:01:11. > :01:16.Stephen Lee is a man on a mission. He hopes to make it through to the
:01:16. > :01:20.second-round for the first time in six years. His matches coming up a
:01:20. > :01:30.little later. First, the news on how the match between Ronnie
:01:30. > :01:33.
:01:33. > :01:38.O'Sullivan and Peter Ebdon ended You feel pretty certain that Peter
:01:38. > :01:48.Ebdon, at least, is going to have to win this mini session just to
:01:48. > :01:55.
:01:55. > :02:05.stay in this match. Why would he play a shot for nothing? It is
:02:05. > :02:06.
:02:06. > :02:10.getting almost to the point of no return. Shots like that will help.
:02:11. > :02:20.A 68 break, more than enough for Ronnie O'Sullivan to go further
:02:20. > :02:25.clear at 9-3. The round of applause said that that was virtually
:02:25. > :02:27.perfect. Peter Ebdon offering his hand of congratulations and the
:02:27. > :02:34.hand of congratulations and the crowd favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan
:02:34. > :02:39.goes through. It did not really happen for me. I was hampered when
:02:39. > :02:44.I was trying to cue. They must have been at least six or seven
:02:44. > :02:50.occasions where are was in amongst the balls and ended up with nothing.
:02:50. > :02:57.Sometimes, that is just the way that it goes. All credit to Peter.
:02:58. > :03:05.A fantastic season. He was a fantastic professional this season.
:03:05. > :03:09.I do not think that running played anywhere near as capable -- near
:03:09. > :03:12.that he is capable of. There were moments of sheer brilliance and
:03:12. > :03:15.inspiration. He will probably be quite disappointed with the way
:03:15. > :03:21.that he played but quite relieved, the fact that I never really got
:03:22. > :03:27.into the match. It was an easy first round match for him. You just
:03:27. > :03:30.realise that the match is not over until it is over. You just need to
:03:30. > :03:36.keep professional and stay in control of yourself. And when you
:03:36. > :03:41.get your chances, just try and score. He is such a fantastic
:03:41. > :03:45.player. He is such a genius. If he really turns it on, there is no
:03:45. > :03:50.reason why he cannot win the tournament. There has been a
:03:50. > :03:54.statement released tonight by Mark Allen in reference to comments made
:03:54. > :03:58.after his match against China's Kau Yupeng. Following my recent
:03:58. > :04:02.comments after my first round of peat, I would like to formally
:04:02. > :04:07.apologise to anyone who may have been offended. I can appreciate
:04:07. > :04:11.that I overstepped the line at a time when I was heavily influenced
:04:11. > :04:18.by the motions of a disappointing defeat. I would like to take this
:04:18. > :04:23.opportunity to apologise to Yupeng if he felt that my comments were
:04:23. > :04:26.stating that he was a cheat. Brasted by my previous comments
:04:26. > :04:32.that he was the player and fully deserved to win and I genuinely
:04:32. > :04:38.wish him the best of luck. I also like to apologise to World Snooker.
:04:38. > :04:43.I appreciate the hard work by many people to grow our sport and I am
:04:43. > :04:48.horrified that my actions to could be detrimental to its. This season
:04:48. > :04:53.has been up and down. I won my first title and it has been
:04:53. > :05:02.overshadowed by some ill-judged comments. I realise that I need to
:05:02. > :05:08.ensure that my off table behaviour matches the standard and level and
:05:08. > :05:12.behaviour that I set for my self when I'm on the table. I will have
:05:12. > :05:17.an improved attitude. Back to the match between World number eight
:05:17. > :05:27.Stephen Lee and Qualifying Andrew Higginson. Lee has been arguably
:05:27. > :05:29.
:05:29. > :05:33.the form player recently. Stephen Lee has always been one of the top
:05:33. > :05:39.half dozen players in the world. He probably stopped practising and
:05:39. > :05:44.faded away a bit and now he's back and better than ever. He was number
:05:44. > :05:51.one in the world at one stage. He has had a tough time and it is nice
:05:51. > :05:55.to see him back. A great player, knows the game inside out. It is
:05:55. > :05:59.nice to see that that cue action has brought Stephen back to where
:05:59. > :06:05.he belongs as one of the best players in the world. If you ever
:06:05. > :06:15.had a night out with him, you are in for a few good last. Good man,
:06:15. > :06:19.
:06:19. > :06:22.enjoys a drink and a night out. is back. Stephen's opponent is
:06:22. > :06:27.there the four-year-old Andrew Higginson who is only making his
:06:27. > :06:32.second appearance and the Crucible. His reign 19th and won his first
:06:32. > :06:35.professional title this season. At professional title this season. At
:06:35. > :06:39.the end of Monday night's opening session, it was Higginson who held
:06:39. > :06:43.a narrow advantage and he stressed that lead by taking two of the
:06:44. > :06:53.first three frames of the second session. Higgins and his leading by
:06:54. > :07:08.
:07:08. > :07:18.You could play that up into there and you would be on a red, perfect
:07:18. > :07:18.
:07:18. > :07:26.most times. Stephen Lee has definitely got to score off this.
:07:26. > :07:32.What a lifeline he has been given. For all money, Andrew was going to
:07:32. > :07:42.take this frame for a three frame advantage. There is a huge
:07:42. > :07:46.
:07:46. > :07:52.difference between a three frame It is a big task, with the red on
:07:52. > :08:02.the left-hand side of the table. Stephen will just be glad to be
:08:02. > :08:16.
:08:16. > :08:26.He just wants to be taking a little bit more time. He did not even look
:08:26. > :08:46.
:08:46. > :08:55.at that. It is quicker than he This is where it becomes imperative
:08:55. > :09:01.to get a good position on your next ball. The reds are now in awkward
:09:01. > :09:07.positions and he was perfectly positioned on the blue. He fewer to
:09:07. > :09:14.play for the last red, what would you do? He looks like he's going
:09:14. > :09:23.back to the blue. He is absolutely inch perfect. You come off the top
:09:23. > :09:33.cushion and play on the red. It looks absolutely inch perfect. The
:09:33. > :09:44.
:09:44. > :09:54.only danger ears, sometimes, you It may just about cut into the
:09:54. > :10:08.
:10:08. > :10:13.This game will die the bonkers! Unbelievable. I thought he was once
:10:13. > :10:23.again, a little bit quick getting down to that one. He played it a
:10:23. > :10:31.
:10:31. > :10:41.little quickly. The things that can happen on this snooker table.
:10:41. > :10:57.
:10:57. > :11:07.would like to be playing out of the Where is the cue ball going! How
:11:07. > :11:35.
:11:35. > :11:45.unlucky. A double whammy. The frame Stephen Lee has had his chances and
:11:45. > :12:00.
:12:00. > :12:06.missed. What happened there was Just the brown and blue is required.
:12:06. > :12:12.This is a big frame, especially for Stephen Lee. Somehow, he is going
:12:12. > :12:22.to win it. On no fewer than three off for mac occasions, he would
:12:22. > :12:25.have thought that he had lost it. You were saying that Andrew
:12:25. > :12:35.Higginson has a great temperament, he will need its during the
:12:35. > :12:45.
:12:45. > :12:51.There has not been more than two frames between these two for the
:12:51. > :13:01.whole match, and so the pattern continues. Higginson to play, he is
:13:01. > :13:01.
:13:01. > :13:59.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:13:59. > :14:09.I thought that he would play the That was a good solid pot that and
:14:09. > :14:37.
:14:37. > :14:47.Last time Andrew made a break of over 50 was in frame at 6. He is
:14:47. > :14:47.
:14:47. > :16:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:16:02. > :16:12.He did not catch the middle of the pocket, but I would assume that he
:16:12. > :16:16.
:16:16. > :16:21.is on this red. Or did he play for the other one? It is pretty tight.
:16:21. > :16:31.The first camera angle made it look like it when Denise Olley, but I'm
:16:31. > :16:33.
:16:33. > :16:41.not so sure. -- windy in easily. long as you keep getting the right
:16:41. > :16:51.side of the blue, then you are in control of the situation. It is
:16:51. > :17:02.
:17:02. > :17:12.still very congested around the The inch just makes it a little bit
:17:12. > :17:14.
:17:14. > :17:24.more difficult. One sees red is potted, the two reds just below
:17:24. > :17:44.
:17:44. > :17:54.this one, they will come a little On the last angle that we looked at,
:17:54. > :18:26.
:18:26. > :18:36.they were looking pretty tight. Now, Looking at the situation here, we
:18:36. > :19:04.
:19:04. > :19:14.He has still got that problem of those six reds. He has a 44 point
:19:14. > :19:18.
:19:18. > :19:28.lead now. But he needs a good angle on the next colour. You always need
:19:28. > :19:28.
:19:28. > :20:28.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:20:28. > :20:38.That could be the key to this frame He is looking very comfortable at
:20:38. > :20:38.
:20:38. > :21:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:21:42. > :21:52.What a great time to produce that, What happened to him in that frame
:21:52. > :21:55.
:21:56. > :22:00.before the interval, that could have affected him.
:22:00. > :22:05.Even though he was unlucky in that frame before the interval, he did
:22:05. > :22:11.have a couple of chances to win the frame before that. Maybe you he
:22:11. > :22:14.will say, I deserve what I got, but next time I get in, do not miss.
:22:14. > :22:21.That shows you the fine line between success and failure at this
:22:21. > :22:31.level. There was a red that was available to the right corner.
:22:31. > :22:56.
:22:57. > :23:06.Stephen Lee to scored one safety But very, very well played Andrew
:23:07. > :23:33.
:23:33. > :23:43.There was a lot of adrenalin in that blue. That was a very well
:23:43. > :23:48.
:23:48. > :23:53.taken break. A great century. He Higgins until frame of 15, thanks
:23:53. > :23:57.to a break of 51. He needs just one more frame for a spot in the second
:23:57. > :24:07.round. Stephen Lee needs a huge effort to avoid yet another second
:24:07. > :24:26.
:24:26. > :24:36.There are no easy shots for Stephen Lee at the moment. He knows he
:24:36. > :24:54.
:24:55. > :25:04.If he can get the split between the red and the pink, he may want to
:25:05. > :25:12.
:25:12. > :25:17.That would have been easier red to play, but he has some in the left
:25:17. > :25:27.middle that he can hold to the pink. He does not want to play nearer to
:25:27. > :25:28.
:25:28. > :25:38.the top cushion. He has got one to the left middle. It is a nervy part
:25:38. > :25:47.
:25:47. > :25:57.of the match. He has missed it. He may never get back to the table
:25:57. > :26:21.
:26:21. > :26:31.in this match now. What a chance for Andrew Higginson. You get the
:26:31. > :27:04.
:27:04. > :27:14.feeling, that he is just tightening If he sticks on the yellow behind
:27:14. > :27:32.
:27:32. > :27:42.the brown, he has seen in all sorts You feel that if he pots this green,
:27:42. > :28:00.
:28:00. > :28:07.Just a couple of past -- half decent positional shots will see
:28:08. > :28:15.him home and dry. He is struggling to get a colour in on the right
:28:15. > :28:25.angle and it is getting very tense out there. It always seems to be
:28:25. > :28:46.
:28:46. > :28:54.the way, when you are looking for He is having a close look. Does it
:28:54. > :29:04.go? Maybe it does not. When you look this close, it must be very
:29:04. > :29:18.
:29:18. > :29:28.tight. I to not think all the He only has to roll this blue in.
:29:28. > :29:37.
:29:37. > :29:40.He is now 54 points ahead. An easy Of the two players here this
:29:40. > :29:50.evening, Andrew Higginson has played better and hold himself that
:29:50. > :30:12.
:30:12. > :30:22.The pockets will look like dustbin lids now. A place in the debutants,
:30:22. > :30:24.
:30:25. > :30:34.Jones. For a place in the quarterfinal. Stephen Lee would be
:30:35. > :30:36.
:30:36. > :30:46.so disappointed. He went into this tournament, playing very well. He
:30:46. > :30:54.has made a few mistakes. When it has got me the winning line, he has
:30:54. > :31:04.cued at any time in the match. is in the most wonderful feeling
:31:04. > :31:12.
:31:12. > :31:22.Particularly, when you play what you know it is a tough opponent.
:31:22. > :31:39.
:31:39. > :31:46.A warm congratulations to Stephen Very well play. I thought I would
:31:46. > :31:56.show the frames today. Just keep in front, and I managed to do that.
:31:56. > :32:00.
:32:00. > :32:10.Two plays the Crucible is an To win, the feeling is fantastic.
:32:10. > :32:11.
:32:11. > :32:21.When you see the people who came to support you. Grand Prix is in the
:32:21. > :32:23.
:32:23. > :32:33.second round against Andrew I did not know what the diagnosis
:32:33. > :32:43.was. I went with an MRI scan to see what he condition was. It turned
:32:43. > :32:45.
:32:45. > :32:55.out I had a problem between two cervical discs. There was a nerve
:32:55. > :32:56.
:32:56. > :33:04.problem. I managed to go to see a sport Visio. I have only seen her
:33:04. > :33:13.three or four times. She more or less cured it. I have not put as
:33:13. > :33:19.many hours as I would have liked. I probably played 8-9 hours, which is
:33:19. > :33:28.not the best preparation. 10 days ago, I looked like I would not be
:33:28. > :33:38.able to play. His first opponent was Barry Hawkins. He was out to do
:33:38. > :34:13.
:34:13. > :34:23.better this year. These two will be I like it. If he cushions of he red,
:34:23. > :35:01.
:35:01. > :35:11.It is difficult to pot a ball if you do not hit it. That would be a
:35:11. > :35:27.
:35:27. > :35:37.He will do well to get on a colour here. He also manages to get to the
:35:37. > :35:41.
:35:41. > :35:51.top of the cushion. Not many people That was a brilliant shot, to get
:35:51. > :35:51.
:35:51. > :37:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:37:02. > :37:06.I do not know what happened there. What is he looking at? We can now
:37:06. > :37:16.show you these shots because our cameraman can move around even
:37:16. > :37:16.
:37:16. > :38:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:38:07. > :38:17.further. They are doing a splendid Both players are getting a good
:38:17. > :38:48.
:38:48. > :38:58.Do you see the red in the middle? That pot is too difficult to play,
:38:58. > :38:58.
:38:58. > :39:53.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:39:53. > :40:03.Knowing his ankles, Mark Selby will There is a part he can get around
:40:03. > :40:03.
:40:03. > :41:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:41:10. > :41:19.to. There is a line right in the They say he is he's excellent at
:41:20. > :41:35.
:41:35. > :41:45.escapism. If it was straightforward, Even if he can land that, there is
:41:45. > :42:14.
:42:14. > :42:24.still the possibility of a pot. I This is the worst possible outcome
:42:24. > :42:25.
:42:25. > :42:35.because he stuck he read up. There is not much to do with the black. -
:42:35. > :43:01.
:43:01. > :43:11.It is important that Barry Hawkins Before the mid interval, he was in
:43:11. > :43:11.
:43:11. > :44:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:44:05. > :44:15.I often wonder sometimes, when his victory handles the balls with the
:44:15. > :44:38.
:44:38. > :44:48.white gloves, it does not help the I remember when the Crucible used
:44:48. > :44:52.
:44:52. > :45:02.to have water under the table, to A couple more pots and the frame
:45:02. > :45:02.
:45:02. > :45:57.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:45:57. > :46:07.Nine frames to be played in the Mark Selby has not pushed on from
:46:07. > :46:29.
:46:29. > :46:39.He will not bother too much about that. Terrific effort from Barry
:46:39. > :46:46.
:46:46. > :46:50.And Barry Hawkins took the final two frames. He led the world number
:46:50. > :46:56.one with plenty to do when they resume on Wednesday evening. That's