26/02/2014 Snooker: Welsh Open

Good afternoon. We have reached the third round stage here at the

BetVictor Welsh Open. 32 players are still hoping to lift the trophy.

Mark Williams leads the home challenge, but he is not the only

Welsh men -- Welshman hoping to keep the title here.

Andrew Pagett from Blackwood is hoping to pull off a big upset

against defending champion Stephen Maguire this evening. Eurosport is

coming up this afternoon. -- here is what is coming up. Mark Williams

will have huge local support as he bids for his third Welsh Open title.

The world number one Neil Robertson stands in his way. He has been

knocking in centuries for fun. 87 this season. Ronnie O'Sullivan, the

most naturally gifted player in the game, faces Xiao Guodong from China.

Welshman stands in his way. Dominic Dale has beaten Mark Selby more

times than he has lost. Can he create an upset in front of his home

crowd? Don't go anywhere between now and 5pm. Terry Griffiths is here.

Neil Robertson against Mark Williams is definitely the game that stands

out. Today. He played very well in his first game. I think he has some

form back. Perhaps not as much confidence as when he was in his

prime. He has got 87 centuries in one single season. That is an

exceptional number. He only got one in his last match and was very

disappointed. There was a headline that said Neil Robertson wins and he

did not make a century. That is some complement. He is playing

exceptionally well. He was not at his best in his previous match. Mark

never loses his fight. He might lose his form a little, but he will

always be a fighter. Mark Williams really has done it all in the game.

In the last few months, he has dropped outside the top 16, but

there is no doubt that he is one of the most naturally talented players

in the game. With Mark Williams, you're looking at a player who has a

superb technique. He can play shots that no other player can play in the

game. He is striving to get back to the top of the game. It is not his

technique that is letting him down. He shows nothing facially. You never

know whether he is happy or sad. Sometimes his temperament could be a

fraction better, but I think it is very good. He is a great player. He

has a super touch. When he dropped out, everybody thought that was the

end of him. Resiliency has shown, Welsh determination, from the

valleys, in my opinion, he is probably the best player who has

ever come out of Wales. Mark Williams is right up there with the

best potters of all time. They all seem to be left-handed. I think you

could have had six or 700 centuries. Undoubtedly one of the best breakers

in the game. Can he win another tournament? Can he win another world

Championship? I think he is the best player from Wales, so he has to do

get more than Ray Reardon. The only thing with Mark is his self belief.

If you get a few knocks along the way, do you really deep down believe

you can win another world title? It is down to him. I think he has the

ability. Does he believe that? What a match in prospect. Mark Williams

of Wales against Neil Robertson, the world number one, from Australia.

Surely the biggest head-to-head of this tournament so far. Let me leave

you in the capable hands of the match commentators.

What a match in prospect we have got. Two of the greatest

left-handers we have ever seen. We will witness this now. Sit down and

enjoy. I am sure these players will put on a good show. Mark is second

favourite, of course. I think Mark has a big win left in him. Could it

be this week? Mark Williams makes the first pot. It is not one he

would have liked. Not his best break. Much to stick.

-- much too thick. It looks like the Green might have come to his rescue.

That is not bad. Normally he would have played off the side of the pack

but they read to the left corner makes it difficult to get it

covered. They have decided to start again. I

don't disagree with that. They are very fluent in the break department.

They don't want to get involved in a protracted safety. Over the years,

the referee used to say you had three shots each and if the game

doesn't change they would ask to start again. Obviously no it has all

changed. Players know instantly how the game will go and they want to

get on with things. All they are doing is speeding up the inevitable.

First frame, take two. Hopefully Mark Williams will break better than

last time when he potted the blue. This time a conventional break

inside the blue. A fraction hard. He would like to get rid of the red

to the left of the black, but the angle was difficult. He played to

try to kiss that half ball. As well as playing snooker, he also plays

darts. File. -- foul. He must have touched

the black with his fingers. He just touched it with his snooker cue.

I think he just has the smallest of angles here on this blue. Needs to

use two cushions for the red just above the black. That is about as

good as he could've done with that. Perfect angle for the black to play

a cannon. Need to play this with stun instead of screw, so that the

white pushes through. Or you could play a deep screw and hopefully get

that red to go into the pack as well. He has gone for topspin.

What a perfect shot that was. Fantastic. Hit the red absolutely

perfect. What a chance this has turned into nine. This was all from

Mark touching the black with his snooker cue. And unforced error.

Neil Robertson likes to attack. snooker cue. And unforced error.

century breaks this year. Prolific. He would love to take the one above

the black but he cannot do that. What a clever shot that is. I didn't

think it was possible to get onto the pink, but he has done. The gap

he found there was very good. You won't see better cue action in

the game than these two players playing today.

The player is entitled to ask the referee to place it on the spot

again if he does not think it is exactly there. He thought it might

have gone on the brand spot. This is a lot thinner than the might have

liked. To reflect a lot thinner than the might have

that very well. Took all the pace out of the cue ball. You don't

usually have both. Sometimes the touch is not as good if you are an

aggressive potter. But the key thing is his temperament. This young man

has that. I am sure Mark Williams knew that he

would be in for a tussle this afternoon. Mind you, has he ever

missed one like that this season? That is probably the easiest shot he

has missed this season. What a chance this is for Mark Williams to

get right back into the frame. The kind of frames where you can hurt

your opponent. If you are this far behind and can clear

your opponent. If you are this far mistake, that really hurt is. He has

gone closer to this red as he would have liked. It still is on, but he

is chipping back into a bit of a blind pocket. You can play the

black, but it is dinky. No problem. If he can pinch this frame, it would

hurt Neil Robertson and put him on the back foot. He will never ever

have expected to miss our ball like that. I haven't seen him do that all

season. Very unlike him not to concentrate on virtually every shot.

That has gone away from him a little. No real problem. Might

decide to play the yellow or two cushions instead of one. The pink

goes back onto its own spot, so he doesn't really want to play that.

The normal shot is to play with some check site.

-- check side. Is he straight enough on this? I think he is OK.

Now Mark is favourite to take the frame. Just has to hold himself

together. This will be a body blow to Neil Robertson. You can't sit

there and enjoy it when you mess and easy ball and then your opponent

clears up from 50 behind. He made that look very easy. But

that is a much more difficult shot than it looked, coming back for the

blind pocket. That is looking just about perfect. Nice and comfortable

for someone who is left-handed. He is not happy. I thought he had

that little hard. Perhaps there was a slight bones of the cushion.

Normally a decent player with the rest. Natural angle to come in the

back of the brown for the brown in the same pocket. Well done.

He was just double-checking that he needed the pink. What a frame of

snooker this has been. 13 in front. Robertson missed a very easy read.

Williams has replied with a very good clear to take the opening

frame. Great start for Mark Williams. Lots

of matches happening out there in the arena at the moment. There are

four tables. I can bring new an important result from earlier, when

Shaun Murphy, the former world champion, was playing Liang Wenbo

from China. Has been a big shock results. Shaun Murphy, who was in

fantastic form coming here having won in Poland earlier this month, is

now out of the tournament. Mark Williams is not the only Welshman

out there at the moment. Matthew Stevens is playing his third match.

He is playing Joe Perry. Matthew Stevens crucially took the first

frame. He is one frame up against Joe Perry. So, decent start from the

frame. He is one frame up against Welsh men this afternoon. Mark

Williams will be delighted to get that first frame under his belt. An

uncharacteristic mess from Neil Robertson that let him in. I am not

sure what happened. He looked very good up to that stage. That was a

huge boost for Mark Williams. Not just taking the frame, but the way

that he cleared the table, he will take great confidence from that. The

second frame is underway. Mark Williams is at the table.

As Terry said, he will be feeling good. I think the safety shot was

the right choice. Mark Williams, when he was younger, used to go for

everything. The problem is he used to port most of it. -- pot. He used

to have a funny way of playing. You would expect him to go for something

and he would play safe. One of his big assets was he would play what

looked to be a dangerous shot but then he would miss it. But then you

would see where the fight ended up. He was very clever. He knew his way

around the table. I put him in my top four of all. That is how highly

I rate him. Perhaps he is slightly on the decline now, but he had

everything, this fellow. One of the best potters in the game. Excellent

break build-up. Good temperament. But he is playing a man who is

exactly the same and perhaps slightly more consistent. It will be

tough, but pinching that first frame will help.

That was an example of a bounce of the cushion. That has not happened

to him very much this week. He hit that perfect, which means it should

be within five or six inches of the cushion, but look where it has

finished. No damage done apart from the fact that Neil Robertson will

find a plant. Very good kiss to put. -- to boot.

Not easy across the cushions. It is whether Mark can get through to this

red across the pink. There have been a few cushions that have done that

this week. If he goes for this, he will have to play it without trace

of right-hand side to gently swerve past the pink.

He is having a little look there. That is where the cue ball would

land up. He is seeing whether he would leave a read to the right

centre. There might be some value in having a go at this.

He had to swerve it, and it was pretty tough. Neil Robertson will be

pleased about that miss on the brown. It is one of those cues that

Darren mentioned. Neil Robertson is missing one or

two. He might go for this red. Cue ball

off the back. Knowing he has got that brown over that yellow pocket.

Just got to make sure this natural angle taken to the back of the pack.

-- this will take him to the back of the pack. I think he will settle for

that. It just came off. This is a very

unusual is that for Neil Robertson so far. -- this is a very unusual

start for Neil Robertson so far. His friend Matthew Stevens is on the

next table. Mark Bright his son into the studio. -- Mark brought his son

into the studio. Give us a quick way for Justin is

putting your earpiece in. Lovely boy.

Neil Robertson looks a little bit rattled. That was a bread-and-butter

shot for Mark. Just forcing it a little.

He may decide to try and screw around the back of the black. It is

coming from a great height. There have been lots of different

analogies. He has the perfect angle on the

ground now. Is he able to put any? I don't think

so, at first glance. He can probably make the bottom one.

I wonder if normal service will be resumed.

He was too close to the one just below the cue ball.

He looks so confident when he is in Wales. He looks so powerful. He knew

if he did not get on the bottom, he would have the back-up shot. That

wobbles. That was frame ball. He could have lost this frame.

You people think of is Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan, then

Steve Davis probably. He is just remarkable. The great Stephen Hendry

never even got close to that. I know there are more matches these days.

This is just incredible. If this red goes in, it will certainly be

another century. Just got to get onto the yellow now. It should not

be a problem. He does that very very cleanly and

confidently. APPLAUSE. Very close. Neil Robertson

will be feeling a lot have fearful is the matches level. One apiece.

What a response. Neil Robertson is like a machine.

Champions response to danger. There was a turning point in that. It was

very high quality. Closing in on that 100 century. One table two, I

will update you. Matthew Stevens is playing Joe Perry. Joe Perry has hit

back. He has taken the second frame. It stands at one frame apiece

thereon tabled to. -- it stands at one frame apiece there on table two.

Over on table one, a classic match. Mark Williams, the home favourite,

who is about to break off in the third frame against Neil Robertson,

the world number one and looking every inch the world number one.

Robertson is usually very proficient on this kind of shot.

Not too sure whether the black is available in the corner.

He could have had a red that kissed them away from the black, but

nothing has happened, rarely. I think there is only a safety shot

left. You feel he be playing it. Over to

the thing. Can he get through to it? He's looking to see where he will

stick the cue ball. He's going to try and put marking as

much trouble as he can. Robertson usually a very quick

thinker. He has played up pretty well. -- he

has played that pretty well. He has not covered this red up so it will

be a straightforward shot from mark. He is going to have to concentrate

on the blue and pink. A black is tied up.

He can pick those reds off one by one.

He is trying to make it easier when he eventually popped the pink.

It looks solid. It looks like every time he gets in, he will clear up.

He feels he has a bad contact. I think he thought the cue ball

should have come further to the right.

He wanted the cue ball to be a couple of inches the other side of

the pink. He is trying to play a clever little

shop there. I don't blame him for risking that.

It is no good hitting that then leaving it. The only problem with

playing the shot he is, the cue ball could come into the blue. --

playing the shot he is, the cue ball cannon into the blow.

He wants to hit a half ball or quarter ball.

He has to hit eight quarters ball half ball. If he did it for five

times, it really different shot. It is worth the risk. The anyway he can

do that is by getting it thin. That is the one.

Are we going to see a long, deep screw from Neil Robertson after all

this? He is having a look to see if he can go for this one, above the

ink. Pink. A screw or a stun, whatever he is

confident with, but he has played a safety shot. And he is fortunate,

because he made a hash of that. Mark is still in the game. 49 behind, 75

is still on. A good safety shot, bring these two reds into play. Need

to miss the green. Because the red is tight on the side

cushion he has played a slightly more difficult safety shot.

A fluke. I don't think it will cost Mark the frame. But a nice little

nudge off that pink. Does he just roll up behind the

brown? Put the yellow safe and put the white somewhere near the green.

Did not quite do either. But the yellow has gone reasonably safe.

Very fortunate. He hit that way too thick. Are very close to going

in-off. A more difficult safety than it should have been. He is playing

well, still in this frame. 50 behind, still more than enough on

the table, it would be a great frame to pinch. Neil Robertson, heavy

favourite. He did not want the kiss on the

green, he wanted to leave it as safe as possible.

Oh, dear. He has left the red in the middle. Terrible contact.

Can you believe it? Robertson has missed more in this match than I

have seen him miss or a two -- for two weeks.

That is a horrendous kick. What a cruel game. Through no fault of your

own, an explosion. The kick was so bad it it the red full in the face.

-- hit. That puts the frame beyond any

doubt. A bit of a scrappy frame. But the catalyst to take Robertson into

a 2-1 lead. A scrappy frame, but Robertson

prevails. Let's update you on table two. Joe Perry against Matthew

Stevens. prevails. Let's update you on table

two. Joe Perry Importantly, Stevens has taken the second frame, having

to clear from green to black. This was the ball that clinched the

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

Joe Perry is on a break. But has crucially just missed the lack. A

chance for Stevens to crucially just missed the lack. A

lead to 3-1. The 2003 UK champions, has had some lean years by his high

standards since then. But still a leading Welsh contender. Terry, how

does he look in this tournament? He played very well in the previous

rounds, finding form a vital time. They have both played OK in this

match, but that was a let off. Absolutely. Hoping that he can get a

break going that will help him take a 3-1 lead, a very strong position

indeed. Terry, how would you assess his career? He has not fulfilled his

early promise. He is a class player, but is not consistent enough. He

seems quite relaxed. Is that a good thing? It may be helped in match

situations, but could you work hard at his game? -- could he. With so

many tournaments most of the boys only practice so much because they

are away all the time in the events. He has the ability to play

right-handed or left-handed. That shows his level of talent. Talent

for me means winning. shows his level of talent. Talent

one more tournaments. He has won two of the three majors but I would like

to have seen him win a lot more. We now return to our featured match.

World number one, Neil Robertson, against Mark Williams. Robertson to

break off in the fourth frame. All of a sudden things are going to

plan for Robertson again. Market needs to change those plans. --

Mark. He has a couple of long pots they can go for. He was just about

to play that when a youngster in the crowd had a bit of a screen. --

scream. That has put him off. And the baby is off again. Somebody in

the audience obviously does not like the standard of play! But Mark is a

fantastic long-ball potter, I do not think he quite blocks in as many as

he did when he was younger. Both players can hear the little one

crying. It is putting them off. I players can hear the little one

just looking up and I cannot see anybody that has got a child. But

obviously there was a sound like that. Going back to that last shot,

I don't think he got bad contact. Everybody is still looking up into

the crowd. I can see anybody. -- can't. Robertson, in and around the

black spot again. Very tough for Mark to win three frames on the trot

the way this is going. Will he or won't he? Two loose

reds, but you expect him to go in for the pink. He needs full contact.

And he didn't. A lifeline for Mark. It is amazing. How many blues have

been missed over the years. This is a real lifeline for Mark

Williams. Looked for all the money he was going to go 3-1 behind. But

he has had a lot of kicks and that does not breed confidence. You

cannot start expect an a -- expecting kicks but there have been

a lot today. He can soon get rid of those two

reds, being a left-hander makes it slightly easier. In fairness, that

was not the best shot he has ever played.

He is still marching on. A long way from securing this fourth frame. It

was quite funny really, the first frame he won after Robertson missed

an easy red. He cleared up. And all of a sudden, Robertson has missed a

blue, the kind you could count on one hand that he has missed all

season. The possibility will now go to -2, when Robertson could have

leading 4-0. And that is how strange snooker is. I think he has possibly

broken AQ. Must be so frustrating when you are a top layer, to miss

that kind of shot. My knuckles are hurting and I wasn't even down

there. That is uncharacteristic from Mark.

He never shows any emotion, it is a strong point in his game. Very easy

going. I can ever remember him showing

emotion like that before. But it was such an easy red. He must now hope

that Robertson does not clear up. Unlikely, but not impossible.

Michael Oate did a similar thing and actually broke his knuckles. He did,

and was out the game for a while. Great player but did get upset with

himself occasionally. At least it has only cost Mark

7-point. Does not want to be touching ball otherwise he will be

in trouble. Not touching though. That was a very good safety shot.

Unlucky to go in-off. He could not do much about this. If he caught the

jaws Mark would have been all kinds of trouble but now he has a chance

to put Robertson in more bother. Looks quite good. That is very good.

There will be no heroics with this, just pop it and play a safety shot.

Or he can put the black or the pink safe, whatever he fancies. Looking

at the scoreboard, there is no advantage in potting the black but

plenty of advantage in putting a colour safe.

Maybe trying to put the black on top of the two reds but he does not want

to kiss the green. Needs to miss the kiss on the

green... It is OK, well done. We have talked about how good his

long game used to be and how poor it is now. Considering he was the best

in the game at it for a number of years. The older you get, the harder

the long game becomes. Decided to play for able -- a bulk

colour. He did not plot that cleanly. Mark

has got Neil a little bit at it at the moment. I wonder how his

knuckles are feeling after he gave the table a bit of a bash. He might

give it another one if he loses this frame, it is a frame he certainly

should have one. He played that as good as he could

have. Like Willie has said, other than the

pink everything is nicely out in the open.

I am just wondering, he has played this rake a lot differently, whether

he is leaving an angle to bring the pink back into play. He took his

time. It is not a bad pink to get into play. If you finish higher than

the blue you can lodge the pink up towards the middle.

What has gone wrong with that? The only good news is he can now bring

the pink into play. He played it plain ball. Here comes the pink into

play. Whoever pots the yellow, you would think, will win this frame.

That was looking like it would be perfect. The cue ball just slid past

the black. Mark covered that yellow with the green and pink, he is OK.

The snooker is achieved, big frame now.

So, then, Mark has the chance he needs. He will need yellow, green,

and Brown. In goes the yellow. He has played that to perfection.

In goes the brown. This will be a very relieved Mark Williams. Did

have a break of 50 at the start of this frame and missed a relatively

easy red and give the table at that of a bashing with his knuckles, but

he will be feeling better, he parts the paint. Neil Robertson had his

chances, but did not take them -- he parts the pink.

Let me update you about what is happening on table two. Exactly the

same score. Joe Perry plays Matthew Stevens on. -- Matthew Stevens. Mark

Williams, it did not do him any harm to punch the table, he won the

frame. You do not see him do that normally. It was an important shot.

It worked out OK, but if he had lost the frame, he would have been

disappointed. If you can put it to one side and do something good,

those bad misses, you can put to one side. Neil Robertson was

unfortunate, it was not to be. Apart from the frame when he did the 100

break, all the frames could have gone either way. I think he will

take four. What do you think of Neil Robertson? Healers are consistent

player and he wins frames when he is not playing well -- he is a very

consistent player. I do not think he will be too disturbed. Two

heavyweights of the game going head to head in zero -- in Newport. Who

will prevail? Mark Williams will be the most

satisfied of the players. Neil Robertson is blessed with a

wonderful temperament, it will not worry him. It might if he keeps

hitting balls over the pocket like this.

He is looking at plane at off the cushion, but he could lose the cue

ball and it would not be on the black. He could play a deep screw

shot. He has elected to go off the commission. It is a little bit thin.

That was a really good chance -- cushion. That might have been the

power shot to screw back the six inches. He had to play that a lot

softer. A bit of frustration creeping in

there. He will need to pull out another good pot. That unfortunate

not to be nicely on the black or the blue. Faced with another difficult

blue. It is amazing how much more difficult the shots become when you

know if you miss it, you will end up on the red. He has done well here,

well done. He has spotted three terrific balls. He has done very

well to keep it going. For the first time in this break, he is in perfect

position. The red half-ball in the middle,

then onto the black. He has come too far. He wanted to be on the

half-ball. This is the key shot. Can he get the

pink in to play? Usually very good at this kind of shot.

He hit the wrong ball, not even the pink. He never even hit the pink.

REFEREE: Mark Williams, 24. APPLAUSE.

He might have a little bit of a wobble on it. He could not quite pot

it clean, but he will settle for that if he is on the blue. He will

have to negotiate it out of baulk. One good positional shot and he has

three reds just below the pink that he can play for. He needs to miss

all the colours. He has done that. I do not think he could have asked for

a better than that. He could clear the red away from the pink and stun

for the pink. He has a chance to score heavily.

There are three more reds and pinks, you could take them out and then the

work starts. He could keep the four remaining reds safe. He was the

favourite at the end of this break, he could win it at this visit. Lot

of half kicks, taking the pace out of the white.

He can only play possibly for the blue, perhaps play plain ball for

the pink. He is not happy with the white at the moment. He seems to be

having our lot of kicks. -- a lot. An unusually high number. It is

funny, when you are not cueing at 100%, you seem to get a couple of

more kicks. You are not quite going through the ball. He will play for

the last of the open reds. He will potted into the right-hand corner --

pot. He will have to move something into play. He could ply the deep

screw and try and run the black along the cushion. -- he could try.

He is perhaps even thinking of kissing off the red. He could run

the black across the top cushion and bring that red in to play.

There is the black. It nearly went in. Very clever shot, that is a

frame winner. Mind you, how badly has he played

this? He is bound to put it across the cushion. I thought he was going

to get it in. That was a terrible shot. He will take on this thread if

he can cue it. -- this red. He is 24 shot. He will take on this thread if

points in front. This is dangerous, if he misses it, he will stick it.

Is this worth the risk? What would he pot this? Seven out of ten? I

think you are being generous. I would say five and on a good day,

six. That is a bit optimistic. Why is he playing at them? -- playing

it. He did not see the point in playing that shot, there was no

advantage. APPLAUSE.

He has been fortunate. They do not think Mark Williams has any other

shot other than to play into the top right-hand pocket. Maybe play it

into the middle, I do not know. He was very fortunate. Mark has

overhits that slightly, -- overhit. Where will the red come from? He

needs another red after this pink. He will need to drift past the black

as easily as he can. Not like that. I can only presume that the white

has kicked, because someone of his class would have played that shot,

not leaving it expecting to kiss the black. Mark Williams has been given

are pre-. He is still in this frame. -- a reprieve.

Obviously better. Has that curled around the green and brown? It is a

free ball. Neil Robertson is looking then used. -- been used. -- bemused.

Just watch the white, I do not know if we will see it from this angle,

it has gone past the green, he will not be snookered. It has come back

the other way. I am surprised that he did not pot the brown. If he gets

this safe, every chance he might do, which he has, he has gained no

advantage. Quite a strange turn of events, how

big now is this frame? This one now is massive. A couple of shots ago,

it looked like Neil Robertson had won it and Marco was going to find

himself one behind with two to play -- Mark. Now, it is all to play for.

He did not want to play safe off this thread. He has two hit it

perfectly. -- this red. It is pretty good.

Barring a kick, it is hard to see Mark Williams

Barring a kick, it is hard to see even though he is 30 points behind.

That shows you how nerves can affect the game. He is still OK.

As to hold himself together to lead 3-2. Thus -- house to hold himself

together. This is not perfect, he plays the

plain ball and will be close to the black. He could screw macro of the

cushion. -- screw. He took the risk of a kick out of the equation,

excellent pot. That was a steal for Mark Williams.

He will take add 3-2. -- he will take a 3-2 lead.

One frame away from victory for Mark Williams. An update on table two.

This is Matthew Stevens and Joe Perry. That blue was the final ball

of the break by Matthew Stevens. The red did not go in, but he took the

fifth frame and he is in the lead. The Welshman both got their noses in

front and they need one more frame to head into the last 16. Mark

Williams showed a lot of character to clear up at the end. The first

red was the key, he had to play it slowly. It is a good time to steal a

frame like that, he just needs one. He still has a bit to do, it is the

first to four, but it seems a short match. Who would you put your money

on? Mark Williams. Mark Williams cot that one. --

caught. He has missed it. He has been a bit fortunate. The balls are

spread perfectly. He has left Neil Robertson and attempt at this left

corner. What a big risk it would be. It could come off two cushions and

onto the red. You cannot blame him, one mistake and he is out. He needs

that to speed up and it has. You would not believe he would get it

back close, no safety shot for Mark Williams. -- get it that close.

REFEREE: Touching ball. Can he get that to baulk. --? .

I thank -- think they might get this re-racked. If it is touching ball,

it is a foul shot. That was touching ball before and it is touching ball

again, he has hit the red. It is only the four points.

They do see it -- decided to have a re-rack. I do not blame them. A

quick point, obviously the referee, you could forgive him for making

that mistake. It could have been important later, if the ball was

touching and it ends up touching the game, it means you have hit it. It

is not a real problem, the four points would not have made a

difference. It is the most unusual re-rack I have seen. There were reds

all over the place, I have never seen one like that. Anyway, frame

six, takes two. We have had two re-racks so far. Neil Robertson has

two win the remaining two frames. No real damage done, other than four

points away. Neil Robertson has a chance to play a really good safety

and comfortably on the table. He missed the yellow and needs to

get in behind the brown. That is not bad, looks like it is a snooker.

able to get right behind the brown. There is a gap in between the blue

and brown and he needs to rest it on top of the brown. Behind the brown

will be a difficult snooker to hit. Surprised he did not try to get it

in behind the brown, because he has left a gap for Mark Williams who

could get it back into baulk. Pretty good effort, he did well. A

little bit more pace, it could have been perfect.

It has been a really strange match, this. Mark Williams, 3-2 ahead. It

has been very strange, lots of funny ounces and kicks -- bounces.

Robertson has missed some balls that he just can't believe, the way he

has been playing, he has missed. But a very intriguing encounter.

File name is. -- Foul and a miss. Neil Robertson, four.

Just making sure, having a look the still picture, that is where it

Having missed some long pots, that was excellent. With hindsight you

could say he is a little bit unfortunate not to have a better

angle on the pink. He can certainly put the bottom of

the two reds. We'll need to go around two or three cushions for a

colour. The pink is still available in the corner.

I can only presume that is another that contact. -- bad. Yes, just

pushed straight in. It is a shame this match has been spoiled by the

conditions today, maybe a little bit damp. But it is not raining outside

so I don't see why it should be any damper today than in previous days.

Although this roaming -- the swimming pool is in the next room.

He has flipped that. Lots of distance between both balls. When

Mark is in amongst the balls, Helix Ferry good. -- he looks

Mark is in amongst the balls, Helix problems with that one, but I don't

think you will be on anything. He could even be snookered.

He is not refusing anything. That is unlucky. Amazing, this game. Now, a

little safety. This has been misjudged.

lucky to get away with that. Foul and a miss. He actually played to go

around the back of that red, lucky to get away with that.

That's what he should have played the first time, round the back of

the red. Very unfortunate on his first visit.

We have seen Mark Williams's son in the audience. And his

We have seen Mark Williams's son in almost saying a prayer. It has been

very nail-biting. Neither player at their best but it does not matter,

it is just about getting over the finish line. Mark is definitely

favourite. And that is a brilliant return. Just

looking at a possible plant but he will be more concerned with getting

the cue ball safe. It can be made. The plant did not go in and it has

cannoned off the blue. Neil Robertson has gone right off the

boil. Can only put that down to him losing a couple of frames he should

never have lost. That is to the credit of Mark Williams, a couple of

great clearances. The loser will be a little bit critical of the

conditions out there today. The winner might have some complaints as

conditions out there today. The well. Mark actually lined up this

thread to the left corner -- red, he has been missing these by a long way

so far through this match, and he has missed that one by a long way

too. I don't think he has made one long pot. What can you Robertson do?

I have never seen Neil play as many careless shots as he has this

afternoon. The green his only option now.

I am not so sure about that one. I think he may have played to hit the

first red. Let's have a little look at it

again. What do you think he played? Let's have a look. Has he played to

hit the first red? I think so. But anyway. Deserves a bit of Loch, he

has had some bad luck. 3-2 in front. It is the only part of his game that

has been missing. In a funny way it has not kneel out of sync. --

knocked Neil. There is only 11 points in it but with the balls

position where they are, it is equivalent to 40 or 50. Neil

Robertson will need three reds and three colours, where are they going

to come from? I am a little surprised he is not

playing an aggressive safe the shot. Keep it tight. A very scrappy frame.

That has put an end to the little safety battle. Excellent shot from

kneel. -- Neil. At first glance, I cannot see an

easy way back onto the ball. Maybe try to get the cue all up towards

the green. I think you have called it. That will probably be the shot.

He will be happy with that. Might be in trouble with the next shot but it

is a containing safety. You would have two say, at the

moment, Robertson just about in control of this safety battle. But

even if somebody gets in, not too many inviting positions to score.

Right throughout his career Mark has had a fantastic ability to win

scrappy frames. It will suit him. The kick took all the pace out of

it. You saw him look to the gods. Just took the pace out of the white.

A great short, for only one point. Again, mark in all kinds of trouble.

Is he going to leave any kind of a shot for Neil Robertson?

The table appears to be not running as true as it has done in the

previous two days. Look where the red has gone.

Goodness me. I can imagine Robertson will win the

frame on this visit. He is certainly right back and in control of it,

only four points adrift. There are three reds he should be able to take

colours off before looking at developing anything else.

Decided to leave the long blue. He feels he can get onto the next red

in such a as to develop the pink. But not from that angle.

Decision time. Do you cannoned up to the and pink? There are three

different shots he can play. Cannon onto the red and pink, but he is not

looking at that. He may decide to bring the two reds off the cushion.

That is what he has decided to try and do. He has done it pretty well.

Can you believe it? He missed that by three inches. How can you miss it

by that far? Look how far he misses this life. -- by. Two inches.

We have had some strange shots today. Very unlucky, going all out

to try to win the frame with that one shot. Thinking, certain to be on

the black, just keep an eye on what happens. He can't believe it. By far

and away the longest frame of the match so far. Approaching 32

minutes. Mark trying to track that cue ball

in behind the black. Always pushing the red towards the corner. He has

played a very good shot. The red has gone in such a place, Mark would

otherwise have had a go at it pretty confidently. But as it is, pretty

risky. Sometimes since Mark actually potted a ball. -- some time. You are

kidding! I thought that was in! He could not get much closer. What kept

that out? And I think he has just about got away with it. You can see

Neil Robertson looking at this rate. -- red. Got to play a safety off to

the right corner. Get it in behind the brown.

Just a couple of inches short. I do not think Mark Williams can go for

it to... He did go for the pot, it went a long way. It is quite funny,

the run has changed, Mark Williams is having a good time. He missed

that by a long way again. A lot of pressure out there, it means a lot

to Mark Williams. He is on home soil.

Of the two players at the moment, Neil Robertson is playing the better

safety. Mark Williams is trying to get a bit of rhythm going.

That is a containing safety shot. It is hard to force an opening from

that. It may even go behind the green if

he is lucky. That was hitting the green full-ball at one time.

APPLAUSE. Nothing wrong with the eyes of Mark Williams. A very good

shot. Of use leave the table has been

playing a little bit funny and a few frames ago, Neil Robertson could see

the cue ball going onto the green -- obviously. It pulled to the left,

after this match, they will be looking at this table. We have seen

that thin safety shot played a few times and Mark Williams would not

expect it to roll off. It has given a chance to Neil Robertson. He needs

an angle on this to try and yet the reds in to play. The brown is not in

its spot. -- get the reds. It was hard to judge, but perhaps

that top red pots. Perhaps that is an excellent shot. That was played

to perfection. That red definitely goes. He is looking to see what

angle he has to leave on the black will stop how good a shot was that

last one? That one was not so good. He will continue with this effort,

he will have to pot one across the cushion, dead weight. It will be a

bit higher. These tables have been a bit funny

this week. Again, he played it confidently, but

has he got the snooker? He can get through, I think, with a

little bit of cider. It is not great. -- side. I think he will have

to play it, I think it is worth the risk. He was playing it.

Mark has moved that pink into a pottable position and if he can get

through to this red, it is a nice easy safety shot for him. That was a

clever shark -- shot that Mark had played if he had got this snooker.

It has left an easy safety. -- the snooker. He changed the angle of

that pot to get to the red. That is why he was nowhere near the middle

pocket. He will play the cross double here. I am not sure if the

table is playing fast enough. I am not sure if he can hit this hard

enough to get it away from the pocket. Has he got second prize or

what? Amazing. That has all gone wrong, he has

given a free ball. If he had not caught -- caught the jaws, the fact

he has caught the jaws, means it is all wrong. He needed the miss.

Neil Robertson will need to cover on the red. That is not the best shot

he has ever played, he has work to do. He played to get onto the blue

in the middle. Not too sure whether he can run through this onto the

kiss on the pink. He missed the pink. A brilliant

shot, fabulous. Well played. It is a frame of snooker that will

be raised from their memory banks immediately. The worst game they

have played in some time. -- white out. Neil Robertson is right back in

it -- wiped out. First frame of the match were we

have not had a sizeable break. Neil Robertson will be pleased. We are

all square at 3-3. A torturous frame. The important

statistic is that it was won by Neil Robertson. We have a decider. How do

you think it will leave Mark feeling? He has not thrown the game

away, it was one of those messy frames. Mark Williams was the master

of those frames a few years ago, but Neil Robertson is very good. He is a

very patient player. It could have gone either way, but I think Neil

Robertson will win now! I have another result to bring you and I am

afraid this is not good news from another result to bring you and I am

table two between Joe Perry and Matthew Stevens. Matthew Stevens

made a crucial mistake in this deciding frame, fouling on the

yellow and that meant that Joe Perry had his chance and he took it.

Terry, REO shame for Matthew. He was so close. Joel Perry played quite

well -- Joe Perry -- are real shame. He slipped out of the top 16, he has

been in there and number of times over the years, but he is a clever

safety player. No surprise to anyone that he is in the top 16.

Disappointment for Matthew, playing in front of his home crowd. Do the

Welsh players like playing here? Is their extra pressure? There is no

such thing as a short drive home after you have lost! There is extra

pressure, Mark and Matthew have said that. The families come up, it is

disappointing. Mark Williams is still in. This was the end of the

match, Matthew Stevens conceded and it is Joe Perry who goes through to

the last 16. So, we have a deciding frame in our featured match. You

said you have changed your frame in our featured match. You

you think Neil Robertson with frame in our featured match. You

way he is playing, perhaps he has the advantage? I think when you are

3-2 down and you get the next frame, it sharpens your focus. Mark

cannot win this last frame, it is 60-44 Neil Robertson -- Neil

Robertson. How will Mark Williams be feeling? Despite that long frame he

will be looking for the first chance to get in and win it.

This is the decider, sit tight, it could be a good one. Here we go, the

best of one. I agree with Terry. For Mark to win it, he will need a

reasonable opportunity early on in the frame. He will need to do try

and score a break. Neil Robertson is having so much success at the

moment, you will never doubt yourself, always feeling confident,

that is what happens when you are used to winning. Things can get

harder, seemed to go against you a little bit -- seem to go. One good

frame, it could take Mark into the next round.

REFEREE: Touching ball. We have had a number of frames like that. Neil

Robertson should definitely find the top cushion behind the yellow.

He will be looking to play this red up and down the table, you cannot

imagine he will be attempting the pot although he is looking at it. If

it was early in the match, he would probably go in for it.

Very well executed shot by Mark Williams.

I wonder how she is feeling at this moment, that is his wife. She is

probably willing him on. That is a good safety shot, very

good safety shot from Mark Williams. APPLAUSE.

He is engrossed in this match. has not been the best

He is engrossed in this match. stop he will be pleased

He is engrossed in this match. man battling away. Another good

safety shot. REFEREE: Foul and MS. That is the

worst thing could happen -- and a miss. That is a total disaster. He

is playing with this cue, it is not deflected, he has played all his

life with a deflecting cue and he is trying out a new one. He has not had

the cue very long. He believes once he gets into it, it will make a

massive difference. That was a disaster for him. He has over

screwed that yellow. There has been a lot of animation in this match.

More than I have ever seen from these two players, they both have

wonderful temperaments. He is trying to come close to the brown and pass

the middle pocket. It has come wide of the brown and hit the other side

of the middle. He will want to be low on the blue.

He will not want to go around the houses. The key problem is kissing

the yellow on the way back. If he plays in between yellow and

brown, there is not much room to get onto a red.

His pace is not good. Mark will be pleased that that shot has only cost

him six points. Can he pot anything? He could not have picked that cue

ball up and stuck it any better. It is absolutely perfect.

He has got this red and perhaps another. He will have to start

developing either the reds on the top cushion or the cluster. But

might be won at the back of the pack -- there might be one at

might be won at the back of the pack the pack. Full. --.

He is having a little look, he may put it into the left centre.

They do not think it will go to the corner. -- I do not think.

Similar to what Darren was saying, what angle will he lead on the

black? I took my eyes off it. Did it hit the other way? Caught the other

red. It definitely pottered. -- potted.

Played it perfectly, a lovely The only thing that can go wrong is

if he hits the black director lake. The only thing that can go wrong is

If he hits the red directly, he could stick on it -- directly. He

has run away to the side cushion. I am surprised that players continue

to play the screwing, Ronnie O'Sullivan would stun them. -- screw

N. -- in. Good cue ball by Mark. He will be

trying to put that cue ball in behind the green. The one nearest

the corner pocket. He hit it much too thick. This is the chance mark

has been looking for. -- Mark. The only one he can really leave on is

the red he is playing. Can he bring reds into play? You are

kidding! This game is amazing, it has been a scrappy match, neither

player has found true form and the harder you try, the harder it gets.

Once she made contact with those reds, you thought you could push it

into the middle -- once you made. That was not a great shot by Mark. A

little bit unlucky with a shot of Micro the blue going into this three

reds. That red was a lot thinner -- off. If he had slid past the blue,

there was a good chance the cue ball would have stuck in behind the

green. He has given Neil Robertson a half chance. That wobbles, did not

find its way in cleanly. -- wobbles. We have seen calls like

that throughout this match wobble and stay on. -- balls. It is not

easy. In practice, this pink would be ten

out of ten. He will have to cue straight. He did that very well.

I don't think that Mark is going to be too worried at the moment.

Robertson still has a lot of work to do. The balls are not in a great

position. Got the angle on this pink. We'll have two play it and run

inside. All about this next shot. Nothing happened, no side. Just

squared up. Still no closer to knowing who will win this final

frame. That is nearly finished, behind that

dream. -- green. Another inch more, Mark would have been snookered. The

table is definitely pulling towards the brown spot.

We'll be very what both players say in their

interviews after this match. The problem with this safety shot,

if they hit it poor, it brings the black into play.

What kind of angle has he got underground? -- on the ground?

Why on earth did he not try to go into them?

Very clever shot. Left and angle this time. Mark better hope that

nearly gets a double kiss. He is almost sure to be on something.

The only thing that can go wrong with that shot is the middle red. He

can consider himself a very unfortunate.

It has been a very slow match. I expected the game to be over in two

hours maximum. We are coming up to two hours and 40 minutes. I thought

it was even longer than that, to be honest. It feels like longer.

It has had an excellent both players. -- and effect on both

players. He would like to bring the blue into

play here. But it was too difficult. He is complaining now that it has

bounced off the cushion. A player knows in his own mind if he has got

the pace right. He is just a bemused. As soon as he hit it he

would have thought, that perfect, then it picked up pace off the

cushion. He tried to play one that with

definitely get the cue ball safe. Just can't believe how good a shot

he played, but it has gone in-off. It is all happening. Yes, he played

an excellent safety shot. I thought, if he swung it around the angle, get

in behind the green, the blue is in the way.

If he tries to cut the one behind the black he could run it over the

pocket. He is going to play for the red that

is loose and just hope he can not it safe. -- knock. This is dangerous.

But he played it well. He did not want that. He has given a

nice easy start on that red. Both shots went wrong. Then the cannon on

the blue. But lots of work to do with the cue ball, mind.

Just cannot believe how close he came to that middle pocket. It is

almost a comedy of errors at the moment. Neither player taking this

final frame by the scruff of the neck.

Will it be yellow or blue? But he can really get on to the next red,

so we'll did just be a safety shot? -- will it just. You are not gaining

any extra advantage from that two points.

It is vital that he does not catch this too thick. Good shot, well

done. That was excellent, well played.

And can see this match coming down to one really well played safety.

That is what it is going to be decided on. Again, a very good

safety from a very good cue ball. Mark in a little bit of trouble. He

can go off this red to the corner pocket but it will have to be very

thin to miss the jaws. A little bit thicker than he would have liked.

Unless Robertson takes a risk and goes for this red into the corner.

He is looking for a gap and he thinks he can. He will probably play

it. A big shot. A 23 point lead. I think the safety is a better choice.

He cannot hit the red thick enough for the extreme right of the table.

To keep the white safe without sticking it in the pocket. That is

his problem. Just decided to play an excellent

safety shot. That is close. Mark's facial expression tells me

that the White has just drifted past the brown.

Cut this in between the gap of pink and red. Ah! Now then, has he

covered everything? The last shot he had a slight kick

as well. This still is not great for Mark. A big shot.

He played that with total conviction and confidence. Just needs a bit of

luck with the cue ball and he has got it. All of a sudden a chance to

get right back into the game, maybe even win this match on this visit.

The yellow looks the best choice. But he has played that well also. A

good shot. Probably reluctant to play the black here. Unless he plays

the cannon just to push the red onto the blackspot. That is what he tried

to do and that is what he has done. This shot could give him the frame

and match. Now, Mark Williams, you have done this many times. Cleared

up from a few behind. You need to do it one more time.

Has he played his last shot in this years event? This lack puts Mark

Williams five points in front. -- black. He would need up to and

including the loo. -- blue. He will forgive himself for playing poorly,

the victory is what it is all about. His wife is looking on, fingers

crossed. This is the last one that can go

wrong, the blue is a certainty. Well done, Mark Williams. I don't

know how he has done it, he has struggled through, battled and

battled and battled. The last three or four frames have

been really scrappy. 19 points. One Snooker two -- to tie. What a time

to make a fabulous break. Mark Williams pulled it out when it

mattered most. Not a great match, but that will not matter to these

Welsh fans. The last Welsh survivor into the next round.

The big result of this championship so far, Terry. We will not

The big result of this championship all the Snooker, but we will

remember the result. The clearance was brilliant. He had all the work

to do. This is the shot with the red in the centre. He had some good

luck. Perhaps deserved. Onto the colours he needed. Then it was a

clear-cut opportunity once he moved the red off the lack spot. -- lack.

But that is when the pressure comes on. Mark has always been good under

pressure. It was so scrappy. It must be so easy for the brain to get

scrambled. Towards the end, they are both great competitors, but towards

the end, whoever got the chance, you expected them to take it. But it is

a big win for Mark Williams. Beating the number one in the world is

special. That will do his confidence no end of good. He is in the next

round and he is looking good. Look how happy he is. Well done, Mark.

That was terrific. We were on the edge of our seats. What was it like

to play? It is not often I beat the best player in the world. I am over

the moon. Where does it rank with your results in recent seasons? It

is up there, because I haven't done much in recent seasons. His cueing,

he is one of the best out there. Any victory is good, beating the world

number one is special. When you kissed the red off the black spot,

that is when the pressure comes on. But a win is a win. Was the table a

bit... ? It was bouncing. That suggests through the game off a

little bit. -- that just threw. You have got Marco Fu or Graeme Dott in

the next round, do you have a preference? If I can keep playing

like that IM capable on my day. Clearances like that are not easy to

do when you have not been stringing performances together. I am over the

moon and will just keep playing. performances together. I am over the

Your dad did fantastically, didn't he, Kian? Yes!

Some other results from the Newport Centre:

we are going to show you some of the match this morning between Mark

Selby and Dominik Dale. Dale has a good record against Selby. He has

won three of the last five meetings but in this game, nothing was going

right for him. Stricken with a virus, 3-0 down. But for once,

Dominik has made a decent start, a 40 point lead.

He will be in all sorts of trouble at his next visit.

This is a smoker which is almost impossible to it. -- Snooker. I can

only see one option from here. You cannot see the right-hand side.

39 points in front, not beyond the realms of possibility that next time

Mark Selby comes to the table, he could be in front. Because this

could be many misses on the trot. That did not work. But that is the

general idea. He could be here all day playing this.

How many times do you think, before he hits one? Three, four, five, six?

If he hits it with pace and he should hit something straightaway.

But at this sort of speed, he will be here for ever. Yes, face, I think

you are right. -- pace. Sit back down, Mark, save the shoe leather!

What he does not want to to his miss it for or five times. Play the same

shot at Paisley Danilo vanilla one your average is leading the one,

little thing, little The only good thing about that last

escape is it only cost ten eight point. Still lead by 31. Just one

red safe. I am not sure but there might be a

little bit of value in making him play for this red in the left

centre. As long as he catches the far job with it. Won't leave

anything on as it goes in. A bit of a free shot, this one. And he has

got a nice cannon on the green. Options now.

As you can see, as long as it hit the far jaw it would lead nothing

on. He has decided to take the bull by

the horns and WinFrame and match on this visit. If this rate gives in

his favourite to win the frame and match. But those are always

difficult. He had a good shout them. -- then.

It is not happening for Dominic. He could have left that nice and easy,

but that was the worst cueing. When an opponent Mrs a ball like Mark

Selby did, there is an opportunity -- misses. He will have to drop this

in. He cannot play at that pace. That is they are. Good recovery. --

that is there. It is not so good from Dominic. If

you can pot five reds, he will not need the brown. -- if he can. He

will have to go for a colour at some stage during this break.

Not perfect, he will have to flick off the other red stop --. I thought

he might have played a little stunned shot to flick of the red. --

off. -- stun. All of a sudden he is not cueing as well as he did.

He has played that two about perfection. I do not think those two

reds will go anywhere. He might be able to get the one on the left. If

not, he will have to play a little cannon. If that red goes, he will be

playing for it. Just moments now for Dominic Dale,

because Mark Selby is right back in this frame. He has had a couple of

chances, not done a lot wrong. He has made the cannon, sober one to

the left, will go to the left centre. -- so the one to the left.

Takes a little bit of pressure off this shot -- off.

APPLAUSE. This is Dominic's last chance. If market does not get onto

the last red. -- if Mark. Fool ball kiss would not have been

anything. -- full. 11 points in front, the pink would

be 17. The tie on the brown will still be needed. It will pass the

blue. Mind you, almost impossible to get

onto the brown from there. He will have to miss the kiss on the pink.

Has two miss the kiss on the pink. Played it a different way, went

around the back. 22 points in front, a strong favourite.

was so difficult. Does not give you an inch, Mark Selby. Look how good

this one is. He does not want the brown to go end, he has played a

brilliant shot. -- go in. What a fluke to have at the wrong time, he

played the perfect safety. The only time he had a bit of luck, when he

did not want it. That is cruel. That is ridiculous. He has two hit the

blue to get it safe. -- he has two hit the blue. -- to. If he gets the

right contract -- contact, he will hope he gets another one. We could

see him playing this at pace. If the King get it safe, he could flick

it. He deserves to get it safe or fluke it, he does not deserve to

lose the match on that. Can you believe it? I can see it happening.

What a strange game. That is the situation, 23 on it and barring

snookers, Mark Selby has been the better player, but Dominic has been

unfortunate. Mark Selby goes through 4-3.

No free ball, he can still play the pot. It has not been a free ball.

That is the conversation they had with Dominic, he has done well to

raise any sort of smile from what has happened there.

He did not want that blew to go over the pocket, he wants a snookers to

win. -- blue. -- snooker. Surprised he has pushed that over,

you only get one chance for a Flickr, but Mark could quickly run

the pink over the pocket -- snooker. Just about the worst position the

cue ball could have ended up. It was always going to go over the

middle. We will see Mark Selby roll the pink onto the right corner. This

will be very close, if it does not go in. Dominic is up, that was it

for him, a disappointing morning. Mark Selby will be over the moon. He

wins the match by four frames to zero.

I was fortunate in the second frame. After that, I played quite solidly

and did not miss much. When Dominic got his chances, he had a lot of bad

luck. Last 16, I think I will play the winner of Mark Allen and

Allister Carter. It will be a tough game. Mark Selby will play Allister

Carter in the next round. It is a shame that another Welshman is out

and you have to feel for Dominic, it was one of those days, everything

went wrong. Before the match, you thought he needed good luck to win

the match against Mark Selby because he is an excellent player. It would

be a hard match. It looks like all the balls ran against him. He has

had a run in this tournament, but his form is better. He had a bad

start to the season. He sounded a little bit sick yesterday. I guess,

when things are not right and you do not feed right, it is difficult to

produce your best. I do not want to catch it. We are going to show you

what is happening on table to where Judd Trump is in action and he is

playing Anthony Hill and at the moment, as you can see, it is one

frame all between the players, that match in progress at the moment on

table to -- Anthony McGill. Ronnie O'Sullivan is a great

character, a man who loses with talent, he is an absolute genius,

but he has had his Demons over the years and in recent years, he has

found salvation in another sport, that of long-distance running. He

covers a lot of miles and it has become important to him. He says

that was not for running copper he might have given snooker. -- if it

was not for running --, he might have given up snooker. There was

always pressure on me to do well. I had to play with that pressure since

I was a junior. I was used to winning tournaments and if anything,

winning a tournament was relief, you were on a come-down. Everyone was

excited. I was glad it was over. When I won al five mile race, I was

buzzing. -- a five mile race. Six years on, I was chuffed with

myself. I got more of a sense of achievement out of running down

snooker. If I did not win, I had not fulfilled my potential or people 's

expectations, I think I got far more satisfaction out of running up or

doing good races. -- running or doing good races.

I used to get miserable that I had to leave home because of my

running, so I connected with a lot of running clubs were at the

tournaments where. In a way, snooker tournaments were a way of exploring

different running clubs. Snooker almost became a

different running clubs. Snooker ten years ago. As long

different running clubs. Snooker running kit, I would take my cue and

thought that running came first. When you're playing at the top

level, if you do not perform, then a top player will take you out, I do

not care who it is, they come with a big reputation, but if Usain Bolt

does not run that fast, he will come second. You have to go out and

produce the goods. Will his next match be a marathon or a sprint, ?

We will show you what happened in the first frame. He was playing Xiao

Guodong. He looked pretty ominous yesterday, comfortably through to

this stage of the tournament. He is the man to watch. He scores better

than all the other players generally. His control of the cue

ball is exceptional. The other problem that players have against

him is that he does make it look so easy and he plays so quick. Within

no time at all, you can be 3-0 down and thinking, or what was I

practising for? It is very hard for your opponent,

if you get any sort of lead, It is very hard for your opponent,

spending time in your chair, it is hard to get into the right frame of

mind. Ronnie O'Sullivan has played against Xiao Guodong, they used to

practice in Sheffield and he is an exceptional talent. He is not up to

the standard of Ronnie, who is, but Ronnie will respect that and he will

get inspiration out of this game. That makes it difficult. Against

Barry Pinches, Barry had a few chances to win, but with Ronnie, you

never know what will come. He is playing a lot of good and consistent

snooker. How would you assess his state of mind? He has been a

different person since he worked with Steve Peters. He has done a

very good job and Ronnie said, when he goes out there, he feels at peace

with himself although he still feels nervous. This was the black that God

Ronnie O'Sullivan to a century break in this first frame against George

medal. He missed the red and conceded that point. Ronnie

O'Sullivan went at one frame up and of course, we will show you how that

match developed in our programme at 7pm this evening. We will look ahead

to are match this evening, it is Andrew Pagett against Stephen

Maguire who is the defending champion here and the number one

seed. How do you see that going? You think it would be a one-sided

match, but Stephen Maguire has had trouble with his back, although it

has improved slightly. It will be a surprise victory if Andrew Dawes

win. Stephen has a bad back, that is clearly very difficult for a

player. Yes, it is the pain you feel, it takes your cue out of

line. He missed a lot of shots in his first match against Sam Baird.

That is the game this evening. Can we get another Welsh player into the

last 16? We will see you at 7pm. Thank you for watching, we will see

you later. Goodbye.