Quarter-finals - Part 1 Snooker: Welsh Open

Welcome to quarterfinals day. We still have these guys looking for a

place in the last four. This is it and what it is all about,

the Welsh Open Trophy. I will not lay a finger on it because I will

probably drop it. Dominic Dale, a very good afternoon to you. Who do

you think will get their hands on this on Sunday evening? Do you have

a hunch now we know it is down to eight players in the quarterfinals?

For me the form horse, I suppose, is Ronnie O'Sullivan, but there are

great players in this event, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, and Michael

White, who is doing a fantastic job for Wales, saw Ronnie will find it

hard if you want to lay his hands on this trophy. How much does it come

no down to psychology and mental stuff? Greatly saw. In the later

stages of any tournament is the guys with their pedigree, the winners,

the past champions -- greatly so. In all sports, not just snicker. It

will be top but better for the guys who can make a semifinals because

then it will be best of living and the bigger names will provide it

more. As you alluded to a few moment ago, a big night for the Welsh man

who did superbly by putting the defending champion John Higgins out.

How do you rate his chances of getting through to the semifinals?

Highly. He was nearly out before, but potted in that do or die moment,

which would have given him confidence and since then he has

gone from strength to strength, played some tremendous matches. He

is in absolute Top Gear at the moment and it will take something to

stop him from playing, he plays an attacking game and is a threat to

anybody at the moment, Michael White. A big name for him -- big

game for him. One of these quarterfinals has already got

underway, the match between Neil Robertson, and Ding Junhui we, who

lifted this in 2012. Neil Robertson took the first frame and we will

pick it up in friend two with Robertson at the table, and no

score. If you catch it to thin you can go

round the back... Anywhere near the pot.

APPLAUSE That is the way to play those kind

of shots. They are so proficient now in the long potting department,

there is no need to play to get the cue ball back behind. They play a

shot for something no, not necessarily a shot for nothing. I

saw Neil Robertson in the previous frame this one. Almost identical. --

this one. The red above the black is pottable so I good chance to get a

frame on the board. The red above the black is pottable

so a good chance to get a frame He certainly should get at least 40

from here. He needs to get into play. The quick look at that red

there. He feels it is not pottable and then he can get onto a colour to

break the reds. Already looking to bring the pink into play. That red

above the black, not easy to get on, and that is why he is looking, like

all these top players, they make every chance chance to win the

frame, get into them quickly. I see that in Coventry. He looks like he

is playing for the Lewis reds. Very soon he will be getting into that

bunch. -- loose reds. Because black and pink are out of play.

I am surprised he's not getting into the pink and reds, because just

seeing them he is now looking at that one from the black to get onto.

If he doesn't get a right angle on it to bring them into play he will

have to go after the blue again... He is playing with topspin so far

He is playing with topspin so for two up on the black.

If he doesn't have the right angle, what is he going to do here?

Very unlike Ding not to have got into that. At least maybe now he

feels he can get onto this red just above the black. We will know when

he plays this. He still has plenty to do. Yes, I think he is still

playing with a little bit of confidence issues, trying to build

his confidence slowly, but surely. Normally he doesn't miss a trick to

get into the pack and split them everywhere, but he has taken these

nicely, it has to be said. Picking them off one by one. He is running

out of options. As each red disappears, without opening that

cluster, it will get a lot harder to continue this little effort of his.

This is not the Ding we know. He always gets pink and black. He has

had three chances to go on to the pink. There is the kiss on the black

mouth and it is not guaranteed to work. He feels it is not quite the

right angle -- black now. That has worked out pretty well, though.

Is the red and pink set right? It is not. Why would he not be thinking of

going into them here? I am amazed, I really am.

It is a three or four back inch target now to go to the pink and the

reds. -- four inch. It just looked

absolutely straightforward. He is at the table, though. And counting.

As long as this cannon goes right now, potting the red to the right

corner and moving the red away from the pink spot, this now becomes a

frame winning chance for Devon Shaun Ley -- Kim Jong-un we. -- trick-mac.

It was all a bit awkward three or four shots on goal and no it is just

about ensuring no silly mistakes -- a frame winning chance for Ding.

People might think I have been a bit critical in the way I have -- he has

played these but this is not the Ding I know. It is plain sailing

played these but this is not the now, OK. Possibly getting in the

winning line of this visit. Cardiff. Well supported. Players

like playing here. It has a lot to offer, Cardiff. This is probably the

most awkward part he has had to play in this break so far. He just

walloped it straight in there. You feel if this black goes in it

will definitely be the century. Still no problem.

So are we going to see Ding Junhui make another century? If he does it

will be his eighth of this season, which by his standard is very poor.

23 last year. He is a long way behind. But this has been a very

good response to the first frame. The first frame was a little bit

scrappy. Brown for the hundred. APPLAUSE

Very well done. APPLAUSE

What a terrific-mac ending for Ding Junhui. Will be feeling much better.

All level, 1-1. Yes, it was a terrific-mac break by Ding to level

it. Just a reminder, that at this stage in the quarter-finals it is

the best of nine frames -- eight terrific break. Let's go to frame

three in this match with Ding at the table and no score.

What a terrific pot. That was top drawer. Couldn't have played it much

better off had it much cleaner. -- or hit it much cleaner.

It looks like he is going to have to play slightly more difficult cover.

Maybe the Brown, a bit more aggressive. And on pot like this,

why shouldn't he be aggressive? No problem. Has it rolled enough? If it

has, it's a superb shot. As you can see from that picture, not a lot of

room to get through the gap. To screw back the black in the same

pocket. A good shot that was, on the brown. He will have to play

difficult blue or difficult green and took the more difficult of the

three balls -- he would have had to play.

Ideally he would love to get on the reds just above the black. I think

he has landed a little bit too strict on this black to do that. He

will be playing lots at the bottom. He has had a look as well to see if

one will go into the middle, which would seem a much easier shot. If

not, playing this with a lot of bottom and on the left-hand side.

Well, the fooled us all. You look at all the other shots and then played

the real straightforward one. -- he looked at. I can't understand why he

didn't just play that in the first place. All players look at playing

different ways, they all have different styles, their favourite

shots and shots we don't particularly like. And he is not on

the red we thought he was on, and with that blacks, the top two of

them will port, and that is why he is looking at the more difficult red

on the side of the pink. -- will pot. Yes, and the one just above it

he can play through the gap, back down through the blue. This one,

certain to be on the pink, should it going.

APPLAUSE This one, certain to be

on the pink, should it go in. After the next shot he can go onto

the black then try to get onto the second of the two reds straight.

Made a magnificent 147 of course in the Masters, ?40,000. He wants to be

on that second red straight. A little too hard? Getting down very

quickly so it must be OK. And now a chance to win the frame on this

visit. It wasn't until then. That is just about perfect. Just

slightly hampered on the cue ball, but is it going to do a lot. Just

drop the red in, and you might even see him play this on and off the

cushion. A little bit more of an angle than it first looked. Yes, it

is going to move very close to the black, so he may try to dig down to

go round the back and possibly in the same pocket. That is what he's

doing. The red over the middle pocket, he

would play into the bunch because this is not frame ball as yet, so he

will play for the loose red. And now one shot away from making the frame

safe. Just looking to see if there are any

reds available. Obviously if you pot red, colour, red, Ding will come

back to the table, so he really needs to get two reds to stop him

going back to his seat. He will see if there is one in the middle. Not

going to the bunch from here. He has had a look at the one to the right

of the pink in the yellow pocket, after the shot.

Running down two cushions trying to get into them. It also could play

perfectly. Is he on that one through the gap? It is close. It really

could do with this red going in because Ding will carry on if it

doesn't. I think he has found something somewhere, maybe the one

nearest the pink. Yes, trying to play this end.

APPLAUSE .

The first frame was very scrappy. Ding Junhui eventually got that, and

this break has been superb. Every chance of back-to-backs.

It shows you the difference between the two players. Robertson has made

450 centuries and this will be his 31st this year. It shows you how

Ding has been out in the cold little bit this season. 451 coming up, and

his fourth of the tournament. Very well done.

APPLAUSE Absolutely superb, that frame.

This crowd have been entertained greatly. With Ronnie O'Sullivan to

come. What an afternoon of snooker they are going to have.

APPLAUSE Magnificent. That break from Ding,

and Neil Robertson was superb as well. He finishes on 140.

STUDIO: Back and front end in some style, Neil Robertson. I can tell

you the Aussie also took the next frame, helping him to a 3-1 lead and

the players are now at their mid-session interval, so we will be

rejoining them live very shortly. We have just had Ding Junhui up here in

fact practising in that mid-session interval, just brushing up on one or

two things, Dominick. But Neil Robertson looks like a man who is in

the zone, in the groove, and on a mission? Is. I think once you get to

the quarterfinals stage the turn it really belongs to the top players, a

couple more matches closer to the final. This is what we would call a

normal distance match. This fifth frame will be big for both players.

A bit of daylight now for Neil Robertson so it is all imported for

Ding I think, especially because he is a little bereft of confidence of

late and need a good performance to get that confidence back so that

frame is a big one for him I think, more than four Neil. We saw him here

a few mods ago. What do you do during the interval? Do you just

like to sit and think, come to the practice table, what you think?

Everyone is different. I actually find the more technically minded

players are the ones more likely to come up here to the practice table.

Someone like Ronnie the more natural players, I would expect him to be up

there. He is a natural player and you just expect him

there. He is a natural player and right out there. Normally it 3-1

Ding, one of the wettest place in the

He would want to go there any time soon. That is what he is facing. --

he would not want to. Normally very good in the long game department. It

has been very strange for King Junhui, his demise over the last is

not so. He had that terrific run -- for Ding Junhui. He has been very

quiet since then. Loss of confidence, loss of form. He has

shown promise this week. A couple of good wins, played very well.

That is unlike Neil to play the shot as they shock to nothing there. He

probably felt pretty good but having had 15 minutes off, they are not

easy shots to play. Going back to that conversation Darren was having,

he did win a PTC at the end of last month in China. That put him in the

Champion of champions. Still not in the top 16 for definite.

That is unforgivable. For a player of his class to miss that shot. Just

an ordinary shot, that was impossible not to get onto the rate

nicely. It shows what a bit of tension in the arm can do. Careless.

No mistakes the second time. Wouldn't touch the sides. Straight

in. A couple of reds out in the open. Reds around the black. Causing

him problems there. The pink is not really available, so might decide to

just play of this blew into the pink, try and develop some reds and

develop the pink into a better position. Dropping on the loose one.

Can't blame him for doing that. But it didn't feel there was any value

in going into the pack but he is going to have to go into them sooner

or later. Ideally he would want to get onto the Redd, just to the right

of the black ideally, in a way that he can pot it and move the red away.

A bit of work to do. For he is in that position.

May have to take the choice now after potting this next red and

getting high on the blue. The perfect angle to do just that.

May decide to go on to the punch to the left of the pink, might not

bother to play the thing. The forces through those, he has every chance

of not only pushing one on the left-hand corner but also being on

the one just to the right the black. He is worried about making a plant,

I think. If that's the case, just play the cannon into the two reds.

That is what he is worried about, going in-off the other red. If he

plays into the two reds to the left of the pink, that plant goes along.

It is one of those occasions where he might not play into the pink.

He wanted to slide past the blue there. Neil as a player doesn't mind

leaving himself a little bit of distance. He has the angle to force

this around with the red just above the pack. He has overhit that by a

long way. You think you would like to have that one back again.

Fit me he would have potted the blue and ended up snookered, he would not

have believed it. Can he get through to the second red away from the

black? He may be of the hip that very, very thin. He has decided

against that, just screwing into the bunch. He could have possibly hit

the red thin. He knows this is a short as long as you get into the

bunch you should not leave a red on. Just a total miscalculation there.

He has caught the red way too sick. A good strike. Just landed a little

bit awkward with his cueing. It is his own cue with AQ extinction. -- a

cue extension. I think he feels he has had a bit of

a bad contact. Load off the question. All of the pace was taken

out of the cue ball. -- off the question. Still on the red but it is

just a bit more awkward for him now. The natural angle would take him

down towards the blue. Still not quite straightforward just

yet. Only a couple of shots away. From this being a real good chance

to win this frame. Just needs to keep tight control of the cue ball.

Yes, it was a frame that Ding really needed to win to have any

aspirations of winning this match will stop highly unlikely. It can be

done of course but highly unlikely. 45 points in front.

Always difficult when you are cueing down on this, if you put a bit of

unwanted side on you can miss these things. Straight into the middle of

the pocket. Looks like that was the last of the

pottable reds. He has got an angle on this blew to play the cannon.

Don't go into the pink, go into the red, that is exactly what he has

played, exactly what he has got, excellent shot. APPLAUSE

The pink put some 64. There will be no heroics here with the pink. He

will play a little cannon abut the key thing is making sure you are

clear of the thing. Just playing a little-known John the red. He has

got past the winning post in this frame.

And that shot will leave Ding sitting in his chair whatever the

equation is in the next few pots. Get another chance for a century.

The could have had four on the trot. Plenty of balls on.

Can probably do play the cannon again. Swing it around to cushions,

if you missed the kiss, he has played to pot the red in the middle.

But he has done more than enough, Neil Robertson goes one away from

victory now. He leads 4-1. STUDIO: So Neil Robertson one frame away

from victory in this match. Always very hard to read, Neil Robertson,

what is going through his head, but he is just going through the thing

very mechanically and methodically, and he is getting the results, isn't

he? He reminds me of a modern day Steve Davis, very technically good,

a beautifully flat cue action. And his transition from ringing the cue

back to releasing the grip and putting it back on the cue is the

best I have ever seen. That leads to perfection in timing. When Niall is

at his best, he is as hard to beat someone like Ronnie O'Sullivan, who

also when he is at his best is just almost unplayable. He is supremely

confident at the moment, unlike Ding, who looks a little bit ginger.

He has been very over careful, cautious about everything. If you go

back a couple of seasons when Ding was at his best, winning five

ranking events, he would have been more competitive in this match. He

has been playing some shots that perhaps we would not have seen him

playing 34 years ago. perhaps we would not have seen him

at a couple of these here this yellow.

at a couple of these here this It is up to Neil Robertson to go and

when it from here. Let's go back to the commentary box.

when it from here. Let's go back to of a 147, Ronnie Wood be, but it is

more important for Ding to stay in the match. Maybe Ronnie Wood go for

a 145 instead. He has already have a 146.

He might do it himself, Ronnie, he is still in. I read a leading

article that one of the leading bookmakers is offering 100,000 to

Ronnie if he gets one. Takes a lot of pressure off. He would like to

win frames easy. If you win them at one visit, you don't put through as

much pressure. It is when you start adding 40 point each, it puts a lot

of pressure on you. If you win at one visit, there is no pressure.

You probably saw the cue ball bounce. Not too bad. As the cue ball

travelled, just look at the way it bounced. It would have ran to three

more inches. I think he is OK to go around the back of the black into

the same pocket. Yes, he is. So much so, he can aim for the

opposite corner. A little cannon here and then he may start thinking

about the 147. As long as he hits them for ball.

The two reds that are touching just above the black. Doesn't have to

play this pacey. Normally you play them quite pacey when you go into a

bunch but because they are split apart, bound to be going to the

opposite corner. Played it a different way to what I was

thinking. Still on a red. Might even be a body get onto a black now.

Don't think so. Yes, and I think if he was 4-1 up in this match and not

4-1 down, he would be playing the shot to the right, with a lot of

right-hand side to swing it down for the black. The fact he is 4-1 down,

I would be very surprised if he did not play up for the pink for the

blue. He has, he has played the running side shot back for the

black, so it is fair to say he has got the maximum. On his mind.

He has had five in tournament play, 147s. O'Sullevan think is 13 now.

This could be a little bit of a confidence booster to get Ding's

season on track. You always need something to knock yourself into

gear. He is undoubtedly one of the game 's great breakers, and I don't

say that lightly. There are only four or five in the game and he is

one of them. Yes, and without giving him commentator's curse, the balls

are absolutely perfect. There is nothing on the site cushions.

He has potted enough so that Neil Robertson can't win this game. Neil

Robertson will be in his chair, cheering him on. Needs to be high on

this, and he is. That is a great shot. If he had been low there, that

would have been end of maximum, but he has got high. I think there are

two of these reds to pot. Can he get through the gap, which would in turn

open up the other two reds. But he will take the other one, it is still

OK for the black. You don't want to risk anything yet, you are not over

the winning line yet in this frame. He just needs one more red to make

the frame safe, then he can play a risky shot if necessary to get onto

the black. Just a little bounce, he is on the one in the middle.

The art of break-building, always get the right angle on the next

ball, to make it easy to get onto the black in this case. Ideally he

would love to get onto reds here but on and off the cushion, obviously

there is a loose one he can get on but if he can get that loose one to

get the other red that is there, he will take that one first, and that

is what he has played for. That opens the other two reds. Now he

doesn't have to play any case, any cannon, to make the 147. That was

brilliant, the way he played that shot. Yes, if anything, Neil will be

cheering him on now. He knows he has lost the frame. Landed a little bit

straighter on that black then he would have liked, but he has played

it ever so well. He is back in perfect position. This is now

turning into a real great chance. Short this time. He can play for the

red, or the two reds in the left-centre, or he can play the more

tricky shot, with a trace of right-hand side and swing past the

two reds. But it is not a nice shot to play, and definitely not at this

stage. He opted for the easier option. It

has made this red a little more tricky. He is back in perfect

position once again. A little bit of bounce, that is a

poor shot, goodness me. OK, he is on the one in the middle but it is not

the right angle. Yes, his face tells a story there, he has to dig down on

this, go round the back of the black probably. Come on, Ding. It is

there. Well played. That is the first difficult shot he has had to

play in this break, that's how good this break has been. That's the

first time he wasn't perfect on a ball.

This Cardiff crowd maybe feel they have been slightly cheated out of a

147 early in the week. This, now, is an unbelievable chance. Don't be

straight, don't be straight. A little shake of the head. He has got

a slight angle, he can't get close to the yellow. He needs to get loads

of side on this to widen the angle. He couldn't get close to the yellow.

APPLAUSE If he had plotted the black in the

left-hand side of the pocket he would have gone wider with the cue

ball. Well done. The white is not hard

enough though. He doesn't have to do anything with the cue ball, just pot

it plain ball. Now the crowd, as you can see, are smiling and hoping.

These two girls in the front row, all their fingers crossed.

Well played, Ding. Didn't have to do anything with the cue ball. Slow

down, white. He needs the right to slowdown. It is never easy, this

game. In and out, not guaranteed to be perfect, but he will have some

sort of shot on the pink. Getting close to it. They are praying.

Do you play in and out or do you just roll it in? That is the choice

he has got. Oh, dear. This pink for ?12,000. And

I am sure he will pop the black. It's their! What a fantastic shot on

the pink. Every chance of making his six maximum in competitive play.

Absolutely wonderful! What a fantastic break! He offers his hand

and congratulations. The crowd are standing. They love it here in

Cardiff. Back in the match with the 147. Although he still trails 4-2.

What a wonderful break. First class. Well, well. What a way to drag

yourself back into the game, 4-2. Ronnie O'Sullivan mate have turned

out 147 but not like that -- may have turned out. That is his six

maximum, in fact, bringing him level with John Higgins on the list of

all-time maximums, third in fact, for Ding Junhui. Tremendous stuff.

The crowd willing him on and that was a great clear up. I liked Willie

there, only out of position once. I was worn out watching that. When it

is plain sailing and they are always in perfect position you do not get

it so tense because you are expected to do it but when you are out of

position as often as Ding was on the college there, you stress for him,

knowing all these shots are pressure balls and striking that is difficult

-- on the college there. That was fantastic for Ding and if anything

is the Kit -- kick-start his season it will be something like that.

You're getting sweaty palms watching that? Yes. He said he was low on

confidence earlier on but he did not look like a playable on confidence.

When you are behind, you have a different psychology. But Neil, he

wobbled it, they would have had that opportunity himself but when he

missed he left him right amongst the balls and at 4-1 down Ding is

probably going out there to be himself, be natural, be calm. Not in

the match competitiveness yet. If he wins the next frame he certainly

will be, someone in Ding's class. Goodness knows how he will be

feeling right now, probably tense, quite shaken a little. Who knows,

everyone is different, but it is not easy to go out and perform like that

for the next frame. We can show you how the crowd were feeling, as he

was clearing up the table, real pension in the arena. Say a Little

prayer! He got there and got the ?10,000 of course that Ronnie didn't

quite fancy earlier in the week. I don't know how he will feel about

that, Ronnie. A brilliant performance. Well done, Ding. Just

the thing he needed and hopefully that will be the platform for him to

perform better for the season now, the lead up to the World

Championships in April. A difficult one, leading and then behind, you

feel elated, punching the air. But you're still trailing 4-2. A

difficult position to be in? I remember Stephen Hendry, I think in

the world champion shes, he made a 147 against John Higgins, I think it

was, in the second round or something and carried on making it

thes, 70s and 90s right afterwards and Stephen Hendry had the class to

do that. The 147 tended not mean everything, like it would do someone

of a lower ranking. They get 147 and Arsenal elated they can't

concentrate in the next frame, but Ding is a bit like Stephen Hendry, a

fantastic performer first doing it. He can make those breaks quite

often. It happened to Ding couple of years ago in the final when Ronnie

cleared it with a 147 to beat him on the 2014 final. He still has work to

do if used to get there again, Ding Junhui, despite that fantastic 147.

Let's go back to the match. DARREN MORGAN: Well, well, well. We

have seen it all now. Absolutely fantastic.

of distance between both balls. Playing this the nature of the pot,

will have to do nothing with the cue ball. It will naturally come back up

towards the bulk colours. He has had a bonus now. If that pink goes into

the left medal, passed that red, he has had a major result there. Surely

not. It is not there sometimes, this game, is it? Joe Perry suggested

Neil Robertson had a good run at the ball when they were practising in

Cambridge, but he was almost apologetic there to Ding, potting

that pink. We will show you this shot in a few

moments time, when he potted the pink. He pots that pink now and when

he is walking round the table he holds his hand up there. You saw him

hold his hand up to Ding. He had a bit of good fortune. Can he make

that good fortune pay and go on to win the frame on this visit?

This is going to start to get interesting now. Not a great pack,

really, to go in from the pink. It is a little bit further away from

that reds than he would like, and there is a loose red. A good pack to

go into from the back. Now he might be forced into going into them from

the blue. He has come a bit straight on this red. I suppose he could stop

the red dead and leave the cue where it is and then play the pink into

the bunch. That is what he is trying to do. This match has been superb,

hasn't it? After the first frame, which was very scrappy, but since

then it has virtually been one visit stuff. Excellent, it has been. Just

played for the loose one, there. Well, depending on what he decides

to do, we might even see him going at this blue in such a way... I know

a bulk colours. He might be playing off two cushions, trying to develop

a couple. That is not bad. Still on the green. The red just to the left

of the cluster. It could be on. And the fact he is left-handed as well,

so don't the cushion is no problem. He can get on three reds from the

screen. -- down the cushions is no problem. A little thin to have

played the slow role off the pink. A little thin to have played

the slow roll off the pink. He had a very heavy contact there.

Short. Couldn't see anything with the replay. You'd think it could be

detected but obviously he feels he did not have a very good contact.

Now he is left with a real awkward shot, if he is to continue this

little effort. This is a thin snick down to the right corner. Hasn't got

to do a lot with the cue ball, just make sure of the pot. Straight in

the medal, very good indeed. APPLAUSE

-- middle. Excellent pot, this, but he will be faced with a real tough

one because he will have to face this dead weight to bounce on and

off the cushions. The pink will go back onto his own spot on there will

be a slight gap to get back through to that remaining red at the top of

the pack. You don't -- if he doesn't fancy playing slow he can play off

the side cushion and onto the other red. That was a pressure pot, that

wasn't easy. And once again a big stroke of luck there. If the pink

does not come on top of the Black, there is no problem. A good bit of

fortune on the first red, getting on the pink, but this time the pink has

been his saviour again. And not too sure at first glance

whether he can play this and get back into the pockets. It is a very

tough one, playing with pace. Finn this time. Oh, dear. It never rains

but it pours sometimes. OK, he had a 147, but he has been very

unfortunate on three occasions in this one frame. OK, it is not

unfortunate there but unfortunate for them red to stay out of the

pocket. -- for the red. APPLAUSE

It just travelled a little bit too far for Neil, to be able to get into

this cluster of reds. It has been a game of ups and downs,

something we don't see very much from Ding. After his 147. He will be

enjoying it out there. Obviously you want to win. You can't win all the

time, but there are signs he's getting back to his very best. As I

am saying that, what a great shot Neil Robertson has just played.

APPLAUSE Absolute top drawer. That could be

frame and matchwinner. Yes, it is a shame a little bit of luck has had

to come into this final frame, because it has been a match of the

highest quality. If he pots the blue he will easily miss the kiss on the

yellow but it is a case of missing the yellow on the way back as well.

He will miss it on the way down but will he miss it on the way back?

Only just. Once again, played that bit, pink and black out of

commission. S reds, two blues. Then into the semifinal.

That was about contact. Watch the bounce. Red took off, didn't it? The

easy shot is the screw in between yellow and brown but it needs to go

in between yellow and green. APPLAUSE

The distance it again, because his frame ball... This is for frame and

match. Played as shot to nothing and perhaps regrets now not going for

adjusted pot it. Is there a lifeline for Ding Junhui?

Still, without snookers, Neil Robertson will be in the semifinal.

There was just enough room to sneaking behind the green but as you

can see there are, the kiss. I don't know whether he can get through to

this long straight red. If he can, he will take it on. It is very

tight, isn't it, that? Coming road to look at the one nearest

discussion. -- coming round. The cut is the one he's taking on.

It is a shame this match has finished early because both players

have played very well in this match. It doesn't deserve a 5-2 victory,

Neil Robertson. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to win, he does, but

perhaps 5-3 would have been a better reflection of the game so far. That,

I'm sure, it's going to be the end. Once again the smile is because of a

horrendous kick. Luckily for him he didn't have one at 147. A little to

do to get into the top 16 for Sheffield. That puts frame and match

beyond any reasonable doubt. Ding Junhui, it is nice to see him

playing well again, but his chance of winning the Welsh Open has gone.

In the middle part of the match it was literally outstanding. We will

be talking about the 147 for many an hour this afternoon and this

evening. The handshakes coming. It Mendis match from these two great

stars from both sides of the world, ladies and gentlemen, what a

fabulous match it was. -- a tremendous match. Neil Robertson

goes into the final, the vector, at 5-2.

Ian Hunt: A good day therefore Neil Robertson, the first man through to

the semifinals of the 2016 Wales Open, very happy, but Ding Junhui,

you can only imagine what is going through his head after getting that

fabulous 147, but he goes home, having won the trophy in 2012. He

will have to wait another year to try to win it again but Neil

Robertson, he won it nine years ago, back in 2007, so he is on course to

try to repeat that success. So a fine victory in the end for Neil

Robertson there. Was it a fair reflection, do you think, the

scoreline in the end? Willie. 5-3 would have been a better reflection

overall. Yes, I thought 5-2, 5-3, something like that. Neil did well

today, his long potting was good, he scores well. Ding did well but he is

a little short on confidence. A stepping stone for him perhaps for

the rest of the season. He has at a few matches, a few wins, something

he was shot off, but it is on words and upwards for Neil Robertson. It

is, and as for Ding Junhui, as you say, he needed a confidence left.

Can he take it from getting in 147, the first of this tournament,

obviously? Both things in collaboration really. I think the

147 and get into the quarterfinals. He has obviously won three or four

matches this year, something he hasn't done for a while. He did win

at an Asian event last year which would have given him some

confidence, you would have thought, but the big major over here on

British soil, at that, he still struggled. He needs to do something

in one of the turn and over here, which he has done here. He will not

be happy with the quarterfinals because he is such a great player,

has won numerous events and is capable of so much more but it is

difficult from relative obscurity to winning the major. There is always

that in between step or two and today was one of those. Yes, because

mentally perhaps your confidence drains away and you start to lose

belief in yourself? Can you do that? You can, but he worked a lot with

Terry Griffiths and Ding is a technical player, does everything by

the textbook. When you watch him play he looks like he can't miss

because he is so still on the shot. You sometimes wonder how on earth he

can suffer out there, but he You sometimes wonder how on earth he

he is human. Absolutely. We are all human. As for

he is human. Absolutely. We are all happy? Yes. The match started off

he is human. Absolutely. We are all way? Yes, I think so. He had a

couple of tricky shots but all the reds and blacks, they were taken

perfectly. The colours, that was very unlike him, you could say, but

he pulled off a nice pot on the pink, and a yellow was not easy

either. You are into the weekend, into the semis. You feel on top of

your game right now? Yes, I think that was an improvement on

yesterday, so I have gradually sort of improved as... Let's have a quick

look at this, Neil, if we can. Sorry to interrupt you there. This is the

moment Ding got it and you briefly graciously his hand, as a fellow

pro, taking pleasure in seeing that? Taking pleasure in the crowd, yes.

They all want to see that sort of stuff and more guys coming back and

making that. Ronnie was delighted their! That is the reason we are

chuckling because Ronnie is in the background practising for his game

against Mark Selby and he obviously got the 146 earlier in the week.

Nice to let someone else make that for a change! Ding has done that,

made 145, so he is climbing up there too. And the one Welshman we have

indeterminate, Michael White, against Mark Allen. If you see that?

A really good match will stop was looking to push on in their careers

and win many more tournaments, so both of them were really hungry in

that match and I think either of them have not have had the best

season so far. Mark has got a couple of finals and won Euro tour event

and he wants to get into the next. He is a very special player and I

rate him very highly and I think he will be in multiple tournaments.

Keen eye on that one to see who you get in the semis? I don't really

watch anything. I just go back, chill out. Switch off. The cinema?

Yes, that was awesome. Well played today, Neil. Thank you for joining

the smack in the studio. As we say, Ronnie O'Sullivan practising here

for his game against the world number one Mark Selby, and it is

Selby's turn to be put under the microscope. Mark Selby, 2040 world

champion. Three times Master champion. A formidable match player

these days? He is sort of in the mould of John Higgins, I think he

has taken over every department of his game -- every department of his

game is top notch. Very difficult to beat. A lot of superior tactical

shots and a very clever player. As well as, you know, he can score

amongst the best in the world as well which makes them a very

formidable opponent. As kids, there has been a lot said and written

about the fact we are good mates off the table. We came through the

juniors together and as a child he was practically as aware as he is

now, you know, he practised a lot with Willie Thorne and a lot of

professionals and learned his trade by getting beaten up by

professionals all the time. He learned right shots from the wrong

shots and as a kid he would not play the wrong shot. He always played the

right tactical shot but he could not score alike we could score at the

time and then towards his late teens and in his early life as a pro, he

then learned how to score. Very accurate. Precision like, surgeon

like, good cue para, but of course the one thing the public always

picks up on is all of the movement, the head movement, the swaying

backwards and forwards, before he actually plays the shot. People say

he is moving his head, but it is in the build-up, isn't it? It is his

upper body that actually moves. It looks like head movement but it is a

action as he switched to and fro with the cue. I know it is something

he has worked on over the years but he has an action that repeats and it

works. And I think him to try to completely under that now would

prove a problem, I think. Even though he has won so much, top

of the game, like some of the other players, I don't think he has that

don't believe every time he goes out there in himself, which he should

do. I wouldn't say he is overconfident player or person. I

know he is very technically minded, very interested in the finite

minutiae of the technique of how to strike a Super Bowl, grip, pressure,

stance, length of backswing, all of that type of thing. He is constantly

looking for the secret ingredient, whereas if he just sat back a little

and realised he has achieved everything he could have ever wanted

to, he would be all right. That is the technical Mawr sysop Mark

Selby's game but we are ways like to hear the professional talking about

each other so let's get the verdict on Ronnie O'Sullivan from some of

the other top guys on the tour. Snooker is lucky to have him, the

way he is, also I'm lucky, because of the dedicated himself the way

Higgins did and Hendry did, we would see snooker more in a different

light. It is a mess of the tour when he is not playing. He is someone I

look up to in most things he does. Talent to burn, mentally sometimes

not quite there, but that is part of why people come to see him. Jekyll

Hyde. That is all I can say, really. When he is on the top of his game he

is more or less impossible to bid. On the table, the best player I have

ever seen. I would put him in front of Stephen Hendry, the best player I

have ever seen. I think most people would agree with that. Off the

table, very strange. I find with Ronnie in the last for five years,

he has been as mentally as good as he has ever been. I have known

Ronnie since he was nine years old, and he came into King's Cross

snooker club and I was 14 at the time, and I thought this lad has got

serious ability, he was just potting balls for fun. Could have been the

best player we have ever seen but currently the record suggest

otherwise. On his day, he can beat anyone he wants, when he wants. If

he is in the right frame of mind, she can't be beaten. Let's give you

the comparison between Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Let's here from the two men. The world number one, Mark Selby,

against a man who has been playing some stunning future. It is the

world finals. Have to set your eyes on trying to win the title now. You

have two Braille top of your game, and take your chances. -- you have

to play at the top of your game. There are a lot of things that can

determine a match, you need a bit of luck, someone to play well against

you at the right time. If you can get through those matches you have a

chance of winning an event. People say the standard of snooker now is

probably the toughest it has ever been, and Ronnie is 40 years old,

still at the top of his game, still winning tournaments. Probably the

all-time best. He plays the same against everybody. I kind of ticket

personal at one stage, because I thought he probably thinks this is

the way to beat me. Know, and I think you noticed that. I think in

one of his interviews he said I thought I slowed him down and try to

use it as a tactic, but then he said when you watch the other games, he

sees that I try that hard against everyone, so it is nothing against

him. Definitely not. It is just how he plays, a hard match player, you

have to be patient and work for every opportunity. That is why he is

world number one, because he consistently performs at every

tournament he plays in. It is going to be another really tough match for

me but at least now I know it is just how he plays, and he doesn't do

it just to get on my nerves. Really looking forward to it. No matter

what one that I play Ronnie in, it is or is a great occasion. This

tournament will be never different. It really is a mouthwatering match,

the Rocket has been on fire once again this week but Mark Selby as

well as efficiently going about his business to reach the last eight.

Ronnie O'Sullivan against Mark Selby.

ANNOUNCER: Amazing scenes in Cardiff for the match everyone is talking

about, the world's number one up against the biggest name in the

world of snooker, this place in the semifinals. Sit back and enjoy!

First up, ladies and gentlemen, the five-time world champion, three-time

Welsh Open champion, the biggest talent the world has ever seen, they

call him The Rocket, it is Ronnie O'Sullivan! CHEERING

Grate and the world number one, Mark Selby!

It is one we have all been looking forward to, let's join the

commentary team, Terry Griffiths and Willie Thorne. COMMENTATOR: That

afternoon, everybody. If you have been watching with us live, you will

have witnessed the wonderful 147 from Ding, and now we have the icing

on the cake. As the MC just mentioned, the world's number one

against the game's greatest player. This is going to be Ronnie

O'Sullivan's first real test in this tournament.

Always breaks off left-handed, these days.

APPLAUSE I think Mark Selby is well aware

that his long potting has got bigger against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Perhaps

not that time, but if he had mis-hit that one, then you would be leaving

O'Sullivan the balls. He doesn't normally leave you much on. Big

match, the biggest in the tournament so far? Certainly for Ronnie. Ronnie

has been quite favourable with the draw in the opening three games. He

came through almost silently until the last game. He played very well

in his last game. Not yet got in the form he was two years ago. Had a bit

of a quiet season. Not won a ranking event for two years. We although how

capable he is. Just added the finishing touches in

his home very near mine in Leicester, where he has put a table

in. They don't have much time to practice much with the travelling

they do, so when you are at home, it is nice to pinch an hour and a half,

to our sometimes. I know Terry used to have a table at his home when he

was at the height of his career. Always been an avid practice. Yes, a

table at home seems like the best thing you have ever had in your life

on the first of all, but then you find out it is not quite the same as

the snooker club where there is atmosphere and players to play

against. It is handy to have one. Especially with players busy on the

circuit, like you say. Looking good here!

Yes, I talk to Mark at length during his tournament play, he mentioned

the mark -- the match at the Masters were Ronnie beaten 6-3, he said he

did a miraculous clearance of the final frame. The think Mark was 70

point different and he cleared up. It would have been 5-4. He says I

would have fancied it from there. He knows he has to get up to a fast

start, looks like he is doing just that.

He hasn't got the silky smooth cue action of Ronnie O'Sullivan coming

get the job done, Mark Selby. He can score a player with the best of

them. A little bit short for the desired

red. He played a good choice there. Can still get through the gap for

the black. A wry smile from Ronnie in the

background, he knows that break off was not good enough.

We have had breaks of 147, 120. Never ending. Fantastic player. A

little bit short again this time. Ronnie O'Sullivan this time admits

defeat. A good performance by Selby. STUDIO: Ronnie throwing in the towel

flare and by far the strongest test that Ronnie O'Sullivan has had this

week obviously. The world number one, he just goes about it in such a

ruthless efficient manner. First go, framed winning break. Ronnie is

playing someone in Mark Selby that he has great respect for and who he

knows can put him under a great deal of pressure so this is the first big

test this week for Ronnie O'Sullivan. Of course he can handle

it but he knows any mistakes he is likely to make against Mark Selby

could be severely punished. If you see some of the other pregnancy has

played go 1-0 in front, he knows he has the ability to overcome fairly

easily. When you are blowing someone like Mark, you might not have that

chance. If Ronnie O'Sullivan makes one mistake, as he did in that

frame, he was punished for it, it cost him. That could carry on

happening. People have to play well and take his chances when they come

along. Selby confidently taking that 1-0 lead. As he breaks off.

COMMENTATOR: Sometimes that is the difference, very good break off,

Ronnie O'Sullivan made a poor one and was punished for it. Small

margins in these two matchplay. Dominic said he was punishing

O'Sullivan, and quite right as well. Don't for one minute think that

Ronnie O'Sullivan doesn't fight out there. He is very deceptive with his

game. It is as if he makes the game look very easy and plays as if he

has not got a care in the world but the truth is he's a tough

streetfighter out there. Who would like to finish on a low so

he can bring a couple of other roads into it. Have a little look at the

angle now. Can only bring three or four reds into it. Two.

The split is a bit better this time but he is still a little way from

the read Paul than he would have liked.

Vila just about held up. Look for a minute that he could have been tight

blue with nothing on. May have to play a little slow cannon. If the

red passes the pink, he will go on that. I was going to suggest just

playing a slow cannon into the left of the pink spot, but he has taken a

green instead. Or was. It is a bit dangerous winning it by the pack so

he may just play a little slow cannon. Let's see which way he is

going to play it. That is the art of break-building.

When the pack is loose like that you don't have to go into them firm. OK,

he may have been fortunate to get into the bottom red but now all of a

sudden he can win the frame. This would certainly set Ronnie

down. Despite being such a great player community get started out

there, you don't want to see your opponent making another break in

this one. Not quite sure if you can get on a

red here. He may have to split it up. Hit it hard enough to make sure

that the cue ball went through the pack. Left him with few options.

Looking good now. Yes, we have seen two different

breaks through the pack. That time he had to make sure the White was

freed from the red. Lovely to watch at the moment, Selby informed,

O'Sullivan in form. A colour a certainty. APPLAUSE

Warmly appreciated by this crowd. They want as much to go the

distance. Most of them would be O'Sullivan fans. I'm sure there's a

few Selby fans in the audience as well. An absolute gentleman, Mark

Selby. Oh, what a shame that was. He had to

hit it hard to get up on that last red, but the Hundred doesn't get out

but O'Sullivan doesn't really mind, that 93 has drawn level at one frame

in each. We enjoy new just-in-time just to

see Rayo Sullivan break for the second time. The first one wasn't

good. Let's have a look at how this one finishes. Quickly learned you

have to do hit it safe. There is room if he wants to play it

but it is fraught with danger. I think the reason Ronnie breaks off

left-handed, he feels when he breaks left-handed he will always keep the

black in play. You think playing right-handed would be the same but

Ronnie has obviously practised many times both ways, and he just feels

he gets a better chance left-handed to make the black being free. Very

rarely when Ronnie O'Sullivan breaks after is the red go near a black.

His just decided to take it on with the smallest of gaps, or is he not,

can't tell. There he is, he is taking it on. It was very hard to

get back to ball from that. -- back to baulk from that.

Not keen on this. He is having a look ground to see what is what. It

is a tricky position will shop. You could not blame Mark Selby

figuring for the difficult long red. He had no other shot on, really.

In an but in the expert of this in short. -- not a great shot but

Ronnie is an expert at this kind of shot. He will probably play the

blues. Next to the pink... That's the one. Will he just drift off the

pack here? It is amazing how those six reds have stayed in a triangle

all throughout this break. We know it is five reds, five

blacks, but I wonder whether he will try to get a possible 147. A little

wry smile there. He knows against someone like Mark Selby, winning the

frame is more someone like Mark Selby, winning the

smiling in a minute! -- two 147s in the same tournament.

Mark Selby of course was 57 points behind. From under the table he

hasn't got the black, to go for, really. It may stay there. Quite a

while. He needs to clear the pink spot a bit. Going for the blue all

the time it will be difficult to win from here, but these days the

standard of play is so high with the top professionals they can do almost

anything. He has possibly already freed the pink for the left-hand

corner. And now you would expect him to get four reds and four colours

from here. It depends on what colours he takes. He might not need

the black. He is almost certain not to need the black. He could win the

game just with pinks and blues. Just checking if there is one

available into the middle pocket because he has that kind of angle

where he is not bound to bounce it off the top. The two reds onto the

pink. Maybe playing the one in the middle. He would love to play it,

down the line, but because it is a little thicker, it is so easy to

make the cannon onto the two reds, which he doesn't want to do. Just

looking at that angle now. What about missing the kiss? You would

think it would be a certainty but when you have to take this -- keep

the white in the middle of the table. He is playing for the one the

middle. He could just about get on these

reds in the same pocket as the pink. I thought for one minute he was

going the way, but still a good chance. Ronnie O'Sullivan of course

had a little bit of a smile when he missed that black, but he want be

too happy if he loses the frame. -- he will not be too happy. It now

goes without saying he is favourite to lose the frame.

A little bit of dust must have just dropped down from the roof and gone

into his eye. You better get the old damp cloth out, Mark, and make sure

it has gone. A bucket of water is handy. It is not great if something

goes in your eye out there. Not saying he couldn't see the ball,

but... Just too far on that below. That big staring glare at the

cushion. He felt that was a bad bounce. Using all of his cue para

know if he's playing around the back of the pink. He played it nicely.

APPLAUSE The scoreboard will tell him he does

not need the black. That was a key shot, then. It can go

wrong when you are screwing back like that, over or under screen,

leaving yourself awkward on the green. But straightforward now. --

over screwing or under screwing. I just noticed he does neither

black! He must have potted a couple of blues when I thought he was past

the winning line. -- he does need the black. Mark was making sure. I

just automatically thought he would not meet the black. No does he play

for double or try to screw in behind it? -- now does he play. He missed a

trick there, Mark. He could easily have taken the pink and those blues.

He has got a bad contact there. The double is on but I doubt whether he

will be playing it. I think he will be playing a safety. He did not want

to over screw that. No double. Didn't seem to have a clean contact.

A good safety. APPLAUSE

You saw Selby then put his finger to his head. He realised he had made a

mistake in that break when he thought he did neither black. He has

not played this very well. Given he played the double, but to get the

black light on the table. He mis-hit it. Mind you, what pressure shot

this is, dead straight. Has he looked it? -- fluked it? He

will still be kicking himself. He realised as he put his finger to his

head he made a mistake in counting. I think he's going to have to take

this on. What a remarkable pot on the black! Selby will be kicking

himself. Going for a maximum, but in the end Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the

black ball game and has the lead, too-when.

Ian Hunt: Such a thrilling encounter, isn't it? Unlike all the

previous matches these two players have had this week. Hope he will

this proves to be? A thrilling end to that. Fantastic frame, that one.

It is a battle of wits out there really and Ronnie has just got one

Mark Selby there. That was tremendous. Who said he would not

miss it. I knew he would go for it. I've member him putting a similar

shot, in the Masters final, 2006, or something like that, and he had a

similar shot facing him and he potted it. He just loves those shots

from under the cushion rail he is able to cure straight through it. I

thought if Ronnie picks that black on, I fancy him to knock it straight

in. It remains a difficult shot. I don't think anyone would have taken

that on but I fancied him. Ronnie going out to take a little break.

Obviously having seen Ding Junhui get that 147 earlier on, there we

are, Ronnie, the man who turned it down earlier in the week gets the

chance to go for it and here he is, going for it, but he ends up missing

the black. Yes, well, he did not have to play for a black there, but

as soon as he did he is thinking of the 147. With the position of these

reds, Ronnie is thinking, if I can just get on these I will make the

147. Mavi... In his mind, perhaps, a bit of a conflict -- may be. Do I

want a 147? Who knows. But it is Ronnie O'Sullivan who has the

initiative now and it will # And is in the lead, 2-1. Let's go

back. TERRY GRIFFITHS: He will be

delighted, wanted? Yes, and putting his finger on his head, thinking,

what a stupid thing to do. Mark did not realise until the colours, that

he had miscounted. Just look at this. What a stupid thing to do. He

had missed red the scoreboard. Very rare for Mark Selby to make a

schoolboy error like that. -- misread the scoreboard. Normally he

is the type of player who can put those things to the back of his mind

immediately. He has come down this side of the

table to have a look at the Reds past the green. There can't be much

in it. A big target area at the left-hand side of that pack at that

cushion. The problem with that shot is quite

straightforward. He didn't hit the ball hard enough for the side to

take off quick enough, that's why he hit the pink. This time it is what

we see. A little bit slow. A little bit harder, I think he

played it, that time. Of course it widens the angle when you put it

harder. APPLAUSE

Of course it widens the angle when you play it harder.

Absolutely packed to the rafters, and of course when we get down to

the final there will be some seating put on the left-hand side were at

the moment we have the other tableware of matches will be played

on two tables tonight. A fantastic arena. So glad the Welsh Open is

back in Cardiff. One of the world's great cities now, Cardiff. The

greatest! The capital city of Wales. We should all signed up together.

It looks as if he tried a plant there.

What has changed from our day to this day, Terry, you will never see

the raw up touching ball, because the costs are so fine, it is most

impossible -- the roll-up. You're leaving a gap, as Selby did there.

Yes, because obviously the cloth was thicker and it makes a big

difference. Paul just asking whether it touched

the green. I don't think it did. I thought he was playing that for

the blue then, but the pink is available. Certainly not easy from

where the cue ball is. You can see it will be very awkward there,

bridging. The back of the pocket. Making it a bit more difficult.

Lining the cue up is not quite so easy either.

This is where things get a bit tricky in your mind sometimes, when

you know you should be 2-1 in front. Mind you, I didn't expect Ronnie

O'Sullivan to miss that. I was saying, you might think, now I am

3-1 behind, thinking Ronnie might score there. That black being out of

commission. Interesting to see whether the pink will go on to the

same spot. If the pink goes on its spot and goes out of place...

Ronnie is used to playing against Mark Selby's safety, one of the best

in the game, no doubt about that. I am not sure if he's up to the Fred

Davis type of players. Steve Davis, great safety players. But he is to

say to me that to become a good safety player you have to have a

long pot as well, and you can understand that because there is no

point in trapping somebody then missing along part and leaving him

in. I like that. I never looked at it that way, and of course Reardon

is one of the game's greats, as you were.

That is an excellent safety shot from Selby. Two of the game's great

break builders, but also two of the greats on safety play. A brilliant

safety shot. Once again space for the possible the screw. Once again

no easy red to get back in. He should be attempting to play the pot

year but will be more concerned about just hitting the jaws and

making sure the cue ball comes back up the table. Didn't get the jaws,

but he still has a good white. Well done. -- attempting to play the pot

here. GROANS FROM CROWD Has found

something here but I can't quite see what it is. -- Mark has found

something here. This is the yellow, another perfect safety shot.

APPLAUSE O'Sullivan and John Higgins would be

two that could compete with Selby in the safety department, but once

again Ronnie has his back against the wall. Nothing is

straightforward. What else is he going to do this ten? Will he play

another deep screw? If he can get to the bottom of the cue ball enough to

get back... The only problem with this is he will have to get it

really thick to swing a ground which brings the blue back into the

equation. That is why he is signing a little come he is not sure if

anglers on. He is looking at the left-hand one of the three, but has

decided against it, playing the deep screw back in the bulk again. -- is

My word. That is unlucky, so lucky he is not on the black. He had no

shot on and even Selby is smiling at that. He knows that for an extra

inch less pays he would have been perfect on a black. That for me is

one of the shots of the tournament, so unlucky. -- inch less pace. For

all Ronnie likes the fast open game, he does enjoy the challenge of the

safety game. Someone like Selby, Higgins, the top safety players in

the game. He does enjoy the challenge, but not too much of it.

It was a perfect example, Terry, wasn't it? The red was fraught with

danger and he had to play to widen the angle. Just an inch away from

being absolutely perfect. No Selby is on the eighth, as far as the

safety is concerned. Looking at the three reds Ronnie was looking at, if

he plays off the left-hand one of the three it brings the pink, blue

and brown back into play. He will have to hit it thick to Mr kiss on

the left of the black. -- miss the kiss. It has been an excellent boat

of safety this, it really has. It has been an excellent

bout of safety this, We have seen a few good bouts of

safety in the tournament so far. You have to stay online. It is just OK.

It may be thin enough, I think he can possibly just cut this red in. I

think he can, Terry. And he will be able to go back round the back of

the yellow and back into open play, so he could get on yellow or pink

here, off this red. He decided just to play for yellow. He needs the

bounce, though. He has just about got the bounce. He stopped, then,

didn't he? He thought he wasn't high enough to pop the yellow, but he's

OK now. He thought he wasn't high

enough to pot the yellow, We have had plenty of break-building

for the crowd to look at today. This is an excellent safety. Tactics come

into it. Nice bit of variety. I'm not saying we're not going to get a

big break here, but very unset, the reds. I just go back to that third

frame. Should Ronnie go on to win this frame, Selby will be ruing the

third frame way he should have won it.

O'Sullivan is very hard to come back from. One of the game's best

frontrunners. Bringing the other two reds

interplay now. He's OK, the two reds could plant.

This is a bit risky. He didn't think so, obviously.

Looking like a 3-1 now. In some ways, this has been the best frame

of the four, although there was quality all the way through from

both players, only because he has had a mix of excellent safety as

well as the break-building, that wonderful individual threat from

O'Sullivan. He has missed the red, Mark Selby has conceded, so Ronnie

O'Sullivan goes into the interval 3-1 in front. STUDIO: So, yes, a

strong lead for Ronnie O'Sullivan as the players head into their

mid-session interval, but an uncomfortable one for Mark Selby. A

different kind of frame, that one. More of a tactical battle in the

end, if and to the first three frames we saw. I have been really

impressed with Ronnie, because he is almost carrying on where he left off

in earlier matches. A tremendous long red in that frame, so unlucky

not to get on the black. Ronnie has had an answer so far for everything

Mark Selby has thrown at him. He deserves the interval lead and I

think it will impress people like Neil Robertson and all the other

great players in the tournament to see that Ronnie is performing so

well against someone that makes it so difficult for him. Let's have a

look at that long red. Ronnie doesn't feel he has a safety shot on

there. Maybe a couple out of ten, in terms of percentages.

Your very tunnel vision, and you understand that it is not going you

could well lose the frame, but what a fantastic pot it was. Do you

deserve not deserve to be on a colour after a great pot like that?

It is open to debate. Scott back in late in the frame and won it in one

go. We keep talking about the genius of Ronnie O'Sullivan, it is the

arrogance of top players as well, knowing that they have the

confidence to play a shot like that. It is backed up by multi-ranking

event victories. He is full of confidence, Ronnie O'Sullivan,

coming into this event. I am sure a lot of the public is well aware of

what he has been saying in social media, he is having fun, and you're

still having fun, in spite of the fact he is playing the world number

one, in Mark Selby. There he is behind this, practising, he wants to

brush up on a few things. Mark needs to win the next frame. The next

frame for Mark Selby is very important. If you can somehow start

the next frame, frame five, really well, and win it, she is right back

in the match at 3-2. Mark Wood have to rely on a few errors if it was

4-1. Ronnie O'Sullivan with one tentative foot in the semifinals.

Tonight there are two matches with Welshman Michael White playing Mark

Allen, and Joe Perry against last year's runner-up, Ben Wollaston.

Let's show you how Joe Perry made it through, his match against Judd

Trump last night. We will lead it with trump 3-2 up on a break of 39.

COMMENTATOR: He has missed the pink. Might even be snookered here, unless

it roles. Snookered. That has gone a bit astray. He played a very clever

shot to put the blue on the pink spot. If he had come down and put a

half ball on it, he could have moved the ball easily but that has now

gone. He will be more than happy with

that. Joe Perry will be mightily relieved.

I can't think of many players that would have played from the brown.

Surely across stubble is a shock to play.

Putting all his eggs in one basket there and he wasn't far away. If he

had caught that pink half ball, he would have been perfectly on the

blue. He has played a dream shot again and has moved the pink to the

middle of the pocket. Joe Perry will be filling the worst, a real thin

step but what a shot that was. In goes the thing. Needs to miss the

black. No smile on the face of Joe Smart -- Joe Perry at all. Maybe a

little glint of a smile. All to play for.

Disappointed he didn't get a more favourable cannon on the black.

Across to the players on the next table. Joe has made a good job of

that. Could be a difficult situation when he comes to the table next.

He has given Joe a slight chance at this black. It is a thin snick.

final, whether Blackburn just past the middle pocket. I bet Joe didn't

think it was going to clear that pocket.

That is the old traditional shop we play. That is why wouldn't let any

more. Joe new facility that it was going to come of this cushion.

Again, this is not easy, it would probably be a one in ten. He likes

potting ridiculous polls, Mr Trump. They don't come much closer than

that. I think we are going into a decider.

He has. A little bit of movement, but the black goes in, so Joe Perry

will be very, very relieved. But like he was going to be comfortable

winning that frame. Final frame. STUDIO: These pot on the black

proving crucial, and he went on to win frame seven as well, the

decider, for that comeback victory and a place in the quarterfinals. I

am chuffed to get over the line. It was a strange game, really. It was

relieved good standard in patches and then a couple of strange shots.

I missed two have the easiest balls I have ever missed tonight from and

I am normally the first to say I twitched or missed it, but I was

just so relaxed, and I literally just took my offer it. In the end I

got away with both of them. Judge could have cleared up on both of

those frames, but I rode my luck and came through in the end -- Judd

Trump. Let's show you the quarterfinal in full as it stands.

Mark Alan against the Welshman Michael White later on. Joe Perry

against Ben Wollaston, larger's runner-up. That is to come this

evening, but some thoughts on Michael Wright. Everyone in the

studio has been gushing in their praise of the 24-year-old. Let's

gets more expert opinions on his game.

Michael White from the Welsh valleys, another coming through from

that area that has produced only great players over the years. If we

are looking at players to question Judd Trump. This young man has come

through and said I am here. An exciting player, very quick. I like

the way the Welsh lads, the players and coaches and the guys that come

around with the coaches were billing him from a long time ago, they were

saying this lad is coming, watch out for Michael White. He will come and

get you. Now he has just started to come through. That grit and

determination, you can see it on him. I would like to see improved

the fact that he is quite a streaky player. He won the shoot out and the

Indian open in back-to-back weeks losses on. But when he just dips, we

can and has lost anybody. So I think if he is going to go to the next

level and challenge, he will have to improve his consistency. He has a

bit of a street fight in him, you can see it in his eyes. He is a

really good striker of the ball. The little time, timing the ball but I

think he accelerates, and his acceleration when the tip is on the

ball is very fast through the ball. So he gets a lot out of the cue

ball. The tip is only in contact for about five millimetres, and he gets

amatory action out of the cue ball. So his timing is so good. Sometimes

too good. He can lose the white on fast conditions, but when he has the

ball under control, he can beat anybody. He is a frightening long

patter. Very consistent at knocking those long balls in. Getting himself

in position to try to win. Not afraid to take shots on either. Err

the question is does he have the temperament when it comes to the

next level and we don't really know the answer. When I came onto the

scene 11 years ago on the world title, it took me a long time before

I settled and won again. With Michael winning last year twice, it

be interesting to see when he features again at the far end of the

event, and undertakes to get to the fact that he is supposed to perform

to a particular level but I expect very good things from him. We had

Ronnie O'Sullivan in here yesterday talking very favourably about

Michael White. This is typically will be the next Welsh winner of

this tournament. Fair analysis or not? Let's see what Michael White

thinks. I just think it's going the way I am

really. Keep putting the hours in. Maybe possibly a bit more belief.

That will come with the wins and the confidence. As they said, that is

exactly what I would say about myself.

I do overhit the ball sometimes. But it has only been from the last month

that I have actually bothered practising in exactly the same

conditions you play in a match. I have found an improvement,

especially in the last couple of events. I have not reached the

heights that I wanted to since those two wins, but I think it was sort of

expected in a way. My form, I believe, is better now than it was

back then. Michael White, it has been a great

tournament, never got before the last three. Can he go any further?

Definitely. The great when he had against John Higgins, a convincing

win, he must be full of confidence. He is in the quarterfinals with a

chance to get to the semi. I am really looking forward to that match

against Mark Allen tonight because they are very similar layers, both

using three quarters queues, both attacking, it could be a really

close match Trasch similar players. Hopefully the Welsh support could

see Michael Frew. I knew you would bring in some information about the

queues somewhere! I know you don't want to call it, but who do you

think has got the edge right now? I think Michael will feed off the

support he will get. I will have a sneaky suspicion and say Michael

White 5-3. Wales is hoping that is the case. Let me remind you, you can

watch that with us later on tonight, Mark Alan against the rising star of

Welsh hooker. A little later than normal.

-- of Welsh snooker. What will happen here, do you think, running

3-1 up? A big frame for Mark Selby. Ronnie O'Sullivan has lost big leads

against Mark Selby, once here at the Welsh Open. He was for frames up

with five to play in the Masters one year and lost that as well to Mark

Selby. So he may be foldable even if he does win this next frame, Ronnie.

And Selby beat O'Sullivan in the World Championships a couple of

years ago, so let's find out what happens.

COMMENTATOR: Welcome back, everybody. Now we get to the

nitty-gritty part of this game. Ronnie O'Sullivan perhaps fortunate

to be 3-1 up. Should have been 2-2, but for Mark Selby misjudging the

school board. Another poor break. He broke off Paul in the opening frame

and it cost 71. How much will it cost him this time? Not quite sure

if he can swing it around. He could screw across and play for the black

in the same pocket. I was going to say with that long

pot, Mark was well aware that if you missed it he would leave something

on, and that in its own way just put a little bit of doubt in your mind.

In this game, if your mind is not clear when you go to strike the cue

ball, you are in trouble. Whatever can then he gets on the

pack, he might play it a bit firm, this unconscious to bring a few more

reds into play. I thought he might have played slightly firmer than

that. Only because he was bound to be on choice of roads. It is the

middle rather than half ball the Middle road, he would have open and

better, obviously still perfect. Brought another four reds into play

with one shot. CHUCKLING It is amazing family times in a

season you see Ronnie O'Sullivan having a chance of a 147, because he

just is the way of opening the balls up. I

he never misses a trick. Stephen Hendry went to bed. -- was not too

bad. All John Higgins. Yes, I was talking about the current players.

He took a risky shot in frame three. He got on the black and then missed

it. Surely this time he will just make sure of the frame by taking the

blue. You would expect the standard of

play to have increased at this theatre of the event. The players

are in the two-table situation here. Big crowds, and they have had a bit

of matchplay as they go through to the stage. I must say, the two

matches so far, very high standards. This Bluetooth at the frame beyond

any doubt. We will have to see Selby grind. -- this blue to put the frame

beyond any doubt. This certainly isn't a 4-1 game the way the match

has gone. Selby has had breaks of 71 and 63.

He might carry on if he doesn't pot this black, just to try to get

Ronnie out of his rhythm. Looking at the referee and nodding. That break

of 75 has taken Ronnie O'Sullivan won frame from victory. He now leads

4-1. We look at the opening Redd, in the first frame, Ronnie O'Sullivan

broke poorly and left a break of 71. In that frame he broke off very

poorly but there is a bit of difference with this red. Yes, the

difference being that Mark Selby was aware that if you missed this red

because he was playing for the black, he would leave O'Sullivan in.

Almost flipped it in the middle. Wasn't to be. Don't think he got

another chance. Selby would still come I have never seen him make a

mistake in counting in his career. He just went through that spell

where he thought he had won the game without the black. He has gone into

the interval, he would be moaning about the factor should be 2-2

instead of 3-1. Ronnie O'Sullivan will be very pleased with his work

so far. I always find it interesting to

watch the break office, all of the players are different where they put

the wide. Some between the yellow and brown, others between the green

and brown or closer to one of those colours. They all like to play it

differently. I think the key is you don't pitifully want it to be tight.

differently. I think the key is you Ronnie was snow could on all balls

first he had to play that. Petrova break off and leave a safety shot

off the pack to open roads. Of course at this stage of the

tournament, the players, as we can see, you make one mistake now and

you lose the frame whereas earlier in the tournament it isn't quite

like that. You haven't warmed up properly. But like in any sport, it

is not about how good you are, it is how many mistakes you don't make,

not what you do make. how many mistakes you don't make,

opponent a chance to get back into the match. He just wants to go for

another Chinese, I think. He has had a few this week! I actually was in

the same restaurant as last week. Ronnie actually went twice in the

same day, for afternoon tea, and then back again after the match!

I know there are some great players left in the tournament who could

beat O Sullivan, but he isn't some sort of form this week, isn't he? He

really is. When you consider he doesn't play in many things now.

Allegedly he talks about his exhibition players practice. He even

tried to say he cox about his matchplay practice for his

exhibition play -- he speaks about. So achieve this, isn't he? You just

never know what's going to happen next -- so mischievous, isn't he?

It goes without saying after that wonderful pot on the blue it is no

match-winning situation. Mark Selby has hardly done anything wrong in

this match and he could no lose 5-1. He has missed two long balls, once

on the balls, and that is it, that is how good you have to be. No

mistakes. A glance at the scoreboard, just to

find out exactly what he needs to get past the winning line. This will

decide whether he plays into the bunch or just for the loose red.

Maybe just a slow cannon into the bunch. That is probably the end of

the match. APPLAUSE

Round of applause from the crowd. They know it is enough now for

Ronnie O'Sullivan to win this frame and match.

Are we going to see the first hundred of this match? There has

been a lot of big breaks, and a few maximums possible, which haven't

quite come off. But this isn't really the most important part of

this break. It is the first chance he played, taking on a green in the

centre, a tremendous shot, then a long blue. Very risky.

APPLAUSE That is what the crowd think of it.

An exhibition of brick building from Ronnie O'Sullivan. -- break

building. Mark Selby has played worse than this and won 5-1 in

matches, but he has been outclassed a bit today. As Willie said, the

fourth frame, the big frame, when he miscoded. Selby will regret that,

has regretted it now, I'm sure, but he will be thinking about that for a

while. -- when he miscoded. He moves the ball so easily around the table.

He will take that! LAUGHTER

They are all clapping. What a wonderful exhibition from Ronnie

O'Sullivan, beating the world number one by 5-1.

Ian Hunt: Mark Selby may be the world number one and he more than

played his part in this match with some superb snooker himself, but no

surprise really given how incredibly Ronnie O'Sullivan has played this

week that he is the one to go through to the semifinals. He joins

Neil Robinson in the last four. -- Neil Robertson. Another display of

exhibition snooker, Dominic? Fantastic. As I said earlier he was

given to many chances in his earlier matches and just annihilated his

opponents really. Although in the first round he looked a bit

vulnerable, he came through and ended up with that one for six, but

today he was playing the world number one, Mark Selby, and he

treated him with total disdain, really. Almost disrespectful at the

end there, over the green, the middle pocket, deliberately playing

for a tough long red, but then to actually go for the blue, a very

miscible pot, guaranteeing Mark Selby a good opportunity. You don't

normally give world number ones good opportunities, but he is just so

full of confidence, saw in control of his emotions and game out there

that he doesn't feel he will miss. We will ask -- figure them out there

but what moments will Mark Selby regret from that? Think it is quite

clear the miscalculation, when there were three reds left surrounding the

pink, Mark Selby needed a pink with each of those, then the clear from

yellow to pink, it would have seen the match 2-2 at the interval, but

he miscalculated and ending up -- ended up putting in blue on one of

the reds, and he ended up losing a black ball game to go 3-1 behind.

That was the key moment, I suppose. And he lost to this man, Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Well done. True to the semifinals. How does it feel? You

must be starting to feel this is your year -- through to the

semifinals. I ask you that every time but one. At their? Do you think

it is my year? It doesn't matter what I think! Good exhibitions. That

is exactly what I was picking out there, good practice for the

exhibitions. Are just playing snooker, argue? If you start to

think about it like a match started not enjoy it so I thought if you

just play like an exhibition, even will enjoy it -- aren't you? Just

play out there, go for everything, if you mess, it doesn't matter,

messed something is another night. We said it was almost like you were

treating Mark Selby with disdain and disrespect but it was like you are

blocking out who you are playing. I have played always pretty much like

that you can't really say because of the opponent, this and that. I

probably raise my game and was a bit tighter, obviously, playing the

world number one, but other then that I was just going for

everything. The green in the middle, you know. Then the long blue to the

red at the back of the pack. Side was just thinking, if I mess, great,

get one on the next one. -- I was just thinking. You have to enjoy it.

This stage in my career, I really just want to entertain, give people

a good time, do some stuff that is really good and when I am long gone,

and they stick YouTube on, they will come up with a few clips and say,

look at this fellow! Look at what he did in Cardiff! Yes, just have a bit

of a giggle with it, try not to take it too seriously, but doing it

because it is not good at important. Although it is nice to win, don't

get me wrong. I am happier winning than when I haven't, but looking

forward to next week. My doubles partner, I hope he is getting some

practice in. You want needed. Yes but I am looking forward to next

week, being chilled, because you get so nervous. You wake up and think,

what does that they have in store for me? I can see out there that is

exactly how you're feeling. Bringing you back to this match how did you

feel when Mark Selby took that 1-0 lead, because he started really

well, didn't he? I felt all right, really. I can't actually remember...

I broke off... He popped a long one, made 70... I can't remember. It was

two hours ago! But Collison, Mark is an amazing player. He is not showing

the best form he was showing when winning titles that even when he is

not playing his best -- but, listen, Mark is an amazing player. He is

still number one and he can play a lot better than that, so you know he

is a class act and I think he is this was showing everyone here is

the best player in the world, in his prime, scoring for fun. He is like a

machine. Jimmy calls him Drago, you know, from Rocky five. The

discipline, the long game, everything is right. I just want to

have fun and it is nice to get it when. You're into the semis.

Returning to the theme of the week for a year, 147s the study had an

opportunity when you miss that black. First of all the juicy Ding

Junhui get his maximum earlier, and what did you think? I just thought,

they had let the lads down, hasn't he? Would you go for 146 rather than

147? LAUGHTER

Get the maximum is, plus 11, goes to charity, keep several unhappy and I

could give a few wed to you. Cheers, Ronnie. No, but Ding got it, so

fantastic. At least they have had a 147 this week. And 146. Were you

going for it? Yes. Ronnie, thanks for being with us. You play in the

semifinals next against Joe Perry or Bell Williston and we will see them

tonight in their quarterfinal. Let's show you that, then. Ding Junhui,

going out earlier against Judd Trump, but let's show you how he got

his 147. WILLIE THORNE: These balls are

absolutely perfect. Freely available in both corners. Obviously Ding not

necessarily thinking of the 147. Ronnie would be, definitely going

for that year, but it is more important for Ding to stay in the

match. Maybe Ronnie would go for the 145 instead. We already had the 146.

How funny would it be if someone did come along this week now and make a

147? He might do it himself. Ronnie, he is still on.

I read an article that one of the leading makers is offering money to

him to do it so he can offer it to charity. Anyway, it is key for Ding

to get a frame winning break saw it takes a lot of pressure off him. One

of these nitty-gritty frames at the moment. He needs to get back into

it. Obviously he has plenty of work to do. If you can win on one visit

you don't get put as much pressure. It is when you have 40 points each,

playing the last two reds and colours. If you can win it with one

visit, there is no pressure. You probably saw the cue ball

balance there. It is not too bad. I thought for a minute it wasn't going

to get there but as the cue ball travelled I just watched the way the

white bounce, that little bit of pace, that cue ball would have run

two or three more inches. I think he is OK to go read the back of the

black and into the same pocket. Yes, he is. -- to go round the back. So

much so he can go for the opposite corner. A little cannon here and

then he may start thinking about the 147.

The two reds there are touching, just above the black. He doesn't

have to play this PC. Normally going into a bunch like this you play with

pace but because they are split apart he is bound to be on

was different to what I was thinking but still on a red. Whether he can

get to the black mayor, though I don't think so. -- the black now.

Yes, and I think if he was 4-1 up in this match and not 4-1 down, he

would be playing the shot to the right hand corner, the right-hand

side, swaying back down for the black. The fact he is 4-1 down, I

would be very surprised if he doesn't play for a pink with the

blue. doesn't play for a pink with the

commentator's curse. The balls absolutely perfect. Nothing on the

site cushions. Obviously once he has potted enough

so that Neil Robertson can't win this frame, Neil Robertson will be

in his chair, cheering him on. He needs to be high on this. And he is.

That's a great shot. If he had been low, that would have been the end of

the maximum, but he has gone high. I think there are two of these reds

the pot. Can he get through the gap to pot that red there, which in turn

will open the other two? He would love to get through the gap to open

up the others, but he is still OK for the black. It that of a risk.

Not over the winning line yet. In this frame. -- a bit of a risk. One

more red to make the frame safe. Then he can play a risky shot if

necessary, to give him the black. A little bounce. He is on the one in

the middle. This is the art of break building, always get the right angle

on the next ball, to make it easy to get onto the black, in this case.

Now ideally he would love to get on two reds here, but off petition. If

they can get a little gap in between those two reds, to get the other red

that is there, he will pick that one first. That is what he has played

for. Of course that opens up the two reds and now he does not have to

play any kiss, any cannon now, to make a 147. That was brilliant, the