:01:17. > :01:22.Hello and good evening and welcome back to the Crucible Theatre in
:01:23. > :01:28.Sheffield. Tonight we have the third session of the semifinal between
:01:29. > :01:32.last year's finalist, Mark Selby taking on China's Ding Junhui. It is
:01:33. > :01:42.set to be another gripping night of snooker. Mark Selby trails by five
:01:43. > :01:48.frames to three. You can stand there all day and try and hit that shot
:01:49. > :01:51.perfectly. Excellent reply. Very well done, his fifth century of the
:01:52. > :02:01.tournament, but more importantly, he has closed the gap again. He going
:02:02. > :02:10.for it. He has got it, what a shot. Tremendous pot from Mark Selby. Ding
:02:11. > :02:20.Junhui, not having much run of the ball. Mark Selby came into it two
:02:21. > :02:26.behind, he is going into the interval two in front. Mark Selby
:02:27. > :02:28.has something to think about now. A little bit of luck for once. Well
:02:29. > :02:44.played, brave shot. He has got a beautiful line. If he
:02:45. > :02:49.misses the brown, this is sensational. What a shot that was.
:02:50. > :02:59.And the black, for all wonderfully compiled century break. Wonderfully
:03:00. > :03:08.played, Ding Junhui at his best. Mark Selby started the session two
:03:09. > :03:14.behind, finishes it two in front. This is how it stands this evening.
:03:15. > :03:26.Look how tight it is between these two superb players. Selby's 12 wins
:03:27. > :03:29.the Ding's 11. Ding winning in the quarterfinal in 2011 and Mark Selby
:03:30. > :03:35.winning last year's final at the Crucible. Stephen Hendrie is
:03:36. > :03:41.alongside me. Let's talk about third session mentality, what is going
:03:42. > :03:47.through their minds now? It is moving day, you have to get yourself
:03:48. > :03:50.into a nice position. Mark Selby has given himself the opportunity to do
:03:51. > :03:55.that. The big night for Ding Junhui commie has to win this session to
:03:56. > :03:58.have any chance of winning tomorrow. What was your assessment of the way
:03:59. > :04:05.Mark Selby came out and performed so well? He put all the doubts to bed
:04:06. > :04:10.in the first round, his safety play was as good as it always is. Ding
:04:11. > :04:15.made a magnificent 139, Diaz to do more of that. He virtually hasn't
:04:16. > :04:22.got to miss the ball. He didn't get much luck in the first three frames?
:04:23. > :04:27.No, he didn't get a good run of the ball, but it normally evens itself
:04:28. > :04:32.out. Ding Junhui knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan, does he walked out of
:04:33. > :04:36.here thinking, this is my night? He beat Ronnie, magnificent. He has got
:04:37. > :04:41.to step up another level in this match. The session tonight for Ding
:04:42. > :04:48.is so important, he has to win it. Cheeky question, does the winner
:04:49. > :04:54.tonight on and win the title? I have thought Mark Selby's name has been
:04:55. > :05:02.on the trophy from the start. Let's said hello to Rob Walker.
:05:03. > :05:10.What an epic night in store at the sport's spiritual home. This is a
:05:11. > :05:13.battle is be part of the 2017 BetFred World Snooker Championship
:05:14. > :05:21.final. We sat for a cracking night of here at the Crucible.
:05:22. > :05:41.Please welcome first of all, a man who has helped pave the way for a
:05:42. > :05:46.new generation of snooker players and fans back home. He won his first
:05:47. > :05:51.ranking title when he was just 18. 12 years later he has a dozen big
:05:52. > :05:54.victories to his name. He has been brilliant here this year and will be
:05:55. > :06:01.ready to produce that form again tonight because he is a national
:06:02. > :06:04.hero in China. So enter the Dragon, Ding Junhui.
:06:05. > :06:30.CHEERING and APPLAUSE And his opponent, 12 years after his
:06:31. > :06:34.Crucible debut, he is now one of the sport's key players. World number
:06:35. > :06:40.one for more than two years, winner of 11 ranking titles and three
:06:41. > :06:45.Masters crowns, the reigning UK champion, the defending world
:06:46. > :06:49.champion, the Jester from Leicester, he is Mark Selby.
:06:50. > :07:08.CHEERING and APPLAUSE COMMENTATOR: It is Mark Selby
:07:09. > :07:19.against Ding Junhui live on BBC Two. Good evening to John Virgo and
:07:20. > :07:23.Dennis Taylor. COMMENTATOR: Great to be sitting
:07:24. > :07:24.next to John Virgo for what will be an important session in this
:07:25. > :07:40.semifinal. It is Ding Junhui that gets it
:07:41. > :07:51.underway. I am with Stephen Hendry, John, Ding has to win the session
:07:52. > :07:55.5-3? Yes, but if he can go into the final session tomorrow afternoon
:07:56. > :08:01.just two behind, I think it is still all to play for. But to be only two
:08:02. > :08:08.behind of course. This is a big session.
:08:09. > :08:18.Not a lot of difference between the important stats, both made high
:08:19. > :08:24.breaks, the pot success. Little bit lower than what you would expect,
:08:25. > :08:32.89%. But they are both on the same mark, so both have missed some you
:08:33. > :08:40.would expect them to get. This is a lovely line, it is a lovely length.
:08:41. > :08:46.Behind Biyi Alo. Good shot. Nice shot. -- behind the yellow. Got the
:08:47. > :09:20.pace of the table. It looked as if it wasn't going to
:09:21. > :09:24.reach there, but because he had so much side on that to create the
:09:25. > :09:32.angle, it just kept on rolling. Can he get behind the yellow again? He
:09:33. > :09:42.will be trying to do that. Bit too hard, I think.
:09:43. > :09:47.He still got behind it. Great atmosphere this evening in the
:09:48. > :09:54.Crucible Theatre as the players were introduced. The crowd were really up
:09:55. > :10:03.for this session. That is what Mark is faced with there. I think when
:10:04. > :10:07.you get evenings like this, there is tension in the air. We all want to
:10:08. > :10:16.see great matches and this has the potential to be one. Mark Selby,
:10:17. > :10:22.world number one, defending champion. Playing a man who has
:10:23. > :10:29.proved, and he proved against Ronnie O'Sullivan, given half a chance can
:10:30. > :10:32.win any frame in one visit. So Mark has to be very careful. But
:10:33. > :10:42.shouldn't leave anything with a shot like this. He is somewhere in the
:10:43. > :10:48.audience, not sure where. A good mate of ours, in the sponsor's
:10:49. > :10:54.Lounge, the Silver Fox, David Taylor, world amateur champion,
:10:55. > :10:56.great professional for many years. 74 years of age, doesn't look a day
:10:57. > :11:46.over 50. Great to see him here. This is a more difficult shot than
:11:47. > :11:55.the snooker, funnily enough. Beautiful line. Well played. It is
:11:56. > :11:57.very, very difficult to trap that man. He has got lots of moves on a
:11:58. > :12:30.snooker table. He has missed the blue. Good safety
:12:31. > :12:53.here from both players. Who is going to get the first chance?
:12:54. > :13:12.Had to catch this very thin. Good line and the horrific pace. We know
:13:13. > :13:20.where this is going to finish. Superb shot.
:13:21. > :13:25.Is there any player in the game that knows the angles as well as Mark
:13:26. > :13:35.Selby? That was judged to perfection. And what a situation
:13:36. > :13:49.Ding faces here, as we show you it again. Went off for questions before
:13:50. > :13:59.it went behind the yellow. That is why I have christened him, Sat Nav
:14:00. > :14:05.Selby. The only way Ding Junhui can get self if he gets to the red
:14:06. > :14:15.closest to the top cushion. It is a great hit.
:14:16. > :14:22.We haven't had a ball potted yet, but the applause from the audience
:14:23. > :14:32.for some of these safety shots and escapes, the refit. -- the horrific.
:14:33. > :14:41.There is an interesting stats, Ding just slightly ahead. Unlucky. May
:14:42. > :14:42.not cost him too much, but a bit unlucky to flick the yellow and go
:14:43. > :14:52.in office. I wonder if Ding can return the
:14:53. > :15:18.compliment? I think that was a half-hearted
:15:19. > :15:22.attempt at the plant. This frame is in its eighth minute and I cannot
:15:23. > :15:33.think of a pot that has been available for either player. Just
:15:34. > :15:37.coming up to the eight minute mark. There is a pot left on here, but
:15:38. > :15:42.whether Ding Junhui will be tempted by it, is another matter. Having
:15:43. > :15:49.said that, it is very difficult to see the safety. And sometimes when
:15:50. > :15:51.you corner a player and don't give him an escape route, you force him
:15:52. > :16:06.into playing the pot. This is his view. He can't get saved
:16:07. > :16:12.down the left-hand side of the table, as he looks. But those three
:16:13. > :16:17.reds on the right, the outside one of the three, it does pass the
:16:18. > :16:25.black. He doesn't fancy it. So nestling up to the red near the top
:16:26. > :16:27.cushion, the one he made contact with before. Good line. Beautifully
:16:28. > :16:38.judged. Back behind the yellow again, if he
:16:39. > :16:54.misses the blue. It is on its way again. Not quite
:16:55. > :17:32.this time, but still a pretty good safety shots.
:17:33. > :17:41.He can hit reds, but he doesn't feel as though the red pecan hit, he can
:17:42. > :17:53.get say. Bit more difficult this time to judge. But looks like he has
:17:54. > :18:11.judged it to perfection. Unbelievable, this.
:18:12. > :18:18.Not that you would be allowed to do, but one player could stand at one
:18:19. > :18:22.end of the table and the other player at this end of the table and
:18:23. > :18:39.it would be a bit like a tennis match.
:18:40. > :18:48.This time he has a possibility to play safe down the right-hand side
:18:49. > :18:57.of the table, as we look. But he has got to catch this red thin. You
:18:58. > :19:02.can't catch it much better than that and what a beautiful line. And all
:19:03. > :19:10.of the sudden he gets the advantage in the safety exchange. Well played.
:19:11. > :19:13.There is no escape route for Mark Selby down the right-hand side, so
:19:14. > :19:15.he is faced with the problem but Ding Junhui has been faced with, his
:19:16. > :19:41.last four visits. He is trying to think of another
:19:42. > :19:47.escape route. But Ding Junhui, twice had gone across the table and landed
:19:48. > :20:00.on the red behind the black spot area. Mark has spotted another
:20:01. > :20:05.escape route. No gap this time, but I think he has got away with it.
:20:06. > :20:14.Only one possible pot into the right middle pocket, but I can't see a
:20:15. > :20:23.colour from that. Not much value in taking the pot on, unless he could
:20:24. > :20:26.get onto the pink. The early part of the second session, Ding Junhui
:20:27. > :20:34.didn't have a very good run of the balls. It is so important, he
:20:35. > :20:40.deserved to get the first chance. But Mark Selby, played a poor
:20:41. > :20:46.safety, has been very fortunate. Caught the red much too thick and
:20:47. > :20:50.that is why it went into the black and then the black covered the red
:20:51. > :20:54.that would have tempted Ding Junhui. I don't see another. No, he had no
:20:55. > :21:13.pot on. I think he can see enough of this
:21:14. > :21:18.red on the right side of the table to come back down off. But he has
:21:19. > :21:31.got to be careful, he could get the double-kiss. So he doesn't like that
:21:32. > :21:36.one. I suppose the other way is to come off the top cushion and nestle
:21:37. > :21:52.into the red. He is thinking of something.
:21:53. > :22:04.The red is on to the middle. How is it just run that inch too far? I
:22:05. > :22:06.think it will cut in, John. It is a very thin one. But he's not looking
:22:07. > :22:21.at it at the moment. I think he can get past the black.
:22:22. > :22:25.He's now looking at the angle of the red. If he cuts this in, he wouldn't
:22:26. > :22:31.have any idea where the cue was going. There is not a lot of value
:22:32. > :22:36.in coming back up the table because pink and black are awkward. Pink is
:22:37. > :22:50.in the open somewhat, but he doesn't fancy that cut in.
:22:51. > :23:15.He caught that a bit too thick, but he has still covered the safety. We
:23:16. > :23:43.are in the 16th minute. Hardly a sniff of a pot for either player.
:23:44. > :23:55.That has opened the reds up nicely. I suppose this is one stack we
:23:56. > :24:01.wouldn't have. I can't remember a frame with still 15 reds on the
:24:02. > :24:09.table and they have been going 16 and a half a minute without a ball
:24:10. > :24:14.being potted. I can't remember one. And I have been coming here John, 40
:24:15. > :24:18.years. Every year playing and commentating, and I can't remember a
:24:19. > :24:27.frame going this long, the opening frame of the session. So close, but
:24:28. > :24:38.he has got a good cue ball. Good cue ball. I have been coming here the
:24:39. > :24:42.same, Dennis. Normally when it takes this long without a red being
:24:43. > :24:49.potted, we are thinking about every rack, but not on this occasion. The
:24:50. > :25:09.way the Reds are spread, who ever gets first chance, could get plenty.
:25:10. > :25:22.He looked at sending this red in off another red. Far too thin. Surely he
:25:23. > :25:26.can't get away with it this time. There must be something available
:25:27. > :25:38.into the left corner. He can pot the one next to the blue. But there is
:25:39. > :25:39.certainly a red available but can he get onto a colour? Now he's back
:25:40. > :26:00.looking at the one next to the blue. He had to avoid the kiss on the
:26:01. > :26:09.yellow at all costs. No problem doing that. Ding Junhui gets the
:26:10. > :26:11.better of Mark Selby. In an 18 minute safety battle. That doesn't
:26:12. > :26:42.happen often. It is not going to nestle on the
:26:43. > :26:46.red, surely? You are playing the wide into an area where you think
:26:47. > :26:53.you will have a choice of five or six reds, and look where it has
:26:54. > :26:57.landed. You just think to yourself, but the whites in the area and you
:26:58. > :27:04.are bound to have a pot on and look where it landed. Anything he is
:27:05. > :27:05.faced with, is not straightforward. There is one possible red and that
:27:06. > :27:21.is just above the pink. He would be on the yellow, should he
:27:22. > :27:33.pot it. He's going for the more difficult red. He needs to get this.
:27:34. > :27:40.Where is the red going to finish up? I think he can get past the yellow.
:27:41. > :27:44.There is a gap between the brown and yellow. Maybe he has got away with
:27:45. > :27:56.it. With a prolonged safety bout, you
:27:57. > :28:06.lose a little bit of rhythm. Can he knocked this long one in? No. He
:28:07. > :28:11.might have got away with this. I am just having a quick look. One will
:28:12. > :28:15.go in the middle but there is no easy start again. It is quite
:28:16. > :28:21.unusual this, to be right in amongst them and then not have an easy
:28:22. > :28:25.starter. They all seem to be covering each other into the left
:28:26. > :28:38.corner, covering each other into the left middle. Full.
:28:39. > :28:55.Just the one read that will pot, the one to the left of the pink.
:28:56. > :29:05.This is a slightly better chance for Mark Selby. He has been fortunate a
:29:06. > :29:11.couple of times, John? Unbelievable sometimes, the run of the balls.
:29:12. > :29:15.Once Mark Selby had missed the red in the corner and the cue ball
:29:16. > :30:26.stayed in this half of the table, how did he not leave anything easy?
:30:27. > :30:34.He can just forget about the black, concentrate on the pink and the blue
:30:35. > :30:40.if he needs it, it's on the spot. It is a pretty good chance this.
:30:41. > :30:47.What is there? At least five, six reds, nicely placed.
:30:48. > :31:43.Looking for a 70 points, to leave Ding needing a snooker.
:31:44. > :31:50.Just got to be careful now, he needs good close control of the cue ball,
:31:51. > :31:57.the reds are becoming a little more awkward.
:31:58. > :32:01.I think there will be a time when, there's three reds to the left of
:32:02. > :32:06.the black, the bottom will go to the corner, he could play for the black,
:32:07. > :32:15.the black would be available into both corner pockets.
:32:16. > :32:16.Might play for that red now. The one immediately to the left of
:32:17. > :32:31.the black. Straight run would have been better,
:32:32. > :32:44.but he can play for the black off this red now.
:32:45. > :32:53.You would think roll this in and then cannon the red just above the
:32:54. > :32:58.red he's potting. Nicely played. Now he can get the black in play, then
:32:59. > :33:32.it does become a frame-winning opportunity.
:33:33. > :33:38.I've noticed with Mark Selby he is comfortable striking and bridging
:33:39. > :33:48.over a ball when he is hampered. He is quite a tall lad, he's got
:33:49. > :33:53.longish fingers which helps but he never seems to miss, he always
:33:54. > :33:57.seems, and even with power he seems to be able to strike over a ball and
:33:58. > :34:14.create enough pace. So there you see it. Just another 19
:34:15. > :34:20.points needed to get to the snookers required stage.
:34:21. > :34:32.That basically equates to three more reds and three colours.
:34:33. > :34:40.He should be OK up this end of the table but he has the red up next to
:34:41. > :34:41.the yellow that is in a nice easy pottable position, if he should need
:34:42. > :35:11.that. He has done very well here u but it
:35:12. > :35:16.has to be said he was rather fortunate, he got away with a couple
:35:17. > :35:26.of shots that he messed up, and didn't leave Ding Junhui in.
:35:27. > :35:30.Yes, it's a cruel game sometimes but Ding Junhui did have a good chance,
:35:31. > :35:35.you could say he was unlucky when he potted the green and finished on
:35:36. > :35:42.nothing, but... You have to make the most of every half chance you get,
:35:43. > :35:49.particularly against this man. He doesn't give many opportunities
:35:50. > :35:55.and this black, the moment he is 58 points in front, there is 59
:35:56. > :36:16.remaining. Manufacture This black, two snookers will be needed.
:36:17. > :36:23.It looked like it was going to be a really long frame, it was 18 minutes
:36:24. > :36:26.before a ball was potted but this break has been going just
:36:27. > :36:35.seven-and-a-half minutes so.... It is still going to be under the 30
:36:36. > :36:39.minutes, you would feel. This red as I mentioned was always
:36:40. > :36:45.going to be available, but his hasn't played it too well, unless he
:36:46. > :36:50.finds the gap. He might pot this off the side cushion. A trick shot. Dead
:36:51. > :36:55.weight, if he knocks the red in he will get a terrific round of
:36:56. > :37:06.applause, he is good at the angles. He is pretty good at the angles.
:37:07. > :37:11.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE He certainly enjoyed that, and we
:37:12. > :37:21.had a few whistles as well for that little trick shot.
:37:22. > :37:35.Wow! Look at this for a shot. Unbelievable. Wow! Where did this
:37:36. > :37:40.come from? A possible hundred from the situation the balls were in.
:37:41. > :37:46.He has already had five in this year's World Championship.
:37:47. > :37:47.66 we've had in tote 8. 20 away from the record.
:37:48. > :38:04.-- total. He may be faced with quite a thin
:38:05. > :38:21.cut back here. This is a very similar cut back to the one in 85.
:38:22. > :38:25.Right in the heart of the pocket. It didn't look possible to make a
:38:26. > :38:32.century break from where the balls were situated.
:38:33. > :38:37.But in it goes. Fabulous effort from Mark Selby.
:38:38. > :38:43.That is his 54th century this season.
:38:44. > :38:46.He made 47 last season, and that's why he is world number one and has
:38:47. > :39:01.been for just over two years. Yes, and a bit when he missed a
:39:02. > :39:06.couple, but this has been a sensational clearance. And I say
:39:07. > :39:08.clearance because I expect him to concentrate fully now, and pot this
:39:09. > :39:28.blue, pink and black. He has had a 139, a 143, but Ronnie
:39:29. > :39:38.O'Sullivan holds 146. But this is very timely.
:39:39. > :39:44.It was a very tactical frame at the start, over 18 minutes before a ball
:39:45. > :39:52.was potted but that is a magnificent break of 128, and Mark Selby extends
:39:53. > :39:55.his lead, he now leads 10-7. The 67th century of the tournament so
:39:56. > :40:00.far. Why have two former world champion, you have an extra one
:40:01. > :40:05.here, Ken is with us this evening, absolutely brilliant from Mark
:40:06. > :40:10.Selby. Yes, a fantastic break, I mean he potted some fantastic balls
:40:11. > :40:16.to keep the break going but he got a lot of luck. Ding was beating him
:40:17. > :40:21.with safety. His safety success isn't much higher than Mark Selby.
:40:22. > :40:26.Before he played the shot. Ding was left in. The red has covered the
:40:27. > :40:29.red, into the middle. It could have been, that break could have been
:40:30. > :40:33.Ding Junhui's break. He went for a tough red in the middle. Trying to
:40:34. > :40:36.get on to the black into the left corner this is what happened.
:40:37. > :40:41.Sometimes you need a bit of luck. But when you do get the bit of luck
:40:42. > :40:47.as Mark Selby did, he dually converted and what a fantastic break
:40:48. > :40:52.it was. Yes, this shot, I mean, wow. That was just like cueing, the
:40:53. > :40:56.highest order. I know the frame is one but to cue that like that, the
:40:57. > :41:01.power and control that is required. It is difficult to teach that sort
:41:02. > :41:05.of thing, Ken is right, the luck was frightening, how he got away with
:41:06. > :41:10.that, but from then on, it was just flawless. Flawless. I mean I
:41:11. > :41:15.commentated in the 143. That was the same. On our highlights show later
:41:16. > :41:18.on, if you have been watching on BBC Two we have shot of the day. Do you
:41:19. > :41:36.think we have a contender? That is shot of the Championship.
:41:37. > :41:42.Not the best break-off shot there. Mark Selby. Ding Junhui. Just having
:41:43. > :41:48.a look to see if the black is available into the right corner.
:41:49. > :41:59.If it is, I think it makes this pot a little more easier. He didn't have
:42:00. > :42:08.to do much with the cue ball. The black did go, where is this red
:42:09. > :42:14.going? He's going to be hampered, Mark, but will he take it on? The
:42:15. > :42:21.black goes to the opposite corner, he tried to play that red.
:42:22. > :42:30.The question is, has that red run safe? Just waiting for someone to
:42:31. > :42:35.take their seat there. As I mentioned Marking ore a red
:42:36. > :42:39.seems to play them so well. This is a tester for that. Very solid bridge
:42:40. > :42:45.hand there, but a bit of unwanted side, you can miss these.
:42:46. > :42:58.He plays them so well. That was about the best he could
:42:59. > :43:07.imagine, he is the wrong side of the blue but he can get back up to the
:43:08. > :43:11.reds here. Well not as he intended but it might
:43:12. > :43:17.work out to his advantage, he will take this on with the rest and maybe
:43:18. > :43:22.open the bunch. He put a bit too much left-hand side side. It may
:43:23. > :43:26.work to his advantage but this red is definitely missable. See when it
:43:27. > :43:30.checks up, that the left-hand side that caused that and it just sent it
:43:31. > :43:34.too straight on for the red. As Dennis said it may work to his
:43:35. > :43:38.advantage, the fact in potting it he will be bringing in the pink and
:43:39. > :43:52.other reds into play, he has to play it with a lot of pace and using the
:43:53. > :43:56.rest makes this red missable. 93%, he has only missed one with the
:43:57. > :44:08.rest during this match. He has missed that one. What has he left?
:44:09. > :44:12.Nothing. Amazing. He would have thought I must get in
:44:13. > :44:18.otherwise I'm going to leave Ding Junhui right in among them and he
:44:19. > :44:21.has covered everything. Doesn't half make a big difference
:44:22. > :44:32.if you miss and you get away with it. I think from Ding Junhui's point
:44:33. > :44:36.of view, Dennis, he is very debilitating, you see your opponent
:44:37. > :44:40.make a mistake, it is quite a walk to the table and you are looking for
:44:41. > :44:44.something, anything, and that is about three time, and of course, now
:44:45. > :44:51.we are at the one table situation, there you see, players sat quite a
:44:52. > :44:52.distance from the table. Mark Selby, he is playing his luck
:44:53. > :45:15.here. Nothing lucky about that safety
:45:16. > :45:19.shot, played to perfection. Just a little point while we show
:45:20. > :45:25.you the players's view, we were talking to Ding Junhui's friends up
:45:26. > :45:31.in the champions lounge, from China, and Steven Hendry said what do they
:45:32. > :45:37.call him in China, do they call him Ding? They said it is all right.
:45:38. > :45:44.People call him Ding, even though it sound like you are calling him by
:45:45. > :45:48.his surname. You have Selby and Ding, so it is a
:45:49. > :46:01.surname but it is OK to call him Ding, he is quite happy with that.
:46:02. > :46:10.That's all he coiled do. He has made -- could do. He has made a good job
:46:11. > :46:14.of it. The one to the left of blue is pottable. He must be very
:46:15. > :46:20.anxious, wants to get his hand on the table, have an easy starter.
:46:21. > :46:25.You can't blame him for thinking he is entitled to get one.
:46:26. > :46:29.It is like when people fluke a red and make a big break, you say yes,
:46:30. > :46:33.but apart from the fluke, the rest of it was flawless. . If it hadn't
:46:34. > :46:44.been for the fluke he would never have had the opportunity.
:46:45. > :47:05.To the line. I think he is using all his experience, he is not going to
:47:06. > :47:11.risk a long pot, and leave Ding in among them. So he is keeping it
:47:12. > :47:17.tight here. Got a three frame advantage, that is
:47:18. > :47:21.why he didn't risk the long put. Keep your opponent in trouble.
:47:22. > :47:28.Yes, I think that has been Mark Selby 's game plan from frame one.
:47:29. > :47:32.He is more inclined to play thin safeties rather than the attacking
:47:33. > :47:34.safety. He knows how dangerous Ding Junhui can be, when he gets in among
:47:35. > :47:56.the balls. He is frightened to play the
:47:57. > :48:00.containing safety to this end, because there is is a red, the one
:48:01. > :48:03.furthest away from this top cushion would be available to the right
:48:04. > :48:09.corner. He can't get to the side cushion, to
:48:10. > :48:13.nestle on the red because the yellow is in the way.
:48:14. > :48:23.So another headache for the young man.
:48:24. > :48:27.That red that is just away from the top cushion the furthest away, he is
:48:28. > :48:34.trying to nestle on to that. He needs to judge this well.
:48:35. > :48:46.Needs to judge it well, if he slips by it he leaves it. Well played.
:48:47. > :48:52.Haye had threes capes like that in the opening flame that which
:48:53. > :49:04.particulared to perfection. -- that were played.
:49:05. > :49:10.Couple of reds he can get back down the table off, but he is looking for
:49:11. > :49:19.the one that will make it as awkward adds possible for his opponent.
:49:20. > :49:25.Needs to miss the brown, and he hasn't.
:49:26. > :49:29.And brown, now it is next to the yellow is a nice target, Ding might
:49:30. > :49:30.be able to get in behind those two. Two.
:49:31. > :49:56.From this position. You have to say this, start of this
:49:57. > :50:01.evening's session is absolutely wonderful snooker. Snooker for the
:50:02. > :50:10.connoisseur. Some of the safety has been
:50:11. > :50:20.absolutely brilliant. Called it a bit too thick. And he's
:50:21. > :50:23.left to a chance. You would think he would be looking at the red close
:50:24. > :50:25.toast the cue ball. Just got to avoid the left middle
:50:26. > :50:45.pocket here. A lot of support here in the
:50:46. > :50:49.Crucible Theatre for Ding Junhui. He has been living in the Sheffield
:50:50. > :50:56.area for ten year, believe it or not.
:50:57. > :51:02.But this is a pretty good chance. Can he return the compliment and
:51:03. > :51:10.make him a sizeable contribution here? You have seen Mark Selby make
:51:11. > :51:59.that magnificent 128. This is his response.
:52:00. > :52:06.He's OK. A bit straighter on this red would have been ideal. Needs
:52:07. > :52:16.another 49 points from this position, to clinch the frame.
:52:17. > :52:21.He may not be too happy with that. Slightly hampered. It all depends on
:52:22. > :52:25.the potting angle of the pink, if he can roll it in and get on the next
:52:26. > :52:32.red, fine. He's OK.
:52:33. > :52:39.He was OK. He just said the agile where he
:52:40. > :52:44.could roll it in, max time, just over seven hours.
:52:45. > :52:58.-- angle. OK, he has a red just above the
:52:59. > :53:04.black spot, if he has the right angle he can play for.
:53:05. > :53:13.Could decide to play for the black. Got the perfect angle on the pink.
:53:14. > :53:17.When you have these long-drawn-out safety ex change, when you get these
:53:18. > :53:22.opportunities, you have to take them, so there is pressure on every
:53:23. > :53:28.shot. And when he pots this red it is
:53:29. > :53:37.clearing the path for the red to the right of the four, for the left
:53:38. > :53:47.corner pocket. So those four reds are all available
:53:48. > :53:50.towards the pink. Playing out for those, rather than the difficult one
:53:51. > :53:54.on the cushion, he could have done with hitting it a little harder. He
:53:55. > :53:58.is just slightly out of position, but he should be OK, there is is a
:53:59. > :54:06.little gap there that he can screw through, to get on the pink.
:54:07. > :54:11.Just a delicate little gap that he has found perfectly.
:54:12. > :54:17.Looked at his body language, he looked up there. I don't think he is
:54:18. > :54:22.perfect on this pink. He can just hold it. A little stun
:54:23. > :54:27.run through, he found he can drop it in, dead weight. Still retain nice
:54:28. > :54:31.position. And those three reds in the middle
:54:32. > :54:39.with colour, you would think he would put it past the point where
:54:40. > :54:43.Mark Selby needs a snooker. And removing that red has cleared
:54:44. > :54:48.the path for the other two to the right corner.
:54:49. > :54:59.So good response after that opening frame.
:55:00. > :55:06.It was always going to be cracking semifinal. It would have graced any
:55:07. > :55:11.final, this match. Well, it was a final last year,
:55:12. > :55:17.wasn't it. When Ding had to come through the
:55:18. > :55:30.qualifying stages, and got himself through to the final. So now, this
:55:31. > :55:35.red, and the black, to go 66 points ahead, with only 59 remaining.
:55:36. > :55:39.As you say Dennis, what a response this has been. He could have been
:55:40. > :55:45.forgiven for feeling a bit down after what happened to him in the
:55:46. > :55:52.first frame, but none of it. Very well played.
:55:53. > :55:57.Very well played indeed. 66 points the lead, 59 remaining.
:55:58. > :56:01.And I suggest that he just rolls this red in, he doesn't want Mark
:56:02. > :56:06.Selby to be playing for snooker, just make certain of the red.
:56:07. > :56:09.That's exactly what he does. That will mean no way back to the table
:56:10. > :56:32.now for Mark Selby. Good play. Oh great shot on the pink! The
:56:33. > :56:40.standard here is absolutely superb. Chance of a century. Who would have
:56:41. > :56:44.thought it? Yes, who would have thought it in the opening frame
:56:45. > :56:49.after the way the match started, over 18 minutes without a ball being
:56:50. > :56:57.potted but the standard has been superb.
:56:58. > :57:09.He has had 11 centuries so far, way ahead of anyone else in this year's
:57:10. > :57:13.Bet Fred World Championship. If he could get one here he would
:57:14. > :57:18.have twice as many as the next player.
:57:19. > :57:24.Mark Selby and Mark Allen are on six.
:57:25. > :57:31.He just didn't get the right angle. For 100, what a century this would
:57:32. > :57:43.be. Oh he got a kick. He got a kick.
:57:44. > :57:49.Well, it doesn't matter, well done Ding Junhui, Mark Selby seemed, he
:57:50. > :57:55.got one chance and he did the business. Marvellous play from both
:57:56. > :58:00.players. Two in it again, 10-8, Mark Selby. Almost another ton. I wonder
:58:01. > :58:03.when I look at the quality of match play here, whether we could be
:58:04. > :58:08.looking, one of The Crucible semifinals. Yes, absolutely. I think
:58:09. > :58:13.the most impressive thing, when you have long bouts of safety it is hard
:58:14. > :58:16.to keep concentration, we went 18 minutes without a pot and Mark Selby
:58:17. > :58:20.got one chance and made a century. Same with Ding there, he had been
:58:21. > :58:25.kept out for so long, but the one chance he can make a wonderful
:58:26. > :58:31.break, under pressure as well, that has been very impressive. Mark Selby
:58:32. > :58:34.has got away with winning the first frame, Haye has got away with
:58:35. > :58:40.another one, Ding has come to the table. Long safety bouts but when he
:58:41. > :58:44.gets in he is a machine Ding Junhui, an absolute machine. It is the
:58:45. > :58:48.perfect response. See where he has his arm now. When Mark Selby is
:58:49. > :58:52.parading round the table, he is looking comfortable there, Ding was
:58:53. > :58:57.in that position, and I was looking at him thinking he looks a bit
:58:58. > :59:02.forlorn there, thinking I can't do much there. The way he made the
:59:03. > :59:07.century, the balls he was potting, Ding could be forgiven for putting
:59:08. > :59:11.his head down a bit. Tremendous testimony transplant. Maybe a few
:59:12. > :59:14.years ago Ding said you know he might have put his head down. I
:59:15. > :59:19.think over the last couple of years he has matured. Getting the the
:59:20. > :59:23.final last year here has matured him a lot and working with Terry
:59:24. > :59:28.Griffiths as well, it has to be mentioned. Yes, absolutely. Dennis,
:59:29. > :59:34.Ken is right, we have seen a very different Ding Junhui haven't we.
:59:35. > :59:38.Yes, his temperament is totally difference. He doesn't beat himself
:59:39. > :59:44.up the way he used to do, he used to go back to his seat and slouch in
:59:45. > :59:46.the seat, and the body language was always pretty poor but that has long
:59:47. > :00:30.gone. The white is close. Only going to
:00:31. > :00:46.cost him four points and there's nothing available.
:00:47. > :00:57.That is a bit short of pace. He might be tempted here. He might just
:00:58. > :01:02.be tempted to have a go at this long red because he can get on the black.
:01:03. > :01:08.It is a tough one, but he can come around and see what he would leave.
:01:09. > :01:14.I don't think he can hold for the black of one cushion if he takes the
:01:15. > :01:21.pot on. He is an attacking player and that is what he is going to
:01:22. > :01:30.attempt. This will be some shot if he can pot it and hold for the
:01:31. > :01:41.black. Where is the red going to finish? It might just be tempted
:01:42. > :01:50.here to take the double on. It is a thin cut back. The double would be a
:01:51. > :02:03.free shot. He's pretty good at doubling balls is Ding Junhui.
:02:04. > :02:21.It's not far away. Look at the cue ball. He would have been right in. I
:02:22. > :02:32.am sure, for a second he thought it was in the pocket. It was so close.
:02:33. > :02:37.But once again, Mark Selby close to the Reds. No intention of bringing
:02:38. > :02:41.anything out. He is playing thin safety is all the time, trying to
:02:42. > :02:46.keep this much very tight. You see the other side of it, Ding Junhui
:02:47. > :02:58.will be more inclined to play a thicker safety and bring the Reds
:02:59. > :03:04.into play. Good length of the cue ball was needed and got. He has left
:03:05. > :03:07.a half ball pot on. But he has made so much more difficult with the cue
:03:08. > :03:22.ball tight to the baulk cushion. If he takes this pot on to the right
:03:23. > :03:24.corner, he will do well to avoid cannon in into the red to the left
:03:25. > :03:39.of the bunch. And he didn't avoid the cannon into
:03:40. > :03:44.that red. It will still cut this red to the left of the bunch and he
:03:45. > :03:52.could get himself onto the blue or baulk colours. We will show you the
:03:53. > :03:58.attempt. Maybe if he had potted it, he might have avoided the cannon.
:03:59. > :04:14.Well played. Just the wrong side of the blue. Medium pot red into the
:04:15. > :04:34.corner. Not quite certain what Ding Junhui
:04:35. > :04:37.is looking at, is there a plant somewhere? You would think he would
:04:38. > :04:44.just drop it in and play for the red that Dennis suggested. I think what
:04:45. > :04:48.he was looking at, John, got to play for the thing in such a way to leave
:04:49. > :04:54.a good angle to get into the Reds. If he plays for the pink, the pink
:04:55. > :05:01.won't go on its part and the red to the right of the pink will be
:05:02. > :05:07.available. -- spot. He has decided to go for the blue. He has got a
:05:08. > :05:12.good angle on the blue. I would suggest here, he might be better, we
:05:13. > :05:16.normally see a player cannon into the pink, but I would cannon into
:05:17. > :05:22.the red, just to the right of the pink here. Catching the pink,
:05:23. > :05:28.because it was loose. But he is OK, just about got this red to the
:05:29. > :05:32.middle. It is not perfect, but it is a pot. That is all you can hope for.
:05:33. > :05:34.Just missed the pink and hit the red, I think it would have been more
:05:35. > :06:09.beneficial. That was a good shot. But it's not
:06:10. > :06:15.the perfect angle to pot the yellow and get into the bunch. It is a
:06:16. > :06:25.little bit thin for that. He might possibly, just looking to see if he
:06:26. > :06:30.could do that. It wasn't on. It wasn't quite on. It was just a bit
:06:31. > :06:40.too thin for the shot that he attempted.
:06:41. > :06:48.Just a misjudgement. He would have been better off playing for this
:06:49. > :06:52.red. But once the pink went over the corner, that red was no longer
:06:53. > :06:57.available. It was a good opportunity, tried to break the Reds
:06:58. > :07:25.wants. They didn't break nice. -- once.
:07:26. > :07:39.I think he may just have covered the path down the left-hand side of the
:07:40. > :07:45.table. I think he can just get to the edge of the reds.
:07:46. > :07:52.Of course, with the pink over the pocket, it is not completely over
:07:53. > :08:02.the pocket, it makes this a bit of an awkward frame now. It has to be
:08:03. > :08:06.said that once Ding Junhui could get back the yellow and hip The Reds, he
:08:07. > :08:10.should have found the baulk cushion. He had a good line and he could have
:08:11. > :08:13.had Mark Selby in trouble. Probably an opportunity now the mark to put
:08:14. > :08:29.Ding in trouble. Much too thick. OK, he's not left anything, but
:08:30. > :08:32.didn't make the most of the opportunity to play a good safety.
:08:33. > :08:43.Can Ding Junhui play one here? If it misses the yellow, it could be
:08:44. > :09:02.pretty good. Just got to be careful he doesn't
:09:03. > :09:11.send a red over the corner pocket where the pink is. There is one red
:09:12. > :09:13.that will cut towards that pink. So imperative he gets a good cue ball
:09:14. > :09:33.again. Hasn't blocked off the escape route
:09:34. > :09:35.down the left-hand side of the table, but the reds are gradually
:09:36. > :09:52.going to get push towards the pink. There is another red over there and
:09:53. > :10:01.we might have another one joining it shortly. If the pink was right over
:10:02. > :10:04.the pocket, it would be stalemate. At the moment, you cannot leave a
:10:05. > :10:18.pot into that corner pocket because of the pink.
:10:19. > :10:27.He has made a complete mess of that shot. I think he took the pot on in
:10:28. > :10:34.the end. He could have left something much easier than this for
:10:35. > :10:38.Ding Junhui. Big pressure on this red that is roundabout the black
:10:39. > :10:44.spots. It is hard to imagine what he was playing. Maybe he thought he
:10:45. > :10:47.could play the pot I get to the gap. Mr pot by so much. What pressure is
:10:48. > :11:07.on this? Got to go on. Brilliant. Superb. This young man's
:11:08. > :11:13.temperament to do it on the big stage. We all had great hopes for
:11:14. > :11:18.him. He had a couple of years in the wilderness. Had a few bad beatings
:11:19. > :11:22.by Ronnie O'Sullivan and it affected his confidence and his belief. But
:11:23. > :11:29.he has got it back now. Yes, only a few seasons ago since this Chinese
:11:30. > :11:40.player 15 ranking tournaments in one season. Trusting a little bit to
:11:41. > :11:45.look with the cannon. He might just be OK. There is a red that will go
:11:46. > :11:49.to the right middle pocket. As we show you the shot again, he is
:11:50. > :11:58.playing a cannon just to open things up.
:11:59. > :12:09.He can play this red, drop it in dead weight, he can be on the pink.
:12:10. > :12:22.Right in the heart of the pocket. Playing it firmer, it made the pot
:12:23. > :12:30.that little bit more difficult but is nicely on the blue. Choice of
:12:31. > :12:35.Reds here. You would like to be on this red below the blue so he can
:12:36. > :12:36.get a nice angle on the blue. Needs another 36 points from this
:12:37. > :13:09.position. Little bit straighter on this blue
:13:10. > :13:12.would have been better, but the red below the pink, you would feel he
:13:13. > :13:18.can play for. He may be looking at a cannon on those two Reds together. I
:13:19. > :13:24.will give him the benefit of the doubt, I think he played for this
:13:25. > :13:32.red. Difficult to tell from the commentary box, exactly what the
:13:33. > :13:38.player can see, but he's perfect. He is very good with his little
:13:39. > :13:42.stubborn screws, as good as anyone I have ever seen, in all honesty. --
:13:43. > :13:52.stun screws. Just one slip-up from Mark Selby and
:13:53. > :14:30.it's going to prove costly. He could play for either of the reds
:14:31. > :14:36.for the left middle. Using the opportunity to cannon off the two
:14:37. > :14:45.Reds. What is the potting angle like?
:14:46. > :15:02.He doesn't like the potting angle, so this red and back-up for the
:15:03. > :15:05.blue. That is inch perfect. Just that one mistake. Mark Selby thought
:15:06. > :15:15.if I could pot the red, he could find the gap. He got nowhere near
:15:16. > :15:19.the pot and then messed up. But hasn't he took full advantage of
:15:20. > :15:24.that mistake? As you said at the time, we referred to it, that
:15:25. > :15:29.opening red, there was so much pressure on it, tight onto the
:15:30. > :15:37.cushion. Just rolled it in beautifully. This was the one. Right
:15:38. > :15:47.in the heart of the pocket. He never got into the cue ball. He never got
:15:48. > :15:53.into the cue ball. Oh dear. That was amazing because if he overdoes it,
:15:54. > :15:58.he is on the blue. He didn't get any screw on it, he just stunned it.
:15:59. > :16:03.Little lapse in concentration. How many times do we see it? Think the
:16:04. > :16:12.job is done, done all the hard work. What a mistake.
:16:13. > :16:14.Snookered on all colours. Who would have thought that from the position
:16:15. > :16:30.he was in? Can he see the black? He is looking
:16:31. > :16:31.at that. I think he is snookered on that one. Maybe he can just see the
:16:32. > :16:48.black? Just about. Well, he had to play it with a touch
:16:49. > :16:53.of side and he has left a possible pot. He is 59 in front and there is
:16:54. > :16:59.lots of points on the table. It doesn't have to be all blacks. He
:17:00. > :17:05.might have been better to try to play the green from that situation
:17:06. > :17:07.rather than risk that little swerve. This would be a body blow if he was
:17:08. > :17:24.to lose this frame now. As to sit there now and suffer. The
:17:25. > :17:31.big problem ball from Mark Selby will be the one that's very adjacent
:17:32. > :17:37.to the black. But he'll just be happy to be back at the table with a
:17:38. > :17:57.chance of winning the frame. Didn't see that coming.
:17:58. > :18:12.53 behind, 59 remaining. A few points to play with.
:18:13. > :18:20.That has cost him the frame. A lot of pressure on him, and he had a
:18:21. > :18:24.chance and he took the slightly more difficult pot for good position.
:18:25. > :18:34.Once he missed that, he knew it was the end of frame. He holds his hand
:18:35. > :18:42.up to apologise, but the frame was safe anyway. Just to absolutely make
:18:43. > :18:52.certain. He is showing a lot of composure here, is this Chinese
:18:53. > :18:57.player. He really is. How relieved Will he be, Dennis? I read, after
:18:58. > :19:03.the mistake he made an Mark Selby didn't punish him. So Mark Selby
:19:04. > :19:05.will feel the repercussions of that. Ding Junhui, he can forget about the
:19:06. > :19:19.careless positional shot. One more frame to be played before
:19:20. > :19:26.the mid-session interval and every chance we could be all square. Mark
:19:27. > :19:30.Selby might have other ideas. Doesn't matter about that. Can just
:19:31. > :19:46.try a double. A treble even. Doesn't matter, Mark
:19:47. > :19:53.will stay in his seat. That is a great frame for Ding Junhui. Now he
:19:54. > :19:57.is only one frame behind. It is the -- nine to the defending champion.
:19:58. > :20:05.STUDIO: This fascinating semifinal tussle takes another dramatic twist?
:20:06. > :20:08.Yes, fantastic opening red from Ding Junhui. Look like it was going to be
:20:09. > :20:22.a frame-winning break before he played the poor positional shot.
:20:23. > :20:27.Ding has great cue ball control. When we started the show, you said
:20:28. > :20:30.it is so important Ding stays in the hunt tonight. You do not want to be
:20:31. > :20:38.going into the final session chasing the match? He needs to win the
:20:39. > :20:44.session at least 5-3 to give him a chance. Mark Selby, edgy on the red.
:20:45. > :20:48.It is a long match. You're going to have lapses of concentration, but
:20:49. > :20:56.Ding looks to be cueing very well. The opening red, we saw the century
:20:57. > :21:00.attempt in the last frame, but the opening red anti-platelet that pays,
:21:01. > :21:07.it shows you how confident he is. If he loses this frame, he goes back to
:21:08. > :21:13.where he started. Lots of people on social media absolutely loving that
:21:14. > :21:25.Mark Selby blue. It is the shot of the tournament.
:21:26. > :21:37.COMMENTATOR: it has been snooker for the, Sir, the safety shot.
:21:38. > :21:42.Considering he had all that in the first frame, hasn't Ding Junhui done
:21:43. > :21:52.well to keep tabs with the defending champion? Big frame now before the
:21:53. > :22:03.mid-session interval. And Ding will get the first chance. What a
:22:04. > :22:09.terrific reception for that long pot. He has got a lot of supporters
:22:10. > :22:18.here in the Crucible Theatre, for this very popular player. He's
:22:19. > :22:23.looking at the two Reds just below the cluster. He thinks there may be
:22:24. > :22:29.Uplands. And there is. Can he get to it the yellow? -- Uplands. We'll
:22:30. > :22:43.have to force those of the side cushion. Well, he didn't. He will be
:22:44. > :22:50.OK with that. Puts his hand up and apologises. But he won't apologise
:22:51. > :23:03.for potting the rest of the balls, if he can.
:23:04. > :23:19.For me, I am certain that plant is still there. He just didn't feel as
:23:20. > :23:25.though he could get on it last time. You play them at pace, you have to
:23:26. > :23:32.be so accurate. First chance has gone begging. You catch that near
:23:33. > :23:50.jaw and it is not going to drop. That is well negotiated to get onto
:23:51. > :23:54.a ball colour. The only consolation for Ding Junhui is the Black went in
:23:55. > :24:01.amongst the reds and is out of commission. The pink is available in
:24:02. > :24:21.a few shots time. And Mark Selby will be hoping the
:24:22. > :24:32.pink spot is occupied. That will make a big difference.
:24:33. > :24:37.Not sure if he's got a good angle to get onto the pink. He might have to
:24:38. > :25:05.go up for the blue again. This is going to require a very
:25:06. > :25:09.accurate shot. He's going to have two pot this blue, go between yellow
:25:10. > :25:19.and brown with left-hand side to head towards the pink and Reds. Here
:25:20. > :25:29.comes the cue ball. How is your luck? Not very good. He turns away
:25:30. > :25:37.and that tells us that he's not on a red. He played it well.
:25:38. > :25:52.Loads of side, you could see it pick up pace. Bit unlucky. He thinks he
:25:53. > :25:56.can just get through to the thin edge of the red and put it through
:25:57. > :26:14.to the corner. And he could. Once again, bridging over a ball. I
:26:15. > :26:23.have never seen anybody as good as this player when he is hampered like
:26:24. > :26:26.this. One thing you have got to do when you are striking down on a ball
:26:27. > :26:56.is find the centre of the white. It is hard to describe how good a
:26:57. > :27:03.shot that last one was, positional wise. To screw up from where the
:27:04. > :27:11.green was anti-finish in that gap, you can't really teach someone that.
:27:12. > :27:29.Another 41 points needed from this position to get to the snookers
:27:30. > :27:47.required stage. And those two Reds we thought was a
:27:48. > :27:53.plant, they are still there. Are they still a plant? A lot of balls
:27:54. > :28:04.have moved around them. Mark is interested. They are not far off.
:28:05. > :28:06.Just likely to the right of the pocket. He has got the loose one
:28:07. > :28:26.there as well. He is playing the loose red. Just
:28:27. > :28:37.going to the left of the pocket, that plant. As you can see. You can
:28:38. > :28:42.see better from that angle. If he can't follow through and bring the
:28:43. > :28:46.reds into play, he might have to play for the plant. But I think the
:28:47. > :28:54.other red next to it might stop him from making the angle. We will know
:28:55. > :29:05.exactly whether he thinks it's on with the way he plays the pink.
:29:06. > :29:14.There's a bit of distance between the two Reds and he doesn't think
:29:15. > :29:21.the plant is on. Because he was looking at swinging this around the
:29:22. > :29:31.ankles. What a shot this is he's taking on. -- angles. Have a look at
:29:32. > :29:35.that for a shot! That is one of the best positional shots you will ever
:29:36. > :29:43.wish to see. We talked about the long blue, but this was tremendous.
:29:44. > :29:51.It really was. And the amount of side he has put on it, I don't think
:29:52. > :29:58.he's got a tip problem. Good point, the new tip he had put on. If you
:29:59. > :30:03.weren't confident with it, you wouldn't even attempt a shot like
:30:04. > :30:08.that with that much side. And that one shot he played there could well
:30:09. > :30:14.be a frame-winner. He is already 32 in front. It is worth seeing this
:30:15. > :30:49.again. So much right hand side. Look at the white pick-up pace.
:30:50. > :30:54.These two players gave us a great final last year. 18-14 Mark Selby
:30:55. > :31:12.beat Ding Junhui. And the semifinal here could quite
:31:13. > :31:18.well be a classic. You know, things got to within one frame, but look
:31:19. > :31:23.how Mark Selby's responded. Yes he did have first chance of course,
:31:24. > :31:30.Ding Junhui. Missed the black, along the top
:31:31. > :31:33.cushion. And such is the standard and the standard that these two
:31:34. > :31:37.players have shown this evening, you miss when you are in, it is going to
:31:38. > :31:48.cost you. That was the black.
:31:49. > :31:51.And he's been sat down ever since. 53 points the difference, 59
:31:52. > :31:55.remaining. Pot this red go 54 in front, with 51
:31:56. > :32:04.remaining. He is a tough player to get the
:32:05. > :32:26.better of, isn't he? That's why he has remained at number
:32:27. > :32:31.one for so long. To two years. He really is one of the best match
:32:32. > :32:34.players we have ever seen. Well, pity about that, but that will
:32:35. > :32:38.be enough for Ding Junhui I'm certain. He came out this session,
:32:39. > :32:43.he is having a look at the score board, he is going to give it a go,
:32:44. > :32:48.fair play to him. But he is 60 points behind.
:32:49. > :32:55.REFEREE: Can you switch that off please? Just 51 remaining.
:32:56. > :33:02.So three four point snookers erequired.
:33:03. > :33:07.Every credit to him coming back, wouldn't normally, wouldn't normally
:33:08. > :33:13.be in his DNA to play for three snoc, but, -- snookers, but as we
:33:14. > :33:15.always say, one snooker and a free ball, is the equivalent of three
:33:16. > :33:29.snookers. Highly unlikely against someone with
:33:30. > :33:32.the knowledge of the angles like Mark Selby but he will pot the black
:33:33. > :33:41.and try to get the snooker off the last red. Get the snooker, free
:33:42. > :33:45.ball. Now the idea is to try and get this
:33:46. > :33:49.cue ball tight behind the General Pinochet and try to get the road
:33:50. > :33:54.close to any other colour. -- pink. Maybe in behind the yellow
:33:55. > :34:02.or something. Something that could possibly give you a free ball.
:34:03. > :34:21.REFEREE: Ding Junhui 16. Three Three snookers needed. If he
:34:22. > :34:34.gets one with a free ball, one snooker would be sufficient.
:34:35. > :34:41.Yes, one cushion escape, he would have to be very accurate. He is
:34:42. > :34:46.going to slip past it. And he will be snookered in again, in behind the
:34:47. > :34:51.brown. All of a sudden, we are waiting for the mid-session
:34:52. > :35:01.interval, we thought this frame was all over. There is the second
:35:02. > :35:03.snooker. Well this is is a lot easier than the first one Mark was
:35:04. > :35:30.in. Looking at the angle here, can he
:35:31. > :35:44.get twice across the table and in behind the pink? Not a bad effort,
:35:45. > :35:48.just a bit too hard. Left Mark Selby a chance for this red, he won't
:35:49. > :35:50.refuse the opportunity, obviously, because if he pots the red, that's
:35:51. > :36:09.game over. Now then. Possibility here, push the
:36:10. > :36:21.red down to the top cushion, try and get that cue ball, tight to the
:36:22. > :36:26.blue. He may have got it, but he hasn't cut off the one cushion
:36:27. > :36:31.escape, that is why he needed to be tight to the blue. I think he
:36:32. > :36:46.prefers the two cushions. Believe it or not it is sometimes
:36:47. > :36:54.easier hitting two cushions than the one, John. Yes. You won't want to
:36:55. > :37:02.pot this red. He wants to leave it on, so he only has one snooker
:37:03. > :37:07.needed. That is if he can force the free
:37:08. > :37:15.ball. Didn't want that red in. Oh, it wasn't going to be a bad shot,
:37:16. > :37:20.really. May still have the snooker here. Maybe an edge of the red but
:37:21. > :37:27.Mark will be very careful he didn't clip the pink on the way to it.
:37:28. > :37:41.Because if he did, Ding Junhui could then win.
:37:42. > :37:50.Now he may play this red off the bum of the middle pocket and send the
:37:51. > :37:53.red ball back this way and triand get over behind the yellow.
:37:54. > :38:06.I don't know whether that is on but that is the thought.
:38:07. > :38:18.Oh well, that's unlucky. And that's enough for Ding Junhui. He concedes.
:38:19. > :38:24.What four marvellous frames they were. Great safety, snooker for the
:38:25. > :38:27.connoisseur, but the bottom line is, at the mid-session interval Mark
:38:28. > :38:31.Selby still has a two frame advantage over Ding Junhui.
:38:32. > :38:35.Well, the morning started and you could say that Ding Junhui didn't
:38:36. > :38:40.have a run of the ball, didn't have much luck, and half way through this
:38:41. > :38:44.evening's session and that bad luck is still perhaps going with him. He
:38:45. > :38:48.is fighting against it to be honest but he is doing very well. Steven
:38:49. > :38:52.said it was an important frame more for Mark Selby to keep that gap, but
:38:53. > :38:55.it has been fantastic snooker, it is, it is snooker for the purist
:38:56. > :38:59.because the safety has been top quality and when they getting in
:39:00. > :39:04.they are making big breaks and it is good match play snooker, you know, I
:39:05. > :39:07.mean this, this is, we already saw a fantastic shot from Mark Selby
:39:08. > :39:10.earlier, probably shot of the tournament but that is up there
:39:11. > :39:15.within the top ten shot, to keep that break going. Yes he has all the
:39:16. > :39:18.shots in the game Mark Selby. As I said before it is so important when
:39:19. > :39:23.you are chasing the game, as Ding was, he is three behind, he wings
:39:24. > :39:27.two brilliant frame, then Mark Selby wins that one, then he is back two
:39:28. > :39:31.behind. It is so important to get leads after going into the following
:39:32. > :39:36.sessions because you are up against it constantly. It is amazing
:39:37. > :39:39.quality. Let us go in the dressing room, let us deal with Mark Selby,
:39:40. > :39:44.what do you think is going through his mind? He will be happy to keep
:39:45. > :39:49.the gap, even if he gets two of the next four, still has that two Graham
:39:50. > :39:53.gap, it is hard the see Ding get a run of three or four frames or
:39:54. > :39:56.anybody to get three or four runs against Mark Selby, because he is so
:39:57. > :40:02.difficult, it is very hard to Forsterers from him. We have seen a
:40:03. > :40:06.few, but they are few and far between. Ding is up against it. Ding
:40:07. > :40:12.has to go through tonight's session and not make a mistakes, to get a
:40:13. > :40:15.lead going into tomorrow. But that is virtual him possible. Possible.
:40:16. > :40:20.We're have seen the standard, it is phenomenal. Night and day to the
:40:21. > :40:23.other semifinal, but, there is still two frames behind. Stephen thinks
:40:24. > :40:27.that the winner of the match is no disrespect to the other two chaps as
:40:28. > :40:31.well, the winner will go on to win the title and Steve has been
:40:32. > :40:34.unequivocal in saying it is Mark Selby, he thought Mark Selby's name
:40:35. > :40:39.was on the trophy, do you share that view? No, you would say it on form
:40:40. > :40:45.but as we know, you know, semifinals is only one match, when you get to
:40:46. > :40:51.the final, on form the way it has panned out, yes, we all know in
:40:52. > :40:55.sport, one day one match can be different, when you have someone as
:40:56. > :41:01.good as John Higgins who has been a four time winner, you can write him
:41:02. > :41:06.off at your pearl. Everyone Barry Hawkins, he can raise his game over
:41:07. > :41:09.you know a four session final. I understand what Stephen is saying.
:41:10. > :41:14.On current form you would say the winner is coming from this but you
:41:15. > :41:19.don't know. We are in a small space here, we are no looking at a fight
:41:20. > :41:24.out here! We all love each other here, let us bring you up-to-date
:41:25. > :41:28.with what has been happening in the other semifinal between Barry
:41:29. > :41:31.Hawkins runner up in 2013 taking on John Higgins four time world
:41:32. > :41:34.champion. In happened very early on this afternoon, in the first frame
:41:35. > :41:40.of the day. Now, guy, talk us through this, right. So Barry
:41:41. > :41:45.Hawkins, he has missed, that is his second miss, and so he is going to
:41:46. > :41:53.get a warning here. Yes. Now, watch what happens here.
:41:54. > :41:57.I was in commentary, he has tried this shot twice... Just seen two
:41:58. > :42:04.shots there. I think he played the shot twice, I
:42:05. > :42:09.think he, the pot was on an he didn't want to play it. If you are
:42:10. > :42:13.sat in your chair. Look at John's reaction He is fuming because
:42:14. > :42:18.onthinks when he left the table that pot wasn't on. So whether Barry had
:42:19. > :42:23.to use side to get to the angle, you know, there is no blame on Barry at
:42:24. > :42:26.all, as far as I'm concerned, and even when he is playing pot, in your
:42:27. > :42:32.chair, you are hoping your point is going to take that red on because it
:42:33. > :42:38.is so risky, that is like a two 30 shot. So at the mid-session it was
:42:39. > :42:45.7-5. We will show you the best of the action. Frame 13, commentary
:42:46. > :42:49.from Stephen and Dennis. Quite close to the middle pocket
:42:50. > :43:01.with the cue ball. REFEREE: Foul. And what a chance for
:43:02. > :43:05.Barry Hawkins. Surprised he didn't just anticipate the possibility of
:43:06. > :43:30.that happening. A bit unlucky for it to go in but it was always on.
:43:31. > :43:36.So nice cannon here, can open things up and could give himself a very
:43:37. > :44:18.good chance. He had that superb century break,
:44:19. > :44:35.just before the mid-session interval. Can he continue?
:44:36. > :45:40.The important score line is, he is two frames in front.
:45:41. > :45:47.Just let the cue ball runway Stephen. That was careless. Very
:45:48. > :45:53.careless. I don't know if he can get into the four reds together from
:45:54. > :45:57.this angle into the black. He has to really nip the cue ball.
:45:58. > :46:09.Perfect timing. And don't forget to pot the black as
:46:10. > :46:15.well. He went to go round the table but
:46:16. > :46:20.yes, forgot to pot the black and you take your focus away for one second,
:46:21. > :46:25.plays a careless positional shot, looked to be in with a chance to win
:46:26. > :46:36.the frame. He will be horrified with that.
:46:37. > :46:41.Barry Hawkins, sat in his chair. This shot here looks like it is
:46:42. > :46:51.going to open up all the reds. It is an important shot. That's a cracking
:46:52. > :47:02.shot that he's just played there, an absolutely belter of a shot. If
:47:03. > :47:08.Hawkins didn't feel bad enough going back to his chair, having seen the
:47:09. > :47:18.outcome of that great shot from John Higgins, he will feel even worse
:47:19. > :47:27.now. Let's see how John Higgins is feeling. Can he respond to that
:47:28. > :47:53.magnificent century break that his opponent made?
:47:54. > :47:59.That is pretty good. It wasn't ideal to be straight on the black there
:48:00. > :48:14.but this is about as good as he could have done.
:48:15. > :48:26.That was a delicate little screw shot to get himself on the pink,
:48:27. > :48:30.this is much better. Now a normal plain John Higgins,
:48:31. > :48:34.this would be perhaps be given the frame from here, the way he has been
:48:35. > :48:37.playing today, I wouldn't be quite so sure.
:48:38. > :48:56.It is hard to see where it can go wrong.
:48:57. > :49:02.Well, there is no-one knows John Higgins game better than the
:49:03. > :49:09.gentleman sitting next to me, Stephen Hendry. I used to go up to
:49:10. > :49:14.Spencer's club for the odd week and practise there, John turned
:49:15. > :49:19.professional in 1992. You and John were always playing together, and I
:49:20. > :49:25.think practising with you Stephen, helped to get John Higgins to world
:49:26. > :49:30.number one and world champion in six seasons.
:49:31. > :49:34.He has put a little bit of a careless shot there. He is OK, he is
:49:35. > :49:39.on this red, but unless he wants to follow through the cue ball off two
:49:40. > :49:40.cushion, he will be further away from this black than is perfectly
:49:41. > :50:06.positioned. Because he was going to be further
:50:07. > :50:25.away from the black, screwed the cue ball back for pink.
:50:26. > :50:38.Needs another good shot with the rest. If he was to get a red and a
:50:39. > :50:43.black, Barry would need a snooker, but it is not a gimme by any means,
:50:44. > :50:48.making sure his hands are nice and dry. He knows the importance of this
:50:49. > :50:51.next shot, in fact he was cleaning the little ex tension there.
:50:52. > :51:11.-- extension there. You could see the focus on John
:51:12. > :51:14.Higgins' face there. The concentration, in his eyes there, he
:51:15. > :51:19.knew the importance of that shot. Have a look at that. Just... Well
:51:20. > :51:38.played. Just made sure of the black, 36
:51:39. > :51:51.ahead with just 35 remaining, so not quite safe yet, this frame.
:51:52. > :51:58.Didn't want the little double-kiss there, he was hoping to get a
:51:59. > :52:04.snooker behind the black, but... He will be pleased with that effort but
:52:05. > :52:40.he mows the frame's far from safe just yet.
:52:41. > :52:52.That really was terrific cueing to knock that long red in. Doesn't
:52:53. > :53:00.matter about the black. Barry's thinking about it. And he's nodded
:53:01. > :53:03.to the referee. And John Higgins will be delighted, because Barry
:53:04. > :53:09.Hawkins almost got back to one behind, but he opens up that three
:53:10. > :53:13.frame advantage, it is 8-5. So 8-5 turned into 10-6 at the end of the
:53:14. > :53:17.second session and the boys will return tomorrow morning, you can see
:53:18. > :53:21.that live with us for the third session. That is just about it for
:53:22. > :53:25.now here on BBC Two, but we will be turning on to the red Button
:53:26. > :53:29.shortly. BBC short website and BBC sport app. The players Mark Selby
:53:30. > :53:33.and Ding Junhui out very soon so press the red Button now, and there
:53:34. > :53:36.has been lots of chatter on Twitter. Gardenerers world fans wondering
:53:37. > :53:40.where their programme is, well turn over for the red Button now for more
:53:41. > :54:16.pots and plants. We will see you soon, bye for now.
:54:17. > :54:25.Our crack team of experts use pioneering research