course, that's another thing that

can happen at this game. Every time

0:57:550:57:59

Ryan misses he leaves Ding a chance

to get in and make a break. Ding

0:57:590:58:05

Junhui misses and left nothing.

That's the way it goes, isn't it,

0:58:050:58:09

sometimes?

Yes, roll of the ball.

But he can't complain about the

0:58:090:58:16

chances that he has had, Ryan Day.

He just hasn't made enough of them.

0:58:160:58:26

And this is a good line. This is

very, very good, indeed.

0:58:260:58:33

APPLAUSE

Oh.

0:58:330:58:39

Oh. He has definitely blocked the

path down the right-hand side of the

0:58:390:58:42

table.

0:58:420:58:47

That's an option. He can just try

and drop on the two reds that are

0:59:020:59:08

close to the left-hand corner

pocket. He has taken a bit more of

0:59:080:59:12

an expansive route here. He doesn't

want to leave a free ball. He

0:59:120:59:18

doesn't want to leave a free ball

here. Just short. I'm not sure why

0:59:180:59:26

you doesn't come off the left-hand

side cushion and just nestle into

0:59:260:59:31

those two reds on the top cushion.

Seems a pretty straightforward shot

0:59:310:59:39

and big target as well.

I can't give

you a reason why not.

0:59:390:59:47

The shot he's playing, you have got

to hit it perfect. If he catches the

0:59:470:59:53

reds too thick, he will possibly

leave the frame on.

0:59:530:59:56

As you say, that line just come off,

just past the middle pocket and

0:59:561:00:01

nestle on to the two reds near the

cushion. A strange choice.

1:00:011:00:14

Talking about the fact that he can

hit this red to the left of the

1:00:171:00:22

pink. To me he could always hear

that. Might need a bit of side.

1:00:221:00:30

that. Might need a bit of side.

--

always hit that. He has not even

1:00:311:00:34

looked at that. From this angle that

is just a straightforward shot. Past

1:00:341:00:43

the middle pocket.

1:00:431:00:50

the middle pocket.

If he catches it

to think it could cost him the

1:00:501:00:52

frame. -- too thick.

Could be a free

ball this time. The kiss on the

1:00:521:01:04

green would have been a free ball.

He has got to put it back again.

1:01:041:01:13

Just place it on the spot.

Maybe

just feels that that shot, the two

1:01:171:01:28

reds, the percussion is sliding ant

it will miss the two reds. -- the

1:01:281:01:35

percussion.

1:01:351:01:41

This is where it was and this is

where it is now. Looks perfect.

1:01:491:02:02

Try number three. He got it this

time.

1:02:391:02:54

I'm sure he heard the referee saying

1:02:561:03:06

to him I'm not boring you.

I am not

warning you!

I thought he said

1:03:061:03:16

boring you!

1:03:161:03:26

Some of them have been annoying me

over the years! When the misrule

1:03:321:03:38

came in it changed the goalposts.

The black ball going in. Is this a

1:03:381:03:53

free ball? Probably not. He will

have a look.

1:03:531:04:02

have a look. You cannot be snookered

by another red.

1:04:021:04:08

by another red. If it is covered by

another red, but the referee has not

1:04:091:04:17

called it. So we assume it is not.

Ryan of course has the option to

1:04:171:04:27

make his opponent play from work the

ball 's life.

1:04:271:04:39

-- balls lie.

1:04:391:04:44

Ryan Day has got to get a foothold

in this match.

1:04:441:04:56

That is not good enough. He has left

a pot on.

1:05:151:05:27

a pot on. He is bound to be on the

yellow if he gets near the baulk

1:05:271:05:33

line. Playing at the left corner as

we look. Just has to get past the

1:05:331:05:40

green. You do not want to nudge that

green. He's OK, he's on yellow.

1:05:401:05:53

He looks to have a nice angle on it.

It needs to slow up. It looked like

1:05:531:06:09

it was going to run out but its load

up to much. -- it slowed up to much.

1:06:091:06:23

He could play a little cannon on the

red perhaps.

1:06:341:06:48

He played it very well. A lovely

shot. Nicely played.

1:06:481:07:01

Average shot time for Ding Junhui

just 19 seconds, pretty quick. This

1:07:181:07:26

is a big target, he does not have to

take it, he has a 46 point lead. He

1:07:261:07:36

has played it very well. Could be a

frame-winner. Such a lovely touch.

1:07:361:07:54

APPLAUSE

1:08:241:08:24

APPLAUSE.

1:08:241:08:34

Ryan Day at the moment desperately

looking for a frame. And no sign of

1:09:021:09:08

it just yet. Ding Junhui leading by

three frames to nil.

1:09:081:09:17

A fantastic start by Ding Junhui and

exactly the same start he had in

1:09:171:09:20

that match against Kyren Wilson.

It

is a good start but Ryan Day has

1:09:201:09:27

been so sloppy in this match. He has

not made his opponent work hard for

1:09:271:09:32

anything. Occasionally he has one of

these matches where he does not seem

1:09:321:09:37

to be focused or concentrating

enough. Because everything has been

1:09:371:09:41

self-inflicted today.

I have been

watching Ryan Day through that

1:09:411:09:46

studio screen, a lot of grimacing

and his body language Ruby Paul.

You

1:09:461:09:50

can read too much into things like

that, it could be just on the day.

1:09:501:09:55

It is a big occasion and one-table

set-up it sorts people out. But if

1:09:551:10:09

you do not get off to a good start

you never settle. We've all been

1:10:091:10:12

there, just a horrible situation.

Your arms do not feel like your

1:10:121:10:14

arms. The moment you make a decent

break then you will settle. But

1:10:141:10:17

getting to that chance against a

good player like Ding Junhui gets

1:10:171:10:19

harder and harder.

Especially with

the mid-session interval coming up.

1:10:191:10:23

But if you're down it is hard to

come back.

He has got to start

1:10:231:10:27

playing in this frame. He will be

glad of the interval. It has just

1:10:271:10:33

been, I know Ding Junhui has had a

bit of a run as well, it seems every

1:10:331:10:38

time Ryan Day comes back but he has

been driving without due care and

1:10:381:10:48

attention.

We could be in danger of

not giving Ding Junhui enough

1:10:481:10:51

credit. Taking advantage of your

opponent not playing well.

Obviously

1:10:511:10:55

but Ding Junhui is a tried and

tested winner and a good front

1:10:551:11:00

runner and from that perspective it

gets harder for Ryan Day. Coming to

1:11:001:11:05

this match obviously Ding Junhui is

a favourite I'm sure even though he

1:11:051:11:10

did not have the competitive

momentum. And Ryan Day did well in

1:11:101:11:15

the season but still you have to

prove yourself in every event in the

1:11:151:11:18

first round.

Sometimes in these

matches you can be trying as hard as

1:11:181:11:24

you can and no matter how hard you

try, every chance you get, you graft

1:11:241:11:30

to get that but for Ding Junhui his

chances have come easily today.

And

1:11:301:11:34

he looks relaxed as well.

1:11:341:11:44

This is a must win frame. And I

agree, he has not put Ding Junhui

1:11:451:11:56

under any pressure whatsoever. A

poor safety shot in that last frame

1:11:561:12:00

when he had a good target to put

Ding Junhui in trouble. And not as

1:12:001:12:09

if Ding Junhui has been potting them

off the lampshades.

1:12:091:12:24

off the lampshades. When you

consider his game is built around

1:12:241:12:27

his potting but once again, poor

safety. It is never going to be a

1:12:271:12:34

good safety when you leave the cue

ball on the baulk line. Safety

1:12:341:12:44

success, 83% is always good for Ding

Junhui. I think he should be up in

1:12:441:12:51

the 90s on the safety.

1:12:511:13:01

the 90s on the safety. This looks

like a better length.

1:13:011:13:08

like a better length.

It is a must

win frame for Ryan Day. To turn this

1:13:091:13:15

match around.

1:13:151:13:21

match around. It would be a

difficult mountain to climb. What

1:13:211:13:27

has he left this time? Nothing. It

is a bit frustrating for Ryan Day.

1:13:271:13:39

He has missed a few, Ding Junhui, he

has not left a nice, easy

1:13:391:13:45

opportunity for Ryan Day. To get a

bit of confidence.

That is a decent

1:13:451:13:55

safety. Ding Junhui will have to be

wary for the red on the right-hand

1:13:551:14:02

side and avoid that to try to get

the cue ball done the right-hand

1:14:021:14:07

side.

1:14:071:14:17

Just safety. -- just a containing

safety.

1:14:381:14:50

A little bit thin on that. Once

again nothing easy left. And he

1:15:051:15:13

knows it.

1:15:131:15:18

If it misses the green this would be

a very good safety. And it has. Good

1:15:331:15:37

shot. Can he get the first chance in

this frame that is what he is

1:15:371:15:44

looking for.

1:15:441:15:49

Much too thick. Ryan Day absolutely

nothing to show for that hour of

1:16:151:16:25

concentration.

1:16:251:16:33

concentration. 290 days 18. The

balls potted not much better. 73

1:16:331:16:42

against five.

1:16:421:16:52

If he can win the frame, Ryan Day,

and go into the mid-session interval

1:16:531:16:59

just two behind having not really

played, he will go into the interval

1:16:591:17:04

with a little bit of hope. And this

looks to be a good line. If it

1:17:041:17:11

bounces it could finish behind the

green. A good shot.

1:17:111:17:24

He would be hoping to try to nestle

into the pack. Played pretty well.

1:17:521:18:02

Unlucky for Ryan Day again, it makes

the shop more difficult. A wry smile

1:18:021:18:09

from him, you would expect it to be

touching, it would make it so much

1:18:091:18:13

easier for him if it was.

Maybe the

possibility of a planet.

1:18:131:18:25

possibility of a planet. -- planet.

He does not have to do much with the

1:18:251:18:31

cue ball, he's bound to be on the

black. There is a line between

1:18:311:18:39

defence and attack, but I think I

would be tempted by the plant.

1:18:391:18:57

If the roles were reversed here, and

Ryan Day was ahead by three he might

1:18:571:19:04

go for this. But having a second

look.

1:19:041:19:17

look.

There is enough distance

between the two balls that it could

1:19:171:19:22

be made. He is not going to play it.

I think I would have been tempted.

1:19:221:19:38

Not the best. He needed to get the

cue ball back to the top cushion and

1:20:331:20:45

has not done it. Possibly play a

little cannon and nudge the black

1:20:451:20:52

on. Not far away. But not there.

1:20:521:21:09

The red on the right-hand side of

the table, he is looking to see if

1:21:211:21:26

he could play that to the far right

corner.

1:21:261:21:36

corner. He played to the middle and

he got it. What is he on, does the

1:21:361:21:44

green go to the left middle? Yes. He

has got the first chance. He needs

1:21:441:21:51

to take it.

APPLAUSE

1:21:511:22:01

to take it.

APPLAUSE.

1:22:011:22:06

That was a more confident stroke.

1:22:071:22:18

A lot of smiling and headshaking. It

should not be a problem on this

1:22:371:22:49

green.

1:22:491:22:54

The game can test you sometimes,

test your patience and everything

1:23:031:23:09

else. You just have to play the

balls as they come.

1:23:091:23:18

balls as they come. Nearly went

badly wrong. I would not say this

1:23:201:23:24

perfect. But if he can cue past the

pink for the yellow or the green,

1:23:241:23:32

brown would be an option. It is not

too bad.

1:23:321:23:40

APPLAUSE

1:23:501:23:51

APPLAUSE.

Amazingly enough that is his highest

1:23:511:23:58

break in the match so far.

1:23:581:24:04

In an ideal world that read closest

to the red middle, he would like to

1:24:181:24:27

leave it in case of emergency. Then

if you get in trouble, you always

1:24:271:24:35

have that as an insurance.

He could

play for the blue, try to get a nice

1:24:351:24:43

angle on the blue. Then he could go

into the pack knowing he has that

1:24:431:24:53

read over the middle as insurance.

He only needs to bring out two more

1:24:531:25:02

reds from this bunch. Does not have

to hit it with a tremendous amount

1:25:021:25:07

of pace. That will do. Could've been

bit better. But still nicely on this

1:25:071:25:17

red.

1:25:171:25:22

red. Want it to go into the middle

of the pack are opposed to the side.

1:25:231:25:27

He only knocked one out. Playing a

bit of a cannon on that bunch of

1:25:271:25:34

reds after. After this blue.

1:25:341:25:46

reds after. After this blue. Did not

get the ideal angle on the blue. He

1:25:471:25:50

will have to do it from the black. A

good shot.

1:25:501:26:01

good shot. Just one good cannon to

try to open up a few of the reds and

1:26:011:26:13

that might give him the chance that

he needs to win this frame.

1:26:131:26:25

APPLAUSE

1:26:281:26:28

APPLAUSE. He could not have played

that any better. That was an

1:26:281:26:35

excellent cannon. Played to

perfection.

1:26:351:26:46

Did not get through the second read

as much as he liked. Still looking

1:26:491:26:56

for another 24 points at this visit.

Decided to go into them. It is OK,

1:26:561:27:10

worked out absolutely inch perfect.

Could not have played that any

1:27:101:27:17

better.

1:27:171:27:27

This is a lot better for Ryan Day.

He will enjoy his cup of tea at the

1:27:361:27:42

interval if he takes this frame. It

will give him that little bit of

1:27:421:27:50

hope. He has been a little bit at

sea in the first few frames.

1:27:501:28:07

Just this red now. Put him 63 head

with just 59 remaining. He has

1:28:071:28:19

missed it!

1:28:191:28:29

I would say his heart skipped a

beat.

It looks to be wide.

1:28:301:28:45

beat.

It looks to be wide. And I

think he will go in the interval now

1:28:451:28:49

thinking that he's still in this

match. He has done nothing in the

1:28:491:28:52

first three frames. Played some good

safety.

1:28:521:29:00

safety. And got the first

opportunity. And he has made the

1:29:001:29:02

most of it. And Ding Junhui was

leading by three frames and apart

1:29:021:29:12

from that first frame with that

great break, he has made a few

1:29:121:29:16

mistakes since then. Ding Junhui

concedes. They each go into the

1:29:161:29:22

interval with a two frame advantage.

Ding Junhui leading three frames to

1:29:221:29:31

one. And maybe Ryan Day will now

enjoy that cup of tea.

That is

1:29:311:29:34

exactly what he needed to do. He had

that professional pride, he was not

1:29:341:29:40

playing especially well but it has

kicked in. I think is a wonderful

1:29:401:29:44

striker the ball but he needed to be

into the match and it has taken

1:29:441:29:51

three frames for him to concentrate

properly.

Still a mountain to climb.

1:29:511:29:56

He had a bit of an awkward start to

the match. Did not get good position

1:29:561:30:00

and that does not help. That is the

first time he has got his hand on

1:30:001:30:04

the table. He made what looked like

a difficult first opening part of

1:30:041:30:07

the break look quite easy. Got his

arm going and now you can see that

1:30:071:30:12

he is a class animal.

And looking at

the stats as

1:30:121:30:21

the stats as well, pot success, 91,

90 3% yesterday.

Today down to 83.

1:30:221:30:24

That can happen in various matches.

It will not always be up in the 90s.

1:30:241:30:29

Just one of those things that can

happen. But for Ryan Day, such a

1:30:291:30:35

relief for him just to be two

behind.

1:30:351:30:39

Without trying to belittle anything

because the players have been great.

1:30:451:30:48

Ken a couple of times has the ball

gone in when it has hit a cushion,

1:30:481:30:53

sometimes you see a ball and it

looks like it's hitting the jaw and

1:30:531:30:56

then it seems to fall in and you

think it should have wobbled and

1:30:561:30:59

stayed out. If you are standing

player side, you can see where the

1:30:591:31:03

fall of the slate is, therefore you

hit a jaw you know it will drop in.

1:31:031:31:08

It appears on the brand-new cloth

that the pockets are easier,

1:31:081:31:12

especially the corners. The general

consensus of play from players

1:31:121:31:20

playing on them, are saying that the

corners are playing quite generous,

1:31:201:31:27

and the middles are tight, and they

could do with being tightened up a

1:31:271:31:30

bit.

We have had 2-1 from Ryan and

one from Ding in the previous frame.

1:31:301:31:38

Where they have wobbled and gone in.

If you kept the cloth on and played

1:31:381:31:44

in a week's time, they wouldn't be

dropping in then.

If the game

1:31:441:31:47

appears to become too easy from the

punters point of view, you tighten

1:31:471:31:53

the pockets up.

Well, the punters

are enjoying this one. Back with the

1:31:531:32:00

live action shortly. It is a busy

snooker year with lots of

1:32:001:32:05

tournaments. Let's bring you

up-to-date with the season so far.

1:32:051:32:14

MUSIC: Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm

Yours by Stevie Wonder.

1:32:571:33:11

Whilst we appreciate the endeavours

of those snooker players, Stevie

1:34:001:34:12

Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered

kept us entertained.

It is a great

1:34:121:34:18

song. You have got fantastic

opportunities.

The other thing as

1:34:181:34:24

well that the fans around the world,

especially in China are loving the

1:34:241:34:30

fact that the best players are going

there?

Now we have got a full

1:34:301:34:34

calendar, it is 11 months of the

year and there is cue school in the

1:34:341:34:39

cut off part. It is desirable to

have a tournament in your country,

1:34:391:34:42

you have got to get in the cue,

excuse the pun! You're going to be

1:34:421:34:47

waiting for something to open up and

then also the next phase of that is,

1:34:471:34:51

if you want an event in your

country, or you want to put an evint

1:34:511:34:55

on, you have got to bid for it and

put more prize money on and you are

1:34:551:35:01

seeing the prize money slowly going

up.

1:35:011:35:03

Is it too much for the players? Too

many tournaments?

No. If the prize

1:35:031:35:09

money goes up enough, all of a

sudden the players are in a

1:35:091:35:13

situation that's similar to golf or

tennis and they can pick and choose

1:35:131:35:16

and the next phase of that, the most

ideal position would be two

1:35:161:35:20

tournaments running concurrently in

different countries, with top

1:35:201:35:23

players choosing which ones they go

to and then you are in a far

1:35:231:35:27

healthier position.

But there have

been stories, haven't there, about

1:35:271:35:30

the players who have been saying,

John, they are worried about

1:35:301:35:33

burn-out and would you say to them,

grasp the opportunity to play

1:35:331:35:37

snooker and win money and win

tournaments and win trophies or is

1:35:371:35:41

there a slight danger that given the

travelling time as well there is the

1:35:411:35:44

danger of burn-out?

I think it is

going to come down to individuals,

1:35:441:35:47

isn't it? I think if you're

prepared, I mean Shaun Murphy plays

1:35:471:35:55

in everything and others may not

want to do that. You can pick and

1:35:551:35:58

choose your tournaments, you don't

have to play in every one of them,

1:35:581:36:04

but the opportunity is the big

thing. It is as an individual what

1:36:041:36:07

suits you.

One man is missing from

the Masters is Neil Robertson

1:36:071:36:12

because he dropped out of the top

16. But he is doing media work and

1:36:121:36:17

he has been speaking to Stephen

Hendry. So you are probably the best

1:36:171:36:22

player in this tournament that's

been a top player and not played in

1:36:221:36:25

this event. How does it feel?

Currently in the top 16.

This is

1:36:251:36:31

like a major event. It feels strange

to me?

Yeah, I think, it has been

1:36:311:36:38

the last couple of years, especially

last season is the reason why I'm in

1:36:381:36:42

this position now, you know, sort of

some issues away from the table

1:36:421:36:46

which I have not been able to

prevent from happening. But yeah,

1:36:461:36:50

everything is all good now.

Fantastic win in Scotland and yeah,

1:36:501:36:54

my game has never been in better

shape really and I'm practising

1:36:541:36:58

really well, so, yeah, I just

thought I'd have a week in the

1:36:581:37:02

studio and yeah, you know, enjoy it

from an outsider's prospective.

I

1:37:021:37:07

watched you in the UK, you played

really well, but you lost. You won

1:37:071:37:13

in Scotland and that was your first

ranking event for a while so it must

1:37:131:37:17

have been a weight off your

shoulders?

Yeah, it was. I had been

1:37:171:37:20

playing that well in tournaments

probably about four weeks before the

1:37:201:37:25

UK as well.

You are practising and

practising and when you're working

1:37:251:37:29

hard it is great to get the

benefits? That was the most

1:37:291:37:36

rewarding thing from Scotland,

finally paying dividends. Winning

1:37:361:37:42

the Hong Kong Masters and the

Scottish tournament and it is a

1:37:421:37:45

great season tournament wise, I just

need it start picking up a few few

1:37:451:37:49

more rankings points.

Have you got

any targets you want to achieve by

1:37:491:37:54

the season?

I definitely want to

push on with that momentum now.

Move

1:37:541:38:00

up the rankings?

Get back up the

rankings. It is never nice when you

1:38:001:38:04

are around that 16 mark. I never

thought it would be a position I'd

1:38:041:38:08

find myself in not for many years

anyway.

For the UK Championship they

1:38:081:38:13

had the posters and the billboards

and the people in it, and you

1:38:131:38:16

weren't in the poster. That would

annoy me, you are one of the best

1:38:161:38:20

players of the world and you are not

considered?

It is just one of those,

1:38:201:38:23

I guess, it happened so quickly.

The

draws have gone up?

When you win a

1:38:231:38:30

big tournament like the UK

Championship and if you don't defend

1:38:301:38:33

the points then, you know, when that

point in the season comes when

1:38:331:38:37

you've got the winners points coming

off, you can drop down a lot and we

1:38:371:38:40

saw Ding Junhui a couple of years

ago also fell out of the top 16 and

1:38:401:38:44

had to qualify for the World

Championships and ended up getting

1:38:441:38:47

to the final. We will probably start

to see that in a game a fair bit now

1:38:471:38:52

with some players especially with

some players who have great seasons

1:38:521:38:56

where they win big tournaments

having to defend them in two years'

1:38:561:38:58

time.

I was thinking back over the

season you made 100 centuries. You

1:38:581:39:03

have not reached that again. Do you

still value making the big breaks

1:39:031:39:07

and the centuries?

Funnily enough

that was the last season where you

1:39:071:39:10

felt I could really give everything.

Did that take over a little bit, the

1:39:101:39:15

100 centuries. It felt in the World

Championship you made it, that's

1:39:151:39:18

what you wanted to do more?

The most

annoying thing was the following

1:39:181:39:22

season I made a century and everyone

is on Twitter saying do you think

1:39:221:39:25

you are going to do it again? I

started missing on 80 just to get

1:39:251:39:29

people off my back about it! The

pressure when I was in the 90s was

1:39:291:39:33

just awful. You know, I got friends

calling me and my dad is like if you

1:39:331:39:37

are average this amount of

centuries, per frame, are' going to

1:39:371:39:40

end up getting it. When I did t it

was a relief and then I think I've

1:39:401:39:45

got a chance of doing it again.

Maybe not this season, but I think

1:39:451:39:49

you know in the next couple of

seasons I think I can give it a good

1:39:491:39:53

crack.

I think you should have won

the World Championship. When you

1:39:531:39:59

were world champion, the way you

were dominating games and dominating

1:39:591:40:02

opponents. There is not many players

out there that have got that

1:40:021:40:06

arrogance going around a table. I

appreciate. Because you have to have

1:40:061:40:09

it. But obviously you've said you

have had off table problems, but you

1:40:091:40:14

have kind of lost that over the past

four or five years?

I got it back in

1:40:141:40:19

spurts here and there. I had a

really good spell when I won the

1:40:191:40:26

champions UK, my goal is to maintain

that throughout every season. I have

1:40:261:40:30

got to be aggressive on the go. The

most pleasing thing about Scotland

1:40:301:40:33

was that I have got my long game

back. If my hand is on the table,

1:40:331:40:38

I'm going for the red no matter

where it is and I've noticed in

1:40:381:40:41

Scotland, it was scaring the life

out of people because it puts

1:40:411:40:47

pressure on their safety. So, you

know, for this season practising

1:40:471:40:51

more about two months straight

leading into the UK, I was

1:40:511:40:57

practising 200, 300 long balls per

day. Now I am at the point where if

1:40:571:41:02

my hand is on the table, the red is

going on.

When I was playing it

1:41:021:41:06

could be a crazy long shot, but it

puts the unknown into your opponent

1:41:061:41:10

because I thinks I have got to get

it because he is going to go for

1:41:101:41:16

anything.

I watched many YouTube

videos of your matches and seen some

1:41:161:41:20

of them that you take this

unbelievable red and it wouldn't

1:41:201:41:23

necessarily go in, but your opponent

would come to the table and think,

1:41:231:41:29

"I can't believe he has gone for

that."

It is good to have your

1:41:291:41:34

opponent on the back foot. You are

working at it, which is going to be

1:41:341:41:38

strange for you. What's it like

looking out at it when you're used

1:41:381:41:41

to playing in it?

I think it's

probably, you make a lot less

1:41:411:41:46

mistakes in the studio. Sort of like

watching. Maybe you can forget how

1:41:461:41:51

hard it is out there. What I will be

is honest. Much like you are. I

1:41:511:41:56

think that's...

You say what you

say.

Will you fit in any practise

1:41:561:42:01

this week?

I will be practising

while I'm here working. I thought

1:42:011:42:06

I'd have a bit of time in between

the matches today, so it went to a

1:42:061:42:12

decider, so that's gone away. I will

be hitting balls that's for sure. It

1:42:121:42:16

is great to speak to you. All the

best for the rest of the season.

1:42:161:42:21

STUDIO: I saw Neil and it was

strange shaking his hand and saying,

1:42:211:42:25

"How are you?" When he is dressed

for a TV studio and not dressed to

1:42:251:42:31

play.

He is one of the greatest

players. He is a sensational player.

1:42:311:42:36

I have seen Ronnie dominate

opponents and play like, but when

1:42:361:42:39

Neil Robertson is in that mode where

he is knocking everything in, he is

1:42:391:42:43

in a similar elk to Ronnie

O'Sullivan for him not to be in, it

1:42:431:42:47

is a head scratcher really.

It is all linked to prize money and

1:42:471:42:53

if you don't get to the final stages

of events where the bigger prize

1:42:531:42:55

money is you can drop down enough

and as mentioned if you have to

1:42:551:42:59

defend prize money points and they

go off and you can drop down a lot,

1:42:591:43:02

but it is an interesting thing

talking about the way that he is

1:43:021:43:06

deciding to play. Hand on the table,

go for the shot, try and scare your

1:43:061:43:10

opponent. I think it generally is

the way that snooker is going.

1:43:101:43:14

Everybody is realising you can't win

by defending anymore. Tactics are

1:43:141:43:19

important. That's in line with golf.

You have got to go for the pin more

1:43:191:43:23

often. You can't play conservative

and just par a golf course anymore.

1:43:231:43:27

The same for snooker players, you

have got to try and kill before

1:43:271:43:30

you're killed on the table. But in

doing that and playing a more open

1:43:301:43:34

game, you are going to fall on your

face a bit as well because the other

1:43:341:43:37

guy will mop up the tears.

As we

have discussed it is about the

1:43:371:43:41

amount of tournaments that there are

on the circuit as well and there are

1:43:411:43:45

some very good players around. Let's

talk about some good players. Judd

1:43:451:43:51

Trump tonight.

The Judd is 5-2 on to

win the match. He is not that in my

1:43:511:43:58

book. They have played plenty of

times. They were regular practise

1:43:581:44:02

partners together.

1:44:021:44:07

partners together. He could be in

for a tough night tonight.

1:44:071:44:16

for a tough night tonight.

You never

know what type of Judd Trump turns

1:44:161:44:19

up at the table.

This was Ronnie out of the

1:44:191:44:26

tournament.

He knew. He knew.

Judd

Trump has got more form in the

1:44:261:44:34

bigger events, but it

1:44:341:44:42

bigger events, but it is a dangerous

opponent. Expect a tough match

1:44:421:44:44

today.

Ronnie went on to win the

1:44:441:44:50

tournament. You can watch that this

evening on the red Button.

1:44:501:44:57

We round up the day's action at

11.15pm on BBC Two.

1:44:571:45:03

We're back live with Ding Junhui

taking on Ryan Day. If you have

1:45:031:45:05

missed any of it, this is for you!

1:45:051:45:11

Ding was smiling as he walked out

into the arena and in the mood

1:45:111:45:18

today, rattling in 111 in the

opening frame. A break of 58 despite

1:45:181:45:23

that little wobble, Ryan Day unable

to get a look in. And this pretty

1:45:231:45:31

much sums up Ryan's day. Making

mistakes. Ding taking full

1:45:311:45:34

advantage.

1:45:341:45:39

In frame 4 and another slice of

luck. Another wobble. Ryan Day wins

1:45:501:45:54

a frame. It is Ding Junhui who leads

the Welshman by 3-1. OK, here come

1:45:541:45:59

the players. The fans are back in

their seats. Back to John and Ken.

1:45:591:46:12

COMMENTATOR: Yes, now we're going to

play to the finish. No more

1:46:121:46:16

intervals. A few late comers just

coming back into the arena.

1:46:161:46:27

And Ding Junhui gets the fifth frame

under way.

1:46:311:46:42

under way. Just coming up to one

hour and 14 minutes. Apart from the

1:46:421:46:45

third frame which took over 22

minutes it has been pretty quick.

1:46:451:46:54

Average shot time 19 for Ding.

That's about normal. 26 seconds for

1:46:551:46:58

Ryan. That's a bit on the slow side,

but he's not had much to go at.

1:46:581:47:06

Until the last frame before the

interval.

1:47:061:47:13

If he's going to go back to the

baulk, he needs to find the baulk

1:47:281:47:33

cushion here with this cue ball.

That's not too bad.

1:47:331:47:42

Now, of course, he gives Ding Junhui

the problem that it puts a little

1:47:421:47:45

bit of pressure on this safety with

that red being in the middle of the

1:47:451:47:49

table next to the blue.

1:47:491:47:59

Well, there is a pot on here.

1:48:031:48:11

And he doesn't have to do much with

the cue ball to get on a nice

1:48:181:48:22

position on the blue. He has got to

fully commit to this.

1:48:221:48:29

And fully commit he did and he

played it well. A good shot.

1:48:291:48:36

A great shot.

Yes, the red above the black is his

1:48:361:48:44

choice here.

Into the corner pocket so he may

1:48:441:48:57

elect to take this one first. Oh. Oh

Ryan, what did you do?

1:48:571:49:12

Well, just trying to pinch a bit it

looked. But you cannot afford to

1:49:131:49:19

miss when you're in and after a good

opening red, what an opportunity he

1:49:191:49:24

let go begging there.

1:49:241:49:30

let go begging there.

It wasn't his

initial choice from the blue. He was

1:49:301:49:32

trying to get on that red just above

the black and he may have been

1:49:321:49:37

better taking that one instead. He

still shouldn't have missed a dead

1:49:371:49:41

straight, but that's gone wrong from

Ding.

1:49:411:49:52

So a let off for Ryan Day.

He didn't expect to be coming back

1:50:091:50:15

to the table so soon.

1:50:151:50:26

Yes, I think it is noticeable since

the first frame and maybe half-way

1:50:361:50:41

through the second frame, Ding

Junhui has sort of dropped his

1:50:411:50:44

standards somewhat.

He has not been flawless by any

1:50:441:50:53

means and his pot success was up in

the 90s and it is now below 90 which

1:50:531:50:58

is not great at this level.

1:50:581:51:05

And long pot success, very low.

1:51:051:51:12

This red has somehow gone over the

corner. It's not going to be easy

1:51:281:51:34

because it has gone to the other

side cushion.

1:51:341:51:39

And he's not even looking at it.

1:51:391:51:46

And he's not even looking at it. He

will be trying to find the target

1:51:461:51:49

behind the yellow here.

It's not gone behind the yellow. Has

1:51:491:51:57

the brown covered it? No.

So there is a chance here for Ryan.

1:51:571:52:03

He doesn't want to overhit this. He

has got enough cue power to screw

1:52:031:52:09

this back a couple of inches and

played it well and now he is on the

1:52:091:52:13

black.

APPLAUSE

1:52:131:52:18

So another chance.

Yes, nicely controlled. He doesn't

1:52:181:52:26

have to go into the pack of reds

here.

1:52:261:52:33

here. He played that nicely.

1:52:331:52:39

Just like in the last frame, he got

an opportunity. He made a nice 79

1:52:391:52:47

break. He would love to win the

frame from this position here.

1:52:471:52:57

frame from this position here. He

may have detect add slight heavy

1:52:581:53:01

contact on the cue ball and because

of that, a bit straighter on this

1:53:011:53:07

black than he would have liked and

let's see if the red jumps. Very

1:53:071:53:10

slightly.

1:53:101:53:17

Just about stopped in time. I think

this red is on to the right corner.

1:53:401:53:48

Well, he's playing another one. You

would have thought he would be up

1:53:481:53:55

for the blue, you would have

thought. I thought maybe the one

1:53:551:53:58

that was in direct line to the cue

ball to this right corner, but maybe

1:53:581:54:01

that doesn't go.

1:54:011:54:07

Just about got there, but with the

red just to the right of the pink,

1:54:131:54:17

he only has to roll the blue in for

position.

1:54:171:54:25

And he will have to go back up for

the blue. Again, I'm not certain he

1:54:291:54:34

has got the potting angle on this

blue to play for the black.

1:54:341:54:42

Now, there is a couple of loose

reds. He has got a nice angle on the

1:54:531:54:57

blue should he want to play a little

cannon.

1:54:571:55:01

I think he has got to be aggressive

here, John and try and go into the

1:55:011:55:07

pack of reds.

Take his chance.

It worked out

1:55:071:55:15

better.

1:55:151:55:20

And saoz an as he played that, he

looked at where he finish on the

1:55:391:55:43

black and there was a wry smile. No

way should he have been straight on

1:55:431:55:46

this black of the that's careless.

-- of the black. That's careless.

1:55:461:56:00

He is in a little bit of bother now.

Anything but straight on the black

1:56:001:56:06

and it was a formality to get on the

next red.

And that's the difference

1:56:061:56:13

between the two players when they're

break-building. Ding's cue ball is

1:56:131:56:18

so much more of it on a string.

Never any more than 18 inches away

1:56:181:56:23

from his next pot. Ryan is

struggling with the pace here.

1:56:231:56:32

struggling with the pace here.

At

the needs to be careful here.

1:56:321:56:42

He can't do much with the cue ball.

He can't play the run through. A

1:56:421:56:47

little bit of pressure on this blue

now.

1:56:471:56:54

Just tucking in the waistcoat

because that red near this right

1:56:541:56:58

corner could come into play.

1:56:581:57:08

A good shot. A good shot. Now

Couldn't have played that by near.

1:57:101:57:25

-- couldn't have played that any

better. A quick check of the scores,

1:57:331:57:38

41 points ahead. And potting this

red on the left-hand side of the

1:57:381:57:47

three reds and it will open up the

other two reds into the opposite

1:57:471:57:51

corner pocket.

1:57:511:57:56

Well, I suggest Ken this match has

completely turned around on its

1:58:151:58:19

head. When he was 3-0 down and

struggling, Ryan and his safety play

1:58:191:58:24

wasn't good, but as the guys in the

studio said, it doesn't take much.

1:58:241:58:28

Just get in with one frame in one

visit and get your confidence and

1:58:281:58:34

Ding Junhui who got a good chance in

this frame ran out of position. And

1:58:341:58:41

he won't be getting another one.

APPLAUSE

1:58:411:58:46

No, well Ryan is gaining a bit of

confidence and Ding will be looking

1:58:461:58:51

over his shoulder. A few doubts in

his mind.

1:58:511:59:03

A century in the first frame from

Ding Junhui. A possibility now for

1:59:501:59:57

Ryan Day to respond with a century

of his own.

1:59:572:00:05

The yellow for the century. Well

played!

2:00:272:00:44

We have a match on now. We certainly

do.

2:00:562:01:06

This looks good. Lovely.

2:01:082:01:15

He was 3- nil down. Now a deficit of

just one frame. And that was

2:01:232:01:31

magnificent. 125 break.

What a fine break from Ryan Day.

2:01:312:01:44

That takes his career centuries to

312. This is the tournament 's

2:01:442:01:49

entries so far, we've had five. 26

last year. That is the record, 2009.

2:01:492:01:56

And we will break that record if we

carry on like this.

That was Ryan

2:01:562:02:02

Day in full flow. Looking at this

first shot, he has got something

2:02:022:02:08

like 11 feet between the cue ball

and object ball. If he just plays it

2:02:082:02:16

dead it is a difficult shot on the

black. So playing it with back spin,

2:02:162:02:20

he needs another back spin and

played with so much power to

2:02:202:02:23

actually pull the cue ball back. He

keeps his body very still but

2:02:232:02:29

generates a load of power. He pulled

the cue ball back about five or six

2:02:292:02:34

inches. Giving it a frame-winning

opportunity.

He does have a spring

2:02:342:02:40

back in his step.

It has taken

adversity for him to turn up, the

2:02:402:02:46

real Ryan Day to turn up. I'm a

massive fan of the way he hits the

2:02:462:02:51

ball. I was expecting him to play

like this from the start of the

2:02:512:02:56

match but he was a bit apathetic at

the beginning. Did not really make

2:02:562:03:01

Ding Junhui work very hard but now

he is outstanding.

When you are 3-

2:03:012:03:07

nil down, and really under it as

well, what does that do to you?

Well

2:03:072:03:14

it is getting that first frame as we

say on the board and then you can

2:03:142:03:17

start to play a bit. But there is

less pressure or tension when you

2:03:172:03:23

start to go behind in one respect

because you have less to lose. You

2:03:232:03:27

could only try and get yourself out

of a hole. Very rarely does a player

2:03:272:03:32

with the collapse out there so at

some stage these class players

2:03:322:03:37

with the collapse out there so at

some stage these class players are

2:03:372:03:37

going to fight and that is what Ryan

Day is doing.

And if you are Ding

2:03:372:03:43

Junhui?

He has lost a bit of

momentum. He has gone slightly off

2:03:432:03:49

the boil. And despite the fact that

he is still ahead, the moment -- at

2:03:492:03:54

the moment the momentum is with his

opponent.

2:03:542:04:01

What does Ryan Day have in store in

this sixth frame?

2:04:062:04:20

Ryan Day breaks off, frame six. Can

he repeat his recovery in this frame

2:04:202:04:26

and get it all square? His pot

success now better than Ding Junhui.

2:04:262:04:38

It has been a bit of a turnaround.

2:04:382:04:50

That was half a chance. But the way

he has missed it, he has left the

2:05:052:05:11

red on. Surprised that he played it

so hard.

2:05:112:05:25

so hard. That is why he has left the

red into the middle. Let's see what

2:05:262:05:32

Ding Junhui can make of this chance.

I agree that he has just gone a

2:05:322:05:38

little bit off the boil in the last

few frames.

2:05:382:05:46

few frames.

No need to go into the

pack of rents there. There is loose

2:05:462:05:52

red here and at the bottom of the

pack as well. If you get a nice

2:05:522:05:59

angle with this black, it does not

want to be straight.

2:05:592:06:08

want to be straight. Just gone too

far.

2:06:102:06:20

far. He cannot now bring more of the

reds into play.

2:06:202:06:27

He needs to play this with top spin

into the cushion, he will have to

2:06:372:06:44

generate a lot of power in this

shot. Did not get the power but may

2:06:442:06:52

have got second best. Have a look at

this, what a result.

2:06:522:07:01

this, what a result. A wry smile

from Ryan Day. That was very

2:07:012:07:06

fortunate. He has not made the most

of it. Tried to hold the cue ball

2:07:062:07:17

for the blue but forgot about the

plot.

He has shown is in the last

2:07:172:07:22

few frames he is good at missing

them. When these players are playing

2:07:222:07:26

well they never miss anything

easily. The top players do not miss

2:07:262:07:30

easy shots.

2:07:302:07:40

easy shots. Ryan Day has played that

beautifully. Nicely on the black. A

2:07:402:07:47

big chance.

2:07:472:07:57

He will have two negotiate the cue

ball back up for pink or blue. A

2:08:102:08:19

little kiss on the bed. -- the red.

Blocking the path of the pink.

This

2:08:192:08:31

could have worked out better.

2:08:312:08:37

could have worked out better. He

could play safe but at this moment,

2:08:372:08:42

I do not think the pink will cut to

the right middle. So you would think

2:08:422:08:49

that the green is the one to take

on. A bit of pressure on it the way

2:08:492:08:54

that the reds are. He is taking it

on.

2:08:542:09:04

on. I would like to get my hand

closer to the cue ball than this.

2:09:042:09:12

Bridging long.

2:09:122:09:22

You just have to get yourself

comfortable. It is a big shot. And

2:09:232:09:29

it is a good one! He deserves a bit

of luck. It is OK.

Excellent pot.

2:09:292:09:46

Could've done without kissing that

red. Again it is not

2:09:462:09:52

straightforward. He needs to use the

second red to try to screw back for

2:09:522:09:58

the pink.

2:09:582:10:04

the pink. Overshot for pink.

2:10:042:10:15

How does this look? He is on the red

into the corner.

2:10:222:10:34

into the corner.

The run is

beginning to turn.

2:10:342:10:45

The black does not go to the right

corner pocket at the moment, the way

2:10:542:10:57

he played the red. Could've done

with a bit more of a bounce. This is

2:10:572:11:09

now a big visit in the context of

the match. Ding Junhui had a good

2:11:092:11:15

chance.

2:11:152:11:24

chance. Starting to cue very nicely

now, Ryan Day.

2:11:242:11:31

One good positional shot possibly

for the red to the right of the back

2:11:382:11:43

with a two year the pink spot. And

he has got on these nicely, an

2:11:432:11:49

excellent shot.

2:11:492:11:54

excellent shot.

I assume the black

does not go to the right corner.

2:11:552:11:58

Every time he has gone for the pink

with the blue he has finished the

2:11:582:12:03

wrong side of the blue. If you were

right behind it, you would fancy the

2:12:032:12:09

black.

2:12:092:12:17

black. Room for it to go into the

left corner.

2:12:172:12:24

left corner. Playing for the red

closest to the cushion, the one

2:12:242:12:27

making it slightly tight for the

black. He decided to play for the

2:12:272:12:31

other one, I do not blame him. To

leave himself straight on this

2:12:312:12:36

thread. 31 points from this

position. Does not look that

2:12:362:12:44

difficult. But we take nothing for

granted.

2:12:442:12:58

He has an angle just to screw out

into the middle of the table. Giving

2:13:002:13:04

himself the choice of a couple of

reds.

2:13:042:13:11

reds. Overscrew that by quite some

distance.

2:13:112:13:22

You cannot expect him to miss this.

When the cue ball keeps going up and

2:13:262:13:32

down the table, you can lose

pinpoint position. He knows the

2:13:322:13:41

importance of this visit.

2:13:412:13:48

importance of this visit. You'd

think this was a formality.

2:13:482:13:54

think this was a formality. He

played it nicely.

2:13:572:14:08

34 points the lead.

2:14:202:14:30

What a turnaround. He will be

getting a bit concerned.

2:14:312:14:48

No problem.

2:14:572:15:02

You could see him getting another

century. A good comeback from Ryan

2:15:262:15:32

Day.

2:15:322:15:37

Day. Three frames in a row. And of

course Ding Junhui missed a very

2:15:382:15:49

straightforward red into the left

centre pocket.

And was lucky to be

2:15:492:15:54

on the red. And then to miss that

was unforgivable. But fair play to

2:15:542:16:02

Ryan Day, he did not have complete

control of the cue ball but he has

2:16:022:16:07

dug in and stop -- he has dug in.

2:16:072:16:23

Pink and black for back-to-back

centuries.

2:16:262:16:36

centuries. Wonderful. Well played.

2:16:362:16:46

He has just got the edge.

All square at three apiece.

2:16:472:16:53

Wonderful from Ryan Day and remember

he worked so hard to get here. He's

2:16:532:16:57

not going to give this up without a

fight.

It is brilliant, absolutely

2:16:572:17:02

superb turnaround. Ding Junhui, he

had an absolute result and a half.

2:17:022:17:10

To split the pack and end up in the

red in the middle he must've thought

2:17:102:17:15

his birthday had come. Then all of a

sudden he misses the bread and Ryan

2:17:152:17:19

Day makes a wonderful contribution.

The green was hampered, awkward, he

2:17:192:17:25

potted a really good green. He tried

to get on the pink for five times

2:17:252:17:29

and had to fiddle around but it was

superb.

Snooker is a game of getting

2:17:292:17:38

table time and not every sport is

like that. If you could dominate the

2:17:382:17:42

table, it is fascinating how you can

be on top one minute and then the

2:17:422:17:46

underdog. And at this moment Ryan

Day has got the edge. Ding Junhui

2:17:462:17:52

was not sparkling but that red

pocket that he missed, those types

2:17:522:17:59

of misses are quite debilitating.

And going back for frame seven, he

2:17:592:18:03

threw away that big league as well

in the UK Championships.

Sometimes

2:18:032:18:09

that can leave a mental scar behind.

Although as a top-class professional

2:18:092:18:14

he will have forgotten about that by

now. But it is just a poor record in

2:18:142:18:21

this venue.

Maybe a little bit surprised that

2:18:212:18:32

Ding Junhui did not leave the arena.

I know he has Terry Griffiths in his

2:18:322:18:39

corner as a mind coach. Maybe he

could help in slightly because he

2:18:392:18:43

has gone off the boil. Ryan Day has

played superbly but at the end of

2:18:432:18:49

the day he has been allowed that

chance.

Totally agree. His

2:18:492:18:57

concentration has gone at the

moment. And that was quite evident

2:18:572:19:00

with that straightforward red into

the centre in the last frame.

2:19:002:19:14

It will be interesting to see how

Ding Junhui reacts.

He had it all

2:19:192:19:26

too easy on those first few frames.

He has done it before in the past

2:19:262:19:33

many times. Because of his record of

late, he will not be bursting with

2:19:332:19:41

confidence, that is for sure.

2:19:412:19:52

All of the great players always find

a way of getting their concentration

2:19:592:20:08

back and Ding Junhui has done it

many times over the years.

As you

2:20:082:20:13

say it will be interesting to see if

and when he gets the opportunity,

2:20:132:20:19

when he can start to score again.

Like many modern-day players it is

2:20:192:20:24

all built around their scoring

ability.

2:20:242:20:31

ability. Excellent pot from Ryan

Day.

2:20:312:20:38

Day. The only possible pot would be

the brown.

2:20:382:20:45

the brown. Maybe if he had not

flicked that red. He cannot be too

2:20:472:20:52

harsh on himself. Just playing

safety off the green.

2:20:522:20:57

harsh on himself. Just playing

safety off the green.

2:20:572:21:04

Concentrating on getting a good cue

ball.

2:21:042:21:10

ball. He has left a possible pot on

which is a little bit careless.

2:21:102:21:21

Ding Junhui has the advantage now in

this safety exchange.

Quite

2:21:302:21:33

incredible. The cue ball almost in

the identical place where Ding

2:21:332:21:40

Junhui played it from.

2:21:402:21:45

Junhui played it from. Cannot get

through the gap between green and

2:21:482:21:51

brown to play a safety shot off the

remaining bunch of reds. Coming off

2:21:512:21:55

this cushion. This has got to be

very precise.

2:21:552:22:05

very precise. He does not want to

leave this red into the corner. It

2:22:062:22:12

is tricky enough.

2:22:122:22:18

A good pot.

2:22:262:22:36

He could be picky but the pot was

difficult enough. He had to be

2:22:362:22:42

certain to pot the ball.

2:22:422:22:52

Another good shot needed and control

of the cue ball.

2:22:552:23:07

Much too thin. And a little bit

fortunate in all honesty. Slightly

2:23:132:23:25

worrying signs for me. It all looked

such a claim sailing. He had a pot

2:23:252:23:37

success of over 90%, Ryan Day down

50%, what a turnaround.

2:23:372:23:47

Trying to get the cue ball back up.

He hit that all wrong.

2:24:022:24:14

He hit that all wrong.

Much too

thin. Left the red to the right

2:24:152:24:16

corner. When you're in the

ascendancy the last thing you want

2:24:162:24:22

is to give your opponent an easy

chance. This is just mid-range.

2:24:222:24:33

Controlled the cue ball nicely. What

can he make of this opportunity now?

2:24:332:24:50

Unless I'm mistaken, not a lot. He

has misjudged that. He is on

2:25:062:25:11

nothing.

2:25:112:25:19

nothing. But scoring power has dried

up.

2:25:192:25:25

Just tried to run past the red, he

made contact with it. All looking

2:25:332:25:42

much more difficult now.

2:25:422:25:47

much more difficult now. Playing the

thin cut.

2:25:492:25:56

thin cut. Worth taking on.

2:25:572:26:02

APPLAUSE

2:26:202:26:21

APPLAUSE.

2:26:212:26:26

You do not seem any better rest

shots done that. He's on the brown

2:26:262:26:34

but I think the blue may be the

option. The pink and black tied up

2:26:342:26:41

at the moment.

2:26:412:26:51

The red directly above the black

probably his best option. Too much

2:27:042:27:11

pace. Could be nowhere.

2:27:112:27:19

pace. Could be nowhere. Quite

unbelievable of judgment. -- quite

2:27:222:27:28

an unbelievable error of judgment.

2:27:282:27:39

A little bit thick with that. Left a

mid range pot on.

2:28:072:28:22

mid range pot on. Not guaranteed to

be on a colour. And at full stretch.

2:28:222:28:39

We see it so many times with

players, they do not want to get the

2:28:402:28:44

rest out. They are at full stretch

and almost running out of cue.

You

2:28:442:28:54

have less control with that amount

of cue.

2:28:542:29:06

Needs a bit of luck. And he has had

some. The run of the balls has

2:29:102:29:20

definitely turned.

2:29:202:29:30

APPLAUSE

2:29:342:29:35

APPLAUSE.

2:29:352:29:39

That is a good safety. Gap between

the green and brown.

2:29:412:29:53

the green and brown. Having to

swerve, does not want to catch the

2:29:532:29:58

red to fool and that is what he has

done. I suppose he would be quite

2:29:582:30:04

happy with that. Has not left

anything too easy.

2:30:042:30:15

This looks a good shot.

APPLAUSE

2:30:552:30:59

Excellent. A good line. Good length.

Ding Junhui is asked the question

2:30:592:31:13

now, to get this safe. I certainly

can't see a return back to baulk.

2:31:132:31:25

I'm just wondering if he is going

for this red below the pink into

2:31:342:31:39

this bottom reasoned corner pocket.

He could take it on and try and

2:31:392:31:43

leave the cue ball somewhere near

the black. No, didn't fancy it.

2:31:432:31:56

Yeah, just having to play the

containing safety. OK, he may have

2:31:562:32:01

left it safe, but he has put no

pressure whatsoever on Ryan to play

2:32:012:32:05

a better shot than that. He has got

to try and get in behind that green

2:32:052:32:11

if you can. I would say the yellow,

but he has not got the angle for

2:32:112:32:15

that.

2:32:152:32:24

He has played it very well. So he is

calling the shots at the moment, is

2:32:272:32:34

Ryan Day.

2:32:342:32:41

Ryan Day.

The red that's closest to

this right-hand side side cushion.

2:32:412:32:44

If he can try and hit that full-ball

and almost leave the cue ball in the

2:32:442:32:49

jaws of the pocket. It looks like

he's rolling up to it and hitting

2:32:492:32:53

the cushion first.

2:32:532:33:00

The proximity of the cue ball to the

right-hand side cushion makes it

2:33:062:33:11

extremely difficult.

And he was

straight it would just be a case for

2:33:112:33:17

rolling it in for the black in the

opposite corner, but it's not

2:33:172:33:21

straight. This might be a bit too

risky to take on. Particularly once

2:33:212:33:26

again he has got a nice clip off the

red and try and get in behind the

2:33:262:33:31

green. I don't think now is the time

to push the boat out.

2:33:312:33:40

Could get behind the green that

time.

2:33:542:34:02

time. He has lost his advantage,

Ryan Day.

2:34:022:34:13

Oh, it's going to stay over the

pocket. He needs the brown to come

2:34:172:34:21

to his rescue and it has. Well, it

has, but there is an easy swerve. It

2:34:212:34:31

may just swerve the white slightly

just to take the cue ball away from

2:34:312:34:36

the pocket. A little bit right-hand

side.

2:34:362:34:48

APPLAUSE

He could have hit that a little bit

2:34:482:34:51

harder, I felt, and try and get that

cue ball down into the middle of the

2:34:512:34:55

table.

2:34:552:35:01

table.

The yellow does cut. But it's

missable.

2:35:012:35:14

The problem is with playing the

yellow, it's just slightly less than

2:35:262:35:31

quarter ball pot so the cue ball

will be loose. There is no guarantee

2:35:312:35:35

to be on the next red.

2:35:352:35:43

But he took it on. Now, is he going

to be on the red?

2:35:442:35:51

He'll settle for that. That just

shows you OK, a side ways glance,

2:35:512:36:03

but he was always trusting to look

for position. I think the problem is

2:36:032:36:08

this red he just flicked by, he's

straight on it. So it won't be easy

2:36:082:36:13

to get on the next colour, but I

think the way he played that yellow

2:36:132:36:16

just shows you how his confidence is

building as this match goes on.

2:36:162:36:24

Maybe just the gap between the reds

if he can screw directly straight

2:36:242:36:29

back. Oh, didn't get into the cue

ball at all. But yeah, I totally

2:36:292:36:39

agree with you John. Ryan's

confidence is certainly growing. All

2:36:392:36:46

square in the points scored. It's

amazing.

2:36:462:36:56

amazing.

Yeah, particularly it

wasn't that long ago, was it 290 to

2:36:562:37:00

5 or something, yeah. Amazing.

2:37:002:37:09

Well, a terrific pot. May not be on

a colour here. But no prizes for

2:37:162:37:24

guessing what happens next.

He

pulled one out of the fire there.

2:37:242:37:32

That was a great pot.

2:37:322:37:38

That was a great pot. Excellent.

Well, this line of reds that are

2:37:382:37:46

near the top cushion, you would

think if you could just nestle on

2:37:462:37:51

one of them, he wouldn't be leaving

anything easy.

2:37:512:37:59

There is the red above the black

which maybe cuttable. You would have

2:38:162:38:21

to get a double-kiss to lose that.

At the needs to judge the pace

2:38:212:38:25

right.

2:38:252:38:32

This looks OK.

He couldn't have played it any

2:38:322:38:39

better. A good shot.

APPLAUSE

2:38:392:38:44

Ding Junhui immediately comes round

and looks at a plant.

2:38:442:38:51

It's as though he knew it was there.

But he's not playing it.

2:38:512:39:06

Well, this a good shot. That's a

good shot. Very well played.

2:39:202:39:29

APPLAUSE

He must be getting slightly

2:39:292:39:33

frustrated, but controlled himself

then.

2:39:332:39:37

Yes, the same path as the last shot.

Has he got the legs? Has he got the

2:39:372:39:45

legs?

2:39:452:39:53

legs? I don't think Ding will put

the cue ball back because he has got

2:39:532:39:56

a free shot here.

No.

2:39:562:40:08

Slap, bang, in the middle of

nowhere.

2:40:462:40:55

It's not a formality. He could have

played this yellow with a bit of

2:40:552:40:59

pace and using the rest it makes it

missable.

2:40:592:41:07

But he has cued that lovely.

And maybe a possibility here he

2:41:072:41:14

could play for the pink.

2:41:142:41:18

Yeah, I think it would be a good

option to just try and stun or screw

2:41:192:41:24

over towards the pink and try and

get the pink back on its spot.

It

2:41:242:41:29

looks like he's going to go for the

blue.

2:41:292:41:36

Well, these pots are now starting to

find the middle of the pocket.

2:41:362:41:47

I'm just wondering John, do you

think he might take the option of

2:41:532:41:56

going into the black and the red

just to the left of it here?

2:41:562:42:01

Yeah, I think he will play for the

red that's near the pink spot first

2:42:012:42:05

and then the next time you get that

good angle on the blue then I'd be

2:42:052:42:10

considering going into them.

2:42:102:42:17

A little bit closer to the cushion

than I'm sure he would have liked.

2:42:172:42:27

A little bit thinner on the blue.

But ever he gets the perfect angle

2:42:392:42:44

on the blue you know he's going to

cannon into those four reds to the

2:42:442:42:50

back of the black as Ken suggested.

2:42:502:43:01

I'd still take the blue here. It

looks like he's just dropping it in

2:43:052:43:09

and trying to take the loose red.

There's plenty of value of trying to

2:43:092:43:16

pot it and go into the reds there.

Now he's relying on getting a good

2:43:162:43:22

angle off this red to try and bring

those four awkward reds into play.

2:43:222:43:30

Oh dear me. He missed that by the

pro verbial mile. What happened

2:43:302:43:44

there? Didn't even get in the jaws

of the pocket.

2:43:442:43:51

Only put that down to lack of

concentration and that's no excuse.

2:43:512:44:02

When he led 3-0 it looked all plain

sailing, but if I was a Ding

2:44:192:44:23

supporter I would be a bit concerned

at the moment.

2:44:232:44:35

Well, the referee called a miss, but

that won't be taken. And will the

2:45:312:45:37

angle he has got Ken, surely he will

run into the reds here on the top

2:45:372:45:43

cushion.

Yes, he could stun into the

reds and still be on the black.

2:45:432:45:50

A bit close to the hole. He's in

trouble here.

2:45:502:45:54

He's in trouble here. Two reds gone

over left corner pocket. He was

2:45:542:46:01

hoping to be on the black. He's

still on the black. He maybe forced

2:46:012:46:05

into taking this black on. It's so

difficult.

2:46:052:46:14

difficult.

Well, he has got to play

a pot. So it might as well be the

2:46:142:46:19

black.

He has got to get down, play the

2:46:192:46:23

shot and keep your head down.

He's going to try and cut the blue

2:46:232:46:30

in.

Cut the blue in and he thinks it

is an easier shot. He could be

2:46:302:46:33

right. He has got to get it.

Oh, overcut it. Overcut it.

2:46:332:46:49

Oh, overcut it. Overcut it. I don't

blame Ryan for playing the shot he

2:46:492:46:51

did. The one previous, he was a

little unlucky to come tight on to

2:46:512:46:56

the cushion like that.

2:46:562:47:03

It was a shot that if it went right

to have won you the frame.

2:47:052:47:16

Still a bit of work to do here.

I

was just thinking the same myself

2:47:182:47:22

because he has not shown us any

great form in the last few frames.

2:47:222:47:26

So, it will be interesting to see

what Ding Junhui can make of this

2:47:262:47:31

opportunity. .

He is looking at

potting this red and leave an angle

2:47:312:47:42

on the black to restore this red,

but the way they have been going in

2:47:422:47:48

along this top cushion, if he gets a

nice angle on t he may not need to

2:47:482:47:54

take it out. He has decided to

because it can always go wrong just

2:47:542:47:58

like that. It actually might not be

too bad. He has got a

2:47:582:48:06

straightforward simple snooker here

behind the pink. The red over the

2:48:062:48:10

middle pocket.

2:48:102:48:15

APPLAUSE

As you say, he was fortunate to have

2:48:172:48:22

that red this such close proximity

to the pink. It made it an easy

2:48:222:48:26

snooker. Now the age old saying,

it's not hitting the red, can Ryan

2:48:262:48:32

get it safe?

2:48:322:48:39

get it safe? As I say, it wasn't

hitting the red, can he get it safe?

2:48:392:48:44

And unfortunately because he caught

it thin, he left the red to the

2:48:442:48:51

corner.

That's the red that's going

to determine the outcome of this

2:48:512:48:57

frame and that's closest to the

right-side cushion. He has got a

2:48:572:49:02

straightforward red here, Ding. He

has got to get nicely on his next

2:49:022:49:06

colour. And then try and get close

to that red.

2:49:062:49:16

to that red. Straight on this black.

Deep screw off the cushion where he

2:49:162:49:21

is now and back across for the red.

Needed to go another six inches.

2:49:212:49:36

This shot with the rest is going to

be very tough, indeed. Will he take

2:49:362:49:40

it on? He could take it on and bring

the cue ball back into baulk. 22

2:49:402:49:48

points ahead. He's going to need red

and blue.

2:49:482:50:01

and blue.

The longest frame of the

tournament so far.

2:50:012:50:05

Decided not to play the risky pot,

although it looks like it could have

2:50:052:50:11

been a shot for nothing, but you

never know. Looks an easy enough

2:50:112:50:15

snooker to get out of this.

Whenever there is a one cushion

2:50:152:50:22

escape, but you just want to catch

it too full and knock it over the

2:50:222:50:28

far corner. Got to get this safe

otherwise he'll lose the frame. Oh

2:50:282:50:36

well, unforgivable to miss the red.

And

2:50:362:50:48

And if it's a free ball, well, not

mentioned, I can't believe he has

2:50:492:50:52

missed this.

2:50:522:50:58

missed this. Just didn't get enough

side on it. When you consider he was

2:50:582:51:02

trying to get right in behind it and

hit it full-ball, that was a bad

2:51:022:51:07

misjudgement and he was lucky not to

leave a free ball.

I think the

2:51:072:51:13

slower you hit these swerves, it

gives the cue ball a bit more time

2:51:132:51:17

to put a swerve to take. If he hit

it with a bit more pace, I think

2:51:172:51:23

it's more difficult where the

referee has put it there. It has got

2:51:232:51:27

to go towards the cushion a little

bit.

2:51:272:51:36

Having a word with the assistant

referee.

2:51:412:51:45

The VAR man!

And that's how he wanted to hit it

2:51:452:51:54

first time and he got it right

second time and he got it safe and

2:51:542:51:58

that was the maybe object of the

exercise. There is he is, our VAR

2:51:582:52:08

man.

2:52:082:52:13

Too hard with the cue ball.

Possible chance for Ryan Day.

2:52:172:52:29

A long way away. Didn't fully commit

to that.

Yeah, you could sort of

2:52:332:52:42

sense he was edging on the side of

missing, don't leave it. Whereas you

2:52:422:52:48

say, it was a chance.

He has been showing good strength in

2:52:482:52:55

the last few frames - oh, miscue.

This could be a free ball and if it

2:52:552:53:01

bounces Ryan Day will be on the

black.

2:53:012:53:06

REFEREE:

And a free ball.

Well, that's amazing.

2:53:062:53:14

So what a turn around this could be

and there you go. Just hit over the

2:53:142:53:23

top, but we did say before when he

plays near the cushion, he doesn't

2:53:232:53:27

elevate the butt of the cue to

strike down on the cue ball.

2:53:272:53:31

Which most players do. And what a

chance.

2:53:312:53:45

It looks as though he has got a nice

angle on yellow or brown. He has got

2:53:512:53:59

to browns just slightly off the

baulk cushion to be on the red. Now,

2:53:592:54:02

let's have a look. He's going to

need the pink no matter who. Just a

2:54:022:54:11

quick glance at the scoreboard. With

the pink not being on its spot it

2:54:112:54:16

just makes it a little bit less

straightforward.

2:54:162:54:25

I think this has come to a stage

here, Ken, it is about holding

2:54:352:54:39

yourself together.

Yeah. A massive

frame.

2:54:392:54:44

Ding will be worried that he may not

get another shot. The big shots in

2:54:442:54:51

this frame will be from blue to pink

no doubt.

2:54:512:55:03

Anywhere but straight on the blue.

Yeah, the closer when he pots the

2:55:082:55:14

blue, the easier the pink will be

and that's what we will be looking

2:55:142:55:18

for after this brown. Blue and pink.

And make the comeback well and truly

2:55:182:55:25

complete. 3-0 down. Blue and pink

for 4-3 in front.

2:55:252:55:36

Well, he must be confident with the

rest. Because that's how he has

2:55:462:55:52

played it. This pink for 4-3.

Well done.

2:55:522:56:05

APPLAUSE

So Ryan Day has won the next four

2:56:052:56:08

frames and Ding Junhui worrying

times for him, 4-3 to the man from

2:56:082:56:13

Wales.

2:56:132:56:14

times for him, 4-3 to the man from

Wales.

2:56:142:56:15

This is just incredible. Rye rid

hasn't played here for eight years

2:56:152:56:18

and Ding has won just one match here

at Alexandra Palace since he won in

2:56:182:56:24

2011. Is the Ally Pally curse about

to strike again?

Unless he picks up.

2:56:242:56:29

It was mention add couple of frames

ago that he has gone quiet. Ding has

2:56:292:56:35

not been taking any of his chances.

We are going to make an observation.

2:56:352:56:40

This will be sad TV for snooker Anna

racks and for snooker players. He is

2:56:402:56:48

on to the cushion. He jacked up in

the air, but miscued. We don't see

2:56:482:56:53

that often from top

2:56:532:56:54

the air, but miscued. We don't see

that often from top class players.

2:56:542:56:55

Here is the sad bit about this.

There has been a new chalk that

2:56:552:56:59

everybody has been raving about on

the circuit and they are saying in

2:56:592:57:03

practise it reduces kicks. It

doesn't stop kicks all the time,

2:57:032:57:05

we're seeing them out there on the

table, but unfortunately from my

2:57:052:57:09

prospective and I have not been

playing with the stuff, right, it

2:57:092:57:12

doesn't seem to be that great for

me. I see, all I see is more

2:57:122:57:16

miscues.

We had that big kick

yesterday in Mark Selby's match.

It

2:57:162:57:21

is not eliminating kicks, but I see

more miscues in the last year since

2:57:212:57:25

they have been using this chalk than

ever before. So I can't say, because

2:57:252:57:30

I have not practised with it, it is

observational.

The boys say it is

2:57:302:57:36

harder to get on. The chalk we have

been using goes on easily, but you

2:57:362:57:40

have got to keep on top of it all

the time. You need to use it a bit

2:57:402:57:44

more, it doesn't go on as easily as

the old stuff does and if you don't

2:57:442:57:47

do it, you can get a lot of miscues.

If you have got a chalk that doesn't

2:57:472:57:51

stick and stay on the white ball,

you have got a chalk that doesn't

2:57:512:57:55

stay on the tip as much so there is

a problem. We referred to Ding

2:57:552:57:59

Junhui getting a fantastic start

last year

2:57:592:58:07

last year and being pegged back.

He

has done remarkably well. Momentum

2:58:102:58:16

is a massive thing in sport. He has

got momentum. Ding is struggling to

2:58:162:58:20

get involved in the match. He

doesn't look like he's going to

2:58:202:58:23

score. His positional play is a bit

awry and the level their' playing at

2:58:232:58:29

and the capabilities of the players

you're playing against with the

2:58:292:58:32

scoring, matches can change very,

very quickly.

Steve, those two

2:58:322:58:36

century breaks from Ryan, the 125

and the 105, has probably given him

2:58:362:58:45

an extra Philip?

Ding Junhui is a

confident player if that makes

2:58:452:58:49

sense. If all of a sudden, there is

a few chinks in the armour...

You

2:58:492:58:55

can see a tad of an affect?

His body

language changes. From that

2:58:552:59:00

prospective, I don't think he is

this great shape. He is a great

2:59:002:59:05

competitor, but yeah, it's worrying

times for Ding in this match.

What

2:59:052:59:08

do you think, John? Yesterday we had

Ken saying that he thought it would

2:59:082:59:11

go all the way, he thought we would

have 6-5, do you think it has legs?

2:59:112:59:16

It could be that. At the moment, you

would be saying not just because of

2:59:162:59:21

the scoreline 4-3, it looks like it

is Ryan Day's to lose.

Sometimes

2:59:212:59:30

Ding, the body language is,

sometimes you need to fire yourself

2:59:302:59:33

up. I know he's working with Terry

Griffiths. Sometimes you need to

2:59:332:59:37

give yourself a gee up or a come on

like Peter ebb den.

2:59:372:59:47

And Ryan Day walking out with a bit

of a swagger and thinking I could go

2:59:482:59:53

on to win this.

He is perfectly

capable. If he keeps scoring like

2:59:532:59:58

this he would look like the winner.

One Welshman through yesterday in

2:59:583:00:04

mark Williams, can Ryan Day make it

through?

3:00:043:00:15

At the start of the match we were

looking at their head to heads and

3:00:193:00:26

Ding

3:00:263:00:31

Ding Junhui had won eight and Ryan

Day have won four.

3:00:313:00:43

Day have won four.

Ryan Day is a

different sort of animal than a

3:00:433:00:45

couple of years ago. He has grown in

confidence.

3:00:453:00:53

confidence. We talked about his

ranking tournament win at the start

3:00:543:00:58

of the season, that has given him an

extra lift especially on the big

3:00:583:01:03

stage against the top players. In

the UK and World Championships of

3:01:033:01:09

course. He has grown in stature in

this match. He looked nervous at the

3:01:093:01:13

beginning. He has a lot more

confidence now. Stay on the black.

3:01:133:01:24

Played that nicely. Perfectly. That

is the type of shot you say -- you

3:01:243:01:33

see Ronnie O'Sullivan playing a lot.

Could not have played it better.

3:01:333:01:42

Just over hip that's likely. --

overhit that slightly.

Stay on the

3:01:423:01:52

black.

I just wonder how much work

he has to do with the cue ball. May

3:01:523:02:03

have to play for the black in the

same pocket as the red. Anything but

3:02:033:02:11

straight on this black.

3:02:113:02:22

Should have gone up for the blue.

He

was trying to make the angle. Just

3:02:353:02:43

the wrong side of straight. No need

to play that red with that amount of

3:02:433:02:52

pace. It appears that this is

something, unless we cannot see,

3:02:523:03:06

that he not making the most of this

opportunity. It was a good

3:03:063:03:10

opportunity

3:03:103:03:15

opportunity for top -- good

opportunity.

3:03:163:03:27

APPLAUSE

3:03:533:03:53

APPLAUSE. What a shot he pulled out

of the bag.

Fantastic shot. Nicely

3:03:533:04:04

now on the black. He can use that as

his inspiration to try to get back

3:04:043:04:11

into this match, to get that spark

back. He has certainly lost it.

3:04:113:04:18

Sometimes it just takes one break

just to get it back. Get your

3:04:183:04:26

concentration and confidence. At the

moment he has lost it.

3:04:263:04:39

That shot could just be the

catalyst, we will wait and see.

3:04:393:04:47

There two raids in the middle of the

bunch and if he hits them to hide

3:05:383:05:42

there the

3:05:423:05:48

there the possibility of a plant.

Perfect, well played.

3:05:483:05:59

A better shot than it looked.

3:06:083:06:15

That double maybe just a bit of

inspiration that he needed.

3:06:253:06:32

Inspirational frustration, I do not

know which but it went in.

3:06:323:06:44

know which but it went in. This

black will take him 15 points in

3:06:443:06:46

front. He is going to need at least

four of these reds to clinch the

3:06:463:06:51

frame at this visit. Normally you

would say a formality. But you would

3:06:513:07:01

not say so just yet.

3:07:013:07:12

That is a mistake. He could play the

pink, probably a better angle on

3:07:193:07:30

that.

3:07:303:07:35

that. Played that well. Played it

confidently and got the perfect

3:07:383:07:46

line.

That was a beautiful

positional shot. Negotiated in

3:07:463:07:59

between the green and brown,

perfect.

3:07:593:08:08

perfect.

30 points to lead now. To

red, to high value colours.

3:08:083:08:25

red, to high value colours.

That

little kiss on the red has knocked

3:08:253:08:28

those raids into an awkward position

now.

3:08:283:08:36

-- those two reds.

3:08:363:08:41

He did not quite get that. He's

going to be slightly hampered by the

3:08:413:08:46

blue. This is not straightforward

any more.

3:08:463:08:54

any more. 51 remaining.

3:08:543:09:04

Very disappointed, Ding Junhui. Just

that simple little shot into the

3:09:153:09:22

corner pocket, it nudged the other

red into an awkward position. Now

3:09:223:09:30

what can Ryan Day do good shot,

great shot.

3:09:303:09:43

How costly Wilbert de? -- will that

be.

3:09:433:09:58

We have a new favourite now for this

frame.

3:10:273:10:39

Decided to go for the blue.

Absolutely inch perfect.

3:10:453:10:59

20 points behind. Playing for the

black. Here we go.

3:11:183:11:37

black. Here we go. Careless to let

it Rock.

3:11:373:11:45

it Rock. Ryan Day has played that

inch perfect on the yellow. Now

3:11:453:11:52

needs up to and including the pink.

To have a two frames advantage and

3:11:523:11:59

just one frame away from the place

in the quarterfinal.

3:11:593:12:13

He must be used at what has

happened. It looked to be all plain

3:12:153:12:22

sailing. -- bemused. When he got

back double and finished in amongst

3:12:223:12:31

the balls you thought he is going to

win this frame and level the match.

3:12:313:12:40

But he's not going to get the

opportunity to do it now because

3:12:403:12:45

this pink is all that Ryan Day

needs. It is five in a row! From 2-

3:12:453:12:56

nil down. And he tries a trick shot.

Just one frame away from a place in

3:12:563:13:03

the quarterfinal. Ryan Day leads

Ding Junhui by five frames to three.

3:13:033:13:11

And look at that smile, he did not

have that at the beginning of the

3:13:113:13:16

match. And walking back to his chair

just keeping an eye on the crowd as

3:13:163:13:20

well and they're giving him a

rapturous applause because this is

3:13:203:13:24

some fight back.

It has been

brilliant from his point of view. As

3:13:243:13:28

for Ding Junhui, he was just

starting to get some momentum in the

3:13:283:13:32

frame and then he goes and does

that.

It is an unforgivable error,

3:13:323:13:38

just drops his cue back down into

the position and the referee just

3:13:383:13:43

spotted and at this level of

something is unforced but what a

3:13:433:13:51

great clearance from Ryan Day to

make him pay for it.

That is putting

3:13:513:13:55

the knife in. These are fundamental

mistakes that Ding Junhui is making.

3:13:553:13:59

That one he will be disappointed

with. It is one of those horrible

3:13:593:14:04

situations. A few seasons ago he

used to have a rest with a bend in

3:14:043:14:10

it. He used to go round and play it

and now we have not seen that. I

3:14:103:14:15

thought it was a good idea.

Many

years ago a gentleman, probably

3:14:153:14:23

before you were involved in snooker,

Jason, invented something called the

3:14:233:14:28

hook rest which had a bend in it so

you could put it flat on the table

3:14:283:14:32

and it has a hook in the middle and

you could get more in line with the

3:14:323:14:37

shot. While they are not around now

I do not know because they were

3:14:373:14:41

useful.

When I was a kid I used to

watch it, you mean professionally!

3:14:413:14:57

I think there is enough modern-day

equipment without having a hook

3:15:003:15:05

rest!

I agree with Steve, it was a

great idea. They used to have won

3:15:053:15:13

under the table and in that

particular case where Ding Junhui

3:15:133:15:17

was, you could put the rest on the

table, the hook would bend around

3:15:173:15:22

the blue and he would have been able

to play that just as with the normal

3:15:223:15:26

rest.

No disadvantage in playing a

poor positional shot. He could have

3:15:263:15:33

used the spider. I know it makes it

more difficult.

3:15:333:15:45

We are not too sure why Ryan Day has

used this opportunity now to go back

3:15:453:15:51

out.

Just someone in the crowd needs

a bit of medical assistance. They

3:15:513:15:57

are being carried out. It is all in

hand.

OK.

And Ryan Day has popped up

3:15:573:16:03

as well. He knew what was happening

behind so just taking the chance to

3:16:033:16:08

get out of the auditorium.

3:16:083:16:14

get out of the auditorium. I do not

know as I say why they got rid of

3:16:143:16:19

that piece of equipment.

With the

rest you know it is an awkward

3:16:193:16:25

position, you need to put the rest

on the table and then you have the

3:16:253:16:28

cross and you need to put the cue on

and get clearance of the blue. Ding

3:16:283:16:32

Junhui just dropped the cue down to

get the right position on the white

3:16:323:16:36

ball. He should have used the higher

part of the cross perhaps. It is

3:16:363:16:42

flatter one-way. What am I doing! It

is like that but if it was the other

3:16:423:16:53

way... No, I have completely gone.

I'm not doing this any more.

As you

3:16:533:17:00

say someone has been taken ill in

the auditorium. The officials seem

3:17:003:17:03

to be having a conversation with the

referee.

I think it is being taken

3:17:033:17:09

care of.

You would be sitting pretty

just, you do not know how long...

3:17:093:17:14

I'm not too sure whether it has any

effect on why Ryan Day left because

3:17:143:17:21

he went for what seemed to happen in

the crowd.

A bit unclear. I think he

3:17:213:17:25

sensed something was happening.

Well

he is back out now.

3:17:253:17:35

Ryan Day walks back into the arena.

After a small break.

3:17:353:17:45

After a small break. Ding Junhui

back firmly against the wall. The

3:17:453:17:48

remaining three frames he needs to

stay in this Masters.

3:17:483:17:59

stay in this Masters. Very

disappointed losing that last frame.

3:17:593:18:04

On the other hand Ryan Day has

completely turned this match around.

3:18:043:18:14

All the stats lowdown on those first

few frames, looked edgy and nervous

3:18:143:18:19

but he got that most important frame

for himself just before the

3:18:193:18:22

interval. That was the springboard

for this amazing comeback. The

3:18:223:18:29

hardest to win is the last. He will

be aware of that.

3:18:293:18:47

Just catching the yellow. Turning it

down in favour of the safety.

3:19:023:19:15

The flick off the yellow has brought

the green into play.

3:19:213:19:30

the green into play. He can get to

the one to the left of the pocket.

3:19:303:19:38

Just not quite the same enough.

3:19:403:19:50

-- thin enough.

3:19:503:19:54

Where the colour comes from is

anyone's guess.

3:19:543:20:07

You may elect to take on this red.

He has had a look at the pink. Worth

3:20:353:20:43

having a go at this.

3:20:433:20:49

having a go at this. Yes, a good

pot. On the pink. Wiped its feet.

3:20:533:21:01

But still excellent cueing.

3:21:013:21:12

That looked nervy. This frame is

always the hardest.

3:21:173:21:28

always the hardest. That looked very

nervy to me. He has a great

3:21:283:21:34

opportunity to win this match if he

keeps himself together. And he is

3:21:343:21:41

going to get another chance. This is

an amazing turnaround. Talk about

3:21:413:21:47

football being a game of two halves.

It is a bit like night and day.

And

3:21:473:21:58

Ding Junhui being night. I like it.

That was a bit more positive. That

3:21:583:22:14

is unlucky. He played the right

shot. Nothing wrong with the choice.

3:22:143:22:23

The only way to keep it

3:22:233:22:29

The only way to keep it going now,

he thought he was bound to be on the

3:22:293:22:32

green. Then the red appeared from

nowhere.

3:22:323:22:39

nowhere.

He has got to take on the

brown.

3:22:393:22:50

brown. Got a tremendous green under

pressure a couple of frames ago. He

3:22:503:22:54

is not bridging this time.

3:22:543:23:01

is not bridging this time.

Maybe it

just squeezes in and it did. Now can

3:23:013:23:07

he get past the brown. Have a look

at his body language, he certainly

3:23:073:23:12

can.

That was a great shot. Not a

lot of pocket to work with for the

3:23:123:23:21

blue.

3:23:213:23:26

blue.

He got a reaction from that.

Getting applause but I do not think

3:23:293:23:36

he will be happy to take on this

black. But what else can he do.

3:23:363:23:48

black. But what else can he do. He

did not expect the cue ball to

3:23:483:23:51

spring up the table as it did. Of

course he does not have to play the

3:23:513:23:55

black.

3:23:553:24:00

He felt that the red was waiting for

him if he got that. But now what can

3:24:233:24:31

Ding Junhui do? Straight on this

yellow.

3:24:313:24:48

He missed the red with the rest

earlier in this frame.

Not perfect

3:25:013:25:06

here.

3:25:063:25:11

Played that well. Played the cannon

nicely to leave himself on the

3:25:213:25:28

black. A few reds in the open but

they all seem to be covering one

3:25:283:25:35

another. This is a good positional

shot.

3:25:353:25:48

Walking around giving himself a

little bit of thought. I do not

3:25:483:25:52

think it is that straightforward

although it may look it, I'm not

3:25:523:25:57

certain that it is.

3:25:573:26:06

certain that it is.

A wonderful

touch to get on that red. He's had a

3:26:063:26:10

look at those couple of reds, having

another look. And the couple of reds

3:26:103:26:19

above the black as well. They almost

look like at plant as well. The

3:26:193:26:28

couple of reds to the left of the

black are definitely a plant. He

3:26:283:26:31

does not have to do much with the

cue ball here.

3:26:313:26:44

I think he could have played that

better.

3:26:493:26:57

better. Can he get to the angle of

the first? He could.

3:26:573:27:08

the first? He could. I just thought

he may have come a fraction short.

3:27:083:27:13

Maybe another plant at the bottom of

those reds.

3:27:133:27:26

those reds. Maybe after his next red

and black.

3:27:263:27:38

He has played that in such a way as

to not disturb those couple of reds.

3:27:403:27:45

As you can see there are plant in

this corner. -- they are a plant.

3:27:453:28:00

Basically what it means, the fact

that it is a plant, he does not have

3:28:003:28:05

to be playing any cannons. He does

not have to trust to luck in this

3:28:053:28:09

position. 30 points the lead. Still

needing at least four of these reds.

3:28:093:28:22

Played that nicely. Now a couple of

reds to go here. The one next to the

3:28:223:28:31

black and the one nearest to the

pink.

3:28:313:28:43

Almost got to the winning post in

the last frame. But obviously

3:28:473:28:50

failed. A few more pots away from

winning this frame.

3:28:503:29:09

We have been blessed with a couple

of great matches already in this

3:29:183:29:21

championship. Mark Selby and Mark

Williams, a high-quality encounter.

3:29:213:29:28

And last night Mark Allen against

Luca Brecel another high-quality

3:29:283:29:31

match.

3:29:313:29:37

match. And in the same vein

fantastic snooker, lots of nerves,

3:29:373:29:41

lots of good breaks, lots of Mrs.

3:29:413:29:49

-- misses.

3:29:513:29:56

But really enthralling snooker here

as so often the Alexandra Palace

3:29:563:30:01

seems to produce. The match still

very much alive.

3:30:013:30:08

As all great champions do, they

sometimes find something when

3:30:153:30:19

they're at a point of no return.

And that's what Ding Junhui has

3:30:193:30:24

managed to find in this frame so

far. Still got to do it in the next

3:30:243:30:31

couple as well. He's still in with a

shout. Good stuff.

3:30:313:30:39

And a chance of fourth century of

the match. Ding Junhui has made one.

3:30:393:30:46

The 111 he made in the first frame

and Ryan Day made 105 and 125 so the

3:30:463:30:53

standard has been really good. There

has been a few scrappy games, but

3:30:533:30:56

that's just added to the excitement.

You don't want everything being

3:30:563:30:59

potted. You need a few misses and a

uoohs and ahs.

3:30:593:31:08

So this pink for the further century

of the match.

3:31:193:31:26

Quality. High, high quality.

APPLAUSE

3:31:293:31:35

Well, he misses a black. That

doesn't matter, but Ding Junhui

3:31:353:31:39

steps up to the plate there and

produced and he is now within one of

3:31:393:31:46

Ryan Day. Ryan Day still one away

from victory.

3:31:463:31:53

COMMENTATOR: We have had seven

centuries already.

3:31:533:31:55

COMMENTATOR: We have had seven

centuries already. John it is a sell

3:31:553:31:58

out tomorrow for Ronnie O'Sullivan,

a big crowd, not a sell-out and

3:31:583:32:02

being treated to another fantastic

afternoon?

Brilliant, I don't know

3:32:023:32:05

how much they paid for their ticket,

but they will have been glad with

3:32:053:32:10

the standard that's on offer for

them. Ryan Day will be kicking

3:32:103:32:14

himself. He smashed into the pack at

the beginning of that game and he

3:32:143:32:17

didn't get on the green, but he

potted a good blue, but it was the

3:32:173:32:21

shot after that, Steve, when he lost

the cue ball.

As Ken said, if he

3:32:213:32:28

potted it, it could have been the

match winner, but it was a shot he

3:32:283:32:31

didn't really want to be having to

play. There was an easier way to go

3:32:313:32:36

about things, but he has still got

two bites of the cherry so you never

3:32:363:32:40

know.

What's thrilling with the

Masters is the confidence you get

3:32:403:32:44

from winning frames well and Ryan

that with that 105 and 125, this is

3:32:443:32:53

a test of Ryan's mental strength?

The player that's behind is always

3:32:533:32:57

dangerous because he has got less to

lose, but Ding won't want to go out

3:32:573:33:04

with waverper. He will be fighting.

Sometimes it seems as if Ding hasn't

3:33:043:33:08

got the fire in his belly. It is not

a crit ysmt, it is the way he goes

3:33:083:33:14

about his business, but sometimes,

he looks a bit flat. Other players

3:33:143:33:16

seem to have a bit more fire when

they are sitting in their chair, but

3:33:163:33:21

it is probably juths the way he

looks.

We have had a 6-5 between

3:33:213:33:28

these two at the German Masters

which Ding won and Ryan won a match

3:33:283:33:35

6-5 in the International

Championship, are we thinking this

3:33:353:33:37

is going the whole wra?

Well, you

are.

It is not about me, John, I

3:33:373:33:43

think you'll find. Well, not always!

3:33:433:33:50

COMMENTATOR: Not the best break off.

3:33:563:34:04

A terrific opening red and he has

finished on the black.

3:34:073:34:14

APPLAUSE

It just shows you the difference

3:34:143:34:17

having that cue ball near the baulk

cushion.

3:34:173:34:23

Well, where is the red ball going?

Well, that is a result in a way.

3:34:233:34:33

Because I doubt whether he was on

anything, but for knocking that red

3:34:333:34:37

towards the middle.

3:34:373:34:45

Well, perfect on the blue for the

smash if that what he feels like.

3:34:493:34:59

Oh well.

It's not unlucky. He played to

3:34:593:35:04

cannon the pink full in the face and

got into the cue ball too much.

3:35:043:35:08

That's what he was after. Just

catching the red half ball.

3:35:083:35:20

catching the red half ball. A few

twist and turns now and they're all

3:35:203:35:24

gaining in magnitude.

Every bit of bad luck, bad roll of

3:35:243:35:32

the ball could cost you the match.

So a chance for Ryan.

3:35:323:35:44

So a chance for Ryan. Played it

well. Played that with lots of

3:35:443:35:47

bottom and just dragged it in to

hold for the black. Played it

3:35:473:35:51

nicely.

Yes, just needs to nudge the

two reds just above and to the right

3:35:513:35:59

of the black here. Just nudge them

into pottable position.

3:35:593:36:05

He played that very well. He played

it with a lot of power. Watch the

3:36:053:36:14

cue ball bounce through the reds.

That has certainly opened things up

3:36:143:36:20

lovely now. The two reds above the

black are open. When he pots this

3:36:203:36:25

red he may go back up for the blue

or a baulk colour here. Well, the

3:36:253:36:33

pink is on as well. He won't get a

better opportunity than this.

3:36:333:36:41

We say it so many times, but it is

just a case of holding yourself

3:36:553:36:58

together now. But he has produced

some good snooker in this match to

3:36:583:37:05

get back into a winnable position.

So, he shouldn't be doubting himself

3:37:053:37:11

at this crucial moment.

3:37:113:37:22

Just checking to see whether the

pink will go into the left centre

3:37:343:37:40

pocket. He will want to be

straighter on this red to drop it in

3:37:403:37:47

and get close to the black. Could

play the red that's closest to the

3:37:473:37:52

black, but then he's got to play a

delicate little cannon on the black

3:37:523:37:58

and that could go wrong.

He is

certainly giving it plenty of

3:37:583:38:01

thought. The one thing you want to

do in these swaugsz is don't over

3:38:013:38:06

think it and lose your rhythm.

-- situations is don't over think it

3:38:063:38:16

and lose your rhythm. It looks as

though he is on the black. He's down

3:38:163:38:21

quick so he must like the potting

angle.

3:38:213:38:28

angle. Yes, he was absolutely inch

perfect. I agree with you Ken,

3:38:303:38:34

couldn't ask for a better chance

than this.

3:38:343:38:41

The red just by the pink is

available into left middle. So still

3:39:063:39:13

in good position.

3:39:133:39:19

A nice screw back for the two reds

on the right-hand side of the table.

3:39:243:39:28

The red at the bottom of the bunch

of four below the pink also pots,

3:39:283:39:33

but I think where his cue is

pointing there, two reds he'll have

3:39:333:39:39

into the left centre and screw back

in a straight line from here.

3:39:393:39:50

Looking at Ding Junhui sat in his

seat, you just wonder has his race

3:39:503:39:57

been run?

He'll be thinking he might not get

3:39:573:40:03

back to the table.

3:40:033:40:09

back to the table. And played that

nicely. So, the frame and the match

3:40:093:40:16

at his mercy.

3:40:163:40:24

Well, it could have gone wrong, but

the four-ball kiss on the red has

3:40:303:40:36

left him once again in good

position.

3:40:363:40:47

Over two hours and 50 minutes so

far. It has been a high quality,

3:40:533:41:01

entertaining first round match here.

We have seen already seen four

3:41:013:41:08

centuries. We could see another one.

Ryan certainly won't be thinking of

3:41:083:41:16

that just glancing at the scores.

He's 50 points ahead.

3:41:163:41:26

He's 50 points ahead.

Yes, 50 points

ahead, that really equates to two

3:41:263:41:31

reds, two pinks would do it.

3:41:313:41:38

And a lesson for a lot of young,

aspiring snooker players, I mean, at

3:41:533:41:59

3-0 it was just a one horse race,

Ryan was doing absolutely nothing

3:41:593:42:04

and wasn't contributing to the match

and was putting Ding Junhui under no

3:42:043:42:08

pressure whatsoever and now just a

couple of pots away from victory.

3:42:083:42:13

Against the world number four.

That

just shows you how quick a match can

3:42:133:42:17

turn around.

You never give up. Always keep

3:42:173:42:22

fighting.

3:42:223:42:26

REFEREE:

Just hurry up, please.

PHONE RINGS

3:42:343:42:40

REFEREE:

Please turn it off.

It

won't be putting Ryan off. He is in

3:42:403:42:45

a comfort zone a the moment. He

knows he only needs another red and

3:42:453:42:49

a colour.

3:42:493:42:55

a colour. And another disappointing

performance from Ding Junhui, it has

3:42:553:42:57

to be said.

3:42:573:43:07

APPLAUSE

3:43:083:43:15

A tremendous performance from Ryan

Day. One more red just to make sure.

3:43:153:43:29

And it's there.

APPLAUSE

3:43:313:43:36

Yes, he lost the cue ball slightly,

but as you said, Ken, just that red,

3:43:363:43:41

that will leave Ding Junhui in his

seat. I'd like to see this roll in

3:43:413:43:46

though because I'd like to see

another century and every chance we

3:43:463:43:49

will now.

APPLAUSE

3:43:493:43:55

Five centuries in ten frames. That

would be a very high standard.

3:43:553:44:05

And we said when he won the frame

before the mid-session intir value,

3:44:183:44:23

could that give him the impetus to

go on and it certainly has.

3:44:233:44:33

APPLAUSE

Just the red and the black for

3:44:453:44:46

another century.

APPLAUSE

3:44:463:44:56

In it goes, well this has been

marvellous stuff. What a performance

3:44:563:45:01

for Ryan Day. You've got to take

your hat off to him.

3:45:013:45:08

your hat off to him. 3-0 down and

going nowhere, and finishing in

3:45:093:45:11

style. A wonderful performance and

this will give him great

3:45:113:45:15

encouragement. His fellow Welshman

knocked out, the world number one

3:45:153:45:22

yesterday. And he's about to

knockout the world number four.

3:45:223:45:32

The first time he has played in the

Masters since 2010.

3:45:323:45:40

And never at the Alexandra Palace.

And the way it started off, as I

3:45:403:45:45

say, it didn't look as if he was

going to get much out of it, but he

3:45:453:45:50

stuck to his guns. And in the second

half of this match, he has been

3:45:503:45:54

superb. Three century breaks he has

made.

3:45:543:46:00

APPLAUSE

Against Ding Junhui's two and it is

3:46:003:46:03

Ryan Day, 3-0 down he was to Ding,

but he got in there and since the

3:46:033:46:10

mid-session interval has outplayed

Ding Junhui and he's through to the

3:46:103:46:14

quarterfinal. He wins by 6-4.

3:46:143:46:17

Ding Junhui and he's through to the

quarterfinal. He wins by 6-4.

3:46:173:46:20

I am not sure the cheers that Ryan

Day had for that unbelievable

3:46:203:46:25

performance.

He has been

outstanding. I was critical early in

3:46:253:46:30

the match because I thought his

concentration wasn't there early on,

3:46:303:46:33

he was sloppy and Ding didn't have

to do too much to be 3-0 ahead, to

3:46:333:46:38

get back to 3-1 and after that, he

played excellent. Right to the end

3:46:383:46:42

of the match he was excellent.

I

think Ryan Day has been an

3:46:423:46:50

entertaining player to watch. Ding

is a clinical player, Ryan has been

3:46:503:46:55

one of the crowd's fAfrts because

for a long time an underachiever and

3:46:553:47:01

wins an event and plays a very

astacking style of play.

What

3:47:013:47:04

happened to Ding Junhui? 111 break

in that opening frame, in the balls

3:47:043:47:08

and then it is it has collapsed.

He

just went off the boil a little bit

3:47:083:47:15

and Ryan came into the game and he

had one or two little bits of bad

3:47:153:47:18

form near the end, but he definitely

dropped in his standards through the

3:47:183:47:21

match that's for sure.

This is going

to do nothing, well done Ryan. This

3:47:213:47:26

is going to do nothing to deter the

newspaper and the press to talk

3:47:263:47:30

about Ding Junhui and the curse that

he has at Ally Pally.

Not only that,

3:47:303:47:35

keeping his stand up in the game of

snooker is not easy and there is the

3:47:353:47:39

argument that possibly he won't be

the first Chinese world champion,

3:47:393:47:42

you never know, but from Ryan's

prospective going 3-0 down, we were

3:47:423:47:48

ripping you to pieces in the studio.

I thought I was going to be quicker

3:47:483:47:55

down the M4 quicker than you would

say boo to a ghost! I thought all

3:47:553:47:59

morning get off to a good start and

I thought if I don't get off to a

3:47:593:48:04

good start, keep calm and patient

and positive. It turned.

That break

3:48:043:48:09

of 79 got you back in it and you got

that break of 125 and we were saying

3:48:093:48:15

here in the studio that as a player,

when you've got that break of 125,

3:48:153:48:19

and then you follow it with 105, you

are buzzing then?

I started to enjoy

3:48:193:48:24

myself. It was completely different

filing to what I was experiencing at

3:48:243:48:29

3-0. It was like you just want to be

swallowed up, you know. But yeah,

3:48:293:48:35

like I said, I just kept patient,

but pulled on the match that I

3:48:353:48:41

played against Mark Williams in the

UK, I was 4-1 down and just hung in

3:48:413:48:45

there and the match turned.

You won

it 6-5.

A couple of months after the

3:48:453:48:51

interval it got interesting when

Ding Junhui miscued.

The thing with

3:48:513:48:57

the chalk. I think I had two

miscues, I potted a red and I finish

3:48:573:49:04

close to a black. Extremes to

right-hand side and flick the black

3:49:043:49:11

in and I miscued and it made me look

like a bit of an idiot! There was a

3:49:113:49:17

miscue and it slipped off the

corner.

There is half miscues with

3:49:173:49:22

the chalk.

It just slips off the

tip.

I thought the pivotal moment

3:49:223:49:28

when Ding Junhui fell with the rest,

but you must have realised the

3:49:283:49:32

significance that you could have

cleared up and it was a great

3:49:323:49:35

clearance that and perhaps and I am

not putting words in your mouth, but

3:49:353:49:38

the knowledge that you won a ranking

event earlier in the season perhaps

3:49:383:49:42

gives you extra confidence.

I don't

feel any different, but that's quite

3:49:423:49:46

possible, yeah. Like you said, Ding,

to begin with, I want really paying

3:49:463:49:52

much attention and I didn't know if

he fouled with the rest against the

3:49:523:49:55

brown or the blue and I think it was

called a foul five. So, yeah, I

3:49:553:50:01

thought if you can clear here and go

5-3 it will be really big, you know,

3:50:013:50:07

the first rail, I got out of the

chair and it was so close, I had

3:50:073:50:12

hardly any back, but I have got to

play it.

When you know a player has

3:50:123:50:18

improved and got the confidence is

when you get the chance to win frame

3:50:183:50:21

and match and to go and do it like

that is very nice.

Early on to go

3:50:213:50:28

3-0 I thought he had a couple of

nice little kisses here and there

3:50:283:50:31

and I didn't get into the game at

all. I potted a couple of long ones

3:50:313:50:35

and didn't land on the green one

time and then like I said, it

3:50:353:50:39

changed and then he made 100 after I

landed on that awkward black the

3:50:393:50:44

frame before and it was one of those

do you, don't you, put all the match

3:50:443:50:50

into that shot with a 5-3 lead and

yeah, he hit the pink, glanced off

3:50:503:50:55

the pink and where I was sat I could

see the white was in and the red was

3:50:553:51:00

following it towards the pocket. I

thought you have got a great chance

3:51:003:51:04

and made a 100 break.

But to go and

do it when you need to do it.

And

3:51:043:51:08

against one of the best players in

the world. The fact that you haven't

3:51:083:51:12

been in the Mastest since 2010, I

know how hard you've worked to be

3:51:123:51:16

here and how much you were looking

forward to it. You told us in York.

3:51:163:51:20

Was that on your mind, when you're

3-0 down, you are thinking I haven't

3:51:203:51:24

been here for eight years. I have

got to go all guns blazing?

I have

3:51:243:51:28

got friends af family that came down

to watch. I was trying to look

3:51:283:51:31

forward to playing the game. I know

my game is in good shape. 3-0 down,

3:51:313:51:37

it is a disaster and hadn't had a

chance on the balls and the first

3:51:373:51:41

few shots of the 79 in the fourth

frame, went slightly awkward and

3:51:413:51:46

then I made a good break and went to

the interval and spoke to my mate

3:51:463:51:49

and said this is a long way to go.

It is nice to get results. I know

3:51:493:51:56

you put a lot of hard work, but it

is a new cue that you are playing

3:51:563:52:00

with and it is a journey into the

unknown even though you try to get a

3:52:003:52:05

cue that's made exactly the same as

the last one.

The more I played with

3:52:053:52:08

it, especially in a set up, you

know, under that pressure, the more

3:52:083:52:13

you are going to be feeling at home

using it. I'm getting better with it

3:52:133:52:17

all the time.

Is it longer than what

you have been using before?

It is

3:52:173:52:22

longer. The tip is thicker. So...

You got it made the same as the

3:52:223:52:28

other one?

It is a piece of wood so

you can take it off, but you can't

3:52:283:52:32

put it on. I had it made thicker in

all dimensions and it came and I was

3:52:323:52:37

struggling for a cue at the time. I

thought you've got to stick with

3:52:373:52:41

this and then the UK, I think, I won

three 6-5s on the spin. Winning the

3:52:413:52:50

deciding frame gives you more belief

with the cue. Fingers crossed it is

3:52:503:52:53

all right.

It is John Higgins or

Anthony McGill in the next round and

3:52:533:52:59

that's not until Friday night. I

won't remind you how you got on with

3:52:593:53:06

Anthony McGill.

I don't want to go

there. I didn't want to get on the

3:53:063:53:11

plane to Glasgow, but I made the

journey.

This has nothing to do with

3:53:113:53:14

the fact that I was born in Wales,

in Cardiff, but we get in a

3:53:143:53:19

privileged position sitting here and

watching good matches, some not so

3:53:193:53:23

good, it has been a privilege

watching you today.

Thank you.

When

3:53:233:53:27

our back is against the wall, you

showed a bit of Welsh fighting

3:53:273:53:31

spirit there, Ryan.

Mark came back

yesterday. It was a great match

3:53:313:53:36

yesterday against Selby.

I have been covered in leeks and

3:53:363:53:43

daffodils all afternoon!

Wonderful stuff. Well done. Really

3:53:433:53:46

good. Fantastic stuff. Well done to

Ryan Day. Tonight, it's all about

3:53:463:53:52

Judd Trump taking on Liang Wenbo.

Judd Trump a couple of years younger

3:53:523:54:00

than Ding Junhui has fulfilled

nearly everything expected of him

3:54:003:54:04

and best place perhaps to be the new

dominant force within the game.

3:54:043:54:08

There is nobody better experience

wise as young as him.

No he is so

3:54:083:54:14

dangerous. He is a lethal scorer. He

pots balls from all over the place

3:54:143:54:18

and now through lots of practise and

lots of work, has now got a very,

3:54:183:54:24

very strong tactical safety game. It

doesn't get talked about as much as

3:54:243:54:28

it should in my opinion. His scoring

is lethal, but his safety game is

3:54:283:54:32

right up there and when he's on full

form, he's a handful for anyone.

In

3:54:323:54:38

the scoring department, he gets on

with it, doesn't he? He flows so

3:54:383:54:42

well. Perhaps the greatest power

player we have seen and take into

3:54:423:54:47

account Jimmy White and the Neil

Robertsons. There is one glaring

3:54:473:54:53

deficiency that we see on the

cameras, that the cue goes right

3:54:533:54:56

across the ball from one side of the

board, as if he is cueing up on the

3:54:563:55:01

left-hand side of the ball and he

goes across to the right-hand side,

3:55:013:55:05

you wonder how he can keep that up

during the tournament and be

3:55:053:55:09

accurate?

He keeps as still as he

can as Shaun has spoken about

3:55:093:55:13

before. There is a going forward

motion that his chin does stay on

3:55:133:55:17

the cue throughout the shot. I think

if he was one of the players that

3:55:173:55:20

actually lifted a little bit, I

think he would make so many more

3:55:203:55:23

errors it would be incredible.

Where

does he go from here now, he is in a

3:55:233:55:28

good position within the game? Does

he keep on practising, keep on

3:55:283:55:31

improving?

Yes, he does that and I

think he will do that, but I think

3:55:313:55:37

without, you know, just a little as

tricks next to his name for me now,

3:55:373:55:45

the longer it takes him to compete

in the World Championships and the

3:55:453:55:48

other big tournament, the Masters,

he has already won the UK

3:55:483:55:55

Championship, but the triple crown

that he has been earmarked for since

3:55:553:55:58

he became professional, the longer

that takes, the hard it will get. He

3:55:583:56:02

has perhaps said a few things in

recent years that he might wish he

3:56:023:56:06

could take back. Last year he

announced he felt this was his time.

3:56:063:56:11

It had taken too long and he was

rear and he was ready. That's great,

3:56:113:56:14

but it doesn't half put the pressure

on you when you start saying things

3:56:143:56:17

like that. I should know I was very

vocal in my early days and I wish I

3:56:173:56:22

could go back and take some of those

things back because they really did

3:56:223:56:26

pile the pressure on, but he has got

the game and he will be around for a

3:56:263:56:30

long, long time.

So Judd Trump against Liang Wenbo is

3:56:303:56:40

live on the red Button. We will have

the highlights for you. That's at

3:56:403:56:44

11.15pm. It will be a great

highlight show tonight because of

3:56:443:56:47

what we have seen today. The last

time the BBC cameras were trained on

3:56:473:56:52

Judd Trump, he was disappointing in

York, losing to Graeme Dott.

He

3:56:523:56:57

didn't graft very hard in that

match. There were parts of it where

3:56:573:57:02

if he had grafted harder, he would

have been closer. Graeme Dott made

3:57:023:57:07

it awkward. I was disappointed. He

has been a professional for a Loom.

3:57:073:57:17

He has all the camabilities and can

blitz people off the table. He has

3:57:173:57:20

yet to win one of these. He hasn't

won a World Championship yet.

3:57:203:57:23

Everyone was expecting him to do it.

At some point he has got to start

3:57:233:57:27

producing.

At some point we need to

stop talking about it. We need to

3:57:273:57:34

stop saying when is the real Judd

Trump going to stand up and show us

3:57:343:57:39

what he is capable of?

You could

make the argument that there is so

3:57:393:57:43

many top players cueing up to win

these big events that you have got

3:57:433:57:47

to be more and more patient as the

game goes on and the likes of Ronnie

3:57:473:57:52

O'Sullivan and John Higgins playing

great snooker into their 40s and not

3:57:523:57:56

going away makes the job harder

because they have got great

3:57:563:58:00

experience. Judd has plenty of years

at the top if he decides to maintain

3:58:003:58:04

the concentration, but he must be

getting impatient to win a major.

3:58:043:58:08

Looking further ahead to tomorrow

afternoon, Ronnie O'Sullivan is

3:58:083:58:15

stepping out in front of his home

crowd. He gets a warm reception.

It

3:58:153:58:19

will be packed to the rafters. He

plays his match and goes home to bed

3:58:193:58:24

and wins it and then they give him a

trophy.

Do you believe the story he

3:58:243:58:29

might not make it because he might

be filming a TV show.

Yeah, pigs

3:58:293:58:34

might fly.

Hopefully we will him

tomorrow and at The Crucible. Thank

3:58:343:58:38

you to John and Steve. Thank you

very much indeed for watching. So,

3:58:383:58:42

after a dodge dwri start, it was

very much Ryan's day. Bye for now.

3:58:423:58:51

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