Day 12, Part 2

:00:51. > :00:57.Good afternoon. News today that the Wimbledon prize pot will be

:00:58. > :01:03.increasing this summer for the well of my best tennis players. And in

:01:04. > :01:10.the Dafabet World Championship, the players are playing for a record

:01:11. > :01:13.winners cheque of ?300,000. There is an awful lot of work to be done

:01:14. > :01:19.before that can be won and banked on Monday night. By the end of today,

:01:20. > :01:24.we will know the identity and indeed the line-up for the Sony files of

:01:25. > :01:35.the championship. Meanwhile, life play continues from 2:30pm. Barry

:01:36. > :01:40.Hawkins, 11-5 up on the other player. Judd Trump up on Neil

:01:41. > :01:46.Robertson. He played fantastically well. He needs a beleaguered session

:01:47. > :01:51.now. Judd Trump pre-match said he expected Neil Robertson to slow

:01:52. > :01:56.things down tactically and he was prepared for that. A fascinating

:01:57. > :02:01.statement and it was a slower match than the Ronnie O'Sullivan Shaun

:02:02. > :02:04.Murphy match. Generally, you would feel that Neil Robertson plays at a

:02:05. > :02:10.quick pace and he gets on with it. He tries to open the balls up and

:02:11. > :02:15.win the frame on one visit. Maybe little bit of psychological warfare,

:02:16. > :02:19.mind games. A fascinating encounter this afternoon. We'll Neil Robertson

:02:20. > :02:26.come out all guns blazing? I expect so. He is on the 99th century. I

:02:27. > :02:33.think he will come out all guns blazing, it will be fascinating.

:02:34. > :02:39.Another match you would expect, whole lot more mileage left in. Here

:02:40. > :02:44.is how it all fits into our afternoon plan. Like the prize-money

:02:45. > :02:53.here, Judd Trump is on an upward curve. Hywel Robertson responded

:02:54. > :03:04.today? Barry Hawkins, right now the game looks finally tuned. Terry

:03:05. > :03:10.Griffiths is in his corner. Great to see many of you tweeting many --

:03:11. > :03:18.along. He is tough, that Richard Osmond. And talking about tough,

:03:19. > :03:23.Florian colour continues to do things that has our pros even

:03:24. > :03:29.scratching their heads. All of that to come. Plenty on the go already on

:03:30. > :03:32.this 12th day of 17 years in Sheffield. The other quarterfinals

:03:33. > :03:37.resumed and this one in particular was interesting. Ronnie O'Sullivan

:03:38. > :03:44.against Shaun Murphy. Shaun Murphy had taken a healthy lead of 2-0. How

:03:45. > :03:53.often do we stress the importance of going in front early but a series of

:03:54. > :03:58.errors began to creep into his play. Ronnie O'Sullivan went into the 6-2

:03:59. > :04:06.lead after the interval. Clearly, Shaun Murphy got Mac good night

:04:07. > :04:13.sleep, but as we get into the match, running on a roll. Nine frames to

:04:14. > :04:17.three in front and possibly an early conclusion with a session to spare.

:04:18. > :04:26.Let's join Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor.

:04:27. > :04:43.Eventually, Ronnie get this game underway. This match played to a

:04:44. > :04:48.conclusion this evening. Turn it off. He is saying to Frank, we have

:04:49. > :05:06.got one screen. Put it right over the pocket and he

:05:07. > :05:12.hasn't covered it. The good thing for sure and there is the black is

:05:13. > :05:16.tied up from that side of the table. And the natural angle will take the

:05:17. > :05:17.white into the reds so he will have to get a little bit of action on

:05:18. > :07:23.this. He may have to play little cannon on

:07:24. > :07:30.the red that is closest to the black spot here. I don't think he has the

:07:31. > :07:34.angle to play into the right corner. -- right-hand corner.

:07:35. > :07:51.It does go to the right corner. Or does it? I thought it was very

:07:52. > :08:00.tight. We can ask the referee to re-spotted again. If he plays it, he

:08:01. > :08:00.will have to put it in-off the right side of the

:08:01. > :08:27.Just about OK. A simple little calendar has developed two more

:08:28. > :08:39.reds. -- a simple little calendar -- cannon. The winner of this match

:08:40. > :08:47.starts their semifinal tomorrow at one o'clock. Ronnie would want to

:08:48. > :08:56.try and get this over as one o'clock. Ronnie would want to

:08:57. > :09:41.shout in it but at the moment, it is all the Rocket.

:09:42. > :09:52.He must has the red to the middle pocket.

:09:53. > :09:59.It is amazing the number of times you play a plant and you forget

:10:00. > :10:03.about the position, Stephen. It is not quite a great shot there. I

:10:04. > :10:09.thought he would have used a bit more left-hand side to hate -- help

:10:10. > :10:25.the cue all up the table. No problem.

:10:26. > :10:48.That was beautifully struck. Perfect position on the blue.

:10:49. > :10:57.It could have worked out better, that cannon. This is all about is

:10:58. > :11:03.available to him. No, he has overcut it.

:11:04. > :11:09.It was the cannon. If it had worked out nicely, it would have been all

:11:10. > :11:32.over but he finished awkward. A little shake of the head. This was

:11:33. > :11:35.the cannon here. You thought he was bound to finish on an easy red but

:11:36. > :11:42.he finished that it'll awkward. Shaun, he won't get a better chance

:11:43. > :11:51.with the balls sitting as they are. He is 51 behind. You would almost

:11:52. > :12:51.put Shaun Murphy in a normal situation in the frame to win this.

:12:52. > :12:59.He may have to played the pink of the two cushions. -- off the two

:13:00. > :13:17.cushions. It just means he has to head up the

:13:18. > :13:27.table off this. He might have to go for a baulk colour, looking at that

:13:28. > :13:38.angle. He has got to get over the left side of the table, there. It is

:13:39. > :13:43.not straightforward just yet. If the red doesn't go into the left as he

:13:44. > :13:47.is doing up, he has to get over to where the circle is and that will be

:13:48. > :14:02.much more difficult so he is hoping they will pot. He is not sure, is

:14:03. > :14:10.he? You would think the brown is a pretty natural angle. Even the

:14:11. > :14:15.yellow, around that angles, he is Britain with the rest. Much easier

:14:16. > :14:21.to get their with the blue. Let's see what he decides. If he feels he

:14:22. > :14:30.can pot the red from this side of the table. Well, he has gone round

:14:31. > :14:45.to where we had the circle and he has just gone a little too far and

:14:46. > :14:56.he might just be OK. Still pretty good, that shot. He doesn't miss

:14:57. > :14:57.many of the -- with the rest. One of the best players I have seen with

:14:58. > :15:23.the rest. He has come up a little bit short.

:15:24. > :15:32.He may have to go in and out of the baulk area. Or he could hold it,

:15:33. > :15:33.just about. Well played. This is just the tonic that Shaun Murphy

:15:34. > :15:51.needed. If he does clear up here, the match

:15:52. > :15:53.can't finish in this session so that they will be coming back this

:15:54. > :16:37.evening. But what will the score be? Well, can you get your breath?

:16:38. > :16:43.Ronnie can't believe it, Shaun can't believe it and the Crucible audience

:16:44. > :16:46.can't believe it. He just finished with a little bit too much angle

:16:47. > :16:54.than he would have been comfortable with. A slight deceleration in the

:16:55. > :16:59.cue action, that is what happens. You don't often see Shaun Murphy

:17:00. > :17:04.shaking his head, he is usually so composed. But what is there. That

:17:05. > :17:13.might be the end of his championship for this year. He still is in with a

:17:14. > :17:19.chance. He doesn't need the black. So, Ronnie started with a break of

:17:20. > :17:23.59 and Shaun had a territory clearance and then all of a sudden,

:17:24. > :17:31.he missed a straightforward pink, he can't believe it but the score now

:17:32. > :17:37.breeds ten frames to three. -- it reads ten frames to three. Frame 14,

:17:38. > :18:23.Shaun Murphy to break. He doesn't like the escape route on

:18:24. > :18:27.the left side of the table so he is a bit reluctant to just play a

:18:28. > :18:32.containing safety shot and pushed the red up the other end of the

:18:33. > :18:45.table. But there wasn't much else available to him there.

:18:46. > :18:50.He has hit that too thick. Either he hit it too thick or

:18:51. > :18:56.He has hit that too thick. Either he contact. It might have been a

:18:57. > :19:03.kickback. Looking at whether White finished, it's definitely kicked. --

:19:04. > :19:15.looking at where the white finished. The chance for Shaun. And

:19:16. > :19:17.unexpected mist therefrom Ronnie. He has got the red into the left

:19:18. > :19:42.corner. Stephen, I think that missed pink

:19:43. > :19:45.has really shell-shocked Shaun. Yes, you think possibly any fight that

:19:46. > :20:01.was in him has now evaporated. Now, we are back in a situation

:20:02. > :20:10.where if Ronnie wins these remaining three frames, he doesn't have to

:20:11. > :20:15.come back tonight. It is that sort of thing that can get you going as a

:20:16. > :20:19.player. You need little motivations, little goals to give you an

:20:20. > :20:33.interest, give you something to concentrate on. Well, it is along 17

:20:34. > :20:36.days here and if you can, -- can win a match with a session to spare,

:20:37. > :20:42.especially when you are coming back the next day, he would be back at

:20:43. > :20:50.one o'clock to stop the semifinals. So, it is nice to have a relaxing

:20:51. > :21:02.night. Another thing that makes you concentrate is a chance of making a

:21:03. > :21:08.147. That is an early call. You were the record-holder up until Ronnie

:21:09. > :21:14.went one ahead of you. He has made 12 maximum breaks now, Stephen, on

:21:15. > :21:19.11. The one he made to beat your record was in the Welsh final in the

:21:20. > :21:23.deciding frame. Not the deciding frame, the last frame. He became

:21:24. > :21:33.quite comfortably but finished the match off at the maximum.

:21:34. > :21:45.We know with his next shot is. He is more concerned about taking the

:21:46. > :22:30.frame. He hit too hard. You can see his

:22:31. > :23:05.frustration there. I'm just wondering if he got a quick

:23:06. > :23:14.bounce off the cushion. It did seem to come in quite quickly. -- it is

:23:15. > :23:35.seen to come off the cushion quite quickly.

:23:36. > :23:48.A similar scenario to the previous frame. If he gets away with this, he

:23:49. > :23:56.is reported. I tell you what, it is not bad. He wasn't prepared to try

:23:57. > :24:02.and work it out. There wasn't that much to land on. When you do hit

:24:03. > :24:08.them like that, you can lock -- knock something safe and that was

:24:09. > :25:33.probably his planned there. -- his plan there.

:25:34. > :25:39.Just looking at this three reds near the pink, they are all covering each

:25:40. > :26:00.other. They are not far of a plant. But if

:26:01. > :26:03.he gets a good angle, he can just cannon the red to the left of the

:26:04. > :26:12.three and then he has them all in the open.

:26:13. > :26:28.So, he has an angle to put the black and cannon the red away. If he

:26:29. > :26:34.doesn't fancy the plant of the cushion and then flick the red, we

:26:35. > :27:00.will see what he decides. He played it nicely.

:27:01. > :27:05.This is a pretty decent performance in the break by Shaun, after what

:27:06. > :27:32.happened in the last frame. The yellow, you can see it is just

:27:33. > :27:35.off its spot so it is not a straightforward clearers. Usually,

:27:36. > :27:38.when the colours are on this box, you know where you are going. -- on

:27:39. > :27:54.their spots. This is the only thing I can see

:27:55. > :28:02.going wrong. In fact, he has taken the green which makes it easier

:28:03. > :28:17.getting onto the yellow. Amazing. Jess, amazing. -- yes are amazing.

:28:18. > :28:55.He just hasn't been able to put the chances away.

:28:56. > :29:01.He put everything into that shot. He took a little bit longer. That was a

:29:02. > :29:08.good shot off the rest to get that bar -- that far back up the table.

:29:09. > :29:10.So, just the blue needed. It is going to be another frame for Ronnie

:29:11. > :29:32.O'Sullivan. He is not going to bother with the

:29:33. > :29:37.black, I don't think. Shaun Murphy should have won the last couple of

:29:38. > :29:41.frames, he didn't and the Rocket marches on. He is now just a couple

:29:42. > :29:49.of frames away from beating Shaun Murphy in this quarterfinal. He now

:29:50. > :30:11.leads 11-3. Frame 15, Ronnie O'Sullivan to break.

:30:12. > :30:15.That is his best break off for quite a while. Got the white exactly where

:30:16. > :31:33.he wanted it. Let's see how Shaun is feeling now.

:31:34. > :31:42.The Black might be tied up a little bit. Let's see how he cues this one.

:31:43. > :31:47.A little bit unlucky there. If he hits that red full bore, he would

:31:48. > :32:34.have been an easy black. It is quite thin slick on the blue

:32:35. > :33:08.-- snick. He doesn't really want to play for

:33:09. > :33:21.the black Kia, unless he can get an angle on the black.

:33:22. > :33:33.I don't think he has got the angle to do it here.

:33:34. > :33:43.I'm not sure if the red pots, he is having a look at it. His plan will

:33:44. > :33:57.be red, blue, then possibly onto that red.

:33:58. > :34:03.In a couple of shots, he will be getting on the red to the left of

:34:04. > :34:20.the black. Yes, it must go. That will clear the

:34:21. > :34:38.black. Cannon the two reds. He has not got

:34:39. > :35:03.them. Watch this shot. That is a delicate little screw

:35:04. > :35:10.shot. He has gone too far, he will have to

:35:11. > :35:21.wait for another chance. Looks a little frustrated that he

:35:22. > :35:48.did not get on this one. Shon Harris to avoid the red to the

:35:49. > :36:08.left of the black. -- Shaun has two. He has brought the red op swell, but

:36:09. > :37:12.he has got a good cue ball. I think he has covered that red. The

:37:13. > :37:43.blue has come to the rescue. That is a terrific double. And it

:37:44. > :37:51.was a very cleverly played double. He covered the red over the left

:37:52. > :37:53.corner pocket. Every chance now that this match could end in this

:37:54. > :38:05.session. Just having a quick glance at the

:38:06. > :38:28.scoreboard. Why would he want to move that? He

:38:29. > :38:35.only needed the red that was over the pocket. There is a possible 67

:38:36. > :38:42.on the table. I don't know why he wanted to plead their cannon there.

:38:43. > :38:55.Looking at his tip again. It might not last until the semifinal. He has

:38:56. > :39:01.played a couple of cannons and screw shots today that he has not been

:39:02. > :39:10.happy with. That is a nice little shot, blocking the red. He only

:39:11. > :40:20.needs one more red and the red was right over the pocket.

:40:21. > :40:29.He tried to move that red, but he double-kiss it. Just this red

:40:30. > :40:51.needed. And that is the frame safe . It

:40:52. > :40:54.hasn't been vintage Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is still looking at

:40:55. > :40:59.that new tip that O'Sullivan. He is still looking at

:41:00. > :41:04.You might be right, it might be getting changed again. It does not

:41:05. > :41:11.matter about missing that red. Shaun Murphy stays in his seat and Ronnie

:41:12. > :41:12.O'Sullivan marches on. He just needs one more frame to get through to

:41:13. > :41:40.their Shaun Murphy gets the final frame of

:41:41. > :42:09.this session underway. Will it be the final frame of the match?

:42:10. > :42:15.That's our little beauty. Go on. How has that stopped the? I cannot

:42:16. > :42:33.believe it. Unbelievable. But at least Shaun has

:42:34. > :42:39.retained his sense of humour. This match is well and truly gone now. He

:42:40. > :43:01.is a cracking lad, Shaun Murphy. In the end, he was trying to get it in.

:43:02. > :43:08.The two to the left-hand side of the table. I thought that was going in.

:43:09. > :43:18.It is just as if it hits something and stopped there. An early chance

:43:19. > :43:23.for Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the frame that he needs. The frame that

:43:24. > :43:26.will get him through to their semifinal and give him the night

:43:27. > :44:01.off. He will want to miss that red at the

:44:02. > :44:06.back of the bunch. If he can cannon the one to the right, that would be

:44:07. > :44:12.ideal. He just copy other one first and that spoiled it. -- just caught

:44:13. > :45:02.the other one. It almost came back into the same

:45:03. > :45:10.spot. Shaun still smiling away. But he knows that his race is run. He

:45:11. > :45:15.did win the World Open, starting to show some great form, he got off to

:45:16. > :45:22.a good start against Ronnie, but it just has not happened. And now the

:45:23. > :45:44.chance for Ronnie to clinch the match here.

:45:45. > :45:55.The frightening thing is he is nowhere near his best in this match.

:45:56. > :46:06.Shaun has had chances and has not been able to take them. Ronnie has

:46:07. > :46:07.taken advantage. 93% for the two-minute pot success rate, that is

:46:08. > :46:38.going some. -- for the tournament. It is the intimidation he has on

:46:39. > :46:47.other players now. It is worth are three or four frame start. He did

:46:48. > :47:01.give Shaun two frames, but since then, he has won 13-1.

:47:02. > :47:07.That is the quarterfinal now over. He will be back tomorrow at one

:47:08. > :47:24.o'clock to start his semifinal. Unless Dominic Dale can have a great

:47:25. > :47:31.comeback, it looks like a repeat of last year's final against Barry

:47:32. > :47:38.Hawkins. It will be interesting to see what happens with that tip you

:47:39. > :47:42.were talking about. Most players would be happy with this sort of

:47:43. > :47:50.form, but Ronnie is always looking to play his best and entertainment

:47:51. > :48:03.the crowds. Going for a hat-trick of World Championships. He was firm

:48:04. > :48:11.favourite before the start at the Crucible. But a few other players

:48:12. > :48:18.will want to have a say, Neil Robertson, Judd Trump. Shaun Murphy

:48:19. > :48:25.comes forward and congratulates Ronnie O'Sullivan. In the end, the

:48:26. > :48:29.defending champion, after losing the first two frames, was far too strong

:48:30. > :48:41.and runs out an easy winner. Very difficult playing him. I knew

:48:42. > :48:49.it was going to be a challenge. I don't think there is a player in the

:48:50. > :48:54.game he has not done that too. It was very tough to take. I did have

:48:55. > :49:00.my chances, but all credit to Ronnie, when he got his chances, he

:49:01. > :49:06.was very clinical. You never know what kind of match you are going to

:49:07. > :49:17.get. Against Shaun, I did not expect to win it that easy. He just missed

:49:18. > :49:28.a few balls and let me in quite easily. I still had to put

:49:29. > :49:34.pot them. It wasn't vintage Ronnie O'Sullivan.

:49:35. > :49:39.But it didn't have to be. He did his job out there against a player who

:49:40. > :49:44.showed weakness in the opening session. I was fortunate enough to

:49:45. > :49:51.commented on that session. It wasn't vintage snooker, the best snooker,

:49:52. > :50:01.but it was a fascinating session. Shaun Murphy did have his chances.

:50:02. > :50:05.At 2-0, Ronnie looked very shaky. But from then, the game swung round

:50:06. > :50:11.and Shaun Murphy effectively and Shaun Murphy effectively

:50:12. > :50:12.collapsed. There were moments when his body language suggested he was

:50:13. > :50:16.not comfortable? his body language suggested he was

:50:17. > :50:20.comfortable in that his body language suggested he was

:50:21. > :50:22.For a moment, I thought, if ever there was a time for a Shaun

:50:23. > :50:27.Murphy, this was it. there was a time for a Shaun

:50:28. > :50:34.pivotal point in the match, there was a time for a Shaun

:50:35. > :50:38.to get the snooker. Shaun Murphy there was a time for a Shaun

:50:39. > :50:43.should have been 3-0 up. It might have been a different complex and

:50:44. > :50:44.after that. How will Shaun reflect on this?

:50:45. > :50:53.after that. How will Shaun reflect litmus test about where he is in the

:50:54. > :50:57.game now. He said he was due a good smashing up, he is a gentleman and

:50:58. > :51:00.would not gripe about anything, but how should he reflect on this? You

:51:01. > :51:07.can't beat how should he reflect on this? You

:51:08. > :51:10.but you are playing a great player. He has been searching for ways to

:51:11. > :51:14.get back to the winning style and the winning form that won

:51:15. > :51:19.get back to the winning style and World Championship. He has never

:51:20. > :51:34.stopped perceiving bettering his game. -- stopped pursuing. But the

:51:35. > :51:44.harder you try, the worse it can get. Perhaps a house to relax and

:51:45. > :51:50.play better because of that. I think he has to look at O'Sullivan in a

:51:51. > :51:55.way, he has two be more clinical. He gets to a certain stage in the frame

:51:56. > :51:58.and it is almost as if his concentration switches off and he

:51:59. > :52:07.misses some easy shots when he should be telling the frame. --

:52:08. > :52:13.killing. He does not seem to have that killer instinct. His

:52:14. > :52:21.concentration relaxes. He breaks down at 50 or 60 and lets his

:52:22. > :52:32.opponent in. It has been a good season for Shaun.

:52:33. > :52:35.He is back in the winner's circle. Ronnie O'Sullivan is through with a

:52:36. > :52:47.session to spare. There was another match on this morning. Mark Selby

:52:48. > :52:52.was taking on Alan McManus, the oldest and lowest ranked player left

:52:53. > :52:57.in the draw. You would have thought that Mark Selby did not have much to

:52:58. > :53:06.do this morning, he was only a frame behind because he dominated their

:53:07. > :53:32.second session. They came back this morning for frame 17.

:53:33. > :53:43.Alan McManus gets this final session underway. You just have to feel at

:53:44. > :53:49.the moment, playing for pride. I don't think he can have any thoughts

:53:50. > :53:50.of winning this match just yet. But you never know. File you are in it,

:53:51. > :54:11.you can still win it. -- while. Just play each individual frame as

:54:12. > :54:13.it is. Alan has had a great championship. He has rolled back the

:54:14. > :54:22.years to be at this stage. Unfortunately, Mark Selby has proved

:54:23. > :55:10.a difficult kettle of fish. That is a loose one from Mark. First

:55:11. > :55:21.chance of the morning to Alan McManus.

:55:22. > :55:34.Tricky to get position. That is all he could really do. Bones that in --

:55:35. > :56:11.bounce. Tough blue. Has it bounced enough, can he get

:56:12. > :56:16.through to this red? Just about. And can he get back out again? Those

:56:17. > :56:29.reds are pretty difficult to negotiate. Just blocking each other.

:56:30. > :56:38.The last blue was good, this will have to be better. It's all about

:56:39. > :57:09.the consequences you if he misses the blue. Good solid pot.

:57:10. > :57:22.That will be the thing that disappoints Alan the most. His

:57:23. > :57:27.highest contribution in the last few frames has only been 36. He has

:57:28. > :57:34.dropped below the level of the first two matches. But that has a lot to

:57:35. > :57:37.do with your opponents as well. Mark Selby is very accomplished and can

:57:38. > :57:39.keep you off the table for a long time. But he could score quite a few

:57:40. > :58:17.here. I don't know if the pink spot is

:58:18. > :58:27.available, it would benefit Alan if it wasn't.

:58:28. > :58:57.He could play a cannon on these two reds. It depends how he sees it. He

:58:58. > :59:03.has decided to pick off the loose red. I don't blame him. First frame,

:59:04. > :59:30.just want to keep things simple if you can.

:59:31. > :59:58.A little bit straight on this pink, it appears.

:59:59. > :00:09.There is a red just above the black that will pot. Can he get into the

:00:10. > :00:28.cluster of reds above the brown? That could have been nicer, in

:00:29. > :00:44.truth. He could have hit them a bit further.

:00:45. > :01:13.Actually, that is better than I thought at first.

:01:14. > :01:16.Considering that he has had a bit of time in the wilderness, this will be

:01:17. > :01:34.a boost. He could go on from here. But as you say, if you are not

:01:35. > :01:44.scoring heavily, it is very hard to win matches

:01:45. > :01:55.Looks like he is purposely holding the pink spot.

:01:56. > :02:38.Impressive. A couple of good pots early on.

:02:39. > :03:00.Well, he has done nothing wrong, Mark.

:03:01. > :03:04.He deserves everything he gets from this break. He has hit the ball

:03:05. > :03:27.beautifully in this. Mark Selby concedes. As we say,

:03:28. > :03:32.playing for pride, and he should be proud of that contribution. A nice

:03:33. > :03:36.break of 69. Still seven behind, though, and Mark Selby still needing

:03:37. > :03:40.one for a place in the semifinal. Yes, Alan McManus, one of the most

:03:41. > :03:45.engaging, modest and deep thinking players in snooker. Here's staving

:03:46. > :04:33.off the Crucible exit door for now, but for how long?

:04:34. > :04:36.This is the chance Mark Selby has been looking for to win frame and

:04:37. > :04:57.match. Alan hardly missed anything in the

:04:58. > :05:06.first frame. Just a bit thick on that red. Has he played his last

:05:07. > :05:26.shot in this year's World Snooker championship?

:05:27. > :06:00.He would have liked a bit more on that. Wrong side of the blue.

:06:01. > :06:06.Now he has got a lot more work to do with the cue ball here. He just got

:06:07. > :06:31.the wrong side of that blue. Nice, clean pot. Nicely on the

:06:32. > :07:17.Brown. He cued this lovely. That red going in means the points

:07:18. > :07:20.in this frame are now all square. So if he takes the reds in the middle

:07:21. > :07:45.of the table, it should be enough to give him frame and match.

:07:46. > :07:56.That was unexpected. Yeah, tried to pinch a little bit. And it just hit

:07:57. > :08:53.the far jaw. It might have to be a cannon into

:08:54. > :09:00.this reds, and it is not guaranteed that he will land on one.

:09:01. > :09:06.You said it, John, and you were right. He has finished up on

:09:07. > :10:06.nothing. A chance here for Alan, should he

:10:07. > :10:21.decide to play the pot to the left corner, stun across.

:10:22. > :10:28.As I say, at the moment, he is playing for pride. No point in

:10:29. > :10:33.hanging back. He's just going to the shot as he sees it. But he has left

:10:34. > :11:00.a chance now for Mark Selby. A bit tentative with that pot. The

:11:01. > :11:12.Green will still pot, but a lot thinner than he would have liked.

:11:13. > :11:36.Well-controlled. A better pot than it looked.

:11:37. > :11:52.He has had one chance to finish the match, but this is a better one.

:11:53. > :11:58.Probably fearing the worst now. There are not many obstacles in the

:11:59. > :12:09.way. So it is good to see him back, Alan.

:12:10. > :12:11.Let's hope he gets a bit of confidence from this and we will see

:12:12. > :12:24.much more of him. He could do with taking two reds and

:12:25. > :12:55.two blacks. Just this red, and for Alan McManus,

:12:56. > :13:41.the race is run. And in it goes, so Mark Selby is now

:13:42. > :13:50.certain to have that place in the semifinal.

:13:51. > :13:54.Assessing his form so far, what do you think? I always think it is

:13:55. > :14:11.dangerous to us as his form. There is no handshake. I am sure

:14:12. > :14:16.Alan said, best of luck for the rest of the tournament. A comfortable win

:14:17. > :14:22.for Mark Selby. Keep the pressure on, there is still a long way to go.

:14:23. > :14:25.And Alan McManus, welcome back. Look forward to seeing you next season,

:14:26. > :14:27.but Mark Selby ones out a comfortable winner. He is in the

:14:28. > :14:36.semifinal. He has waited four years to get back

:14:37. > :14:41.to the semifinals at the Crucible. Have you missed it? I have. There is

:14:42. > :14:46.no better venue than the Crucible. It is a great venue went it is a two

:14:47. > :14:52.table set up, but it is special when it is down to one table. You got

:14:53. > :14:57.dragged into a dogfight earlier. How did you break free? Yeah, the first

:14:58. > :15:01.session was really scrappy. I felt like I was playing into Alan's

:15:02. > :15:06.hands. He is one of the best tacticians in the game, even now. So

:15:07. > :15:11.I felt like I got bogged down. Second session, I thought I needed

:15:12. > :15:17.to open them up a bit more, and I managed to do that. When you look

:15:18. > :15:22.back at your progress, you had a bit of a scare against Michael White,

:15:23. > :15:25.10-9. Then your matchplay skills came to the four against Ali Carter.

:15:26. > :15:30.How much more than meant do you need I feel as if I have played better as

:15:31. > :15:37.the tournament has gone on. I felt like I let Michael White off the

:15:38. > :15:44.hook. I was saying to a friend, when you come to tournaments, there will

:15:45. > :15:51.be times when you should have got beaten, even if you go on to win.

:15:52. > :15:56.One thing about this tournament, the length of it. It is a grind. You

:15:57. > :16:02.have got to be on the ball, but can you then switch off between matches?

:16:03. > :16:06.Yeah, you do all your preparation at home. Then you should be ready when

:16:07. > :16:09.you come to the Crucible. Over the last few years, I have learned to

:16:10. > :16:13.get as much rest as possible, because even though you are in the

:16:14. > :16:20.semifinal, you are only halfway through the tournament. The great

:16:21. > :16:24.thing about this tournament is that even if you are not playing your

:16:25. > :16:32.best at the beginning of the week, you can find your form as you go

:16:33. > :16:36.along. You played better against Ali Carter in the first round. I was

:16:37. > :16:40.commentating during your second session against Alan McManus. The

:16:41. > :16:45.way you close to those frames was second to none. You were building up

:16:46. > :16:49.nicely. With it being such a long format, you know you are going to

:16:50. > :16:54.have bad sessions, it is just a matter of how bad they are. When you

:16:55. > :17:02.have your good sessions, you feel as though you are going to win 5-3 or

:17:03. > :17:06.6-2. Another fascinating thing I have thought about when working in

:17:07. > :17:10.the studio is, we are watching every match unfold, but you are in your

:17:11. > :17:14.own bubble. So you are not necessarily aware of what is going

:17:15. > :17:17.on with the other players. You are only interested in your own

:17:18. > :17:23.performance and getting through every day. That is right, and that

:17:24. > :17:26.is the only thing you can control. You will get other players playing

:17:27. > :17:36.well against you, but you have just got to try and play your game. When

:17:37. > :17:42.you came here, it was Robertson, Ding Junhui and Ronnie who were the

:17:43. > :17:46.favourites. Last year, you came here as a UK champion and we had all this

:17:47. > :17:49.hoopla about possibly having a triple Crown in the same season. Do

:17:50. > :17:56.you feel more comfortable with that pressure away from you this time?

:17:57. > :18:02.Definitely. I put a lot of pressure on myself anyway. This year, the

:18:03. > :18:07.limelight was on Ronnie, who has had a good season. Ding has been the

:18:08. > :18:12.form player of the season, and Neil as well, so the limelight has been

:18:13. > :18:16.on them more than myself. Last year, I was coming here with a chance to

:18:17. > :18:22.win the triple Crown in the same season, like you say. So it has been

:18:23. > :18:27.more of an advantage to myself. The only pressure is coming from myself,

:18:28. > :18:32.not the media or the hype. Stay with us, because I would like to pick

:18:33. > :18:44.your brain is which of the fact, to use two cliches, as we talk table

:18:45. > :18:48.talk now. -- as we chew the fat. Up for discussion first, the subject

:18:49. > :18:52.of coaching. Terry Griffiths has been possibly busier than anyone at

:18:53. > :18:55.the Crucible over the last few days, because in addition to his

:18:56. > :19:00.commentary duties, he has watched virtually everything. He had no

:19:01. > :19:04.fewer than eight players in his charge coming here in the draw. One

:19:05. > :19:10.survives in Barry Hawkins. It confirms what we already knew. The

:19:11. > :19:19.1979 world champion is a very good man to have in your corner. Snooker

:19:20. > :19:28.has taken up a lot of my life. Apart from my family, it is the most

:19:29. > :19:35.important thing. It is eager than a dream. The only difference I found

:19:36. > :19:37.when I won the world champion was my name change. I used to be called

:19:38. > :19:47.Terry, and then I was Terry Griffiths. Invaluable. It is hard to

:19:48. > :19:52.put a price on what Terry is worth to any player. I would not be where

:19:53. > :19:57.I am if not for him. You trust in Terry. You can tell him something in

:19:58. > :20:00.the interval, and you know he has probably experienced it. He knows

:20:01. > :20:07.what you are feeling and he knows the right thing is to say. I had

:20:08. > :20:11.eight players here this year, and when you see some of them losing,

:20:12. > :20:20.they are devastated. I feel so bad for them, and when they win, it is

:20:21. > :20:27.tremendous. I have had six players win their first ranking event when

:20:28. > :20:32.working with me. That is the best. To see people who have never won

:20:33. > :20:36.before is very special. I am not a coach who lives in their pockets. I

:20:37. > :20:40.keep out of their way apart from when they are playing. I'd just like

:20:41. > :20:44.to be there when they need me. It is mostly down to him for turning

:20:45. > :20:54.things around when I started to play better. Without him, maybe I would

:20:55. > :20:57.never have done that. I have worked with other coaches and I have not

:20:58. > :21:00.really come away from it believing what they have told me, because I

:21:01. > :21:11.don't think they have experienced what I am experiencing with, though

:21:12. > :21:14.as with Terry, we know he has been there and done it. You need to be

:21:15. > :21:17.able to trust your coach, and if he thinks I am doing something wrong, I

:21:18. > :21:25.trust him 100%. I believe what he says. If you don't have that, you

:21:26. > :21:29.can't work together. Some think Terry is just the boring old man who

:21:30. > :21:36.played snooker all those years ago, and he is not at all. He is one of

:21:37. > :21:40.the funniest men I have ever met. He knows what to say and when to say

:21:41. > :21:49.it, went to tell you off and give you a kick up the backside, and when

:21:50. > :21:51.to say things to calm you down. Sometimes we don't even talk about

:21:52. > :21:56.snooker, and sometimes that is what you need. It is trying. I do the

:21:57. > :22:04.best I can. I am generally never happy with what I achieved with the

:22:05. > :22:07.players. I always want to do more. A lifetime accumulates with a win as a

:22:08. > :22:12.snooker player. There is so much more than what we see in the shop

:22:13. > :22:23.window. All those steps is the best part of it. And Barry Hawkins is

:22:24. > :22:26.still going strongly for camp Griffiths at the Crucible. But in

:22:27. > :22:30.general terms, how necessary is a coach these days, and what

:22:31. > :22:37.percentage of the players would you estimate use one? It is important,

:22:38. > :22:43.no doubt about that. I think Terry, as well as being a coach, is a great

:22:44. > :22:49.snooker psychologist, because he has been there. He has had all those

:22:50. > :22:57.experiences as a player. And as well as the technical side, a lot of the

:22:58. > :23:03.players on in his camp lean on him for reassurance when they need a

:23:04. > :23:08.pack on the back in the dressing room or a whisper in the ear,

:23:09. > :23:16.something that may relax them, give them a bit of confidence. When they

:23:17. > :23:24.are going out through that dressing room door, that is the best thing.

:23:25. > :23:28.That is what players get from him. You leaned heavily on him in your

:23:29. > :23:34.earlier years and you had a successful partnership with Parma.

:23:35. > :23:40.You have parted ways now. What way do you think players' needs change

:23:41. > :23:44.as your career develops? With somebody like myself, as Ken says, a

:23:45. > :23:51.coach is important to a certain degree, but they can only give you

:23:52. > :23:54.advice. Once you are out there, you are on your own. Once you have

:23:55. > :23:57.achieved things over a period of time, you know what it takes, but

:23:58. > :24:03.sometimes you need somebody in your ear now and again to tell you to

:24:04. > :24:08.keep doing the right things. So you master the technical elements first.

:24:09. > :24:11.Is that when the coaching kicks in in the early stages? You changed

:24:12. > :24:15.your technique. It is the same with any sport. When you are starting,

:24:16. > :24:20.you get the basics right first, and then it is a matter of putting in

:24:21. > :24:26.the hours. With me, I changed my game halfway through my career. When

:24:27. > :24:32.I started, I used to queue two inches away from the white ball,

:24:33. > :24:35.which was not textbook. Then people told me to queue a bit closer, and

:24:36. > :24:42.that helped. Steve, how do you assess this? Let me play devil's

:24:43. > :24:48.advocate for a bit of fun. Two things. Firstly, I am involved with

:24:49. > :24:52.the coaching setup. Coaching is important. But for the purposes of

:24:53. > :24:57.vegetables, to throw the cat amongst the pigeons, there has never been a

:24:58. > :25:02.coach who has made a bad player into a good player. A coach's job is to

:25:03. > :25:10.maximise the potential of one of the good players. But what fascinates me

:25:11. > :25:12.is why a player who has won the World Championship would then ditch

:25:13. > :25:19.a coach. Over the years, players like Peter Ebdon bomber who was with

:25:20. > :25:26.Dell Hill and had success, Graeme Dott, who was with Dell Hill and had

:25:27. > :25:36.success. Sorry, Peter Ebdon was with someone else. What happens to a

:25:37. > :25:40.player, that he decides that one minute he was playing well with that

:25:41. > :25:45.coach, and the next minute, he gets rid of him? The ayes to the right I

:25:46. > :25:55.don't know, but you see this in golf and many other sports where there

:25:56. > :26:00.are high achievers. For me, it was not the coach, it was more things

:26:01. > :26:04.that we disagreed on and went our separate ways. Overall, he had

:26:05. > :26:11.helped me in the past with the tournaments I won. But now I am

:26:12. > :26:16.happier on my own, with a few close friends. As long as you are happy,

:26:17. > :26:21.you play your best snooker. Also, when you get to know somebody for so

:26:22. > :26:27.long and you are hearing the same things all the time, you need

:26:28. > :26:32.something different and fresh. You need new invigoration. That is why

:26:33. > :26:37.people change coaches. If I had to listen to Steve Davis all the time,

:26:38. > :26:43.we would not last ten minutes! Surely what the coach is giving you

:26:44. > :26:46.is good advice in the first place. We also talked about sports

:26:47. > :26:50.psychology. You have seen the incredible things that Doctor Steve

:26:51. > :26:54.Peters has done with Ronnie O'Sullivan. I thought top players

:26:55. > :26:58.would be beating a path to psychiatrists' doors. Why not? Every

:26:59. > :27:04.snooker player seems to know what the rights and wrongs are and what

:27:05. > :27:10.not to do. Frustration does not help on the table. But it is strange,

:27:11. > :27:14.because when you are doing everything right and winning

:27:15. > :27:17.tournaments, all of that seems to go out of the window. It is only when

:27:18. > :27:22.you are struggling that you think, I need to see somebody. But when

:27:23. > :27:26.everything is going well, you don't think of anything like that. I think

:27:27. > :27:32.players are sometimes a bit afraid to do to someone they don't know and

:27:33. > :27:37.open up to them. Ronnie obviously has done, and he has been open about

:27:38. > :27:43.it. But generally, when I was starting, I was afraid to die of

:27:44. > :27:46.Jenny feelings I was going through -- afraid to die vulture feelings.

:27:47. > :27:51.Where is when you become more mature, you are more open to

:27:52. > :27:56.suggestion. I think sports psychology is a major part of any

:27:57. > :28:02.sport. And a lot of players should try it. It is a fine line, because

:28:03. > :28:06.sometimes the game is hard enough anyway. Psychology can help, but you

:28:07. > :28:10.can go too deep and cause yourself more problems than you think you

:28:11. > :28:14.have already got. We could talk about this for ages, but we have to

:28:15. > :28:20.move on with a brief look at the newspapers today. Shaun Murphy -

:28:21. > :28:28.even I love to watch Ronnie play. Possibly not this morning. And in

:28:29. > :28:31.this one, a very prescient headline. Story of six for Ronnie adds up to

:28:32. > :28:35.despair for Murphy. That was him doing his mystic meg impression in

:28:36. > :28:41.the daily Star yesterday, and it came true. Ronnie wastes no time in

:28:42. > :28:47.taking control. We will be talking about Judd Trump's match shortly.

:28:48. > :28:52.This was ace uprisings: . When they resumed, Judd Trump against Neil

:28:53. > :28:58.Robertson, Judd Trump forged ahead 6-2, and the consensus is that there

:28:59. > :29:01.was life left in this match, with Judd Trump determined to convert

:29:02. > :29:09.that advantage into a third semifinal appearance. Judd Trump's

:29:10. > :29:13.technique is superb. I don't know what it is about left-handed

:29:14. > :29:16.players. They all appear to get the ball than other players. He plays

:29:17. > :29:23.shots that only Jimmy White could lay. When under pressure, he tends

:29:24. > :29:29.to throw the old queue at it, and that is down to temperament. If he

:29:30. > :29:36.works hard enough on that, it can get him back to being number one

:29:37. > :29:40.again. One shot too many is a crowd-pleaser. You have got to

:29:41. > :29:44.forget the crowd. I am in favour of entertaining snooker, but don't push

:29:45. > :29:48.the boundaries too far and not be true to yourself. There has always

:29:49. > :29:53.been a question mark over the dedication of drug Trump as far as

:29:54. > :29:59.snooker is concerned that match the dedication of Judd Trump. We know he

:30:00. > :30:02.likes fast cars. To win consistently and be world champion, his

:30:03. > :30:06.dedication has to be better. He plays some of the most fantastic

:30:07. > :30:10.shots. One of the greatest potters I have seen, but occasionally, his

:30:11. > :30:15.shot selection leaves a bit to be desired. He could have been world

:30:16. > :30:18.champion in 2011. He spent two minutes a shot on the blue and took

:30:19. > :30:24.the wrong choice in the end. Went for the pot, missed it. Higgins won

:30:25. > :30:30.the frame. I think Judd Trump could have been world champion. It could

:30:31. > :30:34.be down to shot selection. Could just be the fact that he does for

:30:35. > :30:39.that one shot too many. I think he needs to play a bit better safety.

:30:40. > :30:47.That will create the chances. If he gets the chances, we know how good

:30:48. > :30:53.he is and his record will improve. And he is waiting backstage. You

:30:54. > :30:59.will be playing the winner of this match, Robertson versus Trump.

:31:00. > :31:03.will be playing the winner of this yesterday? Especially the Wayne

:31:04. > :31:09.Neill played the match before, a played for the snooker, it probably

:31:10. > :31:13.is a bit of as a prize on the season as a whole, Judd hasn't happy best

:31:14. > :31:16.season this year, but at the same time, he's a top-class player, so

:31:17. > :31:27.it's not a big shock. A lot of time, he's a top-class player, so

:31:28. > :31:30.left in this one? I think so. Some question to be asked about this one

:31:31. > :31:34.is this a thank you for coming to talk to us. -- so many questions to

:31:35. > :31:40.be asked. As I say, a talk to us. -- so many questions to

:31:41. > :31:54.Good afternoon, ladies and afternoon, can Neill

:31:55. > :32:05.Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We already know the

:32:06. > :32:09.Good afternoon, ladies and spots left up for grabs! They must

:32:10. > :32:11.go, to two of the four players waiting backstage, ready to

:32:12. > :32:15.entertain this packed house wants again here in Sheffield. -- once

:32:16. > :32:30.again. Please welcome Festival, a

:32:31. > :32:32.the first time in 14 years, twice a ranking event winner at the Grand

:32:33. > :32:40.Prix and at Shanghai, ranking event winner at the Grand

:32:41. > :32:47.a player and a personality not to be underestimated, can he walk the walk

:32:48. > :32:57.once again this afternoon? We call him the spaceman, Dominic Dale!

:32:58. > :33:23.And his opponent, a player who started to produce the best form of

:33:24. > :33:28.his career in his 16th year as a pro. It started with his win at the

:33:29. > :33:32.2012 Australian Open. Last year he was brilliant at the Crucible,

:33:33. > :33:35.making a storming run to his first World Championship final. He is once

:33:36. > :33:40.again closing in on another semi-hair, here comes the Hawk,

:33:41. > :34:06.Barry Hawkins! And here on table two, please

:34:07. > :34:12.welcome a brick builder who is simply brilliant to watch. It's his

:34:13. > :34:16.first session -- in his first session is to become the reminded

:34:17. > :34:23.everyone what he has attracted a new generation of fans to this sport.

:34:24. > :34:25.Here he comes, with his own brand of naughty snooker, he is the ace in

:34:26. > :34:54.the pack, he is Judd Trump! And finally, an Australian who has

:34:55. > :34:58.made a huge impact on the sport since his arrival around a decade

:34:59. > :35:03.ago. He added the UK title to his world and Masters crowns in

:35:04. > :35:09.December, joining her in the group of players. And this year he is 99

:35:10. > :35:14.not out in his bid to complete 100 centuries in a season, the world

:35:15. > :35:37.number one, can you hear the Thunder from Down Under? Neil Robertson!

:35:38. > :35:49.As ever, there are choices for you to make, Hawkins is beating Dominic

:35:50. > :35:50.Dale 11-5. But for now, Robertson against Trump, which is capturing

:35:51. > :36:00.our attention. This is a match to savour. The

:36:01. > :36:03.scoreline perhaps could have been closer but Judd Trump certainly

:36:04. > :36:08.dominated the first session, probably deserves to be 6-2 in

:36:09. > :36:16.front. But Robertson will be still one into the match if he wins this

:36:17. > :36:20.session. He just needs to up his standard today, Neil Robertson

:36:21. > :36:24.posted he was a bit subdued yesterday, to say the least. It

:36:25. > :36:28.sometimes comes after a peak performance, he was magnificent when

:36:29. > :36:35.he got over the line against Mark Allen, the final four frames were

:36:36. > :36:36.flawless. He has had a nice long rest overnight and hopefully will

:36:37. > :36:48.want to play better today. Judd Trump or becoming into this

:36:49. > :37:00.session, hoping to at worst trauma the session and puts the match

:37:01. > :37:19.beyond Robertson's reach. -- at worst to draw the session.

:37:20. > :37:26.Beautiful strike, really was. A bit of side and that to make sure he got

:37:27. > :37:33.round the back of the black. Couldn't have hit it any better. We

:37:34. > :37:37.thought Neil was maybe a bit poorly yesterday but he appears to be

:37:38. > :37:42.chewing something, he doesn't usually chew gum so maybe he has a

:37:43. > :37:48.lozenge his mouth or a fruit sweet. He was very poorly in his match in

:37:49. > :37:51.China before he came into this tournament, we thought he shook it

:37:52. > :38:15.off in the first couple of rounds, maybe it has come back.

:38:16. > :38:40.The only way he can get on a red is to play this shot. Superb.

:38:41. > :39:21.He ran through a bit too much to have the choice.

:39:22. > :39:27.The only reason I thought he should have left the black the first time

:39:28. > :39:30.to go into these rates, he is not guaranteed to get a good split

:39:31. > :39:34.because the roads are far enough away not to split nicely. -- the

:39:35. > :39:52.reds. Perhaps feels it may be better to go

:39:53. > :39:58.up to the blue, he has had a look at the pack of reds. You would think it

:39:59. > :40:07.would be easier off the black. I can only presume he has spotted a

:40:08. > :40:46.plant. I agree with you, a strange way to

:40:47. > :40:52.try and flick a red out of the pack, almost like trying

:40:53. > :40:54.try and flick a red out of the pack, careful, really. But

:40:55. > :40:56.try and flick a red out of the pack, centuries this

:40:57. > :41:36.try and flick a red out of the pack, he is doing!

:41:37. > :41:45.This could be the first attempt at a pot in this second session for Judd.

:41:46. > :41:52.He can to the one to the left of the black. There is enough room to get

:41:53. > :41:58.between black and red back to ball. He had that well. -- hit that well.

:41:59. > :42:15.So well, it stayed in the pocket. If Neil is spending this much time

:42:16. > :42:21.looking at the black, it must be tight.

:42:22. > :42:28.It doesn't look tight from there. Should be able to hold for the black

:42:29. > :42:36.and flavours with a lot of drag here.

:42:37. > :42:45.A great shot to have in your armoury that one. As the drag wears off,

:42:46. > :42:46.somewhere around there, it turned into top spin again, beautifully

:42:47. > :43:11.struck, that was. Now this is a great chance to take

:43:12. > :43:25.this opening frame. How many times have you done that

:43:26. > :43:26.one can you presume it is there, and you play position on the black and

:43:27. > :43:34.all of a sudden, it you play position on the black and

:43:35. > :43:38.Quite right to have a cheque. As you can see, you can see the centre of

:43:39. > :43:44.the pocket, just about the right hand jaw but want to get rid of this

:43:45. > :43:59.next red, he would expect to win the frame now at this visit.

:44:00. > :44:06.Already looks a lot more in strokes are needed in the open session

:44:07. > :44:12.yesterday. Hitting the ball with good authority. Or contact there,

:44:13. > :44:23.though. The year you wonder chip Richard, did you have a bad session

:44:24. > :44:27.anywhere? -- won the championship. The memory is not what it was! He

:44:28. > :44:31.had a bad session at the beginning of the match, but if you have it in

:44:32. > :44:36.the middle, you can leave yourself too much to do. But a player at his

:44:37. > :44:47.abilities, he still has a lot of chances. Oh, dear. I just feel to

:44:48. > :44:51.third session and this session, he has been ultra-careful. Why not just

:44:52. > :45:08.push through that pot Modi red firm? He might risk going off a cushion

:45:09. > :46:20.for a book colour here. -- book cover.

:46:21. > :46:30.Now he has got the black sake, taking no chances. He has been pink

:46:31. > :46:48.out of play as well. -- has the pink.

:46:49. > :47:07.He can flick off the plaque and nudge the black, he will still be

:47:08. > :47:13.playing the safety shot. A bit of value in that, isn't there? A good

:47:14. > :47:19.shot, as long as you don't bring the red back. The end one would pot.

:47:20. > :47:21.He's going to try and play the cannon, but we didn't see that one

:47:22. > :48:19.from our commentary position. What a mistake that is! Trying to

:48:20. > :48:23.avoid getting the cannon on the black, and the cue ball going in the

:48:24. > :48:40.pocket. Chance for a counter here. He will be horrified at that, that

:48:41. > :48:47.is as bad a safety shot as he has played all season.

:48:48. > :48:52.He has a chance to pinch the frame, he is two or three frames away from

:48:53. > :49:18.where the balls are at the moment. If you're going to give any

:49:19. > :49:26.encouragement to Neil Robertson, keep missing shots like that, Judd!

:49:27. > :49:33.I can't believe he has missed that. I bet you Neil: Believe he is back

:49:34. > :50:24.at the table this quickly. -- Neil can't believe he is back.

:50:25. > :50:34.He would like to push the middle red at the way but this one still pots

:50:35. > :50:40.quite easily. Could you believe it? That was a horrible kick! It pushed

:50:41. > :50:46.straight into the jaw. Frame ball, virtually, that.

:50:47. > :50:54.You could see it straightaway, just pushed the red on to the top jaw,

:50:55. > :51:02.and another chance for Judd. He led the last one go begging. A fair bit

:51:03. > :51:11.of work to do, that red next to the green won't be easy. The brown might

:51:12. > :51:17.be covering the pocket as well. He's going to have to move that brown at

:51:18. > :51:21.some point. I spoke to them both after the session yesterday and they

:51:22. > :51:24.said the table seemed to be playing very heavy and when they were

:51:25. > :51:33.playing screw shots, it seemed to lose the spin.

:51:34. > :51:42.He would like to take the brown off the last but one red, or a pork

:51:43. > :51:45.colour to make it easier. -- book cover. You can afford to play at

:51:46. > :52:13.least two blues. He doesn't have to win this frame at

:52:14. > :52:22.one visit, he would love to. But it wouldn't" we didn't get on that red.

:52:23. > :52:26.-- wouldn't be the end of the world. Wouldn't be a bad thing to play off

:52:27. > :52:30.this brown and then you know that wherever you finish on it, you have

:52:31. > :52:55.the red over the hole and you have done half the trick.

:52:56. > :53:02.The red over the pocket, he would've liked to have left

:53:03. > :53:07.The red over the pocket, he would've no option but to pot it now. Another

:53:08. > :53:08.glance at the scoreboard. He is dying to get on the brown, you can

:53:09. > :53:17.see. It's not a bad shot, to pot this red

:53:18. > :53:31.and try and kiss red and green. He has played for the brown and he's

:53:32. > :54:18.not on it. Bad shot, that. At the moment, this isn't helping

:54:19. > :54:29.either player, because the kicks are just horrendous.

:54:30. > :54:39.It is becoming a problem at the moment. We have had at least three

:54:40. > :54:45.in the opening frame. I said to them, do you think it is the white?

:54:46. > :54:48.Do you think you need to change it? But it was the same white they used

:54:49. > :55:02.in the first matches on this table. Whatever happens, Judd will be

:55:03. > :55:09.snickered at his next visit if he cannot pot the red. That tells me

:55:10. > :55:11.the red passes the brown but if so, why was Judd taking his time about

:55:12. > :55:41.the shot? They might ask for the White to be

:55:42. > :55:44.changed now because that is another kick there. They are having a bit of

:55:45. > :55:53.a discussion, shall we change the white? They are going to change the

:55:54. > :55:57.white after this. I think he's going to change the full set of balls. I

:55:58. > :56:03.don't think either is player is happy with them. Neil Robertson has

:56:04. > :56:09.said, let's change the whole set and start again. Whatever happens, Neil

:56:10. > :56:14.Robertson wins the first frame and closes to 6-3.

:56:15. > :56:24.Very seldom do we see this, particularly late in the day, like a

:56:25. > :56:28.quarterfinal. I have never seen it here, where the players change it in

:56:29. > :56:32.the World Championships after the first frame but we saw a horrendous

:56:33. > :56:35.kick from Neal Robertson and then another from Judd Trump into the

:56:36. > :56:40.corner pocket. So they are not happy with the balls and they just want to

:56:41. > :56:44.change them. The same set we were using yesterday. How would they

:56:45. > :56:51.react differently 24-hour is later? You are the scientist! They do in

:56:52. > :56:57.Wimbledon, the change them all the time! OK, we play with as high

:56:58. > :57:01.pollen is balls as we have ever had, but if the players lose confidence

:57:02. > :57:06.in them for whatever reason and feel they are gripping each other too

:57:07. > :57:10.much, the balance of the grip, you need that, you need friction to play

:57:11. > :57:15.the game, but if you get too much friction between the balls for

:57:16. > :57:19.whatever reason, whether it is chalk or the balls are just gripping too

:57:20. > :57:25.much, the polish has worn off them a fraction, that is when you get the

:57:26. > :57:28.kicks. So if they have lost confidence in the balls, that they

:57:29. > :57:32.are fractionally too old, and at this level, we are supposed to be

:57:33. > :57:36.the best in the world but we are also working to hire tolerances

:57:37. > :57:44.because we feel the difference is more. How many frames would one set

:57:45. > :57:49.of balls be employed for here? I really don't know but I assume they

:57:50. > :57:52.have changed the balls after the first couple of rounds, maybe they

:57:53. > :57:57.will change them again for the semifinal and maybe for the final.

:57:58. > :58:04.They changed the more readily than they ever have done in the game of

:58:05. > :58:09.snooker. Back in the 80s and 70s, they wouldn't have even considered

:58:10. > :58:14.it as an option. The cue balls get a bashing, they cause the biggest

:58:15. > :58:22.problems, so usually they would change the one fall. That's why we

:58:23. > :58:29.thought was game to happen. They might get another of kicks -- couple

:58:30. > :58:35.of kicks in this frame to! You did see Neil Robertson putting his hand

:58:36. > :58:41.on the cloth, we play unheated tables to try out the moisture and

:58:42. > :58:44.make them run a bit faster, perhaps if the temperature of that

:58:45. > :58:47.changes... But they are on thermostats. Let's keep wondering

:58:48. > :59:01.while they play! The balls have been changed so

:59:02. > :59:10.hopefully these might be kicking every five minutes. -- won't be

:59:11. > :59:17.kicking. Caught the bump on the middle hole, didn't want that! I

:59:18. > :59:21.have been saying it for some time, try and play one tournament in the

:59:22. > :59:27.UK without table heaters. Because we never used to have this many kicks

:59:28. > :59:36.and in this country, the climate is usually OK, there is the thermostat,

:59:37. > :59:41.I'm sure even without table heaters it would be 40 or something like

:59:42. > :59:50.that. It's crazy to me. Definitely worth a go. Maybe pick one of the

:59:51. > :59:56.lesser events and say to the players, we will experiment, see if

:59:57. > :00:00.it works. It was only brought in when we played in Thailand and

:00:01. > :00:11.places like that because of the temperature.

:00:12. > :00:30.Meanwhile, Neil Robertson has an excellent chance here.

:00:31. > :00:39.That shot looked very reactive. He hit it nicely, but there is some

:00:40. > :00:42.reaction on that cue ball. The table is very quick today. I have noticed

:00:43. > :01:19.that with a couple of safeties. Now this is an excellent chance.

:01:20. > :01:24.Should he go on to win this friend, I hope he gets 100, because it has

:01:25. > :02:14.even to be a bit of a chip on his shoulder, the 99 centuries.

:02:15. > :02:19.He is a bit betwixt and between, trying to see if he can screw back

:02:20. > :02:34.and get on the black. He is running out of options now for

:02:35. > :03:46.reds. The pink does not pot, so he has

:03:47. > :04:02.played for the blue. He is struggling to get this break going.

:04:03. > :04:31.Amazing. The amount of times that happens.

:04:32. > :05:17.He wanted another six inches on that.

:05:18. > :05:31.It is the red above the black that is causing problems.

:05:32. > :06:42.That cluster of reds looks tight to me.

:06:43. > :06:53.That was a misjudgement. I thought he was playing the bottom one, but

:06:54. > :06:55.with the contact he got, he ended up snookering himself on the black, so

:06:56. > :07:34.just a safety. He played it so thin and so good.

:07:35. > :07:42.That is the best safety shot of this session. Excellent. This table

:07:43. > :07:48.really is very quick. He will do well to get out of this,

:07:49. > :08:57.Judd. That was an excellent shot. This

:08:58. > :09:11.time, Judd can't play the shot he played before.

:09:12. > :10:10.Not ideal on the green. No prizes for guessing where he is going after

:10:11. > :10:32.this one. Whoever puts the next red, you would

:10:33. > :11:07.think is favourite for the frame, albeit Robertson leads by 39.

:11:08. > :11:11.I can't think that there is anything there for Neil. This is a lot more

:11:12. > :11:53.difficult for Judd. He has been in a bit of bother,

:11:54. > :12:14.safety wise, but he managed to get out of it quite impressively.

:12:15. > :12:58.He is a bit reluctant to play it thin in case he kisses the yellow.

:12:59. > :13:27.He has knocked off the left-hand side. He has got to be careful. They

:13:28. > :13:38.read on the right-hand side is a blocker.

:13:39. > :13:58.It needs a bit of thinking about, and a good shot.

:13:59. > :14:03.If he has got away with that, he has been very fortunate. No wonder he

:14:04. > :14:13.raises his hand. That red was always going to be a

:14:14. > :15:36.danger. Unfortunately for him, the position

:15:37. > :15:52.is not great. Wrong angle on the blue.

:15:53. > :15:59.He is looking at the thin cut on the pink. That will open the three

:16:00. > :16:01.reds, but he has got so much queue power, surely he can get back down

:16:02. > :16:51.this end of the table. If you are not going to play for a

:16:52. > :17:51.colour, why would you risk a plant? Well played. Very good. It deserves

:17:52. > :18:00.a bit of luck with that safety shot, because he hit that well. There is a

:18:01. > :18:17.big target area for a safety here, behind the brown.

:18:18. > :18:29.He is just thinking about it. Is it worth the risk? He will be concerned

:18:30. > :18:37.about bringing those two reds into play.

:18:38. > :18:41.They are virtually out of the game where they are. How can he avoid

:18:42. > :18:53.playing that shot? The half bowl safety just kisses

:18:54. > :19:49.into the two reds. That was a superb shot. We saw him

:19:50. > :20:00.shaking his head when he sat down, thinking, why have taken a minute

:20:01. > :20:02.and a half to play that? Oh, dear. That could and maybe should cost him

:20:03. > :20:44.the frame. All these four reds appear in a

:20:45. > :20:59.position where they don't pot. He has got a bit of an angle on the

:21:00. > :21:15.pink. The blue looks like a better choice.

:21:16. > :22:15.He did not get the cleanest of contacts.

:22:16. > :22:21.Looks like he will close just two friends behind. Just landed in a

:22:22. > :24:46.slightly awkward spot. He missed a trick there. He had a

:24:47. > :24:49.chance to get them up behind the brown. Didn't put enough side on

:24:50. > :25:16.that cue ball. He has decided to concede, so Neil

:25:17. > :25:23.Robertson has done what he wanted to do, takes the opening two friends

:25:24. > :25:26.and closes to 6-4. Let's get the reading of the early

:25:27. > :25:32.stages of this match from Kent and Steve.

:25:33. > :25:36.It is quite noticeable that Neil Robertson is playing very pedestrian

:25:37. > :25:40.at the moment. There was one incident particularly in that frame

:25:41. > :25:44.where he took one and a half minutes over a straightforward safety shot.

:25:45. > :25:48.I don't know whether he is doing it purposely or just because of his

:25:49. > :25:53.concentration, or he is trying to be too precise, or he is being over

:25:54. > :25:57.analytical in each situation that presents itself, but it is

:25:58. > :26:01.noticeable that he is taking a long time. I think Judd Trump is getting

:26:02. > :26:08.a bit frustrated. Maybe he is doing a number on him. Average shot time,

:26:09. > :26:13.31 seconds for Robertson, less for Judd Trump. It is significant for

:26:14. > :26:19.Neil. He has got to get back in the match, by hook or by crook. Also

:26:20. > :26:25.before the match, Neil Robertson had a long time to think. Obviously

:26:26. > :26:29.under pressure, your thinking process can go wrong. But perhaps

:26:30. > :26:33.they are both guilty process can go wrong. But perhaps

:26:34. > :26:37.a bit too precise instead of letting their natural talent flow. It is

:26:38. > :26:43.very easy, sitting here in the Winter Gardens and saying that, but

:26:44. > :26:47.I don't know what the opinion was of our commentary guys?

:26:48. > :26:57.That is a good point. He has been playing slowly. We don't

:26:58. > :27:01.know whether it is a chance for him to clear points back, or whether it

:27:02. > :27:12.is a genuine tactic. But he was definitely playing slower.

:27:13. > :27:19.Sometimes it is like trying not to lose the match rather than trying to

:27:20. > :27:30.win it. He is being ultra-careful at the moment.

:27:31. > :27:35.That is very pedestrian as far as Neil Robertson's shot time is

:27:36. > :27:44.concerned. Over 30 seconds is unheard of.

:27:45. > :28:02.For Judd, he just needs a sizeable break.

:28:03. > :28:11.If I was Judd, I would be looking to try and make a brick in one visit.

:28:12. > :28:18.But he has not had an easy opportunity. The blue does not pot

:28:19. > :28:39.in the corner. Excellent rest player. What an

:28:40. > :28:43.excellent positional shot this is. Well done. Still a bit awkward,

:28:44. > :29:19.isn't it? He just can't get out of the woods

:29:20. > :29:33.at the moment. He has finished virtually straight on the black.

:29:34. > :29:41.Just playing for the one at the back of the pack, but it will still not

:29:42. > :29:43.go on to a colour nicely. This is what you have to do sometimes, work

:29:44. > :29:54.until you get perfect. Another mobile phone just went off.

:29:55. > :30:08.Just answering can tell them you are going home.

:30:09. > :30:26.Has he got the ball perfect this time? Not quite.

:30:27. > :30:30.This is the first time he has had the balls in a position where he

:30:31. > :31:04.would expect to get nice on the mixed colour. -- mixed colour.

:31:05. > :31:16.Good shot, that. A little run through back onto the black, this is

:31:17. > :31:19.a very decent response at the minute from Judd. More or less frozen out

:31:20. > :31:24.in the first couple of frames, didn't have any decent chances. He

:31:25. > :31:30.has seen the scoreboard change from 6-2 to 6-4. He has put it into a

:31:31. > :31:33.position where he will struggle to get on to the next red. Got to

:31:34. > :32:18.finish half ball on the black. He got a bit fortunate with his last

:32:19. > :32:52.positional shot. He redeemed it. Just had to miss the red on the

:32:53. > :32:58.cushion, decided to go up for the blue this time.

:32:59. > :33:03.He had a glance at this red last time which he could have played to

:33:04. > :33:08.get onto the black but he decided to go for the other red. Tight, isn't

:33:09. > :33:23.it? This is a good effort, his first

:33:24. > :33:27.real opportunity to school in these first frames, he has taken these

:33:28. > :33:31.quite well. Been out of position in a couple of occasions. He can

:33:32. > :33:36.definitely see the middle of the pocket. If he was dead straight

:33:37. > :34:18.behind it he would play that one but he has a slight angle on this red.

:34:19. > :34:29.He would like to stretch to this because using the rest, it is a hard

:34:30. > :34:52.shot. Apart from around ten points, he

:34:53. > :34:53.never really had that cue ball under control in the whole break of 57

:34:54. > :35:17.there. I'm reliably informed that is the

:35:18. > :35:22.first shot he has missed with the rest in this match. He will be happy

:35:23. > :35:26.to see it went safe. The good effort, though, 57, considering he

:35:27. > :35:33.has been sitting in his chair for most of this session. And where it

:35:34. > :35:36.has finished has left Neil Robertson with a problem stop I don't blame

:35:37. > :37:22.him taking a bit of time with this one.

:37:23. > :37:27.Quite a clever shot, that can they try to put the red on the black

:37:28. > :37:32.which would make things a bit more difficult for Neil. He will be

:37:33. > :37:53.trying to push the red safe as well. Just wondering if you can see enough

:37:54. > :38:01.of this to pass it down the cushion. Looks a bit tight. Looks easier to

:38:02. > :38:40.play safe of the two raids, they are together.

:38:41. > :39:04.Well, he didn't deserve that to go in. Great pot. Excellent with side.

:39:05. > :39:08.Always looked like it was going to be close. Had his heart in his mouth

:39:09. > :39:17.there. For all the world looked like it was going in.

:39:18. > :39:28.It's a good job and went in, he misjudged the angle of the cue ball.

:39:29. > :39:29.-- it went in. As it is now, this red to make absolutely sure of this

:39:30. > :40:22.frame. I am very impressed with Judd in

:40:23. > :40:31.this frame. A couple of frames where he hasn't had a good chance. This is

:40:32. > :40:37.a good response. No matter how you are playing, he's telling his

:40:38. > :40:57.opponent, I am still here, I'm still playing well.

:40:58. > :41:07.Can't help himself, can he, just loves to play naughty snooker.

:41:08. > :41:23.Left-hand side, is around the back of the brown, unlucky!

:41:24. > :41:31.Judd Trump really has got a foothold in this session now, he goes clear

:41:32. > :41:38.Judd Trump really has got a foothold again at 7-4. We talked about when

:41:39. > :41:49.he was 57 in front, taking the red on is no problem but surely you have

:41:50. > :41:49.got to make sure you don't kiss the blue. If

:41:50. > :41:58.got to make sure you don't kiss the on, make sure you get a good white

:41:59. > :41:58.in case you missed on, make sure you get a good white

:41:59. > :42:08.your point. Just sort of struggled in. It could have been dangerous but

:42:09. > :42:08.the in. It could have been dangerous but

:42:09. > :42:21.in which is exactly what he did, and that blue finishing over

:42:22. > :42:28.in which is exactly what he did, and to play his naughty snooker, just

:42:29. > :42:28.look at this one. It's great to watch at the end of frames, it is

:42:29. > :42:56.like Jimmy White. He feels like he's making progress.

:42:57. > :43:13.Yes, your target is always to win a session 3-1, the target is still on.

:43:14. > :43:23.There is no real advantage in putting it back in again because if

:43:24. > :43:32.Judd gets the safety right, I am surprised, because Neil had a very

:43:33. > :43:40.easy safety shot to play here. If Judd judges this right, could be in

:43:41. > :43:53.easy safety shot to play here. If trouble. But exactly sure

:43:54. > :43:57.easy safety shot to play here. If where it was before. This is where

:43:58. > :44:03.it is now. Pretty good, half an inch away.

:44:04. > :44:15.It's one of those decisions, I think he has made the right one, that red

:44:16. > :44:23.he's trying to play-off, he have to hit that wafer thin. Anything else,

:44:24. > :45:01.you will hit the jaws with the cue ball.

:45:02. > :46:17.Has to be careful he doesn't play a push shot here. It goes without

:46:18. > :46:22.saying that Judd will be playing off the side cushion. Doesn't really

:46:23. > :46:26.want to leave a touching ball, he has got to be careful because there

:46:27. > :46:29.is plenty of room to going behind the green if he leaves touching

:46:30. > :46:41.ball. They are having a look at each other. They have both had a look and

:46:42. > :46:46.nodded. They have a re-rack. That's all it was going to be, it was going

:46:47. > :46:47.to be a stalemate. Neil has decided to nip out while they set the balls

:46:48. > :46:58.up. So another hiatus. I'm informed that

:46:59. > :47:04.they do change the balls, encase you were wondering, after every round.

:47:05. > :47:09.Not too many problems in the last couple of frames, how do you assess

:47:10. > :47:15.the way the match has gone? It a sort of got a bit tactical, a bit

:47:16. > :47:24.slow. It's not the Sara Lee fireworks everybody was expecting.

:47:25. > :47:28.-- not necessarily. The history, Judd thought that Neil was trying to

:47:29. > :47:31.slow him down, that is what he was expecting in this match, that seems

:47:32. > :47:36.to have been the order of the day. To some degree, if that person is

:47:37. > :47:41.trying to slow the match down, not saying that he is, if that person is

:47:42. > :47:44.dictating that, it's hard to change the equation. The person who plays

:47:45. > :47:51.the slower, it's harder to speed it up then just loaded down. Neil

:47:52. > :47:55.Robertson is out of 32 seconds per shot. There is a bit of needle

:47:56. > :47:58.between these guys, going back to a semifinal at the Masters a couple of

:47:59. > :48:05.years ago when they were words set by both of them afterwards. Judd was

:48:06. > :48:09.quoted as saying that Neil Robertson has gone into shell, and play

:48:10. > :48:15.tactical when he plays me. That seems to be repeating itself. From

:48:16. > :48:20.Neal's point of view, he isn't a slow player but if he plays slow, it

:48:21. > :48:24.will have a detrimental effect on his own game. Naturally, from what I

:48:25. > :48:30.have seen of him, last couple of matches, you will get on with it,

:48:31. > :48:34.but he seems to be... I don't know if it is because of the 100

:48:35. > :48:37.centuries, he is trying to make everything to precise, walking

:48:38. > :48:45.around the table a lot more than I think he has two. One safety shot,

:48:46. > :48:48.he took a minute and a half over, it's totally unnecessary, and 32

:48:49. > :48:56.seconds for him is extremely pedestrian. It's how tension can

:48:57. > :48:59.manifest itself, not just that a player is deliberately playing Snow,

:49:00. > :49:04.it's that all of a sudden there is a lot of tension and your brain

:49:05. > :49:10.freezes more than it would normally do -- playing slow. Some players

:49:11. > :49:13.will suffer more than others. Ronnie O'Sullivan never gets bogged down in

:49:14. > :49:19.that department. But other players, it can happen. I was wondering to

:49:20. > :49:27.what extent it is a residue of what was a very, well, uncharacteristic

:49:28. > :49:32.session he played yesterday against Judd Trump, perhaps there is a worry

:49:33. > :49:37.in his mind after that performance? Maybe that's what he wants to be

:49:38. > :49:41.more precise and take his time over shots, a doctor 's concentration

:49:42. > :49:46.wasn't too good. He is strong to overanalyse things and maybe

:49:47. > :49:51.subconsciously he is doing it. At the moment, if I was in his corner,

:49:52. > :49:59.if I was close to him, I would say, let's speed up a bit, get your mind

:50:00. > :50:06.reacting a lot quicker. Your first instinct is sometimes your best.

:50:07. > :50:14.What a clever shot that was hit play. Usually pack of reds, he knew

:50:15. > :50:24.that the kiss into the head of the pack, it is a clever shot. He is

:50:25. > :50:27.even more clever getting the half ball on the yellow and leaving the

:50:28. > :50:46.cue ball tight on the rail, he will be happy with that result.

:50:47. > :50:56.Didn't judge that right. He won't be happy is as good in there but it

:50:57. > :50:58.could have been worse, sometimes the cue ball comes right up to the

:50:59. > :51:26.business end. Because of his QPR, he can screw

:51:27. > :51:27.back up to get onto the yellow. -- because of his key power. It's what

:51:28. > :51:54.he has decided to do, I think. That's what he played. He had a bit

:51:55. > :51:59.of an angle on that red. He has not left anything easy, which it could

:52:00. > :52:39.have done after that. -- which he could have done.

:52:40. > :52:49.Has to be questionable now, the amount of time that Neil is taking.

:52:50. > :53:14.Good shot, though, worth waiting for, that one.

:53:15. > :53:18.Got to be honest, John was saying to me, surely he would play the double,

:53:19. > :53:39.but he was right! I would just like to see Neil his

:53:40. > :53:52.score a few but a lot quicker and a lot more fluent.

:53:53. > :53:57.I think he is is at his best when he is playing at a much better tempo

:53:58. > :54:14.than this. Not straight forward at the moment,

:54:15. > :54:21.to get onto this next red. It's one of those where you would rather not

:54:22. > :54:22.kiss the pink here. He needs to pay some sort of cannon here just to

:54:23. > :54:39.slow the cue ball down. Played the cannon into the pink and

:54:40. > :54:52.it has gone OK. Did well to control that.

:54:53. > :55:05.Wasn't happy with that particular contact. But no damage done there.

:55:06. > :55:12.You see the red jump off the bed of the table but not a problem. He's

:55:13. > :55:15.just two or three shots away from having these absolutely perfect. A

:55:16. > :55:29.couple of cannon is required. Have to move the reds out of the

:55:30. > :55:37.waves in the black will be available into both pockets. -- out of the

:55:38. > :56:37.way, then the black will be available. He hit that well.

:56:38. > :56:42.This is an excellent chance to close again to within 2-macro and an

:56:43. > :56:51.excellent chance for a very high break. Reluctant to say a century at

:56:52. > :56:54.the moment. Yes, that black will pot, it is an even better chance, I

:56:55. > :57:15.would have thought. Just pop the other red to the

:57:16. > :57:26.left-hand side, making sure the black does pot again. And the black

:57:27. > :57:29.after this next shot would be available into both callers. Just

:57:30. > :57:42.asking the referee to release but this.

:57:43. > :57:45.Sometimes you get a bit of indentation after a couple of days

:57:46. > :57:51.play. No harm in is asking the referee to

:57:52. > :58:04.re-spot is for you. Then he No harm in is asking the referee to

:58:05. > :58:06.eats to get the red out of the way, keeps looking at the angle. -- just

:58:07. > :58:12.needs to. This is a wonderful chance. And I am

:58:13. > :59:25.not going to say it either! The fact he is left-handed, those

:59:26. > :59:30.two reds on a problem at all. He will past century before needing the

:59:31. > :59:49.green. All of a sudden, this is a great chance.

:59:50. > :00:01.He obviously did have a cake, I did detect it from the commentary box.

:00:02. > :00:09.-- a kick. Did you detect it? The cue ball has gone in the right

:00:10. > :00:56.place. He was playing it with a bit of side.

:00:57. > :01:05.They might not have enough balls in the Crucible the way they are going

:01:06. > :01:11.at the minute! Just checking if the reds go. Being over that side is

:01:12. > :01:58.great for Judd here. Well, that was mostly played. And I

:01:59. > :02:03.think the position should be perfect. He couldn't have hit that

:02:04. > :02:07.any better. I had a look before to see whether the bottom red would put

:02:08. > :02:26.but even if it doesn't, he could play a cannon. Not great.

:02:27. > :02:42.Both reds cuttable, both reds difficult. He will be going in and

:02:43. > :03:00.out of baulk with this tubal here. -- 2-ball. -- cue ball.

:03:01. > :03:05.It was always going to be difficult, that, with the long stuff. Breaks

:03:06. > :03:36.down on 28. He is 15 points behind. Just got to put up with the

:03:37. > :03:41.slightest disturbance. The other table's session has finished. You

:03:42. > :03:46.can see people leaving the Crucible on the other side as slowly and

:03:47. > :04:03.quietly as possible. They are trying to, anyway.

:04:04. > :04:07.Looks a fraction hard but it just pulled up in time. He is 20 in

:04:08. > :04:26.front. Both reds. He won't be getting the red from

:04:27. > :04:30.there. Just got a slight angle. I thought he was dead

:04:31. > :04:34.there. Just got a slight angle. I he can force it over.

:04:35. > :04:37.there. Just got a slight angle. I are left-handed. Pretty good from

:04:38. > :04:39.there. Just got a slight angle. I over there. He doesn't

:04:40. > :04:48.there. Just got a slight angle. I anything with the cue ball.

:04:49. > :04:51.there. Just got a slight angle. I as well. They were

:04:52. > :04:54.there. Just got a slight angle. I but some heavy contacts again. Two

:04:55. > :05:04.or three already in this frame. It must just be the conditions out

:05:05. > :05:11.there today. That puts him 28 ahead. Concentrate and knock the pink in.

:05:12. > :05:18.This is a frame he would have been desperate to win. It means

:05:19. > :05:23.This is a frame he would have been won the first of the middle session

:05:24. > :05:35.by three frames to one. He is two behind instead of four.

:05:36. > :06:24.Let's have a look at the scoreboard. He has snookered himself.

:06:25. > :06:28.Let's have a look at the scoreboard. quite a tough snookered to hit so he

:06:29. > :06:46.is going to have to play the swerve. He can actually see it so I don't

:06:47. > :07:02.know what the problem was. He has got a chance of getting in

:07:03. > :07:08.behind the black. No, he has decided to concede. Robertson was hoping to

:07:09. > :07:16.win that session by three frames to one and he has won it. This much has

:07:17. > :07:20.got very intriguing in terms of scoreline but it is an intriguing

:07:21. > :07:25.watch. It is neither one thing or the other. Its severity important

:07:26. > :07:30.session for Neil Robertson to try and get back on level terms. However

:07:31. > :07:36.it happens, that is the job he needs to do. He is grinding away, he is MF

:07:37. > :07:41.of the longer run and it is down to Judd to try and force the pace. He

:07:42. > :07:46.is asking the questions of Judd, you want to win it, you have to take me.

:07:47. > :07:53.We had expected this free-flowing, open game. And we haven't got it. As

:07:54. > :07:57.Steve said, Neal would have set aside -- target for three of the

:07:58. > :08:05.four friends. I refill he has to win this session. If he can win the next

:08:06. > :08:12.three or four, we are level. That one with the long West -- rest, it

:08:13. > :08:16.was probably the wrong shot at the wrong time to play and gave kneeled

:08:17. > :08:21.the opportunity. He has too steady the ship a little bit. He is

:08:22. > :08:30.certainly asking questions of Judd today, more than yesterday. This is

:08:31. > :08:34.the best of 25 and it throws up more possible at ease and more questions

:08:35. > :08:38.to be asked of the player. They would normally have to go into

:08:39. > :08:42.overnight lead and they wouldn't normally have to withstand somebody

:08:43. > :08:46.coming back, normally, they are closer to the finishing line in the

:08:47. > :08:51.shorter frame that. One session does not a world champion make. We will

:08:52. > :09:02.be back shortly with them after the interval. Today, Richard Osmond has

:09:03. > :09:11.the latest killer question. Welcome back. We have given our 100 people

:09:12. > :09:20.147 seconds to name anybody who has appeared at the Crucible 15 times or

:09:21. > :09:34.more. You can name yourself if you wish to. The very best of luck. Alan

:09:35. > :09:40.McManus is one. 15 or more! I've been close. How many times have you

:09:41. > :09:49.played? Peter Ebdon. I am sure he has appeared 15 times. Davis,

:09:50. > :10:00.Hendry, John Parrott. I'm the least famous out of all of them. Some

:10:01. > :10:05.sneaky ones I'll bet in there. A tricky one because a lot of people

:10:06. > :10:08.will get the big names. To be honest, anybody who has been here

:10:09. > :10:16.that amount of time is a big name. Willie Thorne. You can't have Willie

:10:17. > :10:31.Thorne. I am just shouting out names randomly. He came here in 1976. Alan

:10:32. > :10:39.McManus. I might have been here more than 15 times. Not here so that

:10:40. > :10:48.might be out of mind. Definitely not Darren Morgan. Peter Ebdon. Alan

:10:49. > :10:57.McManus. Alan McManus has definitely been here more than 15 times. Alan

:10:58. > :11:06.McManus. Alan McManus. Ken Doherty. I really want to say Willie Thorne.

:11:07. > :11:13.I will be giving the scores at the end of the interval. You can tweak

:11:14. > :11:17.your answers if you like and Apple tell you what you scored just before

:11:18. > :11:26.the end of the interval. The very best of luck. I have another

:11:27. > :11:30.pointless quiz question. Who is the world's number four snooker player?

:11:31. > :11:33.There is only one correct answer and it is Barry Hawkins.

:11:34. > :11:39.There is only one correct answer and it It underlines the progress this

:11:40. > :11:44.man has made over the last couple of years. He has quietly and very

:11:45. > :11:47.effectively matings weigh up the rankings. He was a runner-up 12

:11:48. > :12:00.months ago here at the rankings Ash Crystal. -- and the Crucible. His

:12:01. > :12:04.game is not going his way in the first couple of sessions. Dominic

:12:05. > :12:14.Fountains of five frames to 11. Barry had knocked in for sizeable 50

:12:15. > :12:18.plus breaks. So, into this afternoon's play we go and it is

:12:19. > :12:22.Dominik who took the first two of this afternoon, making sure that

:12:23. > :12:26.Hawking worked for his victory, if it is to come. John Virgo and Barry

:12:27. > :12:33.Griffiths now. it is to come. John Virgo and Barry

:12:34. > :12:35.The problem with the red that is close to the right-hand cushion, you

:12:36. > :12:46.want to be careful that you don't get a double-kiss.

:12:47. > :12:53.He hit it well but not enough and that is why he caught the blue. Now,

:12:54. > :13:59.what has he left. --? A lot of left-hand side and if it

:14:00. > :14:00.slips past the green, this is a good safety, believe me. That is a

:14:01. > :14:18.cracker. He looked trapped there. He could

:14:19. > :15:00.only see a few reds. That was a high risk safety shot. He

:15:01. > :15:18.was trapped by the excellent safety shot that Dominic Dale played. A

:15:19. > :15:24.chance for Dominic. The easy red to the left middle, you would think he

:15:25. > :15:32.would try to get on the yellow or green, for starters. He has

:15:33. > :17:08.overheated. Well, he is OK, he is just about on the green.

:17:09. > :17:20.He has got red the centre and a red directive below available. --

:17:21. > :17:24.directly. He is having a look to see if the black will go and that would

:17:25. > :17:29.mean he would be putting this red coming off the top cushion and

:17:30. > :17:34.carrying on the red to the right of the black. Putting all your eggs

:17:35. > :17:41.into one basket. But he has played beautifully! He could not have

:17:42. > :17:49.played it better! What chance he has given himself now! I was just

:17:50. > :17:56.thinking that if he got 20, he would do very well. Think is black on its

:17:57. > :18:03.spot now that black is in the open. The good chance now for Dominic to

:18:04. > :18:06.win the frame. Somebody's phone has gone. Make sure your phones are

:18:07. > :18:37.switched off, please. That pink has put 15 points in the

:18:38. > :18:54.lead. I don't think the red will pass the

:18:55. > :18:55.brown. It may do. But he can win then with the reds in this third of

:18:56. > :19:21.the table. This is excellent stuff from

:19:22. > :19:42.Dominic, it really is. Looks very comfortable out there.

:19:43. > :19:54.And so he should. He has dominated this session so far.

:19:55. > :20:13.Purposely holding the pink spot there. He doesn't mind the pink

:20:14. > :20:19.going on the blue spot there. That is the highest available. So, 38

:20:20. > :20:28.points in the lead, looking for a red, a colour, and one more red. He

:20:29. > :20:41.has got the perfect angle on this black now, to put the black and just

:20:42. > :20:50.come off the cushion. Something like that should do.

:20:51. > :20:58.That is just about OK. As long as he knocked the red, he wasn't bothered.

:20:59. > :21:08.What a battling performance this is from Dominic. Every credit to him.

:21:09. > :21:18.He looked down and out. A lesson to every young aspiring snooker player.

:21:19. > :21:24.Never give in. And that red going in now puts him 47 points in front with

:21:25. > :21:28.just 43 remaining. If he pots the pink in the middle, which you

:21:29. > :21:45.expecting to do, no return to the table for Barry Hawkins.

:21:46. > :21:53.Beautiful positional shot. He has played a couple in this break

:21:54. > :21:58.already. The shot he played to bring the black into play was, well, as

:21:59. > :22:03.good as you see. Well, it doesn't matter about the red, I am certain.

:22:04. > :22:09.Barry will give the nod to directory. He does. Dominic started

:22:10. > :22:15.the session six frames behind, he cut his deficit. One more to go

:22:16. > :22:18.before the mid-session interval. He trails by three. Barry Hawkins may

:22:19. > :22:24.be getting a little bit concerned but he still leads 11-8. It is all

:22:25. > :22:29.about the Spaceman in that one. He is on the comeback trail. He is

:22:30. > :22:33.certainly asking some searching questions of Barry Hawkins. We will

:22:34. > :22:42.bring you the complete occlusion of that match later on. -- the

:22:43. > :22:45.conclusion. Kids, do not try this at home. All aboard for the trick shot

:22:46. > :23:00.express. I am going to hold five cues at the

:23:01. > :23:31.same time and pot or five balls right there. Five cues, one shot.

:23:32. > :23:57.This shot here is a variation of a hustler shot. The idea is to hit the

:23:58. > :24:01.white ball, move it along, when the white ball is coming along there, I

:24:02. > :24:14.will refuted, it will go back and hit the other ball.

:24:15. > :24:41.This is what I call the impossible shot. The white ball will

:24:42. > :24:45.double-kiss one ball, come some way here and curve, comeback and make

:24:46. > :25:28.the five ball. He is remarkable. I never have seen

:25:29. > :25:35.that. It is amazing the reaction he gets on the cue ball, and incredible

:25:36. > :25:46.trick. He has three fingers missing from the one glove in some of those

:25:47. > :25:50.tricks. He has got to get out more, I think! He needs to generate a lot

:25:51. > :25:57.of speed. Why am I talking about this technically! You don't want to

:25:58. > :26:07.know. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. Let's move on. How did

:26:08. > :26:16.you do in the quiz? Let's find out. Earlier, I asked you to name anyone

:26:17. > :26:24.who has played the Crucible 15 times or more. Three of our teams went for

:26:25. > :26:32.Alan McManus. Ken Doherty and others. Alan McManus would have

:26:33. > :26:42.scored you seven points. Ken Doherty would have scored you 59. Peter

:26:43. > :26:46.Ebdon would have scored you 35. There were actually for answers that

:26:47. > :26:54.would have eaten Alan McManus. Nigel Bond. Eddie Charlton, Stephen Lee,

:26:55. > :27:01.but Mountjoy. Congratulations if you said any of those. The biggest

:27:02. > :27:15.answers, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry. More tomorrow.

:27:16. > :27:28.No sign of a league table yet. As for you at home, there was a fair

:27:29. > :27:30.bit of support for Mountjoy so well done for those of you who got that

:27:31. > :27:34.bit of support for Mountjoy so well straightaway. Let's get back to

:27:35. > :27:40.matters in hand today. We have four for -- more frames to complete what

:27:41. > :27:44.is proving to be a very interesting comeback from Neil Robertson. He is

:27:45. > :27:50.half the deficit in this match. He comeback from Neil Robertson. He is

:27:51. > :27:57.is now only two frames behind against job Trump. Back to the

:27:58. > :28:01.commentary box. Thank you, Hazel. 15 minutes mid-session interval over.

:28:02. > :28:06.Judd Trump knows he has to be a minutes mid-session interval over.

:28:07. > :28:11.little careful. He would like to get 4-4. That would be the target to

:28:12. > :28:16.little careful. He would like to get this many session 3-1. If Robertson

:28:17. > :28:52.when these eight -- winded, they will be square. -- wins it.

:28:53. > :29:00.Even thinner than he wanted there, Neal. Barely touched the red. He has

:29:01. > :29:23.left Judd chance on the medium red. Unlucky. He nearly got the ultimate

:29:24. > :29:30.there with the cannon. He wanted to get a pic or contact on the red.

:29:31. > :30:04.Good pot. -- he wanted to get a thicker contact.

:30:05. > :30:16.He has found himself they are a number of times this afternoon. He

:30:17. > :30:37.did well there. Not an ideal cue ball, but he has got some distance.

:30:38. > :31:43.Good part of their -- good pot there.

:31:44. > :31:59.Chose to play a very positive shop there. -- shot. Definitely on this

:32:00. > :32:10.red. The only way to get on the black is running it off the cushion.

:32:11. > :32:15.But he may flick onto the black. It is one of those, if you roll it in,

:32:16. > :32:19.and you could bounce it off the cushion, it could throw the white

:32:20. > :32:26.wider. Especially with the spider, it's

:32:27. > :32:53.even more difficult. He did miss the kiss on the black.

:32:54. > :33:29.Just about OK. Tricky little shorts these. The cue

:33:30. > :33:38.ball is very close to the black. -- little shots.

:33:39. > :33:44.And it's not there. I got gravity might have taken over the, it was

:33:45. > :34:31.slow enough, but it didn't drop. Under pressure, that was a fantastic

:34:32. > :34:35.shot. There was a lot of pressure on that shot and he could not have

:34:36. > :34:44.played it better. Yes, he got the shot here. He could play a cannon on

:34:45. > :34:52.the red on the right-hand side. If you visit, you still have a red to

:34:53. > :35:03.the same pocket. He paid its lower -- he played it slower.

:35:04. > :36:01.He has hit that well. He is in a good position now.

:36:02. > :36:08.Well, didn't see that one coming. Pretty straightforward. It should

:36:09. > :36:34.not have been a problem. Sitting in his chair, looking a bit

:36:35. > :37:05.forlorn. It does not seem to be happening for him this afternoon.

:37:06. > :39:07.That is an attacking safety shot if ever there was one. Neil Robertson

:39:08. > :39:16.is one of the best long waters in the game -- potters. This is a great

:39:17. > :39:27.chance. Good pot. These really are very nice

:39:28. > :40:02.indeed. That cue ball should have been a

:40:03. > :40:09.foot further in the table. He felt he had a bad contact. Three points

:40:10. > :40:12.in front, if he gets on this next colour, you would expect him to win

:40:13. > :41:09.the frame. His facial expression tells us is

:41:10. > :41:16.not the way he played that shop. -- shot. Now it looks to be plain

:41:17. > :41:24.sailing, but it never is when you are playing catch up.

:41:25. > :41:31.It has been workmanlike this afternoon. Neil Robertson is not his

:41:32. > :42:17.normal flu itself. -- fluent self. He has taken these well. Judd Trump

:42:18. > :42:19.had his chances in this frame. For somebody of his capabilities, that

:42:20. > :43:02.was a very bad miss. He has already got a 40 point lead.

:43:03. > :43:12.If he knocks this one in, he will win the frame. Neil Robertson,

:43:13. > :43:17.surely but surely, clawing his way back into this. Only one frame

:43:18. > :43:49.behind. Very fluent here. Such a better

:43:50. > :43:51.player when he plays at this tempo. This is the best break of the match

:43:52. > :44:20.for Neil Robertson. This is a very big comeback for

:44:21. > :44:27.Neill Robertson. We showed you the red that Judd missed. You have just

:44:28. > :44:35.got to be careful, slow down a fraction. He is playing at a quicker

:44:36. > :44:45.pace, but you can't afford to miss these. He will be mortified that he

:44:46. > :44:59.missed this. You have to put the concentration in. Later, Judd played

:45:00. > :45:05.the attacking safety and Robertson is a magnificent long potter and

:45:06. > :45:44.went on to win the frame. Good break of that. Come down one

:45:45. > :45:55.side of the table, the right-hand side is tricky. Difficult to get

:45:56. > :45:56.back to the baulk area with the cue ball because of the red on the

:45:57. > :46:51.left-hand side cushion. That is a magnificent pot. Played

:46:52. > :46:57.the only shot that was open to him. He has knocked it straight in. The

:46:58. > :47:09.only downside is he has come right next to the yellow. Can't really get

:47:10. > :47:29.any peace into the shot, the cue ball is just too close.

:47:30. > :47:42.Big shot coming up, taking the blue on. What a pot that was. It is

:47:43. > :47:48.tricky. You are telling you opponent, I am ready to play.

:47:49. > :48:03.Absolutely beautiful strike, that was.

:48:04. > :48:18.Playing for the red that's next to the pink. You are almost bound to be

:48:19. > :48:22.on the red. Just got it a little bit too much. It would have been better

:48:23. > :49:10.a little bit closer to the reds. He seems to have upped his pace and

:49:11. > :49:37.little bit, walking round a bit quicker than he has been.

:49:38. > :49:43.Always likely to be a problem when the cue ball is so close to the

:49:44. > :49:50.pink, difficult to generate any pace.

:49:51. > :50:01.What was looking like a decent opportunity has gone West. It looks

:50:02. > :50:37.like a safety coming up. Not a massive target, but I am sure

:50:38. > :50:53.Judd will come off the side of the pack.

:50:54. > :51:50.He is unlucky twice because the pink has gone in.

:51:51. > :52:23.There goes the red. Just can't get the wheat at the moment. Can't get

:52:24. > :52:51.that baulk cushion. -- weight. Decent pot, just couldn't get the

:52:52. > :53:21.cue ball out. Go down to the baulk area in a moment.

:53:22. > :53:32.If the blue had been straight, he might have took it on. But a safety

:53:33. > :53:41.shot here. That's not the best. Judd may be tempted. The red on the

:53:42. > :53:44.right, getting the cue ball down this side of the table. A pure

:53:45. > :54:16.safety shot from Robertson for a change. --

:54:17. > :54:46.The first perceived a shot Neill has played for a sometime. -- poor

:54:47. > :54:51.safety shot. 18 minutes since he last ported a

:54:52. > :55:16.ball. If he lines it up dead straight, if

:55:17. > :55:27.he gets it badly, he will hit the red new address the blue. That is an

:55:28. > :55:33.absolute reach. Straight to the centre of the pocket, perfect

:55:34. > :55:40.position, couldn't be any better. Great shot. What ever he gets, he

:55:41. > :56:07.deserves after a shot like that. He's only made that one break over

:56:08. > :56:13.50 and he did that in the frame that he won. Just get a bit of confidence

:56:14. > :56:44.back. Played a little cannon on the red

:56:45. > :56:53.and black. He is going to need at least two of those reds. That is if

:56:54. > :57:18.he clears the other five. He may have missed a little trick there.

:57:19. > :57:35.Or contact the. Jumped up when he hit that shot. Took a bit of pace

:57:36. > :57:36.out of the cue ball. Expecting it to go a lot further. But he's all

:57:37. > :58:22.right. It's getting more difficult now to

:58:23. > :58:29.get on the colour on the right side.

:58:30. > :58:42.The fact that green is off its spot helps. But this has to be played to

:58:43. > :58:46.perfection to get onto a red. And it is just about perfect as well.

:58:47. > :59:05.Excellent, well played. This has been absolutely superb. He

:59:06. > :59:11.has played two shots in this break. This was really well what about --

:59:12. > :59:36.well no need to play any cannons here at

:59:37. > :59:47.the moment. I bet he would she have played on it

:59:48. > :00:18.now. Trying to be too That was an excellent 50 break. It

:00:19. > :02:20.really was very good. One thing Judd would be doing is

:02:21. > :02:24.playing safe after red on the side cushion. He will be leaving that

:02:25. > :03:00.where it is. On the other hand, Neil wants to

:03:01. > :03:19.bring this red into play. The green is still injured's favour

:03:20. > :03:20.but whoever puts the next red has the chance to win the frame that

:03:21. > :03:41.visit. -- pots the next red. This is a very dangerous table at

:03:42. > :03:50.the minute. A 28 point lead won't mean a great deal if Neil Robertson

:03:51. > :04:00.get the next opportunity. He played that in such a way to be shot to

:04:01. > :04:09.nothing. The bonus is that as well as playing a shot to nothing, he has

:04:10. > :04:12.put the red say. -- safe. He is merely snookered on all balls. --

:04:13. > :05:01.snow could -- nearly snookered. He has done pretty well to get out

:05:02. > :05:07.of that situation. Very well not to get a double kiss of the red. -- off

:05:08. > :05:17.the red. He missed that by Anne Amphlett

:05:18. > :05:35.mile. -- by Anne Amphlett mile. Just looking to see whether Neil has

:05:36. > :06:09.the angle to put the blue. play the yellow but he thinks he is

:06:10. > :06:34.OK for I honestly didn't see him doing

:06:35. > :07:32.that. Very, very good. He knew he would

:07:33. > :07:53.have every chance to get away with it.

:07:54. > :08:01.Dangerous. Has he got away with it? He certainly has. A good chance of

:08:02. > :08:15.getting passed the baulk line. You have to

:08:16. > :08:19.make sure the red ghost say. Don't risk making the snowcapped and

:08:20. > :08:22.putting the red in a pottable position. That is pretty good. Well

:08:23. > :08:30.played. That last role just stopped it. That

:08:31. > :08:54.planning to play dead That last role just stopped it. That

:08:55. > :09:16.final role just did him there. I think I might be tempted to play

:09:17. > :09:29.the red on the left here and get the green off the cushion. And leave the

:09:30. > :09:50.red weather green walls and get the green back in play.

:09:51. > :11:24.He called it to perfection. Did he get the snooker? Not quite.

:11:25. > :11:44.He tried to get that really then and it hit it on the way back. -- really

:11:45. > :11:47.thin. He would love to come the red along the cushion and take the cue

:11:48. > :11:56.ball in towards the black but it is too dangerous. You can't do a good

:11:57. > :11:58.white and get the red safe as well so he may decide to play this along

:11:59. > :12:52.the cushion. Can you believe that? I can only

:12:53. > :13:18.presume it rolled off. He needs to slow down so he has got

:13:19. > :13:33.the angle on the red. Very good. That is an excellent

:13:34. > :13:37.shot. Under pressure, that was very good. He needs the colour off this

:13:38. > :13:53.red, though. I just said he needs a colour off

:13:54. > :14:02.this red, what has he done the white -- with the white here? He has got

:14:03. > :14:06.to take the blue on. Just play the blue and leave the white at this

:14:07. > :14:09.end. The black is missable, the blue I didn't think was miserable. --

:14:10. > :14:53.missable. 45 points in front when Neil came

:14:54. > :15:04.back to the table. He nods his head. That was a big frame for Judd Trump.

:15:05. > :15:10.29 and a half minute frame and it restores a two frame advantage for

:15:11. > :15:14.Judd Trump. Meanwhile, it is getting tense on the other side of the

:15:15. > :15:22.theatre because it was eight frames to 11, Barry Hawkins with the lead

:15:23. > :15:26.but Dominic Dale had won the first three and he has won the next three

:15:27. > :15:35.as well. He has totally dominated the session. It is elegant-11 and

:15:36. > :15:48.now it is the best of three. This is going to be quite a finish. You are

:15:49. > :15:54.right, Hazel. Barry Hawkins is in. Dominic Dale has missed a red. He

:15:55. > :16:04.left the cue ball up the side of the table. These are the times when you

:16:05. > :16:09.get tested as a player. And also as a person. Barry Hawkins, how strong

:16:10. > :16:16.is he? From these situations, when you go on to win a match after a big

:16:17. > :16:52.lead. If you fail, you tend to wither.

:16:53. > :17:08.is on this red to the right corner. Looks as though he can, well,

:17:09. > :17:12.looking at the angle there, maybe able to hold it or run across the

:17:13. > :17:18.face of the black to put the black in the same pocket. Dominik has made

:17:19. > :17:23.a fantastic recovery here. He has got back to level terms. But not

:17:24. > :17:30.without a little bit of help from his opponent, it has to be said.

:17:31. > :17:39.And there is another example. Is he saying kick? Did he think he had a

:17:40. > :17:56.heavy contact? And what a time for it to happen.

:17:57. > :18:01.Incredible. We're watching it here and it is still hard to believe what

:18:02. > :18:07.has happened. Barry Hawkins, three times in this match has been six

:18:08. > :18:13.frames in front. And Dominic Dale has won six on the spin to draw

:18:14. > :18:14.things level. This is what makes the Crucible Theatre and the World

:18:15. > :18:31.Championships It is not a difficult pot,

:18:32. > :18:35.obviously. He doesn't have to be -- do a lot with the cue ball but you

:18:36. > :18:42.have to be very careful that you do not miscue and foul the red that is

:18:43. > :18:46.close to the cue ball. There is another red to the left corner but

:18:47. > :19:02.that is no good to him, really. The black won't go to the right corner.

:19:03. > :19:12.As I say, he has got to go onto one -- the other corner, maybe there was

:19:13. > :19:17.another increment under the table. This is the one we'd get the spider

:19:18. > :19:24.and put the rest on top of the spider.

:19:25. > :19:32.Then, that just gives you a little bit more feel for the shot. The

:19:33. > :19:41.referee will be watching this closely.

:19:42. > :19:50.Well, that is as good as he could do. It is close enough to the

:19:51. > :20:10.cushion to make this black missable. There is pressure on this.

:20:11. > :20:18.That is the problem. I have seen it so many times, when you are close to

:20:19. > :20:21.the cushion and all you can do is roll the ball in and even though

:20:22. > :20:24.there is not a lot of nap on this costs, so often, we see those shots,

:20:25. > :20:40.too thick. He is looking to see if there is any

:20:41. > :20:48.value on playing the black off the red. The only problem with this is

:20:49. > :21:00.if he comes straight, and I think he has, then he is limited.

:21:01. > :21:09.He has overdone it. He courted to good. It may be a plant on, but

:21:10. > :21:15.there was no single read on. The plant is on, by the look of it.

:21:16. > :21:27.There is a bit of distance between the two balls.

:21:28. > :21:43.He has got that in. But he is not on a colour.

:21:44. > :21:56.He is having one disaster after another in this session.

:21:57. > :22:12.Well, I couldn't have played that shot. Dominic Dale leave the safe

:22:13. > :22:29.forward -- straightforward safety now.

:22:30. > :23:25.Whatever he played, he will not complain about the outcome.

:23:26. > :23:31.If this red goes into the left middle, that is unforgivable. And it

:23:32. > :23:54.does. And just about got enough angle on

:23:55. > :24:04.the blue. You couldn't afford to leave that short.

:24:05. > :24:12.He totally misjudged the angle, John. He try to catch it ball ball

:24:13. > :24:18.on and didn't get near it. Mind you, anything could happen here with

:24:19. > :24:26.Barry Hawkins. Absolutely. He is not in a good place at the moment. He is

:24:27. > :24:32.not thinking straight. What he's got to do now is dig in, and little

:24:33. > :24:42.cannon here for Dominik, often black, he has got the perfect angle.

:24:43. > :24:45.If he can get the cannon on the red, he will split the three reds by the

:24:46. > :24:54.pink and still be on one of those two reds by the pocket of the black.

:24:55. > :24:59.Well, he has decided to go another way. He didn't want to risk it. That

:25:00. > :25:03.is OK. He feels that in putting this, he can bring the two reds near

:25:04. > :25:22.the pink into play. You just feel if he had played the

:25:23. > :25:28.cannon, he could have cleared them out at a bit more. It is all a bit

:25:29. > :25:34.congested there now. He placed the cannon and he moves them right away

:25:35. > :25:38.from the pink. -- he plays the cannon. Well, he got the cannon nap

:25:39. > :26:01.time! And it was a lot more to the court! Funny old game.

:26:02. > :26:10.This pink will take Dominic two points in the lead so he will need

:26:11. > :26:25.the four remaining reds with colours. But he will need the green.

:26:26. > :26:41.Obviously, the left-hand red goes to the right corner.

:26:42. > :26:49.And we have said all along, Terry, that when it got to the stage, if it

:26:50. > :26:53.ever got to the stage where Dominic looked like winning this match, it

:26:54. > :26:54.would take on a different aspect altogether. But so far, he is

:26:55. > :27:28.handling it well. As you mentioned earlier, John, the

:27:29. > :27:34.difference with the two layers is normally he is keeping the cue ball

:27:35. > :27:38.close to the object ball and keeping the pressure away, Barry Hawkins is

:27:39. > :27:42.not. And don't think for one minute that Dominic Dale isn't under

:27:43. > :27:48.pressure, just because he has come back like this. He is under extreme

:27:49. > :27:52.pressure. But it is not the type of pressure that Barry Hawkins is

:27:53. > :28:04.feeling. He is feeling that he has left everything go in front of him.

:28:05. > :28:23.He could not have struck that any better.

:28:24. > :28:36.Needs an angle on the pink. Can he screw across and get behind the red?

:28:37. > :28:46.Looking for one more red and the colour. He needed to miss the red.

:28:47. > :29:00.He's just caught it. He may be tempted by this red. He might not,

:29:01. > :29:07.of course. Well, he thinks it is an easy safety shot comes snookers,

:29:08. > :29:14.possibly with the yellow. That has been his game plan so far today.

:29:15. > :29:17.Very good safety, not really taking anything on whether there was risk

:29:18. > :29:25.involved. Very good play. His score has been good. At the end of the

:29:26. > :29:30.day, under pressure. The less mistakes you make, the better chance

:29:31. > :29:36.you have of winning. It is not the brilliant stuff that wins it all the

:29:37. > :29:42.time. Well, that is handy for Barry. OK, Dominic Dale can get through to

:29:43. > :29:49.the red but now, green and brown in play, this frame could be decided on

:29:50. > :30:01.who pots this last red. It wasn't like that a few shots ago.

:30:02. > :30:12.My sleep played. A great shot. nicely played. You can see buried

:30:13. > :30:19.there did not want to get out of its seat. He slumped in his chair.

:30:20. > :30:21.Perfect play from Dominic Dale. He has got to hit this and get it safe.

:30:22. > :31:26.A tall order. Dominic is giving this a lot of

:31:27. > :31:32.thought. He doesn't want to play the half-ball on the right-hand side.

:31:33. > :31:41.But if he sends it back up towards the baulk end, with a green and

:31:42. > :31:51.brown bear, it would not be pottable. Will Barry be tempted

:31:52. > :32:11.here? If he hasn't got an easy safety, he may well be.

:32:12. > :32:27.It is a tough pot at any time. It could inspire him if he knocks it in

:32:28. > :32:30.and clears up. He has had no reward for the effort he has put in this

:32:31. > :33:02.afternoon. Where is this red going? Over the

:33:03. > :33:14.middle. Dominic am a 25 points in front, need this red and a colour.

:33:15. > :33:37.And the red cuts. It is a thin one, but it cuts.

:33:38. > :33:54.He has knocked the green on. What a turnaround.

:33:55. > :34:05.It struggled its way in. Just can't believe what has happened here. At

:34:06. > :34:11.the start of the session, 11-5 behind and now with that yellow

:34:12. > :34:15.going in, seven frames in succession.

:34:16. > :34:40.And a nod from Barry Hawkins, who was two frames away from victory and

:34:41. > :34:49.now it is Dominic Dale who takes the lead at a vital time. Dominic Dale

:34:50. > :34:55.is only one frame away from victory. Would have believed it?

:34:56. > :35:01.If he pools less off, it would be a great comeback. How do you assess

:35:02. > :35:06.the way their pressure has completely reversed here? Barry is

:35:07. > :35:18.under pressure. You can see it on his fees. -- his face. The pressure

:35:19. > :35:28.means you don't hit the shots at the right pace. He had to play a plant

:35:29. > :35:34.and he overhit it by some distance. Was he worried about missing it? I

:35:35. > :35:40.don't think so. In this type of situation, you start overhit the

:35:41. > :35:47.ball, underhit the ball. The plant he has overhit. Sometimes your arm

:35:48. > :35:53.gets so tense, you lose all the feeling in it and you start to jab a

:35:54. > :36:00.little bit. He is completely out of sync now. But sometimes, when a

:36:01. > :36:05.player comes back from such a distance, the pressure builds on the

:36:06. > :36:09.other player. It will be interesting to see how Dominic composes

:36:10. > :36:22.himself. You have to take your hat off to Dominic. This is an

:36:23. > :36:30.extraordinary achievement. We have seen it before. But for a Dominic,

:36:31. > :36:35.he has not been in the quarterfinals for 14 years and he is on the cusp

:36:36. > :36:42.of a semi. It is fantastic. Many people would consider him a

:36:43. > :36:49.journeyman snooker player. This would be the icing for Dominic. Even

:36:50. > :36:53.though he has one ranking events, the biggest performances in his

:36:54. > :36:57.career, I am not sure what you would equate a ranking event in the past

:36:58. > :37:06.to a semifinal in today's was my game. What are the hallmarks of his

:37:07. > :37:12.play today? He is a very underrated player, he is very cunning, astute

:37:13. > :37:20.and consistent. He is extremely underrated. Sometimes even amongst

:37:21. > :37:26.his own peers. But when he is on his game, he plays a good all-round

:37:27. > :37:34.game. And we have seen evidence of that today. Can he complete this

:37:35. > :37:36.remarkable turnaround, or will last year's runner-up at the Crucible

:37:37. > :37:50.still It would be remarkable. I have seen

:37:51. > :37:54.Dominic Dale playing uses a young lad -- playing since I young lad and

:37:55. > :38:13.I cannot remember seeing him play so well. He has 12 ranking events --

:38:14. > :38:15.two ranking events. Can he sustain the Excellency has shown before the

:38:16. > :38:33.most extreme pressure? He thought the only red he could

:38:34. > :38:38.leave is the one he was playing. What is Barry Hawkins going to do

:38:39. > :38:48.now? It has got nothing to do with cue

:38:49. > :39:05.action now. It has got nothing to do with cue

:39:06. > :39:53.little reward from this session He was looking to be on the blue,

:39:54. > :39:58.but he has overdone it slightly. With the black not available, he

:39:59. > :40:04.would like to play a cannon With the black not available, he

:40:05. > :40:13.main cluster. Played the positive shot.

:40:14. > :40:18.He has got one to this corner. Perhaps just got the angle to stand

:40:19. > :40:39.down for the pink blush stunt another good pot. Barry Hawkins

:40:40. > :40:44.would have been hoping when he played that that it would bring pink

:40:45. > :40:48.and black into play. Think is available, but not as yet. That

:40:49. > :41:37.surprised me a little bit here. It is all about heart now, isn't it?

:41:38. > :41:45.His stomach will be churning and he will not feel his normal self out

:41:46. > :41:52.His stomach will be churning and he there. But you have got to find

:41:53. > :41:52.something. Three times now, there. But you have got to find

:41:53. > :41:58.played on the blue and he has overdone it. Too much

:41:59. > :42:03.played on the blue and he has cube also use having to play the

:42:04. > :42:06.green -- on the cue ball so he is having.

:42:07. > :42:21.You can never get it right when you are under extreme pressure. You may

:42:22. > :42:28.pot the ball, but this is about getting position as well.

:42:29. > :42:43.Looks like end of break. The one closest to the cue ball might go to

:42:44. > :42:53.the corner. Right in the heart of the pocket.

:42:54. > :42:58.Where is that cue ball going to stop? He is just about OK on the

:42:59. > :43:25.brown. He keeps playing shots of these

:43:26. > :43:31.baulk colours, you can't continue to do that, obviously.

:43:32. > :43:43.This is a slightly better angle on the blue now.

:43:44. > :43:53.The pink sport looks at available. Bringing the pink into play would

:43:54. > :44:20.help. He has gone for another red. You

:44:21. > :44:40.feel he has got to play for the pink ear.

:44:41. > :44:48.Once again, up for the blue. It was a risk, but he obviously doesn't

:44:49. > :44:59.fancy playing the pink. But so far, so good. Now he is going

:45:00. > :45:32.to play for the pink. Every shot is difficult, obviously.

:45:33. > :45:38.The tendency for players is to have a picture in front of them, in this

:45:39. > :45:49.situation, you start to see what could go wrong before you play it. A

:45:50. > :46:00.possible 83 points remaining. Not over the line just yet. Another

:46:01. > :46:03.positional shot misjudged. Under normal circumstances, you would not

:46:04. > :47:18.expect him to miss this. He has potted the balls, that was

:47:19. > :47:23.the main thing. This red to put him 60 points in front, with 59

:47:24. > :47:26.remaining. Well played, Barry Hawkins. Really up against it having

:47:27. > :47:58.lost seven frames in a row. No matter what he does, just make

:47:59. > :48:00.certain. No point in going for the more difficult pink, not in these

:48:01. > :48:18.circumstances. Some tremendous play from Barry

:48:19. > :48:30.Hawkins. He has missed the red, but he has

:48:31. > :48:52.come up with something special here. Yes, the adrenaline kicked in for

:48:53. > :48:58.Barry Hawkins. We have another classic final frame decider, an

:48:59. > :49:04.unexpected one. Absolutely. Fair play to both of them. They have

:49:05. > :49:08.shown a lot of courage. Barry Hawkins, having lost all those

:49:09. > :49:14.frames, to have been able to come pose himself and keep the play going

:49:15. > :49:24.is admirable. Dominic Dale played a shot that might just have given

:49:25. > :49:29.Barry a sniff. Yes, if he had pushed it back into the pack, it would have

:49:30. > :49:38.left everything safe but it gave Barry Hawkins and opening. I think

:49:39. > :49:45.he missed a trick there. Describe what it is like, Haddin come back

:49:46. > :49:52.into a match like this, waiting for it all to start. Your heart is

:49:53. > :50:01.beating fast. You just want one chance, but you can't wait to get

:50:02. > :50:10.started. But sometimes you don't get a chance. It will be interesting to

:50:11. > :50:11.see, as players ourselves, we love last frame

:50:12. > :50:20.see, as players ourselves, we love love to see players stew. That

:50:21. > :50:28.excitement level is incredible. love to see players stew. That

:50:29. > :50:40.Barry Hawkins has got to put himself in a position...? Surely his

:50:41. > :50:44.experience has two count? Yes, 14 years since Dominic has played here,

:50:45. > :50:53.but experience me tell. You never know. This deciding frame could be

:50:54. > :50:58.won or lost on decision-making as much as shots.

:50:59. > :51:11.And a good break by Dominic. He couldn't have played it much

:51:12. > :51:46.better. Kent was on about the heart beating

:51:47. > :51:51.faster, which it does. But what Steve said, the excitement of being

:51:52. > :51:54.out there in these situations is something you do not get in your

:51:55. > :52:04.life unless you are a snooker player. It is a wonderful place to

:52:05. > :52:46.be. There are no guarantees for either player here.

:52:47. > :53:01.He's going for it. I think he has made his decision. Great pot. That

:53:02. > :53:03.was a difficult shot in these circumstances. But he has got the

:53:04. > :53:13.first chance. Barry Hawkins has made the

:53:14. > :53:22.breakthrough, but we are going to have to leave it. There is continued

:53:23. > :53:30.coverage on the red button. Jason will be back at seven o'clock to

:53:31. > :54:01.round it all up. Meanwhile, we have to say goodbye.

:54:02. > :54:04.Ted, I... I'm not interested in coming to see Lady Gaga, sir.