Day Two - Part 1 Snooker: Welsh Open

Good afternoon and welcome back to the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. You

might recognise this man on the roll of honour. He has been waiting in

the wings and today Ronnie O'Sullivan takes centre stage once

more as he sets out through record fifth Welsh Open winner and is keen

to avoid the same fate as the other man who has won at four Times, John

Higgins, knocked out on a dramatic opening in Cardiff. I did not really

seen with it. Sam played good and potted some great pressure balls. He

had some good breaks to kick the game off with. Best of seven is a

short sprint. I got off to the worst possible start losing the first

three frames. It was a long way back, I made it back to 3-2.

FairPlay to Sam, he reset himself. It has been a long week. From one to

about two UNIX, that is not lots of space in between. I just alighted to

get the win and move on the tournament. That pink at the end got

me over the line. I was 3-1 down as well. To come back in my first

professional tournament and when is unreal. It was a thrilling start to

the tournament and Willie Thorne was there to see much of it. Good

afternoon. It was a reminder about her unpredictable and exciting the

sport can be. It can be. People are the need to get a good start. John

Higgins was one to fall by the wayside. How surprised where you buy

that? In fairness, he is a very good player. It was a match you expected

John Higgins to win but Sam Baird has beaten him before and as a

player to watch. What a day for John Jackson page, the 15-year-old who is

being inundated with requests from television and radio stations. He is

the oldest 15-year-old I have seen. He has got a beard. He looks 21.

What a prospect. The practices at Mark Williams's club. Watching him

on a regular basis will improve his game. When I played at the club, I

hedge on players like Mark Selby watching me and they have came

through. What I have seen of him so far, he is a fantastic potter. He is

a little but Robert can only improve. Another wild card, Jamie

Jones takes on Tyler Rees. Another possible shock and that all Welsh

tournament. It is unprecedented what is happening. Tournament 's

back-to-back. Ryan Day, I thought he would be vulnerable last night.

There is nothing worse coming off the defeat and having to play a

match so soon. All credit to him, he came through in the last team to

win. Exhausted. Absolutely. He has got the day off. Richard Lee up and

enjoy what we have -- put your feet up and enjoy what we have got for

you today. The Rocket returns fresh from a record seventh Masters title,

can be defending champion take one step towards a historic fifth Welsh

win? He still the leading light in Wales, can Mark William shall he

still a contender 18 years after the last got his hands the trophy? And

in the quarterfinals last year, we will see how Michael Hoyt gets on

against Wayne Jones in the all Wales contest. Ronnie O'Sullivan will get

his title defence under way against fellow Englishman Tom Ford. This is

how they compare. Ranking titles for Ronnie, 28 compared to zero so far

for Tom Ford. Ronnie has won this tournament four times. Tom Ford has

made it to the last 16 on two occasions. They have met twice

before and Ronnie O'Sullivan has won both of them. How does Tom Ford rate

his chances against the Rocket? It doesn't matter if you play him in

round one of the final. I think your best chance of beating Ronnie is in

the first round when he has not warmed up. That said, he is one of

those players you do not want to bump into. If my head goes I could

not beat myself. Even with Ronnie, if he does not come up, the conflict

a switch and I will just concentrate on my own game rather than hers. I

will try to go out and play well. I would much rather prefer to play

somebody who won the tournament the last year rather than somebody who

has won the last three events, the person who has won the last team-mac

will be on form. The crowd will be on his side. I am just hoping it is

a good crowd and if I hit a good shot I make it the odd clap. I am

playing well. I am putting the work in. I feel good in myself. Interest

in psychology from Tom Ford. Somebody you know very well. The

best chance of beating Ronnie is in round one. Absolutely, catch-up when

he is called. I have known Tom Ford since 1320 played at my club in

Leicester. He has always been a good player. He now realises he will have

to play well to have any chance of winning tournaments. I think he will

definitely be a tournament winner. Here starting with the toughest man

of the lot this week. Positive attitude from them, playing somebody

like this. That is a good philosophy. He knows that Ronnie

O'Sullivan is coming in cold, as is Tom. Ronnie has came off the bad

loss in the Grand Prix. Seven Masters titles is fantastic and

Ronnie will be the favourite to win every tournament he plays. He says

he is not interested in landmarks and records. The chance to win a

fifth Welsh Open and be the most successful player in the

tournament's yesterday has to be something to cherish? That could

have been on the mind of John Higgins yesterday. He had the chance

of being the fifth winner and lost. It is time to get our defending

champion out. It is Ronnie O'Sullivan against Tom Ford. Your

commentary team is Darren Morgan and Rob Walker.

COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon. The crowd at the Motorpoint Arena took

the seats well over 20 minutes ago to make sure they have got the best

of you in the house for this man, the Rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Magnificent seven Masters titles for Ronnie. And that there is Tom Ford.

He said he would rather face him in the first round before he has had a

chance to warm up. The defending champion begins his quest for the

Welsh Open title number five. Ronnie has appeared in all but two

editions of the Welsh Open. Not the first in 1992 and he missed 2000

1322 almost the entire day off and came back to win the world title

again. -- 2013. It will be a tough opportunity for

Tom Ford. Ronnie quickly up to the table. What a treat for the crowd

here this afternoon, Darren. Always anticipation when the Rocket is in

town. He knows how to fill an arena. Great

player over the years. He would see in his latter years he

has played his best snooker. He is exciting to watch. He makes it look

ridiculously easy. He has got a Rolls-Royce cue action

but not on this occasion. He has covered the red to the left corner

and not let anything easy. It is early days. Even the great Ronnie

O'Sullivan can suffer with nerves. He is twitchy to start off.

Players are the same until they get into their stride, some get out of

the blocks quicker than others. We have to remember that top players

like John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan are only human. Good

start from Tom Ford. Might not have expected to come back to the table

so soon after missing that long red. Here he is.

He is coming off the back of a really good run in Germany.

He had a clear 147 and defeated Peter Ebdon before losing in the

quarterfinals against Ali Carter. Tom Ford has arrived here with some

form. He looked like he was not happy with

his connection. It did not look like there was a kick. He felt that there

was. He is still on the black. Not as much of an angle as he

would've liked but no problem. He will start to look developing that

cluster. He has done exactly the same as

Ronnie. He has taken his eye off the pot, trying to go more on the black

to get into the cluster of friends. -- cluster of Red balls.

Amazing when you think like case like Ronnie and John Higgins,

notwithstanding the defeat yesterday. And Mark Williams. Plying

their trade at the top for 25 years. Ronnie, at the age of 41, still

looks like he has got plenty of magic in his tank as was indicated

by that seventh Masters title. These men are proving you can flourish

into your early 40s. When he first burst onto the scene,

it was dominated by the younger generation and then it went to the

younger generation. 22-30 was where all of your web as well. I know it

has went back around with winners in the 40s.

He was fortunate. It was a good pot on the brown and he deserves a bit

of a run. You can't help feel that if Ronnie

O'Sullivan had the same fought battle and the likes of Steve Davis

and Stephen Hendrie had throughout their career, he would've smashed

all the records with the talent that he has got, that is without a shadow

of a doubt. Like all great sometimes flawed. He will be the first to see

over the years that he has gone in and out of form and the way that he

feels about the game. His unpredictability has made him

even more appealing to watch. It shows you that these pockets are

not easy. That was very close but he has just managed to catch the jaw.

He has played it at the right pace as well. You would think it was

going in. It is all about this next shot for

Tom Ford. He will have to develop the red balls. He wants to go for

the red to the left of the cluster. He has missed them all together. He

has played for the red to the left of the cluster and he has went into

the cue ball too much. That is what he has tried to get the flick of the

end red. This first frame has been a funny

start. We saw some excellent safety ease

changes late last night between David Gilbert and Ryan Day.

David Gilbert seem to have a magnet pulling the cue ball back to the

cushion. And that is safely back on the cushion.

He has forced an error from Tom Ford.

None of the balls are easy to get on.

That was far off. He came straight across. Straight across the cue

ball. I was just about to say he was stealing in a good mood to play the

harder red. The red on this left corner was easy for him. Tom Ford

will feel he must take chances like this to have any chance in this

match. Sheet of the head from the

33-year-old Leicester -based player. Grew up learning his craft in Willie

Thorne's legendary club. With Tom Ford, he does not get to

play on the match table, the television table. He will normally

play on the outside tables more often than not. This match table

should not play any different in theory it does. Different lighting.

I do not know why but through my career, when I went out on the

television table, it played slightly different to the outside tables.

Ronnie is used to playing on the match table. He plays 90-95% of this

match is on the television table. There is a little difference.

He tried to dislodge one of those two Red balls but the cue ball

bounced straight back. He wanted to cannon on the edge of it to push the

other one towards the right corner. Instead, he caught it full on the

face. The cue ball carries on running and

that'll be a very good shot. He would like to drop onto the red

ball-on the top cushion. To do that he will have to come off two

cushions and missed the red. He has got the pace right. Very good

shot. Both players and acknowledging the efforts of the other. Ronnie

tapped the table with his cue when he was put in that awkward position.

Tom Ford tapping his right hand on the table when he came down to

address this one. Great etiquette being adhered to. As is always the

case in these matches. That was tentative from Tom. He was

trying to move the ball down the table. Ronnie might think there is

some value in going for this red ball. He might elect to play the

safety shot. You cannot do it any better than

that. What a terrific strike that was. It is around the table now. And

this looks very good as well. That is two top drawer shots.

He just concentrated on dropping the red ball in. He has now sparked into

life. That is why people love watching

him. Even in a scrappy frames he can produce a moment of magic. That was

the curse of the commentator. Brilliant to put himself in the

position of winning the frame. He would have preferred to go for

that without the use of the rest. APPLAUSE

He is just part in the black for some practice. It was a scrappy

frame by both players. Both players had chances. Ronnie O'Sullivan

looked like he would take the first frame but it was Tom Ford that took

it. Exactly the start Tom Ford would be

looking four-point A reminder for you that the Welsh Open is the

fourth event in the Home Nations series. Marco Fu who won the

Scottish open just before Christmas with a victory over John Higgins, he

is through to the second round of the 2017 Welsh Open. It was a really

good comeback victory over Martin Gould, the Englishman. He was 2-0

down in this match but one four in a row to take the game 4-2 to make it

through to the second round. Willie Thorne, you can see what Tom Ford

means when he talks about catching Bonnie called. It was not a good

start. He looked out of sorts. In the spring to life with two Red

balls and two colours. And then he missed the easy green on the top

cushion. That will make Tom Ford feel better to win the first frame.

He would have been disappointed to lose the first frame after

dominating in the early stages. Ronnie knows he will have to

improve. When you play somebody like Tom Ford, people are not aware about

how good he is. He has made over 170 centuries and free

maximum breaks in tournament play. Although Ronnie got the Masters for

a seventh time, couple of blip, the German Masters and the Grand Prix.

Yes, he lost to Mark King, who is in tremendous form. When Ronnie is

leading 5-1, you would expect him to win the match. He lost 6-5. Those

kinds of things resonate with you and puts a little doubt in your

mind. Obviously Ronnie is too experienced to let anything worry

him really but when you have a doubt somewhere, if Tom could go say two

or three in front, obviously it will be a great chance for him but he'd

have to go at least two or three in front. He's been in this position

before Ronnie but this is a good start for Tom Ford. Let us see if he

can keep it up or not, leading 1-0. Tom Ford came through that very

scrappy opening frame. So important to get off to a good start against

Ronnie. Tom Ford has beaten O'Sullivan, although it doesn't

really count in the head-to-heads, it was in the shoot-out a couple of

years ago. Ronnie's won both their matches in the traditional playing

format. That's the pink first there. To have got that first frame on the

board. Especially after making a couple of mistakes.

There's the ball being put back. And O'Sullivan will have to have another

go. No mistake the second time of

asking. He's quite demonstrative Tom Ford

isn't he, you can read a lot into his body language around the table

for good and bad. Yes, you can. I suppose we seen a bit of it in the

last frame with what happened with a couple of shots he played and he

nodded a little bit in disgust. I'm not a big fan of that. Your opponent

is looking at you, you always have a sly glance over and if you can see

your opponent nodding and he's not happy, it fills you with a bit of

hope and inspiration. So a lot of great players out there manage to

hide their feelings, whether they're feeling ecstatic or disappointed

with what they've done. Tom is one who does show his emotions.

He can't believe he's found all the gaps there. Expecting the cannon.

He's found the gap up and back. Now he's faced with a tricky safety

shot. Could go for the tricky blue into the middle pocket. The swhiet

going to come back towards the red at the left corner. Big shot. -- the

white. Really unfortunate there because he's made the blue. Very

unfortunate. Looks a real thin stick this one to

the right corner but it's got to be worth a look at. He's going to go

for it. This is as thin as he can hit it. He's hit that all wrong,

he's hit that way too thick, half ball. He had a near enough play to

miss that completely, get the thinnest of edges.

He knew half way down the table that that was too thick. This is not easy

by any means, a lot of distance between cue ball and red. A lot of

pace. It's gone in but it wasn't a clean pot. Hence that is why he's

not on the pink but you wouldn't believe he could get that kind of

angle from that red there. Just come across it a little bit. He's overcut

the pink. This is not the Ronnie at the moment that we are used to

seeing. The defending champion and four-time

winner of the Welsh open is taking some time to settle down here.

Neither of them really playing their best despite the fact Tom took the

first frame. Were you surprised that Ronnie didn't take that one on,

Darren, when he put Tom back in? You could have played it as a shot to

nothing and Tom played it and played it terrible and hence missed it.

Just can't believe what is going on at the minute. If this red goes past

the pink, he'd put all his eggs in one basket there, a bit of

desperation through the poor shot he played before. This has been a real

funny start. That's even worse. What's going on? !

A shake of the head from O'Sullivan in his chair. Both of them will be

getting frustrated with the way they are performing here in front of a

good crowd at though Motorpoint. One of the most prestigious titles out

there. It's not happening for either of them at the moment here in the

first 20, 30 minutes. Darren, just explain from the

players' perspective how the scenario unfolds when you hear

people coming away from a match saying, we dragged each other down.

How actually does that happen? Obviously at the moment both players

are still a bit nervy, you know. You might expect it from Tom Ford, you

wouldn't expect it definitely from Ronnie O'Sullivan. It wouldn't

surprise me now if he didn't go on, because he's that type of player

Ronnie O'Sullivan, he's missed a couple of unbelievable balls which

normal players wreck for the rest of the match, but he's one of these

that can turn around, have one moment of brilliance and then just

clear the table and he's back on point. This has been a real strange

start. And you are right, you know, you can't get dragged in if you

allow yourself to be dragged in -- you can be dragged in. Both players

will be frustrated to have had good chances and they've not done

anything with them. What I will say, it's very, very

hard out there. It's very tough. The first round. This is where the money

is, this is where the points are. Obviously, Tom Ford is in a

different position to Ronnie O'Sullivan. And these points for him

are massive and also the money is massive for him. Ronnie every year

picks up a couple of real nice cheques and he's always there or

thereabouts. It doesn't affect him as much as it affects some of the

lower players. We have a whole wealth of new

tournaments emerging on the calendar under the guidance of Barry Hern. A

lot more pride money available, but you have to win it and get it in

your bank account. It's difficult for some of the lower ranked players

to emake ends meet. Couldn't agree with you more. If you

are a good player, you get your game right and you turn up and play,

there are a lot of opportunities available for everybody and a lot of

money to be earned. These young lads coming into the game, it wasn't that

long ago, unless you were one of the top four or eight players, you made

a living, it wasn't a great living. Now they can set themselves up for

the rest of their lives if they get their game together and play

consistent which has got to be a good thing. At the end of the day

they have got professional in front of their names so they are in a

position where they can earn money and take care of the future.

APPLAUSE. Under normal circumstances, I don't

think he'd have played that red there, that's a bit of frustration

crept in. It was better for Ronnie. Tom Ford shaking his head,

scratching his face. He looks at the options before him. Still 67 on.

Five reds. Needs to remind himself he is leading this match. It has

been a really strange early five minutes or so.

So much snooker being played in the first few days because we are the

Open 128 format. Joe Perry and Anthony McGill playing on the next

table. Over a minute pondering his move

here. Can't afford to make a mistake here because he is a long way adrift

in this frame. Middle right is available if he

fancies it. Ronnie fairly close to sealing this frame.

Red and a colour. Levelled things up.

Tom Ford requires snookers, Ronnie will want to unequivocally put this

frame out of sight. You would have thought that was

going to drop for just a second. It doesn't matter. Off to another

scrappy frame, Ronnie has levelled the scores. It's one apiece.

The four-time Welsh open champion, that just one of a whole number of

staggering statistics in a glittering career that was started

with a ranking title at the tender age of just 17. That was back in the

late 1990s when he won the UK Championship. And who would have

thought then Darren even though the huge talent was obvious, that over

two decades later, he'd still be going strong, that the length of

time that he's dominated the game has been quite magnificent. I knew

because it was 1993 to be exact and he beat me in the semi-final of the

UK when he became the youngest ever winner of the ranking event. The

snooker he played in that semi-final and then the final, I'd witnessed

nothing like it, to play against him and then to see it was just

unbelievable. In fact, I actually broke off and rolled into the pack

and said, go on, pot one from there. Everybody laughed in the crowd and

what have you and obviously he didn't and the next shot he played

safe, I played safe and then he cleared the table. So he still had

the last laugh. But with that bit of reminiscing over, Ronnie

O'Sullivan's breaking off. He'll be a little bit happier that he's

levelled the score 1-1. Both players have had their chances in the first

two frames, that's probably a fair scoreline. It has been a funny 30 or

40 minutes. A couple of unbelievable balls missed.

Still think coming back from almost an entire season from winning the

world title is one of the most staggering sporting achievements I

can recall. Yes, it is. It has to be said, even

though he took a year off from playing tournament snooker, he

played all year dog all the exhibition circuits and played in a

couple of other private things. He came back, was still active within

his game and practise and everything, he just decided to have

a sabbatical away from the ranking tournaments scene. Nevertheless, he

it was still a great feat to do that.

Joe Perry was talking after the Masters final last month saying even

though you know you've been in the sport from his perspective for a

couple of decades and you know you should play the table and not the

opponent, Joe said after that final, he is the most difficult player with

which to put that into practise. APPLAUSE.

It was a good red. Taking another good shot, blue into the green

pocket. Wasn't going to do a lot with the cue ball. Too much side on

the cue ball. Wanted to swing past the reds. Just cued across that. It

wasn't easy. A lot of pressure on it. It's one of them...

And still the errors keep coming into this third frame. Both players

taking such a long time to settle down into this match.

Trouble is for Tom Ford, he'll be thinking at the moment that he

wouldn't have expected this. In some ways, it makes it a little harder

for him that he's getting all these chances and he's struggling to take

them. He will not have expected Ronnie O'Sullivan to be missing the

balls he's missing in the first couple of frames. Sometimes it does

play a funny part in the way you are thinking.

Again, he hasn't played a great shot there.

He's going to have to play another shot in the black.

Again, chasing his position at the moment.

Probably the best shot he's played in this match so far. Now all of a

sudden, this is a good opportunity. You just cannot believe this.

Massive margin of error there. And once again, Tom Ford is coming

back to the table much quicker than he would have been anticipating.

He's not going to get too many better chances than this against

Ronnie O'Sullivan. He's had so many opportunities in these first

two-and-a-half frames. Must capitalise because surely at some

stage, Darren, the real class will come shining through from Ronnie.

Both players are a bit dumb struck. Ronnie is dumb struck.

It has been a real strange affair at the start.

The Fopp Ford loses this match, he will have nightmares, that's for

sure. -- Tom Ford. He is gathering a little bit of

momentum here. Still look of disbelief on his face.

The referee just asking some mobile phones to be switched off.

Unfortunately, we have these ringing in almost every single session of

world-class snooker. The first of two awkward reds here.

There is the first. Now requiring snickers. There is a

possible century break but that looks very difficult indeed.

O'Sullivan tops the last red. Thinking about the colours.

This is like the Ronnie O'Sullivan people have enjoyed for the last 25

years. So many opportunities gifted for the

opponent from both players. This is class from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is

the defending champion, remember. I century break and Ronnie

O'Sullivan is back to form and in charge.

That is more like the natural order of things reasserting itself. But it

is not as if Tom Ford did not have opportunities. He will be kicking

himself. He needs to get in and around the black. We will show you a

shot. Whenever you're cueing this high up with the spider, when you

don't get the centre, the fact he has having to cue very high above

the ball is hampering the other reds. We let it run and it will turn

over to the coroner. Those are the kind of chances, if you're going to

beat Ronnie O'Sullivan you've got to take them. Darren said in commentary

he will have nightmares if he does not win this game. But when you're

in front of the TV cameras playing someone like Ronnie O'Sullivan,

nerves, all these kind of things. He said, if you're going to beat him

you will need to get him called and we've seen how cold he was. He's

been very ordinary. The game is not easy. You will have a blip. We talk

about people's B game. Ronnie O'Sullivan is winning with his B

game. Mark Selby is an absolute genius with his B game. You've got

to expect to have a bad spell, he is having that and he is still winning.

You can almost read every emotion he's going through. That is one of

Tom's problems. Is it wrong to not hide it? Absolutely. He is

unfortunately one of those players who is not happy with himself and

shows it. Why can you not be happy with yourself when you are playing

Ronnie O'Sullivan and he is missing balls? Ronnie O'Sullivan has had a

little break. Now he will get to his feet. It is a big frame for the

Englishman. 2-1 down against the defending champion.

Tom Ford breaks off. He's had his chances, he's just not taken them.

All of sudden he slots in the long read.

Those are ominous signs. That is the first long pot. All of a sudden, he

has not been playing very well. Tom Ford has been to his first

ranking final this season. Lost to Mark Selby. This is just not

happening for him at the moment. Needs to try and draw on the good

memories but it is not clicking here.

Apprehension has crept into his game. He's in a position where we

use the term, he is completely gone. It is very difficult out there. In

some ways it has been harder because he will not have expected the

chances he's had and then to get them and not do anything has

probably frustrated the life out of him.

These are really bad signs for Tom Ford.

We can see he's not just missed that.

He's really taken his time over this one.

We are seeing plenty of emotion. Different expressions on the faces

of both men here. Not too many times you will see Ronnie O'Sullivan

taking two minutes to decide on a shot.

How many more chances like this will Tom Ford get in this matter?

This is an enormous frame and he has been gifted a lifeline here. Feels

as though there were signs that Tom's head has gone. Give him a

chance. Already three shots in. He got

forced into playing the red in the middle. The wrong side of the blue.

We'll be very disappointed not to say that he can pot that read.

Is there anything you can do in this kind of frustration comes into your

game? Is there a case to be said of almost walking round the table when

you get an opportunity and just talking to yourself and saying,

you're not out of this match yet? He's given him loads of chances.

That was a perfect chance. For a player of Tom Ford's calibre it is

just not good enough. He's had a couple of chances like that and he's

not made any breaks. What is going to make it worse for him is on the

TV table, even though you're supposed to not think about it, he

knows this is getting panned out to millions that are watching and all

of a sudden he's going to feel very big in his seat as if all the eyes

of everybody in the audience, he cannot do anything about it at the

minute. He's under real pressure and he's frustrated. He's getting his

chances but he's doing anything with them.

That tells you a story all of its own. He's produced some really good

snooker. I mentioned his run in Germany. First full ranking final.

When he gets it right he's a class act.

He has beaten Marco Fu this season which is no mean feat. He's got

top-quality snooker in his armoury. We have not seen it yet in this

match. He is not having the rocks. He will not have gone for that read.

He's not fit in. He's got to play another good shot, which thankfully,

he has done. He's back in prime position. He really needs to make 40

just to settle down. He's back in position. Balls are

sitting perfect. To have any chance in this match he needs to make this

effort count. It is almost reminiscent of Barry

Hawkins. There was one session where he was almost laughing to himself

because he could not get a break of almost 40 together and then came out

in the next session and played brilliant snooker. I guess you can

afford to do that at the World Championships, especially deep into

the semifinals. The match is so long. Over 30 frames. In a best-of-7

you cannot get away with that especially against the likes of

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Just as it looks as though he's putting a decent

break together, all of a sudden he's broken down yet again.

If Tom Ford loses this kind of match this is the kind of defeat that will

take him a long time to get over, is that true? I don't think so. He will

just put it down to him having a total Maher. The only thing is, he

pits in practice. Ronnie has punched the table with his knuckle. He did

not get the required cannon from that black. It has been one of those

matches, I'm afraid. That is the problem when you play Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Now he's back in perfect position all of a sudden. Last frame

and a half he's looked like a completely different player.

If he makes the part cue ball will naturally come down the table. Not a

bad safety shot. Despite all the mistakes, Tom Ford

is still in this frame. He's just helping the referee on the

placements. This is how they were. Ronnie O'Sullivan had the first

attempt. Just needs to move a fraction with the green.

Very easy for us sitting in the box watching at home on TV. The green is

still not quite where it was the first time round.

They just seems as though it was a little further away from that read

than it currently is. Not easy moments of the referees.

Tom Ford is once again saying that he feels the green was further away

and Ronnie was asking if that was correct.

Ronnie not looking at the table at the moment. Just letting the referee

and Tom Ford make sure they are absolutely certain.

The crowd just finding it a little bit amusing. Even Tom Ford had a

smirk on his face. Just wanting to make sure it is

right. There is still some dialogue going on.

I think Ronnie just said, I'm in trouble, mate. They are chatting

about shot that they've missed as if they are just in their local club

having a couple of pints on a Sunday afternoon.

Tom is indicating the green needs to be moved a little bit further away

from the red. It almost needs to come...

Maybe it has been moved a little too far. And now the referee is moving

the green ball back. You can see the shadow.

Not sure if you are hearing that. Ronnie says I cannot remember I just

know that this is not right. Tom is saying that is about rate. -- about

correct. The green seems as though it's

correct. Now at last we are back to the snooker.

The crowd were finding those exchanges amusing. Listening to the

players chatting to one another. An important time for Tom Ford in

this match now. The context of it, anyway.

He will settle for that. He is going to need that. Played quite a good

shot. Even if the red had not gone in, still would have snookered him

on that read. In an ideal world he would move the yellow of the brown.

He's trying to develop the brown of the yellow and I think he's just

pushed it too far so can get through to the red.

He was trying to develop all balls in case he got an opportunity.

Has Ronnie doubled this? He has, he's doubled it. I can't imagine

he's paid the double there, he hasn't acknowledged that as a fluke,

but I don't think he played the cross double. Nevertheless, the

black's gone in. He's marching on. What a shot. The cross doubled to

tee up the key frame. Just the pink required. And it's there. It's been

a long frame for all manner of reasons but Ronnie O'Sullivan now

finds himself within one of the winning line. He leads 3-1.

And why not take a little break. Out goes Ronnie O'Sullivan. We'll talk

about that in a few seconds before play resumes. Let us pick out

another few round one results. Mark King, he is through to the second

round after knocking out a Welshman, a 4-2 victory earlier on. Alan

McManus, twice the runner-up in the 90s, he is out, beaten by

Christopher Keogan, 122 in the world, beaten once by McManus once

this season so a measure of revenge for him. Igor, a 4-0 victory for the

exhortically named Alfie Burden. We believe Figuereido is the only

zalian in the tournament. This could be finished soon. He'll

be destroyed Tom Ford. Tom Ford got the fluke, like Darren said in

commentary, he was trying to bring all three in, yellow green, brown. I

agree with Darren, not sure whether he played the cross double. The only

thing is, look where the white ends up finishing. He's playing the cross

double now. This is the one before that. But obviously when he ends up

playing the double in a few moments' time, when he plays the double, now

the pace he's played it is obviously that he knows the blue is going to

be in the way, he played to leave the red three or four inches to the

left, it's gone in, but the black to yellow was fantastic and the yellow

was great. This is how Ronnie is. He can be out of the game and looking

out of sorts then he will pull off a miracle shot. How Tom Ford is not

leading this match I don't know. He'll be sat there in the chair with

time to think, what will be going through his head? He's almost

concealed the win now, he'll be convinced he's going to lose. His

body language istering dwribl. Higham aen if of him, he's a

Leicester lad but he has to improve his body language. If you are

sitting in your seat shaking your head, your opponent is going to gain

something from that. At least look like you are going to compete, at

the moment Tom is not looking like that. The fifth frame now playing

for the match, Ronnie is kicking it off.

A really strange match has unfolded with the errors and all the talking

points. But the frame Tom Ford won seems like a long time ago now.

Three in a row for Ronnie. This is more like the Ronnie that

Tom Ford thought was going to turn up from the word go.

Tom Ford's just been put off a little bit.

He's become frustrated knowing he's had a real opportunity to beat a

world class player in Ronnie today. He just hasn't taken his chances.

Frustrating day at the office. He's got nothing to lose really.

Could play the yellow down for the loose red. Could go for the blue on

to the pink and split them. Well, he's tried to develop them off

the yellow. It all went wrong. You can't help feel if he's going to

play at that pace, he'll have much better value in playing the blue,

the cue ball into the pink, if he'd played at normal pace, the cue ball

would have done the work for him. Another great red by Ronnie who is

starting to find the groove a little the last two or three frames.

Interesting to hear his press conference. After this match, what

he is going to say about his performance and Tom Ford's

performance. Interesting to see as well if his

interviews were any different to what they were at the Grand Prix up

in Preston because they were quite interesting to say the least. Yes. I

had a look at that online, the robot answers. I think Neil Faulds

finished that interview by saying you played a bit like a robot in

that match, not really a lot you can say to a man giving you answers

pretending to be a robot voice! There's never a dull moment.

He had his son Ronnie Jr. At the seventh Masters and people were ask

him if his son could play -- asking him. He gave that classic wink and a

smile and said, no, mate, I've told him it's got to be golf or tennis.

Snooker's too hard. But of course, he said it with a massive smile on

his face. The winner of this one faces Mark

Davies. It won't go down as one of his

absolute finest performances and I'm sure he'll say that himself when he

chats after this match. But now, Tom Ford requiring multiple

snookers and he knows this is all but over.

And he decides not to chase it. And five behind. A real shame there for

Tom Ford, away for Ronnie O'Sullivan, 4-1. Don'tment for Tom

Ford. Ronnie O'Sullivan by contrast looking contented as he left the

arena there. Hopefully we'll be joined by him in a few moments.

Let's talk about Tom first of all, because we'll talk to Ronnie in a

moment. A missed opportunity perhaps after the first frame? I was singing

his praises early on, 170 competitive centuries. Three maximum

breaks in tournament play. Obviously a great player, within two PTC

tournaments. I don't know why he went into that match almost like a

rabbit in headlights. Everything that went wrong, he was shaking his

head and things, won the first frame so thought he might settle down, but

didn't seem to fancy it today. You can't always play at your best, that

goes without saying, Ronnie plays at his best mostly. Ronnie's played

poorly Tom but Tom didn't put him under any pressure at all, it was

strange. You made the point when we were watching that there was a lack

of conviction in what he was doing, we saw the long shot for instance,

we played it without any belief that he'd win. Exactly. You have to keep

those feelings to yourself, don't let your opponent know you are

feeling terrible. Sometimes you go out there and feel shocking and you

don't fancy potting a black off a spot sometimes but don't let your

opponent know that, try to let them know you're feeling like you're

still in the game. Ronnie, as I'm sure he'll admit, has played

ordinary today but managed to win 4-1. How to you bounce back if you

are Tom Ford, does that play on your mind for a while? There are so many

tournaments, week in week out there are tournaments. Tom's got to have a

couple of days off, then he'll go to the drawing board. Here is the man.

Not one of Tom's best performances. No, it wasn't that great from both

of us really. Not yours perhaps either Ronnie but here you are, you

are through. Yes, it was a win I'm happy to get through. I don't know

how many times you have sat in the chair as the winner this last year,

but how did you feel in that game, did you feel you were not going to

make it when he took the first frame? At some points there was,

yes. I've been trying to say, if you played your A game you would win

every time. You made a century break today but weren't at your best and

that'ses the beauty of having a B game. Yes, you have to win all

games. He made the point beforehand that the best way to beat you is to

catch you cold in round one, would you go along with that? I don't

know, mate, he's got his own ideas, I can't comment on that. Did you

give him more opportunities than you would have likes and he didn't take

them? Yes, he had his chances he just didn't take them.

Mark Davis next. Another really tough match for me, so pleased to be

in still. You talk about you don't care about landmarks and records,

but with John Higgins going out yesterday, you are the only guy now

who can get a fifth Welsh Open title. It will go down as the best

ever in this tournament. Must mean something to you to possibly do

that? Yes, I didn't even know John had gone out so that's news to me.

Cardiff is one of your favourite places though isn't it? I love the

Welsh fans, I would have been disappointed today to lose. The fans

really got behind us and there is a great history.

Doing a bit of jogging around Cardiff between games? I will be,

absolutely. Well done today. Thank you.

Let's bring you up-to-date with the all-Welsh contest that took place

earlier on between Michael White who made to it the quarter-finals last

year against Duane Jones who's never got beyond round one. White is

behind now as we join them in frame five.

This looks a very good shot from Michael White. Never easy trying to

ambulance across the face of an object ball. As Michael did there.

Very easy to catch them thick. Almost got in behind the blue but

fortunately for Duane, he has a shot on, a similar shot on for him I

would imagine on the left hand side of the red. Try and get the cue ball

in behind the blue. Couldn't possibly have asked to play

that any better. That was a bit fortunate for Michael

White. Never intended to leave that cue ball off the baulk cushion but

it's found its way in behind the brown. Although Duane Jones has a

lead of 36 points with 43 remaining, that could evaporate very quickly if

he were to leave Michael White a chance from here. Imperative that he

contacts one or two of these Reds and gets things safe. If he can warm

up to the red near the right hand side cushion, to the back out of

the, he might be OK. -- back out of the.

Sometimes if you can't see a shot, it's best to just hit them with some

pace and try and knock a ball on the cushion somehow.

That's the worst possible outcome for Duane. He's left Michael White a

potential match and frame-winning opportunity here now.

He's had some chances in this match, Duane, he's missed a lot of easy

ones by his standards and, although he's 3-1 get hind, he could have

been 3-1 up on another day -- behind.

Blue to bunkth pink at the moment would be tricky.

I think Michael White has purposely played to the brown: Hampered by the

green? He'll have to play the blue. That's perfect. Now the blue is back

on its spot it makes the positional side of things better from blue to

pink for Michael White. Now he's got Up and win frame and match here.

Every chance to clear up and play frame and match here.

Michael White could find himself a place in round two against Lawler or

Bo. That could be a very stern test you

would imagine. Very experienced players. Only entrenched in Wales

top 16 at the moment. Played that shot from blue to pink

federal ly -- perfectly, Michael White. Stretching across the side

cushion for easy cueing. Perfectly on the black. I feel that for Duane

Jones, his attempt at winning this event is all but over now and in

goes the black. Great performance from Michael White in the end.

Comfortable victor at 4-1 over his foalth fellow Welshman Duane Jones.

I practise with Duane and I know how good he is so I knew I had a big

match on my hands today really this morning. We both struggled a bit and

I think, you know, playing in Wales and playing a mate is never easy,

but luckily for me I produced some good form when I needed to and came

out the 4-1 winner. I think I was just a bit more clinical though to

be honest. The snooker wasn't great. There was a lot of missed shots. I

was a bit unlucky with a few cannons I had, but the clearances in the

first frame and the last frame stand out on the black. Maybe just be more

experienced than Duane there, but I'm obviously pleased to get through

the first round. One Welshman goes home but Michael White is through to

round two. We saw Michael last year get to the quarter-finals.teringif I

terrific run but then he absolutely bombed. Yes, I was pleased with the

way he played against Ryan Day. He looks to be scoring a lot heavier

than he has been doing in the past. We have known for a long time about

Michael White. Since he was 17. I played against him in Tenby at a

young age and I knew he was going to be a prospect. Little disappointed

that he didn't do any better. Never easy playing with one of the people

you practise with. Good win over John Higgins as well in the Grand

Prix. He said he suffers from depression from time to time so he

perhaps suffers with the mental side of it? Having been in that position

many times myself, sometimes you know what a great player you are,

you find it hard to get yourselves up sometimes. The Spotlight is on

you at all times, especially in Wales, he's one of the players that

could win the Welsh tournament and it would be nice to see that.

Michael's temperament not yet 100% but if he gets that right he's a

very, very good player. Let us take you on to the next match that we

have coming up and this is the leading Welshman, the two-time Welsh

Open winner Mark Williams coming up against Elliot Slessor.

Let's hear from Elle Elliot. There are so many tours at the moment.

Ryan only finished one on Sunday night and is playing on Monday night

and it's like a conveyor belt. You just want to do well in anything,

really, it's difficult the older you get. It gets harder to get into

tournaments now. I'm nowhere near as good as I was and I'm never going to

be. In my opinion, I don't think the standard is as good as it was a few

years back, to be honest. Just look at the winners winning it, there are

all different winners at the minute. We have had a couple of good results

here and there. I would like to get a bit of form back. I've been

showing patches of playing quite well but then a couple of stinkers

in after them as well. Probably it's consistency. I don't know how I'm

going to play and when that stinker match is going to pop in. That's the

problem for my game any moreway. Mark has 19 years on his opponent.

No wonder the stats look like this. No titles yet for the youngster.

Mark ah two-time winner here, the last 18 years ago. Slessor's never

got beyond round one. They've met once before and Williams took that

one. We talk about psychology and the mental site of things, Mark

keeps saying my days of winning top tournaments is over. I think he was

very philosophical. Mark is one of the all-time greats. It's strange at

the minute, everybody is playing week in week out so the consistency

is there, but Mark alluded to the fact there's been so many strange

results he didn't think the standard was as good as it was a few years

ago. Do I agree, Hamilton and King winning, they are capable of winning

every tournament but it was a surprise to some. Mark Williams

shows glimpses of brilliance and that's the problem when you get to a

certain age, your consistency goes. You can play fantastic for four

frames on the trot then two bad ones. In his olden days, his bad

games were still very good, his bad game now is not good enough. When

his good game is there, boy is he good enough. You would expect to see

a Mark Williams victory this afternoon, but it's not always that

straightforward. The players are in the arena. Mark Williams' first game

against Elliot Slessor and Dale and Dominic are our commentators.

A very good afternoon to your commentary team.

This is going to be an intriguing match between Mark and Elliott.

Obviously, seamer Mark Bounty of times, have not had the pleasure of

seeing Elliott play so we will see how he shapes up in the main arena.

Obviously, as was alluded to in the pre-match interview, this is a zone

territory and he wants to do well. It looks like he's really going to

compete and contender to win a major and then he throws in a bad one. I

don't know why he's doing that at this moment in time. Rest assured,

on his game he's still got enough to win any ranking event. It's all

about the start. He's going to need to settle down very quickly.

Every professional dreams of coming out and playing in front of a nice

big crowd on TV. Normally they are out in the sticks on the side tables

so it's good to see. Obviously was a great deal of difference in these

players, especially on the television table. It will be a

challenge for the young man in your picture. He's had a few issues in

the last couple of seasons but he's found something he happy with. If he

does it could be a difficult match. It is the only time they have

played, the indications are that it could be a close match.

He didn't hold back there. What a great pot this was. They don't come

any better than that. The right corner would be his

favourite. He's playing for the one just above the black and that looks

just about perfect. It will be disappointing not to get

at least 30 or 40 points from here. He seems to have got the pace of the

table very quickly, I have to say. That's the thing though, so many

young professionals on the circuit. You begin to see some nice new

faces. I think he's had a kick there. He's taken on the side of the

cue ball. It was not really evident. Obviously he is a long way off his

required position. No problems. There we are. The Welsh

Open, this arena is fantastic. Well supported. The crowds in Wales love

their snooker. Very tight as to whether it goes on

to the spot. Needs to go as close as possible

without touching it. This is a good position. A little bit further away.

He would love to pop the red to the left of the black. He has to get a

cannon on the red as he pushes through this one. He's quite a

little bit. He's left with a very tricky black. Did not push the cue

through enough on the follow-through. Here is that cue

ball to run through the red and passed to the side. This is going to

test his cueing. I did not see a folder. I was

looking at the reds and neither of them seemed to move. Sometimes when

you jab down on the ball and don't strike it cleanly it sounds like you

have. Maybe that is what happened there.

I think Mark will be relieved. He got more into that cue ball than he

would have liked. That means he is in a little bit of trouble. Easy

enough safety shot. He's got to get back cue ball back to the kitchen.

Maybe even tried the park there. His intention was to get that on the

cushion so if you made a mistake, the clearance would be a lot

tougher. The chance for Mark to right centre.

This is a great chance. Nicely on the blue. Given him this

opportunity. He's working his way back into the

frame. By then he should have asked enough points to need a red without

the last colour. He'd like to have that one back

again. A lot thinner than he would have liked.

That was about as thin as he can get. Still given a chance into this

corner. This was then. That was not easy for Elliott. A

left-hander so he needed the rest. That was a lot more difficult than

it looks. Playing off the conditions. That is

the worst result for him. Trying to leave the cue ball in

exactly the same place. This is not going to help.

If the red had missed the pink it would not have been far away. No

Elliott has got shot to nothing. The cue ball will be coming naturally

down. Karl Marx let this read in? -- can

Mark get the red in? It is beginning to look like a red ball frame.

Knocked it onto this right centre for Elliott. Elliott Slessor is just

22 years of age. He hails from Gateshead.

Just have a little look to slip the blue end. A really deep screw shot.

I think that is what he tried but it has gone a little bit astray. He's

got an angle on this brown. He wants to knock the blue into the corner.

Very difficult shot that he attempted there.

I don't believe Mark has got the snooker.

Any snooker will do because certainly cannot guarantee it

getting safe even if he had the yellow.

I'm surprised Elliott tried such a difficult shot. Any snooker could

have bookmarking trouble. Ascot have placed

I was just about to say that he needs the cue ball to slow up.

Otherwise, that would be a great shot by Mark Williams.

Sometimes you use the pocket as a guide. Fortunately he did on that

occasion. Started off very comfortable but the

game has got away from him a little bit. A few tactical safeties. It has

been a bit of a scrappy first frame. Both have had breaks of 30 plus.

Mark will be feeling better. It is always nice to get that first frame

on the board. Needs to stay positive and prepares one behind him.

Just under half an hour, that frame. We are live in Cardiff. A lot going

on. There are eight tables in play. The second set of first-round games.

Let's bring you News of the World number 11, Joe Perry. He made the

semifinals in Cardiff and last month, runner-up to Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He's out at the first stage. He's been beaten 4-3.

The leading Welshman Mark Williams is trying to negotiate his way into

round two. But it's not very straightforward, Willie Thorne? That

is what he does best. Deaf nitly the number one player in

the frames. There was a really easy green and

he'll be horrified he missed that. He's got to roll it in, here it is

now, and it's frame over and he missed it. The way the green missed

by so far, I might have to give him the benefit of the doubt having seen

it the second time, he might have got a bad contact but he'll be

horrified because he had Mark under control in that frame. We talked

about Tom Ford's temperament, losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan and every

single emotion written large on his face, bit more of a poker face from

Elliot Slessor perhaps? Whoever coaches any young player, they've

got to get the temperament right. It's almost for me 70-30 now, 30%

temperament and 70% ability. Now they are playing so much snooker,

you've got to be so strong mentally, if you are not, you get found out.

Let us see if we can get a speedier second frame. Williams 1-0 up over

Slessor. It was a lengthy first frame. Both players getting used to

the pace of the table and they've settled their nerves early on. Very

relieved to have won that frame. A short sprint over best of seven,

every frame is vital. On the move towards the blue. Struck

it well. Mark's been putting a lot of

practise in. He's been having glimpses of it in the events and

matches. Needs to have a bit of luck at the

right time an I'm sure we'll see him winning major events again.

Mark will clear the red away from the black spot to clear away both

corners. He hasn't screwed the cue ball back far enough there. Ehe was

on the red and it was thinner than intended. That's a Japanese style of

tip. I think he's missed this. Very disappointed Mark Williams. Should

have made more from that. That wouldn't have done his knuckles

any good. Very close. Good pot on the black. Left himself

awkward cueing on the red. Mark sitting there with a little nod and

wry smile. This is not easy to get to the cue

ball, pot the red, control it to get on this black. Won't want any

impartial, or unparted ones I should say. Make sure the cue ball

naturally comes off the cushion, which it has done.

Couple of reds out in the open but you would feel with this angle on

the black, he's going to have to go into the reds and catch them to the

right hand side of the cluster. A bit of a tester for Elliot, he

knew the importance of that black. He would have expected to have left

Mark Williams an easy opener but he hasn't done. This looks thin and the

cue ball's gone in, that's a disaster for Mark.

Left Elliot Slessor multiple choices here. Fresh from this and Mark

recognised that. That's probably why he missed it.

I'm sure on the practise table Elliot Slessor wouldn't expect to

miss much from here. Of course, he's out there in a heated battle on the

main television table. Hence one of the greatest play, of all-time,

there is a lot of pressure on him. I think Elliot felt bad contact

there. There was a kick, only a slight one.

Perfect position on the black. Ten points ahead. He won't need to worry

about the red on the left hand side cushion.

Elliot can just take the remaining loose reds with decent value

colours. Should enable him to level this match up.

If there is a shot that can go wrong, it could be right now.

Straight on the black. It's blocking the way. Have to do

some work with the cue ball here. Couple of shots away from securing a

second frame. The cue ball just got away from him a little bit there.

Got to make sure he drops the black in. A bit thin again. Just got in

off the jaw. I think he thought he'd missed that himself. One red and

colour away from being safe in this frame. He's going to have to pull a

good shot out here. He'll be cueing very close to the side of this

green. This is not easy. Mark very cleverly moving the

difficult red off the side cushion. Puts pressure on Elliot Slessor's

safety shot now. The mistake could be costly now.

Very well played controlled safety shot.

Mark would love to stick the cue ball down in the baulk area. Missed

the double kiss. Missed the in-off. Still a lot of play left in this

second frame. Massive if Mark could pinch this

frame. Not to the standard he'd like to be

playing. He's in control, albeit, a long way back in this frame. The way

the balls are situated, if he wants to get an opportunity he can get in

and it can all sit in nicely there. Definitely heavy contact. The red

nearest the cue ball won't pass the pink into the right centre. Very

clever play. May chance the double here.

Great shot from Mark. Reminds me a little bit of Docherty, great player

of doubles and always looks for them.

Played that double in the full knowledge that that was the only one

he was attempting to leave. And this is the shot. Black-to-red.

If he gets on this red, you'd fancy this second game for him.

He's just lost the cue ball a little bit there. Left handed which makes

it slightly easier. If this red goes in, you fear the worst for Elliot

Slessor. And he's missed it. And Mark will be real disappointed

with that. In his heyday, Mark Williams

wouldn't often give players second chances. Just look where he's left

the red. It's red and any colour for Elliot Slessor. He could level

things up at 1-1. On the green. Doesn't have to do anything too

fancy here. Can play the green and the yellow. The green is in an ideal

position for the yellow. Mark requires two snookers at this

stage. He may well continue, barring two

snookers that will be 1-1. Young Elliot's snookered Mark

comprehensively here. If Mark doesn't hit the green, he'll

immediately concede. Well, that's incredible. Didn't contact the

green. He has conceded. So young Elliot Slessor from Gateshead has

managed to level things up and it's 1-1. Quite hard to read what he is

thinking exactly, Elliot Slessor, but there we are, it's all square.

How do you read this? A slow old game? He'll be absolutely delighted,

he deserved to win that really. Mark Williams should have cleared and

missed that relatively easy red for Mark Williams to make it 2-0

perhaps. Mark Williams is obviously playing in front of his home crowd

and wants to impress and as yet he's not. We know what Mark Williams is,

he's a wonderful player and if he gets it going, doesn't matter

whether he wants to win scrappy or well, this is the red he was winning

well. I think he was in two minds, he could have ran it round two

cushions and still been on the yellow or brown, he could have cued

across it after a stun shot. Difficult to play though? Yes. The

beauty with Mark Williams is, you would never know by his face whether

he's in front or behind and we have talked about temperament all

afternoon, there's a player to watch if you want a good temperament. Both

players out at the moment gathering their thoughts ahead of frame three.

You talk about temperament. Slessor looks older than his 22 years? I've

not seen him play before, to be honest. I've looked at his results

and seen that he's beaten some great players but I've not seen him live

on TV. He definitely knows his way around, a little disappointed he

hasn't put Mark out of the game when he's had opportunities but his

safety looks good. The only problem, when it comes to a pressure pot, he

seems to be a little wanting and be a little anxious on it, so it

remains to be seen whether his temperament found him in good stead.

In terms of Mark Williams, we talked about him, he's self-deprecating but

still competing against the very best. We pushed Mark Selby really

hard at the Masters? It wouldn't surprise me if he won one in the

next few years. Mark Williams is as good as any, so why not. I think

they are on their way back out there. We can see some stats there

on the screen. They've just disappeared now, we haven't had

chance to see them now, but they'll be back out in a minute. Where do

you see this going? It's important to get a foothold in the game. 1-1,

Mark Williams will be slightly disappointed he's not two in front.

Mark Williams I think will win this match. OK. There's the prediction

from Willie. Let's rejoin Dom and Darren.

I would agree with Willie Thorne on most of that. Mark has a terrific

temperament. He did punch that table a little bit hard when he missed

that ball in the last frame. Relatively easy red.

Very hard to do to look like it means nothing when you are playing.

It means everything. didn't go as crisply as he would

have liked. Big matches these first rounds. We've already said about the

points and the money. Makes a big difference. You lose, you go home

with nothing. Into the right Centre for Elliot.

One of the greatest ever Potters. Best cannon for Elliot. He'll be

attempting a pop here. Roll up behind the green on the baulk

cushion? Or he could feather edge the green and back off the baulk

cushion and in behind it. That's what he's done.

Is there a plant on here into the left corner for Elliot Slessor?

They appear to be separate. Could be smashing that pack of reds far and

wide here. And he didn't hold back, did he? I

don't know that he could have hit it much harder than that. Just hit it

as hard as you can and hope you land on a colour.

Which he has. We are only early into this third frame. Slightly worrying

times for this home crowd and their Welsh hopeful in Mark Williams.

Great arena. Elliot's just got to make every

chance he gets count. Easier said than done. He looks a

very confident young man. Look for an angle on the blue here.

Playing for the red into the left corner, the one that is below the

black, leave that other one over the corner pocket for later on. He knows

if he doesn't land on it, he has the option of the other red.

He played that in the full knowledge that was the only one likely to

leave. He's just lost the cue ball little bit there. Left-handed which

makes it slightly easier. If this goes on I fear the worst for

Slessor. He missed that. In his heyday, Mark Williams gave

them second chances. Make sure the green plays the yellow

again. That on the green marks snickers at

this stage, to needed. Young Elliott has snickered Mark

Williams comprehensively here. If Mark does not hit the green he will

immediately concede. Incredible. He has conceded. Young

Elliot Slessor as level things up and it is 1-1.

Quite hard to read what he's thinking, Elliot Slessor, but there

we are. It is all square. He will be absolutely delighted because that is

a game he could have lost. He deserved to, Mark Williams should

have cleared but he missed a relatively easy read. This match has

not taken off yet. We know that Mark Williams is a

wonderful player. If he pops this -- if he gets this he wins the frame.

The beauty of Mark Williams is you will never know by his face whether

he is in front or behind. We spoke about temperament. There is a player

to watch. You talk about temperament. Slessor looks older

than his 22 years. I've got to be honest, I've never seen him play

before. He is beaten some great players but not seen him live on

television. He definitely knows his way around. I'm disappointed he has

not put Mark Williams out of the game but he looks pretty good. He

seems to be a little anxious. I'm glad you're still finding a way to

use teletext. I meant the mobile! I'm kidding. In terms of Mark

Williams, he is self-deprecating about whether he can win big titles

but is still competing against the very best. It would not surprise me

if he did not win a big one in the next couple of years. Mark King has,

Anthony Hamilton has, is Mark Williams as good as them?

Definitely. I think they are on their way out there. We can see some

stats on the screen. Where does he go now? With it being best of seven,

it is important to get a foothold. I think Mark Williams will win the

match. There is the prediction. I would agree. He has got a terrific

temperament. He did punch the table a little bit hard.

Obviously showed a little bit of frustration but he never ever looks

bothered, Mark. I think that's one of the beauties of his game over the

years. He plays like it means nothing, but it means everything.

Very hard to do. He did not play that very well

either. If the red had gone in he was on this black.

That is the problem, when he's played a safety shot it has collided

with the baulk colours. It has allowed Elliott to get his hand on

the table comfortably. Here's Mark normally in that

apartment, very good. The black is tied up. The pink looks

to be available. If Elliott is to make a sizeable

break he will need to get that black ball into play but it will be

interesting to see how he does that. They do their best as early as

possible to get the black into the open. See what Elliott does here.

This should be an easy starter for Elliott.

I'm afraid we've reached the end of our afternoon programme on BBC

Wales. If you don't want to miss a second of this match then cover it

continues on the red button. Gentlemen, do you have any prior

motoring convictions? Mr Harris, can you confirm that

you'll be adhering Don't worry, I'll just...drift

along. Will you be partaking in any

competitive driving? We're going to win,

we're going to win! Yeah...maybe. Finally,

will you be requiring fire cover? We're good, yeah, no fire.

Good.