:00:35. > :00:41.Hello, good evening and welcome to highlights of Day three of the 2016
:00:42. > :00:46.World Snooker Championship. Two more first-round matches completed this
:00:47. > :00:50.evening, five world champions in action yesterday. One of them,
:00:51. > :02:12.Ronnie O'Sullivan, looking to land his sixth world title,
:02:13. > :02:15.Straightaway, he wants to be on the other side of the blue.
:02:16. > :02:18.Straightaway, he wants to be on the other side of the blue. It is
:02:19. > :02:24.straight, so no problem. Going for the red here. Everything is pinpoint
:02:25. > :02:30.position. Surprised he didn't come down and play for the black. Maybe
:02:31. > :02:38.the red above the black is holding the black spot. He wants to play for
:02:39. > :03:13.the red that is just above the black.
:03:14. > :03:25.He has plague that left hand shot with a tonne of right-hand side to
:03:26. > :03:41.get in position. -- he has played that. He played it gently. Not
:03:42. > :03:44.great. The black wiped its feet. All he's looking for is a red to
:03:45. > :03:51.continue the break and he has knocked that in. We'll still have
:03:52. > :04:09.two disturb the reds if he wants to win the frame on this visit. So,
:04:10. > :04:18.there it is. 68 points. Smokers will be needed and the match will be
:04:19. > :04:28.over. As I say he is going to have to get to that amount of points. 37.
:04:29. > :04:50.38. Is this thread to the right of the
:04:51. > :05:00.pink available? If it is, no problem. If it isn't the other
:05:01. > :05:11.registry key. -- red is tricky. The writing is on the wall now. Yes.
:05:12. > :05:15.You just felt from that very first shot that it was going to be the
:05:16. > :05:29.time. I think he should take great heart
:05:30. > :05:34.out of the way he has played in this match. I agree with you that he is
:05:35. > :05:38.definitely a top 16 player, no doubt about that. He has all the ability
:05:39. > :05:47.in the world but needs to do it more consistently, that's all you can
:05:48. > :05:50.say. Of course, Ronnie O'Sullivan is the last draw he wanted after
:05:51. > :05:56.playing those three tough qualifying matches.
:05:57. > :06:08.He is not perfect on this red but he only needs the red.
:06:09. > :06:18.Right in the middle of the pocket. We have seen a few go by the wayside
:06:19. > :06:30.already and he is not going to trip up Ronnie. 67. 68.
:06:31. > :06:38.He has averaged during this match 14 seconds shot and that quick.
:06:39. > :06:45.Yesterday afternoon he was very solid. A few funny shots,
:06:46. > :06:53.concentration perhaps not what it could have been. Still very
:06:54. > :06:56.impressive. The hand shake out Ronnie will be congratulating Dave
:06:57. > :06:59.on his performance and Dave will be wishing money the best for the rest
:07:00. > :07:05.of the tournament but Ronnie will appreciate how well he played but
:07:06. > :07:08.Ronnie was up to it. A good result. I'm lucky Dave Gilbert, you met a
:07:09. > :07:13.man on form. Anyone else you could have had a better result but at the
:07:14. > :07:16.end of the day it is Ronnie O'Sullivan favourite for the
:07:17. > :07:20.tournament, through to the second round by ten frames to seven.
:07:21. > :07:25.Ronnie O'Sullivan is safely through to the second round but he does face
:07:26. > :07:28.disciplinary action after failing to do any post-match interviews today.
:07:29. > :07:30.There was this statement this afternoon. All players have a
:07:31. > :07:47.responsibility to the sport... He could face a fine, we will keep
:07:48. > :07:52.you right up-to-date with that story in the next few days. Now we will
:07:53. > :07:54.turn to our attention to a former champion in John Higgins who had his
:07:55. > :08:16.match against Ryan Day. That was a terrific shot. A
:08:17. > :08:24.fantastic start. John Higgins got one chance and he made a century
:08:25. > :08:35.break. He leaves 1-0. The first easy ball that John Higgins has missed in
:08:36. > :08:37.this match. A little drag shot. Ryan takes the fourth frame, it is to
:08:38. > :08:52.frames all. -- two frames all. He has come out
:08:53. > :08:57.after the mid-session interval and made another century break. 3-2.
:08:58. > :09:10.John Higgins gets the last frame of this session underway.
:09:11. > :09:19.That is a tremendous shot, knocking the red off the condition. That is
:09:20. > :09:24.his third century and what are black. The Wizard of Wishart has
:09:25. > :09:29.certainly raised his magic round here at the Crucible. He takes an
:09:30. > :09:34.overnight lead against Ryan Day, seven frames to two. Not looking
:09:35. > :09:40.good for Ryan Day but Mark Williams beat another former champion in grey
:09:41. > :09:44.dot. He is through to the second round here at the Crucible Theatre
:09:45. > :10:00.for the first time since 2012. I am more than happy with the way I
:10:01. > :10:03.played all the way through. A lot of good breaks and I thought my safety
:10:04. > :10:06.was very good and I felt like I played quite well, even after Graeme
:10:07. > :10:11.said it was probably the best yet senior at the ball for quite a
:10:12. > :10:16.while. I lost it and I didn't feel like I was involved in the match.
:10:17. > :10:19.Mark played really well. You get the ball great all the way through and
:10:20. > :10:23.thoroughly deserved to win. I have no eye on a prize and my main aim is
:10:24. > :10:27.to try and play like that again. I have done that a few times through
:10:28. > :10:32.the season and I haven't kept it up really. Fingers crossed I can play
:10:33. > :10:38.something like that in the next round and if I can I am going to be
:10:39. > :10:42.hard to beat. We have seen Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams advance
:10:43. > :10:47.into the second round. Another former world champion, Mark Selby
:10:48. > :10:51.began his campaign to date against Robert Milkins.
:10:52. > :10:58.He was returning to action after missing the last two major events
:10:59. > :11:02.due to personal reasons. It was the milkman who delivered the first
:11:03. > :11:07.major break of the match. His 62 left his opponent needing snookers.
:11:08. > :11:12.When Selby missed the black along the rail it was Robert Milkins who
:11:13. > :11:25.took the first frame, courtesy of this blue, red. -- fluke on the red.
:11:26. > :11:34.Then it was Selby's ten to benefit from a fortuitous red as he levelled
:11:35. > :11:38.up. Frame three went right down to the brown ball after a long safety
:11:39. > :11:44.exchange earned it was Robert Milkins who came out on top and led
:11:45. > :11:46.2-1. The fourth frame was tied as well and Selby levelled the match
:11:47. > :11:51.after the spectacular shot on the blue. It was as good as it got for
:11:52. > :11:55.Robert Milkins as the Jester from Leicester took be remaining frames
:11:56. > :12:01.in the session. The highlight was this 132 break to make the score 6-2
:12:02. > :12:09.with the 2004 champion taking the frame. He leads 7-2 after the
:12:10. > :12:15.opening session. Now let's turn our attention to the matches this
:12:16. > :12:22.evening. A quarterfinalist from 2013 has a tough first-round match
:12:23. > :12:26.against Sam Baird. Baird had a slender advantage and won the first
:12:27. > :12:31.two frames of this session. Let us see frame 12 where Michael White was
:12:32. > :12:42.leading. All of those sudden Sam Baird is far
:12:43. > :12:55.from out of this frame. As I mentioned the only cover that
:12:56. > :13:04.is safe is the black. It looks like he was going to part
:13:05. > :13:21.it. A very important stage of this match
:13:22. > :13:24.now you would have to say. He has lost the opening frames and regained
:13:25. > :13:35.his composure here to the stadium himself. A good idea that. He has
:13:36. > :13:40.got to try and keep each shot as easy as possible and he has left it
:13:41. > :13:46.a little awkward already. White needed to be a bit to the left so it
:13:47. > :13:58.could half of the pink but he left the last red as easy as possible.
:13:59. > :14:09.This is a tricky little cut back now.
:14:10. > :14:17.He is OK. He is just checking the scoreboard to see if he could head
:14:18. > :14:29.up for possibly the brown and play it in such a way. Just twice across
:14:30. > :14:32.the table and that is pretty good. You can see it was quite a thin
:14:33. > :14:42.snick but he left himself on the red.
:14:43. > :14:54.Just underhit it slightly again. He is going to need the rest here.
:14:55. > :15:37.It is nice on the green, you can see the only problem is pink to black.
:15:38. > :15:53.It is key that he gets nicely on the pink to get somewhere near the
:15:54. > :16:14.black. What does he do? He might have to
:16:15. > :16:18.play to move the black now. I thought if he had a good angle there
:16:19. > :16:22.were two places he could put the cue ball without having to move either
:16:23. > :16:25.of the white sandy at the shot to the middle or the shot the corner
:16:26. > :16:36.but I think now he might have to try and move the black. I think from
:16:37. > :16:44.this angle he would play to move it out. He has missed it.
:16:45. > :16:53.Will he play a good safety? Get the black is tight to cushion as
:16:54. > :17:00.possible. Back double is on. It is very risky. He is thinking about it
:17:01. > :17:11.because normally you just get down and double the black up to behind
:17:12. > :17:32.the black spot near the commission. Make your mind up time.
:17:33. > :17:46.Well, he has thought about it long and hard.
:17:47. > :17:52.If you put the black Vicente can't really get a good white so it is
:17:53. > :17:54.essential to get the good black. That was the only shot available to
:17:55. > :18:21.him really. Foul. Sam Bird seven, and the frame.
:18:22. > :18:24.An absolutely incredible way to lose the frame. You can't move what can
:18:25. > :18:29.happen on a snooker table and in the end he was a strong favourite to win
:18:30. > :18:34.that frame, Michael White, but it's Sam Baird who levels the school.
:18:35. > :18:38.Amazing. Snooker can be so cruel on times.
:18:39. > :18:49.Into the next frame with Sam Baird to play on a break-up 16. You are
:18:50. > :18:52.kidding me. You have got to concentrate, Sam. He is trying to
:18:53. > :19:01.pinch a bit there so he didn't catch the end of the pack. Yes, that is
:19:02. > :19:06.amazing. These pockets, you can't put them. If he was walking around
:19:07. > :19:11.the probably not that in. It was a lapse in concentration. That wasn't
:19:12. > :19:18.pressure, it was just a lapse in concentration there. The beauty of
:19:19. > :19:22.it is as well for Michael White, he would be stewing sitting in his
:19:23. > :19:23.chair there, the fact he had had some bad fortune and now he will
:19:24. > :19:36.have forgotten about that now. This is such a big match for these
:19:37. > :19:41.two young players and you can expect a little bit of nerves to creep in
:19:42. > :19:44.as we get near the winning line but that last one, that wasn't anything
:19:45. > :20:05.to do with the pressure, that was just concentration.
:20:06. > :20:12.Well, straight into the pink and he can open all the game up here and it
:20:13. > :20:29.could be a frame-winner. He went for the red at the back of
:20:30. > :20:31.the bunch but, I mean, a strange choice but if he goes on to clear up
:20:32. > :20:48.he is doing it his way. The one to the right of the bunch of
:20:49. > :20:51.five Pol Pot into the same pocket as the black but once again he is going
:20:52. > :20:57.to need to play that cannon and sometimes you don't get a second
:20:58. > :21:01.chance. There might be a plank on as well and that will help the whole
:21:02. > :21:07.situation, there might be a plank -- plant into the same pocket as he is
:21:08. > :21:15.playing this red. If there is it will really help. If not he has got
:21:16. > :21:28.to then play the cannon. It is not a straightforward plant.
:21:29. > :21:35.He needs the cannon this time. Slightly more difficult than it was
:21:36. > :21:54.previously. There are two other reds that may be
:21:55. > :22:06.a plant to the right corner but I think both plants are not just on.
:22:07. > :22:11.In the last two frames Michael has had the chance of moving the bunch
:22:12. > :22:16.and getting to the pink but this time it could cost him because this
:22:17. > :22:32.black is no easy target to get into there this time. He has had a glance
:22:33. > :22:38.at that plant you know. I think it is probably three reds but I think
:22:39. > :22:45.the one past the white is past the green and the blue. Is he on this
:22:46. > :22:50.one. I think he is. So that very easy read that Sam Baird mist is
:22:51. > :23:27.going to cost him this frame. Michael White slot one at little
:23:28. > :23:31.mini-session 3-1 and he is going to do that, he will go from one down
:23:32. > :24:16.and go into the mid session with his nose in the frame.
:24:17. > :24:24.He has left a little bit awkward. It would be nice to finish the little
:24:25. > :24:26.mini-session with the century. It is the highest break so far in this
:24:27. > :25:23.match, 88. Yes, it has been a terrific little
:25:24. > :25:27.mini-session for Michael White as the black goes in for the century.
:25:28. > :25:31.Can't do any better than that but it has to be said that Sam missed a
:25:32. > :25:36.very easy read and he was punished for it. Michael White goes to the
:25:37. > :25:39.mid-session interval, he's in front now 7-6.
:25:40. > :25:44.This has been nip and tuck all the way. Sam Baird levels to make it 7-7
:25:45. > :25:47.and one the 15th frame to make it 8-7 and we join it with white to
:25:48. > :26:02.play and trailing by a point. That is a good reply from Michael.
:26:03. > :26:11.He has struggled to find the top cushion in the last few safety
:26:12. > :26:16.shots. You can get through to the potting angle of the red that is
:26:17. > :26:38.beyond the pink at the back of the pack is a problem.
:26:39. > :26:49.Can he get through to the one over the corner? That is a very good kiss
:26:50. > :26:52.as well. A very good kiss on the green. I just wondered if he is
:26:53. > :26:56.going to try and screw up into the bunch here. I know there are loose
:26:57. > :27:05.reds that the black is tied up and he could develop things here. He is
:27:06. > :27:09.concentrating on the loose reds. I am not sure if you put the red and
:27:10. > :27:12.the pink and it would go on to the black spot when he doesn't have to
:27:13. > :27:20.worry about splitting them up just yet.
:27:21. > :28:04.Yes, I can see the spot but is the ball on the black?
:28:05. > :28:11.He is going to take a chance. There are a couple of loose reds but is he
:28:12. > :28:15.going to take the chance and pick end career into the black and it
:28:16. > :28:19.could bring it into play with quite a number of reds and he doesn't have
:28:20. > :28:28.to do that but he has done it and he is unlucky again I think... If you
:28:29. > :28:33.can't get through to the red to the right corner that is so unfortunate.
:28:34. > :28:40.It arcs. If it had had kicked the black as well it would have sprung
:28:41. > :28:42.it free. That was unlucky, wasn't it? I cannot believe it. I mean that
:28:43. > :28:52.is so cruel. Maybe he feels he can get through to
:28:53. > :29:02.this with a little bit left onside. Maybe he will turn the red over.
:29:03. > :29:10.Yes, he's OK. This is a great chance to go two up with three to play.
:29:11. > :29:17.It looks as if he put a little trace aside on it just to get the angle.
:29:18. > :29:22.Michael will be starting to get a little anxious there in his seat.
:29:23. > :29:43.Slightly the wrong side of the blue here. Only just run through.
:29:44. > :29:52.He has only had one other appearance at the Crucible, Sam, three years
:29:53. > :29:56.ago I think it was. It is always a milestone in the player 's career to
:29:57. > :29:57.win a match at the Crucible. If he takes this frame he will have a
:29:58. > :30:53.great chance. He would have liked to be straight
:30:54. > :30:58.on the red near the paint. The one in the middle will give a certain
:30:59. > :31:04.position. Just play the pink and negotiate a gap between the other
:31:05. > :31:11.two reds. Just wonder whether he can hold it for the paint. Yes, he can.
:31:12. > :31:14.He will be taking deep breaths because he'll know this is a great
:31:15. > :31:24.chance to win the frame and this visit. -- hold it for the pink. --
:31:25. > :31:56.at this visit. Just taking his time, and that's not
:31:57. > :32:01.a bad thing. Not rushing into anything, he knows the importance of
:32:02. > :32:11.having this red, the importance of having a 45 point advantage here. If
:32:12. > :32:16.he takes this red into the middle, he will have two swing it around the
:32:17. > :32:26.ankles. -- have to swing it. He could finish on the pink.
:32:27. > :32:38.He's trying to be ultra-careful, Dennis, isn't he? Everything trying
:32:39. > :32:41.to be ultra-careful. Yes, I don't blame him for taking his time
:32:42. > :32:43.because sometimes you can rush things a bit, the excitement of the
:32:44. > :32:57.moment. Just wobbling a little bit, but
:32:58. > :33:26.safely in the pocket. He just needs one more red. 59
:33:27. > :33:40.ahead. 67 remaining, so if he pots the red in the middle, White will
:33:41. > :33:44.need one snooker. This has been an excellent break, it really has. This
:33:45. > :33:50.is probably as much pressure as he has played in in his life. And now
:33:51. > :33:59.he realises that the frame is won, Michael White can only look on and
:34:00. > :34:06.think about the remaining frames. He's playing a bit quicker now. What
:34:07. > :34:12.about this for a stat, the only time he qualified was three years ago and
:34:13. > :34:19.he made his highest tournament break, 142, and lost against Stuart
:34:20. > :34:23.Bingham, 10-2. A chance of making a century here, he has the angle on
:34:24. > :34:31.the black to move the other red into play.
:34:32. > :34:59.Both of these players have had a sentry break, Michael White, 102 and
:35:00. > :35:01.Sam Baird's 108. He didn't get the cue ball there. It will cut into the
:35:02. > :35:20.middle. Not too bad, he can just roll it in.
:35:21. > :35:31.Very, very good. He deserves a century now.
:35:32. > :35:50.Didn't quite get into the cue ball, he'll have to play some Czech side.
:35:51. > :35:56.-- check. Under the circumstances collaborate effort from Sam.
:35:57. > :36:07.Magnificent, very well played, Sam Baird. His second century of the
:36:08. > :36:10.match. -- excellent effort. What a shame, no clearance, but he'll be
:36:11. > :36:14.delighted to have made the century break under extreme pressure.
:36:15. > :36:22.Michael White knows he has to win the last three frames, he trails
:36:23. > :36:29.9-7. STUDIO: Great work from sand. Then Baird got a break of 62 and
:36:30. > :36:33.this one of 13 in frame 17, enough to get the win over Michael White,
:36:34. > :36:37.Sam's second career win over the Welshman but his first win at the
:36:38. > :36:45.Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. He will play it Selby or Robert Milkins
:36:46. > :36:55.in the next round. Great work from Sam Baird from Devon. -- Mark Selby.
:36:56. > :37:02.Over the moon, really. I think we both struggled a bit yesterday and
:37:03. > :37:08.some today. A bit under pressure, but very, very pleased to win.
:37:09. > :37:16.Especially the way that I won, the last four frames. Sam played well
:37:17. > :37:23.and I got worse. Just not good enough really, at the moment, you
:37:24. > :37:26.know. Not really enjoying the game. I need a step back and think about
:37:27. > :37:34.where things are going wrong, really. As I expected from three
:37:35. > :37:39.years ago, I've been dying to come back and hopefully give a good
:37:40. > :37:46.account of myself. I didn't think that I would win, necessarily, my
:37:47. > :37:49.second time. On the other table this evening, Ricky Walden was looking to
:37:50. > :37:52.book his place in the second round. He has played well this season,
:37:53. > :37:58.reaching the final of the last two ranking events, in the players
:37:59. > :38:02.championship, a runner-up, losing 10-6 and runner-up in the China open
:38:03. > :38:09.against Judd Trump, losing 10-4. He's up against it in this first
:38:10. > :38:20.round match, against Robbie Williams from the Wirral. Walden has got big
:38:21. > :38:25.-- back into it, leading 9-7. In frame 17, Williams made a break of
:38:26. > :38:38.140 take him within one frame of the man from Chester. -- 140 to take
:38:39. > :38:42.him. Losing 10-7 against Stuart Bingham, the eventual winner, in
:38:43. > :38:46.last year 's championship. Making his third Crucible appearance,
:38:47. > :38:51.played two won none. Was this to be his year? In frame 18, Williams at
:38:52. > :39:02.the table, trailing 23-8. COMMENTATOR: At first glance he
:39:03. > :39:44.hasn't taken any damage. He's OK. Oh, he went for the black, what a
:39:45. > :39:48.surprise. He played a shot to nothing. You can see the plant,
:39:49. > :39:53.great shot. He almost played it too well. He would have loved to have a
:39:54. > :39:58.pot on, a bit unlucky not to have one. Into the right centre as well.
:39:59. > :40:29.He's not going to take it on. Is he going to take on the pot? This
:40:30. > :40:36.is a big shot. He deserves to win the match from this shot if it goes
:40:37. > :40:41.in. That's a great shot, really is. One of the best shots of the match.
:40:42. > :40:48.APPLAUSE Brilliant pot. Great bottle to go
:40:49. > :41:01.for that. Had to drop. Feet wiper. Is this the run to the
:41:02. > :42:04.line, for Ricky Walden? Make sure you get past the blue. Too
:42:05. > :42:16.heart is better. Getting a baulk colour, but that looks perfect.
:42:17. > :42:30.He's made this very tough for himself, this match. It looks,
:42:31. > :42:41.barked something silly happening, he's going to win it 10-8. -- bar.
:42:42. > :42:44.Do you care how you play in the first round matches? You want to
:42:45. > :42:52.play well, but do you just want to go through? The important thing is
:42:53. > :43:00.getting to ten, but you want to put in some sort of performance. As I
:43:01. > :43:03.said before, a lot of the top seeds put themselves under a lot of
:43:04. > :43:29.pressure to get through the first round. More than is needed.
:43:30. > :43:40.He has been really good with the rest in this match, Ricky Walden. 88
:43:41. > :43:47.pot success with the rest. -- 88%. You would think that this is the
:43:48. > :44:00.final tricky shot, get on a red and it is plain sailing.
:44:01. > :44:11.He definitely has one to the left centre. Is that all he has? I think
:44:12. > :44:14.it is. Yes, the red below the pink is the one he was playing for. Well
:44:15. > :44:33.played. So, red and colour. Scrape into the
:44:34. > :45:07.second round. -- to scrape. Very relieved, Ricky Walden. To get
:45:08. > :45:11.the match over with. There was a time when he looked like going 8-5
:45:12. > :45:18.down, he should have done, his opponent had plenty of chances to do
:45:19. > :45:23.that. But the last two or three frames, Robbie will be disappointed.
:45:24. > :45:32.The last, apart from the sentry break, Ricky Walden has found some
:45:33. > :45:38.form to get over the line -- century. Unfortunately for Robbie
:45:39. > :45:48.and his fans, the run goes on. Never having won at the Crucible. For some
:45:49. > :45:56.reason when he comes into play at this iconic old venue, it hasn't
:45:57. > :46:02.happened for him. He has to find a way of taking his form before TV
:46:03. > :46:21.onto the TV stage. John Higgins or Ryan Day. He's going
:46:22. > :46:39.to wrap things up here with his biggest break of the match.
:46:40. > :47:09.There he goes, clinched fist from Walden. It wasn't pretty but he has
:47:10. > :47:16.been persistent and patient, he goes through, beating Williams 10-8.
:47:17. > :47:21.Played well towards the end, really. It was a tough game from start to
:47:22. > :47:24.finish, Robbie was on top of me all the way through and I struggled
:47:25. > :47:27.early in the match and it was a scrappy affair. The greatest
:47:28. > :47:32.tournament in the world, everyone is on form. I scrape through the game
:47:33. > :47:37.and hopefully I can playback and more consistently in the next game
:47:38. > :47:41.and who knows? Well done to Ricky Walden, he looks relieved. That's it
:47:42. > :47:46.from us but if you want more snooker, that is perfect because on
:47:47. > :47:49.BBC One shortly, Snooker Extra with extended highlights and Classics
:47:50. > :48:02.follows that on BBC One. We will see you bright and early at
:48:03. > :48:07.10am. Goodbye for now.