Day 9, Morning Session Snooker: World Championship

Hello, a very good morning, welcome back to the Crucible Theatre in

Sheffield. Day nine remarkably the 2017 Betfred World Snooker

Championship, two more second-round matches get under way from scratch

today, forming already through the quarterfinals.

Ronnie was just a little bit too good... Ding Junhui gets into the

quarterfinal where he will play Ronnie O'Sullivan. What a

performance, a very confident young man. What a performance from John

Higgins! He is the best in my opinion. And this is the second

round draw as it stands. Always top class action at the

Crucible but I don't know about you, some of the snake has been

scintillating. That was a fantastic match last night with John Higgins

playing virtuoso snooker. Some of the clearances he made, the one from

58 behind, the one from 17 behind to clear up with 72, two frames and it

was a real sublime finish for John Higgins. How much are you looking

forward to Neil Robertson v Marco Fu? Some might say their surprise

that Marco is in the round. It might give him inspiration, I'm sure he

would have packed his bags. He came back remarkably well. A long history

of great comebacks at the Crucible another certainly one of them. They

have performed admirably and he is prone to a few Crucible comebacks

himself, this is going to be a cracking match, two players in great

form. Do you share the view of John Parrott, Neil Robertson not really

tested in the first round? This is an entirely different much? Not

really test the still very good and very sharp. He scored very heavily.

Neil Robertson, in the Crucible, he is always up-to-date. He was a

winner here before so bags of experience. I'm really looking

forward to this match against Marco Fu. Me too, thank you. The one thing

you can be sure of when these two players meet, it will be high

quality. They first met in 2008. Very happy with my game, I've been

practising hard coming in here, I have never practised harder coming

into championship before, so, I have done everything right, regardless of

performances, at least I know I have done everything I can. Since the UK,

I think I've been playing quite consistently, just producing the

type of consistency I want, that's the most important thing, especially

coming into the World Championships. Yeah, Marco has been playing good

snooker throughout his career and an unbelievable season, really, you

look at the draw, the players left, there aren't too many players that

you could get a good draw from, everyone fights to the death.

Strike-mac I think we just want to do some wonderful clearances and

hopefully I can win as quickly as possible. We try not to miss shops.

I am quite happy to be one of the lesser fancied players. You know,

Ronny, Judd Trump, are ahead of me and I am more than happy to fly

under the radar and quietly go about my business. I'm sure it's going to

be a challenge for me, so it will be an evenly matched contest. I will

play to my best and enjoy the occasion Kempley come out as a

winner. Here at the players backstage. On table to then this

wonderful arena, Barry Hawkins starts second-round match against

Graeme Dott, the first session, frames 1-8 and then all four players

back tonight for the 7pm session. Rob Walker is at the London

Marathon, I don't know if he is running for BBC television, watch

those hamstrings, Walker, let's get the players out for today, welcome,

ladies and gentlemen to the Crucible Theatre here in Sheffield!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE First up on table two, a man who

knows the sweet feeling of lifting one of the biggest prizes in World

Snooker and one of the great British sporting venues, the champion of

2006, who, as a qualifier, won three matches to get here, then dispatched

Ali Carter in round one, please welcome the pride of Scotland,

Graeme Dott! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Sexed up, a special day for Barry Hawkins, not only is he about to

embark on another second-round match here at the Crucible Theatre, but he

will be cracking open the champagne tonight whatever happens because it

is his birthday! Will you please welcome...

LAUGHTER He did expect this! Will you please welcome the birthday

boy, Barry Hawkins! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

We either do it or we do it properly...

Happy birthday to Barry! On table one, another former Crucible King, a

former world number one who made his 500th career century in the first

round match and is looking to win the World Championship title again,

he lifted the trophy, beating Graeme Dott, sorry, Graeme, in 2010, will

you please welcome Peter Robinson! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE -- Neil

Robertson! Next up, the world number eight, who

we all thought was heading home after the opening session of his

first-round match against Luca Brecel but you never have to write

off this man, he remarkably turned it around, dug deep and found his

way into the second round, three times a world ranking title winner,

which is welcome Marco Fu! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

What a fantastic atmosphere here at the Crucible.

If you want to watch Barry Hawkins against Graeme Dott in the company

of Willie Thorne and Steve Davis, that is available on the BBC sport

website and BBC Sport app, but live here on BBC Two, a very good

morning. John Virgo and Ken Doherty. COMMENTATOR: Good morning Jason and

good morning everybody. Lovely day here in Sheffield. A bit chilly but

the sun was shining. The first frame of the second-round match. Two

heavyweights here. Neil Robertson, former champion. Marco Fu, they have

played 11 times. It is just slightly in favour of Neil Robertson, he has

won six against Marco's five but I think the most important step for me

is the fact that ranking titles, Neil Robertson has won 12, Marco Fu

has won three. Yes, and of course, with the experience of actually

winning here, when Neil Robertson did that. Yeah, he has a lot more

experience at the Crucible. Marco Fu has been a long time as well. A

couple of semifinals but a wonderful player on his day, Marco Fu, one of

the best scorers in the business. And Neil Robertson, who made his

500th career century in his last match and Marco Fu just looking at

the stats has made 449 in his career, so big scorers. They are not

so amateurs, nay? Incredible standing. And when he completed the

hundredth centuries in one season that was quite incredible. It really

was. Meanwhile, what on earth was Marco Fu playing there? It may have

cost him... Hmm, the red's come out. He thought if he got close to the

chores, it would have stayed at this end.

He needs a bit of luck with the position for the cover. Well, he has

two pots the red first. An edgy start, this, from Marco. He could

have gone for the yellow instead of playing that safety shot on the

brown. Bound to have some sort of nervous going into this match. An

opportunity for both players. And of course, Marco, that first round,

they finished the session 7-2 against Luca Brecel but what a

remarkable comeback in the second session, to get through that round,

was amazing. The great comeback and there have been many at the

Crucible, that was up there with some of them. I agree. You get a

victory like that and you might think, this is my year. You think

you're out and you relax but he did play well to come back, he didn't

just scraped over the line, he produced good snooker. But the first

few shots this morning, very average. And of course, when Neil

Robertson won here in 2010, in a second-round match against Martin

Gill, he had checked out of the hotel, packed his barracks, came

down to play the last session of the match, didn't get himself too much

of a chance and then beat Martin Gill 13-12 and went on to win the

tournament. He will pots this book, into the top

corner and maybe make a little cannon just above it.

He has not had the best of seasons, by his own standards, Neil

Robertson. He won the Rico Masters back in June. That was last year. It

is quite a long time. He's normally at the business end of most

tournaments and the normally when several per season. But this has

been a bit of a barren one for Neil Robertson. He is such a lovely

striker of the ball, tremendous at potting. Of course, there are lots

of tournaments now, best-of-7, and in the grand scheme of things, that

is like playing three holes of golf, really. Anyone can win. He has

already said, he has done lots of preparation for the World

Championship this year. This is a big chance to get his career back on

track. Marco is ranked number eight in the world, Neil nine. When you

consider Neil was world number one for three years. It is a drop down

the rankings, somewhat. He is a little straight on the

black. He seemed to get a big bones of the side cushion. I think he can

force the black incomer to get out for the red above the black. He has

plenty of cue power, Neil Robertson. He decided to go back for the red

into the left centre. He has this red close to the cue ball. Has it

hampered his cueing? There is his target. 69 he needs. Good cueing,

this. Considering that, that was an excellent shot. That could clinch

the frame. 53 ahead, 83 remaining, two reds, to

Michael Collins, that should be enough.

Red and black would put him 69 points ahead with just 67 remaining.

That was good, the frame ball, acknowledged by the crowd. Now he

can concentrate on making a century. He does not need the safe red, close

to the left centre pocket. The pink will go on the brown spot and these

two reds will be pottable into the bottom right pocket. He is always a

way of making centuries. He wants to keep going, he wants to catch up

with the likes of John Higgins and Stephen Hendry, and even Ronnie

O'Sullivan. As well as being a fantastic player, he loves the

history of the game. He loves the records. Yes, two reds, two blacks,

that would get into this century without having to play the awkward

red knew the left-hand side cushion. This is one of these matches, in

this rent particularly, -- in this rent particularly, where we may see

lots of century breaks. It would be nice to start with one here. The

very first frame. He let that positional shot slip. He

will need a pot. Into the far right corner. He will screw back for the

black. No problem. Great pot. And the black for the century. Well

played. Just the start any player is looking for. Connacht. -- tonne up.

He got his cue arm going. Hello. Weight is the red ball going? That

is one of your trick shots, John. I have seen them on the television.

You might have to have a few attempts at one like that.

Well, once he had made the hundred, he was not bothered. I very

tentative start from Marco Fu. It cost him in the end. Neil Robertson

leads, 1-0. Yes, we talked about Marco, a little

bit nervous. He potted red and got onto the brown. Look at this, before

he plays the shot. He is just above the baulk line. Would you take on

the yellow or possibly the green? Absolutely, the way the reds were

spread. Have a look at the shot. I presume he was trying to leave Neil

hampered by the brown, but he did not even do that, he left him a pot.

Then he had the possible red into the left-centre that the misses as

well. He was worried about were the cue ball was going, but he missed it

by some distance. He was concerned about the line that the cue ball was

going to take, but do not miss the pot. From there, that was the end of

the frame. Not the start he was looking for, but the perfect start

for Neil Robertson. The second frame, Marco Fu to break.

Marco gets the second frame under way. We were saying, he did very

well in his first round. He got way behind and fought his way back. He

does not want to be doing that against a player of the stature of

Neil Robertson. Certainly not. If you give Neil Robertson four, five,

six frames start, you do not want to do that. A lovely pot. He played to

get in and around the back of the red. There was a nice lunch on that.

He is on the black. He can hold for the red into the same pocket or try

to nudge the red towards the pocket. Wow.

His body language would suggest that he got a kick. I am not sure that

was in the middle of the pocket anyway.

Anyway, it is a reprieve for Marco, I transfer him to get his in. We can

see it again. A slight bones. He would never expect to mist a black

like that. You're bound to blame it on something. -- a slight bounce.

Let's see what Marco can make of this.

Nicely on the pink or black. Or the black into the bottom corner pocket.

The red below the pink pots into the right centre.

If he goes into the pack, he has to be careful. The pink is a little bit

away from the red. He decided to play for the red below the pink.

He played that nicely. The perfect angle on the blue to cannon into the

pink foul on. He could not wish for a better potting angle than this. He

has played it well. That red bounces slightly against the top cushion. It

was a good shot. Looking at the side bar, another 33 points from this

position to clinch the second frame. He has got a couple, well, the red

at the bottom of the pack goes, the red to the left goes, and of course,

the red closest to the cue ball. He does not have to disturb any reds

just yet. Well. Trying to put left-hand side on that. He has got

away with it. That was a mistake. Watchou moves slightly. You see his

head put. -- you see him lift his head, trying to get the power in the

cue ball. He will not be happy with that,

Neil. The cue ball should have been tight to the baulk cushion. He has

left Marco chants, it is a to nothing. -- it is a shot to nothing.

That was too thick. When Marco missed the black from the spot, you

think, you have got away with it. He was just delighted to get back to

the table. Even though he did not have anything to go out, but I know

what you mean. I would have expected Marco to win the frame from that

position. That is a better safety shot from Neil. That is top draw.

That is why you need the cue ball welded to the baulk cushion. There

is every chance he will force a mistake from your opponent.

The referee, Jan Verhaas, had a look. If it had been touching, he

would have declared it. There is no obvious path back to baulk for Neil.

But there will be four Marco. He has put himself in trouble here, Neil.

Marco can get a good cue ball here. That's a bit heavy. Eight kiss on

the brown. He could target up behind the yellow, he can try to double the

red across the table. That was always going to go pretty

close. That was an excellent roll-up from

Neil. I'm sure anyone who has ever tried to shout... Don't like them at

all, I've never liked those shots. It was excellently played. He may

have cut off the one-cushion escape, if so, it loses a little bit more of

a problem for Marco Fu. He found the one-cushion escape and

Neil wondered whether he could pots it. And that's the problem with

this. He could knock the red on. He is afraid if he kept it to heart,

this red could be onto the bottom right pocket. That was a lovely,

lovely shot. I think he had it twice. If it is not touching, he

might try to bring the black into play here. If it was touching, he

could have knocked the black up and down the table. There you go. Two

for the price of one. REFEREE: Quietly, please. It took me

a while to work out that BOGOF thing, buy one get one free, isn't

it? Not quite certain what Neil is looking at. Maybe to knock the pink

into the opposite corner. He didn't think he could, over the pink, and

once you play the extra bit of pace, it makes the pots more difficult and

he has left the red on. I would have preferred to be on the

yellow or brown hair, Marco, because playing the green at the black, not

sure if he can avoid the black when potting the green. You may come

around and have a look at the yellow. To pot the yellow into the

left pocket. Can he popped the green and justified the black? He couldn't

do it. He may still take this red on as he

tries to avoid the black. They read about the pink, if it doesn't come

in, you would think it would be covered by the other rates. He

played it positively. Pot this blue, go for two points in

front of the Bristol 67 remaining. If you pop toodle-00, the Civic to

the player safety shot. Maybe put the blue safe.

He is not getting through the ball this morning. Very tentative and the

present pushrod. This looks like a decent line and

length. But there is a red, one that would be in a direct line of the

pink. I think Neil can get enough of this to play the pots, problem is he

may run into the plinth, so they need to get it... -- ran into the

blue. He has left the chance of a pot for Marco.

APPLAUSE He played that well. Certain players play that shot and

it never moves, but Marco just sort of lift up for the shot. The head

just comes off the cue. The reason his game has improved slightly is he

is bringing the cue further and getting more than the ball and...

The extra power, that helps when you're splitting the pack from the

black as well. It just opens up the reds easier. He has played this very

nicely. 40 points ahead, so pink and red required. This will relax him,

he has looked a bit tense. But now, with just this

And particularly here at the Crucible, it is such a difficult

place to play that this will make him feel a lot better. On the face

of it, it is hard to pick a winner. It is a slight favour for Neil

Robertson but anyway, that red didn't go in. Neil won't bother. So,

Marco still looks a little bit nervy but he's got his first frame on the

scoreboard. It is 1-1. Let's have a look at that missed black. His body

language suggests heavy contact. Let's see. As he plays this shot,

listen and see whether the black jumps. Maybe slightly. But I don't

think it was going to be in the centre of the pocket anyway, the

black. It's definitely jumped, as we saw that I don't necessarily think

it through off-line, I think because of that red that was beside the

black, he was wondering whether to promote that will try to get on the

inside of the natural,. -- inside of that red. It has all gone, 1-1. A

chance here for Marco if he can get through to the potting angle on this

red. And he could. And that's the type of shot he knocks in the

regular. As he left it to the middle? -- has he left it to the

middle? No. There was a bit careless.

Catching the blue. He may not have left a pot on but Marco will play a

better safety shot than that, you would have thought. I'm looking at a

lot of distance between the reds and he knows one has gone to this rate

pocket. That's a mistake. Anywhere down the

right-hand side of the table, it will put Neil Robertson in a little

bit of difficulty but now, the fact that he has the cue ball-in-hand,

this red is normally quite routine for Neil Robertson.

That's fantastic. He didn't decide to go for the black. Beautifully

cued. And he looks as though he has a nice handle on the blue. I think

that red is available to buy the corner. Can he get it off the blue?

Depends how straight he is. Well, he could hold and it looks as

though he is on the red, just above the black and that is inch perfect,

good shot. A bit straighter on this in black

and it would have made the cannon to the left of the black, at the one he

wants just to make a little cannon on to hold the red in the opposite

pocket. That could have been a little bit

better. It's one of those shops now, particularly if he plays the red to

the right corner, which is the easiest pot, he's got to run through

all the reds with the cue ball, not guaranteeing a good position on the

cover. Just about on the blue. He has got a decent line, but not

enough pace left in the cue ball. That is the problem. When the cue

ball starts to travel, it is not only about the line, you need pace.

At first glance, I cannot see anything he is on. I am a little bit

surprised he did not play for the red in the other half of the table.

I would have thought that would have been easier to play. He is playing

it now. Hampered cueing. I do not know if he can risk the pot. Trying

to get to the baulk cushion, behind the yellow.

That is OK, decent enough safety shot. And he has covered the escape

route down the left-hand side of the table, as we look. He has a little

bit to think about, Marco. This is not straightforward. That is his

view, from his point of view. He cannot play safe down the right-hand

side. The blue is blocking that path. Just having to play the

containing safety. And in these situations, Neil will

once again keep the cue ball down the right-hand side the table.

Because playing safe down the right-hand side of the table, there

are few awkward reds on the right-hand side condition that he

can run into. He will play safe against one of

these. The blue is always a big ball. That is the line the Ken is

looking at. In the end, he went for the red. Risky.

He has either gone into that too much or not enough. I am not quite

sure whether he wanted to screw off the cushion or not. It was a tough

pot. He made it look easy. I am just thinking, here's a tall man. When he

got down to play this shot, he was so close to the boarding at the

side, where the audience are. That is the beauty of the two table

situation. If you have never been to the Crucible, you are frightened to

breathe. Particularly with all the people in the front row. It is so

close. Yes, there is not a lot of room to

step back and admire your work. That has not gone as planned. I still

think he has the red to the left middle and possibly on to the right

middle, but trickier than he was hoping for. It must be one of the

very few sporting occasions, around the world, particularly for a World

Championship in any sport, where the actual spectators get so close to

the action. I suppose I can think of cycling, as the cyclists are going

through, but the people in the front row, there are so close to the

players. It is quite incredible. It adds to the atmosphere and detention

in the room, it is fantastic. It is wonderful. I always say to people,

if you have never been to the Crucible, put it on your bucket

list. We were just looking at the points scored. Neil, 1000 points

scored in the tournament. Now the black has gone in, he is looking for

another 17 points to get to snookers required. It does not look

difficult. Black and one more red will suffice

for this frame. Yes, it was a bit short of pace, but

it should not be a problem. As Ken says, he only needs the red. And he

has finished on the blue. Yuki pots the blue and one more red, there

will be no way back to the table for Marco, who took on a risky red. I

was thinking about the safety, but he said in the pre-match interview,

and we heard from both players, that they both liked the attack and get

on with it. If that is the way you are going to play, that is the way

your mindset is, have a chance and go for it. It cost him this frame,

though. Yes, I put a line-up when he was shaping up for the particular

shot that I thought he was going to play. I thought he was going to play

the safety. Trying to disturb the reds.

That was unlucky. Can they keep this break going? Brown, pink. Brown

would not be a bad choice. The natural angle of the cue ball would

be going back down towards the reds, but the pink would be easier. He has

got to move the cue ball with some pace to get it over towards the

reds. We could see an amazing trick shot.

62 from Neil Robertson when is this frame. He now leads Marco Fu, 2-1.

There you can see Kyren Wilson, getting ready for his match, his

quarterfinal match, and what a cracking match that will be against

the four times previous world champion, John Higgins. Up and

coming players. That match starts on Tuesday, over the best of 25. It

should be a cracker. Yes, and Kyren Wilson, like we did, he will have

seen how well John Higgins played in that match, as bid Allen, the loser.

I do not blame him, spending time on the practice table. It will be a big

match he has got, but he will look forward to it, playing John Higgins

at the Crucible. He played Mark Selby last year in the

quarterfinals, lost to the eventual winner. This is the last frame

before the interval. Yes, and just to remind you, how

these matches are played, three sessions make up the 25. Two

sessions of eight, and one of nine. They will play this morning, and

come out again this evening. You have got to play them on session at

a time. If you were to lose the first session, 6-2, you are really

up against it, even though the winning line is 13. You get 6-2

behind, and if you can only have the sessions after that, you're soon

licking defeat firmly in the face. -- looking defeat. Most players have

a target for the first four frames, they like to try and get the 3-1

lead. If they find themselves leading 6-2, that would be a bonus.

You have to keep it short in your mind, not get too far ahead. That is

the way I have always tried to approach each match I have played at

the Crucible. Even if you lose the first session, 5-3, sometimes you

might have a bad session where you try and minimalise the damage. If

you do have a bad session, 5-3 is not too bad. Meanwhile, that was a

good shot from Marco. He seems to have snookered Neil on all the reds.

If he is playing away from the top cushion with pace he has got to...

No, it is gentle. Has he hit the red or the black? He has judged it well.

Good shot. The great thing about these best of

25s, and as we get onto semifinals and the final, four sessions, there

is so much time to make those comebacks, even if you have some bad

sessions. Well, everybody can have a bad session, whether it is due to

your player or the bad run of the ball. You have to try and put that

behind you. Decent cue ball. There was a danger.

He has left this red to the left corner, but it could have been

easier. Solid, right in the heart of the pocket. That is what makes Neil

Robertson such a dangerous player. Great cueing. Kept so still on the

shot. No head movement. Usual optimistic scorer, anyone pots the

red and black. He has made three maximums in tournament play, Marco

has made four. He made one against me once in Scotland. I don't like

talking about masters with you. Oh! Their's a surprise. Now, what

has he left? Is anything available into the left centre?

The red is close to the pocket but it is not the type of shot that he

can swear off the cue ball around the black and put -- pot the red.

He has done that but it could have been closer to the ball cushion with

the cue ball. Yeah, that's the last two frames, Marco was in, I think it

was the second frame, when he missed the black off the spot, didn't cost.

On another day, use this when you're in and that is the end of the frame.

-- on another day, you miss when you are in and that is the end of the

frame. You can see reds but his concern,

the red that is closest to the left. He has plenty of balls to cover, the

green, the blue, even the red, which is below the blue. If I had one

slight, not a criticism but a concern about Neil Robertson,

sometimes he can get himself bogged down. Andy has misused that

completely, after all that thinking. I think you're right. Neil Robertson

is such a fluent player and sometimes over the safety shot, he

may think about too many options and sort of confused himself at times

and that's exactly what has happened, he has misjudged that

shot. And that could be very costly. Here's looking at this red to the

left corner, obviously he doesn't have the angle to leave it in the

middle but he has a nice angle on that one and is playing it nicely

and usually very effective in and around the black spots, is Marco.

It has gone wrong! He played a cannon on that red and didn't get

into the cue ball enough. Now, there's a surprise. Mind you, to be

fair, I say it's a surprise that he's not looked quite on it yet this

morning. Such a margin for error, 90% for Robertson. Long pot success,

71% for Robertson. That is better. Good recovery. Has he got an angle

on this brown? On the yellow, maybe slightly hampered by the green but I

think he just has a nice angle on the brown just to move that red into

the right centre. Played it very well. A great relief for Marco Fu to

get back in position after that additional shot from the previous

black. Hmm, another loose shot,

unforgivable putting the blue but that's what he did. He has run out

of position. So, thanks to cut opportunities he has had here and

has not made the most of them. Well, last time, she recovered with a

tremendous pot but not quite bad time. -- not quite that time. Now we

see an example of Neil Robertson's cue power, particularly if he is

straight and he looks straight. And a nice kiss on the blue, deserved

it, can't cue that much better than that.

Not quite sure that cue ball has travelled far enough. Maybe just OK.

He may have to play a slight cannon on the red just above it. The points

now are all square. Just need another 29 points. That really

equates to four more reds. Doing the maths, checking the

scorers. APPLAUSE And the red on the

left-hand side of the table will be no problem.

It is close to the cushion in that left-hand corner pocket, shouldn't

be a problem for a left-hander. Marco may have missed a trick here.

He had a really good opportunity with balls at his mercy.

Nicely on the black now. He can pot the black and get right behind the

red. Him a screw back for the blue, if he does that, he can get away

from the cushion and red and pink would do. And this blue whippet and

37 points in front, with just 35 remaining. -- and this blue would

put him 37 points in front, with just 35 remaining.

And Neil Robertson will be the happier of the two. He has won the

first mini-session, if you like, of the match, three frames to one, in

just over an hour. Four frames, just over an hour, that's pretty quick.

The green doesn't: but that won't matter. -- the green does not go in

but that won't matter. It won't bother Neil Robertson, the

Australian League at 3-1. STUDIO: Let's switch our attention

to the other time taking place on table two. 2006 world champion

Graeme Dott taking on Barry Hawkins, who famously marched all the way to

the 2015 Crucible final, and the taboos to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

I think I was three, riding a green bike, and following of it. For some

reason, that sticks in my mind, in a school playground, or where we used

to live, on an estate. I try to be polite to most people, and treat

people how I like to be treated. I sold for a while after I lost. That

is one of my bad qualities. My wife will tell you, not very much. I am

not romantic. I took to Mexico when we first got together. Michael

taught me how to cook a dish. It is spaghetti, with chicken. Every now

and then, I could grab. My wife seems to like it. Going into space.

I like that sort of thing. Going to Las Vegas, that is another one. The

1960s, that sounds like fun. I quite like Susanna Reid, on Good Morning

Britain. A little bit older but she sticks in my mind at the minute.

None of the players like answering questions about their celebrity

crush. His opponent, Graeme Dott, made his debut in 1987, losing 10-9

against James Wattana. He won it famously in 2006. He has been the

runner-up twice. After that, his record is littered with defeat in

the quarterfinal and the first and second rounds. Let's show you the

action from frame one. It is Dott to play, and he is trailing by three.

The reason I mention Barry Hawkins with the rest, I noticed that he

only missed one ball with his rest in the previous match. I was waxing

lyrical about how good he was with the rest and he missed that one. A

different day, a different game. That is the trouble. The start of

matches are very important, even if you are informed. You can get out of

form. Turning down the black into the right corner in preference for

more mileage with the cue ball. I guarantee pot, but I wonder if he

had another chance, would he play the black?

That yellow looked like a big target, didn't it? I thought he

might have screwed it in to take the kiss on the baulk colours out of the

equation. He has taken on this long pot. Oh, dear. That was a prime

example of a little unwanted side. He is looking up to the commentary

box. He cannot believe how much he missed that by. After his first

excellent long pot, he has gone off the boil in that department.

Barry has not settled. What are the reasons? Is it gripping the cue to

type, or is it a little bit of unwanted side that throws it out so

far? You certainly have not settled down,

even though you will have gone to the practice table to loosen up your

arm. That extra attention, whether it is in your grip or your

background, it makes you deliver the cue slightly differently. You need

20 or 30 points, continuous shots on the table, to get into a rhythm. As

if it is down the club. What do you mean by unwanted side? It is when

they are trying to hit a plain ball, the way that Graeme Dott was trying

to hate the last shot plain ball, and he did not deliver the cue in a

straight line, and the cue ball goes off immediately. The fine cloth so

good when you're cueing beautifully, but when it is bad, they can find

you out. He did not really on the kiss on the

pink. That was not in his plan. A bit more of the judgment pot then he

would have wanted. Maybe these few shots are enough to settle Graeme

Dott down. Not a bad situation for Graeme Dott.

He can mop up quite a number of reds. And get close to the finishing

line with very little risk. Yes, as soon as he gets rid of the

red on the black spot, so the black can go back to its own spot, that

makes those three reds accessible. He can get nicely on the black into

Michael shots time, Susie can bring those three reds into play. Yes, I

think he could get over the line without needing any of those. That

would be a nice scenario. 29 in front, 36 with this black. Mop

up the two on the right-hand side cushion. Onto the next frame. I am a

little surprised he did not make sure he finished top side of the

black. There was plenty of room. That makes a massive difference. Now

he is three or four feet away from the red instead of one fit. -- one

foot. He certainly took its time not to finish straight on the black,

because he will not have any chance of getting onto a collar. He is

trying to get an angle from this red. If he is high on the black, it

could be perfect. Let's have a little lip. He can screw back on the

one on the cushion that Steve mentioned. Past 51 points. He needs

to be in front with three reds left. Sometimes you can get a good kick.

That was a good one. Yes. It was. The perfect kick.

There have been some horrendous ones. Shaun Murphy's yesterday,

against Ronnie O'Sullivan, which eventually cost him the match. He

was dead straight on the ball and it went sideways. He is taking these

well. He probably planned it like that, to

try and bring two reds into play. 52 in front with 51 remaining. He may

not play this pot. That is a good scenario here. Touching ball is even

better. Put another colour on the cushion. A

break of 48. Graeme Dott takes the frame.

Five and the frame, game Dott. Graeme Dott wins the first frame in

this best of 25 match. A good start for Graeme Dott. Let's show you what

happened in frame two. Barry Hawkins to play, leading 51-12. We cannot

bring you that frame for now. We are busy pressing buttons to make sure.

Here it comes. He has decided to play the

containing safety and he has not played that very well at all.

The black goes, but only of the left-hand side jaw, so the pink is

the better choice for positional purposes. Still 24 points behind,

but you would have to suggest that his favourite, B brown, is going to

be the problem ball. If this red goes in, and no reason

to believe it will not, it is very much a brown ball frame. What would

you be thinking? Obviously get on the black, but would you want to

play for the yellow and use the brown. It is tough to move the brown

and guarantee position on the green. Brown to blue then becomes very

hard. Yes, a difficult shot. He cannot play it now. He will have to

get a nice angle on the green to play to move the brown. The chances

of potting colour and moving the brown into a good position are

pretty slim. The first thing, he has got to get the right angle, and that

is quite tough. Even the kiss on the brown does not guarantee position.

He can play behind it, get as close as possible, so he does not have to

ban the brown in. A bit of an angle, but he has overscrewed dad. It is

one of those, when you're playing, sometimes you have to hope you do

not get perfect on the brown to make you go for the pot. Because it is

such an easy safety shot. He will have to go for it from here. He has

the perfect angle. Brown and blue. That would put him 14 points in

front. It just shows you how difficult they are along the baulk

cushion. He did all the hard work, I do not blame him at all, taking the

brown. He was perfect on it. It is one of those where you are willing

it in. I thought it was in but it caught the newer jaw. We have seen

lots of balls going in and the far jaw, but not the new job. -- the

near jaw. He has not played that too well.

Both players need blue and pink. Barry Hawkins has not really been in

this match this morning so far. He can pot the blue and pink to win the

frame and they will certainly relax. He could and perhaps should be 2-0

behind. Very good. It was a good pot. Pink for the frame.

My word, why is that? An aberration. You wouldn't miss many of those in a

season. That is the miss of the

championship. An excellent positional shot from Graeme. He

knows this will hurt Barry Hawkins. Barry Hawkins started with 31, but

the important was the last 13 points, takes over the winning line,

he now leads 2-0. STUDIO: Let's bring you right up to

date, blue players emerge on table one after the interval, Barry

Hawkins has a frame back, so Graeme Dott leet opens by 2-1, that much is

available on the BBC sport website and the BBC Sport app but now, life

here on BBC One, let's resume, Marco Fu, Neil Robertson in the company of

John Virgo and Ken Doherty. COMMENTATOR: Players are back. They

always said the first bit of water when they take the top off.

For more frames to be played in this session.

A decent break off. Average frame time, just over 15 minutes. And the

average shot time, that's good. And 91% for Neil Robertson and 85%

for Marco Fu, that need to be increased a bit. Not certain he

played the pot there. I'm not sure, though. Neil was trying to create

that cue ball in the behind the black but I think he has just left

it short. I was a bit careless or from Neil. A good pot! And a bit

close to the cushion but we fully expected Neil to have got that cue

ball behind the black. He played that nicely. And he is on the red,

immediately above the black. During the interval, I was in the

practice room and Marco Fu came in with Wayne Griffiths, his coach.

Marco obviously happy with the first session and want to just pot a few

balls, try and loosen up a little bit.

Not certain if the pink will in its spot... He couldn't be certain that

red wasn't going to be tied up but no hesitation from yarn for house.

He first refereed in 1995. He has been a professional referee for 25

years and one of the best, it has to be said. -- Jan Verhaas.

Just lost the cue ball a fraction there. It may tempt them into

playing the cannon, cannon the pink, if you like, and that will bring red

into play. But don't miss the black. Just another bit of evidence of the

nervousness of Marco Fu at the moment. He just hasn't got that cue

ball blue we would normally see from him. Kiss the brown in the previous

frame, the blue... A good chance for some points there. What can Neil

Robertson do? A tremendous shot. He really got

through that ball so well, didn't it? Beautifully played.

He's not really perfect on either pink or black, blue it turns out.

You would think black would be the choice. Only one loose red. Will it

be too risky to play the cannon? Well, if he scampered over the red,

he will just content himself with this black here and play for that

looks red. Judge did nicely. He would have

possibly liked it to be a bit straighter. Just having a look to

see if those three balls in a line or planted to this bottom left-hand

corner pocket, it looks pretty close. Wire-mac that would help.

That would help. It looks dead onto me. Blue long blue those will reds

aren't touching each other. Nicely played, held for the blue.

Could play a little cannon on the reds here. He's thinking about

taking the brown. Now, he's going for the yellow, of

course he is, blessed with tremendous cue power, these types

are shops you can play with consummate ease. -- these types of

shots you can play with consummate ease. Still five points behind. He's

going to need that awkward red on the right-hand side cushion. There's

always that one red, seems to be, anyway. Just looking at the position

of the pink, John, I know it's going to be a few shots away but should he

get on one of those reds around the pink sport and play the pink where

it is, he could get a nice angle from the pink to knock that red out

and I'm sure that is what is going through his mind.

He has coped with that well, it could have come slightly wrong but

it's OK, since the red to the corner. Still open for the blue.

This will put him nine points in front.

Being a left-hander, it's the wrong side for him. So, not shameful. --

sowed not straightforward. Maybe if he can take this red into

the pocket and then go up for the blue. If he gets on the red on the

pink spot, he can pop that red after this blue, of course, and leave that

pink because I think it is in the perfect position. He is having a

look. He has to get in somewhere within

that small circle. Blue long blue he has a nice angle on this pink.

That will do nicely. Could not have worked out better.

Beautifully played, to a bit of working out that people always

asking how many shots players think of in their head and sometimes it

may be two or three or even four, John, and I think in a particular

case, he knew exactly where the pink was and was thinking maybe, four

shots ahead. You just concentrate on a nice potting angle on each ball.

But he worked it out nicely there. And now just this red required to go

in front. With just 27 remaining. Yes, a bit nervous right from the

beginning. OK, he won the second frame, but he has had his chance in

this frame, in the fourth frame, the one just before the interval.

Robertson certainly looks in good form.

Up to 93 now, pot success. Marco has still got to get close to 90%, you

feel. This is good for Neil Robertson. 22 second shot average

time at the moment. This is when he is at his best, free-flowing, a

tremendous potter and break-builder. Marco had some chances in that

frame, but in the end, Neil Robertson ran out with a break of

90. He now goes three clear. 4-1. That is the CV of Neil Robertson.

The Riga Masters he won last season, it might seem a long way ago. It was

the first tournament of the season. But I think agree, Ken, that when we

come to the World Championships, the Crucible Theatre, and these longer

matches, this is a real test of a player. Some of these best-of-7s,

they are toss of a coin, really. Absolutely. It is a true test. And

of course, the one that they all measure their season on, even if

sometimes, players come to the World Championships, having won a couple

of the smaller tournaments are even the bigger tournaments, but they

always gauge how they deal with the World Championships. If they do not

have a decent World Championship, they feel that the season is not as

good as it could have been. This is careless.

Things not going too well for Marco at the moment, it has to be said. He

may have left the pot on. There is a line of three just before -- just

below the pink. I think the middle one might go to right corner. Maybe

not. Maybe yes. Beautifully picked out.

He will be nicely on the yellow. Another couple of rolls. I thought

it may not go. He went for it, and in a way, he was lucky not to be on

the yellow. Just an inch short of pace.

Now because the reds are loose, there is no guarantee that Marco Fu

can hit one and not leave a pot on. Particularly the one adjacent to the

left middle pocket. Not guaranteed to get this safe.

He decided to rest on that one, but he has overhit it. There is

definitely a pot on this red that is closest to the cue ball. Is there

another one? I cannot see another red that will

pot. This definitely's -- this definitely pots, the one closest to

the cue ball, into the right middle. He is shaping up, though, to the

green pocket, to try to get on the bike. Another difficult pot, but

more reward if it goes in. A chance missed.

He has not left anything easy. This red into the green pocket looks very

straight. Marco is not blessed with the same amount of cue power that

Neil Robertson has. So he would try and pot lad, and screw it, the cue

ball up towards the blue, it would be very difficult for Marco.

That is quite a clever shot. He has left the cue ball and the red in the

baulk area, squid on, so to speak. It will not be easy for Neil to play

a telling safety shot from the red. It is the only ones he can play,

really. If he has covered the red with the

yellow, that is an excellent shot. He has looked good this morning.

He is giving there's plenty of fodder. If he tries to play the

safety back to the baulk end, he could leave a very easy safety shot.

The last time he left the cue ball square on with the red. Is he taking

the bottom one. The dead. He played it well. He could never guarantee

good position. He knew it was running into other reds. He just

caught that red, and that is why he did not catch the third one fill in

the face. If he had done, he would have been on the black. He has got

to convert the red knew the baulk line. He has not done it. It is an

easy safety for Neil. Send it down the table, the red, and the cue ball

tight to the baulk cushion. On the face of it, he has an easy

shot shot. -- on the face of it he has an easy safety shot. He does not

want to catch it too thick and run into the green. He does not want to

play the pot on this red. Using his cue power once again. When you play

that shot, you're never certain where the ball is going to finish.

The worst possible outcome for Neil, he has left the red over the corner

pocket. Add pace, you can never be sure. No. The odds are against you.

You have got two pockets, and you have got so many reds. One of them

is bound to go very close. That is exactly what has happened. This will

be an interesting shot. If he chooses to play a little cannon on

the red. To try and hold for the black. Has he played it well? The

pink is on into the left-centre. It was a good effort. If the pink is

on, he will definitely take it on. He has got to get it. If he misses

this, it could cost him the frame. Well played. Well played. There was

a bit of pressure on that one. He kept still on the shot as long as he

could. He knew the importance of it. Can he get on the black?

There is a little cannon that he can play while potting this red. He can

pot this red and play delicate little cannon onto the red just to

the right of it, and hold the cue ball for the black to the opposite

pocket. Yes, that is OK. If the red to the

right of the black will go into the same pocket as the black, well, I do

not think it does. It does not. This is where you feel Marco really

has to win this frame on one visit, just for his own confidence,

eradicate those only match nerves. They have been quite evident so for

this morning. Yes, he got into that one a bit too much. He played for

the blue, not the green. He has not really recovered ideal

position. He is usually so good in and around the black spot area. His

timing is just not there this morning. That can only be tension in

the cue arm. Yes, he wanted the cue ball to travel at least another

eight or ten inches for the red on the pink spot. He has this red into

the right centre. It should be OK, but he must get top side of the

blue. He has purposely played on this side of the blue. We saw in the

previous frame, the frame before the interval, he was out of position on

the brown. He has played this one a lot better. A much better shot. Well

played. If he cannot get through to the red

to the right of the black, he will have to go for the blue.

He got there, just. He just found a nice angle on the blue.

Once again, another poor positional shot. This is not the red he played

for. Just 29 points shy of what is required. Not got the angle on the

blue this time, looks to be very straight. Making hard work of this.

Not much room to play with there, on the blue line.

Again, a good pot. Slightly lost the cue ball. He's going to play this

blue cue ball off the top cushion, side cushion. He has a nice angle.

67 still remaining. I think he can get on the black here. And he has

played that very well. Very nicely done, he has struggled

through this rake back but has done well to keep it going.

I am certain Neil Robertson would have thought he had a chance of

getting back to the table here. He has been pulling out some good pots

and this will make him feel better. Every possibility of a century break

here. As long as you get to 73, when you come to the covers, valued at 27

points, you will make 100. He has only had one so far, but he had that

scare against Luca Brecel and I think he's more concerned about

trying to get through that and making hundreds. Only one century

but we said at the start of this match, both players, Neil made his

500th century this week, I think we are going to see quite a few

centuries in this match, maybe four mag or five.

This will be a milestone, if he can make it, it will be his 450th. He

looks to be perfect on the green, he has played this well. A good shot.

It will be the 43rd century, 44th, and the record is 83. Sorry, 86.

You'll get it right eventually! Of course I will, if you give me enough

time. I can see the record century has been beaten this year. As I

said, it was equalled last year, at 86 and now, with this break, we're

just over the halfway towards that targets. And he's done very well

here, has Marco. Lost the cue ball on numerous occasions that in the

end, a lovely break. He will be feeling an awful lot better. Neil

Robertson is sat in his chair, for almost all of that frame. Still

lead, though, 4-2. It's got to be Michael Jordan

because he makes the game look so easy, not only a great basketball

there and off the court, a great role model. It may not be the best

sport to watch live, snooker, but on TV, everyone loves it, that's why we

get great viewing figures all over the world. I always wanted to become

a footballer but when I moved to Canada I was into MBA, so I want to

be a basketball player. The shot putt. 30 seconds is pretty fair. I

think we should do that every tournament to help the game attract

more viewers. Sports management or sports promoter but I took my mind

off it, only in a practice session, a lot of people watching and

laughing but my mind was elsewhere. I would love to become a snooker

coach because I think Hong Kong has helped me a lot, so, after I finish

playing professionally I would love to get back to snooker playing in

Hong Kong and help the players out. He's certainly has a lot of interest

in Hong Kong, as does Neil Robertson in Australia, I am surprised there's

not been another Australian player come through, we have had quite a

few but no Australians seem to be coming through at the moment. But

plenty from the far east. Just have a look at those shops that cost Neil

the last frame, he decided he didn't want to play the pot, thought he

would run the red into the pink but he didn't envisage a red going over

the corner. On another day, it might have dropped in. But not today.

So, this frame and one more will conclude this procession of this

match. You would feel that Marco Fu would have settled down a little bit

after that nice break. And after that last break, he is now up to

90%, he was languishing down at 84%. And Marco in that little piece wee

soul is in favour of the shot clock at all tournaments. Not sure how

that would work. It wouldn't work. Whatever you say, John. If it ain't

broke, that's what they say. You like don't fix it.

Just the pay kept out, really. -- just the pace kept that out. A

chance for Neil, who will be well aware that if he was to win this

frame he would be bound to have at least a two frame advantage going

into the second session this evening. It's a funny thing, when we

first started doing the Crucible Theatre, the average frame time by

some within the reach of about 28 minutes. Really? Yeah but I think

the average frame time now for a normal match, this one is just under

16 minutes, would be about 18 or 19 minutes. Now, that's quick enough. I

don't think you should have to restrict people to have 30 seconds

to think about every shot because some shots are more difficult than

others. The unexpected. He courted to think. You think it

would be a good idea to not have a shot clock but to have players' and

veg shops time documented so the public know the players are more

aware of it and if they are more aware of it, they will be conscious

to speed up. If you have a list from fastest to slowest. Absolutely. And

also, the referee has the ability to tell a player to quicken up, it's

not used but I remember years ago it was used with the likes of Dean

Reynolds got warned a few times, I remember another player being warned

for taking too long over shots. We gave them the misrule to play with,

they're not weak too. -- they're not work on that.

Someone who has a strong referee is Jan Verhaas. I have been chatting to

some band encouraging them to be a bit stronger. He is shaking his head

and he knows that was a fantastic chance to score points. Be

disappointed with that. Looks like there is a gap, you never know from

Marco's facial expression that he will be sacked their sleeping, I

imagine. He can pot this. It would make life easier to get the

red away from the top cushion. I think what is putting him off, it is

definitely a gap. Not certain he wants to for the black. In the end,

he had no choice but to play for the black. I can understand why,

particularly if he's straight on this black. This is a tough pot.

Certainly not got the best potting on it.

You are right. He tried to move the red off the top cushion and it

hasn't worked out. APPLAUSE

Marco Fu will be coming back to the table, mightily relieved, having Mr

red when he was in like that, it has only cost them eight points. --

having missed a red. He is having a look at these two

reds. I am not quite sure if he can make these into a plant. It looks

very tight. He may be able to squeeze the second red past the red

closest to the pocket, in that line. It could go in.

Yes, it could going, indeed. He brings it to the left-centre. -- the

green will go to the left-centre. He is going to take on the green.

STUDIO: This is where we leave you on BBC Two. Both matches, Marco Fu

against Neil Robertson, Barry Hawkins against Graeme Dott on table

two, they are both on the BBC sport website, and the BBC sport at. Hazel

Irvine will be here with John Parrott and Stephen Hendry from one

o'clock. MOTD2 Extra is next. We shall see you soon.

# You've made it this far Don't leave it to chance

# No holding back No half measures