Day Three - Part 1 Snooker: Welsh Open

Good afternoon from the players practice room at the Motorpoint

Arena. They are busy limbering up, for second-round matches, down to 64

players and what a day it could be for Welsh snooker. The main man mark

Williams going out yesterday so we are looking for a new local hero.

Plenty of Welsh hopefuls for you to follow on day three.

A former quarterfinalists for the World Championship and a tough

second-round tie fully walker against last year's runner-up Neil

Robertson. Could this be Ryan's day? Could he have more success after

making the final of last week's Grand Prix? Michael White made the

last eight in 2016 but can he overcome English open winner Liang

Wenbo? Will there be more joyful Jackson? The Welsh Open continues

for the 15-year-old wild card. So much going on from a Welsh

perspective today and it all started this morning. Guaranteed to lose one

Welsh player. This is the moment dale got the

better of the man who turned 29 yesterday.

This probably means he will have a big grin on himself all afternoon as

our studio summariser. At the age of 45, you could still be

the future of Welsh snooker? That sounds nice! A great victory for

you? Jamie is a great player with a good pedigree. Quarterfinals of the

World Championships. Best of seven is a lot of pressure on anyone. He

is regarded as one of the rising stars of the game. In Wales. To beat

him is a pretty good achievement. It is and practice... I lived in Neath

and practised with Michael White as well. Both great players and they

bring themselves on, a bit of healthy competition. Michael is

doing better at the moment but that can change. Jamie is a great player.

Mark Williams went out and Matthew Stevens the day before, we need guys

like Michael White and Jamie Jones to step up in Wales to prove what

they have to win these big tournaments. It is a great loss for

Wales, mark Williams. I was commentating and he struggled early

on. His opponent really held himself together. Matthew had a very tough

draw and didn't get through against Stuart Bingham. It is tough out

there. A lot of pressure on the Welsh players as well, their home

country. We are about to find out shortly if another 40-something

Welshman can make round three. It is a rather difficult challenge in

front of him. Neil Robertson, world number seven, lifted the Welsh Open

trophy in 2007 and finished runner-up to Ronnie O'Sullivan last

year, is the man standing between Liam Walker a place in round three?

Very pleased to win. Wasn't the greatest performances. Made a couple

of nice breaks in the last few frames. I just needed a win. I have

lost their last few matches and when you have lost a few of the trot, it

is quite difficult. Just really pleased to get a victory. Coming

here before and beating top players, it makes you think, always doubting

yourself, a little bit. You think that maybe two years ago I would go

through against Dale so obviously it gives you some extra confidence. You

come here and this is an open draw so you could get anyone. The German

masters was an open draw and I drew Neil Robertson first round.

Everybody said he is struggling a bit, a good time to play him and he

never missed a ball. He played fantastic. A great player. He has

won much everything there is to win. I am under no illusion it will be a

tough game. This is a good thing about sport. Some days the underdog

does prevail so hopefully that will be one of the days. Here are the key

stats for these two. It was a big shot to see mark

Williams go out yesterday, can fellow Welshman Lee Walker provide a

shock of his own? Good afternoon, everybody, a mother Welsh player

comes to the phone. This player works with a lot of young players in

Wales. Played Neil Robertson two occasions before. Excellent victory

against Jimmy White in the previous round when he played very well and

had two century breaks. Won the match 4-1.

The customary handshake before they start. Liam Walker to break. Another

sizeable crowd, to see one of the best players in the world in Neil

Robertson and Lee Walker. Lee Walker, a tight first round.

Very steady player, got to the quarterfinal of the World

Championships in 1997. He has been off talk once or twice,

doing a lot of coaching now. Also receiving some coaching from Steven

Feeney. Alignment, a very important part of these players' techniques.

A little bit disappointed with Neil Robertson over the last year and a

half. Undoubtedly one of the game's great players. One of the few to

have won the triple crown but has slightly lost his way little bit but

looks to be getting back on form now. Played in the Grand Prix last

week, played excellently against Jimmy White in this first round

here. I expect big things from Neil Robertson this week.

He lost to Barry Hopkins in the Grand Prix. The table didn't play

great for either of them. He said afterwards, he thought he got to him

a little bit. It is the worst you can do out there, when in bad

conditions, that is how you are and you have to do the best with them

but it is frustrating for the players. When the ball goes on to

the cushion and comes off about 200 miles an hour, you are about four

foot out of position. He is deadly on the balls when he is on form.

Incredible amount of centuries. Over 100 centuries in the season, wasn't

he? I am not sure if that will be beaten again. Would you buy two

tournaments, it could be but an amazing performance.

Obviously finish the top side of the blue. Overran a slightly but still a

nice angle on the green. You could play the yellow off one to play red

to the right of the pack. The green around two cushions. You just have

to miss the Kiss on the blue. If you do that, you will be perfect.

I have been impressed with Neil Robertson's cue option. One of these

players who looks so straight, it is untrue and delivers the cue very

straight. You get the feeling, when you are playing against him, I

should think when the balls are open, almost certainly he will make

most of them. If he doesn't get a frame over, you will probably be

safe. That was a good shot. Needed some power to get into that pack

with the top spin off the side cushion. That was a very dead pack,

the cue ball hit the pack at pace and very little happened. But he has

brought two raids into play. -- reds. When he came out to Australia

he resided at my club for the best part of a year and the -- I thought

he wasn't going to make it. He lost his tour card that year, left

Australia, came back with just ?500 in his pocket and the rest is

history. Now one of the game's all-time great players. Really

impressed with his temperament, break-building, there is very little

wrong with his game. I would say, sometimes, he gets a little bit

bogged down and tries to be over careful but he is a really natural

player and sometimes, I think you slightly over thinks. A wonderful

player to watch. Last season when he decided to pick his pace up a little

bit, I think that in its own way, made him a little more aggressive.

His safety play is very good. He had a few years ago... He was leaning on

that. He took his eye off that. It was

virtually unmissable. One of his class. Concentrating so hard on the

can. -- virtually unmissable for someone of his class. Really

surprised he is looking at this one. He might put it but he might not

have a better chance to get rid of that red van now. -- than now.

Great pot but as you can see, the next red is very difficult. If he

had got rid of the red two away from the back, it would have been easier

to break. I would personally take the green and go into the bunch. I

don't see the point of taking yellow unless he can get tight on the side

cushion. He might continue this break but he

has certainly missed a trick on the first few shots.

He has been playing on the main circuit. Mark Williams... He will be

learning a lot from him. Watching the tournament players during the

season. It does help. They are a bit tough, I can tell you that. He

doesn't give up easily. A bit like Mark Williams.

You can clearly see he didn't get into the cue at hole at all in plain

black, baby he will fix this in the right-hand side but it won't really

generate the pace to get onto the black. Really disappointed he didn't

score more than that. But the first frame, very hard to get into your

stride immediately. Both players have had one chance each. Robertson

leads by 23. He will not be too happy with that.

All players like to feel... This isn't perfect, the brown in the

centre. If he didn't want to do that, he could roll up and create

another opportunity. He is taking it on, quite rightly so.

You can see the effort in his eyes. Gives everything to every shot. Not

quite sure what he played for, the red that is closest... And he does.

He could still cut this one in that he will have to play it with check

side of two cushions. You can see it is not an easy pot

because the balls are close together, it will be difficult to

pick up. He played it the right way. Held for

the black and missed the red, probably has to do something to go

forward. Turns out he is tight on the cushion.

No option but to play an aggressive safety shot. He has to miss the kiss

on the blue. He might open the red sap. -- reds up. This is to be a

telling safety shot. If he gets this right, he will gain

control. It is a little bit heavy. That is the very telling safety

shot. He can just click this thread but it is slightly thick and it will

cannoned into the black. It might be an idea to play cushion first and

that takes away kissing the black. That is what he has played.

Unfortunately, he just needed to be a bit further right on there. Just

playing it cushion first, making sure he could catch the red thing

but it looks like it has a little bit of left-hand side on that.

These are further away from the red he played for. If he gets that red

to the right of the pockets... Make sure he can get on the pink or black

in. At the moment, looking to do that possibly. 30 points in front

both players had a few chances but these days, in the first frames,

somebody either does a hundred or it is a bit scrappy. Both these places

have had a few chances in this frame. I'm sure they will get

better. Needed to make sure he was top side

of the blue to into the red. If he can cut this red in, if you can

screw the blue back four or five inches. He only needs a red because

he has a few points in front. I think you may have gone back a

little bit too far there. That is two shots in succession, he didn't

get the spin intended. Whether he didn't have good contact or deliver

the cue at the right speed... The way he pots,... Unfortunate and look

at the reds. It is a free ball. That is what he has earned. By not

getting on the blue the first time, if he could have gone a little

further down the table, he would still have been on green and brown

although he would have had to take the cue ball a long way down to the

reds. Just looking to see if this red is available after potting the

brown and then the blue. If not, he can make way with the topside of the

blue and make sure he gets the cannon. He will be pushing the red

over to the right-hand side and pushing the black out of the way,

hitting them both at the same time, that is what he wants to do. He has

decided that the red between the pink and black is not available.

As he got an angle Oyoo? It looks to me like a slight angle. He's shaking

his head. -- has he got an angle here? A lot of pace needed to get

the angle. Four or inches shorter than that.

We know these pockets are a little bit tricky this week. He has to play

it at pace to get the topside of the pink and has to be careful. Just has

about enough angle to not have to play it too hard.

Well done. This is the key shot now, can he popped the pink and bring the

red into play? He will definitely obviously been kissing into the red

but hopefully he won't push the red too close to the top cushion.

That was always going to be the problem. He has got a nice angle on

this red. And he can just roll it into get back into the opposite

corner so this is a great chance to pinch frame. -- pinch this frame.

That is very good. Three consecutive shots that were tough and very

missable. Having got the angle he wanted on the black. -- he hasn't

got the angle he wanted on the black. He is playing the black with

the reverse side which means it will hopefully go in the pocket and the

white will come back and it comes towards the yellow.

He didn't push the boat out with that. Make sure he could popped

them, guaranteed to be on the yellow.

Because of the angle he has on the yellows, a little cannon into the

green and then he can hold the yellow.

Good shot, deserves to be on it, what an excellent shot. Little

unlucky. Very unlucky. I think it still cuts but it goes without

saying, playing it up and down twice is not easy. He has been excellent.

Deserves to win the frame from that shocked. He somehow has to pull

another good popped out now. -- pot. And the green has been a big ball in

this frame. That changed the frame. I did say early on but he gives

everything, then he shows it, when he has got tough pots he really gets

into it. Another tough pots coming up, I'm afraid. Always a chance he

is going to catch a colour on the way down. If you pots the brown, I

am going to go out there and shake his hand. -- if he pots. Yes, the

last few shots have been excellent. Did not look as though there was a

chance for clearance, but he has taken this very well so far, decided

to take the brown on. He won't be playing against the blue in the

middle, he will probably be trying to leave a long blue. You're playing

with brown as a shock to nothing if you are playing for the long blue.

APPLAUSE That is what he has done, as long as

the White doesn't go behind the black.

He really could have done with leaving the white somewhere around

the line of the pink spots so he had some sort of pot on the blue. Terry

is about to go out and shake his hand, you said, didn't he, if the --

he potted the brown? That's pretty good. He knew

straightaway he could get in behind the black, but as it turned out he

could just see enough of the blue to play a safety shot. Tight frame.

Oh, he didn't play that. I'm not sure what he played them because if

he had gone past the pink, the blue would have been up on the corner

pocket. I think Neil is a little bit disappointed he hasn't won this

frame yet. If he gets in front of you, he is a tough one to catch.

Seems to get stronger as the match goes on. Could not really gain much

advantage from the safety shot. Just had to play a containing safety for.

Mind you, he has decelerated there. Because he decelerated he did not

get the decided still on the cue ball. What a chance this is now to

pinch the frame. I know the pink looks relatively

easy but he was going to have to play quite firm. Play two cushions.

Side cushion just past the middle pocket, side cushion again. The only

problem with that is the white can push in a little bit sometime so he

has to be careful with the pace. Cueing extremely low.

Very good. Very good. A frame that Neil Robertson certainly should have

won. Neil Robertson started with a 34 break, Neil Walker replied with a

30 Break to get back in the frame. And from the last two roads onwards,

played well, Lee Walker. Lee Walker wins the first frame.

Neil Robertson not happy with that first frame but eight great start

from Lee Walker. We will get Dominic's thoughts in just a moment

but plenty going on around the arena. The 2013 champion Stephen

Maguire is out after a 4-3 defeat to Ian Burns a short while ago. We will

keep you posted with all the other action taking place this afternoon.

But what a start for Lee Walker. What a fantastic first frame, full

of incident. Some tremendous safety shot plates and great pots, leave.

He got himself back into that frame at crucial moments. As Terry

suggested, if he potted that long brown Terry would walk out and shake

his hand. We are yet to see him do that. Great shot, though. I did not

expect to even go for that. Lee has played a fantastic first frame. So

impressed. Some of the shots he pulled out, some of his safety play,

Neil was very unlucky in the end because he made a very good day,

potted a very tricky red that was going to pull himself in Cannes and

the Queen and went in off and it cost in the end. Just going to have

a look at it, -- that in off change the whole complexity of the frame.

He was able to get a little break going. He did tremendously well. A

very technical player, Lee Walker, and his technique stood him in good

stead. It will give him an awful lot of confidence going into the next

frame, but in terms of Neil Robertson, such a top player but

even the best can get nervous and make mistakes. I think Neil

Robertson will be sat in the chair thinking how did I learn -- lose

that? But how well did leave find his game, under pressure, big TV

match against one of the game's great players, and he has performed

brilliantly in that first game but it is the best of seven now.

Pressure on Neil Robertson to the second frame because he doesn't he

will be on the ropes. Certainly will be. Let's go back, Neil Robertson

the break. Let's rejoin Willey and Terry.

COMMENTATOR: The one thing in leave's favour is that he is not a

great expectation. -- in Lee's favour. He now knows he is playing

against a player who has got a very good temperament, and doesn't cave

in easily. It goes without saying he is not up to standard of Neil

Robertson, who has won so many tournaments. Beating a lot of the

top players on the circuit last year but has not pushed forward yet.

Plenty of time. Just what the doctor did not order,

that kiss. Neil Robertson is one of the players

who doesn't use the length of his backswing to judge the pace of the

shot. He delivers the cue a little bit slower or faster to get his

position, which is excellent, of course. And his greatest asset is

his grip. It is a major part of technique.

Got into them very nicely, at first glance appear to have pushed a red

into an easily portable position. This will test his cueing. Never in

doubt. One of the great potters. Excellent pot.

Always seems to look very comfortable out there. Wasn't quite

what he used to do years ago. Ended up there with the top players,

winning the big events, the major tournaments. I don't care how good

you are, you have got to have some belief. You have got to have some

hope that you will play every time go out well. Neil works hard on that

matters by his improvement has come so quickly over the last five or six

years possibly. 2010 he won the world? Yes, I think it was, and that

was a fabulous performance. The first overseas player since Cliff

Thorburn to do so. He had a little bit of disappointment in his face

when he did not get the desired screw back he wanted. Now he will

have to try to run a bit of a gap during the two roads. That has not

worked. He will just have to think. Did not look like he could get on

the pink but clearly he has. Niall in the 2010 World Championship was

11-5 down. He came to win it 13-10 or whatever it was, and went on to

win the title. You would like to think that most of the young players

who were watching that would always take a lesson from it. You should

never give up. Clearly not happy with the angle he

has got on this loom. It looked like it was wrote it in.

If he gets the kissing would have been nowhere but just went by that.

-- if he gets the kiss, it would have been nowhere. He did kiss it

but very thin. Trying to screw back the pink. To

bring those for roads into play. -- four reds into play.

He left himself a little bit too thin on this black. He can play the

shot into the pack, but tough pot. If the black is a little bit thicker

than that, he has choices of where he can screw into the pack. When it

is a thin cut, you can't get enough spin. Came out OK, though. Very

impressive. When he made 38 centuries this

season, and sometime in the next two or three tournaments he will be

passing the 500 mark on the centuries. He has 493 altogether.

Just having a look if he can get on those routes. The pink is the best

option to get on them -- the reds. I like the positive way he walks

round and into the shot. APPLAUSE

There is the century. A big crowd here today. Where else would they

want to be? Watching the snooker. A lovely venue here in Cardiff.

Different setup of course this year, there are more tables in this side

of the arena, people can watch more tables at the same time.

133 is possible. As adding 140 is the top now, is it?

Brilliant. He had a poor first frame but that was brilliant.

Very impressive stuff from Robertson. The first frame was

nearly half an hour long, that one done and dusted inside 12 minutes.

Lee Walker, one of six Welsh players in action across the day. Let's take

you to table two and show you what has been taking place, echoes this

is Jackson page. You will remember the 15-year-old wild card from Ebbw

Vale have got through to round two in action against John Astley. He

missed the pink, the youngster, giving Astley the opportunity to get

back in and take this frame. But the very fact that he made it here was a

great story. The fact that he got through to round two, Jackson Page,

is another thing. The refit for him. Absolutely, great experience for

Jackson Page. Playing on beautiful tables with new cloth son

everything, big crowds watching it is all a new experience. He will

learn a great deal from this and I'm sure he will enjoy every minute.

John Astley, 78 in the world rankings. You talk about what it

will do for him, Tyler Breeze as well, the other Welsh wild card,

what will this do playing in this first tournament -- Tyler Rees. When

they turn professional and they are on the tour, they will see what

standard they need to play at. They will be playing other matches as

well to see what the standard is like, how the tables are playing and

learning all the time because this is a great opportunity. We will keep

you posted. In terms of the game we are watching, great response by Neil

Robertson. That is more like it for a player from his calibre. Fantastic

performance, the way he lost that frame, very unlucky to do so and Lee

Walker did so well to respond. He was hitting the ball so well. I

share Terry 's views of Neil Robertson 's cue action, the

greatest I have seen in the game. Your fingers come of the cue as they

bring the cue back and come back on the cue as you strike the ball. That

is where your timing comes from. Neil has got the best transition I

have ever seen. Let's see what Lee Walker can muster. In the frame

three. Back we go. COMMENTATOR: Very interesting to listen to Dominic

talking about the cue power and the cue action of Neil Robertson. He has

the perfect cue action, I agree. The only thing that worries me today the

three times when he has played a stunning shot, he has decelerated.

Whether he is just doubting that wonderful cue action, I do now. He

made a 133 the last frame! When he is on song, he is a very

tough man to stop. Very consistent, his cue action, if

you look at him. He does the preparation shot, three of those,

and every shot, and then pulls it back end trudged through the cue

ball. And he is intimidating when you are on the chair. Lee hasn't had

a chance and see when the first frame. With the top players, they

have a run of two or three friends when they score and you are sitting

down, and then when you do get a chance you don't feel you have any

touch or feel for it. It is a good seat to watch from.

Just have a look now at the length of the backswing, right back to his

son. Ten inches perhaps, he could bit more, ten or 11 is common. Did

not need a lot of power. But it suits him. This is not a great pack

to screw into. The outside red obviously pots, which in fairness

there are such a perfect angle on the black that he may not play for

that loose red. He can only get 11 in middle pocket. Could not possibly

get that one in the corner from the weather pack were situated. That is

what I thought in commentary, getting on the one loose red there

may have been a better choice. Lee Walker will be pretty pleased that

it looks like he has broken down. One on the extreme right hand side

will pop into the corner. Does this one pot into the middle? It

certainly does. At first glance to look like he was on anything. All

about fractions, this game, isn't it? He get these runs of

high-scoring. Just relentless. The best that Lee Walker can do at the

moment is just have a cup of tea and just enjoy the master. Really

tremendous. Making a very difficult game look very easy. Had a kick. The

ball obviously bounces before it hits the cue ball. That sometimes

takes a little bit of pace out of it. You saw the white, just that

little bit of bounce. It actually bounced before the black. Still has

a choice of two rates. -- reds. He is one of those that is as level

as anybody on the circuit, I should think. Level and straight with the

cue action is a great asset. If I could put like him, I may have

beaten you once or twice. Trasch pot like him.

This now looks like he will take a 2-1 lead in a matter of minutes.

Just under 12 minutes, the previous round, where he made a very good

one, 3-3. Five minutes in this frame, and very close to making it a

frame-winning break. It will be tough now for leave. Robertson

appears to be in superb form. -- for Lee.

Did not sound like a click. In my ears you can hear the click. When he

punches the ball, he hit it beautifully. When he is rolling

balls in... One more red, the killer, and it is frame over.

The good thing about Robertson 's cue action, the transaction from the

-- the transition from the backswing to the forward swing is more or less

the same every shot. Not quite. Again, he is not happy. He just has

to look at the scoreboard. Looks like going 2-1 in front, for

certain. Should not be blowing too much. He has pride in his work. He

was the support that the last black came off a little bit square. He was

expecting to clear, which are still might do. And he probably will now.

Spending the rest of his time in Cambridge now, plays at the snooker

club there and practices with Joe Perry a lot.

I thought he was going for the middle pocket there. Excellent,

again. Onto the cushion for a choice of reds.

Does not get a lot better than that... An attempt now to keep the

highest break... Just checking the school board, trying to work out

what he needs -- the school board. -- score board. I've just been told

in one of the outside tables, O'Brien made 142. I don't know if he

is aware of that. But red and black, 143.

In some ways, the 133 was played to perfection, he lost position a

couple of times in this break, but got back in with excellent pots.

That flew off the back cushion. This is amazing, back-to-back total

clearances. Previous frame one through three, the next 143, he is

going up intense, Robertson takes the frame quite easily obviously,

winning that one going to having one in front. FUNKY MUSIC

-- 2-1 in front. Michael Jordan, I loved skip or growing up in

Australia. Cathy Freeman, winning the gold medal at the Sydney

Olympics, it was an incredible moment for Australian sport.

Football, the grounds are incredible. My last day of school

only turned up to PE and went to my dad 's club to practice, the school

called me up and me not to bother coming in any more. I have a classic

cue which I've had since the age of 15.

The Crucible. A unique atmosphere, the cloud as soap -- the crowd is so

close. There's no better place to play

snooker. No idea! I would be in Australia, that's for sure! Wearing

my beanie hat, hardly ever, but if I'm not, quite often. Joe Perry,

Mark Davis... We would have good verbal chat. My most embarrassing

moment was when I forgot my shoes, I bought a terrible pair of shoes, and

lost the first session 8-0, I thought the shoes looked terrible

and they were really uncomfortable. It got to me. If I'm in the UK I

would like to stay involved in the game doing some commentary, or some

coaching. We have all bought terrible pairs of shoes, that's for

sure! Lee Walker, heading back into the arena there. But what will he be

thinking? 2-1 down, you said two excellent frames of snooker from

Robertson? Faultless perfection. I'm beginning to think it was not a good

idea. Walker won the first frame, it's annoyed me! Let's go back over

to the table before we resume this match, Jackson Page, at the table,

it's now 1-1 in his game against John Astley, it continues to go very

well for the wild card from ever Vale, 1-1 against him on table two.

It's a great expense for him? Fantastic he is learning all the

time and will know that he's possibly cut out for the big time,

he is not afraid of the crowds or dumber phobic, he is loving every

minute of it. As youngsters do. They love the big atmosphere, the

youngsters, they love showing everyone what they are capable of.

On the main table, what response does Lee Walker have? To one down.

At least he is off his chair... Down to two frames, that is not great.

COMMENTATOR: A good response that. Robertson losing the first frame.

A very good safety shot. Considering he's not had much table time. Over

23 minutes. That seems like about three hours, take it from me, when

you are out there. You cannot pot everything. He certainly went all

out for that one, didn't he? There have been a few points without

reply. After the last two games. The red that he is closest to, looks

like he can hold it for the black. He sat out for two frames, this is

not an easy chance, where the black and the panenka. -- and the pink R.

Oh dear, when you are sat on your chair for 20 minutes, it feels like

two or three hours when you have this shot.

Now, that's 276 will go up quite a bit. There could be another big

break... Talk about bad packs to go in for,

this is not great. He can play the calendar pack knowing that he has

the red in the corner pocket, he would not play the cannon if the red

was not over the corner. He knows whatever happens, he's bound to be

on the red over the corner, now he has the reds in the perfect

position. That is good brick building. Could we have a possible

three centuries on the trot? He made two against White in the first

round, and has done two in this, that is four centuries so far.

That was not the best. That was a bit thinner than he would have liked

to have had. Again, he is having a few problems with the conditions out

there. Not the same everyday, believe it or not... This is a more

difficult shot and because of that committee put more effort into it.

Slightly underhit, wanted to be straight on the blue than this.

Could take it nine or ten inches, get that into the corner. See how

straight he hits this one, it is supposed be a straight red.

A little bit unlucky with a kiss on the red, two down from the pink,

that would have left him perfect. Not pushing the boat out here, I do

not think. Good recovery, needing another good one though. Could

easily get onto the black. He will miss the kiss on the yellow. But of

course, it's when it comes back of the baulk cushion, you can miss

another again. I'm not sure whether he can go from the right-hand side,

he wants side on this blue, if you can. He is hampered. This is he

could miss this. He has the match in complete control here, he does not

want to push the boat out too much. That's good thinking, pushing the

brown to the side cushion. Not taking any risk, perfect match

placekicker. -- play snooker. I thought he was looking more for a

century break again, I cannot blame him. We have to be positive. But

certainly could have got on the loose red and carried on from there.

But not everybody selects the same shot in the same position as others.

Everybody has got their favourite kinds of shots.

This is handy, a clip on the brown there. That red would have been on

the corner otherwise. Normally plays 331 points, Lee Walker.

Giving him half a chance with a red in the middle now. Yes, he played to

leave the white on the cushion in the black spot area, overrunning it

by some three feet. Another excellent pot. Sometimes you are out

there and cannot do anything right, then you get the first frame with

some excellent snooker and since then, you can certainly play second

fiddle to the man at the table now. Not doing an awful lot from

committee played one bad safety shot, one bad break off, and that is

its -- not doing an awful lot wrong, he played. Tip on the black spot

there. This is a barrage of scoring. Too thin. Wouldn't this be a frame

to pinch? Feeling great having sat out for 30

odd minutes and then some 300 points without reply...

It did not look possible to win the first frame when the balls were in

the position that they were, they are not any better here. Hmm... I

don't know whether they would have played the kiss or the red off the

middle. Wherever it was, he did not play it well. I mentioned that you

lose your touch out there, these players do not have to think, it's

all automatic. You practice so much, and... You've still got a chance, it

is a little bit slim. I would not blame him for cutting into the

middle and moving of the side cushion, he's bound to be on the

pink or the blue. He needs the red and play because the white is going

to be playing ball, he would not go near the red, but on the right-hand

side, he will. That's good, he deserves to be onto something very

good. Giving himself a chance. Certainly one of the best shots that

he has played. In quite a while. He pinches the first frame, they

pinch this one as well. He's got a lot of points to play

with here, potting two reds, two blacks, playing for the one in the

baulk area. This puts on 40 points behind. If he gets nicely onto the

red, he can get onto the black quite easily. Well done. What a pinch it

would be, if he can clear up from here. He could possibly come out

2-2, having seen what Neil Robertson has done with these two frames. It

would be a big feather in his cap. Anything but straight. The problem

is we saw him play this shot earlier in the match, he did not get it on

the left-hand side, you can see his angle, just before the middle

pocket, you need that much side on it. Maybe better off running through

two cushions on the right-hand side rather than the screw back, I don't

think he can get in behind the red off the reverse side of the cushion.

You then have to worry about missing the kiss on the plea if you run

through the right-hand side, playing a screw shot, you do well to get

near the baulk line -- kiss on the blue.

Now, does not want that go tight on the cushion, the safety shot is

difficult. It is unlucky. It would have been so easy to stop the cue

ball dead where the reddest, send the red round the table, snigger in

behind the yellow committee cannot do it now. He is back in the frame

-- where the red is, behind the yellow, he cannot do it now.

He is trying to get some back spin by lifting his cue. He is the

tallest player on the circuit, Lee Walker. A nice lad, well respected

around the circuit. A good sense of humour. He is on tiptoes here. What

about the old orange? He hit it really well, did not want

that to kiss the green. Now then... This will be in the centre. In the

frame if you get set... -- if he gets it. Ooh, hello! Expecting him

to pot that. It is amazing, when you miss a shot, and how often you get

away with it. Now, I'm not too sure whether Lee Walker can get to that

red, if he does, it will be fine, then he will be pushing the red into

a corner. That is a clever shot, and very well

played. It should be a no luck game, really.

Kissing the blue. They have a very thin cut in the middle. Because of

that, the cue ball will be very difficult to control. If you can pot

this and missed the green on the way back up in the centre, he could be

on the pink. I think that he has been given a lifeline. It's worth

taking. Into the black pocket but surely the middle pocket would be

the easier shot? He won't be kissing the green, he will be coming out the

baulk, if he plays into the corner... In the middle, he would be

on the pink. In the corner, he is not bound to be on the pink or the

blue nicely. It's a strange choice, he had no chance of getting away

with it like that but the cut in the middle, he had every chance of

getting away with it. I think he's just being positive, I cannot see

how he could have taken the red, knowing at that pace, he has a

chance to pot it, which he has... Did not have to go for a pot there,

could have gone for a strong safety, really.

It is a frame that could have gone either way in the end but Neil

Robertson, once again, puts his foot of the pedal at the last minute, Lee

Walker would be disappointed that he missed that last red, but now he

trails 3-1. Look at this red, in commentary we talked about the cut

in the middle, but he could play in the top pocket, if you play at the

top, you need to play it quick enough to get away with it? That's

why I said that he's not bound to get onto the pink or the blue, why

not? If you play a pot, cut in the middle, you have a chance of getting

away with it and you are certainly likely to be

on the pink? That is one of the nice things about playing the game, you

need to make a decision every time you get a chance on the table.

This is a brilliant shot. He may have cleared up, who knows? He makes

the decision, and should stand by it, nothing wrong with it. Same as

you, he should have played safer, waiting for a better chance.

He played a very good shot early on, to get back into the frame. This

shot here, to bring the other red into play, that was excellent. It

needs to clear, you know is that the pace that he is playing at, if he

hits the red, he's bound to be on pink or blue and he played it

perfectly. For one second I thought he would clear it, but the red was a

cue ball. You've spent a lot of time watching Lee over the years, on and

off the tour, I would not say he's a gentleman probity is hard-working?

Yes, and he does a lot of coaching which I think has helped him to take

pressure off the circuit. I don't think he has great expectations on

the circuit at the moment you don't know. If you carry on learning there

are always chances you can move forward. As I said earlier, you've

got to get some belief in yourself that you can win these matches. It

is a tough match for him today, and he's done OK, I think. He could have

been close as well, 2-2. He was only one shot away from making it, if you

twos that red, he was favourite to win the tour? -- if he pots that

red, he was favourite to win the tour.

Lee Walker with the point of no return, trailing by 3-1, and

breaking off in frame five, has to win the remaining three.

Amazing how nobody has developed a break off, he can guarantee leaving

those shots off at times. I remember a time when players were coming off

the back cushion, and into the pack slowly, playing the likes of

Higgins. It's a good pressure pot, this

balance will get off the cushion. I think it will be enough to get onto

the red, potting just below the black. Could have done with a couple

of inches of pace. Excellent. Did have a little flick

off the pack but even if he did not get the little flick, he would have

been on this red. Similar scenario to the one I talked about a few

moments ago, you can risk playing into the pack, knowing you have that

loose red, even though there are three reds available. Just playing

for the loose one this time, may play into the pack of the next red,

and black. It is one of those where you want to

stun into the pack. Then you can come back somewhere near where the

white is now but just wants to play the stun rather than the screw into

the pack." The loose one. I am surprised, to be honest. OK, he is

on a nice angle on this red, but you can't guarantee getting the pace

exactly right here. I rest my case. A little bit fortunate there, Neil,

because he has the blue which is a bit straight.

He certainly looks somewhere near back to his best.

Well, that was a surprise. Anything that is straight and stunning it you

would expect Robertson to pot most of them.

He definitely thought he was going to pot it. Now then, the, unexpected

chance for you. Not quite sure if he is straight on this blue. Say that

of course because it restricts the options of the next positional shot.

The cue ball can either go straightforward or straight back.

This is one of those if you are playing the plain blue ball you

would maybe miss the kiss outside the the thing. If you do not, your

OK. You would be very unlucky not to be on a red. OK, it is a bit

dangerous playing a cannon with four loose reds. But it is a way of

slowing the cue ball down. He has played the slow cannon. If they have

lined up he is very, very unlucky. That is so unlucky. You could play

that 20 times two would only do it once, and it would have to be this

time. Very unfortunate. The one below the pink pots, though, but it

is very difficult. It was a good pot. That was

missable, especially after the disappointment of the splitting of

the reds. If he was to carry on, he has a tricky yellow into the right

corner. You can see the cue ball just slightly below the ball climb.

So it is the thin cut. -- below the baulk line.

That kiss made up for the last one that didn't go right. That was an

excellent shot on the yellow. Next for roads and colours should not be

a problem. He will move the one that is right on the side cushion -- four

rates. The idea is to pot three reds, three colours. That is plenty

of shots in advance. That has to be in his mind.

Now this is half a chance here, he could stun the pink into the middle

pocket, leave the red half full and play the cannon onto the red on the

cushion. This definitely could be a chance in two shots time to move

that red. He is playing the run-through.

What has happened there? Goodness me. That was a strange choice. I

tell you what happened there, he has got into a good position, if you

ball is available, and just a little bit more pressure comes on you then.

He will be very disappointed with that.

We were talking earlier on, his cue option, Lee Walker, who plays with

the tip very low on the cue ball, and then when he delivers the cue,

it comes up a little bit of spin he requires. But of course if you don't

time the delivery, you could get a little less spin venue needed, like

having them. You should have stunned that and had an easy red. He has got

Neil Robertson missing at the moment.

Amazing how nothing kissed into another ball. Both red and white

were going around the table at speed, neither of which made contact

with the ball. It is basically one of those, do you take this short on

or take the safety shot up and down? Robertson pots this to a fun, if you

don't. All about the pace of the cue ball. And it is not there, I don't

think. Yes, he had to play that shot with a touch of Czech side to avoid

the red on the way back up and took a bit of pace out of it, but not

bad. Fantastic arena, five tables on

display in that picture. There are another three behind the commentary

position, eight tables in total. A better pace of cue ball. The

jumped up. He thought he had been put in -- Lee jumped up. No, not

quite sure if that was a bit too thin, or he hit it a bit too hard.

This red goes past the pink into the right corner, possibly. Looks like a

better shot. It is amazing what happens out

there. Robertson, two centuries and playing excellent, it is amazing

what can happen out there. The balls find their own way to stop.

Sometimes it is not in favour of the players and the frames are a little

bit longer. Still, very interesting. The second long pot that he has

missed by a long way. So even Neil Robertson misses them.

I can only presume he has played a cannon into the green. We talked

about his cue action a few times, cued very low at first and then on

the strike he is hitting it a little bit higher and not getting the

desired spin. He is looking at the very difficult black into the

middle. Could play it into the corner. Both of which are fraught

with danger. I think my co-commentator in the box would be

playing thin off the left-hand side of the pink. Looks like he is taking

it on. Well, my friend, you deserve

everything you get. Excellent, very well played. Cueing down like that

was by no means easy. Very good. You feel he needs to clean up from

here, but the green is still a little bit tricky. Got to pot this

with the rest and get on with the red at the top of the table. He is

just one point behind now. Cropped it in for the black but he

may play with the blue there. He is a good player with the rest. He has

a bit of work to do, as Neil Luxon there. I wouldn't say he was

worried, but he wasn't laughing either. Not a lot of room in between

the pink and the blue here if he is playing the screw back.

That was always going to test. He knew in the previous red he had to

be closer to one of the object balls and have a good angle to go closer

to that read, which then he had a great chance to clear. Because he

didn't get on it, it just to serve his concentration a little bit.

Shame, that, because that black deserve to be in the frame.

Absolutely. If he was a right-handed player, the green would not be too

bad but he is left-handed. So betting on the green and then

getting back to the brown, it is going to be very difficult so this

is not necessarily going to be frame and match over.

Not the best shot he has ever played.

When you glance down to the green, then, because always looking to see

if he can cannon that green out of the cushion and leave himself the

chance to clear. He can hold. I thought that was a

thin cut. I thought he couldn't for the yellow. Has he got the angle

here to screw back of the yellow and get at least close to the green for

a pot? The trouble with the pot is it is a narrow pocket to play

through. And with pace it is an even tougher shot. He would have to put a

little back spin on to get a cut for the brown. He can get somewhere near

the middle pocket, though. Amazing, lined up like soldiers,

aren't they? And this is quite tough to hit. The middle pocket is quite

difficult. He doesn't get this right there is room in the back of this

green. That was the problem with only

hitting one cushion. Very hard to get away with it but he may just

about. This is cut the ball but the white would be running loose. --

able to be cut. Neil keeps looking at the

scoreboard. Perhaps he does not believe the score. He is two behind.

Not frames, points. This is the type of shot that

somebody with a lot of power in the cue action may take on. The only way

to do that is if he does not have a good safety on then he does have

options with the safety. Just has to watch the double-kiss. Hit the green

and take it up towards the baulk area and hope to snooker Neil

Robertson. Very brave. He took it on. It was a very

positive shot selection, I must say, but I'm glad he hasn't left the

green on off the bat, because should he turn those balls down, then, and

not be so positive, you never know where the green is going to go if

you don't get in the pocket. So could be snookered again here, Lee

Walker. Slightly misjudged this, especially

if the green bounces. That is a bad misjudgement. If he plays the green

plain ball he would be canning into the black and the black anything.

Fifita right-hand side, then the middle pocket comes into the

equation. This is one of those who would love to play with Czech side

but it is a bit too thick to play with that. This is dangerous, keep

an eye on the wide. Could be going very close -- an eye on the white.

Won that is more like the safety shot we know. Neil holding his hand

up as if he did not appear to do it. Colter and went across the green. I

did not notice that. -- caught the knuckle. This is not easy. Yes, got

to come the side. Plated with a lot of pace. -- played

it with a lot of pace. He will be pleased with that.

This is a very fine pot. With the white being pretty close to the

baulk cushion. I'm not sure whether playing it plain ball he can played

slow down the ground. It might have to come in and out of the baulk, and

back again. Didn't even attempt the pot, did not

fancy it. He has taken on more difficult shots

in that match. Neil Robertson very strong in this

the apartment, normally. Not quite up to the Silver standard as yet.

But he is the best, I feel, Selby. Getting out of snookers. That is why

he is world number one. Mark Selby is ?405,000 in front of

the number two. That is what you call dominance. These days, of

course, you don't get ranking points, it goes with the money they

earn, same as the golf. It would be courtesy Mark Selby has earned a

lot. Excellent pot. Blue the pink is busily going to be a problem, but

with him being left-handed, the blue is slightly easier for him than it

would be a right-handed player. He needs to finish absolutely tight on

the cushion, preferably within two feet of the blue. Playing it plain

ball, he will come about four or five inches past the middle pocket,

a little bit of right-hand side could get him close to the blue. How

is his pace? Not great. I don't think it bounced up as much as you

think it did, Neil, think you just over it.

A few safety options here for him. Doesn't have to win the match in

this visit... The most important part of the shot

was getting that blue ball safe. A little closer to the cushion, Lee

would not be able to play this, playing on the blue left-hand side,

leave the white weather blue is and sent the black, sorry, the blue up

behind the pink and the black. One of those, if you get too much side,

it's not what you want, but you should be able to get behind the

blue here. Not playing the bottom left-hand side, which is what I

thought he would do. He is not playing that shot. That is not too

bad... CLAPPING Could get in with the black, this

would be a thin cut, more or less guaranteeing a good safety shot, but

he's cut it a little thin. This could be a pot if you get past

the black... It's quite funny, he was offering Roberts in the pot, if

he misses this frame, it is match over. Neil Robertson had a look to

see if the blue was cuttable, and it is, but it goes without saying, if

he misses, that could be the end of the match. When you look from the

second angle, you can see how thin it is.

Having a look at the potting angle, he is lining it up, taking it on.

CLAPPING We know how difficult those kinds of

shots can be, in this situation, it is one of the world's best players

hanging on in there. Missing that and he probably would have been out

of the tournament. Yes, and once he has taken it on, he would consider

himself a little unfortunate that the White has travelled an extra pot

in pace, not leaving him with an easy chance for the pink. You would

think that he has some sort of pot on the pink in the middle. I do not

think there are only for answers in taking this pink on, a good safety

shot is the core here, he needs a good pink and black. -- is the call

here. If he takes on the pot, the White

will be virtually in the jaws of the pocket where his hand is. A

containing safety shot, this looks to be a very good one... Another

half inch would have been perfect. He is eyeing up the potting angle,

with 1-0, he gets a shot on the back, it should go in... Very good.

He has got that shot on the black, as long as that does not travel...

He played the shot to nothing to perfection. But unfortunately he is

now faced with a difficult black. I think on reflection how meal has

played in this frame, he deserves to win it. -- Hal Neil Robertson. What

would you put with this, four out of ten?

I would say one out of ten. That is a tough shot.

Ooh! How close was that? With Walker's reaction there, you would

have thought it was in. One of the best long potters in the game, is he

fancying this one? What a tremendous effort, it really was. He has a wry

smile on his face as he sits in the chair, knowing that Neil is going to

have to take it on. A little easier, this shot, for

Walker than the previous, going into an open pocket. The cue ball out

three or four inches, perhaps. A little more of the cushion. -- off

the cushion. Now, he has a good white, has he got

a good black? Has he got a good black? He has! It's amazing, with a

bit of luck, Lee Walker has got all of the like there. A sly smile into

the commentary box, keep inches A-frame. He still trails 3-2.

-- he pinches the frame. He has a wry smile to the camera, fine

margins but such composure under pressure to keep in the game. We go

over to frame six shortly but let's bring you date with what is

happening on table two, because we could have a big story developing

here... I will welsh wild card, the teenager Jackson Page, who,

remember, made his debut in a major tournament, beating Weston on

Monday, up against John Astley in his second round this afternoon.

This is the end to frame for, and as you can see, Page at the age of only

15 is going to go 3-1 up. Placed in the last 32, Astley has taken frame

five, what a story developing there. Of all of the players that we

thought might make around three here in the Welsh Open, he would have

been bottom of the list but he could be there? Definitely, the ball is in

his court, 3-1 up, he just needs one more frame, you must feel confident

about things. I hope he thinks is way through and does not get

negative and close shots, so to speak. He needs to play the same way

to get in position and close out the match. 3-2 to Page in that game and

3-2 to Robertson in this fascinating contest. Under pressure, knowing he

was just one bad shot away from leaving the tournament, Lee Walker,

what a performance at the end of that frame? Yes committee stuck in

the frame and knows what he can do best, grinding it out, playing a

good safety and fixing on his own performance. Let meal worry about

his, he has played tremendous care in this match, missing one or two --

new He's not had the results he wanted. He is capable of his a game,

but this is a sticky situation for both players at 3-2. Lee Walker has

so much belief and confidence going into frame six, but it is a big one.

How is Robertson going to respond, it is 3-2 now. Here is Lee...

COMMENTATOR: A penny for Neil Robertson's thoughts. He will

definitely be feeling that he should have won the match by now. He has

missed a fuel on pots. -- he has missed a few long that pots.

A typical safety there, having to avoid the red, it seemed so big,

maybe he needs to go inside or outside of it. There is a chance

here... And it is amazing that they did the same thing in frame two.

Breaking up and playing the safety shot like that, hitting a red and

Robertson made it 3-3. We have had a few centuries and some

long frames, 38 minutes was the last one. It is great to watch.

Steve Davis once said that people watching at home or in the audience

prefer a close frame rather than a lot of big

breaks. I think that it is nice to have a balance. We have certainly

had that so far today. What a horrible kick, my goodness. Squaring

it completely. It went straight to the red. I was

about Sobeys reds are perfect, with the pink out of commission, there's

a possible 147. -- I was about to say that the reds were perfect. Lee

now knows that whatever he scores he will be hurting Robertson with every

ball that he pots. I mentioned earlier in the match

that Lee Walker does not go away. Hanging on, as a good fighter. He

does not have the same skills as Neill, but does not mean that you

cannot beat him. Needs to keep that under close

control now and take the pressure off him. Should be feeling good. He

had a bit of fortune with that in the previous frame. He may be

thinking, this could be my day... Meanwhile, runner-up in the world on

this championship, 2011. No bad players in the final of that

tournament. Especially with how the game has gone around the world. A

huge amount of countries entering the World Championships. In the

1960s he would have 8-10 players, now I'm not sure of the numbers. --

you would have 8-10 players. Those are bread and butter shots.

Yes, I think he got excited there. Now, the frame should be level at

3-3. At times, it is best to screw those in, those two cushions, rather

than float them in. Missing quite a lot of pots in those last few

friends. That was excellent from Neil. Yes, there is not much talk of

a recovery time in snooker. The big players, like Robertson there,

potting the red, I did not fancy him putting it, but in the first frame,

he missed a lot of pot that he would normally get. At this stage, I would

not bet against him winning from this position. I think they need to

sack the juggler behind the stage, there was a huge crash but luckily,

no player was on their shot. This one on the extreme right hand side

of the pack. That would be frame and match over if he gets the cannon

Wright. -- gets the cannon right. Not perfect. Kissing a half ball. A

nice choice of reds and another one in the middle.

He might have got too much on this, has he? Very good. Could have done

with another couple of inches of pace, to roll it in off the black

committee may have to go back around with this. -- he may have to go

back. It's a chance for him to win the frame and the match, he would

have been distraught, sitting in his chair. Had the black hit against him

to make it 3-2, a massive kick. A break of 38, coming to an end. Then,

springing into action with a long pot. That pink spot might not make a

lot of difference. Does not fancy that rolling around

the back of the black, it is looking perfect. A little fortunate to have

that in the top corner. Unlike Neil to choose the safest way of

break-building, that is very risky. Could be a frame and match win,

that. A little fortunate to get on the pink. A little better there. He

seems to have a lot more than the Walker. -- than Lee Walker.

A little tense out there. So close to winning the match, Neil

Robertson. He's in prime position. Needing to be a little straighter on

this pink. Easy enough to get close to the red, with the cue ball. Let's

see where he is now... With the distance between him. It is

certainly manageable. Did not quite get the desired pace

there, leaving it pretty straight. As we know, he is blessed with an

amazing amount of two power. If you stop six dead, he will leave the

last red in play -- an amazing amount of cue power, if he stops it

dead, he would leave the last red in a play. A little lower, I do not

know if he can get contact on the red here, but he is left-handed, as

we know. This is to roll it in and leave it on the question. -- leave

it on the cushion. On the red, having to pot the black.

Not the easiest of shots, dropping a dead weight of the side cushion.

Some life left in this, the frame and the match.

Nicely played, excellent length. On the last red, having to look down,

if there is thin edged down the yellow. He will

have two play-off the baulk cushion. Trying to swerve... I think with

this shot off the back cushion, he would play a slow and knock the red

on the cushion. Then it would go into the corner pocket anyway. You

cannot leave it on. Needs to go... Not quite. Once

again, this cut is so thin, controlling the cue ball is going to

be difficult. Looking at the scoreboard, you can

see that he is 19 points in front. You cannot just drop the black in,

because of the yellow. As the balls are set, the black goes back on the

spot, of course. snookered himself with the blue, I

cannot believe it. He does not seem to judge the speed of the cushions,

they appear to bounce a little to me. It makes yellow ones. Can he get

through? Perhaps just about... Hitting the yellow thin, but not

enough to potted. A kiss on the brown here. He has kissed the brown.

He had too much swerve, catching it too thick. Playing it with a lot of

left-hand side. May need to bring the cue ball down the left-hand side

of the table. Now, Lee Walker has got that chance.

You have to play safety here. I think that he is within an inch of

losing this match, 26 points behind, 3-2 down, it is first to four.

There is always the nudge. That's what John Berger says, doesn't he?

There is a way is a gap. -- what John Virgo says.

He is an inch away, if he gets a chance from drawing level. Not much

angle here, I don't think. Not quite sure if he can strike down on the

cue ball to widen the angle. Either way, it is a tough one. He would

like to play it twice across that the brown is there. Of course if he

plays it slow dead weight, it makes the yellow more difficult. He will

have to risk playing twice across and even if he kisses the brown at

least he will have some sort of shot on the green.

Not quite. This is a chance. A chance to level at 3-3. If the cream

goes in is clear favourite to clear. It was worth the wait. Just gone

that extra half a run of the cue ball. That green was a thin cut in

the corner pocket. Again, it is so difficult to control the cue ball.

Could be another turning point here. There have been quite a few in this

match. Very enjoyable to watch. How is he going to get this through?

That was as good as the could have got and he may have even snookered

Neil. What a strange game. Niall's bending down to look at the

line, I didn't think he could pot this anyway. Oops. Oh. Well, well,

well. The brown should have been at least a foot down from that centre

pocket, the right side, and down the home and black. -- down behind pink

and black. The pressure is on. Cool as a cucumber, dropped it in

dead weight, perfect on the blue. Looks like it is going into a

decider. He is on the black. He is taking his

time. He is going to be a little bit nervous.

Straight in the middle of the pocket. APPLAUSE

Well done, sir. He is back level. He was 3-1 behind.

He's back now, and it's all on the deciding frame. STUDIO: It certainly

is, there is a man determined not to lie down, another great frame from

Lee Walker. We will get back to that one for the decider in just a few

moments but we will go back to table two to update you on our Welsh wild

card, Jackson Page. Having lost John Astley -- having led John Astley

3-1, Astley Buddha back to 3-2, and then determined not to go out to a

15-year-old, it was 3-3, they went into a deciding frame, and can you

believe what happened? Page, the biggest thing he has done in

snooker, the world under 18 champion is through to the last 32 of us in

yet tournament. Well done to Jackson Page. Fantastic for him. But IS

update you with a few other resorts around the arena. Graeme Dott is

through and will play the winner of this match between Walker and

Robertson. Marco Fu, the world number one, a bit of a shock to him

losing the Ross Smith 4-0. Anthony Hamilton who got his first ranking

title in Germany at the age of 45 also through, and Sam Beard, who

knocked out John Lee Walker, another terrific frame.

Brilliant green with the extension on his cue. Just got to roll it into

the brown. But too much pace on it and that cue ball rolls in behind

the black and he has a really tough escape. The brown is sort of in the

middle of nowhere. If he doesn't hit it you need to slip him, so probably

out of the match and it is all over, but he hit the brown, Neil made that

mistake, leaving that opportunity, and he took it with both hands. 3-3.

Poor Neil must be thinking what have I got to do to win this match? Just

can't get that final ball that he needs every time. I suppose you

could say that Lee Walker could be favoured now because he has just won

two frames from Neil and he goes on to this the side of confidence.

There is the little handshake with Neil Robertson. He knows he has one

frame away from causing a major upset here. Let's go back for the

decider with Billy and Terry. COMMENTATOR:

OK, a little bit of good running in the last couple of friends but he

has the deep. A chance to beat one of the world for the best players,

it would be a feather in his cap. Can he hold themselves together? OK,

not necessarily going to score enough points on this visit but if

you get 30 or 40 point in front, where the reds are situated, could

be more than 30. He has got the momentum now. Two

black winds. Must have felt when he was in the chair and the last few

friends that he was very close to losing this match and going out of

the tournament. Now he has got another chance. When they talk about

small margins in sport, this is it really. The crowd enjoyed the

deciding frames, it makes a little bit more exciting. I'm not saying

the first frame wasn't. As it turned out, he's quite a long

way short of the blue. Because of that can go in and out of baulk and

going into the right corner. He has to miss the baulk colours. That was

row well played. Victory over one of the best players

in the world is in his sights at the moment. A long way to go. But he is

looking good. It has been quite amazing, this

match will stop Neil Robertson sitting there thinking, I scored 300

odd points without reply at one time in this match. By far and away the

biggest breaks in the match were stuck there is every chance he could

be going out. He knows this is an excellent

chance. If not a frame-winning break. A lot of players here would

go past the first red and go into the bunch. I am sure Turn two will

not be thinking of that at this time. He just wants to get 20 or 30

points in front. He is the old school type of

position player. It does look a little bit tougher

now, and there is one loose red there. Not sure if it goes past the

pink. Otherwise you're going to have to run around a few questions.

Looking now to play that red from the right of the pack into the top

corner. Can't see where he can't get on it from the two cushions really.

This for his highest break of the match so far. What a time to get it.

The black to follow. Perfect angle. Watch the two in the left.

Wasn't his best ever. Just below the pink I think is available. Got to be

honest, this is a perfect chance for him to win this match. The only

thing that may stop him is the pressure he will be under two clear

from here. At least get a winning position. Yes, he doesn't have to

play the cannon into the three reds come can just screw past. It has

been Neil Robertson sitting in his chair and just not believing how

this match is still going. Only four reds and four colours away from

being out of this match. His heart was in his mouth for a few

seconds. You are never quite sure when you are plain that type of

shot, a lot of back spin into a cannon into a red what angle it will

come off. He just flicked that red, he didn't

want to fit it. If he hit it any thicker it might have known on the

bottom cushion without any thing the M4.

A few shots away from victory still. Didn't look as though there were a

lot of problems there for him. He would love to get the white, but

the angle he has on the black is not great. This is the key shot. If he

gets this right he has won. White nowhere near where he played

but he has had a result. It is very tight, that red. He has

two other reds he could take on, more difficult, but you could see

that he could get it to the left-hand side of the pocket as we

see it. Big decision. So much to play for here. It would be a

tremendous victory. 3-1 down against Neil Robertson, having to sit out a

number of times without reply from Lee Walker. Neil Robertson looked

unbeatable. 143 1155. Decided not to play the red that

definitely pots in the bottom corner, he knows that red colour

macro in goes the red. He may have to play

a little stunned down into the pink or red here. Doesn't matter which

one he hits, the think of the red, behind it. -- the pink or the red

behind it. Massive target, so the pink or red kiss is impossible not

to get, just a case of whether he pots the blue. --

APPLAUSE Very well played, very well played.

That was frame ball. Match ball, of course. If ever a man looks amused,

you are looking at him. Scored the best part of 300 points more than

his opponent but it is not on aggregate, it is on friends.

He will have to touch of left-hand side on the cue ball to pot the one

to the extreme left of the two. Just throw it into the pocket, just moves

the red of the natural line. This pot would be easy enough if the

other reds was not impeding his cueing. I think he has changed his

mind and he is going for the top corner. APPLAUSE

One of the loudest applause as we have heard this week. Very popular

young man, Lee Walker. How good is he feeling at this

moment? That is five or six shots he has or must been in perfect

position, but not quite, you know? But no problems now he is 74 in

front, 59 left. It would be one of the best wins of

his career. He has beaten a lot of the top players, but in his home

country it will mean a lot more to him of course.

Didn't get on the black but didn't make any difference. He is potting

them anyway. APPLAUSE Wonderful performance from a very

gritty professional snooker player against one of the rest players in

the world. I'm not sure who he plays in the

next round, but, take it from me, they will not be looking forward to

it. He won the two previous frames on

the black, and what more can you do them in the last frame with a

century? -- van win the last frame. A first century this match will stop

has been very high quality. A couple of strange kicks and throws at

different shots but all in all what an amazing victory for Lee Walker.

130 if this goes on. Was there any doubt? Wonderful performance from

Lee Walker, he beats Neil Robertson 4-3 to go forward in the next round

of the Welsh Open. APPLAUSE STUDIO: And doesn't the Cardiff

crowd just love that? Absolutely fantastic day for Lee Walker, as he

makes his way out, and this chair here has got his name on it. He will

be sat there very shortly giving us his reaction to probably the best

performance of his career or certainly one of them. We have seen

some shocks in the ship was not Welsh Open, John Higgins and Mark

Williamson going out, a 15-year-old Welshman getting through to the last

32, just a few minutes ago, Jackson Page, and now this, tremendous

stuff. Fantastic performance from Lee. He saved his best to the final

frame. If ever a player did not seem fated to win a match, it has to be

there with Neil Robertson. The poor guy. He was one ball away. If ever

you needed evidence of what you have got to do the stick in a match and

just keep trying, keep doing what you can do, don't worry about what

the other guys doing. Neil Robertson has played some fantastic snooker,

two consecutive total clearances, Lee stuck in there and did what he

did best and we got the result. Let's get the thoughts of Neil

Robertson, backstage with Rob Walker. Judging by how well you are

playing halfway through that match, it must be difficult to find

yourself having this conversation with you having been knocked out?

Yes, I carried on playing well but Lee hang in there and did really

well. Dominic 's is in the studio so he can explain that the best that

some of the bounces of the cushion, it was just incredible. On the

brown, there is no way should be ever to hit the middle knuckle of

that angle. I have a blacklist Clifford in with the rest, and then

I have an incredible bounce which has half snookered me behind the

blue. He had a kick on the red when I was plumbing on 16 at 3-2. I did

make a couple of mistakes, but that is just a game of snooker.

Unfortunately these sorts of things can happen. Really happy with the

way I played, you know. Just at the minute these kind of matches are

going against me a bit. There's not much I can do. He has flipped a

black at 3-1. If it does not go in, it will be set up for me to go

through, but that is just the way it is. I played really well in the

match, just a little bit unfortunate that the wrong times. Thank you per

talking to us, we will see you at the next one. Yes, the 2007 winner

and last year's runner up out of the competition all thanks to this man

here, many congratulations to Lee Walker. Great to have two Welshman

who have made it through to round three. Dominic earlier and now you,

give us an idea of how you are feeling? Beating one of the best in

the world. It has been a long time coming that I don't really know how

I won. He was cueing so well midway through the match, just tried to

hang on in there and I was feeding off scraps really. Nice little flick

on Oblak in one frame as well. The way that you did it, I'm sure

that Dominic would agree, and pressure, when you were a couple of

shots away from going out of the competition, he managed to retain

your composure and belittled the back, turn it around? Yes, some days

you missed them, other days you get them. I may be wrong but I think I

won them all on the black, the first three frames. So, you know, it is

just nice. I think that he had in one frame a kick and a couple of

things started happening and you think, this could be my day today?

To win it in one hit, in a decider like that, it's a nice feeling. When

Neil has played this, missing the red, leaving a chance in the final

frame, how nervous were you when you approached it? The way that the

balls work if you potted the first red committee would have given

yourself a great chance? -- you would have. I think as you get

older, the nerves get more. They are not butterflies, they are

blackbirds, Terry Griffiths once said. I was nervous, I did not want

above myself down but if I took a bit longer, it was because I quite

nervous towards the end. For me, where I am ranked at the moment, it

is a big win for me. He is a great player. He is great to watch. I've

known you for years, now he looks a more technical player than ever, the

technique is so great, a straight, piston like dew action. How

important was that in a battle that stood you in good stead? It helped

me a lot, when you have clearance to win one frame, it if you do it

again, it gives you more confidence -- cue. If you missed an easy chance

and you get the next one, although it is always the same it looks

harder. I've done it once, then again, to win another frame. I think

that the brown I dropped in the middle, it was not a nice shot,

really. Sometimes the technique pots the balls for you, and you think, to

it, keep still on the shot, it takes up the pressure if you know you have

good technique which can put them when you aren't feeling 100%

confident. We are talking techniques with Dominic Handley, now we are

looking at the nitty-gritty, where does that leave you in your career?

I know that you had success ten years ago, beating players in the

quarterfinals... 20 years ago! -- Dominic and Lee. The fact that it

was 20 years ago, to do this now, what does it mean to you? You cannot

get too carried away. It's only the best-of-7. In a best of 19 or

something he will be strong favourite to win. You want to get as

far as possible. You look at the draw, you maybe get to play meal in

a second round and it is very tough. -- play Neil. It is tough for

anyone, whoever you are. To beat him is great but I want to go further

and go as far as you can. As Dominic said, when you have won, you want to

build on it. Hopefully, I can build on it. Another great player, a world

champion and once you get past, there's no easy match. When you get

to the last 32 you know that you will be playing someone very good.

Hopefully I can take that and carry on in that way. You managed to deal

with Blackbirds in your stomach! Many congratulations, Lee, we will

see in the next round. Jackson pages also through, 15 years old, that's

fantastic. Well done to Lee Walker -- Jackson page is also true.

A big day for Welsh snooker. Let's look at how Ryan Day got an

-- got on earlier on. Let's join now, Un-Nooh 58 up, and Ryan Day on

a break. COMMENTATOR: A very good double from

Ryan Day there. Got into a perfect position. Obviously, Ryan will be

full of confidence. A great run last week, the Grand Prix...

20 points behind in the frame, a lot of work to do, those five reds just

around the pink spot, nicely positioned, he does not have to do a

lot with the cue ball. Before things start to get awkward, he should take

the lead in this frame. Other than any mishaps, of course!

Ryan continues a bit straighter on the black then he would have liked.

A bit of an ankle that he can push two cushions. Just about perfect --

a bit of an angle that he can push back of the two cushions.

This is where it now begins to get a bit more awkward for Ryan Day. A

couple of reds. Not in the open. Having to dislodge or play intricate

positions. This is a good effort from Ryan,

probably got overall of the fatigue that he was suffering from last

week. A bit of a kick there. Which is really unfortunate. It means that

he's got a lot more to do with the cue ball now than he should have

had. You can just see the cue ball, with heavy contact. A loss of six

inches of the cue ball, instead of the red being relatively easy to the

left centre, now would becomes a bit more awkward. No problems. Slotted

in. On the pocket. A very, very good player. Un-Nooh,

I'm sure that he's going to win a lot of tournaments. Throughout his

career. I remember watching him win the world amateur championship in

2008. You could see what an unbelievable prospect that he was.

Ryan is going to need a couple of awkward reds. At least one of them,

anyway. He will have to take two out of the last three. I was about to

say this one has gone to the right. As it happens, he has let it go left

of the red Centre, even though it is thin. He played slightly past this

one. A big shot this one. It looked like

it was going to go in, didn't it? What makes it worse, the cue ball

comes in and out of baulk. A nice, easy starter.

Needs a good position now. Having to be able to play the red nearest to

the question first, he has run through too far that one -- nearest

to the cushion. This one is a kick as well. Instead of being on the

right-hand side of the blue, took all of the pace out of the cue ball.

On the wrong side. Welcome he took a risk then. Trying

to get close to the red, and it has backfired -- well, he took a risk

then. He could have left himself amid distanced red to the right-hand

corner. A lot of player left in the frame --

a lot of play. A really good shot. Very good indeed.

Well... A miscalculation by Ryan, leaving the free ball. A disaster

for Ryan Day. He has a free shot at this. If this goes in, everything is

on. And that is there all the way. This will be a really devastating

blow for Ryan Day. After Un-Nooh goes on to win the frame, for all

intents and purposes, Ryan was going to level the match up at 2-2. You

would have to say that now, Un-Nooh has gone favourite. He is still

slightly behind in this frame. With all of the colours on the spots, it

looks like Ryan is going to have three to play, and win all three, if

he wants to extend his run in this Welsh Open.

That one did not go in very cleanly, it just crept in and has slid past

the brown. Blue and pink are needed... Like I said, it would be a

very disappointed Ryan Day. He had the first chance in this frame,

extending his lead, to 2-1. STUDIO: Day really struggling in

this game, let's go over to frame five foot Un-Nooh at the table

leading 52-34. -- table five.

COMMENTATOR: The last frame was devastating for Ryan Day, in this he

has had a couple of chances. He could get Un-Nooh in some

trouble... That was a poorly played shot by Ryan Day, to his

standards... That was not the best either, some nerves creeping in with

both players. Obviously, Un-Nooh knows how important it is to put

this match to bed. One thing that he would not want to do is let Ryan get

back into the match. He has courted too thin. I think he

could pass the black to the red in this corner -- he has got it. A

little bit poor. Obviously there are some pressure there. He will need

that awkward red on the right-hand cushion. What a shot he has played

there. Played it with a lot of top, on the left-hand side. A brilliant

shot. It's all about the pot. In goes the blue. Ominous signs now for

Ryan Day. Think it is all over for Ryan...

He's not really been with it in this match, we had a lot of unforced

errors. He has had his chances. Just got to go back to the drawing board

and get ready for the next one. Even though he misses a yellow, he has

still done enough bar snooker is, Ryan Day, in this tournament. --

Probably been a frustrating day for Ryan Day. That is it, all over. A

handshake and a disappointed Ryan Day. Disappointed, but he moves on.

A difficult game, he's a dangerous player but I just felt a bit flat

and tired. I was trying to get some inspiration from somewhere but it

did not happen this morning. I am happy with my performance and I

think I'm a little lucky. He did not play well, he gave me a lot of

options in that frame. Obviously, I had a good run last week it has been

a hectic spell but I was hoping to get over the line really, keep

fighting. But today I missed quite a lot of easy balls and I think it

caught up with me in the end. A tiring week for Ryan Day who goes

out of the competition, but let's remind you of the big story of the

day. This is all about one of our Welsh wild cards, the fairy tale

continues for Jackson Page, the 15-year-old playing in his

first-ever senior tournament, he beat Jason Weston in round one on

Monday, and now he's in the last 32 after beating John Astley 4-3 in his

second-round match. Here he is. Congratulations. Another Welsh

winner, tell about that? It's great, I settled after today, playing

better than in the first round, a Kubrick 's together, I managed to

get over the line. Dominic things you look more like 20 or 21! To play

that sort of snooker shows maturity beyond your years? When I first come

here, I knew that I could play well and get far, and obviously I can go

further now and play well. But obviously people told me to take it

and enjoy it and the experience really. In myself, I knew I could

win a few games and keep it going. What has the whole experience been

like, not just those wins but the whole week? Great, especially in my

home country with a lot of support behind me. It's different to being

abroad or in England, I would not have the support I have. I have the

inspiration to play well and it has helped me a lot. The pressure that

would have been on Jackson in that game, he went 3-1 up, Astley pulls

at up to 3-3, to get where deciding frame... I was going to say, when

you get to my age, 45, everything is like a pint of blood. When you are

out there, do you love every second of it or do you just go out and do

what you can? I would say that I love it. There is pressure because

it is my first woman and I'm nervous, but when you are out there,

-- it is my first tournament. But it was fine today. Fearless.

What have your family and friends made of it? They are over the moon,

my dad is the same. When I shook the hand of one, he was straight out. He

had tears in his eyes, straight up. And by mum, loving it. We'll get you

some water in a second! And you could play Judd Trump in the next

round? Yes. The star of the game, you would never expect that the weak

wood panel this way? Yes, I looked at the draw and saw that he was at

the top, when I first started watching he was new at the time. My

dad always said he would meet you one day and hopefully, he will. A

tremendous day for you and Lee Walker, well done, Jackson. See you

in round three, possibly against Judge Trott. It has been a good day,

hasn't it question might Judd Trump.

I would love commentating every minute of that one! Dominik through,

Jackson through, and Walker through after his win over Neil Robertson

earlier. We will see if Michael White can get through as well, he is

playing Liang Wenbo. From all of us on the programme this

afternoon, the for now. Funky