Day 5, Part 3 Snooker: World Championship

quiz next week. It is almost time for the live play and guess who is

in store? Only the world number one, Neil Robertson.

Neil Robertson's technique is absolutely superb. If ever you want

an example of pushing the cue through gun barrel straight, that is

what you get with Neil Robertson. That is what makes him one of the

best long potters in the game. His temperament is absolutely superb. He

would have made a great poker player, you never know when he is

under pressure. He keeps that same poker face whether he has just

missed an easy shot whether he has knocked in a century break, and that

is one of the great ingredients that he has. When you talk about Star

appeal, he is one of the players you put in that category. Very

consistent, a great long potter and that is the reason the public watch

him play. With regards to his break-building, it has certainly

improved over the last three or four seasons and it shows, he has now

made over 300 competitive. That is top drawer. Certainly one of the

most consistent players in the game. After dropping off the main tour in

the early part of the millennium, he came storming back and has won

tournaments all over the world, and has won the big three, the UK, the

Masters and the World Championships. To win multiple World Championships,

he has two change a little bit. We sometimes goes into his shell. I

think the more attacking he is, the more dangerous he becomes.

HAZEL IRVINE: Neil Robertson a winner of this title four years ago,

but what an amazing season he has had. A couple of world ranking

events, including the UK Championship, and he has smashed the

record for centuries this season. He has made 93 centuries. Could it be

that he might be on for a tonne of tonnes? A century of centuries? He

has got a lot of work if he is to do that. John and Steve, remarkable. 63

was the record set by Judd Trump and he has devastated it. Knocked it to

smithereens, and it shows he has been competitive all through the

season, playing in everything he can do. It is a tough circuit to play on

every event, he may pick and choose more next year, but to score 93

centuries, that is more than a lot of people make in their career. Fair

enough, there are more tournaments in the year but I still think it is

the standard he produces. I am not absolutely sure, but of all the

players this year that Ronnie O'Sullivan has dominated, made love

pedestrian, I'm not sure he has had so much influence on Neil

Robertson, so if one player was to come through the could give Ronnie

O'Sullivan a good game, it may be Neal. All of the players are hanging

around, we won't keep them hanging around much longer. Enter Rob

Walker. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. There are just four spots

of the grants in the second round of this year's Dafabet World

Championship. It has been an amazing four and a half days of action

already and the drama is set to continue here in Sheffield once

again. Please welcome a player who has earned his stripes the hard way

as a pro and now the effort is finally being rewarded. PTC grand

final runner-up in 2011, he stormed to snooker's shoot out title last

January. The pin sharp potter from Pinner, Martin Gould.

MUSIC. And his opponent, a player who has

thrived under snooker's new busy calendar. He has rocketed back up

the rankings, now once again firmly established in the world's top aide,

semifinalist here in 2006, last July he won his second ranking event in

Australia. Back to his best, back to his best, Marco Fu.

MUSIC: "Shine" by Take That. And here on table two, please

welcome a player who has fought his way through four qualifying rounds

to be here, including a re-spotted black in the last round of

qualifying in the decider against Fergal O'Brien. Qualified for the

tour through cue school and did brilliantly in India to reach the

semis, but this, without any shadow of a doubt, is the biggest match of

his career so far. Ladies and gentlemen, give a huge Sheffield

welcome to a man making his Crucible debut. Here comes Robbie Williams.

And finally, his opponent, a player who has taken the game by storm

since arrival from Australia decade or so ago. He won the world title

here in 2010, added the Masters in 2012 and he completed snooker's

hat-trick in December, becoming UK Championship is he also, by the way,

happens to be the world number one. Can you hear the Thunder from Down

Under? Here's Neil Robertson. MUSIC: "Heart Of Courage" by Two

Steps From Hell. HAZEL IRVINE: And commentary on the

Marco Fu match is online and other red button, but we will see what

happens here. It is into Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor that we

go, some news, Stephen, you are back on the tour if you want to be. We

will wait and see. DENNIS TAYLOR: That I could possibly

get back to the Crucible. I would have an awful lot of games to win

but at least former world champions can go into the first round draw.

Exciting news. Neil and how he performs here. Neil

did win the toss, let's see if he can make a good break off.

Robbery will obviously want to be doing a lot better than the last

time he played Neil in the UK Championship, losing 6-0 -- Robbie.

Perhaps when the draw came out, his heart sank a little bit.

I agree with Steve Davis about Neil Robertson being one of the very few

that has got a game powerful enough to stand up against O'Sullivan in a

four session match. It is obviously where they will meet, they are of

different parts of the draw. Where is that red going to finish

up? It is going to be an easy chance for Neil. Hampered slightly with the

brown. Robbie playing it as a short to nothing but because he didn't hit

it as intended, he brought the red up the table.

Hazel mentioned he won the UK Championship to complete the Grand

Slam but he had been struggling a little bit with his form over the

last couple of months. Yes, highly publicised, the amount

of centuries he has made but I think you would like to trade a few of

them in for some more tournament wins. But he is a big occasion

player. Inspirational player, and I think he will get that in this

tournament. Normally a very fast starter in

matches. As indeed were all the great champions like yourself, Steve

Davis, always looking to get in in the opening frame. It was as if you

put so much more concentration into the opening frame just to get that

one-frame advantage, even in the best of 19.

If he is dead straight on this red, no problem getting onto the back. He

could have done with the cue ball running another inch or two. I am

not sure if he is dead straight. He's going to have to take the other

one. A little bit of noise in the crowd.

I think he is just about OK there. It is a good chance now.

As you mentioned, that target he said, 100 centuries in a season. I'm

sure that will be the last thing on his mind, it will just be frame by

frame here. There is a little bit of noise coming from the audience. Is

someone having a problem with an earpiece?

Last year, he went out in the first round to Robert Milken is. -- Robert

Milkins. He will want to do a lot better this year.

Still a loose red at the back of the bunch. Let's see how he gets on with

this one. He may be straight, which is OK. If

he did have a slight angle, he could pot this and split the reds, but

that is always a little risky. Could have done with slightly more

of an angle but he plays this shot very well. Lots of cute power but

could have done with a better angle than that. -- cue power.

In fact, he is looking out of the single red, to see whether it will

go into the corner, past the pink. He may have to force it off the

cushion and into the bunch. Not very good. It was always going

to be difficult. He could take the one into the corner. A better angle

on the black and he would have stunned into it, rather than screwed

into it. But he could take the one into the left corner and played on a

shot to nothing. He would be on the black and wouldn't leave a great

deal. Already 52 in front. He has had a glance, doesn't like

it. Not a bad start. He would have liked

to have clinched this opening frame with that first visit, but it was

just the wrong angle that he got on the black which caused the problem.

Completely mishit that one. He was playing the red full in the face to

follow the cue ball into baulk. It is his first time at the Crucible

and this might be his first pot. Not an easy chance, you have to get

a bit of power behind this one to get out onto a read.

Is really unlucky there. To follow through at that pace, make the

cannon and not be on anything, vary unlucky. -- very unlucky. Robbie is

from the Wirral. He got to a semifinal of a ranking event, the

Indian Open. The new click on the block -- the new kid on the block,

Robbie Williams, and a very talented left-hander.

That is a terrible safety shot from Neil, heated way thin. And the and

the way the reds are situated, that 44 point advantage could disappear

rapidly -- he hit it way too thin. Robbie is quite a tall lad, well

over six feet tall, virtually reaching to the middle of the table

there. May be stretching just a little too

much. He is so good at that type of shot,

Neil Robertson. You would think now he would go on

and win this first frame at this visit.

He is great to watch when he is flowing, Neil.

You really have to admire this Australian. We talked about his

early part of the career, when he dropped off the circuit and then got

back onto it again. A lot of sacrifices, him and his family made,

but it paid off in the end, that is for sure. But he has worked hard for

what he has got out of the game. And he is putting an awful lot back into

it now, travelling the world as the world number one.

He will want another World Championship under his belt.

A bit of a Neil Robertson special, hammering the ball into the pocket.

The thing I like about Neil is he likes to pot every ball on the

table, that is why he had so many centuries. A lot of players take

their eye off the ball when they have won the frame.

Yes, it is amazing. We mentioned it before but, last season, he made 45

centuries. He has more than doubled that this season. A little bit of an

exhibition shot. And if it misses the blue, it is perfect. Nearly.

As you say, Stephen, he wants to pot all the balls, doesn't he?

What a start for the world number one, Neil Robertson. He made an

earlier break of 52 and he cleared the lot up there with a break of 77.

And he takes this opening frame. HAZEL IRVINE: He certainly looks

like he is here to compete, as he always does. There is so much news

and so many things to digests this afternoon, not least the news from

Barry Hearn that former world champions will be allowed into the

Crucible draw in the early stages, which means a certain John Parrott

might get his cue out. Is it something you would consider? Why

not? I could enjoy an afternoon sitting then watching everybody else

pot balls. I entered a couple of years ago and I had a nightmare

journey, snow everywhere, a screaming baby in the next room all

night, got beaten 5-0 and drove straight home. But I seriously would

consider it. And Dennis Taylor, who is in the, jor box, I am pretty sure

I would if you would, Dennis -- in the commentary box. Everyone would

have to check there is no woodworm in their cue. You could be drawn

conceivably against the world number 17. As a former world champion, you

know your way around, obviously. What are you trying to say?

know your way around, obviously. What are Is it slightly daunting? Of

course, he would hit me all over the place. But you could enjoy the game.

Could I draw you first round? If I am outside the top 64, no. We would

be seeded apart, like the old days. What about Ray Reardon playing the

number 17 in the world? Why not? I bet Dennis is giving it a bit of

thought. DENNIS TAYLOR: I am thinking about

it, definitely. I didn't play for 11 years and then they got the Legends

going and I got the old cue out and there was a bit of rust on the tip.

I would consider it. I would have to practice. If I was going to draw

John Parrott, I would need at least ten minutes' practice.

It has just pulled up, so I think Robbie can get to this red. It is

tight, but it is dead straight. This is an early test of Robbie's cue

action, because you have just got to push it through in a dead straight

line. That is if he can see enough of it. It looks like you can get to

the potting angle. It wasn't easy. Of course, when you

have someone like Neil Robertson coming after you, you know that you

can't afford to miss too many of these, especially the way he started

in the opening frame. He has overheat this one by a long

way. He had a choice of the red next to the blue or the red to the right

corner. Can he get to the one at the back of the bunch? Maybe not. He

didn't play for this one. But he is on it.

That was a little bonus, because, as Stephen mentioned, he overhit his

last shot and then all of a sudden, one at the back of the pack

appeared. Knowing Neil, it will be blue and then an angle on the red to

smash into the pink. At the pink is just away from the

reds a little bit, it shouldn't affect the shot, if that is what he

decides. He has a red either side of the bunch as well.

well, he is going to be unlucky if he has not dropped onto a nice one.

He does play that so well. He did not quite get the pink full ball,

but three quarters ball certainly opened them up nicely.

It'll be interesting to see as this match develops, talking about him

making 100 100s, if he gets to the 50 or 60 mark, will he just get the

free one, or will he go for it? -- get the frame one?

He might have to play a Canon to hold onto the white.

If the black goes into the left corner, he is still OK. He is

slightly hampered here with one of the

He has let the white slip away out of position again. You would have to

think he was playing the cannon onto the red macro immediately above the

black. He seemed to get into the cue ball a bit much.

Once again, he is hampered if he takes the one into the right corner.

That is why he is looking at the one that will go into the right middle

pocket. It is amazing, that last little

Canon, it just a fraction -- it my crew just a fraction, can make

one more good positional shot after the black and he is right back in

business. You would have to say, this is

looking like a great chance to get his 94th century.

A very impressive start from the world number one, former world

number one and world champion. He always has that error of

dominance about him when he is walking around the table. You have

to have that to compete at the highest level.

that was an unwarranted flick, but he is OK. Just about.

He has made 93 century breaks this season, 351 in his career. That was

a little bit careless. APPLAUSE.

I think it is a formality now. There is no getting away from the

fact that there is more tournaments, but, even so, to make

this many centuries in a season is our phenomenology and. --

achievement. It could be a record that could

stand for many years. We have had third team centuries so far in this

tournament. -- 13 centuries. Well played, Neil Robertson! That is his

94th century break of the season! The highest break is 137 by Ricky

Walden. We don't have any idea how Robbie

Williams is playing! He has not had the chance. All he has done is miss

one difficult red, other than that, he hasn't been at the table.

Well, it doesn't get any better than that, the world number one clears

the table with that magnificent rick of 132. He now leads 2-0. --

magnificent break. He looks very focused at the moment,

Neil Robertson, and he seems to be cueing very well, Stephen. Yes, you

would almost expect this kind of start from someone as good as him,

the world number one. I always felt that when you came here as world

number one, you have something to prove. This is the biggest event we

play in. He will be a bit disappointed with this season. It

has not been his best season. APPLAUSE.

A chance of our red in the top left corner. -- a red.

And easy prediction, Stephen. He will not be making a century brick

from this position. -- break. Look where he has finished! It should not

be more awkward. He will probably nominate a yellow. He is in such a

predicament. How do you deal with this? You have to rely on a bit of

luck. The black is available if he was to leave that red over the

corner pocket. He might hope to glance off the

yellow and use the blue is a covering ball for the one that is

over the pocket. If he was to nominate a yellow, this is the line

he would go. He is going to try to just land on the black off to

conditions. -- two cushions. So, the first real chance for Robbie

Williams. He has a slight angle, so he should

be able to get himself onto the black.

Always difficult to judge the speed of the cue ball when you are

screwing into the pack like that. That was a nice pot on the black.

There was a bit of pressure on that. He has come up about six inches

short of that positional shot, though.

That is OK, the red macro has stayed over the pocket.

If he had not screw on that, he could have got away from the

cushion. This is a hard part, now. He wanted more action on that. This

is a test, when you are tight on the cushion like this. I don't even see

where the next red is coming from. I think that is the reason he is going

to knock it back. Yes, and you wouldn't be him. What is the point

of him taking it on when Neil Robertson is in this kind of form?

That was a great effort at the plant. It was not under red Line,

but he almost made the angle. This is another tester for Robbie. He

missed one in the previous frame not unlike this. Great shot! APPLAUSE.

That was a superb shot he pulled off there, it really was.

He managed to push the Q3 in a perfect straight line. -- Q

through. It would be easier to be high on the

black, rather than low on the black to go into these reds. Now, he is

blue. He could just slide off the left-hand side of these reds and be

on nothing. He might just be OK. It would just

cut into the corner. He is not that far away from

securing this third frame. That will settle him down. It will be his

first frame ever at the Crucible Theatre. He is making his debut this

year. APPLAUSE. Has he got away with that? He had

not quite made up his mind which shot to play. He completely missed

have that. -- mishit. Robbie to do with one of the ball is

at least in the same position to protect that 52.8 Vantage, but they

are all in the open. If Neil Robertson get sin, he is quite

capable. This is not an easy starter to start off with. Sometimes Neil

Robertson just can't resist. APPLAUSE.

What a shock! A bit unlucky, it might only getting one point com

about what a shot this was! He is one of the best long hitters we have

ever had in the game. Yes, it is a great thing to have in

your armoury, that cue power. It can get you out of trouble when there is

no safety shot on. We have said so many times, the best potters are all

left-handed! You could see the red macro jumping

off the table, he was a bit unlucky, he got a bad contact.

Robbie is left-handed as well. Mark Williams, job Trump, Mark Allen,

Jimmy White. That was not a bad choice of shot.

He was just trying to make the black Sea, and the red. -- the black

safe. Neil Robertson immediately bringing

the difficult red into play. His target at the moment is to try to

get in behind the yellow. I never liked when I have to starve

the World Championship as late as the weapons they. I always preferred

the first weekend to start. -- as late as the weapons

I always like to get the first round over on the first day, then you

could relax. I think he is snookered on this red.

I think he is debating whether or not to knock it off the side

cushion. That could be a little bit risky.

He has left a couple of parts for Neil Robertson into either corner

pocket. They are both difficult. He was looking to see if he could get

in behind the yellow that is closest to the cue ball. If not in behind

the yellow, keep it tight on the cushion.

I am a little bit surprised, he did not even look at the part, the long

red into the right corner. I thought he was going to have a go. He

obviously feels 53 -to down, there will be a better opportunity.

I think Robbie does have a shot. He can leave the white in the jaws of

the corner pocket. He would have just right. In fact, he is deciding

just come off the cushion and nestle on the one nearest the pocket. That

might be a straight part into the pocket on the other side of the

green. -- straight part. -- straight -- pot.

You wouldn't say the pink was a gimme Save the .

But it is for Neil Robertson. Hammered that in with authority.

It looked as if he was going to take the frame and then he took his eye

off the pot and concentrated on the cannon and made a bit of a mess of

both. Not a straightforward clearance for

Neil Robertson but I wouldn't put it past him.

He's going to have to take the shot with that extension on the cue.

Fully stretched, can he pulled a shot off?

He missed the cannon. I think it was due to the stretching. I don't think

he played the cannon in the end. I thought he would have. But due to

the stretching, you don't have 100% control of your cue.

I think his plan would be the red and then maybe the blue to get on

the pink. Difficult last red but if he could get himself onto that, he'd

only have to drop it in and the black would be available.

Doesn't want to be absolutely dead straight on this pink otherwise he

will not be able to get on the red as he would like to. And he is dead

straight. Not going to be an easy last read for him.

-- last red for him. He doesn't necessarily have to pot the last red

but he would like to. If he stops the white where the red

is, he's going to have to get the red somewhere over towards the brown

or the other side of the brown to get the snooker.

He's caught the brown and hasn't got the snooker now. I think this is a

very important frame for Robbie Williams. I know it's the best of 19

that you are never settled until you get your first frame.

A nice little flick. He just raised his hand up to apologise. A little

flick to snooker kneel behind the pink.

Neil had a block of good fortune to finish like that. When he played

this workshop, I thought maybe it would stick the red up but look at

the outcome! Paul Collier. We call him Fingers in

the business. One of our best referees.

APPLAUSE Pretty good shot there.

Got to be extra careful now, Robbie. The fact that the blue as he moved

means they are all pottable. MUSIC PLAYS

REFEREE: Switch it off, please. He's got to be a bit careful. The

normal shot, you could send it around the ankles. He could still do

that. If he sends this around the ankles, just watch the path the red

takes. It seemed to bounce off the first

cushion and then straightened up a little bit. That's why it cannoned

into the pink. But he'll settle for where it's finished. It's a tough

safety shot now from Robbie. I suppose if he played the red trust

between the brown and the pocket and doubled it back at the table, the

white would go across toward the left side of the

Being very cautious here, the world number one.

He's handed the frame. Now he wishes he hadn't taken that on. If that red

pulls up... That could cost him the frame. Robbie just needs the red.

And then any colour from the blue upwards. But he doesn't necessarily

have to play for a high value colour.

GROANING Oh, Robbie! Well, that's Crucible

tension for you there. I think he just took too long over the shot.

Desperate to get that first frame on the board.

He's looked a snooker. Seemed to hit that much to heart. -- looked.

It's very early in the match but this could be a big turning point.

30 points is the difference so Neil needs a red and then one of the

remaining colours. It's coming up to an hour. Two

fairly quick frames, 15 minutes. Unusually, there is only one colour

on its spot, the green, but they're all in pottable positions.

He's hit that too thin. Needs the black to come to his rescue and it

isn't. In that situation, you got to make sure you get the object ball

safe. The red and any colour above the

yellow won't leave enough therefore Neil to take the frame.

APPLAUSE Neil had worked out that the green

was going to be enough. He's just checking.

APPLAUSE A clearance here would give him the

frame by just one point. All about the angle on the green. He

doesn't want to finish straight on that.

Looking at his body language, he may have finished straight. He's trying

to power it in. A pretty good effort. Doesn't want to be too

straight on the blue, though. This would be some shot. To hammer this

in and get the white up to the blue would really be a super effort.

GROANING That was the problem.

In practice or in exhibition, you'd play that well over the right-hand

side and would have to hit it as hard but, obviously, it makes the

pot more difficult. The black might do it. He had the

blue and the black to try to snooker behind.

This is a half chance for Robbie Williams to cut the brown in and as

long as he stays away from the left middle pocket and comes around

behind the blue, a chance of a pot. You just feel that Robbie is going

to need an easier pot to clinch this third frame.

Neil was trying to disturb the blue and black with that shot.

That white needed to pull up and I think he's OK.

He may be able to knock the brown just behind the pink on the side

cushion and drop the cue ball into the blue. A delicate little shot.

Almost pulled off the shot you suggested but he's got it safe. It

was a delicate one. If he tries to come twice across the

table and get in behind the brown and blue, he's sending the brown

into open play and that's what he's concerned about.

That brown just cocked the bottom jaw of the middle pocket and caught

it too thin. -- caught the bottom jaw.

A very good shot. The only downside is that he's left a pot on. He

chipped the blue away from the black.

Lots of noise coming from the other side in their mid-session interval.

Better missing it thin than hitting it on the thick side.

That's a pretty good shot. I say that because where the brown has

finished, there is a lot of room around the back. He's going to have

to be very precise. He could come off one cushion but

the pink might be in the way. Another escape might be off three

cushions which might give him a better chance.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. He'll have to have another go at that but there

is a lot of room to get round the back of that brown, as I mentioned.

That's where I had the line so the white is in an identical position.

Well done, but he's pushed to the brown into a pottable position.

This frame's been going just over 40 minutes. The first two work 15 and

13 minutes. Not quite. So the tension continues

here. You would have to say, a lot more tension for Robbie van Neil.

Neil with the two frame advantage and look at the reaction when he

cannoned the blue. He knew he hadn't put it on.

He can't just role in behind the black here. Hasn't got the angle to

do that. He is thinking about cutting this in

but it looks a very thin snick, that.

He's had a few half chances to clinch this frame in the latter

stages. He missed that blue that we showed you a -- showed you earlier.

He's played a good cue ball and I think you might have covered a

little bit of the blue. He can't quite get to the potting angle

there. He'll come round to this side but that looks very tight indeed.

If Neil is playing thin off the right-hand side, he's got to be so

careful of the double kiss. Can he see enough to pocket?

No, playing the thin safety. An excellent shot. Tight onto the

cushion. Robbie, if you can judge this correctly and doubled the blue

back towards where the white is, you have a chance of getting in behind

the pink. Got to be accurate, though.

You need a little bit of good fortune, no matter how good you are,

when you escape from a snooker like this. You never know when they're

going to finish. It's just gone past the potting angle for the middle

pocket. He's stuck it up. The only problem

for Neil is that the white is near the cushions so he can't get on the

-- get on the pink. Neil Robertson will be faced with a long think when

he popped the blue. -- a long pink when he pots the blue.

A Neil Robertson special coming up. Doesn't have to much to do with the

cue ball. He's almost dead straight on the pink.

A chance for Robbie. Unlike Neil Robertson there. He hit that far too

hard. Even the world number one feeling the pressure out there.

APPLAUSE Well played, Robbie Williams. He

should have won the frame 25 minutes ago but that doesn't matter now.

He's got his first frame on the board and is just the Merrick 2-1

behind. HAZEL IRVINE: A nice milestone for

Robbie, the first he's ever made at the Crucible.

But he probably could have sown that up three days ago! A 45 minute frame

but that blue went off the rails earlier. No shot is easier per

Crucible. He's given himself a load of aggravation. He took his eye off

that blue or something, I don't know. But I'm sure someone will

explain that. It was a long drawn-out affair. Where did they go

wrong? The shot Robbie Williams played on the blue is a difficult

one. Let's explain what happens under certain situations playing

snooker. You want to swerve around the blue

and pot the red here. You have to put side on but if you just put side

on, nothing happens. You don't swerve by having the cue parallel to

the table. The way to get a swerve is to jack the cue in the air very

high at the back, bounce the cue ball around and then the side takes

effect afterwards. You can then hit the red. Would have been nice if I'd

potted it! But if you are playing where you are going to pot the blue

and you're close to the question and want to smash it into the pack,

you've got to put back spin on so you've got to jack the cue up the

same weight. If you put any side spin on, you will miss hit the ball.

Any amount of side spin, jacked up in the air, makes it a lot harder to

miss the blue. That's all there is to it as we go

back to the last before the interval. Robbie Williams is off and

running and we're in two frame four. Now he is faced with a very delicate

little roll up. These are horrible, Stephen! Yes, that is why he is not

even attempting it. In many ways, this is a better shot. Sometimes

windy road love to one of the baulk colours, it is easy not to leave

yourself anything. He played that with a bit of side. He needed the

side to get back there, that time. I think if I come back to play, I am

going to get Steve to be my coach! I am not going to believe that one!

Are they at plant? Yes, they are dead set. He can do whatever he

wants with this. He doesn't have to scatter the reds . If he wants to,

he can screw it in an scatter the reds everywhere. I thought that was

in! Not in behind the brown...! No apology from Neil Robertson. When

you are world number one, you don't have to apologise! It looks dead

set. He had the first red on the right side, when he was looking at

it. We could finish up with a bit of a stalemate here.

I think they are going to rack up again. Probably better to do it now,

rather than after a few more plays. The plant that he had on, we will

have another look at it. He played a very controlled plant. The fact that

he tried to get the white around the back of the black, he just had it

off-line. When he dropped in behind the brown, it always looked like it

was going to be stalemate. Straightaway, both boys new that

there was no value in carrying on. Let's have a look at this plant.

Yes, he had the first red just a bit too thin. How it stayed out, that is

amazing. The referee has quickly set up the balls again. The reason be

called the referee fingers is that he used to work on the graphics and

the scoring before he became a full-time referee. I thought maybe

he played the piano! The red will pass the brown. The

mid-session interval is coming up after this frame. It would not go

past the brown. This is not the greatest chart. Robbie can pot this

and get onto the black. That was very unlike Neil Robertson.

Neil Robertson is very similar to myself, we don't like the scrappy

games. Our concentration goes under potting goes. -- and are potting

goes. That was a tough black. Yes, I think all the tactical play in that

previous frame, that the blanket was going to be another quick frame,

they have got out of their rhythm bit, but they will get back into it

again. It looks as if that other red is

available into the same pocket as the black. He doesn't have an angle

to get into the reds here. He could power it into the bunch,

bringing the pink interplay. -- into play. He did not get any

screw on that. The white just got dead. It is as if he stunned that

rather than screwed it. Let's look at that again. It did not spin

anywhere. That has baffled him. The pink is not a bad target. He

would like to get behind that. Not quite. There are a couple of

very difficult shots that Robbie can look at here. One goes up past the

black. He may not even take on the pot.

I don't think he quite pushed the cue through on that one. He has

definitely lost his concentration since that last scrappy long frame.

It has effect did him. -- affected him.

He will be looking to catch the pack then, together the cue ball back to

where it is. APPLAUSE. Robbie is from the

Wirral, a great part of the country. The open golf championship will be

back there this summer. The last time it was there, Tiger

Woods won the British Open. It was a beautiful summer.

I think it was 2007. I remember going over and the weather was

stunning. It is a lovely neck of the woods, the Wirral.

I tell you what, Neil Robertson has lost a bit of rhythm at the moment.

He started off so well, I break of 77 than a clearance of 132, but, as

you mentioned Stephen, that scrappy frame, it just knocked him out of

his rhythm. This is a good opportunity for a

Robbie to level up the match. Seven of those reds are easy.

These are the chances, if he has aspirations of winning the match,

these are the chances he has to take. This secret is leaving your

position as good as possible. You want to keep everything as simple as

you possibly can. Straightaway there, he was not on the blue as he

intended, and that is the kind of thing that can happen. You need to

keep close control of the cue ball, avoid having little cannons like the

one he attempted there. All of a sudden, he is faced with a very

difficult part to the middle pocket -- difficult pot.

Not very much available. If he plays of that little triangle of reds, he

will have to be careful he doesn't Canon into the red on the left-hand

side of the table. That is why he has changed his mind.

APPLAUSE. Neil Robertson, meanwhile, sits bolt

upright. This is a nice little flick! -- fluke!

He may have to play up for the green again.

This would be a good red the knocking. -- to knock in. No. Not

very smooth through that. I thought he had got away with it for a

moment, but the red he missed, it is gone up over the corner pocket. It

may be straight. He has a little bit of angle to work with.

APPLAUSE. That is more like it from Neil

Robertson. You just have to be careful with

these little shots. Sometimes you concentrate so much on the pot, uses

position. -- you lose position. That was a decent pot. I think he is

in pretty good shape. The red that is closest to the pink spot will go

into the corner pocket. He can go into that from the brown.

When he gets this, it will release another red. In fact, it will

release both. The red macro to the right is

blocking the path of the two reds. A camera move that. You can see from

that last shot, the red macro was blocking the two. When he gets rid

of this, the pocket is clear for the two reds.

He is going to need at least one of those two difficult reds.

You could see the heavy contact there. It is all about getting a

good angle on the black in a couple of shots time.

He needs to get a good angle, well, he hasn't got the angle. He was

hoping to be somewhere in the circle, that he is a little bit to

scrape on the black. -- two straight. 32 is the difference. Just

looking at the possibility of making a colour safe. If he gets the black,

it will give him the seven points, but he would then have to take a

safety shot. For me, I would rather take the black, get the seven

points, then play a good safety shot. He is going to have a little

bit more insurance and put the green safe.

Neil Robertson needs one red, and the green or above. That is a clever

shot. So, just one red and any colour from the green upwards will

lead Robbie needing a snooker. He has put the black safe there.

Neil Robertson has dropped themselves in trouble there. He

sacrificed playing a good safety shot himself to put the black safe.

The fact that the pink is tied up, and the black is tied up, and the

blue is awkward, very, very difficult for Robbie Williams to get

back into this free. -- this frame. He could bring the cue ball around

three cushions to get to the black, that he is not looking at it.

Has the white build-up? Maybe. -- pulled up?

He didn't get the side on to it. It didn't look like it was on, but he

managed to swerve it around the yellow. 33 is the difference.

The only problem, he has brought that pink into play. Robbie, if he

did get a chance, he could win this frame with the red macro and a

couple of colours. He was really hoping that Robbie would not escape

from this. He is now at the snooker required

stage. Neil Robertson will have to be a little bit careful. The yellow,

pink and brown are perfect be placed for Snickers. -- perfectly placed

for -- snookers. He will have to bend this a little

bit. Bit of a chance for Robbie to get

the snooker that he badly needs. We will be off to the mid-session

interval very shortly. Neil Robertson" bricks of 52 and 77, then

he cleared the table with 132. The third frame carried on, lasted for

45 minutes. This one is just going over 25 minutes. We have had a

little bit of everything. Robbie Williams nods and concedes

the frame. I think the world number one will be quite happy and

content. It started very briskly. Some of

those frames were quite lengthy. Nobody particularly once that.

Everyone counts and you just have to get on with it. The only thing wrong

with those 40 minute frames is when you lose them.

Impressions of Robbie Williams so far? He's a great player. You can't

knock out Fergal O'Brien unless you are great. He smashed it in the

pocket in the opening frame and that gives you some idea of his ability.

But for every rookie that comes here, settling down can be a

problem. He's up against one of the great players and a good tactician.

Worth reminding people that in that qualifying match you mentioned, it

went to re-spot in black. So he has nerve. This is fulfilling a long

held ambition for him. Is the last of four rookies to make his debut at

the Crucible this year. Ever since I was little, I dream of

playing at the Crucible. I've been there before as a spectator and I

could take in the pressure on the players and what the atmosphere was

like but I can't wait to play in it. Because it's such an enclosed space

and the spectators are so close, there is a real buzz in the air.

Everyone realises it's the biggest tournament of the year. There's

always special matches. Neil Robertson is probably one of the

most attacking players on tour. He's had all those centuries. Everyone

knows what he's about. I've certainly tried to model my game on

his but it isn't quite as easy as he makes it. Neil Robertson dominated a

lot of the match in York. I couldn't really get used to my surroundings.

He punished me. He made me look silly. Hopefully this time I can put

things right. I've certainly practised harder. Just little things

like going to bed earlier or eating better. I just feel a lot more

positive about this match. Michael Wasley's given everyone a lot of

inspiration, particularly players in my position. Also Jan Vertonghen is

play well this week. If they can do it, why can't I? He's already doing

better than he did in the UK Championships. But this young fella

from Wallasey is a man you know well? He came to one of my

exhibitions in Wallasey many years ago when he was about ten or 11 and

I was introduced to him and they said he was one of the best young

players in the area. They were dead right. Here he is all these years

later playing at the Crucible. We'll be back to see him very shortly but

we've got two world champions here. We have a three-time world trick

shot champion in our mists. He's waiting at the station for us.

For this shot here, I'm going to need some help. Hold the triangle

for me. I'm going to hit the one, the two, the three, the four, the

five, the six as fast as possible over the cue and into the pocket.

This shot is where I'm going to hit the white ball from the left to the

right and then from the right to the left. I'm going to read it it and

hit the cue and make it come back to this ball.

I'm going to hit the white balls and then the ball is going to come back.

Just like that. And the trick shots will be back

again. You love this, don't you? Fantastic. Still no better than I

played down there. We played down there on the opening day and had a

laugh and raised some money for charity. But that is fantastic. He's

got to get out more! He'll get a reputation for being boring if he

isn't careful. Very funny coming from you! A lot of the techniques he

is using are from billiards. In the three-cushion game that is played on

the continent, mainly, with no pockets. It's just three balls on

the table. They have artistic billiards about you may have seen on

other channels, where they have set shots and disciplines they have to

do. They hit the ball very hard with a lot of spin and it is quite

amazing what type of spin you can get, especially with a spotted ball,

which was mooted to be introduced to snooker at one stage, so you can see

the ball spinning. Hopefully not, but that's beside the point.

Certainly entertaining in half-time interval! We are going to hop over

to table two and we will see Marco Fu, one of the men of the season so

far. In the last 15 months, he's found the best form of his career

which, coincidentally, happens to have coincided with the birth of his

daughter Elisa. Something has happened in the mind of Marco Fu and

it's all good. -- Alicia. He's playing Martin Gould from pillar.

They play their opening session yesterday. Let's remind you of what

happened. WILLIE THORNE: Marco Fu has been

playing exceptional snooker over the last two years.

124 without breaking sweat. Marco Fu takes the opening frame.

TERRY GRIFFITHS: Not certain that he will make this plant. I told you!

11 reds, ten blacks. Marco Fu goes clear by four frames to one.

Ooh! Didn't expect him to miss that one. Martin Gould, that is

excellent. He now trails by just one.

What an amazing fluke. Goodness me! Very clever.

In the centre of the pocket. Marco Fu will be delighted with that.

They shake hounds. The session is over. Marco Fu takes a 6-3 interval

lead. Hazelnut grow when they came back,

Gould made it 6-4. Terry Griffiths was watching them yesterday and he's

back to see it through this time along with John Virgo.

JOHN VIRGO: Just caught the red too thin and that's why he's got the

bump on the middle pocket. A lot will depend on the potting angle on

the first red. If Marco can pot the red and get a nice position on the

first colour, it could be a frame-winning chance. The question

is, what sort of angle has he got on this red?

Well, he had the angle where he could run through and play for the

pink in the opposite middle. It isn't great, mainly because he's so

close to the side cushion. APPLAUSE

Played it nicely, though. Where does the pink go? That doesn't help

matters. Out of commission. So just blew and baulk colours to

concentrate on. I don't think he'll be too worried about the black. Just

get what you can in the red is here. He played that well. He's got a nice

angle on the blue. Just a little bit twitchy. He's got

a choice of reds to the corner pocket. He has the one just near the

cluster, where, if he potted it, he could bring other reds into play,

but not certain to be on the colour. Well, he was able to just roll it

in. He's mighty close to this pink, though. He will be having a close

look at this. It was helped by the fact that it

was pretty straight. When you're close together like that, it's hard

to judge the potting angle but there wasn't a potting angle to worry

about. I think this pink will now go into the opposite corner.

Played it beautifully. You'd be surprised if he didn't win the frame

at this visit now. The high quality of break-building in this match

continues. TERRY GRIFFITHS: His positional

playing in the first half was as good as you're going to see. If

there is one read off the back of those three that goes, he could go

into the others. Played for a different type of

angle, single red. Yes, and that pink going in gives

him a 61 point lead. 67 remaining but not for long. As soon as he pots

another red, there will only be 59 remaining. Just this red required.

Well played, considering he got no table time at all in the first frame

of the session. He's taken these very well indeed.

That's given him the perfect angle to dislodge the two reds.

A very important break for Marco Fu. Marco Fu in his seat on the first

frame and Martin Gould in his seat for the second. He did miss some

chances earlier. But that will be a distant memory now.

You just get the feeling that someone like Marco, when he's

clearing up the colours like this, with full concentration, just loves

potting balls. Martin Gould won the last frame with

a break of 63 without reply. APPLAUSE

Good shot! This looks absolutely perfect. Just a little bounce off

the baulk cushion. We'll give him that! That was very

good. He missed a black early in the frame but it didn't cost him. Normal

service resumed. He retains his three frame advantage, now 7-4.

HAZEL IRVINE: Ding Junhui was widely tipped to be Asia's first champion

but he's gone home so Marco Fu remains the last hope for the Far

East this year. Not without the bounds of possibility because Marco

is a former semifinalist in this event a few years back. He holds the

hand as we go to frame 12 now with Gould slightly behind.

APPLAUSE JOHN VIRGO: I was amazed he played

that. It was always going to be difficult

to cover the red to the right corner.

He didn't expect to leave this one as well but it was always going to

be a problem covering the red over the corner.

I think he felt that if he could leave the white over the yellow

pocket, it would have been better. But there is always the chance of a

double-kiss. He's made a bit of a mess of this.

He's been lucky there. I thought he was going to come right on top of

that red. That would have been very difficult bridging because this red

is thin enough for it to get some attention.

On the black to play the cannon and hit the red immediately above the

black to stun into it. Looks as though he can just get

through to it. I don't think it's just a straightforward pot. He's got

to do a bit with the cue ball. A bit more difficult.

APPLAUSE Tremendous pot. It was made more

difficult because he had to do a little bit with the cue ball. He

couldn't just roll it in. He had to widen the angle. That was an

excellent shot. The blue, I think, goes to this right corner.

Gets down quickly because he's on the easy road to the right-hand

corner. Good chance now. -- be easy red.

Just the stun up for the blue. Just got the angle he wants on the blue.

, Just let that slip slightly. Should

have been straight on the red in the left corner and then it would have

been a formality to roll it in. More than likely back up for the blue.

That's OK if you get a good angle again.

In the effort to get the good angle, he's just lost the cue ball

again slightly. Didn't want to be this close to the side cushion. He

has a 52 point lead. Expect him to miss the blue. The blue will put him

57 points in front but still 75 remain.

He just about has the angle to drop on this red.

A quick glance at the scoreboard. He needs red, colour, red to clinch the

frame at this visit. He hasn't really left the angle he

wanted off the black. There is one red in the centre. Maybe available

in the corner. He looked at that. If he hits this too hard... It's

better just to pocket and stay safe. -- pot it.

Could be another century here if he gets a good kiss.

APPLAUSE Didn't go into the pack with any

pace then. Got to get the cannon Wright.

Martin Gould played a near-perfect first frame. But Marco Fu has been

immaculate since then. Nobody likes to draw Marco because

he's a very humble person. He has a lovely temperament. Everybody likes

Marco. But he's a bit of a dog out there. Like a Jack Russell at the

back of your leg. If he's not playing well, he fights all the

time. Been on the circuit a long time now.

Won if you ranking events. -- a view. He played Peter Ebdon in 2006.

Turned professional in 1997. He does have a tendency, though, to just

disappear for half a season occasionally. You wonder what has

happened to him. He's finding it a bit easier now

because so many events are in China whereas in years gone by, he had to

come here and live and fly back and forwards. It is a long flight. Plus

I think his marriage has made a big difference to him. He's very happy.

Yeah, I've always said I have great respect for the overseas players.

Living out of a suitcase isn't the most pleasant thing to do. Blue for

the century! Played it well. The highest break of the match was

124 on the first frame. This has been excellent.

APPLAUSE Quality play. Another century for

Marco Fu, who takes the lead now by eight frames to four.

A fantastic century. Ricky Walden with the 137. Yeah, there have been

15 centuries so far. Two from Marco Fu. That is his second. Michael

Wasley, or 133. Michael Wasley is further down the list as well. Very

impressive so far. It was Gould who came back into

this, winning the 13th, to make it 55 and reduces arrears. We'll take

you back into frame 14. This is tight.

He played this to go behind the pink but hasn't quite got it.

Just gone over the 30 minute mark in this frame. Longest frame of the

match. There was a long bout of safeties. Interesting to watch.

That was a risky shot. He's been very lucky there.

Coming off the cushion, he doesn't want to catch it too thick.

He caught it but he's left it. He's left it so Martin Gould needs brown,

blue and pink to reduces arrears to just two friends. -- reduce his

arrears. A big frame in the context of the match.

He has had two big chunks of luck in this frame. He needed them, he was

well behind. Macrotest so he has pulled another frame Said HAZEL

IRVINE: In the last few minutes, Marco Fu won the next, to make it

9-6, so you can continue to watch less on the red button.

Quite a lot of reaction after the announcement from World Snooker to

the changes, including two qualifying, for the World

Championships. In essence, the players who are not ranked in the

top 16 are going to have a harder job than they have now to get in.

Someone like Dominic Dale, currently world ranked 24, in that bracket

between 17 and 32, right now, they only have to play one match and win

one match to get in because of that superior world ranking, but as of

next year, they are going to have to play and win three matches. Let's

hear his views. No tournament is easy these days, the standard is

very hard matter the late-on the tour, so if --is very high on the

tour. It is not the ideal way, because of contractual issues, World

Championships has to be run on a different basis and I think this is

a good way around it, as good as you are likely to get. I can't

disagree, it is about as good as you can do, so good thinking from World

Snooker. Probably the most intelligent player on tour, I

couldn't have thought anything better myself. Get the thumbs up.

You have been sending us your views, and on Twitter, interesting looking

at this. Even the thought of... What does he mean by that? The

first-round match in the 128 would be per ?6,000. It is to redress the

balance that the top 16 have an insurance policy, so they will put

more money than the bottom end from the start. If you win it, you win

?6,000, if you lose it you get nothing. And James Hughes... It is a

point on the exemptions and invitations that will be happening

next year, all of a sudden. It is not technically the low ranked

current players, if you are on the tour, you will not miss out. It is

only if there is not going to be 128 players entering, then they would

come in then. It is a small point, really. This one from Dominic

Rogers... I can't disagree with that. That is a decent point and I

can guarantee that after the other one, I wouldn't be taking anyone's

place, I am finished with my career and I wouldn't be taking a spot from

anyone. This one, in two minds. It might be self administering, players

who don't feel they are up to the grade might not enter even if they

are invited. I think there is more mileage in this and more discussion

as we go on. Those were the announcements made by World Snooker

this afternoon at around 2pm. Meanwhile, the last of the

first-round matches are getting underway today. The last of them all

is this evening, but here we are, the penultimate one, featuring the

world number one, Neil Robertson. They are back into frame five and it

is a healthy advantage. We return you to Dennis and Stephen.

DENNIS TAYLOR: Thank you, Hazel. As you rejoin us, Neil is in a good

position. It was Robbie who left this situation, he tried to clip

this one in, hit it all wrong and went into the reds, putting Neil

writing amongst them. And at this stage, Neil is not that many pots

away from securing this bit frame. --

fivewell, Robbie, as was mentioned earlier, had a remarkable win in the

qualifying round, beating Fergal O'Brien on a re-spotted black after

being 7-2 behind. -- that was a thin one. Wow, it

hardly moved, the red. Not bad. A fairly easy,

straightforward return to the baulk area. If he plays of this red, a bit

of action to make sure he doesn't cannon into the pink. You can see

the one just to the right of the one he is pointing at. If he plays

that, he will screw the white ball back into the baulk area. A plant

that is more of a safety shot. This red is going to come into a

pottable position, so a bit of a chance for Robbie Williams. Hasn't

quite settled just yet. Just queued across that. He knocked

a couple of good long ones in, but he knew he had to get that in,

otherwise he was handing the frame to Neil.

No red, but Robbie Williams will stay in his seat and he concedes the

frame. And Neil Robertson, he is looking at the red, maybe it got a

kick, but he will be pleased he has taken another frame. He leads 4-1.

And as you joined us there, we didn't show you a shot that Robbie

took on and we will put it up for you, because I think he played it

with a touch of side. I think he was playing with side to come down and

avoid... It made the pot more difficult, he may have been better

letting the white cannon into the red and hoping for the best.

STEPHEN HENDRY: Yes, Robbie Williams is a very good player, he has

qualified for the Crucible, but he is not able to play his natural

game. He seems overawed by the occasion, his opponent. He just

doesn't look comfortable at all. Yes, he has got to the semifinal of

a ranking event in India, so he is a very talented player, but it is very

hard to describe what it feels like, your first time in the Crucible

Theatre. It is also close, you are right beside your opponent, there is

play on the other side, there is noise coming from that. They are

used to multi cable venues, but there is nothing like the Crucible.

Sometimes the players will have a chat, you are never one for chatting

when you are out there. No, an opponent would get short shrift from

me, Dennis. Even the best of friends, John Higgins and Alan

McManus, they did talk to each other, but most of the time, there

was very little said. An early chance to see a Neil

Robertson special. If he starts knocking those in, you

have got to watch out. He went on the boil a little bit after two

quick frames. Took a little bit of the rhythm away, but it seems to be

back again, although he is closer to the cushion than he wanted.

Sometimes it is a natural in-off. You need to plate with a bit more

pace. And he has put it straight into the pocket. He thought if he

hit it harder, he could avoid the in-off, but he couldn't.

Robbie needs to lock -- knock a long one in, to get some confidence. He

is just cueing across the ball and has left a read on. Worrying times

for Robbie Williams. -- red. He would like to leave himself high

on the black here. Cue ball not much further than where the red is now.

Nice. He has to play for the open red but I always prefer going into

the bunch when you have a loose red available. The right shot but he

just went too far, because he can't go into the bunch now, as you say.

The next time he goes into the bunch, he hasn't got that red as

insurance. But he does have a lot of cue power, it is not a good bunch to

go into. Just working out where he wants to leave the cue ball. High is

better than low on the black. That is what he has done. Could have

been an inch further forward, will have to play this with more left

hand side. Pretty good. Unlucky if he is not on

anything. I think he is just on the wanted a middle pocket but it would

have been unlucky. He couldn't have played this any better. -- the one

to the middle pocket. Still a red to the right of that

little bunch. The fact that he was straight on the

pink, had to play for the one into the right middle pocket.

Just double-checking that the pink is still available.

He has got to get the correct angle this time, there is only that one

red on. So he is going to do it from the

black, stun off the cushion, damp asked whether cue ball is at the

moment. -- down past where the cue ball is.

He is going to need a few of those reds that are in the bunch.

Every chance now to clinch the frame and go 5-1 ahead.

Just 25 for Robbie, the highest break. Neil throws his hands up. Is

he telling us he got a kick or something? I'm not sure, or whether

he just mishit that. The yellow was always there. It didn't seem to be

an overly fast bounce. It came off a cheque side -- check side. The way

he reacted, he didn't think it was his fault. Our good old friend John

Virgo used to do that, through his hands up in the air. -- throw. Not

quite as many excuses as the great Willie Thorne, he had excuses for

everything. He was getting a little frustrated

there. He was going to hammer that red then thought better of it. In

the end, straightforward safety. I think he was reluctant to take that

red off the cushion. This was the shot on the blue. Coming to play

past the yellow. He reacted as if he got a bit of a kick. This is what he

was hoping would happen. I think it was a quick bounce. Having seen it a

third time. They are being quite inconsistent so

far, in this World Championships, the bounces off the cushions. They

are so thin these days, the cloth, they shave the cloth and they take

the nap off it and sometimes you wonder whether they needed so thin

when they have heaters -- need it. Played it well. Lots of side to get

that angle. OK, there is an easy escape route but not a bad shot from

Robbie. There is the pot. That is a little

beauty he has picked as. -- picked out. This shows you he really is

taking his opponent seriously. Not even looking at the brown. Yes, he

is treating Robbie with the utmost respect and that is what you have

got to do. OK, he may be struggling out there but Neil is not going to

give him any chance to settle down, he is going to keep the pressure on.

He wants a thin edge. Foul and a, Neil Robertson, four. -- and at

miss. How did he get through that gap?

Foul and I -- a miss, Neil Robertson, four. You could try that

100 times and not get through that gap.

He will be hoping it is third time lucky. Now 60 behind. There is only

67 on the table. He is in big trouble now. He has got

to hit a red, otherwise he will need a snooker.

It looks like he is going to win this frame just sitting in his seat.

He must hit this, otherwise he needs a snooker.

He might fluke this... That red was going to go into the corner pocket

until it hit the wide. That is now the end of frame, but for a moment,

I thought he was going to fluke that red.

Neil has reached his first target of the day and that is to guarantee him

the lead going into the second session. The way this game is going,

he will be disappointed if he doesn't win the next three as well.

Nine frames to be played. They have got to come back tomorrow evening to

finish this match off. Neil will want to be coming back and not

needing many frames. Not the best on the pink, but that

doesn't really matter. He wants to pot them all. Terrific

shot with the rest. Fabulous stuff from the world number

one. He started this frame with a break of 55, he finished it with a

break of 63. Robbie needs to have the last three frames, because all

of a sudden, he is 5-1 behind. HAZEL IRVINE: Neil Robertson firmly

in control. Hopping across to table but the calmer Martin Gould has

stemmed the tide, because he has won the 16th frame to make it 7-9. Marco

is not over the line. As we look at it, Martin is making a fight of

things. He got to the championship league final, beaten by Judd Trump,

and has shown some spirit over the years at the Crucible. He has and he

made light work of everybody in the qualifying session of the event. Who

knows if his best is yet to come? He is fighting an uphill battle, but he

is a grafter. He sure is and we are going to join them live now as Marco

Fu tries to get into this second round. Back we go, what is the

situation? JOHN VIRGO: The situation is that

Marco knocked in a terrific long red and that is the blue that followed

it. Looking to be on one of those two reds above the black. Not really

the right potting angle, the black is only available into the left

corner. But Martin Gould is certainly not lying down here. As

you just witnessed at the end of that, that was a marvellous 69 break

he made to steal the last frame. He was able to hold for the pink to

the left middle. Just at enough angle to go for the

red in the opposite corner. The pink is off it spot.

He had a good chance in the previous frame to clinch and he played a

positional shot to get on free reds and there was a red in the way and

it covered three of them. The more you miss your chances when you are

in front, the more you start to doubt.

A nice angle on the black. Probably screw round for the red and play it

in the same pocket. Just underhit it slightly and the reason I say that

is because he wanted to just stun the red in and leave a nice angle on

the black. I'm not certain he can do that now. But he could.

But as my pal Willie Thorne said, it's a flat back pack. You get into

the side of them rather than in the meat of them. That's the problem

when it's flat at the back when the cue ball hits it, the cue ball comes

away from the reds. He's still got a possible red to the left. Watch the

action of the cue ball. It comes back away from the reds. Best way to

play that shot is to stun it and try not to have any back spin on. But as

I say, still a possible red to the left middle.

It's the type of shot he missed in the last frame and let Martin Gould

in. He got it this time, though.

APPLAUSE Have to play a good shot from a ball

colour to get on a red. Has he got the angle to come down this left

side of the table? He has. And excellent positional shot. He's

landed absolute plum. He can run through for the black. And frame and

much now at his mercy. The way he's playing, in all honesty, I'd be

surprised if he doesn't take it. After winning the 17th frame, 94%

pot success, very good. That will win most matches.

I think this is the best quality match of the first round. It may not

go to 10-9, it may do. Both players have played very well. You don't

always see that. There's been high-class performances from one of

the professional players in the first-round matches, if not both at

the same time. Yes, I think they've inspired each other because nothing

but the best was going to be good enough.

So pot this red to go 63 points in front.

He can just screw back a little bit and play for the red to the right

middle. Decided to play it hard and it's

worked out nicely. It's worked out perfectly.

APPLAUSE So this red and the black... Then he

will clinch frame and match and the possibility he could do it in style.

Highest break at the moment is 137. If Marco can take blacks with his

remaining reds, he could do very well.

Didn't want the cannon. He just tried to drift past that read. Or

hit it full. One or the other. A pity. He's missed the red but

there will be a handshake coming and big congratulations. Well played,

Martin Gould. You couldn't have done much more but on the two sessions,

Marco Fu was very, very impressive and believe me, he's one of the

major contenders now for this title. He is a comfortable winner in the

end. Playing well. 10-7. HAZEL IRVINE: That is surprisingly

know that that is only his third win since he made the semifinals in

2006. Would you agree he is a dangerous player? No doubt. The

players all know that. He's beaten everybody in the game that some

point. Very underestimated. An accomplished match player, excellent

positional player. Because he isn't as flashed doing it as some of the

other players, he gets underestimated. Shaun Murphy has a

very tough second round. Let's hear from Marco Fu. He is with Rob

Walker. Many congratulations. You haven't always had the easiest time

when it comes to first-round fixtures here at the Crucible but

you're into the second round, job done. Yeah, just finally at the

Crucible I was able to play the way I know I can. Just very happy with

the performance. I played very well throughout the whole match. Martin

gave me a tough game. He really is a good player. Very nice to win the

first match, obviously, at the Crucible, but playing well at the

same time. Great for me. Good to see you back up into the world top eight

full top it's been a really good season. What's been responsible for

the turn around and your resurgence? I think it's just mount a leading a

bit tougher. -- mentally being a bit tougher. And technically, Wayne

Griffiths my coach helped me a lot so a big thank you to him.

Everything seems to have clicked at the right time. I'm feeling

confident amongst the balls. I don't feel like I'm missing that many easy

shots which I have done quite a lot before in my career. Getting

consistency. That has helped me improve a lot in the last year so

it's nice to be able to play some decent snooker. Shaun Murphy next, a

rerun of an epic UK final from a few years ago. Yeah, he is a great

player. We always have some great games. He's been playing quite well,

I've been playing quite well, so hopefully we won't let the crowd

down and it's going to be a very tough game. I think Shaun is playing

near his best now. We're coming towards the end of the season. It's

going to be very tough. Good to see you back on form. We look forward to

that match. We will all look forward to that

match, Marco Fu against Shaun Murphy. Shaun is coming to a great

run of form as well with his first major title for three years so we

will look forward to that last match. But what have we got to look

forward to this evening? There is plenty on the go tonight. If I just

have a quick look at this part of the draw, their standing out is Mark

Allen of Northern Ireland against Michael Holt. These two resume at

5-4. Mark Allen has that lead. They haven't met many times in their

career, just two meetings before this one. Both can get a little hot

under the collar. How do we assess this match? Steve? Well, I was

commentating on last night's match and Mark Allen through two frames

away and Michael Holt through one frame away. They will be both

frustrated with the session but on the other hand they both hope in

there. Very evenly matched. It's the first one that can get a grip of the

match, really. A very interesting match in the second quarter of the

draw. The last of the first-round matches to get started is Mark Davis

against Dominic Dale. Let's have a look at their head-to-head. Not much

that can be gleaned. Both in their 40s and they've both hung around the

scene very well. You wouldn't underestimate either of them, in

particular Mark Davis, who is shown tremendous consistency since the

changes have been occurring in the snooker scene. Not quite as good

this year as last year when he came in with slightly better form.

Dominic seems in good form and has been there longer than the cleaner!

He was there before the rigging got in but he's been sat upstairs in

that room and is excited to play. And the prospect of playing Michael

Wasley instead of Ding Junhui who they thought they might be playing.

An interesting match up. Almost time for us to finish our transmission

but I think the last word has to go to the world number one, who is

making very efficient progress so far in his match against another

Crucible newcomer. The last we saw Robbie Williams, he was 5-1 up and

we will go back live to the table and rejoin Steve and Dennis.

DENNIS TAYLOR: The frame is state but Neil Robertson has a possibility

of adding another century to his total this season. -- the frame is

safe. He's trying to close in on a century of centuries. He has a

difficult red at the other end of the table. But he's cueing very

nicely indeed. He looks so full of confidence.

Another slight heavy contact but the red at the right side of the

table... Let's show you that again. Being a left-hander, it's not ideal,

that read to the right of the pig. It will be easier to get up on that

difficult red from blue or pink. Then he needs a straightforward drop

in to get in on the black. APPLAUSE

He's just smiling. He's not even bothered about that red. He looks up

at Stephen Hendry and says, "that another century for me". He isn't

bothered about that last red or about the high break. Neil Robertson

with that great Aussie smile goes back to his seat and takes another

frame and leads 6-1. He's a happy bunny.

The key to this shot, or the break, was that he was on the brown and we

know with the cue action that he has, it's just a matter of playing

this with right-hand side into the bunch. Didn't he play it well,

Stephen? Yes, he strikes the ball so well. He gets so much action on the

cue ball. It's the perfect red. S that was funny at the end when he

didn't even try to get on the last red. One of the reasons is that the

highest break is 137 and he knows that isn't going to stand for the

rest of the tournament anyway. But he told us all how happy he was when

he got the century. "I'm on my way" . But can he do it? The way he's

playing, you have to say, he might make that century of centuries.

They've got the arena to themselves now. The dividing wall has been

removed. REFEREE: The eighth frame, Robbie

Williams to break. STEPHEN HENDRY: It will be

interesting when Neil gets to 98, 99, whether he starts twitching a

bit. He's pushed to be read over the left

corner pocket but he's got a good cue ball. -- pushed the red.

He's been missing these pots to the right of the pocket as we look at

it. Can he make a readjustment and not a long one in? Well done,

Robbie. Very unlucky. Very unlucky with the position there. Played

really well. Just swung it over and put him out of position. An

excellent pot. You would think that if Neil had

played that, he would probably have landed on the black but things are

not going well. At 61 down, you very nearly -- at 6-1 down, you very

rarely get the nice kisses. He's got to keep the black over the

right side of the table as we look at it.

It looked like he was going to finish on the black perfectly. When

the shot hits the cushion, look at the side. Just swung it out of

position. Nominated the green. There may be one at the back of the

bunch. Try to get the white back up towards the green.

He played it well because look at the cue ball. That was the classic

shots to nothing. He was never going to leave one. Is there a path

through to knock the red on the one that is over the pot?

There may be another red, the one to the left of the pink. Can he not get

on? Might be able to find a gap past the black as well.

PHONE RINGS REFEREE: Can you switch it off,

please? He's hit it too thick. He did have a

chance at that plant. He left a chance for Neil.

He'll have to come back for the blue here.

As we mentioned earlier, this match is played to a conclusion tomorrow

evening and Neil will want an early night. He'll be trying to win his

last two frames. When we get to the second round onwards, you can

actually finish matches a session early. Obviously, that isn't going

to happen but he will give himself as short a night as possible

tomorrow. This is not straightforward now. It

would be if the black would go in the right corner. But the black is

not on. So he could hit the cushion, pot the red and the white will swing

over between the black and the reds.

Haven't quite got the line right but if he hits the cushion first and

pots the red, the white will swing over into that position. He'd love

to find the gap. A little bit harder and he would

have been perfect. Still quite nicely on the blue.

If he can pot the blue and get the white over it somewhere near the

line... It doesn't have to be that close to the red anywhere over near

the cushion, being a left-hander, that would be ideal.

I think you perhaps took a bit of a liberty there. No need to play for

this red at this point in time. Well, Robbie, if you ever needed to

find some of the format got you here to the Crucible, now is the time.

Not going to get many more chances. I must admit, some weird side of me

would like to see Neil get punished for that blue.

He has a chance to punish him and he is a smashing lad, Robbie. Can he

hold himself together here, though? He's virtually got himself out of

position. He isn't on the blue so he isn't going to score many more from

here. It would have to be a very difficult green, so the chance has

slipped away. HAZEL IRVINE: We have to leave this

because we are about to come off at that you can continue to watch this

and the last frame of the session online or on the red button. We have

seen the 94th and 95th century of Neil Robertson's season this

afternoon. We've also seen Marco Fu go through, and Barry Hawkins as

well, on his 35th birthday. Happy birthday to all Saint Georges day

birthday boys. Jason will be here later at 11:20pm with all the

highlights. From myself and the boys, bye-bye.

Ted, I... I'm not interested in coming to see Lady Gaga, sir.