24/02/2014

0:00:51 > 0:00:59Good afternoon. It was Stephen Maguire who were celebrating at the

0:01:00 > 0:01:03Welsh Open a year ago and he is back to defend his title. A lot has

0:01:04 > 0:01:10changed since he lifted the trophy. We have a new format with 128

0:01:11 > 0:01:16players already having played in the first round. We are down to the last

0:01:17 > 0:01:5164 and our top four Welsh players are all through.

0:01:52 > 0:02:01Let me show you the list. Last year's champion is close behind

0:02:02 > 0:02:19Ronnie O Sullivan. Welcome to the studio. This is where

0:02:20 > 0:02:28we will be for the next seven days. We are right at the heart of the

0:02:29 > 0:02:34action in the players practice room. It has all changed this year. The

0:02:35 > 0:02:41new format. 128 players in the first round. What difference does that

0:02:42 > 0:02:46make? It does not make a difference to the top seeds. They have cried

0:02:47 > 0:02:51out for this for years. They used to say there was too much protection at

0:02:52 > 0:02:56the top of the game and the bottom players weren't getting their fair

0:02:57 > 0:03:05share. They now feel like professionals. They come to an event

0:03:06 > 0:03:09and they will feel like true professionals and they have got

0:03:10 > 0:03:15hair. It is a weak step for them though. In previous years, they have

0:03:16 > 0:03:21only been a couple of tables. Now we have four. What difference does that

0:03:22 > 0:03:28make? For the lower players, all of a sudden they are at the venue.

0:03:29 > 0:03:34Apart from the TV coverage, everything is the same. It can only

0:03:35 > 0:03:41benefit from -- they can only benefit from this. We have seen most

0:03:42 > 0:03:48of the top seeds, apart from one has got through. Is that how it is

0:03:49 > 0:03:51working out with this new format? At the start of the season everyone

0:03:52 > 0:03:56said there would the a lot of the media faces on and they would be

0:03:57 > 0:04:02beaten, but they are still coming through. That just shows you the

0:04:03 > 0:04:05calibre of the top players. They are used to playing at the venues all

0:04:06 > 0:04:14the time, so they have a slight advantage. We will leave it for now.

0:04:15 > 0:04:21We will talk more later. We have a busy week ahead. Let us have a look

0:04:22 > 0:04:27at what is coming up this afternoon. Stephen Maguire was one of the first

0:04:28 > 0:04:33into the arena this morning. We will see how he fared against Sam Baird.

0:04:34 > 0:04:38Matthew Stevens got through his first match and faces Ian Burns in

0:04:39 > 0:04:45the last 64. And this man is always a contender - Mark Selby, at by

0:04:46 > 0:04:52Nellist two years ago. Dave Harris stands between him and the last

0:04:53 > 0:04:56round. An exciting start to the day. Stephen Maguire was up against

0:04:57 > 0:05:10Sam Baird, the 25-year-old from Devon who is only ranked 75 in the

0:05:11 > 0:05:11world. He was 3-1 up, but Maguire scrape -- scraped his way back into

0:05:12 > 0:05:30the match. That was not a good wind. He had

0:05:31 > 0:05:36left a pot in the middle. The ball is in perfect position though. -- a

0:05:37 > 0:06:04good white. This could be a match winner. You

0:06:05 > 0:07:03would expect him to score at least 50 from here.

0:07:04 > 0:07:19This is a chance you dream of in any frame.

0:07:20 > 0:07:27Stephen Maguire has done really well, he has been battling away. He

0:07:28 > 0:08:00knows he has had every chance. To play for the blue of the

0:08:01 > 0:08:24will be slightly difficult. -- or the pink.

0:08:25 > 0:08:31We have seen him struggle when he is stretching. Let us see how he goes

0:08:32 > 0:08:35with this one. He just doesn't seem to be able to get on to be shot,

0:08:36 > 0:09:49does he? -- the shot, Dulcie? I do not think that he played for

0:09:50 > 0:10:09this rate, but he is OK. -- this red.

0:10:10 > 0:10:17This is the best he has looked since the start of the match. Striking the

0:10:18 > 0:10:23wall with a little bit more authority. -- the ball with a little

0:10:24 > 0:11:40bit more authority. Sam Baird is sitting in his chair

0:11:41 > 0:11:46feeling sorry for himself. It seems the match is slipping away from him,

0:11:47 > 0:12:12even though he has been the better of the two players.

0:12:13 > 0:12:48He has always been a great fire under pressure, Stephen Maguire.

0:12:49 > 0:12:58Excellent shot. This is frame and match ball. He has done remarkably

0:12:59 > 0:13:35well. A fabulous break of 68 and it is

0:13:36 > 0:14:42Stephen Maguire who progresses into the next phase.

0:14:43 > 0:14:53That was an excellent part. He still has a slight foothold in the match,

0:14:54 > 0:15:07but this colour is going to have to go in. I think he can just about get

0:15:08 > 0:15:15through to deep black. -- to be black. Stephen Maguire struggled all

0:15:16 > 0:15:29the way through. He had his highest break for the last frame.

0:15:30 > 0:15:42Stephen Maguire is with us now. A bit too close a comfort? Definitely.

0:15:43 > 0:15:52At 3-1, Sam had two or three good chances. He just seemed to miss the

0:15:53 > 0:15:57frame ball all the time. You thought you were dead and buried, but you

0:15:58 > 0:16:02came back and took that chance. I have done exactly what Sam has done

0:16:03 > 0:16:07many times. I have thrown matches away, but as long as you learn from

0:16:08 > 0:16:13it and try and get over it as quickly as possible, then you come

0:16:14 > 0:16:19back stronger. Was everything OK? When you put extra effort into those

0:16:20 > 0:16:26power shots, you seem to be missing some. I have had some pain in the

0:16:27 > 0:16:35last few weeks. I do think the drive down here did it any good. It took

0:16:36 > 0:16:45seven hours. Getting down to the shop was the hardest bit. You can

0:16:46 > 0:16:54see on your face, I should not last, but I could see that when you

0:16:55 > 0:17:06had to pay a power shot, you were grimacing. I was not standing the

0:17:07 > 0:17:11way I usually do and with power you cannot get away with it. You don't

0:17:12 > 0:17:18think of snooker players as having to have easier therapy. Would you

0:17:19 > 0:17:22have two do that? I have got painkillers, so I am sticking with

0:17:23 > 0:17:30that. Luckily I have a day off tomorrow and I won't be do -- and I

0:17:31 > 0:17:35won't be doing anything. You are the defending champion. How does it

0:17:36 > 0:17:42feel? Are you conscious that you are defending your title? Not really. A

0:17:43 > 0:17:50year ago was a long time ago. I don't remember last week, let alone

0:17:51 > 0:17:54last year. It is funny having my picture on the posters here. That

0:17:55 > 0:18:05doesn't normally happen. What have you made of the format this week? I

0:18:06 > 0:18:16am not a fan of it. I would rather play qualifiers. I played a match on

0:18:17 > 0:18:25Wednesday, drove up the road, had a few days off which is not good in

0:18:26 > 0:18:29the middle of a tournament. The most important thing is that you are

0:18:30 > 0:18:35through. Congratulations. Stephen Maguire will play the winner of the

0:18:36 > 0:18:40match between Gerard Greene Maguire will play the winner of the

0:18:41 > 0:18:44Andrew Pagett. This tournament has an extra spark when the top Welsh

0:18:45 > 0:18:50players are moving through the rounds. It has not in a vintage

0:18:51 > 0:19:02season for Matthew Stevens. However, one thing for certain is that there

0:19:03 > 0:19:06is no doubt about his talents. When it comes to technique, you will not

0:19:07 > 0:19:11see a better person than Matthew Stevens. I saw him practising when

0:19:12 > 0:19:16he was around 12 years old. It is his technique that has helped him

0:19:17 > 0:19:21come back. Tech week makes him a very good player. He had a few years

0:19:22 > 0:19:24in the wilderness, but that technique have stood him in good

0:19:25 > 0:19:32stead and he is rising up the rankings to where he should be.

0:19:33 > 0:19:36Matthew Stevens had a setback. When his father passed away, that was a

0:19:37 > 0:19:44terrible blow for him and it took him a lot of seasons to recover from

0:19:45 > 0:19:49it. Matthew's professionalism has to be questioned. He has not always

0:19:50 > 0:19:55given 100% to the game. If he concentrates again, he can prove

0:19:56 > 0:20:00that he is a top player again. Matthew is capable of making high

0:20:01 > 0:20:07breaks. He is good at making those 60, 70 breaks. He has always got

0:20:08 > 0:20:14that in his armoury which makes him a top player to play against.

0:20:15 > 0:20:15Matthew Stevens is a great player. He has only one a couple of major

0:20:16 > 0:20:20tournaments. Maybe sometimes he is He has only one a couple of major

0:20:21 > 0:20:26expecting too much. He is that good He has only one a couple of major

0:20:27 > 0:20:31a player he has to win again. He is slightly older, but he is still one

0:20:32 > 0:20:36of the best players in the world. Let us look at his opponent. Ian

0:20:37 > 0:20:42Burns is from Preston and has only been a professional for a couple of

0:20:43 > 0:20:46seasons. He is 65 in the world rankings. He made the last 32 here

0:20:47 > 0:20:51last year and he will do the same again if he can get past Matthew

0:20:52 > 0:20:58Stevens today. So, it is Matthew Stevens against Ian Burns. It is

0:20:59 > 0:21:02time to bring the players out. These two have never played each other

0:21:03 > 0:21:08before. They are playing for a place in the last 32, here at the Welsh

0:21:09 > 0:21:11Open. Let us join our commentary team now. Willie Thorne and Terry

0:21:12 > 0:21:28Griffiths. Good afternoon. As my colleague

0:21:29 > 0:21:55said, these two have not played each other before.

0:21:56 > 0:22:11Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. The first frame. Ian Burns to break.

0:22:12 > 0:22:40He is a good player. He has had a great season.

0:22:41 > 0:23:18He has previously been voted the Best Newcomer of the year.

0:23:19 > 0:23:32Not an easy one for him to get started.

0:23:33 > 0:23:40Matthew Stevens has not had the best run, but he is a classy player and

0:23:41 > 0:23:56always has been. A very clever player. Just waiting for someone to

0:23:57 > 0:24:21come in and find their seat. There you go. Everybody is happy now.

0:24:22 > 0:24:38That is a good read to get started on.

0:24:39 > 0:24:50The pink and black are tied up at the moment. He is probably going to

0:24:51 > 0:24:51wait for a better chance. He has gone for it and he has been

0:24:52 > 0:25:00unlucky. He will have two work hard now for a

0:25:01 > 0:25:32week break. -- Abe week break. The shot on the Green deserved

0:25:33 > 0:26:41better than he got. Half a chance now for Ian Burns.

0:26:42 > 0:26:52I think he played for the one at the back. A little bit short on pace.

0:26:53 > 0:27:18The White has not come far enough. That was a nice shots, but

0:27:19 > 0:27:50unfortunately, he did not get the pot. -- that was a nice shot.

0:27:51 > 0:28:50He called that one much too thick. He has not been lucky.

0:28:51 > 0:29:58He has got slightly the wrong angle on the blue.

0:29:59 > 0:30:25He has the extension might, which, as you can see, is rather large! You

0:30:26 > 0:30:30will see how far away his bridge hand is from the cue ball. He

0:30:31 > 0:30:37couldn't even reach it with that on!

0:30:38 > 0:30:47He is looking at another shots. Still has the extension arm. His

0:30:48 > 0:30:59bridge hand is a good two feet away. That doesn't help things.

0:31:00 > 0:31:07He needed to put a bit of stun on that just to avoid a few balls on

0:31:08 > 0:31:09the way through. When you have the extension on, it does take away a

0:31:10 > 0:32:00little bit of the feel. That was slightly underhit. The blue

0:32:01 > 0:32:06and pink are both still on, but both are dangerous. Anything with a bit

0:32:07 > 0:32:10of speed, that will be hard to queue. We know that the one to the

0:32:11 > 0:32:36right of the pink will pot. We went -- we mentioned earlier on

0:32:37 > 0:32:44that Ian McCulloch is working with him. He got to the final of the

0:32:45 > 0:32:54Grand Prix in Preston, his hometown. He also got to the final of the

0:32:55 > 0:33:02tournament in Telford, and he lost to Neil Robertson. He retired from

0:33:03 > 0:33:43the game with back trouble. He was no longer on the circuit.

0:33:44 > 0:33:51Time to make a few things happen. These four reds are not in a

0:33:52 > 0:33:57position where they could part. He could play towards the list read. --

0:33:58 > 0:34:21red. -- last red. What is the angle like? It is just

0:34:22 > 0:35:37about OK. He can force it. He is going to have to split one of

0:35:38 > 0:35:57these, here. When you go into those with back

0:35:58 > 0:35:58spin, the ball comes back to where you were playing from. He still has

0:35:59 > 0:36:06one on. Yes, he has played these last few

0:36:07 > 0:36:55quite well. Not great this, because the two reds

0:36:56 > 0:37:02on the left-hand side cushion, he is going to happen to avoid to somehow.

0:37:03 > 0:37:05He can just stun up to the blue. It is very close to the side cushion.

0:37:06 > 0:37:50That was a terrible shot. Matthew Stevens is blessed with

0:37:51 > 0:37:54wonderful cue power. I remember when Paul Hunter and Matthew came onto

0:37:55 > 0:37:58the scene together, they were very close friends. Both improved

0:37:59 > 0:38:08together. It is amazing how their careers followed such a similar

0:38:09 > 0:38:21path. Paul Hunter went on to win a few Masters titles. It was always

0:38:22 > 0:38:27surprising that neither Matthew nor Paul won the world Championships.

0:38:28 > 0:38:31Matthew has been in a couple of finals, against Mark Williams and

0:38:32 > 0:38:37Shaun Murphy. He got very close in both those matches. Paul Hunter's

0:38:38 > 0:38:45best chance was the semifinal, he was well in front of Ken Doherty but

0:38:46 > 0:38:56lost that semifinal. Mark Williams -- Matthew Williams got into the

0:38:57 > 0:39:03semifinal in 2002. He felt he had the blue correctly there, but the

0:39:04 > 0:40:05weight went off at a funny angle. -- the white.

0:40:06 > 0:40:17That came of the commission very quickly. You didn't expect to be

0:40:18 > 0:40:19lower than the black. I don't know if there is any point in trying to

0:40:20 > 0:40:53get read out here. -- red. The black is out of commission and

0:40:54 > 0:42:2433 points behind... The black is even tighter now!

0:42:25 > 0:42:28He caught that one too thick. I don't think you can get to the

0:42:29 > 0:42:38potting angle for the red. He may be able to play snooker

0:42:39 > 0:42:52behind the pink. He doesn't want to bring the two

0:42:53 > 0:42:57awkward reds interplay. He is protect a 33 point lead. --

0:42:58 > 0:43:14protecting. He had to make sure he covered up

0:43:15 > 0:43:20those two reds. Matty would have brought them into play. He has left

0:43:21 > 0:43:28himself an ideal opportunity now to play a good safety. The white will

0:43:29 > 0:43:32probably end up in the jaws of the pocket. This could be a very telling

0:43:33 > 0:43:44safety. Not the best. I thought he would

0:43:45 > 0:43:55have brought that red interplay better than that. -- into play.

0:43:56 > 0:43:59The first frame has been a bit of a struggle for both players. The balls

0:44:00 > 0:44:31were not ideally placed. Just a defensive safety, there. It

0:44:32 > 0:44:36leaves another red on the condition. It is an and my skin this. Matthew

0:44:37 > 0:44:46Stevens wants to bring the reds interplay. -- into play. That is

0:44:47 > 0:44:57pretty good. The natural safety is to play for

0:44:58 > 0:45:06the red to the left of the yellow, but he doesn't want to bring that

0:45:07 > 0:45:11into play. What time to be close to night, Willie? Do they threw us out

0:45:12 > 0:45:21at about midnight? We could still be on this free! Some clever stuff

0:45:22 > 0:45:34here. Thank God you are not playing! I played a match once over three

0:45:35 > 0:45:41days, best of was! -- best of three frames, that was! The only man I

0:45:42 > 0:45:54know that could send a glass eye to sleep!

0:45:55 > 0:46:01He did not play that well at all. One of the problems in snooker is

0:46:02 > 0:46:07when you are defending a Leeds you are in that negative frame of mind.

0:46:08 > 0:46:12Matthew Stevens is in a more aggressive frame of mind at the

0:46:13 > 0:46:18moment. He hasn't really got a shot on here. A red is available into the

0:46:19 > 0:46:23right corner, but the cueing would be very difficult. He will play as

0:46:24 > 0:46:32safety here. He has to be careful with this one.

0:46:33 > 0:47:06He is just trying to work out if he will play of the top cushion to end

0:47:07 > 0:47:14up on the black. I think he will just rest on the black.

0:47:15 > 0:47:54Once again, her very defensive type of safe earshot. He is trying to

0:47:55 > 0:48:20keep it as tight as possible. -- safety shot.

0:48:21 > 0:48:38I am surprised he is not taking on this red.

0:48:39 > 0:48:46Ian Burns is playing to negatively for me. He should be trying to win

0:48:47 > 0:51:06the frame. He can't quite believe how he has

0:51:07 > 0:51:17not on the red. -- is not on the red. On that replay, he cocked the

0:51:18 > 0:51:25yellow and little bit thin. I am not sure what he was playing. If he was

0:51:26 > 0:51:37a little bit more full, he probably would have got behind this red.

0:51:38 > 0:51:53That was worth a go. The chance to win the frame, if he had got it.

0:51:54 > 0:51:54This is frame ball. He has to take this on. Don't worry too much about

0:51:55 > 0:52:19desertion. -- about position. He could have played that the little

0:52:20 > 0:52:31bit slower to give the pocket the chance to take it.

0:52:32 > 0:52:53This will be very thin, but I think it is on.

0:52:54 > 0:53:00He is having a look at the black. This would be a great chance to get

0:53:01 > 0:53:08the black. Isn't that amazing sometimes had the balls finish? What

0:53:09 > 0:53:13a strange game, isn't it? That looked like a terrible case, but,

0:53:14 > 0:53:19all of a sudden, it turns out to be a great one! I have not seen Ian

0:53:20 > 0:53:24Burns play very much, but I think if he had been a little bit more

0:53:25 > 0:53:31aggressive in this frame, he would have won. It seems that Matthew

0:53:32 > 0:53:38Stevens has not really been in this frame, he has always been on the

0:53:39 > 0:53:43back foot. Of course, just because you are behind in a frame doesn't

0:53:44 > 0:53:45mean you can't win it with a late surge. It looks like that is what is

0:53:46 > 0:54:04going to happen here. If ever a frame got away, it was

0:54:05 > 0:54:13this one. He needs the three balls to win.

0:54:14 > 0:54:21Matthew has a very accurate due action. -- she

0:54:22 > 0:54:37action. -- cue action. I'm sure Matthew did not expect to

0:54:38 > 0:54:56win this frame. Ian Burns started with 41. But

0:54:57 > 0:55:00Matthew Stevens takes the opening frame with a clearance of 35.

0:55:01 > 0:55:11So, first blood to Matthew Stevens. Willie Thorne said commentary that

0:55:12 > 0:55:28he played a few negative shots. He missed a bad red. He took his eyes

0:55:29 > 0:55:29off the red. He missed the reds and gave Matthew Stevens the chance to

0:55:30 > 0:55:47get back in the frame. We saw glimpses of the brilliance of

0:55:48 > 0:55:51Matthew, one long red. It will have to be more consistent if he is going

0:55:52 > 0:55:56to progress through this tournament. He played a couple of good reds. He

0:55:57 > 0:56:03would have thoughts the frame was gone, but all of a sudden

0:56:04 > 0:56:07would have thoughts the frame was up! Ian Burns

0:56:08 > 0:56:09would have thoughts the frame was chances to take the frame, but he

0:56:10 > 0:56:15didn't take them. He will be sitting quite worried. Most people don't

0:56:16 > 0:56:20know much about Ian Burns. What are your first impressions? Obviously, I

0:56:21 > 0:56:26saw a little bit of him last year in this event. He played reasonably

0:56:27 > 0:56:34well in the match that I saw. I haven't seen him all year for top I

0:56:35 > 0:56:37know he has Ian McCulloch, he has been helping him. He was a horrific

0:56:38 > 0:56:49layer himself. He won the award last year of best

0:56:50 > 0:57:01newcomer. He must've had a very good season.

0:57:02 > 0:58:16Can he split the pack? He had a go, but the little bit unlucky.

0:58:17 > 0:58:26What is he going to do here? He could say this dead weight. It is a

0:58:27 > 0:58:28hard shot over the distance. I'm not sure if he can pot this and avoid

0:58:29 > 0:58:48the reds. Very difficult at that speed. You

0:58:49 > 0:58:58are never 100% sure that the cue ball will stay online. There is not

0:58:59 > 0:59:01a lot of cloth on these tables any more, is there, Willie? It is not

0:59:02 > 0:59:12easy playing that slow roll. A good long pot from Matthew

0:59:13 > 1:00:46Stevens. The first frame is always important

1:00:47 > 1:00:52in any match, but especially now when it is the rest of seven. --

1:00:53 > 1:01:13best of seven. I think the best of seven is fine in

1:01:14 > 1:01:21certain tournaments. The problems players talk about is if you lose

1:01:22 > 1:01:26the first frame, you do not have enough time to recover and you don't

1:01:27 > 1:01:42get the interval after the first four frames.

1:01:43 > 1:01:51It changes to nine frames in the quarterfinal stage. Best of 11 and

1:01:52 > 1:02:2317 in the final. Matthew seems a little bit bemused.

1:02:24 > 1:04:04We had a couple of kit in the opening frame. -- kicks.

1:04:05 > 1:04:12He is coming down to have a look at this red in the right-hand corner.

1:04:13 > 1:04:23He is guaranteed to be on the black. There is a risk involved. He

1:04:24 > 1:05:42does have a straightforward safety, if he wants to play it.

1:05:43 > 1:05:54That was a good shot. He knew he would be leaving that read in the

1:05:55 > 1:06:03corner. -- that red in the corner. Once again, the deflection off the

1:06:04 > 1:06:10potting angle has got Matthew Stevens. I wonder if it is time to

1:06:11 > 1:06:32change the cue ball? There have been a few shots where he

1:06:33 > 1:06:40has not been happy with the throw of the cue ball. They are just checking

1:06:41 > 1:06:42now. If I was Ian Burns, I would almost say that I didn't want

1:06:43 > 1:06:49now. If I was Ian Burns, I would change it. Both players have two

1:06:50 > 1:07:05agreed, remember? If he has agreed, then it is OK. He has said that he

1:07:06 > 1:07:09has not noticed anything. If Ian Burns does not want it changed, then

1:07:10 > 1:07:25they have two carry on. Both players have two agreed. I would have said

1:07:26 > 1:07:44yes, to be honest. It will help both players.

1:07:45 > 1:07:58What is happening now? The referee has come back. I can't quite

1:07:59 > 1:08:04understand this. I think he has got a cue ball in his hand. No, he

1:08:05 > 1:08:09hasn't. If Ian Burns says that there is nothing wrong with it, then they

1:08:10 > 1:08:11have two carry on. At least we know there is another cue ball there, if

1:08:12 > 1:08:44needed. He was leaving himself a red in the

1:08:45 > 1:10:19centre after that black. They are not easy of the cushion like that.

1:10:20 > 1:10:26What he mustn't do is put too much pressure on himself. He should have

1:10:27 > 1:10:34won the first frame, but there is plenty of time. He needs to stick to

1:10:35 > 1:10:46his game plan and the patient, which is not always easy out there. He has

1:10:47 > 1:10:54got to get the pace right for this to work. That is a prime example of

1:10:55 > 1:10:56what you should and should not do. Once again, trying to be too

1:10:57 > 1:13:06careful. Not a lot happening in this frame so

1:13:07 > 1:13:50far. No breaks over 30, although they have both had their chances.

1:13:51 > 1:14:04He did not want that double-kiss. It could have in worse. There is a

1:14:05 > 1:14:12chance with the red in the middle. It is ethical to judge the potting

1:14:13 > 1:14:49angle when you are very close. -- it is difficult.

1:14:50 > 1:14:54Out comes the extension. It is almost the same size as the rest of

1:14:55 > 1:15:28the cue. He cut the object ball very thin. A

1:15:29 > 1:16:29big chance gone by. It is now a big chance for Ian.

1:16:30 > 1:16:36I don't think this will pot. He is OK on the left-hand one. A great

1:16:37 > 1:17:02chance now to level at 1-1. Slightly lower on the black than he

1:17:03 > 1:17:31wanted, but he still has the pink. He is just coming round to see which

1:17:32 > 1:17:46one of the reds is available. He should win the frame at this

1:17:47 > 1:18:30visit. That was a very good shot. He had to

1:18:31 > 1:19:36make sure he finished high on this red.

1:19:37 > 1:20:12Not quite in prime position. A little bit undecided here.

1:20:13 > 1:20:41How many times have we seen that. 35 points in front. He just needed that

1:20:42 > 1:21:04red. That is a shot you would not miss in this. -- in practice.

1:21:05 > 1:21:12Matthew Stevens will now need to widen the shot to get to the

1:21:13 > 1:21:30left-hand side of the table and get onto the back. -- onto the black.

1:21:31 > 1:21:46There is the light white again. I tend to agree with him. But, of

1:21:47 > 1:21:55course, you are not playing! He can still get the black in the centre.

1:21:56 > 1:22:03He has got to hit it hard enough so that it leaves a path class -- a

1:22:04 > 1:22:16path past the blue to yellow. He might be able to see the yellow,

1:22:17 > 1:22:42but I am not sure about putting it. Another tight frame,

1:22:43 > 1:23:45first one. He just about got that past the

1:23:46 > 1:24:21middle pocket. If that yellow had come out a

1:24:22 > 1:24:26fraction, it would have been an easier shot. Safety does not look

1:24:27 > 1:27:02easy. He has played that well. He could

1:27:03 > 1:28:28play it in a defensive manner or off the cushion.

1:28:29 > 1:28:31That was well played. He had to catch that yellow on the right-hand

1:28:32 > 1:29:24side. This is not bad. Has it landed, not

1:29:25 > 1:29:34quite, I thought it was going to be a snooker. They will have to re-spot

1:29:35 > 1:29:43black. Can he bring it up or down the table. The black is the problem

1:29:44 > 1:29:54ball here? He will do well to miss the kiss on the black.

1:29:55 > 1:30:17He thinks he has the black. That is no good.

1:30:18 > 1:31:06A good shot, that. Easy enough to hit. Can he get it safe? He only

1:31:07 > 1:31:11wants the one ball. Needs to push this past the black.

1:31:12 > 1:31:36This is why this is dragging on, the players are not making mistakes and

1:31:37 > 1:31:42giving their opponent a chance. That was a good safety shot from Ian

1:31:43 > 1:32:00Burns. He had the pink and black as his cover.

1:32:01 > 1:32:12He may have found a gap between the pink and the black.

1:32:13 > 1:32:20Matthew Stevens cannot win this frame in one visit, he is 25 points

1:32:21 > 1:32:29behind and there is 25 on the table. Should he clear up, it will be RE

1:32:30 > 1:32:38spotted black. -- a re-spotted black. He is trying to get the cue

1:32:39 > 1:32:44ball in behind the brown. He could get the green save. He needs a good

1:32:45 > 1:32:53wide. He may play the negative safety. That is not his best. The

1:32:54 > 1:32:56black will be a problem for Matthew Stevens, missing that kiss on the

1:32:57 > 1:33:31black. He has not 100% committed that, he

1:33:32 > 1:33:35felt he would kiss the black. If he had caught it on the thin side, it

1:33:36 > 1:33:46would have been a better transport the brown. He is left with a

1:33:47 > 1:33:57difficult shot here -- it would have been a better shot on the brown. Is

1:33:58 > 1:34:10there one on? I do not see how he could play safe. He could leave the

1:34:11 > 1:34:17green on the corner pocket. If he cannot see a safety shot, he has to

1:34:18 > 1:34:26go for the pot. He cannot lose the frame. There would be RE spotted

1:34:27 > 1:34:34black involved. -- a re-spotted black. He could play off the top

1:34:35 > 1:34:45cushion. He could hit it then or have a go at the pot. -- hit it

1:34:46 > 1:34:54then. He could catch it off the cushion. That was risky. If you

1:34:55 > 1:35:04think there is a chance of a double-kiss, there usually is. It is

1:35:05 > 1:35:06Ian's turn. He has been fortunate with the safety shots. He has had a

1:35:07 > 1:35:17bit of luck. I think you can see this, he can.

1:35:18 > 1:35:47That is a safety. REFEREE: Three. A good shot from

1:35:48 > 1:36:04Matthew Stevens. REFEREE: Seven.

1:36:05 > 1:36:12Just short of 40 minutes, it was a hard battle, but Ian Burns will be

1:36:13 > 1:36:18happy to take that. It is one frame each.

1:36:19 > 1:36:26There were a couple of questions for you. This question of a defective

1:36:27 > 1:36:32cue ball, Matthew seems to be complaining to the referee a lot,

1:36:33 > 1:36:38does that happen very often? It does not happen a lot, but these balls,

1:36:39 > 1:36:43they are made for each set. They are supposed to be the same, but you get

1:36:44 > 1:36:49the odd one which might be slightly out of shape or have a little dent,

1:36:50 > 1:36:57which affects the cue ball. It is funny, you could be cueing that well

1:36:58 > 1:37:02that the ball will feel light. When you are playing bad, everything

1:37:03 > 1:37:09feels heavy. Matthew is saying that he thinks it is light. He was

1:37:10 > 1:37:15playing a couple of screws shots. He potted a good black, but players can

1:37:16 > 1:37:21say they are not happy with the cue ball. Both players have to agree. If

1:37:22 > 1:37:29one says that they want to change it and the other disagrees, you have to

1:37:30 > 1:37:38finish it. The option was given, Ian Burns was asked and he said no.

1:37:39 > 1:37:42Matthew seems very unhappy with it. When I felt there was something

1:37:43 > 1:37:48wrong with the cue ball and I asked for a swap, if they said no, it

1:37:49 > 1:37:56would fire me up to try and get on with it to get one over on them. Ian

1:37:57 > 1:38:01Burns was 1-0 down, he felt it was OK and if he could get any kind of

1:38:02 > 1:38:10edge, he said to keep with the cue ball. The longer this goes on,

1:38:11 > 1:38:17Matthew will get more annoyed. He is not happy, he should have lost the

1:38:18 > 1:38:23first frame. It is 1-1 now, Ian Burns is happier with the cue ball.

1:38:24 > 1:38:28Neither player has settled down and produced anything special, but what

1:38:29 > 1:38:34did you make of the first two frames? Ian Burns has had the chance

1:38:35 > 1:38:42to nail both of them, but then he missed the key pot. It is the best

1:38:43 > 1:38:51of seven, no interval, most matches you play to the best of nine with an

1:38:52 > 1:38:54interval after four. You normally come in after

1:38:55 > 1:38:58interval after four. You normally change. When you are flying, you do

1:38:59 > 1:39:05not want the interval. There is no interval, so if you start off badly,

1:39:06 > 1:39:16it is hard to get back into your swing. Very early sprints. We are

1:39:17 > 1:39:27already one and a quarter hours into this. It is all level so far.

1:39:28 > 1:39:39I agree with Darren. Just because Matthew wants it change, does not

1:39:40 > 1:39:43mean it should be. -- changed. We have seen balls go off at a

1:39:44 > 1:39:50different angle. Ian Burns has done well, he knows he should have won

1:39:51 > 1:42:42the first frame. He has established himself back into the game.

1:42:43 > 1:42:54Not looking at the long pot, too much risk they are. Playing the thin

1:42:55 > 1:42:58safety. Pretty good. Good runs. Actually, very good, as played.

1:42:59 > 1:43:50APPLAUSE. Trying to get to the red which is

1:43:51 > 1:43:59tight on the cushion next to the black. He has to get in between the

1:44:00 > 1:44:07blue and the red. There is not very much room to miss blue and red. He

1:44:08 > 1:44:13will go around the back, it he has missed the blue, he has missed

1:44:14 > 1:44:18will go around the back, it he has red. An excellent shot. One of the

1:44:19 > 1:44:58safest shots of the tournament. And we are only in the first day.

1:44:59 > 1:45:05I do not know the perfect angle to get back in behind the brown. He

1:45:06 > 1:45:12would like to hit the middle pocket. I do not think he can do it. He will

1:45:13 > 1:45:34have to play a containing safety. The middle pocket was in the way.

1:45:35 > 1:45:41This should move a few reds about. Not that many. He played it very

1:45:42 > 1:46:00thin. He may well have looked to the red

1:46:01 > 1:46:04to the left. The brown was in the way which made the bridging

1:46:05 > 1:46:23awkward. He should have taken that on and got onto the black.

1:46:24 > 1:46:33He can get past the brown. It will not make the shot any easier,

1:46:34 > 1:46:38awkward bridging. He thought it was worth the risk, I cannot blame him

1:46:39 > 1:47:05for that. Guaranteed to be on the black.

1:47:06 > 1:47:19That was an excellent pot from Matthew. It was a tough pot to take.

1:47:20 > 1:47:25The reds are lined up like soldiers. A perfect chance to win the frame.

1:47:26 > 1:47:28He could have played a little bit harder on the line he had. Real good

1:47:29 > 1:49:44chance. Just having a look at the split. If

1:49:45 > 1:49:50he goes into the pink. You are never sure. Once you have played a split,

1:49:51 > 1:49:56most of the time you do not know what will happen, you have no

1:49:57 > 1:50:06control over the ball. You are still on a red. He is having a look at the

1:50:07 > 1:50:18angle, looking past the black into the right-hand corner. Very heavy

1:50:19 > 1:50:22contact. Did not threaten the pocket. Matthew Stevens will need to

1:50:23 > 1:50:26be careful that he is getting upset about the playing conditions. You

1:50:27 > 1:50:34cannot blame him, a few things have happened, but you have to keep

1:50:35 > 1:50:43control. Very trying. That was horrendous. It's squared up

1:50:44 > 1:50:49completely. -- it squared up. That has given Ian an excellent chance.

1:50:50 > 1:50:54He could get into the lead of 30 points that Matthew had. The way the

1:50:55 > 1:50:55balls are, it is within the realms of possibility that he could win the

1:50:56 > 1:52:14frame. That is the wrong angle on the blue

1:52:15 > 1:52:20for this end of the table. He could have played it a little bit better,

1:52:21 > 1:52:28leave it closer to the yellow. This is quite a thin one now. He could

1:52:29 > 1:52:35not roll it in off one cushion. You could not guarantee being on the

1:52:36 > 1:52:41right side of the blue. A little too much. He was not playing for the

1:52:42 > 1:53:00yellow, he was playing for the green.

1:53:01 > 1:53:07He needs that cue ball to it has, that is an excellent shot.

1:53:08 > 1:53:10He is on the bottom one of those three that are in line. It was tough

1:53:11 > 1:53:22to get the pace right. Still awkward though, because of

1:53:23 > 1:53:31that comes off the cushion, he may have to play two cushions to get

1:53:32 > 1:53:37onto the black. He has to miss the kiss on the black. The angle of the

1:53:38 > 1:53:42cue ball will come off the cushion. He may play at off two cushions. --

1:53:43 > 1:53:50play it. He did well to hold that. That is

1:53:51 > 1:54:11good cueing. That is amazing to me. He might go

1:54:12 > 1:54:14on and win the frame, but you have to clear the path to make it easier.

1:54:15 > 1:54:56He is not doing that at the moment. A little low on the cue ball there.

1:54:57 > 1:55:07You want him to stay on the black, he has to go for blue now.

1:55:08 > 1:55:14He has come a little too far and he is now awkward on the blue.

1:55:15 > 1:55:22Once you lose the picture in front of you, you can slip away quickly.

1:55:23 > 1:55:26This is a clear-cut chance to win this frame. He could still do it. A

1:55:27 > 1:55:40very good shot. He was very thin. He has to start

1:55:41 > 1:55:48making this a little bit easier. He is missing the opportunity to bring

1:55:49 > 1:56:00balls into play. He is 17 in front, but there are three more reds. Nice

1:56:01 > 1:56:01break so far. 41 was the previous -- the previous highest from Matthew

1:56:02 > 1:56:45Stevens. He does not look happy with the

1:56:46 > 1:56:56position here on the black. Cannot quite CB angle from here. -- cannot

1:56:57 > 1:57:05quite see that angle. Those two reds can only go into the same pocket. He

1:57:06 > 1:57:10has got pass them, played that well. -- past. Enough spin to avoid the

1:57:11 > 1:57:46reds. 33 points in front, so this is frame

1:57:47 > 1:57:48ball. Very well played! He made hard work of it earlier, but he has

1:57:49 > 1:58:02played this beautifully. You have to take the pressure of

1:58:03 > 1:58:11macro yourself and make things as easy as possible. -- off. We have

1:58:12 > 1:58:17been told he is a good player, Terry has watched him. He said how good he

1:58:18 > 1:58:19is and you can see that here. He seems to be blessed with a good

1:58:20 > 1:58:38temperament. He needs these four colours to make

1:58:39 > 1:58:53a century. What a shame, no century, but a

1:58:54 > 1:59:19fabulous break by Ian Burns. He still leads by a 2-1. -- 2-1.

1:59:20 > 1:59:26Back in the 1980s, I think the character stood out more because

1:59:27 > 1:59:33there is the one channel. I practice about twice a week, so it

1:59:34 > 1:59:41is a part-time job for me! I do moan a little bit. At the end

1:59:42 > 1:59:45of the day, we have to do it. I don't moan as much as the other

1:59:46 > 1:59:49players! It probably doesn't hurt me as much

1:59:50 > 1:59:55as other players will lose a match. That is probably one of my biggest

1:59:56 > 2:00:01problems. I don't agree with that. I am quite

2:00:02 > 2:00:10responsible. You have to be if you have a couple of children.

2:00:11 > 2:00:21You can make time to practice, but I tend not to!

2:00:22 > 2:00:26Definitely, yes. I have lost in a couple of world finals, got really

2:00:27 > 2:00:33close, but they haven't done as well as a finger should have done.

2:00:34 > 2:00:40Chances are I won't, but I still believe I can.

2:00:41 > 2:00:46He is cutting a disconsolate figure at the moment. It looks like he is

2:00:47 > 2:00:52getting increasingly annoyed with the conditions out there in

2:00:53 > 2:00:58particular. He has to put all his differences behind him. It will not

2:00:59 > 2:01:07change. It is going to stay exactly the same until this match is

2:01:08 > 2:01:13finished. I'm sure if he makes a good break, or replays a handful of

2:01:14 > 2:01:18really good shots on the trot, his concerns will soon disappeared.

2:01:19 > 2:01:22Temperamentally, is he the sort of guy who can put that sort of

2:01:23 > 2:01:31disappointment aside and focus back on the job? Matthew is very easy

2:01:32 > 2:01:37going. He is very relaxed on and off the table. It is still all to play

2:01:38 > 2:01:44for. The match is back on, it is all level. Still a long way to go.

2:01:45 > 2:02:01WILLIE: there have been a few long frames in this match. And good

2:02:02 > 2:02:02quality from both players. Ian Burns was the underdog at the start of the

2:02:03 > 2:02:34match. That counts for nothing. You were talking about the

2:02:35 > 2:02:38temperament of Matthew Stevens. He isn't happy about the way the cue

2:02:39 > 2:02:43ball is playing. He has a good temperament, but it all depends on

2:02:44 > 2:02:49these things happen. If he gets another shot that he is disappointed

2:02:50 > 2:04:52with, it could get to him a little bit more.

2:04:53 > 2:05:06That was an excellent shot, cueing dying. Danger signs here for Matthew

2:05:07 > 2:05:16Stevens. He can get rid of that red on the black spot life. -- now. He

2:05:17 > 2:05:27needs the cue ball to slow down. Perhaps the red in the middle does

2:05:28 > 2:05:41not go. Maybe the better choice is the red

2:05:42 > 2:06:00above the black spot. It is all about fractions. Two

2:06:01 > 2:06:01inches slower, no problem. Where it has finished, it is slightly

2:06:02 > 2:06:19awkward. Even if the pink has to go on the

2:06:20 > 2:07:02black spot, it will still pot. He has a chance.

2:07:03 > 2:07:09He has played that badly. He didn't want to leave himself straight, but

2:07:10 > 2:07:20he has overdone it. He has left themselves are very tricky black. --

2:07:21 > 2:07:33himself a very tricky black. After playing a few good shots...

2:07:34 > 2:08:31I can't tell you how difficult those are. The chance has gone by.

2:08:32 > 2:08:43It is amazing how difficult it is to get the position when you have a

2:08:44 > 2:08:47ball right over the pocket. It is hard to judge the angle that the cue

2:08:48 > 2:09:02ball is going to come off the cushion sometimes. That extension is

2:09:03 > 2:09:11a bit battered and bruised! He has used that all his career.

2:09:12 > 2:09:25That is about as bad as you could have one. -- hit one.

2:09:26 > 2:09:31Being very kind to him, you could say that was very difficult because

2:09:32 > 2:09:57of the extension. Ian Burns is not one of these

2:09:58 > 2:10:02players that will smash the ball is open and score 105 minutes. He is a

2:10:03 > 2:10:08tough match player. He might not be the aggressive style of player that

2:10:09 > 2:10:13we are reduced to these days, but he will still take some beating. He

2:10:14 > 2:10:16could have played that shot a little bit firmer, just to make sure. But

2:10:17 > 2:10:40he is OK. There is another example here. I

2:10:41 > 2:10:49would still play into the pack, but he is not even going to do that. In

2:10:50 > 2:10:55a few shots, when he is on 40 points, he will have to play the

2:10:56 > 2:11:05cannon. Why not play at when nothing can go wrong? No other reds are

2:11:06 > 2:11:07wrong, so nothing could go wrong. Still, he has a great chance of

2:11:08 > 2:11:44taking a 3-1 lead. These are, once again, absolutely

2:11:45 > 2:11:47perfect. If you look people like Ronnie O'Sullivan or Neil Robertson,

2:11:48 > 2:11:55there is no way in the world that they would not go into them here!

2:11:56 > 2:12:27Ian Burns isn't. I don't think you win tournaments playing negatively.

2:12:28 > 2:12:48You can see the point I was making. He is going to have to force this a

2:12:49 > 2:13:07little bit. He is nowhere near where he would want to be.

2:13:08 > 2:14:10Well, he did get a kick to be fair. But he does make it hard work.

2:14:11 > 2:14:16Matthew is just struggling a bit. It might have got to him that he wanted

2:14:17 > 2:14:22to change the white ball and was refused. He is starting to miss a

2:14:23 > 2:14:31few shots. He has not had the best couple of months as far as to months

2:14:32 > 2:14:34are concerned, losing a few matches. -- as far as tournaments are

2:14:35 > 2:15:56concerned. That was a good recovery shot. He

2:15:57 > 2:16:06has let himself a nice angle on the blue. He is 45 points in front. That

2:16:07 > 2:16:17did not go in with a lot of commitment.

2:16:18 > 2:16:32He caught that very thin. He has to play a safety shot. That is what I

2:16:33 > 2:16:38was talking about earlier, those reds would not have been in that

2:16:39 > 2:16:44position if he had moved it early. Every frame this is happening. He

2:16:45 > 2:16:50gets 40 points in front, and doesn't get the frame. Doesn't close out the

2:16:51 > 2:18:15frame. There is the chance here of forcing

2:18:16 > 2:18:22an opportunity. Ian Burns is under a little bit of pressure, although the

2:18:23 > 2:18:35black is tied up and he is 50 points in front.

2:18:36 > 2:18:48He is giving this a bit of thought. There is nothing straightforward.

2:18:49 > 2:18:53Normally the players these days love to play off one or two cushions and

2:18:54 > 2:19:06get back to baulk. I don't think that is available. You can get past

2:19:07 > 2:19:10the yellow directly. -- can't get past the yellow directly. He is in

2:19:11 > 2:19:43trouble here. He didn't have many other options,

2:19:44 > 2:19:50and that could have worked out worse. The red to the right centre

2:19:51 > 2:19:57looks available, but it is a very difficult shot. Can he cut in one of

2:19:58 > 2:20:20these reds? Into the left corner? He is looking at those.

2:20:21 > 2:20:29It only just went in. And he has put another red safe. At least he is in

2:20:30 > 2:20:43with a chance! He struck that nicely. He had

2:20:44 > 2:21:08awkward bridging. He has a lot to do to clear up. If

2:21:09 > 2:21:14he could manage it, it would be a huge psychological blow. Ian Burns

2:21:15 > 2:21:19has been all over Matthew Stevens in this match. He didn't like that, but

2:21:20 > 2:21:50it has turned out all right. I thought he had too far.

2:21:51 > 2:21:58I think he has changed his mind on the shot. What sort of angle does he

2:21:59 > 2:22:08have here? Can he bring the red into play? The good thing about playing

2:22:09 > 2:22:13the shots he is going to play, he doesn't have to do anything to the

2:22:14 > 2:22:18cue ball. He can keep the cue ball this side of the blue, and if he

2:22:19 > 2:22:28does that he can get close to the red on the cushion.

2:22:29 > 2:22:39This is a chance to pinch this frame. Should Ian Burns go on to

2:22:40 > 2:22:44lose this frame, he needs to look at the first four frames on video tape

2:22:45 > 2:23:22because he should have won this match 4-0.

2:23:23 > 2:23:36This could be a frame-winner. He has the angle on the yellow. This will

2:23:37 > 2:23:38really hurt Ian. Matthew has not really been in this match since the

2:23:39 > 2:24:36first frame. He has taken these well. There were

2:24:37 > 2:24:37two very difficult reds on the cushion in this clearance for

2:24:38 > 2:25:08Matthew Stevens. Great clearance. A 64 Matthew

2:25:09 > 2:25:09Stevens. 2-2. Matthew Stevens

2:25:10 > 2:25:19Stevens. 2-2. lot better after that. He is right

2:25:20 > 2:25:24back in it. He looked a bit ruffled in the first few frames. He should

2:25:25 > 2:25:31then he can play without cue ball no problems! That was terrific. Let

2:25:32 > 2:25:45resetting commentary, a couple of the reds were undertaken cushion and

2:25:46 > 2:25:51he made some great pop. -- poys. And there is nothing like staying on the

2:25:52 > 2:26:00table to get your confidence back. It has swung like a pendulum. It was

2:26:01 > 2:26:06all the way of Ian Burns. It looked like for all intents and purposes

2:26:07 > 2:26:10that Ian Burns was going to go 3-1. He will be sitting in his chair

2:26:11 > 2:26:23distraught. He could have won this match 4-0. Ian Burns really had his

2:26:24 > 2:26:30chances. Matthew is giving him those chances. You can see this red that

2:26:31 > 2:26:36Matthew missed earlier on. Willie said it all in the commentary. That

2:26:37 > 2:26:46was about as bad as he could play at. If he can, he elects to play

2:26:47 > 2:26:48with the extension. In that case, he had to use the extension but he had

2:26:49 > 2:26:52that really badly. I had to use the extension but he had

2:26:53 > 2:26:56watch about. If you are not playing had to use the extension but he had

2:26:57 > 2:26:59well you can scrap and come through those games even when you are

2:27:00 > 2:27:03finding it hard to put ricks together. Yes, but he shouldn't have

2:27:04 > 2:27:17had the chance to get back into that game. He was given a lifeline and he

2:27:18 > 2:27:23took it. At the start of that, you would have said Matthew Stevens

2:27:24 > 2:27:31would have had to have done really well to close out that frame. That

2:27:32 > 2:27:35was the Matthew Stevens of all. Matthew Stevens will be happiest at

2:27:36 > 2:27:41the moment, doing quiet somersaults. Ian Burns will be added this heart.

2:27:42 > 2:27:50He has to put it hangs him and move onto the next frame.

2:27:51 > 2:28:16Ian Burns did mess his opportunities there. He had the opportunity to go

2:28:17 > 2:28:22into the reds and he would have had the frame. He needs to regroup. He

2:28:23 > 2:28:25appears to be blessed with a very good temperaments, which is half the

2:28:26 > 2:29:22battle. He is unfortunate there. That went

2:29:23 > 2:29:26quite slowly and ended up right on the pink, it was the only place he

2:29:27 > 2:29:29could not have potted a ball there. He does not have the best of safety

2:29:30 > 2:30:55is on, either. -- safeties. I thought it would go in. He is on

2:30:56 > 2:31:02the back foot now, Ian Burns. Certainly not out of it. It is so

2:31:03 > 2:31:09difficult when you feel that three runs within that short comic you

2:31:10 > 2:31:17could lose the frame like that. -- within that shot, . That red always

2:31:18 > 2:31:42looked a bit off. He may have tried to avoid that red,

2:31:43 > 2:31:50but was a bit unfair. He has left it on. -- that was a bit unfair. It was

2:31:51 > 2:31:59always going into the pack to open them out, he could not avoid them

2:32:00 > 2:32:21with that shot. One good pot on the blue, and there is a chance.

2:32:22 > 2:32:34That is a good pot, especially the way he lost the previous frame. It

2:32:35 > 2:32:59takes awhile to get your back. -- a while, to get your confidence back.

2:33:00 > 2:35:00REFEREE: 28. That is a good angle to split the reds. He can play on a

2:35:01 > 2:35:17loose one. It has gone into them. He does not generate a lot of power

2:35:18 > 2:35:25with his cue action, his backswing is quite short. Only a few inches

2:35:26 > 2:35:32back to play that shot, but he is on a red. The shorter the cue action,

2:35:33 > 2:35:48the more accuracy you get, but less power.

2:35:49 > 2:35:52The worst position on the blue is always dead straight, it restricts

2:35:53 > 2:36:15your options. He is taking on the more difficult

2:36:16 > 2:36:29pink. Once again, you can see how short

2:36:30 > 2:36:37the backswing is and under pressure, I think that is difficult. Why do

2:36:38 > 2:36:43that when you have the red in baulk? He is putting himself under pressure

2:36:44 > 2:36:56for no reason. Everyone has their own choices, he may have liked that

2:36:57 > 2:37:24shot. He did not queue it very well. -- cue. Not quite sure what he

2:37:25 > 2:37:26played for them, he will want the blue into this corner pocket. --

2:37:27 > 2:37:46them. He has got a bit of work to do to

2:37:47 > 2:38:01win the frame from here. He has a bit of an angle here, a

2:38:02 > 2:38:20slight angle will do. Matthew is frustrated because he

2:38:21 > 2:38:29knows he had that hard enough to get the desired position. -- hit. It

2:38:30 > 2:38:36bounces slightly and it takes a little bit of pace out of it. It is

2:38:37 > 2:38:42not a kick, it takes a little bit of pace out of the cue ball. It has

2:38:43 > 2:38:46just finished a little bit short. Amazingly enough, this could turn

2:38:47 > 2:38:51out to be his favourite if he plays the cannon into the reds, because he

2:38:52 > 2:39:13would drift this or -- ahead of the black. It looks like he is playing

2:39:14 > 2:39:25us done or screw. -- a stun. The next shot is going to be tough. He

2:39:26 > 2:39:33has to play the blue, commit himself to it. He did very well.

2:39:34 > 2:39:51APPLAUSE. Once again, he is not comfortable on

2:39:52 > 2:39:59the shot. He does not like the angle on this.

2:40:00 > 2:40:18He did a good 16 in the previous frame to win it. This would be just

2:40:19 > 2:40:39as good, should he clear from here, but there is a long way to go.

2:40:40 > 2:40:49REFEREE: 30. The extension has been out a few times, it is not the

2:40:50 > 2:40:56longest I have ever seen, but it is noisy when he screws it together!

2:40:57 > 2:41:03Another three tables on here in the Newport Centre. The first time we

2:41:04 > 2:41:07have seen that here in the television stages.

2:41:08 > 2:41:20have seen that here in the tables, but there is

2:41:21 > 2:41:28This is tough to get it nicely on the red. He needs the pace to be

2:41:29 > 2:41:50perfect. It is perfect. In fact, to perfect. -- too perfect. If he can

2:41:51 > 2:41:55touch it behind the black, he could get a few points. He will be trying

2:41:56 > 2:42:05to win the frame if possible from the shops. You can see where he is

2:42:06 > 2:42:10looking for the black -- shot. It is at half shot to pot the black with

2:42:11 > 2:42:26pace and get out to that red. -- it is 8/2 shot -- it is a tough shot.

2:42:27 > 2:42:30He has a slight angle on the black. If this black goes in, he will win

2:42:31 > 2:42:40the frame. He will be on the red in the middle. That made the black a

2:42:41 > 2:42:53lot more difficult. Another tough shot to play.

2:42:54 > 2:43:13A cued angle here into the centre pocket. -- cued. Matthew Stevens is

2:43:14 > 2:43:22inspired, he looks a different player now. It looked a hard task to

2:43:23 > 2:43:35win the frame at this visit. He looks like doing it, though.

2:43:36 > 2:43:42Just listen to the noise this makes when he screws the extension end. --

2:43:43 > 2:44:18in. A very similar match is the first

2:44:19 > 2:44:22with Stephen Maguire. He ended up winning the match. The same can be

2:44:23 > 2:44:26said about Matthew, he has been in trouble in the first four frames and

2:44:27 > 2:44:32this is the first framework he has been the slight favourite to win it.

2:44:33 > 2:44:33Even though he was 36 points behind, he has made an excellent

2:44:34 > 2:45:13contribution. APPLAUSE. He leaves for the first

2:45:14 > 2:45:20time at 3-2. -- leads. Ian Burns could have won this match 4-0 and I

2:45:21 > 2:45:26will show you a prime example. Here is a perfect example, there is no

2:45:27 > 2:45:32problem at all, what ever kiss he gets, it is bound to be on the reds.

2:45:33 > 2:45:40He will play to pot-macro the black -- pot. You need the paint in play.

2:45:41 > 2:45:48He will not win the frame at one visit without the pink in play --

2:45:49 > 2:45:52pink. He has to get a grip. He is playing a little bit cautiously and

2:45:53 > 2:45:58it is only his second time on television, it is not easy. Having

2:45:59 > 2:46:02watched other players over the years, you have to play more

2:46:03 > 2:46:16aggressively. He has a good temperament and he will need it

2:46:17 > 2:47:09because he is trailing 3-2. REFEREE: Matthew Stevens to break.

2:47:10 > 2:47:10Matthew Stevens has never been short on the safety department in the

2:47:11 > 2:47:14game. Nice clever safety player. It is very high, the safety success of

2:47:15 > 2:47:21both of these players. There has been some excellent stuff.

2:47:22 > 2:47:53That awkward this one, there is no path on the right-hand side of the

2:47:54 > 2:47:58table. -- a bit awkward. You're looking to strike down past the

2:47:59 > 2:48:06black and the reds. That is high risk.

2:48:07 > 2:48:20If he can get past to the one near the cushion, he can come thin off

2:48:21 > 2:48:24that. He will not need the red. Just above that red, into the right-hand

2:48:25 > 2:48:32corner. Matthew Stevens looks as if he is playing well now. I would play

2:48:33 > 2:48:38the shot you suggested. Taking this pot on, this could be his last shot

2:48:39 > 2:48:43of the game. The one nearest the cushion, he would be worried about

2:48:44 > 2:48:49leaving the red on. As long as he misses the kiss on the colour, he

2:48:50 > 2:48:50may not play that. He is not aggressive enough, but that is too

2:48:51 > 2:49:05aggressive! Got the cue ball round, but where is

2:49:06 > 2:49:10the red going? I do not know. I have not criticise one safety shot he has

2:49:11 > 2:49:17played, but the safety has been superb, but that was a time, it was

2:49:18 > 2:49:26not the better part of valour for me. It is time to hold on. The

2:49:27 > 2:49:31problem is to try and avoid the black and the red, not the pot. Your

2:49:32 > 2:49:42focus is on that more than anything else. As it has turned out, Matthew

2:49:43 > 2:49:51has played a pure positional shot -- poor. With the side spin, it will

2:49:52 > 2:49:52throw the white bit. He would have got it closer to the red the second

2:49:53 > 2:50:12time. -- a bit. Matthew Stevens looked onto the

2:50:13 > 2:50:18floor earlier, but now he has showed his class, he has always been a

2:50:19 > 2:50:22classy player. Some would say that he has perhaps not won enough

2:50:23 > 2:50:24tournaments for the skill he has. Those people do not know how hard it

2:50:25 > 2:54:06is to win tournaments. He looks as if he is pushing

2:54:07 > 2:54:17through, trying to pot the red and go onto the black. Oh dear! He would

2:54:18 > 2:54:41not want to see that on the replay! Right across that one.

2:54:42 > 2:54:53APPLAUSE. I think he played for the black bear, I am not sure if he is

2:54:54 > 2:55:00on the pink, it is thinner than he wanted -- there.

2:55:01 > 2:55:16Quite a lot of unusual contacts on the cushion we have had in this

2:55:17 > 2:55:29match. I think the tables have not settled in as yet.

2:55:30 > 2:55:41Nicely played. It is not that everything is not possibly done to

2:55:42 > 2:55:45get the tables in perfect condition, it is just that when you come into

2:55:46 > 2:55:49an arena and the table might have been perfect, when a few hundred

2:55:50 > 2:55:51people come in, the atmosphere changes quickly and it can affect

2:55:52 > 2:56:02the table. This fabulous venue, the Newport

2:56:03 > 2:56:11Centre, has a massive swimming pool next door almost.

2:56:12 > 2:56:20That creates a little bit of dampness in the room. Matthew is

2:56:21 > 2:56:29working very hard in this break so far. That is the shot he is

2:56:30 > 2:56:35brilliant dad, those screw shots off the cushion, he has been blessed

2:56:36 > 2:56:46with a very good cue action -- he is brilliant at. This is the key shot,

2:56:47 > 2:56:53does he get an angle on the pink or the black to get into the reds? You

2:56:54 > 2:57:05will not see Matthew refusing the cannon!

2:57:06 > 2:57:11This time he is doing, because the two reds in baulk, he can get nicely

2:57:12 > 2:57:30on those. He probably feels this is a better

2:57:31 > 2:57:38angle. He is still one shot away from making this a match-winning

2:57:39 > 2:57:46break. Maybe it will be off the next blue or pink. -- off. It is not easy

2:57:47 > 2:57:53because the pink is a few inches away from the pack of reds. He

2:57:54 > 2:57:57should play it off the blue, always the best option, because the cue

2:57:58 > 2:58:12ball could travel faster into the balls.

2:58:13 > 2:58:21He has got the angle, he could try and split the reds, but he has two

2:58:22 > 2:58:28catch that pink full on and if he plays the split... No, there is a

2:58:29 > 2:58:40plant on. It is into the middle, just a little too far, perhaps.

2:58:41 > 2:58:51We had a glimpse at the plant from a previous angle and it is set smack

2:58:52 > 2:58:58on. Well played. Perhaps a little unfortunate not to have brought

2:58:59 > 2:59:03another red interplay there. -- in to play. He should have opened a few

2:59:04 > 2:59:39out there, but it did not happen. He has played that absolutely

2:59:40 > 2:59:47perfectly, and he is very unlucky. If he had been able to play at that

2:59:48 > 3:00:00speed with a bit of stun... Look at it here, the same speed with the

3:00:01 > 3:00:07stun, it would have been perfect. What a fabulous lead this is for

3:00:08 > 3:00:09Matthew Stevens. He would like to get a red on the cushion, if you

3:00:10 > 3:02:11could. He didn't play for the baulk

3:02:12 > 3:02:15petition, of course. I think this is the first time that Matthew has been

3:02:16 > 3:02:17protecting a lead. He has been chasing Ian Burns in most of the

3:02:18 > 3:02:45games. Can he get through to something? It

3:02:46 > 3:02:50looks very tight pasta loo. -- past that blue.

3:02:51 > 3:03:03APPLAUSE. You can see it swerving around the

3:03:04 > 3:03:21blue. It is a similar scenario to a few

3:03:22 > 3:03:32moments ago, the cue ball is going to have to do a lot.

3:03:33 > 3:03:40He is trying to put the black out of commission and protect his 50 point

3:03:41 > 3:04:08lead. He obviously didn't play to kiss the blue.

3:04:09 > 3:04:42Can he get past the yellow? He is just going to play this safety.

3:04:43 > 3:04:49There are fractions and safety play. You can leave out just than edge.

3:04:50 > 3:04:53This is worth a go, with the black available towards the middle pocket.

3:04:54 > 3:05:08If he could get this red into the left corner.

3:05:09 > 3:05:17He didn't want to capture too thick. That is the worst possible outcome

3:05:18 > 3:05:20for Ian Burns. If he courted danger, there was a good chance it

3:05:21 > 3:05:22could have run right the way around the table and ended up in a safe

3:05:23 > 3:05:37position. He is on the black, but it is not

3:05:38 > 3:05:38perfect. An easy enough shot to get, but where is the next red coming

3:05:39 > 3:05:54from? The Green would give you position to

3:05:55 > 3:05:56get up to this end of the table. If he manages to get the black, he only

3:05:57 > 3:06:12needs one more ball. Stephen Maguire really struggle to

3:06:13 > 3:06:16beat Sam Baird today. Matthew Stevens struggled until the last two

3:06:17 > 3:06:20or three frames when he has started to Cuba the -- started to queue

3:06:21 > 3:06:34beautifully. You can nearly always expect a

3:06:35 > 3:08:12mistake when it is frame ball! -- that was worth a try. You would be

3:08:13 > 3:08:20guaranteed to be on the black if you got it.

3:08:21 > 3:08:36And the fact that he needs only one more red aggro, he could decide to

3:08:37 > 3:08:47play this part -- pot. He decided not to risk anything. Matthew has

3:08:48 > 3:08:52done very well to virtually win the match. He was out late in the first

3:08:53 > 3:09:02four frames. He was complaining about the cue ball. Whether it was

3:09:03 > 3:09:05the fact that Ian refused to win a frame that Matthew suddenly thought

3:09:06 > 3:09:14he could get back into it. He has made practically perfect snooker in

3:09:15 > 3:09:31the last two frames. He is starting to look good again.

3:09:32 > 3:09:44He was forced to take that on as he didn't have a good safety shot that

3:09:45 > 3:09:46was on. Often, when you are 100% committed because you don't have a

3:09:47 > 3:10:36choice, the shops go in. -- shots. What an excellent shot under

3:10:37 > 3:10:42pressure. Very well played. If he had missed that, he could have been

3:10:43 > 3:11:18as way -- on his way back up to Blackburn. Excellent shot.

3:11:19 > 3:11:29He would have expected to have a better angle to bring down Fred

3:11:30 > 3:11:39aggro interplay. -- to bring down red into play. It is only his second

3:11:40 > 3:11:41match ever on television. I think that what we have seen this at noon,

3:11:42 > 3:12:41we can see that he can play. This type of shot is difference.

3:12:42 > 3:12:50Hitting the red was about the most difficult thing to do there! Ian

3:12:51 > 3:13:01Burns is still 47 points behind. 51 left on the table.

3:13:02 > 3:13:41That could be the end. I think Matthew Stevens was (easier shot

3:13:42 > 3:13:52than this! -- was hoping for an easier shop than this. Is that the

3:13:53 > 3:13:57only extension that's he has? Yes, it is the only extension he has. He

3:13:58 > 3:14:08seems to be comfortable with that. He has played with it for years. Ian

3:14:09 > 3:14:12Burns will look at this match anything, goodness me, I had my

3:14:13 > 3:14:14chances to beat one of the best players in the world, and they let

3:14:15 > 3:14:31it slip. Fair comment. Although the standards are very high

3:14:32 > 3:14:37in today's game, you do get plenty of chances. It is only when you are

3:14:38 > 3:14:39playing against the very top players who are on their best form that you

3:14:40 > 3:14:48sit in your seat all day. That will have certainly clinched

3:14:49 > 3:15:00it! with his performance late on in this

3:15:01 > 3:15:11match. You don't really lose your skill,

3:15:12 > 3:15:44just the will, sometimes. It is all happening, a bit of side!

3:15:45 > 3:15:52He didn't like the queue ball earlier in this match, but I think

3:15:53 > 3:15:55he will take it now! Job done for Matthew Stevens. He has played

3:15:56 > 3:16:02exceptionally well in the last three frames and goes through 4-2.

3:16:03 > 3:16:15Still, great news for the local fans. -- so, great news for the

3:16:16 > 3:16:22local fans, another Welsh man through. We are all believed he has

3:16:23 > 3:16:27got over the line. Like Terry said, he played terrifically in the last

3:16:28 > 3:16:34three frames of the match. It was a game of two halves. In the

3:16:35 > 3:16:41first-half, he was struggling with the cue ball and it was affecting

3:16:42 > 3:16:46him. You would have to say that Ian Burns missed his opportunities. He

3:16:47 > 3:16:50should not have lost. Ian Burns, the should not have lost. Ian Burns, the

3:16:51 > 3:16:56guys were saying there that he is fairly new to doing televised in

3:16:57 > 3:17:02months. Do you think he is a player that could be around is and make it

3:17:03 > 3:17:11difficult for the top players? You can see he can play. He was the best

3:17:12 > 3:17:14newcomer of the year. He has not played badly, he has played very

3:17:15 > 3:17:25well. Just a couple of T-shirts have left them -- let him down at the

3:17:26 > 3:17:30wrong time. -- just a couple of the shots left him, and let him down at

3:17:31 > 3:17:48the wrong time. There were a few negative shots from

3:17:49 > 3:17:55Ian Burns. He tried to be a little bit too clever, and he played too

3:17:56 > 3:18:00tight. He made little mistakes and it has cost them. He probably should

3:18:01 > 3:18:03have gone for the jugular a little bit earlier and spread the balls

3:18:04 > 3:18:12only had an opportunity. Just played a bit or positive. I'm sure he is

3:18:13 > 3:18:19thinking neither the should have played a bit more positive. Credit

3:18:20 > 3:18:25to Matthew, it is one thing to be given the chance, and another thing

3:18:26 > 3:18:30to actually take it. It did not look like he could make a break of 40 at

3:18:31 > 3:18:37that stage, and he did a clearance out of nowhere. The match change

3:18:38 > 3:18:40from then on in. Psychologically, that would be good preparation to

3:18:41 > 3:18:45move into the latter stages of this tournament? Definitely. At the first

3:18:46 > 3:18:52part, he will be thinking, what was wrong with that? Take the cue ball

3:18:53 > 3:18:57out of this scenario. Sometimes you don't feel very good, it just feels

3:18:58 > 3:19:02happy. At the end of the match, you could see that there was nothing

3:19:03 > 3:19:05wrong with him. And a big boost for the treatment in general. To have

3:19:06 > 3:19:10Welsh players moving their way through, staying into the latter

3:19:11 > 3:19:13stages, that gives the crowd a lift. We would love to see another Welsh

3:19:14 > 3:19:20winners. We are not supposed to be too biased, but Matthew is a lovely

3:19:21 > 3:19:28fella and it is great to see him back or he belongs. Matthew is here.

3:19:29 > 3:19:35Well done. Cheers! I guess at the halfway stage would've taken

3:19:36 > 3:19:39that's. If you had told me I was going to win that after a couple of

3:19:40 > 3:19:46friends, I would have laughed at you! I managed to get a good

3:19:47 > 3:19:54clearance to go 2-2. That gave me a boost. Ian is a good, tough player.

3:19:55 > 3:19:58I am pleased to come through. It was such a struggle at the start.

3:19:59 > 3:20:03Snooker sometimes, you have to battle through it. I managed to get

3:20:04 > 3:20:08to good clearances and I'm still in the tournament so I am happy. You

3:20:09 > 3:20:14clearly weren't happy with the cue ball. Was getting to you? How did

3:20:15 > 3:20:19you respond when the anti-came back that you could not change it?

3:20:20 > 3:20:25you respond when the anti-came back was him, I would've said nowhere

3:20:26 > 3:20:29you respond when the anti-came back well stop the white did not seem to

3:20:30 > 3:20:33be following through. It is the same for both players. You have to try

3:20:34 > 3:20:39and get on with it and I managed to do that towards the end of the

3:20:40 > 3:20:43match. You have adjusted by the end because things certainly seemed to

3:20:44 > 3:20:52be flowing better. I just had to get on with it. No messing about. It is

3:20:53 > 3:20:56a silly old game. One minute you can get a ball in, then a good clearance

3:20:57 > 3:21:02gives you the confidence boost and you managed to come through. And to

3:21:03 > 3:21:09come through a gruelling game, getting on for three hours, you seem

3:21:10 > 3:21:17tired and exhausted emotionally. All that you good as the tournament news

3:21:18 > 3:21:23on? I am not getting any younger! We are used to playing long matches.

3:21:24 > 3:21:27Best of seven is not a long match, but just more mentally than

3:21:28 > 3:21:39anything. The way I started off, I made it hard work! You are just a

3:21:40 > 3:21:43whipper snapper exhibition Mark Ian did have his chances earlier on,

3:21:44 > 3:21:53didn't he? He could taken those chances. It was a bad match from the

3:21:54 > 3:22:00start. Sometimes that just happens. I managed to pinch the first frame.

3:22:01 > 3:22:04It is a tough game, snooker. I am just really pleased that I am still

3:22:05 > 3:22:07in the tournament. It is always nice to come to Wales.

3:22:08 > 3:22:09in the tournament. It is always nice my family comes up, my young boys

3:22:10 > 3:22:14are in the crowd. my family comes up, my young boys

3:22:15 > 3:22:19that bit harder for them. The main thing is that your three and wheels

3:22:20 > 3:22:26is delighted about that! We look forward to seeing you later in the

3:22:27 > 3:22:35week. Thank you. Matthew was not the only Welsh player to go through.

3:22:36 > 3:22:47Dominic Dale was playing Ding Junhui from Thailand.

3:22:48 > 3:23:04-- Dechawat Poomjaeng from Thailand. Noppon Saengkham was playing Mark

3:23:05 > 3:23:14Allen. Mark Allen took this 4-2. He is also safety in to the next round.

3:23:15 > 3:23:26It was a bad day for snooker players from Thailand. Thankfully, James

3:23:27 > 3:23:33Wattana went through, beating Tom Ford 4-2. We have lost another seed.

3:23:34 > 3:23:39This time it was Mark Davies, the 14th seed. He went out for- three to

3:23:40 > 3:23:45Joel Walker. Scott Donaldson is putting together a terrific run in

3:23:46 > 3:23:49Newport. He is ready beaten the 15th seed, Robert Milkins, and today he

3:23:50 > 3:23:54moved into the next round with a 4-1 victory over David Dilbert. A very

3:23:55 > 3:24:00tight match between Andrew victory over David Dilbert. A very

3:24:01 > 3:24:13and Jimmy Robertson. Andrew Higginson, a finalist here in 2007,

3:24:14 > 3:24:22took it. He won 4-3. We are going to turn to that match

3:24:23 > 3:24:27my with Mark Selby. He has very fond memories of this venue. This is

3:24:28 > 3:24:30where he won his first ranking title back in 2008. He has established an

3:24:31 > 3:24:36as one of the top layers on the circuit. Here is an Irvine has been

3:24:37 > 3:24:41to see him at home for a cup of tea and a chat.

3:24:42 > 3:24:53Vicky and I have been here for two years, but if you added it all up it

3:24:54 > 3:24:59would hardly be six months. As soon as he comes home, we get in our

3:25:00 > 3:25:10pyjamas, get in front of the TV and just catch up. This place seems like

3:25:11 > 3:25:16a world away. You are in beautiful countryside have a lovely back

3:25:17 > 3:25:24Bardon. It all seems so tranquil. He even have a swimming pool! Do you

3:25:25 > 3:25:32use it? I don't. The village is fantastic, there is no pub, no post

3:25:33 > 3:25:41office. There is no passing traffic. Vicky goes into this woman pool, but

3:25:42 > 3:25:49I can't swim! Mark the shark, ready for a swim? You have a husband and

3:25:50 > 3:25:57wife relationship, and the business relationship. How does that work?

3:25:58 > 3:26:02Vicky is very experienced in the queue -based games. She is always

3:26:03 > 3:26:15behind me given with the encouragement, encouraging me at the

3:26:16 > 3:26:20tournament. If I am going through a bad patch, sometimes I bring my work

3:26:21 > 3:26:25with me, which is not fair on her. She always there. We do play a

3:26:26 > 3:26:35little bit. Once the family comes round, it is a nice social thing to

3:26:36 > 3:26:41do. If I beat him, I will make it up to best of nine so he gets his

3:26:42 > 3:26:46confidence back. We always see Vicky in the auditorium. Is it better for

3:26:47 > 3:26:53her to be there? If I could afford it, I would bring her to every

3:26:54 > 3:26:58tournament. The turn and that she tends to watch the ads, I'd do well

3:26:59 > 3:27:03in them. I tend to get into the latter stages when she is there.

3:27:04 > 3:27:08When she is not there, I have not done so well. If I could, I would

3:27:09 > 3:27:15take to every tournament. With the tournament in -- the tournament

3:27:16 > 3:27:21season been so long, it is not really possible. Because she has

3:27:22 > 3:27:30been there herself, she must be one of the few sports woman that can

3:27:31 > 3:27:35completely understand what husband does. She has won pretty much every

3:27:36 > 3:27:41tournament apart from the world Championships. She knows how it

3:27:42 > 3:27:48works. When you first met him, what was he like them? When we first got

3:27:49 > 3:27:52together and they'd down to see him, he had a flat in the middle of

3:27:53 > 3:27:57Leicester that had that thing in it. His kitchen was that clean he

3:27:58 > 3:28:08never used it. He didn't have anything, not Doctor pans. Every

3:28:09 > 3:28:14time I came to visit him I had to bring him something. I remember

3:28:15 > 3:28:18talking about what would happen if you came to interview him, and we

3:28:19 > 3:28:22decided that if you did turn up we would have to pretend we were

3:28:23 > 3:28:29burgled! It is really surreal, that you are here! Here is a present. My

3:28:30 > 3:28:42favourite colour, as well! Dave Harold is 47 years old, but he

3:28:43 > 3:28:48still has the world ranking of 53. His big break came in 1993 when he

3:28:49 > 3:28:53won grow a tournament as an outsider. He has been a

3:28:54 > 3:29:00quarterfinalist in the World Championship. He has the record for

3:29:01 > 3:29:06the longest ever frame. Let us hope we get something shorter today. The

3:29:07 > 3:29:08players are ready and they are on their way. Mark Selby against Dave

3:29:09 > 3:29:23Harold. safely through to the last 32. Thank

3:29:24 > 3:29:30you. I am pleased to have won this morning. Never easy in front of your

3:29:31 > 3:29:32home crowd. I am glad I am commentating on this match, because

3:29:33 > 3:30:08I play the winner on Wednesday. The players are ready, the referee

3:30:09 > 3:30:12is ready. Matches here are the best of seven frames, not the best of

3:30:13 > 3:30:17nine as we are normally accustomed to. Of course, there will not be any

3:30:18 > 3:30:31interval after four frames either. Two seasoned campaigners, Mark Selby

3:30:32 > 3:30:33is a regular tournament winner. Dave Harold has been on the circuit for

3:30:34 > 3:30:48many years. He won the Thailand Open many years

3:30:49 > 3:30:53ago. He does not have a bad record against Mark Selby. Mark Selby may

3:30:54 > 3:30:55be a strong favourite to win this match, but he will not have it all

3:30:56 > 3:31:17his own way. Dave Harold, of course, has been on

3:31:18 > 3:31:21the tour for many years, an excellent safety player. He is in

3:31:22 > 3:31:22the top eight safety players. I am sure we will see that this

3:31:23 > 3:31:40afternoon. I'll was think these two are very

3:31:41 > 3:31:46similar in style. -- I always think. Mark Selby is better in all

3:31:47 > 3:31:50departments. He scores more heavily than Dave Harold and his long game

3:31:51 > 3:31:58is fantastic and he has great safety play.

3:31:59 > 3:32:05I do not know what the cue ball was like on your table, but the players

3:32:06 > 3:32:10have been suggesting it is light. What was your table like this

3:32:11 > 3:32:15morning? I played on the other television table and some of the

3:32:16 > 3:32:22best playing conditions I could ever remember having, it was without

3:32:23 > 3:32:28fault, really. The cloth was lovely, no fast bounces and hardly

3:32:29 > 3:32:31any kicks. If you could replicate those conditions every time you

3:32:32 > 3:32:42played, you would be more than happy.

3:32:43 > 3:32:49One thing I did find on my table, earlier today, was that the pockets

3:32:50 > 3:32:56were playing slightly easier than I expected them to. Down the black

3:32:57 > 3:33:07cushion, where I was expecting the odd ball to wobble, they went in

3:33:08 > 3:33:12rather more comfortable a. -- comfortably. They caught that a lot

3:33:13 > 3:33:26too thin, the cue ball came out of baulk. This close to the pocket, you

3:33:27 > 3:33:32could have them very thin. It is only when you slide in with more

3:33:33 > 3:33:35force, it creates topspin off the cushion. That has not moved very

3:33:36 > 3:33:45well. I will be amazed if he takes the pot

3:33:46 > 3:33:55this early in the game. It looks like he is doing that.

3:33:56 > 3:34:10APPLAUSE. That shows you the confidence is back.

3:34:11 > 3:34:18What a bold shot choice that was. He is a little straighter on this red

3:34:19 > 3:34:23than he would like, the black will not go into the same pocket as the

3:34:24 > 3:34:25red. If he is to go on a colour here, he has a lot of work to do

3:34:26 > 3:34:50with the cue ball. APPLAUSE. You cannot cue better than

3:34:51 > 3:34:56that, beautifully cued. You need a lot of pace to get the cue ball out

3:34:57 > 3:34:58of baulk here. This one in the left-hand corner as well, he could

3:34:59 > 3:35:25run through. What a brilliant shop that is,

3:35:26 > 3:35:29opened the black. -- shot. All of a sudden, three or four reds in play

3:35:30 > 3:36:17and the black is in play. His body language tells me he cannot

3:36:18 > 3:36:23see the red nearest the corner. He cannot really see that, the one

3:36:24 > 3:36:33nearest the pocket could pot the red in off the other red. Such a hard

3:36:34 > 3:36:44shot to do, when you try to Cannes and the other red correctly to pot

3:36:45 > 3:36:54the other red off it -- cannon. REFEREE: Mark Selby, 18. This could

3:36:55 > 3:37:00be tricky for Dave Harold. It will not be easy to plant anything on it

3:37:01 > 3:37:08to pot it. I do not think that shot is on, oh, it is! I think Dave

3:37:09 > 3:37:13Harold can pot the red and squeeze it in off the other one. If he can,

3:37:14 > 3:38:12getting onto the black should not be a problem.

3:38:13 > 3:38:16It appears that Dave Harold in playing that initial red, has tied

3:38:17 > 3:38:30up the other two now. It will pot into that right centre,

3:38:31 > 3:38:53that is what he has played for. He could stun back over for the black.

3:38:54 > 3:38:59Not blessed with the greatest of power, Dave Harold, but when it

3:39:00 > 3:39:04comes to the power shots, he struggles a little bit. He could go

3:39:05 > 3:39:30off the top cushion with lots of spin.

3:39:31 > 3:40:44A bit negative, trying to bring a red interplay. He could have played

3:40:45 > 3:40:45that a bit firmer. -- in to play. He will be pleased with that, it was a

3:40:46 > 3:41:04tough pot. It has finished over the right centre. Look at this, slightly

3:41:05 > 3:41:09on that left-hand job. -- jaw. The black will not pass those. Not a

3:41:10 > 3:41:16great chance to win the frame, even though there are plenty of Liz --

3:41:17 > 3:41:17loose reds. The black is available on the left-hand corner, but not the

3:41:18 > 3:41:24right. I think the pink will pot in the

3:41:25 > 3:41:30middle. He is cueing very low, I think he is

3:41:31 > 3:41:46playing for the blue. That was a surprising miss from

3:41:47 > 3:41:54Mark. It tells me he was in two minds on how to play that pot. The

3:41:55 > 3:42:02red has rebranded from the cushions and split a few more up for Dave

3:42:03 > 3:44:03Harold. -- rebounded. Dave Harold could have a great chance here.

3:44:04 > 3:44:07They may be shot here for Dave Harold. I red in a pot into this

3:44:08 > 3:44:42right corner -- pot. -- a red. Similar shot for Mark Selby. The red

3:44:43 > 3:44:48is back into baulk -- sorry, the cue ball back into baulk.

3:44:49 > 3:45:40Does that red nearest that right corner pot? I believe that Mark

3:45:41 > 3:45:47Selby thinks it will. It is attempt macro safety. -- it is a temp won

3:45:48 > 3:46:01safety. It is a risky one to play a safety shot off. -- thin. What a

3:46:02 > 3:46:10chance that is for Dave Harold. You can stun the cue ball and the with a

3:46:11 > 3:46:17good opportunity. -- be in with a good opportunity. He is going to

3:46:18 > 3:46:34play for the pink. And that is his Achilles' Heel.

3:46:35 > 3:46:36Anyone who is a regular tournament player would have played that shot

3:46:37 > 3:47:35that Dominic suggested. He needs a good pot. It has not

3:47:36 > 3:47:41settled yet. Just lost the cue ball slightly, tried to hold it and it

3:47:42 > 3:47:45almost turned into attempt to run through. A big shot this, could be a

3:47:46 > 3:47:54frame winner. He could go around at the back of

3:47:55 > 3:48:15that. He could be he was on that red, a chance to win

3:48:16 > 3:48:19the first frame. This is the big shot for Dave Harold. If he can get

3:48:20 > 3:48:38onto the black, he could be in business. We have run out of time

3:48:39 > 3:48:44and we will have to leave this frame. At 7pm tonight, we will let

3:48:45 > 3:48:47you know exactly what happens in this game and we will feature Judd

3:48:48 > 3:48:53Trump, one of the most exciting players, who is also playing this

3:48:54 > 3:48:58evening. Join us at 7pm. Until then, goodbye.