Day One - Part 2 Snooker: Welsh Open

Good evening and a warm welcome to the opening day of the 2017 Welsh

Open. Tonight, one of the modern-day stars against one of the legends of

the game. First, though, plenty of first-round drama to bring you up to

date with. He is one of the biggest names in World Snooker, but he is on

his way home already. Stuart Bingham beat the former world champion,

going through with a 4-2 win. I think I settled nicely, making a

hundred in the first frame. When I got the chance, I felt like I could

take it. In the best-of-7, it is tough. Tough for both of us, really.

Just one of those things, yeah. No problems for another Welshman, our

very own Dominic Dale through with the Ford nil whitewash of Zhang

Anda. 4-0, couldn't be better. Didn't start the season to well, but

to come back like that and win 4-0, I'm delighted. I am looking forward

to the next match. The shock of the tournament so far, John Higgins,

there will be no record fifth win, he was beaten 4-2 by Englishman Sam

Baird. Any time he beat one of the top players in a major tournament,

it is good. I am relieved, obviously, because I could have

managed to win 4- one. Sam played good. Played some great pressure

balls and did some good breaks to kick the game. Best-of-7 is a short

sprint and I got off to the worst possible start, losing the first

three frames. I managed to make it back to 3-2, but fair play to Sam,

keeping it all together at the end. John Higgins heading home this

evening. Dominic Dale, good evening to you, still looking for a practice

table ahead of the second round. What a win for Sam Baird. How will

John Higgins be feeling this evening as he heads back to Scotland?

Disappointed for John. He doesn't practice as much as he used to do.

If John gets through a round trip to an event, he is dangerous because he

has had time on the table. If you don't start well in the short

sprint... The result with pressure on him because he knows any mistake

could be his last only just made too many mistakes today. He got a fourth

Welsh Open win a couple of years ago, there would be a fifth. As

Brigitte, relief! Yes, I lost three matches in a row at the start of the

year, I didn't perform as well as I had been on the practice table. I

played something like it today. I started to play pretty well and I

speeded up my game a bit panicky to fruition. I was very pleased. The

John Higgins exit, that was one of the big stories. Would we get

another with one of the Welsh teenagers taking part? Belinda

Bencic, 115 Welsh players starting the tournament to date, and hoping

to make the most of his wild card entry. 20 years Wales has produced

some of the finest players ever to grace the snooker table. Open to

continue that glorious tradition is 15-year-old Belinda Bencic. I hope

to be world champion and number of times, and just do what I always do.

Everyone's dream is to do well at something. I want to be the best I

can be. Jackson practices for hours every day and began playing at a

very young age. About three. My grandparents got me a little table

when I was younger and put it in my bedroom. When I was about six I

started on the full-size, started in tournaments. He practices at the

Mark Williams snooker hall. Mark Williams bopper club in 2010 with

Jackson's manager, Simon Griffiths. He has a great temperament which is

a potential for player. Nice, laid-back personality. It goes with

the temperament of a good snooker player. Jackson regularly compete

against players much older than him. Some might say that is a daunting

prospect that the young teenager sees it as an opportunity to develop

his game. It gives you a lot of experience. It is a key part of the

game when you get to the higher levels, experience. A lack of

experience can lose two games. It is a big help. He is only 15. His long

potting is excellent, it reminds me of myself at that age. He has to

improve on the safety aspect and things like that, but Jackson at the

minute his winning nearly every tournament he plays in, even the

under 20 ones. He is a massive prospect and improving all the time.

If he can keep improving, he can achieve anything.

Well, it was always going to be a day to remember for Belinda Bencic,

the world under champion. He is the root of round two! And magnificent

comeback win over England's Jason Weston. Victory in the deciding

frame. I didn't play too well, a nice pink at the end got me over the

line. I was really happy. I was 3-1 down, so to come back at first

professional tournament and win is unreal. There is another Welshman

joining them in round two, Lee Walker returns after a 4-2 win over

research Park from Scotland. It wasn't a great performance. I just

needed to win. I have lost my last few matches and when you have lost a

few on the trot gets quite difficult. Really pleased to get a

win. No joy for Agnieszka Radwanska from Newport. He is out after a 4-1

loss. That leaves us with 13 Welsh players in the tournament. Yeah, it

is frustrating. I know I can play a lot better than what I am. It just

doesn't seem to click out there, I don't know why. It's not through

lack of practice, and playing every day. Hopefully, it will come. I

still have this season and next year. We will show you how another

Welshman, Ryan Day, gets on later on. Belinda Bencic, what a story!

Issy Bailey 15? He has a beard like James Roberts injustice! A great

performance. To play on these tables, they are like class. It is a

great performance. Great performance. Only 15. I am three

times his age! The other teenager, Tyler Rees, he plays tomorrow. Let's

move on to the action for tonight and the first meeting in seven years

between the Robertson and the 54-year-old veteran Jimmy White.

It is the first time they have met since 2010. Wales has always been a

hotbed for snooker. Go back to Ray Reardon, Griffiths, Mark Williams.

Fantastic players come from Wales. I have been coming here on and off for

35 years, playing in small tournaments, big tournaments. I am

glad it is Cardiff because of Jude was being city centre. I'm playing

OK. My flat caught on fire ten days ago. I had to go to Germany and may

head wasn't right for that. My game was in good shape so I have been

practising. On Saturday I became a grandad again, which is wonderful.

He was a bed early so everybody was a bit concerned, but he is doing

fine. I'm OK, you know? If I can play my game, I can beat Neil

Robertson, Ronnie O'Sullivan, whoever. He is a top-class players.

One of the best in the game. If he is on his game he is very difficult

to beat. If I thought my game wasn't there, I wouldn't play any more. I

would go and play golf in the sun. The problem with me is I still have

days when I can beat anybody and I still enjoy practising. I still

enjoy doing the exhibition circuit. Why it is best -- well still there,

I can't see any reason not to carry on. Let's go live to that game. It

is the first frame, your commentary team is Darren Morgan and Rob

Walker. Good evening. Jimmy White in his

37th consecutive year on the tour. He still has the same hunger and

desire as he did when he first picked up a cue, but it is Neil

Robinson -- Neil Robertson who is here, on the balls with the early

momentum. On a break of 43. We have been looking forward to this one,

Darren, because of the slightly in different forms we have seen from

Niall over the last couple of months and that Jimmy earlier this season

and made his first ranking quarterfinal for over a decade. We

thought there could be a chance of a tight match. I couldn't agree more.

It is imperative for Jimmy White to have got off to a good start. In the

Grand Prix last week, Neil Robertson in most of his matches started off

like a rocket and played to rhetoric. Jimmy has a big task on

his hands tonight. It is good to see him back in the main arena. He has

lost a lot of weight, is practising hard and playing well. He is up

against one of the true greats of the modern game.

Jimmy requiring snookers in this frame, so Neil is almost certain to

get over the line here. Good start, as you said, Darren. For Neil

Robertson. 12 ranking titles and he has won the Masters. He has made a

massive impact on the sport since his arrival from Australia more than

ten years ago. Jimmy was an all kinds of trouble the, because the

reds are open. He played it well, just five and too short. Got the

right angles of the cushions, but let that nice easy red into the

middle. It didn't look like a frame-winning chance when he came to

the middle, but he has taken this very, very well.

A break that Neil Robertson has worked hard for here. He beat Ronnie

last week in the world Grand Prix, then lost the Barry Hawkins, the

eventual champion, in the quarterfinals.

It is a tournament with good history for Neil Robertson.

Great way to start. APPLAUSE.

Up and running with this first century of this year's championship.

APPLAUSE. So, Neil Robertson came to the table

with work to do to get the first frame, but he showed his class, a

break of 102. He is asking the early questions of the world Winter. Neil

has the advantage. 12 and a half minutes that opening

frame, as solid start from Neil Robertson, as we have come to

expect. He is known as the robot. That was a very methodical started

the game. Perfect start, a century in his first frame. He is obviously

acclimatised to the conditions. Tough for Jimmy. Best of seven, so

he needs to get a free on-board as soon as possible. The only thing

that never changes with Neil is the hairstyle. Neil hasn't performed at

his best this season, really. His performances have been hot and cold.

He looked to be playing very well in one match, then the next match and

plays badly and losers. He lost 4-2 recently in the World Grand Prix

Darts to the eventual champion, Barry Hawkins. He can't be as

confident as he has been, so he will need to win a few matches, get the

confidence back because he is one of the greatest break-builders that we

have. When he is on form he is unbelievable. Ten years since he won

here. As for Jimmy White, he has had some real bad luck lately. One thing

and another that has gone on. He is hanging in, still has the hunger to

keep competing, still travelling. He loves practising, loves competing,

like me. Sportsmen love to compete and try to win matches. It is all

very well putting in four or five hours on the practice table, but it

is the matches we look forward to. He loves to try and pit his wits

against the modern players, who test them all the time. Someone you know

well? I have known him for many, many years. We're good friends. He

is difficult to play against because he is one of the legends of the

sport and you always want to impress him when you play him. I can make a

at times. I think they are about to pots in the second frame. Let's go

back and join Darren and Rob. Here we are. The break-off in the

second frame. Jimmy now really needs to somehow find a way of getting in

and settling down. Even though he is playing in his 32nd consecutive

season, which is unbelievable in itself. He will still get the

nerves, same as everyone else. He kept within easy start with this. --

starter found this. -- and found this. You can't blame him for

playing bat, he didn't get as sharp in the first frame. The Jimmy White

of old would have never turned down that red. I think that has crept in

this game over the years, he has learned to play more percentage

snooker, which you have to have when you're getting older.

It is incredible to think we are watching a man who has been plying

his trade all over the world for almost four decades! And he as still

as hungry as he ever was. Put into context how difficult that is, to

maintain your interest, desire and willingness to practice so long? It

is phenomenal that he has been around for so long. It is. He has

refused to give up. A lot of players... Jimmy has decided he will

not give up, not met the game get the better of him. He still loves

the game, that is the thing. It is the fact that he still loves it, he

put in the as a practice that you need to, he still loves it and give

100%. Why not? And a lot of great players are probably finished before

they should have because they stopped enjoying it all were

prepared to put the work in any more. I take my hat off to him. It

is fantastic. I think the fairy tale as far as the

Jimmy White plans are concerned would be somehow if you made it back

to the Crucible. He hasn't played on the hallowed carpet since 2006 and a

little return to form this year, people might be starting to think

that it could be possible. It is so hard nowadays to come through the

qualifying process. The standard is so high, especially when it gets

down to Judgment Day, the last round of qualifiers to make that last 32.

Huge amounts of drama in the week leading up.

Cagey exchanges here in the early moments of the second frame.

Surely not, that can't be a plant. I think if it was, he would have

played it by now. He needs to be careful here, because that red on

the green pocket is the one that is bothering the pair of them.

You can see, it is too much of an ankle and even reverse the rant. We

could see a lot of little roll ups here, unless Jimmy can get the cue

ball in behind the black. Well, that one has gone astray. That wasn't one

of his best. I think he has left one with quite a few options here, both

to the left and right of centre pockets.

There you are, that just shows you how Neil Robertson is feeling. He is

not going to take any chances. He had a 100 break in the last frame.

He has left a relatively easy red beside the pink. That shows you how

much respect he has for Jimmy White. That possibly almost indicates a

tiny question on the confidence after the relatively indifferent

form he has shown in the last while? Yes, like we said, the Grand Prix

last week he started off matches at the Hundred mile Tanakh, then he

missed one or two and went off the boil. In one of the matches he did

well to get over the line, but every match was the same pattern, he

started off great then faded out towards the end. He played a good

safety, so Jimmy White is in a lot of trouble. You might be forced into

taking the red into the right centre. I think he will have to go

for this. That is quite unbelievable. He has

had a couple of great chances, and it looks like he is going to have to

play a safety again. This is good news for Jimmy, because it was just

saying that the chants that Neil had on the centre pockets, that is

something that Jimmy could have done to get 20 or 30 points and just

settle himself dying. -- down. That is a great pot.

He judged that to absolute perfection. Especially after that

kiss on the green. He was out of position.

This is another type one, which is why he is making absolutely certain

he is happy and ready to go. He is frightened of the inn off as well. I

think that weight -- that is why he is going to play the more difficult

red, just beside the yellow. He played that very well, very

confident. Now he is in prime position. This is looking very

ominous for Jimmy. He hasn't had one good chance so far.

Just a couple of shots away from this being a perfect opportunity. He

will have to concentrate on the pink. Once the pink goes on at

spot... He is having a little look to see how cities to the red. It

looks directly below it. It is going to be close.

This pink goes back on the spot. He is on the red just below it. He has

missed the red! You don't see that too often from

Neil Robertson! Just getting himself poised for another big break, having

opened with a century, and all of a sudden the opportunity is there for

Jimmy. The question is, can he take it? It would do wonders to settle

him down and just take this thing out of Neil Robertson's early match

momentum. A great chance, that he probably wasn't expecting to get.

That was a very well controlled and played shot by Jimmy there. I think

he had a little bit of a kick, the cue ball definitely took off in

hitting the black. He is still on his reds. Both balls left the bed of

the table, taking the pace out of the cue ball, otherwise he'd be a

lot straighter on these reds. Not plain sailing for Jimmy. The pot is

easy enough. He's going to have to get to the next colour.

He is beaten some big names this season. Nothing Ali Carter out of

the first round in India, beating Ryan Day in Scotland -- knocking.

Joe Perry in the world qualifiers. And he will definitely believe that

he can produce something here. Just rubbing his right hand into his left

palm. Making sure he's absolutely happy to continue. Key moments,

this, in the second frame. Little bit short, there. A nervy

one, could have done with being straight on this although it

shouldn't be a problem. Coming down for the black now. Some acute

angles. Not touching the sides, straight in.

Lot of people packed into this end of the arena. They'd love to see

Jimmy level this one up and turn it into an intriguing contest. Many

were looking forward to it when the draw was made for the 2017 Welsh

Open. 22 ranking titles between them. ?8 million in prize money, 800

centuries in their respective generations. Two Legends of Golf. --

of the game. A lot further away than he would

have liked. This is a little tester. Still rubbing his hands, Jimmy, so

whether it's a bit cold, something not quite right with his hands.

Well struck, very positively played. Dobey could have done with a couple

of inches extra on the cue ball. -- probably could have done. He will

have to play a similar shot to the pink, a little stun to miss the

reds. He could play this from a bit of distance, or he could play the

cannon. He played the same shot, and again he's going to need another

good pot. Once again still rubbing his hands

before getting into position. Something isn't quite right. Doesn't

feel particularly cold in and around the arena.

Pretty cold outside, though. Great stuff from Jimmy, the crowd

responding. He is edging closer to the second

frame. He perhaps wasn't expecting to get

this opportunity back from Neil Robertson, but at the moment he's

making the most of it. Still giving those hands a little

rub. The next pot leaves Neil Robertson requiring snookers.

Just a slight angle on this. The pockets are not big. He has rolled

it in. Leaving himself a more difficult black, but if the black

goes income you'd fancy him to clean up and make 100. A terrific effort

from Jimmy White. Let's hope the black goes in. Just in, nicely on

the yellow. Great response. Neil Robertson has had to sit in his

chair knowing that he's had a terrific chance in this frame. Two

chances, in fact. And he's made nothing from them. Jimmy's not going

to complain. Sitting in his chair thinking he was 2-0 down, with Neil

Robertson's start. This is very, very good.

And this is the one. He did it in practice 100 times and he would pot

it 100 times. So, then, with this relatively easy

black it was Neil Robertson winning the first frame with 102 and Jimmy

Frain levels up at 1-1 -- Jimmy White. Superb match.

STUDIO: What a response from Jimmy White, he got the chance and he took

it. We will be back for the third frame in a moment. Having seen John

Higgins going out, another shot on cable two. Kieron Wilson, the world

number 15, he has gone out against Sean O'Sullivan, who is number 86 in

the world rankings. We've seen shocks and surprises here on day one

of the 2017 Welsh Open. Kyren Wilson is out. As for this game, Dominic,

shaping into a fascinating contest between White and Robertson. But

Robertson, as the guys in commentary said, will be kicking himself. Yes,

he had the reds at his mercy but unfortunately can the green, a great

yellow to keep the break going. You thought he was full of confidence

but he made a very uncharacteristic miss in that frame when he was set

to go 2-0 up. Easy read to the corner pocket. Here it is again.

Normally when you miss a shot like that there is the unconscious

thought, maybe you are thinking about winning the frame on that

visit and you can't get ahead of yourself because that is when you

lose focus. Difficult to be at -- read Neil Robertson! Hard to know

but he will be frustrated with that. Was he over relaxed? I think

sometimes, and in Niall's case, because he's had a stop start

season, he may have surprised himself by making a good start, a

century break, and he would have been thinking about another one.

This goes through your mind, even with the top stars and I'm sure

that's just a lack of concentration. I don't believe it was a kick, and

Jimmy must have been capitalised -- Jimmy capitalised. The crowd will be

hoping for some more classic Jimmy White stuff. Let's hope this match

goes all the way, both guys have shown some form and when the balls

are there, they are making big breaks but it will be littered with

some mistakes. A good game, this. 1-1 with Jimmy White to break in the

third frame. Two frames and two century breaks.

We are all square. As far as the opening salvos are concerned, every

bit as intriguing as we'd hoped it would be when the draw came out.

Jimmy White capitalising on those uncharacteristic errors from Neil

Robertson in the second frame. It's early on but still the pot success

rate from both players, absolutely first class. Jimmy having potted 29

out of 30, Neil, 36 from 38. Top quality so far.

Darren, another one that on a different day, with more confidence,

Niall would have taken it on. Maybe, but if he'd played it slow, the

White was always going to go close to the black. He would have to play

it with power. If you get it right, it looks great but if you get it

wrong, you could clatter everything. I would have thought that his

confidence is a bit shaken with the last frame, the chances he had, and

he lost. He will probably play very cagily again. Over the years, Neil

Robertson has done that a little bit. When he's fully confident and

playing great, he's fully attacking and fast around the table and when

he loses a bit of confidence, he tends to go into his shell and get a

bit negative and slows up a lot as well with his shot time. We might

see that now. At the moment, they aren't slow by any means of the

imagination. No mistake from Neil Robertson on

that occasion. We marvel at Jimmy's longevity. Certainly the impact that

Neil Robertson has had in the 12, 13 years that he's been based in the UK

since coming over from Australia, almost extraordinary. You could

argue, he's in the conversation for among the top half a dozen players

the game has ever seen. 12 titles and he has done the Triple Crown.

Made a massive impact on the game. Yes, without a shadow of a doubt. I

think when he first come over here, it was fair to say that a lot of

people thought he was a good player with a future ahead of him but I

don't think a lot of thought he would turn into the player he's

become. You can only put that down to his play on confidence, working

hard at his game and content with what he's doing.

Yes, and another one, thinking about my last comment: Mark Selby. A good

player, I don't think many thought he would turn into the great player

he's turned into. He's definitely one of the all-time greats.

Mark had a great win at the Welsh Open, coming from behind to beat

Ronnie. A year or two after Neill won the title, beating Higginson in

a decider in Newport. Both men have produced the goods here in Wales.

Child that match by a long way, he had to win the last three or four

frames -- he trailed that match. Which he did. That was a very well

done and confidently hit blue and all of a sudden it looks like normal

service has resumed again. When he's in full flow and he's playing very

well, this would be end of frame. Nine times out of ten.

Again, not a very confident shot played there. Short on the red.

There is a red to the right centre, if the pink went to the left centre.

He may be tempted to play that one. Otherwise he'll take the easier red

to the left corner. Walking around the table with real

purpose now, Neil Robertson. Jimmy watching on. Just a feud signs

of anxiousness. -- few signs. Did so well to take the second frame. Neil

looks like he's regaining a bit of composure in this frame.

He took a risk because he didn't need to do that. Unless he can get

through to this Reid to the left corner, or the left centre, that was

a real risk. Can't understand why he played that shot. Could have played

down to the loose red. Why he didn't play for the left of the pack there.

If it goes, it won't matter, no damage done. This must be really

tight. No damage done, so the risk paid

off. If he couldn't get through to the red that would have been a real

mistake. Fear the worst now for Jimmy in this frame.

Closing in on this third frame. And possible 130 plus break here. We've

had two centuries. Would it be greedy to hope for a third in three

frames? Great quality so far. You can hear a pin drop here in the

Motorpoint Arena. All eyes focused here on table one. Plenty of action

going on further down the arena. But this is a really intriguing contest

between these two greats of the game. So far it's living up to the

billing. That was a beautifully played shot.

Stunning down the right-hand side. Struck it perfectly.

Fantastic effort to check the red away from the cushion there.

This is another break of the highest quality.

We can expect a ripple of applause assuming this black goes in. Superb.

Three frames, three centuries. You can't ask for much more.

And those who have braved the cold and wind to come into the centre of

Cardiff tonight have already been rewarded with top quality snooker.

Only three frames on the board. And little unlucky on the case on the

pink but it won't stop him giving this a big one, the left-hander from

Melbourne. Tiny bit anti-climax, but only tiny. Following up 102 in the

first frame with 111. Neil Robertson has the advantage, 2-1. It has been

a match of the very highest quality. Three successive centuries.

I'd have to say probably Michael Jordan, I think. I used to love

basketball growing up in Australia, and probably Cathy Freeman winning

the Gore in the Sydney Olympics, that was an incredible moment for

Australian sport. Probably football, the atmosphere is incredible. My

last day of school I turned up for PE and then I went to my dad's club

for practice and the school called up and told them not to come in any

more. It is a John Parrott classic and I've had it since I was 17.

Unique atmosphere, when it gets down to the one-table set-up, there is no

better place to place Luca. I don't know, I would certainly be in

Australia -- snooker. Wearing my beanie, hardly ever but if not

wearing my hat, barely ever. Joe Perry, Mark Davis, Alfie Burden,

quite a good football chat. Most embarrassing moment, forgetting my

shoes. I bought a terrible pair of shoes and I lost the first session

8-0, the shoes looked terrible, they were uncomfortable and it got to me.

If I'm still based in the UK I would like to stay involved, doing

commentary, maybe some coaching. Little insight into the character of

Neil Robertson but as for Robertson the snooker player, Dominic,

exhibition stuff in the third frame. Yes, he's got his scoring boots on

and this is the kind of form that he's been looking to find this

season. If he can keep this consistency he can start winning

tournaments again. How do you see it now, nicely poised, 2-1, Robertson?

Big frame for Jimmy White, he needs to keep on his coat-tails and make

it 2-2. Best of seven, not far to go for Neil. If Neill wins the next

frame, he would be the heavy favourite. The quality of snooker,

outstanding. The scoring, just a small safety error from Jimmy was

enough to cost him the frame. Just shows, one mistake and it can be

your last at this level. Absolutely, they are underway in the fourth

frame here. Unfortunately we are going to have to leave the game.

We'll show you what happens in our late programme, plus can Ryan Day

make it through to rout two against Dave Gilbert tonight? Highlights of

that game too. We will be back late at 11:15pm. From all of us here on

day one, a very good evening. when farmers leave

their daily routines behind... Right, here we come, Dorset!

..for a show day.