:00:36. > :00:48.Good morning. It is the 2014 Dafabet World Championship. Things are
:00:49. > :00:53.hotting up here. Ronnie O'Sullivan is back in action later this
:00:54. > :00:55.afternoon. We can expect a triptych atmosphere because we are down to
:00:56. > :01:25.the last eight. -- a terrific. You would be expecting to see all
:01:26. > :01:31.the big ones like Ronnie O'Sullivan and Neil Robertson, but perhaps not
:01:32. > :02:32.ones like Allen McManus and Dominic Dale.
:02:33. > :02:43.I was born in Leicester on the 19th of June 1983. My nickname is the
:02:44. > :02:49.Jester from Leicester. I turned professional in 1999. In 2007, I
:02:50. > :03:00.reached the final of the World Championship. I won the Masters at
:03:01. > :03:07.Wembley in 2008. I won my first ranking title at the Welsh Open in
:03:08. > :03:16.2008. In 2010, I'd beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in a final frame decider
:03:17. > :03:18.at the Masters. In 2012, I won the UK championship. I won the Masters
:03:19. > :03:30.again in 2013. Both players had been in the
:03:31. > :03:37.practice room, they are both ready, looking focused. Mark Selby says he
:03:38. > :03:43.is looking forward to this one. Allen McManus has seen off John
:03:44. > :03:45.Higgins and Ken Doherty and he has revealed that motivational notes are
:03:46. > :03:54.getting him through the championship. An table one, Barry
:03:55. > :04:01.Hawkins takes on Dominic Dale. Another day of fantastic snooker
:04:02. > :04:05.ahead. Let's join Rob Walker. Good morning. The quarterfinals
:04:06. > :04:12.begin with two players flourishing into their 40s against two opponents
:04:13. > :04:16.in the world's top five. We are getting to the business end of this
:04:17. > :04:31.year's Dafabet World Championship 's.
:04:32. > :04:39.Please welcome first of all the player we have not seen at this
:04:40. > :04:42.stage of the World Championships for 14 years. He came through
:04:43. > :04:51.qualifying, each Mark Davis and Michael Wasley. He won this
:04:52. > :04:59.season's shooter snooker out -- snooker shoot out. He has promised
:05:00. > :05:01.to sing his own walk on tune if he makes the semifinals. Here comes the
:05:02. > :05:31.spaceman, Dominic Dale ! And his opponent, a player who has
:05:32. > :05:36.come of age since winning the Australian open in 2012. And they
:05:37. > :05:46.represent one to the final here 12 months ago. He is in this for the
:05:47. > :06:09.long haul, he hopes. Here comes the Hawk, Barry Hawkins!
:06:10. > :06:16.Here on table two, please welcome a player also turning back the clock
:06:17. > :06:21.in style. After making his debut here in 1991, he is once again in
:06:22. > :06:25.the quarterfinals at the tender age of 43. The former Masters champion
:06:26. > :06:32.has produced some of the best snooker we have seen from him in the
:06:33. > :06:35.past decade to get here in the last eight. He is wearing the tartan
:06:36. > :06:57.trews and flying the flag for Scotland, Allen McManus!
:06:58. > :07:04.And finally, his opponent, a player who is so often so cool under
:07:05. > :07:09.pressure. Since making the final year in 2007, he has won three
:07:10. > :07:16.Masters title and the UK championship, he is a brilliant
:07:17. > :07:39.ambassador for the sport, the Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby!
:07:40. > :07:46.Here we go then. The first quarterfinals of the 2014 Dafabet
:07:47. > :07:51.World Championship. Allen McManus last made the semifinals in 1993 but
:07:52. > :08:01.lost out to Stephen Hendry. What a story if he can beat Mark Selby. The
:08:02. > :08:02.other match is on your red button. Good morning to Dennis Taylor and
:08:03. > :08:21.Ken Doherty. Allen did win the toss. He will
:08:22. > :08:22.break off. I like that little silhouette of his then he is
:08:23. > :08:43.introduced to the crowd. -- salute. Some players raise their hands, some
:08:44. > :08:50.just bow and acknowledge. Allen, morning all.
:08:51. > :09:08.How about those trousers? I think they're terrific.
:09:09. > :09:17.We could see some terrific tactical play from these two players. Allen
:09:18. > :09:32.is a master tactician. That is where he got his nickname from, Allen
:09:33. > :09:36.Angles McManus. He may still take an... Was nice to get an early pot
:09:37. > :09:47.on. But it looks as if he is going for the safety shot.
:09:48. > :10:02.He came down off two red Sea there. -- two reds.
:10:03. > :10:08.He has been playing exceptionally well in this tournament. And indeed
:10:09. > :10:14.during the season. One of the toughest match players I have
:10:15. > :10:22.encountered. He is a professional. They do not call him angles for
:10:23. > :10:26.nothing. He is up against an opponent, Mark Selby, who is one of
:10:27. > :10:39.the toughest match players and knows his way around the table.
:10:40. > :10:48.Even when not playing at their best, they are very tough to beat, both
:10:49. > :10:58.these guys. He is God the Jester from Leicester. I have another
:10:59. > :11:27.nickname for him sat navs Selby. I quite like that.
:11:28. > :11:33.I think we will see that cue ball on that baulk pushing quite a few times
:11:34. > :11:50.-- baulk cushion. Here is the view of Hawk-Eye. It
:11:51. > :11:57.doesn't paint a pretty picture for Allen McManus. It is going to be
:11:58. > :12:18.quite tough to get down into the baulk area.
:12:19. > :12:43.An early chance for Mark Selby. You will see whether there'd was. It was
:12:44. > :13:08.holding the black spot. Is he on this red? He has just
:13:09. > :13:26.overran it slightly. That was a bonus. He thought he had
:13:27. > :14:17.covered that bread. -- that red. Nicely on the pink. It is developing
:14:18. > :14:35.into a decent chance. They are not ideally placed just yet.
:14:36. > :14:53.I don't think the bottom red of these two will pot.
:14:54. > :15:01.If the bottom one does sport, he will be taking that one on
:15:02. > :15:18.If the bottom one does sport, he he can stay on the black.
:15:19. > :15:34.He is certainly working this break nicely.
:15:35. > :15:41.Again, over on the cue ball slightly. Just wanted a little
:15:42. > :16:10.cannon slightly. It was enough of a distraction, the
:16:11. > :16:48.red, and he had to just pass. He got away with it.
:16:49. > :16:58.He will play a straightforward safety shot, one with a thin edge.
:16:59. > :17:08.This is more difficult than where he was when he missed the reds.
:17:09. > :17:18.When he missed this, just have a look at what happened here. If this
:17:19. > :17:21.red passes the white, it was a useful little kiss he happier. -- he
:17:22. > :18:04.had there. He may be able to drop this red into
:18:05. > :18:21.the middle. It looks very tight, a very acute angle.
:18:22. > :18:25.In the end, you just concentrated on getting a good cue ball and he
:18:26. > :18:50.hasn't got that. Hasn't left pot on. There is a
:18:51. > :19:06.safety shot. He will not hit any other reds. And that has brought the
:19:07. > :19:09.black into play. Look at that. He is coming round to see if the black
:19:10. > :19:20.wool port into the opposite corner. He is almost dead straight.
:19:21. > :19:32.He is blessed with tremendous cue power, Mark Selby. Let's see what
:19:33. > :19:49.you can do with this one. Have a look at that. Excellent shot.
:19:50. > :20:03.All done with striking the cue ball. You just push the cue right
:20:04. > :20:19.through, it takes some doing. Look at the chalk mark. It bites,
:20:20. > :20:41.stops and spins backwards. You can't teach somebody that. You
:20:42. > :21:12.can tell them what to do, but you can't teach them that.
:21:13. > :21:16.He tried to play a containing safety shot there. Knowing full well he
:21:17. > :21:38.would leave Mark tester a tester. This will certainly test his
:21:39. > :21:49.cueing. Excellent shot. He has brought the pink out as well. What a
:21:50. > :21:54.great pot this is. And an even better nudge on the pink.
:21:55. > :22:09.Unbelievable. You dream of those little cannons. Yes, I think he
:22:10. > :22:16.deserved it, a great shot. As you said, a bonus getting the pink back
:22:17. > :22:37.on its spot. Just a point about the extensions
:22:38. > :22:47.there. We didn't have them around when I was playing. Do players
:22:48. > :22:54.practice with them on? I'm not sure whether the practice with them. Some
:22:55. > :23:01.players don't like using the rest and are happy not to use the rest if
:23:02. > :23:12.they don't need to. That is where the extension comes in. It gives you
:23:13. > :23:18.that little bit of extra to reach some of those shots. But they are so
:23:19. > :23:32.handy in certain situations. Mark Selby is quite tall sort you do
:23:33. > :23:38.not often see him using something like that. Whereas I get plenty of
:23:39. > :24:02.use out of it. I wish they had been around when I was playing.
:24:03. > :24:11.Not a straightforward run to the winning line in this opening frame.
:24:12. > :24:22.He should be oaky after the next shot if he gets this one right.
:24:23. > :24:35.He was not going to risk any cannons. It shouldn't be a problem.
:24:36. > :24:38.That is nicely played. You have the one on the right side of the table
:24:39. > :24:51.and that will be the frame safe. It is important for Mark to get off
:24:52. > :25:02.to a good start. If he gets into a tactical battle, Alan may edge it.
:25:03. > :25:09.Interesting that Alan has mental notes that he has been looking at.
:25:10. > :25:14.I'm not sure whether he has divulged what the notes say. But a lot of
:25:15. > :25:27.players have little notes in their cue cases. Or little photographs,
:25:28. > :25:32.family photographs. Just some sort of positive thoughts in their mind
:25:33. > :25:43.as they go out to play, it is very important. A little bit disappointed
:25:44. > :25:58.in missing that. But Allen concedes the first frame.
:25:59. > :26:11.Some good tactical play at the start of that frame. Watch the outcome
:26:12. > :26:17.here. He is going to be on a colour NAV, but just watch what happens
:26:18. > :26:25.here as he comes off the cushion. He cannons in such a way that he can
:26:26. > :26:33.pot it and get up to the red. As you say, Fortune favours the brave.
:26:34. > :27:00.Sometimes you deserve your luck. At first glance, he might be able to
:27:01. > :27:15.take this plant on. It is a possibility. But he does not
:27:16. > :27:53.want to finish on the baulk cushion. What has he done here? He has been
:27:54. > :28:01.so lucky because he mishit his shot. Good safety shot! Nice to see that.
:28:02. > :28:07.You cannot get the smile off Alan's face after getting away with that.
:28:08. > :28:19.But watch this red nestle on the fight. -- white.
:28:20. > :28:35.That was very sportsmanlike from Mark Selby. He declared that
:28:36. > :28:45.himself. Push shot is with the tip of the cue, the cue ball and the
:28:46. > :29:23.object ball are all touching each other. That was a nice little short.
:29:24. > :29:28.Very difficult for the referee when the fight gets in amongst the blades
:29:29. > :29:59.to see whether it is get the game back to normality. That
:30:00. > :30:10.red is a bit of a problem at the moment. That must be in. Very unlike
:30:11. > :30:22.Mark Selby to make that sort of mistake.
:30:23. > :30:28.The black will go. It is the sort of shot that does your confidence a lot
:30:29. > :30:42.of good. A good pot. Decided to go for blue
:30:43. > :30:58.or baulk from the red. We saw it again. Slightly overhit
:30:59. > :31:00.for the blue. Pot on the brown. Possibly on the red next to the
:31:01. > :31:21.pink. Oh. # Can't really afford to do that
:31:22. > :31:31.against Mark Selby. He's got to be careful with a little cannon here
:31:32. > :31:39.that he doesn't knock the black safe.
:31:40. > :31:57.That's OK. Judged it very well, didn't he?
:31:58. > :32:05.He wanted fuller contact on that red when potting the black. Still OK. He
:32:06. > :32:10.can just cut a quarter ball, as opposed to half a ball. He has to
:32:11. > :32:17.judge the cannon again on the blacks bounce it off the top cushion. If he
:32:18. > :32:22.doesn't like the little delicate shot, he might even play this in
:32:23. > :32:23.such a way that he screws the white back off the black and heads up
:32:24. > :32:45.towards the blue. He played for the blue and look
:32:46. > :32:50.where the cue ball finished? He might even be on the black? That
:32:51. > :32:54.would have been a bonus. He thought he finished nicely on the blue but
:32:55. > :33:04.with the side it spun on up the table. He is still OK.
:33:05. > :33:09.If he can pot this red and the pink to follow, the pink will go on the
:33:10. > :33:53.blackspot. The pink spot is covered. EAR There are a lot of reds around
:33:54. > :33:54.the pink spot to pot into the right-hand corner pocket. He will go
:33:55. > :34:05.for blue here. He is going to have to play. He has
:34:06. > :34:11.overrun that and will have to play for the yellow and maybe run in. It
:34:12. > :34:14.is a big target, of course. He will have to go into the pack of reds off
:34:15. > :34:39.one cushion hoping for a nice split. A great side-on view of that
:34:40. > :35:10.particular shot, played with side. I like that.
:35:11. > :35:16.Lovely shot. Watch the cue ball here. Watch it stop and then go
:35:17. > :35:19.again. Again a demonstration of his cue power and how he can strike the
:35:20. > :35:28.cue ball. That's not the best shot he has ever
:35:29. > :35:30.played. He wanted to be on blue but he is OK. Black into the corner
:35:31. > :35:46.pocket. He is looking solid, Denis, potting
:35:47. > :35:51.some good balls, keeping the break going. He certainly does look
:35:52. > :35:56.terrific out there. There is every chance that he could win this second
:35:57. > :36:03.frame with this visit, the way the reds are situated.
:36:04. > :36:11.He hit that all wrong. He knew straight away. He needs luck now.
:36:12. > :36:15.Oh, he's had it. He turned away as soon as he played the shot. I
:36:16. > :36:33.thought - I've got into this too much and then the flick on the blue.
:36:34. > :36:39.If you are playing well, you get all these bits of good foretup, that's
:36:40. > :37:04.usually the case. -- fortune. He overrun that slightly but he will
:37:05. > :37:06.use the reds as a stopper. This is the key to winning the second frame
:37:07. > :37:21.you would say. Over, overcut it. OK, once again, the run of the
:37:22. > :37:46.balls. How did he get the white through that gap?
:37:47. > :38:00.He had to play it with a bit of pace to get it on to the pink.
:38:01. > :38:07.Well, that's a possibility. The only reason he would take that on is he
:38:08. > :38:10.could leave the white on the cushion behind the black spot and he would
:38:11. > :38:15.be on the pink, as you can see, that's his plan. He is going to take
:38:16. > :38:18.that plant and there is no easy run away to the other end of the table
:38:19. > :38:53.because there is a red next to the black.
:38:54. > :39:01.There are a couple of reds that will go into the right, middle pocket but
:39:02. > :39:05.neither are as easy than the one to the left. It is not all that easy
:39:06. > :39:10.either. I think if he can attempt the one into the left middle, Denis,
:39:11. > :39:13.he will leave the cue ball down somewhere near the green pocket and
:39:14. > :39:33.he won't be leaving anything straightforward.
:39:34. > :39:41.Just looking at the situation here, as Alan sits down, Mark might take
:39:42. > :39:45.the double on. The reds next to the black. He could play that as a shot
:39:46. > :39:50.to nothing and if he covered the red near the brown, he would be. If he
:39:51. > :40:26.doubles the red, he would be on the yellow. Worth a risk, this.
:40:27. > :40:34.Well, Mark dropped himself right in trouble there. He didn't screw the
:40:35. > :40:37.white back far enough when he attempted the doll and left this
:40:38. > :40:41.shot on for Mark Selby. He is going to have to play something special
:40:42. > :40:44.here with the red over the left, corner pocket. -- he attempted the
:40:45. > :40:59.double. This is a little trick shot to come
:41:00. > :41:16.back past the blue. A great effort. He could have it
:41:17. > :41:26.safe. Superb. What a shot. Excellent shot. He has left the red to the
:41:27. > :41:30.right, centre, though. ! This is a very similar type of shot that Mark
:41:31. > :41:36.had earlier on in the frame, into the opposite middle pocket. It looks
:41:37. > :41:38.pretty straight but if he pots it the pink and obviously the blue will
:41:39. > :42:04.be there. I tell you what, Ken, those shots,
:42:05. > :42:10.the blue - after we show you that terrific pot, the white almost going
:42:11. > :42:13.in but where it has finished to pot the blue is difficult because it is
:42:14. > :42:27.right on the corner of the pocket there. Difficult to cue.
:42:28. > :42:36.Well, those couple of pots will certainly make Alan McManus feel a
:42:37. > :42:40.bit better. He looked a bit shaky the first couple of attempts at pots
:42:41. > :42:42.this morning but he has a good chance now to get back into this
:42:43. > :42:57.frame. He's got that little mannerism. You
:42:58. > :43:01.probably won't see it when he is using the rest. But the normal shot
:43:02. > :43:09.he has his head perfectly still but as he delivered -- delivers the cue,
:43:10. > :43:18.his head comes up. He has always done that. Watch. Just comes off the
:43:19. > :43:24.cue as he delivers it. He has a couple of reds to go. Possibly the
:43:25. > :43:43.red just to the right of the pink spot. That could be his next choice.
:43:44. > :43:50.Now does he have a nice angle to drop this red in? He is going to
:43:51. > :43:57.need that red that is safe, the one close to the cushion.
:43:58. > :44:03.Has he got a nice angle when potting this red to nudge it off the side
:44:04. > :44:22.cushion and bring it into play? He played it well. The cue ball is
:44:23. > :44:32.OK. He is definitely on the yellow. He may be on the black. That could
:44:33. > :44:35.get up close to the red down in the right-hand corner pocket. Let's look
:44:36. > :44:55.at the angle? A nice angle there. This will certainly help his cause.
:44:56. > :45:03.Well, now, Denis, a great opportunity for Alan McManus for a
:45:04. > :45:07.counterattack. I think he needs it, Ken, Mark Selby was in this frame.
:45:08. > :45:12.He had a good chance to go on and make it 2-0. It is very important
:45:13. > :45:14.for Alan to hang on to Mark at the start of this match, just to give
:45:15. > :45:30.himself a decent chance. Smshg a firm favourite to take this
:45:31. > :45:36.quarter-final -- Mark is a firm favourite. But Alan, if he can have
:45:37. > :45:49.a reasonably good start - and he has been playing well enough.
:45:50. > :45:56.You don't beat two former World Champions and not give yourself a
:45:57. > :46:00.chance. John Higgins four times champion in the first round and
:46:01. > :46:05.thefrn the darling of -- and then the darling of Dublin, sitting next
:46:06. > :46:07.to me in the last round. But he needs a reasonably good start
:46:08. > :46:14.against Mark Selby. That's about perfect. He can screw
:46:15. > :46:53.over behind that last red. Well, he is a little low on this
:46:54. > :46:58.black. He should still be OK. He just has to drop the black in. If he
:46:59. > :47:03.plays it dead weight, no side, just off the cushion and on for the
:47:04. > :47:08.yellow. Oh, he has gone for near the middle pocket. That must have kicked
:47:09. > :47:12.you know. I think he got a kick. I put the line up and worked out -
:47:13. > :47:16.that's usually from that position, the black jumped. It didn't affect
:47:17. > :47:22.the pot but look at the outcome there. How unlucky is that? Well,
:47:23. > :47:35.that's desperately unlucky for Alan McManus.
:47:36. > :47:43.Well, you don't mind losing a frame if you potted a bad shot but he
:47:44. > :47:46.potted the black and the kick took the white completely off-line. Very,
:47:47. > :48:09.very unlucky. This is going very close to the
:48:10. > :48:27.blue. Mark Selby, nine.
:48:28. > :48:38.# -- It's amazing, Mark has played
:48:39. > :48:43.this in such a way that he is thinking of get getting the black in
:48:44. > :48:47.poling. That took his concentration off the blue. He has the white in
:48:48. > :48:52.position but look where the blue S he should have played the blue at a
:48:53. > :48:58.steady pace and made sure of it. The fact he played it at such a pace
:48:59. > :49:04.stopped it from going in the pocket. Oh, Alan. Well, a little bit nervy
:49:05. > :49:11.out there already in the early exchanges in this match. Blue for
:49:12. > :49:21.Mark Selby to seal this first round, the second frame.
:49:22. > :49:29.Well t doesn't the cleanest pot he has ever made. It certainly wiped
:49:30. > :49:45.its feet, this blue. Now, you can see Alan, a little
:49:46. > :49:51.shake of the head there. He is still thinking about that bad contact that
:49:52. > :49:54.he got. Mark didn't play a good shot there. The pink should have been
:49:55. > :50:07.right in the jaw. But he wasn't going to pot it.
:50:08. > :50:27.That wasn't a bad effort there, from angles.
:50:28. > :50:36.He could play a little thin one to keep the thin out but the middle
:50:37. > :50:44.pocket is in the way of coming off the baulk cushion,ed side cushion in
:50:45. > :50:48.behind the black. The -- the baulk cushion, the side cushion n behind
:50:49. > :50:53.the black. The middle pocket is in the way that he could take this. You
:50:54. > :52:27.see, the pocket is right in the way of him attempting that.
:52:28. > :52:34.The problem for Alan here is he has not only to get the white in behind
:52:35. > :52:44.the black, he also has to keep that pink in a safe position.
:52:45. > :52:49.He hasn't done that this time although Mark has to be careful and
:52:50. > :53:07.be aware of where the cue ball will go if he takes on the pot.
:53:08. > :53:11.He has a chance herement baulk cushion, side cushion, up behind the
:53:12. > :53:48.black. A similar shot to auto few shots
:53:49. > :53:54.ago. Let's see can he avoid the middle pocket here. The only problem
:53:55. > :53:58.-- to a few shots ago. Let's see if he can avoid the middle pocket here.
:53:59. > :54:01.The pink is going to stay close to the pocket, so he may not attempt it
:54:02. > :54:18.at this stage. Once again, Mark Selby will just
:54:19. > :54:24.roll the pink. That's what we call when your opponent needs a snooker,
:54:25. > :54:33.an in or over shot. In the pocket or over the pocket.
:54:34. > :54:39.I think he first attempted the pink when he followed the blue, he didn't
:54:40. > :54:44.get close, sow played to roll it over the pocket. That's caused this
:54:45. > :54:50.problem. But there is the middle pocket I was talking about. The
:54:51. > :54:53.other side of the at the same time. It was in the way. It was also in
:54:54. > :55:25.the way of trying the snooker down the right side of the table.
:55:26. > :55:34.I thought the frame would be over after he potted the blue. He had the
:55:35. > :55:39.pink and he didn't hit T he left it a long way short of the pocket. --
:55:40. > :55:41.he didn't hit it. We have been battling away here for snookers ever
:55:42. > :55:51.since. That missed pink was about
:55:52. > :55:56.six-and-a-half minutes ago. The black still just about OK, if it
:55:57. > :56:08.gets knocked on to the cushion, then it will be the end of frame.
:56:09. > :56:16.Someone coming into the Crucible for the very first time, they would be
:56:17. > :56:22.thinking - this is a very strange game, this. The blacks so close to
:56:23. > :56:27.the top cushion just makes it a little bit more difficult getting in
:56:28. > :56:29.behind it. That's why Alan is going to try to disturb it from that type
:56:30. > :56:46.of shot. These two players, Denis, they have
:56:47. > :56:52.the knowledge of the angles. Even if Alan eventually does get a snooker,
:56:53. > :56:58.we've seen already evidence of how Mark Selby, you know, he has gifts
:56:59. > :57:08.of escape. His talent of getting out of snookers is second to none, as is
:57:09. > :57:12.his opponent. It's funny, one of the frames I played against Alan in the
:57:13. > :57:17.last match needed a couple of snookers and after a few attempts I
:57:18. > :57:22.just gave up. I said - there's no point.
:57:23. > :57:26.Well, that's a couple of times the black has been moved from its spot.
:57:27. > :57:42.It's almost on the cushion. We always say he needs one snooker
:57:43. > :57:49.but if your opponent keeps hitting it, you might need ten snookers. He
:57:50. > :58:54.could try and cut the black into the table a bit more here.
:58:55. > :58:59.Let's see if he can get closer to the pocket this time. If he can put
:59:00. > :59:04.the pink right in the jaws of the pocket, he would love it to drop in
:59:05. > :59:10.and end this tactical battle on the pink, here. That was a better pace
:59:11. > :59:51.but no pot. A little laugh from the crowd.
:59:52. > :59:57.Hopefully Mark can pot this pink and we'll start the next frame. And in
:59:58. > :00:02.goes the pink eventually. Mark Selby takes it, after over 32 minutes and
:00:03. > :00:13.he goes into now a two frames to nil lead.
:00:14. > :00:22.ball well, thank God for that. He was going to keep trying for that
:00:23. > :00:29.once look, but it was so difficult. Mark was in amongst the balls. He
:00:30. > :00:38.missed the pink off the spot and then Alan missed the shot with the
:00:39. > :00:46.rest. But the frame could have been over 20 minutes ago.
:00:47. > :00:56.That pink, this was the shot. He potted the red and is trying to drop
:00:57. > :01:04.nicely on the red. He just came up a little bit shot after he potted it.
:01:05. > :01:11.If he stops there, he is fine. He tried a little cannon, missed the
:01:12. > :01:18.pink. Watch with the cue ball finishes. Amazing. It is hard to
:01:19. > :01:30.believe it got through that gap, missing all four upgrades. -- four
:01:31. > :01:38.reds. Having a little chat to each other. Two smashing guys here.
:01:39. > :01:46.Alan gets the third frame under way. You never settle in any match and
:01:47. > :01:53.till you get your first frame on the scoreboard. He was desperately
:01:54. > :01:58.unlucky in that last frame, Alan McManus, that kicked on the black
:01:59. > :02:01.avoiding the angle. The blacks still went in, but the cue ball ended up
:02:02. > :03:06.going into the middle pocket. I mentioned in the first frame, B
:03:07. > :03:12.will see the cue ball on that cushion quite a few times. These
:03:13. > :03:15.guys are so good, they are almost touching the cushions with a lot of
:03:16. > :05:19.their shots. What sort of angle has he got on
:05:20. > :05:24.this thread? -- this red? He potted one earlier on like this, but did
:05:25. > :05:31.not get on the blue. He has potted another one.
:05:32. > :05:47.That's oaky. He has a choice of yellow, or green and a couple of
:05:48. > :05:50.reds. Good cueing. Those type of shots give you a confidence boost.
:05:51. > :06:00.If you can get on that led to the left, he would be ideal. That might
:06:01. > :06:41.be oaky if it bounces. That is not bad as it turns out.
:06:42. > :06:48.Yes, that was a well worked out shot. He has the open red, that he
:06:49. > :06:54.also has a nice angle if he wishes to go for the pack here.
:06:55. > :07:08.He has settled for that. Quite fortunate. He wanted to catch that
:07:09. > :07:10.pink full on. He only caught it quarter-ball. He has got a nice
:07:11. > :07:20.result there. He played that shot the old way, he
:07:21. > :07:32.stunned into it rather than screwed into it. A very good shot.
:07:33. > :07:41.He took the risk and it was well worth the risk. That red nearly went
:07:42. > :08:03.in. Yes, it didn't have to do much with
:08:04. > :08:37.the cue ball there. He could put the pink here, but I'm
:08:38. > :08:43.not sure well but would go afterwards -- sure how that would go
:08:44. > :08:49.afterwards. He is going to take the yellow, and feel. He has got a
:08:50. > :09:18.choice now. He has got a very straightforward
:09:19. > :09:23.plant. He can hold the cue ball for the black into the opposite corner
:09:24. > :09:28.pocket. The first red that he is going to plant, if he can hold the
:09:29. > :09:31.cue ball somewhere around that position, it would be perfect on the
:09:32. > :09:58.black. Once again, he had options. He could
:09:59. > :10:03.have screwed by little bit for the black. But he knew that if he came
:10:04. > :10:15.back down the table, he would always have pink or blue.
:10:16. > :10:24.This might tie the pink up somewhat. That is not a bad large on
:10:25. > :10:25.that red. It means it is slightly easier to get on the black. He is
:10:26. > :10:51.just having a quick glance. Is he going to risk a cannon onto
:10:52. > :11:02.those two reds? You does not have to do that, but it would certainly
:11:03. > :11:04.clears things. He did and a little unfortunate with their cannon. He
:11:05. > :11:19.will have to get the extension out. Just slipped slightly out of
:11:20. > :11:21.position. Anything he has got this red into left centre. That is a
:11:22. > :12:34.bonus. Has he gone to straight on this red?
:12:35. > :12:36.He needs an angle on this red closest to the pocket just to get
:12:37. > :12:58.back out for the black. Has he hit it enough? It looks a bit
:12:59. > :13:01.tight. You can see from his facial expression, this is close enough. It
:13:02. > :13:20.may just be on it. He convinced himself he could see
:13:21. > :13:26.enough. But you can see from our picture, that was very tight. What
:13:27. > :13:34.an elementary mistake that is, to hit the red. It was the shot where
:13:35. > :13:40.he was bridging over the red, he did not get enough screw on it. He could
:13:41. > :13:51.hit the pink at the same time as the red. If you hit them both at their
:13:52. > :13:59.same time, it is a split ball and a full shot. He felt that he had
:14:00. > :14:04.just... Well judged. Not easy that. And not easy for the referee to
:14:05. > :14:09.spot. We have got one of the top referees in the game here. She has
:14:10. > :14:11.been refereeing for a number of years. One of the most experienced
:14:12. > :14:45.referees in the game. This is a good opportunity for Mark
:14:46. > :14:50.Selby here. The two reds that are closest to the top cushion, they
:14:51. > :14:58.will cause a little bit of a problem.
:14:59. > :15:07.Love to get the black backed its spot. That would make this break an
:15:08. > :15:22.awful lot easier. The top red of the two that are
:15:23. > :15:26.closest to the cushion, the top one does put into the top right-hand
:15:27. > :16:21.pocket. He wanted just to be low on that
:16:22. > :16:28.red. His angle is not that great. He will have to screw the red in. But
:16:29. > :16:35.it may bring the other red into play. That is a great shot.
:16:36. > :16:42.Fantastic shot. This is a wonderful shot, just watch this. He doesn't
:16:43. > :16:52.screw it in, he stands it in -- stuns. That was well worked out.
:16:53. > :16:57.This will be costly for Alan McManus. He was unlucky in the frame
:16:58. > :16:59.before. But he wasn't unlucky in this frame, he just mishit his
:17:00. > :17:08.positional shot. The green is going this frame, he just mishit his
:17:09. > :17:13.to be the key to this frame. Got to get a good angle on the yellow. Give
:17:14. > :17:36.himself a chance at the green. He is in behind the blue. Waiting to
:17:37. > :17:43.see the cue ball spin up. Very unlike Mark Selby. Just wondering
:17:44. > :17:46.why he did not stun it off the left-hand cushion and avoid the
:17:47. > :18:03.possible snooker behind the blue. However, puts him one point in the
:18:04. > :18:17.lead. But shaking his head. He felt he could have won the frame from
:18:18. > :18:26.that position. Very early days, but this is a key frame. Alan McManus
:18:27. > :18:29.looking for that one frame to settle himself down. Mark Selby looking to
:18:30. > :18:50.go three frames ahead. This was the shot where he was
:18:51. > :19:04.slightly hampered. He thought he could pot it. He has set this to
:19:05. > :19:08.hard. He needs the pink to come to his rescue. Yes, played in behind
:19:09. > :19:14.the black. But he will take that. No matter how good you are at
:19:15. > :19:25.getting out or snookers, you need a No matter how good you are at
:19:26. > :19:32.little bit of good fortune to hit this and knock it safe.
:19:33. > :20:15.Good shot from Alan McManus. Just didn't get the snooker. Try to knock
:20:16. > :20:21.the yellow up and down the brown spot, I would have thought. Get the
:20:22. > :20:23.cue ball tight to the baulk cushion. He has to be careful with the cue
:20:24. > :21:03.ball. It's OK. Neither player will want to pot the
:21:04. > :21:23.yellow unless he can get somewhere near Mark's hand. Just beyond that.
:21:24. > :21:26.He can hit the cushion first and send the yellow back up the table.
:21:27. > :22:50.Nicely played. He could send the yellow back across
:22:51. > :22:55.the table. Every chance it could go in the right corner. If he doesn't,
:22:56. > :22:59.he can get the yellow back behind the black. All was worth having a
:23:00. > :23:17.little go at this type of shot. Good effort, but look where he has
:23:18. > :23:28.got the cue ball. That is such a clever shot. That was more or less
:23:29. > :23:32.three shots in one. Had that yellow gone in, it would have been perfect
:23:33. > :23:37.on the green. Got to be careful here. He does not want to send that
:23:38. > :23:43.yellow... Didn't expect him to miss it. You have got to be lucky when
:23:44. > :23:55.you do hit the yellow, you can't knock it over the corner pocket. In
:23:56. > :23:58.the last frame, Alan had virtually won the frame. He is just rolling
:23:59. > :24:08.this on to get the yellow and he got a kick on this. The angle, you can
:24:09. > :24:16.see the black John. -- the black jump. How unlucky was that. This was
:24:17. > :24:22.the natural angle. And he would have won that second frame. It was very
:24:23. > :24:26.unfortunate. The kick wide and the angle across the black. He is in a
:24:27. > :24:49.spot of bother here. Getting out of this snooker is the
:24:50. > :24:53.important thing. The middle pocket is not in their way. He is so good
:24:54. > :25:22.at the ankles. And now he has gone twice a cross them. -- angles.
:25:23. > :25:27.12 points ahead now, but that green bowl still be the crucial ball. This
:25:28. > :26:11.looks pretty good. Excellent shot. If he does not get this right, he
:26:12. > :27:00.will not get the yellow on. If he goes to the right side of the
:27:01. > :27:09.table, he comes close to hitting it in the middle pocket. He is looking
:27:10. > :27:13.for a couple of cushions. The one cushion looks the easiest way out.
:27:14. > :27:22.If he catches it half ball, he is OK. Trying to catch it half ball, he
:27:23. > :27:25.If he catches it half ball, he is did not even get near the yellow.
:27:26. > :27:49.Sat nav Selby, but wasn't very good. Well, they are both having trouble.
:27:50. > :27:58.Yes, it seems to be sliding quite a lot of that side cushion.
:27:59. > :28:09.I think he is trying to be a little bit too precise here. Just try to
:28:10. > :28:13.make sure to hit the yellow and hope bit too precise here. Just try to
:28:14. > :28:17.for the best. He might pot it this time.
:28:18. > :28:28.That's what happens. You never know whether yellow is going to finish.
:28:29. > :28:30.He was trying to be so precise when he missed it a couple of times. In
:28:31. > :28:37.the end, he just relied on let's hit he missed it a couple of times. In
:28:38. > :28:46.it and see what happens. It's not that straightforward. He can't screw
:28:47. > :28:56.the yellow in and try to get the green into the same pocket. He is
:28:57. > :29:04.looking at trying to drop it in. What a tricky shot that would be. He
:29:05. > :29:16.has just supported it and he is going to play a decent safety shot.
:29:17. > :29:35.As we said earlier, the green was the difficult ball and that looks
:29:36. > :29:43.like fought will determine who wins this frame. Just at the mid section
:29:44. > :29:45.interval on the next table saw plenty of noise as the spectators go
:29:46. > :30:05.out for coffee. Well, I'm in the quite sure whether
:30:06. > :30:09.Alan attempted a pot there, but if he didn't, that was a very careless
:30:10. > :30:22.safety shot. He could be in a lot of trouble here. -- I'm not quite sure.
:30:23. > :30:47.He! Well, he tried to avoid a kiss on the black.
:30:48. > :31:02.Is there a GP? That was -- is there a gap? That was funny. Players were
:31:03. > :31:09.looking down on it from both ends. The referee having a look now. Alan
:31:10. > :31:15.was looking from this side as Mark was looking from the other side.
:31:16. > :31:22.Well, if he is not on it, he can definitely just swerve it. It is a
:31:23. > :31:31.slight swerve. He may end up potting this.
:31:32. > :31:53.A slight swerve. He will not be on the brown, though.
:31:54. > :32:00.That's unlucky but a very, very good safety shot. Let's lack at that
:32:01. > :32:06.little swerve again. A bit too pacy to stay for the
:32:07. > :32:16.brown. He needs this to pull up. This could
:32:17. > :32:27.be over the middle pocket. It He needs this to pull up. This could
:32:28. > :32:33.to pull up and it has. Just going back to that little swerve shot.
:32:34. > :32:44.You've swerved a few in your time, haven't you, Ken?
:32:45. > :32:54.If the brown was higher up, he could send it all the way around the
:32:55. > :32:56.angles and finish on the baulk cushion. I don't think it's
:32:57. > :33:10.available to him. He tried it. It might just be OK. If
:33:11. > :33:14.it bounces. Now Alan has a chance that. Shot just wasn't a natural
:33:15. > :33:31.because of the way they were sitting.
:33:32. > :33:37.pull off if he hit the white on the bottom and took the pace out of it.
:33:38. > :33:53.# otherwise it is up and down. Oh, he has gone in off, has he Well,
:33:54. > :34:00.he played a plain ball and he thought - right, if I pot the brown,
:34:01. > :34:04.let's just see if I can just get a cannon on the blue and hopefully
:34:05. > :34:08.let's just see if I can just get a knock it on. He is very unlucky
:34:09. > :34:17.there, it has to be said, Ken. He lost it, tight to the top cushion.
:34:18. > :34:30.REFERREE: Foul. Did he put a touch of side on that and maybe threw it
:34:31. > :34:36.off-line before it got to the blue, but what an error.
:34:37. > :34:44.Interestingly, enough, Mark doesn't put them back to the original
:34:45. > :34:51.position. He feels this is a more difficult shot.
:34:52. > :34:57.That's pretty good. A straight-forward safety shot here
:34:58. > :35:18.for Mark Selby. It's quite a high-scoring frame
:35:19. > :35:28.this, 62 to 66. That's because of the fouls that have been given away.
:35:29. > :35:41.Oh, he has a double kiss but it is a combrit good one.
:35:42. > :36:06.Mark Selby putting hisp hand up, sort of apologising. That wasn't the
:36:07. > :36:12.type of shot he intended. I think the pink has covered the path for
:36:13. > :36:21.type of shot he intended. I think the blue to the corner pocket.
:36:22. > :36:32.The first frame just over 17 minutes. Then we had a 33 hip second
:36:33. > :36:38.frame and now this 3 -- a 33-minute second frame and now coming up to 35
:36:39. > :36:50.minutes. But it is very interesting. Force very interesting to see if
:36:51. > :36:50.Alan McManus can take it and settle down. If you put all this hard work
:36:51. > :36:55.into a down. If you put all this hard work
:36:56. > :37:01.and you are 3-0 behind... Now can he down. If you put all this hard work
:37:02. > :37:02.send this all the way around the down. If you put all this hard work
:37:03. > :37:17.angles behind the black? A fascinating context. The safety
:37:18. > :37:22.play. It is nice to see the century breaks but sometimes, frames like
:37:23. > :37:27.this, Denis, particularly for the purists, it is fascinating. A game
:37:28. > :37:30.of cat and mouse at times. It is like a game of chess with balls at
:37:31. > :37:45.the moment. This is a chance but it is not an
:37:46. > :37:49.easy chance. He has to cue this extremely well. The
:37:50. > :37:52.easy chance. He has to cue this automatically come back up towards
:37:53. > :38:13.the pink. But this is far from easy. Mark will be trying to get in behind
:38:14. > :38:16.the black. A couple of ways of playing this. He can go down either
:38:17. > :39:20.side of the table here. An excellent shot from Mark Selby.
:39:21. > :39:26.He couldn't have hit that much better. He was trying to get in
:39:27. > :39:30.behind the pink - trying to get in behind the black but the pink was
:39:31. > :39:36.always a blocker. He has played it very well. A difficult thing here
:39:37. > :39:42.for Alan McManus. It is not hitting the blue, but trying to keep it
:39:43. > :39:45.safe. He is six points behind, Alan McManus. Should he hit the blue,
:39:46. > :39:59.Mark Selby will need blue and pink. Very good. Excellent shot. That's
:40:00. > :40:07.about the best he could have hoped for. Now is it worth taking this
:40:08. > :40:11.blue snob he knows it is in a tight position. Alan McManus needs blue,
:40:12. > :40:24.pink and black. That might be the reason to take this blue on here.
:40:25. > :40:32.He hit it a bit harder than intended there. He didn't quite get the screw
:40:33. > :40:37.that he is usually so good at. Let's have another look. He finished up
:40:38. > :40:47.that he sort of stunned T he didn't really screw
:40:48. > :40:53.-- stunned it. He didn't really screw it. Not a bad outcome from
:40:54. > :41:22.Alan now. He has hit that slightly. Pretty
:41:23. > :41:26.safe. I wonder will Alan will take the chance to chip the blue across
:41:27. > :41:29.and knock the black off the cushion and leave the blue where the black
:41:30. > :41:37.is. He is just having a quick look at the scoreboard. He is going to
:41:38. > :41:45.need that black. 40 minutes and counting.
:41:46. > :41:56.He has decided to try to get the snooker.
:41:57. > :42:00.I think Mark, with his height and the way he swerves them shouldn't be
:42:01. > :42:16.a problem. Well, he could be in a bit of
:42:17. > :42:20.trouble here. There is plenty of room behind the black here. Alan can
:42:21. > :42:22.stun the blue up the table and try to get it as tight to the black as
:42:23. > :42:33.possible. That's not the best shot he has ever
:42:34. > :42:37.played but he has got the blue safe and that was the important part of
:42:38. > :42:40.that shot. Of course, he has knocked the black into a better position,
:42:41. > :42:42.should he get an opportunity to win this frame. It is a bit of pressure
:42:43. > :42:56.on this blue now for Mark Selby. I think that last shot, he
:42:57. > :43:00.concentrated on making the blue safe and made sure to get the black into
:43:01. > :43:07.play. Then the snooker would have been a bonus.
:43:08. > :43:15.A chance now. He has the angle to pot the blue. He come around the
:43:16. > :43:19.table here to get himself on to the pink. It is a big shot to Alan.
:43:20. > :43:25.Well, if he can live up to his nickname here, the natural sort of
:43:26. > :43:28.angle - if he tries to pot the blue in the right corner, the white could
:43:29. > :43:36.come around the table. He could stun it in.
:43:37. > :43:44.He stunned the in. Is he going to get on the right spot? He doesn't
:43:45. > :43:48.want to land on the pink? Oh, can he pot it? A slight gap between the
:43:49. > :43:55.pink and black. If he was straight on the pink, it would be easy. But
:43:56. > :44:03.he has to get around for the black. Well, what a shot he is faced with
:44:04. > :44:07.here. Not only has he got to pot this pink, he has to find his way
:44:08. > :44:11.around the angles and miss that middle pocket on the way round if he
:44:12. > :44:18.is going to finish on the black. What a shot this would be. Well, if
:44:19. > :44:25.anyone can pull it off, it will be angles. A tough shot, isn't it? Of
:44:26. > :44:34.course, into a blind pocket, as we say. He didn't attempt it.
:44:35. > :44:49.A good shot but, I thought he was going to take it on there.
:44:50. > :44:55.Maybe he played the right shot in the end. That has drifted a little
:44:56. > :45:02.bit. He was playing a delicate shot and the white has drifted a bit. So
:45:03. > :45:06.a gift for Alan McManus. This is so important for the Scot to get off
:45:07. > :45:13.and running. It has been coming up to nearly 44 minutes.
:45:14. > :45:20.And that is the first frame on the board for Alan McManus and maybe now
:45:21. > :45:25.he can settle down. Mark Selby just running the brown up the table to
:45:26. > :45:32.see if it is drifting slightly but that doesn't matter now. It's 2-1 to
:45:33. > :45:36.Mark Selby. ? STUDIO: Alan McManus using his
:45:37. > :45:41.experience to get a frame on the board. A long frame. We will be back
:45:42. > :45:44.to that match in a moment but expect a wonderful atmosphere in the
:45:45. > :45:50.Crucible in Sheffield this afternoon where the defending champion, Ronnie
:45:51. > :45:56.O'Sullivan walks out it take on the 2005 World Champion, Shaun Murphy.
:45:57. > :46:02.-- to take on. You don't know what is going to
:46:03. > :46:05.happen. 2011 was meant to be my last World Championships. I had two
:46:06. > :46:10.brilliant wins here, the last two years. I played some great snooker
:46:11. > :46:17.the last three years. For me I have kind of shown everybody what I'm
:46:18. > :46:21.capable of. When he starts potting the long ones, he is pretty hard
:46:22. > :46:27.work to play against I struggled for years to get the consistency. Now
:46:28. > :46:33.I'm playing to a high level. Even when I'm not flying, I can turn it
:46:34. > :46:36.around to get momentum T can be the worse place in the world, the
:46:37. > :46:39.Crucible or the greatest place. You have to accept that as part and
:46:40. > :46:47.parcel of it. But the adrenaline and the highs, it is a great feeling.
:46:48. > :46:51.Well, I, like every other player on tour, enjoy watchy Ronnie play. He
:46:52. > :46:55.has been unbeaten for three years. He is the player we all like to
:46:56. > :46:59.watch. I will look at that match as a challenge. It will be a great
:47:00. > :47:03.example to me to see where my game is at. He is the benchmark. The top
:47:04. > :47:11.player in the world and best player on the planet. It will be a really
:47:12. > :47:21.tough game. DENIS TAYLOR: Yes, that will be an
:47:22. > :47:26.absolute cracker . Many while, Alan has had to send
:47:27. > :47:47.the red up the table because he had no escape route. -- meanwhile.
:47:48. > :47:53.There we see Mark running the brown. Let's look to see - yeah, there was
:47:54. > :47:58.a slight. You could see with his hand gesture, it did drift on him.
:47:59. > :48:07.Whether he good a touch of side on it, that can affect the shot, also.
:48:08. > :48:15.-- whether he got a touch of side on it.
:48:16. > :48:23.It is sauch dangerous shot to play, though, Denis at such a stage. -- it
:48:24. > :48:36.is such a dangerous shot to play Trying to roll it at that pace.
:48:37. > :48:54.A good pot, but not ideal on this blue here.
:48:55. > :49:18.Well, we know what Mark's plan will be here, be even though there is a
:49:19. > :49:27.red next to the black. He plays this shot well.
:49:28. > :49:42.Wow, what a miss that was. I didn't see that one coming. So maybe that
:49:43. > :50:01.long third frame has just upset his concentration slightly.
:50:02. > :50:08.Just going back to that shot there. He is only going to play a little
:50:09. > :50:12.safety shot here. We'll show you something very interesting here.
:50:13. > :50:17.This was the pink that he was just rolling. What he wanted to do - he
:50:18. > :50:23.wanted to hit the pink and send it over on the side cushion. Let's have
:50:24. > :50:28.a look. I have the line spot on. It is going on the line, on the line
:50:29. > :51:02.and right at the end seemed to veer off to the left as he looked at it.
:51:03. > :51:11.What a result there. He has left a red. He covered the black. The pink
:51:12. > :51:17.is tied up. Let's have a look at this mishit. This safety but, oh,
:51:18. > :51:22.look at the black just nestling on the red.
:51:23. > :51:30.A pretty good effort as Alan gives a good sigh there and he is perfectly
:51:31. > :51:37.on the blue. What a shot. Straight into the pink now when he pots the
:51:38. > :51:41.blue. ! He is just making sure there are no plants available. If he hits
:51:42. > :51:45.this hard enough, there is every chance that even somehow the black
:51:46. > :51:50.could be sprung into play, but will he take it on with a screw? He
:51:51. > :51:54.normally stuns into them. A lot of the modern players screw into them
:51:55. > :52:00.and scatter them all over the place. He does. Looking at the two reds. At
:52:01. > :52:05.the bottom. They are in align to the right, bottom pocket. He is
:52:06. > :52:08.concerned about those two. There you see, they are in a line towards this
:52:09. > :52:11.corner pocket. Now just watch those two reds when he goes into the pack
:52:12. > :52:21.here. Well, he hit it in such a way that
:52:22. > :52:26.he didn't disturb them and he is perfect. Well, he is if the red next
:52:27. > :52:30.to the black pots, he is perfect. I'm sure it does. This will release
:52:31. > :52:40.the black into the same pocket, of course. Well, what happened there?
:52:41. > :52:52.It looked like he used left-hand side instead of right-hand side.
:52:53. > :52:56.Watch the cue ball here. Well, if he felt it was going near the black,
:52:57. > :52:58.why didn't he just play up for the blue? That was an excellent
:52:59. > :53:10.opportunity for Alan McManus. He just didn't seem to get the
:53:11. > :53:16.right-hand side required to miss hitting it on the way past.
:53:17. > :53:23.Well, that's going to frustrate Alan. OK, he has the snooker but a
:53:24. > :53:28.golden opportunity. If he plays it with left-hand side as it hits the
:53:29. > :53:54.cushion and spins past the black, and just no side.
:53:55. > :54:05.He would have loved to have just nestled slightly on the reds. He has
:54:06. > :54:13.left a red into this bottom right-hand corner pocket.
:54:14. > :54:17.He is making sure this time. Because in the earlier frame he got down to
:54:18. > :54:34.pot the black and hit a red. I tell you what, Ken, if he could
:54:35. > :54:41.get to the mid--session interval 2-2, what a result that could be, it
:54:42. > :54:45.could quite easily have been 3-0. Yes, he will certainly be feeling
:54:46. > :54:54.the better of the two players, there is no doubt about that. There were
:54:55. > :55:01.quite a number of occasions during that last frame that he never looked
:55:02. > :55:14.like winning it. This will certainly do his confidence the world of good.
:55:15. > :55:21.We showed you earlier he was unlucky in the second frame where he got a
:55:22. > :55:27.kick and went in-off. That would have given him a frame. He has a
:55:28. > :55:47.good temperament, though, has Alan. He always has.
:55:48. > :56:02.He played that very well. Cannoned into it. Two reds there perfectly.
:56:03. > :56:06.Lots of reds in the open here. He doesn't have to do much with the cue
:56:07. > :56:17.ball. He just needs to keep it under
:56:18. > :56:39.control. Perfect on the black. He could even
:56:40. > :56:42.play a cannon on to the little triangle of reds or go for the one
:56:43. > :56:47.to the right of the black. I mean what is he, 24 in snront it doesn't
:56:48. > :56:52.necessarily have to do that but it is a -- 24 in front. He doesn't
:56:53. > :56:58.necessarily have to do that but it is a natural to play that cannon.
:56:59. > :57:22.Well, they are all there for the taking now.
:57:23. > :57:29.If both these poliers get a chance they are fluid around -- if both
:57:30. > :57:37.these players get a chance like this, they are fluid around the
:57:38. > :57:38.table. They are tactical players but if they get the chance they won't
:57:39. > :57:59.hang about. ?
:58:00. > :58:03.STUDIO: Well, that's it from us here on BBC Two but both matches here at
:58:04. > :58:08.the Crucible continue on your red button, online, smartphones and
:58:09. > :58:15.tablets. Mark Selby taking on Alan McManus and on the other table,
:58:16. > :58:20.Barry Hawkins has a 3-1 lead over Wales' Dominic Dale. Is that match
:58:21. > :58:39.is available, too. We are at 1.00pm. Goodbye for now.
:58:40. > :58:43.-- we are back at 1 and o.00pm.