Day 9, Part 1 Snooker: World Championship

Hello, good morning, welcome to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield way

yesterday, the world number one Mark Selby was dumped out of the

2013 Betfair World Snooker Championship by Barry Hawkins, and

this morning, we will see two more Englishmen go head to head as Mark

When I was younger, I liked any sport. I remember watching the 1985

final. One of one that got me a table when I was seven or eight, I

love it, because she didn't have to run around like squash or football

-- you didn't have to. And I went from there. Something in an

individual support, it is just you and the balls, you are not playing

the player at the end of the day. I just love it, I love every aspect

of it. When you get to a certain level and you have to play

seriously, I don't play my friends that snooker, I very rarely do,

because it isn't fun for me, it is a job. Not in that way, but I can't

just get their and hit and hope, I have their play, my mind the Exxon

and I have to do it. They want to play the at Paul and I can't help

it -- my mind flicks on. It is your job. Having a young son now, I find

it hard to get out of the house. What prefer to play with him a bit

more, but I still look forward to practice. It just means so much

more on there, what a great job I have got. I did lose a few of the

dreams over the years, because it wasn't happening, but of late, it

has made for a bit more off reality, I have got to a few finals and it

can happen -- made for a bit of reality. And chasing the dream and

No, ""Smiler"", which I don't understand. I have a few nicknames

are but it is that one. It is a real job. And you treated

like that and you treated with respect, otherwise you won't get

anywhere. anywhere.

-- treat it with respect. Inside, I wouldn't believe in it so

much, so it is a lot better now. I am not mad about travelling. It

is part of the job, so you get on with it, but I still moan. But I

moan about everything. Well, I had spells where I was a

couple of years ago. I was in shape. It is probably right at the moment

but I am working on it. I don't think that is true. It

probably used to be true early on, a few years ago, but not now. I

enjoy them but at the same time, I am there to win.

Probably, I wish I had had the mind set I have had the last couple of

years 15 years ago. I still have a lot in me to produce and I think I

can do some damage. That is probably right. Listen, I

am a realist. I can't argue with am a realist. I can't argue with

that at the moment, can I? That was Mark Davis, the one thing

he didn't say they, he likes his food ball. Apparently, he is a big

Arsenal fan, so he will be interested in their big match with

Manchester United today, but it is all about the match at the Crucible.

Mark Cox s John Higgins. But his last victory over Stuart Bingham

was in the China Open qualifiers three years ago. Stuart Bingham

against Mark Davis on BBC Two. The other match taking place, Ricky

Walden against Robert Milkins. The players are raring to go, let's

join Rob Walker. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, a week today,

the final begins in earnest here at the Crucible. But there is so much

world class snooker to come here at the Beth fair World Championship.

For great players and two brilliant stories emerging here some -- this

morning. Please welcome first of all a player who produced the

biggest win of his career so far. He has to end his life round and

his game is flourishing. Making his first appearance in the last 16 for

years, he likes a cider, but we call them "the milkman, Robert

Milkins. Robert Milikins - MUSIC: "I Am A Cider Drinker" by

And his opponent, a player who secured his second ranking event

title at the start of the season and also won the Shanghai Masters

in 2008. Making his first appearance in the second round,

what an opportunity this could be for the player from Chester, ladies

and gentlemen, Ricky Walden. MUSIC: "Shuffle" by Bombay Bicycle

And on table number one, please welcome a player absolutely

flourishing into his 40s. He secured one of the biggest wins of

his career, beating four-times world champion John Higgins in the

first round, we have seen him in three ranking event semi-final this

season including the UK Championship. Making his third

appearance at the last 16, from Hastings, Mark Davis.

MUSIC: "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson And

finally, a plough at the top of his game after 18 years as a pro -- a

player. Conceding only two frames in his

first round win, bidding for his first appearance in the Crucible

quarter-final, from Basildon, he is Stuart Bingham.

So here we go, another great day's snooker ahead. On table two, it is

available on your red button and online, but on BBC Two, it is

Stuart Bingham against Mark Davis. Good morning to John Virgo and

Willie Thorne. WILLIE THORNE: Good morning

everybody. This is a match that a lot of people wouldn't have

expected. These players are getting a little bit older than most, 37

and 41 respectively, and they are playing some of the best snooker of

their careers, especially this man at the table, Mark Davis. A

fabulous win over John Higgins in the opening round. And up against

Stuart Bingham, who has played very consistently in the last two or

three years and quite rightly deserves a place in the top paid

for a first-time. John, a tough one to call. -- top eight.

The there yes, I must admit I was very impressed with Stuart Bingham

in the first round. He is potting and break building was fantastic.

But his opponent beat John Higgins and anybody who can beat John

The obligatory red that is usually left on has been missed, so the

first easy chance falls to Mark Davis. It wasn't that far away.

That is the shot he will have been There you go, first frame, it is

always going to be a little bit nervy. But a nice easy starter now

for Stuart Bingham. It is amazing how many times we see that, someone

misses a shot at you think it is going to cost them and it has cost

But he has hit that a bit hard, a bit of tension in the arm from both

players. Understandable. Yes, he will have to play the cannon on the

He has just screwed a little bit to the right and that has made this

Yes, that is what you will find with Stuart Bingham, a very good

break builder. He played that The game has changed and the way it

is played, it is all about making the most of your opportunities and

scoring heavily when you get the chance. He would love to finished

low on the black, because there is a massive gap between the black and

He has to finish high. So if he goes into that gap at pace, he is

He just caught the first red. If he hadn't, it would have been perfect.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

If he had missed the red, it would Well, I don't see an escape back to

baulk macro end. In this kind of situation, players don't want to

Touching ball has been called, but what advantage that is to anyone, I

Even though it is only 24, Stuart Bingham will be reluctant to take

the rain back in a couple of shots time if this is going on. -- the

re-rack. It is touching both balls This is why billiards never caught

Just a bit more about Stuart Bingham, of the two players, Stuart

Bingham has always been a very worrying opponent to play. He has

been known among the players in the game as a great break builder but

always one of those players, until just recently what he has been

working with their new coach, where he played every single shot with

side and on the superfine cloth, it finds you out. And now he has shot

up the rankings, won his first tournament and is a very dangerous

I also feel with both of them, it is belief. You have to believe that

she belonged at the top. Just have a look at Hawk-Eye. He can just get

past this blue, he may take this Just going back to what we were

saying, they have belief in their ability now. They believe they

belong in the top echelons of the game. And it certainly makes a

difference, because as we always He is eyeing up this pot to the

left middle, it is a very acute They are not easy, bows. And if

you're going to miss them, miss them on the top jaw and the red

will come back. And the cue ball He has played the double. He didn't

play it with a lot of confidence. The cue ball has finished up near

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

There is the tournament pot success for both players, and both of them

are good. Anything above 90% is what is required. And the safety

success, look at Mark Davis, he is ahead in that. He will be hoping he

can continue that percentage in this match. It is probably one of

the reasons he competed in John Like most matches, and most first

frames in matches, a bit tentative, but players trying to settle in and

That is a good pot from Mark, and he will be on the brown. He is a

tremendous potter, Mark Davis, It is these kind of half chances

that make all the difference, don't they? He was a little lucky that

the green was on his part, it makes it to cushion up into the pack not

But as you rightly say, as far as a shot to nothing is concerned, he is

one of the best in the game. They have both worked with the same

He has decided to play for the blue, which is a strange choice, he has

to go in and our top baulk. -- in and out of baulk. It certainly

looked from this position that he could have stunned the cross and

He may just be on a red, a thin cut to the right corner. I can only

think that is the only red he could Any other ideas which red he could

have played on? I think he was playing with a lot more side than

that and trying to get on one in the left-hand corner but didn't hit

it quite correctly. I think he can cut this, but it is a bit dangerous.

I think if it wasn't the first Slightly heavier with the cue ball

than he wanted but it could be a blessing in disguise. As you can

see, it is behind the brown. And this is a tough one, really. There

is no easy red too rest on to lead It is just a thought this, I

thought he could nestle on that red and not leave anything. Going this

way, he will be lucky to leave it safe. The reason this suggests that

one, looking at there two reds just to the right of where that line

finished, I don't think they are available into the right corner. So

there is a possibility that he could nestle on the red Imperial

College Healthcare NHS Trust to the right of the pink. He is deciding

to play it now. -- just to the It was a hit and hope and whatever

A little bit of hope springs This is Hawk-Eye playing my shot.

As I say, I think that would have been reasonably safe. But he didn't

want to trust the perfect escape. He has been a bit fortunate, tying

Purposely playing for the difficult red, the one that is stopping

things happening at this end of the table. Now he has got the blue in

play. No need to play their cannon into the pink, because all four of

I think if he tries to screw back for the blue, he is not certain to

get the right side. He is just checking if the black is available.

If it is, why not play for the Played with bottom, so he didn't

think the black was the right all but he was always struggling to get

the right side of the blue. Can he pot the pink? It looks tight to me.

Unless he plays the slow run- through, I don't see how he can get

This red must pot, that might be White Mark Davies didn't play into

the edge of the pack a few shots ago -- why Mark Davis. I think a

few balls have moved since then. The way he escaped from the snooker,

He would have liked to have screwed back a couple of inches more, but

he is on the outside one of the The lead goes to 30, he doesn't

have to worry about the reds on the side or the back cushion to win

Well, would you believe it? Would you believe that? How careless. How

careless was that? This is an unexpected chance for Mark Davis.

Stuart Bingham cannot believe he has missed that red Macro. Just

This pink is a lot more difficult than it looks, as far as position

is concerned. He can kiss the red to the right of the black but he

He may be screwing off the side cushion and back across. That is

what he has played, he didn't get Yes, so Stuart Bingham will be sat

in his seat, thinking, "ABBA bit fortunate there" -- I am a bit. It

could have cost him more than seven It has just about run far enough to

cover the path to the red in the You can see Stewart was reluctant

to move the red in the middle -- June Bingham. Coming back up to