Quarter-finals - Part 2 Snooker: Welsh Open

That is what I play snooker for, to come here and try and beat the big

players and hopefully go away with a trophy or not.

Possibly the most nerve racking journey Michael White has made, the

quarter-final of his home Open. There is a new kid on the snooker

block. Could White make it into the semi-final? We will find out in a

moment. First what has been happening on another dramatic day?

Ding Junhui was the talk of the tables this afternoon. The 2012

champion did what Ronny O'Sullivan couldn't do, recording a 147 maximum

against Neil Robertson. The crowd willing him on to a sixth tournament

maximum of his career. It was one bitter sweet experience

for Ding, because Robertson took the next frame to take his place in the

semi-final. Just one Welshman remaining at the quarter final stage

and not the one mousest most would expect. Michael White facing Mark

Allen. Could he deep the dream alive? Let's join it in frame one

with White at the table, no score. It looks a bit risky, but both

players like to go for their shots. If you can't get past the blue, the

potting angle to the red is not so bad.

Very well played. Struck that very nicely. As Terry said, both players

don't really hang about. Mark Allen has been showing some

great form this week. Hasn't been at his best this season, but he has

been impressive. It is a bit of an advantage when you

get the likes of Sullivans and Selbies that are on this table all

the time. For television purposes, that is what people want to watch

and some other plays. But the other players play on the outside tables,

a big difference when you come in with just the two tables and the

television lights. Michael White has played on this table once. He beat

Tom Ford. They like to get a few of the Welsh

matches on the match table. A lot of interest.

He has had a massive kick there. Within three shots he has had two

terrible kicks. Got away with the first one. But didn't get away with

this one. He has hit the black, it took off and squared the cue ball

up. A big shot coming up. Once again he

knew he would be leaving Michael White a chance. He had to hit it

with pace to push through for the black. And he didn't hold back. A

sign of total confidence. He likes to hit him at the back of

the pocket. You can hear it. It is very accurate, centre of the pocket

stuff. But they go in at pace. This is a good start by Mark Allen.

Playing very confidently out there. He has been a little underestimated

over the years. Been around a long time now.

A member of the top 16 for many a season.

Another kick I'm afraid. It is hard to say what happens with the kick.

It is not happening every shot. It is just how it is. But Mark Allen

has been, you can see the black bouncing, Mark Allen has been a top

player for quite a while, but he does go in and out of form. I saw

him play Ryan Day and Day played well and then Mark made a 70

clearance and eight or nine of the shots I didn't think he would go

for. It was top class snooker. I was in the studio when he came in

after that match and said he was very relaxed and the first shot he

was playing, not messing about. And not looking for problems.

Missed the red, but not in snookers. Mark Allen will be winning the first

frame. STUDIO: The opening frame did prove

to be a lost cause for White. So advantage for Allen and now in frame

2 he is trailing 45-0. Mark Allen missed a good chance

before that effort from Michael White. He missed the red in the

corner with the rest. Both players are strong towards the

end of the game. I think at worst with this effort

Mark Allen will be right back in the second frame.

He would have loved to have stayed on the black, but he is going to

have to go down for the blue. I think that is just about perfect.

Didn't help him there with him bridging over the red and pink

really. He could have fouled. Still thought he potted though.

Plays the black, because the pink's tied up as well. So with that red

behind the black spot, makes it a bit easier.

Easily done. Barring a snooker, Michael White will now level the

score at 1-1. Good hit but he could be snookered

again here. It is very easy to hit off the

cushion. He almost potted it. That was a good chance for Mack Allen.

That ball he could have put behind the pink. But it would have been

difficult. One four-point penalty for the

snooker from Mark Allen. But gave him a chance to win the frame.

Both of them have been snookered. Both of them nearly fluked into that

right centre. Still only one snooker needed.

Well you just cannot believe that. Cannot believe that. He has not only

given the foul. And that will be a free ball. Just cannot believe

that's happened. He has gone for the pot on the red and missed by a long

way. He could play that shot a hn times again and -- hundred times a

again and get a different result. It is not so much the foul, it is he

has left the free ball. Mark Allen might just elect to play this brown

off this back cushion. Knowing he can now win.

Can Michael get the edge of this red. If he can that is a bonus. That

wasn't a great shot by Mark Allen, but neither was that by Michael

White. These balls are pretty well set. But

a little short of pace. Again a little bit short. You can

cut it in to the middle or take it in the corner.

It is a little bit more difficult pot. Made it look easy.

So this was a game for all sbepts and purposes looked like it was

going to go to Michael White. Mark Allen is three pots away from

pinching this frame. He played that positively. He has

lost the cue ball a bit. This pink will, he will have to pot it at

pace. In goes the pink - off the three

cushions. Wants the cue ball to travel. Can't play it much better

than that. Just steadied himself on that black

and you could see how much it meant to him. Michael White will be

devastated. No wonder Mark Allen gives a fist pump at the end. It was

a frame he really shouldn't have won really should he? It is you not a

waxwork doll! What a wasted opportunity for White. When he had a

shot at the first shot at the reds to play safe and knock the pink in,

that wasn't a good shot. He was playing back to the baulk cushion.

After that the next safety shot, what will anow Michael is -- annoy

Michael is Mark Allen doing the fist pump. Do you think he would have

seen that? He would know that would annoy Michael White and most players

do that when they pinch a frame they shouldn't. We could see Michael

White. He was sitting in the chair. He knew it should be 1-1. But losing

frames you shouldn't lose annoys you and a lot of players can sit down

and forget about it. Others remains to be seen whether Michael White is

one, that can't put it to the back of their mind. So the next frame is

so important. Let's head into the third frame with Allen at the table

and he is trialing 13--- trailing 13-0.

Oh, hello! That is poor that is. I have got to say that. He has not

been respectful to himself. He is better than that Michael. He is

looking a bit unsettled out there. He is shaking his head like a dog in

the back of a car. It is sad to see that.

We haven't seen the fireworks from these two we expected, Darren? Not

really, Terry, but I think Michael's still frustrated from the previous

frame where he had his chance and broke down on 44.

Played it well. So deceiving, on the TV that would have looked easy. But

it was a lot thinner. He may have a slight angle here.

Never easy when pink and black are tied up and in-off blue and baulk.

The cue ball's got to travel a greater distance and things can go

wrong. Can he pot that red and leave a

cannon and leave it in the opposite corner?

Michael White there was really frustrated and we have all been

there, but it doesn't look great. If anything it would inspire his

opponent. Well unless Mark Allen does

something very easy, it looks like that wild swipe of Michael White's,

a bit empetious really. It is going to cost him this frame. 2-1 is a big

difference to 3-0. 3-0, a long way back.

You're right, but we have all lost our rag at times, whether we show

out at time. Let's hope Michael learns from that. We are all allowed

mistakes now and then. It wasn't affecting anybody else, apart from

him. I am not sure if he had a bad

contact or was just surprised. He has given Michael White a chance

now. Still got a bit to do, of course.

Got to say one thing, he's getting it out of his system.

That is enough for Michael White. I'm afraid he is in a bit of trouble

now. He's zero behind. STUDIO: Yes, Michael White's big moment turn into

a nightmare. Any sign of a comeback in frame four? Allen was at the

table here, leading 1-0. It is a big red to take on for

Michael White to this left corner. He is going to struggle to get the

cue ball through the gap and back around. If he goes for this, he

might have to go for it 100% and just hope for the best with the cue

ball. That is completely brilliant as far

as this Welsh crowd are concerned. That was a great pot.

Needs a bit of luck now. That will do.

They don't come much better than this.

Well, well, well. At that pace, you would expect it to slip through the

corner. It looked like he might put some

points on the board. That is what he needs, to settle himself down.

I am not sure if the pink spot is available either. It is hard to say

from here. The pink is in the open at the moment. No, obviously,

nothing goes. So here's a bit restricted here -- Mark Allen is a

bit restricted here. Tricky. No good there. If that cue

ball is two or three inches off the side condition, this is a

straightforward shots. Oh! Well, it's fair to say that

things are certainly running for Mark Allen so far in this match.

That was a good pot, but he couldn't really put any spin on the ball to

try and avoid the centre pocket. And he got the perfect angle on the

black. Well, that wasn't a kick, it was an

explosion. No, he is not with it. As it turned

out, he hasn't left anything on. Just the pace he is hitting the

ball, he seems to be overhitting a little bit, which comes with

tension, obviously. It is easy for us to talk up here, but when you are

3-0 down and have made a few errors and the luck is not going for you,

it is difficult to control the mind. Well, he had a go at that one. He

has been in total control of this match so far, Mark Allen, but he was

a long way off with that. You just feel that Michael White needs to do

something with this effort. Again, that cue ball has got away

from him. I think he is in no man's land here. A big area to play for.

Great recovery. What a tremendous pot. It is so difficult when you

have missed the straightforward positional shot. He had four reds to

get on and didn't get on them. He has composed himself and given

himself another chance now. I was just about to say he was

starting to look in control. And that is what happens. Everything

is a bit hard for Michael at the minute. He is finishing just in

between shots all the time. It is just not happening.

He is short on the pink, but I think he had another poor contact. He is

having a look at the balls. He has had a lot of kicks, a lot of bad

contacts. The trouble is, you start losing

confidence. Both players will be looking at this

from different perspectives. Mark Allen can't believe what is going

on, he is getting kicks all over the shop. But he is 3-0 up. And Michael

White will be so disappointed if he loses this frame, with five to play.

He will have come here with big expectations. The Welsh crowd are

fully behind him. Again, Mark Allen has played a very

good shot there. To be fair, he has played a very clever game tonight so

far. Helped by Michael White. That is

going to be a free ball. Michael White concedes this game. Very

disappointing session of snooker for Michael White. But Mark Allen will

enjoy his mid-session interval. So, Allen one frame away from victory at

the interval. Do or die for White as they resumed in the fifth. Let's

join it with Allen at the table, trailing 6-0.

Got to avoid all those three baulk colours on their spots.

That was the last thing he wanted, to catch one of those baulk colours

more or less full ball. He caught that much too thick, but I

don't think he has left anything on. Mark Allen will be looking at this

as his winning opportunity. There is a lot to be said about this

interval. It can work against you, but can

also work for you. Michael White has not had a good run

of balls, but he hasn't played his best snooker either. Possibly a lot

of disappointed spectators appear, hoping the Welshman was going to get

through to the semifinals -- up here.

He is the last Welshman standing, on one leg at the moment.

This is his highest break. He has not had many big rakes in this

match. -- big breaks. Everything has gone well in this one

for Mark Allen. So disappointing for Michael. He must have come here with

a lot of expectations. Played so well against John Higgins and others

in this tournament. He would have loved to have won the Welsh Open. He

has got plenty of time, though. But at the moment, it is disappointment

for Michael White. Mark Allen will be delighted, beating Michael White

by 5-0. Yes, Michael Ypres will have to come

again. It was bitterly disappointing for the Welshman, having got this

far in the competition and then a complete whitewash, if you pardon

the pond. 5-0. He just got so annoyed and fresh

grated. Things changed for me in the third frame. He has to put behind

what happened in the third frame. It is easy to play off one caution and

lay off three reds next or black, bug but he is still suffering from

the previous shot. This was a big chance to prove how good a player he

is. All he has done now is prove how frustrated he gets. It may take time

for him to get over that. You are saying he has not dealt with the

pressure of playing in front of TV cameras in front of his home crowd?

This is probably the biggest crowd he has played in front of in his

life. Obviously, he wanted to please everybody and play very well, and he

got frustrated. Some players can get rid of that. Michael White, at this

moment in time, can't. He cannot let that frustration get to him. He is

one of those players who is close to the top 16. That adds pressure as

well. I was surprised and very disappointed. I only hope he learns

from that, because Michael White is a very good player, and make no

mistake. Mark Allen did say it was part of his temper and to try and

frustrate Michael White, and that was exactly what he did. You can't

blame Mark Allen for that. Mark Allen is a great player. We can

discuss whether he should have won more. So he may have his flaws

somewhere. A terrific response to his critics, perhaps, because we saw

earlier some people saying he's not quite that top grade they are that

he could be. I was listening to the commentary this afternoon in the

studio, when you were talking about that. I think because there are so

many good players now, the top five or six are bit on their own at the

moment. Mark Allen is in that space behind the top five or six. I

personally think Mark Allen could win a lot more tournaments. He is a

possible future world champion as well. A disappointing day for

Michael White. Let's take you to this afternoon and remind you of

exactly what happened in the match between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark

Selby, a real clash of the titans as the world number one, Selby, took on

O'Sullivan. But the Rocket blew Selby away with that 5-1 win this

afternoon. He is very much the man to stop. It wasn't really that

tough, because obviously, most frames are won in one visit. So

there were not heavy bouts of safety and stuff like that. There were one

or two friends where there was a bit of safety. And I came out on top of

that as well, so that was nice. It is always good to win a safety June

against Mark, because he has such good tactical awareness. But on the

whole, I was happy with that much. Into my's other quarterfinal, Ben

Woollaston, last year's runner-up, did a little better than White. But

Joe Perry stole a 5-1 win in that match to set up a semifinal against

Ronnie O'Sullivan tomorrow must have a good night for Joe Perry.

So, here is the semifinal line-up or you. -- for you.

That is coming up for you tomorrow. Let's just have a little look inside

the arena. We started the week, if you remember, with 12 tables. We are

down to just the one. They have been working hard to get rid of the other

table that was in use today, and just the one table remaining for the

two semifinals tomorrow. Well, Willie, I guess we had better have a

look at that semifinal line-up. Is it possible to look beyond running?

He has been sensational this week. It may be possible to look beyond a

Ronnie and Robertson final. Mark Allen may have plenty to say

tomorrow when he plays against Robertson. Robertson and Ronnie have

played the best snooker throughout the tournament. Joe Perry can beat

Ronnie O'Sullivan, and Mark Allen can beat Robertson, but the way the

matches have been played so far this evening, you would expect a Ronnie

O'Sullivan versus Neil Robertson final. I was enthralled with the

game this afternoon with Ronnie O'Sullivan. He almost treated his

opponent with content. Did not play hardly any safety at all. He really

knuckled down when he did play safety. It was a superb match. All

in all, we have had a fantastic day of snooker. We talk about Mark Allen

going under the radar. Same with Joe Perry. Absolutely. Gentleman Joe

Perry, they call him. Perfect gentleman, plays good all-round

snooker. I would put him in the John Higgins mould. Not as good yet, but

he has an all-round game and he is bust with a very good safety game.

To beat Ronnie O'Sullivan tomorrow, he will have to have that, because

O'Sullivan will come blasting in again and play it like an exhibition

match. Eventually, that will catch up with Ronnie. It is almost the

kind of semifinal line-up we might have wanted. Not a bad last four.

Very good last four, four of the top players in the game, four players

inside the top 16. What we have here is four players that can all win the

tournament. There is nobody I would definitely cross off from winning

it. You obviously have to favour Robertson and Ronnie O'Sullivan to

get to the final. Should be a great day. So, we have seen the world

number one. No obstacle for Ronnie O'Sullivan. We have seen a 147 for

Ding and a whitewash for Michael White on quarterfinal day. We would

love to have your company tomorrow afternoon for the semifinals.

If you are not going to the football and rugby or going shopping, do join

us from 1.05, Mark Allen against Neil Robertson. Tax for watching.

From all of us, good evening. -- thanks for watching.