Quarter-finals - Part 2 Snooker: Welsh Open

Good evening, we have reached the business end of this hugely

unpredictable Welsh Open. We started with 128 players, just six

contenders remain. Two quarterfinals to come, the two men who have

already booked a place in the semifinals. Few would have tipped

world 77 Scott Donaldson to make the last four, but he was the first man

through and he did it in style, thrashing Zhou Yuelong 5-0. My

safety was good all day. I didn't give him many chances. I don't know,

I just won, I'm happy to win. Then the tie of the round, two of the top

ten going toe to toe, Judd Trump against Barry Hawkins. If you were

with us earlier, you would have seen it go to a final frame decider. They

were locked at 4-4. Let's take you into frame nine, with Trump the

table, trailing 52-37. He will be happy with that. But

there could be a cross double shot to nothing on for Barry.

Not quite. Has he got a snooker? Has he gone in behind the back?

Can Judd plus the brown and Mr Cannon on the blue to hit the red?

-- miss D cannon. Is that in? My word! What a moment

for Lady luck. A little bit of assistance.

What a gasp from the crowd. Barry went white as a sheet when he saw

the red going in. Does the blue pass the yellow? That will not pass.

Unless Judd wants to take on a risky green, I think he will have to roll

up to the blue and get the snooker or play another type of safety shot.

He is left-handed, so rolling to the blue should be easy. Any snooker

will do. 24 points behind, as you see. Still,

27 remain. Given the position of these colours, you would have to say

it is a yellow ball frame, even though there is a great deal of

pressure on both players now. This is what makes snooker so great

to watch. I can feel my palms getting sweaty and we are just

sitting in the commentary box. Such a big investment of effort from both

players. A dream result for Barry. Safe as

houses. That is all you want when you are escaping from a snooker

interposition of the frame and it is like this.

Got the double-kiss and I think he has left the yellow one. Not as easy

as it looks. I fancy Barry to get it. It's a lot harder than it looks

on your screens. How did it stay out!? How did the

yellow band -- stay out? Nobody in the arena could believe it. What a

stay of execution for Judd Trump. I will tell you how he missed the

yellow, he played a stone -- stun shot, some of the spin went off the

yellow. They have really taken this all the way to the wire.

Judd Trump needs everything here. What a way for this match to edge

towards a climax. Two of the very best in the world,

and it has come down to the black. This, for a place in the semifinals

for Judd Trump. And it's there. So much drama, so many opportunities

for both men. A really great contest. One or two standing to

applaud. The winning run comes to an end for Barry Hawkins. By the skin

of his teeth, Judd Trump is into the Welsh Open semifinals.

A real struggle after the interval, before it I was OK and then after I

didn't feel so good. I missed my chance in the last round. I'm

thinking, that's it, he has missed. Let me in again, I missed an easy

ball. You know, you are thinking it is all over. Some crazy things

happened and he ended up leaving me perfect on the yellow. It is just a

lot of luck involved. The past few tournaments I played well and didn't

have it, this time I played not so well and had some luck.

We are now looking for two more to go through. Robert Milkins takes on

Kurt Matlin. And the game we will be joining live, world number two

Stuart Bingham takes on Stuart Carrington, who has been talking

about his journey to the last eight. Coming down here, I was playing

well. Hoping for a good run, get to the last 16 and you are really

thinking, well, I'm deep in this tournament, so far, so good. The

journey has been long and tough. The game is so tough to break through.

Unless you really are something special. It has gradually come

together. Slowly but surely. Obviously qualifying for the

Crucible a couple of years ago was the biggest match then. Now, to go

to a quarterfinal in a main ranking event, it is top of the lot, yes. He

just looks as though he wants it so much. He works so hard, you can see

that in his game. He's got such a good all-round game. Just a class

act. To win the World Championship you have to do something special. It

doesn't matter when you do it. He's done it and he is a great player.

I'm going to go out and enjoy it, stay focused like I have done all

week. I have been playing well, hopefully take that from the outside

tables onto the main match table tonight, hopefully do the business.

This match started a short while ago. Let's take you into the arena

in just a moment. Firstly, the head to head between them, as you can

see, Stuart Bingham second in the world. Carrington, 55.

Let's take you into the arena and join the commentary team, Darren

Morgan and Rob Walker. Thanks, Ian. A great reception for

both players. The crowd is excited to see the world number two. Stuart

Bingham, what a fine world champion he was two years ago. Just

generating some momentum. This was the reason. A nice opening red. 2013

finalist. What an occasion for that man sitting in the chair. Stuart

Carrington has got his grandad, John, sitting up in the crowd.

A really big night for the whole family. There he is, middle left. He

has been everywhere with his son since the age of eight, or with his

grandson, since the age of eight. He has taken him to all the big

tournaments. He told him, you will be the underdog, go out there and

just enjoy the occasion and the moment.

This is a massive occasion for Stuart Carrington. That was an

uncharacteristic error from the world number two. To be fair, he had

a massive kick. Probably the worst I have seen all week. Absolutely

frightening. He just squared that red up so much. A lot of kicks this

afternoon as well. Another thing for Stuart Carrington,

he will not be used to playing on the TV table, never mind playing

Stuart Bingham, one of the best in the world.

As you can see, a fantastic venue. Always well supported.

The Welsh Open is one of the better events. It has gone far enough down

the table. He has got a straight to the left corner, just above a

cluster of reds. But it is a real Finn snick. -- thin.

Not quite there. That was the only problem with that shot, he was under

a bit of pressure. I don't think the green has saved him.

This was really thin. Always knew he would be leaving this red if he

missed. Stuart leads the head-to-head.

Stuart Bingham, that is. When they played earlier this

season, Stuart Bingham beats his rival 5-4, Stuart Carrington, at one

stage, led 3-1. That would suggest Stuart Carrington is improving and

his game is running in the right direction. From a psychological

perspective, when you are coming up for a big match, under the

spotlights, and you are the outsider, is the best advice that

which Stuart Carrington from his grandad? Just enjoy the occasion?

Yes and no. Obviously he is playing one of the world's best players at

the moment. Stuart Bingham has everything to lose. Stuart

Carrington has everything to gain. It should be a plus plus for him, he

is in a quarterfinal of a major ranking event, if he wins he is in

the semifinal, which he has never done. He has already guaranteed

himself a nice payday already. Really, should be to play freely,

other than obviously all snooker players, anybody in sport, they are

very proud and they want to win. Pressure is only something you can

put on yourself. Nobody can put pressure on you. It is something

that builds within, once you have sat in your chair and you can't do

nothing, it is best to just let it go. When you get to opportunities,

try your best to make the most of them. But I think he will feel a bit

mad with himself if this match does not go to plan and he comes off and

says he did not enjoy it. The main thing is to enjoy it. Stuart

Bingham, he is on a great run as well. He has been terrific form the

last couple of seasons. He has already said himself he has been a

bit of a journeyman. Everybody has known how good he has been over the

years. It took him until his latter years to start playing his practice

game on the match table. He is making up for lost time, that is

sure. Similarities between the Barry

Hawkins story and the Stuart Bingham revival. Closing in on this first

frame, Stuart. Really seemed to find inspiration from winning his first

ranking title in Australia, 2011. Since then, he has added the

Shanghai Masters in 2014. Who could forget the incredible 17 days when

he produced what John Parrott described as snooker from the gods,

beating everybody, Murphy, Ronnie, Judd, lifting the world title.

There was a great party afterwards, as well. So, Stuart Carrington is

now requiring a snooker. Of course, he is the favourite on

paper. But we are talking about a tournament where only two of the

world's top 30 players remain. Judd Trump, knocking out Barry

Hawkins. Only Judd in the semifinals, and the world number two

is still in among the top names. It has been a week of upsets.

A nice opportunity for Stuart to get a bit of table time, now the frame

is absolutely guaranteed. Stewart has played all of his

matches here on Table 1. From a player's perspective, give us the

insight into the subtle differences Stuart Carrington will find, now he

is playing tonight on the TV table? Well, obviously this is his first

match on this. Craig played on this and could not believe the

difference, compared to the outside tables. He said it was a good three

feet faster. That means when he is hitting them like on the outside

tables, he will be short on everything. The likes of Stuart, and

it is only right, they earned their place, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd

Trump, they need enough to play every match on this match table.

There is no difference to them, every time they turn up, everything

is the same. These are the players are coming on cold. I'm not saying

it is unfair, but they have earned the right to be there, but a level

playing field, it is not a level playing field.

Great start. Is he going to finish with a century? The frame is already

wrapped up. Yes, he is. 103 from Stuart Bingham. His quest for

another Welsh Open semifinal is up and running. An almost flawless

start by Stuart Bingham, looking really good all week.

Good evening Dominic Dale, who has come dressed as the Green goblin.

When you looked in the wardrobe, what were you thinking? I was

thinking, this looks good, a bit of evening wear. It looks fantastic,

brilliant stuff. What are your thoughts on this opening frame?

Bingham has been going really well, gliding through the tournament,

almost. The perfect start from Stuart. A century break in the

first. Tough to keep up. He will get his chances, he will be glad it is

first to 5, and not four with an interval. There will be a chance to

acclimatise, but Stuart has more TV experience. To keep Stuart pointless

in the first frame is a big thing and could make it tough for Stuart.

What glimmer of hope would you offer Stuart Carrington? He has not been

this far in the condition before. He doesn't have the really big match

experience, playing in front of TV cameras. How can he possibly beat

Bingham? Stuart doesn't play well all the time, none of the top

players do. You can't trust your opponent to perform at their best.

You always have a chance. You have just do what you know, best. He just

has to believe in his technique and be focused when he is out there. It

won't be easy, playing in front of the cameras with a big audience. It

puts pressure on you if you are not used to it. He will get his chances.

If he can settle down and make a good break and he will be fine. We

have seen so many shocks, you would not rule out another one tonight?

No, he will want to stay with Stuart, he will not want to allow

him a 3-1 or 4-0 lead at the interval, because then he will be in

real trouble. He would like to win one of the next two frames to get a

foothold. He will not settle down until he gets the first frame on the

board. Here is his chance, having seen Stuart Bingham get a century in

the first frame, how can Carrington respond?

He didn't do much wrong in that first frame.

Needs to get in as soon as possible, 30 or 40, and settle down. He will

not really settle until he gets a frame on the board, that is the

definite. Stuart is having a look to see where

to stick the cue ball. There is a red to the left corner. I can't

imagine he will play the pot unless he feels that it will go and he can

roll the cue ball past the right of the black.

He has gone for the pot. I don't think he is too happy with that. He

has left a possible red to the right centre. Way too straight.

This is not a great chance, but his first real hard chance.

He has overcut that. On these professional tables, they are so

slick, they stay very straight. On a club table, it would have pulled it

in and drifted the red into the centre.

Stuart Carrington, still yet to pot a ball in this match. Didn't quite

come off from Stuart Bingham. As Darren was saying, he could do with

a little bit of table time to settle his nerves. A big occasion, this,

for Stuart Carrington. It is his fifth year of entering the Welsh

Open. He didn't win a single match until last year. He beat Jordan

brown in the last 128, knocked out by Neil Robertson 4-1 in the last

64. This has been an excellent run to the quarters. He doesn't want it

to end here. If it does, he wants to give a really good account of

himself. He still hasn't had that opportunity

to show us what he can do here under the bright lights, and under the

pressure, taking on Stuart Bingham. Clever shot by Stuart, he has

blocked the path to the reds. He might be forced to have a go at the

red on the green pocket. He can just play it into the side

cushion and drag the cue ball behind the black.

Well, he didn't play that one, but he will take it. I thought he was

going to go for it down the green pocket, he just tried to play safe

and drag it behind the black. That was a cracker.

Well, not the shot choice we were expecting. But it is in. He is up

and running in this quarterfinal. Decides to play safe. A long way to

go for Stuart Carrington. At least he is up and running.

Well, coverage of this game continues online on the BBC sport

website. Now we are making way for the rugby. We shall return for more

of this quarterfinal after Scrum V Live, at 9:30pm. For now, good

evening. # I knew you were trouble

when you walked in # Now I'm lying

on the cold, hard ground