Day One - Part 1 Snooker: Welsh Open

Welcome to Cardiff, we'll back at the motor point Arena in the heart

of the Welsh capital for the 25th BetVictor Welsh Open. We have had

eight different winners in the last decade so who can follow the

record-breaking four-time winner John Higgins?

The often welcome to the 2016 Welsh Open. The win for John Higgins last

year started a real research and sinful. He has already taken two

tournaments this season, he will be confident and so will plenty of us.

Nine former champions taking part and ten Welsh players hoping they

can go as far as they possibly can. 12 tables in use today because just

like last year there are 128 players in the first round. But this time

round one will be done and dusted by the close of play so no rest day

this year. If you get through you are back tomorrow and so on through

the week. One of those Welsh hopes with us, Dominic, a very warm

welcome. Here we go again, who will win this year, it is wide open? I

know, all of the tournaments are, there are no clear favourites these

days especially in a best of seven. John Higgins is reigning champion.

He has a great past in this board, he will fancy his chances. He loves

playing here. But I think one of the big names will win again. Who is

your money on? John Lacey gets to the quarterfinals will be one of the

big dangers, busy people like Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, they will

come to the fore. Ronnie O'Sullivan winning at the Masters superbly led

it seems to be wide open, only Neil Robertson and John Higgins have won

twice this season. Colts gone are the days when one player is

dominating like with Steve Davis or Stephen Hendry. It is far more open

now. There are no clear favourites and there will be a lot of early

shocks. John Higgins with a record-breaking fourth title last

year. You fancy him again? I have always rated him, in a best of seven

you need the all-round game, great tactical game and great parting and

break-building. If you are just a potter, if you have a bad spell you

can lose quick frame very easily. I always preferred the all-round

players. Any Welsh hopes? I do not know if Mark Williams is on his top

game at the moment. I think Ryan Day is playing very well at the moment.

He is one of the greatest potters and when he is full of confidence he

takes some stopping. Certainly lots of big names and lots of Welsh hopes

for you to cast your eye over. The Rocket is back with a bang, a

stunning Masters win last month, Ronnie O'Sullivan opens the show.

The world number one and another former winner, we will see how Mark

Selby does against Welsh outside of Wayne Jones. 20 years since he first

won his home event, Mark Williams is still the leading Welsh hopes so can

he go one better than the semifinal last year? We will have a close eye

on Michael White and this man, could it finally leave the Ryan Day's

year. And last year for the coach takes centre stage this evening. He

is not the only one flourishing at 40. On the O'Sullivan was 40 last

year and he is still winning titles despite the break the game. Both

skipped the professional opinion on the man who remains the big box

office star. Snicko is likely to have him, the way the years are

thousands he picks and chooses but also unlikely because if the relief

dedicates himself away the given stars and Hendry did we would see

snooker a lot more in a different light. If it has not been said

already, it is massive, for when he has not found. He is someone to look

up to. Most things he does I take a lot of advice from him. Talented

player but unfortunately mentally not quite there. That is what makes

him vulnerable. That is part of Lloyds some people come to see him.

Jekyll Hyde. That is all I can say. He is more or less impossible

to beat when he is on top of his game. I would put him in front of

Stephen Hendry, as the best player I have ever seen. I think most people

agree with that now. With Ronnie in the last four or five years mentally

he has been as good as he has ever been in his career. I have known

Ronnie since he was nine years old, I was 14 when he came into things

cross snooker club and I thought he had serious ability. Possibles for

fun. Could have been the best player we have ever seen. I think on his

day he can beat anyone who wants when he wants.

He is up against this man, Barry Pinches, he has been a round a fair

bit, turned pro in 89. Guess who he beat to win his minor ranking title?

You guessed it, Ronnie O'Sullivan, his only victory over the Rocket.

You can never take your eyes off Ronnie O'Sullivan. It is time to get

coverage underway. And a very good afternoon to down more can and

Willie Thorne. COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, --

Darren Morgan. We are looking for to this one, the legend against Barry

Pinches. They have played five times, Barry winning one of those

but Ronnie obviously clear favourite and the packed audience here will be

really looking forward to this one. Best of seven, first frame, Ronnie

O'Sullivan to break. Dan Morgan with me, many times world champion.

Obviously will be tough. -- Darren. It'll be tough especially the use in

the same form last month. The format will suit Barry Pinches a little bit

better, shorter format, best of seven. It is imperative the gets a

good start. Has been around a very long time, Barry Pinches. Looking at

this opening read there is a gap to get back into Polk. -- baulk. It is

a case of getting it absolutely perfect to get the gap. He got the

gap nicely. That is the key when you are playing a shot to nothing, make

sure you get the gap over time. And get back into vault area. Little bit

short of pace that a tempter for Ronnie. -- baulk area.

I was interested to listen to all of those people talking about Ronnie

O'Sullivan and the problem I see with players talking that way,

fabulous pot speak, you should not have it in your mind that he is

unbeatable. That is not helping you and your fourth Athens. You have to

do -- not helping your thought patterns. You have to believe you

have a chance against anybody but when he is in the right frame of

mind, he's a genius on a snooker table, you cannot take that away

from him. He is exciting to watch. Like all geniuses they have got

certain floors. He seems to be in a very good place the last couple of

seasons. The and choose where he wants to play, obviously not great

for the public who want to see him all the time because obviously he

only plays in certain events. Bet with his busy schedule you have to

pick and choose now, you cannot play well for 40 weeks every year, why

not just find yourself for the big tournaments. Slightly more into the

cue ball then then he wanted. Still deciding to take it on.

Played to get it a little bit thin obviously so he could be nicely on

the black. He will play into the bunch. Does not have the play at

pace. Talking to a few of the players in

the players were, they were saying how cold it this morning. I do not

know if it was any warmer at the minute but Ronnie seems to have

settled very quickly. Obviously the first couple of matches at any venue

it takes a bit of time to get the tables bedded in and conditions to

settle down. Seems a bit reluctant to want to

play from the pathogen. He has played for the loose one. Little

surprise Ronnie played for the blue. He has got a good case on the cue

ball. You noticed the way he was cueing, he almost played as if he

was hampered just to create the angle I was not there.

Fouled, Ronnie O'Sullivan, four. That is a shock, it is not the

freefall so I am sure he will put Barry back into bat. -- not the free

ball. The problems he will have the weapon of the reds. I thought he

would bring more into play. Decision time. Do you play their

yellow or do you roll up behind it. Decided to play the safety,

excellent shot. Way you think about the way he has been the last two or

three seasons, if he had had the same head on him from the word go in

his professional career you would have to use agree with Shaun Murphy

that he would have smashed all the reckons there were two is fast. In

some ways it is a bit of a shame, really. Saying you cannot put an old

head on young shoulders. Taking Ronnie a little bit longer to

realise the right way to win. And obviously now he has become prolific

at it. He seems to enjoy the safety battles now, like rereading many

years ago. Certainly treating Barry with the utmost respect, as you

would expect of a seasoned pro, Barry Pinches. He usually wears the

Norwich City waistcoat, obviously he is supporting less than hour. What a

good judge the years. I think the red to the right of the

think we'll go to so he could play it as a shock to nothing. There it

is, we can see that quite clearly. I am very surprised he's not getting

down and playing that shot straightaway. Decided to play the

one nearest the yellow. Very well done. Excellent shot. Very unlucky

not to have been nicer Ron brown families. Very unfortunate, great

shot. I think it is one of those where he just has the tape round

one. Plays it in the middle. In a bit of trouble here. I think he has

the flavour pot. Fofana very difficult but if you -- both are

very difficult. It has stayed straight. Just too good.

I cannot imagine he will win the frame from this visit.

He has the chance to get 20 points on the board. One of the few players

outside the top echelons who would not be frightened of running. He has

was being a real battler. What he has God is determination. Sometimes

that can get you over the line. Very unlucky if he cannot get

through to the red. There you can see from a picture he can quite

clearly get onto the red. Decided to go for the blue. On the

think as well. Ellipses looking very good now, it

has TV set. As you can see a bit straighter on this.

Played a real positive shop there. If he had missed the jaws he would

have been perfect on this flat but as it is it is very end. He is still

in this frame now. Only 36 behind. 51 left. Does not need to push the

boat out at the moment. Looking to try and get in behind the green. A

little bit worried about where he is playing this one. I rest my case.

You have TV honest it was a bit careless from Barry.

Sometimes a mistake can win you the frame.

That is the -- now does the red he is news to pass to the corner?

Afraid not. He is in a bit of trouble here,.

What have two slightly swerve around the green onto this other red. What

an absolutely fantastic shot that was. Had two slightly swerve to get

the side of the red. I think that is what is most impressive with Ronnie

O'Sullivan over the years, safety game. Very astute in that department

now. Ballack is on the greens would have had varying sorts of trouble.

-- bar that kiss on the green. Little bit PC that will require

these with the result. -- pacey. These are always tricky, you

can always hit these too thin. He is OK. Always a dangerous shop and

play. Sometimes you can hit the ball three quarters and leave the white

somewhere near the blue spot. Good safety in this match. Nobody has

played a bad safety shot yet. He has got it safe, the only problem

is playing the way he has played that it has given Ronnie a nice easy

safety just to come off the side of this. In an ideal world he would

love to stick this cue ball in behind the green. With the way he is

dipping down-I think that is the shot he is going to be playing. I do

not think that is the shot he is to complain.

With only being 40 points in front of you will deliver to give those

roads are pretty cannot get down on the cue ball to play the one between

the yellow and brown. He did not really want to bring this on to

play, he had no choice. That is an unfavourable kiss.

Barry had a quick look to see if he could miss the brown and can only

other red of the citation. I didn't think it is quite on. The cue ball

will go to wired. -- off the side session. It is just one of them in

between where he it. About two or three inches of being short on this

link. -- pink. The think is enough but then it is all about position

playing up for the red nearest the yellow. I cannot imagine he will

play for the double. But he has two pots of paint first. Looking at that

he did play for the double. That is the first real bad shot that has

been played in this frame. Cannot afford any more mistakes now.

This is the pink. As Darren suggested I thought he would play

for the red into the middle pocket but he decided to play for the

double. Cannot afford any mistakes now, Ronnie only needs one red.

This might be worth the risk. He can miss the cannon on the green and get

back for the black. I know the red next to the blue is the easier shot,

that he could play of the double as a shock to nothing. The red next to

the blue is not a bad option. -- is shot to nothing. Is he just playing

the safety shot? Well, I cannot believe he has played

in now way. Either play the double or don't play the double. OK, he can

snooker Ronnie quite easily but if Ronnie hits it he needs a snooker.

Just roll up to the green and hope Ronnie misses the snooker, that is

all he can do. Ronnie has more chance of getting

four points and potting the pain. Barring smokers, Ronnie O'Sullivan

will have the first frame. -- potting the pink. -- barring

snookers. Barry can't believe that red didn't

go in for Ronnie and you can't believe that Barry didn't take that

red. He only needs one snooker. He had a perfect angle. You can't

understand why he didn't roll up beside the green. The pink, one in

10, one in 20, he should have rolled up tight behind the green and hoped

that Ronnie missed. Yes, it is pretty tough here now to get this

red safe. So if he pots it, he is not bound to get on to the black.

The pink, of course, puts him 31 points behind which really means he

needs two snookers. It is one to tie on the yellow. He has played perfect

snooker until the last couple of minutes, Barry.

REFEREE: Foul. A little bit unlucky there.

He is just having a little glance over his left shoulder there to have

a look at the other table, what's going on.

The safety has gone astray at this moment for Barry. He played some

lovely stuff earlier in the frame, but the last five minutes, he has

been very poor. The frame over. He won't be coming back out of his seat

regardless of whether Ronnie pots the green or not. Well, a frame that

was bits and pieces, Ronnie O'Sullivan started with that

wonderful break of 50, bar bar staying in his chair. Ronnie

O'Sullivan has got one foot in this Welsh Open. He leads by 1-0.

STUDIO: That gives us the opportunity to welcome you to our

studio. Our base for the week here inside the players practise room and

Dominic Dale we can talk as loudy as we want. Ronnie 1-0 up, but far from

straightforward that set. Well, he started really well. He potted a

lovely, long red into the listened black pocket and made a lovely break

of 50. He lost position when he went into the cluster of reds and Barry

got in himself with a good red and looked like he had to pot the brown

in the middle pocket and he missed it. It was a good frame in the end.

There weren't many missed pots. Ronnie looked sharp to me and he

looks keen to do well. One or two loose shots from Barry. There was an

opportunity there for him, wasn't there? I think Barry's main errors

were safety errors. He potted some good balls. He had some table time.

If he can win the next frame, who knows what can happen? He has beaten

Ronnie before. We will talk more about Ronnie later. We're ready for

the second frame. Let's rejoin our commentary team.

REFEREE: Bar bar to break. Bar Barry Pinches breaking off.

He left Ron with this long pot. He would have to be dropping it in. It

looks like he is going to play off two cushions at the back of the

pack. He needs to slide past the black. Well, a little bit careless.

He has given Barry a red. He can play it into the green pocket or

right centre. It all depends really on which he feels more confident in

playing. He is just having the cue ball cleaned and make sure he gets

no kicks. That would suggest he might be playing the slow roll into

the middle pocket. I can't believe he is playing the thin red. Well, he

knows what he is doing. No problems. He caught the knuckle of the middle

pocket which helped. If he missed the knuckle, he might have been

tight on one of those bolt colours. I wouldn't say this is a great

chance because there is only two or three loose reds, but it is a chance

to get his arm going and to settle in. He is a very quick cueist and he

is a little bit wristy and that one there has gone very much astray.

Yeah, he had a chance there to play for both reds rather than just risk

playing for the within to the left of the pink.

Well, he was forced into that, Ronnie, really. He couldn't see any

other red and he cued it absolutely perfectly. And he has played on

purpose to be low on this red. I think he has overscrewed that.

Perfect. If he could have gone on to the bottom red behind that cluster,

he would have been able to play that at pace dragging off the side of the

pack. As it is now, I think he's going to have to play the cannon and

try and disturb a couple. He hasn't got into it enough. Bar bar will be

really relieved. If that shot had gone right, it would have been quite

ominous. The red to the left of that one, if

he was straighter, he would have played it off the side cushion and

left himself low and we would have seen that pack splatter everywhere,

but it wasn't to be. The red is still there.

That's one of those if he gets near the pot, he misses the cannon. He

bemused the way he cannoned into that red. All these matches are the

best of seven which is a completely different thing when you know you

have got to get into the matches very soon. There is the wonderful

arena with all the matches going on. There is eight tables in operation.

There is another three behind our commentary position which have got

players on at the moment. This is one of my favourite venues.

I think it is a wonderful venue for snooker.

Again, a very good safety shot from Barry Pinches.

Forced Ronnie into that one. He wasn't far away. He hasn't given

Barry an easy starter, but he has given him a great chance. He has got

to concentrate on his cueing. The red is an eaty enough pot into the

right centre. It is making sure he finishes on a colour. He might have

to pl the little cannon, the pink. He has got it. Unfortunately. He

cannoned the other one as well. As long as he is on this pink, he will

be quite happy. Well, in fairness he held his hand up there to say he was

fortunate to get on the pink, but playing the cannon gives him the

choice of pink or black. If he kissed the other ball, he would have

been on the black. So this is the first real chance now for Barry

Pinches. He had a half chance in the previous frame where he could have

cleared up, but this is the first chance to get 30 or 40 points on the

board. He is going to play below the pink

and he can kiss into the red that's nearest that red and make a little

bit more room to get on to the pink in the middle. Used to play this

little bit firmer than normal. Just that little cannon brings the red

away from the pink. Obviously the red that's to the right of the

black, that's the problem ball at the minute. He needs to get rid of

that one to make the black available into both pockets. It is more easy

to get into position on the black into both black. Where the reds you

would think about winning the frame at this visit, but not at the

moment. The red to the right of the black is the problem ball.

Well, I was going to say, you can't afford to miss balls like that

against Ronnie O'Sullivan. He had a real piece of luck there. What a

fluke! And he's on the red.

It is amazing when we have a second look at this shot. Amazing fluke.

He would have love to have been higher on this red so he could have

cannoned into the red Willie has been on about. It has been there all

frame. As it is now, he is going to have to roll through and punch

through for the black. That's worked out just about perfect. So one good

pot. The black is probably a little bit easier than the pink. He is

electing to play the pink. All players have got favourite shots.

Now, you'd say this is a frame-winning opportunity. He would

be very disappointed if he doesn't make enough with this effort.

It is amazing a difference a fluke can make and of course, now these

next three reds and three colours will put him way past the winning

line. He is not a prolific - he rarely breaks down when the balls

are like this. Yes, well, I remember, when I was

sponsored with Cue Masters and just before they took me on, I played

Barry Pinches in a final of a Pro-Am and I have 56 ahead with 35 on the

table and 2-0 up and somehow, I managed to lose the match which is

quite unbelievable really. A really tenacious character, Barry Pinches.

Yes, has been a pro for many, many years now, Barry. I haven't played

for 16 years and he was a probefore I retired. Apart from the fluke

pink, he has taken these very nicely.

It was quite funny having to explain to my late father and my manager at

the time how I managed to lose that one! There you are, I've never

forgotten it. We've all done it though. He will be feeling very warm

inside. You get a buzz when you've got a frame on the board because you

know you're in the match. A good pot needed to continue the

break. Well, it is not to be. It was a terrific break of 70. I don't

think Ronnie will come back to the table. He is happy to sit there.

Barry Pinches will be feeling all the better. He levels the score up.

It is now 1-1. A terrific frame for that Barry

Pinches. Let's just tell you some news of one of the big names to go

out of this year's tournament. The first big name to go out, Stephen

Maguire, the world number 18 and 2013 Welsh Open champion, beaten in

a final frame decider by Martin O'Donnell who is way down in the

rankings. O'Donnell got a 130 break in frame six and 270 plus breaks on

his way to victory over Maguire. It could mean Maguire has to qualify

for the World Championships coming up in April. Dominic, we saw it last

year. So many big names went out of this tournament early on and we have

seen one go already, Stephen Maguire? Oh, it is the nature of

these best of seven matches. If you don't get off to a good start, you

could be on the ropes if you're 2-0. Martin O'Donnell will be

significantly confident going into that match after beating Mark

Williams to qualify for Beijing next month. He is coming into this event

full of confidence and happy with his game and bar those breaks there,

a worthy winner. I wonder if Ronnie is on the ropes right now? 1-1,

let's go back to Willie and Darren. Ronnie O'Sullivan feels I can get a

better swing on the cue ball to get it in behind the green. So Barry has

got a foot hold in this match now. Can he continue where he left off in

the previous frame albeit with the help of an outrageous fluke.

Well, that red went close to the left corner, but Ronnie has got that

cue ball tucked right into that bottom cushion. He doesn't look too

worried, does he? Well, he couldn't go much closer

with that one. That was a real nice struck shot.

We were talking a little bit earlier about how long Barry was a pro, he

turned pro in 1989 which is three years earlier than Ronnie O'Sullivan

turned pro. You talk about Ronnie O'Sullivan in the later part of his

career, hopefully he has got another five or six years when he can play

at top level. When you get to a certain age, that becomes a little

bit more difficult. That's a good safety shot. An excellent safety

shot. A fraction away from being perfect.

Well, that's probably the Loosest safety Barry Pinches played in these

opening frames. He left a nice easy starter. Will Ronnie just drop it in

for the black? Yes, he has played it with a lot of bottom to take all the

pace out of the cue ball. He probably played it a little bit too

well. Just a little bit lower on this black than he would have liked.

This is not a gimmee. I think just a couple of people in the crowd moving

about, the table next door, just put him off a little bit. So he has got

back up. Well, he is not happy because I think there is still a bit

of movement going on from the next table, but that's the problem. The

four tables are set up out in the front. What Ronnie is suggesting,

there should be some security to stop them coming in and out during a

frame. It looks like he has settled now. Hopefully it hasn't put him off

his shot which it has done. I'm sure very shortly we will have some

security on that doorway that's in between tables. The matches finished

earlier on on the other table. Well, this is certainly a bonus for Barry.

The only good thing, if there is such a black after missing a black

off the spot, the black has gone safe. It means that it would be very

tough for Barry to win the frame with this visit. When that cue ball

has gone, it will be difficult to pot the next colour, both blue and

pink are available, but the blue is impossible to get in and out of

baulk from tight under the cushion. In fact, he may play the green if he

hits it hard and the pink is going to have to rely on a kiss on the

near cushion which means he is not bound to be on a red. Can't refuse

the pot though. So he's taking it on. He had to play the cannon hard

to get the white in play. That's the reason he played it pacy. He

couldn't avoid getting that kiss, but you can see those reds around

the pink spot are not available so he had to try and force through that

red. Another clever shot phone on me. He

has got the black out in the open again. But with another clever shot

by Ronnie. We'll have to be a bit careful where

there is dog follows: stop as long as it is a good cue ball does not

matter where the red finishes. That is a bad case because now he can

play on red onto the other. He has decided it is too risky or stop

playing the thin safety shot. Good effort.

Arise smile from Barry. Such a likeable character, on tour as I

mentioned since 1989 and one of the most likeable characters on tour.

Obviously will not be laughing too much about that safety shot.

The words on the morning match, this is my first appearance, the pockets

do not look easy. Whether it is because it is a bit cold, the rubber

has gone a bit hard? Obviously from playing in the world

seniors a couple of weeks ago I found them very, very tight. They

have templates they work too. Probably no tighter than they

normally are but I found them extremely tight. This looks like it

is going very fast as well. The pockets do catch you out a little

bit. Of course on the Thursday they would have had to have the doors

open and maybe the fact it was so cold in here this one, I am sure

they will speed up even more when it becomes a little drier. Not the best

safety shot Ronnie has ever played. He just go down and play that a bit

flippantly as well. I played Barry Pinches a lot of times around my

grip. He is not the easiest player to play against with his mannerisms.

There I say he is not the quickest person out there. Obviously one he

does like the game to move on at a fair pace. That is one of Barry

strings. He gives every shot 110%. Rogne sitting in his chair now

looking like he wants to go to sleep. -- Ronnie is. In the first

frame and a half his concentration was 100% but certainly not now.

This red goes off the right-hand draw. It will be the two get back to

it, here. If he had screwed off the dead straight with loads of side

could have gone from the yellow. If the black pots he may be forced to

take it on. Looking out that it is ready time. I actually thought that

is what he is playing for. Unless he was open for the nice flick of them

three red are worth there. Even though there have been breaks of 50

from Ronnie O'Sullivan... Oh dear. What is happening here. The I hope

he gets himself together otherwise he could find himself out of this

imaginary quickly. That is one you don't see very often. The wild one.

Go to his last safety shot, you must take his chances when they are given

to him this. Again that is going to be end of break. Just is not going

to be enough. Interesting to see how he plays this

one. It looks to be pretty straight. Cute to perfection. Very, very

unlikely. Most players will have played

together snow-covered Ronnie decided to try and open those colours at the

top end of the table to give him a chance to possibly win the frame at

the next visit. Going through one of those sequences

he gets sometimes where he is not enjoying it. I don't know why

because he is cueing beautifully. The opportunity there to bring the

black and peak into play. Superb shot.

All of the sudden it looks like it is business as usual. A couple of

good shots to disturb the reds and get into this position. Well, well,

well. I was just going to suggest that it would be interesting to see

what pace he plays with because I think the pockets are very tight

today at the moment. Very surprising, Ronnie O'Sullivan is the

best in the world without question and that kind. But it is a reprieve

for Barry. And if he can get a sizeable lead, only he would be

massive favourite to win this frame. Could be thinking about going into

them three after this next shot. He would like to get on the black. Half

of all to be able to roll the black in. And move the two reds to the

right. -- half ball. That looks just about perfect.

Well... He still has a short and this red but it is raving. -- it is

very thin. It is a pedestrian match coming into the middle part of the

third frame at Ronnie O'Sullivan's pace. Any harder and it would not

have gone in. As it happens he could not have picked the white up and

placed it better by hand. Just stun down past the black now for choice

of red. Essential to get on this red without finishing straight.

Anything but straight. You can see he has the perfect angle. I honestly

think these pockets playing tough. He did play at the little bit wider

than he wanted, I am sure, but I have seen those go in before. OK, it

might have looked a poor shot on the plaque that he is trying to develop

an angle to bring the red into play. He was trying to pinch a bit of

pocket to make sure he could get past the pink to move the red.

No heroics, this time he wants to finish exactly straight on this red

so he can just roll it in dead weight. If you place to move the red

it is the wrongful. He now has no shot on the red to win the frame.

That was the wrongful. -- that was the wrong shot.

He is entitled to look a bit bemused there because he has given Ronnie

lifeline. And the lifeline could be taken. Exactly the same shot Ronnie

is going to play on the yellow, he world playing with no pace. He has

played this very poorly, that has not landed... I do not think he will

be taking this on. If he takes it on and Mrs... -- misses it. At that

pace he is giving the pocket every chance. Barry Pinches will be

throwing shot and pleasantly, why not just get dead straight on the

road. The would-be 2-1 in front. -- the

this is the key shot. He needs to get close enough to the pink to

generate the pace to get back for the black. He does not play an awful

lot with the rest as you know because he is so proficient

left-handed. But when you can cue like that with the rest, is there

anything you cannot do? Absolutely perfect. Harry Finch is will be

kicking himself at the shot he played on the balloon to the last

red. On the O'Sullivan without I'm very much, lost his concentration

during that frame but they will be delighted to be in front. That's

right he will be delighted. Ronnie leading but not as

comfortable as he would have liked. It goes back to what they were

saying earlier about his mental state. Sometimes they say he is not

quite there. Is he up for this? In the first frame you would have

thought so. The first frame full of variety. We saw some shots I would

have called a wild swipe. 100 mph, tried to swerve around the brown may

be, I don't know what he was playing? The cue ball has gone all

around the table and somehow the blue has gone in. That showed me how

much Ronnie had lost its focus. I don't know what other sports like

but you just cannot turn on your concentration like the tab. In

commentary they were saying why on earth Barry didn't just play down to

the cushion for the red. That brilliant clearance from money he

should not have had the opportunity of making and it will probably

revitalising and I'm sure he will get his focus back. Hacking around

the table a bit today. Barry will look at that and think there was

another missed opportunity, if Ronnie is not quite on his game

today. I expected Barry to be ahead. I was getting ready to say that

money was in trouble. He has lost his concentration but now he looks

dangerous again. He is the sort of guy who could not in two centuries

off the back of that clearance. Barry will know he has done it

before, beating him in a best of 76 years ago. He can do it. We can see

Ronnie does not like scrappy matches, he likes to play well. But

let's see what happens for the remainder of the match. Let's go

back to the guys. COMMENTATOR: Barry Pinches breaking off. We'll be very

disappointed with the way he lost the last frame. -- he will be. He

had a shock to drop in behind the red. -- shot. But it has gone, he

has got to put it out of his head and get on with the next one. All of

a sudden now Ronnie looks like he is back into the groove. He has played

to perfection. That is how much the game has changed. I remember when

they used to just play them and get the white down somewhere behind the

baulk line. Now they don't, they play short to be on the blue or

topside of the yellow -green-Brown. This is the key shot. He will be

reluctant for the pink to go on the black spot. With the pink being the

easier shot he was taking it on to the middle.

Pink and black available. Would probably play the pink heavy so he

can go into the fund. He will be hoping the pink spots now,

unfortunately for him he is not only read. Little cheeky plant, a little

bit fairness to move on to the left-hand middle. Barry can pay with

this a lot of confidence. Can play this as a shot to nothing, if he

wants. I think it is fair to say Ronnie is

in attack mode. Since then he has gone for his shots. This will tell

us whether he is in total attack mode or whether he is still thinking

quite clearly. That is the first safety as playful or wild. Very

callous. Left Barry a shock to the right centre. Certainly very

vulnerable today. This will give Barry confidence. He needs to pot

the opening red and can have the balls in position to win this frame

very quickly. Is you can see he's slightly overscrewed but you have to

take the shots on now. I suppose in fairness if he rolls up behind the

black you might see Ronnie play another shot without much

concentration. But you expecting to put this back in.

There are four read the can get up there.

Amazing. That is about the only case that was no good. OK still a couple

available both without the very poor case he could have been on four

reds. -- kiss. The jaws well did not help. The two finish on the cushion

was very unlikely. He needs a bit of help this time. He

played the red in the middle at a lot of pace. He changed the angle of

the cue ball. He has got a shot at this yellow. I think sometimes he

sees problems that are not really there. He has a very difficult

safety so he might as well stick his ex-in one basket and concentrate. --

stick his You have got to knock them in

against Ronnie. You have got to take your chances. In practice he would

probably pot this eight times out of ten. A little bit different in a

match. The Blackwood put him 34 in front so

he still will need some more open reds to be guaranteed of taking the

lead. Not cueing at his best in the moment. Totally misjudged. Good

recovery. Barry Pinches would now need

speakers. 38. he will be thinking about all of the

missed opportunities that have gone. He's going to have the when all the

remaining frames. He has had his chances. In spasms Ronnie has looked

very, very good. On a couple of occasions you can see is in good

form. Doing very nicely. He is paying for an exhibition shop

there. We could see him blast is on to the green pocket. I am glad he

did not let me down. Think the same. Well, the think was not the day, but

it will not be too worried about it. -- the pink. Very good end to the

Franco Morra Ronnie O'Sullivan Extensis lead.

-- very good end to the frame, Ronnie O'Sullivan extends his lead.

Earlier on we brought you the news that Stephen Maguire is out, but no

problems for the man who won the year before, 2012, Ding Junhui

comfortably through after a win over Steven Hallworth, sunbaked scoring

as well from Ding. -- some big scoring. Something of a relief,

Dominic, given that he has not had a great season. He has slipped down

the rankings to number 12. He looks bereft of confidence. The only thing

I can remedy that is wins. He has a long road to restore that lost

confidence. And in terms of Ronnie and Barry Pinches now the initiative

firmly with the Rocket. He looks keen and interested again, you

really should not have won the preceding frame there, and goodness

knows what we would have seen but it looks like now he wants to get this

done and dusted and regroup for round two. Will it be a formality?

They are back at the table. COMMENTATOR: I agree totally with

Dominic. When we came to him prior to the previous frame he was saying

that you cannot just turn it on and off that maybe Ronnie O'Sullivan is

the exception. Totally disinterested in the match at the moment. But when

he gets in the balls and scoring he gets his concentration back. Dominic

is quite right, you cannot turn it on and off like a tap but at the

minute he seems to be doing just that.

We will find out about his pockets with this shop. -- about these

pockets with this shot. It is all right if they do not touch the jaws.

Amazing. I think he is ready to go home. He will try to win the frame

and this visit. He is on this thread that being played to get the flick

off the road to the left of the cable. Had to get the long tackle

out. Still in perfect position. -- left of the cue ball.

You just know with Ronnie, he will already be looking at this. We

shouldn't say anything about 147, it is a long way away. But he is one of

the few players who looks at it right the way from the start. He is

trying a little bit too far on that red, I think. I was surprised he

didn't play for the red in the opposite corner. He brings reds into

play and he could have got on the black. That's what he played the

other way around, but playing in the other pocket would have been a

little easier. This will tell us if he was thinking of the 147. There is

your answer! Purposely finished low on this red.

This is the problem where the white is going, but he played it nicely.

Is he going to risk going around the baulk colours and getting on to the

black? He fancies it. You can play it plain-ball and get on to the

black. He is just looking at me in the commentary box and thinking

shall I go for the max or not? He has played it. How is the cue

ball? How is the cue ball? It is not too bad. Well played.

APPLAUSE I suppose, in fairness, he was a little bit unfortunate to have

left himself slightly hampered. He needed a four-ball kiss. He is

still OK, but he would have preferred the four-ball kiss though.

A little wry smile. He knows this is a chance. What a magnificent Cardiff

crowd. Look at the Cardiff crowd. Look at the smile he has got on his

face. He fancies it, doesn't he? I can't believe it. He is asking how

much it is for the max! That's what he is looking at is how

much money it is for the maximum. Still perfect.

APPLAUSE He is looking up to the comment free box to ask me, but we

haven't got the notes in front of us. I'm sure somebody will tell me

shortly and then I can tell Ronnie! APPLAUSE I can tell Ronnie that it

is ?10,000 plus ?2,000 highest break.

He just had a look at me in the commentary box. I have put ten

fingers up to say it is ?10,000, sometimes he doesn't try, sometimes

if it is not enough. I think he might try this time. He didn't look

too impressed. He said it is only ?10,000. It is amazing he can keep

his concentration when it is like this. I mean, he is not even trying

at the minute. He is such a genius, he really is.

You see, he is not even going for one. He felt it is not enough money.

That's amazing, isn't it? He just looked up at the commentary

box and smiled. Ah bless him. You have to love him. Anything to make

us unhappy, Ronnie will do it. There has not been many 146s made in

snooker. I think you can count them on one hand, that's for certain. He

might even pot the last black just to be really annoying.

Quickly going back to Barry Pinches, he had every chance in this match,

but this is the O'Sullivan we love to watch. He got a 146 and still

playing exhibition shots. The boy is a genius. Is he going to play and

pot the black? It wouldn't surprise me if I played a double. The boy

undoubtedly is a genius! A magnificent break of 146. Barry

Pinches got away. Ronnie O'Sullivan looked up at the commentary box with

a wry smilement he goes into the next round a comfortable 4-1 winner.

All's well that ends well for Ronnie O'Sullivan. Big smiles on his face,

Dominic, in contrast to the grimaces he had at start of the match when he

had a tricky couple of moments? You could say that. I don't know any

other player in the history of this sport, that can play, as Willie

said, he is the only exception to the rule where you can't turn your

concentration on and off like a tap. You saw the greatest of Ronnie

O'Sullivan in that last frame and asking, I don't know how Barry

Pinches felt about this, but when your opponent is asking what do you

get for a maximum when he is only 48 you feel, he doesn't think much of

me. ?2,000 is the answer to that. Well, you can't sniff at it, can

you? But not as much as some of the big prizes he won, but if you are

Barry Pinches, do you review a DVD of that and think there was a moment

there? There was a moment there where I might have beat the great

man? I just wonder in the third frame whether Barry was aware of the

scoreline and knew he needed the red. If you played behind the red,

the chances are that red would have hugged the cushion anyway. Ronnie

needed a snooker and the way Ronnie was feeling at that point, he

praobble r probably would not have continued anyway. We could have been

looking at a different scoreline. It shows the enigma that's Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He is at his best in in That frame. This is where we love to

watch him and why the crowds love to watch Ronnie O'Sullivan. It just

turned and his confidence clicked in and he knew it would be his day

after all. Well, the way Ronnie was feeling, when Barry made the safety

error on the last red and left a chance for Ronnie, he played it

slowly. If that table drifted and the red didn't go in, it could have

been business as usual for Barry Pinches and he could have gone 2-1

up, but when Ronnie made the great clearance and it was a great

clearance and it revitalised Ronnie O'Sullivan's focus in the match and

he thought play two frames and get it over and done with I'm in round

two and refocus for that particular match. That break from Ronnie

O'Sullivan of 146, he could have got on that black if he wanted to. I

don't think ?10,000, he preferred ?2,000. In a strange way, wee rather

have ?2,000 than the ?10,000. After the Masters when he demolished Barry

Hawkins, you would expect Ronnie to take the confidence from that match

into this match? Willie said there is nothing wrong with Ronnie's form.

You can tell when a player is playing well and it is only a lack

of focus and concentration that's making them make mistake. Ronnie

played rash shots there. His form was there. You saw it in that 146

which you don't see many of in professional snooker. A

disappointing day for Barry Pinches, but tough to beat Ronnie when he is

in that kind of form at the end. It is difficult to beat Ronnie anyway,

but Barry knew he had Ronnie where he wanted him at 1-0 and if he gone

2-1 up, I wouldn't have been surprised this match would have gone

the distance. Here he is the winner, Ronnie O'Sullivan,

congratulationings, through to round two. Did that go as you hoped it

would? How do you feel after that? I got bogged down a bit. The balls

were going a bit scrappy, I thought I can't be doing a full hour. I

started going for my shots because I didn't want to be out there for

three or four hours. If I'm going to win, win quick or if if I'm going to

lose, lose quick. There is so many matches, you don't want to leave the

tank too empty. Just trying to exert too much in my match. Were you happy

during that opening stages? Yeah. You looked a little unhappy at

times. Like I said, you know, there was no point trying to win that

match and taking four hours, you know what I mean? It was just

counter productive really. If it was probably the World Championships

quarterfinal, semifinals or a big, big match, you would think, you

know, there is seven matches to play and if you're going to win, you

don't want to be spending too much time. Barry was playing good safety,

not letting me in, I thought it could be a long one today. Is that

what you thought at 1-1. You thought he could beat you? Yeah, Barry is a

fantastic player. He is one of the best amateurs on the circuit. Ever.

He can score and he has got a great safety game and I thought, you know,

the only way I want to win this is quick so I started to go for my

shots and tried to win it at one visit and that was it. That was my

game plan really. I wasn't going to kind of exert too much energy in

that match. Could you have got on the black in the penultimate red if

you wanted to I got could have the black and possibly made a 147, you

never know, I knew there was ?10,000 and I thought, it is too cheap. You

weren't bothered about the ?10,000. You think it is a massive

achievement and if they're going to pay you ?10,000, once the price

raises up, I will go for the 147. 146 is just as good. It is

interesting hearing from your fellow pros and they sometimes mentally you

can switch it on and switch it off. How do you feel at the moment

mentally? Are you in a good place? I feel happy. Everything is all good.

Enjoying my snooker and enjoying, you know, doing stuff with the

puntry work with euro sport, that was great. In Berlin last week and

there will be more of that next year because euro sport are doing more

tournaments. There is a lot of time to kill when you are at tournaments

like this and sometimes when you have time to kill, it takes your job

off the job more. I found that's been really useful for me and I have

been doing lots of exhibitions and you know... Variety. Just a bit of

variety. Happy with the venue this year because last year you weren't

too keen at the start? No, the venue is all right. It is good, you know.

The table is playing great. Just pleased to still be in. We will see

you tomorrow. Thank you very much indeed. Ronnie O'Sullivan through to

round two here at the Welsh Open, but it is high time we brought you

up-to-date with a few other results and in particular, how some of the

Welsh players have been doing. Not great news. Mark Selby, the world

number one and the former champion, enned the hopes of Duane Jones. 4-0.

Lee Walker is out as well. Barry Hawkins beating him by 4-2.

Straightforward for another former world champion, Peter Ebdon his win

over Zhang Anda. Graeme Dott as well.

It is almost time for the leading Welshmen to take to the table. Mark

Williams got to the semifinals last year, but is he on to have of his

game right now? Let's get the verdict from his fellow

professionals. Ties a Masters champion, twice a UK

champion, twice a world champion, the Welsh potting machine Mark

Williams, went through a phase of being a Welsh wobble in the jaws

machine and then done something about it, went back to the practise

table and has come back to form. A great potterment supremely confident

and so looks like couldn't give a monkeys when he got around the

table. Never looks under pressure any time and that would really wind

you up because you would think you have him at one stage and then he'd

dribble in the long ball and get stuck on the black and there is

another frame gonement you could put him in all sorts of positions and he

would always find a way out or a great long pot and drop it in most

of the time almost dead weight and giving it 100% and if he missed it,

it could have gun game over, but more times than not, he always got

the big shot and that's why he has been, you know, at the top of the

game for so long. He has been a wonderful player over many, many

years. And one of the sort of one of the sort of still remaining standing

older generation of players, if you know what I mean? In his prime, I

reckon he was as good as it got under pressure. I mean, nobody

would, I think, was as good as him from, in front and behind, it didn't

seem to make much difference where he was, he could pot the game ball

and he is doing a very good job of keeping the pressure shots together

even now. I think it gets harder as you get older. He is doing a great

job of doing that. When his back is against the wal and when he has his

opponent in trouble as well, he knows how to squeeze matches out. He

is not afraid to turn down a shot if he thinks it is dangerous. As a card

player, as a poker player, he would know when there was a little bit of

a chance it could go wrong. I look forward to this bit. Let's rip him

to pieces. What's wrong with him? Apart from the haircut, I've got

more than him! What is it about him that could be better now? He messed

around with cues? It was in vogue for a bit for players to mess around

with cues. Every now and again the balls don't go in like they did. He

hangs his hat on going for the long red and leaving the white in the

balls and playing the killer shot and now sometimes they don't go in

with the frequency that they used and perhaps takes on a little bit

more damage than he ever did, but when he is on, I mean, he's one of

the most dangerous players we've got. The only thing I think that he

made a bad decision on was messing around with accuse. Other than that,

I think he has been fantastic. Does anyone know why he did it? No.

Well, Mark wills yams is always brutally honest about his own game.

Let's find out what he made of those verdicts.

Obviously everyone feels nervous, but if nerves, you start shaking and

your heart starts pounding when you're under pressure, no, I never

get that. Steve is right, it is getting harder these days to make

the breaks and stuff like that, but that's just age and I've learned to

deal with that now after the last time, Steve had a little dig at me

on TV, I sort of went back and thought, "Well, yeah, he is probably

right." Since then I've just started enjoying it more. If I win, I win.

If I lose, I'm OK. He is being nice when he says they don't go in as

often. They hardly go in now. If I still go with them, if I'm leaving

them everything, I will still go for them. It is funny sometimes because

I, I even know sometimes when I'm getting down, I know I'm not going

to pot this and I know I'm going to miss it and I know I'm going to

leave it in, but I would rather do than bunch the safety up. It was a

good year for him last year, so close to the final Mark Williams in

2015. How do you think he will do this year? You said earlier Dominic,

you weren't sure whether he was right on top of his game right now?

Yes, he looks a little bit ginger, a little bit tentative which is unlike

Mark Williams. He had an operation on one of his shoulders and I'm not

convinced he is recovered from that operation. Whether he is feeling

pain, I don't know, he is just feeling his way back into

tournaments, he is one of the great players of our sport and he won this

event before and he won numerous ranking events and there is nobody

in the game with more experience than he and if he can get through a

couple of rounds and start showing class, he could be a real danger. It

is the 20th anniversary of Mark's first victory, the first of two wins

in his home event, I guess, he will cast his mind back to last year,

where perhaps he didn't expect to get as far as he did, but he got to

the last four being beaten by the runner-up, Ben Woolastan. He had a

couple of matches under his belt in Reading. It is a one table set-up

and he won a few matches there. That will help with his build up for this

event. It is only the best of seven and things can go wrong in the best

of seven. None of us like those. Let's look at opponent then, shall

we? Mark Williams' first round opponent is Lyu Chenwei.

He beat Dominic Dale. I remember that match! He did beat me 5-2 in

the Academy in Gloucester. If Mark gets off to a good start. Lyu

Chenwei hasn't done a lot in the game yet. Good afternoon to Terry

Griffiths. Well, this is a real tough match,

Lyu Chenwei. He has not had many wins on the tour so far and he is

playing against one of the game's great players in Mark Williams.

I haven't seen Lyu Chenwei play before. I don't know if he is an

attacking player, but we will find out, but he has got his work cut out

to win this afternoon. I have the pleasure of having Terry

Griffiths in the corner today in the commentary box and I'm pleased with

the way Mark adapted to the new system and he seem to be enjoying it

again now, Terry. Yes, I think he enjoys playing most of the time or

at least he looks as if he's enjoying. Not at his best, but he's

getting there. He put in some really good performances the last few

seasons, OK, he hasn't sustained them to win big events, but he's

getting closer. Nobody draws Mark Williams and

thinks they've got an easy draw apart from you, Willie!

I did have a couple of victories against him, but he is obviously one

of the game's great players. I would put him in my all-time top five

players in the world. That's how much I rate Mark Williams.

I know you commentated on a match this morning, Terry. I think these

tables are playing tight. It is hard to say when we saw Ronnie O'Sullivan

make a 146 in the previous match, but they don't seem to be playing

easy, these pockets. This is the first chance I have had to see how

Lyu Chenwei accuse. It would be interesting to see how

many he scores from this visit. This is his second year on the pro

circuit. He came through the under-21s and that was a way to get

his card and amazingly enough, he hasn't made a century yet in

competitive play. That tells me that break-building is not his forte.

He played that shot well enough. He is guaranteed a 100 break now!

With these players, you know from China, it is not easy because they

have got to come over here and live here and practise here and they're

young men and it takes a few years to get used to the circuit and

living away from home. They are all good players. Hello, that was a bit

unorthodox. He was expecting not to catch the

jaws and the fact that it through so wide, the cue ball caught the jaws

and took him out of position. This is a shot on the blue. He is just

trying to roll it around the two top cushions. There is a little bit too

much on. What he has got Terry, I don't know go his break-building

ability, he has got one West best pairs of shoes I have seen for

sometime! I love those. They are Bobby Dazzlers. You and Dominic Dale

would wear them! Pushed boat out a little bit there.

Well, you could see his face A very surprising miss on the blue there.

Undercut it. He didn't get on the reds that he's trying to get on and

he has been a fortunate there, Mark Williams. Missing such an easy ball.

Not an easy safety shot to play here so he maybe tempted with this long

pot because he can play it into a shot to nothing. Obviously what he

can leave on is the one he's going for. Beautiful. Always has been,

Terry, hasn't he, been one of the game's long potters? Great potters

full stop. He is one of those that's always good and will always, sort of

plays good recovery shots. When he loses position, he will just go down

and he used to tell me when I was working with him years ago, "Don't

you want to do more with your position?" What do you mean

position? Just pot a red and take the nearest colour and then the

nearest red and in some ways, he is a little bit like that when you

watch him, isn't he? He is better than that mind. Don't get me wrong.

I've got to be honest, in my humble opinion, he plays shots sometimes

and you think, "Why is he going for this?" Say he misses it, he seem to

leave the ball in a position where it is awkward for his opponent. He

has always been a roller, Terry. He likes to roll balls in rather than,

you know, manoeuvre the cue ball with loads of stun and screw.

A great match player. He is strong in all departments really. Like most

top players, he has runs here and there of not potting awe the long

balls, but in his prime, he was a tremendous potter. And blessed with

a wonderful temperament, very much like yourself, Terry, you never knew

at any stage of the match whether he was winning and losing, that's key

in this game. He won his first tournament, the Welsh Open, was that

in Cardiff as well or was it Newport? I said in commentary,

because he never made a break above 60 in the tournament and won the

tournament and apparently he seemed to think I had said he wouldn't win

another tournament, but I didn't say that. That's what Mark Williams

thought I said, but I didn't. Did he get less prize money because he

didn't do a big break? Oh, look at this. Not happening, I'm afraid. He

missed a few shots. Perhaps the cloth is a bit splipery,

it is hard to see from the commentary box, but he knows.

A disappointing shot there. Answering your question, no, Terry,

they don't get more prize money, but they wouldn't get anybody watching

if they just made a series of 20 or 30 breaks. It is all about winning.

It is not about how you do it, it is doing it and he is blessed with that

kind of character. He doesn't mind how he is playing, as long as he

gets over the line. They say success does not mind how

you get to the store. That's right in sport, isn't it? It is all about

winning. Nobody likes losing, that is for sure. Let's talk about the

match yesterday between Arsenal and Mr, they did not deserve to win but

they did. You're not biased by you? I think you will find I am from

Leicester. Mark Williams getting ever closer, 28 points in front.

Ideally he would like to get onto the green or blue because it gives

you the perfect angle to bring this read into play. Not bad, he has got

it out. He is 32 in front, mind you. That was one of the situations where

if he was 32 behind the curve have played that shot but still a chance.

The good part but the wrong angle. Saying that he can screw it in-off

two conditions and then it is then natural to play into the red.

Obviously he's the master for the right amount of side one. That is

not even playing it. Why you would first like that I don't know. It was

a perfect angle. 31 points behind. He needs to put

this safe of course. Has done a very good job of it.

Is there enough room for this red to pass the black? He can certainly see

the left-hand jaw. Whether he considers Centre in the pocket I

don't know. He can't so he will be playing centre pocket. Well,

honestly he has played to push that read. Very you can see his

amusement. There was no pocket there. Look at that, how has he got

the red pass that? Let's look at this one again. How can it going?

Unbelievable. That was a good chance there.

Suffering a little bit out there. It's confidence not the highest at

the moment. That takes and 25 points in front. Just 25 left on the table.

No attempt there, played the snooker.

A lot of the players reside in Sheffield, the Chinese press, they

have an academy in Sheffield where they will seemed to grow up and

practice. I do not know whether this young man has been playing in

Sheffield or just comes over for the tournament. Certainly a player as I

have mentioned before I have not seen. This is half the chance.

Forced the restart. I think if you what's it plain old is back I think

if he pops it plain ball. Think was always going to be a

problem. I have to say he is unlucky.

Excellent shot, well played, very good.

Does not want to give the free ball. I think he can see both sides of the

brown. Taking the option of putting back in

again. I must admit I thought the brown was on the coercion. Perhaps

he should have played that shot himself.

That was magnificent. Certainly looks like the blue passes think

quite easily. Why you would roll but then I do not know. If he plays the

little stunt run through he cannot miss out. -- stun run through he

cannot miss that. Having had a couple of half chances Mark Williams

has not release a full in this opening frame. But he will be pretty

delighted now he is going to win it. Here's looking at the scoreboard and

Lyu Chenwei has conceded. Terry, we will have to have a look about one

again. We looked at it from both angles, we were directly behind the

shot. How on earth one going? Actually it did not touch the flat.

I think pace of the red it just slipped through but of course it was

a fluke. He played a safety. He played to push it onto the cushion.

Then he has a real chance here. Why not just stun it in. If you put any

unwanted side, even the table can drift. He gave himself a bit too

much today. Let's be fair, he should not have missed that. The other

thing is when you are rolling them in and you are a bit nervously you

are better off stunning. You said earlier Mark Williams was the master

of that shot that not many players would have done that. And if you put

a little twitch in when you are rolling the ball in you put unwanted

side on it but you can get away with it with the stun shot. Lyu Chenwei

will be disappointed after missing that blue. He had chances. As Willie

Thorne mentioned Mark Williams has not really settled. One of Mark's

great strengths always has been that when you give him an opportunity

late on in a frame he generally clinches but he had a few chances

and he will be pleased he won it in the end.

That does not bode well. Does not look as if he has settled out there.

Once again we have seen a player overscrewing the cue ball. Mark

Saint put more effort into the potting side of that. He is OK,

though. Not a great chance here so far with

the red. The pink 's available to the middle. But all of the players

liked to have the black available. He is on the pink but a bit further

away and he tried to the. Apart from anybody but Mr rolling that was a

tough shot. We were saying earlier Mark Williams on the Welsh Open many

years ago, I have been reliably informed the beat John Parrott in

1996 at the Newport Centre. Once again when he is rolling balls in

the normally proficient at that time not. I thought it was in when he

fitted the stop have you seen him play, Terry? I have not seen him

play today March. -- much. He does not look comfortable out there. You

have to understand he is playing one of the biggest names in the game, on

his home patch. I do not think this young man has had a lot of

television appearances. Lots of things not in his favour, shall we

say. But others get inspired file that. It would be amazing if you

could get some sort of way to get into the thoughts of the players

when they sit down after missing. That would be great. Quite a few of

them you can tell from their facial expressions. The great players, Mark

Williams just sitting there, you would not even know he was not just

watching TV in his front room. He has an amazing temperament, one of

the best in the game. But unlikely, that shot on the red. I remember

Mark Williams when I started working with him, he was in the semifinal,

and it looked like he was going to win the tournament. He has come off

and he is 4-0 down and I am worried sick waiting for him and asked him

how he was feeling and he has gone, to be honest I know a lot better

than you. That is how he is. Everything turns into something a

bit more relaxed than you think it is at the time. That is the way the

place. I cannot see what the point of this safety surveys.

Mark Williams looks like he wants to be taking on this pot. Hmm.. He was

playing for the paint. -- the pink. Once again not perfect. The distance

between the cue ball and the pink. Well done. He is having a smile

again. He is not on the red he played for.

Not having the best run of the ball at the moment. The fact that pink

goes as well, ideally he would like to get back onto the black spot.

That would help things greatly if he has aspirations of winning the frame

and this visit. Oh dear. What on earth was that.

As you can see has given himself plenty of things to do with this.

That is what pressure does. Well done, good recovery, well played.

It will still go to that of Crockett. -- top pocket.

Try to bounce it off the side of those reds but unfortunately caught

the red' terrific. -- toothache. Excellent poll on the blue. Pretty

aware he would be leaving Mark Williams the great chance. That will

give him confidence. Trying to keep the cue ball under control. I'm sure

he is closer to where he wants to be in practice.

That seemed to not react at all. That time he was expecting to get

plenty of life out of this red and it seemed to be not a lot of

reaction at all. Once again he will have to play another gunshot. He

could just leave the long red. His choice, of course. Does not generate

any cue ball power. As it happens he could have finished their but he

just stunned it in. He needs to work, shop. He was cueing just above

centre. That does not generate enough top spin. Another good

recovery but once again he was expecting a better reaction from the

cue ball. It bounced which is why it took all the pace out of the cue

ball. If he plays round the back of the baulk colours missing the yellow

would be the problem. He has missed the yellow, well played, how always

the pace? Once again a little unfortunate. Played that nicely. The

cue ball is travelling so far in this effort, played a few good

parts. You can see they are almost in line but when you look from the

other angle you can see there is quite a gap between the reds. He is

having a go. This is the wrong shot, win or lose. Why you would attempt

that plants like that, read on to the black, stopping the red going

over the corner, all he has done is given Mark Williams the initiative

on the safety exchange. Very young man. Obviously has a lot to learn.

Just a case of whether he does learn. This was the plant he was

taking on. Such an easy safety shot there, there was no advantage in

that shot at all. Especially with the lead he has.

He will take this song probably. Have another go.

Has got to be careful to not bring the red into play. Also those reds

are available with to the centre pocket. Certainly the top one. All

about pace as well as the angle. Pretty good.

Mark taking the opportunity to bring the only safe red into play. With

that being out of commission and the red where it was Edward have been

impossible to get on the black and pocket. 27 points behind.

Hmm. Mark Williams has developed this chance. He tried to bring the

black into play. It did not work. You can see why he played this shot,

because those reds around the black spot. Just the one.

Mark felt that was a good shot to nothing. How has he covered it? Is

there a good gap between yell' snink There maybe a gap. Oh, that's a

result. He will be taking this red on. It is not easy to get on to a

colour, so I don't know whether he should take it on. Especially

playing a run-through. He is going to have to get the gap between red

and black. Goodness me, look at that.

and black. Goodness me, look at the worst kiss he could have

and black. Goodness me, look at probably got. OK, he is on the

brown, but he didn't have a perfect angle without the kiss he is on the

blue and the pink. : Well, he felt he had no option to

leave this long hot to nothing, so once again, he will have to play the

gap between red and black and go for pink, blue or baulk colour. Yeah,

that last kiss, he potted a wonderful red. The kiss left him

absolutely nothing. His 31 lead. One red safe. He is certainly favourite

to win this frame. Mark Williams turned around in disgust then. On

that shot he played to bring the black into play. The black is still

on the cushion. Not happening. It is not unusual to get this type of

match in the first round. Both of players haven't settled down or

brought their best form, should we say? He seems to want to play a long

pot then with stun. In that last red that he played that he missed, it

was just a plain-ball shot. Obviously when you're playing with

stun, you need to make the angle. It wasn't a natural playing the stun

shot. He didn't seem to want to play it with top spin. When you're cueing

great, the stun shots are easy when you're swinging them around two

cushions, but not at the moment. He appears to think the only way is

playing a pot. He doesn't want to play safe.

APPLAUSE An excellent pot, but no ideal position to get to that last

red. The more shots that Mark Williams

misses, the more confidence he will give his opponent. That's pretty

good. Oh, it has just gone past the yellow. A chance to bring this black

into play now. Played it nicely. He would have been

hoping to push the black further towards the right-hand pocket, but

he will be pretty delighted with the result. Of course this snooker, if

you leave it dead straight, Mark will play the pot and just roll the

black in. He has to be careful if he play this is off one cushion. He did

very well to hit it and get it safe. REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Mark

Williams. When you're hitting the cushion at

that speed, you've got to allow a little bit for the cue ball. It sort

of goes further into the rubber shall we say? It is only fractional,

but then it throws it off at a more narrow angle. So you were never

going to hit that red at that pace. If it was played at a medium pace.

The most that Mark Williams can get is eight. There is no way he can get

from black to yellow. Just play the roll up and if you leave the pot on,

you know it will only cost you 8 points. If he leaves the red on, he

can get on to any one of the other colours, and he can get back into

the frame. All you're doing is giving away points for no reason. If

he leaves the pot along the top cushion, the most he can get is 8.

He has already given 8 away now. I think it is fair to say his shot

selection keeps you thinking. REFEREE: Foul and miss. Mark

Williams 4. A free ball. COMMENTATOR: A free ball. He is

asking him to play from there. The other shot is a lot more difficult

now. This could cost him a lot of points. Down through the baulk area

and back down. A really, really tough one now. But the way he played

so far, he is more likely to hit this one than the previous one. It

is amazing. I can see Mark getting another oh, let me say, another four

misses, I fancy from this position. It is all because, when you lead by

so many as he did, he led by 38 points, as you rightly say, Terry,

it is a difficult shot. Oh, not quite.

REFEREE: A foul and a miss. COMMENTATOR: We know the situation,

but this is a lot harder snooker and he missed it by a fag packet, paper

thin. Why it is more difficult, you're not looking in the direction

of where the red ball is. You have got to go off the cushion quickly

and it is harder to judge the angle. Whereas the previous shot, when he

is playing off the side cushion, it is much easier and he played more or

less exactly the same. It is tough now. In the end, you don't see

anything wrong when you hit the cushion. You have got no idea what

the angel is going to be. Your head goes completely. Well, he has gone

from being a strong favourite to winning this frame to now almost

getting Mark Williams right back into it. I think he is coming inside

again the way he's cueing. A good effort this time. Well done. Well

done. APPLAUSE

That was tough. He gave away 20 points in bowl in

the previous visits which brought Mark Williams right back into this

frame. He was 30 behind when he came to the table previously Mark

Williams and he is now only 10 points behind. Of course, he did

give four points away in an earlier exchange. He has given 24 points

away in this frame. Ideally he'd like to hit this from behind.

Because the pink is where it is, Mark Williams decided to play the

slow shot. REFEREE: A foul and a miss.

It looked for a minute he could cut that end bit. The blue is covering

the red. Now then. It is a chance, but take it from me, with that cue

ball close to that side cushion and that's gone on before in this frame,

this is a tough one. If that cue ball was another two inches off the

cushion, this would be straightforward enough. Well played.

That was confidence. He still has a bit to do, but it will help him that

the pink is where it is and he could give himself a chance to pot the

yellow and get on to the green. Well, not from there!

He will still have a go at it because it is a big pocket. You can

pot it through the near corner in the middle of the pocket or off the

cushion on to the pink and in. Well done!

APPLAUSE An excellent attempt.

Yes, now, of course, the worst things happen. All colours are now

in play. He is going to have to play a very tight safety. Another three

inches pace in that cue ball and the frame is over.

But going back to the 24 points he has given away, if he goes on to

lose this frame now, he will only have himself to blame. He is a

strong favourite now. That's a dangerous way to play it, but he has

played it OK. In matter of fact, he has played it really well.

REFEREE: Foul. Lyu Chenwei 4. Well, this frame has

been a frame of fouls really for both players. We have been running

32 minutes. If he wasn't hampered, obviously he has to go for the

green, but surely let Mark play the shot between for two reasons, if he

goes around the back of it, he has won the frame anyway. But cueing

over a ball like that to try and stun it in. When you are safe, I

suppose, he thought he would have a go at it. It has been a very unusual

frame. I mean, it is a long frame but not through a lot of good safety

play, more of losing position and shots. I'm sure it will liven up. I

didn't realise he needed a snooker when Mark missed that snooker. He

had no option to take the pot on. He will settle now, I'm sure, hopefully

having got a frame on the board. Hopefully only one snooker needed.

He tried to roll it in and leave himself on the brown, you know, but

it is a pot that came away from the pocket enough. Hello, that was

different. He decided to bring the black into play. And also if he

missed the black, the path the cue ball was taking, it was going very

cles to the baulk pocket. -- close to the baulk pocket.

It is amazing how many time you find a gap when you're playing that kind

of shot. He needs to miss the brown. Not

quite. Just about went in. 3 points make a

big difference now with 31 points in front with just 22 left.

Once again the famous gap comes between the colours when you're

playing for snookers. That's an excellent chance here. The

height is in behind the blue. The blue and black that is. Ended up

trying to get behind the pink, but I don't think he played it that way.

Every chance here getting in behind the pink and that will be a tough

one to hit, but, of course, he needs another one. Maybe it is a lively

cue ball because that was a very easy hot to get in behind the pink.

He got second prize. APPLAUSE

That's a bit better. If he hit the side cushion, it is not so bad, but

if that's touching, it is almost impossible to hit the blue.

He is 27 points in front so, Mark Williams would still need another

snooker. He hasn't had much luck with hitting snookers in this match

so far. REFEREE: Foul. Mark Williams 5.

COMMENTATOR: There is a bit of pressure on. Just one snooker

needed. 22 points the difference. How close is that? Are it really is

a terrible position to be in when you look as if you're guaranteed to

win your first frame and all of a sudden, you miss a snooker and

another one interferes. It must be too close to the black to play off

the right-hand side cushion which is the easier way of playing it. This

could easier be missed. Well done. A bit of pressure there, but a chance

to get in behind the pink again here.

You have got the stun on the cue ball dead right, it was just the

pace was a little bit too heavy. Otherwise it would have been a good

chance. Got in tight behind the pink.

This frame has been running 41 minutes now. It has been a long run

out affair. Why would he put the blue back at the centre of the

table? You would rather Mark Williams take the pot on the blue.

He is definitely giving Mark chance that is he perhaps shouldn't be

getting. He is doing it again. He is trying to give him a chance to get

the snooker. Now he sees the situation.

He really wants to not pot the blue, but he would do well to keep it out.

He is having to play the pot. The thing is normally you only get one

chance with any situation with pink or black on.

He decided to concede so Mark Williams had a few chances to get

back in the frame, but Lyu Chenwei has a frame on the board and he will

settle a bit now. We're 1-1. Well, I hope you enjoyed all 43

minutes of that frame. Dominic, we saw a lot of good stuff in there,

some good safety stuff, but also a lot of errors. How do you assess it

all? Full of variety. Yes, that's a word. I think, you know, if you look

at that frame there, it is quite clear for me to see that Mark know

this is game inside out, we all know that, but his opponent, Lyu Chenwei

knows nothing about the strategic parts of snooker and the tactical

parts of the game. This is a problem with a lot of the young Chinese

players that come over here on the tour, they do most of their learning

over here playing the British players because we have the history

in Britain here in snooker so all the great amateur players and

professional players and they are mainly British based or in China

when they do their practising growing up, they have no great

players with a history in the game to learn from and learn the right

from wrong in terms of shot selection and it was evident in that

frame there. So he got away with it? Did he survive that? There were so

many chances for Lyu Chenwei to roll the blue over the corner pocket. In

the end, Mark left him a shot to give the chance of potting the blue

down the cushion a better chance for the pocket to receive the ball. It

was just a shot that he naturally played. It was the right shot in

that instance and forced Mark to pot the blue and Mark had a job to pot

the black that was in the middle of the table. Just as we saw Barry

Pinches give Ronnie O'Sullivan a tough time earlier on, are we seeing

a similar scenario here? What are we going to see happen? I said earlier

on in a pre-match interview that Mark, I don't think is on his A game

yet, but there is only one way I can see Lyu Chenwei winning this match

and that's if he feeds off Mark's mistakes should Mark miss easy pots

that he is not accustomed to make. He miss add few in this match, Mark.

Mark just needs one good frame, one big break to get a bit of confidence

into his game because Mark is a confidence player and he lost a bit

of that confidence lately, Mark. It might be a wake-up call for Lyu

Chenwei because he was 31 up and he almost lost it. You always know when

you play the young Asian players who don't have the experience that we

have that you have always got a chance against them because they

often play the wrong shot and they will give you the chances to get the

snookers. So if you're him, what are you thinking right now? Well p you

see Mark knows what's going on in this match, Mark needs to tighten up

and make sure he doesn't miss easy pots and give his opponent free

chances. If Mark can make it difficult for Lyu Chenwei, he should

win this match easily, Mark still, but it depends on Mark, does he miss

easy pots? If he doesn't, he will win this match. Well, here he comes.

He will be hoping to pull one back. Let's go back to our commentary

team, we were admiring the to the ware. They are Jimmy Choo shoes.

Other brands are available, of course!

COMMENTATOR: Mark Mark must be scratching his head thinking how did

he lose that previous frame? He has played it OK. He had a big

chance with that red available on the black also available, but the

angle he left Mark Williams. It is a little bit awkward.

He has just gone past the middle pocket far enough. Not been cutting

it back in. He is looking at the red now on the right-hand side of the

table which means you can pot that and run off two cushions for the

black. I mean, that is risky. I think if he gets it, there is a

reward there for him. He didn't actually play for the black. He

didn't see any value in that shot, unless he was playing for the black.

He made the shot a lot more difficult and no guarantee of being

on a colour. As it turns out, because of that, he has left a

quarter of a chance on for Mark Williams. He is playing this gently

into the centre pocket. I think he was concerned, partly,

making sure the white got past the red.

Not leaving it on, maybe took some of the concentration away.

Not too sure he can hit it thick enough for the black. Wants to get

down quickly. If he hasn't got the angle, to hold for the blue... No

good. Worth the risk. Could play the two cushion stun.

Directly. Not a bad effort. Would love to finish low on the black. Not

high. Missing the cannon is going to be a problem. Low on the black would

have been better. Pretty good as well. I do like those! Great.

Looks as if someone else has turned up. Confidence, with a frame on the

board. Perhaps he can't get to the one at

the bottom. Had this shot a few times. May just

roll. Can go wrong. Good effort. Hasn't come at a great angle. Could

avoid the pack of reds, but the red behind the black stopping that.

Position won't be easy. Very aggressive shot. Unfortunate

not to have a shot on a colour. Playing for blue or baulk. Very

aggressive shot to play. Williams, a bit to think about now.

Not quite sure if he played to pot that or not. Snooker behind the

brown, anyway. Well... Not sure how he can get on

the one red, to the right of the black. Not this way... Foul and a

miss. Tough snooker to escape from. Williams looking at the red. Maybe

stunning in... Well! Disappointing. Clear cut chance that, for Williams.

Balls are on, certainly. Apart from the one next to the green. It could

be another long frame. The way things are going here.

I bet you've been enjoying this? 43 minutes the last frame? Every chane

of an hour? Could have dragged it out more, for me! That's a chance

for Mark. Bring the red away from the pocket. The next few safetys

will be a lot more difficult. Maybe forced to take a pot on. Can

get through the gap, the red at the green pocket. No idea where the cue

ball would finish. Taking the one next to the pink. That is the

problem. After safety play. Tend to lose the cueing. Both of these, will

be difficult to miss the kiss. The chances, to get on a colour,

properly, big. A chance to get on blue and pink now...

Wasn't 100% sure where the cue ball would stop. But it is not too tight.

Blue and pink available. The problem, he has got to use the rest.

That is what happens with that. You have got to screw back. Get the cue

out the way. Pull it across the line of the shot.

Touching ball. Worst possible placement! Can't see the blue. Can

play away. He has every chance of getting behind pink and black.

Nominate the green, get the white to the centre. That's key. The red

below the brown, it would be natural two cushions. Nominating green...

Sure he has done? That red was in the way.

Lyu held up his hand. Got a good kiss. This is not straightforward.

Taking a pot on? How can you be kept off the table so long then get that!

Needed a good kiss but didn't get it. Anywhere but there.

Playing for the one, right middle pocket. Foul and a miss. Once again,

he can pot this. But not a certainty, to get on a colour.

Missed that red! Chance now. Little bit too far. Another inch to the

left, this would have been easy. Amazing, this match. Excellent pots,

rolling to positions where they can't get a colour. Four or five

times. Just enough room to sneak behind the

black. Perhaps too thick? It looked as though Williams had

taken that on. In the middle. He can see one red. Extreme left. But

swerving round. He'll take that. Left Williams the

type of shot he's normally good at. But not a lot of potting going on.

Good pot from there. Williams, putting a noose around his

opponent's neck. Potted that red on the thick side.

Do took the run out of the cue ball. Played for blue. If Williams, four

behind. Foul and a miss. That was not too

difficult. But not putting the cue ball on the right hand side.

Second attempt. That is better. The only thing that he did not want to

do, hit the red full ball off the cushion. Leave it in the middle.

Having a look at the pot. Clearly trying to get behind pink

and black. If he was not hampered he would have

taken the cut on. Good safety. Not so easy now.

That red would have come back over to the middle. Jaws have done him a

favour. Well done. Potted it! Can't beat a bit of luck. Good hit on the

snooker. I can understand him playing the

snooker on the yellow. But it could have been the green. Even if Mark

missed that, the most would have been eight points. I suggest whoever

pots the green will win the frame. Had a better angle, and hit it

harder... Would probably have brought the green into play.

Well! Excellent pot. Close to kissing the brown.

Three colours to get behind. Mark can hit the brown.

Not bad. Brown is available. Thin cut. Past the half hour stage in

this frame. Really good pot! Now then. Ten in

front. Hold on... Wasn't that far from going in-off!

It is amazing, you would think, in this sort of frame, Williams would

have been favourite. One of the best, at getting snookers. But not

cueing at his best today. His previous shot, Lyu, should have

rolled to the pink. Look at the cue ball. What on earth? That is not

unlucky, just a terrible shot. If he loses this frame now, we can

see Mark Williams winning 4-1 and that's going to really hurt.

I think he is one of those players that he just likes to get the cue

ball safe and not worry about the object ball and that's what is

causing the problem. He is going to have first chance at

this frame. I think this pink is going to bounce and he will take it

on. He will hit the middle of the cushion between middle pocket and

corner pocket. He could go close to the middle. Oh dear. He would

frighten me to death if I was one of his supporters. He just didn't see

the shot. Looks dead straight. Mark Williams

is not one of these players that can screw the cue ball back the length

of the table. He left himself a bit closer to the cushion than he would

have liked. Oh. Oh. Fortunate there. The way he jumped up, it looks like

he might drift it slightly. He played it very slowly. There is a

possible three cushion shot here into the right middle pocket. A bit

of top spin there. Now then. These are tough ones. Lots of distance,

thin cut. Being on the thin side of that shot

rather than thick. Leaving his opponent an easy shot.

It is one of those, isn't it? Do I or don't sni the thing is he can't

guarantee getting the white close to the baulk cushion. I don't blame him

at all for taking it on, but he will certainly need a possible pot on the

black should he miss it. He played it once again, very well.