:00:45. > :00:51.Stand-by for the most pressure filled situations of this year's
:00:52. > :00:59.Championship. This is well worth staying up for, I can assure you.
:01:00. > :01:07.Australia's Neil Robertson and Hong Kong's Marco Fu had The Crucible
:01:08. > :01:11.arena to themselves. An early finish from yesterday's match had seen to
:01:12. > :01:16.that. And when they came out, they were playing for the last place in
:01:17. > :01:21.this year's quarterfinal line-ups. I promise you, it is cracking. But
:01:22. > :01:26.before we get there, another two of those births had been filled earlier
:01:27. > :01:28.in the afternoon, and it was no surprise that defending champion
:01:29. > :01:34.Mark Selby took one of them. His progress had been slowed up
:01:35. > :01:42.yesterday, but today, the world number one sprinted away to his
:01:43. > :01:48.first century of the Championship, to win 13-6. First century of the
:01:49. > :01:54.tournament, over the moon with that! I have been playing OK, getting to
:01:55. > :01:57.60 or 70 and breaking down. It was nice to start the match with a
:01:58. > :02:01.century. And former runner-up Barry Hawkins didn't hang about, either.
:02:02. > :02:08.He got the last three frames he needed to beat Graeme Dott. He would
:02:09. > :02:18.face another Scot, Stephen Maguire, in the last eight. Delighted to beat
:02:19. > :02:24.someone of Graeme Dott's calibre, I'm really pleased. I was cueing
:02:25. > :02:34.better today. The big breaks are not going in, overall, I would pretty
:02:35. > :02:40.solid. I would not say I am on top form, but I am doing enough. So, the
:02:41. > :02:44.quarterfinal draw looked like this. Kyren Wilson, at 26, the youngest
:02:45. > :02:50.man left, facing 41-year-old John Higgins. Runner-up in 2013 Barry
:02:51. > :02:56.Hawkins takes on Scotland's Stephen Maguire, who's acted in the quarters
:02:57. > :03:08.after five years. In the top half, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Junhui
:03:09. > :03:14.prepare to face each other. And the one remaining gap in the line-up,
:03:15. > :03:18.who will Mark Selby be taking on tomorrow afternoon? Will it be
:03:19. > :03:24.former champion Neil Robertson, or Marco Fu, twice a semifinalist here?
:03:25. > :03:35.Well, these two began the evening session locked at 8-8.
:03:36. > :03:43.Marco Fu got his third century of the match to level things up once
:03:44. > :03:48.again at 10-10. In the next frame, Marco Fu was trailing. It was
:03:49. > :03:57.watched by former champions John Parrott and Dennis Taylor.
:03:58. > :04:06.JOHN PARROTT: Now, it's Marco's turn to be in the driving seat. And this
:04:07. > :04:11.one's a bit more trouble. Difficult to get the swerve on the cue ball
:04:12. > :04:24.here, with it being so close to the cushion.
:04:25. > :04:36.Foul and a Miss miss. Marco is just looking to see what the pink looks
:04:37. > :04:55.like. Well, reported one of these earlier this evening.
:04:56. > :05:06.DENNIS TAYLOR: He needs to get some action on this, anywhere past the
:05:07. > :05:09.green... And that's terrific. As long as he's not straight. Terrific
:05:10. > :05:28.shot! Yes, if you were being picky, it is
:05:29. > :05:35.slightly more angle and you would like. Still expect him to get this,
:05:36. > :05:51.but it's 10-10 at The Crucible. Well played. He's going to need the blue,
:05:52. > :06:03.and I'm just wondering if he can stay on the yellow. I think he might
:06:04. > :06:05.have tried that. I'm not so sure, I think he might have just wait it for
:06:06. > :06:28.the opportunity. Good recovery there, because he left
:06:29. > :06:34.himself further away from the yellow then he would have liked.
:06:35. > :06:43.Big, big turning point, this. Yes, not many complaints, he had a good
:06:44. > :07:03.look at that mid range red. We can go back to that last shot
:07:04. > :07:15.when he tried to cannon the red out instead of just stunning behind it.
:07:16. > :07:27.Just needs the blue... No. No, he's missed it.
:07:28. > :07:52.Bad news, he's missed it. Good news, I think it's safe.
:07:53. > :08:03.Well, this isn't pretty for Marco, because there's no easy safety shot
:08:04. > :08:15.on. He will have to watch out for the double kiss. He's just trying to
:08:16. > :08:26.nestle onto it. He could find himself in behind the black here.
:08:27. > :08:30.How is the weight of the cue ball...? Not quite. But still, this
:08:31. > :08:43.is not a pretty shot. Marco's got the same shot he had
:08:44. > :08:45.before, but that blue being a little bit of the cushion means he'll have
:08:46. > :09:19.to be very careful. Oh, he's made a little bit of a mess
:09:20. > :09:27.of that one. It's the last thing he wanted to see. It wasn't easy, but
:09:28. > :09:41.maybe the shot he played beforehand might have been the one...
:09:42. > :09:49.How many times do you score 70 points and lose the frame? But
:09:50. > :10:03.that's what will happen if Neil pots the pink and black. He's just got a
:10:04. > :10:08.little bit of an awkward angle. Oh, look where he's left this! Oh, we're
:10:09. > :10:17.going to have a tense black ball finish now. That's just pure
:10:18. > :10:22.tension. He's having the white cleaned, but I don't know if he got
:10:23. > :10:26.a kick or not. He definitely did, it has taken the pace out of the cue
:10:27. > :10:38.ball. At was a bit unlucky. Now, what do you do with this? If you try
:10:39. > :10:46.to cut it back in the corner, the white could go in the middle pocket.
:10:47. > :10:51.I think this one into the middle has been dropping in on this table, we
:10:52. > :11:00.saw a pink earlier in the match which just turned in a touch.
:11:01. > :11:10.He's played it to the middle... It's not there. He played that with
:11:11. > :11:23.safety in mind. What a big black this case. He's
:11:24. > :11:59.played it well. Well, he didn't play THAT too well.
:12:00. > :12:07.Oh, dear. It still needs a bit of renting. Should have been a lot
:12:08. > :12:19.safer than this. -- still needs a bit of potting. I said it needed a
:12:20. > :12:37.bit of potting! And well, what a tense 21st frame this has been.
:12:38. > :12:46.Oh, you don't normally see that from Neil Robertson! He really is in
:12:47. > :12:50.quite a mood. I've never seen that from him. That's what it means for
:12:51. > :12:59.the Australian. He's back in the lead! So much emotion from both men,
:13:00. > :13:04.in fact. Earlier in that frame, Marco Fu, well, he was in despair
:13:05. > :13:10.after missing a red to let the Aussie back in in the first place.
:13:11. > :13:17.So, detention and the pressure is squeezing down these men, as it can
:13:18. > :13:21.only do here at The Crucible. So, Robertson is ahead for the sixth
:13:22. > :13:26.time in this match as we head into the 22nd frame, this time, Marco Fu
:13:27. > :13:44.with a 19 point lid. That's a great recovery. That might
:13:45. > :14:03.not be all that bad. There's four reds on the pink spot.
:14:04. > :14:07.There's one near the black spot also pots.
:14:08. > :14:12.No position on the red you've mentioned. I don't think he can get
:14:13. > :14:19.past the red without a cannon. The one on the black spot is easier
:14:20. > :14:34.for position. Good shot. Very good shot. Not the
:14:35. > :14:55.right side of the blue. That's not important.
:14:56. > :15:05.He did well to find the path through the baulk colour there.
:15:06. > :15:14.Foul. Oh, he's touched the pink. Oh, my goodness. What's going to happen
:15:15. > :15:22.next? Well that was very careless from
:15:23. > :15:42.Marco there. I said he could screw back into the
:15:43. > :15:51.middle pocket. That was Marco. But same shot.
:15:52. > :15:56.That's a bit careless that. He definitely did touch. It -- touch
:15:57. > :16:09.it. Tough for the referees. It's been a
:16:10. > :16:13.long day for them. One of our best referees ever. He spotted that
:16:14. > :16:29.straight away. No kick. Just didn't deliver the cue
:16:30. > :16:50.in a straight line. Marco will pick up on a few things
:16:51. > :17:06.happening here. He knows Neil is very uptight.
:17:07. > :17:15.No need to play on the black, of course.
:17:16. > :17:26.He can keep going up for blues. That will suffice.
:17:27. > :18:05.If he keeps going red and blue all the time, that will see him home.
:18:06. > :18:09.As long as he keeps getting the correct side and that's judged to
:18:10. > :18:17.perfection again. That was excellent, the last one,
:18:18. > :18:27.lovely touch. Make sure you get above the blue, so
:18:28. > :18:38.it's easy. Perfect yet again. He looks the more likely scorer,
:18:39. > :18:48.that's for sure. He only needs one more red and a
:18:49. > :19:33.blue. Very good from Marco Fu. I bet he
:19:34. > :19:41.can't believe he was coming back to the table.
:19:42. > :19:47.He had a good look at that red there. It was a similar shot the
:19:48. > :20:00.other side of the table that he fouled.
:20:01. > :20:09.Neil Robertson was one ahead and he's been pegged back.
:20:10. > :20:18.Doesn't matter about that. Neil Robertson stays in his seat. Marco
:20:19. > :20:19.leaves the arena. Just can't pick anything between these two players.
:20:20. > :20:43.We're back all square again. Started off the best of 25. It's
:20:44. > :20:59.down to the best of three. He knew he was going to be on one of
:21:00. > :21:36.the baulk colours. In a couple of shots, he's overran
:21:37. > :21:46.that one slightly. I was going to say red, blue and get on the blue.
:21:47. > :21:52.But he's left this one a bit tricky. Can still do that now.
:21:53. > :22:13.Even if he's straight on that, it doesn't matter. He can leave the
:22:14. > :22:46.black into the other corner pocket. Ideally, liked to leave yourself
:22:47. > :22:49.half ball on the black here. Play a screw into the pack and then the red
:22:50. > :23:05.just below. That's the one. The shot that John
:23:06. > :23:28.had picked out. This is about nothing else other
:23:29. > :23:50.than holding yourself together in this situation.
:23:51. > :23:59.That's just about perfect. Marco had a great run last year. Lost 17-15 in
:24:00. > :24:09.the semifinal to Mark Selby, who went on to win it.
:24:10. > :24:16.He's had two semifinals. I bet he feels it's time he had his name on
:24:17. > :24:27.the trophy. Who's to say he couldn't do it this
:24:28. > :24:29.year. He holds his hand up there. He didn't play it like that. But he
:24:30. > :24:57.won't mind. He was 4-1 down in this match. Of
:24:58. > :25:22.the two players, he looks like the only one who's scoring.
:25:23. > :25:34.You could hear a pin drop at the moment.
:25:35. > :25:44.The crowd is totally enthralled in this match.
:25:45. > :26:03.His break-building is full of finesse. It's only been going just
:26:04. > :26:42.over five minutes and 20 seconds. He's just artful the way he goes
:26:43. > :26:43.about his break-building. Like a fine bottle of wine, he seems to
:26:44. > :26:57.have got better with age. He's always been a good player,
:26:58. > :27:04.but... Well, it's a very disappointing end. But he's got a
:27:05. > :27:10.69-point with only 59 on the table. Three snookers needed.
:27:11. > :27:14.STUDIO: Robertson didn't get them. A crucial contribution of 69 from the
:27:15. > :27:17.39-year-old Marco Fu. That's only the second time in the match that
:27:18. > :27:22.he's taken the lead. What a time to do it though. Can he barge his way
:27:23. > :27:27.into a consecutive Crucible quarter finals? Or will Robertson be able to
:27:28. > :27:35.force only the third decider of this year's event?
:27:36. > :27:41.Might have hit it a little bit too hard. Well, he can get the red that
:27:42. > :28:00.he doubled back up. Played it with stun. It was a
:28:01. > :28:02.natural to cannon into the red and black, which he didn't want to do.
:28:03. > :28:12.This is a chance. That is a much better shot than it
:28:13. > :28:42.looked. He played that really well. What he was looking at, in a couple
:28:43. > :28:44.of shots' time, was to get on a red into the right corner. Leave himself
:28:45. > :28:58.on the pink. In a few shots, he might be able to
:28:59. > :29:00.get the pink onto the black spot. There's other options before he has
:29:01. > :29:24.to think about that. Yes, that red up to the right-hand
:29:25. > :29:36.side of the pink, that's the most important ball in this channel. If
:29:37. > :29:43.he can get onto that in couple of shots' time, what a chance. He can
:29:44. > :30:05.do it now... Ideally, he would like to be straight on that red.
:30:06. > :30:14.Oh, he's got a little bit too much side on that. A little bit of
:30:15. > :30:22.adrenaline there, he just overcooked it slightly. Yeah, he was just
:30:23. > :30:28.worried about cannoning into the yellow, so he got into it a little
:30:29. > :30:42.bit too much. And this is a much more difficult shot.
:30:43. > :30:59.Good recovery pot. Excellent! Well, that was a great cut back. And look
:31:00. > :31:03.at that, that's why he was trying to get straight on that red, you would
:31:04. > :31:14.have been right behind the pink. But he's still at the table. Yeah, he's
:31:15. > :31:23.played in an area here. He has got a choice. Can the pot this in the
:31:24. > :31:24.middle and hold for the pink? If he can, this is just as good as the
:31:25. > :31:38.other way. Excellent. Roman I'm not sure if the pink spot
:31:39. > :31:47.is occupied. If it is, that's a big plus for Marco Fu. Yeah, it's
:31:48. > :31:56.definitely covered by a red, isn't it? You can just see it seeking out.
:31:57. > :32:12.37 and counting. The red definitely jumped there.
:32:13. > :32:36.Let's have another look at this... I said earlier this evening, this
:32:37. > :32:40.was a game that was ready to be grasped by one of the players who
:32:41. > :32:48.could step up to the plate. It's definitely been Marco Fu this
:32:49. > :32:57.evening. His scoring has been far superior to Neil's. This has been an
:32:58. > :33:06.excellent break in the heat of battle. What a beautiful shot. An
:33:07. > :33:14.absolute cracker. It's worth another look. He could not hit that any
:33:15. > :33:19.better. And while Hazel and Stephen were talking in the studio, Mark
:33:20. > :33:22.Selby was practising, and the defending champion is waiting on the
:33:23. > :33:27.winner of this match. And it looks like the man from Hong Kong is going
:33:28. > :33:34.to be playing the defending champion. Just a few pots away from
:33:35. > :33:42.what has to be... Well, he's had some fantastic victories, but this
:33:43. > :33:50.would be up there with the best. Yeah, let's not forget, in the first
:33:51. > :33:55.round against Luca Brecel, he was 7-1 down. And here you is, looking
:33:56. > :34:02.like is going to be in the quarterfinal. Amazing turnaround. He
:34:03. > :34:09.had a little glance at the scoreboard there. Making sure that
:34:10. > :34:18.he plays the correct shot and gives himself a little bit of time.
:34:19. > :34:29.DENNIS TAYLOR: He's got eight six, can you believe it? I was just
:34:30. > :34:34.thinking, when he held his head in his hands, when he missed the easy
:34:35. > :34:39.ball, but that was just unlucky. Have a look at that. Oh, it's
:34:40. > :34:45.outrageous, it really is. How well has he played in this frame?! And
:34:46. > :34:52.for that to happen. DENNIS TAYLOR: Look where the white
:34:53. > :34:57.has finished. He would have been on the pink. He thought, I'll just make
:34:58. > :35:16.sure, I'll roll it in. And that happens. Incredible.
:35:17. > :35:23.Oh, Neil! I think he can still pot the black, John?
:35:24. > :35:32.JOHN PARROTT: Yeah, it was the right shot to play. He just needed a
:35:33. > :36:03.thinner contact. But yes, this still pots. But it can be missed.
:36:04. > :36:16.What a frame of snooker this is. The only awkward ball is the yellow. And
:36:17. > :36:21.it's not safe where it's sitting. What I will say, Dennis, is, he's
:36:22. > :36:26.not heard his shooting boots on tonight. Can he find them from
:36:27. > :36:28.somewhere? This will be one of his best clearances, because he's been
:36:29. > :37:03.nowhere near his best. Well, how is Marco Fu feeling,
:37:04. > :37:06.sitting in his seat? He was a couple of pots away from a place in the
:37:07. > :37:13.quarterfinal, and to see that happen... It was incredible. And he
:37:14. > :37:17.had played the perfect frame, Dennis. His matchplay had been
:37:18. > :37:23.superb, he had his opponent in all sorts of trouble. Getting over the
:37:24. > :37:40.line - and then that happened. Boy, this is a tough game.
:37:41. > :37:48.It's all about getting a good angle so that he can drop in behind the
:37:49. > :37:56.yellow. The yellow, as I say, it's far from safe.
:37:57. > :38:05.He can drop in behind the yellow to leave it into the corner - or into
:38:06. > :38:12.the middle pocket. Anywhere near there, he would be OK. Yeah, he
:38:13. > :38:26.decided to stay on the blue, didn't he? Decided to play it this way. Oh,
:38:27. > :38:31.he's too close to the yellow. He wanted to be a bit nearer to the
:38:32. > :38:39.cushion. And there's more drama here. Just got a little bit too much
:38:40. > :38:53.stun on that. Yeah, the only way he couldn't have
:38:54. > :38:56.a pot on that yellow was if he got into the cue ball too much.
:38:57. > :39:03.Unfortunately for him, that's what he's done. A reprieve for Marco.
:39:04. > :39:12.Mind you, there is a good argument, he deserved one. Now, Marco needs
:39:13. > :39:20.the yellow and win. Neil Robertson needs all the remaining colours to
:39:21. > :39:23.take us to a decider. Is he thinking of having a go at this? He is, you
:39:24. > :39:56.know, middle pocket. Oh, I thought he got the snooker,
:39:57. > :40:02.but he didn't. If he can hit the yellow from behind, and he catches
:40:03. > :40:06.this correctly, he can get the snooker in behind the black and send
:40:07. > :40:08.the yellow of the table. Key shot coming up. You're not kidding, this
:40:09. > :40:27.is huge. No, he didn't get enough side on it.
:40:28. > :40:33.Marco needs the yellow and green. And there's an awful lot of pressure
:40:34. > :40:45.on this yellow. Good news is, it is a natural angle to the green.
:40:46. > :40:55.Over the way he's looking at it, maybe he's got to punch this in.
:40:56. > :41:03.Whatever you do, Marco, knock the yellow in. Oh! How hard as he hit
:41:04. > :41:10.that?! Where is the yellow going?! Is the blue snooker in him?! He hit
:41:11. > :41:14.that so hard, that was just pure pressure that caused him to hit the
:41:15. > :41:20.yellow... And look at this, he's covered it. If he's worse around the
:41:21. > :41:29.blue and pots yellow, he's got to be on the green, John. Yes. As you say,
:41:30. > :41:36.Dennis, all he has got to do is make sure he makes any sort of contact on
:41:37. > :41:40.the right-hand side of the yellow, and he's got to be on the green.
:41:41. > :41:53.Saying that, because he had to put so much swerve on, he couldn't get
:41:54. > :41:58.on the green. There is a chance, you know, to get in behind the black
:41:59. > :42:07.here. He's 20 behind, you've got to make sure you keep the green safe.
:42:08. > :42:09.He could risk going behind the black, but it would be quite easy
:42:10. > :42:24.not to get the green safe. He's gone for the black. How is your
:42:25. > :42:44.judgment...? That's pretty good. What a shot he's
:42:45. > :42:48.played there. And just enough room to slip round the back of the green
:42:49. > :43:10.here. Just needs to Mr middle pocket... It's all happening.
:43:11. > :43:26.It's two cushions he's playing. But there was enough room to get round
:43:27. > :43:29.the back of the green. Let's have a look at where they were before. Yes.
:43:30. > :43:35.Absolutely spot on. Where is the green going?! It's gone
:43:36. > :43:48.over the middle pocket. What a frame of snooker this is!
:43:49. > :43:58.He's 15 behind. And what pressure there is out there
:43:59. > :44:19.at The Crucible tonight. Oh, that's a useful nudge on the
:44:20. > :44:50.black. Blackwood be OK for a right-hander.
:44:51. > :44:58.Got to make sure he doesn't leave himself straight on this pink. Needs
:44:59. > :45:02.an angle. And he's got one. Has he? No, he's straight. The one thing you
:45:03. > :45:17.cannot do is leave this straight. And he has.
:45:18. > :45:26.The only thing is, it has made your mind up, what short you're playing.
:45:27. > :45:34.Because there's nothing else. His decision has been made. It's all
:45:35. > :45:40.about this... Well, he is one of the best potters the game has ever seen.
:45:41. > :45:41.Boy, does he need a pot now to keep himself in this year's World
:45:42. > :46:02.Championship?! Oh! But look where he's left it! Oh,
:46:03. > :46:10.this is an awkward one. He's going to need the extension on his cue.
:46:11. > :46:17.And extended rest as well. So close, wasn't it? Would you fancy dropping
:46:18. > :46:22.this one in dead weight? That's all he can do. Give the pocket a chance.
:46:23. > :46:27.If it doesn't go in, he loses the frame, but you've got to think, roll
:46:28. > :46:35.it in. This would get him through to the quarterfinal. I'll tell you
:46:36. > :46:38.what, Dennis, I would be having the black clean as well, never mind the
:46:39. > :46:59.cue ball. What a frame of snooker we have had
:47:00. > :47:06.here! Absolutely incredible! He looks as cool as you like. He had a
:47:07. > :47:13.terrible kick, and Neil Robertson almost came back and levelled. Which
:47:14. > :47:17.almost went into a decider. Nice to see both players chatting like that.
:47:18. > :47:29.In the end, the very likeable Marco Fu goes through to the
:47:30. > :47:33.quarterfinals, winning 13-11. Very happy with the win, not happy with
:47:34. > :47:37.the way I was playing, but always nice to beat a top player like Neil.
:47:38. > :47:44.I was struggling throughout the match and so was Neil. Awful,
:47:45. > :47:50.really, display by me. That's not how I want to play the game. I can't
:47:51. > :47:54.play within myself, I have tried for a couple of years now. I got a lot
:47:55. > :47:59.of flak from some players for sometimes showing passion and stuff
:48:00. > :48:05.like that. It's just the way I've got to play, I can't play like this
:48:06. > :48:07.any more. With Mark Selby, we had a great game last year in the
:48:08. > :48:12.semifinals. We both play a similar type of game, it's just a matter of
:48:13. > :48:16.who can handle the pressure a little bit better. I think you've got to
:48:17. > :48:20.make Mark the favourite but I am still in the tournament and I can't
:48:21. > :48:24.afford to go to many friends behind against Mark Selby, because he'll
:48:25. > :48:29.punish you. Hopefully I'll get off to a good start tomorrow. For sheer
:48:30. > :48:33.quality, you've got to say the Mark Allen-John Higgins match has to be
:48:34. > :48:40.top of the pile. But for emotion and tension and pressure, that match had
:48:41. > :48:44.absolutely everything. And it has left us with the eighth man through
:48:45. > :48:47.to the quarterfinals. And in fact, you could make a case for every
:48:48. > :48:53.single one of them becoming world champion this year. Mark Selby going
:48:54. > :48:59.for a third title, will now take on Marco Fu. They met in the semis last
:49:00. > :49:04.year. Ronnie's winning record against Ding is emphatic. Kyren
:49:05. > :49:11.Wilson against John Higgins, that's a brilliant match. And Barry
:49:12. > :49:15.Hawkins, into his fifth straight quarter, against Stephen Maguire,
:49:16. > :49:18.into his first for five years. And that's it. The quarterfinals get
:49:19. > :49:24.under way at ten o'clock in the morning Charlie you'd better look
:49:25. > :49:29.lively and join us live for that! It is snowing in Sheffield this
:49:30. > :49:35.evening, the perfect antidote to the red-hot competition in The Crucible
:49:36. > :49:38.Theatre tonight. I for one hope it doesn't pull down in here by a
:49:39. > :49:44.single degree over the next week. What a
:49:45. > :49:46.Hello, it's All Round To Mrs Brown's,
:49:47. > :49:50.where my guests will be the fantastic Michael Ball...
:49:51. > :50:02.All Round To Mrs Brown's, the finale...