First Round: Ding Junhui v Ryan Day Masters Snooker

Hello and welcome back to Alexandra

Palace and the second day of the

Masters. Today we feature a man who

has led the Chinese invasion of the

top rankings in the World Snooker,

Ding Junhui. But he has had mixed

fortunes here at the Masters.

So his 14th appearance at the

Masters. He lost to Ronnie

O'Sullivan in the final in 2007

before he took the title in 2011.

But since the event moved to

Alexandra Palace in 2012 he has won

just one match in six years, not a

great record and that was last year.

The man who he has to be today if he

is to win just his second match here

at Alexandra Palace is Ryan Day. He

shook off his tag last year of being

the best player in the world not to

want a ranking event. Good to have

him back at the Masters. We're

looking forward to welcoming Ryan

Day back to the Masters and also

saying big hello to John Parrott

making his first appearance at the

Masters on the BBC. Having a day off

yesterday? Nothing to do with a big

football match! Great to have Ryan

Day back at the Masters.

A solid

professional. He has that added

confidence now from winning the

tour. He has been a great player for

a long time but he just needed that

when to give him confidence.

He is

going to take some stopping.

A tough

match? And winning composed of

momentum is like gold dust in any

sport and if you do not have it,

regardless of your performances in

previous years, you are short of

that match play and confidence. So

Ding Junhui is coming into this

match having had a fantastic season

and really he has got to prove

himself again and the first round is

tough in any case.

tough in any case.

Well he has

gotten beaten before and his

confidence will be fragile which

will not help.

But he did win the

world ( September. This is an

entirely different event and

something wrong with his

performances here at Alexandra

Palace, is that just the pressure of

the venue?

I have no idea, it is a

strange one. He went for a long time

not been able to win at the Crucible

but no reason why he should not like

this place.

He has to get off to

good start. Yes and even in the of

11 and matches that are even longer,

a good start is essential as we saw

yesterday with Mark William.

It is a

nice way to get. Well two matches

already done. This is the draw and

results so far.

Ronnie O'Sullivan the reigning

champion plays Marco Fu tomorrow.

Mark Allen of Northern Ireland is

through and faces Luca Brecel. John

Higgins opens up against Anthony

McGill and all Scotland clash was

dark and light this afternoon is

Ding Junhui taking on Ryan Day. Judd

Trump twice a semifinalist plays

Liang Wenbo. And Shaun Murphy takes

on Ali Carter. Barry Hawkins the

runner-up in 2016 faces Kyren

Wilson. And what a match yesterday,

Mark Williams beating Mark Selby

6-5. We really enjoyed that match

yesterday. And the headlines in

newspapers today saying Mark

Williams, my time to shine. He asked

for the trophy to be taken out

because it was shining in his eyes!

Your reaction to Mark Selby going

out?

I thought it was a horrible

draw for both players. They have a

similar record against each other.

When the draw came out I thought it

was going to be close.

And Mark

Selby said in an interview that he

was the one player he wanted to

avoid, Mark Williams.

Mark Williams

is a previous winner and on form he

is a handful for anyone. But for

Mark Selby it is tough because

expectations on him are massive,

world number one, world champion.

And you know that all these players

are capable but you still have to

prove yourself as world champion. So

for Mark Williams he will be

delighted.

The beauty of the Masters

is anyone can beat anyone.

Absolutely and this tournament tells

you that every year. The best

players, but not a great shock that

he went out.

Mark Selby will be

watching that over and over again.

Thinking that he could still be in

the draw.

There is always not

involved and the longer session

matches can negate that a bit but

still missing that ball along the

top cushion was critical for Mark

Selby. Mark Williams I think did

enough to put under pressure one

person that will not say out loud

but will be quite pleased that Mark

Selby is out is Ronnie O'Sullivan.

It makes his job a little bit

easier.

You're absolutely right.

It

opens up the draw. I'm not so sure

it was completely open anyway. You

would be looking at Ronnie

O'Sullivan maybe as the favourite

and maybe Mark Selby for the bottom

half. But there are a lot of matches

to be played before being able to

think I'm lucky to avoid Mark Selby.

I'm sitting on the fence for the

four tournament. -- for the whole

tournament. We are supposed to be

experts, we haven't got a clue!

A

great day yesterday for Wales with

Mark Williams.

Another Welshman

going through today? There's every

chance. The start of the match today

is very important. Ding Junhui could

be a bit fragile and if Ryan Day

could get off a good start, he has a

say in the match was dubbed thank

you very much and time to hand over

to rob Walker.

Good afternoon, it is

the second day of the most

prestigious invitational tournament

in snooker, this is Alexandra Palace

and China against Wales for a place

in the quarterfinals.

APPLAUSE

and China against Wales for a place

in the quarterfinals.

APPLAUSE.

Please welcome a player returning to

the Masters for the first time in

eight years. Quarterfinalist at

Wembley in 2010, this will be his

first walk down the stairs here at

Alexandra Palace. Earlier this

season in his 20th year as a pro he

achieved a lifelong dream, taking

his maiden ranking title at the

Ricoh Masters. He is the pride of

Wales, he's dynamite, he is Ryan

Day.

MUSIC: The Passenger by Iggy Pop.

And his opponent, a man whose

achievements have inspired a

generation of players and fans back

home. Twice the Masters finalist. He

won the all Nations clash at Wembley

in 2011 and earlier this season

secured the 13th ranking title

taking the World Open. He is without

doubt the finest from China, enter

the Dragon, Ding Junhui!

APPLAUSE

the Dragon, Ding Junhui!

APPLAUSE.

MUSIC: Breaking News by Jordan Chan.

Well how lovely to see Ding Junhui

walking in and smiling. This could

be a more relaxed player. He has got

to win here and he has a really

tough match against Ryan Day.

Thank you, Ding Junhui looking the

joys of spring there.

Absolutely.

Looking forward to this match.

Looking forward to this match. It

could be quite close. In the early

exchanges, Ding Junhui has not had

the best of records here. A winner

here in 2011. But his form of late

has not been fantastic. He has been

suffering a little bit from

conjunctivitis as well. Hopefully

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

he's all about. And of course what

this young man is all about as well,

Ryan Day. Delighted to see him

winning his first ranking tournament

after being beaten in four previous

finals.

Absolutely, he is such a

talent. Comes from a hotbed of

snooker of course, Wales.

snooker of course, Wales. There is

the flight, may be the same as

yesterday!

--fly.

At this level as per usual case of

who could create the first chance

and when you get the chance, can you

score heavily. That is the secret of

success at this level.

That just caught the red, played too

thick and careered into the other

red. So the first chance to Ding

Junhui.

A good opening round. We talked

about scoring heavily and not too

many better in the game than this

young man. He has made 147 six

times.

times. Right on top of the cue ball!

Pretty hard to play when that is

their!

Steve Davis must've opened his

wallet!

He has underhit that and maybe broke

his concentration. He could still

part the red to the left of the

black but a lot further down the

table.

A bit of a let off for Ryan Day.

Ding Junhui just trying to get on

that red to the bottom right-hand

corner pocket.

There is a gap between the red and

the black. Found the gap but a long

way away from the pot. He has got

away with it.

A little bit surprised with the

record of Ding Junhui, only winning

one match here.

It is amazing,

really. Such a talent.

really. Such a talent. But you're

playing the top players here from

the first match and you have got to

be right on your game from the

start. He was just slightly below

form and then you're out of it. The

last two meetings in fact of these

two players, Ryan Day has been the

winner in both.

winner in both. But they've had some

good battles in big tournaments, the

World Championships. The UK

Championships. Not best-of-7

affairs. We've had some really tough

matches. Ryan Day, the word is

overused but you would have to say

he is an underachiever, he has so

much ability.

much ability.

Maybe that win at the

beginning of the season will just

give him that extra bit of belief.

Until you get that first ranking

tournament win on the belt you're

always that bit nervous against the

top players. Maybe that bit of

belief, that tournament will give

him confidence against the top

players and especially on occasions

like this.

like this.

Now Ding Junhui knows

that he is careering into the second

red but just make sure of that pot

and trust to luck. If it goes. Maybe

should've played it with bit more

pace. He is on the black, it is a

tough one. A bit more pace required.

I think that was a slight miscue,

that is why he is looking at his

tip. Did not really connect with the

cue ball the way he wanted. So

missed it by quite some margin.

He's

one of few players, when he is near

the cushion, most players just

strike down slightly but he keeps it

parallel.

This is an opportunity to get his

hands on the table and get a few

points on the scoreboard now, Ryan

Day.

Just coming around to have a

look at the two reds. The one

nearest the bottom right-hand corner

pocket looks like it will pot. Also

having a look to see if the second

one will pass. Quite tight.

one will pass. Quite tight. Hit this

too hard. Wanted to be a bit

straighter on this red.

A double-kiss on the red but still

OK.

That was the danger, the

double-kiss. But still on the black.

That was the problem, he had to play

with a lot of right-hand side and

you put aside on and you have to

allow for the throw and he did not

judge it well. A lot of right-hand

side.

He has got the perfect angle for

that red. Above the black and to the

left. That is the one. He is on the

other red of course perfectly.

other red of course perfectly. One

of the finest break-builders in the

game. Hopefully we will see evidence

of this today as he gets a kick on

that cue ball.

that cue ball. You can see the red

jump.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE.

Good recovery. He has got a lovely

touch. That is why he is such a good

break-builder.

Some lovely moves. He

was unlucky there to get the kick.

He's going to play a different red

to the one he would like. Landed

absolutely plumb.

When he pops this he will push

another couple of reds into play.

This will open things up.

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

the middle or bottom right-hand

corner pocket. So not too much work

to do with the cue ball.

He has got a nice angle on it as you

can see. Made light work of art,

good shot. And one more red and the

first frame is in the bag.

The crowd recognising that that was

the prime all. His opponent now

leads the snooker. I do not think

you will be coming back to the table

when Ding Junhui has finished with

ease. His cue ball has been

absolutely pinpoint.

Playing for this red in the right

middle tells me that possibly the

red just below the pink was not

available, but it is now.

Yesterday we spoke about how fast

this table was playing. And Ding

Junhui has certainly got the pace of

it straightaway.

it straightaway. Made 462 centuries

in his career. Six times a 147. Only

made nine centuries this season. 36

last season. That will be evidence

of how his standard has dropped this

season. This is a nice way to start

his campaign for top here at the

Masters.

Masters.

He finished last season so

well. In the final of the World

Championships with Mark Selby. Put

in a great performance. Maybe this

is a kick-start to the season if he

has a good in this tournament.

That's never looked in doubt. That

was a tricky black he had to play. A

good start. And Ryan Day just had to

watch. And it was good watching.

Amazing stuff from Ding Junhui and

worthy of a little round of

applause.

Superb. I do not think too

many players can move the cue ball

less, his positional play is so

accurate. And he makes every shot

looks simple. That was a wonderful

break. Ryan Day will be kicking

himself. He was in first with a

chance. We said he needed a good

start. He had a good opportunity but

fluffed his lines.

Well a lot of

pressure that Ding Junhui faces

here, he took the lead in the

opening match against Kyren Wilson

last year and coming out in a

similar mood this year.

You can only

play the shops that are presented to

you and you either get them all you

do not, that is the game of snooker.

If your opponent starts missing at

any time in the match it can give

you more confidence. So it is a

competition, you are vying for a

table time. If you're on the table

most the time it is good but if the

other guy shows he's going to stand

up against you it makes it harder so

it is all about dominating the

table. And Ding Junhui is a good

dominant force. So Ryan Day has got

to show some strength at some stage.

But best of 11, you still have a

chance.

What about the pace of the

table? It looks beautiful. You can

see from the way that Ding Junhui

made the break he has got it

straightaway. You can expect the

table to be in superb condition

here, it always is.

Expecting to

break the century record this year?

It is hard to say, it looks like the

pocket is generous but it is a

brand-new cloth in perfect

condition. Today the table has

bedded in a little bit.

31 is the

record. And we saw that fly.

Playback in such a way that that was

the only red he would be leaving.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE.

Ryan Day will be disappointed from

that chance in the first round.

You

have to play with right-hand side.

The harder you play it the more that

the cue ball will push. He just

played it too slow. It is one of

those things. This is the shot.

those things. This is the shot. The

side just took it in full stop the

difference is because he had good

position on the balls all the time,

the black and the red to get back on

the black, you do not have to use

side. And it is so much easier then.

So positional play, cue ball

control, still the most important

factors in the game when you get in

with a chance.

I think Ding Junhui will be tempted

by the red that's just below the

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

for it. Well, that surprises me.

Well, he's now had second thoughts

and he's taking it on. He missed it

by a way, but it was the right shot.

It was a shot to play.

I mean you play those shots thinking

its only red you can leave is the

one you're playing and he didn't

leave it.

That's a bit careless there from

Ryan. There is no way that red

should have ran into the brown.

should have ran into the brown.

I'm

sure he can try and drop this red

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

Well, decided against it. I'm a bit

surprised there.

This looks a good line.

APPLAUSE

Well, we did say he was suffering

from conservativitis. There is

nothing wrong with his eyesight.

That was a really good shot there.

He will be taking this one on to the

bottom left-hand pocket and for the

blue. There was a bit of movement on

the last red he took to the blue. He

missed it by quite some way. Maybe

we'll get a good look at them here.

The most important is sto stay so

still on these type of shots.

Much better. Much better. Excellent

shot.

He has got a choice of brown or

blue. The blue wouldn't be too

difficult.

difficult. But he feels he wants to

be in a nice position on the red.

And it looks as though he's just hit

correctly. Only just. But just is

enough.

Decided against potting the black

and going into the pack. He will

still be on this red, but back up

for the blue here. It's a good angle

to try and split these reds.

Would like a little bit more angle.

Yeah, just landed straight on that

blue and couldn't generate enough

pace. Tried to force it and that's

why the cue ball drew wide off the

pack.

A nice little nudge off the green

made it a better safety shot than it

looked. So he has got to be careful

here, has Ryan. Those two reds on

the right-hand side of the table as

we look at the problem balls if you

like. So he, I was going to say he

may come off the left-hand side

cushion, but there is a red

available to the other corner so he

has got to avoid those two reds on

the right-hand side of the table

here at all costs. He's going to hit

the red on the way up. Has he been

lucky? At first glance maybe he has.

He has been very lucky. He got away

with that. He could have left the

red closest to the left-hand corner

pocket. Just a safety from Ding. Try

and leave the cue ball maybe in the

jaws of the grey pocket. He has

decided against that. He has gone

for a ball cushion, but somewhere in

the jaws of that pocket may have

been, he may have left this red on.

He going for the thin cut here. He

overcut t where is the cue ball

going?

That's the fourth today,

John.

John.

He is a little unlucky because

you know as well as I do, Ken. You

look at that shot and think it's as

thin as a can. To overcut it, you

couldn't envisage that.

couldn't envisage that. And now Ryan

has got to sit-in his seat and

wonder if he's going to get back to

the table because Ding is that type

of player that once he gets in, you

fear the worst.

Well, there is a surprise.

There wasn't too much difficulty in

that one.

OK, Ding may not have left anything,

but that will give Ryan a little bit

of hope. That Ding Junhui isn't a

machine and when he gets in, he

isn't going to win every frame in

each visit. He needs a good safety

here and that cue ball tight to the

cushion. Just like that. A good

shot.

APPLAUSE

He has got to be looking to get that

cue ball tight to the middle of the

baulk cushion. Looks

straightforward. Just got to get the

pace right. He should have hit a

little bit thicker than that for me.

If this cue ball had of been tight

he wouldn't have been abling to

swing it round tight of three

cushions as he can do now.

cushions as he can do now. But

nevertheless, maybe a chance here.

Can't get lieu to the ones on the

right corner, but the ones on the

left corner are on and the one thing

that he's blessed with Ryan Day, he

has got plenty of cue power.

has got plenty of cue power.

He

could try and pot this without - it

looks, from his body expression,

maybe it is a little bit too

straight, but he maybe able to use

the jaw of the pocket here. It looks

like he's screwing back so it's dead

straight. Well, it was a long way

away. It cost him dearly.

He might have been better just

trying to pot the red and leave the

cue ball somewhere where the red was

and possibly take

and possibly take it a little bit --

if he had the choice he might have

played that shot a lot differently.

It's such a difficult shot to play,

John, from that Danes, of course,

you know.

you know.

Yes, I agree with you. I

didn't see a necessity to try and

hit it that parred. Hard. We are

only in round two. No need for that.

And also he was bridging long.

I say bridging long, you would have

felt if he could have done, he would

have tried to put his hand on the

table. Anyway, Ding Junhui gets

another good chance.

He is only looking for another 26

points now from this visit.

points now from this visit. To

clinch this second frame. And Ryan

Day's pot success is 43%. He had

three ot of seven. -- out of seven.

The fact that he only had seven pots

to go at is remarkable and long pot

success none out of three. So not

the best start. Not the start he was

looking for, but you remember, it is

best of 11.

Oh. Oh. Oh.

Just the pace I think,

took that in. He thought he missed

it and that's why he jumped up.

it and that's why he jumped up. How

did that go in?

I don't know. It got

three ohs from me!

APPLAUSE

Frame ball.

May take the red off this side

cushion and knock it over the left

middle. A delicate little shot.

APPLAUSE

Come across it a little bit, but

Ryan says that's enough, he stays in

his chair. So Ding Junhui wins the

second frame and now goes into a 2-0

lead against Ryan Day.

So there he is, he'll be feeling

very good about himself. He works a

lot now on the mental side with

Terry Griffiths. So, he'll keep him

in a good place. The perfect start.

That's the beautiful Waterford

Crystal trophy that they're playing

for this week. The Paul Hunter

Trophy as it's aptly named.

Beautiful.

Of course, he won it three times,

the great Paul Hunter. 10-9 in every

final they won, John.

Amazing.

Amazing.

7-2 down to Ronnie

O'Sullivan and I think Fergal

O'Brien.

And beat Mark Williams one

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

picking up the pieces. Yes, just sad

he was taken away so prematurely.

So that's where it was and that's

where it is now. Well, it looks

perfect. A bit careless to hit the

pink in all honesty. These 6 points

could make all the difference at the

end of this frame. It could make the

difference between just needing the

blue or the blue and the pink.

Or the blue, pink and black.

Or the

blue, pink and black.

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

coming around the right-hand side of

the table just to make sure he's not

knocking a red while playing this

shot. He's not knocking a red

towards the left-hand corner pocket.

Well, he has got to hit the reds

first I suppose.

Yes, a miss has been called, but

Ding Junhui is probably thinking

well, I would rather play it from

here. There is a chance of getting

in behind the green off this safety.

If not the green, the brown.

He played it pretty well.

He wouldn't have expected Ryan to

miss it again, but he has left a pot

on here. Got to start knocking these

in.

And he has done! If he slows up he

should be on the green. It needs to

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

it? You're desperate for a chance

and he just ran that two or three

inches too far.

APPLAUSE

Well, that was a wonderful escape.

Lovely touch.

He left Ryan Day with a little bit

of trouble. He maybe wondering

whether he can hit the red and use

the knuckle of the middle pocket to

get that cue ball down towards the

baulk area.

That's a possible shot. I'm not

quite sure he can, he has got to

tray and well. Is he going to try

and use the knuckle? No, just

pushing it to safety.

Well, this red will cut, but he's

going to play it with a lot of

left-hand side. Which is what he

did. Just to check it up. Has he had

a result?

Well, a little bit of one. This red

would definitely have tempted Ding

Junhui, but hampered by the brown.

He won't be wanting to play it now.

A weak safety.

So Ryan may consider taking this red

on. Just coming round to have a look

what's available. Don't know where

the black goes. Pink obviously is

available and the blue. But he needs

to knock this in. A big shot this.

He has got it.

APPLAUSE

And the way he has played it tells

me that the black must go.

Yes, it does go. But it is a thin

one and it's into what we call a

blind pocket. That's because you can

see the cue ball, the object ball,

but you haven't got the pocket in

line. So he needs to pick out the

angle and commit.

Much too thin. Much too thin.

I think it has to be said at the

moment, Ken, that Ding Junhui is not

having to work too hard fond his

chances.

No, he's just picking up

the piece, yeah. A missed black in

the first round from Ryan. A missed

pot in the second and it cost him

the frame.

I don't blame him for taking that

black on, of course and if he pots

it, he has got a good opportunity to

try and win the frame himself, but

it wasn't straightforward. It was

just as you said, John, it was a

blind pocket and it is always hard

to see the angle.

Just let that slip slightly.

I've

just put a little circle there,

John, the black is pottable. But if

he can get on that red to the left

of the black after potting this red

and the next black that would

certainly open this frame up

completely. And that's what he's

going to try and target here and try

and get on the black. A nice angle

on the black. Just a little bit off

straight. And when he nots black,

try and get on that red. Just to the

left of the black. That will in turn

open the two reds just above it.

open the two reds just above it. And

that will give him the frame-winning

chance now.

Oh, he has missed it. Wow.

It has to be said, he missed it by a

long way. It begs the question when

somebody misses when they're in

amongst the balls, what has he left?

The way Ryan is looking, not a lot.

Well, he was very fortunate there,

Ding Junhui, but this looks like a

good shot. This looks like a good

shot.

APPLAUSE

Has he got the snooker?

Just about.

APPLAUSE

Of course, that's another thing that

can happen at this game. Every time

Ryan misses he leaves Ding a chance

to get in and make a break. Ding

Junhui misses and left nothing.

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

sometimes?

Yes, roll of the ball.

But he can't complain about the

chances that he has had, Ryan Day.

He just hasn't made enough of them.

And this is a good line. This is

very, very good, indeed.

APPLAUSE

Oh.

Oh. He has definitely blocked the

path down the right-hand side of the

table.

That's an option. He can just try

and drop on the two reds that are

close to the left-hand corner

pocket. He has taken a bit more of

an expansive route here. He doesn't

want to leave a free ball. He

doesn't want to leave a free ball

here. Just short. I'm not sure why

you doesn't come off the left-hand

side cushion and just nestle into

those two reds on the top cushion.

Seems a pretty straightforward shot

and big target as well.

I can't give

you a reason why not.

The shot he's playing, you have got

to hit it perfect. If he catches the

reds too thick, he will possibly

leave the frame on.

As you say, that line just come off,

just past the middle pocket and

nestle on to the two reds near the

cushion. A strange choice.

Talking about the fact that he can

hit this red to the left of the

pink. To me he could always hear

that. Might need a bit of side.

that. Might need a bit of side.

--

always hit that. He has not even

looked at that. From this angle that

is just a straightforward shot. Past

the middle pocket.

the middle pocket.

If he catches it

to think it could cost him the

frame. -- too thick.

Could be a free

ball this time. The kiss on the

green would have been a free ball.

He has got to put it back again.

Just place it on the spot.

Maybe

just feels that that shot, the two

reds, the percussion is sliding ant

it will miss the two reds. -- the

percussion.

This is where it was and this is

where it is now. Looks perfect.

Try number three. He got it this

time.

I'm sure he heard the referee saying

to him I'm not boring you.

I am not

warning you!

I thought he said

boring you!

Some of them have been annoying me

over the years! When the misrule

came in it changed the goalposts.

The black ball going in. Is this a

free ball? Probably not. He will

have a look.

have a look. You cannot be snookered

by another red.

by another red. If it is covered by

another red, but the referee has not

called it. So we assume it is not.

Ryan of course has the option to

make his opponent play from work the

ball 's life.

-- balls lie.

Ryan Day has got to get a foothold

in this match.

That is not good enough. He has left

a pot on.

a pot on. He is bound to be on the

yellow if he gets near the baulk

line. Playing at the left corner as

we look. Just has to get past the

green. You do not want to nudge that

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

He looks to have a nice angle on it.

It needs to slow up. It looked like

it was going to run out but its load

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

He could play a little cannon on the

red perhaps.

He played it very well. A lovely

shot. Nicely played.

Average shot time for Ding Junhui

just 19 seconds, pretty quick. This

is a big target, he does not have to

take it, he has a 46 point lead. He

has played it very well. Could be a

frame-winner. Such a lovely touch.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE.

Ryan Day at the moment desperately

looking for a frame. And no sign of

it just yet. Ding Junhui leading by

three frames to nil.

A fantastic start by Ding Junhui and

exactly the same start he had in

that match against Kyren Wilson.

It

is a good start but Ryan Day has

been so sloppy in this match. He has

not made his opponent work hard for

anything. Occasionally he has one of

these matches where he does not seem

to be focused or concentrating

enough. Because everything has been

self-inflicted today.

I have been

watching Ryan Day through that

studio screen, a lot of grimacing

and his body language Ruby Paul.

You

can read too much into things like

that, it could be just on the day.

It is a big occasion and one-table

set-up it sorts people out. But if

you do not get off to a good start

you never settle. We've all been

there, just a horrible situation.

Your arms do not feel like your

arms. The moment you make a decent

break then you will settle. But

getting to that chance against a

good player like Ding Junhui gets

harder and harder.

Especially with

the mid-session interval coming up.

But if you're down it is hard to

come back.

He has got to start

playing in this frame. He will be

glad of the interval. It has just

been, I know Ding Junhui has had a

bit of a run as well, it seems every

time Ryan Day comes back but he has

been driving without due care and

attention.

We could be in danger of

not giving Ding Junhui enough

credit. Taking advantage of your

opponent not playing well.

Obviously

but Ding Junhui is a tried and

tested winner and a good front

runner and from that perspective it

gets harder for Ryan Day. Coming to

this match obviously Ding Junhui is

a favourite I'm sure even though he

did not have the competitive

momentum. And Ryan Day did well in

the season but still you have to

prove yourself in every event in the

first round.

Sometimes in these

matches you can be trying as hard as

you can and no matter how hard you

try, every chance you get, you graft

to get that but for Ding Junhui his

chances have come easily today.

And

he looks relaxed as well.

This is a must win frame. And I

agree, he has not put Ding Junhui

under any pressure whatsoever. A

poor safety shot in that last frame

when he had a good target to put

Ding Junhui in trouble. And not as

if Ding Junhui has been potting them

off the lampshades.

off the lampshades. When you

consider his game is built around

his potting but once again, poor

safety. It is never going to be a

good safety when you leave the cue

ball on the baulk line. Safety

success, 83% is always good for Ding

Junhui. I think he should be up in

the 90s on the safety.

the 90s on the safety. This looks

like a better length.

like a better length.

It is a must

win frame for Ryan Day. To turn this

match around.

match around. It would be a

difficult mountain to climb. What

has he left this time? Nothing. It

is a bit frustrating for Ryan Day.

He has missed a few, Ding Junhui, he

has not left a nice, easy

opportunity for Ryan Day. To get a

bit of confidence.

That is a decent

safety. Ding Junhui will have to be

wary for the red on the right-hand

side and avoid that to try to get

the cue ball done the right-hand

side.

Just safety. -- just a containing

safety.

A little bit thin on that. Once

again nothing easy left. And he

knows it.

If it misses the green this would be

a very good safety. And it has. Good

shot. Can he get the first chance in

this frame that is what he is

looking for.

Much too thick. Ryan Day absolutely

nothing to show for that hour of

concentration.

concentration. 290 days 18. The

balls potted not much better. 73

against five.

If he can win the frame, Ryan Day,

and go into the mid-session interval

just two behind having not really

played, he will go into the interval

with a little bit of hope. And this

looks to be a good line. If it

bounces it could finish behind the

green. A good shot.

He would be hoping to try to nestle

into the pack. Played pretty well.

Unlucky for Ryan Day again, it makes

the shop more difficult. A wry smile

from him, you would expect it to be

touching, it would make it so much

easier for him if it was.

Maybe the

possibility of a planet.

possibility of a planet. -- planet.

He does not have to do much with the

cue ball, he's bound to be on the

black. There is a line between

defence and attack, but I think I

would be tempted by the plant.

If the roles were reversed here, and

Ryan Day was ahead by three he might

go for this. But having a second

look.

look.

There is enough distance

between the two balls that it could

be made. He is not going to play it.

I think I would have been tempted.

Not the best. He needed to get the

cue ball back to the top cushion and

has not done it. Possibly play a

little cannon and nudge the black

on. Not far away. But not there.

The red on the right-hand side of

the table, he is looking to see if

he could play that to the far right

corner.

corner. He played to the middle and

he got it. What is he on, does the

green go to the left middle? Yes. He

has got the first chance. He needs

to take it.

APPLAUSE

to take it.

APPLAUSE.

That was a more confident stroke.

A lot of smiling and headshaking. It

should not be a problem on this

green.

The game can test you sometimes,

test your patience and everything

else. You just have to play the

balls as they come.

balls as they come. Nearly went

badly wrong. I would not say this

perfect. But if he can cue past the

pink for the yellow or the green,

brown would be an option. It is not

too bad.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE.

Amazingly enough that is his highest

break in the match so far.

In an ideal world that read closest

to the red middle, he would like to

leave it in case of emergency. Then

if you get in trouble, you always

have that as an insurance.

He could

play for the blue, try to get a nice

angle on the blue. Then he could go

into the pack knowing he has that

read over the middle as insurance.

He only needs to bring out two more

reds from this bunch. Does not have

to hit it with a tremendous amount

of pace. That will do. Could've been

bit better. But still nicely on this

red.

red. Want it to go into the middle

of the pack are opposed to the side.

He only knocked one out. Playing a

bit of a cannon on that bunch of

reds after. After this blue.

reds after. After this blue. Did not

get the ideal angle on the blue. He

will have to do it from the black. A

good shot.

good shot. Just one good cannon to

try to open up a few of the reds and

that might give him the chance that

he needs to win this frame.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE. He could not have played

that any better. That was an

excellent cannon. Played to

perfection.

Did not get through the second read

as much as he liked. Still looking

for another 24 points at this visit.

Decided to go into them. It is OK,

worked out absolutely inch perfect.

Could not have played that any

better.

This is a lot better for Ryan Day.

He will enjoy his cup of tea at the

interval if he takes this frame. It

will give him that little bit of

hope. He has been a little bit at

sea in the first few frames.

Just this red now. Put him 63 head

with just 59 remaining. He has

missed it!

I would say his heart skipped a

beat.

It looks to be wide.

beat.

It looks to be wide. And I

think he will go in the interval now

thinking that he's still in this

match. He has done nothing in the

first three frames. Played some good

safety.

safety. And got the first

opportunity. And he has made the

most of it. And Ding Junhui was

leading by three frames and apart

from that first frame with that

great break, he has made a few

mistakes since then. Ding Junhui

concedes. They each go into the

interval with a two frame advantage.

Ding Junhui leading three frames to

one. And maybe Ryan Day will now

enjoy that cup of tea.

That is

exactly what he needed to do. He had

that professional pride, he was not

playing especially well but it has

kicked in. I think is a wonderful

striker the ball but he needed to be

into the match and it has taken

three frames for him to concentrate

properly.

Still a mountain to climb.

He had a bit of an awkward start to

the match. Did not get good position

and that does not help. That is the

first time he has got his hand on

the table. He made what looked like

a difficult first opening part of

the break look quite easy. Got his

arm going and now you can see that

he is a class animal.

And looking at

the stats as

the stats as well, pot success, 91,

90 3% yesterday.

Today down to 83.

That can happen in various matches.

It will not always be up in the 90s.

Just one of those things that can

happen. But for Ryan Day, such a

relief for him just to be two

behind.

Without trying to belittle anything

because the players have been great.

Ken a couple of times has the ball

gone in when it has hit a cushion,

sometimes you see a ball and it

looks like it's hitting the jaw and

then it seems to fall in and you

think it should have wobbled and

stayed out. If you are standing

player side, you can see where the

fall of the slate is, therefore you

hit a jaw you know it will drop in.

It appears on the brand-new cloth

that the pockets are easier,

especially the corners. The general

consensus of play from players

playing on them, are saying that the

corners are playing quite generous,

and the middles are tight, and they

could do with being tightened up a

bit.

We have had 2-1 from Ryan and

one from Ding in the previous frame.

Where they have wobbled and gone in.

If you kept the cloth on and played

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

dropping in then.

If the game

appears to become too easy from the

punters point of view, you tighten

the pockets up.

Well, the punters

are enjoying this one. Back with the

live action shortly. It is a busy

snooker year with lots of

tournaments. Let's bring you

up-to-date with the season so far.

MUSIC: Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm

Yours by Stevie Wonder.

Whilst we appreciate the endeavours

of those snooker players, Stevie

Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered

kept us entertained.

It is a great

song. You have got fantastic

opportunities.

The other thing as

well that the fans around the world,

especially in China are loving the

fact that the best players are going

there?

Now we have got a full

calendar, it is 11 months of the

year and there is cue school in the

cut off part. It is desirable to

have a tournament in your country,

you have got to get in the cue,

excuse the pun! You're going to be

waiting for something to open up and

then also the next phase of that is,

if you want an event in your

country, or you want to put an evint

on, you have got to bid for it and

put more prize money on and you are

seeing the prize money slowly going

up.

Is it too much for the players? Too

many tournaments?

No. If the prize

money goes up enough, all of a

sudden the players are in a

situation that's similar to golf or

tennis and they can pick and choose

and the next phase of that, the most

ideal position would be two

tournaments running concurrently in

different countries, with top

players choosing which ones they go

to and then you are in a far

healthier position.

But there have

been stories, haven't there, about

the players who have been saying,

John, they are worried about

burn-out and would you say to them,

grasp the opportunity to play

snooker and win money and win

tournaments and win trophies or is

there a slight danger that given the

travelling time as well there is the

danger of burn-out?

I think it is

going to come down to individuals,

isn't it? I think if you're

prepared, I mean Shaun Murphy plays

in everything and others may not

want to do that. You can pick and

choose your tournaments, you don't

have to play in every one of them,

but the opportunity is the big

thing. It is as an individual what

suits you.

One man is missing from

the Masters is Neil Robertson

because he dropped out of the top

16. But he is doing media work and

he has been speaking to Stephen

Hendry. So you are probably the best

player in this tournament that's

been a top player and not played in

this event. How does it feel?

Currently in the top 16.

This is

like a major event. It feels strange

to me?

Yeah, I think, it has been

the last couple of years, especially

last season is the reason why I'm in

this position now, you know, sort of

some issues away from the table

which I have not been able to

prevent from happening. But yeah,

everything is all good now.

Fantastic win in Scotland and yeah,

my game has never been in better

shape really and I'm practising

really well, so, yeah, I just

thought I'd have a week in the

studio and yeah, you know, enjoy it

from an outsider's prospective.

I

watched you in the UK, you played

really well, but you lost. You won

in Scotland and that was your first

ranking event for a while so it must

have been a weight off your

shoulders?

Yeah, it was. I had been

playing that well in tournaments

probably about four weeks before the

UK as well.

You are practising and

practising and when you're working

hard it is great to get the

benefits? That was the most

rewarding thing from Scotland,

finally paying dividends. Winning

the Hong Kong Masters and the

Scottish tournament and it is a

great season tournament wise, I just

need it start picking up a few few

more rankings points.

Have you got

any targets you want to achieve by

the season?

I definitely want to

push on with that momentum now.

Move

up the rankings?

Get back up the

rankings. It is never nice when you

are around that 16 mark. I never

thought it would be a position I'd

find myself in not for many years

anyway.

For the UK Championship they

had the posters and the billboards

and the people in it, and you

weren't in the poster. That would

annoy me, you are one of the best

players of the world and you are not

considered?

It is just one of those,

I guess, it happened so quickly.

The

draws have gone up?

When you win a

big tournament like the UK

Championship and if you don't defend

the points then, you know, when that

point in the season comes when

you've got the winners points coming

off, you can drop down a lot and we

saw Ding Junhui a couple of years

ago also fell out of the top 16 and

had to qualify for the World

Championships and ended up getting

to the final. We will probably start

to see that in a game a fair bit now

with some players especially with

some players who have great seasons

where they win big tournaments

having to defend them in two years'

time.

I was thinking back over the

season you made 100 centuries. You

have not reached that again. Do you

still value making the big breaks

and the centuries?

Funnily enough

that was the last season where you

felt I could really give everything.

Did that take over a little bit, the

100 centuries. It felt in the World

Championship you made it, that's

what you wanted to do more?

The most

annoying thing was the following

season I made a century and everyone

is on Twitter saying do you think

you are going to do it again? I

started missing on 80 just to get

people off my back about it! The

pressure when I was in the 90s was

just awful. You know, I got friends

calling me and my dad is like if you

are average this amount of

centuries, per frame, are' going to

end up getting it. When I did t it

was a relief and then I think I've

got a chance of doing it again.

Maybe not this season, but I think

you know in the next couple of

seasons I think I can give it a good

crack.

I think you should have won

the World Championship. When you

were world champion, the way you

were dominating games and dominating

opponents. There is not many players

out there that have got that

arrogance going around a table. I

appreciate. Because you have to have

it. But obviously you've said you

have had off table problems, but you

have kind of lost that over the past

four or five years?

I got it back in

spurts here and there. I had a

really good spell when I won the

champions UK, my goal is to maintain

that throughout every season. I have

got to be aggressive on the go. The

most pleasing thing about Scotland

was that I have got my long game

back. If my hand is on the table,

I'm going for the red no matter

where it is and I've noticed in

Scotland, it was scaring the life

out of people because it puts

pressure on their safety. So, you

know, for this season practising

more about two months straight

leading into the UK, I was

practising 200, 300 long balls per

day. Now I am at the point where if

my hand is on the table, the red is

going on.

When I was playing it

could be a crazy long shot, but it

puts the unknown into your opponent

because I thinks I have got to get

it because he is going to go for

anything.

I watched many YouTube

videos of your matches and seen some

of them that you take this

unbelievable red and it wouldn't

necessarily go in, but your opponent

would come to the table and think,

"I can't believe he has gone for

that."

It is good to have your

opponent on the back foot. You are

working at it, which is going to be

strange for you. What's it like

looking out at it when you're used

to playing in it?

I think it's

probably, you make a lot less

mistakes in the studio. Sort of like

watching. Maybe you can forget how

hard it is out there. What I will be

is honest. Much like you are. I

think that's...

You say what you

say.

Will you fit in any practise

this week?

I will be practising

while I'm here working. I thought

I'd have a bit of time in between

the matches today, so it went to a

decider, so that's gone away. I will

be hitting balls that's for sure. It

is great to speak to you. All the

best for the rest of the season.

STUDIO: I saw Neil and it was

strange shaking his hand and saying,

"How are you?" When he is dressed

for a TV studio and not dressed to

play.

He is one of the greatest

players. He is a sensational player.

I have seen Ronnie dominate

opponents and play like, but when

Neil Robertson is in that mode where

he is knocking everything in, he is

in a similar elk to Ronnie

O'Sullivan for him not to be in, it

is a head scratcher really.

It is all linked to prize money and

if you don't get to the final stages

of events where the bigger prize

money is you can drop down enough

and as mentioned if you have to

defend prize money points and they

go off and you can drop down a lot,

but it is an interesting thing

talking about the way that he is

deciding to play. Hand on the table,

go for the shot, try and scare your

opponent. I think it generally is

the way that snooker is going.

Everybody is realising you can't win

by defending anymore. Tactics are

important. That's in line with golf.

You have got to go for the pin more

often. You can't play conservative

and just par a golf course anymore.

The same for snooker players, you

have got to try and kill before

you're killed on the table. But in

doing that and playing a more open

game, you are going to fall on your

face a bit as well because the other

guy will mop up the tears.

As we

have discussed it is about the

amount of tournaments that there are

on the circuit as well and there are

some very good players around. Let's

talk about some good players. Judd

Trump tonight.

The Judd is 5-2 on to

win the match. He is not that in my

book. They have played plenty of

times. They were regular practise

partners together.

partners together. He could be in

for a tough night tonight.

for a tough night tonight.

You never

know what type of Judd Trump turns

up at the table.

This was Ronnie out of the

tournament.

He knew. He knew.

Judd

Trump has got more form in the

bigger events, but it

bigger events, but it is a dangerous

opponent. Expect a tough match

today.

Ronnie went on to win the

tournament. You can watch that this

evening on the red Button.

We round up the day's action at

11.15pm on BBC Two.

We're back live with Ding Junhui

taking on Ryan Day. If you have

missed any of it, this is for you!

Ding was smiling as he walked out

into the arena and in the mood

today, rattling in 111 in the

opening frame. A break of 58 despite

that little wobble, Ryan Day unable

to get a look in. And this pretty

much sums up Ryan's day. Making

mistakes. Ding taking full

advantage.

In frame 4 and another slice of

luck. Another wobble. Ryan Day wins

a frame. It is Ding Junhui who leads

the Welshman by 3-1. OK, here come

the players. The fans are back in

their seats. Back to John and Ken.

COMMENTATOR: Yes, now we're going to

play to the finish. No more

intervals. A few late comers just

coming back into the arena.

And Ding Junhui gets the fifth frame

under way.

under way. Just coming up to one

hour and 14 minutes. Apart from the

third frame which took over 22

minutes it has been pretty quick.

Average shot time 19 for Ding.

That's about normal. 26 seconds for

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

but he's not had much to go at.

Until the last frame before the

interval.

If he's going to go back to the

baulk, he needs to find the baulk

cushion here with this cue ball.

That's not too bad.

Now, of course, he gives Ding Junhui

the problem that it puts a little

bit of pressure on this safety with

that red being in the middle of the

table next to the blue.

Well, there is a pot on here.

And he doesn't have to do much with

the cue ball to get on a nice

position on the blue. He has got to

fully commit to this.

And fully commit he did and he

played it well. A good shot.

A great shot.

Yes, the red above the black is his

choice here.

Into the corner pocket so he may

elect to take this one first. Oh. Oh

Ryan, what did you do?

Well, just trying to pinch a bit it

looked. But you cannot afford to

miss when you're in and after a good

opening red, what an opportunity he

let go begging there.

let go begging there.

It wasn't his

initial choice from the blue. He was

trying to get on that red just above

the black and he may have been

better taking that one instead. He

still shouldn't have missed a dead

straight, but that's gone wrong from

Ding.

So a let off for Ryan Day.

He didn't expect to be coming back

to the table so soon.

Yes, I think it is noticeable since

the first frame and maybe half-way

through the second frame, Ding

Junhui has sort of dropped his

standards somewhat.

He has not been flawless by any

means and his pot success was up in

the 90s and it is now below 90 which

is not great at this level.

And long pot success, very low.

This red has somehow gone over the

corner. It's not going to be easy

because it has gone to the other

side cushion.

And he's not even looking at it.

And he's not even looking at it. He

will be trying to find the target

behind the yellow here.

It's not gone behind the yellow. Has

the brown covered it? No.

So there is a chance here for Ryan.

He doesn't want to overhit this. He

has got enough cue power to screw

this back a couple of inches and

played it well and now he is on the

black.

APPLAUSE

So another chance.

Yes, nicely controlled. He doesn't

have to go into the pack of reds

here.

here. He played that nicely.

Just like in the last frame, he got

an opportunity. He made a nice 79

break. He would love to win the

frame from this position here.

frame from this position here. He

may have detect add slight heavy

contact on the cue ball and because

of that, a bit straighter on this

black than he would have liked and

let's see if the red jumps. Very

slightly.

Just about stopped in time. I think

this red is on to the right corner.

Well, he's playing another one. You

would have thought he would be up

for the blue, you would have

thought. I thought maybe the one

that was in direct line to the cue

ball to this right corner, but maybe

that doesn't go.

Just about got there, but with the

red just to the right of the pink,

he only has to roll the blue in for

position.

And he will have to go back up for

the blue. Again, I'm not certain he

has got the potting angle on this

blue to play for the black.

Now, there is a couple of loose

reds. He has got a nice angle on the

blue should he want to play a little

cannon.

I think he has got to be aggressive

here, John and try and go into the

pack of reds.

Take his chance.

It worked out

better.

And saoz an as he played that, he

looked at where he finish on the

black and there was a wry smile. No

way should he have been straight on

this black of the that's careless.

-- of the black. That's careless.

He is in a little bit of bother now.

Anything but straight on the black

and it was a formality to get on the

next red.

And that's the difference

between the two players when they're

break-building. Ding's cue ball is

so much more of it on a string.

Never any more than 18 inches away

from his next pot. Ryan is

struggling with the pace here.

struggling with the pace here.

At

the needs to be careful here.

He can't do much with the cue ball.

He can't play the run through. A

little bit of pressure on this blue

now.

Just tucking in the waistcoat

because that red near this right

corner could come into play.

A good shot. A good shot. Now

Couldn't have played that by near.

-- couldn't have played that any

better. A quick check of the scores,

41 points ahead. And potting this

red on the left-hand side of the

three reds and it will open up the

other two reds into the opposite

corner pocket.

Well, I suggest Ken this match has

completely turned around on its

head. When he was 3-0 down and

struggling, Ryan and his safety play

wasn't good, but as the guys in the

studio said, it doesn't take much.

Just get in with one frame in one

visit and get your confidence and

Ding Junhui who got a good chance in

this frame ran out of position. And

he won't be getting another one.

APPLAUSE

No, well Ryan is gaining a bit of

confidence and Ding will be looking

over his shoulder. A few doubts in

his mind.

A century in the first frame from

Ding Junhui. A possibility now for

Ryan Day to respond with a century

of his own.

The yellow for the century. Well

played!

We have a match on now. We certainly

do.

This looks good. Lovely.

He was 3- nil down. Now a deficit of

just one frame. And that was

magnificent. 125 break.

What a fine break from Ryan Day.

That takes his career centuries to

312. This is the tournament 's

entries so far, we've had five. 26

last year. That is the record, 2009.

And we will break that record if we

carry on like this.

That was Ryan

Day in full flow. Looking at this

first shot, he has got something

like 11 feet between the cue ball

and object ball. If he just plays it

dead it is a difficult shot on the

black. So playing it with back spin,

he needs another back spin and

played with so much power to

actually pull the cue ball back. He

keeps his body very still but

generates a load of power. He pulled

the cue ball back about five or six

inches. Giving it a frame-winning

opportunity.

He does have a spring

back in his step.

It has taken

adversity for him to turn up, the

real Ryan Day to turn up. I'm a

massive fan of the way he hits the

ball. I was expecting him to play

like this from the start of the

match but he was a bit apathetic at

the beginning. Did not really make

Ding Junhui work very hard but now

he is outstanding.

When you are 3-

nil down, and really under it as

well, what does that do to you?

Well

it is getting that first frame as we

say on the board and then you can

start to play a bit. But there is

less pressure or tension when you

start to go behind in one respect

because you have less to lose. You

could only try and get yourself out

of a hole. Very rarely does a player

with the collapse out there so at

some stage these class players

with the collapse out there so at

some stage these class players are

going to fight and that is what Ryan

Day is doing.

And if you are Ding

Junhui?

He has lost a bit of

momentum. He has gone slightly off

the boil. And despite the fact that

he is still ahead, the moment -- at

the moment the momentum is with his

opponent.

What does Ryan Day have in store in

this sixth frame?

Ryan Day breaks off, frame six. Can

he repeat his recovery in this frame

and get it all square? His pot

success now better than Ding Junhui.

It has been a bit of a turnaround.

That was half a chance. But the way

he has missed it, he has left the

red on. Surprised that he played it

so hard.

so hard. That is why he has left the

red into the middle. Let's see what

Ding Junhui can make of this chance.

I agree that he has just gone a

little bit off the boil in the last

few frames.

few frames.

No need to go into the

pack of rents there. There is loose

red here and at the bottom of the

pack as well. If you get a nice

angle with this black, it does not

want to be straight.

want to be straight. Just gone too

far.

far. He cannot now bring more of the

reds into play.

He needs to play this with top spin

into the cushion, he will have to

generate a lot of power in this

shot. Did not get the power but may

have got second best. Have a look at

this, what a result.

this, what a result. A wry smile

from Ryan Day. That was very

fortunate. He has not made the most

of it. Tried to hold the cue ball

for the blue but forgot about the

plot.

He has shown is in the last

few frames he is good at missing

them. When these players are playing

well they never miss anything

easily. The top players do not miss

easy shots.

easy shots. Ryan Day has played that

beautifully. Nicely on the black. A

big chance.

He will have two negotiate the cue

ball back up for pink or blue. A

little kiss on the bed. -- the red.

Blocking the path of the pink.

This

could have worked out better.

could have worked out better. He

could play safe but at this moment,

I do not think the pink will cut to

the right middle. So you would think

that the green is the one to take

on. A bit of pressure on it the way

that the reds are. He is taking it

on.

on. I would like to get my hand

closer to the cue ball than this.

Bridging long.

You just have to get yourself

comfortable. It is a big shot. And

it is a good one! He deserves a bit

of luck. It is OK.

Excellent pot.

Could've done without kissing that

red. Again it is not

straightforward. He needs to use the

second red to try to screw back for

the pink.

the pink. Overshot for pink.

How does this look? He is on the red

into the corner.

into the corner.

The run is

beginning to turn.

The black does not go to the right

corner pocket at the moment, the way

he played the red. Could've done

with a bit more of a bounce. This is

now a big visit in the context of

the match. Ding Junhui had a good

chance.

chance. Starting to cue very nicely

now, Ryan Day.

One good positional shot possibly

for the red to the right of the back

with a two year the pink spot. And

he has got on these nicely, an

excellent shot.

excellent shot.

I assume the black

does not go to the right corner.

Every time he has gone for the pink

with the blue he has finished the

wrong side of the blue. If you were

right behind it, you would fancy the

black.

black. Room for it to go into the

left corner.

left corner. Playing for the red

closest to the cushion, the one

making it slightly tight for the

black. He decided to play for the

other one, I do not blame him. To

leave himself straight on this

thread. 31 points from this

position. Does not look that

difficult. But we take nothing for

granted.

He has an angle just to screw out

into the middle of the table. Giving

himself the choice of a couple of

reds.

reds. Overscrew that by quite some

distance.

You cannot expect him to miss this.

When the cue ball keeps going up and

down the table, you can lose

pinpoint position. He knows the

importance of this visit.

importance of this visit. You'd

think this was a formality.

think this was a formality. He

played it nicely.

34 points the lead.

What a turnaround. He will be

getting a bit concerned.

No problem.

You could see him getting another

century. A good comeback from Ryan

Day.

Day. Three frames in a row. And of

course Ding Junhui missed a very

straightforward red into the left

centre pocket.

And was lucky to be

on the red. And then to miss that

was unforgivable. But fair play to

Ryan Day, he did not have complete

control of the cue ball but he has

dug in and stop -- he has dug in.

Pink and black for back-to-back

centuries.

centuries. Wonderful. Well played.

He has just got the edge.

All square at three apiece.

Wonderful from Ryan Day and remember

he worked so hard to get here. He's