25/02/2014

0:00:23 > 0:00:32Good afternoon from the Newport Centre. The big names are having to

0:00:33 > 0:00:39work really hard to get through. Yesterday, defending champion,

0:00:40 > 0:00:54Stephen Maguire, squeezed into the last 32, despite a bad back. Today,

0:00:55 > 0:01:04the big names keep coming. Ding Junhui Faces Jamie Cope. World

0:01:05 > 0:01:19number one, Neil Robertson, is hoping to repeat his 2007 triumph,

0:01:20 > 0:01:25he faces Rory McIllroy out. -- Rory McLeod. But what the crowd really

0:01:26 > 0:01:34love is to see Welsh players doing well. Three players made it through

0:01:35 > 0:01:41yesterday. Matthew Stevens progressed to a hard-fought four -

0:01:42 > 0:01:56two victory. He will now face Joe Perry. That is when snooker is

0:01:57 > 0:02:00really tough. It is easy when you are 4-0 up, but it is when you need

0:02:01 > 0:02:14to dig deep and show had to get back into the game. -- heart. I am

0:02:15 > 0:02:20pleased with the way I responded. Dominic Dale made it through with a

0:02:21 > 0:02:254-1 victory. Yesterday he was doing his stuff in the arena, today I am

0:02:26 > 0:02:31the light to say he joins me as my guest. -- delighted. You got the

0:02:32 > 0:02:40ball rolling on what turned out to be a good day for Welsh players. The

0:02:41 > 0:02:46table was playing beautifully. Although I lost the first frame, I

0:02:47 > 0:02:56responded very well. I was pretty solid. And Matthew Stevens through

0:02:57 > 0:03:02also, good news for Welsh fans. Unfortunately we lost Michael White

0:03:03 > 0:03:06but he had a tough game. The biggest name in Welsh snooker recently is

0:03:07 > 0:03:11Mark Williams. He plays this afternoon will stop what are you

0:03:12 > 0:03:19hoping from him? He is playing somebody who does not have his

0:03:20 > 0:03:26wealth of experience. Tian Pengfei will need to start well. Mark has

0:03:27 > 0:03:34his family up, his wife, he is ready to do the business, and I expect him

0:03:35 > 0:03:38to play well. Tian Pengfei, perhaps not much being expected of him, but

0:03:39 > 0:03:45he could use that to his advantage, give it a good go. That is exactly

0:03:46 > 0:03:52what he will do. He is a very good player. All of the Asian players

0:03:53 > 0:03:59have a very good technique, and that could stand him in good stead. Mark

0:04:00 > 0:04:09Williams has been world number one and 118 ranking tournaments. -- won

0:04:10 > 0:04:1118. But by his own high standards he is going through a dip at the

0:04:12 > 0:04:22moment. Yet you would never write him off.

0:04:23 > 0:04:29I would watch pot Black on the television, many years ago. My

0:04:30 > 0:04:42father bought me a table not long after that. I just started playing,

0:04:43 > 0:04:49he took me to the local inns -- Institute, all the local miners

0:04:50 > 0:04:56would have a competition, and I have been competitive ever since. I would

0:04:57 > 0:05:02get beat, but I kept going back and back. Eventually I started to win

0:05:03 > 0:05:07every now and again, and managed to beat them quite regularly. That gave

0:05:08 > 0:05:17me the most satisfaction when I was young. Defeating people older than

0:05:18 > 0:05:21myself. It is a bit silly, really. You set the balls up in a nice

0:05:22 > 0:05:28position, pot them all, then set them back up again. But that is what

0:05:29 > 0:05:32we do. When you're in a good run of form, winning comes naturally. But

0:05:33 > 0:05:40if you start losing, losing becomes a habit. I have been there before.

0:05:41 > 0:05:50At the top one year, then a few years later, down to number 47. I

0:05:51 > 0:05:57know what you need to do to get back up the rankings but the more years

0:05:58 > 0:06:05go by, the harder it gets. But it is my job. I am luckier than somebody

0:06:06 > 0:06:09working down the pit all their life. The only ambition I have is to just

0:06:10 > 0:06:16try to keep as high up the rankings as I can for as long as I can play

0:06:17 > 0:06:24to a good standard. I will keep trying and see how long I can stay

0:06:25 > 0:06:29up for. Tian Pengfei has been professional

0:06:30 > 0:06:37since 2006 after finishing runner-up in the world under 21 is

0:06:38 > 0:06:44championship. He won at the German Masters earlier this season. Mark

0:06:45 > 0:06:50Williams, local boy, it would just have taken him 20 minutes to drive

0:06:51 > 0:06:52from home to the venue. In the commentary box, Willie Thorne and

0:06:53 > 0:07:14Darren Morgan. Thank you very much. This will be

0:07:15 > 0:07:22very intriguing. We know lots about Mark Williams, not so much about his

0:07:23 > 0:07:33opponent. Like a lot of Asian players, very, very good. Very sound

0:07:34 > 0:07:43cue action. This should be a good one.

0:07:44 > 0:07:52It is a little bit more difficult for Mark Williams, in front of a

0:07:53 > 0:07:54home crowd. But I expect him to win. Not quite at his fluent best yet

0:07:55 > 0:08:11this season. Some may say he is on the decline, I

0:08:12 > 0:08:13still think he has a two and left in him. Whether it is this one remains

0:08:14 > 0:08:23to be seen. That is a very good safety shot from

0:08:24 > 0:09:45Tian Pengfei. Mark Williams is playing with a

0:09:46 > 0:09:52relatively new cue. He has had a couple of different ones in recent

0:09:53 > 0:10:02seasons, not always a good ring. -- thing. I know a lot of players who

0:10:03 > 0:10:07went through their career using the same cue. John Higgins has really

0:10:08 > 0:10:10changed around in the last same cue. John Higgins has really

0:10:11 > 0:10:20seasons and he is an unbelievable player.

0:10:21 > 0:10:25But when there is a lack of confidence in a few departments,

0:10:26 > 0:11:06they sometimes think that is the way to change.

0:11:07 > 0:11:14He has decent cue power but did not quite get into that enough. I have

0:11:15 > 0:11:24been impressed looking at his record. Some good results. You need

0:11:25 > 0:11:27to be decent to defeat Robertson. He only seems to lose two seeded

0:11:28 > 0:11:46players. Back in 2010 he defeated Ryan Day in

0:11:47 > 0:12:16China. He has the credentials to be a very good player.

0:12:17 > 0:12:29In his last shot he got the green. This time he caught the Brown. It

0:12:30 > 0:12:53gives your opponent the advantage. Comfortable queueing.

0:12:54 > 0:12:59He would have loved that to have gone right, tight under the bottom

0:13:00 > 0:13:16cushion. But much better. Tian Pengfei will need to play a

0:13:17 > 0:13:24little bit more open as the match goes on. He will not defeat Mark

0:13:25 > 0:14:19Williams with safety play. Not many can.

0:14:20 > 0:14:30That is the best shot Mark has played in this first frame. We were

0:14:31 > 0:14:40talking about his new cue. He has elected to go for a non-deflecting

0:14:41 > 0:14:50cue. You name exactly where you want to hit the object ball, whether you

0:14:51 > 0:14:56are playing with side, it doesn't react. -- you aim. All his angles

0:14:57 > 0:15:26have had to change. He has obviously being practising of

0:15:27 > 0:15:34the table a lot. As we see Tian Pengfei Miss that safety shot. A

0:15:35 > 0:15:52shot to nothing on. I was about to say that he has been

0:15:53 > 0:16:02practising a lot here at the Newport Centre. I was following a practice

0:16:03 > 0:16:15session on Twitter, sitting at home, and after every frame, Andrew and

0:16:16 > 0:16:21Mark Williams were tweeting, how sad I? Sitting at home following a game

0:16:22 > 0:18:31on Twitter! Both players are getting the speed

0:18:32 > 0:18:38of the table. Some good safety play going on. That is about as good as

0:18:39 > 0:18:52it gets. Maybe Mark can get through to the red two roll onto it.

0:18:53 > 0:19:11Again, a very well played shot. We have seen some wonderful safety, not

0:19:12 > 0:19:18only from the mark, but also 10pm -- Tian Pengfei. Mark Williams does not

0:19:19 > 0:19:34like to get bogged down in safety too much.

0:19:35 > 0:19:55He may take the one that is just below the pink.

0:19:56 > 0:20:06He tried to pinch a little bit of it.

0:20:07 > 0:20:14More like one of the games you would see in the old Winter league. The

0:20:15 > 0:20:42way the reds are. That is his first poor safety shot.

0:20:43 > 0:20:55Too thin. Somebody will have to play an aggressive safety shot soon.

0:20:56 > 0:21:11It looks like they are playing on a ship at the moment, everything is

0:21:12 > 0:21:27rolling to the lack -- black spot end.

0:21:28 > 0:21:40I think your call was good. This could be a very long game unless we

0:21:41 > 0:21:53see some attacking safe the shots -- safety. Everything is still tightly

0:21:54 > 0:21:59bunched. The amazing thing is that the black is still on its spot. But

0:22:00 > 0:22:06just as I say that, it moves. Another excellent safety shot. He is

0:22:07 > 0:23:21certainly one of the best in that department.

0:23:22 > 0:23:50This is good stuff. Very cagey from both players.

0:23:51 > 0:24:11At least the Black has come into play.

0:24:12 > 0:24:19Still no mistake from either player in the safety Department. A really

0:24:20 > 0:24:25good exchange. As near to in the safety Department. A really

0:24:26 > 0:24:32cushion is possible makes it ethical for your opponent -- difficult. Will

0:24:33 > 0:25:21he be tempted? That is twice he has done that in

0:25:22 > 0:25:30this frame. Trying to get the thinnest of edges. I am surprised

0:25:31 > 0:25:38that Tian Pengfei is playing this from that position. I can't really

0:25:39 > 0:25:48understand that. Obviously it was a difficult safety for Mark. Even

0:25:49 > 0:25:50though he caught it too thick it does not appear to have left

0:25:51 > 0:26:07anything on. The red has come behind the black.

0:26:08 > 0:26:21Tian Pengfei is in a little bit of trouble here.

0:26:22 > 0:27:20This is the mistake. Too thin. He was trying to go around the back of

0:27:21 > 0:27:25that red and black. There were 48 consecutive safety shots before that

0:27:26 > 0:28:03mistake was made. bring Reds into play. He was

0:28:04 > 0:28:14unfortunate not to bring more into play, because he could that really

0:28:15 > 0:28:18well. -- hit that. A sizeable lead, I would not expect him to win the

0:28:19 > 0:28:38frame and this visit, but you never know.

0:28:39 > 0:28:49I don't want to give the commentator curse but he seems very good at the

0:28:50 > 0:29:05moment. Right with it. Some good safety play. Some confident pots.

0:29:06 > 0:29:12What is the saying? Form is temporary, class is permanent.

0:29:13 > 0:29:21Mark Williams has always been very good and this kind of game,

0:29:22 > 0:29:30scrapping when balls are out of commission. Lots of players get

0:29:31 > 0:29:35frustrated. Stephen Hendry used to hate playing lots of safety shots.

0:29:36 > 0:29:55But boy, could he knock them in. Bad contact. Not the desired

0:29:56 > 0:30:02screwback. But to make this break from where the balls were is

0:30:03 > 0:30:25amazing. APPLAUSE. Word is the next red come

0:30:26 > 0:30:37from? Is he going to risk screwing into the four reds that are tied up.

0:30:38 > 0:30:50-- question mark --? It would maybe go into the top red part -- pot. You

0:30:51 > 0:30:54can see it does pot. He has got a chance to win the frame without

0:30:55 > 0:31:12moving those reds. A remarkable break.

0:31:13 > 0:31:39REFEREE: 56. This has been top drawer from Mark Williams. He wants

0:31:40 > 0:31:57this black. No heroics there. As you can see, still enough balls

0:31:58 > 0:32:02on their in the event of him missing and Tian Pengfei coming in in -- and

0:32:03 > 0:32:08taking the Reds and all the colours and a re-spotted black. -- reds. He

0:32:09 > 0:32:21thought he was I do not blame him for taking it on.

0:32:22 > 0:32:25He thought he was sure to come away from the pocket playing at that

0:32:26 > 0:32:32speed. If Tian Pengfei can get higher than this black, he camp in

0:32:33 > 0:32:39the three reds interplay -- he can bring in. -- in to play.

0:32:40 > 0:32:50This could turn out to be one of the best frames. That is a bad shot. He

0:32:51 > 0:33:01did not play that well at all. No conviction in that. He needs to

0:33:02 > 0:33:10try and get things away from the blackspot. The Black still would

0:33:11 > 0:33:59have been covered at that speed -- black. Mark will be reluctant to

0:34:00 > 0:34:05move that away from the black. Decision time.

0:34:06 > 0:34:12I suppose that that red and the black gold to the left corner, so if

0:34:13 > 0:34:18there is anyway he can shunt the black around the table, get it onto

0:34:19 > 0:34:25a cushion, he must prefer to do that, but he is in all kinds of

0:34:26 > 0:34:34trouble at the moment -- go to the left corner. Here's looking at the

0:34:35 > 0:34:44black. He is almost bound to leave a pot on two reds. He has an angle on

0:34:45 > 0:34:48the red next to the black. There is no way he can get behind at the

0:34:49 > 0:34:54curlers. He has two hope he pushes the black onto the side cushion.

0:34:55 > 0:34:59That is a result, putting the red safe, he may have left a pot into

0:35:00 > 0:35:25the top corner. He thought he had potted that, he

0:35:26 > 0:35:28struck it well, it would not have been an easy black, but he has left

0:35:29 > 0:35:47Mark Williams a nice easy start. This has been good from Mark

0:35:48 > 0:35:53Williams, first frame. Not a great shot, but it will not matter. I

0:35:54 > 0:35:57cannot imagine that Tian Pengfei will come back. He is looking like

0:35:58 > 0:36:55he will carry on. Tian Pengfei is carrying on to try

0:36:56 > 0:36:56and have a bit of potting practice. He has no aspirations of winning

0:36:57 > 0:37:05this frame, it is all over. This is just to get his arm going

0:37:06 > 0:37:51again. He has conceded the frame now, it

0:37:52 > 0:38:01has been an intriguing first frame for Mark Williams, he leads 1-0.

0:38:02 > 0:38:09I want to bring you up to date with another match involving a Welsh

0:38:10 > 0:38:14player which has just finished. This was the match between it Jamie Jones

0:38:15 > 0:38:20and he was playing the former world champion Graeme Dott. The Leeds

0:38:21 > 0:38:27changed hand, but in the end it went to a deciding frame and the final

0:38:28 > 0:38:36black was safely parted by Graeme Dott. He is into the last 32 were he

0:38:37 > 0:38:45will play Marco Fu. That is disappointing for Jamie. He was

0:38:46 > 0:38:52behind and he managed to get himself in amongst the balls. The brown was

0:38:53 > 0:38:56awkward, tight near the baulk line. He got back into the frame, ten

0:38:57 > 0:39:05points ahead, but the safety exchanges went in favour of Graeme

0:39:06 > 0:39:10Dott. A real shame for Jamie Jones. He has not pushed on as much as he

0:39:11 > 0:39:17would like. He was trying to get back into the top 32. As shame for

0:39:18 > 0:39:27Jamie Jones, but Mark Williams has made a decent start. -- a shame.

0:39:28 > 0:39:32What did you make of it? And unusual start to the frame, Mark Williams is

0:39:33 > 0:39:48such an attacking player -- and unusual start. Mark Williams made a

0:39:49 > 0:39:55brilliant break. The top players get a chance and they can make 60 or 70.

0:39:56 > 0:40:09The connoisseurs would have enjoyed that.

0:40:10 > 0:40:30Not a lot on here for Mark Williams. REFEREE: Touching ball. It would

0:40:31 > 0:40:53have been tough to play a safety shot.

0:40:54 > 0:41:03The only bad thing about that shot is it leaves Mark Williams a great

0:41:04 > 0:41:08shot. I would be tempted to leave a player at the edge of the pack, as

0:41:09 > 0:41:17long as you get tied on the cushion. It means that he will open

0:41:18 > 0:41:28some reds for you. Amazingly, that did not swerve. It hardly swerved at

0:41:29 > 0:41:33all. That is what I was on about. It is strange, I had a couple of shots

0:41:34 > 0:41:42yesterday, set up the way you would normally play at, it is very

0:41:43 > 0:41:49strange. There is no allowance made. If you have allowed all your

0:41:50 > 0:42:01career, with a deflecting cue, it is a massive difference.

0:42:02 > 0:42:09Good pot, but there is no angle on the red to do anything on the cue

0:42:10 > 0:42:12ball, so it is probably end of break. He might just roll this in

0:42:13 > 0:42:16and play a safety shot. He will not want to play it at pace

0:42:17 > 0:42:36to risk missing it. Always the problem, if you play that

0:42:37 > 0:42:42shot, you have to get it, you are doing nothing with the cue ball, the

0:42:43 > 0:42:44red is bound to stand the jaws. And an expected chance for Mark

0:42:45 > 0:43:11Williams. -- an unexpected chance. I can only presume he was screwing

0:43:12 > 0:43:24back for the red which was nearest the cushion. It does not look

0:43:25 > 0:44:53possible from our position. As usual, a good safety shot.

0:44:54 > 0:45:04The red is quite close to the corner prop it. -- pocket.

0:45:05 > 0:45:19No problem. If that pink goes, that was very well played. There, we can

0:45:20 > 0:45:26see it flies in there, it was very well struck.

0:45:27 > 0:45:33He is higher on the red than he should have been, he could have

0:45:34 > 0:45:44played that with a run inside, this is now very tricky.

0:45:45 > 0:45:54It is fully deceiving, the angle of the camera made that red look easier

0:45:55 > 0:45:56than it was -- very deceiving. He will be very disappointed,

0:45:57 > 0:46:21especially after the good long red Mark Williams will be happy. He has

0:46:22 > 0:46:30had half a chance, even if he goes 2-0 behind, he has had a couple of

0:46:31 > 0:46:34chances. If you get chances and do not score, you can say it is your

0:46:35 > 0:46:43fault, but if you are playing a top player, you might not get a shot at

0:46:44 > 0:46:52the best of seven. You cannot complain if you have chances and he

0:46:53 > 0:46:56has had chances so far. Whether he will get into this match at some

0:46:57 > 0:47:01stage, I am not so sure. He can play.

0:47:02 > 0:47:49Can you believe that, he concentrated so hard on the kiss he

0:47:50 > 0:47:56forgot about the black and you cannot do that at any standard. He

0:47:57 > 0:48:03did not cue it's great either. At that anxious. He will be

0:48:04 > 0:49:11disappointed. -- he did not cue it great either.

0:49:12 > 0:49:20Ten points in front, he will need one of the two reds on the side of

0:49:21 > 0:49:28the cushion. This is not a great chance, but he will be the favourite

0:49:29 > 0:49:33in the frame. Unless it is straight, that will be end of break, because

0:49:34 > 0:49:39the next red will be difficult unless he takes the blue.

0:49:40 > 0:50:10He has another option, he could stun the cue ball. He has to make sure he

0:50:11 > 0:50:23stuns the cue ball. He will be snookered. It sounded good! It was a

0:50:24 > 0:50:31good call. REFEREE: Tian Pengfei, 21.

0:50:32 > 0:50:40Mark Williams will be delighted to be back at the table so soon.

0:50:41 > 0:50:47That is one thing you lose the older you get, the long game it

0:50:48 > 0:50:52disappears, if you look at all the great players, especially like

0:50:53 > 0:51:07Stephen Hendry, those long ones do not seem to go in as often.

0:51:08 > 0:51:19Again, a very good pot. He has had his chances in these first few

0:51:20 > 0:51:27frames. Safety has been strong from both players, Mark is very sharp

0:51:28 > 0:51:30when he got in. He really has got to make more of these opportunities,

0:51:31 > 0:51:37Tian Pengfei, if he wants to have any chance in this match, and as I

0:51:38 > 0:51:42say that, he has missed a red that you would expect to pot.

0:51:43 > 0:51:53That is not being cruel, that was a bad miss.

0:51:54 > 0:52:01How is the angle on the pink, if it is dead straight, it will not be any

0:52:02 > 0:52:08good, but I think he has an angle where he can screw across.

0:52:09 > 0:52:21He will have to finish low on this black so he can get the last red.

0:52:22 > 0:52:27The stun makes the pot a bit difficult. He concentrated too

0:52:28 > 0:52:35hard, he has finished too low. That is a clever shot, covering the

0:52:36 > 0:53:21right-hand side of the table. The only problem with plain that

0:53:22 > 0:53:26this way, if you cannot pass the red, you are in trouble, on the

0:53:27 > 0:53:32left-hand side, this could go past the red on the left-hand side. That

0:53:33 > 0:53:42was a strange shot. Luckily, he got away with it, if he had kissed that

0:53:43 > 0:53:58red, he would not. If he had hit it, he would have left a half-ball pot.

0:53:59 > 0:54:07I do not know whether you agree, this miss rule, it is funny. He has

0:54:08 > 0:54:20made a right mess of this one, it will be a free ball. Going back to

0:54:21 > 0:54:31the misrule, it is up to the referee. They call it and this, if

0:54:32 > 0:54:37you miss the ball. -- a miss. Some of the referees to make their own

0:54:38 > 0:54:48decision and if they make a really good attempt of a difficult snooker,

0:54:49 > 0:54:57they will not call a mess. -- off. He is a very good referee. -- miss.

0:54:58 > 0:55:03People talk about the pockets being big, they do not touch the sides on

0:55:04 > 0:55:22a club table. Tian Pengfei, goodness me, he had

0:55:23 > 0:55:27that so badly. -- he hit that so badly.

0:55:28 > 0:55:39For somebody of his class, that is very bad.

0:55:40 > 0:57:04He did not want the kiss on the brain or the yellow, it is not easy.

0:57:05 > 0:57:34-- green. He is very quick on that one again.

0:57:35 > 0:57:40That was not a good delivery of the cue, bit too quick.

0:57:41 > 0:57:49He looks a bit anxious, playing in front of his home crowd. He has no

0:57:50 > 0:57:54need to impress anyone, his career highlights have been amazing.

0:57:55 > 0:58:01He has had a number legal ball amount of success in the game. He

0:58:02 > 0:58:13has left himself a bit to do with the cue ball here. -- he has had an

0:58:14 > 0:58:29unbelievable amount of each player has had several chances

0:58:30 > 0:58:37to win this frame, it is more important for Tian Pengfei.

0:58:38 > 0:58:47That is unlucky. 14 points in front, he only needs one ball. If

0:58:48 > 0:58:51you could snick the blue, bring it back between the pink and black. --

0:58:52 > 0:59:03if he could. Has it landed? Good effort.

0:59:04 > 1:00:00APPLAUSE. Got to be a little bit careful. If

1:00:01 > 1:00:05he is playing to the side cushion, which it looks like he is doing, he

1:00:06 > 1:00:08he is playing to the side cushion, won't be playing a double. And at

1:00:09 > 1:00:18first glance, it is not an easy safety shot. Cannot do anything with

1:00:19 > 1:00:39the cue ball to get that blue safe. And that is not safe.

1:00:40 > 1:00:49If Tian Pengfei does not win this frame, I don't see how he can win

1:00:50 > 1:00:56the match. His mind will be scrambled with the number of chances

1:00:57 > 1:01:00he has had to win. But somehow Mark Williams has got over the line. You

1:01:01 > 1:01:26see the sign of relief. I think his mind is a bit

1:01:27 > 1:01:37scrambled! He wants to make sure he is 19 in front. But he has got over

1:01:38 > 1:01:46the line. Quite scrappy. Mark Williams leads by 2-0.

1:01:47 > 1:02:02the line. Quite scrappy. Mark This is a picture of me, Joanne, the

1:02:03 > 1:02:17two kids. There I am fishing, I do a lot of fishing. This is me with the

1:02:18 > 1:02:30onesie my two boys got me for my birth day. My wife took a picture, I

1:02:31 > 1:02:40never hear the last of it! Here are my boys with Craig Bellamy. They

1:02:41 > 1:02:48love watching Cardiff. This is a picture of me messing about on

1:02:49 > 1:03:00Twitter. I like to have a laugh. Refuge -- Ricky Gervais was asking

1:03:01 > 1:03:09people to post pictures, that was my first attempt. Terrible, isn't it?

1:03:10 > 1:03:18Not much to laugh about in that first frame. If Tian Pengfei does

1:03:19 > 1:03:24not take the chances he is being offered, he has no chance of winning

1:03:25 > 1:03:38this match. The best chances all failed

1:03:39 > 1:03:42this match. to him. If Mark Williams starts to

1:03:43 > 1:03:49believe that Tian Pengfei cannot hurt him, he will start to play

1:03:50 > 1:03:57better himself. He made some uncharacteristic mistakes himself

1:03:58 > 1:04:00when the frame was at his mercy. He is looking to prove something to

1:04:01 > 1:04:07himself to give him the confidence to do well in this event. May not be

1:04:08 > 1:04:14at the height of his powers, but crucially, a two frame advantage.

1:04:15 > 1:04:25It is all going wrong for Tian Pengfei.

1:04:26 > 1:04:48A great pot by Mark. He played to catch the middle jaw. That is a

1:04:49 > 1:04:59nice, tight roll in behind the yellow. Just straight over the top

1:05:00 > 1:05:08of the cue ball, not enough chalk on the tip. Amazing how players always

1:05:09 > 1:06:15chalk after a miscue, never before! Tian Pengfei, it will be tough to

1:06:16 > 1:06:26get on a colour, but you have to start scoring. The cue ball has come

1:06:27 > 1:06:40back and touched his hand. It is all going wrong for Tian Pengfei. It is

1:06:41 > 1:06:48not going to plan. Two shots in this game, just watch the cue ball as it

1:06:49 > 1:06:55spins back. He just did not get his fingers out of the way. I don't

1:06:56 > 1:06:59think I have ever seen that before. He had plenty of time to get out of

1:07:00 > 1:07:08the way. Just a lack of concentration.

1:07:09 > 1:07:14Whatever the case, Mark Williams in the balls again and you would be

1:07:15 > 1:07:59surprised if he does not make at least 40 from here.

1:08:00 > 1:08:02Obviously he has played for the plant just below the pink. We can

1:08:03 > 1:08:16see, it is not exactly on. In it goes, nicely on the pink, but

1:08:17 > 1:08:26the cue ball is close to the two Reds.

1:08:27 > 1:09:37Trying very hard to bring balls into play. It has not quite happened.

1:09:38 > 1:09:4736 in front before this loop, that is 41. You would expect him to win

1:09:48 > 1:09:51the frame now that he has got the pink clear. Can do so with another

1:09:52 > 1:10:47four Reds, four colours. Just a little mistake from the

1:10:48 > 1:11:05referee. He put the colour on the wrong spot.

1:11:06 > 1:11:17Frame over, trying now to bring balls into play to make a century.

1:11:18 > 1:11:27Not had a great tally of centuries this season, only nine, and only

1:11:28 > 1:11:50nine in the Herald last season. -- the whole of.

1:11:51 > 1:11:59He needs an angle to move the red card. Not quite got it. He cannot do

1:12:00 > 1:12:16it from this shot. He played an exhibition shot to move

1:12:17 > 1:12:18it over the pocket. Brilliant. Deserves a century now, that was

1:12:19 > 1:12:29excellent. And what a shame! No Deserves a century now, that was

1:12:30 > 1:12:38century for Mark Williams. But a break of 77

1:12:39 > 1:12:45This was quite strange. When you go into the pack at speed, you watch

1:12:46 > 1:12:54the Reds. But he forgot about the white. Talk us through this. He

1:12:55 > 1:13:01played it perfect, his hand should have been well away from the table

1:13:02 > 1:13:07by then. He did really well to get the cue ball into the pack and out.

1:13:08 > 1:13:15We can see his eyes looking at the pack of Reds. They drift over

1:13:16 > 1:13:22towards the pack. Just watch his eyes. They look at where the ball is

1:13:23 > 1:13:31going and forget where the white is going. First time I have seen that.

1:13:32 > 1:13:39Unbelievable. Not being a good afternoon for him. It has been a

1:13:40 > 1:14:51horror story. He now needs to win the last four frames.

1:14:52 > 1:15:10This is a short to nothing. -- shot. He is close to cueing very

1:15:11 > 1:15:18well. That will give him confidence that he is very close to playing

1:15:19 > 1:15:28well. As we see this shot again, this longer red. Well done. After

1:15:29 > 1:15:36what has happened, that is a good pot. He would like to finish low on

1:15:37 > 1:15:44this next red to bring others into play. That is what he has done. Will

1:15:45 > 1:16:02he get his hand out of the way this time? I like to think he will!

1:16:03 > 1:16:19He just quit and did not push the cue through. You need a lot of

1:16:20 > 1:16:26backspin to get out of that cluster. He will look back on that and think

1:16:27 > 1:16:35his safety play was very good but he made chances he did not take. He

1:16:36 > 1:16:41will be very disappointed. Looking at the statistics, when you see who

1:16:42 > 1:16:45he has defeated in recent seasons, it suggested he has a long way to go

1:16:46 > 1:16:53to compete at this level. A bad day at the office. We have all had them.

1:16:54 > 1:17:01Even the greats, when things do not go according to plan.

1:17:02 > 1:18:13Clever shot. It is touching ball, so a good shot from Mark.

1:18:14 > 1:18:29Slightly more aggressive safety shot. Playing it slightly thicker

1:18:30 > 1:18:53than you would do normally. Trying to force another mistake.

1:18:54 > 1:19:04He struck that very good. The only thing wrong was that it did not go

1:19:05 > 1:19:19in. But he did strike it very, very good. And that is a trademark Mark

1:19:20 > 1:19:24Williams shot. This is not easy. He has only got to make sure of it,

1:19:25 > 1:19:34really, on this black. He should land on a red. There we have it.

1:19:35 > 1:19:42Very well played. Luckily, one has been pushed out into the middle. Had

1:19:43 > 1:19:47it not come away from the pack the next shot would have been tough. But

1:19:48 > 1:19:56he now has a chance to win the match at this visit. A horror story for

1:19:57 > 1:20:03Tian Pengfei. He certainly had chances in the first three, he had

1:20:04 > 1:20:04half a chance in the fourth frame. A far better player than we have seen

1:20:05 > 1:20:27today. For those who are watching Tian

1:20:28 > 1:20:32Pengfei for the first time, he has had eight centuries this season.

1:20:33 > 1:20:39That shows you he has a pretty good break. But at the moment he will

1:20:40 > 1:20:44struggle to make 50. That is what happens sometimes. He has reached

1:20:45 > 1:21:04the last 16 in three different tournaments. World ranking of 58. 64

1:21:05 > 1:21:10is the key number, 128 on the tour, but 64 is the key number as far as

1:21:11 > 1:21:11seeding is concerned. Mark Williams is now at his best, in and around

1:21:12 > 1:22:09the black area. Very shaky in frame number two, but

1:22:10 > 1:22:16this has been a good forms by Mark Williams. -- performance. He will be

1:22:17 > 1:22:41a handful for whoever he plays. Making sure of that red. This is

1:22:42 > 1:22:50match ball. Well played, Mark Williams. A good performance. He has

1:22:51 > 1:22:57looked very good. His safety play is very good. His scoring, when he gets

1:22:58 > 1:23:19in. Can he go on to win another Welsh open title?

1:23:20 > 1:23:26This has been very good from Mark. Great to see him playing somewhere

1:23:27 > 1:23:33near his very best. Let's hope it continues. And what a treat we have

1:23:34 > 1:23:43got coming up for you this afternoon, Robertson against

1:23:44 > 1:23:57McLeod, and then the great Ronnie O'Sullivan this evening at 7pm, not

1:23:58 > 1:24:02a spare seat in the house. This, for century number 310 of his career.

1:24:03 > 1:24:22And his 10th of the season. Very well played, Mark Williams.

1:24:23 > 1:24:33This large crowd applaud another century from their hero.

1:24:34 > 1:24:47Will we see an exhibition shot? It does not disappear, but a very good

1:24:48 > 1:24:50performance from Mark Williams. Back to the drawing board for TM paying

1:24:51 > 1:25:06faith. Mark Williams storming through, a 4-0 win.

1:25:07 > 1:25:16That was a good performance towards the end after a patchy start. By and

1:25:17 > 1:25:24large, a good performance. Two really good friends, two indifferent

1:25:25 > 1:25:27ones. As soon as he realised that Tian Pengfei would not threaten him

1:25:28 > 1:25:36he was able to play much better snooker. Difficult to think how much

1:25:37 > 1:25:44more could have gone wrong for poor Tian Pengfei. He should have won

1:25:45 > 1:25:51that second frame. He had golden chance after golden chance, it is

1:25:52 > 1:25:54very deflating to lose that. It is tough to beat somebody like Mark

1:25:55 > 1:26:13Williams, if you cannot put the top guys under Drescher, they find their

1:26:14 > 1:26:17A-game. -- under pressure. Mark Williams is the sort of guy, if you

1:26:18 > 1:26:25reach is the quarterfinals, he will be a threat for the championship.

1:26:26 > 1:26:30And I guess that he is such a local favourite, if he can do well, it

1:26:31 > 1:26:40provides an extra spark for the tournament. Absolutely. A wealth of

1:26:41 > 1:26:45experience and a great player. Hopefully the Welsh players can do

1:26:46 > 1:27:02well, including myself as well ex-commission -- and Neil Robertson,

1:27:03 > 1:27:10the number of centuries he has had this season has been absolutely

1:27:11 > 1:27:12ridiculous! He is a scoring machine. And that is the style of

1:27:13 > 1:27:30play of Mark as well. Mark Williams has dropped out of the

1:27:31 > 1:27:38world top 16 at the moment. But he has gone up and down in the past.

1:27:39 > 1:27:44Could you start climbing up again? He is married with kids and has his

1:27:45 > 1:27:49life away from the table. If you buckle is down and puts the hours in

1:27:50 > 1:28:00he can get back up the rankings, but it is up to him. -- if he buckles

1:28:01 > 1:28:13down. And he joins us now. And who is

1:28:14 > 1:28:23this? My youngest. Kian. You were playing well towards the end. I was

1:28:24 > 1:28:31lucky to go 2-0 up. But I was still frustrated with myself. Missing some

1:28:32 > 1:28:36easy ones. I can normally put them out of my mind, but for some reason

1:28:37 > 1:28:42I didn't, became frustrated, just start losing my patience. In the

1:28:43 > 1:28:48last couple of frames I just decided to play a lot quicker and go for

1:28:49 > 1:28:56everything. It must have helped that he was missing. Apart from the last

1:28:57 > 1:29:05two frames it could have gone either way. I was feeling good and then I

1:29:06 > 1:29:20missed the easiest ball. Dominic could have potted them ex-commission

1:29:21 > 1:29:25-- that is how easy it was. He threw away a couple of golden chances. You

1:29:26 > 1:29:36must have felt he could not threaten you. He had plenty of chances. But I

1:29:37 > 1:29:44should have won a frame in one visit and felt comfortable, but when you

1:29:45 > 1:29:54miss such easy balls, you make it harder for yourself. And in the next

1:29:55 > 1:30:01round, Robertson or McLeod. A tough match in prospect. But if you get

1:30:02 > 1:30:06through it, anyone can win it. Neal is one of the best players in the

1:30:07 > 1:30:16world at the minute. I like watching his game. His long potting is

1:30:17 > 1:30:25excellent. But I capable of beating anybody if I play like I did in the

1:30:26 > 1:30:34last two frames, consistently. Are you going to go swimming today?

1:30:35 > 1:30:42Those waves are killing me. Well done today. Thank you for joining

1:30:43 > 1:30:46us. The Welsh Open falls towards the end of the snooker season, it is a

1:30:47 > 1:30:51busy schedule with lots more tournaments and a lot more trouble,

1:30:52 > 1:31:03but lots more prize money, so let us bring you up-to-date with what has

1:31:04 > 1:32:58been happening in the sold are. -- in this season so far.

1:32:59 > 1:33:07Lots of tournaments, at busy programme. -- a busy programme.

1:33:08 > 1:33:17I1-macro that one a few weeks ago in Blackpool. It suits my personality

1:33:18 > 1:33:25-- I1-macro that one. It is a great thing to have on our tournament.

1:33:26 > 1:33:35Ding Junhui has been on to reflect form. -- has been on great form. The

1:33:36 > 1:33:46rest of the players must be looking at him and thinking he is amazing.

1:33:47 > 1:33:55He has to reflect technique -- he has brilliant technique. I played

1:33:56 > 1:34:01him in Germany, I was 3-1 up against Ding Junhui and then he beat me. He

1:34:02 > 1:34:07went on to win the tournament and had a great win in the semi-finals

1:34:08 > 1:34:16against Ryan Day. He was starting to play well, but Ding Junhui had all

1:34:17 > 1:34:22the answers. He is going for his fifth title in Newport this week and

1:34:23 > 1:34:30he was in action this morning. He was playing Jamie Cope. In this one,

1:34:31 > 1:34:37it only went to five frames, just lost the one against Jamie Cope.

1:34:38 > 1:34:42Ding Junhui moved into the last 32 and is on course for a fifth title

1:34:43 > 1:34:47of the season. That would be remarkable. Let us bring you

1:34:48 > 1:34:57up-to-date with some of the other scorers.

1:34:58 > 1:35:11Liang Wenbo beat Fergal O'Brien. Anthony Hamilton beat Li Hang.

1:35:12 > 1:35:24Also into the next round, Ben Woollaston, it he won this one for

1:35:25 > 1:35:29-1 against Alfie Burden. We are going to look forward to our next

1:35:30 > 1:35:36match and this involves Neil Robertson and the current UK

1:35:37 > 1:35:46champion -- Hugh is the current UK champion. -- who is.

1:35:47 > 1:35:52You were held in really high esteem, so many of the great players

1:35:53 > 1:36:00said that, how does that make you feel? When you hear it from John

1:36:01 > 1:36:06Higgins, Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry, even Ronnie O'Sullivan, it

1:36:07 > 1:36:12is incredible, because they were my heroes growing up and to hear it

1:36:13 > 1:36:19from them, from a serious point of view, they do mean it. It is

1:36:20 > 1:36:25fantastic. Although I compete with these guys, I really look up to

1:36:26 > 1:36:32them, because these were the players who have inspired me to try and

1:36:33 > 1:36:39become the player I am now. Any kind of praise and recognition from them

1:36:40 > 1:36:45is incredible. You have a natural aggression when you let out and then

1:36:46 > 1:36:49you step back, you almost inhibit yourself by becoming slightly

1:36:50 > 1:36:55defensive and menu readdress the situation. This season, you have

1:36:56 > 1:37:05said that was it -- and then you red dress the situation. When I played

1:37:06 > 1:37:11Robert Milkins, I was winning. I was going back and forth, and I thought

1:37:12 > 1:37:17if I tightened it up, I was guaranteed to win. The opposite

1:37:18 > 1:37:22happens, it put me under pressure, I lost every scrappy frame on the

1:37:23 > 1:37:29colours. It is something that has never happened to me. After the

1:37:30 > 1:37:34match, I thought I did not enjoy it. Even if I had won, I would not have

1:37:35 > 1:37:44enjoyed it, the strain it put me under. I saw interviews with Ronnie

1:37:45 > 1:37:48O'Sullivan and how he talked about keeping the opponent under

1:37:49 > 1:37:51pressure, he does not go for reckless shots, but he keeps

1:37:52 > 1:37:58attacking and when you stop attacking in this game, you stop

1:37:59 > 1:38:03scaring people. Judd Trump, he is probably at a crossroads with his

1:38:04 > 1:38:08selection, when he won the UK Championship, he was scaring

1:38:09 > 1:38:12people. The problem with over attacking is that you give your

1:38:13 > 1:38:17opponent 's chances and you are banking on them bottling it, which

1:38:18 > 1:38:24was what was happening against Judd Trump. People were paying too much

1:38:25 > 1:38:31attention to the hype. Now, he is trying to win more on merit, playing

1:38:32 > 1:38:36really good safety, now the fear is gone and people are not afraid of

1:38:37 > 1:38:42playing him any more. He is definitely a much better player. He

1:38:43 > 1:38:49is nowhere near as scary to play. Does he go back to being reckless or

1:38:50 > 1:38:54does he play a much more around game? That is something I have had

1:38:55 > 1:38:58to deal with, you are always adjusting it. I have been quicker

1:38:59 > 1:39:03this season, thinking more instinctively about the shots I want

1:39:04 > 1:39:09to play, getting down and playing them, I know that Judd Trump and

1:39:10 > 1:39:11Mark Allen have accused me of playing too slow, it was not on

1:39:12 > 1:39:17purpose to slow them down, playing too slow, it was not on

1:39:18 > 1:39:23for me, trying to make the right decision. I have much more enjoyed

1:39:24 > 1:39:28my snooker at this season. There has been making centuries. I have not

1:39:29 > 1:39:44played in another fans to do that, however. -- in enough events. His

1:39:45 > 1:39:49form is remarkable. Today he will be playing Rory McLeod. He is the only

1:39:50 > 1:39:59Afro-Caribbean player on the circuit. He is based in Qatar. He

1:40:00 > 1:40:04reached the last 16 of the World Championship in 2011 and got to the

1:40:05 > 1:40:11same stage at the China Open and Australia Open this season. He

1:40:12 > 1:40:13could, on his day, cause problems for Neil Robertson. We can head over

1:40:14 > 1:40:32to the arena. Good afternoon. This is a tough

1:40:33 > 1:40:37match to be playing against Neil Robertson, for Rory McLeod. He is

1:40:38 > 1:40:42very capable, he made three consecutive centuries against Ronnie

1:40:43 > 1:40:47O Sullivan three years ago. That tells us he is a good break

1:40:48 > 1:40:54builder, build it -- playing against a man who is on fire. It is

1:40:55 > 1:40:58unbelievable to think that a lot of the great players have not made over

1:40:59 > 1:41:0686 centuries in their whole career, he has made it in one season. He is

1:41:07 > 1:41:12still the world number one. He is in a lean period at the moment. He is

1:41:13 > 1:41:18vulnerable. He needs to get confidence back.

1:41:19 > 1:41:35It have match for Rory McLeod. -- a tough match. He slows himself down

1:41:36 > 1:41:42so much, it breaks his rhythm. I watched him play in Gloucester and

1:41:43 > 1:41:54he was three - one down against Jak Jones and he was running around the

1:41:55 > 1:41:59table and he won the match. Even that shot there, he had a chance of

1:42:00 > 1:42:11playing an aggressive safety shot, but decided to play but then one. --

1:42:12 > 1:43:11thin one. He caught that a little thicker, but

1:43:12 > 1:43:13he did not intend that to come between yellow and brown. Not a bad

1:43:14 > 1:43:36shot. Not a normal safety from Neil

1:43:37 > 1:43:52Robertson. He is an exceptionally good safety player.

1:43:53 > 1:44:13APPLAUSE. He did not help that one hard enough. -- hit.

1:44:14 > 1:44:22He is a very powerful hitter of the ball, but he lost his accuracy.

1:44:23 > 1:44:29Can you see 100 here? Not really, he has only just arrived

1:44:30 > 1:44:32Can you see 100 here? Not really, he building. He was probably

1:44:33 > 1:44:36Can you see 100 here? Not really, he expecting to be on as quickly.

1:44:37 > 1:44:42Can you see 100 here? Not really, he only arrived a couple of minutes

1:44:43 > 1:44:49ago, so he has had no practice time. Will he make 100 in his first visit?

1:44:50 > 1:44:58You never know. Does he look ruffled? He turns up late so often.

1:44:59 > 1:45:05He never looks ruffled. He is unbelievable. He has great

1:45:06 > 1:45:09temperament. When he first came over from Australia, he was at my club in

1:45:10 > 1:45:12Leicester, and I never thought he would turn out to be the player he

1:45:13 > 1:45:24was now. He was a great potter and that was

1:45:25 > 1:45:31it. All of a sudden, he improved 100%, almost overnight. He has a

1:45:32 > 1:45:35great desire to learn. He picks things up very quickly and he has

1:45:36 > 1:45:50found his way in the game and he is a special player.

1:45:51 > 1:45:58There is nothing worse than playing against someone who looks as if he

1:45:59 > 1:46:05does not care and that is how he looks like. He is a tough

1:46:06 > 1:46:11competitor. He is probably the only player I have seen who has got a

1:46:12 > 1:46:15better temperament than new! I wish I could have what a temperament --

1:46:16 > 1:46:37than you. -- bought a We were very fortunate to play in

1:46:38 > 1:46:45the good years of snooker. We have a different class of player

1:46:46 > 1:47:04playing now. Rory McLeod is no slouch, he has

1:47:05 > 1:47:13made over 50 competitive centuries. He relies on safety, one of his

1:47:14 > 1:47:15strength and he is good at long potting. I feel he is an excellent

1:47:16 > 1:48:20scorer. -- strengths. Good pot, needs the cue ball to kiss

1:48:21 > 1:48:27the yellow. He did not want to finish there. He will be tucking it

1:48:28 > 1:48:29up behind the yellow. Neil Robertson might take the blue one, but Rory

1:48:30 > 1:49:09McLeod will not. REFEREE: Foul and a mess. -- on

1:49:10 > 1:49:44this. -- miss. He could miss all day. I was

1:49:45 > 1:49:47watching a game and Allister Carter was 28 points ahead of the yellow

1:49:48 > 1:49:52and the next time his competitor came to the table, he was in front.

1:49:53 > 1:50:04Sometimes snooker 's are came to the table, he was in front.

1:50:05 > 1:50:05hit, it can happen. -- snookers. He also covered that red into the left

1:50:06 > 1:51:17centre. Great pot. He is a tremendous long

1:51:18 > 1:51:23potter. He puts pressure on the safety for his opponent because of

1:51:24 > 1:51:29that. Sometimes, they push the boat out, this safety player, a

1:51:30 > 1:51:34complicated shop to get it tight on the cushion. That leaves him a long

1:51:35 > 1:51:40one and he knocks it in, but he did not get the position this time. A

1:51:41 > 1:51:42one and he knocks it in, but he did fraction harder, he would have

1:51:43 > 1:51:47one and he knocks it in, but he did perfect on the black. He played that

1:51:48 > 1:51:55as a shot to nothing and it looked like a difficult pot. No idea worth

1:51:56 > 1:51:58the red would have gone. It is unlike Neil Robertson to do that --

1:51:59 > 1:52:58where the red would have gone. We did not see that one coming! He

1:52:59 > 1:53:01has over screwed it. It is the second time he has gone over the

1:53:02 > 1:54:40Luke line. -- baulk line. I do not think he can get through to

1:54:41 > 1:54:48the red on the right cushion, the green is covering that. The other

1:54:49 > 1:54:49reds are in the up and it is difficult to escape and keep it

1:54:50 > 1:55:01safe. He is swerving around trying to

1:55:02 > 1:55:07catch the edge of the red. That was a great shot. He has left a red in

1:55:08 > 1:55:14the middle, but that is as good as he could have done. If he had left

1:55:15 > 1:55:21have been better, but it was a risky shot. It was the weight he got

1:55:22 > 1:55:30wrong. It is a tough pots -- pot for Rory McLeod.

1:55:31 > 1:55:37He has to commit to this, 100%. He looked at it three times. He needs

1:55:38 > 1:55:53to knock it in. There you go, a typical example.

1:55:54 > 1:56:01That is how you complete yourself off a shot before you play it. It

1:56:02 > 1:56:12was a big shot -- how you can put yourself off. I do not mind someone

1:56:13 > 1:56:18looking at a shot and building themselves up, it was a big shot, he

1:56:19 > 1:56:23knew he would be leaving something on, but if you stand there and get a

1:56:24 > 1:56:27positive thought in your mind to see the shot and get the image and then

1:56:28 > 1:56:35play it, you would have made it, but he looked at it, looked again, he

1:56:36 > 1:56:42more or less told himself to be negative. He did not commit to it

1:56:43 > 1:56:49100%. I am not being critical, he is in a difficult position.

1:56:50 > 1:56:54What ever the scenario, it is a great chance for Neil Robertson to

1:56:55 > 1:58:40take the first round. Had a quick glance at the scoreboard

1:58:41 > 1:58:44to see how many more reds he would need, he is 32 in front, so he would

1:58:45 > 1:59:28not need to worry about that Just got a little bit too much into

1:59:29 > 1:59:37the cue ball. The rate will probably be enough. But he will need this

1:59:38 > 2:00:53blue, well done. Just got here five minutes before

2:00:54 > 2:01:01the match, straight into his stride. The game nowadays is all about the

2:01:02 > 2:01:09mental attitude. They play so many tournaments. Robertson with a break

2:01:10 > 2:01:24of 57 takes the opening frame. Let me bring you up-to-date with

2:01:25 > 2:01:34some of the other things that have been happening. Jamie Jones has been

2:01:35 > 2:01:55followed through the X it by Ryan Day. -- exit. Ryan Day, Dominic, a

2:01:56 > 2:02:05very talented player, a shame that he has not been able to put it

2:02:06 > 2:02:22together in this tournament. Anthony McGill played very well. Ryan made

2:02:23 > 2:02:31uncharacteristic mistakes. And they played so well that he did not get a

2:02:32 > 2:02:41second chance. I have practised with Ryan and I know his game inside out.

2:02:42 > 2:02:49He is the greatest potter I have seen in my life. I would rather see

2:02:50 > 2:02:57somebody lose by taking something on that than turning something down. He

2:02:58 > 2:03:04has to be at 90% or better to compete with the top players, but

2:03:05 > 2:03:11when he is on his A-game he can play anybody off the table. Neal has not

2:03:12 > 2:03:20done much wrong here. Some tremendous pots in the first frame.

2:03:21 > 2:03:30I think his mind was a bit befuddled. Hoping to strike back

2:03:31 > 2:03:52quickly. A terrific pot from Neil Robertson.

2:03:53 > 2:03:56A little unfortunate. Needed to play that with a touch of side to catch

2:03:57 > 2:05:24the Reds. A chance for Rory McLeod. Not an

2:05:25 > 2:05:33easy one in the circumstances. Take this on, swing the cue ball behind

2:05:34 > 2:05:41the black and of the cushion. Not going his way at the moment. If

2:05:42 > 2:05:45anybody asks you the difference between practice and matchplay, if

2:05:46 > 2:05:53you had seen him upstairs track to sing, he was absolutely brilliant.

2:05:54 > 2:06:03-- practising. Ten minutes later, out here, can hit them straight.

2:06:04 > 2:06:12I can't tell you how difficult that shot is. To play that with stun for

2:06:13 > 2:06:22position, you need to be so accurate. One of the best middle

2:06:23 > 2:06:25pocket players I have ever seen. The angle of the cue ball. Perfect on

2:06:26 > 2:07:08the black. Played for two rates. -- Reds. And

2:07:09 > 2:07:18has not come good on either of them. But with a slight angle he is OK.

2:07:19 > 2:07:32He had a slight angle. Good positioning shot. Those deep screws

2:07:33 > 2:07:52can go wrong. That is the cue action that we just

2:07:53 > 2:08:03had a glance at there. The three Reds in a line, the what one must

2:08:04 > 2:08:04pot. -- bottom. But he needs an angle to go into something after

2:08:05 > 2:08:31this. Problems going into the pack. The

2:08:32 > 2:09:19two reds below are acting as a buffer. Pink into the centre.

2:09:20 > 2:09:29He is just trying to see if anything pot. He wants to manoeuvre things in

2:09:30 > 2:09:37a way which does not necessarily leave a cannon to the bunch. He did

2:09:38 > 2:09:56not play that very well at all. I think he is going to decide to

2:09:57 > 2:10:04play the cut into the middle. Just where the pink is. Now, he is

2:10:05 > 2:10:11playing the other way around. I think he got a bad contact. I am

2:10:12 > 2:10:57surprised he did not cut that in the middle, he had a big target.

2:10:58 > 2:11:03This is his first chance for a while. Not easy to just get into a

2:11:04 > 2:11:21rhythm straightaway. He is playing for the centre. Not

2:11:22 > 2:11:50any other options. That is better, that will settle him

2:11:51 > 2:12:06down. It was awkward, that one, at this stage. Well, well. What

2:12:07 > 2:12:19happened? He just does not have a flow happening out there, he is just

2:12:20 > 2:12:28going to slow or two quick. -- too slow or too quick. I can tell you

2:12:29 > 2:12:34how bad that feels. Against the class of Neil Robertson you do not

2:12:35 > 2:12:37get many chances. But I don't think he has got an angle to split the

2:12:38 > 2:12:57pack of black one of the colours. Whether he can park the cue ball, I

2:12:58 > 2:13:06don't think so. He does not have an angle.

2:13:07 > 2:13:16The only place on the table where he cannot get at the next red. He is

2:13:17 > 2:13:28playing the blue, he will try to nudge the red off the cushion. Rory

2:13:29 > 2:13:59might find himself in a lot of trouble.

2:14:00 > 2:14:18He tried to cover the left-hand side of the pack with the yellow.

2:14:19 > 2:15:34That is a bit of a result. But it is one of those, if you hit it for, too

2:15:35 > 2:15:35thin, or too thick, you can't guarantee getting the cue ball back

2:15:36 > 2:16:01in for that one. Must be careful not to hit this too

2:16:02 > 2:16:34thick. And he concentrated so hard he hit it too thin.

2:16:35 > 2:16:41He doesn't want to bring the black into play. But I don't see any

2:16:42 > 2:17:07option unless he can hit the blue than enough -- thin. As long as he

2:17:08 > 2:17:43misses the kiss on the green... Well played.

2:17:44 > 2:17:52He is covered in the left corner. Robertson can certainly see a few

2:17:53 > 2:18:11reds in between green and pink. It is so handy when you can pot

2:18:12 > 2:18:18balls like that. Most players don't like that type of shot. Very thin

2:18:19 > 2:18:41cuts and fast tables. Did not quite get the contact he

2:18:42 > 2:18:42wanted. This is the thin red he started with. Needs another good one

2:18:43 > 2:19:11now. He is having some luck.

2:19:12 > 2:19:28Unbelievable, two kisses. Goodness me. Just keep an eye on the cue

2:19:29 > 2:19:38ball. To kiss the blue, then the brown as well? It has put him in a

2:19:39 > 2:19:42load of trouble. Very difficult. Try to get the cue ball somewhere near

2:19:43 > 2:19:51the same place it is now, but he does not fancy that. I don't know

2:19:52 > 2:21:24quite what he is doing. That is not bad.

2:21:25 > 2:21:44He hit that well. Just shows you what a beautiful cueist he is. This

2:21:45 > 2:21:52hit the jaws four times before it spun away from the pocket. Rory,

2:21:53 > 2:21:59just try to bring another red into play. You would be very unlucky not

2:22:00 > 2:22:07to be on some sort of colour for a shot.

2:22:08 > 2:22:17He is just looking at what happens to the red if he plays the cannon

2:22:18 > 2:22:27onto the other red. Now looking at the potting angle.

2:22:28 > 2:22:34He was trying to avoid the cannon which made a more difficult. Just

2:22:35 > 2:23:33play with topspin. Just needs the red. 46 in front, 43

2:23:34 > 2:23:36remaining. He will not miss this yellow. This has been a scrappy

2:23:37 > 2:24:05frame. He is going to smuggle him. --

2:24:06 > 2:24:07snooker. Rory McLeod comes back to the table but it looks like it will

2:24:08 > 2:24:23be 2-0 to Robertson. I don't really know why he is

2:24:24 > 2:24:32playing on. I suppose it is worth the table time when he has not had a

2:24:33 > 2:24:41lot. He has had spells in this match without potting a ball for a while.

2:24:42 > 2:24:42Coming up to 30 minutes now. Sitting out is not great, watching your

2:24:43 > 2:25:04opponent knocked them in. We have seen the wider Robertson is

2:25:05 > 2:25:13winning lots of tournaments and is world number one. -- seen why. He

2:25:14 > 2:25:22has the patience to play tight games. If the game is scrappy, he

2:25:23 > 2:25:27does not mind. Stephen Hendry never liked those type of games. He has

2:25:28 > 2:25:54done enough. 2-0 in front. Definitely not true. The game has

2:25:55 > 2:26:01become a lot more professional in the last 20 years. If you had a

2:26:02 > 2:26:08night out with the top players, you would have a good time!

2:26:09 > 2:26:12Definitely the case three years ago, but now it is too much of a

2:26:13 > 2:26:21job. In terms of hours practised I have

2:26:22 > 2:26:29definitely practice less than anyone else in the top 20 in the world.

2:26:30 > 2:26:37Definitely something I don't do. I don't moan about travelling.

2:26:38 > 2:26:47I have just got a gymnasium treadmill in the house now, so I

2:26:48 > 2:26:54have no excuse not to be fit. It is one of my goals for the new season.

2:26:55 > 2:27:02I used to be absolutely terrible, the number of matches I had just got

2:27:03 > 2:27:09too, but I'm much more professional nowadays, and try to arrive early.

2:27:10 > 2:27:13You are either watching DVDs or playing computer games. It is

2:27:14 > 2:27:24important to keep it under control I would never settle for being a

2:27:25 > 2:27:30one-time champion. I want another two or three.

2:27:31 > 2:27:38He sounds like a model professional. What has made him so good this

2:27:39 > 2:27:43season? He has a great deal of belief in himself. I have heard

2:27:44 > 2:27:46stories from other guys about him rolling into the club in mid

2:27:47 > 2:27:55afternoon and does not practice match. -- much. But he has got all

2:27:56 > 2:28:00the quality he needs and it works for him.

2:28:01 > 2:28:10This game has not caught fire yet. But at no point has he looked in

2:28:11 > 2:28:19trouble. She has dominated the first two frames. He is well in control.

2:28:20 > 2:28:24McLeod needs to get back in the game soon.

2:28:25 > 2:28:35Absolutely. But we know he can. He looks a bit like a fish out of water

2:28:36 > 2:28:44at the moment. But then you see a shot like that, and he does a lot of

2:28:45 > 2:28:54it in practice. Neil Robertson does not practice much. You play so many

2:28:55 > 2:29:00tournaments these days. That shot should have been played with power

2:29:01 > 2:29:04and it wasn't. But there are so many tournaments that you only need one

2:29:05 > 2:29:10hour or so every day of practice, unless you are playing really

2:29:11 > 2:29:14hour or so every day of practice, badly. Sometimes you go through a

2:29:15 > 2:29:22phase where you are missing long balls. But with so many tournaments

2:29:23 > 2:29:24nowadays, if you are not match sharp, you will never get match

2:29:25 > 2:30:00sharp. He has recovered well there. If he

2:30:01 > 2:30:05pots this black he's naturally on one or two of these reds. Needs to

2:30:06 > 2:30:55put a few together, just for his confidence at the moment.

2:30:56 > 2:31:00If he's got the angle he can get up to the blue and leave a nice angle

2:31:01 > 2:31:49to split the pack. Couldn't have hit it much better.

2:31:50 > 2:31:53Very unlucky to have brought the pink close to the black. The ping

2:31:54 > 2:32:00will be in the way, unless he gets rid of the pink off this next red.

2:32:01 > 2:32:13He couldn't have hit that pack much better, or much harder.

2:32:14 > 2:32:42He has played that well. Not much of a gap there.

2:32:43 > 2:32:50Looking at all different angles, pointing his cue here and there.

2:32:51 > 2:32:54Certainly got the power in his game to get back to these reds. May have

2:32:55 > 2:33:09over done it. Oh. Could set him on fire this one.

2:33:10 > 2:33:14The For a second I just thought he was going to hit the red and get

2:33:15 > 2:33:18absolutely nothing. He has hit it quarter-ball and he's on a couple of

2:33:19 > 2:33:22reds now. He wants to try and get rid of that pink as quickly as

2:33:23 > 2:33:26possible to make the black available in both colours. That would make

2:33:27 > 2:33:31things easier. Great chance to get a frame on the board.

2:33:32 > 2:33:39You are allowed to have a little bit of luck in this game. It is allowed.

2:33:40 > 2:33:44It's not a foul shot or anything! I didn't say it wasn't. It was

2:33:45 > 2:33:47fortunate to get there. He needs a bit of luck at the minute, he has

2:33:48 > 2:33:54been struggling out there. It's a big match for him, isn't it, playing

2:33:55 > 2:33:57the World Number One. The that wasn't the best.

2:33:58 > 2:34:40Got a bit to do with the cue ball now.

2:34:41 > 2:34:59His break so far he has a touching ball. He's playing the green to ut

2:35:00 > 2:35:56put the white on the cushion. He made a mess of that as well.

2:35:57 > 2:36:47Just keeping it tight there. Didn't want to open any balls out. He's 41

2:36:48 > 2:36:51points in front. He only scored 15 points in the first two frames. He

2:36:52 > 2:36:53had a few chances. At least that 41 break has given him a bit of table

2:36:54 > 2:37:25time. Clever little shot that. He almost

2:37:26 > 2:37:29asked for it, didn't he, playing that negative safety shot. You can

2:37:30 > 2:37:33see the red that's on the left of the blue. He can only see the right

2:37:34 > 2:37:41hand side of that one. The one to the left of that red, I'm sure he

2:37:42 > 2:37:43can see that as well. This is a tough situation now. He would do

2:37:44 > 2:39:08well not to leave a pot on here. Good position shot then. Very little

2:39:09 > 2:39:12room to manoeuvre that cue ball to get onto the blue.

2:39:13 > 2:39:21Half a chance if he can get onto the pink at some stage there. Get the

2:39:22 > 2:39:31pink out of the way. That 40 point lead could disappear quickly. Ly.

2:39:32 > 2:39:56Neil Robertson's concentration powers are almost second to none.

2:39:57 > 2:40:03He realised how important it was to get the pink out of the way now a

2:40:04 > 2:40:09good chance to get back into the game. A mass ve game for Rory

2:40:10 > 2:40:24McLeod. Big frame this. He needs to win it.

2:40:25 > 2:40:35That was a kick. Took three or four inches out of the cue ball. The

2:40:36 > 2:41:01wanted to be low on the pink. He's slight high. Neil Robertson

2:41:02 > 2:41:03disturbed then. Someone walked in the line of his pot then. He didn't

2:41:04 > 2:41:37miss it, but he gave him a glance. He has the angle to play the cannon

2:41:38 > 2:41:43to the two reds to the right hand side. He may think it's too risky.

2:41:44 > 2:41:48He could get onto the red left of the pink spot. He may decide to

2:41:49 > 2:41:53bring a red into play here. That's what he decided to do. When you play

2:41:54 > 2:41:57that shot you rely on good fortune on where they go. The key thing is

2:41:58 > 2:41:58to get them into play. They couldn't have finished any worse, to be

2:41:59 > 2:42:11honest. He has decided to play this cut in

2:42:12 > 2:42:14the middle. He doesn't have to go round the back of the pink and

2:42:15 > 2:42:19black. He has to play it hard enough to make sure he doesn't leave that

2:42:20 > 2:42:58red on. He played in such a way it looked like a shot to nothing.

2:42:59 > 2:43:04Decided to play safe there. I'm sure the red would pass the black on

2:43:05 > 2:43:10those two reds into the corner. Decided to put a red safe. That 13

2:43:11 > 2:43:16point lead, the red being safe doesn't mean a lot. If he was 40 in

2:43:17 > 2:43:20front a put a red safe, I agree with that. He's trying to be too careful

2:43:21 > 2:43:20front a put a red safe, I agree with at the moment, Rory, it's a massive

2:43:21 > 2:44:13frame. That's the first bad safety shot

2:44:14 > 2:44:21I've seen Neil play for quite some time. What a chance this is for

2:44:22 > 2:44:25Rory. He's not going to do it here. He It will be tough to get onto the

2:44:26 > 2:44:29red nicely. The one over the left hand side cushion there. No problem.

2:44:30 > 2:44:44Where is the colour coming from? Unless he leaves it half-ball.

2:44:45 > 2:46:07Good safety shot.ful pretty good. No way Neil will take this on. Pink and

2:46:08 > 2:46:14black are out of play on that side of the table. It's tough to see how

2:46:15 > 2:46:18he can play safe here. He might power it in and go up for one of the

2:46:19 > 2:46:23baulk colours. There is no direct way back into baulk. If the he plays

2:46:24 > 2:46:49the very, very thin safety shot he might get the double-kiss.

2:46:50 > 2:46:56Playing it. Contain the safety. OK, he might

2:46:57 > 2:48:22leave an off ball pot. He just took that risk.

2:48:23 > 2:48:29Going through a scrappy spell now this frame. Playing this very thin.

2:48:30 > 2:48:35He has got it thick. It's in this frame. Playing this very thin.

2:48:36 > 2:48:43favour. The pink and black are in play. He landed on top of the

2:48:44 > 2:48:50yellow, has he? Is oh, not quite. He must be thin on this.

2:48:51 > 2:49:03Too thick. Wonderful playing these arenas in the professional game.

2:49:04 > 2:49:09When you are hitting the ball badly, you don't want to be out there. That

2:49:10 > 2:49:17is what is happening to Rory at the moment. Not to say he can't improve.

2:49:18 > 2:49:20We all had bad sessions haven't we, The Crucible, that is the worse

2:49:21 > 2:49:24place. When you feel bad at the Crucible. A black off the spot

2:49:25 > 2:49:30sometimes looks difficult at the Crucible. They talk about taking it

2:49:31 > 2:49:36away from the Crucible. I think it would be such a bad step for the

2:49:37 > 2:49:40game. You have the Wimbledon in tennis and you should always keep

2:49:41 > 2:49:47The Crucible for the World Championship.

2:49:48 > 2:50:09I thought he might take that one on, but decided against it.

2:50:10 > 2:50:15That is a lot more difficult safety shot. What a great shot that is from

2:50:16 > 2:50:20Neil Robertson. I thought he would leave the red next to the black. He

2:50:21 > 2:50:26has managed to curl it round that little bit of side, it curled

2:50:27 > 2:50:29against - it's tough to hit this one. Sorry, not tough to hit, but

2:50:30 > 2:50:43certainly tough to hit safe. Just the case of getting the weight

2:50:44 > 2:50:46right, not leaving a pot along the cushion. I fancy him to hit the red,

2:50:47 > 2:51:10but will he get it safe? This looks pretty good. Oh, unlucky.

2:51:11 > 2:51:51Just turned over. I thought he was going to knock it on the cushion.

2:51:52 > 2:51:56What a very good shot that previous one was there. That red to leave the

2:51:57 > 2:52:01angle on the pink, to be able to move the black into play. They may

2:52:02 > 2:52:06even play for the black here. He could screw around the back of the

2:52:07 > 2:52:10black. This is quaranteed to have an angle on the black to get on the

2:52:11 > 2:52:13black. This is quaranteed to have an last red. A glance at the score

2:52:14 > 2:52:20board will tell him he's only 14 behind now.

2:52:21 > 2:52:29Has he got the angle to move the red along the cushion, or will he have

2:52:30 > 2:52:34to move the pot along the cushion. No, he can't go the cannon, he will

2:52:35 > 2:52:46have to leave the pot. Well, these are not straight-forward.

2:52:47 > 2:52:59To most players that is. Good shot. The fact he is left handed makes the

2:53:00 > 2:53:06green easier than it would be for a right handed player. He has to try

2:53:07 > 2:53:41and move the green, it's gone too far.

2:53:42 > 2:53:47It looks like he has decided this yellow is not really available. He

2:53:48 > 2:53:51can't gain an advantage. He will try and get in behind the black, making

2:53:52 > 2:53:58sure the yellow comes back into the middle of the table. He hasn't

2:53:59 > 2:54:02played the pot there amazingly enough. He just hit it bad.

2:54:03 > 2:55:21He just played the safety. Pretty good one to boot. Unlucky there.

2:55:22 > 2:55:39Amazing the gap between the pinks and the blues there.

2:55:40 > 2:55:46Trying to get behind the black, he didn't make a good job of putting

2:55:47 > 2:55:51the green safe. It's a difficult shot if he will play it dead weight

2:55:52 > 2:56:12for the brown. May even turn the pot down.

2:56:13 > 2:56:20Good safety. Decided he didn't like the drop in dead weight for the

2:56:21 > 2:56:24green to get on the brown. I can't blame him at this stage. He's got to

2:56:25 > 2:56:27win this frame to stay in it, of course. Can't see him winning from

2:56:28 > 2:56:593-0 behind. He played to get behind the black,

2:57:00 > 2:57:03but over hit the green. Just looking now how he can come off the side

2:57:04 > 2:57:27cushion and put the green safe. Looking at an angle.

2:57:28 > 2:57:34If you swerve round the black, it's not that easy to control.

2:57:35 > 2:57:47Take that all day. He didn't play it like that. He played it to get the

2:57:48 > 2:57:54green up the table. He is struggle out there.

2:57:55 > 2:58:00Just trying to leave plenty of distance between cue ball and object

2:58:01 > 2:58:04ball by hitting it quite hard. He couldn't have played it much better.

2:58:05 > 2:58:10Surely not three snookers on the trot from being in a snooker. It

2:58:11 > 2:58:13certainly is. Amazing, isn't it? Three shots on the trot they haven't

2:58:14 > 2:59:23played the snooker, but they've got it.

2:59:24 > 2:59:42I thought it was going in for a minute. He certainly cannot pot it

2:59:43 > 2:59:58and get back for the Brown. I don't know how he will miss the kiss on

2:59:59 > 3:00:01the black. No way he can avoid a kiss on pink or black. That makes

3:00:02 > 3:00:19the shot a lot more difficult. Managed to go the other side of the

3:00:20 > 3:00:56ink, but where is the cue ball going? -- pink.

3:00:57 > 3:01:05He is taking a bit of time on this when there is a possibility he could

3:01:06 > 3:01:13leave a long blue. But that is not his way, normally. One thing I have

3:01:14 > 3:01:25noticed, especially in the last few years when he has improved his

3:01:26 > 3:01:32game, one of the colours he will take on, often when he would not in

3:01:33 > 3:01:38other circumstances. One of the problems is that there is no

3:01:39 > 3:01:55straightforward safety on. He is still undecided.

3:01:56 > 3:02:03I think he would take the Brown if he only needed the blue to win the

3:02:04 > 3:02:14game. The fact that he needs the pink also will be changing his mind.

3:02:15 > 3:02:20I did not think a lot of that shot, to be honest. He has left Rory a

3:02:21 > 3:02:31chance. Got to avoid the blue, surely. He

3:02:32 > 3:02:54will be disappointed with that. A good chance, if he wants to play

3:02:55 > 3:03:04safety, to take the cue ball down the table.

3:03:05 > 3:03:17Not quite. But leaving a good distance between the two balls and

3:03:18 > 3:03:33putting pressure on his opponent. A tricky one for Rory. He will have

3:03:34 > 3:03:50two home -- to hope he snookers Neil. Up and down is not a great

3:03:51 > 3:03:57choice. But he has played that well. This has not been the most fluent

3:03:58 > 3:03:59frame, but some good safety play. This is another one. Perfect. Very

3:04:00 > 3:04:16clever shot. Neil Robertson wins a lot of these

3:04:17 > 3:04:29types of frame. Sticking in, giving 100 descent. -- 100%. Does not seem

3:04:30 > 3:04:39to bother him if it is a scrappy or a tight frame.

3:04:40 > 3:04:52That is well played. Not easy to judge. Some good quality safety from

3:04:53 > 3:05:21both players in this little bout. Crucial game for Rory McLeod. A lot

3:05:22 > 3:05:45more pressure on his shots than his opponent's.

3:05:46 > 3:06:02He tried to hit that Fuller to keep the white at this end of the table.

3:06:03 > 3:06:12It could have been worse, if the cue ball stayed near the Brown it would

3:06:13 > 3:06:23have been a very easy pot. Does it passes the blue in the corner? It

3:06:24 > 3:06:33may do. It doesn't. So this is quite a thin one. Seven point in front. He

3:06:34 > 3:07:08will need the blue also. What a beautiful shot. Shot of the day.

3:07:09 > 3:07:22Longest frame of the match, it goes to Neil Robertson. He leads 3-0.

3:07:23 > 3:07:36You have two feel for Rory McLeod. His best frame of the match and

3:07:37 > 3:07:41still he loses it. He has had some chances early on. Did not settle

3:07:42 > 3:07:53down, but he got right into that frame. Just a bit unlucky. We need a

3:07:54 > 3:07:58bit of luck to leave your opponent snookered. He did not quite get that

3:07:59 > 3:08:06luck and Neil was able to play good safety shots back. But we did see a

3:08:07 > 3:08:18glimpse of what Rory McLeod is capable of. One thing I've noticed,

3:08:19 > 3:08:28he really does crash the long balls. He is not a touch or a finesse

3:08:29 > 3:08:34player. He is like Judd Trump. It is tough to strike the ball hard and be

3:08:35 > 3:08:49accurate all the time. Snooker is all about confidence and momentum.

3:08:50 > 3:08:553-0 down to the world number one. He has to think, how can I put my

3:08:56 > 3:09:09opponent under pressure? When two frames in a row. -- win. That is

3:09:10 > 3:09:15what has got to happen. And hopefully that will build to

3:09:16 > 3:09:24something greater? Precisely. There are many occasions when a player at

3:09:25 > 3:09:30the interval can be 4-0 down, you think, what do I have to do to make

3:09:31 > 3:09:36life difficult for my opponent? It is building blocks. If you get

3:09:37 > 3:09:38pressure and momentum, you might force a few mistakes and make life

3:09:39 > 3:09:44easier on yourself. Robertson must be very hopeful of

3:09:45 > 3:10:00wrapping this up in the next frame. How do you get out of this

3:10:01 > 3:10:11situation? 3-0 behind to the current world number one. The proverbial

3:10:12 > 3:11:19mountain to climb. Even more so now.

3:11:20 > 3:11:41Wow! That is what you call a split! He wanted the ball is open and he

3:11:42 > 3:11:51has got them -- balls. But he is faced with a difficult not to keep

3:11:52 > 3:12:05the break going. -- pot. If he was right-handed he could take on the

3:12:06 > 3:12:10green. So it is a thin blue. He does not miss a lot, does he? Very clever

3:12:11 > 3:12:29at those caught -- awkward shots. He does not do much wrong. Harder to

3:12:30 > 3:13:12get anything out of him. He just has to be careful. That

3:13:13 > 3:13:26green almost came out of the pocket. Took some power to get down

3:13:27 > 3:13:32there. We were talking earlier about the fact that he won a match without

3:13:33 > 3:13:37making a century. You don't see that often. And a chance of him doing so

3:13:38 > 3:14:04again here. He is just waiting for some people

3:14:05 > 3:14:12to come into the arena and take their seats.

3:14:13 > 3:14:24I think with the four table situation it is slightly worse,

3:14:25 > 3:14:31people can pay attention to one table and not pay attention to what

3:14:32 > 3:14:37is happening on the other three. We have spoken quite a bit about it on

3:14:38 > 3:14:53commentary today, Robertson does not care how he winds. -- wins. Scrappy

3:14:54 > 3:14:58or poorly, this is an excellent chance to make a 345th career

3:14:59 > 3:16:35century. 86 this season. That is the match safely in his

3:16:36 > 3:16:36pocket. Now to concentrate on making a first century of the tournament

3:16:37 > 3:17:11for him. It very rarely goes in off the jaws

3:17:12 > 3:18:08when he makes a long pot. Will he play this right-handed?

3:18:09 > 3:18:20That was a cheeky one, what a great shot! I know it does not really

3:18:21 > 3:18:43matter in the context of the match, but still a great shot. It is on

3:18:44 > 3:19:03now. He knew that Willie Thorne had his beady eye on him for a century!

3:19:04 > 3:19:12Well done, son, well done. What a shame. It would have been nice to

3:19:13 > 3:19:20have the clearance. But he has won this by 4-0.

3:19:21 > 3:19:32He looks every bit the world number one. A terrific victory. Never look

3:19:33 > 3:19:44in trouble. The performance of a true contender at the Welsh Open in

3:19:45 > 3:19:54Newport this week. 87 century breaks this season, almost unbelievable. It

3:19:55 > 3:19:59is ridiculous. He had 11 centuries in 13 frames across different

3:20:00 > 3:20:10tournaments, that is Stephen Hendry at his best material, almost

3:20:11 > 3:20:16unplayable, only Ronnie could compete with him. Working out

3:20:17 > 3:20:28solutions to difficult situations, we saw that from him in this match.

3:20:29 > 3:20:36He is just a very competent player who does not make easy mistakes. It

3:20:37 > 3:20:45is hard to force a mistake from him. You need a great long pot to come

3:20:46 > 3:20:56off. We saw his ability to craft a very special shot. Amazing. As

3:20:57 > 3:20:59Willie Thorne said in commentary, you would never have thought he

3:21:00 > 3:21:07would make a century from that position, but what a fantastic shot

3:21:08 > 3:21:13to keep the break going. Establishing himself as a favourite

3:21:14 > 3:21:22for this championship? Yes, but a very difficult draw, he will have a

3:21:23 > 3:21:25battle of wits ahead. Perhaps psychologically he felt comfortable

3:21:26 > 3:21:35playing somebody without the experience and pedigree he has. But

3:21:36 > 3:21:41he will play Mark Williams, who has. That really is a match to look

3:21:42 > 3:21:45forward to. Neil Robertson is on his way to the studio as we speak. Let

3:21:46 > 3:22:17me update you with some other scores:

3:22:18 > 3:22:29we will catch up with Neil Robertson in a couple of minutes. But first

3:22:30 > 3:22:32let's look ahead to a match on table two. It involves Shaun Murphy, who

3:22:33 > 3:22:40is in wonderful form just in time for this competition. He won in

3:22:41 > 3:22:45Poland recently, we will see him in action in a few minutes. But let's

3:22:46 > 3:22:52get an idea of who he thinks is the perfect player.

3:22:53 > 3:23:08Stephen Hendry. For almost a decade if not longer he reproduced the same

3:23:09 > 3:23:11action, countless century breaks. Ronnie O'Sullivan, when he is in

3:23:12 > 3:23:21full flow, the greatest we have ever seen. If I had a long pot and had to

3:23:22 > 3:23:32choose somebody to go for it, I would select him. Steve Davis in his

3:23:33 > 3:23:38prime. Never out of position. John Higgins springs to mind. Playing to

3:23:39 > 3:23:47get you in trouble from the minute you start. Paul Hunter. You never

3:23:48 > 3:23:53knew if he had won or lost. If he was winning or behind. And he was so

3:23:54 > 3:24:02gracious when he lost. Exactly the same when he won. Neil Robertson,

3:24:03 > 3:24:09what he generates from seemingly so little effort. I think Jimmy White

3:24:10 > 3:24:19was the best rest player the game has ever seen. Stephen Hendry. When

3:24:20 > 3:24:23his chances came, because of a player making a mistake or him

3:24:24 > 3:24:31forcing a mistake, what ever the tournament, he would step up. I have

3:24:32 > 3:24:42seen John Higgins makes a mammoth clearances to win a frame by one or

3:24:43 > 3:24:51two. Steve Davis. When I have played him over the years, you get to a

3:24:52 > 3:25:02couple of snooker is required, he is almost favourite. Mark Selby. His

3:25:03 > 3:25:10knowledge is brilliant. Shaun Murphy is out there at the moment playing

3:25:11 > 3:25:14against Craig Steadman. In this one, Murphy has taken a 2-1 lead. We will

3:25:15 > 3:25:25join the action live. This has been an interesting match

3:25:26 > 3:25:39which Shaun Murphy looked like running away with but Craig is back

3:25:40 > 3:25:52in the game. Even though, albeit, he is 20 nine point behind -- 29

3:25:53 > 3:26:00points. Shaun Murphy has been claimed some superb snooker. --

3:26:01 > 3:26:15playing. He has lost three stones in weight and looks fit and hungry to

3:26:16 > 3:26:21play again. He was not dimmed when he won the world championship. --

3:26:22 > 3:26:31thin. So it is not just about weight, but I don't think it helps.

3:26:32 > 3:26:49You have a lots of travelling, and that can tire you out if you are

3:26:50 > 3:27:01unfit. A chance for Craig. Can pot in the

3:27:02 > 3:27:36middle. Well done. He will be favourite now

3:27:37 > 3:27:48to level at to-mac-to-mac. -- two - two. This will be another close

3:27:49 > 3:27:58match. I sometimes wonder if he tries to be too perfect. I can't

3:27:59 > 3:28:04answer that one, I tries to be too perfect. I can't

3:28:05 > 3:28:17his mind works. But he is a fine player. Did he win in Germany? Or

3:28:18 > 3:28:26was Poland? Poland, it was. His first tournament win in 29 months,

3:28:27 > 3:28:34ridiculous for such a good player. But he now has Chris Hendry working

3:28:35 > 3:28:42with him, a very good coach. He is perfect on the blue.

3:28:43 > 3:29:26Well done. Keeps him in the match. 3-1 would have been a bigger gap,

3:29:27 > 3:29:32possibly, but he has got it level again at 2-2.

3:29:33 > 3:29:43Let's have a word with Neil Robertson. How was it? I thought I

3:29:44 > 3:29:54played well, apart from the last frame. I just had to make sure I

3:29:55 > 3:30:00treated every shot 100%. The third frame and seem to be key. Rory

3:30:01 > 3:30:06fought back, I guess if he had made it 2-1 it would have been a harder

3:30:07 > 3:30:14task. Possibly, but I always felt comfortable. I always felt I was

3:30:15 > 3:30:23able to create the frame winning opportunities. I managed to do that.

3:30:24 > 3:30:29Overall, really happy. That was number 87 century. You must be

3:30:30 > 3:30:33eyeing up that 100 century every time they go in Perhaps I'm trying

3:30:34 > 3:30:38more to make sure I do make a century now. A lot of players when

3:30:39 > 3:30:42they get to 70 or 80 their concentration goes down a bit. I'm

3:30:43 > 3:30:46maintaining it all the way through. If I a chance to make 100 centuries

3:30:47 > 3:30:49this season I will try. A a tournament left in the season. Two

3:30:50 > 3:30:55tournaments in China. The rest of this. The World, if you go deep in

3:30:56 > 3:31:00the World you will reach 100? Yeah. The World Championship is key. If I

3:31:01 > 3:31:04have a good run in that perhaps I'll get there. If I don't, it's already

3:31:05 > 3:31:09wonderful achievement anyway. The record before this was 61. I'm on

3:31:10 > 3:31:1487. Whatever happens, it's a great achievement. Well past it. Mark

3:31:15 > 3:31:19Williams, the local favourite, in the next round. One to look forward

3:31:20 > 3:31:22to? Yeah. We haven't really sort of played each other too much in the

3:31:23 > 3:31:27last few years. Mark will be keen to play well this week. It's his home

3:31:28 > 3:31:32tournament. No Welshman has done that well in the last few years

3:31:33 > 3:31:35here. The I'm sure Dominic as well will be really keen to make amends

3:31:36 > 3:31:41for that. Do matches feel different when you are playing against a guy

3:31:42 > 3:31:46with big local support, does the atmosphere feel different in the

3:31:47 > 3:31:50arena? Not really. You would rather play in front of a full house than

3:31:51 > 3:31:54not too many people. It will be a fantastic atmosphere, that brings

3:31:55 > 3:31:58the best out of the top players. Give us an overview of your season

3:31:59 > 3:32:04so far, you must be delighted with how things are going? I think I

3:32:05 > 3:32:08could have won two or more ranking events as well. I have won the

3:32:09 > 3:32:11biggest tournament of the season so far in the UK Championship. I think

3:32:12 > 3:32:15that there is still plenty more to come for the rest of the season. I

3:32:16 > 3:32:20want to finish winning another one or two more titles, for sure. What

3:32:21 > 3:32:26does it mean to be World Number One, does that matter in the game now?

3:32:27 > 3:32:29It's nice to be able to have had a really long sequence of weeks as

3:32:30 > 3:32:33number one with the ranking system the way it is now. It's really tough

3:32:34 > 3:32:39to stay number one. You know, I've been there from the first tournament

3:32:40 > 3:32:43up until now, once again, a really good achievement to stay there as

3:32:44 > 3:32:47long as possible. The rankings change at the end of the season to a

3:32:48 > 3:32:51prize money list. It kind of... It's not... It won't be the same the

3:32:52 > 3:32:55rankings. This is the last year of having like a proper ranking system.

3:32:56 > 3:33:00I'm not a fan of the money list at all. That's the way Barry wants it.

3:33:01 > 3:33:04Give us an idea as well. How are you enjoying the new format to some of

3:33:05 > 3:33:08these tournaments. 128 players in the first round. Has that made any

3:33:09 > 3:33:12difference to you? Most of the top players are getting through to the

3:33:13 > 3:33:16later rounds? It depends if you can get your head around. If you are

3:33:17 > 3:33:20used to playing on TV, if you are on a back table and get beat by someone

3:33:21 > 3:33:24who you feel can't string three or four balls together on the TV. That

3:33:25 > 3:33:28is when some of the players go - he couldn't have beat me on TV. They

3:33:29 > 3:33:32get frustrated. You have to treat everyone with 100% respect. If

3:33:33 > 3:33:37someone plays really well against you on a back table you have to

3:33:38 > 3:33:42accept it. Congratulations today. Great performance. We look forward

3:33:43 > 3:33:51to seeing you later in the week particularly against Mark Williams.

3:33:52 > 3:33:55Into thank you. -- Thank you. We can go back to Shaun Murphy and Craig

3:33:56 > 3:34:00Steadman. COMMENTATOR: a few safety shots in

3:34:01 > 3:34:05this game. You haven't missed a lot. No real chance for either of the two

3:34:06 > 3:35:12players yet to score. Another safety shot coming here. .

3:35:13 > 3:35:21Certainly better safety shot. He's put a bit of pressure on Shaun

3:35:22 > 3:35:26Murphy here. Dead straight, you can get to the red between the green and

3:35:27 > 3:35:28the blue. There's no value if he drops it in, he can't see the black

3:35:29 > 3:35:52anyway. This could be good. Has he left a

3:35:53 > 3:35:57long one on? Maybe one into the left corner here.

3:35:58 > 3:36:04The difference now, you can see it, there is a slight angle. He can push

3:36:05 > 3:36:16through here and come up for the blue.

3:36:17 > 3:36:30That red needs to run. I think it's available now for Shaun Murphy. It's

3:36:31 > 3:36:43a bit thin, but it's certainly on. He thought he'd got that one.

3:36:44 > 3:36:55He did well to hold that cue ball for the blue off that very thin cut.

3:36:56 > 3:37:12This cloth is so fast. That little flick on the pink has

3:37:13 > 3:37:16brought two more reds into play. There was five or six reds in play

3:37:17 > 3:37:20already. He's dead straight on this red. I think the black will pot in

3:37:21 > 3:37:25both pockets. Yes, it clearly does. No problem here. A good chance for

3:37:26 > 3:37:31Shaun Murphy to take the lead again in this match. He will be per

3:37:32 > 3:37:36terribled that it went 2-2. He's done well to stick in. He was second

3:37:37 > 3:37:40favourite in the two frames he's won at one time or another. Lost the cue

3:37:41 > 3:37:44ball a fraction there. He is still OK. Could have done with it two

3:37:45 > 3:38:14inches further to the left, so he wasn't hampered.

3:38:15 > 3:38:22He break builds as good as most, Shaun Murphy. Stephen Hendry spotted

3:38:23 > 3:38:25something in commentary a little while ago, he probably breaks down

3:38:26 > 3:38:30more than any other player when he gets to about 40. Obviously, you

3:38:31 > 3:38:35then watch to see if that's right. The number of times he breaks down

3:38:36 > 3:38:40on 40 or 50, it's quite amazing. He probably won't do it here. He has

3:38:41 > 3:38:44lost or broke down on maybe 30, 40 frames in the last season, when I've

3:38:45 > 3:38:48been watching, on 40 points. Of course, the first 40 is more

3:38:49 > 3:38:52difficult, the second 40 or 50 points is a little easier because

3:38:53 > 3:39:24there there are less balls on the table.

3:39:25 > 3:39:35Got to play it with a little bit of side or stun. He may play with side

3:39:36 > 3:40:06to get around the back of the black. Just a fraction off the side.

3:40:07 > 3:40:13That's a little bit careless, finishing straight on the black.

3:40:14 > 3:40:18Nothing seems to pot in that left hand corner. He will have to screw

3:40:19 > 3:40:22back or run it back off two cushions. Just got a slight angle.

3:40:23 > 3:40:30He really needed to be on that black half-ball. I couldn't stand it if

3:40:31 > 3:40:34you broke down on 4. He's left himself a bit to do, you're right. A

3:40:35 > 3:40:38lot of cue power, of course. What? He's on the one in the middle.

3:40:39 > 3:40:51An awkward cue in. He strides around the table, doesn't

3:40:52 > 3:41:24he, large steps. You did say 40 and 50s. 55 this

3:41:25 > 3:41:31time. Didn't expect him to miss that black. Still a good lead. Once

3:41:32 > 3:41:38again, hasn't won the frame at that visit, where you would expect him to

3:41:39 > 3:41:41kick on and win the frame. Luckily for Shaun Murphy the black has gone

3:41:42 > 3:41:51safe and the pink is tied up as well. He's still strong favourite in

3:41:52 > 3:41:56this round. That certainly is a Achilles heal. Up there having won

3:41:57 > 3:42:01the World Championship, the UK Championship, he is one of the

3:42:02 > 3:42:03game's greats. Maybe that is something he just has to tighten up

3:42:04 > 3:43:06on. Very good positional shot there.

3:43:07 > 3:43:11Very soon, the pink will be in play. If both these reds pot. He's having

3:43:12 > 3:43:16a look to see if the pink will be available afterwards. Certainly not

3:43:17 > 3:43:24the same pocket he has played the red in. It will be available in the

3:43:25 > 3:43:31middle. Not seen too much of Craig play. This is the first time I've

3:43:32 > 3:43:39seen him on television, actually. Certainly has the cue ball moving in

3:43:40 > 3:43:40this break. The break is 13 he has been in and out of baulk three

3:43:41 > 3:43:47times. You are allowed to go in and out of

3:43:48 > 3:43:57baulk, Willie. If you keep potting them, you will

3:43:58 > 3:44:02win the frame. No doubt about that. He is not getting good position,

3:44:03 > 3:44:04still a lot to do, as you edges pensioned, the pink was tied up on

3:44:05 > 3:44:13the black. Essentially gets top side of the

3:44:14 > 3:44:17blue here though. The then try and play the little cannon into the red

3:44:18 > 3:44:21and pink. Really important there to get top side of the blue. That

3:44:22 > 3:44:26little cannon into the red and pink would have opened the frame and

3:44:27 > 3:44:29given him a chance to win at this visit. As it is now, he still has a

3:44:30 > 3:45:04lot to do. Took a risk there, trying to bring

3:45:05 > 3:45:09pink and red into play. Now, OK he has nudged the pink. Has he moved

3:45:10 > 3:45:17the red enough? If he pots the pink, can he screw back. Let's look at

3:45:18 > 3:45:18this shot again. Whether the red will be available if he takes the

3:45:19 > 3:45:34pink on, I don't know. Pink's it tempting. If the red

3:45:35 > 3:46:06doesn't pot, it's pointless playing the pink.

3:46:07 > 3:46:12I thought for a second he was going to knock the yellow safe. Which

3:46:13 > 3:46:23obviously he didn't mean to do. He's put it in a good position.

3:46:24 > 3:46:33He will put him back again in and make him move the red that's tight.

3:46:34 > 3:46:39Put him back in from there, not where it was before. That's amazing

3:46:40 > 3:46:46to me. This is easier to hit from where he was the previous time. It's

3:46:47 > 3:47:01a lot more difficult to hit that loose red from where he was.

3:47:02 > 3:47:11I'm sure that Shaun will hit it this time. It's a lot easier from that

3:47:12 > 3:47:15position than it was from the position he left him in previously.

3:47:16 > 3:48:0327 points behind. He's doing his best, isn't he,

3:48:04 > 3:48:05Shaun, to lose this frame. Now, essential to get on a colour to-this

3:48:06 > 3:48:21last red into play. -- move this last red into play. We

3:48:22 > 3:48:27are fast running out of time here on BBC Two Wales much we will bring you

3:48:28 > 3:48:35the results in our programme at 7.00pm. The big names have shown

3:48:36 > 3:48:39their quality. Tonight, it's the most exciting player of them all,

3:48:40 > 3:48:47the multi-talented Ronnie O'Sullivan will be here. We are on air at

3:48:48 > 3:48:537.00pm on BBC Two Wales. Please, don't miss The Rocket.