Day 14 Snooker: World Championship Highlights

So Enter The Dragon, Ding Junhui. World number one for a few years and

everything is stronger than before. I play my games and that will be OK.

The way I performed at the moment is the perfect way I could have planned

it. I hope I have not peaked too soon.

There is no place like the Crucible. Hopefully I can go one better and

get to the final. I am playing great stuff. I need to be at the top of my

game to beat him, that's for sure. Hello, a good evening to you.

Welcome back to Crucible Theatre. Coming up highlights of the day's

semifinal of the 2017 Bet Fred World Championship. First up a repeat of

last year's final at the Crucible. Defending champion and world number

one Mark Selby, taking on China's Ding Junhui.

Well, Selby had a 9-7 lead after the morning session, they shared the

first four frames of the eve Ming, including a fabulous break of 128 to

Selby. We join it in frame 21. Ding to play, leading by 12 points.

So coming off the side cushion to nest in the reds. Doesn't want to

slide by them. Has to hit it hard enough to reach. That is well short.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Mark Selby four. No reason I don't think, being

that close, there was a case there for playing a safety and opening up

the reds, but, as I said, I noticed in the session this morning, Mark's

game plan, keep it tight. Only open the reds when you have a chance of

doing so, off a colour, but tough shot this for Ding Junhui.

Played it into the green, and fortunately the red he played hit

another red, so it's OK. But that could have gone horribly wrong. If

the red doesn't kiss the other red, he would have had something on. Just

watch the way this red ran into the green, and was going back up the

table until it kissed the second red.

So, a slight run of the ball there for Ding Junhui. Deserves some.

Looked like being a good safety until I flicked the brown. Now is

this the time? I know he has a pot on. All eyes toer the pot. Not

looked at a safety. Play for the pink into the middle, so it doesn't

have to do a lot with the cue ball. Long put success is a bit lower than

what is required, at this level. But he could do with this one.

Wonderful. Wonderful, and he is on the pink.

So he gets another opportunity. Now if he is not straight enough on the

pink to cannon into the main bunch of reds, he has an angle to knock a

red to the right corner. There is no-one better round the pink for me,

than this young man. But he was able to get into the cluster and played

it beautifully. I expect nothing less, and he didn't let me down,

wonderful shot. Looking to see if the pink will go

into the same corner as he is potting this red, but, if it

doesn't, he still has the green at this end of the table. Just looking

for another 33 points from this visit.

To get to snookers required. Decided to come up for the blue,

inch perfect. I think he would rather have been on

the red that is near the right hand cushion. But he has bounced off the

cushion a bit too far. Eight hours of intense concentration. There is

quite a few Chinese players in Sheffield play at the academy and

they would practise eight hours a day, but this is a little more

intense. That is why the standard is so high, the amount of practise that

the younger generation of players put in, it is quite extraordinary

and that is why the standard, where there is so many playing to such a

high standard. Just about perfect, he has the angle

on the blue, to hit the pink, he don't want to hit it full ball, just

three-quarter ball would be perfect, it would bring the three reds into

play. This could be the key to the frame, if this goes right.

Well, he has got, I am sure like you Dennis, he played that cannon. I

can't believe he played for this loose red. He is on it, in a

fashion. It is not going to be easy. Cue ball tight against the side

cushion. Whenever you have not got your hand on the table, it makes the

pot difficult. He needs an angle again, though.

And I don't think he has it. So he has a 35 point advantage, and the

three reds are intact there. And there is no path through to pot a

colour, and move them, the green looks to be dead straight, the pink

won't go. Checking the scoesh, but still -- score board, still a long

way short of securing the frame. He would love to get the snooker

here, there is is a good line there, yellow, brown, black, but I know

that you set a lot of store adds quite a few players do, of putting a

colour safe here, but he is trying to get off the green, and cannon the

black, to get the snooker. Needs to run, needs to run. Missed

an opportunity there. I'd have been knocking the green safe and

attempting the snooker as well. He needs some bit of insurance. And if

this next safety shot works out, the game could be quite open, with a

chance for Mark to put in a counter attack. Not like that. You don't

mind coming to the table with this sort of chance. That was an error

and a smile comes to the defending champion's face. I don't know why he

felt the necessity to hit it so thin. Any way, surely it is frame

over now, after this green. Just one more red needed.

And he's perfectly on the red and this red will put him 40 ahead with

just 35 remaining. But surely after this red he gets a

colour. Just been a bit surprising Dennis,

so many mistakes that Mark Selby has made in this frame on the safety

side. Very unlike him but he can't shake

off Ding Junhui, he keeps come back at him every time Mark opens up a

two frame advantage, Ding Junhui bounces back.

He had a three frame advantage at 10-7.

Is a lot of people would love this player to win the World Championship

this year. There's three other players with a different idea. He is

very popular with the public all over the world, this player.

He had won everything in the game but the World Championship.

Is he going to bother with the black? Why not, he played such a

good positional shot he might as well roll the black in as well.

Doesn't matter that the black doesn't drop. Ding Junhui will be

absolutely delighted, he takes the frame and now he's just one behind

the defending champion. Ding Junhui digging ever so deeply,

let's go into the next frame, back to Dennis and John, Mark Selby at

the table. Well, he seemed to hit that much

harder than he needed. There is a choice of reds for Ding

Junhui here, he doesn't like that as he walks back to his seat, looking

up at a few of his friends there. Didn't fancy that one little bit.

He had no option in all fairness but to play it.

If this goes in it's a frame-winner. Ooh it just struggled in off the jaw

but he feels he can pot the pinkful I'm not certain if the black goes.

But the pink certainly is pottable. But he, his heart must have been in

his mouth when it was I aming for that left hand jaw.

If it is the pink it will put him 50.s in front with just 67

remaining. Just got to screw back and the black will stay there and he

has a red below the black spot. Oh, he doesn't want that to cover the

red. Has it covered the red?

Red, colour, red required. Now the black covered the potting

angle on the red, would you believe it? He didn't see that coming. And

I'll be honest with you neither did I, but the run of the ball went

against him that time. Just looking at that again, Dennis, I don't think

he could pot that red. He couldn't, he almost hit them simultaneously

which would have been a foul shot if you hit the red and black at the

same time, it is called a split ball, and the referee would call a

foul. Yes, I don't think he could pot that

red. This first red is very difficult.

The pocket is out of your eye line. Tough shot this.

But he has played it well. APPLAUSE

He has held it nicely for the yellow. Any colours will do. He has

plenty of points to play with at the moment. What a frame and what a

steel this could be. -- steal this could be.

That is a big ask with where the reds are situated, but, he has done

it plenty of times in the past. What a time this would be to steal the

frame. He is a right handed player, so

they're not the wrong side of the table, but he's not nicely on the

pink to get anywhere near the reds, he would have to go all the way

round the angles here. He has play it badly. OK, normally

you would think he could pot the pink and come off the side cushion,

but the black is stopping that route, so as you say, he has to go

in and out the baulk, you are going to dig in, so he has to avoid the

kiss on the yellow and be careful of the right middle pocket. The middle

pocket and the yellow. Well, he has avoided it. Full ball kiss, would be

perfect. Fraction out. Good effort. Was it ever a good effort here, as

we show you the white arcing slightly, missed the yellow, and

just touched the red. Is there a path back behind the

brown here? He has to avoid the black.

Here he come, this is pretty good. If not the brown, he has the green

there. That was an excellent shot. This frame now taking on massive

proportions. In the 29th minute. What a big

frame. Ding Junhui has had a couple of opportunities in it, it really

hurt, if he was to lose it and go two frames behind again. Well, that

was strange. Ding Junhui, he seemed to be looking up at a monitor.

That's not bad, he hasn't left anything easy.

This red will cut back, looks like a natural angle to cannon into the

pink, if he did take it on for the left corner.

He has to be a bit careful he doesn't pass the pink and black and

go into the middle pocket. I think that's, that is a natural angle the

white would take if he plays the plain-ball, so, let's see the path

that the cue ball is going to take here.

Oh, that's a great shot. That's a terrific shot. If it bounces he's on

the brown and he can get up to the two reds.

Avoided the pinks just avoided the middle pocket.

Played it well, nice angle on the red.

Can't afford to pot this red, I don't think, and try and bring the

other red into play, because he's not certain to be on the colour, so

just play for the pink or blue. Now he looks to have landed

absolutely perfect on the pink to screw over to the right-hand side

cushion for in last red. Massive frame this, big chance. He would

love the -- that's where he would love the white ball.

That's not bad. He will screw back for the blue here. To give himself a

chance to get to the yellow. As we saw from the score, any colour

will do, he doesn't want to be straight on the blue, though.

If he is, it means he can't get close position on the yellow,

believe me, now, and he couldn't be much straighter, there is pressure

on every shot here. Trying to dig down but there is not a lot of room

when you are in the jaws of the pocket. If he is going to try and

screw this back, it may be making this blue so much more difficult. A

very timely cough or whatever it was just as he was going to deliver the

cue. That was pretty good under the

circumstances. Boy is he good under pressure, John.

I mean, this, what a steal this would be. Yes, this will really hurt

Ding Junhui, when he looks for all money he was going to get back to

all square. I always think that the key to this

type of clearance is this shot, now, from ground blue, if he lands

perfect on the blue, it should be a formality.

And what I'm looking for, John, here, is see what sort of reaction,

if he does win this frame, from Mark Selby, because he's been looking up

as a few of his friends in the balcony. I think we are going to get

a big reaction, this was a big frame.

Ding Junhui had his opportunities, this will hurt.

Pink and black required. This to go two frames in front, once

again. It's there. What a frame that was.

What a steal. Ding Junhui, he will be really hurting over that one, he

had a few good chance, Mark Selby fist pumps his way out to go to the

dressing room. 12-10 he leads. Mark Selby loved winning that frame, let

show you what happened in the next. Here he is back at the table.

Leading by a point. And what about that shot? Fabulous

pot. Well that's as good as pot as you could ever wish to see under the

circumstances, especially what happened in the previous frame. Ten

out of ten for that. Ding Junhui. Played for the reds, to the left

middle. Seem to be a few loose reds, maybe available to the right. No

need to play any pack breaking shots, but he needs to have nice

control of this cue ball. Decided to come back for the black.

Couldn't have played it better, beautiful shot. And this is where,

as I say, he is as good as anyone I've ever seen.

His little stun, screw, litten cannons.

-- little cannons. Yes, I mean he has made 451 sents in

his career, turned pro in 2003. -- centuries.

Mark Selby has made 471, so two of the games great break-builders here,

just let that one slip away a little bit. He would be all right if he can

pot the blue and avoid a kiss on the red on the right-hand side side of

the stable. I don't think he can drop it in, he has to avoid the kiss

if he is coming off top and side cushion. He thinks he can drop it

in. And nailed it too, amazingly enough.

This is a delicate little shot. Play the cannon on to the other red, he

might even pot it. The other one is over the corner

pocket. Lovely little shot there. He made it look very easy.

And what a positive shot that was under the circumstances, that is why

he is one of the game's great break-builder, a lot of players had

a couple of reds to play for, he went straight into the bunch, and

that could pay great dividends, he is having a smile there because he

wants the cue ball cleaned because he is just going to roll this red

in, the last thing he would want was a heavy contact. I know it is is a

bit of a tricky spot to have the cue ball cleaned. But Brendan Moore will

be up to the task. Yes, and Stephen Hendry and Ken

Doherty in the studio were asking could that last frame have knocked

the stuffing out of Ding? It certainly hasn't. As you say Dennis,

what a positive shot that was to go into them. And the fact he was

smiling there, when he asked for that cue ball to be cleaned, that is

another good sign. Once again, lovely control of the cue ball.

And just 311 points needed from this position. He would be very surprised

if he didn't do it. Didn't want to be that straight on

the black. It is just running out of position slightly.

You are always looking to have a slight angle on the colour, or on

the red, have to find the gap leer, to get back on the black.

Played it well, just the kiss off the second red. He will be mighty

relieved he is back in perfect position.

Just letting his cue ball run loose at the moment. There is a lot of

pressure on him. He can't afford to miss this opportunity. The last

frame he should have won, at full stretch here.

Well, once again he is probably a bit straighter on this black than he

needed to be. Just another couple of reds, and colours after this black

will see him over the line. Had enough angle there, just to

force it in. And he can reach this, he can stretch round. Bit of a

stretch but he'll be OK. Fabulous response, this, from Ding

Junhui. It really is.

After what happened in the previous frame. This to go 69 ahead with 67

remaining. Superb. Superb.

And now he can relax and concentrate and see if he can make histth

century in this year's World Championship, way ahead of I think

it's probably twice as many as the next player to him, which is Mark

Selby, think he has had six, Mark Allen had sixth before he got

knocked out by John Higgins. There is Mark Selby, nothing he

could do about that, about this situation, because the opening red,

from Ding Junhui, was, well, nobody could play safe against a pot like

this. Look at this. Absolutely perfect, run it round off

two cushion, got on the black and in an air of inevitability about him

winning the frame, which is remarkable after what happened the

frame before. It is just brilliant. It is a real

treat and a pleasure to be commentating on this semifinal. It

really is. We have had 67 centuries so far, I

don't think they will reach the record of 886, but you never know,

the way these boys are starting to play.

And there is another one. Absolutely fantastic.

And one more frame to be played. He has had three centuries in every

match he has played so far this year.

Absolutely perfection. Yes, he is a delight to watch when he gets in the

balls. Cue ball control of the highest order. Scoring machine. And

an exhibition type shot to get on the blue. Hasn't hit it hard enough

so it will be into the corner. Doesn't matter about that, but what

a response from Ding Junhui. The pressure was right on him and he

came straight back with that magnificent break and now he is just

one behind again at 12-11. STUDIO: Brilliant stuff from Ding

Junhui and we didn't want the match to end. Let's show you what happened

in the final frame of the session. Selby to play and there is no score.

COMMENTATOR: Where is the black ball going? No free ball. We'll Ding want

to play the top cushion or will he want Mark Selby to play it?

Personally, I would let the other man have a go at this.

He has got to make sure he avoids the cannon onto the red near the

cushion. That is an attacking safety shot, if ever I have seen one. That

is superb and that tells me, John, how positively this young player is

thinking. To be honest with you, when I suggested he let Mark Selby

play the shot, I thought he could only hit the red made the top

cushion. Have a look at this, surely there is not a 3-ball plans. Read on

to the pink, pink onto the red. It might just work. What a body blow

that would be because Ding played a superb safety shot, but that is a

distinct possibility. Yes, very positive safety shot, Ding Junhui,

trying to keep this frame open. But there is a possibility of this

three-ball plant. But it's not a certainty. He is looking to see if

he can avoid cannon in into the red if he takes the three-ball plant on.

There might be a gap... Well, he is back looking at it. If

anyone can pull off a three-ball plant, it is this fella. So, here we

go. Not only the plant, but keep an eye on the cue ball here as well.

Ding Junhui must be thinking, how on earth did I leave at three-ball

plant. It wasn't the best of kisses on the green for Mark. Did well to

spot it. But he's not out of the woods yet. This is a tough pot on

the green, should he take it on. He didn't play it that convincingly,

did he? He knew there was Reds adjacent to book corner pockets and

the one to the right corner is available. The only problem is, how

do you get on a colour? OK, the green is over the pocket, but how do

you get the cue ball in a position to pot the green. The pink is a

possible ball to get on. Nicely onto the blue. He can take the green, if

he hasn't got the correct side of the blue. But he has the red near

the left corner. Good cueing. He is OK here with the blue. As long as he

hasn't blocked the path through to this red. I think he should be all

right, Dennis. He couldn't do a lot else with the cue ball. Once again,

he won't want to play the green, keep it as reserve. So lay again for

the blue. Now, he may decide to play the green. He's not good on blue.

The blue is miscible. The green isn't.

Regardless of what happens in this last frame, what a final session we

are going to have tomorrow afternoon. He has taken the more

difficult pot. It's not too bad. Well judged. OK, he will have to go

up for the blue again. Not a good chance just yet. Reds are

nicely placed. Pink and black are not.

Having said that, the black is available into the left corner

pocket. There is a red next to the black

which is preventing it going into the right corner. He is on the

black. If he can get on the red, that is closest to the black, it is

a terrific chance. Just a little bit further back would

have made it a lot easier to hold for the black. He has got the other

red into the right corner, so he can leave that for the time being. What

a session of snooker, John. Well, if you don't enjoy this, then you don't

like snooker. This has been absolutely brilliant. The twists,

the turns, the run of the ball, the bad run of the ball for one player.

And that is what makes the World Championship, these longer matches

so special. It gives chance for the look to go to and fro and Mark

Selby, who came into this session with a two frame advantage, can see

that slipping away here. Ding Junhui, he has played absolutely

brilliant. He has taken everything that has been thrown at him. Some

people could have wilted with some of the bad run he has had tonight.

But he has hung on, lost the frame he should have won, not bite you are

entitled to win any frame, you have got to do it yourself. Lovely cannon

on the pink. I can't see him slipping up now, but having said

that, he is having the white cleaned because of the way he is playing the

next shot. He looks pretty fresh out there, this has been a gruelling

session, mentally, for both players. There you go, just over nine hours

and six minutes of hard concentration and some brilliant

play from both players. This to go 64 points in front with 75

remaining. Just another red and a colour required. And that now looks

a formality. Red and the black to go 72 points in front with 67

remaining. Just slightly hampered. No problem, he may take the pink.

The pink would put in 71 points in front with 67 remaining. Mark Selby

looks to have lost his two frame advantage. In it goes. Well, what a

session of snooker we have seen the night. It is incredible. It will go

down as one of the great sessions for me, in Crucible history. It has

been an absolute pleasure to commentate on what we have witnessed

this evening, it really has. I have loved every minute of it, even the

first frame, 18 minutes before a ball was potted. Even then, they

delivered a century break. Mark Selby did. But, every respect to

Ding Junhui, as I say, he has taken everything that has been thrown at

him, losing frames he should not have lost. Bad run of the ball. But

he stuck at it, he never dropped his head. And the last two frames have

been absolutely scintillating. Wouldn't it be fitting if he could

finish with another century? He has looked very comfortable. We

did see him having the odd smile and a laugh with the referee when he

asked him to cleaned the ball. He is in a very comfortable place at the

moment. He is where every snooker player wants to be, in the semifinal

of the World Championship and he is playing some scintillating snooker.

So, this red, the green wouldn't be enough. He needs a red and possibly

go back for the blue. Get in! Get in! This is the icing on the cake.

And his 13th century, John, this year. Fantastic! Absolutely

fantastic. You will not see many sessions of

snooker better than this. Well, John, we are on this match tomorrow

afternoon. Can't wait. Know, and pick a winner. Can't do that either.

We will just have to see how it unfolds. Mark Selby, great

competitor. He will appreciate what Ding has done this evening. With his

back against the wall, he went -- seven behind, but nothing was going

to detail him. He wanted to win this session and he has won it 50 plant.

The black, perfect position. To finish the night in style.

Fantastic. Well played, Mark Selby says to Ding Junhui. What a match.

Got a climax we have tomorrow afternoon. Ding Junhui takes a

standing ovation. He has won this session five frames to three.

Tomorrow, all square, 12-12. STUDIO: Standing ovation from The

Crucible cried. Ding Junhui has made 13 centuries. The record is Stephen

Hendrie, 16 centuries, can that be broken? Can Ding Junhui write his

name in Crucible history? We have time to bring you up today

with the other semifinal, John Higgins taking on Barry Hawkins, who

reached the final in 2013. 5-3 after the first session and then it went

9-6 to the Scott and Higgins kept the advantage. Barry Hawkins has it

all to do in the third session when they return later this morning. John

Higgins would be overnight lead in his first semifinal since he won his

fourth title in 2011. And Barry will pretty much have to do what Ding

Junhui has done in the other semifinal against Mark Selby and

stay in touch with John Higgins. But Barry doesn't have a good record

against Higgins and needs to rediscover his touch. Time now for

shot of the day. This is a cracker. Wow! Look at this for a shot.

Unbelievable. Wow! Stunning from Mark Selby. Has to be

one of the shots of the championship. We return at ten

o'clock on BBC Two from The Crucible as John Higgins takes on Barry

Hawkins. Thanks for watching. Goodbye for now.

As it comes down to this final pink. But is it, the World Snooker

champion in 1981, Steve Davis. Full disclosure - you're looking at

a room of double glazing salesmen.