Day 2, Part 2 Snooker: World Championship

Good afternoon, and from all of us, it is happy Easter! I hope you have

a good one. This is the opening weekend of the World Championship,

it has been a happy one for one it as Sullivan. He comfortably came

through his opening match against Robin Hull last night. On this, the

second day, the 50th anniversary of BBC Two, it is all the man of the

season so far this season, Ding Junhui. This fella who is trying to

become the first world champion from Asia has made it to six of the 11th

world ranking finals so far, and he has won five times. That is a show

of domination that has not been seen since the heyday of a certain

Stephen Hendry 20 years ago. He has had a magnificent season, and

who better to analyse it and Stephen Hendry. We can see his season so

far, very impressive, and a great start. He won in Shanghai, rate

expectation, and he won. He backed it up with a victory. When he played

Ronnie O'Sullivan in Wales was interesting. His nemesis, almost,

four of the five tournaments he won, Ronnie did not enter. His record

here is not great. He has been under pressure here, he has not played his

natural game, to make big breaks. He has two played with confidence this

year. Michael Wasley is his opponent, I do not know too much

about him. 24, lives in Gloucester, what else do you know? He has won

four matches to get here. 10-9 to qualify, with a re-spotted black. He

is pretty good on a Rubik 's cube, apparently.

I saw it on a shelf, I was bored, I picked it up, and I completed a key

site. It restricted me that I could not do the rest of it, so I thought

I would learn it, so I carried on. It took about a month to learn. I

was doing it every day, a bit sad! I like to take things apart and see

how they go back together I like challenging myself. Sometimes you

win, sometimes you lose. I have got thought processes throughout the

match, but they are top-secret! I expect it will be very tight. I have

been to the venue twice to watch friends play. It is cramped, the

crowd is breathing on your neck, so I have to take it all in as quickly

as I can, and embrace it. When I was growing up and watching my idols,

Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, you are dreaming that

you are there one day. To do it at 24 is a massive achievement, I

cannot believe how lucky I am. People have stuck by me through

thick and thin. They have kept me going and supported me. I would not

be here if it was not for them. You cannot help the draw. It would be a

big scalp for me. I will relish the challenge.

Nice one! He tweeted this morning, just woke up and realised I am

playing at the Crucible, while! It is all very real, standing

backstage, waiting for the call. Also ready for action, Ali Carter

resumes against the new boy Xiao Guodong. Check out his shiny shoes.

You will not miss those! They are the men we will be lewd to all

afternoon, and Rob Walker is about to get us under way.

Good afternoon, the drama is set to continue here on Easter Sunday at

the Dafabet World Snooker Championship, to debutantes and two

well-established pros going to did so to join Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ken

Doherty in the last 16 of the championships. The stakes are high,

and we are ready to rock 'n' roll. Please welcome first of all the

Chinese baby Todd who showed nerves yesterday on his first visit,

trailing by just a single frame, the former Asian under 21 champion, he

has got the shiny shoes and confidence, Xiao Guodong!

And his opponent, a player who has repeatedly shown tremendous

character and courage of the table in recent years, brilliant to once

again see him gracing the big stage. Winner of three ranking event

titles, twice a Crucible finalist, when he is flying high, they call

him the Captain. Ali Carter! And here, what a moment for the

player who came through an incredible match in qualifying to

book his place here. He beat fellow Gloucester player Robert Milkins on

a re-spotted black in the deciding frame. He qualified as a pro two

years ago, here he is, making his Crucible debut, give it up for

Michael Wasley! And finally, his opponent, what a

season it has been for China's finest export, becoming the first

player in 23 years to win five ranking event titles in one season.

That is why he is a national hero back home. Enter the Dragon, Ding

Junhui! Play from both tables live on a

variety of platforms. We are going to start on table one to watch Ding

Junhui against Michael Wasley, the 190th player to compete at the

Crucible. It was quite a moment to see him come through the curtain. It

is a proud moment for his coach, Terry Griffiths, alongside John

Virgo in the commentary box. Good afternoon, what a moment. When

I first came here in 1977, in those days, it was not anything special,

but over the years, people have seen what it is like, and the emotions,

for young Michael, I am certain he is full of nerves, and just wants to

get his hand on the table and hit some balls. You love him well.

Strengths, which this is? Got a chance? He is a good all-round

player, he has come on very quickly. I work with him. He has

done exceptionally well. Like you say, John, it is wonderful to get

here, most professional players do not get the opportunity.

Playing the main man this season as far as ranking tournaments are

concerned, Ding Junhui. What a good they are. But he has never really

fulfilled that potential here at the Crucible.

It is right in the heart of the pocket, played confidently. Well

short of the Borgnine to give him a chance of a baulk colour. Just the

start you look for. It is not easy out there. All of the

excitement, the build-up. That is one of his strong suits, the safety

is excellent. It will have to be against the long potting of Ding

Junhui. Ding Junhui has not realised his

full potential here at the Crucible. He is such an exceptional talent, we

just assumed that he would be the first Asian player to win the

championship. It has taken a bit of time, but he comes into this

tournament in great form. He must be brimming with confidence. He has

left Michael a tempter here, the red along the cushion. He knew he was

going to leave it. It is a nice angle if he pots this to finish on

the black. It is worth taking on. He struck it beautifully, a good

shot. He has not missed a pot yet, perhaps it is better to walk out

now! Never missed a ball in the Crucible!

A bit straight he would have been ideal, and he could have rolled

through nicely for the black. He will probably play the pink. There

are enough reds to be going on with. What he does not want to miss an

easy pot. Pots are miscible, the easy ones will hurt you if you have

not been here before. A big day today for his manager,

Paul, who has been with him since he was a young lad, travelled around

the world with him on the amateur circuit. It is nice to see the young

players coming through. He just ran that through a bit

further than he would have liked. I do not know if he can get into the

cue ball and play the cannon on the pink to bring the reds into play. He

just had to play for the loose thread, but he played it nicely

enough, with a nice angle. He can come back down to the black. Soon,

he will be looking for an ankle to bring the cluster of Reds into play.

Discussions are quite lively, and the bed. Yes, I did Ronnie

O'Sullivan's match yesterday, quite if times he was overrunning, with

the pace of the table. He played that nicely. Not the

perfect angle on the black. He may have to play for the one loose red.

The imperative is that he gets a good angle on a colour.

This is miscible, particularly at pace.

Just did not get enough side on it, but he played it at pace, and at

least he potted the blue. At least if you pop the ball, you can play

the next shot. The pot was a bit too difficult to play with more side

than that. The problem was, he did not get a good angle on the black

early on. An excellent start. If that does not settle the nerves,

nothing well. Well played, and a good safety.

That has put Michael in a bit of trouble. He may be forced to take

the red on into the left corner. If you have got a difficult pot or a

difficult safety, you have got to take the pot on.

No return to baulk, so I agree. If you cannot get safe, you might as

well have a go at a pop. He would not leave much if he played the pot.

That was the problem, playing it up and down, there was always the

danger of the double-kiss. That is what he has got. He has left his

opponent a chance. He decided to not play the pot. There was always a

danger of a double-kiss. Not a bad angle on the blue. A bit

straighter would have been better. There are a couple of threads that

go, but he could play the cannon. You rely on look a bit with the

cannon. If you can not control the cue ball because of the thinner

potting angle, he may be as well playing the cannon. It depends how

he sees it. He is one of the breast -- best trick builders in the game,

so he normally make the right decision. He is OK.

He is very good in the balls, as John mentioned.

He has won five ranking tournaments this year, a wonderful achievement.

So many good players that can win tournaments. That has not worked out

as planned. He wanted to hit both roads together. He will do well to

keep this going. It is a very thin cut.

Coming back up for the blue. This time, he has the perfect angle. We

have got a new favourite for this first frame.

Last year, he got to the quarterfinal, he lost to Barry

Hawkins, who lost in the final two Ronnie O'Sullivan. The year before,

he lost in the first round. 2011 was his best informants, he lost in the

semifinal to Judd Trump. Judd Trump was beaten by John Higgins in the

final. He has played a very poor positional shot. He was perfect on

the red, but he is not perfect on the blue. He has got a slight

problem. How could he get that far down the

table with so little ankle? That was a perfect strike of the cue ball.

The left-hand side helped it, but you cannot play it any better than

that. He cannot get the right angle on the

blue at the moment. He will not leave himself too far away from the

yellow. This was a tremendous shot. To get

down perfect on the red was a great shot.

Asking the referee from Malta to clean the pupil. He did not get into

the cue ball enough. He is a lot thinner on the green than he would

like. He will need the five remaining colours. Not a formality

any more. It caught up with him in the end. A

couple of loose positional shots. He has been a bit fortunate there. This

game is all about fractions. He is smiling, he will be disappointed he

missed the green, but it looked as though the cue ball was going to

click the blue Sir Michael could get his hand on the table. But now he is

hampered. Does not look as though he can pot the green and get in a good

position on the brown. He needs green, brown and blue. You cannot do

that! They would have to get a hoist to get me off the table decided

that! A run of the ball, that is what it

was for Ding Junhui, he missed the green and he was fortunate not to

leave it any easier than that. If the cue ball flicks the blue,

Michael could have got his hand on the table. It just fantastic and

left him hampered. But he gets another chance. Even the best field

the Crucible nerves. I do not think Michael should have taken the green

on. Not with a spider. The chances of him making that, one out of ten

at best. A clever shot. In his defence, when I looked at the shot,

could you have seen a safety? You could have clipped off the left-hand

side, the green goes high and the brown. It is his choice, and he is

desperate to win the first frame, his first visit here. He felt he was

entitled to an easier shot on the green. It is still in the balance. A

very interesting opening frame. That is an excellent shot from Ding

Junhui. It is not that difficult to hit, come off the right-hand side

cushion as we look. He would like to come off two cushions.

That is a couple of shots he has already played to show that Ding

Junhui is in top form. He will still need the black. The pink will put

him seven in front with seven remaining.

In it goes. In all honesty, he was lucky not to leave the green a lot

easier for his opponent, but a big frame, and it goes the way of the

man from China, Ding Junhui. He had to work for it, it was a very

impressive start from Michael Wasley. Excellent, sometimes you

think you will be nervous, coming in, he made a great 53 break and a

great safety shot. Ding Junhui had a monster piece of good look. There is

only one place it could go, in front of the blue to make it awkward, and

that is where it finished. The youngster will know he is up against

it. Yes, you think about the tough draws, the people you want to avoid,

Ding Junhui, he would be one. But he looks quite composed. We were

talking while this was going on about your first time at the

Crucible, and yours. Can you render your overriding emotions? I was just

thinking, don't embarrass yourself! But once I was out there, I fell in

love with the place, I loved the atmosphere. I got a bit of a beating

by Mr Taylor who used all his matchplay secret against me, you

beat me 10-7 or something, I remember being an absolute bag of

nerves. To go out and play, and watch the auditorium, you were

stargazing before you start playing. It's been an interesting start for

this young man, let's see how he fares in the next frame.

If he does the same as the first frame, he won't be too bad. An

excellent start for a rookie, that. Playing properly the most inform

player, along with Ronnie O'Sullivan.

What is very noticeable about Ding in this season, this big run of

success he has been having, he's a lot more aggressive with these shot

selection the knee has been. -- then he has been. He missed that by a

long way. It may be available, it's a very thin cut, though. It's

difficult to see how he can get on a colour.

Good take, that. Now the red he would love to be on is the red

that's immediately next to the black. If he could get on the red

somehow, if he could part it, he would have the black available to

both corners. The chances of making a sizeable contribution are slim at

the moment. That was a good shot, and I tell you

what, that was good cueing, and he has disturbed them slightly. Look at

the action he got on that cue ball. I don't think he can be thinking of

black or pink at the moment but he has certainly loosened it this end.

Not quite hard enough. I think that was in the back of his mind.

He's coming down the left-hand side of the table.

The one just blow the pink, does it go? -- below the pink. It would be a

risky pot to take on. Looks like a safety.

If he can get that little clip down, make the shot a bit more difficult

now, he has the pot on but how much spin can he put on? All he can do is

keep putting the balls. He has got the option of playing a good safety

here. He has had a look at those comrades

to the right of the pink. -- those two rates.

This looks a good line, this looks an excellent line. Just caught the

green. Decent safety. A good safety, but didn't expect the

red to come over the pocket. He can get to the putting angle. --

parting angle. He was hoping for a bit of luck,

didn't get any. On a good day, you finish up on the

pink in the middle, but it's not one of those days. Just a fraction

short, that could have been a real telling safety. If he can just get

to the edge of the pot on the right-hand side of the table... --

the edge of the red. Needs a good cue ball.

He just put his hand up there to apologise. He didn't have that very

well, lucky to get it safe. -- hit that very well. Michael Wasley

played against him in one of the PGC tournaments, he lost that match 4-3.

I think that's one of the good things about the new circuit, the

younger players get the chance to play against the top layers. Years

ago, you would never get the chance if you don't come to the big

tournaments like the Crucible, it helps people like Michael and

others. If he had missed the putt, he would

probably have cannoned one of the reds. Just that little bit of an

angle. Normally deadly amongst the balls, one of the best on the

circuit. Not straightforward here, because

they are covering each other and nothing goes into the left corner

pocket. He would like to try and disturb a few.

Looks as if he's playing with a bit of side spin here.

Excellent. He didn't put any pace into that, just played the shot,

guaranteed to open the balls up. Just a little rub of the top cushion

there, he bounced the cue ball off it a bit more than you wanted. And

looking at his body language, it has gone wrong. He's not in perfect

position any more. He has still got a pot on, there was

a red he can cut back, but he has lost control of perfect position.

Izzy on the brown or blue? A little bit locomotive you play the blue...

That's the problem. Once you start letting the cue ball start running

loose, it just snowballed. That could well be end of break. Yes,

it's noticeable that Ding is struggling with the flow of the ball

off the cushions. It's not coming off at natural angle, whether it's

the conditions in the theatre or whatever. It's sort of sliding off

the cushions at an error angle. -- a narrow angle. Another excellent pot,

though. They he goes, rubbing the cushion again. Could get him a job

here. What, as a cushion rubber? ! That was tougher. It just caught up

with him in the end. That one found him out. What I like about Ding is

he's going for them all the time, even under the dream pressure --

extreme pressure. He is very aggressive in his game all the time.

He started to get a little bit defensive. I am not saying he's a

grinder all info will be. But he's taking down a feud that he used to

knock him when he was younger. -- a few that he used to knock in when he

was younger. So Ding more or less nicked the

first frame. It is Michael's turn now.

Hasn't really been in this frame much. You can't say he has played a

lot of bad shots, either. Desperately needs a good angle on

the black now to drop on the red closest to the cushion. You want an

angle where he can just drop the red in and play for the black.

He played the cannon! That was an excellent shot. Good thinking.

So now, just leave a nice angle on the black. Can he get up there?

It's all about the shot, and he needs a good one. It will need a

very good one. Deep screw, lots of left-hand side. Will the side take

over? It has taken over. Surely he has not nestled on the

blue! That's not fair! He was unlucky in the first frame

and he has been very unlucky there. Of all the places, to finish up

there. He's having a close look, so maybe he can get through to hit the

red, maybe not pot it but he will be unlucky if he can't.

He's now going to look at the potting angle, does he think can

just get past the blue? Ding Junhui had his chance, he went

out of position, he may be sitting there thinking that he stole the

first frame, his opponent could do the same to him here.

He has not got a good angle, he was playing for the yellow into the

centre. He has queued it absolutely

beautifully. A slight problem he has got is the blue is bucking the brown

from going in the same pocket as the green Musso may have to play the

green and the brown in a not so obvious pocket.

Great effort from Michael Wasley, he was under pressure, but he has

responded here. Both's Ashes was a moment of genuine

glory. Nobody wanted it finish. How could you get that many people to

watch a game of snooker? I am looking forward to seeing that.

Before that, you can immerse yourself in sporting nostalgia even

more. They were both commentating this

morning! That is a very interesting response from Michael Wasley and a

confident one, too. Yes, it certainly was. Particularly

after the upset of losing the first frame, where he was unlucky. Also, I

think he will take heart from the fact that injured we had a couple of

chances in amongst the balls. Normally, that is more than enough

for Ding Junhui to win a frame but he didn't take full advantage, so

there is a slight weakness there. Interesting start.

Had to be dead centre in the pocket otherwise he wouldn't have been on

the black. Michael Wasley has played very

positive so far, he hasn't turned anything down, not taking too much

time over the shot, he's doing everything correct out there. I

don't think he can be too displeased. He has a 97% pot

success. And he's going to get an unexpected opportunity here! He

doesn't miss many of those, Ding Junhui.

This is one of the secrets of snooker, when you're opponent

misses, especially when they are in, you have got to take advantage of

it. You have got to punish them. He could play a cannon into the main

bunch here, loosen a few reds. You must remember, Ding hasn't got

his best record here at the Crucible. He has wanted UK

Championships a few times, the Masters, a couple of the majors, but

semifinals is best at the Crucible, and he has had a feud first-round

results, so if you can put pressure on him, it is a big ask for Michael

Wasley, but you never know. There's no doubt the pressure is on.

As you alluded to, he is looking very confident. He didn't end up

perfect on the black, but he got on with it. So good signs for Michael

Wasley supporters here. Beautifully played, and positive.

Deserves all he gets now. Pretty good stuff. When he gets in,

he is not taking much time on the shot. That's his natural rhythm, and

he has got to retain it. At the Crucible, it's not the easiest thing

to do. I think that was a heavy contact. I

didn't like the sound of that at all. So I don't think that was his

faults, to be honest. But unfortunately, it is run him out of

position. You can see the bounce. It's not the easiest safety shot, in

all honesty. Would you risk trying to get back to

baulk here? No, he will leave himself in a tough position, but he

is playing a thin safety, by the look of it.

Pretty good. Couldn't have done better than that. It was risky. I

know what you're saying, was risky. Is there a gap between the brown and

blue to play this rate to the left corner? There may be. There you see

it. Second from the left. And any goes. So maybe it wasn't as

good as safety shot as we thought after all. Having said that, Ding

Junhui is not good on a colour. It looked as though he had stopped

short there for a minute. I think Ding Junhui thought that as well.

The referee has declared touching ball. I think that was just to tell

us that he did hit the brown because there is no reason, with the red

being on, to declare a touching ball.

Just about got there, just rocked on the brown. Just a Little Rock.

I think the fact it is finished touching has helped our referee! He

has gone to the hit and hope. He has hit, he has hope -- is hoping he has

got it safe, but he hasn't. That is definitely one of those

snooker is you can't get out of, you have two play the hit and hope shot.

You could say that Ding and that with that excellent long pot. -- the

of that. If he is straight here, he is going to struggle.

That is what side spin can do to you, especially when you are

striking down into the ball, like he did there. You lose all the

accuracy. It has been a little bit of a comedy of errors.

Didn't put that read in the middle of the pocket but he's OK, nicely on

the black. He has got a 36 point lead. Just went off the jaw. If he

can take these raids that are out in the open, that will be more than

enough to give him this third frame. If it goes. Ding Junhui had a couple

of chances in the balls, one of the best scorers in the modern game. He

has not been able to take advantage of his opportunities. There will be

one frame after this before the mid-session interval. Michael

Wasley, the debutant, 2-1 in front. He has a chance to open a two frame

advantage before the mid-session interval. The little goals you set

yourself in the long matches. He has missed the cannon on the pink and

may have stickered himself, but it should not cause him any problem.

Ding Junhui will not be carrying on. That will be the concession. He had

a couple of good chances, Ding Junhui. He did not take them.

Michael Wasley is now 2-1 in front. This was not in the script! I am

impressed with him, he knows his way around the table, he is playing

aggressive shots in amongst the pink and black, he is playing them at the

right times, so he looks comfortable. No question about who

is the more comfortable, what has been missing from Ding Junhui's

game? He has made one or two mistakes, but I am impressed with

Michael, he has got a great demeanour. He looks confident, like

he has been here quite tricky times, he is giving off good vibes. He has

looked really dangerous. When you consider... There is a long way to

go, but from the point of view of Ding Junhui, he will not press the

panic button yet, but it is a disconcerting start when you are so

fancied. Yes, huge expectation on his shoulders, as we said earlier,

he has not played his best snooker here, so a lot of people were

putting him down as a favourite, so there is pressure on him. A key

people in China might think he has a chance, so that comes with pressure.

There will be millions watching back in China. Prime-time viewing for

them. All eyes on this fella. Plenty of eyes in China, a huge

following there. Ding Junhui is speaking much better English than he

was, he is very pleasant, he has a joke with everybody. Years ago, all

he had was a nod, if you were lucky. That helps him as well. Certainly.

He has had to break-off shots, both occasions, he has hit the blue. Did

not get enough side on it. Six unnecessary points. He has not left

anything, but it is amazing how much 6-point could swing it one way or

the other. It is up to Michael to have a look at the cushions.

You have to be careful you do not run past the cluster. He judged it

well, well played. One of the toughest safety shops in

the game, when a red is close to the cushion. He does not have a good cue

ball, Ding Junhui will be having a go at this. He could drop this read

in and play for the black in the same pocket.

He could not have played it better, well played.

A good positional shot. He had to get the correct spin on there. It is

not desperate that he wins this frame. He would like to win it to go

level at the interval, but 3-1 down in a best of 19 is not a disaster.

He is very accurate with his stunning play, he very seldom loses

position. But some power into that! He did not

get the bend on the white, but it was some shot.

He was trying to get into the pack of reds. He generated a tremendous

amount of speed. He keeps looking for the angle on the black, he

cannot get it to get into the cluster. This is the disadvantage,

which he caused himself, by hitting the blue when he broke off, because

if it was on its spot, it would be able to play for, and that shot we

see so many times. He will be looking for a blue or baulk colour

to leave an angle. He could not play the red and come back down for the

black, occurs you would be trusting to look for a good angle on the

black. He would be looking for a baulk colour or a blue to leave

himself an angle to go into the cluster.

Absolutely perfect on the yellow for the shot. A stunt on the left-hand

side cushion, lots of left-hand side. But for the kiss on the

ground, I do not think it would have been good for anything. That was

very helpful. But he still has two pot the yellow and open up the reds.

He played it well. You always feel that when you play that shot, as

long as you have one read to go at, it can keep you going. He is not on

the red he would like, but he will settle for this.

Straight on this thread would have been perfect. It is a bit more

difficult. He has had numerous chances to split

the pack. He is OK, there is a red passes. And

a red is all he needs to get to the snooker is required stage.

He has not had a chance in this frame.

They love a ball that just drops! Gravity took over!

He missed the red in the middle, but barring snookers, it be two frames

each. He needs three snooker 's. He did

not seem to give that too much attention.

He may have snooker to him. 59 left on the table.

That worked out well! He cannot get to the potting angle of the one in

the middle. That would have sealed the frame.

There is a glimmer of hope coming you never know.

I am not sure about that one. I think we call that a rush of blood.

He will be disappointed with his last two visits, if he is going to

play on, play with a bit of purpose. He just seems to want to hit the

ball hard. He had to to screw back for the black. But if you are trying

to win the frame, you could do it with one snooker. That is better, a

bit more control. Stranger things have happened in a

frame of snooker, somebody winning needing three to win.

He played that nicely as well. He will not be bothered about going on

the last word, he will hope for a snooker and a free ball, and then

one snooker would be enough. That was a handy nudge. He has

brought the yellow interplay. He almost overdid it. That is the

problem, if you do not catch the red fairly full, it could end up

anywhere. He still needs to four point snooker 's, and red, black and

all the colours to win. He needs to lay a good snooker here to put Ding

Junhui under pressure. He has been a bit fortunate, but he

did not want to kiss the black. He has taken one colour out of the

oration. Even if he gets a snooker, he would need a black. Another

swerve, he controlled this time. That will be the end of that. A good

effort from Michael Wasley to try to win the frame, requiring three

snooker 's at one stage. Back on track for Ding Junhui, he

was under pressure at 2-1. He would be expected to beat the qualifier.

He has won five ranking tournaments this season.

A good session, plenty of good stuff from both players, but it ends up

level, 2-2. That is just about right, what are

the pressures on a man like Ding Junhui, who goes in against a

rookie, somebody he is expected to beat comfortably? The first round,

that is where the favourites are the most vulnerable. 19 frames is as

much as they play through the season. You just think, just get

through the first round, then you will be more relaxed. Is it a

different kind of mindset that you have to have in order to play

somebody that you are expected to beat? Do you have two grams yourself

up in a different way? I thought the opening session was extremely

important, especially if you have not played some body before. You

take your chances, make it more difficult, and it adds to the

pressure for them. The opening session is extremely important.

Michael Wasley has given himself a good foothold. He has shared the

frames with Ding Junhui. It is only his second season, I wonder to what

extent the new system in snooker, where we are getting these guys in

the early stages, is now starting to bear fruit? I do not know anything

about him, how he has done, but as we have said, they are coming up

against the top players so many times. They are not overruled as

they would have been in the past. It is an injury can point, these tables

in the championships are so different from those on which you

would practice. There were a couple of moments that would illustrate

that. It is time for me to do my Peter Snow bit! It is a shot with

Ding Junhui earlier in the match. Quite a bit of angle on this,

ordinarily, the cue ball would be hitting here, here, and coming out

of this area. Watch where the cue ball goes. There is no way this can

go enough. He cannot believe it. A bit of side, it swerved on these

clots, and how those balls have gone into the pocket, I do not know. How

long does it take to get used to a table like this? Stephen has been

talking about the cushions pending, it takes a couple of sessions.

Michael Wasley should know what it is all about after four frames. We

have got lots of unfinished business, Ken Doherty and Stuart

Bingham did when they came back for their second session this morning.

Ken Doherty is the oldest in the draw at 44. He made a slow start

yesterday, falling 3-0 behind, that he ended the opening session just

one frame adrift. What a surge from Ken Doherty, he won five frames in a

row against the world number six, and Stuart Bingham looked lacklustre

at this point. Ken Doherty is on the brink of success. It is Dennis

Taylor and Steve Davis, your commentators.

What they test for Stuart Bingham. He has had to sit in his seat for

most of this session. Let's see if he can string a cute together, he

needs something to happen. He looks to have a problem on the

red to the right of the black. This is not good, or is it? Thought

he was going to lay on those roads. It is a long way back from should

bring, but this could be the start of the comeback.

That will do nicely. It is not a straightforward chance, the way the

reds are situated. Ken is on the red a lot nicer than

Stuart Bingham waltz. He can open the back-up, get the reds interplay.

Still some work to do to win the frame. Very nicely judged.

Ken is the oldest player in this year's championship, at 44. Alan

McManus is starting to roll back the years as well, at the age of 43.

Ken is not far of winning this match. A couple of those rates that

are touching each other. I think the first goes into the yellow pocket.

Perhaps the second one does as well. At least one of them pots into the

corner pocket, but it's a critical part of this brick. -- break. How

and when to go about getting into those two reds... If he can get

nicely on this red, he may have a chance. What he could play here is

the cannon onto the two reds and he would be guaranteed to be on the

pink. If he did have an angle, he could just nudge them and bring them

both into play, that might be his plan.

If he puts those open reds, he's not home and dry, he needs another one.

But with the green on the baulk cushion, even if he potted the two

reds and didn't get the third, he would be in such an advantageous

position. If he goes about this and gets a

couple of threads, couple of colours and just rolls it into the pocket,

it would be enough to clinch the match for him. He will be well aware

of that, crafty Ken. Doesn't want to be playing for this

difficult one yet. Hopefully drop on this red that behind the black. I

know it's easier when your opponent is not really firing on all

cylinders, to look around the table, but as this much has grown, Ken has

looked better and better, more assured. -- this match has grown.

Much more competitive. It has been a tough session for

Stuart Bingham, that's for certain. He hasn't been able to get the

points on the board. He has got a choice now. He is looking at that

red I mentioned, he has got an angle to try and move the red on the

right-hand side of the table but that's quite risky, he may not

bother with that. He wants to get as close as possible

to that circle and he has gone a bit too far on the black to do that.

That is where he would ideally love the white, to roll the road along

the cushion. Pretty good, it's all about this

shot. What does he do, does he roll it along the cushion? So far, what

we have seen this year, the balls are quite happy going along the top

cushion and dropping in. I think if he plays it dead weight, he gets it,

it clings and goes in. Normally, they don't go in and it

looked like it stopped for a while, and then gravity took over.

That, in my opinion, is a bit too generous for World Championship

table. Well, they are new class and they tend to go a bit easier, that

other shot would normally have stayed there. -- new class.

What a performance from the crafty Ken Doherty.

And indeed, that did prove to be enough, he is through the second

round for the first time in eight years. Stuart had had enough. The

old man at the Crucible this year, the most senior in the draw, a

sporting handshake from Stuart and but the world number six is out. A

lot of guile, a lot of craft from Ken. It is farewell to Stuart until

next time. Unbelievable, you have rolled back

the years in style. By the Wickmayer not the oldest swinger in town, I am

the oldest potter in town! What a result. I am absolutely delighted.

It was tough, he is such a great player, Stuart, world number six,

not many people, including the BBC staff I see here behind me, had

given me a hope, but strange things can happen in sport. That's why we

love this game, why we play it. It's great to be over the first round.

I'm in the tournament, and as people have said, don't be so surprised! I

am surprised, strange things can happen. Your first time into the

second round since 2006. Was there a moment between then and now that you

thought there wouldn't be another win for you at the Crucible? I'm

relishing every moment here. The last time I was here, I kissed the

carpet, because you never know when you are going to be back here. You

have to relish and enjoy every moment. I came here not with any

expectations, just to give 100% and also enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed

it today! I was actually getting caught emotional at the end, I was

starting to fill up a bit and I was trying to keep my composure, just

get over this line. Until he hit my cue, I wasn't certain! It's not

surprising to see so much emotion. This is the place to be, as far as

great players are concerned. Although it's your 19th year here,

it still means as much now as it did when you graced the arena the very

first time? It probably means even more. You learn to respect it and

enjoyed it, I think you enjoy it a bit more and you relish every moment

out there. It's a special place, the crowd were wonderful, they gave us a

wonderful of Ocean and welcome, that's why all the players love

laying him. -- of vision. I said to Dennis Taylor, are you thinking of

making a comeback? You have made it through, you will be reunited for

another great rivalry, whether it is John Higgins or Alan McManus. It

doesn't get any easier. I'm in the last 16, I don't know who I am going

to play but it's going to be tough. Enjoy it when it comes, you have

rolled back the years in style. We were trying to uphold the honour

of the commentary team, and he has done it in tremendous style, winning

seven in a row! Very impressive. I believe the first frame was really

scrappy, that would have been an important one to win. He finished

the match off tremendously well at the end, looked really composed. A

nice break at the end. Very solid brick building as well. Six breaks

of 50. You have got to score when you turn up here, I played them last

year, 2007, I saw the first round match against Steve, and I lost a

Shaun Murphy in the second round and I loved every minute, you do take it

for granted. You come here every year and you play and then when you

don't have it for a while and you come back, that's something special.

He has been drawn in the matchplay section, it will perhaps eat him.

You don't want to be playing some of these young lads, this isle of play

will be pretty good. It was a real shock against the world number six.

Stuart Bingham has tweeted since then, " well done to Ken, but for me

that was shocking, not sure what happened but I can't play that badly

again. " he will be gutted to be out of the World Championships, he would

have vented his chances, he was in the opposite half to O'Sullivan. --

fancied his chances. I don't know about his cue, maybe he has been

thinking that for a while, but that surprises me, the way he has been

playing. I have... We have all done that. I don't think there is

anything in it, sometimes you turn up here and you have a disappointing

performance and because it's the thing you look forward to most in

the calendar, you get a bit too upset with yourself. He has done

really well, Stuart Bingham, he is one of the most improved players. He

will be winning more. Ken is as work-shy as ever when it comes to

commentary shifts, he won't be with us for couple of days! Even though

Sheffield is Ding 's adopted home, he is never looked at home here at

the Crucible, this is his eighth attempt to win. The best he has had

is a semifinal appearance. But after a wonder season, many think this

could be his moment. I am a lucky one to win the five and

get the same record as Stephen Hendry. He is the best player when I

was young, I would watch him and Rodney and Steve Davis, the three

people who were shown on TV. -- Ronnie. It is special to win it at

the Crucible, what I was dreaming when I was young. The best record I

have got is semifinals, I hope I can get it better. It's a tournament

that happens every year here. A very nice year, I have friends here, no

flights, just driving to the Crucible, and after the match, I can

join them at home. Never top in the world, lucky for them. I hope I get

the most luck. Five more frames to play this afternoon, we have Stephen

Hendry with us, the last man to win five titles in one season. By the

end of that season, how difficult was it to lift yourself after such a

successful season for the final hurdle here? I didn't feel tired or

jaded, I remember I lost to Steve James in the quarterfinals and was

devastated. I just expected to win as well. When you are willing so

frequently, what is different about your game and about you as a winning

machine? You get the great feeling that players can't beat you, you

feel invincible. It must like a three frames start. If there is a

chance of pinching frames, you feel they can't do it, it's a great

feeling to have. Ding Junhui is trying to outdo the record of five.

If he were to win here, it would be six in one season. Long Way to go

before that is achieved. I'm sure Michael Wasley will have a big say

in things. So far so good for Michael Wasley.

The longer he can stay with in June we, the more that the pressure will

come on the world number two -- can stay with Ding Junhui. At the

moment, you feel that Ding, as soon as he went off the interval, he went

straight to the tractors table, so he obviously wasn't happy. --

practice table. Nice for bonus, on the brown to the

middle. Made of 53 break in the first, and

is 63 in the second. Maybe a notch or two higher, you can wooden frames

with that scoring. -- can win frames. You've got a score at level,

because charters come few and far between. -- chances.

He has looked very good on his debut here.

Michael Wasley is a very good student, always looking to pick up

good habits, works hard at his game. He has worked very hard at the

mental side of his game in the last few years. That has given him the

sort of foundation to come here today.

If he gets a nice angle on the blue, it's a good opportunity to

open that cluster of raids. Reds. The idea, as we have said, he will

be stunning this, stun the blue in and catch the pink full in the face.

Could not have played that better! He will get a nice red to continue

with. Good chance now. Pretty impressive stuff from Michael

Wasley here. Not long ago he was an amateur player and just fighting to

keep his place on the tour. Doesn't have to worry about that any more.

He can obviously get on the furthest red if he brings the cue ball high

up in the table. He must avoid the kiss here on the

red. A good time to leave himself a little low on the black. Guaranteed

to leave another red on for him into the corner.

That certainly came off the cash and very quickly, it's just disturbed

Michael Wasley's focus therefore a minute. He has got to reset his mind

and play the shot as it is. Very tricky, this one.

A little unfortunate there, he can't get on the outside red. Maybe end of

break. A nice contribution. He will be

disappointed about that cue ball but he will be aware that the red he

played safe of, he didn't want to play towards the pocket.

We expected a better safety shot from Ding but didn't get it. He has

left a chance of this red, I think. He can just get past the yellow.

Played with a trace of left-hand side.

Why he did so hard? -- why hit it so hard?

That 57 break he made could count for nothing now. Ding comes to the

table, 53 points behind, you feel that one good opening pot and

position, the frame could have slipped away from Michael.

It's all about this first shot. The red is easy enough into the left

middle to pot, but can he control the cue ball to get position on the

colour? He has looked at the possibilities of running into the

pink but that will possibly lose the cue ball.

How is your luck? Not good. Not good.

Can't get through to the black. I don't think he can see the pink. So

it's just a safety shot. So that error from Michael Wasley is not

going to cost him. He will be mightily relieved.

Safety a little awkward here with balls on both side of the table,

there are obstacles to avoid. Excellent long pot. Very unfortunate

not to be on pink or black. He went all out for the red, but he knew he

was running into the black. Sometimes the balls just don't run

your way. This is where you have to show your experience and not push

the boat out, make things happen. I would suggest, just a safety here.

If he plays the black, it's a thin one and it's very risky.

Didn't want to kiss the green, and he did. That has prevented it being

a good safety. That was a pretty good safety shot

there from in June Hui. Have been a bit disappointed, seeing his

opponent have good luck from the last safety shot.

He has caught that much too thick, that's what he has got nowhere near

the baulk wine never mind the book cushion. -- the baulk line never

mind the book cushion. Unforced error. There have been a few in this

frame. It took a good shot, though, to put

this red. -- to pot this red. And that was a good shot, and he is on

the colour. Still 50 points behind. At least the

pink is in the open. Black is off its spot on the blue.

He's not on any of the three reds, which were available. Will he commit

to the pink or will he screw up to the book covers?

-- baulk covers? You don't see Ding playing the wrong shop very often,

shot selection is immaculate. He doesn't have to concentrate too

many high value colours but that red near the black is not easy to get

on. So certainly not a straightforward

run to the line here, if he is going to win the frame that this visit.

Looking to see if he can stun this rate, put it to the left middle.

He has obviously got the angle to bring that red into play. He is

going to need the last red and all the colours, including that awkward

black. He has knocked the red into a

pottable position. Still a lot to do, though. He played that well.

He would have liked to nudge that green and little further away from

the cushion. That Black will be on his mind now. He will need that to

win this frame. He's missed. You would expect him to

make that. Should at least get up to the black the way the balls are

set. Michael will be pleased with the

outcome of that. You are never certain where the

object ball is going to go. And this could be... Is he going to be saved

by the brown? No, he is not. Just yellow and green. Unbelievable what

can happen on this snooker table. The things that happen. Snookered

himself on frame ball. He's hit it, but he will go back to his seat

cursing beer. Michael Mosley just needs one ball

at the moment to be safe. -- Michael Wasley.

Once again, we have seen the players touched -- touch the cushion a few

times. Coming off the cushion very quick.

Then has been a little disappointed in the late part of this claim, he

has lost his way somewhat. -- this frame. It's there. He needed a few

bites of the cherry. But a good pot on the green there puts him in

front. He will be hoping that that has

secured the frame. It As I always say, if you do not feel

you are guaranteed that snooker, make sure you get the object ball

safe, that way you get another chair -- chance.

That is going to cost him. It has been scrappy, plenty of chances,

both will be thinking they should have won it. Ding, he has played

well in spasms, but has not got consistency yet. Michael Wasley

drops in the pink, plays a double on the black, but it didn't matter.

Michael was late leads the world number two -- Michael Wasley.

Terry, you must be pleased with the weight Michael has settled in on his

debut? I should say. More importantly, he will be very pleased

with the way he has started. He has to face the Fire against one of the

best players in the world and he has played to a high standard,

considering the circumstances. He made a bit of a mess of that one.

He has given Ding something to think about.

At least that time in June we -- Ding Junhui did not hit... He has

missed by quite a distance. I'm sure Robert has been watching

this match at home, he is a big friend of Michael, they played each

other and Robert lost on the black to win in the deciding frame. He

will be shouting for his friend today, he has got over the

disappointment of losing now. Great place to practice, the Gloucester

South West snooker Academy. There are a lot of good tables there, good

players go there to practice. They never had these places in our day,

we had snooker halls. And you did not know which way the table was

going to roll from Monday to the other. Depending on the climate,

whether it was raining or Sunday. Or if they would ever put a new cloth

on the table. After ten years. The cue ball would be like, of Great

Britain with all the lines on it. But conditions have improved and

standards have improved accordingly. There is so much snooker to watch on

television and if you have that natural ability, you can learn a lot

quicker than we did in our day. Once again, didn't strike that

correctly. Ding Has lost his way little bit. Will take that one. In

the previous frame, he missed the red on the way up and skimmed it on

the way back. They say it is all about confidence,

but when you go out there and strike the ball badly, it is difficult to

stay confident. Belief comes in the. -- there.

Desire and the fight. Think he got the red slightly wrong on the first

one. He hit the red, I'm not sure if he

played to hit that red. He has given Ding glimmer and sometimes that is

all needs. It's a case of whether he can pot

and not run into the second red. He was just able to avoid kissing the

second red. Just a slight angle on the blue that is required.

Just enough to be able to stand down the table -- stun. He could play the

pink of course, but the pink is missable and the blue is not.

Not sure what he played then, but it certainly wasn't bad. Tried to go

into the reds and move a few possibly. A few obstacles in his way

at the moment. Every shot seems to have a degree of difficulty. Such a

testing game sometimes. It doesn't matter what you do out there,

something seems to happen. Very aggressive safety. He has not

lead towards the corner, but I think it's covered. That puts a little bit

of pressure now an Ding Junhui. He has to be careful he doesn't need

that bed near the left corner -- that red. The target could possibly

be brown or yellow. Try to get this snooker behind. He might even be

able to use the green. A little tap on the table from Michael Wasley

tells you what a good shot that was. Well played.

A little bit too thick. But at first glance, no harm done.

Is that gap between these two the reds? Surely not.

Where is this cue going? -- cue ball? Is there I gap between these

two the reds? It looks as if a ball will go to

those two. It is tight. Michael Wasley was at a slightly different

angle. The point is, even if he cannot get through, where he has

placed the cue ball, it will be difficult to port it and bring the

cue ball into play. This calls for good accurate cueing. You have to

hit the centre of the cue ball here. He has run past the brown, that is

an excellent safety shop. -- shot. Michael Wasley in a little bit of

bother here. You would think the two beds that

are closest to the top cushion, to the right of the black, you would

think that would be the shot to play. -- two reds. If you can do it

off one cushion, do it. Is it safe? Is there a gap to the red? . Looks

safe enough. He decided to have a go at the

plant, thinking he was going to go up to the baulk end. Is it safe? You

can't blame him for playing that. Has it left a port on -- pot on?

He's unlucky to finish there. But the middle pockets are always in the

same place. Not easy to get safe from here

either. You have to play it off the side cushion on to those two reds.

He has hit it pretty hard. These cushions are not great. They are

coming off very narrow. Michael is fortunate they are that he did not

leave anything on the fourth Ding -- on there for Ding. He has taken his

time setting up, but I think he will play the same shot. Just slightly

lower down the cushion. Good shot. Excellent shot. At first

glance, there is just one bed he can hit. That he can play safe of.

Courted much too. Is going to be lucky? -- caught it. Here's a chance

for Michael Wasley. Not the best chances, but there has been so much

tactical play in this game, the balls are now in awkward positions.

But Ding does not look comfortable for me here. The scrappy play seems

to be bringing him down slightly. But because of the tactical change

we have had, there is nothing straightforward about this chance.

He would do well to get over 30 points here. But the one bed you

want to get rid of as soon as you can is the one closest to the left

corner. -- red. Points all square. Just ignore the

black. Concentrate on pink, blue. I would not be thinking about the

black. No value whatsoever. Just don't think about winning the frame

I always think in this sort of situation. Just concentrate on

building up a lead. The weight that reds are, I don't understand that.

No value whatsoever. No value whatsoever.

He's not out of the woods just yet. This red just above the black, I

think he cannot get past them black -- I think he can knock it past the

black. Good cueing Needed. And God. He is a little

unlucky there. At least he is still at the table. It's all going on out

there. No. I think he may have felt a little bit unlucky there. Given a

chance back to Ding. That won't go down as the best shot

he's ever played. As soon as he played it, you could see his head

drop. He's got to get up the table for the blue. And that was never

going to be easy. If he is in full flow, he would have been straight on

the blue. Good recovery shot. Doesn't want the

brown to get in the way. Just about typical for how this frame has gone,

that shot. Once again, didn't get the spin on.

Put another blue in the corner. If you keep putting them, it doesn't

matter if you play position. All good shots.

The cue ball just about stopped in time. In playing this red, there is

every chance you could... Not certain to be on a colour, but it is

worth the risk, surely. Well... He's getting a little bit frustrated

here. Sets down. Got a 16 point lead, but not happy.

Excellent length. But his left at the chance of a pot. But it's made

difficult. What sort of angle has he got on the brown? It should enable

him to put it and run the cue ball up to this end. Well! Three banks of

the cue, that is very unlike Ding Junhui. He is feeling it. For

certain. He should get a warning from the referee, that is very poor

behaviour. There is another table in play next door as well, at a very

important stage of these championships.

We saw the reaction from Ding Junhui, very unlike him. We always

say he would make a great poker player. He did not get on the red.

Well, he may have left the red to the far right corner. Both players

going through a spell where they have lost their cool, so to speak.

A nice pot. The tricky last red. If he pops the blue, he will go 22 in

front. Nowhere near where he played to get.

Once you start to struggle, it does not get any easier very quickly. The

longest frame of the match, and the scrappy stuff. He has played that

nicely. Despite losing position, he has

given himself a good chance to win the frame.

I think it may cut back into the middle. It is thin. It looks as

though it could cut back, very thin. If he thought it potted, he would

have played by now. It looks as though it could be cut. You have got

good eyes to see that from here! The commentator's I!

Not the best chance, but it is a chance. It is not getting any better

for Ding Junhui. Michael is overhitting the ball now,

whether it is frustration or the just tension. It is just off

straight, not an easy shot. But he made it more difficult, at that

speed. It will cost in the frame. If he puts the blue,

frustration does for you, do not go there. It is also what can happen

here. He is unlucky not to bring the pink into play. If he can get past

the pink and get right behind the green, which I think he can, and hit

it up the table, it is not as bad as it first looked. He will settle for

that. He is backing this frame. The only awkward ball is the black. We

have seen the frustration from Ding Junhui. If he was to lose this

frame, it would be a double whammy. He has overscrewed it. He has left

it on in the centre. I think the shot here is to play a little cannon

on the pink. He missed the cannon. Billiards is

not his game. He has had a few chances, you only

get so many to win a frame. He has had his fair share. And so has

Michael, but he has lost control as well. It is unusual to see both

players doing it. An excellent shot. He has got the

snooker. At this stage, it is not hitting it, but can you get it

safe? It looked as though it might go in.

Michael Wasley gets the first clear-cut chance.

It is not easy to play from green to brown here. Oh, no. He had to leave

himself a pot into the other corner pocket.

Another good attempt to get behind the black. It is still anybody's

game. That has benefited Ding Junhui. He

kissed the pink was the cushion. He mishit that. That could cost him.

When your opponent just need to be one ball to win the frame, it is

imperative you get the object ball safe. At the moment, Ding Junhui is

really struggling, I have never seen him miss as many balls as this.

Amazing. It looks as though he is almost

ready to walk out of the arena. He really looks in a bad way. This is

what the pressure can do to you. A series of errors. Missed chances.

All of a sudden, he is getting frustrated, and he is not playing

the right shots. He did not feel as though he could

hit it fall ball directly. Just a containing safety. At least he got

it safe. That could be the killer. Good

judgement. He has not got to hit it, he is 18 behind, if he misses, he is

22 behind. He could still tie. Talk about a great escape, it just

looked the ground. To play at that speed and get it safe... But he is

in trouble again. He will not play this as slowly as that one.

He could not have hated better. I was thinking it was going to go

safe, but this is on, and he has got the insurance of stunning behind the

black. I have seen some frames here, but

this is probably one of the most amazing ever. We are talking about a

world-class standard here, and the balls that have been missed,

amazing. But that should give Ding Junhui frame. He will not be feeling

too happy, nor will Michael Wasley. Somebody had to win it in the end.

We are in the 39th minute of the frame. Ding Junhui, 22 in front, 18

remaining. One snooker needed. The way the black is, it is not easy to

get in behind it. It is no good potting the pink when

you need a snooker. Not the best frame, it was a 40 minute frame,

Ding Junhui one, but he is not happy. It is now 3-3.

It is amazing how this venue seems to stifle Ding Junhui's competitive

abilities. He has been in a semifinal, but he is in an almighty

fight already. You continue to watch that online, but we have to go to

the other table, because it is approaching boiling point in the

match between the world number 11 Ali Carter and the world number 25

Xiao Guodong. He is rated as the best young talent to come out of

mainland China since Ding Junhui, he reached the final in Shanghai. He is

now based in Gloucester, he is 25, he is an excellent cook and has a

taste for the expensive, as his pair of shoes will testify.

This is the first time I come to the Crucible, the World Championship,

everybody wants to come here, because this is the big one. Snooker

is the big one. Every year, I want to come here, I started in 2008,

this is the first time I have come here. This year is exciting to come

here. Ali Carter is a very good player. He has got to the final

twice. I just pay for myself -- play for myself, I do not care who I

play, I do my best. I like good things, I like fashion. If I see a

look and it is good, I'd buy it, I want everybody to see. Maybe these

issues are lucky for me. With these shoes, I could win every game!

Ali Carter had a 5-4 advantage, but Xiao Guodong showed why he is

considered the most dangerous of the qualifiers, he won the first two of

the afternoon. It is extremely tight now, 8-8. We are now into what is

going to be a grandstand finish. Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor have

been looking on, this one has been extremely tight, just explain what

is going on. You can not pick between the

players. Ali Carter made a 55 break in the previous frame and managed to

snooker himself behind the pink. Xiao Guodong had a fantastic

clearance of 69 to draw level. It has got better as it has gone on,

this much. Ali Carter in the driving seat, he still needs to frames, he

is well on his way, but we saw what happened in the previous frame. You

were watching Ding Junhui at home. An extraordinary frame of snooker.

A bit straight on the black. He has got to be careful.

Beautifully judged, the way he played that. He guaranteed he would

be on a red. The last frame was a steal from Xiao Guodong. Ali Carter

was the driving state, cueing as beautifully as he is now, until the

bizarre incident, when the pink was re-spotted. But once again, Ali

Carter has got in amongst the balls and looks as fluent as he has the

whole match. He really has. He has moved through the gears, he will be

tough to beat. His opponent has been a call to him in terms of

break-building, it has been a fascinating match so far.

Showing a lot of character, Ali Carter, because he was out of

sorts, getting frustrated. The more the match goes on, the stronger he

is getting. He still cannot get away from this very talented Chinese

player. Just a couple more pots away from leaving himself one frame away

from victory. It was a similar incident in the previous frame, when

the pink went back, it had to cope as close to the white as possible,

and he snooker himself on all of the reds will stop --. Show udon cleared

up with a fantastic 69 to clear the frame. He has got plenty of bottle.

He is going to have to show it again, because Ali Carter is one

more pots away from securing this important frame.

He already needs a snooker, but this word to make absolutely certain.

Ali Carter has been beset with health problems that have hindered

his career. But he has got so much determination and talent. He is

great under pressure. He looks very focused as well. It does not matter

about missing the red, Xiao Guodong has conceded the frame, so Ali

Carter takes it and is just one frame away from a place in the last

16. Ronnie O'Sullivan for me, he has got

the best cue action, because he hits the ball so smooth. Stephen Hendry,

he has made the most century breaks in the game. Judd Trump at the

moment, or Neil Robertson, they popped the long balls for fun.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, the cue ball control when he is on song is

unbelievable. He is never five or six inches away from his next pot.

John Higgins is very tactically shrewd. Peter Ebdon is temperamental

when he wants to win -- pork -- Peter Ebdon, his temperament is very

good, and Paul Hunter, those two mixed together would be perfect.

That would be me, there are not many shots that I cannot play, so I will

throw myself in there. Definitely not me! Jimmy White was supposed to

be one of the best in the game, I am not sure if that is right, but I do

not recall him missing many. The all-time greats, Stephen Hendry, he

has won more tournaments and done it all. I have surprised myself, the

last couple of seasons, I have nicked if you frames. Not King is

unbelievable at getting stickers. Stephen Hendry or John Higgins, with

you get if you frames behind, they are very good front runners.

That was Ali Carter's perfect players, he is such a nice lad. You

have not missed much. Can this young Chinese player take

us into a deciding frame? He played a similar shot in an

earlier frame, he smashed the red into the bunch to open them up. He

tried it again this time. He has left a pot on. It was a very

attacking shot, but he misjudged it completely, he was hoping to send

the red into the bunch and open them up. He made a bit of a mess of it.

And he did not get the cue ball back to the baulk cushion.

As was mentioned, Ali Carter has great cue power. He hit that with

screw back, with very little effort. He controlled the cue ball. He has

played a couple of shots in this match, one where he screwed the full

length of the table, which would have been a contender for the shot

of the championship. He loves it here. He enjoys playing here. He got

to the final in 2008 and a semifinal in 2010, then the final in 2012.

But for Ronnie O'Sullivan, he would have been a world champion.

Not as he intended. That can always happen when you screw into the

bunch. It is difficult to control how the white will come back.

He did not cue that very well. Look where the cue ball has finished, he

was planning on leaving himself nicely on one of the baulk colours.

He mishit that completely. He has not left anything easy.

On it all looked so comfortable at the start of this match for Ali

Carter. And then it all sort of slipped away from him.

Lots of noise from the other table. We are in between frames. It is

something you get used to here. A little bit awkward with the two

rates at the other end of the table -- reds.

That was an attacking shot, but the yellow has come to his rescue.

That was a clever shot. I like that. That was unlucky. Very unlucky. He

could not have envisaged that happening.

I've been very impressed with this young player. He got to the Shanghai

Masters final against Ding Junhui. First all Asian ranking final. He

lost the end to his fellow countryman.

Arguably, this is the biggest match of his career.

Any damage done? Not really. He has left the fight tucked up on the

cushion. -- white. Playing at the Crucible, the Shanghai Masters would

have been a difficult ordeal, but this is a different kettle of fish

altogether. And hasn't he played well against one of the top players

in the game. He is just one frame behind. This is all that is

available to him. A little thin snick. That is the

sort of angle he will be looking at. He never thought that would happen.

He got a good cue ball tight on the cushion. But look where the red has

finished. He is already 20 points on the lead. That was hard to foresee.

Very unfortunate there. Maybe he still thinks he can squeeze it past

the blue. That is not where he wanted to be.

He struck it well. He's going to leave himself under these two reds.

He has really been striking the cue ball well in the last few frames.

Great chance. Yes, he has had breaks of 55, 59. And that terrific break

in the last frame, a break of 80. Xiau House had breaks of 70 and 69.

-- has had. The standard has really improved and he has played a big

part in this match. But Ali Carter creeping closer to the winning

line. Still not straightforward just yet.

Excellent cueing. He just brushed some of the chalk of the cloth. When

you play as crucial, it leaves chopped mark on the table. -- a

screw shot. He has picked out a red into the

middle pocket. He looks to be nicely on it. Just checking whether he can

thread his way through the gap. Doesn't want to hit either of those

two reds. It will be a good shot to get it through the gap.

Should he go on to clinch this frame in style, it would be a marvellous

effort from Ali Carter. You would have to give very high marks for not

just perfect timing and form, but the great character out there.

He hasn't clinched it in style. I don't think it's quite a snooker,

but he has got a terrific 56 point advantage. But we did see in the

earlier frame when he had a break of 55, Xiau, he got marvellous

clearance. Could that happen again? Did he get away with it? No, that

could be the end. If Ali Carter can get one good shot, he is over the

line. Yes, it should be able to drop on the blue or the pink if he goes

too far. He has hit it too thick. Now he is

left with a long blue. The black, well, he can get back

onto the blue. It's effortless for Alec at this type of shot. Ali

Carter. His timing is so good on that particular shot. He has still

got work to do. But he has broken the back of it.

Yes. Xiau, he will be very disappointed. But what a performance

he has put on here. His first time at the Crucible Theatre. He is a

treat to watch. I'm sure we will see a lot more of this fantastic Chinese

player. It's a great feeling when you are at

this stage, just clinched the match. You have a few days off, and when

you come back, you have got to be sessions to play at. That is when

you always thought your World Championship had started.

It's been a very entertaining match. Ali Carter led 4-1, looked like he

was going to win quite comfortably, but the Chinese player put up a

battle. But Ali Carter was too strong.

He made his experience count there. What a story from Ali Carter's point

of view. Yes, he has had a lot of health problems. All those things

going on, and then to try to place look on top of that. But he has done

well. He played a shocker of a short in the frame before. -- a shot. Ali

Carter were going through to the second round where he will play

either Mark Selby or Michael White. We're just waiting hear from Ali

Carter. You haven't lost a first round match

since 2006. That was probably one of the toughest first round draws I

could have got. He is a great player. It is great to be back here

playing. I have got a good record year and some great memories. I am

delighted to get through. But he made it very difficult for me. Well

done today. You are in your second road. We can't wait to see you in

action again. This is a situation where you expect

Ding to score heavily. It hasn't been the case. His highest peak has

been 70 in frame four. Other than that, he has not made a break over

50. Very unusual. Deng did the right thing, he went

out of the room, perhaps to calm down a bit. -- Ding did. Nothing to

do with his game, it is just his mind.

He has made five maximum breaks in his career.

That is just about OK. It looks as though it could have gone wrong. I

don't think a maximum is in his mind at the moment. I think he is more

concerned about getting in and making a sizeable break. He has been

going through it in the last few frames.

Straight on the blue. But it's not too bad because there are beds on

either side of the pink. -- reds. If your mind isn't clear out there,

anything can happen. Just came off the cushion pretty

quickly. Ding stepped back there. Quicker

than normal bounce the cushion -- off the cushion.

It has gone in. Good shot. No two frames of snooker are alike.

Highest break at the moment is 130 by Ryan Day. He is still playing in

that match by with Stephen Maguire. That's a bit more like it from Ding

Junhui. The highest break of the competition so far, 136. He now

leads by 4-3. Just when you thought he was

struggling, he does that. It's looking like it is going to go 6-3

there. We have seen Ali Carter and Ken Doherty go through. Great to

share your company this afternoon. Let remind you what is coming up.

This evening's matches are available online for you.

It's a documentary, not the whole thing again, thankfully. In night of

sporting nostalgia. I will see you tomorrow. Goodbye.