Friday, Semi-finals, Afternoon Snooker: World Championship

Good afternoon to you. Four days to go here inside the Crucible Theatre

and who knows what we're in for. After all, over the last 14 days

we've been telling plenty of tales of the unexpected about top seed

turmoil, all reflected in the press cuttings that are posted outside the

press room every morning. We have been left with a rather unexpected

semifinal line-up after all of this. One which features two qualifiers

and the oldest player for 30 years to get this far. We also have one

world champion and for the first time in history, two players from

Asia as well. Plenty of possibilities as we start our second

day of action in the semifinals of the Betfred World Championship.

Ding Junhui scorched out of his blog yesterday with four centuries in six

frames. He looked every inch a world champion in waiting. But ever

popular Alan McManus clung on and he does have a foot hold in this match.

Second session to come. While number one Mark Selby needs to win this

title to stay at the top of the rankings. He took charge in his

opening session. It is against Marco Fu that he plays and he has waited

ten years for another final. The unmistakable style of Stephen

Hendry there. Walking around the table. Already lost some time.

And the greatest quizmaster of all time is back as well. Will you get

full marks or lose them in today's quiz? What an eventful championship

it has been when a 301 outsider of 43 years of age makes a semifinal

appearance here. We are of course talking about Alan McManus. Ding

Junhui is trying to win this title as a qualifier, like Alan McManus.

Can you remember what you are like at the age of 22? Alan McManus was

reaching his second Crucible final in two years for a very long time.

He didn't qualify for another 11 years but he has had a real

renaissance in the last two or three years and 23 years after the heady

days, he is back here at 45. Only Ray Reardon can beat that. Ding

Junhui was only six when Alan McManus was last here.

' is one of the best players in the game but he is under so much

pressure from China. He is under so much pressure and very quiet. He

speaks English as well as anyone now. At the beginning, it held him

back, but not any more. I think Ding is the next best thing to money and

heating. On his day, formidable. His cue ball control is amazing. His

break-building prowess is better than anyone on his day. It is just

questionable about whether he believes he is one of the best

players on the planet. Ding is the closest to text back technique, that

ramrod cue ball action, the way he strikes the ball. When he first came

on the scene, he didn't speak to anyone. Now his English has got

better, he speaks to everyone. I couldn't want anyone to win the

world championship more than I want Ding to win this. He is such a nice

kid, so as a nice player and a nice person, I want him to win this. Ding

Junhui could be in ground-breaking mood today. He was only one shy of a

record five centuries ever recorded in a semifinal yesterday. He made

for in the first eight frames to lead it 6-2. What can McManus do to

slow him up? Willie Thorne and Ken Doherty are in the -- were in the

comedy box at 10am. Alan McManus looks great this

morning in his tartan waistcoat and trousers. What a wonderful

championship he has had so far, Kent. Absolutely. Fantastic. Rolling

back the years. He has done remarkably well.

Considering these two players have come through the qualifying rounds

and this is their seventh map -- match already in these

championships. And this man at the table now, Ding, has grown in every

match. Particularly yesterday. For centuries in those eight frames was

really fantastic snooker. His pot success rate was 96% on the first

fall. It has now gone to 99%. He's barely missed a ball. -- on the

first ball. That is a wonderful opening red. This is a great sign,

Willie. It is a sign of conference -- confidence. A wonderful angle, to

knock the red away from the black and set up the opportunity. This is

the sign of a guy who is in complete control of himself and has

confidence. Yes, it he'd be disappointed that over the years he

has only had one Crucible semifinal. For a player of his class, that is

not what you'd expect. He looks to have settled this year. He has never

liked it here, has he? OK, he has made a semifinal before but any of

the other times, he seems to have struggled with the atmosphere and

the layout. Sometimes, players can take a while to get used to it. He's

certainly got used to it this year. He still on a choice of two red

spare but he wanted to be on the back of the pack. He seems a little

bit disappointed that he missed the case. He missed the joint of that

red. He will take an alternative. It will be interesting to see after

he pots this pink, will it pop back on the spot or is it covered? It

will help him if it is covered because it will go back on the blue

spot. They're's his target, 72. The red at the bottom of the pack just

to be left up from the black is pottable into this corner pocket.

That is what he is looking at now. We saw it land in between two reds

here. He will have a choice. It's amazing to try to work out

where he disappeared. He had that amazing season two seasons ago where

he won five tournaments, and then last year and the best part of this

year he has hardly won a match. He has found his form again and he is a

wonderful player to watch when he is in full flight. Yes, he lost the

first round at the China open in Beijing just at the end of March and

that knocked him out of the top 16, losing that first round match. That

is why he had to go on prequalifying for the squad championship. -- for

the world championship. Stephen Maguire had to get to the semifinals

or better, which he did. He was at 17. In an adverse way, Willie, it

might have been better, really. He won the pre-qualifiers pretty

easily, 10-4, 10-2, 10-2 and that might have given him the confidence

he was lacking. There is no doubt he has had such a poor season, as you

said. He needed to get a fewer matches under his belt and he is a

completely different player now. That is the problem when you are

flat at the back. You only get one in the middle and he has got one in

the middle. He finished off with a century in the eighth frame, is he

going to start with another century here? Alan McManus one two frames

and he will have been pleased with that the way that Ding played.

He has got a chance of equalling the record here if he makes the century.

He will be the fourth player to make five centuries in a semifinal.

Should he get a century here, you would think he will go on to make

more, so he will get some sort of record. Ronnie O'Sullivan did it

twice, and Murphy has done it. It will be a very special moment.

He is just getting the cue ball cleaned. He will possibly be playing

for that read just to the right of his cue ball. -- he will possibly be

playing for that red just to the right of his cue ball. There is the

possible break, 146. He is on course at the moment. The highest at the

moment is 143 from Kyren Wilson and he made that in his quarterfinal

against Mark Selby. A really big break on here. Watch his cue ball,

Willie. When he makes these breaks that he has done, his cue ball is

never more than 18 inches, two feet within the vicinity of his object

ball and his cue ball control is so good when he is playing like this.

He puts the frame safe and now he can try to make at least one for

6,145, something like that. The difficult thing for Alan McManus, he

broke off when he hit the blue, which left Ding a half chance when

going for the black. Very, very good. He knows there are

four reds. He probably needs the pink on the spot to make a really

big break. He will be hoping for 143 or above. I wonder, does he know

what the high break is? I know Kyren Wilson's high break against Mark

Selby, he was asking the referee and some of the guys in the commentary

box will be high break was. I wonder if Ding already knows. Interesting

to see him play for that read there, knowing it will be the most

difficult to go for. Oh, that have gone straight. He went for a

full-ball contact and God be half full. This is to equal the record.

-- got the half ball. Get in there. Well done, Ding. Fantastic. Five

centuries in nine frames. Unbelievable.

Well, Willie, he obviously doesn't know what the high break is because

if he takes the pink here, he can only equal 143 here. I'm likely he

will get off of the black on here, so I agree with you, Ken, he doesn't

know. It doesn't matter though. This has been flawless. If Kyren Wilson

is watching, he will be delighted. He can enjoy his breakfast now. He

wouldn't have enjoyed its before. He needs that cue ball to go past the

blue so he is not hampered. He is OK.

This would beat his own highest break of the tournament so far which

is 132. He has made an amazing 411 centuries

in his career. This will be before hundred and 12th and this one has

been absolutely out of the top drawer. -- this will be the 112th.

That is the only out of position one he has played. " But in my ear,

careless! Ken just whispered in my ear, careless! What a fabulous frame

that was. All Alan McManus could do was sit in his chair. Ding Junhui

now leads by 7-2. Ding Junhui's record equalling fifth

century in the semifinals and McManus responded with a brilliant

century of his own. Ding has powered home in the next with a 90 break to

restore his five frame advantage at 8-3. This now is frame 12.

That has certainly split them up. At first glance, I can't see a pot. He

might be able to get through to that one on the left hand side. Let's

have a look. Yes, you can. There is a small and he can go through that.

-- a small gap and he can go through that. He does not want to go too far

through, as he wants to get onto a colour. Wonderful. He doesn't

deserve that. A very, very good shot.

A wonderful pot, wasn't it? He found a gap as well. You didn't expect it.

It went in the centre pocket. What has he left Alan McManus? Nothing

straightforward. A possible read to this right corner pocket. -- a

possible red to this right corner pocket. He has got to get the cue

ball back around the back of the pack, so looking at a more straight

red to this left-hand corner pocket. There is a lot of pressure on this.

He is looking to see if it will pot to the centre pocket. It is about

putting all your eggs in one basket. If it goes in, he could win this

frame, but if he misses, he could be throwing it away. Ebbert of pressure

and may be the wrong choice. He was sort of forced into it but there

were other options. I was surprised he took that on. There were easier

shots when you are 8-3 behind. In a funny way, that bit of

misfortune for Ding has created this opening now.

He will be disappointed. It is not normally his style to push the boat

out like that. He does talk to himself quite a bit when he is in

the chair. I'm sure he's giving out to himself.

I think he knows with the black and pink both being in play, this is

likely to be another frame-winning break with the way Ding has played

in this match. You can't afford to make any stakes at the moment, can

you? -- any mistakes. We have had four players, as you have said, who

have made five centuries or more in the semifinal. A possible chance of

a record now. Ding, the first man to make six centuries.

Once again, he doesn't have to play at cannon here but he knows by

playing a little cannon, he will bring every read into play. See if

he can get onto this red low so that he doesn't have to do is play the

cannon. He could push the other two reds into play. Different

possibilities. He is not going to play the cannon here, but he is on

that read there. He will play this as a little run free. He didn't

quite play the cannon. We have never had six centuries in

any single match at the Crucible, so this would be... Well, we have had

one match with centuries, so this would equal the record. Just the way

he has been playing this morning and throughout this match, it's a good

opportunity. His cue ball control. I mean, we are witnessing here, he is

never more than 18 inches or force -- or 24 inches from his next pot.

He is just so good. He is 49 points in front. Those two

reds will have to be brought into play very soon otherwise he won't

win on this visit. A glance at the school board. You just wonder if he

can get onto this red, screwing into them at an angle to bring them into

play. If not, he can certainly get into play the black. He will aim to

get onto the black if he gets a cannon. Always thinking. That is

what I like about Ding. A lot of players would just have made sure of

the red, potted the black, and then obviously if you don't pot the next

red, your opponent plays on. Ding wants to make sure that Alan goes to

the interval now. He doesn't want to let him back on the table. The

lowest break in this mini-session of four has been this but this could

obviously become bigger very shortly.

He was trying to lead an angle on the pink and I think he has gone too

far. He might have to do the double unless he can sit in behind the

reds. A good effort. The red is still pottable into either of the

corner pockets, after which it will be very difficult.

Amazing. This Crucible crowd are missing -- watching some of the best

break-building we have ever seen. Just got enough angle on the black.

He has got to be careful where the yellow is. He doesn't want to get

too much side on this. Not too much side on it. Oh, what a shame. He

would have been breaking the record or equalling the record of six

centuries in the semi. Hello? What an amazing first four frames this

morning. Ding Junhui is absolutely on fire. He doesn't realise it is

the interval. He does now. And smiles all the way.

The world number 29 stuck to the chase after the interval, taking the

first after that, and snooker's elder statesman is more than just

hanging in there. This is frame 14. Well, a few mistakes from Ding

arriving now. His safety has been very good in the last couple of

frames, forcing the opening. If he can get out of this session no worse

than 10-6, wedding started, he will be pretty pleased with that. --

where Ding started, he will be pretty pleased with that. That stat

we just showed you with the safety, Ding was in front with the safety

before today. Coming into this session, that has changed.

Not perfect on the blue or the green. Normally the shots just, you

don't have to go hard into the pink, you play slow into the pink. But the

blue is slow in. He has to very careful here. Not even playing into

the pink, playing to the two reds to the right of the pink.

It is amazing how much he lifts his head. Two or three inches of

movement every time. When he plays a power shot, his head rises about

four or five inches. Unlike any other player in the game.

We have seen a few players, Mark Selby sort of sways from

side-to-side a little bit. Marco Fu sometimes can move the head

slightly. Not many players lift just before

playing the shot. Didn't get nicely on the previous

black. I don't think he can push through to

the black. He'll have to play a bit for the blue. Maybe the pink is

available in the same pocket. It is. That helps.

I don't think pink will be on its own shot, it will go up to the

highest available, the yellow. He's got three, four lose reds before he

has to worry about even any more. He'll be on the stage where his

opponent will need a snooker. He could just concentrate on the lose

reds here. Missed a red into this bottom left

corner pocket. Albeit more difficult than this.

Didn't go into the heart of the pocket, but rattled a little bit. He

nicely on the black. At 61 ahead, didn't play that as

well as he would have liked to. He wanted to be straight on this red.

He may have to pot this red and go into the cluster.

He's played it nicely. Played it lovely.

Has been top tails. This red goes into a winning frame in this break,

frame 14. It has been good stuff, hasn't it?

128 and a 38 in the first round and 107. Three centuries on the bounce.

97. Another possible century now for

McManus. This has been a fantastic break. A

great response from Alan McManus and a nice response from our sponsors of

course. Once it got over the 70th century mark, Betfred have given

?25,000 to the bluebell wood child's hospice. This will be the 22nd

century of the tournament. The target is 86, which was made last

year. More importantly for Alan McManus, it is closing the gap to

four now. It will be nice for him to pot the

black. It would level Ding's high break at the moment, 136, thinking

about it. This time it is close... Trust me. This time it is really

close. Finishes off... That is Alan's highest break of the

championship so far. Alan showing us there's more to his game than

tactical at the moment. Fantastic fluency from the Scot. Into frame

15. Alan, 20 points behind. Once again safety not good enough at

the moment. I think he may have covered the red over the corner

though. A little bit fortunate there, Ding. Didn't play that

particularly well. Would love to get the cue ball down

the left-hand side of the table, somewhere behind the yellow.

It is much more difficult for Ding. There's his view.

Having a look at two reds behind the pink. They are a possible plant. I

am wondering if believes the cue ball down the left-hand side of the

table, will Ding be able to make that into a plant. That is

exactly... Down behind the yellow somewhere.

You can see where the cue ball was, well, is now.

It blocked his path down the right-hand side of the table. Alan

is definitely old school, playing the run-up. The modern day player

takes the yellow on to the middle nowadays.

Just sometimes the situation sort of will tat whether you take that --

will dictate whether you take that yellow on or you don't. If he had

been closer to it, he would have taken it on. The momentum is with

Alan. He wants to keep a little bit of pressure on his opponent.

Should he have taken the yellow on and potted it and won the frame from

it, then Ding is thinking, well, it is off a fluke and his mind starts

to wander. At this level it is hardly unlikely he'll leave the pot

on, unless he does it too thick when he's playing up and down.

All of a sudden things are not happening for Ding.

It was not straightforward. The red that is to the left of the cue ball

that was blocking the pathway just to lay on the red on the top

cushion. I don't think he's left the pot on here though.

Possible red up to the green pocket, but Alan will certainly put Ding

back. Not sure which red Ding was trying

to lay on to there. It is a long way away from any red.

He's left his red into the right-hand corner pocket. The

problem with this is that he's got to play it with a bit of pace. He 's

got to screw it in and take the black into the same pocket. Now, if

he misses it and we saw him miss a red like that into the left-hand

corner pocket and that's why he's refused it.

This is what I think Ding is trying to accomplish here. He's trying to

come off the side cushion. He's trying to clip the left-hand side of

the red with the cue ball, which means the cue ball will travel down

towards top cushion and try and block the path of the red to the

bottom right-hand corner pocket. He does not have the angle to come off

the side cushion and lay on the red which is closest to the left-hand

corner pocket. He's trying to play a delicate shot off this red. Trying

to clip this side of the red on the way down.

. Well, he's hit that red. It certainly wasn't his intention.

If you leave the cue ball where it is now he would take the red into

the yellow pocket because he cannot leave the two reds on the centre

cushion. He will leave the long red on if he takes the green on and

misses it. Could he go on to win this 5-3? And

close to 9-7? He's playing well enough.

A line her on potting the blue. The two -- a line here on potting the

blue. He's played it nicely. A beautiful

shot. A beautiful line, if I may say. That

was played to perfection. Finishes low on the black. Flicking another

couple of reds into play. If he could kiss them both, thin off the

first one and then play into the second one. I am really surprised he

didn't... There was a line-up, which was not shown, he may live to regret

that. Hopefully not. I think he'll be playing it this

time. That's the line that Ken's put up.

He would like to flick the first, where the two reds together, pushing

clear and play the kiss behind it - it opens all four reds. That is what

he's looking for now, to play all four reds into play. The one to the

extreme right is the red already. This could be a frame, and if this

goes right. Just nudged that red nicely out of

the way. Play youers don't like to take those

reds -- players don't like to take these reds, if they can help it.

They are missable below the black, particularly if you land straight on

them. He's got plenty of options here before he considers even taking

that red. 26 points ahead.

Going back to that previous shot you mentioned if you had to play the

cannon into those little four reds, all of those would have been

available for him now. It wasn't as if there was any risk. It is OK.

There's nothing wrong, if he goes on to win the frame, he's done it the

right way and his way. This has been a wonderful break

again. He needs to pot three more reds and three colours to be

absolutely sure. He took the opportunity to make sure

he was on a baulk colour rather than on the blue. This is where the

problems arise. He's got to play a good positional

shot here. Now he's put himself under a bit of

pressure. I expect him to pot it, but this is

basically frame-winning ball here. No, no, no. And he put himself under

pressure from early on in that break.

Didn't play the cannon, as was pointed out, may row that mistake

now. That is why -- rue that mistake now. They are missable unless you

get directly behind them. I know people will say why have you said

the wrong way. It is not necessarily the wrong way, it is the way to make

sure you don't have any troubled reds. Ding will play the cannon now.

He's muttering to himself and he should have definitely have won this

frame. He may still. If this kiz goes right he's gone second

favourite, even though he's 43 points in front.

Well, that hasn't worked out. Just a little bit hard. He's got

this red it is very close to the cue ball.

Could possibly push it. And the referee has got to be very close to

Ding here, just to watch the cue ball on the red because this is a

very difficult shot. Played it very well. Amazing how

he's not pushed it. Got the screw as well and a little bit of power in

the shot. Fabulous cueing. It is such a shame because Alan has

fought his way back into this match. He missed a little bit of a trip. It

is not nice to criticise a player's break-building, but that is

old-school snooker, the way he broke there. He didn't try and win the

frame at one visit. The pressure was on it.

This could be a massive frame and massive turning point for Alan

McManus. A long way to go in this match. Sometimes matches can

completely... You claw your way back and make one mistake, and all of a

sudden, you still have got a big gap to make up.

It has been the longest frame of the match so far. 25 minutes.

Over on the blue. There may be a lifeline for Alan, he will play the

yellow at distance. Playing around the cushions, through the gap of

the... He didn't play that right. He played to go between the pink and

black there. This is definitely missable.

It may run into the brown here with the cue ball.

A natural part of the cue ball was running into the brown.

A lifeline for Alan McManus. Played a good shot. He would have

been disappointed. He tried to get off from the blue.

All of a sudden they miss. An opportunity from Alan, he wouldn't

be out of his mind now if he did not lose at this visit, it would have

hurt him. Now he knows he has a second chance he will not feel quite

so bad. These are the types of situations

that Alan McManus is very good at. Ding will have to play some really

good shots if he will get another chance.

Pretty good. Got the most important part of the safety shot.

A possible chance for McManus to get the cue ball behind the brown. Got

to be careful of the green. Doesn't want the green to go towards the

left-hand corner pocket. Played this with left-hand side,

trying to check the cue ball behind the brown.

This looks very good. An excellent shot from Ding. Very, very good

indeed. A possible escape route just below

the middle pocket. Doesn't want to play it off one cushion. Would

prefer to hit the cushion and hit the green back up towards pink and

black. He misjudged that by quite some way.

Once he hit the ground, how has he not get the green on? That's where

it was. It is important, as Ken said,

because he is playing the two-cushion escape, not the one fish

and escape. He will have two attempt three or four more inches than he

did first time. Sometimes you have got to slide off of the cushion. He

needs to take you baulk cushion. This looks good. This looks very

good. Excellent shot. Bit short of pace with the cue ball

and with the green. Now, a chance for Alan McManus here. He will try

to get the cue ball behind that black. This looks good. This looks

very good. He could have done with being a little bit tighter, couldn't

he, to the black, Willie? I think that's OK. I don't think he will be

able to get past the black. I don't think he will be able to get a

natural angle. He may have two play-off three cushions. I am not

sure it is on that great. Alan has two take the green on, it will not

be amiss, and he deserved to win this frame. In the context of this

match, this is probably the biggest shot Alan will play. If he gets

nicely on the brown, he should closed to within three. I'm

surprised it's not playing with the rest here. He is drawing out quite a

lot of the cue here. He could be wise to use the rest. His pot Raid

with the rest is eight out of eight, so he shouldn't be afraid to use the

rest. -- his pot rate. Oh, a super shot. A beautiful shot.

And believe it or not, and incredible statistic. Our director

has just told us he has only missed three shots with the rest out of 69

shots with the rest. Isn't that an incredible statistic? Rest play from

Alan McManus. The brown is in and he is nicely on the blue.

The blue will put him 13 points ahead, 18 points ahead with 13

remaining. Engage the pink and what a frame -- in goes the pink and what

a frame that may turn out to be for Alan McManus. He gave Ding a chance

and he couldn't take it. Alan McManus comes back and closes the

deficit once more. Final frame of this session, Ding Junhui to break.

A wonderful seven frames of the session have been played. This, as

far as Alan McManus is concerned, is one of the most important frames of

the match to get back within two. He trailed, remember, 6-2 overnight.

There is a gap between the pack of red, so he will be playing with a

lot of left-hand side. He hasn't gone for a pot, he is trying to get

back behind the yellow. He didn't want to refuse that in the opening

session. Pressure put on the safety. Alan

just checking to make sure he went to push a red towards the corner. He

could bring the white in behind the brown and green here, making it the

more difficult safety shot for Ding. Just a fraction heavy but he will be

pleased with that. It's amazing the mind games it plays

you here at the Crucible, Ken, because if you had said would you be

happy going into the session leading 9-7, you would have said yes. But

after going in leading 6-2, he went to be happy. OK, if he wins this, he

still maintains a four frame advantage, meaning the session will

be tied for frames all, but with the way he started off this session, he

was looking to extend that meet with century breaks. This is a massive

frame for Alan McManus as well to cut the deficit to two. All to play

for in the next session, of course. A good safety. They will come back

out this evening. The final session will be tomorrow.

That looked pretty good if it had one. It just slowed up. Top of the

table from Alan. An acknowledgement. What can he do here? Is there a

pathway back to baulk? At first glance, it looks very difficult.

Still possesses a lot of key power. It has returned to baulk. He can't

play the same shot. He is too close to the cushion. But if he plays a

thinner safety shot, to the right of the pin, there is enough room around

the back of the red. That is the problem. If you are too thin or too

thick, you are in trouble. It has to be perfect.

That is pretty good. I know it is pacey with the white, but it was

tough to get the gap. It goes without saying that

obviously that red going again, that little bounce took a little bit of

spin off it. Going across the map is not straightforward.

Pity on anything? His body language tells me he might not be. -- is he

on anything? Maybe just got to flick a little bit of left-hand side to

turn that over. Not too sure he can miss the kiss on the black in

playing this. Well done. This was an excellent

shot. He turned it round, that red, Ken. A little bit of side helped.

He's just got to play one good positional shot here. The red above

the black pots into the left-hand corner pocket. If he could get on

that, he would free up the black. He has taken the lead. A good part. --

he has taken the blue. A good pot. He could not get on the red behind

the black. This will open things up. That brings some more reds into

play. Excellent shot. He needs to get onto the red behind the pink at

some stage and that will open it up. Not a frame-winning opportunity yet.

But it could be in a minute. Another excellent positional shot. He has

got the pink into the right-hand corner pocket.

He could have done without cue ball another two inches higher so he

could have screwed into the red behind the pink.

He has worked himself into an excellent position now to win this

frame from this visit. He hasn't stunned quite far enough.

He would have liked to be straight on this thread. -- on this red.

He has had to work so hard for this break. All the reds were in the way

but slowly but surely he is picking them all off, one at a time. This

now becomes a frame-winning opportunity.

He has surprised a lot of people this tournament, Alan McManus. We

really thought his glory days were over. What ever happens in this

match now, he has done himself proud and who knows, he might still get to

the final. He has just overrun it slightly but

the blue is OK or the pink. Probably be able to play between the blue and

-- the green and brown and bring the cue ball back down. If the yellow

was on its .com he would play at the other way round, but it is not so

easy to do that. Another excellent positional shot. He is getting

close. He will need red colour red, as he

is not quite 58 points in the lead. I think under the circumstances,

this has to be the best session of snooker Alan McManus has ever

played. When you think he has won four frames in this session, to get

himself back in the match, that is going to be the reality.

It is nice, Ken, isn't it, to see that crowd realising what hardware

kit has been for Alan to claw this back? He has got a lot of support

it. The Crucible crowd love to see a comeback, that is for sure. They

have seen many of them over the years and it is also -- it is always

nice to see a player make centuries as well. It is nice to see a player

come from way back and get himself back into a match. That is exactly

what Alan McManus has done here. He was nine behind at one stage. It is

going to close at 9-7, which means he has won this session, 5-3, and

sends out a message to his opponent. Just gone a little bit of the cue

ball. It is in and he has held it for the

black. A beautiful shot. He has had five centuries so far in this

tournament. Well played. This has been age and a

session of snooker from both players. For centuries from Ding in

need first session, five centuries between them in this session.

This is his 206 career century. One of the most important ones he has

made. I don't think in his career he has ever made this many centuries in

one match. He will be buzzing inside.

This has equalled the amount of centuries made in one match by both

players, which shows you the standard has been fantastic. Great

positional play. Now let's see the pink and see if he can pot the black

around for cushions again this time. I am sure he will play the

four-cushion part on the black. Go one, Alan! They want to see it. They

love a trick shot. It is close, it is very close. It is there... Oh!

Aged Mendis break from Alan McManus. -- a tremendous break from Alan

McManus as Ding shakes his hand. The crowd are on their feet. It was all

Ding any best session, it has been all my man is in the second. Ding

leads by 9-7. A fantastic session of snooker by those two this morning,

with days centuries -- with those centuries equalling the best we have

ever seen. What did you think Alan McManus's fightback, Steve?

Absolutely fantastic. You can't underestimate it. It is astonishing.

The game is not that physically demanding compared to other sports

but we know from history that players start to go off the boil.

They lose their drive and motivation, don't handle the

pressure so well. Alan McManus is winding back the years. Ding had

just made five centuries. A lesser player would have crumbled but he

seems to have galvanised himself instead. What he is doing is doing

it with one visit. He is playing absolutely fantastic snooker. He is

entertaining be proud and getting them on his side as well. These long

matches, you can win three, four, five matches at a time because you

get the momentum. He's probably disappointed that the session ended

there. Disappointing in some ways for Ding Junhui because he has

played the best he can and this fella has just hang in there. It

shows you that there are no easy matches. You have got to fight all

the way and Ding is prepared to fight but it is always a shock when

someone you think is on the ropes comes back at you. 7-9, Alan McManus

was behind and came back to win it, so Ding knows he can do it. Do you

sense joy and wonderment that he is still there and kicking? I think he

is having a wonderful time. As I have said before, he loves back to

thing, he loves playing snooker. He still plays in everything will turn

it. We talk about the fatigue but I think the excitement and the

enjoyment of being out there galvanises him, and he is loving

being out there. We talked at length about fatigue at the start of this

tournament because nobody gave a chance of a qualifier coming out and

potentially winning. I wonder what they think now? Everybody outside

the top 16 has had to play three qualifying matches this year. That

is tough. I hope I will be in the top 16 next year and won't have to

qualify. I think that will play a big part in being able to last the

distance of the 17 days at the world Championships. It can take a lot out

of it -- out of you. There is a lot of mental stress and pressure but

I've had three really good practice sessions, that is the way I am

looking at it. I know from personal experience how much this tournament

takes out of you and it is incredibly tough. I think the

qualifiers are probably too close to the world championship. I think it

is something as important as this which needs the qualifiers to be a

month before. The qualifiers are part of the ranking system so I am

afraid there is no room for change and if I ever doubted myself,

obviously I would look at the performances of two of the players

in the semifinals, Alan McManus and Ding Junhui, that both came through

qualifying, and one of them is 45 years old, so if anyone is whingeing

about the jer raging, I would say the examples of excellence are

there. This is fair. -- about the duration. You have got to be fit

enough, mentally and physically, to deal with this. You are in a big

league now. This is not a small sport any more. You have got to

adjust, rather than the format adjusting for you. 1978 was the last

time we had to qualifiers in a final. It seems a long time ago now,

over two weeks ago. Why do you think it has sharpened up? I don't think

it is necessarily that they weren't sharp but I think the amount of

snooker that the players are playing keeps them in good nick. There is

the argument that you could go stale, that you could be burnt out

by the time you get to this part but there are enough days between your

matches to recover and relax. You might not need as many as you think.

A couple of days off and you are ready to rumble. If it adrenaline

keeping Alan going? Fitness? I think if you can't get the thrill of

playing in a world championship, you shouldn't be a snooker player. They

have played three qualifiers. Ding breezed through his. In Alan

McManus's case I think he just loves playing snooker. If you can't come

to a one-table situation and have the adrenaline carry you through,

you shouldn't be playing anywhere. There are quite a lot of observers

on social media saying there are parallels with Stuart Bingham, that

sense of appreciation of the situation is very similar to what we

saw carrying him through last year as well? Yes, and it seems that the

second week of the tournament, somebody comes out of the pack and

starts to produce something that is extra special. It doesn't matter

what you have done in the first top of the tournament. You are just

keeping yourself in there in the first -- like in the first lap of

the Grand National, so to speak. If you are able to time your run to

perfection, you are in with a shout. There are a couple of other players

timing their runs as well though. The only problem is you cannot get

off to a poor start because there are no easy matches. We are

guaranteed to have one qualifier in the final for the first time since

Judge Trump in 2011. The crowd are getting going for the semifinal

session with Marco Fu, and Marco Fu has spent half of his life coming to

the Crucible. He was 19 years old when he came here first and 19 years

have gone by. Only once in that time has he tasted snooker in the

one-table situation. I used to watch Stephen Hendry and love watching him

play and him and Jimmy were great rivals in the 90s. I remember Jimmy

missing the black on 17 and that was one of the most heartbreaking

moments. The first time I qualified for the Crucible, I was due to play

James Wattana. I went in to have a look at the venue and I couldn't

believe how small it was. The atmosphere was great but I couldn't

believe it was only 900 people inside the venue. It was still

amazing though. The wall separating the two tables when you are playing

off the cushion on one of them, it feels like Yorkie will hit the wall,

it is that close. When you are sitting down, the crowd is right

behind you. You never have that same atmosphere anywhere in the world.

It is very modernised now, it was old school before. Now like

brand-new venue. In some ways. Which I don't really prefer. I would

always go to watch one of the games before I played, to get a feel for

the atmosphere. I don't do it in any other venue, only the Crucible, to

get a feel of what it is like, and watch the games. You feel nervous,

to play, yourself. Really unbelievable feeling. Sheffield is

the best place to place Nico. All the snooker fans treated as the home

of sneaker. No point moving any rows. Every snooker player's dream

is to win the World Championship. You have to stay focused for 17

days, which is very difficult. Mark Selby has had quite reason, by his

standards will stop the first time for seven seasons the Leicester

player has not won a major title. Claiming one of the smaller titles

in Poland in February. Yet to get beyond the semifinals of the big

ones. Since February, very quiet indeed. Even took five weeks off in

the build-up to this one. Could he be timing his season to perfection?

He took command of yesterday's opening exchanges between him and

Mark. Could not play much better than

that. First frame goes to Mark Selby.

He has played this very well. He has the gap. Mark Selby leads 2-0.

What a hit? Where is the cue ball going? Unbelievable. Tough shot.

Jumped out of the pocket. Marco Fu won it, closes to one frame, 4-3. He

has sunk some good balls tonight. Two frame advantage for Mark Selby,

enjoying a laugh with Marco Fu. He was 3-0 down, he showed incredible

touch and judgment, escaping from some devilish sneakers. I wonder how

evil fair, just one session for these players. They are ready, so is

Rob Walker. We have already witnessed one incredible session and

sneaker. These players are living up to their star-studded billing. At

the sport's spiritual home, we are ready to go again.

Please welcome a player making his first appearance at the one-table

set-up in a decade. From 30 down, he showed composure and experience to

get back in this match. Two times a ranking event winner, looking for

his first appearance in a Crucible final. One of the sport's global

ambassadors, from Hong Kong, Marco Fu.

His opponent, player of the mental self belief, even under pressure. A

Masters champion, UK champion in 2012. He completed sneaker's Triple

Crown winning the big 12-macro years ago. Can he follow his great start

to the match. He is number one, he is the Jester from Leicester. He is

Mark Selby. Eight more frames this afternoon,

Willie Thorne and John Virgo watched yesterday's action, they are back in

tandem today. Thank you, Hazel. Good afternoon to you and everybody else.

Fantastic atmosphere for the second session of this second semifinal.

Shake the hands. All to play for, Willie. Absolutely, watched the

morning session and it was absolutely first class, must've

whetted the crowd's appetite. Just short of two and three quarters

hours for the first eight frames. The fifth one was a long one, 38

minutes. Average shot time. Neither players got into frame-winning

contributions assistant Lee. Pot success, you are looking at 90% or

more to win this kind of match. The highest break, not a century. I

would be very surprised if we don't team or in this session. There is

the perfect start. Once again, the poisoned chalice of the break off

shop. -- shot. Probably came higher on the black nanny wanted to place

the misfit. Not sure, looking at an angle to move the red away from the

black. The little bit concerned if the black goes on to its own spot,

the red will not be 's pottable. Well, he had the

opportunity to move the red, he thinks this Moscow. Is he right? --

must go. Maybe if he plays it slowly, it could go in-off the far

jaw. I think it can go in-off the right-hand jaw, that has to be dead

weight. Looking for another opportunity, does not go in for him.

Back to the red above the black. Sometimes, you know as well as I do,

you convince yourself to pot the ball. He is entitled to ask the

referee to re-spot the black, in case it is not on the spot. Feeling

infractions. Cannot get through to the potting angle, having to bite

the bullet, play safe. After a tremendous opening red, he will be

disappointed. He will be thankful there, if he had caught the brown

full, you can see that one does not go. If he had caught that brown

full, he would have left the red to the right middle. Disappointment not

being on the red, affecting the next shot. Luckily for him, he has it

safe. Coming off two cushions, needs to

Harry. Judged it well. Lovely shot. Has he hit that fractionally too

hard. Mark Selby coming to have a look if there is a red to the

corner. Looks as if there is. Very hard to generate the pace

required to come off the top cushion. He had to avoid the push

shot, getting that you out of the way quickly. Just nudging behind the

black. Just nestling into the side of this

cluster, you would think he would not leave anything. The semifinals

after four sessions. The first three, eight frames play. The final

session, possible nine. Which makes up the best of 33, the target. 17

for a place in the final. There is a gap between green and

brown, but whether he can be one of the reds, not sure. He feels he can.

Quite clearly, from the picture. That was much to thick. He has left

the cube will tighten the cushion, that makes this pot far more

difficult. Yes, get the cue ball close to the

cushion, makes any shot difficult. I thought he would get it. He has

missed it, leaving Mark with a nice easy starter.

We know with Marco Fu role to that black, it was pot. You would think

you would want to get on the red above the black sooner rather than

later. Mark was very relaxed before the match, are in the champions'

Lounge. He was very relaxed going into the second session. You have to

try and take your mind off of it. Cannot be 17 days of concentration,

it will take a lot out of you. Absolutely. Even the days you are

not playing, still have the tournament on your mind. Having a

look, if the pots the black, silver red -- will the red be available? It

will. It was on its spot. When Marco Fu got on it, he just nudge the

black. Mark's wife, Vicki, after the

players' box, with family and friends. Grandparents can often

result of this afternoon. -- looking after the daughter. Mark Selby has

been potting some Gimenez falls, but one thing that has been lacking, not

finishing in one visit. Going to play the cannon.

Just catching the edge of them. Maybe the red five think is

available to the left corner. It looked like it was all going to line

up, but you can see that one is available. Good solid pot.

The highest break of the match so far is a break of 69. Looks certain

to eclipse that one here. He feels as if he got a bounce

there. I must admit, seemed to fly off the top cushion. I have the

pleasure of working on this morning? Session, never had one bad bounce

can't believe it was such a bad misjudgement. A tough red to keep

this visit going. Not there. Mark Selby will go back to his seat. With

a 43 point lead. Still a possible 75 remaining. He has had a bit of a

result. And Marco pot this, and get on the black? Not easy, hampered as

years. Played it is positive. If you were on the practice table,

you would play this with a lot of left-hand side. Decided to play dead

weight. It could hold. This would be a steal, Willie. Mark is sitting

down, feeling a bit unhappy about the cushion. It was a bounce,

amazing we did not have one this morning. That one fly. Something

about the physician, could have cost in the frame. He gestured with his

hand, walking back to his seat. Not happy with it. These are the kind of

things that can change matches, your frame of mind can change. As I say,

to be so far about, it just seemed to fly off the first cushion. No way

he could misjudgement by that much. The thing is, Willie, with this type

of frame, you are sat in your seat, thinking the frame has gone. All of

a sudden your opponent gives you a chance, getting back to the table,

it is like a bonus just to be back in the frame. The one on the back

cushion, which he will play for now... Mind you, did that? He was up

early, Little bounce. He thought he missed that, you know. Just fell in.

Not perfect on the red. Could not avoid the jewels. -- jaw.

He will have to play the snooker, no value in plain black. Obviously the

natural one to come off the yellow, try to use green and brown. Not

quite. Little get past the blue. Mark looking at the potting angle.

As you can see, he can get through to it. He will certainly be taking

it on. This looks a good line, pretty good

length. Very well played. Advantage Marco Fu now. All the colours are

open. Mark with the age-old problem, not hitting the red. Can he get it

safe? Looking to come off two cushions, using lots of right-hand

side. Just wants to hits this quarter full, or less will stop he

has hit eightfold. That is the problem. -- he has hit it full.

Seven points behind, need up to and including the thing. -- pink. For a

frame, just the moment ago, you thought he had no chance in. Not

leaving himself the nicest of angles on the yellow. Green should be quite

straightforward. Will have to bounce off the cushion.

He only needs up to and including the think, makes it easier. If you

need black, I always say this is the key shot, going from brown to blue.

Does not matter, only needs to think. He has overrun it. He will

have to go in and out of baulk. He is OK. If he needed the flak as

well, would not be good on this thing. Just the thing. This will

hurt Mark Selby. If it goes. -- pink. Mark Selby in and amongst the

balls, got a bad bounce, looked certain to win the frame. Marco Fu

had two opportunities, taking the second one, closing the arrears to

just one frame. STUDIO: A bit of a steal. Marco

showing some of that trademark composure to finish off that break.

Nice clearance in the end. This match is such a contrast to the

other semifinal. The highest break is only 89, the other match there

centuries all over the place. Mark Selby, the one thing missing from

his game, winning frames in one visit. Making big breaks. As long as

he's not doing that, Marco has good Hope. As you say, completely

different kind of match we are watching. No less intriguing between

two top 16 players. World number one, and Marco starting the season

at number 14. The only two seeds remaining. I hate going on about it,

but people who watch this game about it don't like us to moan. But things

conspired against Mark, as I've found is destroying his positional

play, making his shot important. Marco Fu Mr black, -- missing the

black, everybody knew that he enlisted, people talking about the

pockets being bigger. But it is the same for everybody.

COMMENTATOR: This is one of those, if you pot it, going through the

gap, if it is slightly thick, you catch the red.

He has gone all out for it. Not hitting that very well. Good chance

the market. -- for Marco. He drove into them, not working out

well. He knew, as soon as he court the red. Came off that red, then

getting the vaccine. He knew when it came off the side cushion, even

nestled into that bunch, being on nothing.

Just gone over three hours, match time. A little sign of frustration

from the previous frame, on his facial expression at the moment.

Nicely dropped in. Nicely on the green. The black not available into

both corners. Plenty of room to play for it in the right corner pocket.

Playing for this red in the middle, needs travel a little bit. A little

bit thinner than he wanted, to drop it in, get position on the flak. --

black. You must be reasonably happy with the potting angle. Coming off

two cushions. Well, a little bit firmer than he needed. Not perfect

on this black. I just wonder if he could roll it in

and try to kiss the red. Off the cushion first. He has lost the

white. Very surprised he did not choose your shot. That would have

held him for the other red. Nothing much to do with the cue ball. It

just seemed like a little bit of edge.

Not making the most of their opportunities. That was always

missable. It was a poor positional shot off the black. He caught that

much too thin. The red on the side cushion may not tempt Marco. If he

tries to play a return back to the baulk end, he has got to be very

wary that he does not run into that red. I think he is playing the pot.

That was a tough pot to take on. But he preferred it to the safety. And

he has not got away with it. Yes, he had a goal added. Mark Selby has no

problem with the red but he will have two play this firm to come out

for the pink or the black. It is all about the pace. He has got through

the gap. He played to get into the bunch. He will be happy with that.

Look at the gap he has gone through. Playing for the red near the top

cushion. He has played it well. He has got a beautiful angle on it. He

can play for the black now. Get the black back on its spot. There is a

loose red on the right-hand side of the cluster that he can play for. He

would like to have been straighter. He is just pointing where he would

like the cue ball to be. If he was straighter on the black, he would be

closer to the next red then he will be. -- than he will be. He will have

to use the rest. And he will be running into other balls. He will be

bringing other reds into play. This is a must pot.

No. It was dangerous. Very dangerous should you miss that. If you miss at

this level it can cost you a frame. An easy starter for Marco.

He has gone into the cluster again. Let's have a look at it again. Did

he catch the wrong red? And not really. It was a good line. All it

lacked was pace. He went into them a little bit tentatively. A bit more

pace and he would have got the cue ball going through the reds more.

Another chance and it is gone. The only reason he is thinking about

this is he is trying to get over the disappointment of having to play

safe. It seems he does not want to risk going to the baulk end, which I

find strange. But playing that way, he had to judge it well. And boy,

has he judged it well. He has left a pot on. He has left a red for Mark

to go at. But Mark knows, being 24 points behind and the way the reds

are, and the colours on their spot macro -- spots, and he is only 50%

long pot success, this is a test. He got the cue ball running back to the

baulk. And he got a good cue ball. He will settle for that. It was

tough. Once again the cue ball being close to the cushion makes it so

much more difficult. At first glance, nothing available

to pot your way out of trouble. Unless that red just below the pink

will go to the right corner. The only problem is he is in danger of

catching the red Navy top-cushion. That would leave the cue ball at

this end. -- near the top-cushion. That is the problem. Now Marco Fu

has got a tremendous chance. A little bit of annoyance there for

Mark Selby. That is not like Mark. A little bit of annoyance. He probably

feels a little bit aggrieved about the first frame when he looked

certain to take it. What a chance per Marco Fu to level the match.

He needs another 25 points from here to get to 67. He will level the

match. You can see a lot more than 25 coming from this position.

For a moment Marco was stopped in his tracks. I think he played for

the one below the pink there. Yes, I do not think he played for this but

he hit it too hard. As it happened, he landed perfect on the red.

42 points is the lead. Not perfect on this red. He has a little bit of

work to do with the cue ball but you would not expect him not to be on a

colour. Well, he took his eye off the pot. It just shows you, it was

not perfect on the red. He took his eye off the pot. How many times do

we see that? Now there is a chance that Mark Selby was not expecting.

He has got to make the most of it. As he was about to hit it, somebody

in the audience coughed. He has to stay focused. Do not let something

like that put you off. I would suggest the way he turned around

there, Mark has not settled. Yes, his concentration is poor for him to

let that put him off. This should relax. He should have won the first

frame but did not. He thought this frame had gone away and now suddenly

he has been given a lifeline. A couple of awkward reds to contend

with. 27 points behind. 51 remaining. Plenty of points to play

with. It does not match -- matter which colours he plays for. To make

this red to the left, he has to get as close as he can, stunning between

brown and yellow, a little bit of sight. Played it absolutely inch

perfect. It is one of those, you cannot be too greedy. You just roll

it in dead weight, let gravity take over. I know they always look easy.

It is quite an acute angle. He seems very concerned about the angle he

needs on the blue. This is one where you play for two pockets. You play

around the back of the red. Give him a choice of both corners. Or the

right-hand medal. You cannot guarantee you will get into the

exact area. Just a fraction too hard. Betwixt and between, as we

say. 15 points behind. This red, any colour. We call this playing into a

blind pocket. You can see the cue ball and the object ball but the

Pocket is not in your eye line. You have to trust you pick the . And he

has. That is perfect. -- you have to do to trust to pick the angle out.

Marco Fu was pleased with stealing the first frame. Mark Selby will be

happy to get this opportunity. I think in some ways this will mean

more to Mark Selby than the first frame that he lost. There was no

chance of him coming back to the table until Marco missed that red.

An unbelievable mess. He has forgotten what happened in the first

frame. He needs these remaining colours to pinch it. If you add all

the hours that Mark Selby has been playing at this championship, he has

gone over 24-hour 's of play since the first round. -- 24-hours.

Marco sat there. As Mark out to sit and suffer in the first frame of

this session... He cannot just roll the blue in. Blue and pink needed.

Hain goes the pink. Marco Fu had three chances in that frame and in

the end he missed a simple red. Mark Selby will be mightily relieved. He

took his opportunity and goes two clear once again.

Yes, he restores his advantage. We will be back there shortly.

We will be looking -- we have been looking for John Parrott everywhere.

Getting some practice in. We said that Marco Fu has slightly different

cue action to other people. We are going to show you a shot he played

in this frame. Watch how little his cue actually moves. The cue is

absolutely ecstatic before he takes it back, has a pause and then he

knocks the red in. Why is that unusual? Most of the players, when

they are growing up, are told they have to have a pre-empt of the shot,

a waggle. One player who did not do that was James Wattana. He used to

put his cue to the ball and not move at all. If I try to do that, I do

not think you can get the feel for the shot. Marco has played a heck of

a long time. Over 400 centuries in competitive play. But if you are

starting off, I would like to see more movement. You waggle to get a

feel for the shot you are about to play. Get away from the feeling of

being static. If I play for the pink to come down the table. A little bit

more feel for the shot. I would be coming in something like this. I is

on the ball. Screw the pink back down the table. And have a bit more

feel for the shot. Marco Fu and James Wattana, certainly unusual.

But it definitely works for them. He decided he could not find a path

back to baulk. He has left a red to the right centre. It may tempt

Marco. It all depends. If he feels he is going to run into the blue, it

is not on. If he feels he can avoid the blue, he will take it on.

No, he does not feel he can avoid the kiss on the blue. Running off

this red, trying to find the baulk cushion. The tighter the better.

Pretty good. A pretty good safety shot from Mark.

It is funny how matches seem to be played. You are talking earlier

about the Ding Junhui and Alan McManus match, where there has been

a glut of century breaks. These frames have carried on from where

they left off in the first session. Every frame is different. There have

been eight centuries in 15 frames in that first match. Still no century

as yet in this. But I think there will be at least one century in this

session. By whom, I am not quite so sure. A little tap on the table

there from Mark. He has a better view of the situation than me. It

looks like there is a pot on. Looking at the virtual image, he

cannot get through to anything on the right-hand side. So yes, it will

not be easy to get this back in to baulk. If he tries, he has got to

hit this absolutely perfect. He did not want to risk it. He just

played the containing safety. Not many players in the game can

outplay Mark Selby in the safety Department we will see how this goes

on in this frame. He must be taking this on. The pink

goes to the middle. A terrific shot. The cue ball has not slowed down.

That was the only way he felt he could escape that problem, by

rolling this red in. Seven foot 11. Used to do that on the high jump,

didn't you, Willie? The Fosbury flop as well. The pink does go. But too

risky. Trying to find the baulk cushion. He has not founded. He has

not put Mark Owen as much trouble as he would have liked. -- he has not

put Mark -- Marco in as much trouble. This looks a good safety

shot. Excellent reply. That was as good a safety shot as you will see.

Well played. And it looks like it has forced an

error. Mark has left this red on. If it is straight, I do not fancy him

getting on a colour. But he might just be able to run the cue ball off

two-cushions. I will tell you what, you say he is not blessed with the

most cue power in the game but he did well enough there. He had to

throw everything into it. We talk about Alan McManus coming off the

shot. Everything came up there. What a great positional shot. We often

say when you play a great shot, you get what you deserve. But he is not

happy with that contact. The pink has gone on the black spot. He got a

heavy contact. When he kissed the red, the cue ball stopped, held the

pink spot and now the pink and black well and truly out of commission. He

would like to get top side of the blue. Goodness me, missed that by a

long way. Completely the wrong side of the blue line.

He will need all the cue power again here to get back for the blue.

Now he has got the angle on the blue that Willie was talking about. Does

he pick off the loose ones and play for the blue? He cannot win the

frame with just the loose reds. There is every chance if he placed

the pink firm, the black will come into play as well. I think he has

decided to play the cannon. No. We will see. He has certainly overrun

that. I think he played for the red on the left corner. He has got one

to the metal. I will give him the benefit of the doubt. That was one

of the tricky ones. My mistake. As you mentioned, John, it is not a

frame-winning opportunity with just the blue and baulk colours in play.

He will have to get the right side of the blue singer Later. The four

reds impossible positions, if he got those and the blues, that would be

another 24 points. There would still be 75 remaining. He has to start

thinking about those reds that are surrounding the pink and black.

There is a gentleman in the studio that would have played it the first

shot. Blue into the pink when he had the perfect angle. He overdid that.

He immediately asked for the cue ball to be cleaned. I do not know if

he felt he had got a bounce. That cue ball is definitely not where he

wanted it to be. Just dropped in. Only just. And at

first look, he is not perfect here by any means.

Not quite recovered the situation. The wrong angle on the blue. He has

left it until the last minute. He desperately needs a good angle on

the blue or baulk colour to try to get into those reds. Good pot. Penny

has found the angle on the blue. He cannot refuse the cannon this time.

-- and he has found. He found a gap. Where did that gap come from? That

is a port shot, isn't it, John? You are a hard man, Willie. He wants the

pink in play. He got too much into the cue ball. That is what I am

saying. Anyway, it is end of break. Not the

old robe of the green. Well, it has touched the brown. He will be

disappointed he did not win the frame at that visit come but maybe

he should have played the cannon early and not leave it until the

last minute. That was a good shot. Good shot.

There is a part of -- possible pot on here. Right in the heart of the

pocket. He is on the green. So, another chance to win this frame.

That was an excellent pot. Every credit. Can he get into the cue ball

enough to play the cannon off one cushion? It looks like he is playing

two. As he got on the red to He has. What a mess on the green that could

be. He could get through to this red just below the black. He may be able

to pot it, screw back, bring the other reds into play and still be on

the black. From no where he has been given an opportunity to steal the

frame. -- no. He will be disappointed. He did not get into

that. He was given a chance there but he wanted more back spin.

An opportunity missed. I cannot see him going for the pot

here. Nestling behind the green and get

the snooker. Not a bad effort. Marco Fu, 48 points ahead, 59 remaining.

He only needs and other red and a colour. He will not want to bring

the pink interplay. Can he avoided? -- interplay.

A dilemma here. He has a lead and he wants to protect it.

He doesn't want to open he's reds up. You've got to play the right

shot. Left the pot on for Mark Selby. If

you were feeling really confident here, you could pot this red, cannon

into the pink and red. If you catch the pink full ball, you'd be on the

black. I like that. He can play is slowly

as well. Well, he got the cannon and

everything. But he didn't get the pot. Played a little harder than I

thought he would. A bit slower and that would have been on the black.

It would have been on the pink. Surprised Marco's not taking this

red to the left middle. That red and a blue would put him to the nookers

required stage. -- snookers required stage.

If it runs boost the brown, this could be -- past the brown, this

could be very good. Here's another opportunity now for

Mark. I think he can get through to the red closest to the corner.

That's a poor shot. He could not afford to miss the cannon there.

It was for the red to go on the right hand. If he caught the red

thicker, it would have made the cannon.

He's taking this brown on. Doesn't want to sneak behind the red

near the cushion. Oh, that's unlucky.

Of all the places in all the world! Forts

Where's the blue ball going? Oh, you could not believe it. Cow have a

thousand attempts at that and not get it. Trying to hit that red.

Never dreamt of putting the blue in. Marko just needs this red for the

frame. It's not there, though. How many

chances? Sometimes if you get a couple of

chances a frame, you're more than happy. There's been three or four in

every frame we've played this second session.

Oh, landed perfect. Landed absolutely perfect here. I presume

you'd play the kiss black here. If you just kiss the black, you may

not finish on the red. He's gone into the black. It needs

to stop. It's very hard. I just thought he'd - I mean, at the end of

the day, he's thinking if I get the cannon, at least I might be on a

red. I think he played your shot, but he

got into the cue ball too much. But he's still in this frame. That's

a pretty good shot. He's covered the red in the middle of the table.

It's going to be a free ball here. Free ball called.

Must be the blue that's covering the left-hand side of the red.

This yellow will be counted as a red and then colour to follow.

This could be three frames on the trot that the right person's not won

the frame. There's been so many twists and

turns in the first three frames. No need to tell you this is the key

shot coming up. Needs a good angle on the colour to drop on this red.

Could have played it better than that. He has a slight angle on the

blue. But he's going to have to force it.

It's tricky, this. Doesn't have to play the pot, of

course. If the black was on its spot, it would have been easy to

roll it in. He could play it slowly and get on

the pink in the middle. But the pink aawkward for the yellow.

Playing this pot is very risky. But played beautifully.

He can't get enough side on, so he has to get the gap in between blue

and pink. Anything but straight on the green,

you fancy him to pinch the frame. He needs the six remaining colours

for a steal on the black. His body language suggests it may be

frerlly straight. -- nearly. This is very good. That's an

excellent shot. Just about perfect. Mark Selby

should have won the first frame, but he didn't. The next two frames,

Marco Fu will be kicking himself not to have won them both. Looks like

losing them both now. He led 3-0, this will be the first

time since then he goes three frames clear.

Using the rest adds a little more pressure to the shot.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Mark Selby pinches the

frame and goes three clear again. STUDIO: Marco Fu has to sit and

think about what is effectively grand larceny. It's raised

interesting issues. With were talking about the fact that one or

two of these pockets, since they've been recovered, are rather generous.

The general consensus amongst the pros watching are that the pockets

are oversized. If you are playing shots on pockets that are bigger,

you should make the most of it. This one in particular, he knew he had

missed this. You see his reaction when he hits it. It looks wide from

there. Definitely. It hits three knockels and drops in. Here's

virtually the same shot on the other pocket, that's even wider. That's a

lovely gift. This changes your thinking out there, as you get to

grips with what's happening. Yes it can. Let's say you're a good tight

rope walker and you can get into tight pockets under pressure. You'd

be grieved if you thought somebody was not as good in that department

and gets away with it. A shot where it changes the equation, this shot

here. It's a tough shot, but if the pockets are bigger... Definitely. If

they were playing tight, he would definitely have played the snooker

there. He would have sent the red round the table. If you feel that

the object ball is going to hit the knuckle and still go in, that shot

is so much easier. You're constantly, your frame of mind is

more confident. What it does is put a premium on, once you get amongst

the balls, you have to kill. You don't necessarily get that many

chances. Once you get them, you know you should. Marco missed a glaring

red, a bit of pressure in his arm. It puts a bit of pressure on the

safety. You've got to get the safety even better. It's hard to judge

which players it helps and which players it doesn't. It is argued

that it's a great leveller. That's perhaps something that a few players

have been aggrieved about. It is the same for both players. It could

favour certain types of players. It could indeed. It's certainly been an

issue. A lot of discussion happening. That's on social media.

Interesting to get your opinion, both of you, that you think that

they're right. COMMENTATOR: Marco gets the 12th

frame under way. A mid-session interval after this one. If he's

going to go to his dressing room, with any good thoughts, he'll want

to win it. He'll be disgusted the way he lost

the last one. Missed a fairly simple green. OK,

Mark Selby didn't take advantage of it. But he did eventually steal the

frame. Marco had two or three golden opportunities.

One of the better safety shots that we've seen so far in this session.

Marco's got to be wary here, he doesn't knock a red towards the left

corner. He's got a good white, but that red

coming up. I don't know whether he can play the

cut. He could. When a good pot it was.

I don't think he's got the right angle on the yellow. If not he'll

trick up behind it. As it turns out, a slight angle, the

cue ball - if he picked it up with his hand he couldn't have put it in

a better position. Can one of these players take this

opportunity - again, it just catching the pumper of the middle

pocket. Never certain to be on the colour.

But don't miss the red. APPLAUSE Right in the middle of the

pocket though, good recovery. When he knocked that tricky black in

with the rest, a tremendous round of applause from The Crucible audience.

They've always been very fair, haven't they?

Mark Selby should have won the first, lost it. Marco Fu should have

won the next two, lost them both. Marco Fu in a position where he

should win this frame. If he gets to 68 points, it will be

snookers required. Just the feeling about this match,

at the moment, and matches can change, but doesn't look as though

anyone's going to Republican way with it. -- run away with it.

Marco being three frames behind would have known this is a massive

frame. Just went to throw his cue up in the

air. He's not perfect on this black. I think that red below the pink will

go to the right middle. Looks all over now. Played that

nicely. In fact, red and a high value

colour, you'd think he would roll through for the black here.

Well played. He must have been very disappointed after losing the last

frame. And even the one before that. Yes, I think on reflection, 2-2 is

the fair scoreline. Marco Fu has had five centuries in

this World Championship. Amazingly, there have been 73 centuries so far.

It probably won't be done, but a couple of days ago, it's not beyond

the realms of possibility we could have a century of centuries!

Wouldn't that be something at The Crucible. Absolutely.

Lovely. This black for a beautifully-piled century break.

Well played. -- compiled century break. Well

played. Five centuries in the morning

session. This, the first for this session.

He made 138 earlier on in the turnament.

Lost a couple of frames, he will feel that he should have won. I have

to say, at the moment, he looks the more likely to win a frame in one

visit. Yes, Selby's highest speck still 69. This has been top quality,

this break. Lost position just once. APPLAUSE Mark Selby is still two in

front at 7-5. STUDIO: It's one tenth of the

century action that we've seen in this particular semi compared with

the other one. It's intriguing stuff all the same. Fans of both Marco and

Mark will be slightly concerned with the exception of that frame, with

their inability to kill off frames in one visit. You can see that's

Marco's strong suit. His strongest suit is his break building, his

scoring. If Fu won this match and Ding won the other one, we could

have 20 centuries! They're tremendous break builders. He should

have won the two frames previous. He put that out of his mind. That's him

at his best. You have a poacher supreme in Mark Selby who's able to

pounce and get over the line, when presented with an opportunity to

make steals. Yes, he can. He's able to up it and go through the gears.

We saw that against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final that year.

You never discount Mark Selby that he could start to reel off frame

after frame. There's no-one better at winning lug I. That's -- Winning

ugly. Thank you very much. We'll give them

a break, whilst you sit back, open your mind and prepare to be

enthralled by the wit and wisdom of the brilliant Stephen Fry.

Hello again. Today, I have a question that may appeal to the hot

heads amongst you. If you possess a short fuse or incendiary temper,

this is for you. Tell me, what was the most explosive chapter in the

history of snooker and why? I'm sure we can all think of a few, fiery

tempered players over the years. The answer may amay not be about one of

them. Get involved on social media using hashtag QI. I will reveal all

later. An intriguing one. All right, it is

time for the final instalment of pot quiz. Mark Allen must be shaking in

his boots or not about the thought the greatest that the Crucible has

ever known, only seven times Stephen Hendry's turn.

And today's contestant is seven times world champion Stephen

Hendrie. A man who never likes to lose. No. One minute debate. I am

doing it into the second week. The cloth should be changed. Everybody

has played on it. Two minutes and 11 seconds was posted by me. One minute

will be tough. I think I would rather do an omelette. That is the

wrong programme. Five questions. If you get them right you can take five

reds off the table. The year you won your seventh world title in 1999,

who did you play in the first round? Was it the late great Paul Hunter?

It was. Who talk your record of the youngest competitor at the Crucible?

Ding Junhui? No, Luca Brazile. 54 days younger than you were. You were

the youngest ever world champion, who was the oldest? At the Crucible.

Or... Dennis? Ray Reardon. 45. Dennis was 35. I think this is

gettable. Name three of the semifinalists at this season's UK

Championship? David Grace, Lang when Bo and Mark Selby.

Last question. How many century breaks have you made at the

Crucible? Is it 117, 127, 137 or 147? Surely not 147? That would be

lovely, wouldn't it? I wanted to be 147 but I do not think it is. I will

go 127. Correct. Three reds. Take your three

reds off, please. I think I am going to go... I quite like that. You can

put your white ball anywhere you want. Your time starts when you

strike the cue ball. The unmistakable style of Stephen

Hendrie. Walking around the table, lost a bit of time already. Looks to

be chewing well though. Moaned about the cushions, moaned about the

cloth. He is back in prime position. Making sure he does not use the

cushions. Keeping everything tight. He does not like it. 30 seconds gone

already. The crowd go ballistic! LAUGHTER. No mistakes so far. He is

not fast around the table but he is efficient.

He will have to do some work with this cue ball. This will be going

around the table. It is not the black yet. One minute. He will not

be happy with that. Schoolboy error. If the cue ball goes in-off, you

have to play it from the baulk. It is not going well. There are two

reds left. He is playing safety shots on himself. One minute and 28

seconds. Still looking quite nice. He will not be top of the table but

he will not be bottom. Willie tried to play the positive shot? He does.

-- will he try. And your time... Rhiannon Evans, one minute 34.

Stephen Hendrie, one minute and 48. It could have been one minute and

47. The seven times world champion goes well below Rhiannon Evans.

Below Ciaran Wilson. Just above Ken Daugherty. I have beaten Ken

Daugherty, Ebdon and Davis, that is all that matters.

Mark Allen may have gone out in the last 16 but he has the ultimate

consolation prize. I do not think it would be going on

his CV any time soon but thank you to our game competitors this year.

There was much to laugh at when you look at the bottom of the standings.

Bringing up the rear, a former rear of the year, Steve Davis. You were a

guinea pig. You wanted another shot but we did not give you one.

Mid-table, almost relegation zone flirting for you. I should have done

more research. I think the clock was wrong. I cannot believe I was that

slow. And to be behind Peter Ebdon, that is frightening.

John, you were mid-table, respectable?

I am actually very happy with that. I beat everyone on our crew, so I am

happy with that. We have heard and commentary today that he has missed

this and played with a little bit of side. They are the best players in

the world and what they do not want to use is side. I am not a physics

expert. It was my worst subject at school. But if you get down, watch

how the cue ball throws to the left before it comes back. I am playing

this to the baulk line. It throws out. It went out straightaway. If I

do it on the other side, it will go the other way. Obviously when you

are playing over the distance of ground down the table, you have to

calculate how much it is going to go out and wait for it to come back.

That is why they do not like using the site on the bottom of the cue

ball. When you play it at the top, it stays straight. Left-hand side on

the top. It actually runs down the line. So basically, you cannot

always play with top spin and the side you want. Sometimes you have to

use the bottom of the cue ball. The players will like being close into

the baulk because it will not throw off so much but they will not like

the distance of ground. These tables have got shaved cloths. You have to

do a little calculation for this one. You would have two calculate a

little bit. If you are playing a little bit of

bottom, left-hand side, pot the yellow and let it run down the table

and down for the reds. But basically they do not like side at all and try

to use it as little as possible and these are the best players in the

world. Top marks for analysis. Back to

Stephen Fry. He has lit a fire under us today.

This is a really tricky one. What has been the most explosive chapter

in the history of snooker? You may think it involves some of our

celebrity players. I would have to think it has got

something to do with the late great Alex Higgins. Everything was

explosive when he was around. Explosive. The cue is not -- the

clue is not in the question. Whenever you think of explosive in

snooker, your mind is drawn to the Hurricane. Or Jimmy White. They were

getting rid of elephants. It was OK for billiards. When they went to

snooker, finding red elephants was difficult.

Obviously the 1985 final, I think it was 1985... Dennis mentioned it!

A few snooker managers have deliberately set fire alarms off

when their players playing poorly. I have been in a few of those. It

has nothing to do with fisticuffs or falling out. The answer I am seeking

is a load of old balls. In fact, it is about the composition of some of

the first billiards and Snooker balls. Congratulations if you are on

the right line. Originally billiard balls were commonly made of ivory.

Indeed they had to be caught from the dead centre of an elephant's

Tosca. Dead, I am afraid, is right. Each task only yielded three our

four balls. Animal welfare was not high on the agenda in the 1890s.

Many elephant's were killed to allow snooker and billiards to be played.

In the 1860s, a New York billiard table manufacturer offered a

gigantic sum of $10,000 to come up with a replacement for ivory. An

American chemist answered the call. He produced solid nitro cellulose.

He patented it as celluloid. The first industrial plastic in the

world. But it was volatile. Highly flammable. And it sometimes exploded

during manufacturing. And indeed he recalled his experiments with

billiard balls, writing, occasionally the violent contact of

the balls would produce a mild explosion. We had a letter from a

billiards soon proprietor in Colorado mentioning this and saying

when it happened that instantly every man in the room pulled out his

gun. Did they get kicks!

Eventually celluloid was replaced, of course. These days snooker balls

are almost exclusively made from resin. Cue sport is in a safer place

now than it was in the 1860s. You would like to think that elephants

have, too. But the killings still goes on.

Today's snooker history lesson courtesy of Stephen Fry. Some of you

were on the right lines. It was a tricky one. Chris Baker got the

nitrocellulose connection. Graham Bailey and Aidan TAG. Give

yourselves a big tap on the back. The blokes in the studio got -10 and

-50 respectively. Mark Selby is capable of some explosive form

himself might you know. -- explosive form himself, you know.

Behind that funny mask is a player that is very clever, very shrewd. A

bit of a street fighter. S very determined, very gritty. One of the

nicest guys you will need. Very funny. Determination, great, you

have to drag him off the table. He has a complete desire to win.

He is funny, hard working and always tries his best.

A good lad to be around. He has got so much bottle.

Funny, witty, slow, safety. Very talented.

Works hard, great ambassador. When Mark plays well he is mentally

extremely strong, not fearful of any player. That makes him a tough

opponent. A class act on and off the table. Probably one of the smartest

players. He has a dry sense of humour. We get on very well. Top

that, top player, he can grind out a victory from playing badly are

getting way behind. All-round probably the best player in the game

right now. Well, to continue the fiery theme, I

he has still to catch fire in this match, Mark Selby but he is 7-5

ahead. Marco Fu has begun to slow burn in this semifinal with 135 in

the last frame. Back we go. Four more frames to play this afternoon.

Yes, as you say, Hazel, four more frames to be played in this second

session of four. A good break of shot. Just short of four ours match

time. Marco Fu would be delighted with that Breaky made before the

interval. A big break like that really settles you down. -- break he

made. And a pot like that will. That is a cracker! Knew he would be on

the pink. This pink does not go on its own

spot. Close to its own spot. In direct line with the middle of the

top cushion. The pink is not in too bad a position. He will have to go

up for the blue here. That pink is definitely available into the corner

pocket. Perfect on the blue. Can he stun down for the red to the right

of the black? That is the red who would love to be playing on.

He has got the loose red on the left-hand side to play for. He has

chosen that. Now it is imperative he get this good angle on the blue.

Looking ahead, if he can get a good angle on the blue, play for the red

just behind the black, he can play for the pink and open up the reds.

It is a choice. Do you play for the loose red or cannon into the main

bunch? He has not got the angle to play into the bunch at speed. If he

gets low on the pink, you will bring the reds into play. Just coming

around to look at the angle he needs. These will be spreading far

and wide if he finishes low on this pink. When people say how many shops

in advance you look, on this occasion he is looking three shots

in advance. Now a chance to pot the pink. Do not take your eye off the

pot. That is OK. The pink spot is still covered. The

pink available or be black. The blue needed and this time he will go into

the bunch. He always gets perfect top side on

that side macro of the table. On the other side he comes macro up short.

You always need a bit of luck. And at first glance he has had none. He

did pretty well. But he wanted to hit that front red fall in the face.

When he has hit it half ball, it has come off the side-cushion macro, and

then you are relying on a bit of luck. He has had none. So unlucky

not to get onto a red. Mark spotted a foreign object on the

cue ball. A little rub of the gloves. It will be replaced,

meticulously. The referee is a Sheffield man.

Too thin. He caught the bumper. Normally catching the bomb is a bad

thing. He will not be too unhappy with that result. -- bump. There is

a pot on here for Marco. He has to avoid the two reds on the left. He

did not avoid them. He would like to get the one nearest the pocket. I

think there is a gap. Both players struggling to get top

side of the blue from that side. If he can roll the blue in but he is

just the wrong side of the blue line. He will be looking to the

straight red to the left corner. I do not know if he can drop this red

in. See if he can get on the black to the opposite corner pocket. It

looks as if he can. If he got on the black and knocked it in, you can see

a big break. Do not miss the red. That is unexpected. That is the last

thing I thought of. He was not having to do much with the cue ball.

No excuse for doing that. Yes, it is certainly a chance