Saturday, 2nd Round, Evening Snooker: World Championship

Mark Selby will be over the moon. The world number one is the UK

champion. He wins the World Championship for

the very first time. Good evening. Where amongst friends

this evening, amongst 800 Saturday night theatre-goers in Sheffield and

we are waiting for a performance that will see the fourth man through

to the quarterfinals in the bet Fred World Championships this year. The

world number one Mark Selby is very much hoping it will be him and he is

in command of his match against qualifier Sam Baird so far. The

final session to come this evening and we will share some of that with

you. It has been a busy and eventful day here in the Crucible Theatre in

Sheffield and also a successful one for the fortysomethings of snooker.

By 45 the oldest man in the draw, Alan McManus, has fallen behind

against Ali Carter. The man struggled for table positions. Ali

Carter went behind after a miscue on the black. But the English man, a

tenacious character on and off the table, made a century to state in

the match. But in the next frame it was the

canny 45-year-old who would prevail and books his fifth quarterfinal

appearance in 25 years. Conditions are difficult out there.

Some of the pics that we both had and the bouncing, it became really

tough. -- kicks. It is difficult to explain. The cue ball just finishes

where it should not. Meanwhile we had this big bounce against Mark

Williams. Not happy. And later a brilliant shot helped Mark Williams

take a lead at the start of the third session. After a re-rack, and

apply with a brilliant opening red to take the next couple of friends.

But it was not enough and Mark held on to win the match 13 frames to

eight and into a seventh quarterfinal.

Quite good except for the first session. I was pretty poor. I had a

miracle to get out for- four. It could've been 6-2, 7-1. Rather than

get frustrated you just have to have a laugh and that is what I tried to

do. Some of the stuff going on there today was laughable. The other piece

of news from this afternoon, Ronnie O'Sullivan made two centuries and

still find himself 5-3 behind to Barry Hawkins who seem to enjoy his

37th birthday out there. He made a century of his own an incredibly it

is the first time that he is glad the Rocket by two friends in a match

for fully 14 years. Stephen Hendry, strange times indeed and troubling

times in some respects because table one is just not behaving itself.

What is the problem and what can be done. A bonfire springs to mind! It

is shocking, really. The finger has got to be pointed at the

manufacturer, to not have good tables here is a scalpel. In terms

of what is being done, a lot is being done. World Snooker are about

to change the Russians on the table for a fourth time. They have changed

the balls after every match. The players are told they are doing a

lot but it does become a question of who's the best guess and that must

be disconcerting. It is difficult when you're guessing. When the

cushions are bouncing back all the time you are playing for those bad

bounces and then you do not get one. It really saps your confidence and

affects your cue action. I'm sure everything will be done to try to

remedy the situation but in terms of the drama, plenty of it and the

fortysomethings going well. I cannot praise them highly enough. I want to

know what the secret is! But fantastic performance. Ali Carter

lost the plot a bit, he let the table get to him more than Alan

McManus but Alan McManus, fantastic. Mark Williams through as well and we

will see who else will go through tonight. Mark is there with the

world number one, Sam Baird. And very shortly Ricky Walden will be

out there as well. It is always happy hour at seven o'clock for Rob

Walker! It certainly is. Good evening ladies and gentlemen and

welcome to the climax of date eight here at the World Snooker

Championship full stop approaching the halfway stage of the tournament.

Three players in the quarterfinals, let's find out who is next to join

them in the last eight. APPLAUSE.

Please welcome first of all three times ranking event winner who

stormed to the semifinals here three years ago. He arrives in cracking

form after making the players championship and China Open finals

both within the last month. Poised and ready for a massive match

tonight here comes Ricky Walden. And his opponent, one of the finest

sportsmen in his country has ever produced. This is his 70th

appearance in the second round here at the Crucible. Winner of three

ranking event titles, last year alone. Four times champion of the

world, the Wizard of Bush, John Higgins. -- of Wishaw.

On table to please welcome a young man who has been lent in this, his

first visit to the last 16 at the Crucible. A massive last frame

earlier today has kept him in touch. This without doubt be the biggest

win of his career so far. He has been so composed throughout. Can he

keep it going, from Devon, he is Sam The Blade Berets. -- Baird.

And his opponent, a man who never loses his cool under pressure. A

winner here two years ago, bedding for a six Crucible quarterfinal, one

of an elite group of players to have secured the triple Crown in snooker,

he's the world number one, he is the gesture from Leicester, Mark Selby.

-- Jester. And you can see that match on the

red button or any device that gets you online. For the next hour or so

we will be following the match between Sam Baird and Ricky Walden.

Really looking forward to this final session.

The second round match. It is Sam Baird and gets the 17th frame under

way. The first 13, remember. There is the match time just coming up to

four and three quarters hours of quality snooker.

The average shot time is pretty good, the average frame time, I

meant to say. And the pot success 90% above is what is required at

this level and we have got that. A good line. And pretty decent

length. Safety success, pretty good. Both have made century breaks. I saw

Sam Baird for the first time I was watching the Welsh Open a couple of

years ago and I thought where has he come from! I am impressed with his

style of play. Good evening, John, good evening, everyone. I played Sam

Baird a few times and he is a talented player, that is for sure. A

good opening red from the world number one. He will be looking for a

good start. He's certainly is the favourite coming into this match.

Near couple of frames into the last session and you have got to hold

your nerve. I think that this red above the black will go to the

corner. Could lay for the red to the right of the black. -- play for.

Someone forgot to switch their phone off.

Mark is now a seasoned pro. Goes back to his seat, has a sip of water

and starts again. This looks to be a good chance. He

will have to play for the red. Just to the right of the black. He has

got the angle to stand off the top cushion. This is a good chance now,

Peter. Yes. Mark exhibiting close cue ball control as always.

Phenomenal match player. A great ambassador for snooker. One of the

hardest workers in the game if not the hardest worker. He gets

everything that he deserves. A brilliant champion. And a really

nice guy as well. Hard as nails when it comes to being

a competitor, John! I remember a few years ago when he beat Ronnie

O'Sullivan in the final of this championship. And Ronnie O'Sullivan

threw everything at him. Ronnie played well. He stuck in there. And

came out the winner. 70 points, if he gets to 70 points, would be the

snookers required stage. A bit of work to do before he gets to that

position. A couple of loose rents. One on the left-hand side of the

table, one just separated from the main bunch. -- reds.

He will have to disturb something. The pink is separated from the

reds.. May consider leaving an angle on the black now. While he has got

that loose red he could still be on the red in the open.

So he will take this opportunity, you would think. That is not the red

that he played to hit. He will settle for that! What a result!

How frustrated must Sam Baird be feeling. Out of his chair. Just for

a second or two. He thought he was on his way back to the table.

You have got to be flexible to play a shot like this.

I wonder if he does yoga! If I did that you would have to help me off

the table! He played into a couple of reds and when he hit the single

word he looked to be nothing and then the red appeared from nowhere.

Into the cluster. This is a frame-winning opportunity now for

sure. Could not have played it better. What a shot that was, the

spin he got into the cue ball. Just phenomenal striking full stop --

phenomenal striking. That really was incredible.

So much spin, it spins again and again. It had three years! What a

shot. -- years. Just the start that he was looking

for. He might not have an angle on this loop, it would not matter, he

has the red on the baulk end as insurance, but he will try to stay

this end of the table. This is where you score heavy, red and pink and

black. Just red a colour away from his opponent needing snookers. --

red a colour. What has been impressive about this rake, the last

ball that he potted, it was the first time that he has been more

than 18 inches away. Incredible cue ball control. Good opening red. He

did play a cannon, he was fortunate to be on the red, but sometimes you

get a bit of luck and you have got to take advantage. That puts him 73

points in front. 67 remaining. I thought Sam Baird played a half

decent safety shot. But he did not get tight to the baulk cushion.

Sam Baird, his safety shot was about three inches just short. It has cost

him the frame. Played the cannon, just missed it.

Always has that red in the baulk end.

Already had 47 centuries. In the tournament. Just seven days in.

86. Just a bit short. He might be able

to play this red, get the kiss off the pink to come back to the black.

It is there. On the black. That is his fourth century at this

bet Fred World Championships. Only John Higgins and Marco Fu have made

as many. Just the style he wanted. Same to his opponent, this is why I

am world number one. -- saying too. Just an extra little bit of balance

from the cushion he was not expect them. It will not affect the result

of the frame. He is still on the green.

Just trying to flick the pink away from the site cushion. Finished up

with a nice angle on the blue just to come in behind that pink.

Left-hand side. Natural to pop it in the middle and be on the black. This

has been an exhibition of the highest quality. Superb from Mark

Selby. Absolutely top drawer. Sam Baird played a safety shot and it

was enough for Mark Selby to knock in a tremendous long red and clear

up with a marvellous break of 134. 10-7. His third century of the match

and he seems to be warming up beautifully. He has won four of the

last frames. He is warming up. Looking very good, like a world

number one. Excellent cueing. This shot, he's one of the best exponents

of the screw shot in the game. Look at the length of his bridge.

Excellent timing. Look at the power he gets on the cue ball. The cue

ball keeps going. An example of it here, it goes for the first, a

flight delay, just starting to speed up. Does not go through the reds but

starting to pool to the right-hand side. And from that shot you detect

that his confidence levels are increasing, to play that with such

aplomb? He definitely seems to be coming into the frame, the first

frame was important and as world number one you know that. Do you

think that he had been ragged until this point? A little bit, he has not

been match fit, he had couple of months off and missed the last

couple of tournaments so perhaps having to play himself into a game,

but starting to warm up nicely. Now three away from the finishing line.

Mark will be feeling very good. Decent length.

For Sam Baird the upside is he did nothing wrong in that first frame,

nothing to reproach himself for. It is only when you're missing chances

that it can affect you for the next frame.

He has got a good line with this safety. And an excellent length.

Well played. This is a tough safety shot that he

is faced with. It needs to be very thin. It is not bad. There is a red

available. To the left hand black pocket.

You did the cue ball to be tight on the baulk cushion. It is one of

those shots. The angle could be too thin for him to swing the cue ball

round the back of the black. He played it with right-hand side just

making the pot but more difficult. If you get it wrong, anything can

happen. You get the red too thin. And that is why he hated almost half

ball instead of quarter ball. Just looking to see what he has left. I

think you left the red to the right corner. But with the cue ball so

close to it, can he play and run through? If he stands backwards, can

he get on the black? -- stuns. For Sam, hindsight is a

wonderful thing but the deep screw shot with left-hand side would have

been preferable. There was a degree of safety involved in the shot.

Could not get the back spin. He just had to jab it. Did not get

the necessary back spin. Nominated yellow, I presume, or he

is inking about the yellow. He can hit the black but does not see that

as a safety shot. Because he can hit the black,

clearly, if he plays another colour, playing a delicate run off the

black. You could say Sam Baird was

fortunate not to leave him a better chance than he did. It only cost one

point, that misjudgement on the pot he played. Interesting to see what

kind of shot Sam Baird decides to play. Mark Williams would probably

take the red to the left of the pink and play it dead weight into the

green pocket. And leave the fight on the side cushion. Sam feels that was

too dangerous. Probably because Mark Selby just cleared the table in the

previous frame in one visit. -- white. . Mark Williams this from the

Welsh School of hard knocks. I remember the great cliff Wilson, he

could pick out the shot, go for the most outrageous plot, missed it, and

when you see where the cue ball finish you realise it was not a

risky shot after all. I think that was the better shot. Get that good

links. -- length. Nothing is going to be easy.

Mark Williams can pick up the shot to nothing is put up one of the

cleverest players I have ever seen. -- shot to nothing. Sam showing

patients. And maturity. I'm sure it will put good stead the rest of his

career regardless of how this goes tonight. -- put him in good stead.

This is a stern examination for him by the world number one.

That was a terrible contact. He seemed to have hit it OK and the cue

ball should have run through and finished on the top cushion. But

with the balance, the cue ball was no bouncing as it went into the red.

It took all the pace out of the cue ball and left a chance for Sam

Baird. Chance as he has got to take if he is going to get anything out

of this match. Sam, you have got to take those

opportunities, he's not going to get that many away Selby started off

this evening. We've seen a lot of pots missed into

the middle pocket in this championship. And they are playing

small, definitely. But on that occasion unfortunately, the red did

not even threaten the pocket. What can Mark Selby do now in this

chance. He is just the right side of the blue line. The red he would like

to play is the one just to the right, sorry, the left, of the

black. Thought it was not the right angle and not the right time to

play. They want to get on sooner rather than later.

as Plymouth threw everything at them. And out of the DW Stadium.

It is always a good sign when a player is hitting the middle of the

pocket, the sound of leather, the ball hitting leather. At the moment

he is potting them clean. Mark strikes the ball with great

authority, Shaun Murphy does a similar thing and so does Ronnie

O'Sullivan. You have got to get through the ball. If you decelerate

and these superfine class, the cue ball is not going to go where you

have aimed it -- on these superfine cloths. He has played it nicely. The

only thing in question, does the black when it is re-spotted

interfere with these balls going? He could always stun behind the red.

That is what he is trying to do. He has played it nicely. He knew when

the black was on its spot that those two reds were not available into the

left corner. A bit straighter and this red would have been perfect --

on this red. But you would think he could manage the black. He did not

fancy it. He has not got a good angle on the blue. I'm only

guessing, but I guess he is straight on the blue line. Not quite. But

almost. That is the problem when you are

straight. This is a testy pot. He will have to play this with power

and right hand side and it is easy to hit them sick. -- deck. Your most

missed it thin -- he almost. It depends how you push into it, he

probably played for the cue ball to push in. He just had the angle and

the blue to be able to play for this red. As you can see. Just a couple

of loose reds. You would think he will be looking for the angle to go

into the cluster. 66 points is the target to get to the stoop required

stage. What a lovely positional shot, using two cushions -- snooker

is required. Plenty of back spin. He has got one to the right middle, I

thought he was going to be unlucky. You can see the back spin. It has

dislodged the reds enough to leave him with the one into the right

centre. Impressive stuff so far. Mark Selby 49er head and 83

remaining. At the moment, Mark Selby is going through the gears. -- 49

ahead. As John said, this really is impressive stuff. His cue ball

positioning has been magnificent. When you have the cue ball under

control, it makes the game a lot easier. That is the first thing to

go when players struggle. They don't time the ball quite as well and they

run out of position. I said at the start of the frame, he

did nothing wrong in the first frame of the session, but he had a chance

in this one, and sometimes one chances all you are going to get. At

this level against this quality of opposition. Just this red to go 64

ahead with 59 remaining. Superb play from Mark Selby. He did leave a

chance for his opponent. But it is a tough school when you are only

leaving one chance. He put his hand up, as if to say to the cue ball,

stop, and it did. There you go, points without reply,

206. He has not scored a point tonight, Sam Baird. That is what

makes this game so difficult. No matter how good you are, if you are

sat in the seat, there is nothing you can do about it. Absolutely. It

does not matter how good you are, when you are sitting in the seat,

there is nothing you can do about it. That is what makes snooker so

difficult. The break reaches 84. Will he take the chance to release

the red from beneath the pink? I think he will. He was thinking of

that. The frame was long gone by then. Sam Baird, he has only had one

chance and he has lost the first two frames. STUDIO: That match is going

towards its conclusion and the world number one is motoring now. Getting

underway on the other side, John Higgins, the world number eight, and

a four-time world champion, taking on Ricky Walden. John took the

opening frame with a break of 62, he had four centuries in his 10-3

demolition of Ryan Day. Ricky Walden now looking like he will take the

second frame. This will be an interesting match. These two were in

the semifinals of the China open recently and it was won by Ricky

Walden in the final frame. From what you have seen from Higgins and

Walden, how do you assess this one? If you look at the first round

performances, you would make Higgins the overwhelming favourite, Walden

was very poor in his first round, he was nervous and on edge. But he is

through that, he will be a different player in this match, but I would

still favour John. His biggest asset is his scoring, and I think he has

made four centuries in his first round. He looks back, not to his

absolute best, but very close. John has won two major titles in

Australia and a title in China. He comes in after the run to the

semifinals. John is a confidence player. His confidence is clearly at

a very good level at the moment. Definitely. John is sharpest, he is

similar to me, he likes to have time to practice and prepare, and it that

is like he has been putting in the work and he looks sharp. -- and it

looks like. Ricky Walden is learning, though, and in the first

round he was very poor, but he can beat anybody on his day. Proved by

his record. His form was abysmal for most of the season and in the last

couple of ranking events he made both finals and he lost both of

them, in Beijing and Manchester, but he suddenly seems to have found

something towards the end of the season. I spoke to him at the

players championship and he said he was working on how he is sighting

the shot, seems like a crazy thing to do, and he realised that, and he

has gone back to his original method. He strikes the ball so well,

he has a great cue action and when he starts scoring he does so very

quickly. Although John has a great all-round game, I did not think it

will be much in the way of safeties in this match, it will be down to

scoring. He has parted frame ball, this could be a concession. John is

a very canny player, though, and he might keep going. That is the

situation on the other table, and now we can go back to the world

number one, Mark Selby, making progress. COMMENTATOR: You join us

as Sam Baird played a safety shot. Earlier in the frame, Mark Selby

played a very poor safety shot. He caught it much to thick. Half a

chance he is going to get, but unfortunately for Sam he did not

make it. He did not get position on that, and you are now up-to-date.

It can clearly hit the red. Did not want to miss it this time. Where is

the cue ball going? Rattling the jaws will do nicely. Might need a

respray. LAUGHTER They have got the T-shirt. Was not

the best safety shot from Mark. You always frightened of knocking a red

towards the corner, but the brown has come to his rescue. Could not

guarantee that. Sam in a bit of bother, does he risk going back to

the ball? I'm wondering if he will take the opportunity to play an

attacking safety shot with left-hand side. Swinging the cue ball around

the ankles, getting the cue ball and the auction behind the yellow, if

possible -- around the angles, getting the cue ball on the baulk

cushion behind the yellow. I think that was well worth the risk and he

has played it well. Just a little bit short of pace. That was unlucky

because it was a good effort. It was a very good effort. As you rightly

say, when you play the safety like that, you are going to knock reds to

that side of the table, and a chance of covering the red near the left

corner. Could have had a better white, but as it turns out it is

good enough. I don't think Mark can get one to the near corner, but the

one just above it, you can get that one, but that is a tough shot to

take on. But if he does not see a safety, sometimes you force your

opponent into playing a pot. The red into the right-hand pocket is not

the natural angle to avoid the reds on the way back and so if he does

the side to take it on he might have to play it with extreme left-hand

side and that makes the pot much more difficult. He thinks he can get

past the yellow to get to the potting angle of this red, maybe

with a trace of left-hand side. He just could not see enough of the

potting angle. He caught it to thick. I think you might have got

away with it. Yes, it is looking like it. Maybe a red will go to the

left centre, but where the colour comes from I don't know. That is

since Sam Baird last potted a ball, we are in the 33rd minute. As I say,

I think the red on the right-hand side of the table will go to the

centre. Does this red go? No, deciding to play safe. In the ideal

world he would have liked to have got the cue ball tight to the

cushion, but in that case it did not really matter. Had no option to

contain the situation. There has never been any difference in this

game, when you are playing well you always seem to get the rub of the

green. Absolutely. And when things are not going right for you, it can

be the most difficult place in the world out there, all on your own and

nobody to help. You have got to work it out yourself. Sometimes you do

and sometimes you don't. That is careless. Very careless. The

priority, he had to block a path to the red to the yellow, but kissing

the brown, he has not done that. Mark might attempt a double here.

But he would rather get a good cue ball.

This is a tough safety shot that Sam Baird faces. He played it well.

Contains the safety shot. And friend of mine, Richie Evans,

from Coventry, he loves his snooker. I used to practice, I remember, and

I used to take his bets to the bookie. I hope he gave you

commission. Funnily enough. I remember he wanted ?10 on one and

the bookmaker refused the bet. He loves his snooker.

Oh! Much to thick on the red, plenty of side on. So this is a chance for

Sam. Yes, John. Mark played it with extreme right-hand side. He was

expecting the cue ball to throw to the left much more than it did.

Which would have resulted in a much thinner contact. And then the Czech

side would have taken the cue ball down to the baulk cushion, but he

misjudged it. -- check. Perhaps fortunate to not leave something

easier. If this was in practice, he would roll in the red and play for

the black. So, playing the one in the middle. It needs to slow up. He

might just be able to reach the green without using the rest.

When he is hitting the ball is, what I like about him, he has a nice way

of going about it. He reminds me of someone like Jason Dufner, in golf,

a natural player. Get down and knock in the balls, but he has been

knocked out of his stride by the form of Mark Selby. If he is

standing around the angles, he needs to avoid the cannon and the yellow,

and that is why he decided to play-off the cushions, and he played

that very well. -- on the yellow. Excellent positional shot. Now, will

he be tempted? No. Red in the middle for the blue. One of the reasons why

he's not playing for the black, if he finishes straight on it, that is

the end of the break. But you would take a chance and get the black on

the spot, the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan and the modern-day

players would have taken the opportunity... That is the only way

you would make a frame-winning contribution, if you can get the

black available. Well, he had lots of right-hand side

and that, which is check side, and on this occasion he took the pace

out of the cue ball. If he had played the plane ball, he would have

got another 3-4 foot travel of the cue ball, but the right-hand side in

part it killed all the place. -- imparted killed all the pace.

Because of that he had to play safe, and at this level that safety shot

is not good enough, especially when you are playing the world number one

Mark Selby. That is a bit fortunate again.

Really is. You are playing to finish tied to the top cushion. -- tight.

There was a possible cut on for Sam but for the extra role of the cue

ball. Played the pot. In the end it was

OK. He has not covered the possible red to the corner, as Mark did.

Did not fancy playing the cut and he has left a pot on. OK, it looks as

though, he's looking away from the pot, but I don't see how he can

refuse this cut. Maybe he is thinking there is a big target and

if the pots the red he will not be on a colour. He will be tempted by

the pot. Maybe the one below the pink goes to the right corner. He is

playing that one instead. Needs a good cue ball. He has put his hand

up and apologised, he kissed a second red which was not part of the

plan, but he will settle for the result. In taking on the red, he had

to play that as a screw shot with right-hand side to avoid the red

below it. He flicked the second red and that is why he apologised to

mark. This needs to be very thin. The chance of getting the cue ball

behind the brown if he strikes it well, but that is miles to thick.

That is not the first time he has played a poor safety. Not left

anything easy, though. He has refused a few risky shots

before, and I don't see how he thought he was going to guarantee

anything playing that red, he has hit the second red half ball. Mark

Selby, getting up, after the noise coming from his side of the wall.

That is experience. Get up and start again.

It will be very close to this blue. I think he can just about get

through to the brown. The quiet if possible, please. -- be

quiet. Such a game of fine margins. When it is not your day the cue ball

tucks itself behind the blue and you can't see the yellow and you can't

see the brown. Very fine margins at this level. Deciding to play the

blue. Needs to be careful of the Polish shot. -- push. Oh! I'm not

sure about that. I've been in the commentary box for a few years and

it is hard to tell from the sound... The referee was close and Mark

actually said to him, have a close look. The referee did not think it

was a push, so no foul. He certainly did very well to get the cue ball

where he did, being so close to the blue, that is official. -- that is

for sure. I think the pink goes to the right corner. OK, the pink is

more difficult than the blue, but it offers him a good position. To be

fair, knowing Mark Selby the way we do, if he had thought he would play

a -- if he thought he had played a push shot, he would have been the

first to call it. Absolutely. We have always been very proud of that

in our game. This is not a frame-winning chance, this.

STUDIO: We have got to leave it on BBC Two. Red button and online

viewing is the way to continue watching this match, both are

available through the BBC sport website, as indeed is every session

in Sheffield. John Higgins has a 2-1 lead over Ricky Walden in their

match. I hope you have enjoyed that. We are back with highlights later

this evening. From me and the rest of the team, it is goodbye.