Day 2 Snooker: World Championship

Every year here in Sheffield, we always keep half an eye on vents at

the London Marathon. I guess because we feel a certain kin ship with that

race, at least the 32 players here in the Betfair World Championships

do, because they too are par of an annual sporting marathon, with 17

full days of competition and concentration, skill and effort

here. But can you imagine trying to get fit for a marathon? Any marathon

the day before the marathon starts? Well, that is what Ronnie O'Sullivan

said he felt like, as he announced his return to the sport, and turned

up here yesterday, trying to defend his world title. In the end, he

hardly broke sweat as he covered the first couple of miles in snooker's

It is a total new experience for me. In for a penny, in for a pound, you

know. It is kind of once in a lifetime opportunity, I us suppose

for me, because you get so used to playing in more or less every

tournament. At the time I fancied the challenge. That is all I see it

aser as a challenge. Where I go, who knows? --. As a challenge.

I think he looked nervous, that is understandable for him to be a bit

edgy. He has been away from the game for 12 month, that is a long time.

It doesn't matter how good you are, he would have been wondering as he

walked back on to the big stage, whether he xrould deuce the form he

did 12 months ago. We are counting down to the return of the defending

champion, because this is the relaunch of the Rocket, Ronnie

O'Sullivan. It is nice to be back, it was a good

welcome, I have always had a good relationship where the crowd and

great support, so it was nice to get back to where you kind o of really

belong, I suppose. Two reds, two blocks that would be a return.

It count happen surely. Everybody was wondering what he was going to

be like, when he kicked off the first frame, red, black, red, black,

everyone was thinking 147, that would have been special. In the end

he didn't get it. . It wasn't vintage Ronnie O'Sullivan, but there

were signs there he was happy on the to be back and that can only be a

good thing. The Rocket is back and he takes the

first frame in style. Ronnie O'Sullivan will be delighted.

Marcus Campbell will be kicking himself.

Ronnie will be disappointed with that. It is missable.

Wonderful. He is out there, playing as if he

has never been away. Watch out, there is a Rocket about!

He beats Marcus Campbell by ten frames to four. To be honest I never

focussed on himful I was trying to focus on myself, I was happy with

the way I felt, and the way I played today. Different circumstance,

different player, I think I would have been a match for most people.

There is a bit of rusty's now, which is to be expected. But you know,

like I said, I was pleased to get the win, and you know, where you go

from here, you know, is anybody's guess.

I think vitally important he was here to defend his title. It would

have seemed very strange if the defending champion wasn't back to

try and regain the trophy, to retain the trophy. It is good for the

player, good for O'Sullivan, for the fans. I am so pleased to see him,

because the legend is Ronnie, I have seen him live The way he was

playing, it will take a good player to stop him. It was worth coming to

see it I think he can win it. He is the main man. Maybe I was a bit

spoiled because I didn't realise how lucky I was, maybe, so, you know,

just, you know, different reason reasons for coming back, but still,

you know... I suppose what I am good at, really.

Started the defence of the title off yesterday, and to some degree it was

a journey into the unknown haven't seen him since last year, I

think everyone was really interested to see how he was going to play and

he got the job done. Are you rusty after that long away from the game?

You have to be, especially match fit. I think the talent, you know,

as I say he was good in the ball, you never lose that talent, what he

did yesterday, pinched two or three frames. You were commentating that.

I was impressed with the two clearances from 50 behind. Yes, it

was as if something clicked automatically, the sort of killer

instinct you need to be competitive in these two weeks. Ronnie doesn't

play until next Saturday and there are other players left trying to

win, and many great storylines will unfold during the first week. Let us

look at what is on offer today. Two time World Champion Mark

Williams has a fight in the deciding session of his match against a

youngster long touted at the next ill -- Mark Williams. He is

21-year-old Michael White. Meanwhile, always a potent force at

The Crucible. A tactical wizard and fearless break builder John Higgins

goes for title number five this year. But he knows he has a tough

start against may have, enjoying his best season and he knocked John out

of the UK at Christmas. It is granite against steel. A rerun

of the 2006 world final as Graeme Dott and Peter Ebdon dig in once

more. And we hope you join in the

conversation, give us glourths and ask the questions of the experts. It

is freshing when you meet young kids glowing with enthusiasm and

determination to be the next Rory McIlroy or Jessica Ennis or Ronnie

O'Sullivan, whatever their chosen sport. It is amazing when you see

these kids begin to fulfil some of those am big, it makes you feel old,

I can tell you! We have been witness to that process, several times in

snooker over the last few years with the emergence of Judd Trump and this

weekend, the appearance for the first time of a 21-year-old from

I was, it was about 1 years ago, on semifinals day, I had broke the

world record for the youngest to have a century break and me and Judd

came up as two promising young player, I can still get back to the

place, still get memories back of 12 years ago. It is good, yeah. We have

two of the finest young players here in the country. We have Judd Trump

from Bristol who is? The under 18s at the age of 11, and we are Michael

White, who is nine years of age, and has made 105 break and is due to go

into the Guinness Book of Records. Who is your favourite players?

Matthew Stevens. Why do you like him? ? He is nice, he is still in

the World Champions. I hope he wins. I have looked up to Matthew Steves

because he gave me a few practise sessions when I was growing up. He

was helpful to me. . Welcome player whose season has been rewarded with

a Crucible debut. Raise the roof for Michael White. It was my first time

here, my fourth attempt to get here. Just over the moon to get here in

the end, really, but I qualified for York last December, I have qualified

for four venue, so hopefully I will be here for many years to come.

Mark is a great player all right. If it goes a bit tight, he is good that

way. If it is open, he can score, I just have to concentrate on my game,

and hopefullily be OK. Have you enjoyed your visit to The

Crucible today? Yes.You? Excellent. Very good. You have obviously got

ambitions in the game, what is it for you? What do you want to do?

want to become World Champion. Simple enough. You would like to be

number one in the ranking list. And you yourself, like to become a

player upstairs, that is your ambition for the future?

Michael's first time here but for Mark Williams it is his 17th

journey, Mark has thrived here over the year, winning the to it as the

first lefty to do in 2000 and then in 2003. Went through a low patch,

but his progress to the semifinals two years ago proved he can still

perform to the highest of standards here in Sheffield. Last night in

their opening session Mr Williams has to find form rather sharpish.

This is a good chance. That is enough to take him two frames to nil

in front. This is a bit more like the Mark

Williams we have come to expect. Very well played.

Mite, he is leading the twice champion of the world, Mark Williams

One good pot, it could be Mark In goes the pib ing. Michael White

maybe as by disappointed, he is only one frame in front. He leads, 5-4.

-- pink. That is the match that will be finished this afternoon, we have

another one just starting in the opening round and it think it is

time for Rob Walker to go to work. Thank you, good afternoon, ladies

and gentlemen, hard to believe that a fortnight today, the final begins

in earnest but the good news is there is a lot of snooker to be

played between now and then. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

In this year's Betfair World Championships. This afternoon we

find out the identity of the third player to make it through to this

year's second round. Please welcome, a player absolutely

flourishing into his 40s, this season he is up into the world's top

16, winning the Six Reds in Thailand.

He is desperate to finish the season on a high, so let us give a big warm

welcome to the man from Hastings, CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And his opponent, a proud Scot with a fantastic record here in

Sheffield, he has won three of the last six world titles. He first

appeared here 18 years ago and showed frue fighting spirit coming

from behind to beat Judd Trump to become the Shanghai Masters's

champion. He is the Wizard of APPLAUSE

And here on table two, the entire nation in Wales is holding its

breath, please welcome a player who made the televised stages of three

ranking events this season before booking this, his first taste of the

big time at The Crucible. A prodigious junior on his way to

delivering in the senior ranks, what an occasion for the young man from

APPLAUSE And his opponent, the winner of 18

titles in all, including two world and UK crown, he is as laid back as

they come on the big stage, here at The Crucible for his 17th year, can

he once again produce the magic? Ladies and gentlemen, it is the

Welsh potting machine Mark J HAZEL IRVINE: I think they were

going to break into song there. You can find the John Higgins Mark Davis

match live on the website. We say hello to John Virgo and Terry

Griffiths who is well qualified to talk. Mark's former coach and

Thank you. Terry has done a lot of work with young Michael, as he

breaks off. Start of the second session.

5-4 in front, at the end of last evening. Maybe disappointing not to

have a bigger lead, but any lead is a good one to go into the final

session Terry? Yes, a very good first session, we had a lot of good

play from Michael White and Mark Williams at time, both of them. It

was an interesting match and 5-4 is a fair result.

Straight away a mistake from Mark Williams.

. He has left a nice easy red for Michael to get his hand on the

table. Well, he will be be using the rest, but, dab this in and be on the

E was looking for more angle on the red than this. He needed a good

angle to Troy and get into the reds. -- try and get into the reds. Can he

He couldn't. There shows you the cue power. Didn't he cue that

beautifully? Try that at home! Don't try it on a club table those,

you may struggle a bit. These cloths are very lively.

Didn't quite get into that one. He will be disappointed after such a

wonderful possession o pose There is a possibility of cut on

this red. A lot will depend on whether he

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feels as if he can get to it, He is looking between blue and pink

to catch the left hand side of the That is twice he has play a safety

and hit a baulk colour in the face, that dangerous because you Leigh

your opponent with his hand on the table. This is a chance now for Mark

Williams. That was beautifully struck.

That is the problem, you kept your baulk colour and you leave these

So the first good chance falls to his two highest in the first

session, but certainly wasn't at his Mark is an all rounder, he has big

strengths in each part of the game, the potting, the safety, the break

building, and of course blessed with May have to go back up for the blue.

It is important he gets a good angle on the blue, he will be thinking

very soon about trying to bring other reds into play, there is only

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He has not made the best shop of He has a slight angle. He maybe able

to force it in. I don't know whether he can run round two cushions to get

into the cluster. Two cushions it is. Hit them well and I think he has

one to the middle. He will settle for that. They are always looking

for an easy ball to continue the break, and if the pink is available

into the right middle, as we watch this again, a lot of top, a lot of

follow through and if he can knock this in and the pink goes to the

He looks a lot more focussed than he did yesterday, hen he played that

As you mentioned earlier, Mark has been here 17 time, to play, so he

has the experience needed to handle first session, and we probably got a

slight difference of opinion. I thought Michael White had ample

opportunity to be more than one frame in front, but you mention Mark

Williams's temperament. I think it was his temperament that kept him in

the match. He struggled at times, and a less experienced player would

have maybe let his head drop and not closed the gap as he did.

But he certainly come out with a different attitude today, just this

It has all the makings this of being a terrific game. You have experience

against youth. There is no doubt about it what I

saw of Michael White, he has the ability, can he overcome the

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We have not had a century break in Well, still not had one, that is a

pity. But a good start, Mark Williams will be very pleased with

that opening frame. He dictated it really. He left a few early chapses

for Michael White. He couldn't make the most of them, and he levels the

match, five all. HAZEL IRVINE: From the heat of the Crucible we dash

across into the cool of the winter gardens into our lovely studio, we

have Steven and Steve for the afternoon, I think we better ask,

what is playing Michael White? Mr Davis? I have played him in one of

the PTC events. He beat me, yes. Great player.

What would you say are the natural talents of this fella? ? The strong

hitter of the ball, not to say he hits the ball hard but he can hit it

hard. He has great cue power. Watching him play, a handful for any

player. I suppose from this perspective, this is a jump to

another level, playing in the World Championship. Most of the matches we

play best of nine or seven on a yearly basis most of the players, if

they were 4-1 in front as he was, nearly over the line, but there is

more of a storyline unfolds in the World Championships. It is all new.

Best of 19 in this opening round. Steven, you were with Mark Williams

at the practice table. You talked about many thing, was snooker and

this match one of them? You can't get anything from Mark in terms of

how he is feeling about the matchment if I say he was relaxed. I

am not saying anything people don't expect. The first frame in the

second session was a big frame. He started stamping his authority on

his more inexperienced opponent. would you rate his motivation levels

right now? Not too high. I don't think he has too much expectation of

doing well here, basically he has had no form the last few months. And

you need to have some sort of, some sort of self confidence coming here,

you can't come cold, having no form at all. I think, he is capable. He

gets through the first round and you never know what might happen.

is five apiece, and it is first to Mark Williams, he has got some

rhythm out there. Once again, he is looking what he

will leave, should he miss, he is a crafty player Mark Williams, even

when you think he is taking risks sometimes, he is making sure he is

not leaving his opponent anything not leaving his opponent anything

He has made his choice. Oh. Well, well, well. Fan si playing that so

quickly. You have to take so -- after taking so long to decide what

to do I think he has been fortunate. He got the double kiss but he has

covered the red in the baulk end, so that makes the safety.

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that makes the safety. the middle pocket, it is always

the start of the second session that Michael gets a sizeable break, just

to get him feeling comfortable once again. He started the match off well

and to go 4-1 lead. He was looking to go on from there. He did not. But

get in amongst the balls and start slight angle to cannon into the

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cluster. Play a lot of black spin -- yourself, feeling you have to score

enough to win the frame every time probably have a clue why when they

show that picture of him at nine shake of the head. He is looking at

the red to the right of the pink. leaves the red open that he was

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Williams' shot, would have rolled in overcompensated. A bit unlucky. He

played the BlackBerry well. -- the to try and cover the red with the

blue. I do not think he has covered it. It just gives Mark Williams the

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could take on. They are difficult from the pocket. He has left Michael

White an easy starter. A fair keep things tight. It seems embedded

that if he sees a long pot, he has It is a big part of the game.

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pretty good. Not perfect on the one to play. Fair play to him, he

played the right shot. Now, to me, he deserves what he gets. He had to

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play with more lefthand side but it green. He is not on anything easy.

The kick was so bad so I cannot tell you which red he played for. We have

had six or seven bad kicks in this session. Both players have shown

reactions to when the ball has reds. I think he looked at the

White. He still has a 27 point lead. A chance now to get the advantage in

That means it is a very difficult escape. He is normally clever and

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getting out of snooker is. -- at not on the side he wanted to. The

rednecks to the green does go past the yellow. -- the red next to the

brown will put in 32 points in thought he might have played for the

has the problem of trying to get onto one of the reds. I think they

will go in the left centre. Possibly not see a better positional shot

than that. -- this red. He just needs the one. Talk about inch

not see a better positional shot than that in this championship.

Million. -- brilliant. He is on the big stage now and looks like he is

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far. I think it is down to the Michael White goes in front again

and leads by 6-5 frames. We were just talking in the studio

about how different it is for the six Crucible rookies this year. They

have been on tour for a few years. Michael has gone to four different

venues this year. What changes at the Crucible? It is the hanging

around that you have to do. They started the match last night. He has

had overnight and all morning to look forward to the second session.

These things are completely different to another venue. I am

sure he has played long sessions in practice but split over two or three

days, it is hard to get your focus. You up after a session and then you

have to wait until the next day. whole new discipline. Yes, but what

has changed is the tournaments these players can get experience in on

tour. They would have been a time when a player would have been drawn

to Stephen Hendry in the first round of the Crucible. And they would have

been overawed by playing Stephen and it would have been too much. But,

all of a sudden, now we have events where the rookies are getting

experience and exposure to playing against top players that they are

starting to realise it is not so much of a big deal. So they are not

that badly placed to turn over a top-class player here. They have

much experience to some degree. is the beauty of this new calendar

and the number of opportunities these kids are getting to play.

are young and you do not have the fear. You enjoy the occasion more.

You think I will beat him. I do not care who years. I will play my game.

I am confident. Therefore it was 30-year-olds, who had you beat

before you got on the table. But these young guys do not care who

they are playing. Mark Williams knows he is in a match against this

He will be pleased to have the last frame on the board. Not the best

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break-off shot. Chance of a couple long pot. For a fraction of a second

he might have thought he was on the now. You feel Mark Williams may well

hit a colour next time and leave them in a worse position that you do

not know. It is not in your control. Also, if you nominate screen again,

and hits it full-ball, then the cue ball will stay on the baulk line. It

might leave the chance of a pot. I think it is worthwhile having it

replaced. A bit close to the red? Michael? That is where it was.

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Most players don't play those unless they have to. That is one of his

great assets. The ? and roll the ball in dead weight. -- the fact he

level the game. We are getting closer and closer to the

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favourite to take the frame if you The chance has gone by. He may get

control. But, if you do not miss the This is why the miss rule was

brought in the first place. He has taken the more difficult decision to

When you are confident, all you think about is your position, when

your confidence isn't 100%, you try to make sure the pot and forguilt

about the position. He played that better Michael White,

in way he blungz y I he caught the yellow full in the face, so another

chance for Mark. So close.

And maybe... The red not going in, he has been very fortunate not the

leave an easier tonne, if he has left an opportunity at all. Can he

get through the red to the middle? I Well I thought Mark may have been

fortunate, but he could just get through to that red, good pot, good

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Didn't quite get what he spended. Mark Williams having to sit this

out. It is tough in the chair when What has happened here? He maybe on

That was a bit careless, there was another red he could have played. He

could have stunned after the top cushion and played for a red in the

same pocket. Very careless to to not be on anything, now he is looking at

a plant, but it might look easy from behind the pocket. You look at the

distance, if we look at the overhead, between the two balls.

Well, he has got it. Fair play. Well, he has got it. Fair play.

The confidence of youth! He has a game plan an he is sticking

to it. He will playing a sievely, and yes, there will be some careless

and risky shots involved, but if he feels that is his best chance of

winning, that is what he has to go So, four points the lead, he can win

the frame with his four remaining reds. Or at least get the snookers

And he will need to, because awe you can see, the yellow and green tied

up, just a bit short of pace. still has an opportunity, of at

least the end red, the one closest to black, available into the left

Should have had a better angle than this. But there you go. So, a good

shot needed now. But as I say, he can do it with the

three remaining reds and colours, so Good recovery. Nice angle off the

If he could come low you could pot it and bring the other red into

play, that looks just about right to Just a little stun, you always have

to be careful when you try to develop a red when potting a red,

you may not be on the colour, but you would be lucky not to be.

-- unyucky not to be. -- unlucky not to be. That has

Yes, he couldn't just run into the red.

He has changed his mind on this shot. He was playing with back spin,

now he is stunning. Ooh.

You can't change your alignment on the shot. If you are going to change

your mind, get up and get down again, that used all the pocket.

Now he is 31 points in front, with 27 remaining. Big frame.

Williams will regret that chance early on when he made a 33 and lost

position. Then Michael White has done exceptionally well on this 60

break. If he could push the yellow just

past the green, down to get the I say it's OK, as long as, well, if

Mark can get to the left hand side of the cushion, he could get a

played, it was a good shot. If he can't get off that side

cushion, he would need to impart side any way but he has awkward

bridging with the green there. So he may have to come up and down the

table. He is only 31 points in front, so

Mark Williams, should he get four points here, could tie the frame

That is the obvious way to go, just got to be careful you don't impart

any unwanted side. Is he going to hit it? He has hit the green.

REFEREE: FoulMark Williams can tie. He is looking at the double in the

middle. If he can get the angle to get close to it and stay on the

green. There is no reason he green. There is no reason he

He has played the safety shot very well. Excellent shot.

APPLAUSE So Michael White looked to be in

command of this frame, but he has given pour foiants away and now he

is snookered. -- four points away is snookered. -- four points away

REFEREE: Foul. Oh, so close. Hold on a minute. Who called foul? Well, he

would have been certain to left a free ball. An interesting thing that

has been brought in, there is a tie there there and that is why the miss

couldn't be called. They changed the rule. Normally, if you could tie,

then a miss would be called. But they changed it, and that is why a

they changed it, and that is why a Of course on this shot, if Michael

White hadn't caught the knuckle of that pocket, he would have left a

free ball for Mark Williams. In one way he was quite fortunate there.

Yes, the roll of the balls, they Yes, the roll of the balls, they

He is taking a minute to decide what to play. It is not straightforward.

He has the option to put Michael White back in again, of course.

I think the problem is, the yellow is so tight to the top cushion, he

is frightened if he tries to hit it almost full-ball, he will get a

double kiss. If it wasn't tight to the cushion,

he could stun it up the table but I don't think it is that

straightforward. It is not the type of shot you would want to give your

of shot you would want to give your opponent a chance to play.

This is a very big frame. It looked like Michael White was going to take

a two frame advantage. If Mark could level the match again, psychological

level the match again, psychological If Michael White makes the frame he

will be in front at the mid-session interval, even if it is 7-6 he will

interval, even if it is 7-6 he will The problem I think, what he is

thinking if he comes off it thin and he leaves, a chance of Michael

hitting the yellow, he could lay the snoobg e it is just he is so close,

but, looks as though he could stun it up the table a bit and maybe use

the pink. I go back to my old classic from Ted

Lowe, there is a time limit on how long you get to play a shot but

nobody knows what it is. The referee I think at some time has to

intervene and say, well, you have to won't be too unhappy with that, I

suppose, it was a tricky situation, but he is not got any snooker. -- he

He is nookered this time, but it is an easier decision. Cushion first,

try and hit the yellow pretty full -- snookered. Ooh. Didn't intend to

play it that way. Could have been worse.

Tricky shot into the mid 8le, of course he is 23 points in front

Michael White, so if he potted the yellow, Mark Williams could still

To me there was some value in taking that yellow into the bottom corner

pocket, and stand back for the green, but, of course, that would

have made it a lot more difficult side cushion and back to the baulk

cushion, but Mark Williams still in this. 25 points the difference, 25

this. 25 points the difference, 25 He has good a snooker but I don't

think he played it that way. He played to get behind the brown.

Michael White has to watch he doesn't hit the green here and go in

off. Looking that the side shot, he is

better off playing this off two cushions rather than the one, the

cushions rather than the one, the He could have dope with hitting that

green a little bit more half-ball. Williams.

That is an excellent cue ball he has left there.

Keeping the young man from Neath Under this type of pressure, you

don't really have to snooker your opponent, you would like to, of

course, if you leave distance between the two ball, under the

pressure there is always a chance pressure there is always a chance

I can't see much reward on this one, if he takes it on, I don't think he

the get on the brown. He may just Well, it was a dangerous one, but he

just about found the baulk cushion, so it is safe enough.

Just hit the green half-ball, use the brown as a stopper here for the

cue ball, send this green down to Could have done with hitting the

green a bit more on the left hand side, it would have gone behind the

black. But it is not bad. But he has but it is no real problem here for

Well played. Michael White will be, well he

should hit this one off one cushion, it is matter of where it will finish

I think trying to get in behind it, there is not a lot of room. He has

hit the one cushion, it needs to run because it will be left for the

middle and it is. So a chance for Mark Williams to

clear these five remaining colours. Sort of got a touch of stun on it,

just through the angle of the cue ball after potting the green.

Can he see the brown? I think he can get through there.

Oh, well, well, well. That will be disappointing for him

Gift wrapped. Absolutely gift wrapped.

Amazing. All that hard work he needed a

snooker. He fought back from that, looked as though he had a chance,

and the poor positional shot off the green and now gifted the brown and

this the frame ball so that two frame advantage is going to be a

reality if Mark Williams says that is enough for me and leaves the

arena. Michael White will be well pleased. He leads once again by two

frames. HAZEL IRVINE: Two up but a possible

seven to play for the young man from Neath. It is going his way at the

moment. We are back to that shortly. Let me show you what has been

happening on the other side of the dividing wall. John Higgins, it

remind you as Rob was saying in the introduction today, it is three wins

in the last six years here, he went 2-0 up in this one after a break of

61 in the first, so John was up and running there.

And let me have a quick look, still going in frame three and it is Davis

with the advantage. Let us get back to this match we are engrossed in

right now. Michael White giving a terrific account of himself. There

was a plant early on in that frame, which you were intrigued by and you

questioned the motivation work? I was talking ability earlier, and

the young guys being fearless and not thinking about the consequence,

that was a really dodgy shot, at that point of the match, and of the

frame, and when you are that age you don't think what would happen if you

miss it, you are so confident of getting the shot, you don't have the

sort of battle scars you get in ten years time. I bet he doesn't take

that on. Ultimately it has paid didepartmenteds but it was

touch-and-go at the end. Yes, it look #d like Mark had got himself

out of a hole, but, Michael White seems to be holding his part of the

equation today, and so from Mark Williams perspective and Mark

Williams's fans they have to hope that Michael White will baulk at the

final hurdle. Because it looks like he will get the first chances.

you remember your first victory here at The Crucible? Mr Thorn, who was

lovely. He beat me the year before. He gave you a lovely round of

applause. It is not there yet, obviously but he is in good position

right now, and I wonder whether the 38-year-old Welshman will have a say

yet, in this Welsh generational this. I do feel that Michael White,

at the moment is just a little bit edgy. He doesn't look that

confident, particularly when he gets in the balls. As he was early on in

the match, in the first session. But Mark Williams is making those

mistakes, that seem to creep into his game.

So it is all set up this, for a very tense finish, I have a feeling,

Terry. Yes, it is noticeable in this second

session, that Michael White is taking a lot more time on the shot,

when it gets in among the balls. That in itself shows he is feeling a

bit more pressure, and rightly so, you know, what you would expect from

someone who hasn't been here before, such a big match, one of his heroes

Surely that is going to be a touching ball? The referee has not

said so. said so.

Mark couldn't really see, asking Michael was that any good? Of course

that helps him. His reputation of being laid back. He does get annoyed

like we all get frustrated with the game, and have done, but he gives

that persona of always ready to have a bit of a laugh with his opponent,

and the audience, it is a good As long as it doesn't affect Michael

White, of course. Well, absolutely. We had one of the

legends, I remember the first year we came here, Fred Davis, I mean,

dear me he would get everybody laughing. It was a bit off putting

for the people on the other side of the wall zblvment

What a great player he was, Fred Davis. Unbelievable. When you

consider how limited he was, with the certain, you know, when we talk

about the deep screws now and the power shots they played and he

didn't have any of that in his armoury yet knew his way round the

table, it was, it was an experience. He got to the semifinal here when he

was 64 And he beat me in the qualifier at Romford. It said a lot

for me. But no, I mean, he was just a master tactician.

But I think those, those days, the frames were a lot longer, weren't

they? The average frame time I think they? The average frame time I think

That wasn't the best safety shot from Mark. I his his game plan is to

keep it tight. If you are going to keep it tight, you have to play

Good pot from Michael White. I agree with you, think Mark

Williams is getting to the stage now, when he must build on the

patchy evidence delivered to date there is great seasons left with

him. Stephen Hendry was talking about it

earlier on, that he is not as confident as he has been in the

past, but I wouldn't be writing him The question of course can never be

answered, John, would mite have potted that red in the middle to

start this one off, if he had lost that previous frame when he was

and you feel he has got it now and he has the perfect angle on the blue

to go into the reds, he has looked to make sure there is no plant, to

knock a red in, smashing into them. Caught the pink and for one time he

didn't need to catch it. But he is OK. He is on the red just above the

Big chance, big moments in the Big chance, big moments in the

He played that well, he brought a This chance, of course, has come

through what we call a bread-and-butter safety shot, that

Michael White is looking a lot more confident. Striking the ball with

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ball. Such an important part of the the blue. It was not getting any

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easier. Still a possible 75 points White has decided to call it a day.

He is now three frames in front at 8-5.

How does this look from Mark's perspective, Stephen? He is in

trouble. The thing with the interval is on the Michael White has to go

back to his dressing room, and control his thoughts and not get too

excited and think ahead. There is still a long way to go in this

match. Yes, and here shown himself capable of coming back. Mark was

down in the early part. Yes, but it shows... You see how Michael White

is going around his business. He does not look tentative. You start

to think, it looks on the cards. The amount of practice the young players

are getting against the top players is proving itself. Indeed. If he was

to pull this off, in some respects, this would not be a shot. It is

understandable now. They are getting more experience. On the other side

of the arena we have hinted that Mark Davis was up in the third

frame. That is the way it remain. He had a break of 68. There he is

cleaning up. It is 2-1 for Higgins and they are in the fourth frame.

For the time being we will focus on a match featuring two world

champions who between them have graced no fewer than six finals at

the Crucible. One is Peter Ebdon, who this year equals Steve's number

of appearances, at 22. But he has some way to go to catch Stephen who

made it 27 times in a row. He is getting there. He is up against a

gentleman to whom he lost in the final seven years ago. That is

Scotland's Graeme Dott. You may remember this moment and it was the

greatest moment in the sport for Graeme. Since then he has made it to

another final but is determined to raise the memory of last year's

defeat in the opening round. He is going to hope to put Peter Ebdon on

the spot today, rather like we did I think I need to be like that. I

need to be full on. It is just ridiculous. There are so many

characters in the game. Look at Mark Allen. Very outspoken and a nice

lad. A brilliant player. We are professionals at the end of the day.

It is a living and there is a lot of pride at stake man awful lot of

pride. I think most people would do what they need to do within the

rules to win. I do not think they are happy about it. The top players

will always be the top players. I think I have done my fair share. I

have been a world champion. I like to think I have always been a good

ambassador for the sport. To go through 17 days at Sheffield to

become world champion, the stress, the pressure, the tension, it takes

so much out of you. For people to think you can not be fit and win at

snooker, it is ridiculous. My shot selection is always bizarre. I do

not think the commentators have a clue what I will do next because I

don't have a clue. The commentators have no chance. Absolutely. I

retired yesterday. I think I might retire yesterday. I thought about it

overnight but I am back. I will hang in there.

I am loving that new series. There are some classic answers from a lot

of the guys to go through over the next few days. These two highly

respected players have the green light at 10am. We join it at Graeme

Dott having taken the lead. The highest break has been 60 from

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Graeme Dott. It is Ken Doherty and full kiss on the red to make the

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the blue. He has been pretty good at painful pot into the right-hand

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too bad. A little bit harder and it is a bit short on the blue. He is

struggling with the cue ball on this break. He needed another couple of

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inches above the blue. It have am surprised. He does not have a lot

of options. He goes through the gap of the red and the black then he

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cannot get onto the pink. And Leslie suppose the pace he played, but once

you have kissed the ball, to end up perfect is fortunate. He has done

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shot. This has been the best rake of nine frames in, so it is a case of

how many they can complete now. Peter Ebdon will have to to win the

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now three frames clear at 5-2. And that became 6-2. They only got

through eight of the frames this morning. They will have to come back

and play a possible 11 more in the morning to finish this one off. But

Graeme Dott well-placed. You were watching this one both of you. What

was your impression of Peter Ebdon this morning? I did not watch the

whole match but he was doing a lot of screaming and shaking. That is

not normally like him. He is strong mentally. A lot of shaking of heads

and having and puffing which is normally from players like me. So

unusual. He has changed his cue this season and is trying different

things. He is be good now. He is going down a lot of different

routes. I was surprised at a lot of his reactions this morning. Did not

look comfortable. Is it something you have experienced before, when

you know you are in for a tonne match, and you have had this

before, is it a comfortable for when you know what you are in for?

possible that if you know the mountain you will climb is a tough

one, that you can get yourself under pressure. But, usually a player

happy with his game, Wilmot let outside things are affected. It

maybe he is not happy with his form coming to this event so he is not

totally focused on playing the game but is looking for other things

around him. We do know that Peter is the one on the circuit to complain

about conditions more than any other player, like the conditions of the

cloth, the cushions bouncing. If you are looking for those problems, you

will find them and you will certainly find them at the Crucible

because it is the worst place in the world if things start to go wrong.

Well, Graeme Dott is cueing well. He was looking forward to coming back

here. He was beaten 10-1 last year and he is determined to eradicate

the memory of that defeat. He has started the better of the two. There

was one other match completed this morning. It was the world number 13

Ricky Walden, who eventually found himself 8-1 in front this morning

and got the two frames required for victory. Indeed his very first

victory in the Crucible against Michael Holt. Absolutely delighted.

It was always going to be a tough game. I have not won here before.

Michael is a tough player. I am delighted. I can have a few hours of

this afternoon. I did not sleep much last night. I was worried. I was

trying to stay positive and stay in the moment. I wanted to get out

there and play one shot at a time. Luckily it went for me in those two

frames. When I took charge of the game, I am proud of the fact I

finished the job. Well done to Ricky. His first

victory at the Crucible and he joins Ronnie O'Sullivan in the next round.

In the Sunday papers this morning there was a great quote in the

Sunday Times, that the money yesterday looked as rusty as a new

Bentley in a Park Lane showroom. Absolutely right. And the draw will

confirm exactly what he says because Ronnie looked extremely

comfortable. He eased through against Marcus Campbell after a year

away. Ali Carter is getting going tomorrow. We will catch up with

Higgins and Davies shortly. Shaun Murphy with that slender lead

against Martin Gould tonight. Tuesday is when Matthew Stevens and

Marco Fu enter the fray. That is also when Judd Trump gets under way.

Neil Robertson has to wait until Wednesday. Ricky Walden is

comfortably through as we have seen. Stephen Maguire is well fancied this

year. And Northern Ireland's Mark Allen and Mark King play both

sessions tomorrow. Barry Hawkins is strong so far against Jack Lisowski.

And a Tuesday night appointment format cell. -- Matthew Selt.

And a very nice performance in the fourth frame from Mark Davis from

Sussex, the world and under 16. He knocked in a break of 85. It is 2-2

at the interval. They are on their 15 minute interval. He has been here

seven times before and twice maybe second round. He is giving a good

account of himself so far against the four-time world champion. We now

head back out into the finale of this intriguing match between two

Welshmen of two different generations. It is Williams and

Michael White. Terry Griffiths is in the commentary box this afternoon.

Somebody whispered in my ear that in 1997 you met a certain Mark Williams

on his debut. Mark Biju 10-9 and that was a changing of the guard was

thereafter you retired. -- Mark beat you.

I had made my mind up to retire winning more than one frame. What

happened then? That is your pocket, John. We had that in the first

concerned, his gameplan of keeping it tight, it has not really

delivered. Now there is only one way you can get back in the match and

win it by playing well. The yellow hanging in the jaws has not helped

explosive attack we have not seen it shots with the rest. He never misses

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harder than that. He just about have a red onto the white -- the right

in the cannon and where the reds would go, he forgot to put the blue.

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I don't think he can get to this red. He may be able... Maybe get the

He did, he is a bit optimistic, but he was always trying to put the cue

ball safe. And these are the times when Mark

Williams will have to start to find something. He has done it many times

in his career. But the question will always be, how many times can you go

have much of a Ifty -- safety shot, he has left the red in the middle of

the table for the left middle. Can't blame him for going for that,

It was never easy to judge how the cue ball will reaccuse, when you are

potting a ball, and you couldn't be further in the jaws, than this

yellow is, so it is not gar teed to I think the problem, the yellow pot

is not available, the highest available is the blue, that why the

yellow has gone on the blue spot. He is just checking now to see if the

black goes to the right corner, if it does, then he is OK.

it does, then he is OK. Well, that does surprise me. It

looked as though it clearly went, maybe it is tight.

Maybe it is tighter than it looked. , if it did go to the right corner

pace. He would have been on the blue or baulk colours.

Maybe taking this tough brown on. A He may get away with it. I think he

has by the expression on Mark Gareth Myatt has to be careful. He

can't start chasing the winning A -- Gareth Myatt. He is getting --

Michael White. You would think the pink would be in

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Well, another pot that Mark Williams And his long pot success is still

below 50%, in this match. As is his opponents but he has an

8-5 lead. 90% and above, but with long potting

you have to look at 66, 70%, because a lot of them are more or less shots

As we always say in these situation, the longer you can keep an opponent

away from needing one frame for the match, the more you feel as though

you are still in it. This is a big Yes, agree with you, John, he hasn't

struck the ball very well in this frame, Mark Williams.

Even this safety shot, it hasn't Have to watch he doesn't hit the

bump in the middle pocket on the way Well, he did, and he has been very

lucky once again, though I think Mark Williams couldn't get to the

red past the yellow. This to the right of the pink spot, but nothing

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that was a good shot. This brown He used all the pocket, and that

That looked a bit wide to me, but in it went.

He has to make the most of this opportunity. I am not suggesting for

one moment he can win the frame at this visit, but it is imperative he

gets right back in the frame, and keeps the pressure. On the young man

Took on the more difficult pot to get better position.

Yes, and he can put the blue, the blue will go on the black spot,

because of course, the yellow is occupying its spot, so he goes on

He underhit that, not got the right side of the yellow.

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Highest available now is the pink the story, really of Mark. As I say,

it was a very important visit, and he used to be so dependable in those

situations. And as you say, Terry, unexpected miss and one that he

couldn't really afforded to have made. This cuts back in to the right

corner. Well that will be encouragement from

Mark Williams, one the few times he has made an error and it has not

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He is hanging on by his finger nails He would like the play the red, the

green is covering the other one. He has to be careful to avoid the

double kiss, if he is playing a safety.

safety. There is a bit of room for errors

not a lot. So another pot available to Mark

So another pot available to Mark ? He is so good at those shots

normally. He is caught a bit on the thick side. If he had potted it. The

white could have come up the table a bit further and he would have been

on the colour. But you can see it hit the right knuckle there.

Now then, there is a question here for Michael White. .

Two reds are potable but is it a Two reds are potable but is it a

good time to take them on? He has an easy enough safety shot but it looks

like, he was thinking about taking it on, he could play a cross double

on the left hand side of the table. I suppose he could play this thin.

He looks to have played this very Good choice and well played.

Good choice and well played. It is so difficult for these young

players to turn a pot down, sometimes because they feel they can

pot everything. There are times when you, when you

can't keep playing to the same script. Sometimes you have to play

what is in front of you. Good length of cue ball from Mark. A

bit more difficult to get this one Looks present the I good. Has he

snookered him on both reds? I think he has, and if he has, he has now

become a big favourite for this frame. Can't see that one from for

the brown. I think the pink covers the other one. 14 point lead. Mark

Williams would do well here, to get out of this snooker and not leave a

chance of a pot. chance of a pot.

He potted it full on. I don't think this red is cuttable. It maybe on

think it is cuttable. Needs to be on a colour and the

I know he is 8-5 in front but slightly worrying he missed a brown

early on, right across it, missed it by a long way, that wasn't the most

difficult of shots. If he loses this frame it could

We have the unusual situation of course of this yellow as John

mentioned earlier being round the table on different spots. It is on

the black spot. You have a nice angle to play for it and go down for

the green. Doesn't want to be How much angle has he got? Can he

force this round for the green? This green is a bit of a tester. Two

blue. He is not going to leave a difficult PIPPing which is what he

needs to whip this frame. -- pink.

Yes, just off straight but being left handed it is a three-quarter

ball pink for the frame. The frame that Michael White has had

two real good chances to win. But he didn't take them and Mark

Williams now, has done his cause no harm whatsoever. The mistakings from

Michael White would stick. Mark Williams back in, 8-6.

Yes, probably, but, you know, I am still 38-year-old, playing some of

the worst stuff I have ever played and still Number Ten or 11 in the

world. No, definitely not a part-time job,

now we are playing every week or two, so it is a full-time job, now.

I don't think they are scared, I think, you know I am all for it as

long as 128 goes to every venue and is a fair structure, till that

happens, it is not a fair structure. Probably have to plead a blt guilty

on that one myself, and probably a lot of others.

I would agree with. I ain't, but, there is a lot of other people who

are not fit enough to be a smocker player as well.

-- snooker player as well. We will see about that!

I am quite laid back, I just never take anything serious, really, I

just love a good wind up, winding someone up, and I enjoy someone

trying to wind me up, because I don't think anyone has succeeded

yet! To be fair, not at his prime, I was

never as good as him but I am a lot better than him now, that's for

Mark Williams as usual. He must have swallowed hard then,

when he said Hendry was better than when he said Hendry was better than

Very tight past that green to get to the potle angle. -- potle agile.

Perhaps he -- potting angle. Perhaps he is going to play the safety shot

off the red. That last frame, it could be a shift

in momentum in this match, as John was mentioning, it is Michael White

had a few chances. Mustn't get too anxious out there. There is a long

way to go. He could see it and he hit that

quite well. But But he hasn't been lucky this

Not sure if he played for pink or Ooh, can't find those middle pockets

Ooh, can't find those middle pockets and he kicks it in the far jaw.

He wasn't good on the pink. If the pink had gone in I can't see what

red he would have been on, so no damage done, but an opportunity gone

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He didn't hit it that bad. These are the type of shots that

could inspire Mark Williams at this stage in the match, just turn that

If it goes in he is bound to be on Well, I assume he thought about the

canon on the red, to the right of the black, but it is OK, as long as

Can he get past the blue for the He could just get past the blew for

the pink. -- blue nor the pink. What he has to do is put out of his mind

the mistakes he made in the last frame.

And just refocus on potting as many There were times in this match that

you would fancy Michael White making 50 or 60 -- 60 at this visit. The

questions are getting harder to answer, as you get closer to the

winning line. He still has a presence out there.

Well he canoned the red he wanted to but he has just slipped past another

one, and I think he on the red to the left corner. He is going to be

hampered. He will need the rest. Can he get there with an ordinary rest.

It is made easy slightly but a because he doesn't have to do a lot

with the cue ball. Has to be Just about get to the potting angle.

Just feel he is one good split away Well, he hit the wrong red there, he

was trying to avoid that red and go Nose are difficult shots. He could

have caught that red and been out of He looks out of the two players more

comfortable at the mid range shotses a at the moment. -- shots at the

moment T Mark Williams looks more vulnerable when there is a greater

Fair play, he has taken these well. I was concerned maybe he had spotted

the winning line and he was beginning to freeze a little, but

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place in the second round. He will have been brought up on the exploits

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of Mark Williams. To beat him at the That is the highest break of the

match but more importantly takes him one frame away from a place in the

second round. He is three frames clear at 9-6.

If anything he looks stronger and stronger as we go along. How do you

rate his performance as this match progresses? You cannot fault it so

far. He has looked confident. He has not panicked. He has positive cue

action. As we know, this is where it gets difficult. If you were his

coach, and you could nip out of the commentary box and give him a quiet

word, what piece of advice would you give? Take one shot at a time. Give

every shot 100%. Try not to think ahead of yourself. What happens when

you near the metaphorical finish line in this, the first chance you

have had to get into the second round? You are fighting against

emotions and excitement of the moment as it gets closer and closer.

You are aware of the scores and the breaks you might make. Also, when

you get the first chance, you have to keep a clear head. It can build

up the closer you get to the finishing line. You are well aware

you are playing a double world champion who is more than capable of

coming back at you. Very much so. Never say never at the

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case and was unlucky not to be on the blue. He has had trouble with

this pocket all through the match. He cannot afford to miss anything

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positively in these situations. There is plenty of time. But

sometimes you get desperate and take on shots you would not take on at

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because every time he hits the ball, he says, get in. It must be

one of Michael's supporters. Neath can. -- in Neath for snooker. And

this man could be the best to come He might not have had the best run

of the ball, Mark Williams, but he will know that his opponent has

played better in this match. Now he has made a mistake. He has ever

screwed it. A little bit of adrenaline. It was not a bounce. It

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of a young man who is a slave to every scrap of his talent and is now

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Mark Williams looks as though he is Williams Wilmot play any more shots.

Every credit to Michael White. Bash seal the deal with a century on his

first appearance at the Crucible? What must be going through his mind

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Williams, congratulating him. Mark Williams will be very disappointed

but take nothing away from this young man from Neath who comes out a

worthy winner at 10-6 frames. Well played.

Well played in deed. Victory on his debut against a double world

champion. That is only the third time that Mark Williams has gone out

in the first round. The significance of his -- of this moment for Michael

and for snooker? A great victory. A poor performance by Mark but he has

been Paul season. Michael White was the one winning frames. The frames

are marked got, he was gifted them. It was when Michael White missed an

easy red. He deserved to win, without a doubt. I know Michael is

now with Rob Walker. Let us get his thoughts.

Michael, what a debut. Can you believe what you have achieved?

stuck for words at the moment. I am over the Moon. The way I played and

to finish like I have, I am over the Moon. You had to show character. You

did not have it all your own way. It looked as though Mark was gathering

momentum again so you had to dig deep mentally. It was not handed to

you. He started coming back. I knew he probably would come back at me

but I was delighted I kept my composure to be honest. Were there

any nerves for the Crucible debut? We have known about your talent for

a long time but it is one thing to know you have potential and quite

another when the curtain goes back and the crowd roars and you have to

deliver on the big occasion. I was a lot more relaxed than I thought I

would be. It is such a great place to play. Unbelievable. What was it

like taking on Mark? He has done so much for Welsh snooker. Dare we hint

at a changing of the guard? knows. If you say that, I am

privileged. What did he say to you at the end? He said good luck for

the rest of the tournament. He wished me all the best. Let us turn

our attention to the second round. You interested if it is Stephen

Maguire or do not care? Not at the moment. I cannot wait for the second

round. I think you have earned a few fans today. Many congratulations.

Your first match is over. You have a second one to come. Good luck for

that. Thank you. Well played in deed. Rob hinted at

the changing of the guard. Is it a significant moment for you because

he has been touted as the new Mark Williams, the new Michael Stevens.

It is relevant that there are so many good young players coming

through. They are clambering over each other. Next year many more

tournaments and everyone coming in at round one, which might speed up

the changing of the guard more so. But turning attention to Mark

Williams, the thing is facing him in the future, at the age of 38, he

will have to ask yourself the question, will I settle for second

best and never win another event? Or can I turn it around? Can I

continue? If someone said to him you will never win another tournament

because there are so many good players, it is not you are not good,

but it is the good new players, are you prepared to carry on? That is a

tough question for any snooker player. We can go on longer than

other sports that you have to answer that question in your own mind. Most

of the players eventually consider going on. They just get smaller

scraps. One person decided to call it a day earlier than people

thought. The question is, is it right to stop for Mark Williams and

how long do go on for best remark you know him better than anyone,

Stephen. What is your view? It is what you want from the game. If you

get enjoyment from playing, then you can play as long as you want. If

your enjoyment comes from winning and playing well, as my enjoyment

came from, then you have to get out. That is what I would say. What is

Mark's motivation, would you say? For all his being relaxed and

everything he wants to win. He will be hurting at the way he has played

this season. He is still high in the rankings but he has been poor. It

eats away at you. You almost answered your own question, Steve.

In that on the spot feature we ran, it was put to him, you will never

win another tournament and he was niggles by it. Yes, and the result

is there. You think or hope you will win. But, when you start to get

confirmation, then all of a sudden, where do you go? The first point of

call is people telling you they know where you are going wrong and they

want to help. He will have coaches cueing up, phoning him up, to help

him. So, he will go down that road possibly and try a few of them. It

will not make a blind bit of difference. No disrespect to coaches

but that is not the problem. He is 38. 23-year-olds are beating him. It

is the cycle of life, nothing else. He will have to go down that road if

he loves the game. He has already gone down to number 47 in the world

and come back to number one. He has proved to himself he can do it.

he was playing a higher standard of snooker. I have hardly seen him pot

a long ball all season. He needs to address that. I do not know if it is

a technical thing. He was bereft of confidence in that match and he does

not look confident at the table. He has to do something. It could be a

big turning point in his career. Have you got his number? I might

telephone him. Let us not take anything away from Michael White.

How far can he go in this championship? He is a great cure.

has something about him as well. He is not frightened of the big

occasion. Somewhere down the line, you do not get a rookie going the

whole way, but you never, never know. He could grow in stature as

the event progresses. It will be given to watching progress. It is

your ambition to play at the Crucible as a youngster. To win on

your debut and he must be thrilled. We started in the draw with seven

world champions and we now have six. Michael White is through. We have a

lovely Tweet, which says today is a time warp. We have Davis, white and

Higgins all playing. But it is the new ones. And speaking of Mr

Higgins, I have given away the answer to my quiz question, which

was going to be, can you name the last player Stephen Hendry beat at

the Crucible? It was indeed John Higgins which was utterly

remarkable, not because you beat him, but because it was the first

time in 27 years that you had played one another at the Crucible. Kelly,

after the next round, John returns determined to land a fifth world

title. First in his sights is Mark Davis.

You do not get a better buzz than walking down the steps at the

Crucible Theatre. It is the best thing. You have butterflies. I had

then the first time I came here 18 years ago. Obviously, in the last

five years I have won it three times which is great. I have been

struggling with my game. There is nothing you can do apart from trying

to think of a way out of it. That is what I have been doing in the last

few weeks on the practice table. I do not get too down because I know I

have been there before and got out of it. But there will come a time

when you might not get out of it. When you are getting old in the game

and a young buck is coming through. You cannot turn it around and be the

champion again. You are trying to fight that feeling off for as long

as you can. Playing Mark Davis, I mean, every respect for Mark. He is

one of the players in the top 16 and he has kept himself focused and

fighting. After many years not doing great but he is still there

fighting. Some great results and he is getting more used to the TV

cameras and things like that. He looks comfortable out there now. A

tough game for me. I was ten or 11 when my brother took me to the local

snooker club. I started hitting a few balls about and to give from

there. Maybe it was the sound of the balls or the atmosphere of the

snooker club. It was good fun down there. I was only young. I remember

hitting my first hundred and that was brilliant running around the

club and telling everybody at home. It is more enjoyable the better you

are but they can be more frustrating when there are days you do not play

so well. It was more of a job for me. I enjoy playing and the

matches. Practice can be a little bit hard work now to be honest. I

have days where I quite enjoy it and look forward to going home. Just not

as many as I used to have. My career has been tough. I have not been good

enough to get through, thinking I should have done this or that, but

you have to do it. 21 years is enough time to do it and I have not

won a major tournament. There will not be too many highs. I would

rather do that than get up at 6am and doing a hard labour job. I

appreciate what I have done even though I have not done as well as I

would have liked to have done. It was 2-2 at the interval. It is

now 3-3. Mark beat John at the UK Championship in December. He soaked

up everything Higgins could throw at him, including a maximum break. He

still won it 6-5. The finest win of the Hastings' pro career. What has

this game the night so far? For me the best match of the tournament,

Hazel. John Higgins started remarkably well and went into a 2-0

lead. His safety was superb. And then Mark Davis went on a run. He

took a 3-2 lead and hardly missed a ball. You join this frame now where

John Higgins has missed a ball in the middle pocket which he said not

-- which she should not have missed. Mark Davis is on a break of 13 with

a chance to get a sizeable lead if not a frame-winning lead. It has

been good stuff. High-quality matchplay. Long potting, great rake

building. It has been very The safety has been superb. Yes,

missed many but this frame has gone twitchy. John Higgins has missed two

chances and Mark Davis missed this one. Maybe they are starting to feel

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

You have come to us just as we have seen more balls missed than we have

seen all afternoon. It has been a high standard. That is what you are

thinking some time, get a lead going into tomorrow's session.

If a few moments time, The Crucible screen will come up. Probably after

this frame. As the match is finished on the

other side, so they will have the Short with the cue ball, but it is

still a difficult shot for Mark. Which ever one he takes on.

Bottom red of the two on the left, he could miss Canning -- canoning on

Absolutely brilliant. Couldn't cue that any better.

Straight into the heart of the pocket.

Especially when the, they have just joined us, and missed one of the

easiest rdss of all time and you see him play a shot like that. That is

the way he has been playing all afternoon. Played for the choice of

a four frame to Lee lead. -- flee lead.

He would like to play for it the middle pocket, but the brown is

there, so he may have to play for 22 points in front, red and blue is

enough. That puts him 28 in front with 27

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

Another excellent positional shot and the three praif visit visits. --

previous visit. He could finish it with 49, which is still an excellent

All in all, this match has been top class, Davis goes into the lead at

4-3. HAZEL IRVINE: This is quite a

performance from Mark Davis. What we have seen of Mark this season, he

has made it to three ranking semifinals, best performance of his

career. What do you think has improved? Familiarity, that is easy

for me, of playing top player, without showing disrespect to Mark,

you know, three, four, five years ago he would have been an easy draw,

he would have been one you were happy with, not any more. He is used

to playing the top player, he is used to playing semifinal, finals,

so he is not scared of playing top players. His record at The Crucible

is not great, this is his eighth time here and he has only been past

the first round a couple of times. How much more comfortable does he

look out there He looks more comfortable than he used to. I

haven't got a clue with the rest. What makes somebody have a spurt of

improvement, in what would have been considered the autumn of their

career? And another player we have seen, all of a sudden start to

struggle at the same age, is beyond me. I really don't understand why

some, it may be you only have a certain amount of good performances

in you, and like Mark Davis hasn't performed and he is enjoying that,

whereas somebody like Mark Williams has had so many it is tough to keep

on going to the well again, and Mark Davis is only just started going to

his well. Other than that, I haven't got a clue. His confidence levels in

this match are evident as we have seen, because he was 2-0 down, come

back to lead the match. What we have seen of John Higgins, started

brilliantly, with great performance, what has been the problem for him,

for the rest of it? I don't know a lot about it. I haven't been round

John a lot this season. I I know he has played with a new cue for the

first time this season. I don't think he happy with it. He made a

maximum in Shanghai and York, so in patches he has played well. He is

not the John Higgins we are used to. It is weird, because we were talking

about Mark Williams, Ronnie, John, they were the golden generation when

they came into the game and the three are questioning their form,

which is strange. Indeed, but John Higgins clearly always a force at

The Crucible, and as get back to him, here he is at the table. He is

That came awkward. What a difference that has made, just finishing before

Have been for careful of the one cushion escape. He could leave one

into the corner. REFEREE: Foul, and a miss. John

May have's rise to fame -- Mark Davis's rise to fame came when he

found a sponsor, he gave mark some money to carry on, unfortunately

Mick died a few years ago, and, you know, Mark has carried on from that

little bit of support earlier on, and become, as you can clearly see,

one of the best players in the That has not turned out too badly.

We have had a couple of reracks so far this year, but it looks like

Mark can play into baulk without a Mark can play into baulk without a

problem. Coming round to make sure he is not

leaving an easy safety shot. As long as he doesn't kiss the blue, he

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

should be able to find the top He needs help from the blue, that

was a bit thin. I think he has got it.

There you can see, he has just. wondering whether there is a

potential three ball plant here. Obviously if you play with a fair

amount of safety in mind, as well; He did try it, as you can clearly

see. But his prime thing was getting a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

good white, and boy, has it got a Unless John Higgins decides to take

the red up into the green pocket, Or is he going full blooded for the

one closest to the cue ball? If the black pots he may do. He maybe found

another one. He maybe thinking about cuts another one. There, he has

What a shot that was. There was three shots there and I didn't pick

three shots there and I didn't pick Needs to get a good angle on the

Just concerned about the angle he has on this red. He needs to play it

plain-ball. Doesn't want any side of this.

It was going to be tough to get perfect on the blue there, it can

only be blue in the corner or green I get the impression with these top

player, the great champion, they sense danger, don't they, Willie.

See when a match is going awkward and running way from them that they

need a bigger effort. You see John He knows how well Mark Davis is

playing, going behind 6-3, that Well that is seriously unlucky.

Couldn't have asked the hit the pink Couldn't have asked the hit the pink

Go on then, play safe. You wouldn't think that could happen at the pace

If the weight is right he has the shot. Well done.

Well done. To be honest, the pace he played the

blue into the pack, John Higgins is smilings, he must have left

something on. Not that gap, surely. -- smiling. This is the one where he

broke into the pack. Look at the pace he played it. How did that

stick on the pink? Coming back to the live play, and he can't get

It is very tight. You would want to bend a bit but you will go close to

REFEREE: Foul. . Oh dear, should have gone to Specsavers!

That was a danger shot to play at this stage.

Yes the what they was set up, a black was always in play there.

You Li and die by your decisions in that this game and that was a poor

I am am not sure whether he is on That is careless.

You would expect him to knock it in, but it is tough, under this

situation, 4-3 behind. If that rolls off, it is, it is always near the

jaw. Very careless positional shot was about to say if you screw back

for pink you can't not be on the red.

He ended up playing the stun and covered the black.

Another line line -- lifeline in the frame for Mark Davis. So far he has

scored very well. Very quickly, very brisk today, when he has been

accruing points. Can't tell you how much he has

He knows if he can hold himself together and pinch this frame he is

bound to be in front going into tomorrow's session. He will sleep a

The good things are the reds at this end of the table, they can be moved

about with the black being on its You mentioned earlier on, John, he

that had to qualify this year, even though he was seed 16 because Ronnie

O'Sullivan came back to the fray. Had to play a qualifier. That would

have been pressure on the match, especially as he played Liang Wenbo,

who has been a great addition to the professional ranks, Yes, that is a

very big result. , playing Liang He would love to have the angle on

the black to bring the two reds into play. That is why he has played for

the loose one. At least he knows he would have been on the one he is

playing now, if the kiss went wrong, so he will have a bit of work do in