Day 16, Final, Evening Session

:00:41. > :00:49.# Big and serious # I'm a chef city boy

:00:50. > :00:54.# We love snooker, the sport is real We know snooker's the real deal

:00:55. > :01:00.# No better place than the Crucible # Two weeks for the trophy

:01:01. > :01:05.# Pushed me to be more musical # Higgins in the same race

:01:06. > :01:09.# Everybody looking, at the title # Watching the set

:01:10. > :01:18.# Let this final be the best yet # Yeah,

:01:19. > :01:26.It is big and it is serious. A serious piece of silverware brought

:01:27. > :01:31.by Joe Davis with his prize money after winning the first world

:01:32. > :01:35.professional snooker title in 1927. 90 years on it is possession of a

:01:36. > :01:39.world number one and defending champion, Mark Selby, who does not

:01:40. > :01:42.want to hand this over to another careful previous owner, John

:01:43. > :01:46.Higgins, who wants to lift this for a fifth time. This is the Betfred

:01:47. > :02:00.World Championship final. To get there again, having come here

:02:01. > :02:04.as defending champion, it would be nice to go out and win it again. If

:02:05. > :02:09.I didn't, obviously I've had a good run as defending champion. I'll have

:02:10. > :02:14.to scrape myself off the table for the next two days for me not to win

:02:15. > :02:17.that title. John, fantastic. To be fair, this season he's had a great

:02:18. > :02:24.season, won two big events. It will be a tough match. Looking forward to

:02:25. > :02:32.it. It was ten years ago went I got to my first big final. John Higgins,

:02:33. > :02:35.we will be meeting again. John Higgins wins the 2007 World

:02:36. > :02:40.Championship. I thought, it's my first final, I will not give in. I

:02:41. > :02:49.nearly took it off John, but great play to John, he's gone and won it.

:02:50. > :02:57.Mark's done fantastic. He's a little bit unlucky I managed to out play

:02:58. > :03:03.him. He's a future world champion. A long time ago. Luckily for me I

:03:04. > :03:06.came out on top of that one. Obviously it is roles reversed now.

:03:07. > :03:13.I was favourite in that match. Obviously now Mark is big favourite

:03:14. > :03:17.and I'm the underdog. Next year will be the 20th

:03:18. > :03:21.anniversary of the first time I won it. I am proud to be competing

:03:22. > :03:26.against the best players. I know it will be a Titanic game against the

:03:27. > :03:32.best player in the world. He will try and defend. Only Davis and

:03:33. > :03:37.Hendry have done it before. It's one I know, I aif got to do it. I know

:03:38. > :03:43.I've got to play well. If I don't, Mark will beat me.

:03:44. > :03:48.It means everything. That's what everyone, all the snooker players

:03:49. > :03:54.strive for. That's when you put in all the work. I managed to become

:03:55. > :03:58.world number one. If I dropped down the rankings it would not bother me,

:03:59. > :04:01.so long as I was competing for the tournament. To be world champion, I

:04:02. > :04:05.would put that in front of me every day of the week. It means everything

:04:06. > :04:10.- the biggest tournament in the world. I have won four times. I am

:04:11. > :04:13.lucky to have won it four times. If somebody told me at the beginning of

:04:14. > :04:16.my career, I would never have believed them. To compete in the

:04:17. > :04:21.final again and try and add another one, to make it to five, it would be

:04:22. > :04:30.my best achievement in snooker. Before this match started this

:04:31. > :04:35.afternoon, these players had faced one and other in 201 competitive

:04:36. > :04:42.frames. Only one frame separated them. But in a fabulous opening

:04:43. > :04:44.session, the Wizard conjured up a significant lead and had everyone in

:04:45. > :04:54.here under his spell. THE COMMENTATOR: There's nothing

:04:55. > :04:58.like the final of the World Championship. You don't give Mark

:04:59. > :05:03.Selby anything. He takes the first frame.

:05:04. > :05:11.John Higgins... Something to think about.

:05:12. > :05:22.Well, would you believe it! ? And the defending champion goes ahead.

:05:23. > :05:29.Played to perfection... Immaculate... Well played.

:05:30. > :05:35.Absolutely superb! Terrific stuff at the moment, isn't it?

:05:36. > :05:40.What chance the Wizard. Goes clear now. It's 4-2. Can you believe it?

:05:41. > :05:47.That's the second one he's missed into that pocket.

:05:48. > :05:55.This looks terrific. It looks terrific. That is a huge frame for

:05:56. > :05:56.John Higgins to pinch there. What a great session for John

:05:57. > :06:05.Higgins. Leading by 6-2. Well, there's a special air of

:06:06. > :06:09.anticipation here in the Crucible for what will be a fascinating

:06:10. > :06:11.session of snooker. Nonetheless because of what happened this

:06:12. > :06:17.afternoon. That wasn't in the script, was it? Vy A theory. What if

:06:18. > :06:21.Mark Selby, as a great student of the game, is playing something like

:06:22. > :06:24.John Higgins, who has won this four times, has beaten Mark Selby in the

:06:25. > :06:28.final. What is Mark Selby in awe. That was the worst session of

:06:29. > :06:32.snooker he's played so far. John Higgins will have been delighted

:06:33. > :06:36.with what he produced. Possibly the semifinal where he didn't play well,

:06:37. > :06:40.he was desperate to get through it because he knew he would play this

:06:41. > :06:44.in the final. Possibly. Let's not talk rubbish. Mark Selby has to get

:06:45. > :06:47.balls in the pockets. How will he approach this session? A brand new

:06:48. > :06:53.session. Nine frames tonight. A longer session. Maybe a target of

:06:54. > :06:57.6-3 win tonight. Get back in it. John Higgins, he'll come out? He may

:06:58. > :07:01.not have experienced this going into this session 6-2 in front. He may

:07:02. > :07:05.have thought best shared. How does he approach it? More of the same.

:07:06. > :07:09.Keep going. Mark Selby is the one to choice now. John Higgins has found

:07:10. > :07:15.himself in a lovely position in this final. Keep the pressure on. The

:07:16. > :07:17.players are back stage and John Parrott is with them.

:07:18. > :07:24.A fantastic opening session. John Higgins was superb. Scored heavily,

:07:25. > :07:27.including the 141. As for Mark Selby he was not up to his usual

:07:28. > :07:32.standards. It is a very important session. If John can win the

:07:33. > :07:38.session, an overnight lead he'd take. Both are desperate to get into

:07:39. > :07:46.the auditorium. Rob Walker, it's all yours.

:07:47. > :07:50.Thank you. This is the Betfred 2017 snooker championship final. Two

:07:51. > :07:54.going toe-to-toe for the ultimate prize. History is about to be

:07:55. > :08:01.written once again here in the Crucible.

:08:02. > :08:30.Please welcome a player whose long gettive in the sport is incredible.

:08:31. > :08:35.He's won major titles for 22 years now. Still as hungry, talented and

:08:36. > :08:39.determined as well. This afternoon, he produced the joint highest break

:08:40. > :08:44.ever seen in a Crucible final. Without doubt, one of Scotland's

:08:45. > :09:01.final, the the Wizard Of Wishaw. John Higgins.

:09:02. > :09:08.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE His opponent A player whose journey has taken him

:09:09. > :09:13.from humble origins to the top of the sport. This is his fourth

:09:14. > :09:16.Crucible final, returning this year as world number one and defending

:09:17. > :09:21.champion. One of the finest ambassadors the game has ever known,

:09:22. > :09:22.he plays with the heart of a lion, he's The Jester from Leicester. He's

:09:23. > :09:50.Mark Selby. We have another nine frames to play

:09:51. > :09:56.this evening. In the final stage, over two full days. We will share

:09:57. > :09:59.the frames in the company of Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor.

:10:00. > :10:34.THE COMMENTATOR: Can the defending champion take this second session?

:10:35. > :10:42.Both players back stage looked a little bit nervy. Couldn't wait to

:10:43. > :10:46.get out. That is the worst time waiting back stage, the build-up,

:10:47. > :10:50.the adrenaline. You want to get out and hit your first ball. At least

:10:51. > :10:54.you're in control out there. What a mountain to climb, as we look at the

:10:55. > :10:57.pot success from this afternoon. 93% for John Higgins. 89% for Mark

:10:58. > :11:14.Selby. A very important session. John

:11:15. > :11:18.Higgins's safety success. Mark Selby, you wouldn't have expected

:11:19. > :11:23.that, 81% from him. That must be one of the lowest percentages in the

:11:24. > :11:29.whole of the tournament for him. 141, highest break for Higgins. 76

:11:30. > :11:33.for Mark Selby. And neither player would have wanted

:11:34. > :11:36.this sort of start. There's a red gone up the other end of the table,

:11:37. > :12:07.which makes it an awkward frame. What a tremendous atmosphere the two

:12:08. > :12:14.lads came in to. A terrific ovation by this wonderful Crucible crowd.

:12:15. > :12:24.A big session this is for Mark Selby, Denis. You feel he has to at

:12:25. > :12:29.least win it. They didn't have much of a break.

:12:30. > :12:34.The first session didn't finish until 5. 30. The first frame was

:12:35. > :12:41.almost half an hour. We've had everything in this match. We've had

:12:42. > :12:55.141 break from John. We had some brilliant tactical play.

:12:56. > :13:01.You can see Mark taking longer with his average shot time.

:13:02. > :13:06.There are quite a number of occasions he was having to think for

:13:07. > :13:10.sometimes a minute, a minute-and-a-half, to see a shot. I

:13:11. > :13:15.wonder if John, well, he's got to be careful because if he took this pot

:13:16. > :13:20.on up into the right corner, he could leave the one at the back into

:13:21. > :13:24.the rest of the bunch. He's looking to run through with the red. It must

:13:25. > :13:29.be very straight. He's looking to see, if I could take the pot on,

:13:30. > :13:36.finish on the blue, it might be safe. The only one he could leave is

:13:37. > :13:39.the one he's having a go at. We're right down John's cue here. Look at

:13:40. > :13:50.that for a shot! No.

:13:51. > :13:57.He's found the spot where he was not going to leave anything. That was

:13:58. > :14:03.clever. It was a free shot. He'll be disappointed, John, that shot didn't

:14:04. > :14:08.go in. It was an interesting point Stephen

:14:09. > :14:12.Hendry made at the top of the show there, Mark Selby would have looked

:14:13. > :14:16.up to John Higgins for many, many years. After John Higgins, he's

:14:17. > :14:24.probably taken off the mantle of being like the master tactician in

:14:25. > :14:30.the game. And his match play is sort of, not match play, most of the

:14:31. > :14:34.other players, so tough. He would have learnt so much from playing

:14:35. > :14:37.John Higgins over the years and that final he lost a few years ago. He

:14:38. > :14:56.pushed John Higgins all the way. An early stalemate in this opening

:14:57. > :15:03.frame of this session. Not a lot available to either player

:15:04. > :15:13.now. A little early to talk about a

:15:14. > :15:23.rerack. All John can do here is just roll

:15:24. > :15:55.into the reds again. Nol twitching balls, so he just

:15:56. > :16:00.can't play away. 23 years, Ken... Fantastic! He's

:16:01. > :16:05.been a great referee. A great servant to the game.

:16:06. > :16:22.Become a board member as well now. As they open up, it'll get more

:16:23. > :16:34.difficult for John to play the type of shot he's going to play again.

:16:35. > :16:40.At the moment Mark Selby has a slight advantage. Maybe a

:16:41. > :16:44.possibility of a double into the right centre. Or Mark Selby can take

:16:45. > :16:50.this on. I don't think the red between pink and blue is blocking

:16:51. > :17:06.that double. He's looking where he wants the cue ball, just to make

:17:07. > :17:09.sure he's not going to leave a red. Surprised he's not taken the double

:17:10. > :17:13.on. It's almost like a free shot. Maybe he feels that red in the

:17:14. > :17:26.middle between pink and blue is a blocker.

:17:27. > :17:36.Blocked off the escape route to just roll up to the reds this time.

:17:37. > :17:52.This is more of a problem for John Higgins.

:17:53. > :18:03.He's trying to find this pot again. If he could take the pot on up into

:18:04. > :18:08.the left corner, could he get the cue ball into a safish position? I

:18:09. > :18:11.think that's what he's going to attempt.

:18:12. > :18:23.A change of plan. The way he's stretching there, he's

:18:24. > :18:25.going to try and get back spin because he's not tight on the

:18:26. > :18:38.cushion. Just didn't generate enough screw.

:18:39. > :19:04.He's left one to the right middle. First chance falls to Mark Selby.

:19:05. > :19:11.I was talking to Vicky, had a chat with Mark Selby's wife, up in the

:19:12. > :19:16.lounge. Said he felt a little bit tired. It is so draining for the

:19:17. > :19:25.players. 17 days, it is quite a long time. She said he felt a little bit

:19:26. > :19:27.flat and couldn't get into stroke. Maybe a good start in this opening

:19:28. > :20:09.frame. Just talking about Vicky there, 2014

:20:10. > :20:16.against Ronnie O'Sullivan he was 10-4 down and pinched the last two

:20:17. > :20:20.frames and Vicky and her husband were dancing up the corridor of the

:20:21. > :20:24.hotel. He was so delighted to take the last two frames. He went on to

:20:25. > :20:42.lift the title. Went into the pocket. Does have a

:20:43. > :20:45.nice angle on this black. He's looking to see about just getting on

:20:46. > :21:03.the lose red. He has done and he's not on

:21:04. > :21:06.anything. Normally a great exponent of that

:21:07. > :21:12.particular shot, but didn't get the back spin. See how the cue ball

:21:13. > :21:15.stopped very quickly. He wanted to bring it back into the reds and open

:21:16. > :21:28.them again. Taking this red on into the yellow

:21:29. > :21:39.pocket. What a confidence-booster that pot

:21:40. > :22:15.was. He's played this to perfection. The

:22:16. > :22:19.natural angle would be to come back and cannon the green. Couldn't have

:22:20. > :22:23.played it any better. What a confidence booster, as you said,

:22:24. > :22:47.Denis. They are the type of shots that really get you going.

:22:48. > :22:55.As he removes this, it will clear the path for a couple more reds to

:22:56. > :23:00.the right corner pocket. He had that well worked out in

:23:01. > :23:05.advance. All three now available.

:23:06. > :23:13.And even if he's straight on the black it's a matter of screwing back

:23:14. > :23:17.off the cushion and out on to a choice of reds, all waiting to be

:23:18. > :23:24.potted. If you overscrew one, you've got the other.

:23:25. > :23:35.Stay on the black here. I think he'll go for blue or pink.

:23:36. > :23:44.Well, this is just experience, isn't it?

:23:45. > :23:52.6-2 down. He's come out with a game plan this evening to get off to a

:23:53. > :24:12.quick start and he's certainly doing that.

:24:13. > :24:21.He's not one of those type of players, is he, who will ever panic,

:24:22. > :24:24.even if he does fall behind. He has a history of making some great

:24:25. > :24:29.comebacks in his professional career.

:24:30. > :24:41.You don't be world number one for just over two years, to be able to

:24:42. > :24:48.do that, as you said. Just checking the scoreboard on his

:24:49. > :24:49.way around. Not that many pots away from securing this important opening

:24:50. > :25:02.frame. The blue and the easy red just to

:25:03. > :25:13.the left of the brown would be enough.

:25:14. > :25:22.He's perfectly on that one. If we just go back to that red that he

:25:23. > :25:27.took into that yellow pocket. He was only on a 20 break. Set himself up

:25:28. > :25:29.for this. What a wonderful pot it was.

:25:30. > :25:36.That makes the frame safe. There it is. What a wonderful shot that

:25:37. > :25:50.Under a bit of pressure. Played it beautifully.

:25:51. > :26:12.Delicate screw shot he's played there. A chance to cannon the two

:26:13. > :26:17.reds out. Didn't look like there was a possible century on. If this works

:26:18. > :26:23.there may be. Nice playing for the lose red, first of all. I thought he

:26:24. > :26:39.might try to cannon those two. I don't think they are available.

:26:40. > :26:47.He's coming up to look at the angle. What a wonderful century this would

:26:48. > :27:00.be. This is a difficult shot to bring them in to play.

:27:01. > :27:09.It's a thin one, but I think he can do it. In it goes.

:27:10. > :27:14.He's going to need a cracking blue again. This is a little bit like

:27:15. > :27:31.that red we showed you again. Now he's three behind.

:27:32. > :27:41.6-3. We saw brilliant play from John

:27:42. > :27:44.Higgins in the first session this afternoon. You were watching all

:27:45. > :27:49.that. What was your interpretation of the opening frames? The first

:27:50. > :27:55.four were a little bit cagey. There was good play. John Higgins from

:27:56. > :28:02.five to eight, what was it, 96%? Yes. Doesn't matter who you are, it

:28:03. > :28:04.is hard to compete with that. Mark Selby didn't quite look the world

:28:05. > :28:08.number one we have seen this championship. He went out there and

:28:09. > :28:16.took his cue with him, which is a bit strange. It is interesting.

:28:17. > :28:21.Did you take your cue with you? Not that I remember. He's had tip

:28:22. > :28:26.problems. Both of them have changed. It is quite a strange thing to do

:28:27. > :28:31.that. Perhaps he can feel a little bit of something, like perhaps

:28:32. > :28:38.lightly sand paper the wood. Haven't got a clue. A magnificent first

:28:39. > :28:44.frame. The long red he potted to the yellow pocket, we will see. If he

:28:45. > :28:48.misses this, lets John Higgins In, possibly for the third counter

:28:49. > :28:53.attack. Shows what you mood he's in to get into this session early.

:28:54. > :29:00.Grit, determination. This guy, his game seems to be made for Crucible

:29:01. > :29:05.campaigns, isn't it? It is. He's up against a guy in the similar mould.

:29:06. > :29:10.A fascinating match to see. It's not turned into a dogfight. It's pretty

:29:11. > :29:15.open play at the moment. It's been very enjoyable so far. Stay with us

:29:16. > :29:24.here and we will keep you posted through the next eight frames.

:29:25. > :29:35.Just broke off but not a good cue ball.

:29:36. > :29:52.You look at where the cue ball finished from the break off. That's

:29:53. > :30:09.not good enough. They have a better angle on this

:30:10. > :30:55.green. Excellent shot. A little awkward,

:30:56. > :31:04.this one. If he could just get into the side of the red. That's what

:31:05. > :31:13.he's done but the white is heading up the table. If that red keeps

:31:14. > :31:14.moving he is OK. Finished a little awkward as we show you that shot

:31:15. > :31:26.again. I don't know if he can play a

:31:27. > :31:34.delicate little shot. Had to be so precise with that. Look

:31:35. > :32:16.at that great positional shot. He hit that a little bit harder than

:32:17. > :32:26.he wanted to. Get on the red that he is closer to in the left centre.

:32:27. > :32:36.This is left of the pink spot. He's looking at this with them left

:32:37. > :32:44.centre. He's got to judge that. This could go wrong.

:32:45. > :32:53.He got the part but will be very disappointed, after such a good

:32:54. > :32:59.positional shot, he has overhit the black by quite some margin. He will

:33:00. > :33:00.need to play a delicate little cannon of the bunch and it has gone

:33:01. > :33:35.wrong. He's found the perfect spot, locked

:33:36. > :33:42.all avenues down the right side of the table. With the two red balls it

:33:43. > :33:44.is very awkward to get back down the other side of the table. That is

:33:45. > :34:08.what he is faced with there. Have to be very precise with this

:34:09. > :34:16.one to find the gap. That's a wonderful safety shot. Even if he

:34:17. > :34:25.hit the green, to find the gap. He did well. It is one of those where

:34:26. > :34:27.he needs to face this and parted because he needs to find a way back

:34:28. > :34:42.down the table. Will he try and pop this and cannon

:34:43. > :35:01.into the red and haul the black into the same pocket?

:35:02. > :35:12.That think was knocked into a very awkward position to be able to get

:35:13. > :35:17.on the blue. It's another safety shot and we will just show you him

:35:18. > :35:30.going round the back. He just got a little bit too much stuff on it. He

:35:31. > :35:35.could have been nicely on the brown. Some players would just get down and

:35:36. > :35:40.play the safety shot. John is looking to find a spot that would

:35:41. > :35:55.really tie Mark Selby up. He left him in a similar situation

:35:56. > :36:16.here. Not easy to find the gap. There is

:36:17. > :36:24.an escape route but once again, you've got to be very precise. I'm

:36:25. > :36:31.just wondering whether he can leave the cue ball down here by the black.

:36:32. > :36:38.He's not playing that shot. He needs to be very precise with the safety

:36:39. > :36:48.shot. Very good to find that gap between the reds. John Higgins knew

:36:49. > :37:05.how difficult that was to find that. John Higgins has got to be careful.

:37:06. > :37:07.He's having a look at these reds. He does not wanted in left-hand corner

:37:08. > :37:40.pocket. Very good. Can he see enough of that red? If

:37:41. > :37:42.you tried to screw back to the ball area I don't think he can pull that

:37:43. > :38:02.off. He would cannon the red. He might have to play a screw shot

:38:03. > :38:07.to get the white backdown and hopefully leave the red up this end

:38:08. > :38:11.of the table. He's looking at the one nearest the middle pocket to see

:38:12. > :38:17.if he could wobble it in the jaws of this pocket and screw back into the

:38:18. > :38:22.safety area. There is no problem with cue power. The first person I

:38:23. > :38:26.saw to play this was a Canadian. He had tremendous cue power. He would

:38:27. > :38:41.clear screw shot to get back down the table.

:38:42. > :38:54.Once again, so much trouble. I think he will play the shot that I

:38:55. > :38:58.suggested. I don't think the red can go in. If it can it would be

:38:59. > :39:00.unbelievable but he will try and screw the white of the red. He's got

:39:01. > :39:14.to avoid the blue. He's got the white back but the red

:39:15. > :39:18.came up and is heading back up again. But this one is coming

:39:19. > :39:30.towards the middle pocket. Look where he got the cue ball off. This

:39:31. > :39:40.is a nice shot to be faced with. All the red all over the place. We'll

:39:41. > :40:01.avoid the red on the way back up for the black year. That unlucky. Great

:40:02. > :40:06.shot and he hit the -- Mr black on the way down. Through Bob Cass on

:40:07. > :40:09.the red and he might have had it in the centre. Too difficult to take on

:40:10. > :40:54.the black into the green pocket. There's a path down the table if he

:40:55. > :41:01.wants to the one to the left of the blue. He can get back down to that.

:41:02. > :41:07.I don't think he will be playing to cut it in. Just the safety shot.

:41:08. > :42:05.We'll go into the left corner and keep go back down the table. Not

:42:06. > :42:13.this time. We will they finish up? Where is the red going? Where is the

:42:14. > :42:18.right going? -- white. He's been very fortunate. This red potted to

:42:19. > :42:24.the right centre. I just wonder if it's the black that is possible.

:42:25. > :42:54.He's had a quick look at it. Selby will be relieved to come back

:42:55. > :43:07.to the table so soon after that shot that he missed by quite a great

:43:08. > :43:29.deal. There is a chance into the left corner.

:43:30. > :43:42.Can he screw the cue ball? He's looking at the safety shot. He has

:43:43. > :43:50.to be careful of the red. He does not want to knock it in the green

:43:51. > :44:04.pocket. It is a delicate little shot, this. Does not want to leave

:44:05. > :44:14.the red near the green pocket but the body language tells me that it

:44:15. > :44:17.has. It was a delicate shot but the white was in a position where he

:44:18. > :44:31.could not send round the angles and get it but I'm yellow.

:44:32. > :45:10.Needs to keep on running. Looks as if he will be hampered by the pink.

:45:11. > :45:20.The pink into the green pocket. Somewhere near where the red is. He

:45:21. > :47:21.needs the pink in the spot. 6-2 is a great lead to have. If you

:47:22. > :47:31.keep cheering the session it makes such a difference. Trying to play

:47:32. > :47:52.catch up but might risk the part here and there.

:47:53. > :48:05.He only needs one more red. A couple of red but they all stayed safe.

:48:06. > :48:20.With them being safe, will he have a go at the double here? Change of

:48:21. > :48:24.plan. He thought better of it. Now he's back looking at it again. He's

:48:25. > :48:54.pretty good at judging the doubles. The only problem when you take a

:48:55. > :48:58.double on, you're never sure if you will miss it and catch the jaw of

:48:59. > :49:04.the pocket where you will finish. He can do with it, Ken. He needs the

:49:05. > :49:13.black on the spot. His 56 behind with 59 remaining. Can only win this

:49:14. > :49:21.flame -- frame if he gets the black on the spot. That will not help.

:49:22. > :49:26.Have a look where the cue ball finished, absolutely perfectly. He

:49:27. > :49:27.was concentrating so much on his positional play that he forgot about

:49:28. > :50:42.the pot. Terrific part at that pace because

:50:43. > :50:44.he had to get on the pink. He's only got a couple of points to play with

:50:45. > :51:20.but played that almost straight. Great read. Bad pink. It was not

:51:21. > :51:23.easy but when you need the pink, just to stay in the frame, it makes

:51:24. > :51:58.it even more difficult. Two slickers required. I don't think

:51:59. > :52:00.this red goes. He's just going to push it past the pink. Change of

:52:01. > :52:40.plan. Probably at the moment the yellow is

:52:41. > :53:19.the best ball. It is near a cushion. Far too thin.

:53:20. > :53:31.Looking to see if he could hit the cushion first, if he could clip this

:53:32. > :53:35.red in. He played one earlier in the match but he was a long way away

:53:36. > :53:43.from it but he swerved round the ball and came off the side cushion

:53:44. > :53:51.and clipped the red end. This is a little bit closer and more awkward

:53:52. > :53:56.to judge, if any, but if anybody can it is Mark Selby. Just enough room

:53:57. > :54:13.to squeeze between the pink and the cushion. Pop the red.

:54:14. > :54:33.If he can pop the pink he will not be panicking just yet.

:54:34. > :54:59.Might be a little unlucky. Is he on this red into the corner pocket?

:55:00. > :55:08.Going to be difficult to hide it if he knocks the cue ball back just put

:55:09. > :55:13.the cue ball on the side cushion. It is still a tall order. 48 points

:55:14. > :55:17.behind with 43 remaining. Particularly with the master

:55:18. > :55:28.tactician -- tactician that John Higgins is.

:55:29. > :55:32.That is a free shot, really. Good target behind the yellow. Will have

:55:33. > :56:16.to come off three four conditions. He is in off. John Higgins goes back

:56:17. > :56:20.into the lead. Restoring the advantage. You look down at the

:56:21. > :56:26.success, 88% for John Higgins plays 84 Mark Higgins. I don't suppose

:56:27. > :56:32.that will surprise those who watched a huge amount of snooker but does it

:56:33. > :56:41.surprise you? He is verging on having too much respect for John.

:56:42. > :56:47.The fact, from those statistics, he is taking them apart. He is missing

:56:48. > :56:51.those by a mile. The first frame is impressive as he could do those

:56:52. > :56:57.again but it seems to be John who is getting the upper hand. There was a

:56:58. > :57:05.moment from Mark Selby. He did not play a great safety and he looked up

:57:06. > :57:10.to the heavens. It is tough to get behind that yellow but there is

:57:11. > :57:14.obviously a chance. You see a little look up. He looked up at the shot.

:57:15. > :57:20.We were discussing, if you played a bad shot like that, we would not

:57:21. > :57:26.look up at anybody. You want to hide. This trait of looking up at

:57:27. > :57:35.his friends. We wonder what it is about. Is it about being needy out

:57:36. > :57:43.there? No other players do it to the extent Mark Selby doesn't. It is

:57:44. > :57:51.definitely insecurity of some shape or form. Ronnie O'Sullivan doesn't

:57:52. > :57:54.work -- do that. It is a strange thing for the best player in the

:57:55. > :58:00.world to need that security from others. He's the only one that can

:58:01. > :58:07.play the shops. Devils advocate would be a situation where they look

:58:08. > :58:12.up at the gods but I take your point. Interesting thoughts from two

:58:13. > :58:23.men who have 13 world titles between them. Always fascinating to listen

:58:24. > :58:30.to the boys in the studio. I think Hazel knows more about the game than

:58:31. > :58:38.they do now. It is interesting that he does that. I suppose it gives you

:58:39. > :58:58.a bit of reassurance, I don't see anything wrong with it.

:58:59. > :59:09.That is the balcony there with Vicky, his sister, one of the top

:59:10. > :59:11.pool players in the world and Bobby, one of his good friends sitting

:59:12. > :59:44.there. That is something that he was doing

:59:45. > :59:51.in the semifinal. He's not done it so much in the final, but he missed

:59:52. > :59:55.a few very easy balls. Just loses that little bit of concentration.

:59:56. > :00:16.It's always on the very easy shots. What's he left this time. I am sure

:00:17. > :01:02.this red pots past the blue. I reckon there might be pink and

:01:03. > :01:08.black available. He's had a quick look to see if the pink will go into

:01:09. > :01:11.the right corner. There's the angle that he's looking at, so he can play

:01:12. > :01:24.for pink or black. Oh, he's missed it! A couple of edgy

:01:25. > :01:29.ones all of a sudden creeping in. But that's not like Mark Selby. You

:01:30. > :01:49.don't see him missing many easy shots.

:01:50. > :02:08.Still a little awkward. Is he just a little bit tired after that

:02:09. > :02:12.semifinal against Ding Junhui? I was just thinking, Ken, that blue John

:02:13. > :02:16.Higgins missed was the other side of the table. Ding missed a blue.

:02:17. > :02:18.Otherwise he could have been playing in the final because he had a chance

:02:19. > :02:25.to level against Mark Selby. Just looks a bit weary.

:02:26. > :02:54.Came right across that cue ball. John Higgins will sense, of course

:02:55. > :03:01.as great champions do, they sense blood. There you are - closing his

:03:02. > :03:18.eyes. Maybe he is feeling the effects of that semifinal.

:03:19. > :03:25.Could have finished a little better. Played that shot superbly well.

:03:26. > :03:33.Stunned it in, otherwise he was stuck in the pack.

:03:34. > :04:09.Now it is a terrific chance all of a sudden.

:04:10. > :04:17.Remember that the blue wasn't on its spot. Sometimes you can play that

:04:18. > :04:22.shot, you just automatically think the blue is on the spot, and you

:04:23. > :04:29.don't play the same position. He wasn't going to fall for that one.

:04:30. > :04:34.For the reds here. One good split. How does this look?

:04:35. > :04:44.Hard to believe. It's not good. You could play that shot ten times,

:04:45. > :04:46.particularly with that pace and you'd, nine times out of ten, you'd

:04:47. > :05:22.be on a red. He knew if he'd got a good split

:05:23. > :05:27.there probably would have gone on and made enough to take the frame.

:05:28. > :05:29.That's why he was having a little chat to himself when he'd seen the

:05:30. > :05:47.way it finished. A wonderful slow-mo to show the

:05:48. > :06:15.split there. Trying to put the cue ball up

:06:16. > :06:21.somewhere near the side cushion. Wants to make sure he's blocking

:06:22. > :06:29.that red near the baulk line on the right-hand side of the table.

:06:30. > :06:31.It's one of those situations where you're not playing to get the white

:06:32. > :06:43.on the baulk cushion. Too hard, I think. It means that

:06:44. > :06:48.Mark Selby can send that red back up the table and gain the advantage.

:06:49. > :06:51.John gets a nice round of applause for that.

:06:52. > :07:42.I think he can get through to take a pot on and the one above the pink

:07:43. > :07:58.would sneak into the right corner, with a safety shot in mind also.

:07:59. > :08:04.Maybe played that on purpose, you know what he didn't play on the

:08:05. > :08:12.baulk line, just to get the game back to normal and let Mark send

:08:13. > :08:27.that ball up the table. Didn't play it of course behind the

:08:28. > :08:29.yellow. Wanted it close to the baulk cushion. He'll certainly settle for

:08:30. > :08:42.that. John's got to be careful here: He

:08:43. > :08:46.cannot just nestle on to this on the right-hand side of the table because

:08:47. > :08:51.he'd be leaving a pot on. Just wondering if he can nestle on

:08:52. > :08:54.the one that's to the left of the black. Even that's got a bit of risk

:08:55. > :09:00.with it. I don't know if he's got the angle to do that.

:09:01. > :09:08.He might not just have the angle. He'll need a lot of side on if he

:09:09. > :09:13.goes that way. Possibly could do it. He's looking at the shot now, as you

:09:14. > :09:15.can see. He doesn't want to slip around the back of this.

:09:16. > :09:31.Has to be careful. Goes around the back of it. Now he's

:09:32. > :09:37.left a possible pot on. He had to be so precise with that escape.

:09:38. > :09:41.That particular shot, when you're playing the left-hand side, it's

:09:42. > :10:05.very hard to play dead weight. This sort of tells you, he's not

:10:06. > :10:08.quite confident. Going to take the more difficult red into the green

:10:09. > :10:13.pocket. He's playing this with an element of safety. At the moment it

:10:14. > :10:17.tells you how he's feeling. He's not very confident. He needs a good pot

:10:18. > :10:24.to get him going again and that's not it.

:10:25. > :10:29.I think the brown might have come to his rescue here. He's lost a little

:10:30. > :10:32.bit of confidence at the moment, Mark Selby. Make no mistake, John

:10:33. > :11:32.Higgins will pick up on that. He needs the red to be blocked by

:11:33. > :11:34.the other reds. Has he got away with it? Hand up to apologise.

:11:35. > :11:46.He has. He's been fortunate. I am just wondering if John can see

:11:47. > :11:50.what he's looking at, but there might be another shot, the one on

:11:51. > :11:55.the right of the table. If you can double that across he can get up to

:11:56. > :12:00.the safety zone and that red would go over to the red at the side of

:12:01. > :12:05.the pocket. He's playing a very delicate shot here to try and snick

:12:06. > :12:10.this red off the cushion. Well played! A bit pacey.

:12:11. > :12:21.A little bit pacey. I think he may have stuck the red up.

:12:22. > :12:29.A chance for Mark Selby. He'll try and make the most of this.

:12:30. > :12:31.Not straightforward, particularly with the reds on the left side of

:12:32. > :12:50.the table. OK. He can take the pink.

:12:51. > :13:06.Then he can get out for the red that's on the black spot.

:13:07. > :13:13.Needs a decent break here, Denis, just to get himself back on track,

:13:14. > :13:16.after that very first frame, a good frame it was.

:13:17. > :13:55.Lost a bit of confidence again. Could do with a break here.

:13:56. > :14:02.Three reds above the cue ball are available.

:14:03. > :14:08.The one on the right is not too bad. It is the three the left side of the

:14:09. > :14:28.table that are going to be the key balls in this frame.

:14:29. > :14:35.He's just brushing the cushion as if to say it's not coming off as fast

:14:36. > :14:38.as it was in the semifinal. He's come up a little bit short, but he

:14:39. > :14:40.should be OK. Use the other end, head up towards

:14:41. > :15:28.the blue. He's going to need a nice angle for

:15:29. > :15:33.potting this red. And the pink to try and... He needs

:15:34. > :15:45.a nice angle on the blue now. Screwed a blue in, a little bit of

:15:46. > :15:48.right-hand side off of the bottom cushion and into the back of those

:15:49. > :16:06.three reds. The bottom cushion and the side

:16:07. > :16:34.cushion first and caught the red on the way back up.

:16:35. > :16:42.He's left a shot for John. Thought John might have played the red

:16:43. > :16:48.towards the centre pocket, towards the green.

:16:49. > :17:12.Mark can play a similar type shot that John played. It's not as easy

:17:13. > :17:18.as the one John had. Playing a similar sort of shot to

:17:19. > :17:48.the one John played. As I said. He didn't play as well as John

:17:49. > :18:13.played his. A slightly different angle to judge.

:18:14. > :18:50.Just wondering, will he try and force the cue ball out? Can he just

:18:51. > :18:54.roll this red in, a nice angle on the black from, the right-hand side

:18:55. > :19:00.of the table, just to try and get the cue ball towards the two reds.

:19:01. > :19:01.Just drop the red in. A nice angle on the black, on this side of the

:19:02. > :19:08.table. That's it. Now, doesn't want to be

:19:09. > :19:13.too straight. He looks down, I don't think he's got the right angle.

:19:14. > :19:17.Just needed to roll that red in. He sort of stunned it and that pushed

:19:18. > :19:20.the cue ball up the table a couple of inches. Can't do anything now.

:19:21. > :19:36.Just pot the black. Wondering if he can get behind the

:19:37. > :19:37.blue here, a little thin one. That would be nice if he could judge

:19:38. > :19:58.this. Not the best safety shot that John's

:19:59. > :20:04.ever played. Mark can try the shot he tried before. This red will go

:20:05. > :20:22.close to the opposite corner pocket here, as he doubles it across.

:20:23. > :20:30.Just one point, the difference in this tense 11th frame.

:20:31. > :20:44.It might be a three-frame difference or a five-frame difference.

:20:45. > :21:12.It has given Mark Selby a possible chance here.

:21:13. > :21:19.Now, what does he do? Does he try and take the yellow out? Does he try

:21:20. > :21:27.and push the cue ball up behind the green?

:21:28. > :21:38.Has to reach. Ooops! Can you believe that. He was up off the shot

:21:39. > :21:41.straightaway. John can't believe it sitting in his

:21:42. > :21:45.chair, but that can happen, just trying to nestle on the green. We

:21:46. > :21:48.have seen that quite a few times. Twice across. Just to nestle on the

:21:49. > :21:57.red. He's going to leave it on. OK e, he

:21:58. > :22:26.may have hit it. That may be Mark Selby's only saving

:22:27. > :22:30.grace in this game, the yellow. A lovely angle on the black.

:22:31. > :22:35.He won't be going up the right-hand side of the table. He'll be coming

:22:36. > :22:41.off two, possibly three cushions, Denis. Wouldn't he love to have the

:22:42. > :22:45.cue ball just somewhere near the blue, in such a way that he's not

:22:46. > :22:48.hampered so he could roll the yellow and get out for the green. Let's see

:22:49. > :22:53.where he puts the cue ball here. Somewhere near the blue. Doesn't

:22:54. > :23:10.want to be straight on it. So difficult. If it's touching the

:23:11. > :23:19.cushion, it's made slightly easier. Mum up in the balcony, applauding

:23:20. > :23:45.her son. 15, just needs the brown. What a

:23:46. > :24:12.frame to take this is. Made a few errors and John Higgins

:24:13. > :24:25.has jumped on them. And the frame, John Higgins.

:24:26. > :24:41.Now leads 8-3. John Higgins's instincts are finely

:24:42. > :24:45.tuned this evening. How uncertain does Mark Selby look out there? We

:24:46. > :24:51.saw that when he failed to roll up to the green. You don't often see it

:24:52. > :24:53.these days. It was a tough shot to play.

:24:54. > :25:00.He stopped the one cushion escape. But I don't know. That's showing how

:25:01. > :25:03.tentative it is at the moment and worrying times. I don't think

:25:04. > :25:09.anybody could have foreseen what was happening here. You are so used to

:25:10. > :25:12.Mark Selby being dominant. And, this is possibly John Higgins at his very

:25:13. > :25:17.best. It would have been his greatest win if he could convert

:25:18. > :25:23.this. It would. Looking back at 2014, Mark Selby was 3-8 down to a

:25:24. > :25:28.certain Ronnie O'Sullivan, and indeed 10-5 and came back with a

:25:29. > :25:34.come back to win. There's plenty of fuel in the tank. I would think so.

:25:35. > :25:40.It is like the teacher giving the pupil a lesson here. He has probably

:25:41. > :25:44.watched John Higgins win all his world titles. He's been beaten by

:25:45. > :25:50.him in a final himself. He knows what kind of match player John

:25:51. > :25:54.Higgins is. He's been taken apart. One thing about John Higgins is he

:25:55. > :25:58.has his game-face on and has for a long time in this tournament. He's

:25:59. > :26:02.not smiling much. When something's happening he is serious around the

:26:03. > :26:06.table when things have happened. It's like he's sort of, he's

:26:07. > :26:11.enjoying himself, but he's not relaxed. He's there. A man on a

:26:12. > :26:15.And that mission is to win a fifth world title and he's going about it

:26:16. > :26:31.very, very well so far. Going about his business very well,

:26:32. > :27:00.John Higgins. A read pottable here.

:27:01. > :27:32.-- red portable here. I have never seen anybody who plays

:27:33. > :27:44.as well when awkward over a red like that and he generates pace as well.

:27:45. > :27:52.He's played that nicely. Judged the pace of that.

:27:53. > :27:58.He had to get, it is a tough shot just to roll it in, but to get the

:27:59. > :29:12.white back up into position there, it is terrific.

:29:13. > :29:30.He has to be very careful here. The black isn't in a great position to

:29:31. > :29:51.try to develop any reds. Well, it is a tough black. I wonder

:29:52. > :29:57.will he try to cannon. If he cannons the one to the right that would open

:29:58. > :30:08.the game up and he wouldn't have to force the black.

:30:09. > :30:17.If he just caught that red, maybe it would open up, but there maybe

:30:18. > :30:30.another one available. Now, what else is in the pack there? The one

:30:31. > :30:34.just - well, he hasn't got on that, I don't think, he will have it play

:30:35. > :30:43.this with a trace of side to make the angle. Well, he is looking at it

:30:44. > :30:49.from both ends. But he definitely needs to play it with a trace of

:30:50. > :30:51.side and we have the perfect picture there. A little trace of side. That

:30:52. > :31:28.will make the pot. That is That's unfortunate. He

:31:29. > :31:34.couldn't have hit that any harder. Ye, he is unlucky there with that

:31:35. > :31:38.pace not to be on. You see it didn't just arc enough, it didn't get to

:31:39. > :31:48.the desired top spin to go through the reds.

:31:49. > :32:54.I feel confident that Mark Selby would take that on, the confident

:32:55. > :32:58.Mark Selby. And then use one of the baulk colours. That's what he is

:32:59. > :33:05.playing, a little bit of pressure on that one. Just that little bit of

:33:06. > :33:12.pressure on that one. The 26-point advantage could disappear rapidly as

:33:13. > :33:15.we show you that attempt along the cushion but definitely a bit tighter

:33:16. > :33:45.than they were at the start of the tournament.

:33:46. > :33:50.Well, he will be relieved to see the blue going in because this was a

:33:51. > :33:53.horrendous kick. What a contact there. Just have a look at this.

:33:54. > :34:07.Watch the blue. And the white. It could quite easily

:34:08. > :34:26.have thrown it off line and that would have been unfortunate.

:34:27. > :34:36.Well, one good split here and what a chance.

:34:37. > :34:50.He is' played it well. -- he's played it well. But it's funny, Ken.

:34:51. > :34:56.The reds have split but they are still covering each other, aren't

:34:57. > :35:04.they? Well, he judged that nicely to get on the pink and make another

:35:05. > :35:08.cannon. Straight on the pink but there is a red in the middle of that

:35:09. > :35:13.four that will go into the bottom left-hand corner pock o et. I tell

:35:14. > :35:21.you what, if he's dead straight he might be able to hold the pink spot

:35:22. > :35:26.and he is. And he is dead straight and he has held the spot. And he is

:35:27. > :35:30.on that red. The pink will go on the brown spot. No, he hasn't held the

:35:31. > :35:32.spot but still held on the red. The pink was just off its spot there

:35:33. > :36:04.when he potted it. Oh, wow. Wow. Well, what a miss from

:36:05. > :36:13.John Higgins. And he knows it. He is so disappointed. Could that be a

:36:14. > :36:15.turning point? This may be the lifeline that Mark Selby needed.

:36:16. > :36:31.What a miss. It's early days this final but at

:36:32. > :36:34.the moment John Higgins has Mark Selby on the rack. What will this do

:36:35. > :36:46.to Mark Selby? Is it a lifeline? Well, he is under it out there. He

:36:47. > :37:06.is going to have to pull off a cracking cutback here.

:37:07. > :37:15.Fs There was a lot of pressure on that. John Higgins shakes his head.

:37:16. > :37:27.He knows the pink was crucial but there is still a bit of work to do.

:37:28. > :37:33.With John, that little lapse in concentration that has happened

:37:34. > :37:37.every now and again. It hasn't happened so much in the final. He

:37:38. > :37:41.did in the semifinal. He missed a couple of sitters. So just losing

:37:42. > :37:46.concentration. It is not pressure, that type of spot. I'm not quite

:37:47. > :37:53.sure whether Mark Selby has looked at the score board yet. He is 21

:37:54. > :37:57.points ahead. His target is 66. He can get three reds, another two reds

:37:58. > :38:07.and black after this black and he will be 44 in the lead with just 43

:38:08. > :38:13.remaining. There you see him, just glancing at the scores. He doesn't

:38:14. > :38:39.want to go for blue off this red. He didn't want, to Denis, did he? He

:38:40. > :38:45.didn't have the angle, as we saw there. So he is going to need at

:38:46. > :38:49.least one of the reds over on the right-hand side of the table if he

:38:50. > :39:00.is going to win the frame from this position. Wow, his sleeve was close

:39:01. > :39:12.to the red there but the referee was right down watching him.

:39:13. > :39:24.He's got a kick but it hasn't affected the pot. I think he is OK.

:39:25. > :39:29.He has enou angle on the black there.

:39:30. > :39:33.There you see the kick but John Higgins will go into the mid-session

:39:34. > :39:41.interval. It looks as though he will be sharing those four frames. Now,

:39:42. > :39:48.if this works out... Mm, it hasn't. It doesn't go past the pink. So 42

:39:49. > :39:52.ahead with still 43 on. It's not over just yet, this frame. And I

:39:53. > :39:59.don't know if he can get down behind the brown and green. He might be

:40:00. > :40:03.able to slide off the red. But, it was looking like John was going to

:40:04. > :40:09.take this little mini-session 3-1 and what a result that would have

:40:10. > :40:18.been. Yes, but this frame is not over yet. As you said Denis, 42

:40:19. > :40:24.points ahead. Two reds and blacks, if John gets a chance, 43 points on

:40:25. > :40:30.the table. A big target behind green and brown here but - he has to be

:40:31. > :40:34.careful of the red. He has to be sending the red into the middle of

:40:35. > :40:40.the table. He doesn't want to leave John Higgins a possible pot. The

:40:41. > :40:45.middle pocket is slightly in the way. He just has to get close to the

:40:46. > :40:52.middle pocket and up behind the brown there.

:40:53. > :41:40.Well, it passes the blue but I wouldn't want to be taking that shot

:41:41. > :41:59.on at this stage. He could try and take on this red,

:42:00. > :42:01.the one nearest the brown spot, into the yellow pocket also. It is a very

:42:02. > :42:17.fine one. Well, he has come up with long way

:42:18. > :42:22.short. He is very nervous, isn't he? He came up short when he tried to

:42:23. > :42:33.roll up behind the green. Again, a lot of margin for error there.

:42:34. > :42:41.I mean, the red cuts past the yellow you he would be going into the pink.

:42:42. > :42:46.I don't think he can generate enough spin to try to get around for the

:42:47. > :43:04.black. It would be almost impossible to hold for that.

:43:05. > :43:13.He didn't want top knock the pink safe, that's for sure.

:43:14. > :43:22.He can take this red on into the green pocket.

:43:23. > :43:36.Good shot. Good shot. It should be frame now. Quick glance at the

:43:37. > :43:45.scores. 43 points ahead. Just 35 remaining.

:43:46. > :43:54.It's a frame he didn't think he was going to win. He definitely couldn't

:43:55. > :43:59.see John Higgins missing that pink into the right centre when he was

:44:00. > :44:02.sat in his chair a few minutes ago. We are going to have plenty of

:44:03. > :44:13.turning points in this match, first to 18.

:44:14. > :44:22.That frame was the first one. John Higgins will be disappointed. Mark

:44:23. > :44:28.Selby thrown a lifeline. He duly took it but still four points

:44:29. > :44:37.behind. John Higgins leads the world champion and world number 1.

:44:38. > :44:44.STUDIO: Impressions of both men some far, Stephen? John Higgins has been

:44:45. > :44:49.pretty much in control. He has won most of the safety battles. Mark

:44:50. > :44:52.Selby started the four frames impressively but hasn't carried on

:44:53. > :44:57.from there but that fourth frame was massive. A complete lapse of

:44:58. > :45:03.concentration for John Higgins that pink. He will be fuming in the

:45:04. > :45:08.dressing roo. I know he is 8-4 ahead but he will be fuming. Do you stew

:45:09. > :45:12.on things like that back in the dressing room We don't always pot

:45:13. > :45:18.them into the middle pocket much it is a nice shot to try if you are

:45:19. > :45:22.rolling them in, but the modern way is to punch them in firmly and if

:45:23. > :45:29.you don't catch the middle you risk that happening and Mark Selby on the

:45:30. > :45:32.ropes gratefully received the chance John Higgins experienced enough to

:45:33. > :45:36.know, those shots, you don't go back saying - I'm still four frames in

:45:37. > :45:41.front. You think - I should be six frames in front. It is important,

:45:42. > :45:46.especially with someone like Selby to keep the hammer down, to keep

:45:47. > :45:51.your foot on his throat, as it were. And something for Mark to grasp at

:45:52. > :45:57.the end, he was under the cosh for the rest of it. Yes and there's five

:45:58. > :46:00.more frames to win this evening and he hoped to win this mini-session.

:46:01. > :46:06.He hasn't settled down, really, I think. He is still up against it. It

:46:07. > :46:12.doesn't seem like that. Well John Parrott is about to step into the

:46:13. > :46:16.commentary box but he is prowling around in the practise room. What

:46:17. > :46:20.are your feelings? I think the semifinal has left a Mark on Mark

:46:21. > :46:24.Selby. Concentration-wise he is not there. He spoke to his wife earlier.

:46:25. > :46:27.She said he felt tired until the afternoon session. He is bound too.

:46:28. > :46:33.An unbelievable semifinal he was involved in. It'll take time. In

:46:34. > :46:37.this session, if he can get out in the next one winning 3-2, brilliant.

:46:38. > :46:41.A good night sleep come back tomorrow. He doesn't want to lose

:46:42. > :46:45.the next session. If he goes too far behind against John Higgins he is

:46:46. > :46:47.not a player easily made up on. Thank you very much. You will be

:46:48. > :46:50.running into the commentary box shortly but this World Snooker

:46:51. > :46:56.Championship had something of a noed aic existence until 177. It had been

:46:57. > :47:01.staged everyone from Melbourne to Manchester but when snooker promoter

:47:02. > :47:06.Mike Waterson's wife Carol came here it the Crucible to watch a play, she

:47:07. > :47:12.went back home and said to him - I think I've found the perfect place

:47:13. > :47:17.and so began a 40-year love affair between snooker and Sheffield.

:47:18. > :47:25.This is the story about a city. A city once famous for only one thing

:47:26. > :47:29.- a city whose name could be found in tiny prints on tableware all over

:47:30. > :47:33.the world. A city that refused to be ground down and which is now

:47:34. > :47:38.renowned for more than one thing. This is also the story of a sport

:47:39. > :47:43.that was finding its way and arrived here. The two tentively entered a

:47:44. > :47:50.marriage that has endured for 40 years. This is the story of how the

:47:51. > :48:03.steel city opened its arms to the green baize.

:48:04. > :48:08.# You know that tonight # The streets are ours...#

:48:09. > :48:24.Oh, goodness. Winner winner, chicken dinner. For

:48:25. > :48:29.many years, the World Snooker Championship had been underwhelming.

:48:30. > :48:33.Held at numerous locations as far afield as Australia, there were

:48:34. > :48:38.tales of leaky roofs and matches interrupted by the sound of one

:48:39. > :48:55.armband its. Snooker needed a home. I believe in the long-run it will be

:48:56. > :49:01.simple - create our ideal elsewhere, relocate, Sheffield. In 1977, the

:49:02. > :49:10.Championship was to reinvent itself in Yorkshire.

:49:11. > :49:18.It was always, I think, an extremely friendly city but a very industrial

:49:19. > :49:23.city. It was mainly built around the industry of the steelworks but also

:49:24. > :49:30.around the neighbourhoods, the mining industry as well. Sheffield

:49:31. > :49:32.city centre or simply towns, to the locals had seen post-war structural

:49:33. > :49:45.experimentation City planners w their heads in the

:49:46. > :49:51.clouds had put streets in the science among this bold but brutal

:49:52. > :49:58.architecture was a controversial new theatre which had opened in 1971.

:49:59. > :50:04.The Crucible Theatre has been highly-praised and criticised. I

:50:05. > :50:08.talk to the Shakespearean actor, Ian McKellen and asked what he thought.

:50:09. > :50:12.I think the theatre is the best it will I have been in around the

:50:13. > :50:16.world. The sort of audience it'll attract I think will be excited.

:50:17. > :50:21.1,000 people into a with quite small room. The relationship between the

:50:22. > :50:27.audience and actors will be - I don't see anything can go wrong.

:50:28. > :50:32.Five years after this ringing endorsement and an entrepreneur and

:50:33. > :50:36.snooker enthusiast named Mike Waterson agreed to fund and stage

:50:37. > :50:42.the 1977 World Snooker Championship. My wife had been to see a play at

:50:43. > :50:44.the Crucible Theatre and when he was discussing the possibility of

:50:45. > :50:50.producing the World Championship she said - well the Crucible Theatre I

:50:51. > :50:54.went to the other night is absolutely perfect. So in Silver

:50:55. > :50:58.Jubilee year, the world's greatest players arrived in town to take

:50:59. > :51:03.their cues on to the Crucible stage for the first time Going into a

:51:04. > :51:07.theatre was obviously quite, a revolutionary thing to do. One thing

:51:08. > :51:11.that sticks in my mind was the amount of beer that was drank. I

:51:12. > :51:15.understand at that time they drank in one night the allocation for a

:51:16. > :51:21.fortnight. After negotiations, terms were agreed to continue to stage the

:51:22. > :51:26.event at the Crucible. Television coverage was increased and by the

:51:27. > :51:30.time two fresh-faced players from London travelled North, snooker was

:51:31. > :51:37.becoming increasingly synonymous with Sheffield. It is a tremendous

:51:38. > :51:41.am pi theatre. It is a bit like the gladiators pit. There is only a

:51:42. > :51:48.little bit that's not the people and you are surrounded entirely. And

:51:49. > :51:53.they are all steeped up. That makes it a tremendous arena, especially

:51:54. > :51:56.when down to one table in the and the semifinals. Then you do feel

:51:57. > :52:05.like gladiators in the dressing rooms. When it opened, the theatre

:52:06. > :52:10.was criticised for catering to anner artistic elite but one-third of

:52:11. > :52:16.Britain's population watched me play Denis Taylor in 1985. With snooker

:52:17. > :52:21.on the stage, the cruise I will was also for the common man. A good many

:52:22. > :52:26.people rived at work this morning feeling rather bleary-eyed. The

:52:27. > :52:28.reason - what's being called one of the most extraordinary snooker

:52:29. > :52:33.matches ever played. Three, two, one... As we were clearing the

:52:34. > :52:40.tables, the town was being tidied up as well. The Crucible has what

:52:41. > :52:49.watched many of its neighbours make way. The infamous egg box turned

:52:50. > :52:53.into our TV studio. Today traditional could habits with modern

:52:54. > :53:02.in the heart of the city after a number of years of regeneration.

:53:03. > :53:06.Even the streets in the sky have been refurbished after years of

:53:07. > :53:10.decline. In 1977 it was working men's clubs in the city and around

:53:11. > :53:14.the neighbourhoods and now we have vibrant bars and restaurants in the

:53:15. > :53:20.city centre. The Crucible has undergone a face-lift or two as

:53:21. > :53:25.well, including ?15 million worth of improvements completed in 2009.

:53:26. > :53:29.However, it remains the world's most recognisal building for those in

:53:30. > :53:33.love with snooker. We have tourists come throughout the year who want

:53:34. > :53:37.the opportunity to look at the theatre, to kind of touch the wall

:53:38. > :53:41.of the Crucible, to see where the action happens, to come and see the

:53:42. > :53:45.carpet in the foyer. This is its home. People here are also

:53:46. > :53:49.passionate about football and Sheffield can legitimately claim to

:53:50. > :53:54.be the birth place of the game. Sheffield FC is the oldest club in

:53:55. > :53:58.the world and of course both the city's league teams have been

:53:59. > :54:06.champions of England. On the morning of April 15th, 1989. I started the

:54:07. > :54:10.defence of my title against Steve Newbry. Across the city, events were

:54:11. > :54:15.developing that would radically change sport in Britain. 15 minute

:54:16. > :54:26.interval, ladies and gentlemen but please, please move quietly.

:54:27. > :54:33.Seven days on, the people of Sheffield are still cueing to sign

:54:34. > :54:44.the book of condolences in their Town Hall. Snooker star Steve Davis

:54:45. > :54:48.adding his signature today. At 3.00pm, a cathedral bell was rung 95

:54:49. > :54:52.times one for each of the victims of hills brunchts I remember turned up

:54:53. > :54:56.to the tournament. I played with an armband on, which was the least I

:54:57. > :54:59.can do to show respect to the people of my city. I remember it was a very

:55:00. > :55:01.black cloud that hung over everybody. Hillsborough was a

:55:02. > :55:05.terrible strategy. There was no doubt about that. I went down the

:55:06. > :55:09.morning after. I have never had an experience like that in my life. It

:55:10. > :55:16.affected my thinking about how we run sport in this nation. Rather

:55:17. > :55:22.than shying away from playing host, Sheffield welcomed athletes to the

:55:23. > :55:32.student games two years after sport's darkest day here. Well done

:55:33. > :55:35.Sheffield, and good luck everyone. The games triggered the construction

:55:36. > :55:42.of world class facilities and the city punches well above its weight

:55:43. > :55:46.in the sporting arena. Since 1991 Sheffield has produced England

:55:47. > :55:51.cricket captains, outstanding Olympians and world champions. It's

:55:52. > :55:57.the conveyer belt of making champions. Snooker is the best we

:55:58. > :56:02.have in the Crucible. I go to it every year and box in this gym turns

:56:03. > :56:05.out champion after champion. There is something in the air, something

:56:06. > :56:11.in the water but we produce champions. The Don Valley Stadium

:56:12. > :56:15.has gone but snooker remains a constant. Every spring the tables

:56:16. > :56:20.arrive for qualification and finals of the most important Championship

:56:21. > :56:25.in the game and in recent years, the great indoor sport has watched on as

:56:26. > :56:29.Sheffield rebrand itself as the outdoor city, beyond the elite

:56:30. > :56:34.athletes there has been a push to promote sport in chef Field and the

:56:35. > :56:37.neighbouring Peak District. No story set here can be told without

:56:38. > :56:42.touching upon what made the city staplous. Sheffield was the

:56:43. > :56:48.undisputed steel capital of the world. So by the 1980s, the industry

:56:49. > :56:55.was in decline. Snooker, however was heading in the opposite direction.

:56:56. > :57:00.The Crucible Theatre has been literally taken over by the BBC's

:57:01. > :57:05.outside broadcast operation. Last year the chip produced 80 hours of

:57:06. > :57:13.television. This year even more. That's a nice shot. -- the

:57:14. > :57:17.Championship produced 80 hours of television. Sport and television

:57:18. > :57:29.made easy bed fellows and snooker proved perfect for cameras. And so

:57:30. > :57:32.we are all set. Because of the boom in snooker's popularity there is

:57:33. > :57:37.probably no sport now with a more secured future. This year the prize

:57:38. > :57:45.money for the sponsors is ?110,000 and by 1995 that will have risen to

:57:46. > :57:49.?258,000. Sheffield has lost 40,000 industrial jobs in the past 15 years

:57:50. > :57:59.and more are going at the rate of 1,000 a month. The snooker that was

:58:00. > :58:02.being played was a big relief in the working men's clubs in this area

:58:03. > :58:08.where there was active conflict at their place of work. Their place of

:58:09. > :58:11.leisure and sport was looking up to Steve Davis and others who were

:58:12. > :58:15.playing their game and as they were playing out in the working men's

:58:16. > :58:24.clubs all around Sheffield. So there was a connection there. In 1997,

:58:25. > :58:27.landmark film was released which suggested that the only way a

:58:28. > :58:33.working man in Sheffield could make a living was by removing his

:58:34. > :58:34.clothes. The snooker commentators of the day responded with their own

:58:35. > :58:45.take. The events here over the last couple

:58:46. > :58:49.of weeks have been rather significant. Not only is it the

:58:50. > :58:54.centre of the snooker world at the moment, it's also the centre

:58:55. > :59:02.Yes, at long last people know where Sheffield is and there's a real boom

:59:03. > :59:07.in the industry. Sheffield is coming to terms with a

:59:08. > :59:14.decrease in its core industries. The association with snooker has helped.

:59:15. > :59:16.Over the years it is estimated the sport has brought ?70 million to the

:59:17. > :59:26.city. Over 200 million people watched the

:59:27. > :59:34.2016 edition. Over half of them in Asia. Many of whom tuned in to watch

:59:35. > :59:46.the Chinese players. We have a very large proportion of

:59:47. > :59:53.Chinese students. They want to stay in the city because of the economy

:59:54. > :59:57.and what they've brought. Because of that, we've attracted businesses

:59:58. > :00:01.because of the calibre of students that we're turning out.

:00:02. > :00:08.They still make the best knives here and more steel than ever is

:00:09. > :00:14.produced. Razor of sharp blades have been joined by cutting-edge

:00:15. > :00:17.manufacturing. Leading aircraft and luxury car makers have also

:00:18. > :00:22.announced plans to move to Sheffield this year. What I think we need to

:00:23. > :00:27.do now is show how this great city has changed. It has learnt from the

:00:28. > :00:31.past. Has taken the values and put them into a modern setting. No, you

:00:32. > :00:37.can never deny your past, but you can learn from it. And I believe

:00:38. > :00:44.Sheffield has learnt from that past. It's significant other has also

:00:45. > :00:50.flourished. In that first year at the Crucible the chasm Iship

:00:51. > :00:55.produced breaks. Last year there were 86. The standard went up and up

:00:56. > :01:00.and you had to get better. Now we have an influx of players to the

:01:01. > :01:06.game that were all incredibly good from 128th down.

:01:07. > :01:19.# Do you know that tonight the streets are ours

:01:20. > :01:25.The Crucible is a friendly, feisty, spiritual home. It is unthinkable

:01:26. > :01:30.that the World Snooker Championship could be held at any other venue. It

:01:31. > :01:33.continues for at least another decade when snooker and the city

:01:34. > :01:48.will produce its golden anniversary. The contract is signed until at

:01:49. > :01:53.least 2027 and you spent an awful number of years in this city,

:01:54. > :01:59.haven't you? I think we all have. I have been coming here since 1979 to

:02:00. > :02:03.compete. I estimate I probably spent a year-and-a-half of my life in

:02:04. > :02:08.Sheffield. I can not say anything other than it's been wonderful.

:02:09. > :02:12.Neven the short time I've been coming here, the regeneration of the

:02:13. > :02:20.public spaces in this city is remarkable. I think my first time

:02:21. > :02:25.was in '85. What I have seen, the change in the city, has been

:02:26. > :02:29.magnificent. Even now, as a commentator, a pundit, I still get

:02:30. > :02:36.goose bumps driving through the city. It is always a pleasure coming

:02:37. > :02:38.here. 80 hours, over 200 hours of broadcasting from this championship

:02:39. > :02:43.this year. And if you would like to be a part of it, you better get your

:02:44. > :02:48.skates on, because tomorrow at 9am, it is when the box office opens.

:02:49. > :02:54.Last year, I think the final, sold out within an hour. It is estimated

:02:55. > :02:58.that within one day of the box office opening again tomorrow, that

:02:59. > :03:03.at least half of the tickets for the entire event will be sold. So, you

:03:04. > :03:09.better get moving. Now, let's get into some chat with, I think part of

:03:10. > :03:16.the Higgins clan. I think the whole Higgins clan has arrived, hasn't it

:03:17. > :03:31.Ken? It has. You think it is nerve wrecking for the players, it is for

:03:32. > :03:36.the family. Happy birthday. : Denise, your boys doing all right

:03:37. > :03:41.all right, isn't he? We are proud to be here. It is a special occasion. I

:03:42. > :03:48.keep my fingers crossed he can win for a fifth time. How are your

:03:49. > :03:53.nerves? Terrible. John says it is nerve-racking for us than it is for

:03:54. > :03:58.him. What have you been doing at home - kicking him out of bed early?

:03:59. > :04:06.He's obviously hitting the ball really well. He's doing really well.

:04:07. > :04:10.He's confident. We all believe he can win another one. I joked with

:04:11. > :04:14.him in the room, I said, you know, John, there's an empty space on the

:04:15. > :04:19.wall for another picture of you winning the trophy. That would be

:04:20. > :04:31.nice. How are your nerves holding up? Ah... Yeah! More than that,

:04:32. > :04:36.please! It is brilliant watching our dad play. It pumps you full of

:04:37. > :04:40.adrenaline, wanting every single-shot to go in. He deserves it

:04:41. > :04:45.for all the practise and for his determination as well. I want to see

:04:46. > :04:51.him win a fifth one. Make his dream come through. What about mum? Happy

:04:52. > :04:57.birthday. How are your nerves holding up? Calm... You dirty liar.

:04:58. > :05:02.You must be very proud of him. Really, really proud. I must admit

:05:03. > :05:07.I'm quite calm because he's playing so well. What a way to celebrate

:05:08. > :05:13.your birthday. That's why he's playing so good. He'll get me a good

:05:14. > :05:18.birthday present. What do you think-of-your daddy? I think he's

:05:19. > :05:23.been playing great. We are nervous, but every shot we're on the edge of

:05:24. > :05:28.our seats. He's been playing great. It would be great for him to win

:05:29. > :05:35.another world title. If you think that was exciting, he's so exciting

:05:36. > :05:40.he's even put his daughter to sleep. Look at this. Fantastic. The

:05:41. > :05:46.youngest member of the family. She's having a kip there.

:05:47. > :05:57.A credit to this man. He's four frames in front.

:05:58. > :06:19.THE COMMENTATOR: Higgins gets play under way. Very important you feel

:06:20. > :06:22.that Mark Selby gets the better of John Higgins in this little

:06:23. > :06:27.mini-session. Looking at the score line you would have to think he'd at

:06:28. > :06:30.least a 3-2 out of it. You think maybe some attacking

:06:31. > :06:34.players would give you plenty of chances. John Higgins is not one of

:06:35. > :06:38.them. You have to earn your corner with all the chances you get with

:06:39. > :06:42.John, generally. It will be very difficult to come from behind

:06:43. > :06:48.against him. We know Mark Selby is a fighter, but John Higgins is a top,

:06:49. > :06:54.top match player. Very difficult to come back against.

:06:55. > :06:59.Mark Selby played that long red thinking the only red he could leave

:07:00. > :07:03.was the one he played. His worst fears were realised. That is the one

:07:04. > :07:05.he has left. It's not that easy to control the cue ball from this

:07:06. > :07:38.distance and this potting angle. As I say from, this distance you're

:07:39. > :07:41.mainly concentrating to polt the ball.

:07:42. > :07:51.Fortunately for John he didn't leave it. He's left a safety.

:07:52. > :08:26.It's pretty obvious so far in this match that Mark hasn't been anywhere

:08:27. > :08:29.near his best. That brings its own pressure doesn't it for John

:08:30. > :08:32.Higgins? You think to yourself, if I can step up and play my normal game

:08:33. > :08:57.here, I can give myself a lead. If he can get through to the red,

:08:58. > :09:00.it's a bit more difficult than the one already played before. He's

:09:01. > :09:19.playing safe off it. Not a very good one catching the

:09:20. > :09:25.blue. The yellow's come to his rescue. It will make it very awkward

:09:26. > :09:32.cueing for Mark Selby. I know what you're saying, John,

:09:33. > :09:37.that Mark Selby hasn't come out with his best game. And that lead that

:09:38. > :09:43.John Higgins got from the first session.

:09:44. > :09:52.He's had chances this evening to really build on that. I wonder, that

:09:53. > :09:57.pink he missed in the frame before the mid-session interval, that is a

:09:58. > :10:05.shock to your sis tnt, isn't it? When he -- system, isn't it? He knew

:10:06. > :10:09.straightaway. The players know when they've got their opponent in a bit

:10:10. > :10:15.of trouble. They know when they're not playing as well as they can do.

:10:16. > :10:21.They are great players and the champions, like the two boys in the

:10:22. > :10:26.studio, they have sensed weakness and if you show it they make it

:10:27. > :10:29.worse for you. Mulling over that missed pink. A terrific safety shot

:10:30. > :11:03.from John. John Higgins gets another

:11:04. > :11:17.opportunity. Position not easy from this

:11:18. > :11:37.particular red. Always difficult to get back up the

:11:38. > :11:39.table with those. Especially with how the cushions

:11:40. > :11:52.have been playing on this table. They have been trapping the white.

:11:53. > :12:04.Went confidently, he thought if he went with the reds spread as they

:12:05. > :12:10.are, a good chance to score heavily. Now that chance is Mark Selby's.

:12:11. > :12:34.He was just stretching slightly, but, you've got to take those on.

:12:35. > :12:48.A thin cut on the black here. Needs to get it.

:12:49. > :12:54.Not there and once again John Higgins thinking he was going to be

:12:55. > :13:00.away from the table for a while. He's back there with a scoring

:13:01. > :13:03.opportunity. A really big session this, the next

:13:04. > :14:21.five frames. Of course, if he was to win this

:14:22. > :14:27.frame, John, he'd be certain to have a lead overnight.

:14:28. > :14:31.He'd be coming out with being the first thought, to get at least this

:14:32. > :14:38.frame, give yourself plenty of bites of the cherry.

:14:39. > :15:07.Causing enormous pressure on Mark Selby just to stay in the match.

:15:08. > :15:13.41 points from this position to get to the snookers required stage.

:15:14. > :15:43.Still a bit to do. There is one red on the outside...

:15:44. > :15:51.But this is lovely if he can get in that gap.

:15:52. > :15:57.Coming a little low. To get that you cannot hit the cue ball too hard.

:15:58. > :16:03.You have to give chance for the back spin.

:16:04. > :16:08.That's what he's played. I think he can get past the pink for the one to

:16:09. > :16:45.the right corner. There are a couple of reds on the

:16:46. > :16:49.right-hand side of the table. The bottom one definitely will go to the

:16:50. > :16:53.left corner, same probably as the pink. But he cannot get off the pink

:16:54. > :16:55.this time. He'll have to play for one of those two balls on the

:16:56. > :17:35.left-hand side of the table. Didn't have a great angle there.

:17:36. > :17:41.There were a few options he could have played there. If he played the

:17:42. > :17:47.screw back he was guaranteed, wasn't he He was trying to make the next

:17:48. > :17:52.ball easier than playing for the red in the same pocket as the pink. Ran

:17:53. > :18:01.out of position. Take your medicine, play a good safety.

:18:02. > :18:08.Tight on the cushion, but that was three opportunities now he's had in

:18:09. > :18:32.this frame. Not clinched it by a long way.

:18:33. > :18:39.The yellow may just make this awkward cueing for John. That is

:18:40. > :18:43.what I have noticeded about Mark Selby, the number of time he's run

:18:44. > :18:47.into baulk colours. He's normally good at the line, the length of it.

:18:48. > :19:02.Inconsistent so far in this match. You Seaham perked by the yellow.

:19:03. > :19:06.This is a very tough shot. Oh, what a shot! What a shot!

:19:07. > :19:48.A top-class match player for you. He knows he's got his man in trouble.

:19:49. > :20:07.The blue by the side cushion. Insurance later on.

:20:08. > :20:13.Playing the containing safety. He lost the cue ball a little bit.

:20:14. > :20:17.I don't think he left a pot that John Higgins will be tempted by

:20:18. > :20:23.here. We saw when he, well, he didn't even look at the black, that

:20:24. > :20:43.he won't be pushing the boat out. His main concern, protect that lead.

:20:44. > :20:53.It's only really above the yellow that he can put the cue ball.

:20:54. > :20:55.So much so that John maybe considering getting the cue ball up

:20:56. > :21:20.this end. Always thought he may get a red to

:21:21. > :21:24.go to the side cushion. So if Mark Selby does get an opportunity

:21:25. > :21:30.there's a lot of work to do. Green near the cushion, red on the

:21:31. > :21:46.cushion... A 40-point lead. It's a big one.

:21:47. > :22:12.The Crucible Theatre, in all its glory.

:22:13. > :22:18.A cluster of three reds off the side cushion. Not much more he could do.

:22:19. > :22:34.He'll have to judge it right. He could leave one here.

:22:35. > :22:41.Looking whether he's left one for the green pocket here. He may very

:22:42. > :23:12.well take this on. We saw it earlier in the frame. That

:23:13. > :23:14.was an excellent shot from John Higgins.

:23:15. > :23:22.Thought he may have risked a little cannon there. Decided to play for

:23:23. > :23:27.the red. He's got a little bit of work to do here with the cue ball.

:23:28. > :23:29.Pots not that difficult. Get position on a colour, not

:23:30. > :24:09.guaranteed. Not so much the surprise of it, the

:24:10. > :24:13.fact he mind up his mind he's guarantee on the next red. The

:24:14. > :24:16.cannon, nine times out of ten would be easy for John to play. No, he was

:24:17. > :24:26.going to go up there and guarantee being on a red. And just this red to

:24:27. > :24:32.put him 60 points in front, with only 59 remaining.

:24:33. > :24:39.One snooker needed. He knows that Mark Selby will carry

:24:40. > :24:43.on here. Could possibly try to pot this

:24:44. > :24:53.black. If you were going to play the pot,

:24:54. > :24:56.it may be the corner, but black possibly the middl.

:24:57. > :25:11.Keeping it tight. 60 in front. 59 remaining.

:25:12. > :25:31.He's played a granite game of snooker here John Higgins.

:25:32. > :25:56.If he pots the pink, Mark Selby won't be coming back to the table.

:25:57. > :26:09.Just made certain of it. That equates to now four snookers

:26:10. > :26:11.required. I'll be surprised if Mark Selby will concede and he does

:26:12. > :26:35.concede. Is it John Higgins who is bossing.

:26:36. > :26:39.67% to John Higgins. There were two very good example ofs so of

:26:40. > :26:48.excellent long potting from John in this one. Superb shot. Hampered by

:26:49. > :26:52.the yellow. Obviously difficult to cue this.

:26:53. > :27:00.Mark Selby will be disappointed that John's not doing one visit snooker.

:27:01. > :27:04.That would worry him as far as Mark Selby is concerned. It is a little

:27:05. > :27:08.bit old school, but it can work. It's not the modern day way. It's

:27:09. > :27:12.more of an attacking way these days. Mark Selby has not been scoring as

:27:13. > :27:18.well. You can see that from the breaks. And it's given John Higgins

:27:19. > :27:22.the luxury of just shutting up shot enough to ask questions of Mark

:27:23. > :27:26.Selby. Doesn't mean to say John would play that way all the time.

:27:27. > :27:30.The way it's panning out he's not having to risk to try and win the

:27:31. > :27:35.frame. He's actually making it more difficult for Mark Selby and putting

:27:36. > :27:38.more pressure on him getting in. You were two arch predators and bullies

:27:39. > :27:41.around the table. I know your instincts are kicking in there

:27:42. > :27:45.tonight. What are your instincts telling you about Mark Selby's

:27:46. > :27:50.challenge at the moment, Stephen? At the moment it is withering. You have

:27:51. > :27:54.to be honest. You can comment on what you are seeing. Whenever he

:27:55. > :27:57.gets a chance he's concentrating so much on potting the ball that his

:27:58. > :28:02.positional play is all over the place. I would say against Ronnie

:28:03. > :28:05.O'Sullivan, as a way back in, there's not a way back in against

:28:06. > :28:16.John Higgins. THE COMMENTATOR: Four more frames to

:28:17. > :28:20.be played. Mark Selby is under pressure here. He's smiling. I don't

:28:21. > :28:25.know what he was smiling about. Maybe he felt he had a heavy contact

:28:26. > :28:54.on the break. At the moment not much to smile about on the table.

:28:55. > :29:14.That was more of a safety shot than a pot and a good safety shot it was.

:29:15. > :29:55.He found it back to the baulk I was going to say. But the thick he had

:29:56. > :29:57.to hit the red it was never going to be a good white but now it is

:29:58. > :30:16.nestled to the green. It is. You have to be careful with no side

:30:17. > :30:22.on this. He decided just to play the containing shot. Couldn't get the

:30:23. > :30:28.cue ball down into the baulk area. 'S got top win two of the next four,

:30:29. > :30:32.you think, minimum, Mark, here. Even that might not be any good but

:30:33. > :30:33.anything worse than that, he is going to give himself far too much

:30:34. > :30:43.to do. Yeah, I think it is also key, just

:30:44. > :30:47.looking at his body language, he looks a little bit frail at the

:30:48. > :30:51.moment, he looks a little bit worried but there are four more

:30:52. > :30:57.frames to play. He has to really dig deep here to try to get something

:30:58. > :31:01.out of it. As Stephen said, John Higgins is not winning frames in one

:31:02. > :31:06.visit. So that takes a little bit of pressure off you, but you can't keep

:31:07. > :31:11.hitting baulk colours full in the face. You just make it so much

:31:12. > :31:16.easier for your opponent to play safe. John Higgins is looking at a

:31:17. > :31:21.four-ball plant here. He is very keen on it.

:31:22. > :31:27.It's hard to tell from where we are. I think it might go to the right jaw

:31:28. > :31:47.as we look. It's very close. It's in. And he's on the green Yes,

:31:48. > :31:57.for Mark Selby, it never rains but it pours. He paid a safety shot

:31:58. > :32:00.there, left a four-ball plant on. Mind well, well-us issed by John

:32:01. > :32:08.Higgins. He was on to it straight away. Well-sussed. Yes, a lesson to

:32:09. > :32:11.all new up-and-coming snooker players, always have a look at the

:32:12. > :32:14.cluster because you never know what's there. As John said that was

:32:15. > :32:25.well-spotted. Yeah, it was a bit of aialy. The

:32:26. > :32:29.balls opened up lovely after he played the plant. They went into a

:32:30. > :32:33.nice little line. As long as John got the right position on the green,

:32:34. > :32:41.he was perfect to come down the table. Trust me, John Higgins will

:32:42. > :32:43.be trying to turn the screw here. He knows this is a session that he's

:32:44. > :33:14.seriously on top. I presume the red just below the

:33:15. > :33:18.pink is available to the left corner. That's why he has played it

:33:19. > :33:22.like that. Yeah and the other good news, I think if he runs through on

:33:23. > :33:28.this pink, he can leave an angle to pot that red and bring some more of

:33:29. > :33:32.them out to play. He needs to make it pretty straight. If he plays on

:33:33. > :33:34.that red he can open a few more out after this one. That's why he has

:33:35. > :33:46.left himself high on it. Enough to pay with too much pace,

:33:47. > :33:51.and screw-back and bring a few reds into play. Well, decided to play it

:33:52. > :33:53.a bit further. The only thing I didn't like about that was, you are

:33:54. > :34:13.going to use the cue ball somewhat. Well, the balls weren't going to

:34:14. > :34:17.open that much unless you put a bit of force in. Anyway, he has to

:34:18. > :34:35.negotiate this positional shot now. Can you put your crisp or sweets

:34:36. > :34:40.away, please. Begs the question, John Higgins' body language - he is

:34:41. > :34:45.not on a red. Don't tell me that there is another plant appeared from

:34:46. > :34:54.nowhere. Goodness me. If he is on another plant there, Mark Selby will

:34:55. > :34:57.be not believing. And this one looks on more than the four-ball plant.

:34:58. > :35:11.This is plant and it is on for me. He's got to hit the first red, thin,

:35:12. > :35:14.as though you were playing to pot it and surely this has come to his

:35:15. > :35:31.rescue here. APPLAUSE

:35:32. > :35:33.Well, a whole lot of things happened there but the ultimate, the red went

:35:34. > :35:47.in. Yeah, let's have a look at this

:35:48. > :35:51.again. As I say, he had to hit this red thin, it looked as though he

:35:52. > :35:55.hardly hit it and he played a cannon from the loose red on to the plant,

:35:56. > :36:01.that's why there was no pace in the plant. I'll give him the benefit of

:36:02. > :36:08.the doubt but... That was very lucky. I can't believe he played one

:36:09. > :36:14.cannon from one red on to the other there. I think he did, John. Do you?

:36:15. > :36:17.I do, I think that's exactly what he played. I think he thought the only

:36:18. > :36:23.way the plant could go was by striking the other one first. That

:36:24. > :36:28.was very well Sussed out. OK, well I'll give him the benefit of the

:36:29. > :36:35.doubt. Played more like a trick shot. Anyway, he is in amongst the

:36:36. > :36:39.balls and can win the frame in one visit now. Yeah, you maybe right,

:36:40. > :36:41.you maybe right. Maybe he did play the cannon from the loose red on to

:36:42. > :37:06.the plant, looking at it again. Well you can say he has been

:37:07. > :37:10.fortunate with a few of the plants he has had in this break but you can

:37:11. > :37:16.just see the match player that John Higgins is. The concentration is

:37:17. > :37:18.right there now and don't expect him to be missing anything easy in this

:37:19. > :37:27.break. He can go a long way towards that

:37:28. > :37:30.magical number of 18 frames this evening. He is seriously on top at

:37:31. > :37:41.thep minute. Well, in frames he is half way there

:37:42. > :37:45.and could be more than half way there just three reds, three colours

:37:46. > :38:07.and he will be well past the winning line.

:38:08. > :38:14.Yes, much was made at the start of this event that the top half of the

:38:15. > :38:17.draw was top heavy. All the best players they said were in the top

:38:18. > :38:23.and whoever comes through this one is going to win. But it doesn't look

:38:24. > :38:28.like the case at the minute. I never subscribe to that view - there are

:38:29. > :38:33.top class players everywhere in the draw. At the moment the defending

:38:34. > :38:41.champion, the world number 1 is in big trouble. And it is not looking

:38:42. > :38:44.likely to get better, any time soon. This red and he gets to the

:38:45. > :38:49.snookers-required stage. There are enough reds, can he get to

:38:50. > :39:01.position on pink or black? APPLAUSE

:39:02. > :39:07.He takes the applause. There is his wife. Everything happy in the

:39:08. > :39:22.Higgins' camp at the moment. Yes, John, there has been a

:39:23. > :39:26.remarkable turn around in John's form this seechlingts always been a

:39:27. > :39:31.class act but for a couple of years his long game wasn't quite there and

:39:32. > :39:37.he missed the odd shot that you wouldn't expect but this season,

:39:38. > :39:41.brilliant. -- John's form this season.

:39:42. > :39:45.Yes, and he almost admitted that himself in a press conference a

:39:46. > :39:49.couple of seasons ago, he thought he was becoming a journeyman pro but

:39:50. > :39:57.something has fired him up again this season.

:39:58. > :40:05.APPLAUSE And you know what it is like, John,

:40:06. > :40:06.you can't beat winners. It would do wonders for your confidence, a few

:40:07. > :40:11.good results. Well, the red doesn't go in but he

:40:12. > :40:31.has done enough. He is now six frames behind, Mark

:40:32. > :40:33.Selby And he is past half way if he wants a sixth world title he needs

:40:34. > :40:41.18 frames to win it. STUDIO: There are plants. You have

:40:42. > :40:46.to spot them to cultivate and there were two wonderful species here You

:40:47. > :40:49.never know after a safety shot the balls will open up and there is the

:40:50. > :40:53.possibility of that happening. Sometimes, when that second one went

:40:54. > :40:56.in, you sense it is not your day and I'm sure Mark Selby is getting those

:40:57. > :41:00.feelings which are very tough when you are sitting in your chair and

:41:01. > :41:02.you have to come out and show resilience, to not sort of buckle

:41:03. > :41:05.under that type resilience, to not sort of buckle

:41:06. > :41:09.under that type of exposure. But particularly, Stephen when you are

:41:10. > :41:14.the world number one, you are by far in away the world number one, you

:41:15. > :41:16.are dominant, you have won four major titles this season already,

:41:17. > :41:20.this is not the kind of experience you would expect to be suffering as

:41:21. > :41:25.world number one. I tell you what, if John Higgins wins two of the next

:41:26. > :41:29.three, he is in danger of losing the session early, the world number one,

:41:30. > :41:33.John Higgins could win this tomorrow afternoon, the way it is going. I'm

:41:34. > :41:42.looking back at 2007 and the scoring involved in the final between the

:41:43. > :41:57.two, John was 8-3 in front and 10-4 ahead and he is again.

:41:58. > :42:04.John Higgins breaks off. I have to say, John, he is having an easy ride

:42:05. > :42:08.at the moment. Yes, and I'm afraid his opponent, the world number one

:42:09. > :42:13.is mentally running on fumes a bit. He has been for most of the day. I'm

:42:14. > :42:17.absolutely convinced that Ding Junhui has taken the best out of him

:42:18. > :42:21.but you've got to learn to play through adversity. Not every session

:42:22. > :42:25.is easy and goes your way but no doubt about it will, the way that

:42:26. > :42:30.Ding Junhui played in that semi pushed him all the way. He had to

:42:31. > :42:45.come back to work today and he's just not been there.

:42:46. > :42:50.Yes, he has thwarted our former colleague, Clive Everton on many

:42:51. > :42:57.occasions but I think that has summed it up, marathon of the mind

:42:58. > :43:03.but it is, 17 days of tough snooker and you leave and breathe it. In

:43:04. > :43:11.fairness, John has had hard matches as well and he is bemused by that

:43:12. > :43:17.cushion there because it has been cracking all day and all of a sudden

:43:18. > :43:26.it has pinged off. Let's have a look or maybe he has played with a higher

:43:27. > :43:31.red. Whichever one he played on he is betwixt and between. I personally

:43:32. > :43:34.think he over-hit it. I think he played for the one above the black.

:43:35. > :43:40.Whatever, he is on nothing. No plant this time. Going back to, that I

:43:41. > :43:44.think John had his two real tough matches two start W Martin Gould

:43:45. > :43:50.must have been one of the worst qualifiers you could have' got. A

:43:51. > :43:55.very talented player and the match with Mark Allen was a classic.

:43:56. > :43:59.Higgins made two clearances in there that were vintage and Mark Allen if

:44:00. > :44:03.he plays like that he will go close to winning a World Championship

:44:04. > :44:07.himself, Mark. It was a brilliant performance but unfortunately for

:44:08. > :44:12.him John Higgins was at his best. So he had a tough two matches and then

:44:13. > :44:20.it has beencomfortable. Eye are enWilson. John said he didn't play

:44:21. > :44:22.and Barry Hawkins wasn't at his best either, so comfortable for him to

:44:23. > :44:53.get here. -- Kyren Wilson. Can Mark get past the green? It's

:44:54. > :45:05.close. He certainly can but you can tell better if you were behind the

:45:06. > :45:09.shot. He ought to be able to get to it because he played the pot. This

:45:10. > :45:14.is what he is seeing. Do you think he can see enough of it? No, not

:45:15. > :45:24.quite. And that's why he's playing the safety. But needs a good safety

:45:25. > :45:30.here. He needs a good cue ball. Red is going towards the corner. It's

:45:31. > :45:32.not gone in. Got a good cue ball but no good when you leave a red over a

:45:33. > :46:04.pocket. It's never been any different the

:46:05. > :46:09.game, is it? When you are in front. You always get the helpful little

:46:10. > :46:18.nudges. He is perfect on this to try to open some reds here. Oh, but the

:46:19. > :46:24.pace kept the pink out. An opportunity now for Mark Selby. A

:46:25. > :46:29.strange game snooker, isn't it? You can play the best safety shot in the

:46:30. > :46:31.world and not get a chance. You can see the pace, the power, how the

:46:32. > :46:45.balls jump. It goes without saying, Mark has got

:46:46. > :46:55.to make the best of this. Yes, from somewhere he has to find a bit.

:46:56. > :47:07.I mentioned earlier,s' not world number one for no reason.

:47:08. > :47:12.At the moment he has to find a way to survive or this match is going to

:47:13. > :47:30.go west. It's OK. There is a red to the

:47:31. > :48:12.right, centre. If he could just win in one visit or

:48:13. > :48:16.get back scoring, just to win a frame in an easier fashion, it would

:48:17. > :48:21.give him a boost for the last couple of frames.

:48:22. > :48:25.Yes, I notice the two reds at the top of the cluster of four. It is a

:48:26. > :48:29.certain plant into the left corner. So he doesn't have to do much here.

:48:30. > :48:35.There is enough to play a cannon. The plant is on.

:48:36. > :48:40.Well, he played the cannon. That looked a certain plant to me. Why

:48:41. > :49:11.would you play the cannon? Well, let's say he didn't have much

:49:12. > :49:15.to do the with you cue ball, he knew he would be on a yellow but now this

:49:16. > :49:19.cue ball is travelling from one end of the table to the other. It is all

:49:20. > :49:24.about line and length. 24 points the lead. Four reds in the middle of the

:49:25. > :49:32.table. Might just about get him there. Maybe one of the awkward reds

:49:33. > :49:45.needed. He's got to take this chance.

:49:46. > :49:52.Well, he thinks he can control the cue ball better off the brown.

:49:53. > :50:20.Right in the heart of the pocket. Good shot.

:50:21. > :50:29.Well, when he potted that black in the middle earlier, John, I was

:50:30. > :50:33.surprised with the bounce. It has happened to Mark Selby. I think the

:50:34. > :50:37.fact he is straight on the black, though, he may be able to play to

:50:38. > :50:43.the red in the right middle. Although he may have an angle to

:50:44. > :50:47.stun through a red in the corner. Yeah, the thing with the table is,

:50:48. > :50:51.if the cushion is trapping the white and it is doing it all the time

:50:52. > :50:55.that's fair enough, you can start to allow for it but it is when you are

:50:56. > :50:58.playing for it and it doesn't happen, it starts getting

:50:59. > :51:04.inconsistent. That's what players don't like. He played that with a

:51:05. > :51:10.little bit of side. And this is an excellent contribution from Mark at

:51:11. > :51:18.the minute. Survival instincts are kicking in.

:51:19. > :51:25.Yeah, it is John Higgins' missed pink that opened the reds and at

:51:26. > :51:27.this level when you miss when you are in, it can easily cost you the

:51:28. > :51:37.frame. That looks like the case now. This

:51:38. > :51:42.blue would put Mark 50 in front. Just a quick glance at the score

:51:43. > :51:53.board. So he needs red black and one of these reds near the side cushion.

:51:54. > :52:16.Red and a black will put him 48 points in front I with 59 remaining.

:52:17. > :52:27.-- 58 in front with 59 remaining. So just the red now to get to snookers.

:52:28. > :52:31.Well the red and a colour as it turns out. I'm sorry just the red.

:52:32. > :52:42.He will be pleased to see this red disappear.

:52:43. > :52:48.A great contribution from Mark Selby under the cosh. Well he is world

:52:49. > :53:04.number one. Yes, I couldn't agree with you more.

:53:05. > :53:07.There is a lot of pressure on him. OK, John Higgins missed the pink,

:53:08. > :53:10.opened up the reds. But there was pressure on him to take this

:53:11. > :53:20.opportunity and he's taken it really well.

:53:21. > :53:30.Oh, I thought that was going to stay there. It would be nice if he could

:53:31. > :53:36.make a century. This packed Crucible audience like a century.

:53:37. > :53:43.Oh, he played a cannon on the red. Further up the side cushion. Now

:53:44. > :53:53.he's not got t unless he plays an outrageous double. This will be the

:53:54. > :54:00.end of break. And it is, but he will be very relieved, Mark Selby. He has

:54:01. > :54:03.stopped the rot. Well, it is just a step in the right direction but it

:54:04. > :54:08.is a good one. John Higgins now leads by 10-5.

:54:09. > :54:14.STUDIO: He is on his third frame of the evening I wonder what relief

:54:15. > :54:19.that will be to Mark? He will have enjoyed that. It is obvious to stay

:54:20. > :54:23.but winning the frame in one visit is exactly what the doctor ordered.

:54:24. > :54:28.He will be going out now saying - come on, two frames, let's win both.

:54:29. > :54:32.He will have done a jo, instead of being four behind, he will be free

:54:33. > :54:35.behind. Well he is a player we've always expected will come back

:54:36. > :54:43.roaring into things. He has made a habit. It is one of his trademarks.

:54:44. > :54:49.The bringman. He has always been there or thereabouts come the end of

:54:50. > :54:52.these finals Yes and expect a big push tomorrow afternoon from Mark

:54:53. > :54:56.Selby regardless of what happens in these two fra. I think he will be

:54:57. > :55:00.able to regroup overnight, which is the interesting thing about a match

:55:01. > :55:06.played over more than one day. A reset, perhaps have a chat with his

:55:07. > :55:11.friends and say -- perhaps not now throw caution to the wind. I

:55:12. > :55:17.wouldn't say regardless of what happens, but if he loses the last

:55:18. > :55:22.two, 12-5. John knows this, a few years ago he came out and won the

:55:23. > :55:27.frames in the first investigation and did it with Ronnie O'Sullivan I

:55:28. > :55:32.remember being 12-4 up with Jimmy White and I was still worried the

:55:33. > :55:37.guy would come out. He was a great player and he came out and attacked

:55:38. > :55:42.and before long he was level. Momentum is great in these ma.s you

:55:43. > :55:47.can string two or three frames together. All of a sudden it is

:55:48. > :55:50.swings and roundabouts. From John's point of view a built-edged

:55:51. > :55:59.opportunity Mark cannot afford to lose both of them.

:56:00. > :56:06.Yes, two very, very big frames for either player, really. John Higgins

:56:07. > :56:12.to have won this session after winning the first session 6-2. That

:56:13. > :56:16.was important just to keep ahead. Mark Selby needs two frames to win

:56:17. > :56:27.this session 5-4. A step in the right direction.

:56:28. > :56:35.Oh, a funny thing happened while you were in the studio, John Higgins

:56:36. > :56:39.went for the ice. A big piece of ice. I'll just get a little one,

:56:40. > :56:58.that won't fit in the glass. Well there you go. Will it stop? I

:56:59. > :57:03.don't think it will. Terrific shot. Yes and that's what has come back,

:57:04. > :57:08.John. That's what has come back to his game his long potting. Back it

:57:09. > :57:12.viptage Higgins he has been all eggs soo. He used to do that with

:57:13. > :57:19.monotonous regularity when you played him and he has certainly

:57:20. > :57:23.sound something this year. Yes, I agree with you. We look at the

:57:24. > :57:27.safety stats and everything else but at the end of the day if you can

:57:28. > :57:34.knock them long reds in, they will give you chances and 71% is very

:57:35. > :57:39.good. I usually think about mid-60s is fair. And when you haven't got

:57:40. > :57:42.that in your armoury it becomes debilitating because you know the

:57:43. > :57:47.chances that come along and should be yours, they go to the opponent

:57:48. > :57:53.when you start missing them and generally, as you get a little

:57:54. > :57:55.older, the long game is the one that struggles first, so he has done very

:57:56. > :58:12.well to hang on to that. Is he on this red at the bottom of

:58:13. > :58:22.cluser? I don't think so. I don't think he can hit enough of it. Well

:58:23. > :58:27.the worst way, he finished in the middle of both. Not enough for the

:58:28. > :58:29.bottom one and not far out for the one on the left-hand side so just a

:58:30. > :59:00.safety. After such a good opening red, it

:59:01. > :59:44.only realised 12 points. He just had a little look there,

:59:45. > :59:51.John, to see if there was a plant on. But there isn't.

:59:52. > :00:00.There is a nice target behind yellow and proun. This requires -- brown.

:00:01. > :00:06.This requires excellent cueing to get the right contact.

:00:07. > :00:50.I think those two shots sum up why those two players have been at the

:00:51. > :00:55.top of the game in the tactical department for all of these years.

:00:56. > :00:57.Brilliant! Yes, as the great Ray Reardon once said to me, there's

:00:58. > :01:09.more to snooker than potting balls. It has caused a slight error from

:01:10. > :01:22.John. I don't know whether the red to the

:01:23. > :01:24.right corner, if Mark can see it. I assume he can't, or he'll be looking

:01:25. > :01:35.at the pot on that. I don't know.

:01:36. > :01:39.The only thing I can think of is if he played that one, he might play it

:01:40. > :01:42.with a bit of check side and he may be able to get into the baulk area,

:01:43. > :01:51.play it as a shot to nothing. It can go wrong, of course, if you

:01:52. > :01:55.get it too thick. He may play that. These super fine cloths, when you

:01:56. > :02:01.play with side, they act completely different.

:02:02. > :02:12.It looks as if he can see enough of it to me.

:02:13. > :02:20.We'll soon know he plays it when the cue ball comes off the cushion.

:02:21. > :02:25.Maybe you're right. Yes. He could do it.

:02:26. > :02:29.Oh, that's really unlucky. What a great pot.

:02:30. > :02:43.But to finish hampered on the blau Just got the edge of the pot. He

:02:44. > :02:47.would have been nicely on the blue. If he could get his hand on the

:02:48. > :02:51.table, you'd fancy him to pot this blue. But he's got to be careful. If

:02:52. > :02:56.I was playing the shot I would rather play it with a spider, so

:02:57. > :02:59.you're striking down more. There's a little bit of a gap. Got to be

:03:00. > :03:13.careful! Potted the blue. What a brilliant shot that is! The

:03:14. > :03:19.last two shots have been superb. He had to drag the cue back as

:03:20. > :03:28.quickly as possible. What a response this is.

:03:29. > :03:35.Just have a look at that again. How quickly he had to get the cue out of

:03:36. > :03:40.the way. If it had been straight, he'd have to get the rest of them

:03:41. > :03:47.out the way as well. You show us that good safety.

:03:48. > :03:51.Bless you! Thasm good safety forced the error.

:03:52. > :03:59.Somebody sneezed, so Mark doing the right thing. Get up, regain your

:04:00. > :04:07.concentration. This is a big moment in the match, this, for me.

:04:08. > :04:15.Played that beautifully. Also would be happy with the response off the

:04:16. > :04:26.cushion there. He's finding mental reserves here,

:04:27. > :04:31.Mark Selby. Hasn't had things his own way today.

:04:32. > :04:34.Definitely looked a bit jaded, but he knows how important this part of

:04:35. > :04:39.the match is. If he can get out winning these last two frames and

:04:40. > :05:04.only be 10-7 down, wow! What a result that would be!

:05:05. > :05:12.I don't think he's on it, but the pink goes, by the look of it.

:05:13. > :05:22.Just looking for another 41 points from this situation.

:05:23. > :05:29.He looked the low one, the two reds on the right-hand side of the table,

:05:30. > :05:33.he looked at the lower one, to see if by playing on the pink he could

:05:34. > :05:40.get on that. He's inch-perfect on the pink. There's not a lot of room

:05:41. > :05:47.to play for the red. As I say, inch-perfect on the pink.

:05:48. > :05:55.When he pots this red, of course, he clears the path for the other un.

:05:56. > :06:00.I mentioned before, the last frame, if he could win in one visit it

:06:01. > :06:06.might just give him a kick-start. It looks like it has.

:06:07. > :06:12.Been a struggle for most of the match so far for Mark, but that

:06:13. > :06:22.break in the last frame was excellent.

:06:23. > :07:00.As it turned out, it left him a nice angle on that red. Didn't have to

:07:01. > :07:08.play with any pace. 32 points to lead. He's playing the cannon.

:07:09. > :07:15.He's played the cannon. I'm looking at his body language. Is he on his

:07:16. > :07:22.red to the right middle? I would say, yes. I would say, yes.

:07:23. > :07:33.I could never tell looking from behind the pocket. Could you? I

:07:34. > :07:37.don't think that's a great way of doing it. You can make anything look

:07:38. > :07:41.like it goes from the other way around. It's only this side that

:07:42. > :07:45.will really tell the story. He may get through to it. He may have to

:07:46. > :07:48.play with a trace of left-hand side to turn the red over. For me, it's

:07:49. > :08:32.on. What a contribution once again.

:08:33. > :08:38.Brilliant stuff from Mark Selby. It's what great champions do...

:08:39. > :08:43.Back's against the wall - find something from somewhere.

:08:44. > :08:49.And what a massive final frame of the session this is going to be

:08:50. > :08:54.coming up. Yes. This was a big frame. As you say,

:08:55. > :09:00.the last one is going to be even bigger. Once you've lost that first

:09:01. > :09:07.session, you're playing catch-up, so you need to win the next section.

:09:08. > :09:11.OK, if he wins the next frame, it will only be by one frame. But he

:09:12. > :09:14.couldn't afford to lose this session. The kiss is OK. It's not

:09:15. > :09:24.the red on. Didn't give us the century break in

:09:25. > :09:26.the last frame. But every chance he'll give us one

:09:27. > :09:34.in this. 86 is the highest break in this

:09:35. > :10:13.match so far. Usually a ton machine. Purposefully going for the pink, if

:10:14. > :10:15.he's straight on the pink stun it in automatically on the yellow.

:10:16. > :10:29.Fancy 100 now. Already made six in the tournament.

:10:30. > :10:31.None in this match so far. May have made six, but none as

:10:32. > :11:24.important as this. And this is the 72nd century break

:11:25. > :11:29.of this year's championship and what a timely contribution from Mark

:11:30. > :11:33.Selby. Absolutely superb! He didn't need any help from John Higgins

:11:34. > :11:39.there. He played a tremendous safety shot.

:11:40. > :11:42.He took the rest of the frame in brilliant fashion. Still four

:11:43. > :11:48.behind, but he's got a foothold in the match now. 10-6, John Higgins.

:11:49. > :11:50.STUDIO: It was six. It's back to four. We were expecting the charge.

:11:51. > :12:07.Here it comes. It seems to have had the galvanising

:12:08. > :12:14.effect on him? John Higgins expected some response from Mark Selby. And

:12:15. > :12:19.as we sit, it's 4-4 in the session. So John Higgins hasn't got any

:12:20. > :12:23.reason to panic. Even if he was to lose the last, he would still say it

:12:24. > :12:31.is a good job done. A massive last frame. Before we talk about that,

:12:32. > :12:35.let's look at the century-makers in this championship, because Ding

:12:36. > :12:41.Junhui way ahead. But that's at the 7.4 mark. John had

:12:42. > :12:46.that 141 earlier on, which was, along with Ronnie's in 2012, earlier

:12:47. > :12:49.on it was the highest ever made in a Crucible final. We talk about this

:12:50. > :12:55.last frame of the session. You called it earlier, so much riding on

:12:56. > :12:59.this one, you would say, Stephen? The change in Selby, he doesn't look

:13:00. > :13:04.tired any more. Running around the table there. Fantastic play. If he

:13:05. > :13:09.wins this frame, he goes slight favourite for me. I know he's three

:13:10. > :13:13.behind but that is how big it is. Only a few frames ago we were

:13:14. > :13:19.talking about potentially Higgins winning with a second to space. That

:13:20. > :13:23.was me to be fair. Mark Selby could go favourite. It is what we want in

:13:24. > :13:26.a Crucible final. So many twists and turns and this is the last of our

:13:27. > :13:41.evening. THE COMMENTATOR: So big last frame,

:13:42. > :13:58.as we say. Is the deficit going to be five or three for Mark Selby?

:13:59. > :14:08.95% pot success Mark Selby. 93%, John Higgins. High quality.

:14:09. > :14:22.Well he played that, a half-hearted attempt to the pot.

:14:23. > :14:36.If he did drop it in he'd be on the black, automatic.

:14:37. > :14:44.Just a fraction high. A really tough shot, that one. You

:14:45. > :14:48.get used to players knocking them in, these days. Hardly see in the

:14:49. > :15:06.pocket with that angle. Very, very close.

:15:07. > :15:29.Wonderful! And where the red is, you get

:15:30. > :15:33.position of this blue. You can play on the blue, leave himself half

:15:34. > :15:37.ball. The cue ball's come a little low. Perfect he would have been

:15:38. > :15:40.higher up and left the angle. There's one red available at the

:15:41. > :15:46.back of the pack. The players sometimes play on that one.

:15:47. > :15:52.Could have got on that blue half ball, I am sure the pack would have

:15:53. > :16:04.been going everywhere. But there is one lose thread.

:16:05. > :16:11.He's not low on the red. He's come too straight, so he'll have to roll

:16:12. > :16:15.it through. And there is one lose red

:16:16. > :16:20.immediately above the black, so he may be thinking if he goes into them

:16:21. > :16:24.that that red may just become available.

:16:25. > :16:27.Needs a good angle on the black though.

:16:28. > :16:38.As we have seen this type of shot, you get bounces, you've got to pot

:16:39. > :16:43.the black. If he can screw to the outside red and the black, he may

:16:44. > :16:51.get one towards the corner. He's on one in the middle. He'll take that.

:16:52. > :16:55.Work on the cue ball. Trying its best to come back again. That little

:16:56. > :16:59.final cannon he got was perfect, wasn't it? He just flicked the one

:17:00. > :17:39.immediately above the black... 43 points needed from this position.

:17:40. > :17:41.So, he's going to have to open that bunch of reds at least one more

:17:42. > :17:58.time. What a competitor this boy is. He

:17:59. > :18:02.really is. Where's he found this from? I didn't seed this in his game

:18:03. > :18:16.so far. Absolutely marvellous. Everyone can play when the sun's

:18:17. > :18:28.shining. What a response this is from 10-4

:18:29. > :18:40.down. He's crept up level with John

:18:41. > :18:48.Higgins. Going into them. He's OK.

:18:49. > :19:05.I think the one to the right corner, and enough reds into play.

:19:06. > :19:14.He hit it, just under-hit it slightly.

:19:15. > :19:17.A red at the bottom of the cluster, immediately above the black, which I

:19:18. > :19:22.think is available. He'll need the rest, I think, to play this, John

:19:23. > :19:26.Higgins. Well, win or lose this frame, it will have been a good day

:19:27. > :19:31.for John, I believe. He'll look at the positives. But he may be also

:19:32. > :19:36.looking a at the fact he's missing an opportunity to really push on. He

:19:37. > :19:41.hasn't really done a lot wrong since he missed the pink a couple of

:19:42. > :19:46.frames ago, trying to get the pink in, that's the last bad ball he's

:19:47. > :19:53.missed. Well struck! Really well struck!

:19:54. > :19:58.He's motoring now. Cued this beautifully.

:19:59. > :20:01.And that is the word, cue in it. Sometimes you see players hit a

:20:02. > :20:06.ball. He just pushed the cue through there and got all the action he

:20:07. > :20:08.needed by cueing it well. Oh, he's missed it! Would you

:20:09. > :20:21.believe it? Players who do all the hard work and

:20:22. > :20:26.that lack of concentration, for a split second, chance gone!

:20:27. > :21:03.I used to love that one when they would shout, come on, and you'd go

:21:04. > :21:07.to the table and there was nothing on.

:21:08. > :21:19.It's even worse when you were snookered as well.

:21:20. > :21:25.If you could play that red on the baulk cushion, he'd have played it

:21:26. > :21:46.by now. He obviously continue get through to it.

:21:47. > :21:53.Just coming up to a minute. Thinking time. He doesn't want to make any

:21:54. > :22:09.silly mistakes. He made one last time he was at the table.

:22:10. > :22:17.He's taken the opportunity to stick that red right on the baulk cushion.

:22:18. > :22:22.What a shot. John Higgins appreciated that shot.

:22:23. > :22:25.A few frames ago it was jop doing it to him, wasn't it? -- John doing it

:22:26. > :23:04.to him, wasn't it? He'd love to mess this table up a

:23:05. > :23:09.bit. OK, he's got a couple of reds. One in the middle of the baulk

:23:10. > :23:14.cushion, which is awkward, but he's thinking about maybe playing this

:23:15. > :23:18.and one of these reds may kiss the pink and knock it to the side

:23:19. > :23:22.cushion. Wondering if he was thinking hitting this red into the

:23:23. > :23:25.green and then screwing back. Just mess the table up a little bit.

:23:26. > :23:38.Where's the red going? It's thin, but it will cut.

:23:39. > :24:01.Where that cue ball is, boy, this is tough!

:24:02. > :24:26.To pot like that, you have to make certain of the pot. Another day, he

:24:27. > :24:54.could have been perfect on the pink. A tricky one for Mark. He doesn't

:24:55. > :24:57.want to open this cluster of reds. He may nestle into them. He wants

:24:58. > :25:04.those reds together. If John Higgins was to get a chance,

:25:05. > :25:21.he doesn't want it to be an easy one.

:25:22. > :25:28.I am wondering if it will be that insurance. OK, he could win the

:25:29. > :25:31.frame before that, if he doesn't and John gets in, that red may just have

:25:32. > :25:43.saved the frame. Will go to the left middle.

:25:44. > :25:48.Sees the value in taking it on. If he could push the red to the side

:25:49. > :25:54.cushion, I am sure he would, if he could also control the cue ball.

:25:55. > :26:00.That's what he did. But he didn't control the cue ball. He pushed the

:26:01. > :26:06.cue ball through too far. So, sacrifice a good safety by

:26:07. > :26:47.putting a red safe. Was it the right decision? We'll wait and see.

:26:48. > :26:54.Of course the green being where it is handy.

:26:55. > :26:57.If John Higgins clears up from here, it will be one of the all-time

:26:58. > :27:16.greats. Could have played this a little bit

:27:17. > :27:18.better. Can only assume he's going to play the cannon into these three

:27:19. > :27:27.reds. He's playing. It's a good line.

:27:28. > :27:39.Well, he's knocked one out. He needs it to bounce. It has.

:27:40. > :27:50.He made a decision Mark Selby to push a red to the side cushion.

:27:51. > :27:52.Sacrifice a good safety. He's now got to sit there and wonder

:27:53. > :28:13.whether it was the right choice. Surely he's not left himself

:28:14. > :28:18.snookered there. It looks like he has with that impression. Oh, John,

:28:19. > :28:27.you had a massive margin for error there.

:28:28. > :28:32.Normally when you get a heavy contact, it takes the pace out of

:28:33. > :28:53.the cue ball. It's awkward to move one of the reds

:28:54. > :29:00.that on the side or the baulk curbtion as well. In a -- cushion as

:29:01. > :29:10.well. In a perfect world that's what he'd be doing.

:29:11. > :29:18.Well, he has but that was sheer, sheer frustration. Has he got away

:29:19. > :29:26.with it? I don't think so. I think there maybe a path to the red in the

:29:27. > :29:29.baulk head. I tell you what, he has put Mark under pressure with the red

:29:30. > :29:34.because they are both off the cushion now. He has to knock this

:29:35. > :29:55.in. Everything is available if he doesn't.

:29:56. > :30:07.It was a tough chance to try to win this frame at that visit but as I

:30:08. > :30:11.say, I think he paid that back double that called, John but I don't

:30:12. > :30:17.think it was right shot. He just did it out of sheer frustration, I

:30:18. > :30:29.think. So that green has put Mark Selby 347 points in the lead. And r

:30:30. > :30:35.and he'sp land -- and he's landed perfectly. Red colour red to reduce

:30:36. > :30:44.the deficit to three frames at the end of a long, hard first day. Yes,

:30:45. > :30:49.what a brilliant final frame this has been so far. John will be

:30:50. > :30:54.kicking himself he didn't get himself on position that Mark could

:30:55. > :30:58.take now here on the pink. It was an excellent long red that Mark potted

:30:59. > :31:02.in the green pocket and bizarrely, John, if this does finish 10-7 it is

:31:03. > :31:07.one of the results where both players will be relatively happy.

:31:08. > :31:11.Sqlon, John's entourage will be saying - well done, you are leading

:31:12. > :31:16.the match 10-7 and Mark's entourage will be thinking - well they were

:31:17. > :31:20.10-4 behind look what we've just done, winning the last three frames.

:31:21. > :31:30.So, bizarrely, both camps will be happy. Yes, I think, if you said to

:31:31. > :31:36.John Higgins at the start - by the end of the first day you will have a

:31:37. > :31:41.three-frame advantage, he would snap your hand off. There are a few scars

:31:42. > :31:45.from this session but Mark hasn't fallen perfect here. He is looking

:31:46. > :31:58.for the blue and one for red. A big, big shot.

:31:59. > :32:21.Well, he just needs one more red to leave John Higgins needing snookers.

:32:22. > :32:29.Right in the heart of the pocket. Where's the cue ball going?

:32:30. > :32:36.He will have breathed a sigh of relief there. So John Higgins, it is

:32:37. > :32:42.hard to see any way back in this frame and what a three frames he has

:32:43. > :32:45.produced here, John. With his back to the wall. This is as good as he

:32:46. > :32:49.could have' played there. You can see there, the fist pump. He knows

:32:50. > :32:56.how important it is and what a response from the world number one.

:32:57. > :33:02.Brilliant final three frames. Has to be said and we have a final. And

:33:03. > :33:09.that red means there will be no way back to the table for John Higgins.

:33:10. > :33:16.John Higgins have won the first sessions 46-2. They played nine this

:33:17. > :33:23.evening, OK only a slerned win for Mark Selby but he needed to win this

:33:24. > :33:26.session. He couldn't afford for John Higgins to win it and stretch

:33:27. > :33:28.further clear. -- only a slender win.

:33:29. > :33:32.It's been a marvellous response. And just typical of the man, really.

:33:33. > :33:37.Yes. Brilliant effort from both players today. And a good night's

:33:38. > :33:39.sleep needed by both of them and back again tomorrow Morientes of the

:33:40. > :34:20.same. Fabulous stuff. John qulinges getting out of his

:34:21. > :34:25.seat. It looked like all the world that the match was beginning to slip

:34:26. > :34:29.away from Mark Selby. You can see how pleased he is but remember he is

:34:30. > :34:32.still three frames behind. John Higgins will come into the final day

:34:33. > :34:37.tomorrow with a three-frame advantage but Mark Selby will be

:34:38. > :34:41.pleased and so shall John Higgins all to play for.

:34:42. > :34:45.STUDIO: Well Mark Selby looked sentive anxious under huge pressure

:34:46. > :34:48.as John Higgins established that six-frame lead at 10-4 with vintage

:34:49. > :34:50.play, including a 141. six-frame lead at 10-4 with vintage

:34:51. > :34:55.play, including a 141. But as you always knew, Mark Seoully

:34:56. > :35:00.has crawled his way back into T he hasn't put two frame wins together

:35:01. > :35:05.until that three in a row in the end but how will he reflect on that

:35:06. > :35:07.burst of form at the end? . Loads of adrenaline pumping from both players

:35:08. > :35:12.as they go back to their dressing room, for different reasons. It has

:35:13. > :35:17.been a fascinating session. By the end of the night they'll have

:35:18. > :35:20.cleared their minds of all of that. An astonishing standard by the world

:35:21. > :35:24.champion, number one, superb. You would expect it but for a minute it

:35:25. > :35:28.looked like it wasn't going to happen. He was on the ropes. John

:35:29. > :35:33.Higgins gave him breathing space and he got away with it. John Higgins

:35:34. > :35:37.will have a three-frame advantage. Will he feel like he has let him off

:35:38. > :35:42.the hook? For the next hour, maybe two, he will be disappointed. He is

:35:43. > :35:46.so experienced. He knows frames will make a difference come tomorrow

:35:47. > :35:50.night but once he is over the initial disagreement as John Virgo

:35:51. > :35:56.said, 10-7 is a nice lead going into the final day. Will he reflect on

:35:57. > :35:59.the shot that led it to Selby coming back n failing to get position

:36:00. > :36:05.having potted the blue? Horrendous bad judgment. If there was no bad

:36:06. > :36:09.contag. He should have played a semip stunt shot. The exasperation

:36:10. > :36:15.on his face. I don't know, what do you think happened? He wasn't

:36:16. > :36:29.playing past the black, was he? He can't possibly. Well in my opinion

:36:30. > :36:33.he can't have been playing past the black. He got a kick, I think. It'll

:36:34. > :36:37.take him an hour or two to calm down and in the cold light of day he has

:36:38. > :36:40.a three-frame lead. I think Selby will just have gone favourite We

:36:41. > :36:42.know what he has been capable of. Twice before, roaring back into the

:36:43. > :36:45.final against Ronnie O'Sullivan, memorably coming back and winning

:36:46. > :36:48.what, 13 of the last 17 frames. So he knows he has the form but of

:36:49. > :36:50.course John Higgins has the class and memories of four previous

:36:51. > :36:52.titles. Yes, certainly. I think whoever gets out of the starting

:36:53. > :36:56.blocks tomorrow afternoon will have a great chance in this tournament

:36:57. > :36:59.OK, a fascinating first day. Thank you very much for sharing with us.

:37:00. > :37:04.Thank you to you for sharing with us. He will be back for part 3 of

:37:05. > :37:08.this drama at 2.00pm tomorrow. John Higgins. He certainly had the

:37:09. > :37:10.defending champion on the rack but he has come storming back. What will

:37:11. > :37:42.we get tomorrow? Bye for now. Full disclosure - you're looking at

:37:43. > :37:45.a room of double glazing salesmen. we're not quite the social pariahs

:37:46. > :37:51.you lot probably know and loathe.