Day 1, Part 2 Snooker: World Championship

Sheffield and April, the Crucible Theatre. Primed for 17 days of high

drama. And belittle Lady atop the trophy as puckering up from -- for

a Test from the new champion. Welcome to the Betfred.com world

All de great moments in our sport happen in that building. That is

where Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis. It is where Ronnie

O'Sullivan made the maximum and If you don't enjoy walking out here

there is something wrong with you. Unique, a tremendous atmosphere.

The true top players come out in that tournament. It is the one

everybody wants to win. To lift the trophy is what we play for. It is

Stand by for two weeks of sweat, tears, and a few laughs we hope.

But most importantly, superb snooker in the claustrophobic

surroundings of the Crucible Theatre. Snooker takes over

Sheffield and this time of year. This is the Winter Gardens. Our

studios are situated here. Everybody feels the excitement this

year. It could be one of the most open championships for many years.

Why? Look at the season gone by. Nor fewer than 16 different winners

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Music: Can You Feel It? It has certainly been a busy season

for everybody. Including Steve Davis, whose world ranking remains

law than his age, remarkably! And John Parrott may be retired but

still ranks very highly. You guys have spent the equivalent of two

years of a life at the Crucible Theatre. Remarkable. My last match

felt like two years to! Unlike some, John quite likes Sheffield.

there will be comment about that in the next few days. But what strikes

you as the most significant aspect, Steve? They stand it has gone

through the roof, apart from one player, John Higgins, who

surprisingly, has had quite a Clarence season. -- Baron. Others

are peaking at the right time. A highly significant, John. Yes, it

makes it a highly difficult season to predict. It is very open and

competitive. We know about a seeded players, obviously. I can tell you

that both Steve and John will be making their home in the studio,

neither qualified. I was surprised you even try to qualify, I thought

you had put the cue away! A lot can happen in 21 years. I was fortunate

to win it and had the distinction of being the first player knocked

out of this tournament. Let's look at everybody who has made it

After I played great to get this far. To go one step further and

There are so many good memories for me. To face the fact of not being

there, it certainly put a bit of To be going back for a 21st

consecutive appearance, I am absolutely over the moon. I am very

happy that I can go to the Crucible. This is how they line up in the

open round. -- opening. Australian Open champion Stuart Bingham meets

qualifier, Stephen Hendry the also -- Stephen Hendry. The first time

he has ever had to do that. The pocket dynamo as all wound up.

Graeme Dott meets Joe Perry, a former semi-finalist. The 2005

champion Sean Murphy meets debut taunt Jamie Jones. Astonishing

stuff recently from Stephen Lee, possibly the best player in the

world this year. He meets Andrew Higginson. Judd Trump lit up the

championship last year and returns as the bookmakers favourites. He

meets the eccentric Dominic Dale. Could this be the last campaign for

Ali Carter? Mark Davis aims to inflict early retirement upon him.

Twice champion, Mark Williams, meets 21-year-old Liu Chuang. This

has to be the tie of the first round. Ronnie O'Sullivan and versus

Peter Ebdon. An incendiary feel about it. And this should be

intriguing also. A former world champions Neil Robertson and Ken

Doherty. Martin Gould plays David Gilbert, who returns after a five-

year absence during which time he dropped off the main tour. Highly

fancied Ding Junhui knows he can perform after reaching the semi-

finals last year. Ryan the day his and his way. Marke Allen is a major

winner at last after a victory in China and he takes on cow you pen.

Third time lucky for Matthew Stevens? He meets Marco Fu end of

round one. And the world No. 1, Mark Selby, reckons he is back to

full fitness in time. He plays Barry Hawkins. There you have it.

Every world champion from the last 20 Here's and three New debutants.

Speaking of Luca Brecel, an extraordinary achievement at just

17 years old. And he has beaten four very difficult players to get

here. So it proves he can play. What do you make of this young man?

And how might he fare against Stephen Maguire? It is a tough

match for Stephen Maguire. But you like to think anew player coming to

a tournament is star-struck and might crumble. But that might not

be the case. This could is pretty special. You do not win before you

deals unless you are special in this game. A lot of people have

come to the Crucible first time and crumble but I think Luca Brecel

might be something very special indeed. Lots of far eastern players.

For mainland Chinese and one from Hong Kong. What do we expect of

that contention? I think we will get lots more Chinese players and

the mix. Deng Junhui is the player right now. But along the line

others will add to that. They have a fantastic work ethic. If there is

10, 11 hours a day to play snooker, they have a goal, and they will get

there. Ronnie O'Sullivan versus Peter Ebdon jumps off the page. But

let's be honest, terrible draw for the two of them. A few months ago

Oneida were in particularly good form -- neither. But I can imagine

when that role was made, the two of them went, all, no! The stinker on

paper but fantastic to watch. semi-final of a few years ago looms

over this one. They probably both have bad memories of that one.

Peter Ebdon will be confident, he is in form. Other matches that

stand out for me I'll be Ronnie O'Sullivan, Peter Ebdon match, and

the Ronnie O'Sullivan, Peter Ebdon match! I think I know what you're

talking about! This afternoon we will show you the Stephen Hendry

versus Stuart Bingham match. A 22nd consecutive appearance at the

Crucible for Stephen Hendry. And the match-up between former

champions, Ken Doherty and Neil Robinson. Only two men in history,

Stephen Hendry, and ham, have successfully defended the Crucible

title. Steve Davis was always my favourite player. I remember when

he played Dennis Taylor of the whole family was shouting for

Dennis Taylor and I was rooting for Steve Davis. I just always loved

watching it. But you never thought you would get there. I remember

playing Alan McManus in a first- round game. I just did not like the

Crucible afterwards and I remember coming into the press conference

and was basically slating the place. You get to realise and appreciate

how good a venue it is the more you go back and play. And if you are

successful then that's when you enjoy it. You're a champion, John

Higgins! Obviously your victories stand out but a few of your defeats

stand out also. I remember being defeated 13 - 12 by Ronnie

O'Sullivan. A tough game to take. And losing in the semi-finals to

Matt Williams, another tough one to take. I used to stay in hotels when

I was down here but in the last three or four years I have put an

apartment and that has definitely helped. -- booked. If you win some

of your matches and have a long space between your next match it is

good to have your own space, do you own cooking, things like that. The

city is taken over for a fortnight with all the fans coming down. It

Bet has been a couple of the heels since Liang Wenbo made it to the

Crucible. We hope he remembers his way around. On his debut he had

everybody in stitches with his three walk on walk on, but he had

the last laugh getting to the quarter-finals. How will he fare?

He has lost all three of his previous meetings to the Scotsman.

But as his Crucible tradition the defending champion and his opponent

will get us underway. Please welcome a player who first appeared

here with a fantastic run to the quarter-finals. The World Under 21

champion in 2005. Another emerging And finally, please welcome one of

Scotland's finest exports. Winner of 24 ranking event titles and now

in his 21st season as a professional. Four times a winner

at the Crucible, what a final it was 12 months at all, please

welcome the defending world Appropriate music, BA is nowhere to

hide on the Crucible floor. These are the best of 19 frames. Two

sessions. Nine frames in the morning session, John Higgins took

the fast. Now in the second frame Liang Leeds and John of the Cork

and Dennis Taylor primed and ready at the beginning of another Snooker

No wonder he hung his head. Not within one foot of the pocket.

little unintentional, just pushed the cue ball and caught it full. A

chance for John Higgins. Not an If it was in the right, it is a

better chance than it looks. Lot depends on whether of the black as

He has played for the black he must think it goes. It will be tight if

This would be typical of John Higgins. Under these circumstances

he is the best in the business at pinching frames when he is 40 ought

He has missed it and is out of position. Just like his previous

short-wave he did not get on the black as intended. And the last

frame he had four or five chances. It was his positional play. He has

Then there goes the red. I do not think he is good on the blue. Has

He needs a little bit of luck here. He has had it. He has had it. That

is not exactly as he played it but It has to be said that it was a

great recovery port that he took on after he ran out of position. He

played it as a short to nothing. This one here. A safety. He knew he

would be on the blue but a great shot, that one. And no reason why

he should not take the second frame He is one point in front. The last

The best of 19, these first-round matches, but Liang Wenbo will feel

a little bit aggrieved that he is going to fall two games behind. He

has not done a lot wrong. He missed the last red by the proverbial mile.

You cannot afford those types of mistakes at this level.

Particularly against a player like John Higgins who just feeds on

those mistakes. You would not expected defending champion to slip

It is one of those matches so far where the defending champion is

going to be 2 - 0 in front, when it could so easily have been the other

He is not going to bother with the black. Great play with the

defending champion. From D. He has left the arena having done what he

By the midsession interval John Higgins had established a 3 - 1

advantage. Liang Wenbo or trying to No, not a good sign to cue across

one like that. That knocks the confident out of you and you can

see from the reaction what he thinks about that. He once again

hangs his head. Not for the first This match will be played to a

conclusion this evening. He has not quite got the pace of the table yet.

Our little wry smile. The table looks pretty quick. He has not

He has lost his position quite a few times and that is over cut.

Liang Wenbo back at the table Being a left-hander, if he can drop

this red and get a good angle on the black he could then cannoned a

If he can judge the can incorrectly and bought the back then he is

Can you get your breath? Look where that read has just gone. He wants

to get a path on the black and all the sudden a red appears and blocks

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A little bit surprised he has not tried to get down to this end. OK,

it is easier to get the red in, but the business end, so to speak, is

Yes, he wants to leave the pink alone. Because if he was to pot the

pink for in the pink back on its sport would tie things up somewhat.

Interesting to see how he goes He made just about have the angle

to screw down the table. He would like to play the black rather than

Are easy to play on the pink, but It key Helen coming up. -- ackee

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This is the only problem with mocking the pink. It is going to be

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tied up somewhat. It might be He has opened it up but the next

red Ed is a bit awkward. -- the It is off work -- awkward, as you

It just depends on the angle on the pink. Once again, the reds are

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covering each other into the right He played it nicely, inch-perfect.

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Nine frames to be played in this You get the feeling if this red

goes in, John Higgins will not be coming back to the table. Well,

that was careless. He should just have made certain of that. He's

Liang Wenbo is in it the lead in No prizes for guessing what he is

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going to play next after sneaking It is as if he is not getting any

side on it. He needs some left hand side. When it hits the cushion

there is no side. He is frightened. He does not want to go into a brick.

He needs a touch of side on it. Has he got away with this or is there a

red that will go? That one will go. I thought for a moment he had got

away with it. Liang, great chance He did not play that well. He

should have been allowed past the green to make it easy to get past

There's no harm done. There are only a few reds and colours after

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That should be the frame when her. If he parts the thread there is no

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way John Higgins is coming back. -- The outsider always need a good

start in this type of March and if they get that they can always then

relax and enjoy the occasion. He is certainly enjoying it more than

He is just telling Mikaela that a pink spot is available! Shows you

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how hard the referees have to Well, the brown did not go in but

the frame was over long before that. Liang Wenbo giving the defending

champion something to think about. They real turnaround in this

session. Three in a row for Liang Wenbo and he seems to be in the

groove. In the penultimate frame of the session he is on a break here

He is having a little chat to himself. Is that going to be

costly? You mentioned about how certain frames can turn matches.

Could this be a turning point? It is a big ask for John Higgins but

He is going to sit and suffer and wonder whether the mistake is going

John has let the white go further He did well to get the cannon. That

was not straightforward. If anybody could Curate up from this situation

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it would be John Higgins. -- I do not think he has to play big

cannon. I think the red next to the -- the pink. If he played that, he

In it goes! It looks as though it is going to be on the blue. If he

has got the right angle on the blue he can drop it in. He cannot afford

He could not avoid the cannon. More pace on the red could have been

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Imperative that he gets a good Played it perfectly. Can he get

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It is an inner strength, people like John Higgins seemed to be able

to produce this and their back is There is a lot to do so DRG plea. -

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Liang Wenbo was favourite to extend his lead but John Higgins has

clawed his way back and we are all square.

An early test of character for the world champion. Into the last frame

of recession and Liang Wenbo has work to do as he is 34 points

Too thick. He tried to play about with side. It was always going to

If the pain goes into the left pocket it is a chance for John

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He is favourite now to take the When you're in this situation you

have got to look to the positives. Liang Wenbo can look at the

positives. I think he can play better but I am sure John Higgins

Liang Wenbo could come back this evening thinking he has a chance to

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He just needs any cover and one Liang Wenbo still in the frame but

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with it all to do. 59 behind, 67 He has got them both into play.

is looking at the scoreboard and he has points to spare. He could do it

with pinks of the reds. He does not necessarily have to play for the

He has taken the more difficult red to get it out of the way. Being a

left-hander, the ones on the other side of the table are not badly

Pinks are OK, maybe one blue, and now he is up to 90% shock success.

The match is beginning to take off. This could be one hell of a final

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In an ideal world the cue ball would be some work beside my marker.

Can he get it over there? He has jumped at that. You cannot afford

to miss the pot and now he has got Liang Wenbo gave himself have a

chance but I think we are in for a heck of a final session as the

evening. Both players looked as though they are ready to play well.

Does not even matter about below. John Higgins will be happy to

finish the session leading the young man from China of 5-4.

They will finish that this evening. You know what it is like to come

back as defending champion and take the walk on the opening morning.

How scary and thrilling can it be? Very and you want to put on a good

performance. The first round, you do not want to play your best

snooker. You want to keep something in reserve. We have seen people

have nothing left. Liang has played very well. It has not be done for

16 years, someone coming back and successfully defending the title at

The Crucible. What makes it so difficult to do? It is just the

fact that to win the World Championship is very difficult. It

is easier defending than when you have won it your first time and

have to come back. All of a sudden, you are scared as you walk into the

room. John Higgins is an experienced campaigner. He just

knows there is another onslaught ahead. They have both had chances

in that session, neither of them firmly to the chance. John Higgins,

such a good match player. He has John Higgins has not won title --

won title this year. The work life balance, particularly with the

expanded calendar is difficult for a family man.

You cannot do the preparation and John strikes me that he is somebody

who would like to play for hours before he get that and if he does

not do it he does not feel well prepared. Longer frame matches will

suit him. He is thinking about putting a practice table in his own

house to prevent the need for having to go to the club practice

when he gets home. Every player is different. A lot of the players

have benefited from more match play. I would prefer more matchplay than

solo practice. You have to know your own game. He is playing very

well. John has dismantled Liang Wenbo of before. -- before. What an

update due with what has been happening elsewhere this morning.

This is a high quality match with Dave Gilbert, who dropped off the

main tour last season only to earned his card again at Qualifying,

determined to make the most of the opportunity. After five years away,

he knocked in breaks of a bar 50 against Martin Gould, world number

12. -- above a 50. Martin seems to be under pressure, now that he is

the hunted rather than the Hunter. He it makes a difference when you

have nothing to lose. You try to take the scalps. Dave Gilbert was

always a good player, but he was inconsistent. A how big a problem

does Martin have? He does not have too much breathing space. He will

want to get off to a decent start. Perhaps his back arm was a little

bit tight, but somehow he has to get out there straight away as the

underdog for the session and get going quickly. The war finish

tomorrow. We have another three former world champions this

afternoon -- conveyed well a finish tomorrow. -- may well. Ken Doherty

won the title in 1997. The last time he was here, he kissed the

Crucible carpet, he was so glad to be here. The qualifying is a bit of

a shock to the system, but to be fair to Stephen Hendry, he has got

on with it. There is a lot of pressure. This is

the event everybody wants to play in. I have not had to do that since

1988. You want to get into the World Championship. I do not want

to be watching everyone else play. It is everybody's ambition to play

at the Crucible. When you grow up, that is where you want to play.

Crucible theatre has a special atmosphere. They introduce you to

the crowd and there is no feeling like it. Playing Neil Robertson, it

is tough, he is a former world champion and a prolific winner on

the circuit. I am not here to make up the numbers. I am a proud

Irishman when it comes to things like that. It's will be a tough

match because I am the qualifier, so I hope he will be the one

feeling the pressure. I have nothing to lose and I will go out

and enjoy the match. There is life in the old dogs yet to! Hopefully

myself and Stephen Hendry will have We can talk about Stephen Hendry.

What do you make of the way he applied himself in the qualifying

matches? He won five out of six. have seen him on the tour, the last

couple of seasons, in the PTCs, the small events, when he first started

to play them, and it went wrong for him, he was thinking he did not

want to be there and he did not need it. He was in the wrong frame

of mind. He has been a different animal this season. Suddenly, he

has confidence back. He was losing confidence, surprisingly. Towards

the back end of this season his results have improved. Now, even

though he says he is the underdog, I think he fancies a bit of a run.

Been used to playing a bigger venues and you go back to the small

places, -- being used to. When you go back into the main arena again,

that becomes more challenging. I know he has played here on numerous

occasions, but it will be a big day to go back into the Crucible.

have done it before and been world champions. Why is this experience a

valuable and a so sought-after? Even when you are a fading force in

the game? Is it is the greatest plays to play in. If you are

watching somebody playing your place, the electricity, the

breathing on the front row, spectators surrounding year, there

is nothing like it. It is very special. When I watched the first

time at the age of 14, this is where I wanted to play. Younger

players have the advantage in just going for it, potting any ball AC.

The older player knows how to handle himself. -- ball of they see.

Sometimes, alarm bells cam be ringing as the play unfolds. You've

got to know how to be calm. You have to get off to a good start in

the first round. Stuart Bingham, on his debut, 12 years ago, beat

Stephen Hendry who was then the defending champion. It was a big

shock at the Crucible. And now I must have been about 14, my

parents got me a book for Christmas. I remember the first cover was a

picture of the Crucible. I looked at the video camera and said I was

going to be there one day. In 1999 I went up for the day and I spoke

to someone who got me a backstage tour. I was sitting in the chair of

table wine and I thought I would love to play there and a year later

I got to play their -- table one. I remember walking out of the

curtains and thinking about the great players who have walked out

there and I was in my element. I did not care if I lost 10-0, it was

something I was going to enjoy. And it was one of the biggest upset.

When your name is on the trophy, that is how you do it, it is meant

to be, everybody is good now. Even Mark Selby, who is the world number

one, he has not won it yet. If you are not playing, your mind is on it.

It is so hard to win. Find one to get to the semi-final in the one-

table set-up. That is my next step. To try to get to the semi-final. A

bit more of a walk to the chair and everybody watching you two fighting

it out. Just hearing Stuart Bingham talking

like that gets the anticipation level up a bit. There is a packed

Crucible house and Rob Walker is set to introduce the players.

Good afternoon, the opening day event for the World Snooker

Championship and we are starting the marathon in style with three a

former world champions waiting back stage along with a recent ranking

event winner. Let's get to the boys on the baize.

Please welcome one of the most popular players in the game. It is

great to see him back on the big stage, making his 18th appearance

and twice the run up at Sheffield. He took the big one in 1997 to the

delight of everybody back home, he is the darling of Dublin. Ken

Doherty. His opponent is a player who came

to Britain with barely a penny in his pocket but has since

established himself as one of the best in the game. A great run to

the final two years ago, he was a worthy winner. The reigning Masters

champion, can you hear the Thunder from Down Under? Neil Robertson.

Now, please welcome the most decorated player ever to grace the

modern game. When of 36 ranking events, this is his 27th

consecutive year at the Championship, seven times a winner,

which is why we call him the king of the Crucible, he is back,

Stephen Hendry! Finally, having turned professional

in 1995, he is another in his spell in the top flight and won his first

ranking event in Australia. His fourth appearance at the Crucible.

HAZEL IRVINE: We will concentrate on events on table one. Before I

hand over to you. Our own friend Ray Stubbs has been under the

weather recently and he is in hospital right now and one -- on

behalf of us all, get well. JOHN VIRGO: He did a lot of work on

the snooker and we wish him well. That was not the best break off

from Stephen Hendry. When breaking off, do not catch the blue,

whatever you do. That is what he has down and that leaves a mid-

range pot for Stuart Bingham. Stephen Hendry was really looking

He will be disappointed to miss that. He turned professional in

1995. The only time these two players have met was in the

Crucible theatre. That was when he shot everybody by beating Stephen

Hendry and they have never played That was on the first day when

Stephen was champion, so making it The roles have been reversed. That

man is the seeded player and I thought Stephen Hendry enough in

the qualifier. A lot of decent Chinese players coming through. He

beat a player called Yu Delu, who had some good wons up to that match,

but he was too good for him what over the two days of the match. And

That is as well as you see anybody If there was one thing that people

question with the Stephen Hendry of today, it is that it question of

his long potting. That will boost He will have to try to manoeuvre

the cue ball back to the blue you He missed it, and because he missed

it, he caught the other red and The referee, this is her first

match to referee at the Crucible He did not get very close to the

I'm sure Stephen Hendry will be nervous. Despite his history here.

This is another day. The fact he had to qualify, he does not play as

When you get to the stage of Stephen's career, you are never

certain how you will play. This is what gets you on edge. In the 1990s,

it was a given that he would cue well and play well. Now I think he

turns up hoping that the hard work He slipped past the intended red.

Has he left anything? He is lucky if he has not. That was a big

target at the side of the pack, That will do. Stephen has had

different preparation this week. He qualified at the weekend and he has

been in China. He came back from Maybe that will help him to relax.

Taking his mind of the match. I spoke to his dad about it and he

said sitting in first class on an aeroplane, it is not that bad. He

That was a slight misjudgement. Maybe he should have played with

more pace to bring the cue ball He got a terrible kick. The black

You get that on the first day of any major tournament. Mainly

because the doors are open while people are getting the venue ready.

The referee has the delicate job of replacing the cue ball. A steady

hand is needed. That was a test for any referee. She did a good job. I

have not seen anything straighten up like that for a long time,

horrible contact. We do not want It was terrible. It bend straight

on. -- it went straight on. He had one to the left corner, but he was

That was a tough blue. What happens at the Crucible, as he is about

play the shot, there is applause from the other side of the wall.

That is the atmosphere we talk about. It is unique. Talking about

the wall, I wondered whether it would stay up this year because

many other venues have knocked them down. I am not sure it would work

here. It is very intimate, and Particularly in this arena, of the

tables are too close together. You would have players almost touching

I suppose it is part of keeping everything as it is at the Crucible.

There have been changes in other tournaments. You want this

This would not go down as an easy shot he is taking on. He had no

But, no problem. Right in a part of He rolled the black along the

cushion, will he play on the red in He is thinking they are not playing

that difficult down at cushion. It is about getting the angle right.

But he overcut it. It has never been the easy shot to pot the ball

down the cushion. I thought he would get it. Particularly when

they are just off the cushion. If it were tight to the cushion, I

would not have fancied him missing it. This is a chance for Stuart

Bingham of the perfect angle on the black. He could cannon into the

But if he opens the reds, this He played that as well as he could.

He put screw on it and the cue ball did not drift too far down the

That was like the blue he missed, which was more difficult. He did

You tend to overcut the ball when that happens. He is nervous, isn't

At the moment, I think, more than a That was a nice shot. The cue ball

drifted to the side cushion, but it did not touch the sides. He has an

angle on the black, which is in his That is a decent shot. He did not

pot the black into the middle of the pocket, he potted it on excited.

It looks like the end of break. That will not pass to the right

Was he looking at the plant. That would be incredibly difficult. He

It would have to be an accurate safety shot, if he did play it. I

think he is looking at the plant, maybe to get the cue ball down

I think he had the cue ball in mind This seems to be an easy shot. Two

reds. Just roll the left-hand one dead weight. He should not leave

anything. He has to be careful. He can't return to the baulk end.

There is a danger of leaving the He decided he could cover the red.

He seems to have played that quite He is giving it plenty of thought.

Does he want to risk leaving a It would be easy to roll to the

reds, but that does not gain any We are coming up to one minute,

which is unusual for Stephen Hendry. Rolling up is not his sort of shot,

but it would keep Stuart Bingham What a pot to go for, that is. He

had the cue ball in mind, thinking he would not leave anything easy,

but this was incredibly difficult. And you never know where the reds

will go. He played in a way that he felt the only Aurelien Rougerie he

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could leave was the one he was He is a qualifier but has been

pretty consistent this season in the qualifying matches. There is

the chance for that you get to used to playing in those cubicles. Even

someone of Hendry's Caliber -- calibre. I thing he can still play

my game of a higher level. -- I think he can still played the game

at a higher level. That is not the best shot from Bingham. If you are

going to play that you have got to find the cushion with the cue ball.

He has not done that. This is a Bingham comes right back to the

The problem is he is behind. He is at a big disadvantage. Sooner or

let here -- later he will have to get an angle on the green. He will

have to pot the pink and cannon He cannot get nicely on the pink

without using the rest. That was It looks like he will just have to

pot the yellow and played safe. -- It was always going to be difficult,

It was not paid original plan to played that but it was what he was

It ran on and on... It has left Stephen with a bit of a problem.

This red will cut into the right corner. It is risky, but he was

going to have to play it then anyway. Why not? And why not attend

the part! -- attempt the pot. He might just have an angle on the

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29 points in front, 35 remaining. This red to go 30 points ahead with

He could not make the red, so the frame is still on. I always used to

prefer rolling them down the black cushion than the baulk cushion. It

It does not look as though he can get past the blue to pubmac the red.

Can he bend it? That is what he is trying to do. He has had the blue.

Stephen went for the pot. It has not gone in the same place.

could well potted if it was There is a half chance for Hendry

in the right corner. I was a bit It little bit too thick. I do not

care who you are and how many times you have been at the Crucible, it

is always nice to get that first frame under your belt and it is

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still in the balance who is going How close can he get without

dropping? He has got to feel pretty That kiss will do nicely for

Looks like this frame will go to I do not think you can say much

about that. Stuart Bingham needs a snooker. The frame should have been

over by now. Bingham should not have been coming back to the table

just needing one snooker. He did not get close with that yellow.

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Was he forced into potting the brown? He was. Here is a chance,

run off the blue and try and nestle OK, got the snooker. I am not going

to say it is going to be easy but a bit more pace and if he had got

closer to the pink would have cut When you are striking down like

that to get the side on the cue ball, you pet far too much on it.

Stuart Bingham can now win this frame. I think he knew immediately

he had got too much on that. It is This is a chance for sure. He did

not do a lot with that except try and pot it. He did not try and get

onto the pink. It was always hitting the bottom jaw. Stephen,

It's is there! -- it is there! Looks like the seven-times champion

is going to get the first frame 19 points to lead, just 13 left on

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the table. One snooker to tie. It Stephen should just be rolling this

pink slowly towards the corner He has caught the pink much too

This is not the worst place to get Hendry will be looking to roll that

other -- over the pocket soon. already had one chance and did not

take it. You do not want to be playing a pot and letting the cue

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He should try and get in behind the I fancy Stuart is going to get

close with this one. It is about a Stephen Hendry takes the first

frame. Minor player will be happy but Stephen leads, 1-0.

On the other side of the dividing wall, let's go into this match. It

is Robertson against. T. Roberts and take -- Doherty. Robinson took

the first frame. Robertson is on for a possible maximum.

He knows the frame is safe. He has to be careful he does not push the

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He wants to avoid the other red so He is on the black but he will have

to play a very good shot to pot the If he goes round the back of the

red nearest the cushion he can have a choice of two reds. This is very

tough, as you can see. Well played. Asking the referee to clean the

ball. The last thing you want is a cake when there is the chance of a

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That has gone too far. That is a Great effort from Ken Doherty, but

it was not to be. At least he has taken a nice century break to

settle him down and it is one frame each.

All happening on the opening day. Some excitement there. That was a

very difficult penultimate round? Just a little bit of adrenalin! It

is a horrible shot, blind pocket. He had to check to get on it.

hard enough in the opening frames of the World Championship to settle

down anyway, let alone a buzz and a feeling when you get close to 147.

He will be shaking like a leaf. Actually, it is one all and that is

of he should be thinking about. very nice way to get into the

match? Yes, it is important that Ken shows he is scoring. He's

caught well against Hamilton. He made three centuries. You must

score in the maximum when against Robertson. Robertson is fancied to

go on a good run? He is showing his strength without dominating but he

is in the form to go the distance. -- that he is. We are going to stay

with this match. Some of you have been tweeting that you cannot see

this on the free the platform on the red button. It is available on

digital, satellite and cable. We are going to stay with that on BBC

One. Do not forget that everything is available to everyone online. If

you are travelling, make sure that UK bus with you. You can contact us

over the next 17 days. We would Robertson has not settled yet.. T

with that great effort. -- Doherty with that great effort in the

That came off wider than he thought but it is OK now. We must not

forget, Neil Robertson lost in the first round last year to Judd Trump

and that is bound to have an effect if things start to go wrong for him.

The Robertson can be sure that Ken Doherty has brought four with him.

I will take that back! How did he miss that after playing so well in

the previous frame? He has got to exert pressure on Robertson,

otherwise he will find it difficult Straight forward safety but he

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Not a good safety but once again, This safety is a little more

difficult, he will have to catch it very thin. And he played that very

well. Did not deserve and in-off. You would expect good safety

between these two. They are both Just making sure he places the cue

ball exactly right to pot this red That was as sweet as a nut.

WILLIE THORNE: That will be a bonus Obviously, it doesn't. We could not

get the camera down there. There is a lot of work to do to get a big

But he has become one of the best He took the easier red. The pink is

available, but it is fraught with danger. As yet, his highest break

is 22. The shots of Great when you are playing well... -- they are

I could see that happening. It has not settled -- he has not settled.

The fact that he has not had much table time, I felt that was

He looked at the option of getting on the black, but the angle on the

pot on the red was not favourable. You would not think the frame would

be won until the black is back on I am not sure what he played for.

He had the guarantee of the red in the pocket, and he cannot see that.

If he were blessed with more cue power, it would have been OK, but

he did not get reaction from the He would have split the reds if it

had been harder. He still probably needs another good pot now, should

He is worried about the red underneath, but he is OK. That was

a very good shot. Very positive in his shot selection and he committed

He is having to stretch, he is not the tallest of players. This makes

a slight difference, with the extension, you do not get the same

I am not sure if he has enough angle to go across the other side

of the plaque, if it goes in that We were talking about the lack of

cue power, and he has overdone that! He said to the crowd, got

hold of that! It can happen on the Neil Robertson does not have a

foothold in the match, although he did win the opening frame. By his

standard, it is unlikely you could win with a high break of 22, but

that is the scenario. It still counts as one frame, with a break

Unless he was perfect, he would have left something on. Excellent

At least he could see the red this I did not think it would take too

long before we saw a Neil Robertson special, and that was very special.

He hit that particular shot as good as anybody I have seen in the game.

It is amazing how left-handed players can pot those balls better

than others, Jimmy White, Perrie Mans, Mark Allen, Mark Williams,

fantastic long potters. This young man is up there with the best of

There was a big round of applause from the other table as he was

delivering the shot. Of all the things you have to learn at the

Crucible and put up with, it is a very special place. The two tables

situation. There is no plays better than the Crucible in Sheffield. --

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It is not easy to play add good He must think he could get the cue

If he can play the black, if he hits it and play is off two

That was the one. He will be more than happy with that. He had to

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One of the problems you face in this match, both good safety

players, and they will not normally be making mistakes and so if they

are missing pots, it will go on for Apart from the great effort from

Ken Doherty to get to the maximum, He played it once across, and

almost got it on the second time. That was not the best kiss in the

world. And Dave he is unlucky, he will be on the yellow. -- back and

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I'm surprised he played it around two cushions. If he played down the

left-hand side... He will have to do something here if he wants to

keep the break going. And he has to But that was an excellent shot. It

was so tough to floated in. -- This has been one of the toughest

To yellows and a green for a break Only 40 points have been scored in

this frame and three reds are left. He could not avoid the second

Pink for the left-hander looks like It could be the yellow. You would

not have slept at night if you have It has probably happened before at

the Crucible, but I cannot remember a time when four reds and colours,

at the business end of the table, and if the red goes in it is still

I'm sure this is a record. This is The pink and black are available

When you pot like this, it does Slowly but surely the lead has gone

to 14 points and the pink will be This frame is still alive, I am not

That came off the cushion further than I thought at first glance. He

probably has the angle to hold for Perhaps he does not feel he has the

The white has gone over the black spot. He could not have played it

Considering he had not played well so far, this has been an excellent

It seems a good time to make your highest break of the match, albeit

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only 38, it is more than enough for TERRY GRIFFITHS: You see the two

former world champion sitting in the chair with plenty to think

about. Ken Doherty will be wondering why he is 2-1 down when

not long ago he was on the Chancellor maximum break. There was

a scrappy frame. -- on for a The break of 38 from Neil Robertson

was excellent. There were low-value He needed that to go tight on the

cushion. The red came away from the That was a thin cut. He is on the

blue. It is whether he has the angle of the bailey macro to get to

He caught that thin. He is looking as if the blue moved on the track

to the centre pocket. He thought it From that angle, we could not tell,

it looked as if it kept a straight line. And now a better chance for

Ken Doherty. There was not much on We can see the blue from a

It is so strange at this level, Neil Robertson leading with breaks

of 22 and 38. But the break of 30 it was with six reds, which was

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That was a poor shot from Ken Doherty. Not giving himself much

angle of the blue. Most players would have taken the cue ball two

But he has to make it, it is not The first is a few inches away from

the second. And that was as clean That was well judged. He played

that beautifully. He is on a nice easy black. He will get a lead in

this important frame to possibly level the match again for the

second time. He had a break of 104, which possibly could have been a

maximum. When Ken Doherty get sin, it looks like he will score heavily.

Another example of Ken Doherty not getting through the cue ball as

well as other players. You see people like Ronnie O'Sullivan going

into the pack and the white ball He has a choice of three colours.

Blue would have been the better He was trying to kiss the pink foul

but he caught it quarter ball and he is unlucky if he is not on one.

He did not get close to that one, That was not the easiest pot. It

He would prefer to be straight into the right corner pocket with the

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He needs to get it position on the next red and then there is a great

The fact that the brown his off its spot makes it very simple to get up

and down, as it were. He had so much room he just decided to roll

it to make sure. This is an excellent chance now. At the table

With the angle he left himself on the red he could not play for the

pink but had to be careful he did not run too far for the black. It

If he can get this in the centre he will be in prime position now and

will be very disappointed if he He has paid for the more difficult

red. Probably they all look easy to That is his highest break of the

match so far. Every chance of a 3 - A quick glance at the scoreboard

will tell him they are exactly It would be very disappointing this

for Ken. He really controlled this first session and will somehow come

Just checking the scoreboard. He will find that he needs the green

and the brown. It is not perfect on the screen. Being a left-hander he

will have to screw back on the rest. He took his time and he played it

very well. That could have gone He wants the blue to cement the

frame. There was never any doubt. Once he gets going his potting is

as good as anybody. He does not seem to miss anything under

pressure. He was not like that earlier on in the match. It does

not really matter of law. -- does not really matter of law. He leads

That is the situation going into the mid-session interval. The

assessment so far? As you know there are only three overseas

players to have won at the Crucible. Two of them in this match - the

other being? Cliff Thorburn. Absolutely right. Neil obviously

has the form here and what you make of how he has played this season?

He has been in good form. We are here to look at his chances in the

World Championship. One of the attributes a player needs at the

Crucible is to be able to break free from a scrappy part of a match

and all the sudden hit top gear. That is effectively what Neil

Robertson has done to move forward into the lead there. He does not

have the pressure have been defending champion. He admitted

that his preparations last year when he was defending champion were

seriously hampered. He had to so Stakis for everybody but this year

it has been a case of head down. we cast our mind back to the Match

Play at the Masters he was John Higgins like. He had a purpose. If

he plays to the same standard here it will take the world to beat him.

That was such a high quality performance. Do you agree that he

has overtaken John Higgins now? straight cueing is important. But

in Snooker it does not matter how good you are tactically or in terms

of shot selection - that can go to the back of the cue. I do not think

he has the all-round game of John Higgins. But it does not really

matter. When he gets his head above the water's he looks ready for

everything. Ken Doherty is a little more inconsistent than he once was

but his run to the Australian Open semi-finals shows that he is

capable of producing very good performances. Mostly for me it is

about his scoring. Tactically he has not forgotten anything he

learnt. But when his chances turn up he has to at least make 50, 60,

70. He is Crafts Day and will still have a say in this one. Back to

Table 1. -- he is crafty. We return I don't even know if he has pushed

either read out of play. I think that Stephen Hendry can push this

one and. I am sure that read will cut back. He will take that kiss.

The best result he could have hoped Not very straight forward. He would

love to get the black back on its own sport. That is weird he is

absolutely dominant. Not even an Always very difficult to judge the

pace on those. He has gone a fraction too far. It is still on

but he might look at something else. The green looks a little bit more

Just got into that cue ball a little bit too much. Possibility

further left middle. But still 80 would have been ideal. --

Now, a pressure black. To the left middle. Does not have to do much

with the cue ball but there is a Yes, for more than one reason. Now

he has got the black on its sport and has a proper chance to win the

frame. Over the early difficult shots in this break and now it

He has played on the bottom red deer. He wants to be fairly

This is a great chance to extend He did not exactly hit the red he

wanted to but it has worked out OK. If he feels he cannot play for the

black he has got the green and He feels as though he can get back

He has just settled better than Stuart Bingham. Did not look at his

best at the start but has managed to find a way of getting his game

going. It will be interesting because a lot of the qualifiers

only had a few days. Qualification finished last weekend. So a lot of

It has not been the case recently that lots of seeded players have

been knocked out. Hard to think of Stephen Hendry as a qualifier,

possible underdog! I guess he is but we just do not necessarily

think that he is an outsider. But How did the betting: this at the

start? The bookmakers and sponsors were a bit of beach. It is hard to

That is the frame ball just not in there. -- knocked and. I think if I

were Stuart I would be a little bit concerned. He needs to relax and

Absolutely right. Hard to get into the match until you have got

something on the board, a frame. Stuart has not played all that well.

Sometimes that happens, you feel you are in good shape, but the

chances just have an extra degree of difficulty about them. That

applied to Stephen Hendry also but John has just had a look at how

many centuries Stephen Hendry has made. I had lost count. It is 772.

Of course, we always fail to mention that he has made many

thousands on the practice table. Day and, day out. But this is in

An unconventional way to make a century break. It is in door.

Impressive scoring from the world No. 23. He wondered cult frame also

with 89. -- he won at the third Well, Stuart Bingham, we're pretty

gutted for you. He was just getting On the green nicely also. A pretty

I always wonder about that little raising of the hand for your

opponent. As it really make him feel any better? I suppose you have

to do it! Waving your hand to say you're sorry about the float. No

consolation! -- story about the Stewart does not want to look. This

is a good chance for Stephen Hendry. OK, the black is still tied up but

he can certainly build up a useful In the last two frames he has made

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89 and 100. You would not put it That pink will just past the red to

the right middle. I do not think Stephen Hendry will be too worried

that the black is tied up. He can get lots of points with red, pink,

blue. But he might have liked to have been straighter on that pink.

He can still play the red to the right centre. OK, left corner. But

he can roll that in as long as he leaves himself and nice angle on

blue or pink. He should be able to And nice angle on the blue.

Possibly two reds. I think the one to the left of the black neediest

the top cushion is may be available to the right corner. That is the

one he has played for. But he wanted to cue ball to BBB another

And that is why I said that. You noticed when he was cueing that he

was just having to strike down on the cue ball. Another six inches

away from the cushion and he would not have had to. Used to write down

like that and you just put a little bit of unintentional side. -- when

you strike down like that. But not one you would have expected him to

miss in his pomp. Errors just creep Most of the time you will see a

player must that one first time because they do not want to hit it

too thick, like he did. And what a result, the red Very adjacent to

the left middle. This is pottable. Particularly when you feel you

Good shot! He was under a little bit there. Particularly as he

thought he should have had an easier port to call on. He got down,

got back-up, realised the importance of it. Fresh hurdle

crossed. Yes, I think first time he was just slightly distracted by

some movement there in the front row. Sometimes they are barely able

to blink without being in play! It is so close. He did well to keep

his concentration going. Trying to develop the red. He has not done so

but at least he is on the pink. Not bad. Should be an important

clearance if he can make this. It may come down to the shot after

this one. What kind of angle he will have on the red on the left

which will be the last of the reds. He did not want to be straight, so

that is OK. Maybe another rest shot behind that read. Important one,

As far as rest shot go this would be as easy as you could get from

where he was. Just one more shot and then maybe screwing back-up for

the blue. That could be the first This is where you must keep your

concentration. On the other side of the wall they have reached at the

mid-session interval. There will be lots of noise. But he has got to

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That little hard-bop that goes I suppose it is possible to be

disappointed, leading 3 - 1. Because he knows he could have been

4-0 ahead. But an important clearance there up to the black.

Stephen Hendry 3, Stuart Bingham, As the seeded player, I wonder how

much pressure Stuart Bingham feels full stops here supposed to defeat

a seven-times world champion! Stephen will be kicking himself he

did not go for - 0 ahead. He looks good. He has a clear head but John

is correct, he would like to have gone 4-0 ahead. There is only