Day One - Part 1 Snooker: Welsh Open


Day One - Part 1

Similar Content

Browse content similar to Day One - Part 1. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

The best players on the planet are back in Cardiff. Welcome to the

:00:39.:00:44.

Motorpoint Arena for the 20 17th Welsh Open. Seven days of top

:00:45.:00:49.

snooker ahead as the biggest names in the game look to conjure more

:00:50.:00:53.

magical moments 25 years the tournament began.

:00:54.:01:05.

Mark Williams, the 1999 Welsh champion! Welsh Open champion for

:01:06.:01:19.

the second time! The 2007 Welsh Open champion, Neil Robertson! 2008 Welsh

:01:20.:01:32.

Open champion, George Selby! Welsh Open champion 2012, China's Ding

:01:33.:01:37.

Junhui! John Higgins wins the Welsh Open for the fourth time! Something

:01:38.:01:48.

tells me that in 2016 it is the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan! Yes, 2016

:01:49.:01:55.

belonged to Ronnie O'Sullivan. Can he get a record fifth Welsh Open

:01:56.:02:00.

win? Good afternoon and welcome to the opening day. The snooker world

:02:01.:02:04.

never sleeps. The players have hotfooted it down from Preston and

:02:05.:02:08.

the world Grand Prix where we had a finalist with Ryan Day yesterday. No

:02:09.:02:12.

rest and straight onto the next big challenge. It is not just about the

:02:13.:02:16.

world's best. As always there outside bets, cards, teenagers

:02:17.:02:26.

trying their luck. -- wild cards. 128 players trying to get their

:02:27.:02:31.

hands on the Ray Reardon trophy. Here is the man who finished

:02:32.:02:36.

runner-up when it all began back in 1992, Mr Morgan. How are you, Sir?

:02:37.:02:42.

25 years, can you believe it? Gone in a flash. I did win it two years

:02:43.:02:48.

before but it wasn't a ranking event then. You were there in 1992. What

:02:49.:02:54.

are we expecting? A busy schedule for the players, nonstop these days.

:02:55.:02:59.

What do we expect? Lots of good players, 128 to be exact, and they

:03:00.:03:04.

can all play. You will always have your favourites coming through to

:03:05.:03:06.

the latter stages but the good thing is the open draw, so the favourites

:03:07.:03:15.

have drawn very good players in the opening rounds of the tournament,

:03:16.:03:18.

when normally there seems to be luck and they miss them. It isn't luck.

:03:19.:03:22.

They play to get that position and they deserve it. You never know what

:03:23.:03:27.

will happen. We have seen surprising results. Mark King winning, Anthony

:03:28.:03:32.

Hamilton winning the German Masters at the age of 45. It would have been

:03:33.:03:36.

nice for Ryan to win yesterday, to get the monkey off his back, as

:03:37.:03:41.

people say. I believe he will win one. The good news for him is that

:03:42.:03:45.

winners are getting older, Sony is still a young lad compared to the

:03:46.:03:49.

last couple of winners. -- so he is still a young lad. This week is the

:03:50.:03:56.

best of seven, so the toss of a coin really. The golden oldies are doing

:03:57.:04:01.

well. I am 50 and I am thinking, oh my God! I finished at 40 when I

:04:02.:04:06.

retired, and I was considered an old man. It was all youngsters winning.

:04:07.:04:10.

Now it has turned around completely, like the old days. Ray Reardon,

:04:11.:04:15.

Mountjoy, Griffiths, players like that. It is good to see. This is

:04:16.:04:19.

what we have coming up this afternoon.

:04:20.:04:24.

In search of home comforts, we start with Welsh favourite Matthew Stevens

:04:25.:04:30.

as he looks to get beyond the quarterfinals for the first time.

:04:31.:04:34.

But a major obstacle in his way, former world champion and 2013

:04:35.:04:38.

runner-up Stuart Bingham, that is his first round opponent. Let's see

:04:39.:04:49.

how Dominic Dale fared against his Chinese opponent. And the 20 14th

:04:50.:05:00.

winner start his quest for his next Welsh Open win. And we have two

:05:01.:05:04.

Welsh wild cards in the first round action. Some really exciting games

:05:05.:05:09.

in prospect. We mentioned Ryan Day earlier. In all there are 15 was

:05:10.:05:13.

competitive this year hoping for success. We have got a lot of them

:05:14.:05:19.

here. It is a long time since they Welsh man has won this event and we

:05:20.:05:23.

hope one will bring it home. Ryan Day is in great form. He has got to

:05:24.:05:28.

get himself up for today. He will be on alone after losing yesterday.

:05:29.:05:32.

Mark Williams is playing well and he seems to be on the cusp of winning

:05:33.:05:36.

again. There are lots of youngsters as well. It will be very

:05:37.:05:40.

interesting. I hope a couple of the boys get through to the latter

:05:41.:05:44.

stages and give themselves a chance. We have John Higgins at Ronnie

:05:45.:05:48.

O'Sullivan on four Welsh Open wins, going for the record fifth. Can they

:05:49.:05:52.

do it? You wouldn't bet against either of them. John went through a

:05:53.:05:55.

purple patch before Christmas when he looked $1 million. He has

:05:56.:06:06.

probably gone off the boil slightly at the last event or two. Ronnie

:06:07.:06:09.

O'Sullivan has looked very good. Last week was the first time I have

:06:10.:06:11.

seen him unravelling a bit for a long time. Back to his old antics a

:06:12.:06:18.

little bit. He likes this Welsh Open and he has proved that he loves it.

:06:19.:06:22.

He has won four times and you would never bet against either of them. We

:06:23.:06:26.

will have lots to say about running late in the week. You place

:06:27.:06:31.

tomorrow. Tough start now for Matthew Stevens against Stuart

:06:32.:06:34.

Bingham, the world number two. It is a tough match for Matthew but he is

:06:35.:06:38.

one of these players who seems to bring his best game out against the

:06:39.:06:41.

top players, the ones in form, and Stuart Bingham has been having a

:06:42.:06:46.

very good season. He hasn't quite won but he has been thereabouts.

:06:47.:06:49.

Matthew is still looking to get back to somewhere near his best. And

:06:50.:06:56.

climb back up the world rankings. He is too good a player to be where he

:06:57.:07:01.

is. Matthew would be the first one to say that he hasn't adapted

:07:02.:07:06.

himself the right way over the last couple of years and what have you.

:07:07.:07:10.

But on his game he is as good as anybody in the game. Let's have a

:07:11.:07:14.

look at how Matthew Stevens and Stuart Bingham measure up. Stuart

:07:15.:07:18.

Bingham is second in the world. Matthew Stevens is 42nd. Stuart

:07:19.:07:23.

Bingham with real ranking titles and one for Matthew Stevens. Stuart

:07:24.:07:30.

Bingham was runner-up in 2014 and Matthew Stevens is twice the

:07:31.:07:33.

quarterfinalist. But Matthew Stevens edges ahead 3-2 in the career

:07:34.:07:40.

head-to-head. Let's get the coverage under way. It is the 2017 Welsh

:07:41.:07:44.

Open. Stuart Bingham against Matthew Stevens. Let's join your commentary

:07:45.:07:48.

team, Willie Thorne and Terry Griffiths.

:07:49.:07:53.

Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. This is really a tough

:07:54.:07:56.

match for Matthew Stevens. Of all the players he could have drawn in

:07:57.:08:00.

the opening round, he has drawn the former world champion Stuart

:08:01.:08:03.

Bingham. But Stuart is going through a lean spell at the moment, it has

:08:04.:08:07.

got to be said. I have the legendary Terry Griffiths with me in the

:08:08.:08:11.

commentary box. They have only played each other five times in

:08:12.:08:15.

their career. That is correct. 3-2 to Matthew. The major European

:08:16.:08:23.

Championships, Stuart Bingham won that one. And a big difference in

:08:24.:08:30.

the rankings. Stuart Bingham is number two and Matthew Stevens is

:08:31.:08:35.

41, which is very low for him. He was top 16 for so many years.

:08:36.:09:05.

Safety shots are always tough when you have made your first shot. It is

:09:06.:09:12.

very easy to hit them too thin, like you see there. Slightly too thin.

:09:13.:09:16.

Big fan of Matthew Stevens. He has been a great player for many years.

:09:17.:09:20.

The only thing that surprises me is that he is not doing better now. He

:09:21.:09:27.

has been sadly out of form for the last few years and he is capable of

:09:28.:09:29.

beating anybody in the game. Excellent first pop from Stuart.

:09:30.:09:54.

Nicely on the black. Bit of a shock to the system watching Stuart

:09:55.:09:59.

Bingham in his last tournament. He seems to be decelerating. I am sure

:10:00.:10:02.

he has been back to the drawing board, put the hours in. That is

:10:03.:10:07.

what you have got to do. I know he has just become a family man again

:10:08.:10:11.

and that has probably taken a bit of time off him but you have got to put

:10:12.:10:13.

the work in. I don't think putting the work in it

:10:14.:10:32.

so easy these days. The boys are on the road all the time, going from

:10:33.:10:34.

one ranking event to another. I think the problem they have got is

:10:35.:10:47.

if they get through to the final, if they win the event, they are worn

:10:48.:10:51.

out and then the next day they have got another tournament. And if you

:10:52.:10:54.

lose first round, you are worn out anyway! It is a big ask on the

:10:55.:11:00.

players these days to be travelling from one event to another. The Grand

:11:01.:11:07.

Prix finished last night in Preston. Barry Hopkins beat Ryan Day in the

:11:08.:11:11.

final. And they will be downplaying tomorrow, I think, in this. I know

:11:12.:11:21.

Hopkins is playing. Ryan plays tonight. That was a good shot, using

:11:22.:11:25.

the pack of rights to run off the side of them. -- the pack of red

:11:26.:11:44.

balls. Barry has got a four hour drive to come up here but of course

:11:45.:11:48.

Ryan Ledson. 'S country. Where is that? -- God's country.

:11:49.:12:00.

When he gets around the black spot area, he is as good as most.

:12:01.:12:32.

It's drops slightly towards the centre of the pocket. Not as good.

:12:33.:12:47.

It has started early in the match. Stuart Bingham probably plays in

:12:48.:12:50.

more tournaments than any of the other players on tour. He is so

:12:51.:12:54.

keen. He loves playing. He is happy when he is out there. Winning the

:12:55.:13:00.

World Championship will never be forgotten. The standard of play that

:13:01.:13:05.

he came up with under extreme pressure was outstanding. Against

:13:06.:13:14.

the best players in the world. Yes, I think he is one of those players

:13:15.:13:21.

that has improved with age. Not a journeyman pro, too good a player

:13:22.:13:25.

for that, but he has been an the circuit for a number of years and

:13:26.:13:30.

that World Championship win was some of the best snooker I have ever

:13:31.:13:33.

seen. Good recovery that. The desired position. Once one available

:13:34.:13:41.

in the middle pocket but he has every chance of scoring heavily now.

:13:42.:13:42.

-- he wants one available. Decision time. Power through the

:13:43.:15:12.

middle red and leave the pink as well or play the outside one of the

:15:13.:15:16.

three as we look on the right-hand side? I think the two on the left

:15:17.:15:20.

will pop into the corner. If he is going through the pack, he has got

:15:21.:15:25.

do it pacey to make things happen. He has obviously found something

:15:26.:15:30.

else that goes. Onto the one in the middle. The only problem with

:15:31.:15:33.

playing that, he has still got to be that cannon in a couple of shots.

:15:34.:15:38.

You might think it is better to go into the pink to open the reds. But

:15:39.:15:43.

he had the perfect angle on that black. We will see if that comes

:15:44.:15:46.

back to cause him a problem in a couple of shots. If he doesn't get

:15:47.:15:51.

on the blue, it could be the end of his break. The angle is there

:15:52.:15:57.

though. This is one where you don't play into the pink fare. You just

:15:58.:16:03.

play at a nice pace. Not too hard. He hit it much harder than I thought

:16:04.:16:11.

he would. He risked losing the cue ball and that is exactly what has

:16:12.:16:14.

happened. The pace was very strange from that pack of reds.

:16:15.:16:33.

Good pot. Very missable in the circumstances. Stevens could have

:16:34.:16:39.

had an opportunity then to get in amongst the balls. They are wide

:16:40.:16:41.

open. Another excellent positional shot.

:16:42.:17:04.

He impressed in the Grand Prix. An excellent start. Just what the

:17:05.:17:05.

doctor ordered. Yes, he lost to Ryan Day, the losing

:17:06.:17:29.

finalist up there. In good form, Ryan. Really looking forward to

:17:30.:17:30.

seeing him play in the Welsh Open. Matthew just had one shot so we are

:17:31.:18:07.

not sure how he is playing at the moment. Stuart is very impressive

:18:08.:18:14.

ear. His strong suit has always been his break-building over the years.

:18:15.:18:21.

He has added a few things here and there, winning a number of

:18:22.:18:24.

tournaments, and playing in the World Championships. As Stephen

:18:25.:18:34.

Hendry always mentions, you have got to be a big break-builder to win the

:18:35.:18:44.

major events. What an excellent start from Stuart Bingham. If 29th

:18:45.:18:51.

century of the season. He won't be making a total clearance.

:18:52.:19:00.

Essential to make a good start in any format, but Matthew Stevens had

:19:01.:19:09.

one shot only and Stuart Bingham take the opening frame and Leeds

:19:10.:19:14.

1-0. Not a bad way to start. The first century of this year's Welsh

:19:15.:19:19.

Open. Welcome to the studio once again. The practice tables are in

:19:20.:19:24.

the background. A fantastic start by Stuart Bingham. Yes, there was a

:19:25.:19:29.

time when he wasn't very comfortable on the TV table that he is at home

:19:30.:19:35.

now. A perfect start for him. To be fair to Matthew, he didn't do much

:19:36.:19:40.

wrong. He only had one shot. He will have a lots to think about now. He

:19:41.:19:44.

knows that Stuart is there and he means business. As the guys were

:19:45.:19:48.

saying in the commentary box, Stuart Bingham knocked out of the world

:19:49.:19:51.

Grand Prix in the first round by a Welsh man, Ryan Day, who got to the

:19:52.:19:55.

final of course. They're looking to avoid a similar fate here. Obviously

:19:56.:20:01.

the best of seven comes into play. A short format for the players. There

:20:02.:20:05.

will be hiccups along the way but Stuart has had a good season so far

:20:06.:20:09.

this year. Though has Ryan, to be fair. -- so has Ryan. That is what

:20:10.:20:18.

he wanted. It will have settled him down quickly. There are 15 Welsh

:20:19.:20:22.

players in the tournament. Let's look at the runners and riders from

:20:23.:20:26.

Wales. There has got to be somebody here looking to get deep into the

:20:27.:20:32.

tournament, the quarterfinals, the semis? You are not going to bet

:20:33.:20:36.

against the likes of Ryan. He is in form, especially off the back of the

:20:37.:20:39.

great event last week and last night. Mark Williams, he is back to

:20:40.:20:46.

something near his best. Matthew, it is all coming out of this match

:20:47.:20:51.

really. Dominic is still there. He has a run every so often out of the

:20:52.:20:55.

woodwork. And a couple of youngsters. I think it is probably a

:20:56.:21:03.

bridge too much for them but it will be a great experience for them.

:21:04.:21:06.

Michael White got to the quarterfinals last year so we will

:21:07.:21:10.

see how he gets on. And the two teenagers in the competition this

:21:11.:21:15.

year, the wild card entries. Jackson Page, the 15-year-old from Abba

:21:16.:21:19.

Vale, he is an table two at the moment and we will keep you posted

:21:20.:21:27.

with how he is getting on. Now frame another two, with Stuart Bingham

:21:28.:21:30.

leading against Matthew Stevens. We join Terry Griffiths and Willie

:21:31.:21:31.

Thorne. Matthew Stevens coming to the table

:21:32.:21:41.

for his second shot. One safety shot. Stuart cleared most of them up

:21:42.:21:52.

for a century, a break of 101. I am sure Matthew will be getting

:21:53.:21:55.

involved in this frame and the ones to follow. Playing at home of

:21:56.:22:02.

course. That helps a bit. It don't have to stay in a hotel. He goes

:22:03.:22:09.

back and forth. Stuart Bingham has played a poor safety now. Off in the

:22:10.:22:16.

corner. A chance for Matthew Stevens. Not the easiest one. His

:22:17.:22:20.

first points on the board. It is a tough shot.

:22:21.:22:51.

Just what you don't need when you have lost the first frame. It has

:22:52.:22:57.

gone awkward. Stuart might take it on, in fairness. There is a gap

:22:58.:23:01.

between the two reds to risk getting onto the black. He didn't expect it

:23:02.:23:07.

to come right back across the table like that. If he plays to get onto

:23:08.:23:13.

blue or baulk colour, it makes it more difficult.

:23:14.:23:27.

Matthew will be pretty pleased. When he saw that read coming across the

:23:28.:23:31.

table he thought he would stick it over the hole but it went reasonably

:23:32.:23:41.

safe. -- that red. It looks like he has found a possible one into the

:23:42.:23:45.

middle. The one in the corner, the green pocket, he can't really

:23:46.:23:49.

guarantee getting onto the black by going through the gap in the reds in

:23:50.:23:53.

the pack so he is playing the more difficult red in the middle, knowing

:23:54.:23:57.

he will be on the black if he pops it. But he will leave the red and a

:23:58.:24:05.

black if it doesn't. Very good! Having been kept off the table

:24:06.:24:10.

during the first frame, that was excellent.

:24:11.:24:47.

Somebody moved in front of the line of the shot there. That is why

:24:48.:24:58.

Matthew stopped. The referee sorted it out OK. Good referee. Yes. She

:24:59.:25:05.

will be very disappointed because her husband Ben lost this morning. I

:25:06.:25:10.

watched some of that match. Back to the day job now, not supporting your

:25:11.:25:19.

husband is playing. One of the best lady referees. Are you a fan of the

:25:20.:25:29.

best of sevens? I was thinking when Stuart got in and did that great

:25:30.:25:34.

break how difficult it is if somebody plays two good friends and

:25:35.:25:36.

you are sitting down and you only have a slim chance of winning from

:25:37.:25:44.

there. -- two good frames. The frames increase at the quarterfinals

:25:45.:25:51.

and the semis and the finals. The problem is that they can't get all

:25:52.:25:57.

the players to play in a venue without it taking two weeks. 128

:25:58.:26:05.

players here. And it all takes time. We get so many strange results with

:26:06.:26:09.

the best of seven. What about best of nine with no interval? That is

:26:10.:26:12.

not taking too much out of the players. It is a better test. Good

:26:13.:26:18.

idea, that. You should be on the board! I think the best of seven can

:26:19.:26:29.

be over so quickly. Matthew has now got an excellent chance to win the

:26:30.:26:32.

second frame but he can beat 2-0 behind in a heartbeat in the best of

:26:33.:26:41.

seven with a mountain to climb. But 2-0 behind in the best of nine and

:26:42.:26:46.

you don't have to worry so much. The back cushion seems to be playing

:26:47.:26:50.

slower. If few shots have been played off it this morning and

:26:51.:26:54.

didn't get the required bounce. Stuart Bingham in his break of 100

:26:55.:27:00.

played a few and didn't get the bounce off the back cushion. It

:27:01.:27:02.

appears to be slow. Good recovery. That is poor. You have got to hit

:27:03.:27:49.

the pink full ball and callable pink, no reaction at all from the

:27:50.:27:59.

reds. -- corner ball pink. The safety shot will bring it into play.

:28:00.:28:03.

He doesn't want to do that but he has no option. A problem for

:28:04.:28:10.

Matthew. He hit the cue ball a little bit too hard and this bin

:28:11.:28:14.

didn't take it to the back, just clipped off the side. Easily done.

:28:15.:28:24.

-- the spin didn't take it to the back.

:28:25.:28:59.

You can clearly see that the red is available in the right-hand corner

:29:00.:29:04.

but the path between the black and the reds means it is tough to get

:29:05.:29:10.

back to the baulk. The one on the left-hand side, it is the one he

:29:11.:29:15.

will to avoid kissing into. The safety shot would be the best choice

:29:16.:29:19.

and that is what he is playing. He doesn't want to kiss into the yellow

:29:20.:29:22.

or the brown on the right-hand side. That red needs to be portable. As he

:29:23.:29:34.

had a bit of luck? Plenty of it. The handshake and the smile from Stuart!

:29:35.:29:40.

It is all about missing those baulk colours and let you get one of those

:29:41.:29:49.

cases -- unless you get one of those kisses.

:29:50.:29:57.

Handy for Matthew. Some reds available. Not great here. There is

:29:58.:30:15.

an easy escape out without hitting any of the reds. I don't think there

:30:16.:30:20.

is a gap actually. The red to the left of the pink spot is stopping

:30:21.:30:26.

him. He would like to play that dead weight and hopefully get away with

:30:27.:30:33.

that but it isn't on. I think he can come through past the pink and the

:30:34.:30:37.

top red, come behind those two over the pocket, but there is very little

:30:38.:30:44.

room for error. And if he doesn't get it right, it is all on for

:30:45.:30:45.

Matthew Stevens. He is having a look. - whatever

:30:46.:30:55.

happens, he will not be playing it too slow. What do we know?

:30:56.:31:08.

LAUGHTER Screwing in against the cushion

:31:09.:31:12.

right on the cue ball and you can see, kiss Matthew comedy was an all

:31:13.:31:19.

right predicament there, Stuart. Of course it hurts a bit more when you

:31:20.:31:24.

nor your opponent -- know that your opponent is there. At times you can

:31:25.:31:29.

get away with that, onto a red, and at other times, nothing on it, like

:31:30.:31:42.

them. It is an important visit now kiss Matthew Stevens. 43 in front,

:31:43.:31:49.

he will not be too happy if he does not win the second frame from here.

:31:50.:31:54.

Helps that the green is off its spot. He can come round for a choice

:31:55.:32:08.

of reds. A bit in no man's land here, but I think he may have cover

:32:09.:32:11.

things up there, on the left-hand side. Yes, you can see. Was not

:32:12.:32:18.

like... He can just about get through to it, though, and if he can

:32:19.:32:25.

he can get the black. Well done. He should win the frame now.

:32:26.:33:05.

A great opportunity now. I noticed in the last one that the players

:33:06.:33:21.

were missing a lot of shots are -- along the cushion, and with any pace

:33:22.:33:26.

at all, the players seem to look, you know, like the pockets are a bit

:33:27.:33:35.

tighter than normal, but they are OK here, certainly with Stuart in the

:33:36.:33:36.

first round. Yes, it looks like Matthew has been

:33:37.:34:17.

working very hard that his game. Very slim as well, so he has got

:34:18.:34:22.

himself mentally and physically fit. A shame he has not been at the

:34:23.:34:27.

business end of tournaments, because he could be one of the world's great

:34:28.:34:31.

players, Matthew Stevens, make no mistake. So tough these days. Yes, a

:34:32.:34:47.

very natural player Matthew, he has all the shots, and does not always

:34:48.:34:51.

dedicate himself to the practice table.

:34:52.:34:53.

APPLAUSE I think as well with an hour or two,

:34:54.:35:02.

rather than it being all day. Nothing wrong in that. The problem

:35:03.:35:10.

this season and the last, with so many tournaments, the players

:35:11.:35:17.

getting all that match play, it means they are playing a lot of solo

:35:18.:35:21.

play, which isn't really good. He has missed the red. Back level at

:35:22.:35:34.

1-1. Yes, I think the key thing, Terry, it has now become more of a

:35:35.:35:38.

mental game. Obviously you had the ability, most of the time, to spend

:35:39.:35:42.

time with other players you were playing against, but now with there

:35:43.:35:46.

being so many players, I do not know the percentage and obviously you

:35:47.:35:49.

deal with a lot of players, but I make it almost about 60-40 now,

:35:50.:35:55.

ability being 60 and mental 40, what do you think? I would say 90-10, but

:35:56.:36:03.

you were close. Mental, yes. For me, as a coach, that is what I am doing.

:36:04.:36:09.

With the professional players, you think that, but coaching amateur

:36:10.:36:11.

players it is merely technical stuff. I think it is 90-10,

:36:12.:36:21.

comfortably. Yes, mentally, you have to be totally strong. Totally strong

:36:22.:36:25.

in all departments now, thinking of people like Selby. Talking about

:36:26.:36:30.

Mark for a quick second now, that the game, it has to be good. -- the

:36:31.:36:42.

B game has to be good. Yes, especially with the circuit now. A

:36:43.:36:46.

lot of players who can beat you in the early rounds which was not quite

:36:47.:36:51.

the case when we were playing, Willie, in the 1930s.

:36:52.:36:55.

LAUGHTER Yes, it was almost a by through. But

:36:56.:37:04.

now, yes, players are shocked at all times. That little flick behind the

:37:05.:37:13.

yellow, obviously he has come to the table with an impossible situation.

:37:14.:37:19.

We talk about players going in and out of form, and Stuart Bingham has

:37:20.:37:22.

really surprised me last couple of tournaments. He has been so

:37:23.:37:26.

consistent, like you say, playing in most tournaments. How do you pick

:37:27.:37:33.

yourself into being mentally right? It is not easy. There are things off

:37:34.:37:39.

the table affecting players as well, of course, not just their game.

:37:40.:37:48.

Stuart Bingham, breaking off in frame three. A bit thicker than he

:37:49.:38:03.

wanted, hoping the cue ball would get there and it hasn't. A poor

:38:04.:38:05.

break off. You would expect more. In this day and age you just cannot

:38:06.:38:36.

afford to miss those kind of shots. You do not get many chances at the

:38:37.:38:43.

opening part of the frame to have a shot to nothing. Top players these

:38:44.:38:47.

days tend to get those nine out of ten.

:38:48.:39:11.

He has missed the red. Same pocket, to leave it on, from Matthew

:39:12.:39:20.

Stevens... Not sure if he can cut this one into the centre. It is very

:39:21.:39:22.

thin. APPLAUSE

:39:23.:39:38.

Played a good safety then. Can only see the one red on the left-hand

:39:39.:39:44.

side. Played the higher red that I can't quite see from here. Unless he

:39:45.:39:59.

did that,... Just about past it. The cloth looks very fast. Players like

:40:00.:40:00.

that. It looks like he is playing an

:40:01.:40:37.

aggressive safety shot here, trying to bring the black interplay. Whilst

:40:38.:40:43.

making contact with the black, it has not moved very much. -- bring

:40:44.:40:49.

the black into play. Much to take a contact on the red.

:40:50.:41:38.

That has taken the pace out of the cue ball, done very past, and green

:41:39.:41:47.

and brown, the shot he played. He will be disappointed with that one

:41:48.:41:50.

because Matthew Stevens has a chance here. Certainly not easy. He has had

:41:51.:41:54.

a look. It could possibly screw into the red and black and bring it into

:41:55.:42:00.

play. There is no mac gap there, I shouldn't think, or very little,

:42:01.:42:05.

between the reds behind the black to get it the table -- no gap there. I

:42:06.:42:11.

think that was the right shot. Could not have played it much better.

:42:12.:42:13.

Didn't quite get the right kiss. No avenue back years looks like he

:42:14.:42:53.

will play a nice containing shot. He has no option.

:42:54.:43:16.

He is having a good look there. Trying to go a bit into the right

:43:17.:43:24.

centre. Could get a little bit of pink, on the left centre. Tough pot,

:43:25.:43:35.

though. And as usual with the -- this type of shot, if you miss it,

:43:36.:43:39.

you can give your opponent a chance on the break.

:43:40.:44:14.

In a perfect position for in break-building until one plays a

:44:15.:44:19.

perfect shot. Of course it kisses the red on the way down and there

:44:20.:44:23.

are all sorts. Being a little bit reluctant to put

:44:24.:44:40.

the black out of play with that safety shot, but that is what he has

:44:41.:44:42.

done. Asking for trouble now. I don't think it is a re-rack, this

:44:43.:45:06.

one. Could have been, touch back three and four, but the balls are

:45:07.:45:14.

wide open. Both players have to agree to a re-rack. Sometimes the

:45:15.:45:18.

referee could inform them that if they do not get into a plain

:45:19.:45:25.

position that keeps the game flowing, they could perhaps give

:45:26.:45:30.

them three shots, and it will be a re-rack, the referee's decision. I

:45:31.:45:39.

think both these players liked the opening game and the reds are really

:45:40.:45:44.

well set. The black is of course still to play, but as we have seen

:45:45.:45:49.

over the years that can be brought into play very quickly.

:45:50.:46:00.

I think it is generally when they are just touching up with the balls

:46:01.:46:10.

they do a re-rack, isn't it? I remember one. Andy Hicks, was it? 50

:46:11.:46:19.

odd in front and there was a re-rack. Where you 50 front? Those

:46:20.:46:24.

were the days! Chance of a cutback year, anything

:46:25.:46:41.

that can screw back off the red. To remain at the back, but is this red

:46:42.:46:46.

goes, you'll be on the black... -- remain on the black. Safety shot.

:46:47.:47:08.

Reds absolutely perfect now to get a sizeable break.

:47:09.:48:11.

It has just come slightly straighter than he wanted to hit. On the

:48:12.:48:18.

extreme right of the pink. They would have wanted to play up and

:48:19.:48:24.

down on that red nearest the white. We have been saying this back

:48:25.:48:27.

cushion has not been playing great. Let's see if he gets that... Yes, no

:48:28.:48:34.

reaction off that cushion at all. Once again.

:48:35.:48:40.

APPLAUSE Left-hand side he played, to go to

:48:41.:48:44.

the right of that red. And he will be really disappointed to not have

:48:45.:48:49.

scored a few points there and not made of the winner.

:48:50.:49:45.

Stuart will be very pleased to be back at the table so soon. Trailing

:49:46.:49:52.

by 23 points, he must have been sitting there thinking Matthew would

:49:53.:49:55.

make at least 60 or 70, with where the balls were.

:49:56.:50:16.

Matthew Stevens of course has been in, well, the top part of the

:50:17.:50:25.

rankings for many years, and he never really did well in the Welsh

:50:26.:50:33.

Open. Two quarterfinals, his best attempt for such a class player. I

:50:34.:50:37.

don't think anyone would be surprised if he went on to win it

:50:38.:50:40.

this time. He has the skill, if he gets in amongst the late stages of

:50:41.:50:49.

events. Now then, a big shot for Stuart Bingham. A lot of distance in

:50:50.:50:57.

the two balls. Clean as a whistle. Good pot, that. Excellent pot, and

:50:58.:51:04.

deserved a better kiss, to be honest. Any sort of kiss on the reds

:51:05.:51:08.

you would have expected green or brown quite comfortably. It has

:51:09.:51:14.

taken it to slightly more difficult -- slightly more difficult shot on

:51:15.:51:18.

the green. And there it goes. You can get right back in the frame now,

:51:19.:51:25.

if not win it. -- he can get. Certainly did not play the kiss on

:51:26.:51:32.

that yellow. Three reds, really. One in the middle and two in the corner.

:51:33.:51:38.

Will feel it is the easiest one against the best position. The

:51:39.:51:43.

choices to make when you get to the table and snooker, that is one of

:51:44.:51:47.

the nice things in the game. You make a decision on what shot you're

:51:48.:51:50.

going to play. And you have to stand by that. Successful or not.

:51:51.:52:06.

As Willie mentioned earlier on, a little bit under pressure here, four

:52:07.:52:17.

frames, of course, and in the first round, breast, Ryan Day... He would

:52:18.:52:29.

like obviously do not start on a losing run but they come thick and

:52:30.:52:34.

fast, the tournaments these days -- pressed by Ryan Day. That was good.

:52:35.:52:43.

Good control at the moment even though he made a century. Now we

:52:44.:52:53.

know the one to the right of the pink will plot to the right-hand

:52:54.:52:56.

corner, but will anything to the left? I'm not sure. We will know

:52:57.:53:02.

from the shot. The one just below the pink must pot into the corner.

:53:03.:53:05.

Quite Matthew wondering if he is going to

:53:06.:53:45.

get another chance here. Stuart amongst the balls in a very strong

:53:46.:53:49.

position to clear up and win this friend. One thing I like about

:53:50.:53:56.

Stuart Bingham is, you know, no matter what his game is like, his

:53:57.:54:00.

break-building is always good, even if the rest of his game is poor.

:54:01.:54:04.

When he is not on his best form, when he gets in, he's very capable,

:54:05.:54:06.

one of the best in the game, I feel. Matthew will be so disappointed

:54:07.:54:43.

here, because he was in the balls first. Didn't get that reaction off

:54:44.:54:48.

that back cushion that we spoke about just before he took a shot. It

:54:49.:54:53.

might have possibly cost in the frame now. OK, only six points

:54:54.:54:57.

behind, but he might be the one on the right hand side... Four reds,

:54:58.:55:00.

four pinks, four lacks... -- blacks. MOBILE PHONE RINGS He's just having

:55:01.:56:44.

a little glance others go there. -- -- He's just having a little

:56:45.:56:54.

glance others go there. -- He's just having a little

:56:55.:57:09.

glance at the score there. that is why he has played the pink.

:57:10.:57:17.

Woody to take the black off in front instead. -- he would need to

:57:18.:57:32.

just overran it slightly. Would have liked to have left an angle to screw

:57:33.:57:36.

into the red. Still can play the two cushions to bring the red out but

:57:37.:57:40.

that could be dangerous. I would suggest letting him play the double.

:57:41.:57:55.

Just make sure of the black. If he was 34 in front he may not play the

:57:56.:58:04.

double, but at 36, if he can get a good white... I don't blame him for

:58:05.:58:17.

that. Stuart Bingham taking a 2-1 lead.

:58:18.:59:04.

Good attempt there. Just requiring the one smoker. -- snooker. And this

:59:05.:59:22.

last red. May have a look at taking this on, getting something off the

:59:23.:59:32.

yellow and playing the black. Not sure about that shot. Too thick. The

:59:33.:59:43.

frame should be over. Yes, I suppose he looked at the pot are probably

:59:44.:59:48.

felt it would be a bit closer to the left unsaid cushion, and I think

:59:49.:59:51.

most players would have taken the pot on there. -- left cushion.

:59:52.:00:15.

A brick of 59 a little earlier in this frame -- break. Considering

:00:16.:00:27.

ball was in first. That is what disappoints a player, when you win

:00:28.:00:33.

the balls and you should have scored first and you don't.

:00:34.:00:59.

He started with 59 and he finished with 33. Stuart Bingham getting a

:01:00.:01:05.

foothold in this match, leading 2-1. Food. Any sort of food. What's his

:01:06.:01:27.

name? Tom Hardy. I remember falling off the roof and broking both my

:01:28.:01:30.

arms at the same time and I was about eight. People say I am

:01:31.:01:36.

annoying but it is my best attribute. I'm a lazy. I should try

:01:37.:01:41.

to get fit but I have always got an excuse. Toad in the hole and apple

:01:42.:01:58.

crumble to finish. I picked up ten balls in one hand. Nine is easy but

:01:59.:02:03.

ten at a push. Never done a sky drive, never been skiing. Too

:02:04.:02:08.

scared, I suppose. Things like that. I played Marco Fu in 97 in the

:02:09.:02:16.

final, and I was up 7-1 and I lost 11-10. That always picks out and I

:02:17.:02:23.

would love to go back to them. Cameron Diaz. She has been a

:02:24.:02:30.

favourite of mine for years. Up in the morning, bit of golf, bit of

:02:31.:02:36.

snooker, sunbathing and a romantic movie with the Mrs at the end.

:02:37.:02:45.

Stuart Bingham is well liked on the circuit. He is very natural in front

:02:46.:02:53.

of the camera. Talking about his life. There is a lot of life outside

:02:54.:02:58.

of snooker but people forget about that. Who was your celebrity crush?

:02:59.:03:07.

Cameron Diaz was his. Do you have one? You! Good point! Good judge.

:03:08.:03:16.

Bit of needlework being done to Matthew Stevens. A little bit of

:03:17.:03:29.

sewing. Matthew felt that when he was cueing, it was catching the logo

:03:30.:03:40.

on his cue. That is a first, I think. I have never seen that before

:03:41.:03:47.

out there. Many do it backstage but there you go. In our day we never

:03:48.:03:52.

had logos. You didn't! Matthew Stevens to break. Matthew

:03:53.:04:07.

Stevens is the can span now. He will be hoping to win the fourth frame to

:04:08.:04:09.

level up. -- spit and span now. Didn't take the pot on of course.

:04:10.:05:14.

The red was hit a little bit thick, which is why it hasn't gone down

:05:15.:05:21.

onto the baulk cushion. It will make the next one a lot more difficult

:05:22.:05:24.

for your opponent if you are cueing off the cushion.

:05:25.:05:33.

Now then, it looked like he has got along pot to the left.

:05:34.:05:45.

Good shot. How close is that? A lot of back spin on and a lot of power.

:05:46.:05:55.

It made the shot more difficult but it got very close. He didn't want to

:05:56.:05:58.

leave the cue ball up this side of the table so screwing back to the

:05:59.:06:02.

baulk colours. Didn't leave anything on. That's the main thing. The run

:06:03.:06:07.

of the ball counts so much. Wasn't expecting that red to break

:06:08.:06:43.

away from the pack. The brown hasn't come to his rescue. Nothing wrong

:06:44.:06:50.

with playing a thick safety shot, they are great, but you couldn't

:06:51.:06:55.

imagine that red springing up on the pack. The only bad thing if he

:06:56.:06:59.

didn't get a good white. Near the cushion, still a difficult shot. But

:07:00.:07:05.

with Stuart on the table, a very easy shot.

:07:06.:07:25.

Very good positional shot. Never easy when you have a touch of

:07:26.:07:34.

running side and two cushions. A much better shot if you can screw

:07:35.:07:39.

the cue ball directly back up towards the red. He is perfect here.

:07:40.:07:53.

These are the times when Stuart Bingham is playing at his best and

:07:54.:08:04.

you think it could be 3-1 here. But as we have mentioned, he isn't

:08:05.:08:10.

playing as well. He is one of the top players, number two in the

:08:11.:08:12.

world. Where is this black going? It will

:08:13.:08:34.

do well to go into the right or possibly the left corner.

:08:35.:08:45.

Oh! And unmissable shot. Stuart will be so disappointed again. A little

:08:46.:08:54.

bit slow with his delivery. Those hurt. Now then, Matthew. You have

:08:55.:09:05.

been given a good chance here. It looked as though he would be sitting

:09:06.:09:09.

down for a while. Make the best of this, too- one behind. -- 2-1

:09:10.:09:25.

Behind. That went further than he wanted. Slightly straight on this

:09:26.:09:26.

but still OK. Matthew will realise now if you mix

:09:27.:09:41.

a frame-winning break from here, that red that Stuart Bingham missed,

:09:42.:09:47.

it will make him stew in his seat. Nothing worse than missing an easy

:09:48.:09:50.

shot and having your opponent clear up when it should have been yours.

:09:51.:10:03.

All of the top players understand that. Stevenson is a top player,

:10:04.:10:11.

even though he has knocked up in the rankings at the moment. -- Matthew

:10:12.:10:16.

Stevens is a top player even though he is not high up in the rankings at

:10:17.:10:23.

the moment. 41. He is better than that. He can sense weakness in an

:10:24.:10:25.

opponent. That situation again when he is on

:10:26.:11:05.

the half ball black and if he punches it in, the players have not

:11:06.:11:09.

got the pace of the back cushion at the moment, as we have already seen.

:11:10.:11:17.

Normally a player would go off this angle but he doesn't appear to be

:11:18.:11:18.

playing with top spin. Nothing available into either

:11:19.:11:31.

corner. He is going to take the more difficult pink and hopes to take the

:11:32.:11:44.

red into play. Decided against that. He is playing for the one in the

:11:45.:11:46.

middle. Surprised at that choice. He will be pleased that one went in

:11:47.:12:18.

at that speed. It looked for a minute as though it would come out.

:12:19.:12:28.

On the left-hand side going in. Back in a good position again.

:12:29.:12:39.

Essential now to get the half ball black. It doesn't matter if it goes

:12:40.:12:47.

into the right-hand side of the pack or the left because that bottom red

:12:48.:12:51.

will pop into either corner so he will get the cannon. Hattie got that

:12:52.:13:05.

position? -- has he got that position? He feels he can pot the

:13:06.:13:09.

bottom red without playing a cannon, which will in turn bring another red

:13:10.:13:16.

into play. The next shot could be a frame win it if the reds split

:13:17.:13:28.

nicely. And they have. Just a case of concentration being at its best

:13:29.:13:37.

for him to level it. Concentration doesn't matter when you have a kick,

:13:38.:13:46.

I'm afraid. Still in the game. Everybody looking at how you can get

:13:47.:13:53.

rid of the kicks. The association, everybody. The balls do different

:13:54.:13:57.

things, stopping them kicking, but it happens all the time. That could

:13:58.:14:01.

cost Matthew Stevens not just the frame but the match. Absolutely.

:14:02.:14:08.

What a difference it is 2-2 compared to 3-1 when it is best of seven.

:14:09.:14:16.

That was a horrendous kick. I don't like to see a player lose after a

:14:17.:14:20.

shot like that. We will be hoping for another game. Not only did the

:14:21.:14:25.

black go square, it took all the pace out of the cue ball. Stuart has

:14:26.:14:34.

potted the opening red. A sizeable lead, so he might get another chance

:14:35.:14:38.

with the red being typed on the right-hand cushion. -- tight on the

:14:39.:14:43.

right-hand cushion. Just looking at the pink. The reds

:14:44.:15:01.

will split but there is always the chance it will go wrong. Lots of

:15:02.:15:08.

chances and opportunities to play shots but he has played the pink and

:15:09.:15:14.

he has brought them into play and he is on the red to the left of the

:15:15.:15:19.

pig. Very well played. He has got to catch it full on on the pink and it

:15:20.:15:20.

is perfect. That is also perfect. Good choice of

:15:21.:15:41.

reds now. It doesn't matter if he goes down the left or the right. The

:15:42.:15:48.

black in the bottom corner, and it is all about that last red that is

:15:49.:15:53.

tight on the cushion as far as Matthew Stevens is concerned. He

:15:54.:15:56.

will be sitting there grieving about what happened, that kick. But it

:15:57.:16:00.

could be his saviour. The red that we are talking about on

:16:01.:16:48.

the right-hand side cushion is not easy to play in a cannon of the

:16:49.:16:53.

black. He may be forced to drop in behind it and break it down the

:16:54.:16:58.

cushion. The only colour that you can get nicely onto that red to

:16:59.:17:01.

bring it out is the blue at some stage. What a let off that is.

:17:02.:17:11.

Matthew will be delighted that horrible kick hasn't cost him more

:17:12.:17:20.

points than that. That is the second red he has pulled to the left. He

:17:21.:17:24.

missed the very easy one into the bottom left corner earlier.

:17:25.:17:30.

That was to the middle. Oh! He missed that by a long way. You may

:17:31.:17:42.

think if you miss it it may as well be by a long way because it makes no

:17:43.:17:47.

difference, but to the player it does. He knows he has cued badly.

:17:48.:18:08.

A great deal of power. Not sure if we needed that power. It makes the

:18:09.:18:14.

shot more difficult. Longer and faster. He may think it is unlucky

:18:15.:18:21.

to leave the red on the corner but he missed the red he took on.

:18:22.:18:52.

We can criticise these players all day for bad shots but the truth of

:18:53.:18:58.

it is this is the first round in a big event, the Welsh Open, and for

:18:59.:19:04.

these players, Stuart for instance living in Essex, if he loses here it

:19:05.:19:07.

is a long journey home with no money. Anybody who loses in the

:19:08.:19:16.

first round goes home with nothing. Plus expenses. We always knew this

:19:17.:19:28.

would be the key shot for either player. Possibly a frame-winner for

:19:29.:19:41.

Matthew. It is there! Well done. That massive kick he had on the

:19:42.:19:43.

black hasn't cost him the frame. There have been a few ups and downs

:19:44.:20:08.

for both players in this frame. Both players will be edgy in the first

:20:09.:20:16.

round, as I mentioned earlier. Of course it is an open draw in the

:20:17.:20:19.

Welsh tournament, so top players could be playing against each other.

:20:20.:20:26.

As in other events, they use the seeding system so good players don't

:20:27.:20:35.

clash early on. I don't know whether the players like this system or not.

:20:36.:20:39.

But that is what Barry Hearn wants to do and that is what happens. The

:20:40.:20:48.

pink doesn't go in but Matthew Stevens will not worry too much

:20:49.:20:57.

about that. He is black level again. -- back level again. If you are just

:20:58.:21:00.

switching your television on, welcome to the opening day of 2017

:21:01.:21:06.

Welsh Open and we are watching Matthew Stevens against Stuart

:21:07.:21:09.

Bingham. That fourth frame was scrappy but Matthew got there in the

:21:10.:21:13.

end. Yes, he got there in the end but it is looking good for Matthew

:21:14.:21:16.

because Stuart Bingham had a couple of chances in that frame, one right

:21:17.:21:22.

at the start, when he missed an unbelievable red, as Terry in

:21:23.:21:25.

commentary. A little bit of the cue ball, and he caught it thin. You

:21:26.:21:31.

would have thought he was going to win the frame from there because he

:21:32.:21:35.

looked great, and now he would be 3-1 to win but lucky for Matthew

:21:36.:21:40.

that he didn't. He got in and had an unbelievable kick that could have

:21:41.:21:46.

cost him the game. Lucky for him. He just rolled through a relatively

:21:47.:21:50.

easy black and the cue ball on the black has bounced and taken all the

:21:51.:21:54.

pace out of it. He would have feared the worst, but lucky for Matthew,

:21:55.:22:02.

Stuart didn't make the most of his chance. It looked like he would

:22:03.:22:09.

steal a frame away. We could see the look on Matthew's face with that

:22:10.:22:12.

kick but it didn't cost him in the end. Let's look at the mistake by

:22:13.:22:18.

Stuart Bingham that you referred to. He wouldn't miss this 100 out of 100

:22:19.:22:24.

times. That is unbelievable for him. The balls are perfect. He had done

:22:25.:22:27.

all the hard work to get in right at the start. The way he played the

:22:28.:22:31.

first frame and the third frame, he will have been thinking here is my

:22:32.:22:39.

chance for a 3-1 lead. 2-2. Is it difficult to call? It is down to the

:22:40.:22:43.

best of three now, so it is difficult to call. If I was a

:22:44.:22:48.

betting man, and I am not, at the moment Matthew will be feeling the

:22:49.:22:52.

better of the two because Stuart had a couple of chances, and he had a

:22:53.:22:55.

couple in the second frame as well, and he missed a couple. It is like

:22:56.:22:59.

he is more tense than Matthew. Matthew seems to be playing a little

:23:00.:23:09.

bit more freely than Stuart. And this is Stuart Bingham about to

:23:10.:23:11.

break in frame five. It is all square, 2-2.

:23:12.:23:17.

It is the best of seven of course and this could be the most important

:23:18.:23:22.

frame of the match with another possible two to play. Stuart will

:23:23.:23:27.

have to work on that break up. Every time he breaks up at the moment, he

:23:28.:23:31.

leaves this plane ball shot at the back of the pack. Eventually they

:23:32.:23:39.

will start knocking them in but Matthew has missed that shot twice

:23:40.:23:40.

now. If he had got anywhere near the red,

:23:41.:23:56.

he wouldn't have kissed that other red. He hit it so thick. He hit it

:23:57.:24:03.

so thick that the kissed red was in play.

:24:04.:24:41.

Decision time. The pack is not great. That is the reason he avoided

:24:42.:24:51.

going into the pack and played that delicate cannon.

:24:52.:25:07.

Not the best shot he has ever played. In between the brown and

:25:08.:25:15.

yellow, left-hand side now, swing it round two cushions, and the choice

:25:16.:25:22.

of two reds. It came very close to the yellow there, goodness me. If he

:25:23.:25:29.

gets on that middle, it is very fortunate. He played nowhere near

:25:30.:25:36.

there. The problem Fort Stuart was you normally hit the brown off that

:25:37.:25:40.

shot and lose position so you put more spin on. But he won't worry

:25:41.:25:48.

about that now. He is still among them.

:25:49.:26:15.

He struck that well. Hitting high upon the ball but it bounced into

:26:16.:26:24.

the reds and put some back spin on because of that.

:26:25.:26:33.

Playing to open the reds up. There are three available from here.

:26:34.:26:40.

Getting on the brown will be difficult. He may have to use the

:26:41.:26:50.

rest. The brown is definitely the shots to guarantee position. Getting

:26:51.:26:53.

it straight, screwing in towards the blue, and he needs to be six or

:26:54.:26:56.

seven inches to the right of the cue ball to be an pink spot. It is like

:26:57.:27:09.

enforcing screw, not a direct screw. -- a forcing screw. You see, that

:27:10.:27:16.

was the problem. He might still be on it, just. He hit that as well as

:27:17.:27:23.

he could. The cue ball off the cushion but he

:27:24.:27:38.

had to use the cloth to get on this red. I don't think he's perfect on

:27:39.:27:39.

it. Nice cannon, the pink into the right

:27:40.:27:58.

centre. The only problem is he has knocked the red safe so I am not

:27:59.:28:04.

sure whether next red comes from. A plant on the two reds at the back of

:28:05.:28:10.

the pack, whether they will plant into the right-hand corner? See how

:28:11.:28:18.

he plays this. He will try and make it by the look of things. Maybe he

:28:19.:28:22.

fancies cutting the one in the middle but that is missable. They do

:28:23.:28:35.

look plantish, those two. That is not easy. Good recovery. Excellent

:28:36.:28:48.

kiss. Late to get onto the black. Play to avoid the cannon onto the

:28:49.:28:53.

pink. -- played to get onto the black.

:28:54.:29:05.

He looks as if he could play into the pack here without too much pace.

:29:06.:29:12.

Or play for the single red on the right-hand side of the pack. That is

:29:13.:29:17.

what he has gone for. He played it very well with the rest. But

:29:18.:29:23.

control. That totally could have gone wrong. Another few inches and

:29:24.:29:27.

he would have been on nothing. Though precise they have got to be

:29:28.:29:32.

when they are in amongst the balls. -- so precise.

:29:33.:29:49.

Still seems to be playing with an element of fear. Not bouncing around

:29:50.:30:00.

the table like he is when he's in top form. Seems a bit apprehensive

:30:01.:30:13.

here. Some easy shots. Could be going 4-2 in front if he didn't have

:30:14.:30:21.

those couple of missed balls. This could be the frame-winner. Providing

:30:22.:30:26.

he gets on the reds. It's not a good one. That's end of break.

:30:27.:30:46.

75 remaining. Two reds on the side cushion. Make it more difficult for

:30:47.:31:01.

Matthew Stevens. Pretty well played. Not quite sure

:31:02.:31:31.

if he's covered the red above the middle pocket. Matthew Stevens will

:31:32.:31:36.

want to bring one of these raids into play. -- reds. Didn't help

:31:37.:31:49.

potting the black off its spot there. May have left this red. Can

:31:50.:31:56.

he get past the pink to put the red in the left corner?

:31:57.:32:49.

APPLAUSE Stuart took a risk their loyalty to

:32:50.:32:58.

cannon into the black but felt he had no option. Looked at it harder

:32:59.:33:04.

long before he played that. Knew he was cannon ink into the black and

:33:05.:33:07.

would have been hoping for a better case than that. It's the black on

:33:08.:33:17.

the side cushion and white into baulk. That was dreadful, must have

:33:18.:33:26.

kissed the blue. He can't believe it himself.

:33:27.:33:37.

Matthew still second favourite, he can win if you can clear with all

:33:38.:33:52.

blacks. Very unlikely at the moment. He's got to take this on. As to play

:33:53.:33:58.

for the black as well. Even if he gets this difficult pot. He's not

:33:59.:34:05.

playing it, playing a safety, bringing the black into play.

:34:06.:34:12.

Not many players in the game would have refused to pot and get onto the

:34:13.:34:20.

black. I know the black would have been very difficult. Half a chance.

:34:21.:34:32.

The chance is gone of this red goes in. Right in the middle of the

:34:33.:34:49.

pocket. Matthew Stevens needs two four points knickers. -- two four

:34:50.:34:58.

point snookers. Certainly open them up a bit. Not

:34:59.:36:01.

sure if you try to play the planned there or not. Stuart has conceded

:36:02.:36:09.

after that shot. Stuart Bingham has gone in front again, Leeds 3-2.

:36:10.:37:13.

Will of the Stuart Bingham stats you could need to know and Darren, no

:37:14.:37:21.

one frame away on victory. This is where Matthew Stevens's mental

:37:22.:37:27.

strength must kick in. Got to kick him otherwise he's on his way home.

:37:28.:37:33.

Stuart has led all match and every time he has led Matthew has come

:37:34.:37:38.

back, so Matthew will take some positives and that that Stuart

:37:39.:37:41.

hasn't built a two thing lead at any time in this match. That is what

:37:42.:37:47.

will give Matthew the confident he can get it I can bring it level at

:37:48.:37:52.

3-3. It's not like he isn't getting chances. He has a chance, been a

:37:53.:37:56.

good match, both players have looked good in spasms and then looked a bit

:37:57.:38:02.

tense in other parts. That can be expected in the best of seven match.

:38:03.:38:06.

Short format, even though they're getting used to it because they play

:38:07.:38:10.

that many of these now. How do you see it going? I'm going to go with

:38:11.:38:16.

Stuart. Easy for me to say that and being a Welshman I would love

:38:17.:38:21.

Matthew to come back. Stuart looks a bit tense but he still playing very

:38:22.:38:26.

strong. World number two who has the 3-2 lead. Let's rejoin the

:38:27.:38:29.

commentators. COMMENTATOR: Matthew Stevens

:38:30.:38:43.

breaking off in frame six. That won't help. Whatever you do when you

:38:44.:38:45.

break off, don't hit the blue. APPLAUSE

:38:46.:39:13.

Awkward shot. He's perfect. Didn't get a very good contact them.

:39:14.:39:46.

Still OK. Just a matter if the black goes after the red into the right

:39:47.:39:55.

pocket. Don't think it does. The blue is at the top corner pocket.

:39:56.:40:04.

Would be easy to get back down and get precise position. -- won't be

:40:05.:40:16.

easy. Make the angle to come up for the pink. Once again hit that with a

:40:17.:40:23.

lot of pace to get the cue ball out there.

:40:24.:40:48.

Like most of the top players, Stuart Bingham is very good when he plays

:40:49.:40:59.

the stun as we call it for positional purposes. Most of the top

:41:00.:41:03.

players use that spin more than any other. Yes, very aggressive player

:41:04.:41:11.

normally, Stuart. There are a couple of loose threads but I think he's

:41:12.:41:16.

perfect going into the bunch and could do with the pink going back on

:41:17.:41:20.

its spot because the black isn't available to the right corner.

:41:21.:41:24.

Nothing wrong with playing the green into the corner but the pink into

:41:25.:41:30.

the bunch with clear the blue spot area. Looks like he's playing the

:41:31.:41:34.

loose one. That was the problem, refusing the

:41:35.:42:12.

pack, he's now in trouble getting to the next red. The blue is a

:42:13.:42:19.

certainty but he has to avoid the yellow and brown, there is only the

:42:20.:42:25.

one red that pots, the one right of the black pots to the left hand

:42:26.:42:28.

corner. The one to the left of the pink spot, but has to be absolutely

:42:29.:42:35.

precise. Yeah, that wasn't a bad shot, it was the two previous when

:42:36.:42:37.

he refused to go into the pink. Very tough to avoid the cannon on

:42:38.:42:51.

brown or yellow from bad shot. -- from that shocked.

:42:52.:43:26.

is key for Matthew to play some good safety. Not phoned the top cushion

:43:27.:44:13.

very often when he's played a safety shot. Playing the pot on the red two

:44:14.:44:25.

up from the black, play for a baulk colour. Needs to bounce and he

:44:26.:44:27.

hasn't got one. His first pot there for nearly 20

:44:28.:44:39.

minutes. Could have done with being on one of those colours. Just the

:44:40.:44:41.

roll-up now. Sometimes when you're playing out

:44:42.:44:50.

there you feel the balls run against you but actually you hit them.

:44:51.:45:27.

I don't know if our referee has mentioned a touching ball there. Got

:45:28.:46:47.

to be careful with this. As to hit this a very fine cut with a running

:46:48.:46:54.

site. Played that well. Little kiss on the pink on the way down.

:46:55.:47:07.

Chance to open a few red Sea with this safety shot. The blue or green

:47:08.:47:15.

is the best choice here. -- open a few reds here. Would like that cue

:47:16.:47:24.

ball to be further over to the right. No way back for a baulk

:47:25.:47:36.

colour. Looking at a plant but trying to play the safety shot at

:47:37.:47:40.

the same time unless the planned as a certainty. All set for the

:47:41.:47:54.

left-hand jaw. Really surprised that the pace he played it. Matthew is

:47:55.:48:01.

blessed with a lot of cue power and could have screwed back, but the

:48:02.:48:02.

cream has come to his rescue. The safety hasn't been that good

:48:03.:48:30.

from these two players. The ball hasn't finished on the baulk once.

:48:31.:48:39.

Both these are looking to make breaks but can't forget their safety

:48:40.:48:47.

play. You have to make a good one and force an opening from your

:48:48.:48:49.

opponent. Always been part of the game. Little bit worried about

:48:50.:48:56.

playing this since safety shot from the right-hand side. Tough to avoid

:48:57.:49:04.

the kiss on the pink and brown playing it this way round. Missed

:49:05.:49:09.

the pink and misty brown. Not a bad effort. As good a safety shot as has

:49:10.:49:14.

been played in this match so far. Terry was mentioning about the

:49:15.:49:44.

safety success and when a player is in front it would be 90% and both

:49:45.:49:51.

are 76%. A story that neither player has dominated the safety exchanges.

:49:52.:50:06.

Two excellent safety shots. One after the other. The two best safety

:50:07.:50:11.

shots have just been played back-to-back. That's because they're

:50:12.:50:16.

listening to the commentary! They've got hidden microphones. Looking to

:50:17.:50:27.

see he can play off one condition and pot red but it's a high risk

:50:28.:50:35.

shot but that's the only one that's on.

:50:36.:50:47.

Good shot. Fraction unlucky with the ball. He had to play the shot and

:50:48.:50:57.

got a lot of spin on that considering. Back to the baulk wine.

:50:58.:51:05.

The run of the balls don't always come to save you. If there was a

:51:06.:51:16.

saving grace for Matthew it's the fact that the black isn't available

:51:17.:51:20.

into either corner. I don't think he's got the angle to go to the

:51:21.:51:24.

correct side of the pink. As to play up and down which she has done. Has

:51:25.:51:32.

to be to the top of the pink. Isn't. This is one of those, he granduncle

:51:33.:51:36.

in between green and blue and back down the right-hand side around the

:51:37.:51:38.

corner but the brown is in the whistle has play between blue and

:51:39.:51:49.

yellow. How is his pace this time? Pretty good. Not a frame-winning

:51:50.:51:56.

chance where the balls are at the moment. Not a frame and match

:51:57.:52:02.

winning chance but he leads by 34 and anything around the 40 Mark

:52:03.:52:08.

Hughes what he's looking for. -- anything around the 40 mark is what

:52:09.:52:10.

he's looking for. One of those situations here and

:52:11.:53:13.

where he'd love to play the cannon into the three reds to clear the

:53:14.:53:18.

pink spot with the black not been available but too risky at this

:53:19.:53:22.

stage. 42 points in front, he knows he can keep picking off the reds but

:53:23.:53:26.

won't get a better angle on this to free the pink spot. I doubt whether

:53:27.:53:37.

he'll play it. A few shots away from making the black available.

:53:38.:53:49.

Purposely leaving the red that's nearest the pocket just in in case

:53:50.:53:56.

he plays it back. You can see her parties having to work now to play

:53:57.:54:03.

it back. Missed a trick there, I think by not doing the cannon onto

:54:04.:54:13.

the previous shot. Not saying he won't win the frame with this visit

:54:14.:54:19.

but he certainly making it harder than it should have been. And that's

:54:20.:54:39.

why. Now he's in trouble. 56 points the lead, 62 with the pink but no

:54:40.:54:43.

red available, the brown is the only one he can guarantee to get in

:54:44.:54:49.

position but not sure if you want to attempt the pot at this stage. Is he

:54:50.:55:02.

going to risk the pot? Three reds at least two of them pot into the

:55:03.:55:06.

corner. Mr trick there, Stuart, to be

:55:07.:55:19.

honest. He missed the red but I'm sure he'll

:55:20.:55:38.

take the 62 point lead. Quite satisfied about that, Willie.

:55:39.:55:52.

Bit too thin there. Trying to get down for the blue or baulk colours.

:55:53.:56:05.

Nice little kiss, that helped a bit. He has got five reds left. 67 points

:56:06.:56:14.

with all blacks. Isn't available in both corner pockets at the moment.

:56:15.:56:23.

Little bit of life left in this frame. All of a sudden the safety

:56:24.:56:35.

has improved. Excellent safety shot from Stuart. Obviously reluctant to

:56:36.:56:41.

move the left of the right-hand side cushion, Matthew will be trying to

:56:42.:56:49.

move it with this shot. Could be one of the reds either side of the black

:56:50.:56:52.

to make it available but this will be a safety shot. Excellent safety

:56:53.:57:04.

of the last four or five shots. This is a tent for Stuart, may

:57:05.:58:03.

decide to take it on with those others being safe on the right-hand

:58:04.:58:08.

side. One of those you can't get a good point here.

:58:09.:58:19.

This made it as a shock to nothing, didn't play for a colour, now it's

:58:20.:58:26.

time to push the pink safe. Excellent pot. Put the pink safe the

:58:27.:58:35.

safe if he can. Has to cuff about -- has to cover that red up. 63 in

:58:36.:58:40.

front with 59 on. . The excellent pot on the red

:58:41.:59:00.

barring snookers means he could win this match 4-2. Wry smile, telling

:59:01.:59:08.

us he hit the blue full in the face and it appeared to deviate somewhat.

:59:09.:59:22.

Almost playing well Matthew. Just missed a couple of easy balls.

:59:23.:59:36.

Hasn't punished when he's been let in.

:59:37.:59:40.

Breaks of 101, 59 and 60 four. They have now secured Stuart Bingham a

:59:41.:00:00.

place in the next round. I think you'd have to say workmanlike.

:00:01.:00:06.

Stuart coming off a loss in the first round of the previous

:00:07.:00:11.

tournament. We'll be pretty pleased to get by this tough first-round

:00:12.:00:20.

draw. The only one worse is Jimmy White who's got Jimmy Robertson.

:00:21.:00:24.

Matthew wouldn't have wanted to play Stuart.

:00:25.:00:37.

Matthew Stevens working hard on his game. I am sure we will see him get

:00:38.:00:42.

to the last stages of the tournament soon. Not quite as good as Ronnie

:00:43.:00:50.

left-handed, Stuart. But he will be pleased with that. Stuart Bingham

:00:51.:00:56.

pleased to get five what could have been a difficult hurdle to getting

:00:57.:01:02.

into the next round a 4-2 victor. STUDIO: A modest sums up to the

:01:03.:01:08.

crowd for Stuart Bingham. A shock first-round loser last year. No such

:01:09.:01:12.

trouble this time round. He is through to the second round. And we

:01:13.:01:19.

lose one of our 15 welsh men. No glory in his home event this year

:01:20.:01:22.

for Matthew Stevens. We will hopefully hear from Matthew in just

:01:23.:01:26.

a moment, but Darren Morgan, what does it say that perhaps Stuart

:01:27.:01:29.

Bingham wasn't at his very best, and yet it was enough today to get past

:01:30.:01:36.

Matthew? Willie said in commentary that it was a workmanlike

:01:37.:01:39.

performance. He started like a rocket. It is hard to keep that

:01:40.:01:44.

standard. Both of them missed a couple of balls. It was a hard match

:01:45.:01:50.

were both players. Two class players. Matthew seems unlucky to

:01:51.:01:54.

draw Stuart in the first round. But he had his chances, and if he had

:01:55.:01:58.

taken them, maybe he would have got through. Stuart is used to winning.

:01:59.:02:04.

If the match goes a bit close, one that is used to getting the results

:02:05.:02:08.

gets over the line. Let's hear from Matthew Stevens, backstage with Rob

:02:09.:02:12.

Walker. That was a tough draw, to say the

:02:13.:02:16.

least, to have to take on the world number two in the first round.

:02:17.:02:20.

That's right. It is strange playing Stuart in the first round. It is a

:02:21.:02:28.

bit of a toss of a coin, really. It is one of those games, but yeah, it

:02:29.:02:34.

is hard when you look at the other tables. I have never seen half of

:02:35.:02:37.

them playing before, and I am playing Stuart in the first round.

:02:38.:02:41.

It was a bit annoying, but it was the same for both of us. I felt good

:02:42.:02:47.

there. As I said, it was the toss of a coin. One or two shots a different

:02:48.:02:51.

way, it could have been different. You have been playing well this

:02:52.:02:56.

season, qualifying for China. I would have liked to have done better

:02:57.:03:00.

in front of my home crowd. Playing someone like Stuart, it is a 50-50

:03:01.:03:07.

game. Today, it was his turn. You are looking lean. Have you been on a

:03:08.:03:14.

fitness drive? No, I have actually put on weight. I have stopped

:03:15.:03:18.

smoking, five weeks today. I feel healthier, but I have put a few

:03:19.:03:27.

pounds on. I feel good. Good work on quitting smoking. You are hiding it

:03:28.:03:30.

well if you put on a couple of pounds. Good luck for the rest of

:03:31.:03:37.

the season. Cheers, Rob. He has got the Darren Morgan Baird as well!

:03:38.:03:41.

Luck of the draw, he says. A frustrating thing to come up against

:03:42.:03:44.

the world number two in the first round. He does not have the Morgan

:03:45.:03:55.

pot! Good living, that! Stuart Bingham, congratulations. A new

:03:56.:04:00.

come. Well done to you. A little white of the brow or a little relief

:04:01.:04:03.

that you are through? How are you feeling? I feel good. Different from

:04:04.:04:12.

last week. Started off like a house on fire, with a 100. A couple of

:04:13.:04:19.

easy misses, which doesn't have the confidence, but it was great to beat

:04:20.:04:23.

someone up Matthew's calibre. You refer to last week, going out to a

:04:24.:04:28.

Welsh man in the first round of the Welsh Grand Prix, Ryan Day. He did

:04:29.:04:35.

well. On a personal note, it was disappointing, but glad to be here

:04:36.:04:38.

for a few more days. Was that on your mind? Also the fact that you

:04:39.:04:43.

went out here in the first round last year. Definitely. You are only

:04:44.:04:47.

as good as your last result. For me, I played awful. I have put some

:04:48.:04:53.

hours in and I feel better -- I feel better in the game. I showed a

:04:54.:04:58.

little glimpse of it out there. I am just happy. Willey said in

:04:59.:05:01.

commentary that he thought you were playing with an element of fear. You

:05:02.:05:05.

would say there is a lot better to come from you as you progress.

:05:06.:05:10.

Definitely. Every win is a confidence builder. It was nice to

:05:11.:05:16.

just go out there and play well. Last month, a new arrival, a baby

:05:17.:05:22.

daughter. The compulsory question - are you getting enough sleep with a

:05:23.:05:28.

new baby in the house? My wife is absolutely diamond and has been

:05:29.:05:31.

doing the night feeds. I have woken up a couple of times without crying.

:05:32.:05:37.

It is nice to be away for a few days! Just to get a bit of rest. We

:05:38.:05:44.

will see you in the second round. Thank you very much. Stuart Bingham

:05:45.:05:47.

goes through, and we lose Matthew Stevens. One of the Welshman is out.

:05:48.:05:51.

Let's bring you up-to-date with our one another Welsh player got on

:05:52.:06:02.

earlier. Dominic Nick Dale was facing Zhang Anda of China. Dominic

:06:03.:06:09.

is trailing by 27 points at this stage.

:06:10.:06:22.

At the moment, Dominic is in total control of this first-round match.

:06:23.:06:35.

The first two frames, he played very solid, didn't take on anything

:06:36.:06:39.

silly. It has paid off. Just over on the cue ball a little,

:06:40.:06:57.

there. Could have done with four inches less. You would still expect

:06:58.:07:04.

him to pop this red. -- pot this red. A little straight on the blue.

:07:05.:07:28.

And he's done really well there to get that angle from there. That

:07:29.:07:36.

didn't look on. That was really well played and controlled.

:07:37.:07:57.

He has got a shot on the pink. He is having a wry smile to himself. It is

:07:58.:08:05.

not an easy one, into the green pocket. Could have done with that

:08:06.:08:08.

cue ball running through another three or four inches. If he does go

:08:09.:08:17.

for the pink and it goes in, this next red will be very easy. Just got

:08:18.:08:20.

to concentrate on the pot. He is looking very confident,

:08:21.:09:15.

Dominic. A great player, Zhang Anda. Just hasn't really had the

:09:16.:09:21.

opportunities in this match. Dominic has made sure he hasn't been able to

:09:22.:09:25.

get comfortable. It's all the years of experience.

:09:26.:09:46.

I can't see any way that Dominic will make a mistake from this

:09:47.:09:55.

position, not to take a 3-0 lead. There is only one awkward red. Which

:09:56.:10:11.

he is going to need. It is far enough off the cushion, I think, not

:10:12.:10:17.

to cause him any problems. This young man, I'm sure he has a

:10:18.:10:27.

terrific future ahead of him. At the moment, it doesn't look like today

:10:28.:10:28.

is going to be his day. He's got the same thing again. He

:10:29.:11:08.

potted this a couple of shots ago. No problems, though. Very well

:11:09.:11:18.

played. He will be trying to get off this

:11:19.:11:46.

red, just to get the angle on the black. I don't think he will try to

:11:47.:11:52.

move it. It is far enough off of the cushion. He just wants to pot this

:11:53.:11:57.

half ball and dropping above the red. That's going to be a bit of a

:11:58.:12:07.

stretch, but I think you can just about get to this without the rest.

:12:08.:12:13.

Just made sure of it. That was framed ball. People go into a 3-0

:12:14.:12:27.

lead. No problems out there at the minute. This has been a cracking

:12:28.:12:29.

break. It's good to see Dominic hitting a

:12:30.:12:56.

bit of form. He has lost his last three matches this season. He'll be

:12:57.:13:04.

looking to get back on the winning trail.

:13:05.:13:15.

It doesn't matter about the pink. Dominic will be quite happy there.

:13:16.:13:19.

He now leads three - zero. STUDIO: Well, no trouble for Dominic

:13:20.:13:35.

Dale in the fourth frame either. He won that as well. The Welshman got

:13:36.:13:43.

beyond round one for the first time in three years. His previous high

:13:44.:13:52.

point was in 2004. And here he is with me now. Good afternoon. Safely

:13:53.:13:57.

through. How are you feeling? Will you be working hard over the next

:13:58.:14:01.

couple of days working for us and continuing to compete? I don't play

:14:02.:14:08.

tomorrow, they are continuing with the first-round matches. I am just

:14:09.:14:11.

glad to get through because I lost three matches in a row until today,

:14:12.:14:17.

so I am just very pleased to get through that one and be in the

:14:18.:14:22.

second round in my home event. That must be a big relief, when you have

:14:23.:14:26.

lost in the first ran for three years running, to get beyond that

:14:27.:14:31.

major hurdle. And then who knows how far you can go? Every first-round

:14:32.:14:36.

match in every event, there's a lot of pressure in it for all the

:14:37.:14:40.

players. I am delighted to get through, and I look forward to the

:14:41.:14:45.

next match. Problem is, you were saying, you can't get a spot on the

:14:46.:14:50.

practice tables. No, they are blocked out. I can't get a practice

:14:51.:14:55.

a lot, so you can bet your life I have booked in for tomorrow, nice

:14:56.:14:59.

and early. You had better find a local snooker club to get some

:15:00.:15:03.

practice! Who would your money beyond this year if I was to give

:15:04.:15:09.

you a fiver now? It is difficult to predict this particular event,

:15:10.:15:13.

because it is only the best of seven in the early rounds. If you don't

:15:14.:15:16.

get a good start, a lot can go wrong. You would have to look for

:15:17.:15:22.

the experienced players - Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby and so on. It

:15:23.:15:27.

is never easy to get over the first hurdle, but I am sure in the best of

:15:28.:15:36.

seven, you will get some shocks. We have seen Matthew Stevens go out a

:15:37.:15:40.

short while ago. Is he in danger of being eclipsed by the new generation

:15:41.:15:44.

of players coming through, the likes of Jamie Jones and Michael White,

:15:45.:15:48.

who got to the quarterfinals last year? Yes, you have a new generation

:15:49.:15:53.

of great players, especially from China, and there are some lads from

:15:54.:16:02.

Thailand coming through. The likes of myself, who are 45, and Matthew,

:16:03.:16:07.

in his 40s, it gets harder, because the problem is, the players coming

:16:08.:16:12.

through now, that younger brigade, they are fearless, but they know

:16:13.:16:16.

they have a tough match when they are playing the experienced players,

:16:17.:16:19.

but they are up for it. And they probably don't feel the same degree

:16:20.:16:23.

of pressure as some of the older players for winning matches. It's

:16:24.:16:26.

tough, but it keeps you honest, keeps you putting in the hours and

:16:27.:16:31.

keeps you committed. We will see you over the next couple of days. It is

:16:32.:16:34.

time for our second action of the afternoon. It is the four - time

:16:35.:16:40.

Welsh Open champion, John Higgins, who last won it two years ago. His

:16:41.:16:47.

opponent is Englishman Sam Baird. Let's join the commentary team,

:16:48.:16:50.

Terry Griffiths and Rob Walker. Thanks, Ian. Good afternoon,

:16:51.:17:01.

everybody. Sam Baird, poised and ready for action here. He looks a

:17:02.:17:07.

little bit nervous. And as the reason why - John Higgins, four

:17:08.:17:13.

times the Welsh Open champion, six times a finalist overall. One of the

:17:14.:17:16.

legends of the game. And it is John to get us under way here. It could

:17:17.:17:19.

be a really interesting match. John Higgins has been performing at

:17:20.:17:32.

the highest level for such a long time, just going over the stats. He

:17:33.:17:38.

first played the Welsh Open back in 1993. Twice a runner-up in the

:17:39.:17:42.

previous century, I think he will probably forgive me for mentioning.

:17:43.:17:47.

Runner-up to Steve Davis in 1995, and the late great Paul Hunter in

:17:48.:17:58.

1998. Four times a winner. I saw Sam Baird in the players' room, looking

:17:59.:18:05.

a little bit edgy earlier on. He has had some of his finest days here at

:18:06.:18:10.

the Welsh Open in previous years. Made the last 16 in 2013. His first

:18:11.:18:17.

televised appearance the year before, so it is a good hunting

:18:18.:18:23.

ground for bed. -- for Sam Baird. He will obviously be the big outsider

:18:24.:18:28.

for this one. This is the man who holds 28 ranking titles.

:18:29.:18:47.

Terry Griffiths, sitting alongside, poised and ready for his second

:18:48.:18:53.

Match of the Day. Terry, I guess you've worked with so many players,

:18:54.:18:57.

including Sam, what is the approach when they are coming out against

:18:58.:19:02.

someone of the stature, talent and mental strength of John Higgins? Sam

:19:03.:19:10.

did look a bit edgy just before they came out for the match. Just tell

:19:11.:19:15.

them that, you are playing against a great player here, but he is under

:19:16.:19:19.

pressure. If you can start well and play well, he is under more pressure

:19:20.:19:24.

than you are. But if you do get very nervous and you fall over on the

:19:25.:19:31.

floor, please get up. You make it sound so easy! Sam's wife, Emma, is

:19:32.:19:42.

in the crowd somewhere. We will try and spot the for you if we can. --

:19:43.:19:47.

we will try and spot her. John had that fantastic run last

:19:48.:20:19.

autumn when he won the China championship, the Champion of

:20:20.:20:24.

champions, beating Stuart Bingham and Ronnie O'Sullivan, then

:20:25.:20:27.

runner-up on home turf, when Marco made that big comeback against him

:20:28.:20:33.

in Glasgow. John invited him for the party, and Marco had to in the turn

:20:34.:20:40.

him down. Nothing untoward, he just had an early flight a day after the

:20:41.:20:42.

final. Just looking at the red in the

:20:43.:21:06.

centre of the three, it goes past the green into the top pocket. He

:21:07.:21:10.

could play without too much danger, screw back for the black. Leaves an

:21:11.:21:16.

easy red on. He is having a good book, so it must be tight. You can

:21:17.:21:26.

see, the angle is a little bit difficult.

:21:27.:21:39.

That could have given him a good chance to get started.

:21:40.:22:20.

Well, there is Emma. She just said, oh, no. It's OK, you won't being

:22:21.:22:29.

shot for too long. People like to see the relatives. A good mate,

:22:30.:22:42.

Aaron, sitting next to her. We can steal the leg-mac still see their

:22:43.:22:46.

image out of shot. Aaron is looking a little bit embarrassed. -- we can

:22:47.:22:52.

still see their image. good to see him coming back to form,

:22:53.:25:15.

because there was a time where John felt he was turning up as a

:25:16.:25:26.

journeyman. He won the Welsh in the fabric the Australian open, then

:25:27.:25:33.

that run into last Christmas. He was right back to his very best form.

:25:34.:25:35.

Just shy of 30 ranking titles. No diminishing of his abilities as

:25:36.:25:59.

he heads into his early 40s. And Ronnie is still winning at the age

:26:00.:26:05.

of 40, 41, as we saw at The Masters last month. The old guard still

:26:06.:26:09.

going strong. That was a good pot. I don't think

:26:10.:26:26.

he played for that red in the first place. He overhit the blue. Most

:26:27.:26:30.

players will tell you that when you don't get on the red you're playing

:26:31.:26:36.

for, and there is a lot more distance and degree of difficulty

:26:37.:26:39.

involved in the shot, that makes them determined to get it. He is

:26:40.:26:48.

back in to play for position, more or less, again. He has gone a little

:26:49.:26:54.

too far. If you were watching the first match on this table, you will

:26:55.:27:01.

have seen that it runs very quickly. The thing is, the players practice a

:27:02.:27:05.

lot upstairs in the practice room, and the tables are not quite so

:27:06.:27:14.

quick there. For obvious reasons. That was unexpected. Now, then, Sam,

:27:15.:27:29.

what are you made of? An uncharacteristic error from John

:27:30.:27:32.

Higgins, and what an opportunity this is for Sam to settle his early

:27:33.:27:34.

nerves in this opening frame. I'm not sure he would be expecting

:27:35.:28:16.

an opportunity at this stage in the frame, judging by how nicely John

:28:17.:28:20.

was working his way round the table in those early moments, but here he

:28:21.:28:22.

is. Well, a clear-cut chance here for

:28:23.:29:10.

Sam Baird. Very strong in the break building department. As Rob said

:29:11.:29:15.

earlier, he is in Gloucester now, moved up there to get his practice

:29:16.:29:26.

at the Southwest Snooker Academy. I spent some time with Sam up there,

:29:27.:29:30.

watching him. Not a lot, but are very nice lad, very keen, and I

:29:31.:29:35.

don't feel he has played as well yet on the circuit as his talent is

:29:36.:29:42.

offering him. But it could happen at any time. As long as you put the

:29:43.:29:47.

time in, the work in. Belief, believe it or not, is rationed

:29:48.:29:56.

amongst the professional players, you could say. We've had some

:29:57.:30:03.

brilliant stories this season already, haven't we, Terry? Mark

:30:04.:30:08.

King beating Barry for the Northern Ireland Trophy. What an emotional

:30:09.:30:12.

speech he gave. And what about Anthony Hamilton? He booked tickets

:30:13.:30:18.

for his mum and dad to watch him. He said, I will try to get a ticket for

:30:19.:30:24.

the final if I can, and whoever is in, go and watch. And as the week

:30:25.:30:32.

progressed, it turned out that after years of being a professional, it

:30:33.:30:35.

was his turn to win it. There have been some inspirational stories

:30:36.:30:39.

already this season, ones that will fire up players of all ages.

:30:40.:30:44.

Including the likes of Sam Baird. The big boys can be beaten. A couple

:30:45.:30:50.

of real Snooker fairy tales this season, with Mark King and Anthony.

:30:51.:30:57.

Guest, very much so. Another one would be Mark of -- Marco Fu, who

:30:58.:31:06.

has turned his game around, won the Scottish open, and is playing very

:31:07.:31:10.

well on this circuit at the moment. It looks like a top four player at

:31:11.:31:14.

the moment, whereas in the last three years, he has been into the 16

:31:15.:31:20.

and that is about it. He is well capable. He got to the semifinal of

:31:21.:31:23.

the World Championships last year with some excellent form.

:31:24.:31:28.

Is good to see players who've been around a long time doing something

:31:29.:31:35.

different, changing technique or whatever. Got to keep looking for

:31:36.:31:40.

things, no point in staying for you are. I wonder how much of that as

:31:41.:31:46.

Baird moves into the lead, I wonder how much of that comes down to the

:31:47.:31:50.

players's flexibility and willingness to accept they still

:31:51.:31:54.

have something to learn about a game in which they've been plying their

:31:55.:32:01.

trade for over two decades. As they say in the book of learning, there

:32:02.:32:04.

are always more pages available. I think you've red more of that book

:32:05.:32:21.

than most of us. Good effort this from Sam. If he

:32:22.:32:41.

pots this with a touch of side, he can play for the two reds on the

:32:42.:32:47.

left corner, or played with a bit of a touch of side and play the two

:32:48.:32:53.

reds to the bottom corner. Lots of choice. Clean. Has come a little bit

:32:54.:33:05.

in between. Could have been straight on both of these reds. --

:33:06.:33:10.

straighter. John Higgins needing snookers. Can

:33:11.:34:43.

Sam finish this off? This is good stuff from the man who calls himself

:34:44.:34:55.

Blade. John nods, so Sam has taken the frame, uncharacteristic error

:34:56.:34:59.

early on from John Higgins and Sam Baird has taken the first frame here

:35:00.:35:02.

at the Motorpoint Arena and that should well have settled down his

:35:03.:35:06.

pre-match nerves. Good start for the young man from Devon.

:35:07.:35:10.

STUDIO: Certainly had a good sign for Sam Baird. If you are joining

:35:11.:35:16.

our coverage, let's show you how these two measure up.

:35:17.:35:26.

Just look at the difference in ranking titles.

:35:27.:35:42.

But, Darren, that's a start by Sam Baird that will give them an awful

:35:43.:35:48.

lot of confidence against a player of John Higgins's stature. It will,

:35:49.:35:55.

give him a lot of confidence besides the break he's just hit was the

:35:56.:35:58.

couple of shots that John Higgins played in the middle of that frame,

:35:59.:36:02.

a couple of bad positional shots which he struggled on and a couple

:36:03.:36:08.

of Mrs. We will see a blue in a minute, it is the blue he's thinking

:36:09.:36:15.

about and look for the white has gone, overscrewed that through a gap

:36:16.:36:22.

by a mile. Pots a great long red, back in good position and then from

:36:23.:36:26.

the yellow to the next red witchy gen -- which he then missed, by his

:36:27.:36:32.

standard was a poor shot, the very first blue. That's as bad as he

:36:33.:36:38.

could hit it. Finished 18 inches to two feet away from where he needed

:36:39.:36:43.

to be. When he potted the long red I thought he would win the frame from

:36:44.:36:47.

here and two shots later he misses the red with the rest and Sam Baird

:36:48.:36:51.

had one chance and he took it. What's your assessment of Sam Baird,

:36:52.:36:56.

could he go either way, maybe he starts to make a name for himself

:36:57.:37:00.

and goes up the rankings or fades away? He's always been a good

:37:01.:37:03.

player, had a good run here a couple of years ago, got something the

:37:04.:37:09.

quarterfinals, always been a good player, just hasn't quite made the

:37:10.:37:15.

breakthrough yet. Has got all the tools. Very good player, like we

:37:16.:37:21.

said in commentary, it's getting the breakthrough, just have to get it.

:37:22.:37:26.

Underway in frame two with Baird leading Higgins 1-0.

:37:27.:37:30.

COMMENTATOR:. Good to hear the thoughts from Darren there. It is a

:37:31.:37:37.

question of getting an opportunity. He did. A break of 74 has got him

:37:38.:37:42.

firmly established in the early stages of this match. No need to

:37:43.:37:50.

panic from the point of view of the Higgins fans. Some early signs here

:37:51.:37:58.

at John has yet to settle down in this, the tournament that he won

:37:59.:38:06.

four times and in the final total of six occasions. Food for thought

:38:07.:38:11.

there from the man who won the China championship and the champion of

:38:12.:38:14.

champions in November. Another chance in the second frame for Sam

:38:15.:38:16.

Baird. He has produced some of his best

:38:17.:38:28.

snooker here at the Welsh Open in previous years. We should of course

:38:29.:38:31.

forget that incredible match that he gave Mark Selby at the Crucible. He

:38:32.:38:36.

beat Michael white in the first round and then forced Mark Selby to

:38:37.:38:41.

answer some really difficult questions. Lost the second round

:38:42.:38:45.

match at the World Championship 13-11 but gave a really good account

:38:46.:38:52.

of himself in Sheffield. Maybe there is more to come.

:38:53.:39:06.

Has got plenty of skill, Sam. Like a number of players on tour. Some

:39:07.:39:14.

disappointments obviously during the season. That cannot him back a bit.

:39:15.:39:27.

Very good break-builder. Excellent and on his day he can run frame

:39:28.:39:35.

after frame with big breaks. Didn't hit that hard enough. Plenty of

:39:36.:39:44.

confidence there. As Dominic Dale would say, I don't know whether he's

:39:45.:39:48.

got the copyright on this, he's turned that into an orchard of reds.

:39:49.:39:59.

Which one is he going to pick first? Terry, you highlighting just how

:40:00.:40:02.

good Sam is on his day, he lost his place on the tour at the end of the

:40:03.:40:08.

2011-2012 season and had to come back onto via Q-School. One might

:40:09.:40:12.

all five matches at Q-School without conceding a single frame. That

:40:13.:40:17.

underlines just how good he can be when the pressure is on. He played a

:40:18.:40:29.

very good split of the reds here and left himself with one awkward one he

:40:30.:40:35.

could go for and he lost position. Not quite sure if you can pot, will

:40:36.:40:41.

know if you can get through the baulk area and get the reds. Not an

:40:42.:40:52.

easy pot. Tight on the cushion. He was hoping to get the gap between

:40:53.:41:06.

the brown and yellow. Wasn't to be. Does need to be careful here because

:41:07.:41:11.

of the aggressive manner with which she split the pack. Makes a mistake

:41:12.:41:16.

here, could be a chance for the four time Welsh Open champion. Who has

:41:17.:41:22.

spent a fair portion of the early exchanges sitting in his chair.

:41:23.:41:33.

He'll be watching the next shot very carefully indeed from Sam Baird.

:41:34.:42:11.

Big shot. He's been unfortunate. To pot at all like that and not get on

:42:12.:42:24.

the colour. Very unlucky there. He could have kissed that red full bowl

:42:25.:42:29.

or just missed the red and he would be on the pink in the centre. He'll

:42:30.:42:34.

still be on the pink. Can just about get through. Superb long pot there

:42:35.:42:52.

from Sam. He is clearly up for this. I guess when you're playing an

:42:53.:42:56.

opponent of the calibre of John Higgins you have got to take the

:42:57.:43:02.

chances when they come because at stumps age -- at some stage you know

:43:03.:43:13.

the game of John Higgins will return. If you start well against

:43:14.:43:16.

the top seed, it puts them under pressure, especially in the first

:43:17.:43:21.

round. That's what Sam has done so far. It's only the best of seven, so

:43:22.:43:25.

if you get a good start, you're halfway there.

:43:26.:43:30.

I wouldn't be writing John Higgins off too quickly.

:43:31.:43:37.

Don't worry, I'm not. He has produced some incredible comebacks.

:43:38.:43:44.

One that springs to mind, do you remember that incredible UK

:43:45.:43:47.

Championship, I think it was either the last one of the penultimate one

:43:48.:43:50.

we had in Telford when he came back from nowhere against Mark Williams

:43:51.:43:59.

to land another UK title. And then I think he won the Welsh Open maybe a

:44:00.:44:08.

week or ten days, certainly within a fortnight of burying his father who

:44:09.:44:14.

had been his number one fan. Higgins has incredible mental strength on

:44:15.:44:15.

and off the table. Didn't have much angle on that

:44:16.:45:02.

Bluetooth stun the cue ball around to get close to the red but it was

:45:03.:45:07.

worth a chance to leave himself a long pot. Now he's got a few

:45:08.:45:13.

problems to face. What's the chance of that same shot occurring and

:45:14.:45:19.

getting kind of brown. Must be two out of a hundred, possibly. The

:45:20.:45:26.

problem is the bowls are open sore if he doesn't get it safe, hit the

:45:27.:45:31.

red and get it safe, Higgins will be up and at him. He's been unlucky a

:45:32.:45:39.

couple of times in this frame with the position. He's having a long

:45:40.:45:50.

hard look at this one. John will be itching to get back to the table.

:45:51.:46:01.

Playing dead weight onto that red off two cushions. Pretty good effort

:46:02.:46:11.

there but if he's left this red available to the left corner for

:46:12.:46:14.

John Higgins he'd probably take it on. He's got this red into the

:46:15.:46:26.

left-centre, he's potting it back. Obviously didn't fancy the pot

:46:27.:46:32.

there. White and red were very close together to be fair to him.

:46:33.:47:05.

Can he make contact this time and still leave it safe? John didn't

:47:06.:47:14.

quite fancy the pot. With his first attempt.

:47:15.:47:32.

Requesting the cue ball to go back even quicker than he did the first

:47:33.:47:48.

time. Now just needs to maintain his composure here. He's made a cracking

:47:49.:47:51.

start to this match. Could have been worse. This red is

:47:52.:48:15.

available but it's got a blind pot into the corner pocket. John's

:48:16.:48:20.

Island will be towards the black spot area. Going in the corner

:48:21.:48:35.

pocket. Pretty good pot that. Left the blue in the middle. To the

:48:36.:48:42.

corner. Just a matter if you can get on any reds to the corner pocket.

:48:43.:49:24.

John moving round table with intent. Senses this is a good opportunity

:49:25.:49:29.

here. 2-level proceedings. The referee overseeing this one, so

:49:30.:50:48.

much liquor being played around the world these days, it's good to see

:50:49.:50:53.

yet more new officials coming into the sport. The grandad of them all

:50:54.:51:13.

and I assure he won't mind me saying it new crop coming through to keep

:51:14.:51:25.

pace with the never-ending supply of world class snooker players. The

:51:26.:51:31.

match had to be moved to tonight because of him refereeing late in

:51:32.:51:41.

Preston last night. Five of the eight tables we've got going

:51:42.:51:48.

simultaneously at the Motorpoint Arena the flat 128, only the top 16

:51:49.:51:54.

are seeded and everyone else is in the melting pot. Which is why we had

:51:55.:51:57.

the likes of Matthew Stevens taking on world number two Stuart Bingham.

:51:58.:52:04.

Speaking of Ryan Day, he's up against Dave Gilbert later and

:52:05.:52:08.

they're both very much in the hunt for the top 16 spot at the Crucible.

:52:09.:52:14.

To make it there automatically you have to start with everybody

:52:15.:52:25.

Good effort this from John, he's been sitting down a long time in

:52:26.:53:28.

this match. Only in the second frame. 74 from Sam Baird in the

:53:29.:53:43.

first frame. 37 in this and a little unlucky to snooker himself. John

:53:44.:53:51.

Higgins is not certain he can get to the potting angle of either of these

:53:52.:54:00.

two reds. He's overdone it, with a touch of side to straighten it up

:54:01.:54:05.

and he straightened too much and he's left two of the three remaining

:54:06.:54:07.

reds left on for Sam. Just as we had in the first frame,

:54:08.:54:20.

an uncharacteristic error from John Higgins and Sam Baird has an

:54:21.:54:21.

opportunity here. Run out of position on his first

:54:22.:54:45.

break, as Terry said. But he's back at the table here. Can he hold his

:54:46.:54:55.

nerve and double his advantage? The statisticians among you,

:54:56.:55:11.

occasionally this could be misleading if it's only taken in the

:55:12.:55:14.

first couple of friends, but Sam Baird's pot success is 97% so far in

:55:15.:55:24.

this match. -- first couple of frames. If he can keep that going,

:55:25.:55:33.

that would be incredibly impressive. Certainly in the very least it's an

:55:34.:55:38.

indication that he started this match with real accuracy. That's why

:55:39.:55:43.

he's got himself an opportunity here. To take a two frame lead

:55:44.:55:49.

although there is some life left in this frame yet. He played the right

:55:50.:55:54.

shot back to bring that red into play which he's managed but a little

:55:55.:56:02.

bit thick and stayed close to the cushion, so that restricts his

:56:03.:56:05.

options on the blue to put spin on to keep it close the pink looks like

:56:06.:56:12.

the better shot but it's a very tough pot. Striking down into the

:56:13.:56:22.

cue ball. How good was that? That was superb from Baird. Didn't even

:56:23.:56:32.

touch the sides. Some questions being asked dog -- of

:56:33.:56:48.

John Higgins here in the first two frames.

:56:49.:57:00.

Playing for the blue there, gone a little bit too far. Those the baulk

:57:01.:57:07.

colours close together, not going to be easy trying to win from here.

:57:08.:57:18.

Just looking now if he can pot the blue and leave the yellow and more

:57:19.:57:23.

distance than he would have liked and kiss the green into play. That

:57:24.:57:27.

would be a positive shot. Having a long look at this, Sam

:57:28.:58:16.

Baird. He's got a fantastic percentage success rate on the long

:58:17.:58:21.

pots and this is going to have to be goods. Awkward angle for him.

:58:22.:58:30.

He's done the business they are with the yellow. Got some contact on the

:58:31.:58:45.

green but this shot is certainly no gimme.

:58:46.:58:58.

Heated pot this but he doesn't want to play it with too much pace. He's

:58:59.:59:01.

got it. 16 in front. Just needs the brown to

:59:02.:59:18.

go 2-0 in front. Looks easy enough from up here.

:59:19.:59:31.

Brilliant there from Baird. Frame ball. Perfect on the blue. And the

:59:32.:59:44.

two frame advantage. Would you believe that pot success percentage

:59:45.:59:50.

has gone up to 98. This is brilliant snooker from Sam Baird. APPLAUSE

:59:51.:00:02.

So, two two mistakes, one in each frame from John Higgins and Sam

:00:03.:00:05.

Baird has capitalised on both occasions. Two frames up against the

:00:06.:00:09.

four time world champion. This is great stuff from Sam Baird.

:00:10.:00:15.

STUDIO: That little look on John Higgins' face says it all. We could

:00:16.:00:25.

have an upset on the cards. It is a long way to go, but the first frame,

:00:26.:00:30.

John Luttwak he had it in the bag and then made an elementary mistake,

:00:31.:00:35.

which we're not used to, and Sam took his chance. In this frame, it

:00:36.:00:43.

looked like he would level the match up. The cue ball rolling through. He

:00:44.:00:52.

overshot to buy a couple of inches, and he finishes in the worst

:00:53.:00:56.

position for him. He tries to pinch the angle on the red, a little bit

:00:57.:01:01.

of side. He hits it straight, and it cost him the frame. He could be to -

:01:02.:01:08.

zero up, and instead he is 2-0 down. -- 2-0. The table looks very fast.

:01:09.:01:17.

He rolled the blue, then played for the red to the left of the pink to

:01:18.:01:22.

roll through, the white has travelled an inch too far. He would

:01:23.:01:26.

have to swerve around it's likely to get that one, so he has played the

:01:27.:01:32.

other one, because it is probably a more comfortable shot, and he has

:01:33.:01:36.

pushed the cue ball too far. What an opportunity for Sam Baird. He took

:01:37.:01:43.

it well. He potted a great yellow and has landed awkwardly on the

:01:44.:01:47.

green, role that in and then potted a dream brown in the middle pocket.

:01:48.:01:56.

A fantastic start. -- rolled it in. He has just got to keep doing what

:01:57.:02:01.

he's doing. If John Higgins continues to miss, all he can do is

:02:02.:02:04.

take his chances. He has a great chance of winning. John Higgins will

:02:05.:02:09.

be sat in his chair thinking, I could be 2-0 up and I am 2-0 down.

:02:10.:02:15.

He won't push the panic button yet, but he won't be happy sitting in his

:02:16.:02:22.

chair at the minute. He will have been here before and come back from

:02:23.:02:26.

this type of position. He wanted the panic button, as I said, but he will

:02:27.:02:30.

be uncomfortable and frustrated when he should be 2-0 up. He's out of his

:02:31.:02:39.

chair. Let's rejoin the commentary team.

:02:40.:02:45.

John Higgins has had some great moments at tournaments around the

:02:46.:02:49.

world, especially the Welsh, and he has been drawn into quite a tussle

:02:50.:03:00.

here. A man a fair few positions below him in the rankings. He

:03:01.:03:11.

started this match is the rank outsider. And he has played

:03:12.:03:17.

brilliantly in the first two frames, he really has. Too early to talk

:03:18.:03:23.

about an upset, but certainly, John is going to have to be on tiptop

:03:24.:03:29.

form here if Sam Baird continues playing in the manner in which we

:03:30.:03:32.

have seen him performing over the last, what, 41 and a half minutes. A

:03:33.:03:40.

cracking start to the match. And once again, we are seeing a player

:03:41.:03:46.

not intimidated by location or opponent. And I wonder, Terry,

:03:47.:03:52.

whether we're going to see this more and more because these guys are

:03:53.:03:58.

playing the top seeds Whee in, week out, day in, day out. Maybe it is

:03:59.:04:07.

not as frightening if you have an opportunity to face them every

:04:08.:04:10.

single week, because you might on occasion take them on when they are

:04:11.:04:18.

not on top form. Yes, it's one of the good things, with the 128

:04:19.:04:24.

players on tour, they get more chances against the top players.

:04:25.:04:30.

When I was in years ago, they would be in the qualifiers, and a lot

:04:31.:04:34.

don't come out into a venue in their career. They are all looking for the

:04:35.:04:39.

same thing - get to the Crucible and do well there, possibly. Most

:04:40.:04:42.

players don't even get to the Crucible in those days. Now there

:04:43.:04:48.

are better chances. As Barry Hearn would say, they have all got a

:04:49.:04:57.

chance. We have certainly heard that expression a few times in the press

:04:58.:05:08.

conferences. John, just consulting the referee. He has an issue with

:05:09.:05:17.

his bowtie. Stephen McGuire, incidentally, has a medical

:05:18.:05:19.

exemption. He doesn't have to wear a bow tie. He has an issue with his

:05:20.:05:30.

neck. John just going off. He is going to get some stitches on his

:05:31.:05:36.

bowtie, which gives Sam a moment or two just to reflect on his 2-mac-

:05:37.:05:42.

frame advantage. An unusual interruption, but John will return

:05:43.:05:46.

suitably attired in this third frame. STUDIO: OK, well, we have had

:05:47.:05:58.

a few clothing issues today. Matthew Stevens had a little problem

:05:59.:06:01.

earlier, and now John Higgins has gone upstairs to sort out his

:06:02.:06:08.

bowtie. While that happens, let's tell you about another Welshman who

:06:09.:06:12.

is through to the second round - Lee Walker beating Greece clerk of

:06:13.:06:18.

Scotland 4-2. Dominic Dale is through. Lee Walker joins him in the

:06:19.:06:24.

second round. We will keep you updated on Jackson Page, one of the

:06:25.:06:28.

two Welsh wild cards, one of the teenagers taking part. He is in

:06:29.:06:31.

action at the moment, so we will bring the latest on that when we get

:06:32.:06:39.

it well. Lee Walker and Dominic Dale through, Matthew Stevens out after

:06:40.:06:45.

his defeat earlier onto Stuart Bingham. Interesting. We saw Matthew

:06:46.:06:48.

Stevens earlier having problems and he had to get someone serving his

:06:49.:06:56.

button back on. His logo was coming off and catching on his cue, so

:06:57.:07:02.

obviously he had to get that sorted. This four John Higgins, his dickie

:07:03.:07:08.

bow, it could be anything - too tight, to lose. He will have a

:07:09.:07:14.

couple of stitches put in it. Ever had any bowtie issues? I have. They

:07:15.:07:18.

are not the easiest things to play with, but when you get used to them,

:07:19.:07:23.

it is like anything else. A lot of players have the top button undone

:07:24.:07:28.

and the dickie bow very loose. It is very easy when it hits the cue just

:07:29.:07:33.

to hit the button or the class but the back. It can cause a foul. He is

:07:34.:07:39.

back. A little thumbs up to the referee to say it is all good, he is

:07:40.:07:45.

happy with the bowtie. Let's resume this match. COMMENTATOR: A real

:07:46.:07:52.

touch of class from John Higgins. As you saw the shot of him re-emerging,

:07:53.:07:57.

he momentarily paused just to double-check that he wasn't getting

:07:58.:08:02.

in the eye line of Jackson Page Jason Weston, just to his left hand

:08:03.:08:08.

side, then carried on walking, realising that they weren't looking

:08:09.:08:11.

in his direction. Consummate professional, with great respect and

:08:12.:08:20.

integrity. Once again, suitably attired, with the tide back in

:08:21.:08:22.

place. -- the tie. When you are working with players,

:08:23.:08:44.

Terry, do you try and create scenarios of unforeseen

:08:45.:08:47.

interruptions, just to the players, look, any number of things might

:08:48.:08:51.

happen to pause a match, and the matter what is going on in the

:08:52.:08:55.

arena, you have to maintain your focus and concentration? Or do you

:08:56.:08:58.

just trust that their concentration will get them through anyway? Well,

:08:59.:09:04.

I think, tactically, you make them aware of what they should be doing

:09:05.:09:08.

out there, and that is quite straightforward, really. Although it

:09:09.:09:12.

isn't straightforward when you are out there. When I am talking about

:09:13.:09:17.

it, it seems easy. That is, of course, to be ready for anything

:09:18.:09:20.

that happens in front of you. Good or bad, you have to be ready for it,

:09:21.:09:25.

because believe it or not, you can start really well and go 2-0 up, and

:09:26.:09:31.

then get frightened that you may win the match. There are many people

:09:32.:09:34.

like that. So many players taking fear out onto the table these days.

:09:35.:09:47.

They are just frightened they are going to lose before they start.

:09:48.:09:49.

That's not great. I'm not saying they are going to lose, certainly,

:09:50.:09:52.

but it does help if you've got some belief in yourself. Almost too much

:09:53.:09:54.

time to think, sometimes, if you are in a good position. Another

:09:55.:10:00.

opportunity presents itself here for Sam Baird. He has made a mistake in

:10:01.:10:05.

both of the first two frames, and here is another from the 4-mac- time

:10:06.:10:11.

world champion. Baird is having a good look at the table. Plenty of

:10:12.:10:20.

reds. Spread out here. Two frames up. And the balls are spread nicely

:10:21.:10:29.

for him. An early chance hearing frame three. -- here in frame three.

:10:30.:10:44.

Well, he just about went past that red. He has overcut it. That was the

:10:45.:10:53.

first really bad shot he has played in this match. That was a little bit

:10:54.:11:03.

tricky, that shot. John Higgins can't believe it. He would be

:11:04.:11:13.

expecting Sam to do a few there, but the result was pressure out there,

:11:14.:11:24.

at all stages during a match. Oh, didn't get near that. Unless he had

:11:25.:11:29.

a bad contact, that would have been a very disappointing hit of the cue

:11:30.:11:41.

ball four John Higgins from there. Welcomer unexpected misses here from

:11:42.:11:49.

both players. -- well, unexpected misses here... It looked as though

:11:50.:11:57.

John Higgins had allowed Sam Baird to come right back into this frame,

:11:58.:12:01.

but it is the young player who is straight back to the table himself.

:12:02.:12:08.

-- it looked as if Sam Baird had a love John Higgins back into this

:12:09.:12:14.

game. A lovely pot to middle right there.

:12:15.:12:28.

He won't mind seeing that one again in a replay later today if he

:12:29.:12:41.

manages to win. A completely different player to the manner of

:12:42.:12:49.

nerves before the match began. He is playing with confidence and belief

:12:50.:12:56.

here. That keyword that you are always stressing, Terry. This has

:12:57.:12:59.

been a brilliant start to the match from Baird.

:13:00.:13:09.

Yes, of course, John Higgins has got plenty of belief, but he still gets

:13:10.:13:16.

his self-doubt. Don't we all, in life, whether it is snooker or

:13:17.:13:22.

anything else? In snooker, you are always a bit nervous starting off

:13:23.:13:26.

the first frame. And if they start to play well, they can suffer a bit

:13:27.:13:31.

of pressure about being in front and don't want to lose, when you're in a

:13:32.:13:38.

winning situation, which is possibly the worst way to lose, whatever

:13:39.:13:42.

sport you are in. If you are well in front, Tim Dews can hang with you

:13:43.:13:51.

for about six months. -- if you are well in front, losing can hang with

:13:52.:13:55.

you. I remember you telling a story about when you were starting out as

:13:56.:13:59.

a professional and you had an enormous lead which you then somehow

:14:00.:14:03.

surrendered, and you learned a very hard lesson from that, you were

:14:04.:14:08.

telling me. Yes, you've got to do that. If you want to play snooker

:14:09.:14:19.

for a while. I've played six hours a day in solo play. You get these

:14:20.:14:23.

blows that you need to come back from, whether it is snooker, any

:14:24.:14:27.

other sport, or anything in life as well. Most of the players, when you

:14:28.:14:38.

see the belief not fall down, is when they have belief and you are

:14:39.:14:48.

close to the finish line. You have to play what is in front of you. It

:14:49.:14:56.

is difficult. May be a good example world that was Liang Wenbo, on the

:14:57.:14:59.

opening day of the Masters, when he missed that black and lost to

:15:00.:15:05.

Ronnie. There's still some work to do in

:15:06.:15:51.

this frame, of course. So far, so good from Sam. He has beaten Marco

:15:52.:15:59.

Fu twice this season. He beat him on the way to the last 16 of the

:16:00.:16:03.

International championship. He beat him in the Northern Ireland Trophy

:16:04.:16:10.

as well. But this really would be a massive win for Sam. Of course, it's

:16:11.:16:18.

absolutely possible that a man of John Higgins' character could come

:16:19.:16:22.

back, even from 3-0 down, but there that the very least is putting

:16:23.:16:26.

himself in the position here to do something quite special in front of

:16:27.:16:34.

a good crowd. Always very well attended and supported, this event.

:16:35.:16:42.

Part of the home Nations series. That series finishes with a flourish

:16:43.:16:46.

here in the Welsh capital. There is the mistake from Baird. The

:16:47.:17:15.

ball looked as though it was going very nicely. Pouring himself a

:17:16.:17:28.

drink. Wondering whether he is going to be sitting in the chair. Higgins,

:17:29.:17:31.

a little bit uncertain here. He can't quite make up his mind

:17:32.:17:42.

which way to go. He hasn't left a guilt edged opportunity, Sam Baird,

:17:43.:17:46.

but it is Higgins at the table. Certainly, plenty of life left in

:17:47.:18:14.

this frame. John remains standing. STUDIO: Well, I'm afraid time has

:18:15.:18:35.

beaten us, but we will bring you the result of this game later on in our

:18:36.:18:40.

evening programme, finding have a fascinating matchup between Neil

:18:41.:18:43.

Robertson, the world number seven and a winner here in Wales ten years

:18:44.:18:49.

ago, and the legendary Jimmy White. Join us at 7pm on BBC Two Wales.

:18:50.:18:52.

Goodbye for now. # I knew you were trouble

:18:53.:19:34.

when you walked in # Now I'm lying

:19:35.:19:37.

on the cold, hard ground

:19:38.:19:41.

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS