Day 5 Snooker: World Championship Highlights

Good evening, welcome to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, and

coming up in the next few minutes, the best of the first round action

on the day the chairman of world snooker, Barry Hearn, announced some

interesting changes to the tournament come including offering

former world champions and invited to qualify for the event in 2015. We

start with the man Judd Trump, who was of course I beaten finalist in

2011. The were looking good for Judd after

yesterday's first session, leading Tom Ford by six - two, but Tom Ford

proved a very tough opponent, winning the first six frames of that

session to level things at it-8. We join it at the start of frame 17.

REFEREE: Thank you, frame 17, Judd Trump to break.

First to two frames. For a place in the last 16 in this Dafabet World

Snooker Championship here at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

It will be interesting to see whoever wins this match's press

conference, because I am sure they will have plenty to say about the

way the match went. I just wonder whether he has an

angle on this red to move the red away from the black. Looking at that

shot, he hasn't. When you are playing well, you get on balls like

that and all of a sudden the kiss is on, but he's having to make things

happen at the moment, nothing is coming easy today for Judd.

Now, as he got an angle to come to move this red out now? My colleague

Ken has put this line up, that is what he is looking for.

Well, the angle is perfect. I don't know whether he is thinking of doing

something different to what we suggested.

He played it nicely. That is as good as a shot he has it nicely. That is

as good as a short years have played today.

He has not had a look to see if there was any plants should he go

into the pack at speed. And nothing is easy.

I can forgive him there for pushing the boat out, because he did not

have an easy safety shot, but he has left a chance for Tom.

He needs that white balance. -- to bounce. I don't think there is any

red available interviews in pocket as the black. Let's see what he does

with the cue ball. He has played it well, this is a great chance.

-- into the same pocket as the black.

The lying a little bit on good fortune there, and he was entitled

to play into them. -- rely on. One more good positional shot and he has

the frame at his mercy. That could be it. This is a great chance to go

9-8 in front. Yes, and just look at how these reds

are lined up. Most players would practice at this.

He could have hit that a little bit harder. He will be running into the

red here. Or he could take the top one and maybe screw up for them

around through the gap. -- for the brown.

Well, you cannot believe it, can you? You cannot believe it. What a

let off. He did all the hard work.

He missed a straightforward black. Just hit the near jaw and stayed

there. What a chance for Tom Ford. He could have gone one up with two

to play there. He will be absolutely kicking himself in that chair.

Having seen the frames he has lost this morning that he should have

won, Tom Ford, that pot success rate is very poor from both these

players, but it is the first round at the Crucible. So many matches

have gone close, there have been four 10-9s already this week so far.

It is amazing what this wonderful theatre can do to all of the

players. The Crucible collywobbles.

I saw Judd's piece in the press the other day saying we should move it

away from here. What are you supposed to do, move the tennis away

from Wimbledon because it is not big enough? This is the place to play.

He has a nice angle on the black. He is coming around to see if one of

these two reds pot into this pocket. He will not bother trying to play

the cannon. This shot tells you that they do, but does the bottom one

pot? Well, it does pot. It is tight, it doesn't look tight from that

angle but when you are playing, particularly with this pressure...

As he missed it? There you go, that is exactly what

can happen. When there is a bit of pressure and you are not directly

behind it looking at the pocket as well as the object ball, anything

can be missed. He was playing into a blind pocket there, he could not

receive pocket from that angle, that is what made him miss it. -- he

could not see. It is not easy, this, he may be able taking the middle red

of the three and putting that into the corner.

Cutting down the cushion, you would be well to get away from the cushion

for the black. There is what pressure on this, this

is a tough pot and he knows if he misses this with the rest on a

cushion, it could be frame over. Big shot for Tom Fortier. -- for Tom

Ford here. Well, he was up off it. He was a prophet completely. -- up

off it. He was away before the cue ball had

even reached the red. Not a perfect angle on the blue. He

is going to have to negotiate the cue ball in and out of baulk under

the green may be on his way here. He is going to take its distance

red, but we have seen him miss countless reds like this all

morning. It is 50-50 potting, this, the way the match has gone. Can the

pot it? He cannot, by the look of his body

language. Looking at this picture we will show you, I think he can see

enough of it to put it. -- pot. The blue will help, it is

just the perfect path past the blue to hit the red.

The blue may help his. Well played. A lot of pressure on that, 25 points

in front, the black will put him on 32. He will need the last red.

Well, this has been very workmanlike from Judd, the tension has got to

both players. It would not surprise me anything

being missed at the moment. But he has held himself together just at

the right time. Tom, once again, has had two glorious chances to win this

frame. Whoever loses this match, they are

going to have trouble sleeping tonight knowing the chances they

have hard. -- they have had. Judd now, one up with two to play.

Well, that was certainly a frame that could have gone either way,

Judd Trump will be absolutely delighted to have been given that

extra chance. He goes in front again, this time 9-8.

STUDIO: And Judd sealed it in the next frame.

Not a great performance at all from the finalist, even when he was on

top he became increasingly frustrated during the match. But at

this stage it is all about getting to the last 16.

He got past Tom Ford running out a 10-8 winner and will play Ryan Day

next. It was very scrappy, it was not a

particularly enjoyable game but I have to take the positives, I am in

the next round, that is the main thing. I always enjoy playing here,

I love the atmosphere, there is with a buzz around the Crucible.

As long as you stay in there are always less players and more chances

of winning. It is always a good game against Ryan. It is always

free-flowing. A lot of breaks, not a lot of safety, and it will be an

enjoyable game, good game to watch, I think. Should be a cracking next

match. And also a repeat of the semifinal

at the Crucible for the semifinal of last year for Barry Hawkins. He will

play Ricky Walden after winning eight frames on the spin over David

Gilbert to win 10-4. Also through to the second round,

Marco -- Martin Gould 10-7. Our first glimpse this week of Neil

Robertson, current UK champion. He is playing Williams. Robertson

took the first frame, we join it in the second, no score, Williams to

play. Wasn't easy. Of course, when you

have someone like Neil Robertson coming after you, you know that you

cannot afford to miss too many of these, especially the way he started

in the opening frame. Well, he has over hit this one by a

long way. He had a choice of the red next to the blue or the red to the

right corner. Is he lucky? Can he get to the one

at the back of the bunch? Maybe not. If he has dropped on that he is very

fortunate, he did not play for this one.

And he is on it. That was a little bonus there are

because, as Stephen mentioned, he overhit his last shot. All of a

sudden one at the back of the pack appeared.

But knowing Neil I think it will be blue, red then angle on the blue to

smash it into the tank. -- pink. The pink is just away from the reds a

little bit. That should not affect the shots,

but he has to decide whether to go into the bunch, as well.

He plays this shot very well. Well, he will be unlucky if he has

not dropped on a nice one. He has won to the middle pocket. He does

play that sort well, as you said, Stephen. He did not quite get the

pink full ball, but three quarters ball certainly opened them up

nicely. It will be interesting to see, as

this match develops, when you are talking about making the 100 100s,

whether he gets to the 50, 60 mark if he decides to go for the 100, it

will be interesting to see how he reacts.

Just a bit too hard, he may have to play another can just to hold the

white, it is such a fin snick. He is looking at the green. A little thin

one, but that is unnatural angle with a little bit of screw, leaving

him OK. That would be the shot, you would

think. Didn't quite get the cannon he was

looking for. Just tried to get into the middle of

them and he hit that one full ball. But if the black goes into the

middle of the left corner committee still OK. He is slightly hampered

here with the reds. He has let the white slip away out

of position again here. I should have thought he was bound

to finish nicely, he just midst -- misjudged that, Stephen. Yes, I

thought he was playing to Cannes in the red immediately above the black.

-- cannon. He seemed to give the cue ball a bit much.

Once again comedy is hampered if he takes the one to the right corner.

That is why is looking at the one into the right middle pocket. --

once again, he is hampered. Even that is awkward. It is amazing, that

last little cannon, just a fraction can make such a difference.

One more good positional shot when he pops the black and he is right

back in business. -- Wendy pots the black.

You would have to say, this is looking a great chance for 94. And I

mean the number of centuries he has made, not a break of 94.

Very impressive start from the world number one and former world

champion. Yes, he always has that air of

dominance about him when he is walking around the table.

Which you have to have, to compete at the highest level.

I think Robbie knew when he took the long red on that he had to knock it

in. Otherwise this could happen, and it certainly has.

An unwanted flick, but he is OK. Just about.

The frame is well and truly safe so he can just concentrate on that 100

break. He has made 351 in his career, but he has made 93 this

season. That was a little careless one. He

will not be happy with that shot. This red is now miss-able.

I mean, there is no getting away from the fact there are more

tournaments, but still, to make this many centuries in a season is a

phenomenology meant. -- single macro phenomenal achievement. -- a

phenomenology meant. There are other top players that

play another tournament is, as well, but they have not got anywhere

close. Yes, it could be a record that will

stand for many, many years. We have had 13 centuries so far in this year

's Dafabet World Championship. Well played, Neil Robertson. That is

his 94th century break of the season.

He cannot beat the highest break, that is currently held by Ricky

Walden, a magnificent 137 break. We have no idea how Robbie Williams

is playing, he has not had a chance. All he has done is missed one long

straight, difficult red. Other than that, he has not been out of the

table. -- been at the table. Well, it doesn't get any better than

that. The world number one, Neil Robertson, clears the table with

that magnificent break of 132. He now leads 2-0.

STUDIO: It is all going very well for the man ranked number one in the

world, he ended the session 7-2 up with yet another century break in

frame number seven. frame number

Let's bring you up-to-date with what else is happening in the evening

rounds, Mark Allen taking on Michael Holt.

Mark Allen took the first frame of the session to lead 6-4, we join it

in frame 11, Alan to play. COMMENTATOR: There is always a

possibility you can pull that shot off. He was sending it twice across

that time. He didn't acknowledge or hold his hand up. Maybe he thought,

I've got a chance of the blue going in. Now, he only needs the pink and

he could take the double on here. It is in such a way that he wouldn't

move the black. A back double, if he played it with screw, he has an easy

safety shot, but the back double is on.

He tried it. The reason he tried it is because the black was safe.

Having said that, that's the angle had he is faced with. I thought

maybe he could have a go at this and stun in behind the black, but not

from that angle. This is actually quite tricky to get

safe. He has to make sure if he plays it across that he doesn't hit

the black with the pink. Interesting. Where is the cue ball?

Where is the cue ball? Wow! He actually attempted to pot that

pink there, believe it or not. He finished up playing the best safety

shot of the match. He will have to stick it on the side

cushion here, nothing else you can do with this one. Well, he has left

a pot on. We will have a tense black ball

finish, by the looks of things. He was trying something a bit

special there, but he has gained the advantage. He can play the first

telling safety here. I had it pulled up a bit sooner he

might have taken the double on. Might still do. He has. Oh,

everything thought it was in. He doesn't want to double-kiss it. The

old dreaded double-kiss there! I think everyone thought the black

was in. He had to make the double. It wasn't natural. He played it with

pace. Everyone thought it was in, JP. I would be having the cue ball

here. He played a deep screw on that. Sometimes you get a kick.

Hopefully he won't, I would be having it cleaned. Well, in goes the

black. I don't know what that is, telling the crowd to be quiet. It

was a tough old frame that. Mark Allen will be deliked. He extends

his lead, it's 7-4. Mark Allen won the next two frames to make it 9-4,

needing one for victory. Could he do it in frame 14, let's find out,

Allen to play. COMMENTATOR: Now then, what a chance

here. He has a red into the left corner, the black is in the clear.

Pink is tied up. That doesn't matter he can get out onto the black from

that angle. He's lost six frames in a row. So,

playing for a little bit of pride here, just to see how things go.

Just to see if he can knock in a couple of breaks and then just play

it frame by frame. Just checking about whether the

black will go on its spot. It doesn't appear so. It's up to the

yellow. No change there in this game, Dennis, it has been all around

the table, the black, in this match. Only a few times the players have

come to the table with it actually on-the-spot and it open and amongst

the reds. It has been that type of match this evening.

Good position required here. Two loose reds available, one to the

back, one to right. Not easy to get on either of those.

Oh, dear me, how often will you see that? He's missed it in the right

corner. Have a look at this for a trick shot. He hasn't dropped nicely

on the red. He was going to get down and take

that in a middle pocket. He might be able to bring the pink into play.

Well, he will need a bit of good fortune here.

He had to trust it to a little bit of luck there. Well, if this goes

in, it's not a bad chance. The pink, as we show you that long

pot again, might still be available. I was going to say he may have to go

up for the black here and get it back up. With the pink in the open,

and the blue, he's OK. Didn't have to go up for the black

there. A little bit too far for the pink.

Yeah, the blue is awkward, because of the yellow and black where they

are situated. Mark is a left-hander, there is

still a possible pot down the cushion here. That really was a bit

of a wild one from Michael there, trying to force the angle. He can

get away from the cushion here, when he screws back.

Oh, no! No. He will want to get this match over as quickly as possible,

Mark Allen, he has been under the weather for a couple of days. He can

get himself fully fit. Wow. What a shot that was. That was

his best shot this evening. Absolute peach. Stun that in-off that angle,

around the angles - beautiful. Couldn't have played that any

better. Great shot. A little bit straight on this red

though. If he screws back he will be cannoning those two reds. One of

them on the side cushion. Not apparent what he can play on here,

Dennis. I wondering if the pink is available into the middle pocket. It

will be easy then. Yes. force the red away. He played that

well. Might be a little bit hampered with the pink going on-the-spot. Now

he's OK. A great chance now. That one good opening red.

It has given him this opportunity here.

No need for any cannons, these four reds are all clearing each other, as

he pots one. That might not be the best shot he's

ever played. I think the reds are blocked into the left corner pocket.

He had to play a little cannon. It hasn't worked out as well as he

would have expected. So all of a sudden he has to pot

this red, cannon the other red. You never know where the white is going

to finish. That's just about perfect. Delicate

little cannon that. Didn't he play that really well? I was thinking he

could have been playing it firmer than that. He played an absolute

peach of a cannon there. Beautiful shot.

He will want to get this match over with, as quickly as possible. As you

say, he has been a little bit under the weather. If he can get out of

here and have a couple of days to recoop rate before he plays again.

He should be fine for his next round match.

Another few inches would have been better. He may just is have to nudge

the blue. It shouldn't be a problem. I say it shouldn't be a problem, it

might be now. Straight on that red it would have

been fairly comfortable. Now the black is the choice.

Just had to sacrifice a little bit of position, taking the black, one

good shot with the rest. He is already 28 in front.

It all depends as to whether he can get on the black off one of those

reds. If he doesn't, it's highly unlikely

that he lshgs he is going to need one of the more difficult reds. 36

the difference. That's 37. It will be 43 in front

when he pots the pink, with still 43 on the table. He needs one more red.

I don't think he will be potting one there. Looks like he can't get to

the one on the left hand side cushion. Just a safety. He took

these really well. Dennis mentioned, 43 on, 43 ahead. Strong favourite

for the frame. The way the balls are, OK, the colours are all

pottable, those two reds are going to be pretty awkward.

COMMENTATOR: Just one more good pot and it's the end of this year's

World Championship for Michael Holt. That's the one that will take Mark

Allen into the second round. Michael Holt led 4-3. But he will have lost

seven frames in a row. Mark Allen has played reasonably well, but you

have to feel sorry for Michael Holt, he hasn't been at the races in this

session. He's just deciding whether to

concede. He's thinking about it. He is coming forward. He shakes the

hand. It has been played in great spirit this match. As I say, Michael

Holt just could not get his act together. He will be very

disappointed. Mark Allen, who was under the weather, you have to say

he will be more than delighted. He goes through to the second round, a

very comfortable 1 o 0-4 winner -- 10-4 winner. Michael had chances. He

didn't perform today. I wasn't a lot better. I dug in and stayed patient.

If I could pull in front, Michael's head might go. He has been his own

worse critic in the past. The He sometimes is hard on himself. I knew

if I just got a few frames in front, like I did at 7-4, it could have

went either way at the start of the session. I fancied myself at 7-4.

Michael didn't throw the towel in, I think mentally he wasn't quite there

after that. Well played Mark Allen. Before we say goodbye, time to show

you how the first-round draw is looking with two matches still to be

completed. It was all very straight-forward for the defending

Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan beating Robin Hull. Ronnie will play Joe

Perry who saw off Jamie Burnett. Shaun Murphy beat Jamie Cope to set

up a match against Marco Fu who today beat Martin Gould. Barry

Hawkins beat Dave Gilbert to set up a match, a rerun of last year's

semi-final against Ricky Walden. Dominic Dale 7-2 ahead against Mark

Davis. The winner will play Michael Wasley. Mark Selby beat Michael

White to set up a match against Ali Carter. Alan McManus beating John

Higgins setting up a match with BBC colleague, Ken Doherty. Judd Trump

beat Tom Ford. He will play Wales's Ryan Day who beat Stephen Maguire.

Mark Allen, winner over Michael Holt, takes on the winner of Neil

Robertson, Robbie Williams. If you want more reaction from the World

Snooker Championship, Snooker Extra is up next. I will be back at 1.00pm

on BBC Two. Mark Selby is taking on Ali Carter. Have a great night.

Goodbye for now. Ted, I... I'm not interested in

coming to see Lady Gaga, sir.