Day 5 Snooker: World Championship Highlights

Betfair World Snooker Championship. The more number one, Mark Selby,

already wonder Welch -- the UK championship. This match coming up

later. First to Matthew Stevens, the Welshman facing a possible early X

it against Marco Fu. Fu led 6-3 before Stevens mounted an audacious

comeback. We join a thin frame 17 with Fu to play leading by and it is

Well, the chance is there now for Matthew. Is not a straightforward

run to the winning line to keep his hopes alive in this year's world

championship, but the chance is there. The whites will automatically

go towards the centre pocket. He has to be a little bit careful. He also

has to be careful he does not snooker himself if he does pot the

to keep going. As it? It may not have looking at that expression, has

he come up a fraction short? It is one of those shots, Dennis,

that you have to get past the blue. He did not want to hit it too hard

and leave himself a very thin brown. The shot with the rest needed

attention itself. Well, let's have a look. It is fractions. He could bend

it a little, but what a risk. He can easily play a safety shot, but is he

going to try and bend it? He is. Oh, he is not.

If he was closer to the brown it would be an option, but that the

distance it is high risk. He is in command at the moment on the table

and can play a bit safety shot if he wants. Doesn't have to win it at

Would you believe it! He did not certainly didn't want to double the

brown, now what is the difference? Five? Doesn't make a great deal of

tries to send the blue up and down he could double kiss it twice across

the table to leave it on that portion. The white would come up

past the black stuff there is a risk of that. There is a straightforward

safety. Marco Fu is not even watching. He

has gone the other side of the wall. He has not pocketed a ball for 21

minutes. When he gets a chance he left side and ended the long line,

if he hits it too hard he could put the blue on. . It is far too thin to

capture the middle, but he has to be them. If Marco just needed a blue he

would take the double on, but he Played the blue on the side cushion

and the white behind the pink, but faded too thin. This is a very tough

chance for Matthew. He has momentum misses it. And it hasn't. That was

all or nothing. After all the hard work of winning the last three

frames to get himself right back into the match, a couple of parts he

not as nice as he would have liked. It is one of those shots, you could

not play a playable, you had to live but up in the air. He would have

been better off going to fire up the table.

Not often you are in this situation whether schools are all square. He

would have to go all the way around angles to get in behind the black.

Can he pull it off or will he leaves the cue ball finish? That is a

cracking shot he has just played so relieved. Matthew Stevens made to

horrific fight back. He won three frames in a row to get to 9-7.

Almost got to one behind, but in the end it is the man from Hong Kong,

Marco Fu, who goes to the next round.

We both played poorly throughout the match. 9-4 is flattering at the

moment. Matthew started playing moment. Matthew started playing

better to come back, but I was feeling tired towards the end. I

physically was not there today. I was feeling for the worse. Just

lucky I made a good clear run into the end. Really happy to win. It is

tough not to think about what a comeback he might have. It is very

tough, but I will just try to play one shot at a time. I played quite

good in the last frame. Yeah, really happy to be a top player when I am

not playing at my best. It is a positive thing for me.

Marco Fu through to the second round for the first time since 2009, the

year Mark Selby reach the quarter-finals. Let's find out more

he got me involved to stop. I used a fact -- practice once a week when I

got spotted. They took me under the wing and I was sponsored and got

free practice. I went from one day a week to every day a week. I used to

always play English Paul before I started snooker, because of my

height, Newco was to high at the table. Once I started playing

snooker, I fell into it a lot more. If I don't pick up my cue for three

or four weeks, I feel as though I am starting all over again. It is a

game you need to play every day for many hours. I don't practice as much

as I used it a few years ago because we have a lot more tournaments now.

When we do get back in, we are quite tired from travelling. We get back

home and two or three days later we are off again. I do practice, but

not as much as I did when I was younger.

In the past I have had problems off the table which have come to the

table and I have not enjoyed it as much because of the problems. As far

as the game as a whole, I have never really fell out of love with the

game. With the standard the weight is today, if you are not focused,

you are travelling back home next day. Yeah, I mean, whatever happens

off the table, when you are out there you have to try and forget

about that and focus. My dream is to win the world championship and that

dream is still there. To get to number one, which I have managed to

do so far, which is great, in the UK championship and the Masters I

managed to conquer as well. I only have one dream left and I hope to

conquer it this year. Matthew Selt only played Selby

once. Selt making his debut this year. The world number 45 has a

massive challenge ahead of him. Selby led 6-3 overnight. Selt when

the first frame of the evening session. We pick it up in frame 13.

behind the green, if you missed it. Yeah, it was a poor shot from

Matthew Selt. He underhit it and then did not hit it hard enough. The

red had to travel that distance to the pocket. Beautiful.

At 8-4 down, Matthew Selt should have taken a risk and gone for a

pot. If you are going to be waiting for your chances, you might wait a

long time. Having said that, Mark Selby will not be happy with that

ahead and not down. Yes, it is a different shot, isn't

any difference if you were to speak to a psychologist, he would try to

get you thinking it was both the same scenario, but there is a big

difference when you are out there. before the midsession interval and

leave himself one way from a place to learn Python that red. Just about

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 55 seconds

right-hand side above the two Mets. opponent is leading to friends, they

have a slight margin for error, but comfortable now, the world number

one. There will be a lot of pressure on to win the grand slam as they are

talking about. It will be quite an have been world number one, Mark and

Judd Trump. He had to be crowned world championship -- champion and

will be hoping to do something about that this year. There are a few

other players with the idea of 71, but they are starting to fall

better now. Just an exhibition type shot. Mark Selby is firmly in the

driving seat now. He takes that frame with the end of that 55 break

and he leads 9-4. He just needs one more frame to get through to the

second round. Into the next frame and it is Selt

anywhere near the pot. He left a red to the right corner.

drug shot. Striking right down at the bottom of the cue ball and

hitting it taking all the pace out of it because of the way he dragged

the shot. It is a difficult shot to Striking right down at the bottom

look at the backspin. It takes all of the pace out of it.

The beauty is you can play more positively. With topspin you would

be playing it a lot more softly. He match as soon as possible, Mark

Selby. The last thing you want is your partner to get the odd frame

back. Get them confident. That can sees the winning line, as you would

fantastic positional shot. Yeah, I think that one deserved a

little round of applause. A belated round of applause. That was superb,

as you said, Stephen. It had so much side on it. Have a look at this.

Look at the side he had on that. round match having secured this

frame. Friday morning against the just to open things up? Doesn't have

to hit them very hard, just a delicate little cannon will do.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 55 seconds

There must be won there in the championship. It is building up very

nicely. Two of the top players winner this year. This is one of the

favourites, Mark Selby. Playing quite well. Ding doing quite nicely.

Neil Robertson, Judge Trump. I can't wait, this is really going to be

better refit quad championship -- best in this match, he has got the

job done. It is all about pacing yourself. It is a long two weeks

enjoying himself out there. It was 5-nil down and he won three frames

in a row. Breaks at 57, 77, 63, so although he is getting knocked out

in his debut here, every credit to him and he will be hoping to get

back because he certainly enjoyed nobody better than the gentleman

sitting next to me, kept clinching matches with century breaks. This is

seemed to start well and finish well. Got a heavy contact there.

be the 14th in this year's world to finish, but what a comfortable

win in the end. He didn't look at his best. Matthew Selt made up match

at it, but in the end it was the world number one that was too

strong. With that break of 91, he gets in self into the second round

winning the match 10-4. winning the match 10-4.

The first session I did not play fantastic. I was a little bit

nervous. The Crucible is one of those places that you still get

butterflies before you play. It showed with me and Matt, with him

being his first time here. I was happy to come out 6-3 yesterday and

then play better today. Towards the back end of yesterday, he seemed

more relaxed. He played some good snooker and started off well

tonight. With 6-40 was more or less back in the game and I had to get my

head on. Mark Selby marches into the second

round. Time to round up the rest of the action.

Judge Trump picked up where he left off on choose data Bill -- to beat

off on choose data Bill -- to beat Dominic Dale. Firing in breaks of

104, 73 and 61 along the way. I felt good. Especially the second

session. I made a few good breaks and the safety was good. China's

Ding Junhui survived a mini fightback by McManus and will now

play Mark King in the second round play Mark King in the second round

at the Crucible. I played well yesterday and then they gave me easy

chances. He is coming back strong and safety is good. He scored happy

today. I think he played better today. It is quite hard for me to

concentrate. Always trying to bring it back to the match.

Neal Robertson made a break of 143, the highest so far in the match with

Robert Milkins. He was 5-2 before Milkins fought back. Ending the

first session one frame behind at 5-4. The final first-round match

sees Sam Baird making his debut taking Stuart Bingham. Sam is loving

was ill last week. She likes to have the time of work to watch me. When

we went in, I didn't know where to go and my manager showed us around.

She took everything in quicker than I did so I would not know where I am

going without her. When you go in, you don't realise how small and

compact it is. It is unlike any other venue for snooker. Yes, the

fact it is in the Crucible is the hardest thing to get to grips with.

When I look back at matches I have one, it is still a bad season up to

now. Maybe I could extend it this week. I had a run in the Welsh open

and qualifying for this. It has been, I have salvaged it somewhat. I

went be expected to beat Stewart and I will just have to do my best. If

he gets chances, he could run away with it. He has a real good safety

game and anything I can give to him, he will be prepared for. It is

enough for me to just be here. Winning would be a massive bonus.

Stuart Bingham has been a runner-up in two events. He made 34 century

breaks and is making his seventh appearance. He is one to watch at

this year's world championship. He got off to a flyer. Looking

It might not make much difference but if he pots the brown and blue

strew to the Pinkie will not need the black. -- moves through to the

He just takes to stun round off two cushions for the green to the far

right corner. He has not got into that at all. This is now awkward.

It should have been. Too much Good recovery. A little glance at

the scoreboard, seven points behind, If he can get the cue ball

somewhere in that position, so that he does not need to use the rest.

He's still OK. It is similar to the yellow, he did not get into it. He

is just not going through smoothly enough and getting the action on

the cue ball at the moment. This is a tough blue. He's going to try to

cut the saying and hold for the It is a tough place to play, the

Crucible. He has with a good chance go begging, there. -- let a good

This pink's no gimme with the cue ball being so close to the side

cushion. Can he avoid the in-off into the corner pocket? Now, he can.

-- No, he can't! It was always on. He tried to hit it so that the cue

He has nominated that he's playing Good choice for me, that, good

choice. He didn't have to play the pot on the pink and he couldn't

have played the safety shot any better. To play the pink and get

good position on the black he would have to play it hard, and there is

I think it has just come up short He could have a go at that, but it

He could just maybe slide off the pink and put the cue ball up we're

the yellow pocket and the white on the side cushion. -- near the

yellow pocket. It is a tricky one to the left middle. The cue ball so

what there. Well, he went for it. And that was very difficult. -- cue

ball somewhere up there. The tree of thought was, if it goes in, he

is on the black, and it is frame ball shot. But that was a very

Just the pink needed for a 3-0, and Stuart Bingham will be mighty

relief. Sam Baird had a good chance and could not take it and finds

himself 3-0 behind. Dramatic stuff, some bear with a great chance to

win that frame, then Stuart Bingham took the next three. Some bared

facing the dreaded whitewash. We join it in frame seven, Stuart

Some bit turned professional in 2009. -- Sam Baird. Secs was last

season, 11, centuries this season so far, 10. Highest break in a

tournament, he made a 142 in the World Championship qualifiers. I

just want you to know that. Because that is what the Crucible Theatre

can do to people. Good player. But, just at the moment, the World

Championship and the importance of it and the fact that he had a bad

start has got to. -- to him. He's not the first and he will not be

the last. Certainly not. We have Stuart Bingham,

uncharacteristically missing a red Even the greatest players and the

world have been there - I remember Stephen Hendry and losing I have an

zero-Marcus Campbell. -- losing 9-0, 2 Marcus Campbell. He just needs

one frame to get him going, to get on the board. This will be his best

Sometimes when you are 6-0 down, you see all the little problems.

What can happen to the cue ball. There, you see another one, you

start to overhit the cue ball, and This will give him a boost. This

This is just exactly what he needed. A few nice shots in and around the

pink spot, then going after the two reds near to the black. He has a 40.

Lead now, two reds and blacks, and it will leave sure it needing a

snooker. -- leave Stuart needing a He will be so relieved. As well his

family and friends become up up in the audience. There will be a run -

- out tremendous cheer when he wins There are still two more frames to

play this evening after this one. He could get out of this at 6-3.

That's what he's capable of. Lovely positional shot. He looks a natural.

I like the way he falls down into the shot. Shows signs of being the

player to watch. He hasn't been Super shot! If he pots the black

and all the cover has, he has got a century on here. -- the colours.

That would get their tremendous round of applause. There are not

many suppliers who have made a century on their debut. -- many

players. It shows you what he is This will be a fantastic frame,

should he go on to make a century from here. That is fantastic. Well

done. What I shot that is. -- a shot. Come on, go up, white, corn -

- come on. But the pink in the middle, off three cushions for the

black. You can do it. Unlucky! That was more like it. Everybody is

delighted, so are his parents. And now he can relax. He still 6-1 down.

The highest break of the match so far, but Stuart Bingham bounced

back in the next rain and he's at the table again in frame nine. --

He has just about got the angle, but in little shake of the head. He

does have a chance to pot the blue He couldn't have made it much

better than that. And the kiss on Nice kiss on that pink, as you said,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 55 seconds

Let's have one of them look at this split. Just look at the little kiss

Slightly lost the cue ball. He's still OK, he can use the reds or

indeed the pink to stop the cue Wanted to catch the pink fuller,

but he always had the red in He actually played the perfect

angle on the blue. So, a frame- He has just overrun that slightly.

He has other reds to the middle to keep it going. That's the thing,

when the reds are spread as nicely as this, it doesn't call for

pinpoint positional play. There are Impressive stuff from Stuart

He is on top of his game, he has And, for all the world, it looks

like he's going to be going in 8-1 up, and it has been an unhappy

debut for sound bet., in a way, he will gain a lot form the experience

of visits -- of his appearance at the Crucible. He will be back for

So, that black, whose and 72 in the lead, 67 remaining. -- puts him 72

in the lead. Sandberg lost his concentration -- some bared lost

his concentration. -- Sam Baird. But, as you say, he will have

learned a lot from this experience this evening. It is more than just

potting balls. Sam Baird says well played to Stuart Bingham. It was

not that their view he was looking for. But, Stuart Bingham is one of

those who is going under the radar. He only needs two Prince tomorrow

for a place in the second round. was an excellent first session from