Tuesday, 1st Round, Afternoon

:00:33. > :00:43.Good afternoon. A few gulps of fresh air before we head into the Crucible

:00:44. > :00:48.to immerse ourselves in more drama and intrigue, and there has been

:00:49. > :01:02.plenty of that this year. Die were as many qualifiers as top seeds to

:01:03. > :01:08.get into rain two. Ronnie O'Sullivan, it has always been a bit

:01:09. > :01:11.of a banana skin for the seeded player, this first round. We have

:01:12. > :01:18.seen a few go by the wayside already. Excellent shot. Could not

:01:19. > :01:27.have put it better. One away from victory. Right in the middle of the

:01:28. > :01:37.pocket. Once again he has made it look easy. Perfect. Unluckily, David

:01:38. > :01:42.Gilbert. You met a man on form. Looking forward to the climax of

:01:43. > :01:50.this match. Two great world champions. A fund a sick shot.

:01:51. > :01:59.Perfect. Probably the best that he has seen me hit the ball for a

:02:00. > :02:10.while. The aim is to play like that again and if I can I am going to be

:02:11. > :02:17.hard to beat. We did not see that. He is going to wrap things up with

:02:18. > :02:22.his biggest break of the match. You have to play well and scrape through

:02:23. > :02:23.that will fully act and play better and more consistently in the next

:02:24. > :03:11.game. and more consistently in the next

:03:12. > :04:33.time. And gradually should to Sam Beard who goes through to round two.

:04:34. > :04:39.professional help me be the way forward. I am sure everybody would

:04:40. > :04:46.wish Michael the best with his health and we hope you are back

:04:47. > :04:52.soon. Clarification on the Ronnie of Sullivan situation. He did not want

:04:53. > :04:58.to do any media requests or speak to the media after his victory over

:04:59. > :05:13.David Gilbert yesterday. World smokers say that he has received a

:05:14. > :05:22.formal warning -- snooker, World Snooker. In effect it is a yellow

:05:23. > :05:29.card. Yes, the press have been having a field day. He always gives

:05:30. > :05:33.the press plenty of copy. It is unlike unusual circumstance because

:05:34. > :05:39.he did not play that bad. David Gilbert certainly played well. Most

:05:40. > :05:45.people who have a problem with press conferences have lost. It is

:05:46. > :05:51.unusual. A lot of the journalists have been picking up on this story

:05:52. > :05:56.and someone has been claimed that had been banging, crashing and

:05:57. > :06:01.swearing behind the doors of Ronnie O'Sullivan's dressing room. Clearly

:06:02. > :06:07.there is a lot of mileage in this story. Hopefully he turns up for the

:06:08. > :06:15.next match and does what he does best which is placed snooker. Then

:06:16. > :06:31.speak to somebody for five minutes. Ronnie is through. Let us get some

:06:32. > :06:35.clarity on the first round draw. Last year's champion Stewart Bingham

:06:36. > :06:44.was the first name to go out on Saturday night. Stephen Maguire went

:06:45. > :06:53.out to make banners. -- Alan McManus. John Higgins looks

:06:54. > :07:03.rock-solid. Judd Trump starts tomorrow against Liang Wenbo. After

:07:04. > :07:11.a four year wait we will be seeing Mark Williams. The world number 30

:07:12. > :07:20.Anthony McGill made headlines with his win over Shaun Murphy. Barry

:07:21. > :07:32.Hawkins has a great recent record here. Ronnie O'Sullivan kept Council

:07:33. > :07:39.of his victory. The last of the first-round matches will get under

:07:40. > :07:44.way tomorrow evening. Former champion Mark Selby does not look to

:07:45. > :07:57.be in any danger yet. We have three matches to finish off and another

:07:58. > :08:05.three to get going. Mark Selby was on equal more day yesterday but he

:08:06. > :08:11.was still cleaning up. The deciding session to come. A 13th campaign for

:08:12. > :08:15.Neil Robertson begins today and he is going for a double with the UK

:08:16. > :08:22.and world crowns. John Higgins revealed the form yesterday that

:08:23. > :08:28.could give him another title. We meet this year's only debutant,

:08:29. > :08:35.Mitchell Mann has played at the Crucible before as a junior pot

:08:36. > :08:53.black champion. We will have table talk. And a Welsh potting machine.

:08:54. > :09:02.Very good. We have really seen the moves. 10am was the start time for

:09:03. > :09:06.this morning's session and the first sighting this morning of Mark Selby

:09:07. > :09:16.the world number one, up against world number 21 Robert Milkins. He

:09:17. > :09:23.is a fast potting machine himself but he really needed to get up to

:09:24. > :09:29.speed quickly because overnight he found himself 7-2 down to Mark

:09:30. > :09:34.Selby. Mark had piled on the pressure. Rob came back this morning

:09:35. > :09:48.and took the first four of the morning. We join them in frame 14.

:09:49. > :10:35.Misses Milton this is the third attempt to escape from a snooker.

:10:36. > :11:07.Back down the table this time, Robert. Just about to say it was

:11:08. > :11:13.advantage Mark Selby on the safety exchange. He has to be careful you

:11:14. > :11:53.does not not a read back over the left corner.

:11:54. > :12:08.We will see if Mark Selby cannot in a long one here. Nice advantage

:12:09. > :12:38.here. Where is the red going to finish?

:12:39. > :12:47.I think all the tactical safety play has knocked Robert out of his stride

:12:48. > :12:49.a little bit. He was getting that type of shot in. It was not an easy

:12:50. > :13:07.shot. Not the longest frame of the match.

:13:08. > :13:43.A couple of frames lasted just over 36 minutes.

:13:44. > :13:55.One of these awkward reds and a colour to make this frame safe. He

:13:56. > :14:01.could cannon into the two reds together. He will at least have the

:14:02. > :14:10.one tight on the cushion to the right corner.

:14:11. > :14:34.Well played. You would think that is the frame-winning shot. Mark Selby

:14:35. > :14:38.to get his first frame on the board. We said the mid-session interval

:14:39. > :14:50.might change things around. That has proven the case again.

:14:51. > :15:58.Mark will be feeling a little bit more comfortable. He has started to

:15:59. > :16:05.clear the ball very nicely indeed. That confidence is suddenly

:16:06. > :16:09.restored. She had a kick in the opening frame of the session and

:16:10. > :16:17.after that ain't ever really got much of a chance. It does not matter

:16:18. > :16:30.about the brown. He might pot it anyway. It does not matter about the

:16:31. > :16:39.blue. He lost all four before the mid-session interval. He badly

:16:40. > :16:47.needed that. What a relief for Mark Selby to stop

:16:48. > :17:07.the rot. Into the 15th, Milkins at the table.

:17:08. > :17:19.An example of the cube power of Mark Selby. The red is dead straight.

:17:20. > :17:26.Just screw that back up the table for the pink or blue. He obviously

:17:27. > :17:37.thinks there is a path for the cue ball.

:17:38. > :17:42.Judging by his facial expression he did not play the cannon. If the

:17:43. > :18:06.black goes it is a bonus. Signs he is starting to dominate

:18:07. > :18:10.this match again. Yes, the mid-session interval came at the

:18:11. > :18:13.right time for Mark. He could get his thoughts together, regroup. He

:18:14. > :18:33.is back looking good again. The eighth frame was the highlight

:18:34. > :18:37.of this match, a magnificent break of 132. Looked edgy at the start of

:18:38. > :19:04.the match. All of a sudden he is marching round

:19:05. > :20:43.the table with a lot of authority. Just a quick glance at the

:20:44. > :20:52.scoreboard. He can secure the frame without any of the difficult reds.

:20:53. > :21:19.Just the black. Robert all of a sudden is right up

:21:20. > :21:28.against it. Fantastic run from Robert to take all four frames

:21:29. > :22:11.before the interval. The world number one looking very good.

:22:12. > :22:27.The blue remove the red passed the yellow. Too much side. Unless he can

:22:28. > :22:34.clip this red down the cushion. He has tried the double. He was not far

:22:35. > :22:39.away. It will not be concerned about that because that was a fine break

:22:40. > :22:48.of 60s evident from the world number one and he puts himself one frame

:22:49. > :22:53.away. It has been a curious match. He

:22:54. > :23:07.finds himself one away from a place in the second round. He is going to

:23:08. > :23:16.have to work for it. Paul shot. Looking to play one of

:23:17. > :23:30.the specials that he has knocked ten a times. Beautifully cued. Not

:23:31. > :23:38.finished just yet in this year's bet Fred Ward championship, that is for

:23:39. > :23:43.sure. He is still OK but he is going to have to run up for a baulk

:23:44. > :24:39.colour. He wanted to be straight on this red.

:24:40. > :24:44.Two reds and two high value colours will leave mark with snooker is

:24:45. > :25:23.required. He might be OK. A little smile from

:25:24. > :25:28.Robert. Mark having a look at the monitor to see if he is nicely on

:25:29. > :25:36.the black. He is, but he might have to play over from the red on the

:25:37. > :25:47.right side of the table. If he can drop this in and get pink or black

:25:48. > :25:53.the frame is his. He has missed a fairly comfortable pot. A little bit

:25:54. > :26:04.of noise from the other table just as he was about to strike. There is

:26:05. > :26:23.enough left on the table. For Mark Selby to finish this frame.

:26:24. > :26:37.See if Mark Selby can screw back and tried to get those four reds.

:26:38. > :26:39.Terrific effort. I think he plays a screw shot as well as anybody in the

:26:40. > :27:22.game. screw shot as well as anybody in the

:27:23. > :27:28.is a chance to win the match. If he was to lose this frame, it is a

:27:29. > :29:10.terrible way to looking at the table at the moment.

:29:11. > :29:21.Only the blue that is off of its spot, everything else is

:29:22. > :29:30.straightforward. He has a good angle on the black. Or for the left-hand

:29:31. > :29:40.cushion or screw back, depending on the angle. He is going to have a

:29:41. > :29:56.look at it. He could not have played it any better.

:29:57. > :30:10.Steven mentioned, he is doing what world number ones do. Half a chance.

:30:11. > :30:13.He senses victory, he grabs it with both hands. They always say the

:30:14. > :30:24.hardest frame to win is the one that gets you over the line, but not so

:30:25. > :30:42.for the very top players. They are used to it.

:30:43. > :30:51.You can see there Robert's head bowed in his seat. He knows that

:30:52. > :31:07.this year's Championship has gone. Very clinical. He has been in

:31:08. > :31:29.perfect position all the way through this break.

:31:30. > :31:36.Oh, only just, he thought he had missed that. Well, he got off to a

:31:37. > :31:42.great start but Robert Milkins, to be fair, combatling back to be just

:31:43. > :31:47.one behind at 7-6. In the end the world number one Mark Selby, you

:31:48. > :31:52.would have to say he has won the match fairly comfortable, 10-6. Well

:31:53. > :31:56.played to Robert Milkins. He is here with us, that was a funny old game,

:31:57. > :32:01.you win six in a row, he wins four, you win another three, it was

:32:02. > :32:05.topsy-turvy. It was, I played OK after the interval to get the lead

:32:06. > :32:09.7-2. So I was going out today, I knew Robert would come back, let his

:32:10. > :32:16.arm go and he played great stuff to get back to 7-6 and back in the

:32:17. > :32:20.match. Was it frightening territory when he was be behind. Yes the

:32:21. > :32:26.interval came at the right time for me. I regrouped. Went on the

:32:27. > :32:33.practice table and got a bit of rhythm. John, and I were watching

:32:34. > :32:40.you yesterday, he describes you as snooker's Hoover, tell him what you

:32:41. > :32:44.said. I said he is in eco mode. He is doing enough. Then you chucked in

:32:45. > :32:49.the century and it was all full tilt after that. When you think back to

:32:50. > :32:53.last year, you came in as defending champion, round two, that was

:32:54. > :32:59.farewell, but in an ironic and strange way, you come in more under

:33:00. > :33:02.the radar. I have not had a fantastic season but that is not

:33:03. > :33:06.through playing really bad. When I have lost matches my opponents

:33:07. > :33:10.played a lot better and deserved to win. That is the standard of

:33:11. > :33:14.snooker, you could go on all season and not win a tournament. That

:33:15. > :33:19.doesn't mean to say you are no worse or bad than anyone else. In way, it

:33:20. > :33:25.is probably a good thing coming with not so much expectations on me. Is

:33:26. > :33:30.there ring rustiness, has it helped or hirnded your preparations? A bit

:33:31. > :33:34.of positive and negative. Positive as if I am fresher, I feel more

:33:35. > :33:39.better but as far as match practise, because I have missed the last two,

:33:40. > :33:43.I don't feel as sharp, that showed in the first four frames. I said it

:33:44. > :33:47.was like a horse race, you needed the run, you have had that now,

:33:48. > :33:59.blown the cobwebs away, should kick on from there. The first four I was

:34:00. > :34:03.relieved to get over. Once I got out, I felt more settled and I

:34:04. > :34:07.played better. Sitting watching it the first couple of day, were you,

:34:08. > :34:13.along with everybody else surprised to see Stuart and Shaun and Stephen

:34:14. > :34:19.Maguire and so many others really under the cosh, and obviously four

:34:20. > :34:23.seeds having gone out so far. Yes, I looked at the rankings, just shows

:34:24. > :34:27.how tough it is. The players that have got beat, you would show it as

:34:28. > :34:31.a shock, when you look at who they have got beat by it doesn't

:34:32. > :34:35.surprise. McGill beating Shaun the way he played against me last year,

:34:36. > :34:41.didn't surprise me. Ali Carter, nobody wanted to draw him first

:34:42. > :34:44.round and Stuart, he struggled this year, probably put too much pressure

:34:45. > :34:50.on himself, I did the year before, mine, obviously it is difficult to

:34:51. > :34:54.do and you want to try and take everything on and not let anyone

:34:55. > :34:58.down. Where do you stand on the qualifiers. Graeme Dott had

:34:59. > :35:05.interesting points to make about what you want, saying some of the

:35:06. > :35:09.younger fellows, winning one or two is major, but for Ali Carter and

:35:10. > :35:12.Ding Junhui, they want to win, he doubts a qualifier will have the

:35:13. > :35:20.stamina having gone through three matches to get to the final. Where

:35:21. > :35:25.do you stand? Specially if they have won it 10-9. You could win three and

:35:26. > :35:30.be drawn in the first round against someone like Stuart and you have had

:35:31. > :35:35.only one or two days to get over it. It is difficult but on the other

:35:36. > :35:40.hand if row win three and win them comfort Palestinian, you come here

:35:41. > :35:44.confident, it is a tough one really. It is difficult It's a victory of

:35:45. > :35:48.its own circumstances, there will be is no place in the calendar. You

:35:49. > :35:54.would probably play and have a week's rest in between, so coming in

:35:55. > :36:02.on the same level playing field. It is not like that. That. You are

:36:03. > :36:06.going to have face one one of the guys who performed well. What do you

:36:07. > :36:10.know about him? It was one of the greatest moments of his career to be

:36:11. > :36:14.in last night. I played him a few times the and been impressed. He

:36:15. > :36:18.scores really well, very natural. And it surprised me he took this

:36:19. > :36:23.long to breakthrough, as I say I played him a few times, when did, he

:36:24. > :36:29.performed to a accident level. It has been a tough game. I expect no

:36:30. > :36:33.different at the weekend. Thank you for popping over to see us. I think

:36:34. > :36:41.you should watch and learn from the master today, here, if you forgive

:36:42. > :36:55.me. We have been running a quiz and John has been giving everyone grief.

:36:56. > :36:58.Now the boot is on the other foot. Today's pot quid contestant is John

:36:59. > :37:02.Parrott from Liverpool. Have you played the game before, do you like

:37:03. > :37:06.snooc sner The last time I played Churchill was in shorts. Fair

:37:07. > :37:11.enough. I have your five questions here, the rules are there is 15 red,

:37:12. > :37:14.you will pot the remaining reds, every question you get right you

:37:15. > :37:17.take a red off the table. You pot the 15 reds or as many as you have

:37:18. > :37:24.left and you finish off with the black. Your first question, these

:37:25. > :37:32.are tough. Who did you play in your first Crucible match and what was

:37:33. > :37:43.the score? So hard. Denis Taylor? What was the score? He beat me 10-6?

:37:44. > :37:49.Tony Noel, 10-7. I won my first match? Well done! But you don't get

:37:50. > :37:54.a point for that. What was your highest Crucible century break? 140.

:37:55. > :38:04.OK. Against? That is only for a bonus, it is not for a bonus point.

:38:05. > :38:10.Against Cliff Thorburn. This is one you will probably get this. Name

:38:11. > :38:15.three of the semifinalists at this year's Masters.

:38:16. > :38:18.Three of the semifinalists. Judd Trump, Barry Hawkins and Ronnie

:38:19. > :38:24.O'Sullivan. Do you want to name the fourth? Hawkins beat Trump and

:38:25. > :38:28.Ronnie O'Sullivan beat, can't remember. Fantastic, Stuart Bingham

:38:29. > :38:36.was the other one. Two you have so far. OK. Name the only year when the

:38:37. > :38:49.two top seeds reached the Crucible final. Tough question this, really.

:38:50. > :38:54.1998. No, it was 1987. Steve Davis, Joe Johnson. Right. I wouldn't have

:38:55. > :38:58.got that any way. Your last question multiple choice, who won the world

:38:59. > :39:04.title the year you play your ever last match at the Crucible. Was it

:39:05. > :39:09.Graeme Dott, John Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan or Shaun Murphy? Go for

:39:10. > :39:16.Ronnie. It was John Higgins. I got two. Take off two. Goodness me. Take

:39:17. > :39:22.which ever. The two round ones. Here is the question.

:39:23. > :39:27.I have seen people, yes, OK, like that one. I think I should have

:39:28. > :39:35.taken that one, they are very clever ones, your time start whence you

:39:36. > :39:41.true the could be. -- when you strike the cue ball.

:39:42. > :39:44.Off you go. Fantastic cue action, you can't beat

:39:45. > :39:47.talent. Nice if I had any! Nice control on

:39:48. > :39:51.the super fine cloths. You got a big bounce off the cushion

:39:52. > :40:03.there. So far this is exemplary from John

:40:04. > :40:06.Parrott. He is going to the middle pockets now.

:40:07. > :40:11.There is a few balls at the top of the table. He has overscrewed that

:40:12. > :40:17.by a fraction and he played the little Dinky one.

:40:18. > :40:23.He is looking good so far. Plenty of time yet. Not bad.

:40:24. > :40:28.43 second this is very very good. 45 seconds now. So far he hasn't missed

:40:29. > :40:36.a ball. Looking very good. Just this one down the bottom of the table.

:40:37. > :40:39.Leave it can two up the top close toast the black, very good plan. One

:40:40. > :40:42.minute now, doesn't attempt to get on the positional play. That was a

:40:43. > :40:48.clever thinking shot. This is so clever. What he has done there, that

:40:49. > :40:53.is superb. Oh, that is just so clever. And this could be a record.

:40:54. > :40:58.Well it is going to be the winner so far, I think.

:40:59. > :41:06.Just this black for a fantastic time. Oh, he has only dollied it.

:41:07. > :41:14.Don't worry about that son. It's in. Fantastic.

:41:15. > :41:18.APPLAUSE. One minute 29 seconds. That is

:41:19. > :41:27.fantastic. How do you feel? If you want quick, I'm your man.

:41:28. > :41:34.John Parrott sets the standards on the table. It is like old times.

:41:35. > :41:37.Meanwhile setting San guard in the modern era is knob no, he has been

:41:38. > :41:40.coming to the Crucible -- Neil Robertson, and he has been flying

:41:41. > :41:44.the flag for Australia since 2005. We remember when it was draped round

:41:45. > :41:51.his shoulder as champion five years later in 2010. So does he feel right

:41:52. > :41:57.at home every time he turns up here in Sheffield now? I used to have to

:41:58. > :42:00.wait for the video tape, you know, someone in the UK would be recording

:42:01. > :42:07.the World Championships and then, Cully they would make their way over

:42:08. > :42:11.to Australia, and it was always you know, the early 90s with the Stephen

:42:12. > :42:17.Hendry and Jimmy White finals. That is what I grew up watching.

:42:18. > :42:21.The first visit was when the first year I qualifieded for the Crucible,

:42:22. > :42:26.you know, I went down there a day early to just watch a match a being

:42:27. > :42:36.in there, watching it, I guess as a fan if you like, was amazing. I have

:42:37. > :42:43.never been so nervous to walk down the stays because I was, don't trip

:42:44. > :42:47.or fall. The whole City is buzzing. The first year wint it wasn't that

:42:48. > :42:50.great. They made a lot of modern changes to the city, and you know

:42:51. > :42:55.there is a tremendous buzz, you know, round the city when the

:42:56. > :43:01.tournament is on. It is the best time and the best tournament to play

:43:02. > :43:06.in. It it changes when it gets to a one table set up. That is when the

:43:07. > :43:10.tournament really opens up. The crowd is knowledgeable and it's a

:43:11. > :43:13.sell out. It creates a brilliant atmosphere, which in turn can create

:43:14. > :43:19.a lot of pressure as well, but you know, that is what I love about

:43:20. > :43:25.playing snooker, playing under pressure and your best stuff in

:43:26. > :43:29.front of so many millions of people and in front after crowd. The World

:43:30. > :43:33.Championship was a big dream for me. It a proud moment when I see myself

:43:34. > :43:36.on the honour's list and see pictures of myself, lifting the

:43:37. > :43:40.trophy. I have had some really good runs in the tournament as well, but

:43:41. > :43:48.I am obviously really keen to get back to another final and hopefully

:43:49. > :43:53.win it game. Robertson wears his Poker Face in

:43:54. > :43:58.the arena but Michael Holt is much more extrovert. He has won one match

:43:59. > :44:04.in his eight previous campaigns on his debut in 2005 when he beat the

:44:05. > :44:09.late Paul Hunter. Michael has been waiting a long time for another win.

:44:10. > :44:16.But he has made a positive start this morning, we left them earlier

:44:17. > :44:24.with Holt 2-0 up on Neil Robertson, the top break 75 from Michael so

:44:25. > :44:29.far. At the 2010 champion yet to get going. It is Peter Ebdon and John

:44:30. > :44:31.very go in charge here. -- very go in charge here.

:44:32. > :44:43.-- Virgo in charge here. Just at the moment Neil has a touch

:44:44. > :44:48.of the nearlies. And without having to do much, it

:44:49. > :44:55.was close but a risky one to take on. Michael Holt comes to the table,

:44:56. > :46:23.with a good scoring opportunity here.

:46:24. > :46:31.Just about OK. A bit more angle but I think he can

:46:32. > :46:41.get this cue ball away from the cushion, yes, he just got in a

:46:42. > :46:45.tangle. Couple of loose reds. If he goes into the cluster he may elect

:46:46. > :47:00.not to play the cannon this time, he can play for the loose red.

:47:01. > :47:05.He numbed it nicely -- judged it nicely. If you don't have the

:47:06. > :47:11.natural angle you don't get the pace in the cue ball that is required. He

:47:12. > :47:18.will be looking for an angle on a colour to open the bunch, sooner or

:47:19. > :47:21.later. This type of situation, sometimes you prefer playing it, the

:47:22. > :47:25.cannon into the cluster off the blue, but, you could play for the

:47:26. > :47:33.plaque and if he doesn't get the right angle he could play for the

:47:34. > :47:37.red near to top cushion. He has decided to go for the blue, that is

:47:38. > :47:42.the correct shot, and now this is the chance. Pot the blue, cannon the

:47:43. > :47:50.pink, thumb in the face, a bit of stun and open the reds up.

:47:51. > :47:53.Couldn't have played it better, although having said that he didn't

:47:54. > :47:58.hit the pink full in the face. It looks as though he has a red to

:47:59. > :48:03.continue with. If he had hit the red full in the face, he had the right

:48:04. > :48:11.amount of stun, a bit of back spinning, but it was a good shot. He

:48:12. > :48:15.timed that very well indeed. Unfortunate to finish so close to

:48:16. > :48:27.the right-hand side cushion. This is a tough position. Cued that

:48:28. > :48:31.beautifully. Very very good shot. Now then, mind your work and you

:48:32. > :48:48.will have a three frame advantage, perfect on the blue.

:48:49. > :48:56.I was talking to Michael the other day and I said how did he feel the

:48:57. > :49:00.three qualifying matches affected him. He said, the thing is, if you

:49:01. > :49:06.don't make to it the Crucible you don't feel you are a snooker player,

:49:07. > :49:12.do you? Absolutely. So winning the three qualifying

:49:13. > :49:17.matches, you are just delighted to be here. I experienced that myself

:49:18. > :49:21.this year and it was so difficult, these last couple of seasons not

:49:22. > :49:23.qualifying for the Crucible. It is heartbreak, it is soul-destroying

:49:24. > :49:52.for a player because it means so much to be here.

:49:53. > :50:02.He has a slight angle on the black. Just going to make the right

:50:03. > :50:06.decision here. There is enough loose reds, you

:50:07. > :50:08.would be surprised if he you didn't land on one. Don't want to

:50:09. > :50:58.overcomplicate the issue. Landed plumb on the blue. I think

:50:59. > :51:00.the standard of rest play in the game has come on, leaps and bounds.

:51:01. > :51:35.Absolutely. this year.

:51:36. > :51:38.Won his first ranking vent this season, Shanghai master, outstanding

:51:39. > :51:44.talent. A really nice lad as well. Back to Michael.

:51:45. > :51:49.He is doing the job nicely here. Nice and focussed.

:51:50. > :51:50.Bit straight on this black. Shouldn't be too

:51:51. > :53:33.it. He was stood behind him. But of course, we are ask to give a

:53:34. > :53:41.little bit of leeway to the referees, because it is a very tight

:53:42. > :53:46.situation when you have got the two tables set up. And this is the

:53:47. > :53:52.boutty of the sport yorn. You know if Michael fouled the yellow he

:53:53. > :54:01.would have owned up immediately. -- the beauty of the sport.

:54:02. > :54:05.Already made 159 cot pettive centuries.

:54:06. > :54:17.-- competitive centuries. Sofrgets a quality player. As I say,

:54:18. > :54:22.only been past the first round once. But that is no real disgrace, in

:54:23. > :54:28.that first round you are playing the best players in the world. As he is

:54:29. > :54:39.today, this is just the start he was looking for.

:54:40. > :54:47.Looks a formality for the sent now. It will be the 16 o 0th of his

:54:48. > :54:59.career -- 160th of his career. Well played.

:55:00. > :55:09.Very well played indeed. Just carried on and getting stronger.

:55:10. > :55:33.Oh tremendous shot. So that black going in, possible 140

:55:34. > :55:54.on here. 138 is the highest break so far.

:55:55. > :56:00.You a not saying it is garage teed to remain the highest break, the

:56:01. > :56:03.thing is with a show, anything over 139 you need to start and get the 15

:56:04. > :56:21.reds and 15 colours. Reak, the thing is with a show,

:56:22. > :56:36.anything over 139 you need to start and get the 15 reds and 15

:56:37. > :56:45.So this, for the highest break in the Bet Fred World Championship so

:56:46. > :56:50.far. And it's there, absolutely superb

:56:51. > :56:54.from Michael Holt. OK, Neil Robertson went for a risky red but

:56:55. > :56:57.didn't he take them well? Never looked in any trouble, brought the

:56:58. > :57:01.reds up when he needed to and he leads Neil Robertson, one of the

:57:02. > :57:07.major contenders for the title by three frames to nil.

:57:08. > :57:10.Highest in the Championship and it surpasses Marco Fu in his match

:57:11. > :57:17.against Peter Ebdon. Stunning break from Michael Holt and as we rejoin

:57:18. > :57:22.them, after that rather surprise start, Robertson has finally got out

:57:23. > :57:27.of his blob, taking the next two with breaks of 62, a sent of his

:57:28. > :57:32.own. His 50th at the Crucible, and he is only one behind as we head

:57:33. > :57:49.into frame six. This is Robertson to play.

:57:50. > :57:57.A missed opportunity for Michael. And Neil will be absolutely

:57:58. > :58:04.delighted to be get back to the table.

:58:05. > :58:15.It is not ideal here, straightish on the brown. I think he can cut the

:58:16. > :58:23.yellow in as well. That cue ball will be running loose, so the brown

:58:24. > :58:27.is theisiest pot but can get position off the blown. Playing a

:58:28. > :58:33.deep screw, lots of bottom and follow threw. That is an excellent

:58:34. > :58:39.shot. That was so missable playing it with that much power. Deep crew

:58:40. > :58:42.right-hand side. Struck that beautifully.

:58:43. > :58:48.And that is why he played the brown, he saw these two reds as being a

:58:49. > :58:52.plant. Now, from behind the pocket as we are looking looks unmissable.

:58:53. > :59:00.Look at the gap between the two reds, you have to hit the first one

:59:01. > :59:07.right. This is definitely missable. Played it really well.

:59:08. > :59:29.He played the stun run through and judged it to perfection.

:59:30. > :59:44.Perhaps John that organic banana smoothie in the interval has worked

:59:45. > :59:54.its magic. Is that what he had? Do you supply these smoothies, Peter?

:59:55. > :59:56.For a small commission, yes! Another good shot. He's growing in

:59:57. > :00:10.confidence. A little bit unhappy with the

:00:11. > :00:17.contact. Thought the cue ball did not run through as well as he liked.

:00:18. > :00:25.He does not want to be too straight on this black. Sounding a little bit

:00:26. > :00:27.heavy. Not too bad. Not the perfect angle on the black but he has the

:00:28. > :01:27.red near the middle. Neil has picked up the pace all of a

:01:28. > :01:33.sudden. He looks as if he is growing in confidence. He was not walking

:01:34. > :01:44.around the table like that at the start of the match. Now, he

:01:45. > :01:50.certainly was not. Maybe the Crucible nerves have settled down.

:01:51. > :02:05.Every credit to Michael Holt for keeping him off of the table.

:02:06. > :02:11.Michael has seen that three frame advantage disappear to one, and it

:02:12. > :02:21.could be all square after this contribution. You would not bet

:02:22. > :02:28.against him. He is looking for two reds with colours, possibly three

:02:29. > :02:36.reds still to get. He has played that well, cued that lovely. He has

:02:37. > :02:42.a nice angle on the blue. Play the cannon here. He might try to avoid

:02:43. > :02:48.the pink. Do not have to play this too hard. It is OK. Not perfect but

:02:49. > :03:06.it is all right. He is looking a completely different

:03:07. > :03:14.player. Yes, more purpose, looking at different options. It is easily

:03:15. > :03:18.done sometimes, if you just have a little bit of tension, you do not

:03:19. > :03:27.approach the table in the same manner. Sometimes that is one of

:03:28. > :03:31.Neal's problems. He gets bogged down, the type of play that he

:03:32. > :03:32.produces, starts looking for problems and things to go wrong, but

:03:33. > :03:55.such a good break-builder. He is down quickly so you must have

:03:56. > :04:02.landed on it quickly. No problem. This black will put him 64 points in

:04:03. > :05:00.front with 51 remaining. Sorry, 59 remaining.

:05:01. > :05:08.Nice shot. Made a century break in the last frame. Can he double up

:05:09. > :05:34.here? Good pot. From struggling early on

:05:35. > :05:41.and being put under pressure from some very good play from Michael

:05:42. > :05:47.Holt, all of a sudden Neil Robertson has phoned his timing, he is

:05:48. > :05:53.striding purposefully around the table, and he does not look as if he

:05:54. > :06:01.is going to miss. Nun. You can was tell that when the balls are going

:06:02. > :06:13.in the middle of the pocket. Played it nicely. You would not bet against

:06:14. > :06:27.back-to-back centuries. Tremendous response. I think coupled with all

:06:28. > :06:33.his great ability is that Australian mentality. They are tough

:06:34. > :06:46.competitors. Absolutely, true fighting grit. Well played.

:06:47. > :06:54.It goes to prove that you can never underestimate the restorative powers

:06:55. > :07:00.of an organic banana smoothie. I will have to try one. That is a

:07:01. > :07:15.tremendous positional shot. Slow down. Just trying to play a couple

:07:16. > :07:21.of exhibition shots. A fantastic frame from Neil Robertson. Michael

:07:22. > :07:26.Holt had the first chance. Back-to-back centuries for Neil

:07:27. > :07:29.Robertson to level the match. What a match this is because in the

:07:30. > :07:36.very next three Michael Holt made another century. That is three in a

:07:37. > :07:43.row. Extraordinary session of snooker. 4-3 to Nottingham's

:07:44. > :08:00.charismatic hit man. He said at the start of this frame

:08:01. > :08:04.if he was to win this one he would hold an advantage going into the

:08:05. > :08:47.final session this evening, so a big chance, a big moment in this match.

:08:48. > :08:57.If you're looking ahead, obviously the yellow is going to be a problem.

:08:58. > :09:10.You do not want to get too far ahead of yourself in these situations. I

:09:11. > :09:15.suppose it would be the perfect opportunity to get a lead and lay a

:09:16. > :09:20.very difficult behind the green in playing the yellow. Yes, you could

:09:21. > :09:27.do that. That pink takes him one point in front. The yellow does go

:09:28. > :09:34.into the green pocket, thinking ahead, but it would require a very

:09:35. > :09:41.precise positional shot. Yes, and I think, I am not a great lover of

:09:42. > :09:46.this rule, but the rule encourages you to play the snooker rather than

:09:47. > :09:52.to get on the difficult yellow. I could not agree more. Very close to

:09:53. > :10:17.touching the red. With his shirt. The referee was right on spot. Just

:10:18. > :10:30.a few millimetres away. He was very close to that. Very good player,

:10:31. > :10:35.Michael, very confidently struck. If he can land straight on the green,

:10:36. > :10:41.then he would have a great trance. He needs to land straight on the

:10:42. > :10:47.green. Then he can roll the green end and then he would have the

:10:48. > :10:59.yellow and the greenback on it spot. It is all about judging the pace of

:11:00. > :11:07.this shot. That looks about perfect. Great shot. Just looking at his body

:11:08. > :11:12.language, his face, he has gone round to have a look at the angle of

:11:13. > :11:20.the yellow, so it looks good. It looks good. A little stubborn run

:11:21. > :11:28.through here. As to judge this right. Played it perfectly. It was

:11:29. > :11:35.all to do with that good position on the green. The frame at his mercy.

:11:36. > :11:49.Guaranteed a lead into tonight's final session.

:11:50. > :11:58.Lovely shot on the green. Very little margin for error. Judge did

:11:59. > :12:12.absolutely to perfection. This is really impressive from Michael Holt.

:12:13. > :12:17.The brown to go 19 points in front with the team remaining. When he

:12:18. > :12:25.pots the brown he will be on the blow. We have had centuries in the

:12:26. > :12:32.last three frames but this frame has been as good as any of them. It has

:12:33. > :12:36.been a very exciting frame. A really classy clearance from Michael Holt.

:12:37. > :12:45.To see like this frame to take the lead. Very impressive. Neil

:12:46. > :12:51.Robertson will be very disappointed. He had the chance but that not play

:12:52. > :12:57.the right positional shot. Michael Holt that the rest. He is guaranteed

:12:58. > :13:03.a lead going into the final session. Will it be one frame or three?

:13:04. > :13:08.Michael Holt in front. Many of us talking about how we have rarely

:13:09. > :13:16.seen Michael play so well on BBC television. This next frame could be

:13:17. > :13:24.extremely significant. He has a lead and how many frames will the gap be?

:13:25. > :13:31.Let us find out. Neil has a bit of side on that and

:13:32. > :13:36.missed it by a mile. Yes. It shows you how it can turn round is that

:13:37. > :13:44.little bit. From the fourth framework might he made 62, Neal

:13:45. > :13:58.made 101, the next 107, Michael came back and made 115 and Neil looks

:13:59. > :14:01.wobbly again. Could not agree more. It has been Michael Holt's strength

:14:02. > :14:06.that has kept Neil Robertson under pressure. Just when he looked as if

:14:07. > :14:15.he was getting a foothold back into this game. Another beautiful shot.

:14:16. > :14:18.Avoided the cannon on the reds, controlled the cue ball beautifully

:14:19. > :14:29.to give himself options. Yellow, brown, pink. I thought you were

:14:30. > :14:38.going to sing a song for a moment. I would not do that to you. Thank you.

:14:39. > :14:46.It all depends where the black is available. Is it available into any

:14:47. > :14:52.of the corner pockets? It is available into this one. He is

:14:53. > :15:00.playing the ground. He does not have to play any cannons, just a prison

:15:01. > :15:14.ice positional shot. Used up all the pocket. He did, didn't he? Very

:15:15. > :15:19.straight on this red. The reason it is a little bit of a disadvantage he

:15:20. > :15:24.might not get the right angle on the blue and might finish too close to

:15:25. > :15:47.the cushion. That was heavy contact. Really disappointed.

:15:48. > :15:51.the cushion. That was heavy contact. thought that if you do not fit it

:15:52. > :15:55.cleanly, you get the bounce. Perhaps he did not hit it as cleanly as he

:15:56. > :16:08.normally would. It has cost him position. Very good recovery shot.

:16:09. > :17:56.Unfortunately I do not think he is in

:17:57. > :18:01.Unfortunately I do not think he is did not fully commit for that

:18:02. > :18:06.because even if he runs a fraction too high with you all have a choice

:18:07. > :18:11.of reds. He will have to play for the pink in the middle probably. The

:18:12. > :18:20.only reason I say that is you feel you have more control of the cue

:18:21. > :18:29.ball. He has decided to go up for the blue. Played it perfectly. Just

:18:30. > :18:37.enough angle. Just got it. That was a risk playing it like that. Toss to

:18:38. > :18:43.the right side of the blue line. Always stay the right side of the

:18:44. > :18:54.blue line. Neil Robertson is looking quite tense. He knows he is playing

:18:55. > :18:57.a player in very good form. Yes, and of course when you know your

:18:58. > :19:02.opponent is in good form you are sat there thinking, am I going to get a

:19:03. > :19:27.chance back at the table? If he finishes good on this pink, he

:19:28. > :19:31.has a great chance. He has not. There was the red to the right of

:19:32. > :19:34.the black that he has had a few chances to play on. If he had been

:19:35. > :19:41.straight on the pinky could have played for it. He has been playing

:19:42. > :19:45.shots that have caught up with him because he has to play a little

:19:46. > :19:51.cannon and normally when you play that it could go wrong. He would be

:19:52. > :19:59.unlucky not to finish on a red if he plays a follow-through shot through

:20:00. > :20:08.the reds. Do not forget to pot the pink? How many times do we see it?

:20:09. > :20:10.Thinking about everything but the pot. Never take anything for granted

:20:11. > :20:30.in this game. Anguish. We have seen it many times in the

:20:31. > :20:34.World Championship, claims that look as if they are going in favour of

:20:35. > :20:44.one man and all of a sudden a mess can turn a match on its head. It is

:20:45. > :20:50.just that one ball. Michael Holt has been so strong in this match so far

:20:51. > :20:59.will stop he has competed in every department, played some excellent

:21:00. > :21:05.safety, scored well. Just that one lapse of concentration could be the

:21:06. > :21:17.difference between 6-3 and 5-4, and that is huge. Yes, did not have to

:21:18. > :21:28.do anything, just took the pink for granted. This is a lifeline that

:21:29. > :21:41.Neil Robertson did not expect to be getting. The class player and

:21:42. > :21:46.champion that he is you would have to think there is every chance of

:21:47. > :21:52.him taking this opportunity with both hands. He realises the

:21:53. > :22:17.importance of this frame, it is massive.

:22:18. > :22:28.He will not be too happy with that. I assume he played for the blue, but

:22:29. > :22:34.too Street. The pink is a bit more difficult. From being in perfect

:22:35. > :22:40.position, just the wrong side of the blue line. From being perfect he is

:22:41. > :22:47.out of position. I would not be surprised if he took on the brown.

:22:48. > :22:54.It is a big shot that I think it is the right shot. He is looking at

:22:55. > :23:08.where to leave the white if he takes the brown. Big shot coming up.

:23:09. > :23:21.Somewhere near that circle is where he would like to be. That is

:23:22. > :23:33.brilliant. Is he too hard? He is OK. That is one thing you can rely on

:23:34. > :23:38.him doing normally, pot. He would like to have been a little bit

:23:39. > :23:43.straighter on the pink to play for the red back to the right of the

:23:44. > :23:51.black. He will have to play for the red to the left of the black as we

:23:52. > :23:55.look. He could just roll it through. This red to the right of the black

:23:56. > :24:04.that has caused problems most of this frame, once it is out of the

:24:05. > :24:15.way he has a chance. Three reds and three high value colours and there

:24:16. > :24:22.will be snookers required. That red on the left-hand side of the table

:24:23. > :24:34.not in too bad a position for a left-hander.

:24:35. > :24:42.What a high-quality match we have had. This has been superb. Yes, and

:24:43. > :25:01.apart from the high-quality, the drama, we have had an unexpected

:25:02. > :25:10.miss. This pink will put him 21 points in front so she needs this

:25:11. > :25:22.awkward red Andy colour. Could not have played better. Red, pink, red,

:25:23. > :25:29.black, and it will be snookers required. Michael Holt will be

:25:30. > :25:42.devastated. What a chance he had. I known. He is not perfect on this

:25:43. > :25:46.pink. He only needs the pink. He can roll it in the middle. He does not

:25:47. > :26:04.have to play for the yellow. This is miserable. He has missed it. Why do

:26:05. > :26:09.you not roll it? Unbelievable. Michael Holt missed the pink, real

:26:10. > :26:17.Robertson missed the pink which was frame ball. Can he clear the colours

:26:18. > :26:31.for a three frame advantage? He has a chance from nowhere. Solid. Needs

:26:32. > :26:34.the cue ball to slow up. A bit of adrenaline in that one. Yes. Tough

:26:35. > :26:53.green, this. Could not have cued that better.

:26:54. > :27:00.Wonderful shot. Fantastic shot. Beautiful cueing from Michael.

:27:01. > :27:04.Normally say one of the keys on the situation is getting position from

:27:05. > :27:09.brown to blue but that does not matter where the pink is. This is

:27:10. > :27:13.not straightforward because he is pretty straight and this requires

:27:14. > :27:22.pretty good cueing and he has to play it with pace as well. It

:27:23. > :27:31.wriggled, but it went in. Blue, pink and black for a 6-3 lead going into

:27:32. > :27:34.the final session this evening. A little puff of the cheeks from

:27:35. > :27:47.Michael as he walked round the table.

:27:48. > :27:57.I think you have to play the ball into the middle. It is only looking

:27:58. > :28:04.more difficult because of the circumstances.

:28:05. > :28:14.Although this pink is near the middle pocket he needs to finish on

:28:15. > :28:20.the right angle because he does not want to have to play that with pace.

:28:21. > :28:31.Do not forget to pot the blue. Very good shot. As he have the angle on

:28:32. > :28:35.the pink? Perfect. Excellent shot. When Michael Holt missed the pink

:28:36. > :28:41.into the corner they must have thought he had thrown away a

:28:42. > :28:52.gilt-edged chance. Neil Robertson missed frame ball pink. It looks as

:28:53. > :28:59.if he is going into the final session so three frames behind. If

:29:00. > :29:04.Michael Holt can pot this black. What a marvellous nine frames we

:29:05. > :29:14.have had. Drama, everything. The black for 6-3. Well played, Michael

:29:15. > :29:20.Holt. Absolutely sensational nine frames. What a session that was.

:29:21. > :29:25.Four centuries. Neil Robertson will be very disappointed. He only needed

:29:26. > :29:30.the pink to close the gap to one but it is three. The final session as

:29:31. > :29:41.this evening. In Michael Holt N Michael Holt. In

:29:42. > :29:44.Michael Holt. There will be plenty of interest later tonight with Neil

:29:45. > :29:47.Robertson up against it. Against Michael Holt who is playing

:29:48. > :29:52.beautifully. Live snooker is very much on our radar for the rest of

:29:53. > :29:57.afternoon, let us show do you what is on the menu. We have John

:29:58. > :30:02.Higgins, aiming to complete the job against Ryan Day, he starts 7-2 in

:30:03. > :30:05.front. It is beginning for Malky Mackay who comes to Sheffield in

:30:06. > :30:10.excellent form after taking the players championship in Manchester

:30:11. > :30:16.last month. He is up against the only debutante. Mitchell Mann, he is

:30:17. > :30:25.the lowest ranked play here, world 74 but this is not his first time he

:30:26. > :30:31.has played at the Crucible. Because Mitchell became onxxxx junior pot

:30:32. > :30:35.black champion here. His astonishry, won the European amateur

:30:36. > :30:41.Championship 2014 an event which automatically guaranteed him a crack

:30:42. > :30:49.at the professional rank, in his second attempt to qualify he is

:30:50. > :30:54.here. He has beaten two good campaigners, ten years on he is back

:30:55. > :30:58.at a pro-. He is setting some records before he even strikes a

:30:59. > :31:04.ball in there. For only the second time since we have been coming here,

:31:05. > :31:08.he is one of, one debutante in the draw that, has only happened once

:31:09. > :31:12.before in 2006, and the man in question was a certain baulk, and

:31:13. > :31:16.what has he ever done in this game? Apart from make the final and at

:31:17. > :31:20.least the semis for the last three years in a row. So perhaps great

:31:21. > :31:25.things beckon for Mitchell as they have done for Barry Hawkins. But let

:31:26. > :31:30.us get into the auditorium, and I think John and Steven might be in

:31:31. > :31:34.reminiscing mode. Honestly it is come flooding back in these chairs,

:31:35. > :31:38.you remember the first time you came here? It was over there I was

:31:39. > :31:44.playing Willie Thorne, I had a nice brown suit and mullet. Did you win?

:31:45. > :31:48.I lost 10-8. I got a nice round of applause. The audience are very

:31:49. > :31:53.close on the front row. At the moment it looks expansive but the

:31:54. > :31:59.dividing wall will come down and it is different. It can become

:32:00. > :32:02.claustrophobic, I have seen some debutantes like a rabbit in the

:32:03. > :32:06.headlight, it is different to anything they have experienced. You

:32:07. > :32:10.have in your pan over there, we have the cameras up close, they. Co-up

:32:11. > :32:13.against you, you have those to put up with, and you can almost forget

:32:14. > :32:18.to play snooker because of the atmosphere. It might take Mitchell

:32:19. > :32:23.two, three frames to realise he is here to play a match, not to be at

:32:24. > :32:28.the Crucible. We wish him all the best, he is up there against Mark

:32:29. > :32:31.Allen. We are going to concentrate on this one, John Higgins kicked off

:32:32. > :32:42.his campaign yesterday against Ryan Day.

:32:43. > :32:54.A terrific shot. Fantastic start John Higgins got one

:32:55. > :33:00.chance and he made a century break. He leads 1-0.

:33:01. > :33:03.First the easy ball jig jg has missed in this match. Manufacture --

:33:04. > :33:10.John Higgins has missed in this match.

:33:11. > :33:12.A little drag shot. Day takes the fourth frame. Two

:33:13. > :33:27.frames all. He has come out after the

:33:28. > :33:31.mid-session interval and made another century break. Three frames

:33:32. > :33:32.to two. John Higgins gets the last frame of

:33:33. > :33:59.this session, under way. Knocking the red off the cushion.

:34:00. > :34:05.That is his third century, and what a... The Wizard of Wishaw has waved

:34:06. > :34:10.his wand. He takes an overnight lead, 7-2. Here is the scene

:34:11. > :34:14.backstage, day and Mark Allen they know the drill, they have learned

:34:15. > :34:22.how to handle the nerves and the wait. It is all down to Mitchell

:34:23. > :34:26.Mann. He has only played Mark Allen once an he beat him, so all the best

:34:27. > :34:32.to Mitchell and to our three other players this afternoon, as they get

:34:33. > :34:35.the call now from MC Rob Walker. Thank you, good afternoon, ladies

:34:36. > :34:40.and gentlemen. Nine players have now booked their place in the second

:34:41. > :34:42.round of this year 's Bet Fred World Snooker Championship and every

:34:43. > :34:46.single match so far has been fascinating. Here at the Crucible,

:34:47. > :35:02.we are ready to go again. APPLAUSE.

:35:03. > :35:11.Please welcome the only debutante in this year's World Championship and

:35:12. > :35:16.how he has had to earn it. 10-9 against Matthew sell. He has played

:35:17. > :35:25.55 frames of snooker to get here, so come on Sheffield, raise the roof,

:35:26. > :35:28.for Birmingham's Mitchell Mann. L. He has played 55 frames of snooker

:35:29. > :35:32.to get here, so come on Sheffield, raise the roof, for Birmingham's

:35:33. > :35:43.Mitchell Mann. -- Mitchell "the Iron Man" Mann.

:35:44. > :35:49.APPLAUSE And his opponent, one of the most

:35:50. > :35:52.exciting talents in the modern game, men he in the balls his

:35:53. > :36:00.break-building is brilliant to watch. Twice a ranking event winner

:36:01. > :36:02.in China, he won his big event in England last month. Ilding is

:36:03. > :36:05.brilliant to watch. Twice a ranking event winner in China, he won his

:36:06. > :36:24.big event in England last month. Here comes Mark "the Pistol" Allen.

:36:25. > :36:29.And on table one, please welcome a proud Welshman who came through

:36:30. > :36:34.qualifying to book an 11th appearance at the Crucible. Three

:36:35. > :36:39.times a ranking event finalist he is closing in on a return to the

:36:40. > :36:45.world's top 16. He will give it absolutely everything this

:36:46. > :36:48.afternoon, ree times a ranking event finalist he is closing in on a

:36:49. > :36:50.return to the world's top 16. He will give it absolutely everything

:36:51. > :36:52.this afternoon, because he is Ryan "Dine mitt" Day.

:36:53. > :36:54.'S top 16. He will give it absolutely everything this

:36:55. > :36:56.afternoon, because he is Ryan "Dine mitt" Day.

:36:57. > :36:58.'S top 16. He will give it absolutely everything this

:36:59. > :36:59.afternoon, because he is Ryan "Dine mitt" Day.

:37:00. > :37:04.-- "Dynamite". And finally, one of the finest

:37:05. > :37:08.sports men his country has produced. Some said he was past his best at

:37:09. > :37:13.start of last years then followed three ranking event titles to take

:37:14. > :37:15.his tally to 28 in all. Four times a champion of the world, he is the

:37:16. > :37:38.Wizard of Wishaw he is John Higgins. Haze and you can follow the early

:37:39. > :37:42.exchanges in the Mitchell Mann match on the red Button. For now, we will

:37:43. > :37:48.focus on the deciding session on table one, and we will hand you into

:37:49. > :38:02.the great care and attention of two former world champs. Peter Ebdon and

:38:03. > :38:08.Denis Taylor. Afternoon everybody. So Ryan Day gets this final session,

:38:09. > :38:13.and this match under way, and is it going to be another Masterclass from

:38:14. > :38:19.John Higgins? I did the first session and he was awesome. Three

:38:20. > :38:25.century breaks and every possibility of it being four or even five, that

:38:26. > :38:29.is how good he was from two each. He was awesome, Peter.

:38:30. > :38:33.One of the greatest match players of all time. Absolutely rock solid in

:38:34. > :38:51.every single department. Ryan Day really could do with this

:38:52. > :39:01.opening frame. Such a talented player, Ryan.

:39:02. > :39:12.Possesses amazing cue power, doesn't he Denis, times the ball so sweetly.

:39:13. > :39:20.That is the opening frame of the session, he has the pace of the

:39:21. > :39:23.table straightaway because the white is almost touching that baulk

:39:24. > :39:29.cushion. John just, I think three or four very easy pots he missed, he

:39:30. > :39:31.just lost concentration, for a few moment, but other than that, this is

:39:32. > :40:10.superb. APPLAUSE.

:40:11. > :40:17.I don't know if day was watching the snooker this morning and seen Robert

:40:18. > :40:21.Milkins win the first four frames against Mark Selby to take it to one

:40:22. > :40:26.behind, if he was, he will have that in the back of his mind, but there

:40:27. > :40:27.is going to be a tall order do that against John Higgins,

:40:28. > :42:24.is going to be a tall order do that doesn't have a great angle on the

:42:25. > :42:26.blue here but he could choose to use that wonderful cue power he has to

:42:27. > :42:35.go into the reds, top-spin, right-hand side.

:42:36. > :42:44.Very goods attempt. Very unlucky. He got a bit too much on it. He is

:42:45. > :42:49.blessed with an abundance of cue power, is the Welshman.

:42:50. > :42:54.In fact he started the match so well, because John Higgins never

:42:55. > :43:02.gave him a shot in the two opening frame, he has braked of 105, 79.

:43:03. > :43:08.-- breaks. Ryan comes straight back with breaks

:43:09. > :43:18.of 73 and 55 to level at two all, but after that, it was, it was all

:43:19. > :43:23.John. Might have a free shot here, but if he doesn't catch it right he

:43:24. > :43:27.will cannon into the black, if he pots it, he feels he will go round

:43:28. > :43:32.the back of the black here. Yes, den nirks if anything you would

:43:33. > :43:37.rather be slightly thin on this rather than too thick.

:43:38. > :43:40.And that is exactly what he has done.

:43:41. > :43:52.-- Denis. I don't think he has quite got the

:43:53. > :43:57.angle to screw this into the left corner and avoid the cannon on the

:43:58. > :44:01.pinks and get on the black: If the white was slightly to the right he

:44:02. > :44:02.would be able to have a go at that, because he wouldn't leave a great

:44:03. > :44:22.deal. Took that on, because knew the only

:44:23. > :45:09.red he could leave was the one he was having a go at.

:45:10. > :45:28.John needs to be a bit careful here. Not push a red over the corner

:45:29. > :45:32.pocket. Good chance to get the cue ball behind the yes low. He has

:45:33. > :45:44.played it thicker to get behind the green, bun fortunately he has pushed

:45:45. > :45:49.a red over the corner. He has to the a bit with the cue

:45:50. > :45:57.ball, it will go into the reds or the pink there.

:45:58. > :46:08.And that will do nicely. That was a natural, and it couldn't

:46:09. > :46:13.have worked out better. If he can get enough screw on this,

:46:14. > :46:15.the other one is guaranteed here, so he doesn't have to hit them that

:46:16. > :46:32.hard if he doesn't want to. That was a nice cannon because he

:46:33. > :46:38.could have easily ended upwith cue ball behind the red, Africanening

:46:39. > :46:43.the pink out of the way. -- cannoning the pink out of the

:46:44. > :46:53.way. It is not straightforward. Played it well. Just gone too far

:46:54. > :46:58.for the blue. Had he been nicely on the blue he could have potted it and

:46:59. > :47:03.gone into the reds and opened a few and freed the pink but it just ran

:47:04. > :47:06.on so he has to concentrate on the brown now. Watch the cue action,

:47:07. > :47:13.look where he is striking the cue ball.

:47:14. > :47:17.How, hardly hit that, and... Was never going to be easy to get any

:47:18. > :47:22.better angle on the red than this. But this is a bit of a tester,

:47:23. > :47:29.medium length pot, a test of your cue action, the red looks almost

:47:30. > :47:38.straight. Straight.ing slight angle would be better. He has a slight

:47:39. > :47:43.angle here. Cued across that one slightly. Just,

:47:44. > :48:14.zel rated slightly on it. -- accelerated slightly on it. John

:48:15. > :48:20.Higgins a shade fortunate there. Not to leave an easier red. Into the

:48:21. > :48:24.centre. This is a tough pot into the green

:48:25. > :48:28.pocket but ruin will take this on, playing it with top-spin.

:48:29. > :48:35.This needs to go in. He is wide.

:48:36. > :48:40.Yes, it was as if he didn't fully commit on that shot.

:48:41. > :48:44.The reason I say that is look where the cue ball has finished.

:48:45. > :48:49.He was thinking to himself, if I can get a decent white, but that is not

:48:50. > :48:54.the way to be thinking when you are 7-2 behind, you have to be so

:48:55. > :49:00.positive. John still might knock this red in.

:49:01. > :49:07.Cannoning into the reds here so trusting to luck to a degree, where

:49:08. > :49:14.the cue ball ends up. He played that very well.

:49:15. > :49:38.This is a tough pot. That is excellent cue, well played.

:49:39. > :49:41.Nice cappen on the red. Cannon on the red to hold the cue

:49:42. > :49:46.ball. A bit straight on this red.

:49:47. > :49:52.Means he can't do too much with the cue ball, a slightest of anles, --

:49:53. > :49:55.angles. He needs to be careful though, because you can't force

:49:56. > :50:01.these balls too much into the middle pockets.

:50:02. > :50:13.That is why threated that with the respect it warranted.

:50:14. > :50:19.-- treated that. Should be be able to fogs an angle

:50:20. > :50:27.here. Played the cannon. It has gone

:50:28. > :50:32.wrong. 14.

:50:33. > :50:39.Played it well enough, just didn't get the correct contact on the red

:50:40. > :50:43.there. A bit unlucky. You have to be careful here, if you

:50:44. > :50:57.are sending red round, he could send it into a colour here.

:50:58. > :51:02.And the pink is in an awkward position for the safety shot down

:51:03. > :51:06.the right side of the table. Have to make sure you don't cannon into

:51:07. > :51:11.that. There is a possible cut on, if he took it on he would go close to

:51:12. > :51:17.hitting the pink on the way back down.

:51:18. > :51:23.Ryan is blessed with a lot of cue power, this is a screw shot with

:51:24. > :51:29.left-hand side. What a shot. Played that beautifully. There was a lot of

:51:30. > :51:34.danger with that shot. Could easily have cannoned into the two reds next

:51:35. > :51:46.together next to the black. Look at that. Wow. Timed it perfectly.

:51:47. > :51:50.Superb shot. Think Ryan was trying to make the

:51:51. > :51:55.pocket a bit bigger with that shot, Denis. Once again, he has to force

:51:56. > :52:06.that yellow in to get round for the reds.

:52:07. > :52:12.It is not an easy run to the winning post, in this opening frame of this

:52:13. > :52:24.session. In fact, there is only one easy red

:52:25. > :52:28.available. If he has the correct angle on this he could pot this,

:52:29. > :52:32.screw back, nudge the two reds, and bring them into play, because he

:52:33. > :52:37.would certainly finish on black, I don't think he has quite got the

:52:38. > :52:41.angle do that. But with his cue power you never

:52:42. > :52:46.know. In fact he had and he played it perfectly.

:52:47. > :52:51.Times the ball so well, Denis, doesn't he, that is incredible

:52:52. > :52:55.timing to be able do that, even on the super fine cloths where the

:52:56. > :52:58.balls play light, brand-new sets of ball, this is phenomenal timing to

:52:59. > :53:12.be able to get that much action on the cue ball.

:53:13. > :53:22.Such a naturally gifted player, Ryan.

:53:23. > :53:27.Most people would tell you he should have won a lot more, let us look at

:53:28. > :53:35.the score board. What is he in front? 43. So the red and black. He

:53:36. > :53:40.will be 51 in front. If he pots red and black, and there would still be

:53:41. > :53:56.a possible 51 on the table. He needs one more red to make sure of this

:53:57. > :54:02.opening frame. . He doesn't hang round, he is fluent among the balls.

:54:03. > :54:06.So just this red then. A bit tricky.

:54:07. > :54:11.Thinking down into the white, easy to overcut these.

:54:12. > :54:30.Played it perfectly. APPLAUSE.

:54:31. > :54:36.He has been a runner-up three times in ranking event, should have won at

:54:37. > :54:47.least a couple. He has that much talent.

:54:48. > :54:55.But after a very solid season, Denis, he is making inroads into get

:54:56. > :54:58.back back into the top 16. He is not that far away. He is number 20 at

:54:59. > :55:03.the moment. Doesn't matter about black, he has done what he had to

:55:04. > :55:09.do, he has come out with a game plan to take three out of the first four

:55:10. > :55:14.frames, he has took the first frame but still trails. HAZEL IRVINE: He

:55:15. > :55:19.has had a good season, Ryan Day, he has been a runner-up in the Hungary

:55:20. > :55:23.quarterfinals in Germany, the world Grand Prix and he had to beat Ken

:55:24. > :55:26.Doherty to gheert, that was just so important for him, that frame.

:55:27. > :55:30.Massively so. He has a mountain to climb as it is, while John Higgins

:55:31. > :55:33.is on seven, and nowhere near ten you still have a chance, but you

:55:34. > :55:40.have to win the opening frame and you would have to win two of the

:55:41. > :55:45.next three, really, to give... His target is to win all four, but three

:55:46. > :55:52.out of the first four would be the minimum he needs to win this match.

:55:53. > :55:55.It will be a tough ask this, we saw John Higgins in blistering form with

:55:56. > :55:59.the three centuries and it could have been more, we have rarely seen

:56:00. > :56:05.him start a Championship this week. At times he has looked back to his

:56:06. > :56:12.best, his scoring is back, the number one thing in his armoury, a

:56:13. > :56:17.have sang scorer, he just makes one or two unforced errors he used to

:56:18. > :56:21.make at his peak in his career. Here we go. John is sting needing three

:56:22. > :56:29.to get over the line against the Welshman today.

:56:30. > :56:37.I mentioned yesterday that John made 14 sents at the Crucible one year,

:56:38. > :56:44.only to be superseded by the Jess what in the studio, his -- the

:56:45. > :56:49.gentleman in the studio, his friend Stephen when triwho made 16 at the

:56:50. > :56:56.Crucible. What an achievable that was -- achievement that was.

:56:57. > :57:47.There is a few records round Peter, that might never be broken. 16

:57:48. > :57:49.centuries, by Stephen Hendry. Neil Robertson a couple of seasons ago.

:57:50. > :57:56.One hundred centuries in one season. Incredible. Can't see that being

:57:57. > :58:00.beat and the one I doubt will ever be beaten, Ronnie's maximum break in

:58:01. > :58:11.five minutes 20 second, can't see that being beat.

:58:12. > :58:23.Unless he decides he wants to beat it himself. Nice cross table double

:58:24. > :58:30.from John. The only way that shot can go wrong

:58:31. > :58:35.is if you hit the far knuckle, and then the red travels back in to

:58:36. > :58:40.baulk. Where the cue ball finishes up. He

:58:41. > :58:51.wants to take the brown on here but there is no value really because he

:58:52. > :58:56.can't end up on a red, so... Not difficult to escape from.

:58:57. > :59:05.Playing the swerve. This could go wrong. This could go wrong.

:59:06. > :59:10.Not so sure about that one Denis. An escape off either side cushion into

:59:11. > :59:33.the pack when he almost pushed a red on, and it was the risky way to go.

:59:34. > :59:39.You can see this safety success with it almost level, just 1% the

:59:40. > :59:53.difference. You would expect John Higgins to be

:59:54. > :59:57.higher than that of but the reason he isn't is that he hasn't been

:59:58. > :00:03.playing much safety, he has been blocking all the balls in. This is a

:00:04. > :00:10.similar shot to the one Ryan Day had in the last frame. I think he is

:00:11. > :00:15.refusing this. If he got enough screw on that, he could have saved

:00:16. > :00:20.this as a shop to nothing, but that's not the greatest safety shot

:00:21. > :00:25.in the world, unless he gets lucky behind the green, which he hasn't. I

:00:26. > :00:30.wonder if Iran will try a shot here as John looks to the heavens, he can

:00:31. > :00:37.pop this around the back of the black and finish on Dublin -- around

:00:38. > :00:42.the reds and finish on them black. He has done that. He was always

:00:43. > :00:49.guaranteed to be on the black. Unlucky not to develop the reds a

:00:50. > :00:54.little more. He will have to play this with right-hand side, just

:00:55. > :00:56.slightly hampered, can't get to the centre of the cue ball but not a

:00:57. > :01:10.problem. The cannon didn't work out

:01:11. > :01:19.perfectly. He would have liked a slightly further contact. But he's

:01:20. > :01:24.OK. Got the chance to pop this red with the rest, screw across the

:01:25. > :01:41.table for the black into the same pocket.

:01:42. > :01:56.That was a nice, crisp contact. If he could come and that one, he

:01:57. > :02:03.leaving it for the time being, but if he had canned that, it would have

:02:04. > :02:07."If you up. He still has two or three reds to go. -- it would have

:02:08. > :02:22.opened quite a fuel up. Very entertaining player to watch,

:02:23. > :02:35.Ryan Day. He gets on with it, plays very aggressive. I mentioned

:02:36. > :02:39.previously that time but he hit the other red, he was always guaranteed

:02:40. > :02:52.this but he hasn't developed any of the reds. And now the white, and he

:02:53. > :03:13.has run out of position. Seemed to bounce the cue ball a

:03:14. > :03:20.little bit on that last shot. When you are bridging over balls, the

:03:21. > :04:13.white bounced and of course there was no side on it once it bounced.

:04:14. > :04:22.That's a terrific shot. A little unlucky, he played to develop the

:04:23. > :04:26.pink and get a good cue ball, he certainly has a good cue ball but

:04:27. > :04:40.the pink grant towards the side cushion.

:04:41. > :06:40.To be playing that with a touch of side, a little

:06:41. > :06:46.To be playing that with a touch of the way through. It's just good to

:06:47. > :06:52.show he is human and sometimes he can make mistakes, and that is a

:06:53. > :06:58.mistake in return, Ryan Day very disappointed with that. John Higgins

:06:59. > :07:18.will be mightily relieved. That mistake is only cost him one point.

:07:19. > :07:33.Good safety from Ryan. John does have the option of playing the

:07:34. > :07:41.double-kiss back to walk Makro here if he wanted to. He thinks he can

:07:42. > :07:45.clip it. -- you don't see the double-kiss back to baulk very often

:07:46. > :07:53.but sometimes it can be your only option. You can take this red fall

:07:54. > :07:59.in the face. Sending the cue ball back down to baulk. He is trying to

:08:00. > :08:10.clip it then. He needs to be careful of the pink. That was a fine shot,

:08:11. > :08:18.wasn't it, Denis? It had to be very thin.

:08:19. > :08:26.REFEREE: Can I have a look at that myself? Ryan staying in his seat,

:08:27. > :08:38.having it replaced. Paul looking at the monitor to see where the green

:08:39. > :08:42.exactly was. But as Peter said, he has to be careful he doesn't hurt

:08:43. > :08:48.that thing on the way down, which is why he was hitting it so thin. That

:08:49. > :08:54.is why I suggested playing the double-kiss act to baulk because it

:08:55. > :08:57.is safer, provided he hits the red fill in the face he will send the

:08:58. > :09:03.cue ball towards the green. If you were lucky you could even go behind

:09:04. > :09:12.the brown, but that is a really tough shot. He will settle for that,

:09:13. > :09:15.though. Is there a red in the middle that goes? No? The middle of the

:09:16. > :09:27.reds in their? A chance to get the cue ball behind

:09:28. > :09:35.the brown here. That's a terrible shot. He will be absolutely

:09:36. > :09:44.distraught with that, he will be disgusted with himself. That was

:09:45. > :09:54.quite amazing. He cannot leave what he's just done there. No problem

:09:55. > :09:57.getting past that think there, I mean, don't press too hard, that can

:09:58. > :10:35.be sore on the old forehead. I think he's just about OK when the

:10:36. > :10:43.black is respotted. He has to run away from the black but he has left

:10:44. > :10:53.it then enough, he will have to play a delicate one for the blue. He was

:10:54. > :11:05.able to do that. But if he was to go on and win this frame, Ryan Day may

:11:06. > :11:10.not recover from that last shot. Such a huge margin of error is --

:11:11. > :11:16.ever, wasn't their? He had a good chance to get the cue ball and find

:11:17. > :11:25.the brown in that facility, but John Higgins under a lot of pressure. As

:11:26. > :11:30.it turns out, he will have to try to put that out of his mind but it was

:11:31. > :11:41.such a mistake, that will be difficult for him to do. And

:11:42. > :12:01.unfortunately for Ryan, he might not get another shot in this frame.

:12:02. > :12:19.And the black might be tied up now. It is. His finish straight. It

:12:20. > :12:23.doesn't really matter because he has that read in the middle of the

:12:24. > :12:40.table, but lacked out of commission now. -- black.

:12:41. > :12:47.Once he what's this red and gets on the blue, it will be interesting to

:12:48. > :12:56.see whether he tries to develop the black and to reds as they are

:12:57. > :13:01.awkward at the moment. He still has the loose red to the left side of

:13:02. > :13:06.the table and the one to the left of the black will go into the right

:13:07. > :13:21.corner pocket, so no need to play a cannon just yet.

:13:22. > :13:29.He's left it awkward. He's got to get up the correct side of the blue

:13:30. > :13:37.again and will have to use the extension on this cue. He might be

:13:38. > :13:42.able to use it with the normal rest, now he will need the extended rest

:13:43. > :13:46.as well, so a little bit to do with this to make sure he gets the

:13:47. > :13:55.correct side of the blue to get up to those to reds and the black. And

:13:56. > :14:16.that's finished in no man's land. He might play the yellow to get in

:14:17. > :14:24.behind the brown here, or even off the blue to get in behind the brown.

:14:25. > :14:30.It's just ten points in front and more value in putting anything safe.

:14:31. > :14:38.If he just goes off the left side of the yellow, he can come across in

:14:39. > :14:45.behind the brown. He's looked at the yellow. He's looked at the blue,

:14:46. > :14:51.he's now looking at the pink. If he wasn't hampered, he might even take

:14:52. > :14:57.the green on, but John is such a strong tactical player. He's got ran

:14:58. > :15:01.under a lot of pressure with the scoreline, he wouldn't want to be

:15:02. > :15:16.giving him easy opportunities. That's a good effort. Well thought

:15:17. > :15:21.out. He's faced a few of these shots, Ryan, having to swerve around

:15:22. > :15:25.a colour to catch the edge of a red, and there is another one. Might need

:15:26. > :15:31.a bit more side on that. I didn't think he would be able to get enough

:15:32. > :15:36.on that cueing that way, you have to raise the butt of the cue a little

:15:37. > :15:40.bit. He played that with a horizontal cue and was relying on

:15:41. > :15:45.the side but he needs to get a little bit of swerve on it. That

:15:46. > :15:57.looks pretty good for he has placed it. -- where he has placed it. He's

:15:58. > :16:03.making it more difficult for himself again, Ryan, I don't think it was

:16:04. > :16:14.quite that much. Surely it wasn't that much. I think he's changed his

:16:15. > :16:27.mind on the shot. A wiser shop to the one on the cushion, that is a

:16:28. > :16:34.bit narrow, I think. Reds -- I think John will have this one replaced. It

:16:35. > :16:40.is not a natural to get onto the black. So difficult to judge when

:16:41. > :16:43.you go twice across the table, just to nestle on that red. He has to be

:16:44. > :17:09.so precise. Try number two. He is OK! He can't settle for that,

:17:10. > :17:16.it's not arrayed he was trying to lay on but it will do nicely, he

:17:17. > :17:19.could be snookered here. And delicate little snooker. A lovely

:17:20. > :17:51.little shop that. This is not easy at all. Did have a

:17:52. > :17:58.look at the potting angle. It's very difficult to judge when you are so

:17:59. > :18:03.close to the red like that. But if he's to avoid cannon on the black,

:18:04. > :18:08.he will have to get a little stamp on it and he doesn't fancy it. He

:18:09. > :18:11.could send the red over to the corner pocket if you tried that,

:18:12. > :18:39.that's a little roll-up. This is really tough. This needs to

:18:40. > :18:44.be absolutely spot on. And it was a long way from that. In hindsight

:18:45. > :18:52.now, I think you will wish he hadn't played that. One good additional

:18:53. > :18:53.shot here, John could cut this in an every chance of finishing on the

:18:54. > :19:11.blue. REFEREE: Quiet, please. As long as

:19:12. > :19:18.it doesn't go in behind the brown, he's OK, and the back red of the

:19:19. > :19:24.two. In fact both, might go, so he could pop the blue and get to the

:19:25. > :19:30.right side of these to reds. We've seen some astute tactical play so

:19:31. > :19:40.far in this frame for John to create these chances. Making it very

:19:41. > :19:53.difficult for Ryan. Red, black, red will be enough.

:19:54. > :19:58.REFEREE: Settle down, please! A little bit of noise from the other

:19:59. > :20:05.table in between frames. They listened to Paul Collier that time.

:20:06. > :20:25.Goodwin used to say that, the comedian, settle down.

:20:26. > :20:31.It looked just a little bit edgy but he is having a glance around, the

:20:32. > :20:52.frame is well say. -- safe. He is a hard man to beat in the

:20:53. > :21:03.tactical department, is John Higgins. We keep talking about his

:21:04. > :21:23.all-around game, there nobody better in the game than John.

:21:24. > :21:37.That will put that think in the right middle pocket for us, John,

:21:38. > :21:41.here. Well, the top pocket will do! John Higgins puts his cue on the

:21:42. > :21:53.table and he will be delighted to take that frame, and he extends his

:21:54. > :21:59.lead. It is now 8-3 to John Higgins. And he didn't have to do a huge

:22:00. > :22:02.amount. He is a wonderful scorer but when it comes to safety exchanges he

:22:03. > :22:07.gets his chances by not doing anything. The first shot Ryan played

:22:08. > :22:12.in this frame was a terrible shock. You have to play that with side and

:22:13. > :22:18.to throw the angle, he has at least two foot to Mr Enck, and then he

:22:19. > :22:22.doesn't have to take this one but if you play it, do not hit it off the

:22:23. > :22:27.pace where it will fit the jaws and comes back, and both times John

:22:28. > :22:34.Higgins has not had to do anything, he has just taken it. Frustration

:22:35. > :22:40.for a player when you are making unforced errors like that. How do

:22:41. > :22:44.you cut them out? I'm presuming he cannot cut out which is why he

:22:45. > :22:49.hasn't won a woman, he has potential and strikes the ball well but these

:22:50. > :22:53.shots are perhaps why he hasn't been more successful because those two

:22:54. > :23:00.shots were very amateurish safety shots. It looks like when he has

:23:01. > :23:04.something to think about and it is a difficult shot, he concentrates, but

:23:05. > :23:09.when it looks easy he doesn't concentrate enough. It is like there

:23:10. > :23:15.is no trouble here but you have to concentrate on every wall and give

:23:16. > :23:21.100% to every shot. I was as guilty as anyone in not giving safety shots

:23:22. > :23:26.the full concentration and Ryan is that way as well but playing someone

:23:27. > :23:33.like John Higgins, it is hard enough beating him in a safety game without

:23:34. > :23:35.giving him unforced errors. John Higgins can tie you up in knots on

:23:36. > :23:46.the snooker table with his tactical brain. Back we go, John leading to

:23:47. > :23:53.more tube at a passage to round two. COMMENTATOR: I couldn't agree more

:23:54. > :24:01.with John Parrott, when a player does not concentrate on an easy

:24:02. > :24:11.path, they can miss sitters. -- and easy pot. That has opened the red

:24:12. > :24:17.nicely. The black is tied up. Can he get through to this one over the

:24:18. > :24:28.pocket? The white is heading towards the red there, so it needs a little

:24:29. > :24:34.bit luckier with the position. That is a long, straight think. Is he

:24:35. > :24:41.going to commit fully and play for the red near the blue? There is a

:24:42. > :24:49.couple to either corner. He is 8-3 behind. He could do with this. He is

:24:50. > :24:59.hampered here, this is not easy. He is committed 100%.

:25:00. > :25:08.He had one earlier where he say that type of shot and Randolph white but

:25:09. > :25:12.this table with safety in mind. It shows when you are fully committed

:25:13. > :25:19.and make your mind up, it is much better. It eliminates that bit of

:25:20. > :25:23.doubt. Positive thinking, and you would know a lot about that, Peter,

:25:24. > :25:30.I am sure you have studied that many years. You used to be thinking

:25:31. > :25:34.positive even when you were sitting in your chair, focusing. Absolutely,

:25:35. > :25:54.that's what it is all about, Denis. He can either think positively or

:25:55. > :26:00.negatively, it takes as much effort to take -- to think negatively as

:26:01. > :26:20.positively, so why not think positively? This is not ideal.

:26:21. > :26:29.Played it with lots of left-hand side. Still requires a good shot

:26:30. > :26:36.here. A deep screw shot with right-hand side. Got to watch that

:26:37. > :26:41.coffin there. His close. I thought he was very close to that and Paul

:26:42. > :26:46.Collier was right behind him but he never even gave it any thought, but

:26:47. > :26:52.that is a bit careless. You don't see that very often. I said he was

:26:53. > :27:09.pretty close. He just dropped onto it there. Schoolboy error.

:27:10. > :27:24.Uncharacteristic mistake from John there. He's not happy with that. He

:27:25. > :27:29.missed that by a long way. That won't make him feel very good. The

:27:30. > :27:33.reason why he pulled that then it was because he was playing with

:27:34. > :27:40.right-hand side and he silhouetted through the cue ball. -- T-cell

:27:41. > :27:46.rigid. That's a pretty good effort from Ryan if it runs, just pulling

:27:47. > :27:53.up a little bit short. Because what that last shot did was clear the

:27:54. > :28:04.black. The black was tied up but is there a slight angle on this red?

:28:05. > :28:09.Not much. If you try to force the angle it is easy to miss the pot,

:28:10. > :28:18.unless you hit to fill you can follow the red in. A mile off his

:28:19. > :28:26.previous long pot, let's see what he does with this one. A touch of

:28:27. > :28:29.previous long pot, let's see what he left-hand side there. Definitely got

:28:30. > :28:38.a touch of Czech side on that, and that is why the cue ball presto to

:28:39. > :28:45.the right. You can see a touch of left-hand side with pace, the cue

:28:46. > :28:53.ball checking up there. That is why the red was pushed to the left.

:28:54. > :29:00.This is a decent chance, it really is, because the black is in play, it

:29:01. > :29:53.And you do have to feel for a player will go to the left corner

:29:54. > :29:56.And you do have to feel for a player when balls like that are missed.

:29:57. > :31:03.This is the when balls like that are missed.

:31:04. > :31:52.can cause you to myths. -- miss. There are four easy reds. The other

:31:53. > :32:03.four are not too well-placed. 24. He is going to need a few of the reds

:32:04. > :32:10.that are a little awkward. I always find it incredible just how still

:32:11. > :32:16.John Higgins keeps on the shot. I say to any of the young players in

:32:17. > :32:22.the club, if you want to watch any player technically, look at John

:32:23. > :32:28.Higgins. I mentioned it yesterday, even on the forcing shot, his head

:32:29. > :32:36.keeps still. It is not that easy to do. Very difficult to do, especially

:32:37. > :32:45.under pressure, it can only add to consistency, can't it? Such a

:32:46. > :32:55.beautiful touch. He times the ball incredibly well. The way he pulls

:32:56. > :33:02.the cue back, the tip of the cue is back, near his thumb and finger.

:33:03. > :33:04.That is not so much on the little short stand shots, you do not have

:33:05. > :33:18.to come back as far. That gives him a greater

:33:19. > :33:27.acceleration speed through the cue ball. That means he does not have to

:33:28. > :33:34.hit the ball as hard to get the spin. It is a very smooth technique.

:33:35. > :33:47.It is ideally suited to the superfine clocks. -- cloth.

:33:48. > :33:56.I know a couple of seasons ago John altered it slightly, he did not pull

:33:57. > :34:03.the cue back as far. I was trying to think, one of his practice partners,

:34:04. > :34:04.maybe Alan McManus, I am not sure. He did alter it slightly and he

:34:05. > :34:28.started playing well again. He tried to pinch a little bit of

:34:29. > :34:36.the pocket, not a natural angle, it has gone wrong. He had four easy

:34:37. > :34:41.reds now he is out of position, he has an advantage. If he had cannoned

:34:42. > :34:51.that red, it would've been frame over. John Higgins is not in top

:34:52. > :35:01.form. Because of the unforced errors from Ryan Day at the moment anyway,

:35:02. > :35:10.it is making John's tasks just a bit easier. Ryan needs to keep himself

:35:11. > :35:16.together, just concentrate on one frame at the time, one ball at a

:35:17. > :35:23.time, he is playing across table, I thought he was. That is an excellent

:35:24. > :35:32.shot. The simple fact is he has to win this frame. He is 42 points

:35:33. > :35:36.behind. Second favourite at the moment, but if John leads 9-3 not

:35:37. > :35:48.much chance. Although you won your qualifying

:35:49. > :35:50.match 9-3 behind and won the last seven frames, but you would not be

:35:51. > :36:04.doing that against John Higgins. No. I am not so sure you would feel to

:36:05. > :36:12.save if you were 9-3 up against John Higgins. -- to safe. Very few people

:36:13. > :36:54.get into that position. Believe it or not, that kicked. You

:36:55. > :37:13.could tell by the sound. It is a very difficult pot.

:37:14. > :37:30.Surely he has not left this red, he took the double on as a free shot

:37:31. > :37:46.and he has left it. One. What a lapse from John Higgins to

:37:47. > :38:06.leave that shot on. APPLAUSE John took the double on as a free

:38:07. > :38:13.shot. Somehow he managed to sink the red on.

:38:14. > :38:21.It is still a tall order, a lot of pressure on Ryan Day, he knows it is

:38:22. > :38:27.a must win frame. Stranger things have happened. He could come back

:38:28. > :39:20.and make this frame. Nine. He is a big lad is Ryan, that

:39:21. > :39:29.is quite a big stretch, he has to be careful he does not slip on the

:39:30. > :39:33.carpet. You have got to have one toe on the floor, if it was to come off

:39:34. > :39:42.the floor as you deliver the cue, it would be a foul shot. And if he was

:39:43. > :39:52.to pinch this frame, it really will annoy John Higgins. 14.

:39:53. > :40:01.Can you get your breath? It is a straightforward red in the middle

:40:02. > :40:07.pocket and that is what he thinks about it. If we go back to watch

:40:08. > :40:13.John Parrott was saying in the studio, I said as well, even on the

:40:14. > :40:25.easiest of pots, 100% concentration needed. He had a glimmer of hope and

:40:26. > :40:35.now he will be in a bit of trouble. Oh, there is a gap, is there? There

:40:36. > :40:41.is. There is always a gap! The old Watford. I think the pink has come

:40:42. > :41:02.to his rescue. Yes, you can tell he is snookered, a

:41:03. > :41:06.very little bit sticking out. John is coming off the cushion and no

:41:07. > :41:11.matter how many times you play this, you never really know where they

:41:12. > :41:23.will finish. Reed could go into the centre. -- red. He may be able to

:41:24. > :41:32.take this on and just roll it in, because if he potted the Greens

:41:33. > :41:38.available to him,... He missed a sitter in the pocket, could he get

:41:39. > :41:48.this in? It is very close to the pink. Just fractionally hampered

:41:49. > :41:52.there. He had to cue that very smoothly, it would have been very

:41:53. > :42:01.easy just to send the cue off line and touch the pink on the way

:42:02. > :42:13.through. He only needs the red does John, it makes the difference.

:42:14. > :42:28.I think he is playing the Snooker. And playing the double! What they

:42:29. > :42:35.shot! -- a shot! He is a canny Scot, John Higgins. He knew if he doubled

:42:36. > :42:46.the shot, he knew he would have won the frame. We talk about John

:42:47. > :42:52.Higgins and his snooker brain. Playing to put the pink safe as a

:42:53. > :42:54.bit of an insurance even though Ryan needs a snooker, a strong favourite

:42:55. > :43:24.for this frame now. I would have to say that that is

:43:25. > :43:31.virtually... It is the end of the frame, but it is the end of the

:43:32. > :43:37.match. That went to the middle pocket, from Ryan that was the end.

:43:38. > :43:40.He will be so disappointed, it is so difficult to maintain your

:43:41. > :43:44.concentration when you make simple, basic errors like that. He will be

:43:45. > :43:48.very disappointed with himself. You can see that he cannot believe it,

:43:49. > :43:57.he cannot believe the mistakes he has been making. He stays in his

:43:58. > :44:13.seat does Ryan. He is thinking about it. He is coming back to the table,

:44:14. > :44:17.but 34 is the difference, 22, three, four point snooker is too tired. A

:44:18. > :44:29.chance to get the cue ball behind the ball here. -- snookers will stop

:44:30. > :44:35.a very good effort. What about when he stuck the pink on the side

:44:36. > :44:41.cushion. He snookered Ryan behind the blue, a very clever shot. He is

:44:42. > :44:52.a master tactician, John. He always has been. Where is the brown going?

:44:53. > :44:57.That is close or in. He concedes he has chances there to get a frame

:44:58. > :45:03.back, but there is no way back. John Higgins now leads 9-3. STUDIO: There

:45:04. > :45:10.were a number of missed opportunities there. Yes, really you

:45:11. > :45:16.cannot miss that last red in the last middle pocket. He is running

:45:17. > :45:22.out of opportunities in this match. As we said before, the unforced

:45:23. > :45:26.errors it is disappointing. John Higgins does not look too

:45:27. > :45:32.comfortable. He wants to get the match over as soon as possible, get

:45:33. > :45:35.onto the next round. Ryan is not putting him under pressure. John did

:45:36. > :45:40.make a couple of mistakes, particularly going for the double

:45:41. > :45:47.and leaving it on for Ryan, you have to take these opportunities he will

:45:48. > :45:50.not leave you much. I watch people winning events through the season

:45:51. > :45:54.who do not have as much talent as Ryan. There are plenty of people who

:45:55. > :45:59.pick up things and do not have his talent, but he does not win. You

:46:00. > :46:03.have to analyse it as a lack of concentration on shots where he

:46:04. > :46:08.thinks they are too easy, it has to be something like that, he has too

:46:09. > :46:13.much talent. He does not look under pressure. Some players look under

:46:14. > :46:22.pressure. When you look at them, they do not look at the pressure.

:46:23. > :46:26.Maybe it is concentration. Not able to play his best form when it

:46:27. > :46:31.matters, something is missing. He is 36 years of age, he has been to

:46:32. > :46:34.three world ranking finals, one against John Higgins in Glasgow a

:46:35. > :46:39.few years ago and he has not managed to make the breakthrough. He was

:46:40. > :46:45.very unlucky in Glasgow, he probably played the best snooker of everyone

:46:46. > :46:48.but still lost. In terms of his career there are not that many

:46:49. > :46:55.opportunities potentially left. Looking at the tournament, maybe he

:46:56. > :47:00.is just maturing nicely! We shall see. There will not be much time

:47:01. > :47:05.left for him in this particular first-round experience at the

:47:06. > :47:09.Crucible. Back we go. COMMENTATOR: Question is will there be a

:47:10. > :47:21.mid-session interval? Not if Ryan loses this frame. -- the question

:47:22. > :47:28.is. And again as we have seen so many times from the break off, the

:47:29. > :47:32.pink and red, I was just about to say the number of times from the

:47:33. > :47:42.break-off shot, the red goes next to the black. He could pots this and go

:47:43. > :47:51.into the pink and red. He will do it from the blue. He has one good shot.

:47:52. > :47:57.Contact almost full ball on the pink. It will bring all sorts into

:47:58. > :48:03.play. Depending on high what hard he hits it. -- depending on how hard he

:48:04. > :48:12.hits it. Also could depend on the black. He needs to be a little bit

:48:13. > :48:19.careful here. There is a chance that the two red screwed plant into the

:48:20. > :48:29.lower left corner. -- reds into the lower left corner. He has opened the

:48:30. > :48:34.black up somewhat as well. You see it going into the pink. Not 1

:48:35. > :48:42.million miles away from the corner. There was always a chance that that

:48:43. > :48:51.could happen. He is OK. Oh! That is beautifully cued. A lovely kiss.

:48:52. > :48:58.That is a dream kiss, you would call that.

:48:59. > :49:06.It is usually the way when you are going along nicely, playing well,

:49:07. > :49:09.you always get the rub of the green, when you are struggling, you would

:49:10. > :49:19.get a kiss like that and you would not be on the blue. Do you still get

:49:20. > :50:01.that many dream kisses? I do not dream, Peter. I am always awake.

:50:02. > :50:16.Just working out if he can get himself onto the black hair. Should

:50:17. > :50:20.be OK. -- here. Make no mistake about it, John Higgins does not want

:50:21. > :50:24.a mid-session interval. Stephen Andrew says he wants to get this

:50:25. > :50:32.over with and get ready for the next round.

:50:33. > :50:40.A round where you really feel things take off. If a player is going to be

:50:41. > :50:53.vulnerable it is usually in the opening round. John looks fiercely

:50:54. > :50:55.determined, he is playing fantastically, playing fiercely at

:50:56. > :51:03.the table, Denis. You see he has the perfect angle on

:51:04. > :51:22.the blue. He started this match with a century

:51:23. > :51:30.break, he came out after the mid century and he made another

:51:31. > :51:37.mid-century break. It would be typical of John if he was to finish

:51:38. > :51:44.the match off with a century. It will be interesting to see how he

:51:45. > :51:55.goes about this. There are another four reds are in pottable positions

:51:56. > :52:05.without him having to go to the four balls. 41. 42. Beautiful touch,

:52:06. > :52:16.control, feel, in amongst the balls. Rock solid technique. Super still on

:52:17. > :52:26.the shop. -- on the shots. This clears the path for the red to the

:52:27. > :52:40.right. It goes into the same pots as the black now. -- pot.

:52:41. > :52:53.When he pots this, he still has the one from left-hand corner. -- for

:52:54. > :52:58.the left-hand corner. Not absolutely straight on this black, if he is

:52:59. > :53:03.straight on the black and he is, he will have to leave the red for the

:53:04. > :53:09.right middle pocket. He is only two pots away from winning the match at

:53:10. > :53:14.the moment. The middle red to the middle pocket, he will be head if he

:53:15. > :54:06.gets this in. Ryan will need two of those reds at our available.

:54:07. > :55:21.-- that are available. two of those reds at our available.

:55:22. > :55:28.two each, it was still looking difficult, but then John gave us a

:55:29. > :55:35.masterclass yesterday. He is doing what all great champions seemed to

:55:36. > :55:38.do. They are finishing in style. Brilliant century break, his fourth

:55:39. > :55:55.of the match. He has showed some of the best form

:55:56. > :56:01.so far in this years World Snooker Championship, against Peter Ebdon he

:56:02. > :56:06.was excellent. It is building up very nicely. I think we will have a

:56:07. > :56:10.nap salute crackup of a championship this year. In this form, Denis, John

:56:11. > :56:15.Higgins will be very difficult to beat with all his years of

:56:16. > :56:25.experience. One of the greatest match players of all time,

:56:26. > :56:32.incredible competitor. 116. He has his eyes on the title. Make no

:56:33. > :56:36.mistake about that. He has knocked the pink over the pocket

:56:37. > :56:45.unintentionally, a little trick shot, around the angles and popped

:56:46. > :56:49.the pink. -- pot. The damage was done yesterday when John Higgins

:56:50. > :56:55.made three century breaks, Ryan Day was just not at the races, it has to

:56:56. > :56:57.be said. At the end with that magnificent century break, John

:56:58. > :57:07.Higgins goes through to the next round, a very comfortable win a

:57:08. > :57:18.10-3. STUDIO: 620th cent it of his career and it was a devastating run

:57:19. > :57:23.of form. -- century of his career. One or two, Ricky Walden looked

:57:24. > :57:27.nervous from frame one, John Higgins as Dennis said did the job

:57:28. > :57:34.yesterday. These matches, it is about winning them in the first

:57:35. > :57:40.session. -- Denis. He did not have much to do, Ricky Walden will be in

:57:41. > :57:45.round two for John. The odds were generous at 20-1, it will be slashed

:57:46. > :57:49.now. People might be looking at the age of 40, but it does not look like

:57:50. > :57:54.it will be a problem to him. He still looks great. I have said

:57:55. > :57:59.before, a few years ago it looked like he was struggling. He lost a

:58:00. > :58:05.bit of concentration and focus, he has got it back, he is happy with

:58:06. > :58:08.his cue, that is a big factor. He is scoring, his matchplay is of the

:58:09. > :58:13.highest quality, every time you play him it is a stern examination, any

:58:14. > :58:20.opponents have to play very well. Five years after his fourth world

:58:21. > :58:23.title, he is in that kind of form. You know you are enjoying the

:58:24. > :58:27.closing stages of a frame when you go through trick shot on the final

:58:28. > :58:35.pink, you must be delighted, a lovely century. Ryan is one of those

:58:36. > :58:38.players, he showed in the qualifiers, he is capable of

:58:39. > :58:45.producing a three or four frame burst and getting back into the

:58:46. > :58:50.game. Even 7-2 overnight, it is a dodgy scoreline, if you are 6-3,

:58:51. > :58:59.used to have a game, but 7-2, you can lose that. -- you still have a

:59:00. > :59:04.game. It just shows you that the standard of snooker is rising above

:59:05. > :59:09.the board. Robert took four frames on the bounce against Mark and then

:59:10. > :59:12.temporary put him under pressure, a cliche but there are genuinely no

:59:13. > :59:18.easy matches in this championship. There are none. When the draw was

:59:19. > :59:25.done, some people were saying they were the ones to be afraid, but

:59:26. > :59:31.there are so many to fear. They are all tough. It must be brilliant to

:59:32. > :59:36.be back in a decent vein of form, a couple of years ago, things were not

:59:37. > :59:40.going well for you, then last year three ranking titles, you have not

:59:41. > :59:45.been beyond the second round at the Crucible since he won it in 2011,

:59:46. > :59:49.now you have the form and the confidence to get back where you

:59:50. > :59:52.belong, deep in this tournament. That comes with winning things and

:59:53. > :59:56.winning those three tournaments, that gave me belief again that I can

:59:57. > :00:02.compete with the best players. If I can play my best game, I am sure I

:00:03. > :00:06.can be a match, it is doing it on the big stage and I will see what

:00:07. > :00:13.happens. You have done it today, congratulations.

:00:14. > :00:19.Confidence and belief some it up for John Higgins. If he has those who

:00:20. > :00:29.can be a match for everybody and that match in China told me this guy

:00:30. > :00:34.means business. Yes, he has got back to near his best, not quite at his

:00:35. > :00:37.best but he is scoring have a leak which is a massive advantage.

:00:38. > :00:42.Whether he can cut out small unforced errors against top layers

:00:43. > :00:46.because if he comes up against Robertson, Sullivan, but if he is

:00:47. > :00:51.playing at the top of his game, they should play him because nobody knows

:00:52. > :00:56.his weight around a table better than John Higgins. And world number

:00:57. > :01:03.eight playing world number nine should be close. In the semifinal it

:01:04. > :01:07.was Ricky Walden who beat John. I am pretty sure Ricky Walden will be

:01:08. > :01:13.better than in his first match. You want to get over first-round blues,

:01:14. > :01:17.I think that will be a proper match. That will be the second round but

:01:18. > :01:25.there is another contest here in Sheffield, which the all want to

:01:26. > :01:30.win. John Parrott is a leader in the clubhouse, if I can mix might

:01:31. > :01:38.metaphors, but I wonder how quickly a Welsh potting machine can get into

:01:39. > :01:42.gear. It's my favourite part of the day, we have the juggernaut fresh

:01:43. > :01:49.from winning the World Championship, Mark Williams. You have 15 reds on

:01:50. > :01:54.the table. We will ask you five questions and for each one you get

:01:55. > :02:00.right you can remove a read. You have to finish by potting the final

:02:01. > :02:05.black. You have me to be, one minute 29 seconds, I do know how that

:02:06. > :02:13.happened. How can you possibly do that? You will do it easily. First

:02:14. > :02:26.question. Who did you play in your first ever match at the Crucible?

:02:27. > :02:40.It's not looking good. Not really! Any ideas? You will have to answer.

:02:41. > :02:47.McManus. No, Terry Griffiths in 1997, and you won 10-9. When new

:02:48. > :02:55.one-year second world title in 2003, who did you beat in the second

:02:56. > :03:00.round? Drew Henry. Quintin ham. Unlucky, so that's two of them

:03:01. > :03:05.wrong. Who won the World Championship a year you were born?

:03:06. > :03:13.1975, who won the World Championship? He's Welsh. Ray

:03:14. > :03:24.Reardon. Correct, you got one. Who was runner-up in this year's Welsh

:03:25. > :03:33.Open? You did play in it, didn't you? Who was runner-up in this

:03:34. > :03:38.year's Welsh Open? I need a name. Neil Robertson. He lost to Ronnie

:03:39. > :03:44.O'Sullivan, so you have one bread at the moment. Final question is

:03:45. > :03:53.multiple choice. How many century breaks have you scored at the

:03:54. > :04:02.Crucible? 35, 37, 39 or 41? Pick a number. 39. It's correct. You got to

:04:03. > :04:08.so you can to read away. Put them in the pocket. When you strike the cue

:04:09. > :04:15.ball for the first time, your time will start against the clock. Mark

:04:16. > :04:33.Williams, your time starts... Wait a minute! You ready? It starts now.

:04:34. > :04:42.Impressive. I'll be keeping up to date with this at the goes along. I

:04:43. > :04:48.can't believe he has missed. He's cracked up! It's all right playing

:04:49. > :05:00.Graeme Dott but when you have pop quiz it is big trouble. Go one,

:05:01. > :05:08.Mark. For redoing? You have more time than you think. This is

:05:09. > :05:19.impressive. Very good. I've never seen you move this quick in your

:05:20. > :05:26.life. Impressive. Go on, Mark! I missed two. But you're still doing

:05:27. > :05:32.all right. How are we doing on the time? Just over a minute gun, he is

:05:33. > :05:50.going to beat it, he's going to go top of the leaderboard. Here we go!

:05:51. > :05:58.And it's their! Yet! He is. You have to come in now, I have to write this

:05:59. > :06:13.down, and the time was... One minute 19 seconds. I'm knackered! Blue!

:06:14. > :06:22.John is under pressure, he's been beaten by ten seconds and Peter

:06:23. > :06:27.Ebdon, 207 and Steve Davis is bringing up the rear. That was the

:06:28. > :06:36.time for action. Now it's time for table talk.

:06:37. > :06:48.We have been joined today by Mr Wayne Griffiths. Wayne is one of the

:06:49. > :06:54.top coaches and is running a section of the Hong Kong elite sports

:06:55. > :06:59.Academy. Not just looking after the leak layers that also coaching

:07:00. > :07:06.coaches and you have been doing this for five or six years now. I've been

:07:07. > :07:11.lucky enough to be in Hong Kong for nearly six years, working in the

:07:12. > :07:17.Hong Kong sports Institute. A responsible for pool and snooker. We

:07:18. > :07:24.have 25 there is mix between ladies, juniors and seniors all the way up

:07:25. > :07:30.to our top there, Marco Fu. You may recognise the Welsh accent and his

:07:31. > :07:36.dad who is Terry Griffiths. He was quite good in his day. I think he

:07:37. > :07:42.might have won this event a long time ago. He is now a top-class

:07:43. > :07:47.coach like you, and I am interested in what you think makes a good

:07:48. > :07:56.coach. What are the best ingredients of a coach? I think communication is

:07:57. > :08:02.a key, for me, Marco Fu is a very easy player to work with, so knowing

:08:03. > :08:07.what to say and when to say it at the right time, which takes time

:08:08. > :08:11.because you need to get to know the player, but what I learn from my

:08:12. > :08:15.father was that was the most important, communication and just a

:08:16. > :08:22.good application of common sense, that is what coaching is about. I

:08:23. > :08:29.know John and Stephen have worked with different coaches, John, you

:08:30. > :08:34.work with Wayne's dad Terry. When does the technical side stop and the

:08:35. > :08:40.psychological sidekick in? Is it a combination? Each coach I had, I had

:08:41. > :08:46.Frank Callan, Chris Henry and it starts off technical details usually

:08:47. > :08:50.you are not saying well, you are missing balls and want to know quite

:08:51. > :08:55.and you need somebody to give you a hint what to do, not with Frank

:08:56. > :09:01.Callan but with Terry and more so with Chris it became about mental

:09:02. > :09:09.issues and they were deep with me! Was there any hope for you at this

:09:10. > :09:13.point? I think the technical side, I would see Frank quite a bit now and

:09:14. > :09:18.then. If he wasn't hitting it properly I would say come to the

:09:19. > :09:23.house, have a look at me for half an hour and leave me with it. I wanted

:09:24. > :09:31.to be shown what to do and then left with it. I was fine then. I didn't

:09:32. > :09:35.want to be coached all the time because the game is hard enough, I

:09:36. > :09:44.wanted to train and trust it, just give me what I do and then I

:09:45. > :09:50.practice. We sought Terry Griffith working with Chris Murphy, you are

:09:51. > :09:56.doing great with Marco Fu. What sort of treatment does he like, I don't

:09:57. > :10:03.suppose he relishes the flying teacup treatment? I think everybody

:10:04. > :10:08.knows he is a calm person, he likes to take things slow and steady but

:10:09. > :10:13.he is very talented, I feel very lucky to be working with Marco

:10:14. > :10:20.because as an introduction to professional snooker he is the ideal

:10:21. > :10:22.student, very keen to learn, well organised, a good communicator but

:10:23. > :10:30.he is all about inward communication. We will not be

:10:31. > :10:35.throwing any teacups! There was more of a crossover, thinking of Chris

:10:36. > :10:41.Henry between snooker and golf, because Chris is working with

:10:42. > :10:46.top-class golfers and he is making a big difference in the lives and

:10:47. > :10:54.careers of these guys already, in the last month or so one of them was

:10:55. > :11:00.top 20 at the Masters. Is there possibility of more crossover

:11:01. > :11:03.between the two sports? I think so because they are static ball games

:11:04. > :11:09.and you get time to think about what keywords doing. It is interesting

:11:10. > :11:14.that you being here, Marco used to be coached by your father. Was that

:11:15. > :11:20.a genuine crossover, why did that happen? It was a little bit to

:11:21. > :11:27.Windsor dental. He was coming towards the end with that and I got

:11:28. > :11:32.a job offer in Hong Kong, but it was to look after all the players in

:11:33. > :11:37.Hong Kong, Marco just happen to be one of those players, but as a

:11:38. > :11:41.coach, having a transition with a player or I could speak to dad about

:11:42. > :11:46.what had been working was beneficial for us. You did a fantastic job

:11:47. > :11:53.because I don't think anyone has played that first round. You are a

:11:54. > :11:59.golfer as well and the idea that practice repetition makes permanent,

:12:00. > :12:06.is it that permanent aspect of doing the same things all the time where a

:12:07. > :12:10.coach can help you? I think a coach can help with the technical side,

:12:11. > :12:16.it's up to the player themselves how much work they want to put into it.

:12:17. > :12:21.A great with a lot of things coaches do but you have to buy into it 100%,

:12:22. > :12:26.and I think I was too late in my career with Chris Henry, he wanted

:12:27. > :12:31.me to do some things that were different for me to take in. You

:12:32. > :12:36.have to buy into a lot of this, especially the mental stuff, but the

:12:37. > :12:41.practice has to come with into work hard. And you talk about Chris Henry

:12:42. > :12:48.and the neural we wearing of the brain, Doctor Steve Peters, a sports

:12:49. > :12:52.psychiatrist, how deeply do you go into the psychology and did you ever

:12:53. > :13:00.have to apply shock treatment in the midst of James? I prefer not to. I

:13:01. > :13:05.tried to take a simple approach. I'm not a psychologist but his usually

:13:06. > :13:10.listening to what the players are saying, having good planning to know

:13:11. > :13:15.what you will say, but mostly listening to what the player needs.

:13:16. > :13:21.It is horses for courses, every player seems to be different and you

:13:22. > :13:26.have to have a different approach. Sometimes you just have to be there

:13:27. > :13:30.as a sounding board. A player might to want to come in and blow off a

:13:31. > :13:38.bit of steam and you just have to pay attention, just let someone have

:13:39. > :13:43.a bit of steam. Your father has been there and he knows how you feel,

:13:44. > :13:50.maybe you have come out of a game where a guy has cleaned up and he

:13:51. > :13:55.knows to leave you alone, so every player is different and how you

:13:56. > :13:58.treat them. You were a half decent player at yourself. Did you ever

:13:59. > :14:03.have cause to get your father to look at the game and give you

:14:04. > :14:10.coaching? It's humbling you make that comment in the company of these

:14:11. > :14:14.two players. I was a club player but I never enjoyed the sport enough to

:14:15. > :14:20.take it on with the dedication these guys had, and dad never pushed us

:14:21. > :14:25.either way. I played football, my brother is a PGA teaching

:14:26. > :14:30.professional in golf, so none of us followed in his footsteps. You were

:14:31. > :14:35.following in his footsteps in the coaching profession, and I note in

:14:36. > :14:42.Hong Kong it is an elite sport and is funded as such. Yes, the players

:14:43. > :14:48.in Hong Kong and myself are lucky, we are funded by the government so

:14:49. > :14:52.we have an institute with top-class tables, access to nutritionists,

:14:53. > :15:00.fitness experts, psychologists and they get a salary based on results.

:15:01. > :15:04.How long do you think any of those players has a chance to come

:15:05. > :15:10.through? What ages are they at? We have a mix, we didn't have a junior

:15:11. > :15:15.setup when I started but last year we were lucky to have the first ever

:15:16. > :15:22.world under 18 champion from Hong Kong, his name was John Carr why

:15:23. > :15:30.anti-played in qualifiers here, he lost to Robert Milkins but he is

:15:31. > :15:35.coming up to 17 now. You are helping them press up on skills and I am

:15:36. > :15:42.sure they are helping new rush up on your Cantonese. Thank you for coming

:15:43. > :15:48.along and we wish you the best in the coming days with Marco. When's

:15:49. > :15:53.dad Terry is to keep this afternoon because he is alongside one of his

:15:54. > :15:57.charges here, Mark Allen, and what a difference he has made because Mark

:15:58. > :16:03.wants a smaller event in Bulgaria and then was runner-up to Neil

:16:04. > :16:09.Robertson. The semis of the Welsh Open last month in Manchester, his

:16:10. > :16:14.first win on British soil as the players championship. One of the

:16:15. > :16:21.only lips this term, a qualifying defeat in the China open to Mitchell

:16:22. > :16:27.Mann, the new boy he takes on today. We will get into this match and have

:16:28. > :16:32.a quick look first of all and tell you more about the new boy, the only

:16:33. > :16:39.new boy this year at the Crucible, Mr Mann.

:16:40. > :16:45.It's like a dream come true, really. I've watched it for the last 14

:16:46. > :16:47.years as a kid I've watched it for the last 14

:16:48. > :16:58.have the chance to play I've watched it for the last 14

:16:59. > :17:05.now I have so I'm over the moon. I was here for the pot black in 2007

:17:06. > :17:17.and ever since then wanted to come back. First time will be a bit nervy

:17:18. > :17:25.but I think we'll do all right. The 2007 junior pot like champion,

:17:26. > :17:27.Mitchell Mann! He didn't seem to have much direction. He wanted to

:17:28. > :20:16.place He missed the similar lack trying to

:20:17. > :20:24.go into the pack. He still needs this black. Also a couple more reds,

:20:25. > :20:33.so a bit of Drescher undershot, rolling it in this time.

:20:34. > :20:41.-- pressure on this shot. If you friends and family at the back

:20:42. > :20:50.knowing the significance of that shot. Usually some of the younger

:20:51. > :20:55.players come to the Crucible with friends, players who know even the

:20:56. > :21:07.simple shots are difficult. He played that nicely. He deserved to

:21:08. > :21:13.win the frame now. He'd doesn't ever miss anything too easy. His

:21:14. > :21:28.concentration is great. Temperament looks pretty good.

:21:29. > :21:35.He's only been a professional for two years and while he has not done

:21:36. > :21:41.anything to significant in the ranks, not beaten that many high

:21:42. > :21:46.profile players, qualifying for the World Championship arguably the

:21:47. > :21:52.biggest thing he has done in the game so far, the confidence that

:21:53. > :21:56.will have given him means he may be ready to jump up a level in the

:21:57. > :22:07.professional ranks. He does look very solid. Very solid cue action,

:22:08. > :22:14.very impressed with that. Not that a lot of players do not have won these

:22:15. > :22:19.days. It reminds me a little bit of the book like Nigel Bond, who was

:22:20. > :22:24.always a hard player to beat and he seems to be one of those players

:22:25. > :22:33.that it would be tough to beat. He doesn't do anything outrageous. It

:22:34. > :23:06.doesn't look as if he's going to frighten you the way he plays.

:23:07. > :23:27.Getting a bit of a flow on. When you consider this is his first time at

:23:28. > :23:34.the Crucible. Very impressive. OK, we have in criticising certain

:23:35. > :23:37.positional shots, but we all know how hard it is out there and this is

:23:38. > :24:08.an excellent start to his campaign. With the frame over, guaranteed he's

:24:09. > :24:16.going to pot the brown and not the blue into place. If he's going to

:24:17. > :24:18.win the frame it's another matter. You know this blue will be over the

:24:19. > :24:50.pocket. The two frames that Mitchell has

:24:51. > :25:00.one, he has kept one cannon of the table completely. Another accident

:25:01. > :25:07.break for Mitchell Mann. He has made a great break in the third and leads

:25:08. > :25:14.by 2-1. Very composed and assured so far

:25:15. > :25:19.from the 24-year-old, who at 74 is the lowest ranked player in this

:25:20. > :25:22.year's draw. Here we go into the last before the interval and

:25:23. > :25:40.Mitchell is on a break of 17. So disappointed there. I didn't

:25:41. > :25:42.detect a kick. He knows that was a chance to go 3-1 in front at the

:25:43. > :26:03.interval. And he may have missed a trick here,

:26:04. > :26:09.Steve, if it's 2-2 at the interval, Mark Allen, this is his birthday!

:26:10. > :26:16.Yes, when you get amongst the balls like that, you have to try and

:26:17. > :26:20.clinch the frame, obviously you are trying to clinch the frame but it

:26:21. > :26:26.does put pressure on the easy chances sometimes. Trying to beat

:26:27. > :26:44.careful, trying to get over the line.

:26:45. > :26:55.Looks to be a formality. Something that worries me a bit about

:26:56. > :27:01.Mitchell, his own 28 seconds a shot at the moment, over 17 days at the

:27:02. > :27:08.Crucible, the concentration level would have to be magnificent to last

:27:09. > :27:13.17 days. Mark Allen is around quite pedestrian for him, most of the time

:27:14. > :27:18.at the table he has been playing safe, you can see during this break

:27:19. > :27:29.his shot time would probably be back to the normal 17, 18 seconds a shot,

:27:30. > :27:50.he is very quick when he gets in the balls.

:27:51. > :28:20.Just about. Struggling to keep position.

:28:21. > :29:00.And that's nice, unless he goes, just about right.

:29:01. > :29:07.He's going to need both those reds on the side cushion, the one in

:29:08. > :29:14.baulk one on the right side cushion, and the way this has come out, can

:29:15. > :29:21.he get this thread off the side cushion? He decided against it. It

:29:22. > :29:29.was a realistic opportunity to free the red app.

:29:30. > :29:37.And here is another chance, perhaps a far better one to get this read

:29:38. > :29:51.into play. I am sure he will try now. Or is it me just making shots

:29:52. > :29:55.up, Willie? I agree with you, obviously if he gets the white into

:29:56. > :30:00.open play, he has the shot on the blue but unfortunately he will be

:30:01. > :30:08.careful here that he doesn't lose the white a little, but if the red

:30:09. > :30:14.is available in the middle clearly, then... A little bit short but he is

:30:15. > :30:35.still on the red nicely. Realistically, just these two reds

:30:36. > :30:47.get off the table. I think in doing that he will still be in position.

:30:48. > :30:57.Not ideal to drop on the bread. Right behind it. -- the red. He has

:30:58. > :31:02.to play this blue with a bit of a left-hand side, possibly with a bit

:31:03. > :31:07.of left-hand side which makes it awkward, get behind it, round the

:31:08. > :31:14.back of it, a clever, little shocked, very well played. Going

:31:15. > :31:19.inside the yellow like that, that was just beautiful, one of the best

:31:20. > :31:22.position shots of the championship. He could have been forgiven for

:31:23. > :31:27.trying to leave himself a bit further away from that, guaranteed

:31:28. > :31:33.to be on the red, played for position and got it and now into the

:31:34. > :31:44.pocket, that would clinch the frame completely. I said earlier on before

:31:45. > :31:51.Mark Allen made this break of 59 and counting, he will be cock-a-hoop

:31:52. > :32:02.getting out of this session, Mitchell Mann dominated the first

:32:03. > :32:18.four frames. 64. Yes, he has had the best chances to win all four of

:32:19. > :32:27.them. 64 and the frame. Mitchell Mann has -- Allen has levelled the

:32:28. > :32:31.score. STUDIO: What you make of his debut today? He has looked quite

:32:32. > :32:36.comfortable, he has made one or two errors which you would expect. I

:32:37. > :32:41.would not expecting to play flawless snooker, nobody has. 2-2, as Willie

:32:42. > :32:50.said, he could not be disappointed with that, he has played the better

:32:51. > :32:57.of it is -- of the two players. He could be underway. If someone said

:32:58. > :33:02.you would be level after the first session, in the Crucible, venues you

:33:03. > :33:06.have never played in, you would take 2-2 straightaway. The first am I

:33:07. > :33:14.came here, I played Willie Thorne and, I did not want to give 10-0. It

:33:15. > :33:20.is crazy to say that now. That was my attitude, don't get humiliated on

:33:21. > :33:28.TV. 2-2 is a decent start. I just wonder to what extent, victory over

:33:29. > :33:32.Mark Allen, qualifying, the last 128, the guy you are playing first

:33:33. > :33:38.at the Crucible, you have already beaten him in the first match you

:33:39. > :33:42.have already played, it has got to help. Absolutely. He is in the World

:33:43. > :33:46.Championship, the Crucible for the first time, it is nice to look at

:33:47. > :33:49.that and go I have played him and beaten him, but it is a whole

:33:50. > :33:55.different kettle of fish. Provisionally he is number 17, the

:33:56. > :34:03.top 64 are the ones who get the cards. It is the past to play in all

:34:04. > :34:10.the events. -- number 70. In terms of his career it is really

:34:11. > :34:14.important. Yes, John and I were chatting before the show, he has to

:34:15. > :34:20.get away with the tourist aspect and realise this is his career. -- get

:34:21. > :34:25.over. He needs to realise it is serious business. Converse Lee, is

:34:26. > :34:34.their pressure on Mark Allen today because of the circumstances? --

:34:35. > :34:38.conversely. Even people who have been winning have looked under the

:34:39. > :34:44.cosh. This is a banana skin for a lot of the players. He has not so

:34:45. > :34:49.far succumbed to the pressure. Here he is in frame five, Mark Allen and

:34:50. > :34:55.just completing what is his first century of this year's Crucible

:34:56. > :34:59.campaign. Mark Allen has had a really strong season, you have to

:35:00. > :35:03.say gentlemen, he won the players championship in Manchester and that

:35:04. > :35:09.was his first title in the United Kingdom. His other two titles have

:35:10. > :35:14.both come in China. He is in good form, he has come here in good

:35:15. > :35:21.confidence, he is 3-2 in front. We have caught them up live. Everything

:35:22. > :35:25.shoving on one table, they have the attention of everyone in the

:35:26. > :35:37.theatre, it is all to themselves as we rejoin Willie and Steve.

:35:38. > :35:41.COMMENTATOR: The last frame, the century it shows you how well he has

:35:42. > :35:46.been playing, Mitchell Mann will be kicking himself. He dominated the

:35:47. > :35:53.first four frames, came out to each. Mark Allen looks a bit more relaxed.

:35:54. > :36:01.-- two each. Impressed with Mitchell Mann. Are you, Steve? You cannot

:36:02. > :36:06.argue at how he started this match off. The problem is he has had the

:36:07. > :36:13.best of the chances, to let Mark Allen off the hook to some degree is

:36:14. > :36:53.a worrying sign. It could have been so much better, I suppose.

:36:54. > :37:00.A speculative long red, no damage done unless Mark Allen decides to

:37:01. > :37:28.take a very risky cut back. It is key for Mitchell to defend in

:37:29. > :37:33.the safety department, he will not necessarily compete with him in the

:37:34. > :37:36.break department. Mark Allen is a seasoned campaigner in that

:37:37. > :37:42.department. He could go to the safety play, he still has a great

:37:43. > :37:50.chance in this match. Right-hand side, swinging it around, a bit like

:37:51. > :37:56.the break-off shot. At least I thought he was doing it that way.

:37:57. > :38:11.Not really the best safety he has ever played in his life.

:38:12. > :38:43.That has certainly turned out OK. Excellent try their from Mark Allen.

:38:44. > :38:47.Mitchell Mann eyeing up the possibilities of dropping the red

:38:48. > :38:56.onto the bottom cushion. Sticking Mark Allen over the top of the

:38:57. > :39:01.yellow. It makes for a difficult shot, age or opponent, this. -- your

:39:02. > :39:50.opponent. I thought the shot to leave Mark

:39:51. > :39:54.Allen over the top of the yellow was a better shot. Very difficult to

:39:55. > :40:04.force an error from Mark Allen from this position. This goes anywhere

:40:05. > :40:09.behind the green, it could be difficult for Mitchell Mann. That

:40:10. > :40:15.red has gone over the pocket, he had a covering red, now problems for

:40:16. > :40:20.Mitchell Mann. He just asked for that, didn't he Steve? He did not

:40:21. > :40:25.put Mark and any pressure with the safety shot he chose. He lined up to

:40:26. > :40:29.play that shot, he told us in the commentary box that was the shot he

:40:30. > :40:34.was going to play and then at the last minute he changed his mind.

:40:35. > :40:40.This is what has been left in the corner. If he goes left on the red,

:40:41. > :40:45.is there anything? I don't think he has any choice. He has not had too

:40:46. > :40:48.much of a look at it, but he could slow roll the red and then get on

:40:49. > :40:56.the black if he is under that much pressure. I think it might not be

:40:57. > :41:02.guaranteed even if he did hit the red. He cannot afford to sit too

:41:03. > :41:06.hard, it reduces the chances of the red going in-off the other one, but

:41:07. > :41:15.slow has a chance, horrible shot though. APPLAUSE

:41:16. > :41:22.You called it and what a wonderful shot it was. Sometimes when you are

:41:23. > :41:30.forced into it, it helps you. Doesn't it? Yes. I thought cushion

:41:31. > :41:37.first was probably the way he played it, but there was a bit of margin

:41:38. > :41:44.for error. You come down the table to look at safety shot, why did he

:41:45. > :41:49.go down the bottom of the table, is he committing to them black? Why did

:41:50. > :41:52.he go down to the bottom of the table? He did not want to play the

:41:53. > :44:02.black, but OK, a decent safety shot.

:44:03. > :44:07.frame by playing an attacking shot than a safety shot. We will see what

:44:08. > :44:13.happens in the future. I think the vast majority of times now when you

:44:14. > :44:18.are offered a 50-50 chance and the black along the cushion was roughly

:44:19. > :44:23.that, offered a 50-50 chance, under most conditions he would play. --

:44:24. > :45:19.you would play it. He might just be able to roll

:45:20. > :45:26.straightforward about six or nine inches and leave himself a red. With

:45:27. > :45:41.a path back down for the blue. It is nice that he played it. 19.

:45:42. > :46:09.Not a clear-cut opportunity from here. The pink goes into the

:46:10. > :46:15.left-hand corner. It has got to get on average to be able to get onto

:46:16. > :46:28.that pink. That is the key ball to be able to open things up.

:46:29. > :46:40.Very nice. Beautiful, a lot of room to get onto this red. Now he has the

:46:41. > :46:50.pink in play, the two reds away from the pink, they could meet the pink

:46:51. > :46:56.pot, at the business end of the pockets. Guaranteed that he was high

:46:57. > :47:03.on that pink. Just a bit more of than he wants. He has got an extra

:47:04. > :47:21.bit on his cue. Essential I think these days to have that.

:47:22. > :47:29.Didn't take the opportunity to free those two reds on to the pink, got

:47:30. > :47:33.into position anyway. They will still be the stumbling block for a

:47:34. > :47:47.while. I think I would have been tempted to. I am not disagreeing

:47:48. > :47:52.with Mark Allen's judgment. That is not something you see everyday! I

:47:53. > :47:59.think the audience was just moving out bit. He did not known, he just

:48:00. > :48:01.carried on. I am not sure I can repeat what he said, but it was a

:48:02. > :48:34.very funny line. 26. -- 36. 37. Not perfect on the

:48:35. > :48:41.pink, he would have liked to have finished a bit higher so he could

:48:42. > :48:58.have brought those two reds to play. -- into play. You see Mark Allen's

:48:59. > :49:03.tip is a fair way away from the cue ball. Some players, the great Jimmy

:49:04. > :49:11.White, really close to the cue ball, other players a little bit of

:49:12. > :49:15.distance. Mark Selby was the worst, until you change that, he used to be

:49:16. > :49:19.two or three inches from the cue ball, as soon as he got close, he

:49:20. > :49:28.improved 50 points overnight, it was amazing. And now after this next

:49:29. > :49:38.shot, I am surprised he is not coming round to play this other red.

:49:39. > :49:47.I assume it does not go, he lost it there. I don't know whether it went

:49:48. > :50:12.there, a big bounce off the cushion. Perhaps.

:50:13. > :50:32.That is a good recovery. Steve suggested the bottom red of the two.

:50:33. > :50:40.56. 55 points in front, red, column red, two clear. 57. Absolutely

:50:41. > :50:44.fantastic red he has just played there, a frame-winning ball. Struck

:50:45. > :50:56.it like it was a practice frame. It shows you the confidence. 62.

:50:57. > :51:00.Getting over the line in every frame is so important and with a win under

:51:01. > :51:05.your belt, it seems to make that job a lot easier. It will be investing

:51:06. > :51:10.to see if he plays this slow, how the pockets will take this. This is

:51:11. > :51:21.a lot harder black than Mitchell Mann refused. APPLAUSE

:51:22. > :51:37.70. 71. Any chance of a back-to-back

:51:38. > :51:46.century would be by bringing a red into play. He hit it perfectly,

:51:47. > :51:57.deserves that. Very good. APPLAUSE 77. Not guaranteed to get onto a

:51:58. > :52:00.colour, when he plays this red, he will be kissing onto a red and if he

:52:01. > :52:16.kisses it full, he could be on the back collision, not on the black. --

:52:17. > :52:21.back cushion. APPLAUSE Regardless of whether he makes a

:52:22. > :52:26.century or not, it is what you would expect from an informed top 16

:52:27. > :52:38.player, moving through the gears as the session unfolds. Here's to Mr

:52:39. > :52:48.Green. There will be no century this time. Even Mark Allen can't get that

:52:49. > :52:59.from here. Across the left-hand jaws, you might pop it -- pot. No

:53:00. > :53:02.century, but that takes him to clear for the first time at 4-2. -- two

:53:03. > :54:12.clear. Is some interesting stats from Mark

:54:13. > :54:19.Allen, the only thing missing from his CV is one of the three big ones

:54:20. > :54:23.in the UK or the World Championship. -- there were some interesting

:54:24. > :54:29.stats. He is very capable of getting one of those three. Mitchell Mann is

:54:30. > :54:38.just starting on his journey, he is breaking off a two frame deficit.

:54:39. > :54:44.Settle down please. People are in Mitchell Mann's corner. He has been

:54:45. > :54:49.told to play a pivotal bit more aggressive, he is playing a bit

:54:50. > :54:50.negative at the moment, as you would expect, first time here. I am

:54:51. > :55:10.impressed with his all-round game. An important frame for Mitchell

:55:11. > :55:17.Mann, this one. Not that they aren't all. APPLAUSE

:55:18. > :55:40.Wow! How well did he strike that! There is a long way to go in this

:55:41. > :55:50.tournament, but he could be a major player this year.

:55:51. > :56:40.He has left a gap, there you can see. He is going to tighten the

:56:41. > :56:49.safety up all the sudden, he is improving all departments. An

:56:50. > :56:52.excellent pot. Yes, there was a time in the game where leaving distance

:56:53. > :57:03.between the two balls was sometimes enough, but no longer. I am not

:57:04. > :57:10.saying that was a gimme from Mark Allen, but it was close enough to

:57:11. > :57:15.the pot so he could pot it. Where is he going here? I don't know. For a

:57:16. > :57:25.split second I thought he was going to play that firm. Four. Just a case

:57:26. > :57:32.of getting rid of the red to the left of the black, maybe taking the

:57:33. > :57:35.pink, leave the half ball pink, gets next to the black. Then he can start

:57:36. > :57:52.to think about scoring heavily. These top players never miss a trick

:57:53. > :58:03.in getting the ball into position. He has got a red below the pack, it

:58:04. > :58:08.is ideally placed. A little small screw back to get onto this red and

:58:09. > :58:15.then use the red to open the pack up.

:58:16. > :58:41.Now that pack is not as easy to get open. , even more so that blue is

:58:42. > :58:55.not in its spot. He has got the second prize here,

:58:56. > :59:06.the corner pocket, he played for it in the middle. Now then, Mitchell, I

:59:07. > :59:18.think this will be a chance, the red continues to roll.

:59:19. > :59:30.He needs a couple of precise positional shots to start this off

:59:31. > :59:36.with. One. It is the old flatpack though, if he screws into them, he

:59:37. > :59:41.will get nothing. He needs to get on a loose red, but if it is gone, he

:59:42. > :59:52.can't. It depends how much power he has got. He has just lost his way at

:59:53. > :59:59.the moment, he is just fighting the Crucible nerves at the minute.

:00:00. > :00:36.Perhaps the back arm is getting a bit tight.

:00:37. > :00:45.It shows how difficult it can be to get them perfect when you are tuned

:00:46. > :00:50.down an unwanted side. Luckily for Mark, he has almost got away with

:00:51. > :01:15.it. There is one at the back of the pack that could cut into the corner.

:01:16. > :01:27.The brown is not in its spot so it is relatively easy to pop. Perhaps

:01:28. > :01:29.if he could catch just before the middle pocket he could open the

:01:30. > :01:59.rents. Perhaps not. No. He couldn't really played as a

:02:00. > :02:16.stun shot. Couldn't get the Saigon. -- the side on.

:02:17. > :02:48.He copied to think. He has two when this safety battle because he is

:02:49. > :03:12.drifting behind in the match and he needs a frame on the board quickly.

:03:13. > :03:27.A decent enough effort. We have seen a situation like this all too often

:03:28. > :03:34.when a player makes a good start but slowly unravels and the danger is

:03:35. > :03:41.now one step further and it is 7-2. While that might not be guaranteed,

:03:42. > :03:42.the signs are there. Mitchell as to restart the engine somehow, so to

:03:43. > :04:15.speak. For cushions behind the green,

:04:16. > :04:32.perhaps. Caught it a bit thick. Not enough Venus. -- not enough Pierce.

:04:33. > :04:37.It is not guaranteed to get behind the green but both players will be

:04:38. > :04:45.looking for the shot to do it and the ankle is naturally there. He

:04:46. > :04:56.could swing it around the cushions and still get behind the green. A

:04:57. > :05:04.bit harder and it would have been there. He has played it well enough

:05:05. > :05:20.to block off escape routes for Mitchell Mann. Maybe a path back but

:05:21. > :05:32.he has got to hit this pretty hard. I don't know if he can get out of

:05:33. > :05:42.jail with this one. Unless he plays it like that, of course. If it had

:05:43. > :05:49.cut in, there is no way it couldn't have made contact. It didn't work

:05:50. > :06:02.but he has had some luck and that is what you need sometimes. Mark Allen

:06:03. > :06:03.has got a chance of a trundle into the middle pocket with an element of

:06:04. > :06:53.safety. the middle pocket with an element of

:06:54. > :07:01.snooker. Nicely judged. Nothing wrong with that. Quite a bit of

:07:02. > :08:31.pressure on the safety shot here to guarantee

:08:32. > :08:34.pressure on the safety shot here to in real trouble here. He will do

:08:35. > :08:53.really well to not leave a pot available from this shot.

:08:54. > :09:10.At first glance it looks like he has got to try some sort of long

:09:11. > :09:16.planned. If he comes short he will perhaps have another go at it, get

:09:17. > :09:40.put back in. He has got to get it pretty close though.

:09:41. > :09:44.He didn't get that Cuba will close enough and he has given Mark Allen a

:09:45. > :10:01.chance at this red. A good effort from Mitchell to get

:10:02. > :10:06.out of that situation. He was in a really difficult situation there. If

:10:07. > :10:10.he had played this and the harder I don't think it would have gone in. A

:10:11. > :10:40.chance now to go further clear. He didn't really want to move that

:10:41. > :10:44.read away because it would have made the black easier. He has two pass

:10:45. > :10:57.the black clean now, he cannot go in-off the red. I don't think it was

:10:58. > :11:07.a great contact on the black. It didn't seem like the right sound. It

:11:08. > :11:14.didn't seem to kick. A lifeline for Mitchell Mann, although where that

:11:15. > :11:15.black is in the top, a lifeline is only to get back into the frame

:11:16. > :12:17.somehow. He could do with bringing a red into

:12:18. > :12:24.play here. He could drop behind one of the raids on the table there.

:12:25. > :13:39.Maybe he could swing it around to cushions and played the cannon.

:13:40. > :13:48.There was a possibility of somehow potting the blue and flicking the

:13:49. > :13:56.black and red into play but he was way of that. It was always going to

:13:57. > :14:04.be difficult to get that many points from that position but 17 points

:14:05. > :14:06.adrift, it's not too bad. It will just be hard work for both players

:14:07. > :14:49.from here on. His heart was in his mouth there. A

:14:50. > :15:58.bit too close. A tempting red for Mark Allen. He

:15:59. > :16:12.can't win the frame from this position.

:16:13. > :16:21.To read and two colours would have left him still needing the tricky

:16:22. > :16:48.red that is nearly black. -- near the black.

:16:49. > :17:03.Where he has lifted now, brown or yellow could be available.

:17:04. > :17:19.That was always going to be a tough shot. There is plenty of mileage. It

:17:20. > :17:24.is one of those situations where the ruins of the game dictate that if he

:17:25. > :17:33.did play the snooker, which is more of a negative shot than the

:17:34. > :17:34.attacking option, he could win the frame from a defensive point of

:17:35. > :17:52.view. How many points will he give away or

:17:53. > :18:04.how long will it be until he knocks the black, those are the questions

:18:05. > :18:11.here? It is a relatively easy escape because Mark Allen hasn't cut of the

:18:12. > :18:19.one condition escape. He just has too hope for the best here. A bit

:18:20. > :18:48.hard. What is the direction like? 24 points in front. Unless the

:18:49. > :18:51.yellow is easy. If he can't get out of the snooker -- snooker from

:18:52. > :19:04.there, he will leave him where he is. He could not be back in next

:19:05. > :19:05.time and open it up completely. Mark Allen is starting to like where the

:19:06. > :19:26.white ball is. No he is not. The referee charged with the problem

:19:27. > :19:31.of putting these back exactly as they were. That might not be too

:19:32. > :19:41.much difference. I think they are all aware they were. Nowhere near

:19:42. > :19:48.it. It's the wrong way round. The black is on the cushion. No, no, no

:19:49. > :20:05.and no. That is the original position. They

:20:06. > :20:14.black is nowhere near where it should be. Mitchell Mann should

:20:15. > :20:26.really say it is nowhere near where it was. He has no chance from there.

:20:27. > :20:30.They are both died on the condition. The black was touching the jaw. It

:20:31. > :21:14.is half an inch of the cushion now. I don't know if they can hear me but

:21:15. > :21:30.all he has to do is put the black on the cushion and it is fine. It's not

:21:31. > :21:36.right but it is pretty close. The black is a quarter of an inch of

:21:37. > :21:44.from where it was. It is still the same scenario. He will do well to

:21:45. > :21:55.not knock the blacking. -- knock the black in. He has to be so careful

:21:56. > :21:57.here. There is also some mileage from just taking the black and stop

:21:58. > :22:57.the stalemate. This is where it is all a little bit

:22:58. > :23:09.awkward because if he misses it he needs a snooker. He came so close.

:23:10. > :23:16.A shame to lose a free in this way but it was a very good snooker Mark

:23:17. > :23:21.Allen laid. He just needs a two headed and not pot the black. That

:23:22. > :23:57.will definitely be frame over. 39 points in it. He played that for

:23:58. > :24:06.position. If he played it of the Green spot it was all over. I just

:24:07. > :24:11.thought it was unmissable. Going further back in that frame, the

:24:12. > :24:16.yellow which looked relatively like it was not that big an issue became

:24:17. > :24:21.one. Missing the yellow and then Mark Allen playing the snooker

:24:22. > :25:03.behind the pink. Very little risk involved in that line of play.

:25:04. > :25:10.We have played the read up and down and the white Cross twice, but the

:25:11. > :25:25.key thing is getting the red saviour. -- see here.

:25:26. > :26:41.It is all about getting the red safe and he has just about done that.

:26:42. > :26:52.An excellent choice of shot there from Mark Allen. He could have been

:26:53. > :26:57.tempted into trying to pot the red but he would have sacrificed the

:26:58. > :26:59.tactical pot of the frame. He has put Mitchell Mann under a lot of

:27:00. > :27:13.pressure. The cue ball didn't really have time

:27:14. > :28:11.to swerve. An excellent shot. He played the

:28:12. > :28:23.screw of the cushion. Still got the desired amount of screw. There is

:28:24. > :28:25.enough angle on this escape route that Mark Allen has two choose one

:28:26. > :28:44.cushion or two. He cannot have both. 43 point in front, Mark Allen.

:28:45. > :28:52.Mitchell Mann doesn't really want to port this red. Then he requires to

:28:53. > :29:18.snooker is at the very least. I would settle for that. Getting the

:29:19. > :29:23.yellow into play, it is another snooker involved. -- snickering

:29:24. > :30:16.ball. Lets not forget Mitchell Mann

:30:17. > :30:20.started this session so very well with a break of six in the

:30:21. > :31:00.started this session so very well nine. Since then he has

:31:01. > :31:03.started this session so very well decided to concede, which he has

:31:04. > :31:05.done. Once again Mark Allen controls that frame, he goes ahead by three

:31:06. > :32:33.frames, it is 5-2. STUDIO: It that frame, he goes ahead by three

:32:34. > :32:37.different speeds and you have to cope with it when it is your shop,

:32:38. > :32:42.you have to do the best with it and ignore the opposition and play at

:32:43. > :32:47.your pace. In terms of Mark Allen's season, he has come in here as a

:32:48. > :32:51.real genuine contender for this. When you consider his progress in

:32:52. > :32:56.the last few years, how would you like his chances this time? His

:32:57. > :33:06.temperament and attitude compared with previous seasons. I think he is

:33:07. > :33:11.a top player. I still think you have the likes of Robertson, Mark Selby,

:33:12. > :33:15.I don't think Mark Allen is quite in that league yet when you talk about

:33:16. > :33:20.potential winners of the World Championship. Not to say he is not

:33:21. > :33:27.capable, but he needs to step up. He has got the game, but whether he is

:33:28. > :33:32.going to be consistent enough, I don't know. His consistency the

:33:33. > :33:37.problem? He occasionally throws in a bad match you are not expecting. The

:33:38. > :33:42.bookmakers have him at 20-1, they don't think he is one of the top

:33:43. > :33:47.two, three or four. He is a potential floater. He needs to be

:33:48. > :33:52.consistent as Stephen says. Occasionally there is one match that

:33:53. > :33:56.he throws in that is bad. As we watch this next frame, he has said

:33:57. > :34:00.he has worked on consistency and he has worked on trying to maintain his

:34:01. > :34:03.focus when things do not go well in matches and that is something he has

:34:04. > :34:09.worked very hard on with Terry Griffiths. You play so many

:34:10. > :34:11.sessions, you will have bad sessions, but it is about damage

:34:12. > :34:19.limitation and keeping yourself in the match. Back to Willie and Steve.

:34:20. > :34:41.COMMENTATOR: Interesting comments. A bit of a flow to this tournament.

:34:42. > :34:49.If there is an outsider, you have to same 20-1 is an outsider, he is

:34:50. > :34:55.certainly a lively outsider. There have been some big names who have

:34:56. > :34:57.gone. Robertson in trouble after his first session, it could be another

:34:58. > :35:23.one gone. Yes, and I think perhaps the

:35:24. > :35:28.question is if Mark Allen gets himself to the cold finals, can he

:35:29. > :35:33.play another of the top players to win the event as a Stuart Bingham

:35:34. > :35:38.did last year beating Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Shaun

:35:39. > :35:42.Murphy? A question over that, perhaps the puzzle to be solved is

:35:43. > :35:45.whether the recent win that Mark Allen has had in the players

:35:46. > :36:12.championship has moved him up a level? Perhaps confidence is a key.

:36:13. > :36:23.Interesting comments from Mark Allen prior to the match, I was not aware

:36:24. > :36:27.that that had been said and I assume that Mark has had previous

:36:28. > :36:31.experience. He lost 5-2 to him, didn't he? I presume that was a

:36:32. > :36:44.pedestrian sort of game according to Mark Allen. Just about, if he cots

:36:45. > :36:49.this, he can just about go round the back of the black, not if he catches

:36:50. > :36:59.it sick though, he won't. -- if he pots this. It is always a problem

:37:00. > :37:04.when you play a shot to nothing, when you pots it, you get nothing.

:37:05. > :37:08.Even in the modern day game, that shot is a chance that perhaps you

:37:09. > :37:13.should be playing for not the bottom cushion any more, amazing to say it.

:37:14. > :37:19.Once upon a time you always found the bottom cushion, but now you are

:37:20. > :37:22.looking perhaps to play a ball colour into a middle pocket.

:37:23. > :37:35.Overheating the shot a different bit. On very few occasions, not this

:37:36. > :37:50.one in particular, not making the shot.

:37:51. > :37:56.It will be a very difficult pots for Mark. He can get onto the black if

:37:57. > :38:18.he decides to play the pots. -- pot. It has forced an opening for

:38:19. > :38:22.Mitchell. He has not scored for quite some time, he has not had a

:38:23. > :38:30.lot of table time recently. He has got what looks to be a very gettable

:38:31. > :38:36.red into the corner. And clearly other red away from the black.

:38:37. > :38:37.Pretty bog-standard, but a bit of pressure on it. Enough distance and

:38:38. > :38:59.it is missable. A good pots. He had to get more

:39:00. > :39:03.contact to stay on the black. -- pot. If he was just coming into the

:39:04. > :39:10.auditorium, you would favour him, but having lost four frames on the

:39:11. > :39:15.trot, it is not so easy. I am not sure if he overhit at or underhit

:39:16. > :39:25.back. It will only take on the shot that would have taken the pace out

:39:26. > :39:34.of it. It seemed to sort of kill the cue ball of it. -- a bit. What he

:39:35. > :39:40.should have done was make sure that he overhit the shop rather than

:39:41. > :39:55.underhit it. -- shot. Pressure on this shot again.

:39:56. > :40:07.What a good recovery and he played it very nicely. You have got to go

:40:08. > :40:14.into the pack now. Firm, guaranteed to be on a red. No screw back

:40:15. > :40:21.though. Perfect. A bit unlucky not to open up more reds. It is enough

:40:22. > :40:27.that he brought one out. You could not have asked for a worse outcome

:40:28. > :40:36.from playing the right shop really. -- shot. This is not guaranteed to

:40:37. > :40:41.go nicely on the black. Both could go down the left-hand side. With a

:40:42. > :40:47.cushion, you could get the white into left-hand play. You could cut

:40:48. > :40:48.back, when they are under pressure, they are never easy. -- cutback

:40:49. > :41:24.black. Well done. He is taking a bit of time, he does

:41:25. > :41:27.not have the flow in him at the moment, it makes it harder. It seems

:41:28. > :41:34.to be the way he goes about his business. Sometimes difficult to

:41:35. > :41:39.build up the rhythm required to really start buzzing out there at

:41:40. > :41:43.the Crucible. Looking at the red into the middle pocket, he lined

:41:44. > :41:50.that up and now he has changed his mind, lining it up for the red to

:41:51. > :41:55.the top cushion. Obviously it is not easy out there, 5-2 behind. A

:41:56. > :42:00.disappointing second half of the session. Just trying to regroup.

:42:01. > :42:10.Character building would be a good break it. -- break here.

:42:11. > :42:47.He hit the wrong red, he hit the outside of the two, he hit the

:42:48. > :42:52.middle one. He hits the left-hand red,... It now looks like a safety

:42:53. > :43:13.shot at first glance. A tough way to play that shot. You

:43:14. > :43:21.can try to read the danger going into the pack if there was a little

:43:22. > :43:26.trap that could unfold. The way he played it at the speed he played it,

:43:27. > :43:27.it was not exactly that he was asking for trouble, but you could

:43:28. > :43:51.make a case for it. It was a generous size pocket to aim

:43:52. > :43:57.for, going off the red, potting it was a lot harder.

:43:58. > :44:07.At least I think there was a chance of it being a big pocket, but they

:44:08. > :44:18.need to play the cannon into the four breads. -- reds. Mitchell, you

:44:19. > :44:21.have to take advantage. He almost looked embarrassed that he had got

:44:22. > :44:23.that fluke. You have to take advantage when you do. He will be

:44:24. > :44:55.kicking himself. One. You would expect Mark Allen to smell

:44:56. > :45:09.blood here. Eight. He knows even though his opponent is in front, he

:45:10. > :45:18.is all at sea. A chance to go into the pack and open them up. A

:45:19. > :45:31.surprise that he played it so gently. He was absolutely guaranteed

:45:32. > :45:37.to have one in the middle. 70. He now has the balls in prime position.

:45:38. > :45:41.That is not the problem. He should win the frame from here and it is

:45:42. > :45:56.another frame that Mitchell perhaps should and could have won. 24.

:45:57. > :46:27.Guaranteed position the way he played that. This is one of those

:46:28. > :46:32.shots weighed you could play for four reds at the same time and know

:46:33. > :46:36.however bad or good you hit it you will be on one. That is what pros

:46:37. > :46:59.do, they have to play in areas that will be beneficial.

:47:00. > :47:06.We are assuming that Mark Allen will go on to win this frame and will

:47:07. > :47:11.retain the upper hand. Looking at Mitchell's play and that may not

:47:12. > :47:15.criticising, we have all been there, I have been in that situation, but

:47:16. > :47:20.sometimes you get bogged down in trying to work out the right shot. A

:47:21. > :47:22.bit more fluency, the style you would play in a club, even though it

:47:23. > :47:24.is hard to pull the trigger and do would play in a club, even though it

:47:25. > :47:26.that, it is hard to pull the trigger and do

:47:27. > :47:32.that, it could be the solution to the next level of play for him. Play

:47:33. > :47:52.with a bit more freedom, easier said than done though.

:47:53. > :48:08.A big stretch for the left-hander. No problem. -- a big stretch, for

:48:09. > :48:18.the left-hander, no problem. The lead goes to 17, blacks, 24. --

:48:19. > :48:24.black. Without doing too much in the last few frames, Steve, he looked

:48:25. > :48:30.pretty good in frames four, five and six. The last two he has not been at

:48:31. > :48:42.his best, but he still won them both. APPLAUSE

:48:43. > :48:52.We talk so much about experience in the game. If there was one venue in

:48:53. > :49:00.the world where it counts the something, it is here. -- for

:49:01. > :49:06.something. It is weird, all the other big tournaments, no one

:49:07. > :49:16.complains, no one worries about playing at big venues, here it's so

:49:17. > :49:20.different. If anywhere is going to be a problem, trying to get a clear

:49:21. > :49:25.head on the shot, making your mind up on a shot, it is here. It is one

:49:26. > :49:31.of the reasons why Ronnie O'Sullivan played such a great game and Mark

:49:32. > :49:39.Allen gives himself every chance. An open clearance, this time the break

:49:40. > :49:47.at 78. Mitchell Mann just nods his head, Mark Allen goes further ahead

:49:48. > :49:52.and leads by 6-2. I think after the fluke, he finished absolutely plumb

:49:53. > :49:58.on the black. He does not need to feel embarrassed about the fluke,

:49:59. > :50:04.you have two kill. He has just missed too many blacks off the spot

:50:05. > :50:09.generally. Some of the shots he has played, he has also missed his

:50:10. > :50:09.cannons into the pack, he has not got

:50:10. > :50:11.cannons into the pack, he has not cannons into the pack, he has not

:50:12. > :50:16.got the right part of the pack, all over the place. Perhaps he has not

:50:17. > :50:20.been absolutely happy with ball striking in the second half of this

:50:21. > :50:24.session. Hammy times can you miss for blacks off the spot, when you

:50:25. > :50:31.have your hand on the table, you cannot afford to miss. -- how many

:50:32. > :50:39.times. Not only does it destroy your confidence, it makes your opponent

:50:40. > :50:43.very relaxed. Yes, it is difficult, the boys talked in the studio before

:50:44. > :50:48.they last came back to us and said they had to -- he had to win one of

:50:49. > :50:54.the frames to have any kind of chance. If he does go 7-2 behind, it

:50:55. > :50:58.would be difficult to come back from there. All things considered, you

:50:59. > :51:03.would be putting your house on Mark Allen winning this last frame. It

:51:04. > :51:07.will be tough for Mitchell Mann to get himself up to win this frame,

:51:08. > :51:14.but he needs to to have any kind of hope. The last frame of the session.

:51:15. > :51:19.This is the last frame of this session, they come back tomorrow.

:51:20. > :52:22.Will it be 6-3 or 7-2. -- 7-2? Hasn't got the cue ball tight on the

:52:23. > :52:34.cushion and it made the red on the right a bit easier.

:52:35. > :52:42.At least I think he can get to it, he is not even in tempting it, is he

:52:43. > :52:50.playing the thinner one or is he just playing safe? The thinner one

:52:51. > :52:52.into the middle. A good try. -- he is not even attempting it. He stuck

:52:53. > :53:03.it up. With both pink and black out the

:53:04. > :53:07.play, he will be getting an With both pink and black out the

:53:08. > :53:18.play, he will be getting an angle on blue. Not this time. Just looking at

:53:19. > :53:22.the pack of breads, if he does get a chance to go off the blue into a few

:53:23. > :53:24.minutes time, off the pink, it will be off the black as well. -- pack of

:53:25. > :53:47.red Carroll. -- pack of reds. I do not think he will play it off

:53:48. > :53:53.this one, but I think the next one. A bit dangerous, he does not have an

:53:54. > :54:00.angle on this blue, he will not be able to generate the spin you would

:54:01. > :54:04.normally want on the bunch. I don't keep played the last red that well

:54:05. > :54:16.actually. He should have played into the pack to go off of it. Now he

:54:17. > :54:23.will be playing off a ball colour. You can always be good off the

:54:24. > :54:29.yellow or green. Could not hit them any better. That is probably the

:54:30. > :54:36.reason why blue is a better option for going into the pack.