Day 11, Part 1 Snooker: World Championship

Good morning. It is the 2014 Dafabet World Championship. Things are

hotting up here. Ronnie O'Sullivan is back in action later this

afternoon. We can expect a triptych atmosphere because we are down to

the last eight. -- a terrific. You would be expecting to see all

the big ones like Ronnie O'Sullivan and Neil Robertson, but perhaps not

ones like Allen McManus and Dominic Dale.

I was born in Leicester on the 19th of June 1983. My nickname is the

Jester from Leicester. I turned professional in 1999. In 2007, I

reached the final of the World Championship. I won the Masters at

Wembley in 2008. I won my first ranking title at the Welsh Open in

2008. In 2010, I'd beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in a final frame decider

at the Masters. In 2012, I won the UK championship. I won the Masters

again in 2013. Both players had been in the

practice room, they are both ready, looking focused. Mark Selby says he

is looking forward to this one. Allen McManus has seen off John

Higgins and Ken Doherty and he has revealed that motivational notes are

getting him through the championship. An table one, Barry

Hawkins takes on Dominic Dale. Another day of fantastic snooker

ahead. Let's join Rob Walker. Good morning. The quarterfinals

begin with two players flourishing into their 40s against two opponents

in the world's top five. We are getting to the business end of this

year's Dafabet World Championship 's.

Please welcome first of all the player we have not seen at this

stage of the World Championships for 14 years. He came through

qualifying, each Mark Davis and Michael Wasley. He won this

season's shooter snooker out -- snooker shoot out. He has promised

to sing his own walk on tune if he makes the semifinals. Here comes the

spaceman, Dominic Dale ! And his opponent, a player who has

come of age since winning the Australian open in 2012. And they

represent one to the final here 12 months ago. He is in this for the

long haul, he hopes. Here comes the Hawk, Barry Hawkins!

Here on table two, please welcome a player also turning back the clock

in style. After making his debut here in 1991, he is once again in

the quarterfinals at the tender age of 43. The former Masters champion

has produced some of the best snooker we have seen from him in the

past decade to get here in the last eight. He is wearing the tartan

trews and flying the flag for Scotland, Allen McManus!

And finally, his opponent, a player who is so often so cool under

pressure. Since making the final year in 2007, he has won three

Masters title and the UK championship, he is a brilliant

ambassador for the sport, the Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby!

Here we go then. The first quarterfinals of the 2014 Dafabet

World Championship. Allen McManus last made the semifinals in 1993 but

lost out to Stephen Hendry. What a story if he can beat Mark Selby. The

other match is on your red button. Good morning to Dennis Taylor and

Ken Doherty. Allen did win the toss. He will

break off. I like that little silhouette of his then he is

introduced to the crowd. -- salute. Some players raise their hands, some

just bow and acknowledge. Allen, morning all.

How about those trousers? I think they're terrific.

We could see some terrific tactical play from these two players. Allen

is a master tactician. That is where he got his nickname from, Allen

Angles McManus. He may still take an... Was nice to get an early pot

on. But it looks as if he is going for the safety shot.

He came down off two red Sea there. -- two reds.

He has been playing exceptionally well in this tournament. And indeed

during the season. One of the toughest match players I have

encountered. He is a professional. They do not call him angles for

nothing. He is up against an opponent, Mark Selby, who is one of

the toughest match players and knows his way around the table.

Even when not playing at their best, they are very tough to beat, both

these guys. He is God the Jester from Leicester. I have another

nickname for him sat navs Selby. I quite like that.

I think we will see that cue ball on that baulk pushing quite a few times

-- baulk cushion. Here is the view of Hawk-Eye. It

doesn't paint a pretty picture for Allen McManus. It is going to be

quite tough to get down into the baulk area.

An early chance for Mark Selby. You will see whether there'd was. It was

holding the black spot. Is he on this red? He has just

overran it slightly. That was a bonus. He thought he had

covered that bread. -- that red. Nicely on the pink. It is developing

into a decent chance. They are not ideally placed just yet.

I don't think the bottom red of these two will pot.

If the bottom one does sport, he will be taking that one on

If the bottom one does sport, he he can stay on the black.

He is certainly working this break nicely.

Again, over on the cue ball slightly. Just wanted a little

cannon slightly. It was enough of a distraction, the

red, and he had to just pass. He got away with it.

He will play a straightforward safety shot, one with a thin edge.

This is more difficult than where he was when he missed the reds.

When he missed this, just have a look at what happened here. If this

red passes the white, it was a useful little kiss he happier. -- he

had there. He may be able to drop this red into

the middle. It looks very tight, a very acute angle.

In the end, you just concentrated on getting a good cue ball and he

hasn't got that. Hasn't left pot on. There is a

safety shot. He will not hit any other reds. And that has brought the

black into play. Look at that. He is coming round to see if the black

wool port into the opposite corner. He is almost dead straight.

He is blessed with tremendous cue power, Mark Selby. Let's see what

you can do with this one. Have a look at that. Excellent shot.

All done with striking the cue ball. You just push the cue right

through, it takes some doing. Look at the chalk mark. It bites,

stops and spins backwards. You can't teach somebody that. You

can tell them what to do, but you can't teach them that.

He tried to play a containing safety shot there. Knowing full well he

would leave Mark tester a tester. This will certainly test his

cueing. Excellent shot. He has brought the pink out as well. What a

great pot this is. And an even better nudge on the pink.

Unbelievable. You dream of those little cannons. Yes, I think he

deserved it, a great shot. As you said, a bonus getting the pink back

on its spot. Just a point about the extensions

there. We didn't have them around when I was playing. Do players

practice with them on? I'm not sure whether the practice with them. Some

players don't like using the rest and are happy not to use the rest if

they don't need to. That is where the extension comes in. It gives you

that little bit of extra to reach some of those shots. But they are so

handy in certain situations. Mark Selby is quite tall sort you do

not often see him using something like that. Whereas I get plenty of

use out of it. I wish they had been around when I was playing.

Not a straightforward run to the winning line in this opening frame.

He should be oaky after the next shot if he gets this one right.

He was not going to risk any cannons. It shouldn't be a problem.

That is nicely played. You have the one on the right side of the table

and that will be the frame safe. It is important for Mark to get off

to a good start. If he gets into a tactical battle, Alan may edge it.

Interesting that Alan has mental notes that he has been looking at.

I'm not sure whether he has divulged what the notes say. But a lot of

players have little notes in their cue cases. Or little photographs,

family photographs. Just some sort of positive thoughts in their mind

as they go out to play, it is very important. A little bit disappointed

in missing that. But Allen concedes the first frame.

Some good tactical play at the start of that frame. Watch the outcome

here. He is going to be on a colour NAV, but just watch what happens

here as he comes off the cushion. He cannons in such a way that he can

pot it and get up to the red. As you say, Fortune favours the brave.

Sometimes you deserve your luck. At first glance, he might be able to

take this plant on. It is a possibility. But he does not

want to finish on the baulk cushion. What has he done here? He has been

so lucky because he mishit his shot. Good safety shot! Nice to see that.

You cannot get the smile off Alan's face after getting away with that.

But watch this red nestle on the fight. -- white.

That was very sportsmanlike from Mark Selby. He declared that

himself. Push shot is with the tip of the cue, the cue ball and the

object ball are all touching each other. That was a nice little short.

Very difficult for the referee when the fight gets in amongst the blades

to see whether it is get the game back to normality. That

red is a bit of a problem at the moment. That must be in. Very unlike

Mark Selby to make that sort of mistake.

The black will go. It is the sort of shot that does your confidence a lot

of good. A good pot. Decided to go for blue

or baulk from the red. We saw it again. Slightly overhit

for the blue. Pot on the brown. Possibly on the red next to the

pink. Oh. # Can't really afford to do that

against Mark Selby. He's got to be careful with a little cannon here

that he doesn't knock the black safe.

That's OK. Judged it very well, didn't he?

He wanted fuller contact on that red when potting the black. Still OK. He

can just cut a quarter ball, as opposed to half a ball. He has to

judge the cannon again on the blacks bounce it off the top cushion. If he

doesn't like the little delicate shot, he might even play this in

such a way that he screws the white back off the black and heads up

towards the blue. He played for the blue and look

where the cue ball finished? He might even be on the black? That

would have been a bonus. He thought he finished nicely on the blue but

with the side it spun on up the table. He is still OK.

If he can pot this red and the pink to follow, the pink will go on the

blackspot. The pink spot is covered. EAR There are a lot of reds around

the pink spot to pot into the right-hand corner pocket. He will go

for blue here. He is going to have to play. He has

overrun that and will have to play for the yellow and maybe run in. It

is a big target, of course. He will have to go into the pack of reds off

one cushion hoping for a nice split. A great side-on view of that

particular shot, played with side. I like that.

Lovely shot. Watch the cue ball here. Watch it stop and then go

again. Again a demonstration of his cue power and how he can strike the

cue ball. That's not the best shot he has ever

played. He wanted to be on blue but he is OK. Black into the corner

pocket. He is looking solid, Denis, potting

some good balls, keeping the break going. He certainly does look

terrific out there. There is every chance that he could win this second

frame with this visit, the way the reds are situated.

He hit that all wrong. He knew straight away. He needs luck now.

Oh, he's had it. He turned away as soon as he played the shot. I

thought - I've got into this too much and then the flick on the blue.

If you are playing well, you get all these bits of good foretup, that's

usually the case. -- fortune. He overrun that slightly but he will

use the reds as a stopper. This is the key to winning the second frame

you would say. Over, overcut it. OK, once again, the run of the

balls. How did he get the white through that gap?

He had to play it with a bit of pace to get it on to the pink.

Well, that's a possibility. The only reason he would take that on is he

could leave the white on the cushion behind the black spot and he would

be on the pink, as you can see, that's his plan. He is going to take

that plant and there is no easy run away to the other end of the table

because there is a red next to the black.

There are a couple of reds that will go into the right, middle pocket but

neither are as easy than the one to the left. It is not all that easy

either. I think if he can attempt the one into the left middle, Denis,

he will leave the cue ball down somewhere near the green pocket and

he won't be leaving anything straightforward.

Just looking at the situation here, as Alan sits down, Mark might take

the double on. The reds next to the black. He could play that as a shot

to nothing and if he covered the red near the brown, he would be. If he

doubles the red, he would be on the yellow. Worth a risk, this.

Well, Mark dropped himself right in trouble there. He didn't screw the

white back far enough when he attempted the doll and left this

shot on for Mark Selby. He is going to have to play something special

here with the red over the left, corner pocket. -- he attempted the

double. This is a little trick shot to come

back past the blue. A great effort. He could have it

safe. Superb. What a shot. Excellent shot. He has left the red to the

right, centre, though. ! This is a very similar type of shot that Mark

had earlier on in the frame, into the opposite middle pocket. It looks

pretty straight but if he pots it the pink and obviously the blue will

be there. I tell you what, Ken, those shots,

the blue - after we show you that terrific pot, the white almost going

in but where it has finished to pot the blue is difficult because it is

right on the corner of the pocket there. Difficult to cue.

Well, those couple of pots will certainly make Alan McManus feel a

bit better. He looked a bit shaky the first couple of attempts at pots

this morning but he has a good chance now to get back into this

frame. He's got that little mannerism. You

probably won't see it when he is using the rest. But the normal shot

he has his head perfectly still but as he delivered -- delivers the cue,

his head comes up. He has always done that. Watch. Just comes off the

cue as he delivers it. He has a couple of reds to go. Possibly the

red just to the right of the pink spot. That could be his next choice.

Now does he have a nice angle to drop this red in? He is going to

need that red that is safe, the one close to the cushion.

Has he got a nice angle when potting this red to nudge it off the side

cushion and bring it into play? He played it well. The cue ball is

OK. He is definitely on the yellow. He may be on the black. That could

get up close to the red down in the right-hand corner pocket. Let's look

at the angle? A nice angle there. This will certainly help his cause.

Well, now, Denis, a great opportunity for Alan McManus for a

counterattack. I think he needs it, Ken, Mark Selby was in this frame.

He had a good chance to go on and make it 2-0. It is very important

for Alan to hang on to Mark at the start of this match, just to give

himself a decent chance. Smshg a firm favourite to take this

quarter-final -- Mark is a firm favourite. But Alan, if he can have

a reasonably good start - and he has been playing well enough.

You don't beat two former World Champions and not give yourself a

chance. John Higgins four times champion in the first round and

thefrn the darling of -- and then the darling of Dublin, sitting next

to me in the last round. But he needs a reasonably good start

against Mark Selby. That's about perfect. He can screw

over behind that last red. Well, he is a little low on this

black. He should still be OK. He just has to drop the black in. If he

plays it dead weight, no side, just off the cushion and on for the

yellow. Oh, he has gone for near the middle pocket. That must have kicked

you know. I think he got a kick. I put the line up and worked out -

that's usually from that position, the black jumped. It didn't affect

the pot but look at the outcome there. How unlucky is that? Well,

that's desperately unlucky for Alan McManus.

Well, you don't mind losing a frame if you potted a bad shot but he

potted the black and the kick took the white completely off-line. Very,

very unlucky. This is going very close to the

blue. Mark Selby, nine.

# -- It's amazing, Mark has played

this in such a way that he is thinking of get getting the black in

poling. That took his concentration off the blue. He has the white in

position but look where the blue S he should have played the blue at a

steady pace and made sure of it. The fact he played it at such a pace

stopped it from going in the pocket. Oh, Alan. Well, a little bit nervy

out there already in the early exchanges in this match. Blue for

Mark Selby to seal this first round, the second frame.

Well t doesn't the cleanest pot he has ever made. It certainly wiped

its feet, this blue. Now, you can see Alan, a little

shake of the head there. He is still thinking about that bad contact that

he got. Mark didn't play a good shot there. The pink should have been

right in the jaw. But he wasn't going to pot it.

That wasn't a bad effort there, from angles.

He could play a little thin one to keep the thin out but the middle

pocket is in the way of coming off the baulk cushion,ed side cushion in

behind the black. The -- the baulk cushion, the side cushion n behind

the black. The middle pocket is in the way that he could take this. You

see, the pocket is right in the way of him attempting that.

The problem for Alan here is he has not only to get the white in behind

the black, he also has to keep that pink in a safe position.

He hasn't done that this time although Mark has to be careful and

be aware of where the cue ball will go if he takes on the pot.

He has a chance herement baulk cushion, side cushion, up behind the

black. A similar shot to auto few shots

ago. Let's see can he avoid the middle pocket here. The only problem

-- to a few shots ago. Let's see if he can avoid the middle pocket here.

The pink is going to stay close to the pocket, so he may not attempt it

at this stage. Once again, Mark Selby will just

roll the pink. That's what we call when your opponent needs a snooker,

an in or over shot. In the pocket or over the pocket.

I think he first attempted the pink when he followed the blue, he didn't

get close, sow played to roll it over the pocket. That's caused this

problem. But there is the middle pocket I was talking about. The

other side of the at the same time. It was in the way. It was also in

the way of trying the snooker down the right side of the table.

I thought the frame would be over after he potted the blue. He had the

pink and he didn't hit T he left it a long way short of the pocket. --

he didn't hit it. We have been battling away here for snookers ever

since. That missed pink was about

six-and-a-half minutes ago. The black still just about OK, if it

gets knocked on to the cushion, then it will be the end of frame.

Someone coming into the Crucible for the very first time, they would be

thinking - this is a very strange game, this. The blacks so close to

the top cushion just makes it a little bit more difficult getting in

behind it. That's why Alan is going to try to disturb it from that type

of shot. These two players, Denis, they have

the knowledge of the angles. Even if Alan eventually does get a snooker,

we've seen already evidence of how Mark Selby, you know, he has gifts

of escape. His talent of getting out of snookers is second to none, as is

his opponent. It's funny, one of the frames I played against Alan in the

last match needed a couple of snookers and after a few attempts I

just gave up. I said - there's no point.

Well, that's a couple of times the black has been moved from its spot.

It's almost on the cushion. We always say he needs one snooker

but if your opponent keeps hitting it, you might need ten snookers. He

could try and cut the black into the table a bit more here.

Let's see if he can get closer to the pocket this time. If he can put

the pink right in the jaws of the pocket, he would love it to drop in

and end this tactical battle on the pink, here. That was a better pace

but no pot. A little laugh from the crowd.

Hopefully Mark can pot this pink and we'll start the next frame. And in

goes the pink eventually. Mark Selby takes it, after over 32 minutes and

he goes into now a two frames to nil lead.

ball well, thank God for that. He was going to keep trying for that

once look, but it was so difficult. Mark was in amongst the balls. He

missed the pink off the spot and then Alan missed the shot with the

rest. But the frame could have been over 20 minutes ago.

That pink, this was the shot. He potted the red and is trying to drop

nicely on the red. He just came up a little bit shot after he potted it.

If he stops there, he is fine. He tried a little cannon, missed the

pink. Watch with the cue ball finishes. Amazing. It is hard to

believe it got through that gap, missing all four upgrades. -- four

reds. Having a little chat to each other. Two smashing guys here.

Alan gets the third frame under way. You never settle in any match and

till you get your first frame on the scoreboard. He was desperately

unlucky in that last frame, Alan McManus, that kicked on the black

avoiding the angle. The blacks still went in, but the cue ball ended up

going into the middle pocket. I mentioned in the first frame, B

will see the cue ball on that cushion quite a few times. These

guys are so good, they are almost touching the cushions with a lot of

their shots. What sort of angle has he got on

this thread? -- this red? He potted one earlier on like this, but did

not get on the blue. He has potted another one.

That's oaky. He has a choice of yellow, or green and a couple of

reds. Good cueing. Those type of shots give you a confidence boost.

If you can get on that led to the left, he would be ideal. That might

be oaky if it bounces. That is not bad as it turns out.

Yes, that was a well worked out shot. He has the open red, that he

also has a nice angle if he wishes to go for the pack here.

He has settled for that. Quite fortunate. He wanted to catch that

pink full on. He only caught it quarter-ball. He has got a nice

result there. He played that shot the old way, he

stunned into it rather than screwed into it. A very good shot.

He took the risk and it was well worth the risk. That red nearly went

in. Yes, it didn't have to do much with

the cue ball there. He could put the pink here, but I'm

not sure well but would go afterwards -- sure how that would go

afterwards. He is going to take the yellow, and feel. He has got a

choice now. He has got a very straightforward

plant. He can hold the cue ball for the black into the opposite corner

pocket. The first red that he is going to plant, if he can hold the

cue ball somewhere around that position, it would be perfect on the

black. Once again, he had options. He could

have screwed by little bit for the black. But he knew that if he came

back down the table, he would always have pink or blue.

This might tie the pink up somewhat. That is not a bad large on

that red. It means it is slightly easier to get on the black. He is

just having a quick glance. Is he going to risk a cannon onto

those two reds? You does not have to do that, but it would certainly

clears things. He did and a little unfortunate with their cannon. He

will have to get the extension out. Just slipped slightly out of

position. Anything he has got this red into left centre. That is a

bonus. Has he gone to straight on this red?

He needs an angle on this red closest to the pocket just to get

back out for the black. Has he hit it enough? It looks a bit

tight. You can see from his facial expression, this is close enough. It

may just be on it. He convinced himself he could see

enough. But you can see from our picture, that was very tight. What

an elementary mistake that is, to hit the red. It was the shot where

he was bridging over the red, he did not get enough screw on it. He could

hit the pink at the same time as the red. If you hit them both at their

same time, it is a split ball and a full shot. He felt that he had

just... Well judged. Not easy that. And not easy for the referee to

spot. We have got one of the top referees in the game here. She has

been refereeing for a number of years. One of the most experienced

referees in the game. This is a good opportunity for Mark

Selby here. The two reds that are closest to the top cushion, they

will cause a little bit of a problem.

Love to get the black backed its spot. That would make this break an

awful lot easier. The top red of the two that are

closest to the cushion, the top one does put into the top right-hand

pocket. He wanted just to be low on that

red. His angle is not that great. He will have to screw the red in. But

it may bring the other red into play. That is a great shot.

Fantastic shot. This is a wonderful shot, just watch this. He doesn't

screw it in, he stands it in -- stuns. That was well worked out.

This will be costly for Alan McManus. He was unlucky in the frame

before. But he wasn't unlucky in this frame, he just mishit his

positional shot. The green is going this frame, he just mishit his

to be the key to this frame. Got to get a good angle on the yellow. Give

himself a chance at the green. He is in behind the blue. Waiting to

see the cue ball spin up. Very unlike Mark Selby. Just wondering

why he did not stun it off the left-hand cushion and avoid the

possible snooker behind the blue. However, puts him one point in the

lead. But shaking his head. He felt he could have won the frame from

that position. Very early days, but this is a key frame. Alan McManus

looking for that one frame to settle himself down. Mark Selby looking to

go three frames ahead. This was the shot where he was

slightly hampered. He thought he could pot it. He has set this to

hard. He needs the pink to come to his rescue. Yes, played in behind

the black. But he will take that. No matter how good you are at

getting out or snookers, you need a No matter how good you are at

little bit of good fortune to hit this and knock it safe.

Good shot from Alan McManus. Just didn't get the snooker. Try to knock

the yellow up and down the brown spot, I would have thought. Get the

cue ball tight to the baulk cushion. He has to be careful with the cue

ball. It's OK. Neither player will want to pot the

yellow unless he can get somewhere near Mark's hand. Just beyond that.

He can hit the cushion first and send the yellow back up the table.

Nicely played. He could send the yellow back across

the table. Every chance it could go in the right corner. If he doesn't,

he can get the yellow back behind the black. All was worth having a

little go at this type of shot. Good effort, but look where he has

got the cue ball. That is such a clever shot. That was more or less

three shots in one. Had that yellow gone in, it would have been perfect

on the green. Got to be careful here. He does not want to send that

yellow... Didn't expect him to miss it. You have got to be lucky when

you do hit the yellow, you can't knock it over the corner pocket. In

the last frame, Alan had virtually won the frame. He is just rolling

this on to get the yellow and he got a kick on this. The angle, you can

see the black John. -- the black jump. How unlucky was that. This was

the natural angle. And he would have won that second frame. It was very

unfortunate. The kick wide and the angle across the black. He is in a

spot of bother here. Getting out of this snooker is the

important thing. The middle pocket is not in their way. He is so good

at the ankles. And now he has gone twice a cross them. -- angles.

12 points ahead now, but that green bowl still be the crucial ball. This

looks pretty good. Excellent shot. If he does not get this right, he

will not get the yellow on. If he goes to the right side of the

table, he comes close to hitting it in the middle pocket. He is looking

for a couple of cushions. The one cushion looks the easiest way out.

If he catches it half ball, he is OK. Trying to catch it half ball, he

If he catches it half ball, he is did not even get near the yellow.

Sat nav Selby, but wasn't very good. Well, they are both having trouble.

Yes, it seems to be sliding quite a lot of that side cushion.

I think he is trying to be a little bit too precise here. Just try to

make sure to hit the yellow and hope bit too precise here. Just try to

for the best. He might pot it this time.

That's what happens. You never know whether yellow is going to finish.

He was trying to be so precise when he missed it a couple of times. In

the end, he just relied on let's hit he missed it a couple of times. In

it and see what happens. It's not that straightforward. He can't screw

the yellow in and try to get the green into the same pocket. He is

looking at trying to drop it in. What a tricky shot that would be. He

has just supported it and he is going to play a decent safety shot.

As we said earlier, the green was the difficult ball and that looks

like fought will determine who wins this frame. Just at the mid section

interval on the next table saw plenty of noise as the spectators go

out for coffee. Well, I'm in the quite sure whether

Alan attempted a pot there, but if he didn't, that was a very careless

safety shot. He could be in a lot of trouble here. -- I'm not quite sure.

He! Well, he tried to avoid a kiss on the black.

Is there a GP? That was -- is there a gap? That was funny. Players were

looking down on it from both ends. The referee having a look now. Alan

was looking from this side as Mark was looking from the other side.

Well, if he is not on it, he can definitely just swerve it. It is a

slight swerve. He may end up potting this.

A slight swerve. He will not be on the brown, though.

That's unlucky but a very, very good safety shot. Let's lack at that

little swerve again. A bit too pacy to stay for the

brown. He needs this to pull up. This could

be over the middle pocket. It He needs this to pull up. This could

to pull up and it has. Just going back to that little swerve shot.

You've swerved a few in your time, haven't you, Ken?

If the brown was higher up, he could send it all the way around the

angles and finish on the baulk cushion. I don't think it's

available to him. He tried it. It might just be OK. If

it bounces. Now Alan has a chance that. Shot just wasn't a natural

because of the way they were sitting.

pull off if he hit the white on the bottom and took the pace out of it.

# otherwise it is up and down. Oh, he has gone in off, has he Well,

he played a plain ball and he thought - right, if I pot the brown,

let's just see if I can just get a cannon on the blue and hopefully

let's just see if I can just get a knock it on. He is very unlucky

there, it has to be said, Ken. He lost it, tight to the top cushion.

REFERREE: Foul. Did he put a touch of side on that and maybe threw it

off-line before it got to the blue, but what an error.

Interestingly, enough, Mark doesn't put them back to the original

position. He feels this is a more difficult shot.

That's pretty good. A straight-forward safety shot here

for Mark Selby. It's quite a high-scoring frame

this, 62 to 66. That's because of the fouls that have been given away.

Oh, he has a double kiss but it is a combrit good one.

Mark Selby putting hisp hand up, sort of apologising. That wasn't the

type of shot he intended. I think the pink has covered the path for

type of shot he intended. I think the blue to the corner pocket.

The first frame just over 17 minutes. Then we had a 33 hip second

frame and now this 3 -- a 33-minute second frame and now coming up to 35

minutes. But it is very interesting. Force very interesting to see if

Alan McManus can take it and settle down. If you put all this hard work

into a down. If you put all this hard work

and you are 3-0 behind... Now can he down. If you put all this hard work

send this all the way around the down. If you put all this hard work

angles behind the black? A fascinating context. The safety

play. It is nice to see the century breaks but sometimes, frames like

this, Denis, particularly for the purists, it is fascinating. A game

of cat and mouse at times. It is like a game of chess with balls at

the moment. This is a chance but it is not an

easy chance. He has to cue this extremely well. The

easy chance. He has to cue this automatically come back up towards

the pink. But this is far from easy. Mark will be trying to get in behind

the black. A couple of ways of playing this. He can go down either

side of the table here. An excellent shot from Mark Selby.

He couldn't have hit that much better. He was trying to get in

behind the pink - trying to get in behind the black but the pink was

always a blocker. He has played it very well. A difficult thing here

for Alan McManus. It is not hitting the blue, but trying to keep it

safe. He is six points behind, Alan McManus. Should he hit the blue,

Mark Selby will need blue and pink. Very good. Excellent shot. That's

about the best he could have hoped for. Now is it worth taking this

blue snob he knows it is in a tight position. Alan McManus needs blue,

pink and black. That might be the reason to take this blue on here.

He hit it a bit harder than intended there. He didn't quite get the screw

that he is usually so good at. Let's have another look. He finished up

that he sort of stunned T he didn't really screw

-- stunned it. He didn't really screw it. Not a bad outcome from

Alan now. He has hit that slightly. Pretty

safe. I wonder will Alan will take the chance to chip the blue across

and knock the black off the cushion and leave the blue where the black

is. He is just having a quick look at the scoreboard. He is going to

need that black. 40 minutes and counting.

He has decided to try to get the snooker.

I think Mark, with his height and the way he swerves them shouldn't be

a problem. Well, he could be in a bit of

trouble here. There is plenty of room behind the black here. Alan can

stun the blue up the table and try to get it as tight to the black as

possible. That's not the best shot he has ever

played but he has got the blue safe and that was the important part of

that shot. Of course, he has knocked the black into a better position,

should he get an opportunity to win this frame. It is a bit of pressure

on this blue now for Mark Selby. I think that last shot, he

concentrated on making the blue safe and made sure to get the black into

play. Then the snooker would have been a bonus.

A chance now. He has the angle to pot the blue. He come around the

table here to get himself on to the pink. It is a big shot to Alan.

Well, if he can live up to his nickname here, the natural sort of

angle - if he tries to pot the blue in the right corner, the white could

come around the table. He could stun it in.

He stunned the in. Is he going to get on the right spot? He doesn't

want to land on the pink? Oh, can he pot it? A slight gap between the

pink and black. If he was straight on the pink, it would be easy. But

he has to get around for the black. Well, what a shot he is faced with

here. Not only has he got to pot this pink, he has to find his way

around the angles and miss that middle pocket on the way round if he

is going to finish on the black. What a shot this would be. Well, if

anyone can pull it off, it will be angles. A tough shot, isn't it? Of

course, into a blind pocket, as we say. He didn't attempt it.

A good shot but, I thought he was going to take it on there.

Maybe he played the right shot in the end. That has drifted a little

bit. He was playing a delicate shot and the white has drifted a bit. So

a gift for Alan McManus. This is so important for the Scot to get off

and running. It has been coming up to nearly 44 minutes.

And that is the first frame on the board for Alan McManus and maybe now

he can settle down. Mark Selby just running the brown up the table to

see if it is drifting slightly but that doesn't matter now. It's 2-1 to

Mark Selby. ? STUDIO: Alan McManus using his

experience to get a frame on the board. A long frame. We will be back

to that match in a moment but expect a wonderful atmosphere in the

Crucible in Sheffield this afternoon where the defending champion, Ronnie

O'Sullivan walks out it take on the 2005 World Champion, Shaun Murphy.

-- to take on. You don't know what is going to

happen. 2011 was meant to be my last World Championships. I had two

brilliant wins here, the last two years. I played some great snooker

the last three years. For me I have kind of shown everybody what I'm

capable of. When he starts potting the long ones, he is pretty hard

work to play against I struggled for years to get the consistency. Now

I'm playing to a high level. Even when I'm not flying, I can turn it

around to get momentum T can be the worse place in the world, the

Crucible or the greatest place. You have to accept that as part and

parcel of it. But the adrenaline and the highs, it is a great feeling.

Well, I, like every other player on tour, enjoy watchy Ronnie play. He

has been unbeaten for three years. He is the player we all like to

watch. I will look at that match as a challenge. It will be a great

example to me to see where my game is at. He is the benchmark. The top

player in the world and best player on the planet. It will be a really

tough game. DENIS TAYLOR: Yes, that will be an

absolute cracker . Many while, Alan has had to send

the red up the table because he had no escape route. -- meanwhile.

There we see Mark running the brown. Let's look to see - yeah, there was

a slight. You could see with his hand gesture, it did drift on him.

Whether he good a touch of side on it, that can affect the shot, also.

-- whether he got a touch of side on it.

It is sauch dangerous shot to play, though, Denis at such a stage. -- it

is such a dangerous shot to play Trying to roll it at that pace.

A good pot, but not ideal on this blue here.

Well, we know what Mark's plan will be here, be even though there is a

red next to the black. He plays this shot well.

Wow, what a miss that was. I didn't see that one coming. So maybe that

long third frame has just upset his concentration slightly.

Just going back to that shot there. He is only going to play a little

safety shot here. We'll show you something very interesting here.

This was the pink that he was just rolling. What he wanted to do - he

wanted to hit the pink and send it over on the side cushion. Let's have

a look. I have the line spot on. It is going on the line, on the line

and right at the end seemed to veer off to the left as he looked at it.

What a result there. He has left a red. He covered the black. The pink

is tied up. Let's have a look at this mishit. This safety but, oh,

look at the black just nestling on the red.

A pretty good effort as Alan gives a good sigh there and he is perfectly

on the blue. What a shot. Straight into the pink now when he pots the

blue. ! He is just making sure there are no plants available. If he hits

this hard enough, there is every chance that even somehow the black

could be sprung into play, but will he take it on with a screw? He

normally stuns into them. A lot of the modern players screw into them

and scatter them all over the place. He does. Looking at the two reds. At

the bottom. They are in align to the right, bottom pocket. He is

concerned about those two. There you see, they are in a line towards this

corner pocket. Now just watch those two reds when he goes into the pack

here. Well, he hit it in such a way that

he didn't disturb them and he is perfect. Well, he is if the red next

to the black pots, he is perfect. I'm sure it does. This will release

the black into the same pocket, of course. Well, what happened there?

It looked like he used left-hand side instead of right-hand side.

Watch the cue ball here. Well, if he felt it was going near the black,

why didn't he just play up for the blue? That was an excellent

opportunity for Alan McManus. He just didn't seem to get the

right-hand side required to miss hitting it on the way past.

Well, that's going to frustrate Alan. OK, he has the snooker but a

golden opportunity. If he plays it with left-hand side as it hits the

cushion and spins past the black, and just no side.

He would have loved to have just nestled slightly on the reds. He has

left a red into this bottom right-hand corner pocket.

He is making sure this time. Because in the earlier frame he got down to

pot the black and hit a red. I tell you what, Ken, if he could

get to the mid--session interval 2-2, what a result that could be, it

could quite easily have been 3-0. Yes, he will certainly be feeling

the better of the two players, there is no doubt about that. There were

quite a number of occasions during that last frame that he never looked

like winning it. This will certainly do his confidence the world of good.

We showed you earlier he was unlucky in the second frame where he got a

kick and went in-off. That would have given him a frame. He has a

good temperament, though, has Alan. He always has.

He played that very well. Cannoned into it. Two reds there perfectly.

Lots of reds in the open here. He doesn't have to do much with the cue

ball. He just needs to keep it under

control. Perfect on the black. He could even

play a cannon on to the little triangle of reds or go for the one

to the right of the black. I mean what is he, 24 in snront it doesn't

necessarily have to do that but it is a -- 24 in front. He doesn't

necessarily have to do that but it is a natural to play that cannon.

Well, they are all there for the taking now.

If both these poliers get a chance they are fluid around -- if both

these players get a chance like this, they are fluid around the

table. They are tactical players but if they get the chance they won't

hang about. ?

STUDIO: Well, that's it from us here on BBC Two but both matches here at

the Crucible continue on your red button, online, smartphones and

tablets. Mark Selby taking on Alan McManus and on the other table,

Barry Hawkins has a 3-1 lead over Wales' Dominic Dale. Is that match

is available, too. We are at 1.00pm. Goodbye for now.

-- we are back at 1 and o.00pm.