Day Four - Part 1 Snooker: Welsh Open

The fear of the underdog out the Welsh Open, outside centre at the

moment in the Spotlight, one big name after another knocked out early

as we get down to the last 32. One of the bigger shocks of all, this

man leaving the building last night, the chance for a record fifth Welsh

title will have to wait. One of the most popular players in

the game against Mark Davis. The 97 break more than enough to take the

early frame. He does not miss much, does he, Ronnie? That will put paid

to any possibility of Mark Davis winning their second frame. Yes, I

just think he's feeling the pressure of playing Ronnie O'Sullivan. Ronnie

O'Sullivan now leads. He saw the form on the table. He has not taken

any chances. The early break of 65 has won Mark Davis his fourth frame

and he trails by 3-1. I thought for a minute he was going

to miss it, he will be absolutely delighted and he now closes to

within one at 3-2. A little bit out of sorts now. Just biding his time,

the deciding frame, it is 3-3. Three quarters of an hour ago, I never saw

this coming. Ronnie O'Sullivan comes out of his

chair to congratulate Mark Davis on an excellent win. He goes through

into round three. He played better than me, so he

deserves the win. Beating Ronnie is very special, I haven't beaten him

for a long time, I'm not alone in that, I'm sure! And to do it from

3-0 down is a bit more special. O'Sullivan is one of a long list of

leading players to make an early exit this year. Only six of the

world's top 16 remaining. Including the world number one Mark Selby and

the man we will see later today, Judd Trump. Lots of the big hitters

are no longer around. To make sense of it is Terry

Griffiths. So much to talk about. What for you has been the most

eye-catching and impressive results so far? I'm a bit biased, the Welsh

boys. Michael White. Two tremendous matches, last frame finishes, all

the excitement snooker gives you. It is very special for Lee Walker

because he was having a hammering after Neil Robertson, which a lot of

people have been through and he did a 130 break. And then I hear Mark

Williams said, that is the longest break I have ever seen in my life! I

was pleased. They are good friends. It is nice to see it, he has come

back into the professional game and Michael has been around for quite a

while, in his home event. And he looked as close to losing at one

time. Those are the things people like in snooker and that is why we

get a lot of viewers and people coming to watch. Tremendous for them

with Neil Robertson being knocked out by Lee Walker and Liang Wenbo by

Michael White, two top 16 players going. When does a surprise not

become as a prize? The shocks happen on a more regular basis now, is it a

sign there's strength and depth now? Yes, there's, a lot of good players

that you don't see a lot of television because they get knocked

out on the outside tables, but they are all good players. And when the

top player to win, especially in the first rounds, they are a bit edgy.

If an opponent can get in quickly and win friends, the pressure is on

the top-seeded because wheezing first round, there's no money and

points for the ranking so all these things count. -- losing first round.

There have been a few top players playing each other early on and it

is what Barry Hearn wants to do. First four makes a difference as

well. The players would prefer longer matches than that. Lose the

first frame and you start to defend. I wonder if we will have more shocks

ahead throughout the day. This is coming up for you this afternoon.

We start with a bit of Barry, semifinalist three years ago and the

man who beat Welshman Ryan Day to win the world Grand Prix.

Living the teenage dream, Welsh wild card Jackson Page ready for a

third-round tie the answers wildest expectations.

One of the bigger shocks in the tournament's history if he can Trump

this man, the world number four playing in wait.

Still big stars in the competition, none bigger than the reigning world

champion who is chasing a second Welsh Open when.

So we start with a man who won a ranking title just last weekend,

ending Ryan Day's hopes of winning one, expert analysis now on Barry

Hawkins. Some players you get in a jaw and

you think, I'm in for a tough afternoon and Barry Hawkins is

certainly one of those. Yes, and he has always been so. As I junior, he

was in the generation above me, a bit older and he was the one. His

scoring and his long potting, he was the complete package at 15. Had a

very, very good technique. And great things were expected of him and went

you play him these days it you are in for a really tough games. Did he

have a hiatus in his career, it you did not see him for a while? He was

the best junior and amateur and he turned professional and I remember

he vanished for a year or two and there was a rumour that he had a bit

of a problem with letting go. I would not goes so far as to say he

had". But there was definitely a problem. And for someone with such a

good technique, he got to the point where he would be down at the shot

with a perfect hinge, his elbows in the right place, great grip, and you

get the back and his paws turned into a halt and that developed into

a bit of a problem. And I think he had a bit of a time-out or certainly

time working on things. And came back, fixed it and gone on to great

things. He's beastly mentally tough to get over that is because those

things can ruin careers. He's a heavy scorer with somebody who is

more methodical sometimes goes unnoticed, is matchplay is excellent

and he has become very good in the big tournaments, reaching finals and

semifinals. He's very dangerous in the long frame format and if he gets

on a roll, he's very difficult to prevent. He picks up momentum in a

game and you can sense it, you sense he's hitting his stride. And he

becomes extremely hard to keep up with. And you don't need to be too

complacent, Judd Trump in the Masters had that unbelievable game

with Neil Robertson and he meets Barry Hawkins the next day,

different style of play, and suddenly he's going home because

Barry Hawkins is that all the time. He's always there and you have to

beat him. And I have never seen him play the wrong shot, he always plays

the right shot for the correct moment, if it is right to push the

attack but, he goes for it and he's more than capable of holding his own

with anybody. If it is a safety and tactical fire, he can stand there

all day and mix and match, he's very good in all areas. He has won and

event but to kick onto the next level, does he need to get his head

in front again? I think so, Barry needs more exposure at the finals

and the Majors. That is all he's lacking. I would be very surprised

if he finished his career without at least one major on his mantle piece.

Standing between Barry Hawkins and a place unless 16 is the man who

knocked out Ryan Day yesterday, the world number 36 from Thailand,

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. We read it with -- we join with Hawkins leading,

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh to play and no score. Darren Morgan and Willie

Thorne your commentators. He will be very disappointed he did

not catch that thin. Never kiss the blue on your way back or you are

leaving your opponent with an easy pot. Another left-handed player who

plays with the rest right-handed. It is weird how many of the

professionals do that. And that is not too bad, even though it goes on

the cushion, he can get onto the cue. That is what he would like to

get onto first, but in the ideal world, he would look to have the gap

between the cue and the black to get to the cue on the left-hand side but

he would be fortunate to get to that which is why he's playing for the

one behind the black spot. Only just far enough. The main thing

is, he's nicely on this cue. Such a solid player, Barry Hawkins. It is

fantastic how he has transformed himself, always been a great player.

Whatever has changed, he now believes he can win. And win at all

levels and every event he plays in. He has still got a couple of loose

reds out. Two just below the pack. We will probably see him get rid of

these two before he starts going at back. Reds. I mean, the one just

above the one he's going to play now, he might just leave that this

neck shot, after putting red and black so instead of putting the red,

he can disturb that cluster of reds. Not always guaranteed to screw back

off the question, but he will play that off the reverse back to the

blue, so he has done very well and now that should and could be a

frame. Rather than play with the plane ball, the white wood finish

somewhere between the pink and blue, if he had played with a bit of

left-hand side to make it spin the table. Already had breaks of 34, 69,

51 and counting now. So he's in the groove.

Still struggling with the pace, I do not know if it is a planned but he

has obviously played for the bottom red and he has not come far enough

but there still should be a red that he can pot. That should take him

past the winning line. Pot these left-handed, he will not risk the

cannon into the Jamie Cope. -- into the red.

Has not done an awful lot wrong, Thepchaiya, he has played quite

steadily. The standard you have to play these days, you cannot miss

easy balls and he has missed a couple and the key problem, he has

not found the cushion often enough for the safety exchange. Safety

success is only at 78% so he's a bit low on the safety. Definitely got a

better putting game than he has a safety game so his safety play will

never be up in the 90s, I would not have thought. But a very good break,

a nod of the head from Thepchaiya. Barry Hawkins, a break of 79, enough

to take him into a 3-1 lead. Yes, a smooth start for Barry

Hawkins. Let's pick them up in frame five with Hawkins at the table on a

break of 34. Barry Hawkins. He has not made too

many mistakes, he has been very solid. I think for Thepchaiya

Un-Nooh, it is back to the drawing board. As Willie le Roux did,

working with Terry Griffiths. So I think they have to come up with a

new plan -- as Willie alluded to. The plan they had in place today,

unfortunately for Thepchaiya, has not worked. I do feel that young

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh has a fantastic future ahead of himself. He's a very

exciting player. This has not been his day-to-day, he's going to be

bitterly disappointed. And we can see heads down. You can't win them

all. This just has not been one of them days for him. He has got to put

it to the back of his mind. Get ready for the next one. Which is

going to be very soon, next week at the shoot out. Barry Hawkins

continues to march on. Just this one remaining red to put him safe. The

only thing that has been missing from this match is the centuries. He

has been scoring heavily among the balls. The crowd here at the

Motorpoint Arena applauding the match ball, now can he make a

century. Probably not now. Played the screw down the back of the red

in open play to get down to the red in the bottom right-hand corner. He

will still take some sort of pot one. Red has not run in and we'll

Thepchaiya Carry On? Having a little look at the scoreboard? And Barry

Hawkins will be a 4-1 winner. Yes, indeed, Hawkins had done enough to

get over the line, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh needing snookers, he could

not get them and Hawkins making sure he's not another big name to go home

early. Having been impressed at the weekend, and remaining on course for

success here in Cardiff. -- in Preston.

So many shocks this year, it must be a million to -- relief to go through

that cleanly? Yes, Un-Nooh is very unpredictable and phenomenal player.

It was nice to come through. Relatively easy in the end. How

difficult has it been to come here to focus so soon after one of the

all-time great highlights, a fantastic win at the world Grand

Prix? It was quite hard, the first round

Eiffel Tower ball, but I battled. The last two, a couple of good sleep

so I don't feel too bad, a little jaded but not too bad, try and keep

the run going if I can. You are one of only six top seed still in this

year's Welsh Open. Do you think I'm gone, the draw is opening up nicely,

or are you walking scared because if you think the likes of Robertson and

O'Sullivan can get knocked out, it can happen to me? Yes, it is a short

format and you can go home at any stage. A lot of great players left

and tournament winners as well, so I have won a tournament this year so

whatever happens from now is a massive bonus. If I can keep playing

all right, I have a good chance, I suppose. Keep the early nights

coming and we will see you in the next round, well done.

Yes, he looks in good shape, Barry Hawkins. Terry Griffiths, difficult

for you, you have coached both players, difficult to watch, how

would you assess that win for Barry? It was quite straightforward for me,

Barry Hawkins did not really give Thepchaiya a lot of chances. I spoke

to him as he came past the studio, Thepchaiya, and heeded not feel he

had many chances and this is what happens when top players are at

their best, they can keep you off the table. For me, it is a disaster,

I hate when two of my players play net is to each other because I

cannot have two in the next round. I'm guaranteed a winner but I'm

guaranteed a loser and I do not like that. What do you do in that

situation, give each of them exactly the same amount of coaching time?

Not really, it depends who dropped the most money on the floor and I

pick it up! No, I share my time with them and I do whatever I can. I pick

the balls up and I have a chat with them and I never talk about the

other player. It is looking good for Barry with all the top seeds falling

by the wayside, he must think he has a chance this year. Well, everybody

has got a chance. Don't underestimate the players still in,

top seeds have gone out and there are a lot of good players still in

the tournament, including Barry Hawkins who is looking for a

back-to-back win in ranking events for the first time and that would be

very special for him. Also still in the tournament, world number four

Judd Trump, back in action this afternoon against our local hero,

the 15-year-old Welsh wild card from Ebbw Vale, Jackson Page. What a

match for him, and this is the head-to-head, there are no

statistics for Jackson, he's playing in his first major senior tournament

at the age of 15 after making it this far. Trump, fourth in the

world, six ranking titles and he got to the semifinal in 2013. It is

going to be such a special afternoon for Jackson Page, playing one of his

Boyhood heroes, Judd Trump, let's find out more about the youngster

from Ebbw Vale. Who is Jackson Page? 15, from Ebbw

Vale. A small village, town, whatever you call it. Yes, I go to

score, I go to the snooker hall, home, food, sleep! Should you not be

in score? Yes. Yes, this week. I have taken time off. They have

changed the half term date and last year, it would have been fine

because it was half term but half term is next week so even better for

me! What is it like as a young snooker

player coming through the ranks? Yes, it is great. Especially doing

well. Hopefully, I can go further now. Do well and over the moon, it

feels great. Great experience as well to win, it is unreal, it is

great. People would second-guess your age.

Yes, well I had a tournament in Ireland two years ago and I had to

take my passport because they were not convinced I was in the under 14

team. They did not believe me. I probably had a moustache at about

11, 12, and a beard at 13, 14. Yes! Who do you base your game on?

Definitely Ronnie, I would say. The way I play is more towards runny.

Fast, fire, attacking. -- Ronnie. What are your dreams in

snooker, where'd you see yourself? Probably everybody's dream, do as

much in the game as possible, when World Championships in number of

times hopefully, world number one. Everything really. Away from the

table, what you like doing? Apart from score and snooker, there

are not much of the things I do really. I beat quite a what's, that

is one thing. What about the money, do you get to

keep that? -- I have a lot to beat. In snooker, you do, not things like

golf. Do you have a nickname?

Well, in Welsh, they call me teen wolf. I cannot have that for very

long when I my 20s. When I was in Belgium, they called me the rampage

or something, Jackson rampage. I did not get that one. They made up one

and they called me action Jackson Page and that is what everybody is

calling me so I suppose that is the one.

Cheers, Jackson. Thanks, Jackson. I do think we confused Terry in the

studio, that is called having a word with yourself! It almost sounds

patronising when you say this lad is still at score and he cannot drive

yet. But that is the reality. One minute, you revise for your GCSEs

and the next you face Judd Trump in a major ranking tournament are

extraordinary. It is wonderful the Association

allowed the amateurs to comment, the English and Scottish on Northern

Ireland event and they gave wild cards to the amateur association, it

gives people the chance to fulfil a dream. And boys like himself, in

here, he probably thinks, I will see what I can do, but he has won two

events, two matches and events on the senior circuit in Wales in the

amateur association where we all started. I watched him play a couple

of times, he's very entertaining, I have got to see that. You can see

that. He plays in Mark Williams's club, he goes for everything. There

will be out in a second, so can he possibly beat Judd Trump? What a

huge afternoon for him. He's not going to be favoured, that is for

sure, but I hope he will play OK and give him a fright. Who knows, Lee

Walker did it yesterday, Michael White, Dominick is still in, we

could have another! You cannot coach player to play in this situation,

under the lights, the TV. I think he enjoys it, he did a nice interview

and he looks comfortable playing, I watched his games and he knocks them

in like Cliff Wilson used to be. A great grip. Here he comes, this big

moment for him, a fairy tale for Jackson Page continues. Two scalps

already, can he get the biggest of them all? It would be one of the

biggest shocks in this tournament is's history if he did, it is

Jackson Page against Judd Trump. Let's join Darren Walker and Cliff

Thorburn. Good afternoon, everybody, what an

intriguing match in prospect. 15-year-old Jackson Page. Action

Jackson as we should be calling him now. About to shake hands with the

man he first watched playing Ronnie O'Sullivan in Newport in the Welsh

Open a couple of years ago. And here he's before his 16th birthday taking

his place in the last 32 of the Welsh Open against the world number

four. And six time ranking event winner. And he still looks as though

he hasn't got a care in the world! The names on the monitors still

reflecting their previous players, Barry Hawkins and Thepchaiya

Un-Nooh. Just a quick flick. A little change of the wire backstage,

and still, Jackson standing at the table very calm and very composed.

What a story, he has been everywhere. BBC Breakfast News, on

the websites, put his name into Google. He's a hot topic of

conversation this week. The young lad from Ebbw Vale.

Yes, I could not agree more with you! He will have enough time of

next week, an official half term, it has come a little early for Jackson

Page. This is going to be a big ask. This young man. But he has nothing

to lose, he has everything to gain, once he gets going he is a terrific

potter. And hopefully we will see some of that now in this match this

afternoon. Judd said he was looking forward to this match last night. He

was taken quite deep in the match against Alex Borg and in the first

press conference he said, I can remember what it was like to come

onto the circuit aged 15 or 16 with a big sense of expectation from

everyone who had been watching me since I scored a century at the age

of nine and ten. He said, I am really looking forward to it and it

will be novel to be almost double the age of my opponent! Jackson 15,

Judd Trump, 27. Here we go. His first appearance in the last 32 of a

ranking event at the age of just 15. Yes, you can just imagine there must

be butterflies flying around. I commentated on Judd last night and

when I say butterflies of course I mean Jackson Page, not Judd Trump!

Although he will have nerves about him early in this match. He's got

everything to lose, Judd Trump, Jackson has everything to gain. I

think Judd Trump will be the first to agree it was not his best

performance and Alex did ask certain questions. You can see with young

Jackson that he likes to attack. But he has given Judd a chance in the

corner. Doesn't need to do much with the cue ball. Just taking the pace

off the cue ball, drops it in, it is nicely on the black. Really

important for young Jackson not to give too many early chances to Judd

to get into his flow. A lot of people eagerly anticipating

this much because of how unusual the story is and Trump just as he did

last night against Alex Borg wasting no time in splitting the pack.

Plenty of live snooker going on this afternoon across this section of the

Motorpoint Arena, almost everyone crowded town this end of the arena.

Trying to get a glimpse of the man who could be the start of the

future. Hiding among that lot somewhere is to time Welsh champion

Mark Williams, who has done a bit of practice with Jackson. -- 2- time

Welsh champion. Apparently he wants to clarify that he has been

misquoted, many people claimed that Mark Williams said, Jackson is as

good as I was at that age. I spoke to him about an hour ago in the

president and he said, I did not say that, it is not my place to judge,

how can I, it was subjective. And I did say he is very good and he could

be the real deal. Would you agree with that assessment Darren?

Definitely, Jackson has been ruling the roost in the junior events in

Wales. He went to the World Championships and said in his

pre-match interview but he has 12 senior events this year so he has

all the tools and he is very likeable, he has a terrific family

and parents and I'm sure he's got a massive, bright future ahead. If

Mark says that he is the real deal, you can rest assured he is.

No room for sentiment from Judd Trump, added a sixth ranking title

to his collection earlier this season, winning the European

Masters, runner-up at the English open but by his high standards and

has not been a sparkling last couple of months for Trump and he will be

aware of just how many big names falling foul of the giant-killing

exploits of some of the lower ranked players here in Wales. So I am sure

he will be supportive of Jackson and will chat with him at the end of the

match should he win but he has his eye on this major prize and he wants

to turn six ranking titles into seven. Rest assured Judd will want

to give Jackson a real thumping this afternoon. He knows that Jackson

will be one of his competitors later in the next couple of years, he'll

want to send a message and he'll want to put it out there today and

give Jackson something to remember him for. I can remember Jackson

first started playing at our club, the red triangle in Cross Keys when

he was about nine and he played their for five or so years before he

moved up the market into a club in Tredegar. He's always been a talent

and the improvement he has made, giant strides, a lot of good

youngsters in Wales coming along which is good. Then tie the recent

played here as a wild card and another young lad named Dylan Emery.

And Carol Matthews, a nine-year-old called Liam Davis looks like he

could have a massive future as well. It's looking good, Welsh snooker.

Although he hasn't had much of a role to play in this match yet

Jackson Page has advanced in this 32, user validation of the wild card

policy. There is the first mistake from Judd Possibly an opening here,

breaking down 61. The former UK champion and World Championship

runner-up. The Chinese use wild cards in some of their ranking

events to give an early outing to future stars and it seems to have

worked for Jackson. A bit unlucky, there to cover the black. But it

will be important if he can to get a few minutes on the table, just to

put a little break together and settle down. That red travelling

down the table has really limited his options. How about that, Darren?

Superb composure. In the biggest match of his life. Maybe it should

be catcher fearless Jackson, not Action Jackson -- maybe it should be

Fearless Jackson! He's going to take another great pot. He potted a

harder blue then, he came across the red and hit it dead straight. It it

dead straight. This frame is still not over yet for young Jackson. That

was not the best position shot that Trump has ever played. He is on this

blue. We might see him play this and go in between the green and the

corner pocket. He played that deep, is it going in off?

He was forced to work quite hard late last night to get over the line

against the spirited performance of the 47-year-old player from Malta,

Alex Borg. So Jackson, almost at a stage of requiring snookers and he

will be if this black goes in. A glimmer of hope in this frame. It

would be nice if he could replicate the accuracy that he showed with

that long blue. And so barring snookers this will be the end of the

first frame for young Jackson Page. Keeping his hopes alive in this

first frame. Three reds, three blacks, one snooker, 14 point

penalty and he could pinch this frame. A long way to go before he is

that this is dashed at that stage. - at that stage. Going for the double

against Judd Trump! Not afraid to have a crack. Some of Judd's long

pots last night was superb, as well. Kim Jong-un they were superb. First

blood to the favourite. -- they were superb.

But he does seem very composed, Jackson. We have seen quite a few

scenarios this week at the Welsh Open web players have gone back to

their seats shaking their heads and being quite negative in terms of

their body language come he isn't giving much away here, Jackson.

Hopefully he is enjoying the experience. He's coming back to get

a feel for the table. And that is it. His first frame in the last 32

is a losing one, Judd is up and running in style but not too many

signs of nerves from Jackson. STUDIO: He looks at ease, Jackson

Page come out in the arena, even trailing 0- one against Trump. We'll

talk about that in a moment, let's update you on what's been going on

on table two. One of the other big shocks of the tournament involved

Lee Walker from Newport, another Welsh player left in the tournament,

that stunning comeback win over Neil Robertson yesterday. He's playing

Graeme Dott in round three today. This is the end of frame three. We

will see in a few seconds Graeme Dott winning this one to take the

lead, 2-1, although Lee Walker still hopes to continue his journey in the

Welsh Open this year. Terry, with Jackson aged 15 Lee at the other end

of the spectrum, at 41, still life in him, still capable of winning

tournaments? I don't think Lee is a major tournament winner at the

moment. At that age it is not so easy to push forward. He is

improving his game, though, which is all you can do. What a contrast

between Lee's style and Jackson's style, Jackson is a typical young

lad, sees a ball, he will not get in. He doesn't really think, shall I

play safety. Let's show you another of the Welsh players was left in the

tournament, Dominic Dale, part of our commentary team on coverage of

the Welsh Open. His adventure is over, he has lost 4-1 just a short

while ago. Dominic is out of the tournament this year.

But Jackson Page looks so comfortable at the moment. Yes, he

is very confident. He is the second best seed left in, he will get

punished for his mistakes, more than you would in the first couple of

rounds but it's just a wonderful experience for him anyway. Back in,

with Trump leading, 1-0. COMMENTATOR: As Terry says, it is a

win- win situation for Jackson, which ever way you look at it. This

will be beyond his wildest dreams, coming here this week. This thread

will be close to the corner pocket. He could have done with that just

falling in. He's going to have to sit now and wait. I'm sure he'll get

a couple of opportunities within this match to show us how well he

can play, how exciting, as a young player.

Trump, one of the classiest players on the circuit. Completely different

opposition to the ones Jackson played in the first two grounds, not

to take anything away from him. Obviously the further you go into

the tournament, the classier the opposition becomes and the harder it

gets. A couple of century breaks for

Trump. His first round win was over Andrew Higginson, 102 and 140.

Beginning to open up, the best break we sought from Judd against Alex

Bork was... But he has looked good in the first two brands here.

Jackson has done it the hard way, 24-3 thrillers, in the first round

against Jason Weston he got through on a re-spotted black.

He was expected to beat Jason, he had a chance against John Astley, he

wasn't certain that he would beat his second-round opponent. Judd

laying on a bit of a demonstration for his young rival. He will

certainly remember what it is like to appear at a ranking event at such

a tender age when there is so much expectation and excitement, like

there was a bad Trump when he was Jackson's H.

This is clinical, so far, from Judd Trump.

He is looking much stronger this afternoon then he did last night. I

must be fair, Alex Borg potted some unbelievable balls against Judd.

Talking to Judd later he could not believe the reds that he put it in.

If Alex had scored the match could have been so different. He looks

right on his game now. Totally in the zone. Totally focused. 110%

concentration. Looking very good indeed.

So, barring snookers this second frame belongs to Judd Trump and in

some emphatic style. From the perspective of a neutral

you just hope that Jackson does get some table time and an opportunity

to show people why he deserves his place in the last 32. He will be

picking up and check if he loses the match, and check for three and a

half thousand pounds which is more than Judd Trump won in his entire

first season as a professional, if you look at the stats.

Judd won 3350. He has since amassed over ?2.5 million in prize money and

there should be more where that came from the 27-year-old.

It is not to be a century but it is a marker of what Jackson Page should

be aiming for in the future, Judd Trump doubles as advantage. --

doubles his advantage. At the moment, it's chocolate, I can't stop

eating chocolate! Two. Leonardo DiCaprio is a great actor and also

Ben Affleck alike. There was a time in a local league game where I beat

someone, he must have been about 14 and I was six or seven. He ended up

snapping his cue after I beat him, I never forget that. Quite patient, I

think and quite relaxed. Quite a bad loser. It does take me a

while to get over some losses, it takes me a day or two. Maybe David

Beckham possibly, all Floyd Mayweather Jr would be intimidated,

and the best driver in the world, I think! I haven't paid much attention

to the past, I would like to go forward 50 years and see what's

happening them. Probably by the beach in Los Angeles and then out

with friends that night. COMMENTATOR: Imagine causing a

14-year-old player to snap his cue in frustration after losing to a

six-year old. I don't think he would be doing the same if somehow Jackson

produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in snooker history.

Hopefully Jackson will get a chance to show us himself in action. The

winner of that will get a guaranteed to a card so it's not just about

what happens today. It is about - he is approaching some key moments in

his career, Jackson Page as he begins to think about life as a

professional. So far, he's altered the fairy tale

of the 15-year-old, and, Darren, presumably, even though Jackson

apparently is very good and very bright in school, is it the right

move for him to turn professional as early as possible, bearing in mind

how competitive the sport is now? Obviously as a parent myself I would

say probably not. If he was to win his professional ticket this year I

would say it would be a mistake to take it just yet. That's my personal

thing, as he has just slammed in a red then the question as if it was

over the pocket! But he's a young man, and at the end of the day his

family and friends will give him all the right advice that he needs. It

is just that it is a brutal game out there, it's different coming into

this tournament as a wild he has won a couple of matches, fantastic,

suddenly he will be up and down the motorway, on flights all the time,

away from home, it's a big thing for everyone never mind a 15-year-old. I

would probably say if I was in his corner, yes, the experience is

great, I don't think he's ready for the professional game yet. Not for

time anyway. -- not full time anyway.

He has called a foul on himself, which has disturbed that shot. That

was his first real opportunity in the match and he will be

disappointed. And what is worse, Judd has knocked that read in! Just

as his cue was going in he has caught the red. No one else probably

saw that foul. That tells you how much of a sportsman he is. Owning up

straight without hesitation, and probably the biggest day of his

life. -- on probably the biggest day of his life.

One thing is for certain, whatever Jackson Page goes on to achieve in

the future, and hopefully it will be great things, he will never, ever

forget this week in Cardiff. That is such a hard shot, such a

drop. Got to stay perfectly still, deliver that cue in a straight line.

This has been faultless snooker from Judd Trump. In total control at the

moment for everything he is doing. And obviously this will be a relief

to Jed because last night it went on late, commentated on that match and

he went on at something like 20 past nine because it is very late for any

kind of a professional snooker match and they finished round about 12

o'clock. He is back in our early this afternoon another round. --

he's back in here. So they have probably had a good night's sleep

but it was a very late finish. Doesn't seem to have affected his

play in any shape or form. I think we will all pretty tired

last night, not least of which Judd Trump. But once again, Jackson not

quite producing what he did in the first two rounds, but a bit of a

let-off. The crowd here would love to see Jackson Page just produce a

little break, maybe something towards the 61. That he so

impressively produced against John Astley. And he has given glimpses.

Quebec red, of how nicely he strikes the cue ball -- with that red. Out

of position here, but what an occasion! I wonder if his classmates

have been allowed an hour off to watch. You to fully played with the

black and he made it difficult for himself. This is more like it.

Reminiscent of the inspired form that Alex Borg produced against Judd

Trump in the early stages last night. What a shame! Looked like he

was just beginning to get going. Beautiful black, the middle left. He

could not keep it going with the pink.

And the problem for Jackson Page in this match, he has only had little

snippets. He has not got in tidy, in amongst the balls. His pot success

is 62%, it is a little bit low. But then a couple of shots he has had to

go for have been difficult and that counts against the pot statistics.

Judd Trump has played very, very well. So this red. No problem for

the red. That means Jackson now is going to need snookers to have any

chance in this frame. So it looks like Judd Trump is going to extend

his lead now to 3-0. Four left and that young man is going to have to

win them all. He only wants one snooker so it is worth carrying on.

A lot of frames over the last two players have required snookers.

There's always a chance. He has been pretty sharp, Judd

Trump. This has been a demonstration of excellence. The rest of the

professionals still in this field, but also for Jackson Page, every

time he has made a mistake, the world number four has punished him

for it. He wasn't expected to win this match, of course. But everyone

will be hoping that he gets an opportunity just to put a little bit

of a break together in what could be the last frame of the match. Because

this one is all but over. There's his brand of naughty

snooker. He's absolutely hammering the cue

ball here! Judd Trump's turned to enjoy himself here on the big stage.

Totally in control here, it does not matter about the blue. Judd Trump is

now one away from the victory. Yes, Judd Trump cruising and that is

why he's regarded as one of the most entertaining and flamboyant

characters in a game. But with that in a moment. Back to table two, just

for a couple of seconds, keeping a close eye on how the other Welshmen

in action Lee Walker is getting on. Yesterday, a good come back win over

Neil Robertson when he was 3-1 down at one point, beating Robertson. And

he's 2-1 down in this frame, but he's going to take the frame to make

it 2-2. Terry, doing well against Graeme Dott, the former world

champion. Great tournament. Yes, tough match, for both of them. They

both grind out hard, and union all the time. But doing doing well. No

points on the board so far for Dott, so 2-2 between Dott and Walker. We

will keep a close eye on that. Is there anything that Jackson Page can

do to get himself back into this game, to rescue this? A little bit

unlucky, he filed with the ball when he had a chance and he missed the

pink off the spot and he will be disappointed because he normally

gets ten out of ten. You can see the frustration as he steps away from

the table. Has it caught up with him? He's not having a lot of

chances and he's a bit quick. But it is experience for him. What advice

would you have as a coach for him as he goes into this next frame and

Trump could take the match? At his age, let him do what he's doing

until he asks for some help. Is that the tactic? You would not mess about

with him, he's very talented, very natural, better to give him advice

verbally, how to play the game. And his manners out there all these

things. Don't him going for pots. Hard to stop Trump in this form. It

is hard to stop Trump at any time, when he's on good form! Judd Trump

is leading here handsomely by 3-0. So let's go back into the arena and

rejoin Rob and Darren. Yes, I agree with Terry. He's a real

natural talent, Jackson Page. It is best just to leave him alone and let

him realise that potential. So it is pot breaking off. And the frame that

he needs, and that is not the best. No damage done.

A mature shot from Jackson. Well, Mark Williams, the double world

champion, it is watching somewhere. He has done a good job of hiding. He

answered the text message case sent him and he said, it is simple,

Jackson is getting outplayed which we would expect. He's bound to be a

nervous wreck, we have got to remember, he's only 15. So, Mark

Williams. Offering some common sense from the stands somewhere. Hiding.

He said he knows Jackson has a good temperament because he has been

ribbing him at the club. You get the feeling, Darren, there will be a lot

of support for the young man whichever decision he makes. Whether

he decides to go professional right away or in another couple of years,

there's a sense that his talent will be nurtured in Wales in the right

way to help him make the right progress, at the right time. Well,

yes, and no better to have in his corner than Mark Williams. Probably

he has been if not the best Welsh player we have ever had. The only

one to rival that is rewritten. And Mark has done it in the modern-day

game -- to rival that Israeli Riordan. He's at his club and he

will give him the right advice and he will help him wherever he can.

The rest, unfortunately, is down to young Jackson. Once you get out

there, no matter how much help you get, you are on your own.

The reds may be nicely spread down the table, but it is an awkward

position from which to show his skills here in what could be the

last frame. And that is the first time we have seen a little bit of

negative body language, just a little slump of the shoulders as he

headed back to his chair. Maybe just a little bit frustrated that he has

not shown is what he did against just -- Jason Weston in the first

round. And John Astley in the second.

Well, the cue ball is awkward. But is this your best chance, Jackson,

to show others what you have got before you turned 16, against one of

the world's best? You could hear the collective

sighing here in the Motorpoint Arena. Neutrals willing him to get a

frame on the board but Judd is back in again and the reds well spread.

If this next shot was to go right, which it has come can't help feeling

that maybe Jackson Page just played his last shot in this year's Welsh

Open. Has not been the fairy tale that he would have been hoping for

today, in his first TV match. He can take a lot of heart from it, he has

come here as a 15-year-old. Won two great matches. He has had a lot of

exposure, TV coverage and press coverage. I'm sure when he gets back

to him -- class, they will make a real force of him. Having said that,

Judd Trump has just overscrewed that cue ball. He has got a red to the

centre. So maybe there's another chance. In this frame. One into the

left-centre is real thin and I don't know if he can get the pot at that

angle. I think he's going to can in it, this is thin. It is that thin,

he did not even go for it. Still in with a shout, young Jackson.

Not meant to be his day-to-day, is it? Yes, I think the latter shot he

played was a little bit of inexperience, even if he made the

pot, he was not on a colour. A little bit of frustration. I just

think he has got to look at all the positives of this. And one thing is

for sure, he has got a fantastic future. Well, he has got another

chance and all of a sudden, Judd Trump has had a couple of

opportunities in this frame and he has not taken them. The first three

frames were like a masterclass. Jackson just needs to convert one of

these chances and try and get a frame on the board. And who knows?

We saw that last night with Mark Davis, it looked like he was dead

and out and Ronnie O'Sullivan was going to win 4-1, and it was 4-1 and

he ended up losing 4-3. It is never over until the final balls have been

potted. You have just got to keep positive. This is the first time he

has been in and amongst and around the blacks and the reds. As I said

that, he has just lost the cue ball again and instead of this being a

straightforward red, either the one below the pink or the right of the

black, both reds have become now very difficult. But no problem, he's

back in a good position. He made that looked very easy.

He just needs that blue to stop so he can get it to the corner pocket,

which has travelled and the brown is blocked by the red. Action Jackson

all of a sudden is starting to take off. It was a real good shot that

last red he potted. Just did not know whether cue ball would be

going. Back in the frame, though. A really

warm applause for the teenager, only 29. But a taster of what he's

capable of. That is a real clever shot. Judd

knew that as long as he got the cue ball close to the yellow and the red

close to the corner pocket, if you missed it there was a good chance he

would cover it and he would not be leaving any other shot for Jackson.

He has played it. A little swerve. That was much trickier than how he

made it look. He's starting to game a little more confidence, young

Jackson. What a shame. For the young man from

Ebbw Vale. He has done really well to put himself in a position in this

frame and for the first time, a little shake off the head from the

chair. He will be hoping that he's going to

get another opportunity. This is the most important shots now. As far as

Jackson is concerned, if Judd Trump gets on this yellow from the blue, I

think he has played for the medal pocket and landed on it for the

corner so good shot needed, but if it goes in, we know he's going to be

on the green. Into the middle of the pocket, perfectly on the green. This

could be it. REFEREE: Can we get that phone off,

please? A great occasion here and it was all

teed up for Jackson Page and it wasn't meant to be a winner. A real

exhibition shot from Judd Trump. Jackson Page has had his first taste

of life in the snooker spotlight and hopefully there will be many more to

come, it just was not quite destined to be today. The class of Judd Trump

showed, the world number four, a straightforward victory and he goes

through to the last Unforgettable week for Jackson Page

that he will never forget and he may go on to have a lot of success in

the game but a game too far for the teenager. We will speed the Judd

Trump shortly, he's on his way up, the winner. You always felt it would

be a difficult challenge for Jackson to continue this stream today. Yes,

it was a step too far and the draw did not go well for him -- continue

his dream. He said it was his favourite player, Trump, and that

would put more on him. He did not settle down out there. It is

expected like you said on the TV, he's 15 and he will be nervous

playing against Judd. A bit starstruck? I would not say

starstruck, it is the whole thing, not just playing Trump. It is at the

stage of the tournament and it is on the television, table one, he's

exposed. I guess they he was enjoying himself waiting to go out

and making an effort to beat the Judd Trump. But he did not make his

chances like he did in the last two matches that he had. In those, he

played quite well. Let's hear from Jackson Page with Rob Walker.

Jackson, I guess the most important question is, did you manage to enjoy

it all back? Yes, definitely enjoyed it. Playing somebody like Judd, you

don't get many chances and under the pressure and in the lights and the

TV, I just did not take my chance. But he's one of the best players in

the world so I'm not going to get many chances. Did you feel the step

up in pressure and expectation and the support and publicity you have

had from your first two wins in the first and second round? Yes,

definitely. When you win your first two, everybody expects you to do

more but most people don't realise who you are playing. Playing

somebody like Judd, at my age, you will not get very close very often

on the issue play really well. You need a lot of the touring and I need

to practise more to get to that standard. You say mature and, your

approach to that match was really good and we did not see headshaking

until the end and from your demeanour, you did not seem to be

overawed by the occasion and you looked to be calm and taking each

shot as it came. I was all right out there. I just did not turn up really

on the day. Did not take my chances. I don't think you should be too

disheartened, as this inspired you to want this again? Yes, definitely.

It is unbelievable, the experience is great. I can hopefully come back

next year. And finally, are you going to attempt to turn

professional as quickly as possible or will you take more time studying

or are you still shell-shocked after playing live on TV it gains the

world number four? I will try and stem professional as soon as

possible -- live on TV against. That and a couple of chances in Cyprus so

hopefully I can get onto one of those. It has been a great run

although you did not feel you produced your best, best of luck in

Cyprus and we will see a watch more of you in the future.

It could be a life changing few days for Jackson Page and this man might

have advice for him, Judd Trump, the winner this afternoon, you have

played the roll of pantomime villain and you have killed off our local

lad, but clinical stuff from you. Yes, I thought it would be exciting

for both of us, and good experience for me, the first person I have

played. I have grown up now and he's the first person coming through I

have had to play against so it is good to see someone from Great

Britain getting through. China has taken over at the moment. Hopefully

with some coaching and experienced people around him, he can come true

and push on. What was the psychology for you going into the game that

he's 15 and this should be straightforward? Was it that he has

beaten decent players and he must have something about him? Yes, to

get through two rounds, you are a decent player and there was nothing

to achieve out of this, the pressure was on me and if I lost, it was a

bit embarrassing for me and he had nothing to lose. I felt the first

couple of frames, they were very important to get in front and put

him under pressure and it would be a struggle. I remember from the first

time I played Ronnie on TV, when you go behind, it is very hard to come

back from that. Obviously, there are a couple of things he needs to work

on and to learn but the potential, you can see going for his balls and

not being afraid, he needs to stick with that. What advice would you

have for him having been there as a youngster trying to make your way in

the game? Just to keep enjoying it and doing what he does. When you get

older, you kind of learn to change your game a little bit. I think over

time, he might need to work on his backswing, I think it is a little

too long for that kind of table. And knuckle down on his safety shots, he

let me out of that, but everybody makes those mistakes and I made them

and you need to make them to learn. You can always have people telling

you what to do but until you experience it for yourself, you

cannot believe it. A future in the game for Jackson, Terry? You don't

want to put pressure on the lad, he's 15 and playing amateur snooker

and under age amateur snooker. There's a long way for him to go but

he looks to have the talent and good people with Mark behind him and

other people looking after him. He may come through into the

professional game. Judd, hoping to go far in the competition this year,

with the big names going out, the field is narrowing? Yes, I get

supporters here, close to home in Bristol, so I have friends and

family over who support me so it would be nice to get through and

play fancy shots and get through to the final this time. There were some

of those in the end. Well done to you, a whitewash to you 4-0. Judd

Trump going through to the last 16. A look now at how they are trying to

widen the game out to more people, different sections of society, and

our cameras went to the second is disability snooker Championship

recently. We are at the Southwest Snooker

Academy in Gloucester, it is the world disability Snooker

Championships and we have players battling it out to win in their

categories. That are up to eight categories with

disabilities ranging from learning to physical disabilities and within

that different events taking place over double black days. The first is

all about getting to know the tables and the venues to put people at ease

and his coaching on hand, qualified coaches. I was born with cerebral

palsy nine and a half weeks premature, it's affected me

throughout my life, I had reconstructive surgery to help me

walk, I was confined to a wheelchair, it's been a long journey

to get to where I am and I wanted to be part of this because I'm

passionate about snooker as a hobby and also I thought it was a great

opportunity to provide disabled men and women with an opportunity to

play the beautiful game. Nine coming to these types of tournaments I

think the coaches is fantastic because you are getting the

competitive side of the game as well and you see snickers accessible for

everyone, I've seen a lot of players gain confidence through playing

snooker so I am keen for more providers to start providing for

players with disabilities. With this event we feel we should be

supporting players with disabilities to help them improve. So we are here

to help them improve and most of all build confidence for that player.

Snook is difficult across the board, whether able-bodied and disabled. I

struggled with this stance and I struggled with my bridge hand

because of shots, there are lots of issues that when you roll them into

one create quite a problematic situation when playing snooker but

ultimately the game is tough enough as it is, so you work with what

abilities you've got and try to make the game as simple as possible. With

Jonathan, we talked about what is issues were and how he wanted to

build on those together with confidence to achieve the ultimate

aim which is to put more balls in more pockets, to win. Also to win

with an ease that brings confident and self-worth. That is what we are

trying to do with the game to support all players with

disabilities. We are looking to grow. We need many countries to make

it a Paralympic event. It would be a return to snooker because it used to

be in the Paralympics, it is a skilful game played all around the

world's think it has its place in the Paralympics. We are looking out

for many players to join us and one day we will be in the Paralympics.

It is not just a dream, we will make it a reality, there's real

commitment from Jason Ferguson and the organisations to make this

reality. Plenty of similar defence plans will keep an eye on those, the

big names keep coming today, we saw Barry Hawkins and Judd Trump just

minutes ago going through, coming up, world number one Mark Selby, he

also plays a teenager today. Let's get some expert thoughts on the

world number one's game. Think it's safe to say that if you become world

champion and world number when you know your way around the table and

Mark Selby certainly does. Eunice way around the table better than

anyone playing the game, I've played him more than anyone on to and I

have had my share of him, he puts a difficult positions. Used to have a

massive length of bridge between the and his hand and now he goes and

more compact, similar to you. A lot of us came on the tour is genius,

used to playing on tables that were not as fast and not as good and bad

technique suited us. But when you play on these superfast cloths

around the world you must have ultimate control of the cue ball and

being a little nearer to it gives that. It means there's less that can

go wrong, you're cue action becomes shorter and that means that less can

go wrong. But it takes getting used to. And he has a strange

characteristic, his head moves from side to side when he comes in for

the shot. Less movement than before but definitely movement there, and

the backwards or forwards or from side to side sometimes but at the

moment of strike he's always in the right position. I think among many

strong suits shot selection is definitely one. His strongest suit.

I perhaps go for the odd shot too many, whereas Mark never over

exposes himself. He is always playing shot thinking about what

happens if it goes wrong, if it doesn't quite work out, whereas

someone like me will go, what happens if it works! He tends to

lean towards what happens if it goes wrong and that allows him to play in

a slightly different way. Doesn't take on too much damage. That means

he's always thereabouts. Is that why his B game is so good and when he

wins a lot of matches? Yes, we can all win when we are playing at our

best, making great clearances and said Judy breaks, it's easy but when

you are struggling if you can have that extra string to your bow when

you have a B, C, D game sometimes, you know you can relax, you know you

don't have to keep clearing the table. And it makes incredibly

difficult to beat. Telling me! In a short while the reigning world

champion will play a Welsh Open debutant, the number 66 in the

world, yet to win a ranking title, Mark Selby has ten, he was the

winner here in 2008, although his opponent was world amateur champion

and today is his 17th birthday. I wonder if Mark Selby will ruin that

for him. Playing a teenager today, although the young man has some

pedigree about him. Yes, he won a tournament already, although spiders

there, I think they are having a good grooming, and those two

players, as people mentioned earlier, it was Judd Trump that said

that the Chinese gangsters are coming on better than the gangsters

in this country which is a bit of a turn. I agree with what he says,

these boys are away from home, it is not as easy for them but they are

doing exceptionally well. Interesting to listen to Shaun

Murphy and John Parrott analysing Mark Selby's game, he has been the

world number one for two years now, and according to what they say he

please quote a defensive game. Would you go along with that? I wouldn't

say he plays a defensive game. His defensive play is, I think, the best

in the world at the moment. The best I've seen, the way that he plays the

angles, the safety play, the judgment, right around the table and

behind something. He scores heavily. His technique is a little different

from others but at the moment he is struggling because only ?405,000

away from the second player in the world in the money list! Is

knock-about is huge. Huge! It is almost impossible for him not to be

number one -- in snooker that is huge. Oti comes into the arena to

take on Yan Bingtao. Will he make his way through as smoothly as Judd

Trump did? Over to Dominic Dale and Willie Thorne, your commentators.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. World number

one and world champion Mark Selby gets into the arena against Yan

Bingtao. To be honest we haven't seen too much of Yan Bingtao but

he's having some great results this season and they tell me he is one to

watch for the future. Interesting to see how he copes with world number

one Mark Selby. Yan Bingtao to break. Ronnie O'Sullivan speaks

highly of this young man. He is a great player, Yan Bingtao, I

believe he has just turned 17, he looks much older than that but 17

years. Played really well recently against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the

world Grand Prix. Had it not been for a massive fluke that Ronnie had

at two frames all he would definitely have been 3-2 down and

young Yan Bingtao could easily have beaten Ronnie. Played him a couple

of times. What really impresses me about Yan Bingtao is that he has a

bit of an old head on young shoulders, please and all-round

solid game. Clearly neither player has settled.

Mark Selby is always in the position these days when he is in a no- win

situation, everyone expects him to win and that causes its own

problems. Nice cue action. Yes, it does take a while to

understand the way the cloths and the balls are reacting. It will not

be long before the players find their range. I found in my much

earlier that it is not so easy, not the sort of cloths that you see in

your club that last one year. This type of the last few weeks.

Delicate, I suppose is the word, I would not say that they are light,

as such. Although they do get ironed and brushed after every session.

They do get a little old after time. A little careful he does not cut it

too thin and send it into the red, no problem there if he pushes the

red towards the corner, the Green could come to his rescue, doesn't it

so. The first real mistake has come from Yan.

Off and running. I don't think Mark will be too adventurous with his

next positional shot, it is quite the other side cushion, he knows

that the red near the corner will offer a good position for the black.

So he needs to make sure of colour, if he can.

Purposely making sure he did not leave this thread dead straight. You

can see how long he is cueing here, playing with a lot of drag. I can't

see him missing rat. The reason he plays that way is because he hopes

the cue ball doesn't roll off. I found that interesting. I used to do

that with the side spin so much in my much, I wasn't expecting movement

as much. A bit lucky, Mark, could have left a

much easier red for Yan Bingtao. Quite wisely playing a safety shot.

I think the key to this match is Yan Bingtao staying with Mark in the

break department, it would be unlikely for him to compete in the

safety department. I would expect Yan Bingtao to play the more

aggressive safety shot. Selby probably the number one in that

department, as he is in most. A really well struck safety shot

from Yan Bingtao. He deserved to cover the red in the left corner

with the band. It has put Mark Selby in a spot of bother because he can't

play safety shot down the left because the pink is hiding that

every of the pack of reds. It does have a couple of portable balls to

the right but far too risky. Struggling to see how he could get

back and even if he does so that red in the corner could be waiting for

Yan Bingtao. In a little bit of trouble, Mark Selby.

How is that for perfect cueing? Dead straight port. Potted it right into

the pocket. In a strange way that could give Selby confidence, he has

hit it so purely, so perfectly, you probably go back to his seat

thinking, I'm cueing well, even if he has left this read on.

It would have been unlucky not to be perfect but the kiss has made it

straightforward, this looks difficult, although he would love to

get the gap on the red to the right of the black, if he could get that

gap by screwing back, that is with the tip of his cue was looking but

it is too risky to played out. If he can keep can get the black into

play. He's played that very well indeed. Well done. He might have to

screw into the black. He's found another read. That will make things

a bit easier. To see if he can get the gap a

second time, it might well be too risky to play it.

He's played that perfectly, Yan Bingtao. A lovely angle on the red.

Just to set up the black in the opposite corner. The thing I like

about Yan Bingtao because I know him quite well, I've played a couple of

times, we have beaten each other once, he knows how good he is. He

has a lot of belief in what he can do, in his ability. He's not averse

to hitting the table in annoyance when things go wrong because he

expects things of himself and that is good.

Got to be careful with this, they tend to sometimes fly off the back

cushion when you are playing a slow roll through. He may find himself

hampered for the next black. He needs to pot this dead weight.

Ideally he would like to kiss the red nearest the cue ball. That would

make it straightforward. He has to play to the side to get that, that's

where he played the pink rather than the black. Now he's in no man's

land. That is very good. Will he move the

red away from the black or screw back, when he gets rid of the red

that is to the left of the black it makes things a lot easier.

Just one shot from making this a frame-winning break, he's just a

little awkward when he comes to the table at the moment. The choice of

two reds neither of which are in a perfect position. Just run through

an inch too far. The pink still available but wanted to be

straighter. Excellent pot on the pink but once

it is spotted the red next to the cue ball will be blocking the path

to the corner, as you can see so no easy next red now, for Yan Bingtao.

He doesn't want to take something on and miss it.

Exactly Dominic 's point. If Mark can get through to this red that 43

point lead could evaporate quickly, and he can get through to it. A

little unlucky, Yan, to be fair, in that break of 42 he kept trying to

get the black in open play in both corners and every time he was an

inch away from being in the perfect position. That isn't great but he

can slow down the white by playing a cannon on the red just below the

pink, try to hold it dead. It ran on and on. So, cannon needed.

Very well played by Mark, made that look much easier than it was. A good

first red he knocked in as well, it was not easy to hold the cue ball

over distance. He's got two potentially difficult reads, one

near the right side cushion and one on this top cushion behind the black

spot. He should be able to get right back in the frame here.

Although he is 34 points behind, he has just become the favourite to win

this frame, Mark Selby. You can't afford to take anything risky.

Dominic mentioned earlier in the commentary how difficult it was when

you are playing that kind of shot to hold the white. There was another

example here. The White has gone six or seven inches further than he

wanted, he should still be able to hold.

We didn't see that one coming, did we? I don't think Mark has played on

this table this week. But pocket has been causing a few of the players

problems this week. -- that pocket. What a horrible kick, goodness me.

We will get a chance to see this again. Look at the way dispensers,

it is just not fair. -- look at the way that this bounces. Not only

bouncing, squaring up. Good note for referees, when you see a kick that

bad there's was a chalk mark on the ball. -- there is always a chalk

mark on the ball. And that is very fortunate. The mark that Dominic is

talking about, you can see the mark on the left there. Mark Selby has

been very fortunate to get on the black in the opposite corner. He is

not there at all at the minute, is he, Mark? I think it is the way that

the gloves are playing at the moment. It's caught out a lot of the

top players and not all of them have gone through -- the cloths. You have

to accustom yourself to the way that conditions are playing. Sometimes

you just don't acclimatise. Fabulous recovery. Write to the heart of the

pocket. Not the greatest of angles on this black, you have to try to

screw behind to leave it to the middle pocket. The reason I

suggested screwing behind it was that he had the choice of two

pockets. Now he's faced with a tough part, should he want to take it on.

-- a tough The People The Poet. As you would expect from Mark Selby,

nothing risky. 20 points behind. Yan Bingtao will be delighted to be back

on the table so soon. He felt there was a chance for Selby to pinch the

frame. Almost got in behind the yellow. .

Play that in a nice controlled manner, Yan Bingtao. Even if he had

potted the rent... -Zilla and another excellent pot.

But the desired angle on the blue, it's all a case of getting straight

on the red. An inch to half an inch of the question. You want to get

onto the black. If he is tight, he might plate. If you play these dead

weight, these are quite easy. It's amazing how difficult they are, if

they are a fraction off percussion. Yes, I would definitely play dead

weight. You have to worry if the key ball deviates before it hits red.

Selby doesn't want to risk anything. He's snookered him. Playing

everything very tight. He's hit the red. Has he been

fortunate? Yes, he has. Well played, Yan he deserved that.

Looney a straightforward safety shot. Mark would like to play the

right-hand side of the red. You have to be careful the red doesn't spring

off the brown and go towards the middle pocket. It's not

straightforward, this safety. He's thinking about playing of the

left-hand side of the red and how. Around the yellow. But I think

that's too risky. He could knock it safe.

That's not bad. Right over the middle pocket. Could have made the

other side cushion. He hasn't left the rent on.

This is the worrying thing for Yan. If he tries to compete with Selby in

the safety department he will finish second best. Not too bad, well done.

Certainly looks like a snooker. Even if it isn't, it's so close to

snooker it makes no difference. What about this last red? There is no

insurance policy for Yan Bingtao if he were to leave Mark Selby in. He

could see enough of the red to do something with it.

There is a pot on here for Mark Selby.

He decided it was probably too risky to play the pot. Same scenario

further Yan. -- the same scenario for a Yan. It will be tough to

guarantee the object ball getting safe. It looks like he is taking it

on. Always very, very difficult. But he will be pretty pleased with how

it is finished. This red is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. I

would not be surprised if Mark refuses it. It came off the

side-cushion macro with a weird spin on it. Negotiated towards the baulk

macrocosm. -- the baulk cushion. Excellent pot. Now, by no means

easy. Yan Bingtao has controlled this opening frame. He could

possibly lose it at this visit. It is coming up to 30 minutes of

playing time. Probably the longest frame of the match. Yan likes to get

on with it. Selby is not the slowest unless his opponent is playing slow.

That is another one of Mark's attributes. Whatever the patter of

play, Mark seems to have the concentration whether it is a quick

frame or slow frame. Other players get frustrated. Mark Selby doesn't.

Once again the speed of the table has nearly fooled him. But that is

no problem. The only thing that could go wrong here is if he hits it

a fraction too hard and finishes tied on the cushion. -- tight. The

clearance should not be a problem. Just blue and pink needed. This will

hurt Yan. He has been in control of this frame throughout. What looked

like a good safety shot lost him the game. The red looked to be safe. An

excellent pot on the last red from Mark Selby. Mark Selby as won that

frame with a high break of 26. That is what he does. He wins in all

types of frames. 31 minutes, that opening frame.

Let's bring you a few other selected results from around the arena. Jimmy

Robertson, the world number 38, a 4-0 whitewash to lower ranked Scott

Donaldson. Ross Mueller knocked out Marco Fu yesterday. He is out now.

-- Ross Mueller. Anthony Hamilton beaten by Craig Steadman. Stuart

Carrington through. And Mark Davis, Ronnie O'Sullivan's nemesis last

night, a 4-2 winner over Fergal O'Brien. It is time we caught up

with the Lee Walker match. He is in action on table two. Walker leading

3-2. He needs all three balls to get the match.

The pink and the black. We are seeing this live, Terry. Can Lee

Walker get over the line against the former world champion? A big chance

for a leave. We saw Dominic Dale go out earlier on. Jackson Page, the

teenage wild card, has gone. So Walker and White Hurley only

Welshman left in the tournament. -- are the only Welsh men. We will

stick with this for a few seconds more. Selby is about to break off in

the second frame of the match we are watching. We will see if Walker can

pot this black. I should think he will pot it. I think he should,

shouldn't he?!! He played really well against Neil Robertson

yesterday. Lee Walker makes his way into the last 16 of the 2017 Welsh

Open. It's been a good tournament for him. We will see who he gets in

the next round. Meantime, let's head back into the arena with Mark Selby

leading 1-0. Mark Selby breaks off for the second

frame. He must feel a little fortunate to have won that first

frame. Yan suffered that horrendous kick when he looked set fair to win

the first frame. Once again, Mark Selby has a great ability to play

safety shots. Tactical knowledge. A good opening red from Yan Bingtao.

Not a bad kiss on the yellow. If the Brownies straight enough, he can get

back down for the reds. -- if the brownies straight enough...

There is a rarity. A loose safety shot from Mark Selby. A shake of the

head as he sat in his chair. Trying to finish low on the next red

so he can open the reds up. If he finishes high, what a great pack to

go into. He has finished low. The pink is out of commission. He can

play a screw with the reverse side to go blue or green, or check it for

the black. He has played neither. He was hoping to finish nicely on the

black. He has just lost the cue ball a little bit.

It goes without saying, if he takes the black on it is very missable. He

will have to play it at pace to get onto one of the reds in the middle.

This is tough, especially having lost the first frame. Played it with

just enough pace. That is an excellent pot. We have seen a lot of

those stay above ground before this week.

He's getting himself in trouble, really. He has not played a very

good shot there. It is difficult when you are playing a slow roll.

You can play it harder and go for the brown or green rather than the

blue. That's what he has done. He didn't want to risk rolling it in

slowly. He is very capable in the break-building department. He needs

more close control with the cue ball. I was a bit perplexed to see

why you would want to move the red off the cushion. It shouldn't

matter. He has got a nice position on the red to the left centre. I

don't know if any of those four reds are possible. A couple of them seem

to be in the centre pocket. He has left a lovely angle on the black to

go into those reds if he needs to. He could jam against them and land

on nothing. There is Dominic's point. You need to hit that half

ball. Hence, it was almost like a stopper. The only thing I would say

that was slightly adrift there, he should have played slower. This is a

similar scenario to the last frame when he had complete control. This

could cost him if he misses. Now then, are we going to see the same

pattern as the previous frame? Selby had no chance of winning it. And he

eventually won it after half an hour. He didn't really need to take

that one on. It had to go in. Just a little short of pace. He

would have loved to have been on the black. It's essential to finish top

side of the blue this time. He just about got there. Just an inch higher

on the blue and he may have been able to develop this red on the

cushion. It has worked out okay. He could remove one of the trickier

reds here. He is opting for the simpler one. If the pink had been on

its spot, he would have parted that red. -- potted. After this next

black, next red and colour, the work really starts. And if he plays this

playing ball, he can almost cannon into the pink, which would be a

great help. Maybe needs a fraction of left-hand side. He may play that.

He is bound to be on the brown or baulk colour.

He is nicely on this red. Can he just force an angle around the

pocket jaws and land loan off on the black to run into that remaining red

on the cushion? That is what he would like to do. He will have to

punch this in to create a better angle than he has got.

He just didn't get enough spin on the ball. If you were to roll this

black and missed the cannon on the red...

He won't be taking the pot on here. Has he got the snooker? He doesn't

miss a trick, does he? There is a gap between the green and

blue to swerve and make the cannon on the red. He doesn't want that red

to go up the table. He will be happy with this. Or will he?

Unfortunately, he has left the red on. And in such a way that Mark can

play into the pink as well. A little unlucky not to get behind the black.

If Mark pots this with left-hand side, it could bring the pink

interplay. He has gone very low on the cue ball. I was a little

surprised he didn't play the cannon there. Yan only needs this remaining

red to make the frame safe. He is 30 points ahead. You would like to stun

this in. -- he would like to stun this in. He just needs to get enough

stun on it is to miss the black. Well played, Yan Bingtao. He

deserves to be 1-1. It was a thunderous kick that cost him the

first frame. He has coped with that very well. He must have been very

disappointed to have lost that first frame. It would have been a good

start and it would have put Mark Selby under immediate pressure. You

can see a spot of chalk as the red roles towards the pocket.

Can Yan Bingtao finally put the second to bed? An opportunity with a

pot on the yellow. That was too thin. I'm trying to think of another

player I would least rather play in this position. Mark Selby would be

right up there with somebody like John Higgins. Yan Bingtao has far

from won this second frame. That's a good snooker because it

comes off the side cushion. The middle pocket is in exactly the type

of area Yan Bingtao would like to escape from. He has to try and

straighten the angle up here. This is tricky. That'll do. Suppose he

deserves a bit of luck. Certainly very lucky. Can end the yellow. Very

unfortunate. I suggested after the first frame

after 30 minutes it would be the longest frame of the match. There is

life in this frame yet. After 18 minutes of play.

Playing a season campaign at snooker, someone who has been around

a long while, streetwise, you would expect four snookers to get the one

you desire. You would expect them to get three of four. He hit it 100

miles an hour. For what reason, I don't know. Mark Selby may only need

one snooker to force Yan into missing it. This looks a bit tidy.

There is a gap. Always a gap. He's found one affair, Yan Bingtao,

super shot. The yellow backed by the right-centre pocket. If Mark Selby

were to make contact with yellow, there would be a danger of going in

off. He has missed the yellow. We'll Mark

Selby take a look at Yan Bingtao and decided to concede? No. That's good

from Mark Selby. It's at a good of the sport not to concede when it is

the shot of your opponent. Wait for him to finish at the table, until it

is your own shot, before you concede. Not all players do that,

unfortunately, these days. It'll be a very interesting match,

this, between these two. No doubt in my mind Yan Bingtao will be a great

play in future, if he's not already won.

Yan Bingtao clears up the colours. He levelled the scores at 1-1. We

might have a match on our hands. Let's bring a couple of others

around the arena. The world number 32 has beaten Josh, a 4-0 whitewash.

Josh was the man who dumped out Shaun Murphy yesterday. Another top

16 player out of the tournament. Ali Carter, 12 in the world, beaten by

the only uranium professional in the history of the game. A 4-1 win for

the man who will now play Judd Trump this evening in the last 16. Talk to

me about that comeback from Yan Bingtao. It served to win the frame,

the first frame he had a bad kick. He would have won that first frame.

Selby's highest is 32 at the moment, he's not flying. The other boys made

42 and 57. In some ways he's been a little bit better than Selby but we

seen it all before. He sort of waits for you to get in front of him, then

he clears up all the time. He's just a tremendous match player, Selby.

The psychology of it all, thinking I can't miss this short or Selby will

be back to clear up. When somebody is 150, 60, playing against Selby,

it comes into the mine. You put out into the shot, miss it. When you're

safe but you only need one, Selby is the best in the world at the moment

at getting that snooker within a frame. He might not have the

flamboyance of O'Sullivan and Trump, but he knows how to see them out. I

thought you were going to say the flamboyance of me there. Bit

disappointing. 1-1 in this game. Not a big break up shot. Selby

having trouble as far as getting back in the book is concerned. White

at this end of the table. A very good cubicle from Yan

Bingtao. Red to the left. A good safety shot from Mark Selby. Green

will probably cover the red near that baulk line. Yan Bingtao needs

to make sure it's past the baulk line. Sometimes it can alter your

short choice, you prefer to take pressure on yourself.

He'll take a little while to decide what to play. He's played it pretty

well. Fabulous from Mark Selby, just held

the cue ball. He's mentally so good, Mark Selby. He alluded earlier to

being under all kinds of pressure. Sometimes Mark's ball can be

indifferent sometimes but he gets on with a job in the next frame. The

mind and the present is not to dwell on what has gone before. Important

in top-level sport. Mark is one of the best players in the world going

into the pack. He plays into the pack as good as anybody. Spread far

and wide. So hard to make the pack move when they are like that. You

always end up having a slight chance of one in the middles.

Goodness me, that was close. That was so close, wasn't it? Dreaded

number 30. -- number 13. That's why he missed it.

The problem here for Yan Bingtao is back red light over the corner

pocket, I can't see a red he can knock on to it to make the pot. He's

probably going to have to try and hide it. Pretty good, he deserved

much more than that. The one to the right of the pink is

available to play. Play Buchanan. Ford with danger. The alternative is

to roll up on the red nearest the cue ball. Can't really get an

advantage of the next shot... The one one up from the pink, I suggest

he rolls up to the red. If Scott Mitchell he doesn't leave the red in

the middle left-hand side... He's in a little bit of trouble here. Yes,

he is, the red nearest the cue ball, the one at the back of the group of

four, he can't run it past the red in front, it would clip it out of

the way. It would suggest he's in a lot of trouble here. The red just to

the left of blue is blocking a chance of running a red onto one

pocket. There is space there. He may end up having to play that.

Looking at all options that's probably the only shot he's got. As

you rightly say, we've discussed in commentary, to roll up to the red

nearest black now you might flick of the other red and leave the pot in

the middle of macro leave the opportunity... The one just above

the pink onto the one that in the yellow pocket.

It's so hard. He has hit the red in. That is a great shot. Well played.

Yes, fantastic shot from that young man, Yan Bingtao. If he potted that

red, he would have knocked the other one in automatically. He was

probably playing the pot they're. And the rest would take care of

itself. I think he is okay. I thought I had John Virgo in the box

then! I didn't have the pantomime voice though, did I?

This is the key shot. Now he knows he should score heavily. This is the

first time he has been in a great position in this little mini break.

He is doing all the scoring at the moment.

A huge kick. The red was dead straight, so he didn't miss the pot.

He played it at a slight pace. He holds a lead now of some 21 points,

Yan Bingtao. He would be disappointed if he didn't make

enough points here to go on and win the frame.

I have had the pleasure of watching this young man play very much. With

all the hype that has been going around the snooker world about how

good a talent he is, he certainly is. Your local Welshman has done

remarkably well. But this guy is only 17. He has a little bit more

know-how. He would be a handful for most players.

Yes. People ask me sometimes, they suggest to me how difficult the tour

is, there are some great players, which is true. But there is a great

crop of emerging new talent on the tour -- there isn't a great crop of

emerging new talent on the tour that impresses me very much, not when you

compare them to Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan and the likes of

those coming through. This kid is right up there with them, in my

opinion. We don't seem to have an emerging talent coming from the

English part of the world. Obviously we have the young man from Wales

doing very well. An abundance of players coming from the Far East.

This is the best of the young players, for me. A glance at the

scoreboard will tell him he is 42 point in front. Just a two more reds

needed. He will play for the black and the one in the baulk area rather

than risk the cannon. He will do rail -- well to get onto a red from

here. Forced the cannon but couldn't

generate the pace required to bring the red into play. I don't blame him

taking this red on. Whatever you do, don't play it too firm. Get the

white somewhere near the cushion. Just in case you miss. He has played

for a colour there. There is no need to play for a colour. Just pop the

red, leave the white on the cushion. Okay, he is a strong, strong

favourite to win the frame, but it is still live. A bit fortunate,

really. The red could have easily come back down the table towards the

black. He has put the green in an awkward position. Mark Selby trying

to make position on the black much easier.

He has to be careful the red doesn't go in the left-hand corner. Which he

did do. Not a particularly great white.

I think it's good in that it is forcing Yan to remove this remaining

loose red. He has to be really careful what he does here. That's

not bad. The green... A little bit in the balance, this frame. Mark is

very clever at manipulating the balls into positions that favour

him. He has to be carefully doesn't bring

the green away from this pocket. That was a shot to nothing. If you

move the Greenaway, all of a sudden the frame is alive again. Very

difficult for Mark to get three reds and three blacks, with where the

green is. He may play this off the left-hand

side of the red he is closest to. Try to get the white almost behind

the yellow spot. Make sure you cover the red in baulk.

He could have done with it a fraction thinner.

I think Yan tried to get the cue ball in behind the black. The shot I

would have played was to try to cannon the black to the side-cushion

nine that Mark Selby needs it. I wonder if Mark will play this thin

safety shot off the red? It is causing a bit of a stalemate,

the green. Obviously with the score being as it

is, and these three reds and three blacks,... Don't move the green.

That is okay. I like that shot that Yan has

played. He is snooker, I think, on all reds.

Given that Yan Bingtao is dominating this match so far, he should have

been 3-0 in front, things have been a little pedestrian. Mark Selby

knows how to slow things down. We know that he will play well

sometimes during this match. But he has to compete against him in all

departments. Yes, because Mark can't really roll

up to those raids because the chances are he will leave one into

the centre. -- reds. Mark is in trouble here, that is for sure.

Mark a little unlucky. He got the white where he wanted. It seemed to

gather pace. This red is not easy to cut.

Don't worry about the wind, just make sure the red here... -- about

the white stop well played. I said don't worry about the white... Must

be careful. He wants to make sure of potting the yellow, should he go for

it. That might make Mark Selby stay in

his chair. Very well played. These two friends

have been a little pedestrian. Yan Bingtao has certainly been the

better of the two players without doubt. He could have been 3-0 in

front. Mark Selby has no doubt got a match on his hands here.

Temp to with the highest of the match so far. 62 in this frame.

Slowed the cue ball down, the bounce it had. Not too worried about that,

the way things have gone in this frame.

A very good performance from Yan Bingtao. Another seed seems to be in

trouble. Yan Bingtao takes it to lead 2-1. STUDIO: Another big name

in trouble here in Cardiff. With Selby 2-1 down in this game. We'll

be back shortly on that table but let's take you to what happened

earlier on table three. Michael White, quarterfinalist here last

year, knocked out his opponent Yan Wang bow yesterday. His journey he

is about to end against Robbie Williams. Losing 4-2 earlier, White.

Down to just one white man, Lee Walker, left in the competition. Out

goes Michael White with that 4-2 to Robbie Williams of England. It's a

real shame because we saw yesterday how much it meant to Michael White,

that punch at the end. He was determined to get at least a quarter

is again this year. He's up against a tough opponent in Robbie Williams,

he's one of the ones who slows you down. Robbie keeps it a bit tight,

good safety player. He's beating a lot of the top seeds, hasn't got

into the late stages at all. He'll be delighted with that. Michael

Stich Phil took a step forwards, how do you see his career progressing?

At the moment it's not going forward. He won a racket tournament,

got into the top 16. I thought he would push on from them. I've seen

him since he was a young boy in my club tournament. He is a winner. At

the moment he's lost his way a little bit. I'm not sure what he's

doing at the moment but he's not playing the same. Walker is the only

Welshman left in the competition. Another shock on I wouldn't say a

certain shock, but maybe. He's a great potter. He looks calm, his

temperament is good, he's not a huge break-builder but he looks

confident. There is a little bit of arrogance in him walking around the

table. It's what you need. What's going through his head at the

moment, Mark Selby? You never know with Mark. He's always thinking

about something, he loves competing, number one in the world. He would

have been in this position. A little sip of water for Mark Selby. He just

has to keep doing what he's been doing, I guess. There's only one

thing guaranteed in this, he's not going to give up, he never gives up,

Selby. That's why he's such a good player. Everything he has got is

very, very strong. Yan Bingtao could possibly see the finishing line