Day 4 Snooker: World Championship Highlights

The World Championship was the girl for me. I'm hungry to get back

there. Hello and good evening. Welcome the highlights of day four

of the 2016 World Snooker Championship. Neil Robinson looking

to join a number of other former world champions in the second round

draw the ceiling. The Australian has fond memories of lifting the trophy

in 2010 and watching the action from the Crucible as a youngster. I

always used to have to wait for the video tapes. Someone in the UK would

be recording the World Championships and then eventually, they would make

their way over to Australia. It was always... The Stephen Hendry, Jimmy

White finals. Those were a match as I grew up watching. The first visit

was actually won the first year I qualified for the Crucible. I went

down with their day early to just watch a match. Just being in there,

watching it as a fan, if you like, was absolutely amazing. I've never

been so nervous to walk down the stairs and to play Stephen Hendry. I

said, don't trip or fall down those stairs! The whole city is buzzing.

It's a really nice city. The first time I went there, it wasn't that

great. They've made a lot of modern changes to the city and there's

always a tremendous buzz around the city when the tournament was on as

well. It is definitely the best time and best tournament to play in. The

tournament gets dashed changes when it gets down to a one-table set-up.

That is when the tournament opens up. The crowd is so knowledgeable as

well. It's always a sell-out. It creates a brilliant atmosphere which

in turn can create a lot of pressure as well but that is what I love

about playing snooker. It's playing under pressure and playing in front

of so many millions of people on TV, and a big crowd as well. The World

Championship was the dream goal for me. It's always a very proud moment

when I go back there and see myself on the Honours list. I see pictures

of myself backstage, lifting the trophy. I had some really good runs

in the tournament as well but I'm obviously really keen to get back to

another final and hopefully win it again. But Robertson has a

potentially tricky tie against Michael Holt, who has only made the

second round on one previous occasion in 2005, against Steve

Davis. He got off to a blistering start, ending in front. We pick up

the action intake -- frame ten, the very first frame of the evening

session. Thank you. Frame can. Michael Holt to break.

Michael Holt gets the first session of this final dash first frame of

this final session under way but that was not the break off he was

looking for. He caught it too thick and was left uneasy starter for Neil

Robertson. Played so well in the first session this morning.

There is a tremendous atmosphere here tonight. A lot of people

fancied Neil Robertson at the start of this tournament but they know he

has got to produce the goods if he is to advance to the second round.

He played that well. He judged the positional side perfectly.

A good sign at the moment for Neil. Everything going right in the heart

of the pocket. Still one loose read that he can play for, without cannon

ink into the cluster and it's the type of shot... You would like to

leave yourself low on the red so it to bring the other reds into play.

And that looks about perfect. It's always a risk involved, of course,

can you keep good control of the cue ball? But he should be OK. Couldn't

have played much better. He may be a little bit disappointed he didn't

bring more reds into play but he's got another three into the open, he

can work on. Just checking to see where the pink

will go after he's potted it. You will be playing for the pink, off

this thread. As I say, there are two reds in the

open, easy to get on, that he is going to have to get onto that

cluster at some time, to clinch the frame at this visit. But this was

just what he was looking for, a good start in the opening frame. And it

was gifted to him, in all honesty. A poor break of shot from Michael.

That has ruined his position. Just a straightforward shot, to road it

through. Watch it bounce. Enough to take the pace out of the cue ball.

Unless he takes on a very risky blue, it's the end of break.

Well, it was risky. It was risky and the worst thing that could happen

was the blue came down and opened up the cluster of reds. A double

whammy. I think he just about who's on the

blue. Maybe the pink goes as well but I think he played for the blue.

Yes, I think the blue will be the choice because he has got all the

pocket available for the pink. Quite an aggressive shot and it has

worked out absolutely perfectly. So, that very risky blue that Neil

Robertson went for could well cost him this first frame of the evening.

Doesn't to play any more cannons. All the reds are in the open. The

colours are on their spots. What a chance to get a full frame advantage

over the number four. You see, I always believe you've got

to get 90% or above. 93% for Michael Holt. When he was introduced

tonight, Rob water got it right. The best performance... Can he keep it

going? He's just gone slightly out of

position there. OK, he's played the red to the left middle but he's got

a little bit of work to do now with the cue ball. He has decided to play

another red but this will be taking him out of the ball end.

He has played it absolutely inch perfect.

He is finding trouble here. Can he get past the pink? He is just on it.

And that was an important road to get rid of because in porting the

pink, he plays to the ones at the right middle.

Decided to play for the blue. It's OK. He's got the right angle. He

will be feeling it out there. Points, all square.

Well, decided to go up purposely for a baulk colour. He will put the

yellow and of course spotted again when it is re-spotted. It is hard to

see a problem now. Neil Robertson was unlucky. He was going well but

got a bad contact. Should he have pushed the boat out and gone for the

blue? He will be thinking, maybe not now, because missing that blue looks

also -- looks almost certain to have cost him the first frame of this

important final session. Ten points, the lead. Green, brown, blue.

Just roll the blue in and he goes 22 points in front, with just 13

remaining. Played very well in the first

session, did Michael Holt. He is still in that form. Neil Robertson

will be disappointed. Should he have gone for the blue? It is history

now. So the Hitman looking to take down

Robertson but the Aussie pinched one back. We are going to show you what

happened in frame 12. Robertson to play with a 44 point lead.

Not that one. And this time, he has not got away with it. It shows you

the difference, when you get the cue ball close to the question, how much

more difficult it makes the pot. Michael Holt comes to the table 44

points behind. First priority, reduce your arrears and get right

back in the frame. Can't think about winning at this visit. Not yet.

Still, a little bit short of pace there. Not certain where the pink

will go once it has been re-spotted. He's had a look at the green but

that is much too straight. Just wanted to be straight on this pink.

It would have been so much easier to get position on the next red.

Well, he has decided on the green. This is a big shot. This is a very

big shot. Well, looking at his body language, the blue is covering the

red near the corner. You thought if I pot the green, I will have a thin

snake. There you see it, the blues in the way.

Well, maybe there is a red near the pink spots include the left corner.

It doesn't look as though all the pockets are available, as you can

see. Oh, but there was enough. What a tremendous part that was. Needs a

good kiss on the green. It could have been worse. It could have run

past the green and it would have been nothing. What a good pot that

was. This yellow sneaks in, I'm thinking he can avoid the kiss on

the brown to get the cue ball up to this end of the table.

He has looked at the blue. He has looked up the yellow. He is now

looking at the green. Decision time. It is the yellow.

Just got to be a little bit wary about the cue ball heading towards

the right middle pocket here. He is trying to avoid the brown. Can he

avoid the brown? Well, not really, but he has left himself a chance of

this thin snake. The reason he didn't play it, he was worried about

the right middle. So purposely screwed into the brown. He has left

himself a chance at this thread. But when there is a thin potting angle,

it's not guaranteed where the cue ball is going to finish.

He will settle for that. He has finished nicely on the blue. Will he

risk the cannon on those two reds that are together? If you could roll

the blue in and play for one of those reds in the left middle, he

would do, but he cannot do that. Will he play the cannon? Well, one

of them in pots. It is a chance. Not an easy one.

Held that nicely. The reason I say it is not an easy one, if the brown

was on its spot, you would have a normal table to go at but that brown

is in an awkward position. You don't want to be looking that far ahead.

You just want to concentrate on the shots in front of you at the moment.

Just looking to see if this red passes the black to the right

corner. It looks as though it does. Decided to play for the black and I

presume, when the black is re-spotted, it won't interfere with

this red being available. And it doesn't. So, nine points behind now

and the only problem ball I can see is the brown.

Played it nicely. Now, he needs a good angle. He needs a good angle on

the green. Then he can get down to the brown. Just one point behind.

You will need up to and including the pink. Then he will be able to

steal this very important frame. Doesn't want to be too straight on

the screen. I'm surprised he played it like that. I thought he would

leave himself a ball pot. He looks very straight and if you screw in

back, you've got to be careful you don't screw back into the left

middle. He is a little bit careless to leave himself the way he has.

Now, if he pops the green and screws back, he will leave the cue ball

where it is now. -- pops the green. People have a go at the brown.

As you can see, no problem putting the green. He's got to bite the

bullet here. Just leave yourself a shot at the brown. Don't risk

screwing in-off or something silly like that.

Well, there you go. Trying to get position on the brown, missed the

green. What a mistake. And what a chance he has let go there.

Having said that, what a poor shot that was from Neil Robertson.

He thought long and hard about this. He was frightened about screwing off

into the middle pocket. In the end, he tried to pot the green into a

pocket that wasn't there. He's had a reprieve, because Neil Robertson has

played a dreadful safety there. This green will pot and he's had a look

at the potting angle. I can see that he has got it. The

brown and blue will put in 13 points in front. With 13 remaining. Good

pot. You feel he has got to play the brown into the middle. Surely it is

a natural, just to drop it in. You've got to fully commit though,

to this. This is a golden opportunity.

Not perfect on the blue. The blue, as I say, will put him 13 points in

front with 13 points remaining. He has got to fully commit to this.

Neil Robertson played a very poor safety shot on the green, when he

was given a let off. This is a natural to roll this in and come of

this -- side question to the pink, under normal circumstances. Played

it perfectly. In a frame that could have gone either way, it looked as

though it was going to be Neil Robertson's for most of it. But it

has slipped away and Michael Holt will be mighty relieved. Neil

Robertson, really in bother now. The outsider, Michael Holt, leads the

world number four by four frames. And Michael Holt edged even closer

to victory, taking the next frame. Can Robertson find a way back into

this one? Frame 14. It looks like he is trying to play

three cushions and get into the pack. It's a decent effort. It's a

bit wide. A fraction wide. A great try. Now, the situation Neil

Robertson is in, when he gets these opportunities, he will be getting --

looking to try and win the frame in one visit. When you are playing

catch up like this, you don't want to be winning scrappy frames. You

want to try and score heavily. But every shot now, there is that extra

little bit of pressure on it. He's got to say, as we call it, no miss

snooker. Thank you. Ideally you would have

liked to be low on this black but he couldn't play the shot from the

position he was in so he had to try going for the back cushion which is

always harder. It is a lovely outcome. He got a lot of action on

the cue ball. 23. Just the right side of the blue.

Not wasting much time now, Neill, getting on with it and trying to

make something happen. Trying to get a buzz on. 29. This is perfect. He

can open up the pack here. A realistic frame-winning chance now.

Split them nicely. It is really a case of one shot one frame at a time

when you are in this position. It is no good looking at the scoreboard.

Winning a couple of quick frames could slightly put the heat on

Michael Holt. 37. Can you just clean the white,

please? Sure. 34.