Friday, Semi-Finals, Morning Snooker: World Championship

Hello. Good morning, welcome back to the Crucible Theatre. We're getting

closer to the final of the 2017 Betfred World Snooker Championship.

Four players hoping to land the biggest prize in the sport. In a few

minutes, defending champion Mark Selby and Ding Junhui will walk out

into this magnificent arena knowing a solid second session could edge

them closer to the final. It's beautifully poised after yesterday's

opener. Cracking semifinal in store. A repeat of last year 's final.

Everybody wants to get to the one-table set-up, the tournament

comes into its own. He could not have played that any better. Mark

Selby was in great form coming into the semifinal and looked like he had

the aura of a champion in waiting again. Wonderful shot! That first

frame when Mark Selby got in first, walking around the table like he

owned the place. It's a very risky shot to take on, but taking it on he

is. And getting it. That first frame, I've felt, was so key to Ding

Junhui. If he can beat Wally O'Sullivan, he can beat anyone.

People saying will there be an angle? They're definitely wasn't. He

is judged it to absolute perfection. Wonderful first frame. If the match

stays like that, we are in for a cracker. I thought the first four

frames were absolutely excellent snooker. You didn't fancy either

player missing an easy shot. All square, 2-2. He will give six points

away and leave a red on! Would you believe that? Amazing. It shows a

very confident player. Selby will be very disappointed, a couple of silly

errors you wouldn't normally see from him and it cost him a couple of

frames. The only thing he's missed this afternoon is a century and he's

got one now. Wonderful, absolutely wonderful from Ding Junhui will stop

he has a 5-3 lead over the defending champion. Selby has some catching up

to do. Ding is in fine form. What you need on a day like today,

semifinal day, is a former world champion. There's one standing next

to me, John Parrott. A session of high-quality snooker. Absolutely

brilliant. The first three frames was free-flowing, high-scoring, and

then two tactically brilliant frames. The last two frames, Ding

was magnificent. If he plays like that, he will win the World

Championship. Mark Selby is playing with a new tip. How important will

that be? It's a big decision, but also easy. If you feel like the

reaction off the cue ball isn't right, you have to change it. I text

him last night and he's put a new one on. You don't really know until

you get out there, but if it's gone, it's gone and you have to change it.

If you are Ding at the moment, is the objective to stay in front of

Mark Selby? That will ultimately be it, but the way he's playing at the

moment, he will look for every opportunity score. Do you think he

can win the World Championship? On yesterday's form, yes. The players

are standing by. Good morning, Rob Walker. Welcome back to this

intriguingly poised semifinal. 23 ranking titles, four Masters wins

between them, but there's only room for one in Sunday's final. It's show

time once again in Sheffield! Please welcome a player whose

influence on the global game has been huge. This is his third

Crucible semifinal and we've surely never seen better form from him here

than this year. Superb against Ronnie and absolutely brilliant

yesterday. He's a national hero in China so enter Dragon, Ding Junhui!

And his opponent, undisputed world number one for more than two years.

This is his fifth Crucible semifinal, a decade on from his

first. A man of immense mental strength who never knows when he's

beaten. UK champion, world champion, the Jester from Leicester. Mark

Selby! Here we go, the second session of

Mark Selby against Ding Junhui live on BBC Two. Good morning to John

Virgo and Willie Thorne. Thank you, good morning.

Apprehensive Mark Selby having to change his tip overnight. He trails

5-3. Ding Junhui in the ascendancy at the moment. The last four frames,

Mark Selby didn't have a break above 30, but we know what a fantastic

player he is. World number one and the world number one for some time

to come. The last session of his previous match, against Marco Fu,

was the best snooker I've ever seen. Can he reproduce that form to get in

front in this session? The break of shot from Ding Junhui was a good

one. Mark was having a smile that something. I think somebody hadn't

settled in or someone was looming into the press box. He is happy now.

He'll be looking for a good start this morning. Slightly on the back

foot. A long way to go, of course. First to 17th. These matches are

played over four sessions. Three of eight and one of nine to make up the

33 frames. Mark Selby experienced enough not to panic, but he'd like

to win this session. I think it's OK. Or is it? Can mark

get through to this red? Even if he can,... He can clearly get through

to the red, but he's hampered so he can't do a lot with the cue ball.

The pink and black aren't available. Is it worth the risk?

If he does roll the red in, he will have a virtually straight blue. I

wonder, with a new tip, if he will fancy it first thing in the morning

or playing a safety shot on the blue. In the early sessions of this

tournament, he would have taken the blue on, but I'm not so sure he will

this morning. I think the fact that he's gone to the baulk end and had a

look where he'd like to leave the tubal, where he would like not to

have to play from. Purposely covered the escape down

the right half of the table. I think the blue and the brown, the blue in

particular, stopping that. Yes, blue stopping it. No gap. There's a gap,

but no red at the end the gap. He's got a slight problem here. The two

reds to the top of the black, you can get to the thin edge of that

one. Take the white back into the baulk area. He is playing a

containing safety. He's missed it. REFEREE: Foul, and a

miss. Mark Selby four. The shot you described, you made it sound so

easy. Not like he has to do anything with the cue ball, is just plain

ball or quarter ball. I know what you mean. What he's really concerned

about is the red on the left-hand side of the table. That's the red

that Willie is referring to. But he doesn't fancy it. He might think he

would be knocking one to the right corner as well.

He doesn't want to hit this red... He's OK, he's caught it full. I

can't believe that was the intention, but he'll settle for it.

Safe enough. That's careless. Boy is that

careless. Trying to get the cue ball tight to the ball cushion, but

forgot about knocking the red over the middle. Not too sure whether he

can avoid the kiss on the red on the left-hand side after potting this

red. Getting onto a colour won't be easy. I think he can avoid the kiss.

He has kissed it. But it's turned out to be OK. Not very often you get

a good case. -- good kiss. We call them kisses when you don't

play them. When you do, it's a cannon!

Everything is in the way... All the reds are blocking each other. He's

playing the green around the table because he needs to finish on the

opposite side of the table. There must be something that pots. A plant

not be on. He's dead set. Unmissable. The only thing he's got

to be a bit wary of is the two reds are close together. You've got to

hit the first read correctly. Yes, unmissable. That's the way it goes

sometimes. He must have knocked that on when he potted the red to the

middle. Taking advantage of the run while you get it as it can soon

turn. That was a good short -- shot, the

way he steered the cue ball between the book colours. Couldn't have

played it any better. I wonder whether the pink pots in the middle.

If he can finish low on the pink, pecan pot the pink and move the two

reds away from the pink spot. He won't win the frame in this visit

without bringing the pink and black into that's for sure. -- interplay,

that's the shore. Doesn't want to be straight.

Slightly the wrong angle on the pink. If that cue ball was two

inches further to the left, he could move the reds away from the pink

spot, but he can't do that now. He might be trying to find the best

gap after potting the pink. He's got the red on the left-hand side as an

alternative should the position go wrong.

There's a red three down from the pink that pots in the corner. If he

gets dead straight on that, he can screw back for the blue. I think

there are a couple of reds. His concern is that when he pops the

pink, he's not certain where he's going to go. -- pots. Maybe the pink

spot isn't available. There are no other spots available. It might

block the path to potting one of those reds. He is taking a long time

over this. I think he's decided the pink doesn't go and it could go

behind its own spot. That could block those three reds clearly

available in the opposite corner. In the end, didn't want to risk...

Let's see where the referee can find a place for the pink. He has to go

as close to its own spot in the direct line with the middle of this

black cushion. He's got the line. He'll use the line between the

black, blue and brown. He's got to get it as close to the red as he can

without touching. Delicate job with gloves on.

Amazing because the reds are spread quite nicely. It's very difficult

without the pink and black in play. He will need all his cue power here

to screw it back. He might be able to flick the red to the left of the

pink with this screenshot and makes the pink available. Let's see if he

can manufacture an angle. No, had to screw directly back. That's not

good. Could have done with that cue ball stopping on a half bald blue.

-- half ball. Absolutely. If you're going to be just off straight, you

want to be lots of straight to force an angle. This will take some doing.

Tell you what, he's made a very good effort.

Most of the speed in the cue ball was generated by lots of left-hand

side. OK, top spin, but the running side. Wonderful shot.

Considering the White has travelled a really long way, a little

unfortunate to be so close to the cushion. I'm not sure if he can

generate enough speed to make it a shot to nothing.

Certainly taking his time over this break. A break of 23 and it's

already been going for more than seven minutes. Now decided to play

safe. But he realises the importance of

this first frame this morning. Can't say he didn't make the most of

that opportunity, Ding, because the reds were awkwardly situated. But

he's played a good safety. He can hit these two reds to the

left of the black very, very thin. Can he get around the back of those

two reds on the crush and? That's a great shot. You can stand there all

day and try to hit that shot so perfectly. That was absolutely top

drawer. If he had any apprehension about the new tip, he shouldn't have

now. Could not have hit a ball better than that. Wonderful shot.

That was the thing. The safety shot from Mark Selby was so good, it

forced an error from Ding Junhui. Now what you've got to do is take

advantage. This will test the tip, screwing

back for blue or black. That will make him feel a lot

better. It was all about the pace. So easy to - roo or overscrew them

with a new tip. That was perfect. -- underscrew or overscrew.

It's a decent chance, this, mainly because when he gets the black on

its spot, it will be available into both corners.

A little bit closer to the conditions and you would like. -- to

the cushion van you would like. Now got to judge the pace of this

well. If he had put it there with his hand, he couldn't have put it

better. That was an indication of how Britain -- break-builders do the

job. He played for a choice of reds. If he had hit it slightly too hard,

he would have had the red near the bottom cushion into the same pocket.

Always play in areas, that the art of brick building. --

break-building. Has it stopped in time? Looking at

Mark's body language, it has. A little bit straighter than he wanted

to be, though. It has to be said. Thinking about screwing this back

and flicking off the red just in front of this one and getting back

on the black into the same pocket. This would be some shot. He got the

flick nicely. Clever shot. A cannon into the pink. That's OK.

He's now got a ten-point lead. The four reds in the middle of the table

with high value colours would be enough.

Just thinking about it, they wouldn't be enough. He needs one of

the reds along the top cushion. Four reds, four blacks would put him 42

in front with 43 remaining. -- 43 in looking at the scoreboard now. 18

point lead. No matter what colour is he takes, even if he took all

blacks, it wouldn't matter. He knows he will need one of the reds along

the top cushion. Might go back up for the blue here. If he could have

done it with blacks, he would have made an effort to stay on the black.

He glanced at the scoreboard. He now knows what he's got to do to win the

frame at this visit. Just shows you how important it is

not only to play safe in a decent area, but try to get the white glued

to the baulk collision. The safety shot Ding played on his previous

visit would have been easier if the cue ball wasn't on the cushion. Mark

Selby's safety shot looks like winning the frame. Excellent so far.

This red and he will probably play for the black. Needs a nice angle on

the black to drop on one of the reds. He will only need the red. If

he can get right in behind one of these reds, he can roll it along the

top cushion. Doesn't have to play it with pace.

Good shot. He thought he would play the cannon and if it goes wrong,

I've still got the other red along the top cushion. This for the first

frame of the morning. Well played. Superb break. Superb safety that

forced the error from Ding Junhui. As I said at the time, he had to

make the most of this opportunity and boy has he taken them well.

There's a possible century should this red go in. He would be nicely

on the black and that would be the 35 points needed to make a century.

If he needed some confidence with his new tip, this will go a long way

towards doing that. Ding Junhui did very little wrong

apart from that one escape from the safety that went wrong.

When he came to the table, it didn't look like a frame-winning

opportunity, but he's played these very well. This should be Mark

Selby's third century of the tournament.

This is going to be the 64th century of the tournament so far.

Very well done. His fifth century of the tournament and it's closed the

gap again. Now he's just one behind at 5-4.

(STUDIO) that is why Mark Selby is the defending champion at the

Crucible. From our wonderful position, we can see every blow,

every grimace. Ding Junhui, as he walked back to his chair, knew what

he'd done. I think that tip is a keeper! We're going to go to a

shopkeeper -- shot he played with the rest and it was brilliant. This

is a test of whether your tip is any good. The screw. To time that as

well as he has done and get perfectly on the blue suggests to me

that it is great. It sounds nice as well. To make 100 with his first

poke, he'll be very happy. Mark Selby was 5-3 down going into the

second session, important he gets on the board, but look at the way he

cleared up. The boys mentioned it on commentary, Ding took a really long

time early in the break. Seven and a half minutes for a break of 23. He

was really trying not to make a mistake. I might be reading too much

into it, but he didn't look as fluent as yesterday. Perhaps he

realised the importance of the opening frame. Mark Selby was so

composed around the table. Fabulous break, tubal under control, fabulous

shot on the pink. The cannon into the pink could have gone wrong but

he played it beautifully. Great feel confidence to know your tip is fine,

every shot is available and just get on with the match. Mark Selby's

first century break of this match. Back to the chaps.

COMMENTATOR: Just the start of the mark Selby was looking for in the

first frame but not the best break of shot. So dangerous well, the

break-off shot. You always seem to see the half full pot, that is what

he is left with, in the corner. -- half-ball pot.

Missed that by a long way. Hitching a little bit thinner. That is a wide

in snooker. Check and see if the pink is available, if it is, he may

take this on. This is a tip test. You have two strike these world to

get an offside on. -- you have to strike these well to get enough side

on. Could not be any closer, I am sure that when he hit it, when the

cue ball hit the road, he thought it was going to drop. Court the white

jaw. -- caught the wide jaw. Is desperate to see what he has left.

Just a bit edgy, this morning, we have to play a cannon, wasn't easy,

long pocket. Mark needs to jump on these chances now. As we said at the

start the match, Ding had put him on the back foot. If he can win this

frame, he will be back to all square, awful lot better off.

He would love to get the gap in between the reds. Almost impossible.

Was not on, luckily, he has won in the middle. Gap there would have

been great. So hard to get back out. Fortunately have the red in the

middle. -- fortunate to have the red in the middle.

Did not try to be too clever with the red.

Cut it to sin. -- cut it too thin. May have been a bit fortunate,

already played on, not on it. Yes, strange, isn't it, cue ball is

a foot further up the table, he has hit it further, has a little more

pace, this is cuttable, chop -- not a shot you would like to play

regularly. He has had a bit of luck, well, he has had a lot of luck.

LAUGHTER It is a wry smile from Mark Selby as

he is walking around the table, had a smile at each other, no matter how

good you are, you want a little bit of luck now and again. Wondering if

that wry smile, whether we could be having a re-rack here. Where is the

safe place, with the red over in the far corner. Will they look at one

another? Mark is waiting, Ding refuses to look at him(!) and Mark

is still waiting. I would take a re-rack. I see no reason why not.

He's waiting in the wings... Just when he looked at him, Mark

turned his head away. Thinking of playing the double?

Dangerous... Don't see how you cannot leave the ball over... Read

over the corner. APPLAUSE There you go. -- red. Mark will be

pleased he did not catch his eye now, because a little swerve should

pop this red. He was mighty close to this double.

Added that not drop? -- how did that not drop.

Trying to get on the half ball blue, scene which one has the better

chance to get back into the bunch. -- seeing which one. Yes, could be a

bit concerning. I think... Tired of red, just off straight, slightly in

two minds as to how to play it, decided to play for the blue rather

than the green. As we say many times, the more pace you put in the

cue ball, the more accurate you have to be. -- tight-off.

All snooker buyers in the audience and all those watching at home will

realise how difficult it is to play with a new tip and that was a prime

example of negotiating the path to the side, you never know how much it

will push in or push out, I know he had a centre back in the first

frame, but always takes a couple of days, normally, to work a new tip

in. Always a nice little night. If he catches it full in the face, left

a pot on. Is there a gap? Edge sticking out below the pink? Can see

some red just below the pin, in the wrong side. Trying to nestle on the

red that is closer to the top cushion. All about line and length.

Want the best line. These two have hit it. I think he has left it

straight and enough. -- pleased to have hit it. If he puts it he cannot

get onto a colour, he is only putting it for the one point and

Mark Selby will be pleased enough with that outcome.

The red will be going towards the pocket on the safety shop. Intention

is to get the white behind the brown. -- safety shot.

I'm sure you're right, trying to get in behind the brown, because that

would have been a safety but considering where he was, that is a

decent one, can Ding get a decent reply? Red going towards the corner,

covered in the kiss on the brown, problem for Mark Selby.

That's all he could think of, he may have left a pot to the left middle,

but it's a tough one. Just think, Ding has set his stall out this

morning, he's not going to take any undue risks at the start of this

morning session, but you can't keep refusing things. Where is the blue

ball going? Not the best safety. The two reds immediately to the left of

the black, the left-hand one will go to the right corner, I think, I say

the left-hand one, I think the right-hand one may just squeeze in,

but the left-hand one will definitely... Well, right-hand one

doesn't, but the left-hand one does. Thing is, how can you get the cue

ball out and on a colour, so he is refusing the pot, playing safe.

Called it a bit too thick. -- caught. If he can manoeuvre the cue

ball, every reason to take it on. Nothing wrong with taking on the

pot, unfortunate to have pushed the red towards the corner. Got the cue

ball back into baulk and you could never see that happening from the

shot he was playing, not sure how he got that, just kissed the red, how

has it finished over the corner? That's landed nicely. I suppose he

would have been happier if he could have drifted by the red, there was a

couple of threads available to the left corner. He is on this one to

the right corner. -- there was a couple of reds available to the left

corner. If he screws back direct, he could run into the black. I don't

think the black goes to the left middle. Otherwise he could play for

the black. Just a little bit awkward. Gap between the red and the

black, of course, whether it is hard enough to generate the spin to get

out onto the pink or black. I think he can from the angle he has on the

red, just missing the red he has on the cushion.

Put plenty in the cue ball there, got there, just a fraction hard. One

of those instances where you would rather be too hard and too soft. --

rather be too hard than too soft. Nice little flick on the black,

worked out perfectly. One of those, if he had just ran

past the black and finished on the side cushion, he would have had a

little bit of a problem, but not so now.

The only downside of potting the black, the pink tide up at the

moment, is when the black is re-spotted, I'm not certain it is

going to be available into either corner pocket. Anyway, don't worry

about that, pop the black. Could not guarantee good position.

See where the black has gone. Out of commission, so is the pink. 30 point

lead, the red just above the pink will go. 30 point lead, also found

another to the right corner. Not a bad lead, 30 to build on, I mean.

Very awkward, Ding did not get a chance, hard to get back into the

frame, wonder whether he will play the cannon or get back into the gap.

I'm surprised he's not playing the red above the pink. Now changing his

mind to go for that. The one he was looking at, so much work to do with

the cue ball, this is just a plain ball pot, finish on yellow or green.

Don't make things difficult when they don't have to be.

Where the cue ball finished, he mis-hit that completely. If it had

gone in he would not have been on yellow or green, OK, if he had

potted it, probably hit it a bit thinner, but not that much more pace

on the cue ball. Edgy start from both players, good from Mark in the

first, every credit for the 100. This frame getting scrappy now.

Blessed with quite a lot of cute pad, don't know if he can cut the

blue in the middle and get around the back, I don't think so, from

this angle. To be able to run through this yellow with two

questions of the left-hand side or screw it back is very difficult. --

two cushions. Playing the screw, trying to get the cue ball somewhere

near the middle pocket to leave him a shot to nothing on the red, close

to this thread. -- close to this red. Very good shot.

As we watch this, he has had a look, he was right, superb shot, he has

had a look to see if the pink is available, if you can get to the red

below the pink, fiercely, you want the pink on. -- obviously. Played it

well, good shot. At least he has a higher value colour in play now.

How is he going to get onto these two reds either side of the black of

these shots...? Ideally he would like to be on the pink in such a way

that he can screw the pink in the middle pocket, leave an angle to

play the cannon on the black, he hasn't got that this time. He needs

some sort of kiss. He has played for the bottom red, didn't realise that

potted. Called the near jaw of that, that

was close. -- caught. We have seen those stop out. Cue

ball cleaned. This pink to go one point ahead.

And now, one point advantage, to win the frame. Four reds. Four blacks

will put him in the snooker required stage. As you can see, it's not

going to be easy. -- snookers. Probably play the cannon on the red

that is tight on the cushion now. If he can, if he can, he has got to

choose the pace right because he could sneak himself, he would love

to play the cannon. -- because he could snooker himself. I got to be

honest, that surprises me, could have played the cannon quite easily.

Put that into play. Tricky, this. He's got the problem,

the potting angle he has got on the black, does he play a little can on

the red near the top cushion? That reds near the top cushion stopping

him playing for the red near the right-hand cushion, he could play

the cannon here. It's not gone great. Think this red may still cut.

Just called the red a little bit too full. -- caught. Two reds, two

Carlas. 17 point lead. -- two colours.

He has taken the cut on because the last red was running too thin.

APPLAUSE Not playing the pot here, playing a

thin one, off the top cushion, side cushion and back across. If he's not

going to get behind the green, that's just as good. The nestler.

Very awkward cueing this now. APPLAUSE

Justified applause. Considering how badly hampered he

was, very well played. That's a clever shot G-force Ding

into playing the red on the cushion, seeing now whether he will be

pushing the black on pocket with the cross double. What he doesn't want

to do is miss the kiss on the black and pushed the red out of the side

cushion. 17 point lead, seems a bit reluctant to even play the red that

is in open play, that he can see. Has to be very careful with the

cross double. Coming on another look. If the colours were on the

spots, I'd be concerned. With the brown where it is, the blue, I'm not

certain the blue is pottable, plenty of insurance lying about the table.

Looks a natural cross double, just has too avoid the double-kiss, you

would think this red would run into the black.

Got it too thin. Got it too thin on that. Aslef a possible pot on. Not

easy. -- has left. Not easy, it is a chance.

No colour, but he can put him in all sorts of trouble here. Ideally,

would like to bring the brown into play, but cannot do that, if he's

going to nestle behind the yellow, he has got to try to cut out the

escape route of the Leicester backhand and side cushion. He has

seen how he can get the browning to play, and get a snooker, it is not

guaranteed. -- he has seen how he can get the brown into play. --

escape route off the left side cushion. Goes back to there.

But he thinks there's value in bringing the brown into play.

He's played it well. He's got the snooker. Not as difficult as it

might have been if he'd been able to run tight up but hides the yellow,

but I think he made a good choice in bringing the brown into the open.

Absolutely. It's been a really tactical frame. Half an hour played

so far. If he wants to play the red into the middle, he can, but if not

he can lay a really telling snooker. I think the fact the blue is so

close to the pocket, and whether brown is now, he can drop onto the

cushion. Blue to pink wouldn't be a problem. Just roll the blue in.

Whoever pots the next red is favourite to win the frame. Played

the snooker. He was leaning, Mark. Has he got it?

He'll be very disappointed if he hasn't.

If it says snooker, it's a tough one. OK, he could play this word.

But this way, you're not guaranteed to get the red safe. -- played the

swerve. He'll be happy with that. Mark Selby

still in control of this vital tactical exchange at the end of this

second frame of the morning. Will it be white behind the green or behind

the black? Either way, it will leave the red in the middle of the table

to make it more difficult to hit the snooker. Played behind the green.

Not quite. He can just get past the green. Doesn't make the shot any

easier. But it's a lot easier than if he had been snookered.

You think this blue is available, do you, Willie? If you're directly

behind it, just to roll it in the middle, yeah. That's what made me

say it's a red ball game, but since then the green has been pushed

further towards the cushion. I think the blue will drop in the middle if

you're directly behind it. Needs a snooker here or at least

cover some of the red and he has. He's played that well. Normally with

this type of shot you say you try to come off the cushion first and kicks

the red up the table, but he can't do that off one cushion. He's

snooker Tim on the right side of the brown. Coming off two cushions, no

guaranteed to get right in behind the red. And no guaranteed to get it

safe. I don't see the value in this shot anyway. Even if you hit it,

you're handing the initiative... Write a bit. Write a bit. Bit more.

-- to the right a bit. That's where it was. That's where it is now.

Perfect. Well done, ref. Just nestling up to this and you don't

want to run across it. Playing it like that... Just handing the

initiative to Mark Selby. You always think whoever 's got the

upper hand in the safety exchange, it will possibly create a

frame-winning opportunity. Cat and mouse. Mark Selby is the

cat. He's left a pot on here. A natural

angle, you would have thought, to a pot of this red and come down for

pink or black. Just got to judge the pace. The line is automatic.

It needs to bounce or do something. It's done nothing. A little trickle

behind the pink I think is the only option. He's 11 points behind.

Played it well. Cut out the one-cushion escape. Off the

left-hand side cushion as we look. It now makes this yellow a lot more

difficult to hit. We've had some quick frames in this

match and we've had some long ones. 38 minutes and 30 -- 54 seconds in

frame six. Good fit. It's not really safe, though. With the miss rule,

you're sometimes just glad to hit the ball. The longest frame in the

match was frame six, just shy of 39 minutes. This is now in its 38th

minute. The average frame time is pedestrian, really, at just over 21

minutes. Close. But the worst possible

outcome for Mark is he's missed it and left it. A bit to do with the

cue ball, though, to get back for the green. Makes the yellow more

missable. There was plenty of room past the blue. That's a little bit

fortunate. The run of the balls goes to and fro. Plenty of pocket there.

Just hit it too thin. But a chance now for Mark Selby to

get the upper hand once again. He's not got the snooker. OK, he's

got good length on the cue ball and Ding will have to try to think of a

good safety shot. You can see a few options. Hitting it full in the face

and missed the kiss on the green. If he can get the white somewhere near

the green. The longest frame of the match so far and we're still no

longer knowing who will win it. Some flukes are worth more than others!

I'm not sure that's in his favour, that fluke. He surely doesn't really

want to attempt this green and it's going to be hard to get safe. There

you go. Trying to get the yellow down towards the black. 13 points in

the lead. Green and brown would give him the frame. He's taking it on.

Should Mark Selby pot this green, that fluked yellow would have cost

him the frame! I think it's worth the risk to screw this in and come

off the cushion for the brown. Yeah. I don't know whether... If it was a

three quarters ball pot, you would fancy it. But it's half ball and if

you miss it, you could leave the green. He's going for it. And he's

got it! What they shot! Tremendous pot from Mark Selby. That's surely

him winning the frame. Ding Junhui right behind the shot. He knew, like

we did, that it was in. These types of frames are so important,

psychologically more than anything else. That's when a fluke costs you

the frame. Amazing what can happen. A brave shot he took on. Pink and

black needed. In goes the black. He was in control

of the safety exchange act the end of the frame, but that cracking pot

on the Green sealed it. Mark Selby, just what he wanted, he's won the

first two frames and we are level. A look of satisfaction on Mark Selby's

face as he boarded the black. 41 minutes and 27 seconds. The only

thing wrong with a 41 minute frame is if you lose it. You put in all

that graft for nothing. That was a brilliant frame of snooker. It was

always awkward. Tactically it was fantastic near the end. Ding had a

fluke, 40 would win, but the pot on the green from Mark Selby. Wonderful

strike. You've got to get plenty in the cue ball and you've got to knock

it in. Position was guaranteed if he knocked it in, but a brilliant pot.

The other thing we picked up on was the look of concentration on his

face. As world number one, he's a very, very experienced match player

and he knows certain parts of matches are very important. He knows

nicking the frame will hurt him. Getting 5-5 was very big. Ding was

on a break of 47 and there was a missed red. It looked really

difficult. The break up to that point was brilliant. I thought he

would be lucky to make 20 when he came to the table, but 40 was

brilliant. A cracking frame. A typical Crucible frame. Lots of

tension. We are back all square. Who can handle the tension? That the big

question. Hopefully both of them, that would

make an excellent match. I'd love this match to go to the final

session, and at this moment in time it looks like doing just that.

Good break off. Very unusual for the cue ball to end up Heinz brown on a

break off, it's usually behind the yellow or green. -- behind the

brown. Playing the two-cushion escape with

pace. That's what we call a site. He

doesn't want to leave a free ball. No free ball. It will be replaced.

Just wanted a bit of exercise, stretch the legs!

Well, this is the home of snooker. Isn't that a beautiful site? Change

of plan. Trying to nestle into the bottom of the cluster. Looks to have

judged it well. Possible red, possible red that cuts back to the

right corner. But surely too risky to take on.

Amazing, isn't it? Didn't even think about the whys and way fours or

whether he should play it or not. He only had eyes for one thing, the

pot. How on earth has he not brought the reds into play? You would have

thought, playing that cut, he would open them far and wide. In some ways

this is a more important frame for the Ding than Mark Selby. Mark Selby

has done very well to win the opening two frames. Ding could have

won both of them. Ding was in control of the frame before Selby

made 100. A strange morning so far for Ding supporters. To be honest

with you, I don't think he's done a lot wrong.

It's a horrible pack to go into. He's had a quick look at the half

ball pink rather than the black. If you place the black, he could be in

trouble. I think he's going to play for the red in baulk. Yeah, it's

going to be very difficult to pot this black and generate the pace off

the cushion to go into the pack. From this red, looking for an angle,

possibly on a baulk colour. He may risk coming back for the blue.

Depends how he sees it. But the plan is to get nicely on a colour to be

able to cannon into the cluster of reds in between the pink and black.

I think we'd both prefer ripped off the brown or yellow. The pink is a

little away from the cluster. Yes. He's played that poorly. Of all the

places in all the world, he didn't want to finish there.

Poor positional shot off the last red he potted. He had a choice of

yellow, green, brown to get an angle and didn't get one on any. A risky

opening red yielding him 25 points. A bit thin. Will the blue come to

his rescue? Desperately looking to see if it has. It's tight. There is

another one, second left of the pink, but the one on the left-hand

side of the table, if he can get past the blue... He just has to pot

it to be on the black. Has he spotted something else? A plant? He

must have found a plant. You could say that Mark Selby was a

little bit fortunate after his safety shot. Caught his safety shop

too thin and it was only the blue, and only by a fraction, that stopped

Ding getting through to a straightforward much red that would

have given him nice position on the black.

Playing a containing safety. Thought it was too risky to try to get the

cue ball back to the baulk end. Looks safe enough.

That won't please Ding, where the cue ball has finished. Wanted it to

finish behind the brown, but hit the red too thin. You would expect Mark

Selby to play a telling safety shot. Looking at the possibility of a

plant, but more concerned about getting the due ball back to baulk.

I don't think he can hit it thin enough without kissing the red. The

pink is almost on, but I think he kisses the other red first. Just

flicked the other red which made the plant on available. Good line with

the cue ball, though. Just coming up... Just going past the four hour

mark in this match. Ten frames, four hours. You do the maths, Willy.

A little pedestrian. Can't do the maths.

What a fabulous pot. Played it with a little trace of right-hand side to

not only avoid the cannon on the red, but also to take it wide of the

five red on the left-hand side. Really unfortunate to finish there.

Right into the heart of the pocket. The side to take it around the back

of the reds. How on earth he not on a baulk colour unlucky.

Straightforward safety, this. Or escape. Coming off the side cushion.

He would like to come off the top cushion as well. Couldn't have

played that better. Not tight to the baulk cushion and a

possible pot on. It's one of those, you don't want to hit it too thick

or you could run into other reds. That's why he erred on the side of

hitting it too thin, which has made the cue ball come in and out of

baulk. No harm done, by the looks of it. Really important stage of the

match. The safety play. Whoever wins this safety battle you would expect

to win the frame. Whoever wins -- pots the next red. What an excellent

safety shot this is. Just needed another inch. Mark Selby may have to

take the pot on with the red on the left-hand side. If he does go for

it, this will test his cueing. He can play the run-through, he feels.

There are reds going with the cue ball. How is the kiss? He's been

fortunate again. Ding Junhui was looking at him as if to say, are you

not going to apologise?! Does this cut? Surely not. Mark

Selby has had a result there. Ding potted a magnificent red a moment

ago but didn't have a colour. That was unlucky. Mark Selby's run of the

ball there was very fortunate. Decided he could play the

run-through. He wanted to get the cue ball back to baulk. When he

double-kissed the red, you thought he would leave it. Not only did he

not leave it, he hampered Ding Junhui on the red to the left middle

so a double whammy. I can't see this red is pottable. He needs a few

extensions. Just going to stun the red up the table and try to leave

the cue ball near the baulk cushion. It should be easy to find the baulk

cushion this time, but he has to cover the red he's cueing over the

top of. That was all he could do. Surely

he's not left the pot... Not quite. He needs to put a bit of

side on. He will take it on, he will try to swerve it. Yes, he can't get

to it without a trace of left-hand side. A new tip. How will the side

react? That's the only problem with new tips. If you're playing

everything plain ball, the ball should go where you're aiming it,

but he needs to bent this slightly. Playing it with left-hand side,

digging down. No problem. A kiss on the pink would have been nice. But

he's just stopped short of the cushion enough, you feel, to make

the brown Potter ball. Not too difficult. Looking at Ding in the

previous shot, kissing the pink half ball to leave that red. Decided the

green was the better ball for position. Once again a little close

to the cushion, but the red just to the right of the blue, just drop

this in and be nicely on the pink. Yes, you could say the last few

times that Ding Junhui has been at the table he has had no luck

whatsoever. Just the way, sometimes, in any ball game.

Anybody who potted after this would have been strong favourite to take

the frame. Excellent chance to win the frame at this visit. All game on

for Ding at the moment. Of Easley, the pink would not pass

the black in the right corner, that is why he has played for the black

and judged it very well. Not much to do here, just play the stunning

shot, play for the red that will be just below the black when it is

re-spotted. -- obviously. I was a little bit surprised that he

played it that way but he played it that way because he did not have to

put side on, had he gone up the other side of the table, played for

the pink in the right middle, you would have had to put a trace of

right-hand side, didn't want to risk it, because he didn't, not good on

this black, this is tough, and at. -- and at full is rich -- full

stretch. He has taken it on, as you can see,

looking at the potting angle, one of these, you get the feeling, it it as

soon as you can. -- hit it. It's on its way. It's a good shot.

Doesn't look to be on a red. Little shake of the head, we saw there.

Terrific pot, got the cannon he expected. Just too much pace on the

cue ball. He has now got a 1-point lead.

He knew he played a careless one there. The green has covered the red

in the middle of the table. Coming up to the two-minute mark.

Needs to miss the brown for it to be any good, he has done. That was an

excellent safety shot. Worth the wait. Lovely line. He's got there.

OK, not the perfect length, because Ding Junhui may decide to take a pot

on here, hand on the table. He's got a touch of the nearly is at

the moment. -- touch of the nearlys. Stopping short of the baulk line

just about. On the yellow. That yellow puts mark four points in

front. Depends what kind of value colours he is going to need, he will

need at least four of these remaining five reds. And that is not

going to be easy to get to the winning line in this frame.

Just got there, I thought he was going to finish too short to make

this red available. Now, the work starts, because the three remaining

reds are all pretty safe, he's going to have to move one of them into

play, or drop find one. Chance of moving the red away from the middle

pocket here. Mysterious middle pocket. Hit it from behind, may drop

onto the red that is nearest the pocket at this time, that is what he

has played. Interesting way of playing it. Drop

the cue ball to the side cushion, probably thinking that he will leave

it too close to the cushion to make the pot on the black easy, this way,

drops the red in, cue ball will come away from the cushion, be on the

black. Very clever. Cue ball coming away

from the cushion without having to play it with pace, move the red or

drop behind it. But don't miss the black! He had done all of the hard

work! Concentrating so much on the cannon, took his eye off the pot.

Settle down, please. Thankfully, I suppose, in a way,

missed a pot but Ding may play the double here. Not quite. That makes a

difference to Mark Selby missing the black off the spot, 20 points, the

lead, he needs red, colour, red. Ding Junhui I fancied on that, to be

honest. Has it run? Didn't get past the

blue. Mark Selby has not got away with that miss.

This would be one heck of a clearance.

Always the way. He misses, and leaves the red onto the middle.

Fraction of help, that is all it takes on these tight pockets.

Going to have to play the blue. Still looking for the last red and a

colour. Avoiding the kiss on the black here.

Not a bad target behind the green and the brown if he can get there.

He has got there, wanted it to slow up now, couldn't have played it

better. APPLAUSE No gap there. 26 points is the lead.

Little shake of the head. Should have taken the most of the last

opportunity, but could get one here. If Ding Junhui does not get this red

safe, and he's not guaranteed by any means.

I was going to suggest, playing it hard, I'm surprised he has played it

slow. He is going to be in the same problem again in on it. Maybe not!

APPLAUSE The way he has hit it, it has worked

out very nicely. Would not have been my choice, I agree with you. He will

be happy with that. Once again, as in the last frame,

when you get down to the last red, and the colours, if you can get a

snooker, then you have the advantage. Mark Selby did it in the

last frame. He is in control of this frame at the moment.

Hit the snooker last time, ran safe. Can he repeat the dose? I know it is

easier to say, but Mark Selby is one of those people who plays 100% on

his safety. Some players play it a little

willy-nilly, but Mark Selby is looking to put the player in trouble

every single time. As I said, in the last frame, as in this, if there is

no big breaks made, it will always be decided on the last red and the

colours, got control of the situation now...

If he leaves the red on, where is the red going, where is the cue ball

going...? Safe enough. We'll settle for that. Looking up to his friends

in the balcony, probably suggesting, that is the first bit of good luck I

have had in this opening session! Took the initiative away from Mark

Selby now with the safety exchange. Just ran past the pink. Is there an

edge of this red sticking out? Or does he have another snooker?

Looking at the line coming off the cushion for the snooker.

Left the chance of a pot now, these particular parts, three corner ball

pot, and if you miss it, we'll go back up the table with the cue ball.

-- pots. So you never play these as a shock for nothing. -- shot for

nothing. He played it with an element of safety. APPLAUSE

Now 27 points the lead, roll this black in. 34 points in front. Just

27 remaining. No heroics here. Could not play it any harder, would

have been snookered on the yellow. Surely too experienced to fall for

that one. Ding Junhui As you say, has not had much running in this

frame, finds himself needing to snooker 's full of -- finds himself

needing two snookers. Over 33 frames, you would consider

there will be eight or ten scrappy frames, Hammond of those scrappy

frames would they win? So far in this match, not any. Just the one,

John points out to me, so that'll be the important pot of this game, you

know that Mark Selby will win virtually eight, nine frames out of

ten scrappy. Doesn't matter about this... Getting

out of his seat, only to put his cue on the table and go to the dressing

room, dream start this morning for Mark Selby, started two behind, now

one in front, 6-5. STUDIO: Probably needs to get out of

the arena, Ding Junhui, to win any title in any sport, you need a

little bit of luck, a little run of the balls, he's not getting that. In

fairness he had it against Ronnie O'Sullivan, played well, but also

had some luck. Yesterday, kisses but today, the game has just gone

awkward and the frames have gone awkward, Mark Selby is a very fluent

scorer, but those frames that go awkward and required to put 100%

into everything, there's nobody better than Mark Selby at these type

of friends. What it has worked out then this morning, especially with a

cloud over him, is the tip going to be all right, these friends have

worked out well. In the safety exchange, he was always in the

driving seat, always have the upper hand, and for Ding it is

debilitating, you are coming to the table only to get out of snookers.

When you are looking at them and their body language, do you think

Mark has settled that little bit better than Ding? I think he just

needs a good chance, Ding, he needs a good chance, the ball to open

up... He is a scorer, Ding, at the start of the frame he was in early

and then lost position and could not get... These frames have been bitty

and awkward, when they come up, no one better than Mark Selby at them.

No tip problems, you have been looking closely. If you screw shots,

one or two instances, not quite right around the black spot, he will

be very happy with that but more importantly he will be happy with

the scoreline, I think Ding needs a good chance to show his fluency, get

in among the balls and score again. Looking over my left shoulder,

bouncing back, really needs to get the frame on the board.

COMMENTATOR: Last frame before the mid-session interval. Ding Really

needs to win this one to take something out of this first session.

Such is his lack of confidence, not even playing the pot here, could

have rolled it in and got onto the black, could have gone for the one

he was going for. During the break, Mark Selby still working on his tip.

New tip sometimes it will spread after a couple of frames and he is

trying to leather it back up. Hard on the sides of the tip. -- harden.

Could not have wished for a better start than this.

CO-COMMENTATOR: Tentative pot of the red, sometimes you play that type of

shot, you think, if I had hit it a bit dinner, might go in, main aim is

to cover it, but this red dust cut, I believe. Well, whether it did or

not, it is on the corner. Is there a gap? Always a gap, you can get past

the yellow. As we say, Ding Junhui not having any run of the ball so

far this morning full of and a great pot from Mark Selby, at this stage,

tough enough without any bad luck, he has not had any. Amazing, we are

talking about fractions, just get through to it. Three of four more

loose rates, get a chance here, back to the table, 30, 40 points behind,

at least. May decide to screw this and just brush off the six rates,

running through, same scenario, bringing a couple of reds into play.

That could not have worked out any better, that has finished inch

perfect. Won't be playing the cannon, just

the stun run. Two reds in open play, can of them, somewhere in between

the blue and pink spot area. Looks a bit straight. Played for it, not

quite hit it hard enough. Two down from the pink will hot, but it is

awkward. -- will pot. May need the angle, just flicked off the red to

be on the black. The thing I like about this contribution, straight

from the off, and I know we have had a couple of scrappy frames, the last

two, good strong now. Amazing, Mark Selby, I know people say I am biased

because I am from Leicester but that is not the case, you can have three

or four scrappy frames and then when he gets the chance, 100 break, same

players may be knocked out of their strike or their timing goes, but he

is best for that concentration that locks into gear again, knows this is

a chance, walking around the table now very quickly. Please make sure

they are switched off. Yeah, seize the moment, has a great chance here

now. Read on the baulk line but I don't

question these top players weight shot selection, not often, anyway.

-- red. This is the only one which could go slightly wrong, going

slightly close to the ground, on and off the cushion, little bit too much

side, this is the new tip, now, the tip they used to, this would be

straightforward, you get slightly too much into the cue ball, kiss the

brown on the way down or on the way back.

Took out the risk, by playing a very good soft screw to haul the cue ball

in the middle of the table. Excellent. Good positional shot

here. Just about got the angle on the

blue. All set fair. 47 point lead. Looking to see if we can get to the

red on the pink here, on the corner. Decided it was too risky, played for

the loose red. STUDIO: We are now live on the red

button because we are leaving you hear on BBC Two, fascinating

confrontation between Mark Selby and Ding Junhui and we live on the red

button now, switch over, you will not miss a single shot. Hazel will

be back at 1pm here on BBC Two with semifinal number two, as John

Higgins takes on Barry Hawkins. We will see you shortly, goodbye for

now.