Day 13, Part 2 Snooker: World Championship

Good evening. It has taken 13 days. They've had to win 36 frames to make

it here. This is what it looks like when you make it to the semi-finals

- one table. A lot more class-class accommodation, with a lot more

leg-room in the seating area. There's more work to do to win this

title. Four of the five top seeds have got to this top seat.

Tonight, it is the turn of the world number one, Neil Robertson, facing

world number three, Mark Selby. An Australian and an English man, who

have seen a lot of each other recently.

There's been a lot of attention on me this week, with 100 centuries.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, defending champion, almost playing unbeaten

snooker in some of the sessions. In some ways Mark has been going,

flying under the radar, going about his business.

This year I have not won a major tournament as yet. I have gone

unther the radar a bit. -- under the radar a bit. We've had

good matches over the years, Mark and I. Playing big finals where

we've got the better of each other at times. The last two or three

seasons we went from not playing each other to playing each other two

or three times a season. I think I beat him in the Masters last year.

He beat me in the UK final this year. It will be a tough game. I

cannot see it being a scrapie game. I will not enjoy that. I don't want

to play, playing unenjoyable snooker. I want to enjoy it. I want

to attack. I want to pot long balls and for the crowd to enjoy it. I am

sure Mark will too. . We go back a long way. When he first came to the

UK, we lived together for a year-and-a-half and practicing

together. It is nice to see him do what he's achieved.

At least I'll have the honour to be the first to congratulate him if

this green goes in! Absolutely! Unbelievable! The crowd

enjoyed it. It was like I made four sevens in a row at the Crucible - it

was that electric! If there's any cricketer who's been 199 twice and

got out and then finally doing it. Making a century a century... Maybe

Brian Lara making a 400 - that is the vision I had in my mind. I

remember seeing Lara do it when he got to 400. For me, it was that kind

of achievement. People like Ken Doherty and thaw, they have been

saying someone one day will do it. To be that person is a great honour

that I can be that player for the wonderful game we play.

And with me this evening is a man who's been in six World Championship

finals. Both are history-makers. Selby made snooker's 100 maximum

break. Last night Neil Robertson with his tonne of tonnes. How

significant is this for your sport? It is amazing. We have more

tournaments in the season. Regardless, Neil Robertson is

playing a relentless level, arguably better than the snooker he played to

win in 2010. It will take a monumental performance by anyone to

better 100 centuries in a season, unless we have more tournaments.

He's going to be firing from now on in because he played superbly. They

can never take that away from him as well. When we look at the

head-to-head between these guys and compare their careers, world number

one, playing world number three. Mark Selby has taken the spoils in

the Masters. Robertson turning the tables to become UK champion in

York. How do their games match up now? Right now, Neil Robertson is a

winner this season, in ranking events. Mark Selby isn't, but he's

been very close. I think we've got two monsters on a match table here.

It will be fascinating. Whoever gets through is in with a shout in the

final. I don't know which one to pick. I will not ask you. Neil

Robertson knows what it takes to be world champion. He did it in 2010.

Mark Selby has waited four years, the same time to try and get back

into this final. Let's try not to keep them hanging around any longer.

It's over to you. Thank you. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. After

one of the most memorable moments we have ever witnessed at the Crucible,

late last night, the sense of anticipation has been immense. World

number three, world number one - England against Australia for a

place in the World Snooker Championship Final. It doesn't get

much better than this. APPLAUSE

Please welcome, first of all, a player who has nerves of steel on

the biggest stages. He's back in player who has nerves of steel on

semis, runner up in '07. He has three Masters crowns and the UK

Championship. He is a brilliant ambassador for this sport, who

always plays with a smile on his face, so here he is The Jester

fromLesser - here's Mark Selby -- from Leicester, here's Mark Selby!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE And his opponent - what a comeback

against Trump and what a moment for this proud Australian. He was a

world champion, a UK champion and a Master's winner. He became a

history-maker - a day many thought would never come, 100 centuries in a

single season. Congratulated by would never come, 100 centuries in a

Chelsea today, he'll be roared in by his dad who has flown in tonight.

He's the world number one, can you hear The Thunder from Down Under,

he's the Centurian - Neil Robertson. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It is best of 33 frames now. First of 17 will be in Sunday's final.

This is the first of four sessions. Eight frames to play this evening.

We'll enjoy them in the company of Willie Thorne and Dennis Taylor.

A very good evening to everyone watching. What an atmosphere! What a

reception for both these players! This is when the Crucible theatre

comes into its own. The one-table situation - every

player's dream to get to this stage. Getting themselves ready, getting

their drinks of water ready. They are not sitting on top of each other

now - they have got their own seat. APPLAUSE

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, the first frame, Mark Selby to break.

It is a match I have been looking forward to since last night. I

commented on Robertson's 100th century in a season. I know you were

watching it in your hotel room and you cannot play any better than that

as he did against Trump. Well, he can relax a little bit. He's

achieved that milestone, created a bit of history with a century of

centuries. Fantastic that was! We heard Neil say he was going to

attack here. Look at that safety. I suppose that's one of the reasons

why Mark Selby might just be the better tactician.

There's the highest break. Neil Robertson holds that at the moment -

a break of 140. Fascinating start to the semi-final.

Not the best shot from Mark. I don't think he's covered that red. An

early chance for the Australian. Coming to see if the black is

available as well. He may have been rather fortunate

there. He missed the black and the red that he intended. He's not

missed many of those in this year's World Championship. There may be a

red available, but the black has gone and the pink is awkward. Maybe

he can hold for the pink here. And he could.

So, he didn't get away with that. So, an early unexpected chance for

Mark Selby. I have to say after Neil missing the black off the spot.

A good early chance. We have our youngest ever viewer watching this

evening. The lady I dance with is watching this snooker this evening

with her baby - three or four days old - amazing! Mark Selby looks to

be pretty concentrated at the moment. He's always been blessed

with a very good concentration, as has Neil Robertson. With the pink

going on the black spot, this is a decent chance.

Might just have run a little too far. He'll have to head back for the

blue. And this time he's come up a little

short. It shows the importance of keeping close control. Going to have

to leave a medium pot on the red. That is the angle Hawk-Eye is

showing - the wrong side of the blue, to get back to the reds.

It may have got in his way, so purposefully played for the blue.

That doesn't sound right. That sounded like a heavy contact. You

can tell by the sound the balls make when... It may have jumped a little.

One of the top referees in this semi-final. A nice chap to boot.

That didn't come out right - a nice chap to boot! You know what I mean!

Wrong side of the blue again. Round the back of the pack. If this

bounces, he's got a good chance of getting on those two.

A chance to win the frame now. Look at the way the white suddenly picked

up pace with a topspin. From a psychological point of view

it is so important for Mark to punish Neil for that black he missed

off the spot. He'll be hoping to score enough to win this opening

frame. He'll be putting everything into this.

I haven't seen him miss many of these through this year's

championship. Just that little further than he

intended there. It should be OK. shot here, on the right side of the

blue and he'll take this opening frame.

He can drop the blue in. Maybe he's gone too

He can drop the blue in. Maybe he's body language. That is where he

would like to be there. Let's have a look now, if he dropped

that in he might not be able to hole for the reds.

That's why he's looking at an alternative to

If they do pot in the middle, he'll certainly play for them.

Decided to take probably the red that's on the cushion now. Low for

the ones on the middle, but he still fancies it. Nice to see him playing

well again. It shows you what a great player he is to still be able

to get to finals. APPLAUSE

The applause was a little bit late there from one person! Stopped in

his tracks. That's frame ball. APPLAUSE

Selby. You don't get to win three Masters' titles without enjoying it.

When you are at the latter stage of tournaments.

think Neil, he might come for a bit of practise. He's not made his mind

up, but he signals to the referee he concedes the frame, so Mark Selby

capitalised on that mistake and he's taken the opening frame.

It is lovely to welcome you to our bubble studio - it is a great view.

You can really sense the atmosphere and how sense it is out there. You

can. Mark Selby a uf to a fantastic start from Neil Robertson's

perspective - out of the frying pan into another. Mark Selby is like a

cast-iron, compared to Trump - a bit Teflon coated! I don't know!

It is a great start - it asks another question of Neil Robertson.

It does. Most have assumed, his style of play, Mark Selby, can be

ponderous and can be granite - rock-hard safety. He's capable of

some very heavy scoring, even if he's not renown for the flare

Robertson has. In similar styles both relentless players, mopping the

balls up, making few careless shots. It will be a tough first session. It

sure will. Frame two. A new innovation - that little booth

there, just to the right of the commentary box.

The lights go down before they get to the table, to make sure it's not

in the players' way. Robertson breaks off. Hasn't done a lot wrong

in the first round - just missed the one pot.

It is hard to see a weakness in Robertson's game at the moment,

isn't it? Yes, I think he'll be tested here the way Mark Selby has

set off. That's not the best. He's pushed the

red over the pocket. It might be dead-straight. If he can screw the

white back here... It is bringing it back a little bit. If he's dead

straight and he can screw back to somewhere near there, he'll be on

the black. It all depends as to whether he's straight.

APPLAUSE He had a bit of angle. As you can

clearly see from that picture, so he decided to just go further up the

table. This is a much more difficult black than the one he missed.

Look at that! I mean, that is the biggest kick you could ever wish to

see. Look where the cue ball's finish finished! That, just awful

when that happens. You could see the red leave the bed of the table and,

at least the people now understand what happens. When it used to happen

in the early das, people thought you just played a bad shot, you know --

day days, people thought you just played a bad shot, you know!

His plan would be to leave himself on the black. He's in a good

position there. Just stopped in the middle of the

red. Without the kick the white would have followed on through.

I think he's decided to have a bit of a go this evening. Been fortunate

there this time. That was the only ball that could

leave the one he was taking. When he kissed the white he could easily

have put it on. It was interesting to hear Neil

talking after his match, before this match, that his good friend Joe

Perry, who gave Ronnie O'Sullivan quite a scare, told him that he

should quicken his game up and Joe said he was playing too slow and he

obviously took his good friend's advice and prepared dividends

against Judd Trump in the end. In the last four frames, he's played

flawless snooker. This is one of the things that was so strong - his

safety. I've got to be honest, his safety against Judd Trump was

superb. I can't remember Trump being anywhere other than two inches from

that cushion at least. You can see the shot time the same time.

Robertson was at 33-seconds a shot last night at one stage.

Actually it is slow for him. Better to miss it with the first

attempt than the two, but this is a tough shot. If he doesn't catch it

right, the white could wobble in the jaws of the packet and stay up this

end of the table. Could be better off if the white went in the pocket

if he didn't hit it correctly. Let's have a look. Just asking the

scorer, one of the other referees - I think it must be Brendan Moore -

yes, directing the old traffic again.

That's pretty good! Very sporty of Mark there, because

he said to the referee, I don't think I could see the two reds below

the pink. So he made it even harder for himself.

At first glance he holds his hand up and apologised. The white was better

in the pocket than wobbling and staying up among the reds.

The red next to the black pots, but where would the cue ball go? He's

not even entertaining that. He's just playing a shot where he would

want to get the white, somewhere near the yellow.

He's under-hit that by a long way. Well, that is probably one of the

worst safety shots he's played for quite some time. Just hit it too

thick. He was trying to swing that around the angles and get over

behind the yellow. Just caught it too thick.

Mark has just looked at the gap there and there's not too much of a

gap. Maybe it went into the red and forced through the red to get into

the same pocket, but this could go wrong - position-wise, that is.

It is always going to be tough. The pink is in the middle but looks

far too dangerous. Of He had a quick glance at the

pink. He's looking at the brown now. If he can get through to hit a brown

and leave the white, well, he's got to get the white near where the tip

of the cue was, otherwise he'll left a red for the corner.

-- leave. He has looked at the possibility of

the pink again, but he is back looking at the safety shot. Think he

is going to come very close to kissing the blue. He didn't really

fancy that. He didn't fancy that one, but he did

not have an easy safety because of the red bridges over the left corner

-- the red which is over. The pink spot, I don't know if it is

covered. It must be awkward and that is why

he did not play for the black. He has only got the green to go at.

It must be very tight as to whether he can get through to that pink.

Can't quite see from that angle. You need to be right behind it as meal

is -- as Neil Robertson is. It is a bit tight. Now he has got the rest

out, it looks like the green. The green bowl get him back up to the

reds. There are plenty of reds available.

That was a very, very confident shot. He is tall so he does not use

the rest as much as other players do. He wanted to be left of the blue

spot. He has just gone right of the blue spot, which means he needs the

rest again. The black is not available in the left-hand corner.

He is going to need breast again. He is getting plenty rest! -- need the

rest. With the rest, it takes a very good

shot to screw back of that. He is looking at the green again

because it is easier to get to the reds from the green.

This time, he tried to screw it a little less. Just looking to see if

the one that is on the pink spot will pot. Will he get the right

angle this time without needing the rest?

He doesn't need the rest to pop the pink, but the yellow is in the way.

He did not intend to cannon that red. But it could work to his

advantage. Just got into it too much there.

He has had a result here. He may be straight on this red to the right

corner, but he is so close to it. When he let all those balls, look

with a white finished. He might be able to cut this in.

Yes, good shot. Clever shot. Once it has hit the

second cushion, it comes running. It takes off. Another two inches would

have been perfect on the green. As it happens, blue is going to be his

choice. Hazell mentioned how closely these

two players are matched. In the longer matches, it is just 2-1 to

Neil Robertson. The way he set off here, Mark Selby,

he is looking very good indeed. It is still going to be difficult with

the reds as they are. Yes, I think the black spot has probably been

covered here. He will play the one that is nearest the pocket. Just

checking to see. It is out of commission with a black going on the

yellow. He has to be a little careful here, he wants to miss the

red above it. That is why he stunned it in.

One person shouted out there and if he does it again, he will be leaving

the Crucible Theatre. Mark just correcting the referee.

The score is correct now. Just needed that cue ball to spring

of the cushion another two insurers. -- two inches.

He has played the cannon. The shot is brilliant. Brilliant shot. He

only just had to touch this. That was perfectly played. I can't tell

you how good that shot was. When I first saw it, I thought he would not

get past the pocket. He just had to touch it and he played it

perfectly. If you just get down and play the cannon, you have to knock

it past the middle pocket. Just look at this. He just flicked it.

Superb. 22 points in front, so he will need the last red.

There will be no federal weeks here with the pot. -- no heroics.

Can you believe it! All you have to do was drop it in and he put it on

the jaw of the pocket. Now he has two sit and see what happens here. A

little turning point. He may have to take the black here.

Just roll it in. He could even have hit it easier than that. It is the

black. He has got no option. He cannot see

a safety shot. He potted a similar green to this against Judd Trump.

That is so good. At that pace. If he played it ten times at that pace, he

would probably hit it three. Brilliant. Deserves what he gets

from here. It could be the frame. Mark Selby had a 65 break in the

opening frame. He had a 54 in this frame. He should have clinched it.

He hasn't played this very well. He will have to go round the houses.

There are three ways of playing it. Just before the middle pocket, or

screw off one cushion. This may be too hard. And then again, it may be

perfect. I've got it was going to head to the cushion, but what a shot

he has played there. Mark Selby looks on, having known he should

have won this frame. What a frame of snooker. He is nodding his head in

disgust. We are all square at 1-1. Both men looking extremely sharp so

far. Mark Selby will be kicking himself. Yes, he played it and it

hit the near jaw. We saw a shot this afternoon that Barry Hawkins played

where a ball left the top cushion and rolled back in a bit. If that

was a case and he played it all key, perhaps it wasn't as much as

fault, but we don't know. They are both having to feel this thing out

and get used to it. It is surprising the speed at which they have

adjusted. There does not seem to be any sense of nerves. They both look

so sharp. That has been the hallmark. Robertson is superb when

he needs to be. The standard is so high. From my perspective, it is

hard to pick a winner. I was ready to brave about Mark Selby's start.

It is fascinating to be in here, so close to the action, you catch your

breath. Steve Davis, six times champion

licking his lips at the prospect of this. It is all going to be terrific

stuff. The yellow and green, to fit it at that pace, it doesn't get any

better than that. And what it does is it puts a seed of doubt in Mark

Selby's mind. He knows he should be two in front.

He might finish taking the yellow here. He was unlucky to hit the red.

There is a path through to the yellow, just off the right side of

the yellow. Neal is looking at the two reds to

see if there could be applied. But surely you couldn't get through to

them. I'm not sure if they are in line. If

they are, he will have to be careful. He might be able to get

through to that possible plant. He got a good length with the cue

ball. Mark Selby will have a look at that.

That is a good shot from Neil. Just swinging the cue ball perfectly.

That little flicked on the red helped. He may just play the cannon

on the one to the right of the pink. He does not want to cannon the

one in front of it. He didn't want the flicked on the

red. Without that He didn't want the flicked on the

have been perfect on it. Use another cannon now as a stopper.

How did he miss these? How did he get through that gap? He flicked the

red, but how did he get the white that far? I can't believe it.

There is no gap there, but he's found one. He can cut it into the

corner. Making sure of getting a good white. A good white means

virtually tight on the cushion. Such a dangerous shot to play. If

you play it thick, it will catch on the jaws of the pocket. But he

played it well. Some of these safety shots, there

are not straightforward. They are having to hit them a lot thinner

than they normally would like to do. But they are judging them so well.

They are so evenly matched in all departments, these two players.

I don't think he will have this put back, he can put a pot on here. I do

love whether he hit that too thick, or got heavy contact. That seemed to

straighten up so that was not a good contact. And another thing one

needed here. To avoid the pocket. -- thin one. A couple of thin ball

wizards! It would be great to have the eyesight of them. There is a

chance of putting this one. -- potting. Brilliant. He needs the cue

ball to slow up so he is on the green.

He's looking at the green. It's quite close and difficult to judge.

I think he put more concentration into the green and just cannoned the

blue accidentally. If he misses the blue, he is perfect on a couple of

threads. But he will have to be careful not to head towards the left

middle pocket. He is entitled to be a little bit

frustrated. He has done all the scoring in this match. Very unlucky

to finish there. Played the thin safety shot. That is

Paul Hunter's father. The late, great Paul Hunter. A couple of days

ago, they had a standing of Asian in the arena. It was supposed to be for

a minute, but it went on for two minutes, the crowd just went on

clapping. Quite a few of the players are very involved with The Paul

Hunter Foundation. We go along and meet youngsters at different

centres. Alan is very proud of that. That was another example of

excellent potting. What a great pot this was. One good positional shot

and Neil could give himself a great opportunity here, the way that the

reds are spread. That will open this frame up and

give him an excellent chance to possibly win the frame.

Straight away he played for that red that you suggested. It wept too far.

He wanted it to be dead straight, which should have made it easier to

get the black into the left corner. That is the easier corner to pot the

black into. That is why he's taken an alternate shot.

He will see if he can get it right this time. It should be OK. He's got

quite Two reds above the black spot. Can

probably just go behind those two reds. Doesn't have to make contact

with them. He could drift by them. He has drifted by them. Mark Selby

knows how important that last frame was. Obviously lots of frame toss

go. 17 frames a target. 45 points in front. Just checking

where the next red will come from. Potted the red and the pink. 52 in

front. That puts him 52 points in front.

This red will probably pass along the top cushion.

That's the one he's played for. And we'll know before him whether this

is in. That's amazing! That shows you how

tight these pockets are. Mark Selby missed the last red. He thought it

was in. 45 behind. It's only one snooker, if

he could drop this red in and get the black - a great chance of the

snooker, but can he send it along the cushion? Yes! This time he has.

Oh, he's in with a shot now, I can tell you. Oh, he's not gone far

enough, has he? Oh, don't tell me he's snookered himself! Just OK, I

think. Could get the white and red in

behind the yellow and brown as well, but he couldn't do it from that

angle. APPLAUSE

Not straightforward. You always like to come off a couple of cushions

rather than just the one cushion. The right middle pocket seems to be

in the way of the two-cushion escape. So it has to be one cushion,

because the yellow's in the way of escaping down the other side of the

table two cushions. He feels if he gets enough, he can swing it off the

red to the two cushions. Has he got enough side on it? He has.

You can see mark coming a-- Mark coming around the table. There's a

chance he could snooker him back. He's hit it full ball. Is he going

to snooker a different way? Almost looks like he's got it

snookered again. He can't do much with that.

We can see more with this red. Could have played in behind the black. It

is a possibility - a moment ago, the angle on this is very, very thin.

If this pulls up, he's got a chance of getting behind the yellow. What a

great effort! Unlucky! What about this for a shot if it

runs! Just going to pull up. Nothing wrong with potting this last

red, so long as he can get on a high-valued colour.

He's glancing around at the score board. A natural angle would take

him up to the pink or black. A good shot. Very well played.

The perfect angle to get the white in such a position. He can... I mean

the brown is out of commission at the moment.

That's pretty good. I think he can get up behind... Maybe not - I

thought he could get up behind the black. He might be able to do that.

A little trace at the right-hand side.

He had three balls to possibly get the snooker behind.

And with the yellow so close to the cushion, you have to

And with the yellow so close to the with this escape.

Yes, you don't have a second cushion to it, do you. The yellow - two

chances off one cushion and of course miss it off two. The fact it

was so close to the cushion makes it very, very difficult.

He has to be careful he doesn't leave a free ball.

Is it going to be a free ball? If it keeps on running - he can put Neil

in from this position. No miss can be called whenever a snooker's

needed. He'll look at this. If he doesn't see an easy

needed. He'll look at this. If he nothing wrong with putting it back

in there. That's what he's decided. If the brown had been right over the

pocket, he would have risked playing the thin cut on the yellow and

behind the black again and pushed the yellow towards the brown. As you

can see the brown is away from the pocket, which would have meant the

yellow would have been potable. Neil has to be careful he doesn't do

that. Is there enough room to get behind

this? That's what he's looking at. If he could, there's every chance

the yellow could finish up behind the black. If he makes the right

contact the yellow will go up towards the black. He'd have to be

very precise with this and get so much side on it. He's got to be

careful he doesn't play it with too much side and hit the yellow direct.

He could cut it over that pocket you mention. He's got to get the cushion

first. That's what he wanted to play.

He will breathe a big sigh of relief. An excellent safety shot

Neil played to put Mark under pressure. Without doubt, he's one of

the greatest potters seen. Mark wasn't expecting the yellow to

disappear there, I can tell you. Just the one snooker needed again,

so Neil can't just roll this over the pocket. He's got to be a little

careful. He was extra careful. I thought he

could put the pot up into the corner, possibly. If Mark gets a

chance, he'll pot the green and the brown because the brown's no use to

him for snooker where it is. But you never are comfortable when

Mark Selby needs one or two snookers. He's so good at it. He'll

try a special one here to get in behind the blue.

And that's excellent! APPLAUSE

It looks easy enough. I tell you what, that is so difficult to play.

It dos without saying, he goes around the back of this.

He's so close to the blue, he'd had to come off the blue cushion with so

much side, because he can only see a certain amount. He's not right on

top of the blue, so he can curve it. How difficult does that make the

shot? It's the shot that Selby just

played. They've got so close to the blue, that he's had to screw that

cue ball back to cut that angling off.

-- angle off. He can only come to the green from the left side of the

table. The pink and black there. Well, there's the shot time.

It could well be just over two minutes by the time he plays the

shot. It is an important shot. It is not

an easy escape. He's looking at one, two, three

cushions - middle pocket - left side of the table seems to be in the way.

I think his first choice is really the only escape route.

He cannot leave the green on. Playing it this way if he misses the

snooker, he can leave the green on. He'll hit possibly four cushions.

Have a look at this! Just count the cushions. If he gets out hitting

four cushions, what an escape that will be.

There's one, two, three... Well! That's amazing. Selby has done

brilliantly to get him to miss the snooker. Again he's not left the pot

on. You cannot cue down on this to get the white behind the black. He's

a little bit too near the cushion. There may be a gap between black and

pink. It has made it difficult for Mark.

He tapped the table because he knew that the pace that he needed to play

that at, to leave it so close to the cushion was top class there.

I don't know if he'll play that back double. The pink looks to be in the

way. He could cannon into the green. If he tries that, then a lot could

go wrong with it. The green up and down and he's

missed the double kiss. I tell you what, had he hit that a little

harder, he would have had the snooker.

He may be the best potter in the world, or one of the best we've

seen, but would Neil Robertson think about taking this on? Would it be

the safety shot? Where is that cue ball?

It's what we call a green-ball fight - whatever pots the green should win

the frame. It looks a good weight. I think this

table is playing a little slower than the tables were yesterday.

Whether the fact it's a brand new clothe, I'm not sure. . It could

have been that and of course with the atmosphere today - it been a

damp day. We have table heaters and there is discussion as to whether

they should try without the heaters. When it is damp like that I think

they are very important. He'll be lucky if the blue comes to

the rescue here. He's underhit that, but he'll settle for it because the

brown is hampering the cue action. If he plays a little thin one here -

he'll have to be careful he doesn't get the double kiss again. He's

looking at the possible angle that's awkward!

It was a pretty good effort. At first glance I can't see an easy

safety shot. If he plays it up and down he'll have to avoid the double

kiss. Neither player yet has been left

with an easy opportunity on the green. I wonder when that will come?

it up towards the blue, so long as he gets a good white, whether Mark

can risk playing the pot. I don't he gets a good white, whether Mark

see how you can do both - a good white and good green. Get behind the

pink but not the black if he sends the green up the table.

Well, he has got in behind the black. He's put the green off the

table. APPLAUSE

Even if he didn't get behind the black, he got a good green there and

he had the pink and blue as covering balls. I don't expect Mark to miss

this. He can swerve this. If he hits the

cushion first, he can send the green back up the table. That's what he's

looking at. It is a great battle this. We have

two of the game's best safety players in the modern game.

Well, he's going for the same cushions - same result, try and push

the green back up the table. Can you believe it? He had the easy

swerve. I thought he would have created that. He thought, I can not

miss it off the side cushion! How did he get around the back of this,

by the way? We are talking about fractions there. Like you, I think

the swerve would have been the guaranteed hit.

So, once again, he's got two snookers and made Neil Robertson

miss them. He's got to do it again. He's put them back in again and

well, he knows his way around the table.

Going around to see if he can play the long double.

He's played the long double. It looks pretty good to me! That's what

he's played! APPLAUSE

I don't think Mark Selby was expecting that. What a shot the

Australia has pulled off there. That was a -- Australian has pulled off

there. That was a little beauty. Judged to perfection. He knew he

could not knock the brown in. When he walked around the table, he knew

he'd hit it absolutely perfectly. Oh! What's the difference? 30, 22 on

the table. Two snookers to tie. He's got to be very careful because

it is a massive target behind the pink and black. I would pect Mark

Selby to get -- expect Mark Selby to get very close.

He hasn't missed the jaws. That was conceded. Yes, too much.

What a fascinating frame! It lasted for almost 40 minutes and the

Australian, Neil Robertson, will be delighted he leads 2-1.

39-minute frame. If you like tactics, this is the match for you.

It is absolutely sensational. That was a masterclass of at thety

at thetial -- of at theal play. They are giving it everything. It is

fascinating to see. From my perspective, the type of snooker

which has a bit of a throwback to it, but the standard of safety was

so strong. Even so, when they battled for the green and Selby

takes on for a long putt, he's giving you -- pot, he's giving you

nothing out there. Neither will put their hand in their pocket to buy a

drink - it is brilliant to watch. It can only get better. I don't think

the standard will drop much. They are fired up for this. We have four

sessions of this. This is the semi-final. If it will be hard...

How much will they have left, whoever gets through to this final?

This is only halfway. They have only just start. Halfway and the amount

of sessions they have to play. Ronnie O'Sullivan, if he was to get

off to a flyer in his next session, he would be relaxing watching two of

the others punch each other out. The first half an hour of this has gone

in a flash! Excellent break-off from Neil

Robertson. He's virtually pinched the two frames he's won.

I would say that must be touching. You could tell just the way it stuck

on the red, which makes it a lot easier for Neil Robertson.

I don't know whether you noticed, but the last couple of matches, it's

as if Neil is chewing. I don't know if he's chewing gum. It might be for

concentration. I remember Steve Davis used to bite on his tongue a

little bit. That is the sort of things they tell you just to help

with the concentration. Of course in our game now, there are

a lot of sports psychology involved. There never used to be. You just had

to do it your own way and hope for the best.

Of He's trying to find an alternative.

That might look a bit reckless. But look at the cue ball. He hit it hard

enough to take the cue ball back to safety.

Steve mentioned how good this safety was. It really has been talk for --

top drawer. I can remember Abu safety shot being played in this

match -- a poor. The natural angle was to hit the pink. He put so much

side on it. When you play it at that case, you don't give the site much

chance. He judged it to perfection. Who is going to make the first

mistake? Well, that is a mistake. And it

might be a free ball. It is tight. They are all having a look. He is

going to put his ball marker... He is going to put the yellow next to

the red and see if he can hit the yellow full bowl. If he can, it is

not a free ball. You have to hit the red on both sides. He will go round

and have a look at the white and see if you can hit... That is tight.

What a decision to have to make. I think it is a three -- free ball.

The referee thinks it is a free ball. He may be right. If he hits

the yellow, he would have to catch the blue before hitting the yellow

full bowl. If neocons and have a look -- if Neil Robertson comes and

has a look at this side... You would expect him to score pretty heavily

for this. Mark Selby says I will leave it to you two. Adding he would

be kissing into the blue if he played the centre of the yellow. How

many ball markers has he got in his pocket? He is putting the green next

to the blue. But he did declare a free ball and I think Neil should

just have accepted it. The referee's decision is final.

I don't think this tells as much, having the yellow next to the red.

Well, they are creating history. It is the longest I have ever seen this

going on. I have never seen one so close. If he moves the blue, we are

just talking about a fraction... I think he has got to make a decision.

He did make a decision. My mistake. He has changed his mind and said no

free ball. Now Mark is going to have a look!

Our television camera is right behind it. And I thought it was a

free ball. I think it was when the yellow was next to it. From there,

it looks... To hit that red on the extreme right as we look at it, you

would think he would catch the blue. There we go. The referee changed his

mind. And Mark is going to accept that. He is putting him back in from

where he finished. That lasted for Mac minutes -- four

minutes. Tony Gregg would have finished frame of snooker in that

time. Mark said, is it a free ball? That

is why they call him the Jester from Leicester.

He did it so well. The cue ball has travelled to the baulk cushion. I

think a draw would be a fair reflection on these first four

frames. That was a great pot. He is going that the extension to

try to get a good cue ball and use the green is a snickering ball,

possibly. -- as a snookering ball. The safety shot is a lot more

difficult now. He may have to leave the cue ball at this end of the

table. He made sure it did not go round the

back of that first red. The Grinder, the foreign-born is in

town. And these two boys are doing a bit of grinding at the moment.

town. And these two boys are doing a Cliff Thorburn is in town.

Hit the red nearest the cushion, but it has to be judged to perfection.

If he goes round the it has to be judged to perfection.

not very good. Mark it has to be judged to perfection.

into the pack at speed to bring the pink into play.

He has run that. They can get to the black. That was a pretty good shot.

It goes without saying, this is missable.

There is Mark's wife giving him a round of applause because they

thought he might possibly miss this one as well.

He has got a terrific chance. If you could get that bred out of the way,

-- that red out of the way. A fascinating semifinal so far.

Mark will be disappointed if he does not score 60 or above from here. 2-2

would be a fair reflection on these opening frames.

That has gone a little awkward. An alternate red to the right middle.

Just got to be a bit careful. Any harder and I'm not sure this

would have gone in. I think one of the reasons these boys and at the

top of the world rankings is they can play tactical and safety

battles, and then then they get their chance, they have not lost

their victim. They can still score heavily. -- their rhythm. Those

colours are always tricky to get through.

Just have a look where he has put the cue ball.

That has kicked. But it has not affected the shop this time. At

least he is on the pink and the red went in the pocket. One of those

kicks back and do you a favour, it slowed the cue ball down.

The last frame, he made a 54 break and should have won it.

That's Oki, no problem. -- that's OK, no problem. He has made 46

centuries this season. It just shows what Neil Robertson achieved, making

100 in a season. We haven't had the abundance of

centuries of the normally have. Amazingly, there were only 55 last

year. I think 80 is the record. This all came from Neil Robertson's

pure safety shot when he miss judged this snooker. The rest has been

pretty straightforward. He has made 335 centuries in his

illustrious career. And this one coming just at the right time for

Mark Selby. I'm with you, I think 2-2 is a true reflection of the

first four frames. Very, very good. He might be disappointed he did not

win the second frame. That known shouter is still there.

Neil Robertson still holds the highest break in this championship,

140. One of the game's best

break-builders. This is a prime example of how to make a break from

nothing. What a fabulous first four frames we have had. Mark Selby

clears 2-level the match. Just about fear. There was an

incident in frame for with their free ball, or not free-ball. In many

other sports, in tennis, rugby and football, we add encourage --

encouraged not to question the referee. You could argue that you

shouldn't argue with the referee, it has always been the case that the

referees have not been bombastic in making their decision. They are

quite happy to be questioned and to ask opinions of both players, in

order to get it right. They want to be as accurate as possible. The

situation was quite nice, they both agreed in the end. The referee would

not have felt that his authority was being questioned. He wants to get it

dead right. It is a very important decision to get right. As it turned

out, 133 for Mark Selby. He has not been to the one-table set-up for

four years, and he looks born to it. They are both big occasion players.

From Neil Robertson's perspective, he has what a rearguard action in

the first four frames. We have only got a few more minutes, but we want

to bring you up to date on the progress of the first semifinal.

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Barry Hawkins. They shared the first four

frames, then Ronnie began to find his rhythm. Here note the final

frame of the session with John Virgo and Ken Doherty.

That was always a danger. But he thought it was worth the risk. He

should have brought the black into play. But he needed a better cue

ball than this. 73% long pot success. He has got eight from 11

long pots. He just came right across it. Quite

a long way away. A little bit surprised he missed it

by so far. He is a chance for Barry. Dear me. Would you believe it. We

were asking the question, how much did that match the Dominic Dale take

out of him and we said we would not know until this session was

finished. You think that there is a bit of a hangover? Just in the last

frame. But I think it is not from the Dominic Dale match, but those

kicks. They have cost him the frames. Sometimes, you get a kick

and it does not cost to the frame, but these ones have and that has

shaken him. He needs to slide past this red, and

he has done. That should set up the screen. Barry is in a bad place at

the moment. He did not want to be four frames behind at the end of

this session. Ronnie O'Sullivan is on a roll.

Still a lot of snooker left in this match.

It is probably better for Barry that this is the last frame of the

session and he will not be back until tomorrow.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is 43 points in front.

He has potted some tremendous balls in this first session, and Barry has

had some bad luck. 8-3. A very disappointing start for Barry

Hawkins. Ronnie O'Sullivan has a four frame advantage.

Your summation of that opening session? I think Barry Hawkins will

have gone back to his dressing room very aggrieved with what happened.

The kicks destroyed his good play early on. Who is to see what would

have happened if he had not got the kicks. It halted him in his tracks.

He crumbled towards the end. Very difficult to swallow that. He has

got to come back tomorrow and try to turn the tables. That can be very

difficult against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Two sessions tomorrow. We have four

more frames to play here, but we will have to do that somewhere else.

You can continue to watch the last four frames online, or on the red

button. That is it. Good night.