:00:35. > :01:04.Good evening. If it's greatness you after, its greatness you'll get at
:01:05. > :01:08.the end of this annual snooker marathon in the Betfred World
:01:09. > :01:11.Championship. Greatness on show this evening in the second round when our
:01:12. > :01:14.defending champion, Mark Selby, makes his return a week after
:01:15. > :01:18.getting through his opening round match against Fergal O'Brien.
:01:19. > :01:22.There's greatness in the air in a match which we will see two
:01:23. > :01:28.spectacular conclusion to match between an four time champion John
:01:29. > :01:34.Higgins and feisty Northern Irishman Mark Allen, who between them have
:01:35. > :01:40.already made five centuries Higgins believes this 19-7. Allen has
:01:41. > :01:44.knocked an four times so far. -- Higgins leaves this one. You do not
:01:45. > :01:49.want to miss this one tonight. Live on BBC Two and thereafter on the red
:01:50. > :01:51.button. Already through to the quarterfinals is a certain Ronnie
:01:52. > :01:57.O'Sullivan. The five times champion strode over
:01:58. > :02:03.the line this morning with hardly a glance behind him. Ramming home some
:02:04. > :02:05.spellbinding long pots and completing an entirely focused and
:02:06. > :02:14.polished performance against Shaun Murphy. The winning margin in the
:02:15. > :02:16.end 13-7 and The Rocket marches through to an 18th quarterfinal in
:02:17. > :02:20.25 appearances at the Crucible. I'm just pleased to be through. It's
:02:21. > :02:32.so hard out there at the Crucible. It's like no place on earth I have
:02:33. > :02:37.ever played feels like this. It drags you through the mill. To come
:02:38. > :02:41.through is like relief in many ways. You just have to go through it as a
:02:42. > :02:45.professional snooker player. You can never play the same every session.
:02:46. > :02:49.There will always be dips and troughs that it is how good your bad
:02:50. > :02:54.game is and how bad your good ones are. Overall, my bad ones weren't
:02:55. > :02:57.too bad and won amongst them, I was pretty decent. That's all you can
:02:58. > :03:02.do. I have a long stretch, you have to that that sort of... You can be
:03:03. > :03:07.stronger than your opponents. I love to perform, to play. The fans pay
:03:08. > :03:14.the money, they support you over the years, you just want to give them
:03:15. > :03:20.something to remember. "I was there when he did this fantastic break",
:03:21. > :03:26.whether it's a 147, 90 clearance, people just think, that was
:03:27. > :03:31.unbelievable. As a pro, as an entertainer, you thrive off that
:03:32. > :03:33.sort of stuff. You just try to do your best for them, really. But who
:03:34. > :03:39.would run a play? That depended on the outcome of an
:03:40. > :03:43.almighty all Chinese tussle between last year Crucible runner-up danger
:03:44. > :03:50.and weight and his great colleague and friend Liang Wenbo, this year's
:03:51. > :03:56.open winner. So long in his shadow. Liang fought back to lead 12-11
:03:57. > :04:00.before dING took this to a deciding frame. -- before Ding to get to a
:04:01. > :04:06.deciding frame. This is how it turned out.
:04:07. > :04:16.COMMENTATOR: That was such a tough shot to play at that stage of the
:04:17. > :04:21.match. That could be his last shot. APPLAUSE
:04:22. > :04:34.We're talking about the start of the frame. He just had one chance. If
:04:35. > :04:42.Junhui doesn't win the match from here, he can have no complaints. He
:04:43. > :04:46.will have to play this black to this red. I didn't know from Ding 's
:04:47. > :04:56.angle, how thin this is. He just needs one good shot here. If
:04:57. > :05:00.he pots this red he can get a perfect on the black. He can win the
:05:01. > :05:13.match from this visit. Black in the same pocket.
:05:14. > :05:20.It's not ideal. He hasn't got any room to play for the black in the
:05:21. > :05:23.same pocket. This easy red is definitely no advantage playing
:05:24. > :05:28.this, you may have to play the more difficult choice of red. You can't
:05:29. > :05:43.make his mind up. -- he can't make his mind up.
:05:44. > :05:52.Well, I think he's just slipped on the carpet. He must have some new
:05:53. > :05:57.shoes on, there. He somehow have to find a gap to get
:05:58. > :06:10.the white into open play. I'm not too sure you can get him to
:06:11. > :06:20.recover from there. He needs a kiss. He gets a slight kiss. APPLAUSE
:06:21. > :06:25.I have to say, he steered the cue ball well to miss the red on the
:06:26. > :06:31.black cushion but the low flick from the red on the side cushion has kept
:06:32. > :06:35.him in position watch this. If he doesn't hit this, the pink doesn't
:06:36. > :06:41.pop. He may have been faced with a blue to the far left corner.
:06:42. > :06:54.Couldn't get a better chance now, to win this match. He could win this
:06:55. > :07:02.match. That last safety shot, once he played that, split them all over
:07:03. > :07:05.the place. He got away with it and Ding was faced with a safety shot
:07:06. > :07:10.and he glued to the top cushion. That was the one that won it for
:07:11. > :07:14.him. Look at this position. Virtually nothing to do with the cue
:07:15. > :07:21.ball in this break. Just keep potting balls. He is bound to be on
:07:22. > :07:25.something. In the open, pink. Pink may be restricted. -- blue in the
:07:26. > :07:38.open. He will be leaning over this red
:07:39. > :07:42.which is on the pocket. He's got to be a bit careful. Plenty of room.
:07:43. > :08:01.APPLAUSE Liang Wenbo has dug so deep in this
:08:02. > :08:11.match, he's lost the first session 6-2. He will battle his heart out in
:08:12. > :08:16.the second session. To close within two frames, 1-4 behind. Played
:08:17. > :08:36.beautifully to win that session 5-3. All his hard work could be in vain.
:08:37. > :08:45.Playing the red over the right corner pocket, now. Red to the left
:08:46. > :08:46.corner. The one over the right corner pocket is stopping the red to
:08:47. > :08:59.the pink. I would be looking at clearing away.
:09:00. > :09:49.-- I would be looking at clearing that away.
:09:50. > :09:56.Stephen mentioned a series of little screw shorts. Don't have to play any
:09:57. > :10:01.serious positional shots. Now 20 points in front.
:10:02. > :11:10.Leaving at least two of the awkward reds, the next two should be OK.
:11:11. > :11:15.This is about the most typical shot he's had to face and he still within
:11:16. > :11:39.four feet of the ball -- the most difficult shot.
:11:40. > :11:51.After this red is when the break gets slightly more difficult.
:11:52. > :11:59.The red below the black is obviously the most straightforward to pot. If
:12:00. > :12:04.he can just on this red and leave an angle on the pink, he can drop one
:12:05. > :12:06.on the right cushion. He's gone for the blue. Make sure he goes high on
:12:07. > :12:13.the blue. Stunning down for the red, just
:12:14. > :12:25.below the black, to the left of it. Red, black. Leaving Liang Wenbo
:12:26. > :12:59.needing a snooker. Cue this nicely. He won the previous frame with a
:13:00. > :13:04.magnificent break of 132 to level at 12-12. This black could cost him a
:13:05. > :13:18.place in the quarterfinals. APPLAUSE Very well done Ding Junhui. Since
:13:19. > :13:24.that interval when they came in at 10-10, he's found his scoring,
:13:25. > :13:30.hasn't he? 80, 132 and now this in one visit. Match-winning break. He
:13:31. > :13:48.needs to try and pot this red. A bit to go here. Unless Liang Wenbo
:13:49. > :14:09.can find a snooker, Ding Junhui is through to the quarterfinals.
:14:10. > :14:14.Where is the cue ball going? This could be a handshake. And a
:14:15. > :14:20.handshake it is. APPLAUSE INAUDIBLE
:14:21. > :14:25.Ding Junhui goes through to the quarterfinals to face Ronnie
:14:26. > :14:38.O'Sullivan. We all want to win. We all want to
:14:39. > :14:44.have the victories at the Crucible. So, we fought hard. You can see the
:14:45. > :14:49.game is coming good and Liang played very strong and very good. The last
:14:50. > :14:56.frame, I missed a double. Ding played very well. Congratulations to
:14:57. > :15:03.Ding, good luck for the next match. Enjoy. I enjoyed this match. We both
:15:04. > :15:07.played very happy. I believe I can win this year, every match.
:15:08. > :15:15.Challenge myself. See how I am going. How I am good. Also, I need
:15:16. > :15:23.to play good and thinking well. You need to mix that in. Sometimes you
:15:24. > :15:25.have to take the bad times. Nightmares to sleep overnight, even
:15:26. > :15:29.when you are losing sometimes. Genuine respect and friendship shown
:15:30. > :15:33.by the two guys at the end of that match. What a finish from Ding
:15:34. > :15:38.Junhui. He kept a clear head as he said had made the wonderful break of
:15:39. > :15:42.plus 130 and 70 to turn the match around and book a place against
:15:43. > :15:45.Ronnie on Tuesday morning. I bet that was a ratings winner in Beijing
:15:46. > :15:52.and beyond. It's left the second-round draw looking like this.
:15:53. > :15:55.Welcome back to defending champion Mark Selby. Starting his match
:15:56. > :16:03.against... Former champion facing one of the
:16:04. > :16:07.men of the season, Marco Fu. We now know he will be taking on Ding
:16:08. > :16:10.Junhui, Ronnie. 26-year-old Karen Wilson through to his second
:16:11. > :16:12.consecutive quarter after beating Stuart Bingham.
:16:13. > :16:25.He awaits Mark Alan Ord John Higgins. Two Crucible specialists.
:16:26. > :16:31.There is no place that 2002 world champion Peter Ebdon would rather be
:16:32. > :16:35.than the Crucible on a Saturday night, not even his favourite vegan
:16:36. > :16:38.restaurant. Plenty for us to get our teeth into tonight, Peter, and I
:16:39. > :16:43.don't mean chicken nuggets either. Off we go into what we are really
:16:44. > :16:46.looking forward to. Final session of this match between John Higgins who
:16:47. > :16:49.hold such two frame advantage over Mark Allen. John has turned the
:16:50. > :16:57.whole match around trailing by two at the end of the first session to
:16:58. > :16:59.lead by two at the end of the second. Possible nine frames await,
:17:00. > :17:03.they have just begun. We will join them live in the company of Ken
:17:04. > :17:09.Doherty and John Virgo. Early days. Bring us up to speed on what has
:17:10. > :17:13.been happening. COMMENTATOR: Quite a dramatic... We've had quite a
:17:14. > :17:21.tactical exchange from the two players. John Higgins got in first.
:17:22. > :17:23.He potted a red but unexpectedly missed the black, you can see, it's
:17:24. > :17:33.over the pocket. This was him missing the black. I
:17:34. > :17:39.don't know whether it was a heavy contact... It seemed to come off a
:17:40. > :17:42.bit square. Whatever. As I say, a long tactical battle all playing
:17:43. > :17:55.down to this end. John Higgins got the first red.
:17:56. > :18:01.Now John has got to sit there and wonder if he will get another
:18:02. > :18:33.chance. The frame is so important to mark Alan.
:18:34. > :18:46.I'm not quite sure. Maybe very bemused about that missed black.
:18:47. > :18:47.Hasn't missed too much today. High-quality second session from
:18:48. > :19:26.John Higgins. APPLAUSE Being left-handed, this shouldn't be
:19:27. > :19:29.a problem. Just reaching over a couple of reds. The referee, Paul
:19:30. > :19:44.Callier, on the scene. You can pot this red and go through
:19:45. > :19:49.the gap between the red and the green.
:19:50. > :20:43.Now a chance to get on the black. That's the problem with the reds
:20:44. > :20:48.being at the baulk end, the scoreboard doesn't tick along as
:20:49. > :20:54.fast when you are around the black area.
:20:55. > :21:03.Just got into that a bit too much. He's rubbing percussion. Probably a
:21:04. > :21:04.bit of adrenaline, their -- he's rubbing the cushion. This black
:21:05. > :21:13.needs June care and attention. There was a similar frame between
:21:14. > :21:18.Rory McLeod and Judd Trump in the first round. Exactly the way the
:21:19. > :21:24.balls went in that frame, Rory McLeod potted eight raids and eight
:21:25. > :21:34.colours and only on 36, 38 points. -- eight reds and eight colours.
:21:35. > :21:40.That's a good pot. Nicely on the blue as well.
:21:41. > :21:46.There was a bit of pressure on that because he was looking for something
:21:47. > :22:00.easier. Right in the heart of the pocket.
:22:01. > :22:34.I think he may just have a slight angle. The red he has to play is the
:22:35. > :22:36.one closest to the right middle pocket. It needs to get the cue ball
:22:37. > :22:43.near the site cushion. Could not have played that better,
:22:44. > :23:01.beautiful shot. The blue will do. The blue will put
:23:02. > :23:17.him 60 points in front with just 59 remaining. APPLAUSE
:23:18. > :23:28.The crowd recognise a frame ball. John will sit and contemplate that
:23:29. > :23:40.missed black. When he had first chance.
:23:41. > :23:47.Could take out the red on the side cushion and he has done. APPLAUSE
:23:48. > :23:53.Just gone a bit too far to have it on the opposite centre, I don't
:23:54. > :23:56.think it will pass the blue. Already, Mark has had four sentries
:23:57. > :24:04.in this match. That's why he's had such... A difference between the
:24:05. > :24:05.points scored. In those that red. Nothing to say there won't be
:24:06. > :24:18.another century, now. Just check, referee, has he got a
:24:19. > :25:19.magnet on that ball? LAUGHTER Oh! Not another century but he took
:25:20. > :25:20.his chance and won the frame in one visit. He is now within one of John
:25:21. > :25:27.Higgins. STUDIO: This is the sort of standard
:25:28. > :25:30.that made this match so compelling, you were commentating on it in the
:25:31. > :25:34.second session this morning, how would you describe it? A brilliant
:25:35. > :25:38.match. It was fascinating for me to watch the crowd this morning. They
:25:39. > :25:41.were absolutely enthralled, they were buzzing, they were loving it.
:25:42. > :25:45.Such a high-quality game, probably the best match we seen at the
:25:46. > :25:47.Crucible this year. Both players playing to the best of their
:25:48. > :25:54.ability, it's brilliant. There was one moment in frame 14 when Allen
:25:55. > :26:00.was 70 points up, 72 left on the table, Higgins gets in, dishes it,
:26:01. > :26:05.scores them all, wow, sit in your seat. That is vintage Higgins of
:26:06. > :26:08.old. Is he back there again? It is what he always does. I mentioned in
:26:09. > :26:12.commentary that if you would put your money on anybody to clear up
:26:13. > :26:19.under pressure for your life, it would be John Higgins. Here he is.
:26:20. > :26:22.This is a little further warning for the other competitors here. Higgins
:26:23. > :26:27.appears to be back to his best. He has a real scrap in this match. Is
:26:28. > :26:33.this the kind of match, as a player, Peter, but you actually can enjoy
:26:34. > :26:36.when you are out there? Absolutely, both players appreciate the high
:26:37. > :26:39.quality they are playing. It is just a brilliant match. The Crucible
:26:40. > :26:45.crowd loving it, we are all loving it. In terms of percentages, this
:26:46. > :26:49.pot success percentage, in the first session, after the first seven
:26:50. > :26:54.frames, Allen was 98%. He was playing like a god at the time! And
:26:55. > :26:57.still only came out of that session with the two frame advantage,
:26:58. > :27:01.showing how close and how predatory Higgins can be. Unbelievable. This
:27:02. > :27:06.is the best I have seen John hit the ball for a long time, he is timing
:27:07. > :27:15.the ball beautifully. We go back, frame 18, Ken and John, or yours,
:27:16. > :27:18.again. COMMENTATOR: Obligatory red, stick it out. Mark has not got the
:27:19. > :27:25.cue ball tight to the ball cushion, John will take it on.
:27:26. > :27:34.APPLAUSE Beautifully played. If it stops
:27:35. > :27:36.short of the baulk line or kiss the green. It's done neither. It's on
:27:37. > :27:48.nothing. You could see John, as we see this
:27:49. > :27:52.wonderful pot, you could see John, his head shaking a bit, he couldn't
:27:53. > :27:57.believe the cue ball had come to rest just on the baulk line. He
:27:58. > :28:02.expected it to come off the top cushion so fast. -- he didn't expect
:28:03. > :29:10.it to come off. One red onto the other two. Could it
:29:11. > :29:13.flick it off the other red or is he just concerned about leaving it near
:29:14. > :29:20.the right corner? We will see from here. Never going to go into the
:29:21. > :29:22.corner. He's got a good cue ball, though. He will be pleased with
:29:23. > :29:51.that. Excellent shot. It's OK if it runs past the brown.
:29:52. > :29:56.Even then, he may have left a path to this red, to the left corner.
:29:57. > :29:58.It's one of those you could run into a second red. If you go for it, you
:29:59. > :30:07.need to get it. Can he kissed the red to the right
:30:08. > :30:14.of the black and stay on the black? He found a gap. Good pot, though.
:30:15. > :30:20.He's got a nice kiss on the yellow. He will be happy with that.
:30:21. > :30:34.He shouldn't really apologise for that. That was an excellent pot. All
:30:35. > :30:35.those fractions. When John Higgins potted that excellent read, he
:30:36. > :31:05.needed a kiss and didn't get it. He will try to get top side of the
:31:06. > :31:12.blue here. That is pretty good. The cue ball must hit the pink almost
:31:13. > :31:19.full ball. Trying to hold it in the middle of the table. He lost the cue
:31:20. > :31:20.ball. He needs a little bit of luck and he has got it. He will settle
:31:21. > :31:40.for that. He has been scoring heavily when he
:31:41. > :31:50.has got these opportunities. This is a big fitter now to get the match
:31:51. > :31:57.back to all square. He led 5-3 coming into the second session this
:31:58. > :32:09.morning. Lost the first four frames. Couldn't afford to do that this
:32:10. > :32:17.evening. Yes, get the extension out. He may try after this red and black
:32:18. > :32:28.to follow to get rid of the red below the black. It's a little bit
:32:29. > :32:33.in the way at the moment. You always like to clear the reds underneath
:32:34. > :32:43.the black spot. It just helps with your positional play. He's bridging
:32:44. > :32:48.long here. He played it well. He is not perfect on this red, he may have
:32:49. > :32:53.to go up to the blue, but you are exactly right. You want that read
:32:54. > :32:59.out the way just in case you have to come off that cushion sometime. As I
:33:00. > :33:03.say, can't hold for the black. Imperative he gets a good angle on
:33:04. > :33:15.the blue. That needs to run. Just got there. Perfect.
:33:16. > :33:27.First impressions, John. I think Allen has got the cue ball relief on
:33:28. > :33:34.a string at the moment. Good, close control. He is making every next
:33:35. > :33:38.part very simple. That is good break-building. Yes. And that shop
:33:39. > :33:42.there with the stunned run-through, he made that look easy. Many times
:33:43. > :33:53.do you give that too much and go to far? That is OK when you break them
:33:54. > :33:58.all. He might have do drop this in and play free ball colour. All the
:33:59. > :34:16.balls he needs are now in the open. -- baulk. Now down to the read write
:34:17. > :34:42.over the pink spot. Looks just about perfect.
:34:43. > :34:55.He had to force that black in with a lot of pace. He will come around to
:34:56. > :35:01.see if the red on the right of the three will part in the bottom
:35:02. > :35:12.right-hand pocket. -- pot. Doesn't look like it will.
:35:13. > :35:19.Decision time. Does he go up for the blue? If that route doesn't go as
:35:20. > :35:23.you think, can, then playing the run-through and trying to flick off
:35:24. > :35:28.one of the reds, that would open them up. That is risky, you could
:35:29. > :35:32.lose position for the black. Looking there, maybe he could potted. Maybe
:35:33. > :35:42.get to the potting angle of that read. We will see. Oh, and he did
:35:43. > :35:46.just flick them out. A delicate little shot, wasn't it? Look at
:35:47. > :36:03.this. Just touched it very nicely indeed. It is twice that this pink
:36:04. > :36:07.has made him bridge long. Well, he did well to get the cue ball that
:36:08. > :36:17.far around because when you are striking down, it is harder to get
:36:18. > :36:33.the top spin to generate as you need it. Oh, no! It is a kick! Heavy
:36:34. > :36:38.contact. That is why he is showing his disappointment. That is very
:36:39. > :36:43.unlucky. You can see that right down the line. Just have a look at that
:36:44. > :36:45.red. It straightens off just to the left-hand side of the pocket and you
:36:46. > :36:56.can see and suddenly his frustration. -- certainly here. He
:36:57. > :37:03.made a break of 70 and John Higgins made a break of 72. It could happen
:37:04. > :37:11.again here. Although, there is a view problem -- there are some
:37:12. > :37:15.problem balls. It is a big ask for John to win the frame on this visit.
:37:16. > :37:25.He can get back into it which didn't look likely. For all money, it
:37:26. > :37:34.looked like it would be to frames in a row for Mark Allen. It will be
:37:35. > :37:40.interesting to see whether John will try and attempt the loose red, or
:37:41. > :37:45.try and to stir up one or two of these threads here on the right-hand
:37:46. > :37:50.side cushion. -- disturb. He has try to go into them. He has played a
:37:51. > :38:00.lovely. He couldn't have played that much better. What a fantastic shot.
:38:01. > :38:06.It is worth another look. Talking about seizing the opportunity,
:38:07. > :38:11.brilliant shot. And now the only real problem ball that I can see is
:38:12. > :38:17.the pink. He is going to need this black, the two reds, two colours and
:38:18. > :38:31.all the remaining colours. What a steal this would be.
:38:32. > :38:44.A slight heavy contact there, but he is OK. He really expected the cue
:38:45. > :38:54.ball to be away from the commission. He is all right, he is on this other
:38:55. > :39:08.red, drop it in, stay on the black. Nicely held for the black.
:39:09. > :39:18.A little bit short. He is a little bit short, but he has a few points
:39:19. > :39:27.to play with. Not too bad. What will you do this red? -- what will he do
:39:28. > :39:32.off this red? You always say with these kind of things, getting
:39:33. > :39:36.position from brown to blue, but with the pink where it is, it is
:39:37. > :39:48.essential he gets good position on the blue. Mark Allen was in and
:39:49. > :39:57.looked like he was going to put a break together to win the frame.
:39:58. > :40:04.Very unlucky with the kick. But he may still have a lifeline. That pink
:40:05. > :40:16.is going to be the problem ball for John Higgins here. That is his only
:40:17. > :40:20.hope. It is one of those pinks, John, it is not one that you want to
:40:21. > :40:25.be behind. It is one that you feel that you might have to get off the
:40:26. > :40:35.cushion. If you get the chance, you would like to move it. Now, will he
:40:36. > :40:38.screw behind it? Even if he screws behind it, it is a tough one with
:40:39. > :40:51.the rest and that is what he will have to use. He couldn't have played
:40:52. > :40:53.that much better. He has just got to drop this in and leave a difficult
:40:54. > :41:07.black. You knew that this is what he was going to be
:41:08. > :41:13.left with. Tight on the cushion, the black. To get back his two frame
:41:14. > :41:23.advantage and steal a frame that would really hurt Mark Allen.
:41:24. > :41:28.Absolutely brilliant! You can see what it meant to John Higgins. OK,
:41:29. > :41:32.unlucky, Mark Allen. He will feel aggrieved about that, but what a
:41:33. > :41:38.clearance once again. The Wizard of Wishaw? You bet you. What a
:41:39. > :41:43.fantastic clearance from John Higgins. Like the one we were
:41:44. > :41:47.telling you about in frame 14. That is going to mess with the head of
:41:48. > :41:52.Mark Allen, surely? To be perfectly honest, it is nothing that Mark
:41:53. > :41:55.Allen did wrong there. Got a terrible contact. This man, John
:41:56. > :42:00.Higgins, is unbelievable. This is the kick. Terrible contact. Throws
:42:01. > :42:04.the red thick. What a clearance. That is the second time he has done
:42:05. > :42:07.it in this match. There is nobody better in the world at clearing up
:42:08. > :42:12.under those circumstances than John Higgins. You can see what that meant
:42:13. > :42:15.to him because he knew at the end of that frame, a psychological damage
:42:16. > :42:21.that that would do to Macallan. That is a real kick. You summed it up
:42:22. > :42:27.nicely levels -- Mark Allen. Use all the frustration of Mark Allen. You
:42:28. > :42:31.wonder when do you feel safe? Is there any lead that is saved against
:42:32. > :42:38.John Higgins when you are getting to the 70s or 80s? No. In all the time
:42:39. > :42:41.I have playing, I had never seen anybody clear as consistently under
:42:42. > :42:45.pressure as he does. He is phenomenal. That is the only way I
:42:46. > :42:50.can describe him. Phenomenal. Just when you look like it was them to go
:42:51. > :42:55.9-9, he has got a mountain to climb again. Two friends. Assess what he
:42:56. > :42:59.may be feeling in that chair, stewing about what has happened.
:43:00. > :43:05.Honestly, he will be devastated. He has played well enough to be level
:43:06. > :43:09.in this match. He is not. He knows he is playing well enough to win.
:43:10. > :43:13.What can you do when John Higgins keeps clearing up like that? The man
:43:14. > :43:19.is unbelievable. He turns 42 years of age in May. There hasn't been a
:43:20. > :43:24.40 something winner of the title since a certain Ray Reardon in the
:43:25. > :43:31.70s. 90s T8. We have still got John clicking here and Ronnie clicking
:43:32. > :43:37.here. What a match we have heading into frame 19 of a possible 25.
:43:38. > :43:47.STUDIO: Well, John Higgins, that was a very poor break-off shot. I think
:43:48. > :43:55.we went -- he went out of the arena to compose himself. It didn't work.
:43:56. > :44:08.I think he is full of adrenaline. A good part by Mark Allen. Now, is he
:44:09. > :44:18.on the yellow into the right centre? A nice spot. -- pot. Possibly will
:44:19. > :44:21.played into the bottom right-hand corner, as well. I think it is one
:44:22. > :44:26.of the situations where it you just trickle up behind the yellow, with
:44:27. > :44:31.the cluster packed tight as it is comedy pink not available, the black
:44:32. > :44:37.not available, you're not going to get a chance. I've seen people play
:44:38. > :44:42.the yellow and maybe run it into the reds to open it up a bit. You know,
:44:43. > :44:49.the snooker, I don't think is going to get you much. Yes, the way he is
:44:50. > :44:52.potting, you fancy him potting that yellow. Into the bottom right-hand
:44:53. > :44:58.corner pocket, even into the right centre. Down towards the red, maybe,
:44:59. > :45:03.behind the black that is free or the one left of the pink. As I say,
:45:04. > :45:06.identity gets much out of the snooker. If you wanted to play safe
:45:07. > :45:16.and not cover the pot, I would prefer to cover the balk cushion.
:45:17. > :45:22.Yes. Maybe he is still in a bit of a daze and it is still hurting. That
:45:23. > :45:37.kick in the last frame cost him the frame. But what a black, John
:45:38. > :45:42.Higgins potted. The black off the spot, it wasn't easy. So much
:45:43. > :45:48.pressure on it. Coming twice across, as you say, you wouldn't expect him
:45:49. > :45:54.to make a mistake there. And of course he didn't. I think in the
:45:55. > :45:57.last frame, what impressed me, when he finished on the pink as he did,
:45:58. > :46:01.he knew he was going to leave it there, but look at this black. He
:46:02. > :46:06.never looked like touching the side of the pocket. Perfect. Look at the
:46:07. > :46:10.reaction. That is what it meant. It is not often that you see John
:46:11. > :46:18.Higgins reacting in such a way. He knew. How important back clearances.
:46:19. > :46:22.Not only for himself, but also for the psychological edge that it has
:46:23. > :46:30.given him. Yes, we are getting to the nitty-gritty of this match now.
:46:31. > :46:42.First to 13, remember, for a place in the quarterfinal.
:46:43. > :46:54.John thought it was a natural angle to come off the one cushion. Maybe
:46:55. > :47:11.it isn't. You get one more go at this. Of course, he can see reds. So
:47:12. > :47:15.does it need a trace of side? He has overcompensated here. Has he left
:47:16. > :47:50.the red on? Obviously not. A clever shot that. Trying to cut
:47:51. > :47:55.out the escape down the right-hand side. Saying that, can he just get
:47:56. > :48:02.past the pink? There is just an edge of this red sticking out. It just
:48:03. > :48:15.shows you, it is all about fractions, this game. Nothing wrong
:48:16. > :48:27.with his eyesight, is there John? No trips to Spec Savers. Fantastic. I
:48:28. > :48:33.was thinking, what a good safety shot that Mark had played and with
:48:34. > :48:43.that reply, it is Mark now that is on the back foot. Pacey, this. But
:48:44. > :48:56.hit it well. Looks like a touching ball though. Touching ball. He is
:48:57. > :49:05.going to need the spider here, but he will be trying to put it back up
:49:06. > :49:20.towards baulk cushion, behind the yellow. He has got to be careful it
:49:21. > :49:26.doesn't hit the red. Certainly wanted behind the yellow so he can
:49:27. > :49:51.block it down the right-hand side of the table.
:49:52. > :50:02.It slid past them. I don't see a pot on. I don't see any reason why he
:50:03. > :50:28.shouldn't have it replaced. I don't think I quite have the
:50:29. > :50:37.potting angle, but I can hit that side of it. That is where they were,
:50:38. > :50:42.and that is where they are now. Just a fraction low. It could make a
:50:43. > :50:46.difference. He gets one more chance of hitting these reds and he will be
:50:47. > :51:16.warned, but he has played this one better. Good shot.
:51:17. > :51:28.John Higgins firmly in control of this safety battle. And I would
:51:29. > :51:33.imagine, Ken, that Mark is desperate to get the first chance in this
:51:34. > :51:40.frame to put right the wrongs of the last one. Yeah. It is unlucky when
:51:41. > :51:43.you get a kick like that. You get a kick and not often it will cost you
:51:44. > :51:49.the frame, but it did for Mark Allen. Many lost that frame on the
:51:50. > :51:57.black when he should have won, and of course that one that he should
:51:58. > :52:02.have one way made the rate of 70. John Higgins replied with 72. --
:52:03. > :52:08.break of 70. Realistically, he could easily have been 10-8 ahead now. But
:52:09. > :52:14.for those two frames. They are the small margins. Frames are won and
:52:15. > :52:19.lost and indeed matches are won and lost. As Peter quite rightly said
:52:20. > :52:23.the studio, there are not many players that you would put your
:52:24. > :52:28.house on to do a clearance like that and John Higgins has done its time
:52:29. > :52:34.and time again in his career. Of course, we always say that it is
:52:35. > :52:38.that kind of frame that would turn a match on its head. Looking at the
:52:39. > :52:42.scoreline now, that it exactly what it has done. Mark Allen desperate to
:52:43. > :52:48.get the first opportunity in this frame. Whether he will or not, we
:52:49. > :52:57.will just have to see how it plays out. A good line from John. And an
:52:58. > :53:01.excellent length. Could have done with a bit more, but he has cut down
:53:02. > :53:05.the safety down the right-hand side of the table. As long as he does
:53:06. > :53:10.that, he had got Mark Allen in trouble. He has blocked the red on
:53:11. > :53:20.the left-hand side of the table with the yellow, as well. A bit more
:53:21. > :53:31.careful here. Of course, a couple of loose reds now.
:53:32. > :53:40.I can see a pot on here. And there is a red three in from the left. If
:53:41. > :53:43.you play that half ball to the left corner, you would kiss off the red
:53:44. > :53:51.next to it and you might get the cue ball back to the balk end. That is
:53:52. > :53:55.the one I am referring to. He is bound to kiss the one to the right
:53:56. > :54:00.of it and he could take the cue ball back to the balk end. Anything else,
:54:01. > :54:08.even though that is risky, anything else for me would be too risky. That
:54:09. > :54:11.is not a bad choice, John. Particularly if you play it with a
:54:12. > :54:23.bit of side and missed the reds on the way back. He is trying to lie on
:54:24. > :54:28.this thread is just to the left. But that is too hard. That has gifted
:54:29. > :54:34.John and easy read into the right-hand centre. Just a little bit
:54:35. > :54:49.too pacey with that Kewell. -- cue ball.
:54:50. > :54:52.He was in control of the safety battle, John Higgins gets the first
:54:53. > :55:12.chance. That jumped a little bit. A lot of
:55:13. > :55:31.pace in the cue ball to try and get it down towards these reds.
:55:32. > :55:37.I'm just wondering, John, can he play this little cannon pot on the
:55:38. > :55:40.red and try and dislodge the red away from the black? He is not
:55:41. > :55:43.looking at it. He is looking at the one left of the pink. But that is a
:55:44. > :56:08.possibility. Just held enough. A nice angle on
:56:09. > :56:13.the brown, he can play a couple of shots here. He can go down for a
:56:14. > :56:25.loose red or he can go straight into the pack of reds, left of the pink.
:56:26. > :56:33.Just looking at John, he has got a couple of pots on here. That red
:56:34. > :56:40.that is adjacent to the right corner maybe blocks the one to the right
:56:41. > :56:45.corner. He has got just enough room. Not all of the pocket available. He
:56:46. > :56:49.has got one to the opposite corner. Hampered, he could be playing with
:56:50. > :57:03.the cue ball. It could have worked out better.
:57:04. > :57:08.Just caught a glimpse of the wonder the left corner, but there is
:57:09. > :57:12.nothing that you can do with the cue ball. You just have to roll it in
:57:13. > :57:15.for the one point. He is playing this, but you have to be very
:57:16. > :57:18.accurate. Favours the right side of the pocket as we look. Oh, right in
:57:19. > :58:44.the middle. Good shot. STUDIO:. A very tight frame here. I
:58:45. > :58:48.hope this is going to have let down left you wanting more. All of it on
:58:49. > :58:53.the red button. That is where we're going. If you can't, there are
:58:54. > :58:59.highlights at 1145. Peter and I and the team will be on the red button
:59:00. > :59:00.all evening. Fire it up and come with this. See very shortly, bye for