Day 3, Part 3 Snooker: World Championship

Good part. And a nice flick on the black. -- pot. A chance to get the

first frame for Alan McManus. Overran that. The red to go round

the back of the green, it's a bit more difficult than it should have

been. All he can do is drop the blue in

now. Is it the angle just to cannon into the red, maybe nudge it towards

the pocket? Won't be far away. He felt he could hold it. He's overcut

it. He overcut it. He motioned as though the blue rolled off slightly.

But it always looked on this low lower jaw and that's where it

stayed. Alan will be very disappointed if he

loses this frame. He's had four chances in the frame. We mentioned

earlier, he needs a good start. What's happened now? He's underhate

couple of shots. That swung wide off the green. You can only assume his

timing's not there. It swung wide. That's usually because of your

timing and you are not getting the amount of top spin required. From

looking like an excellent chance to pinch the first frame, he'll do well

to pot the yellow. He did go for the yellow and he

knew, playing at that pace, if it didn't go in, it could be left in

the jaws of the pocket. Could have played that better. Seven

points to lead. He needs green, brown and blue. But this green is

tough. I think we've had everything in this

frame. But to knock the blue in, and he

played that well. As you said, unlucky.

Higgins deciding not to take the green on. So this first frame still

in the balance. Only two points in it in favour of McManus. Just came

around to look at the angle of the green on to the pink and taking the

cue ball back to the Bruyne area. Got to leave the green virtually on

the pink spot if you are going to play the pink spot. The green's come

away thousand -- the brown area. John Higgins will take this on.

This looks good. Not qiesmt it looked for all the world it was

going to get in behind it, but I think there may be an edge of the

green sticking out. -- not quite. Doesn't make it an easy shot.

Decided to come off the side and baulk cushion. Needs to get right in

behind it oh, and missed it. That's a surprise.

A lot of one cushion escapes been missed. They seem to be a lot square

they are week. Yes, I've heard a few people say that. I don't know why

that is. Excellent shot. Big advantage for

McManus that he can compete with Higgins in the tactical exchanges.

Six points the lead. Still need green, brown and blue.

Oh, he went for it. He's missed it. Had a few chances in this first

frame, has Alan. One good pot here from John Higgins and he goes

favourite for it now. Needs a good angle on the blue.

Needs the blue and the pink. The closer he can get to the pink, the

better. I don't think he'll try and disturb it. He'll try and get it off

the cushion and come behind it. Bit of distance between the two. But

that's pretty good. That's excellent. He only needs the pink so

he can just roll it in dead weight. Well, that was the frame that could

have gone either way. Alan McManus will be disappointed he didn't win

it with the amount of chances he had. But it goes to four times world

champion, John Higgins. He leads 1-. I mentioned these two know each

other very well. It was on Higgins' debut that he came up against

McManus and lost. The two are tremendous friends and actually,

John says he owes Alan an awful lot about the early days? Obviously

Alan's got a tremendous all round game as well and tremendous

knowledge of the snooker table and, you know, he's got the nickname

Angles, so yes, he's probably learned a lot from him. This game

brought him to four world titles, but there was a rookie error in

there as well, Steve? Yes, so many. Taylor. That's not a mistake!

Apologies. McManus failed to put the bottle top back on his bottle which

caused the schoolboy error of bumping into it. The two of them

will be at loggerheads in the interval as to whose problem it was.

So you are blaming McManus for the spillage? In hindsight, if we put

that in an analysis, at the point at which Alan left the bottle open

without putting the cap on, that's where it all went wrong. We'll tell

him that. That is going to be an awfully close match, spillages or

not. Although John's not firing on all cylinders the last couple of

seasons, I think he'd possibly win, 10-6, 10-7 I think. A lot of people

watching the qualifiers will feel that he's back to some form and can

cause some problem, but it depends on his scoring ability. On these

conditions, it's harder to keep the ball under control, even in the

qualifying section. We go on about things all the time. John had a

victory in a small event, got to the final which was a first world

ranking event. His season went cold thereafter. He started to show a

little better form in the world champion champions, enough for you?

So he has a good enough record to pull on those memories and get that

inspiration. He's not been the dominant force that he normally is.

It's well documented that he messes about with cues a bit. He pinches

frames, which is John's trademark. When you do that, you get a star and

tend the lose the belief. He's well capable. And he would. Scared of

playing O'Sullivan as well. Earlier on this season, he felt he could

come back, that's always a sign of confidence. He never says that

unless he means it? Yes and the clue could be in the fact that he's gone

back to a cue that he's had success with in the past, instead of

searching for the Holy Grail of cues that may not exist. It's first blood

to Higgins. Here we go again. He'll be very pleased, John Higgins,

getting that under way. Needed a few extra chances there.

There's the water being mopped up. Normal play will be resumed! I'm

sure Steve Davis will be delighted! A good long red. A fraction more and

it would have been unmissable. I still don't fancy him to miss it

now. Doesn't have to do a lot with the cue ball. Good shot. He's got

this red to the right corner. He can play for pink or black.

The red he'd like to get rid of sooner or later is to the left of

the black now. That will enable the black to go into both corner

pockets. Oh, can't miss blacks like that. Not

at this level. I think he might play the red shot

to make sure he can get on to a baulk colour.

Hasn't got the cue ball under control at the minute, John Higgins.

He'll be pleased to have won that opening frame. Overrunning a lot,

underscrewing as well. Another example. That cue ball a foot

further down the table. Struggling with his screw shots. His timing's

just not there yet. Nice recovery. Good shot. Landed

absolutely perfect on the blue. Always a danger. If he played it

with a trace of right hand side and it pushes the cue ball and he didn't

allow for the push. That's why he hit the black too thin and caught

the wide jaw. But the way he's opened the reds, Whitehall a chance

now for Alan McManus. -- what a chance now.

I would imagine they are using the same cue ball as they use all

tournament. It's been so easy to screw it back for the others that

have played on this table. Both these players struggling to get a

bit of movement in the screw shots. Maybe they are both not quite timing

it right yet. Not the best kiss. Very good shot on the blue from

McManus to finish absolutely perfect. He'll be very disappointed

if he doesn't get the chance to put the first frame behind him. Played

to screw that another three or four inches to the right. Neither player

getting a reaction from screw shots at the minute.

29 pointses in front. These three remaining reds in play would be

enough. Thing is with John Higgins, you know

he's going to carry on if you leave a red on the table. This black from

John Higgin, that trace pushes the cue ball. Got the split nicely.

Never used to miss those. He got the split nicely, but not for himself.

Very important for Alan McManus to have won this frame having had three

or four chances to take the opener. He'll sit down in his chair after

this very nice break and will have forgotten about that opening frame.

If he'd lost this frame, he would have been kicking himself. Hasn't

been here for a few years, so it takes a while to settle. It's the

most unbelievable venue in the world, without any shadow of a

doubt. Seems to be playing at a quicker

pace than I've seen him do for some time.

Playing a trick shot there. But Alan McManus with a very nice break. In

the goes the black. That will please him greatly. He's been a great play,

still proves he can be that and he levels the score at 1-1. The key

thing was, they've mentioned twice, the black off the spot and, at any

standard, you cannot miss blacks off a spot. No, and John Higgins just

had to play it with a trace aside and, as we were saying, his timing's

not right, so he's probably just hit it a little too hard and that left

hand side just pushed it too far over to the right. He got the

perfect split but no benefit to him. We have already seen both these

players have been here on several occasions and you get the Crucible

jitters when you play here? It's understandable. It's a big, big

tournament, the one you look forward to all year, Alan McManus fighting

to get back here, John Higgins will have great respect and the crowd are

so close to you. They say the Crucible doesn't come alive until

you get to the one table. I disagree, the two-table situation is

when you get the atmosphere, you have got to really concentrate hard

and it's just a place that's got so much history and so much atmosphere,

it's just a thrill sometimes, as we said the other day, when you are

driving to Sheffield, you get the butterflies even though we are only

commentating. 14 years since I've play and coming down the parkway,

the buzz is there. Just caught that a little bit too

thin. Just managed to avoid the kiss on the blue. It's not the best

break. Not certain he can apot this and

kiss off the black which is what he'll want to do. -- can pot this.

If he played the potting angle and didn't get it, he would have run

into the black and could have been dangerous, so I don't think he went

for the pot there. That was a safety.

This one I expected him to get. Looking at the way that went, there

might have been heavy contact. Seemed to carry on. May have been

unlucky. Higgins may play the same here. Even

though he's not near the baulk cushion, he's near the side cushion,

makes it slightly awkward cueing. It's one of those that he has to

finish very low on this black. He's guaranteed to get the desired

position. If he runs it in, he may overrun it. He has run it in, but

played it nicely. Just got to play a nice little

cannon here. The slower you hit that, the more reaction you get on

the cue ball. His timing's not there yet. There's more proof. Positive of

it. Didn't really get into that cue ball

as he would have liked. Finished up with a decent safety,

but you wouldn't imagine that Alan McManus, in escaping from this

snooker, would leave anything. Was it you who nicknamed him Angles?

No, it wasn't, John. I give most of the players

nicknames, but I didn't do that for Alan McManus. Maybe one of the

Scottish lads did because he used to get out of ridiculous smokers with

five or six versions -- get out of ridiculous snooker macros with five

or six cushions. There is a lot of bit of safety

going on. I would just like to say hello to

George Montgomerie who has been coming here for 30 years, this is

the first year he has missed because he is not very well.

Very good friend of John Higgins and all the players, always a good man

to have around and he is missed. Get well soon, George. We are thinking

of you, pal, time you came back. Neither player has found the baulk

cushion as you would expect from these two great safety players.

He may take the pot on. Syed Gershon, top cushion back into

baulk, which is an unusual plate -- way of playing it. -- side cushion.

Side cushion, top cushion, but nowhere near the red.

Not guaranteed to get round the back of the green and yellow to get back

to the business end of the table here.

He has managed it, though, good shot. Is there going to be a gap to

get through to the reds? Can he see enough of those two reds

to the left of the black? It looks as though he can see enough of it. I

think he can just roll it in beyond the black to the opposite corner.

He hit the other red first! But he still has the pot, but not on the

collar. -- on the colour. It is amazing, he still had enough of the

red to pot it. Of course, position ruined.

Green will be his target here to get the cue ball behind. That looks

pretty good line, just a little bit heavy.

Still trying to get in behind that cream. -- green.

Alan is taking a risk playing this shot. I thought he was going to play

the deep screw back into baulk, but the way he is playing it the

sweeping round the back of the pack. He has done well.

Well, it was half an attempt at the pot. The committed to it some

thought, that is why he is nowhere near as the baulk cushion, so

another chance for Alan McManus, read to the right corner. -- red to

the right corner. It is just a case of manoeuvring the cue ball back to

that end of the table. He is just about on the green.

Well, there is definitely a bit of milage here in trying to bring the

pink and red into play. Any sort of kiss on any of those would be good.

It is impossible to win the frame just off blues and baulk colours.

He has played it pretty well. He has brought the pink into play, just

needs to get onto a red now, this is a very good shot, very well played.

Just got into the cue ball little bit too much there, he obviously

wanted to drift past that red so it would have been a more straight

pink. Moving away from the reds now. He will be playing a red at

distance, whatever happens. Does this red pot by the other red?

I think it does. I think he can just cue past the blue.

Always a chance of playing, you either stand it off the side cushion

from the opposite corner or do try and hold it. He can just cue past

the blue, as I say. I think that is what he is thinking, either to hold

it or stun it of the side cushion. Stunning it off the side cushion is

usually preference. He will be at full stretch on this

pink. He could reach it comfortably. He

must be taller than I remember. One thing is for certain, the first

green he played when he flicked the pink into play, look how beneficial

that has been now, he has every chance of winning the frame at this

visit. Yes, a great call that has made the difference.

If he did not play that he would have had very little to go at. It is

those little things that make all the difference between winning a

frame in one visit or not. So, you young aspiring snooker

players, watch this, he knew if he potted that green and hit the red or

pink it would bring one into play and give them a chance to win the

frame in one visit. Always be aware of what can be possible. He will be

disappointed with that, he has gone too close to the side cushion. There

is pressure on this pink now. He had a look at the scoreboard, that will

not make this pot in easier, 34 points is the lead. I think if the

black was in open play he would be more likely to pot it.

The fact the black is safe takes a bit of pressure off it. Very good

pot. This could be a frame winner now. A few more reds needed, the

next two are pretty straightforward, the next red after

that will be slightly more difficult.

That pink now takes 47 points in front, 57 remaining.

So, two reds, two colours should do the job.

I don't know whether that cue ball flew off the top cushion, but he is

certainly not on the pink as he wanted. Let's have a look.

It did seem to gather pace, didn't it?

And it has caused him to miss the pink, so he will go back to his seat

very, very disappointed. He had a bounce off the top cushion ruin his

position and ruin his chance of winning the third frame at that

visit. You would have to say he is still favoured but he will be

disappointed that the run of the ball has cost him. As you can see,

that red and black out of commission and this is the only red not near a

cushion, really. And he has missed it. This is a good lead to have.

Well, good safety shot that from Alan McManus, and look where the

reds R. Clearance from there? He may bring the black into play

this time. That red he will be playing into the black could bring

another red out. He will have to get the gap though.

Oh dear, that looks like end of frame. I was going to see that he

could be unlucky and knock the black in.

But you would have laughed at me. Yes, but after the time, John.

Try and see it before the shot, if you don't mind. Where is the black

ball going? !

Just the red needed. And in that red goes. It has taken

quite a time to resolve this frame, there has been quite a bit of

safety. But it is Alan McManus who has just

picked up the pieces. A break of 47 early on seems to be the catalyst

for the frame. Now that black has gone and I am sure John Higgins will

concede. There you go, that is the double

kiss safety. John Higgins will give the referee then don't say that is

enough, so it is Alan McManus. A bitty frame, neither player looks to

have really settled, but Alan McManus leads John Higgins two

frames to one. Applause, not particularly for that

frame, but in the zone be hanged as there is point going on in the

Winter Gardens. To what extent is the familiarity of

each other and knowing each other's game going to have an impact on this

match, Steve? I think the first thing to discuss is that for every

top seed the first round is a potential banana skin.

Therefore you do not always said down as quickly. When you are up

against a player who you have a great bit of respect for, sometimes

you can give them too much respect. I think this game just hasn't got

going yet, that does happen. It is only three Micro frames in and it

takes players perhaps until the second session to get their arm

going. It is pretty cagey so far. Yes, we have talked about John

Higgins and his higher scoring prowess than Alan.

We're used to see him starting and stamping his authority quickly and

matches, but he has not capitalised. He is never going to take liberties

with Alan McManus, is the? No, he is not, but he knows he is

perhaps not firing and also wonders and he knows that Alan McManus is

finding a bit of form, after beating Mark Williams through the

qualifiers. He should be wary of what is going

on. Mark Williams sitting at home for the first time in, what?

22 years? Hello, Mark, if you are watching. He

would do the same to me! COMMENTATOR: I just wonder whether

Ken Doherty getting through has given a surge to that older

generation, as well. I would have to agree with Stephen.

At the moment John Higgins is getting chances, yet he only has a

break at 35. At this level if you get chances and you are not scoring,

then you don't win many frames. The highest break was 87, he made a 47

in the last. John Higgins is still to make a break over 40. It is not

as though he has not had the opportunities.

Well, that is a bonus, there is no way he could have envisaged that

ball going in the corner. He is just going to play the role up

behind the green. -- roll. He has managed to snooker John on

all the reds. He got a good cue ball, but the red going in was a

bonus, and once that went in he could lay on the sticker macro and

protect John in even more trouble. He is looking at the two cushion

escaped with pace. This is risky.

-- lay on the snooker. The Miss fit, it the blue full ball,

then this is called, but will not be taken.

-- he missed it. This is a good chance, there is a

mid-session interval after this frame. A 3-1 lead for Alan McManus

would put a bit more pressure on John.

There is a choice here, he has the pink to the middle and the black.

The black is only available to the right corner. Those two reds below

the black are affecting his shot choice, you would feel.

He played that nicely, though, potted the pink, listened a few more

reds. -- loosened. If the blue is just off straight he

will take it on. He is taking it on. He is looking pretty good at the

moment, Alan McManus. Not nicely on a red, though. There is a gap in

between the pink and a red on the outside to get through to a red.

There is an interesting statistic, look at the pox pot success, 91%

Alan McManus, 81% John Higgins. And another horrific pot.

This is a tremendous shot, so close to the ocean, digging down. He could

not have played that better. You would have to say he was a little

bit unlucky to be so close to the cushion, people -- because both

brown and yellow are not easy to get back up to this end of the table.

Power is needed. And power was got. As you look, not very good. He can

get through to the one on the back cushion and get back up for a baulk

colour again. I think he would have liked to have

been on the blue, but he went a little bit further than he would

have liked. It could be brown. I think the

yellow maybe a little bit too straight. The blue is thin. If

you're going to play the blue, I would be thinking about playing the

cannon here, rather than just rolling it in.

Well, he still has a possibility, there are two reds available to the

left middle. The top one would take a little bit more pressure off him.

And straight in the heart of the pocket. He needs the cue ball to

slow up... He has just overrun it a fraction. He can still pot the

brown, but awkward cueing with the green.

He certainly seems to be gaining in confidence. He is looking very at

ease with himself. He has played off one cushion, but

he knew he was bound to be on a red should he pot it. I don't go whether

Allen called the foul or the referee saw it, but he will be disappointed,

it must have been the green that he touched.

We did not notice anything on the slow motion, John. That would

suggest that Allen called it on himself, because it is only

something as a player that you would feel.

But that is what we expect in our game. That conduct. But it could be

costly. He looked for all the world to be on the way to winning this

frame. Well done. But, as I say, it could cost him.

This isn't really a reprieve for John Higgins, because he has not

really been in this match yet, has he? He has had precious little

opportunity, and the opportunities he has had he has not scored. This

is a bit of a gift. One thing is for certain, if he gets up to two each,

I know who will enjoy their cup of tea the most.

He is looking at the reds in the middle of the table as a plant. He

has to be careful. There is a gap between the two, so he has to

concentrate on hitting that first ball correctly.

And he did not. He was thinking about position. And he forgot to hit

that first ball in the right place. If you don't hit the first ball in

the right place you don't hit the second ball to knock it in the

pocket. That foul that Alan McManus made has not cost him, he has

another chance for a 3-1 lead. If he gets through the gap, he'll be

on a red. Could play for the one in the middle. 21 points in front.

Needs four more reds at least. He's looking very confident, playing

a decent pace around the table. Looks to be taking on a few more

shots than he used to. Maybe he realises he can still compete at the

top level. He'll probably take a risk here. He

didn't want to be playing that one along the cushion.

I agree that he should disturb them. Very unlucky. All of a sudden he

looks like twlor reds, one in each corner, and all of a sudden they've

lined up. Good expression from Alan McManus there. He was quite amazed

at what happened. Didn't generate enough pace into the

cue ball. You could say in his last frame, this is his last chance.

Comes to the table 35 points behind, 59 remaining so he doesn't need high

value colours but he'll need them all.

And is this when he comes to life? So far, he's not really been the

John Higgins we expect. Could be a chance to steal a frame here.

Yes, McManus will be feeling uncomfortable because he knows he's

dominated this first session. And I really do mean dominated. 3-1 will

be the worst he could have expected considering how he's play and John

Higgins has played. Higgins has every chance of levelling at two

now. Didn't really want to push that on the cushion -- at 2-2 now.

Safety success is better. And this is not nice at all.

He's close to the red, just off the cushion. This is definitely

missable. That's not in. He tried to get the

cover with the black. I don't know, the way things have been going in

these first few frames, I may have been tempted to play for the snooker

there. Couldn't have agreed more. He was a bit close to his white there.

Yes. McManus deciding to go for a baulk colour. Thought that that

would make it that much easier to get the position on the yellow and

now he's nicely on the green. All the positive thoughts will be

back in Alan's mind now, rather than be thinking, if I'd have got a good

kiss on that last black and moved the reds into play, I would have

been in front. He'd have been thinking all those things things.

But now he'll be relaxing in the interval. What we have seen from

John Higgins so far is that he's not looking at ease with himself.

Pretty impressed with Alan. Only missed I think one easy pot in this

first four frames. A couple of poor safeties, but apart from that, he's

looked pretty good. It hasn't been the high standard

from the first four frames from either player but McManus has

certainly been the better of the two.

Very good session for McManus, very poor for Higgins. First four frames

have been won by McManus. I think we agree that McManus looks

the more confident of the players so far, Stephen? Yes, he looks the more

composed. John Higgins, he had a chance to pinch that frame, that's

normally something Thunderballed put your house on him doing and he

didn't achieve it. -- something that you would put your house on him

doing. I've seen it time and time again, positions where John's

normally the best in the world at coming back and pinching frames. If

you take it for granted that you are going to do that almost and and a

couple of times you don't, the doubt creeps in there. Again it's

confidence issues? Yes, you can't buy the stuff. The only way you can

get it is from going on the practise table and acquiring some there. More

importantly on the match table. Somehow, John Higgins may have to

play his way into some sort of match confidence. After that session, I'm

sure he's pretty low. It's difficult against a man like McManus, 43 years

of age, competing here for a couple of decades and has twice been in the

semi-finals, has the Scot. He came back here after a missing seven

years worth of playing at the Crucible and said that coming back

12 months ago really inspired him to get his game back in order. He's

done that this season, moving from world 50 up to 35. He's in a good

place and has had a great season. He's a self-efacing guy away from

the table but is a total hard knot. To come back two years in a row now

couldn't be better. It's a great feeling, a great way to end the

season. When you have history here, the people know you, obviously, if

you've been around the place for so many years which I have been. It's

nice to chat with some of them and sign a few programmes. I've been

happy with my general form. I'm enjoying the game, enjoying being

busy and don't have to put in the hours that we used to. The

tournaments are really good. Some of the new formats have been good for

the game. You always know that a week or two down the line you are

going to have another shot at it. That's definitely helped. It's a

different experience being behind the microphone. It's easier to

criticise and we all criticise things, of course we do, but I still

know how difficulties out there and it really is tough. I really try to

be the opposite, hypercritical. I find some commentators are way too

critical, but then I can understand that if they've not been on the

circuit for, you know, ten or 15 year, they maybe just forget how

difficult the game actually is. John for me is Without question, one

of the three or four best players in the history of the sport, from a

personal stand point, it will be a pleasure for me to even play John. I

want to give him a good game first and foremost. You can only just play

your own game and forget about him. Whatever will be will be and I'm

happy to be here but I'm going to play to win. He's certainly giving

John a great game so far. If you want to continue to watch that, it's

available by the red button or by online. We are going to move away

and have a bit of fun now. I will ask you a quiz question: Which cue

cyst a three-time world champion and also has over ten million hits on

YouTube? Well, his name is Florrianne Cola. He's the world

trick shot champion. I'm known as Venom. Three-times

trick shot champion. What I do is purely skill shots most of the time

so I post videos online and YouTube itself, I have around ten million

views I think. I started trick shots seven years ago now. I got a small

pool table for his 18th birthday as a gift and I don't know how to play

it then, literately not at all. -- literally not at all. I go online

and find a lot of trick shots. I saw the videos and started doing copies

of the tricks. After three years I know all the shots already and keep

doing it. It's been 16 years doing the same shots so I'm doing my own

version of it. Posting videos and new shots now. 60 videos later I'm

here, talking about more than 1,000 new shots created.

Thing two years, I've already been in 30 different countries and some

of them are more important for me, probably China is important. There

is a lot of people watching. I think the biggest audience I played in

front of was for Fran Has got Talent. Big theatre. TV in China,

100 million people live there or something like that on Saturday

night, a big audience. -- France's Got Talent.

My idea is to get the pool table in a different light and record the

trickiest shot ever. If you could maximise the use and

put a table in a different location, it's more entertaining for young

people especially. Wow, he is a run away train on a

pool table that. Was a little introduction from him. We'll be

seeing a new trick from Florian every day.

Best I've ever seen. Quite incredible. What do you make of him?

Cue ball control was immense there. You look at him, and in snooker,

some of the fancy shots is nothing to that. You could buy some of that!

That's a whole other story anyway. We are going to concentrate on

events on table 2 at the Crucible, featuring a 24-year-old from

Gloucester who started his campaign yesterday. He had an undertaking.

He's playing a man whose mantle piece this season is groaning from

the weight of five major trophies. For young Michael here, he's full of

nerves and just wants to get his hands on the table and hit some

balls. Just the start you look for. Must

get it safe. It's on the way up. It was not the

idea and it looks as though he's going to leave this green.

Well, he couldn't have placed that bet federal he'd have put it there

with his hand. -- better if he'd have put it there

with his hand. He spotted a plant there.

Michael leads the world number two. 3-2.

Good shot. That's a bit more like it from Ding Junghui. A wonderful

break. Ding will be happy leading by three

frames at 6-3. He had obviously worked out some of his frustrations

earlier in that match with the three frame cushion that. 's what he took

into this afternoon's deciding session. Wasley won the first of the

afternoon to make it four six and we are going to rejoin them in frame

11, Ding to play, no score. Ken Doherty and Denis Taylor in the box.

It was close, but it was never in and, if you look at where the cue

ball finished, that was the reason he missed the pot. Had he have

potted that red, cleanly it would have been round on the blue.

An early chance for Michael here. Maybe just play a delicate little

cannon. He's got four loose reds there.

You mentioned earlier, everyone's individual with their bridge hand

and back hand and Michael, you spotted that he keeps his fingers

close together? Yes, most players spread their fingers but look how

closely he keeps his fingers together. It's not often you'd see

that with any player. Very close together. Doesn't seem to be

affecting him in any way. It's quite unusual.

Still got a couple more loose reds. He could, if he wanted, play this

with a spin into the pack. And that's what he's playing. I love

that shot! That's a fabulous shot. Took the bull by the horns there and

couldn't have played it any better. Brilliant.

May have to play a delicate screw shot here. Can he hold himself

together? Great chance to get back to just one behind.

For a debutant at the Crucible Theatre, he's done remarkably well.

I like his style. What's he done here? If that red

doesn't pass the pink, he's going to have to take the pink and head to

the baulk area. The blue won't go into the left corner or centre

pocket that,'s for sure. Certainly doesn't hang about once he

gets going. Very quick. That was an excellent

spin from the black. Plenty of reds still available after

he takes this red and blue. The red next to the pink is pretty

straightforward. He's looking at the other in the bottom left hand corner

pocket. But he's concerned whether the pink will spot after that.

You can always tell from body language the way the players go

around the table. It's marvellous here in Sheffield, but the body

language yes, of a player, the way he goes about his break, Michael

Wasley was giving off indications that he's very, very comfortable out

there. He's really enjoying it. He gave himself a few more seconds

there. That's a good sign. He started this match so well with

breaks of 53 and 63. This one's coming just at the right time.

62 ahead. Still a possible 75 on the table.

This certainly is giving Ding something to think about.

The fact that the pink is on is a little bonus.

Got to make sure of the pot first. That's OK. Not too bad.

The referee saying give me a couple of seconds while he gets the pink

into an awkward spot there. As near to its own spot as possible in the

direct line behind it. And the other red slightly in the way so. A steady

thumb needed. Just has to drop this in the middle

pocket. Looks as if he going to screw back.

Only just. Just knocked on the door. Another

excellent shot. Well played. Always a mile Steen in a player's

career, to make your first century at the Crucible. Ding has the

highest break at the moment -- milestone.

Could equal the 136 with two blacks. This for the century though.

He's not going to bother about trying to equal that highest break

because it probably won't stand anywhere, I wouldn't imagine, with

the standard of play these days. I think Michael knows that Ding is

under a bit of pressure, although he's won five ranking tournaments.

He knows Ding wants this World Championship so badly and he knows

that Ding is under quite a bit of pressure to achieve that.

This break is going to give him more confidence. Fantastic break. It all

came about from the wonderful split from the black from Michael Wasley

earlier in the frame. Lots of top spin. Very impressive stuff.

125 break from the young debutant here at the Crucible, Michael

wattly. -- Michael Wasley. That was a fantastic break by

Michael Wasley and that puts him into second place behind Ding

Junhui. There have only been eight centuries so far, not sure why that

is so low for this time. That break was made possible by a fantastic

shot from Michael Wasley Wintney split the reds. Michael Wasley

lining up to play the shot. All of a sudden, let's go just back a

fraction, he has played off the top cushion.

As the cue ball comes into the reds he will try and disturb as many as

possible. We have other slow motion footage, and all of a sudden,

showing what happens when that white ball does hit the black comedy pots

the black, this is an ultra-slow motion camera, I am winding it as

fast as I can, we go back to the table, you can see the topspin spill

on -- still on the shot, and as the white ball hits the reds all of a

sudden it starts to... I am getting worn out here! The topspin takes it

further forward. In the instance we saw with Michael Wasley, when you

play the shot, we will show the whole thing in one go, he does not

put as much topspin on it, so he does not get so much forward

momentum, but he pushes through the pack quite nicely. It is a tough

shot to demonstrate. One of the greatest players at breaking the

back is here. You are describing a shot you never

played! I did, once! Do you get paid per revolution?

I have a sore hand. All of this brings us back to the

fact that Michael Wasley is only one thing behind and it brings the

question of Ding Junhui's convert levels at the Crucible. He does seem

to get more easily frustrated here than at any other venue.

-- comfort levels. He may have gone up any other match ten - four.

Subsequently he lost the first frame, Michael Wasley is growing in

confidence and Ding Junhui just wants over the line now. Is there

much more pressure? There seems to be much more

importance on the first rounds from the players now.

It is a given when I was playing in the 1990s that the first rounds were

easier, I am not denying that, but I never put too much importance on

getting through the first round. There is pressure building, but the

standard is higher. From my perspective I can say I had some

horrendous first round matches here as a favourite, do just getting over

line 10-8 against players you're supposed to beat.

Still great players, but my memories of the first round is nightmares.

Some of the draws new hardware like a Freemans catalogue. -- some of the

draws you had were like. We are now back to the 12th with Ding on the

table. I tell you what, he has put himself

under some pressure, he has never really recovered from that easy

black that he missed. He really has not, Ken. He is certainly rocking at

the moment comedy is not looking like a five-time winner of this

season and this match so far. He has come here probably as second

favourite to Ronnie O'Sullivan, but at the moment he is in a battle.

It is amazing how quick, as we look at the pot success, it is amazing

how a league can be whittled away. -- a league. Very quickly it can be

the loneliest chair in the arena. Here was the black in the first

frame. It has all gone a little bit pear shaped since then for Ding. He

has to get his composure back very quickly, because this young Michael

Wasley is looking very composed and getting stronger as the much has

gone on. -- as the match. Yes, I think yesterday when Ding was

struggling all of a sudden from 3-2 down, he won four frames in a row

with breaks of 136, 65 and 40, but you cannot keep believing it like

that. It is the first to ten and this young player is closing in on

the Chinese sensation. That was a tremendous pot into the

middle. Particularly at that pace. He did have the right thing, he just

got away from the table again, he had not quite made his mind up. --

he did the right thing. It is a little bit like a golf shot, you

will see the top pros, they are ready to take a shot, they are not

happy and they will walk away from it to come back to it again, and

that is exactly what Michael did there.

Yes, there is a red that will just pot into the right corner.

He is enjoying himself out there, I can tell. I had a chat to him

earlier and he said he really did enjoy yesterday. Some players

embrace this place get a little bit uptight, but he is loving every

minute of this. -- and some get a little bit uptight.

Well, he has worked this break very well. Over 200 points without reply

from Ding and counting. That is a bit unlucky. He is still

on a red, but how did he get through that gap? A little nudge would have

been better. He is cueing well, the boy. I think he got a little bit of

a kick there, though. It gives them a slightly different angle on the

pink year. It just means the pink is slightly more difficult than it

would have been without the heavy contact, and it means it is slightly

more difficult to regain position. A Street think there would have been

perfect. -- castrate pink -- a Street think.

If he tries to get into the cue ball he can screw the pink and make a

cannon on the red that is closest to it.

He has shown a lot of years of my duty that shot alone. -- of much --

years of maturity. What a clever shot he played there,

Dennis. He has tried to tie the pink up, he has a 44 point league, and

maybe a lot of other players his age may have thought playing the pot was

the right shot. He is putting the onus back on Ding here.

Just maybe Michael has old crafty Ken's video.

Do you like that name, crafty Ken? I prefer the darling of Dublin.

I have been called clueless Ken at times.

Ding needs the pink and black in play, really, he cannot afford to

risk bringing them into play and sticking one up for Michael.

He might just take this one on, because he has cleverly tied up the

high-value colours and there is no reason why he should not have a go

at this and get himself onto the blue.

He is full of confidence, he is now striding around the table like he

has been there for years. And I think that is one of the

keys, Ken, isn't it? Coming here and enjoying it. He is embracing every

moment of this. He certainly is.

57, the difference. 59 remaining. Blue will leave Ding needing snooker

four yet again. -- snooker so yet again.

All of a sudden, Dennis, we have a match on here. Do we ever have a

match on. At 6-3 I think everyone was thinking

Ding has settled down, he will run out a comfortable winner, but, well,

that is a little bit like the old Ding sitting there, little bit fed

up with himself. And, barring a snooker, the young

Michael Wasley has got himself all square with Ding.

Indeed he did. He is ranked 73 in the world come against the world

number two. Ding Junhui after such a stellar

season does not look comfortable at all this time. Into frame 13 and it

is Michael Wasley up once more. That was a big shot. What has he

left? He has knocked a few of those in

there and he has left Ding a shot with the rest, and this is a key

shot. It must be nearly 15 minutes since Ding's last pot. This is not a

straightforward. And, somehow, Ken, if he can get

himself to the mid-session interval with a one frame advantage he will

be a lot happier, certainly. If he lost this frame...

He still has quite a bit of work to do, he was 28 behind, just 21 now.

But how many times have we seen it when the pressure is on, the top

players in the world come into their own? They seem to have that inner

strength. He needs it here, after what has happened to them.

Yes, this is such a big frame, isn't it? The last frame before the

mid-session interval, and, as you said, if Ding can win this he would

be backed up on the horse again, as we say. But he has a lot of work to

do. Under normal circumstances, it would

be straightforward with the ball is sitting like this, look at the way

those reds are lined up. Yes, and I am sure Ding would have already have

done his homework. He is not going to need that red

that is tied to the right-hand side cushion.

I'm sure there are a couple of Ding supporters in the audience. He is

looking to need that red that is pretty safe. -- he is not going to

need. Yes, they love their snooker, the

Chinese people. They have taken it to their hearts. I cannot believe it

is way back in 1985 that Steve Davis and myself went to China for the

first time. There wasn't any decent players, they were all keen on the

game snooker, some of the children played it in the streets, but we

played a couple of local players and I don't think they made above 30

break. But look at the standard now that is coming from that country.

So, that long red that Michael missed will prove costly. He was

very close to knocking it in. Expect a little bit of noise from

the other side of the arena, they are wrapped their interval. Just

keep fully focused. He is just 25 in front. -- they are at their

interval. He got a terrible kick there. That

White would have slipped past the black. He is OK, it did not spoil

the pot, but it certainly... Just look at this year.

As it turned out, cannon the black was OK.

-- the can on on the black was OK. -- the cannon.

Is he going to come up short? He has to get on that last red. There are

two Micro reds, but he has to get up to the one nearest the green and

brown to secure the frame. That looked pretty good. Played to

perfection. Feeling a little happier now, Aaron

play? -- are they not? Snookers required, the brown to make

absolutely sure. Keep your ion that cue ball. It is in the pocket... No,

it is not. Doesn't matter about that red, that

was a very timely 73 break. And you are right up to date,

because we are going live back in. They have had their interval and we

are no into frame 14. Marco is now 11 points ahead. We had back to Ken

and Dennis, another exciting one, this.

COMMENTATOR: It certainly is, Hazel, you missed a chance early in this

frame but he got back in again. He got a little bit frustrated and

took his eye of the pot, concentrating on the cannon. But

that is all forgotten. He just needs the green and brown to

make absolutely certain. Michael did have a chance but he missed a red,

then Ding got back in. This was the one into the corner that was not a

gimme. And you are right up to date, that is exactly the story of

this frame. It does not matter about that pink,

Ding will be feeling much better now, because Michael did have a

chance there. We showed you the blue that Ding missed, but he will be

delighted to extend his lead to 8-6. And you never know, but it has taken

Ding once again in the second session a little bit of pushing to

get started in this. That is what a lot of the top players do, they

cannot get into top gear against someone they expect to beat, let's

be honest. Ding would not be expecting to lose

this match and consequently he is perhaps not focused. It takes

something like your opponent getting close to you to find that other

gear. It is something we discuss a lot, but you, as former champions in

this sport, how difficult is it in the first round, when you know it is

an important match, every session is important, but it is not a white, is

it difficult to find top gear saw early?

I think the first match in any venue you are sort of finding your feet

even if you have been there before. It is a relatively new experience.

All of the surroundings, you have to settle down, and usually in the

second session players are better than in the first. But they are all

desperate to get to the 25 frames. As if 19 is not long enough! It is

the longest of the season, but it is not long enough when there is 25

around the corner. And why do you think Ding would struggle more in

this venue than anywhere else? That is what appears to be the case

once again. You can only put it down to expectation of other people

around. As we talked about, he is the first

Asian world champion, so you can only put it down to that. He is

number two in the world and has won five tournaments this year. It

cannot be to do with snooker or bottle or anything like that. A

couple of years ago he was criticised - not criticised, but he

said he did not like the venue. There are players on the bus to have

not liked venues. We touched on this, you know what it is like to

have won five events, you are the last to do it in a single season,

and by the time you get to the World Championships are you simply running

out of gas? I don't subscribe to that, I must

admit. When I lost having won all those

titles, did not feel jaded. When I got to the Crucible, you have

that inspiration of it being the World Championships.

I cannot speak for other players, they may get affected, I don't

know. He obviously won the China Open,

which was literally just a week ago, so perhaps he has finding it hard to

get himself up again so quickly. He has a two Micro frame cushion

here, just as we go back to tell you that Alan McManus has taken a 4-1

lead on John Higgins, so it is serious time now for John Higgins.

Back to this one with Ken Doherty and Denis Lawson.

Yes, welcome back to the early stages of this 15th frame. No balls

ordered. -- potted. Ding was back in the ascendancy. He

was a little bit wobbly when the match was at 6-6, but he has

certainly produced some better snooker since then. It is an

interesting one, he has won five tournaments this year, he has been

an outstanding player. But this is occurring that he has struggled in

in the past. Mind you, the gentleman sitting in the studio, has not

helped. Stephen Hendry beat Ding in the

second round in 2008 and again in 2009 in the second round.

Use looking dull happier now with his performance but there is what

Moore left from Michael Wasley. -- he is looking a little happier now.

But there is a lot more left from Michael Wasley.

I have been very impressed with this young player. His technique and his

cue power, and his thinking. He seems to play all the right shots,

Ken. Absolutely, he looks very composed. He looks like he's really

enjoying himself out there and he has played some really good shots at

the right time, the right shots at the right time.

He is looking very assured for his young years. The first time playing

at the Crucible can sometimes be very daunting, but he is relishing

it. Just as I say that, the commentator's curse comedy goes and

misses the point he was not missing it earlier. -- the commentators

curse, he goes and misses the pink. Well, the one good thing from

Michael's point of view there was that he did not get on the red when

he missed that pink, so he did not leave anything.

There is a good target behind the yellow and brown. He has to be

careful when he hits the pack, he does not want to not any balls over

either corner pocket. -- he does not want to hit.

Has he been lucky? E is lucky with the one over the right, but over the

left... That is always the problem when you hit those.

The hit that pack a bit more fully than he would have liked.

You are always possibly going to knock red over a corner pocket. He

has done well. He has done very well. That is a

favourable kiss on the yellow. He had to play that with so much a

right-hand side to avoid can Ning into the Reds. -- to avoid the

cannon into the reds. He played that well.

This was the opening red. Lots of right-hand side. The natural angle

would have taken him into the reds. Can you hold himself together here?

-- can he hold himself together? Not rush things too much.

You play at your natural pace, but sometimes, on your first time here,

you give yourself that little split-second to compose yourself.

He felt he got kicked there. -- he felt he got a kick.

The black's not available into the right corner pocket. Still a little

bit to do with the cue ball here. Does he have to come up for the blue

or pink? He has swung it over behind the

black, played to perfection. Very well controlled, wasn't it? Getting

rid of this red will certainly help his cause. That is what I mean about

giving yourself a split second. He has got an easy shot here, he got

down a little bit too quick and played not the best positional shot

to leave himself hampered. He needs a slight angle here to leave himself

an easy black. It is OK. Lots of noise coming from

the other table. There is that picture of the Crucible with the

dividing wall. You get some great pictures here

from the BBC but I tell you what, it is tough when there are two tables

for the cameramen, it really is typed in the Crucible Theatre. --

tight. It is tight for everyone. There is that wall, you can see the

cameraman right up against it. The first time I looked at the

Crucible, way back in 1976, they thought there wasn't enough room for

two tables and they managed to get a bit of extra space will stop we have

been here ever since, since 1977. When you talk about players saying

it is only a matter of time before the World Championships go to

China, if they take it away from the Crucible Theatre, I would be very,

very surprised. As Michael is with that positional shot there.

A generous round of applause but a shake up the head tells you that

Michael wanted to score enough to win this frame. -- a shake of the

head. He felt he was forced into having a

go at that red and if it had gone in, it would have created a good

opportunity for Ding, but the fact that he missed it, it has left a

half chance. He hasn't left the red over the

middle but does this read go by the blue up into the middle pocket? --

does this red go? It must be very tight, that shot you

mentioned. Yes, that is not available to him.

He can't really leave that one over the middle pocket. So it is not an

easy situation for Ding. He could play the one that is near the middle

pocket but not play the pot and if he hits the knuckle of the middle

pocket, the red will come back this way and he could leave the white

then the table. -- down the table. It was a very clever shot, wasn't

it? That was such an acute angle to get the red in off the other red and

he was unlucky in the end. But what judgement that was. He tried to get

a cannon onto the black. But unfortunately, he knocked it into a

side position. That is not a bad shot, pushing that

red safe. That is an old head on young shoulders there. He has got a

41 point advantage and pushing that red safe could be a little bit of

insurance for him later on in this frame.

Tricky little shots, those, because it is so easy to push that type of

shot. Just enough room to be able to screw

the white back. He got more of a stun than a screw,

but it is not bad. Just needed a little bit more screw

on that to get back close to the cushion.

Knocking the reds up to the other end of the table is to Michael's

advantage, with him having a 41 point advantage.

First time at the Crucible and he is loving every unit of it.

-- every minute. Ding normally could play this red onto the blue and get

back on the cushion but he doesn't want to knock any of the colour is

safe. He needs them all in play in order to claw his way back into this

frame. I'm just thinking if you screw is the red, the nearest red

into the cue ball of the pink and get behind the black.

Good effort, but I think the red is possible over the left middle. That

would be a thin one, I think. There is no way back... Well, maybe

he can just see enough of the red. Needs to get plenty of action.

If he hits it then, there is no way he is going to get anywhere near the

Black and he will leave the red that is near the left middle pocket. He

has really got to get into this one. He didn't mind going into the blue.

He has not the blue save, which is to his advantage again. That is what

Ding didn't want to play -- he has knocked the blue save. Although he

has left a possible pot into the right corner pocket at least three

balls are safe. That is a pretty good opener from

Ding. It is not going to be easy to score. He has got the four reds in

pottable positions but the colours are not that easy. He has to keep

coming back up for the high value colours. Brown and blue are safe.

I feel his priority is just to take these open reds with colours and get

himself back into the frame, get some points back on the board. Has

he got the angle to play this with reverse side?

Did he kick? I think he kicked, because he got no reaction on the

cue ball. Let's have a look. Was that a kick or did he just missed

time it? It didn't look like it jumped that much -- miss timed.

He is going to get another opportunity... The green has come to

his rescue but the red beside the yellow does pot. A bit of an anxious

one from Michael. He has been very composed but he seemed to get down a

bit quick and hit that one harder than he intended.

That one certainly jumped that time. Maybe there is a little spot on the

black. It certainly did jump there and took the pace out of the cue

ball. It is still OK, but but for the kick, this would have been a lot

easier. He doesn't like that stretching too

much. The one he queued up at, the one near the green spot, is an

easier pot -- cued up. He may have to take the green now

and when the green is re-spotted, I think that red... He is checking if

it will pass the green when it goes back on its spot.

Really, the ball that will get him onto the difficult red, he had to

get back onto the green so he could pot the green and move the red on

the cushion. Has he got the angle on the green to do that? It might be a

bit too narrow to screw it onto the red. I don't think it is on. He has

got to really dig into the cue ball, get as much a screw as possible. If

he can't, not a bad idea to pot the green and just move the blue.

That is a great shot. What a magnificent shot. Bringing the blue

into play and the movement on the red. Absolute beauty, that was. It

was too narrow to screw onto the red and he played that superbly well.

Still a lot of work to do, but that certainly was a terrific shot. It is

all about the brown now. If he can get a nice angle on the

yellow, even, after potting this blue, he can use the cue ball to try

and knock the brown out. So blue first, then yellow.

He has the angle. Screw into the brown but the only problem is he has

to move the cue ball off percussion. But if you can knock the brown over

the middle pocket, all he has to worry about is potting the green.

He drops to his knees, he knew he hadn't quite got enough stuff on

that. Just eight points behind, what a big

frame this is. Is he going to be one behind or three behind?

It is all about the brown. If you are playing an exhibition, you would

get down, cut the green in, come off the bottom cushion and move the

brown. But the white is tucked up on the cushion, so he is looking for a

good safety. There is a possibility for Michael

to get up behind the black here. He has hit it too thick and he has

left the green. He should have made sure he kept the green safe,

although with the brown out of commission, not a lot of value in

taking the green. Just hit that too thick, otherwise he could have got

in behind the black. Is he going to felucca snooker? --

fluke a snooker. Always anxious when you send the cue

ball towards a middle pocket. I don't think there is another angle

to pot this. He can get it over towards the brown. He has lots of

cue power but having to use the rest as well makes it doubly difficult to

get anywhere near the brown. Can he get in behind the black with

a little stunned shot? Well, this might be worth the risk

here, to try and cut the brown end, because he will automatically come

back towards the blue -- the brown in. It depends how he feels. If he

tries the safety shot, it is just as difficult. And if you do take this

type of shot on, if you hit it a bit thin, you ROK. -- you ROK.

Ding may take the pot on into the left corner.

He tried the pot but he knew he was going to have a safety if he missed

it. He is 11 points in front, Michael

Wasley but he still has to make the blue, even if he parts the brown. --

pops the brown. Ding bows his head, that certainly

doesn't help his cause. There is only the pink to play

behind now. The blue and the black are tight to this cushion. It could

be quite an exciting climax to this frame.

At the moment, Ding needs all four colours to take the frame. Michael

needs the brown and the blue. Clever. Just a bit too hard. A very

good shot, hit the cushion first, lots of right-hand side. Both

players will be reluctant to pot the brown at the moment unless they can

get down close to this blue. Michael would like the blue weather

pinkies and the pink where the blue is, -- where the pink is.

This has got a chance of getting in behind the pink. Just a fraction too

hard. That has knocked the pink into a

safe position. Dear me. Boats. Ding smiles, he just nearly

knocked the two bottles over there with his cue.

I'm just wondering if it is worth taking this brown on. It would

certainly go into the blue with the cue ball and may bring that into

play. If he misses it and brings the blue into play, he can lose the

frame. Michael only needs the brown and blue. It is not an easy pot by

any means. He can't even played in such a way that he can bring those

difficult colours interplay -- he cannot even played in such a way

that he can bring those difficult colours into play.

Delicates. Trying the snooker. -- delicate. Expecting it to run dead

straight at that pace was probably asking a little too much. An easy

brown and then a good safety shot on the blue...

What is the shot here? Does he drop the brown in only the cue ball where

the brownies? -- the brown is? It didn't matter where he finished

as long as the white is tight and the blues of the other end of the

table. He certainly in the driving seat. Is he looking at putting this

in the middle pocket? He will leave the white tight but he's looking at

the possibility of doubling this into the middle pocket, if you can

believe that. That is what he has looked at.

Just look whether blue has finished anywhere but there. -- look at where

the blue has finished. What a shot that would have been to clinch the

frame. It will pot, this, but not a natural angle to cannon into the

pink and black. And it is not easy. It was never easy and now there is a

chance for Michael. He only needs the blue. Can he hold himself

together? This could get him back to just one

frame behind. Well played. Don't move the black... and you are

in good shape. To snooker is needed. -- two Snedekers needed.

A little slow roller or try and punch it in?

This could go on for quite some time, because Ding somehow has to

get the black interplay. -- into play.

What would you in this situation? 8-6 in front, you know you are going

to be 8-7, would you just get them set up again? He needs two

snookers, the blackest tight against the cushion... -- the black is

tight. Very difficult from this position.

This will be end of frame now. Get on with the next one. Just the pink

for Michael Wasley. Excellent shot and very well played, Michael

Wasley. He has stuck with Ding and he is competing at every level.

He is certainly sticking to his task as the guys said in the commentary.

Let me bring you up-to-date with a result from this morning, because it

was in a match between world number 15 Joe Perry and Scotland's Jamie

Burnett. Joe Perry had amounting to climb, 3-6 behind going into the

morning session. He only went and won seven of the eight frames on

offer. Here he is on the way to a 10-7 victory, this is the man who

got to the semifinals here in 2008. Jamie Burnett, a shadow of itself

from yesterday. That's macro a shadow of himself. It is Joe Perry

who will play in the second round. He is delighted about that, the best

season of his career. On this table to this afternoon

there is a battle royale developing here, although it is Alan McManus

who seems to have the up and -- upper hand in Lyon.

This is a tactical battle in the sixth frame on his way to a 5-1

advantage over four macro times champion John Higgins. Allen looks

very much up for this. -- over four macro times champion. -- over four

times champion. That is the situation year, you are right

up-to-date, but first of all a quick reaction to Michael Wasley and the

way he has stood up to Ding Junhui this afternoon. He has kept at it

and kept his belief. He has not let himself be dominated or be overawed

by the York -- by the occasion. You would think that Ding would move

away after being 6-6, but he has kept his temperament. What do you

like about the way he has played this afternoon, Steve?

He has improved. I saw him in the China open, the qualifiers. At the

time, I was not sure, but anyone much you played against him you are

not guaranteed to know how to player is playing. He has bottle,

temperament, and he is showing it here today. Against one of the big

players it is easy to crumble, and Michael Wasley would cite another

player for the future. It is hard to pick one out of the blue, but as a

rookie, sometimes rookies come here and absolutely crumble, but he has

not done that. We have had eight in the draw first

starting playing year, which is remarkable.

What are the marks that Kerry Terry Bicester was on his players?

The fact that he has been here. When I worked with him it was great to

have someone who knew what you were going through out there in the pit,

as it were. His experience is invaluable,

especially to someone like Michael, who is a rookie year. Here we go

into frame 16 of a possible 19, and it is very close.

COMMENTATOR: It certainly is, he's all.

Yes, Kerry works with a few of the boys who will play out of the

Gloucester Academy. -- Terry.

He pops along there once a month, I think, something like that, and has

a look at them all. It is something Terry has always been interested

in, even when we used to go to Hong Kong back in the 1980s, Terry was

always working with players. His son is coaching out in Hong

Kong, as well, Wayne, who works with Marco Fu.

Yes, eight players, Terry Griffiths has been coaching here.

Of course, he would lend a lot of his great experiences himself. Of

course, world champion here, Terry Griffiths come in 1979. He has been

working with Michael Wasley. I am sure he has been relaying some of

those great experiences he has had, sharing those with the likes of

Michael land of Michael and the other lads he has been coaching and

that Academy down in Gloucester. -- with the likes of Michael and the

other lads. Yes, he would show them how to drink

Horlicks, as he used to do sometimes year with matches against the likes

of Cliff Morgan. -- sometimes hear against the likes of Cliff Thorburn.

But he is a very accomplished safety player, Michael, I have noticed that

about him. He has a good all-around game, lots of cute power, but his

tactical game is pretty sound. -- lots of cue power.

Steve was saying in the studio that he played Michael out in China. Of

course, a lot of those matches are just the best of seven so you would

not get to see a great deal of the player. But he has certainly caught

here with his Crucible debut, that is for certain. -- he has certainly

coped. He is out there playing against the

world number two, and he has gone just one frame behind.

always a bit of an edgy one from Ding, he was up off the shot.

Quite a way away. Chance for Michael Wasley here. He has to find the gap.

Yes, he just seemed to rush a little bit into that. He was stretching

slightly, trying to screw around the back of the black and reds. He was

trying to swing it right around and get on the blue, just overstretched

slightly there. A little wry smile. He has certainly

enjoyed every minute of this match. Ding is looking to see if he can

drop this red in and try and get around the back of the black, or

even cannon the red, but he doesn't have the angle. He will have to take

the one next to the blue. I was surprised he was even looking

at that. This is the straightforward shot. He is maybe getting a little

bit anxious, he wants to get around the black spot area as as soon as

possible, but there is nothing wrong with leaving it for a couple of

shots. The one just to the right of the

black, that is the one he wants, because that will open up the black

to both pockets. This is a good opportunity now for

Ding Junhui. This is where he is at his absolute best. He is such a good

break builder. So proficient around the pink and

black. We can see the evidence of that year. Lovely control of the cue

ball, a series of cannons, bringing the reds in to play. The

circumstances are different now, the match is very close, a lot of

tension out of there. But he is used to tension, Ding.

As Stephen Hendry alluded to in the studio, he will and he has done, as

Michael Wasley gets close to them, he seems to move up a gear, does

Ding. It is just an inner confidence that

comes with the success he has had. You mentioned his break building

progress - he has made 61 centuries this season, he made 57 last season.

He has been the top player in the game over the last season and a

half. Did he get a quick bones of the

cushion? Let's have another look. -- a quick bounce?

Do we put that down to the bones of the cushion or a little bit of

adrenaline? -- the bonus. You don't see Ding do that very

often, he has given the table a good old banger there. That is not like

Ding, it has to be said. With the red that is near the right

corner, he has to hide the cue ball. Let's have a look, as he walked away

he gave the table a good old thump there. Something you do not often

see. He is certainly taking a long time

over this. You would think if he just plays...

He is on the blue, Dennis, that is what he is contemplating. Is it

worth taking the blue into the pocket and leaving the red from

distance? Well, the frame of mind he is in at the moment he would be

better playing the green and leaving the white tight on the cushion.

If you are going to play the blue you would be better off getting down

and playing it straightaway, but he has been thinking about this shot

for two minutes 18 seconds and counting.

As I say come if you are going to take that shot on, you do not wait

for nearly two and a half minutes to take it on. He is very annoyed with

himself at the moment. He has to start thinking, he is 8-7

in front and 31-0 in front, he has to keep calm.

He is letting his young opponent to see that he is a bit frustrated.

He has not reached! And he has left a free ball, can he

cut the blue in? Well, he is not going to bother. How

costly will that error be from Michael Wasley? Just trying to block

off the escape routes either side of the table.

He wanted to be tight onto the green. We have seen that happen

plenty of time. -- time REFEREE: . Is there are red into the right

corner? Is just OK. He can take the pot on and there is

a gap for the cue ball. Not a bad outcome. He did not get

close to the pot there. That red could have finished anywhere.

He will be pretty relieved, believe it or not, because that's double

kiss has put things safe. He just has to get his composure back, does

Ding. It can be a very frustrating game at

times. A bit of this judgement there.

Yes, such a dangerous shot, wasn't it? He has left another half chance

for Ding to try and stun it of the side cushion, the red into the

corner pocket. Well, at the moment he is missing

everything. And this time he did not get away

with it, he stuck that red up. This is not the best shot in the

world. He would like to have that one again. I suppose, quite rightly,

Michael is starting to feel the heat, as well. He knows the

importance of this frame. He just got a bit too much into that.

I suppose that the young man has coped so well, it is only natural

that the tension is going to creep in the closer they get to the

winning line. Well, although Ding has a 29 point

advantage, with the reds as they are one good shot and Michael could be

in. And that is a pretty good shot! OK, he might not be on colour, but

he can put Ding in all sorts of trouble here. Good cueing there.

just give yourself a few seconds, let the noise died down and play the

correct shot. And there is no easy red near a

cushion to lay on. There is only one red safe.

He will do well to get out of this situation.

Well, he has to go in around the back of the green comedy will try

and land, I would feel, on the red close to the left-hand cushion. If

he can just land on that... He is coming around to see if he can block

the red that will go into the right-hand corner.

that is the sort of shot, but even if he does not get that, he could

leave one on so it is a tough one. That is the one he looked at. Which

ever one he tries to get on, he will do well to get it safe here.

Well, he is now hanging his head on the table, he knew he had mishit

that completely. He has to be very precise with this.

Lots of noise from next door, they are in between frames.

A better shot this time, but has he left a red?

Well, even if he has left the red, it is still very awkward. There, you

see, the red is not pottable, and that was an excellent escape from

Ding Junhui. He has a chance here, Michael Wasley, bring this red into

play and back-up behind blue and yellow. It is a big target.

Well, you had a good chance to put that cue ball where you suggested,

Ken, but he misjudged that and cod the jaw of the middle pocket. --

Court of -- caught the jaw. Is he going to

get a favourable kiss? But he will have Michael in the

position that he was, though. The roles are reversed now, it is

Michael that is faced with this. This looks like it and hope to me.

How is your luck? He has hit the black and stuck the red up. -- this

looks like a hit and hope. He thought, I am not going to try

and work out a way to land on a red, I will just scatter them and see

what happens. I suppose, with the ball is like

that, if you got down and tried to hit the black you could not.

STUDIO: We are going to leave this particular frame, you can continue

to watch it online and on the BBC Red Button, because there have been

lots of events on table two. Let me update you come it has been

pretty eventful in the match between John Higgins and Alan McManus. John

was in a bit of trouble, 4-1 down, then it went 5-1, then into frame

seven, and John looked like he was going to be on a maximum. In fact,

he was getting there, it looked very exciting, and inexplicably missed

the black off the spot. With the reds all over the shop it meant Alan

McManus was able to clean up to go 6-1 up in this match. Really looking

in a bit of danger here at this point, Stephen.

He actually had and other maximum chance in the next frame, but he

really has to finish this session 6-3. He does, and he must have been

in shock after missing the black, Steve?

Yes, he must have had the 147 break in his mind, but Alan McManus has

really punished him by clearing up that frame.

You have to weigh up the prize money against winning your matches and

frames. It does happen, even if you get eight blacks, you are still not

home and dry. 6-1 down, and this is the next

frame. And he was on a 147 again. This was the 10th black, it dropped

in, everyone thought it was going to work for him this time and he was

going for it this time. I think at six - one down I think he

resigned himself to being positive and going for everything.

John is one of those players if he gets a chance he will go for it.

Well, you did go for it, but, unfortunately for him...

He plays a double here, which is amazing.

He tries the double, but Mrs later on.

It is fascinating for the fans. It is the type of excitement that the

147 break does produce. A 147 break is a special moment committed

?25,000 in total for a break. It has been more, but there are so many

made it is about even money that bookmakers are laying for a 147. The

snookers himself behind the green there.

John Higgins is now 6-2 behind, he has gone out of the arena to compose

himself after a very eventful few moments there. That is about all

that we have time for you on this third afternoon at the Crucible.

The matches this evening will be available online and on the BBC Red

Button. Jason Mohammed will be rounding

things up for you around ten past midnight. In the meantime, from us

in the studio enjoy what is left of your Easter Monday. Catch you soon.

Goodbye.