Day 13, Semi-Finals, Afternoon Session Snooker: World Championship

For 12 days, there were two stages upon which the Crucible drummer was

played, but in an overnight production worthy of applause in

itself, now there is one. One table, one title to be claimed upon it. --

Crucible drama. What memories we have, going back 40 years of this

exact setup in the Crucible Theatre. All eyes on one table. 12 foot 6',

72 square feet, 6.6 metres squared, if you prefer. It is not the biggest

playing surface in world sport, but it is certainly the most intimate,

and over the next five days a possible 101 frames of snooker will

be played upon this, until we find our champion on Monday night.

Welcome to the semifinals of the bet Fred World Championships. ANNOUNCER:

Enter the Dragon, Ding Junhui. Congratulations to Ding Junhui, you

have beaten your idle and you are through to the semifinal. Almost

flawless snooker from the current world champion and he will be so

hard to beat. What a performance from John Higgins, he is through to

his eighth World Championships any final. Barry Hawkins absolutely

delighted to get into his fourth semifinal in five years. Well, if

ever there was a venue within a venue, it is this place, the

Crucible Theatre. Almost two venues within the one tournament, this is

when the real business starts. Can you remember your first final here,

1990? I'm surprised you can't remember the what happened? I.

People felt to realise you are only just over the tip of halfway, you

have played 36 frames to get here and if you want you have to play

another 35. Yes, I always considered the first three rounds to be almost

qualifying rounds. This is the biggest test was that are you

jealous? Extremely. Me too. Such a long two weeks, two and a

half weeks, so do try and maintain that form from start to finish is

very difficult. The way I have performed at the moment is probably

the perfect way if I could have planned it, just to play really good

match snooker the first two matches and then sort of pick-up as you go

along, as I did in the game against Marco. I just hope I haven't peaked

too soon. I am looking forward to that game against Mark Selby. The

thing is, he is a top player, he has been number one for a few years.

Everything is stronger than before. I will just play my game so that

will be OK. It will be a tough game against Ding, played him last time

in the final, playing him again at the one-table set-up, it will a

fantastic occasion. He is one of the greats of our game. The only thing

missing for him is the, world champion. It doesn't feel this time

a lot of pressure. When I'm playing well, it doesn't feel like that. If

you're not playing good, then you may be thing to much. Having all

that pressure from his country on his shoulders as well is not easy.

The game is hard enough without that. It has been difficult for him

but he is more than capable of winning any tournament he plays in

now, and especially this one. World number one Mark Selby and number

four, Ding Junhui, only seem to me these days on the grandest

occasions. The last three matches have all been finals, most notably

right here at the Crucible 12 months ago. But since then, he has claimed

the Shanghai Masters last September, but the following month he was

swamped by Selby Tanak -- he was swamped by Selby 10-1. Now they

cross queues again. Very much looking forward to seeing them doing

so, John Virgo and Ken Dougherty. They met in this final last year. In

what respects has things changed to them in the past 12 months? I think

Mark Selby has come in here and has proven he is the world number one by

a long way. You can't dispute that. The form he has shown has been

tremendous. What has happened to Ding Junhui, we know what happened

to running O'Sullivan all those years ago, and he has been his

nemesis of many years. All the people in China base Ding's

performances on whether he can beat Ronnie O'Sullivan, and the fact he

has now beaten him gives him a bit of impetus going in here, but what

he can't afford to do, which he did in the final last year, lose the

first six frames, because Mark Selby is looking rock solid. He sure does.

Mark Selby was in the arena earlier this morning with his wife and

daughter, and his great friend and wing man Bobby, and they looked so

relaxed actually. But John makes a very good point, Ding will

appreciate the importance of his start and I wonder how much that win

over Ronnie will give him the Phillips said he might need today?

That is the interesting question, plus the fact he doesn't have a

hangover from yesterday. He climbed Everest against a O'Sullivan and he

has to do it again against Selby. There will be a completely different

proposition. Because of the scars from last year's final as well. It

will be interesting to see what confidence Ding derived from that

match. He came into the studio and he was very happy, very relaxed, and

his snooker has been fantastic. He is one of the best scorers in the

business and Mark Selby has been growing into this tournament,

getting better and better each round. This is going to be a

cracking match. As for economy of effort, does it have any bearing as

we come into the semifinal? I don't think so. These guys practice three

or four hours a day. I don't think that will really affect him. I think

Ding should be on a high. Maybe we should give Terry Griffiths a bit of

credit here. Absolutely. Ding used to sit there in his chair looking

like he was beaten, and Terry has got into his head and made him come

you know, fight. In fact, Terry has two semifinalists here with Barry

Hawkins in the other semifinal. A possible 33 frames to play over four

sessions. Rob Walker just has two introductions to make, but as usual

he will make them count. ANNOUNCER: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,

just the one table, such a special time here at the Crucible.

Semifinals at the bet Fred World Snooker Championship, barely gets

any better. What a match to start things off, it is a rerun of last

year's final. CHEERING Please welcome, the man who has,

without doubt, inspired a generation of snooker fans and players back

home. He is emerging for his third Crucible semifinal, after one of the

most significant victories of his career yesterday. He was absolutely

brilliant against the Rocket. He is a national hero back home and there

will be millions watching this live. So, enter the Dragon, Ding Junhui!

CHEERING And, his opponent, the undisputed

world number one for the last two years. The secured his fifth

Crucible semifinal yesterday with a display of absolutely sublime

snooker. Arguably the best we have seen from him here at the Crucible.

Reigning UK champion, defending world champion, the Jester from

Leicester, Mark Selby! CHEERING So the opening frames to play this

afternoon in our first semifinal, a three-day drama featuring Mark Selby

and Ding Junhui gets underway. Ken and John, these are the moments they

play for. COMMENTATOR: Yes, they certainly

are, the one-table situation at the Crucible Theatre. No better venue in

snooker. And the atmosphere, you can just feel it, Ken, can't you, sort

of that tenseness there. Yes, absolutely fantastic, John. Thank

you, ladies and gentlemen, the first frame. Ding Junhui the break. Nice

round of applause. Ding Junhui gets this semifinal off

and running. And we will just have a look at if you stats, just to give

you a flavour of it. Look at that, tournament pot success, 92% for both

players. Long pot success, I'm looking about mid-60s. Mark Selby

gets there, Ding Junhui just lightly below. Please make sure your phones

are switched off. There is way is one phone, isn't there? Tournament

success, it should be 90%, but they are such good long potters, these

players, so it puts pressure on. And the Huybrechts. -- the high breaks.

That doesn't tell the full story because that final session yesterday

that Mark Selby played was just as good as snooker as you will ever see

at the World Championship. And someone once said that the World

Championship was a marathon of the mind. It is certainly a marathon,

because this is the 500th frame being played in this year's that

Fred World Championship. APPLAUSE Good safety from Mark.

Certainly doesn't look to be an easy path back Selby to baulk, for Ding

Junhui. He has played the containing safety. Well, it's not too bad. It's

not brilliant, but he's not left anything easy. And, from that

situation, that's all he could hope for.

Another excellent links with the cue ball. -- excellent links with the

cue ball. Needed a thin contact. Foul. Mark

Selby, four. Well, there is a pot on here. If there is a cat pillow, I

think Mark would take it on, but that red near the top cushion, is a

danger. Not much of a gap here. He needs to be very accurate with this

one. Must be going for the pot, otherwise he would have had it

replaced. APPLAUSE Good shot. Played it positively,

stays short of the baulk line. Yes, nice pot, wasn't it? And he is

nicely on green or yellow here. The red above the black, he will be

trying to get on that red, into the left-hand corner pocket. There are a

couple of other roads available as well, but that would flee Orton free

up the black -- a couple of other reds.

I think he would have loved to have been a little bit straighter on this

red, on the black and closer to it, the screw back into the same pocket.

But he looks to have played that inch perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Slight problem here, in potting this black, he is just going to nudge the

red. He may just leave himself one of the reds into the cushion. He did

avoid the kiss, but it's not good, this. I think he was expecting a

little kiss, wasn't it, John? Didn't get it. He is going to come around

and have a look at the pack. He needs to hit the pink ear, full

ball. It is a little bit away from the red as well, he has just got to

hit it absolutely perfect. Oh, how is his luck here? I think he has got

one to the left corner, but he has hit the pink absolutely perfect. You

couldn't have fitted better than that. But he just caught this red,

you see, just nudged the cue ball of the table. But he's OK, he can just

cue passed the pink. -- you couldn't have hit it better than that.

He gets to 70 points in this frame, snookers will be required. Another

40 needed. And, at the moment, Mark Selby has

got the cue ball on a string. The table looks to be playing lovely and

quick. And those few frames yesterday in that session of snooker

against Marco Fu, some of the breaks he made, particularly the 143, was

quite incredible, one of the best breaks I think we've ever seen in

these championships. We have been blessed with a lot of great

memories, but that 143 yesterday, some of the pots were just the sign

of a guy with plenty of confidence, in complete control. Yeah, and the

belief that he can pot anything. And, of course, if you've got great

belief in your potting ability, you can always concentrate that little

bit more on controlling the cue ball. Getting into position. This is

a delicate little shot, this, to drop this in, and I presume he will

try to hold for the black in the opposite corner.

Played at too delicately. It was a delicate one.

It is hard to believe that he could hit it that softly with the long

extension. Because the black didn't go into the

middle of the pocket, he didn't get the desired connection on that red.

He tried to stun into that red full ball. You can see he hit a half

ball, slightly out of position now. He can pot this red, but the cue

ball is running into the red just below it, so he has got to rely on a

little bit of luck, here. Two for the price of one. There you go. But,

in all fairness, he will be pleased to see that red that went along the

top cushion and dropped in, because he's not really on a colour, and if

that red had stayed over a corner pocket, which it could have done, he

would have had no safety. Well, he's got to be very careful here. He's

got to find the cue ball back to. He's digging down. His play that

pretty well. Good start from Mark Selby. He'd be disappointed he

didn't when the final, that visit. Not much Ding Junhui can do here,

but he would like to get this cue ball fightback on this top cushion.

And that's very well played -- tight back on this top cushion. It might

look like a nothing short, but that's given Mark Selby a slight

problem here, to get this safe. I think if you can get the cue ball

up somewhere near the green pocket, it's not straightforward, this, but

anywhere in the vicinity of the green pocket, he may block the red

that's between the ball colours and the blue. That's what he is coming

to have a look at now. But of course with the cue ball in

that area, he is going to leave a straightforward safety shot, left of

the yellow. He is in a bit of a predicament here.

He's gone down the other side. That brown has come to his rescue. It

blocked the path of the red into the red centre. Yes, only just, though.

Played that well, and particularly if he's covered the red to the

middle, with the brown, and the red near the baulk line with the green

committee could not have played that any better. It's advantage Ding in

this safety exchange, no doubt about that. That's Mark's view of those

two reds I was talking about. OK, you can just get past the yellow,

but not much you can do with that red. He is just having a look at

that one. He might try and cut it towards the right centre. It will

certainly pass the red that's closest to the right centre, if he

doesn't pot it direct, it might go in of the red. No, he hasn't had

that too good. He will leave a chance now for Ding Junhui. --

hasn't hit that too good. So Ding's first pot in this

semifinal. A chance that he didn't think he was going to get, when Mark

Selby was in earlier. Yes, and we were talking just before

the match, when they played in last year's final, Ding Junhui lost the

first six frames, and did well to close the gap, but lost because he

just left himself with too much to do, even though this is the first

frame of a best of 33, its massive for Ding Junhui. Because Mark Selby,

when he was in, looked very confident. If Ding Junhui could win

this frame on this visit, it would certainly put a marker down. Yeah,

it's going to be interesting to see how much confidence that fantastic

win against Ronnie O'Sullivan, his hero, in the previous round, what it

will do for Ding Junhui's confidence.

He might go for Brunel, or -- he might go for blue or full colour. --

baulk colour. He didn't play that well but it shouldn't be a problem,

so long as he avoids a kiss on pink or black. He would rather have been

straight on this red. Coming off two cushions, he is striking low, maybe

he can hold. So this is the key shot, and, in all honesty, he's not

perfect on any colour here. He wanted to have good close position

on this last red. He's not certain to get it off the blue. Yes, he

really wanted to be down for brown or green off that red that was close

to the right centre pocket, so he's going to negotiate the cue ball of

this top cushion, side cushion, back beside the red, and he's got into

that too much. Needs to slow up. It's not too bad. So, big shot with

the rest now. I'm just having a look at the stats,

we've got stats for everything in the tournament. Rest pot success,

82%. He could do with this one, could be the frame when. APPLAUSE

In it goes. Perfect on the brown. -- could be the frame-winner. Points

all square. Of this all came about from the

wonderful safety shot. He put Mark Selby in a lot of trouble. It looked

a very simple shot. It was very clever, the way he covered the red

over the right centre, kept the cue ball tight to the baulk cushion, and

he's reaping the rewards now. Mark Selby will be very disappointed,

John. He was in. Should have won the frame from that visit. Just the

blue. APPLAUSE That puts him 18 points in front

with 14 remaining, but not for long. Mark Selby was in, and as Ken said,

he just ran out of position at a vital time. They had a safety

exchange, which Ding Junhui won, which created this opportunity, and

hasn't he taken these well? Wonderful first frame. If the rest

of the match is like that, we're in for a cracker. Ding Junhui wins the

first frame 1-0. APPLAUSE We are in the practice room.

Anything we can help you with, send in your videos or contact us.

Thank you, John. We have got ourselves a ringside seat. This is

where it is all going to happen. We have a fantastic view. A signal from

Ding Junhui, he was bullied in that final, was losing 6-0. He will not

be bullied this time? That was a massive first frame. Fantastic

break. He looked cool as a cucumber. Mark Selby had the air of somebody

who was going to clear the table. The aura he has had all tournament.

Ding hit a fantastic safety shot. This was a simple enough shot but

there was pressure on it. He will do -- remember being 6-0 down last

year. That was magnificent. It really was. Very impressed with that

clearance by Ding Junhui. It looked Serena. Fantastic atmosphere. They

have both been in semifinals. Physically getting used to the

arena? Yeah. There are no sign of nerves.

So, Mark Selby breaks off in this second frame. He will be

disappointed he didn't win the first frame from that first visit. As

Stephen Hendry said in the studio, he did look very calm. He has an

aura about him when he is walking around the table, he looked as if he

is going to clear the table. It didn't work out that way.

The one thing with that kind of shot from Ding Junhui, is he going to

miss it? That why -- that is why I always think 66% is about right for

a long pot success. Ding Junhui is just below that. That would be OK

for me. That type of shot that thing played, not too thin, not too thick.

Wonderful shot. You don't get much better than that. That will improve

his stats. Excellent opening red. Have a look at this. Great cueing.

Is the red to the left of the pink on to the right centre? Not from

that of shot. A little kiss on this red. It is not great.

That is not a bad positional shot, John! Yeah, for a moment it looked

as if he was on nothing. And suddenly this red appeared from

nowhere. Couldn't have hit that any better.

Fantastic shot. Again, pink, full ball, required. He has a look. Not

great. It could have been a lot better. That's a couple of times he

has hit the pink perfect. You always need some luck. You need the black

not to be tied up and a nice straightforward red. He doesn't have

that here. He can cut this red into the corner.

Using a spider. He will have to play a very good shot era. I don't think

you can hold for the black. You have to find the gap to go for a blue or

baulk colour. Very difficult. I don't blame him for not liking this.

But this is the way the modern game is played. You get a chance, you try

to win the frame in one visit. Look at the amount of right-hand side he

is potting on his cue ball. I'm just looking at the red. Would

it not be a better choice to pot it into the right-hand pocket? The fear

is he may leave this red he is playing. No guarantee to be on a

colour here. Well, it's rolled backwards on the

pink. It is not as easy as it looks on your screens. But he can drop it

in. He did well to find the gap using the spider.

He is taking the blue. Watto shot! -- what a shot! It shows the sign of

a very confident player. That was magnificent.

Nice angle on the black. In potting the black he can move the red to the

left of it. That is OK. Now he clears the black

into both pockets. This has been a wonderful start from

both players, John. They looked in fine fettle. -- look. Yes. And at

the moment both players' pot success, 100%. Neither player has

missed a ball yet that they have gone for. A tough school. It is not

often you see that. But doesn't that just some snooker

up? When you are set in your chair, there is nothing you can do about

it. We always say, and it is true, you have no right to reply. Just sit

there and watch it. He has just missed a cannon. Is there a planned

to save him? Fortunate if there is. -- plant. I don't know if you can

make it. There are two plants. There is some distance between these reds.

Yes, he could make it. Now 68 points in front. With 75

remaining. He is only looking for one more red. And it doesn't go? I

don't think that goes. So this frame is not over yet. That is hard to

believe, after playing some in a good shots in this break. Just one

slight lack of concentration when he could have hit this a lot harder.

Just the little kiss on the red has cost him winning the frame in this

visit. He is going to leave a chance for Ding Junhui. OK, it has got to

be a long pot row. But it is a chance he didn't think he was going

to get. He has left a possible pot for a

mark into this right corner. And remember, he only needs the red. The

red will put him 69 points in front, with just 67 remaining.

He has missed one. Now, what can Dean do? -- ding. This red is very

straight. Yes, this was a terrific opening

red. Because he wants to get the cue ball away from the side-cushion, you

have the tendency to pinch a bit. But he made certain of the pot. He

will probably have to cannon into the three reds here. Not too hard.

Yes, that is where he would love to put the cue ball. That is not too

bad. He has not the red towards the right centre. He has put those two

reds into a portable position as well. Yes, and he has got viewpoints

to play with. -- a few points. He will have to concentrate on these

few Mac -- few reds on the black. He has overhead this. He has overhead

that. A little bit of adrenaline there. OK, it may be OK. In potting

this he will run into the other red, which will hold the cue ball at this

end. But he has not fair red close to the side-cushion, not what he

wanted. -- he has knocked a red. 46 behind, 51 remaining. It is not

ideal on this red. He wanted to be a bit straighter and so he could screw

back down for the black. He has to be careful. No. You see, that red

below the black is just in his way slightly. He was concentrating so

much done missing that red and not on the pot itself.

He just needed the red but he deemed it too dangerous to go for. I don't

blame them. He has got a good cue ball. Ding Junhui asked to play a

good safety here. He has to catch this red just right.

He is saved by the blue. He was fortunate there.

Yes, and of course being 46 points in the lead, Mark Selby doesn't

really like the idea of taking this red away from the black because it

is in a safe position. It looks like he is just going to roll the cue

ball down towards this bottom right-hand corner pocket.

Very clever. He didn't want to take the red off the cushion. He wanted

to keep it there. That is his insurance policy. And of course with

the black tide up as well, it doesn't help Ding Junhui's chances.

He could be taking this red on. If he parts the red he is in front by

46. With only 47 remaining. He has drifted by the yellow. It is a good

cue ball. Ding Junhui with a problem. OK, the red in the middle

of the table will pot. Being 46 points behind with only 51

remaining, he needs these high value colours. He could overcome at it.

Played thin. But he has to avoid this red on the left-hand

side-cushion. Hankey did. He played it well. If he misses the yellow,

excellent. The little flick was no harm there.

It must be noticeable in the last frame and in this one, and it is

something Ding Junhui has to do in this match, is compete in the safety

exchanges. And so far he is doing it. I couldn't agree more. He got a

double-kiss but it doesn't make much of a difference. But here, when you

play somebody like Mark Selby, safety has got to be spot on. He is

so clever. He didn't play the pot there. He has hit it too thin. By

getting so close he has left the chance of a pot for Mark. He needs

the red to get to snooker is required. -- snookers.

There may be an opportunity for Ding Junhui. He has not even looked at

it. I would have thought, try to play safe of the red on the black,

bring the black into play. Why not? OK, it's safe enough. But I couldn't

have turned that down, I have to be honest with you. That was a good

opportunity to bring black and red into play. He has played a decent

safety shot there. He has knocked the red into the baulk area. The

brown is kind of blocking it. If he did decide to play the pot, he

could play the run-through, go back down the table and get position on

the blue. But it is such a tough shot. He can roll up to the red

beside the black and knock the red away from the cushion. There is his

view. He is going to do what Ken suggested, roll up to this red. He

played the cushion first. Clever shot. At least he has brought the

black into play. I'm just wondering, Ken, will mark be tempted by a

double? The red on the right-hand cushion. He has not looked at it.

But the only needs the red, remember. He contemplated it but the

fact that that red is tied to the cautioned... Maybe he is looking. He

is looking at doubling this red off the side-cushion into the green

pocket. It is there. It is close, it is very

close! What a shot this is! That is magnificent. Such a clever shot.

Absolutely superb. He is a great cue man. He won the world 8-ball

championship. The frame is well and truly over now. Can he pot the

brown, Cannes the red? He missed the brown. Another very interesting

frame. Ding Junhui looked as if he had a chance. But excellent double

from Mark Selby clinched it. 1-1. I'd tell you what, if it is

going to be like this, fantastic. Bring it on. How close to peak

performance is Mark Selby in this championship? Holed, very. He is

walking around the table with the air of a man who is absolutely

buzzing. If that is the standard we are going to get in two frames, it

has been super. Both players look really sharp. Can you identify with

that peak level? And do you see something of yourself in Mark Selby?

Very much so. I keep try to find reasons why he will not win this and

I can't find one. I commented yesterday on his session, it was

some of the best snooker I had seen. This is a typical Mark Selby shot.

It just clever. It is maybe a two out of 20 shot. We saw a break of

143 yesterday. That is the best break I have seen since I started

working in snooker. Even better than 147. Having made 143 from there was

outstanding. Having done that, how does it make you feel? Just

unbeatable. He has almost an air of the expects to win this. One frame

at peace. Absolutely engrossing. We have one of these situations

where, whoever gets in, you fancy could win the frame in one visit. It

will all be about cue ball control. I don't fancy them missing a pot. It

is about keeping good control of the cue ball. Yeah. I totally agree. And

I agree with the lads in the studio. Both players playing at their peak.

A chance of this long red into the left corner pocket. Hold on... Azi.

The cover? -- has he got the cover? There may be a gap between yellow

and brown. He is on the brown. But no

guarantee. He has to really get into this if he is going to play for

those two reds around the black spot area. The black is out of

commission. The paint is out of commission. Where is the cue ball

going? Oh! He couldn't get into it too much

because of the yellow. He was trying to get this side of the middle

pocket. He was lucky not to go in and off.

Yeah, the fact the cue ball was so close to the cushion made that pot a

little bit more tricky. Playing off these reds will bring

the black into play. He needs some help here. He didn't

expect a kiss onto the second red. He has left this red on. He is not

guaranteed position. The paint is still tied up. The black near the

top-cushion. But he can't play for that. -- the pink is still tied up.

Can he get position? A thin blue. The red to the left of

the pink will be available. But because he can't play for the pink,

he can't play for the black, he will be playing for the blue. If he is

straight enough he can screw direct. If not, he will have two avoid the

red on the left side-cushion. In doing that, he is not on the blue.

Well, not to the middle anyway. He can drop it into this bottom

right-hand corner pocket. The two reds at the bottom of the pack would

go into the corner pocket. A slightly heavy contact. Easy on the

red no? -- is he on the red now? May be another plant. It looks like he

can make it. In hitting that first red onto the second red, the first

one will go into the pack and bring some order into play. This could

work out a treat. APPLAUSE

Nice shot. Needs to get top side with the blue.

He doesn't want to risk playing for the black, but may have no

alternative now. So whenever these are just off the cushion, these are

missable. You've got to be so accurate with the shot. Got to be so

accurate, as I say. In the main, these players make those shots look

so easy but when they are just off the cushion, you just catch the near

jaw, they're not going to drop. Yes, particularly with a bit of pace as

well, which he had to inject into the cue ball to get it out for the

red. Ding trying to bring some reds into play with that red he's got a

nice angle on the black year. Into the pack of roads. Needs a bit of

luck. Didn't get any luck. Looking at the

possibility of playing a double. As I say, this is the modern-day

snooker player, they are looking for a way they can win the frame in one

visit. If this is the only red he can leave, the one he is trying to

double, then fair comment, but if he's going to leave another red,

it's a very risky shot to take on. Taking it on he is. And getting it.

APPLAUSE I am sure when he hit it he didn't

expect it to drop. That little kiss on the red as well,

helped the cue ball, that red into the centre, now a good chance, a

couple of reds close to the thing. He could put the cue ball in an area

here and he could be on a couple of reds.

I think he played for that red. The right middle. But obviously there is

a red below the pink that goes, so maybe he didn't play for that red.

Whatever he played for, he was nicely on that one. Just three

points behind now, with black to come.

He's OK. He would have preferred the red to the right corner, but he's

got the red to the right middle. Looking for another 33 points from

this situation. It will fall nicely for the thing.

But he's going to need four more of these reds to clinch it at this

visit. Three right in the middle of the table shouldn't be a problem. We

saw Mark Selby negotiate a wonderful double two in the frame in his

previous game. Ding Junhui that double could prove the difference.

As John said, doesn't need that red that's close to the left-hand side

cushion. It's the perfect double here. Excellent shot.

He's looking very confident, Ding Junhui, and when he's confident, is

a wonderful player to watch. He's got a lovely touch in and around the

black spot area. He's got great control, hasn't he? Cue ball control

is going to be key, I feel. Average uptime 22 seconds. -- shot time.

Just needs to run a little bit, just a bit short of pace. He's looking

for red cover, and one more red. In fact, two raids, two colours. -- two

reds. APPLAUSE Now it's all about this blue, and

getting on the red. He may have the angle on the blue here, as we watch

that red go in. No, he's screwing for the one on the right-hand side

of the table. Still needs a red and a after this. Played it perfectly.

Wonderful shot. APPLAUSE 31 points the lead, 43 points

remaining at the moment. Now 35 points remaining, and this together

38 points in front. No way back to the table now for

Mark Selby. It has been 60 or above in each frame so far, but this has

been a wonderful break. He's looking very sharp, isn't he,

Ken? He certainly is. Both players have laid down a marker for the rest

of the semifinal, if it's going to continue in this form.

If you people are asking what sort of reaction would we get from Ding

Junhui, after that epic match he had with Ronnie O'Sullivan. I think what

I thought at the time, it just gave him great confidence and a great

boost. A bit short of pace there on the pink, but it doesn't matter.

There is no Centurion. He will try to get on the black, though. Oh,

well, he missed the pink, but doesn't matter. Excellent

contribution, and Ding Junhui looking very sharp. He now leads by

two frames to one. and that is the CV for. One. He got

to the semifinal last year, the only time he has really excelled at the

Crucible. He has looked in good form as we have ever seen this year.

Absolutely forced you would think he a different player, after the

disappointment of last season and of course losing in the final to Mark

Selby last year, but you think he would have taken a lot of positives

from that run to the final, and the experience of it all. Yes, and also

we need to remember he is only 30. It is a learning curve. He had

success at a very young age. Danny Willett with his manager,

chubby Chandler. We always like to see Danny about. He looked as

thrilled as anyone when he put the green jacket on Sergio Garcia. A

wonderful moment. Ring while, that red just past the pink, and now on a

baulk colour. You may elect to play the yellow and play a cannon into

the main bunch because there is only one awkward red to get on. That's

OK. He's got a red into the right corner pocket. That was his

thousandth ball potted. He is 101 behind Ding Junhui, but, as we said

earlier, Ding Junhui has played a few more frames. 16, actually, more

frames. You could say he's had more practice. All will be revealed.

Play that well. It was an excellent shot.

When potting this red, he will open the path of the black into the

pockets. Just three or four loose reds available.

A bit short of pace with the cue ball.

Back in prime position now on the red that's below the pack of reds,

that open into the same pocket with the black is on. He wants to get

into that red. And if he leaves it at a nice angle, which he has done,

you can pot this red now and bring some more reds interplay from the

pack. That's a wonderful shot. Yes, and

that's the way to play, or break-builder. You can leave a red

just below that bunch. He has a bit of work to do with the cue ball.

Maybe there is a red to that cluster. It is one he has played on,

and played inch perfect. Just 25 points required. And he will be at

the snookers required stage. He could play the red to the right

middle, there is a nice angle on that to come down for the black once

again. I don't know if you can lower it through and play for the thing.

He is playing this other one here. He would be running into another

red, so his got to be careful with the cue ball finishes. Watch the

middle pocket. OK, played it confidently, and hitting that red as

he did, he is back in the same in the cue ball was travelling but

looks very straight on this blue. OK, don't expect him to miss this

red but he has just under skewed slightly. Shouldn't cause a problem.

Oh no, it's perfect. This will fit into the three points in front,

still 75 remaining. So looking for one more red and a colour. And again

another 60 plus break. It has been excellent stuff. Perfectly on the

blue. This blue to go 69 points in front with just 67 remaining. In it

goes. Is he on a red? If he is, the chance of seeing the first century

in the semifinal. Now if this cannon goes right, we

could see Mark going on to make a century here. And he has played

well. If this bottom red goes, if not, he has won to the right middle.

He hasn't been out of position once, has he? The way both players are

potting, you don't expect them to miss easy balls. It is all about

controlling the cue ball. He has already made four centuries in the

tournament so far. If you get from this red, you could seen in the five

coming up. A bit short. The red for the century. No! Just a

fraction off. He can't be too disappointed. As Ken said, that

break was exemplary. As they go into the interval, they have given us a

treat for four frames, all square to appease.

The first time that Mark Selby has fallen behind in any of his matches.

He has beaten Marco Fu is radically. Let's get the thoughts of John and

Stephen here. If you are an aspiring player and want to be a

professional, that is the benchmark you have to find and it is very

high. A superb session of the snooker. You can't play at much

higher standard than that. How important Ding Junhui made his

presence felt right from the off? Very much so. He played very well to

beat O'Sullivan. I think he has got to go up a level to win this match.

He has got to virtually not miss at all when he gets in four sessions,

and that is going to be a real test. So far here standing up it, when he

gets in he doesn't look like missing. He has to keep that up

because Selby will keep going. Ding has to find another level for this

match. It is lining up to be a classic if it keeps going like this.

Absolutely. Mark Selby missed a black that was trivial on the top

cushion and has lost position twice, that is why it is 2-2. The standard

is incredibly high. It becomes a mental battle as well, you talk

about keeping your standard survival stop incredibly difficult to

achieve, particularly in a four session match. That is why this

tournament is so difficult, not only this match for four sessions, but

four sessions in the final. It is a massive test of belief, stamina,

concentration, everything. This semifinal, if it give going like

this, then they have to go up a level again for the final. We love

it. It is going to be who is the first here. It is the only place to

be in here as well, because we spent the last 12 days out in the Winter

Gardens, which has been fantastic, but being in here, it does give you

a proper focus. You could hardly breathe, you think you could affect

the outcome of the matches in here. I hope you are enjoying it and

sharing it all with us on the BBC, but you know there is a parallel

championship going on right now in the Winter Gardens. It has been

going on since we got here, and John Parrott still think the could be a

contender. It no, I don't! Hello and welcome to our next

edition of pop quiz with none other than the former world champion, 1991

world champion, Jon Power. APPLAUSE Thank you. -- John Parrott. We have

had some of the new breed of snooker, now the not so new. The

leaderboard, as we look, it is the world number one and current world

champion, Mark Selby. One minute 18 seconds. He won't be getting

threatened. As long as you can beat Barry Hawkins, two minutes 18

seconds. Please. Drum roll, please. Question one, you should know this,

what was the number one record the day you won your Crucible title in

1991. Was it vogue by Madonna, the one and only Chesney Hawkes, your

favourite, or was it the Shoop Shoop song by share? I am going to go for

Cher. Correct, you always like that of Shoop Shoop. That same year, who

won the high break prize, in 1991. It is not a hurricane, but it might

be a... Oh... Jimmy White. Very good. APPLAUSE

I love you, darling. I hope you are as nice to me as I am to you! From

the debut appearance onwards, which player has won the most successive

first-round matches. I certainly wouldn't have known this. Jimmy

White. It is actually your self, John Parrott. Listen, nobody would

have got that right, believe me! LAUGHTER

I didn't! Who contested the quickest ever match at the Crucible. Tullo

the quickest players that ever played the game. Tony Trego. Yes.

Who is the second fastest? Ronnie O'Sullivan. Very good. I love him.

The only question I have got wrong is my own! Weir in last year's World

Championship, who knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan, 13-12. Barry Hawkins?

Very, very good! APPLAUSE I have for question so I can take

four reds off. That one. That one, and maybe one other in the middle.

Good choice. So my time starts... As soon as you strike the cue ball. As

John Virgo would say, pot as many balls as you can. He is off to a

good start. Good choice. Hey, that wasn't bad. Very, very good. I

haven't seen in this quick in a long, long time. Very, very good."

Of the cue ball, and he's not on a cushion, believe it or not. Thanks.

They don't call him Cushy Parr for nothing, you know. 30 seconds, this

is good. I cracked up, it was the wrong ball. It's all gone. Look at

this. Cagey. Cagey parrot. 50 seconds, you're doing well, don't

panic! One good pot. Now, I need the rest! Roll it, you are only on when

it. Quick, go. No, I don't want to do that! It has all gone wrong! Oh

no, what's he doing? One minute 20, come on. What have I done? You are

doing OK. You are definitely going to finish ahead of Barry Hawkins and

Steve Davis. It looks like. Quickly! APPLAUSE

Very, very good! And the time is one minute 35

seconds. That's OK. I am the fifth man who played safe on him say it --

the first man who played safe on himself on the last red. LAUGHTER

And right now, here's how it stands. World number one Mark Selby still

out in front, nine seconds ahead of Marco Fu. Respectable time from John

Parrott, middle of the pack really, I think he would say. The only

player who could upset the standings is our last competitor, the 11 times

women's world champion, Rhiannon Evans, as pot quiz comes down to the

wire. Looking forward to seeing that. We have had some terrific

feedback from you about a feature we have been running a couple of times

actually, about the amazing table footage. Peter Godwin and his team

ready to this arena for the championship, and last night they

were up till six o'clock in the morning, moving one table out,

moving the main match centre into the centre, and Rikl thing it. --

re-clothing it. We will give you the insiders guide to the equipment that

will win these guys a title tomorrow night. The queues. I go to the

timber yards with large stocks of ash and maple, and I come away with

just a little pile. I'm looking for the colour, the grain in the wood,

the density and the wait. From there, it will become a square

like this, and you can see then where the grain's going on the word.

I'll then look at each one. If there are any knots or blemishes, we can

discard them at that stage, and then we start the rolling process from

there. We will leave the square is for a couple of months, and then we

take it down to an oversize, and then leave that for at least a

month. From there we take it down again to the mid-size, leave it

again, and then from there to an oversize to finish. We then weigh

the shaft to see what the wait is, because there can be quite a

variation, with the densities of wood. Then I will check it over,

decide on the grain. Depending on what lengthy cue will be. I will

then look down to see what the size someone once, however they wanted,

what length they want, and I will just find, basically, the best one

that will suit that. That then becomes the shaft for that

particular order, and then it will then go through splicing and things

like that. And the jihad is a natural weight to

the cue. So basically we plane it down. -- the ebony. Then it goes to

a tapered wedge. The ebony is glued onto those two sides. And from there

we then plane that in by hand. Gibbon turning that. As you can see,

the points are starting to develop from there. You plane that in. Be

careful not to take too much of any one place. It is a case of keep

checking that. Quite a bit of planning. It will end up looking

like this, with the nice distinctive points. And hopefully a line that is

in line with the shaft. We are going to inlay some decoration here. We

have 20 different woods we can use. That will be glued onto there. To

give it an extra feature, we have used a sandwich of veneers, thin

pieces of wood. These are able. This is a stained sycamore to give a

black line. The cue is then cut to length. The reason for this is

twofold. One, it holds the wood together. It gets a battering with

hitting the ball is. It stops it from splitting. When it is on the

cue, it gives it a nice solid base to dilute the tip onto. Once the

Farrell is on, the shaft is planed in and then it goes through sanding

operations. It needs eight different sanding operations to get it into

the silky smooth finish that is ready for the final finishing. When

we have done the final sanding on the cue, the tip goes on. It is

important that you level the top of the Farrell at the back of the tip

and dome it to its final shape. The cue then gets its oil finish, which

is a few coats of linseed oil that we put on there. That seals the

shaft and protected from the elements. It also has the effect of

enhancing the grain and bringing out the natural colours within the wood

and the nice grain patter ands appear. The final part is putting

the flat bottom. It is traditional to have the flap. You can put a low

go in. The final touch is dropping in the logo.

I think John Parris has about 60%? I'm sure I heard of that. That is

quite a large percentage of top snooker players. He is widely

regarded as the best cue maker in the business. How many cues would

you go through in a lifetime? Hopefully one. A snooker cue is a

very personal thing. My own cue was a rubbish cue. I bought it when I

was 12 or 13 and use that my whole career until it got smashed on an

aeroplane. I could never replace it. Hopefully you go through with one

cue your whole life. A few of the players tend to tinker. John Higgins

fingered a little bit. Maybe Judd Trump is thinking of actually

changing his. What promptss changes? Is it easier to change your game

than it is your cue, is that more advisable? My own coach never liked

the cue I was using because it didn't have enough power, he said.

Some players might want to change their game. They want to play more

shots. A stronger bit of wood will give you that cue power. Some

players might want to change from a bigger tip Lewis Moore tip, or vice

versa. It is not advisable to tinker. You never stop when you

start. The flat piece on the butt of the cue, you always liked that but

some players don't? Some players like it round. I was like the flat.

I used to like to feel it when I delivered the cue. It is purely

preference. Did that help you line up? I just feel comfortable having

that on the palm of my hand. It is preference. I did mention the table

fitters. One of the guys who probably has not had a great deal of

sleep last night is Eugene James, let's go behind the scenes with him.

My name is Eugene James. My job is a snooker table fitter. I have been

coming to the Crucible for 30 years. It is magic. It's great. When you

have been to all the other venues all over the world, this one is

definitely special. When we service the tables during the tournament,

people are right behind you and it is scary sometimes. They think that

make you think they are talking about you and they are not, really.

They are not interested in you. You only see two tables at most on the

TV. There is more going on. If you have -- you have a table in the Cue

Zone in the Winter Gardens. You also practice tables. That keeps us busy.

The main thing is making sure you keep the table level and clean. And

also fighting the elements. Letting moisture into the cloth and the

table and the slate. It is all natural materials. As the years have

gone by, things have got more technical. We have added extra

things, we have added heaters, static controls to stop kicks. When

the weather gets bad, it's getting to the table. There is not a logic

can do. You just keep brushing, ironing, try to adjust the

temperature. It's very hard. Each day you will get VIPs come in. You

get a lot of people coming in to look at the tables. Sit down and

have their pictures taken. All of these people are constantly walking

around. It makes the table move. They are not allowed to touch the

table. We sit there like Bulldogs to make sure they go nowhere near. It

is a long haul, a long night. The biggest problem is time. Because a

snooker table likes two or three days to settle improperly. -- to

settle improperly. When you see the great matches on the table, I don't

think a lot of people appreciate how hard we work and what we put into

it. I think it is just the satisfaction that you have seen a

great game. That is the satisfaction you get from it. I would probably

walk around and nobody would know who I am in a sense. I'm the quiet

person behind the scenes. But yeah, I am proud of it. Proud of what I

have put into it. It's just the finished article you get, a

fantastic tournament, year after year.

You don't walk on the grass at Wimbledon, do you? You don't touch

the table here. Otherwise Eugene and the boys will be onto you. But you

can in the practice room. John is there now. Perhaps there is nothing

wrong with your cue, but John, help us. We have had some fantastic

responses. Nate asks, what is the difference between running side and

Czech side? When the cue ball makes contact with the cushion, which

weighs it going? I'm going to play the green. If I wanted to widen the

angle, if you put some extra side on, that is running side. It is

going right and coming off white. You play the green like that, screw

back and widen the angle. It is running the way the ball was

naturally going. Conversely, if you are playing the shot there and you

are on the brown and you try to come back to hold the lab brown, you

would go the other side. Because you are putting it left-hand side, it

and bring it back. You would get on the left-hand side of the cue ball,

play it through, and the quite checks itself up and comes back and

nice and straight towards the red. That one back there for the Czech

side, running side down the table. Adam asks about playing screw shots.

He can't get any power on the cue ball or Mikey scuffs the white. What

you have to do, naturally your bridge hand is a certain height.

Just drop it down slightly so you can go lower down the cue ball.

Don't be frightened. What you are trying to do is you are trying to

gather the white... Don't be afraid to come back nice

and smooth, try to imagine you are your at it through the cue ball and

trying to hit the red. Nice and smooth, threw the ball, and screw it

back like that. And this one, the final one, comes from Billy. He

says, sometimes I struggle with how to judge shots at an angle. This is

probably the best piece of advice amateurs can have, getting the angle

right for potting a ball. We have a blue in the bog area. If you're cue

ball was here and you are trying to pot that blew in the corner pocket,

basically everybody knows when -- what a plant is. Movies out of the

way. That applies to every single pot on the table, whether it is here

or there. You will see players walking around the table, they will

have a look to see the angle of the pot. They are trying to visualise

that cue ball being where the yellow is. When you are in the club, try

this next time. But a bowl down there, get lined up. And say, I'm

going to pot this. Get him to play the yellow out of the way when you

are playing and you should pot the blue in the middle pocket. Every

single one of those, it is a plant, that is what you are thinking about.

Thank you very much, John. He has not lost it, as he? He was

impressive. He did ever so well. We didn't see where the cue ball ended

up though! Good camerawork. Two frames each.

We return to Ken and John. So the mid-session interval over. Ding

Junhui gets the fifth frame under way. The match time coming up to one

hour and five minutes. It has been quickfire.

100% pot success after the first couple of friends was never going to

last. -- frames. The safety play from both players has improved. 88%

each. That is a very poor safety shot from Mark Selby. Long pot

success... Ding Junhui has not been knocking too many long ones in.

Quite surprised. I'm sure that will improve. He is normally such a good

long potter. The Huybrechts statistic has been very impressive.

Ding has made nine centuries in this championship so far. Well, Mark

Selby played a very poor safety shot. But it is the 60s and 70s that

have been going in. Mark played a very poor safety shot, didn't leave

anything. And Ding Junhui has followed suit. You feel with your

hand on the table. He is looking at this part. It is straight. He will

have to play a lot of pace to go back for a blue or baulk colours.

This pot is very difficult. You have to be so accurate. Just like that.

He certainly got hold of that. What's the cue ball. It stops.

Almost like a dragster effect. Great camera angle. Nicely on yellow or

brown. I'm just wondering whether that read to the right of the black

will pot into this left-hand corner pocket. -- red. He is going into

them. Obviously it doesn't. He didn't mean that. He won't be taking

it back. The red doesn't pot into the same

pocket as the black. He may have to negotiate a little cannon on that

red. I'm not quite sure where he is got the perfect angle here. He would

like to have been a bit straighter with the cue ball.

He wanted the cannon body was not straight enough the black. The red

he is closest to does go to the far left corner.

Right in the heart of the pocket. Has he got an angle on the blue? He

would like one. He has looked at the angle on the blue and looked at what

reds available. He is not nicely on the blue. He is on the yellow.

Playing the yellow, he may decide to play the cannon with pace.

He never really got the pace that he felt was required. Does this red go?

It must do. That's amazing. Touching ball. As long as the red he is

touching doesn't move. It looked as though it was fine but he flicked

the other red and I think that has ruined his position. That is the end

of the break. As I said earlier, Ken, that is the only way you can

see him breaking down. Both players. Yeah. Good safety low. -- good

safety. He caught that much too thick. This

is a chance for Ding Junhui. A straight red to the right corner.

Nothing to do with the cue ball to be on the black. He needs to knock

this red in. His long pot success, he is one out of three at the

moment. He would love this to be two out of four.

He has feathered and touched the White with the tip of the cue! It

might not be that funny. Didn't hold the cue ball.

Desperately looking to cf the black goes to the left middle. I don't

think it does. -- to the left. No. He is having to talking behind

it. -- going behind it. He will be annoyed with themselves there. --

himself. If Ding Junhui can nestle in those

two red, if he could come of the one caution and nestle into those reds

below the pink, you would think it would be safe enough. If you can't

get to the left-hand side-cushion, he has got a problem. That is the

shot you are talking about, John. It has to be dead weight. If it slides

away from those couple of reds next to the pink, he could have a red to

the right centre or even the left-hand corner pocket. That looks

to be played pretty well. I don't think he is on that red. That is OK.

I thought he was in trouble but it was a natural one-cushion escape. As

long as he got the pace right, which he did. I've not seen Ding do that

before, feathery cue ball. It's not often you see a player do that. He

might do it in practice a little bit. Just touch did. It was nice to

see him smile. I don't think it is something you would've seen few

seasons ago. Which tells me he is comfortable in his own skin and

feeling at one with himself. I know I would have been smiling! But it

didn't cost him. It only cost him four points for the foul and the 1.4

the red. -- one point four the red. Very hard to see the funny side of

it. But he did. And that's why, of course, that we say the referees do

a great job, because you have to be on the ball all the time. Brendan

Moore spotted it. I have no doubt that Ding Junhui would have declared

it. But he was right on the spot. They don't get a chance to sit down

during these matches. Brendan Moore is a local lad as well, from the

Sheffield area. A proud Sheffield man. One of the top referees we have

now. I don't see any EC safety. Normally

when you don't see an easy safety, you look at the modern-day players

and they try to pop their way out of trouble. But it is risky. If the

pink was available he could stun the red in. There are a couple of reds

available, one to the left corner, want to the right corner. -- one.

In the end he went for the pot. You just get the feeling if he had

parted the red in the middle of the pocket, I don't think he would have

been on the black. -- potted. There was no other shot you could see to

get it safe. He has left a red to the left middle. In potting this,

screw off the red to the right of it. If he gets it, he could well be

on the black. I think he may have left this red.

It may cut back into the left middle. It is a thin one.

Mark doesn't think so, so he is playing safe. He didn't want the

kiss on the yellow. Not that he has left a pot on. It won't put Ding

Junhui in any difficulty. This could be one of those frames

that you talked about in the first four frames, about competing with

Mark Selby in this kind of game. There are not many in the world who

can compete with him at the safety game.

Just looking at Ding Junhui. His body language. His arm dropped. If

Mark Selby hadn't clipped the green, he would more than likely have left

a pot on. It is a safety shot here. He didn't get it. He didn't get it.

Yeah, didn't get away with it. Mark Selby got a little bit of luck. In

hitting the green, he took the pace out of the cue ball. He has left a

chance now. He will try to get on the blue here.

Try to get that back on its own spot.

Even though Marquez got a 26 point lead, this is not an easy

opportunity. -- Mark has got. Some noise coming from the backstage

area. It is just putting Mark Selby off. Just composing himself.

He wants a nice angle on the blue. But as you say, John, it's not

ideal. He doesn't have a great angle on the blue to go directly into the

pink and the four reds. It's gone wrong. Tried to get on

that red. Near the bottom right-hand corner pocket to open that pocket

for the black. But here overheated. Is this another plant? Surely he

won't take this on. He is looking at it. As I say, as a former world

eight ball champion, they play a lot of plants at pool, but this is a

tough one. APPLAUSE Fair play to him. I think he played

that more out of annoyance, than anything else. This looks a better

pace. And this is typical of Mark Selby, you can pick out these type

of shots. We saw that double of the red up to the green pocket, on one

of the previous frames. He is such a clever player. And he is a

shotmaker. Yes, I think that is the one thing that he is. He is a

shotmaker, that's absolutely correct. Sometimes, when it all

straightforward, we can all call the shots, but he does play some very

intelligent shots. He has got the flick. It has opened the red, but it

has made this pot, the red to the top push and, very difficult, so

close, and he had to play it with a lot of pace, you feel, to get

position on the black. This is tough. Yes, he knew. He missed the

black along the cushion if you frames ago as well, and that was a

tough pot, and particularly because of the pace he had to put into it,

he has left the chance now for Ding. Played it well, considering he was

frozen out on the frame before the mid-session interval. Just under

half an hour since the last potted a ball. That's what can happen at this

game. You've got to get your fluency back, though, immediately, when you

get the opportunity. He doesn't have to play a cannon on these three

words. The one directly above the black will pot into the bottom

right-hand corner pocket. When he pots that, I'm sure it will open up

the path for the one just to the right of it.

He is coming around to look at this red but I'm sure it pots. He wants

to leave an angle on the red so when he does pot the red he can bring the

other one into play, the one that closest to the tank. It is

imperative he gets a nice angle on this black. And he has got it, inch

perfect. Yes, and once he releases the red, it will move the other red

from below the pink, as cancers. That is the problem ball, the one

near the baulk line. It went past the yellow. That is a little hurdle

he is going to have to overcome. I suppose in an ideal world you would

pot the black and navy of the second last read you play for the yellow to

clear the path for the pocket. Bit surprised he didn't take the

pink into the vet centre there. He may be able to get on the cream

here, -- into the right centre. Straightforward, that. Trying to get

onto the green but he has left the red. What surprised me about that,

he played it with right-hand side, and the right-hand side will push

the cue ball into the red. Good long pot. Now for Mark Selby,

how do you get position on the red that on the baulk line?

Short of pace. He has got to be careful here. The cue ball looks to

be going towards the. When potting the red into the top right-hand

corner pocket, can he just miss the yellow? If he connects with the

yellow, it could go wrong. It is not too bad. He will settle

for that. This is the shot again. Just caught the yellow. He made sure

of the yellow. He was in trendy get it up past the baulk line. Of course

the yellow comes back up because it was potted after a red. Still needs

yellow and green. Oh, and he's missed frame ball yellow! Would you

believe that? Didn't see that coming. I've seen it, but I don't

believe it. Straightforward yellow. Look to be up off the shots like

these, just before he hit it. This yellow does cut into the corner

pocket, and I'm sure he could miss the pink on the way back up for the

green. He overcut the yellow, that is why

he has run into the pink. OK, Mark Selby, 23 points ahead. A yellow

would put 25 points ahead, still 25 left on the table. What do you do

here? Just pot the yellow, try and make sure of it, even though it is a

difficult enough pot? Do you play it dead weight? I prefer the safety to

be honest with you. Send the yellow back up to the baulk end. It is

missable if you play the pot. Yes, good choice. He must have hurt you.

This is becoming a big frame now. Mark Selby looked all over the

winner of it. And yet somehow Ding Junhui can take it and really hurt

Mark, missing that comparatively easy yellow to the middle. Needs a

bit of risk you, where is the yellow ball going? APPLAUSE

Would you believe it? Well, value go. I think the reason Ding Junhui

was smiling, he was more interested was the blue going to cover it, if

the yellow had stayed in the jaws, he would have been snookered by the

blue. He can't pot the green, but he can hit it, he is not snookered. He

could play a good snooker here though, back at the table, white

behind the brown. Just overhit the green slightly, but

it is still a full ball snooker. He has to swerve this. And when you

swerve like this come you don't get too much distance between cue ball

and object ball, so where is this green going to stop? Control swerve,

couldn't have played it much better than that in all honesty.

Well, this would be a brave shot if he tries to roll the green towards

the baulk cushion, cue ball behind the blue. Got to be so precise with

this. A very delicate shot, and he has played it pro well. Excellent

shot. Such a delicate shot. The cue ball could drift off. Could have

left the green all got the snooker. Now that he has the snooker, Mark

Selby with the age-old problem, it is not so much hitting the green,

can he get it safe, because if he doesn't, Ding Junhui, 21 points

behind at the moment, 25 remaining, and as I said, this would really

hurt Mark Selby if he was to lose this frame. That is the angle. Not

the connection he wanted on the green, but he has left this pot for

Ding Junhui, but is he going to play it? To try and hold for the brown.

Or is he going to try and send the cue ball up the other end of the

table? He tries to hold it. Playing it that

way, it is a much more difficult shot. What does Mark Selby do here?

Could try and double the green, cue ball behind the thing. He only needs

the cream. -- the green. He has played the snooker. Pretty good. A

bit surprised he didn't take the double on. He could have had the cue

ball down towards the green pocket. Could have used the pink as a

blocker. Yes. The this would be the one, easy to hit, he would rather

hear this two questions rather than come off the one. Can he get the

green safe? As you say, he would rather it come off the baulk

cushion, side cushion. What way do you play this, that he take the

brave approach, try to nestle on the green, or does he try to hit it hard

and hope you gets to save? I personally would hit it hard. He is

playing at the delicate way. The only problem with that, he has still

given Mark Selby the advantage to get the snooker once again behind

the pink here. Got to be careful with the green, he

has to be certain that the green is safe, OK, try and get the cue ball

behind the pink but make sure you get the green safe. That's not too

bad. Would have liked it to have been further behind the pink. Again,

it is an easy swerve of this bottom cushion. Send the greenback of the

table. -- back at the table. He needs to hit this just right to

get it safe. Needs to run. Remember Mark Selby only needs the green and

here is the chance to pot it. This green to go 22 points in front with

23 remaining. Then it goes, where's the cue ball

going? Oh! Well, his heart must have been in his mouth.

And I would suggest this would be a mightily relieved Mark Selby to get

this frame under his belt. Coming up to 34 minutes, this is the type of

frame that hurts your opponent as well, particularly when he has had a

chance, Ding Junhui. Yes. It goes on. Mark Selby goes into the lead.

Three frames to two now. The first time he has been ahead in

the semifinal. A much more nervy frame. We saw that miss cue from

Ding, and one or two mistakes creeping into Mark's game as well.

It looked like Mark Selby was just about in control all the time, it

was a really interesting frame over half an hour, but those are the type

of friends you would expect Mark Selby to win. I definitely think

these frames could be the decider, who wins this crabby ones, because

you expect Ding to score heavily and Mark Selby, when the balls are

nicely placed but these are the friends that will be massive in this

match. Mark Selby has won four major world ranking titles this season.

Only you and Ding Junhui have made five major titles on the one season.

He is world number one, and you were just chatting away about how long he

could possibly be there. This would be the sixth season. He could be

number one for another ten years as far as I'm concerned. I don't see

anyone else consistently doing well enough to compete. The likes of Judd

Trump, the women's titles, but does he do it all year long? No. Neil

Robertson is not winning the tournament he was. Ronnie as we know

doesn't play another thing. Ding possibly, but who is there? You will

dominate this game for a long time. This is the sixth season he will

finish as number one. You did it eight in a row and that was a

record. I wonder what confidence it gives you being number one in the

sport and you are out there to be shot at? What gives you confidence

is playing like he did in his last match. I was number two, I never got

to number one. But when you are winning and playing well, that is

what gives you the confidence. Let's get back, shall be?

COMMENTATOR: Interesting comments there. Yes, the confidence of being

world number one probably overrides the pressure of coming here as

defending champion, can? Yes, he came as defending champion when he

first won it, and of course the Crucible of course Peel played its

part of that. But he has come back a different player this season.

Solidified that number one position for at least another season all

possibly more. I totally agree with Stephen Hendry, he could be number

one for a long time. Stephen Hendry holds the record, eight years in a

row. He's so consistent, four tournaments this year already in the

bag. This is the big one. Not touching, looks as though it might

be, but if it had been, our referee Brendan Moore would have declared

it. If he can get through to the red on

the left-hand side of the table, but doesn't CAC 40 there. Just was it

into a cluster. As long as he judges it right, MySpace, is that touching?

Mark at the baulk end, where he wouldn't like to be.

He called a foul on himself. The play to him. I don't blame him for

that one but you would have to say fair play. Ding says maybe play it

again. Not quite sure. That is one of the great things about our sport,

even if the referee doesn't see the foul, the player will call it

himself. Yes, and in that instance, you would feel it against your

knuckle. Sometimes, if you're reaching over and your shirt is

touching the ball, you wouldn't be aware of it. But Mark was well and

truly aware of that. So Ding has got the touching ball, straight back to

the baulk end. Trying to get in behind the green. APPLAUSE

He does so nicely. You wouldn't have thought it would cause Mark Selby a

problem as the cluster is so tightly bunched.

He hopes it will be touching ball again but it's not going to be this

time. A chance for Mark Selby, that is all

they could really do, roll into the bunch and leave a touching ball. A

chance for Mark Selby to put the cue ball tight on this baulk cushion.

It looks pretty good, excellent post. Have a look at that. Set tight

on the baulk cushion, he didn't do a bad job, did he? No, welded to it.

Ding may be tempted here to play the pot on the red on the left-hand side

cushion, if he can get through to the potting angle. Trying to play

the safety but people have to cut it mighty thin. But to catch this

right. -- he will have to cut it. Foul and a miss.

Mark just quickly let out that no free ball, put it back, as soon as

the yellow moved. But, as I say come he's got to catch this very thin. If

he catches it a fraction too thick, he will kiss that red on the

left-hand side of the table. He needs to hit it this time. He

will be warned now. He will be warned now. Three misses, and you

lose the frame. It would be a very brave Ding Junhui if he plays

exactly the same shot again. Well, it begs the question, Ken, if he can

get through to this red on the left-hand side of the table, would

he be tempted to play the pot. You have the referee, warning him. I

think he's forced into taking this red that you mentioned, John. Please

don't miscue. He's left it. So it just shows you

the importance of getting that cue ball tight to the baulk cushion, and

it has forced the mistake and given this chance to mark. He has played

that nicely, purposely leaving this angle on the black. It will stand up

into the reds, he will still have the red closest to the black and to

the right pocket. Well, the cue ball is pushed through the roads. He

stand it. Really needed to stop the cue ball in there. He has got a

couple of tricky reds in the left and right middle. These are tough.

Too tough. Yes, when he went into them, he was

looking for something a lot easier than that. There is a possible pot

to the far left corner. I don't know whether Ding Junhui can play it with

an element of a shot to nothing. Doesn't matter, because he is right

in the heart of the pockets. Can't do a lot with the cue ball,

but if you just bounces it of the site, he is digging in, is he going

to make an angle? He thinks he can just get in between the yellow and

brown, and he looks to have judged that well. Yes, he's looking at

what's, after this red and a colour. It was an excellent positional shot.

A fraction too hard for the blue. More difficult pink, but the pink

gives him more chance of being on the next red.

APPLAUSE Played that nicely.

Just getting the cue ball cleaned. He can go into the pack if he

wishes, he has a nice angle. All he can just hold for the red.

He held for the two reds. The one of the pack of roads.

This is normally where he's so good, stunning and screwing around the

reds. Just looking for an odyssey straight on the pink. Looking if the

runs through, whether he can make an angle on the red that is closest to

the people. -- to the cue ball. Yes, played nicely. Obviously would like

to be straighter to this red to the left corner. Going to play a

delicate little positional shot. Lots of left-hand side, trying to

play for the black in the same corner. No, played it with a lot of

right-hand side, and could not played better. Believe me, on

superfine cloth, playing it with that much right-hand side.

Beautifully played. Took the opportunity to go into the reds.

Another 36 points from this position will see him get to the snookers

required stage. Quite wonderful to watch Ding, when

he is making breaks around the pink and black. Lovely delicate shots,

little cannons. Developing reds. Quite an art.

The red immediately above the black is available to the same pocket as

the black. Just running off the top cushion for that red. Well, if you

are being picky, a bit careless. Just a bit short, could have run up

the table another six inches. Running into other raids, has to be

careful. Got to be careful. And he has lost the cue ball slightly. Can

he hold it? Or will he go up and down the table? He will try and hold

it. No, not there. As you said, John, not the shot, the previous

shot, to get on that red. That caused the problem.

Trying to swing the cue ball over to the reds on the left-hand side of

the table. 32 points behind, plenty remaining.

Any colour will do of these reds. The one tight to the pink is not an

impossible position at the moment. -- in a position to be potted.

Getting down pretty quick, must be happy with the angle on this black.

Does not look perfect to me. Good shot, forcing it in, he will be very

badly hampered. Dear me, step ladders, Orange boxes. How do you

reach this one? He's a tall lad, Mark, still will not be able to

reach it. I don't suppose, with all the

extensions we have today, not many shots which are unplayable. This is.

Certainly would be for me! Once again, you don't expect a player to

miss easy pots, he just lost control of the cue ball, as Ding did in the

previous visit. Once it nestled on that red, impossible to play.

He missed one, John! Yes, this is an important long pot for Ding Junhui.

At the moment he is down at 29% long pots success. Only two out of seven.

Needs one here. Something catching his eye. Appears

to have been a bit of movement in different places. Just gone to the

one-table situation, not everyone is comfortable. This is a very

important shot he has here. Is he on the black? He is on it, but he

cannot pot it. Just a snooker. He will be disappointed here.

Remember he could put that cue ball anywhere he liked in the D. Good

shot, from Mark. Hitting that red exactly has he played.

He has looked at the scoreboard, 21 points in front. Will he be tempted

to play this red into the far corner? The modern-day player

surprises me with a lot of the shots they go for. Looks like we'll play

safe. He may have purposely knocked the blue safe. Could be a clever

shark. If Mark Selby did get a chance, he has a problem with the

blue. Good thinking, young man. Certainly a clever shark, if he did

mean it. He did have a look at the scoreboards. The blue safe is to his

advantage. Could be a bit of trouble, the cue

ball behind the blue. Could knock the red up the table. Yet in the

baulk cushion, behind brown Green. If he had the angle to push the red

pass the blue, the cue ball rolling behind it, he would do. If he cannot

do that, could target green and brown hair.

Wonderful shot. Very nicely judged. I mentioned it earlier, Ken, this

seems to me as the year has gone on, he is learning more ring craft, when

it comes to these tactical exchanges. Hitting the red, but

leaving a thin cut. To win it. He will need the red that is tight to

the pink. That was a surprise. Yes.

Disappointed to have missed that. If the pots it, even if he doesn't get

on the colour, rolling up to the baulk colours, how difficult the

snooker would have been to get out of. Mark taking this red run, he

feels there is plenty of value in it.

Don't blame him for taking it on, it was a long pot, but only a fraction

out, to be fair. Not desperate to get on the colour here. Would like

to be on the colour, he is on the brown. As I say, if he could nestle

up to one of the baulk colours, what a snooker this would be. Leaving

himself a possible position on the brown. I see no reason not to come

up. If he did get parallel with the red, could play his own snooker

behind the pink. He has a nice angle on the brown, if he wishes, to go

off the side cushion, just before the middle pocket. Try to cannon

into the pink and red. Seize the moment, would not disagree with that

idea. That is the angle. He also has the blue, as a bit of insurance

policy. Reluctant to play the brown, if he does not Mr Cannon on the pink

and red, he will have to play against a to shot. That is why he is

thinking about playing the snooker. Mark Selby is so good at getting out

of sneakers, not guaranteed to get a lot of points out of it. Looks like

a stunning off, to get in behind the green. He thinks he has put the

brand safe, leaving it in such a way that Mark will have to play with

left and right hand side. No matter how he hits the red, it will stay

the middle of the table. He needs to hit this something like water ball.

22 points are in it. Ding Junhui needs red and black, and red and

pink. Needs to play the two cushion escape with pace. Could hit it with

portable. Hitting it to fall. When you hit bid to fall, normally I

would say, you leave the red. Don't think he has. In the respect that if

Ding Junhui laid it to the left corner, or the left middle, the

possibility of going in off. Difficult enough pot, but as you

said, the middle pocket may be on the way. Not sure whether he can pot

the red into the middle centre, coming off the top cushion, on the

black. That may be an option. He did not play the pot there. He

has and underhit it. Did not play the pot, because the in off was on.

Now he has the blue and brand safe. Glad he did. This is half a chance

for Mark Selby. But he has it all to do. The black will put in 14 points

behind. He would need the six remaining colours. A tall order.

The cue ball would be naturally going up to the yellow. Needs to

make sure the pot. Where is the cue ball for the yellow? Overrunning its

likely for the right centre, but not too bad. Straight enough yellow to

the bottom right corner pocket. He will be on the green.

Good pot. Coming around to look at the brown. The fact it is so tight

to the cushion, cannot pot the brown, getting on the blue. Coming

around, potting the green, trying to leave a snooker up the table. Cue

ball behind the pink. The reason he is playing that, because there is no

chance of him potting the green and getting on the brown to get on the

blue. Type of matchplay sneaker he is so did. Back in the frame. Nine

points behind. If he can leave the cue ball somewhere where the brown

is now, move the brown at the table anywhere, should be OK.

Wanted it to have a little bit more pace. Easy swerve. Important in John

Wayne hits this brown, because if he does not, then Marked just needs

brown, blue and pink. This frame just over 30 minutes, the last 134

minutes. Very tense out there. -- the last one, 34 minutes. Could not

have hit that better. He has got the snooker. He has had to apologise.

There may be a thin edge of the brown sticking out. That is no good

to mark. If the hits that the right edge, he will knock the brown to the

right corner. That's why he is looking to come off the side

cushion. Does it reach? Wonderful. Touching ball. Wow! That is hard to

believe. The last thing he wanted, touching ball. Easy snooker behind

the blue now, you would have thought. Maybe he might be better

taking the blue after cushion. He needs the brown and the blue. Easy

snooker. Unless he is tight to the blue. Good shot. He will need that

blue, unless he gets a lot of points from the snooker. The missing rule

may encourage players to play this kind of shot at the end of the

frame. This is not easy to hit. He knows his way around the table so

well, very hard to get points from sneakers from Mark Selby. This one

is a little wide. He will be sure to hit its second time round. Ding

Junhui definitely has the upper hand for now. Needs to hit it this time.

Otherwise he only needs the brown. He has missed it again. Now Ding

Junhui is 17 points in front, 22 remaining. Only needs the brown.

Mark could hit this and leave the brown on, quite easily. He has hit

at this time, will he leave it on. Not quite. He will be snookered,

next time he comes to the table. Needs to get the brown into the

middle of the table, up to the Bulgarian somewhere. Try not to keep

it close to if possible. Very fortunate there. Very fortunate. He

has brought the blue into play, did not want that. He only needs the

brown. A full ball snooker. 17 behind.

The fact that Mark is having a look at this, looking at the scoreboard.

Yes, can Mr brown, and still able to win. Amis will be called. The fact

he's not playing it straightaway means he cannot get past the little

pocket. Trying to swerve. To get the angle to hit the brown. Can he get

it safe? He has got it safe. Could not played that any better.

Beautiful shot. Wonderful shot. Now this game will rest on the brown,

you would feel. Looks as though Ding Junhui can only

get to the right-hand side of the brown, as he looks. As to be careful

here. Trying to get the snooker with the pink. Looks to have played

reasonably well. Straightforward side cushion.

Straightforward to hit the brown of the side cushion. That is the angle,

wanting to hit it full ball, so the brown comes off the opposite side

cushion, resting somewhere on the bottom cushion near the black. Just

resting it on the other cushion. Very well play. Great weight of

shot. Thought he was going to hit it harder, off the side cushion down

towards the black. It is pressure now. Ding Junhui made a big mistake.

That is why there is pressure on the safety shots. Just content to tuck

it behind the black. I tell you what, could not played much better.

That is brilliant. Mark Hurd a quick glance up to the balcony where his

supporters are, saying how can anyone play that? But he did. There

is is wife, Vicki in the middle. Good friend of his. Bobby, his close

friend. Travels with him. He looks more under pressure than Mark. He

has the outside edge of this brown. Very brave man to play that shot.

Could hit the black, and the need is sneaker. Worse, if you missed it, he

would leave a free ball. As you said, leaves the free ball.

That is end of frame, you would feel. 21 points the difference. The

blue counts as four. Now Mark Selby needs a snooker, he has not hit this

too well. Just about on the brown. In goes the brown, that will be the

end of the frame. The longest frame either player has been involved in

in the tournament so far. He flicks the blue, but the frame was over

before then. Two tight, Titanic frames. They have been shared. Mark

Selby will not come back to the table. It is a frame that Ding

Junhui did really well to win. Laid Mark Selby of his own game.

STUDIO: Nearly 39 minutes, and 34 the one before then. Mark Selby

never leaves a pot one. What were the chances of him getting out of

that one with a win? When he had the reds stuck behind a thing, he were

snookered, blue and brown on the cushions. He thought he had a 10%

chance of winning the frame. His Nat Tilly Macca matchplay, getting out

of sneakers was fantastic. Ding moved the blue inadvertently offered

vision, a bad move. Only the shop that Ding played getting behind the

black. Anywhere else on the table, leaving the edge, it would have gone

in. A master in frames he does not look like winning, gives is of a

chance. Ding realises, to beat this guy, he will have to survive frames

like that. To be fair to Ding he outplayed Mark in the safety

department. He had complete control for the last 15, 20 minutes. Always

have the upper hand, always the aggressor. Playing snooker 's.

Important for him to win those types of frames. -- playing sneakers.

Keeping the blue safe on the side rail was key to it. Very clever, he

had two reds, could have played anywhere down the baulk area. Could

not ready player safety. Just clipping off it, cannoning the blue.

Putting it on the cushion, clever shot. Interesting change of pace.

The first four frames were bang, bang. Slowed up, very intriguing.

Yes, always going to get frames like this. The first four, maybe we were

spoiled a bit, the way they were going. Big visits. It will get more

cagey as long as it is level scoring. I was going to say, what

happens in games like this. When two people are adept at safety, making

responses to each other you get frames like that. Back we go to the

penultimate of the opening session. COMMENTATOR: Yes, the first four

frames, we were averaging just over 60 minutes a frame the last two

frames, the last one was nearly 32 minutes. The average frame time now

is just over 23 minutes. -- the first four frames we were averaging

just over 16 minutes a frame. But I agree, I think it is just the

good safety that is being played that is making these frames look a

bit more drawn out than the quality of play deserves.

He tried to play that with a lot of top spin. And after winning an

elongated previous frame, the worst thing you want to do is give your

opponent and easy start on the next. A bit of a cutback from this lack

here. Oh. He didn't play that previous red

too well. But, Ken, Hanley times do we sit, the first four frames either

player gets a chance, they would win the frame. Now we have had a couple

of long, drawn-out frames, it seems to have taken the edge off the

potting. It can happen. Yes, it can happen, your concentration can get a

little tired, a bit weary. A good chance if he can knock this one into

the far left corner. APPLAUSE Never a doubt. Profiting from a

mistake from Tim one, it only cost him 1.4 is that what can he make for

Mark Selby's error? A couple of reds to go at here. The loose one, that

is the one he has got on. At the red, just the right of the pink, as

well. Coming round to have a look at this red come on the right-hand side

is that pot into the corner pocket. Just to drop in for the black here.

That is the red he was looking at, so he can try to get on that red. If

he is not on it nice, there is a red above it on the left centre, as

well. Not quite certain if the pink spot

is available. If it's not, well, it is, obviously. That is why he played

the threw off the side cushion. Still in good position.

Ding will typically take the loose threads before he contemplates going

into the pack. He has a nice angle now but I don't think he will go

into the pack of roads here. He is a master at just picking off the loose

threads and then choosing the right time to go into the pack. Yes, and

the way the reds are situated commie would probably prefer to go into

them off the blue. The pink just separating slightly, so if he was

going to play the cannon, which is the normal way of doing it, cannon

kit full in the face, he has to catch the pink full in the face,

otherwise you can always risk going in off one of the callers. See no

reason why he shouldn't play one of the tenancy. Didn't catch the pink

full in the face. He is not perfect, by any means. He only caught a

quarter ball. Tough red along the cushion. Can he get past the black

to cut the spun back into the corner? I think he can. But he won't

have much control of the cue ball. So if he goes for it, he needs to

get it. The one that is closest to the top cushion, well, he would have

to play it with pace, and makes it very missable.

Good pots. He has found the gap between yellow and brown. Nicely

onto the blue as well in this corner right-hand pocket. It was imperative

he didn't kiss into any of the baulk colours. You can drop the blue in.

It looks pretty straight. Just getting the cue ball cleaned. He has

a choice, green into the top corner pocket. Just drop it in and take the

red, left of the black. Just checking whether he can push

the cue through enough. He is at full stretch. This is dangerous to

play it like this. Well, he has made it. Rather that, than use the rest.

Just the pace as well, if it had been any harder. Have a look at this

again. Any harder and I don't think that blue would have gone. It was a

little bit wired. But I still think the pink spot is