:00:40. > :00:44.Hello and a very good morning to from the Crucible in Sheffield. It
:00:44. > :00:48.is day three of the World Snooker Championship. Another cracking
:00:48. > :00:54.atmosphere here this morning. He says he is ready, so this morning
:00:54. > :00:59.we will see Mark Allen taking on Mark King. That will be the match
:00:59. > :01:04.will be focusing on. There is another big battle going on between
:01:04. > :01:12.two former world champions, Peter Ebdon against Graeme Dott. That is
:01:12. > :01:17.available on the BBC sport website. First though, it is against Mark
:01:17. > :01:19.Allen and Mark King. Let's join Rob Walker.
:01:19. > :01:27.Ladies and gentlemen if you are lucky enough to have Monday morning
:01:27. > :01:31.off work, sit back, relax and enjoy because it is day three of the bed
:01:31. > :01:38.Fair World Snooker Championship and we have four world-class players
:01:38. > :01:46.for you right now. Please welcome first of all a player who his
:01:46. > :01:53.appearing in his 22nd Cristobal championship. He took the sport's
:01:53. > :02:01.ultimate prize back in 2002. Ladies and gentlemen, it is the force,
:02:01. > :02:11.Peter Ebdon - MUSIC: "Can You Feel the Force?" by
:02:11. > :02:22.
:02:22. > :02:28.Also appearing on Table 1, at Blair what an excellent record here in
:02:28. > :02:33.Sheffield. His victory in 2006 was the highlight of a proud career for
:02:33. > :02:40.the Scot bidding for his 8th appearance in the second round. It
:02:40. > :02:50.Graeme Dott - MUSIC: "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes
:02:50. > :02:58.
:02:58. > :03:05.Here on table number two, please welcome a player who came to an
:03:05. > :03:11.epic match in qualifying to get here to bookies' 14th critical
:03:12. > :03:21.appearance. We can never agree on a nickname, so today he is simply
:03:22. > :03:25.
:03:25. > :03:35.Mark King! MUSIC: "You Can Do It (Put Your
:03:35. > :03:36.
:03:36. > :03:42.Back Into It)" by Ice Cube His opponent is a player who had a
:03:42. > :03:45.magnificent run to the semis in 2009. The pride of Northern Ireland,
:03:45. > :03:55.Mark Allen. Mark Allen -
:03:55. > :04:14.
:04:14. > :04:18.MUSIC: "Ever So Shy" by General Here we go, we're concentrating on
:04:18. > :04:23.the Mark Allen, Mark King match. If you want Graeme Dott against Peter
:04:23. > :04:32.Ebdon, that is available on the BBC's Board website. Let's say
:04:32. > :04:36.hello to a commentary team, John Virgo and Terry Griffiths.
:04:36. > :04:44.JOHN: Good morning, everybody. The two players are all smiles as they
:04:44. > :04:54.shake hands ready to start this first-round match. Mark King once
:04:54. > :05:03.
:05:03. > :05:07.again has come through the hard For every player, to get through to
:05:07. > :05:17.the Crucible Theatre is what it is all about. He has picked a tough
:05:17. > :05:19.
:05:19. > :05:27.one here. Mark Allen is world- ranked No. 6. He is one of the main
:05:27. > :05:31.contenders for this title, you would have to say. That is the view
:05:31. > :05:36.from Hawkeye. You just can't get through to the red on the left-hand
:05:37. > :05:46.side of the table. The right-hand side as you look at it now. Even
:05:47. > :05:56.
:05:56. > :06:06.though he flicked at the blue, it TERRY: He looked tight, so not many
:06:06. > :06:12.
:06:12. > :06:22.options here. How close was that? He has managed to get safer out of
:06:22. > :06:29.
:06:29. > :06:39.Somebody's earpiece is buzzing really loud. He is having a problem
:06:39. > :06:50.
:06:50. > :07:00.with one of the year pieces in the That didn't take long. He didn't
:07:00. > :07:00.
:07:00. > :07:08.want to risk going up the table, so he decided to rack the balls again.
:07:08. > :07:12.Just time to settle in once again. There is no point in just 10 think
:07:12. > :07:22.it's about what they read near the corner pocket, the frame was never
:07:22. > :08:02.
:08:02. > :08:08.going to go anywhere. So, we will A good safety reply from Mark Allen,
:08:08. > :08:13.and a positive one, as well. He didn't play that in safety, he
:08:13. > :08:23.played the thicker one that opens up the reds. There is a little
:08:23. > :08:30.
:08:30. > :08:38.bitter pressure on the shop now for He played that shot very well. Not
:08:38. > :08:48.the EC shot to get started with. Both these players are tremendous
:08:48. > :09:12.
:09:12. > :09:16.potters, but you have got to have An excellent safety. This is not
:09:16. > :09:24.usually the best time to play, at 10 o'clock in the morning, but it
:09:24. > :09:33.doesn't seem to bother the players these days. What was you're regime,
:09:33. > :09:43.Terry? I was a former postman and bus conductor, so I always used to
:09:43. > :09:51.
:09:51. > :09:56.getting up early anyway, so it Another excellent safety shot. I
:09:56. > :09:59.think the thing that can tell on these matches that starred in the
:09:59. > :10:05.morning and finish in the evening, if it is a close match you get a
:10:05. > :10:09.bit tired by the end of the day, don't you? You feel as if you have
:10:09. > :10:14.played the match all day, even if you have the afternoon off. It is
:10:14. > :10:19.difficult to get some sleep during the session intervals. More
:10:19. > :10:25.difficult if you are behind, of course, and you have missed your
:10:25. > :10:29.chances. He is in a little bit of trouble there, Mark Allen, and we
:10:29. > :10:39.can't forgive him for not playing a better safety shot. This is the
:10:39. > :10:49.first chance really for Mark King, aim read to the corner. -- Al Read
:10:49. > :11:05.
:11:05. > :11:15.to the corner. -- Al red to the He was unsure. As Ray Reardon used
:11:15. > :11:46.
:11:46. > :11:52.to say, long potting is a big part That was careless. So much room
:11:52. > :12:01.between the Prime and the yellow, to kiss the LOL half-ball, he will
:12:01. > :12:11.not be happy with that. -- kiss the yellow. He had an awkward bridge.
:12:11. > :12:24.
:12:24. > :12:34.He didn't hit it hard enough anyway. It is awkward to play a good safety
:12:34. > :12:45.
:12:45. > :12:55.Pretty good length. This clock is fast. I thought that was going to
:12:55. > :13:15.
:13:15. > :13:19.One of the problems after a good boy it could safeties is that the
:13:19. > :13:29.ball to roll over the place and the pack -- the path back to the baulk
:13:29. > :13:44.
:13:44. > :13:54.That was a terrific pot! To finish plumb on the black is a result!
:13:54. > :14:08.
:14:08. > :14:18.could say he deserved a little bit He was a bit unlucky there. He was
:14:18. > :14:32.
:14:32. > :14:37.trying to clear the black spot, but Just the blue and the baulk area
:14:37. > :14:47.covers -- colours to play for at the moment. Not the best
:14:47. > :14:47.
:14:47. > :15:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:15:30. > :15:36.He played that well. He will have to move the cue ball around the
:15:36. > :15:40.table a few times, gay used to the speed of it. These tables are never
:15:40. > :15:50.quite the same as the practice tables they play on before they go
:15:50. > :15:50.
:15:50. > :16:54.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:16:54. > :17:00.Not perfect on the blue this time, Once again, not good on the blue. A
:17:00. > :17:10.little bit of a hop, but you see that quite a bit when people are
:17:10. > :17:12.
:17:12. > :17:17.playing with a lot of bottom. It causes the object ball to bounce.
:17:17. > :17:27.These cloths are super fine. There was hardly anything to hold the
:17:27. > :17:49.
:17:49. > :17:59.ball on the slate. This needs to The 26 Deloitte lead will be useful,
:17:59. > :18:05.
:18:05. > :18:11.but just to read balls out in the He desperately wanted to reach it
:18:11. > :18:21.without having to use the rest, but this will make the shot more
:18:21. > :18:28.
:18:28. > :18:33.Quite right, John. It would have made a big difference if he could
:18:33. > :18:43.have put his hand on the table. That was maybe on his mind when he
:18:43. > :18:47.
:18:47. > :18:57.Mark Allen is faced with the similar problem, the way the pink
:18:57. > :19:22.
:19:22. > :19:32.and black are tied up. There are He might be able to play into the
:19:32. > :19:44.
:19:44. > :19:51.pink slowly. That could bring it This red is still on to the left
:19:51. > :20:01.middle. It is imperative you get a good angle on the blue, though,
:20:01. > :20:01.
:20:01. > :20:11.because this is the last of the open reds. That is a surprise. They
:20:11. > :20:11.
:20:11. > :20:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:20:55. > :21:05.There was good length and that safety from Mark King, but he has
:21:05. > :21:15.left on one possible pot. With the pink in clay, it will make it
:21:15. > :21:15.
:21:15. > :21:57.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:21:57. > :22:02.He is a bit unfortunate not to be on either the pink or the black.
:22:02. > :22:12.The yellow is on the pocket, but that is more or less straight so we
:22:12. > :22:22.can pop that can get back down to the reds. He is looking to see if
:22:22. > :22:42.
:22:42. > :22:47.there is a plant on. There is I think that was very optimistic.
:22:47. > :22:57.suppose he's giving himself had the chance of a pot. He did pretty well
:22:57. > :23:18.
:23:18. > :23:23.from where the yellow walls to So far, even though he has not made
:23:24. > :23:33.the most other couple of opportunities, his safety play has
:23:34. > :23:45.
:23:45. > :23:55.It is forcing mistakes, no doubt about it. Would you believe that!
:23:55. > :23:57.
:23:57. > :24:07.It never ceases to amaze you, does it? Not a good safety shot from
:24:07. > :24:38.
:24:38. > :24:48.Mark Allen. The brown came into He played the right shot but
:24:48. > :25:14.
:25:14. > :25:18.Good pot. Now he has position on the baulk colours. You would favour
:25:18. > :25:28.the brown, giving you a better angle to come down. You really want
:25:28. > :25:35.to be on the left hand side of the table, if she cooed. This looks
:25:35. > :25:43.absolutely inch-perfect! Well played. Just a little bounce off
:25:43. > :25:48.the cushion would have been better. Then we could have had more control
:25:48. > :25:58.over the cue ball. When you're tight against the cushion, you
:25:58. > :26:07.
:26:07. > :26:17.can't do much else but just go for I can't see what the next red comes
:26:17. > :26:46.
:26:46. > :26:55.There is no pot there. 29 points in the league, but will 59 points
:26:55. > :27:00.remaining, so plenty of snooker left in this frame. He has
:27:00. > :27:05.dominated the frame, really. Mark Allen has had a few chances, but
:27:05. > :27:15.made a mess of them. When the ball to please stop Woodley, you don't
:27:15. > :27:47.
:27:47. > :27:54.get the chance to churn things into I think the black may be in the way.
:27:54. > :28:04.He didn't have the angle to play that shot. I agree with you, Terry.
:28:04. > :28:04.
:28:04. > :28:54.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:28:54. > :29:04.He has got to think again. That is Another good safety is needed from
:29:04. > :29:17.
:29:17. > :29:27.Mark King. We have had plenty of There is a chance here for Mark
:29:27. > :29:27.
:29:27. > :30:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:30:08. > :30:11.Allen to bring the three reds into He didn't want to take on the
:30:12. > :30:21.difficult read by the pink. Once again, another excellent safety
:30:22. > :30:32.
:30:32. > :30:37.Mark Allen did not hit that very well, that the blue has come to his
:30:37. > :30:44.rescue. It has covered the potting angle in
:30:44. > :30:54.the middle of the table. Look at the safety, 100%. If it stays like
:30:54. > :31:28.
:31:28. > :31:37.that, there will only be one has misjudged a few. If he can just
:31:37. > :31:47.get past the green to the edge of the red, is having a look at this
:31:47. > :32:22.
:32:22. > :32:27.Championship, but if you were looking for an ideal frame to get
:32:27. > :32:34.used to the place of the table and settle your nerves, if you like,
:32:34. > :32:38.this would be the perfect one for both players. Mark Allen started off
:32:38. > :32:43.his safety play was a little bit loose, but it's been tightening up.
:32:43. > :32:53.He is getting the feel of the place. Getting that cue going through a lot
:32:53. > :33:11.
:33:11. > :33:21.have two choices here, play the pot into the right corner for you play
:33:21. > :33:43.
:33:43. > :33:53.behind the brown. Quite straightforward escape here and much
:33:53. > :33:53.
:33:53. > :34:59.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:34:59. > :35:09.here. You have to play a defensive shot. Not to put his opponent in
:35:09. > :35:15.
:35:15. > :35:20.trouble, just to make sure he does of the red above the pink and go
:35:20. > :35:30.down covering that red with the green. Green and brown, but he is
:35:30. > :35:33.
:35:33. > :35:43.there, but you can't blame him because he can't take the chance. He
:35:43. > :35:43.
:35:43. > :36:26.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:36:26. > :36:30.red, Mark Allen, and played off the catch it, but perhaps a half or
:36:30. > :36:34.three quarters ball and take it back into the baulk area. It looks like
:36:34. > :36:44.you can pot this red and get back around the other two and the pink
:36:44. > :37:03.
:37:03. > :37:08.that takes part of the risk out of looking for. He didn't quite get it.
:37:08. > :37:15.That is what he was worried about, kissing another red, but it doesn't
:37:15. > :37:25.matter because he got the part. That is why he was concerned, but it was
:37:25. > :37:50.
:37:50. > :37:57.hardest shots. You are bound to get the cue ball bouncing. When you
:37:57. > :38:04.strike down like that. I was surprised. I thought the way he
:38:04. > :38:14.played the frame, he was in no mood to take any risks. Can he get on the
:38:14. > :38:14.
:38:14. > :39:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:39:35. > :39:38.the baulk colours? He did not even With being behind so much, I thought
:39:38. > :39:48.he would flick off the red that is next to the pink and bring that into
:39:48. > :40:09.
:40:09. > :40:13.play. It does surprise me. But he not snooker to mark in on either of
:40:13. > :40:23.the Reds. It looked as if the black and yellow were going to cover the
:40:23. > :40:24.
:40:25. > :40:28.Reds but you can see both. It is one of these frames that can worry you.
:40:28. > :40:35.Marketing has been in command throughout this frame. Safety has
:40:35. > :40:45.been excellent. -- Mark King. If he does not win this frame, it will be
:40:45. > :40:55.
:40:55. > :41:05.run in. As you do in 19 frames. You can get a bit of good and a bit of
:41:05. > :41:05.
:41:05. > :42:04.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:42:04. > :42:14.controlled and swerved around the black pushing the red on the
:42:14. > :42:30.
:42:31. > :42:35.caution. It could have overdone that on the red, he has been very
:42:35. > :42:40.fortunate. I have not seen him apologise to Mark King may be
:42:40. > :42:50.marking can get past the black to pot this red. If you can, this is an
:42:50. > :43:13.
:43:13. > :43:19.required. If this red goes in, there will be no return to the table for
:43:19. > :43:23.Mark Allen. Mark King has dictated everything. As you say, Terry, he
:43:23. > :43:28.has had plenty of opportunities prior to this to clinch the frame,
:43:28. > :43:33.but he will put those misses behind him. You can do when you win the
:43:33. > :43:43.frame. Mark Allen has not settled. He knows he has a long way to go,
:43:43. > :43:43.
:43:43. > :44:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:44:27. > :44:34.Mark Allen was always playing catch-up because Mark King dictated
:44:34. > :44:43.the safety. List a few chances, but comfortably won it. Mark King in
:44:43. > :44:48.front. You mentioned, Terry, it might be a
:44:48. > :44:53.catalyst for winning this. This was the swerved striking down. Just the
:44:53. > :45:02.way it was when the cue ball pushes out and then to the side and brings
:45:02. > :45:06.it back. He did it really well. This is how you do it, you see. Do you
:45:06. > :45:11.see how the ball bounces? That is what is bound to happen and that is
:45:11. > :45:17.why sometimes you get the kicks. As soon as he struck down on that ball,
:45:17. > :45:21.he will recognise that. As soon as he struck down, you can see the ball
:45:21. > :45:31.bounce. That is why I think, sometimes, you get these heavy
:45:31. > :45:35.
:45:35. > :45:42.actually strike down on the ball, watch the ball leave the bed of the
:45:42. > :45:48.table. It's still bounces as it reached the blue. Imagine if you
:45:48. > :45:53.were striking down and you did not cue its move. That is sometimes why
:45:53. > :46:03.they get heavy contact. We call them kicks, but sometimes it can be
:46:03. > :46:11.
:46:11. > :46:16.normal time. You need the slow motion on that one. So then Mark
:46:16. > :46:21.Allen breaks off in the second frame hoping for better things. He played
:46:21. > :46:31.a poor first frame. All of the pressure is on him. He is fancied as
:46:31. > :46:42.
:46:42. > :46:47.one of the runners for the opponents. He always has been
:46:47. > :46:57.underrated. He has been in the top 16 for many years. He slipped out
:46:57. > :47:14.
:47:14. > :47:19.now, but is still in the top 32. A So, the blue to the right middle or
:47:20. > :47:24.the far right corner? I don't think he will think about going into the
:47:24. > :47:34.Reds of this shot. There is that one red just opened to the left of the
:47:34. > :47:40.
:47:40. > :47:44.black that he can play for. What a Sometimes you think he plays a
:47:44. > :47:54.little bit too negative and then out of the blue he will play a very
:47:54. > :48:05.
:48:05. > :48:09.positive shot like that. This red pocket. He will be disappointed with
:48:09. > :48:15.that after such a good shot of the blue. That has been how this match
:48:15. > :48:25.has gone so far. Only one frame past, but that was 36 minutes. You
:48:25. > :48:30.
:48:30. > :48:40.would fancy these players to lay Never going to cue a ball better
:48:40. > :49:00.
:49:00. > :49:10.the left of the pack. He could play that down into the yellow pocket and
:49:10. > :49:36.
:49:36. > :49:46.get onto the blue and not leave much help Mark King. Mark Allen likes the
:49:46. > :49:49.
:49:49. > :49:59.this morning meditating there in his chair and he would have planned to
:49:59. > :50:05.
:50:05. > :50:12.keep things very tight but keep it balance. When to take a risk and
:50:12. > :50:22.when not to take a risk. Whatever shot you decide on, don't regret it.
:50:22. > :50:22.
:50:22. > :50:27.What a pot! If anything typifies snooker, it is that. He did not have
:50:27. > :50:37.a safety and has more or less been forced into playing a risky part.
:50:37. > :50:37.
:50:37. > :51:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:51:27. > :51:37.think they are trapped and, bang, which might settle him down because
:51:37. > :51:46.
:51:46. > :51:50.he did not have a great first frame. way to the left. Not quite sure if
:51:51. > :52:00.he will be able to do it this time. We will have to wait for another
:52:01. > :52:29.
:52:29. > :52:39.would love to pot the black and get position on that red just above the
:52:39. > :52:44.
:52:44. > :52:54.black and that would clear the black opening red and he deserves
:52:54. > :53:02.
:53:02. > :53:07.earlier on. There is a red that Mark Allen was forced to take on and Mark
:53:07. > :53:11.King may think that he has taken the red on that was available into the
:53:11. > :53:15.top corner, but you have to make a decision, as you said, and stand by
:53:15. > :53:25.them. You will not always play the shot correctly. I think he made the
:53:25. > :53:42.
:53:42. > :53:46.out there is what happens with your opponent can dominate your choice of
:53:46. > :53:50.shots sometimes. In another frame, Mark King might think you better
:53:50. > :54:00.take this on because the last time he played a safety he potted on the
:54:00. > :54:14.
:54:14. > :54:18.with that positional shot, will Mark on it straighter. Playing into the
:54:18. > :54:28.blind pocket where you can see the cue ball, but the pocket is not in
:54:28. > :54:35.
:54:35. > :54:40.your line. It always makes them he? What happened then? Seemed to
:54:40. > :54:50.come off that caution very quick. He still has a thin cut on the black if
:54:50. > :54:59.
:54:59. > :55:07.he wants to take it on. Watch this blue is a possibility, but if he can
:55:07. > :55:17.play the black slow enough, he will cut it in. It is just how he feels
:55:17. > :55:49.
:55:49. > :55:55.on the pink here to pot the pink. It depends on the angle, it is hard to
:55:55. > :56:00.tell, he could play of the side cushion and run into them just play
:56:00. > :56:08.for the red on the right-hand side. Play with power, run into them. I
:56:08. > :56:11.think he may just have one to the left middle. If he hasn't, that is
:56:11. > :56:21.very unfortunate because he could not have played that shot much
:56:21. > :56:28.
:56:28. > :56:38.It does. There you see it. It begs the question, where does the colour
:56:38. > :56:46.
:56:46. > :56:56.play a much better shot than that. Is he on the black? It must be
:56:56. > :57:16.
:57:16. > :57:26.first frame, apart from the safety play, but he certainly looks sharp
:57:26. > :57:52.
:57:52. > :58:02.equates to them remaining three reds with colours would be enough to
:58:02. > :58:18.
:58:18. > :58:28.clinch the frame. It is a decent got something in the middle.
:58:28. > :58:50.
:58:50. > :58:59.has been aggressive so far with his refocus. The most obvious looks to
:58:59. > :59:09.be the right-hand one for the two and screw back. You could see he got
:59:09. > :59:28.
:59:28. > :59:32.will give him the benefit of the far in this match. Some of them have
:59:32. > :59:42.not stopped the object ball going into the pocket, but it has
:59:42. > :59:48.
:59:48. > :59:51.certainly taken the white into some about kicks, but I have done a few
:59:51. > :00:01.matches played on this table and there have been some outrageous
:00:01. > :00:01.
:00:01. > :00:46.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:00:46. > :00:53.kicks, I don't know why. That was a Just a little bit careless. OK, you
:00:53. > :00:59.expect him to pot the yellow, but there was a bit more work to do. He
:00:59. > :01:09.played it nicely, though. I love it when the ball hits the back of the
:01:09. > :01:16.
:01:16. > :01:23.top -- back of the pocket, it is a He missed it! Would you believe it!
:01:23. > :01:33.That definitely squared up. We will watch it again. Bit of a bounce,
:01:33. > :01:34.
:01:34. > :01:44.you can tell by the sound of it sometimes. Mark King gets another
:01:44. > :01:50.
:01:50. > :01:55.chance. He needs all the remaining colours. I know it is early on in
:01:55. > :02:02.the match, but this will not boost Mark Allen's confident so well
:02:02. > :02:12.being. Mark King has not played the best shot there. He has just come a
:02:12. > :02:21.
:02:21. > :02:25.She fully committed, played it gently. He has let himself with the
:02:25. > :02:35.good chance night, the blue into the corner and scree back with a
:02:35. > :02:38.
:02:38. > :02:44.pink. He needs blue, pink and black. Well, well, well. Hold on. Where is
:02:44. > :02:54.the blue Ball going? Surely not! Can you believe this scheme? Cruel
:02:54. > :03:07.
:03:07. > :03:17.or what? What airframe! -- what a At the end of it all it is 2-0 to
:03:17. > :03:18.
:03:18. > :03:27.Mark King. Sometimes you think you have seen it all, don't you? What a
:03:27. > :03:31.fluke that was. It looked like a great opportunity. He was fully
:03:31. > :03:40.committed to the brown, left himself is straight blue. I didn't
:03:40. > :03:49.expect him to miss. Liquid the blue finishes! A course, he has played
:03:49. > :03:54.perfect position on the pink. That was an amazing turnaround. Maybe
:03:54. > :04:04.did too bad contacts, well, nothing ever event itself out! This was
:04:04. > :04:06.
:04:06. > :04:11.Mark King. You can see the jump. It was only a fraction out. Maybe that
:04:11. > :04:17.heavy contact did cost him the pot. This one definitely did. It jumped
:04:17. > :04:24.up, went straight on, and that caused him to miss. To float the
:04:24. > :04:34.blue at the end, it is not fair sometimes! When as this game ever
:04:34. > :04:43.
:04:43. > :04:52.success. The pop success is lower than it should be. Look at Mark
:04:52. > :04:56.Allen's long pop success, -- pot success. You would think that would
:04:56. > :05:02.be one of his strengths. Both players can certainly improve on
:05:02. > :05:07.what they have done so far, but the important thing as far as Mark King
:05:07. > :05:17.is concerned is that he has won the first two frames. Just the start he
:05:17. > :05:22.
:05:22. > :05:32.It is OK thinking that these are long matches, best of 19, but you
:05:32. > :05:38.
:05:38. > :05:43.can't beat a good start. The buzz of the Crucible Theatre. There is
:05:43. > :05:53.there to table situation. If you have never been, please try to come.
:05:53. > :06:04.
:06:04. > :06:09.You won't witness an atmosphere Mark King gets frame three under
:06:09. > :06:14.way. He will be disappointed that he had to win the frame with the
:06:14. > :06:24.float on the blue, but he is that type of player that he can put that
:06:24. > :06:24.
:06:24. > :06:31.behind him. Sometimes it can affect you. He will be disappointed he
:06:31. > :06:37.didn't pot that blew directly. You could have a question about his cue
:06:37. > :06:41.action, but he is not the type of guy who will think on that. If he
:06:41. > :06:51.plays a bad shot, he will put it to the back of his mind, concentrate
:06:51. > :06:51.
:06:51. > :07:39.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:07:39. > :07:49.He has plenty to think about. Is this touching ball? It is not
:07:49. > :08:08.
:08:08. > :08:18.Not for the first time, I think they had decided to rack up the
:08:18. > :08:19.
:08:19. > :08:28.bolts again. You don't get this often, do you? They have played two
:08:28. > :08:32.frames and started for! They never did that in our day, did they?
:08:32. > :08:42.Although no pin and tuck in. were smashing them all over the
:08:42. > :08:59.
:08:59. > :09:09.place! We wouldn't have had all There is a read macro one for Mark
:09:09. > :09:24.
:09:24. > :09:31.Allen into the corner. -- read Sometimes you play shots against
:09:31. > :09:38.the tide. They don't normally come off. Yes, and it is a bit early to
:09:38. > :09:48.panic and start pushing the boat out. At the moment, to excuse the
:09:48. > :09:57.
:09:57. > :10:01.pun, it is Mark King who appears to That is one of the first week see
:10:01. > :10:11.if the shot he has played. He should have found the baulk cushion.
:10:11. > :10:15.
:10:15. > :10:21.He will be a bit disappointed that It could be costly. At this level,
:10:21. > :10:31.you have got to find the baulk cushion whenever possible. Good
:10:31. > :11:01.
:11:02. > :11:11.Once again, didn't quite hit that properly. He has left himself a bad
:11:12. > :11:25.
:11:25. > :11:35.Both these players Sir left-handers and their excellent potters. -- are
:11:35. > :11:44.
:11:44. > :11:54.Looking back at the first two frames, there wasn't really an
:11:54. > :11:55.
:11:55. > :12:03.clear cut opportunity for anybody. You get frames like that sometimes.
:12:03. > :12:07.It won't continue. Sometimes the way the Balts run dictate how you
:12:07. > :12:12.do frame can be played out. He looks to have come perfectly on
:12:12. > :12:22.this black. He will be playing to the red macro just to the left of
:12:22. > :12:57.
:12:57. > :13:06.Nicely played. He has a nice touch in and around the balls. He may
:13:06. > :13:13.Elek this time to go into the cluster. Where is the cue ball
:13:13. > :13:23.going? That is amazing. You wouldn't think there was a gap
:13:23. > :13:27.
:13:27. > :13:37.there. The cue ball only started to react after a man passed the reds.
:13:37. > :14:04.
:14:04. > :14:14.He is having a good look from this end of the table. That is always a
:14:14. > :14:29.
:14:29. > :14:39.good thing to do. It gives you a That has gone wrong. Yes, well
:14:39. > :14:41.
:14:41. > :14:46.wrong. That wasn't one of your best. So, Mark Allen comes to the table
:14:46. > :14:56.with a 40 point lead. Another 40 points and the frame will be in the
:14:56. > :15:12.
:15:13. > :15:22.Mark Allen asked the referee to clean the reds after he had
:15:23. > :15:52.
:15:52. > :15:56.Mark Allen is a lucky player to watch. Very fluent. He hits the
:15:56. > :16:05.ball very crisply. I love it when he smacked the ball into the back
:16:05. > :16:15.of the pocket. He has an unusual cue action. A short backswing and
:16:15. > :16:16.
:16:16. > :16:26.he delivers did you very quickly. It is very effective. Quite a light
:16:26. > :16:35.
:16:35. > :16:40.quip at the back. -- grip. He is now in the snookers required stage.
:16:40. > :16:44.I was going to say that Mark King won't come back to the table, but I
:16:44. > :16:49.have seen and come back to the table when he has needed six
:16:49. > :16:53.snookers, he is just one of those players. He doesn't want to give up
:16:53. > :17:03.any frame without a fight. I don't think you'll be coming back to the
:17:03. > :17:03.
:17:03. > :17:54.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:17:54. > :18:04.It looks so easy, doesn't it? This has got him in my stride. -- in a
:18:04. > :18:04.
:18:04. > :18:56.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:18:56. > :19:01.All four cushions, is it close? Not quite. That was more like it from
:19:01. > :19:11.the world No. 6. He gets his first frame on the scoreboard. He still
:19:11. > :19:15.
:19:15. > :19:20.trails 2-1, but he will be feeling better now. Here is the shot that
:19:20. > :19:24.Mark King played. He was snookered on all the raids. He was trying to
:19:24. > :19:32.get the left on the left -- trying to get the red on the left-hand
:19:32. > :19:38.side of the pack. He caught it full on. He left a few reds available.
:19:38. > :19:42.From there, 83 for Mark Allen clinched the frame. He needed its,
:19:42. > :19:49.because he looked a bit shaky in the first few frames. His safety
:19:49. > :19:55.play was a very good. When he got in, he wasn't at his best. He
:19:55. > :20:01.started to time the ball a lot better. You are not settled here
:20:01. > :20:11.until you have won a frame. You do need the first frame on the floor -
:20:11. > :20:28.
:20:28. > :20:33.I thought he could go into the reds behind the pink and he wouldn't
:20:33. > :20:40.have left anything on. There were more options than the one he played.
:20:40. > :20:50.Normally you would see players missed that one first time because
:20:50. > :21:00.there would have played it so thin. Maybe he just played that a bit
:21:00. > :21:32.
:21:32. > :21:42.hurriedly. Anyway, it is in the Good safety shot. That was a very
:21:42. > :21:42.
:21:42. > :21:52.thin cats with just a touch of side. -- Thin Cut. That was quite
:21:52. > :21:55.
:21:55. > :22:05.aggressive. Typical Mark Allen safety. There is a red on for Mark
:22:05. > :22:07.
:22:07. > :22:10.King, but it is very difficult. There is no guarantee of getting
:22:10. > :22:16.position and as he plays it dead weight to play for the black into
:22:16. > :22:26.the opposite corner. That is a tough shot. EC forced into playing
:22:26. > :23:04.
:23:04. > :23:14.Wonderful shot! And little bit harder and he would have been on
:23:14. > :23:26.
:23:26. > :23:30.the black. He is never short of a quip or two. If he had just played
:23:30. > :23:34.but with an ounce more weight it would have been perfect. He would
:23:34. > :23:41.have nudged the red and there would have been a gap and he would have
:23:41. > :23:47.been on the black. He was very concerned about the difficulty of
:23:47. > :23:57.the plot. If you can play a safety shot lead in the white ball near
:23:57. > :24:07.the baulk cushion it is so much better. What is denominated? Is it
:24:07. > :24:08.
:24:08. > :24:18.the green? Green.This is not guaranteed. He has to swerve it and
:24:18. > :24:31.
:24:31. > :24:38.What do you think, Terry, have them replaced or play the cuts? It is
:24:39. > :24:42.difficult. If he has it replaced and he hits the green and gets the
:24:42. > :24:49.white in a worse position for Mark Allen he will regret it. On the
:24:49. > :24:59.other hand, there are no easy pots. Not with guaranteed position,
:24:59. > :24:59.
:24:59. > :25:06.anyway. This is where I don't like this rule, to be honest with you,
:25:06. > :25:10.but I won't go into that. I think it is a harsh rule. If he could
:25:10. > :25:16.easily come off the top cushion and hit the black, I would say fair
:25:16. > :25:25.enough. But that isn't an option. agree with you, it is the
:25:25. > :25:34.circumstance, isn't it? I think he had a kick on that red. Anyway, he
:25:34. > :25:44.has been unfortunate. There was no huge advantage to him. He may have
:25:44. > :25:44.
:25:44. > :25:54.potted it! He didn't want that to go wind. Will he be snookered? And
:25:54. > :26:03.
:26:03. > :26:06.he said there is no justice in the world? He is not snookered. This
:26:06. > :26:16.match as an been going on, but there has been a lot happening so
:26:16. > :26:16.
:26:16. > :27:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:27:45. > :27:52.That is a good line, but it just He didn't quite get the movement on
:27:52. > :28:02.the cue ball. Bad contact stop that. It is only an inch short, but it
:28:02. > :28:12.has made this pot on the black much more difficult. I think he was
:28:12. > :28:18.
:28:18. > :28:28.concerned a bird running through Will the black be available in to
:28:28. > :28:41.
:28:41. > :28:51.the corner, not that he can play A given scene that -- I didn't see
:28:51. > :28:52.
:28:52. > :28:58.the necessity to play at hard. Strange choice. So, the blue of the
:28:58. > :29:03.sport. It is imperative that the black in going to do corner if he
:29:03. > :29:08.is going to make a sizable break. He is having a look night to see if
:29:08. > :29:15.it goes. It is tight, but I think if you are right behind it you
:29:15. > :29:25.could pot it. But before he even thinks about that, of course, he
:29:25. > :29:26.
:29:26. > :29:36.has got to get one of these pulp colours. -- baulk colours. It is
:29:36. > :30:07.
:30:07. > :30:12.It looks like you slap bang in the middle of nowhere here. They all
:30:12. > :30:22.seem to be covering one another. Surely there must be one he can get
:30:22. > :30:40.
:30:41. > :30:50.good safety because he knocked to read over the corner so that is a
:30:51. > :30:59.
:30:59. > :31:09.double whammy. Not being on a red and leaving his opponent and easy
:31:09. > :31:15.
:31:15. > :31:25.first here. See if he can can then off the caution and dislodge the
:31:25. > :31:47.
:31:47. > :31:50.red. That is what he is pointing balls can dominate sometimes and
:31:50. > :31:57.Mark King played a tremendous part on the yellow and swung it around to
:31:57. > :32:07.cushions. There were four to five reds he could of got on, he got on
:32:07. > :32:36.
:32:36. > :32:41.they are the wrong way round. You can see they are pointing to the
:32:41. > :32:51.left of the pocket. If they are pointing the other way, he may have
:32:51. > :32:51.
:32:51. > :33:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:33:33. > :33:42.have left a pot on for Mark Allen, but he certainly made it a lot
:33:42. > :33:52.easier safety shot. Hand on the table. Close to the reds. One good
:33:52. > :34:13.
:34:13. > :34:22.safety shot here could reap is lucky if he snooker Mark King on
:34:22. > :34:27.all the reds, which it looks as if he has. Can he get past that yellow
:34:27. > :34:37.to the one on the left? No, I don't think he can. Well, there is your
:34:37. > :34:39.
:34:39. > :34:49.problem, you wouldn't have thought. Just trying to come off the side
:34:49. > :34:54.
:34:54. > :35:00.looking for. You don't want to be too pacey. He has possibly left the
:35:00. > :35:10.red to the right centre now. It is at an acute angle, but he does not
:35:10. > :35:29.
:35:29. > :35:39.have to do much with the cue ball of the pace he had to put into that
:35:39. > :35:45.
:35:45. > :35:55.shot to get onto the black, it made into play. Mark Allen did not play
:35:55. > :36:06.
:36:06. > :36:11.the snooker behind the green. He has played for which is the one on the
:36:11. > :36:21.left of those for behind the pink. It is a little bit thin. He wanted
:36:21. > :36:41.
:36:41. > :36:51.to be fuller on it. Can't get on the don't think he meant it, do you?
:36:51. > :37:05.
:37:05. > :37:09.That was average to say the least. these big breaks, when you slip out
:37:09. > :37:13.of position fraction, it can be enough which is what happened there
:37:13. > :37:17.with Mark Allen who was two or three inches too high up on the red or he
:37:17. > :37:27.could not play for the black. It caused him to break down on this
:37:27. > :37:27.
:37:27. > :38:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:38:35. > :38:39.position. He may get another chance to this red, it is the red smear
:38:40. > :38:43.their middle pocket he is worried about on his return down to the
:38:44. > :38:50.baulk. You don't want to hit this red too thick as it may bring it
:38:50. > :39:00.back up the table. May have to go very thin. He has played it thicker.
:39:00. > :39:32.
:39:33. > :39:40.errors so far, but not many in the Mark King and opportunity if he
:39:40. > :39:45.wants to go some -- go for something. He is looking at the Reg
:39:45. > :39:55.to the right. If he plays that and stunts the white on and off the
:39:55. > :40:01.
:40:01. > :40:05.run through. If he had missed it, it may have been pretty safe, but with
:40:05. > :40:09.the run through you can see where he left the red to the right of the
:40:09. > :40:15.black spot. Fully committed to that. Maybe he could have done with a
:40:15. > :40:25.little bit more pace on the cue ball. It was a thin cut, this. Not
:40:25. > :40:59.
:40:59. > :41:08.it came off the caution quickly. He may have the wrong angle on the
:41:08. > :41:12.green now. That came off very quick. Do you think there is something in
:41:13. > :41:19.the fact that if you play a little bit of bottom on the cue ball it
:41:19. > :41:22.reverses into a bit of top spin in those types of shots? I don't think
:41:22. > :41:27.there is any evidence to prove that, but it could be because we are
:41:27. > :41:33.having a lot of them this year. A lot of big bounces off the caution
:41:33. > :41:43.which is disrupting the position of play. It is just my own big bounce
:41:43. > :41:52.
:41:52. > :42:00.the red, of course, below the pink. A black only goes into one corner.
:42:00. > :42:07.So he is going to have to take this down with the rest now. There is one
:42:07. > :42:17.to the left of the pink that goes. Then again, he will have to go down
:42:17. > :42:28.
:42:28. > :42:38.towards the baulk colours. The blue Allen played earlier on. Call the
:42:38. > :42:41.
:42:41. > :42:47.red on the way back down and plenty in the face. There is plenty of room
:42:47. > :42:53.to go around it. I don't think he will risk a pot, will he? Just
:42:53. > :43:03.pushing the blue on the side cushion, I think. Or trying to get
:43:03. > :43:32.
:43:32. > :43:37.the cue ball in behind the yellow. stopped, you can see they are All-In
:43:37. > :43:43.the open now. The black only goes into one corner and the pink looks a
:43:43. > :43:46.little restricted. Not easy to escape from this and leave it safe.
:43:47. > :43:56.Should he leave one on, it is a good chance for Mark Allen to get back
:43:57. > :44:25.
:44:26. > :44:35.pacey. He nearly got the line, but it was very hard to judge. So much
:44:36. > :44:44.
:44:44. > :44:50.distance between the cue ball and dead straight so he could not get on
:44:50. > :44:56.the easy side of the black just to stand out for it. He had to screw
:44:56. > :45:06.across the table and leave a bit of distance between the two balls. If
:45:06. > :45:12.
:45:13. > :45:18.you can then pot the pink sari, the he will not need the difficult
:45:18. > :45:27.Brown. Yellow or green would be sufficient to leave his opponent
:45:27. > :45:37.needing a couple of snooker 's. So it is a great chance, this. All
:45:37. > :45:51.
:45:51. > :45:55.shot on the pink, another one of the problems we get with the kicks, I'm
:45:55. > :46:00.afraid, that Mark Allen looked at it and thought, should I drop this in?
:46:00. > :46:10.And that is what happens. He committed to it and did not get a
:46:10. > :46:30.
:46:30. > :46:35.kick. If he had, he would have been is what will be required. It has
:46:35. > :46:38.been keenly fought. It has been an interesting first four frames. The
:46:38. > :46:48.first was a bit drawn out with 37 minutes, but there have been some
:46:48. > :46:48.
:46:48. > :47:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:47:40. > :47:45.good part. Some mistakes, but that important for someone like Mark
:47:45. > :47:49.King, I have seen him on a few occasions, play on when he needs
:47:49. > :47:57.four or five snookers. Test take your opportunity to pot the ball
:47:57. > :48:01.where you can. He will not be coming back to the table now. Just get the
:48:01. > :48:11.feeling now that Mark Allen is beginning to settle into this match.
:48:11. > :48:19.
:48:19. > :48:29.Making a bit of an exhibition shot frames. To a piece is a fair result,
:48:29. > :48:33.
:48:33. > :48:37.although one player will be unhappy match, this. Mark Allen gives the
:48:37. > :48:47.finishing touches to it by potting the black and making up break of 66
:48:47. > :48:51.
:48:51. > :48:57.is one all. You have to go back seven years for Mark King's last win
:48:57. > :49:01.against Mark Allen. He was a little unlucky in the first few frames, but
:49:01. > :49:06.unlucky in the first few frames, but has found his rhythm. Back to that
:49:06. > :49:11.later. On table one, two former champions are going head-to-head.
:49:11. > :49:15.Graeme Dott against Peter Ebdon. We are going to pick up the action in
:49:15. > :49:25.the night frame. Graeme Dott is at the table trailing by 37 points to
:49:25. > :49:39.
:49:39. > :49:49.mean that Peter Ebdon is in a much stronger position. 23. The Greenwood
:49:49. > :49:57.
:49:57. > :50:04.there is the result because he did not pot the yellow cleanly. He is
:50:04. > :50:08.not snooker it, he might be able to snip the green. If he can just about
:50:08. > :50:12.see the green, he might be able to cut it in, but the white could go in
:50:12. > :50:19.one of the middle pockets. Still not comfortable, but if he wins this
:50:19. > :50:23.frame he might settle down. other side of the coin is, if he
:50:24. > :50:33.wins this frame, Graeme Dott will not be happy about it. When you see
:50:34. > :50:43.
:50:43. > :50:48.a point of missing so many balls, would have just tried to pot it and
:50:48. > :50:54.hope you did not one of the middle. When you play with so much side, it
:50:54. > :51:00.is difficult to get the pot. I don't know if he had to play with side to
:51:00. > :51:05.get through to the green or not. It seems a strange place to play at. If
:51:05. > :51:14.he had missed the green, he was always leaving it on. That is a
:51:14. > :51:19.shocker from Graeme Dott there. He is shaking his head. That position.
:51:19. > :51:24.It was way off. Have a look at this. He did not hit the ball, didn't get
:51:24. > :51:28.the side on it. Now he has a difficult Brown in the middle. If
:51:28. > :51:38.you pot this and gets around the blue, it will be a cracking shot. I
:51:38. > :51:53.
:51:53. > :52:03.table. Will he take this double on? He did, but he got the double case.
:52:03. > :52:28.
:52:28. > :52:34.early-morning re-spot at Black here at the Crucible. This was a good
:52:34. > :52:44.part. Still on the blue, did not want the cannon on the pink, but
:52:44. > :53:02.
:53:02. > :53:12.would prefer to move the black, but if not he will have to drop in
:53:12. > :53:17.
:53:17. > :53:27.behind it. Where ever he leaves it, get close to the black and he has
:53:27. > :53:41.
:53:41. > :53:46.but he will be disgusted with himself. Peter says, there is a
:53:46. > :53:56.danger of me potting this. These used to be my favourite shots,
:53:56. > :53:57.
:53:57. > :54:01.these. No re-spot at Black. Peter Ebdon needed at least for chance is
:54:01. > :54:06.there, but he got them. Graeme Dott opened the door and Peter Ebdon
:54:06. > :54:12.walked right through it. He pulled the frame back. It is still 6-3 to
:54:12. > :54:22.Graeme Dott. Great drama on the black. Peter
:54:22. > :54:38.
:54:38. > :54:42.Ebdon one frame ten and 11. Graeme Graeme Dott. Normally the player
:54:42. > :54:52.that is playing badly doesn't get the run of the ball. It is the
:54:52. > :55:20.
:55:20. > :55:27.opposite. Peter is getting away with screws to try and get it back of the
:55:27. > :55:33.other side cushion and over towards the reds. Where is that cueball?
:55:33. > :55:37.Nowhere near the middle pocket so he is OK, but he needs the rest. A key
:55:37. > :55:47.shot coming up if he gets the red and it is nicely on the black it
:55:47. > :56:05.
:56:05. > :56:15.more angle on the black then he would like. A little holding shot
:56:15. > :56:39.
:56:39. > :56:43.slips away. That opening frame, as you said, was going to be so
:56:43. > :56:53.important. It is proving to be now. Graeme Dott should have taken that,
:56:53. > :56:53.
:56:53. > :58:01.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds
:58:01. > :58:06.black at all. It looks so good at the start of the session for Graeme
:58:06. > :58:10.Dott, it does not look that good now. Peter Ebdon has taken another
:58:10. > :58:15.frame and he closes the gap. He is frame and he closes the gap. He is
:58:15. > :58:17.now just one ahead. Let's bring due right up-to-date and
:58:17. > :58:23.Let's bring due right up-to-date and dropping to table number one to
:58:23. > :58:28.bring you these live pictures. It is Graeme Dott who leads by 34 points -
:58:28. > :58:33.one. Peter Ebdon is at the table. A long way to go in this frame and we
:58:33. > :58:38.will bring due right up-to-date in our programme at 1pm. To join Hazel