:00:33. > :00:40.Hello, a very good morning and welcome back to the Crucible Theatre
:00:41. > :00:43.in Sheffield for the fourth day of the 2017 BetFred World Snooker
:00:44. > :00:49.Championship. What a night last night. Marco Fu, from 7-2 down, beat
:00:50. > :00:54.the Belgian qualifier Luca Brecel 10-9 in a final frame decider. Now
:00:55. > :00:59.the attention turns to John Higgins, a four-time world champion looking
:01:00. > :01:04.to book his place in the last 16. Stuart Bingham, Ronnie O'Sullivan
:01:05. > :01:07.and Mark Selby have already gone through to the last 16. John Higgins
:01:08. > :01:12.looking to join them. Just three frames needed to see him go through.
:01:13. > :01:18.Martin Gould has a job on his hands. Also available on the red button,
:01:19. > :01:20.Liang Wenbo starts his campaign against Stuart Carrington. John
:01:21. > :01:25.parrot is with me in the practice room. One of those mornings that we
:01:26. > :01:29.love at the Crucible. Everyone is still talking about Marco Fu's
:01:30. > :01:33.phenomenal performance. It was remarkable because of the turnaround
:01:34. > :01:39.in form, a stark contrast of the night before when he could not pot a
:01:40. > :01:44.ball. He to just eight goals in the first four frames. He has been in
:01:45. > :01:49.scintillating form this year, and to turn it around... It was 7-1
:01:50. > :01:55.actually, so to come back and win is incredible. I feel sorry for Luca, a
:01:56. > :01:58.couple of things went wrong and when someone comes back at you,
:01:59. > :02:03.everything seems to magnify. But what a performance, and Marco Fu was
:02:04. > :02:07.quite animated. The world number eight, he is one of the most
:02:08. > :02:11.composed players on the circuit. We rarely see him show that type of
:02:12. > :02:16.relief, but that's purely because... You were in the studio the night
:02:17. > :02:20.before, he could not pot a ball, and last night he was absolutely
:02:21. > :02:24.magnificent. He got the really good start he needed, winning the first
:02:25. > :02:28.couple of frames. He thought he would be sitting at home watching
:02:29. > :02:32.the championship, but now he is through the hard first round and who
:02:33. > :02:38.knows where he could go? Luca Brecel will be thinking, how on earth did I
:02:39. > :02:41.lose? Will it affect him? For a couple of weeks. It is not something
:02:42. > :02:46.you want on your CV but he will forget about it in a couple of
:02:47. > :02:50.weeks. Marco Fu is through. You can't see Martin Gould doing the
:02:51. > :02:54.same thing, can you? Everyone thought it was a tough draw for John
:02:55. > :03:00.Higgins, but it is a really tough draw for Martin Gould. I have played
:03:01. > :03:07.him here, and trust me... His matchplay is superb, four times a
:03:08. > :03:13.winner. Every time you play him, it is a challenge. Is he feeling good
:03:14. > :03:21.this morning? In great spirits. Telling me that he won at the Gold
:03:22. > :03:25.Cup! He backed a winning horse. Before he came here, a little press
:03:26. > :03:31.release saying how well he was playing. John usually keeps that to
:03:32. > :03:35.himself. Amazing, considering a few years ago there was also talk talk.
:03:36. > :03:39.He said in a news conference that he was thinking of packing it in. But
:03:40. > :03:49.all eyes today on the four-time world champion.
:03:50. > :03:56.Sensations, a big bag of crisps. That's my downfall. Watching TV.
:03:57. > :04:02.That's my guilty pleasure. Robbie Coltrane, the Scottish actor. Used
:04:03. > :04:09.to play for Celtic, that was my childhood dream. Easy going.
:04:10. > :04:19.I took her away to Paris for her birthday. Pretty romantic. Sunday
:04:20. > :04:26.roast. With all the trimmings. That would be it. I would love to go to
:04:27. > :04:32.San Francisco. Never been there. Hopefully I can visit sooner rather
:04:33. > :04:38.than later. I love the American Civil War time. One of my favourite
:04:39. > :04:51.programmes was North and south. Patrick Swayze. That fascinated me.
:04:52. > :04:57.The Civil War time. Pamelaewing from Dallas. That was my woman.
:04:58. > :05:06.Seven breaks over 50 in the first session. A tough task facing Martin
:05:07. > :05:12.Gould this morning. He beat Judd Trump in 2011, John Higgins, winning
:05:13. > :05:16.18-15 to lift the title. And then first round, first round, second
:05:17. > :05:20.round... Quarterfinal last year. Is this the year that he makes another
:05:21. > :05:25.final? That is the live match on BBC Two. If you want Liang Wenbo against
:05:26. > :05:30.Stuart Carrington, that is available on the red button. Throughout the
:05:31. > :05:36.Crucible coverage on the BBC, all of the matches are available on the BBC
:05:37. > :05:44.Sport app, table one or two. A very good morning to Rob Walker.
:05:45. > :05:48.After that fabulous Marco Fu fightback last night, he has proved
:05:49. > :05:52.there is almost no such thing as an irretrievable ethicist at the
:05:53. > :05:59.Crucible. After a brilliant Easter weekend of action, let's turn our
:06:00. > :06:01.thoughts today for at the BetFred World Snooker Championship. -- an
:06:02. > :06:19.irretrievable deficit. Please welcome a player returning
:06:20. > :06:23.for the second time, after a superb win over double world champion Mark
:06:24. > :06:28.Williams on Wednesday. He enjoyed a great run to the quarterfinal of the
:06:29. > :06:31.Welsh Open this season. His grandad Big John is in the crowd as always.
:06:32. > :07:00.Grimsby's Stuart Carrington! And his opponent, back for a sixth
:07:01. > :07:04.Crucible campaign nine years after making the quarterfinal on his
:07:05. > :07:08.debut. The UK Championship runner-up last season, he won his first
:07:09. > :07:13.ranking title in October, beating Judd Trump to the English open
:07:14. > :07:16.title. A player who always wears his heart on his sleeve, that's why we
:07:17. > :07:22.call him the Firecracker, Liang Wenbo!
:07:23. > :07:43.On table two, a player returning for an eighth Crucible campaign after
:07:44. > :07:46.coming through qualifying in fine style. His century in the
:07:47. > :07:50.penultimate frame yesterday showed a glimpse of the talent that took him
:07:51. > :07:55.to the German Masters title last season. He will give it absolutely
:07:56. > :07:57.everything this morning, so let's hear it for the Pinner Potter,
:07:58. > :08:22.Martin Gould! And his opponent, bidding for a 19th
:08:23. > :08:26.appearance in the second round at the Crucible. Arriving in fabulous
:08:27. > :08:31.form, producing a break of at least 50 in every single one of the seven
:08:32. > :08:35.frames he won yesterday. Without doubt one of the finest sportsmen
:08:36. > :08:39.plural Scotland has ever produced, four times a champion of the world,
:08:40. > :09:04.the Wizard of Wishaw, John Higgins! A fabulous bit of Dignity and the
:09:05. > :09:09.cold blue. A busy day for us, Ding Junhui and Zhou Yuelong later. Judd
:09:10. > :09:14.Trump taking on Rory McLeod at 2:30pm also. At seven o'clock
:09:15. > :09:17.tonight, Ali Carter begins his campaign against another former
:09:18. > :09:28.world champion, Graeme Dott. In the meantime, good morning to John Virgo
:09:29. > :09:32.and John Parrott. Good morning, everybody, as Martin Gould gets the
:09:33. > :09:35.second session under way. A five frame deficit against someone like
:09:36. > :09:45.John Higgins is going to be hard to pull back, JP. Yes. You would think
:09:46. > :09:52.so, John. One of the best matchplay is the game has ever seen.
:09:53. > :09:56.Approaching 42 years of age, all of his snookering faculties are still
:09:57. > :10:01.there. Excellent break-builder. In the last year or so, his long game
:10:02. > :10:05.has actually got better. It looked like it was on the wane, but that
:10:06. > :10:10.has improved immeasurably, so he has found something. He never gives you
:10:11. > :10:17.anything easy, John Higgins. You have to earn your corn.
:10:18. > :10:27.There has only been on century break in the match. 23 seconds average
:10:28. > :10:30.shot time. 28 for Martin. I suppose when you are behind, a bit more
:10:31. > :10:35.thinking time. The one century was made by Martin. Could do with a
:10:36. > :10:42.couple of them early on this morning. To try and get some kind of
:10:43. > :10:52.foothold in the match. Of course, he's playing somebody who
:10:53. > :10:55.has been there and got the T-shirt four times. Recognised by all as the
:10:56. > :11:16.best matchplay we have ever seen. You mentioned the time it's taken
:11:17. > :11:20.Martin, 28 seconds, but you tend to think a bit more when you are stuck
:11:21. > :11:23.in the baulk area. It's certainly not straightforward. And here's an
:11:24. > :12:30.example. A little shake of the head. He was
:12:31. > :12:37.just an inch short of getting behind the green. I looked over at John
:12:38. > :12:43.Higgins and I saw a slight grimace. So even 7-2 in front, still
:12:44. > :12:49.disappointed if he doesn't get it inch perfect.
:12:50. > :12:54.Yes, he will be concentrating like mad in this first frame just to
:12:55. > :13:03.dampen any fire Martin Gould has left in him. Go 8-2, it starts to
:13:04. > :13:06.look totally forlorn for Martin. So this is a massive frame. John
:13:07. > :13:10.Higgins will know that, all that experience of being a matchplayer.
:13:11. > :13:27.You don't want to give your opponent any encouragement.
:13:28. > :13:36.A little safety exchange going on. I mentioned that John Higgins had
:13:37. > :13:41.backed the Gold Cup winner, Sizing John, but I have to congratulate you
:13:42. > :13:47.as well, you told me the Grand National winner eight months ago.
:13:48. > :13:53.Yes, well done to On for Arthur, the second Scottish winner of the
:13:54. > :14:00.National. And didn't he win? Hard held. Could be a Scottish double.
:14:01. > :14:15.John Higgins for the World Championship. Yes.
:14:16. > :14:24.Has pushed on towards the corner. Needed the green to come to his
:14:25. > :14:31.rescue, it hasn't. The only thing, he has a pretty good length of cue
:14:32. > :14:45.ball. If you play this at pace, a chance of putting it -- potting it.
:14:46. > :14:52.A bit of stickiness on the cue. This is a horrible shot he has been left
:14:53. > :15:01.with. The angle is all wrong for what he needs.
:15:02. > :15:17.Mind the Gap! Where did that gap come from? A good pot. Amazing, this
:15:18. > :15:23.game. How did he get through there? And it's worked twice! -- it swerved
:15:24. > :15:31.twice! Just making certain of a good cue
:15:32. > :15:43.ball. Just overhit it slightly. Should
:15:44. > :15:45.have stopped the escape route down the left-hand side of the table, as
:15:46. > :16:09.we look. That's a better safety shot from
:16:10. > :16:22.John. Just shows you the standard of his
:16:23. > :16:28.safety play. No shots wasted with John Higgins. Some players on the
:16:29. > :16:32.circuit think that putting the cue ball in the baulk area is enough.
:16:33. > :16:40.He's always trying to put you in position to force a mistake. And
:16:41. > :16:45.there's a in that. -- a difference in that.
:16:46. > :16:56.And there's the mistake. Yes. Kissing the blue, left the cue ball
:16:57. > :17:02.this side of the As many as are of the opinion, say "aye". To the
:17:03. > :17:43.contrary, "no".. -- this side of the baulk line.
:17:44. > :17:48.Could play the yellow but he would like the blue back on the spot. More
:17:49. > :17:52.work to do with the cue ball. So I don't think you'll be getting
:17:53. > :18:22.many more. A difficult plant. The main concern
:18:23. > :18:55.was getting the cue ball back to the baulk end.
:18:56. > :19:49.Played to leave the cue ball behind that red on the top cushion. Tried
:19:50. > :19:55.to get it right in there, but don't know whether... There may be a red
:19:56. > :20:01.near the pink that goes, but it would require top-class cueing. I
:20:02. > :20:08.suppose, at 7-2 down, you might be tempted.
:20:09. > :20:14.When you are this far behind, you have to come out and play well.
:20:15. > :20:25.And I think sometimes you have to give yourself the chance to play
:20:26. > :20:30.well. By refusing things and playing negative, I don't think you can get
:20:31. > :20:35.into a match from such a deficit. He knows what he has to do, Martin.
:20:36. > :20:40.That was a tough pot, but he took it on.
:20:41. > :20:49.There will be a red over the corner. Can he get through to it?
:20:50. > :20:59.The brown has covered it, but a little swerve, cushion first will
:21:00. > :21:01.pot it, but he won't be certain where the cue ball will finish.
:21:02. > :21:08.Needs a bit of luck with the position.
:21:09. > :21:13.It's quite a decent swerve. Nearly three quarters ball. Has to get it
:21:14. > :21:26.right. Well done. I tell you what, he will
:21:27. > :21:42.settle for that. That's a bonus. Going to need a little run of the
:21:43. > :21:48.ball, and a little help from his opponent, to reduce this deficit.
:21:49. > :21:56.A good chance to build up a useful lead. Frame-winning opportunity?
:21:57. > :21:58.Well, that's a tough call, but just concentrate on trying to get as many
:21:59. > :22:24.points in front as you can. Good, clean pot, but not enough of
:22:25. > :22:29.the cue ball to get the right side of the blue.
:22:30. > :22:39.Slightly off. Just run through for the red. If the pink pots in the top
:22:40. > :22:54.left pocket as we look, that would be ideal.
:22:55. > :23:01.It obviously does, with that positional shot. So a nice chance.
:23:02. > :23:06.Yes, good signs. Struck that beautifully in the heart of the
:23:07. > :23:23.pocket. We were commentating together the
:23:24. > :23:29.other day on that Gary Wilson match. Martin Gould is another one who is
:23:30. > :23:33.predominately left eyed. When he cues up, that's where he is lining
:23:34. > :23:39.up. You always have one stronger than the other. Always amazes me,
:23:40. > :23:45.with his glasses... It's as though he peers over the top of them. When
:23:46. > :23:48.you think of all the trouble that, for example, Dennis Taylor had
:23:49. > :23:55.getting the correct pair of glasses that he could play in...
:23:56. > :24:04.Martin wears glasses and looks like he is peering over the top of them.
:24:05. > :24:19.Don't tell me he is looking through his glasses there. But it works for
:24:20. > :24:26.him. He has become one of the most dangerous players on the circuit.
:24:27. > :24:28.Vastly underrated in my opinion. If those glasses are working, get me a
:24:29. > :24:51.pair. He's decided to play for the black.
:24:52. > :24:56.Not certain where it will go after. The green sport is available. --
:24:57. > :25:06.spot. Just don't miss anything easy, and
:25:07. > :25:11.get what you can. He has played that absolutely superb.
:25:12. > :25:21.He couldn't have hit that any better. Look at the top spin. Shot
:25:22. > :25:23.of the morning. OK, there haven't been many yet, but that's the best
:25:24. > :25:40.one! I said when he first came to the
:25:41. > :25:44.table it was going to be a tough call for him to win the frame at
:25:45. > :25:53.this visit. It's looking likely now. Just the start he was looking for.
:25:54. > :26:00.Couldn't agree with you more. This has been a fabulous break. Like you,
:26:01. > :26:06.I looked at the table and thought, OK, a few reds available, but that
:26:07. > :26:09.shot on the black was excellent. There is a crispness about the
:26:10. > :26:14.strike this morning from Martin Gould. Hitting the ball very well,
:26:15. > :26:19.lots of authority, certainly better than yesterday. He got off to a poor
:26:20. > :26:22.start, 5-0 down. A little bit at sea. But already this morning, the
:26:23. > :26:59.cueing looks a lot more assured. So, red and a colour... As soon as
:27:00. > :27:07.he pots this red, only 51 remaining, and this will put him 59 in front.
:27:08. > :27:15.If he was to make a century here, this would be special.
:27:16. > :27:50.If this cannon goes right, we could see his second century of the match.
:27:51. > :27:53.A nice screw with plenty of side. That's the one. A little bit of a
:27:54. > :28:06.gap. We'll be able to drop it in. Couldn't do much with the positional
:28:07. > :28:33.side of the shot. Not a bad kiss on the brown.
:28:34. > :28:38.Everything has gone right in the middle of the pocket this morning.
:28:39. > :28:41.Nothing sloppy about it. As a player, you always feel good when
:28:42. > :28:48.you are finding the middle of the pocket.
:28:49. > :28:54.He is in fine fettle. Overrun this one a bit. A bit of work to do with
:28:55. > :29:00.the cue ball. We've already had 18 century breaks
:29:01. > :29:29.in the championship so far. This brown for 19, and not many
:29:30. > :29:33.better than this. I have seen quite a bit of snooker, but I haven't seen
:29:34. > :29:36.many centuries better than this. When he came to the table, it didn't
:29:37. > :29:40.look like he was going to clear up. Excellent.
:29:41. > :30:05.Well played, Martin Gould. Very well played.
:30:06. > :30:11.He just lost his concentration thinking about the next frame. John
:30:12. > :30:16.Higgins didn't do a lot wrong. Martin Gould, sensational century
:30:17. > :30:18.break. He's reduced his arrears to four but put out a warning signal to
:30:19. > :30:30.John Higgins. So when we were talking about the
:30:31. > :30:35.possibilities of the shot on the black, he got on the black, I
:30:36. > :30:38.thought why play for the black. The opportunity to finish perfect but
:30:39. > :30:42.the top spin here and he punched it with top spin just to widen the
:30:43. > :30:46.angle slightly and let the top spin go forward. The punch stops and then
:30:47. > :30:50.gets the top spent on it and they split up beautifully. Deserve to,
:30:51. > :30:54.such a well struck shot Mike and on these pockets you need to have
:30:55. > :31:00.plenty of respect for them and we will show you a shot here. Watch the
:31:01. > :31:04.top spin on this. Black and white Ball on this, right through the cue.
:31:05. > :31:09.Stephen Hendry playing that. The way it stops and the top spin goes
:31:10. > :31:17.forward and you wouldn't think in slow motion it was going to get
:31:18. > :31:21.there but it does. It's amazing. It hits the red, stopped but as long as
:31:22. > :31:23.you have the top spin it keeps spinning and look at the way it
:31:24. > :31:40.keeps going through. Things like that like the last frame
:31:41. > :31:47.will not particularly perturbed John Higgins. Certainly give a bit of
:31:48. > :32:23.hope for Martin. Sensational start for him.
:32:24. > :32:32.Caught that much to stick. Always a danger with these mid-range pots.
:32:33. > :32:52.Players of this class with their hand on the table.
:32:53. > :33:06.There you go, 46 to the ball and four feet three to the pocket but
:33:07. > :33:21.good cueing. An excellent start to the season,
:33:22. > :33:29.John. ? The events right at the beginning of it and was in superb
:33:30. > :33:33.form. Still playing well, you can lose a final frame deciders, lost a
:33:34. > :33:36.couple of those and his game still been all right, but I think he's got
:33:37. > :33:43.time to have good preparation and put hours and back in Scotland and
:33:44. > :33:46.turns up here with a distance of ground in the long tournaments. He
:33:47. > :33:51.can win the tournaments that the best of seven and best of nine but
:33:52. > :33:55.John Higgins's game is suited to this longer format. It was
:33:56. > :34:01.interesting when he came in, a couple of courts as to how well he's
:34:02. > :34:05.been plain, usually keeps back to himself, but when he says he's
:34:06. > :34:13.playing well, you've got to take notice.
:34:14. > :34:22.Got into that. You'd have thought it would have stunned of the cushion
:34:23. > :34:30.and I'm certain that was the idea. Got into it too much and didn't
:34:31. > :34:40.bounce it off the cushion. Tricky blue. Playing it pretty quickly but
:34:41. > :34:45.it's difficult. I was amazed he got down and played it so quickly.
:34:46. > :34:50.You're right, it was very acute that angle, horrible. Cueing across, got
:34:51. > :35:00.to make sure you're in the middle of the white panties overcooked it. --
:35:01. > :35:15.and he has overcooked it. Just got into the white too much.
:35:16. > :35:29.Another example of excellent cueing to pot is tough enough and to flick
:35:30. > :35:33.the red out as well. Very good. I think he might be struggling for
:35:34. > :35:37.another red. There is one that goes there but he has two pot this and
:35:38. > :35:39.screw back off the cushion and this requires excellent cueing to find
:35:40. > :35:55.that gap. It was a classic example there of
:35:56. > :35:59.not hitting the centre of the cue ball. Must have put unintentional
:36:00. > :36:03.side and particularly when you're striking down and it pushes the cue
:36:04. > :36:07.ball into the black and that's why he hit it to six. Little unlucky to
:36:08. > :36:31.come that close to the cushion. This will be testing his eyesight.
:36:32. > :36:36.He's just got the right hand side of this pack to clip off and you've got
:36:37. > :36:53.to get these mighty sin. Anything sick here and it's going to contact
:36:54. > :36:59.the jaws of the pocket. He'll settle for that. Not quite how he played it
:37:00. > :37:03.but where it's finished isn't too bad. In fact, where it's finished,
:37:04. > :37:05.the blue is blocking the left-hand side of the table off for John
:37:06. > :37:42.Higgins. Can he get through to this thread?
:37:43. > :37:48.-- this red. He may be able to bend it with a trace of right-hand side.
:37:49. > :37:49.It's all about fractions, another role and he could have potted this
:37:50. > :38:14.red comfortably. Well. What a pot that was.
:38:15. > :38:19.Absolutely stunning. I loved it when he got down to that, thought he was
:38:20. > :38:25.taking that reds on, looking for the safety shot and he thought whenever
:38:26. > :38:27.he played safe he leaves a shot, he decided to attack and the way he's
:38:28. > :38:53.playing this morning, why not. Known as the Pinner putter and he
:38:54. > :39:06.deserves it after that opening red. That was sensational. When you just
:39:07. > :39:15.concentrate on the blue, you can't see a lot of value, he'd love the
:39:16. > :39:21.black back on its spot but wouldn't sacrifice your position for that.
:39:22. > :39:26.Just overscrew that slightly. Can still cut the blue in and play a
:39:27. > :39:32.cannon. Wondering if you'll do that. If he takes the chance, he could
:39:33. > :39:36.bring the pink into play and maybe promote a few reds. Where he's
:39:37. > :39:37.finished, he may have to play that can in any way. Just needs a little
:39:38. > :39:57.bit of luck here. He didn't bring the pink into play,
:39:58. > :40:02.that would have been a bonus but he's on a rant, so the break will
:40:03. > :40:07.keep going and he's knocked the red out to better positions. As long as
:40:08. > :40:13.he can keep getting the right side of the blue. Which he hasn't on that
:40:14. > :40:19.one. He should be able to score a few. They always say, if you're
:40:20. > :40:24.going to be wrong side of the blue, be well the wrong side of the blue,
:40:25. > :40:28.which is. With the yellow not being on its spot. No problem there.
:40:29. > :40:38.Didn't have the yellow to avoid, so made it a little bit easier.
:40:39. > :40:45.Just a 17 point lead, so not a straightforward run to the line but
:40:46. > :40:51.we saw in the last frame how well he's potting. And he needs to be
:40:52. > :41:04.right side of the blue this time. Just got there. Just got there. The
:41:05. > :41:05.right side of the blue. For in this case, the left side of the blue
:41:06. > :41:26.line. There is the side bar. 60 points is
:41:27. > :41:31.the target. Basically he's looking for another 29 points from this
:41:32. > :41:48.situation. Only two reds available at the moment. Not an easy 29 points
:41:49. > :42:01.to get. Not the right side of the blue this time.
:42:02. > :42:18.Try to stun in between the green and brown here. Striking the ball well
:42:19. > :42:21.this morning, John. There's a sound to it as well, the back of the
:42:22. > :42:27.pocket very well and he's not hitting the jaws, hitting it very
:42:28. > :42:34.clean. This has been a tough break so far. As to keep this
:42:35. > :42:36.concentration level up. Difficult when there is more travel in the cue
:42:37. > :42:52.ball. That's another terrific shot. That's
:42:53. > :42:57.unlucky. That really is. Worst case scenario you think you'd be on the
:42:58. > :43:02.yellow. I think he can pot this black but so close to it, it's an
:43:03. > :43:12.easy snooker go for the easy snooker. He's got a 30 point lead
:43:13. > :43:13.and John Higgins will do well to hit a red here and not leave anything
:43:14. > :43:51.on. REFEREE: Foul and a mess, Martin
:43:52. > :43:56.Gould, four. COMMENTATOR: Decision time, would you take the mess? I
:43:57. > :44:00.played a pot, I tell you why, you can play it plain ball. I'm
:44:01. > :44:04.surprised at that, he's got a yellow over the corner pocket. With John
:44:05. > :44:08.Higgins plays this properly and there is a very good chance he will,
:44:09. > :44:16.you're going to have nothing. I would have been taking that one.
:44:17. > :44:19.That's what he's attempting to do. Just didn't get enough side on it
:44:20. > :44:30.last time. This looks nice. This looks nice. He hit it coming off the
:44:31. > :44:35.back cushion and as John said, probably know, the wrong decision
:44:36. > :44:40.from Martin to have it put back. Definitely the wrong decision. Any
:44:41. > :44:44.time you're given a free shot to nothing like that on the way he's
:44:45. > :44:48.potted this morning, you'd fancy him nine times out of ten to knock on,
:44:49. > :44:52.I'm really side he refused it. The yellow is over the pocket, no
:44:53. > :44:59.position required and you're guaranteed to be on a ball. Of
:45:00. > :45:03.course, we played in an era where the miss rule wasn't as prevalent as
:45:04. > :45:07.it is now and some players think going on the sticker here, you can
:45:08. > :45:13.get 20 points out of this snooker. Wrong way to think, I see that a lot
:45:14. > :45:17.now. Particularly when there are a couple of reds on the table, get out
:45:18. > :45:24.of a tough snooker, get past somebody by just getting foul
:45:25. > :45:28.points. In that instance as well, if you're playing against somebody who
:45:29. > :45:33.didn't know their way round a table and some of the attack minded, but
:45:34. > :45:42.yes, but this fellow knows his way around it as well as anybody.
:45:43. > :45:51.You make your decisions and you stand or fall by them. It will all
:45:52. > :45:56.be forgotten if Martin Gould can win this frame.
:45:57. > :46:11.He did. Now the red is running loose. Where is it going to finish.
:46:12. > :46:37.He's left it. John just checking there, all he has
:46:38. > :46:41.to do with the cue ball is just stun it, leave the cue ball where the red
:46:42. > :46:44.is because the yellow will go through the gap between brown and
:46:45. > :46:52.green, so just concentrate wholly on the pot.
:46:53. > :47:03.That was a surprise. And sometimes when you're that close to a ball,
:47:04. > :47:07.once again he's just not down the middle of the cue ball there.
:47:08. > :47:17.Sighted it wrong, didn't get in the line of the shot. APPLAUSE
:47:18. > :47:29.Used all the pocket there, but in it went. And this blue, I assume he's
:47:30. > :47:35.going to play the blue, will put Martin 40 points in front with 59
:47:36. > :47:41.left. He still looking for two reds and two colours after this blue. The
:47:42. > :47:47.positional side of this is not straightforward. Obviously he's got
:47:48. > :47:50.to try to play this with a bit of screw and side, maybe try to get
:47:51. > :47:59.between the two reds and the pink if he can. Or maybe flick one of those
:48:00. > :48:02.out. Always a little tricky that, couldn't quite get into the cue ball
:48:03. > :48:07.enough to get into the gap and if you play the cannon like that, the
:48:08. > :48:12.position can go astray. It's one of those, after the event you think, I
:48:13. > :48:16.could have done with hitting it a bit harder, but that's after the
:48:17. > :48:24.event and we are all wise after that. 40 point lead, it's not a bad
:48:25. > :48:29.one. I think if he can play a city where he can put a red on the side
:48:30. > :48:32.cushion, it might be worthwhile just chipping off the one above. You can
:48:33. > :48:38.just see the edge of that and just push it onto the side cushion may
:48:39. > :48:48.be. Yes, because the other two reds will not past the pink. They
:48:49. > :48:56.obviously can't see enough of that. Is he playing this red to the
:48:57. > :49:10.middle? I think years. -- I think he is. And got it! Wonderful shot.
:49:11. > :49:17.Wonderful. He has patted back some balls this morning -- potted some
:49:18. > :49:26.balls this morning. That was an absolute cracker. He's only going
:49:27. > :49:38.for anything that's round this morning. I admire him. He could have
:49:39. > :49:42.left it tight on the top vision but he's given himself a chance to see
:49:43. > :49:45.how he's playing this morning and so far he's playing well and he must be
:49:46. > :49:55.very pleased. Take nothing for granted. And that's it. Snookers
:49:56. > :50:00.needed and John Higgins had a chance when he had that red to this corner
:50:01. > :50:01.pocket and missed it. Didn't have much chance in the first frame this
:50:02. > :50:39.morning. nice little shot here, play this
:50:40. > :50:43.with running side to make it hunger cushion. There you go. -- hog the
:50:44. > :50:47.cushion. Martin Gould in very good form this
:50:48. > :51:10.morning. The frame is over, she can't make a
:51:11. > :51:17.century break, he doesn't want to play this, really.
:51:18. > :51:26.John said to him, don't bother. That will do. Nice to see a smile but
:51:27. > :51:30.what a start this morning from Martin Gould, absolutely superb.
:51:31. > :51:39.He's playing great snooker. He still three behind but you could see,
:51:40. > :51:44.match on. And he has potted some balls this morning. And exhibition,
:51:45. > :51:50.apart from good break-building, individual balls he's potted have
:51:51. > :51:54.been wonderful. This one, we're thinking he is playing safe
:51:55. > :52:01.initially and he hits this one good. As we said, right in the heart of
:52:02. > :52:07.the pocket. Another nice medium range one, John had missed the red
:52:08. > :52:12.to the corner but got to cue these well. There's one shot you, this one
:52:13. > :52:17.for me is a peach. Frame when, anchored he was. You can put a
:52:18. > :52:25.little bit of unintentional side and once that went in. Look at this. You
:52:26. > :52:29.said it. Little bit of side on it, just cases it along the cushion.
:52:30. > :52:33.Beautiful shot. But he's really been very positive this morning, I've
:52:34. > :52:37.been hugely impressed with his cueing. Everything has at authority
:52:38. > :52:41.of strike, he's not quite on a ball and looks like he's not quite on a
:52:42. > :52:46.ball and looks like he is, it with a purpose. John Higgins has left the
:52:47. > :52:48.arena just to compose himself and that's the difference with Martin
:52:49. > :52:52.Gould. The way he's come out this morning. There are two ways you can
:52:53. > :52:56.try to get yourself back into the match, you can play ultra safety,
:52:57. > :52:59.not take any risks but then sometimes I don't think you give
:53:00. > :53:03.yourself a chance to know how you're playing. Try and play well, he's
:53:04. > :53:07.only going to win this match if he plays well. There's a little bit of
:53:08. > :53:13.a balancing act, you don't want to go gung ho all the time, but what
:53:14. > :53:29.he's done this morning has been correct, hasn't it? Yeah.
:53:30. > :53:37.Of course, there's a possible ten frames in this session. They play
:53:38. > :53:38.four before we get to the mid-session interval, saw two very
:53:39. > :54:04.important frames, these. Missed it on the way up. A scratch
:54:05. > :54:09.of the head there from John. He could have left an easier chance. He
:54:10. > :54:14.was playing it with left-hand side to try to swerve it to hit the end
:54:15. > :54:19.red and missed it. He pushed the cue ball out and hasn't come back.
:54:20. > :54:23.That's what's happened there. All these little things will just be
:54:24. > :54:27.giving Martin Gould a little bit more encouragement. Especially when
:54:28. > :54:38.you see somebody like John Higgins making a mistake on a safety shot.
:54:39. > :54:46.If he can get through to the blue he'll settle for it. But obviously
:54:47. > :54:50.he can. He's a little unlucky there. I have to say that John was bit
:54:51. > :54:54.fortunate to leave the cue ball near the side cushion which meant. Can't
:54:55. > :54:59.get through to the blue. It meant he couldn't do much with the cue ball,
:55:00. > :55:04.he had to trust a little bit to luck and he's had none. That was massive.
:55:05. > :55:07.That flips out and he's on a blue, what a difference that makes because
:55:08. > :55:13.he has momentum at the minute and he's scoring well. He's going to
:55:14. > :55:17.take on the brown. Little bit tricky because he is also slightly hampered
:55:18. > :55:24.by a red that's under his arm when he is playing. This is one of those
:55:25. > :55:27.instances, even though you'd been attacking all morning, do you take
:55:28. > :55:31.this on just be a bit more prudent and play a safety shot? I think he's
:55:32. > :55:44.playing safe. Well that's the balance you are
:55:45. > :55:55.talking about. I won't disagree with that. He was a little unlucky there.
:55:56. > :56:01.Quite impressed by that actually. Sometimes it really difficult dust
:56:02. > :56:04.to real yourself in. You can be playing really well, knocking in
:56:05. > :56:07.everything and you feel like you should make more from that
:56:08. > :56:12.opportunity but he's been very professional there. Just played the
:56:13. > :56:14.right shot and said no, this is the right shot for this instance and I'm
:56:15. > :56:38.going to play it. Close. Over 20 minutes now since
:56:39. > :56:41.John Higgins has potted 8-ball and he may have left this red just to
:56:42. > :56:51.the right of the black. Or maybe not. It was close. He wouldn't have
:56:52. > :56:56.been on a colour, was just trying to contain the situation, he thought if
:56:57. > :57:07.he was doing at containing shot, he would play the potted. Martin cannot
:57:08. > :57:17.get through to the potting angle to the red immediately right of the
:57:18. > :57:21.black. Is he playing the pot here? Was a bit risky to me, I would have
:57:22. > :57:26.played the safety from that. Just had to cover the one on the left, he
:57:27. > :57:30.was initially going to play off the red on the left but he knew the only
:57:31. > :57:37.place he could hide the cue ball was up the right-hand side. That's what
:57:38. > :57:49.he decided to do. He could have done with better length on the cue ball.
:57:50. > :57:58.That was a very aggressive safety shot. Look at the length of the cue
:57:59. > :58:07.ball. OK, an inch short, but a good one, telling one. Yeah, got a lot
:58:08. > :58:12.more to think about here, just wander about the red nearer the
:58:13. > :58:21.blue, but he's got to get a good red. The two reds near the left-hand
:58:22. > :58:25.pocket, that's the problem he's got. There is a safety of that red nearer
:58:26. > :58:33.the blue, but unless you get a really good cue ball, you could be
:58:34. > :58:41.leaving yourself open. That's the shot that John's referring to. But
:58:42. > :58:48.you need a good cue ball. You need to find that baulk cushion. And also
:58:49. > :58:56.don't fit it to seven and catch the bump at the middle pocket. He's
:58:57. > :59:03.missed the bump. Played it well. Very good shot.
:59:04. > :59:15.Excellent. He was in a spot of bother. He did get very close to the
:59:16. > :59:18.middle pocket. Made a huge difference not hitting that bump.
:59:19. > :59:27.You can be unlucky, but it does happen.
:59:28. > :59:39.He has played it, but has he left anything? It looks like that was a
:59:40. > :59:45.fortuitous case on the green. -- fortuitous
:59:46. > :59:53.if it ran past the green, it may have left a choice of two reds. Has
:59:54. > :59:56.long game and medium game has been excellent this morning but there's a
:59:57. > :00:03.lot more pressure on this one, knowing you could be leaving
:00:04. > :00:10.something. The first one he is cued across.
:00:11. > :00:30.He's certainly covered the one down the left-hand side. John is already
:00:31. > :00:45.looking at the red on the right-hand side, taking on that pot.
:00:46. > :00:55.All of the hours of practice in your club, they are for shots like that.
:00:56. > :00:59.Beautifully struck. He has missed a couple this morning, John Higgins,
:01:00. > :01:04.but that will give him a bit more confidence. That was a beauty.
:01:05. > :01:11.And it's time for John to score now. He has seen Martin playing very well
:01:12. > :01:21.this morning, winning two quick frames. He needs to read stamp his
:01:22. > :02:03.authority on this match. -- restamp his authority.
:02:04. > :02:10.Just a little overhit, but it's one of those shots John has played there
:02:11. > :02:12.where you are frightened of not getting far enough for the blue.
:02:13. > :02:20.Brown is available. Actually, the green. He could see
:02:21. > :02:37.both of those. Not what he played, but it's an
:02:38. > :02:49.opportunity when putting this red to get the black back on its spot.
:02:50. > :02:56.When the black does go on its spot, it won't be available in either
:02:57. > :03:00.corner pocket, so he would like to get on one of the reds that would
:03:01. > :03:23.stop the black going into one of the corners.
:03:24. > :03:26.Don't think you'll be able to get through to the red immediately to
:03:27. > :03:42.the right of the black. Moving that red means the black will
:03:43. > :03:46.be available into that corner pocket in a few shots. Once again he went
:03:47. > :03:55.up for the blue, but you would rather be too hard than soft. He has
:03:56. > :03:57.a good angle. The green looks perfect for the red to the left-hand
:03:58. > :04:15.side of the black. If he is on the bottom one, well,
:04:16. > :04:27.that is just perfect. That's a bonus, as long as he pots
:04:28. > :04:38.it. He won't be taking it for granted.
:04:39. > :04:46.That makes the black available into both corners. It was quite a clever
:04:47. > :04:50.shot off the green. He knew if he wasn't on one, he would be on the
:04:51. > :04:59.other. And he got on the perfect red.
:05:00. > :05:15.He's had a couple of nice little kisses and nudges, it has still been
:05:16. > :05:21.a really well constructive break. -- constructed break. He will want to
:05:22. > :05:28.win the frame at this visit. Needs another 32 to get to the snookers
:05:29. > :05:31.required stage. Hard to see where he's going to slip up. Those three
:05:32. > :05:39.reds nicely in a line. And a red on the left of the table
:05:40. > :06:40.that's nicely available. Two reds, two colours would be more
:06:41. > :06:49.than enough, but he's given himself a bit of work to do.
:06:50. > :06:59.Still expected him to pot that, but a bit more on it. Recovered the
:07:00. > :07:06.situation beautifully. Good pot, good position. This would put him 61
:07:07. > :07:11.in front with 67 remaining. This black, one more red and a colour and
:07:12. > :07:18.he will have his first frame on the scoreboard this morning. It started
:07:19. > :07:23.with that excellent mid-range red, a lovely crisp pot into the top
:07:24. > :07:29.right-hand corner. Lovely when they go in. Players spent hours playing
:07:30. > :07:49.these shots. That's what it's for, in the heat of battle.
:07:50. > :08:05.It won't matter to John, just a red and a colour needed. But good
:08:06. > :08:10.thinking. How many people would have noticed the pink was not going back
:08:11. > :08:12.on the spot? He has taken these very well. Considering he has not had
:08:13. > :08:21.much table time. That's what all the great players
:08:22. > :08:28.can do, of course. Can be frozen out. It was over 20 minutes since he
:08:29. > :08:31.potted a ball, and the first chance he gets, he wins the frame. A class
:08:32. > :08:50.act. Always has been. I'm a big fan of his cue action. I
:08:51. > :08:56.like watching John play. He lets the cue do the work. A modern
:08:57. > :08:59.phenomenon, people have become more compact and tighter into the cue
:09:00. > :09:06.ball, but John lets the cue do the work. I have never seen him
:09:07. > :09:07.decelerate on a ball yet. If I was teaching someone starting off, I
:09:08. > :09:18.would prefer this cue action. Nearly comes off his bridge hand, he
:09:19. > :09:24.takes it back that far, but it's always smooth. I know you worked a
:09:25. > :09:30.lot with Frank Callan. Do you think he was the one who first got this
:09:31. > :09:35.real old drawback? I think John, from years of practising with
:09:36. > :09:43.Stephen Hendry... I think he went to see Frank. John picked that up from
:09:44. > :09:49.practising with Stephen and Frank was very much an advocate of letting
:09:50. > :09:53.the cue do the work. No better advert than seeing Stephen winning
:09:54. > :10:02.those championships, and John as well. And Steve Davis, and you as
:10:03. > :10:07.well. And Ken Doherty. He coached seven world champions, Frank. Sadly
:10:08. > :10:15.passed away last year. A right character. Loved his snooker.
:10:16. > :10:30.Last year, the record number of centuries was equalled. I think it's
:10:31. > :10:37.going to be bettered this year. It's a good shout. I hope so, John, it's
:10:38. > :10:42.better to watch. As long as they are not every frame. I like to see the
:10:43. > :10:45.close frames. This has been an excellent contribution. Just one
:10:46. > :10:51.poor positional shot, but he made light of it.
:10:52. > :11:03.This has been top draw. That's why he's the champion that he is.
:11:04. > :11:11.Trying to come around... Where's the cue ball going to?
:11:12. > :11:25.Wonderful. We have been treated to three marvellous frames so far this
:11:26. > :11:29.morning. It seemed to be all Martin Gould. John Higgins showing what a
:11:30. > :12:36.competitor he is. He is four ahead again.
:12:37. > :12:45.Impressive record, that, isn't it? Yeah, not many better. If you are a
:12:46. > :12:51.multiple champion here at the Crucible, they are very where birds
:12:52. > :12:59.-- rare birds indeed. You are in with the greats. Absolutely.
:13:00. > :13:05.This was a key shot, the way he judged this. I thought this was
:13:06. > :13:11.played really well. The one thing you couldn't do with it was short.
:13:12. > :13:15.He knew the red above the black... That was the one I called first, but
:13:16. > :13:21.if he could get on the bottom one, that was even better. Then he has
:13:22. > :13:25.opened up the black to both pockets, and he couldn't have struck it any
:13:26. > :13:30.better. That was the key shot to the frame. Absolutely. As you say, he
:13:31. > :13:37.couldn't afford to be short, and that was in his mind. If anything, a
:13:38. > :13:39.little bit harder. Anyway, it was a perfect positional shot and a
:13:40. > :13:58.wonderful century. Mid-session interval after this
:13:59. > :14:04.frame. Three marvellous frames we have seen this morning.
:14:05. > :14:11.Nothing worse than doing that. A great frame, you make a century and
:14:12. > :14:15.then all of a sudden a break off like that, sticking the red towards
:14:16. > :14:17.the middle pocket. You can see it in John's face, he is annoyed with
:14:18. > :14:27.that. Yes, and the red has gone in. He
:14:28. > :14:29.will finish close to the cushion so he needs a nice angle of the blue.
:14:30. > :14:38.Not bad. Doesn't have to do much with the cue
:14:39. > :14:42.ball, just role in the blue. He will probably play for the red at the
:14:43. > :14:55.back near the black. That's a good shot. Tight on the
:14:56. > :15:07.cushion. JP here was known as one of the best
:15:08. > :15:08.players off the cushion. You would have been content to drop that in
:15:09. > :15:20.dead weight! Cues it beautifully. Amazing how your mind thinks,
:15:21. > :15:26.because you would have played that shot exactly as Martin did.
:15:27. > :15:33.I was blessed to be able to play off cushions. Willie always gives me
:15:34. > :15:38.stick, he says the position was there! One of those things, I never
:15:39. > :15:59.had any problem with it. But he struck that lovely.
:16:00. > :16:08.OK... He would have liked to have been another six inches away. I
:16:09. > :16:13.prefer playing the screw on that type of short, I just feel it has a
:16:14. > :16:21.bit more control. He has opened up the reds, but it's all about potting
:16:22. > :16:28.the black and getting position. I wonder if he'll play a little stun
:16:29. > :16:35.up into the reds, the little cannon. That would be ideal.
:16:36. > :16:44.Mmm. Could have just done with catching it's likely the other way.
:16:45. > :16:49.Don't get me wrong, he has a red to the left middle, one to the right
:16:50. > :16:54.middle. But just a little bit tricky. Particularly the one to the
:16:55. > :16:56.left middle. That was almost a case of the fact he is hitting the ball
:16:57. > :17:06.too well this morning. Just wanted it to the other side
:17:07. > :17:07.slightly, would have been perfect for the bottom red. This is trickier
:17:08. > :17:14.with the cueing. He can't get the right side of the
:17:15. > :17:22.blue. Slightly blind pocket, a trickier
:17:23. > :17:37.red, but it's there, no problem. The frame before the mid-session
:17:38. > :17:42.interval, it's a big one. As long as he can keep John Higgins two away
:17:43. > :17:54.from victory, he's got a little bit of room to manoeuvre.
:17:55. > :18:05.I don't think that was entirely how he played it, but he'll take it.
:18:06. > :18:12.This has been a fabulous little mini-session this morning, it has to
:18:13. > :18:16.be said. The standard is superb. Are they paying us for watching this,
:18:17. > :18:25.John? Yeah, it's been absolutely marvellous. Proof of what we were
:18:26. > :18:26.saying. 94% pot successful Martin Gould this morning. 91%, John
:18:27. > :18:38.Higgins. And take your hat off to Martin
:18:39. > :18:44.Gould, playing one of the best players to have ever picked up a
:18:45. > :18:46.cue, 7-2 behind, and he's had such a good approach to the match. That
:18:47. > :18:58.takes a bit of doing. Just let the cue ball on loose
:18:59. > :19:01.there. And once again he is going to be relying on a little cannon. Can't
:19:02. > :19:05.really guarantee position. Pot the black, that's the main
:19:06. > :19:19.priority. Well played. One in the middle. And
:19:20. > :19:37.one in the corner. If he can win this frame in one
:19:38. > :19:42.visit, which is a distinct possibility, it will make him feel
:19:43. > :19:46.good at the mid-session interval. Nothing like winning with one visit.
:19:47. > :19:54.25 points needed. He will settle for the blue to the
:19:55. > :20:11.far corner. That's OK. He's not done a lot wrong this
:20:12. > :20:15.morning. Just shows you. A wonderful century, and then plays the break
:20:16. > :20:26.off... Just caught the end red a bit too thick.
:20:27. > :20:42.Perfect. I think that break off thing happens quite a bit after
:20:43. > :20:46.you've just done something really good. A little bit in concentration,
:20:47. > :20:49.you've just made a century and stamped your authority back on the
:20:50. > :20:54.match, and you don't quite concentrate enough on the break off,
:20:55. > :20:58.and you sit in the chair thinking, why did I do that? We've all done
:20:59. > :21:02.it. Just drop your guard for a second in this game... The worst
:21:03. > :21:08.thing is you have to go and sit down and suffer.
:21:09. > :21:14.This has been excellent stuff from Martin Gould. Well, excellent stuff
:21:15. > :21:19.from both players. Really is a cracking session. I'm just impressed
:21:20. > :21:27.with the belief he has shown this morning. Yeah.
:21:28. > :21:35.I was impressed with the safety shot he played before. One of the best
:21:36. > :21:39.things I had seen this morning. Playing so well, but he pulled in
:21:40. > :21:43.his horns and said no, this is the right shot. That shows someone
:21:44. > :22:04.thinking clearly. The right shot is always the right shot.
:22:05. > :22:20.When they started this morning, obviously would -- he would have
:22:21. > :22:25.loved to win the four frames... If he gets out of it 3-1, he will have
:22:26. > :22:28.done some damage. But that is a poor positional shot.
:22:29. > :22:35.The higher he goes up the table, the more he is going to be on the red in
:22:36. > :22:40.the corner, and the one that goes in the other corner, so the one thing
:22:41. > :22:52.he could not be there was short. This is a tricky pot.
:22:53. > :22:57.Needed a bit of side on it. The flick on the second red has worked
:22:58. > :23:11.out perfectly. Scare over. John Higgins, for all
:23:12. > :23:14.money it looks now... Well, he started the morning session with a
:23:15. > :23:25.five frame lead, it is going to be cut to three.
:23:26. > :23:33.Another good example, that last shot... To get ideal position, he
:23:34. > :23:38.could have put on a bit of side, but he said no, I will just knock the
:23:39. > :23:44.ball in and see where I finish. Good thinking again.
:23:45. > :23:54.I don't think John Higgins will bother coming back to the table if
:23:55. > :24:12.that goes in. Well, we've already had two
:24:13. > :24:17.centuries. In the first three frames this morning. Could we see a third
:24:18. > :24:21.one? Not beyond the realms of possibility.
:24:22. > :24:59.The little cannon to stay on the pink. Well, what a pity. Not a
:25:00. > :25:04.century, but more than enough. Martin Gould should be very proud of
:25:05. > :25:10.that performance. Came at with no negative thoughts, trailing 7-2. At
:25:11. > :25:11.the mid-session interval, it is now 8-5.
:25:12. > :25:17.STUDIO: We shall be back there shortly. The mid-session interval.
:25:18. > :25:21.John Higgins, the four-time world champion, needing two frames to book
:25:22. > :25:24.his place in the last 16. But a spirited fightback from Martin
:25:25. > :25:29.Gould, all to play for. An interesting tussle on the other
:25:30. > :25:35.table, as Stuart Carrington of Grimsby takes on Liang Wenbo. Wenbo
:25:36. > :25:39.beta Judd Trump to win his first ranking title last year in the
:25:40. > :25:40.English open. He has a real chance to do something here at the
:25:41. > :25:51.Crucible. Somebody Peter knows very well,
:25:52. > :25:58.Liang Wenbo. Wait to see him back. Absolutely. A really nice lad.
:25:59. > :26:03.Incredibly talented, a very excitable character, brilliant for
:26:04. > :26:08.the game. He is such a good player, it's incredible. His technique is
:26:09. > :26:12.unusual. He is incredibly close to the cue ball with his bridge hand,
:26:13. > :26:16.which means the back end of the cue is up a bit, which is not ideal. But
:26:17. > :26:23.he scores so heavily and his cue ball in practice is so good. We
:26:24. > :26:27.recounted before that he played a best of nine against somebody and
:26:28. > :26:33.had three centuries, a maximum and a 90. Which is just unbelievable
:26:34. > :26:39.stuff. I am so pleased for him that he has won his first big tournament.
:26:40. > :26:44.You mentioned his technique. He is right eyed and left-handed. It is
:26:45. > :26:47.very strange, and sometimes he can come across the ball and twitch
:26:48. > :26:52.under pressure, which we have all done from time to time. But it is
:26:53. > :26:56.noticeable with him, so I am sure he will be working on keeping as still
:26:57. > :27:00.as he can in future, especially under pressure. Seriously talented
:27:01. > :27:06.player, and on his game he can beat anybody. He is exciting. Moving all
:27:07. > :27:09.over the place, art off the shot before he has hit the cue ball,
:27:10. > :27:14.brilliant to watch, but some think you would like to get control of. I
:27:15. > :27:19.love his celebration when he wins. To be able to jump up in the air and
:27:20. > :27:24.his feet come above the table, buried athletic sort of guy, he has
:27:25. > :27:29.done a lot of running in the past to keep himself fit. -- very athletic.
:27:30. > :27:33.One of the best players China has ever produced. Perhaps in the shadow
:27:34. > :27:38.of Ding for a time, but the fact he has won a big tournament now, let's
:27:39. > :27:41.hope he can kick on. I've ever watching him in the commentary box
:27:42. > :27:45.with Dennis Taylor and thinking, wow, you are the next big thing, and
:27:46. > :27:51.then he disappeared for a while. Where did he go? It can happen. Name
:27:52. > :27:55.one player who has not had a bad season where you think, what has
:27:56. > :27:59.happened to them? All of a sudden, they learn the lessons, worked a bit
:28:00. > :28:03.harder again, get their mind right, take on a coach and then they give
:28:04. > :28:10.themselves every opportunity to come back and be stronger than before.
:28:11. > :28:17.Yes, and Liang Wenbo used the pain of losing in the 2015 final of the
:28:18. > :28:22.UK Championship to finally joins Luca's elite. He lost to Neil
:28:23. > :28:25.Robertson in that final 10-5, and there is a real feeling he could
:28:26. > :28:29.make it through to the semifinals this year at the Crucible. If not
:28:30. > :28:32.the final. We join it in the opening stages. Your commentary team is
:28:33. > :28:51.Dennis Taylor and Ken Doherty. That was the only red he could leave
:28:52. > :28:53.on really. Didn't expect him to hit the far jaw of the middle pocket.
:28:54. > :29:08.First chance now to Liang. That shot Stuart took on, it was so
:29:09. > :29:09.awkward you would maybe only give yourself two out of ten chance of
:29:10. > :29:23.knocking it in from that angle. Liang didn't get enough pace on that
:29:24. > :29:24.pot. He has left himself awkward. Needed to run through another six
:29:25. > :29:34.inches. Would have been an easy pink into
:29:35. > :29:38.the middle, had to take it into the corner and it was nowhere near the
:29:39. > :30:20.pocket. A bit of an edgy start from Liang.
:30:21. > :30:36.Is the. The chance he had, could have got himself nicely on the
:30:37. > :30:44.black. A bit of a slip up there. And that only just went in. Any more
:30:45. > :31:05.pace and it would have stayed out. A few wobbles there.
:31:06. > :31:18.Another couple of wobbles from the blue before safely staying down. But
:31:19. > :31:45.now it's developing into quite a decent chance here. Five loose reds.
:31:46. > :31:57.Nice angle on the black but he won't come into the reds. Doesn't have too
:31:58. > :31:58.here. Four loose reds available. Take the red nearer the left centre
:31:59. > :32:11.pocket. One of those situations where he was
:32:12. > :32:17.playing for virtually see reds. Three reds available to him.
:32:18. > :32:28.Sometimes you do that. Playing into an area so you are giving yourself
:32:29. > :32:32.options. Again he could try and get on two reds. One adds to the left of
:32:33. > :33:16.the pack of reds or the one to the left centre.
:33:17. > :33:26.I like watching Liang Wenbo play, he's got a swagger when he was round
:33:27. > :33:32.the table. Very modest lad, he walks round the table. Bit of a stomp.
:33:33. > :33:48.Very confident round the table. He's got a nice angle, which he
:33:49. > :33:52.seems to have, he can brush off the side of the pack with a little bit
:33:53. > :34:03.of pace and bring a couple more reds into play here. A couple have come
:34:04. > :34:30.out, so that's nicely done. Quick look at the scores. What he's
:34:31. > :34:33.going to need. Two loose reds and one more. That's to secure the first
:34:34. > :35:09.frame. Not quite sure. Having a look to see
:35:10. > :35:14.if the red course to the left centre. Got a nice angle, he can
:35:15. > :35:19.screw into the reds if he wishes. Looks like he's a little bit
:35:20. > :35:27.reluctant to do that. Perfect angle, he may take the red up into the
:35:28. > :35:32.yellow pocket. He likes to pick off the reds from the bunch in his
:35:33. > :35:38.break. Not one of these players that just wants to smash the reds open
:35:39. > :35:47.straightaway. He only needs this to secure the opening frame here. Looks
:35:48. > :36:08.good. Right in the centre of the pocket. Played that with top spin.
:36:09. > :36:13.No side on the cue ball. Just slipped off the reds rather than
:36:14. > :36:19.hitting them full ball but the frame is safe and this red may cut into
:36:20. > :36:29.the middle pocket. If this goes, a chance of a century.
:36:30. > :36:36.No century but you'd have to say it's a good start from Liang Wenbo.
:36:37. > :36:43.Stuart Carrington stays in his seat and a break of 71 gives the Chinese
:36:44. > :36:47.player the opening frame. A very solid start by Liang Wenbo. Let's
:36:48. > :36:54.show you what happened in frame two and its Li Hang to play. -- Li
:36:55. > :37:33.it's gone completely wrong. Just red required for Stuart Carrington.
:37:34. > :37:41.He's had a slight result. He is hampered by the blue, Liang Wenbo,
:37:42. > :37:51.and that he's dead straight he can do a lot about it. The old snooker
:37:52. > :37:55.regards sometimes never forgive you and that easy black that he missed
:37:56. > :38:09.off the spot is coming back to haunt him here. We'll have to get on a
:38:10. > :38:14.colour. Just the pink is the only possible thing that's going to come
:38:15. > :38:17.to his rescue here. Just going back to that red, I don't know why he
:38:18. > :38:22.didn't just try to drop down and give it a chance for the red to drop
:38:23. > :38:27.into the pocket, he only needed red. Was lucky he was trying to get out
:38:28. > :38:32.onto a colour. Have a look at this red. Drop it in, give it a chance to
:38:33. > :38:35.drop in if he plays that slower it might have gone in off the angle of
:38:36. > :38:48.the pocket. As I said, the pink is the only
:38:49. > :38:52.thing that can come to Stuart Carrington's rescue. It all depends
:38:53. > :39:26.on how he gets that thing. I think if he lands somewhere around
:39:27. > :39:30.that baulk line. He has other options also available. But that's
:39:31. > :39:39.where he's over two. And that's not bad. He's nice and straight on the
:39:40. > :39:43.pink but he's not going to be able to get close to the black so it is
:39:44. > :39:48.going to be a black from mid-range distance. Just eyeing it up but he
:39:49. > :39:54.such a good long putter he's got every confidence to take the long
:39:55. > :39:59.black on but might still be a little bit hard for Carrington. User
:40:00. > :40:13.left-hander which helps as well here. Black for this second frame.
:40:14. > :40:16.Straight in the middle of the pocket and a very relieved Liang Wenbo
:40:17. > :40:22.takes the second frame of the morning session, the longest frame
:40:23. > :40:29.of the tournament so far and Stuart Carrington will be very
:40:30. > :40:32.disappointed. He leads 2-0. That happened a short time ago, if you
:40:33. > :40:37.are to carry on watching that match is available on the red button but
:40:38. > :40:41.we prefer to stay here on BBC Two. Watching Liang Wenbo, heady raters
:40:42. > :40:46.game? He's a fantastic player. We must for a few seasons and he got
:40:47. > :40:50.his game back in the final of the UK and he's a very dangerous opponent,
:40:51. > :40:53.a very good scorer. Probably a decent draw, stewards are struggling
:40:54. > :40:58.with the atmosphere at the Crucible and he knocked out Mark Williams and
:40:59. > :41:03.you'd rather play Stuart and Mark Williams. There's a chance that Ding
:41:04. > :41:07.Junhui is booking his place in the last 16 today. Liang, if he wins
:41:08. > :41:11.this match he takes on Ding Junhui and that's going to be one heck of a
:41:12. > :41:15.tussle. In practice for hours and hours together. Maybe it might not
:41:16. > :41:20.have acted before this championship, might have kept away from each
:41:21. > :41:23.other. You are commentating on a match between John Higgins and
:41:24. > :41:26.Martin Gold and Martin are still in this. This is a fantastic match, the
:41:27. > :41:31.session this morning has been superb, bloody century breaks. John
:41:32. > :41:35.Higgins has had the ball well, not on our lot wrong but Martin Gould
:41:36. > :41:37.has been very good, great social action and positive. When he has
:41:38. > :41:41.declared a safety shots he's done well. Very good session this
:41:42. > :41:43.morning. Good stuff, I'll let you go. You got to run back to the
:41:44. > :42:03.commentary box. Mid-session interval over, this
:42:04. > :42:10.match will now be played to a finish. No more intervals. John
:42:11. > :42:16.Higgins needs two frames. Martin Gould needs five. Every credit the
:42:17. > :42:31.way he's come out and fought this morning.
:42:32. > :42:41.Decent safety shot from John. No easy path back to the baulk and
:42:42. > :42:51.unless you can get past the blue. That red on the left-hand side of
:42:52. > :42:55.the table. Had another look, had a few looks. Saw him hit the edge of
:42:56. > :43:13.the red. He probably didn't think he could
:43:14. > :43:18.hit it that thick. Catching the blue was dangerous but that yellow has
:43:19. > :43:22.come to his rescue somewhat. This pot is on to the right corner. John
:43:23. > :43:31.is going to be hampered by the yellow. That's a bit of playing the
:43:32. > :43:44.pot. If the yellow wasn't there he's playing it no doubt.
:43:45. > :43:52.Well, he looks like he's decided that he is. Maybe his thinking is
:43:53. > :43:55.that it just runs through a little bit on it and the only one he could
:43:56. > :44:05.leave is the one he's taking. Brilliant. I say brilliant, it's a
:44:06. > :44:10.great pot, he just lost the cue ball.
:44:11. > :44:20.Tough enough pot that was, being hampered.
:44:21. > :44:30.All friends here at the Crucible is big -- all frames you and the
:44:31. > :44:40.Crucible are big, but this one is massive. If John wins this, he will
:44:41. > :44:42.think he is home and hosed. Stuart Carrington will think he is looking
:44:43. > :45:16.a bit precarious. Would have been a better shot if it
:45:17. > :45:18.flicked the yellow. Would have made it easier for John with his hand on
:45:19. > :45:42.the table. Who's going to get the first chance.
:45:43. > :45:46.These tactical battles are always interesting at the start of a frame.
:45:47. > :46:00.The way but Spurs have from this morning. John Higgins has played his
:46:01. > :46:07.part. Made a marvellous 127 in the 12th frame. This is a good shot.
:46:08. > :46:09.This is excellent. Could have played that much better, a little tap on
:46:10. > :46:49.the table from John Higgins in appreciation.
:46:50. > :46:52.Couldn't risk trying to get back to the baulk end, so just the
:46:53. > :47:43.containing safety. Bit disappointed with that. John
:47:44. > :47:48.just checking. Towards the left corner. It was a strange frame with
:47:49. > :47:58.the browns in the sport because not a lot of spaces you can have. Behind
:47:59. > :48:05.the yellow. He's got a target and it's a very good shot as well.
:48:06. > :48:12.Nearly got the pot but that isn't what it was about. The cue ball
:48:13. > :48:19.behind the yellow. This has got to be thin whichever way you hit it. If
:48:20. > :48:25.he hates it thing he could pot it. And he has done. Was that a good
:48:26. > :48:35.flick on the blue? It's not a bad one. It's not a bad one. You bet it
:48:36. > :48:39.is. Wow. Great pot, didn't think he could cut that in. Excellent. The
:48:40. > :48:50.flip on the blue, what a bonus that is. Absolute natural angle. What
:48:51. > :48:58.shot does he play? Does he try to call into the reds or come out and
:48:59. > :49:03.play on a loose one? You cannot miss the blue, Martin.
:49:04. > :49:11.Very surprising. How many times do we say, when you look at the shot it
:49:12. > :49:17.looks very easy but it's quite an acute angle. Not that acute to be
:49:18. > :49:22.honest with you. Very disappointed to have missed that opportunity
:49:23. > :49:27.after the excellent opening red. The way the balls are situated, it might
:49:28. > :49:46.not be that costly. This isn't an easy table by any means.
:49:47. > :49:54.Looks like he could have been nothing and then coming off the
:49:55. > :49:59.other one has put him on the black. As you quite rightly say it's not a
:50:00. > :50:03.nice table at the moment. The blue is off its spot which always makes a
:50:04. > :50:09.difference. The brown on the side cushion. I don't think John is going
:50:10. > :50:13.to be on anything after that when the black gets spotted. What could
:50:14. > :50:32.be end of break. Just needed that cue ball to run a
:50:33. > :50:43.fraction further. The situation when the referee spots the black. Thanks
:50:44. > :50:50.Raff. Like the referee takes great pleasure. Slowly potting the black
:50:51. > :51:01.on its spot. I'm sure he doesn't but as a player you feel that. That Mr
:51:02. > :51:22.blue only costing a few points. Just caught that a little bit too
:51:23. > :51:30.thick. That's why he's not quite reaching the baulk line. Chance to
:51:31. > :51:39.have a look at what's available. If the blue passes the red to the right
:51:40. > :51:45.corner he'll take this red on. And it does. Not much margin of error.
:51:46. > :51:50.Will feel that the only red he could leave is the one he's playing.
:51:51. > :52:04.Good solid pot. And perfect on the blue. That was always looking like
:52:05. > :52:08.the shot. Beautifully cute. But where's this position coming from
:52:09. > :52:14.here. Is he going to call up the table and round? I think that's what
:52:15. > :52:21.he'll have to do. With the yellow not being on its spot and the brown
:52:22. > :52:24.not on its spot, not too many obstacles to avoid. Judge this
:52:25. > :52:52.nicely. APPLAUSE Very good. Good cueing yet again.
:52:53. > :52:56.Looking like an unpromising position a couple of shots ago, John Higgins
:52:57. > :53:02.pots this black and the easy red on the right, leaves himself an angle
:53:03. > :53:08.to knock into the pack and who knows, might be able to score enough
:53:09. > :53:13.points to win this frame. We'll be leaving himself a nice half Paul
:53:14. > :53:17.angle to stun into the pack or screw into the pack, which ever way he
:53:18. > :53:24.sees it. Need 64 points to be over the line. A little stunned up here I
:53:25. > :53:27.would suggest here. If the split goes right, good chance to win the
:53:28. > :53:50.frame. Whereas the red ball going. Now can
:53:51. > :54:00.he get past the blue? Didn't quite get into the cue enough, did he? No.
:54:01. > :54:06.Just a tiny fraction off. He feels he can swerve round the blue to pot
:54:07. > :54:09.this red. So close to going in. He thought he could swerve around but
:54:10. > :54:21.in the end he was very lucky to pot it. Very lucky. Lucky not to go in
:54:22. > :54:25.and off. Fractions favoured him there. Looks like the blue ghost
:54:26. > :54:44.just past the yellow. APPLAUSE
:54:45. > :54:51.If he's on that red and found the gap, that's an excellent shot. That
:54:52. > :55:00.is absolutely perfect. He'll be so pleased with himself with that shot,
:55:01. > :55:03.he really will. To find that gap. He got lucky with the one over the
:55:04. > :55:09.middle pocket because I'm pretty sure he didn't play a double-kiss
:55:10. > :55:24.pot. He'll take it. That blue was lovely.
:55:25. > :55:36.This is the last of the open reds. And 43 lead. A possible 83
:55:37. > :55:41.remaining. Still going to need three more reds, you would have thought,
:55:42. > :55:46.to close the frame at this visit. Needs a good angle on the colour off
:55:47. > :55:50.this thread to try to bring us the reds just below the pink into play.
:55:51. > :56:04.Looking to see if one of them goes to the middle.
:56:05. > :56:11.I don't think he's got the best angle on the black but he may have a
:56:12. > :56:20.good angle on the pink. Looking once again to see if the end red close to
:56:21. > :56:23.the middle. It must be tight. If he plays the pink, he can open them up,
:56:24. > :56:30.looks like he has a nice angle on the pink but he'd rather play this
:56:31. > :56:33.one. The black is unmissable. Because it's virtually catching the
:56:34. > :56:40.other one close to it, just got to get in the right position. Not
:56:41. > :56:45.straightforward. Just got to get the position in the right place so the
:56:46. > :56:51.red is two. Had a look at it a couple of times and I think that's
:56:52. > :56:55.perfect. If he releases the other two reds into good positions, that
:56:56. > :56:59.would be sufficient, these the reds with colours. Would be well past the
:57:00. > :57:12.run of snooker is required. This really has been a break of the
:57:13. > :57:15.highest quality. The red over the middle pocket, he was a bit lucky
:57:16. > :57:21.with a double-kiss to get it but the shot on the blue to find a gap and
:57:22. > :57:26.the rest of it, the way it's been constructed has been pure John
:57:27. > :57:30.Higgins. Wonderful control of the cue ball. When he came to the table
:57:31. > :57:35.I didn't think he'd be winning a frame from there. No. But it was a
:57:36. > :57:39.poor safety shot from Martin and it shows you at this level, if you
:57:40. > :57:41.don't find the baulk cushion, you're in trouble and this to win the
:57:42. > :58:09.frame. STUDIO: Excellent snooker from the
:58:10. > :58:11.four time world champion John Higgins and a bit of red button
:58:12. > :58:16.business now. If you want to continue watching this match ahead
:58:17. > :58:21.your red button and you can continue to watch Liang Wenbo against Stuart
:58:22. > :58:26.Carrington. 2-1 to Liang as it stands on the BBC sport at an BBC
:58:27. > :58:30.sport website. We will show you the best of the John Higgins match very
:58:31. > :58:33.shortly when we return at one o'clock. Hazel will be here as we
:58:34. > :59:07.see Judd Trump for the very first time.
:59:08. > :59:15.How many times have you driven a boat this fast?!