Day 3 Snooker: World Championship Highlights

Hello and good evening and welcome to highlights of Day three of the 20

17th that Fred World Snooker Championship from The Crucible. What

a day we have had. Also, what a match. The match of the championship

so far coming up this evening. Marco Fu facing an early exit against the

Belgian qualifier Luca Brecel. Amazingly, Fu will five of the first

six frames in the evening session to move within one frame of the

Belgian. We will pick up the action in frame 16. Commentary is from

Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis. When you are 7-1 down, the pressure

is released and you let your on go and play your natural game. But when

you get to one frame behind, the pressure is back on again. Let's see

how this young player responds here. These are big moments for this young

player. As to try and screw into these three reds. Good enough.

He has four comfortable reds are available to him.

The ideal ball to get the last red of the cushion would be the green.

So if he pots this pink, or even pots the blue, gets position nicely

on a red. Perhaps two reds from now, he will

be playing up for the green. The blue has to go as close to the

black, which is occupying the blue spot, as possible, without touching.

Cleanly potting these balls. That is what he could be forgiven for

struggling. Straight on the pink. He needs a bit of an angle. He has

played that beautifully. Much better than it looked. He needed the side

on it, otherwise he wouldn't have been on the red. He is not

struggling in the cue power department. Now, would he play of

this second last read to get on the green? Assuming he gets good

position and comfort the cue ball where he wants, with the pink.

I don't think he can play for the green now. What he was hoping for,

if he had got in a position and was able to leave the white in the

circle, he would have been on the green, pot the green and then move

the red. He cannot do it now because of the angle he has finished on the

red. Can he get a good angle on a colour to get to that difficult last

red? It is going to have to be from the pink. Big shots coming up. He is

20 in front. He needs the pink, the red and one more colour. There is

the pink. There is the cannon, but he is not on it. Difficult shot to

get that red to go into a favourable position.

It is safe, but could have perhaps done better? He needs one more red

and any colour to leave Marco needing a snooker. As you said, you

should have played a better shot. Because the blue is not touching the

black... It should go into the middle pocket. Both middle pockets.

Side to side safeties, nearly guaranteed to get a snooker. Nearly

guaranteed. If Marco Fu can see the right-hand side of this red, the

full-ball, attempting to play contact around the table. Not

getting down quickly. Bit straight. Perhaps he thinks the red cannot

escape from the trap of the baulk colours. Steve mentioned the cocked

hat, that is where you send the red around the angles. But he has got to

try and get a good cue ball and object ball here.

He will settle for that. That was a risk. He played that badly. I don't

think that shot was right. Perhaps he didn't have any other options.

That is careless. That was guaranteed to be double KERS

territory. That is a misjudgement. -- kiss. Never really on from that

position. Those balls for almost lining up to each other again. I

think if he played that different thicknesses, you still get the

double-kiss. I just think it was the wrong shot.

Well, under normal circumstances, you would think this would be

straightforward, but these are not normal circumstances. He needs to

get plenty of action on this to get nicely on the yellow. The blue does

go doesn't it? Yes. Terrible to not know that is, but I am sure the blue

does go because it is not touching the black. It makes a massive

difference. He is just double-checking to make sure it

does. Because, as he said, when he re-spotted it, it mustn't be

touching the black. But sometimes you wonder, does it go? But it

should go. Yes, the pocket is wider than the ball's whip. -- with.

It is the best of 19, this match. Every chance, it is going to be down

to the best of three because I am sure that blue passes.

He is a pretty cool customer, is Marco Fu.

It is quite an amazing comeback. Luke Brecel had a chance to get

himself to within just one frame of victory. Now, the black is in. The

comeback continues from 7-1, somehow, the man from Hong Kong has

got himself back all square. 8-8. Eight all, this is marvellous stuff.

Then this happened in the match. This was a pivotal point. This is

Luca Brecel playing a shot. The referee said, foul. What he has

given is a push on. Paul Collier saying I only gave what I saw and

what I heard. Luca Brecel is bemused. Really hard for us to see

if this was a push shot. The big question then is will it have an

effect on Luca Brecel's mentality in the match? Let's find out.

That's a bit of luck from Luca Brecel. Unless this brown goes in

the middle pocket. At first I thought it was the end of break, but

should get this in, I suppose. No! He decelerated on that and didn't

push the cue through as far as he intended. What a chance. That was

always going to happen once he got to all square, the pressure was

going to be reversed. You are going to see that at this stage of a

match, eight frames all, but he didn't push the cue through as far

as he wanted. This is a case of Luca Brecel needing to unscramble his

brain, let his ability do the talking. Play naturally. Don't try

to be too careful, just play the shots you see. That is one of his

great strengths, I feel. Not marvellously in position, but he

has got choices of colours. Played for the blue, but...

That was a nice shot. Had to judge the weight of that.

Such an important frame for both players. But Luca Brecel has been

stuck on eight frames for what seems like an eternity.

All about just keeping your focus and giving yourself an extra second

or two. Try and eliminate a possible careless shot.

He is a little bit out of position here. Only a little bit though. He

wants to get right side of the blue or come down the table. Had more of

an angle than I thought he had. Wasn't a problem. Thought it was,

the way his body language was looking.

He led a dash for -- 8-4. He has been waiting a long time for this

frame. . But he's got, as I mentioned, are very good temperament

and he has put that push shot behind him now. I would say Luca Brecel,

one of his biggest attribute is his rhythm amongst the balls.

He keeps his place around the table, very even. -- his pace. He doesn't

seem to confuse himself and stop and start. He is a natural player.

And to produce this break under the circumstances is quite remarkable

for the young Belgian player. It really is.

And potting the black left-handed. He looks pretty good left-handed as

well. He has waited a long time for this frame. Marco Fu got right back

to all square. Luca Brecel will be relieved, but he still needs another

one. He was fired up by that big moment

and needs just one frame to book his place in the second round. All very

nerve-racking, let's show you what happened in the next frame. Early

days. Luca, to play. Great strike. Very unmissable brown.

And he's got a chance to maybe screw for position on the black, but it is

a bit straighter than I thought. Actually, with that red on the black

spot, it's pretty obvious that he needs to clear that first.

Well, that wiped its feet going in for and he is OK, right side of the

blue. He can get on the red. As Steve mentioned, to clear the way

from the black spot area. Went into them because he had this

one available as a bit of insurance. Was always going to finish on that.

He took the opportunity to bring three or four reds into play. Every

chance now for Marco Fu. He will have to do something careless here.

We could be having a deciding frame. If it does go 9-9, who is your money

on? We always say, it is the task of a coin in the deciding frame. And it

would be the first deciding frame. We are on day three.

Luca showed what bottle he had in the previous frame where he made a

break of 78. Marco is following it up with this effort. And under

pressure, this is great stuff from both players. He is not that many

away from securing the frame. Five in front. Still plenty of reds

available. I mean, normally you are playing for one along the cushion,

but he wants to keep this break as easy as possible for himself. He

doesn't really want to be playing one of these along the top cushion.

He would rather be playing the reds in open play, but he seems to have

got himself in potentially a little bit of a trap. He may be forced to

play for one. He can just manufacture an angle. One of the

things about playing on match cloth, fast conditions, even a relatively

straight shot, you can force a lot of movement is out on the cue ball

sideways. It is going to be a great match from the perspective of either

player. It will be an awful match to lose. That is what this game of

snooker is all about, that is why it is so fascinating. Having said that,

he has run a little bit too far. He's not over the line yet. He is

doing a quick calculation. He is 51 in front. The Blackwood putting 58

in front. And there would be 59 on. -- the black wood.

APPLAUSE Lots of noise from the other side of

the curtain. But Marco, fully focused, carried on and potted the

black. That is the one. We have got a

deciding frame. Heavy contact, but it doesn't

matter. We thought both players would suffer a little bit under

pressure, but they have responded so well. Because in the last couple of

frames, one chance and the player has won the frame. Luca will stay in

his seat. What a response from the man from Hong Kong to make that a

magnificent break and to draw the scores level at 9-9. We have got one

frame shoot out. This is absolutely magnificent at

the Crucible and we have a final frame decider for the first time in

this year's World Championship. Marco Fu had the first opportunity,

rattling in a break of 46. But Luca has put Marco under a little bit of

pressure and Fu has a tricky shot to play.

A little smile from Luca, because that was a terrific shot. What a

shot he has pulled out here at this stage. He was apprehensive, came off

the shot very quickly. It was a judgment shot. The roll-up could be

the killer blow. Now, Luca, can you find a containing safety? I get the

feeling he needs a bit more luck here. Can he swerve shots, play the

white ball down onto the top cushion? Very nicely played. That is

a great shot. What a shot that is. APPLAUSE

Luca is still waiting for that one chance. He is 48 behind. Is he going

to get that chance? It is advantage Marco Fu, but all

the time, all the colours are in play and reds are of the cushion, it

only takes one mistake. The thin cuts, missed by a long way.

He has got the browns save as insurance. That is a fluke, in its

own way. Things not going right for Luca. Marco Fu was a long way off

the red. Not only that, he has given himself a problem. The only red eye

can see is past the pink to come off that to get back up near the cushion

and need a Green. And Marco is so close to pulling off what would be

one of the great comebacks at the Crucible Theatre from 7-1 down in

the best of the 19 match. He is playing the red that is near the

black spot area. He has hit it too thin. Has he covered it? He's

knocked the green onto the brown. He may have covered it. Everything is

happening at the moment. Hit that too thin did Luca. There is no way

around the red to try and flick the red in this time, similar to the one

he played previously. So still all to play for here. You never know

what is going to happen on a snooker table. So many twists and turns. And

should Luca get back into this frame, that green and brown could

potentially play a part in the outcome.

The long planned. He has got away with it. -- long planned. I think

Luca can play the red into the middle pocket. He has got a chance.

If he should part of this red, let's see how he plays it. -- pot this

thread. That is a great shot. He had to just pot the ball. He couldn't

play the position as well. It was such a tough pot. Brave shot two of

the side question and get the brown. Snooker behind the green? If you

could have rolled the red and played that shot there. Yellow, safety.

What about rolling onto the green and leaving his opponent over the

top of the green? I like that shot. Roll the green.

Leaves his opponent bridging over the top. I den like this shot as

much. Nowhere near as good. A far weaker shot than rolling on top of

the green. Well, the situation at the moment

is, Luca acknowledging that shot from Marco and tapping the table,

the situation is that Luca Brecel can't afford one more mistake. He

still hasn't had a chance in this deciding frame. Bow, this is thin.

To pass the pink and clipped the red. He'll send it towards the

corner pocket, will he not? Well, well judged.

Very dangerous, but well judged. And he could have given Marco a bit of a

headache. Marco is in the driving seat.

Especially because of those two baulk colours out of action. What's

he doing here? He's lining up on this red. Surely not! You can't

blame him for taking as much time as possible to work out a good safety

shot. Because there's nothing to play in behind. All the colours are

off their spots. He couldn't get down the table of -- he could get

down the table of the one that is near the right side cushion, but he

would have to get the ball safe also. He can get behind the back...

That's the one. Nothing to play behind, but that was about the best

he could do off that red. Very good shot. Very good shot indeed. It

gives Luca a similar problem, actually. There is the thin safety,

try and get the cue ball back down to that green pocket. That's about

what he's got. He's played that well. He has avoided the bump.

APPLAUSE Marco has a potential shot to

nothing. He should be able to get the cue ball into a safe area and if

this thread goes in, it's a frame-winner. And a matchwinner. But

a fair way out. Well, this is the first half chance, and I mean, what

a shot he is faced with here... Does it go past the black or is it

covered? He can cut one into the left corner, and knowing Luca, he

will take it on, because he hasn't had a sniff at anything in this

frame. This is a big shot. It's half a half chance. He's overcut it! And

he's got away with it, has he? Not this time. I don't think so. That

could be his last shot at this year's... I thought he was going to

cover it. One good shot from Marco Fu and this red is begging to be

parted. The black looks in a good position and this could be the end

of the match. APPLAUSE

It's a thin black and he will lose control of the cue ball.

He needs one more red... And that kiss on the pink has left him a

fairly comfortable one into the right middle pocket. What a match

we've had here. It's tough for Luca Brecel, 7-2 up overnight, must have

been feeling good. It just all seemed to go wrong. Unravelled a

bit. And that's the winning shot. He still looks very cool, does Marco.

But inside he will be delighted, because he has pulled off one of the

best comebacks for quite some years here at the Crucible Theatre, from

7-1 down to come back and win 10-9 against a young opponent that played

so well to lead 7-1 and played so well to get one frame up, but he

couldn't just get that final frame that would have seen him over the

line. He's puffing his cheeks out, is Marco. Two of the nicest lads you

could ever wish to meet battling it out here.

But make no mistake, you'll be seeing a lot more of this young

Belgian superstar, because he is a horrific player.

-- he's a terrific player. But this stage belongs to the man from Hong

Kong. Well, the pockets are starting to

get bigger and bigger. He got the first chance in the

deciding frame and he made an early break of 46 that paved the way for

this victory here, but... CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

On the best comebacks we've seen for quite some time. You have to feel

sorry for the young layer, Luca Brecel. They come back from Marco

Fu, from 7-1 down, he has come back and taken the match in the deciding

frame and he goes through to the last 16, ten frames to nine.

Brilliant, boys. It was such a tough match, he kept putting me under

pressure yesterday. I missed too many easy balls but I was under so

much pressure. It was one visit and frame over. Frame after frame, it

was the same story. He had a couple of good run of the ball, but he

deserved it because he was playing so well and I just couldn't really

focus. Mentally I was all over the place yesterday. Went 7-1 down and

came back and still can't believe I won this match. Amazing. I think we

should now start calling Marco a fully paid-up member of the Fu

Fighters! The 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy was 6-3 in front over

the 17-year-old Chinese snooker sensation Yan Bingtao, overnight.

Yet another top player pushed to the limit. Commentary from John Virgo.

COMMENTATOR: Shaun Murphy with that 6-3 advantage, he looks to be a

favourite. And that's it, you need is a snooker, but he won't get

another chance. It's dead straight. Not this for a long screw back! This

is a monster! Oh my goodness! You cannot hit the ball better than

that. Got to be careful he doesn't pot it and snooker himself. Well, he

potted it. And he snooker himself! And then it goes. He's clapping

himself! He is now only two ahead with one more to play before the

mid-session interval. It's a tricky black, particularly if he's going to

try and drop it in dead weight. How well has he controlled it? Very

nicely. Much appreciated century break, much appreciated from Shaun.

It's a good chance... Include cost him dear. Shaun Murphy just one

frame away from a place in the second round.

Nicely played... He is still three behind. Shaun Murphy leads 9-6.

Welcome to the Twilight zone! So, he led 9-5. There is now just one in

it! 9-8. Pressure on for both of them.

So, the teenager playing some fabulous snooker, snooker of the

highest standard. Murphy visibly feeling the pressure. Could we see

an upset? Didn't like that much. Where is this

going? Where is this going, this red? Is it running safe? He's got

away with it! Got away with it. These reds are not always going to

be in safe positions as the safety shots unfold. I'm sure Shaun Murphy

can open up a situation. Nice safety shot from Yan Bingtao. Absolutely,

so Shaun has got this little problem to solve before he can even think

about having the chance to win frame and match. Ideally Bingtao would

like a colour safe, but he can't do that unless he accidentally bumps

the black safe, or... No! Would you believe it? Could that be the

turning point? Well, that's outrageous. Great screw back, it has

to be said, he knew if it wobbled he got the white ball back into a safe

area, a thing wrong with that, but could never have foreseen what was

going to happen there. And now, other than that red that is close to

the baulk vision, a chance to nick it. I don't like this much. He's

messed it up. He's got that into -- got into that so much, it's

unbelievable! You don't want to be on the cushion for this. He played

off two cushions, got into it too much. This is missable. Oh! Just

went in. This would be a heartbreaker for Bingtao. Shaun

Murphy, arguably, is one good positional shot away.

He wants to have some small angle on the red but not too much of an

angle, enough that he can get the cue ball back out into open play.

So... The biggest shot of the match. 30 points behind, so, off this red,

green or above to be able to win with the six remaining colours.

Well, he's underhit that a bit. This brown is not as easy as it looks on

the TV screen. Well, that was a very brave shot. Don't get me wrong, he's

lucky to have this opportunity with that looped red, but that brown was

top draw under the pressure. -- with that fluked red. And all Bingtao can

hope for now is that Shaun Murphy somehow messes up brown to blue.

That's his only hope. This is the key shot. It usually is

in a clearance. The young man can't bear to look. Brown... If he gets

good position on the blue, it should be match over. Oh, he's not great on

it. He has over-screwed it. OK, if he cuts it in he has got natural

position on the pink, but he has made the blue missable under

pressure. Expect him to get it, though.

Pink and black for the match. Well, it wasn't his fault he fluked the

red in the first place, but what a fantastic performance from Shaun

Murphy. They say snooker is a cruel game, and what can be any more

cooler than that? Fair play to Yan Bingtao, he has got a smile and a

warm handshake for his opponent, which not many people would have,

the way he has lost. Could that be the kick start to his tournament? He

runs out a very, very close winner by ten frames to eight. He had the

luck in the end. I think I made three centuries and a

number of rain winning breaks throughout the match. But that 95, I

didn't really feel like I had a clear-cut chance to win the match

until 9-8, and by that time I had gone. I don't know where I had gone

but I wasn't in the Crucible Theatre any more. My confidence had been

chipped away at, he was starting together his shots. The problem is

now I'm 34 and I have got Battle scars here, as have all my

generation. You sit there and it's very difficult to not remember the

ghosts of Crucible past and you have to deal with that. I was all ready

for it to go 9-9. I fluked that red and I was quietly impressed with

myself with how I stood up and potted those balls, because they

weren't that easy, and it gives me a lot of confidence going forward.

Mark Allen, who has been disappointing here at the Crucible

in the last five years, is through to the last 16 after seeing off the

challenge of Jimmy Robertson. The English qualifier was in fact 4-2 up

at one stage but was eventually beaten 10-8 by the world number 11

from Northern Ireland. Well played Mark Allen. Now then, Peter Ebdon,

who was my studio guest here in our studio in the Crucible earlier

tonight, chose this as the shot of the day. Luca Brecel may be out of

this year's World Championship, but at least he can hold his head up

high. Swerve shot, play the white ball

onto the top cushion? Very nicely played, that say great shot. What a

shop that is. -- very nicely played, that's a

great shot. What a shop that is. The night's shot of the day, chosen

by one Peter Ebdon. We are back later today at 10am on BBC Two with

live coverage of John Higgins, Devon - two up over Martin Gould. And also

on the other table which you can follow on the BBC Sport website,

Liang Wenbo takes on Stuart Carrington. That's it for us on the

highlights. Snooker Extra follows this programme, with extended

highlights of Ding against Xiao. I've enjoyed every one of them. And

I'm sure I'm going to miss this place.