Day 15, Semi-Finals, Afternoon Session - Pt 1

:01:19. > :01:32.Good afternoon. We know there are walls waiting to be painted, shelves

:01:33. > :01:37.and begging to be put up and Gardens longing for some TLC. Let them wait.

:01:38. > :01:42.This weekend is all about invents indoors here at the Crucible

:01:43. > :01:51.Theatre. We are about to find out who will stride force into our

:01:52. > :01:57.final. Things are not pretty but John Higgins is somehow finding a

:01:58. > :02:02.way in his semifinal. He is inching towards a sixth world final. Barry

:02:03. > :02:11.Hawkins cannot seem to get going. He has banned chance after chance with

:02:12. > :02:15.Higgins therefore the taking. Mark Selby has thrown everything at his

:02:16. > :02:20.opponent in the other semifinal. Ding Junhui will not be broken. They

:02:21. > :02:25.resume at 12 frames appease afterword the greater sessions we

:02:26. > :02:31.have ever seen in 40 years here. We will introduce you to the tournament

:02:32. > :02:36.director, if he can stay still for long enough. You can send in your

:02:37. > :02:41.questions and videos. We will look at those, picked the best ones for

:02:42. > :02:50.the day and we will try to make your snooker game better. If you were up

:02:51. > :02:56.early this morning for the full life experience from the Crucible at

:02:57. > :03:00.10am, well done to you. The first four frames between Barry Hawkins

:03:01. > :03:05.and John Higgins will have done nothing to seize any sore heads. It

:03:06. > :03:10.was painful stuff. Nevertheless compelling forgiven what is at

:03:11. > :03:17.stake. John Higgins helped the four frame advantage at 10-6. He is

:03:18. > :03:22.searching for the magic ingredient that will bring back the emphatic

:03:23. > :03:28.form. Barry Hawkins chasing the game but it has been a curiously

:03:29. > :03:33.tentative performance from the Hawk. Bwemmy left at midday on BBC Two,

:03:34. > :03:39.Hawkins had fallen six frames behind, trailing 13-7. Higgins is

:03:40. > :03:42.eyeing an early finish. He needs all four remaining frames to book his

:03:43. > :04:03.place in a sixth Crucible final. Settle down. Harry Hawkins to break.

:04:04. > :04:15.-- Barry. This is a much better break off from Barry Hawkins. He has

:04:16. > :04:17.made a few poor break of shots so far in this session. That was

:04:18. > :04:56.better. Well, that good break of shots from

:04:57. > :05:01.Barry Hawkins has left himself with a chance here. John did not return a

:05:02. > :05:03.good safety. These are what you call confidence boosters. You must start

:05:04. > :05:21.knocking these in. It will be tough for Barry. 13-7

:05:22. > :05:30.behind. It really is. He is usually so good at that type of shot.

:05:31. > :05:38.What Barry has to do is win at least one frame of this last four to take

:05:39. > :05:46.the match into the final session tonight. John Higgins could get a

:05:47. > :05:55.night off which maybe he would like. He would not mind that at all. I has

:05:56. > :06:01.had -- have had a text from Les in Southport. He told me John was there

:06:02. > :06:06.last night. He drove to Southport. John was in his club knocking balls

:06:07. > :06:10.around at one o'clock this morning. He has had to drive back to

:06:11. > :06:18.Sheffield. That is probably why he is looking a little bit tired. Just

:06:19. > :07:23.over five hours there and back. He may be thought he pushed it

:07:24. > :07:29.there. He called the push himself. He was trying a little shot where

:07:30. > :07:37.you deliberately miscues so you do not push it. The referee would never

:07:38. > :07:42.have spotted that. But Barry... He is trying to miscue and he felt that

:07:43. > :07:53.he pushed it slightly. He will play it again. Yeah, that was OK. Surely

:07:54. > :07:56.they can get off this thread and get the cue ball back near the yellow or

:07:57. > :08:20.something like that. -- this red. Well, what was that! He hit that so

:08:21. > :08:29.hard and has left them read on. That has baffled him, that last shot. --

:08:30. > :08:44.left the red on. Aid to refit reception for that long

:08:45. > :08:55.pot. The Crucible crowd would like to see a bit of a comeback. -- a

:08:56. > :08:58.terrific reception. Stunned it into the reds rather than screw it.

:08:59. > :09:15.Played it to perfection. If he screwed that, he would have

:09:16. > :09:22.stuck into the back of the reds. You have to hit it half ball and not

:09:23. > :09:31.full. He could not have played it better. He needs to give himself a

:09:32. > :09:38.little bit of competence. -- confidence and

:09:39. > :10:15.He has done that so often this match. Finishing straight on the

:10:16. > :10:21.black. Another three or four inches of pace, it does not matter. As long

:10:22. > :10:25.as your hand is on the table, the black is unmissable. He would have

:10:26. > :10:35.loved to have gone into the bunch went knowing there is a break off

:10:36. > :10:51.over the middle pocket. -- a red over the middle pocket.

:10:52. > :11:02.Just looking at the bunch, in a couple of shots time, he will

:11:03. > :11:07.probably play for the green. That suggests the red with a nice angle

:11:08. > :11:11.on the green. From the blue, the pink is in the way. Definitely worth

:11:12. > :11:29.playing on the green here. Has he gone far enough across? He

:11:30. > :11:38.can still pot the green right-hand side. If he misses the pink but he

:11:39. > :11:43.can open the reds up. He has hit the pink and that has spoiled things.

:11:44. > :13:07.Did not quite get the cannon, as he intended.

:13:08. > :13:15.Yes, he called a shot at the previous visit when Barry Hawkins

:13:16. > :13:21.was playing the green into the reds. This is the line you would expect

:13:22. > :14:00.him to take. That is what he was trying and he caught the pink.

:14:01. > :14:10.He is playing the safety shot that saying, just maybe, I might be able

:14:11. > :14:19.to knock a plant in as well. I suppose he would call it a plant to

:14:20. > :14:24.nothing. No. Just the safety. He did look at the plant but he has a good

:14:25. > :15:09.one. It is in behind the yellow by the look of things.

:15:10. > :15:20.Left a tempter into the middle. If he can find a way to play it as a

:15:21. > :15:27.shock to nothing he will take it on. Otherwise he will go safe.

:15:28. > :15:38.He can get through to the one that is comfortable, to the right of the

:15:39. > :16:08.blue. If this one cuts, he will definitely take it on.

:16:09. > :16:15.Barry Hawkins comes to the table 29 points in front. An easy read

:16:16. > :16:17.start-up of the couple of the reds are available into the corner

:16:18. > :17:22.pockets. -- and easy red. Now, he has been finishing straight

:17:23. > :17:31.on a lot of blacks. He will have some sort of shot to play on into

:17:32. > :17:38.the bunch. Bringing that through quite a long way. If he gets nicely

:17:39. > :17:58.on one in the middle it will open another read -- red up.

:17:59. > :18:24.That last shot on the break off and into the middle was a terrific shot.

:18:25. > :18:32.At that angle, to pot at that pace was top class. -- that last shot on

:18:33. > :18:38.the red and into the middle. He is the only player that does that. Now

:18:39. > :18:45.the cannon into the right side of the reds. The two reds near the pink

:18:46. > :18:55.will open everything up. He played beautifully.

:18:56. > :19:00.Absolutely spot-on. You do not get a better split than that. This will

:19:01. > :19:29.make Barry feel a bit better. I will tell you what. That will not

:19:30. > :19:36.make him feel very good. That was a relapse in concentration. What a

:19:37. > :19:58.time to miss an easy pot! Looking at that, I think the pink

:19:59. > :20:12.lifted. It seemed to jump a little bit.

:20:13. > :20:20.Let's have another look at this in slow motion. I am sure the pink

:20:21. > :20:21.jumped here. It did a little bit. Maybe we are doing Barry and

:20:22. > :20:57.injustice. 51 points behind as we speak. In

:20:58. > :21:03.normal circumstances we would be saying it is a great chance for John

:21:04. > :21:08.Higgins to pinch the frame. I'm not sure either parents playing well

:21:09. > :21:12.enough to do that at the moment will stop -- either player is playing

:21:13. > :21:32.well enough to do that at the moment.

:21:33. > :21:54.He almost missed the pot. That is why he flicked the black.

:21:55. > :22:08.He will take that. He is still getting used to the new tip. Five

:22:09. > :22:22.and a half hour drive to Southport his good friend, Les Dodd, to put a

:22:23. > :22:26.new tip on and practice. Then the drive back. It is not like a tennis

:22:27. > :22:37.racket where you can just pick another one up.

:22:38. > :22:46.What a steal this would be! It will not be straightforward. As John has

:22:47. > :22:48.a look around, he is 28 behind. You would think it would all be about

:22:49. > :23:13.blue to pink. If he gets that far. That is amazing. He has overrun by

:23:14. > :23:16.five or six inches. I am not saying he is going to miss the green but I

:23:17. > :23:22.would rather him play the blue to get onto the yellow than the green

:23:23. > :23:43.at distance. Anything but straight is fine.

:23:44. > :23:53.Another couple of inches would have been fine. He looked a little bit

:23:54. > :24:24.down on himself. He did not get a good angle on the green.

:24:25. > :24:38.He has an angle to come off the top cushion. He could leave it for the

:24:39. > :24:48.corner. He must be so precise here. A bit too much side on it. A

:24:49. > :24:52.misjudgement. That is the new tip. That shot is the natural shot when

:24:53. > :24:57.you are used to the tip. That means he has not had enough time with this

:24:58. > :24:59.tip to judge that shot was not that shot he would definitely have played

:25:00. > :25:26.where Dennis said. That was a strange shot. I agree

:25:27. > :25:35.with the run-off. Barry could play this as a pot. Get the white tight

:25:36. > :25:48.on the baulk cushion. I wonder if he will take it on. He is not playing

:25:49. > :25:56.it. He is playing safe. He has played it well. It needs to bounce.

:25:57. > :26:04.It needs to balance. It has not stop this will cut. He is just looking up

:26:05. > :26:08.and back at the table. He knows John can sneak the pink in and the White

:26:09. > :26:17.will come automatically to the black.

:26:18. > :26:23.It is there by way of the cue ball. It will be a tough black, a very

:26:24. > :26:48.tough black. It is 14-7. The four-time former

:26:49. > :26:51.world champion has pinched that frame from Barry Hawkins. As I say,

:26:52. > :27:57.it is now 14-7. The 22nd frame. John Higgins to

:27:58. > :28:33.break. He left one in the middle which he

:28:34. > :29:02.will be taking on. Might be worth a double here for

:29:03. > :29:15.Barry. The free shots will be on the black. Wouldn't leave a great deal.

:29:16. > :29:37.John now has a seven frame advantage. He might be tempted with

:29:38. > :29:41.the red. The white will be going towards the green for them he will

:29:42. > :29:47.be going towards the red which is right middle pocket.

:29:48. > :30:09.A prolonged round of applause. He had a little bit of help from the

:30:10. > :30:14.green. And now, one good angle probably on the yellow here and he

:30:15. > :30:21.can go right into the bunch. Could be a good chance in a couple of

:30:22. > :30:25.shots time. Played for the blue. Same thing. Into the pink full ball.

:30:26. > :30:46.Make sure there are no plants on. I don't think those two reds will go

:30:47. > :30:50.near the black so it hasn't worked out perfectly for John. And now that

:30:51. > :31:01.the bloom is up next to the pink, the red into the middle pocket... --

:31:02. > :31:05.the blue is next to the pink. Not quite full ball but he was still

:31:06. > :31:08.unlucky not to drop on one. He is going to take this up into the

:31:09. > :31:26.corner and played for the black, it is a bit of a freak shot. APPLAUSE

:31:27. > :31:30.-- a free shot. Perfectly played. He is growing in confidence now, as he

:31:31. > :31:38.should do with a seven frame advantage. Playing a little flick

:31:39. > :31:43.off the red to open those two up just by the black. He has got second

:31:44. > :31:50.prize, pushed one over the middle pocket but he didn't play for it. He

:31:51. > :31:54.did open the two reds to the right of the black and there is a gap

:31:55. > :32:05.between them so he will be playing up for a baulk colour.

:32:06. > :32:14.You can tell by the shots he is playing, he is not anywhere near

:32:15. > :32:31.used to his tip but he is somehow 4-1 up in this session.

:32:32. > :32:39.Has it come far enough for the straight one or will he have to take

:32:40. > :32:44.the one closest to the black? It is the one closest, it shouldn't be a

:32:45. > :33:04.problem, a nice little stone shot. -- stun shot.

:33:05. > :33:10.It is not always essential to break into the pack when there is a red on

:33:11. > :33:14.because he knows he does not have to go into them because when he pots

:33:15. > :33:20.one ball, another will become available. If they were applied up

:33:21. > :33:22.-- if they were tied up he would have played the black into the bunch

:33:23. > :33:42.to stay on to this red. John Higgins highest break in this

:33:43. > :33:48.match amazingly is only 89 and that is in winning 14 frames. His highest

:33:49. > :34:18.break in this session has only been 48 and he has won four frames.

:34:19. > :34:34.It has run a little awkward if he can't get past this red because the

:34:35. > :34:42.one near the corner pocket is tight on the cushion.

:34:43. > :34:55.Just enough room. He has to head up the table again, though. He could

:34:56. > :34:57.hold for the black. It is a portable black but he could not have help it

:34:58. > :35:22.any more than that -- pottable. John Higgins, 45. He probably played

:35:23. > :35:38.it with a little touch of right-hand side and didn't allow for the throw.

:35:39. > :35:44.Well, he's having a bit of a nightmare now, Barry Hawkins. He

:35:45. > :36:02.knows this semifinal has slipped away from him.

:36:03. > :36:11.There was enough room for the red to pass the black but it wasn't a full

:36:12. > :36:39.pocket. When he touched the black, that was going to happen.

:36:40. > :36:46.I thought for a second he was going to kiss the red full ball and be on

:36:47. > :36:49.nothing. He played to go round the back of it without cannoning it but

:36:50. > :36:58.he did move it into a better position. He only needs two more

:36:59. > :37:06.reds to be assured of it and to leave Barry sitting in his seat. One

:37:07. > :37:10.more red and colour would leave snooker is required but if he pots

:37:11. > :37:16.to more, which he should do, Barry will not come back to the table.

:37:17. > :37:26.He will be so disappointed at not even competing, really. John Higgins

:37:27. > :37:30.highest break is only 48 and at this level you can't win frames with just

:37:31. > :38:04.48 but he has won five of them. Regardless if he wins this match

:38:05. > :38:12.with a session to spare or not, he will be on the practice table with

:38:13. > :38:15.that new tip. Because all the odds are he will get through to the final

:38:16. > :38:25.and he will want to play as many frames as possible to get used to

:38:26. > :38:33.it. Even that one, it doesn't matter about the black. Barry leaves the

:38:34. > :38:35.arena, as does John, and it is all too easy for the former four-time

:38:36. > :38:45.champion Andy is now leading 15-7. Racing toward you would think of six

:38:46. > :38:50.Crucible final six years after his last. We are in the practice room,

:38:51. > :38:55.Mark Selby the defending champion getting some practice and work done

:38:56. > :39:00.before his final session at two 30p against Ding Junhui after a

:39:01. > :39:05.sensational session last night in which Mark went 12-10 up and Ding

:39:06. > :39:08.came straight back at him with back-to-back centuries. It is

:39:09. > :39:13.beautifully poised in that one and we can't wait. I will not disturb

:39:14. > :39:17.him any more, we will get back to the match between John Higgins and

:39:18. > :39:22.Barry Hawkins and John definitely has eyes on the winning with a

:39:23. > :39:23.session to spare. Two more frames remaining in their third session.

:39:24. > :39:51.Can he win them both? Another good break-off shot from

:39:52. > :39:56.Barry, he has hit a different red to normal, you don't see them spread

:39:57. > :40:01.around like that. Barry will give it his best shot, playing for pride now

:40:02. > :40:10.and give it frame by frame, give it your best shot. That is not bad,

:40:11. > :40:12.really. Better in the pocket than wobbling in the jaws and staying up

:40:13. > :40:41.amongst the reds. The pace of his safety shots this

:40:42. > :40:52.morning has been the worst I have ever seen from Barry.

:40:53. > :41:03.Good pot from John Higgins but he should not have had it that easy. He

:41:04. > :41:10.didn't have to do an awful lot with the cue ball, it was a plain ball

:41:11. > :41:15.pot. The pink and black are tied up, I wonder if he will try to do some

:41:16. > :41:19.big about the black, if the powers in the blue with side and comes off

:41:20. > :41:22.the cushion he might be able to cannon the black and red and make

:41:23. > :41:30.something happen because they are tied up at the moment. That is what

:41:31. > :41:40.he has tried. He has brought the black into play. Is he on a red?

:41:41. > :41:43.That is unlucky, Dennis. He played your shot, and it is amazing he has

:41:44. > :42:08.not gone onto a red. I mean this semifinal means so much

:42:09. > :42:13.to both players but John Higgins, it is 2011 since he lifted the title

:42:14. > :42:21.here, beating Judd Trump in a fabulous final. He has had to wait

:42:22. > :42:28.another six years to get back to the one-table situation. Another loose

:42:29. > :42:35.safety shot. Exactly the same think he did not find the baulk cushion

:42:36. > :42:48.again. Somebody just come into the press box, John just had to get up

:42:49. > :42:52.off the shot. You always fancied him parting that on, it was almost

:42:53. > :43:00.identical to the previous one. And those types of pots always give you

:43:01. > :43:08.confidence with a new tip. They make you feel pretty good.

:43:09. > :43:19.Needs a bit of luck here. And he has got it. It is usually the case when

:43:20. > :43:24.you are out in front, I would say John is at the top of his form, but

:43:25. > :43:29.when you get a lead like that you tend to get the run of the ball and

:43:30. > :43:32.he got it there. And with that one little flick off the reds to finish

:43:33. > :44:46.on a red he has a great chance here. Just a little bit thin on the blue

:44:47. > :44:48.but doesn't have to do much with the cue ball, a bit of left-hand side to

:44:49. > :45:57.straighten it up off the cushion. There is one loose red at the bottom

:45:58. > :46:01.of the pack but he will need some sort of cannon in a minute, he might

:46:02. > :46:07.as well played to finish low on it so he can pot it and bring others

:46:08. > :46:11.into play and he has done that so he will be flicking off the pack and

:46:12. > :46:14.going up for blue or baulk colour and all of the reds will be in play

:46:15. > :46:31.after this shot. And that is perfect with the two

:46:32. > :46:34.reds below the pink potting in the corner so he will be playing for a

:46:35. > :47:19.choice off this yellow. You can see, 54 is the difference,

:47:20. > :47:29.he needs a few more pots to secure the frame. It should not be a

:47:30. > :47:33.problem and he will have one thing in the back of his mind now and that

:47:34. > :47:41.is to win the match with a session to spare. Then he can relax this

:47:42. > :47:46.evening and play that new tip in but it looks pretty good at the moment,

:47:47. > :47:48.he looks very comfortable with it. This is already his highest break of

:47:49. > :47:56.the morning session, Dennis. APPLAUSE

:47:57. > :48:18.That is frame ball. Can he make a century? 22 frames

:48:19. > :48:23.without a century! I never thought I would be saying that about John

:48:24. > :48:30.Higgins. But they only win one frame. And the next shop will

:48:31. > :48:38.determine if he can possibly get it, if he misses the pink and cannons

:48:39. > :48:47.the reds... He has got a bit of a chance. This will go into the

:48:48. > :48:50.corner. He might play it firm to try to flick another read off the

:48:51. > :49:00.cushion and that is what he has done. APPLAUSE

:49:01. > :49:09.He's playing to pot this black and cannons into the second Kroos, the

:49:10. > :49:14.one nearest the cushion. What a good shot.

:49:15. > :49:43.John Higgins is one of the best players of doubles in the game. He

:49:44. > :49:50.has been a fabulous break-builder over the years. I expected him to

:49:51. > :49:55.pot that's what a shame, note century break this morning but he is

:49:56. > :50:06.now just one away from victory with that 90 break and it is 16-7.

:50:07. > :50:17.Floyd Mayweather, from the recent time watching boxing. Celtic being

:50:18. > :50:21.the first British to win the European cup in 1967. The Ryder Cup.

:50:22. > :50:28.We had a penalty kick competition and I was chosen to go and I want

:50:29. > :50:37.it. I would love to win the world title again, that would be amazing.

:50:38. > :50:41.The Crucible. Followed by closely where we used to play the Irish

:50:42. > :50:52.Masters in Ireland. I would love to play for Celtic! Lately it has been

:50:53. > :50:57.stopped. But you do a bit back home. I would have to invite McGuire, he

:50:58. > :51:01.would bring the alcohol! Ricky Walden, he throws a few shapes

:51:02. > :51:06.around the table. And Andrew Higginson. I think the bags are a

:51:07. > :51:32.bit tight right now! So John Higgins breaks off in what

:51:33. > :51:40.he hopes will be the last frame of this semifinal. But Barry Hawkins,

:51:41. > :51:43.he has got a lot of pride, and I would love to see him knock in this

:51:44. > :51:59.long red. Unlucky. There is one that will cut

:52:00. > :52:08.back, I think. But that has tied up the black. He wasn't far away with

:52:09. > :52:21.this. No cutback, just a safety shot. He hasn't put the cue ball in,

:52:22. > :52:24.has he? Very good judgment, John! Got the pace of the table. You lucky

:52:25. > :52:38.boy! Barry was banging the table! If that

:52:39. > :52:43.White did happen to drop in, I think it is only allowed about two or

:52:44. > :52:50.three second and then it would be replaced, not like one of your

:52:51. > :52:54.putts... Gravity normally takes it! Barry is looking at a three-ball

:52:55. > :52:57.plant, if he takes it on the reds will be spread far and wide and I

:52:58. > :53:04.think he might as well have a go and try to make a 147 to beat Ronnie

:53:05. > :53:11.O'Sullivan's 146. The reds will be going everywhere if he is playing

:53:12. > :53:17.it. He has played it and what a shame! The White has gone in! He

:53:18. > :53:25.went all out to try to bring the black into it and make a sizeable

:53:26. > :53:31.break. He wanted to throw his cue into the crowd. He is such a lovely

:53:32. > :53:36.fella but he is struggling out there. But have a look at the focus

:53:37. > :53:43.on the face of John Higgins. He did not get involved in all that

:53:44. > :54:15.laughter. He is out there to do a job. APPLAUSE

:54:16. > :54:21.That is the hit, he needed to be straight on this, I don't know if he

:54:22. > :54:27.can pot it and miss the bunch but if he can eat and get on to blue or

:54:28. > :54:34.baulk colour but the harder he plays it, the wider the white will throw.

:54:35. > :54:38.He has managed to hold it for the black, amazingly enough. But this is

:54:39. > :55:01.missable am by no means easy. Having missed a just off straight

:55:02. > :55:06.black early in the match, that was a tough one, but he had a feeling it

:55:07. > :55:11.could win him frame and match if it went in. And earlier in the week

:55:12. > :55:18.that might have gone in off the far jaw, they aren't now. Come on,

:55:19. > :55:41.Barry, take us to the last session with a century.

:55:42. > :56:05.That just shows you how much he is struggling, he played to finish on

:56:06. > :57:40.the blue half ball. All at sea at the moment.

:57:41. > :57:47.He wobbled that want into the pocket.

:57:48. > :58:01.-- that one. He is doing well here, playing for pride at the moment,

:58:02. > :58:05.Harry Hawkins. -- Barry Hawkins. Having a bit of a laugh with the

:58:06. > :58:10.crowd and I think they would love to see him take this frame. John

:58:11. > :58:13.Higgins wouldn't. That black that he missed, he put himself under a bit

:58:14. > :58:17.of pressure even though he is so far in front because he wanted to win so

:58:18. > :58:22.he did not have to come back this evening. But the way things are

:58:23. > :58:31.going, he might have too. It wasn't a sitter.

:58:32. > :58:40.We just watched the black for a second time as Barry overhits that.

:58:41. > :58:46.Those blacks were going in off the far jaw but they aren't any more.

:58:47. > :58:53.Barry Hawkins has lost position, he is 40 in front, it doesn't appear as

:58:54. > :59:00.if any of these reds would be easily attainable from a positional shot.

:59:01. > :59:02.He will have some sort of pot into the yellow pocket if it goes in,

:59:03. > :59:26.maybe one into the middle. He needs this red and Green or

:59:27. > :59:31.above. No. But he is odds-on favourite, especially now that the

:59:32. > :59:38.white has finished up their. APPLAUSE

:59:39. > :59:42.He is having a little smile, a nice time to get a good run of the ball,

:59:43. > :00:03.16-7 behind! He will not be taking the miss

:00:04. > :00:17.because he now just needs to pot this red. 52 in front, don't go in

:00:18. > :00:25.off! Every chance we are coming back this evening.

:00:26. > :01:00.No. No, you are kidding. The white disappears. Barring sneakers, we are

:01:01. > :01:07.coming back this evening. -- snookers. Only the one snooker

:01:08. > :01:22.needed. The way they are situated, the

:01:23. > :01:29.colours, a bit of a chance that John could still close the match out in

:01:30. > :01:34.this session. I just wondered if he pops the three reds and the yellow

:01:35. > :01:44.then he could make a really telling snooker. A great call. Let's see if

:01:45. > :01:51.he will do that if he got in behind the green, he could put a telling

:01:52. > :01:59.snooker in behind the blue. Where do you see a player not leave the last

:02:00. > :02:10.red on. Trying to get onto the yellow.

:02:11. > :02:18.That is exactly what he is going to do. It is all about getting a good

:02:19. > :02:20.angle on the yellow so he can get behind the green and leave the

:02:21. > :02:32.perfect angle to get in behind the blue. Has he got the angle? He would

:02:33. > :02:36.love to be able to get over that and roll the green tight behind the

:02:37. > :02:41.blue. I don't think he can do that. I think he has finished a little

:02:42. > :02:43.straight on the yellow. Yes, absolutely straight full study can

:02:44. > :02:47.still send the green around the table and get in behind the blue. --

:02:48. > :03:13.absolutely straight. Another example of the new tip. I'm

:03:14. > :03:25.not sure he can get behind the blue now without a kiss. He has potted

:03:26. > :03:33.the green. Can you believe it? He got the dreaded double-kiss. He

:03:34. > :03:37.might get another double-kiss if he plays really thin on the left-hand

:03:38. > :03:42.side of the brown. If you can avoid the double-kiss this time he can get

:03:43. > :03:49.right in behind the black. Just seeing if there is any value potting

:03:50. > :03:53.the brown. Three cushions and he could get right in behind the black.

:03:54. > :04:19.It looks like he will pop the brown instead. -- he will pot.

:04:20. > :04:28.I think he would have to go thin if he were to get in behind the black.

:04:29. > :04:40.It would have to be a very precise shot. A little thin one might just

:04:41. > :04:42.get him there. He is trying it off one cushion but the middle pocket is

:04:43. > :06:33.in the way. He will hit the black. Safely in. A terrific cheer for

:06:34. > :06:39.Barry Hawkins. It is not all over just yet will stop handshakes. Well

:06:40. > :06:44.done, Barry Hawkins. Playing for his bride. They have to come back this

:06:45. > :06:47.evening for the John Higgins only needs one frame to come back for his

:06:48. > :06:55.sixth final. That was a pretty tough session.

:06:56. > :07:01.Both to play in and to watch. It looks like he is there. Do you see

:07:02. > :07:07.any way back for Barry Hawkins? No it is all over. Barry Hawkins showed

:07:08. > :07:12.his character. It is easy to think, do I really want to come back

:07:13. > :07:19.tonight? Get my suit on and pretend I am practising hard. He has done it

:07:20. > :07:24.but the match is over. John Higgins could probably have done with a

:07:25. > :07:30.night off. Tip gate has reared its ugly head again. He has been away

:07:31. > :07:34.half the night to Southport to see Les Dodd. How much of the toll will

:07:35. > :07:43.all of this play on him? I could have told him the end 62 has had a

:07:44. > :07:47.lobotomy. That has been wrecked for 20 miles. He has come in on back

:07:48. > :07:53.roads to get back here. He was panicking thinking, is he going to

:07:54. > :08:01.get back here? It is psychological. If it is in your head that it is not

:08:02. > :08:09.right, go and see him by all means. He did have the journey in hell.

:08:10. > :08:17.Even when he is playing well, he is searching for something. I think it

:08:18. > :08:26.is nerves of the occasion. That is getting to him a bit. The whole send

:08:27. > :08:30.-- semifinal he has not had a break. He has got through because his

:08:31. > :08:35.opponent has not put him under any pressure. He has had a comfortable

:08:36. > :08:43.match. All of this is sheer pressure of the occasion. He has not been in

:08:44. > :08:49.the one-table set-up for six years. You just wonder, at the tender age

:08:50. > :08:52.of 41, whether the pressures and stamina levels required are now

:08:53. > :08:57.beginning to catch up. They could be. I spoke to him yesterday,

:08:58. > :09:03.messing around with the tip and stuff. His sleeping patterns are all

:09:04. > :09:07.messed up. This is a marathon. If you have not done this for awhile,

:09:08. > :09:11.you are waking up at three o'clock, four o'clock in the morning, leaving

:09:12. > :09:17.the menu in the hotel. You're not going back to sleep or it can be

:09:18. > :09:21.like that for all the players. You have described how difficult it is

:09:22. > :09:30.to last and keep performing to your best. The two tournaments he have

:09:31. > :09:37.one -- has one this season have been 16 man offence. It is a completely

:09:38. > :09:47.different test of everything. -- events. He has one to go, he hopes,

:09:48. > :09:52.this evening from seven o'clock. The other semifinal everyone is itching

:09:53. > :09:57.to see is the concluding session between Ding Junhui and the man he

:09:58. > :10:01.beat in last year's final. They played frames lost at which will go

:10:02. > :10:12.down in Crucible folklore. It really does not get much better than this.

:10:13. > :10:24.Going to be a important session in this semifinal. -- a very important

:10:25. > :10:33.session. Good at the Angles. He is pretty good at the angles. A few

:10:34. > :10:37.whistles as well. That is a magnificent break of 128. Mark Selby

:10:38. > :10:51.extends his lead. Oh! A great shot on the pink. The

:10:52. > :11:00.standard here it is absolutely superb. A screw off the side and top

:11:01. > :11:04.cushion with loads of side. Have a look at that for a shot! That is one

:11:05. > :11:16.of the best positional shots you could ever wish to see. He could do

:11:17. > :11:19.with this one. Wonderful! He takes the frame. Now he is just one behind

:11:20. > :11:38.the defending champion. Colour red required. Would you

:11:39. > :11:42.believe it! That is a great shot. That is a terrific shot. Boy, is he

:11:43. > :11:49.good under pressure! It is there. What a frame that was!

:11:50. > :12:08.What a steal! What about that! A fabulous pot. The

:12:09. > :12:11.pressure was right on him for that he came straight back with that

:12:12. > :12:21.magnificent frame for them here's just one behind again. -- that

:12:22. > :12:30.magnificent frame. He is just one behind again. This is the icing on

:12:31. > :12:35.the cake. To finish the night in style. Ding Junhui takes is standing

:12:36. > :12:45.ovation. He has dug deep and one that session 5-3. 12-12. They are

:12:46. > :12:52.just in the practice room at the moment. Ding Junhui with Terry

:12:53. > :13:01.Griffiths. Ding Junhui has been with Terry Griffiths for eight months.

:13:02. > :13:09.Bobby Lee is in the background with Mark Selby. There were back-to-back

:13:10. > :13:13.centuries last night when he was 12-10 behind, Ding Junhui. I think

:13:14. > :13:18.we learned an awful lot about this man last night, didn't we? We did.

:13:19. > :13:30.From the start of the semifinal I think he has been competing any time

:13:31. > :13:37.-- better than any time but I have not seen him compete as well as he

:13:38. > :13:41.has done in this event. He had the time to get over the line against

:13:42. > :13:46.Ronnie O'Sullivan. That, last night, that, I think is the best you have

:13:47. > :13:53.ever seen him play. He went up a level for me last night. He went up

:13:54. > :13:59.a level when he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan. And he has done it in

:14:00. > :14:04.style. He has been a machine in this one in so far. Even when Mark Selby

:14:05. > :14:13.had a really good run of balls committees that in his chair,

:14:14. > :14:22.Serena. Nothing was bothering him. -- serene. Sir macro he will be

:14:23. > :14:27.looking at the other semifinal and thinking the standard was not as

:14:28. > :14:32.good. You must put that to the back of your mind. This is the best I

:14:33. > :14:39.have seen Ding Junhui compete I cannot wait. We will see who gets

:14:40. > :14:43.into the final. Steve Davis is with two men who think they have won the

:14:44. > :14:49.lottery getting the commentary seeds today. Here in the commentary box

:14:50. > :14:52.with Dennis Taylor and John Virgo. It feels so exciting. You have

:14:53. > :14:59.commentator Don loads of stuff. There is something special about

:15:00. > :15:03.this one, isn't there? I have never seen a session like that. It was the

:15:04. > :15:10.best session I have ever commentated on. Unbelievable snooker from both

:15:11. > :15:16.players. I am so impressed with Ding Junhui. I think he has another

:15:17. > :15:19.little bit of help out there. His mum passed away suddenly in February

:15:20. > :15:24.and I think he is out there to bring it for his mum because I know

:15:25. > :15:29.exactly how he feels. I watched it again on the highlights last night.

:15:30. > :15:33.It was so exciting. You are just involved in the match. There was an

:15:34. > :15:40.air of anticipation in the crowd that they started to get behind Ding

:15:41. > :15:47.Junhui. This is fascinating. He has more support today and he has ever

:15:48. > :15:51.had from an Englishman, Mark Selby. Mark Selby is defending champion.

:15:52. > :15:56.They are looking at what they thought is the underdog. He embraced

:15:57. > :16:00.the crowd for study made a foul in a session I went back to his seat,

:16:01. > :16:06.laughing. That is why he has the crowd on his side. The snooker he

:16:07. > :16:10.produced has been fantastic for the peak gave them something to cheer

:16:11. > :16:15.about. I will not even ask who will win this. It is great for us all to

:16:16. > :16:21.sit back and then enjoy. Over to Rob Walker.

:16:22. > :16:27.Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. As we have just heard,

:16:28. > :16:32.this is developing into one of the all-time Crucible classics. Eight

:16:33. > :16:42.breaks over 50 and nothing splits ahead of this last session. There is

:16:43. > :16:44.only room for one. This is sporting drama of the very highest quality.

:16:45. > :17:12.It is showtime in Sheffield. Please welcome home, a man whose

:17:13. > :17:17.importance for the global game should not be underestimated. Winner

:17:18. > :17:22.of 12 ranking titles, he has inspired millions back home. His two

:17:23. > :17:29.big breaks late last night to level the match were superb. 13 centuries

:17:30. > :17:31.from him in the tournament so far. A national hero in China. Enter the

:17:32. > :18:00.Dragon, Ding Junhui. And his opponent, ten years on from

:18:01. > :18:05.his first world final. He is now established as one of the sport was

:18:06. > :18:11.my key players. World number 14 two years. Winner of 11 ranking titles.

:18:12. > :18:16.He so often demonstrates nerves of steel exactly when it cancelled the

:18:17. > :18:19.UK champion and defending world champion. Here comes the Jester from

:18:20. > :18:42.Leicester, Mark Selby. Well, the real Ding Junhui stood up

:18:43. > :18:46.and was counted last night. Such composure and nerves. Mark Selby is

:18:47. > :18:50.renowned for his legendary strength under pressure in the final stages

:18:51. > :18:57.of matches. He may need that again today. First to 17th wins it and it

:18:58. > :19:02.will be one this afternoon. Dennis, John, over to you. Thank you very

:19:03. > :19:12.much. Good afternoon, everyone. What a reception both players had.

:19:13. > :19:18.Especially for Ding Junhui. He is Sheffield's own snooker champion.

:19:19. > :19:30.Look at that picture! Ding Junhui to break. Put your cameras down now,

:19:31. > :19:35.please. Thank you. He gets the first frame under way. Is it possible the

:19:36. > :19:42.standard can continue that we witnessed yesterday evening? It is a

:19:43. > :19:47.big ask. What a session we have in store! First 217 for a place in the

:19:48. > :19:54.final, to be played to a finish in this session. He has outplayed Mark

:19:55. > :20:03.Selby in the safety success department. Who would have thought

:20:04. > :20:08.that? Looking at Mark Selby, as he was being introduced, he has his

:20:09. > :20:15.game face on. He looked very focused. He has been up and down the

:20:16. > :20:20.corridors, 40 minutes before play. Pacing up and down. A little bit

:20:21. > :20:35.like the great Steve Davis used to do before playing.

:20:36. > :20:41.Not really an attempt at the red. Mark with his hand on the table. He

:20:42. > :20:53.expected a better safety. But that one is a little bit pacey

:20:54. > :21:04.as well. If it runs behind the green, he will not mind.

:21:05. > :21:14.That is what he is looking at. Not a lot available. Into the side of the

:21:15. > :21:24.bunch. That is close to the pink. Foul and a miss.

:21:25. > :21:45.He wants to get into the reds, as close to the pink as possible.

:21:46. > :22:02.It is that way. You can see the monitor, that is perfect. The cue

:22:03. > :22:14.ball... A bit back. Perfect. It is not crucial with this position but

:22:15. > :22:20.it is -- that it is absolutely spot-on but sometimes it can make a

:22:21. > :22:24.difference. That is better. APPLAUSE

:22:25. > :22:38.I don't know if Mark can get back down the table or not here, John.

:22:39. > :22:52.That will be a thin one. Yes, he can do it.

:22:53. > :22:59.What about the first frame of the session last night. 18 minutes

:23:00. > :23:07.without a ball being ported. The crowd loved every minute of it. The

:23:08. > :23:14.safety play was extraordinary and stop -- was extraordinary.

:23:15. > :23:24.That was a better length for the safety shot. In that frame, Mark

:23:25. > :23:32.Selby made a century in it, eventually when he got a chance.

:23:33. > :23:37.Last night's session just had everything. Everything that snooker

:23:38. > :23:42.can give you. The enjoyment you can get out of the game. I agree with

:23:43. > :23:46.you, Dennis, it was the best I have ever had the pleasure of

:23:47. > :23:51.commentating on. It was fantastic. Everyone I spoke to last night and

:23:52. > :23:56.this morning, they were all buzzing about it. It was a feast. There was

:23:57. > :24:02.a lot of pressure in this session, of course. Two players who

:24:03. > :24:10.desperately want to make it through to the final. Did not play the pot.

:24:11. > :24:16.It was not the right potting angle to go back around the black. That

:24:17. > :24:24.has been the game plan of Mark Selby throughout this match. Keeping it

:24:25. > :24:30.tight. Trying not to gift any easy openings for Ding Junhui. The way he

:24:31. > :24:38.has been scoring, 13 centuries in that one in so far, he had a chance

:24:39. > :24:45.in amongst the balls. A lovely length of cue ball. That has been so

:24:46. > :24:48.impressive about him. The fact he has matched Mark Selby in safety

:24:49. > :24:59.play. I did not really think he had that in him. I think he has

:25:00. > :25:02.played... Have a look at that exclamation that is the safety

:25:03. > :25:12.success rate for the tournament. -- have a look at that! So, that, as we

:25:13. > :25:20.see this red come towards the corner pocket, that safety success rate

:25:21. > :25:24.with 13 centuries, Mark must have a few friends up in the balcony. He

:25:25. > :25:32.was doing a lot of that last evening. That is Vicky, his wife,

:25:33. > :26:03.and Bobby on the left. Just trying to work out whether cue

:26:04. > :26:07.ball will go. I think it is one of these. You just concentrate on the

:26:08. > :26:09.pot and you have to trust little bit of luck for position. The main

:26:10. > :26:38.objective, do not miss the red. He is not on pink or black. Will he

:26:39. > :26:43.play the blue? As you can see, the pass of the cue ball just trusts a

:26:44. > :26:48.little bit to luck. It is not over here. He knows the importance. If

:26:49. > :26:50.this were not the first frame, I would expect him to play the blue.

:26:51. > :27:40.Because it is, he may not. How did that Blue Nile drop in once

:27:41. > :27:50.it ran along the cushion? -- that blew not drop in? Look at that! It

:27:51. > :27:57.was clinging to the cushion. How did it stay out. A three shot from Mark

:27:58. > :28:10.Selby. The blue is right across the pocket if it goes in.

:28:11. > :28:17.As you say, Dennis, it is a free shot. He will be disappointed he did

:28:18. > :28:39.not get closer to the pocket than that.

:28:40. > :28:49.They are tough shots. Just a fraction off. He has missed it and

:28:50. > :28:59.he has left Mark Selby with an easy starter. It was not easy.

:29:00. > :29:05.Understandably, the players will be just a little bit edgy in this

:29:06. > :29:22.opening frame. It is so important to get your nose in front again. There

:29:23. > :29:27.is a red in the baulk end. He will be looking to bring the cue ball

:29:28. > :29:37.down into the business end. It is never easy to judge. Judging the

:29:38. > :30:27.pace is all important. This looks superb. What a touch!

:30:28. > :30:36.This shot, as we zoom in, shows you how big a snooker table is. 12' by

:30:37. > :31:01.6'. Mark still has that bit of a shake

:31:02. > :31:06.in his head, it is something he has always done. It is not as bad as it

:31:07. > :31:14.used to be but it doesn't affect his game. It is just the natural way he

:31:15. > :31:19.plays. You could see on the side bar, another 43 points required from

:31:20. > :31:25.this position to get to the snooker is required stage. He is going to

:31:26. > :31:30.have to open some more reds, there are not enough there to clinch the

:31:31. > :31:37.frame without having to play a cannon of some kind. And you could

:31:38. > :31:43.see his eyes, they were on the object ball as he delivered the cue,

:31:44. > :31:47.looking from the cue ball to the object ball back and forwards and

:31:48. > :31:54.then focusing on the object ball as you deliver the cue. You can see his

:31:55. > :32:15.eyes, focused on the object ball. The fact he is taking so long over

:32:16. > :32:21.this blue, he is just a fraction too straight. There looks to be a red

:32:22. > :32:25.two down from the pink that is available to the left corner but you

:32:26. > :32:29.can see he is fairly straight and looking at that virtual image, maybe

:32:30. > :32:33.that one second down from the pink doesn't go to the left corner. I

:32:34. > :32:44.think he would have to play for the one behind the black. Watch the

:32:45. > :32:49.side. The first side and he has got a bit too much on it. That is the

:32:50. > :32:56.problem when you are trying to force the angle. He has played the stun

:32:57. > :32:59.screw back but with the side as Dennis said, see how it flicked off

:33:00. > :33:09.the cushion and this is a tough red now.

:33:10. > :33:19.APPLAUSE He has played it well but this is

:33:20. > :33:25.the difficulty with the red, he put all his concentration into potting

:33:26. > :33:32.it and he is not great here. A bit of pressure on this brown.

:33:33. > :33:57.Just looking at the angle he has on this red, you might choose to go up

:33:58. > :34:01.for the black here. He would love to be able to hold for the blue and

:34:02. > :34:09.straight into the pink but he might still be able to do that. Yes, just

:34:10. > :34:15.about. But having said that, the only way into those reds, he is dead

:34:16. > :34:26.straight on the blue so he can't get to them now. Look at that. Almost

:34:27. > :34:32.dead straight. This is a big shock he is ticking on, to pot the brown

:34:33. > :34:43.and split the reds. Nowhere near. Has he got away with it? I don't

:34:44. > :34:49.think so. That was a bit ambitious, that one. Strange choice of shot. He

:34:50. > :34:56.had played a controlled match so far and that was out of character, have

:34:57. > :34:59.yet played the match in the previous sessions. I don't know if he was

:35:00. > :35:02.consciously thinking of attacking a bit more but that was probably

:35:03. > :35:24.pushing the boat out a bit too far. What has he done here? He is not on

:35:25. > :35:31.a colour, he was hoping to be on the blue. Is a little bit of a tense

:35:32. > :36:01.start for Ding Junhui here. And as per usual, and that has been

:36:02. > :36:06.the impressive thing from Ding in this match, when he has run out of

:36:07. > :36:09.position like he did there, he has put the disappointment behind him

:36:10. > :36:11.and played an excellent safety and he looks to have snookered mark on

:36:12. > :36:58.Allred 's. Tight would be better. Almost. And

:36:59. > :37:03.that is the problem with that shot. You always feel you would like to

:37:04. > :37:09.leave it tight, and he has left a plant as well. A bit of a gap

:37:10. > :37:14.between the two reds but it on if he catches the first one right. That's

:37:15. > :37:20.the thing, you try to get tight behind the green but if he had left

:37:21. > :37:26.it tight on the book Mac -- tight on the baulk cushion, this would not be

:37:27. > :37:32.available but Mark now has control of the cue ball and you fancy this

:37:33. > :37:36.plant. Right in the heart of the pocket, with his hand on the table

:37:37. > :37:41.he could control the cue ball and this is a chance to take the first

:37:42. > :37:57.frame. He already has a 38 point lead with a colour to come.

:37:58. > :38:04.He could do with getting the blue out of the way here. If the red is

:38:05. > :38:09.dead straight he can drop it in for the black but if not, he can roll

:38:10. > :38:25.through and leave the black in the opposite corner.

:38:26. > :38:39.No reason why he shouldn't take the frame from this position, already 43

:38:40. > :38:46.in front. And this black, he is having a look at the blue, obviously

:38:47. > :38:52.the red immediately to the left of the black will go he could play

:38:53. > :38:56.black and play for it in the same pocket as the black. This is to go

:38:57. > :39:14.50 in front with 67 remaining. He is looking for red, colour, red

:39:15. > :39:19.now. It's OK from that little cluster of three, one of them goes

:39:20. > :39:24.to the right corner so if he drops this in and plays for the blue

:39:25. > :39:32.because the black doesn't go in this pocket. It is just a case of potting

:39:33. > :39:40.the blue and playing the left-hand one of the three reds and that would

:39:41. > :39:49.be the frame clincher. He took on a very ambitious brown in this frame.

:39:50. > :39:57.It didn't cost him. The red to go 57 ahead with 51 remaining.

:39:58. > :40:34.If he knocks in this next red, no way back to the table for Ding

:40:35. > :41:12.Junhui. He would like to clear the remaining

:41:13. > :41:19.balls here. He made a magnificent 128 break to lead 10-7 and then Ding

:41:20. > :41:24.bounced straight back with 95 to take it back to two and it was just

:41:25. > :42:10.awesome snooker but this is a good start from the defending champion.

:42:11. > :42:16.Looking very good here, just that one shot that John mentioned, the

:42:17. > :42:18.brown which was a bit ambitious and he missed it by a long way but it

:42:19. > :42:41.did not cost him in the end. He has had that cue ball in the

:42:42. > :42:53.perfect position virtually every shot in this break.

:42:54. > :43:01.APPLAUSE That is a terrific way to start for

:43:02. > :43:06.Mark Selby and he has come out with a determined look on his face and he

:43:07. > :43:13.has taken the opening frame and is now leading Ding Junhui 13-12. It

:43:14. > :43:15.was Ding who led 5-3 after the first session but has been playing

:43:16. > :43:19.catch-up ever since and just when he gets on level terms last night, the

:43:20. > :43:27.defending champion gets his nose in front again. Typical. Absolutely,

:43:28. > :43:31.and Ding looks a bit edgy because he had a couple of shots and his cue

:43:32. > :43:38.ball was not controlled and I put that down to his arm being a bit

:43:39. > :43:41.tight. Steve? Mark Selby missed the most glaring pot, he was not

:43:42. > :43:46.absolutely comfortable at that stage but got the best chance after the

:43:47. > :43:50.luck of how the pack sorted itself out when the plant was on and he

:43:51. > :43:57.capitalised on that. And the opening exchanges. We have 13 world titles

:43:58. > :44:01.between us here in the studio and there is another who has one, John

:44:02. > :44:09.Parrott, he is there to improve your game. If you're having a few

:44:10. > :44:12.problems with your cueing, you can send him a message or a video of

:44:13. > :44:19.your style and he will attempt to put you right. 7-3 to contact John,

:44:20. > :44:42.but back to the serious business. Mark Selby will be nicely settled

:44:43. > :44:48.after making that lovely clearance at the end of the frame, but as I

:44:49. > :44:53.said, there was a sign when he played the brown, which did not cost

:44:54. > :44:55.him, but maybe he will be a bit more on the attack than he was in the

:44:56. > :45:08.first three sessions. APPLAUSE

:45:09. > :45:16.That is in the heart of the pocket and it needs to kiss the green. It

:45:17. > :45:21.didn't but I think he has got the green to the middle. Has he got the

:45:22. > :45:31.potting angle to get back to the reds? Yes, there is the angle and

:45:32. > :45:39.there are three he can get on. That was so close. He thought he had that

:45:40. > :45:44.but it hit both jaws of the middle pocket and he played the cue ball

:45:45. > :45:45.into the perfect position. Have a look at this green, touching the

:45:46. > :46:09.near jaw. Mark Selby in with a very good with

:46:10. > :46:26.another three reds available here -- a very good chance.

:46:27. > :46:35.He did very well there, he was almost straight and widened the

:46:36. > :46:37.angle with a stun run through to get on these reds. Excellent positional

:46:38. > :46:53.shot. Here you go look how he widened the

:46:54. > :47:00.angle and the cue ball bouncing but it landed perfect. And it is one of

:47:01. > :47:06.these situations, particularly with the green near the left middle,

:47:07. > :47:14.there is a red to the left and bottom of the cluster. If at some

:47:15. > :47:19.time he will play for that, he can leave himself low and in potting it

:47:20. > :47:20.bring others into play knowing he will have the green to the left

:47:21. > :47:32.middle. Just underhit that slightly. I'm

:47:33. > :47:38.just wondering if he might take the chance here, that have a look at the

:47:39. > :47:43.angle, if the pot of this and careered into the reds, the green is

:47:44. > :47:49.available but he is screwing back so he will not be moving any reds here.

:47:50. > :47:54.He still has that want at the back of the bunch that is available. And

:47:55. > :48:02.he has an angle to go straight into them here, it depends how he feels.

:48:03. > :48:10.He has played for the single one. It is not a great pack to go into from

:48:11. > :48:14.the black. It surprises me, I wouldn't question his break-building

:48:15. > :48:19.for a moment but I can't believe he hasn't tried to leave himself low on

:48:20. > :48:23.this and try to nudge reds open. It is not a great pack to get into, as

:48:24. > :48:30.you said and as Willie Thorne describes it always, a flat back

:48:31. > :48:36.pack. He has got to play at stun shot into the left side of them but

:48:37. > :48:49.he is screwing it. That was never going to work, unless he is

:48:50. > :48:55.fortunate. No. Unless he pulls off an unbelievable pot, it is in the

:48:56. > :49:00.break, but there is a chance this could go into the middle. He could

:49:01. > :49:08.get on the black but what an angle he is faced with here. It bare.

:49:09. > :49:32.-- it is their and he flicked the black, which helps.

:49:33. > :49:39.He split them but the problem with that shot, because of the back spin,

:49:40. > :49:43.the cue ball will always come away from the reds. He has want to the

:49:44. > :49:53.middle and if he knocks this in it could be a frame-winner but there is

:49:54. > :49:58.pressure on it. APPLAUSE He sacrificed a bit of position to

:49:59. > :50:07.make sure of the pot, straight on the pink would have been better.

:50:08. > :50:22.Another little cannon needed here. And just about. 50 S head. -- 50

:50:23. > :50:36.ahead so not much more needed to secure this frame.

:50:37. > :50:55.It is a great start to the session from the defending champion.

:50:56. > :51:04.He has just got a slight angle, you would think he would run round off

:51:05. > :51:08.two cushions for the one just to the left of the pink for the right

:51:09. > :51:19.middle. He just has the angle to play the runaround. Didn't hit that

:51:20. > :51:23.to welcome he tried to force the angle, felt it was a bit straight

:51:24. > :51:27.and if he had run through normal he might have got in the jaws that you

:51:28. > :51:31.could see the cue ball was bouncing when it hit the black and the black

:51:32. > :51:38.bounced and it took all the pace out of the cue ball. He didn't seem to

:51:39. > :51:43.be striking the cue ball right at the top which creates the top spin

:51:44. > :51:50.in the follow-through. As you said, John, it was more of a stun shot.

:51:51. > :52:03.He has a tough red into the middle pocket. This is another.

:52:04. > :52:22.No danger, right in the heart of the pocket and that is frame over now.

:52:23. > :52:28.Just the red required and he is perfectly on it and it will be

:52:29. > :52:36.followed by pink or black and leave Ding Junhui needing two or three

:52:37. > :52:43.snookers. It is all about fractions, this game. Ding Junhui played a

:52:44. > :52:52.green and just flicked the near jaw and stayed out. And this has been

:52:53. > :52:56.the result. This was the green, it just caught that near jaw and it

:52:57. > :53:09.looked for a second as though it might just drop. He needs a chance,

:53:10. > :53:10.Ding in amongst the balls but you don't get that many chances against

:53:11. > :53:18.Mark Selby. Good pot. And every likelihood now

:53:19. > :53:36.we will see a century here. Mark has already had six centuries

:53:37. > :53:41.and we are up to 69 in the tournament. Yes, 86 is the record, I

:53:42. > :53:50.don't think it will be beaten but you never know. As I said, Ding has

:53:51. > :53:59.had 13 centuries. I think the record is 16. I think that is John Higgins.

:54:00. > :54:00.In fact, it is Stephen Hendry, sitting in the studio, sorry,

:54:01. > :54:05.Stephen! I think John Higgins had 14 in one

:54:06. > :54:42.year. This red and a colour. What a pity. No century but Mark

:54:43. > :54:48.Selby is proving once again that he is going to be very tough to beat

:54:49. > :54:52.and he gets his two frame lead back. It is now 14-12.

:54:53. > :54:57.Ding had that chance with the green and missed it and I wonder what

:54:58. > :55:02.these great champions are feeling about the start from the reigning

:55:03. > :55:07.champion. It looks like he is smelling blood and sensing weakness

:55:08. > :55:12.and that is what he does, he pounces. Is a great visit, a couple

:55:13. > :55:19.of tricky red into the middle, but the way he played them, neither

:55:20. > :55:23.looked in doubt. You can sense signs, when is the time to put the

:55:24. > :55:27.foot down and the hammer down and so far this session that is what it

:55:28. > :55:32.looks like. Are you hearing that mood music as well? It is always the

:55:33. > :55:36.case that Mark Selby to give since every chance to win event like this

:55:37. > :55:40.because he is relentless. While Ding put in a fantastic performance to

:55:41. > :55:45.get back level last night, and if the match had continued into the

:55:46. > :55:49.night it might have been a different story, you reset for every session.

:55:50. > :55:53.Mark Selby, you can see the look of determination on his face when he

:55:54. > :55:59.came out, he is there to do a job today. I'm not saying Ding Junhui is

:56:00. > :56:02.not, but every time Mark Selby makes it difficult for you and it is tough

:56:03. > :56:07.for Ding Junhui but we know he is up to the job. We do and it will be

:56:08. > :56:11.interesting because there is a huge amount of support for Ding Junhui

:56:12. > :56:16.here. He is one of Sheffield's adopted sons, he has been here for

:56:17. > :56:20.the last ten years and think a lot of people would love to think it is

:56:21. > :56:30.his time at the World Championships. He has a lot of support, back we go.

:56:31. > :56:37.90% pot success rate for both players. Mark slightly ahead in the

:56:38. > :56:51.longer pot success Department. In fact I'd been told 59%, Mark

:56:52. > :56:53.Selby won the tournament with that pot success rate last year when he

:56:54. > :57:17.defeated Ding in the final, 18-14. That could be a useful little flick

:57:18. > :57:24.off the yellow. It certainly was. Not a problem getting out of the

:57:25. > :57:35.snooker but a little flick like that can make a difference.

:57:36. > :57:51.Just means that Mark as the slight advantage here in the safety

:57:52. > :57:57.Department and if he can get another good cue ball...

:57:58. > :58:07.Important for Ding Junhui to return a good safety and hopefully not push

:58:08. > :58:12.a red over the corner but there seems to be four balls that might

:58:13. > :58:23.send one out of the bunch towards the right corner pocket so he will

:58:24. > :58:31.have to be careful here. He doesn't want too thick contact otherwise he

:58:32. > :58:36.will do that. Yes, he got a thin contact which sacrificed a little

:58:37. > :58:42.bit of what he could do with the cue ball. There can't surely be another

:58:43. > :58:48.plant on? It would be a three-ball plant. You never know with Mark

:58:49. > :58:53.Selby. One red onto the other two, it is going to the left of the

:58:54. > :58:55.pocket, he might be up to make this. He would be playing the safety shot

:58:56. > :59:25.at the same time. Not quite a plant but he got a good

:59:26. > :59:30.cue ball. There is this red to the left corner but Ding Junhui has to

:59:31. > :59:35.be very careful if he plays it. He looks bound to run into a red or

:59:36. > :59:44.even the black. There is no shot for nothing. Is it worth the risk? That

:59:45. > :59:46.is the question. He has lost the first two frames and he needs to get

:59:47. > :00:12.a foothold now in the session. He found the gap. Where is the red

:00:13. > :00:19.going? That's not too bad, safe enough. He did well to find a gap

:00:20. > :00:29.through the reds in playing that pot. And of course he will be more

:00:30. > :00:34.concerned with the gap than the pot. There is a shot on, I'm wondering if

:00:35. > :00:38.Mark Selby will have a go at it, he can send this into the pink and red

:00:39. > :00:44.and screw back into the safety zone. He is looking at the very thin snick

:00:45. > :00:49.which tells me if he can pot the red in the right middle, could he get up

:00:50. > :00:54.and down the table? No, he is going for the one I mentioned, screwing

:00:55. > :01:06.back and sending the red into the pink and reds. That's a good cue

:01:07. > :01:08.ball. He was always going to have plenty of stoppers to prevent the

:01:09. > :01:18.red from coming back up the table. He has a bit of a problem here, Ding

:01:19. > :02:02.Junhui. All things considered, that was an

:02:03. > :02:09.excellent safety. He did not find Bob cushion. He was in a spot of

:02:10. > :02:11.bother and he had to catch the red perfect, so as not to leave

:02:12. > :02:41.anything. He has not left anything. That is the art of safety. It is the

:02:42. > :02:47.perfect example. You do not kiss baulk colour. The pace Mark got on

:02:48. > :02:55.the cue ball, Ding Junhui once again has quite a bit to think about. I

:02:56. > :03:05.cannot see a return to baulk unless he catches the red so Finn. If he

:03:06. > :03:10.catches it sick, he will run into the red in the end he did not want

:03:11. > :03:13.to risk it and played the containing safety. I think it is all right.

:03:14. > :03:26.Just. As I mentioned, Ding Junhui needs to

:03:27. > :03:32.get in among the reds to get a bit of confidence going. That is what

:03:33. > :03:39.the game is all about. At the moment he cannot get that chance. Mark

:03:40. > :03:59.Selby is keeping things very tight. He had breaks of 74 and 96.

:04:00. > :04:06.He might not have blocked the route off down the table. He needs a thin

:04:07. > :04:15.contact but he needs a telling safety to try to force an error from

:04:16. > :04:28.Mark Selby. That is a pretty good return. Very good. Excellent. A

:04:29. > :04:32.superb shot. Normally in these situations you see a player tapping

:04:33. > :04:51.over the table. This is of proper match. Excellent return. Excellent

:04:52. > :04:56.return. It is very difficult to force a mistake from Mark Selby in

:04:57. > :05:02.the safety exchanges. That is what Ding Junhui needs to do full Tubby

:05:03. > :05:07.cannot rely on Mark Selby getting in amongst the balls. That and in the

:05:08. > :05:10.first frame of this session, in all honesty. He needs to try to force an

:05:11. > :05:28.error that he is on the back foot. That might have rocked back. It

:05:29. > :05:35.could be touching, which would have helped mark. No, not touching. He

:05:36. > :05:40.can still play of that red. Touching ball makes it easier. But he can

:05:41. > :05:58.just glance of this. -- off this. He can not pop many balls when you

:05:59. > :06:19.are stuck on the baulk cushion all the time.

:06:20. > :06:27.In the end, a fraction too thin. If he leaves Mark Selby with his hand

:06:28. > :06:53.on the table, he is asking for trouble.

:06:54. > :07:09.For once, he did not take advantage. Nearly had a result but the cue ball

:07:10. > :07:12.just stopped short. I think there is a gap between blue and pink. There

:07:13. > :07:31.is. If you cut down the escape route

:07:32. > :07:34.down the left-hand side of the table, your opponent is in trouble.

:07:35. > :08:06.Ding Junhui has just gained initiative.

:08:07. > :08:10.That is what Mark is looking at. There is very little available to

:08:11. > :08:28.him. Looks as if he will have to leave

:08:29. > :08:32.the white at this end of the table. He is trying to find a spot. He is

:08:33. > :08:49.having quite a bit of thinking time to pick that spot out.

:08:50. > :08:56.It just means at the moment that Ding Junhui has the slight advantage

:08:57. > :09:04.in a tactical battle. He's looking at the possibility of the red into

:09:05. > :09:14.the middle. This would be quite some pot! He could maybe finish on the

:09:15. > :09:31.brown and draw the green. The last time he potted a ball. Well played!

:09:32. > :09:37.Just a little bit too far as we show you that terrific pot again. The

:09:38. > :09:43.white just ran about 6-8 inches further than he intended. Brown

:09:44. > :10:04.ball. Ding Junhui, one. I think he has

:10:05. > :10:08.just got the snooker. Maybe he can just hit the edge of this red on the

:10:09. > :10:21.right-hand side of the table but he cannot get back to baulk. He is

:10:22. > :10:28.having a good look around. If he cannot see the pass, it is an escape

:10:29. > :10:33.route for him to land the red left of the black. If he can get to land

:10:34. > :10:38.read he is cueing up to, that would be just as good. There might just be

:10:39. > :10:45.a gap through to that done the right side of the table.

:10:46. > :11:54.That is a bit weak. It is not good. The initiative in that tactical...

:11:55. > :11:59.This tactical exchange. He may have handed that initially back to his

:12:00. > :12:02.opponent now. There is a pot on to this right corner. Hard to see how

:12:03. > :12:25.he could get position on the colour. It is obviously not a straight run

:12:26. > :12:30.back to the baulk end. If he was tight against the baulk cushion, it

:12:31. > :12:32.would be almost impossible. With his hand on the table you would expect

:12:33. > :12:46.him to find a path. He did not find that path that you

:12:47. > :12:51.said, John. At first glance, he might. There is a red available the

:12:52. > :12:56.left corner foot once he got the cannon, he cannon, he knew he would

:12:57. > :13:05.leave something. Now... One good pop here... -- pot. This is his first

:13:06. > :13:21.chance in amongst the balls. The black is ad of commission but it

:13:22. > :13:27.all depends if and when he pops the pink. He will pot it at some time.

:13:28. > :13:34.Where the pink will go. He may have to pot a few reds around the pink

:13:35. > :13:38.spot. This is his first real chance. Can he now stop producing the form

:13:39. > :14:04.of last evening? Just about OK. Two wonderful

:14:05. > :14:18.centuries last evening to get back to all square. He has coming towards

:14:19. > :14:24.the table. That has showed the angle he has faced with the brown. He must

:14:25. > :14:38.play a nice screw shot past the middle pocket. A few reds available

:14:39. > :14:49.to him. Is he going to drop nicely on one? Still not in an ideal

:14:50. > :14:55.position. Can he cue past the pink? This will make all the difference.

:14:56. > :15:08.If he is hampered by the pink, this is a tough shot. He is hampered.

:15:09. > :15:15.Decision time. He will take the pot on. Does he make the pot more

:15:16. > :15:29.difficult by trying to play a stunner for them baulk colours or

:15:30. > :15:40.does he totally commit to the pot. Nicely in. What a shot that was! Now

:15:41. > :16:04.in perfect position. Playing for the pink now. This is

:16:05. > :16:12.where he is so good, in and around the pink area. He will have to try

:16:13. > :16:21.to win this frame without the help of the black. He can forget about

:16:22. > :16:29.the black completely. Does the pink go to the right corner when it is

:16:30. > :16:31.re-spotted? It does. This is a good chance for Ding Junhui but there is

:16:32. > :17:19.pressure. There you go. Another 33 points from

:17:20. > :17:31.this position to get to the snooker -- snookers required stage.

:17:32. > :17:41.When he pops this, it will help the situation. The two reds left of this

:17:42. > :17:47.will then be available. He did not play that very well. That was just a

:17:48. > :17:55.little edgy one. It just means a little bit more to do. Should be OK.

:17:56. > :18:06.Well played. He has those two reds are mentioned. Cleared the path.

:18:07. > :18:15.There is a couple of Ding Junhui supporters. A great shot from the

:18:16. > :18:19.balcony. And, once again, he has come up a little bit short. Now he

:18:20. > :18:25.will have to go all the way around the angles if he is to get on one of

:18:26. > :18:32.the reds. There is one to the right corner. He has just underscrew that.

:18:33. > :18:38.A wee bit of pressure on this. He will get a terrific cheer if he pops

:18:39. > :18:42.it and gets on a red. Here comes the white. He misses all the colours. It

:18:43. > :19:18.is not bad. Ding Junhui, 52. Coming up a little

:19:19. > :19:25.bit short of clinching the frame. He was playing to get on the one that

:19:26. > :19:31.was near the black spot. He still lords on to win the frame. You know

:19:32. > :19:45.what Mark Selby is capable of... And look at where the red is situated.

:19:46. > :19:54.They are never easy. If it were straight, you would not expect him

:19:55. > :19:58.to miss it. A good safety shot now required from Ding Junhui. 53 points

:19:59. > :20:05.the lead and 75 points remaining. He is basically looking now for eight

:20:06. > :20:48.couple of reds, a couple of colours. A good safety once again.

:20:49. > :20:57.He has looked long and hard to see if he can get the edge of a red that

:20:58. > :21:04.he cannot. Hands to come off the edge of the side cushion. Just

:21:05. > :21:54.feathered the red. A good shot. I don't know if he can get past the

:21:55. > :22:03.blue to clip that read. I don't think he can.

:22:04. > :22:12.Yes, and he's not got the option this time to nestle near the reds on

:22:13. > :22:18.the top cushion on the right-hand side of the table. If he tries to go

:22:19. > :22:25.twice, of course for that is very risky. Will he play the two cushion

:22:26. > :22:31.escape with a bit of pace? That is where he is playing. Played it

:22:32. > :22:39.lovely. Where is the red going? Where was the cue ball going? He has

:22:40. > :22:46.the cover. He has the cover. Or has he? Hold the front page. Settle

:22:47. > :22:48.down, John. Settle down. He can just get through to it. He will have to

:22:49. > :23:13.swerve it slightly. Still needs another red after the

:23:14. > :23:24.blue. He can just avoid a kiss on the red when potting the blue. He

:23:25. > :23:26.has played it perfectly. He is pulling 60 points ahead with 59

:23:27. > :23:55.remaining stop That is a bit unfortunate.

:23:56. > :24:04.Glancing around at the scoreboard. Could have worked out a lot better

:24:05. > :24:08.than that but it is only one snooker that is needed. We know what Mark

:24:09. > :24:13.Selby is like when it comes to finding slippers. I cannot think how

:24:14. > :24:22.Ding Junhui can knock it on to another cushion. By Megahey will

:24:23. > :24:30.play the correct option. That black being tied up, OK, we are saying one

:24:31. > :25:11.snooker required. Yes. He has gone for the pink.

:25:12. > :25:21.That should be the end of frame. It was going to be a tall order with

:25:22. > :25:33.Mark Selby with the black tied up there. Nestles in behind the yellow.

:25:34. > :25:41.Hopefully on to the brown. Mark should stay in his seat, you would

:25:42. > :25:47.feel. Yes, he nods to the referee. Ding Junhui lost the first two

:25:48. > :25:54.frames. They are some of his fans. They are delighted. Just one behind

:25:55. > :25:57.now. 14-13. The defending champion is keeping him at arm 's length that

:25:58. > :26:02.is having to send him off once again. This is a great, positive

:26:03. > :26:10.attitude we are seeing from Ding Junhui. It is not exactly the bully

:26:11. > :26:14.versus the kid who has been beaten up in the school playground every

:26:15. > :26:18.day. Let's assume that is the case. You keep pummelling somebody but

:26:19. > :26:23.they keep coming back for more. In the end, finally, you will end. He

:26:24. > :26:30.was fighting a bit with the cue ball. Do you think he is settling in

:26:31. > :26:33.a bit now? Not one ' visit stuff. We are used to him knocking in

:26:34. > :26:38.centuries all over the place was that it did not matter how he did

:26:39. > :26:45.it. It does not look like a three frame gap opening. He keeps coming

:26:46. > :26:50.back. That is back to one frame. We will be saying it all afternoon. A

:26:51. > :26:56.big frame coming up before the interval. He is having to play

:26:57. > :27:04.cagily and wait for his chance and then have to pounce. He has shown as

:27:05. > :27:08.he is capable of doing that. Last night there were signs he was asking

:27:09. > :27:16.questions of Mark Selby in the safety department. He had an easy

:27:17. > :27:22.safety shot that would have kept the pack together. He really would blast

:27:23. > :27:28.them open. It would risk a ball over the corner pocket. Mark Selby, in

:27:29. > :27:36.the end could did miss a green ball that cost him the last frame.

:27:37. > :27:42.Wonderfully poised. I can only guess what the ratings would be in China

:27:43. > :27:52.right now. Skyrocketing into the 150 million at the moment. Mark Selby

:27:53. > :27:56.gets the frame under way. There is a mid-session interval after this.

:27:57. > :28:03.Every frame now is so important to both players. It looks like a good

:28:04. > :28:11.break-off shot on the face of it. Can he just get past the blue? He

:28:12. > :28:16.obviously can. Needs to catch the red thing though. Caught it little

:28:17. > :28:25.bit too thick. That is why the cue ball has only just got past the

:28:26. > :28:26.blue. He has left a read on. The few weak safety shots he has played in

:28:27. > :28:44.this match. -- he has left a red on. A little bit of a tense one hour

:28:45. > :28:49.from the defending champion. We expect him to not back in. Temple

:28:50. > :28:56.Micra has a similar type of shot. More difficult than the one Mark

:28:57. > :29:03.had. -- Ding Junhui has a similar type of shot. He is taking the one

:29:04. > :29:10.nearer the pocket to get himself on the black.

:29:11. > :29:20.No. Where is the red? He has left a long, straight one past the blue. If

:29:21. > :29:27.it goes he will be able to go back onto the black. I am not sure if it

:29:28. > :29:34.pops. He will be disappointed to have missed that. He knows he will

:29:35. > :29:44.have to play his best game today. So far he is not there. The chance for

:29:45. > :29:47.Mark. Straight red into the top. We don't see that very often. He gets

:29:48. > :30:00.the first good chance. Ding Junhui took the very positive

:30:01. > :30:05.shot to try to get onto the black. He had the other one he could

:30:06. > :30:10.possibly have potted and come round for a baulk colour. I think he was

:30:11. > :30:16.just thinking very positively but did not execute the shot as he would

:30:17. > :30:34.have liked. He might have to sit in his seat now for a while.

:30:35. > :30:44.I think sooner rather than later Mark Selby will play for the red

:30:45. > :30:52.that is immediately above the black. Leave himself low on it and he might

:30:53. > :30:56.even elect to play the cannon on the end of the cluster, but it's not

:30:57. > :31:01.leave himself low on it so he can pot it and bring others into play

:31:02. > :31:05.and that is exactly what he has done. He can open them up here and

:31:06. > :31:13.it is all about keeping control of that cue ball to retain position on

:31:14. > :31:23.the black or even on the pink. Good control needed because he will be

:31:24. > :31:29.bringing reds into play here. I thought he would hit it a bit harder

:31:30. > :31:32.than that, he was obviously frightened of screwing back and

:31:33. > :31:42.finishing on the cushion but it was sooner than he wanted as you can

:31:43. > :31:45.clearly see. Safely in. -- it was thinner than he wanted. Four reds,

:31:46. > :32:42.four blacks. Playing for the red, straight is no

:32:43. > :32:47.problem but if he plays the run-through he is going to kiss the

:32:48. > :32:53.red just below the one he is potting so he has to judge the cannon off it

:32:54. > :32:57.or he is maybe even looking at screwing into them. You would think

:32:58. > :33:01.he would be able to judge it. It is hard to tell unless you down on

:33:02. > :33:08.shot. But straight would not be a problem. If he has a bit of work to

:33:09. > :33:31.do with the cue ball, it could go wrong.

:33:32. > :33:51.That is quite a thin cut to take the pink on. He was hoping to just push

:33:52. > :34:02.that pink into a better position than it has finished up. 41 in

:34:03. > :34:12.front. Does he keep things tight here? He is back looking at the

:34:13. > :34:18.pink. That is where he would like to put the cue ball if he can, cut the

:34:19. > :34:21.pink into the middle pocket and that is what he is going to play. Key

:34:22. > :34:38.shot. No. Has he got onto that red or has

:34:39. > :34:45.he been fortunate? If Ding can get through to it, he can get across the

:34:46. > :34:49.table for blue or pink. Yes, he can get through it but he has to be a

:34:50. > :34:54.bit wary of the in off into the middle pocket. He will be aware of

:34:55. > :35:12.that. Had struggled in that he has landed

:35:13. > :35:16.absolutely perfect on the blue. There is one loose red at the site

:35:17. > :35:21.and I think the reason it struggled, he was a bit aware of the

:35:22. > :35:27.possibility of the in off. I think he should play the cannon here, not

:35:28. > :35:32.play it hard, a gentle cannon to open the reds. It is too difficult

:35:33. > :35:37.to play for a particular ball but he needs a good split. And he has got

:35:38. > :35:54.it. What a chance now. Mark Selby

:35:55. > :35:59.thought long and hard about whether to take the pink or put a colour

:36:00. > :36:11.safe and play a safety shot and he decided on the tricky cut into the

:36:12. > :36:17.middle and it did not come off. He came to the table 41 points behind.

:36:18. > :36:26.All of the reds in the middle of the table. But it needs total

:36:27. > :36:30.concentration and, in particular, good cue ball control. That will

:36:31. > :37:31.make it easy, or easier. He doesn't have to play any cannons,

:37:32. > :37:37.the little triangle of reds, if he pots the one to the left, it will

:37:38. > :37:43.clear the other two. It is all about keeping close control.

:37:44. > :37:50.Concentration. He was thinking of running through but it could go

:37:51. > :37:55.wrong so back up for the blue. If he had played the run-through for the

:37:56. > :38:01.black, he would have been running into another red but he has just let

:38:02. > :38:07.that slip. Has he got an angle on this blue? I think he might just

:38:08. > :38:11.have one. He needs one. He is almost straight but I think he can still

:38:12. > :38:21.get on that one to the left of the four. He is playing the run-through

:38:22. > :38:30.so he feels he can pinch of it here. -- pinch a bit here. This is where,

:38:31. > :38:36.psychologically you start thinking about the frame. He is seven points

:38:37. > :38:39.behind, red and a black would put him one point in front and then he

:38:40. > :38:45.knows exactly what is required to clinch the frame at this visit. He

:38:46. > :38:51.has not thought about it so far, just thinking about getting those

:38:52. > :38:55.points. And he has missed it! And he missed it because he did not get the

:38:56. > :39:00.right angle on the blue, if he had done he would have been closer to

:39:01. > :39:07.the red. For the first time we see a reaction from him, he is annoyed

:39:08. > :39:20.with that. That was a pretty easy pot that he missed.

:39:21. > :39:34.He is on the pink but he might be absolutely dead straight here which

:39:35. > :39:46.means he can't do much with the cue ball.

:39:47. > :39:55.He feels he has got a slight angle here, it looks straight, there is

:39:56. > :39:59.not much of an angle. This is a similar type of shot to the one that

:40:00. > :40:13.Ding missed into the other corner. This is a frame that I am sure Mark

:40:14. > :40:20.Selby was sat in his seat a few moments ago thinking it had passed

:40:21. > :40:23.him by. He is favourite to take it now and go to the mid-session

:40:24. > :40:42.interval with a two frame advantage. It was just a little lapse in

:40:43. > :40:52.concentration from Ding. I mean he would normally knock that in 19

:40:53. > :40:56.times out of 20, even more. But it just shows you how you can play one

:40:57. > :41:00.poor positional shot, he was just too straight and even though that

:41:01. > :41:04.red looked easy, it was just off straight but if it was straight he

:41:05. > :41:08.could have stunned it in and no way he was missing it but with the angle

:41:09. > :41:17.he was trying to pinch a bit of the pocket. That black going in now, 29

:41:18. > :41:24.points ahead, no heroics on this red, just roll it in and go 30 ahead

:41:25. > :41:32.with 27 remaining. He will be birdieing this. Not bothered about

:41:33. > :41:36.the colour. He will be quite happy just to roll to the black and play

:41:37. > :41:43.the snooker, 30 ahead with 27 remaining. And Ding Junhui has

:41:44. > :41:48.missed a golden opportunity to square the match before the

:41:49. > :41:50.mid-session interval. He will have that interval to think about the

:41:51. > :42:06.missed red. Ding, you never know, if he can hit

:42:07. > :42:08.this yellow and get it says, once snooker. It would not be the first

:42:09. > :42:24.time we have seen it happen. It is coming over the corner pocket,

:42:25. > :42:39.hang on! I thought he might have fluked the snooker. Maybe he can't

:42:40. > :42:44.pot it. It is tight. He can't risk playing a little swerve because he

:42:45. > :42:52.could hit the black. And at all costs you would not take that

:42:53. > :43:03.chance, Dennis. He is looking at the side cushion to come off it and pot

:43:04. > :43:06.the yellow, that is quite ambitious. Not sure about that one. I think he

:43:07. > :43:11.could have played thin off the yellow. Up on the balcony there, a

:43:12. > :43:30.reaction from family and friends. Ding didn't quite get the required

:43:31. > :43:36.screw to get in behind the black. It was difficult but if the yellow

:43:37. > :43:44.doesn't pass the brown, at least it is safe and it doesn't. He will

:43:45. > :43:48.still have a chance here and with that black there, it is not a bad

:43:49. > :43:53.position to try to lay a snooker behind. I was thinking exactly the

:43:54. > :44:00.same, John. But will England wait to get a chance to get in behind it? --

:44:01. > :44:10.will Ding Junhui get the chance. Mark Selby is pretty good at playing

:44:11. > :44:21.snooker 's as well. Just one four point snooker needed by Ding Junhui.

:44:22. > :44:25.That is usually the best way to stop the opponent getting a snooker,

:44:26. > :44:42.snooker him. Easy to hit, he has got to get it

:44:43. > :44:50.safe. He has got to get it safe. Hang on! He is in behind the brown!

:44:51. > :44:55.Would you believe it? The twists and turns that can happen on a snooker

:44:56. > :44:57.table. A puff of the cheeks tells me that Mark Selby can get to this off

:44:58. > :45:16.one cushion and if he can, easy hit. This frame is not over just yet.

:45:17. > :45:21.There could be a possibility to get this cue ball in behind the black. I

:45:22. > :45:27.know he can stun it and get the snooker behind the pink but if he

:45:28. > :45:34.can get tight behind the black... He is just playing the up and down

:45:35. > :45:38.shot. I don't blame him for that. It needs to slow up to make it

:45:39. > :45:48.difficult and it has done. This is not a guaranteed hit. Mark Selby

:45:49. > :45:51.does not miss many, that is for sure. And I suppose that was the

:45:52. > :45:54.right way to play it because you were more or less guaranteed the

:45:55. > :46:04.snooker but you do not fancy him to miss this. Is he going to push the

:46:05. > :46:14.black? It is not quite as good now as it was before. For the snooker in

:46:15. > :46:24.behind. It is the first to 17 that goes through to the final.

:46:25. > :46:38.Can he get the snooker that could bring it back all square? Mark Selby

:46:39. > :46:41.just with a bit of nervous energy. Obviously a good favourite to win

:46:42. > :46:45.the frame but you never know, you are on a knife's edge when somebody

:46:46. > :46:52.need the snooker but the imperative thing for Ding is to get the yellow

:46:53. > :46:56.safe. If he can't get the snooker, at least if you get the object ball

:46:57. > :47:02.safe you can get another chance but if he leaves it on, that is end of

:47:03. > :47:06.frame. If he hits the cushion first, there is a way of knocking it up

:47:07. > :47:12.past the black and possibly getting in behind it. If he comes off the

:47:13. > :47:13.side cushion and hits the yellow football, it would double the yellow

:47:14. > :47:30.out past the black. That is not a bad effort. There

:47:31. > :47:39.might be a gap. If it is full ball behind the blue, but there is a gap

:47:40. > :47:49.between brown and blue to hit the cushion. Another easy escape. That

:47:50. > :47:54.hasn't helped, putting the green safe, that hasn't helped Ding but he

:47:55. > :47:58.might be able to get white behind the black this time with a little

:47:59. > :48:01.screw shot. It is more difficult to get behind now than before it was

:48:02. > :48:13.moved. Here it comes but where is the

:48:14. > :48:27.yellow? Almost doubled the yellow but has he got the snooker? APPLAUSE

:48:28. > :48:35.You have got to cut out the one-cushion escape at this level if

:48:36. > :48:40.you are going to get any reward for the snooker. Where is this cue ball

:48:41. > :48:47.going? Mark could have a snooker of his own here. That is amazing, to

:48:48. > :48:51.get the yellow over that pocket and the white over this pocket from that

:48:52. > :49:06.position. What a result he has had their.

:49:07. > :49:20.He has left the yellow on. I think it is into full-time. -- it is

:49:21. > :49:24.interval time. Ding might decide to play on because you would not think

:49:25. > :49:29.that Mark could get position on the green so it is two snookers required

:49:30. > :49:36.and where the black is, it might encourage Ding to play on.

:49:37. > :49:37.Absolutely. He has no intention of walking out of the arena just yet

:49:38. > :50:09.for the mid-session interval. A chance here, push the green up and

:50:10. > :50:19.down the table and get that cue ball in behind the black. He needs it

:50:20. > :50:22.tight behind but it just swung off the cushion. He might have the

:50:23. > :50:30.snooker but even if he has it looks like an easy swerve. He doesn't need

:50:31. > :50:48.the swerve. Mark trying to knock the brown near

:50:49. > :50:52.the top cushion but he has left it in a position where, if he got a

:50:53. > :50:56.snooker behind it, it would be good but he will be trying to get in

:50:57. > :51:05.behind the black again and this is at a better place and a good line

:51:06. > :51:06.and is it tight? APPLAUSE Has he cut out the one-cushion

:51:07. > :51:15.escape? He needs so much side on this, he

:51:16. > :51:20.will have to try to make the angle with loads of left-hand side to

:51:21. > :51:28.swing it over towards it. He had a bit more room than I thought and

:51:29. > :51:36.there was no problem. He can always pot the green because the brown is

:51:37. > :51:41.not in an ideal position here. It just means there is one less ball to

:51:42. > :51:45.snooker behind. He would love to lead the green on the table but I

:51:46. > :51:58.don't think he can avoid putting it. He had to. He couldn't have finished

:51:59. > :52:02.much worse than that in all honesty. He can't get in behind the black,

:52:03. > :52:08.just maybe get the snooker behind the pink. But if he is going to

:52:09. > :52:13.force Mark Selby to miss, he has got to get it tight to these snooker

:52:14. > :52:19.rink balls and so far he has not been able to do that. -- snookering

:52:20. > :52:42.balls. That was a good shot from Mark. Can

:52:43. > :53:19.Ding get the brown safe? He didn't want to risk trying to cut

:53:20. > :53:24.the brown in because there was a possible in off to the right middle

:53:25. > :53:28.pocket. If he doesn't get the double-kiss, he might get over

:53:29. > :53:43.behind the black here. The double-kiss is on.

:53:44. > :54:02.But if he pots it, it is definitely frame over. APPLAUSE

:54:03. > :54:09.And in it goes and Mark Selby, he started this session with a two

:54:10. > :54:16.frame advantage and was pulled back to 12 or at the start of this

:54:17. > :54:20.session. He has now won three of the first four frames and nonchalantly

:54:21. > :54:26.knocks in the pink and tries to pot the black while it is moving. That

:54:27. > :54:30.is what Mark Selby wanted, winning three of the first four frames and

:54:31. > :54:35.Ding Junhui is two frames behind again but don't rule him out.

:54:36. > :54:43.But as you said, Mark is only two frames away from a place in a fourth

:54:44. > :54:47.final and has shown such positivity. There was just a sign from Ding

:54:48. > :54:52.Junhui when he missed that red after failing to get position from the

:54:53. > :55:00.blue that he was getting a little agitated. By this time of the

:55:01. > :55:04.tournament, you are not supposed to be missing anything but of course

:55:05. > :55:08.it's impossible. You are forever trying to pinch part of the pocket,

:55:09. > :55:12.not always right in the middle and you would have hoped that Ding

:55:13. > :55:16.Junhui could have rolled that in. But unfortunately, as John Virgo

:55:17. > :55:20.said, if you play a dead straight stun shot and hit the ball with

:55:21. > :55:24.authority you usually get it in but when you parole them in, there is

:55:25. > :55:30.always the possibility it might roll off -- you have to roll them in.

:55:31. > :55:33.Mark Selby is obviously not impervious to pressure and there was

:55:34. > :55:40.a couple of moment he thought he did not get a good run of the balls. He

:55:41. > :55:44.has friends in the gallery and if things don't go right he is smiling

:55:45. > :55:49.at the commentary or the studio and he is feeling it as well definitely.

:55:50. > :55:53.There is no need to begrudge bad luck because he has had a fair share

:55:54. > :55:58.in this match, it tends to even out over long matches, but it was a

:55:59. > :56:02.differs -- a disappointing miss for Ding Junhui. A couple of times he

:56:03. > :56:06.has given it the heavy shoe walk back to the chair, trudging a bit,

:56:07. > :56:09.and that is a bad sign because he has looked pretty positive through

:56:10. > :56:14.most of the match. If you were in his corner like Terry Griffiths will

:56:15. > :56:18.be, what encouragement can you give him at this stage to keep punching?

:56:19. > :56:23.I don't think there are many words left. It is a case, he knows what

:56:24. > :56:27.yesterday when he comes out, he doesn't have that much breathing

:56:28. > :56:32.space. He will probably get himself in a better frame of mind for this

:56:33. > :56:35.second session because he will go, I've got nothing to lose, I've got

:56:36. > :56:39.to go for it. He doesn't have the worry of anything behind him,

:56:40. > :56:43.looking over his shoulder, it is foot to the floor and let's see what

:56:44. > :56:47.we can do and compete. He always goes to the practice table, whatever

:56:48. > :56:53.the score, he will always be on the practice table, it is just what he

:56:54. > :56:57.does. He will be getting a bit of rhythm going and hopefully if he

:56:58. > :57:02.gets a chance he can get active at one visit scoring which has been his

:57:03. > :57:05.strength. I know you were both very dominant champions and Mark

:57:06. > :57:10.currently is that add his opponent is the underdog and getting quite a

:57:11. > :57:15.lot of support, a syndrome you both recognise? Exactly come interesting

:57:16. > :57:21.how the crowd are responding, it is the ultimate testament to how good

:57:22. > :57:29.Mark Selby is. Nobody is doing yet! He is not at our level yet! --

:57:30. > :57:38.booing. He is certainly getting to that level where people expect him

:57:39. > :57:43.to win. We will be back very shortly over on BBC Two because while they

:57:44. > :57:47.are at the interview will -- at the interval we will switch channels and

:57:48. > :57:51.we will be back for the deciding session. I hope you will join us

:57:52. > :57:53.there in just a few moments. Put the kettle on and we will see you in

:57:54. > :58:01.about ten minutes. Goodbye for now. The East End girl who became the

:58:02. > :58:04.nation's favourite. We don't know what it is,

:58:05. > :58:10.but she definitely has... Something.