Tuesday, 1st Round, Morning Snooker: World Championship

Good morning. Welcome to the Crucible in Sheffield. It is day

four of the World Snooker Championships. Some fantastic

sleeper to look forward to throughout the day. More first-round

matches to be completed this morning. Neil Robertson, you may be

able to see behind me is starting his quest to lift the trophy once

again this morning. Mark Selby is looking for a quick finish this

morning as he takes on Robert Milkins. I am not getting any

younger. I need to start doing well in tournaments. I have only got a

fierce left that to do well at the Crucible. This is probably one of my

last chances. It is about time I started producing something. There

is no place like it. As a snooker player, playing at the Crucible, in

front of all those people, it feels like they are on your back, they are

that close to you. It is a very special venue. A nice place,

Sheffield. It does make you feel very special when people come up to

you asking for your autograph. It makes you realise you are a player

and it makes you feel it is worthwhile. The Neil Robertson game,

that was the highlight. I played well against Mark and the last

couple of tournaments. I have not had a bad career, but he has had a

fantastic one and he has gone from strength to strength. I will be the

underdog but with a bit of luck it will be my Day. The world number one

was returning to action after missing the last two major events

due to personal reasons. But it was the milkman who delivered the first

break of the match. He left his opponent needing snoopers. When

Selby missed the black along the real, it was Milkins who took the

first frame courtesy of this fluke on the red. Selby responded well to

take frame to. This time, his turn to benefit from a fortuitous red as

he levelled up. Frame three went right down to the brown ball. After

a long safety exchange, it was Milkins who came out on top and he

said. Selby levelled the match after this spectacular shot on the blue.

That was as good as it got for Milkins as the Jester from Leicester

took the remaining frame of the session. The hallowed was this

outstanding break to make the score 6-2. He needs 7-2 after the opening

session. Mark has been in the practice room. He looks focused. He

has missed two tournaments due to personal reasons. He beat Ronnie

O'Sullivan 18-14 to win the 2014 championship. Perkins says he plays

well against Selby. He hasn't beaten Mark Selby since 2011. The other

match today sees Neil Robertson taking on Michael Holt. Lots of fans

in the Crucible today. Let's join our MC, Rob Walker. Good morning

ladies and gentlemen. Four top seeds have gone, the qualifiers have been

sensational and if, like the crowd, you are lucky enough to be off work,

you have chosen the right place to be. Welcome to another thrilling

instalment of the 2016 bed free World Snooker Championship.

Please welcome a player he came through an epic qualifier against

Mark King to book his place. Former Shanghai Masters semifinalist and

two time PGC winner, but on the big stage is the Mann from Nottingham,

the Hitman, Michael Holt. And his opponent, ten years after

winning his first ranking title, this Australian has made a massive

contribution to the sport. World champion six years ago and he

famously secured the triple Crown, winning the UK championship in 2013.

Can you hear the Thunder from Down Under? Here is Neil Robertson.

Hollande table two, welcome a player who earned his right to be here at

the hard way, coming through a massive margin of the qualifiers. If

multiple ranking even semifinalist who has turned a corner in the last

couple of seasons. People give it everything. Give it up for the

milkman, Robert Milkins. And finally, a player returning to

the scene of his finest moment in snooker, becoming world champion

here can use ago in a brilliant showdown. Bidding for a ninth

appearance here at the Crucible, UK champion, multiple Masters champion

and world number one, here comes the Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby.

So, Mark Selby looking to get the job done as early as possible. He

needs just three frames to advance. That is our life much easier for

you. On the red button you can watch the other game.

Mark Selby, can he carry on with his terrific form? A magnificent 132

frame break. Not the best break off from the world number one. An early

chance for Robert Milkins who, it has to be said, could quite easily

have been closer. He had a terrible run at the ball early on in this

match. They were 2-2. Robert APPLAUSE

Target for this morning will be to win three of the first four frames.

If he doesn't do that it will be very tough for him to win this

match. This is just the start he would like. Looking for an angle on

the blue here but he is not far enough. He will want to go into the

pack them. He can use the pack to grant offered to land on the black

year. He can screw the cue ball back through the pack to come back for

the blue. That is OK. He has the blue to the left corner. He has got

to have the most simple technique in the game. He just get down, point

the cue and hits. He is one of the quickest we have ever seen. He

missed a couple of loose like that yesterday. It cost him dearly. We

will show you the job again. -- the shot.

He got better as the first session went on, did Mark Selby. He looked a

little bit edgy earlier in the match. He has got back into the

nicely having missed the last few tournaments. If he does get through

this round, he will then have three sessions. He will only get better.

He may be looking to repeat what he did a couple of years ago against

Ronnie also love them. That was an unbelievable performance. -- Ronnie

O'Sullivan. That is shocking contact there. He

cannot believe that. It is usual. It has thrown the ball so far to the

left. That was incredible. Just when it looked like he would win this

first frame. It makes you look silly. I think the people in the

Crucible have now realised when he gets a terrible contact. That is a

poor shot from Robert. He wanted a cannon on the red. They are bad

misjudgement there. You can afford to do that. As Stephen said, he

needs three of the first four frames here.

He is fine. Good recovery there. He has got to take full advantage of

this situation. Mark Selby was very unlucky with that heavy contact.

When I said he needs to win three of the first four, four out of four

would be ideal. Realistically, he doesn't think he will win all four

frames. He has got to take these chances. He wouldn't have had this

chance but for the horrendous kick Mark Selby suffered. A cannon on the

paint would be perfect here. He has got the cannon on the pink but he

had be read first. He is still in an ideal position. That is the target

he is looking for. Route 66, he was after. This table was starting to

play up a little bit and they have recovered the cushions on here also.

They did it on the other cable and it made a fast difference. Hopefully

now both cables will be playing much better. -- both cables.

He is just about OK. Straight on the red would have been better. The blue

is not too badly placed. Just this red and it is the perfect start for

Robert Milkins who I think has the best work on music. The whole crowd

started clapping. Mark stays in his seat. He was

unlucky when he got that heavy contact. Robert Milkins has reduced

his deficit to 7-3. He had to win the opening frame. I thought Mark

would make a frame-winning contribution and it was all going

along very nicely until this shot, he was just pushing through the reds

and if you get a kick it will go to the right of the pocket, but watch

this. It went to the opposite side. Absolutely amazing. It makes you

look silly. Look how far he has missed the pocket by just because of

that heavy contact. That is very frustrating for Mark Selby. We

talked about Robert Milkins targets for women, Mark Selby needs three of

the first four and the match is over. He will win if he gets this

over quickly. It is a long 17 days. If you can win a match with a little

bit to spare, it helps. That is not the best shot but I think he is just

OK. Had he have parted that he wouldn't have cannoned into the

other. These players have played each other

on seven occasions. It is five wins to Mark, two wins for Robert. The

only long match they play was back in 2006. Mark 110-4 of them. -- Mark

won the match 10-4. I heard in his interview there

before the match he said he is to know, it might be his last chance at

the Crucible. He is 40 years of age but if he keeps popping those he has

a few years left in him. That rate was much better shot than it looked.

That is not a bad little rescue part. This is why he is such a

dangerous opponent. He was away before it went in

because he knew he had got it. Such a difficult shot. I played him in

China in my last year and he was 4-0 up before I thought I had even put

ice in motoring. -- in my drink. As I mentioned above his work on

music, the song is called I am a cider drinker.

Perfectly played. Well judged. He got the correct side of the blue.

If he plays this next shot too hard he could knock the black slave. --

safe. He has decided not to play the cannon. I cant believe he didn't

take you a shot on there. Good recovery because he thought he

had put himself out of position. This is how he started the match.

Then he had a terrible run it has to be said. Mark Selby just took over,

took control of the match. He can get to 68. Mark will need sneakers.

He has come up a little bit short now. You want to keep the white as

close as possible. He is hitting the ball sweetly this morning. He is out

on the black but the pink is there. -- not on the black. He has got a

real confidence boost from winning the first frame.

Had he have lost the first frame his head could have gone down and there

could have been a quick end to this match. He is just one red and white

collar away from beating Mark needing snookers. But he doesn't do

it. He was going to risk potting it and

just hoping for the pink. With this safety shot, Robert Wilkins will be

hoping that Mark makes a mistake. The 61 point advantage could

disappear very quickly if Mark gets a chance.

It has just tied the black up a little bit.

There is no easy path back to the safe zone here. He has defined the

gap. The cue ball is not going in but if he gets this end, have a look

at the table. The 61 point advantage could disappear quickly if this

works. The White will go toward the pink or the right middle pocket. Oh,

he has hit it too thick. Oh, he hasn't put a sticker, surely? You

cannot get your breath. That is so fortunate. That is what was

happening early on in the match. Once he has missed the pot, Mark

would have thought he has lost the frame. He just hates it too thick.

-- hits it. He can't come off the cushion and land on the red tape the

right of the black because the black is in the way. He might miss this

all together with the first attempt. No, he judged it well. He will be

relieved. He has pushed a red toward the

pocket so one could pot here and he has got his second frame. That will

do nicely. I think if you were practising with

Robert, you'd be dizzy. I went to the Grand Prix one-year and my head

was spinning. If Robert practices four or six

hours a day, he will play a lot of snooker in that time.

APPLAUSE He just looked over at Mark, he was

getting the ball is out of the pocket, Robert. The comeback

continues, but Mark Selby still leads 7-4. He certainly doesn't hang

about, does he? The best possible start for Robert. He is so fluent.

Stephen said the first player to perfect this shot, hit the screw

shot and open the pack. I think he thought he was out of position, then

he moved around and moved the red to the middle. That is frustrating

thing about playing Robert Milkins, gets out position quite a lot when

he is playing. At the end, helping the referee set the balls up, I

think you want to put Mark Selby out of his comfort zone.

Not a bad break-off shot. I say that because the red that's gone near the

cushion is in the way of the safety shot Dalmatin side of the table. --

Dalmatin of that side. A touch of side so he doesn't hit that red.

He did hit it, but he hit it at the right side. Still got the white up

to the baulk line. See if the world number one can settle down, because

he since he had that heavy contact when he was in the balls, it's been

all Robert. A bit of a chance here, as you CV

success right. Robert Milkins ahead of Mark Selby. I tell you what, he

cued right above that. -- you can see the safety success rate. He hit

that very badly indeed. You expected Mark Selby to be well

ahead in the safety success rate, but Robert played some fantastic

safety yesterday. He just didn't score enough when he got in.

His highest break just 62. He could do with a sizeable break here. Like

he played in frame one. You see, that was a bit careless, wasn't it?

That is Robert Milkins in a nutshell, basically. He plays so

many of those careless positional shots. I would never say he needs to

slow down, because that's his natural game, you don't want to play

the way he -- don't want to change the way he plays, but...

Oh, well. Happy Christmas, what a result there. There are not many

players in the game who could create that kind of power from that

position. Look at the top spin. Yes, he deserved that. A little nudge on

the pink there. This is not what Mark Selby wanted

this morning. Obviously no fault of his own, the first frame, why he

lost it. But overnight this is the last thing he wanted, Robert Milkins

to get up a head of steam and build confidence.

Another... Three rates that are available? Possibly four. -- three

rates. If you watch Robert's bridge hand, his hand is a long way from

the cue ball. As you can see, there. It is just raw, natural talent,

that's what it is. 204 points now without a reply from

Mark. Yes, and it's taken about 15 minutes.

He might just be OK. Only a few pots away from securing a third frame. He

is flying at the moment. APPLAUSE He is nicknamed the Milkman. He

certainly has the fastest float in town. And then all of a sudden, as

Stephen said, he plays one like that. Securing the frame... At this

stage that and a colour and it was 3-0 in this mini-session. So

refreshing to watch, though. Players seem to take so much time to play

simple shots, walking round the table about three times. He just

gets on with it, so great to watch. Yes, that last safety shot of

Mark... That's where he wanted the cue ball.

Yes, Mark Selby, world number one, you don't get there without

experience and not panicking when you are in situations like this.

Although he is 7-4 up, it looks like 7-5. He needs to get a frame on the

board as soon as possible, to stop this.

Terrific pot. He needed at least the blue to leave Mark needing a

snooker. After potting a fantastic red he

misses a very comfortable brown. He missed his last attempt at a long

pot by a long way. Can he get this one? That's better.

Yeah, that was a beautiful shot. Stroked it in, lovely.

Landed a bit straight on this black. I don't know if those two reds pot.

He would like to be a bit higher on the black.

This is the key shot coming up here. Almost dead straight on this and is

having to use the rest. That was a very strangely played shot there.

The cue ball should have been much closer. To the left hand side

cushion. Brilliant. That is the pot of the

day so far. This is excellent, with the rest. I don't think he's come up

the table far enough, he will have to use a lot of right-hand side

here, or possibly even go round the table. It's a long way round, but

that's what he's attempting. He's not on the red, but he can play

these snooker. A pretty decent effort, wasn't it? If he is able to

lay the snooker behind the black, he's right back in this game.

He's played it poorly, needs to hit the yellow. And he has done. Because

he didn't get in behind the black. I was just watching Robert. He gave

Mark Selby Astaire as he walked around the table. Mark Selby didn't

know. -- gave Mark Selby a a stare. This could have been avoided, when

he needed the brown, he had plotted a fantastic red, he went for the

brown and left himself a difficult red. He could have gone for the

yellow, with the lead he had. Now, all of a sudden, he's maybe just

Well, this will be some shot, if he makes the angle. What a shot that

is. Great shot! That is as good a shot as you will ever see. Watch, he

hits this with loads of bottom. When it comes off the first cushion

bananas the cue ball, and angle that wasn't natural. A great shot.

Well, he's close to the cushion, but he only needs the red. If it's dead

straight, it's going to be very awkward. Is it dead straight? That's

the question. Oh, he cued that lovely. At a slight angle. He will

be pretty relieved, will Robert. Because he was in complete control

of this frame, and then all of a sudden, things changed.

It doesn't want to play the touch up, in case he lands short. He is

not happy with this. That is the shot to play. 35 the difference,

barring a couple of snookers, it's three in a row.

That was a great effort, there. Almost got a snooker back. Is this

hard enough? It looks good to me. APPLAUSE

Yeah... The yellows, safe. Mark hasn't conceded. -- the yellow has

gone safe. The balls are nicely placed for the

snookers that are required. Maybe Mark, as well as needing three

snookers, just keeping him on the table here to get him out of his

rhythm. There was one frame before when he

needed three snookers, Mark Selby. He has actually won four friends

here needing four snookers. I won't say who that was against, Dennis,

but not sitting too far away from you. Now he needs four snookers. You

lost a frame with your opponent needing four snookers, Stephen? I

don't believe that. It's OK, no one else will know.

Look at the action he got on that with the reverse side. He hardly hit

that. As you say, it is just natural, raw talent from Robert, a

treat to watch. This time Mark will stay in his seat. What a start for

Robert Milkins. He has played three and won three and closes the gap. It

is now 7-5. Well, did make it harder work

crimes, he dominated the frame and then let Mark of the hook a little

bit. No natural angle, if there was a natural angle you would hit brown

or yellow. He is going towards the centre pocket with a lot of angle.

It is like a trick shot. And doing the white around the brown. Look at

that, as it hits the cushion. That is as good an escape as you will

ever see. And of course there was one shot

where he had a bit of good fortune, but he deserved it. Almost dead

straight on the blue and the white jumps and comes off two cushions.

Stephen had a little laugh but said he deserved it. This is what happens

when you play with top spin. Look at that black and white Ball, what

happens. It stops, jumps in the air and all of a sudden it takes off.

Frame 13, Rob Milkins to break. Robert breaks off in what is now a

massive frame in this match. As long as Robert Milkins keeps

winning frames, he has that momentum, and that is so important

in long matches. Mark Selby, if he can just win this frame, it will

just stop him in his tracks. Just gone a little awkward here,

with the two reds tidying the black art. -- black up.

I was on the other table yesterday, but I watched some of this match.

Some of Robert's safety shots were top drawer. I wonder, is there a

possible plant on here. Those two reds... I wonder if they are in line

for the right corner. He just held up his hand to

apologise, I don't know what for... OK, he hit the blue... Nothing

available. And there again, top-class safety

from Robert Milkins. Shouldn't be a problem, coming off

two cushions and just playing on the three reds to the left of the black.

At first glance I don't think he's got any way to get back down the

table now, so a bit of a stalemate. Now, we could have a re-rack here if

they play a few more shots like this. Although,? Might want to

prolong this, to put Robert off his stride. There is no shot at the

moment. Stalemate. -- Mark might want to prolong this.

That might have helped the situation, the way he played it. It

was a clever little shot from Robert, just to stop the stalemate.

I think you might be able to run up the table this time, and then we

will be back to normal then. The way those reds are surrounding

the black... This time it's Mark who holds his

hand -- he's had a result there. How did

he get that white tight on that baulk cushion?

Do you think you were saying, well done, you were a little bit lucky

there? LAUGHTER Sends a little bit of needle in this

match. Nothing too severe. Just two contrasting styles. Guess, it's very

unusual for a player to say something to another player,

unless... You see it when they are smiling laughing, but there is no

smiling laughing going on. We will have to find out at the end what

Robert said. I remember I played it once and I

played a good safety shot and got a flick.

Eddie Charlton used to mutter things to you during a game. Meanwhile,

this is the sort of frame Mark Selby wanted. He is trying to get Milkins

out of his rhythm. What a scrappy frame. I have never

seen the ball is quite like this before. Look at the break they are

congregated around the black. It is very unusual. It is not the time to

say he should clear up from here. It is an important frame before the

mid-session interval. We talked about targets that you set yourself

and we were saying he would quite like to win the session 3-1. He has

every chance of winning all four. He has sprung and read out. If he is

not hampered by the blue, there is a chance here.

That was a good shot considering the amount of time they spent playing

safety shot. He looks in a mean mood this morning. It goes back to how

important the first frame was. If he had one of the frame, the match

could be over by now. Since then, it has been all Robert Milkins. He is

putting Mark Selby under extreme pressure now.

They were so awkwardly placed a few minutes ago and all of a sudden they

are starting to open up a little bit. It was all created by the

terrific read that Robert knocked in. He got onto the pink. It looks

natural angle to cannon the reds to the right of the black. He has

played that little touch shot really well. All events are covering each

other so he might have to play some top spin into the left-hand side to

go into the red here. That was a clever little shot

because it gives him a choice of two reds.

He looks very, very focused. A lot of noise from the other side of the

arena for the end of the frame. He hasn't batted an eyelid. He has that

expression on his face that says he means business. I think he has I am

not going to lose a frame face on. The reds are all blocking each other

to the right corner and they may not be far enough over. This is much

more difficult now. He needed to be high on the pink. He was just about

an inch or two short. I am sure he had a shot on there or he could have

plotted the pink of the side cushion and back over to the reds. He can

reach this. Once the game, the reds are all blocking each other so he

will have two come across the table this time. We know what cube power

he has. There might be want up into the corner. Unless the pink is

stopping it, so it will have two be the middle.

That could have been a frame when had it gone in. -- a winner.

Oh, if he drops on the Pinky has had a result. That is not bad. The two

reds on the black cushion, he could play for that. He could put the pink

in the left centre. Well played. The two reds that are

together next to the black, they are in the way of everything. There is a

chance for a counter attack here. Mark Selby is on form and scoring,

this could be a chance to win the frame, no doubt, but he has been

under a barrage from Robert Milkins. He will be looking at this as a

chance to win the frame. If he does when the frame, I think he will be

in a strong place. The mid-session interval is coming up. At 8-5 he

would be in the driving seat after break. At 7-6, it is and won's

match. -- and a one's. Three comfortably reds. Two reds

near the cushion. It is not a straightforward run to the winning

post in this frame. He is just going to sit there and

hope that something goes wrong with the two rather tricky reds left.

Got a bit of an angle here but it is always a risk when you try to move a

red when potting a read. He will probably leave that. He doesn't have

the ankle to do that anyway. The one along the cushion here behind the

black will be tricky. The other one is even more difficult. He is just

showing us why he is the current world number one. He lost three

frames in a row, was 44-0 down in this frame. The first tricky pot

coming up. And now an angle on the black. He brings the red into play

to drop in behind it would be difficult. He needs to move it.

Oh, it is a good shot to knock it off the cushion that it will be a

difficult shot to secure the frame. He is looking at the angle to the

far right corner. Nowhere near it. As he left it? Maybe he should have

took your advice. I think he called the right shot.

Perhaps he is getting desperate to get a frame on the board. He got a

slight pad contact but that has nothing to do with how much he

missed the pot by. He has got to make sure he doesn't snooker himself

on the green. The tricky bit is getting nicely on the brown to get

on the blue, to get to the pink. A lot of pressure on this little

clearance. He has dropped it in a dead weight.

It is there. What a performance. Unbelievable. Mark Selby got a cake

on the first frame and it cost them, but after that it was all Robert

Milkins. For in a row, get him to just one frame behind. 7-6 to Mark

Selby, the game is definitely on. I spoke to a lot of fans and they all

thought it would be all over this morning and that Mark Selby would

because it is in the second round early on. The milkman is certainly

delivering. We are on the mid-session interval so we will

focus on another match involving a former world champion, Neil

Robertson is taking on Michael Holt. We know he is a mass of Chelsea fan,

but does he like other sports? I would have to say Michael Jordan. I

used to love basketball growing up in Australia. Cathy Freeman winning

the gold at the Sydney Olympics, that was a pretty incredible moment

for Australian sport. Football, the atmosphere and the grounds is

incredible. On my last Day of school I turned up for PE and then I went

to my dad's club to practice. The Crucible is my favourite place to

play. The code is so close, when it gets down to the one-table set-up,

there is no better place to snooker. If I am not wearing my hat, quite

often it would be Joe Perry, Mike Davis. My most embarrassing moment

was when I forgot my shoes. I bought a terrible pair of shoes and lost

the first session 8-0. The shoes were really uncomfortable. If I was

still based in the UK I would like to stay involved in the game, doing

commentary, maybe some coaching. You are always welcome in the commentary

box. Just the one win over Neil Robertson

in a qualifier for the China open in 2000. We will pick up the action in

frame one. World leading by 26 points on a break of 41. He has

missed the black. How many times do we see that, a player concentrating

that much to developing the next ball to forget the pot. Was he

putting a little bit of right-hand side on? I think so. It is

unexpected because he has looked very fluent so far. Peter was

mentioning about the superfine cloth. Players play with side on

that, particularly on parts, if you put a trace of side and just hit the

ball firmer than you wanted, the side will push the cue ball away

from its intended target. You put right-hand side on their and hit it

a little too hard what a chance he let go. It'll be a tall order for

need to win the frame this visit. The way the blue and pink. There is

a chance that blue could now come to the rescue of Michael Holt.

The only thing we always say when the polls are on that side, it will

suit a left-hander. He has got plenty of options here.

Providing he can find the right angle on the brown, obviously. He

could play to disturb the blue and pink, but he also has the option of

dropping behind the blue and if he gets a perfect angle he can play the

blue but hardly any weight at all to what the pocket and leave himself on

the pink. Or he could pot the blue and develop the pink. It depends

what sort of ankle he gets on the ground. -- the brown. He is worried

about falling out of the pink or the blue. People forget the yellow

slightly. -- he over it. Ideally what he would have liked to play is

to play for the brown in the opposite corner he will play it now.

This brown will put him four points behind, so he is going to need blue,

pink and black to clinch the frame. I think it is very risky if he does

decide to attempt to move the blue and pink in this shot because if he

was really unlucky he could cannon into the blue and snooker himself

behind the pink. It will be interesting to see how he goes about

this. He has decided to play bad shot and he has gone into the cue

ball with far too much pace. It looks like a snooker.

We said it would be a tall order but advantage it needed at the moment,

you would think. -- advantage Neil Robertson. You wouldn't think he

would leave this blue if it hits it. Hit it well. An opportunity here to

lay the snooker behind the black. I don't think that is hard enough. Now

then. Will mark old attempt to double? -- Mark Wood.

If he does take the double on, there is a chance he could lead the pink

into the right-hand black pocket. He decided against it. That was a good

shot because there is every chance now that Neil Robertson will be

developing the pink. He had the option of applying this with lots of

left-hand side in order to develop the pink and get the cue ball behind

the black. He does have a fee options here. -- a few options here.

That would leave Michael Holt in a lot of trouble here. Neil didn't

play that very well, did he? You would think he would have to take

the double. Blue and pink needed for the first frame. In the end he

decided to play the snooker. Thought he was guaranteed that.

Michael Holt will be the big favourite now.

Now, where will the cue ball finish? That is end of frame now for me. He

will take the pink which will count as a blue. Neil Robertson has had a

couple of chances and didn't make the most of them. In those who pink.

That puts him 13 points in front. This blue will put him 18 points in

front. That very intelligent snooker that Michael decided to play on the

blue there, refusing the double, it paid dividends. Very impressive,

well thought out. 19 points, the lead now.

A very interesting first frame. Michael Holt will be glad to get it

under his belt. Neil Robertson had chances, with negative, Michael Holt

leads the world number 41-0. An excellent start from Michael Holt.

That show you what happened in frame two. Michael Holt is back at the

table meeting 16-9. Black available into both corners. Enough reds

nicely spread. He will be disappointed if he doesn't make this

a frame-winning contribution. Michael really does need to keep his

concentration now because sometimes, when the top player miss balls

unexpectedly, your own level of concentration can go down and that

is what Michael needs to be very wary of now because he will be

shocked, to be honest, that need has missed if you chances so far. This

is a chance for Michael to keep his concentration levels are very high

and push on. He should punish me for the mistakes he has made. Neil is

looking quite uncomfortable in his seat at the moment. It has not been

the best of starts for him this morning. He will need to regroup and

get his thoughts attuned to being very positive.

He needs to be in the right state of mind to take his opportunities when

they come along, if they come along. This is a new one, rolling his

sleeve up. I was almost expecting to see a logo on his forum.

It is OK, he is back in a perfect position now. Just one or two

positional shots, through no fault of his own. Back in perfect position

now. The frame is his mercy. -- at his mercy.

54 points the lead. Just looking for another red and a colour.

No problem. This black to go 62 points in front, with just 59

remaining. Took them well. OK, needed two opportunities, with in

first in this frame and missed an easy red, but wasn't punished by new

Robinson. It's a nice feeling when you know you've had a chance, you've

missed an easy red, and it doesn't cost you the frame. -- Neil

Robertson. Not way is easy to put it out your mind, and not dwell on it.

That Mr red early on for Michael Holt could have cost him, and would

be thinking about it for a few frames, but he can forget about it

now and just remember he took this frame with the second opportunity. A

possibility of a century, but needs a good shot off the brown.

Is a double, yes, beautiful. Got the perfect angle now on the pink.

This would be a real settler, I've always said, I don't care who you

are, when you come into a tournament you just want to show people you can

play. A century settles you and shows the audience you mean

business. Absolutely. But unfortunately not to be. That was a

pity, but he won't mind that. He needed two chances, but he got them,

because as Peter says, Neil Robertson not settled yet and he

trails 2-0. You don't need to remind me we have

already lost a smattering of world champions. Are we about to lose

another one? Too early to say but a great performance this morning from

Michael Holt. Don't forget, you can follow that match on the red button,

where you can catch all the latest news and live coverage. The players

have had their mid-session interval. Mark Selby, interestingly, came in

here in the mid-session interval, under the practice table. Doesn't

look happy at all. We thought it might have been an early finish

today, only needing three frames to get through to the next round, but

Robert Milkins has rattled off four frames and looks in the groove. What

a first performance this morning, Dennis Taylor? Absolutely. We've

seen it so many times, he could have done without an interval, the way he

was playing. Sometimes it can change things. That's what Mark Selby will

be hoping for. Yes, interesting to see if Robert

can keep up what he's been doing this morning. Sometimes when you are

7-2 down you start to relax, you think you are so far behind, you

throw caution to the wind, but now he has a chance of winning and the

pressure will be back on him. Look at the pot success rate, 85% for

Mark and 94 for Robert. The biggest surprise, I suppose, in

the match so far, is the safety success rate. Have a look at that.

Out playing Mark Selby, one of the greatest tacticians in the game.

This stat here, Dennis, is very interesting. Mark Selby, 41 send

long pot success. That is very low. I suppose this shot will be classed

as a long pot, because he is so far away from it. I expect him to sneak

this one in. He's not getting the run of the ball

at the moment, only a snooker available to him. Not a very

favourable kiss on the brown. I think you might be able... He can

certainly get to the red behind the back. -- the black. He can't nestle

into the right side of the pack because he would leave the red on.

Can he see enough of the cushion, the middle pocket, to skip to the

one I mention? Might be too close to the yellow to do that.

I don't know how close he is to the yellow, but that is the escape

route. If we went into the left side of the pack, he could leave a red

on, also. That looks pretty good. Yes, nicely

judged. He's looked so relaxed this morning.

He's kept that same expression on his face all the way through.

A bit of noise. Players have finished the mid-session interval --

have started the mid-session interval on the other table.

Spectators going out to get a coffee and stretch their legs.

I remember in the early days, Stephen, when they used to come

here, 1977. You would be among the spectators, up at the back watching.

There was no players rooms or anything in those days. You used to

mingle with the crowd. Another example of Robert Milkins

outplaying Mark Selby in the safety Department. In a bit of trouble

here. He did well to find that gap. But

Robert, he's such an attacking player, he might take this on. He

will have no idea where the cue ball is going to finish. There is a bit

of a gap, but he would have to be so precise to pot the red. There is the

little gap, and there's no room there whatsoever. So, if he takes

on, he has to pot this and just let the white go where ever it is going

to go. That's a better shot. He can see the little gap, if he was to pot

this. Got the perfect picture there. Didn't find the gap, but he got

himself out of trouble. I say he got himself out of trouble, he is

snookered. Don't know if he can sneak the

black. Might not even be able to do that. He can hit the black with a

very thin one... Swerving round the red. This is awkward.

You can see how tight it is when there are two players, the players

and the referee getting tangled up there.

Can't remember the match, but I remember last year some got tangled

up with the referee and knocked all the water over.

The referee for this match, a good, old Sheffield boy. One of the top

referees, has been for a number of years now.

A bit too thin this time. The white is coming back up past the blue.

A possible red on, but not easy to get nicely on to colour.

Almost straight, having to screw back for the blue.

Not a lot to play behind, with the yellow and green off their spots and

the brown near the cushion. The target is just to play it down

towards the brown and hope you get it close to the cushion. Locked off

the escape route down the right side of the table. But that's given Mark

something to think about here. Not a straight forward safety shot.

The black slightly in the way if he was to play off the reds and go down

that side of the table. Well, he's caught the black, but the

right side of it. Very unusual, just one colour on its

bought, so early in a frame. -- on its spot. There are never two

frames identical, it's amazing. That looped bridge with the stop

Dick Makro. They call it the loop. That put the yellow in a better

position to get in behind. Keep the noise down, please, thank

you. The referee just asking them to keep the noise down, as they come

back in, playing on the other table. That match. Shortly. A half chances.

Joss travelled a little bit too far. -- just travelled. Been very fluent

with them long pots. It's amazing, he's played so well

but I think that is the third or fourth blue like that he's missed in

this match. We saw him miss a few yesterday.

Yes, he was a fair way out with that one.

Not straightforward, this positional shot, for Mark Selby. Don't know if

the pink spot is available. He's having a good look. A few reds to

the left of the pink. He might play for one of those. Can he screw back

and can in the red that side of the pink? No. Foul. That was always the

danger, the left middle pocket is always there. Yes, it wasn't a

natural angle to screw back. Caught the red and send it toward that

middle pocket. Now a chance to get in behind that yellow. He hasn't hit

it as he intended, but it's going to be safe. He was trying to swing it

behind the yellow. That certainly scattered the balls

around. Still very awkward, the reds are nicely placed, but the blue...

He's thinking to himself, if I can get onto the blue here... And if he

doesn't get on the blue, the yellow is over that left corner. But worth

having a go to get on the blue. He's not come far enough. It says -- it

is a Long yellow. He would have loved to have travelled a few more

inches and take the blue. I was just going to say, it's a

difficult shot to get back up the table from the yellow. But potted in

the left, and look where he finished. Bet he couldn't do that

again. If this red is straight up to the corner he will take it on, but

if there is an angle into the reds and pink... It's not straight, so he

can't really take it on. Looking at the red to the left of the pink. He

would love to play that to the centre and stun the pink to the

corner. He's gone to your shot choice. A choice of two... I think

he's going to take a pot on that. It's just which one he fancies more.

Or is he going to take a pot on? He doesn't have to. Let's have a look

at what the angle is. He can see that one, it's the other one...

But you're right, he's dying to take that one on that's next to the pink.

But he would have do get it because he would be leaving the one to the

right of the black. If this is straight, will take it up into the

corner. He knows he hit that well. Yeah, no problem without red, it was

the easier pot. But the positional play wasn't good. He has the cue

power to come back down. This is not an easy shot. Where as the red in

the middle was more difficult but gave better position. He has made it

look easy. He's hit that too well, believe it

or not. And that's top spin again. He really does generate lots of

power, or whether he's screwing back or following through. Will he

managed to sneak this in? When for the blue, and in the end

didn't take a good enough look at the potting angle.

That was a bit better, the pot. It probably looked easy on your screen

but when you are 7-2 ahead and then 7-6, means Mark Selby is under

extreme pressure at the moment. Desperate to get a frame on the

board. To gain an advantage in this match. Yes, Stephen, it's time for

the world number one to go to work, it really is.

The pink must be tight. Had a look at it from both ends.

Yes, played for the middle. The pink into the corner. Must've been very

tight indeed. He gets down on the shot well, Mark

Selby. He's quite a tall player, well over six feet tall, but he

stands and gets down nicely on the shot. Reminds me bit of John Paul

Merton, -- Pullman, a former world champion. He was a similar height.

He may be forced to play the black Hill. -- here.

One of those shortly played before that was similar, round the table,

three cushions round the back of the yellow. A choice of at least three

reds to the corner. There it goes, round the back of the yellow, and

he's missed the blue as well. A good shot that.

We are out of time on BBC Two, but coverage of this match continues on

the red button. If you want Neil Robertson against Michael Holt, that

is available on the BBC sport website, connected televisions and

BBC sport app. Hazel will be back at 1pm with further coverage, as we

concentrate on Mark Allen against Mitchell Mann.