:00:56. > :01:04.Good evening and welcome to the Motorpoint Arena here in Cardiff.
:01:05. > :01:11.The conjoint Judd Trump in the final? Coming up in a few moments it
:01:12. > :01:17.is Robert Milkins against them. The semifinal against Robert Milkins, it
:01:18. > :01:25.will be tough. It is great to watch. He gets on with it and he is a great
:01:26. > :01:30.lad. He joined the same year. He is one of the players that probably has
:01:31. > :01:35.under achieved, but when he gets on one he can steam-roll anyone. The
:01:36. > :01:41.Welsh is always a good tournament, even when it was at Newport it was a
:01:42. > :01:46.good tournament. Good support there. Just over the bridge for me! Mike
:01:47. > :01:55.Kim is in good shape. In another semifinal and hopefully, Manchester,
:01:56. > :02:03.the English open, I got 6-5, so hopefully I can get to the final.
:02:04. > :02:09.Winning the world was unreal. He is up there but the very best. I would
:02:10. > :02:13.be happy with the rest of my career getting to the semifinals and
:02:14. > :02:23.finals. One day it will happen. It's the game, isn't it? Lots of nerves.
:02:24. > :02:30.I just to break this duck in the semifinals. Big moment in the
:02:31. > :02:32.Spotlight for Robert Milkins. Stuart Bingham the world number two, Robert
:02:33. > :02:45.Milkins, 32 in the world. This is the best run for Robert
:02:46. > :02:50.Milkins at the Welsh Open is. Stuart Bingham having the edge in the head
:02:51. > :03:01.to heads, 5-1 to Stuart Bingham. Dominic, we have seen one big star
:03:02. > :03:07.making it into the final, could we see another top-10 player? Rob is a
:03:08. > :03:12.fast, decisive player. I think this could be a very close match. Stuart
:03:13. > :03:17.Bingham might be anxious because he had real problems getting over his
:03:18. > :03:22.quarterfinal win yesterday. If he has problems again, Robert Milkins
:03:23. > :03:26.could capitalise. We know quite a bit about Stuart Bingham and that
:03:27. > :03:35.wonderful win in Sheffield a few years ago. What do you know about
:03:36. > :03:39.Robert Milkins? What he has gotten abundances experience. He has played
:03:40. > :03:44.at the many times before on the big stage. It is his sick semifinal, he
:03:45. > :03:49.would love to get through to his first ranking final. He is a very
:03:50. > :03:54.fast, talented, exciting player. I don't think this match will last too
:03:55. > :04:00.long! He has every chance of winning tonight. Scott Donaldson, the
:04:01. > :04:04.underdog against Judd Trump, everybody wanted to see Judd Trump
:04:05. > :04:08.entertainment go through. The same thing for Robert Milkins tonight, he
:04:09. > :04:12.has to handle that. Stuart Bingham probably does have a few concerns
:04:13. > :04:16.about his form. He hasn't been at his best in this event, but his
:04:17. > :04:21.experience has told he has got through to semifinal. I wouldn't be
:04:22. > :04:26.surprised if it was 2-2 at the interval. I would like to go all the
:04:27. > :04:29.way. They are both great guys, attacking players and they get on
:04:30. > :04:35.with the game. I don't did we will see a lot of safety play. With a
:04:36. > :04:39.come down to hunger? They are both hungry. Stuart loves winning titles
:04:40. > :04:44.and getting ranking points. Robert Milkins would like to get through to
:04:45. > :04:48.his first final. It would mean a lot to Stuart Bingham. He was in the
:04:49. > :04:54.final three years ago, runner-up on that occasion. This weekend he wants
:04:55. > :05:01.to get his hand on the trophy. It is almost time for second semifinal of
:05:02. > :05:07.the day. It is time to hand over to your MC for the evening, Rob Walker.
:05:08. > :05:13.Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is the last session of snooker
:05:14. > :05:18.ahead of the Coral Welsh Open final. The big question, who is joining
:05:19. > :05:22.Judd in the showdown on Sunday? It is time to find out what is sure to
:05:23. > :05:31.be an atmospheric night here in Cardiff.
:05:32. > :05:40.APPLAUSE. Please welcome, at the emerging for his sixth ranking event
:05:41. > :05:45.semifinal. This season he has battled back canopy from a broken
:05:46. > :05:52.collarbone, it is the first time he has made the last four at the Welsh.
:05:53. > :05:55.He has the best walk on in snooker, he is a cider drinker, but we call
:05:56. > :06:19.him the milkman, Robert Milkins! MUSIC: I'M A CIDER DRINKER.
:06:20. > :06:24.His opponent, he survived a spirited comeback last night to book a
:06:25. > :06:30.seventh major semifinal of the season. Three times a ranking event
:06:31. > :06:34.champion, he sealed the big 12 years ago at the Crucible. Ladies and
:06:35. > :06:54.gentlemen, they call him Stuart Bingham!
:06:55. > :07:00.It is the second semifinal of the 2017 Welsh Open. Your commentary
:07:01. > :07:06.team, Terry Griffiths and Willie Thorne.
:07:07. > :07:13.TERRY GRIFFITHS: what a night this could be for Robert Milkins. Stuart
:07:14. > :07:18.Bingham just having a bit of fun that somebody in the audience. He is
:07:19. > :07:26.a seasoned campaigner. Currently number two in the world. He had a
:07:27. > :07:31.bit of a scare last night. Played flawless snooker to go 4-0 in front,
:07:32. > :07:43.then a little bit of trouble getting over the line. I think it is
:07:44. > :08:07.essential for someone like Robert Milkins, to get a very good start.
:08:08. > :08:17.Robert Milkins does have a win over Stuart Ingram, way back in 2001.
:08:18. > :08:24.They have met on six occasions. Bingham is 5-1 in front. 2001 was
:08:25. > :08:33.the win that Milkins had. Will tonight be the second?
:08:34. > :08:45.TERRY GRIFFITHS: no certainties this year, that's for sure. A lot of the
:08:46. > :08:48.top seeds knocked out early. He is well capable of beating Stuart
:08:49. > :08:53.Bingham on his day, but he has to start well. He is not carrying a
:08:54. > :09:33.great record in semifinals. APPLAUSE.
:09:34. > :09:36.He was expecting to be on the yellow or the Green hit it so well he is
:09:37. > :10:13.right the baulk. He didn't play that very aggressive.
:10:14. > :10:19.I expected it further up the tables than this. If you get this straight
:10:20. > :10:24.red he will be nicely on the blue or the pink. That was a long way away.
:10:25. > :10:35.Unless... Good fortune strikes again!
:10:36. > :10:48.That has been his first look of the tournament. They all tell you that!
:10:49. > :11:39.Why is the other guys so lucky and I keep losing?!
:11:40. > :11:53.I don't think he played for red in baulk, surely? He was looking at the
:11:54. > :11:58.cushion, for it to come off slightly faster than it came on. That happens
:11:59. > :12:24.sometimes. He did give that one a bit of a dig.
:12:25. > :12:35.Pink and black in open play. He will be disappointed if he doesn't get at
:12:36. > :12:45.least 40 here after that fluke to get a good lead in this frame.
:12:46. > :12:50.Carrington only scored three points in the first four games, such was
:12:51. > :12:55.his dominance. He came quickly backed down to earth in the second
:12:56. > :12:59.half! Carrington made a very spirited fightback, perhaps a little
:13:00. > :13:50.lucky to get a level at 4-4. Not straight enough to screw
:13:51. > :13:54.directly back for the black, but there is a gap between the pink and
:13:55. > :14:05.the pack if he wanted to go for that. He could screw directly back.
:14:06. > :14:13.Just the two remaining loose reds, then he would have to go into the
:14:14. > :14:17.bunch. He would like to go into it early, off the next colour rather
:14:18. > :14:50.than having to wait for the last one.
:14:51. > :14:59.There is plenty of mileage in going into the bunch here. There is one to
:15:00. > :15:04.the right of the pink, he might play for that one, which he is. The one
:15:05. > :15:18.just below the pink goes into the corner.
:15:19. > :15:26.He looks to be striking the ball very well here, starting this match
:15:27. > :15:34.as he did against Scott Donaldson. Robert Milkins won't be too happy,
:15:35. > :15:44.after he started this break with the fluke. If he had made 20, Rob
:15:45. > :15:50.wouldn't have minded. The ball is always go but they want to. There we
:15:51. > :15:52.see the fluke. He missed the pocket by a long way, which is unusual for
:15:53. > :16:13.Stuart. Very dedicated young man, is Stuart.
:16:14. > :16:17.Plays in virtually every tournament. The only tournament he has not
:16:18. > :16:24.played in is for the given birth of his children. Apart from that, he
:16:25. > :16:35.loves to travel, goes to all the tournaments, big or small. He needs
:16:36. > :16:40.another red and colour. There is one right at the top left of the pack
:16:41. > :16:45.that just about pots. Not a lot of margin of error with this one,
:16:46. > :16:58.though. I'm not even sure he can get through to it. Has he sorted out a
:16:59. > :17:14.plant? Yes, playing the plant. Very well done!
:17:15. > :17:26.The fact that he is taking the blue means he will need one more red.
:17:27. > :18:07.Well, in the other match, they started with this century. I think
:18:08. > :18:10.it was 131 that Judd got. This second semifinal will probably start
:18:11. > :18:49.with the century. We have seen a fine example of how
:18:50. > :18:56.players cannons into balls and things. Stewart is not the best of
:18:57. > :19:03.that, -- at that, but his brick building is as good as most. He can
:19:04. > :19:39.get a lot of spin without too much speed.
:19:40. > :19:46.He has already made two centuries so far in this tournament. Almost a
:19:47. > :19:54.certainty now to make his third. Very well done! Help To Buy bad
:19:55. > :20:00.fluke in the second or third shot he played, but everything else has been
:20:01. > :20:05.played to perfection. Both semifinals have been started with
:20:06. > :20:10.the century. Robert Milkins will be a bit disappointed about how this
:20:11. > :20:19.frame has gone, he didn't do anything wrong. Stuart got a
:20:20. > :20:39.fantastic opening red, then has sat -- has had the fluke.
:20:40. > :20:45.It's always nice to get off to a great start, and nothing better than
:20:46. > :20:52.the start from Stuart Bingham. As we said before, he was helped by her
:20:53. > :20:58.fluke. He was just acknowledging that there are, just saying to
:20:59. > :21:04.Robert Milkins that he was a bit fortunate.
:21:05. > :21:09.Good start your second semifinal here on Saturday evening. Great
:21:10. > :21:14.start from Stuart Bingham. He said maybe one to nerves at yesterday,
:21:15. > :21:21.but that will ease the nerves. It should do. A perfect start, total
:21:22. > :21:32.clearance. Temp two hasn't got off the starting blocks. Stuart God and
:21:33. > :21:37.amazing red early on. He left himself a three quarters distance
:21:38. > :21:44.red that he missed by a mile. He hit this nearly straight. It came off a
:21:45. > :21:49.couple of cushions, it went almost dead with into the centre pocket.
:21:50. > :21:54.Unfortunately, Robert Milkins had to stay in his chair. I like the way
:21:55. > :22:00.Stuart Mill Prince held his hand up straightaway before it even went in.
:22:01. > :22:05.The etiquette, just to say, sorry, didn't mean that. What about Robert
:22:06. > :22:11.Milkins, how do you see him doing if he goes a couple of frames down?
:22:12. > :22:17.Does he have the ability to come back? He always has the ability to
:22:18. > :22:20.come back from a deficit because he is the sort of guy if things are
:22:21. > :22:24.going wrong he will try something different. If the style of play
:22:25. > :22:29.isn't working, he will experiment and try to do something to change
:22:30. > :22:38.the pattern of play. He can't speed up, go for more shots, refuse a few.
:22:39. > :22:43.Some to do that. You will admire that pink bowtie! A man of your
:22:44. > :22:51.tests include them. Where is the green jacket tonight? I think it is
:22:52. > :22:57.going to be auctioned at the end of this show! Might raise a few quid!
:22:58. > :23:02.Bingham, he has been in good form throughout the tournament. Yes, he
:23:03. > :23:08.has. As we have seen in the last six months, or most of the season for
:23:09. > :23:16.Stewart, every night and again something quite inexplicable
:23:17. > :23:23.happens, and quite often the Leafs Stuart exasperated. It happened the
:23:24. > :23:27.UN he missed that early red by a mile, before his fluke that led him
:23:28. > :23:37.to clearing the table. Let's rejoin commentary.
:23:38. > :23:50.TERRY GRIFFITHS: Robert Milkins was not the best of our break-off. Rob,
:23:51. > :23:56.plays very quickly, but he is also a very clever safety player. I worked
:23:57. > :24:07.with him for a few years in the Southwest Nagar Academy in
:24:08. > :24:13.Gloucester, where Rob is from. He is a bit like Mark Williams, he take
:24:14. > :24:19.shots on that look a bit risky, but then when the doors than you think,
:24:20. > :24:23.well, that was handy, because he has left anything on anyway.
:24:24. > :24:47.Towing of the side cushion and for the black, I think. This is tough.
:24:48. > :24:54.You see, that is the problem with somebody who plays fast like Rob,
:24:55. > :25:07.when they miss the don't look great, but he plays like that all the time.
:25:08. > :25:15.WILLIE THORNE: Robert Milkins is fantastic with his pots, we saw that
:25:16. > :25:19.with the red. The good thing is, it looks like it is only going to cost
:25:20. > :25:36.one point with the blackout of commission. Hello! We haven't seen
:25:37. > :25:45.that one before! I wonder what Rob is thinking here. I can't understand
:25:46. > :25:51.why the call him both run Bingham! What a contrast. In the first frame
:25:52. > :26:06.he had that wonderful fluke, then Rob. I great red. Let's see what
:26:07. > :26:12.will happen here. He may have left the red on, but it will be a very
:26:13. > :26:21.thin cut. It is available, if he wants to take it on. He just had a
:26:22. > :26:25.quick look at the black, I'm not sure if it passes the green, because
:26:26. > :26:35.that is the direction the wait will be taken. He has played in and out
:26:36. > :26:42.of baulk. It is amazing how you never see players hitting that shot
:26:43. > :26:49.then when they are standing the ball. They always miss it back.
:26:50. > :26:54.Another good red by Robert Milkins. Wait a minute, Rob, the White House
:26:55. > :27:05.to stop first, take your time! It is finished absolutely perfect. He
:27:06. > :27:13.needs to get at least the blue line. Oh, Rob, that is careless. I didn't
:27:14. > :27:18.think he would play it that way. You will see a lot of that from Rob, he
:27:19. > :27:26.can look careless sometimes, but that is just the way he plays, he
:27:27. > :27:32.has always been very quick. But then the delivery was quite quick as
:27:33. > :27:42.well. It wasn't the easiest job in the world.
:27:43. > :28:01.A chance now to bring a few reds interplay. -- into play. He got that
:28:02. > :28:07.little bit thin and it went into the left-hand side of the pocket. If it
:28:08. > :28:19.was in the middle, he might have opened up a few more reds. Maybe
:28:20. > :28:32.just a safety. He could not see a red to pot. Very good length of cue
:28:33. > :28:42.ball, but as you can see, the red, you could cut that.
:28:43. > :28:49.APPLAUSE. Once again, that is unlucky. This is
:28:50. > :28:59.missable, the fact it has finished near the cushion. To finish close to
:29:00. > :29:04.the cushion like that is unfortunate. This black is not
:29:05. > :29:06.straightforward, by any stretch of the imagination. I think he has to
:29:07. > :29:19.go for it, though. For me, the green is only easier
:29:20. > :29:25.pot, but these players don't like playing with the baulk colours if
:29:26. > :29:37.they have the opportunity to bring the black or pink interplay -- into
:29:38. > :29:45.play. He played that nicely, not an easy pot.
:29:46. > :30:04.You just get the feeling that he has to score here. If you doesn't make
:30:05. > :30:13.much out of this lot, he could lose a bit of confidence. He has looked
:30:14. > :30:21.after -- is that after by Paul Mount in Gloucester for many years and I
:30:22. > :30:28.was talking to Robert, he beat Robert on the black. They play all
:30:29. > :30:36.the time in qualifying and the World Championships, and he is not playing
:30:37. > :30:38.now after getting into the Crucible, which most players in the career
:30:39. > :30:56.never get to play there, you know? I don't quite understand why he
:30:57. > :30:59.played the cannon into the pink, purely because there was every
:31:00. > :31:06.chance of pushing that pink into a safe place. I think the probably
:31:07. > :31:18.just did it to cannon the two reds to the right of the pink. This could
:31:19. > :31:53.be end of break. Is it his turn for a fluke?
:31:54. > :32:01.Stuart has got every chance here of playing one of those two reds on the
:32:02. > :32:20.right-hand side. He could then make the pink available.
:32:21. > :32:31.Robert Milkins will be very disappointed not to have got more
:32:32. > :32:37.than 17 in that break. And the way Stuart Bingham played in that first
:32:38. > :32:43.friend, you'd expect him to finish this. He's always been very strong
:32:44. > :33:46.in the break-building department, but that's not his best effort.
:33:47. > :34:00.Now, the pink rose by onto its own spot. Should be a formality from
:34:01. > :34:07.here now, these next four reds and colours. Very quickly, I think this
:34:08. > :34:12.is going to be 2-0. Robert Milkins could not have done a thing about
:34:13. > :34:19.the way the first frame went, but he certainly could have done something
:34:20. > :34:28.about this one. 2-0 down in first to six is not a disaster, though. But
:34:29. > :34:37.just circumstances - he is the underdog and he has not always done
:34:38. > :34:38.well in semifinals. But he's sitting down there and not looking to happy,
:34:39. > :35:40.and I don't blame him. He looked very assured when he had
:35:41. > :35:49.this chance - you just felt he was going to do it.
:35:50. > :35:58.Doesn't mean he's going to win the match, but I would rather be 2-0 up
:35:59. > :36:31.Darren 2-0 down, no matter who you're playing.
:36:32. > :36:40.Rob Milkins will have to get his potting boots on. Stuart played very
:36:41. > :36:42.well last night to come back into his match.
:36:43. > :37:08.So, Stuart Bingham, with a 67, does 2-0 in front. -- goes. Food, any
:37:09. > :37:16.sort of food. Hopefully someone like, what's his name, Tom Harvey? I
:37:17. > :37:21.fell off a roof and Rob both my arms at the same time when I was about
:37:22. > :37:26.eight. Most people would say I can be a bit annoying. I can be a bit
:37:27. > :37:41.lazy. I've always got an excuse for fitness things. Apple crumble to
:37:42. > :37:48.finish. As a kid growing up, I was a Liverpool fan. I could kick up nine
:37:49. > :38:00.balls in one hand, ten was a bit of a push. I've never done a skydive,
:38:01. > :38:06.never gone skiing. I was 7-1 up in the final and I ended up losing
:38:07. > :38:17.11ten. That one, I would always love go back to that. Nice fry up in the
:38:18. > :38:31.morning, bit of golf, bit of snooker, sunbathing. A romantic meal
:38:32. > :38:34.at the end with my other half. Very interesting, Cameron Diaz, good
:38:35. > :38:45.choice of! Lots of sunshine, lots of golf. Loves his football. And he's
:38:46. > :38:48.obviously a great snooker player. Rob Milkins, his opponent this
:38:49. > :38:53.evening, we haven't seen too much of him. He will be disappointed he did
:38:54. > :38:58.not close out that second frame, when he lost position. And he's
:38:59. > :39:09.looking Dennis Pitta will did again in his chair now. He does not look
:39:10. > :39:13.in total concentration mode. -- he's looking a little bit bewildered
:39:14. > :40:32.again in his chair. Switch it off, please. The referee
:40:33. > :40:39.is asking someone to switch his phone off. Either that or face the
:40:40. > :40:52.music! Easily done, isn't it? Need your phone on by mistake. -- you
:40:53. > :41:09.leave your phone on. In the Gulf, they take your phone is off you,
:41:10. > :41:19.don't they? -- in the golf. That's another good start.
:41:20. > :41:47.He's looking at the ankle he will have on the black after this red.
:41:48. > :41:55.And another good chance to get a good break. By playing the cannon
:41:56. > :42:03.into the pink, he has put the pink out of play. He's going to have to
:42:04. > :42:10.just work with the black for the moment. He just needs to get a 50 or
:42:11. > :42:12.so break here, because it's been knocked out of him over the last
:42:13. > :43:20.couple of frames. Played that one perfectly, he's got
:43:21. > :43:26.the perfect angle now. If you watch him, he seems to start cueing before
:43:27. > :43:40.he goes down almost, he's so quick. Walks around as if he owns the
:43:41. > :43:51.place, Rob, doesn't he? Can be quite imposing on de Jong players he comes
:43:52. > :43:58.up against in the qualifiers. And more to the point, he can play a
:43:59. > :44:07.bit. One of his best wins was when he beat Neil Robertson in the World
:44:08. > :44:19.Championships. Neil Robertson said afterwards, some of the best safety
:44:20. > :44:22.play he had ever come up against. Decision time, do you play for the
:44:23. > :45:01.loose red or not? He had to kiss that pink virtually
:45:02. > :45:03.full ball, and he didn't. Very good recovery, excellent!
:45:04. > :45:15.And now, I would think he would have to go into the pack again. So he'll
:45:16. > :45:37.have to play one more good shot. He did not play it like that, but
:45:38. > :45:41.he'll certainly take it. And it's his turn to put his hand up to his
:45:42. > :46:01.opponent and say, that's not the way I played it.
:46:02. > :46:10.TERRY GRIFFITHS: If they're really sorry, why don't they just play a
:46:11. > :46:29.safety? He's given Stuart Bingham some hope
:46:30. > :46:36.here. If there can be any good news about missing a black off the spot.
:46:37. > :46:44.It's the black going safe. He knows he should have won the frame at that
:46:45. > :46:49.visit, as Terry mentioned. He's still big favourite to do so, but
:46:50. > :47:10.he's going to have to sweat a little bit now.
:47:11. > :47:18.He would like to play off the left-hand side of that red, but he's
:47:19. > :47:19.got to be careful he doesn't bring the black into play, whatever he
:47:20. > :47:55.does. And this is an excellent shot. Good, clean pot. He didn't take the
:47:56. > :48:29.risk of playing for blue or pink. You will be pleased to have another
:48:30. > :48:34.chance. -- he will be pleased. Yes, he certainly needs the black or pink
:48:35. > :48:36.back on its own spot to have any chance of bringing the other reds
:48:37. > :49:01.into play. Some players seen it different - he
:49:02. > :49:08.might decide just to work off the pink. I would not blame him for not
:49:09. > :49:13.bringing the black into play, it just depends on how they feel. Just
:49:14. > :49:26.maybe a little bit too far. That black is getting in his way
:49:27. > :49:57.now, underneath his body. Once again he looked as if he played
:49:58. > :50:49.for the blue there. What about trying to get the black
:50:50. > :51:04.in the pocket? I like it, I think it's a good choice. The five points
:51:05. > :51:12.would leave him 33 behind. Yes, he's taking your choice, Terry, and good
:51:13. > :51:21.thinking. He would love it to go in, of course, but it does not matter if
:51:22. > :51:27.it doesn't. It's not an easy safety shock for Robert. The pressure is on
:51:28. > :51:34.Robert now, because he knows he should have won this frame, missing
:51:35. > :51:38.the black off the spot. Yes, earlier, he was attacking this
:51:39. > :52:01.frame, and now, he's on the defensive. That was a poor shot.
:52:02. > :52:13.He might well look up to the air - he won't get any help up there.
:52:14. > :52:25.Great pot, and tried to bring that red into play.
:52:26. > :52:41.The reds, just far enough out from the pocket, he can't just drop it
:52:42. > :52:52.in. But it's a good chance. It's always easier when you're 2-0 up.
:52:53. > :53:00.Just got to be a little bit careful of the in-off here.
:53:01. > :53:31.That's a good shot, that's an excellent pot. You would expect him
:53:32. > :53:40.to get the next three colours without a problem. Yes, you
:53:41. > :53:48.mentioned it early on about starting off quickly with a 127. That's the
:53:49. > :53:56.difference, with these boys who have been in the big finals, semifinals.
:53:57. > :54:06.The top players can settle down quicker. Robert Milkins looking on.
:54:07. > :54:12.Stuart needs to finish as close to the pink as possible. That's
:54:13. > :54:38.perfect. But the pink is missable. This will hurt very, very much,
:54:39. > :54:47.Robert Milkins was in control of this frame... From that position,
:54:48. > :54:53.somehow, Robert Milkins managed to lose the frame.
:54:54. > :54:59.The expression on his face said it all. That will feel like a real kick
:55:00. > :55:06.in the teeth, punch in the stomach! That will hurt Rob Milkins. I'm sure
:55:07. > :55:13.when he walked back to his seat, he probably thought, OK, I'm 55 points
:55:14. > :55:17.ahead, I'm bound to win this frame. And its probably what we thought as
:55:18. > :55:20.well. Let's have a look at that missed black, which at the time we
:55:21. > :55:25.did not realise would be so significant perhaps? He tries to
:55:26. > :55:31.relieve himself in an ideal position, he's missed the black,
:55:32. > :55:38.it's gone safe. He probably thought, I'll get another chance, and it was
:55:39. > :55:43.true that Stuart needed to three more visits to the table, but he put
:55:44. > :55:53.himself in a good position, as Terry suggested. All of a sudden, Rob has
:55:54. > :55:59.got to play a safety shock off one of the two safe reds. And all of a
:56:00. > :56:12.sudden, you know that if Stuart goes get -- doesn't yet an opportunity,
:56:13. > :56:18.they're all there for him. Played a good green onto brown.
:56:19. > :56:29.And he made a winning clearance, and that will hurt Rob Wilkins. One
:56:30. > :56:37.frame away from the interval, then, this is a big one for Milkins? A
:56:38. > :56:44.must-win frame, I feel, for Milkins. The interval can change it, but
:56:45. > :56:47.against someone with Stuart Bingham's pedigree, it would be a
:56:48. > :57:02.very tall order to come back from 4-0.
:57:03. > :57:11.TERRY GRIFFITHS: Penny for your thoughts, Robert Milkins, after
:57:12. > :57:13.losing that third frame, with the good chances he had in that frame
:57:14. > :57:32.and the previous one as well. No doubt that Stuart Bingham has
:57:33. > :57:36.been the better player so far. Perhaps 2-1 would have been a fairer
:57:37. > :58:54.reflection of the play. There's a reds on the extreme right
:58:55. > :59:06.there, but I'm not sure he can take that on. He's just playing a very
:59:07. > :59:20.thin safety. This is a very fast cloth. Rob Milkins can just see the
:59:21. > :59:31.edge of one of the reds perhaps. In fact he may be able to take this on.
:59:32. > :59:37.Nothing's easy when you're 3-0 down and you've had some good chances.
:59:38. > :59:38.The problem is, he can't get round the back of the bunch. So if he goes
:59:39. > :59:54.for it, he'll have to get it. He came up off that very quickly
:59:55. > :00:03.click on who hasn't left anything - that's the first bit of good luck
:00:04. > :00:11.he's had, because hit that terribly. He played it poorly, but it was a
:00:12. > :00:12.very positive shot. There was a good chance that if he missed it, he was
:00:13. > :00:42.going to leave it on. Stuart Bingham has only missed three
:00:43. > :00:45.balls so far. Yesterday against Carrington he dominated the first
:00:46. > :00:56.four frames, it is a little bit the same so far. I think Stuart Bingham
:00:57. > :01:04.stuns the ball as well as anybody, that is why his break building is so
:01:05. > :01:08.good. He has controlled with this done and with these excellent tables
:01:09. > :01:17.and cloth they can get the spin on it. Back spin and you don't use so
:01:18. > :01:22.much, or top spin. Stunning the ball, deflecting the natural
:01:23. > :01:30.reaction of the ball he is potting for the next position. He hits them
:01:31. > :01:32.quite hard, as well. They hit the back of the pocket, a bit like Neil
:01:33. > :01:51.Robertson. That was different! I think Robert Milkins should be
:01:52. > :01:57.playing a few safeties just to settle himself dining get back into
:01:58. > :02:02.the game, although he is very good at the long pots and is aggressive,
:02:03. > :02:07.sometimes you need to step back a little bit and think, OK, am I
:02:08. > :02:18.playing well enough to pot this long ball or should I wait for a better
:02:19. > :02:20.chance? That was a clever shot. A bit risky.
:02:21. > :02:41.APPLAUSE. Robert can get past the green, can't
:02:42. > :02:50.pot the red. APPLAUSE.
:02:51. > :03:04.He can get to all the reds apart from the one on the left-hand side.
:03:05. > :03:14.Didn't take it on, he just got it a little bit thick. He was playing the
:03:15. > :03:21.safety but got too much of the red. Robert Milkins has quite an easy
:03:22. > :03:23.starter here. Easy for such a good player.
:03:24. > :04:10.APPLAUSE. He has already had a couple of good
:04:11. > :04:15.chances in this mini-session, he had the break of 55 in a frame he
:04:16. > :04:20.definitely should have won in an easier frame. He can't make any more
:04:21. > :04:26.mistakes. Everything is in the way of one another at the minute. If he
:04:27. > :04:33.plays for the ones in the middle, there are still a lot of work to do.
:04:34. > :04:35.For me, he could have played the one on the pink spot and just open more
:04:36. > :04:57.interplay. -- interplay. This is not a
:04:58. > :05:04.straightforward red into the middle. Black onto the next red is not
:05:05. > :05:10.straightforward. Does he have any sort of angle on the black to get
:05:11. > :05:21.into the bunch? Maybe if you deep screwed, he could. This is the key
:05:22. > :05:26.pot. He needs an angle on the black to get back into this. He has found
:05:27. > :05:35.one in the middle of the pack, that helps. Rob, wrong side of the blue!
:05:36. > :05:41.Whatever you do, don't get on the wrong side of the blue. He is
:05:42. > :05:50.shaking his head. He is obviously feeling at the moment. It helps a
:05:51. > :05:56.lot, doesn't it, shaking your head? I don't know why they bother. A lot
:05:57. > :06:03.of players do it. I suppose it just becomes a habit. Very negative, I
:06:04. > :06:32.feel. He is not at his best. It is tough
:06:33. > :06:36.out there. As we always say in commentary, you never settled down
:06:37. > :06:38.in the big matches until you have a frame on your side of the
:06:39. > :06:58.scoreboard. You never get much luck if you're
:06:59. > :07:05.not playing well. It's just how it goes.
:07:06. > :07:18.That was worth a look. He could of had the green, nice angle to come
:07:19. > :07:20.down towards the reds. He just can't get that extra important ball to
:07:21. > :08:07.keep scoring, get more table time. Good try. He would have been on the
:08:08. > :08:11.black. This red goes into the middle pocket, but it is not as easy as it
:08:12. > :08:22.looks on the television, into the left pocket.
:08:23. > :08:32.Well played! APPLAUSE. Another good chance. In
:08:33. > :08:38.saying that, we are looking at the table and I can't see our red. Can
:08:39. > :08:46.he run through at pace and go into the pack? He is relying on a bit of
:08:47. > :08:53.luck here, and he hasn't got any, unless there is a plant. He would
:08:54. > :08:59.have loved to have gone through the gap between the pink and the red
:09:00. > :09:04.that is there, but he just had the other red. There is a very easy
:09:05. > :09:13.safety shot in behind the green. He would like to have come through the
:09:14. > :09:21.gap between the two reds the, but he hit the other red. He needs to find
:09:22. > :09:31.the baulk, that Stewart under some pressure. -- temp one under some
:09:32. > :09:38.pressure. That was a risky safety shot to play. He played at a bit
:09:39. > :09:47.thin, I thought. He has always been unorthodox, Robert. He plays a lot
:09:48. > :09:59.of shots were the selection is different to others. That is well
:10:00. > :10:08.played. OK, he didn't get behind the green, but the angle he played that,
:10:09. > :10:15.he could have gone behind green or yellow. That is a cracker! He needs
:10:16. > :10:44.the White to stop. If he had been 3-0 in front, the
:10:45. > :10:48.black would've been unmissable. You just don't play that with the same
:10:49. > :10:52.confidence that you would do normally. Once again, it could be
:10:53. > :10:58.the same patronising the previous frames, he has a chance, but leaves
:10:59. > :11:08.Stuart Bingham with all the easy work to do. And he has split the
:11:09. > :11:14.reds into a really good position. Stuart has been clearing up with
:11:15. > :11:23.good shots and good breaks, and when he get this chance he will be very
:11:24. > :11:30.confident that he can do it again. He is OK. Red into the top left
:11:31. > :11:38.corner, another into the left centre, back for the black. You see
:11:39. > :11:43.how he went into those, trying to be positive, opened the reds. It
:11:44. > :11:52.doesn't always work for you, but you have to go that way. Back in prime
:11:53. > :12:01.position now. This is not looking good for Robert Wilkins -- Robert
:12:02. > :12:07.Milkins. He is favoured now to go 4-0. Robert Milkins will be
:12:08. > :12:22.thinking, how come I did not win two of the frames? This is not perfect
:12:23. > :12:31.to get onto the next colour. Probably screw for the pink or blue
:12:32. > :12:43.here. Decides to play for the blue. The other red up there is handy.
:12:44. > :12:52.There is one further down the table, he can get that. He made that the
:12:53. > :12:58.pink back on the spot, pot it after the next red. He certainly has the
:12:59. > :13:05.angle. One of these situations where the pink is not necessarily the
:13:06. > :13:17.right ball because it could tie up a couple of reds, but he didn't have
:13:18. > :13:28.the right angle. So, ten points behind, but everything is in open
:13:29. > :13:32.play. I'm sure Rob is thinking on his chair that things haven't gone
:13:33. > :13:47.for him, but sometimes you need to earn the right to get a good run.
:13:48. > :13:56.I remember the players I work with, I generally tell them I don't want
:13:57. > :14:01.them talking about luck to meet. If you're on the phone and say you have
:14:02. > :14:07.been unlucky, I will just put the phone down. One of them said to me
:14:08. > :14:13.once, I had a new tip on, I had been struggling with my tip for a few
:14:14. > :14:16.days. I said, congratulations, you are the first-ever professional
:14:17. > :14:25.player to lose to a tip, and I put the phone down!
:14:26. > :14:36.He doesn't have the greatest of angles on the black.
:14:37. > :14:51.He did play that very well. If he had put it in plain ball this red
:14:52. > :14:55.would have been a quarter ball. He has now become strong favourite to
:14:56. > :15:05.take this free and go into a 4-0 lead. It
:15:06. > :15:15.looks like a certainty the way the reds are set, but if you don't get
:15:16. > :15:18.in the right position, like you didn't get on the black there and
:15:19. > :15:26.you have this done the pink with a lot of pace, it can go wrong, no
:15:27. > :15:38.matter how good you are playing. It seems to be a lot easier when you
:15:39. > :15:42.are a 3-0 in front! Robert Milkins was trying to make things work,
:15:43. > :15:49.ended up low on the black and he missed it. He's not looking good on
:15:50. > :15:54.that chair, is he? That is another shop where he didn't get on the
:15:55. > :16:03.black is intended. It was a little bit thin and the other problem was
:16:04. > :16:04.he had to just avoid the red with a gentle cue action. He played it
:16:05. > :16:36.well. He is now 26 points in front. APPLAUSE. That is a killer. Although
:16:37. > :16:42.we were saying that Rob could've won a few frames, Stuart Bingham has
:16:43. > :16:59.made 127, 67, 41, and 68 here, to be fair. A thin cut on the green.
:17:00. > :17:00.APPLAUSE. Surely he can't pot the brown from
:17:01. > :17:19.the? -- little bit thin. Robert Milkins has
:17:20. > :17:25.had enough. He is 4-0 down against Stuart Bingham.
:17:26. > :17:32.Well at 15 minute interval that Stuart Bingham will enjoy and Robert
:17:33. > :17:35.Milkins will in due. Not a great freedom for Robert Milkins and you
:17:36. > :17:39.wonder what will be going through his head during this brick
:17:40. > :17:45.questioner plots of negative thoughts. At least it is not the
:17:46. > :17:51.best of nine, it is best of 11 in the semifinal. Rob will know that to
:17:52. > :17:55.put any pressure on Stuart Bingham he needs to come out and win the
:17:56. > :17:59.next two frames. For having to he is back in the match and has created a
:18:00. > :18:04.bit of pressure for Stuart Bingham. Robert Milkins had a few chances,
:18:05. > :18:13.after the horrible first frame where Stuart Bingham had that Rob and went
:18:14. > :18:20.on to make 127. Rob here gets a tremendous long red. Clean pot. He
:18:21. > :18:27.knows that if he can get this black he will probably go on and win the
:18:28. > :18:32.frame. The frame that he lost before made it all the more difficult to
:18:33. > :18:38.get that black. Stuart Bingham will not miss when he has handed back the
:18:39. > :18:43.initiative. Stuart is very good when he is in arrears and needs a winning
:18:44. > :18:47.clearance. He is very good to make a seven-day break to steal away a
:18:48. > :18:50.frame. Do you agree with what Terry was saying, maybe that Robert
:18:51. > :18:54.Milkins should play more safety shots as to what you said the beauty
:18:55. > :18:58.of his game is that he is courageous, he will play long,
:18:59. > :19:03.attractive shots, but should he be less adventurous at times? He will
:19:04. > :19:07.probably reflect on what has gone on in that match. He has missed a few
:19:08. > :19:14.pots that you wouldn't expect him to miss. We have seen some tremendous
:19:15. > :19:18.pots and some rudimentary mistakes. He has been playing for colours, but
:19:19. > :19:29.he knows that if he misses the pots that he has gone for, like the one
:19:30. > :19:33.word he was on the black, but he knew that potting the black and
:19:34. > :19:38.going into the reds he would be in trouble if you missed it, and he
:19:39. > :19:43.was. He knows he just has to play better. When he gets opportunities,
:19:44. > :19:49.tried to kill the frame. A lot of hard work ahead for Robert Milkins.
:19:50. > :19:54.They are fighting for the right to face Judd Trump into moral's final.
:19:55. > :20:01.Let's remind you of how he overcame Scott Donaldson earlier on, the rank
:20:02. > :20:06.outsider at 77th in the world. Judd Trump raced into a 4-1 lead before
:20:07. > :20:15.Scott Donaldson started to ease into the game, making it 4-3. We join the
:20:16. > :20:22.match at frame eight. Scott Donaldson is at the table.
:20:23. > :20:37.WILLIE THORNE:, where is the red gone? That was a bad shot. He missed
:20:38. > :20:44.that by a long way. The black is available.
:20:45. > :20:53.APPLAUSE. And the black is on. Scott will be
:20:54. > :21:02.so disappointed with themselves there. He almost had the red on the
:21:03. > :21:05.wrong side! He hit it straight on! Now Judd has a good position on the
:21:06. > :21:58.black. Just when Scott Donaldson was
:21:59. > :22:02.getting back into this match, he has let one slip here. It goes back to
:22:03. > :22:08.the brown that he got and didn't finish up on the two reds that were
:22:09. > :22:19.above the black. He knew that was a chance to score heavily. He will now
:22:20. > :22:21.be 5-3 behind. Judd Trump will be relieved after having lost the
:22:22. > :23:19.previous frame from 50 in front. Just a red and any colour for job to
:23:20. > :23:30.re-establish a two frame lead. -- for Judd Trump to re-establish our
:23:31. > :23:37.two frame lead. He just needs one more frame to book his place into
:23:38. > :23:47.the final tomorrow. Make a century break. He needs to pot the high
:23:48. > :23:53.value colours with the remaining reds. He already made that
:23:54. > :24:02.magnificent clearance in the first frame of 131, not a total clearance,
:24:03. > :24:07.but almost. Great break nevertheless. He followed it up in
:24:08. > :24:14.the next frame with a 55. Since then, his highest one has been 65.
:24:15. > :24:22.He hasn't done a lot of heavy scoring. It has been more Scott
:24:23. > :24:32.Donaldson with 75, 45, 72 has got back into the match. He will know he
:24:33. > :24:33.is about to be a couple of frames adrift of Judd again, to dine with
:24:34. > :25:01.three to play, potentially. APPLAUSE. That didn't look all,
:25:02. > :25:10.but... What a great shot at walls. -- it was. Could just make a century
:25:11. > :25:16.with a clearance to the black, his second of the match. Can he get an
:25:17. > :25:25.angle on the brown to dislodge the blue, or could he can and the blues
:25:26. > :25:26.leaving himself on the brown? Difficult to know what he played
:25:27. > :25:44.there! Well, I am looking forward to this
:25:45. > :25:55.shot. This would be a Judd Trump special. Our power shot up the
:25:56. > :26:03.cushion. This would take some doing. No temp three. What a shame. 82 from
:26:04. > :26:07.Judd Trump more than enough to re-establish a lead of two frames.
:26:08. > :26:12.Just needs one more frame to put himself into the final tomorrow.
:26:13. > :26:19.Trump is just one frame at this point, away from the final. Frame
:26:20. > :26:28.number nine, Donaldson at the table, scores level at 14-14.
:26:29. > :26:37.Oh dear. He was a little bit anxious on that one. I think he played that
:26:38. > :26:41.shop with disappointment -- in that shop with disappointment at not
:26:42. > :26:46.being perfect on the blue. He has had some chances in this match. He
:26:47. > :26:50.will look back and realise he had every chance to be Judd Trump today.
:26:51. > :27:08.That is absolutely right. Considering his performance in
:27:09. > :27:14.yesterday's round in the last of 16, he played so well in that match,
:27:15. > :27:19.dominating his young Chinese opponent. If he was playing to that
:27:20. > :27:42.level today I think he would be winning this match.
:27:43. > :27:50.Usually these top players close the match out when they have chances
:27:51. > :27:57.like this. He doesn't have to worry about the couple of reds on the side
:27:58. > :28:05.cushion because he can win the match with the reds in the middle of the
:28:06. > :28:13.table. It has been workmanlike from Judd Trump today. He hasn't played
:28:14. > :28:24.anywhere near his best. He scored better than he did against Barry
:28:25. > :28:27.Hawkins yesterday. Wherever -- whoever he plays in the final he
:28:28. > :29:19.will have to tighten that side of his game up.
:29:20. > :29:29.This has been better from Judd. No signs of him losing positions were
:29:30. > :29:32.missing pots. He just needs one more red to secure his place in the final
:29:33. > :29:41.tomorrow. APPLAUSE.
:29:42. > :29:51.What a great tournament that young man has had. Win or lose he will
:29:52. > :29:57.gained lots of experience. When he looks back, he will realise how to
:29:58. > :30:02.stick into winning this match. Apart from a few silly shots when he was
:30:03. > :30:10.in the balls, losing position, he could have been in front. Judd
:30:11. > :30:21.trying to force into the red to bring it into play. He will have to
:30:22. > :30:24.play a double on his next visit. No century to finish, but I imagine
:30:25. > :30:32.Judd will be pleased to have managed to win. He came away with this match
:30:33. > :30:37.convincingly in the end. It is Judd Trump who goes into another major
:30:38. > :30:42.final. I think it was a bit tough at some
:30:43. > :30:46.points out there. I started out well, got myself in front, which I
:30:47. > :30:51.needed to, but in the middle of the game it went against the little bit.
:30:52. > :30:56.Things started to go wrong in a little bit, a bit of luck went his
:30:57. > :31:01.way and the match turned a little bit. It was important for me at 4-3
:31:02. > :31:07.to make that break and stamp my authority and kill it off in the
:31:08. > :31:12.last frame. Overall, I am pleased that I've finished and started the
:31:13. > :31:20.match, but in the final I need to tighten up in the middle.
:31:21. > :31:27.What to you to the night before a final, what will he be doing,
:31:28. > :31:35.relaxing, locking himself away? Well, he will certainly want an
:31:36. > :31:38.evening meal by then he will pick a restaurant he likes, or maybe ill be
:31:39. > :31:41.watching our coverage this evening of the second semifinal! He will
:31:42. > :31:44.like to see how the other guys form. I think it is a good idea to do
:31:45. > :31:51.that. Obviously, you don't want to see Stuart Bingham knocking in four
:31:52. > :31:54.centuries in a row! But he will look forward to the final and relax and
:31:55. > :31:59.not do anything too strenuous and make sure he gets plenty of rest and
:32:00. > :32:05.early to bed tickle what about what he might want to do better in the
:32:06. > :32:11.final, what will he want to improve on? You'd have to ask him. He might
:32:12. > :32:15.say to you, if Scot Donaldson had put me under more pressure, I might
:32:16. > :32:24.have played better. He might say, do you know what, my focus was not good
:32:25. > :32:29.today. He might think, I missed a couple of pots, I might want to go
:32:30. > :32:31.on the practice table and work on a couple of specific shots, safety
:32:32. > :32:37.shots, whatever it might be. You would have to ask Judd that, but his
:32:38. > :32:41.preparation will be perfect for the match tomorrow. Most importantly, it
:32:42. > :32:46.is all about up here, keeping yourself in the right place, so
:32:47. > :32:55.you're ready to do battle. Briefly, who will he be up against? He has
:32:56. > :32:59.got to get a couple of frames now, so I am fancying Stuart Bingham. We
:33:00. > :33:07.are almost ready for the second session. Let's take you back live to
:33:08. > :33:11.our MC, Rob Walker. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your
:33:12. > :33:38.players back into the arena, Stuart Bingham and Robert Milkins!
:33:39. > :33:46.And back to our commentary team of Tory Griffiths and Willie Thorne.
:33:47. > :33:49.WILLIE THORNE: Thanks, Ian. I'm sure Rob Milkins would not necessarily
:33:50. > :33:53.having joined his 15 minute break there. He would have been
:33:54. > :34:04.reminiscing on what could have been. For now, it's time to make sure what
:34:05. > :34:05.can be. Milkins will have to make sure that Stuart struggles to get
:34:06. > :34:25.over the line in this match. TERRY GRIFFITHS: Stuart may have
:34:26. > :34:31.learned something from what happened yesterday, who knows? But at times,
:34:32. > :34:34.just because you're 4-0 in front, it does not mean you will necessarily
:34:35. > :35:01.continue to play well. Was well played, touching ball, is
:35:02. > :35:47.it? No. Stuart has a chance to get the cue
:35:48. > :35:58.ball in a good position down in the baulk area. Can he get past this red
:35:59. > :36:02.on the right-hand side to the potting angle? It looks tight, very
:36:03. > :36:24.tight. So he's taking the other one. Good pot to get started. Yes, he's
:36:25. > :36:29.got a perfect angle to bring the pink into play. And that's what he's
:36:30. > :36:34.done. He deserves everything he gets from this. He's been in this
:36:35. > :36:38.position a couple of times in the opening four frames, and not scored
:36:39. > :36:40.enough. Somehow he's going to have to turn this into a frame-winning
:36:41. > :36:47.opportunity. The pink is still out of play at the
:36:48. > :37:12.moment. In his favour, of course, he's only
:37:13. > :37:24.got to drop this in. Oh, he's pushed it. He's obviously edgy out there.
:37:25. > :37:31.The problem when you're out there playing in these big events, this is
:37:32. > :37:35.a semifinal, you've got to have some evidence you're playing well, not on
:37:36. > :37:42.the practice table, but out there, at the moment. And he doesn't have
:37:43. > :37:55.any, I'm afraid. When you're behind in a match, nothing's easy, Terry.
:37:56. > :38:03.When you look at the first red Henoch in, that was a much tougher
:38:04. > :38:08.shot than that black. But there again, he knew that if he missed the
:38:09. > :38:11.black, he would be leaving Stuart Bingham in, and that in itself
:38:12. > :38:34.creates doubt. Well, there's not much on here,
:38:35. > :38:41.either. They're not easy at that case, when you split the pack. -- at
:38:42. > :38:54.that pace. Stuart Bingham, of course, has been
:38:55. > :39:02.given a lot of opportunities by Rob Milkins so far in this match. And so
:39:03. > :39:13.far, he's taken a lot of them. Just got to avoid the first red - which
:39:14. > :39:19.she has done. -- which he has done. He did that nicely. Not got an angle
:39:20. > :39:23.to get onto the black, but he can get top side of the blue again, and
:39:24. > :39:28.get down to the business end from there. He would be very disappointed
:39:29. > :39:33.if he did not score enough into his visit to win the frame. -- in this
:39:34. > :40:00.visit. Well, can you believe that? Could
:40:01. > :40:11.not have put the ball is better by hand, and somehow, he's finished in
:40:12. > :40:16.the only position which is no good. He'll be horrified to have played
:40:17. > :40:33.that shot that way. Could that be a turning point?
:40:34. > :40:57.Robert Milkins has got to take some confidence from that.
:40:58. > :41:06.Good to see him taking his time, not rushing into a safety shot. Settling
:41:07. > :41:54.itself back down after that mistake. He was just off straight, and' trade
:41:55. > :42:00.difficult. The only good thing was that the double kiss made it go
:42:01. > :42:26.safe. Otherwise he would have left them all on again for Stuart.
:42:27. > :42:37.He played the double, but I don't think he got the white in the
:42:38. > :42:43.position he wanted. I'm not sure of Rob Milkins is happy enough to go
:42:44. > :43:04.for these long pots now. They're very risky. Just playing the safety.
:43:05. > :43:15.Cunning down to have a look at the red to the right of the pink. He can
:43:16. > :43:16.play it as a shot to nothing. He would have the yellow available,
:43:17. > :43:30.should he pot it. A little bit short of pace, and he
:43:31. > :43:36.may have left the pot on for Robert, unless the blue has come to the
:43:37. > :43:46.rescue. These are not easy when you're 4-0 behind. If he had been
:43:47. > :43:47.4-0 in front, that would have gone in like a rabbit down the drain
:43:48. > :44:12.pipe. Plenty to think about in his chair -
:44:13. > :44:26.where he has been for a long time in this match. Could not really get
:44:27. > :44:33.much control on the cue ball there. A few reds have gone on the cushion
:44:34. > :44:44.now - they were wide open. He struck that nice. You've got to time those
:44:45. > :45:00.perfectly. Didn't want to get too much backspin.
:45:01. > :45:14.He's making it hard for himself. OK, he should make this, but...
:45:15. > :45:26.That looks easy, but it's not, is it? Stun run-through, but you have
:45:27. > :45:35.to play it perfectly, which he has done. Frame-winning opportunity now.
:45:36. > :45:44.Once again, this has been a frame in which Milkins has had two half
:45:45. > :45:44.chances. Should have sprung the previous frame, definitely should
:45:45. > :46:14.have won frame three. I think we are underestimating how
:46:15. > :46:18.well Stuart has played. His break-building has been very good,
:46:19. > :46:26.he looks very steady. Although he has been given a lot of chances, he
:46:27. > :46:29.still has to make them. When you're in the interval 4-0 behind, why
:46:30. > :46:36.can't you be saying to yourself, why can't I dominate the next four? ,
:46:37. > :46:42.but it's so hard to get yourself in that frame of mind when you're
:46:43. > :46:48.behind, isn't it? Well, because I work with quite a few players,
:46:49. > :46:57.normally, when they're playing well, they're very happy, but as soon as
:46:58. > :47:06.they start to miss a few, straightaway, they feel it's never
:47:07. > :47:10.going to Galway. -- never going to go away. Let's be honest, when
:47:11. > :47:21.you're 4-0 down and struggling, it's not easy.
:47:22. > :47:31.If you're 4-0 down against Ronnie or Stephen Hendry, it can be different.
:47:32. > :47:35.But when you're missing them, you're thinking, why am I missing them now
:47:36. > :47:36.but not in practice? All of these things come into it. It's all about
:47:37. > :47:56.the mind, isn't it? This red in the middle is definitely
:47:57. > :48:02.missable. He's 51 points in front, if this goes in, he's a certainty to
:48:03. > :48:09.win the frame. It was missable, but made to look very, very simple. That
:48:10. > :49:01.was as good a shot as he's played in the match.
:49:02. > :49:12.Well, the breaks continue. Stuart Bingham would be leading against any
:49:13. > :49:27.player in the world at the minute, away these days. -- the way he's
:49:28. > :49:33.played. Bingham looks to be in prime form. Robert Milkins has to do the
:49:34. > :49:41.impossible - win six frames on the trot. Yes, it's looking like Bingham
:49:42. > :49:45.against Trump tomorrow in the Welsh Open final. And we're going to CN
:49:46. > :49:49.example of where he had an opportunity to do something,
:49:50. > :49:57.Dominic, but just couldn't take it? It's tough when you're 4-0 behind.
:49:58. > :50:01.He smashes the brown in, gets the next red, and gets on the back. He
:50:02. > :50:06.knows if he gets that black, everything's there for him. Misses
:50:07. > :50:12.it, and of course, they're all there for Stuart Bingham. Yes, he has
:50:13. > :50:17.ultimately been seizing each opportunity that he has been given,
:50:18. > :50:20.Stuart Bingham. We can see the head going down from the Kings. We hear
:50:21. > :50:25.from our producer that he was out in the car park during the interval,
:50:26. > :50:32.Robert Milkins, quite despondent, saying, things are not going his
:50:33. > :50:37.way. That's typical Rob. I have known him for many, many years. Is
:50:38. > :50:41.the kind of character, if you were to tell him that the tip on his cue
:50:42. > :50:47.was not very good, he would take that to heart and probably change
:50:48. > :50:52.it. Believe me, when he goes out there to play the next frame, he'll
:50:53. > :50:59.be trying. The knows what he has got to do. He will have won matches from
:51:00. > :51:05.4-0 down. OK, he's got to win six out of six - unlikely, though.
:51:06. > :51:13.Somebody like Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, would never give in.
:51:14. > :51:19.Rob might do. You think, wave the white flag? Not necessarily in so
:51:20. > :51:26.many words, but he's that kind of character. He might try and pot his
:51:27. > :51:31.way into position, he may as well have a go, he's at the point of no
:51:32. > :51:36.return. Nothing to lose now for Robert Milkins. Getting ready to
:51:37. > :51:37.break off in this sixth frame. Willie Thorne, Terry Griffiths, take
:51:38. > :51:58.us through it, if you would. TERRY GRIFFITHS: Robert Milkins, not
:51:59. > :52:03.the position he would have liked before the match, for sure. He's too
:52:04. > :52:16.good a player to be 5-0 down, but you've got to respect what Stuart
:52:17. > :52:21.has done. When he's had the opportunities, he has not missed
:52:22. > :52:26.anything easy, really. Just one or two, but generally pretty deadly in
:52:27. > :52:35.the balls. Perhaps Rob will be able to relax a little bit now. We have
:52:36. > :52:40.seen that happened many times before and things turn around a bit.
:52:41. > :52:51.As you can tell, the crowd are definitely on his side now - always
:52:52. > :53:11.the same with the underdog. Lovely catch, that.
:53:12. > :53:20.WILLIE THORNE: Robert Milkins now cannot get back into baulk. Now,
:53:21. > :55:37.Stuart is left with a very, very easy safety shot.
:55:38. > :55:47.There's a face that some of you will know, Chris Gunter, Wales and
:55:48. > :55:51.Reading footballer. Great footballer. Not sure he would get in
:55:52. > :55:58.the Leicester side, but great player. The way things are going, I
:55:59. > :56:01.think anybody could get in the Leicester side before long!
:56:02. > :56:09.Disappointing, after them doing so well last year. Talking about doing
:56:10. > :56:23.so well, that's an excellent safety shot from Stuart. Where's the red
:56:24. > :57:20.going? He may have just got away with it.
:57:21. > :57:30.Stuart may be forced into taking this red on - he's got hampered
:57:31. > :57:40.cueing for NFT others. -- for any of the others. Brilliant. I heard the
:57:41. > :57:41.word foul. I did not see it myself. We may get the chance to see it
:57:42. > :57:58.again... Let's have a little look what
:57:59. > :58:07.happened here. Yes. The green moved an inch or so. It was some shot,
:58:08. > :58:31.wasn't it? It's not nice to see players getting
:58:32. > :58:35.whitewashed. It's not much difference between the players,
:58:36. > :58:41.although Stuart is a better player, he's number two in the world,
:58:42. > :58:52.though. Yes, it is not a 6-0 game, isn't he? , is it? There has been a
:58:53. > :58:57.couple of times when he would have scored more. But make no mistake but
:58:58. > :59:31.Milkins is a very good player. Excellent safety shot from Stuart.
:59:32. > :59:45.Just played a defensive safety there, there was no other options.
:59:46. > :00:14.He's looking round for a pot, by the look of it.
:00:15. > :00:23.What a shot that was. If ever you get the chance to go on a snooker
:00:24. > :00:27.table, try and play that shot. You could be there for months ago and he
:00:28. > :00:31.played it in such a way, look where the cue ball finished. That was a
:00:32. > :00:52.shot for something, rather than a shot for nothing.
:00:53. > :01:03.I don't think he's on anything. He might just be able to squeeze past.
:01:04. > :01:12.Although it is deceptive from the commentary box. In fact it is a
:01:13. > :01:21.straightforward pot, it's just controlling the cue ball that he's
:01:22. > :01:24.worried about. What has impressed me the most about Stuart this evening,
:01:25. > :01:28.OK, his break-building has been excellent, but I don't think he has
:01:29. > :01:38.ever finished the wrong side of the blue in the match. That in turn has
:01:39. > :01:42.given him the opportunity to get on to the next ball without going in
:01:43. > :01:49.and out of baulk, which makes such a difference. And now, without any
:01:50. > :02:09.question, this is a chance for frame and match.
:02:10. > :02:16.World amateur champion of course. Not many have won the world amateur
:02:17. > :02:26.and professional. Ken Doherty, of course. In your career did you play
:02:27. > :02:36.in the world amateur? I did once. In South Africa. Lost in the
:02:37. > :02:43.quarterfinal to Silvino Francisco. The first time never been abroad.
:02:44. > :02:49.Those were the days! These players that are playing top-class snooker
:02:50. > :02:55.these days are abroad every other week. It is a worldwide game now.
:02:56. > :03:02.This young man of the table, her favourite in pretty much every
:03:03. > :03:38.tournament he plays in. Maybe he is due to win one. Could be tomorrow.
:03:39. > :03:47.He could have done without red pushed a little bit further to the
:03:48. > :03:52.right. It is still possible. Obviously, the easier red is the one
:03:53. > :04:01.next to the pink, but if he plays this one, 31 points in front, he
:04:02. > :04:03.would only need the five reds in the middle, with need to worry about the
:04:04. > :04:49.ones on the cushion. He will be very pleased with that
:04:50. > :04:56.shot. -- will not be very pleased. He will need to play this off the
:04:57. > :05:04.left-hand job, he has played the stun. That is what I was talking
:05:05. > :05:10.about earlier, he is very strong with his stunning shot. Very
:05:11. > :05:16.accurate. At the pace he had that, the ball was only moving a little
:05:17. > :05:25.bit. He doesn't seem to make many mistakes only gets amongst the
:05:26. > :05:26.balls. This is one of temp one's best performances of the season for
:05:27. > :05:40.me. I glanced at the scoreboard would
:05:41. > :05:50.tell him that he is very close to winning.
:05:51. > :05:58.One more red required, and Robert Milkins will know it is all over. I
:05:59. > :06:07.feel sorry for Robert. He hasn't played bad enough to lose 6-0, for
:06:08. > :06:37.certain. Such fine margins when you play top-class snooker.
:06:38. > :06:44.I know it doesn't make any difference, but it would be nice if
:06:45. > :07:00.he could go out with her century. He made 127 in the first frame.
:07:01. > :07:11.APPLAUSE. Stuart doesn't shout a lot, but he
:07:12. > :07:16.will be delighted with this performance. It is amazing the way
:07:17. > :07:23.this tournament has gone, all of the seeds dropping by the wayside, but
:07:24. > :07:29.we will still have a final with some of the best players in the world. He
:07:30. > :07:55.decided not to play the cannon. He is getting far too many, they are
:07:56. > :08:05.coming to take him away, Terry! A siren in the background.
:08:06. > :08:26.If he gets this in, it will certainly be a century. Well done.
:08:27. > :08:46.Some people say he is not playing so well, but the truth is his number
:08:47. > :08:55.two the world. The century, then, the second one in this match for
:08:56. > :09:02.Stuart Bingham, together with a couple of 60s and the 71. It has
:09:03. > :09:07.been her very disappointing night for Robert Milkins, but Stuart
:09:08. > :09:10.Bingham is absolutely delighted, of course. He will be in the final
:09:11. > :09:20.tomorrow to play against the fourth seed, Judd Trump.
:09:21. > :09:29.Yes, very warm applause for Stuart Bingham. Congratulations to him, the
:09:30. > :09:34.world number two into a second Welsh Open final. Commiserations to Robert
:09:35. > :09:39.Milkins, not his day at all. It will be Stuart Bingham against Judd Trump
:09:40. > :09:43.in the final, live on the BBC tomorrow. He will be happy just to
:09:44. > :09:52.linger around in the arena a bit longer. Brady good stuff, Dominic,
:09:53. > :09:56.from Stuart Bingham this evening. That has to be his best performance
:09:57. > :10:01.of the tournament. He started the match of the century and entered it
:10:02. > :10:05.with one. He did, indeed. That is one of the best Stuart Bingham
:10:06. > :10:10.performances I have seen for several months now. That is exactly how you
:10:11. > :10:14.would like to win a semifinal going into a final tomorrow. I am looking
:10:15. > :10:20.forward to a great match tomorrow. It is probably the one that a lot of
:10:21. > :10:25.neutrals would want to see. A word on Robert Milkins, you have to feel
:10:26. > :10:29.sorry for him. The portents weren't good. That incredible temp three
:10:30. > :10:35.that Stuart Bingham had in the first frame when he then went on to score
:10:36. > :10:41.127. That put Rob on the back foot straightaway. On another day he
:10:42. > :10:46.could have got back to 2-2 in the interval, he had a couple of
:10:47. > :10:50.chances, but when he made a mistake Stuart jump on those chances. That's
:10:51. > :10:52.what champions do. Let's hear from the man who will face Judd Trump in
:10:53. > :11:03.the final tomorrow. Many congratulations. 4-0 last night
:11:04. > :11:07.then you were still going for a couple of hours. That is the quality
:11:08. > :11:13.we know you have got, the way you breathlessly finished the match.
:11:14. > :11:17.Yet, it all started on our fluke. Massive fluke in the first, to make
:11:18. > :11:22.a hundred from the settled me down and put Rob on the back foot. I
:11:23. > :11:28.punished him for every mistake you made. At 4-0 I was thinking of last
:11:29. > :11:32.night, but just try to keep my focus, and they did. Did you really
:11:33. > :11:38.have to sit down and think about this match after the manner of which
:11:39. > :11:42.Stuart managed to get back into you last night? It wasn't fluent at the
:11:43. > :11:48.end last night and it together but if your determination to get into
:11:49. > :11:52.the semifinal. Definitely, 100%. You get to the semifinals and you should
:11:53. > :11:56.be buzzing, but after scraping through last night I was working
:11:57. > :12:01.back on my game today on the practice table. I kept my focus
:12:02. > :12:05.tonight and got the job done quickly. Looking ahead to tomorrow,
:12:06. > :12:13.these are the kind of matches that made you first pick up a cue. New,
:12:14. > :12:17.the world number two, up against Judd Trump, almost on his own
:12:18. > :12:23.backyard, you must be looking forward to the challenge and
:12:24. > :12:28.occasion. When I first picked up my cue Judd was on the live! We have
:12:29. > :12:34.had some great matches will start yet, looking forward to it.
:12:35. > :12:40.Hopefully it'll be a high-quality match. You have gone so close.
:12:41. > :12:44.Stephen only just got one over you in Newport. Not quite as good as
:12:45. > :12:47.winning the world title, but it could be a special moment if you
:12:48. > :12:53.were to win this. Definitely. Every tournament I going to want to win.
:12:54. > :13:00.Every tournament is like a World Championship. It has some good
:13:01. > :13:05.vibes, this venue, it was the first one I ever qualified for. The Welsh
:13:06. > :13:10.Open has been nice to me. It would be nice to get my hands on the new
:13:11. > :13:14.trophy. Well done tonight. See you for the final tomorrow. It will be
:13:15. > :13:21.epic. Thanks. He has had a smile on his face
:13:22. > :13:26.throughout the week. I make its six final saw semifinals this season, so
:13:27. > :13:35.he is probably feeling that he is due a win. Who would you put money
:13:36. > :13:40.on? When two years in a final, a lot of the time, whether the final is
:13:41. > :13:44.one lost, it is based on Judd's performances. When he is at its
:13:45. > :13:48.absolute best he is one of the hardest players to get on top of. If
:13:49. > :13:53.Judd is having a bad day and starts missing some of the balls,
:13:54. > :13:58.especially like you did today in the semifinal, if Stuart can take charge
:13:59. > :14:03.of the way that he did this evening, he will put Judd under pressure and
:14:04. > :14:07.it will be up to Judd to respond. If I'm going to try and guess what will
:14:08. > :14:11.happen in the final, I think it will be met and tuck all the way and I
:14:12. > :14:16.don't think there will be more than three frames of it either way. A
:14:17. > :14:21.classic? Could be. Two guys who are accustomed to big venues, big match
:14:22. > :14:25.atmosphere is and they will love to bring out there at a game and show
:14:26. > :14:30.the Welsh public good they are. Dominic, thank you, how we got
:14:31. > :14:34.shocks and top players go out early. In the end, two of the top stars
:14:35. > :14:39.going out in the final for you tomorrow, Stuart Bingham against
:14:40. > :14:41.your home. We start at one o'clock on BBC Two Wales. Don't miss it.
:14:42. > :15:02.Good night from all of us. Robert Burns. Bagpipes. Stovies.
:15:03. > :15:06.Billy Connolly, yeah.