26/02/2014

0:01:00 > 0:01:08Good afternoon. We have reached the third round stage here at the

0:01:09 > 0:01:12BetVictor Welsh Open. 32 players are still hoping to lift the trophy.

0:01:13 > 0:01:22Mark Williams leads the home challenge, but he is not the only

0:01:23 > 0:01:36Welsh men -- Welshman hoping to keep the title here.

0:01:37 > 0:01:45Andrew Pagett from Blackwood is hoping to pull off a big upset

0:01:46 > 0:01:51against defending champion Stephen Maguire this evening. Eurosport is

0:01:52 > 0:01:58coming up this afternoon. -- here is what is coming up. Mark Williams

0:01:59 > 0:02:04will have huge local support as he bids for his third Welsh Open title.

0:02:05 > 0:02:08The world number one Neil Robertson stands in his way. He has been

0:02:09 > 0:02:14knocking in centuries for fun. 87 this season. Ronnie O'Sullivan, the

0:02:15 > 0:02:31most naturally gifted player in the game, faces Xiao Guodong from China.

0:02:32 > 0:02:35Welshman stands in his way. Dominic Dale has beaten Mark Selby more

0:02:36 > 0:02:39times than he has lost. Can he create an upset in front of his home

0:02:40 > 0:02:47crowd? Don't go anywhere between now and 5pm. Terry Griffiths is here.

0:02:48 > 0:02:52Neil Robertson against Mark Williams is definitely the game that stands

0:02:53 > 0:03:10out. Today. He played very well in his first game. I think he has some

0:03:11 > 0:03:17form back. Perhaps not as much confidence as when he was in his

0:03:18 > 0:03:26prime. He has got 87 centuries in one single season. That is an

0:03:27 > 0:03:29exceptional number. He only got one in his last match and was very

0:03:30 > 0:03:35disappointed. There was a headline that said Neil Robertson wins and he

0:03:36 > 0:03:42did not make a century. That is some complement. He is playing

0:03:43 > 0:03:48exceptionally well. He was not at his best in his previous match. Mark

0:03:49 > 0:03:53never loses his fight. He might lose his form a little, but he will

0:03:54 > 0:03:57always be a fighter. Mark Williams really has done it all in the game.

0:03:58 > 0:04:01In the last few months, he has dropped outside the top 16, but

0:04:02 > 0:04:12there is no doubt that he is one of the most naturally talented players

0:04:13 > 0:04:16in the game. With Mark Williams, you're looking at a player who has a

0:04:17 > 0:04:21superb technique. He can play shots that no other player can play in the

0:04:22 > 0:04:25game. He is striving to get back to the top of the game. It is not his

0:04:26 > 0:04:32technique that is letting him down. He shows nothing facially. You never

0:04:33 > 0:04:36know whether he is happy or sad. Sometimes his temperament could be a

0:04:37 > 0:04:43fraction better, but I think it is very good. He is a great player. He

0:04:44 > 0:04:49has a super touch. When he dropped out, everybody thought that was the

0:04:50 > 0:04:54end of him. Resiliency has shown, Welsh determination, from the

0:04:55 > 0:04:59valleys, in my opinion, he is probably the best player who has

0:05:00 > 0:05:03ever come out of Wales. Mark Williams is right up there with the

0:05:04 > 0:05:13best potters of all time. They all seem to be left-handed. I think you

0:05:14 > 0:05:21could have had six or 700 centuries. Undoubtedly one of the best breakers

0:05:22 > 0:05:32in the game. Can he win another tournament? Can he win another world

0:05:33 > 0:05:40Championship? I think he is the best player from Wales, so he has to do

0:05:41 > 0:05:47get more than Ray Reardon. The only thing with Mark is his self belief.

0:05:48 > 0:05:52If you get a few knocks along the way, do you really deep down believe

0:05:53 > 0:05:58you can win another world title? It is down to him. I think he has the

0:05:59 > 0:06:03ability. Does he believe that? What a match in prospect. Mark Williams

0:06:04 > 0:06:07of Wales against Neil Robertson, the world number one, from Australia.

0:06:08 > 0:06:12Surely the biggest head-to-head of this tournament so far. Let me leave

0:06:13 > 0:06:19you in the capable hands of the match commentators.

0:06:20 > 0:06:30What a match in prospect we have got. Two of the greatest

0:06:31 > 0:06:38left-handers we have ever seen. We will witness this now. Sit down and

0:06:39 > 0:06:48enjoy. I am sure these players will put on a good show. Mark is second

0:06:49 > 0:06:56favourite, of course. I think Mark has a big win left in him. Could it

0:06:57 > 0:07:03be this week? Mark Williams makes the first pot. It is not one he

0:07:04 > 0:08:09would have liked. Not his best break. Much to stick.

0:08:10 > 0:08:30-- much too thick. It looks like the Green might have come to his rescue.

0:08:31 > 0:09:16That is not bad. Normally he would have played off the side of the pack

0:09:17 > 0:09:17but they read to the left corner makes it difficult to get it

0:09:18 > 0:09:37covered. They have decided to start again. I

0:09:38 > 0:09:46don't disagree with that. They are very fluent in the break department.

0:09:47 > 0:09:55They don't want to get involved in a protracted safety. Over the years,

0:09:56 > 0:09:58the referee used to say you had three shots each and if the game

0:09:59 > 0:10:04doesn't change they would ask to start again. Obviously no it has all

0:10:05 > 0:10:09changed. Players know instantly how the game will go and they want to

0:10:10 > 0:10:16get on with things. All they are doing is speeding up the inevitable.

0:10:17 > 0:10:22First frame, take two. Hopefully Mark Williams will break better than

0:10:23 > 0:10:27last time when he potted the blue. This time a conventional break

0:10:28 > 0:12:32inside the blue. A fraction hard. He would like to get rid of the red

0:12:33 > 0:12:44to the left of the black, but the angle was difficult. He played to

0:12:45 > 0:12:48try to kiss that half ball. As well as playing snooker, he also plays

0:12:49 > 0:13:25darts. File. -- foul. He must have touched

0:13:26 > 0:13:47the black with his fingers. He just touched it with his snooker cue.

0:13:48 > 0:13:58I think he just has the smallest of angles here on this blue. Needs to

0:13:59 > 0:14:04use two cushions for the red just above the black. That is about as

0:14:05 > 0:14:33good as he could've done with that. Perfect angle for the black to play

0:14:34 > 0:14:37a cannon. Need to play this with stun instead of screw, so that the

0:14:38 > 0:14:43white pushes through. Or you could play a deep screw and hopefully get

0:14:44 > 0:15:31that red to go into the pack as well. He has gone for topspin.

0:15:32 > 0:15:41What a perfect shot that was. Fantastic. Hit the red absolutely

0:15:42 > 0:15:51perfect. What a chance this has turned into nine. This was all from

0:15:52 > 0:15:56Mark touching the black with his snooker cue. And unforced error.

0:15:57 > 0:16:18Neil Robertson likes to attack. snooker cue. And unforced error.

0:16:19 > 0:16:21century breaks this year. Prolific. He would love to take the one above

0:16:22 > 0:16:47the black but he cannot do that. What a clever shot that is. I didn't

0:16:48 > 0:16:52think it was possible to get onto the pink, but he has done. The gap

0:16:53 > 0:17:06he found there was very good. You won't see better cue action in

0:17:07 > 0:17:24the game than these two players playing today.

0:17:25 > 0:17:36The player is entitled to ask the referee to place it on the spot

0:17:37 > 0:17:44again if he does not think it is exactly there. He thought it might

0:17:45 > 0:17:45have gone on the brand spot. This is a lot thinner than the might have

0:17:46 > 0:17:56liked. To reflect a lot thinner than the might have

0:17:57 > 0:18:06that very well. Took all the pace out of the cue ball. You don't

0:18:07 > 0:18:12usually have both. Sometimes the touch is not as good if you are an

0:18:13 > 0:18:17aggressive potter. But the key thing is his temperament. This young man

0:18:18 > 0:19:12has that. I am sure Mark Williams knew that he

0:19:13 > 0:19:20would be in for a tussle this afternoon. Mind you, has he ever

0:19:21 > 0:19:31missed one like that this season? That is probably the easiest shot he

0:19:32 > 0:19:36has missed this season. What a chance this is for Mark Williams to

0:19:37 > 0:19:41get right back into the frame. The kind of frames where you can hurt

0:19:42 > 0:19:43your opponent. If you are this far behind and can clear

0:19:44 > 0:19:53your opponent. If you are this far mistake, that really hurt is. He has

0:19:54 > 0:19:59gone closer to this red as he would have liked. It still is on, but he

0:20:00 > 0:20:13is chipping back into a bit of a blind pocket. You can play the

0:20:14 > 0:20:17black, but it is dinky. No problem. If he can pinch this frame, it would

0:20:18 > 0:20:26hurt Neil Robertson and put him on the back foot. He will never ever

0:20:27 > 0:20:31have expected to miss our ball like that. I haven't seen him do that all

0:20:32 > 0:20:39season. Very unlike him not to concentrate on virtually every shot.

0:20:40 > 0:20:43That has gone away from him a little. No real problem. Might

0:20:44 > 0:20:50decide to play the yellow or two cushions instead of one. The pink

0:20:51 > 0:20:55goes back onto its own spot, so he doesn't really want to play that.

0:20:56 > 0:21:04The normal shot is to play with some check site.

0:21:05 > 0:21:18-- check side. Is he straight enough on this? I think he is OK.

0:21:19 > 0:21:25Now Mark is favourite to take the frame. Just has to hold himself

0:21:26 > 0:21:37together. This will be a body blow to Neil Robertson. You can't sit

0:21:38 > 0:21:39there and enjoy it when you mess and easy ball and then your opponent

0:21:40 > 0:22:15clears up from 50 behind. He made that look very easy. But

0:22:16 > 0:22:22that is a much more difficult shot than it looked, coming back for the

0:22:23 > 0:22:25blind pocket. That is looking just about perfect. Nice and comfortable

0:22:26 > 0:22:52for someone who is left-handed. He is not happy. I thought he had

0:22:53 > 0:22:56that little hard. Perhaps there was a slight bones of the cushion.

0:22:57 > 0:23:03Normally a decent player with the rest. Natural angle to come in the

0:23:04 > 0:23:33back of the brown for the brown in the same pocket. Well done.

0:23:34 > 0:23:38He was just double-checking that he needed the pink. What a frame of

0:23:39 > 0:23:58snooker this has been. 13 in front. Robertson missed a very easy read.

0:23:59 > 0:24:01Williams has replied with a very good clear to take the opening

0:24:02 > 0:24:09frame. Great start for Mark Williams. Lots

0:24:10 > 0:24:14of matches happening out there in the arena at the moment. There are

0:24:15 > 0:24:17four tables. I can bring new an important result from earlier, when

0:24:18 > 0:24:22Shaun Murphy, the former world champion, was playing Liang Wenbo

0:24:23 > 0:24:32from China. Has been a big shock results. Shaun Murphy, who was in

0:24:33 > 0:24:36fantastic form coming here having won in Poland earlier this month, is

0:24:37 > 0:24:40now out of the tournament. Mark Williams is not the only Welshman

0:24:41 > 0:24:47out there at the moment. Matthew Stevens is playing his third match.

0:24:48 > 0:24:53He is playing Joe Perry. Matthew Stevens crucially took the first

0:24:54 > 0:25:02frame. He is one frame up against Joe Perry. So, decent start from the

0:25:03 > 0:25:05frame. He is one frame up against Welsh men this afternoon. Mark

0:25:06 > 0:25:09Williams will be delighted to get that first frame under his belt. An

0:25:10 > 0:25:16uncharacteristic mess from Neil Robertson that let him in. I am not

0:25:17 > 0:25:21sure what happened. He looked very good up to that stage. That was a

0:25:22 > 0:25:31huge boost for Mark Williams. Not just taking the frame, but the way

0:25:32 > 0:25:36that he cleared the table, he will take great confidence from that. The

0:25:37 > 0:25:51second frame is underway. Mark Williams is at the table.

0:25:52 > 0:26:06As Terry said, he will be feeling good. I think the safety shot was

0:26:07 > 0:26:09the right choice. Mark Williams, when he was younger, used to go for

0:26:10 > 0:26:22everything. The problem is he used to port most of it. -- pot. He used

0:26:23 > 0:26:27to have a funny way of playing. You would expect him to go for something

0:26:28 > 0:26:32and he would play safe. One of his big assets was he would play what

0:26:33 > 0:26:37looked to be a dangerous shot but then he would miss it. But then you

0:26:38 > 0:26:46would see where the fight ended up. He was very clever. He knew his way

0:26:47 > 0:26:51around the table. I put him in my top four of all. That is how highly

0:26:52 > 0:26:56I rate him. Perhaps he is slightly on the decline now, but he had

0:26:57 > 0:27:02everything, this fellow. One of the best potters in the game. Excellent

0:27:03 > 0:27:05break build-up. Good temperament. But he is playing a man who is

0:27:06 > 0:27:09exactly the same and perhaps slightly more consistent. It will be

0:27:10 > 0:27:36tough, but pinching that first frame will help.

0:27:37 > 0:27:42That was an example of a bounce of the cushion. That has not happened

0:27:43 > 0:27:45to him very much this week. He hit that perfect, which means it should

0:27:46 > 0:27:53be within five or six inches of the cushion, but look where it has

0:27:54 > 0:28:06finished. No damage done apart from the fact that Neil Robertson will

0:28:07 > 0:28:34find a plant. Very good kiss to put. -- to boot.

0:28:35 > 0:28:44Not easy across the cushions. It is whether Mark can get through to this

0:28:45 > 0:28:50red across the pink. There have been a few cushions that have done that

0:28:51 > 0:28:53this week. If he goes for this, he will have to play it without trace

0:28:54 > 0:29:01of right-hand side to gently swerve past the pink.

0:29:02 > 0:29:09He is having a little look there. That is where the cue ball would

0:29:10 > 0:29:13land up. He is seeing whether he would leave a read to the right

0:29:14 > 0:29:25centre. There might be some value in having a go at this.

0:29:26 > 0:29:30He had to swerve it, and it was pretty tough. Neil Robertson will be

0:29:31 > 0:29:35pleased about that miss on the brown. It is one of those cues that

0:29:36 > 0:29:52Darren mentioned. Neil Robertson is missing one or

0:29:53 > 0:30:23two. He might go for this red. Cue ball

0:30:24 > 0:30:34off the back. Knowing he has got that brown over that yellow pocket.

0:30:35 > 0:30:41Just got to make sure this natural angle taken to the back of the pack.

0:30:42 > 0:30:45-- this will take him to the back of the pack. I think he will settle for

0:30:46 > 0:31:22that. It just came off. This is a very

0:31:23 > 0:31:27unusual is that for Neil Robertson so far. -- this is a very unusual

0:31:28 > 0:33:18start for Neil Robertson so far. His friend Matthew Stevens is on the

0:33:19 > 0:33:24next table. Mark Bright his son into the studio. -- Mark brought his son

0:33:25 > 0:33:42into the studio. Give us a quick way for Justin is

0:33:43 > 0:34:24putting your earpiece in. Lovely boy.

0:34:25 > 0:34:35Neil Robertson looks a little bit rattled. That was a bread-and-butter

0:34:36 > 0:34:50shot for Mark. Just forcing it a little.

0:34:51 > 0:35:08He may decide to try and screw around the back of the black. It is

0:35:09 > 0:36:06coming from a great height. There have been lots of different

0:36:07 > 0:36:14analogies. He has the perfect angle on the

0:36:15 > 0:36:43ground now. Is he able to put any? I don't think

0:36:44 > 0:37:29so, at first glance. He can probably make the bottom one.

0:37:30 > 0:38:01I wonder if normal service will be resumed.

0:38:02 > 0:38:48He was too close to the one just below the cue ball.

0:38:49 > 0:40:05He looks so confident when he is in Wales. He looks so powerful. He knew

0:40:06 > 0:40:16if he did not get on the bottom, he would have the back-up shot. That

0:40:17 > 0:41:08wobbles. That was frame ball. He could have lost this frame.

0:41:09 > 0:41:21You people think of is Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan, then

0:41:22 > 0:41:27Steve Davis probably. He is just remarkable. The great Stephen Hendry

0:41:28 > 0:41:43never even got close to that. I know there are more matches these days.

0:41:44 > 0:41:53This is just incredible. If this red goes in, it will certainly be

0:41:54 > 0:41:54another century. Just got to get onto the yellow now. It should not

0:41:55 > 0:42:30be a problem. He does that very very cleanly and

0:42:31 > 0:43:18confidently. APPLAUSE. Very close. Neil Robertson

0:43:19 > 0:43:21will be feeling a lot have fearful is the matches level. One apiece.

0:43:22 > 0:43:35What a response. Neil Robertson is like a machine.

0:43:36 > 0:43:43Champions response to danger. There was a turning point in that. It was

0:43:44 > 0:43:52very high quality. Closing in on that 100 century. One table two, I

0:43:53 > 0:43:57will update you. Matthew Stevens is playing Joe Perry. Joe Perry has hit

0:43:58 > 0:44:04back. He has taken the second frame. It stands at one frame apiece

0:44:05 > 0:44:16thereon tabled to. -- it stands at one frame apiece there on table two.

0:44:17 > 0:44:20Over on table one, a classic match. Mark Williams, the home favourite,

0:44:21 > 0:44:24who is about to break off in the third frame against Neil Robertson,

0:44:25 > 0:44:45the world number one and looking every inch the world number one.

0:44:46 > 0:45:10Robertson is usually very proficient on this kind of shot.

0:45:11 > 0:45:54Not too sure whether the black is available in the corner.

0:45:55 > 0:46:02He could have had a red that kissed them away from the black, but

0:46:03 > 0:46:04nothing has happened, rarely. I think there is only a safety shot

0:46:05 > 0:47:06left. You feel he be playing it. Over to

0:47:07 > 0:47:08the thing. Can he get through to it? He's looking to see where he will

0:47:09 > 0:47:19stick the cue ball. He's going to try and put marking as

0:47:20 > 0:48:54much trouble as he can. Robertson usually a very quick

0:48:55 > 0:49:37thinker. He has played up pretty well. -- he

0:49:38 > 0:49:38has played that pretty well. He has not covered this red up so it will

0:49:39 > 0:50:25be a straightforward shot from mark. He is going to have to concentrate

0:50:26 > 0:50:43on the blue and pink. A black is tied up.

0:50:44 > 0:51:44He can pick those reds off one by one.

0:51:45 > 0:51:53He is trying to make it easier when he eventually popped the pink.

0:51:54 > 0:54:09It looks solid. It looks like every time he gets in, he will clear up.

0:54:10 > 0:54:19He feels he has a bad contact. I think he thought the cue ball

0:54:20 > 0:55:00should have come further to the right.

0:55:01 > 0:55:03He wanted the cue ball to be a couple of inches the other side of

0:55:04 > 0:55:23the pink. He is trying to play a clever little

0:55:24 > 0:56:47shop there. I don't blame him for risking that.

0:56:48 > 0:56:56It is no good hitting that then leaving it. The only problem with

0:56:57 > 0:57:09playing the shot he is, the cue ball could come into the blue. --

0:57:10 > 0:57:14playing the shot he is, the cue ball cannon into the blow.

0:57:15 > 0:58:30He wants to hit a half ball or quarter ball.

0:58:31 > 0:58:55He has to hit eight quarters ball half ball. If he did it for five

0:58:56 > 0:59:05times, it really different shot. It is worth the risk. The anyway he can

0:59:06 > 0:59:20do that is by getting it thin. That is the one.

0:59:21 > 0:59:29Are we going to see a long, deep screw from Neil Robertson after all

0:59:30 > 0:59:31this? He is having a look to see if he can go for this one, above the

0:59:32 > 0:59:55ink. Pink. A screw or a stun, whatever he is

0:59:56 > 1:00:05confident with, but he has played a safety shot. And he is fortunate,

1:00:06 > 1:00:19because he made a hash of that. Mark is still in the game. 49 behind, 75

1:00:20 > 1:00:25is still on. A good safety shot, bring these two reds into play. Need

1:00:26 > 1:01:54to miss the green. Because the red is tight on the side

1:01:55 > 1:02:20cushion he has played a slightly more difficult safety shot.

1:02:21 > 1:02:32A fluke. I don't think it will cost Mark the frame. But a nice little

1:02:33 > 1:02:52nudge off that pink. Does he just roll up behind the

1:02:53 > 1:03:02brown? Put the yellow safe and put the white somewhere near the green.

1:03:03 > 1:04:27Did not quite do either. But the yellow has gone reasonably safe.

1:04:28 > 1:04:52Very fortunate. He hit that way too thick. Are very close to going

1:04:53 > 1:05:04in-off. A more difficult safety than it should have been. He is playing

1:05:05 > 1:05:08well, still in this frame. 50 behind, still more than enough on

1:05:09 > 1:05:12the table, it would be a great frame to pinch. Neil Robertson, heavy

1:05:13 > 1:05:27favourite. He did not want the kiss on the

1:05:28 > 1:05:37green, he wanted to leave it as safe as possible.

1:05:38 > 1:05:58Oh, dear. He has left the red in the middle. Terrible contact.

1:05:59 > 1:06:19Can you believe it? Robertson has missed more in this match than I

1:06:20 > 1:06:29have seen him miss or a two -- for two weeks.

1:06:30 > 1:06:43That is a horrendous kick. What a cruel game. Through no fault of your

1:06:44 > 1:06:50own, an explosion. The kick was so bad it it the red full in the face.

1:06:51 > 1:08:25-- hit. That puts the frame beyond any

1:08:26 > 1:08:32doubt. A bit of a scrappy frame. But the catalyst to take Robertson into

1:08:33 > 1:08:40a 2-1 lead. A scrappy frame, but Robertson

1:08:41 > 1:08:45prevails. Let's update you on table two. Joe Perry against Matthew

1:08:46 > 1:08:52Stevens. prevails. Let's update you on table

1:08:53 > 1:08:59two. Joe Perry Importantly, Stevens has taken the second frame, having

1:09:00 > 1:09:08to clear from green to black. This was the ball that clinched the

1:09:09 > 1:09:15frame. He takes a 2-1 lead. Some live pictures now from table two.

1:09:16 > 1:09:22Joe Perry is on a break. But has crucially just missed the lack. A

1:09:23 > 1:09:29chance for Stevens to crucially just missed the lack. A

1:09:30 > 1:09:38lead to 3-1. The 2003 UK champions, has had some lean years by his high

1:09:39 > 1:09:47standards since then. But still a leading Welsh contender. Terry, how

1:09:48 > 1:09:54does he look in this tournament? He played very well in the previous

1:09:55 > 1:10:01rounds, finding form a vital time. They have both played OK in this

1:10:02 > 1:10:12match, but that was a let off. Absolutely. Hoping that he can get a

1:10:13 > 1:10:18break going that will help him take a 3-1 lead, a very strong position

1:10:19 > 1:10:28indeed. Terry, how would you assess his career? He has not fulfilled his

1:10:29 > 1:10:35early promise. He is a class player, but is not consistent enough. He

1:10:36 > 1:10:40seems quite relaxed. Is that a good thing? It may be helped in match

1:10:41 > 1:10:53situations, but could you work hard at his game? -- could he. With so

1:10:54 > 1:10:59many tournaments most of the boys only practice so much because they

1:11:00 > 1:11:04are away all the time in the events. He has the ability to play

1:11:05 > 1:11:08right-handed or left-handed. That shows his level of talent. Talent

1:11:09 > 1:11:19for me means winning. shows his level of talent. Talent

1:11:20 > 1:11:26one more tournaments. He has won two of the three majors but I would like

1:11:27 > 1:11:35to have seen him win a lot more. We now return to our featured match.

1:11:36 > 1:11:37World number one, Neil Robertson, against Mark Williams. Robertson to

1:11:38 > 1:11:52break off in the fourth frame. All of a sudden things are going to

1:11:53 > 1:12:02plan for Robertson again. Market needs to change those plans. --

1:12:03 > 1:12:13Mark. He has a couple of long pots they can go for. He was just about

1:12:14 > 1:12:25to play that when a youngster in the crowd had a bit of a screen. --

1:12:26 > 1:12:32scream. That has put him off. And the baby is off again. Somebody in

1:12:33 > 1:12:46the audience obviously does not like the standard of play! But Mark is a

1:12:47 > 1:12:52fantastic long-ball potter, I do not think he quite blocks in as many as

1:12:53 > 1:12:53he did when he was younger. Both players can hear the little one

1:12:54 > 1:13:05crying. It is putting them off. I players can hear the little one

1:13:06 > 1:13:10just looking up and I cannot see anybody that has got a child. But

1:13:11 > 1:13:20obviously there was a sound like that. Going back to that last shot,

1:13:21 > 1:13:33I don't think he got bad contact. Everybody is still looking up into

1:13:34 > 1:13:45the crowd. I can see anybody. -- can't. Robertson, in and around the

1:13:46 > 1:13:47black spot again. Very tough for Mark to win three frames on the trot

1:13:48 > 1:14:16the way this is going. Will he or won't he? Two loose

1:14:17 > 1:14:36reds, but you expect him to go in for the pink. He needs full contact.

1:14:37 > 1:14:47And he didn't. A lifeline for Mark. It is amazing. How many blues have

1:14:48 > 1:15:01been missed over the years. This is a real lifeline for Mark

1:15:02 > 1:15:12Williams. Looked for all the money he was going to go 3-1 behind. But

1:15:13 > 1:15:24he has had a lot of kicks and that does not breed confidence. You

1:15:25 > 1:15:28cannot start expect an a -- expecting kicks but there have been

1:15:29 > 1:16:50a lot today. He can soon get rid of those two

1:16:51 > 1:16:59reds, being a left-hander makes it slightly easier. In fairness, that

1:17:00 > 1:17:38was not the best shot he has ever played.

1:17:39 > 1:17:53He is still marching on. A long way from securing this fourth frame. It

1:17:54 > 1:18:06was quite funny really, the first frame he won after Robertson missed

1:18:07 > 1:18:12an easy red. He cleared up. And all of a sudden, Robertson has missed a

1:18:13 > 1:18:22blue, the kind you could count on one hand that he has missed all

1:18:23 > 1:18:30season. The possibility will now go to -2, when Robertson could have

1:18:31 > 1:18:42leading 4-0. And that is how strange snooker is. I think he has possibly

1:18:43 > 1:18:57broken AQ. Must be so frustrating when you are a top layer, to miss

1:18:58 > 1:18:58that kind of shot. My knuckles are hurting and I wasn't even down

1:18:59 > 1:19:22there. That is uncharacteristic from Mark.

1:19:23 > 1:19:25He never shows any emotion, it is a strong point in his game. Very easy

1:19:26 > 1:19:43going. I can ever remember him showing

1:19:44 > 1:19:49emotion like that before. But it was such an easy red. He must now hope

1:19:50 > 1:20:03that Robertson does not clear up. Unlikely, but not impossible.

1:20:04 > 1:20:10Michael Oate did a similar thing and actually broke his knuckles. He did,

1:20:11 > 1:20:15and was out the game for a while. Great player but did get upset with

1:20:16 > 1:20:31himself occasionally. At least it has only cost Mark

1:20:32 > 1:20:347-point. Does not want to be touching ball otherwise he will be

1:20:35 > 1:21:19in trouble. Not touching though. That was a very good safety shot.

1:21:20 > 1:21:30Unlucky to go in-off. He could not do much about this. If he caught the

1:21:31 > 1:21:38jaws Mark would have been all kinds of trouble but now he has a chance

1:21:39 > 1:22:17to put Robertson in more bother. Looks quite good. That is very good.

1:22:18 > 1:22:32There will be no heroics with this, just pop it and play a safety shot.

1:22:33 > 1:22:40Or he can put the black or the pink safe, whatever he fancies. Looking

1:22:41 > 1:22:48at the scoreboard, there is no advantage in potting the black but

1:22:49 > 1:23:13plenty of advantage in putting a colour safe.

1:23:14 > 1:23:18Maybe trying to put the black on top of the two reds but he does not want

1:23:19 > 1:23:30to kiss the green. Needs to miss the kiss on the

1:23:31 > 1:24:48green... It is OK, well done. We have talked about how good his

1:24:49 > 1:24:54long game used to be and how poor it is now. Considering he was the best

1:24:55 > 1:24:59in the game at it for a number of years. The older you get, the harder

1:25:00 > 1:25:10the long game becomes. Decided to play for able -- a bulk

1:25:11 > 1:25:44colour. He did not plot that cleanly. Mark

1:25:45 > 1:25:53has got Neil a little bit at it at the moment. I wonder how his

1:25:54 > 1:26:00knuckles are feeling after he gave the table a bit of a bash. He might

1:26:01 > 1:26:02give it another one if he loses this frame, it is a frame he certainly

1:26:03 > 1:26:16should have one. He played that as good as he could

1:26:17 > 1:26:33have. Like Willie has said, other than the

1:26:34 > 1:26:47pink everything is nicely out in the open.

1:26:48 > 1:26:56I am just wondering, he has played this rake a lot differently, whether

1:26:57 > 1:27:05he is leaving an angle to bring the pink back into play. He took his

1:27:06 > 1:27:12time. It is not a bad pink to get into play. If you finish higher than

1:27:13 > 1:27:25the blue you can lodge the pink up towards the middle.

1:27:26 > 1:27:42What has gone wrong with that? The only good news is he can now bring

1:27:43 > 1:27:52the pink into play. He played it plain ball. Here comes the pink into

1:27:53 > 1:28:01play. Whoever pots the yellow, you would think, will win this frame.

1:28:02 > 1:28:15That was looking like it would be perfect. The cue ball just slid past

1:28:16 > 1:28:23the black. Mark covered that yellow with the green and pink, he is OK.

1:28:24 > 1:28:42The snooker is achieved, big frame now.

1:28:43 > 1:29:00So, then, Mark has the chance he needs. He will need yellow, green,

1:29:01 > 1:29:26and Brown. In goes the yellow. He has played that to perfection.

1:29:27 > 1:29:38In goes the brown. This will be a very relieved Mark Williams. Did

1:29:39 > 1:29:43have a break of 50 at the start of this frame and missed a relatively

1:29:44 > 1:29:49easy red and give the table at that of a bashing with his knuckles, but

1:29:50 > 1:29:57he will be feeling better, he parts the paint. Neil Robertson had his

1:29:58 > 1:30:05chances, but did not take them -- he parts the pink.

1:30:06 > 1:30:15Let me update you about what is happening on table two. Exactly the

1:30:16 > 1:30:31same score. Joe Perry plays Matthew Stevens on. -- Matthew Stevens. Mark

1:30:32 > 1:30:39Williams, it did not do him any harm to punch the table, he won the

1:30:40 > 1:30:45frame. You do not see him do that normally. It was an important shot.

1:30:46 > 1:30:51It worked out OK, but if he had lost the frame, he would have been

1:30:52 > 1:30:56disappointed. If you can put it to one side and do something good,

1:30:57 > 1:31:06those bad misses, you can put to one side. Neil Robertson was

1:31:07 > 1:31:12unfortunate, it was not to be. Apart from the frame when he did the 100

1:31:13 > 1:31:21break, all the frames could have gone either way. I think he will

1:31:22 > 1:31:28take four. What do you think of Neil Robertson? Healers are consistent

1:31:29 > 1:31:34player and he wins frames when he is not playing well -- he is a very

1:31:35 > 1:31:42consistent player. I do not think he will be too disturbed. Two

1:31:43 > 1:31:46heavyweights of the game going head to head in zero -- in Newport. Who

1:31:47 > 1:32:00will prevail? Mark Williams will be the most

1:32:01 > 1:32:03satisfied of the players. Neil Robertson is blessed with a

1:32:04 > 1:32:11wonderful temperament, it will not worry him. It might if he keeps

1:32:12 > 1:32:36hitting balls over the pocket like this.

1:32:37 > 1:32:41He is looking at plane at off the cushion, but he could lose the cue

1:32:42 > 1:32:49ball and it would not be on the black. He could play a deep screw

1:32:50 > 1:32:57shot. He has elected to go off the commission. It is a little bit thin.

1:32:58 > 1:33:02That was a really good chance -- cushion. That might have been the

1:33:03 > 1:33:08power shot to screw back the six inches. He had to play that a lot

1:33:09 > 1:33:30softer. A bit of frustration creeping in

1:33:31 > 1:33:41there. He will need to pull out another good pot. That unfortunate

1:33:42 > 1:33:47not to be nicely on the black or the blue. Faced with another difficult

1:33:48 > 1:33:50blue. It is amazing how much more difficult the shots become when you

1:33:51 > 1:34:02know if you miss it, you will end up on the red. He has done well here,

1:34:03 > 1:34:11well done. He has spotted three terrific balls. He has done very

1:34:12 > 1:34:13well to keep it going. For the first time in this break, he is in perfect

1:34:14 > 1:34:23position. The red half-ball in the middle,

1:34:24 > 1:34:25then onto the black. He has come too far. He wanted to be on the

1:34:26 > 1:34:44half-ball. This is the key shot. Can he get the

1:34:45 > 1:34:50pink in to play? Usually very good at this kind of shot.

1:34:51 > 1:35:13He hit the wrong ball, not even the pink. He never even hit the pink.

1:35:14 > 1:36:37REFEREE: Mark Williams, 24. APPLAUSE.

1:36:38 > 1:36:46He might have a little bit of a wobble on it. He could not quite pot

1:36:47 > 1:36:53it clean, but he will settle for that if he is on the blue. He will

1:36:54 > 1:36:58have to negotiate it out of baulk. One good positional shot and he has

1:36:59 > 1:37:08three reds just below the pink that he can play for. He needs to miss

1:37:09 > 1:37:15all the colours. He has done that. I do not think he could have asked for

1:37:16 > 1:37:23a better than that. He could clear the red away from the pink and stun

1:37:24 > 1:38:37for the pink. He has a chance to score heavily.

1:38:38 > 1:38:48There are three more reds and pinks, you could take them out and then the

1:38:49 > 1:38:52work starts. He could keep the four remaining reds safe. He was the

1:38:53 > 1:39:01favourite at the end of this break, he could win it at this visit. Lot

1:39:02 > 1:39:08of half kicks, taking the pace out of the white.

1:39:09 > 1:39:17He can only play possibly for the blue, perhaps play plain ball for

1:39:18 > 1:39:29the pink. He is not happy with the white at the moment. He seems to be

1:39:30 > 1:39:35having our lot of kicks. -- a lot. An unusually high number. It is

1:39:36 > 1:39:44funny, when you are not cueing at 100%, you seem to get a couple of

1:39:45 > 1:39:55more kicks. You are not quite going through the ball. He will play for

1:39:56 > 1:40:06the last of the open reds. He will potted into the right-hand corner --

1:40:07 > 1:40:13pot. He will have to move something into play. He could ply the deep

1:40:14 > 1:40:24screw and try and run the black along the cushion. -- he could try.

1:40:25 > 1:40:30He is perhaps even thinking of kissing off the red. He could run

1:40:31 > 1:40:40the black across the top cushion and bring that red in to play.

1:40:41 > 1:40:47There is the black. It nearly went in. Very clever shot, that is a

1:40:48 > 1:41:06frame winner. Mind you, how badly has he played

1:41:07 > 1:41:11this? He is bound to put it across the cushion. I thought he was going

1:41:12 > 1:41:14to get it in. That was a terrible shot. He will take on this thread if

1:41:15 > 1:41:25he can cue it. -- this red. He is 24 shot. He will take on this thread if

1:41:26 > 1:41:34points in front. This is dangerous, if he misses it, he will stick it.

1:41:35 > 1:41:39Is this worth the risk? What would he pot this? Seven out of ten? I

1:41:40 > 1:41:58think you are being generous. I would say five and on a good day,

1:41:59 > 1:42:10six. That is a bit optimistic. Why is he playing at them? -- playing

1:42:11 > 1:42:19it. He did not see the point in playing that shot, there was no

1:42:20 > 1:42:28advantage. APPLAUSE.

1:42:29 > 1:42:38He has been fortunate. They do not think Mark Williams has any other

1:42:39 > 1:42:51shot other than to play into the top right-hand pocket. Maybe play it

1:42:52 > 1:42:52into the middle, I do not know. He was very fortunate. Mark has

1:42:53 > 1:44:46overhits that slightly, -- overhit. Where will the red come from? He

1:44:47 > 1:44:54needs another red after this pink. He will need to drift past the black

1:44:55 > 1:44:59as easily as he can. Not like that. I can only presume that the white

1:45:00 > 1:45:04has kicked, because someone of his class would have played that shot,

1:45:05 > 1:45:13not leaving it expecting to kiss the black. Mark Williams has been given

1:45:14 > 1:45:52are pre-. He is still in this frame. -- a reprieve.

1:45:53 > 1:46:30Obviously better. Has that curled around the green and brown? It is a

1:46:31 > 1:46:47free ball. Neil Robertson is looking then used. -- been used. -- bemused.

1:46:48 > 1:46:52Just watch the white, I do not know if we will see it from this angle,

1:46:53 > 1:46:58it has gone past the green, he will not be snookered. It has come back

1:46:59 > 1:47:07the other way. I am surprised that he did not pot the brown. If he gets

1:47:08 > 1:47:09this safe, every chance he might do, which he has, he has gained no

1:47:10 > 1:47:23advantage. Quite a strange turn of events, how

1:47:24 > 1:47:31big now is this frame? This one now is massive. A couple of shots ago,

1:47:32 > 1:47:37it looked like Neil Robertson had won it and Marco was going to find

1:47:38 > 1:47:47himself one behind with two to play -- Mark. Now, it is all to play for.

1:47:48 > 1:47:57He did not want to play safe off this thread. He has two hit it

1:47:58 > 1:48:15perfectly. -- this red. It is pretty good.

1:48:16 > 1:48:37Barring a kick, it is hard to see Mark Williams

1:48:38 > 1:48:49Barring a kick, it is hard to see even though he is 30 points behind.

1:48:50 > 1:48:59That shows you how nerves can affect the game. He is still OK.

1:49:00 > 1:49:14As to hold himself together to lead 3-2. Thus -- house to hold himself

1:49:15 > 1:49:49together. This is not perfect, he plays the

1:49:50 > 1:50:00plain ball and will be close to the black. He could screw macro of the

1:50:01 > 1:50:03cushion. -- screw. He took the risk of a kick out of the equation,

1:50:04 > 1:50:25excellent pot. That was a steal for Mark Williams.

1:50:26 > 1:50:35He will take add 3-2. -- he will take a 3-2 lead.

1:50:36 > 1:50:45One frame away from victory for Mark Williams. An update on table two.

1:50:46 > 1:50:52This is Matthew Stevens and Joe Perry. That blue was the final ball

1:50:53 > 1:50:58of the break by Matthew Stevens. The red did not go in, but he took the

1:50:59 > 1:51:06fifth frame and he is in the lead. The Welshman both got their noses in

1:51:07 > 1:51:11front and they need one more frame to head into the last 16. Mark

1:51:12 > 1:51:20Williams showed a lot of character to clear up at the end. The first

1:51:21 > 1:51:28red was the key, he had to play it slowly. It is a good time to steal a

1:51:29 > 1:51:34frame like that, he just needs one. He still has a bit to do, it is the

1:51:35 > 1:51:39first to four, but it seems a short match. Who would you put your money

1:51:40 > 1:52:08on? Mark Williams. Mark Williams cot that one. --

1:52:09 > 1:52:17caught. He has missed it. He has been a bit fortunate. The balls are

1:52:18 > 1:52:23spread perfectly. He has left Neil Robertson and attempt at this left

1:52:24 > 1:52:28corner. What a big risk it would be. It could come off two cushions and

1:52:29 > 1:52:37onto the red. You cannot blame him, one mistake and he is out. He needs

1:52:38 > 1:52:41that to speed up and it has. You would not believe he would get it

1:52:42 > 1:53:03back close, no safety shot for Mark Williams. -- get it that close.

1:53:04 > 1:53:20REFEREE: Touching ball. Can he get that to baulk. --? .

1:53:21 > 1:53:36I thank -- think they might get this re-racked. If it is touching ball,

1:53:37 > 1:53:43it is a foul shot. That was touching ball before and it is touching ball

1:53:44 > 1:53:52again, he has hit the red. It is only the four points.

1:53:53 > 1:54:14They do see it -- decided to have a re-rack. I do not blame them. A

1:54:15 > 1:54:19quick point, obviously the referee, you could forgive him for making

1:54:20 > 1:54:23that mistake. It could have been important later, if the ball was

1:54:24 > 1:54:28touching and it ends up touching the game, it means you have hit it. It

1:54:29 > 1:54:34is not a real problem, the four points would not have made a

1:54:35 > 1:54:39difference. It is the most unusual re-rack I have seen. There were reds

1:54:40 > 1:54:50all over the place, I have never seen one like that. Anyway, frame

1:54:51 > 1:54:51six, takes two. We have had two re-racks so far. Neil Robertson has

1:54:52 > 1:56:40two win the remaining two frames. No real damage done, other than four

1:56:41 > 1:56:43points away. Neil Robertson has a chance to play a really good safety

1:56:44 > 1:56:59and comfortably on the table. He missed the yellow and needs to

1:57:00 > 1:57:29get in behind the brown. That is not bad, looks like it is a snooker.

1:57:30 > 1:57:36able to get right behind the brown. There is a gap in between the blue

1:57:37 > 1:57:41and brown and he needs to rest it on top of the brown. Behind the brown

1:57:42 > 1:58:13will be a difficult snooker to hit. Surprised he did not try to get it

1:58:14 > 1:58:17in behind the brown, because he has left a gap for Mark Williams who

1:58:18 > 1:58:44could get it back into baulk. Pretty good effort, he did well. A

1:58:45 > 1:59:02little bit more pace, it could have been perfect.

1:59:03 > 1:59:17It has been a really strange match, this. Mark Williams, 3-2 ahead. It

1:59:18 > 1:59:34has been very strange, lots of funny ounces and kicks -- bounces.

1:59:35 > 1:59:41Robertson has missed some balls that he just can't believe, the way he

1:59:42 > 2:00:10has been playing, he has missed. But a very intriguing encounter.

2:00:11 > 2:00:52File name is. -- Foul and a miss. Neil Robertson, four.

2:00:53 > 2:01:49Just making sure, having a look the still picture, that is where it

2:01:50 > 2:02:02Having missed some long pots, that was excellent. With hindsight you

2:02:03 > 2:02:03could say he is a little bit unfortunate not to have a better

2:02:04 > 2:02:22angle on the pink. He can certainly put the bottom of

2:02:23 > 2:02:29the two reds. We'll need to go around two or three cushions for a

2:02:30 > 2:03:27colour. The pink is still available in the corner.

2:03:28 > 2:03:41I can only presume that is another that contact. -- bad. Yes, just

2:03:42 > 2:03:44pushed straight in. It is a shame this match has been spoiled by the

2:03:45 > 2:03:53conditions today, maybe a little bit damp. But it is not raining outside

2:03:54 > 2:04:04so I don't see why it should be any damper today than in previous days.

2:04:05 > 2:04:14Although this roaming -- the swimming pool is in the next room.

2:04:15 > 2:04:26He has flipped that. Lots of distance between both balls. When

2:04:27 > 2:04:35Mark is in amongst the balls, Helix Ferry good. -- he looks

2:04:36 > 2:04:42Mark is in amongst the balls, Helix problems with that one, but I don't

2:04:43 > 2:05:24think you will be on anything. He could even be snookered.

2:05:25 > 2:05:34He is not refusing anything. That is unlucky. Amazing, this game. Now, a

2:05:35 > 2:06:23little safety. This has been misjudged.

2:06:24 > 2:06:34lucky to get away with that. Foul and a miss. He actually played to go

2:06:35 > 2:06:51around the back of that red, lucky to get away with that.

2:06:52 > 2:07:00That's what he should have played the first time, round the back of

2:07:01 > 2:07:57the red. Very unfortunate on his first visit.

2:07:58 > 2:08:13We have seen Mark Williams's son in the audience. And his

2:08:14 > 2:08:18We have seen Mark Williams's son in almost saying a prayer. It has been

2:08:19 > 2:08:22very nail-biting. Neither player at their best but it does not matter,

2:08:23 > 2:08:26it is just about getting over the finish line. Mark is definitely

2:08:27 > 2:09:04favourite. And that is a brilliant return. Just

2:09:05 > 2:09:16looking at a possible plant but he will be more concerned with getting

2:09:17 > 2:09:24the cue ball safe. It can be made. The plant did not go in and it has

2:09:25 > 2:09:30cannoned off the blue. Neil Robertson has gone right off the

2:09:31 > 2:09:36boil. Can only put that down to him losing a couple of frames he should

2:09:37 > 2:09:45never have lost. That is to the credit of Mark Williams, a couple of

2:09:46 > 2:09:51great clearances. The loser will be a little bit critical of the

2:09:52 > 2:09:55conditions out there today. The winner might have some complaints as

2:09:56 > 2:10:04conditions out there today. The well. Mark actually lined up this

2:10:05 > 2:10:08thread to the left corner -- red, he has been missing these by a long way

2:10:09 > 2:10:26so far through this match, and he has missed that one by a long way

2:10:27 > 2:11:20too. I don't think he has made one long pot. What can you Robertson do?

2:11:21 > 2:11:24I have never seen Neil play as many careless shots as he has this

2:11:25 > 2:12:16afternoon. The green his only option now.

2:12:17 > 2:12:25I am not so sure about that one. I think he may have played to hit the

2:12:26 > 2:12:40first red. Let's have a little look at it

2:12:41 > 2:12:52again. What do you think he played? Let's have a look. Has he played to

2:12:53 > 2:12:57hit the first red? I think so. But anyway. Deserves a bit of Loch, he

2:12:58 > 2:13:27has had some bad luck. 3-2 in front. It is the only part of his game that

2:13:28 > 2:13:50has been missing. In a funny way it has not kneel out of sync. --

2:13:51 > 2:13:56knocked Neil. There is only 11 points in it but with the balls

2:13:57 > 2:14:07position where they are, it is equivalent to 40 or 50. Neil

2:14:08 > 2:14:09Robertson will need three reds and three colours, where are they going

2:14:10 > 2:16:03to come from? I am a little surprised he is not

2:16:04 > 2:16:57playing an aggressive safe the shot. Keep it tight. A very scrappy frame.

2:16:58 > 2:17:03That has put an end to the little safety battle. Excellent shot from

2:17:04 > 2:17:22kneel. -- Neil. At first glance, I cannot see an

2:17:23 > 2:17:32easy way back onto the ball. Maybe try to get the cue all up towards

2:17:33 > 2:17:50the green. I think you have called it. That will probably be the shot.

2:17:51 > 2:17:52He will be happy with that. Might be in trouble with the next shot but it

2:17:53 > 2:18:42is a containing safety. You would have two say, at the

2:18:43 > 2:18:49moment, Robertson just about in control of this safety battle. But

2:18:50 > 2:18:58even if somebody gets in, not too many inviting positions to score.

2:18:59 > 2:19:03Right throughout his career Mark has had a fantastic ability to win

2:19:04 > 2:20:26scrappy frames. It will suit him. The kick took all the pace out of

2:20:27 > 2:20:31it. You saw him look to the gods. Just took the pace out of the white.

2:20:32 > 2:21:20A great short, for only one point. Again, mark in all kinds of trouble.

2:21:21 > 2:21:30Is he going to leave any kind of a shot for Neil Robertson?

2:21:31 > 2:21:37The table appears to be not running as true as it has done in the

2:21:38 > 2:21:50previous two days. Look where the red has gone.

2:21:51 > 2:22:55Goodness me. I can imagine Robertson will win the

2:22:56 > 2:23:03frame on this visit. He is certainly right back and in control of it,

2:23:04 > 2:23:08only four points adrift. There are three reds he should be able to take

2:23:09 > 2:23:29colours off before looking at developing anything else.

2:23:30 > 2:23:41Decided to leave the long blue. He feels he can get onto the next red

2:23:42 > 2:24:13in such a as to develop the pink. But not from that angle.

2:24:14 > 2:24:30Decision time. Do you cannoned up to the and pink? There are three

2:24:31 > 2:24:40different shots he can play. Cannon onto the red and pink, but he is not

2:24:41 > 2:24:48looking at that. He may decide to bring the two reds off the cushion.

2:24:49 > 2:25:05That is what he has decided to try and do. He has done it pretty well.

2:25:06 > 2:25:20Can you believe it? He missed that by three inches. How can you miss it

2:25:21 > 2:26:01by that far? Look how far he misses this life. -- by. Two inches.

2:26:02 > 2:26:10We have had some strange shots today. Very unlucky, going all out

2:26:11 > 2:26:17to try to win the frame with that one shot. Thinking, certain to be on

2:26:18 > 2:26:26the black, just keep an eye on what happens. He can't believe it. By far

2:26:27 > 2:26:29and away the longest frame of the match so far. Approaching 32

2:26:30 > 2:27:16minutes. Mark trying to track that cue ball

2:27:17 > 2:27:30in behind the black. Always pushing the red towards the corner. He has

2:27:31 > 2:27:36played a very good shot. The red has gone in such a place, Mark would

2:27:37 > 2:27:47otherwise have had a go at it pretty confidently. But as it is, pretty

2:27:48 > 2:28:05risky. Sometimes since Mark actually potted a ball. -- some time. You are

2:28:06 > 2:28:14kidding! I thought that was in! He could not get much closer. What kept

2:28:15 > 2:28:24that out? And I think he has just about got away with it. You can see

2:28:25 > 2:28:34Neil Robertson looking at this rate. -- red. Got to play a safety off to

2:28:35 > 2:28:45the right corner. Get it in behind the brown.

2:28:46 > 2:29:26Just a couple of inches short. I do not think Mark Williams can go for

2:29:27 > 2:29:34it to... He did go for the pot, it went a long way. It is quite funny,

2:29:35 > 2:29:42the run has changed, Mark Williams is having a good time. He missed

2:29:43 > 2:29:48that by a long way again. A lot of pressure out there, it means a lot

2:29:49 > 2:29:56to Mark Williams. He is on home soil.

2:29:57 > 2:30:25Of the two players at the moment, Neil Robertson is playing the better

2:30:26 > 2:30:32safety. Mark Williams is trying to get a bit of rhythm going.

2:30:33 > 2:30:36That is a containing safety shot. It is hard to force an opening from

2:30:37 > 2:30:49that. It may even go behind the green if

2:30:50 > 2:30:58he is lucky. That was hitting the green full-ball at one time.

2:30:59 > 2:31:06APPLAUSE. Nothing wrong with the eyes of Mark Williams. A very good

2:31:07 > 2:31:21shot. Of use leave the table has been

2:31:22 > 2:31:26playing a little bit funny and a few frames ago, Neil Robertson could see

2:31:27 > 2:31:35the cue ball going onto the green -- obviously. It pulled to the left,

2:31:36 > 2:31:54after this match, they will be looking at this table. We have seen

2:31:55 > 2:32:03that thin safety shot played a few times and Mark Williams would not

2:32:04 > 2:32:14expect it to roll off. It has given a chance to Neil Robertson. He needs

2:32:15 > 2:32:16an angle on this to try and yet the reds in to play. The brown is not in

2:32:17 > 2:32:35its spot. -- get the reds. It was hard to judge, but perhaps

2:32:36 > 2:32:47that top red pots. Perhaps that is an excellent shot. That was played

2:32:48 > 2:32:54to perfection. That red definitely goes. He is looking to see what

2:32:55 > 2:33:04angle he has to leave on the black will stop how good a shot was that

2:33:05 > 2:33:10last one? That one was not so good. He will continue with this effort,

2:33:11 > 2:33:13he will have to pot one across the cushion, dead weight. It will be a

2:33:14 > 2:33:30bit higher. These tables have been a bit funny

2:33:31 > 2:33:38this week. Again, he played it confidently, but

2:33:39 > 2:33:58has he got the snooker? He can get through, I think, with a

2:33:59 > 2:34:08little bit of cider. It is not great. -- side. I think he will have

2:34:09 > 2:34:26to play it, I think it is worth the risk. He was playing it.

2:34:27 > 2:35:05Mark has moved that pink into a pottable position and if he can get

2:35:06 > 2:35:18through to this red, it is a nice easy safety shot for him. That was a

2:35:19 > 2:35:25clever shark -- shot that Mark had played if he had got this snooker.

2:35:26 > 2:35:31It has left an easy safety. -- the snooker. He changed the angle of

2:35:32 > 2:35:36that pot to get to the red. That is why he was nowhere near the middle

2:35:37 > 2:35:45pocket. He will play the cross double here. I am not sure if the

2:35:46 > 2:35:49table is playing fast enough. I am not sure if he can hit this hard

2:35:50 > 2:35:55enough to get it away from the pocket. Has he got second prize or

2:35:56 > 2:37:06what? Amazing. That has all gone wrong, he has

2:37:07 > 2:37:17given a free ball. If he had not caught -- caught the jaws, the fact

2:37:18 > 2:37:25he has caught the jaws, means it is all wrong. He needed the miss.

2:37:26 > 2:37:34Neil Robertson will need to cover on the red. That is not the best shot

2:37:35 > 2:37:43he has ever played, he has work to do. He played to get onto the blue

2:37:44 > 2:37:47in the middle. Not too sure whether he can run through this onto the

2:37:48 > 2:37:54kiss on the pink. He missed the pink. A brilliant

2:37:55 > 2:38:33shot, fabulous. Well played. It is a frame of snooker that will

2:38:34 > 2:38:38be raised from their memory banks immediately. The worst game they

2:38:39 > 2:38:44have played in some time. -- white out. Neil Robertson is right back in

2:38:45 > 2:39:10it -- wiped out. First frame of the match were we

2:39:11 > 2:39:13have not had a sizeable break. Neil Robertson will be pleased. We are

2:39:14 > 2:39:30all square at 3-3. A torturous frame. The important

2:39:31 > 2:39:36statistic is that it was won by Neil Robertson. We have a decider. How do

2:39:37 > 2:39:44you think it will leave Mark feeling? He has not thrown the game

2:39:45 > 2:39:50away, it was one of those messy frames. Mark Williams was the master

2:39:51 > 2:39:55of those frames a few years ago, but Neil Robertson is very good. He is a

2:39:56 > 2:40:03very patient player. It could have gone either way, but I think Neil

2:40:04 > 2:40:05Robertson will win now! I have another result to bring you and I am

2:40:06 > 2:40:13afraid this is not good news from another result to bring you and I am

2:40:14 > 2:40:19table two between Joe Perry and Matthew Stevens. Matthew Stevens

2:40:20 > 2:40:25made a crucial mistake in this deciding frame, fouling on the

2:40:26 > 2:40:35yellow and that meant that Joe Perry had his chance and he took it.

2:40:36 > 2:40:51Terry, REO shame for Matthew. He was so close. Joel Perry played quite

2:40:52 > 2:40:56well -- Joe Perry -- are real shame. He slipped out of the top 16, he has

2:40:57 > 2:41:02been in there and number of times over the years, but he is a clever

2:41:03 > 2:41:08safety player. No surprise to anyone that he is in the top 16.

2:41:09 > 2:41:16Disappointment for Matthew, playing in front of his home crowd. Do the

2:41:17 > 2:41:24Welsh players like playing here? Is their extra pressure? There is no

2:41:25 > 2:41:29such thing as a short drive home after you have lost! There is extra

2:41:30 > 2:41:34pressure, Mark and Matthew have said that. The families come up, it is

2:41:35 > 2:41:41disappointing. Mark Williams is still in. This was the end of the

2:41:42 > 2:41:50match, Matthew Stevens conceded and it is Joe Perry who goes through to

2:41:51 > 2:41:52the last 16. So, we have a deciding frame in our featured match. You

2:41:53 > 2:41:55said you have changed your frame in our featured match. You

2:41:56 > 2:41:58you think Neil Robertson with frame in our featured match. You

2:41:59 > 2:42:07way he is playing, perhaps he has the advantage? I think when you are

2:42:08 > 2:42:153-2 down and you get the next frame, it sharpens your focus. Mark

2:42:16 > 2:42:24cannot win this last frame, it is 60-44 Neil Robertson -- Neil

2:42:25 > 2:42:33Robertson. How will Mark Williams be feeling? Despite that long frame he

2:42:34 > 2:42:40will be looking for the first chance to get in and win it.

2:42:41 > 2:42:52This is the decider, sit tight, it could be a good one. Here we go, the

2:42:53 > 2:42:55best of one. I agree with Terry. For Mark to win it, he will need a

2:42:56 > 2:43:04reasonable opportunity early on in the frame. He will need to do try

2:43:05 > 2:43:10and score a break. Neil Robertson is having so much success at the

2:43:11 > 2:43:14moment, you will never doubt yourself, always feeling confident,

2:43:15 > 2:43:23that is what happens when you are used to winning. Things can get

2:43:24 > 2:43:32harder, seemed to go against you a little bit -- seem to go. One good

2:43:33 > 2:43:48frame, it could take Mark into the next round.

2:43:49 > 2:43:59REFEREE: Touching ball. We have had a number of frames like that. Neil

2:44:00 > 2:44:58Robertson should definitely find the top cushion behind the yellow.

2:44:59 > 2:45:05He will be looking to play this red up and down the table, you cannot

2:45:06 > 2:45:11imagine he will be attempting the pot although he is looking at it. If

2:45:12 > 2:46:08it was early in the match, he would probably go in for it.

2:46:09 > 2:46:14Very well executed shot by Mark Williams.

2:46:15 > 2:46:21I wonder how she is feeling at this moment, that is his wife. She is

2:46:22 > 2:46:57probably willing him on. That is a good safety shot, very

2:46:58 > 2:47:07good safety shot from Mark Williams. APPLAUSE.

2:47:08 > 2:47:14He is engrossed in this match. has not been the best

2:47:15 > 2:47:16He is engrossed in this match. stop he will be pleased

2:47:17 > 2:47:16He is engrossed in this match. man battling away. Another good

2:47:17 > 2:47:46safety shot. REFEREE: Foul and MS. That is the

2:47:47 > 2:47:54worst thing could happen -- and a miss. That is a total disaster. He

2:47:55 > 2:48:01is playing with this cue, it is not deflected, he has played all his

2:48:02 > 2:48:11life with a deflecting cue and he is trying out a new one. He has not had

2:48:12 > 2:48:16the cue very long. He believes once he gets into it, it will make a

2:48:17 > 2:48:25massive difference. That was a disaster for him. He has over

2:48:26 > 2:48:31screwed that yellow. There has been a lot of animation in this match.

2:48:32 > 2:48:36More than I have ever seen from these two players, they both have

2:48:37 > 2:48:41wonderful temperaments. He is trying to come close to the brown and pass

2:48:42 > 2:48:43the middle pocket. It has come wide of the brown and hit the other side

2:48:44 > 2:49:04of the middle. He will want to be low on the blue.

2:49:05 > 2:49:06He will not want to go around the houses. The key problem is kissing

2:49:07 > 2:49:16the yellow on the way back. If he plays in between yellow and

2:49:17 > 2:49:24brown, there is not much room to get onto a red.

2:49:25 > 2:49:33His pace is not good. Mark will be pleased that that shot has only cost

2:49:34 > 2:50:21him six points. Can he pot anything? He could not have picked that cue

2:50:22 > 2:50:27ball up and stuck it any better. It is absolutely perfect.

2:50:28 > 2:50:36He has got this red and perhaps another. He will have to start

2:50:37 > 2:50:46developing either the reds on the top cushion or the cluster. But

2:50:47 > 2:50:52might be won at the back of the pack -- there might be one at

2:50:53 > 2:51:17might be won at the back of the pack the pack. Full. --.

2:51:18 > 2:51:31He is having a little look, he may put it into the left centre.

2:51:32 > 2:51:43They do not think it will go to the corner. -- I do not think.

2:51:44 > 2:51:57Similar to what Darren was saying, what angle will he lead on the

2:51:58 > 2:52:12black? I took my eyes off it. Did it hit the other way? Caught the other

2:52:13 > 2:52:23red. It definitely pottered. -- potted.

2:52:24 > 2:52:31Played it perfectly, a lovely The only thing that can go wrong is

2:52:32 > 2:52:39if he hits the black director lake. The only thing that can go wrong is

2:52:40 > 2:52:44If he hits the red directly, he could stick on it -- directly. He

2:52:45 > 2:53:00has run away to the side cushion. I am surprised that players continue

2:53:01 > 2:53:05to play the screwing, Ronnie O'Sullivan would stun them. -- screw

2:53:06 > 2:54:41N. -- in. Good cue ball by Mark. He will be

2:54:42 > 2:54:51trying to put that cue ball in behind the green. The one nearest

2:54:52 > 2:55:02the corner pocket. He hit it much too thick. This is the chance mark

2:55:03 > 2:55:04has been looking for. -- Mark. The only one he can really leave on is

2:55:05 > 2:55:30the red he is playing. Can he bring reds into play? You are

2:55:31 > 2:55:35kidding! This game is amazing, it has been a scrappy match, neither

2:55:36 > 2:55:41player has found true form and the harder you try, the harder it gets.

2:55:42 > 2:55:42Once she made contact with those reds, you thought you could push it

2:55:43 > 2:57:25into the middle -- once you made. That was not a great shot by Mark. A

2:57:26 > 2:57:34little bit unlucky with a shot of Micro the blue going into this three

2:57:35 > 2:57:41reds. That red was a lot thinner -- off. If he had slid past the blue,

2:57:42 > 2:57:47there was a good chance the cue ball would have stuck in behind the

2:57:48 > 2:57:57green. He has given Neil Robertson a half chance. That wobbles, did not

2:57:58 > 2:58:04find its way in cleanly. -- wobbles. We have seen calls like

2:58:05 > 2:58:08that throughout this match wobble and stay on. -- balls. It is not

2:58:09 > 2:58:22easy. In practice, this pink would be ten

2:58:23 > 2:59:19out of ten. He will have to cue straight. He did that very well.

2:59:20 > 2:59:28I don't think that Mark is going to be too worried at the moment.

2:59:29 > 2:59:39Robertson still has a lot of work to do. The balls are not in a great

2:59:40 > 2:59:44position. Got the angle on this pink. We'll have two play it and run

2:59:45 > 3:00:13inside. All about this next shot. Nothing happened, no side. Just

3:00:14 > 3:00:19squared up. Still no closer to knowing who will win this final

3:00:20 > 3:01:09frame. That is nearly finished, behind that

3:01:10 > 3:01:16dream. -- green. Another inch more, Mark would have been snookered. The

3:01:17 > 3:01:24table is definitely pulling towards the brown spot.

3:01:25 > 3:01:28We'll be very what both players say in their

3:01:29 > 3:01:59interviews after this match. The problem with this safety shot,

3:02:00 > 3:02:25if they hit it poor, it brings the black into play.

3:02:26 > 3:02:42What kind of angle has he got underground? -- on the ground?

3:02:43 > 3:03:04Why on earth did he not try to go into them?

3:03:05 > 3:03:19Very clever shot. Left and angle this time. Mark better hope that

3:03:20 > 3:03:35nearly gets a double kiss. He is almost sure to be on something.

3:03:36 > 3:03:39The only thing that can go wrong with that shot is the middle red. He

3:03:40 > 3:03:54can consider himself a very unfortunate.

3:03:55 > 3:04:09It has been a very slow match. I expected the game to be over in two

3:04:10 > 3:04:15hours maximum. We are coming up to two hours and 40 minutes. I thought

3:04:16 > 3:04:39it was even longer than that, to be honest. It feels like longer.

3:04:40 > 3:04:48It has had an excellent both players. -- and effect on both

3:04:49 > 3:05:12players. He would like to bring the blue into

3:05:13 > 3:05:19play here. But it was too difficult. He is complaining now that it has

3:05:20 > 3:05:24bounced off the cushion. A player knows in his own mind if he has got

3:05:25 > 3:05:34the pace right. He is just a bemused. As soon as he hit it he

3:05:35 > 3:05:37would have thought, that perfect, then it picked up pace off the

3:05:38 > 3:05:44cushion. He tried to play one that with

3:05:45 > 3:06:30definitely get the cue ball safe. Just can't believe how good a shot

3:06:31 > 3:06:41he played, but it has gone in-off. It is all happening. Yes, he played

3:06:42 > 3:06:46an excellent safety shot. I thought, if he swung it around the angle, get

3:06:47 > 3:06:51in behind the green, the blue is in the way.

3:06:52 > 3:07:07If he tries to cut the one behind the black he could run it over the

3:07:08 > 3:07:20pocket. He is going to play for the red that

3:07:21 > 3:07:29is loose and just hope he can not it safe. -- knock. This is dangerous.

3:07:30 > 3:08:01But he played it well. He did not want that. He has given a

3:08:02 > 3:08:11nice easy start on that red. Both shots went wrong. Then the cannon on

3:08:12 > 3:08:24the blue. But lots of work to do with the cue ball, mind.

3:08:25 > 3:08:32Just cannot believe how close he came to that middle pocket. It is

3:08:33 > 3:08:38almost a comedy of errors at the moment. Neither player taking this

3:08:39 > 3:08:46final frame by the scruff of the neck.

3:08:47 > 3:08:58Will it be yellow or blue? But he can really get on to the next red,

3:08:59 > 3:09:13so we'll did just be a safety shot? -- will it just. You are not gaining

3:09:14 > 3:10:17any extra advantage from that two points.

3:10:18 > 3:10:29It is vital that he does not catch this too thick. Good shot, well

3:10:30 > 3:10:37done. That was excellent, well played.

3:10:38 > 3:10:47And can see this match coming down to one really well played safety.

3:10:48 > 3:10:59That is what it is going to be decided on. Again, a very good

3:11:00 > 3:11:06safety from a very good cue ball. Mark in a little bit of trouble. He

3:11:07 > 3:11:14can go off this red to the corner pocket but it will have to be very

3:11:15 > 3:11:21thin to miss the jaws. A little bit thicker than he would have liked.

3:11:22 > 3:11:27Unless Robertson takes a risk and goes for this red into the corner.

3:11:28 > 3:11:38He is looking for a gap and he thinks he can. He will probably play

3:11:39 > 3:11:47it. A big shot. A 23 point lead. I think the safety is a better choice.

3:11:48 > 3:11:53He cannot hit the red thick enough for the extreme right of the table.

3:11:54 > 3:11:56To keep the white safe without sticking it in the pocket. That is

3:11:57 > 3:12:14his problem. Just decided to play an excellent

3:12:15 > 3:12:57safety shot. That is close. Mark's facial expression tells me

3:12:58 > 3:13:07that the White has just drifted past the brown.

3:13:08 > 3:13:17Cut this in between the gap of pink and red. Ah! Now then, has he

3:13:18 > 3:13:42covered everything? The last shot he had a slight kick

3:13:43 > 3:13:53as well. This still is not great for Mark. A big shot.

3:13:54 > 3:14:03He played that with total conviction and confidence. Just needs a bit of

3:14:04 > 3:14:09luck with the cue ball and he has got it. All of a sudden a chance to

3:14:10 > 3:14:16get right back into the game, maybe even win this match on this visit.

3:14:17 > 3:14:25The yellow looks the best choice. But he has played that well also. A

3:14:26 > 3:14:33good shot. Probably reluctant to play the black here. Unless he plays

3:14:34 > 3:14:43the cannon just to push the red onto the blackspot. That is what he tried

3:14:44 > 3:14:50to do and that is what he has done. This shot could give him the frame

3:14:51 > 3:14:58and match. Now, Mark Williams, you have done this many times. Cleared

3:14:59 > 3:15:15up from a few behind. You need to do it one more time.

3:15:16 > 3:15:27Has he played his last shot in this years event? This lack puts Mark

3:15:28 > 3:15:38Williams five points in front. -- black. He would need up to and

3:15:39 > 3:15:47including the loo. -- blue. He will forgive himself for playing poorly,

3:15:48 > 3:15:50the victory is what it is all about. His wife is looking on, fingers

3:15:51 > 3:16:02crossed. This is the last one that can go

3:16:03 > 3:16:21wrong, the blue is a certainty. Well done, Mark Williams. I don't

3:16:22 > 3:16:25know how he has done it, he has struggled through, battled and

3:16:26 > 3:16:46battled and battled. The last three or four frames have

3:16:47 > 3:17:00been really scrappy. 19 points. One Snooker two -- to tie. What a time

3:17:01 > 3:17:06to make a fabulous break. Mark Williams pulled it out when it

3:17:07 > 3:17:11mattered most. Not a great match, but that will not matter to these

3:17:12 > 3:17:18Welsh fans. The last Welsh survivor into the next round.

3:17:19 > 3:17:24The big result of this championship so far, Terry. We will not

3:17:25 > 3:17:30The big result of this championship all the Snooker, but we will

3:17:31 > 3:17:38remember the result. The clearance was brilliant. He had all the work

3:17:39 > 3:17:47to do. This is the shot with the red in the centre. He had some good

3:17:48 > 3:17:54luck. Perhaps deserved. Onto the colours he needed. Then it was a

3:17:55 > 3:18:02clear-cut opportunity once he moved the red off the lack spot. -- lack.

3:18:03 > 3:18:11But that is when the pressure comes on. Mark has always been good under

3:18:12 > 3:18:19pressure. It was so scrappy. It must be so easy for the brain to get

3:18:20 > 3:18:25scrambled. Towards the end, they are both great competitors, but towards

3:18:26 > 3:18:32the end, whoever got the chance, you expected them to take it. But it is

3:18:33 > 3:18:38a big win for Mark Williams. Beating the number one in the world is

3:18:39 > 3:18:45special. That will do his confidence no end of good. He is in the next

3:18:46 > 3:18:57round and he is looking good. Look how happy he is. Well done, Mark.

3:18:58 > 3:19:08That was terrific. We were on the edge of our seats. What was it like

3:19:09 > 3:19:18to play? It is not often I beat the best player in the world. I am over

3:19:19 > 3:19:24the moon. Where does it rank with your results in recent seasons? It

3:19:25 > 3:19:37is up there, because I haven't done much in recent seasons. His cueing,

3:19:38 > 3:19:43he is one of the best out there. Any victory is good, beating the world

3:19:44 > 3:19:53number one is special. When you kissed the red off the black spot,

3:19:54 > 3:20:07that is when the pressure comes on. But a win is a win. Was the table a

3:20:08 > 3:20:25bit... ? It was bouncing. That suggests through the game off a

3:20:26 > 3:20:33little bit. -- that just threw. You have got Marco Fu or Graeme Dott in

3:20:34 > 3:20:45the next round, do you have a preference? If I can keep playing

3:20:46 > 3:20:50like that IM capable on my day. Clearances like that are not easy to

3:20:51 > 3:20:51do when you have not been stringing performances together. I am over the

3:20:52 > 3:20:59moon and will just keep playing. performances together. I am over the

3:21:00 > 3:21:11Your dad did fantastically, didn't he, Kian? Yes!

3:21:12 > 3:21:51Some other results from the Newport Centre:

3:21:52 > 3:22:03we are going to show you some of the match this morning between Mark

3:22:04 > 3:22:10Selby and Dominik Dale. Dale has a good record against Selby. He has

3:22:11 > 3:22:15won three of the last five meetings but in this game, nothing was going

3:22:16 > 3:22:26right for him. Stricken with a virus, 3-0 down. But for once,

3:22:27 > 3:22:33Dominik has made a decent start, a 40 point lead.

3:22:34 > 3:22:45He will be in all sorts of trouble at his next visit.

3:22:46 > 3:23:03This is a smoker which is almost impossible to it. -- Snooker. I can

3:23:04 > 3:23:16only see one option from here. You cannot see the right-hand side.

3:23:17 > 3:23:2639 points in front, not beyond the realms of possibility that next time

3:23:27 > 3:23:30Mark Selby comes to the table, he could be in front. Because this

3:23:31 > 3:24:15could be many misses on the trot. That did not work. But that is the

3:24:16 > 3:24:33general idea. He could be here all day playing this.

3:24:34 > 3:24:48How many times do you think, before he hits one? Three, four, five, six?

3:24:49 > 3:24:56If he hits it with pace and he should hit something straightaway.

3:24:57 > 3:25:12But at this sort of speed, he will be here for ever. Yes, face, I think

3:25:13 > 3:25:25you are right. -- pace. Sit back down, Mark, save the shoe leather!

3:25:26 > 3:25:40What he does not want to to his miss it for or five times. Play the same

3:25:41 > 3:25:42shot at Paisley Danilo vanilla one your average is leading the one,

3:25:43 > 3:26:37little thing, little The only good thing about that last

3:26:38 > 3:26:43escape is it only cost ten eight point. Still lead by 31. Just one

3:26:44 > 3:27:31red safe. I am not sure but there might be a

3:27:32 > 3:27:37little bit of value in making him play for this red in the left

3:27:38 > 3:27:44centre. As long as he catches the far job with it. Won't leave

3:27:45 > 3:27:50anything on as it goes in. A bit of a free shot, this one. And he has

3:27:51 > 3:27:59got a nice cannon on the green. Options now.

3:28:00 > 3:28:21As you can see, as long as it hit the far jaw it would lead nothing

3:28:22 > 3:28:33on. He has decided to take the bull by

3:28:34 > 3:28:41the horns and WinFrame and match on this visit. If this rate gives in

3:28:42 > 3:28:46his favourite to win the frame and match. But those are always

3:28:47 > 3:29:23difficult. He had a good shout them. -- then.

3:29:24 > 3:29:28It is not happening for Dominic. He could have left that nice and easy,

3:29:29 > 3:29:36but that was the worst cueing. When an opponent Mrs a ball like Mark

3:29:37 > 3:29:45Selby did, there is an opportunity -- misses. He will have to drop this

3:29:46 > 3:29:51in. He cannot play at that pace. That is they are. Good recovery. --

3:29:52 > 3:30:12that is there. It is not so good from Dominic. If

3:30:13 > 3:30:20you can pot five reds, he will not need the brown. -- if he can. He

3:30:21 > 3:30:34will have to go for a colour at some stage during this break.

3:30:35 > 3:30:50Not perfect, he will have to flick off the other red stop --. I thought

3:30:51 > 3:31:05he might have played a little stunned shot to flick of the red. --

3:31:06 > 3:31:41off. -- stun. All of a sudden he is not cueing as well as he did.

3:31:42 > 3:31:48He has played that two about perfection. I do not think those two

3:31:49 > 3:31:54reds will go anywhere. He might be able to get the one on the left. If

3:31:55 > 3:31:57not, he will have to play a little cannon. If that red goes, he will be

3:31:58 > 3:32:09playing for it. Just moments now for Dominic Dale,

3:32:10 > 3:32:15because Mark Selby is right back in this frame. He has had a couple of

3:32:16 > 3:32:32chances, not done a lot wrong. He has made the cannon, sober one to

3:32:33 > 3:32:43the left, will go to the left centre. -- so the one to the left.

3:32:44 > 3:32:52Takes a little bit of pressure off this shot -- off.

3:32:53 > 3:32:56APPLAUSE. This is Dominic's last chance. If market does not get onto

3:32:57 > 3:33:14the last red. -- if Mark. Fool ball kiss would not have been

3:33:15 > 3:33:54anything. -- full. 11 points in front, the pink would

3:33:55 > 3:33:55be 17. The tie on the brown will still be needed. It will pass the

3:33:56 > 3:34:15blue. Mind you, almost impossible to get

3:34:16 > 3:34:24onto the brown from there. He will have to miss the kiss on the pink.

3:34:25 > 3:34:40Has two miss the kiss on the pink. Played it a different way, went

3:34:41 > 3:35:09around the back. 22 points in front, a strong favourite.

3:35:10 > 3:35:28was so difficult. Does not give you an inch, Mark Selby. Look how good

3:35:29 > 3:35:43this one is. He does not want the brown to go end, he has played a

3:35:44 > 3:35:49brilliant shot. -- go in. What a fluke to have at the wrong time, he

3:35:50 > 3:36:01played the perfect safety. The only time he had a bit of luck, when he

3:36:02 > 3:36:09did not want it. That is cruel. That is ridiculous. He has two hit the

3:36:10 > 3:36:26blue to get it safe. -- he has two hit the blue. -- to. If he gets the

3:36:27 > 3:36:38right contract -- contact, he will hope he gets another one. We could

3:36:39 > 3:36:44see him playing this at pace. If the King get it safe, he could flick

3:36:45 > 3:36:51it. He deserves to get it safe or fluke it, he does not deserve to

3:36:52 > 3:37:05lose the match on that. Can you believe it? I can see it happening.

3:37:06 > 3:37:11What a strange game. That is the situation, 23 on it and barring

3:37:12 > 3:37:15snookers, Mark Selby has been the better player, but Dominic has been

3:37:16 > 3:37:28unfortunate. Mark Selby goes through 4-3.

3:37:29 > 3:37:45No free ball, he can still play the pot. It has not been a free ball.

3:37:46 > 3:37:48That is the conversation they had with Dominic, he has done well to

3:37:49 > 3:37:59raise any sort of smile from what has happened there.

3:38:00 > 3:38:04He did not want that blew to go over the pocket, he wants a snookers to

3:38:05 > 3:38:47win. -- blue. -- snooker. Surprised he has pushed that over,

3:38:48 > 3:38:54you only get one chance for a Flickr, but Mark could quickly run

3:38:55 > 3:39:15the pink over the pocket -- snooker. Just about the worst position the

3:39:16 > 3:39:38cue ball could have ended up. It was always going to go over the

3:39:39 > 3:39:43middle. We will see Mark Selby roll the pink onto the right corner. This

3:39:44 > 3:39:51will be very close, if it does not go in. Dominic is up, that was it

3:39:52 > 3:39:59for him, a disappointing morning. Mark Selby will be over the moon. He

3:40:00 > 3:40:05wins the match by four frames to zero.

3:40:06 > 3:40:17I was fortunate in the second frame. After that, I played quite solidly

3:40:18 > 3:40:23and did not miss much. When Dominic got his chances, he had a lot of bad

3:40:24 > 3:40:28luck. Last 16, I think I will play the winner of Mark Allen and

3:40:29 > 3:40:35Allister Carter. It will be a tough game. Mark Selby will play Allister

3:40:36 > 3:40:40Carter in the next round. It is a shame that another Welshman is out

3:40:41 > 3:40:46and you have to feel for Dominic, it was one of those days, everything

3:40:47 > 3:40:51went wrong. Before the match, you thought he needed good luck to win

3:40:52 > 3:40:57the match against Mark Selby because he is an excellent player. It would

3:40:58 > 3:41:02be a hard match. It looks like all the balls ran against him. He has

3:41:03 > 3:41:09had a run in this tournament, but his form is better. He had a bad

3:41:10 > 3:41:17start to the season. He sounded a little bit sick yesterday. I guess,

3:41:18 > 3:41:23when things are not right and you do not feed right, it is difficult to

3:41:24 > 3:41:29produce your best. I do not want to catch it. We are going to show you

3:41:30 > 3:41:34what is happening on table to where Judd Trump is in action and he is

3:41:35 > 3:41:42playing Anthony Hill and at the moment, as you can see, it is one

3:41:43 > 3:41:45frame all between the players, that match in progress at the moment on

3:41:46 > 3:41:59table to -- Anthony McGill. Ronnie O'Sullivan is a great

3:42:00 > 3:42:05character, a man who loses with talent, he is an absolute genius,

3:42:06 > 3:42:10but he has had his Demons over the years and in recent years, he has

3:42:11 > 3:42:16found salvation in another sport, that of long-distance running. He

3:42:17 > 3:42:20covers a lot of miles and it has become important to him. He says

3:42:21 > 3:42:30that was not for running copper he might have given snooker. -- if it

3:42:31 > 3:42:40was not for running --, he might have given up snooker. There was

3:42:41 > 3:42:48always pressure on me to do well. I had to play with that pressure since

3:42:49 > 3:42:53I was a junior. I was used to winning tournaments and if anything,

3:42:54 > 3:43:00winning a tournament was relief, you were on a come-down. Everyone was

3:43:01 > 3:43:11excited. I was glad it was over. When I won al five mile race, I was

3:43:12 > 3:43:22buzzing. -- a five mile race. Six years on, I was chuffed with

3:43:23 > 3:43:32myself. I got more of a sense of achievement out of running down

3:43:33 > 3:43:37snooker. If I did not win, I had not fulfilled my potential or people 's

3:43:38 > 3:43:44expectations, I think I got far more satisfaction out of running up or

3:43:45 > 3:43:49doing good races. -- running or doing good races.

3:43:50 > 3:43:56I used to get miserable that I had to leave home because of my

3:43:57 > 3:44:01running, so I connected with a lot of running clubs were at the

3:44:02 > 3:44:08tournaments where. In a way, snooker tournaments were a way of exploring

3:44:09 > 3:44:09different running clubs. Snooker almost became a

3:44:10 > 3:44:12different running clubs. Snooker ten years ago. As long

3:44:13 > 3:44:15different running clubs. Snooker running kit, I would take my cue and

3:44:16 > 3:44:27thought that running came first. When you're playing at the top

3:44:28 > 3:44:33level, if you do not perform, then a top player will take you out, I do

3:44:34 > 3:44:41not care who it is, they come with a big reputation, but if Usain Bolt

3:44:42 > 3:44:49does not run that fast, he will come second. You have to go out and

3:44:50 > 3:44:56produce the goods. Will his next match be a marathon or a sprint, ?

3:44:57 > 3:45:08We will show you what happened in the first frame. He was playing Xiao

3:45:09 > 3:45:13Guodong. He looked pretty ominous yesterday, comfortably through to

3:45:14 > 3:45:20this stage of the tournament. He is the man to watch. He scores better

3:45:21 > 3:45:26than all the other players generally. His control of the cue

3:45:27 > 3:45:30ball is exceptional. The other problem that players have against

3:45:31 > 3:45:38him is that he does make it look so easy and he plays so quick. Within

3:45:39 > 3:45:39no time at all, you can be 3-0 down and thinking, or what was I

3:45:40 > 3:45:46practising for? It is very hard for your opponent,

3:45:47 > 3:45:54if you get any sort of lead, It is very hard for your opponent,

3:45:55 > 3:46:04spending time in your chair, it is hard to get into the right frame of

3:46:05 > 3:46:11mind. Ronnie O'Sullivan has played against Xiao Guodong, they used to

3:46:12 > 3:46:16practice in Sheffield and he is an exceptional talent. He is not up to

3:46:17 > 3:46:20the standard of Ronnie, who is, but Ronnie will respect that and he will

3:46:21 > 3:46:25get inspiration out of this game. That makes it difficult. Against

3:46:26 > 3:46:32Barry Pinches, Barry had a few chances to win, but with Ronnie, you

3:46:33 > 3:46:38never know what will come. He is playing a lot of good and consistent

3:46:39 > 3:46:54snooker. How would you assess his state of mind? He has been a

3:46:55 > 3:47:04different person since he worked with Steve Peters. He has done a

3:47:05 > 3:47:08very good job and Ronnie said, when he goes out there, he feels at peace

3:47:09 > 3:47:16with himself although he still feels nervous. This was the black that God

3:47:17 > 3:47:24Ronnie O'Sullivan to a century break in this first frame against George

3:47:25 > 3:47:28medal. He missed the red and conceded that point. Ronnie

3:47:29 > 3:47:34O'Sullivan went at one frame up and of course, we will show you how that

3:47:35 > 3:47:41match developed in our programme at 7pm this evening. We will look ahead

3:47:42 > 3:47:48to are match this evening, it is Andrew Pagett against Stephen

3:47:49 > 3:47:57Maguire who is the defending champion here and the number one

3:47:58 > 3:48:00seed. How do you see that going? You think it would be a one-sided

3:48:01 > 3:48:07match, but Stephen Maguire has had trouble with his back, although it

3:48:08 > 3:48:14has improved slightly. It will be a surprise victory if Andrew Dawes

3:48:15 > 3:48:21win. Stephen has a bad back, that is clearly very difficult for a

3:48:22 > 3:48:27player. Yes, it is the pain you feel, it takes your cue out of

3:48:28 > 3:48:34line. He missed a lot of shots in his first match against Sam Baird.

3:48:35 > 3:48:40That is the game this evening. Can we get another Welsh player into the

3:48:41 > 3:48:42last 16? We will see you at 7pm. Thank you for watching, we will see

3:48:43 > 3:48:45you later. Goodbye.