Friday, 2nd Round, Morning Snooker: World Championship

Fellow and a very good morning to you and welcome to the Crucible

Theatre. We have reached the second round of the 2016 Betfred World

Snooker Championship. Mark Williams knows what it's like to win this

trophy, of course. He has won it on two occasions. Read tournament he

said he had no chance of winning the crown once again but now he says he

is a tough man to beat. -- pretournament.

Well, I call him my hero. You could not possibly meet a more

down-to-earth guide than Mark Williams. He's probably the most

relaxed player I've ever played. It takes his practice game into the

tournament and if it's good enough, you wince. Mark Williams, I love

him. He's so calm and so laid-back. If he was any more laid-back he

would fall over. Always looks as if the game is just so easy to him. It

makes you a little bit mad sometimes! If you look back and back

to walk around the tournament... He looks like he is just having a

scroll. -- a stroll. Funny, some great one-liners. He likes a bit of

banter. Other there is one of the best ever. Doesn't take life too

serious but probably one of the all-time greats. Great pity. --

great pity his clothes aren't as good as his Snooker! Mark Williams,

what can you say? It's a good thing he's a good snooker player! His

dress sense is completely nonexistent! Well, Williams, the

Welshman, looking pretty sharp this morning and making his 19th

appearance at the Crucible, winning 47 matches here. Incredibly in the

second round for the first time since 2012 will stop as for his

opponent today, Michael Holt, who you just saw in that film saying he

loves Mark Williams, knocked out the 2010 world champion Neil Robertson

on his way to the second round and played very well indeed. He is in

the second round for the first time since 2005. That is our first match

on BBC Two for you this morning. On table two, the second session of

Marco Fu against Anthony McGill, that is on the red button and the

BBC Sport at. Marco Fu leads Anthony McGill 5-3. Look at the

concentration on Anthony McGill's face. The players are ready. Let's

join our MC, Rob Walker. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. After

six long days and six Long nights of action, we at last have our round-up

for the second round here at the World Championship and by the end of

tonight we will know the identity of the first player through to the

quarterfinals. It's getting serious here in Sheffield!

APPLAUSE Please welcome a young player who is

clearly at home in the Crucible arena, knocking out Shaun Murphy en

route to his second successive appearance in the last 16. The

bigger the occasion, the longer the match, the more relaxed he appears!

He will relish the challenge to come. He is Scotland's giant killer,

Anthony McGill! And his opponent, making his seventh

appearance in the second round here, he reached the one tables set up a

decade ago. Winner of two ranking tournaments and a finalist at the

Masters and the UK championship. On of the sport's most important

ambassadors around the world. Ladies and gentlemen, raise the roof for

the man from Hong Kong, Marco Fu! APPLAUSE

And on table one, a hugely popular player who has just produced one of

the most important victories of his 20 year career as a pro, knocking

out former world champion Neil Robertson to make it into the second

round for the first time in more than a decade. He is absolutely

buzzing, he's the Hitman, he's Michael Holt!

And his opponent, who also beat a former world champion in the first

round, victory over Graeme Dott bringing him a 15th appearance in

the last 16. Twice he's lifted the big one. 18 career ranking titles so

far. One of the most laid-back characters on the circuit but he

will fire it up this morning... Here comes Mark Williams!

STUDIO So, it is Williams Holt on table one

and that is live on BBC Two this morning. If you want the second

session of the second round match between Marco Fu and Anthony McGill,

that is an red button and the marvellous BBC Sport at. Let's say

good morning to John Parrott and Steve Davis. We should say our best

wishes to Dennis Taylor, who is recovering in a local hospital this

morning after having his appendix out. Speedy recovery, Dennis.

COMMENTATOR: Here here. We wish you all the best, DT, our good pal. This

is unusual! It's usually a handshake, but that is a love- in!

Yes, great camaraderie amongst the players. And I think this is a

fascinating matchup. Both players very adept at around the snooker

table but for Michael Holt, Mark Williams is obviously one of the

cleverest players you can play against and Michael Holt has got to

back up, which was the best result for me in the first round, anyone

who beats Neil Robertson by ten frames to six at the Crucible has

played exceptionally well. He will be looking to back that result up

with a good performance against Mark.

Yes, and a player, Michael Holt, currently working with Terry

Griffiths in his corner. Mark Williams used to work with Terry

Griffiths. He must have played well in the

first round, Mark, because for him to say he played quite well, in the

interview, that is about as excited as Mark gets about his performances.

He did play well to beat Graeme Dott. Graeme Dott has been in three

finals here at the Crucible, so to beat him as come principally as Mark

did coming you must have played well. Touching ball, so mark will

play away here. A long way away with that one.

Pretty sure he stuck the red up as well. , first chance to Mark

Williams. Got a chance here, he can play on a

baulk colour here and leave a half ball shot on the brown or yellow and

come down that way, or play of ski the blue. He decided it's going to

be the blue, although he's hit that very poorly. It of a nervy one,

that. The one place he didn't want to leave the cue ball was there.

Trying to stun that a bit more over towards the side cushion.

Beautifully struck. No need now, of course, to go into the pack of this.

He has got four reds available. -- repack off this.

Couldn't have asked for a better contact on the pack, after potting

that brown. Whilst that shop is always available, off the baulk and

side cushions, it's not easy to judge. Mark Williams very quickly

seems to be into a bit of rhythm. Obviously the players practice on

the tables at the back of the Crucible in the build-up to the

match. It's still a bit different coming out of it -- coming out here

in the opening frame. He hit that one quite poorly I

think, John. Yeah, almost a dead white when he played that. Little

reaction on it. Good recovery. Just needs another one now as well.

Position required here, just to leave an opportunity to get into the

pack again. Let's see which way he goes about it.

Could drop it in slowly, I think he could perhaps get around the back of

the black. Perhaps he's playing down for a baulk colour, the way he lined

up there. That's a clever option as well,

wasn't it, John? He has ended up in the worst place. He had a look

beforehand, trying to get a half ball on the green to be able to go

into the pack. He can't do it now. He didn't want to play the very slow

roll into the corner pocket. He wanted to hit the ball firmer. It

looks like end of break here. So, with a 40 point lead, do you put a

ball safe? I don't think he's ever going to get onto a red here, so the

insurance policy... Nothing wrong with that, Steve, I would be a big

fan of that shot. If he doesn't put Debaltseve, I feel it would be a

mistake. -- if he doesn't put a ball safe. I'm with you, I would like to

be putting the green safe. Don't worry about the cue ball here

because you're not going to leave anything. Just put the green on the

side cushion or the top cushion. Interesting, I think it was better

to go to the side. A few options here. He could put the brown -- he

could have put the brown safe on the side cushion, got the rest out. That

green is not safe, not at all. Yeah, and that was the priority with that

shot, wasn't it? I said ignore the cue ball because it wasn't

important, it was just important to get an object ball safe. Anyway, we

will see if it happens later in the frame.

Chance for Michael Holt to open the reds up. He needs to be careful he

doesn't believe that left red out. OK, he hasn't covered the path back

to baulk down the right-hand side of the table but he has stopped Mark

Williams from attempting a pot into the left-hand corner pocket.

Potential plant here but I don't think it will go anywhere near come

he would have to hit it too thin. Didn't really come round to look at

it, probably felt he would have to hit it too hard. Other balls are all

open, aren't they? It looks like a long, straight red. If he stands

this in he will have position on the black and after those few safety

shots, these reds are always open. Didn't get that eagerly close with

his first attempt at a long red, what will he do here? Oh! Well, he

has hit it and potted it but look at the White. That is massive. If he

had just got that cue ball there, that would have been a great chance.

He can certainly get the green off the cushion, if he feels it is

advantageous. If the green were tight on the cushion, I think he

would probably have played the green, but I think he feels it is

quite pottable from there. Is he going to try and sneak in behind the

green? Well, whatever that was, it wasn't that, the double-kiss. He did

have a chance that actually. As it has turned out, it has forced Mark

Williams into a more containing safety shot.

He has got a 41 point lead, Mark, but the way these balls are

auditioned on the table, it's not as big a lead as you would think. One

good pot from Michael all a mistake from Mark...

A bit risky, that shot. He would be glad to see it get the bump on the

middle pocket. But a good pot from Mark Williams...

Now! Chance, Michael Holt. An expected miss from Mark Williams,

this. Can he make the counter clearance? A statement of intent

early in the match, if he can. Could have ended up better for Michael

Holt. He is between two reds. Well, it's not an easy pot on this

green, these can be missed, but it's a natural angle to come back down

the table. One good pot here should put him in a strong position. And

Mark Williams didn't put that green safe before and already it has had a

bearing in this frame. Yes, sticking the green to the

right-hand side cushion, as Michael Holt is a right-hander, would have

been far more ideal. Yes, it's not really like Mark to

miss a trick, is it? But he certainly did, there. Well, Mark

Williams will be assessing the table, hoping for one or two things,

even early nerves or tension in his opponent... Or the fact that the

yellow is not as well-placed as it would be if it were on its spot.

Michael Holt showed fantastic form and nerve in his first round match.

Yes, his level of ability has never been in question with Michael, but

he may have lost position there. If he has, that's a stinker. Perhaps

just a bit of adrenaline, overhit the shot. Definitely doesn't go. So,

a long red. APPLAUSE

Particularly good when you know you have made a mess of the positional

shot beforehand, because he shouldn't have had to take that. I

was thinking that was the red you should be leaving till last, to deal

with the tricky yellow. Ideally that Redwood have been the last one to

play. But this is a good shot. On this side of the table, ideally,

all three reds go. As it turned out, a good confidence

builder, that long red. Can he hold himself together?

Similar sort of shot to the one he had before, made sure he stayed low

there so he didn't snigger himself on it. No excuses from here. But

other than the circumstances of it being the opening frame at the

Crucible. If he were in the club, he wouldn't be missing these all day.

OK, Steve, where would you like to finish here? Well, obviously he can

just screw up to a level perhaps just past the blue line and leave

himself the shot with the rest. Or he could try it in the right middle

pocket. That's what he's played and his overhit it! -- he has overhit

it. But he has got it in the corner, though. I would fancy him knocking

this in but I think I would be with you there, just to guarantee

position. If you play with the rest, you've got to be on the green. I

still expect a him to knock this in but it's not as easy as it could

have been. That was a fantastic shot. He played

that the right way. If he stands it in, he's further away from the green

with angle. He committed totally to rolling that in. That tells me he is

feeling pretty good about his game, because that was the shot of a

confident man. Terrible contact. And it has left

the blue awkward, but... I've got to say, other than that he would have

been over the line guaranteed. I'm sure he will still get this. This is

as good as I have seen Michael Holt around the table. I know it's early

in this match. His demeanour is fabulous, isn't it? It was the other

day, against Neil Robertson. At the risk of repeating myself, he's

always had the talent. Just never showed the public at the Crucible

what he's capable of. Is it there? Ooh! Top jaw, but it is.

REFEREE: Michael Holt, 61. APPLAUSE

20 points is a big ask for two snookers, where this is concerned.

The black is not in a bad spot, it has to be said. Mark Williams led by

41 points in that frame. But Michael Holt with a terrific contribution

takes the first frame. More of this please, boys. 1-0 to Michael Holt.

Yes, and we see this shot here, John, which was really a pivotal

shot in many ways. Mark Williams has decided he's going to put the green

safe to the baulk cushion. We suggested that possibly a better

place to put the green was somewhere up this side cushion. He could have

possibly put the yellow safe on to the left-hand side cushion, as we

look, but of course the problem with that is for the right-hander the

yellow is more gettable, easy to get to. He could easily have put the

brown to the side cushion as well. The cue ball would then go over into

the middle of the table, but the balls were all safe. It was a

strange one to play that way. It's unusual to see anybody play it that

way. I'm with you, put it on the side cushion, you keep it nice and

safe and that eventually this happens, Michael Holt gets good

position, the green isn't tied on the cushion and it's a natural angle

to come down. If he plays the green tide on the cushion, he's not

guaranteed to put it. So, Mark Williams breaking off in

the second frame, 1-0 behind, after looking in pretty good form himself.

Overhit that break-up shot by a fair distance and has given Michael Holt

a tempter. Nice pot. There you go, that was the

distance. Beautifully struck. Straight in the centre of the pocket

and there is a red in the bottom which does pot. -- at the bottom of

the pack. Well played. That was made to look a

lot easier than it was. He has a great cue action, Michael Holt. We

talk about other players with a good cue action but he has a solid cue

action. Here's a shot coming up, would you play the top spin on the

black disc into the pack? The good thing about the top spin shot is

that the cue ball doesn't get stuck in the pack. This is more guaranteed

to get the cue ball perhaps back for the blue. He played it so well, he

played it with a bit of side spin, fantastic shot. A bit of reverse

side here. Normally the cue ball comes back up the table but it

checks back towards the black. Beautiful shot.

It makes the pot so much harder, and missable, if you play it with side

spin. Got a kick there he feels. There is a mark on the black. And it

jumped off the spot, didn't it? He looked confident against Neil

Robertson. But I would imagine beating Neil Robertson has given him

a bit more confidence. He has never really shone at the

Crucible, Michael Holt. 2005 you have to go back to for the last time

he was in the second round, which is quite amazing for somebody of his

talent. Fantastic cue power. It was very difficult to open the pack up.

A stunned shop would have not done too much damage, so he tried to make

something work with a lot of back spin. Just a safety shot now.

Championship 2005, he lost in the second round to some bloke called

Davis, have you ever heard of him? Yeah, and he should have beaten me.

This is not a nice safety shot for Mark Williams. Not guaranteed to get

the cue ball back down the table into a nice place. So he's playing a

containing shot. There's a lot of players wouldn't have spotted that.

He's a clever player, Mark Williams. Sometimes you are just in trouble

and all you can do is play the containing shot. You realise you are

going to be down the table for the other one, but you can't always

pre-empt what your opponent is going to do and they are not necessarily

guaranteed to play a great shock when they do it. So I think

containing shots have a purpose -- play a great shot.

Little bit fortunate to finish where he did. He was probably just trying

to line it up. Good line. Well spotted by Michael Holt. Fairly

bog-standard sort of angles around the table that more or less

guarantee the tubal goes into the pack of the reds. -- the cue ball

goes into. But you've still got to know the shops. -- the shots. Can't

really do too much with this. Could just tap into the back of the pack.

There is no real advantage here, is there? No. If he tries to get away

from the reds, he sacrifices the safety advantage. There's always the

chance of a touching ball when you do that, which is sacrificing the

safety advantage. You've got to be careful sometimes. But it's not

going to be easy for Mark Williams to put Michael Holt in massive

trouble from this situation. You more or less knew you would be stuck

on the Walker cushion. Tricky safety shot -- the baulk cushion.

Well there is an outside chance of a pot, to screw across the face of the

pack for the black, but needs a lot of cue power. It was a very risky

shot even if it was on, I'm not absolutely sure that the angle was

there. At the moment I don't think Mark Williams has got the pace of

the table as well as Michael Holt. A lot of players playing the theme

shot with a little bit of run inside, because these balls are so

reactive. If you catch anything that you can promote one to the corner

pocket quite easily. He can see something, Mark. I don't think there

is a plant on. He's checking, where he hit this outside red, where it

goes off the black, does it tie up the black?

Got a kick, there, did he? That's certainly not what he wanted to

play. He was trying to play that a bit thinner. Pushing that read to

the corner pocket. He would have known it was on. He has got away

with it -- push in that red to the corner pocket. For all the skilful

play these players have, you can't beat a bit of luck. Miss hit that

one. Can't see it. Maybe Mark is just going to try and cover it

somehow. Whether he can leave a little cut, he could leave the cue

ball in the top pocket on the other side but that then may cut in.

Awkward, Steve. Yeah, at first glance it doesn't look to have a

safety shot. I suppose he could try to get the cue ball on the left hand

side cushion, perhaps that would cover everything. But he's committed

to get out of this in a more conventional way. You've got to say

it's a great shot from Mark Williams. Couldn't have played that

any better. We mentioned he was clever, there's an example.

Half a revolution on that ball, it was big trouble. He can see this

outside red, now. There you go, Powell.

Great safety shot from Mark Williams, he knew if he played a

shame there was a chance that red would go over the corner pocket.

Four cushion safety avoiding collisions with all colours. Superb.

To crush an escape from Michael Holt, here. Seems to be a bit wide.

Got a big bounce off the cushion, there. And he got the gap. Can you

believe it? Wasn't his fault. Just sneaked through the get and got

a ping off the side cushion. Ideally Mark Wood try to get position. It

seems to have pinged off discussion. Massive bounce, yeah -- this

cushion. If he can get that away, this is a good chance. Well played.

Lovely touch. Seems to drop balls in, float them in.

Twice a champion here at the Crucible. But he wasn't a champion

by missing those. Seemed to be a bit tight on that shot. Not hurry it,

but some head movement, perhaps feeling the pressure. Doesn't you

lease -- he doesn't usually show signs of that. We mentioned him

being laid-back. But all the players feel it, bit of pressure, feel the

tension, because they want to win. The interesting thing is, Mark

Roberts Williams probably assumed he would be playing Neil Robertson.

Some psychological changes. You feel as though from previous experience

he should beat Michael Holt, so puts more pressure on himself. Yes, made

favourite for this match to beat Michael. If that means anything.

You've still got to go and do it. But yeah, you can sort of get

yourself geared up, can't you? Good shot, there. Yeah, he made that look

a lot easier than it was. Pretty straight on that blue. I think one

of the big advantages Michael Holt has got, is he can hit the ball very

hard, with not too much effort. Just having a look, there, whether

Michael can drop the red in Nonda left side. He's got one in the

middle. -- on the left-hand side. The that could be the shot that

could open this up. Hasn't really looked at it as an option, yet. He

could have everything to look at if he gets in tight. Another kick but

he's got the cue ball the right side of the blue. Of course he can win it

improves. The trouble is you are always trying to get the right place

on the blue, the right side of it -- of course he can win it in blues.

You can always come unstuck coming back up for a red, going back down

for a blue. Bit like a practice scenario. You would keep playing

read up for blue, just a practice routine. -- red up for blue. Because

just like in this instance, it can happen. You only have to go to hit

it a fraction, it makes the position harder. Easy for me to say. Nicely

judged. Now he's got a two collection stunt. Very difficult to

control for perfect position on the blue. It may be able to play it top

spin, I'm not sure. No problem touching book he's playing away from

the one he's touching, it will not move. If it did it would be a foul

shot. That was well struck. Very good.

Once again, a bit further down the table for comfortable position. So

back spin to try to slow the cue ball down a bit. Didn't want Matt

Fleck on the road. But we'll settle for it. Good news, the flick was a

thin one -- he didn't want that flick on the red. It has turned out

to be pretty good. Hit that well, really did. Yeah, that positional

shot could be frame when. -- frame-winner. Two more reds

required. Fly off the cushion. Only way he

could get on the pink, Steve. Couple of reasons why the cushions can

bounce. At certain times it depends on the conditions perhaps in the

room. Sometimes chalk on the cue ball between ball and cushion can

play a part. Sometimes if the nap of the cloth is up, that can also make

a difference. It is actually perfect ball, if he knocks this in, natural

angle to come over for the two reds. Worked out all right, didn't it?

Shotframe ball. Butchered it, but got it. Wipe wiped

its feet, that one. He can play the blue. Just onto the side cushion.

Doesn't have to do much with the cue ball. I always think these are

important parts of the Merc with a Mouth, you have got past the winning

-- I always think these are important parts of the frame. You

have got past the winning line, knocked the next one in and put it

to bed. Yeah, awkward cueing. He didn't want to do too much with the

cue ball. This is very impressive from Michael Holt, it really is. Pot

success of 98%, that will work. Another rubbish connection between

balls. Obviously got a bit of work to do,

51 points behind. Got to pop the black, obviously. At least he knows

the first snooker is going to be quite easy. Welcomer he's not out of

this yet, because if he can play a good snooker behind the black, get

the red somewhere near a baulk colour, he's got free ball options.

Didn't want the kiss on the green, though.

Mark Williams thought that was enough. Hugely impressive start from

Michael Holt, he's taken the second frame as well and he leads 2-0.

John, just getting back to that shot. The Mark Williams, sorry, the

Mark Williams shocked when he played that black, from my perspective, a

little bit tight. -- Mark Williams shot. Seemed a little bit like, he

didn't quit on it, but had more body movement, as if he was nervous.

There's been a couple of bounces off the top cushion. He's coming for the

loose red. He might be thinking, if I get a big bounce, I will be out of

position. If he'd had a funny bounce somewhere, sometimes that can change

your shot. Yeah. And going back to the moment where Michael Holt got a

big bounce off the cushion, we had discussed actually, John, at board

level, along the way, that the possibilities for a referee in

between frames... You see it comes off this next cushion, it flies off.

The referee, in between frames, very quickly, with a piece of cloth, to

go around the cushions, not a brush, but just like the cushions with a

piece of cloth to calm them down and get rid of any chalk. Certainly

would help with that one. Interesting suggestion. Might be

worth trialling it. Wouldn't take a lot of time, only walking round the

table once. Michael Holt breaks off in frame three, and it's a shocker.

He's completely mis-hit it. But it's not the worst.

There is the break off. The Kuwait in the air. Player knows immediately

he has not hit it right. I do think Mark Williams is hitting the ball

very well at the moment. This looks to be wonderful.

Going back to that first frame, that one tactical decision and all of a

sudden youth got yourself on the back foot. It can set the tone for a

match. You know as well as anybody the first frame is important in a

match. Massively important. Just not putting that green safe. Yeah, OK,

there's a lot of shots that you could say if sand buts about them

all. -- ifs and buts. Clever route looks like he's going to be able to

play the shot correctly. With a couple more efforts.

Missed a chance, there. OK, he's still got a very good cue ball, not

easy to cue it from there, but could have had him a little bit further

over. He's still not settled down now, Mark Williams. Just not

catching the safety shots correctly. Obviously a long way to go, best of

25, so plenty of time to recover. But it's always nice to get off to a

flying start. Maybe a shot to nothing here for

Michael. Quick look in the corner. Cue ball will go down somewhere that

he is pointing now. Not quite thin enough. Thought it was worth having

a go at. Chance for Mark Williams, now. I'm

with you, though, Steve. I don't think he has settled, has he? And he

has missed that by a mile. Well, he was looking good in the first Merc

with a Mouth, but he has an settled -- he was looking good in the first

frame, but he has an settled himself. This is not a gilt-edged

chance for Michael Holt. He's got his cue arm going, now, so expect

some points on the board. Don't know whether he has just

overhit that. Needed to be shorter with the cue ball to leave the

natural angle. He has come relatively bowled straight, there.

Bit more pressure on this pink. Hit it with top spin. There is some real

authority with his cueing. Right in the middle of the white as well.

Everything is in the middle of the pocket. Great strike, that was.

Looks like he can screw back, get this cue ball back for the blue. How

well has he hit that with the rest? Absolutely perfect. Timed it to

perfection. He'd like one of these big colours into play as quickly as

possible. It's not clear cut how he's going to do that at the moment.

Bit shy of pace. Don't know if he can use a red. To open the bunch up

after potting this. Otherwise he's got to play a pretty deep power

screw back to get the right side of the blue again. It's a bit of a

stretch. Not the tallest player, Michael.

Well, great effort. Fantastic effort. He did brilliantly well. I

don't know if he knew he was going to hit the black, perhaps he felt he

would hit the red and open up a few balls. But he made sure with the top

spin he got the cue ball out into open play to keep the break going.

Still tight at the top. If he could come down the table, there is the

red on the top cushion, he could come down the right-hand side and

try to land the cue ball on the cushion. That might be a place to go

to, if he wants. That is the red that we are thinking

about. If he can get past the green, he may choose to play up and down.

That might be the one I would be thinking about for keeping the break

going. Well, he's played it that way. I don't really see the value in

it that way. Well, there's possibly a more advantageous red to open the

whole thing up near the black spot, from that side. He is a bit too

close to the cushion to make this comfortable. If he had been about

six inches off the cushion, he could have parted the red next to the

black as we see it on our TV screens and opened it all up. Now there's

pressure on this. I would fancy him more for this if it was absolutely

guaranteed a natural angle to get position. But there is a bit of

trickiness involved with the cue ball to get position. These can be

missed. You've almost just got to concentrate on making the pot and

hoping it works for you. And that is why he missed it. Because it was

fraught with, not danger, but a great degree of difficulty.

Players don't really like the uncertainty of a shot like that,

they like to know that they are guaranteeing themselves position.

Now, Mark... Well, he didn't want the cue ball there. I was just about

to say you've got to start putting a feud -- potting a few. Well, this is

horrible. He may be better cutting his losses here. Although the yellow

is cuttable. Not a great time to sneeze, was it? Probably needs to

put a bit of side spin on this to avoid the enough on the right

centre. It makes the pot harder. Well, is not going his way this

morning. He's not got going. But the first positional shot, he will be

kicking himself. Pretty tricky, but those yellows. This just shows you,

championship pockets, even though it was going at that pace, in the jaws,

it couldn't drop in. Michael Holt can't believe it! Not only did he

miss the yellow but he couldn't have left him any better. Brilliant

chance for 3-0, this. Got to solve a couple of problems around the black

spot area, but you would expect him to negotiate these pretty easily.

He's already got a 30 point lead and the way the reds are positioned, no

great problem for somebody of Michael's capabilities. I think he

got off to a flying start against Neil Robertson, won the first three.

Quick out of the blocks is very nice to have in your armoury.

He can play a little screw shot here and give himself options is around

the red on the left or the red on the right. The cue ball played in

exactly that spot, so he has a choice. This really is a fabulous

chance. Needs to get to 69 points. And there's a very good chance he

will. Put it this way, he will be disappointed if he doesn't.

It's pretty hard at the moment to lose position.

From Mark Williams's perspective, is only a missed pot -- only a missed

pot or a bad contact is how he's going to get back in.

Nice shot. 54 ahead, you can see. Nice little shop he played there,

just disc done up for the pink. All screws and stuns here, the cue ball

doesn't need to move very much. And assuming Michael Holt does get this

frame on the board, a very important next frame and one that perhaps has

some significance, pressure wise, even for Michael Holt. There is a

bit of pressure on the play in front at 3-0 to push on for 4-0. Yes, the

stupid psychology of our wonderful game, isn't it! You get in front and

start feeling the pressure. -- the snooker psychology. We've seen some

players leading and then getting a bit anxious and stop doing what

they've done. Well, there's no doubt about it,

this is the best I've seen Michael Holt play. His demeanour, his

attitude around the table, the way he's striking the ball. He's looking

like the surprise package of this year's championship. Been around a

long time, so it's odd to say surprise package, but he has never

really fulfil his potential, despite having all this talent, at this is

what he can play like. -- but this is.

APPLAUSE He can't miss!

He's going to play a run through and just nudge the red off the cushion

here. Fabulous stuff. APPLAUSE

Mark Williams is up against it here. It is Michael Holt who's looking

very impressive and aggressive, and he races into a 3-0 lead top yellow

fantastic performance by Michael Holt in the first week at the

Crucible. And he has got Mark Williams cold at the moment.

Take a look at this shot from Mark Williams. While we are having a look

at the situation, he's got all types of positions on the table he can get

the cue ball to. Where can he leave the cue ball there, Steve? A load of

places he could try to leave the cue ball.

Let me show you where he could possibly play this, cue ball wise.

There, there, there, there, there, there, there... There or there, for

position. So he had one or two options? He had a few options, but

he decided to play there! And basically once you've decided to

play there, you can't pot the brown, he was struggling on a yellow which

was thin and he had to take it on. I thought this was OK. A couple of the

players have been saying the pockets were a bit generous, but that

grabbed in the pocket. Very close, but... And now of course this is a

massive frame. Got to get this and at least you are only two behind at

the interval if you're Mark Williams. If you are four behind,

it's important stuff. REFEREE: Frame four, Mark Williams

to break. So, Mark Williams breaks off in this

fourth frame. As yet, he hasn't seemed to have settled down,

catching a lot of shots length of the table either thick or thin. Even

with that break off, he must have thought that a bit thick for the red

to come down the table, John. Yes, that's a poor one from Michael. He

shouldn't have been leaving Mark this chance. This is very important

for Mark Williams, he has to start scoring here. Just when he needs a

bit of concentration... There's a bit of noise on the other table. Not

an easy chance, but a player in stroke would perhaps make something

happen here. Yes, it's just a little bit tricky because the right-hand

red of the two near the black isn't that easy to get on. You've only got

a small gap between that back of the pack and the gap, that is the window

of opportunity for you. Got to hit this properly. Has he done it? No.

Hasn't quite reached it. It wasn't easy, that.

Mark Williams, six. Quietly, please! That has told them!

Of course the vast majority of people in the auditorium can only

see one table at anyone time. There is a section in the middle where you

are imagine they are prime spots where you can see both tables fully

from. We could there was a situation last night

where they could look up at the screens just to let them know what

was going on. That would have been some pot, to

get that red into that pocket at that angle. He had a good chance at

it. Yes, and we've got one of those

interesting frames coming up where the players are going to have to tap

into the reds for a while because there are two reds up near the baulk

area. Nowhere you can play safe up there now. We saw one of these

yesterday and I think I was in the studio talking about the fact that

they used to be a time where you would get frames where all the reds

were pushed into the bottom of the table but that doesn't seem to

happen now, players seemed to take a chance earlier. Yes, middle pocket

play has improved markedly. Sometimes people have jacked the cue

up in the air, played a shot and it brought a red backed down, that has

happened quite a bit. That shot was the undoing of Shaun Murphy. Yes.

You're playing the cue ball away from them, onto the reds and back,

you think there is no way... And all of a sudden it comes back into the

cluster. You've always got to be careful with that shot. Michael

eyeing up a speculative plant into the side pocket but perhaps play the

cue ball to the cushion and it is safe in that area. What a great

shot! APPLAUSE

The trouble with that was, if he didn't get behind the black, he left

a red into the middle pocket. Now he has potted it, he can perhaps,

deftly, just about, get a telling snooker. But he screwed his face up

at that. So difficult to get absolutely tight on these clots, and

the one thing you absolutely don't want to do is not reaching the

object ball through trying to be too clever. As Mark Williams left an

opportunity to knock this red into the middle pocket? It's obviously

tight. Surely if he could see it he would be going for it.

Just looking about what sort of shot. Taking his time here, coming

up to a minute. But Anthony has decided that playing it down there

and putting a red safe on the side cushion... That is quite a clever

shot. Yes, well picked out. Can Mark Williams play this red into the

corner? And somehow get the cue ball into a safe position? Or is it just

the safety shot? What a great shot! APPLAUSE

What a pot that was, cueing down. Now, he's got to get this green in.

And in it is. And now, Mark, you've got to score. The last chance wasn't

brilliant, because you had a small gap to play through and didn't quite

manage it. You've got to show your opponent that you are here to score

and so far you haven't done that. A full ball kiss on the green

wouldn't have been ideal, so a little flick has got him nicely on

the red. I still don't think he's absolutely cueing at his best yet,

but every shot that he plays will calm him down.

A little bit of running side there, played that beautifully. Now for

this red, drop it in and play for the blue. Shouldn't be any problem

for the next few reds, but he will need to move something in that

cluster just behind the pink at some point. None of them appear to pot.

Well, I would suggest he has got the tension out of his arm now. But

still a bit of work to do position wise.

Once Mark plays on the bottom red here, screws back for it... Well, he

should have done! He seemed to miss hit that. He doesn't seem to be

striking the ball with authority. Woefully short of back spin. Played

the red in the other pocket. I thought he might have got it in but

all of a sudden now Michael Holt has got a great chance, hasn't he, John?

It is a good chance. The red next the pink he could play to with pace,

pot the Echo Crimson over the hole and split the pack up at the same

time. He has gone with the other one. Well, he has played wonderfully

well but why didn't he potty the red with the other red, cannon into the

pink as you say and open the pack up. Because that wasn't a guarantee,

he could have ended up dead straight on the black, he could have

under-screwed. Yet, he has hit this wonderfully well. You couldn't fail

to pot the red over the pocket. That was guaranteed. And open the reds

up. He didn't even look at it. Anyway, a chance to open the reds up

now if he wants to. The way you suggested, John, was

more guaranteed. I think if he had played the shot you said, he would

have been on the blue for certain. It was basically a guarantee. I

still think he could knock this one in, just a little thin cut, but he

was virtually guaranteeing he would be on a colour laying it the other

way. Hopefully he will knock this in and what we've said will be history,

but it was a chance. In trying to keep control of the cue

ball with back spin, it makes the shot harder.

Well, the first potential turning point in the game against Michael

Holt, that choice of shot. APPLAUSE

I wonder if Terry Griffiths is watching this match as his coach, in

his corner, and is talking to him about shot selections or just the

mental side of things? Surely as a coach, do you go into your room and

tell your player he should have played a different shot, or do you

forget about it? I think you forget about it, don't you. He is well

aware that Michael knows how to play the game but we don't all see the

shots. Look at this! That cue ball has bounced off the top cushion and

probably bounced two feet more than it should have done. You hear the

sound of Mark Williams example paraded. He can't control the

cushions at the moment. We've had lots of complaints about big bounces

for many years now in the game. The players have always asked about fast

conditions and they have got them, too fast, perhaps.

It is so upsetting as a player, he has potted the black and hit it

perfectly and he's ended up miles away from where the cue ball should

have been. Just unnerving for the players.

Both players have just realised the significance of this frame, I think.

Mark could go into the interval two behind instead of four behind. He

could press on. More balls missed in this frame then the opening three.

And there's another one. How strange, isn't it? A comedy of

errors appears from nowhere and it seems catching. It's a disease! I

quite like the shot here, he can pot this, leave himself an angle on the

baulk cushion and legions of an angle to flick the red off cushion

on the left and at least leave himself position on the Echo Crimson

on the right. He's got to move those reds at some time. Well, you've got

to pot the ball! Was it a kick? I don't know.

And ironic cheer from the crowd and a little aside from Mark Williams.

He looks on the brink of getting his first frame on the board here. He

will be mightily relieved. Yes, it's not been convincing, has it, by

Williams's standards? But he won't mind as long as he's got one. As I

mentioned earlier, only two behind at the interval instead of four, a

massive difference at the start of this match. Yes it's first to 13 and

it's a long old trip, but you do have to have a good start.

Not to become a Mark Williams's break of 12. Both players leave the

auditorium, and it is Mark Williams who has got his first frame on the

board and trails 3-1. STUDIO

So, the players are on mid-session interval now. Fantastic start by

Michael Holt, leading by three frames to one. Mark Williams has not

really got in the group so far this morning, he will need to get in the

scoreboard -- in the groove and on the scoreboard after the mid-session

interval. We're expecting Steve Davis to join us shortly for a quick

chat and assessment on that match. He's just hopping out of the

commentary box. We hope he's going to join us very shortly.

So, Michael Holt in front, then. Best of 25 as we move onto second

round. A drastic performance by Michael Holt against Neil Robertson

in the first round, winning that one by ten frames to eight, knocking out

the 2010 world champion. He really has picked up where he left off

against Robertson in the first round.

I have no idea what has happened to Steve Davis, but we shall talk to

him very shortly! He has got lost on his way out of the commentary box!

Anyway, let's turn our attention do a fantastic match yesterday evening

between Joe Perry Kyren Wilson. Wilson won the Shanghai Masters in

2015. This one went down to the wire. We're going to join it with

Wilson to play. REFEREE: Foul and a miss, Kyren

Wilson four. -- foul and a miss, Callum Wilson

four. APPLAUSE

. APPLAUSE

. Good pot. Some pressure on this

black. One of the problems here is the peak being on its spot, where

that red is positioned. -- pink being on its spot. Not only does he

have to pop the black, but also make sure he doesn't snooker himself on

this next red. Two reds, two plaques. Finish high

on the black. -- two blacks. I can't see him sailing from here. Well,

he's got every opportunity to get over the line, here. Attempted shot

to nothing from Joe Perry which caught the knuckle, certainly wasn't

a shock to nothing, the way he played it, looks like it's going to

put him out of this year's championship.

Played fantastic tonight, Callum Wilson. Some of the pots he has come

out with have been incredible. Got to make sure of this red. He knew

how important that was, and he's held himself together exceptionally

well, this young man. It's been a brilliant match, and Joe Perry puts

his hand out. What a game that was. Best match of the championship, for

me. Callum Wilson, how well did you play tonight? Because Perry played

fantastically well as well. Well played, young man. Great performance

from Callum Wilson. Won the Shanghai Masters in 2015. Yesterday on BBC

Two you called it and said, if he goes on to win this, he could be a

danger to anybody. Especially as he has proven he can win, and what

greater testament than Ronnie O'Sullivan tweeting that he could be

one of the greatest players and dominate the game? I think he's got

an all-round solid game. He's got the match ability intensive

temperament. Obviously he cannot pot balls, but we can all do that. If

you play against a player enough, and Ronnie O'Sullivan has seen him

play and rates him as a player, high testament. Joe will be disappointed

by his overall performance? Yes. But first round, World Championship, you

are never settled in it. In a way you could say it was a tough draw.

There will probably be easier draws for him against players who were not

on the up. Let's go back to Mark Williams, Michael Holt, which you

are commentating on very shortly. Fair to say Mark Williams has not

got into his rhythm this morning? Very fair to say that. He was

getting into his rhythm in the first frame and he failed to put the green

safe, the end result was that he allowed Michael Holt to get off the

mark and forcing the issue. Strange last frame, which I think Mark

Williams will have been delighted to get over the line. He has been in

here practising on the practice table to, not absolutely happy with

his game, and not happy with the table. The bounces off the cushions

have been playing their part. Michael Holt seems to have picked up

where he left off against Neil Robertson. Yes, and he seems to have

a different mental attitude. Sometimes he has been vulnerable in

that department. Perhaps his work with Terry Griffiths is paying off,

or Obi-Wan Kenobi, as we nicknamed him. You were late to the studio

today, have you been DJ in? No, it was a natural break. Talking to John

Parrott is enough to send anybody down that road. Thanks for coming

eventually. COMMENTATOR: That was a nice line from my co-commentator.

Wait until he gets back to the commentary box. We are in two frame

five. Very interesting opening session. Match time just over an

hour and a quarter. And it was interesting stuff. Michael Holt got

out of the blocks pretty quick. Mark Williams struggling a bit. Let's see

if the interval makes any difference.

This shot Mark Williams has been left with is very tricky.

Good to be back, John, have I missed anything? You've come back, have

you? You didn't have your earphones on, did you? Didn't hear what I

said? I didn't mean it, I was just trying to be entertaining. Yeah,

they've got a wall in the auditorium, Steve. I've just asked

them to put one up in the commentary box. Steptoe and son style!

Had to be extra thin. I was chatting to Pete Godwin in the interval,

bumped into him and asked him, if you were listening to the friends we

watch under Renfrew, about a bit of cloth on the cushions to try to calm

down the map. During the interval, this is what Steve was doing. He was

out with a prong that you put into the cushions to check the temper

Joe, I have not seen that before. He has done everything to make sure

they are not too hot. The reason why there was a possibility of calming

the knap down, they did try let at a PTC event, it was inclusive. Whether

it actually made any difference. Perhaps it is just down to, if there

is any bit of chalk on the cue ball. If it traps between ball and

cushioning. Good though, once again, Steve, isn't it? I spoke to Mark in

the interval, and he said it was pinning all over the place, so good

that they were straight out. The players are obviously very critical

of anything other than perfect conditions. But I've got to say the

standard of table we now play on, and how much attention, certainly,

is put into it, is far and above anything that's ever been in the

game before. Quite rightly so. But they are forever trying to work out

how to get the ultimate playing conditions. It's not as easy as you

would think. Ramrod straight cue action from Michael Holt, write down

the throat. You saw that cue never deviated. Very good shot, that was.

Very attacking safety shot. Very good cue ball.

Tempter in the middle pocket. Bigshot to take on. Think the cue

ball will be going in and out of baulk into an unsafe area.

One of those shots, you are trying to pot it, if you miss, don't hit

the near jaw. A lot of players miss that on the thick side. Nearly went

in-off as well. Have to say, where it finished, there is quite a bit of

trouble. Mark's got a similar shot to the last one he played. It

easier. He's played that very nicely. -- a bit easier. A bit shy

of pace. Looks like Michael Holt is setting up to attempt a pot, here.

Got the white into the right position. Hmm. Thinking might have

just left the pot on. Kick. There seem to be some funny bounces

on this table today. I did commentary on the other table last

night and there was hardly a kick all night. Good shot, that.

Funny situation, this. If he puts Mark Williams back in, he more or

less knows he will hit it this time. Not surprised he said I'll play from

here. He's missed one or two in the last frame. Cueing not quite as good

as it was initially. He's back on track, here. He certainly is.

Beautiful cueing. Just a fantastic shot. Got the cue

ball down into a safe area as well. Obviously he couldn't have

guaranteed that, had he missed the red. The cue ball would have been

travelling on a different path. Looks to be just the wrong side of

the potting line for the yellow to get back up the table, so he's going

to have to leave a red from distance. Terrible kick. Didn't make

any difference to the pot because it was straight. The kick is more of a

problem for an angled pot. Not only did it destroy the path of the cue

ball, you would have been further forward, but it just destroys the

trust the players have in the table, or the playing conditions.

Another marvellous pot there. Yeah, Randall Little bit ragged by his

incredibly high standards early on -- ran a little bit ragged. He's got

it back now. Just checking whether he can play

the thin blue and avoid contact on the way back up off the baulk

cushion, or whether he can pop the pink, played baulk cushion, side

cushion, come back up into the areas of the reds.

He got another flyer off the cushion. It absolutely

whizzed off there. These are both tough shots, aren't they? He had won

earlier in the match as well, didn't he? Not guaranteed position. Just

makes it that little bit harder. This is not an easy pot. Brilliant.

Wonderful, wonderful touch, to play that, to drop the cue ball in there,

you deserve everything you get. STUDIO: Michael Holt playing very

well indeed. This is where we leave you on BBC Two, but full coverage

continues on the red button and BBC sport. You can keep right up to date

with Marco Fu against Anthony McGill in the second session of their

match. We are back live at 2:30pm. Programme starts at 1pm. Mark Selby

taking on the English qualifier sunbed. We'll see you then. Goodbye

for now.