Day 16, Final, Evening Session Snooker: World Championship

# Big and serious # I'm a chef city boy

# We love snooker, the sport is real We know snooker's the real deal

# No better place than the Crucible # Two weeks for the trophy

# Pushed me to be more musical # Higgins in the same race

# Everybody looking, at the title # Watching the set

# Let this final be the best yet # Yeah,

It is big and it is serious. A serious piece of silverware brought

by Joe Davis with his prize money after winning the first world

professional snooker title in 1927. 90 years on it is possession of a

world number one and defending champion, Mark Selby, who does not

want to hand this over to another careful previous owner, John

Higgins, who wants to lift this for a fifth time. This is the Betfred

World Championship final. To get there again, having come here

as defending champion, it would be nice to go out and win it again. If

I didn't, obviously I've had a good run as defending champion. I'll have

to scrape myself off the table for the next two days for me not to win

that title. John, fantastic. To be fair, this season he's had a great

season, won two big events. It will be a tough match. Looking forward to

it. It was ten years ago went I got to my first big final. John Higgins,

we will be meeting again. John Higgins wins the 2007 World

Championship. I thought, it's my first final, I will not give in. I

nearly took it off John, but great play to John, he's gone and won it.

Mark's done fantastic. He's a little bit unlucky I managed to out play

him. He's a future world champion. A long time ago. Luckily for me I

came out on top of that one. Obviously it is roles reversed now.

I was favourite in that match. Obviously now Mark is big favourite

and I'm the underdog. Next year will be the 20th

anniversary of the first time I won it. I am proud to be competing

against the best players. I know it will be a Titanic game against the

best player in the world. He will try and defend. Only Davis and

Hendry have done it before. It's one I know, I aif got to do it. I know

I've got to play well. If I don't, Mark will beat me.

It means everything. That's what everyone, all the snooker players

strive for. That's when you put in all the work. I managed to become

world number one. If I dropped down the rankings it would not bother me,

so long as I was competing for the tournament. To be world champion, I

would put that in front of me every day of the week. It means everything

- the biggest tournament in the world. I have won four times. I am

lucky to have won it four times. If somebody told me at the beginning of

my career, I would never have believed them. To compete in the

final again and try and add another one, to make it to five, it would be

my best achievement in snooker. Before this match started this

afternoon, these players had faced one and other in 201 competitive

frames. Only one frame separated them. But in a fabulous opening

session, the Wizard conjured up a significant lead and had everyone in

here under his spell. THE COMMENTATOR: There's nothing

like the final of the World Championship. You don't give Mark

Selby anything. He takes the first frame.

John Higgins... Something to think about.

Well, would you believe it! ? And the defending champion goes ahead.

Played to perfection... Immaculate... Well played.

Absolutely superb! Terrific stuff at the moment, isn't it?

What chance the Wizard. Goes clear now. It's 4-2. Can you believe it?

That's the second one he's missed into that pocket.

This looks terrific. It looks terrific. That is a huge frame for

John Higgins to pinch there. What a great session for John

Higgins. Leading by 6-2. Well, there's a special air of

anticipation here in the Crucible for what will be a fascinating

session of snooker. Nonetheless because of what happened this

afternoon. That wasn't in the script, was it? Vy A theory. What if

Mark Selby, as a great student of the game, is playing something like

John Higgins, who has won this four times, has beaten Mark Selby in the

final. What is Mark Selby in awe. That was the worst session of

snooker he's played so far. John Higgins will have been delighted

with what he produced. Possibly the semifinal where he didn't play well,

he was desperate to get through it because he knew he would play this

in the final. Possibly. Let's not talk rubbish. Mark Selby has to get

balls in the pockets. How will he approach this session? A brand new

session. Nine frames tonight. A longer session. Maybe a target of

6-3 win tonight. Get back in it. John Higgins, he'll come out? He may

not have experienced this going into this session 6-2 in front. He may

have thought best shared. How does he approach it? More of the same.

Keep going. Mark Selby is the one to choice now. John Higgins has found

himself in a lovely position in this final. Keep the pressure on. The

players are back stage and John Parrott is with them.

A fantastic opening session. John Higgins was superb. Scored heavily,

including the 141. As for Mark Selby he was not up to his usual

standards. It is a very important session. If John can win the

session, an overnight lead he'd take. Both are desperate to get into

the auditorium. Rob Walker, it's all yours.

Thank you. This is the Betfred 2017 snooker championship final. Two

going toe-to-toe for the ultimate prize. History is about to be

written once again here in the Crucible.

Please welcome a player whose long gettive in the sport is incredible.

He's won major titles for 22 years now. Still as hungry, talented and

determined as well. This afternoon, he produced the joint highest break

ever seen in a Crucible final. Without doubt, one of Scotland's

final, the the Wizard Of Wishaw. John Higgins.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE His opponent A player whose journey has taken him

from humble origins to the top of the sport. This is his fourth

Crucible final, returning this year as world number one and defending

champion. One of the finest ambassadors the game has ever known,

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

Mark Selby. We have another nine frames to play

this evening. In the final stage, over two full days. We will share

the frames in the company of Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor.

THE COMMENTATOR: Can the defending champion take this second session?

Both players back stage looked a little bit nervy. Couldn't wait to

get out. That is the worst time waiting back stage, the build-up,

the adrenaline. You want to get out and hit your first ball. At least

you're in control out there. What a mountain to climb, as we look at the

pot success from this afternoon. 93% for John Higgins. 89% for Mark

Selby. A very important session. John

Higgins's safety success. Mark Selby, you wouldn't have expected

that, 81% from him. That must be one of the lowest percentages in the

whole of the tournament for him. 141, highest break for Higgins. 76

for Mark Selby. And neither player would have wanted

this sort of start. There's a red gone up the other end of the table,

which makes it an awkward frame. What a tremendous atmosphere the two

lads came in to. A terrific ovation by this wonderful Crucible crowd.

A big session this is for Mark Selby, Denis. You feel he has to at

least win it. They didn't have much of a break.

The first session didn't finish until 5. 30. The first frame was

almost half an hour. We've had everything in this match. We've had

141 break from John. We had some brilliant tactical play.

You can see Mark taking longer with his average shot time.

There are quite a number of occasions he was having to think for

sometimes a minute, a minute-and-a-half, to see a shot. I

wonder if John, well, he's got to be careful because if he took this pot

on up into the right corner, he could leave the one at the back into

the rest of the bunch. He's looking to run through with the red. It must

be very straight. He's looking to see, if I could take the pot on,

finish on the blue, it might be safe. The only one he could leave is

the one he's having a go at. We're right down John's cue here. Look at

that for a shot! No.

He's found the spot where he was not going to leave anything. That was

clever. It was a free shot. He'll be disappointed, John, that shot didn't

go in. It was an interesting point Stephen

Hendry made at the top of the show there, Mark Selby would have looked

up to John Higgins for many, many years. After John Higgins, he's

probably taken off the mantle of being like the master tactician in

the game. And his match play is sort of, not match play, most of the

other players, so tough. He would have learnt so much from playing

John Higgins over the years and that final he lost a few years ago. He

pushed John Higgins all the way. An early stalemate in this opening

frame of this session. Not a lot available to either player

now. A little early to talk about a

rerack. All John can do here is just roll

into the reds again. Nol twitching balls, so he just

can't play away. 23 years, Ken... Fantastic! He's

been a great referee. A great servant to the game.

Become a board member as well now. As they open up, it'll get more

difficult for John to play the type of shot he's going to play again.

At the moment Mark Selby has a slight advantage. Maybe a

possibility of a double into the right centre. Or Mark Selby can take

this on. I don't think the red between pink and blue is blocking

that double. He's looking where he wants the cue ball, just to make

sure he's not going to leave a red. Surprised he's not taken the double

on. It's almost like a free shot. Maybe he feels that red in the

middle between pink and blue is a blocker.

Blocked off the escape route to just roll up to the reds this time.

This is more of a problem for John Higgins.

He's trying to find this pot again. If he could take the pot on up into

the left corner, could he get the cue ball into a safish position? I

think that's what he's going to attempt.

A change of plan. The way he's stretching there, he's

going to try and get back spin because he's not tight on the

cushion. Just didn't generate enough screw.

He's left one to the right middle. First chance falls to Mark Selby.

I was talking to Vicky, had a chat with Mark Selby's wife, up in the

lounge. Said he felt a little bit tired. It is so draining for the

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

flat and couldn't get into stroke. Maybe a good start in this opening

frame. Just talking about Vicky there, 2014

against Ronnie O'Sullivan he was 10-4 down and pinched the last two

frames and Vicky and her husband were dancing up the corridor of the

hotel. He was so delighted to take the last two frames. He went on to

lift the title. Went into the pocket. Does have a

nice angle on this black. He's looking to see about just getting on

the lose red. He has done and he's not on

anything. Normally a great exponent of that

particular shot, but didn't get the back spin. See how the cue ball

stopped very quickly. He wanted to bring it back into the reds and open

them again. Taking this red on into the yellow

pocket. What a confidence-booster that pot

was. He's played this to perfection. The

natural angle would be to come back and cannon the green. Couldn't have

played it any better. What a confidence booster, as you said,

Denis. They are the type of shots that really get you going.

As he removes this, it will clear the path for a couple more reds to

the right corner pocket. He had that well worked out in

advance. All three now available.

And even if he's straight on the black it's a matter of screwing back

off the cushion and out on to a choice of reds, all waiting to be

potted. If you overscrew one, you've got the other.

Stay on the black here. I think he'll go for blue or pink.

Well, this is just experience, isn't it?

6-2 down. He's come out with a game plan this evening to get off to a

quick start and he's certainly doing that.

He's not one of those type of players, is he, who will ever panic,

even if he does fall behind. He has a history of making some great

comebacks in his professional career.

You don't be world number one for just over two years, to be able to

do that, as you said. Just checking the scoreboard on his

way around. Not that many pots away from securing this important opening

frame. The blue and the easy red just to

the left of the brown would be enough.

He's perfectly on that one. If we just go back to that red that he

took into that yellow pocket. He was only on a 20 break. Set himself up

for this. What a wonderful pot it was.

That makes the frame safe. There it is. What a wonderful shot that

Under a bit of pressure. Played it beautifully.

Delicate screw shot he's played there. A chance to cannon the two

reds out. Didn't look like there was a possible century on. If this works

there may be. Nice playing for the lose red, first of all. I thought he

might try to cannon those two. I don't think they are available.

He's coming up to look at the angle. What a wonderful century this would

be. This is a difficult shot to bring them in to play.

It's a thin one, but I think he can do it. In it goes.

He's going to need a cracking blue again. This is a little bit like

that red we showed you again. Now he's three behind.

6-3. We saw brilliant play from John

Higgins in the first session this afternoon. You were watching all

that. What was your interpretation of the opening frames? The first

four were a little bit cagey. There was good play. John Higgins from

five to eight, what was it, 96%? Yes. Doesn't matter who you are, it

is hard to compete with that. Mark Selby didn't quite look the world

number one we have seen this championship. He went out there and

took his cue with him, which is a bit strange. It is interesting.

Did you take your cue with you? Not that I remember. He's had tip

problems. Both of them have changed. It is quite a strange thing to do

that. Perhaps he can feel a little bit of something, like perhaps

lightly sand paper the wood. Haven't got a clue. A magnificent first

frame. The long red he potted to the yellow pocket, we will see. If he

misses this, lets John Higgins In, possibly for the third counter

attack. Shows what you mood he's in to get into this session early.

Grit, determination. This guy, his game seems to be made for Crucible

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

A fascinating match to see. It's not turned into a dogfight. It's pretty

open play at the moment. It's been very enjoyable so far. Stay with us

here and we will keep you posted through the next eight frames.

Just broke off but not a good cue ball.

You look at where the cue ball finished from the break off. That's

not good enough. They have a better angle on this

green. Excellent shot. A little awkward,

this one. If he could just get into the side of the red. That's what

he's done but the white is heading up the table. If that red keeps

moving he is OK. Finished a little awkward as we show you that shot

again. I don't know if he can play a

delicate little shot. Had to be so precise with that. Look

at that great positional shot. He hit that a little bit harder than

he wanted to. Get on the red that he is closer to in the left centre.

This is left of the pink spot. He's looking at this with them left

centre. He's got to judge that. This could go wrong.

He got the part but will be very disappointed, after such a good

positional shot, he has overhit the black by quite some margin. He will

need to play a delicate little cannon of the bunch and it has gone

wrong. He's found the perfect spot, locked

all avenues down the right side of the table. With the two red balls it

is very awkward to get back down the other side of the table. That is

what he is faced with there. Have to be very precise with this

one to find the gap. That's a wonderful safety shot. Even if he

hit the green, to find the gap. He did well. It is one of those where

he needs to face this and parted because he needs to find a way back

down the table. Will he try and pop this and cannon

into the red and haul the black into the same pocket?

That think was knocked into a very awkward position to be able to get

on the blue. It's another safety shot and we will just show you him

going round the back. He just got a little bit too much stuff on it. He

could have been nicely on the brown. Some players would just get down and

play the safety shot. John is looking to find a spot that would

really tie Mark Selby up. He left him in a similar situation

here. Not easy to find the gap. There is

an escape route but once again, you've got to be very precise. I'm

just wondering whether he can leave the cue ball down here by the black.

He's not playing that shot. He needs to be very precise with the safety

shot. Very good to find that gap between the reds. John Higgins knew

how difficult that was to find that. John Higgins has got to be careful.

He's having a look at these reds. He does not wanted in left-hand corner

pocket. Very good. Can he see enough of that red? If

you tried to screw back to the ball area I don't think he can pull that

off. He would cannon the red. He might have to play a screw shot

to get the white backdown and hopefully leave the red up this end

of the table. He's looking at the one nearest the middle pocket to see

if he could wobble it in the jaws of this pocket and screw back into the

safety area. There is no problem with cue power. The first person I

saw to play this was a Canadian. He had tremendous cue power. He would

clear screw shot to get back down the table.

Once again, so much trouble. I think he will play the shot that I

suggested. I don't think the red can go in. If it can it would be

unbelievable but he will try and screw the white of the red. He's got

to avoid the blue. He's got the white back but the red

came up and is heading back up again. But this one is coming

towards the middle pocket. Look where he got the cue ball off. This

is a nice shot to be faced with. All the red all over the place. We'll

avoid the red on the way back up for the black year. That unlucky. Great

shot and he hit the -- Mr black on the way down. Through Bob Cass on

the red and he might have had it in the centre. Too difficult to take on

the black into the green pocket. There's a path down the table if he

wants to the one to the left of the blue. He can get back down to that.

I don't think he will be playing to cut it in. Just the safety shot.

We'll go into the left corner and keep go back down the table. Not

this time. We will they finish up? Where is the red going? Where is the

right going? -- white. He's been very fortunate. This red potted to

the right centre. I just wonder if it's the black that is possible.

He's had a quick look at it. Selby will be relieved to come back

to the table so soon after that shot that he missed by quite a great

deal. There is a chance into the left corner.

Can he screw the cue ball? He's looking at the safety shot. He has

to be careful of the red. He does not want to knock it in the green

pocket. It is a delicate little shot, this. Does not want to leave

the red near the green pocket but the body language tells me that it

has. It was a delicate shot but the white was in a position where he

could not send round the angles and get it but I'm yellow.

Needs to keep on running. Looks as if he will be hampered by the pink.

The pink into the green pocket. Somewhere near where the red is. He

needs the pink in the spot. 6-2 is a great lead to have. If you

keep cheering the session it makes such a difference. Trying to play

catch up but might risk the part here and there.

He only needs one more red. A couple of red but they all stayed safe.

With them being safe, will he have a go at the double here? Change of

plan. He thought better of it. Now he's back looking at it again. He's

pretty good at judging the doubles. The only problem when you take a

double on, you're never sure if you will miss it and catch the jaw of

the pocket where you will finish. He can do with it, Ken. He needs the

black on the spot. His 56 behind with 59 remaining. Can only win this

flame -- frame if he gets the black on the spot. That will not help.

Have a look where the cue ball finished, absolutely perfectly. He

was concentrating so much on his positional play that he forgot about

the pot. Terrific part at that pace because

he had to get on the pink. He's only got a couple of points to play with

but played that almost straight. Great read. Bad pink. It was not

easy but when you need the pink, just to stay in the frame, it makes

it even more difficult. Two slickers required. I don't think

this red goes. He's just going to push it past the pink. Change of

plan. Probably at the moment the yellow is

the best ball. It is near a cushion. Far too thin.

Looking to see if he could hit the cushion first, if he could clip this

red in. He played one earlier in the match but he was a long way away

from it but he swerved round the ball and came off the side cushion

and clipped the red end. This is a little bit closer and more awkward

to judge, if any, but if anybody can it is Mark Selby. Just enough room

to squeeze between the pink and the cushion. Pop the red.

If he can pop the pink he will not be panicking just yet.

Might be a little unlucky. Is he on this red into the corner pocket?

Going to be difficult to hide it if he knocks the cue ball back just put

the cue ball on the side cushion. It is still a tall order. 48 points

behind with 43 remaining. Particularly with the master

tactician -- tactician that John Higgins is.

That is a free shot, really. Good target behind the yellow. Will have

to come off three four conditions. He is in off. John Higgins goes back

into the lead. Restoring the advantage. You look down at the

success, 88% for John Higgins plays 84 Mark Higgins. I don't suppose

that will surprise those who watched a huge amount of snooker but does it

surprise you? He is verging on having too much respect for John.

The fact, from those statistics, he is taking them apart. He is missing

those by a mile. The first frame is impressive as he could do those

again but it seems to be John who is getting the upper hand. There was a

moment from Mark Selby. He did not play a great safety and he looked up

to the heavens. It is tough to get behind that yellow but there is

obviously a chance. You see a little look up. He looked up at the shot.

We were discussing, if you played a bad shot like that, we would not

look up at anybody. You want to hide. This trait of looking up at

his friends. We wonder what it is about. Is it about being needy out

there? No other players do it to the extent Mark Selby doesn't. It is

definitely insecurity of some shape or form. Ronnie O'Sullivan doesn't

work -- do that. It is a strange thing for the best player in the

world to need that security from others. He's the only one that can

play the shops. Devils advocate would be a situation where they look

up at the gods but I take your point. Interesting thoughts from two

men who have 13 world titles between them. Always fascinating to listen

to the boys in the studio. I think Hazel knows more about the game than

they do now. It is interesting that he does that. I suppose it gives you

a bit of reassurance, I don't see anything wrong with it.

That is the balcony there with Vicky, his sister, one of the top

pool players in the world and Bobby, one of his good friends sitting

there. That is something that he was doing

in the semifinal. He's not done it so much in the final, but he missed

a few very easy balls. Just loses that little bit of concentration.

It's always on the very easy shots. What's he left this time. I am sure

this red pots past the blue. I reckon there might be pink and

black available. He's had a quick look to see if the pink will go into

the right corner. There's the angle that he's looking at, so he can play

for pink or black. Oh, he's missed it! A couple of edgy

ones all of a sudden creeping in. But that's not like Mark Selby. You

don't see him missing many easy shots.

Still a little awkward. Is he just a little bit tired after that

semifinal against Ding Junhui? I was just thinking, Ken, that blue John

Higgins missed was the other side of the table. Ding missed a blue.

Otherwise he could have been playing in the final because he had a chance

to level against Mark Selby. Just looks a bit weary.

Came right across that cue ball. John Higgins will sense, of course

as great champions do, they sense blood. There you are - closing his

eyes. Maybe he is feeling the effects of that semifinal.

Could have finished a little better. Played that shot superbly well.

Stunned it in, otherwise he was stuck in the pack.

Now it is a terrific chance all of a sudden.

Remember that the blue wasn't on its spot. Sometimes you can play that

shot, you just automatically think the blue is on the spot, and you

don't play the same position. He wasn't going to fall for that one.

For the reds here. One good split. How does this look?

Hard to believe. It's not good. You could play that shot ten times,

particularly with that pace and you'd, nine times out of ten, you'd

be on a red. He knew if he'd got a good split

there probably would have gone on and made enough to take the frame.

That's why he was having a little chat to himself when he'd seen the

way it finished. A wonderful slow-mo to show the

split there. Trying to put the cue ball up

somewhere near the side cushion. Wants to make sure he's blocking

that red near the baulk line on the right-hand side of the table.

It's one of those situations where you're not playing to get the white

on the baulk cushion. Too hard, I think. It means that

Mark Selby can send that red back up the table and gain the advantage.

John gets a nice round of applause for that.

I think he can get through to take a pot on and the one above the pink

would sneak into the right corner, with a safety shot in mind also.

Maybe played that on purpose, you know what he didn't play on the

baulk line, just to get the game back to normal and let Mark send

that ball up the table. Didn't play it of course behind the

yellow. Wanted it close to the baulk cushion. He'll certainly settle for

that. John's got to be careful here: He

cannot just nestle on to this on the right-hand side of the table because

he'd be leaving a pot on. Just wondering if he can nestle on

the one that's to the left of the black. Even that's got a bit of risk

with it. I don't know if he's got the angle to do that.

He might not just have the angle. He'll need a lot of side on if he

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

can see. He doesn't want to slip around the back of this.

Has to be careful. Goes around the back of it. Now he's

left a possible pot on. He had to be so precise with that escape.

That particular shot, when you're playing the left-hand side, it's

very hard to play dead weight. This sort of tells you, he's not

quite confident. Going to take the more difficult red into the green

pocket. He's playing this with an element of safety. At the moment it

tells you how he's feeling. He's not very confident. He needs a good pot

to get him going again and that's not it.

I think the brown might have come to his rescue here. He's lost a little

bit of confidence at the moment, Mark Selby. Make no mistake, John

Higgins will pick up on that. He needs the red to be blocked by

the other reds. Has he got away with it? Hand up to apologise.

He has. He's been fortunate. I am just wondering if John can see

what he's looking at, but there might be another shot, the one on

the right of the table. If you can double that across he can get up to

the safety zone and that red would go over to the red at the side of

the pocket. He's playing a very delicate shot here to try and snick

this red off the cushion. Well played! A bit pacey.

A little bit pacey. I think he may have stuck the red up.

A chance for Mark Selby. He'll try and make the most of this.

Not straightforward, particularly with the reds on the left side of

the table. OK. He can take the pink.

Then he can get out for the red that's on the black spot.

Needs a decent break here, Denis, just to get himself back on track,

after that very first frame, a good frame it was.

Lost a bit of confidence again. Could do with a break here.

Three reds above the cue ball are available.

The one on the right is not too bad. It is the three the left side of the

table that are going to be the key balls in this frame.

He's just brushing the cushion as if to say it's not coming off as fast

as it was in the semifinal. He's come up a little bit short, but he

should be OK. Use the other end, head up towards

the blue. He's going to need a nice angle for

potting this red. And the pink to try and... He needs

a nice angle on the blue now. Screwed a blue in, a little bit of

right-hand side off of the bottom cushion and into the back of those

three reds. The bottom cushion and the side

cushion first and caught the red on the way back up.

He's left a shot for John. Thought John might have played the red

towards the centre pocket, towards the green.

Mark can play a similar type shot that John played. It's not as easy

as the one John had. Playing a similar sort of shot to

the one John played. As I said. He didn't play as well as John

played his. A slightly different angle to judge.

Just wondering, will he try and force the cue ball out? Can he just

roll this red in, a nice angle on the black from, the right-hand side

of the table, just to try and get the cue ball towards the two reds.

Just drop the red in. A nice angle on the black, on this side of the

table. That's it. Now, doesn't want to be

too straight. He looks down, I don't think he's got the right angle.

Just needed to roll that red in. He sort of stunned it and that pushed

the cue ball up the table a couple of inches. Can't do anything now.

Just pot the black. Wondering if he can get behind the

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

this. Not the best safety shot that John's

ever played. Mark can try the shot he tried before. This red will go

close to the opposite corner pocket here, as he doubles it across.

Just one point, the difference in this tense 11th frame.

It might be a three-frame difference or a five-frame difference.

It has given Mark Selby a possible chance here.

Now, what does he do? Does he try and take the yellow out? Does he try

and push the cue ball up behind the green?

Has to reach. Ooops! Can you believe that. He was up off the shot

straightaway. John can't believe it sitting in his

chair, but that can happen, just trying to nestle on the green. We

have seen that quite a few times. Twice across. Just to nestle on the

red. He's going to leave it on. OK e, he

may have hit it. That may be Mark Selby's only saving

grace in this game, the yellow. A lovely angle on the black.

He won't be going up the right-hand side of the table. He'll be coming

off two, possibly three cushions, Denis. Wouldn't he love to have the

cue ball just somewhere near the blue, in such a way that he's not

hampered so he could roll the yellow and get out for the green. Let's see

where he puts the cue ball here. Somewhere near the blue. Doesn't

want to be straight on it. So difficult. If it's touching the

cushion, it's made slightly easier. Mum up in the balcony, applauding

her son. 15, just needs the brown. What a

frame to take this is. Made a few errors and John Higgins

has jumped on them. And the frame, John Higgins.

Now leads 8-3. John Higgins's instincts are finely

tuned this evening. How uncertain does Mark Selby look out there? We

saw that when he failed to roll up to the green. You don't often see it

these days. It was a tough shot to play.

He stopped the one cushion escape. But I don't know. That's showing how

tentative it is at the moment and worrying times. I don't think

anybody could have foreseen what was happening here. You are so used to

Mark Selby being dominant. And, this is possibly John Higgins at his very

best. It would have been his greatest win if he could convert

this. It would. Looking back at 2014, Mark Selby was 3-8 down to a

certain Ronnie O'Sullivan, and indeed 10-5 and came back with a

come back to win. There's plenty of fuel in the tank. I would think so.

It is like the teacher giving the pupil a lesson here. He has probably

watched John Higgins win all his world titles. He's been beaten by

him in a final himself. He knows what kind of match player John

Higgins is. He's been taken apart. One thing about John Higgins is he

has his game-face on and has for a long time in this tournament. He's

not smiling much. When something's happening he is serious around the

table when things have happened. It's like he's sort of, he's

enjoying himself, but he's not relaxed. He's there. A man on a

And that mission is to win a fifth world title and he's going about it

very, very well so far. Going about his business very well,

John Higgins. A read pottable here.

-- red portable here. I have never seen anybody who plays

as well when awkward over a red like that and he generates pace as well.

He's played that nicely. Judged the pace of that.

He had to get, it is a tough shot just to roll it in, but to get the

white back up into position there, it is terrific.

He has to be very careful here. The black isn't in a great position to

try to develop any reds. Well, it is a tough black. I wonder

will he try to cannon. If he cannons the one to the right that would open

the game up and he wouldn't have to force the black.

If he just caught that red, maybe it would open up, but there maybe

another one available. Now, what else is in the pack there? The one

just - well, he hasn't got on that, I don't think, he will have it play

this with a trace of side to make the angle. Well, he is looking at it

from both ends. But he definitely needs to play it with a trace of

side and we have the perfect picture there. A little trace of side. That

will make the pot. That is That's unfortunate. He

couldn't have hit that any harder. Ye, he is unlucky there with that

pace not to be on. You see it didn't just arc enough, it didn't get to

the desired top spin to go through the reds.

I feel confident that Mark Selby would take that on, the confident

Mark Selby. And then use one of the baulk colours. That's what he is

playing, a little bit of pressure on that one. Just that little bit of

pressure on that one. The 26-point advantage could disappear rapidly as

we show you that attempt along the cushion but definitely a bit tighter

than they were at the start of the tournament.

Well, he will be relieved to see the blue going in because this was a

horrendous kick. What a contact there. Just have a look at this.

Watch the blue. And the white. It could quite easily

have thrown it off line and that would have been unfortunate.

Well, one good split here and what a chance.

He is' played it well. -- he's played it well. But it's funny, Ken.

The reds have split but they are still covering each other, aren't

they? Well, he judged that nicely to get on the pink and make another

cannon. Straight on the pink but there is a red in the middle of that

four that will go into the bottom left-hand corner pock o et. I tell

you what, if he's dead straight he might be able to hold the pink spot

and he is. And he is dead straight and he has held the spot. And he is

on that red. The pink will go on the brown spot. No, he hasn't held the

spot but still held on the red. The pink was just off its spot there

when he potted it. Oh, wow. Wow. Well, what a miss from

John Higgins. And he knows it. He is so disappointed. Could that be a

turning point? This may be the lifeline that Mark Selby needed.

What a miss. It's early days this final but at

the moment John Higgins has Mark Selby on the rack. What will this do

to Mark Selby? Is it a lifeline? Well, he is under it out there. He

is going to have to pull off a cracking cutback here.

Fs There was a lot of pressure on that. John Higgins shakes his head.

He knows the pink was crucial but there is still a bit of work to do.

With John, that little lapse in concentration that has happened

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

did in the semifinal. He missed a couple of sitters. So just losing

concentration. It is not pressure, that type of spot. I'm not quite

sure whether Mark Selby has looked at the score board yet. He is 21

points ahead. His target is 66. He can get three reds, another two reds

and black after this black and he will be 44 in the lead with just 43

remaining. There you see him, just glancing at the scores. He doesn't

want to go for blue off this red. He didn't want, to Denis, did he? He

didn't have the angle, as we saw there. So he is going to need at

least one of the reds over on the right-hand side of the table if he

is going to win the frame from this position. Wow, his sleeve was close

to the red there but the referee was right down watching him.

He's got a kick but it hasn't affected the pot. I think he is OK.

He has enou angle on the black there.

There you see the kick but John Higgins will go into the mid-session

interval. It looks as though he will be sharing those four frames. Now,

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

ahead with still 43 on. It's not over just yet, this frame. And I

don't know if he can get down behind the brown and green. He might be

able to slide off the red. But, it was looking like John was going to

take this little mini-session 3-1 and what a result that would have

been. Yes, but this frame is not over yet. As you said Denis, 42

points ahead. Two reds and blacks, if John gets a chance, 43 points on

the table. A big target behind green and brown here but - he has to be

careful of the red. He has to be sending the red into the middle of

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

middle pocket is slightly in the way. He just has to get close to the

middle pocket and up behind the brown there.

Well, it passes the blue but I wouldn't want to be taking that shot

on at this stage. He could try and take on this red,

the one nearest the brown spot, into the yellow pocket also. It is a very

fine one. Well, he has come up with long way

short. He is very nervous, isn't he? He came up short when he tried to

roll up behind the green. Again, a lot of margin for error there.

I mean, the red cuts past the yellow you he would be going into the pink.

I don't think he can generate enough spin to try to get around for the

black. It would be almost impossible to hold for that.

He didn't want top knock the pink safe, that's for sure.

He can take this red on into the green pocket.

Good shot. Good shot. It should be frame now. Quick glance at the

scores. 43 points ahead. Just 35 remaining.

It's a frame he didn't think he was going to win. He definitely couldn't

see John Higgins missing that pink into the right centre when he was

sat in his chair a few minutes ago. We are going to have plenty of

turning points in this match, first to 18.

That frame was the first one. John Higgins will be disappointed. Mark

Selby thrown a lifeline. He duly took it but still four points

behind. John Higgins leads the world champion and world number 1.

STUDIO: Impressions of both men some far, Stephen? John Higgins has been

pretty much in control. He has won most of the safety battles. Mark

Selby started the four frames impressively but hasn't carried on

from there but that fourth frame was massive. A complete lapse of

concentration for John Higgins that pink. He will be fuming in the

dressing roo. I know he is 8-4 ahead but he will be fuming. Do you stew

on things like that back in the dressing room We don't always pot

them into the middle pocket much it is a nice shot to try if you are

rolling them in, but the modern way is to punch them in firmly and if

you don't catch the middle you risk that happening and Mark Selby on the

ropes gratefully received the chance John Higgins experienced enough to

know, those shots, you don't go back saying - I'm still four frames in

front. You think - I should be six frames in front. It is important,

especially with someone like Selby to keep the hammer down, to keep

your foot on his throat, as it were. And something for Mark to grasp at

the end, he was under the cosh for the rest of it. Yes and there's five

more frames to win this evening and he hoped to win this mini-session.

He hasn't settled down, really, I think. He is still up against it. It

doesn't seem like that. Well John Parrott is about to step into the

commentary box but he is prowling around in the practise room. What

are your feelings? I think the semifinal has left a Mark on Mark

Selby. Concentration-wise he is not there. He spoke to his wife earlier.

She said he felt tired until the afternoon session. He is bound too.

An unbelievable semifinal he was involved in. It'll take time. In

this session, if he can get out in the next one winning 3-2, brilliant.

A good night sleep come back tomorrow. He doesn't want to lose

the next session. If he goes too far behind against John Higgins he is

not a player easily made up on. Thank you very much. You will be

running into the commentary box shortly but this World Snooker

Championship had something of a noed aic existence until 177. It had been

staged everyone from Melbourne to Manchester but when snooker promoter

Mike Waterson's wife Carol came here it the Crucible to watch a play, she

went back home and said to him - I think I've found the perfect place

and so began a 40-year love affair between snooker and Sheffield.

This is the story about a city. A city once famous for only one thing

- a city whose name could be found in tiny prints on tableware all over

the world. A city that refused to be ground down and which is now

renowned for more than one thing. This is also the story of a sport

that was finding its way and arrived here. The two tentively entered a

marriage that has endured for 40 years. This is the story of how the

steel city opened its arms to the green baize.

# You know that tonight # The streets are ours...#

Oh, goodness. Winner winner, chicken dinner. For

many years, the World Snooker Championship had been underwhelming.

Held at numerous locations as far afield as Australia, there were

tales of leaky roofs and matches interrupted by the sound of one

armband its. Snooker needed a home. I believe in the long-run it will be

simple - create our ideal elsewhere, relocate, Sheffield. In 1977, the

Championship was to reinvent itself in Yorkshire.

It was always, I think, an extremely friendly city but a very industrial

city. It was mainly built around the industry of the steelworks but also

around the neighbourhoods, the mining industry as well. Sheffield

city centre or simply towns, to the locals had seen post-war structural

experimentation City planners w their heads in the

clouds had put streets in the science among this bold but brutal

architecture was a controversial new theatre which had opened in 1971.

The Crucible Theatre has been highly-praised and criticised. I

talk to the Shakespearean actor, Ian McKellen and asked what he thought.

I think the theatre is the best it will I have been in around the

world. The sort of audience it'll attract I think will be excited.

1,000 people into a with quite small room. The relationship between the

audience and actors will be - I don't see anything can go wrong.

Five years after this ringing endorsement and an entrepreneur and

snooker enthusiast named Mike Waterson agreed to fund and stage

the 1977 World Snooker Championship. My wife had been to see a play at

the Crucible Theatre and when he was discussing the possibility of

producing the World Championship she said - well the Crucible Theatre I

went to the other night is absolutely perfect. So in Silver

Jubilee year, the world's greatest players arrived in town to take

their cues on to the Crucible stage for the first time Going into a

theatre was obviously quite, a revolutionary thing to do. One thing

that sticks in my mind was the amount of beer that was drank. I

understand at that time they drank in one night the allocation for a

fortnight. After negotiations, terms were agreed to continue to stage the

event at the Crucible. Television coverage was increased and by the

time two fresh-faced players from London travelled North, snooker was

becoming increasingly synonymous with Sheffield. It is a tremendous

am pi theatre. It is a bit like the gladiators pit. There is only a

little bit that's not the people and you are surrounded entirely. And

they are all steeped up. That makes it a tremendous arena, especially

when down to one table in the and the semifinals. Then you do feel

like gladiators in the dressing rooms. When it opened, the theatre

was criticised for catering to anner artistic elite but one-third of

Britain's population watched me play Denis Taylor in 1985. With snooker

on the stage, the cruise I will was also for the common man. A good many

people rived at work this morning feeling rather bleary-eyed. The

reason - what's being called one of the most extraordinary snooker

matches ever played. Three, two, one... As we were clearing the

tables, the town was being tidied up as well. The Crucible has what

watched many of its neighbours make way. The infamous egg box turned

into our TV studio. Today traditional could habits with modern

in the heart of the city after a number of years of regeneration.

Even the streets in the sky have been refurbished after years of

decline. In 1977 it was working men's clubs in the city and around

the neighbourhoods and now we have vibrant bars and restaurants in the

city centre. The Crucible has undergone a face-lift or two as

well, including ?15 million worth of improvements completed in 2009.

However, it remains the world's most recognisal building for those in

love with snooker. We have tourists come throughout the year who want

the opportunity to look at the theatre, to kind of touch the wall

of the Crucible, to see where the action happens, to come and see the

carpet in the foyer. This is its home. People here are also

passionate about football and Sheffield can legitimately claim to

be the birth place of the game. Sheffield FC is the oldest club in

the world and of course both the city's league teams have been

champions of England. On the morning of April 15th, 1989. I started the

defence of my title against Steve Newbry. Across the city, events were

developing that would radically change sport in Britain. 15 minute

interval, ladies and gentlemen but please, please move quietly.

Seven days on, the people of Sheffield are still cueing to sign

the book of condolences in their Town Hall. Snooker star Steve Davis

adding his signature today. At 3.00pm, a cathedral bell was rung 95

times one for each of the victims of hills brunchts I remember turned up

to the tournament. I played with an armband on, which was the least I

can do to show respect to the people of my city. I remember it was a very

black cloud that hung over everybody. Hillsborough was a

terrible strategy. There was no doubt about that. I went down the

morning after. I have never had an experience like that in my life. It

affected my thinking about how we run sport in this nation. Rather

than shying away from playing host, Sheffield welcomed athletes to the

student games two years after sport's darkest day here. Well done

Sheffield, and good luck everyone. The games triggered the construction

of world class facilities and the city punches well above its weight

in the sporting arena. Since 1991 Sheffield has produced England

cricket captains, outstanding Olympians and world champions. It's

the conveyer belt of making champions. Snooker is the best we

have in the Crucible. I go to it every year and box in this gym turns

out champion after champion. There is something in the air, something

in the water but we produce champions. The Don Valley Stadium

has gone but snooker remains a constant. Every spring the tables

arrive for qualification and finals of the most important Championship

in the game and in recent years, the great indoor sport has watched on as

Sheffield rebrand itself as the outdoor city, beyond the elite

athletes there has been a push to promote sport in chef Field and the

neighbouring Peak District. No story set here can be told without

touching upon what made the city staplous. Sheffield was the

undisputed steel capital of the world. So by the 1980s, the industry

was in decline. Snooker, however was heading in the opposite direction.

The Crucible Theatre has been literally taken over by the BBC's

outside broadcast operation. Last year the chip produced 80 hours of

television. This year even more. That's a nice shot. -- the

Championship produced 80 hours of television. Sport and television

made easy bed fellows and snooker proved perfect for cameras. And so

we are all set. Because of the boom in snooker's popularity there is

probably no sport now with a more secured future. This year the prize

money for the sponsors is ?110,000 and by 1995 that will have risen to

?258,000. Sheffield has lost 40,000 industrial jobs in the past 15 years

and more are going at the rate of 1,000 a month. The snooker that was

being played was a big relief in the working men's clubs in this area

where there was active conflict at their place of work. Their place of

leisure and sport was looking up to Steve Davis and others who were

playing their game and as they were playing out in the working men's

clubs all around Sheffield. So there was a connection there. In 1997,

landmark film was released which suggested that the only way a

working man in Sheffield could make a living was by removing his

clothes. The snooker commentators of the day responded with their own

take. The events here over the last couple

of weeks have been rather significant. Not only is it the

centre of the snooker world at the moment, it's also the centre

Yes, at long last people know where Sheffield is and there's a real boom

in the industry. Sheffield is coming to terms with a

decrease in its core industries. The association with snooker has helped.

Over the years it is estimated the sport has brought ?70 million to the

city. Over 200 million people watched the

2016 edition. Over half of them in Asia. Many of whom tuned in to watch

the Chinese players. We have a very large proportion of

Chinese students. They want to stay in the city because of the economy

and what they've brought. Because of that, we've attracted businesses

because of the calibre of students that we're turning out.

They still make the best knives here and more steel than ever is

produced. Razor of sharp blades have been joined by cutting-edge

manufacturing. Leading aircraft and luxury car makers have also

announced plans to move to Sheffield this year. What I think we need to

do now is show how this great city has changed. It has learnt from the

past. Has taken the values and put them into a modern setting. No, you

can never deny your past, but you can learn from it. And I believe

Sheffield has learnt from that past. It's significant other has also

flourished. In that first year at the Crucible the chasm Iship

produced breaks. Last year there were 86. The standard went up and up

and you had to get better. Now we have an influx of players to the

game that were all incredibly good from 128th down.

# Do you know that tonight the streets are ours

The Crucible is a friendly, feisty, spiritual home. It is unthinkable

that the World Snooker Championship could be held at any other venue. It

continues for at least another decade when snooker and the city

will produce its golden anniversary. The contract is signed until at

least 2027 and you spent an awful number of years in this city,

haven't you? I think we all have. I have been coming here since 1979 to

compete. I estimate I probably spent a year-and-a-half of my life in

Sheffield. I can not say anything other than it's been wonderful.

Neven the short time I've been coming here, the regeneration of the

public spaces in this city is remarkable. I think my first time

was in '85. What I have seen, the change in the city, has been

magnificent. Even now, as a commentator, a pundit, I still get

goose bumps driving through the city. It is always a pleasure coming

here. 80 hours, over 200 hours of broadcasting from this championship

this year. And if you would like to be a part of it, you better get your

skates on, because tomorrow at 9am, it is when the box office opens.

Last year, I think the final, sold out within an hour. It is estimated

that within one day of the box office opening again tomorrow, that

at least half of the tickets for the entire event will be sold. So, you

better get moving. Now, let's get into some chat with, I think part of

the Higgins clan. I think the whole Higgins clan has arrived, hasn't it

Ken? It has. You think it is nerve wrecking for the players, it is for

the family. Happy birthday. : Denise, your boys doing all right

all right, isn't he? We are proud to be here. It is a special occasion. I

keep my fingers crossed he can win for a fifth time. How are your

nerves? Terrible. John says it is nerve-racking for us than it is for

him. What have you been doing at home - kicking him out of bed early?

He's obviously hitting the ball really well. He's doing really well.

He's confident. We all believe he can win another one. I joked with

him in the room, I said, you know, John, there's an empty space on the

wall for another picture of you winning the trophy. That would be

nice. How are your nerves holding up? Ah... Yeah! More than that,

please! It is brilliant watching our dad play. It pumps you full of

adrenaline, wanting every single-shot to go in. He deserves it

for all the practise and for his determination as well. I want to see

him win a fifth one. Make his dream come through. What about mum? Happy

birthday. How are your nerves holding up? Calm... You dirty liar.

You must be very proud of him. Really, really proud. I must admit

I'm quite calm because he's playing so well. What a way to celebrate

your birthday. That's why he's playing so good. He'll get me a good

birthday present. What do you think-of-your daddy? I think he's

been playing great. We are nervous, but every shot we're on the edge of

our seats. He's been playing great. It would be great for him to win

another world title. If you think that was exciting, he's so exciting

he's even put his daughter to sleep. Look at this. Fantastic. The

youngest member of the family. She's having a kip there.

A credit to this man. He's four frames in front.

THE COMMENTATOR: Higgins gets play under way. Very important you feel

that Mark Selby gets the better of John Higgins in this little

mini-session. Looking at the score line you would have to think he'd at

least a 3-2 out of it. You think maybe some attacking

players would give you plenty of chances. John Higgins is not one of

them. You have to earn your corner with all the chances you get with

John, generally. It will be very difficult to come from behind

against him. We know Mark Selby is a fighter, but John Higgins is a top,

top match player. Very difficult to come back against.

Mark Selby played that long red thinking the only red he could leave

was the one he played. His worst fears were realised. That is the one

he has left. It's not that easy to control the cue ball from this

distance and this potting angle. As I say from, this distance you're

mainly concentrating to polt the ball.

Fortunately for John he didn't leave it. He's left a safety.

It's pretty obvious so far in this match that Mark hasn't been anywhere

near his best. That brings its own pressure doesn't it for John

Higgins? You think to yourself, if I can step up and play my normal game

here, I can give myself a lead. If he can get through to the red,

it's a bit more difficult than the one already played before. He's

playing safe off it. Not a very good one catching the

blue. The yellow's come to his rescue. It will make it very awkward

cueing for Mark Selby. I know what you're saying, John,

that Mark Selby hasn't come out with his best game. And that lead that

John Higgins got from the first session.

He's had chances this evening to really build on that. I wonder, that

pink he missed in the frame before the mid-session interval, that is a

shock to your sis tnt, isn't it? When he -- system, isn't it? He knew

straightaway. The players know when they've got their opponent in a bit

of trouble. They know when they're not playing as well as they can do.

They are great players and the champions, like the two boys in the

studio, they have sensed weakness and if you show it they make it

worse for you. Mulling over that missed pink. A terrific safety shot

from John. John Higgins gets another

opportunity. Position not easy from this

particular red. Always difficult to get back up the

table with those. Especially with how the cushions

have been playing on this table. They have been trapping the white.

Went confidently, he thought if he went with the reds spread as they

are, a good chance to score heavily. Now that chance is Mark Selby's.

He was just stretching slightly, but, you've got to take those on.

A thin cut on the black here. Needs to get it.

Not there and once again John Higgins thinking he was going to be

away from the table for a while. He's back there with a scoring

opportunity. A really big session this, the next

five frames. Of course, if he was to win this

frame, John, he'd be certain to have a lead overnight.

He'd be coming out with being the first thought, to get at least this

frame, give yourself plenty of bites of the cherry.

Causing enormous pressure on Mark Selby just to stay in the match.

41 points from this position to get to the snookers required stage.

Still a bit to do. There is one red on the outside...

But this is lovely if he can get in that gap.

Coming a little low. To get that you cannot hit the cue ball too hard.

You have to give chance for the back spin.

That's what he's played. I think he can get past the pink for the one to

the right corner. There are a couple of reds on the

right-hand side of the table. The bottom one definitely will go to the

left corner, same probably as the pink. But he cannot get off the pink

this time. He'll have to play for one of those two balls on the

left-hand side of the table. Didn't have a great angle there.

There were a few options he could have played there. If he played the

screw back he was guaranteed, wasn't he He was trying to make the next

ball easier than playing for the red in the same pocket as the pink. Ran

out of position. Take your medicine, play a good safety.

Tight on the cushion, but that was three opportunities now he's had in

this frame. Not clinched it by a long way.

The yellow may just make this awkward cueing for John. That is

what I have noticeded about Mark Selby, the number of time he's run

into baulk colours. He's normally good at the line, the length of it.

Inconsistent so far in this match. You Seaham perked by the yellow.

This is a very tough shot. Oh, what a shot! What a shot!

A top-class match player for you. He knows he's got his man in trouble.

The blue by the side cushion. Insurance later on.

Playing the containing safety. He lost the cue ball a little bit.

I don't think he left a pot that John Higgins will be tempted by

here. We saw when he, well, he didn't even look at the black, that

he won't be pushing the boat out. His main concern, protect that lead.

It's only really above the yellow that he can put the cue ball.

So much so that John maybe considering getting the cue ball up

this end. Always thought he may get a red to

go to the side cushion. So if Mark Selby does get an opportunity

there's a lot of work to do. Green near the cushion, red on the

cushion... A 40-point lead. It's a big one.

The Crucible Theatre, in all its glory.

A cluster of three reds off the side cushion. Not much more he could do.

He'll have to judge it right. He could leave one here.

Looking whether he's left one for the green pocket here. He may very

well take this on. We saw it earlier in the frame. That

was an excellent shot from John Higgins.

Thought he may have risked a little cannon there. Decided to play for

the red. He's got a little bit of work to do here with the cue ball.

Pots not that difficult. Get position on a colour, not

guaranteed. Not so much the surprise of it, the

fact he mind up his mind he's guarantee on the next red. The

cannon, nine times out of ten would be easy for John to play. No, he was

going to go up there and guarantee being on a red. And just this red to

put him 60 points in front, with only 59 remaining.

One snooker needed. He knows that Mark Selby will carry

on here. Could possibly try to pot this

black. If you were going to play the pot,

it may be the corner, but black possibly the middl.

Keeping it tight. 60 in front. 59 remaining.

He's played a granite game of snooker here John Higgins.

If he pots the pink, Mark Selby won't be coming back to the table.

Just made certain of it. That equates to now four snookers

required. I'll be surprised if Mark Selby will concede and he does

concede. Is it John Higgins who is bossing.

67% to John Higgins. There were two very good example ofs so of

excellent long potting from John in this one. Superb shot. Hampered by

the yellow. Obviously difficult to cue this.

Mark Selby will be disappointed that John's not doing one visit snooker.

That would worry him as far as Mark Selby is concerned. It is a little

bit old school, but it can work. It's not the modern day way. It's

more of an attacking way these days. Mark Selby has not been scoring as

well. You can see that from the breaks. And it's given John Higgins

the luxury of just shutting up shot enough to ask questions of Mark

Selby. Doesn't mean to say John would play that way all the time.

The way it's panning out he's not having to risk to try and win the

frame. He's actually making it more difficult for Mark Selby and putting

more pressure on him getting in. You were two arch predators and bullies

around the table. I know your instincts are kicking in there

tonight. What are your instincts telling you about Mark Selby's

challenge at the moment, Stephen? At the moment it is withering. You have

to be honest. You can comment on what you are seeing. Whenever he

gets a chance he's concentrating so much on potting the ball that his

positional play is all over the place. I would say against Ronnie

O'Sullivan, as a way back in, there's not a way back in against

John Higgins. THE COMMENTATOR: Four more frames to

be played. Mark Selby is under pressure here. He's smiling. I don't

know what he was smiling about. Maybe he felt he had a heavy contact

on the break. At the moment not much to smile about on the table.

That was more of a safety shot than a pot and a good safety shot it was.

He found it back to the baulk I was going to say. But the thick he had

to hit the red it was never going to be a good white but now it is

nestled to the green. It is. You have to be careful with no side

on this. He decided just to play the containing shot. Couldn't get the

cue ball down into the baulk area. 'S got top win two of the next four,

you think, minimum, Mark, here. Even that might not be any good but

anything worse than that, he is going to give himself far too much

to do. Yeah, I think it is also key, just

looking at his body language, he looks a little bit frail at the

moment, he looks a little bit worried but there are four more

frames to play. He has to really dig deep here to try to get something

out of it. As Stephen said, John Higgins is not winning frames in one

visit. So that takes a little bit of pressure off you, but you can't keep

hitting baulk colours full in the face. You just make it so much

easier for your opponent to play safe. John Higgins is looking at a

four-ball plant here. He is very keen on it.

It's hard to tell from where we are. I think it might go to the right jaw

as we look. It's very close. It's in. And he's on the green Yes,

for Mark Selby, it never rains but it pours. He paid a safety shot

there, left a four-ball plant on. Mind well, well-us issed by John

Higgins. He was on to it straight away. Well-sussed. Yes, a lesson to

all new up-and-coming snooker players, always have a look at the

cluster because you never know what's there. As John said that was

well-spotted. Yeah, it was a bit of aialy. The

balls opened up lovely after he played the plant. They went into a

nice little line. As long as John got the right position on the green,

he was perfect to come down the table. Trust me, John Higgins will

be trying to turn the screw here. He knows this is a session that he's

seriously on top. I presume the red just below the

pink is available to the left corner. That's why he has played it

like that. Yeah and the other good news, I think if he runs through on

this pink, he can leave an angle to pot that red and bring some more of

them out to play. He needs to make it pretty straight. If he plays on

that red he can open a few more out after this one. That's why he has

left himself high on it. Enough to pay with too much pace,

and screw-back and bring a few reds into play. Well, decided to play it

a bit further. The only thing I didn't like about that was, you are

going to use the cue ball somewhat. Well, the balls weren't going to

open that much unless you put a bit of force in. Anyway, he has to

negotiate this positional shot now. Can you put your crisp or sweets

away, please. Begs the question, John Higgins' body language - he is

not on a red. Don't tell me that there is another plant appeared from

nowhere. Goodness me. If he is on another plant there, Mark Selby will

be not believing. And this one looks on more than the four-ball plant.

This is plant and it is on for me. He's got to hit the first red, thin,

as though you were playing to pot it and surely this has come to his

rescue here. APPLAUSE

Well, a whole lot of things happened there but the ultimate, the red went

in. Yeah, let's have a look at this

again. As I say, he had to hit this red thin, it looked as though he

hardly hit it and he played a cannon from the loose red on to the plant,

that's why there was no pace in the plant. I'll give him the benefit of

the doubt but... That was very lucky. I can't believe he played one

cannon from one red on to the other there. I think he did, John. Do you?

I do, I think that's exactly what he played. I think he thought the only

way the plant could go was by striking the other one first. That

was very well Sussed out. OK, well I'll give him the benefit of the

doubt. Played more like a trick shot. Anyway, he is in amongst the

balls and can win the frame in one visit now. Yeah, you maybe right,

you maybe right. Maybe he did play the cannon from the loose red on to

the plant, looking at it again. Well you can say he has been

fortunate with a few of the plants he has had in this break but you can

just see the match player that John Higgins is. The concentration is

right there now and don't expect him to be missing anything easy in this

break. He can go a long way towards that

magical number of 18 frames this evening. He is seriously on top at

thep minute. Well, in frames he is half way there

and could be more than half way there just three reds, three colours

and he will be well past the winning line.

Yes, much was made at the start of this event that the top half of the

draw was top heavy. All the best players they said were in the top

and whoever comes through this one is going to win. But it doesn't look

like the case at the minute. I never subscribe to that view - there are

top class players everywhere in the draw. At the moment the defending

champion, the world number 1 is in big trouble. And it is not looking

likely to get better, any time soon. This red and he gets to the

snookers-required stage. There are enough reds, can he get to

position on pink or black? APPLAUSE

He takes the applause. There is his wife. Everything happy in the

Higgins' camp at the moment. Yes, John, there has been a

remarkable turn around in John's form this seechlingts always been a

class act but for a couple of years his long game wasn't quite there and

he missed the odd shot that you wouldn't expect but this season,

brilliant. -- John's form this season.

Yes, and he almost admitted that himself in a press conference a

couple of seasons ago, he thought he was becoming a journeyman pro but

something has fired him up again this season.

APPLAUSE And you know what it is like, John,

you can't beat winners. It would do wonders for your confidence, a few

good results. Well, the red doesn't go in but he

has done enough. He is now six frames behind, Mark

Selby And he is past half way if he wants a sixth world title he needs

18 frames to win it. STUDIO: There are plants. You have

to spot them to cultivate and there were two wonderful species here You

never know after a safety shot the balls will open up and there is the

possibility of that happening. Sometimes, when that second one went

in, you sense it is not your day and I'm sure Mark Selby is getting those

feelings which are very tough when you are sitting in your chair and

you have to come out and show resilience, to not sort of buckle

under that type resilience, to not sort of buckle

under that type of exposure. But particularly, Stephen when you are

the world number one, you are by far in away the world number one, you

are dominant, you have won four major titles this season already,

this is not the kind of experience you would expect to be suffering as

world number one. I tell you what, if John Higgins wins two of the next

three, he is in danger of losing the session early, the world number one,

John Higgins could win this tomorrow afternoon, the way it is going. I'm

looking back at 2007 and the scoring involved in the final between the

two, John was 8-3 in front and 10-4 ahead and he is again.

John Higgins breaks off. I have to say, John, he is having an easy ride

at the moment. Yes, and I'm afraid his opponent, the world number one

is mentally running on fumes a bit. He has been for most of the day. I'm

absolutely convinced that Ding Junhui has taken the best out of him

but you've got to learn to play through adversity. Not every session

is easy and goes your way but no doubt about it will, the way that

Ding Junhui played in that semi pushed him all the way. He had to

come back to work today and he's just not been there.

Yes, he has thwarted our former colleague, Clive Everton on many

occasions but I think that has summed it up, marathon of the mind

but it is, 17 days of tough snooker and you leave and breathe it. In

fairness, John has had hard matches as well and he is bemused by that

cushion there because it has been cracking all day and all of a sudden

it has pinged off. Let's have a look or maybe he has played with a higher

red. Whichever one he played on he is betwixt and between. I personally

think he over-hit it. I think he played for the one above the black.

Whatever, he is on nothing. No plant this time. Going back to, that I

think John had his two real tough matches two start W Martin Gould

must have been one of the worst qualifiers you could have' got. A

very talented player and the match with Mark Allen was a classic.

Higgins made two clearances in there that were vintage and Mark Allen if

he plays like that he will go close to winning a World Championship

himself, Mark. It was a brilliant performance but unfortunately for

him John Higgins was at his best. So he had a tough two matches and then

it has beencomfortable. Eye are enWilson. John said he didn't play

and Barry Hawkins wasn't at his best either, so comfortable for him to

get here. -- Kyren Wilson. Can Mark get past the green? It's

close. He certainly can but you can tell better if you were behind the

shot. He ought to be able to get to it because he played the pot. This

is what he is seeing. Do you think he can see enough of it? No, not

quite. And that's why he's playing the safety. But needs a good safety

here. He needs a good cue ball. Red is going towards the corner. It's

not gone in. Got a good cue ball but no good when you leave a red over a

pocket. It's never been any different the

game, is it? When you are in front. You always get the helpful little

nudges. He is perfect on this to try to open some reds here. Oh, but the

pace kept the pink out. An opportunity now for Mark Selby. A

strange game snooker, isn't it? You can play the best safety shot in the

world and not get a chance. You can see the pace, the power, how the

balls jump. It goes without saying, Mark has got

to make the best of this. Yes, from somewhere he has to find a bit.

I mentioned earlier,s' not world number one for no reason.

At the moment he has to find a way to survive or this match is going to

go west. It's OK. There is a red to the

right, centre. If he could just win in one visit or

get back scoring, just to win a frame in an easier fashion, it would

give him a boost for the last couple of frames.

Yes, I notice the two reds at the top of the cluster of four. It is a

certain plant into the left corner. So he doesn't have to do much here.

There is enough to play a cannon. The plant is on.

Well, he played the cannon. That looked a certain plant to me. Why

would you play the cannon? Well, let's say he didn't have much

to do the with you cue ball, he knew he would be on a yellow but now this

cue ball is travelling from one end of the table to the other. It is all

about line and length. 24 points the lead. Four reds in the middle of the

table. Might just about get him there. Maybe one of the awkward reds

needed. He's got to take this chance.

Well, he thinks he can control the cue ball better off the brown.

Right in the heart of the pocket. Good shot.

Well, when he potted that black in the middle earlier, John, I was

surprised with the bounce. It has happened to Mark Selby. I think the

fact he is straight on the black, though, he may be able to play to

the red in the right middle. Although he may have an angle to

stun through a red in the corner. Yeah, the thing with the table is,

if the cushion is trapping the white and it is doing it all the time

that's fair enough, you can start to allow for it but it is when you are

playing for it and it doesn't happen, it starts getting

inconsistent. That's what players don't like. He played that with a

little bit of side. And this is an excellent contribution from Mark at

the minute. Survival instincts are kicking in.

Yeah, it is John Higgins' missed pink that opened the reds and at

this level when you miss when you are in, it can easily cost you the

frame. That looks like the case now. This

blue would put Mark 50 in front. Just a quick glance at the score

board. So he needs red black and one of these reds near the side cushion.

Red and a black will put him 48 points in front I with 59 remaining.

-- 58 in front with 59 remaining. So just the red now to get to snookers.

Well the red and a colour as it turns out. I'm sorry just the red.

He will be pleased to see this red disappear.

A great contribution from Mark Selby under the cosh. Well he is world

number one. Yes, I couldn't agree with you more.

There is a lot of pressure on him. OK, John Higgins missed the pink,

opened up the reds. But there was pressure on him to take this

opportunity and he's taken it really well.

Oh, I thought that was going to stay there. It would be nice if he could

make a century. This packed Crucible audience like a century.

Oh, he played a cannon on the red. Further up the side cushion. Now

he's not got t unless he plays an outrageous double. This will be the

end of break. And it is, but he will be very relieved, Mark Selby. He has

stopped the rot. Well, it is just a step in the right direction but it

is a good one. John Higgins now leads by 10-5.

STUDIO: He is on his third frame of the evening I wonder what relief

that will be to Mark? He will have enjoyed that. It is obvious to stay

but winning the frame in one visit is exactly what the doctor ordered.

He will be going out now saying - come on, two frames, let's win both.

He will have done a jo, instead of being four behind, he will be free

behind. Well he is a player we've always expected will come back

roaring into things. He has made a habit. It is one of his trademarks.

The bringman. He has always been there or thereabouts come the end of

these finals Yes and expect a big push tomorrow afternoon from Mark

Selby regardless of what happens in these two fra. I think he will be

able to regroup overnight, which is the interesting thing about a match

played over more than one day. A reset, perhaps have a chat with his

friends and say -- perhaps not now throw caution to the wind. I

wouldn't say regardless of what happens, but if he loses the last

two, 12-5. John knows this, a few years ago he came out and won the

frames in the first investigation and did it with Ronnie O'Sullivan I

remember being 12-4 up with Jimmy White and I was still worried the

guy would come out. He was a great player and he came out and attacked

and before long he was level. Momentum is great in these ma.s you

can string two or three frames together. All of a sudden it is

swings and roundabouts. From John's point of view a built-edged

opportunity Mark cannot afford to lose both of them.

Yes, two very, very big frames for either player, really. John Higgins

to have won this session after winning the first session 6-2. That

was important just to keep ahead. Mark Selby needs two frames to win

this session 5-4. A step in the right direction.

Oh, a funny thing happened while you were in the studio, John Higgins

went for the ice. A big piece of ice. I'll just get a little one,

that won't fit in the glass. Well there you go. Will it stop? I

don't think it will. Terrific shot. Yes and that's what has come back,

John. That's what has come back to his game his long potting. Back it

viptage Higgins he has been all eggs soo. He used to do that with

monotonous regularity when you played him and he has certainly

sound something this year. Yes, I agree with you. We look at the

safety stats and everything else but at the end of the day if you can

knock them long reds in, they will give you chances and 71% is very

good. I usually think about mid-60s is fair. And when you haven't got

that in your armoury it becomes debilitating because you know the

chances that come along and should be yours, they go to the opponent

when you start missing them and generally, as you get a little

older, the long game is the one that struggles first, so he has done very

well to hang on to that. Is he on this red at the bottom of

cluser? I don't think so. I don't think he can hit enough of it. Well

the worst way, he finished in the middle of both. Not enough for the

bottom one and not far out for the one on the left-hand side so just a

safety. After such a good opening red, it

only realised 12 points. He just had a little look there,

John, to see if there was a plant on. But there isn't.

There is a nice target behind yellow and proun. This requires -- brown.

This requires excellent cueing to get the right contact.

I think those two shots sum up why those two players have been at the

top of the game in the tactical department for all of these years.

Brilliant! Yes, as the great Ray Reardon once said to me, there's

more to snooker than potting balls. It has caused a slight error from

John. I don't know whether the red to the

right corner, if Mark can see it. I assume he can't, or he'll be looking

at the pot on that. I don't know.

The only thing I can think of is if he played that one, he might play it

with a bit of check side and he may be able to get into the baulk area,

play it as a shot to nothing. It can go wrong, of course, if you

get it too thick. He may play that. These super fine cloths, when you

play with side, they act completely different.

It looks as if he can see enough of it to me.

We'll soon know he plays it when the cue ball comes off the cushion.

Maybe you're right. Yes. He could do it.

Oh, that's really unlucky. What a great pot.

But to finish hampered on the blau Just got the edge of the pot. He

would have been nicely on the blue. If he could get his hand on the

table, you'd fancy him to pot this blue. But he's got to be careful. If

I was playing the shot I would rather play it with a spider, so

you're striking down more. There's a little bit of a gap. Got to be

careful! Potted the blue. What a brilliant shot that is! The

last two shots have been superb. He had to drag the cue back as

quickly as possible. What a response this is.

Just have a look at that again. How quickly he had to get the cue out of

the way. If it had been straight, he'd have to get the rest of them

out the way as well. You show us that good safety.

Bless you! Thasm good safety forced the error.

Somebody sneezed, so Mark doing the right thing. Get up, regain your

concentration. This is a big moment in the match, this, for me.

Played that beautifully. Also would be happy with the response off the

cushion there. He's finding mental reserves here,

Mark Selby. Hasn't had things his own way today.

Definitely looked a bit jaded, but he knows how important this part of

the match is. If he can get out winning these last two frames and

only be 10-7 down, wow! What a result that would be!

I don't think he's on it, but the pink goes, by the look of it.

Just looking for another 41 points from this situation.

He looked the low one, the two reds on the right-hand side of the table,

he looked at the lower one, to see if by playing on the pink he could

get on that. He's inch-perfect on the pink. There's not a lot of room

to play for the red. As I say, inch-perfect on the pink.

When he pots this red, of course, he clears the path for the other un.

I mentioned before, the last frame, if he could win in one visit it

might just give him a kick-start. It looks like it has.

Been a struggle for most of the match so far for Mark, but that

break in the last frame was excellent.

As it turned out, it left him a nice angle on that red. Didn't have to

play with any pace. 32 points to lead. He's playing the cannon.

He's played the cannon. I'm looking at his body language. Is he on his

red to the right middle? I would say, yes. I would say, yes.

I could never tell looking from behind the pocket. Could you? I

don't think that's a great way of doing it. You can make anything look

like it goes from the other way around. It's only this side that

will really tell the story. He may get through to it. He may have to

play with a trace of left-hand side to turn the red over. For me, it's

on. What a contribution once again.

Brilliant stuff from Mark Selby. It's what great champions do...

Back's against the wall - find something from somewhere.

And what a massive final frame of the session this is going to be

coming up. Yes. This was a big frame. As you say,

the last one is going to be even bigger. Once you've lost that first

session, you're playing catch-up, so you need to win the next section.

OK, if he wins the next frame, it will only be by one frame. But he

couldn't afford to lose this session. The kiss is OK. It's not

the red on. Didn't give us the century break in

the last frame. But every chance he'll give us one

in this. 86 is the highest break in this

match so far. Usually a ton machine. Purposefully going for the pink, if

he's straight on the pink stun it in automatically on the yellow.

Fancy 100 now. Already made six in the tournament.

None in this match so far. May have made six, but none as

important as this. And this is the 72nd century break

of this year's championship and what a timely contribution from Mark

Selby. Absolutely superb! He didn't need any help from John Higgins

there. He played a tremendous safety shot.

He took the rest of the frame in brilliant fashion. Still four

behind, but he's got a foothold in the match now. 10-6, John Higgins.

STUDIO: It was six. It's back to four. We were expecting the charge.

Here it comes. It seems to have had the galvanising

effect on him? John Higgins expected some response from Mark Selby. And

as we sit, it's 4-4 in the session. So John Higgins hasn't got any

reason to panic. Even if he was to lose the last, he would still say it

is a good job done. A massive last frame. Before we talk about that,

let's look at the century-makers in this championship, because Ding

Junhui way ahead. But that's at the 7.4 mark. John had

that 141 earlier on, which was, along with Ronnie's in 2012, earlier

on it was the highest ever made in a Crucible final. We talk about this

last frame of the session. You called it earlier, so much riding on

this one, you would say, Stephen? The change in Selby, he doesn't look

tired any more. Running around the table there. Fantastic play. If he

wins this frame, he goes slight favourite for me. I know he's three