:00:32. > :00:37.Hello, good afternoon, welcome to the 2014 Dafabet World
:00:38. > :00:42.Championship, a beautiful day here in Sheffield. The Crucible Theatre
:00:43. > :00:47.could see history made this afternoon. Neil Robertson needs to
:00:48. > :00:53.make one more century to become a record-breaker.
:00:54. > :01:00.It would make a record more special to do it here. If I had already done
:01:01. > :01:42.it coming into the championship, it would not be special.
:01:43. > :01:46.Good afternoon, you could be watching history unfolding with us
:01:47. > :01:52.here at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Good afternoon, John,
:01:53. > :02:00.what a remarkable season you Robertson is having, about to create
:02:01. > :02:03.history, UK champion. And to be able to score those amount of centuries
:02:04. > :02:08.in the season is the nominal, chose how great his break-building is and
:02:09. > :02:17.his long potting is great, so he gets more chances. 37 clear of the
:02:18. > :02:20.next person in line. When you consider how great the players on
:02:21. > :02:26.the circuit are, to be that far ahead, it shows how great you are
:02:27. > :02:29.with the cue ball. It is a marketable. The sooner he gets this,
:02:30. > :02:37.the better, because it is probably on his mind. He tweeted last night,
:02:38. > :02:40.99 not out, the big thing is, he is in a tournament, it is not just
:02:41. > :02:47.about creating history and breaking records, he needs to get into the
:02:48. > :02:50.quarterfinal. And yes he is up against a great opponent in Mark
:02:51. > :02:59.Allen. The sooner he gets this century out of the way, the better.
:03:00. > :03:04.This is what is coming up today... 9-7 to the Australian has wee head
:03:05. > :03:08.in to the next session between Mark Allen and Neil Robertson. Dominic
:03:09. > :03:15.Dale has hit the headlines, looking good for the quarterfinals. The man
:03:16. > :03:22.who beat Ding Junhui, Michael Wasley is struggling, is this the end of
:03:23. > :03:28.the road? Some or trick shots to keep you entertained and get you
:03:29. > :03:31.asking how does he do it? And we start our version of the hit
:03:32. > :03:37.television quiz show, and you can join in!
:03:38. > :03:43.The details coming up later, but now, Mark Allen has a mighty job on
:03:44. > :03:47.his hands against the world number one, Neil Robertson from Australia.
:03:48. > :03:56.He has not made the quarterfinals since three years ago, can he do it
:03:57. > :04:00.today? It is always special coming here, knowing the venue and the
:04:01. > :04:04.history is here and it is second to none. I would like to have some
:04:05. > :04:08.better results here. I have had some good ones, but not as many as I
:04:09. > :04:13.would like and hopefully I can put that right this year. Obviously, my
:04:14. > :04:16.debut here was against Ken Doherty and he had the chance of being world
:04:17. > :04:22.one at that time, and I managed to beat in 10-7. I had great experience
:04:23. > :04:31.from back home, great support, he was a great player at the time, so a
:04:32. > :04:33.big achievement for me. Also, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan here, the
:04:34. > :04:38.best of 25, not many people have done that. Also, getting the best
:04:39. > :04:42.against John Higgins, that was a highlight. Some defeats also, they
:04:43. > :04:46.have not been easy to take and it helped me to improve on that. I do
:04:47. > :04:50.not care what Neil Robertson does, it is up to me to control my own
:04:51. > :04:55.game and my own emotions. I know that I have enough game to play
:04:56. > :05:01.anyone, so if I play well, I have a great chance. If I go out there and
:05:02. > :05:04.play my game, I do not think anyone would be surprised if I was the
:05:05. > :05:10.winner, but I know that I have to play well. You can see from Neil
:05:11. > :05:15.Robertson, when he played Robbie Williams, he is taking no prisoners.
:05:16. > :05:19.I know that I have to play well, but you do not expect to be playing a
:05:20. > :05:22.world number one and get it easy. I have beaten him in the past, there
:05:23. > :05:33.is no reason why I could not beat him again. Mark Allen will be out
:05:34. > :05:37.for revenge this afternoon. Steve Davis is in the Crucible Theatre for
:05:38. > :05:41.us this afternoon, good afternoon, Mark Allen, very bullish, to think
:05:42. > :05:48.he has got what it takes to get back into this match? Yes, he knows that
:05:49. > :05:54.he is capable, and Mark Allen's biggest attribute is that he has got
:05:55. > :05:58.streetfighter qualities. He may be up against a prolific
:05:59. > :06:01.break-builder, and a course and distance winner here are the
:06:02. > :06:11.Crucible Theatre, but Mark Allen has never been short of giving it 100%
:06:12. > :06:14.and he is a two fighter. There is every likelihood that if the matter
:06:15. > :06:17.the other table is finished quickly, the screen will be raised and he
:06:18. > :06:19.will have a one-table set-up. Both of these players have been to that
:06:20. > :06:25.situation before. But of course, Neil Robertson has been all the way.
:06:26. > :06:32.We always talk about getting the opening frame, it is very important
:06:33. > :06:38.for Mark Allen to get a good start? This opening frame is enormous, if
:06:39. > :06:43.Mark Allen can win it, 9-8, but 10-7, he would truly be on the back
:06:44. > :06:47.foot against a Chuli great Mike Robertson. -- Neil Robertson. The
:06:48. > :06:56.players are ready, over to Rob Walker.
:06:57. > :06:59.Still a week to go here at the Crucible, but today we complete the
:07:00. > :07:02.quarterfinal line-up here at the 2014 Dafabet World Championship and
:07:03. > :07:07.once again, a packed crowd here in Sheffield, ready to enjoy what could
:07:08. > :07:20.be a truly historic afternoon. CHEERING
:07:21. > :07:25.Please welcome first of all, a player who has more than made his
:07:26. > :07:30.mark already at the Crucible, beating Ding Junhui in a decider on
:07:31. > :07:34.his debut, he has already announced his arrival on the global stage, and
:07:35. > :07:38.having forced this match into a third session, he is ready to give
:07:39. > :07:51.it everything, he is the Chinese dragon slayer, the giant killer, the
:07:52. > :08:04.Gloster gladiator, Michael Wasley! CHEERING
:08:05. > :08:11.And his opponent, he stands on the verge of a first Crucible
:08:12. > :08:15.quarterfinal in 14 years. The winner of two ranking event titles, the
:08:16. > :08:19.Grand Prix and the Shanghai Masters, beating Mark Davis in the first
:08:20. > :08:23.round, his legendary zebra striped shoes are as famous as he is, but he
:08:24. > :08:29.is, but he's not wearing them this afternoon! He is saving them for the
:08:30. > :08:33.last eight! Yearly cons! Use the spaceman! The irrepressible, Dominic
:08:34. > :08:55.Dale! APPLAUSE
:08:56. > :09:02.He said they are too loud for people to look at them every day! Now,
:09:03. > :09:06.table two, one of the most popular players to watch in the modern game,
:09:07. > :09:14.his positive aggressive style highlights his true passion for the
:09:15. > :09:16.sport. He is bidding for a fourth quarterfinal at the Crucible, two
:09:17. > :09:17.times winning the World Open, he is the Pistol from Northern Ireland,
:09:18. > :09:47.Mark Allen! And finally, here comes an
:09:48. > :09:51.Australian who has taken the game by storm in recent years. In December,
:09:52. > :09:56.he joined an elite list of players to have completed snooker's
:09:57. > :10:01.hat-trick when he added UK titles to his world title and Masters title
:10:02. > :10:05.grounds. He is 99 not out on centuries this season, dear reader
:10:06. > :10:09.in he can find one more? ! The current world number one, can you
:10:10. > :10:15.hear the Thunder from Down Under, here comes Neil Robertson!
:10:16. > :10:42.We're all set, Roberts and Alan is the live match this afternoon. --
:10:43. > :10:43.Robertson and Alan. Let's talk to the commentary team, Willie Thorne
:10:44. > :10:53.and Stephen Hendry. Good afternoon, this is a match that
:10:54. > :10:59.could be fireworks, we hope that you enjoy this match with Stephen and I,
:11:00. > :11:02.Mark Allen, unlucky not to be 8-0, but that clearance from Neil
:11:03. > :11:08.Robertson was unbelievable. As it has been said, there is a chance of
:11:09. > :11:18.100 centuries coming this afternoon. Stephen, Mark Allen not out of it
:11:19. > :11:27.yet? By no means. A fantastic match player, Mark Allen, and he loves the
:11:28. > :11:31.sort of atmosphere. He loved the atmosphere around playing a world
:11:32. > :11:37.number one. He will be up for this today.
:11:38. > :11:45.As far as the 100 centuries, it is important for Neil Robertson to get
:11:46. > :11:48.into the quarterfinals. The most important thing frame would be to
:11:49. > :11:57.win the match, but he will be thinking about 100 centuries.
:11:58. > :12:07.I will be interested to see if he gets to 50 or 60 in a frame, that if
:12:08. > :12:11.there is a dodgy shops to take on, if he takes it for the risk?
:12:12. > :12:13.Probably not today, because Mark Allen is capable of beating anybody
:12:14. > :13:26.in the world. No problem playing off the side of
:13:27. > :13:30.the pack, the problem that Neil Robertson has is not to make contact
:13:31. > :13:36.with one of the baulk colours going back into Borg. A little bit
:13:37. > :14:22.negative, but it is too risky to go into Borg. -- baulk.
:14:23. > :14:27.That was a clever shot, because he cannot roll into the pack where the
:14:28. > :15:11.pink ones. -- was. There could be a few shots like
:15:12. > :16:22.this, if you containing safety shot. -- a few containing.
:16:23. > :16:25.The fact it is touching them, I would be surprised if he doesn't get
:16:26. > :16:57.the cue ball behind the green now. Maybe Mark Allen can see the red in
:16:58. > :17:13.baulk now, can he? He can, even probably play off that one.
:17:14. > :17:20.If it was possibly later on in the match, that red that you were
:17:21. > :17:25.talking about, if he plays that full in the face and comes back down to
:17:26. > :17:33.baulk, but perhaps he feels he cannot act that well this early on
:17:34. > :17:52.in the frame, that straight. Pretty cagey stuff so far.
:17:53. > :18:07.He can pot the red to the left corner.
:18:08. > :19:16., and mangled to get to get to the black. Needs to play that with some
:19:17. > :19:24.pace. -- need some angle to get to the black.
:19:25. > :19:29.This red, he can play to the far right corner and screw back to the
:19:30. > :19:43.black. Will not be leaving a lot. Anywhere but the cue ball is now,
:19:44. > :21:26.that would be good. Not settled yet. It is getting to the situation now
:21:27. > :21:28.really safety shot are getting more and more important with the reds in
:21:29. > :21:54.play. Maybe he's taking it into the baulk
:21:55. > :22:01.pocket. A very cagey start. I think they are also showing great respect
:22:02. > :22:04.for each other. You would see some players coming through to the second
:22:05. > :22:10.round, players that you wouldn't expect to be beaten, but this match
:22:11. > :22:20.has come through in the seeding would expect, so it is a tough
:22:21. > :23:05.second-round match both players. -- for both players.
:23:06. > :23:11.If you had never seen these players playing before, you would be
:23:12. > :23:15.thinking, oh, these are very cautious players, but if you have
:23:16. > :23:17.known them over the years, you will know that they are very accomplished
:23:18. > :23:48.break-builders. This red, just there, thought it was
:23:49. > :24:18.then. -- in. If he hits this too thinly, he might
:24:19. > :24:23.catch the green. Anything but too thin, he would have got Stephen's
:24:24. > :24:43.shot and finished at the end of the table.
:24:44. > :24:49.That is what Hawk-eye was explaining the shops choice of Stephen Hendry,
:24:50. > :24:57.but he hit it too thin and brought the green into play.
:24:58. > :25:07.The chance of a very sizeable break and to take a 10-7 litre. -- lead
:25:08. > :26:01.here. It is very early in the session, but
:26:02. > :26:04.he would love to get this 100th century done in the first frame and
:26:05. > :26:17.be done with it, and concentrate on winning!
:26:18. > :27:04.The doesn't appear to be any cannons. -- there doesn't.
:27:05. > :27:14.Those two breads, there is a big margin, he might even play the
:27:15. > :28:12.cannon into those two. -- those two reds.
:28:13. > :28:18.He took a while over that. That seems like a straightforward shot.
:28:19. > :28:38.He wasn't that comfortable with it. Hit that one quite nicely, just not
:28:39. > :28:39.far enough to get back to the black, unless he plays the red in the
:28:40. > :30:13.centre. I do not think there are any doubts,
:30:14. > :30:15.he is thinking about making sure, he wants to get this out of the way as
:30:16. > :30:31.soon as possible. He may decide to play for the blue
:30:32. > :30:43.here. He is looking at an alternative here.
:30:44. > :31:20.I'm not sure he is going to play it. He is being ultra-careful. He has
:31:21. > :32:21.played it. He's looking up to the baulk pocket.
:32:22. > :32:23.Surely he's not going to take... He should be able to get it between the
:32:24. > :32:47.brown on the green. It's not getting any easier. Have to
:32:48. > :32:53.judge whether he was playing for the Black or the blue there. The red
:32:54. > :33:06.pots beside the pink to the left corner, he will play the black. The
:33:07. > :33:33.blue to the left is probably be easier pot.
:33:34. > :33:44.I think the red next to the pink Pol -- will pot. You can bet your life
:33:45. > :34:12.he is going for the century. This is what we were talking about
:34:13. > :34:15.before, does he take the risk? It is probably worth the risk. Even the
:34:16. > :35:12.red the front of the green pocket. He couldn't hit that much better,
:35:13. > :35:47.that was a great shot. It is going to be very difficult to
:35:48. > :36:04.get blacks from where the reds are on baulk. Needs to get somewhere
:36:05. > :36:37.near the baulk line. If it finishes there, he has a slight chance.
:36:38. > :36:59.Easier to get a black of this red at the far corner. Good thinking
:37:00. > :37:08.there. If he takes the long red on, the one nearest to him, the black
:37:09. > :37:30.is... He would have to play it to the left-hand side.
:37:31. > :37:35.That was so close to being absolutely perfect. It is a really
:37:36. > :38:37.controlled shot. Unlucky. Making the black certainty. It will
:38:38. > :39:26.not want to put the last he has put the black on the cushion.
:39:27. > :39:34.That was going to be one of his main targets for snickering behind --
:39:35. > :40:43.snookering. Just making doubly sure. Neil
:40:44. > :40:50.Robertson goes closer to the winning line.
:40:51. > :41:00.Steve Davis has joined us from the Crucible. Good afternoon. A pleasure
:41:01. > :41:07.to be here. We were talking about Neil Robertson going to Mac frames
:41:08. > :41:12.in front yesterday, and you talked about how important it was for Mark
:41:13. > :41:18.Allen to make a good start. He was put under a lot of pressure.
:41:19. > :41:26.Robertson made a good return break. The pressure was magnified. That was
:41:27. > :41:35.a very good break from Robertson. How important is it for Neil
:41:36. > :41:39.Robertson, just one away from this magical 100, how important is it to
:41:40. > :41:47.get your nose in front? At this level, you just go out to compete.
:41:48. > :41:54.We sit in the studio, analysing the score lines. As a player, you know
:41:55. > :41:58.you are in front, but you also know it can evaporate quite quickly. You
:41:59. > :42:06.just go out there, and get yourself ready. You try and play as well as
:42:07. > :42:13.you can. But it is imported to get off to a good start.
:42:14. > :42:22.The worry for Mark Allen is it is three frames now and he has to get
:42:23. > :42:27.on the board. Yes, he has lost the first frame. The pressure is on to
:42:28. > :42:29.win the next three. Let's see if you can get on the board in his third
:42:30. > :42:37.and final session. He would love to disturb that red
:42:38. > :43:16.and black. Perhaps feel it was a touch too thin
:43:17. > :43:36.of an angle. But it looks good from here.
:43:37. > :43:43.Is it time for the risk round the back of the black? If the case
:43:44. > :44:23.doesn't work, he can still, for the blue? -- still come up?
:44:24. > :44:33.A little bit careless to catch a baulk, there. It gives your opponent
:44:34. > :44:51.a chance to put his hand on the table. That black is making it...
:44:52. > :44:56.There is a capacity crowd this afternoon, and the match on the next
:44:57. > :44:57.table is finished, so they are asking for the world to be brought
:44:58. > :45:40.up. -- for the wall. How did that they'd finished there?
:45:41. > :45:45.That's amazing. -- that red. That is amazing. It shows you have to look
:45:46. > :46:13.at the pack sometimes. Quite a nice angle on the blue. He
:46:14. > :46:50.may play that shot. He is being ultra-careful in every
:46:51. > :47:06.shot he plays. But he plays much better when he gets on with it.
:47:07. > :47:14.The only case that's no good is half ball, and that is exactly what
:47:15. > :47:22.happened. He didn't get into the cue ball fair. If anything, more side on
:47:23. > :48:52.fan excellent pace. It is easy to get a
:48:53. > :48:53.double-kiss on this side of the cushion. People have to be very
:48:54. > :50:23.careful with this one. A bit heavy. Again, he has been unlucky with a
:50:24. > :50:27.kiss. A very good shot on the pink beer, trying to make something
:50:28. > :50:30.happen. How he managed to get through the gap there, I don't know.
:50:31. > :51:26.A safety shot again. He has to compete with Robertson in
:51:27. > :51:57.the safety Department and, so far, he is not doing that.
:51:58. > :52:11.We both of us couldn't. Our cue action was not quite like that. He
:52:12. > :52:31.didn't hit it hard, did he? He just timed it so well.
:52:32. > :52:42.This is an excellent chance to win the second frame.
:52:43. > :52:51.He has certainly got his business head on this afternoon. As you would
:52:52. > :52:59.expect. I don't think I have ever seen him take as much time on shots
:53:00. > :53:13.as he is doing at the moment. That is pretty pedestrian for Robertson.
:53:14. > :54:24.Just a fraction too low on the blue. Obviously, I gap on the
:54:25. > :54:29.right-hand side. But he needs to be a cannon on the one to the right of
:54:30. > :54:46.the black spot. He came on the right line, but he has hit the pink.
:54:47. > :54:52.Mark Allen had a wry smile there. He knew that Neil was not playing for
:54:53. > :55:43.this red. He has worked hard to continue this
:55:44. > :56:02.break. To be fair, he does not look like
:56:03. > :56:26.missing. This is exactly what world number
:56:27. > :56:27.one is supposed to do on these occasions, stamp his authority very
:56:28. > :56:57.early. There's enough balls on for a
:56:58. > :57:12.century, but it is highly unlikely we will see one.
:57:13. > :57:48.Just took all of the piece out of the cue ball. -- pace.
:57:49. > :57:55.That is free-ball. He will get on the black of this red and have a go
:57:56. > :58:03.at the century. But it is very tough where the balls are. He is a
:58:04. > :58:06.left-hander, he can get on that nicely. He should be OK. You would
:58:07. > :58:46.think yellow to green. Tough shot. This has been excellent snooker.
:58:47. > :59:24.Just what the doctor ordered, really.
:59:25. > :59:29.Well, no century, but once again a fabulous performance from Robertson.
:59:30. > :59:40.A break of 69 to go further clear. We almost saw a little bit of
:59:41. > :59:46.history there. He could have been on for a century. Yes, it's coming
:59:47. > :59:52.sooner rather than later. But that is a fantastic display. He is
:59:53. > :59:56.playing so well. He is making the most of his opportunities. Difficult
:59:57. > :00:03.for his opponent to do anything about it. He has got fantastic you
:00:04. > :00:10.power. It's not in everyone's armoury. He was probably hoping to
:00:11. > :00:14.get on the pink. That is a marvellous demonstration of being
:00:15. > :00:23.clinical and bringing out the big shots when required as well. It is
:00:24. > :00:34.becoming a mountain to climb from Mark Allen. If he loses anything
:00:35. > :00:38.else, I think it could be through. Ian Robertson is one of the
:00:39. > :00:42.naturally gifted match players we have in the game. He, Ding Junhui
:00:43. > :00:47.and Ronnie O'Sullivan have carved up the season, more or less, and we had
:00:48. > :00:50.been talking about how Ronnie O'Sullivan is unbeatable and
:00:51. > :00:55.everyone saying nobody can touch, but that is not technically true,
:00:56. > :01:02.because you Robertson is putting up a good case. Do think Neil Robertson
:01:03. > :01:05.can beat Ronnie O'Sullivan? Well I am of the opinion that Ronnie
:01:06. > :01:11.O'Sullivan is better than anyone else, but you cannot be the best all
:01:12. > :01:16.the time... Literature on to the commentary. -- let's return to the
:01:17. > :01:31.commentary. Yes, sometimes we do say a lot about
:01:32. > :01:35.Ronnie O'Sullivan, saying that you cannot beat the best, but sometimes
:01:36. > :01:40.you are not at your best, but like Stephen Hendry, he was sitting next
:01:41. > :01:51.to me, he has always been thought of as one of the best. Looked at this
:01:52. > :02:11.red in the right cushion, a dangerous pot, how will he play at?
:02:12. > :02:25.That is brilliant. So focused today, doesn't look like pushing a single
:02:26. > :02:31.pot. -- missing. He cannot a loud Mark Allen to get back into the
:02:32. > :02:43.match again. Whatever he scores, you deserve such that red. -- he
:02:44. > :02:54.deserves after that red. This is someone who is in the zone.
:02:55. > :02:58.I would make an early prediction that this is the 100th century
:02:59. > :03:25.coming up. He is so focused on winning frames
:03:26. > :04:14.at the minute. If he gets past the 65, 70 mark, he will take it on.
:04:15. > :04:25.So many players these days finish low on the blue and have to go in
:04:26. > :04:32.and out of baulk. That is why years making so many breaks, his
:04:33. > :04:38.positional play. -- that is why he is making.
:04:39. > :05:00.The middle red of those three, he might need to play a cannon on that.
:05:01. > :05:13.If he wanted to be risky, he could play the shot that isn't favourable
:05:14. > :05:47.going into the paint. -- pink. He played that furry well indeed.
:05:48. > :06:13.That was a lovely shot, a toe edge of stun with some left-hand side.
:06:14. > :06:21.The angle on the pink wasn't favourable. He was trying to put the
:06:22. > :06:34.pink unhip spot. The angle he has got on the pink is not good.
:06:35. > :06:39.I do not know if the red that is closest to the cue ball will pass to
:06:40. > :07:26.the left corner. He will pot and screw back for a
:07:27. > :07:28.choice of pink or blue. When you have got that much cue power, it is
:07:29. > :07:53.easy to get through. I do not think the black is
:07:54. > :08:43.available into the right-hand corner.
:08:44. > :08:49.This player is definitely in the zone. His facial expression has not
:08:50. > :08:54.changed. He's cue ball control is not what it normally is, but there
:08:55. > :10:45.is a huge amount of pressure on him here.
:10:46. > :10:53.Still hasn't got the cue ball into perfect control.
:10:54. > :10:59.He is now up at the winning post. We can now have our fingers crossed and
:11:00. > :11:12.hope that he makes his 100th century. If he does it, this
:11:13. > :11:14.Crucible crowd may or may not give him a standing ovation, because this
:11:15. > :11:31.is an amazing feat. He does have the right this time to
:11:32. > :11:50.get on the black. This is incredible match snooker.
:11:51. > :11:55.There is nothing that Mark Allen can do about it. OK, he did leave the
:11:56. > :11:59.log option for the red at the start, but basically now, he is a
:12:00. > :12:20.spectator. We are rooting for you now. A
:12:21. > :12:34.fabulous performance, this. He must be tingling inside, thinking
:12:35. > :12:48.that this will be it. Normally, you would play to move the
:12:49. > :13:04.red into play, but I do not think you will be doing that here.
:13:05. > :13:24.You're starting to breathe a bit deeper. He knows the significance.
:13:25. > :13:49.Can you believe it? ! I knew it would happen! The pressure! A
:13:50. > :13:56.fabulous break of 94! It shows what it means for this player to break
:13:57. > :14:01.the record! He did not want to do anything with the cue ball.
:14:02. > :14:09.Unfortunately, not there. But, 12-7. It is a shame, Stephen! The
:14:10. > :14:14.fact that he was half there. It shows what it means to the man. You
:14:15. > :14:18.could see, visibly, the last few reds, he was starting to breathe
:14:19. > :14:23.deeper, he could feel the pressure mounting. It is almost like the
:14:24. > :14:27.pressure for a maximum now for a new Robertson, and it will build every
:14:28. > :14:32.time. And now the fact that he missed an easy black, it will build
:14:33. > :14:37.even more. And now the fact he is further clear in this session, and
:14:38. > :14:43.he looks up to the commentary box to us, and he cannot believe that he
:14:44. > :14:49.missed it. It is causing a problem now.
:14:50. > :15:00.Thank you. Quiet now, frame 20, Neil Robertson to break.
:15:01. > :15:09.I cannot Amber Mark Allen having a pot of a ball of any significance,
:15:10. > :15:17.the last couple of frames had been absolutely flawless. -- I cannot
:15:18. > :16:50.remember. He is just one frame away from victory.
:16:51. > :17:04.In a long frame match, we see the tournament pot success, obviously
:17:05. > :17:09.the first few, you do not have the toughest of matches, but in these
:17:10. > :18:03.sessions, to get over 90, that is excellent.
:18:04. > :18:35.This is just flawless, matchplay snooker.
:18:36. > :18:50.He is a lot slower than he wanted here. He will play for a blue or
:18:51. > :18:55.baulk colour, I should think. Unfortunately for him, the red has
:18:56. > :19:00.gone past this central pocket, but this is so good but he is doing.
:19:01. > :19:09.He's hitting the ball as well as he possibly could hit it. He is in that
:19:10. > :19:14.great place as a snooker player when you just hit and you never think
:19:15. > :20:15.you're going to miss. It doesn't happen in every session.
:20:16. > :20:27.He cannot hold the spot here, that is what is giving him problems with
:20:28. > :20:35.the position. He will need a good pot to keep this break going. One
:20:36. > :20:45.good pot and it winds him the match. -- wins.
:20:46. > :21:16.It is just an easy game at the moment. And those that play the
:21:17. > :21:28.game, they know just how difficult the gamers. -- game is. He has a
:21:29. > :21:33.chance again. In some ways, if he did go on to win this frame, it
:21:34. > :22:19.would be nicer with his 100th century.
:22:20. > :22:37.Turn that radio down, please! Radio? Somebody listening to music?
:22:38. > :22:43.Perhaps his answer getting a bit tighter, getting to the winning
:22:44. > :23:31.line. Did not hit that as he would have liked.
:23:32. > :23:55.He played a conservative positional shot.
:23:56. > :24:13.Mark Allen, he has pretty much done nothing wrong.
:24:14. > :24:25.This is tremendous stuff. This time he needs four reds with colours to
:24:26. > :24:30.get the century. It is like years old was trying to be too careful at
:24:31. > :24:36.this minute, Stephen. You would love him to do it here. It is like you is
:24:37. > :24:37.looking for things that can go wrong rather than things that can go
:24:38. > :25:11.right. Trying to get onto the more
:25:12. > :25:15.difficult red now, to make it easier for the others. He is looking at the
:25:16. > :25:18.scoreboard all the time, trying to work out if he need that difficult
:25:19. > :25:44.red, which it doesn't. This packed arena this afternoon, I
:25:45. > :25:52.think everyone would love to see this magnificent achievement done.
:25:53. > :25:59.The last three frames, 59, 69, 94, 84 and counting, flawless.
:26:00. > :26:07.He is to get high on the black ear. -- he needs to get high on the black
:26:08. > :26:23.ear. This session is the best of the
:26:24. > :26:46.tournament so far, in terms of standard.
:26:47. > :26:55.Unbelievable! He just cannot believe it! You played absolutely flawless
:26:56. > :27:01.snooker! Neil Robertson in the last two frames, and great chances to
:27:02. > :27:06.complete that century. It takes the match and goes into the quarterfinal
:27:07. > :27:12.winning by 13-7. Congratulations and well played.
:27:13. > :27:20.He almost resemble the batsmen are 99, just try to get over the line,
:27:21. > :27:26.and just not getting there, but what an awesome... I think that was Mark
:27:27. > :27:33.Allen's words. He said awesome. No other word you could use. That is
:27:34. > :27:37.the best mini-session played at this year's championship. Ronnie
:27:38. > :27:40.O'Sullivan was fantastic for the last two frames, and in that
:27:41. > :27:45.mini-session in the other ones, but overall, that was absolutely
:27:46. > :27:52.flawless. The best session we have seen so far, Steve? The best
:27:53. > :27:57.one-sided session. When you play that type of snooker, you take a lot
:27:58. > :28:00.of the pressure from the match situation. Your opponent effectively
:28:01. > :28:06.doesn't even exist, it is just all about Eve. He is very good in that
:28:07. > :28:11.situation. Superb break. Beautifully set up the fact he has had a couple
:28:12. > :28:15.of bites and he did not get there, you could see the discussed in his
:28:16. > :28:21.face at the end, but he has another best of 25 match where it is
:28:22. > :28:25.inevitable. A few social media sites have said, that the standard hasn't
:28:26. > :28:31.been great, but it is bubbling up now! Mark Selby's matchplay last
:28:32. > :28:35.night, Ali Carter, he was superb, Ronnie O'Sullivan has gone over in
:28:36. > :28:42.magnificent style. This is one tournament next week! Letter from
:28:43. > :28:49.Neil Robertson. And unbelievable session, there was a standing
:28:50. > :28:53.ovation at the end, that was some way to march into the quarterfinals,
:28:54. > :29:01.even though that last century just eludes you! What a morning! Yes!
:29:02. > :29:06.Mark, he kept sticking with me. I thought he played very well. He has
:29:07. > :29:10.always been able to scoring heavily. I was surprised by his safety. It
:29:11. > :29:14.was Rooney, really good. I couldn't really, I didn't have many
:29:15. > :29:20.opportunities as long balls at the start of the match, so I was happy
:29:21. > :29:27.to be 4-4 and 9-7, I was delighted, because I won a lucky frame. Too,
:29:28. > :29:35.today, I knew that I had to play really well, and those last few
:29:36. > :29:38.frames, like a cricketer, it was unfortunate. I do not know what I
:29:39. > :29:43.missed that matter I missed the black with one red left. I thought I
:29:44. > :29:49.hit the black perfect, I was about to celebrate, but it rattled in the
:29:50. > :29:55.jaws, I hit it OK, probably had a pretty poor shot on the red before
:29:56. > :30:01.that. But it wasn't to be. The snooker gods will keep you waiting a
:30:02. > :30:04.bit longer! We are also excited, the crowd, you could almost sense them
:30:05. > :30:08.holding their breath, it was more important to win the match, it is
:30:09. > :30:13.more important to win the Welsh title than to do the tonne of
:30:14. > :30:23.tonnes, but it must have been in the back of your mind, it was so close!
:30:24. > :30:34.Every time I come to the table, I am just trying to the table. If I make
:30:35. > :30:40.a century, so be it. Having that mindset has helped me make the
:30:41. > :30:46.centuries. Hendry was in the commentary box, I would love to do
:30:47. > :30:52.it with him in there. It would be good to do it in front of him. Yes,
:30:53. > :30:58.you have got another chance now. Your route to the final is not an
:30:59. > :31:04.easy one. It will be Judd Trump or Ryan Day. You will have to do it the
:31:05. > :31:11.hard way. Yes, you do not expect anything else at this stage of the
:31:12. > :31:17.championships. You can expect to play Mark Allen in a quarterfinal or
:31:18. > :31:24.semifinal here. I have no doubt that one day he will win the tournament.
:31:25. > :31:28.And Judd Trump as well, he is another player that will one day
:31:29. > :31:37.when the championships. But I would just play my game. I have got to
:31:38. > :31:41.rest up and go again. Well done this afternoon. You kept us right on the
:31:42. > :31:46.edge of our seats. We will see you again to do it all again in style
:31:47. > :31:49.for the quarters. Impressive on the snooker table and
:31:50. > :32:04.when being interviewed. You have to go back to the Wushi classic. He
:32:05. > :32:13.started with a 147 there. An unbelievable start. It is coming.
:32:14. > :32:23.There is no doubt about it. He was in the other day talking. And
:32:24. > :32:28.Stephen Hendry kick-started him to reassess his break-building. He went
:32:29. > :32:35.away and tried to deconstruct what he was doing and make a better pic
:32:36. > :32:45.build himself. It is an interesting problem. I think when you look at
:32:46. > :32:51.those 99 centuries, it is his long game as well. The long game gets the
:32:52. > :32:57.men were than anyone else. They get more opportunities than anyone else.
:32:58. > :33:03.His cue ball control close in is now phenomenal. How many players on the
:33:04. > :33:12.circuit never give their opponent and opportunity? You just wonder
:33:13. > :33:17.whether Robertson has developed the killer instinct. There are a few of
:33:18. > :33:27.them look into it with more regularity. These people seem to be
:33:28. > :33:35.able to do it a lot more. Have you seen that develop in Robertson's
:33:36. > :33:40.game? Yes, but going back to his positional accuracy, to have turned
:33:41. > :33:47.that around is a major achievement. To change the patterns in your
:33:48. > :33:52.brain, your route map around the table, those things can be ingrained
:33:53. > :34:06.in players and they cannot get bad habits out of their brain. He also
:34:07. > :34:10.is one of the best pack players. He will play a forceful stand, open the
:34:11. > :34:15.reds out. The way he has change that part of his game is a big help. I
:34:16. > :34:22.don't think I have ever watched a frame snooker with you without you
:34:23. > :34:32.watching Robertson and seeing it is incredible. Every positional shot
:34:33. > :34:43.was perfect. The last player that played similarly was John Higgins at
:34:44. > :34:49.his very best. That relentless mode. Thank you very much.
:34:50. > :34:55.It is Judd Trump or Ryan Day for Neil Robertson. A little treat for
:34:56. > :35:10.you this week. We are all familiar with the television quiz Pointless.
:35:11. > :35:16.This is Potless. Richard Osman will set you snooker related question
:35:17. > :35:22.every day. Good afternoon. Welcome to the very
:35:23. > :35:30.first question in this week 's edition of Potless. Some of you have
:35:31. > :35:41.been on pointless and you have not covered yourselves in glory. Here is
:35:42. > :35:48.your question. We gave 100 people 147 seconds to name as many Crucible
:35:49. > :35:58.finalists as they could. Your job is to find out the most obscure of
:35:59. > :36:06.those answers. You have to go old. It has to be the lowest possible...
:36:07. > :36:19.An obscure one? Nigel Bond? That is a good one. Go back in time. Bond.
:36:20. > :36:37.Doug Mountjoy. What do you think we should go with? Bond? Nigel Bond.
:36:38. > :36:43.Perrie Mans. Perrie Mans. Perrie Mans. The old South African,
:36:44. > :36:49.left-handed wizard. Nigel Bond. We will go with that.
:36:50. > :36:59.We have seen what our experts think, we will find out who won later. If
:37:00. > :37:08.you want to play along as well, you can go on twitter.
:37:09. > :37:18.Yes, do get involved. Last week, we were showing you are trick shot
:37:19. > :37:25.expert. Let's see what he has in store.
:37:26. > :38:07.And go to shoot these two bowls, hit the Q-Tip. -- cue tip.
:38:08. > :38:19.This shot is another one where as should the white along the rail, and
:38:20. > :38:55.then come back. I'm going to jump the white ball
:38:56. > :39:11.over the triangle, it will land somewhere here and come back.
:39:12. > :39:49.How does he do it? The man is a genius. Time now to bring you up to
:39:50. > :39:58.date with what is happening on table number one. It is Wales versus
:39:59. > :40:18.England. Dominic Dale is at the table.
:40:19. > :40:28.Dominic is 12-4 in front, he will not have the same enthusiasm. He
:40:29. > :40:29.will still try to win the frame, but concentration drops and that is
:40:30. > :40:41.enough sometimes. He probably feels he has plenty of
:40:42. > :40:50.scope. But he would like to get it out of the way.
:40:51. > :40:57.It was a bit unlucky that. He tried to develop the black and the two
:40:58. > :41:32.reds. That would be an ambitious one.
:41:33. > :42:03.Michael Wasley did so well in the first round.
:42:04. > :42:11.He has got a look to look -- he has got a lot to look back on even if he
:42:12. > :42:12.does lose this match and hopefully he will learn a lot from his
:42:13. > :42:16.experiences at the Crucible. And lucky. He tried to bring the red
:42:17. > :42:34.into play. Patching bowl, so he needs to
:42:35. > :43:02.nominate. Some of his supporters fear,
:43:03. > :43:48.enjoying that one. -- there. Just wondering if he has blocked
:43:49. > :44:28.this. If he hasn't, Dominic might be able to take a double on it.
:44:29. > :44:44.He can see the red, but can't do much with it.
:44:45. > :44:50.That is more like it, make it awkward for your opponent. There is
:44:51. > :45:07.nowhere to go here. That is only could do. -- all he
:45:08. > :46:17.could do. There is a chance, believe what not.
:46:18. > :46:19.He hasn't even looked at the green. He could put the green and then come
:46:20. > :46:53.up for these two reds. That was the shot that was available
:46:54. > :46:55.to Dominic. But he had a look at it and decided against it. There
:46:56. > :47:04.shouldn't be a problem. A little thin one of that red and
:47:05. > :47:39.get in behind the yellow. He has been unlucky there. Still not
:47:40. > :48:05.an easy shot. But if he pots this, look at the
:48:06. > :48:06.handle he will have on the black. If this red goes in, he will have a
:48:07. > :48:36.good chance. If it is tight, it will make it
:48:37. > :48:54.slightly easier. It is tight on the cushion.
:48:55. > :49:11.Pretty good effort. He could get onto yellow and hold it.
:49:12. > :49:27.This is the key to winning the match, this one-shot here.
:49:28. > :49:43.It's not that bad as it has turned out. Difficult to get onto the green
:49:44. > :50:09.from this position. He tried to make something happen
:50:10. > :50:22.there. At least he has got it safe, but he could be in trouble.
:50:23. > :50:56.This is the shot I got Dominic would play. -- I thought.
:50:57. > :51:07.I think the right is too far up. Back up towards the green if he
:51:08. > :51:24.takes it on. Very unlucky. It is a good part, but
:51:25. > :51:27.terrible kiss on the pink. Yes, there was lots that could go wrong
:51:28. > :51:32.with the positional side of it. He could hit the colour, which he did
:51:33. > :51:38.too. He could snooker himself behind the brown.
:51:39. > :51:44.Michael is left with a similar shot. If he cuts this in, he will
:51:45. > :52:26.head into words the brown. Very clever shot from Dominic there.
:52:27. > :52:27.He is very knowledgeable when it comes to the tactical side of the
:52:28. > :52:57.game. Play into the jaws of the pocket, as
:52:58. > :53:03.little black spin -- a little backspin. What do you think? It
:53:04. > :53:13.sounds easy, that this was a Triffit little shot here, so delicate.
:53:14. > :53:23.If he had hit that a little harder, he would have got the snooker.
:53:24. > :53:42.It's all right, but he could have done with the green not being that
:53:43. > :53:49.close to the cushion. It gives a wider target for Dominic to escape
:53:50. > :53:51.from. If that Green had bounced and come out of the middle of the table,
:53:52. > :54:18.it would have been very tough. Good escape, a lovely touch there.
:54:19. > :54:19.Just needed to hold on for this one-shot and hope he is not
:54:20. > :54:47.snookered on that next one. You don't see it that often, the
:54:48. > :54:52.players playing the snooker ball rather than the cue ball, but that's
:54:53. > :54:54.all he had on there. Dominic will be hoping to knock the green up to the
:54:55. > :55:17.black. If he was right in behind the
:55:18. > :55:42.screen, he could take it on. But he is a long way from it.
:55:43. > :55:46.He could have been there a long time, waiting for that one to go in.
:55:47. > :56:09.But he has come out OK, though. Anywhere at the right side of the
:56:10. > :56:37.table, with a black and it is, it is going to be safe.
:56:38. > :57:05.A little thin one should get him back up the table.
:57:06. > :57:19.At the moment, Dominic needs the green, brown and blue.
:57:20. > :57:24.He keeps trying to get over behind the brown, but this time he has
:57:25. > :57:41.brought the green up. Will it run far enough for him? Not quite.
:57:42. > :57:52.What a shot. What a brilliant pot that is. That is so unlucky to
:57:53. > :58:04.finish there. You won't see many better pots. That was terrific. He
:58:05. > :58:07.looked a bit disappointed, but I think he tried to bring the pink
:58:08. > :58:17.into play. He was hoping to bring the pink into play as well. Needs
:58:18. > :58:23.another good pot here. Yes, he can send the brown twice across the
:58:24. > :58:40.table and screw in behind that pink.
:58:41. > :58:47.Not quite. Just keep an eye on the brown if it comes back across the
:58:48. > :59:04.table. Michael is having to look to see if
:59:05. > :59:08.the brown will pass the black. It might do from that position. That is
:59:09. > :59:30.from our camera pocket. Good judgement there. But he will be
:59:31. > :59:37.faced with a very difficult pink. How accurate was that.
:59:38. > :59:56.A little smile from my cold there. It wasn't all that easy. On the
:59:57. > :00:04.cushion again. Yes, you feel after such a good pot, you deserve the
:00:05. > :00:14.reward. Dominic would have liked to keep that green in play.
:00:15. > :00:26.Could be there all day trying to do that again. Not a lot of choice. He
:00:27. > :00:36.is asking for the balls to be replaced. Well, that's amazing. To
:00:37. > :00:42.get around the back of the blue. We know the blue wasn't moved. It was
:00:43. > :00:53.just the black. They're looking at the monitor. This has a monitor that
:00:54. > :00:57.they can look at. They're a bit closer together than this, I think.
:00:58. > :01:08.Maybe they're a little further apart. Let's look at the original.
:01:09. > :01:35.He got around the back of the blue, so why was the blue moved?
:01:36. > :01:52.Let's look at the original again. That's unlucky. Now he has to hit it
:01:53. > :01:59.the next time. 17 is the difference. He only needs the blue. So he is not
:02:00. > :02:16.having it replaced. This blue to win the match.
:02:17. > :02:20.Michael just didn't get off to a good start against Dominic. He
:02:21. > :02:38.dominated the first session 7-1. Every credit to Dominic Dale.
:02:39. > :02:42.Barring snookers he has got into his first quarter-finals. Well done.
:02:43. > :02:46.Dominic has played well this week. He needed over 30 minutes to seal a
:02:47. > :02:51.place in the quarter-finals. His first since 2,000 and will play
:02:52. > :03:01.Barry Hawkins. They start tomorrow morning at 10.00 am. Well played
:03:02. > :03:08.Michael Waslec but his Crucible dream is over. I bet he has enjoyed
:03:09. > :03:14.himself, Michael. He played so well, didn't he, John?
:03:15. > :03:21.There must have come a time you thought you wouldn't reach the last
:03:22. > :03:30.eight again? Just to get here, that's always nice, I have had tough
:03:31. > :03:35.draws. On paper to have had a better draw in Matt and to win and get to
:03:36. > :03:39.the second round was great. I have been here a while now. You wait a
:03:40. > :03:43.few days to play the first match and hope you play well enough to win and
:03:44. > :03:47.I did this time. I have won another, it's amazing. Do you think Michael
:03:48. > :03:52.was perhaps almost emotionally fatigued after that incredible
:03:53. > :03:59.victory in the first round? From Mike's point of view he played some
:04:00. > :04:03.great snooker. Made a couple of centuries, 135. I don't know whether
:04:04. > :04:07.he came here for the second round expecting to play more of the same,
:04:08. > :04:13.if he did I would have probably been under more pressure. I knew I would
:04:14. > :04:30.have to play well and put him under more pressure than Ding today. We
:04:31. > :04:33.like to have a bit of fun with your outfits and the famous shoes you
:04:34. > :04:36.weren't wearing this afternoon. Do you think sometimes people
:04:37. > :04:41.underestimate your ability because after all you have won two ranking
:04:42. > :04:47.event titles? Maybe the public do. I think the players on the tour know
:04:48. > :04:52.all about me and know what I am capable of. I don't think they take
:04:53. > :04:56.me lightly which is the important thing. You have to prove to the
:04:57. > :04:59.public that you are a great player and capable of winning. Hopefully I
:05:00. > :05:03.might have started to do that here. Good luck in the quarter-finals. You
:05:04. > :05:11.will come out relishing the task. Well done. Thank you.
:05:12. > :05:17.First played in 1993 at the World Championships. He has played well
:05:18. > :05:21.the last week or so. He is underestimated. He is right, players
:05:22. > :05:27.know he can play well. As for Michael, that was probably just one
:05:28. > :05:32.step too far. He had a massive win against Ding and sometimes it's
:05:33. > :05:36.after the Lord Mayor's show, in the second round you don't get up there
:05:37. > :05:45.again. I bet Michael has never had a week like it. It's been a learning
:05:46. > :05:49.curve. Once you get to the Crucible, he will be stronger next season and
:05:50. > :05:55.hungry and wanting more of the same. The big stage is what we all play
:05:56. > :06:07.for. He put paid to Ding's chances very well. Ding will be probably
:06:08. > :06:16.think thinking pity he didn't play that against me. It's full of upsets
:06:17. > :06:19.and turns. We have a lot of fun with Dominic, but maybe it's time we
:06:20. > :06:26.started taking him seriously for the snooker he plays as to the footwear
:06:27. > :06:32.or the walk-on music, for example. The players know he can play. He is
:06:33. > :06:37.a good competitor or the table. Thank you. We have a brand new quiz
:06:38. > :06:41.for you this week. Earlier Richard, the star of the quiz show Pointless,
:06:42. > :06:53.came up with a new version of the quiz. It's called Potless and he set
:06:54. > :07:00.you a question. This is the answer. Earlier I asked our teams to name
:07:01. > :07:04.any Crucible finalist. We saw the teams' answers. You have been having
:07:05. > :07:10.a go as well and tweeting in. I can tell you Nigel Bond, terrific answer
:07:11. > :07:16.scores ten points. Well-played. Perri Mans is the best answer of
:07:17. > :07:32.all, three points. One other very good answer is Doug Mountjoy.
:07:33. > :07:44.The biggest scorer Steve Davis, 93 and Ronnie with 92. Well done
:07:45. > :07:48.everyone at home. More tomorrow. Thank you very much indeed for all
:07:49. > :07:52.of you who sent in lots of tweets via social media. I am going to
:07:53. > :08:02.single out three people. Mike Martin, Matthew Scott, and Olly
:08:03. > :08:07.Woodall who came up with Nigel Bond. You beat us guys with Doug Mountjoy.
:08:08. > :08:12.There were 12 of you. Well done again. How does it feel to have your
:08:13. > :08:16.names read out live on television here on the BBC? Probably very good.
:08:17. > :08:19.Let's bring you up to date with yesterday in the England and Wales
:08:20. > :09:08.clash with Judd Trump and Ryan Day. He is back in front. The good news
:09:09. > :09:12.for Ryan is the blue has come down the table and is in a potable
:09:13. > :09:17.position for the red. A fabulous effort from Ryan Day.
:09:18. > :09:57.That break of 80 gets one back again.
:09:58. > :10:13.It's now 10-5. Ryan Day can't believe he lost that one.
:10:14. > :10:23.Shake hands. Well-played Ryan Day. That match resumes this evening.
:10:24. > :10:34.Who is your money on for that one? It's a four-frame lead, shouldn't
:10:35. > :10:42.be, Ryan Day has played really well. In a match it should be at least
:10:43. > :10:45.8-8. Saying that Judd is improving, slowly but surely. Have you been
:10:46. > :10:50.impressed with Ryan Day's performances? Yes, I have. Ryan
:10:51. > :10:53.probably will be frustrated with the situation but he is playing against
:10:54. > :10:58.the top players in the world, he is not far short of the top anyway.
:10:59. > :11:07.It's for him tightening up that final part that he has always had
:11:08. > :11:09.trouble with. From Judd's perspective we are looking at the
:11:10. > :11:14.King in the making as far as the lights of Ronnie O'Sullivan is
:11:15. > :11:20.concerned, he is not the same style, but he has youth on his side. What
:11:21. > :11:24.is judd going to be like when he is 30? He is excellent now. I had a
:11:25. > :11:29.chat with Judd on Saturday and he was saying that he feels that he can
:11:30. > :11:32.get better through this tournament. As snooker players do you feel the
:11:33. > :11:36.further you go on you build this momentum and this confidence? He
:11:37. > :11:41.will be looking to do that. He wasn't particularly good in his
:11:42. > :11:45.first round. At the moment in some respects Ryan Day hasn't taken them
:11:46. > :11:49.either. He will have to up his game. If he plays Neil Robertson he will
:11:50. > :11:54.have to be tighter. He is improving from the first round. That match is
:11:55. > :12:01.at 7.00pm this evening. We are now going to bring you up to date with
:12:02. > :12:12.the other match that resumes at seven.00pm -- 7.00pm. Marcu Fu and
:12:13. > :12:13.Shaun Murphy. We join it with Murphy at the table
:12:14. > :12:20.on a break of 59. This black and one more red is
:12:21. > :13:05.needed. I don't think it's there. With this black near the pocket you
:13:06. > :13:14.can hit it thinner than you would normally to try and cannon those
:13:15. > :13:18.three reds in the middle. He's got them. Applause, but it's come very
:13:19. > :13:31.awkward. That's unlucky. If he was straight on this red that
:13:32. > :13:36.he is hampered for wouldn't be a problem. I think there is a little
:13:37. > :13:43.bit of work to do. He is asking the referee for the spider. Or maybe the
:13:44. > :13:45.extended spider for this one? The trouble is the harder he hits it the
:13:46. > :14:09.wider the cue ball will go. Very good shot. Very good! He has a
:14:10. > :14:31.chance now. Not much of an angle on this black
:14:32. > :15:10.but a slight one. This would be a frame to steal. A
:15:11. > :15:17.blow for Shaun Murphy and a real boost for Marco. Doesn't look to
:15:18. > :15:23.have a fantastic angle. A bit more perhaps he can run around. He is
:15:24. > :15:25.playing for the red past the pink. He always had that red in the
:15:26. > :15:37.middle. Shaun will be knowing that brown is
:15:38. > :15:42.far enough off the cushion it's no real problem. Seeing in your chair
:15:43. > :15:44.you are hoping your opponent makes a positional mistake, trying to work
:15:45. > :15:55.out where that could be. Not ideal on either blue or pink.
:15:56. > :16:31.This could go wrong. When I saw the angle I thought it
:16:32. > :16:35.might be a case for playing a position on the red off one cushion.
:16:36. > :16:39.But they've had a few bounces off the cushion so maybe he wanted to
:16:40. > :16:48.play it off two. He can still pot this but it's tricky.
:16:49. > :17:10.But it's there. We have a new favourite for this frame now.
:17:11. > :17:23.Marco pointing at the cue ball. When he potted the yellow, he felt
:17:24. > :17:34.it sprung off a bit. But still looks good on the yellow to me.
:17:35. > :17:52.Looks like he has left himself the perfect angle to come up for the
:17:53. > :18:03.blue. He is digging his way out of trouble
:18:04. > :18:21.here. Fantastic response from Marco Fu
:18:22. > :18:33.this is. Shaun Murphy opened the door with that misjudged positional
:18:34. > :18:47.shot, but this is really a tonic that Marco Fu needed.
:18:48. > :18:57.Well played. That was a big frame for Marco Fu. Shaun Murphy gave him
:18:58. > :19:04.a chance but he had to take it and he was solid there and he reduces
:19:05. > :19:09.arrears now to two. Shaun Murphy leads 8-6.
:19:10. > :19:20.Is this a fightback. Murphy at the table.
:19:21. > :19:32.Is there a chance for Shaun that Marco has left him here? Should he
:19:33. > :19:40.have played safe there? This black will put the points all square.
:19:41. > :19:45.He wasn't happy with the contact there. Thought he got a heavy
:19:46. > :19:53.contact that took the pace out of the cue ball.
:19:54. > :20:01.A little bit of a bounce. Didn't sound massively like a kick, but you
:20:02. > :20:02.have to trust Shaun Murphy's judgment of the proceedings there
:20:03. > :20:10.because he was up very quickly. This is more of a cut than he would
:20:11. > :20:20.have wanted. Another heavy contact. Didn't
:20:21. > :20:41.destroy the potting angle. That pink now puts him seven in
:20:42. > :20:48.front. Four of these remaining reds with high value colours would see
:20:49. > :20:59.him get to the required stage. I don't think the lower of the two
:21:00. > :21:02.reds below the pink is potable but it might be if you get in the right
:21:03. > :21:28.position. There wasn't much room for manoeuvre
:21:29. > :21:32.there. That's the advantage of having that lovely cue action. He
:21:33. > :21:37.gets so much reaction off the cue ball without any real effort so he
:21:38. > :21:42.can play a delicate shot like that. He has come a little bit awkward on
:21:43. > :21:45.this. I agree, I don't think either of those two reds is potable below
:21:46. > :21:59.the pink. He will be disappointed with that
:22:00. > :22:09.effort. If he thought there was a problem
:22:10. > :22:12.coming around off two cushions, why not stun it in and force the cue
:22:13. > :22:46.ball out? Mystifying. It was a chance to win the frame at
:22:47. > :22:50.that visit. But he put his disappointment behind him and played
:22:51. > :22:57.the right shot. Put the brown in a safe position. He will be thinking
:22:58. > :23:01.he won't be needing it, Marco will, for certain.
:23:02. > :23:11.Is this red going over the middle? It's potable. It's not as easy as it
:23:12. > :23:27.looks but it's definitely on. He has lined up the possibility of
:23:28. > :23:49.getting on the pink to to say disturb -- to disturb the two reds.
:23:50. > :23:58.Needs an angle on the black, has got it. The one thing you don't want to
:23:59. > :24:04.do when you kiss that red above the black, don't catch it full.
:24:05. > :24:14.He caught it full. Has he got a red to the right middle? Either side
:24:15. > :24:24.both reds would have been on. Can he see enough of this red?
:24:25. > :25:21.He could. That should be the frame-clincher.
:25:22. > :25:31.That yellow going in means Marco will not come to the table and try
:25:32. > :25:39.for those snookers. We have one more frame. The next one will complete
:25:40. > :25:47.this session. What a big frame it's going to be. A chance for Shaun
:25:48. > :25:53.Murphy to push on or Marco Fu to reduce the arrears. Shaun Murphy is
:25:54. > :25:59.now three frames ahead. One more to play.
:26:00. > :26:04.Then Marco made a break of 136 in the next frame. And ended yesterday
:26:05. > :26:08.evening's session trailing just by two going into the third and final
:26:09. > :26:15.session this evening which starts at 7.00pm. Murphy won the last meeting
:26:16. > :26:22.between these two players. Marco Fu will have to get off to a good
:26:23. > :26:25.start. There is somebody waiting for one of them, and his name is Ronnie
:26:26. > :26:36.O'Sullivan. That's one to worry about later. A
:26:37. > :26:43.good match, high quality. They always have good games. Marco will
:26:44. > :26:47.need a better start tonight. He went asleep for a couple of frames, he
:26:48. > :26:53.had chances. Then Shaun got ahead. Shaun played very well yesterday. He
:26:54. > :26:59.got off to a brilliant start. Should even have been better, should have
:27:00. > :27:03.been 10-6 arguably. Marco has given himself a chance. I still think
:27:04. > :27:15.Shaun is the favourite, he is probably a higher class cueist than
:27:16. > :27:18.Marco but we know he has an underlining talent. I think it's
:27:19. > :27:24.going to be Shaun Murphy. If he plays to his top level Shaun can
:27:25. > :27:30.play a steam-roler sort of game to cause Ronnie some problems. He is a
:27:31. > :27:35.charming man, he talks about how wonderful it is to be back at the
:27:36. > :27:39.Crucible. He thinks he has another world title in him, seriously? Why
:27:40. > :27:41.not, he came in 2005 and potted everything and went for anything
:27:42. > :27:46.that was round, knocked it in the pocket and won. He has changed
:27:47. > :27:50.Hispaniola game a little bit -- he has changed his game a little bit.
:27:51. > :27:54.Sometimes he has lapses in concentration, particularly in the
:27:55. > :27:58.middle of a break sometimes I think. Occasionally he let's that slip.
:27:59. > :28:01.Like Ryan Day has done. He has always been working with his game
:28:02. > :28:07.and he is in a good frame of mind and that's important coming to this
:28:08. > :28:12.World Championship. I think Murphy. Thank you both very much indeed.
:28:13. > :28:18.That's it for us for now. Join us at 7.00pm with further live coverage.