:00:34. > :00:40.It is day eight of the World Championship and three more players
:00:41. > :00:50.were aiming to join Kyle Wilson in the quarterfinals. Ronnie O'Sullivan
:00:51. > :01:02.faced Shaun Murphy this morning, O'Sullivan leading 10-6.
:01:03. > :01:22.What a shot! He extends his lead now, 13-6.
:01:23. > :01:33.That really was a great shot. He's not going to bother with the black.
:01:34. > :01:40.He needed that frame. He's got it. 11-7.
:01:41. > :01:59.What a horrendous kick. That was filed. He's in this kind of mood,
:02:00. > :02:19.here's an animal on the table. Superb break from Ronnie O'Sullivan.
:02:20. > :02:27.He has rolled that in perfectly to be on the black.
:02:28. > :02:38.Oh, Shaun. That last kick he got sapped any belief he had in this
:02:39. > :02:48.match. Shaun is the perfect gentleman. In the end, Ronnie was
:02:49. > :02:52.just a little bit too good. Very solid performance from the five
:02:53. > :03:02.times world champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan. Pleased to be through...
:03:03. > :03:08.Not pleased because it's so hard out there it is like no place on earth.
:03:09. > :03:13.It just drags you through the mill. To come through is a relief, in many
:03:14. > :03:16.ways, and you have to go through it as a professional snooker player.
:03:17. > :03:21.You can never play the same every session. There are always going to
:03:22. > :03:25.be dips and troughs, it is how good your good games are and how bad your
:03:26. > :03:30.bad games were. Overall, they weren't as bad and I was pretty
:03:31. > :03:35.decent overall so that's all you can do. Over a long stretch, you have to
:03:36. > :03:40.hope you can be stronger than your opponent. In the quarterfinals, he
:03:41. > :03:47.will meet Ding Junhui, who came through a tough encounter himself.
:03:48. > :03:53.The more experienced player took the match into a decider and booked his
:03:54. > :04:03.place in the last eight with the help of a 70 break. We all want to
:04:04. > :04:12.win the matches and we all want to be victorious at the Crucible so we
:04:13. > :04:21.fight hard. The game is becoming very good. The last frame, I just
:04:22. > :04:28.missed double and Ding played very well and congratulations to him and
:04:29. > :04:34.good luck in the next match. I enjoyed this match, we are both very
:04:35. > :04:37.happy. Perhaps the tie of the second round pitted four-time Bob Champion
:04:38. > :04:42.John Higgins against Northern Ireland's Mark Allen. Allen took the
:04:43. > :04:48.first session 5-3 but Higgins finished on top after they resumed
:04:49. > :04:54.this morning, taking a 9-7 lead into this evening's session. Mark Allen
:04:55. > :04:58.won the opening frame and we join the action in frame 18. Your
:04:59. > :05:05.commentators are John Virgo and Ken Doherty.
:05:06. > :05:20.It's one of those, you could run into a second read so if you go for
:05:21. > :05:36.it, you need to get it. He founded and it is a good pot.
:05:37. > :05:42.That is a nice kiss on the yellow, he will be happy with that. He puts
:05:43. > :05:44.his hand up to apologise but he shouldn't really apologise for that
:05:45. > :05:57.because that was an excellent pot. When John Higgins potted his red, he
:05:58. > :05:59.needed a kiss on the green, he didn't get it and that was a good
:06:00. > :06:14.kiss for Mark. Imperative to get topside of the
:06:15. > :06:29.blue. Pretty good. The cue ball must hit the pink full
:06:30. > :06:38.ball. He need some luck, and he's got it.
:06:39. > :06:59.He will settle for that. He has been scoring heavily when
:07:00. > :07:13.he's got these opportunities. An opportunity now to get the match
:07:14. > :07:18.back all square. He led 5-3 coming into the second session this
:07:19. > :07:20.morning. He lost the first four frames. He couldn't afford to do
:07:21. > :07:29.that this evening. He might try to get rid of the red
:07:30. > :07:55.below the black. You always like to clear the reds
:07:56. > :08:05.underneath the black spot. It helps your positional play.
:08:06. > :08:12.Not perfect on this red, he might have to go for the blue, but you are
:08:13. > :08:20.exactly right, you want the red out of the way in case you have to come
:08:21. > :08:25.off the top cushion. Imperative he gets a good angle on the blue and
:08:26. > :08:37.that needs to run and it just got there. Perfect.
:08:38. > :08:43.First impressions, Mark Allen has got the cue ball really on a string
:08:44. > :08:56.at the moment. He is making every pot
:08:57. > :08:58.straightforward. That shot on the blue, he made it look easy but how
:08:59. > :09:14.many times can you misjudge that? That's OK as long as you have a red
:09:15. > :09:18.to continue with. He might have to play for a baulk colour but he won't
:09:19. > :09:39.mind that. All the balls he needs are now in the open.
:09:40. > :10:23.He will come around to see the red, the right of the three, whether it
:10:24. > :10:33.will pot. Does not look like it will.
:10:34. > :10:45.Decision time. Does he go for the blue? Maybe play the run through and
:10:46. > :10:49.tried to flick off one of the reds, but that is risky because you could
:10:50. > :10:51.lose position from the black. Looking from there, maybe pot it,
:10:52. > :11:04.just about. He did just flick them out and it is
:11:05. > :11:08.beautifully played. Delicate little shot, have a look at this. Judged it
:11:09. > :11:28.very nicely indeed. He did well to get the cue ball that
:11:29. > :11:32.far around because when you're striking down, it's hard to get the
:11:33. > :11:43.top spin to generate the follow through that he needed.
:11:44. > :11:56.This red is all he required... Oh, no! Heavy contact, that is why he is
:11:57. > :12:02.showing his disappointment. Very unlucky. You could see it down the
:12:03. > :12:06.line, have a look at the red. Straightens off to the left-hand
:12:07. > :12:15.side of the pocket and you could see and his frustration. He lost a frame
:12:16. > :12:19.earlier on today that Hazel was talking about when he made a break
:12:20. > :12:26.of 17 and John Higgins replied with a break of 72. It could happen again
:12:27. > :12:31.here. Although there are a few problem balls, those two on the
:12:32. > :12:37.left-hand side cushion and the pink out of place it is a big for John to
:12:38. > :12:45.win, but he can get back into it, which didn't look likely. For all
:12:46. > :12:55.money, it looked like it was going to be two frames in a row for Mark
:12:56. > :13:02.Allen. I be interested in whether John will try to attempt the loose
:13:03. > :13:11.red or try and disturb one or two of these reds on the cushion. He tried
:13:12. > :13:13.to go into them. Lovely, he couldn't have played that much better, what a
:13:14. > :13:27.fantastic shot. Talk about seizing the opportunity,
:13:28. > :13:34.brilliant shot. And now the only real problem ball I can see is the
:13:35. > :13:40.pink. He's going to need this black, the two reds, two colours and all
:13:41. > :13:52.the remaining colours. What a steal this would be.
:13:53. > :14:08.We expected the cue ball to be away from the cushion but he's all right,
:14:09. > :14:37.he can stay on the black. He is a little bit short. He still
:14:38. > :14:39.has a few points to play with, John, so he isn't too bad. Any colour will
:14:40. > :14:54.do off this red. We always say the key shot usually
:14:55. > :14:58.is getting position from brown to blue but with the pink where it is,
:14:59. > :15:09.it is essential he gets good position on the blue.
:15:10. > :15:16.Mark Allen looked like he was going to put a break together to win the
:15:17. > :15:19.frame and he was very unlucky with the kick. But he may still have a
:15:20. > :15:43.lifeline, that pink. That is his only hope. It is one of
:15:44. > :15:47.those pinks you don't want to be behind, you feel you might have to
:15:48. > :15:56.get it off the cushion. You'd like to move it if you had a chance. Now,
:15:57. > :16:01.can he screw behind it? Even if he does, it is a tough one with the
:16:02. > :16:11.rest and that is what he will have to use. Could not have played it
:16:12. > :16:13.much better. If the cue ball was closer to the cushion but he has to
:16:14. > :16:48.drop this in. Absolutely brilliant, and you can
:16:49. > :16:52.see what it meant to John Higgins. Unlucky Mark Allen, he will feel
:16:53. > :16:59.aggrieved by that bad contact but what a clearance once again. The
:17:00. > :17:04.Wizard of Wishaw? You bencher! A big steal from John Higgins, now
:17:05. > :17:11.it's Mark Allen at the table and he is leading by three points.
:17:12. > :17:20.He is trying to lay on this red to the left. It is too hard and has
:17:21. > :17:21.gifted John and easy red into the right centre, just a little bit too
:17:22. > :17:46.pacey with the cue ball. Always looked control of the safety
:17:47. > :18:00.battle, John Higgins gets the first chance.
:18:01. > :18:03.It jumped, there was a lot of pace on the cue ball to get down to the
:18:04. > :18:27.reds. I'm just wondering can he play this
:18:28. > :18:31.little cannon popped off the red and tried to dislodge the red from the
:18:32. > :18:58.black? He isn't looking at it, he is looking at the one left of the pink.
:18:59. > :19:15.He could have played a couple of shots from there.
:19:16. > :19:22.Just looking at John, he has a couple of pots on here. Although
:19:23. > :19:25.that red adjacent to the right corner maybe blocks the one to the
:19:26. > :19:39.right corner. He's hampered, can't do anything
:19:40. > :20:06.with the cue ball. Could have worked out better.
:20:07. > :20:12.He couldn't do anything, but that was right in the middle and a good
:20:13. > :22:37.shot. Just concentrating on the pink here
:22:38. > :22:55.but he will be happy to do that. The pink now is available to the
:22:56. > :23:00.right corner. He has overdone it a fraction. No, he must be OK, only I
:23:01. > :23:17.is for the pink. He has made this break look very
:23:18. > :23:28.easy indeed. He has had to work at it.
:23:29. > :23:35.This is what makes in such a great player.
:23:36. > :23:41.With the pressure on, he still produces some fantastic breaks,
:23:42. > :23:49.holds his nerve, keeps himself together.
:23:50. > :23:59.It all came about from that bout of safety. Mark Allen was in trouble a
:24:00. > :24:01.number of times. He forced the opening and here is the result of
:24:02. > :24:14.it. As I said at the time, what happened
:24:15. > :24:21.to Mark Allen in the previous frame, he was desperate to get in first. It
:24:22. > :24:27.is not to be. He has two sit there and suffer and see another frame
:24:28. > :24:35.slipping away. -- to. This pink will put him 61 points in front. Just 59
:24:36. > :24:42.remaining. Such a shame for Mark Allen. He came out of the blocks
:24:43. > :24:46.very fast to night. But for that kick... It might have been a
:24:47. > :25:07.different story. It's amazing how much a player's
:25:08. > :25:12.body language can change as well. Mark Allen looked so assured, so
:25:13. > :25:18.confident in the first couple of friends, until he got the kick. Then
:25:19. > :25:24.John Higgins made the break. The momentum has swung back towards John
:25:25. > :25:37.Higgins. Yeah, Mark Allen will be set in his seat very subdued. --
:25:38. > :25:43.sat. Nothing you can do about it, Mark. You were unlucky in the
:25:44. > :25:52.previous frame. It has just been compounded in this one. Leaves an
:25:53. > :26:02.angle on this red if he is going to continue the break. He has not got
:26:03. > :26:11.much of a one. Black to the far corner, is it a? May be nudging the
:26:12. > :26:23.red into play. -- maybe. This is amazing stuff. It is nice to see
:26:24. > :26:34.Mark Allen applauding. What a black into the green pocket. And of course
:26:35. > :26:39.nudging the red into play. Yeah, I saw it, but I didn't believe it. It
:26:40. > :27:02.is like a two and ten shot. When John Higgins came to the table,
:27:03. > :27:06.I didn't expect he was going to make the century from that position.
:27:07. > :27:17.There was one particular shot, he took the Brown, went into the pack,
:27:18. > :27:21.opened up a couple of reds. There was just half The Pocket available.
:27:22. > :27:30.On another day he might not have been on anything. But he was. Well
:27:31. > :27:35.played. Once again Mark Allen shows his appreciation. That is good
:27:36. > :27:44.sportsmanship. John Higgins, a virtuoso performance.
:27:45. > :28:02.That was his second century of this match. The 42nd of the tournament.
:28:03. > :28:07.Magnificent. Once again, Mark Allen didn't do a love wrong. He just
:28:08. > :28:14.can't get in. It is John Higgins now three frames ahead.
:28:15. > :28:15.11-8. Into frame 20. John Higgins at the table but he is 54 points
:28:16. > :28:31.behind. That wasn't easy. Has he got away
:28:32. > :28:42.with it? Does this red pot into this bottom right-hand corner pocket? I
:28:43. > :28:58.think it does. Good shot. Well played. It just shows you, he made
:28:59. > :29:06.an error there and it didn't cost him. It did in the previous frame.
:29:07. > :29:11.And that is what we say sometimes. When you are to get back in a match,
:29:12. > :29:17.you could do with a little bit of help from your opponent. He got some
:29:18. > :29:24.there. So another chance to win the frame before the mid-session
:29:25. > :29:29.interval. And I still get the feeling that he has got it in him.
:29:30. > :29:34.Sometimes when a player goes behind, you fear for him, whether he has got
:29:35. > :29:38.the fight in him. But he looks to be playing so well, if he gets the
:29:39. > :29:43.chances, he could still win this match. There is still a lot of
:29:44. > :29:55.snooker left. Absolutely. There is a long way to go yet. This will settle
:29:56. > :30:01.them down a little bit. John will know he is still in a match. He has
:30:02. > :30:07.got the advantage. It will be 11-9 at the interval. He only needs two.
:30:08. > :30:18.He knows the way Mark Allen is playing, he has had for centuries in
:30:19. > :30:19.this match, don't forget... If he gets a chance, he is going to take
:30:20. > :30:35.it. He has needed the two chances. But I
:30:36. > :30:44.think after losing that frame when he got a bad kick, I think he
:30:45. > :30:50.deserves another chance. But he knows that his back is against the
:30:51. > :30:53.wall. He came out this evening to frames behind. People go to the
:30:54. > :30:58.mid-session interval two frames behind. -- he will go. 13 is the
:30:59. > :31:17.target. He has got some support in the room
:31:18. > :31:23.as well, of course. He has held himself together very well in this
:31:24. > :31:33.frame. OK, he got frustrated by going for the red into the left
:31:34. > :31:38.centre. John Higgins is ready to follow him
:31:39. > :31:42.to the dressing room. So Mark Allen starred in two frames behind. He
:31:43. > :31:49.still is but he is still in this match. There is a love of snow could
:31:50. > :31:53.be played yet. John Higgins leads 11-9.
:31:54. > :31:59.-- a lot of snooker. Here is frame 22, it is Mark Allen to play and
:32:00. > :32:08.there is no score. He didn't get into it. He did not
:32:09. > :32:13.get into that. He has left a red for John Higgins. One to the corner,
:32:14. > :32:23.want the middle. -- one to the middle. Is that Mark Allen's last
:32:24. > :32:30.shot in this year's Championship? He was in all sorts of trouble there.
:32:31. > :32:43.John Higgins played an attacking safety shot. It got under the red.
:32:44. > :33:01.The pink is still in the open. Even if he parts this lack. -- pots.
:33:02. > :33:13.I think the black is out of commission.
:33:14. > :33:20.He doesn't have to bring any balls into play. OK, the black is out of
:33:21. > :33:27.commission but he has got the pink on its spot, blue, baulk colours are
:33:28. > :33:42.available. This is a frame and match-winning opportunity.
:33:43. > :33:54.As Mark Allen looks on, hoping that John Higgins will make a mistake.
:33:55. > :33:59.The way he has been playing in this match, you can't see it. There is
:34:00. > :34:02.one red John Higgins would love to get out of the way. The red below
:34:03. > :34:14.the pink to the left. He may not take it now. Maybe come
:34:15. > :34:44.back for the blue. He couldn't get the right side of
:34:45. > :34:50.the blue but he is on the pink. I don't know what sort of potting
:34:51. > :34:59.angle he has. He is perfect on the pink to play for the red you were
:35:00. > :35:02.referring to can. -- Ken. And by removing this red, it makes the pink
:35:03. > :35:09.available into the left corner, as well as the right corner. A little
:35:10. > :35:14.bit of work to do if the pink doesn't go to the right middle,
:35:15. > :35:19.which I don't think it does. Is he going to try to Canon the red to the
:35:20. > :35:29.left of the Black? No. That was a risky didn't want to take. Back up
:35:30. > :35:36.for the blue. Or thing. Yes, a few loose reds still available. Doesn't
:35:37. > :35:47.have to do much with the cue ball. He is queueing so straight. Write
:35:48. > :35:53.down the barrel of a gun. -- staring right down the barrel of a gun. He
:35:54. > :36:00.started of the season very well, then he had a loyal. You clearly has
:36:01. > :36:04.got his appetite back. And of course, that makes you work harder
:36:05. > :36:10.at the game, practice more. He has got his appetite back. And when he
:36:11. > :36:13.is in this form, he is very hard to beat. As Mark Allen has found,
:36:14. > :36:20.because he has thrown everything at him. He couldn't have played much
:36:21. > :36:24.better. He has been very unlucky. Particularly the turning point of
:36:25. > :36:33.the kick he got on 58. That cost him the frame. Yeah, absolutely. But you
:36:34. > :36:42.have to say, what a clearance it was from John Higgins. Superb, yeah. And
:36:43. > :36:45.the frame area when John Higgins cleared at 72. Those two crucial
:36:46. > :37:13.frames have turned this match on its head.
:37:14. > :37:22.This pink will put him 48 points in front. Still 83 remaining. Still
:37:23. > :37:29.needs three more reds. It is maybe not this -- that straightforward. He
:37:30. > :37:35.was, in the very first session, trying to hold onto Mark Allen's
:37:36. > :37:46.coat-tails. 5-2 down. He managed to win.
:37:47. > :37:56.It is not over just yet. There is a bit of work to do. He will still
:37:57. > :38:02.have a good healthy lead. He can pot the pink here. But the cue ball has
:38:03. > :38:09.gone back up the table to the baulk macro area. He may try to get a
:38:10. > :38:29.colour save here, try to protect that lead.
:38:30. > :38:39.Once again, keeping it tight. Keeping it so ties. If Mark Allen is
:38:40. > :38:45.go to get a chance, he will have to work hard for it. I'm just wondering
:38:46. > :38:52.if he will attempt this pot down the right-hand side of the table. It is
:38:53. > :38:59.very difficult. This red that is closest to the bottom right-hand
:39:00. > :39:02.corner pocket. It may be too difficult. Maybe if the pink was
:39:03. > :39:15.open to the left centre, he may take it on. How does he get it safety and
:39:16. > :39:19.-- how does he get it safe? That red has now landed a plum on for the
:39:20. > :39:25.right centre and Mark may be thinking that is his last shot in
:39:26. > :39:30.this year's bet Fred World Snooker Championship. A little shake of the
:39:31. > :39:44.head. He has played so well. But that could be his last visit.
:39:45. > :39:49.You know something, I think he just got another kick on the red. He is
:39:50. > :39:55.shaking his head. I think he was very unlucky yet again. I detected a
:39:56. > :39:59.heavy contact. It took the pace out of the cue ball. We were talking to
:40:00. > :40:05.the referee at the interval, and he said there were a few heavy contacts
:40:06. > :40:10.this evening, which there hadn't been earlier in the match. We still
:40:11. > :40:17.don't know what causes them. Obviously it can be a change of
:40:18. > :40:23.atmosphere. Mark couldn't have played better. It is not looking
:40:24. > :40:30.good for him now. That puts John 62 points in front. 67 remaining. A red
:40:31. > :40:31.and a colour to end the hopes and dreams of Mark Allen for another
:40:32. > :40:56.year. This black to go 70 points in front
:40:57. > :41:00.with 59 remaining. In it goes. You can't take anything away from John
:41:01. > :41:05.Higgins. He has played absolutely brilliant, as has his opponent. And
:41:06. > :41:09.he will take some stopping. Absolutely. As you said earlier,
:41:10. > :41:15.vintage John Higgins, without a shadow of a doubt. He has had to
:41:16. > :41:22.pull out a couple of magnificent clearances. That one, when he was 58
:41:23. > :41:29.behind, was one of the best. Without a shadow of a doubt. That black
:41:30. > :41:34.going in means the bowtie as come off. He is ready to go back to the
:41:35. > :41:37.dressing room. He will be very disappointed, as well he might.
:41:38. > :41:41.There are a few frames that could have gone either way. But he
:41:42. > :41:46.couldn't have played much better. No. I'm sure he will be back again,
:41:47. > :41:53.fighting next year. I wouldn't be disheartened if I was him. Obviously
:41:54. > :42:01.now he will be upset. But boy has heaped pod up a great performance.
:42:02. > :42:06.-- Duport Corp. But John Higgins was at the top of his game and when he
:42:07. > :42:16.is a -- at the top of his game he is a matter anybody. -- he is a match
:42:17. > :42:24.for anybody. The red didn't go in. A handshake. I am certain Mark Allen
:42:25. > :42:28.will say, well played, John. John Higgins will also congratulate Mark
:42:29. > :42:33.Allen on his performance. Mark Allen and John Higgins both had 94% pot
:42:34. > :42:39.success. What a performance from John Higgins. He is back to his
:42:40. > :42:46.best. He runs out a winner by 13 - nine. He is in the quarterfinal.
:42:47. > :42:49.What a match. The story of the game was I made two unbelievable
:42:50. > :42:57.clearances under pressure. If I never made them, Mark would probably
:42:58. > :43:01.be sitting here waiting 13-8, 13-9. I said to him at the end if he stays
:43:02. > :43:06.at that level of performance he will be hard to stop. I includes -- I
:43:07. > :43:09.include the likes of Ronnie and Selby in that. John Higgins will
:43:10. > :43:15.take some beating. I was delighted my family was here. They gave me a
:43:16. > :43:19.lot of support. Mark Howard a lot of support as well.
:43:20. > :43:24.It was a great atmosphere. No doubt about it, that is the best match of
:43:25. > :43:27.the tournament. It certainly is. It is only the second round. That
:43:28. > :43:31.performance probably would have been good enough for Mark Allen to get
:43:32. > :43:39.through. But against John Higgins in that form, a tough draw. Those
:43:40. > :43:45.frames he should won, John Higgins was brilliant? Yes, and now he is in
:43:46. > :43:51.40s, he is still very strong. He will take some beating? I wouldn't
:43:52. > :43:53.be surprised if we saw him in the final.
:43:54. > :43:56.Mark Selby is bidding to become the fifth player to win this wonderful
:43:57. > :44:02.tournament on at least three occasions. His second round began
:44:03. > :44:07.this evening against Xiao Guodong. Pete defeated Ryan Day in the last
:44:08. > :44:11.round. We join the match in the last frame of the session. Mark is three
:44:12. > :44:33.frames ahead but Xiao has a chance to close the gap.
:44:34. > :44:47.He can get through to the potting angle of this brand. Just worried
:44:48. > :44:51.about... He can definitely get through the potting angle of the
:44:52. > :45:11.Brown. He is right down the line of it.
:45:12. > :45:15.Mark must feel he can't get through. It certainly looks like it from
:45:16. > :45:33.here. I am directly behind the shot. It
:45:34. > :45:40.looks for certain he can hit my thin enough to pot it. But he doesn't
:45:41. > :45:47.fancy it. Let's look at what that tells us. This is Hawk-Eye. There it
:45:48. > :45:52.is. It looks like he can pot it. He has decided it doesn't. He plays a
:45:53. > :46:26.safety. As we always say, it is not hitting,
:46:27. > :46:33.it is getting it safe. He will do well to get the cue ball anywhere
:46:34. > :46:39.near the Balkan area here. -- baulk area. He will -- he could do with
:46:40. > :46:54.hitting it half ball. He is very disappointed with that
:46:55. > :47:12.shot. Xiao missed a brown like this in the
:47:13. > :47:17.centre pocket earlier on. It is a very thin cut. Never easy when you
:47:18. > :47:31.are cutting the ball back into the pocket. But he has managed it. Good
:47:32. > :47:43.control of the cue ball as well. Just the blue for Mark Selby would
:47:44. > :47:45.be enough. It has been a tough old session for Xiao Guodong. He got
:47:46. > :48:07.very close to getting a 5-3. It is the defending champion who
:48:08. > :48:13.wins this first session at 6-2. They play their second session
:48:14. > :48:17.tomorrow at 2:30pm. Highlights coming up. You can watch the match
:48:18. > :48:24.between Stephen Maguire and Rory McLeod. We will have live snooker
:48:25. > :48:28.from 9:55am when 2010 champion Neil Robertson begins his second round
:48:29. > :48:33.match against Marco Fu of Hong Kong. Goodbye for now.