Day 8, Evening Session - Pt 1 Snooker: World Championship

Good evening. If it's greatness you after, its greatness you'll get at

the end of this annual snooker marathon in the Betfred World

Championship. Greatness on show this evening in the second round when our

defending champion, Mark Selby, makes his return a week after

getting through his opening round match against Fergal O'Brien.

There's greatness in the air in a match which we will see two

spectacular conclusion to match between an four time champion John

Higgins and feisty Northern Irishman Mark Allen, who between them have

already made five centuries Higgins believes this 19-7. Allen has

knocked an four times so far. -- Higgins leaves this one. You do not

want to miss this one tonight. Live on BBC Two and thereafter on the red

button. Already through to the quarterfinals is a certain Ronnie

O'Sullivan. The five times champion strode over

the line this morning with hardly a glance behind him. Ramming home some

spellbinding long pots and completing an entirely focused and

polished performance against Shaun Murphy. The winning margin in the

end 13-7 and The Rocket marches through to an 18th quarterfinal in

25 appearances at the Crucible. I'm just pleased to be through. It's

so hard out there at the Crucible. It's like no place on earth I have

ever played feels like this. It drags you through the mill. To come

through is like relief in many ways. You just have to go through it as a

professional snooker player. You can never play the same every session.

There will always be dips and troughs that it is how good your bad

game is and how bad your good ones are. Overall, my bad ones weren't

too bad and won amongst them, I was pretty decent. That's all you can

do. I have a long stretch, you have to that that sort of... You can be

stronger than your opponents. I love to perform, to play. The fans pay

the money, they support you over the years, you just want to give them

something to remember. "I was there when he did this fantastic break",

whether it's a 147, 90 clearance, people just think, that was

unbelievable. As a pro, as an entertainer, you thrive off that

sort of stuff. You just try to do your best for them, really. But who

would run a play? That depended on the outcome of an

almighty all Chinese tussle between last year Crucible runner-up danger

and weight and his great colleague and friend Liang Wenbo, this year's

open winner. So long in his shadow. Liang fought back to lead 12-11

before dING took this to a deciding frame. -- before Ding to get to a

deciding frame. This is how it turned out.

COMMENTATOR: That was such a tough shot to play at that stage of the

match. That could be his last shot. APPLAUSE

We're talking about the start of the frame. He just had one chance. If

Junhui doesn't win the match from here, he can have no complaints. He

will have to play this black to this red. I didn't know from Ding 's

angle, how thin this is. He just needs one good shot here. If

he pots this red he can get a perfect on the black. He can win the

match from this visit. Black in the same pocket.

It's not ideal. He hasn't got any room to play for the black in the

same pocket. This easy red is definitely no advantage playing

this, you may have to play the more difficult choice of red. You can't

make his mind up. -- he can't make his mind up.

Well, I think he's just slipped on the carpet. He must have some new

shoes on, there. He somehow have to find a gap to get

the white into open play. I'm not too sure you can get him to

recover from there. He needs a kiss. He gets a slight kiss. APPLAUSE

I have to say, he steered the cue ball well to miss the red on the

black cushion but the low flick from the red on the side cushion has kept

him in position watch this. If he doesn't hit this, the pink doesn't

pop. He may have been faced with a blue to the far left corner.

Couldn't get a better chance now, to win this match. He could win this

match. That last safety shot, once he played that, split them all over

the place. He got away with it and Ding was faced with a safety shot

and he glued to the top cushion. That was the one that won it for

him. Look at this position. Virtually nothing to do with the cue

ball in this break. Just keep potting balls. He is bound to be on

something. In the open, pink. Pink may be restricted. -- blue in the

open. He will be leaning over this red

which is on the pocket. He's got to be a bit careful. Plenty of room.

APPLAUSE Liang Wenbo has dug so deep in this

match, he's lost the first session 6-2. He will battle his heart out in

the second session. To close within two frames, 1-4 behind. Played

beautifully to win that session 5-3. All his hard work could be in vain.

Playing the red over the right corner pocket, now. Red to the left

corner. The one over the right corner pocket is stopping the red to

the pink. I would be looking at clearing away.

-- I would be looking at clearing that away.

Stephen mentioned a series of little screw shorts. Don't have to play any

serious positional shots. Now 20 points in front.

Leaving at least two of the awkward reds, the next two should be OK.

This is about the most typical shot he's had to face and he still within

four feet of the ball -- the most difficult shot.

After this red is when the break gets slightly more difficult.

The red below the black is obviously the most straightforward to pot. If

he can just on this red and leave an angle on the pink, he can drop one

on the right cushion. He's gone for the blue. Make sure he goes high on

the blue. Stunning down for the red, just

below the black, to the left of it. Red, black. Leaving Liang Wenbo

needing a snooker. Cue this nicely. He won the previous frame with a

magnificent break of 132 to level at 12-12. This black could cost him a

place in the quarterfinals. APPLAUSE Very well done Ding Junhui. Since

that interval when they came in at 10-10, he's found his scoring,

hasn't he? 80, 132 and now this in one visit. Match-winning break. He

needs to try and pot this red. A bit to go here. Unless Liang Wenbo

can find a snooker, Ding Junhui is through to the quarterfinals.

Where is the cue ball going? This could be a handshake. And a

handshake it is. APPLAUSE INAUDIBLE

Ding Junhui goes through to the quarterfinals to face Ronnie

O'Sullivan. We all want to win. We all want to

have the victories at the Crucible. So, we fought hard. You can see the

game is coming good and Liang played very strong and very good. The last

frame, I missed a double. Ding played very well. Congratulations to

Ding, good luck for the next match. Enjoy. I enjoyed this match. We both

played very happy. I believe I can win this year, every match.

Challenge myself. See how I am going. How I am good. Also, I need

to play good and thinking well. You need to mix that in. Sometimes you

have to take the bad times. Nightmares to sleep overnight, even

when you are losing sometimes. Genuine respect and friendship shown

by the two guys at the end of that match. What a finish from Ding

Junhui. He kept a clear head as he said had made the wonderful break of

plus 130 and 70 to turn the match around and book a place against

Ronnie on Tuesday morning. I bet that was a ratings winner in Beijing

and beyond. It's left the second-round draw looking like this.

Welcome back to defending champion Mark Selby. Starting his match

against... Former champion facing one of the

men of the season, Marco Fu. We now know he will be taking on Ding

Junhui, Ronnie. 26-year-old Karen Wilson through to his second

consecutive quarter after beating Stuart Bingham.

He awaits Mark Alan Ord John Higgins. Two Crucible specialists.

There is no place that 2002 world champion Peter Ebdon would rather be

than the Crucible on a Saturday night, not even his favourite vegan

restaurant. Plenty for us to get our teeth into tonight, Peter, and I

don't mean chicken nuggets either. Off we go into what we are really

looking forward to. Final session of this match between John Higgins who

hold such two frame advantage over Mark Allen. John has turned the

whole match around trailing by two at the end of the first session to

lead by two at the end of the second. Possible nine frames await,

they have just begun. We will join them live in the company of Ken

Doherty and John Virgo. Early days. Bring us up to speed on what has

been happening. COMMENTATOR: Quite a dramatic... We've had quite a

tactical exchange from the two players. John Higgins got in first.

He potted a red but unexpectedly missed the black, you can see, it's

over the pocket. This was him missing the black. I

don't know whether it was a heavy contact... It seemed to come off a

bit square. Whatever. As I say, a long tactical battle all playing

down to this end. John Higgins got the first red.

Now John has got to sit there and wonder if he will get another

chance. The frame is so important to mark Alan.

I'm not quite sure. Maybe very bemused about that missed black.

Hasn't missed too much today. High-quality second session from

John Higgins. APPLAUSE Being left-handed, this shouldn't be

a problem. Just reaching over a couple of reds. The referee, Paul

Callier, on the scene. You can pot this red and go through

the gap between the red and the green.

Now a chance to get on the black. That's the problem with the reds

being at the baulk end, the scoreboard doesn't tick along as

fast when you are around the black area.

Just got into that a bit too much. He's rubbing percussion. Probably a

bit of adrenaline, their -- he's rubbing the cushion. This black

needs June care and attention. There was a similar frame between

Rory McLeod and Judd Trump in the first round. Exactly the way the

balls went in that frame, Rory McLeod potted eight raids and eight

colours and only on 36, 38 points. -- eight reds and eight colours.

That's a good pot. Nicely on the blue as well.

There was a bit of pressure on that because he was looking for something

easier. Right in the heart of the pocket.

I think he may just have a slight angle. The red he has to play is the

one closest to the right middle pocket. It needs to get the cue ball

near the site cushion. Could not have played that better,

beautiful shot. The blue will do. The blue will put

him 60 points in front with just 59 remaining. APPLAUSE

The crowd recognise a frame ball. John will sit and contemplate that

missed black. When he had first chance.

Could take out the red on the side cushion and he has done. APPLAUSE

Just gone a bit too far to have it on the opposite centre, I don't

think it will pass the blue. Already, Mark has had four sentries

in this match. That's why he's had such... A difference between the

points scored. In those that red. Nothing to say there won't be

another century, now. Just check, referee, has he got a

magnet on that ball? LAUGHTER Oh! Not another century but he took

his chance and won the frame in one visit. He is now within one of John

Higgins. STUDIO: This is the sort of standard

that made this match so compelling, you were commentating on it in the

second session this morning, how would you describe it? A brilliant

match. It was fascinating for me to watch the crowd this morning. They

were absolutely enthralled, they were buzzing, they were loving it.

Such a high-quality game, probably the best match we seen at the

Crucible this year. Both players playing to the best of their

ability, it's brilliant. There was one moment in frame 14 when Allen

was 70 points up, 72 left on the table, Higgins gets in, dishes it,

scores them all, wow, sit in your seat. That is vintage Higgins of

old. Is he back there again? It is what he always does. I mentioned in

commentary that if you would put your money on anybody to clear up

under pressure for your life, it would be John Higgins. Here he is.

This is a little further warning for the other competitors here. Higgins

appears to be back to his best. He has a real scrap in this match. Is

this the kind of match, as a player, Peter, but you actually can enjoy

when you are out there? Absolutely, both players appreciate the high

quality they are playing. It is just a brilliant match. The Crucible

crowd loving it, we are all loving it. In terms of percentages, this

pot success percentage, in the first session, after the first seven

frames, Allen was 98%. He was playing like a god at the time! And

still only came out of that session with the two frame advantage,

showing how close and how predatory Higgins can be. Unbelievable. This

is the best I have seen John hit the ball for a long time, he is timing

the ball beautifully. We go back, frame 18, Ken and John, or yours,

again. COMMENTATOR: Obligatory red, stick it out. Mark has not got the

cue ball tight to the ball cushion, John will take it on.

APPLAUSE Beautifully played. If it stops

short of the baulk line or kiss the green. It's done neither. It's on

nothing. You could see John, as we see this

wonderful pot, you could see John, his head shaking a bit, he couldn't

believe the cue ball had come to rest just on the baulk line. He

expected it to come off the top cushion so fast. -- he didn't expect

it to come off. One red onto the other two. Could it

flick it off the other red or is he just concerned about leaving it near

the right corner? We will see from here. Never going to go into the

corner. He's got a good cue ball, though. He will be pleased with

that. Excellent shot. It's OK if it runs past the brown.

Even then, he may have left a path to this red, to the left corner.

It's one of those you could run into a second red. If you go for it, you

need to get it. Can he kissed the red to the right

of the black and stay on the black? He found a gap. Good pot, though.

He's got a nice kiss on the yellow. He will be happy with that.

He shouldn't really apologise for that. That was an excellent pot. All

those fractions. When John Higgins potted that excellent read, he

needed a kiss and didn't get it. He will try to get top side of the

blue here. That is pretty good. The cue ball must hit the pink almost

full ball. Trying to hold it in the middle of the table. He lost the cue

ball. He needs a little bit of luck and he has got it. He will settle

for that. He has been scoring heavily when he

has got these opportunities. This is a big fitter now to get the match

back to all square. He led 5-3 coming into the second session this

morning. Lost the first four frames. Couldn't afford to do that this

evening. Yes, get the extension out. He may try after this red and black

to follow to get rid of the red below the black. It's a little bit

in the way at the moment. You always like to clear the reds underneath

the black spot. It just helps with your positional play. He's bridging

long here. He played it well. He is not perfect on this red, he may have

to go up to the blue, but you are exactly right. You want that read

out the way just in case you have to come off that cushion sometime. As I

say, can't hold for the black. Imperative he gets a good angle on

the blue. That needs to run. Just got there. Perfect.

First impressions, John. I think Allen has got the cue ball relief on

a string at the moment. Good, close control. He is making every next

part very simple. That is good break-building. Yes. And that shop

there with the stunned run-through, he made that look easy. Many times

do you give that too much and go to far? That is OK when you break them

all. He might have do drop this in and play free ball colour. All the

balls he needs are now in the open. -- baulk. Now down to the read write

over the pink spot. Looks just about perfect.

He had to force that black in with a lot of pace. He will come around to

see if the red on the right of the three will part in the bottom

right-hand pocket. -- pot. Doesn't look like it will.

Decision time. Does he go up for the blue? If that route doesn't go as

you think, can, then playing the run-through and trying to flick off

one of the reds, that would open them up. That is risky, you could

lose position for the black. Looking there, maybe he could potted. Maybe

get to the potting angle of that read. We will see. Oh, and he did

just flick them out. A delicate little shot, wasn't it? Look at

this. Just touched it very nicely indeed. It is twice that this pink

has made him bridge long. Well, he did well to get the cue ball that

far around because when you are striking down, it is harder to get

the top spin to generate as you need it. Oh, no! It is a kick! Heavy

contact. That is why he is showing his disappointment. That is very

unlucky. You can see that right down the line. Just have a look at that

red. It straightens off just to the left-hand side of the pocket and you

can see and suddenly his frustration. -- certainly here. He

made a break of 70 and John Higgins made a break of 72. It could happen

again here. Although, there is a view problem -- there are some

problem balls. It is a big ask for John to win the frame on this visit.

He can get back into it which didn't look likely. For all money, it

looked like it would be to frames in a row for Mark Allen. It will be

interesting to see whether John will try and attempt the loose red, or

try and to stir up one or two of these threads here on the right-hand

side cushion. -- disturb. He has try to go into them. He has played a

lovely. He couldn't have played that much better. What a fantastic shot.

It is worth another look. Talking about seizing the opportunity,

brilliant shot. And now the only real problem ball that I can see is

the pink. He is going to need this black, the two reds, two colours and

all the remaining colours. What a steal this would be.

A slight heavy contact there, but he is OK. He really expected the cue

ball to be away from the commission. He is all right, he is on this other

red, drop it in, stay on the black. Nicely held for the black.

A little bit short. He is a little bit short, but he has a few points

to play with. Not too bad. What will you do this red? -- what will he do

off this red? You always say with these kind of things, getting

position from brown to blue, but with the pink where it is, it is

essential he gets good position on the blue. Mark Allen was in and

looked like he was going to put a break together to win the frame.

Very unlucky with the kick. But he may still have a lifeline. That pink

is going to be the problem ball for John Higgins here. That is his only

hope. It is one of those pinks, John, it is not one that you want to

be behind. It is one that you feel that you might have to get off the

cushion. If you get the chance, you would like to move it. Now, will he

screw behind it? Even if he screws behind it, it is a tough one with

the rest and that is what he will have to use. He couldn't have played

that much better. He has just got to drop this in and leave a difficult

black. You knew that this is what he was going to be

left with. Tight on the cushion, the black. To get back his two frame

advantage and steal a frame that would really hurt Mark Allen.

Absolutely brilliant! You can see what it meant to John Higgins. OK,

unlucky, Mark Allen. He will feel aggrieved about that, but what a

clearance once again. The Wizard of Wishaw? You bet you. What a

fantastic clearance from John Higgins. Like the one we were

telling you about in frame 14. That is going to mess with the head of

Mark Allen, surely? To be perfectly honest, it is nothing that Mark

Allen did wrong there. Got a terrible contact. This man, John

Higgins, is unbelievable. This is the kick. Terrible contact. Throws

the red thick. What a clearance. That is the second time he has done

it in this match. There is nobody better in the world at clearing up

under those circumstances than John Higgins. You can see what that meant

to him because he knew at the end of that frame, a psychological damage

that that would do to Macallan. That is a real kick. You summed it up

nicely levels -- Mark Allen. Use all the frustration of Mark Allen. You

wonder when do you feel safe? Is there any lead that is saved against

John Higgins when you are getting to the 70s or 80s? No. In all the time

I have playing, I had never seen anybody clear as consistently under

pressure as he does. He is phenomenal. That is the only way I

can describe him. Phenomenal. Just when you look like it was them to go

9-9, he has got a mountain to climb again. Two friends. Assess what he

may be feeling in that chair, stewing about what has happened.

Honestly, he will be devastated. He has played well enough to be level

in this match. He is not. He knows he is playing well enough to win.

What can you do when John Higgins keeps clearing up like that? The man

is unbelievable. He turns 42 years of age in May. There hasn't been a

40 something winner of the title since a certain Ray Reardon in the

70s. 90s T8. We have still got John clicking here and Ronnie clicking

here. What a match we have heading into frame 19 of a possible 25.

STUDIO: Well, John Higgins, that was a very poor break-off shot. I think

we went -- he went out of the arena to compose himself. It didn't work.

I think he is full of adrenaline. A good part by Mark Allen. Now, is he

on the yellow into the right centre? A nice spot. -- pot. Possibly will

played into the bottom right-hand corner, as well. I think it is one

of the situations where it you just trickle up behind the yellow, with

the cluster packed tight as it is comedy pink not available, the black

not available, you're not going to get a chance. I've seen people play

the yellow and maybe run it into the reds to open it up a bit. You know,

the snooker, I don't think is going to get you much. Yes, the way he is

potting, you fancy him potting that yellow. Into the bottom right-hand

corner pocket, even into the right centre. Down towards the red, maybe,

behind the black that is free or the one left of the pink. As I say,

identity gets much out of the snooker. If you wanted to play safe

and not cover the pot, I would prefer to cover the balk cushion.

Yes. Maybe he is still in a bit of a daze and it is still hurting. That

kick in the last frame cost him the frame. But what a black, John

Higgins potted. The black off the spot, it wasn't easy. So much

pressure on it. Coming twice across, as you say, you wouldn't expect him

to make a mistake there. And of course he didn't. I think in the

last frame, what impressed me, when he finished on the pink as he did,

he knew he was going to leave it there, but look at this black. He

never looked like touching the side of the pocket. Perfect. Look at the

reaction. That is what it meant. It is not often that you see John

Higgins reacting in such a way. He knew. How important back clearances.

Not only for himself, but also for the psychological edge that it has

given him. Yes, we are getting to the nitty-gritty of this match now.

First to 13, remember, for a place in the quarterfinal.

John thought it was a natural angle to come off the one cushion. Maybe

it isn't. You get one more go at this. Of course, he can see reds. So

does it need a trace of side? He has overcompensated here. Has he left

the red on? Obviously not. A clever shot that. Trying to cut

out the escape down the right-hand side. Saying that, can he just get

past the pink? There is just an edge of this red sticking out. It just

shows you, it is all about fractions, this game. Nothing wrong

with his eyesight, is there John? No trips to Spec Savers. Fantastic. I

was thinking, what a good safety shot that Mark had played and with

that reply, it is Mark now that is on the back foot. Pacey, this. But

hit it well. Looks like a touching ball though. Touching ball. He is

going to need the spider here, but he will be trying to put it back up

towards baulk cushion, behind the yellow. He has got to be careful it

doesn't hit the red. Certainly wanted behind the yellow so he can

block it down the right-hand side of the table.

It slid past them. I don't see a pot on. I don't see any reason why he

shouldn't have it replaced. I don't think I quite have the

potting angle, but I can hit that side of it. That is where they were,

and that is where they are now. Just a fraction low. It could make a

difference. He gets one more chance of hitting these reds and he will be

warned, but he has played this one better. Good shot.

John Higgins firmly in control of this safety battle. And I would

imagine, Ken, that Mark is desperate to get the first chance in this

frame to put right the wrongs of the last one. Yeah. It is unlucky when

you get a kick like that. You get a kick and not often it will cost you

the frame, but it did for Mark Allen. Many lost that frame on the

black when he should have won, and of course that one that he should

have one way made the rate of 70. John Higgins replied with 72. --

break of 70. Realistically, he could easily have been 10-8 ahead now. But

for those two frames. They are the small margins. Frames are won and

lost and indeed matches are won and lost. As Peter quite rightly said

the studio, there are not many players that you would put your

house on to do a clearance like that and John Higgins has done its time

and time again in his career. Of course, we always say that it is

that kind of frame that would turn a match on its head. Looking at the

scoreline now, that it exactly what it has done. Mark Allen desperate to

get the first opportunity in this frame. Whether he will or not, we

will just have to see how it plays out. A good line from John. And an

excellent length. Could have done with a bit more, but he has cut down

the safety down the right-hand side of the table. As long as he does

that, he had got Mark Allen in trouble. He has blocked the red on

the left-hand side of the table with the yellow, as well. A bit more

careful here. Of course, a couple of loose reds now.

I can see a pot on here. And there is a red three in from the left. If

you play that half ball to the left corner, you would kiss off the red

next to it and you might get the cue ball back to the balk end. That is

the one I am referring to. He is bound to kiss the one to the right

of it and he could take the cue ball back to the balk end. Anything else,

even though that is risky, anything else for me would be too risky. That

is not a bad choice, John. Particularly if you play it with a

bit of side and missed the reds on the way back. He is trying to lie on

this thread is just to the left. But that is too hard. That has gifted

John and easy read into the right-hand centre. Just a little bit

too pacey with that Kewell. -- cue ball.

He was in control of the safety battle, John Higgins gets the first

chance. That jumped a little bit. A lot of

pace in the cue ball to try and get it down towards these reds.

I'm just wondering, John, can he play this little cannon pot on the

red and try and dislodge the red away from the black? He is not

looking at it. He is looking at the one left of the pink. But that is a

possibility. Just held enough. A nice angle on

the brown, he can play a couple of shots here. He can go down for a

loose red or he can go straight into the pack of reds, left of the pink.

Just looking at John, he has got a couple of pots on here. That red

that is adjacent to the right corner maybe blocks the one to the right

corner. He has got just enough room. Not all of the pocket available. He

has got one to the opposite corner. Hampered, he could be playing with

the cue ball. It could have worked out better.

Just caught a glimpse of the wonder the left corner, but there is

nothing that you can do with the cue ball. You just have to roll it in

for the one point. He is playing this, but you have to be very

accurate. Favours the right side of the pocket as we look. Oh, right in

the middle. Good shot. STUDIO:. A very tight frame here. I

hope this is going to have let down left you wanting more. All of it on

the red button. That is where we're going. If you can't, there are

highlights at 1145. Peter and I and the team will be on the red button

all evening. Fire it up and come with this. See very shortly, bye for