Day 4 Snooker: World Championship Highlights

Stephen Lee is a man on a mission. He hopes to make it through to the

second-round for the first time in six years. His matches coming up a

little later. First, the news on how the match between Ronnie

O'Sullivan and Peter Ebdon ended You feel pretty certain that Peter

Ebdon, at least, is going to have to win this mini session just to

stay in this match. Why would he play a shot for nothing? It is

getting almost to the point of no return. Shots like that will help.

A 68 break, more than enough for Ronnie O'Sullivan to go further

clear at 9-3. The round of applause said that that was virtually

perfect. Peter Ebdon offering his hand of congratulations and the

hand of congratulations and the crowd favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan

goes through. It did not really happen for me. I was hampered when

I was trying to cue. They must have been at least six or seven

occasions where are was in amongst the balls and ended up with nothing.

Sometimes, that is just the way that it goes. All credit to Peter.

A fantastic season. He was a fantastic professional this season.

I do not think that running played anywhere near as capable -- near

that he is capable of. There were moments of sheer brilliance and

inspiration. He will probably be quite disappointed with the way

that he played but quite relieved, the fact that I never really got

into the match. It was an easy first round match for him. You just

realise that the match is not over until it is over. You just need to

keep professional and stay in control of yourself. And when you

get your chances, just try and score. He is such a fantastic

player. He is such a genius. If he really turns it on, there is no

reason why he cannot win the tournament. There has been a

statement released tonight by Mark Allen in reference to comments made

after his match against China's Kau Yupeng. Following my recent

comments after my first round of peat, I would like to formally

apologise to anyone who may have been offended. I can appreciate

that I overstepped the line at a time when I was heavily influenced

by the motions of a disappointing defeat. I would like to take this

opportunity to apologise to Yupeng if he felt that my comments were

stating that he was a cheat. Brasted by my previous comments

that he was the player and fully deserved to win and I genuinely

wish him the best of luck. I also like to apologise to World Snooker.

I appreciate the hard work by many people to grow our sport and I am

horrified that my actions to could be detrimental to its. This season

has been up and down. I won my first title and it has been

overshadowed by some ill-judged comments. I realise that I need to

ensure that my off table behaviour matches the standard and level and

behaviour that I set for my self when I'm on the table. I will have

an improved attitude. Back to the match between World number eight

Stephen Lee and Qualifying Andrew Higginson. Lee has been arguably

the form player recently. Stephen Lee has always been one of the top

half dozen players in the world. He probably stopped practising and

faded away a bit and now he's back and better than ever. He was number

one in the world at one stage. He has had a tough time and it is nice

to see him back. A great player, knows the game inside out. It is

nice to see that that cue action has brought Stephen back to where

he belongs as one of the best players in the world. If you ever

had a night out with him, you are in for a few good last. Good man,

enjoys a drink and a night out. is back. Stephen's opponent is

there the four-year-old Andrew Higginson who is only making his

second appearance and the Crucible. His reign 19th and won his first

professional title this season. At professional title this season. At

the end of Monday night's opening session, it was Higginson who held

a narrow advantage and he stressed that lead by taking two of the

first three frames of the second session. Higgins and his leading by

You could play that up into there and you would be on a red, perfect

most times. Stephen Lee has definitely got to score off this.

What a lifeline he has been given. For all money, Andrew was going to

take this frame for a three frame advantage. There is a huge

difference between a three frame It is a big task, with the red on

the left-hand side of the table. Stephen will just be glad to be

He just wants to be taking a little bit more time. He did not even look

at that. It is quicker than he This is where it becomes imperative

to get a good position on your next ball. The reds are now in awkward

positions and he was perfectly positioned on the blue. He fewer to

play for the last red, what would you do? He looks like he's going

back to the blue. He is absolutely inch perfect. You come off the top

cushion and play on the red. It looks absolutely inch perfect. The

only danger ears, sometimes, you It may just about cut into the

This game will die the bonkers! Unbelievable. I thought he was once

again, a little bit quick getting down to that one. He played it a

little quickly. The things that can happen on this snooker table.

would like to be playing out of the Where is the cue ball going! How

unlucky. A double whammy. The frame Stephen Lee has had his chances and

missed. What happened there was Just the brown and blue is required.

This is a big frame, especially for Stephen Lee. Somehow, he is going

to win it. On no fewer than three off for mac occasions, he would

have thought that he had lost it. You were saying that Andrew

Higginson has a great temperament, he will need its during the

There has not been more than two frames between these two for the

whole match, and so the pattern continues. Higginson to play, he is

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I thought that he would play the That was a good solid pot that and

Last time Andrew made a break of over 50 was in frame at 6. He is

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He did not catch the middle of the pocket, but I would assume that he

is on this red. Or did he play for the other one? It is pretty tight.

The first camera angle made it look like it when Denise Olley, but I'm

not so sure. -- windy in easily. long as you keep getting the right

side of the blue, then you are in control of the situation. It is

still very congested around the The inch just makes it a little bit

more difficult. One sees red is potted, the two reds just below

this one, they will come a little On the last angle that we looked at,

they were looking pretty tight. Now, Looking at the situation here, we

He has still got that problem of those six reds. He has a 44 point

lead now. But he needs a good angle on the next colour. You always need

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That could be the key to this frame He is looking very comfortable at

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What a great time to produce that, What happened to him in that frame

before the interval, that could have affected him.

Even though he was unlucky in that frame before the interval, he did

have a couple of chances to win the frame before that. Maybe you he

will say, I deserve what I got, but next time I get in, do not miss.

That shows you the fine line between success and failure at this

level. There was a red that was available to the right corner.

Stephen Lee to scored one safety But very, very well played Andrew

There was a lot of adrenalin in that blue. That was a very well

taken break. A great century. He Higgins until frame of 15, thanks

to a break of 51. He needs just one more frame for a spot in the second

round. Stephen Lee needs a huge effort to avoid yet another second

There are no easy shots for Stephen Lee at the moment. He knows he

If he can get the split between the red and the pink, he may want to

That would have been easier red to play, but he has some in the left

middle that he can hold to the pink. He does not want to play nearer to

the top cushion. He has got one to the left middle. It is a nervy part

of the match. He has missed it. He may never get back to the table

in this match now. What a chance for Andrew Higginson. You get the

feeling, that he is just tightening If he sticks on the yellow behind

the brown, he has seen in all sorts You feel that if he pots this green,

Just a couple of past -- half decent positional shots will see

him home and dry. He is struggling to get a colour in on the right

angle and it is getting very tense out there. It always seems to be

the way, when you are looking for He is having a close look. Does it

go? Maybe it does not. When you look this close, it must be very

tight. I to not think all the He only has to roll this blue in.

He is now 54 points ahead. An easy Of the two players here this

evening, Andrew Higginson has played better and hold himself that

The pockets will look like dustbin lids now. A place in the debutants,

Jones. For a place in the quarterfinal. Stephen Lee would be

so disappointed. He went into this tournament, playing very well. He

has made a few mistakes. When it has got me the winning line, he has

cued at any time in the match. is in the most wonderful feeling

Particularly, when you play what you know it is a tough opponent.

A warm congratulations to Stephen Very well play. I thought I would

show the frames today. Just keep in front, and I managed to do that.

Two plays the Crucible is an To win, the feeling is fantastic.

When you see the people who came to support you. Grand Prix is in the

second round against Andrew I did not know what the diagnosis

was. I went with an MRI scan to see what he condition was. It turned

out I had a problem between two cervical discs. There was a nerve

problem. I managed to go to see a sport Visio. I have only seen her

three or four times. She more or less cured it. I have not put as

many hours as I would have liked. I probably played 8-9 hours, which is

not the best preparation. 10 days ago, I looked like I would not be

able to play. His first opponent was Barry Hawkins. He was out to do

better this year. These two will be I like it. If he cushions of he red,

It is difficult to pot a ball if you do not hit it. That would be a

He will do well to get on a colour here. He also manages to get to the

top of the cushion. Not many people That was a brilliant shot, to get

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I do not know what happened there. What is he looking at? We can now

show you these shots because our cameraman can move around even

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further. They are doing a splendid Both players are getting a good

Do you see the red in the middle? That pot is too difficult to play,

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Knowing his ankles, Mark Selby will There is a part he can get around

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to. There is a line right in the They say he is he's excellent at

escapism. If it was straightforward, Even if he can land that, there is

still the possibility of a pot. I This is the worst possible outcome

because he stuck he read up. There is not much to do with the black. -

It is important that Barry Hawkins Before the mid interval, he was in

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I often wonder sometimes, when his victory handles the balls with the

white gloves, it does not help the I remember when the Crucible used

to have water under the table, to A couple more pots and the frame

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Nine frames to be played in the Mark Selby has not pushed on from

He will not bother too much about that. Terrific effort from Barry

And Barry Hawkins took the final two frames. He led the world number

one with plenty to do when they resume on Wednesday evening. That's