Last 16 - Part 1 Snooker: Welsh Open

Good afternoon, the race to win the Welsh Open trophy comes down to 16

players. It is not a bad line-up either, six former champions who

between them have won this 12 times. Competing today for a place in the

quarterfinals. This is the draw in full. Defending

champion John Higgins made history last year with a record fourth title

but Wales will be hoping for one of their own, Michael White.

The world number one Mark Selby placed the Welsh number one Mark

Williams. Let us bring you right up-to-date, a

short while ago, Ben Woollaston became the first man through to the

quarterfinals, last year 's runner-up with a 4-1 win over the

German Masters champion Martin Gould. Neil Robertson hoping to join

him in the last eight, this match taking place right now. Let us take

you into this one, Neil Robertson leading Marco Fu 3-2. We will join

them at the start of frame six in the company of Terry Griffiths and

Dominic Dale. COMMENTATOR: Marco Fu breaks off in

frame six. Not the best break off I have to say, has he covered this

red? Marco Fu will be horrified sitting

in his chair after that break off. After having a free shot at winning

the previous frame. A few chances but it is the simple mistakes that

hurt the players out there. This is a big shot. I can't even

start to tell you how difficult that shot is and he has made it look so

easy. If it is away from aggression, you can get some spin and a bit of

pace and it is a little bit easier but to play it that way, it is very

impressive, I must say. Neil Robertson, his demeanour out there

is very good, he always looks confident even if he is not. He has

got a presence now when he is out there. The players are aware of his

skill levels and that in itself is worth half a frame start at least.

Neal did well when he went into the bunch of ribs to land on one, it was

not a good bunch to go into off the black but he managed to get on one

and keep the break going. Poor Marco is sat in his chair after that awful

break off, he has come back in the match but has half given it away but

he will be pleased that Neil has lost position on this next red. I

expect him to pot this red but position can always go astray. He

has cannoned that red and landed nicely on the blue. Again, not

looking too good for Marco. It was a good shot, he played it so gently

that it gave him a chance to get a thin contact on the red and onto the

blue, any more pace and it would have deflected and gone wider.

That was a very positive shot. He has taken the opportunity to get out

there and not wait for his opponent to make another mistake but get into

the pack and WinFrame and match from there. The clip that of the red

first which took the pace of the cue ball otherwise he would definitely

have been on something. Not sure what he is looking at, the red

nearest the cue ball, looking at cutting that in. It is very thin

from here. He has overdone it. Oh, he has been lucky. The tests on the

brown, he has not left anything for Marco Fu. He is 44 in front though.

That was easier to undercut them over cup, he has put Marco in all

kinds of trouble here. The red nearest this left corner is maybe

going to cause Marco problems returning the cue ball back to the

baulk end. Will he be fortunate? Almost but I think the red near the

yellow pocket can be cut in. I think he can get through to it. You never

get a good run when you need it the most. That is just how things work

out. Some would say the balls don't forgive you when you have had your

chances but I am not a great believer in that myself.

Once again a slight misjudgement from Neil Robertson. Has he left

this one in the centre. I wonder if he thinks he has to make this chance

after missing that last one. It is amazing how these thoughts come into

your head from nowhere. 45 points in front. I am not sure he

played down for that red. He makes his choices, what he likes, what he

feels is the best chance of giving him the opportunity to win this

frame and match. He knows as well as anybody that if Marco Fu were to win

this frame, it is anybody's in the last frame.

He just can't get the cue ball under control. A rather surprising mistake

from Neill. Normally he would know exactly where the cue ball will

track too. Sometimes you can get a fraction of a kick that can throw

the ball wide enough to cause you positional problems. He is playing

the blue pass the brown, it just goes, yes. He has continued the

break very well here. And obviously this red to the right of the pack

goes past the other one into the left corner. A real start for frame

and match for Neill. He also has the one in the centre. I think one of

these five reds will pot. Left-centre instead so they are

clearly covering each other. Needs an angle on this black and he has

got one. If he could cannoned the red

directly below the ping, he would probably have a choice of reds.

Because I don't think any of them go, he has missed the cannon. Did

not get the red he wanted to there. I don't think he will be continuing

the break any more. Neil Robertson having a 61-0 lead so Marco can

still win this match, 75 points remaining as you can see.

He had a look to see if he could possibly cut the red back into this

pocket, the one just below the cue ball, it is very thin. He seems

desperate to win this match from here. And now he wants to see where

he wants to leave the cue ball, playing a safety shot. Probably

flick of the red to the right of the cue ball and find the gap between

the pink and the other red. You go past the brown and leave the cue

ball somewhere before that right corner pocket. Maybe able to play it

off the red to the right of the pink if he can get through to it, yes. If

he gets this right, he could put Marco in a lot of trouble here. Will

he cannoned the brown? No, just getting past it. He may have left

Marco this red into the left-centre, I think he has.

That is unlucky. It is on in the middle. I can't believe Neil

Robertson played that safety shot, he is 60 points in front and there

is no point taking a risk with that safety shot. Is it going to cost

him? Can Marco knock this black in the middle? Just pushed it to the

far corner. He has not been at his best in this match, Marco Fu. Neil

Robertson has made a few big breaks but he certainly has not been at his

best either. A little bit of everything in this match, good and

bad. Still interesting though. I think the crowd have enjoyed the

match this morning. Marco Fu sitting in his chair, I

think either play would have been disappointed, which ever one loss

this match because they have both had good chances. Amazing what the

pressure of matchplay can do to you. Hello, what is happening here,

holding the rest up in the air, he must have a steady hand. The yellow

doesn't go in but it the end, in a tight match, Neil Robertson is

through to the next round, beating Marco Fu 4-2. Neil Robertson joins

Ben Woollaston in the quarterfinals tomorrow and he joins myself and

Darren Morgan in the studio. Thanks for being with us. How did you feel?

You came off with not much of a smile? Of course, the first frame,

first time I have played on a TV table so it took awhile to get used

because it plays a lot different to table number two. After that I made

some nice breaks in the match and took advantage of Marco's mistakes

because he had some good opportunities to win some frames

that you would normally expect him to take. You can play better I am

sure? Two of the frames I did win with total clearances come another

one with a good clearance, a couple of mistakes but a big improvement

from my match yesterday and earlier. We were saying before we came on air

that if you take one ear Sullivan out of the equation, you are the

four man this season? It goes without saying, Ronnie O'Sullivan

has any played in one event, Neil Robertson has been the best player

all season really. He has changed the way he is addressing

tournaments, picking and choosing and preparing for the big events.

Which at the moment, the way the calendar is, the top players, if you

want to stay consistent, you have to do that. When you see the form

Ronnie is in at the moment, do you feel you are playing well enough to

go all the way and win this tournament? He has played some

special snooker this week, it must be said. Even the 146, I thought it

was quite incredible. A bit of genius to be able to do that. Nobody

else can create such a story during a frame and having everyone talking

about it. What would you have done in that position? Would you have

refused a 147? I would not have refused one, it is not as though he

was refusing it, it was a tricky shot and he would need a really good

black to keep the break going, the way he did it was very entertaining.

I was on for a 156 in one frame so I would not pass it up either. You did

win this in 2007, nine years ago, do you feel you can do it? You have won

two competitions this season. I am playing really well. It was an

incredible performance by Judd Trump in the Masters to stop me there and

I have not played in a major event since. I am coming into this nice

and fresh and the things you look for as a top player is full

performances to improve as the matches go on. I have had time on

the number-1 table there. So I am feeling good about my game. We were

saying as we came on air, he is one of six former champion starting the

day in the last extent, what do you make of the draw in full? What a

line-up. Six previous champions and all playing very well. That is the

good thing about it. They are all playing really well. It would be

hard to call a winner at this stage but Neil Robertson is clearly a

contender, Ronnie O'Sullivan, if he continues playing the way he is

playing, you would look at it that he is unplayable. But he has not

really been tested yet. From now on, the further he goes, the more he

will get tested. From a Welsh point of view, Mark Williams, we would

love to see him do well but he is up against Mark Selby so there are a

lot of good matches. Some good matches, Mark Selby, Mark Williams,

Michael White, hoping to defeat defending champion John Higgins. It

was looking good around or two ago, you had four or five players but

many of them lost close matches. While Sabine waiting for someone to

come through since Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens and Ryan Day has

been knocking on the door. As have Michael White and a couple of

others. I am sure it will happen sooner or later. Wales hoping this

will be the year, enjoy your rest before the quarterfinal tomorrow.

Hoping to join Neil Robertson and Ben Woollaston in the quarterfinals

is a certain Ronnie O'Sullivan. He has been captivating the crowds in

Cardiff this week with the quality of his snooker but as we also know,

never short of a word or two either. Every match I am not worrying how I

play, but how I can mentally stay in the right place. Not get down on

myself and keep playing the right shots and stay and do a professional

job. That is the battle for me and has been for the last four or five

years. The playing part is brother be the bit that comes easily to me.

It is managing it really which is the hardest part. Trying to fill

your day up. An event like this, you would prefer the PTC way you might

play a couple of matches in a day and get on a roll and you win three

matches and you are in the last extreme. Here, it is one match seven

days, 120 players, it just seems too long. The quarters always has a nice

ring to it, the last eight players you feel you are into the event. The

last 16 is still early stages of an event. If I can get through my next

match, you can believe you have a chance of winning the event. Here is

the latest man to stand in front of the Ronnie juggernaut, Yu Delu, the

28-year-old who lives in China, turned pro five years ago. 54th in

the world and he might look like easy fodder but he has beaten

O'Sullivan, two years ago on his way to the quarterfinals of the players

championship. The question is, for Yu Delu, how can he try and make

sure that he does not follow his predecessors in the previous rounds

and stand back and allow O'Sullivan to do what he does? It is all about

the Ting Ronnie under it and the only way to do that is get off to a

good start. It is imperative he gets off to a good start. I commentated

on his first match against Barry Pinches, it was 1-1 and it looked

like it could go to-1 for Barry Pinches and Ronnie looked

disinterested but he took the frame. From that minute on, he has played

unbelievable snooker. No one yet has had a good start against him with

their first opportunity and made it count. If Yu Delu wants any chance,

he has to get off to a good start. So you have to try and at that first

frame? Ronnie, I have never seen him as positive, he is happy with life

at the minute, happy with everything. He is trying to blast

everybody off the table and at the moment it is working. For Yu Delu to

have any chance, he will need a good start. The body language, the

swagger and style with which Ronnie O'Sullivan has dispatched the last

two players has been impressive. Here he comes for his last 16 match

against Yu Delu, let us find out whether Ronnie continues as he has

been doing or if we will see a shock this afternoon. Let us join the

commentary team, Terry Griffiths and Willie Thorne.

COMMENTATOR: Yu Delu has a big task in front of him, he will be aware of

that. He has beaten O'Sullivan. You just feel that Ronnie O'Sullivan has

played so well in this Welsh Open that it will be difficult to beat

him. Ronnie O'Sullivan to break in the opening frame. The left-handed

break, it is what Ronnie O'Sullivan has been doing for many years. Also

a wonderful player left-handed. Not fair, is it?

I have never commentated on Yu Delu before, it will be an interesting

that, they have played twice, both work for -3. Anyone who has beaten

Ronnie O'Sullivan, he must be a good player. First time on this table for

Yu Delu and Ronnie has played on it three times, that is a big advantage

but that is what you get when you one of the better players in the

game, he is not number one at the moment, Mark Selby is. The main

arena is absolutely packed again. Two tables we are down to now. The

second half of the first match and the last two matches that Ronnie

O'Sullivan has played have been absolutely vintage. You just cannot

see any better than that. I saw a match with Yu Delu up in

Preston for the PTC final when he beat O'Sullivan 4-3. Barry Hawkins

is here. Took a little bit of a chance the,

he could have landed on these reds. Always gets into the reds with his

first possible chance. As Willie Thorne always is, he wants to win

this frame at this is it, that is right. I think all the players are a

bit reluctant to do that, they seem to be careful all the time. I don't

blame them either way but this must be the better way, Selby, Shaun

Murphy, they get them open as quickly as possible.

You can see the example here, he has gone too far on the blue but it is

still available into the middle pocket. There must be another loose

read somewhere, perhaps the one on the back cushion. That is the one he

is trying to get on. Did not get the desired spin. That is a bonus, has

won into the yellow pocket, did not play this one.

That is unusual, the first poor safety shot I have seen Ronnie

playing three and a half matches. That is the first loose shot he has

played in the last three matches. It comes as a bit of a shock when he

misses a pop. -- a pot. We both know how difficult it is when you are out

there. We can't expect Ronnie to play perfectly all the time. There

will never be a game that's perfect, I can tell you now, but he is as

close as anyone to achieving it, I must say. Blessed with a skill from

somebody above, that is my feeling on him. He is very special.

Hasn't got the most orthodox cue action, but I don't think it makes

any difference with him. A pretty high percentage of the

professional players he could beat with his left hand. He played a

left-handed match once against Peter Ebdon. Yes, he beat Ebdon and then

played Stephen Hendry in the final and beat him playing 70% left-handed

and 30% right-handed. But those are two shots he has missed already that

he didn't in the first few matches. I am sure the crowd are pretty

stunned. More importantly what is Ronnie O'Sullivan thinking? He's

coming out here with expectations, with his form. I wonder what is

going through his mind at the moment.

All these Chinese players are blessed with a wonderful

temperament. You never really know if they are behind or in front at

any stage. He has had a lot of good wins. Not going to win the game from

the blue only so needs to get the pink back into play. The black will

be out of play for the rest of the frame, needs to go into these reds

to get the pink interplay. It needs to be sooner, rather than later.

Very surprised he has taken this red one. -- on that. Answers on a

postcard, what he was expecting to hit a fair!

He screwed back for the blue, just didn't catch it that well. He's a

very good potter and quite an aggressive player. His highest

ranking has been 46, so he hasn't set the world alight, but he has had

some good victories, as you mentioned. I think he is around 54

at the moment. Ronnie O'Sullivan said he is a

little bit bored on tour after the first few rounds. The amount of time

you spend away from the table can be difficult.

He has had a couple of great chances from the reds to get to the pink.

OK, he is back in the frame but the two red balls on the cushion are

virtually impossible to get back to the blue from.

Excellent pot as you can see, as you can see from the stats, only one

century break this season. That tells me he is not great around the

black spot area. Definitely got the blue at the moment.

This is what I mean, how difficult it gets, trying get a deep screw to

get onto the pink, otherwise will have to settle for the blue. Hard

work, this, isn't it? This has been all blues and one

yellow to keep the break going. The here where can get onto the red and

he has decided to play a safety shot. A containing safety. 21 points

in front, a good effort there. Felt there was no value in potting the

blue that time, but if you're going to play the blue, put it safe.

Not so easy to play after red behind the black spot, so going for the red

that is in play. This safety shot is not guaranteed.

And that hasn't. One good pot from Ronnie here and he can get back into

this frame. Only 21 points behind, but where the balls are at the

moment, that will take some catching up to do.

Well done. A little bit better. Miss hit a few shots, or perhaps mistimed

a few shots in this first frame. There is another one.

He may still take it on but there is not a lot of value with the green

and brown being tight on that cushion.

That is an excellent safety shot especially as the green or brown

will bound to be brought into play. That has put Ronnie O'Sullivan right

back into this frame. No green, as it is on the cushion,

but the brown is in play. Almost a shock when Ronnie misses a wall at

the moment. It would be fair to say he is not in play yet. -- when

Ronnie misses a ball. REFEREE: Foul. Fair play. Ronnie O'Sullivan nodded

his play to say it wasn't. Very good of him.

Colours are not as badly placed as they were a little earlier on. But

not quite happening at the moment for Ronnie O'Sullivan. We don't want

to be critical of him, but put compare him to how he has been so

far in this Welsh Open, he has been brilliant. It looks like he had a

little twinge in his back as he left the table. Looks like neither player

wants to take this opening frame. Ronnie got down off the table very

gingerly, after that shot. Apparently a cameraman heard him

say, oh, my back. I hope he has an injured himself. There he is when he

gets up, a little grimace. He has had back problems over the years,

and also a bad leg. Well, he has openly stated recently he's not

feeling comfortable. When he won the Masters he said he wasn't

comfortable going down on the shot because of that problems. -- back

problems. Neck and back are very common, of course, with snooker

players. Now Ronnie couldn't see a path to

get up to the green after playing for yellow. He has played a good

safety. I think the way this frame has gone

so far, it is really important to win this opening frame. Ronnie is a

bit out of sorts at the moment. If he wins frames when he is not

playing well, you are in trouble. So he needs to win this frame. How did

he miss that one? He has left it on. As it turns out, he has missed it

but the brown has gone say. -- safe. Didn't quite get behind the brown of

the cushion, to go down through the middle of that. The brown, for the

frame. Hello... Oooh. Look at the brown, you couldn't have stopped in

a worse place. You have to pot the brown when you are playing the likes

of these players, especially Ronnie. How much angle has he got here? Not

a lot, I don't think. He can move the white about, screwed back with

side here. He made that look easy. Yes, sure. Well, people could say he

will be lucky if he wins this frame. The truth of it is, he's earned the

right for people to be intimidated against him. That is what happens.

That is why Yu De Lu has been missing the winning balls in this

frame. He is not going to miss these. They either go in, or they

don't. Such a great player at closing out frames. A re-spotted

black. I think the first one of the tournament, I don't remember another

one. There are about 40 on the outside tables, Willie, but you

wouldn't notice them! Ronnie O'Sullivan... I think has lost the

toss, but Yu De Lu has put Ronnie Inter break -- into break. Most

players now just put it into the side cushion, that is what Ronnie

has done. It does leave the option for a double and I think where the

black was, he would take it on. He needed the black to be afoot to the

right, so that the double wasn't on. Hello. What a way to win the frame!

What a fluke. But they all count. Yu De Lu finally winds the first frame

against Ronnie O'Sullivan. -- wins. Ronnie O'Sullivan with a blow of the

cheeks. The site is smile playing on the face of Yu De Lu. I think we

have found someone at last won't let Ronnie have it all his own way. He

nearly did. He had a couple of opportunities in that frame to put

it out of Ronnie's reach and he missed a couple of balls he should

have got. As Kerry said, when you get a chance against Ronnie to put

the frame a way, you need to do it. That is great for Yu De Lu, because

if he had lost that frame he would be thinking about it. No matter how

much you say you are going to forget about those shots, he would have

known he was a first person to take a lead against him and put him under

pressure. What a way to do it. Yu De Lu taking this first frame. Playing

for double and he caught the knuckle, so he has missed the double

by a long way, then it checked back off the knuckle into the middle. He

will be very relieved. I am sure Ronnie had a little wry smile to

insult. He won't be too bothered at the minute. He missed a couple of

balls in that first frame he probably hasn't missed all

tournament. He looks calm and composed and very happy out there. I

think that is one of the great strengths of the Chinese. They are

very hard-working. They worked very hard at their games. I think they

all have that attitude, they never seem to show much expression on

their faces. It's like it's drilled into them, don't give your opponents

only added advantage whatsoever. A slightly different story developing.

We can go back with O'Sullivan trailing 1-0.

The second frame he has lost in this tournament, he lost one to Barry

Pinches. He should have lost another in that match. The black is

available here, if he wants to play the slow drag.

Oh dear. I'm surprised he played that with top spin Terry. You can

have a lot more control if you drag those in.

Will we get the former Ronnie O'Sullivan has been showing from a

position like this? If this had been yesterday you would say he would

make a sizeable break from this position, but until he settles, I'm

not too sure at the moment. I wouldn't bet against it, at any

time. I mentioned earlier he has been

blessed with a wonderful skill to play this game, but he still has to

work very hard on his game. As you mentioned, he gets a bit bored at

venues over long periods of time. He has only been here three or four

days, but there is a lot of time to fill. Especially when you play

matches as quickly as he does! Raise Didn't quite bring them out, but

still on the red. A lot of players would have just been playing a stun

shot. He always tries to bring balls into play. Just when there's no

pressure, when you are bound to be on the other red. This pack is still

not great, as far as balls being available, so he will have to do a

bit of work with the cue ball. Maybe he has decided to play for the pink.

It depends on what he thinks is about the next shot to open the

reds. Very close to the blue with the rest.

Now, three reds just above the black, he might be better off

hitting the left-hand one of the three.

That tells me the bottom red pots. Wasn't aware that potted. One in the

middle of the pack, as well, so that was a clever shot from Ronnie.

Couldn't tell from the commentary position that it was available.

Now for the first time in this match he has the balls in a position where

we would expect him to win the frame.

This is like when you get a bit of interference on the television and

it says, normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. I think

this is normal service now. He does it so quickly, Terry. In the

blink of an eye he has the frame won.

Yu De Lu had an excellent first red right over the pocket and failed to

plot it. That is the result. It could have been his, the way the

balls were spread. 813, I think he is an at this moment

in time, maybe 114. The. Maybe not now, though.

What a shame, it was sure to be a century of that went in. Ronnie

O'Sullivan looked better in that frame, he missed a couple but still

better. Ronnie O'Sullivan levels. The way he is playing up and down,

he thinks the cushion is bouncing a little bit, the cue ball mainly,

likely not the right size. He is walking down and having a look at

the cushion with the referee. He is not happy but there is nothing wrong

with the 90 he hit. That was not too shabby. Picking up some fluff off

the table. Let us go and have a bit of a break but not happy with how it

is running off the cushion. As you said, not a bad way to respond to

going a frame down? Yu Delu will be disappointed because Ronnie gave him

an easy opportunity at the start of that second frame into the corner

pocket. He tried a slow roll and hit it full ball rather than half-ball

contact and it allowed Ronnie and easy starter. As was said, normal

service has been restored. He is back out, we will see if he is happy

with the table and the cushion now as he breaks off in the third frame.

COMMENTATOR: Left-handed again. Ronnie O'Sullivan feels more

comfortable breaking off left-handed. I think what he was

asking the referee to do was seen the White properly, you might have

felt there were some grease on it, I would like to clean it with a damp

cloth, we will see if Ronnie feels more comfortable in this frame. The

referee is pretty good. Could be easily intimidated by someone like

O'Sullivan. We have a good set of referees, quite a few are coming

from Europe these days which is nice to see.

He looks like he is back in sync at the moment.

It is difficult for him to steam-roll everybody in this

tournament but he certainly has the capability to do so, even against

the very best. He is number five in the world at the moment, Ronnie, he

is not playing in as many tournaments of course. If he stays

in the top eight, he will be happy enough because then you do not face

the top players in the early rounds. Every time he plays in attack mode,

he seems to get into the balls and gets the reds moving better than

most. Straightaway you think he will win the frame from this visit.

Another exhibition of positional play from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Once again, after three and a half minutes of play, he has the balls in

a frame-winning position and that is now a reality. Didn't get a century

in the previous frame, unlucky not to. The crowd would love to see one

in this. He has just gone far enough to take

this read on in the centre so the century is still on.

Yellow will be playing for both red tape, cannot get perfect position so

we want come round the back and look at them in the corner pocket. An

excellent shot. Very good. He is so quick, seems to hit the

ball and it seems to land exactly where he wants it to. Like he is not

making much of an effort which isn't great if you are his opponent, I

must admit. This will be his sixth century of the tournament. Didn't

see him missing that. Skill and excitement of the very

highest level. Wonderful to watch. They'd have to bring in a rule to

slow Ronnie O'Sullivan down. That is how it is done. Absolutely

wonderful. Ronnie O'Sullivan leads to-1. There was a key point in that

break, when players get on the half ball blew to break up the reds in

play, it is not the case of just hitting the ball. There is a way of

playing this, you want to hit the pink full ball but also the pace,

look at the pace he plays this as, he does not play it ridiculously

hard like some players do, he plays it on a position on the pink where

he knows he will manoeuvre the reds into position and they just spread

perfectly and he went on to make an exceptional break of 132. You always

look at how he will bring more reds into play, some will whack into the

pink, it is a case of sometimes hitting it half ball on one side or

the other, or hitting it full in the face. He has such a quick mind. You

are one of the game 's great coaches, if not the best, do you

think your first site is always the one. When he looks first sight, he

picks that side. Your first site is the one, very much so. You are right

in what you are saying, what we seek straightaway. Mark Williams said

that after his game yesterday, he said all he has been doing is go

down, sighting and hitting straightaway, no pause or thinking

of anything. I think sometimes players look for problems, wondering

if they do this or that, interesting to see what Mark and Ronnie do. Yu

Delu breaking off in a situation where he needs to slow Ronnie down,

it is hard to do the way he is playing at the moment, 96 and 132,

he has to put a stop to this, has to play a good safety.

It is a tempter, a choice of red Sea can play for, I am not too sure if

he fancies putting this. Oh, if you are going to play those,

you need to play them as a shock to nothing until you get your IM, he

has been off the table now for 50 minutes without scoring a point. You

cannot present O'Sullivan chances. -- 15 minutes. What was noticeable

is that he took a lot longer on that shot. He is quite a quick player,

you are almost forced to do that because he has not had any table

time for a while and the shot becomes so important you take a lot

longer, lose your rhythm and miss the pot. It is very common when you

are playing like that. A lot of players do it, you do not see a

O'Sullivan taking long obviously. He knows the reds either side of the

black of the problem balls, so he was to get rid of them straightaway.

That is clear thinking all the time, always trying to make things happen,

it may not have worked this time. Very disappointed as you can see

from his expression but a lot of players would have taken the blue

and cannoned into the pink but the nosy has the balls in position and

does not want to risk knocking the reds safe. Yu Delu has not been

punished this time. I am not too sure Ronnie can get to

the potting angle for the red pass the blue. Is he thinking of playing

it in the middle? He was. Still developed it into a shop to nothing.

Not a lot of room to get around there. Look at the path the cue ball

takes. This is an amazing shot, watched the cue ball. That is as

played. He is getting closer and closer with

those, should be put in trouble here with safety shot. Ronnie is in

trouble if he cannot see the one to the right of the pink, it it would

not be easy to get back into baulk. Can he hit the red that is nearest

the black? He can. This is close. Unlucky. No good is it? Much too

hard. A horrible shot when you hit across the reds like that. He played

it very well. Another half chance, I think this read goes. Very good. He

deserved to get on one of those colours, unlucky there, couldn't

have played that shot any better. Clean as a whistle.

Ronnie may be forced to play the one tight on the cushion, I am not sure

if he wants to get one on the back caution but the one on the cushion

is not a bad result. Good hit but he has left a tempter.

Wow, that was tight. Could not have got much closer. These pockets not

taking them dead centre at pace anyway. I think Ronnie has read the

centre. He has played for the black. He would have left a read on. I

can't even tell you how shot -- hard that shot is, it does not seem to

make any difference to him. And he had to manoeuvre the White, he had

to play it hard to widen the angle. At that speed, we saw how tough the

pockets are when Yu Delu played the one on the back caution. Had to

force the angle, he had to play it to widen the angle. Yu Delu has not

scored a point now for quite some time.

Did not score a point in the previous two friends, only one point

in this frame where he parted the red but missed the colour.

When you consider he should have had a century in frame to, 96, he had a

century in the third frame, every chance he is going to get close to a

century in this. He will feel the cue ball stayed

this side of the blue, this has made it slightly missable. Especially

when he is having to reach. Here has got some unusual as an, so the

carpet is a bit slippy. Took one red of the cushion but put

another one on. He needs another red after this to make the frame safe.

Interesting to see how Ronnie deals with the cushions -- reds on the

side-cushion. It will be interesting to see if he tries to move the red

in couple of shots time. All of course he could leave a double on

that red. Might make a century with the rest now. Try something

different. What a shame but once again it is a

sizeable break, Yu Delu stays in his chair, Ronnie O'Sullivan still on a

roll, leading 3-1. Ronnie certainly back in the groove,

rattling that frame to go in front. Let us take our eyes away for a

moment. Terrific news for Welsh snooker, Michael White, the

24-year-old from Neath in South Wales has knocked out the defending

champion John Higgins, a 4-1 win, a player 16 years his junior, sees

Michael White into the quarterfinals, a wonderful win for

the Welshman, throwing down the gauntlet to Mark Williams before he

faces Mark Selby later on, the Welsh number one. A real landmark result

for Michael White. He has aways been a terrific player, a lot of success

last year, winning the one frame shoot out and then went on to win

his first maiden ranking tournament. Youngest ever junior world champion.

Until someone from China broke it last year. It is great he is doing

it on home soil and showing everyone how good he is. Never threw to the

last 16 before but he will play the winner of Barry Hawkins and Mark

Allen. The match that takes place later on an table two. This came

here as Ronnie returns to the arena, one frame away from victory. He is

back in total control, in the first game he looked edgy, missed a couple

he had not been missing and Yu Delu took his chances and had a bit of

luck at the end. It has all gone downhill for Yu Delu since missing

the red in the second frame, Ronnie now back in full swing. The swagger

is back, a 3-1 lead for Ronnie O'Sullivan now.

COMMENTATOR: It is harder now for this young man, he has had very

little table time and the chances he has had, he has not made the most of

them. And when you are struggling at there, the worst opponent you could

possibly have is Ronnie O'Sullivan, who makes everything look so easy on

the table. Nicely played. I don't think he was

trying to get the black off the spot. A good judgment of pace on

that safety shot. And a good reply. He seems to be taking a lot more

interest in his safety play now. In his previous match, he spent time

working with the great rewritten and Ray Rudin was saying that you should

enjoy the safety as much as break-building, it is another part

of the challenge. I think that is what he is doing at the moment,

enjoying every part of the game. These are very tough, he is hitting

it very thin. Nothing wrong with his mince pies. Just a fraction too

hard. An excellent bout of safety, Yu Delu

competing in this little exchange. Ronnie O'Sullivan faced with either

a pot or a good safety shot. Safety success is pretty close at the

moment. Obviously Yu Delu is 88 but Ronnie has been knocking the long

ones in, 85. That looks to be a telling safety shot. He'll have to

take this on and try and get on the blue or a baulk colour. Played the

thin one. That is a result as well, it is interesting, very good

exchange. Ronnie saying that the ball was

bouncing off the cushion, asking it to be cleaned.

Very seldom catch those shots when you come across the ball in safety.

You can never catch them too thin, always thick, as it turned out,

O'Sullivan has got the red safe anyway.

That's a bit better. Good length and covered the reds on the right-hand

side of the table. Just got to be careful he doesn't

catch the black on the way back down to baulk.

Might be a plant on Mayor. -- on there. There was. Wanted that kiss

on the black because he is guaranteed to be on the yellow.

Nothing easier to pot and certainly not easy to get position either.

Just have to be a safety shot here. A bit reluctant to play a safety

shot, Ronnie, but Uefa chances in this game. He is playing it, it is

the right shot. -- but few and far chances. Snookered him from the

reds, unless he can get past the black to the red on the extreme

left. I don't think he can. It might push it towards the pocket, doesn't

have to do anything towards the cue ball. Bringing the yellow right back

up this end as well. I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted to put it up to

the corner. Can't really play these two

cushions. Got to be careful playing into the

bunch. Well done. Good shot. Just having a look at any of the

reds on the top cushion that can come past the yellow. It has come

out far enough, he has left the red on.

Plenty of room for the black to go back on its spot if he gets to that

stage. Ronnie is always looking for those things. Once again dislodging

reds when others would have just played for a single word. -- single

red. It can go wrong, but O'Sullivan is one of the expats. Stephen Hendry

was another one. Go into the pack and spread the ball is about. The

black going back onto its own spot and available into both corner

pockets. The pink is in play nicely, so might take a couple of pinks and

open the black up into both pockets. This is looking very much like the

end for Yu Delu. Did not look like a lot of danger when Ronnie tried to

drop on one of those reds but just flicked one and half an inch would

have made a difference. Although it wasn't a great opportunity, it looks

like it could be the end of it. Quite a bit of work to do. Ronnie

has to be careful with his position, because he has to be low on the

black to pot it. If you get the bottom read of these two, he is

opening it now. Developing it into the right-hand corner.

Now he is getting the benefit of that case he played when he went

into the reds and cleared out the pink spot. He is the expert that

those things. Once again, it has been a masterclass of brick

building. 26 as we speak but lots more coming, he has not given Lu the

chance. Having won the frame with the easy one in the corner pocket,

he decided to play it with top spin, which makes it difficult. Might have

scored heavily in that frame, but since then he has been sat in the

chair. Will he pay the that back played a plant? For a second he

thought the red had gone in the way but as you can see clearly, it's

not. This Welsh crowd have been enthralled with what Ronnie has done

in the last three and a half days. That is considering he made a 40

brick in the first. Trying to bring them all into play

and he has done that with one shot, brought all four reds into play.

Just caught the new knuckle. But he has done enough, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Lost the first frame but his performance was top class today and

he beats Lu 4-1. Looked as if Yu Delu would put up a

stiff challenge for Ronnie this afternoon but in the end, as they

were singing commentary, normal service was resumed and Ronnie

O'Sullivan goes through to the quarterfinals with that 4-1 victory.

It was a kind of a tougher challenge for Ronnie at the start but when he

got into the groove we saw pretty much the same thing we have seen in

the second of the runs. The first frame Ronnie missed a couple -- the

first and second rounds. He followed it with a century and a couple of

other bricks and made 70 at the end, just a masterclass from him. I

thought Yu Delu would give him a better challenge today but as Willie

said in the commentary box, that was Yu Delu's first team on the man's

table, Ronnie has played three on there, he will -- on the match

table. Is it difficult thing under the lights in front of the TV

cameras for the first time. Not used to doing it as Ronnie is, it is a

factor, do the nerves get to you? Yu Delu would have played on the back

tables, qualified out and played on one of the outer tables but he has

not played on a match table, no matter what anybody says, it plays

different to the rest of the tables. Why that is, I don't know. Maybe

because the cameras are on it, the TV lights, but it does play a little

bit differently. The latest addition to the quarterfinal line-up. Well

done. You said you wanted a tougher test, do you think you got it today

to an extent? Definitely. Yu Delu is a brilliant player, we practice in

the same place and beat me last time we played and I didn't play that, I

was a bit nervous at the start because I might have given him too

much respect and I just had to find something, Mr the red over the hole

and I got of the -- bit of momentum going. It was OK in the end, good

safety, that last one, it is OK making earning frames of a tease and

100s but you will not make 100 every frame, you have to compete in other

areas as well, that is more important to win those frames. You

got 131 yesterday, 132 today, overall, you must be thrilled.

Pleased to still be in the tournament. You see John Higgins,

the second greatest player that I have seen behind Stephen Hendry and

not a lot between those two, just got beaten by Michael white, no

match is easy here. It takes a top player to have a slightly off day or

a top 32, top 48th player to have a brilliant day and you're going home.

Just to be in the event is a result these days, if you are playing 12

events, if I won one, I have had a good season, get a semifinal, a

final, that is what you can hope for because the standard is too good

now. White is an amazing player. Talk about Judd Trump, great talent

but this kid to me has everything and we will have another world

champion soon from Wales. To be a fellow 40-year-old with Ronnie in

this stage of the competition to go through to the quarters. That would

be a massive result, especially the way that John Higgins is playing

this year. He is fearless. Doesn't care who is sitting in the other

chair. Please everybody like they are the same, John Higgins, Liang

Wen Bo. Years ago he would have made a bigger breakthrough. It takes time

to settle down, but Michael is the real deal, he proved that as a

15-year-old winning the world Amateur Championship. You won this

two visible, do you think you might be on the trophy as you are playing

as you wear? Just look at all the players left in the tournament.

Whoever wins this tournament, you can put the last eight names in the

hat and everybody is even money. This week I am using it as practice

for the exhibitions coming up, they are the real fun days, using this

practice for the exhibitions rather than the other way around. Using

this tournament as practice? If you don't know by now, he is very clever

this man. You have to put it into priority with what you enjoy, the

exhibitions are great fun, express yourself here is hard, magically, I

don't care who you are, this is tough and you are trying so hard but

if I can use this as a way to chin up for the other stuff, I good way

to look at it other than thinking you have to get a good result. If

use think you have to get the result here, you wouldn't because the

standard is high. If you won a few matches it is nice. Keep it relaxed

and keep it loose. Charlie's restaurant the other night. Top

three Chinese in the country. It is amazing. I have been and it is very

good. We have done that establishment very well! Ronnie, we

will see you in the quarterfinals tomorrow. The last eight line-up are

starting to take shape. Next up it is Mark Williams, the Welsh number

one up against Mark Selby, so let's get some expert analysis on the

world number one. Mark Selby 2014 world champion,

three times Masters champion, a formidable match player these days.

He is in the mould of John Higgins, taken over, every department of his

game is top notch, very difficult to beat, plays a lot of superior

tactical shots, very clever player and can score amongst the best in

the world as well, it makes a very formidable opponent. As kids, a lot

said and written that we are good friends of the table and we came

through the juniors together. As a child he was practically as aware as

he is now. He practised a lot with Willie Thorne and professionals and

learned his trade by getting beaten up by professionals of the time and

he learned the right shots from the wrong shots and as a kid he wouldn't

play the wrong shot he was with the right tactical shot but couldn't

score like we could score at the time and to want his late teens and

early life as a professional he learned how to score. Geriatric

amongst the balls, precision light, Sergeant Mike, good cue power at the

one thing the public picks up on this the movement. The head

movement, the swaying backwards and forwards before he plays the shot

and people see he is moving his head but it is only before in the

build-up. His whole upper body actually moves. As he sways to and

fro with the cue. It is something he has worked on but he has an action

that repeats and it works and for him to try to completely that now

would prove a problem. Looks like he was on a boat when he was younger!

His biggest problem is the confidence in himself. Even though

he has won so much and been up there and top of the game, I don't think,

like some of the other players, he doesn't have the ultimate believe

every time he goes out there in himself, which he should do, I

wouldn't say he is an overconfident player or person. He is very

technically minded, very interested in the Fight Night technique of how

to strike the cue ball from his grip pressure, stance, bridge position,

how many feathers he has, length of backswing, all of that type of

thing, constantly looking for the secret ingredient and if you just

sat back a little bit then realised he has achieved everything that he

could have ever wanted to, he would be OK.

This is how Selby measures up against Mark Williams, Selby the

younger man by eight years. Not too much between them in terms

of career centuries. This is where Williams's pedigree perhaps dance to

shine through, 18 ranking titles compared to Selby's six, two Welsh

Open titles for Williams and Williams has beaten Selby nine

times. Lets you from the two contenders

themselves. Their thoughts on facing each other in this last 16 tie.

Going out there expecting more of the people to be supporting Mark

Bunn myself because we are in Wales, so I understand that, I just got

there on concentrate on my own game and if I play well I will get the

win. When you struggle, my first match

here, you just want a hole to come and live in it,, a lot of

inconsistency with me and has been for a while, but I've accepted that

and got to try to get on with the bad ones and enjoy the good ones

when they come along because it is not too often. He is not getting any

younger and his results, still doing well, getting to the latter stages

of tournaments, he will say himself, he is not as good as what he was

years ago but the way he is playing in patches, he is more than capable

of winning the tournament. Even when I was in my 20s, I loved

playing, trying my best. I was better when I was 20 odd but I don't

try any less now than I did back then. I have got to know Mark really

well and I get on really well with, a good guy and one of great players

of the game, to play him in Wales in Cardiff, are fantastic feeling. You

are his all-round game, he has got everything. He remains me of myself

a little bit when I was coming through. Selby always plays well.

Not won determined this year, so every tournament I go into, I have

my eye on the trophy. Two men keen together hands on the

trophy once again. Darren, I will give you a tenor, who will have your

money on for this one? You have to go with Mark Selby on form but I am

Welsh, obviously, friendly with Mark and I would love to see Mark win.

But? Do way he played in his last match, Mark, he showed real signs of

hitting form at the right, I he has been practising well and he has been

playing unbelievably in practice and just has to take his practised into

the match table and if he does, he can win any tournament on this

planet. But Mark Selby, he has been playing very well this season and he

is always there or thereabouts at the business end of the tournament

and very consistent. Mark will have to play well. If he plays well he

will win for the Michael Hoey into the quarterfinals earlier, let's

find out if the veteran Mark Williams can join him as a face is

the world number one, Mark Selby. COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon

everybody, this is the much we have been waiting for, Mark Williams

against Mark Selby, played each other many times, interesting to

note that Mark Selby has not beaten Mark Williams in just over three

years, so whether that will have any bearing on this afternoon's

encounter, I don't know. Current form might fancy Mark Selby. What do

you think? It is a tough one, Mark Williams was in his own words,

horrendous and his first match and a half I suddenly found a bit of form.

The trouble in the last match, but has got that sorted out now. Selby

has not won tournament for quite some time but we know what a great

player he is. First chance goes to Mark Williams,

nice straight red for the starter, screw back for the black into the

same pocket. And unexpectedness from Mark. But,

first frame, very seldom that players get down and not the lot in.

-- knock the lot in. I have known this young man since he was 13 years

old and he was never going to be a top player and all of a sudden he

improved so much over a quick period of time and he wasn't missing bowls

them. Both players have already had a chance. I think they are rather

wary of each other, these two, judging from the start we have seen.

And inauspicious start, I have to say. I'm sure they will settle down

soon. That is a good pot from Mark. Wouldn't have left anything on

anti-missed it and now he has got a great chance to amass a sizeable

lead. But that has gone wrong. Mark Williams one of the few players

that plays a lot of doubles, I know there are some reds in the way. He

could also cut it in and get it round the back of the black.

could also cut it in and get it ball has finished in a position

where it looks like a shot to nothing. In the olden days, it would

have pulled in. Yes, this number ten cloth that we use as a cross read on

the balls if anything tend to turn the other way towards the baulk end.

Many instances it just pools in a fraction and that could have been

one of them. Obviously getting onto the black

would be too near the cushion, so we'll screw back for the blue. First

real chance goes to Mark Selby. Alarming miss from Mark Selby,

normally so dependable in amongst the balls, but it just shows,

neither player has settled down just yet, both have had good chances. I

think whoever wins this first frame, will settle down, whoever doesn't

could still struggle. Normally if your opponent gets down and makes an

80 rick, using no problem coming you didn't get a shot but the Selby had

two glorious chances to score a few points and has only got two reds,

missed both colours he has gone for. Should he go on to lose the frame he

will be thinking he has to get his A game back.

He needs to get straightish on this red that's near his hand this time.

I don't know whether he has gone far enough to brush the three reds and

bring them into play. If he hasn't, he can still flick off the two reds

and go for the brown or the pink. I can only presume one of those

three reds pots because there is no way he would want to play the cannon

otherwise. I'm sure we will show you a picture in a few moments time that

shows you that it clearly pots. Even from that position, you wouldn't

think that pots, would you? But it clearly pots.

Mark Williams playing for the blue tells me the outside red of those

four will pot into this left corner. Being left-handed, he won't need the

rest. Just showing signs here, Mark, that he is settling down nicely.

That loves to have a lovely angle on the blue to develop those two reds.

If Mark can pot the blue, he would win this frame. I think if he felt

if he played it slow, he would have covered the reds up. A clever shot.

Playing it slow, he could have covered them both, but playing at

that pace. Close to the winning line now. 50 points in front. One more

red needed. Just the wrong side of the black,

Mark, ideally. The frame is certainly won. He will certainly

make sure of this black. Nothing too extravagant. Well, the cannon has

gone wrong, but, he is 65 points to the good. I would be surprised if

Mark continues. Mark Selby, that is. Oh what, a great pot that is.

APPLAUSE Fantastic.

He could just make a century here, Mark. Exactly 100 still on.

Never mind. An excellent break from Mark Williams of 58 and secures his

first frame in the best of seven frame match.

So we're going to have a look, Willie, aren't we at a couple of

misses from Mark Selby that may unnerve him slightly. When you are

playing a first frame, it is essential to get a foothold in the

frame quickly. All that's down to Mark Selby, he is now sitting there,

negative. Mark Williams is sitting there and positive and that's the

difference it makes missing easy balls. You can't afford to miss easy

ones. Exactly, Willie, but one of Mark Selby's great virtues is the

ability to focus and concentrate on the here and the now rather than let

what happened in the past affect him. Well, that will be put to the

test in the second frame, you would have thought, wouldn't you? Mark

Williams has got used to his tip now. He was struggling in the first

match-and-a-half and the tip flew off ten or 15 minutes before he was

going out and it was a brand-new one put on by Matt Celt and it is a big

tip. Most players don't like to play with new tips, do they, Dom? I use

the same brand of tip myself and they play very well the minute you

put on. They are Japanese layered tips. You would have to be a

millionaire to afford them though as Mark Selby gets frame two underway.

I'm reliably informed that the tips are now a tenner!

When you think about it though, the most important part of a cueist's

cue then shall we say, is the tip end. What you actually strike the

ball with. It stands to reason that you should pay something for that

leather tip on the end rather than 50 pence o or whatever it costs for

a blue diamond. Yeah, what Dominic is saying, those who are not used to

play with a blue diamond. They take longer to knock in. What Dominic is

saying the tip that Mark Williams is using, he can put on straightaway

and get a feel for it straightaway. It doesn't move around and bed in.

It stays the same shape all the time. He has got one. That's

fortunate. That attempt was borne out of

frustration for not being on it better in the first place. But Mark

will be under pressure to knock this one in. He hasn't done much in the

match so far. APPLAUSE

He can play a little cannon into the pack to slow this down, but if he

doesn't go high enough, it is no good. Now he is too low on it, he

has to do lots with the cue ball. If he played the cannon into the pack

that would have slowed the kau ball down and he is bound to have a good

angle. It is not like Mark Selby to choose the wrong shot, but he chose

it there. I suppose he was thinking, "I need to get rid of the red on the

black spot." Maybe he left he would have this one near the left corner

and there is another mistake from Mark Selby. It is not looking good

for him and it is fortunate that he left the cue ball in that side

cushion. If Mark can knock this one in the left centre, he is away and

running again. A lovely cannon on the blue. If Mark can just get that

black back on to its spot, he will have a real opportunity to go 2-0

ahead. In a couple of shots time he would like to get on to the black

because it makes the black so much easier and still have that red

there. He could do with this being straight. I don't know whether the

black passes that red. It doesn't matter now, because he is taking

this red anyway. It would be easier to get behind the black and then

play for this loose red that's on the pocket. He can't do that now.

Dominic just mentioned that it is a great chance for Mark to score

heavily. It is a great chance to win the frame at this point. The balls

are perfect. I think the players are lovers of best of seven. I think

most public inquiries are a lover of not having an interval at all, but I

shouldn't think the majority would be in the favour of best of seven

over the best of nine. Do you think you should stay play best of nine? I

think, well, we practise best of nines and much longer matches with

other professionals during practise and obviously a best of nine, I

mean, nine frames potentially, it wouldn't take that long. It is not,

you know, it is not a marathon. It is the interval in all sports in

football, in anything you care to name that can change matches around.

A choice of reds. A choice of three reds he can play on here. He is

reluctant really, to play the black along the cushion. These pockets are

a little bit nippy. We have seen a few shots missed along the back

cushion. You would rather have the black tight on the cushion and you

know you can pot it easily. But he is playing for the black. He has

left himself a slight angle, I think. His body language tells me

that it is pretty straight. He won't be happy with that. These

are tough if you're screwing back off the cushion. He didn't want to

do that. You see how tight they are? I can't help, but think he is more

or less just got down and hit that. I wouldn't say took it for granted

as such, but I think he was a bit disappointed. He left himself

straight and at best he was going to leave a very thin cut become on this

red. An interesting quote yesterday when he got down his first side and

hit. That was one of the times he took first side and hit there.

This is a glorious chance for Mark Selby having missed those two easy

colours we showed you in the first frame. There is nothing difficult

about the colours now. He would love to have played the

pink rather than the black, but just trying to find out whether the black

is still available should he pot it with the red being where it is. He

has decided to take the red off the black spot and that should make

things pretty easy, really. Any kiss, but that.

He may be able to get through to the one in the middle. He is not playing

for any one particular. He is playing through the gap for three or

four reds, but he has got the one available in the middle. Now from

this position, he should win the frame.

I think whoever wins this match, it will be 4-3. I don't see any one of

the two players running away with it. Mark Selby is the more senior

player as far as the rankings are concerned. He is just going through

a spell where he is getting back to something like his true self.

Have you played either of these two players this year Dom in any of the

tournaments? I can't remember playing Mark Williams this year, but

I have played Mark Selby in one of the televised matches in an earlier

PTC, probably, I shouldn't think more than three months ago. A bit

unlucky. I was 2-0 up on Mark and the cue ball drifted and didn't go

in. He looked a different player and I lost 4-2. I'm glad I brought that

up then. Delighted! Screwing back the choice of reds to

work the other one into the other corner. That's what break-building

is all about. To give yourself choices. After this red he will have

no choice, but to come on to the red nicely. This is frame ball.

We talked earlier about you don't settle until you get a sizeable

break or a frame on the board. Now, they've both done that. I expect

high quality snooker in the next possible five frames.

A 90 break available and it will please Mark Selby having missed the

two colours at start of the game. He would have forgot about that very,

very quickly. It wouldn't have been as quick if Mark Williams missed

that easy ball. That's one way of getting on the

black. Remember that one! APPLAUSE

Mark Williams took the opening frame and Mark Selby replied with a 90 to

take the second frame. We're all square at 1-1. It wasn't a very good

start by Mark Selby, but a really good comeback in the second frame

after Mark Williams himself had looked really impressive to begin

with. Yeah, well, Mark had, you know, an early opportunity in that

second frame as well and missed the a relatively easy ball to get Mark

Williams in. All of a sudden it was looking good for Mark. It was like

Mark Selby wasn't feeling too comfortable out there and he just

finished straight on a red, but then allowed him to go to the black and

he finished straight on the plaque. As we all know, how tight the corner

pockets are. He tried to drop the back in to leave himself the thin

red and he missed it, whether it was lack of concentration, I'm not quite

sure and it was a black he would have expected to pot. He missed it.

And to be fair to Mark Selby, he looked very good there and he took

his chance and he scored very well. I was going to say, we will have to

start using surnames otherwise it could get confusing with the two

Marks out there. How do you assess Williams, it looked like vintage

stuff from Williams? It was all looking good until he missed that

black, but that was to do with the poor shot that he played from red to

plaque. He wanted to be half ball on the black and just to roll it in and

drop into the red on the corner pocket and he landed dead straight.

He hedged his bets, he thought, "I will knock the black in." And he

took his eye off the pot. We will see if Mark Williams remembered what

he did so well in the first frame. The third frame now. 1-1.

COMMENTATOR: It was interesting to hear the thoughts of Darren there in

the stew yo. Honours in this match are well and truly shared. They both

had great opportunities and not taken them. They both lost frames

they shouldn't have lost and now here we are at 1-1. That excellent

long red from Mark Selby will fill him full of confidence, I'm sure. He

is looking very good at the moment. What can he make from this

opportunity? He will probably go into the right-hand half of that

pack of reds and develop a few. He doesn't want to hit them too hard.

Just, a nice gentle pace should develop them nicely for this right

corner. I think he is on one. Or is he? He may not have the angle he

likes, but I think the red goes. Mark Selby put his hand up there,

but he was almost short of it on this one, I don't know why he

thought that was quite fortunate. If he didn't want to cannon the pink

and he wanted to play the right-hand side of the pack. With the kiss he

has got, why would he think he was lucky there? You probably noticed

Mark Selby holding his hand up. He held his hand up to say sorry for

the red, but he was entitled to be on that red.

I read that differently. I thought he was putting his hand up because

he was not on anything! That one is an errant one. He stuck

that too thinly. It won't go in at that pace from there. I think Mark

can get through to this red. Just. I got to be very accurate playing

those at that pace from there. I think that's all right. He can

play for the black again. Nice to play these gently. He may

flick off the pack. Just about on it. I love the way that Mark

Williams break builds. He doesn't do anything with power. He is very

delicate. He should have been a surgeon.

It is a bit of a boa fuss for Mark, he was on an easy red through the

gap there. This are the chances you love as a professional player.

You're quite hard on yourself if you don't make a sizeable break or a

frame from this type of position. A bit of a sigh there because he

didn't screw back as far as he wanted. He left himself hampered.

OK, he can still pot it, he is having the cue ball cleaned. Mark

Williams is such a class player. When you put the work in, which he

hasn't been done, once he started practising, he quickly zoomed back

up the rankings. His wife Jo is here again today with the two children.

It must be great to play on home soil. And obviously a lot of

pressure. Just finished too straight on the

blue there, Mark. He is going to have to play the red from a bit

further than he would have liked. He should be able to just about screw

back behind the red. The same pocket as the black. He may have too much

angle on the black. It is close. Let's see what he does here. No

problem. I think the bottom red is still

available so he doesn't have to go into the bunch this time.

This has been cue ball control at its very best apart from the one

shot where he left himself hampered on the pink. Everything else has

been to the inch. 39 in front. Three more reds. Three colours. He will be

taking a 2-1 lead. We have a chance of another Welsh

winner. Mark Williams is the only one that won this event. We have got

two in it, Michael White who had a very good win over John Higgins

today. And darn Morgan in the studio made a

final one year. He needs that to bounce.

Felt he had a kick which took the place out of the cue ball. He still

needs another red. That's the frame safe. Two snookers

required at the moment should Mark Selby have the opportunity to play

for snookers. I'm sure now that red has gone in, it will ensure that

Mark Selby remains in his chair. Will we see a century from Mark

Williams? We nearly saw one in the last frame by Mark Selby. The break

finished at 90. In Mark's defence, of course, that

was a clearance of 90. He had the opportunity to play for a century,

but Mark does here. He will need the rest probably for this, being

left-handed. We will see one of Mark Williams' specials. Look at this. He

is the only player who does this. He has found this knack of being able

to play his shot without the rest. Unfortunately, he wasn't successful

on that occasion. Mark Williams regains the lead at 2-1.

Big frame for Mark Selby, you cannot afford to go behind 3-1 in a best of

seven. Sure Mark Selby attempted to make

that plant there. Very close to it. Unfortunately for him it rebounded

in a position on this left-hand corner. Cannot offer any excuse for

Mark missing that, I'm afraid, that's just about shot. -- a bad

shot. Just look at the chance he has given to Mark Selby here.

This is perfect, screw off the black. Just opening the reds, a

fraction too hard. Would like to be on the top side so he could screw

back again for the black. Maybe have to play for a different colour now,

rather than the black. If there is one time you had to be

the right side of the blue, it was probably then, if you screw is the

cue ball back about a foot, he can play the red next to the pink. The

position from the red could be a little tricky, can't leave himself

straight because of the pig is, he could move himself three quarters

football length -- because of her straight the pink is. He will have

that little shelf of four reds and will have to fashion position and

screw off them. Has to be a bit of luck involved in this.

Pleaded beautifully. Choice of pink or blue plate for. This time tops

out of the blue and got really through them. Got past the line of

four reds. The path of the cue ball was way to take him to pink or blue

and this is a frame-winning chance. Has been very good so far. 58, 86

from Mark Williams. This now from Mark Selby. The standard this week

has been very good indeed. Would like to get rid of the red

that is right near the left-hand corner pocket. Playing through the

gap. Not the best shot he has ever played. He played the gap. The

little gap he played through here. Nearest the left-hand corner. Didn't

want that cannon. This recovery pot from Mark. Easy to

miss that one but now back in prime position.

Should be plain sailing from here. All the reds are in the open, no

need to play the cannons now. Not the greatest angle as you can

see there. Straight, has to screw right past the pink. I thought he

would screw past the pink to play the choice of red, but knowing this

is frame ball, he has decided not to do something out of the ordinary.

That of an exhibition match, he would have been moving the red of

the cushion to play the clearance but he knows Mark Williams would

come back to the table should he miss now. Getting one more red.

Mark Williams had the first chance in this frame when he played a red

distance and missed it. Just put some unwanted side on there and

turned the cue ball over somewhat, it has cost him the frame. A few

choice of ways of doing this. Let's see which way he plays it.

Trying to leave the angle on this thread, playing the red and moving

it off the cushion. APPLAUSE

Perfectly played. Beautifully controlled. Could play to move the

red out here as well, the one on the right-hand cushion. That what he has

played. Beautiful brick building. To perfection.

Perfect on the blue to drop into this red, soul I think we will see

the first century of this match. Very good standard.

Both of these players have made over the hand and 50 competitive

centuries, there is another one for Mark Selby.

Just run through two cushions to get straight on to the green pocket.

Little bit too much side and the case on the blue slowed it down.

Mentioned at the start of the spring it was bigger for Mark Selby then

Mark Williams because he could have been 3-1 behind with three to play

but for Mark Selby, his first chance. Marvellous break. We have

seen some good stuff this afternoon, Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first

match, two players at the top of their game in the second match.

Simply doesn't get much better than this.

Played an exhibition shot it is very close. Trust me. Very close. It is

very close. What a shame, could have been 135 but Mark Selby levels at

2-2. Very close, the full smile on his an

enthralling contest. Two guys at the top very close to the top of the

game right now, Selby and Williams. Watching it with us here enlisted

you is the big rising star of Welsh on ago, Michael white, through to

the quarterfinals at the 2016 Welsh Open. You looked remarkably relaxed

for a man who got through to the last eight earlier on and beat the

defending champion. I was very relaxed, I felt like it since I got

up this morning, I know John is a great player, he is a legend of the

sport. I had the attitude to go out and enjoy it and I played some of

the best look of my career and came out on top. It means everything to

me. On of the biggest wins of your career? Definitely. I beat Mark

Williams at the Crucible a couple of years ago, I'd beat Neil Robertson,

but to do it here in Wales is pretty special, so it means a lot to me.

2015 was a great year for you and 2016 could be shaping up to be as

well the way you are going into the quarterfinals. This is due, as we

can see early on against John Higgins, a man who has been in such

great form. It is an incredible achievement. John you can just turn

up and play and not get a chance, he is such a good player. For me to

beat him comfortably is a lot to take in at the moment. I will have

to take it in and get over the match because I have a quarterfinal to

play tomorrow. Straight back to action. Terrific for Welsh snooker,

desperate for somebody to get their hands on this trophy, it has been a

long time since Mark did it in 1999. Yes, I came close in 1992, the first

time we had it, Stephen Hendry gave me a bit of a tanking and Mark has

won it a couple of times and been in the final but Michael has been

around for a little while now, showed lots of promise as a

youngster and winning the world amateur Snooker championship in last

year she was very successful and he just has to build now on the wins

and he has done well to be John Higgins. The quarterfinal tomorrow

and more than capable of winning this event. Quick word on your

fellow Welshman Mark Williams. Great game. 2-2, flip of a coin just now.

Be nice to see market through as well. Come on the Welsh! They are

hoping that Mark Williams can join you in the quarterfinals. Let's go

back to this game. COMMENTATOR: Come on the Welsh? Come on the English as

well, Selby is a Leicester Gary. In case nobody knows, Leicester are

still stop the Premier League. Amazing. Who would have thought

that? They should have been relegated last year.

Always dangerous when you play that kind of shot, if you play it stick

you get the double-kiss and you look silly when that happens. He played a

fraction heart. Needs an angle on this red.

That is unlucky. That is where he wanted this.

Missed that one by a good distance, Mark Selby. Not one of his best

exhibitions of full striking there. -- ball striking. Seems to have gone

safe. Unfortunate frame in the context of

this match for both of these players. Whoever wins this will be

one frame from victory. Perfect for Mark Williams, has snookered Mark

Selby on the reds, or can he just get past the pink to hit the reds.

This is a coat of paint job. Good shot. Excellent judgment of pace.

Obviously his aim is to get into two reds on the back of the black spot

which you can play on two cushions, baulk and the side cushion. Just

missing the blue if he plays it that way. Still playing for the same two

reds were playing at a different way. Needs to miss that one loose

red which she has done. Some other little square of the second cushion.

He knows the shot is on now. It was a good attempt from Mark,

just fractionally wrong with the line of the shot. Unlikely she will

keep missing these reds and leave mark a chance when he does so. The

only thing that is happening is that Mark Williams is getting four points

every time he does miss. Has he got it this time? Yes, just. Good shot.

Hardly move, this red. Just wobbled. Went back onto its own divot. Little

bit careless from Mark. Got to find a cushion when you are flicking off

balls like that. So easy to do that. Because if there is a Gap round the

back of the black, doesn't look like there is too much of a gap, but if

you choose like you can get back to baulk he will take it on.

Wasn't that gap, so decided to play what he hoped was a good safety, but

that is a poor one. Another great example of Mark's long

putting ability, dead centre that went in, on the right side of the

blue this time. You will wish that was on its spot. At least the pink

is open. You will concentrate on that, Mark will never play for the

black because he is left-handed and playing the black along the cushion

is too risky, it is too missable for him.

And can only call into one pocket just now, but the two shots time it

can go into either. Wanted to be a little bit further. Still got that

shot. The only thing that will be a problem in a few moments time he has

to bring more reds into play, it is only the pink spot that is free. You

might have to play a cannon on the two reds are available.

might have to play a cannon on the want to push more into play. That is

what he is signing for, he is annoyed that has happened. Hard to

try and avoid that. He had to develop the reds but he would have

loved that if the spot was not occupied. Very unlucky, only just

goes on the spot. Anything but that from Mark's point of view. You can

play it harder to push the reds away from the pink spot. You give

yourself even more chance of being on a red. Never mind, the right

angle on the blue, he will play into that little trio of polls, the pink

and the two reds, does not need to hit this with any great pace.

That is superb. He will be very happy with that. APPLAUSE

. As such a deft touch, he sees the cannons he wants and plays them so

slowly sometimes. Mind you, just when you have the game at your

mercy! Has he been fortunate, have these reds covered each other? Let's

have a look. It just pots. What a reprieve that could be for Mark

Selby. Was sure to be going 3-2 behind there. And now has every

chance to go 3-2 in front but he is behind by 43 points but the way the

balls are, you can see them disappearing very quickly. He will

need two reds that the behind the black spot. Mark Selby is different.

Mark Selby might play on the black sooner rather than later because it

brings those reds into play and play a cannon off the black and being

right-handed he can come onto the black at some stage.

Be interesting to see how Mark goes about this because I would think

more negatively and make sure I got back into this all-important frame

before I risk anything like that. Great players of this sport are

positive players. I wonder what Mark Selby will do. Not ideally on his

next red. O'Sullivan would have been fling for the black earlier than

later because he knows in a few shots time it is the only way he can

get the reds into play. You can get the thing took us into the reds but

just three inches when you can get a nice angle on the pink to play this

short but you have a foot when the black is on its spot. The way he is

doing the right, if you played for the black earlier, he would have

left the red to the left centre so he would have nothing to do with the

black. With the black where it is on the reds for the art, have to do

some work with the cue ball to get on the red. As to play your choice

of way because he is running out of reds.

Right back into the game should he get the reds and three colours from

now. No room for the loot to get into the two reds, so has two rely

on a really good shot on the last of the three reds to bring those reds

into play. He is pretty straight on this red.

Maybe half ball with the rest and canning with pace into the two reds

on the black cushion. Could have relied on only good fortune to be on

a cover. Getting trickier for Mark to make much more than two reds and

two colours from here. With the black on the spot, canning into

those two reds would have been much easier. --

I don't know if he has got the angle to run through and play the cannon,

he hasn't. He will play for this red. If he has got an ankle he can

play into the two reds, but he hasn't. All about this shot, early

on we said he had one chance to get the nice angle on the pink to move

the two reds. Let's see whether she gets that angle. It is close but I

think he will just miss them wide on the right. The two cushions off the

blue to bring them into play, lots of left-hand side in between brown

and yellow. How was his luck? No good. He lent into it and said he

wanted more pink and flick of the two reds and bring them into play.

Two very good friends, these two Marks.

Little bit surprised Mark Selby didn't play for the pink in the

left-centre of this red because he would be guaranteed to have the

right angle on the pink to go into the reds. Would be a difficult shot

back, has to be perfect going for it in the corner. Has to be careful

with this one playing safe. Had to be thin and he was.

37 break has put himself back into this. All to play for.

That's a very poor safety shot. Once again, the next red after

potting this and then a colour. Got to get on it nicely. We have seen

how tight these pockets are along the back cushion.

APPLAUSE There is almost no advantage unless

he is guaranteed getting the cannon off this blue and taking this blue

on. Looks like he has got the angle to pot the blue and move the red.

There is just enough room. That's what he is looking at now. But if it

is not on, there is no point in playing the blue. You may as well

play the green and get a good snooker. Keep the green in play.

That's what he is looking at. He will try and get the snooker behind

brown and blue. Make sure you don't put the green

safe. The cannon from green to blue is obviously not on. Do you think,

it is on, Do m? It looks close to me. I don't think the cannon is on.

If he was to roll the blue and dead weight, it would have some pot on

the red in the right corner, but... I think Mark knew it wouldn't be

easy to get in behind the brown the way he does. He played that well. He

looked at a couple of options. He could have played the blue and

snookered Mark. He chose the blue. He played it well. He has got the

snooker. The key with that shot was keeping the green in play. Well...

APPLAUSE Did everything right Mark Selby and

it is amazing sometimes you can play the right shot and it ends up

costing you. That's an incredible piece of fortune. The red had to

stop in the perfect place. Can he cut it in the opposite centre?

Yeah. APPLAUSE

The white ball, oh. APPLAUSE

Held his hand up there, but he would have been unlucky for the cue ball

to go in-off that angle and with that little nudge off the corner of

the middle pocket, it has got perfect on the green. This was a

frame that Mark Selby definitely should have won. He should be

looking at going 3-2 in front. He is one shot away from being 3-2 behind.

Yeah, I don't blame Mark Selby for being short on the yellow there. It

didn't seem to boungs quickly off that side cushion. I think Mark was

expecting a heavier bounce. From Mark Selby point of view, Mark

Williams that is sat in his seat, there is a chance he would make a

mess of his position to the green. It depends on the type of shot he

plays here. Mark is different to most players. He sometimes floats

balls in and in this case, if he did, he would play for the yellow or

the green in the same pocket as this yellow. But he has played around the

cushions and played it very well. As you say Willie, it is looking now

like 3-2 to Mark Selby. Green, brown, blue and pink still

required. An awful bounce that was off the

cushion. That just absolutely took off.

I mean in lay man's terms it went off the cushion at 5mph and came off

the cushion at 10mph. That's the perfect to be on the brown there and

all of a sudden it has gone bounced and gone an extra two-feet further.

Yes, Mark really can't stretch for the brown very easily because the

black will be in his way. So he is playing with the rest. The black is

just influencing him here. Pressure on this. Oh, a good shot. He is just

the right side of the blue. So should be plain sailing now for Mark

Selby. Mark Williams got in first in this frame with a break of 40, but

it doesn't look like being enough. It is Mark Selby who has done enough

to take the 3-2 lead in the best of seven frames match.

A case of what might have been there for Mark Williams. Darren, a case of

two reds. We saw the wonderful cut there by Selby, but earlier on in

that frame, the misread by Mark Williams which allowed Selby in,

didn't it? Otherwise Williams may have won that frame? Well, Mark had

done the hard work. He was on a break of 40. I mean, the red, this

red in the middle, this is just unforgivable. The only thing you

could probably say with that red is he wasn't quite at the middle of the

cue ball. He had a little bit of awkward cueing with the red being in

close contact to the cue ball, but you would still pot that. In

practise he would pot that 100 out of 100. He will be miffed with

himself. Mark Selby is playing good stuff, isn't he? We saw him go out

last year in the last 16 to Luca Brecel, but he is looking in decent

form? He always looks in decent form. He plays that kind of game.

Without being cruel to Mark Selby, there is nothing really exciting

about him, but he is absolutely, proficient in all departments. He

just goes on about his business. He can play all the flash shots, he

just elects not to. He does what he has got to do. He takes what's there

in front of him and if he has to play safe, he plays safe. He always

gives every shot 100%. And keeps a lower profile. He doesn't make the

headlines like a Ronnie or a Judd Trump, but he goes about his

business very professionally? Yeah, obviously, you know, he has a

different demeanour about him to Judd or Ronnie, they don't call him

the jester for Leicester for anything, he is a real funny lad. He

didn't doesn't come across as funny on the snooker table. He is out at

the moment, Mark Selby. What is going through Mark Williams' head?

The good thing with Mark and the strong point with Mark Williams, he

is one of those people who can put misses behind him. He will have

forgotten about that red. Most players now that would be the end of

them. They would be sitting in their chairs thinking, "How have I missed

that red?" I should be 3-2 up. Mark had this brilliant knack over the

years to forget that and to get on with the next frame and play the

next balls that are in front of him. There have been moments like that

for Mark Williams this week. Where you don't know if he is going to

come back? But he has. The early matches, he said he played poor. As

each match has gone on, he played better. If he doesn't miss that red,

he has been 3-2 up and it has been high standard and high quality from

the first frame. As it is, Mark Selby breaking. He's 3-2 up. Back we

go. COMMENTATOR: Mark Selby breaking off

for frame six. He takes the 3-2 for the first time in this match. He had

to play catch-up. Mark Williams played that so well. Mark was

probably hoping to pot this red slightly on the left jaw and no harm

done, just the four points. This is almost like playing the break off

again, where the balls are. Just coming around to see if it is

not a three ball plant, but that he would be pushing that red on to the

far-right hand corner. Springing it around like an ordinary break-off

shot. Now, these balls are in open play and obviously one mistake from

Mark Williams could be very costly. He does have a choice of a couple of

reds to either corner here, Mark, but they are fraught with danger.

It must be extremely tight. We had a quick glance. You can certainly see

the centre of the pocket. I'm not sure if you can see the left-hand

jaw. People always like to look at that shot and see both jaws. He may

be reluctant to play it with he can only see the centre of the pocket.

He can definitely see the centre, but can he see the left-hand jaw?

That's the reason he is playing the other one. He is not playing that

one. APPLAUSE

We always talk about fractions. He is a little bit in between there.

You can see with his facial expression, he is not happy. He

should be delighted to have the first chance of winning frame and

match. He will have to play with screw to

slow the white down. Played it perfectly.

APPLAUSE Played it lovely.

I am sure Mark Selby has a lot of confidence with this match so far.

He had had wonderful break in frame four. That would have given him

enough confidence to go and win the match from here. He will certainly