28/02/2014 Snooker: Welsh Open

Good afternoon. It is quarter finals day at the pet Victor Welsh Open. We

started with more than 100 players but now the field has been cut down

to just eight, including this gentleman, and they're all desperate

to lift this famous trophy. -- BetVictor. It would be wonderful if

you could join us here this afternoon. There may be no Welshman

left in but we still have some of the game's biggest names fighting to

win the title. Ding Junhui from China is in the form of his life.

Four tournaments already won this season. He's looking for number five

in Wales. But hoping to spring a surprise, 19-year-old Joel Walker

from Sheffield. This is the first time he's reached the quarterfinal

and he is or not at the defending champion forced its been a delight

to see Ronnie O'Sullivan glide through the rounds. He's made it

look easy as he eyes a third Welsh title. John Higgins has already

knocked out Judd Trump en route to the last eight. So here is the full

quarterfinal draw. It's best of nine frames at this stage. It is Walker

against doing that gets us under way. Joe Perry beat Matthew Stevens

and he plays Mark Selby. Marco Fu ended Welsh involvement in this

tournament by knocking out Mark Williams last night. He plays seven

seed Barry Hawkins. And we have a classic battle between two of the

game's greatest ever players, John Higgins Ronnie O'Sullivan, later

this afternoon. What an opportunity for 19-year-old Joel Walker. This is

only his second season as a pro but his potential has been there for all

to see for a while. It was Ronnie O'Sullivan who picked him out as one

to watch when he was just 16. I'm from Sheffield and I support

Sheffield Wednesday. I'm 19. I like a bit of golf and doing stuff with

my friends. That's about it, really. Just try and keep myself to myself.

It's still not really sunk in yet. I was just fortunate Steve didn't play

as well as he could but I'm happy to get through and I can pick up my

performance. It's never been greater up to now but if I can start scoring

now, I'll give myself a chance. It's going to be tough. Ding and

Robertson have been the most constant this season. He's won three

ranking events in a row and he's probably the best player in the

world at the minute, I'd say. It's just one of them things what I've

always been brought up. Just go out there and show what you can do

instead of worrying about somebody else. I know I can do it if I play

well. It's just playing well. The young man has suffered a tough

opponent today. Ding Junhui is 26 and based in Sheffield. He's ranked

three in the world and is in the form of his life, winning four

titles this season. That hasn't been done since Stephen Hendry did it

more than 20 years ago. The match got under way a bit earlier on and

it was Ding who took the first frame with a break of 74. We're going to

pick the action up at frame two. Joel Walker is at the table and

there's no score. His performance this week will

greatly improve his world ranking. He's making giant strides this

season. All the experience he's getting on the tour, especially the

PGCE events, will greatly improve his performances against the top

players because he'll be more familiar with playing them.

For Joel Walker, this is probably his best opportunity so far.

It just shows. We've seen a couple of new faces this year - Scott

Donaldson, now Joel Walker. In the old system, when they had to qualify

in the final stages to get to a venue, we didn't see many new faces.

We've seen quite a few this week emerging. I think all players have

enjoyed it, like a breath of fresh air. It's good to see. Nothing worse

when you are a professional in your sport and you are playing in a

little qualifying booth with one man, maybe, and his dog watching.

And then you see this - a nice big, full arena, full crowd. This is what

they practice six, seven hours a day for, monotonously, months on end.

This is the reward. I've just been looking through the

statistics of Joel Walker and unless I've missed something, I don't think

he's been past the last 96 of any event until now. So that's quite an

incredible performance that he's put in the sofa this week. -- put in so

far this week. He's got every chance of winning here today.

A very calm exterior that Joel seems to possess but you never quite know

what's going on underneath. Just over on the cue ball by about

three or four inches. He's going to have to dig a bit deeper.

He's got the one red loose next to the blue.

What a shot that was! Well done, young Joel Walker. Terrific cueing.

I suppose Joel would be disappointed now if he didn't secure this frame

from this opportunity. He's done well to develop the ball the way he

has. I don't suppose anybody might know what I'm talking about here but

if you are brilliant historian like I am, he rather reminds me of a

billiards champion of the early 20th century, George Gray from Australia.

Very similar. -- a billiards historian. He's very

confident when he gets in because he's not hanging about. He's started

motoring. Averaging 18 seconds shot, a good 16

seconds than Ding Junhui. That's a very good.

Ding Junhui doesn't hang about when he goes in, either. I think that's

the exciting part of snooker these days. The younger element are

getting much more exciting, playing much faster, attacking.

APPLAUSE Nicely played.

So, one more colour and read away from securing a second frame and

levelling this matchup. -- one more colour and red. If he takes the

pink, he will already be safe. He would only need one pot instead of

two. He's electing to play the pink. A

natural angle for the two reds below the pink spot.

He's missed the red. He's not going to worry too much. He'll be feeling

so much better. He now levelled the match. It's one apiece.

Let's go now to frame three. Walker is on the table and he's got a lead

of 22 points. COMMENTATOR: Well, I just wonder if

Joel is slightly surprised that the mistakes Ding is making and

sometimes that can cause you to lose focus. That was a good chance for

Joel but Ding needs to do something himself. Making a few mistakes.

Slightly uncharacteristic ones. So we're a good way through the

third frame and you'd have to say that the first bad bunch we've seen.

When he actually played the red, I didn't think he'd hit it hard enough

to get to the pink. The cue ball just carried on going. There's been

a lot of talk this week about all the kicks and the funny reactions of

the cushions. Will they ever get to the bottom of it? That's the

question. Who's got the correct answer?

That's a very well played shot. Nicely on the pink. He'd love that

black to be back on the spot. These tables this week at the Newport

Centre have been playing very tight across the rails. The players, if

they can play alternative shots, that's what they've been doing. If

they're just dropping them down the rails, the pockets are not liking

them. But there's no need for him to even think about getting the black

in play here. These reds are all nicely spaced out around the pink.

The next shot is going to be the more difficult, cos that read just

above the pink is making things awkward. -- that red just above the

pink. APPLAUSE

That's worked out nicely for him. I think he probably played off that

red to cannon the red just above the pink, knowing that if he missed it,

he'd can the one below. A very clever shot, well thought out. --

he'd cannon. Just totting up the points from these four remaining

loose reds, you forget the one near the cushions, the likelihood is that

he would probably lead the trachea -- trachea red.

Some players may try to cannon the other red that's just next to his

hand there. Let's see what Ding does here.

He's happy enough to play for the last red because it is probably

about five or six inches of the cushions so if he was to get right

behind it, I don't think he'd expected to miss it.

This is definitely not easy but it's got nothing to do with the cue ball.

He'll just want to pot this red, which will leave his opponent

needing at least two snookers. Good shot! More or less frame and over

now. Barring a calamity, it should be to -1 to Ding Junhui.

And excellent break of 64 from Ding Junhui. He does take the third

frame. STUDIO: Ding is looking good. We'll

take you now to frame four. Joel Walker is at the table with a narrow

lead. COMMENTATOR: What a lovely struck

shot by Joel Walker. Couldn't have timed that any better. Could have

done with the cue ball just stopping. He's cute it nicely. --

cued. This becomes a very good opportunity all of a sudden.

He's done it again. He's come across it again. In that left corner

pocket, he's missed three very very similar reds. He's not even

threatened the pocket. I don't know about you. I didn't

expect him to pot back. Something in my mind told me he was going to make

the same mistake. It's probably in his mind.

But what shot was that that Ding Junhui just played? He's got away

with it but very competent in the safety stakes.

A very strange turn of events happening at the moment. This is a

massive frame now. If Joel Walker can get into the mid-session

interval with two each, he'll be doing somersaults.

Definitely a shot to nothing for Ding into this pocket. The cue ball

should find its way between the green and brown back into the

Didn't really want a kiss on the green. He's on the brown. He's got

to make sure he misses a cannon on the black.

The blue has come to his rescue. So you would have to say Joel Walker's

had his chances in these first four frames. Ding, uncharacteristically,

has given more opportunities than we're used to seeing.

As we can see, this just cued so far across that ball. That was a great

opportunity. Same shot, just a little bit thinner, at the same

place. I think he'll have a lot to think

about in this interval. He has acquitted himself very well and has

let himself down in any shape or form, but he'll know that he's had

chances. He could very easily have gone into this interval at least to

-2. If Ding goes on to win this frame with this effort, he'll be

very relieved that he's pre-1 up. -- 3-1.

Played some strange shots. Not the Ding Junhui no.

I don't think Ding can cut this red back, can he? Wafer thin.

Did you see the bounce off the cushions? It should have stopped a

good two feet less. He's got away with that one but he's just tried to

push the boat out there. That red could have stayed over at corner

pocket. As it happens, he's left Joel Walker with a horrible safety

shot. The only thing wrong with playing

this little roll on is that it is very negative and it does give your

opponent a very easy safety shot in reply.

APPLAUSE I don't think he can go off this

thing and just move the red over towards the pink. He had to play a

different kind shot and he played it to absolute perfection.

He could have had another ten tries at that and not have been

successful. The cue ball seemed to diving behind

that pink. But nevertheless, it's a snooker.

APPLAUSE He's snookered Ding Junhui. How many

times does that happen in snooker? Yes, it's amazing, isn't it? It was

a good snooker to get out of because Ding Junhui had played a corker of a

shot. He wasn't really sorry, I can assure you!

APPLAUSE A good coach will always say he had

always planned to apologise and then go out to clear the table and make

him feel doubly bad. He has given Ding an opportunity

with this red. It's not easy. You play to the left yellow pocket or

the green pocket. I can't imagine he'll play the safety shot. He likes

to attack. In fact, this would be won in practice he might pot. He

might pot four or five out of ten so it's not a gimme.

key has just lost the cue ball on little bit. He hedged his bets, he

thought if he missed the red he would put the white over to the

cushion. He is faced with a very difficult one they the ones to

continue. He can roll down to the pink and played the snooker. He is

an attacking player, so you think you will go for it.

I could understand him kicking and attacking line-up thoughts and try

to pot the blue of the brown, but with the yellow being typed on the

cushion, he will need at least the yellow and green in addition. Is

taking the attempt to hear the right shot to play? -- the pot? He must

make sure he does not leave a pot on for Ding.

Again, I think you will be quite happy with that. Rolling up behind

the black give him a very easy shot out. He has had a little bit of luck

with the yellow went stop all to play for in this frame. Nothing in

it. That could have gone horribly wrong, that he had had the green

full ball. -- hit the green. He was lucky there, wasn't he, Ding?

I think he has left him a shot to the left centre. It is a thin one.

He went for it. This isn't that bad, really.

Well, it is getting very exciting here! Ding can be nervous, surely!

He never gets nervous! It looked for one minute that the

cue ball was going to end up right hand the black. -- behind the black.

He does still have a shot at this screen in the right centre, but it

is not easy. Even impact this this wouldn't be easy. He has made it!

Another good shot. What a shock that was! All of a

sudden this is looking very, very good. He needs an angle on the pink.

Ding Junhui could still draw with the black. He needs to make sure of

the pink and black. That has probably gone in the worst possible

position. This is massive. In it goes! Joel Walker! What a steel that

was, Ding Junhui will be devastated. The matches or level

again. What to read the clearance from Joel

Walker! The players appear in the practice room have been following

this match closely, wondering if there could be a big shop here this

afternoon. Willie is my guest. Credit to Joel Walker, he is playing

like an experienced professional. Ding will go into the break feeling

a lot worse than his opponent. That is a really good performance under

pressure. This is the first time I have seen him play and he looks

really good. He is not a great break-builder yet, but that will

come with time. How difficult is it for a young man like him to come

into a situation like this, against one of the top players come in front

of the television cameras? He has been on the circuit for a while. He

hasn't really beaten anybody in the top 16 until he beat Stephen

Maguire. That will be a big confidence boost for him. This

afternoon, maybe he should be 3-1 behind, but he has done really well.

This next frame is huge. Ding Junhui came straight up to the back this

room after that frame to have a bit of crack this. So did Joel Walker.

Of the two players, Ding will be the most disappointed. Ding is having a

fabulous season. He has been the player of the year so far, winning

four ranking tournaments, which hasn't been done for 20 years. He

has won a lot of new fans this season. Who does he admire on the

circuit? Neil Robertson'saction is the best.

He doesn't move his body. He keep still.

Ronnie. He understands the balls. He knows how to make it look easy.

Long potting? Judd Trump. Steve Davis. I played him a few

times stop he does not make any breaks, but he gives you big trouble

in safety. Dominic Dale. He is always smiling.

I don't know what he thinks! Keep our? Judd Trump. He likes to

smash. Jimmy White.

Ding Junhui, such a thoughtful and intelligent layer. He really has a

match on his hands this afternoon. The players have just finished their

mid-session interval. This matches beautifully tied at 2-2. Joel is

playing wonderfully to have this match level at the happy stage. Can

we see a massive shock you at the Newport Centre here the sceptre

moon? -- this afternoon? I'm sure Joel Walker will be very

happy to be all square with his more illustrious opponents.

Joel Walker look very relaxed in the press room, with his cup of tea. To

be fair, Ding Junhui look very relaxed, as well. He was munching on

a banana. Not far away with that one. The cue

ball has gone safe. Joel Walker is a very attacking

player. It is good to see. I think that is why we love John Hampson

much. He does play the unusual shots. The only downside if you are

an attacking player, if they don't go in, sometimes it can look as if

you have played a very bad shot. You have a tendency to miss balls via --

by a very long way. When the going, it is to reflect and exciting. -- it

is fantastic and exciting. He had a massive kick. The cue ball

took off. It changed the angle of the cue ball going into the red by a

mile. He kept it on the wrong side! -- he hit it on the wrong side!

On these superfine glaucus, any side can push the cue ball off-line and

it makes the pots a little bit harder. Superfine cloth is.

He wanted to avoid that red. He is still on the black, but it is very

hard. That is a good shot. He will be unlucky if he hasn't

finished on anything. There may be won on into the right corner. --

one. That was a confidence pot. I am sure

he is feeling more comfortable as the frame goes by. This is good

experience for him. He doesn't show a lot of emotion, which is always

good thing in a professional player, in many sports. As deacons see, it

is the first to five that gets through to the semifinal. I can

remember when I had a full head of hair! I am quite envious looking at

him down there, thinking, where has mine gone?

He has to be careful with this next positional shot. He is closer to

this red then he would have liked. He has an Elvis Presley look about

him there with the hairstyle. That was a good shot from Joel

Walker. This break is going well. Already he is at 46. From his point

of view there is more to come. This is getting to be quite concerning

for Ding. That is a superb pot! With that speed come from that angle, to

get on the right side of the blue. Joel Walker is looking really good.

I agree. My only concern at this moment for

Joel Walker is that he is playing that well, looking very confident,

that when he does start getting to the winning post, obviously the

nerves will come back in. If he continues to play the way he is

playing, there is no reason why he can't end up winning this match.

This is terrific. This is very knowledgeable audience

at the Newport Centre realise that that was frame ball. Ding Junhui

will require a snooker, that is if he gets back to the table!

Ding is going to come out of his seat to try and get the two

Snickers. -- snookers. Ding Junhui never really shows much

emotion. He is a bit rattled at the moment. He had a script in his head

before he came out for this match, and the script is not going to plan.

The objective for Ding will be to pot a succession of reds and

colours, maybe leading just one red on the table, which could lead to a

free ball if his opponent makes a mistake.

Ding has decided to concede the frame. Joel Walker takes a lead in

this match for the first time. This is fabulous for the game and

largely unexpected. He has played really well! He looks at ease out

there. I'm sure his fans in Sheffield will be really enjoying

watching this. Ding has been the player of the season. He is the

number one player on paper this year. The fact that Ding was such an

overwhelming favourite, is there a sense in which Ding might come into

this game not even contemplating for a second that he might lose? Is that

affecting how he started? Everybody was expecting him to win. It can be

a bit complacent sometimes. Sometimes you can look at the draw

and think, this has gone my way. He will be a little bit shocked that

what is happening out there at the minute. Sometimes when you get a

shot, you have to regroup. Like all frames after the interval, this will

be very important. So, a crucial frame. Who will take it?

He got away without a little bit. He meant to lay into the cluster.

He is playing an attacking safety shot.

There is no easy way back to baulk for Ding. He will have to be careful

with what the doors. -- he does. The red above the black, to the

left, that will go into this right corner. If he misses it, he will

move the red nearest the pocket. That is the one! What a great pot!

He is still looking very confident. This is all about the positional

side of the shot. He was playing that as a shot to

nothing. He just has to make sure that he didn't capture thick. --

catch it thick. That is OK. What a shop that was! I don't think

you meant to go that side of the green! He will settle for where it

has finished! It is all going his way at the moment is. It looks like

he is gaining in confidence with every shot. Yes, he really does,

Darren. Ding will be hoping that jewel starts to think about the

winning post to early, and a bit more. That is about as concerned as

Ding ever look. -- ever look 's. It is not in his hands what happens

from here in this frame. The surprising thing for me,

Dominic, is I haven't really seen Joel Walker play that much.

Obviously he has been on the tour but if he is playing like this all

the time, how is he down as far as the 80s in the world rankings? You

would think that the way he is playing here, he is better than that

ranking. I think from the style of play, he

is mainly an attacker. Obviously, if you are missing pots, he is probably

giving chances to opponent opponenting. S -- to opponents.

I have seen him play a couple of matches, and what have you but he is

a very good player. At 19, he is a lot better than I was at that age.

I know that my daughter is watching the snooker today, she loves it. She

is backing Joel. She says she will back the underdog. She would love

him to win the whole event. I won't embarrass her by tell

telling everybody who her favourite player is but he is still in! You

will have to work that one out for yourselves! I'll be asking her

later. Does she drive down here? Yes, it is best not to talk about

her driving, Dominic, thank you very much! I've only just finished paying

for the last one! This is certainly getting serious

for Ding Junhui. The audience recognised that was a great shot

that Joel played to develop the reds. He is two pots from securing

this sixth frame and taking a 4-2 lead. Three frames in a row for

young Joel Walker. Not many players do that to Ding

Junhui these days. I couldn't agree more. This has been

a terrific display. I hope he does not let it bother him that the

winning line is becoming closer. I hope he can continue in the same

form he has shown us over the last two or three frames.

This is his third break over 70. The last two could have been 100s

but it was not to be. He is start starting to look $1

million! Everything has become easy for him.

He doesn't lack a bit of cue power, either.

This would be lovely if he could make a 100 break.

His debut main table telly appearance, we shall say.

This crowd are getting treated to a terrific display by this young man.

There goes the red. It is like shelling peas out there.

Well done young Joel Walker. Terrific.

He will not be bothered if he has missed the yellow. He has given Ding

everything to think about. He leads by 4-2. Ding has it all to do.

Well, what a story on our hands. You have to ask yourself, which is the

world number three and who is the 80th seed here? That was perfection.

He did not get in trouble. He has made 15 competitive centuries in his

two-year career, but this boy looks like he can play.

Absolutely, but a huge game for him to take on. The key now is to forget

about the occasion and concentrate on one ball at a time.

I would prefer for him not to leave the arena there. You are going out,

thinking, come on, stay with it. It is better in the arena, keeping the

atmosphere. He would is settled more. Obviously if he wins the next

frame, it could be a problem. If he goes close because of Ding's

temperament, it could be that there is another frame.

And of course Ding has to win three frames to win the tournament? He has

done it many times. I think he is a little frightened

out there, Ding. He has never seen Joel play properly. He may have

played him as a junior some six or seven years ago. Ding beat him 4-0.

Now it is a different story. He has made two 70 and a 100 break.

It is like playing Ronnie O'Sullivan! And I guess this is what

Barry Awe heroine -- Ahern really wants to see. He runs World Snooker.

It is these stories he wants to encourage to get more players who

are genuinely competitive. If this is not proving that the

1-2-8 works. We would never have seen this. He has lost many matches.

He has been improving. He is 19 years of age. This is a baptism of

fire. He has grassed it with bust hands. He beat Stephen Maguire. Now

he has efr chance of beating Ding Junhui.

Well, Joel Walker has had a few moments to reflect on the magnitude

of what stands in front of him now. He has a 4-2 lead. The man of the

moment, Joel Walker. A contemporary look. You have to remember he is

still a teenager. It was fascinating to hear Dominic discussing Joel's

hair style. We were wondering if you are really the right man to comment?

! I would have thought I would be exactly the right man to comment.

Having such an xro vert one myself! I am definitely not, due the to --

to the fact that the hair has gone away!

I think Joel Walker reminds me a little of Rick Astley. For all of

those who remember him. I think he had that look. I don't know if Joel

can sing as well as him but I'm sure Rick Astley could now play snooker

like him. As I say that, he slots another pot in. This has been

unbelievable, the ras three frames. He just needs not to get too

excited. A lot of players would have smashed

it and crashed the red in, but I love the fact he is playing such a

control controlled game off the red. That time he did need to push

through them, but that pace, it was only going to stun off the pack.

Watch this. You need the pace to push through

the red that finished to the left of the black there. That was the red

that stopped the key ball from travelling through.

Nice and tight. You would have expected a lot more than nine after

that great long red he slotted in. It is all going wrong here for Ding

Junhui. He hasn't really had much of a

chance the last couple of frames. He's been outplayed.

I can't believe I'm saying that. As he is playing the best snooker in

the world at the moment. He's making mistakes.

That is due to how well young Joel Walker is playing.

That has gone perfect, other than the awkward cueing behind the pink.

If he can get this, get on to the black but not foul the pink. He has

missed the red. That was a massive shot. He knows if that had gone in,

it could have been his frame and match-winning opportunity.

He seems to really rush that shot to me. I don't know if he felt he was

not in a comfortable position and almost losing balance as he struck

the cue ball. I don't know, but my word, there is a lot of pressure on

Ding. Every mistake could be his last.

A good pot from Ding. He really needed that one. He knows every time

he gets an opportunity, he has to score.

How cool, did he play that red in the middle? It wasn't easy.

He just got down and struck it in. As if it meant nothing.

He is a cool character. He's never beaten until the last

ball is potted. Let's have a look at this red. If

that had not gone in, he was given a 50 nice easy opportunity straight

back to Joel Walker. A great temperament.

Well, there you go. We thought Ding Junhui was calm and

in control of his emotions but that could well have told us otherwise.

He knows he is at the point of no return. He knew he could not afford

to miss an easy pot. That is just what he has done. Now, Joel, there

is a lot of pressure on you too. Take your time. Make sure that you

are focussed on every shot you play. Get the pre-shot routine right.

It's not easy, is it? This is what we were saying. He now knows he is

on the brink of a terrific win. The longer this goes, the more edgy he

will get. He is not used to this environment. On this stage, on this

event, but you would not know by looking at him. He looks like he is

in total control of his emotions. But Ding Junhui has really got to do

something with this effort. Restamp his authority on this match.

He made a slightly un uncharacteristic mistake.

This match could turn around if Ding were to win this frame.

He certainly will not be giving up. They all go on about the hardest

frame to win is the last. How true that saying is.

Joel Walker has had two great opportunities.

Relatively easy balls on both of them. They are bound to be feeling

the pressure now. Ding knows if he can chip away at

this frame and take it to a decider, he would become the heavy favourite.

Joel may be reflecting on a couple of things. I'm sure he will get a

further opportunity. It's a great learning curve for him.

You can't gain experiences without some trial and tribulation along the

way. This is the first time that Joel

Walker has played in front of TV cameras this week. So that is new.

Ding just needs a red and a colour to reduce this to a single frame.

Wow! What a mistake to make. He just cannot believe it, can he?

He just cannot believe it. There we go.

He can now win. Unbelievable. Did you ever see Ding bang the table

in anger? Was it the cushion, responding too quickly? We saw a

couple this week. We saw Mark Williams, he gave the table two or

three smacks. But this is unbelievable.

He will try to stop the white in the same place as the red.

He could slide in behind the brown and the blue.

He didn't play that to plan. Superb. He could not possibly get

the reds, so he concentrated on the seven points. That could be useful

at this stage. Still 28 behind with 35 left.

I think Joel Walker will be in a lot of trouble after this next shot.

That wasn't the best shot he has played in this match. He left a nice

easy snooker to be played. Very clever shot there by Ding

Junhui. He has played that, he has played the double. He is safe again.

A miscalculation by Joel Walker. Yes, 29 points ahead now. 27 remain,

but the colours are well placed for snooker, if Joel can just escape

from this one. No.

It's caught the blue. Ding Junhui pulls a frame back, but

still trails by 4-3. Well I think that there maybe a

19-year-old man out there regretting a little he did not take his chance.

He got in the balls early on. We will show you a shot. This is one

where you take your time. Strike it centre ball. We cannot quite see

here from the angle but as he hits it goes to the left-hand jaw. Hes is

cued down with a bit of side and it has swerved. That hurts. He knows he

was lead leading, he has a chance to win 5-2. And later on he missed a

relatively easy ball. This was a shot, he missed three or four

earlier on. Then he goes to seed and you start to doubt yourself.

Ding really gave him a life line when he went in off the black, but

it is difficult now. I will be surprised if Joel holds himself

together. That was a massive frame. This is one of the most difficult

things, it is getting across the line. It is OK to play well early on

but then the nerves kick in, when you are so close.

We talk about the commentary with the seasons pros. They want to pot

everything in sight and never miss. Younger players... It will happen.

Obviously with Mark Selby, when he first game on the scene, he would

have been anxious. Until you are a regular winner, it is almost common

to win under pressure. Joel is not in that situation now. I hope he

plays well enough to win this match, but I have my doubts now.

Ding Junhui has taken a break. He is back to a break-off in the eighth

frame, but it is Joel Walker in the box seat. He needs one more frame to

head through to the semi-finals. Ding Junhui will be feeling a little

better. Joel Walker probably has a couple of more nerves now than a

couple of frames ago. He is still in the driving position in this match.

It is getting over that line. It is the hardest frame to win, as

we have said. It is normally the last.

Ding Junhui has been in this position many, many times before.

Joel Walker... This is his first. If you think about the winners of

the last two frames, they both left the arena. Normally when you win it

is not good to leave the air Rena but when you have had a bad frame.

Sometimes when you have won it, it can dispel the momentum you have

gained. He hit that a little thicker than he

would have liked. That's a better shot from Joel

Walker. There is a red to the left corner

but that is fraught with danger. Cueing from tight off the cushion, I

would not fancy. Look at that, you could get through to that red. So he

has a safety shot, Ding, but with the cue ball tucked under the baulk

cushion, it is not an easy one. He's fouled! That was revery honest.

Joe has come out of his seat. I don't know why. He will say play

again. Obviously the cue ball... Ding is

having a laugh to say it must come back further, but it can't, the

cushion is in the way. That is good. Good to see a little

bit of fun out there. There is lots of pressure.

Bizarre, because I didn't hear a miss being called.

This is a great opportunity for temp one.

Ding Baulk Sometimes you read them dictate this BBQ player, but your

mind is a couple of steps behind. Sometimes you need to slow yourself

down. he is already on 24. Another three

reds that are right in the open. Before he has to look at going into

the pack. Even though he is behind, he looks

very calm and collected. He has seen it all before. He knows that Joel

Walker will find it very hard to get over the line.

Whatever happens, she has acquitted himself very well. He has shown

everybody he can play. He is a very classy act. Very nice lad. He has a

good future ahead of him. He did decide to play on one of those

reds. You can get onto the blue in the centre.

He has been a little bit fortunate that he landed on this red.

It gives a nice angle on the blue. That is a good pack to go into from

the top side of the table. He will need one or two of those

reds in the pack. It is all about getting the right angle here.

This break reminds me of the Stephen Lee style brick. He used to go into

the pack very early. This is his last chance saloon, Ding.

That is good, isn't it? You didn't expect a better result than bad. Now

we are potentially looking at 4-4. He shows more emotions these days

than he ever has. You would have thought he is

enjoying his snooker much more. It is good to see the players showing

their emotions, it proves that they are human. This is the red macro

required. Nicely on the black. He will have to get this black.

You just felt that Joel Walker help 20 IIMACRO1 little bit if Ding was

going to win this match. 20 IIMACRO1 has played a very good frame.

It is a one frame should hide. You are the one frame should hide

champion, Dominic, you knew all about that! I am dangerous for the

first ten minutes! This match has had a century break, from Joel

Walker. There has been an abundance of big breaks in this match. It has

been a good quality contest, in terms of break-building. And some

good safety play. Will we see our second century Western Mark there is

a possible 139. Shaun Murphy has a 142 in this event. Well played, Ding

Junhui. He is in full flow. He is motoring. His shot time has come

down. Previously it was about 24 seconds.

Not much of a difference, it is only drop by a second, but he has

certainly motored through this break. What better if the effort it

has been. -- what a fantastic effort that has been. It was all getting

away from him. All of a sudden, he is right that in it. Everything now

will become very very easy. Ding Junhui is feeling fantastic.

Joel Walker will be a little bit despondent. The matches all square,

4-4. Well, what a fabulous break. This is

turning into a classic match. Willie, it seems as if the pressure

is bringing the best out of Ding. Ding is used it. He is used to

playing players at the very top of the game. He is playing a player he

has never seen before, and it has become a match. Joel Walker has to

come himself down -- calm himself down. He just needs to get himself

settled. The thing is with Ding, when the top players get the chance

to win, they just do it. He is looking good. What will really hurt

Joel Walker is that he had a good chance to get into the frame. Say he

does lose this game, say he goes back to think about it. This was a

chance. You see how much he missed the night? That was tough. The one

over the pink in the previous frame I thought he would get. Get yourself

together, get yourself ready for the last frame. You don't want to be

going home with regrets. He has two established himself in this last

frame and give himself a chance stop everyone will say that he has done

brilliantly even to get to this stage. Even if he lost 5-4, that

would be a victory for him. It is a stepping stone. He has never beaten

any of the top players before. Can he do it? We are into the deciding

frame. A place in the semifinals at stake.

Both these players have shaken hands to which each other luck. Joel

Walker broke. We'll Ding be tempted by this? Yes, he is.

So, first chance as deciding frame for Joel Walker.

He will be relieved that that red went past the pink. No shot for Ding

Junhui. He will be trying to get the cue ball behind the green on the

blue. -- and the blue. This cue ball needs to be right, but it is not.

It was a great long pot, but it was always going to be very difficult to

Mr reds. To continue, he will need another great long pot.

He messed up by a long way. Very aggressive shot. Two frames a group

I probably would have agreed with that. He probably had to go for

that. If it had gone then he would have had a great chance. He was

looking to try to win the match on that visit. He has left Ding a

relatively easy starter. Ding has played very well in the last two

frames. He has just about help position. --

held position. This is a big shock. Ding is steeling himself for one

good pot. Joel Walker will be fearing the

worst. He has given it a good shake. When things are going great,

the arena is a fantastic place to be. When things are not going well,

it is the loneliest place. I remember many years ago Ronnie

O'Sullivan, way ahead, then his opponent made a comeback. You put a

napkin over his head so we didn't have to watch. Joel Walker is

sitting there taking his medicine. If he doesn't get back to the

table, he can be very proud of the display he has given this afternoon.

Absolutely. A 19-year-olds in the heat of battle against the

illustrious names without having your fair share of nurse and

pressure. It manifests itself in your game and you make the odd

mistake that you normally wouldn't. It is all part of learning. This is

been a great chance for Joel Walker to gain a lot of experience. A lot

can still go wrong here for Ding. It isn't over yet. Joel Walker probably

will be feeling that way. He will be very concerned that he would get

active the table. Ding has all the momentum, having made a break of the

two, and that fantastic 139 in the last frame. -- a break of 52.

None of these open reds a particularly easy to get onto. --

are particularly easy to get onto. Well, could this be a lifeline for

Joel Walker? The cue ball has just overrun by about six inches. Could

we see another turn of events? Well, you can let much more positive

than that. He deserves to be on a red. That was a terrific pot, and

positional play. He probably deserves to win the match from

there. Very good. That lack was probably the last hope

for Joel Walker. Ding made it with such boldness and conviction.

A couple more reds and colours for attempt when for him to get into the

semifinal. Now that the red has gone in for

Ding, that seems to be the final full distinguished for Joel Walker.

A great shame for him, but it has been a wonderful week for him. He

beat Stephen Maguire in the last round. That must've been best win of

his career to date, quite possibly. You have to praise Ding for the

resort he has shown in the last three frames to come from 4-2 down.

He has produced something like is best, when he knew he had to. -- his

best. Could he make another big century

break here to close out the match? APPLAUSE.

In goes the pink for yet another century for Ding. Well, Judd Trump

special to to finish off. Another great rate from Ding Junhui. It

comes back from 4-2. He takes his place in tomorrow's semifinal. He

wins 5-4. That, folks, is why Ding Junhui has

dominated this season. What a clinical performance. He needed the

last three frames and he took them with two centuries and a half

century break as well. The standard of the match was superb. To finish

with back-to-back centuries, the thing that happened there, Joel

Walker showed him a lifeline. He started to miss a couple and Ding

thought, as long as I play well I have a chance. Great players don't

miss when they have to knuckle down. When Joel Walker got to the table,

he was nervous in the crucial frame. It almost glad you didn't want to

play the shot. Ding thought, this is my time! Joel Walker will be kicking

himself. Sometimes you can learn more from a lost and you can win. He

can go back and realise what he can to embody Cantu. That is the first

time he has ever been under pressure in the limelight. He will learn a

lot. He had three chances from it being 4-2. He missed the long rent

in the last frame. As long as you give yourself a chance. That is why

Ding is the number one player in the world this season. To have one for

ranking events, the chance to win another one here, and five would be

a record, that is fabulous. Flawless look. We have to say that he was

magnificent. You love the way he goes about his business, don't you?

His break open and composure. As far as break-building is concerned, he

is one of the best of all time. When it came to break-building and cue

ball control in that little segment earlier, as to the best

break-builder in the world was, he said, me! One of the things that

players find was this rating is when they get a kick. That is when the

cue ball bounces off the cloth after it has struck another ball. It ruins

bricks and sometimes loses matches. Shaun Murphy things he has

discovered why it happens. What a kick that was! He has an

horrendous kick! The kick has for decades but snooker

players in dire straits. The cause of it has often been a subject of

debate. Over the last four months Shaun Murphy has conducted extensive

research with a retired teacher in a bid to uncovered the cause of it.

There is a massive difference between a kick and a bad contact.

The bad contact can because I'd chalk, bit of dust, about strike.

The kick, were the balls collide and leave the bed of the table, which

results in loss of position, that is chemical. It is solvable. I always

thought that there was a logic to kick. There three theories. The

first was static, the second was chalk, and I thought this could be

chemical. The oil in the cloth, when laid on the table and subjected to

the heat which a lot of the public will be aware of, just how hot the

playing condition is, the tables are heeded from underneath and the TV

lights from above, that heat generator reaction whether oil on

the ball actually erodes the surface of the balls that are on the table.

When you get to balls that collides with two exposed areas, if you

like, that is a kick. If the kick is a chemical reaction, the effect of

it cannot only measured, but also predict that. Bob has held the

theory for years that the kick is unintelligent force, so, in layman

's terms, when it occurs you know what it is -- you know what will

happen to the cue ball and object all. There is an area of the ball

that has a higher friction and the other parts of the ball. When this

area is contacted them we have some logic. For instance, all kicks, when

the cue ball has forward rotation, then the cue ball tries to climb the

object ball when a kick to explain is. With reverse spin on the cue

ball, it is the object all that is fluent in the air and the cue ball

follows slightly afterwards. When shoppers missed, it is missed on the

side predicted by a heightened friction. The governing body of

snooker has also undertaken extensive research with its

manufacturing partners in an attempt to lessen the impact of the kick.

. It is all useful research. The cloth manufactures are continuing to

look at the materials that they use, the oils that they use, things like

that. What we are doing is a huge amount of research to see how we can

improve the conditions. And the conditions here are already very,

very good. The best in the world, actually. We are working closely

with the manufactures. Working with our own team and players to try to

improve the conditions. Despite the shared goal of

eliminating the kick, the two parties have different solutions as

to how it can happen. If with we turn the heaters off,

no-one can give me a good enough reason why we have the heaters, they

are unnecessary, for me, that would slow down the chemical reaction from

happening. It would not stop it but it slows it down.

We are the table heaters to ensure that the cloth is not damp. If the

cloth is damp, the ball feels heavy. You can hear the players saying it

is difficult to bringle cue ball back today or not getting the same

reaction. That heat under the table is actually now at a constant

temperature. We monitor that throughout the event.

They disagree on the role of table heaters but there is another

solution about which the WP BSA and Shaun Murphy concur.

What we are doing is getting the outside advice. Bob has been helpful

and we are dealing with a gentleman, Ben Plumber, who has been useful

about applying polishes to the ball. The ball makers produce a cleaning

product that cures on to the ball like a car polish. You apply it and

buff it off. What it does is to restore the outer covering of the

ball to how it was when it left the factory. So an option two is to have

somebody back stage, replenishing and covering and polishing the balls

to make them new again, so that however many frames, or whenever you

see a kick, you can change a new set of balls, a bit like in tennis. So

with a number of remedies on the table, could we be approaching a

time when the "kick" is finally given the boot? Well, that is a

fascinating detailed analysis there, William. I know you said that kicks

did not happen as much a few years ago. Do you think that Shaun Murphy

has a point about what happens? I think so. The table heaters were

brought in Thailand. Obviously the atmosphere there, with the dampness.

There were extractors, and they would pull out three to four pints

of water. So we thought let's dry the cloth out. They enjoyed it so

much from the effect of Thailand and Hong Kong, we thought let's have it

in England. From 1976 to the Crucible, to '90, if we had one or

two kicks a tournament, that was as many. In fairness, the cloth was

heavier and the balls. I am not a big fan of the balls. They are

inconsistent. What Shaun Murphy was say being the balls, the statement

there, throughout the interview, it was fabulous. I think he has a

point. Why not like tennis? New balls after six or five frames? We

have to try something. It game today with Joel Walker, he has a change of

beating Ding Junhui. If he gets a kick and loses a match, it can be

soul-destroying. Elements should not come into the game if you can avoid

them. If we can find of way of solving this, we should find it.

And you have said that it is in a special set of circumstances? In a

normal play, you don't get many kicks but many players have the same

conditions in the clubs as in the tournament, table heaters, table

lighting, not as hot as the television but bright lights above

the table. We will always get kicks in practise and matches but what

they are trying to do now, it is great, that they are trying to do

it, is dush but what I don't understand is why they don't try the

table without the heaters, give it a try? If 2 does not work put them

back again. Well, let's hope we don't get too many kicks in the next

match. Featuring two of the all-time gratsz of snooker. It is Ronnie

O'Sullivan against John Higgins. They are both incredibly well

matched. Both are 38 years old. They have both won 25 ranking titles,

although John Higgins has won the Welsh Open here more than Ronnie

O'Sullivan. The centuries, Ronnie O'Sullivan is well ahead and he is

shaving the overall head-to-head meetings Ronnie O'Sullivan winning

27 of them. That is out of 50. So in snooker

terms, this really is a clash of the Titans.

He is probably one of the greatest players of all time. I will have to

be on my A game to get through the match. People like him and Davis are

icons of the sport. We have had a great tournament so far. I have won

four matches, good for me coming up to the World Championships. So as

many matches as I can get is good. Yes, Ronnie, is incredibly tough.

Privately, I think I'm the reason he is playing like this. When I got to

four world titles, he was probably sitting at home thinking, is better

than me, I should be getting more world titles. He knuckled down to

get them, he deserves them. You have to treat each match and

tournament as just doing the best as you can. If you do that, then you

hope that with your ability, with the game that you have got, that

sometimes the results are going to go in your favour. If I get on a

roll, obviously, I'm a handful for most players.

As I said, I have had great times here. I would love to have another

good time, definitely. Yes, two of the best players ever to

pick up a snooker cue. The crowd are ready. Really looking forward to

this one. Let's welcome to the arena, the players with our mast er

f of the -- master of the arena, Mark Allen.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome John Higgins!

APPLAUSE He is up against the most talented

player in the game. He is a five-time and the reign reigning

champion. They call him The Rocket. He is, of course, Ronnie O'Sullivan!

APPLAUSE. Well, if Ding against Daryl Walker

-- Joel Walker was an appetite appetiting match, this is going to

be the main course. This will be a mouth water

encounter, I am sure. Everybody glued to their seats. Who of the

best players that the world has ever seen in the game of snooker. Who

will prevail today? This is the question. Obviously, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, you would have to say, has been playing the better of the

two. This is going to be a very close

call. Ronnie O'Sullivan to break.

And John Higgins has been building the match up in the press. Saying

this is what you play for for, this type of match. This is why you

practise so hard. These are the days you look forward to.

Not the best start with that safety shot, but at the moment the black is

surrounded by a few reds. If he had kissed and got on that

black, it would have been a miracle. Almost, though.

John Higgins may ask him to play from where the white is now.

That's not bad. He has left this red to the right corner. If John Higgins

goes for it, it is a little thick, he could collide the reds round to

near the pink spot. Thin is OK, not thick.

He will have to play slowly to stay on the black.

That will give him a bit more trust with his cueing. It is OK being out

on the practise table, but when you are actually doing it here, it

builds up your confidence. Your self-belief.

Ronnie O'Sullivan doesn't not have get a welcome when he comes into the

arena. When he was playing the Masters in

the Alexandra Palace, I went into it for the introduction, it gave me

hairs standing on the back of my neck. Wonderful. He lights the place

up. He was trying to get around the

table, behind the blue and the yellow. It is safe. .

Maybe a chance for Ronnie with a long red.

It looked like he was going to leave John Higgins with a long red.

Very fast, the beds of the cloths. The cushions are quick. So put the

two together in one shot it is not easy to control the pace of the cue

ball. As long as he doesn't go off. That

was a very, very well thought out shot.

Tricky to find the gap there and he played it well.

The blue has made thing as little awkward.

He didn't really want to clip that red in the centre of the table.

Ronnie is looking to see how thin the chip would be, to chip it into

the middle pocket. He could do with a canon or

something in potting this red. He's managed to miss. It was a good

pot. A couple of choices. The brown look looks the favourite.

Nicely played. A matter of where this re-spots now.

That is good for Ronnie. He will be hoping to make the most

of this. To put early pressure on John Higgins.

Is what he has been dough during the tournament this week. A lot of the

players go out there and hope he does not start good and he is in

good form, as then he is very difficult to stop. Even for Higgins.

Ronnie was born with an unbelievable talent. An absolute genius on the

snooker table. That was one of his better shots, though.

But what a gift he was given. He has put a lot of hard work in as

well to go with that gift. No matter how talented you are,

unless you're prepared to put the effort in. You get out what you put

in, but it does help if you have an abundance of ability.

It's a bit awkward this one for John Higgins.

Definitely up there with the best. Not sure if you can swerve the

black. To get the red with the brown, but of course, there is the

corner pocket. Very unlucky. A great attempt from

John Higgins. It should cost him the first frame, now though.

In goes the pink. That's the end of this frame.

Even when he's not playing so good, he still looks great.

He's not going to be concerned he missed the yellow. John stays in his

chair. Ronnie O'Sullivan leads. So, Ronnie O'Sullivan is up and

running. Willie, we were talking about the fact that the two players

have played each other so often. How does it affect their approach to

play? It makes you settle easier. Obviously you know the ins and the

outs of the players you are playing. Higgins is, in fairness, in slight

decline but still my top four of all time. It is great to watch this

match, two of the all time greats on the same table. John Higgins has not

played great this tournament, better but he has not had the best of

seasons, but Ronnie O'Sullivan brings out the best in people. They

know what they have to do. John Higgins knows he has to score.

Not a great start the first frame but when we had gets a chance, he

will have to score heavily. 40s and 50s are no good. He has to score

70s. Ronnie seems so relaxed. Like he does not have a care in the

world. He has made a good, confident start to the quarter-final match.

John Higgins got a four-point penalty. It won't disturb him as

yet, of course. Almost comes as a shock when Ronnie

O'Sullivan misses a pot when he is playing well, but we must not forget

how difficult the game is. The cue balls needs to slow down.

He has to make the pot. Perfect. Maybe a little thin off the yellow

to try to split the back. Playing for the single red.

Beautifully played. Off the cushion for the red.

Didn't get the split. His first chance of the match, really.

Not a lot of Ronnie O'Sullivan could do there. That red has gone in just

behind the brown. Trying to stick the cue ball in behind the black

each time. You could see a lot of reds landing

up towards the ball colours. Saying that, he's left this read to the

right centre so that was a real miscalculation by John Higgins. --

left this red. Very adept in the safety department. He makes a few

mistakes, John Higgins. -- makes few mistakes. If he's going to have any

chance in this match, he's going to have to stay with Ronnie.

I think John Higgins will be quite happy, only losing four points.

Expected Ronnie to score a lot more there.

The last two on the trot from John Higgins. You don't see that very

often - two bad safety shot, one after the other. Always been one of

his strengths. Safety has given him so many openings in his career.

There's no doubt Ronnie O'Sullivan exerts pressure on his opponents

with his high-scoring. He's very, very dangerous in the balls. John

Higgins played a safety shot that you wouldn't see in the local league

on a Wednesday night. I think he's the only player in the

world - Darren, I don't know how you feel about this - where I could sit

and not say a word in the commentary box. But we may get sacked! I would

agree with that. He's probably the only player that, even when I was

getting beaten by him - and I did have a couple of wins against him -

are used to enjoy it, in a sick sort of a way. He was just classed to

watch. -- class. Some players I couldn't watch but with him, I

watched every shot. If you can get past these three reds

by the pink spot into the right corner... He'll have to put a touch

of side to turn it over. That's what he did. He doesn't hit the ball, he

caresses the cue ball. I think he's already sent a message

to John Higgins - if you play anything loose or leave him at

range, any kind of lapse in concentration on the safety

department, you will get punished. Ronnie has been in scintillating

form this week at the Newport Centre. You do feel for John

Higgins. To have any kind of chance in this match, he is going to have

to play better than he has done all week.

Just checking the scoreboard to find himself a 55 points in front.

APPLAUSE He elected to go out in the match so

far. He's got to get away quickly. He's like a runaway train when he

gets in front of you. I think the difference between these

two players so far is that O'Sullivan has of evidence that he's

playing well this series. Higgins hasn't.

He mesmerises the crowd, doesn't he? It's so quiet out there.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Its Ronnie O'Sullivan at his best.

There is no greater site in the game. He's too -0 in front of John

Higgins. -- to kneel in front of John Higgins. Great to watch.

Superb. Breathtaking, really. There isn't a real lot you can say that

hasn't been said before. A supreme talent. To take a full season off

like he did last year and come back and win a World Championship... He's

played in a lot more events this year and it is showing. He's

probably playing the best slugger he's ever played in his life. Yes,

and as I mentioned earlier, when they're both in their prime, there's

a lot of great match ups. But I have a feeling today that John Higgins --

I had a feeling that John Higgins was going to play his best snooker

today but it hasn't happened. John Higgins is stimulated and motivated

by the fear of failure. Yes, my only worry, Terry, is the fact that it's

been well noted John Higgins has swapped and changed his cue a couple

of times this year, searching for something. Obviously, it doesn't

breed lots of confidence when you are chopping and changing. Now he

really needs to rely on his faithful tool, as they say! He hasn't had any

great experiences with it, or wins. It's going to be hard to find

something from nowhere. He is a true champion, never gives up, always

gives 100%. I've never seen a cue win the World Championships, Darren.

I don't think it makes any difference. The man is a great

player with a great heart. Yes, I know what you're saying but I

think we'll agree to disagree. I think it plays a big part, the cue.

It plays a big part, no matter what anybody says. If you aren't happy

with something, it's hard to play well.

If you aren't happy with something, it's a lack of control in your mind,

not the cue. Mind you, I did speak to one player working with Darren

this year and he said he'd lost a match and he said his tip was no

good. I said, "congratulations! You're the first professional player

to lose to a tip" . A bit tight there to get past the

pink and catch the three reds on the left. But he's changed his mind

again. He's taking a bit of time over this

one, so it's obviously not straightforward.

Didn't look too complicated to me. Whether he was a little bit worried

about knocking a red over one of the corner pocket stock aggro played a

good shot. The cue ball has gone very close to

the corner pocket. For a slight second, he thought he'd found the

corner. What a great shot that's turned into now. Awkward cueing for

John Higgins, the balls are split everywhere.

There is a shot on if he plays the red next to the pink very slowly and

knocks it towards the red and black cushion. A very defensive shot, of

course. He mishit that. Caught it much too

thin. It wasn't easy but those are the type of shots you've got to make

sure your opponent does not get a shot on after.

He doesn't show much, does he? All credit to him. He's always been like

that, all through his career. He doesn't complain about kicks. Not

easy to do, that. You see many players jumping up on the shot after

the kick. The other thing O'Sullivan does a

lot is, when his opponent gets a kick and Mrs, Ronnie doesn't ask the

referee to clean the white. His opponent gets the hump because he

wants everyone to know he's had a kick!

You do feel, if you are John Higgins fan, he has to make a substantial

effort for this chance. In his previous match, he kept getting to

30 and 40 and breaking down. I think he was first to agree that he was

struggling in the scoring department, which has always been a

very strong point of John Higgins. Already, he's made things a bit

difficult for himself. He's got a shot at the blue and the black but

this is a lot then. The black is a lot then than he would have liked.

The blue isn't a great shot. He would have to go in. A tester early

on. APPLAUSE

A big shock for John Higgins, that. A bit unfortunate with the position.

One of those shots that when you take it on you think Mark "if I miss

this, I'll leave the other guy at least four reds on" .

Very nice. He's desperate to make big break. Just slightly overrun

that. Still got a lot of work to do to

make this a frame-winning chance. Playing to get an angle on the black

as Souness he can disturb them reds underneath the pink spot.

He caught the one on the right. He wanted to catch the other one. This

is a real tricky red. Just got the wrong cannon then.

Not the type of shot you want to pot for your next meal. He needs some

sort of pace to get on the blue. That could have been the most

important visit of the match. You do fear for John Higgins, the way

O'Sullivan is playing. That slowed up just about in time.

He's still got slightly odd cueing. No problem. That's the difference at

the moment - every time Ronnie O'Sullivan gets in, you just fancy

that he's going to pot everything. John Higgins has had a lot of

chances but, again, he broke down with the chance to make 51.

All these players are used to playing at the highest standards,

obviously. That's why the game has progressed and becomes so exciting.

O Sullivan is making everything look so easy. The awkward shots.

REFEREE: Foul shot. He has two get over to the two reds. That chance

has gone. He hasn't left anything on for John Higgins.

That is one of the biggest miscues I've ever seen. Look at that! Just

got the grip on a little early, probably.

That's put Ronnie O'Sullivan back in again now.

A much better safety shot from John Higgins.

He has got a bit of a free shot at this if he was to fancy it.

He may see a bit of value in going for this.

He elected to play the safety instead.

As good as he could have done from there.

No easy safety and if he gets the red, a chance to win the frame and

perhaps take a 3-0 lead in the match.

He didn't pay for the black and hit the pocket a little bit more

difficult. This is almost a must, I feel, to

win from here. He's got to gobble this kind of

chance up against O'Sullivan in good form.

Just a couple of shots from getting himself on the scoreboard and

cutting his deficit to one. You do feel he had to win this frame to get

any kind of chance of the match. Can't see him coming back from 3-0

down, the way Ronnie O'Sullivan is playing. 2-1, the match is still on.

Well the red didn't go in. It is tight across the cushions. Ronnie

O'Sullivan has stayed in his seat. He has given Ronnie O'Sullivan

something to think about. John Higgins will be feeling much better.

It cut his deficit. Well, he tried to shock us and come back to the

table but it stands. Higgins has cut his deficit.

That is important for the longevity of the match.

John Higgins is back into it. Just. We were talking before the frame,

that John Higgins had to score. He did that. He got to 51. You can

never question John Higgins' shot selection, but Terry said, what

would he pot it, six out of ten? But when 51 points in front, why push

the boat out? He wants to try to win a frame in one visit, but luckily,

for him, we have seen a shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan that he mass not

miscued all season, and not almost all season, this has gone a foot off

the table and nearly hit the cameraman! Well, the cameraman

survived, but he is human, Ronnie. That is the first mistake he has

made. What must John do now? He has to keep up the pressure. 51s are not

good enough. Luckily for him there was the miscue, but he has to score

more than 50s. This is the last frame before the

interval. How John would love to go in, two

frames a piece. One of John Higgins' strengths has

been that he hangs in all of the time. He doesn't give up.

He may play to the red on the left of the pack, to pot it and move the

red away from the black but he didn't quite get on it.

Well, he is on this yellow. He swapped hands and he play plays well

left-handed, it has to be said. It wasn't the cleanest of strikes,

but it has gone. He has a shot on the red.

A little wobble. He has played that as well as he

could but did you see the bounce off the cushion again? This is awkward.

He played the clever canon. Very good.

Well that's the first shot he's missed this match.

I expect he has potted that at least 95 times out of 100.

Another stat that is surprising, safety success, John Higgins is 75%.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is 90%. That one extra shot, Alan, with hik

Higgins -- John Higgins at the moment? Yes, he is looking for a bit

of confidence. As I have harped on about. He is playing with a new cue.

You know... I don't know. I don't know why wow you would change from

something you had won all World Championships with, and been such a

prolific player, but obviously he know what is is best for him. He is

searching for something. Maybe it is the incentive to

practise a little more. To keep him interested within the game. He's not

a spring chicken any longer. They are all on his tail catching him up,

but there is something missing. He is making mistakes with safety. He

never makes mistakes with safety. He may miss a long pot, but his safety

is normally the strongest part of the game.

It's a good point that. When you watch Steve Davis playing on the

main tour, he was struggling to keep the main tour place, to stay in the

top 64 but is safety play, it is still outstanding when you watch him

but he is not making the one pots he has to make in a frame to go on and

win them. That is what is happening to John at the moment. I am not

playing the two -- come pairing the two players. I would agree with

that. It is great to see Steve Davis

still. Going along. He loves the challenge. How much practise he puts

in, I don't know but he is still a handful for anybody.

I think he is out of most tournaments. He is 61 on the list.

He still has presents around the table from the younger players. He

loves playing, Steve Davis. He loves competing.

Of course these two players turned professionals and Mark Williams at

the same time. Out of the three of them, you would not have said that

Ronnie O'Sullivan would be playing the best at this stage of their

careers but he is. Ments He's up there still winning.

Mark Williams and John Higgins are not getting many wins in the big

tournaments these days. The difference so far in this match,

is when Ronnie O'Sullivan slips out, he tends to get a good recovery shot

to keep the break going. John Higgins, then, has conceded.

Ronnie O'Sullivan takes the frame and leads 3-1.

And that is the mid-session interval with Ronnie O'Sullivan, 3-1 up in

the match, Willie. No complaints about that. That is a

fair reflection of what we are seen. I agree but I am worried. I saw

Ronnie O'Sullivan with his cue there, the last shot he played, it

sounded tinny. It may be that the tip needs to be re-glued. He may

take the tip off and put it back on again.

Is that something he can do? Most players have a professional to do

it. I don't know who is downstairs but Ronnie is a person, I have seen

him change a tip in the match and come out and play century after

century. I would need a tip on for days but I was concerned about the

way he left there, looking at that tip.

Do you think he may have damaged it? We saw the shot where the ball

bounced? Is that the sort of incident you can damage it? Well,

the tips are fibre. It could not have been that bad at that time,

otherwise he would have said he needed time to put a new tip on, but

the last shot on the pink, it made a horrible sound, but going back to

the match, John Higgins, we have talked about him scoring, and at

this moment, he is just not scoring. So, 3-1 to Ronnie O'Sullivan. While

the players are enjoying a cup of tea. Let's remind ourselves how the

tournament has been going and MacWilliams was the last Welshman

standing. He came up with a terrific win against Marco Fu.

He is 9th seed. They shared the first four frames. We pick up the

match with Williams trailing by 28 points.

He is not happy with that, he has not found the cushion. I don't think

that Mark will take this on. He will be kissing into the other two reds.

Yes, this is a big shot. Unless he feel feels he can play it.

You feel if he doesn't pop this red, he will leave an easy starter on.

That shows had you confident Marco Fu is feeling. If he had missed

that, he would have left Mark a choice of two or three. As it is,

the red's gone in, it is nicely on the blue.

It was a clever shot, really. He just played into an area there he

knew that as long as he landed near the pink spot, he would have a

chance of landing on three or four reds.

Another poor shot from Marco. Wow. All he is doing is playing past that

red and either beyond the one he has kissed or at the top of the pyramid

there, but he has kissed into the red.

He is nicely on the brown. He has a nice angle as well on the blue.

He could roll it in off two cushions.

Can't under understand what's to this table this week. All of the

players have been on about it. It is coming off the cushion faster than

it is going on. Now once again the cushion caught

him out. The reason he is disappointed, is if he plays the

pot, he has to bring the three reds into play, but being 62 in front he

doesn't want to do that, but he can't refuse to play this pot.

Mark has not dub much wrong this game. Other than the safety shot.

Marco Fu knocked in the red. He has took this very, very well.

He's enjoying himself now. A couple of crowd-pleasing shots.

He's played that to absolute perfection.

He has had breaks of 76 and 70 in this match. 71 and counting, are we

whoing to see the first century? You would think so with the way that the

balls are lined up. To see the first century? You would

think so with the way that the balls are lined up.

Ng 320 career centuries, Marco has made. Both players have made over

300. What a terrific 10 p. So, Marco Fu

is over the moon. Mark Williams will have a lot to thing about. He wants

to extend his championship, he will have to win the next two frames.

But it left Marco Fu with one more to reach the quarter-finals. Could

he seal the deal in frame six? 19 points is a big lead where these

balls are, but this is half a chance.

He hit the black and still potted the red, isn't that amazing?

Strange. Well what is worse, he is now in all

kinds of trouble. This all he could really do, roll up

on to the red. That's asking for trouble, playing

that shot. He should be somewhere behind the green and the brown here.

This is a tough safety shot to play. It is always dangerous after three

or four frames, there are finger marks on the cloth. The ball is not

bound to run truly. If this goes in, it could be the end.

It's there! So he needs a red to leave Mark Williams with a snooker.

It's been a strange match for Mark Williams, he knows when he goes

home, will be thinking about the chances he has let slip, but Marco

Fu has played consistently who towards the end of each frame.

He will be very disappointed, Mark Williams now. Marco Fu looks like he

has done enough to win this frame. 37 points in front with 27 on.

Mark William Williams would probably come back to the table if he missed

this yellow. But he won't be coming back to the

table now. The match could have easily gone

either way. The nice Welshman has now gone out

of this tournament. So well played, Mark Williams. He had lots of

chances earlier on. Marco Fu comes through by 4-2.

Very delighted with the win. I think that I played well tonight. Mark had

his chances to go probably 3-0 up, but he missed easy chances to let me

back in. I was able to capitalise on his mistakes. It got to two

important frames. So that was the crucial part of the game. Yes, it

spoils it. It had been a good week, but I have not got tonne the last

stages for a while. It was OK. A little disappointed. I have probably

played better than I have tonight than in the last two. And I lost

4-2. A shame for Mark Williams, but Marco

Fu goes through to play Barry Hawkins in one of the two

quarter-finals. The other match is Mark Selby to play Joe Perry.

And Mark Selby, another man from Leicester, like your good self-. You

know him well. How do you think he is shaping up for the quarter-final?

Mark has had a great season but the statistics say that. Mark is saying

he is not playing as well, but he has to find out whether he is

playing good or bad. Everyone wins when they are playing well but how

many can win when they are not playing so well and Mark Selby can.

It will be a tough match for Joe Perry.

And Marco Fu against Barry Hawkins? Marco Fu needed a couple of chances.

He let Mark Williams in first on two or three occasions. Williams was

unfortunate but letting a couple of reds slip. He cannot do that with

Barry. That is 50/50. Two matches to look forward to this

evening. The coverage begins at 7.00pm, but now it is time to resume

the terrific battle twoo entwo of the greats against John Higgins and

Ronnie O'Sullivan. The players are coming to the arena

now. The crowd looking forward to the conclusion of the match. We will

stay with it here on BBC Two Wales until the end. If you are watching

on the BBC sports website, and you have the red button. We are

delighted to have your company as well.

Thank you. It has been very good so far. John Higgins has had a couple

of chances. Not quite scored enough. Ronnie O'Sullivan is still looking

in scintillating form. If John Higgins can somehow take this frame,

he'll be back in the match. You do feel it is a frame he has to win.

He may use the second row to hold for the black.

He doesn't hit the ball as hard as a lot of other players. He strokes the

ball and more. They tend to hit the corners and still go in.

He's just been having a sandwich in the interval, reading a newspaper,

quite relaxed. You can see why O'Sullivan is one of

the best to get into the pack. He reads how the balls will come out

pretty well. Not an easy one. At least he's got

something to go out. -- go back. Playing quite tight. He hit that

quite well. A slower one might have gone in-off the jaw.

He's not going to be too happy with that one. Didn't quite get through

the ball enough. A big black, this, now. He has got that read down below

the blue so he's just got to make sure of the pot.

He was on a red in the centre. He may not take it on. It's natural

path is to hit the bunch of reds after potting it but there's no in

that. If it was away from the cushion a bit more, you could play

with a lot of pace at it through the pack.

In goes the green, nicely done for the reds.

It's all in place for Ronnie O'Sullivan these days. He leads a

little nudge, he's getting it. -- needs. He needs a bit of luck, he's

getting it. It's all down to his superb play. He just looks like

dynamite. He didn't really like the angle on

that part here. -- that pot. Could have done a little bit better

on that one. He had to go into the pack. I said

to Darren earlier on that you earn your luck. Stephen Hendry is on the

table so much he's bound to get a bit of luck. That's how it is. We

all know there is luck involved in sport but you can't do much about

it, so why worry about it? That was a lovely shot.

A lot of players would have had to hit the cue ball so hard to get

that's bin -- that spin on. And, so far, it's not going to plan

for John Higgins. It is for Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is like a runaway

train at the moment. He's lost his breaks.

A lot of balls missed but it isn't going to bother Ronnie O'Sullivan.

John Higgins has now got to win all four frames remaining.

STUDIO: He has picked up where he left off,

Ronnie O'Sullivan. John Higgins just missing out on his chances. He's

only getting half chances. The first was better than the second. These

are not shots that are easy to play by any stretch of the imagination

but when you aren't getting close to the pot, if you catch the jaws you

get away with it, but if not... OK, it was a great one for much of it

because he went up to make another frame-winning break. O'Sullivan

fought. When he gets in, he will score 70 above which wins the frame.

Higgins gets in. In one frame, he scored 50 but in others, he's not

scoring anything. Terry was making the point that O'Sullivan seems to

be having a look but if you are the man at the table making the shots,

maybe the block will follow you. When you're playing well, you get

the lock. You can only start complaining when things are going

bad for you and you get bad kisses and that. But if you're playing

well, the best player gets the luck. Hendry - whenever he went into the

pack, he was always on a red. People used to complain about him. You

notice the luck he gets. You don't notice the bad luck from people that

you don't see play aggressively. Higgins is really in trouble now -

what is he like as an escape artist? Brilliant but you're talking about

playing one of the best players of all time. Can he come back from 4 -1

behind? Probably not. TERRY GRIFFITHS: Sullivan's really

winning this game quite easily in second gear. He hasn't played as

well as he has in other matches recently but Higgins hasn't found

anything as yet. Great respect between these two players. They've

played so many times together with some great matches.

I think Sullivan is fractionally ahead.

Always an edge between two players that start the same time on the

professional game. Similar to the junior players. They come through

the same age groups as others and into the professional game with a

bit more edge. I was unlucky in love to join the

professional game at the same time as Steve Davis. I'm not saying I

didn't like him at the time but he kept beating me. It was easy not to

like him then! No, he was a great player.

What's been amazing about this match so far - there's nobody potting

first and winning the frame with a big break. Higgins broke down in the

second game. O'Sullivan did 115 but in matches gone by, they'd have a

lot of those. Safety has been top draw for Ronnie

O'Sullivan this week. Still very high at 89%. You would

expect John Higgins to have been ahead of Ronnie O'Sullivan but up to

now, he's not. A great pot. If he was half ball on this brown to come

up to these reds, I can't see there being any value. Nothing is to open

down the backpack of reds. -- nothing is too open down at that

pack of reds. We've seen a good comeback in the

previous quarter final. A slightly bigger ask for John

Higgins playing O'Sullivan but they do say all great journeys begin with

a single step. Making the first step is affecting

Higgins. It's notable now on the circuit,

when we come to the big tournaments O'Sullivan looks fresher than

everybody off because he's not entering all the events. He is left

quite a few of them alone and when he comes, he's very fresh compared

to some players, the way the circuits set up now. Especially

before Christmas, they are either in Australia, China, India or Thailand,

travelling all the time. He misses a lot of those and comes into all the

big matches. He loves the Welsh Open - always has.

Look at that! APPLAUSE

You see the difference there. When John Higgins potted the ball, he

didn't have an angle to come back on the brown.

He just caught that read too thick. -- that red. I think it's your day,

Ronnie. Like you say, he's played very well. You can't take anything

away from him. Nothing more to moralising than when

you're sat in your chair and things are not quite going to plan. Your

opponent is having a bit of help, as well as playing fantastic. He's got

a big shot on now with this pink to the left centre.

At the moment, it's as if the ball is just lying over the pockets.

Tremendous! STUDIO: I hope you're enjoying this

display of potting from Ronnie O'Sullivan. Just to confirm, we are

going to stay with this match until its conclusion here on BBC Two

Wales. TERRY GRIFFITHS: That one hasn't

turned out. Just the safety shot now.

Not a good one. He may have played that safety when he still had the

disappointment in his mind off not splitting the pack. That may have

had his attention. Everything looks difficult at the moment to John

Higgins. Just too much spin on the cue ball.

He wanted to come to the right. Can't quite make his mind up here.

He played the safety around the table. I thought he was trying to

get around the yellow but he must have caught it a little on the thick

side. John Higgins hanging on in this

match. He probably feels one more mistake and he'll be out of the

tournament. APPLAUSE

That was nearly a terrific safety but he left the red on the left

corner. John Higgins has had a bit of a lean spell. A big shot for him.

That's the problem! When things are not going your way, everything just

becomes so much harder. His long pot success is still zero which, by John

Higgins's standards, he'd be first to say is very poor.

And on top of that, he's missed a fuel and by some distance, as well,

which takes your confidence away a bit.

He might have played that with top spin there to hold the cue ball

along the cushion and get behind the yellow. He'll have to fully commit

to the one in the right corner. APPLAUSE

Pretty good! He's on the black. The bridging is going to be very

awkward. When you have to bridge down, you're hitting down into the

cue ball. CROWD GROANS

That made the difference. It never rains but it pours.

We'll have a chance here to see those Sullivan trying to pot these

balls. Not an easy position. -- O'Sullivan.

John Higgins sitting out. He's just made one break over 30 in the

match, of 51 in the third frame. He'll be disappointed with that.

O'Sullivan has just done enough, really.

Applause from the crowd. They think Ronnie O'Sullivan is in a safe

position to win frame and match. CROWD GROANS

Well, John Higgins had had enough. It wasn't his day and the match

didn't deliver the expectations. Ronnie O'Sullivan goes through into

this year's semifinal, beating John Higgins 5-1.

STUDIO: More class from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

He looks relaxed and in supreme form. Every time he gets in, 50 or

60. John Higgins will be reappointed -- disappointed. People are always

talking about the Murphys and the Dings of this world and, obviously,

O'Sullivan. John Higgins is not in that echelon at the moment and this

would have been a good time to prove he was still there but he didn't do

that. His long game is normally great. He potted his first long game

of the match but then his hampered cueing, as we'll show you here...

When you're going well and your luck is in, you don't finish hampered.

You get on the black and you aren't hampered but because things have

been hard for him all afternoon and little kisses have gone wrong, he

had to bridge over the ball and that black was miserable. It didn't go

well for him but the genius of Ronnie O'Sullivan is that when he