0:00:35 > 0:00:42Good afternoon. Welcome to Alexandra Palace and the 2018 Masters. It is
0:00:42 > 0:00:46the format, the final day of first-round matches. We feature a
0:00:46 > 0:00:49man who lifted the Masters three years ago and has won the Triple
0:00:49 > 0:00:57crown snooker.Joining that exclusive club of world champions.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15UK Champion 2008, it is Shaun Murphy.
0:01:24 > 0:01:292015 Masters champion, Shaun Murphy.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36And it is even a T-shirt on sale here at the master celebrating the
0:01:36 > 0:01:42fact of the Magician has won the Triple crown. He doesn't have a good
0:01:42 > 0:01:46record against Ali Carter. He leads the head-to-head by nine victories.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50Here are ten more fact she did not know about the manner that is known
0:01:50 > 0:01:57as The Captain.
0:01:58 > 0:02:05Ali Carter was born in Colchester England on the 25th of July. He
0:02:05 > 0:02:13turned professional in 1996.He has twice been the runner-up at the
0:02:13 > 0:02:17World Championships. Both times losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan.He made
0:02:17 > 0:02:24his first maximum break at the Crucible in 2008.His nickname, The
0:02:24 > 0:02:29Captain, comes from his past time as a pilot.His first ranking
0:02:29 > 0:02:37tournament victory came in 2009 in the Welsh Open.Ali has fought
0:02:37 > 0:02:42against Crohn's disease, testicular and lung cancer.He has earned over
0:02:42 > 0:02:47two in career prize money.His highest position in the world
0:02:47 > 0:02:52rankings was number two Mike in 2010.He liked his practice facility
0:02:52 > 0:02:55so much he bought the business.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Another attractive match. As for Ali Carter, this game is difficult
0:03:04 > 0:03:08enough to play without health problems but he has done well to
0:03:08 > 0:03:12hang around.Absolutely. He is one of those players you like to watch
0:03:12 > 0:03:17play because he is so good with his cue, he hits the ball so nicely. His
0:03:17 > 0:03:21problems are well documented but he is a tournament winner and as a
0:03:21 > 0:03:25force for anyone. You can turn over anyone on Thursday.He was
0:03:25 > 0:03:30particularly sick at the UK Championships. He feels better so
0:03:30 > 0:03:36that has to be a bonus.I think he loves the big tournament, the bigger
0:03:36 > 0:03:41stage, playing at the Ally Pally and that the World Championships. He
0:03:41 > 0:03:45lost a couple of finals. He is one of the players that can rise to the
0:03:45 > 0:03:49big stage. I am really looking forward to see how he plays today.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54He is big - five ahead of Shaun Murphy.Shaun Murphy is a different
0:03:54 > 0:03:59animal this year. He has the confidence from the Champion of
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Champions and in his fourth major final this year. He is playing with
0:04:03 > 0:04:09confidence. Apart from Ronnie O'Sullivan, he is the danger man.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Danger is the word. When he is stomping around the table he looks
0:04:12 > 0:04:16like he'll eat every ball he is so hard to stop.He has the philosophy
0:04:16 > 0:04:21he will not go down with a safety shot, he is going for everything. He
0:04:21 > 0:04:27is one of the best long potters and break-builders and the game. You can
0:04:27 > 0:04:37believe his opponents. He
0:04:37 > 0:04:39believe his opponents. He stomps like it is his table.It is a great
0:04:39 > 0:04:41attitude. It is very off-putting. Thank you, Ken. This is the last day
0:04:41 > 0:04:47in the first-round matches and
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Ronnie O'Sullivan slip as Marco Fu in scintillating style yesterday
0:04:51 > 0:04:57setting up a clash with Mark Allen who beat Luca Badoer cell. And all
0:04:57 > 0:05:04Scotland tonight as John Higgins faces Anthony McGill.
0:05:08 > 0:05:19Judd Trump soph or the challenge of Liang Wenbo.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24Kyren Wilson beat Barry Hawkins. Mark Selby was knocked out by Mark
0:05:24 > 0:05:31Williams. We have seen some amazing snooker. Seeing as you are fully up
0:05:31 > 0:05:37to speed with the draw, let us reflect on what we saw yesterday.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Steve Davis and John Virgo talking is through this afternoon. What was
0:05:40 > 0:05:43your reaction to Ronnie O'Sullivan? Lots of the sports papers were
0:05:43 > 0:05:49talking about his dizzy spell.As people say, it is like a second home
0:05:49 > 0:05:53here in anti-produces the goods every time. I feel sorry for Marco
0:05:53 > 0:05:58Fu but that is the nature of the game. If somebody is putting the
0:05:58 > 0:06:02ball is all you can do is watch. There was nothing Marco Fu could do.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06It is a terrible feeling to sit on a chair as a snooker player and not be
0:06:06 > 0:06:10effective. We all know how good money is on his day. He cannot take
0:06:10 > 0:06:20too many negatives from his own performance and it
0:06:20 > 0:06:23performance and it is a bad day at the office.There was a great match
0:06:23 > 0:06:25between Kyren Wilson and Barry Hawkins, Kyren Wilson winning his
0:06:25 > 0:06:30first match at the Masters.We will see more of Khairuddin Kyren Wilson.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38I have been told for the last couple of seasons how good Kyren Wilson is
0:06:38 > 0:06:43and he is one for the future. The run of the ball helped at the end.
0:06:43 > 0:06:49He ran out a worthy winner. It was high scoring, are you expecting the
0:06:49 > 0:06:53same this afternoon?The rest of the tournament, we will break the
0:06:53 > 0:06:57century 's record, especially if Ronnie stays in good form. All of
0:06:57 > 0:07:01the players good form, they have got plenty of match practice as the
0:07:01 > 0:07:07season unfolds and I expect a high standard match today.When you're
0:07:07 > 0:07:10expecting Ali Carter to give Shaun Murphy a good win run for his money?
0:07:10 > 0:07:17This is a nice matchup. Two completely different characters. Ali
0:07:17 > 0:07:24Carter is like a terrier. There is no promotion from Shaun Murphy MP
0:07:24 > 0:07:30misses. Sometimes he lets the game get on top of them. If you can keep
0:07:30 > 0:07:33his cool we are in for the great match.We look forward to it. The
0:07:33 > 0:07:37players
0:07:37 > 0:07:42Good afternoon. We are used to good snooker at the Masters but it has
0:07:42 > 0:07:48been superb here. 17 centuries so far. We turn our attention to a
0:07:48 > 0:07:52match between two men who have won 11 ranking titles between them and a
0:07:52 > 0:07:56rivalry that the back 18 years. It is short time here at Ally Pally.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19Please welcome a player making his 11th appearance at the Masters.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23Winner of four ranking titles including the World Open at the
0:08:23 > 0:08:27start of last season. Semifinalist in the China championship. He is
0:08:27 > 0:08:33known as The Captain, Ali Carter.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02And his opponent, a player making his 14th Masters appearance, 17
0:09:02 > 0:09:08years after his debut. Twice a finalist, champion in 2015 when he
0:09:08 > 0:09:13completed the triple crown. Top form this season, four finals, winner of
0:09:13 > 0:09:17the Champion of Champions. Class act, he is the Magician Shaun
0:09:17 > 0:09:24Murphy.
0:09:50 > 0:09:57JOHN VIRGO: Both players got a great reception. Once again it is a packed
0:09:57 > 0:10:03house here at the Ally Pally.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05house here at the Ally Pally. Shaun is one of the players who comes out
0:10:05 > 0:10:19with his cue case. Is it necessary? The extensions fits nicely in
0:10:22 > 0:10:24The extensions fits nicely in there Walking down the stairs, you have
0:10:24 > 0:10:31the protection of your cue case is?.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34That is the crystal trophy they are pulling for this week. Ali Carter
0:10:34 > 0:10:45gets the match underway.
0:10:47 > 0:10:54You can see it here, the Paul Hunter trophy.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57trophy. The youngster who won this on three Caucasians. Wonderful
0:10:57 > 0:11:03player. -- locations.
0:11:12 > 0:11:20He was quite a way away with that shot.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28Lucky to get away with that, I think. It was a long-range two baulk
0:11:28 > 0:11:31line into the corner pocket.
0:11:40 > 0:11:48I think the yellow has came to his rescue. There is a red into the
0:11:48 > 0:11:58right middle.Can he screw back into a safe area?
0:11:58 > 0:12:07Yes. Terrific shot. Did not get his bridge hand exactly where he wanted
0:12:07 > 0:12:17to. He played it well and he was perfect on the blue.
0:12:19 > 0:12:25Very early chance in this match. We saw Ronnie O'Sullivan get off to a
0:12:25 > 0:12:28blistering start yesterday. Players in form can do that and Shaun Murphy
0:12:28 > 0:12:30is a player in form.
0:12:47 > 0:12:54Matt Baird was always a big problem. Has he got on the black? It is
0:12:54 > 0:13:04tight. I don't think he has.He will be disappointed. Just a safety shot
0:13:04 > 0:13:09to play.
0:13:25 > 0:13:36He was aware that it could not be a problem. He could not overhead.
0:13:45 > 0:13:55Couple shots Rahat thick.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24Did not have the perfect angle on the blue. Was confident enough,
0:14:24 > 0:14:31tight on the cushion. Does not make the sport only red any easier. Could
0:14:31 > 0:14:34not have played it better. Good shot.
0:14:56 > 0:15:02Both players will have been on the practice table in the build-up.
0:15:02 > 0:15:10Trying to get the rhythm going should they get an early chance.
0:15:11 > 0:15:19Could have hoped for a better split of the reds than that.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24of the reds than that.I suppose he has to clear. He did not have to
0:15:24 > 0:15:32play the cannon but he felt he was bound to be on one.
0:15:32 > 0:15:39This is a keyless safety. Very jealous.
0:15:40 > 0:15:47jealous. -- careless.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42You could see a couple of leads code into the left corner.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49He has an angle on the blue if he wants to disturb the reds. That is
0:16:49 > 0:16:55the right shot.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08He would like to have that again, he could have gone into the pink better
0:17:08 > 0:17:12result. He could've been playing to go into the pink and misjudged by a
0:17:12 > 0:17:15fraction.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33As Shaun Murphy beforehand, he did not make the most of that
0:17:33 > 0:17:38opportunity.
0:17:59 > 0:18:05Ali Carter is ahead in head-to-head meetings.It would be interesting to
0:18:05 > 0:18:09see how this match unfolds in as much as the record of Ali Carter in
0:18:09 > 0:18:14the Masters for the player of his ability is very poor. From his
0:18:14 > 0:18:19perspective, he will be frustrated over the years to not have put in a
0:18:19 > 0:18:23great performance here. He is blame somebody he has had to be better
0:18:23 > 0:18:30off. How will that pattern out?
0:18:38 > 0:18:50That was a better safety, the cut battle in nicely.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55He made be able to bend it slightly to the left-hand side to play for
0:18:55 > 0:19:07pot. And a cracking report it was.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11That was ramrod straight cueing from Shaun Murphy. If there was a player
0:19:11 > 0:19:15in the game for the young player to try to mimic with his cue action,
0:19:15 > 0:19:22you could not go much wrong copying this man. Only the pace kept that
0:19:22 > 0:19:28one out. The hard that you had the ball the more accurate it has to be.
0:19:28 > 0:19:38Such is Shaun's confidence... He just got back on the job.
0:19:38 > 0:19:46You could question whether he should have played the yellow.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08That is the nature of the modern game, you get one chance and you
0:20:08 > 0:20:17have to think, can we win the frame at this minute?
0:20:20 > 0:20:25He has played in the cannon and this time it worked out OK.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00One red on the side cushion nearest the blue pocket is the only problem
0:21:00 > 0:21:02for Ali Carter.
0:21:08 > 0:21:15Shaun will be hoping he does not get that far.
0:21:15 > 0:21:22Just three points behind now.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30And to clinch the frame at this visit he will need all the remaining
0:21:30 > 0:21:38reds.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46He could try to shift that are red out using another red, earlier
0:21:46 > 0:21:57rather than later. Rather than leaving it to the last shot.
0:22:11 > 0:22:18That is assuming he has done the maths.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32The dizzy latecomer arriving, that is why Ali is back from the table.
0:22:32 > 0:22:40-- there is a. He could've played for the black in the same pocket as
0:22:40 > 0:22:44the bed. He could've knocked it away from the cushion. That is not an
0:22:44 > 0:22:48option now. He has to make certain he gets on the red closest to the
0:22:48 > 0:22:54right corner.
0:23:23 > 0:23:29This black and an awkward red leaving Shaun Murphy to get a
0:23:29 > 0:23:36snooker.
0:23:50 > 0:24:02You always have to be careful with the double. It is in.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08the double. It is in. 29 points is the leader with 27 remaining.
0:24:19 > 0:24:31Still has to be careful. Only one snooker needed. Davis Tull danger.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36It might be worth putting a ball safe instead of playing the roll-up
0:24:36 > 0:24:39but the roll-up is desirable because you could get a sticker on the
0:24:39 > 0:24:45yellow. Can you play the pink to the side cushion somehow? Or just put
0:24:45 > 0:24:57the pink. I prefer rolling the ball to the black.
0:25:07 > 0:25:13All the balls are live and if Shaun Murphy can get out of this sticker,
0:25:13 > 0:25:19get lucky, he is still in with a chance. Excellent shot.
0:25:23 > 0:25:32He is not out of the frame just yet is Shaun.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40I did like putting a ball safe on that shot. It would have been
0:25:40 > 0:25:50insurance. Shaun wants to keep the green and brown there. He can play a
0:25:50 > 0:25:54snooker behind the black note, that is in a nice place.
0:26:06 > 0:26:19Good shot. The way that Ali is shaking his head, it is not a
0:26:19 > 0:26:23natural wonder cushion escape. If it was he would not fancy a plate of
0:26:23 > 0:26:33this ability to miss it but it is it is not natural,...It is amazing the
0:26:33 > 0:26:39scenarios that snooker froze up. You have to get colour safe sometimes
0:26:39 > 0:26:43and sacrifice getting a snooker can sometimes work for you. It is no
0:26:43 > 0:26:50right or wrong way. That looks like it has missed.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02UMPIRE: Miss.
0:27:42 > 0:27:48Couldn't keep the yellow ball totally safe and hoping for a good
0:27:48 > 0:27:53cue ball. This is a chance for Shaun Murphy. He can play the game into
0:27:53 > 0:27:58the yellow pocket. He has got a good control. He could possibly get off
0:27:58 > 0:28:08two cushions. It could be too much of an angle.
0:28:18 > 0:28:26He will be sitting down and kicking himself. That was a chance.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29himself. That was a chance. You do not win many frames when you need a
0:28:29 > 0:28:33snooker and that could've been a body blue for Ali Carter.
0:28:39 > 0:28:52I am surprised he played that so hard. He needed the DLO to run.It
0:28:52 > 0:28:56was a terrible contact on the DLO from the cue ball, took the backspin
0:28:56 > 0:29:03out of the shot.
0:29:10 > 0:29:17Another chance for Ali Carter or has it gone behind?That blew in the
0:29:17 > 0:29:24middle of the table seems to get bigger and bigger.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27bigger and bigger.Amazing the amount of times that players get out
0:29:27 > 0:29:33of snookers with a colour and they return to a snooker. Can Ali Carter
0:29:33 > 0:29:39get behind the black?Avoid the double.
0:29:44 > 0:29:49It was difficult with the cue ball. Perhaps hoping to get the table.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59He needs good, smooth cueing to avoid the kiss on the pink.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01He needs good, smooth cueing to avoid the kiss on the pink. Doesn't
0:30:01 > 0:30:05have to play the pot of course, but it's normally the way he plays the
0:30:05 > 0:30:18game. Likes to go for his shots. And he went for it. We have a new
0:30:18 > 0:30:26favourite for the frame now. Wonderful pot. Kept everything as
0:30:26 > 0:30:33still as a rock. Head stayed down all the time. And once again...
0:30:33 > 0:30:41APPLAUSE ... Beautifully struck.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44... Beautifully struck. This is one that slipped away from Ali Carter
0:30:44 > 0:30:48here.
0:30:57 > 0:31:05Yes, it looks a formality. He must have a slight angle. Once that cue
0:31:05 > 0:31:11ball is as close to the black as he can get it... Ali Carter, when he
0:31:11 > 0:31:17doubled the last red, it looked like it was his frame. A terrific pot on
0:31:17 > 0:31:25the yellow. APPLAUSE How will Ali respond to that? Shaun
0:31:25 > 0:31:34Murphy leads 1-0. STUDIO: Brilliant stuff from Shaun Murphy. Ali Carter
0:31:34 > 0:31:37doesn't have a great record here at the Masters and that will do little
0:31:37 > 0:31:43to settle his nerves.It was a funny opening frame. The trademark couple
0:31:43 > 0:31:49of long reds that he always does the Shaun. He gave Ali a chance.
0:31:49 > 0:31:54Ultimately the way the frame panned out it looked like Carter was always
0:31:54 > 0:32:00in control of it.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03in control of it.He didn't really do a wrong shot but what he does
0:32:03 > 0:32:07here, he plays a good snooker, just doesn't get tight enough to the
0:32:07 > 0:32:12pink. What red what he might have been better off doing, watch where
0:32:12 > 0:32:15the cue ball finishes. He doesn't get tight enough to the pink which
0:32:15 > 0:32:18means it's quite easy fit Shaun Murphy to hit the yellow. What Steve
0:32:18 > 0:32:22was saying in commentary and what an alternative shot could have been,
0:32:22 > 0:32:27putting the black or the pink safe. He's 28 ahead, he's got more
0:32:27 > 0:32:34insurance of the pink or black is safe and less ball for Shaun to
0:32:34 > 0:32:38snooker behind. It's just an alternative.What would you have
0:32:38 > 0:32:44done? Would you have rolled up behind the black?I could see his
0:32:44 > 0:32:49cogs working there, Ali. He was thinking, I can guarantee a snooker
0:32:49 > 0:32:53here which is probably the easiest shot of the two. It was probably one
0:32:53 > 0:32:57way you would put the pink safe... Two we talked about Shaun Murphy and
0:32:57 > 0:33:09his potting.He potted a very good green to get on the brown. That's a
0:33:09 > 0:33:14big blow for Ali Carter. I think Ali Carter coming into this much needed
0:33:14 > 0:33:18a better shot than Shaun, because he's lacking a bit of confidence.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22Back to John and Steve.
0:33:25 > 0:33:30COMMENTATOR: Yes, Ali Carter hasn't had the best of seasons so far,
0:33:30 > 0:33:37although he did get some success in the Champions League recently
0:33:37 > 0:33:42beating Shaun Murphy 3-1 in a minor final to go through to the final
0:33:42 > 0:33:58stages of that league. But this is a big occasion. -- bigger occasion. A
0:33:58 > 0:34:04lot of flies this week.Or is it the same one?!APPLAUSE
0:34:04 > 0:34:18If it was, it went be back! -- it will not be back. APPLAUSE
0:34:18 > 0:34:23A bit unlucky, tried to screw across the face of it. If he had done, he
0:34:23 > 0:34:28had have been on the black nicely. No value in playing the black,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31because when the black is re-spotted, that red just above the
0:34:31 > 0:34:41black wouldn't be available.Ali Carter one.
0:34:51 > 0:34:58This time, thick from Shaun Murphy. But... Black goes safe, a little bit
0:34:58 > 0:35:10safer. Ali Carter is left with awkward cueing as well to make this
0:35:10 > 0:35:16pot, to make it even more difficult. And actually it's turned out to be a
0:35:16 > 0:35:22problematic shot.
0:35:22 > 0:35:30problematic shot. Very close to the brown... Well struck.
0:35:30 > 0:35:42brown... Well struck. He did avoid the pack, which was a bonus.
0:35:42 > 0:35:48the pack, which was a bonus. Wow. Lovely shot. It was going to be
0:35:48 > 0:35:52tough, John, to actually get enough power into that cue ball to really
0:35:52 > 0:35:58disturb the reds. He did as well as he could have done. A bit unlucky.
0:35:58 > 0:36:04Yes. I was just wondering, there were a couple of loose reds...Was
0:36:04 > 0:36:10it the right shot?And maybe get the black on its spot. Maybe he was
0:36:10 > 0:36:13thinking of bringing the pink into play. You always trust a little bit
0:36:13 > 0:36:23to luck and the fact is he's done nothing.I must admit, in some
0:36:23 > 0:36:29situations these days, not that Ronnie O'Sullivan needs bigging up,
0:36:29 > 0:36:32but I always wonder what would Ronnie have done there. Perhaps
0:36:32 > 0:36:45sometimes he doesn't risk the chance that bad luck can happen like this.
0:36:45 > 0:36:56If you can avoid it, try to not rely on a bit of luck. APPLAUSE
0:36:56 > 0:37:00Ali in effect has opened these reds, but now they are at the mercy of
0:37:00 > 0:37:05Shaun.
0:37:05 > 0:37:12Shaun.Once again a choice from Ali Carter, you couldn't exactly
0:37:12 > 0:37:19criticise only the nth degree at top-class level. Very cruel to start
0:37:19 > 0:37:29ripping a player to pieces for playing the aggressive shot.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32playing the aggressive shot.Of course as people always say, we are
0:37:32 > 0:37:37all wise after the event. I don't think Ronnie would have gone into
0:37:37 > 0:37:42them there. I think he got the black back on its own spot and then would
0:37:42 > 0:37:54have been thinking about bringing the other reds into play.
0:37:54 > 0:38:02the other reds into play. Lovely shot with the reds. An excellent
0:38:02 > 0:38:12rest player, Shaun Murphy.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Just concerned that the pink goes to the left corner. When be too
0:38:19 > 0:38:22interested in the black at the moment because there is a red
0:38:22 > 0:38:30occupying the black spot. Even if he did pop the black... He's got the
0:38:30 > 0:38:39pink available, got the blue on its spot. It is a decent chance.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08Another 47 points from this position needed to get to snooker is
0:39:08 > 0:39:13required.
0:39:30 > 0:39:37Still not a clear-cut chance, albeit a good one.
0:39:37 > 0:39:44a good one. Out of position a bit here. This is a bit more of a cut
0:39:44 > 0:39:58than it looks on our TV screens. Played it very well.APPLAUSE
0:39:58 > 0:40:05Good judge of pace. It looked for a moment has though it wasn't going to
0:40:05 > 0:40:17drop. He's played that nicely. That really has opened it up. He's now
0:40:17 > 0:40:23got a 27 point lead.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33Still going to need one of the awkward reds but there is one just
0:40:33 > 0:40:40off the cushion that's available. Won't need the red to the right of
0:40:40 > 0:40:46the black order to reds together.
0:40:46 > 0:40:53the black order to reds together. -- or the two reds together.
0:41:18 > 0:41:3347.Not perfect on this pink. Just trying to pinch a bit. How costly
0:41:33 > 0:41:40could that be?Didn't expect him to break down so easily. A couple of
0:41:40 > 0:41:45balls before that hadn't gone in the middle of the pocket. He looked to
0:41:45 > 0:41:53be getting into a rhythm.
0:41:57 > 0:42:03It was funny, it was just a natural instinct. He got down so quickly as
0:42:03 > 0:42:10though he was. It turned out that he should have given it a bit more due
0:42:10 > 0:42:18care and attention. The problem Ali has got is he could have just rolled
0:42:18 > 0:42:24it in and played for the red in the opposite corner. The problem now is
0:42:24 > 0:42:26those to reds either side of the black. He needs those common he's
0:42:26 > 0:42:34got to get them into play, sooner rather than later. -- he needs
0:42:34 > 0:42:41those, he's got to get them into play.He's played the more
0:42:41 > 0:42:45aggressive shot here. He's going to try and shift the reds perhaps with
0:42:45 > 0:42:50back spin, try and make something happen. Could play with top as well.
0:42:50 > 0:43:00Needs a bit of luck with the position.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04position. If he hadn't of played it that way he would have had a
0:43:04 > 0:43:09difficult position shot of the last pink, so not a clear-cut chance
0:43:09 > 0:43:14there.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18there.That's amazing the way the cue ball has finished there.Top
0:43:18 > 0:43:24spin. That's what forced it forward. APPLAUSE
0:43:24 > 0:43:30It must have had a bit of sign... Look at the way it's come across and
0:43:30 > 0:43:35impacted the top cushion.Ali Carter was hoping to have collided with two
0:43:35 > 0:43:39of those balls on the top rail. The power he put into the shot make the
0:43:39 > 0:43:45cue ball go a bit wide.
0:43:45 > 0:43:49cue ball go a bit wide.27 points the difference, still 43 remaining.
0:43:49 > 0:43:58That was an excellent safety shot. It wasn't great for Ali Carter there
0:43:58 > 0:44:06to end up with the yellow on the side cushion. He's the one playing
0:44:06 > 0:44:11catch up. Didn't really want to put the ball safe, it's more insurance
0:44:11 > 0:44:18the Shaun Murphy.
0:44:18 > 0:44:24the Shaun Murphy.He'll settle for that. I say settle, just bounced a
0:44:24 > 0:44:30fraction. It's a mighty fine shot. Shaun is having a look at the
0:44:30 > 0:44:34potting angle. 27 points the lead. You'll still need the two reds to
0:44:34 > 0:44:42win the frame. This is a tough pot... But a good one. You'll still
0:44:42 > 0:44:49need the last red. I think a little trickle up behind the yellow here
0:44:49 > 0:45:01would be the order of the day.Or get a bigger colour safe.
0:45:06 > 0:45:15Yes. A bit of insurance, but he's made this nuke it easier to hit. --
0:45:15 > 0:45:20made the snooker easier to hit.He could have just dropped on it,
0:45:20 > 0:45:28contained the situation.Decided to play it with pace but its cost him
0:45:28 > 0:45:41the frame now. This thread is pottable.I think the story of the
0:45:41 > 0:45:45matches what would have happened if Ali Carter have made different
0:45:45 > 0:45:51decisions. I'm not saying they are all wrong, it's just the anomalies
0:45:51 > 0:45:57of the game of snooker, sometimes... APPLAUSE
0:46:10 > 0:46:22It's 2-0 to Shaun Murphy and Ali may be thinking... APPLAUSE
0:46:22 > 0:46:30Shaun Murphy now leads 2-0.
0:46:31 > 0:46:41MUSIC
0:47:26 > 0:47:35Yes, a potted history there of Shaun. Certainly in the century
0:47:35 > 0:47:39break Department over the last few seasons he's been rattling them in.
0:47:39 > 0:47:44No sign of one yet, not had a 50 Break, which is amazing, the type of
0:47:44 > 0:47:50quality we've seen so far. I think it was just one of those matches
0:47:50 > 0:47:56that both players are wary of one another, but expecting to win, so
0:47:56 > 0:48:00that can always make it a bit edgy. Ali Carter will be disappointed to
0:48:00 > 0:48:11be two behind. The chances he's had. Third frame, Ali Carter to break.
0:48:11 > 0:48:19Ali Carter breaks in frame three. He's had some table time. He had
0:48:19 > 0:48:28ideally like to get a frame on the board. -- he would ideally like.
0:48:38 > 0:48:44Excellent safety there from Shaun Murphy. Asking a question now of Ali
0:48:44 > 0:48:55to get this safe. He needs to miss the yellow. He didn't. He may not
0:48:55 > 0:49:03have left a pot that will tempt Shaun, it's easier when you can get
0:49:03 > 0:49:07your hand on the table to play a better safety than that.It would be
0:49:07 > 0:49:14great to get behind that yellow. Not easy, but it would pay dividends.
0:49:14 > 0:49:23Not the best of safety shots from Shaun Murphy there. Tempt the Ali
0:49:23 > 0:49:28Carter. He's got great cue power. Screw back down the table. Good
0:49:28 > 0:49:40safety options here. That yellow is very inviting.
0:49:46 > 0:49:50He's cut off paths back down the table from the left-hand side as we
0:49:50 > 0:49:56look from our TV screens. What can Shaun work out? This could go wrong.
0:49:56 > 0:50:05You've got to be accurate here. Very well.
0:50:06 > 0:50:10well.He made it look a lot easier than it actually was. Played it
0:50:10 > 0:50:17confidently.
0:50:17 > 0:50:29Got to be careful of balls going to the right corner.
0:50:30 > 0:50:38This looks like a good line. Just a little bit overhit, only a fraction.
0:50:38 > 0:50:50That wry smile, he knows he's left a pot on here.
0:50:55 > 0:51:01What a great pot. Great shot to avoid collision with any of the reds
0:51:01 > 0:51:05as well from the length of the table, being able to stun round the
0:51:05 > 0:51:10back of them. Now the yellow will be giving Ali Carter problems. Poor
0:51:10 > 0:51:20shot, very poor. What was that? Too casual. Unless it rolled off... You
0:51:20 > 0:51:28never know.
0:51:29 > 0:51:35He looked to hit it too hard.
0:51:44 > 0:51:52That's not a good shot, particularly someone of Shaun's potting and cue
0:51:52 > 0:51:57power. I'd be tempted to play this read on to the right corner.It was
0:51:57 > 0:52:08the third safety shot down that side of the table that tempt -- that Ali
0:52:08 > 0:52:12has hit a bit thick. He could play a long deep screw back here, should
0:52:12 > 0:52:23you so wish.APPLAUSE
0:52:23 > 0:52:29What a strike. He hits those so well. His head stayed absolutely
0:52:29 > 0:52:41still, his body stayed still, he ran to the Q3. What Kieran Power. -- he
0:52:41 > 0:52:49ran the cue through, what cue power. Ali Carter nearly got the snooker
0:52:49 > 0:52:59behind the yellow. Didn't manage to do it. And then that slightly thick
0:52:59 > 0:53:11safety left half a chance the Shaun. Now it could be a frame-winner.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14Now it could be a frame-winner.What a difference competitive confidence
0:53:14 > 0:53:18makes. These two great players have played at the very highest level,
0:53:18 > 0:53:23but one of them's in good form and the other is struggling for four
0:53:23 > 0:53:34minutes showing. -- for form, and it's showing.Yes... I see what you
0:53:34 > 0:53:37mean. There's a confidence about Shaun when he's walking around the
0:53:37 > 0:53:42table. OK, he's not played perfect snooker in these first frames but he
0:53:42 > 0:53:47looks confident, the way he's walking around and knocking the ball
0:53:47 > 0:53:54is in. You just feel that he could get stronger now, particularly if he
0:53:54 > 0:54:05was to take this frame at this visit.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23I'd say it's the difference between looking to win a match and hoping to
0:54:23 > 0:54:29win a match.
0:54:30 > 0:54:36win a match. Especially on the big stage.
0:55:08 > 0:55:12Not wasting any time around the table but still walking at a good
0:55:12 > 0:55:17pace.
0:55:17 > 0:55:21pace. And even though Shaun Murphy is playing fast snooker, you'll
0:55:21 > 0:55:25notice before every shot he just stands behind and sets himself in
0:55:25 > 0:55:29position before he gets down. So he's not running around the table in
0:55:29 > 0:55:36that respect. Walk round the table nice and speedily, get behind the
0:55:36 > 0:55:44shot, and then make your approach.
0:56:00 > 0:56:04There's black, putting him 71 points in front, just 67 remaining.
0:56:04 > 0:56:13APPLAUSE To be honest, the rest has licked a
0:56:13 > 0:56:22formality. -- looked a formality.
0:56:33 > 0:56:41Record for the Masters. 31 centuries during the tournament. We've already
0:56:41 > 0:56:47had 17.
0:56:47 > 0:56:51had 17. We may be struggling to see number 18 because this cue ball
0:56:51 > 0:57:01hasn't finished good. What a shots. Unlucky! Unlucky.
0:57:07 > 0:57:11Not have an lucky as I thought. I thought he had gone tight to that
0:57:11 > 0:57:25red. -- not as an an
0:57:25 > 0:57:27red. -- not as an an -- unlucky as I thought..I think at the century
0:57:27 > 0:57:34break is he's going to get slaughtered.I said I thought we
0:57:34 > 0:57:46might be getting up to 40 which would be remarkable. APPLAUSE
0:57:57 > 0:58:0730 centuries is an average of two per match.
0:58:07 > 0:58:10per match.APPLAUSE
0:58:16 > 0:58:29You'd expect 11 centuries but you can't guarantee them.
0:58:35 > 0:58:44Highest break of the tournament so far is 139 from Liang Wenbo. That
0:58:44 > 0:58:49won't be beaten here. He's snooker to himself.He hit that so well,
0:58:49 > 0:59:02striking the ball so well.APPLAUSE A marvellous break of 119 from Shaun
0:59:02 > 0:59:06Murphy. Now 3-0 in front, one more to play before the mid-session
0:59:06 > 0:59:12interval. STUDIO: Brilliant stuff from Shaun Murphy. John talked about
0:59:12 > 0:59:16and stomping around the table, he's certainly doing that. All the
0:59:16 > 0:59:20players are providing us with such wonderful entertainment this year.
0:59:20 > 0:59:2518 tournament centuries already and 31 the record in 2009. Brilliant
0:59:25 > 0:59:29stuff from all the players but especially today from Murphy.Yes,
0:59:29 > 0:59:33and the opening read in that is an absolute caucus.It's fantastic.
0:59:33 > 0:59:42This is what he's so good at. Body and head so still. It's hard to hide
0:59:42 > 0:59:45the white against someone who can pot balls like that.It shows you
0:59:45 > 0:59:51the level we are playing at, Ali Carter hasn't done a massive amount
0:59:51 > 0:59:55wrong but he's 3-0 behind all of a sudden. Those opening frames when he
0:59:55 > 0:59:59had a chance to wrap a frame up have gone the wrong way and now he's 3-0
0:59:59 > 1:00:07behind in no time.Do we agree with Steven Davis's assessment on
1:00:07 > 1:00:12decision making, it's Ali Carter's decision-making that is letting him
1:00:12 > 1:00:15down out there?He's also not capitalised on a future answer is
1:00:15 > 1:00:19that he's had. He's been out of this for a while. He's not been
1:00:19 > 1:00:24particularly well and this tournament you've got to be at it
1:00:24 > 1:00:27from ball one. The standard is so high and he slightly off his game at
1:00:27 > 1:00:32the moment.
1:00:35 > 1:00:41If he got off to a good start, there is a different complexion on the
1:00:41 > 1:00:44match.When you lose a frame from that position, does that play on
1:00:44 > 1:00:49your mind if you're not playing as well as you can?Particularly when
1:00:49 > 1:00:54your confidence is low. Shaun Murphy is more consistent, different and
1:00:54 > 1:00:59all the season compared to Ali Carter. Little things like that make
1:00:59 > 1:01:03a big difference when your confidence is low.Can Ali Carter
1:01:03 > 1:01:08get off the mark?
1:01:08 > 1:01:19JOHN PARROTT: Big frame for Ali Carter now, you feel.
1:01:19 > 1:01:23To go out of the arena to the mid session interval with nothing to
1:01:23 > 1:01:30show for it. He dropped his chalk. With nothing to show for it. It will
1:01:30 > 1:01:39not make you feel very good at all.
1:01:45 > 1:01:50We saw that with Brian Vera in this match. Warning after going 2-0
1:01:50 > 1:01:58behind. That was a good shot. Ryan Day lost his first three frames.
1:01:58 > 1:02:04Seem to be struggling. But then he was able to win the frame before the
1:02:04 > 1:02:11interval and went on to win.
1:02:19 > 1:02:24Ali Carter was very close to putting Shaun Murphy in trouble. He just
1:02:24 > 1:02:31gave Shaun enough of a shot.
1:02:31 > 1:02:35gave Shaun enough of a shot. Ali Carter might be forced to play a
1:02:35 > 1:02:38containing sticker but he looks to be playing an aggressive shot behind
1:02:38 > 1:02:43the black.
1:02:43 > 1:02:47Good effort but not good enough. Weird is that thread going?
1:02:52 > 1:03:01You could see he is fortunate. He needs some luck.
1:03:28 > 1:03:37Decent enough. It was hard to get a good length of cue ball because he
1:03:37 > 1:03:39caught the bed quite thin.
1:03:47 > 1:03:52Shaun had a brief look at the red on the left medal but I don't think it
1:03:52 > 1:04:01cuts.There are a couple of flies and moving around in the room.
1:04:01 > 1:04:06and moving around in the room. I think it is a wasp.
1:04:27 > 1:04:31He has not be red into the corner and it could be dangerous. It is now
1:04:31 > 1:04:37because he has went into the brown. I do not think the black is
1:04:37 > 1:04:42available to the opposite corner.
1:04:42 > 1:04:54If he has an angle he can go back up for the blue.
1:05:01 > 1:05:07He played at are really well. The key to that shot is striking the cue
1:05:07 > 1:05:14ball just below centre.
1:05:14 > 1:05:17ball just below centre. That traverses and to top spin after that
1:05:17 > 1:05:20comes off the cushion. If you play Ed Wood topspin you get to the
1:05:20 > 1:05:28checking effect.
1:05:42 > 1:05:47He will be thankful he has that red over the middle pocket at the
1:05:47 > 1:05:56moment. It a get out of three jail card.
1:06:09 > 1:06:13That a red near the left medal, that is the one you want to leave because
1:06:13 > 1:06:20of an emergency.
1:06:38 > 1:06:46It is going to be tricky. It is not as easy to go into the pack and get
1:06:46 > 1:06:50a guaranteed split with the pink separated from the reds Bollywood. I
1:06:50 > 1:07:00am not saying that is the right shot here. Passion below it.
1:07:00 > 1:07:06Having played for it, he will be disappointed. He has been left with
1:07:06 > 1:07:11more angled and required on this blue. This could go wrong. He has to
1:07:11 > 1:07:22be careful. He doesn't even like the blue.
1:07:33 > 1:07:37He had to sacrifice a bit of distance between the white and the
1:07:37 > 1:07:43next thread here. This is a missable pot from Ali Carter, especially at
1:07:43 > 1:07:473-0 down and not firing on all cylinders yet. You would expect him
1:07:47 > 1:07:57to get it. It depends on how much tension is in his arm.
1:08:05 > 1:08:10You need to be closer to the object ball, it makes the pot so much
1:08:10 > 1:08:12easier.
1:08:19 > 1:08:23Getting back to what you were seeing in the last frame, he came to the
1:08:23 > 1:08:29table and was not really positive. It was a very edgy way of playing.
1:08:29 > 1:08:33Particularly taking that led to the left middle early. He probably
1:08:33 > 1:08:43should have left that for a while. It is easy for us. We are not free-
1:08:43 > 1:08:52zero behind and desperately needing this frame.
1:08:54 > 1:08:58Look at the pot success, he has a better pot success than Shaun
1:08:58 > 1:09:05Murphy.Madness.
1:09:19 > 1:09:22Just watching Shaun when he bent back to his seat, he seemed to shake
1:09:22 > 1:09:31his head.He is looking at the plant in the league left corner, is he?It
1:09:31 > 1:09:37needs to go in. It has gone on.
1:09:43 > 1:09:47Apart from the kiss on the red, it looked to be perfect on the pink. Or
1:09:47 > 1:09:56on the blue.You would expect him to get the yellow with the rest. It is
1:09:56 > 1:10:01permissible. Other shots would not have been.Look where the red came
1:10:01 > 1:10:15from.The blue goes as well, obviously. Judgement shot here.
1:10:20 > 1:10:23He misjudged it. Sometimes it is difficult when the balls are close
1:10:23 > 1:10:26together.
1:10:33 > 1:10:38Even then, the yellow was arguably the right ball instead of the blue.
1:10:38 > 1:10:48Small decisions. 50-50s.
1:10:48 > 1:10:53Small decisions. 50-50s. It is down to Shaun to mop up the tears. Masses
1:10:53 > 1:10:58difference between 3-1 and 4-0. Shaun Murphy will know that the
1:10:58 > 1:11:08difference between that scoreline when you get to your opponent in a
1:11:08 > 1:11:15hole, you want to keep him in it.
1:11:18 > 1:11:23There is a voice of experience for you, folks.
1:11:31 > 1:11:42Shaun Murphy knows the importance of this visit.
1:11:42 > 1:11:47Isn't this just the nature of the game. A little run on the ball. It
1:11:47 > 1:11:53could've been a squabbling.
1:11:53 > 1:11:55could've been a squabbling.-- different scored line. When you're
1:11:55 > 1:12:02searching for form, it can be very elusive. The harder you try, the
1:12:02 > 1:12:08harder it gets.
1:12:08 > 1:12:10That was a disposition to leave it dead straight but he has recovered
1:12:10 > 1:12:12very well.
1:12:21 > 1:12:29It could be a bonus.
1:12:37 > 1:12:49He has not played that well. This is tricky.
1:12:49 > 1:12:53tricky.For the second I thought he had judge did very well but in the
1:12:53 > 1:13:01cue ball just rolled onto another ball.
1:13:01 > 1:13:10Wonderful shot.
1:13:36 > 1:13:48It is not a straightforward run to the line. He will leave four reds.
1:14:04 > 1:14:12He can play the cannon on the pink from the black.
1:14:15 > 1:14:24He could end up in a trap here if he is not careful.
1:14:24 > 1:14:26is not careful. You can see anything wrong with trying to play the cannon
1:14:26 > 1:14:32on the pink.
1:14:32 > 1:14:42That is lovely. He has held that well. He can have a soft stunning.
1:14:42 > 1:14:51Floated past the pink spot.Once parts of the right-hand red, the
1:14:51 > 1:15:01left one becomes available. This is looking like 4-0.
1:15:31 > 1:15:42No heroics with the black. It is 4-0 now. 44 ahead with 35 remaining. FP
1:15:42 > 1:15:53pots this red then Ali will not bother coming back to this table.
1:16:01 > 1:16:08It is the first to 6, remember. Latest elbow room for Ali. He has to
1:16:08 > 1:16:21regroup at the interval. Sometimes Ali can be hypercritical of himself.
1:16:21 > 1:16:27When you consider his pot success, Ali Carter, 92%. He has only missed
1:16:27 > 1:16:40three balls. It is a tough school.
1:16:41 > 1:16:49Shaun felt he got a bounce off the baulk cushion. He is disappointed he
1:16:49 > 1:16:55has not made the century.
1:16:56 > 1:16:58has not made the century. They go to the mid-session interval. Shaun
1:16:58 > 1:17:03Murphy
1:17:03 > 1:17:08Murphy leads 4-0. GABBY: 61 minutes is the match time.
1:17:08 > 1:17:11We had a drubbing yesterday for Marco Fu and looks like another one
1:17:11 > 1:17:16for Ali Carter.You have to take your hat off, wonderful break from
1:17:16 > 1:17:20Shaun. He has been given the opportunity. The balls were awkward
1:17:20 > 1:17:24and it was a clever break the way he went about it. Lost position a
1:17:24 > 1:17:30couple of times but kept it going. It was a very good break.He is
1:17:30 > 1:17:35plotting so well. Played very nicely, full of confidence. You can
1:17:35 > 1:17:40tell by the body language of the two. Big difference between the two.
1:17:40 > 1:17:45He is playing at the top of his game. Ali Carter has it all to do.
1:17:45 > 1:17:50That first frame was crucial in this match.Is that knocked the stuffing
1:17:50 > 1:17:55out of him?It doesn't help. It also doesn't help when Shaun Murphy is
1:17:55 > 1:18:01hitting it as well see is. His long game is great. It is not what you
1:18:01 > 1:18:06can do about that.
1:18:18 > 1:18:20He is slightly off his game at the moment and Shaun books that keeps
1:18:20 > 1:18:22coming to the boil. When Shaun Murphy, he had the television on
1:18:22 > 1:18:24this morning, playing the interview of Ronnie O'Sullivan, looking very
1:18:24 > 1:18:27relaxed and everyone says Ronnie O'Sullivan is the man to beat. Does
1:18:27 > 1:18:30that anger the players, you have not seen me yet?Ronnie has set the
1:18:30 > 1:18:33barometer and is up to the guys to derive inspiration from it. Get
1:18:33 > 1:18:37themselves going. And see, I can play well, I have beaten body in the
1:18:37 > 1:18:42past and can do it again. Ronnie has set such a high standard, it is up
1:18:42 > 1:18:48to these guys to continue that standard and reach the hates of
1:18:48 > 1:18:52Ronnie O'Sullivan.It is laying down the gauntlet. You have to blank it.
1:18:52 > 1:18:56We have got matches to win, different opponents to play. Every
1:18:56 > 1:19:00player that you play is a different form of examination you are going to
1:19:00 > 1:19:05get because they all play different styles. If you're going to beat
1:19:05 > 1:19:09Ronnie in the tournament, you have to do your job.Ronnie O'Sullivan
1:19:09 > 1:19:13will not play as well as he did against Marco Fu, he will not play
1:19:13 > 1:19:17like that every time and will have an off day as well. He will drop in
1:19:17 > 1:19:21standards and then raises standards. You cannot think of Ronnie
1:19:21 > 1:19:25O'Sullivan will play like that all the time. Anybody can be beaten on
1:19:25 > 1:19:31the day.You have to give Shaun Murphy credit, it is different
1:19:31 > 1:19:34viewing this afternoon. Yesterday, it was Ronnie O'Sullivan finishing
1:19:34 > 1:19:40frames in 13 minutes, this is a different type of match.He can only
1:19:40 > 1:19:45major in business. He is playing Ali Carter who is slightly off his game.
1:19:45 > 1:19:50Your concern is just to get from start to finish, she cans, you're
1:19:50 > 1:19:53into the next round. Wait for the next match to come up. -- shake
1:19:53 > 1:20:00hands. You have to do your job for the day and get the job done.Just
1:20:00 > 1:20:06looking at Ali Carter's Masters record, you have to go back to the
1:20:06 > 1:20:12last time that Ali Carter had a whitewash, who beaten?You can tell
1:20:12 > 1:20:21me it is?I am telling you, he is lucky to get nil.
1:20:21 > 1:20:29lucky to get nil.Mr modesty from Dublin.
1:20:29 > 1:20:34Dublin. It was in black-and-white. Nobody has Betamax any more.One of
1:20:34 > 1:20:38the things about Shaun Murphy, he is impressive on the table and also
1:20:38 > 1:20:44offered. He has been talking to Rob Walker.Shaun Murphy is back in
1:20:44 > 1:20:49town, what a season, four big finals and winning the Champion of
1:20:49 > 1:20:53Champions, what has clicked over the last few months?I had a really good
1:20:53 > 1:20:57season in a few years ago when I won this tournament and then lost in the
1:20:57 > 1:21:02final of the World Championships. I will not say I took my foot off the
1:21:02 > 1:21:05gas but like all sports people, I went off in search of the next
1:21:05 > 1:21:10improvement, how could I get better? I perhaps took by focus of working
1:21:10 > 1:21:15on what I had been working on for that period of time. The last year
1:21:15 > 1:21:19or so, it is like when you are stealing a big ship, you can point
1:21:19 > 1:21:23it over there but it takes it a while to turn. I have been trying to
1:21:23 > 1:21:30turn the game around. Something has happened this season. I have started
1:21:30 > 1:21:34working with the new method of cycling. There is no doubt
1:21:34 > 1:21:38whatsoever in my mind that has had a revolution the effect on my game. --
1:21:38 > 1:21:42gaming.
1:21:42 > 1:21:48It is so excited to see the results of my hard work and that method.
1:21:48 > 1:21:52Everytime I go out now I am looking forward to play.From a technical
1:21:52 > 1:21:56point of view, if there are any club player is watching, will fit getting
1:21:56 > 1:22:00into too much detail, what are you able to do differently now that you
1:22:00 > 1:22:06are adopting with this new technique?It is very tailored to
1:22:06 > 1:22:11the individual, it is about your personal centre line and vision.
1:22:11 > 1:22:15Steve Cook textbooks going back 50-60 years tell you to stand
1:22:15 > 1:22:21adjacent to the line. And then look over it. Walking across the line if
1:22:21 > 1:22:26I can use that term. This method I am using it gets my centre line of
1:22:26 > 1:22:33vision, whatever that is, between my two eyes, I have had tests showing
1:22:33 > 1:22:40where that is. I get that line onto my aim immediately. I have changed
1:22:40 > 1:22:46where I stand at the point of aiming. That is it. When I am making
1:22:46 > 1:22:53my decisions, hitting the object ball to make the pocket, I am
1:22:53 > 1:23:01standing differently now, tailored to my own requirements.That must be
1:23:01 > 1:23:04difficult getting used to, it is like changing the way you brush your
1:23:04 > 1:23:13teeth, it must be instinctive.I did taught how to block into the ball
1:23:13 > 1:23:24when I was eight years old. It is difficult. I had it explained to me
1:23:24 > 1:23:28very well, I understood it very quickly. When I saw the results,
1:23:28 > 1:23:32that encouraged me to persist. It was a typical change that was
1:23:32 > 1:23:42required. I missed some shots by a mile. When I started consistency
1:23:42 > 1:23:45comeback and when I thought the ball was going to go on go on and did,
1:23:45 > 1:23:51that spurred me on.How big is your all-time list of achievements, and
1:23:51 > 1:23:55there have been some very big ones, how big was winning the Champion of
1:23:55 > 1:24:00Champions, bearing in mind it was against Ronnie over the longer
1:24:00 > 1:24:06format in an event he has dominated over the few years it has been in
1:24:06 > 1:24:09existence.To win a tournament where only winners are done it, that is a
1:24:09 > 1:24:15real privilege. It is well known I had played in the previous years and
1:24:15 > 1:24:21I had never won a match. I had lost some stinkers. To go back and win
1:24:21 > 1:24:25this year, it was significant, to beat Ronnie over the distance, I had
1:24:25 > 1:24:30never done that before. I got up to seven against them in the Premier
1:24:30 > 1:24:34league final and I have beaten him in matches here or there, but at a
1:24:34 > 1:24:38distance over the double session match, I had never done that before.
1:24:38 > 1:24:46It was big. It
1:24:46 > 1:24:48It was big. It gave -- he gave me some readings over the past three
1:24:48 > 1:24:52years and I have learned so much about the game by watching him at
1:24:52 > 1:24:57close quarters. When we revel about Ronnie O'Sullivan, people forget
1:24:57 > 1:25:01that players are snooker fans as well. Whilst I am always trying to
1:25:01 > 1:25:06win and beat him at the Crucible, when he is in play, I have the best
1:25:06 > 1:25:09seat in the house to watch are the best player does it. You go away
1:25:09 > 1:25:15from these matches and the dust settles and you think, how can I
1:25:15 > 1:25:19improve and get better from that match? It was painful. I would
1:25:19 > 1:25:24rather still be in the championship. They go away and think about things.
1:25:24 > 1:25:29Whatever it was I picked up its dude be in good stead at the Champion of
1:25:29 > 1:25:35Champions.Looking back to other career highlights, you're one of the
1:25:35 > 1:25:38very illustrious list to have the triple crown, I can remember from
1:25:38 > 1:25:43the sidelines seeing how much emotion there was in your face when
1:25:43 > 1:25:48you completed the crown heard in 2015. That was masse for you, wasn't
1:25:48 > 1:25:54it? It was a piece of history and in order to do so, you had to reverse
1:25:54 > 1:25:58the defeated meal that was in 2012. Perhaps going into that final you
1:25:58 > 1:26:02felt this could be your last chance to complete the crown. From an
1:26:02 > 1:26:08outsider 's point of view, it looked like that meant the world to you.It
1:26:08 > 1:26:13did. There is no hiding it getting away from it. I stood on the
1:26:13 > 1:26:19precipice 120 12.
1:26:19 > 1:26:23As much as you try to get out of it, not answer questions and put the
1:26:23 > 1:26:27press to one side, there was a bit of a monkey on my back. There was a
1:26:27 > 1:26:32little devil sat on my shoulder saying, you might never won this, it
1:26:32 > 1:26:35makes never happen. After winning the World Championships in 2005 and
1:26:35 > 1:26:40being tipped for big things, you forget about the UK victory. It
1:26:40 > 1:26:44happened and you moved on to achieving the Triple crown. You
1:26:44 > 1:26:49stand on the edge of that for a long time. It took me nearly seven years
1:26:49 > 1:26:53to complete that set. It is a long time to wait. It is a long time to
1:26:53 > 1:26:59come here, keyed up, this is the one. As much as you try the sports
1:26:59 > 1:27:02psychology route, don't think about it and just play the match. Don't
1:27:02 > 1:27:09get involved. Prepare. We all try to do that but we are all human, being
1:27:09 > 1:27:12in our hotel rooms and watching the snooker on television. We cannot
1:27:12 > 1:27:21help it. When I played in the final against meal, I got sucked into is
1:27:21 > 1:27:25the one, this is it. It was all too important. I learned from that. I
1:27:25 > 1:27:30managed to put it to bed.Very Best of luck on your wiki and keep up the
1:27:30 > 1:27:36good work, it is a joy to see you when you are in the floor.I am
1:27:36 > 1:27:40really enjoying showing you these interviews during the interval.
1:27:40 > 1:27:44Shaun Murphy is a very good talker and a very good snooker player. It
1:27:44 > 1:27:49is easy to forget how impressive he was playing the Masters.He defeated
1:27:49 > 1:27:57Neil Robertson jile. Neil Robertson was flat and that final, Shaun will
1:27:57 > 1:28:03be the first to admit that. He played great. He did his part of it
1:28:03 > 1:28:10and was the winner 10-2. When you can cue like he can you can have a
1:28:10 > 1:28:14chance in every event.It is a fresher to hear him speak so openly
1:28:14 > 1:28:19about her style and what he has done to improve his game.He's a great
1:28:19 > 1:28:23ambassador, a great talker, very philosophical. He is quite open,
1:28:23 > 1:28:27about his emotions and his thoughts. What he wants to achieve in the
1:28:27 > 1:28:32game. When he completed that Triple crown he became part of history. Not
1:28:32 > 1:28:36many people have that honour and he is one of them so he be proud.What
1:28:36 > 1:28:40you make about what he was saying about his vision and the change in
1:28:40 > 1:28:46style. Do you detect any difference? You can see it here on the still.
1:28:46 > 1:28:50One on the left beforehand. His header slightly straighter on the
1:28:50 > 1:28:54right-hand side.It looked straight on on the right-hand side. We talk
1:28:54 > 1:29:00about how he lines up. Steve Davis talked about how still he is on the
1:29:00 > 1:29:07right-hand side. Compare to back in 2005. He is off his cue more. That
1:29:07 > 1:29:11helps. I think is lining up the shot. Mark Williams talked about it
1:29:11 > 1:29:17in the studio. How much that has helped him. He is having lots of
1:29:17 > 1:29:24success.Can you red too much into the sport psychology? Is it
1:29:24 > 1:29:29something just about getting out and doing it?We are back to
1:29:29 > 1:29:32individuals. Some people it could help and other people would not find
1:29:32 > 1:29:37it useful. It is back to the individuals.Sports psychology can
1:29:37 > 1:29:42help lots of people. Every little edge that you can get from it, it is
1:29:42 > 1:29:46definitely worth exploring.Shaun Murphy leads 4-0 against Ali Carter.
1:29:46 > 1:29:53Back to the live action later. Good match later on. John Higgins taking
1:29:53 > 1:30:00on Anthony McGill making his Masters debut.
1:30:03 > 1:30:09If your child had had a smell, what would it be? What hobby would you
1:30:09 > 1:30:17get into if time and money went an issue?I think it would be fantastic
1:30:17 > 1:30:33to build a snooker Academy. Get a lot of juniors involved. I think
1:30:33 > 1:30:40something like that would be a passion.What fad or trend do you
1:30:40 > 1:30:50hope comes back?Flares. I don't have the bravery to wear them myself
1:30:50 > 1:30:55but I think they are pretty cool. What would be your spirit animal?A
1:30:55 > 1:31:03dog. I love dogs. They're just cool, aren't they?Is the only human left
1:31:03 > 1:31:14on Earth, what would you do?I would walk around naked.
1:31:14 > 1:31:17walk around naked.We saw Anthony McGill last night looking very
1:31:17 > 1:31:21relaxed in the players lounge. John Higgins against Santi McGill is live
1:31:21 > 1:31:25on your red button at 7pm. Every night we round up all the day's
1:31:25 > 1:31:33highlights. If you missed anything this is what you have missed, as we
1:31:33 > 1:31:40look forward to frame five. Shaun Murphy was absolutely brilliant in
1:31:40 > 1:31:43the first frame, taking full advantage of a few mistakes by Ali
1:31:43 > 1:31:48Carter.
1:31:53 > 1:31:57Carter. It's his decision making which is having a big effect on this
1:31:57 > 1:32:06match today, superb break of 119. Potting beautifully. Ali Carter's
1:32:06 > 1:32:13heaviest defeat at the Masters 6-0 and Murphy with another break of 87
1:32:13 > 1:32:19to make it 4-0 at the interval. It's not going very well for Ali Carter.
1:32:19 > 1:32:22In fact that's the any time he smiled because Shaun Murphy has been
1:32:22 > 1:32:28absolutely brilliant in this opening session.I'm trying to get over the
1:32:28 > 1:32:39fact Anthony McGill will rock -- walk around naked all the time!Here
1:32:39 > 1:32:47we go, frame five as we go back to Steve Davis.
1:32:53 > 1:33:01Thank you, frame five. Ali Carter to break.COMMENTATOR: Ali Carter
1:33:01 > 1:33:05breaking off in frame five, hoping the interval will change things for
1:33:05 > 1:33:14him.
1:33:23 > 1:33:27Could play a four condition quite aggressive safety shot but looks
1:33:27 > 1:33:33like Shaun Murphy spotted a gap to get through for a pot. Turns it down
1:33:33 > 1:33:36for the more containing safety. Thought he was getting down to try
1:33:36 > 1:33:45and pot that.
1:33:53 > 1:34:03APPLAUSE
1:34:04 > 1:34:08Hasn't really done too much damage to Shaun Murphy with that safety.
1:34:08 > 1:34:17It's going to be always difficult to put his opponent under pressure. The
1:34:17 > 1:34:20risk in playing this thick and playing the four condition safety,
1:34:20 > 1:34:30you don't know where the reds are going to go. -- four-cushion safety.
1:34:30 > 1:34:37You can get rewarded sometimes. Much like Shaun Murphy's last safety
1:34:37 > 1:34:47shot, didn't get the cue ball close enough to the cushion.
1:34:47 > 1:34:52enough to the cushion. This is better.
1:35:16 > 1:35:21On a fast cloth, the thinner the safety, the less you're likely to
1:35:21 > 1:35:28push the ball to the opposite corner pocket. It does tend to be the way
1:35:28 > 1:35:33that a lot of safety shots are played these days, not to do any
1:35:33 > 1:35:43damage with the object balls.
1:35:43 > 1:35:45damage with the object balls. He's let that one go. He's got to hope
1:35:45 > 1:35:55the blue comes to his rescue here. I don't think it has.
1:36:14 > 1:36:24Quite low on the safety success from Ali Carter.
1:36:24 > 1:36:29Ali Carter. It wasn't much of a risk. An opportunity now in potting
1:36:29 > 1:36:38the black just go into the cluster.
1:36:43 > 1:36:48If Shaun Murphy can get back into his stride after the interval and
1:36:48 > 1:36:55win this frame, he's turning Ali Carter's campaign at the Masters
1:36:55 > 1:37:05into another disappointing one.
1:37:10 > 1:37:20He's got to develop a few roads soon, though. -- a few reds soon.
1:37:20 > 1:37:31Three reds, three blacks.
1:37:43 > 1:37:48I thought he could have rolled it in and played to the black at the
1:37:48 > 1:38:03opposite corner. A let off the Ali. -- a let off for Ali. It didn't feel
1:38:03 > 1:38:10as though he was in a position to risk it. He's at the position now
1:38:10 > 1:38:15where he's got to somehow get a foothold in the match. He probably
1:38:15 > 1:38:26won't get that by taking too many risks.
1:38:34 > 1:38:42A tent of her Ali Carter into the middle pocket. -- tempter for Ali
1:38:42 > 1:38:47Carter. The trouble is when you miss these you don't know where they are
1:38:47 > 1:39:00going to go.APPLAUSE
1:39:00 > 1:39:04Played it positively, there was no point really in playing that to get
1:39:04 > 1:39:11the cue ball on the bottom rail.
1:39:11 > 1:39:14the cue ball on the bottom rail. A nice start of her Ali Carter. He's
1:39:14 > 1:39:21got to get going here -- a nice start for Ali Carter. He's got to
1:39:21 > 1:39:31flow a bit, it's not been easy. That's not wonderful. He's got a red
1:39:31 > 1:39:37but he's got to trust a little bit to luck, getting this cue ball out
1:39:37 > 1:39:41into open play. Screw back, try and get on the blue. Unlucky the way
1:39:41 > 1:39:47that's come out. That's just unfortunate really. You can't
1:39:47 > 1:39:50guarantee you're not going to collide with the pink and then he
1:39:50 > 1:39:53would have been on the blue. Should have collided with the pink, really.
1:39:53 > 1:40:02He played it with so much pace... And then a bad kiss on the yellow.
1:40:02 > 1:40:07Tough yellows.It's tempting him to go for but Steve said, this is
1:40:07 > 1:40:19tough. He played it nicely. Sometimes you don't get what you
1:40:19 > 1:40:23deserve but the red he's closest to he can pop to the left middle. It's
1:40:23 > 1:40:30not all bad.
1:40:30 > 1:40:36not all bad. -- pot to the left middle.He should be able to play
1:40:36 > 1:40:40quite a deft Ston shot across the face of the blue for the blue in the
1:40:40 > 1:40:50same pocket. Awkward cueing, though.
1:40:54 > 1:40:57So, a clear-cut chance now for Ali Carter to get his first frame on the
1:40:57 > 1:41:06board.
1:41:21 > 1:41:32Not right in the heart of the pocket, this red.
1:41:43 > 1:41:48Now, he's nudged that read. If he can get through to the red just
1:41:48 > 1:41:53above the black it's fine. He's going to have to play this red. Can
1:41:53 > 1:42:02he hole for the pink? It like to. Could do comfortably.
1:42:02 > 1:42:06Could do comfortably.Just got to be a bit careful with a few positional
1:42:06 > 1:42:17shots here, and it will open up quite nicely.
1:42:17 > 1:42:21quite nicely. A few of those reds blocking paths, especially the
1:42:21 > 1:42:27corners.
1:42:27 > 1:42:32corners. Getting low on this black would have been a nice option, but
1:42:32 > 1:42:38he's got loads of choices here.
1:42:44 > 1:42:48You always feel in these situations, you've just got to focus on one shot
1:42:48 > 1:42:54at a time, forget the scoreline. Just make
1:42:54 > 1:42:55Just make
1:42:55 > 1:43:00the most of every opportunity you get. He's got a slight angle on the
1:43:00 > 1:43:06black. You'd have preferred a bit more angle. But he shouldn't have a
1:43:06 > 1:43:12problem.
1:43:12 > 1:43:19problem. It's OK if he can't run through for the black, he can always
1:43:19 > 1:43:28done it for the pink into the opposite corner. -- stun it. He goes
1:43:28 > 1:43:33through for the black. Nice angle on it this time to come on and off the
1:43:33 > 1:43:39top cushion.
1:43:40 > 1:43:45top cushion. 27 points the lead now. Three of these remaining reds and
1:43:45 > 1:43:53the frame will be in the bag. I know we always say that you never settle
1:43:53 > 1:43:57until you get your first frame on the scoreboard. It's always the
1:43:57 > 1:44:03case. It will make you feel a lot better if you can do it in one
1:44:03 > 1:44:13visit. On this entry, it would be the icing on the cake. 35 ahead. Red
1:44:13 > 1:44:18cover rent required.
1:44:23 > 1:44:32Just about got the right angle on the blue.
1:44:36 > 1:44:42I can only assume he put a bit of sign on the cue ball there and
1:44:42 > 1:44:51didn't get any.It seemed like it overhit it, he knew he had
1:44:51 > 1:45:01overheated immediately. He should get this, obviously.APPLAUSE
1:45:08 > 1:45:13Job done by Ali Carter here. You'll be relieved but he's also pleased
1:45:13 > 1:45:23he's converted the chance.
1:45:24 > 1:45:29Perfect on the blue. Could be another century to add to the list
1:45:29 > 1:45:38at this year 's Masters. 18 so far.
1:45:56 > 1:46:01Obviously it was going to go to 4-1 hour but amazingly enough he's still
1:46:01 > 1:46:11ahead in the pot success, 95% pot success rate.
1:46:41 > 1:46:48. ... What a pity! What a pity. APPLAUSE
1:46:48 > 1:46:57Johne Murphy had first chance. He needs a few mistakes from Shaun but
1:46:57 > 1:47:01he's at least got a frame on the board now, something to build on.
1:47:01 > 1:47:08STUDIO: Out and 99. Long road back. It is bottle great journeys start
1:47:08 > 1:47:13with small steps. I agree with what the commentator said, you've got to
1:47:13 > 1:47:16forget the scoreline, play every frame like it's the last frame in
1:47:16 > 1:47:20the match and see where it leads you. He's scored in one visit.
1:47:20 > 1:47:25You're not going to win at this level by fiddling around. If you can
1:47:25 > 1:47:29win in one visit and show your opponent I'm still scoring, you've
1:47:29 > 1:47:35got a chance.Good response. It's amazing when you go to an interval,
1:47:35 > 1:47:39you come out and sometimes you clear your head. When you're sitting in
1:47:39 > 1:47:42the chair and getting barrage to buy breaks every time, you need a bit of
1:47:42 > 1:47:48time just to gather your thoughts. He's got one chance, potted a few
1:47:48 > 1:47:53good balls at the beginning of that frame. He kept it going and it's
1:47:53 > 1:47:58just what he needed to settle him down, give him a bit of confidence.
1:47:58 > 1:48:02To win it in one visit was a great boost.No one wants to lose 6-0 but
1:48:02 > 1:48:07when you get that frame on the board does it relieved that bit of
1:48:07 > 1:48:12tension?That's the first part, the first rung of the ladder you are
1:48:12 > 1:48:16trying to climb today. He'll be doubly concentrating. The one thing
1:48:16 > 1:48:21you don't want to do is win a frame like that and then be a bit lax in
1:48:21 > 1:48:29the next one. You've got to be right on it in this frame as well.And
1:48:29 > 1:48:33Murphy?When you get a chance you want to try and keep your opponent
1:48:33 > 1:48:38down. You don't want to give them an easy chance now.Back we go with
1:48:38 > 1:48:43Steve and John.
1:48:45 > 1:48:55COMMENTATOR: You see the thumbs up, I think that was an ironic thing,
1:48:55 > 1:49:00mainly to himself. How did he not make the century, he'll be thinking.
1:49:00 > 1:49:06Centuries only win one frame and 99 isn't far off. This looks like a
1:49:06 > 1:49:17good cue balls. Just seemed to check a little bit. Left to pot on.
1:49:22 > 1:49:31This time Shaun's long potting lets him down. I suppose from a point of
1:49:31 > 1:49:36view of safety, neither player has been really finding that cushion
1:49:36 > 1:49:45with regularity.No.
1:49:45 > 1:49:51with regularity.No. When you're playing a shot to nothing, in one
1:49:51 > 1:49:57respect, if you do actually pot the ball you like to be on a colour. On
1:49:57 > 1:50:00that particular type of shot you don't want to play for the baulk
1:50:00 > 1:50:09cushion. Perhaps play for a baulk, into the pockets is the correct way
1:50:09 > 1:50:20to play those
1:50:20 > 1:50:30-- baulk colour.
1:50:39 > 1:50:43Once again as we've seen so many times during this match, and it does
1:50:43 > 1:50:48seem down the left-hand side of the table as we look, Ali keeps catching
1:50:48 > 1:50:58them a bit thick.
1:51:02 > 1:51:07APPLAUSE
1:51:09 > 1:51:16A monster. Not just potting it but retaining perfect control with the
1:51:16 > 1:51:25cue ball.
1:51:25 > 1:51:30cue ball. That's where finding the bottom cushion, as Ali Carter failed
1:51:30 > 1:51:34to do, can be so important against the top player and Potter like Shaun
1:51:34 > 1:51:39Murphy.
1:51:40 > 1:51:44Murphy. When you get that cue ball tight against the cushion, you can
1:51:44 > 1:51:56only hit the top part of it far harder shot.
1:51:56 > 1:51:59harder shot. And if you are catching the ball thick or thin, length of
1:51:59 > 1:52:03the table in your safety shots, it doesn't help your confidence because
1:52:03 > 1:52:09it's obviously, unless the table is rolling off over distance, it's
1:52:09 > 1:52:14usually the case that you have a cueing deficiency. You're not
1:52:14 > 1:52:18striking the middle of the cue ball and delivery. Shaun Murphy and the
1:52:18 > 1:52:23hit that shot, I don't think he got a bad contact but certainly no back
1:52:23 > 1:52:32spin on that one. He may have got a bad contact.There was certainly a
1:52:32 > 1:52:39bounce when the cue ball met object ball.Took all the spin of the cue
1:52:39 > 1:52:46ball.The thing is about this blue, if he had the right angle on the
1:52:46 > 1:52:49blue he wouldn't have any hesitation in playing it. He doesn't have the
1:52:49 > 1:52:56right angle, this thread, the ones close to the cue ball at the moment.
1:52:56 > 1:53:00He's really only available to the left corner which is why he's
1:53:00 > 1:53:09turning the blue down and playing safe. APPLAUSE
1:53:09 > 1:53:18So as in the last frame, Sean -- Shaun didn't make the most of the
1:53:18 > 1:53:26opportunity.He got a kick, it wasn't a massive one but sometimes a
1:53:26 > 1:53:29kick can destroy the path of the object ball. Other times the cue
1:53:29 > 1:53:35ball.
1:54:08 > 1:54:18Not too sure what Shaun's looking at here.
1:54:18 > 1:54:26here. That looks on. He's not even playing it.Maybe he can't get to
1:54:26 > 1:54:35the first red... But yes, from behind it looked a certainty.It
1:54:35 > 1:54:42looks like a three-ball plant into the middle. He didn't give it much
1:54:42 > 1:54:48of a look. Perhaps it's lined up a bit to the near jaw. Ali Carter is
1:54:48 > 1:54:54looking to see if it's a three-ball plant the other way. Into both
1:54:54 > 1:55:01middle pockets, middle and corner. I wonder why Shaun didn't give that
1:55:01 > 1:55:06more attention? He's out there at the table...You can see better when
1:55:06 > 1:55:10you're right behind the shot. I don't think Ali will be turning this
1:55:10 > 1:55:15down to be honest.It's poor from Shaun Murphy not to have spotted it
1:55:15 > 1:55:19is a three-ball plant the other way. He's definitely going for it so he
1:55:19 > 1:55:24must think it's more or less certain.He needs to get it, though.
1:55:24 > 1:55:32And got it. Cue ball got close to the corner... He's on the blue.
1:55:32 > 1:55:34APPLAUSE
1:55:40 > 1:55:43He got the cue ball out into open play as well. Unforgivable from
1:55:43 > 1:55:51Shaun Murphy there.
1:55:58 > 1:56:07Giving it the steely eye, sat in his chair. Ali has to avoid the kiss on
1:56:07 > 1:56:12the second red here and he should be perfect on the back or pink. Judged
1:56:12 > 1:56:17it well.
1:56:22 > 1:56:32Great chance, this.
1:56:36 > 1:56:40If he had been a bit straighter on the black he probably felt he could
1:56:40 > 1:56:51have controlled the cue ball better.
1:57:13 > 1:57:19Played that nicely.
1:57:41 > 1:57:50Another 46 points required from this position. To get to
1:57:50 > 1:57:54position. To get to snookers required. The fact he's hesitating
1:57:54 > 1:58:00means it's become a bit awkward. You can see, very straight. Would it be
1:58:00 > 1:58:03worth the risk to screw back and can in the red that is closest to the
1:58:03 > 1:58:11cue ball now? That could go wrong I suppose -- cannon the red.He made a
1:58:11 > 1:58:19mistake with the red, he lost the cue ball a bit. As you say, worth
1:58:19 > 1:58:36the risk their committed to that nicely back in prime position.
1:58:57 > 1:59:01Will be using the extension and his cue but you can get past the red
1:59:01 > 1:59:13closest to the cue ball. It's not too awkward cueing.
2:00:00 > 2:00:04Ali Carter is starting to look like a different player. He has got a
2:00:04 > 2:00:17spring in his step. Bit more of the eye of the Tiger.
2:00:46 > 2:00:55He has this red bubble deep into the right corner.
2:01:06 > 2:01:11Because it did not go into the middle of the pocket that is why he
2:01:11 > 2:01:14is thinner on the blue than he would like but have no problem, able to
2:01:14 > 2:01:20drop it in and play for the reds in the left middle. That is all he
2:01:20 > 2:01:24needs to go 52 points ahead with just 43 remaining.
2:01:37 > 2:01:43This is a very good response from Ali. It could be said that Shaun
2:01:43 > 2:01:48Murphy in the last two Freemans has got in first. On this particular
2:01:48 > 2:01:54occasion he was unlucky with heavy contact.
2:01:55 > 2:01:58contact. What Ali had to do when presented with these opportunities
2:01:58 > 2:02:04was to take them.
2:02:04 > 2:02:07was to take them. And he did in the last frame and he has done so in
2:02:07 > 2:02:14this. In the last thing he did not make the century, he made 99. He
2:02:14 > 2:02:24could hit the time that this time around. -- the tan.
2:02:31 > 2:02:38He does not want to miss anything.
2:03:27 > 2:03:36It is the blue for 100. Well done.
2:03:36 > 2:03:41Sometimes Ali Carter's temperament can be questioned, it can be
2:03:41 > 2:03:46belittled. I like the way he has came out in the second half. He has
2:03:46 > 2:03:53grabbed it with both hands. He is now putting some pressure on Shaun
2:03:53 > 2:03:58Murphy. He led 4-0 and it is now 4-2.
2:03:58 > 2:04:03GABBY: Shaun Murphy not smiling any longer.
2:04:07 > 2:04:14We said to take everything as he could, see what you can do. He made
2:04:14 > 2:04:1999 and then a century.All credit to him. He has kept Shaun Murphy away
2:04:19 > 2:04:27from the table.He is looking more confident, moving around a table, he
2:04:27 > 2:04:33has a spring in his step. You can feel the crowd urging him. They want
2:04:33 > 2:04:37to see him win the frame. And make this match as close as possible.
2:04:37 > 2:04:43That can give you a nice boost as well. You can feed off of that. He
2:04:43 > 2:04:47looks to be a completely different player from the first four.Shaun
2:04:47 > 2:04:52Murphy, as you said that the start of the programme today, stomping
2:04:52 > 2:04:58around the table, you sometimes get that glint in his eye when he loves
2:04:58 > 2:05:03potting balls to the camera.But that is slightly different. It is
2:05:03 > 2:05:08not panic stations yet. If it gets to 4-3, he will be looking in the
2:05:08 > 2:05:12rear-view mirror. Winters 4-2 and you have got a cushion, you will
2:05:12 > 2:05:21still think you are all right. The next frame will be very good.
2:05:21 > 2:05:25next frame will be very good. I quickly the idea of Ali potting out
2:05:25 > 2:05:30to calm himself down. He has to be careful not to present any
2:05:30 > 2:05:35opportunities back to Shaun when he is on a run.We're not suggesting
2:05:35 > 2:05:39that the crowd are fully behind Ali Carter but they appreciate he was
2:05:39 > 2:05:464-0 down the interval.
2:05:46 > 2:05:53JOHN VIRGO: He will be pleased the way the last two points are gone but
2:05:53 > 2:06:00there is no margin for error for Ali. When your opponent needs two
2:06:00 > 2:06:03frames, you have more wiggle room, so to speak.
2:06:09 > 2:06:18Even in the best of 11, there are some breathing space.
2:06:19 > 2:06:25The UK Championship in the best of 11 and the early stages, dropped
2:06:25 > 2:06:32from best of 17. It is a shorter and sharper event. The Masters has
2:06:32 > 2:06:37always been, this is called me thinking, going back in history, it
2:06:37 > 2:06:44has been a true test.The true test is that you will not get an easy
2:06:44 > 2:06:49match.
2:07:01 > 2:07:09That was thinner than he wanted on that side of the table.
2:07:16 > 2:07:21He has been catching the safety shots, Ali Carter. Thick down the
2:07:21 > 2:07:24left-hand side as we look and found down the right-hand side by a
2:07:24 > 2:07:30fraction, that is.
2:07:30 > 2:07:34As you see, it is usually a sign that you are not finding the centre
2:07:34 > 2:07:37of the cue ball.
2:07:45 > 2:07:49Once again he was a fraction too thick.
2:07:56 > 2:08:01That is about average for Shaun Murphy, 67%. That is quite high for
2:08:01 > 2:08:08Ali.
2:08:16 > 2:08:22Great long pot. Did not screw it back as well as a might have done on
2:08:22 > 2:08:26some occasions. Perhaps not a great contact either. He rammed the red
2:08:26 > 2:08:33in.
2:08:39 > 2:08:43The choice is the blue into the middle of the corner. That is a more
2:08:43 > 2:08:49positive shot with guaranteed position.
2:09:01 > 2:09:05He has not made the most of the last two frames and desperate to make
2:09:05 > 2:09:11this one count.
2:09:11 > 2:09:16I would say that Shaun Murphy's recent good form in major finals
2:09:16 > 2:09:23could be holding him in good stead. You can take a view on the chin if
2:09:23 > 2:09:31you are confident enough to strike back.
2:09:45 > 2:09:51He had a couple of good finals with Ronnie O'Sullivan. Defeated Ronnie
2:09:51 > 2:09:59and the Champion of Champions but lost in the UK final. There is one
2:09:59 > 2:10:07red on the open. He has the angle on the black to go into the cluster. It
2:10:07 > 2:10:13has came out OK. It is not absolutely inch perfect.He has had
2:10:13 > 2:10:17that so well. He did not put too much backspin on it. The cue ball
2:10:17 > 2:10:23did not stick in the pack. Just enough backspin to grip the cue ball
2:10:23 > 2:10:26and keep it in the middle of the table. Could not have had it any
2:10:26 > 2:10:32better.
2:10:39 > 2:10:44This is always risky because you are going closer to the black. This time
2:10:44 > 2:10:49he has judged it perfectly. That is a tough shot to get right on these
2:10:49 > 2:10:51tables. Flying off the cushion.
2:11:13 > 2:11:19There is a pack of Freds that has to be opened at some stage.
2:11:22 > 2:11:26He will not be pleased with that. He let the cue ball goal but he has got
2:11:26 > 2:11:34away with it.
2:11:34 > 2:11:36away with it.We just missed Ali looking away and puffing out his
2:11:36 > 2:11:38cheeks.
2:11:52 > 2:11:57Sensibly not trying to get on the blue perfectly with that shot.
2:12:27 > 2:12:35He could've that better.
2:12:47 > 2:12:55He did not have the right angle on the green.
2:12:55 > 2:12:58He good amongst the balls, though.
2:13:05 > 2:13:15You would not put it past him to knock in another century.
2:13:20 > 2:13:24Just the black is needed now to go 70 points in front with just 67
2:13:24 > 2:13:31remaining.
2:13:48 > 2:13:51He did take advantage of getting him first which he did not do in the
2:13:51 > 2:13:52last two frames.
2:14:57 > 2:15:11Ali Carter failed on 99. Potentially could have been four.
2:15:20 > 2:15:25Shaun Murphy is now 5-2 in front. It'll be tough for Ali Carter to get
2:15:25 > 2:15:29back in this match.I know what you're thinking watching at home,
2:15:29 > 2:15:37you would not wonder this Masters championship to end.The afternoon
2:15:37 > 2:15:43matches are excellent. This is a hard game. They are playing out of
2:15:43 > 2:15:46their brains. That was an interesting shot in that break.
2:15:46 > 2:15:52Shaun Murphy is on the green. Look at the way of the position of the
2:15:52 > 2:15:57balls. Most players would try to force an angle to come down as close
2:15:57 > 2:16:02to the reds as possible. He is so confident of his cue action. He pots
2:16:02 > 2:16:08this and screws back to leave the mid-range red. Lots of players would
2:16:08 > 2:16:18try to get the cue ball as close to our bed as possible.What you are
2:16:18 > 2:16:24saying, to be clear, because he is so good at the mid-range and
2:16:24 > 2:16:27long-range potting, and he is playing so well, he was happy with
2:16:27 > 2:16:31that position of the cue ball.He was confident enough to leave that
2:16:31 > 2:16:37shot.As John said, if you're not feeling too good, not too confident,
2:16:37 > 2:16:42you may try to get closer and sacrifice your position. He was
2:16:42 > 2:16:46totally in control and totally confident. It is like bread and
2:16:46 > 2:16:52butter for him. That is what you get if you have got a good cue action.
2:16:52 > 2:16:58Good response in all fairness. Psychologically, he has held himself
2:16:58 > 2:17:06together. Ali has put it up to him but he has as well.That is a good
2:17:06 > 2:17:09fight back by somebody like Shaun Murphy who is sitting thinking, I
2:17:09 > 2:17:14have to get back to the table and to pot a ball.It was not quite panic
2:17:14 > 2:17:19stations but if it went to 4-3 it would have been. It was an important
2:17:19 > 2:17:24juncture in the match.When you look at the breaks we have had today, we
2:17:24 > 2:17:32have had a and a 93, 90 nine. We could've had another century added
2:17:32 > 2:17:38to the growing century rate.
2:17:38 > 2:17:43It has been a bombardment of breaks this week. There is a premium on
2:17:43 > 2:17:48good safety play and also getting in amongst the balls first during a
2:17:48 > 2:17:49these days.
2:18:10 > 2:18:18Good effort, no damage done.
2:18:33 > 2:18:36With the standard is as high as this, the line between success and
2:18:36 > 2:18:43failure is so marginal.
2:18:43 > 2:18:46failure is so marginal. Ali played that with a good effort and it was
2:18:46 > 2:18:52just a fraction out. If it had gone and he could have won the frame.
2:19:10 > 2:19:16I think you are punished more now from drumsticks. -- for your
2:19:16 > 2:19:22mistakes.
2:19:25 > 2:19:33Excellent safety shots from Shaun Murphy.
2:19:33 > 2:19:37Murphy. Ali Carter has to be careful he does not push the ball towards
2:19:37 > 2:19:43the left corner. He looks like playing that outside red. It is a
2:19:43 > 2:19:46three ball plant that could send the red towards the corner. Fortunately
2:19:46 > 2:19:54for him he could get towards the one by the blue. It is not putting too
2:19:54 > 2:19:58much pressure on his opponent but there is no risk. That was a good
2:19:58 > 2:20:07shot.I think he was happy. You can see the red in the middle of the
2:20:07 > 2:20:14table.
2:20:40 > 2:20:46Unless he decides to play to the top cushion, he might be forced to...
2:20:46 > 2:20:55This is risky but excellent.
2:21:23 > 2:21:29This puts pressure on Ali. From this side of the table, he is catching
2:21:29 > 2:21:32all his safety shots too thickly.
2:22:07 > 2:22:11It was slowed down by the fact that the cue ball can't react.
2:22:21 > 2:22:26That was an excellent shot.
2:22:32 > 2:22:43He has played that well.
2:23:20 > 2:23:24On one said he is hitting it too thinly and on the other side he is
2:23:24 > 2:23:31hitting it too thickly.
2:23:31 > 2:23:34hitting it too thickly. As we have seen that is dangerous against
2:23:34 > 2:23:40somebody with the potting progress of Shaun Murphy.It is not good for
2:23:40 > 2:23:47his confidence when that happens.
2:24:04 > 2:24:09Shaun Murphy on that occasion did not punish Ali Carter. Ali Carter
2:24:09 > 2:24:12Clinton had this softly and still screw the ball because he has got
2:24:12 > 2:24:22good power.
2:24:22 > 2:24:24good power. That was a decent safety. Shaun can catch the
2:24:24 > 2:24:28right-hand side of the pack as we look if he decides to. Busy path
2:24:28 > 2:24:29back down the table.
2:24:56 > 2:25:01He can choose between the beds. One to the left and the other to the
2:25:01 > 2:25:06right. There is a gate. He has to find it to get the cue ball back to
2:25:06 > 2:25:08the middle of the table.
2:25:24 > 2:25:32Can you get through to the black?
2:25:32 > 2:25:39I think you can just see enough of the black.
2:25:54 > 2:26:02He is hanging in.
2:26:23 > 2:26:28He would have settled for a fight three and then hope that Shaun
2:26:28 > 2:26:36struggles at the finish line.
2:26:36 > 2:26:38struggles at the finish line.This is the first chance that Ali has got
2:26:38 > 2:26:45first in, so to speak.
2:27:13 > 2:27:17The problem is that now the black is only available into the right corner
2:27:17 > 2:27:22and the pink is out of commission. He will have to screw back for the
2:27:22 > 2:27:25blue or another, here.
2:27:33 > 2:27:38He has overhead but the pink must've gone to the left corner.You can see
2:27:38 > 2:27:51that it died. He has got himself into a miss in this break.
2:27:53 > 2:28:02There are a in is that he has stayed to negotiate.
2:28:24 > 2:28:30That is quite a tough gap to play a position on from about nine feet
2:28:30 > 2:28:33that the cue ball has to travel.
2:28:38 > 2:28:43He is attacking but that was a long way out. I do not think that was the
2:28:43 > 2:28:47right shot. He is trying to force it, tried to keep the break going,
2:28:47 > 2:28:53he did not have to.Why? Desperation.Sometimes you have to
2:28:53 > 2:28:58cut your losses. It is not great, you are embarrassed you have messed
2:28:58 > 2:29:06up your position.
2:29:07 > 2:29:10You cannot gift opportunities at this level and that is what Ali has
2:29:10 > 2:29:17done here.
2:29:24 > 2:29:37He has missed it!. Now the question is, what has he left? At first
2:29:37 > 2:29:46glance, not a lot.Ali Carter might be tempted by the brown by the
2:29:46 > 2:29:49corner pocket if you cannot plot anything up the top. The something
2:29:49 > 2:30:00go there? Two ball plant. That is nasty.I prefer your choice of shot,
2:30:00 > 2:30:06the red near the middle.He must fancy this planet but he must make
2:30:06 > 2:30:14it. He did not overcome it enough. Both players getting away with it at
2:30:14 > 2:30:25the moment. We've is this red going? He has left it.The only thing that
2:30:25 > 2:30:32is saving Ali Carter here is where Shaun Murphy can put the cue ball.
2:30:32 > 2:30:40To keep good position. That brown does cut in.
2:30:42 > 2:30:50He's missed the pot. If it hit it firmer, he'd probably have potted it
2:30:50 > 2:30:53but the cue ball would have been on the black condition. All sorts of
2:30:53 > 2:31:00things happening here.Never take anything for granted at this game.
2:31:00 > 2:31:09Now a chance to get on the black. In potting the black, remove the red to
2:31:09 > 2:31:13the left of the black. That will make the black available into both
2:31:13 > 2:31:24corners. He's still got the one over the far corner pocket.
2:31:24 > 2:31:29the far corner pocket.That's not great.He's still got that read over
2:31:29 > 2:31:34the far corner.Who'd like to have been on this red better than that.I
2:31:34 > 2:31:38couldn't agree more.He can play one red or to the other, as a last
2:31:38 > 2:31:43resort. But really he should have perhaps hit the black a bit harder
2:31:43 > 2:31:48and got a bit more distance between the red and the cue ball. He's got
2:31:48 > 2:32:01it in.APPLAUSE Normal service has been resumed.
2:32:09 > 2:32:16Overrun this a fraction as well. Only a bit but enough to make that
2:32:16 > 2:32:21pot missable. Not the ideal read to be playing. He wants to keep that
2:32:21 > 2:32:31over the pocket for a while but no choice. Oh no, don't tell me.The
2:32:31 > 2:32:36brown so close to the
2:32:39 > 2:32:41brown so close to the pocket, he couldn't control the cue ball going
2:32:41 > 2:32:47that way. Needs to stop.
2:32:48 > 2:32:58that way. Needs to stop. A 40 point lead.
2:33:01 > 2:33:12He should be set up.
2:33:14 > 2:33:21Anywhere in the circle will do or anywhere towards the circle. He had
2:33:21 > 2:33:32the line but not quite the length.
2:33:39 > 2:33:48That effort and a half short in pace made all the difference.
2:33:48 > 2:33:51made all the difference. -- foot and a half short in pace made all the
2:33:51 > 2:33:57difference from being missable to being unmissable.
2:34:18 > 2:34:24That was another poor shot from Shaun. He's missed a couple of easy
2:34:24 > 2:34:33pots and now that poor safety. Sometimes that can give you hope.
2:34:33 > 2:34:39Seeing a slight weakness in your opponent. It won't last forever, but
2:34:39 > 2:34:45it will make Ali think that Shaun's not invincible by any means.It was
2:34:45 > 2:34:51a definite frame when fish Shaun Murphy when he missed the brown.
2:34:51 > 2:34:56They were at his mercy, really. Now he's going to have to work a lot
2:34:56 > 2:35:05harder. How hard can Ali Carter make him work? That helps.APPLAUSE
2:35:05 > 2:35:15That helps a lot, if you're going to work one of those in.
2:35:17 > 2:35:24All of the poor safety shots and Mr brown are suddenly forgotten. --
2:35:24 > 2:35:31missed brown.
2:35:31 > 2:35:33missed brown. Still, not clear-cut. Two balls and side cushions, or
2:35:33 > 2:35:39cushions.
2:35:49 > 2:35:56The two reds that are close to the pink, they are not a formality to
2:35:56 > 2:36:06get on. Particularly if none of them goes to the middle.
2:36:07 > 2:36:11goes to the middle. Shaun just had a look where he had like to be. He may
2:36:11 > 2:36:16have to play for the red along the top attrition which wouldn't be his
2:36:16 > 2:36:19priority, unless he plays the pink and just dislodges these reds.
2:36:19 > 2:36:27That's the choice.
2:36:37 > 2:36:43Certainly getting himself back in this frame, but it's going to be a
2:36:43 > 2:36:50tough clearance that's the certain. It doesn't look like he's nicely
2:36:50 > 2:36:57placed on the pink...
2:36:57 > 2:36:59placed on the pink... Choosing the red along the top cushion. That's
2:36:59 > 2:37:05not great either.If you're going to play for this read you need a good
2:37:05 > 2:37:09angle and I think the facial expression says it all. That's no
2:37:09 > 2:37:16good to anybody. Two straight, tough pot, can't get good position. No
2:37:16 > 2:37:22value.
2:37:22 > 2:37:31value.Might as well play a safety shot.
2:37:34 > 2:37:39AUDIENCE GASPS.That's the type of shot where sometimes you're asking
2:37:39 > 2:37:47for trouble. When you miss it, you can do damage. I suppose he could
2:37:47 > 2:37:53have missed it and the red escape from the pocket... Why not just play
2:37:53 > 2:38:00the safety shot of the red?
2:38:10 > 2:38:14I'm a little bit surprised when Ali potted that read that he didn't try
2:38:14 > 2:38:19to dislodge the red on the left-hand side. To clinch the frame at this
2:38:19 > 2:38:24visit, he is going to need that red. Maybe he thinks leaving it there, I
2:38:24 > 2:38:31can just roll it down the cushion. He may have chosen that if the blue
2:38:31 > 2:38:37had been on the spot, perhaps, I don't know.That could have been the
2:38:37 > 2:38:45thing that put him off that choice. I don't think he can cannon it out,
2:38:45 > 2:38:50just roll behind it. That cue ball needs to travel, the straighter the
2:38:50 > 2:38:55better and this read. The red is all that's needed to go 34 points in
2:38:55 > 2:39:04front with 27 remaining. APPLAUSE
2:39:13 > 2:39:19There will be no way back to the table now from Shaun Murphy. Ali
2:39:19 > 2:39:27Carter hanging on in there.
2:39:31 > 2:39:34Shouldn't matter about the yellow although it looks like it could go
2:39:34 > 2:39:40in anyway! APPLAUSE
2:40:09 > 2:40:14APPLAUSE
2:40:15 > 2:40:21In the end Ali Carter took full advantage. He still two behind but
2:40:21 > 2:40:27he's still in a match. It's 5-3, Shaun Murphy. STUDIO: At one stage
2:40:27 > 2:40:31we honestly thought it might have even been a whitewash, it might have
2:40:31 > 2:40:35been another early finish. Fair play to Ali Carter. We've had everything
2:40:35 > 2:40:39in that frame.He's hanging in there but he's getting a bit of help.
2:40:39 > 2:40:47Shaun, two or three shots, the brown he's missed. He's potted an
2:40:47 > 2:40:52unbelievable long red and Mr brown. Later on, the situation with the
2:40:52 > 2:40:57red, he's gone to straight on the red.If you're just going to drop
2:40:57 > 2:41:06this red in, he's tried to stun it in. You aren't giving the red the
2:41:06 > 2:41:14chance to get into the pocket. There's no of potting that. He
2:41:14 > 2:41:20doesn't have to put himself under pressure to knock the red in.
2:41:20 > 2:41:22Instead of gifting him an opportunity. If he keeps giving
2:41:22 > 2:41:27opportunities like that he's going to lose frames.Is just a lack of
2:41:27 > 2:41:34bad choice of shot.Can you get there as well, when you see the
2:41:34 > 2:41:42finish line, it's so close. In practice, he knocks that in.It is
2:41:42 > 2:41:47tough out there. We know that. We are being paid to sit here and
2:41:47 > 2:41:52dissect it. When you're out there it's different. Murphy does have a
2:41:52 > 2:41:55tendency sometimes when he can't work out which way to do it, he ends
2:41:55 > 2:41:58up playing a shop where you think, why have you played that when it was
2:41:58 > 2:42:04a simple one to play, nice little safety shot. Unfortunately he didn't
2:42:04 > 2:42:10do that.Back we go.
2:42:10 > 2:42:14do that.Back we go. COMMENTATOR: Every frame is now taking on a lot
2:42:14 > 2:42:23more significance. You get the feeling, as we got over the two hour
2:42:23 > 2:42:27mark for this match, very entertaining. A few surprising
2:42:27 > 2:42:33misses, it all adds to the excitement.
2:42:33 > 2:42:36excitement. Average frame time just over 15 and a half minutes, that's
2:42:36 > 2:42:44pretty good.
2:42:44 > 2:42:48pretty good. Average shot time, that is about normal for the two players.
2:42:48 > 2:42:56Ali Carter with the first, a chance of a long red, one to the left
2:42:56 > 2:43:00corner, one to the right corner. Make difficult because he's near the
2:43:00 > 2:43:10baulk cushion. Big shot.
2:43:13 > 2:43:18Big shot... He needs a bit of luck. I think he's had it. I think he may
2:43:18 > 2:43:36have had it. Or has he? He may be able to get through...
2:43:46 > 2:43:52It's a fascinating game, isn't it? Let's extrapolate, let's say that
2:43:52 > 2:43:58somehow Ali Carter manages to salvage this match. That could be
2:43:58 > 2:44:03the thing that kick-start his season. It's down to perhaps the one
2:44:03 > 2:44:06shot that Shaun decides to play that he doesn't need to play. You give
2:44:06 > 2:44:11your opponent a helping hand. When someone is looking for a bit of
2:44:11 > 2:44:15form, it helps sometimes to get a match that you turn around.Yes, we
2:44:15 > 2:44:20all know when you're in the position that Ali was, you can't really win a
2:44:20 > 2:44:24match without a bit of help from the opponent. It's fair to say at the
2:44:24 > 2:44:31moment he is getting a bit of help from Shaun. But then Ali could turn
2:44:31 > 2:44:39around and say first frame you needed a snooker.
2:44:39 > 2:44:43needed a snooker. It's all ifs, buts and maybes.Another big pot from
2:44:43 > 2:44:55Shaun Murphy coming up.APPLAUSE He'll be on green or brown.Well,
2:44:55 > 2:44:58Shaun Murphy, regardless of choices of shot, is always going to be tough
2:44:58 > 2:45:02to beat when he's knocking those in. He gives himself a chance to win
2:45:02 > 2:45:08frames in one visit.
2:45:14 > 2:45:16Believe me, when you're playing someone like Shaun Murphy you don't
2:45:16 > 2:45:21expect him to miss any long pot. It certainly puts pressure on the
2:45:21 > 2:45:29safety. But, he's been in first a few times in the last few frames and
2:45:29 > 2:45:37not make the most of it. This is for the match, this opportunity.
2:45:37 > 2:45:46Couldn't help but not that read back into the pack. -- that red. If he
2:45:46 > 2:45:54could get nicely on the blue, it's a chance to open the reds that way. He
2:45:54 > 2:45:59has checked of the pink goes to the right corner. Once again not a
2:45:59 > 2:46:04clear-cut opportunity here. He could go down for the green although
2:46:04 > 2:46:10perhaps he can't get past the red. Perhaps use the green to smash into
2:46:10 > 2:46:17the pack. That would be a nice ball. Perhaps he can't get there.In a
2:46:17 > 2:46:20funny way that is the red he's concerned about, that's the one that
2:46:20 > 2:46:27Steve is referring to.I think he can probably play across the face of
2:46:27 > 2:46:31the blue, for the blue in the left middle. That looks like a natural
2:46:31 > 2:46:36angle.
2:46:38 > 2:46:45angle. Kept on the black. Wasn't a problem.The problem could be the
2:46:45 > 2:46:49next red.I think he can play to this left-hand side cushion, then
2:46:49 > 2:46:54he's got the red down the rail. It took a bit of time to work that one
2:46:54 > 2:47:00out. Obviously straighter on the red than it looked from our commentary
2:47:00 > 2:47:09box.
2:47:09 > 2:47:13box. No clues here as to what he's going to be doing. He's going to try
2:47:13 > 2:47:20and open the reds, keep the cue ball under control those.Couldn't have
2:47:20 > 2:47:29played it any better. That has worked out absolutely perfect. The
2:47:29 > 2:47:35chances there, can he take it?
2:47:49 > 2:47:57I think both reds go into the right middle. He didn't really want to be
2:47:57 > 2:48:06straight on this black. He's given himself a small problem perhaps.
2:48:06 > 2:48:10He's made it a lot more difficult now he's straight on the black. The
2:48:10 > 2:48:20longer he thinks over this, the worse the position is.
2:48:28 > 2:48:37Well... He's got the red to the left middle or far left corner but he was
2:48:37 > 2:48:43looking for something easier than this.
2:48:45 > 2:48:54this. Where is the cue ball gone?! He's looking brittle, it has to be
2:48:54 > 2:48:59said.It was looking like a clear-cut opportunity until he just
2:48:59 > 2:49:03played that red and left himself straight on the black. Then the
2:49:03 > 2:49:11problem obviously magnified the next positional shot. Ali Carter's tale
2:49:11 > 2:49:16will certainly be up. Can he get this important red in? This is an
2:49:16 > 2:49:26important shot for Ali Carter. Yes. Tremendous shot. The pressure was
2:49:26 > 2:49:31there, if I miss it it could be my last shot in the tournament. Well
2:49:31 > 2:49:39played.It's always nice to see the underdog in a match, the person who
2:49:39 > 2:49:47is behind responding. It makes for a great match. Yesterday afternoon we
2:49:47 > 2:49:54saw a pretty one-sided event going on. Going to hope for a better split
2:49:54 > 2:50:00than that, though.I think if he had his time over here... Hit have
2:50:00 > 2:50:05played the same shot but maybe with not as much pace. You can still cut
2:50:05 > 2:50:12this thread to the left middle but he is hampered by about three reds
2:50:12 > 2:50:16here.Also I'm not sure he can escape from the jaws of the yellow
2:50:16 > 2:50:23pocket. A bit unfortunate there, I think. He's got a thin red cut into
2:50:23 > 2:50:30the middle.Is it one of those you overcut?This is horrible.Is he
2:50:30 > 2:50:34going to try and hit it a bit thinner than he needs to? Keep your
2:50:34 > 2:50:45eye on the cue ball... APPLAUSE If he could have got his hand on the
2:50:45 > 2:50:53table I think he would have played a Shaun overcut it slightly there.
2:50:53 > 2:51:01Even though it hit the jaws, he could escape from the jaws.
2:51:05 > 2:51:13You've got to be careful with this one.
2:51:13 > 2:51:16one. It's not an easy positional shot to get right. He's played it
2:51:16 > 2:51:30very well. OK, maybe hampered a bit by the blue.
2:51:30 > 2:51:36by the blue.Yes, it's a big thing this. If he can cue past the blue...
2:51:36 > 2:51:43He's hampered slightly. This makes this pot more difficult. Well
2:51:43 > 2:51:48played.
2:51:49 > 2:51:53played. A little shake off the head, he feels as though, and he knew
2:51:53 > 2:52:01immediately that he's come to straight on this black. The pot was
2:52:01 > 2:52:06difficult enough.
2:52:10 > 2:52:16difficult enough. Was that a nice nudge? Obviously not.He's got a
2:52:16 > 2:52:25shot. He was hoping for something better. Once again, the problems of
2:52:25 > 2:52:31getting straight on the black, it limits the types of positional shots
2:52:31 > 2:52:39you can play severely. You can't run through. You can only screw back.
2:52:39 > 2:52:53This is tough.It's a must get red. It's their... Good shot. Not much
2:52:53 > 2:52:58luck with that kiss on the red but he had to put all his attention to
2:52:58 > 2:53:05the pot. That's when positional play can go wrong. Ten points behind now.
2:53:05 > 2:53:13Fighting to stay in this match. I do believe, if he can win this frame, I
2:53:13 > 2:53:22wouldn't like to name the winner.
2:53:23 > 2:53:30Another terrific play from Ali Carter. Showing all his battling
2:53:30 > 2:53:39qualities here.Wonderful shot.
2:53:45 > 2:53:53Well judged as well. That had to be confidently played to know full well
2:53:53 > 2:53:56how the cue ball was going to collide with that red to keep on the
2:53:56 > 2:54:01pink.
2:54:03 > 2:54:10pink.The pink will put in front. Which equates to the fact that he'll
2:54:10 > 2:54:15need these five remaining reds.
2:54:18 > 2:54:20need these five remaining reds.Even though it looks relatively easy into
2:54:20 > 2:54:23the middle pocket for that red on the side cushion, it's probably a
2:54:23 > 2:54:31bit more difficult than it looks on our screens. If he got in nicely
2:54:31 > 2:54:38behind it, he could just drop it into the middle pocket. It makes a
2:54:38 > 2:54:47big difference is that red does go into the middle easy.
2:55:05 > 2:55:10I think he'll elect to play a cannon on the pink here. It will open it up
2:55:10 > 2:55:21a bit more. Makes it available now to a couple more pockets. But as
2:55:21 > 2:55:32Steve said, that will be the key one. The one near the right centre.
2:55:33 > 2:55:37As you can see from that side and shot on the floor from our
2:55:37 > 2:55:50cameraman, that red isn't as easy as it looks from the overhead shot.
2:56:00 > 2:56:04Ali must think when this pink is re-spotted that the red is still
2:56:04 > 2:56:14available. And he's right. Perfectly on the red, just a stun for the pink
2:56:14 > 2:56:21in the opposite corner.He hasn't had a look at the red yet. Perhaps
2:56:21 > 2:56:26this is the first little look he's had. I think he fancies it goes in
2:56:26 > 2:56:33the middle quite nicely. At least I think so! Once again from this
2:56:33 > 2:56:41angle, it looks pretty achieved.I'm just looking...Can he nudge it out?
2:56:41 > 2:56:45May be thinking that.He's guaranteed to be an pink or blue is
2:56:45 > 2:56:50he nudges it out of it. It's got to be the right shot, the way he's
2:56:50 > 2:56:53played it now.He couldn't wish for a better potting angle than this
2:56:53 > 2:57:03one.Oh no!
2:57:03 > 2:57:08one.Oh no!He's landed on the green. He shouldn't have missed that
2:57:08 > 2:57:14cannon.He's not had a look at the red to see if it's... Perhaps it is
2:57:14 > 2:57:18a more difficult shot into the middle pocket from there than I'm
2:57:18 > 2:57:26thinking. We'll soon find out.He's lucky to be on the green. The green
2:57:26 > 2:57:30will put him 28 points in front but he's still 35 remaining. The green
2:57:30 > 2:57:36and this red... If he had picked that up with his hand he could not
2:57:36 > 2:57:43have placed it better than that! What a judge of pace that was. This
2:57:43 > 2:57:53red to go 29 points in front. With just 27 remaining.
2:57:54 > 2:58:02Well played. APPLAUSE
2:58:18 > 2:58:22Both these players are fantastic adverts of the game of snooker. They
2:58:22 > 2:58:36play so marvellously. It's nice to see a great close match.APPLAUSE
2:58:37 > 2:58:41Shaun has obviously had the best of the chances but as yet he hasn't
2:58:41 > 2:58:46killed off Ali Carter. What's in store for us to the rest of this
2:58:46 > 2:58:51match? As you say, John, no predictions now, anything can
2:58:51 > 2:58:56happen.
2:59:01 > 2:59:09Shaun once again is in with a good chance. He's had ample
2:59:09 > 2:59:17opportunities. He'll have finished his press conference by now. He's
2:59:17 > 2:59:22not, he's still in the arena and Ali Carter is picking up the pieces.
2:59:22 > 2:59:29Shaun Murphy is vulnerable.
2:59:29 > 2:59:33Shaun Murphy is vulnerable. STUDIO: I think John Parrott said Shaun
2:59:33 > 2:59:37Murphy was looking brittle in that frame. But what a display from Ali
2:59:37 > 2:59:44Carter.That's the best break of the week for me. Under the
2:59:44 > 2:59:48circumstances, 5-3 down, right under the cosh, looking like going out of
2:59:48 > 2:59:52a tournament, you can't make a better break than that under the
2:59:52 > 2:59:55circumstances. He had to battle with it. The cue ball was lost a couple
2:59:55 > 2:59:59of times. He pulled up great shots to do it. Grit and determination in
2:59:59 > 3:00:05that break was fantastic.
3:00:09 > 3:00:12Lots of bottled. Great opening red. Knocked out a blueprint he ran out
3:00:12 > 3:00:13of position.
3:00:17 > 3:00:24He showed lots of bottled, grit and determination. When you're 5-4, one
3:00:24 > 3:00:29down, two to play, you are in range. That is so much more pressure now
3:00:29 > 3:00:35that reverts onto Shaun Murphy. He will have to pool out the stops.
3:00:35 > 3:00:40When you're 4-0 down, you could see the body language of Ali, taking a
3:00:40 > 3:00:48deep breath. Suddenly you look at the scoreboard and it is 5-4.UR in
3:00:48 > 3:00:53a position where you have to reel yourself then because you can become
3:00:53 > 3:00:56semi-excited because you have a chance and the match when you felt
3:00:56 > 3:01:03you did not have one. You have be careful.
3:01:04 > 3:01:09careful.From Shaun's point of view, he is having chances and is missing,
3:01:09 > 3:01:13which makes them more energy. He is still knocking in some great long
3:01:13 > 3:01:20balls. Every now and again he frozen an easy miss. Or a silly safety shot
3:01:20 > 3:01:26and is giving chances to Ali Carter. He has to be sharp in the stream.
3:01:26 > 3:01:29The other thing going through his mind is that Ali Carter has the
3:01:29 > 3:01:33upper hand, he has beaten him nine times. This would be a remarkable
3:01:33 > 3:01:35comeback.
3:01:37 > 3:01:46JOHN VIRGO: That is a fair point Jason. That will not be remiss in
3:01:46 > 3:01:51Shaun Murphy's mind.
3:01:51 > 3:01:59Shaun Murphy's mind. What a start. That is what we see this game is all
3:01:59 > 3:02:03about, fractions. If he just misses the black he would have been on it
3:02:03 > 3:02:10perfectly. Let us take a look at this.
3:02:10 > 3:02:20He was just a fraction out. The extending spider, we do not see this
3:02:20 > 3:02:27used very often. He has got lots to bridge over. He'll be trying to get
3:02:27 > 3:02:29the cue ball back to the end.
3:02:43 > 3:02:48You can forgive him for hitting the blue but it is safe enough.The
3:02:48 > 3:02:56spider looks massive. It is very high.
3:02:58 > 3:03:05It does. I felt the extended long ways, not hate. It must be a new
3:03:05 > 3:03:12design.I was talking to Paul Collier about the rest hence kabaddi
3:03:12 > 3:03:23habits change the -- they haven't changed the design of that. It used
3:03:23 > 3:03:29to be evil ex Andy Hurry
3:03:30 > 3:03:35The players were not consulted about it. The referees were upset as well.
3:03:35 > 3:03:44They have taken the plastic ends. It is nice to have
3:03:44 > 3:03:47is nice to have a low X and a high X when you're choosing to play low or
3:03:47 > 3:03:50high on the ball.
3:03:54 > 3:04:02He played that positively to keep on the black.
3:04:03 > 3:04:07We'll Shaun be tempted into the green pocket with the red? The glue
3:04:07 > 3:04:12is begging to be potted. He would only leave the red on if he missed
3:04:12 > 3:04:18it.
3:04:25 > 3:04:32UMPIRE: Double.
3:04:36 > 3:04:41Every shot now has a consequence.
3:04:51 > 3:04:57Ali has the option to ask Shaun to play again. Shaun can put the cue
3:04:57 > 3:05:07ball anywhere in the D.
3:05:10 > 3:05:17Would you have asked your opponent to play the shot?I am not certain
3:05:17 > 3:05:26myself. It might end up with no value either way. It Shaun was to
3:05:26 > 3:05:30play a poor safety, Ali would get first option.He nearly did play a
3:05:30 > 3:05:38poor safety but the black is came to his rescue.
3:06:03 > 3:06:11Is there a gap for the red into the left corner? Perhaps not. If there
3:06:11 > 3:06:19is it is effectively a shot to nothing. I don't think there is.
3:06:33 > 3:06:37You can see a difference in the body language no one Shaun. He started to
3:06:37 > 3:06:46think more and more about every shot.
3:06:49 > 3:06:53You can see problems with the latest sometimes when you do that.The code
3:06:53 > 3:07:03are understandably jeering the early underdog in this match.
3:07:03 > 3:07:10It is nice to see a comeback. I think the audience at appreciative
3:07:10 > 3:07:19of both players in this match.
3:07:21 > 3:07:24of both players in this match. It is a bonus situation whoever gets into
3:07:24 > 3:07:31the next round for snooker.
3:07:42 > 3:07:55Pretty good. There is an escape route down
3:08:13 > 3:08:14route down the right-hand side of the table as we look. He could rule
3:08:14 > 3:08:16the pink and catch it thinly. If you catch it to thicken you could rattle
3:08:16 > 3:08:18that in the jaws. Rattling it in the jaws would be the worst scenario.
3:08:18 > 3:08:20You have to catch this just right. And the dead. This is as good a
3:08:20 > 3:08:22safety shot as he has played in the last few frames. You could see Ali
3:08:22 > 3:08:23Carter appreciated it with a few taps on the table.
3:08:41 > 3:08:45He has to put left-hand side is. Trying to play safe down the
3:08:45 > 3:08:52left-hand side.It is very risky. It is a tough safety shot. He might
3:08:52 > 3:08:55have to fractionally swerve past the yellow to get the correct angle on
3:08:55 > 3:09:02the red to get down to the baulk.
3:09:02 > 3:09:05This is a big shot to take on.
3:09:24 > 3:09:30You could risk swerving fractionally to catch the safety shot right. As
3:09:30 > 3:09:37he spotted a containing shot?
3:09:37 > 3:09:47He will settle for that. Shaun has got a chance of a red. It is the
3:09:47 > 3:09:52best that Ali Carter can hope four-point Putting it on the side
3:09:52 > 3:09:54cushion, it is permissible.
3:10:02 > 3:10:07He hits the ball well off the cushion, Shaun Murphy.He meant that
3:10:07 > 3:10:12looked easier than it was. Excellent pot. The chance created from an
3:10:12 > 3:10:19excellent safety. He is getting his chance but he has had if few before
3:10:19 > 3:10:27now. And not made the most of them.
3:10:49 > 3:10:57It would be nice to get the black back on the spot here.
3:10:59 > 3:11:02back on the spot here. I think he did perhaps play to get on the black
3:11:02 > 3:11:08and he has overhit it. He certainly did not play to be on the wrong side
3:11:08 > 3:11:14of the blue. It is a position mistake.
3:11:15 > 3:11:20mistake. And one that could end up in a trap. Can he get back on the
3:11:20 > 3:11:27red? Can he guarantee a red? He has got lots of mileage to do with the
3:11:27 > 3:11:32cue ball.
3:11:38 > 3:11:43In the end he decided to trust his luck. There was an air of
3:11:43 > 3:11:52desperation about that. There were stopping controlled about that shot.
3:11:52 > 3:11:59-- there was nothing controlled. Some people red him as the best best
3:11:59 > 3:12:08player in the game.
3:12:17 > 3:12:21He hit that so well. Should he wish to, he could play a very aggressive
3:12:21 > 3:12:33shot here, going to the bank. -- pink. He doesn't have to, he has got
3:12:33 > 3:12:39loose reds. He is tempted to go into the pink and spread the reds far and
3:12:39 > 3:12:43wide. It is impossible frame-winner. It is not necessarily the right
3:12:43 > 3:12:51thing to do. There are other options. It is tempting. I think he
3:12:51 > 3:12:55would get a good split as well. Powered at into the pink with
3:12:55 > 3:13:01backspin.
3:13:07 > 3:13:13Everybody is having a laugh as back to decide what to play. Ali Carter
3:13:13 > 3:13:19was hoping that he can get back to the table.He is trying to play more
3:13:19 > 3:13:25accurate positional player than trusting luck.
3:13:33 > 3:13:43An excellent shot. He did open the pack up. He will be happy with that.
3:13:44 > 3:13:48He is a dangerous manner using the rest. He is 100% with that in this
3:13:48 > 3:13:54match. Nine out of nine.Eight out of eight. This is a fantastic chance
3:13:54 > 3:13:58again for Shaun Murphy. He had an issue with the positional play but
3:13:58 > 3:14:06he is now back on track. This is a superb chance to wrap up the match.
3:14:06 > 3:14:09Looking at the position of the table and the black available to both,
3:14:09 > 3:14:18pockets. He needs another 41 points from this position and it is hard to
3:14:18 > 3:14:24see where he will go wrong.
3:14:24 > 3:14:27During these moments of matches, things are not as black and white as
3:14:27 > 3:14:33they look.
3:15:05 > 3:15:09He came off that cushion a fraction harder than he wanted. He can just
3:15:09 > 3:15:11about Holder for the red.
3:15:20 > 3:15:28UMPIRE: Please give me a moment, Shaun.
3:15:35 > 3:15:45Very close to getting over the line, Shaun Murphy.
3:15:45 > 3:15:50Shaun Murphy. A couple of good positional shots away from doing it.
3:15:50 > 3:15:58A nice angle on the blue would be helpful here.
3:16:09 > 3:16:13Pool the cue ball back for a choice of beds or trundle through for the
3:16:13 > 3:16:19red into the opposite corner.
3:16:19 > 3:16:21red into the opposite corner. I am pretty sure the red goes into the
3:16:21 > 3:16:28right corner.It looks to be so. There are no great difficulties. 44
3:16:28 > 3:16:38points is the deed. -- is the lead. That is not good. I think he can
3:16:38 > 3:16:42just about forced the angle of this blue. He is straighter than he did
3:16:42 > 3:16:47be.
3:16:47 > 3:16:55be. He just got there.
3:17:02 > 3:17:08It'll be nice if you does not have to shift reds here.
3:17:17 > 3:17:21It looks like Shaun Murphy, after having a couple of bites at the
3:17:21 > 3:17:28cherry, is over the line here.Just one colour needed and Ali Carter's
3:17:28 > 3:17:35comeback looks to be normal. Great fighting effort.
3:17:35 > 3:17:43APPLAUSE He has came out second best in this
3:17:43 > 3:17:49match but he should take a lot out of it. 4-0 down and battled away.
3:17:49 > 3:17:58Produce some tremendous breaks at vital times. As far as Shaun Murphy
3:17:58 > 3:18:06is concerned, when he went into that early session 4-0 in front, it was a
3:18:06 > 3:18:10tough work-out than he expected. That is not the best positional
3:18:10 > 3:18:17shot, it should not matter. I don't think Ali Carter will carry on and
3:18:17 > 3:18:26he is not.
3:18:27 > 3:18:30he is not. Ali Carter battled back hard. Shaun Murphy made a few
3:18:30 > 3:18:37mistakes. The tough work-out night stand and instead for the rest of
3:18:37 > 3:18:45the tournament. He win 6-4 and he is through to the quarterfinal.
3:18:45 > 3:18:49He is cool enough to pose for some photographs. He has shipped up a
3:18:49 > 3:19:03clash with Judd Trump. That is live on BBC Two Friday. We eulogised
3:19:03 > 3:19:11about Ali Carter and has the back. JOHN PARROTT: That was a superb
3:19:11 > 3:19:15break. He plays shots that other people do not play. He played a shot
3:19:15 > 3:19:21with the rest of the black bonnet. It was absolutely fantastic. He
3:19:21 > 3:19:26plays at this so positively. He smacks of them, splits up the pack.
3:19:33 > 3:19:39That set up the frame. It was a safety shot that he had, he had him
3:19:39 > 3:19:43in a trap and it was really difficult to get out of. Shaun
3:19:43 > 3:19:50Murphy played a great safety shot and Ali had no way out. He tried to
3:19:50 > 3:19:53play a containing safety shot and potted a lovely red.That set up the
3:19:53 > 3:20:03frame. Here he is, he is coming into the studio.
3:20:03 > 3:20:09the studio. We have achieved very few about one hour ago. I saw. That
3:20:09 > 3:20:15is the trouble, you can see.
3:20:15 > 3:20:18is the trouble, you can see. For the viewers and the crowd, another
3:20:18 > 3:20:22fantastic afternoon of snooker. We honestly thought he would get that
3:20:22 > 3:20:28over and done with very early on today.I think we have run out of
3:20:28 > 3:20:31superlatives for Ronnie but it is what sets him apart at the moment,
3:20:31 > 3:20:37he gets to the lane and runs over it. Everyone else struggles with
3:20:37 > 3:20:41that to a certain degree. I did not feel like I was bottling it but I
3:20:41 > 3:20:50had my chances to win at 5-2 and 5-3 and did not take them.He is
3:20:50 > 3:20:56suddenly in range from 4-0 up to 5-4.It is the worst feeling that
3:20:56 > 3:21:02any sportsman can feel. Worst still let you know you have made mistakes.
3:21:02 > 3:21:08Let us go through the match a bit by bit if we can. Frame two, on the
3:21:08 > 3:21:13break of 47, they were very disappointed with that miss.I don't
3:21:13 > 3:21:20want to go on about it. I did not adapt to the playing conditions at
3:21:20 > 3:21:24all in the match. I missed every single ball that was thin. I did not
3:21:24 > 3:21:31get enough of it. I play every single-shot with running inside. I
3:21:31 > 3:21:37did not adapt to the table. That is why I missed the shots that I did. I
3:21:37 > 3:21:41missed one ball thick that I overestimated the amount of cue ball
3:21:41 > 3:21:46deflection. That is another thing that Ronnie does better than
3:21:46 > 3:21:49everyone, he adapts there and then. The boys appear were praising that
3:21:49 > 3:21:57break of 119.If you could make it like a Dott to Dott puzzle when you
3:21:57 > 3:22:03go from one shot to one shot. The rest of the frames, you lose a cue
3:22:03 > 3:22:07ball and becomes like a big garden maze, you can not get out and find
3:22:07 > 3:22:14the next shot.Virtually you run out and miss. What is in your head, are
3:22:14 > 3:22:17you thinking you want to get it over and done with digicam that Ali
3:22:17 > 3:22:22Carter would fight back?I am old enough and experienced up that I can
3:22:22 > 3:22:28win four on the bounce then he can. It should not have been 4-0 at the
3:22:28 > 3:22:37interval. He should've won one free Middle East. 4-0 was flattering. In
3:22:37 > 3:22:41a funny sense, I felt he played better than me today.Although I
3:22:41 > 3:22:46have came at the winner.Overall? That is how it felt. He should've
3:22:46 > 3:22:52been closer after the first session. He has won the second session.At
3:22:52 > 3:22:54the same time, you through but you do not consider you have played as
3:22:54 > 3:23:00good as you can play. That is a result, isn't it?I had a good break
3:23:00 > 3:23:03when things were going well in the last frame. If I could play every
3:23:03 > 3:23:16shot with the rest I would be right. It just that the reds perfectly.
3:23:16 > 3:23:19It just that the reds perfectly.The code were laughing at me because the
3:23:19 > 3:23:27referee took the rest away and then I needed it. I did not want to miss.
3:23:27 > 3:23:31When Ali wins those two claims after the interval and it is for - two, we
3:23:31 > 3:23:35were talking about the audience, they were at shouting for him. When
3:23:35 > 3:23:41you are aware of that? The fans were cheering on Ali.I was a weird of
3:23:41 > 3:23:47that. I get good support as well. There was lots of people shouting
3:23:47 > 3:23:51for me. The code in London are always more boisterous than anywhere
3:23:51 > 3:24:00else that we play, they are very respectful. I love all that. The
3:24:00 > 3:24:04shouting between frames. When we play our shots, they are very
3:24:04 > 3:24:10respectful. Great crowd.The quarterfinal between you and Judd
3:24:10 > 3:24:16Trump, what do you think?That has got potting balls and smashing in
3:24:16 > 3:24:19balls from everywhere written over it. I would for a ticket for that
3:24:19 > 3:24:28match. I know someone who has a few tickets.What is the difference, how
3:24:28 > 3:24:31are the tables playing?The table has been there for five days and the
3:24:31 > 3:24:37cloth is gone. It needs new cloth. That is what I am seeing about
3:24:37 > 3:24:40Ronnie, he adapts quickly, he assesses how the table is playing
3:24:40 > 3:24:45and he changes the way he plays the ball. When the cloth is lead again,
3:24:45 > 3:24:49whether that is what a night of the semifinals, you will see the breaks
3:24:49 > 3:24:55go through the roof.
3:24:55 > 3:24:59go through the roof.He yet more inspiration that Ronnie has set the
3:24:59 > 3:25:05barometer, you think you can play like that.In the last few months he
3:25:05 > 3:25:09has started to play like if you make a mistake then I will cleared up.
3:25:09 > 3:25:13And when I play safe, you're on the cushion. We are trying to get near
3:25:13 > 3:25:18the baulk but he is on the cushion. You're in trouble. I was in the UK
3:25:18 > 3:25:22final and I had it all day. When he gets in the pots all the balls. If
3:25:22 > 3:25:27you design a snooker player then you designer Ronnie. He was mesmerising
3:25:27 > 3:25:36yesterday. Phenomenal. We're not going to give up, the rest of us. We
3:25:36 > 3:25:41will not go home and say he is far too good. We have to try to keep up.
3:25:41 > 3:25:47The rest of us are good as well. Well done, Shaun. Thank you for
3:25:47 > 3:25:51potting in for the chat. It us turn our attention to this evening. John
3:25:51 > 3:25:54Higgins digging on Anthony McGill. He is making his debut at the
3:25:54 > 3:25:55Masters.
3:26:01 > 3:26:07Anthony McGill was born in Glasgow on the 5th of February.He has been
3:26:07 > 3:26:12a Scottish national champion at under 14, 16, 19 and under 21
3:26:12 > 3:26:23levels. In 2006 he was runner-up to Stuart Bannigan.Anthony is a Celtic
3:26:23 > 3:26:29fan and an avid music lover.He turned professional in 2000 ten.He
3:26:29 > 3:26:35won his first ranking tournament at the Indian open in 2016. I should
3:26:35 > 3:26:42know because it was against me.He has never been beyond the
3:26:42 > 3:26:52quarterfinal of any ranking tournament before India.
3:26:52 > 3:26:55tournament before India.In the first half of the season he has been
3:26:55 > 3:27:04to the Mac quarterfinals and one semifinal.
3:27:08 > 3:27:16They are completely up to speed. That is at 7pm tonight on the red
3:27:16 > 3:27:20button. We have got the highlights from the four at quarter past
3:27:20 > 3:27:26midnight. Hope you can stay up for that. Looking forward to that match
3:27:26 > 3:27:32the night, John?It should be difficult. One of the finest match
3:27:32 > 3:27:36players in John Higgins. And Anthony McGill is young and up-and-coming.
3:27:36 > 3:27:40He is playing again some day he would have practised against.
3:27:40 > 3:27:43Somebody who would've helped with his game. I would expect John
3:27:43 > 3:27:47Higgins to be the favourite. I would have to bet on him if you give me a
3:27:47 > 3:27:55free £10 bet. John will have more experience.There was a nice line in
3:27:55 > 3:27:59the papers, they know each other well, at some nonsense going on
3:27:59 > 3:28:03between them in terms of what the interviews are saying. Adam McGill
3:28:03 > 3:28:08said he looks up to John Higgins. Once taken out. He is a good player,
3:28:08 > 3:28:13Anthony McGill. John Higgins has bags of experience.Shaun Murphy
3:28:13 > 3:28:18when he comes in here and talks about his victory, he talks about
3:28:18 > 3:28:22Ronnie O'Sullivan.Incredible. You cannot get away from them,
3:28:22 > 3:28:25especially after that performance yesterday. I hope Marco Fu has had a
3:28:25 > 3:28:33nice day.You can only play the ball is in front of you, forget who you
3:28:33 > 3:28:37are playing.Lead the way that the balls present themselves. Thank you
3:28:37 > 3:28:42very much for your company today. We are back at 1pm with live coverage
3:28:42 > 3:28:45tomorrow as the quarterfinals get underway. Ronnie O'Sullivan taking
3:28:45 > 3:28:49on Mark Allen.