Day 12, Quarter-Finals, Morning Session Snooker: World Championship

A big reception for all four players. Some deficits for a couple

of players coming out here this morning, all the more reason to give

them a massive reception. These guys dedicate their lives travelling

round the world spending huge amounts of time away from their

families to get to the very top for this chance to get to the one-table

set-up. They deserve a huge reception, I know you'll oblige,

have a fabulous mummy, were getting to the business end of this

championship and today could be very tasty indeed.

This second session of the quarterfinal is always a moving day,

you've got to get in position to win. So, John Higgins' fourth

century. Brilliant. Absolutely flawless. John Higgins goes further

clear, leading 6-3. You can see his reaction, his

purist, absolutely furious. I thought he was going to at least

give himself a chance to get the blue out. Excellent start by John

Higgins, taking the first two frames.

John Higgins is starting to miss one or two. Well done, a badly needed

frame to stop the rot. He reduces the deficit 7-4.

The old man needs to do a lot to get back into it. Absolutely magnificent

break from John Higgins! 135. He now goes five frames in front.

Showing great character here, Kyren Wilson. He let his head go down a

bit. What a shame, no century but Kyren Wilson will be pretty pleased

with the frame. A great night for John Higgins,

taking a six frame advantage going into the final session.

We had some sound issues from the beginning of the programme,

apologies for that. Let's see the draw. Mark Selby, the defending

champion 6-2 in front against Marco Fu. Ronnie O'Sullivan crashing out,

in danger. And Barry Hawkins is against Stephen Maguire. This is how

airline in out this morning. John Higgins and Kyren Wilson here this

morning. Mark Selby and Marco Fu available on the red button. Peter

Ebdon is beside me, good morning. Let's start with John Higgins. Do

you think he will win today? I don't know, the problems Kyren Wilson had

with his tip have had a major impact. John Higgins is on top form

so Cairo would have been struggling anyway. Not much you can do when

John Higgins is hitting the ball as cleanly as he is. He's the -- one of

the greatest. He did really well at the start of the season, then his

form dipped a little bit, but the top players in the world have a

habit of getting themselves right for the big occasion. And it is all

about timing and John Higgins will be very well prepared. He very

rarely says how well he's playing in practice. He let everybody know.

He's going to get very close. Kyren was in here five minutes ago, he

looks nervous, knowing the exit is nigh, almost. I wouldn't be so sure

about it because he's got the class to compete with John Higgins and if

he can win the first four friends, anything can happen. Mark Selby, is

in complete control? Very tough to beat, great matchplay and Marco has

done tremendously well to come back from 5-0 down. But Marco Fu has had

two exhausting matches before this one which has had an impact on his

performance. We only have so much nervous energy. So he is up against

it, playing the world number one and Mark has been the world number one

for such a long time. He deserves it, he's a great champion, a great

ambassador. He works as hard as anybody in the game. He gets

everything he deserves. There are many people on social media

wondering whether Ronnie O'Sullivan can come back because, let's face

it, the way he played yesterday evening, it looks like he's going

out the Championship. Again, he's the class. If Ronnie goes into one,

you never know. The century Ronnie made in the last frame was

absolutely sublime and he made it in about five or six minutes, it was

magnificent. This morning, it's all about Batman, John Higgins. Four

times world champion at the Crucible. He is looking at his

arena, he wants to get out there and get this done. Peter Ebdon can get

to the commentary box. Let's say good morning to Rob

Walker. Thank you, good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is the

day, we complete the line-up for the semifinals of the Betfred snooker

World Championship. The coveted one-table set-up is sure to get the

pulses racing. We are in for a day of drama here at the Crucible!

Is well come, first of all, a player who has already come from behind

twice this year in Sheffield, 7-1 to Luca, 4-1 to Neil Robertson. This

season's Scottish Open championship, from Hong Kong, here comes Marco Fu!

MUSIC: Superheroes by The Script

And his opponent, a player who has been world number one for over two

years, adding four ranking titles to his collection of this season alone.

Reigning UK champion, defending world champion, here comes the

Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby! MUSIC: eez-eh

by Kasabian And on table two, here comes the

youngest player to have made it through to the Crucible

quarterfinals in each of the last two years, Shanghai Masters champion

in 2015, he made the final in India this season. Under pressure this

morning but determined to show his class because he is the warrior,

Kyren Wilson! MUSIC: See you later

Aligator by Bill Haley And, finally, one of Scotland's

all-time sporting greats, just two frames away from an eight Crucible

semifinal but his first for six years. Winner of 28 ranking crowns,

four times a champion of the world, the Wizard of Wishaw, John Higgins!

So, here we are live on BBC Two for you. John Higgins against Kyren

Wilson in the company of John Virgo and Peter Ebdon.

Thank you, and welcome to the Chris Bell theatre. -- the Crucible

Theatre. Just needing two more frames for a place in the semifinal,

John Higgins. So, no need to tell you what Kyren Wilson needs to do.

He needs a quick start. As you've been saying in the studio, Peter, if

he could win the first four friends, which isn't beyond the realms of

possibility, it would put him back in the match and it would make John

Higgins think a little. Absolutely. Good morning, John and everyone.

This really is a huge task that faces Kyren Wilson this morning. And

John Higgins is in great form. Just looking at his pot success, it

is at 93% again, in that marvellous man she had with Mark Allen, he was

at 94%. So, the levels are high. He called the red much too thick,

that is why he ran into more reds but no harm done, by the look of it.

Could not have played that any better.

It has been a commanding performance so far from John Higgins in this

match. It's almost like it is resistance of the old guard.

It's amazing how John Higgins has rediscovered himself this season.

I thought he caught it too thin but he just found enough. I thought it

was going to stay in the jaws. He will need everything to go his way

this morning, Kyren. I know he has a big future in the

game and he will have many years, you'd have thought, with him being

equal at the top of the game but chances, when they come, you've got

to take them. No good thinking I've got a long career ahead of me.

The big problem is, no matter how good you are, there is only one

World Championship each year. Would we be sitting here in 2017 thinking

that Ding Junhui had not won the World Championship? It is almost

impossible to comprehend. Another one that just caught the jaw

but it dropped. I think when anyone comes along and they are saying he's

going to be a world champion for certain, I always think of Jimmy.

That time, he called the jaw and it didn't go in. He hasn't left

anything, but it is a little bit debilitating when you miss one like

that. You mentioned Jimmy White, it's such

a great testament to Jimmy White's character and mental strength

because losing in six world finals, that would have broken most people

but Jimmy White is not an ordinary person. He is a great champion in

his own right and a great ambassador for snooker. Unbelievable, and the

one thing he has got in common with us, he loves the game. Which is why

he was so pleased to get the wild card to stay on the tour next year.

Kyren does not want to leave free ball. He may well have done.

It is a free ball which John Higgins will gladly accept. It is a straight

brown to the middle and a chance to score.

I've been so impressed with John Higgins so far in this tournament.

He really does look as if he is back to his best. He times the ball so

well. We've spoken about what a great technique he's got. He is long

and smooth. There's probably nobody that times

the ball better. When he is playing well, the balls reach the pocket at

far less pace which makes the pockets bigger.

That was a difficult shot and it went right in the heart of the

pocket. Well played. Yes, how many times do we see those miss? That was

going in, no matter how small the pocket was. That was beautifully

struck. I know we hark back to the match with Mark Allen. Mark Allen

played... Well, apart from the odd bad contact, he didn't do anything

wrong and, yet, John Higgins still beat him 13-9. That really was an

incredible match. Mark Allen played so well, he'd have beaten most other

players in the tournament, the way he played. That's just gone wrong.

He thought the cannon on the red would leave him one to the right

corner. He's got the advantage of a touching ball, so he will go back to

the baulk end. I think when you win a match like that, you come here and

it proves you're playing well, it gives you confidence to go on. I've

always said to people that you don't find your form here. You've got to

bring your game in here and have confidence you're going to play

well. Not to be playing poorly and think, I'm just going to sparkle

when the curtain opens or when you walk down those steps.

It's nestled behind the Greenhill, that's good!

All players and John Higgins will be thinking that was fortunate from

Kyren because the intention is to get the cue ball as tight to the

baulk cushion. REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Has he

left anything on? He has left nothing on. Kyren having replaced

but you have to say if John Higgins can repeat that line with a bit more

pace, it would be the perfect escape.

Very nicely played. Kyren immediately having a look. A

possibility of a plant here. Can he get to it? With the distance between

the two reds, risky. Badly misjudged long pot. Missed it,

ran into the reds, a chance for Kyren.

We haven't seen too many misjudgements from John Higgins in

the whole tournament, let alone in this match.

He didn't play that blew well. Should be more straight on this red

to bonnet through for the black. -- to run it through for the black.

Just got a slight angle on the blue but not the best angle.

He has cued that nicely. Never easy, that, cueing in the jaws of the

pocket. I was surprised he decided to play

off the cushion because if the play the cue ball through two feet, he'd

have had this red straight into the right-hand black pocket and he

could've stayed on the black but he's got to go up for the blue

now... Well, a very unexpected myths. Trying to pinch a little bit

there to hold for the black which, once again, if he had been straight

on the red, wouldn't have had to do anything. That isn't the start he

was looking for or needed in this frame.

It is going to be a big ask for John Higgins to win the frame at this

visit but he is at the table and the way he has been playing, you

wouldn't put it past him. This has been a very stern

examination in this match for Kyren Wilson. Because they don't come much

tougher than John Higgins. But he will learn an awful lot from this

match. He will realise just how tough it is at the top table.

John Higgins has found out what it's like to try to compete at the

biggest stage against one of the greatest of all time, in top form.

He has brought those two reds into play.

He will need at least five of the remaining reds, with colours. It

isn't a formality, as I say. Has to be careful there but I think

he has just about held the cue ball. This black will put him 32 points in

front. He will still be looking for red, colour, red after this.

Deciding to play for one of the awkward reds, such was the angle he

had on the black. Whenever they are tight against the cushion, it makes

the pot so much easier. When he came to the table, I said it

was not an easy run to the line but, once again, he doesn't let you down.

He has missed the red but it doesn't matter because there's no way back

to the table for Kyren Wilson. John Higgins now one frame away from a

place in the semifinal. If there was ever going to be a

comeback, Peter, I think Kyren needed to take advantage of these

first opportunities. Should not be missing reds like that. Or can't

afford to. It is the angle you'd want to punch and go up for the

blue. If you try to hold that and you get some side on, it is easily

missed so I was surprised the way he played it. It must be difficult for

him to think clearly. He must be totally tomorrow I is because John

Higgins has played so well in this match. He has had problems, Kyren

Wilson, and that saps your confidence, it can destroy it

completely, if you lose confidence in your tip because you don't know

how it is going to be reacting. You struggle with your safety, your long

game goes, it is difficult with tip problems. There's enough things

going on in your head when you get here to the Crucible Theatre, the

last thing he needed was a problem with his tip. I feel for him in that

respect. So, Kyren Wilson gets frame 13 under

way. Sorry, frame 18. He probably wishes it was frame 13! He'll be

hoping he can play a few more frames. But his World Championship

hopes are hanging by a thread. Well worth having a go at. Got

nothing to lose, really. You've got to go fish... S. -- you've got to go

for shots. Go out with a bang rather than a whimper. I think John Higgins

thought that was in for a second. Taking his red on. Where's the Red

Bull going? -- Red ball. He could have done with a bit of luck... Just

didn't catch the pocket. He's playing it in the top corner

pocket. That's what, of course, made the blue missable. It's enough to

block the pocket. It's amazing how it is nearly found

its way to that corner pocket, isn't it? At first glance, Kyren has been

very fortunate there. He would have expected to leave a red on, having

missed the blue and gone into the pack of reds. John Higgins has left

a little tester for him, here. The balls open.

This is why John Higgins is such a tough match player. He knows that

he's got Kyren Wilson under tremendous pressure, now and that

Kyren will be looking to perhaps take on shots that maybe he

shouldn't. John Higgins had a choice of long reds, refused both of them.

Played a good safety shot. Kyren is playing safe, quite rightly. That's

a very good safety shot, well played. APPLAUSE

John may be looking to leave the cue ball behind the black, here. That's

OK. Is there a road that goes in the centre? -- a red. John Higgins, did

he deliberately leave this one for Kyren to have a go at? We know how

tough they are into the middle. He may have well left him that attempt.

I remember before your time, actually, Peter, Ray used to do that

with Alex. The reason I say that is it would have been easy for John

Higgins to play that hard and get the cue ball behind the black. So I

feel that he did indeed leave that tempting pot for Kyren into the left

centre, which was a very tough pot. Is John thinking of taking his red

on? Just waiting, I think... Somebody is probably an well. When

they open the doors at the top of the stairs, it lets in the daylight.

I think we've got the thumbs up from the security man at the top. I think

John is just waiting while they sort this out. When they take someone

out, they open the door and you get the daylight come through, which is

obviously very distracting. But while we wait for this... John

Higgins has certainly proved that it's not a young man's game, Peter,

this year. Not when you are as good as John Higgins, certainly. It gives

you a bit of hope for the future. Absolutely. John may be able to play

this into the yellow pocket as a shot to nothing. I thought he could

take that into the yellow pocket and back to the black cushion. If the

red went in, he'd be on the blue. But he played an excellent safety

shot. Kyren Wilson does have a tough read into the right centre, here. --

tough red. It's there. APPLAUSE It was always on the top, but the

pace was perfect. Yes, John, it does give me hope that there might be a

bit of snooker left for me to be honest. What will that home to me

more than anything was being part of the 40th anniversary celebrations.

It was so special to be part of that as a former world champion. I

thought it was time for me to rededicate myself to snooker. I've

had a few other interests in the last few years but you only get out

of this game what you put into it. You do. And it goes so quickly. Time

flies. I mean, 40 years I've been coming here.

You're a long time retired, as they say. Speaking of which, where you a

bit surprised that Stephen Hendrie retired at such a young age? I was.

To be perfectly honest with you. I think the thing is with Steven, he

was such a competitive animal and he wanted to win. When he dropped a few

notches, didn't feel as though he could get it back. Changed to use a

few times. If you're a born winner, you don't remember there's that.

APPLAUSE Kyren Wilson keeps leaving himself

very difficult pots into these middle pockets. He's got another

tough one, here. He is not guaranteed to be on a red unless he

plays it with pace, the red into the right corner. This makes this black

really missable. This time it's just a little bit low. Not the type hit

have gone for. Under the circumstances you'd rather go out

with a bang but a whimper. He's given John Higgins a chance and John

Higgins comes to the table. He was only 24 points behind. Kyren may be

fearing the worst. I think he'll get another shot. How far behind he'll

be, depends what John Higgins makes of this opportunity. Although I said

in the last frame, it's going to be difficult for John Higgins to win

the frame at this visit, but you wouldn't put anything past him. I

did add that caveat! I'm wondering if John Higgins might try to get the

black back into play. No real need to do that of course, because you've

got the blue and pink to work with. He could have got behind the black.

Choosing to play for the pink. And make no mistake about it, John

Higgins will be giving it everything he has got. To win this frame and

match, in this visit. APPLAUSE I'm not certain about the

availability of those two reds that are together immediately to the left

of the pink, they might not be available. Certainly one of the reds

of the two near the left-hand cushion will go, you'd have thought,

to the left corner. He may have to play for one of those, here. He may

have the angle to drop behind them, into the middle. He did. And that's

a much better choice. And once he pots one of these reds, he makes the

other one more available. A bit short on the blue. He's

looking at the pink. I don't know if he's got the potting angle to pot

the blue and carry on to those two reds. He has, I think. It's perfect.

Just carom into those two reds... That surprised me. Obviously, the

top one goes to the left middle. It didn't look as though it did.

I think he could hit enough of it, don't you? Yes, I think he could.

There's an uncharacteristic mistake from John Higgins, especially with

the winning line in sight. It was an uncompromising looking situation

when it came to the table, he wouldn't really have fancied him to

clear up. After just a few shots you thought, this may well be on, now.

So, another chance for Kyren Wilson to get another frame on the board,

here. When you're playing from this situation, you're playing for one

thing. No thought of winning the match, you're playing for pride. May

well leave himself the angle on this next read into the centre, to play

the top spin of the cushion and bring the red on the side cushion

into play. Could be pushing the red over the middle pocket, and should

be on the blue. If it comes off. He may not just have the angle...

Doesn't have the angle to play the shot that Peter suggested.

Thinking back about frames that have gone against Kyren, I remember one

frame in the first session yesterday morning when he had a black similar

to this, just a pot it and be on the yellow to clear up to win. Strangely

enough I was just thinking about the black that he missed with the rest.

Very surprising missed it was and very costly, as it turned out.

Cannon nice and this thread will go past the pink. Good shot. Quick

glance at the scoreboard. 22 points the lead. He couldn't have struck

this any better, what a beautiful positional shot that was. A cracker!

This red to go 28 points in front, with just 27 remaining. The vital

frame ball! How many times do we see it missed? And John Higgins, as we

watch that miss again, circumstances anything is going to be missed by

the young man. That was a pity. John Higgins if he pots this red, gets

position on the collar, this could be frame and match winning

opportunity. -- position on the colour. Good kiss on the ground. Not

really. 26 points behind. 27 remaining.

Well, decided to go for it. But he's left it. That's the thing about John

Higgins. He's still having a word with himself, and he misses a shot.

APPLAUSE He'll get another chance now. Kyren

Wilson, fair play to him, he isn't lying down here. APPLAUSE

It didn't matter about the blue, and John Higgins takes his seat and not

the concession. So Kyren Wilson, as I say, hanging by a thread. Now six

behind a game, 12-6 John Higgins. And there you go, he got to the

quarterfinal last year. I'm certain when he came in as a seeded player

this year, he was really looking forward to it. The tip, as Peter

said, didn't help. But that's the way it goes sometimes. You've just

got to hang in there. Take one frame at a time, that's all you can do.

That is all you can do, John. So, John Higgins breaks off. Frame 19.

Leading 12-6. Just needing one more frame. For a place in the semifinal.

A gain. If you are going to miss those, you

bear on the side of it. You have to take little goals are now, he's only

playing for pride really at the moment, Kyren. Try to take this

match beyond the mid session interval. That would be one goal.

It's unlike John to play safe and catch the blue. Not left a pot on,

easy safety fit Kyren. Good chance to get the cue ball behind the

yellow, swinging round the angles. Not really hit that hard enough. The

cue ball needed to be a bit deeper into the cushion as well, which

means he needed a slightly thicker contact on the red that he played.

That's a little short from John Higgins.

Is Kyren taking this on? He is, and that's an excellent pot. Well

played. APPLAUSE A little flick on the green, there.

As you say, excellent pot. Found a path. He's taking it on...

And played it well. That's OK! It looked like the cue ball was going

up the table, a red came and said, hang on, stop there! He's perfect

from the red. What a shame. I know what he's

feeling. Easy black off the spot. Could have left a bit of a legacy,

even if he'd lost this match, by making the highest break of the

tournament. He had a chance, there. He'll be feeling bad enough as it

is, the way this match has turned out, missing the black like that.

You want a hole to swallow you up. This really has been a baptism of

fire. Kyren Wilson will be back. And he'll be back stronger. He made the

quarterfinals last year, losing to the eventual champion and world

number one Mark Selby. He's had another really stiff and stern

examination, here, from the four-time world champion John

Higgins, one of the greatest match players we've ever seen, in top

form. Kyren will be very, very disappointed with the way he's

played in this match. But it will be tremendous experience for him. It's

hard to think of that when you're out there, watching your opponent

pot the balls that will take him past the winning line. But you've

got to take positives out of everything. If we could all do that

in life, then sometimes when things aren't going too well, you can

remember that hopefully they can turn, and will turn.

And to be perfectly honest it is how defeats and disappointments in life

and the strength we gain from that experience that ultimately shapes us

into becoming the people we were bent to be. Yes. But he gets another

chance, an unexpected one. Unexpected myths from John Higgins

here. -- unexpectedness. He wasn't happy with that. I wonder

how many of those John Higgins misses in a season. He will probably

be losing a little bit of focus. He thinks the match is won and you

wouldn't disagree with him. You've still got to pot the balls.

Played this nicely. He can now play for the black.

So, these reds just above the black, if he can get the majority of them,

he will have another frame on the scoreboard.

It seems to be the middle pockets that are catching both players out

this morning. What a chance he's missed. And that could be his last

one. It's hard to think positive when you're in situations like this.

And John Higgins, after those couple of missed opportunities, that pink

at the last visit that he missed into the middle, he will be wanting

to put it right right now and seal the match at this visit. Just got

the right angle on the blue. These four reds, four blacks, yellow

and green for a place in the semifinal.

I'm just sitting here thinking, John, how many very good players

come into the game and have come into the game down the years, and it

makes me realise and appreciate just how special the top players, like

Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, Steve

Davis have been down the years, the outstanding champions. They do it

year in, year out. It's so difficult to fulfil your potential at the

highest level. I have every respect for these great champions.

Sometimes, John, it's difficult to handle winning, isn't it? It

certainly is, and the trappings that go with it. I think longevity in any

sport is what makes great champions. He doesn't want the case. But

couldn't avoid it. APPLAUSE.

Just struggled its way in. And he's just about on the brown. The pink

mages near the baulk cushion but he doesn't need the pink.

22 points of the lead, 22 points remaining.

In goes the blue, no way back for young Kyren Wilson. He held John

Higgins early on in the match, then he had tip problems, then John

Higgins turned it on. Kyren Wilson, he'll be back, he's got too much

talent not to be blocked John Higgins, marvellous performance. He

produced it against Mark Allen and in this one with a pot success of

92%. He is through to his eighth World Championship semifinal. He

wins 13-6. Kyren Wilson beaten by Mark Selby

last year and there you can see just how much fun John Higgins is having.

He's so settled in Sheffield having fun with somebody he knows in the

crowd. Yes, Maltese George, went to shake his hand and John gave him one

of them. He was delighted and it was a magnificent win against Kyren

Wilson but John Higgins showing his class. We said at the beginning of

the programme John would look to get over the line nice and early. Kyren

was still in the room and you didn't want to make him more nervous but he

isn't really playing well in this match at all. To be perfectly honest

and to be fair with him, when you have tip problems it plays with your

mind because you can't control the cue ball, your long game isn't

there, your safety gayness and there and it really plays on your mind and

there's enough pressure out there especially when you're playing

someone like John Higgins. John will join us for a chat, his way. The

other interesting thing about John Higgins, we've talked to Steve Davis

about this during the match on our show yesterday evening, I remember

being in a news conference a few years ago where John was looking at

the press and thinking I might this pack this in. Here we are, he's in

the semifinal since winning the title in 2011, it's such a

remarkable recovery. He such a remarkable champion because he holds

such high levels for himself. Congratulations, he's here. Here's

your microphone. I said, John was such an outstanding champion, he

holds self to such high levels that when things are not going right, you

beat yourself up, and to be honest the only way to right the wrongs is

to work even harder and I'm sure John has done that. He's hitting the

ball very well, as well as I've seen for a long time and I'm sure you've

put a tremendous amount of work into this tournament. Not really, Peter!

Obviously, a lot of the Scottish boys were down qualifying so only me

and Andy McGill were in Scotland and we played against each other. And

you couldn't wait to come down and play here. You are a natural you

don't need to put the work in? Luckily, I'm playing decent but it

can all go south quickly. I was just saying I remember being in the press

conference a few years ago where you looked absolutely beaten and you

talked about packing it in. The transformation has been incredible,

first semifinal since 2011. Who knows, you could win another title.

Two games away, you've obviously got a chance. Other great players will

be in the semifinal as but you've got a chance. It's great to be down

to the one-table set-up once again and I haven't experienced it since

2011 and Peter will tell you it's the best place to place linker. I'm

so chuffed our have a chance to play that as well. Do you think everybody

has been talking about Mark Selby retaining his title, Ronnie

O'Sullivan getting the title but not many people have been talking about

this fellow winning his fifth world title? I can promise you nobody

wants to be playing John Higgins in top form. Nobody. Simple as that.

Listen, it's the same with all the top players when you hit form.

Players can reel off five or six frames. I fancy I can do that during

this tournament and that is what you need to do to try and win it here.

John, a quick word about Kyren Wilson because at the start of the

championships, Peter and I were chatting on one of our shows where

he talked about he thinks Kyren has the capability to win the title at

the Crucible. Beaten today, lost at this stage to Mark Selby, do you

also share that view? He was unlucky he had some problems. I'm not going

to ask him how his tip is but I could see when it happened, he had a

very small tip anyway. He put a new one on. He had a hole in the tip.

After he miscued, it was a hole and he couldn't continue because

whenever he played with top spin, he would have miscued. I had a quick

glance and it was a very small tip. I think he was bashing it against

the wall to knock it in in sheer frustration! One thing I've always

wanted to ask you, how do you manage to keep so still under pressure? For

all the young players watching out there, I say in commentary if there

was one player you'd look too technically to try and reproduce the

technique, it would be John Higgins, how do you manage to keep so still

under pressure? I don't know. I suppose it's been the way I've

always played. I've always been pretty still on the shot. What

you're feeling inside, it's different, but I've always managed

to keep pretty still. I suppose that is what has saved me so well over

the years. One-table set-up, you're back tomorrow evening what you do

between now and then? Nothing much, get a bit of practice, watch Stephen

and Barry sweat it out in a thriller tonight. And get ready for tomorrow

night. There's been some social media activity this morning. You

won't know this but you walk on to Deacon blue. Ricky Ross doesn't know

you walk on to Dignity. I think he's thinking of royalties. Brilliant

band, one of my favourite song was. No doubt he will wish you all the

best. Congratulations, top stuff. Let's turn our attention to Mark

Selby. Last night he got a lead over Marco Fu. If you were not with us,

here's the recapture. It will be a very interesting first

session, no doubt. Another cut. Over 40 minutes since

he last potted ball. That is nearly embarrassment level

for a professional snooker player. He's really struggling out there.

Mark Selby comfortably in front, 4-0.

Missable but he played it well. So, he's got a frame on the scoreboard!

Inch perfect, wonderful positional shot. Mark Selby, you can see the

fist pump, he was pleased to win the last one to take the overnight

advantage, 6-2. Marco Fu looks exhausted and you can

understand why after that marathon match against Neil Robertson the

night before. Let's join the action in the first frame of this morning's

session. Commentary from Willie Thorne and Stephen Hendry.

Mark Selby has just played a careless shot. He may be able to cut

this one into the corner. Maybe he feels a little bit too

close to the red to play for the baulk colour. He may attempt this

pot into the corner to end the stalemate.

Not inspiring much confidence to Mr pot from that distance. -- to miss a

pot. Lovely cueing. It's always nice to

get one of them in early. Medium length. It isn't a great opportunity

where the black is. Didn't get the side cue-mac on the

cue ball, straight on the blue. That pink isn't on so he will have

to play for the blue. With the black being slightly out of commission,

and the pink, too, it is the blue. One of those cannons where you don't

have to played firm because as you can see there's one little spring

towards the right-hand corner and the left-hand corner. So he has a

choice of roads. -- a choice of reds.

Unfortunately for him, he has finished hampered!

The five reds around the black spot look very awkward.

That isn't the best positional shot he has ever played.

He starts matches so well. Same match, new day. He starts sessions

so sharp straight away. He puts his opponent on the back

foot immediately. It is all about stamping your authority on matches

straight away and Mark Selby does that as well as anybody, if not

better. This game is all about fractions. If the cue ball had

travelled another two inches, it would have been so easy to play for

the reds below the pink. But he is almost straight on this pink.

He needed to power here. Just about to the inch.

It has been hard work, this break. Again, looks to be dead straight. He

was quite angry, Stephen, when he potted that red. He slapped his

thigh. He was so disgruntled he didn't get topside of the blue.

This time, absolutely perfect on the blue.

He hasn't had the cue ball on a string but he has been awesome. He

has refused to miss, refused to give up the table. This white has done

some milage in this break but the potting has been absolutely

brilliant. He needed to make sure the cue ball

came off the cushion. This has been one of the best frames of the

tournament. Like the Sea of Galilee, he pushed

the red out of the way, now the three reds are perfect and this is

the first time he has had the balls in open play and you'd be amazed if

he didn't make this century. That was a shame. I thought we were

going to see a century break. But it was a magnificent break of 78 by

Mark Selby, who has now opened a five frame gap.

He is in complete control against Marco Fu leading 8-2. That matches

live right now. If you want to watch it, it's available on the BBC sport

up and the website. You won't miss a shot with us. If you just tuning in,

John Higgins, first man through to the semifinal, scene of Kyren

Wilson. He led overnight and made very quick work of it. His first

semifinal since 2011, when he went on to win the title. I'm wondering

whether that is an omen for the rest of the players. John Higgins is

playing well enough to win. He's in great form, his technique holds up

under pressure, he's got the experience and class. There's every

chance of him winning this year. What about Ronnie O'Sullivan,

practising behind us, got a big task on his hands, how he feeling? With

Ronnie, if he goes into one, you just never know. I heard you

congratulating Ronnie on the break last night on the final frame. If he

plays like that then Ding is in trouble and Swanny fans will get

what they want. It was a great response from Ronnie, he didn't take

his chance earlier and it was a brilliant break in the final frame

and as Ding has said before, especially when Ronnie won eight

tournament, he maximum in the last frame, Ding was quoted at as saying

one can make a maximum whenever he wants so he knows he's playing one

of the greatest players of all time. Peter, thank you, we've enjoyed your

company. That is it from us for now but Hazel is back 1pm. See you then.

Once again, your champion, Mark Selby!

MUSIC: Pure And Simple by Hear'Say It's like old times!

You look fantastic! I look ridiculous.