Tuesday, Quarter-finals, Afternoon Snooker: World Championship

We are best mates, but you see one Scottish, in the semifinal, but that

is great. Sometimes, I look around and I think that is where I want to

be. I'm not going to complain about it. I'm going to get on with it. I

have good a as any. I need to keep my thinking clear

play the shots. All eyes are new if I can get one-table set-up, who

knows. Technically, I am a better than I was ten years ago. I will be

up for it. Coming here, I thought fresh, but

not as much as I would like. That showed in my first two matches. A

lot better than two years ago, to go on and qualify and win two matches

here is unbelievable. Afternoon. Those are the men that will be in

the quarterfinal stages onwards. The big news from last night is at the

Crucible is now a rocket free zone. After a thrilling final frame finale

against Barry Hawkins, Hawkins finally defeated his nemesis after

14 years. It means that our draw looks like this.

The fourth all Scottish Crucible contest between McManus and Higgins

begins this afternoon. Ding Junhui is one of three qualifiers left. He

takes on Mark Williams. Marco Fu takes an eight jubilant Barry

Hawkins. New boy Kyren Wilson takes on Mark Selby. One thing is for

certain, regardless of all of the exciting play that we have seen in

the qualifiers and in this tournament, you needn't pay and be

game to play this well. Absolutely. When you look at the 4/4-finals, you

would think that all of the quarterfinals have --

quarterfinalists have a big game, they have a well rounded game.

Certainly, that the game has helped them. Do you think the world

champion in the future who could just pop, pop, pop, like Stephen

Hendry did? Even Judd Trump has struggled. At this sort of level,

yet picked up very easily. We have to back it up. I know that Judd

Trump was big trying to add a little bit more safety, but you cannot pot,

pots, pot like you may have done. Stephen was the most successful one,

without having that back-up kind of game. Nowadays, I think you have to

have a little bit more of a rounded game, as well as being aggressive as

well. We're not talking defensive or slow. The players are far quicker

than they used to be. But they know when to play the right shot at the

right time. John Higgins, Mark Williams, they were exceptional in

that department. I don't think they push the boat out as well as Judd

Trump may have done, or Ronnie O'Sullivan ten or 15 years ago. But

yes, if you look down the whole list, they are very good

break-builders, you have to be. You have to be very aggressive when you

do get the chance. But also, the safety has been top quality. We are

in for some fascinating snooker. I think we are. Only two of the

world's top eight players have made it through to the quarterfinals.

That's only happened a handful of times at the Crucible. It bodes well

for some exciting play. It is going to be an exciting afternoon as we

have a peek at all four of our quarterfinalists today. I need to

qualifiers have gone on to win the title. Could Ding Junhui joint Shaun

Murphy and Steve Davis of the next? At 45, Alan McManus is the oldest

quarterfinalists in Steve Davis. Startling to think this is Marco

Fu's first quarterfinal for a whole decade. He is under way against

Hawkins. Kyren Wilson, the line -- the youngest player still standing.

I play coming on his progress against Mark Selby.

Start beating up those brain cells again. Will you get full marks? And

amongst other things, we will be discussing the Crucible's future.

This is current Wilson's second visit to the championship. He really

has a feel for the place now. And good friends with Peter Ebdon.

He gave me tickets, and I went with my dad. There was no unbelievable

experience. As soon as I went there to watch, I knew I had to get there

and play. I thought I would be a bit more nervous than I was. It felt

natural to be there straightaway. But yeah, as soon as you get

prepared, you are a bit daunted at how close everyone is to you. But it

is a fantastic venue. I went up a couple of days before, and just went

into the venue and had a look around, I got my bearings

everywhere. It is something I like to do before I play, and try to

acclimatise to it. There is so much history and memory is there, you

want to make the memories for yourself, and make history yourself

there. The atmosphere like it. If you turn around, it feels like it

goes for miles, when actually, it is quite small and quite compact.

Sometimes, you are close to falling over the barrier when you play a

shot. But as so unique and special. There is a possible -- buzz around

Sheffield when it is on. We usually have nice weather, and you have

everyone out in the back of the Crucible, and you have a big-screen

TV up. There is a real buzz, and you get the signs for the snooker, and

it is very special. It is the pinnacle of our sport. Everyone

choosing to watch the Crucible, and it is somewhere where I would love

to win the trophy. I will not stop until I get there. And Wilson takes

on the man at the top of the rankings. It is the former

champion's 12 championship. Anthony McGill inflicted The Crucible curse

last year. Selby has blown hot and cold. This is qualifier number three

for him. How impressive has Kyren Wilson been? He is up against it

already. We left this match with Selby on his way to the 4-0 lead.

This is frame number five, and we rejoin them with Selby six points in

front. COMMENTATOR: I think this red near

the baulk condition is possible. At 4-0 down, it difficulty of the shots

are magnified. He is not taking it on. He is

looking to see where he can leave the cue ball as a safety shot. He is

confusing me now, because he was going to play the safety, but now

he's taking the shot on. It does look as if he is OK out

there. He has not missed anything bad as yet.

When he puts this pink, when it is re-spotted, I don't think it is

going anywhere. So this break is not getting any easier.

Just cannon the red away from the pink spot. Another couple of reds

that will be... He is desperate to get his first frame on the board.

It's not just going to that cue ball. He wants to play the pink to

the left corner, you cannot do that now. Still -- still a little bit of

tightness in the arm. He played that well. He will play

for the red to the right corner. It has been good break-building,

these last few shots. This opportunity. Two or three shots ago,

the thing did not go anywhere. He will be desperate to win their

frame. Each of the pink, because he has for pockets that it goes in, at

the black, only two. If there was a frame you really needed to win, it

is nice to have the pink in the open.

The cue ball just picked up quicker. He has a slight angle. Not a lot,

but enough to stun of that cushion if he wanted to go closer to the

reds. He has to avoid the pink. There is

an obstacle in the way there. A good break this is under the

circumstances. Most break so far in the match. He is hoping to win the

frame from there. This will be a tough one when it comes to these

situations. They can back-up -- they can battle it out and make it

awkward for you. In a way, it pushes you a little bit to come and clear

when you get the opportunity. He caught that a little bit too

thick. He did not leave anything on. 57 points in front -- that would

have left him 57 points in front with 67 still on.

Just a fraction short of pace. Those shots were awkwardly placed, but now

I out into the open. The chance will come along for either player. It has

gone far enough past. He can see the red in the right hand side. It is

another chance here to put the cue ball possibly behind the yellow. Off

three or four cushions. He has courted too thin. Left a read

on, caught the blue. The black is available, pink is on the spot. Wow.

He looks like he has a nice angle to follow through for the black.

It was not the cleanest of hops. But now it has gone in, he is perfectly

on the black. I think he thought he missed it. Just flicked a bit of

right-hand side on. Perfect now. Cannot see any problems winning the

frame from here. This is a big frame. Not so much for

Mark Selby, but he knows this can be a big body blow to his opponent,

psychological body blow. This is what it is all about at the

Crucible. Winning these frames. When you look like you are going to lose.

This looks, at first loss, -- first glance, a poor shot. Just got enough

and would force it off to cushions. Neither cue ball to stop. That is a

poor shot in its own, but that the last one was a shocker to land like

this on the red. He will be fuming inside, Mark

Selby. Straightforward positional shots,

that should have been. He left a good angle on the last

thread, but Kyra missed a good chance when he made a good 56 break,

but he has to hit this red and get it safe now. He would not think that

Mark Selby with this again if he left an easy part.

He needs to send it to send the red at the table. That was a good hit.

Good shot. This could hit as many as five

cushions, this red, trying to get the red in behind the black. He has

completely lost the cue ball. But he got the red where he wanted to put

it. He wanted the cue ball to be in the middle of the baulk cushion.

He needs to get there with a lot of side and keep them were there. --

keep the white there. He has courted too thin. He has left

it plumb. This is the only problem, not

snickering himself behind the brown. He has played that nicely. He has

taken it up on a path that was nowhere near the brown. Well played.

So it he is needed to the cherry, but it looks like now, he is finally

going to pinch this frame. He will play bluetit pink, that is a

stumbling block. -- blue to pink. He wants to leave a natural angle on

the blue, just before the middle pocket. Pink to the left corner.

He will play this with a touch of left-hand side. I don't think there

is a natural angle to come from cushion. He is going to have to play

tee. As soon as he hits the cushion before the middle pocket, he would

be perfect pink. So a body blow for Kyren Wilson. He

made a 56 break, and a chance to win that frame, but it is Mark Selby who

is now guaranteed a lead going into the second session. He leads 5-0. He

has been rather mugged by Selby. This is a dramatic reversal of the

situation that Kyren Wilson faced in his last game, against Mark Allen.

He has a tough ask now as we head into forensics.

COMMENTATOR: Can get his long part in? That was one of his main

strength in. That's right main strength in his early matches. A bit

of movement. I can understand with the pressure he is under. Why so

hard? Surely, this is a nice plain bull

shot to go round the back of the black. That is a sign of tension.

Desperation, almost. As he mentioned earlier on, things

look so much more difficult when you are behind.

Not sure whether black is going. But he is having a look there. No spot

is available if it is covered. The black spot is not available. The

only other one is the brown. That has taken away the chance of winning

the frame possibly at this stage early on.

I think he will place the back straightaway here.

You just don't hit it better than that, I'm afraid. It's kept the cue

ball in the middle of the table, but the downside is what has happened to

the black and pink. It wouldn't even be said that if you

could play for the black and pot it and put it back

back on its spot, but it won't even go on the pink spot.

Here we can see Mark going into the pack again. The cue ball hits the

pink full in the face. The action of the cue ball keeps it in the middle

of the table. So often if you don't catch the pink full you can lose the

cue ball to the sides or even down to the black cushion. Perfectly

played. That wasn't as played, I would

think. But in the middle, he will take that. I wonder if he has the

angle on the blue to screw back and cannon on the pink.

Just played for a fuller contact on the pink. Again, just got so much

into the cue ball. It has been noticeable throughout the match.

He's getting immediate back spin. He's either hitting the ball very

well, or the cloth is a bit more lively today. Or both. It's been

hard work, I must say. Just getting position now. Taking on the blue,

bridging over the red. It's tough, but made a lot easier by the fact

he's 5-0 up. He's moving on to the yellow now.

Again, the pressure is off Mark Selby at the moment. You can just

relax. Pile on as many frames onto the scoreboard as possible this

morning. Back in a good position. May be able

to pot one of the top two above the pink spot.

Keep potting them, it doesn't really make the difference.

As I said already, Kyren Wilson in the last round went 7-0 up on Mark

Allen, so he must know how Mark Allen felt at the moment. . It's a

horrible place to be, at the Crucible when this is happening. The

best place in the world to play when you are playing well. Not in a good

place at the moment. It will be a really tough 56 rake

for Mark Selby here. Has played a lot of good shots and cannons.

Rescue pots, because he has slipped out of position. And at the end of

this frame they will add up to the same thing, another frame. If you

could play perfect snooker all the time, it would be very boring.

This has been far from boring, it has been very skilful. Using all the

great assets he's got. Keeping this break going.

If he gets a century here, he will be the leading century maker in the

tournament with six. APPLAUSE

And that would be the 60th of the tournament, quite a lot after three

rounds. Didn't have a lot of room there, any

further and he would have been snooker to buy the brown. Looked

like a kick there, but important step for Mark Selby. Break of 99,

leading 6-0. STUDIO: And the youngster won the last frame of the

session as well on the pink in frame eight. He would be mighty relieved

to take the final two and reduced the deficit to just four. I'm sure

he's learned some lessons out there today. Ken and Steve in the studio.

For a long time it looked like he would end up in a worse situation.

Absolutely, to win the final two frames showed a lot of his

character. It will keep him in this match. If you go to 7-1, all lose

all the frames, it's very hard to come back. It has given him a

glimmer. It was a bit after the Lord Mayor's show. He has to do it all

again. It's difficult to keep getting yourself up, particularly

against a tough match player like Mark Selby. Winning those last

frames will give him a glimmer. It's yet another qualifier he is expected

to beat, and he got an almighty fright against Sam Baird in the last

round. Having had the experience of going all the way here, he knows how

to pace himself. Not that you effectively can, because these days

you have to start running as quick as possible, because your

first-round opponent will be tough. But to pace yourself mentally, to

know you are in the quarterfinals. You have had a hard week but you are

still in the event and the quarterfinals is arguably where it

all is darts. For Mark Selby, he has gone out there to play his normal

brand of clinical snooker. Every day is different on the snooker table.

Kyren Wilson will know that but you would like to get off to good start.

Starts are so important, even in a best of 25. A lot of people fancied

a shop in match, thinking Selby has blown hot and cold. He has not been

impressive. Not the Mark Selby of a couple of years ago, but maybe he

needed one of these matches to get himself going again. Sometimes you

will find over the years, previous world champions like Steve or

Stephen Hendry, they have not always been fast starters, building their

momentum through the tournament. That Zig Zag the what he's doing. If

he comes through this match he will be full of confidence into the

semifinals. -- that's exactly what he's doing. It's ladies day here in

Sheffield at the World Championships. You'd know that

because we are all wearing purple. We have two very special ladies here

today, having a knock about. At the table we have Rhiannon Evans, the 11

times women world champion, and the original ladies world champion, Vera

Selby. And I shouldn't tell you this, but she's 85! Incredible.

She's just received an MBE. That was in January, February.

Congratulations. Vera, you are the original women's world champion of

1976, winning again in 1981. What was the women's scene like in those

days for snooker? It was quite healthy. We had women from Canada,

Australia, as well as local, Ireland and England. It was quite healthy,

really. In terms of when you played against the guys, because you played

in quite a lot of the leagues, were you considered a novelty in those

days? Possibly, yes. A freak! I'm sure you gave them a very good game.

Over the years you have seen the men's game develop. How positive

have the women's games become? The very positive. When I first started

they wouldn't let women into some of the clubs. I was even barred from

coming back here. Really Westwood yeah. -- really? I commentated when

Alex Higgins beats Ray Reardon. I have lots of positive comments, but

two that weren't so good. One said to get back in the kitchen, and one

said I was as out of place as mother Superior. Thankfully it's no longer

the case. We are very glad to see you having been rewarded and

recognised for all your efforts, proudly wearing your MBE today. As a

person who has gone on to win this 11 times, how important are

trailblazers like Vera. It's not just now that it's happening, it

happened all those years ago. It's fantastic. If she can't get more

ladies involved, then nobody can. You lost your title after ten times

last year, and you seemed ultra determined on April five to get it

back. You've got to come back, haven't you? It shows how champions

are champions. You don't like losing. Getting the trophy back

meant a lot to me. I'm sure it did. And you had a very good coach, who

sadly died last year. He was teaching me from the beginning,

showing me know emotion. That was important, not getting upset when

you play a bad shot. Put it behind you. You are still playing and

refereeing. I am, yes. Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor were playing an

exhibition a fortnight ago, just before he retired. I know them all

from the old days. I don't know the new guys now! But Steve and Dennis,

I know very well. You have a lifetime playing this game and you

look fantastic on it. May we all look like you at 85. 86! Fantastic.

I was chanted a kind. Please, carry on your game while I get ready. It's

Vera's shot. Just hitting the knuckle. I will let

you carry on. Vera in full flow to mode in the Winter Gardens. And Mark

Williams is also in full float mode. I call him my hero. You couldn't

possibly meet a more down to earth guide and Mark Williams. Probably

the most relaxed player. He just takes his practice came into the

tournament and if it's good enough he wins, if it isn't, he doesn't,

but he doesn't mind. Mark Williams... I love him! He's so calm

and so laid back. If he was more laid-back he would fall over. Always

looks as if the game is so easy to him. Floats about the table. A

little bit mad sometimes. Sometimes you can feel under pressure, but he

looks like he's having a stroll. Very funny, likes the one-liners,

getting involved on social media with a bit of banter with the fans,

which I like as a player. Takes life not too serious, doesn't take his

game to serious, but probably one of the all-time greats in the game.

Great player, but his clothes are not as good at his snooker. The

fashionista who is Mark Williams! Good thing he's a good snooker

player! Because his dress sense is almost nonexistent. Ding Junhui's

sixth match of the championship. He had to come through qualifying after

dramatically falling out of the top 16. Strong winds over Judd Trump in

around two, he's edging closer to a world title, and a career triple

Crown. It's the missing piece of the dig saw for him. They came out for

the first of their three sessions this morning, watched by Peter Ebdon

and John Virgo. We will pick them up in frame three.

COMMENTATOR: Decent pot. But couldn't control the cue ball. He

would have liked a bump on the middle pocket so the cue ball ended

up in the middle of the table, but it didn't. The brown will pot and

there is one loose red. Played with a lot of pace to come

off the two cushions. Played it pretty well. And being glow is no

bad thing because in potting it he can bring other reds into play.

Needs to be careful with his cue ball here, doesn't want to screw off

the reds into the middle pocket. Got into that really well.

We just look at this, the way he comes off the other reds. He has

played that plane ball. Didn't want to be guilty of missing the red. A

trace of left-hand side and he would have been better on the blue than

this. But right in the heart of the pocket. Good shot. Not a bad chance,

this. Played that nicely. After this red,

he has one loose red at the top of the cluster. You feel now is about

the time to start leaving an angle on the black to try to bring most of

the reds into play. But he doesn't have the angle, so looks like he

will not play for the open reds. There is the possibility of the

three reds above the black, one to the right middle, one to the top.

The one at the top is available into both corners. Maybe he's thinking

that once he's potted this red, the one to the left will be available to

the left corner. If you can win a frame without

having to play cannons, because there is always a risk of not being

done anything, then I'm all in favour of that. -- not being on

struck the red into the middle of really well. Quite an acute angle

and he played it with a lot of pace. Had to be absolutely spot on with

his judgment. And he was. Really good effort from Ding. The bottom

red of the cluster should go into the right pocket if he can play a

good positional shot. That looks OK, just. The other thing is, when he

has spotted this, the red above it will be available to the opposite

corner. A pitch straight on the black, has

work to do with the cue ball, forcing it around and missing the

pink. -- a bit straight. In an effort to stun past the pink, he

took the pace out of the cue ball. 52 point lead. Could be end of

break. This is definitely a glimmer of hope for Mark Williams. Decision

time for Ding Junhui. A very thin cut on the red. Wouldn't have any

idea where the cue ball is going. Looks like he's taking it on.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, John, but I don't feel that was the

right shot. Yeah, you are right. He probably looked at it and thought,

if I knocked it in its A-frame winner. But I'm like you, I don't

think it's a shot to play. -- it's a frame-winner.

The red to the side cushion is of no use to mark. Ding Junhui needs red -

colour- red to clinch the frame. It's not going in! The pockets seem

to have shrunk a little this morning.

With this unexpected opportunity, you think Mark Williams will take

this on, but it's by no means a gimme, it's a tough pot.

That's excellent, well played. Yes. And the one thing he is, and I've

always said it, one of the best single ball potters the game has

ever seen, Mark Williams. Would like to be on the red just to the left of

the black. The ball needs to slow up. Just in time.

Like Ding before him in the last frame, he has the only red on the

left-hand cushion to contend with. Has he got the angle to drop this

black in, cannon the red near the cushion, and still be on the outer

red for the right middle? That's what he thinks... And he has played

it nicely. APPLAUSE Well played, he can probably play

the red he can and! -- he can and. Left a nice angle on the black, just

as to roll it in-off the side cushion and kick the ball into play.

Needs to run. Doesn't want to be short. That's careless. So much

margin for error. To not be on the red, it's unforgivable. But at least

if you pot the last ball you get to play the next shot. Back to his

seat, and he will be disappointed. He's not even played a good safety.

It was a good chance, that. It will all add up come the end of this

match. Terrific pot. Ding Junhui is now 27

points in front with 27 remaining. He just needs the colour.

And in goes the brown. Ding Junhui, a 31 point lead with 27 remaining.

So, but for once Duca to type, Ding Junhui should have a 2-1 lead. --

one snooker to time. STUDIO: And he did, and Ding moves 3-2 in front.

It's the Welshman, two points behind.

He would have been bound to port it but he got it too thin. Remarkable.

Left it on. He needs that cue ball to stop short

of the baulk line. It won't. That was a great chance for Ding

Junhui. It has to be said, chances coming thick and fast. Yes, most

unexpected. Both players are leaving

opportunities this morning. He judged that cannon nicely on the

blue. Has a good angle for the red. Apart from that frame that lasted

just U21 minutes, the rest have been quick firing. Apart from that one

that was over 70 minutes... This looks like another one that will be

finished in double quick time. -- 17 minutes. The reds are ideally

situated for a frame-winning contribution.

I have a feeling that that sprung off the cushion. It did. I am just

thinking, it is worrying times for Mark Williams. A series of kicks and

big bounces, playing with a tip he is not absolutely comfortable with.

He is made quite a few misjudgements, especially with side

already this morning. But he is an experienced campaigner. He knows

that there is a long way to go in this match panic should not set in

just yet. He certainly does not look as

relaxed and comfortable at the moment as he has done in the

tournament so far. I don't honestly believe it is just because Ding has

taken a 4-2 lead. As you said, couple of kicks he has had. That one

stopped him in his tracks when he had a frame-winning opportunity. A

couple of bad bounces. They get your confidence.

We talk about Ding Junhui being in the wilderness for quite a while,

but Mark Williams was. And did very well to regain his top 16 place. I

think Mark actually dropped down to somewhere near 47 in the rankings.

To become a top 16 player again after doing that is an incredible

achievement. Ding, as expected, making the most

of this last opportunity. This frame-mac just short of 14

minutes. He was not bothered about the pink. It was well and truly over

long before that. I agree with Peter Ebdon. Slightly worrying times early

in this match for Mark Williams. Ding Junhui leads 4-2.

Ding one frame seven as well with his fourth century break of the

match. The Chinese player looking more and more comfortable at the

Crucible and leading 5-2 as we head into this final frame of the opening

session. Ding Junhui to break.

So, Ding Junhui in the final frame of the first session of this

quarterfinal match gets under way. He could only push nephew was to win

it. Mark will have other ideas, of course. -- he could really push on

if he was to win it. You can always depend on Mark Williams knocking

these long ones in, but at the moment is big problem is that he is

getting chances but not taking them and not scoring.

Not quite hard enough. A couple of reds to the right,... He is playing

one to the right corner. Make tricky by the fact that the blue is so

close to the cue. That was another good pot. He needs to run a bit

further than the middle. He is looking at the pink. It just goes.

Boy, this is tough. A lot tougher than the blue.

Deciding to play the blue. Would have liked the cue ball to be a

little further over. You would normally think he has no problem

reaching this. Mark is quite tall. But he will be concerned with the

yellow. Another tracking pot.

APPLAUSE That was a good shot.

A nice angle on the blue. It is not a good pack to go into because the

pink is slightly separated from the reds. Just played it to try and miss

the pink, it appeared. But it looked like he was just trying to miss the

pink and run into the reds. Anyway, he is out of position, you feel. Has

he spotted a red Eakin pot? -- that he can pot? He did and he is on the

black... Look at his body language. He was smiling. I am not sure if it

was a good smile or a wry smile. It was a good smile. He was on the

black. Well played. Done well to keep this going. It is a big frame

early on in a match for Mark Williams, this. Yes, John. You feel

that Mark Williams has been so attacking in this break and he has

fought himself, right, I am not happy with the way things are going

this morning. I will attack and if there is a ball on, I am going for

it. And so far... It has been an excellent effort to change the

momentum. He needs to fully capitalise now

that he has the opportunity. Yes, absolutely. Just stopped slightly in

his tracks. If he is dead straight on this red to the left,, no

problem. You can drop it in. But this is a delicate shot required. He

was able to get below the centre of the cue ball and stun the red in.

He's going to have to play the cannon year. Always very weary

playing this type of cannon that you don't knock the red to the cushion.

You have to play it a little bit firmer than you think to get the red

to bounce. He has not done that and this red now is very tricky. Yes,

this is missable. He will have to play this dead weight. Perfect.

Excellent shot. APPLAUSE

That was a beautiful Mark Williams for -- floater. He gives the pocket

every chance. But he did not play that well. If you had to be

critical, apart from one or two other mistakes and bad kicks, his

positional side of his game this morning has not been very good. That

was another example. Yes. That has let Mark down this morning

and he will be disappointed. But if he finishes this session 5-3 down, I

don't think he will be feeling quite too bad. No. Let's not forget, that

was a 50 break from nowhere. It is a good start to a frame. But this was

the black. He needed to really stun this in.

And important safety exchange, this, and if Mark Williams gets the next

opportunity, surely he will win the frame. If Ding Junhui gets it, a

chance to go four clear. The reds are nicely spread in the middle of

the table. The colours are out in the open. Even though you have a 50

point lead, it is a dangerous situation. You could clearly hear on

Dings previous safety shot that he got a bad contact. Quite a bad kick.

Fortunately, the cue ball travel s foot to the cushion but it takes

pace out of the red. It would have travelled far that if it had not

been for the heavy contact. -- further.

He needs a good cue ball here. There is potential that he could leave a

red in the middle pocket for Mark Williams. That is not bad. If Mark

Williams could play this red to the left middle, and feel that he

wouldn't leave anything else, knowing Mark, you would take it on.

But I don't think he can play it with that element of no risk. Or can

he? And he would not have been on

anything at the red dropped. Look where the cue ball finish. Just

watch as it runs through. And he has left the chance for Ding Junhui.

What a massive turning point this could be. You get the feeling from

Mark's body language that he feels that the red just turned to the left

towards the near knuckle. Whether it did not, we cannot say for sure but

he wasn't happy with his body language.

I don't think it is just from missing the pot. That is a very good

shot from Ding. When you play that slowly, a finger mark could alter

the line of the red. But he try to play it so he could pot it and not

get into another red and he got nothing. He got very close to the

pot. He misjudged the line of the cue ball. That is very unlike Mark.

He is usually very good at picking out a shot that if he misses, he

does not leave anything. That was a big mistake that could cost in this

frame. As you mention, before Mark made the

shot, it did not look as if the angle was the to play the shot he

was attempting. No. With these reds nicely open in the

middle of the table, I personally would make Ding Junhui slight

favourite to take this last frame of the session and got out of it with a

four frame advantage. Wouldn't think he would be too

interested in playing for the pink here. You will want to concentrate

on a black, getting a nice angle. 2-mac of the reds will go to the

opposite corner from where he is potting the black. Decided to play

for one in the middle. That is OK. But once again, I don't think you

would want to play for the pink. He could tie some of the reds up. Not

now. He has the pink spot. -- he has cleared the pink spot. I think one

of the reds was occupying it somewhat. If he potted the pink

beer, it would have tied things up. But he is a very quick thinker and a

good brain mine comes to these situations. I have always said, and

the pink and black, he is one of the best I have seen. Yes, tremendous

break-builder. He has not been at his best this

morning. But because Mark Williamson has been way below his best, he has

been getting plenty of opportunities. -- Mark Williams has

been. You can't keep giving Ding Junhui, someone offers class,

opportunity after opportunity. So, just three points behind now.

Red, colour, yellow, green, brown and blue would clinch this eighth

frame. That is a strange choice of shot.

You can only assume you're trying to get back up for the blue to make it

easier to get on the yellow. Fortunately for him, he has just a

slight angle on the pink. He was trying to get back up for the blue

here. Did mean to collide with the black but he is OK for the pink. On

it nicely. He is not inch perfect on this yellow.

That positional shot from the red is asking him a question or 2-mac. He

played that nicely. You try to be too clever and hold for the green.

Cued it well. Brown and blue for a four frame advantage.

Well, Mark will be disappointed. But he is a realist. He knows that he

has had his opportunities. You could put it down to a few bad contacts

and the like. The first session goes to Ding Junhui. Another frame in

less than 40 minutes. Quick fire snigger. -- 14 minutes, quick fire

snigger. He waves to the crowd and back to his dressing room. 6-2 in

the first session of the quarterfinal.

It was not vintage from either man. But success rate was low for both

men. Ding Junhui seems to be able to find a way through now and that is

so significant for him. It was evident against Judd Trump mine got

to the closing stages of that match and Judd Trump putting pressure on

him. He responded with some great breaks under pressure. He has been

bereft of confidence in the last 12 months. He has gone off the radar

and that is why he slept outside the top 16 and had to qualify. Maybe it

has done him good. Winning those three matches now, giving him the

confidence he was lacking, he is coming to the Championship under the

radar. No pressure. Nobody expects too much from him. But he is

starting to find his form. Egypt knocking and 50, 60, 70 breaks and

cleaning up when the opportunity presents itself. He is very good at

that. How much of that is because he is doing more comfortable the

Crucible? It has taken ten years to get to this point. The best he has

done here is the semifinal. It takes some players a little bit longer.

You looks more confident. He seems a little bit more relaxed. He is

smiling a bit, interacting with the crowd. We never used to see that

from Ding Junhui. Maybe years more relaxed. But still he is not at his

best. But he is in the quarterfinals and looking good against Mark

Williams. As fore-mac Williams, you never really know whether he is that

bothered or a seething mass of ambition, let's be honest. But do

you believe the believes he can win this title this year? Anybody who

comes to the World Championship as to believe. Mark Williams will

probably say, I don't give myself a chance. "Heidi As a bully. Here's

been there and done it, he has won it a couple of times. He has a great

record here. -- he has won here couple of times. He is a very late

back type of character. But when it comes to the crunch, Mark Williams

will be fighting tooth and nail, no matter who his opponent is, and

giving it 100%. Don't worry about that. I am sure he will. As Mark

Williams played better than Ding Junhui to get to the quarterfinals?

Mark Williams was very impressive in his first couple of matches. But

Ding Junhui has had a tough couple of games. He is scoring a lot better

than Mark Williams. Mark Williams is very good at those scrappy games.

Now one better than him or John Higgins, Mark Selby, to win those

scrappy games. Scoring wise, making the centuries and one frame visits,

Ding Junhui is a lot better in that department and that is exact what

has happened in this fast session. When you look at the plus 50 breaks,

it is 6-2, reflected in the overall frame scores. They will be back this

evening for the second of their sessions. It has been a pretty

eventful afternoon in the Winter Gardens here in Sheffield. We have

quite a number of people lining up to play here and we have been joined

by some of the top female players in the world. They are all supporting

Blue Bed -- Bluebell Woods children's charity. We have a great

reaction to the SLB. She is the original women's world champion.

They are having a few games lining up to play. Good to see them year.

Little bit of a photo opportunity. There is the man who runs the

snigger blog. It is fantastic. -- snooker blog.

We have seen John Higgins got home early from this Championship in

recent years ago on to win. Every time he is got to the quarterfinals,

the last three games, he is gone on to win the title. Here he is once

again in the quarterfinal and this time he plays his great friend and a

man that he has come to regard as something of a mental or. Because he

used to practice with him when he was 15 years old. -- meant. Let's

hear from John and Alan McManus. Floyd Mayweather. From the recent

time watching boxing. Celtic were the first British team to one the

cup in 1966. -- 1967. The Ryder Cup. Other schools had a penalty

opportunity and I was chosen by my school. I wonder the penalty kick

competition. I would love to win the world title again. That would be

amazing. Crucible. Followed closely by golf's, where we played the Irish

Masters. I would have loved to play for Celtic. I have been stopped with

people asking if I still play snooker.

McGuire, he would bring the alcohol. Ricky Walden, he throws a few

shapes. I would make the pockets wait. I

think there are little bit tight just now. -- pockets wider.

I nipped out this morning and got a couple of bits and pieces. Garlic,

chilli, olive oil, white wine, bay leaf, some herbs, Parmesan...

I have been big cooking now for probably at least 15 years. So it

was nice to do some cooking them year. -- down here. I smell garlic

and it feels like being home. That is magic. I love that. I have been

away for quite awhile. I not complaining. A lot of people give

quite a bit to be in my shoes in these next few days, so I appreciate

that. I am quite happy to be here. The disappointing thing, the first

few matches, were stable conditions. I am not going to shirk away from

the fact that the table was very, very difficult to play on. I don't

believe that. I don't think I have ever seen a cushion balance as badly

as that. Laughable. There was one point in the last match and I nearly

started crying. I've never done that before. But I was really, really

down. It was very easy to panic out there. You could be 7-2 up and

panic. That's how difficult it can be a clear. I try to look at the

matches here as a whole. I do try to get caught up in one little

mini-session and whether the go is good or bad. Just try and keep a

good standard the whole way through. Whenever that takes us, that is

cool. I am cool with that. I know what it is going to take to win. I

need to take my chances and play at a high standard. But I have the game

plan. I don't think anyone can teach me too much about the actual game. I

know plenty about it. I feel fresh as a daisy. I actually feel all

right. I would love to go as deep as you can, all the way. That is a long

way away, though. By the time someone gets to the semifinals, you

are halfway through the event. When I served up to John and Stewart

downstairs, I was quite pleased. I don't know if they were giving

little bit when they said it was quite good, but big Stewart had

about five platefuls so I am pretty surely enjoy that. The best part is

the actual cooking. Radio 1, a couple of June... It is two or three

Alastair Cook and to three minutes to eat it. -- two or three minutes

to cook it. Here's an interesting man and he

providing fascinating moments here. He could have brought some of that

food here! Here's a fascinating character. I don't think you can

tell Alan anything about the game. He is such a snooker historian,

aficionado. He lost the game. He has a great all-round game. He is very

tough. I played in so many times here. Through the years, one of the

toughest players you could wish to play. John Higgins would like

playing him because I know that he has a good record against him, Alan,

against John Higgins. It is a very tasty record, appropriately. They

have played one another feed times here and Alan McManus has had the

better of John twice. Not many can say that World Championships. It is

difficult for the two players, when you play someone you know very well

and you have grown up with and practised with and you travel a lot

with. These guys are on the tour together and talk a lot with each

other. So, big followings for Celtic as well. They have a lot of

interests. It is difficult to play someone like that and maybe that is

why John Higgins could struggle. John Higgins is a much more powerful

scorer than Alan McManus and that might be the difference in the

match. But as regards all-round games, John Higgins is learned so

much from Alan McManus all the years. It means a lot to Alan. I

know that. He is on record as saying that this is one of the highlights

of his career, to play John Higgins in a quarterfinal the Crucible. It

will be one for all others enjoy. Steve Davis, this is an afternoon

for the more mature player. Hold on, just trying to get my

breath. I ran across from the Winter Gardens. I am just a bit out of

breath. All of a sudden in the top 16 the

average age is going up. But today this is like the Derby and Joan 's

club. The youngest player here is 37. But in the second part of this

tournament it is all about stamina. I think we are ready, all the

players are there. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the

start of the second set of fascinating quarterfinals. One all

Scottish Derby and on the other side of the Arena one of Asia's binders,

against the man who finally ruled against the rocket. This is date 11

at the Crucible. Please welcome a player making his

first appearance in the quarterfinals for a decade. A UK

championship and Masters finalist and a two-time ranking event winner,

he is one of the sport's most important global ambassadors. From

Hong Kong, here comes Marco Fu. And his opponent, what a night, what

a match, what a display of nerve in the final frame decider against

Ronnie O'Sullivan, his first win in 14 years over the rocket, securing

him a fourth consecutive Crucible quarterfinal. He is right at home

here on the spot was my biggest stage. Please welcome Barry Hawkins.

On table one please welcome a player who first made a Crucible

quarterfinal 21 years ago. This is his fifth in total. The good friend

of Stephen Maguire and Ali Carter. A brilliant run, he is the pride of

Scotland, he is Alan McManus. And his opponent is also one of the

finest sports men his country has ever produced, coming against Ricky

Walden in the second round. This is his 11th Crucible quarterfinal, the

four-time champion of the world, John Higgins.

HAZEL: We can tell you that the Barry Hawkins, Marco Fu match is on

the red button and we will catch up with it later. We are starting with

table one and the fourth meeting at the Crucible between these two great

friends from Glasgow. It is all over to Willie Thorne and Terry

Griffiths. It should be a tasty one. Good afternoon, everybody. The

battle of the Scots. Alan McManus is going to have to up his game. John

Higgins appears to be in very good form. It will be interesting to see

how this pans out. These two have had some very good

battles over the years. It will be tactical I am sure. Higgins will be

the favourite to win this match. But there are no certainties out there.

He struggled a little bit against Ricky Walden in parts, but he did

enough to win. Not too sure whether he can get

through to the red. Alan is struggling a little bit with

the pace. That is twice he has not passed the ball Klein.

APPLAUSE That is a confidence builder for

John. He missed the first long red into

this pocket. A bit too far to make it comfortable on the blue.

I am not sure if he meant to play it that way. If he did, he has been

very unlucky. He has pushed one red out of the way of another one. Can

he get into this red on the right-hand side of the black? Play a

cannon onto the other red. Can you believe that? He has put the

red in the wake of the black now. He could have played its slower or

harder. It is not going to be easy to get onto a red. What John Higgins

has to do in this match, and he is strong favourite, because he has

been playing well this season, is he does not need to get bogged down

playing a tactical game. I expect him to play it a bit more openly

than he would do normally. Alan has not quite settled yet. A

possible 25 frames in this match over three sessions. 28s and one

nine. Well, that was a big ask at that

pace. The faster you deliver the cue,

there is a bigger chance of the white ball going off the line.

REFEREE: Fouled. That was a foul apparently, he touched the green.

He spotted one the other day and it took us three times to look at it.

Clearly not an easy shot to get back to baulk line. He cannot afford to

cannon into any baulk colour. He did not need to bring that that

far over. Normally if the other three reds

were not about, he would be more confident about the red in the

centre. He has had a glance to the red into the left centre.

That is the one place he did not want to hit it. It could slip

through the near knuckle. And also if you hit the near knuckle, you

could get away with it. This is one of the first scoring chances for

Alan McManus. He misjudged that totally. He

misjudged the deflection off the red onto the other one. The players are

reluctant to take the blue on. I don't think you can be John Higgins

if you play negatively all the way through. He has come back for a look

at the blue. There was a bit of clapping on the

other table and it may have disturbed his attention. He looks

like a fish out of water does Alan. It is a long-time city played in the

quarterfinals. Last time he did beat John Higgins in the quarterfinals

when he played him before. Those are the shots you are expected to pot in

the first frame. He has not settled yet.

You never know when you are playing a friend. They have known each other

for years. But it all changes when you go out there.

He has got an option if he wants to screw back to the pink. But the

black is available. He will have to play with a little

bit of stunned just to miss the case on the red.

One minute he is out of position and the next he has got a chance to win

the frame. You do not see John Higgins turning

to many down. That is what he has kept in his career. The older

players tend to get a bit negative. John Higgins has been the same

throughout his career. He wins a frame when he can. He brings out the

balls when he can. He does not smash them up like a man be or Judd Trump.

He has kept his form remarkably well. -- Murphy.

Three more reds to be absolutely certain of taking the frame.

Another good pot. It is always difficult when you go around the

back of the balls like the blue and the brown bear. -- there.

Apparently it is a new set of balls for most matches, I don't know if it

is every match. You know that Alan McManus is going

to carry on, so you need to make sure you get another two reds.

Play the little cannon onto the pink to push the pink to the right-hand

corner. John will not be taking any risks on

this last