:00:35. > :00:41.Welcome back to the Crucible Theatre where Steve and Stephen and everyone
:00:42. > :00:50.else in this packed theatre is about to find out who will be the first
:00:51. > :00:55.man through to the final of this year's Betfred World Championship.
:00:56. > :00:58.In the leaders Mark Selby. He returned to the second session of
:00:59. > :01:06.their semifinal lock that 12 apiece but the brilliant Chinese cue man is
:01:07. > :01:12.still chasing the game once again, having fallen two frames behind,
:01:13. > :01:18.13-15. Selby needs to win just two more to guarantee a place in a
:01:19. > :01:21.fourth Crucible final tomorrow. Dennis and John, as the players come
:01:22. > :01:25.out again, you will see this one over the line.
:01:26. > :01:38.COMMENTATOR: We certainly are. The atmosphere here at the Crucible
:01:39. > :01:42.Theatre is electric. Ding Junhui has battled back throughout this match,
:01:43. > :01:48.always been playing catch up, and now not much elbow room left. His
:01:49. > :01:56.opponent only needs two more frames to book their place in the final.
:01:57. > :02:05.These next two frames are very important for Ding Junhui way. But
:02:06. > :02:09.Mark Selby, a proven winner. He will be seeing the winning post and will
:02:10. > :02:15.not be looking over his shoulder, Dennis, he will be looking straight
:02:16. > :02:25.ahead. Yes. He is looking for his third final in four years. When in
:02:26. > :02:32.2014 and 2016. -- the winner. Still slightly behind in the safety
:02:33. > :02:36.Department, but I don't think he can take the spot without hitting the
:02:37. > :02:44.black. He is playing the safety shot, as you can see -- take this
:02:45. > :02:52.part. He is a pinball wizard! That read only just moved. Now, then,
:02:53. > :02:57.what does Ding Junhui way do here, does he play the attacking safety?
:02:58. > :03:04.No, he is playing the thin one as well, keep it tight. Had an
:03:05. > :03:12.opportunity there to play thick of the main bunch, but deemed it too
:03:13. > :03:29.risky. Played a decent safety. Needs this frame badly.
:03:30. > :03:36.No attempt at the pot there. The Blackwood had gone straight in, and
:03:37. > :03:42.the flick on the yellow has made it slightly awkward. Can still get down
:03:43. > :03:46.off the reds, but this time he will have to play is a little thicker,
:03:47. > :03:48.you would think. In fact he doesn't want to do that, he wants to keep it
:03:49. > :04:04.tight. That is never going to reach. Surely
:04:05. > :04:09.he hasn't left the path through for Mark to take the pot on? He has.
:04:10. > :04:19.That was a bit of an early slip-up in this frame for Ding Junhui way.
:04:20. > :04:25.He had a chance in the frame before the mid-session interval to bring
:04:26. > :04:33.this match to all square and now has left the first chance to Mark Selby.
:04:34. > :04:36.Not what he wanted. As Mark potted that you could see there is another
:04:37. > :04:42.red available but he will not be good on the blue here. But there is
:04:43. > :04:46.one red, just to the back cluster, to the left, he could possibly get
:04:47. > :04:55.on that of the green. That is the red.
:04:56. > :05:03.Has he got the angle on the blue? The referee, Brendan Moore, as we
:05:04. > :05:07.watched that read going, we'll be watching this very closely. Surely
:05:08. > :05:20.he has got to play the green. -- as we watched that read go in.
:05:21. > :05:30.There was an incident earlier in the World Championships where a push
:05:31. > :05:35.shot was given. From this sort of situation. But he is using the rest,
:05:36. > :05:45.will still have to be careful he doesn't push this.
:05:46. > :05:58.I don't think he gained anything. Being so close to the cue ball...
:05:59. > :06:40.Hit the pink well but couldn't generate the pace required.
:06:41. > :06:51.There is a possible pot on here. Needs to catch it right or you could
:06:52. > :06:55.run into another red, but this thread is here on the corner. And
:06:56. > :07:04.there it goes, the bump on the middle pocket is a good one. It is a
:07:05. > :07:14.good bump. OK, not perfect on the blue, but he is on the blue.
:07:15. > :07:25.The problem is, the pink and black are tied up.
:07:26. > :07:41.Can he get back for the blue? I think he can. Well, he's played the
:07:42. > :07:45.cannon? Is he lucky? I think not. A calculated risk there and it didn't
:07:46. > :07:48.pay off. Looked like he might be able to play up the blue and cannon
:07:49. > :07:53.into the pink but he thought he could get the black into play, and
:07:54. > :07:58.he was a bit unlucky there. Yes, he just caught the black thin. He could
:07:59. > :08:08.have knocked it on to the right corner. Needs a good safety here.
:08:09. > :08:19.Adjacent to left corner which is cuttable.
:08:20. > :08:57.-- a red adjacent to the left corner.
:08:58. > :09:00.APPLAUSE. Worthy of applause, excellent cue
:09:01. > :09:16.ball. A little bit thick, but if it runs
:09:17. > :09:34.past the green, he won't mind that. He won't mind that!
:09:35. > :09:42.That's what he's faced with and what he's looking at. The two cushion
:09:43. > :09:49.escape, Mr Blackman catch one of those reds, thin -ish to get back up
:09:50. > :09:55.the table, he's pretty good at this kind of shot, but it can go wrong.
:09:56. > :09:57.He won't mind missing it with a first attempt rather than hitting it
:09:58. > :10:11.on the thick side. He wouldn't mind even giving a
:10:12. > :10:16.couple of four point penalties away here until he gets it absolutely
:10:17. > :10:21.right. This two cushion escape with pace as you rightly said, he has to
:10:22. > :10:29.get close to the black here to get this.
:10:30. > :10:42.I'm not certain it is on. I'm not certain it on. He'd need to get a
:10:43. > :10:46.lot more side on it. I thought he could have come off past the brown,
:10:47. > :10:54.dismissed the middle pocket and landed on the red to the left of the
:10:55. > :10:58.ones near the black area. But as you could see, he would need to get a
:10:59. > :11:13.lot more side on it to hit the second cushion and swing it towards
:11:14. > :11:17.the reds. Oh! He got so close. He just missed the black and only just
:11:18. > :11:19.caught the red, have a look at this here as it comes past the black,
:11:20. > :11:43.look at this. Knocked the red awning, needs a good
:11:44. > :11:47.cue ball. Not a bad one, but could have been so much more difficult,
:11:48. > :11:51.this thread, had he got that cue ball tight to the ball cushion. You
:11:52. > :11:59.would think Mark would be taking this on. It is a tough one. He's
:12:00. > :12:06.just going to have to dig in slightly. Can't just rolled the red
:12:07. > :12:07.in and be automatically on the black, so digging down, accurate
:12:08. > :12:37.cueing required. Not on the black. Good pot. He was
:12:38. > :12:45.hoping to kiss it to the second read and hope for the black. The pot
:12:46. > :12:49.clean as a whistle, got the cannon just write you would have thought,
:12:50. > :12:52.but just drifted past. He can pot the pink but there is no value in
:12:53. > :13:32.that. If he's going to try to get back to
:13:33. > :13:38.the baulk end he has to avoid a kiss on the black here. Nice flick off
:13:39. > :14:21.the yellow. Nice flick off the yellow! Good cue ball now.
:14:22. > :14:29.You couldn't miss the ball, once again, much thinner than that.
:14:30. > :14:31.Already did flick then. I am just wondering whether it passes the
:14:32. > :14:48.black to the right corner. It does. Just a little bit too thin. Now,
:14:49. > :14:56.where is this cue ball going? Is the brown going to come to his rescue?
:14:57. > :15:01.Not quite. Left the pot on for Mark, but as with the last long pot he
:15:02. > :15:09.played, it it's bound to be running into other balls. With his hand on
:15:10. > :15:11.the table, this pot a little bit easier, but still not guaranteed to
:15:12. > :15:29.get position on a colour. If he parts it and gets a good case
:15:30. > :15:39.on the reds near the top cushion, I think the black may be available. --
:15:40. > :15:45.get a good kiss on the reds. He didn't get the flick right but a few
:15:46. > :15:53.cases have left him on the blue. Has he got an angle on the blue to get
:15:54. > :15:59.back the reds? Flicked a red, flicked the pink.
:16:00. > :16:10.Now, how is he on the blue line? Right on the blue line. Straight.
:16:11. > :16:25.Can't get close to the next red, not off the blue.
:16:26. > :16:35.Well, he missed one like that earlier.
:16:36. > :16:49.Quick one in there. Not as smooth as usual.
:16:50. > :17:02.Good chance now. Just needs to negotiate this positional shot here.
:17:03. > :17:23.One good shot here, and he's right in amongst them. That's OK. Great
:17:24. > :17:27.chance now. Yes, he has an 11 point advantage so he could well and truly
:17:28. > :17:30.get over the line here without even having to bother about the yellow
:17:31. > :17:41.and brown which are out of commission.
:17:42. > :17:49.Perfect on the blue. Still needs a little bit of work, those four reds
:17:50. > :17:54.in the middle of the table, he can't get to them at the moment to bring
:17:55. > :18:02.them into play. The pink is the blocker. And I don't think the black
:18:03. > :18:04.nose in either corner pocket. -- goes in either corner pocket. I
:18:05. > :18:10.don't think it goes to the right corner.
:18:11. > :18:21.It doesn't. That he could have played that better. -- but he could
:18:22. > :18:25.have played that better. Wrong side of the green. Black goes to the left
:18:26. > :18:31.corner pocket but he doesn't go to the right corner, so a good shot
:18:32. > :18:35.needed here. Going to play the blue, but he needs to be careful because
:18:36. > :18:40.he'll be stretching over a red here, doesn't want to foul it with his
:18:41. > :18:58.waistcoat. The referee will be watching. Look at this. Great pot,
:18:59. > :19:01.is he on the red? Is he on the red? I think he must be. He is just on
:19:02. > :19:17.it. Good pot, excellent position. Just needed to avoid that and just
:19:18. > :19:41.stop, and it did. Still needs another good positional
:19:42. > :19:47.shot. He may have the angle on the pink to cannon into that cluster of
:19:48. > :19:51.four but that is risky. Certain to be on a red. They read in an ideal
:19:52. > :19:55.world you would like to be honest on the right-hand side of the table, at
:19:56. > :19:59.the moment that is stopping the black from going into the right
:20:00. > :20:09.corner. But he decided to go into the cluster, risky as it was. Can he
:20:10. > :20:21.pot this red? Doesn't look like it. Took a chance there. Didn't work
:20:22. > :20:41.out. 30 points, the lead. Just over 11 hours, this match.
:20:42. > :20:52.Giving this plenty of thought. It needs it. All the reds are in the
:20:53. > :21:00.open. A 30 point lead will count for nothing if he leaves Mark Selby a
:21:01. > :21:08.chance here. Just playing a little touch shot. The problem is with
:21:09. > :21:11.that, it just hangs the initiative to Mark Selby in this exchange, and
:21:12. > :22:35.an important one it is. Better cue ball. He has not left a
:22:36. > :22:40.pot on and with this shot Mark has to be very careful doesn't knock
:22:41. > :22:46.reds towards the right corner pocket here, and there is no guarantee he
:22:47. > :23:09.won't. -- knock a red towards the right corner pocket.
:23:10. > :23:15.That was always going to be difficult because there was nothing
:23:16. > :23:21.over that side of the table to play in behind. The key shot coming up
:23:22. > :23:30.for Ding Junhui. He would have to get it, you would feel. A possible
:23:31. > :23:37.path back down the table, but highly unlikely. He is 30 ahead. If he
:23:38. > :23:42.cannot one in here and get on the colour, the difference would just be
:23:43. > :23:52.one. A key moment in this frame coming up just now. A choice of
:23:53. > :23:56.reds. The one closest to the pocket or the thin -ish cut. He has gone
:23:57. > :24:03.for the thin -ish cut. Needs to get it.
:24:04. > :24:20.Too thin. Too thin. Mistake. Sits down. 30 points, the lead.
:24:21. > :24:28.All the reds nicely spread for Mark Selby. But to win the frame at this
:24:29. > :24:34.visit, he's going to need the yellow. So it's not a
:24:35. > :24:35.straightforward run to the line by any means, but he would be just glad
:24:36. > :25:02.of the chance. It's a funny little cut back here on
:25:03. > :25:10.the black. Can't see the pocket in his eye line.
:25:11. > :25:29.And another key turning point in this semifinal, because Ding Junhui
:25:30. > :25:37.looked like he was going to go on, and he is just one frame behind.
:25:38. > :25:40.Very little to separate both players in this semifinal. Just the odd
:25:41. > :25:48.little mistake that has proven costly.
:25:49. > :26:03.And if he could take this frame, what a tall order it would be for
:26:04. > :26:06.Ding Junhui. Yes, Ding Junhui last evening in that tremendous session,
:26:07. > :26:14.when he got chances he scored heavily. He has not done that so far
:26:15. > :26:17.in this final session. He has had chances, but whether by fair means
:26:18. > :26:35.or foul, he has not taken them. The yellow and brown have been there
:26:36. > :26:43.since the start of this frame, and they are going to be the key balls
:26:44. > :26:45.now. Everything else in the open. This black to go two points in
:26:46. > :26:56.front. That used all the pocket! Heart in
:26:57. > :27:27.mouth. It was wide, wasn't it? Get the greenback onto its home
:27:28. > :27:43.spot. And then it's all about the angle he gets when he pops the last
:27:44. > :27:46.red. -- pots from the blue would be easy, from the pink is a
:27:47. > :27:57.possibility, that's where he would like to be. We've got someone's
:27:58. > :28:03.alarm on their mobile phone ringing. Do you know where that's coming
:28:04. > :28:07.from? Could do without that at this stage. Mark just going back to his
:28:08. > :28:19.seat while they find out where it is. Well, it's high up in the
:28:20. > :28:28.Crucible gods. What is it? Is it a bird? LAUGHTER. The referee says it
:28:29. > :28:41.is a high squeaking noise coming from the gods of the Crucible. Well,
:28:42. > :28:54.nobody seems to know what it is. It is very difficult to carry on with
:28:55. > :29:00.that noise, but... The gremlins in the Crucible. Mark Selby is going to
:29:01. > :29:03.play on. He doesn't want to ruin his rhythm. Desperately looking for a
:29:04. > :29:13.good angle on the blue as the noise stops. All, has he left enough angle
:29:14. > :29:21.to stun it over and kissed the brown and put the yellow on? Let's have a
:29:22. > :29:25.look. Not much of an angle there, is it? And of course he is going to
:29:26. > :29:33.need the yellow and brown to win the frame in this visit so the ideal
:29:34. > :29:40.would be to be to move both balls. I don't know if he can. He is trying.
:29:41. > :29:44.Couldn't do it. So he has got a 12 point lead. But this frame is still
:29:45. > :30:18.in the balance. Look at that. He cut off the escape
:30:19. > :30:24.route to the pink there. This is tough. He is going to have to hit
:30:25. > :30:35.the baulk cushion, side cushion, hit the yellow, and not leave it on.
:30:36. > :30:50.Very clever shot that Mark Selby has just played there.
:30:51. > :31:02.APPLAUSE Well, terrific round of applause but
:31:03. > :31:12.the next one might even be more difficult.
:31:13. > :31:21.And it is. That looked straightforward but he had to have
:31:22. > :31:32.the cue right up in the area to play that. It looks like a trick shot. He
:31:33. > :31:44.has hit the black. Referee-macro Foul and a mess. Mark Selby, seven.
:31:45. > :31:57.This is where the miss rule is too severe. It really is. When you are
:31:58. > :31:59.hitting the first cushion and it is close to the cue ball it is
:32:00. > :32:01.difficult to judge how it will react. He missed that yellow light
:32:02. > :32:22.diffraction. He has hit it well. Where is the cue
:32:23. > :32:26.ball going? It is OK. I was surprised when Mark Selby put him
:32:27. > :32:29.back again, the black had been knocked into a safe position and he
:32:30. > :32:39.did not think about that, he just put him straight back in again. It
:32:40. > :32:50.is anyone's frame as the moment no. Fair comment.
:32:51. > :32:55.He has not the black to the side cushion. Mark never even thought
:32:56. > :33:04.about playing the shot himself. He doesn't often miss a trick, but
:33:05. > :33:32.he missed one there. This looks like a good cue ball fit
:33:33. > :33:38.nestles. Has it nestled? I am looking at Ding's body language. He
:33:39. > :33:43.does not think it has. Mark Selby, 19 points the lead, just looking for
:33:44. > :33:51.yellow or green, he is not certain he can get past the black to the
:33:52. > :33:52.potting angle. I cannot tell you because Mark and the referee are in
:33:53. > :34:15.the way. But was tight, but what a shot that
:34:16. > :34:25.was. That was as good a shot as we have seen under the circumstances.
:34:26. > :34:40.Absolutely superb. Mark's waif shaking her head in amazement. That
:34:41. > :34:46.green leaves Ding needing a snooker. It is all about fractions. Just the
:34:47. > :35:12.gap to get to the potting angle of the yellow, and what a pots it was.
:35:13. > :35:38.Overcuts that. To snooker is required on the blue. Ding looking
:35:39. > :35:54.at the scoreboard, to five point snooker 's two tie.
:35:55. > :36:21.If he had missed the blue and that the pink it would be one snooker
:36:22. > :36:55.needed to win. He did not want to knock the black
:36:56. > :37:46.too far. Another good effort. Mark Selby is
:37:47. > :37:58.good at playing the swerve shot, it should not be a problem.
:37:59. > :38:13.Could he get tied in behind the pink? Difficult to judge. It is so
:38:14. > :38:28.delicate. The closer to the pink, the tougher the snooker would be.
:38:29. > :38:43.Just pleased to get the snooker, he hasn't got tied in. I think he can
:38:44. > :38:48.avoid the middle pocket and get to the blue off a couple of cushions. I
:38:49. > :39:00.do not think the middle pocket is in the way.
:39:01. > :39:09.He has gone around the back of it and it is a silly ball. The odds on
:39:10. > :39:22.sending out around the back of the blue. -- free ball. You feel it is
:39:23. > :39:25.worth taking the chance to pot the pink, then he could tie. He cannot
:39:26. > :39:47.snooker behind the pink. It was worth the risk. But the pink
:39:48. > :39:51.snow in a better position to get a snooker behind. He only needs one
:39:52. > :40:38.snooker two tie. Yes, if you can't get the snooker
:40:39. > :41:05.get the object ball see. He has got to control the cue ball.
:41:06. > :41:09.That is the view you would be getting if you work in the Crucible
:41:10. > :41:25.Theatre. I bet you wish you were here.
:41:26. > :42:03.That's it. Tremendous pot. Now he is just going to be one frame away from
:42:04. > :42:10.a place in the final. It was an unbelievable session last night but
:42:11. > :42:20.Ding Junhui has not scored the same in this session. If he is going to
:42:21. > :42:26.win this match, he is going to how to take the chances, there are not
:42:27. > :42:34.many. The defending champion Mark Selby just one frame away from a
:42:35. > :42:38.place in the final. STUDIO: Ding Junhui has won three on the
:42:39. > :42:45.banks in the opening session, and he won two in a row to get us back to
:42:46. > :42:52.12-12. He has not got the same momentum as last night. The pattern
:42:53. > :43:00.of the game has not gone his way. That can be down to luck. If you
:43:01. > :43:05.miss the ball early on. There was a green in the first frame, if Ding
:43:06. > :43:10.has pot that is might have been different. He hasn't scored as
:43:11. > :43:13.heavily, but we have also seen some individual pots which have been
:43:14. > :43:27.brilliant from Mark Selby and this yellow was stunning. Superb shot.
:43:28. > :43:33.Mark Selby has dominated today. Ding's highest break has been 52. He
:43:34. > :43:37.has not been able to plea to his strengths today. To see he is a
:43:38. > :43:43.broken man would be unfair, but has he been broken in this match? I
:43:44. > :43:50.don't think so, he has not had his chances, he has not got going. You
:43:51. > :43:54.never know, if he wins this frame. Mark Selby looks up to his corner, a
:43:55. > :44:03.bit like tennis players too. His wife is there. His best friend is
:44:04. > :44:08.there as well. It is interesting to know what he is looking up there
:44:09. > :44:12.for. With the crowd being probably in favour of Ding Junhui, perhaps it
:44:13. > :44:17.is looking up there for inspiration. He is not looking up there for
:44:18. > :44:27.coaching reasons, perhaps for encouragement. Was this something
:44:28. > :44:31.that U2 did? -- the peer of you did? He seems to be relying on them to
:44:32. > :44:36.give him that support, that security. Perhaps that is what he
:44:37. > :44:38.needs because he is just one a way from a place and a fourth Crucible
:44:39. > :44:47.final. Mark Selby, defending champion.
:44:48. > :44:53.COMMENTATOR: Mark Selby comes to the table. Frame 30. He will be hoping
:44:54. > :45:06.it is his last game in this semifinal. His opponent Ding Junhui
:45:07. > :45:12.will have other ideas. He made two centuries last evening to draw level
:45:13. > :45:16.at 12-12, will he get a chance to make a sizeable break and start the
:45:17. > :45:41.comeback? There is no doubt that Ding Junhui
:45:42. > :45:48.like all these great break-builders can rattle off to author the frames
:45:49. > :45:50.without his opponent is doing much wrong. He needs it's no more than
:45:51. > :46:06.ever. We always see the toughest frame to
:46:07. > :46:10.win us the three that gets you to the winning post, but Mark Selby has
:46:11. > :46:18.done that so many times at the Crucible, I would not see that being
:46:19. > :46:37.Get in there. What a shot. This Crucible crowd giving Ding of the
:46:38. > :46:42.encouragement in the world here. A lot of Mark Selby supporters here
:46:43. > :46:55.but this Crucible crowd have warmed to this very likeable player.
:46:56. > :47:06.There is a reds to the bottom of the cluster which is available.
:47:07. > :47:31.It was a simple little shot but very effective. Look at how many reds he
:47:32. > :47:50.has brought into play. He is one of the game's great
:47:51. > :47:51.break-builders. He is at the point in the match he cannot afford to
:47:52. > :48:15.miss. Very surprised he took that reds on.
:48:16. > :48:22.It was his choice. You stand or fall by them. He had a read to the
:48:23. > :48:40.opposite corner that look easier but he thought that was the one to play.
:48:41. > :48:46.He had a quick look to see if the Blackwood go in the middle pocket,
:48:47. > :48:58.but is just adrenaline, he has over that. -- if the Blackwood go.
:48:59. > :49:03.I am not sure if the black passes the single reds into the middle
:49:04. > :49:23.pocket. He might be able to drop this black
:49:24. > :49:26.into the middle pocket. He has got that three frame cushion. Just roll
:49:27. > :49:48.Latin and he is on a reds. Has he got away with it? I don't
:49:49. > :49:58.think so. I think there is a cut on to the right corner. It is only the
:49:59. > :50:04.type of pot you would take on if you were looking for one frame and had a
:50:05. > :50:12.silly frame advantage, Ding could not have afforded to play that stop
:50:13. > :50:19.Ding needs a balance on this cue ball. It is OK. I think that black
:50:20. > :50:53.is just about unmissable. The only problem here is the black
:50:54. > :51:13.doesn't go into the right corner. The Blackwood and go, that is why he
:51:14. > :52:02.had to go up for the blue. That should have been a lot easier.
:52:03. > :52:09.If he can avoid a kiss on the second is red, shouldn't be a problem. And
:52:10. > :52:15.he could, and he played it well. That was a good shot. No he is going
:52:16. > :52:22.to have to play a good positional shot. There is a red sitting out on
:52:23. > :52:33.the right-hand side. If he can kiss that full ball he will have the reds
:52:34. > :52:38.to go out. That can and was so important, he want to catch at fool,
:52:39. > :52:44.he caught it half ball. Those fractions make all the difference.
:52:45. > :52:48.He just did not catch it fully enough to hold the cue ball but he
:52:49. > :52:53.still may be on this red to the left middle. Tricky but not much to do
:52:54. > :53:06.for a position on the pink. He has got the frame at his mercy
:53:07. > :53:37.but there is no easy shots. Already 49 the difference. There is
:53:38. > :53:39.enough available rates to clinch the frame to keep himself in this year's
:53:40. > :53:57.World Championship. He didn't quite cue that one as he
:53:58. > :54:18.intended. What has he done here? That is
:54:19. > :54:38.tension keeping end. Looking for the black and one more
:54:39. > :54:56.red. I thought it was then. Where is the
:54:57. > :55:00.cue ball going to travel? Not let anything easy. But another
:55:01. > :55:31.frame-winning opportunity spurned. He wants to be pretty accurate. A
:55:32. > :56:15.little bit of pocket covered by the black.
:56:16. > :56:29.Ding is just looking for one red and any colour. His safety play
:56:30. > :56:39.throughout this match has been exemplary, as has Mark Selby's. But
:56:40. > :56:44.we did not expect to see Ding Junhui having a better safety success than
:56:45. > :56:50.Mark Selby. His back is firmly against the wall but he has battled
:56:51. > :56:57.back time and time again. He is favourite to win this frame, is Ding
:56:58. > :57:29.Junhui, but as we all know favourites get beaten.
:57:30. > :57:36.Has to be very careful with this kind of shot when the ball is tied
:57:37. > :57:41.to the cushion, head to fool and the ball will go back up table. That is
:57:42. > :58:15.the The brown might be a slight
:58:16. > :58:20.hindrance here but there is a red available and the black is right
:58:21. > :58:24.over the pocket. As long as I can cue at the side of the ground -- the
:58:25. > :59:00.brown. This Crucible crowd getting excited
:59:01. > :59:09.here. Sit, assets. Any colour would do and look what he has done. Pure
:59:10. > :59:17.adrenaline that made him over stun that shot.
:59:18. > :59:37.Needs to gather his thoughts. Has he got the nerve just to nestle...?
:59:38. > :59:38.Played it well. Wasn't easy. After the disappointment of not getting
:59:39. > :00:03.the colour. Not what he wanted. He can cut the
:00:04. > :00:28.sin. -- cut this in. No. He stunned at. And easier pot if
:00:29. > :00:54.he had ruled it. The problem that Mark Selby has got,
:00:55. > :00:57.he can cue nicely just to the side of the pink but if you asked to play
:00:58. > :01:06.the pot into the left corner he is bound to run into those three reds.
:01:07. > :01:12.And on the right-hand side of the table he is hampered by the green. I
:01:13. > :01:23.know he is very good striking down on the ball but this is tricky.
:01:24. > :01:31.Unless he nestles up behind the yellow, he may have left something
:01:32. > :01:41.here. Ding Junhui can get through to this red. He has got to get this.
:01:42. > :02:20.That makes absolutely sure. It is far from over.
:02:21. > :02:30.Mark Selby nods to the referee. APPLAUSE
:02:31. > :02:37.He needs a couple more to draw level but he is still in it, 16-14.
:02:38. > :02:40.STUDIO: He's showing that tenacity he has done all Championship. You
:02:41. > :02:44.might have thought with that margin it might be too much but he is
:02:45. > :03:00.hanging on and fighting hard. Mark Selby has a chance. He
:03:01. > :03:06.completely forgot to cue it. It was a weak effort. That would give me
:03:07. > :03:11.hope if I was Ding Junhui, even if I was defending champion number one, a
:03:12. > :03:19.winning line affects everybody and that would give me hope. Are you
:03:20. > :03:23.sensing the tension from Selby's position, Steve? Even though he has
:03:24. > :03:28.done the hard work, that final frame is always the difficult one. With
:03:29. > :03:33.four friends to play with, you feel relatively comfortable but then it
:03:34. > :03:39.is two frames and three and you are panicking. It is interesting because
:03:40. > :03:44.it is a reverse Selby he has to do. Mark has been great. We have seen
:03:45. > :03:52.him in Masters finals and the final against Ronnie a few years back. The
:03:53. > :03:56.scrappy frames, obviously, he needs to win every type of frame but what
:03:57. > :04:03.you wouldn't give for a quick frame here. And we have seen doing back
:04:04. > :04:09.against the wall against Liang Wenbo and last night, he shows he has
:04:10. > :04:15.nothing to lose and he is very efficient. He has nothing to be
:04:16. > :04:18.afraid of now, just go for it. Yes, we saw the back-to-back centuries
:04:19. > :04:23.from Ding Junhui to level things last night. He has still got a lot
:04:24. > :04:25.to do but some encouragement from the last frame. Ding Junhui is still
:04:26. > :04:45.in this Championship. He certainly is, Hazel. That is a
:04:46. > :04:51.decent break off. I don't think Mark can get to the edge of the reds. He
:04:52. > :04:58.can hit part of the cluster but what has been his game plan during this
:04:59. > :05:17.match is not to open the reds and plenty Ding Junhui's hands.
:05:18. > :05:27.But if Ding Junhui could win this frame, then you believe or think
:05:28. > :05:36.anything could happen. Who will stand up to it best?
:05:37. > :05:40.The pressure will really start to mount and that is a tremendous
:05:41. > :05:55.safety is shot. It gives Mark Selby little bit to
:05:56. > :05:59.think about. There are a couple of reds on the right-hand side that he
:06:00. > :06:01.cannot get to. He will be wary that he doesn't leave a pot on for his
:06:02. > :06:29.opponent. It is not a bad nudge on the brown.
:06:30. > :06:41.It makes the return safety shot more difficult.
:06:42. > :06:59.They are all a little awkward these three reds to play down off.
:07:00. > :07:02.There was a gap and he found it nicely. Good shot.
:07:03. > :07:26.APPLAUSE Mark Selby is looking for one decent
:07:27. > :07:42.chance to get himself into the final. The third time in four years.
:07:43. > :08:02.Now then. Well will the red finish? I think he may have got away with
:08:03. > :08:21.it. And showing his little bit of
:08:22. > :08:28.frustration there because when a player misses a pot and kisses a
:08:29. > :08:35.second read, you think surely I will have something. Regroup and play a
:08:36. > :08:41.good safety. This is the pot, missed it, kissed that red. It is careering
:08:42. > :08:47.back down the table. It could have stopped there on a good day and been
:08:48. > :08:53.available to the middle. You cannot push the wrote out here, Ding
:08:54. > :09:06.Junhui. -- he cannot push the boat out.
:09:07. > :09:11.It is a good line. APPLAUSE
:09:12. > :09:18.Not a bad length. Another couple of rolls and it would have been better.
:09:19. > :09:49.It could have been perfect. That is a good return. Still OK for
:09:50. > :10:03.Ding Junhui. He can also get down that side of the table.
:10:04. > :10:37.Is there a gap? Maybe varies. -- maybe varies. Only just.
:10:38. > :11:04.Asking Ding Junhui another question here, can he play a better safety?
:11:05. > :11:09.A little bit thinner than was required. That is why it bounced on
:11:10. > :11:24.and off the baulk cushion. The very, very important tactical
:11:25. > :11:52.exchange this. Who gets the first chance?
:11:53. > :12:00.This looks good, this looks very, very good.
:12:01. > :12:05.APPLAUSE I think Ding can come off the side
:12:06. > :12:21.cushion near the middle pocket and land on the left near the red.
:12:22. > :12:34.It just means Mark Selby has the slight advantage in this safety
:12:35. > :12:50.exchange. He can play of the red just above
:12:51. > :12:58.the white down the left side of the table. He is looking at an
:12:59. > :13:09.alternate. What has he spotted? I am just
:13:10. > :13:26.wondering that myself, Dennis. I think he over thought himself
:13:27. > :14:16.then. That was not a good shot. Had a look at a couple of reds. This
:14:17. > :14:23.could be made into a plant if he gets through to them. At the moment
:14:24. > :14:29.he is going for the left jaw but because there is a gap between the
:14:30. > :14:38.two reds, it can be made. He has got to hit the first red just right.
:14:39. > :14:56.He misjudged it completely. But he got a good cue ball.
:14:57. > :15:06.There was definitely a gap. He hit the first red, the second red went
:15:07. > :15:08.nowhere near the pocket. He only just missed a cannon on the blue.
:15:09. > :15:25.That could have meant big trouble. Doing had to play a good shot there.
:15:26. > :15:29.Needs a quarter ball case of the green to be any good, and it is not.
:15:30. > :16:01.He has left a pot on. Right has prevented him from
:16:02. > :16:13.finishing nicely on the blue. Is he going to cannon into the yellow?
:16:14. > :16:32.Might be brought at cannoning the yellow with a bit of pace. --
:16:33. > :17:01.By no means ideal on this red. He can pot it but he has got to avoid
:17:02. > :17:06.the kiss on the other reds. He may decide not to play it. Although
:17:07. > :17:11.having played that blue as he did, he is determined when he gets an
:17:12. > :17:18.opportunity to try and make the frame a match-winning one. But how
:17:19. > :17:26.far do you go? How much risk do you take?
:17:27. > :17:36.I think he may have to play a safety shot here. He has looked at the
:17:37. > :17:39.angle to see if he could squeeze the white through the gap. Just a safety
:17:40. > :18:19.shot for me. Ding could do with getting behind
:18:20. > :18:21.the or yellow here. Might be pushing a red towards the left corner but it
:18:22. > :18:31.is all about a good cue ball here. That's pretty good.
:18:32. > :19:05.APPLAUSE I'm not certain there is a path back
:19:06. > :19:16.to baulk here. And if there isn't, OK, he may be able to play the
:19:17. > :19:24.containing safety, but it hands the initiative in this important
:19:25. > :19:29.tactical exchange to Ding Junhui. A possible path is off that red but if
:19:30. > :19:35.he goes off two cushions he could cannon into the red on the left.
:19:36. > :19:37.That is what he is thinking about. But that would be very difficult
:19:38. > :19:56.indeed. Once again, a minute and 20 seconds
:19:57. > :20:20.thinking time. He didn't find the gap. That would
:20:21. > :20:29.have had to be so precise. What a chance for Ding Junhui.
:20:30. > :20:40.But it was his good safety shot that put Mark Selby in that position and
:20:41. > :20:44.he is reaping the rewards here. Tried to find a very delicate gap.
:20:45. > :21:03.Took the pot on as well. I just get the feeling if Ding
:21:04. > :21:08.Junhui could take the opportunity and win this frame in one visit, it
:21:09. > :21:17.would certainly send a message out to Mark Selby.
:21:18. > :21:23.It has all gone a bit edgy. He will be feeling it, and he will be
:21:24. > :21:50.feeling it more. Where does the black go? There is no
:21:51. > :21:57.better player in the world than this young man in this position.
:21:58. > :22:24.Can he do it now? Under the utmost pressure.
:22:25. > :22:49.And it has to be said, every shot is a pressure shot.
:22:50. > :22:53.But as we have told you so many times, he is one of the greatest
:22:54. > :23:01.break-builders in the game. What he would give for a 50 or 60
:23:02. > :23:29.break here. Cleared the pink spot area. That
:23:30. > :23:34.makes it even easier. But there is nothing easy at this stage. Trying
:23:35. > :23:57.to keep yourself and the World Championship.
:23:58. > :24:11.Maybe just having the time out there to wipe his hand.
:24:12. > :24:23.Mark Selby looks on. Nothing he can do now. Just hope they won't make
:24:24. > :24:29.the most of this opportunity. But these three reds are all available
:24:30. > :24:44.into the left corner. And once this is cleared, the right middle.
:24:45. > :24:51.This pink to go 46 points in the lead.
:24:52. > :25:19.I think the red just below the black will pot. He has a nice angle to
:25:20. > :25:24.play for the one near the pink. Just has to keep tight control of that
:25:25. > :25:43.cue ball now at this vital time. Read colour red needed.
:25:44. > :25:49.He looks pretty calm there as he gets closer to the winning line in
:25:50. > :26:03.this frame and that is nicely played. A great shot. It was a
:26:04. > :26:09.simple shot but given perfect position.
:26:10. > :26:35.Every credit to Ding Junhui. CHEERING
:26:36. > :26:48.Those friends of his on the balcony will be commenting on those. This
:26:49. > :26:51.performance from Ding Junhui will be an inspiration for a new generation
:26:52. > :27:08.of players. It is not in. A little scratch of the head. He
:27:09. > :27:10.knows he should have made certain of that red and kept Mark Selby in his
:27:11. > :27:26.seat. This is not too bad a chance when
:27:27. > :27:32.you need snookers, if you can leave one of those reds just below the
:27:33. > :27:50.black, that would be snickering. But still, got it all to do.
:27:51. > :28:20.That was half a chance. Everybody is getting not only on the edge of
:28:21. > :28:25.their seats, they are standing up. They are rooting for this young man
:28:26. > :28:32.and he is not letting them down. He is now one frame behind. It is 16-15
:28:33. > :28:36.to the reigning champion. And we are staying right here. There
:28:37. > :28:41.is no way this match is going to be halted. They will be playing it to a
:28:42. > :28:45.conclusion this evening. What a fight back. Not the biggest break he
:28:46. > :28:51.would have wanted there. A bit of aggro at the end but what a response
:28:52. > :29:00.from Ding Junhui. He has shown tremendous grit and determination
:29:01. > :29:03.throughout the Championship. A great performance against Liang Wenbo and
:29:04. > :29:10.now this match. A little bit of frailty in Mark Selby. As we have
:29:11. > :29:15.said, he is constantly looking up for a bit of security and
:29:16. > :29:25.inspiration, but there is only him who can do it. Steve, assess the
:29:26. > :29:30.psychological. We have been here before. We are well versed in the
:29:31. > :29:35.game not to make too many predictions. Body language can be a
:29:36. > :29:40.good indicator. Mark Selby looking up to his corner a couple of times.
:29:41. > :29:45.In another play that might signify he is worried. I do not know if that
:29:46. > :29:50.is necessarily the case because he does it quite a bit. Ding Junhui has
:29:51. > :29:54.kept relatively calm. We had a moment of frustration or
:29:55. > :29:59.exasperation. He has kept his mind on the job which is the nice thing.
:30:00. > :30:10.When he gets to this stage, from experience, all you have to do is
:30:11. > :30:13.basically forget everything around you and that everyone else is
:30:14. > :30:21.getting excited, and it is one ball at a time. How to remain positive?
:30:22. > :30:25.You have practised it so many times in matches that you're used to the
:30:26. > :30:29.situation. Therefore, you know what to do. You know you do not get ahead
:30:30. > :30:35.of yourself and also, you do not look at what has gone behind. There
:30:36. > :30:41.we go, little bit of chat with Vicky, his wife and his corner men
:30:42. > :30:48.and women up there. He looks fairly relaxed but he is facing frame 32 of
:30:49. > :30:57.a possible 33. He was three frames up. Being has hit back to take frame
:30:58. > :31:03.30 and 31. Could we be in for a decider? Let's find out. Can we
:31:04. > :31:23.settle down, please. Could we have a deciding frame? That
:31:24. > :31:24.is what everyone is thinking. Everyone with the exception of Mark
:31:25. > :31:36.Selby. The break-off shot did not bring
:31:37. > :32:30.many reds out of the pack. Interesting that Mark did not want
:32:31. > :32:38.to get the snooker behind one of the baulk colours. He wants Ding Junhui
:32:39. > :32:46.to hit a red and possibly make a mistake. And to be fair, he has not
:32:47. > :32:54.made many with the safety and this is another absolute cracker.
:32:55. > :32:58.He has gone up in my estimation, he is the real deal now, win or lose
:32:59. > :33:06.this match. His safety in this match has been
:33:07. > :33:26.exemplary. A touching ball, I would have
:33:27. > :33:49.thought. It is not. So, come off the side cushion and
:33:50. > :33:53.nestle into the side of the reds and he will be hoping he does not leave
:33:54. > :34:03.a touching ball, which he hasn't but he has left a path back to the baulk
:34:04. > :34:08.end for Mark. The only other time Ding Junhui got to the semifinal was
:34:09. > :34:11.2011 and he lost a close match to Judd Trump who was playing
:34:12. > :34:26.unbelievable snooker that year. He has had to wait since then. He
:34:27. > :34:28.got to the final last year and narrowly lost, but he is still in
:34:29. > :35:01.this semifinal. Early cat and mouse here. Still,
:35:02. > :35:10.there are not many reds which have moved there.
:35:11. > :35:18.The black is an an awkward spot to come down the left side of the table
:35:19. > :35:27.now. Ding Junhui could get down the right side and over the yellow. He
:35:28. > :35:50.has played it well. He has played it very well.
:35:51. > :36:00.APPLAUSE Well, as he left a red to the far
:36:01. > :36:06.right corner? If not to the corner, John, to the
:36:07. > :36:12.middle and he can screw back to the black. Guess, a possibility if he
:36:13. > :36:14.fancies it. You wouldn't think he'd leave anything, should be red not go
:36:15. > :36:38.in. He looks to be the coolest man in
:36:39. > :36:51.the Crucible to take that on and pull that off. Terrific.
:36:52. > :37:00.There are a couple of loose threads there. -- vents.
:37:01. > :37:16.I think he is just OK. He might have to bend this slightly. Yes, he will
:37:17. > :37:33.have to play this with side. It is very risky.
:37:34. > :37:57.Back looking at the one to the left centre.
:37:58. > :38:29.No, no. I think Mark can get himself onto the black here.
:38:30. > :38:42.Just taking his time here. But looks to be natural to pot the red and get
:38:43. > :38:49.onto the black. Can he hold it for the blue? Couldn't hold it for the
:38:50. > :38:59.blue. And that is nicely played. APPLAUSE
:39:00. > :39:18.not sure which red he'll go for. There is a loose one. He hasn't
:39:19. > :39:28.really got on an angle to go into them, but he tried to find an angle.
:39:29. > :39:39.Not done it just yet. Desperately looking for a plant.
:39:40. > :39:48.Just a little bit unlucky there. No plans available. Click the last shot
:39:49. > :39:53.well. Once he hit the red he would have thought he would have been on
:39:54. > :39:55.something. We will show you again. Lots of top spin. Just somehow
:39:56. > :40:16.managed to squeeze through that gap. He is looking at the potting angle.
:40:17. > :40:20.Looking at the side cushion. He probably thinks he can play it. And
:40:21. > :40:26.with enough pace. If he gets close, it could go to the other side of the
:40:27. > :40:35.table. It could be on the blue. Good pot. Where is the cue going? OK.
:40:36. > :40:40.There you go. When he gets the opportunity, like he has shown in
:40:41. > :40:52.the other frames, he will go all out to try and win all frame all match.
:40:53. > :40:55.Heck of a pot. Well, he has left the two rates. That is where he would
:40:56. > :41:00.like to be. But he would also like to be able to go into the other ones
:41:01. > :41:11.and bring a lot more into play. -- the two reds. If he doesn't play for
:41:12. > :41:14.the reds that is the alternate. He has gone for the bunch. How is his
:41:15. > :41:40.luck? Not the best. Just got a little bit too much on
:41:41. > :41:45.it, John. Yes, it was a big target. He will be disappointed that he
:41:46. > :41:49.didn't get into the meat of them. He will have to play safe. I know he
:41:50. > :42:11.wants to win frame and match at this visit. But it is too risky now.
:42:12. > :42:25.He has left the safety of little short this time. He is usually on
:42:26. > :42:32.the cushion. Can Ding produce a better safety? If he misses the
:42:33. > :42:38.green it is good. But he hasn't. He's left a long, straight pot for
:42:39. > :42:44.Selby. But there is a lot of pressure on this. A few frames ago
:42:45. > :42:52.he knocked in an unbelievable yellow to get onto the green, but these are
:42:53. > :43:09.slightly different circumstances. Just needs the one frame to get
:43:10. > :43:18.through to the final. Big shot. Look at where he put the cue ball. That
:43:19. > :43:28.tells you that he didn't go full blooded for it. He had a little
:43:29. > :43:31.safety in mind, as well. The gentleman sitting in the studio,
:43:32. > :43:37.Stephen Hendrie, would have taken that on, played for the blue. But
:43:38. > :43:57.Mark erred on the side of safety there. -- Stephen Hendry.
:43:58. > :44:12.The problem for Ding is the red on the cushion. Does it a plant? Does
:44:13. > :44:18.it flick off the other red? Even so, you still has to avoid the kiss on
:44:19. > :44:26.the bed on the far side cushion. -- kiss on the red. He thinks he has a
:44:27. > :44:31.chance. He would only know if you were on the shot. He fancies it. But
:44:32. > :44:42.he needs to get that red back to the cue ball end at all
:44:43. > :44:51.costs -- get about red and get the cue ball back to the other rendered
:44:52. > :44:56.at all costs. How did he miss about? You know, John, there are little
:44:57. > :45:00.things happening out there. Fate can sometimes play a big part in sport.
:45:01. > :45:02.But there are certain things going on right now. Another look. How did
:45:03. > :45:26.he get round the back of the red? When he saw the cue ball go round
:45:27. > :45:37.the back of the red that was his reaction. He is eyeing up a pot
:45:38. > :45:47.here. The red in the middle of the table. Has he changed his mind?
:45:48. > :45:53.Maybe. No, he decided it was too risky. Of course, with the yellow
:45:54. > :45:57.and green not being on the sports now. Unless you get the line of the
:45:58. > :46:02.yellow and green you won't put your opponent into much trouble. -- on
:46:03. > :46:07.the spot pour now. But, of course, both players frightened to make a
:46:08. > :46:22.mistake. Because that one mistake could cost you the frame. In Ding's
:46:23. > :46:52.case, the match. Terrific for the safety shot there.
:46:53. > :47:12.I think he can avoid the double kiss.
:47:13. > :47:15.Who is going to make the first mistake in this tactical battle
:47:16. > :47:58.here? The atmosphere in the Crucible is
:47:59. > :48:04.electric. The crowd are loving every single second of this match. John
:48:05. > :48:11.and me did a session last night, which was one of the best sessions
:48:12. > :48:20.we've ever commentated on. And the tension now in the Crucible Theatre
:48:21. > :48:26.is electric. Mark Selby is a very popular player. But this crowd,
:48:27. > :48:30.they've really got behind this young player from China. A real, natural
:48:31. > :48:53.talent. He will do well not to leave a pot
:48:54. > :49:16.on here. And he has. Nothing is easy at this stage. But it's a chance.
:49:17. > :49:39.That cue ball... Oh! Just a little bit of stardom -- just a little bit
:49:40. > :49:45.of stun on it, which is why did not go in the middle. Making things just
:49:46. > :49:55.slightly awkward. Just dropping the blue in. We'll can in the red.
:49:56. > :49:59.Should give him position. -- he will cannon the red. Makes the blue more
:50:00. > :50:08.difficult. Where is the blue running to? Doesn't matter. He has other
:50:09. > :50:12.reds to go out. Under the circumstances, John, I could never
:50:13. > :50:17.have played it. Digging down together. On the unwanted side, I am
:50:18. > :50:22.sure. Had he rolled the blue, I am sure he would have had a go on the
:50:23. > :50:30.red, as you said. And what a chance he has left the defending champion
:50:31. > :50:35.here. That little smile. Yes, there was an easy red to the right middle.
:50:36. > :50:40.That is why I was wondering whether blue was running to. But there is
:50:41. > :50:47.this line of reds available into the corner. This is the chance the
:50:48. > :50:56.defending champion Mark Selby was looking for. Could have played
:50:57. > :51:00.better, that first, as additional shot. Expected to miss the pink. But
:51:01. > :51:37.he wanted to be straight on it than this. -- straighter on it like this.
:51:38. > :51:49.Not quite in prime position yet. Another delicate safety. There will
:51:50. > :52:13.be no safety, delicate, positional shot.
:52:14. > :52:30.Gradually that pink spot area is getting cleared.
:52:31. > :52:48.If he can get to that 68 points he will be in the final.
:52:49. > :52:57.He has that blue that he missed in the middle on his last shot in this
:52:58. > :53:16.year's World Championship. He will sit there. He will be
:53:17. > :53:23.looking at the negative side of it wondering, well, that is end of
:53:24. > :53:27.match, but, Selby hasn't got the cue ball under complete control. He
:53:28. > :53:37.isn't perfect on this red. If he was, he could have stunned it, gone
:53:38. > :53:40.for the blue in the same pocket. But he couldn't do that because of the
:53:41. > :53:46.potting angle. This blue has had to travel up and down the table. It
:53:47. > :53:51.could go wrong. Particularly when he is under pressure like Ding was.
:53:52. > :54:10.Take nothing for granted. He has struck that beautifully. That
:54:11. > :54:19.is a terrific positional shot. Has he got a slight angle? Can you get
:54:20. > :54:26.onto the black? It's perfect. He is just steadying himself. He isn't
:54:27. > :54:41.rushing into it. He knows this is the visit to the table that can get
:54:42. > :54:57.him to the final. It seems straightforward to just stun it in
:54:58. > :55:07.and get on the black. Now, the problem here that he has, the reds
:55:08. > :55:11.and pink have blocked the corner and he's trying to get onto the black.
:55:12. > :55:16.So he will just have to play for the one to the left of the cue ball. It
:55:17. > :55:30.is coming round to play on the pink. And that is just about perfect.
:55:31. > :55:43.Three reds. Three colours. It should be enough. Well, he has waited 12
:55:44. > :55:48.and half hours for this moment. Can he go on and clinch this semifinal
:55:49. > :55:52.match, which has been absolutely enthralling. I have enjoyed every
:55:53. > :56:12.single shot played. Not rushing anything here. He knows
:56:13. > :56:14.what to do -- he knows what he has got to do. He is just taking his
:56:15. > :56:51.time. Just straight enough to think about
:56:52. > :57:00.it. He wants to play and the black. And he has got to be accurate. Now
:57:01. > :57:03.put the black, play the cannon on the red which is just the right of
:57:04. > :57:08.the pink. Then he would be on the middle of the table. If this shot
:57:09. > :57:19.goes right then he will be in the final. He is in the final. 52 in
:57:20. > :57:29.front. He only needs the red. Surely he will get this red and colour. And
:57:30. > :57:32.Ding's race has been run. But what a race it has been. He has played so
:57:33. > :57:43.well. And that is what he has been looking
:57:44. > :58:00.for. He has been the world number one for
:58:01. > :58:06.over two years. You do not normally see that sort of reaction from Mark
:58:07. > :58:19.Selby. But he knew he had a tough match against Ding. Didn't quite
:58:20. > :58:20.expect him to react a couple of times. But that is what it means to
:58:21. > :58:43.this player. He'll just give the red is a good
:58:44. > :58:49.bash. It has been a fabulous semifinal. Ding has been brilliant.
:58:50. > :58:55.But the defending champion, in the end, Mark Selby, was just that
:58:56. > :59:01.little bit too good. He runs out a winner. He gets into his third final
:59:02. > :59:10.in four years. 17-15. Well played to both players. Mark Selby into a
:59:11. > :59:15.fourth Crucible final and a chance to become only the fourth man in
:59:16. > :59:19.history to win back-to-back titles. What a battle, what a match, three
:59:20. > :59:22.up with four to play. And for all the world it looked like we were
:59:23. > :59:29.going into a decider. One of the greatest Crucible contests we've
:59:30. > :59:32.seen. Certainly was. He is a marvellous, competitive animal. You
:59:33. > :59:37.can see from the ending how much determination he has in his body.
:59:38. > :59:40.This is a game of control. You cannot let emotions run wild during
:59:41. > :59:44.it. It all came out at the end. And the British don't like that. They
:59:45. > :59:49.don't like that show. Interestingly, it is not our way, but he has got
:59:50. > :59:54.what it takes. In America they would love that type of action. They are
:59:55. > :59:59.loving it, we are loving it, well played, Mark Selby. My goodness.
:00:00. > :00:12.Congratulations. Playing the life at the end there. I think it was the
:00:13. > :00:16.last red, I stunned it. I knew if I didn't win the frame at that visit
:00:17. > :00:21.it would have got away from me. You had a few dodgy positional shots to
:00:22. > :00:25.start with. Did not quite get on the balls. You knew that was happening.
:00:26. > :00:29.You just took an extra beat. Every shot felt like a pint of blood. Only
:00:30. > :00:33.practice you would normally clear them up. But the pressure is
:00:34. > :00:39.immense. And the blue that decided to jack up, instead of going into a
:00:40. > :00:44.red and losing position, perhaps that was your only hope that that
:00:45. > :00:47.stage. I think so. The shot he played... Well, under the
:00:48. > :00:52.circumstances you just want to make sure you pot the ball and don't miss
:00:53. > :00:54.anything simple, you know? I cannot criticise the way he plays. He is
:00:55. > :01:00.one of the best breakers in the world. You have played him so much
:01:01. > :01:05.recently. When you think back to the victory in China, defeating 10-1. He
:01:06. > :01:08.did not put up much of a fight. How much tenacity and fight did he show
:01:09. > :01:13.this time, and how much of a surprise was that to you? He's a
:01:14. > :01:16.great player. When he is in front he is one of the best front runners.
:01:17. > :01:21.Sometimes when he goes behind, over the last few years he let his head
:01:22. > :01:25.go. But that is credited Terry Griffiths. What he has done with
:01:26. > :01:29.him. He has proven that. Time and time again I kept going up a couple
:01:30. > :01:34.of friends but he kept coming back. It is strange, in the studio, two
:01:35. > :01:38.minutes ago you were showing fire, determination, each time you banged
:01:39. > :01:44.the table. Then you come in here, you are a different animal. It is
:01:45. > :01:50.more released than anything else. It has been absolutely fantastic. Had
:01:51. > :01:53.he beat me 17-16, I potted the red with the rest, I did not feel I had
:01:54. > :01:57.many clear-cut chances, the way he was playing I would have held up my
:01:58. > :02:03.hands. Just to let you know, that wasn't the final. It just felt like
:02:04. > :02:08.it. It did feel like it. You have some time to wait. And your opponent
:02:09. > :02:11.is possibly going to have a nice evening. Not putting words into
:02:12. > :02:15.anybody's mouth. You could both be refreshed for what could be a
:02:16. > :02:19.monster. I am looking forward to it. I watched the session earlier.
:02:20. > :02:24.Neither of them playing fantastic. The next one will be a different
:02:25. > :02:28.game, different day, but I was just concentrating on my own game. I had
:02:29. > :02:33.my own tough game with Ding. Higgins just needed one more frame for the
:02:34. > :02:38.repeat of a final ten years ago when you were just a young lad. Relief to
:02:39. > :02:43.come through the top half. Everybody's been talking about how
:02:44. > :02:46.tough it was going to be. It was more or less bloodbath. All of the
:02:47. > :02:50.top seeds have been playing well this season. Apart from Judd, who
:02:51. > :02:54.was in the bottom half, surprised to see him go out early doors.
:02:55. > :02:58.Everybody has been on form. Marco Fu. You never know what is going to
:02:59. > :03:04.come from Ronnie. And Ding, tough selection. I saw a tweet, donor who
:03:05. > :03:11.it was from, but they were impressed with all of the energy from all of
:03:12. > :03:15.the finalists. -- I don't know who it was from. It doesn't seem like
:03:16. > :03:21.you feel drained. To me. Thinking of my own performances, how you feel
:03:22. > :03:26.afterwards. I feel more refreshed compared with last year and
:03:27. > :03:29.previous. That goes down to the matches I had before. I won them
:03:30. > :03:33.convincingly. I didn't really get down to the last frame. It didn't
:03:34. > :03:37.take much out of me because I played well in those games. That has
:03:38. > :03:40.helped. Now you have a chance to become only the fourth guide to win
:03:41. > :03:46.back-to-back at the Crucible. You are a student of the game. -- only
:03:47. > :03:52.the fourth by to win back-to-back at the Crucible. I'm not looking at
:03:53. > :03:56.that. Just looking forward to the final. Whatever happens will happen
:03:57. > :04:00.but I will be trying my best as always. Great stuff. Another two
:04:01. > :04:05.tough days coming up. Congratulations. You are in the
:04:06. > :04:10.final. Thanks very much. We will be back in about half an hour. Higgins
:04:11. > :04:14.and Hawkins are waiting until we can get this arena ready for their
:04:15. > :04:19.deciding session. Higgins just needs one more frame to book his place in
:04:20. > :04:26.what would be a sixth Crucible final as he is looking for a fiveth final.
:04:27. > :04:34.Goodbye for now. -- this -- he is looking for a fifth final.
:04:35. > :04:50.Back in 30 minutes. You are not a fun person
:04:51. > :04:57.to share a trishaw with.