Saturday, Semi-finals, Evening Snooker: World Championship

Good evening. It has been a record-breaking, history making day

already here in Sheffield because earlier this afternoon, and Junhui

became the first Asian player to go through to the final of the Betfred

final. It was a superlative performance from the Chinese player.

He became the first player ever to make seven centuries in a single

match here at the Crucible Theatre to beat Alan McManus. And you never

know, we could be in for an all Asian final. Hong Kong's Marco

Frison is stuck like glue to world number one Mark Selby. We will be

going into the deciding session. It has, in effect, become the best of

nine. With the match Square, both players were looking for an early

advantage. Selby got it. He produced a break of 125, racking up a 2-1

friend lead. But Marco V has shown his resilience. He brought it back

to a single frame deficit. -- Marco Fu. He made it 10-10 at the

mid-session break. After the interval, Fu had a golden chance to

make it three frames in a row, but the mist green let Selby in to pinch

it. But back came Marco Fu again. Breaks of 71 and 77 saw the match

swing once more. A man from Hong Kong led 12-11 with one more to

play. And it was incredibly tense this last of the session. A safety

battle began on the colours which eventually saw the Crucible record

of a 76 minute frame. But more importantly, Selby gained

the advantage. They are all square with 12 frames each.

A fascinating encounter. Mark Selby looks a bit shaken. Yes, and it will

be interesting to see if he can find the extra gear. No one has grabbed

this match by the scruff of the neck. No. Marco Fu have against

rattled out of him. It has been tough. We are supposed to be the

experts. What scenarios could you see happening? More of the same. I

don't think Selby is playing well enough. It could the biggest -- be

the biggest test also for Marco Fu. The lads are ready backstage, so

over to our MC. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is the last

session of snooker ahead of the final. Who will be joining Ding

Junhui? It could not be closer. Tonight, this venue is ready to rock

and roll once more. Please welcome a player in merging

for one of the most important night of his career so far. He is five

frames away from a first appearance in a world championship final. He

has shown composure under pressure. He will be ready to raise his game

once again on the sport's Altima stage. From Hong Kong, please

welcome Marco Fu. And his opponents, a player whose

temperament is tailor-made for these massive sessions of snooker. Can he

find the five frames needed to make it through to a third for

championship final? He knows he is good enough to win this game. Ladies

and gentlemen, please welcome the world number one comedy jester from

less burp, Mark Selby! In has been a long, error strewn

match. Mark Selby has his eye on the fourth championship win. Let us

cross to be commentary box. Good evening, Hazel. Good evening,

everyone. Frame 25. Mark Selby to break.

It is a very focused Mark Selby who gets the first frame of this session

under way. He really looks comfortable, didn't he. He did

indeed, Dennis. He is glad he is still in the match. He has not

played in a way he is capable of. Marco Fu was playing well, but they

have not been playing as well as they could. It is a long haul, 17

days at the Crucible. Sometimes you can end up with frames that take

over an hour, but maybe not 76 minutes. Yes, that was a record. The

longest frame ever made. He looks a little bit tired. It does drain you

mentally when you get to this stage. That is a pretty good shots from

Marco. -- shot. He never looks any different, Marco Fu. His temperament

is superb. He could be 5-0 down, or 5-0 in front and his expression

always stays the same. I think Steve used a very good word there during

the introduction. The word rasp. -- grasp. It just needs one player to

step up a couple of years and if they do, they will be the victor.

Just a little bit short with the cue ball, but the black is tied up.

Otherwise Marco would contemplate taking the red into the right

corner. If there is a slight angle, he still might take it and play it

up for the loo. Maybe he is just playing the safety shot. I am

looking at the way he is cueing. Maybe he is. He has gone for the

pot. That was a terrific opener and a great confidence booster.

If that bounces... Okk, he was a bit unlucky. He was looking for an angle

on the red. -- oh, he was a bit unlucky. Just a safety shot

available to him. Played that safety very well. The

cue ball was going very close to the middle when he played that. Please

make sure your phones are turned off.

Always annoying when you catch a colour when you are playing the ball

short. -- baulk shot. If you take the one on the right and leave the

cue ball on either side, he should block that off. Surprised he did not

take the outside one. If he had left the cue ball down there, Mark Selby

could not play the shot he is about to play.

March two in -- that was much too thin. Once again, a couple of pots.

A long, straight red. If he took it, he would be on the pink. There is

another red to the right of that, but he is taking this one. This

could get him right in amongst them. Well played. Just looking to see if

the pink spot is occupied as we show you this very good long pot. Not

sure if the pink is going to be tied up. I think Brendan Moore will have

two get the marker out to check if the pink: go on its own spot. --

pink can go on its own spot. We will find out shortly. If it doesn't, it

will have to go on the brown spot. Looks as if there is plenty of room

there. That is it out of the game now. The way these balls are, the

two roads above the black spots, the one on the right is the key ball. I

think he would like to have the pink again because that was the best

positional shot. He tried a little sneaky Camembert.

He needed to get that one right. It would always be difficult. -- a

sneaky cannon there. It was never going to be easy. He will be a

little bit disappointed that, Marco. That wasn't very good. It was not

the worst chance, there was a little bit of difficulty there, but he

should have got a bit more than eight.

At first glance, there is no easy path back down the table for safety.

Just going to leave the white somewhere near the jaws if he could.

One of the best tactical players in the game, as well as one of the best

break-builders. Of course, he is up against Marco Fu, who without a

shadow of a doubt is right up there in the break-building department.

Well over 400 centuries now. The highest break is 135, 125.

Would have loved to have covered the red that is just above the ink spot.

Then he had him lined up with yellow and blue. Might have a look at the

one near the middle pocket. He has changed his mind. That is the red

eye was on about. He could have played safety off of that if the

yellow and Luke were lined up. -- yellow and blue.

I think he is just about OK. That red still does not cut it into the

middle pocket. Maybe it does from where the cue ball has finished. It

is a thin one. Oh, it was a comfortable cut in. He did not hit

it all that thin and still nearly potted it. So, another chance for

the world number one. I think there are two or three red

available into the left-hand corner. If he goes up past the pink, he has

got a choice of red. That one to the left of the pink would be ideal.

Yes, if he finishes on that one and plays a little stunner. Looking to

see if he has the angle to stun force the red above, the one he is

going to take. If not, he will screw out. He did not move it away,

really. Being over six foot tall was a big

help them to stretch over that read there. That initial positional stop

from Green onto the loose red has turned this into a good chance. It

did not look promising a few shots ago. If Mark Selby is going to win

this match, that is definitely what he has got to do this evening.

Improve his scoring. We know he competes, he always does. He is at

his absolute best when he becomes a scoring machine as well. He did not

get that one as well as he intended. He is having to play another little

cannon here to get on the pink. He cannot avoid the other red. Still

OK. It is noticeable that Mark is not moving around on the shot as he

used to. It was a little mannerism he had for many years, where he was

swaying around. It was noticeable, but he has honestly been working on

that. Lost the cue ball slightly. He needs a number of points to make the

frame safe. Losing the cue ball slightly has made his positional

shot more difficult. Difficult to get out as well, Dennis, isn't it?

There is just a gap there that he might be able to get through and

slip past the red and pink. There is not much of a gap though.

See what he is looking that there? He would not want the cue ball to

finish at the end of the line, but that is the kind of gap he might be

looking at to get up towards the blue.

The cue ball is close to the middle. Very close to the middle. He found

the gap, but forgot the middle pocket was there. Always was going

to be a problem. He was trying to avoid the cannon.

One consolation, he has not left anything easy for Marco. Trying to

set this up to give himself a slight angle. There is the shot so well,

but they are difficult. -- plays the shot so well, but they are

difficult. Once he can and the other red, he could have left something

little bit easier than this for Mark Selby. That was a tough read he was

attempting there. -- red. He left himself a slight angle, but just

overdid it. Players spent many hours practising those shots, but you

can't practice them in the same way as you do in a club as you do at the

Crucible Theatre. There is more pressure. And there is that

wonderful Crucible Theatre as we zoom in on the table. Lots of room

around the table when you get to the semifinal stages. All quiet. All

quiet for the people watching at home. No applause from the other

table. He has played a few poor safeties, it has to be in this

match, John. Not like him at all. Usually very adept. Marco is getting

chances. Just got to start taking a couple of them. He played that with

a lot of Czech side. Because he did that, he missed the pot by quite a

way. He has been fortunate again. When you play that sort of shot with

that much side, it makes the pot that much more difficult. Yes. It

throws the white off-line. You have two allow for it when you play with

side, especially on these very fine cloth -- cloths. I think he can just

get past the pink, but the only problem with that is he will send

the red towards the right corner pocket. He can get the white around

the table towards the green. He might go close to cutting this red

in. He has hit it too thin. The cue ball is closest. Oh! He has not got

away with it. I thought he had wobbled and gone behind the green.

It is not dead straight, so Selby can get onto pink or blue here.

A little worrying for Marco. He has played a couple of shots that looked

like two in one shots. That one where he was trying to play in the

corner and the snooker did not happen. And the red he played

before. The red he played before, Stephen Hendry would have been all

over it. He will not be worrying about the Czech side. -- check side.

Didn't anticipate cannon ink into the first red. It is touching, which

is a big advantage. All of a sudden, Brendan Moore declared touching

ball, so he complained away from this black.

Good old Sheffield boy, Brendan Moore. You have to nominate when you

are touching. He has not nominated the black.

Yes, this frame is taking shape that the rest of them played this morning

where both players just can't get potting or into the break-building

department. Nothing like we are used to.

Looks like another hard-fought frame. If he gets through to the

potting angle, he might play a cannon onto the two reds. Not sure

what angle he can take to avoid the black. They have to start being

positive. Whoever does that, they will win. Flick into the two reds,

stay on the black. Could not have played it much

better. I think he is good here, has just

gone enough for the -- far enough for the cue ball.

Just going to need a quick glance at the scoreboard, red, colour, red

will be enough. And that red that is closest to the black is available,

so he doesn't have to force that one in. That will be frame ball.

He will play a snooker and if he gets the snooker Marco may stay in

his seat. Marco has signalled to the referee,

so a very focused Mark Selby takes the opening frame and he gets

himself into the lead at 13-12. We have two world champions here.

The way these guys have approached this session, the level of

aggression, what have you noticed, Steve? A couple of times Mark Selby

eventually played the positive shot, the attacking shot, to stand to play

for the black. He could have played into the bunch with the black. Marco

Fu had a long red tom he could have played a cannon and opened up the

frame. He had to get with the cue ball back up to baulk so they are

rather containing themselves rather than being the aggressor. If you are

not entirely comfortable with your game, it has been typed out there,

you are on tenterhooks as to how the session has been going and you are

not as comfortable, but then again Steve and does play a very attacking

game. Marco is not known for being totally aggressive but I think as

the session unfolds you might start to see him open up a bit. -- see

them. COMMENTATOR: It is amazing the

number of times a red goes next to the black and puts it out of

commission straight from the break off. It just means that there is no

point in attempting to roll this red in because there is no colour

available. I don't know how this session is

going to unfold but it is all about getting into the final. It is all

about the W, sport in general, the win. If you can do it with a bit of

style, great, but sometimes that doesn't happen, just make sure you

beat the other fella. This next shot, if he can get

through to one of the reds on the player safety shot, it might bring

the black back into play. He doesn't have to play that one but you always

want to get to that high valued colour into play. -- get that. And

he has done, that has cleared the black somewhat to the right corner

pocket. And the reds are opening up beautifully now, which makes this

safety exchange so interesting. Because one mistake could be costly,

the way the balls are. We have got a nice looking frame, haven't we? Full

of options for Marco, he could push the red on the side up and down if

he wanted. I like that shot, it gets the game

back to normal. That red going up the other end of the table, we could

have had one of those awkward frames, but Mark Selby has got it

back up this end of the table. Where it's finished, that red, is pretty

awkward, because you don't -- if you don't hit it very thin to get back

into the baulk area you hit the jaws.

Very good. That wasn't as easy as it looked. Acknowledged why Mark Selby,

just tapping the table with his cue there. -- by Mark Selby.

Well. Absolutely hit that all wrong, far too thin. The first mistake, as

we show you, catching the other red, an early chance for Marco Fu here.

This is where he has to go to work, stamp his authority on this evening

session. He needs to score now, particularly

after this chance. -- off this. Looks like one of the practice

routines you do in the club, when you are in the club, few reds out.

The only red you wouldn't put on the table for a practice session is the

one to the left of the black. You can see where he has put the cue

ball, he has left himself with a choice of three reds, one to the

middle, one to the right-hand corner.

I am just wondering if this is going to tie the pink up somewhat.

Might still be available into the corner pocket. Hopefully into the

left middle pocket, yes, it is in the clear, so it certainly goes into

those middle and the right corner, and the angle he has on this red he

might have to leave the pink for the left middle pocket.

He has hit it too hard. That is a bit careless, little bit of

adrenaline there, just overscrewed that.

That is where he wanted to be, where the other white is there, and

overscrewed it. So a bit of a let off there, as we

show you the missed pink again, but the shot before caused the problem.

And Marco will have to sit there and... He is looking at that tip

which did come off yesterday, but Mark Selby, well, he will have been

watching Marco missed that pink and it might give him a bit of a boost.

The tip looks good. He lost the cue ball again, Marco. It caused trouble

yesterday when it flew off, the tip, but they did a good job potting it

back on. The cannon, hoping to bring the

black into better player than that, and where it has finished he can't

pot the pink either. It just shows you, if they touch

that mere cushion they don't drop in, well some have been but that one

didn't. There have been a few going in that shouldn't have done. It was

a tough shot, very high tariff in difficulty, that one.

He was looking at the pink there, Marco, because the black is right in

the jaw of the pocket and it is slightly more difficult to control

the cue ball when you are screwing over towards the reds. He has

cannoned into them and it looks pretty good, he has won to the right

middle. Good shot. It is the only way you can really control that

shot, play into them and hope you get a bit of fortune. What a

horrible kick that got, it jumped straight up in the air. Have a look

at this. But amazingly this time it hasn't affected the shot. I

mentioned before it was a good chance, and this one definitely is.

There is one person may be watching this semifinal hoping that it goes

to a deciding frame and that is Ding Junhui, who would be glad to see

both of these players battle it out to a decider.

He has the evening off. We get a bit selfish when it is like that, don't

we? Mentioned earlier he has got a

beautiful touch, Marco Fu. He has not been at his best in this so far,

but the earlier matches, up the one against Peter Ebdon, absolutely

fantastic. He was wonderful against Peter Seddon, Peter said and played

very well but he didn't get a shot. The clearance against Barry Hawkins,

one of the best clearances seen at the Crucible. When you have been 9-1

ahead and pressed back to 12-11, that was very special.

It seems to be the story of this semifinal, every time Mark Selby

goes ahead Marco Fu comes back. 17-16 all over, do you think? Let's

put it this way, I wouldn't bet against it.

Already 54 in front, so just a couple more pots to get back to all

square. DME! Well, luckily the pink is over

the pocket, because imagine that it wasn't there and he had a tremendous

kick like that. It has been twice in quick succession, hasn't it? He

would want to see much more of that this evening. Just needs the pink,

though, to put him 60 in front. He will want to make sure of this

red because he knows what Mark Selby is like when he needs snooker 's,

one of the best in the business. Full contraindication on this one.

-- concentration. That looks good. It isn't underestimated part of the

game that, getting well over the line so that your opponent doesn't

get back. Sometimes a player will relax, miss a shot, and all of a

sudden he has another 20 minutes or so in a frame. I did it against Fred

Davis, he needed three snooker is, I thought I had one and he nearly

pinched it. He got the snooker 's and I won the game on the black.

Taught me a big lesson, that. Bit of an awkward red now but it

doesn't really matter. Still expect him to knock it in but if he doesn't

mark will stay in his seat. Safely in, and it wouldn't be bad to clear

the lot here, just sends a message out. We were talking about being

positive this evening and this is definitely that, make sure you clear

off, take all the balls off the table and show that you are here to

play. Just strolling around the table as

if it were the opening frame. He has got a wonderful temperament, Marco

Fu, he really has. What a beautiful clearance from

Marco Fu. He is not going anywhere, you just can't put anything between

these two players, we are all square again, 13-13.

So Marco Fu looks on as Mark Selby breaks off. 13 frames all.

An awful lot of people have been coming to the Crucible for many

years but you always want into somebody knew who has never been

here and they absolutely love it when they get in to watch one of

these matches. It is so difficult to get tickets. You will see the odd

empty seat but they are sold out for months and months in advance.

Terrific. OK, he hasn't dropped on a colour but he had to swerve that to

make the potting angle. A good shot, one you couldn't guarantee getting

position off. That is why he has ended up where he has done.

A clever little shot their, he tried. Split the pack up with a

yellow. Couldn't quite get it where he wanted. Slight angle, so he has

to head up to wards the blue border pink and black, awkward. -- or the

pink and black. Terrific pot and he needs another one because he has

knocked a red over the middle pocket.

Good cueing from Mark, this. Confidence booster. Scrapping for

position, it was a good look he knocked in, far from easy. -- good

blue. Might be on nothing here. What is it

they call it, he is on zilch. Amazing where you can finish, blue

is the only possible ball he can pot. If you try to roll that red

down the table and leave the white there, you couldn't do it.

He must be going to take the blue, blue in the corner, finish on the

red behind the black. Sounds easy. Oh, unlucky. I tell you what,

though, he enjoyed the pot. One you would expect a professional

snooker player to hit. First glance, I don't think Mark can get down the

table off this. If it was slightly more to the Wright he'd be able to

hit off the red behind it. He might be able to come down off

that one even though he's going to be able to hit the pink. Just a

containing shot. Could do with a touching ball to

sort this out. And we have got one. He didn't want one, did he? Mark's

face, he wasn't too enamoured with that. Makes it easy for Marco to

play it down the table. Looks good.

APPLAUSE Another touching ball? It is. So

Mark can stay up that end, Marco can stay down this end, a bit like a

game of tennis. That is a foul there. The red

definitely moved there. It has not been called but that was a foul.

Let's have a look at this. It's his finger moves the red. The referee

has missed it, so has the player. There we go. Let us watch this

again. Mooz it forward, touches the red. That is a foul. -- moves it

forward. I am surprised they've both missed it. Marco Fu and the referee.

Great length on that safety. Much harder because of it. Because of

that, he hits it far too thin. Took a red towards the corner. At first

look, he has got away with it, but it may be a very big pocket, that.

He will have a look in a minute. He will come down and have a look at

that. If he can't get direct to it, which I don't think he can, the red

on the right-hand side definitely has a chance of going in, doesn't

it, then is? It does. If the red was a little further away from the

pocket, it would be unmissable. He has to be careful otherwise he will

get the double case. -- double kiss. And he is on the yellow. So, one

good positional shot here and Mark Selby could be right in amongst

them. Could not have played that any better.

What a chance this is. Balls are nicely spread, pink in the open.

Just wondering whether or not one of the red is covering the pink spot.

-- one of the reds. Could be a little bit of a problem. He could do

with the red away from the corner pocket. It is blocking the path of

the black. Just looking three or four shots ahead.

I think he will pot the pink and play for that red will stop I

mentioned the one near the pocket. -- plays for that red. The green

spot is the only one available. Yes. My suggestion would be pink, red up

to the top cushion. You could go for blue, come back and remove the loose

red. Just wondering if the pink will go on the black spot. That was not

part of my script. This is the red I would have thought he would have

played for. The us check. If he plays that, it will make a big

difference. A huge difference. That was looking like being a lot more

straightforward than that. Gone of the blue, combat down. It was a

great chance, but not now. -- come back. He did not play that well. He

has come up a long way short of where he intended and that it will

be a Mark Selby special, powering the white around the table here.

That is pretty good. APPLAUSE Make sure there is a top spin to

send the ball running around the angles. He is blessed with so much

cue power, but once again, the wrong side of the blue. He has not got

much of an angle on this one to power it around. This will take some

shots. One of his power shots yesterday, the blue jump out of the

middle pocket. Well, that one was never going to roll off. He is

urging the white to run around, but as you said, it was not as easy this

time, John. Think you can avoid the cannon on the other reds, so he can

go back round off of this one. Someone moving in his eye line. He

was just holding his hand up. Well played. He just can't get

himself the right side of the blue. It is like someone said, be on the

wrong side of the blue every time. It is a wonder he is still going.

Brilliant shot. Absolutely brilliant. He can win this frame by

just taking blues. Will he get the correct side this time? He might be

dead straight. Looking at the way he is bridging, there is a slight

angle. He is powering everything into that

middle pocket. That blue is going to have a headache! At last, he has got

the correct side of the blue! 43 the difference. So blue, red and one

more blue would be enough. There you go. 48 ahead, 59

remaining, and what a break this has been. Fantastic. He has been

scrapping for position all the way through it. Wrong side of the blue

three or four times. Wonderful contribution. This is why he is

world number one. All players can make centuries when the balls are

nicely positioned. He snapped his fingers there as if

to say, spin, white. And it did. And another blue. He has already potted

six of them. His seventh blue. Who sang that song? I never felt more

like singing the blues? It was Frank Ifield.

You could see him click his fingers, telling the white to spin. Another

exhibition shop coming up, John? Yes. 13 frames all. Semifinal.

Fabulous. Now watch this for an exhibition positional shot. The

white going all the way around the angles. That was rubbish, wasn't it?

Doesn't matter. The frame well and truly over. And building up nicely.

That is to frames. One visit. Mark's wife Vicki there. We are back again.

One in the lead, Mark Selby. 13-14. Much more decisive play from both of

them. There is one incident we will have to show again. Happily, it did

not affect the outcome, but John picked up what looked like a foul.

Are there any settings dances where you would not know what is going on

the finger touches the red and comes away. Everyone in the world of

snooker probably would suspect that you could have felt that. There is

no way of getting out of that. The see the referee missed it and he is

the sole judge of play. Things like that do happen, but... Over to you.

You don't want to stop pointing fingers at anyone, but yes. You know

you have touched it. It's a never-ending. You know when you have

touched something. You could say there is so much tension out there

and he didn't give it a second thought. Game 20 eight. -- Game 20

eight. Dimension singing the blues and

Frank Ifield. It was Guy Mitchell, or Tommy Steele. I wasn't even

close, John. I knew it was Guy Mitchell because my manager you

supported on the tape in the car all the time. I didn't want to correct

you because you are usually right on most things!

There goes my chance as pop master. Can he get through to sneak this in

the middle pocket? Does not fancy it. I don't blame him

with the cue ball stopped up on the cushion. -- tucked up on the

cushion. Well, that was an attacking safety

shop there from the world number one. -- attacking safety shot. He

played it as if to say, I am opening the shots and I am ready to score.

This game is right for someone to take it over. If someone can step up

a bit, they are going to win. Mid-session interval coming up after

this frame. It has been a tough match of snooker. A feud century

breaks. Look at that, coming up to ten hours of solid matchplay smooth

curve. First that gets to 17 will go through to tomorrow's final.

Sessions will be two o'clock and seven for the final. So whoever gets

through and have a bit of a lying in the morning. -- a bit of a lie in. I

don't blame him taking his time here. He is in a spot of bother.

Just played that like a containing shot. Anything he does not want, you

can play back. Avoiding that was all part of the plan.

This will be good if it is any shot. Just glance off of that one. A huge

frame with the interval coming up. Mark Selby can win it, take a two

frame lead. He will be happy sitting in his dressing room. Marco Fu has

come back, pegged him to all square. It has been a tough game for both

players, this. The flick on the yellow was very

nice. Cue ball tight on the bottom cushion. No straightforward escape.

He is going to have two try and leave the white in the jaws of this

corner pocket here. That is about as well as he could do. Another

touching ball. Coming! -- come in! That was a strange knock on the

table there. It was a loud knock. If he can't see a path back down the

table, he might have to nestle on that one, off of a couple of

cushions. He's just having a look, seeing if he can work a way out, but

I can't see an easy route back down. He keeps looking at the red two

down. He would have two hit that thick to go in the gap past the

pink. I don't like that very much. I prefer your shot. Could get down

side if played correctly. From in behind would have been better then

to lee-macro there. Mark is looking at that one along the cushion. Would

have been better there deletes back looking at it again. Just

wondering if he will try to play in between the pink and the rate. He

has got to make sure he doesn't cannon anything. -- pink and the

red. He did not play the pots, did he? If he did, he could have

cannoned into something. I think Mark Selby, with the interval coming

up, he is not going to take any risks here. He wants this frame

badly to open up a two frame advantage. There is a red going

towards the pocket, but it does not look to be any path through to its.

Surely there can't be a gap? Well, there is. He has got to find a path

back down towards the blue. I don't know if he could get through just

playing ball. If he squares it around the red, he would probably

cannoned the other one on the way back. He could not guarantee

position. What do you do here? There is the side. Why does the angle, had

to hit that red. -- widens the angle. He is looking at the black,

but he can't get back down the table off of that. So he may have won

glowing at the baulk cover. Yellow seems a fairly big target. Off the

side cushion, past the pink. There is the roads near the corner pocket.

Think that is why he has over the green. -- there is that red.

Perfect, absolutely perfect. Wafer thin contact. That is amazing. In

fact, the green is still on its spot! A fourball contacts on the

Green would have left a couple of possible pots. But to flick the

green and leave it on its spot, that's quite amazing.

That is a remarkable shop because not only has he got out of trouble,

where he has left Marco, he is in serious trouble.

He was looking a very, very thin contact on that red. He can count

himself very fortunate he has not left anything. It could go anywhere.

Mark is looking at it as if to say, what would I do? He says to himself,

I would be in a bit of trouble, so let us face it. He does need a thin

contact otherwise he would double-kiss that red.

He was able to just see the edge of the red. That is where it was and it

looks pretty good to me. Spot on. I mean, he does not have to pay the

same shot again. He can change his mind, but I think that is near

enough. Try number two. With any other contact other than a thin one,

it will double-kiss the red and white. This will have to be a

special shop because it does look double-kiss all day, doesn't it? --

special shot. He nearly put the white into the pocket last time. To

hit the green like that and leave Marco there, that was result. A

change of plan. He has left one along the cushion.

The only thing with this shot, to get on the blue he would have to

play it with a bit of pace on it. Not even considering it. If the

black was available he would roll this along the cushion. A good shot

from Marco. Calculated he couldn't get on pink or black, Mark just

tapping the table again. He is a bit concerned about the red

near the left-hand corner pocket. If he plays it down the left-hand side

of the table he has to try to get in behind the yellow.

This is a very tough match of snooker we are watching. Mark Selby

knows, with all his experience, he can go two frames up at this stage,

he would be in the driving seat. That is an excellent shot from Marco

but where is the red going to go? Hmm, the last little flick on the

red has made a difference. You would have expected him to get

it, but not like that. He had to take that on. But as you mentioned,

very tough, against the cushion, could only see the top of the cue

ball. But at the moment just the blue to

play with. An excellent shot Marco played there, very easy to be the

wrong side of the blue. It is perfect. Ideally the red over the

right-hand side pocket is the one to get rid of fairly early so the black

can pot in there. As we saw in the last frame, you don't have to. Mark

Selby playing on the blues was perfectly adequate but in an ideal

world you would like to get on the black fairly quickly.

Has the opportunity to move that red now if he wants, just depends how he

sees the break. Straightforward, the position, but he could hold it and

play for the black in the middle, that would work.

Decided to play out. Don't blame him. He couldn't have hit that any

better, it was perfect. He has turned this into an excellent

chance but he would have liked a bit further with the cue ball there, he

is looking at the tip, he is not happy about it. He would like

another six inches down the table just to pot that red.

There is the cannon. He has tidied the tip up because the brass part

was full of glue. He carried on playing yesterday with the look on

it but you can see it is all cleaned away from the protector.

He has roughened up the tip with a bit of sandpaper. Players like to

see the tip like they always like it. But it was needs must yesterday,

he had to get that tip of fairly quickly, he only had 15 minutes or

something to sort the cue out. I was chatting to Martin Clark, former top

16 player, one of the tournament directors, and he was saying it is

15 minutes but there is a bit of leeway obviously if they are

struggling to get the tip back on. They are not going to stick

stringently to that 15 minutes. This is looking like following the

familiar pattern, Mark Selby goes one in front and Marco Fu pegs him

back. I just wonder if it is going to be one of those games where he

never leads until the winning post, Dennis. You never know. It is

amazing they have never played each other in the World Championship

before. Mark Selby is well ahead in the head

to head, 9-2. They have played each other twice in the UK Championship,

one each. So the world number one is certainly not having this easy.

Taking these very well so far, just getting big positional shots away

now. Screwing up at 14-14 and the mid-session interval, 53 ahead, 75

remaining so a couple of colours, couple of reds should see him over

the line. There has been some terrific

tactical play but there have also been frames, one here in this

session, with just one visit, and this is another one. You cannot put

anything between these two players. He has had eight centuries so far in

this year's Betfred World Championship.

If he could make one here, it would be 80 centuries, just six away from

last year's record, 86. This is the tougher of the two reds.

APPLAUSE The scoring and Stephanie improved

in the last three games, plenty of 40s and 50s but these three have

been excellent. This is how Marco has been playing earlier in the

tournament. Very well played, Marco Fu. There is

another century. And tonne up again, they love it. We all love a century.

100. Tried a trick shot. Doesn't matter. The players go off to their

mid-frame break, what a time to get a century. Marco Fu goes level,

can't put a thing between these players.

HAZEL IRVINE: Five centuries between these players, we have had the tip

controversy, the finger controversy, but there was nothing between them,

14 frames each, both requiring three more to book a place in the final.

It is an interesting development for Marco, because I was speaking to one

of the cameramen, who has watched a lot of Marco over the last few

years, and he described his form is almost chameleon like at times, he

almost seems to default to the style of play his opponent is playing. Do

you recognise that a bit? It depends what kind of player you are to start

with perhaps but if you play against a speedier player you might try to

increase your pace instead of trying to dig Tate apace. They roughly 26

players per shot. -- to dictate the pace. Marco's shots are fast but he

is playing in the same style at the moment. 14 frames apiece and it has

been like this, Marco was 7-4 behind, he won four in a row, that

was his most devastating run of form and it coincided with the tip coming

off his cue. You really sense that somebody will have to just take this

game and have a good shake at it. I just don't see it changing, I think

we are here till 17-16, it could be another hour-long episode. I don't

see anybody being able to get the form to make frame-winning visits to

or three in a row. It is interesting to see who comes out on top. -- two

or three. Marco always looks more likely to win frames at one visit,

so if he can get in clean then I fancy him perhaps to win the match.

Sometimes the way to do that is to up the pace a bit, go around the

table on autopilot, but these players don't change their pace. It

is hard to do, Ireland were doing it myself a couple of times in a match

where I was getting bogged down. -- I remember. Would you change your

pace around the table? If I was playing a Mark Selby type player I

would want to get into the balls as quickly as possible. You can't make

it easy for him. You have to put players on the back foot and perhaps

do something they don't expect. It is beautifully poised, a long way to

go, a complete contrast to the first semifinal, decided this afternoon

with plenty of cut and thrust. 11 centuries, the greatest novel ever

made in a match at the Crucible. It had a lot more besides, do Ding

Junhui and Allen McManus served up a Crucible classic.

In the 27th frame, Ding Junhui was 15-11 instead. Ding has already made

six centuries in this match. Stephen and Dennis were watching.

COMMENTATOR: That is a good shot from Ding Junhui, an early chance

his he can get into the bunch. McManus shakes his head. That will

do nicely and less... He is OK, the red came off the cushion, I thought

it was going to cover things. He gets the cue ball clean, he wouldn't

do that if he was going to play a safety. A good shot from Ding Junhui

into the pack, he had to hit that from the outside of the bunch.

No break is today so far for Ding. Is this the day when he is going to

step up a gear, when the frame in one visit? As you well know, you

have done it so many times, he will want to win this semifinal as

quickly as possible and watch the other two gladiators battle it out,

it will be a tough semifinal between Mark Selby and Marco Fu, and Ding

can relax this evening, if he wins the match, that is.

Lots of left-hand side check side on the cue ball to square up the angle

when it comes off the cushion. Wants to avoid this red going back up and

he has not. He wanted to miss that. Today he is not in complete control

of that cue ball at all. Might be worth taking this one on because he

won't leave anything, only the red. You would think he would take it

into the left corner pocket and quickly run through for the blue,

could screw back if he wants, the pink might be available also.

That looks good to me. Right in the centre of the pocket. Seems to have

got his focus back. It has been a feature of Ding's play in this

championship, when something has gone wrong he has come back right in

the next frame with a break. He is stuck on that red, which... He

is just looking to see if that red would go there. It is so difficult.

I mean, we are this side of it, he is the other side of it. He could

play it for the blue, I mean... He is a couple of shots ahead but he

would love to take that one. So it is the outside one he is

playing to cut in. Terrific. I say terrific and not only for the

pot but what he did with the cue ball.

Coming up a little bit short. He didn't want to risk snooker ring

himself with the pink. Not only the cut was very thin but

the pace he played it at, he found a gap between the yellow and brown and

played that one to perfection. Another tricky part to negotiate.

That is just about perfect, it is going past the line. I say just

about perfect, he has got a slight and you'll -- slight angle, as we

show you there he is just one side of that blue line, but he might have

to come off the cushion with top spin.

Is the plant on? Must be. That is a bonus. Dead set plant. He can screw

the cue ball off the other five reds as well, this could turn out to be

the frame-winning shot if it turns out right. Get on the pink for the

same pocket or up for the blue. I will tell you what, that jumped,

he got a tremendous kick. It didn't affect the plant but we might be

able to show you that. Just have a look at the red here. The first red

tried to jump over the other one, that is how bad a contact that was.

But everything is OK. You would have to say now, the way

the balls are situated, odds on the seventh century of the match. It

really has been savage scoring by Ding Junhui.

Very impressive the way he has come out in this frame after the last

one. He got himself back into it and he would be very disappointed to

lose it but great attitude, great focus coming back into this frame.

Sign of a true champion, that is. You would have to give Terry

Griffiths huge amount of credit. In the first round Ding Junhui lost a

frame where his opponent needed two or three snookers anti-came out with

-- and he came out with a few in a row. Terry has just helped him

mature as a player. Every chance that Ding Junhui can

make a seventh century in this match.

That will be the most by any player in a match at the Crucible. A record

-- the record number of centuries was 16, achieved by the gentleman

sitting next to me. Stephen Hendry did that and he didn't know he held

that record. John Higgins has had 14.

If he keeps going like this and gets to the final and plays the same way

there is a chance he could beat that in two matches.

As you said, this is so impressive, after almost a 50 minute frame. All

of the tactical play and he has come out, he has got one chance and he

has taken it, in style, it has to be said. Another superb century break

from this Chinese sensation. One more frame to be played before

the mid-session interval. If Ding Junhui takes it he is in the final.

Absolutely superb. He only needed one chance, and didn't he take it!

He won the frame with another magnificent century break and is one

frame away from eight place in his first-ever final at the Crucible.

16-11. HAZEL IRVINE: His seventh century, a

new record for a single match by one player. He is through, 17-11 against

a very, very game Alan McManus at 45 years of age, the oldest player in

the drawer, who acquitted himself beautifully, as did this man, his

first Crucible final. I did very well, started good, 9-3,

and after Alan came back he got his chances to make a few centuries. I

played quite good set -- safety shots and he played some good shots

and punished me so the pressure comes. Through a number of reasons

it was a good match, I think Ding was most of those reasons. He is a

good player, isn't he? He knows how to string breaks together, as he has

shown, and the right man won the match. Everybody is dreaming of

winning the world titles, every professional wants to win the title

is. I just want to join them and lift up those trophies and it will

stay with me for a whole year. He has been touted as a future world

champion for such a long time, he has been around for 13 years as a

professional, the first player from Asia to make the final of the World

Championship and I guess the question is, why has it taken him so

long? He has been touted for so long. It is hard to win it, stupid

thing to say but it is, so many good players. Regardless of how it -- how

many people are willing him to win it in China, any player of whom it

is predicted that they will win the World Championship has extra

pressure on him. People say that Judd Trump will win, it might get

harder and harder every year. Perhaps it has taken him a long time

to get to the final just for that reason. We have all been saying from

the moment Peter Ebdon predicted he was the mode start of Snoqualmie --

the Mozart of snooker, he would take the game by storm. It doesn't mean

he is a certainty to win the title no matter who goes through tomorrow.

How big an occasion, at the Masters final he crumbled a bit, he was

considerably younger than Ronnie O'Sullivan but he has let big

occasions get to him, do you think he is a different man now? I think

he is much more mature, and Perry has to take a lot of credit for

that. He is a lot more level-headed in terms of taking control of his

emotions. -- Terry has to take. Who is he going to play? It is now a

best of five, Marco Fu the Mark Selby.

Started at the best of 33, now it is the best of five. The players are

getting their water, ready for battle. A long, hard battle.

Three of the last four frames have been one with one visit. Where as

the average frame time is around 22 minutes. Matchplay of over ten

hours. One hour of that was one frame. What about the referee?

Talking about players having to concentrate, what about Brendan

Moore? He has had to keep his concentration.

That was a big risk, and he has got away with it somewhat. There might

just be a possible cuts to the right corner, but Monty missed that

potted, Marco felt he was going to leave something. -- that pot. A bit

of good fortune to get away with that one.

Lots of pace on the cue ball. About as well as you can do there. That

was all about judging the cue ball pace, which was excellent.

High-quality safety. All the time putting pressure on his opponent.

Just gone past the brown. Might be able to have a go with this red in

the right-hand corner. Screw across on the pink. He has had a look at

that. It will all be about the red he is taking on. If it goes in, he

will give himself an early opportunity here.

He cued that beautifully. Excellent pot, wonderfully controlled.

Experience might play a big part in this semifinal. Make sure your

phones are off, please. Mark Selby won it two years ago. Please make

sure they are turned off. That's the third time. An unbelievable final

against Ronnie O'Sullivan, and will experience BB telling factor. -- BD

telling factor. Just run through and cannoned the other red at the back.

Lovely. What is the pot 's success rate for

this session? Over 93%. The last session they were below 90%, but it

has certainly increased, that is for sure. That is the match.

Crew-macro interesting the way he has gone about the break. He has

gone about it a different way. If he is playing the top spin, it needs to

land on the black. Not only do you need to get the right weight, you

have to judge the cannon. It could not have played that any better. --

he could. I can't believe it. The next phone

that goes off, you will be asked to leave. How many times the boot -- do

they have two be told to switch off their mobile phones?

Whoever's and that was must be relieved that went in. -- whoever's

phone that was, must be relieved that it went in. Is this another

frame to be one in one visit? -- won. That is the magic number for

this frame -70 two. Just a little awkward for bridging. -- 72. Played

it well. Timing was perfect for that one. Quite easy to underhit or

overhit. Well played. And what a kick that was. That was horrendous.

Look where the cue ball has finished. He is 48 in front. If he

runs through onto the blue, have a look at this. The White House

finished so short of where it should have been. -- the White House

finished. He was well on his way to winning before that horrendous

click. Having to bridge over, or stretch over the black and red, he

is putting the extension on to make it slightly easier. The way he is

looking at the yellow, he is going to take it on. It looks as if he

have come out after the mid-session interval with all out attack on his

mind. Very well played he could very well have been disappointed with

that kick, but he did not let him -- but it did not affect his shot. Do

you know who's phone that was? If you find the person, would you ask

them to leave, please? Out of the Crucible and cry it -- and quite

rightly as well. It is getting silly now. He needs a good cannon here.

Very difficult to hold the cue ball without playing a cannon.

Well, this break has been superb, and he looks to have quite a bit of

purpose, the way he is moving around the table, John. He's good power Bob

is -- he's good friend Bob was probably in the dressing room. He is

a wonderful Matchplay is Mark Selby. -- match player. What he always does

is to compete. Always top drawer. He applies himself, even when he is not

firing on all cylinders. He missed the last couple of

tournaments. I don't think he has quite been working as hard as

normal, but I tell you what, he is getting better by the frame now.

That is what great champions do. They can produce the best. This has

been a superb break. Top-class. Chance of a century now that he has

removed that red. He has made six centuries so far in this year's

Betfred Snooker World Championship. He can pop this and flick the red

off of the side cushion. When it back into play with either the pink

or the blue. Pot red, move red. I like that, John. As he rolls the

blue in, that is the 85th century in this year's championship. Another

game. Just five centuries away now from last year's called 86 -- 86.

Does not matter about the pink. Mark Selby has the Jews a fantastic

century break and he is back in the lead. It is now 15-14.

And the quality of this contest has started to rise. It was the 85th

century. Just talking about the scoring, getting better and better.

In the last few frames we have had and 98 from Marco.

Mark always seems to find something with the finishing line rearing now.

He is a great competitor. In long session matches like these,

sometimes you can lose your way. There is a bit of the middle game

where there does not seem to be an end to it. But towards the end, your

competitive in sticks kick in. You start to up the pace. It seems they

have both done that. Good on them. When you think back to Marco Fu last

match, he was 9-1 up. It was a fantastic comeback from Barry

Hawkins, but he also found something when he needed it. Therefore you are

anticipating a grand finale. The form they have shown in the last few

frames has shown they are classy players. Going back to Mark Selby,

we have talked poorly how -- how poorly he has played, yet he is 1514

up. He is finding that extra gear. -- 15-14. Marco Fu has had 16

attempts, since 1999. It is a huge moment for him. When it gets closer

to the finishing line, it's about who will crack first. Let us find

out. Frame 30. Marco Fu to break. I have just had word that some of

the Chinese journalists have said that for Ding Junhui, there were an

estimated 500 million people watching. That is incredible.

Phenomenal viewing figures. I don't know what it will be like if he goes

home after winning. That is another story, but we need to think about

this one. Who will he be facing in the final? What will the viewing

figures be if it is an all Asian final? I do think Mark Selby will

have a big say in that. He is looking for two frames to get

through to the final. Marco needs three. Just a thin safety. Oh, what

a flick. What a lovely notch off of the brown

bear. -- what a lovely nudge off of the brown. Not straightforward. You

can't play off of the site cushion and drop it into the pack. It takes

a bit of thinking about. It is a bit awkward.

If they come off of the left side cushion and nestle on those two, it

would not leave anything easy, but it would have to be dead weight. He

is looking at the other side of the table. He is going to come twice

across. Twice across to get to a similar position. He is coming into

the back of them. He has hit that cue ball terrific. He certainly

knows his way around a snooker table. That is why I christened him

sat nav Selby! There are a few shots like that that

he has hit the net than intended. He has left a tree called to the left

corner. Can Marco knock this in? There is more pressure now than

there has been cheering the in tyre match. -- there is more pressure now

than there has been during the in tyre match. -- in

pretty straight. Widen the angle. Beautifully played. He could not hit

this any better. You can see it spinning off, up the table and into

the perfect spot. It has gone wrong. No guarantee it

would come out. Fortunately for him, the cue ball has buried itself. That

would be end of break, I would think. And no easy safety shot for

him. All he can do is just nudge into them. Might need a touching

ball to resolve this. Well, that is not touching.

I think he has got to be a little bit careful with this.

I don't blame him for playing to the cushion there.

That cannon on the brown has left a chance for Mark Selby.

Just off straight, this red, as you can see.

Played it in such a way, you would be on the blue. Did not want to risk

rolling it in for the black because he knew he could have left a couple

of reds. Nice target down in that baulk area

behind the brown. He campaign a positive safety if he wants. He may

play the loose red above the pink. This is really close to the brown. A

spot of bother for Marco. He has a couple of ways of getting there. He

can come off the cushion or swing it around the angles and still get it

towards the brown. It depends how he feels. It is in the safety area, but

the bonus would be if he could get in behind the brown. Yes. That was a

slight mis-hit, wasn't it? He has stuck the read up to was that

pocket. -- towards fat pocket. Funnily enough, he missed both rates

by a fraction. He needed a thin contact, but just overdid it.

This is a good... He is not on it. He has slipped up. He should have

been on the red to clear the path. Is he on it? Just about. He can turn

it over with a little trace of left-hand side, but nearly messed up

there. Went to swerve it slightly. Don't know whether he actually hit

that one little bit too hard, leaving the cue ball more half-ball

for the red that is loose against the pocket.

Had to play lower to guarantee he was on for this. -- low.

There is a red at the back of the bunch that will go but he has a

great angle if he wants to go straight into the pink full ball and

open the game up. He doesn't have to do so. There is one at the back of

the pack available, as I say, but after this there might be one more

just this side of the pink and to the right of it that goes into the

left corner. He is coming around to have a look at that. Still a couple

of reds available here. There is the one that will part in a couple of

shots' time. -- that will pot. That is just about perfect to roll

the blank in and leave that red that we showed you. Once he has rolled

this in it leaves an angle, he can just stand into the side of the

reds, hopefully promote one into a pottable position. It is a bit

tighter than it looks on our screen but it definitely goes.

APPLAUSE As you predicted. The standard in

this semifinal has gone up so much, frames being one now with one visit.

-- being won. It looks like it is finishing the familiar pattern, Mark

goes one ahead, Marco comes back immediately. Looks like we are going

to go all the way. We have had back-to-back centuries, one from

either players, and this is turning into an absolutely cracking

semifinal. Just a couple of reds that are still

available, but they are not easy. I think he might take the pink here,

looks like a natural angle to knock this in the middle and keep position

with the loose red. The blue is a bit more tricky to power it round

the angle. Those four reds that are together seem to be covering each

other but he has two more reds that are available, this one, the one

just off the cushion there. Well, if those four reds are tied

up, what is he, 65 in front, the blue to follow, 70? He is not far

away from securing the frame. Playing for the loose red as he'd...

Oh, that flew off the cushion behind the black, it really did. He can't

believe the paste that it came off the cushion. Yes, that was weird,

wasn't it? We haven't had many of them tonight but that was one.

Amazing. He is just looking for that one more red. That is why he didn't

can into the four, he wanted to make sure and get nicely on the loose

red, and look where the cue ball has finished.

Yeah, he didn't fancy risking that very difficult pot. Very unlucky

there, with the loose red, big bounce off the cushion. I am pretty

sure that if he hasn't covered it Mark Selby will be trying to get

that red off the cushion immediately, because if you are

going to make a clearance that has to come off from there.

He got half of a double-kiss there, didn't he? Still off the cushion,

still better than it was. The other thing, Dennis, no colour

is safe in this frame as well. Marco should really have been over the

line if not for the bounce and if it does happen there is no wall safe.

-- ball safe. That is a pretty good cue ball he

has got there. Having said that, after this next shot, everything may

be in play. One good safety shot here off the right side of the red

as we look at it and the red will be heading off to at the other five and

even though he is 70 behind all of a sudden it is frame on again.

He would dearly love to get this cue ball in behind that round. Yes, it

has been a big target all the way through this frame.

It is not a bad effort. Oh... It is awkward, though. He would have to

bridge over the brown. There is a possible snick into the right corner

pocket, we are just over the 11th hour for this fascinating final.

Striking down, very easy to put a bit of side on this. Not a

straightforward shot anyway, pink being where it is on the top cushion

is a problem for the four reds. If he gets the left of one of those he

will probably cannon into the pink. If he plays the black thing he could

probably promoted into the corner pocket. So that is not on. No wonder

he is taking a bit of time. -- if he plays the black thin.

Foul. I think he fouled the brown there, did he? He just caught the

brown with the side of his cue. He was cueing so close to the brown

there. He just nudged the brown with the side of the cue.

Just enough remaining, some Marco looking for one pot here. -- so

Marco. Now he has got behind that brown, we have mentioned a few

times. The only real shot Mark can play is

side push on and try to come in behind, drop in behind and try to

get the pace right. He has hit it on thick. That should

be end of frame. And once again Marco Fu has got

himself back all square. Turning out to be an amazing

semifinal, the standard has improved dramatically in this session.

After everything they have gone through in these sessions it will be

down to a best-of-3. Started out the best of 33, and now it is the best

of three, as you say. But it is great to see these two

players playing to this standard in this session. The world number one

against Marco Fu, looking for a place in his first Crucible final.

Yes, the scoring standard has been far removed from what it was this

morning, both players struggled a little. This evening, top quality.

He will want to clear them up here, make sure... Well, Mark won't come

back to the table, he hasn't scored a point in this frame.

Well, he started off with a break of 50 but didn't he finished the frame

in style with that magnificent 73 break and it is 15-15, best-of-3

now. And that was caused by a shot that Mark Selby laid. He hit it very

thin and he missed the red completely. Watch the one on the

left-hand side of the table as he misses this all together. He wanted

a thin contact and he overcompensated. Look, it almost

flicked that other red but when it came back up the table Marco took

full advantage and looked like he would clinch it with one visit. He

ended up playing onto the blue. He only needs one more red so he

decides to play for the loose one, hits this what you think is perfect

but watch the reaction of the top cushion, comes off twice the speed

it went on and of course it lands in a position that is so awkward to pot

the red and all he can do is play safe and he ends up in brother in a

frame he should've already won and thankfully he did because he didn't

deserve that. -- he ends up embroiled.

Once again a red goes right next to the black. Quite incredible hammy

times that has happened. -- how many. Yes, and every frame is

massive at the Crucible. This really is. If you can get yourself one up,

have a couple of bites at the cherry... Look at the standard, 95%

and 93% pot success for this fourth session. Yes, fabulously high.

That will do. Marco was doing that to try to get them back in play and

a positive safety but a handy little fluke. Not only the fluke but he has

landed on the green. He was playing and attacking safety, getting the

reds up. Got a fluke but look where he has landed.

This might be in no man's land. He has the one long red up into the

right corner. That wasn't the red he intended to be on. This is a bit of

a test. He has definitely over that one. I

think he can screw this back a bit to leave the pink and he wouldn't

leave anything should he miss it. I said he wouldn't leave anything. In

fact a bit of adrenaline because he screwed back further than he

intended. He has left that one, it was so close to the pot, I thought

it was in at this stage. Well, he has loose reds to play for

here so I don't blame him if he does but he also has a fantastic angle if

he wanted to go into the packed off the side cushion. He has another

reds to play for, I would understand entirely if he does that. It all

depends how he feels. John mentions the angle he has on the brown, this

is what he could do. And of course he does. How is your

luck, Mark? Well, it could have been better. The black wind got into the

right corner otherwise he could roll this one in near the left corner. --

the black won't pot. He has to force this one, a bit of a stunning shot

to leave himself on the black. -- a stun shot. That was a lot

better than it looked. Well-controlled.

Every credit to both players, the standard they are producing at the

business end of this semifinal is terrific. Yeah, their best stuff

when they need it the most. Good combination, that.

Every player's ambition when they turn professional is to become world

professional champion, Mark Selby has done it all couple of seasons

ago. Marco Fu yet to get to his first Crucible final.

High stakes, and he has left it awkward. As he turns away from the

table, how is he going to get to this one? He has played a cannon to

nudge the red away and get to the cube will but now he will be

hampered. He played to come onto the side of the red and he has gone

behind it. He won't be able to play the shot -- see the shot if he gets

the spider out. He won't see how he is cueing the ball. He is in a

horrible position, one of those you probably can't reach with your cue

anyway, he will probably need an extension, so there is no good news

with that shot. He has a touching ball, but he is

still looking at the potting angle. Now he's looking at where he wants

to put that cue ball. There is a gap around the ankles, he would have to

hit one, two, three, possibly for cushions to get in behind one of the

baulk colours. It just goes to show that in this

game you have to be so precise, simple cannon looked like it would

be perfect for Mark Selby, just whether cue ball finished.

Fractions. -- just where the cue ball finished.

A mistake from Marco. A possible pot to the middle pockets, certainly one

into the left middle pocket, and he can get on pink or black from that

one. Got to be precise with these. Just looking to see at some point

whether he is going to flick that red out and leave two. He could play

that can now. Doesn't have to but he would love to. He has looked at

laying the black and flicking that away. That would open up five reds.

He has four reds in a good position that he is definitely looking at

that shot, delicate little cannon. -- but he is. He has hit the other

red but he is OK. He didn't cannon the red he wanted but he knew there

were a few more available. He knew the outside red would be there for

him. A little bit too far from the blue

but he can take the green. It is a bit closer to the cushion

and he would have liked. That he is OK. -- then he would have liked.

Lacking for that 66 points there to leave Marco at the snookers required

stage. -- looking for. What kind of an angle has he got on this? Close

to the cushion, one of those awkward little angles. If he is away from

the cushion he just punches it in. He knows the importance of this

shot. It looks nothing on your screen but he can easily bounce this

off-line and get any side on this when he bigs down. -- bigs down. --

digs. Well played. Up in the balcony there, she has been there with her

little girl, she was dancing around in the -- dancing around with

Marco's little daughter, they have a creche there. It is the modern-day

thing to have your family at events, the golfers to it. -- do it.

But he has looked so solid since the mid-session interval. There is a bit

of purpose in that stride around the table. Just got to be a bit careful.

He is looking at the red, if he could pot them blue and cannon it he

would be on the bottom red cluster of five.

He just needs the cannon. And he has missed it. Not as planned, that.

Yeah, just show you it again. If he had got the 4-ball cannon he would

have had an easy one at the bottom of those reds. This is slightly

trickier. He knew straightaway that he hadn't

potted that. Just 43 in front, because of not getting that cannon

he has missed this long one. So he is far from safe in this frame.

Marco immediately removing that difficult red.

Just what the player who is behind always wants to do, isn't it, get

the balls is are in potable positions.

This will go up into the corner and he can play through for the pink or

the blank -- black. A big shot coming up.

He went all out for the blue there. He was pretty close. The reason we

thought he might play up for the pink or the black was that he

wouldn't leave a shot like this, or it would be more difficult if this

goes in. Someone just got out of their seat to go out of the arena

there and Mark got up off the shot, quite rightly so.

That is a beauty. That was such a tough shot with the rest. Excellent,

wasn't it? Wonderful cueing that. We has to get right through that. If he

can screw back pass the blue where he is cueing up now, that Red Bull

port. It is all about the judgment here on the screw back.

Pretty good if you ask me. That is absolutely spot on.

I say spot on because he could develop the other ropes, so this is

the key shot to clinching this frame. That will put him one up with

two to play. Oh, he has missed the cannon. Can you believe it? He got

the main pot of the shot, he potted the black, but missed the red

completely here. Well, Dennis, that could be crucial, it really could.

It just looked at simple stun up. Well, there is a pot on here. He is

not looking at a plant as well, is he? No. He would need a blue office.

He is 54 in front. A red and blue would put him 60 in front, with 59

on. If he goes further up the table and he doesn't put this and he

doesn't finish on the blue he will need another read. This is not easy.

Now, straight in the pocket. But he is not perfect on this

yellow. The yellow and one more grateful. -- the yellow and one more

bread are needed. It must've been disappointing to lose that simple

positioning shot but right in the middle of the pocket. Great cueing.

He has a couple of choices here. 55 ahead and the yellow is tricky, do

you take the pot on? The yellow is tricky but the white is the other

side of the ball which makes it quite thin so a colour safe would be

the order of the day. He will want a good cue ball also but a little bit

of insurance with the way the balls are sitting here would help. Yellow

on to the side cushion and a good cue ball.

Firm favourite now that he has pushed that safe in this frame.

Marco is looking at the possible plant. He was thinking about it

before but Mark had the loose read there that he knocked him. This can

be made. The problem is that even if he pot it he needs a high value

colour. Well, he put all his eggs in one

basket there and tried a very difficult pot and he has more or

less gifted the frame to mark. Yes, there was always the problem that

the plant was no good because he couldn't take position. Even if he

knocks it and it went down to the baulk area. Once again Mark Selby

looks like he is going that frame ahead again, Dennis. He was tapping

the table there, trying to get the white to pull up and it just about

house, to leave him a cut on the brown. This is to make absolutely

certain of the frame. So you would have to say at the

moment that the experience of being a former champion is just telling

slightly here. We know that Marco Fu will never

give up. We have seen that in the clear had against Barry Hawkins.

That was something very, very special, one of the best we have

seen at the Crucible. It doesn't matter about the double. Marco

signals to the referee, so Mark Selby is in the driving seat. He

needs one more frame to get through to tomorrow's final. He leads 16-15.

What value experience for Mark Selby at this point? He has been in two

previous finals, is he making that count? He looks like he has timed

his run to perfection. He looks in good form but it is just a role on

the ball in the right or wrong direction but he looks strong all of

a inasmuch as so much of the game looked really turgid stuff. He has

found something from somewhere. Yes, I question whether he was capable

with the way he has been playing to find that extra gear. Marco has as

well. For the last hour dispatch has been very good quality. Mark Selby

has proved why he is the world number one. He is a fantastic match

snooker player. He has battled through three sessions are playing

poorly and being low on confidence and down on himself and he has come

through the other end and that long run he potted when he got in

position, he looks more relaxed now than he has at any point in the

match. They don't call him the Brinkman for nothing because he

always seems to wait until the last minute but he always finds

something. You must praise Marco Fu because he has shown admirable

composure and he has kept his cue-action shorting compact and he

is very much in control of himself despite the pressure. They have got

very close to the finishing line and natural instincts have kicked in.

Expect at some stage that if you have got to the semifinals you are

playing well, so you don't get there by being lucky so you would expect

that they were going to up the pace and it is a worry when they cancel

each other out, but the fact that Marco Fu had done so well to get

through with a brilliant clearance against Barry Hawkins was just a

marvellous effort under the severest tests, after the guy has come back

in which shows he is cueing very well so it is all set up very

nicely, but it is not luck but just the role of a ball now. You great

champions had been in this situation late on Saturday night, Saturday

afternoon, getting through to finals, does it start to bring back

all those memories and feelings for you? Yes, you would love to be out

there right now. It is such a close match and the pressure is intense

but at the time you don't thing, I am loving this, but looking out

there now, you would love to be out there playing it the atmosphere is

fantastic. What do they need now? A bit bravery and just to keep in the

moment. Here we go. Marco Fu breaks off in what he hopes

will not be his last frame in this year's BetFred World Championship. A

little bit pacey with the break-up shot but isn't it great to see those

two players in the studio, seven times world champion, six times

world champion, won dominated the game throughout the 80s and the

other dominated throughout the 90s. I think they know what they are

talking about. Yes, sadly they knew what they were doing on the table as

well. I had been on the end of a few of them and, as you say, two

fabulous champions. They know what this is all about. All the way

through this match, when Mark Selby has gone one frame ahead, he has

been pegged back. Is Marco Fu going to take us into a decider?

Well, we said before this ceiling is that this had 70-16 written all over

it and that still might be the case but the standard has been superb in

this session. They really have upped their game, both of these players.

That confirms that 94% and 93%. Marco Fu has got a chance here.

Having said that the black is tied up and the pink is tied up but he

has got an easy starter if he could get up on the blue and he could get

into the pink and reds. It needs to keep going and it needs

to keep rolling. There are a couple of reds above the black that are

unavailable so he does not have to go into the pink, that is what he is

looking at there. It is not easy to develop the black from the way they

are sitting here. No, he would have to finish absolutely perfect on

those two reds that are above the black. If he could finish on one of

those and run through and then flicked the ball above the brat --

black, that is how we could make the break go a bit further. I am not so

sure he could do it off that one. He would have loved to be on the red

that was higher up of both the bunch and run through unfit to read away

but that is not on now. He has got a clear path back to the blue again.

He is coming up short this time. It is going to be straight by the looks

of things and he is the wrong side of things and that will make things

very difficult as we show you use the wrong side of the blue line. He

is immediately looking at a baulk cover but nothing easy there. There

is a loose red on the right-hand side by the pack which if he ran

through the blue and left the mid-range pot he might be able to

potted and move the blackout. He is just having a look at that now. If

he leaves the cue ball where is he could put it and play the cannon

into the red and the black and that is the only hope I can think of to

keep break going. I think that is what he is playing. He is taking

your advice. Can he execute this very difficult pot and positional

shot? Well, he put everything into the

positional side there but he did not get close to the pot.

I think the pink and black are still tied up. It all depends whether that

reds next to the black is available into the right corner of looking at

three or four shots ahead, there are three easy reds available and look

that red is going to be available somewhere down the line and if he

pots that he can get onto the black. He has got a couple of ways of going

about this, hasn't he? Because the loose red below the black is

obviously potable and if he takes that one away and got position on

that then the Blackwood pot and he has got options here.

As I mentioned, he has got a couple of loose reds. Fascinating to see

how he is going to go about this. I think it will be red, back for the

blue, and then leave that red that is almost touching the black.

That looks good to me, he may have to leave the top cushion with a

little bit of traced to the side but this is the shops to freeing

blackboard. -- that black ball. There is the pace on it. If it is

straight it is perfect. It pinged a little bit off the cushion but, yes,

a little bit to the left would have been ideal. Yes, if he had been a

touch a shorter he would pot this one with a little stunned into the

back of the pack and he could have left himself on the black. He has

had a little look at the pink so if he doesn't fancy holding for the

black and he is too close to it, he has looked to see if the pink is

available if he screws back off the cushion. Well, the pink one go, so

he will have to be precise. Failing that it will have to be the blue he

screws back four. He was a fraction away from being perfect.

Oh, that has kicked, and look where the cue ball has finished. He slams

the slate. That contact has ruined things. Why does it always happen

when you needed to happen the least? That is just ridiculous how that has

kicked. It has finished in No Man's Land so even if you have a shot on

the blue you would have something but where he has finished, I am not

so sure he can see the green either, can he? He has got to compose

himself again because he was very unfortunate there. He knew that was

a great chance to clinch this semifinal. He can see the green, so

randy angles for the blue next to the red and the black.

Has he composed himself enough? He is checking to see if he can push

the blue through. He will need his extension on this. This is a big

extension he is taking on, but he has been so positive in this

session. Oh, well, what a result? He had very

bad luck with the cake and I suppose he deserves a little bit of good

luck, the fact that the green careered into the cue ball and kept

it in a safe position, but, boy, was that a costly and heavy contact.

Meanwhile Marco Fu still looks the same. His temperament is

unbelievable. You would think it was the opening frame in this year

Posner World Championship for him, but what a test for this player from

Hong Kong. He has got to forget about that

kick. So we are in for a little about of

safety and tactical play. Who is going to make the first mistake?

It just makes the safety shot a little bit more difficult weather

readies on the right-hand side. You must make sure you avoid the cannon

on the way back. A good shot from Marco there. He played it really

nicely. And that really has opened the frame up. The pink and black are

now up on the open. There are four reds in potable positions. He is

looking at cutting this back into the left corner. There is a path

back around the table but if he doesn't catch it right, he can catch

that red on the right side of the table but he is taking the spot on.

That is brilliant. How is the kiss on the blue? It is not bad. That was

a terrific read, wasn't it? A fabulous pot. Absolutely fabulous.

He has come around the table and cannons the blue and he is straight

on the pink and I think if he pot this and just leaves the cue ball

more or less where it is, he should be all right to be on the red on the

right-hand side. He just has to avoid, obviously the pink will be

back on its spot so he has to make sure he holds the position there.

He has got a bit more angles than I thought. He played the cannon. How

was your luck? At first glance it is not very good and that expression

tells you he has not been very lucky with the cannon. He couldn't have

played much better. It just ran awkward. It all adds to the tension

here at the Crucible. You could play that shot another ten times and nine

out of the ten it would drop nicely on a read. -- a red. Can he cut this

back in? He could finish on yellow, brown or blue but it looks very thin

to me. He is looking where he wants to

place the cue ball. He had another look at the cut but it is just too

thin. What has he done here? It is safe.

That is amazing. That is the last thing we expected there. Quiet down,

please. Everything perfectly safe though.

Yes, I don't blame him being a bit frustrated in his chair there, this

frame has gone funny for mark a couple of times. The cannon there

and you thought he would be on the red but he wasn't and there was the

kick earlier on. All you are really looking for in these situations is a

really good chance, isn't it? He just can't quite get on the balls

like once. He has had a couple, he was very unlucky. Marco hasn't had a

chance yet in this frame, a frame that he badly needs to keep himself

in this year's World Championship. Is he looking at the back double

here? Surely not. He is looking about sending it down the table

towards the reds but you have to be careful here. That is a good cue

ball. He has opened some more reds up.

Well, if he can see the one to the left of the black it is a thin cut

and the White would be heading towards the pink.

Just as safety, I don't blame in one little bit but he has it the blow.

He has left one to the right corner but the white will cannon into those

two reds. This is a very big shot. Knock it in and he could have a

great chance. Miss it and it could be the last shot in this year's

World Championship. A good pot. A brave shot, and he wasn't sure

what was going to happen to the cue ball but he knew the pink and black

were in a nice position, and he deserves to drop on the pull-back

here. This is not a nice shot here under the circumstances, you have to

play this nearly dead weight. He wants to stay on the red so he wants

to play this very slowly. No wonder he is shaking his head. It looks a

simple but if he plays it with any weight he could lose the cue ball

for the next red. Well, where is the cue ball? It is

going in the pocket I think. Not quite. He decided to punch it in ink

and in the red to the right side of the table but he mis-hit it. He

didn't fancy just dropping it in dead weight. He tried to use the red

as a stopper to leave the one to the left of the pink there. That's

definitely was a nervy one. Quite understandable under the

circumstances. Trying to get himself into his first-ever Crucible final.

Looking at the potting angle, can he avoid the reds on the way back?

Another brilliant shot. What a pot! Fabulous. Absolutely fabulous. Two

brilliant long red Sea has potted in this frame already. Once again he

can't quite get position. This is a fabulous pot. Unfortunately for

Mark, the cue ball has come up a little bit short. Another six inches

and he would be on the blue with a great chance but where he is, very

risky to take the blue on. Well, he is calling on all of his

experience here. He is playing the snooker backing behind the blue.

He has potted some balls in this frame to be only eight points ahead,

hasn't he? This red will go close to the right corner pocket as he

doubles it across the table. Played it well. But you can see the

target is only the brown and blue there. The yellow and green up this

end of the table. So, the target is to try and get in behind that blue

and close to the cushion. The safety shot off the side of the

two reds next to the green isn't a problem. But of course tts red the

second one, when that cannons off, going to probably promote one of the

reds on the right-hand side, so he has to avoid

Couldn't do much with that one, just contain the safety. Look at the cue

ball yet again. Brilliant. Well, this Crucible crowd enjoying this

tactical bat we have seen some and quite a few frames won by one visit

but this is tense tough now. -- stuff now, these frames. These

frames sometimes can be more exciting.

APPLAUSE It's a battle of nerves at the moment.

A slightly easier shot now, as you can see. As I mentioned before, he

can play this now because he will only be cannoning into the green. So

that shouldn't knock a red towards the corner.

Oh, it looks good, he is swinging it right around. Not quite hard enough.

Well... There is a pot on for the right corner. But, it would cannon

into the green and reds. That really would be far too risky.

I don't think he can pot the one near the yellow. So it is just a

safety shot. Find the gap. Oh, can you believe it. He has potted the

yellow and it might be a free ball when the yellow comes back on its

spot. No, not a free ball. But I'm sure Mark Selby will put him back in

from where it has finished. Having a look around, but, yes, play

it from there. The funny thing is, Denis, the spread that is two up

from the cushion, if Marco clips that on to the green, there is a big

targeted behind brown and blue here. OK, it is asking a lot in the

circumstances but there is a chance. Well, he maybe behind the brown.

APPLAUSE I thought that was very risky. Well,

he did look long and hard at t Mark Selby and thought - I don't fancy

it, but now he wishes he had played the shot. Look where the cue ball

has finished. He is just playing off the right

side of this red as we look at it, to leave the white up this end of

the table. He has missed T he has missed it altogether. Foul, miss.

Probably striking down on t got a little touch of side. But there is

very little available to Mark Selby. He may have another go at the same

shot. He is just trying to glance off the right side of the red as we

look at it and trying to leave it up near the corner pocket here.

Well, we know he could definitely see that red. He might just put it

up on the screen and have a quick look. Let's see it. Bang on, yes?

That's where it was before and let's have a look now. Absolutely spot on.

Will he have one more go at this shot?

Try number two. Look how close he has go the the cue to that blue.

Better. That will do. That will do. The white is in the pocket. He was

hoping to get it in the jaws. But he will settle for the white going in.

I mean if you were to try to go in of a off from that position, there

is no way you could play t if you were playing a billed a shot.

-- if you were trying to go in-off from that position.

Wow, this is a hard frame. There has been some play in this. Hard, but

fascinating. Well, it is not a sitter he is faced

with, but it is a half chance. I think he can avoid the cannon on the

red that's near the cushion there. It looks like a plain ball pot,

doesn't it? He will come up and hopefully miss the pink on the way

back. He is just coming around to look, if

he dropped the pink in, would that red be available?

It would have been better without the kiss on the pink, that's for

sure. Yes, he would have had a choice of

pink or black, wouldn't he? That nudge on it just made such a

difference. He is just seeing if he drops the

pink, in it comes off the side cushion and leaves the cue ball. The

way he was looking, that might be the only chance he has for the red.

That was the best he could do, has he gone far enough? He drops his