Saturday, 1st Round, Morning Snooker: World Championship

You come off the M1, or wherever you are coming from, it is special it is

our annual pilgrimage to the home of snooker. Wherever you walk, there's

always a bit of history, there's always pictures of previous finals

and stuff like that. The arena itself is quite incredible. It is

probably the greatest snooker playing arena that we have played

in. A great atmosphere and it is the World Championships, it has a

special feeling about it. It can be the best two weeks of your life when

you are there playing for the world title, and if you manage to win it,

there's nothing like it. The crowd getting involved and the

booze and the arts, it is everything rolled into one.

That is where some of the most iconic moments of our game took

place, we walk into that arena, that is where those matches happen. That

is where Alex brought out the family for the shot, where Dennis one in

85, it all happened in that room. -- Dennis won. Good morning, doesn't it

come around quickly? It is crackling with anticipation and excitement

inside the Crucible Theatre here in Sheffield as we get ready to play

for this little beauty once again over the next 17 days, at the bet

Fred 's World Snooker Championship. Stuart Bingham will be the first

outing into the arena to start his defence. This 70 day marathon is

longer than you think because the World Championship is actually been

underway for ten days prior to this in the nerve shredding qualifying

event. -- 17 day. Qualifying are 128 players playing over eight days for

those priced 16 places on offer at the Crucible. One of the early

casualties was our own Steve Davis, the six time world champion going

out in the first round to Fergal O'Brien. Ken Dougherty, the 1997

championship will be joining us on the sofa. He made it to the final

round before falling to Ryan Day. Two former winners made it through,

Graeme Dott beat Mike Dunn. And Peter Ebdon, winner in 2002 made an

incredible comeback in the second round to win 10-9 before cruising

through his third-round match. There were also success stories for Ali

Carter who saw off the challenge of Dominic Dale.

He is the qualifier no one wanted to draw and still a contender to get

his hands on the trophy. And aren't we cruel, because we just made Ken

and Steve relives that in front of the entire Crucible crowd. Ken, a

lute for a while that we were talking about you, not to you. You

are close. Yes, it was very black-and-white, as Steve Davis

would say. I got pretty close, lost a couple of matches. Ryan Day played

incredibly well, unfortunately for me. It is so tough. As Steve Davis

will testament to, it is so tough. Everybody wants to walk through

those chords, come down the stairs into this wonderful arena. It is so

hard to get here. When you are here! Steve, Graeme Dott described

qualifying as a horrible twitch first. Do you agree to Mac nowadays

I just treat it as a day out with Fergal. I was sitting at a table and

thinking, it is just nice to be out! I shook hands with Fergal and it was

like nothing had ever happened. We are glad you are on our side for the

next 17 days. It is an incredibly high quality field. 28 of the

world's topped 32 players are here. That is an hurdle. -- unheard of. It

shows you the strength and breadth and quality in that field and I'm

sure you will see very high quality tournament. What about the defending

champion? Because you got very close, you got to the final after

winning in 97 and 98. Steve, let's gloss over what happened to you. But

as the years roll on, how much more difficult will it be for someone to

come back as a first-time champion and went again. Think it gets more

difficult, history is against you, everyone keeps talking about it. For

Stuart Bingham and myself, when you get your hands on the trophy, you

don't want to give it back. It will be difficult for him and difficult

first round for him against his practice partner as well. Arguably,

there is possibility in the future there will be less first-time

winners of the tournament as the standard gets ever better. The

criticism of this qualifying section where everybody outside the top 16

has to play three rounds, it is its own event now. Everyone who gets

through feel like they have climbed a mountain and they are also match

sharp, said the 16 people who are seeded through are up against great

players and are on offer for the first match. Stuart Bingham, Ali

let's just show you the top 16 players because they all gathered

his yesterday and this is unprecedented. It was great to see

them all there. Or not to late comers and beaming but you have one

or two players that you recognise and some of the great favourites for

this event. Let's just show you who Stuart Bingham and the rest will be

facing in round one. What a start for reigning champion Stuart Bingham

up against Ali Carter. It is all Scottish meeting.

Those first-round matches will keep all of us on the team very busy

until Thursday, the second round gets underway. Do you like the look

of the line-ups this year? Fantastic, as he mentioned. I think

whoever wins this is going to have to play some snooker. They will need

a bit of luck along the way. There is only one debutant this time,

Mitchell man, and I wonder how much damage you think these qualifiers

could inflict upon the seeds this time. In the qualifying sections,

most of the players from 17 to 32 have got through. The players of the

top 16 are a strong as they have ever been. I think we could see

quite a lot of damage done because the likes of some of them, everybody

seems to have tough first-round matches. There was a time when you

looked at the draw and when it was being made, you thought, there were

a few plum draws in there. Nobody wants anybody any more, they are all

good. Exactly as we were saying earlier, Stuart Bingham playing Ali

Carter, a two-time runner-up. He got a stinker. He really did, it won't

make happy reading for Stuart Bingham fans, the stats, because Ali

Carter has won all six matches. Looking at the stats, I don't think

Stuart has beaten Ali, I should whisper, for ten years. He is the

defending champion and everybody here is excited to see the morning

session for both matches. Let's have a quick look at Stuart's year.

Stewart said he struggled over the first ten months with being eight

world champion but he has settled into the groove and says it is a

privilege and honour to come back here and try to be the first man to

beat The Crucible curse. Ladies and gentlemen, your champion, Stuart

Bingham. Obviously a bit of a blur after last

year. Eyes zonked out three weeks after. I don't think if it has sunk

in. Being here amongst all the players and seen it all happen

again, yes, it is slowly sinking in. Seeing all the boards with my name

on it, it is great, fantastic. I've been out onto stage floor and

seen it back to the two tables, it does look a bit weird but it seems

like it was yesterday I was here winning it, so, yeah, it is nice

walking around Sheffield and getting stopped, pictures and things like

that. It is great, it is brilliant. I have had near enough for the full

year for myself. It's time I am giving it back. It's great to have

my name engraved on it, it's something I have always jumped off

and it will be there for ever. -- I have always dream doors.

I can't let Ali get on top of me. If I can do that, I can hopefully enjoy

it out there and who knows? If I enjoy it like I did last

This place holds no fears for the Essex man. My health is good, I've

been on a new diet and following it strictly. To help my Crohn's disease

and help my all well-being. I'm feeling good. The game is OK, I got

through Ponds Forge, I think it is called. It's something I was not

used to doing and I was determined to get back at the Crucible game. I

love it here and have good memories here. Stuart did great lasted to win

it. I am the qualifier so are not expected to win, am I? But if I am

in the top 16, I would have been begging not to draw myself and Ding

Junhui, really. From Stuart's perspective, he knows I can play the

game, he knows I have done it all here apart from when it. So, you

know, I'm sure it will be a good match. I'm sure it is, and there is

the scene backstage. We've also got Marco Fu and Peter Ebdon waiting.

Our Embassy Rob Walker has been warming up his vocal chords for

weeks. He is ready for 17 days of action. Rob, the floor is yours.

Thanks, Hazel, good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We are delighted to

be back here at the spiritual home, this is Sheffield and this is the

one and only Crucible arena. It is the bet Fred were snooker

championship starting right here, right now.

Please welcome the man returning to the Crucible for a 23rd year. He

staged one of his legendary late-night comebacks against Gerard

Greene at the qualifiers. He took the big one in O2. Here he is,

fuelled on feeding power, here comes the force, Peter Ebdon.

And his opponent, a superb ambassador for the sport both here

and in the far east. Back for his 16th appearance at the Crucible.

Winner of two ranking titles, he showed his class winning the

Gibraltar open this season. He is the pride of Hong Kong, he is Marco

Fu. And on table one, please welcome a

player back here for a 14th consecutive year, and this time he

has done it the hard way coming through qualifiers. Twice a World

Championship finalist, winner of three ranking titles, a man of

immense courage and determination, both on and off the table, so show

your appreciation for The Captain, Ali Carter.

And finally, he hears, after 12 months of travelling the world

saying yes to every ambassadorial commitment and every autograph, he

is back at the scene of his greatest triumph, he is quite simply you're

defending world champion Stewart Ball-Run Bingham.

-- Stuart Bingham. And what a thrill for Stewart to be called into the

arena as the defending world champion. That is a moment. The 2016

championship is about to get under way. They are playing the best of 19

frames in this opening round. Red button online is the way to watch

table two. But for now, we will follow that defending champion. Good

morning, everybody, and welcome to the Crucible Theatre.

COMMENTATOR: Bet Fred snooker championship 2016. Ali Carter who

has played his three qualifying matches gets his match underway. Of

course, Ken, you have been in the position of Stuart Bingham, and he

was saying it seems like only yesterday he lifted the trophy. Does

it past that quick? It certainly does, it brings little back. -- it

all back. It goes so quickly. A good opening read. He has been a great

ambassador for the sport over the last 12 months. He has signed every

autographed and loved every minute of it. He will be feeling a lot of

attention this morning. No doubt about it. When you have had your

hands on that cup so long, you don't want to give it back. Also, he knows

the history is against him as well. No first-time winner has defended

his trophy. The Crucible curse is against him.

That was a dies pot. -- that was a nice. Settling nerves, getting a

hand on the table. That is what the player looks for. We were with him

in Ireland in January, and he was suffering

Yeah, he struggled throughout the year. Nice positional shot there.

Yes, he has struggled, no doubt about it. I know where he is coming

from because I struggled with it as well. Sometimes he feels that

instead of playing your own game, you feel there is an expectation on

you as a world champion that you are trying to live up to that title and

sometimes you can succumb to that pressure, and that is why it is

taking him a while to get That went off the near jaw. Asking

the referee to clean the cue ball, but he nearly missed it. Just watch

it. His heart would have been on his

mouth for a moment. -- in his Just having a look. Will he leave an

angle after potting the red, pointing to be back. He still has a

couple of loose roads. -- reds. 68 needs to get two litres opponent

needing a smoker. He may just play for one of the loose read here. He

has a perfect angle to run this black in.

After this red, only one more loose read. He has to think about breaking

up that cluster with the pink. Got to be a bit careful here. This

is, as Willie Thorne describes, a flat backpack. Where is the red

going? Well, and we say it is all about

fractions. If that drops in, Ali Carter has a chance in the frame.

Maybe now Stuart Bingham wins at this visit. Nearly dropped.

Read to the left of the pink, although maybe worse going into the

pack period of this brown. A nice angle on the brown, it could go off

one question and go into the back of red and pink. They used to be part

of the cue ball. On reflection, if he is not on this red to the corner

pocket, you'll have to take that shot back again and maybe gone into

the pack. Yes, playing this one into the left corner. You need to get it

because he'll be running into other reds if he misses it. He could be

leaving a chance for Ali to get right back in this frame. A bit of

pressure on this. It's not guaranteed a position, is he? He has

to somehow find a gap here to stay on the black. Oh, he has got a

horrendous kick there. A terrible kick their, very unlucky. Just have

a look at the red here. Just went straight towards that top cushion.

Can't blame him for that. There is a chance for Ali Carter 45 points

behind. I know it is the first phrase and

the best of 19, but if he was to win, what a boost that would be for

his confidence. -- the first frame. Just a little bit too straight on

that, and he tried to force the cue ball round. Got more stubborn than

run-through. I think that is all he's going to get. Little

disappointed. Just came just straight on the black. Trying to

force round but got a bit too much stone on it. -- stone on it.

He has left a bottle, and nowhere near the baulk line. That was

careless. Good pot. Can he dropped this blue

in? Just trying it on this read just to the right of this black on the

bottom right-hand pocket. -- red. Pleaded nicely. Played it. 43 points

in front. Basically equates to two red, two black.

And there is a red immediately below the pink, in the middle of those,

that is available into the right corner pocket. It is a besides

positional shot. I think he could also play into the left middle. At

least -- the least you have to do with the tuple, the better. He is

playing for the left middle. He would have liked to have been

straight. In actual fact, looking at that now, he needs red.

Nicely played. He has got an angle on the blue to come back down for

these reds. This blue will put in 57 points in front but he will still be

59 remaining. Not quite certain where that next redbacks comes from.

-- red. I don't think it has worked. Red not

immediately obvious. Nice shot. Looks to have covered the

left-hand side of this red as he looks down the table. The right

side, as we look, he may be able to swerve it slightly. Just trying to

swerve it around the green. Got the swerve to earlier ads now,

61 the difference. Just 59 remaining and it is always difficult with that

shot, because he wasn't hitting that hard, it went early and that is why

he hit the green. He needs a snooker now. 59 remaining.

Stewart doesn't want to take on unnecessary risks. I don't blame him

for that. That is not the best shot he has ever played. Does he have the

cover on the brown? It looks like it.

I assume this reds just drops in. So the defending champion, just the

start he was looking for. He got in first, was a little unlucky with the

bad contact on the red. Looked to be playing them well enough prior to

that. As Hazel was saying before this

match, he has not got the best record against Ali Carter. Ali

Carter, twice runner-up. It is unlucky that he met Ronnie

O'Sullivan in those two finals. And there was an interesting point made

about the qualifiers, Ken. There were three qualifiers, because as

you said earlier, every player 's aim is to be here at the Crucible.

How much you get from it, I don't know. That is the question. Some

players would be coming here, as Ali did, he has won three matches and he

will feel confident. How much it would have taken out at you, how

tired you would be. He only finished on Wednesday night. It remains to be

seen. Meanwhile, Stuart just finishing up nicely, getting a bit

more potting practice. Didn't matter about the green. That

was a subtle of the Stuart Bingham. Ali Carter had a chance, did not

make the most of it. A nice start for Stuart Bingham, and

if you take a look at the betting graphics, this is what the

bookmakers made of it at the start of play this morning. Defending

champion, 28-1, that is generous. John Parrott, how do you make their

thinking? We know that Ronnie O'Sullivan is the most talented

player, a few people have been telling me he had an easy path to

the draw. It looks all right on paper but you have got to win your

matches. Neil Robertson and Judd Trump are the same, but if they came

through the matches they would play in the quarterfinals, they cannot

both women. A lot of people are thinking, maybe -- they cannot both

women. A lot of people thinking, some of the other players, they

might be the way forward. Ricky Walden has been in the final and he

is 40 to one. You can go down that field and could so many players,

that is what makes it interesting this year. Lots of people with lots

of chances. That is how it looks if you're going to have a flutter. The

20 to one shot, Stuart Bingham, he has made a positive start.

Interesting betting, making money the very hot favourite. 50-1,

Stephen Maguire, that looks a good price. Even a big price for Stuart

Bingham, as the defending champion, 28-1.

Even Ali Carter was 50-1. Twice runner-up, bags of experience. Lots

of big prices in the field there. You know what they say, the bookies

always get it right. But looking at some of the results we have had this

year in sport, anything can happen. Did not get it right with Leicester,

did they? Oh, that's the problem when you play

at that pace. If it does not go in and it gets close, it's going to

stick over the pocket. So at chance. Just the problem, the black is a

little bit tired on the top cushion. I do not think he will try to get

onto the lack from this, they think is available. -- the pink is

available. He is having a look now. He did not want to play for the

black, he thought it would tie the red up. But now he is thinking, if I

popped the pink, will it go on the black spot? So, where does the pink

go? Paul Callier, who will be refereeing

the final this year. That was the problem. I presume it goes on the

black spot. It does, and it ties that read up. And the way that the

pink has gone on that spot, maybe he did not fancy rolling the red on the

top cushion, they are easy to miss. He has two force the cue ball

through now. Where is the cue ball going to finish? Slap bang in the

middle of nowhere. The problem is with that shot, he

plays with of top spin, you see it going forward. There was no real

path up towards the blue, and I assume the pink does not pass the

red into the corner otherwise he would not be able to play with that

pace. He caught that much too thick. So,

Ali, without having to do much, gets a second chance. It would be

interesting to see how he plays this, as the pink pass into the

right-hand corner pocket? Playing that shot, it obviously does. Just

about on it, is he? That is surprising, before I assumed the

pink did not go, the way he played the run-through. It is hard to

judge. Now, he would like the pink to go

back on the black spot and it does. This is a real good chance now for

Ali. That previous shot, potting the pink launched the red away from the

pink as well so it is nicely over the corner pocket. A good chance for

Ali Carter here. To get his cue am going. -- cue arm.

Plenty of open reds here. He wants to keep the pink on the black spot

for as long as possible. Going back up for the reds to the

middle. Should be OK. He will probably play for the brown here.

Unless he has a natural angle to run through and avoid the case on the

blue. The problem is, the cue ball is going away from the business end

of the table so he needs a good positional blue, yellow or brown

hair. The fact that he has got up twice, it is not as straightforward

as rolling the red in and guaranteeing position.

He was expecting a kiss on the blue and he did not get it. He will be

disappointed with that. A little bit surprised there,

because it looked like he could dig into the cue ball little bit, stun

it and tried to get the ball into the right centre, the blue. He could

have played it better. He must have assumed that he would go into the

blue and he would slow the cue ball down. He is playing the snooker, he

is still in control of the table. He knows he should have got more

points. Just caught it a little bit thicker

than he would have liked. I do not think he has left anything. Apart

from a possible, well, I was going to say double, but. Just looking,

Ali is looking at the possibility of a plant. There is quite a distance

between the two reds so it has got to be made. A possibility but it has

got to be made and it is not one of those that if you missed it, you

will get the cue ball in a safe position, but looks like he needs to

get this, he is taking the bull by the horns. Outstanding, terrific

shot. Confident, confident. Yes, played it very well. Played the

position on the pink as well. An excellent shot. He left the cue ball

in a position that possibly wasn't going to be leaving it in, but an

excellent shot, a good chance now. The pink will go on its spot but it

might still be available into the right centre.

It is available into the right centre. I am not certain whether...

It would have to be precise positional shot, he is going to play

for the here. He did not fancy it. To play for the pink in the middle,

you would have had to be inch perfect. By playing it with pace, he

gave himself options but he is not perfect on yellow or brown hair.

Still a little bit of work to do with the cue ball. A possible 75

points remaining, a colour to come. No, he has another hit it. He has

overdone it. -- he has overhit it. He is looking accusingly at the

cushion, did he get a bounce? It is hard to say.

"The Cue ball. -- digging down onto the cue ball. Makes it look

difficult but controlled it nicely. Still a little bit of work to do,

popped the yellow, still need red, colour, red after this.

Just about on this red to the middle. Do not think he can risk

playing it to the opposite middle, a little bit of work to do with the

cue ball. The only thing that will give him hope is the red that is

just to the left of that cost of four looks available to the left

corner. He has played for the pink in the middle. Played it pretty

well. They make these look easy but there is a bit of pressure on this.

He needs this pink and one or read to clinch the second frame. -- and

one more red. It is tricky. Good shot. There was a bit of

pressure on that, all right. I think he is just about on this red. The

pink into the centre as well. So just to read required.

He has needed a couple of chances. Always looked on paper as though

this is going to be a very close, hard-fought match. After two frames,

no reason to think any different. As Hazel said at the top of the show,

the last half a dozen occasions they have met, Ali Carter has come out

the winner. Not always short matches either, the UK Championships, longer

matches. Both players now have a frame on the

board. These matches, as always, to be played in two sessions. First

session of nine will be played this morning, and the remainder will be

played until finish this evening. Not quite there. And Ali Carter gets

the second frame on the scoreboard. We thought it was going to be close

and that is what it is. One apiece. Chatting away with one another,

welcome to our Winter Gardens home where we have been for the last few

years. Stephen John are settled in, and so are the guys we are watching

this morning. I do not remember when I lost the match chatting with my

opponent when he was destroying me, to Tony. You cannot chat to Tony!

You are probably too shocked at the time. It is interesting, we talked

about this earlier, we have got Ding Junhui, Ali Carter, you do not want

to face them in the first round as a qualifier. Such a hard match. Stuart

was being honest is media the day, he said Ali was one of them because

they have got such a bad record against him. You do like to play

players you have got a good record against. It could work in Stuart's

favour, it might say, maybe he drew someone he was expected to beat,

sometimes the wheel completely falls off like that. He knows he has got a

tough match against a tough opponent he can play snooker is it it is not

the first round of the World Championship, because he knows he

has got nowhere to run nowhere to hide. Exactly, we talked about the

fact that he had not beaten Ali Carter for almost ten years. But he

has just become the world champion. What kind of incredible confidence

you bring back to this. That is a good point, a long period of time

where Stuart Bingham looked a bit of a journeyman professional until the

last 45 seasons where he has become a really good professional. He has

improved. That is the positive you will take.

Interesting comments, from past 12 champions John Parrott and Steve

Davis there. It is a good point, John, if Stuart were to face another

opponent that he was expected to win, it would be slightly easier, if

there is one in the draw. Sometimes when you are expected to win and it

does not happen for you, the pressure is even greater, whereas he

knows he is in for a tough match against Ali Carter. And man he does

not have a good record against. It focuses the mind is bit more. As you

say, there are not many easy matches now days. These young guns coming

through, but better the devil you know, probably! This is going to be

a good match and it is going to be played in a good, fluid style. I do

not think either player will be bogged down with safeties. It will

be the one who will take the chances who comes out the winner. Well, it

did not affect it but what a horrendous kick that was. Already,

they have got three kicks. But the cue ball when it hits the red, I

thought the Grand National was last week! He has got a nice angle on the

black, a stun into the pack of reds. He is OK, he has got the red into

the right centre. I do not cue will be playing for the

black off this thread. -- I do not think he will be playing for the

black off this red. It would be nice to win a frame in one visit. That is

what can give you a slightly psychological edge with your

opponent, saying to them, you make one mistake, that is all I need.

Stuart will be disappointed with that, he will need to screw back

another three or four inches at least. The only good thing about the

angle on this red is he will be able to go into the bunch of reds and

pink and try to screw into them and bring some more into play, and

hopefully back for the blue. Looks like he is running true for the

black here. It could have been a little bit better, a little bit

straighter on the black would have been better. He had a nice angle to

screw into them back on the blue and would have brought more threads into

play. If he had parted the red into the middle pocket, which he did not,

he may have slid off the reds are little better. It all depends when

you are down and looking at the shot, you see it differently. He

would have liked to have been straighter on the black. He has

potted it, but you could hear when he was slamming the cue on to the

rest, he thought, what was that? That is the question. He potted the

black but which read did he play for? I don't know! I think he was

trying to hold it for the red closer to the bottom right-hand pocket. I

do not think he could hold it playing the way he did, he would

have to beat into the cue ball and try to slow it up. It looks like the

end of the break unless he fancies the double on the red but that is

risky. He has got to make certain he gets a

good cue ball here, he's playing the safety pretty thick. He has avoided

the colours, pretty good. A little tap on the table there from Stuart,

that was a good escape from Ali. He just got a little bit thinner

than he would have liked, that is why the cue ball has come off the

baulk cushion, so a safety for Ali, hand on the table. It is when you

get in position like that, you have got to take advantage. Not bad,

gives him a slight advantage in this tactical battle. And with Stuart

having 31 point lead, he will feel it is imperative that Ali gets the

next chance. That is an excellent shot from

Stuart. Top drawer. That is the advantage of getting a

good cue ball, and he is forcing a mistake from Ali. But that red, and

you can see the wry smile on Stuart's face, it has gone close to

the cushion, little bit out from the cushion and it would have been an

easy pot but look where it is now. And particularly as I do not think

the black goes into the opposite corner. He will have to force the

cue ball back up the table. This is very missable.

So, Ali did not play the best of safety shots, but it just shows you.

The run of the ball therefore Ali. It was a big ask to pop this, he was

trying to stun across the table for the black in the same pocket. Just

off the cushion, the pace. A very difficult shot. There is a red to

the left of the middle here. Ali is looking to see, I assume the black

will go to the left corner. So he has got one to the left, one to the

right middle. It is the one to the right middle he is going to play

for. If the black does go, which think it

does, just concentrate on the pot on the red.

So close, has he left anything? He was concerned about leaving the red

to the left of the black. His beret cap? Full -- is there a gap? For

Stewart to get through? At first look, not quite. Just caught that

near jaw. Looking at his red at the far right

corner. Thinking the only one he can leave is the one he is playing.

And that is exactly what he has done. Thought if he got close, it

would rattle and run along the baulk cushion. It has come back at him.

A bit and lucky there. The chance now for Ali to get back in the

frame, 31 points behind at the moment.

Come now to have a look at the red in the middle of the bunch below the

pink, just potting the right-hand pocket. Obviously a nice angle on

this green. If he gets on this red, nice and

straight. It looks like he has. He can just get the red in and then on

to the black. Nice angle on the black, popped the

black, just open the black and move the red. Open to both pockets. Nice

shot. Pretty decisive, quick, strikes the

ball really nice. He has got all the shots, has Ali. I had the pleasure

of commentating, and he has a tremendous technique. He has been

through a lot. That is the main reason he had to qualify at the

moment, he has world ranked 31 but he is a lot better than that. He has

had a lot to put up with in his young life and nice to see him back

here although he will be a bit appointed with that. -- a bit

disappointed. Needed the red to be a bit straighter. A tough shot to take

on. Don't blame him for that. He has reduced his arrears to just three.

Not much else Stewart could do there. He knew there was an easy

safety shot of this red of the walk back cushion. The problem here for

Ali, in stunning this red around, he has two avoid this running into

yellow or brown. If it was to run into those colours, the red would

stay at that end of the table. Managed to avoid that. But by

avoiding the kids on the yellow and brown, he didn't really stun it full

in the face. You can see he can get past the blue, this red is on.

Could be a costly miss, that. Just the first little signs of nerves

from Stuart Bingham there. Not quite sure why he didn't just

play it almost dead weight and try and go for the black. But chance for

Ali, he can get on a couple of reds here. The obvious one, the red in

the right centre, but the dead Mac directly below the pink and if he

got on it, he could pot it and move the other red away from the pink

spot. He is on that red, that slightly

hampered by the other red. It is probably still worth taking this one

on. It is one of those where you think I will play a choice for two

reds. And he should have committed, I think this is the right red to

play. Even more so now. That was a lovely little second case, -- kiss

Mac. Brought both of them into play now.

That was a bonus. That flew off the cushion, no doubt about that. That

did fly. It is understandable, first morning,

the doors have been opened, the tables have been put up, it is the

wonderful Crucible Theatre. And as per usual, packed and the only

vacant seats are people who missed their alarm or got here at it late.

Now, a good positional shot needed. He has a 12 point lead now. A colour

to come. He needs a precise positional shot. He is not perfect

on the black all the pink. -- all the pink. He needs to try and drag

the black in and hope for a red the back centre. This could go wrong

here. Yes, it wasn't straightforward, that. That is the

problem, on these superfine clots, he played with a lot of right-hand

side and hit it too thin, because if you hit it too firm, the right-hand

side pushes the cue ball to the left and from that distance, never has

the chance to come back and that is why he hit the black too thin and

that is why he has missed a golden opportunity. It was all brought

about by a couple of little positional shots in outbreak where

he thought I would be on one or the other. Concentrate on being on one,

if you are not on it properly, then you can be on the other. Oh,

gravity! Looked like it stopped there.

Certainly knocked a few times. Let's have a look. One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven. This blue will put Stewart just six

points behind. Once again just looking for that one good positional

shot. Could play for the red just below the pink into the left middle.

Not certain about the availability of the red. Obviously they are

available into the left corner. 136 point each. That bang you heard

there, just shows you how close the spectators are. That is the board at

the back and he is just pulling his cue back and he caught the word. --

would. Didn't do it on purpose. It wasn't a case of bad temper. Just

pulled the cue back and as I say, spectators so close. That is the

great thing, if you come to the Crucible Theatre, you can hear the

players breathe. Not the best. It is in the baulk

colour. So close to the red. Should have found the baulk cushion, not

the baulk line. The chance for Ali, he has to take

this red on. Just looking at the scores, 13 point

ahead. May not need that green that is tied up. Can get a couple of

pinks with these reds. Yellow would be enough. Oh, that certainly makes

a difference. He wouldn't have enjoyed that red going in, that is

for sure. Just wanted to knock it over and leave it in the jaws of the

pocket. That could make a difference to this frame now, 15 points ahead.

He's going to need that green. I don't blame him playing the cannon.

As you say, a little unlucky for it to go in. Can't get close to the

yellow. We'll just have to drop this pink in, the only thing is, if he

puts it, he will need the yellow and the green. He has played that well

so if you can pot this yellow, doesn't have to do anything with the

green. Yellow and green would be sufficient to leave Stuart and

needing a snooker. He may just decide to part in the yellow, play

the cannon and the green. I think that is the only way he can hold the

cue ball. He has got a way with it there. It

could have gone anywhere. Good safety shot. Wanted to knock

the black just into play, just tied it up slightly.

It is not a good shot from Ali Carter. It is actually not too bad

that the cue ball has gone into the middle pocket because they have left

it, the yellow on. He has been fortunate, really. That yellow was

just an inch away from the cushion. It would be an easy part. Stuart

probably won't lay it now. -- play it.

He has got a good safety but he has not got the snooker. Just having a

look whether he can get behind the yellow and kicked it up the table.

That is a dangerous shot to play. If you get right in behind it, you

could knock it over the far left corner.

Didn't really get right in behind it. He has left the yellow pottable.

I always look at this type of shot and think is the part more difficult

than the safety, snooker, and in this case I don't know, it is 50-50.

Is the pot more difficult? In the end he decided to go for the

pot. When you miss it by that distance, it is in the lap of the

gods whether the object ball finishes. I can see Ali taking this

on, though. I know it is risky, but he knows if he pops it, it winds in

the frame. Super shot. Stuart needs green and

brown. The green will put him 22 points in front. A dejected Stuart

Bingham slumped in his seat. Just the brown needed now to leave

Stuart Bingham needing to smokers. This is one of the first frames

against the head. Stuart within first and Ali has come back. Both

players have had chances and as they say, just the first little signs of

Crucible nerves from the defending champion, but that is

understandable. Good frame, though, for Ali Carter

to win. Particularly that yellow, put all his eggs in one basket.

Great pot. He will be duly delighted to take that frame. Ali Carter goes

into the lead and leads the defending champion two frames to

one. That final yellow all but sealed

that final frame for Ali Carter. It is wet remembering Ali Carter is a

former world number two, currently sitting at 31 in the world rankings

and building up to try and get back into the 16. His target appears to

be the Masters next year. He doesn't really have a lot of ranking points

to come off because of his health problems in the last few years, but

is this an incredible story that he is still at the top of the game. An

incredible fighter, and you see the determination he brings and he is a

brave player as well. Some of the shots he took, the yellow and the

red three out, he committed totally to get on the pink. He is the type

of player that gives himself every chance to do well in the tournament.

In a way, you look at the stats, so many tournaments, he has won five

times. It shows how good a player you have to be to win more than

that. Back we go. This is the last frame before the interval.

COMMENTATOR: That is a poor break shot from Stuart. Much too thick and

that is why the reds have come up and a nice easy start for his

opponent. We will have a look at the break in

a minute. Normally they play the end of red. I can only assume he hit the

end red full in the face when you want to hit it hard for at least or

as full as he could hit the red. Poor break-off shot, we've not had a

50 break yet in this match. As we come to the one-hour mark. That is a

good... I was going to say an excellent split from Ali, but I

think the only red he has got to go out is the one that has landed just

to the right of the blue. If he can get to the right of that. That was

unlucky, wasn't it? That was a great shot, look at the cue ball, where it

finished. Obviously on nothing. Unlucky. I always say you need a bit

of luck when you go into this. That poor break-off shot from Stuart,

only costing eight points. For a moment there I thought that

red would slow up and give Ali Carter a possibility of a pot into

this right centre but it crept far enough past where he can't have a go

at it. And he nearly couldn't get behind

the green with the cue ball. But he has got second they're getting the

cue ball is tight to the cushion of possible. Look at this plant here.

Yes, excellent short and 12 worked out. Needs a kiss on a colour. That

was well spotted, wasn't it? Doesn't do any harm just coming down the

table looking at where the reds are situated. You are mostly looking to

see you don't not a red over the corner but worked out to be perfect.

Will be a bit disappointed that he didn't catch a baulk colour or land

short of the baulk line. Be careful with this, Ali, not certain to get

this safe. Just playing to nestle into that red, just to be right and

below of that pink. He has two judge the pace right

Judged the pace perfect because the red goes to the left middle.

I think it may does, but as the black is not available into the

right corner, no value in taking it on. A good escape from Ali in all

fairness. Court that much too thick and that

is why he nearly went. He has left Stuart to close for comfort. He

still needs a good pot. Just has to control the cue ball, I think at the

moment the black is unavailable so he is going to be concentrating on

blue, pink and may be off this first red, may elect to go for a baulk

colour. It is one of these shots that if you miss it, you fear the

worst, that there is a bit of pressure on it.

That was a long way away, I'm afraid.

That was caused by, as you said, if you missed it, definitely going to

be leaving Ali something. Just a few signs Stuart needs to settle.

Could have played that better, a bit straighter on the red.

It loved -- hit love to get the blue back on its spot. Not sure if you

can hold the blue into the left centre.

Again, trying to play almost, not quite sure, trying to take down the

pink for the right centre but he has ended up in no man's land here. That

first shot on the brown to get on that red, wasn't the best shot he

has ever played and subsequently, and of break, he will be very

disappointed with that opportunity, Ali Carter. That was the key to this

game, if your opponent makes a mistake, you have two police them.

He had a good chance to go in to the mid-session interval with a lead.

Stuart at the moment just looking a little bit ragged. Much too thick on

that safety. Just feeling it a little bit. It is understandable.

The euphoria of winning it last year will be a distant memory.

Certainly got round the back of the black and I think he was hoping to

be on the green or yellow. Could play the blue, but there's a little

less pressure on the green. Didn't really get through that,

though. Not as he would like. You can always tell when a player does

not get through, he played that with top spin, because hijab it a little

bit, he threw the cue ball little bit wider than he should have done.

-- because he jabbed it a little bit. He did not really get through

it very nicely. But he got through that, and that is

absolutely inch perfect. And now, a chance to win the frame. What a shot

that was, superb. Could not have played that much better. Perfect

little cannon matte red. The way the balls are situated now,

it you have to say, he has to win the frame from this position.

Doesn't have to play the cannon into the two reds, just go to the rights

to the black. He can slip by it and played the loose red in the middle.

61 the target, it is only 19 points away.

Maybe we can find a reason for Ali Carter to get to the mid-season

interval with a lead. Not good enough on the pot success for

Stuart, do you think? Yes, just a bit of nurse creeping in, there were

a few shots in this frame alone. -- a little bit of nerves creeping in.

It is early days in this match. There were a few worrying signs for

Stuart. I suppose he has come into a match

here where he did not know what to expect, and obviously, I know what

every player expects, they expect to play well, but he would not know how

the nerves would affect him. That was an imponderable. Maybe once he

gets to the mid-session interval, he can take stock, he can come out and

loosen his arm little bit because he just looks a little bit uptight. It

is usually the facial expressions that you can tell from. He looks a

little bit red in the face. It is a new experience, so maybe he can have

a word with his manager in the interval, he will say, you are not

playing bad but you are not scoring when you get in. That is something

he will have to put right. This is the first break we have had over 50.

Or, it will be, when Ali rolls this read in. In all departments at the

moment, Ali Carter is in front. Not particularly with exceptional play,

but as we know, in this game of snooker, just taking your

opportunities, they are coming thick and fast at the moment for Ali.

A nice kiss. There is a possible century on.

The problem would be the brand, but once you get 73 or more, coming on

the colours, that cue ball needs the bounce, needs to balance. A little

bit short. So, forget about the century, how can he pot Diallo and

get on the green? -- pot the yellow? He needed a couple. Stuart Bingham

not settled yet. Since the first frame, Ali Carter has had most of

the chances. That is the top break of this match

so far, 78, Stuart Bingham made 45. Do you share the guy is concerned

that there will perhaps be a worry on his part that he is not making

good breaks? Yes, I think the interval has come at the right time,

you need to have a chat with someone and get it off his chest. You can

always tell when people are anxious, the cue ball is not anywhere near

the baulk line. He is the world champion, he has got great

expectations, a fabulous player, only 3-1 down, it is early in the

match. I just wonder, you guys have done it, so how long does this

opening matchplay on your mind? The whole idea of coming out of the

defending -- as the defending champion, can you get into a bad

state of mind? You can do, we had a function last night which made a lot

of money to charity, and he was there at the event, having

photographs taken. That showed he was relatively relaxed and looking

forward to the day. But when you are playing against a player of the

likes of Ali Carter, things can always go wrong. The questions

coming into this work, how is a player like Ali Carter who has

already played three matches going to fare? He did or to play on the

first day, he wanted a few more days off, because the qualifying rounds

are pretty hard. He finished on Wednesday. So that was a question

for Ali Carter. The way we watched him play, he looks confident, back

in his rhythm. And sharp. If you can't to this qualifying process

successfully, it could make it exhausted but you might be so much

ready. It is also about how many frames you play. If you come through

playing not very many, it will not take that much out of you. We will

concentrate on the match of the other side of the arena, a repeat of

the 2006 semifinal, ten years ago. Peter Ebdon against Marco Fu, and

Peter Ebdon has got her the hardware. He won this title in 2002,

runner-up twice, but he has not qualified to three years. Three wins

over the past six data gets here, typical of Peter, he did it the hard

way. The second match was 10-9, he was 3-9 behind, he won seven on the

trot, at 2:45am. He does not quit! That knocked Gerard of the tour, but

Ebdon, who is Mikey Mata added about a "Powered through. -- he is a

master of Reiki and of Egan. -- he is a deacon.

Last time he played this shot, he missed it by the proverbial mile. At

that time, he was perfect. You saw his head move again, Terry. He seems

to have to get his head out of the way, his cue comes off his bridge

hand as well. That is his Achilles' heel, that shot. He has always been

like that, Marco. He does move on his shot. He has got a different

type of cue action. It is very efficient. It has lasted over time.

Power is not his strong suit. As we have seen then, he hit that one

perfectly. He needed that. He would be amazed how quickly your

form can drain away from you when you are out there, no matter what is

happening. You can go from playing the best snooker you have ever

played to being worse than a club player in a frame altered. I have

been here under the cosh and sometimes the black off the spot

looks difficult. You never get the feeling anywhere else in the game

than here at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. It brings the worst and

the best out of everybody. Magnificent. In my lifetime I hope

it never goes away from here, the Crucible. It would be like taking

tennis away from Wimbledon. I think some of the younger players

will still feel that if they go to China or something like that, for

those that have covered the path here at the Crucible for many years,

we dream that it stays forever. Barry Hearn said to me once, they

will never take it out of the Crucible. I think it is the history.

We have had some amazing matches here. You could sell out of 2000

seater for the World Championship, but it has got his own unique

atmosphere. It would love to be a bit bigger, the screen is in no way

sometimes for the crowd and the cameramen. -- in the way sometimes.

Marco Fu will need two more reds. Not the best angle in the world.

Marco has fought back, I think you've is having a bit of a bad

spell. -- I think he was having a bit of a bad spell. He potted brown

earlier on in this frame, and there were a few roads he thought he would

get on and he made a mess of that, so a good recovery.

Lots of shots, Terry, at the moment, where they are over screen. --

screwing. It is playing like a light white at the moment. He has potted

that, it is the red he needed. It was probably a little bit more

difficult because of that. It has been a good match so far. A good

quality from both players, with a few errors. A good effort. He knows

that Peter Ebdon will play on, so he wants to make sure, this red, if it

pots, and looking at the camera angle we are going to show you, it

will not. So Peter Ebdon will be carrying on.

The break comes to the end and 49. Marco started pretty briskly with

the breaks of 49 and 81, he seems determined not to get himself

dragged into marathon dealings with Peter Ebdon who is very capable

indeed of drawing out the match and winning it. So, can Marco keep the

momentum going now? Framer four. He jabbed that a little bit. He has

always had a lot of movement at his cue action, Peter, even when he was

at his best. He is a very respected player on little still, but in his

early days, he was frightening. Marco Fu is more technical. I think

he played to go around those and up for the blue. He is on the black,

but the chance of passing anything after the black looks very slim from

here. The plot is hard enough, and if you dropped it in with any pace,

he is going to make that pot a lot tougher. A good match so far.

He is playing for the bottom of the reds on the right-hand side. There

are two there, thin cuts. Perhaps only the bottom one goes.

Still a chance. Clean as a whistle. A nice angle

here. Yes, very good pot on the previous

black, and excellent pot on that read, just the right angle on the

blue note. Little surprised that he is not playing for the loose red.

That has worked out perfectly, what an excellent shot. The red at the

back of the pack was available which I thought he would play for. You

know about splitting packs! I heard you saying, that way there is less

chance of the reds really splitting up. The paint, where it was, at the

-- the pink, where it was at the top of the reds, made it a little bit

more difficult to go straight in. Has an angle to go into the pink

here, but that will not do a lot of damage unless you play it full ball.

There is the power to miss the pink and kiss the two reds at the side,

that would be a good choice, but playing into the pink will not be

great unless he has a full ball. That looks like a pretty new tip

that Marco has got on. He did not play to Cannes and the pink, he has

played it nicely, I hope he is on one because he deserves to be. He

was trying to avoid the kiss on the pink there. He caught the pink so

thin. It has left him nicely on this red, albeit slightly hampered.

You can see from that picture that the pink is available, but he may

have played around this. He is struggling with the pace, he is

grimacing which tells me this is very tight. A little bit of

right-hand side, he will fine. Turning the cue ball over.

Struggling, both of these players. When they play an ordinary stun

shot, they are struggling with the pace. Try that in the club, it is

not easy. People looking on will think, surely players of this

standard can make adjustments to what they normally do, but it is not

quite like that. It is instinct when you are in plain position, the

judgment of the pace for the next shot.

Into the pack, here, not? Plenty of mileage because the reds are over

the corner, he will have to go into it at one stage. If he does not get

a good angle on the red over the pocket, he is in trouble. He has

brought a couple of reds out, well played, very good shot.

The fact that he has come lower on the red, he might have to have one

more cannon. Looking at the red directly above the black, sticks on

that, no good. Ideally, he would like to miss the first two reds and

hit the red below the pink, there is not a lot of men there, can only see

-- there, can only see half of the ball. He has pushed one towards the

middle. It is nice to see the scale that

Marco has got. He has got some reds out of the hack rather than smashing

into them like a lot of players do these days, which I'm not

criticising, they do very well but Marco is more old-style. Very happy

to play the tough positional shots because he is very good at them.

Does not feel he has to have the reds all over the table to clear up.

Was it Stephen Hendry who started that of? He developed a new shot,

which was to hit the pink full ball with spin. Everyone else used to

play that was done. Stephen Hendry developed the shot which kept it in

play. This match has been very good, a lot of people said this would be

one of the slower matches of the first round, it could stick be still

with Peter Ebdon, he will have to put the grind in. He will be 3-1

behind. When he grinds, it could take quite a while.

Can Marco go on to make his 400th competitive century? What a

milestone that is for any player. A little cannon onto the red and pink

here. He can hold the right. Knowing he is bound to be on a red.

He had a good chance in the first frame for a century, 81, he was

happy enough with that. You are just happy to win the first frame of your

championship. There have been tidied breaks in

every frame so far, this has been the biggest break so far. A little

bit more to come hopefully. We would love to see a century.

He is going to have to use the rest here which makes this more

difficult. Now his 400th century is just one

shot away. Yes, some Marco Fu 400 centuries,

what an achievement and well deserved. Always been one of the

better break-builders. Played in Hong Kong for many years.

He made big improvements in Hong Kong in the last few years, there is

a new academy, young players coming through, I am sure Marco would have

been involved in that. So it century fur Marco Fu, you will be very

pleased with that break. He leads Peter Ebdon by three frames to one.

The first this year at the Crucible, his 400th, and has elicited an

achievement is that? A fantastic achievement by anybody's standards

but he has always been a great break-builder. He has got a

wonderful touch in the balls, he is a talented break-builder. You

underestimate him as an much Prior as your peril. -- as an Matt Prior

at your peril. -- as a match Ilda. We are going to take a quick stop,

we are back on the air on BBC One in an hour at 1pm. Both of these

matches continue on your connected to the end devices. We will catch

you soon but we are off and running.