Monday, 1st Round, Morning Snooker: World Championship

You are welcome back to the Crucible in Sheffield. Day three of the bed

Fred World Tour Championship. Live snooker all this Easter Monday on

BBC Two and on the red button. This morning, two former world champions

slugging it out for a place in the second round. Peter Ebdon, champion

in 2002, and Stuart Bingham, who lifted the Crown two years ago.

Food. Any sort of food. Hopefully someone like Tom Hardy. I fell off a

roof and broke both of my arms at the same time when I was eight. It

was annoying. I would say that was my best attribute. Can be bit lazy.

I have always got an excuse not to get fit. I would say it was

definitely told in the hall. I see Robbie Fowler is the key growing up.

He was a little man and I went up to him and said, can I have a picture?

I can pick up nine pretty easy button is a bit of a push. I have

never done a skydive, I have never been skiing. I'm too scared of

getting hurt. Why won the world amateurs in 1997 in the final, I was

seven up and I ended up losing 11-10. That sticks out and I would

love to go back to that. Cameron Diaz. My favourite for years. A bit

of golf in the morning, a bit of snooker. Sunbathing. And a romantic

meal with the misses. Stuart Bingham is a top man, on and off the table,

and this was the moment where the match possibly changed. He was

leading into the ninth when, incredibly, needing four snookers,

Peter Ebdon won it on a respotted black. Bingham, on Twitter, later

called himself a plonker for fouling, without even touching a

black ball. Look at the seams from the 2002 world champion. Peter

Ebdon, loving every moment. I just saw him in the practice room and I

said, what did you say? He said, come on! Is bang up for this

morning. We left at 5-4 yesterday afternoon. They first met in round

two of the 2003 championship, where Peter Ebdon won that by five frames

to two. That is the live match for you on BBC Two this Easter Monday.

And then, over on the red button, if you want to follow this, potentially

a cracking match. Ding Junhui, last year's runner-up, taking on Joe

Wheeler. -- taking on Zhou Yuelong. Let's say hello to the man with the

make. Ladies and gentlemen, we started three wood make very

intriguing matches on this table. Two former champions of the world

who could not because. On the other table, and all Chinese Derby for the

first time in Crucible history. There is never a dull day at the bed

Fred World Snooker Championship. -- Zhou Yuelong.

Please welcome one of two teenagers making a debut at the Crucible this

year. Quarterfinalist at last season, and Champion of champions,

former World Cup winner. In China, because in the jumping dragon, Zhou

Yuelong! -- in China, they call him the jumping dragon.

And his opponent, a man who has clearly inspired a generation of

players back home. A semifinalist here at the Crucible in 2011. A

fabulous run to the final last year. The reigning Shanghai Masters

champion. After a decade of living in Sheffield, he is an adopted

Yorkshireman. Enter the dragon, Ding Junhui way.

And on table two, here comes a man who has a vast 24 Crucible

appearances since that famous debut with the ponytail back in 92. Ten

times he has at least reached the quarterfinals here. Champion in 2002

in that last frame yesterday on the respotted black shows you he is as

hungry as ever for success. Here comes the force, here comes Peter

Ebdon! And finally, a man who also knows

what it takes to lift the big one. He did so here two years ago. A

fallow period followed his reign as world champion but this season he

has proven that he is right back to his best. Three big finals and the

wonderful win at the Welsh. Ladies and gentlemen, he is back at the

Crucible for an 11th campaign. You comes the ball run, Stuart Bingham!

-- here comes the bullrun. STUDIO: No better way to spend your

Easter bank holiday Monday than with us here on BBC Two. Bingham and

Peter Abdennour live match here. And on the red button, Ding Junhui

taking on Zhou Yuelong. Let's say good morning to our commentary team.

Thank you, Jason. Good morning everybody. And, well, it is going to

be an interesting second session of this match. Stuart Bingham led 3-0,

5-2. Only one frame in front. In this very important final session.

Probably someone in the press box, a cameraman. You wait all morning to

get started... We were looking at the stats for the

first session and Stuart has been making all the big breaks. Peter, as

he always does, is hanging on in there. Proving what a magnificent

match player he is. He has not made a break over 50 but he has few

contributions of 40 or above. As you mentioned this morning, I was not

aware, I did not see the first session. Four snookers in the last

frame of the evening, and did not win one. That would have heard

Bingham. Not a good start for Stewart, 20% one pot success. --

long pot success. Hitting it a little too hard. A nice starter,

first thing in the morning. A little tricky behind the yellow but

important to get tight. Well played. I have to be honest, at

the latter part of my career, I could not play that shot. I used to

have the yips. It is like you are not trying to hit

the yellow because the pace of the table...

Just the right pace, a little bit harder. It was a bit. Safe enough.

It is hard to say what is going on. He had frame advantage twice. At

this stage, the seed really does feel the pressure and it can build.

No points for the seed if they lose the first round. It is a big burden

to carry. And of course Peter is match sharp. I think he won two

matches 10-9 in the qualifiers. And he beat Michael Bolt in the last

qualifying match, always a good victory. He has had a good season.

Excellent safety shot from Stuart. The reds are spread. This tactical

exchange, very important. The problem with Peter, who plays the

one just below the pink there, and he will be pushing the red towards

the corner. If he plays two Reg towards the black, he has the same

problem. When you are right under the cushion, you cannot put the

right amount of side on sometimes. And he is trying to get back to the

baulk. Well played. A little flick on the

green did not do him any harm. Excellent shot.

The safety exchanges so far this morning have been excellent. Amazing

how it does not appear to be so important these days, playing safe,

because there are such great break-builders but you can certainly

win a few frames with good safety. Absolutely. If you do not have a

good safety game, you are not going to win many tournaments because they

are what you will rely on, when your opponent makes mistakes. It is a

very risky way to go about it. There is the average shot time. No

surprise. Peter a bit longer than Stuart.

Another excellent safety shot from Peter.

When we celebrate the 40th anniversary, we have that lovely

evening on Friday, and this was the first time we ever came to a

tournament. I don't know few remember, but they used to start at

10:30am rather than ten o'clock. It was the first time we ever played in

a match that early in the morning. It is a new format and it has worked

over the years, standing the test for time. I am delighted that it

will be here for another ten years. Great news.

And if you have never been to the Crucible Theatre, and you are lucky

enough to get a ticket, the atmosphere there, it is a picture

that says it all. A wonderful arena. I am a little concerned, I'm not

saying that Stuart Bingham is not going to win, but he certainly

second favourite in the city department. He needs to play a

little bit more open than Peter would do. He does not want to get

bogged down. He's very good at cueing, Stuart. And this is not the

start he would have been looking for, without long safety shot.

It shows you once again the advantage of getting close. He tried

the two-cushion escape but it is difficult to get side on when the

cue ball is so close. To get side on, he will have to dig down a

little bit. Trying it again. He does not want to catch the red too thick.

That is exactly what he has done. A good safety shot from Peter. Forcing

an opening. The first safety battle has been won by Peter. There must be

some sort of mark on the red and he does not want to get a kick.

I remember one time Peter was getting the cue ball clean almost

every other shot. But that does not help them. It breaks off your

rhythm. After nearly nine minutes of play,

the first ball has been parted. The safety play, that little bout of

safety was absolutely top drawer. This is an excellent chance to find

out whether they are going to score heavily this morning.

His big problem at the moment is the pink is tied up. The black is not

available. Ideally he would get that white to the left of the black. But

obviously he is not quite right on this red. Leaving himself a nice

angle on the blue. As I always say, if you're going to

be wrong on the blue, or on the wrong side, be well on the wrong

side. I think he's playing the blue into the far right corner here.

Ideally he would like to play at to the middle pocket. And develop the

pink or the black, but the problem is the green is of its spot. That

gap is not as wide as it normally is. I wonder whether he will still

play that? He is playing it to the far corner.

Right in the heart of the pocket. Nicely on this red but with the

black not available, he is going to have to go back down the table for

the blue. A nice angle on the blue, just

enough. As I say, that red, near the top cushion, if you could get on

that at some time and clear the black, but it does not feel as

though it is worth the risk just yet. It is OK playing for the blue

and the colours but once you have used the blue, the task becomes a

little bit more difficult. He is now looking at the blue. I

suppose the advantage of playing the blue, if he parts it and cannons the

pink, he could bring the pink interplay. -- if he pots it. Quite a

bit of work to do with the cue ball. Is it that well. -- he has heard

that well. Yes, that cluster of four, it will free the pink, and the

fact that you can go for a blue or baulk colour, looking at that angle

now, the only thing that could go wrong here is if he catches the

second red slightly too quick. It is definitely the right shot. This will

definitely free the bank. Well done. He took it nicely. He decided to

play a little screw shot. Personally, I would have tried to go

up for the blue but as it turns out, he is on the pink. Pressure, playing

to the far right corner. An easier part to play to the right middle. --

and easier pot. He's going for the top corner.

Solid, solid. A frame-winning chance now.

The side bar there tells you that when he gets to 67 points, snooker

is required. We tell you everything! The next three reds and pinks are no

problem at all. He has worked really hard for this break. OK, the breaks

took seven minutes up until now, but they went on. He is having to pick

them up on the blue. One excellent positional shot a few moments ago.

As I said in the first session, trailing 3-0, 5-2. Picking up a few

reds and colours, he could've squared the match. We have a game on

here. Surely there is a bit of value here in potting this pink. Just to

run through, cannon onto their bread. -- onto that red.

He has decided to screw over and play for the open red. He needs red

colour red now. I agree with you, John because it is not so easy to

get onto the red from the black at that other stage. You cannot really

get on until you drop behind it. It was a plain short, nothing to do

with the cue ball. Of course, you could bring the other reds into

play. After a red and a colour, he's still looking for one more red.

And now you can see why John mentioned that now because it is not

easy with the angle he had. You might have to screw on and off the

side cushion. The three reds there, get in between the gap. That is

difficult. He missed a trick there. I think you called it exactly right.

Let's see what happens. He is looking at screwing the blue

in and just missing the hit on the pink. Unless he is trying to drop

behind the left-hand side cushion. But the frame is still alive. Yes,

61 points to the lead. But 67 remaining.

A half-hearted attempt at a pot. But a nice 61 point lead. A little shake

of the head tells you, he is disappointed not to clinch it at

that visit. Having lost the last frame from 70 points in front, let's

see if he can return the continent by winning this frame from 61

behind. A nice little second case. -- a nice little second kiss.

Normally Stuart would be playing the red on the right-hand side cushion

but he wants to bring the black into play for both pockets. Should he get

a chance of putting a ball, he has a chance of winning the frame. On the

right-hand side, the black is going to be still tied up.

A little more room around the black now. That is a good shot, almost an

excellent shot. And forcing beater to move the red away from the

right-hand side cushion, the only red he can hit. -- and forcing

Peter. He does not want to bring the red into the open but I do not see

any other option. Even now he has a 61 point lead, if Stuart was to get

the next opportunity, 61 points and quickly disappear. If he just played

across the bolt, the red could maybe cannon the pink. Is he playing a

deep screw pot? You better hope he does not draw too much. What a good

shot that is. Look where the cue ball is. But I do say, he had to get

in the jaws and he got enough in the jaws. -- but as you say. He thought,

if I go for the pot and play the deep screw... But he was fortunate

enough to leave the gap. But he is a law unto himself with some of the

shots he plays. Fungus over Stuart trusting the

table, and it didn't let him down. Couldn't risk going back to the

baulk end, because remember Peter needs only one more red to get to

the snooker is required stage. What's happened there? He obviously

thought both reds were going to go into the baulk area. He did, but

then he misjudged that the second red was going to kiss the black. He

has left it on. What a chance now for Stuart Bingham.

There's not a difficult ball on the table.

I know it might sound a bit strange but, for me, Peter is now second

favourite for this frame, all things being equal.

Yes, the next two reds and two blacks are no problem, and then he

has enough to go and play for the baulk colours.

Peter Ebdon, as we know, can be so negative sometimes. Then all of a

sudden he plays an aggressive safety shock, like on the last visit, and

you think, what is that all about? Sometimes he is a law unto himself,

and that is one he could regret. He wouldn't have slept well last

night, Stuart Bingham, having lost that last frame last night, having

needed four snookers against him. He could be returning the compliment

here. Nicely on the red. 37 behind. A possible 43 left.

A couple of reds, a couple of browns. I would not play for the

green, because if it went back on its spot, it would make the red to

the right of the brown a bit more inaccessible. Brown or blue here.

That's not good. Should have been straighter.

And of course, because he was worried about when the brown was

re-spotted snookering himself, he overhit it.

It was an excellent pot, he would have played it with a bit of

disappointment after the poor brown... This is the last one that

could go wrong. Good cueing on the yellow. Peter

will be kicking himself. Well, could that be a big turning

point? Came to the table 61 behind, clears up with 62, Peter Ebdon will

be kicking himself. Looked as though he was going to be all square, he is

two behind again. Stuart Bingham bleeding 6-4. -- leading 6-4.

He thought the second red was missing the kiss on the black.

Completely misjudged it. Both would have gone up the table if it hadn't

kissed the black. But I still didn't see it was the right shot to play.

61 in front, why take any risk? I would have played thin off the two

reds. Peter is a law unto himself. He plays so many negative shops, and

then all of a sudden, an aggressive shot when he is 61 in front. Maybe

he thought it might not my oh the black safe. You can overthink

sometimes. -- it might knock the black safe.

Stuart would have been under that much pressure having lost the

previous frame yesterday, that was a marvellous clearance, it really was.

It was one of those when you come to the table that you can't believe you

have got the opportunity. And you know, clearing up, how your opponent

is going to be hurting, sitting in his chair.

A very, very disappointed Peter Ebdon, going down for the break shot

in frame 11. I wonder whether that. Him in his tracks of thinking so

positive, as he would have been coming into this morning session. --

that will stop him in his tracks of thinking so positive.

Well, half a chance. But as we always say, if you are going to miss

those, miss them too thin. We saw a start early on in the first

frame of Stuart Bingham's long game, not what it should be. His long

potting has been very poor in this match. This one, a long way away.

Two in every 11 long pots. Not good enough at this standard.

He's going to have to sit there now, and wonder what's going to happen.

You feel certain Peter is going to play the cannon into the pink.

Surely it's worth going into them here. Plenty of pace.

Couldn't have played that much better.

But he's only finished up on one red, to the right middle. A bit of

work to do with the cue ball. Unless the pink is available into the

opposite middle. I think it is, John, but can he play its low enough

to get on that pink. The red just in front of us in that picture, he has

to judge the pace... Looking at the angle to do that. He hasn't got any

other shot to play, he's going to have to risk it.

Is he OK? We will let you know in a moment. His body language tells us

he is. Yes, and on a red to the corner.

Doesn't have to do much with the cue ball to come out for the pink again

into the middle. A decent chance. Made a 55 break in the first frame

this morning, should have won it to be honest with you. Played a nothing

shot near the end of the break. And it came up and bit him. Yes,

funny, Ebdon makes 55 and loses the frame. In the last frame of the

evening session, Stuart Bingham made 66 and lost the frame. Tough.

There was a bit of movement there. The hand and the cue...

Trying to steer it in. Commonly known in the trade as a twitch.

That's as good a word as any. We've all been there.

Straight away, trying to bend it over. I do that with my tee shots at

golf. I lean one way and the ball goes the other. A horrible feeling.

Luckily for Peter, he has left an easy red in the middle but he can't

get close to the blue. We'll have to play blue or pink into the top

corner pocket. Could be hampered. Could have played for the black into

the corner, but that was far too risky. He is obviously considering

taking on the blue to the middle. First thing, avoid the kiss on the

green. Couldn't play it any better than

that. Probably has to play for the red in

the baulk area now. Wondering whether he will get the

pink onto its own spot. There is room to get on the black, obviously

he won't play it on this shot. As long as he gets a nice angle on

the blue, he can move one of the reds covering up the black.

Decided to play for the green instead.

I'm not sure whether one of the reds below the pink spot will pot into

the corner. They must. Might be able to get on the black

after this shot. Six or seven inches, plenty of room to get on the

black. Another excellent positional shot. Perfect on this red to be able

to hold for the black, as Willie says.

Once he parts the black, the red to the left of the one he is playing

now will become available. So beginning to open up.

Stuart, one of the game's great break-builders, very good around the

black spot area. One of the few players to have made

over 300 competitive centuries. He missed the kiss. He played to flick

the red that was covering the black. And now he is faced with a very

difficult shot. Needed to kiss it half-ball. Needed a bit more

left-hand side. He still has a red. But the black is

not available, so he will have to cue well to get back up for the

blue. Looking at the plant. This is called

taking the easy way out. Obviously not comfortable with the

red in the open. Screwing back to the baulk end, the

element of safety. What he got the plant. Not the best kiss on the

blue. OK, he is on the pink, but still has a job getting on the next

red. Slightly awkward cueing. The red

near the side cushion. What did he said his favourite day

was? A fry up, a game of golf and then going out in the evening? That

is why he is having to use the rest. Mmm. Never looked comfortable there,

to me. And that was a good chance. All went wrong when he missed the

cannon from black to red. Played for the blue. Overscrewed

slightly, so will have to play a baulk colour now.

Always looks immaculate, Peter. You think he irons his own shirts?

Probably the best dressed snooker player out there at the moment.

Along with Mark Selby, another one who is always immaculate.

He did well there to get the cannon. A little grimace, as you saw on his

face, because he is hampered by this red. But that was an excellent

cannon. A little unlucky. It's always difficult, particularly

when the hampering ball is so close to the cue ball, because you are

striking down and you have not got it in your eye line.

You have to hit the centre of the cue ball so you don't swerve it.

And he'll be annoyed. Not because he's missed the black so much, the

fact that he finished hampered as he did.

This game is all about fractions. If the cue ball is half an inch further

to the right, the black would have been no problem. Yeah.

He still has it to do, though, Stuart. Not a formality.

Two reds, two blacks to get to the snookers required stage. That

knocked three times! A little smile to the crowd. His

heart must have skipped a beat there. I think it was four times,

John. If they are tight to the cushion,

you can get it clinging, but just off the cushion, they are very

missable. Once it hit the top cushion, I don't

know how it went in. But it did. An Peter Ebdon now needs

a snooker. Stuart Bingham will be very mindful

of making sure he pots this red after what happened last night, when

Peter Ebdon got four snookers and won. No heroics, he will be trying

to play it dead weight and make sure it goes in.

Be prepared, Vista Bingham, you could be here for a while now. But

barring snookers, Stuart Bingham will lead 7-4. -- Mr Bingham.

This was easier than the red he just potted along the top cushion. No

reason for Peter not to pot this last red. He is not looking for a

free ball, so just drop it in. What has he played here? He played

for the pink. I can't understand. The pink is in a good position for

getting snookers, so leave it there. I would have thought so. Anyway, the

bump of the middle pocket has left him on the blue. He can't play

anything less than the blue. If he plays the green, he would need two

snookers. He has missed the blue. And that's

enough. He is absolutely disgusted with himself, as well he might. I

don't know why he didn't play for the black. A shake of the head from

Stuart. He can't believe his good fortune. He will be happy to be

three in front again. Everybody gets ready for their matches and

practices. In the practice room at the moment, we have former champion

of the world John Higgins getting ready for his match this afternoon

against Martin Gould. He has started the season as good as I have ever

seen him play. Just gone off the boil slightly lately. I think as you

get older, that level of consistency... But you never know.

As you say, he started the season as good as he has ever played, so maybe

that will drop in form will mean a peak for this tournament. Always a

player to be reckoned with. He has been there and got the T-shirt four

times. Absolutely. Martin Gould is an excellent player himself. The pin

potter. What was your nickname? Mr Perfection. How on earth you got

that name, John, I will never know. You know, Willie, it takes one to

know one! Stuart Bingham, a little drink of water. Interesting reading

the stats so far. Peter Ebdon's high break, only 55. Just one century by

Stuart. The pot success, both 89%. But the long pot success from

Stuart... 18%. He needs to improve on that. But he is 7-4 in front.

Stuart Bingham gets frame 12 under way. To me, Willie, a few worrying

signs there for Peter. The pink that he missed in the middle where he

moved on the shot. And then the blue. He needed one snooker to tie,

but he did not cue it very smooth. Once you start getting the movement,

you are not going to be consistently striking the ball. That's attention

of the first round. Obviously this is massive for Peter, trying to get

back in the top 32 to make things easier than they are at the moment.

But in the first frame this morning, when it looked as though he was

going to level the match, a break of 55... Should have clinched the

frame, didn't. That may still be playing on his mind. A good safety.

But it is not the safety that's the problem, it's when he gets in, can

he score enough? 55 at this level is not going to win

you many matches. It means you need more than one

chance per frame. And sometimes you don't even get one chance.

That will help his long pot success. Already gone up 7%.

No. Too thin. One of them, you just concentrate on the black and forget

about the positional side. Not a lot you can do with the cue ball. If the

black had gone in, he would have been perfect. Just overcut it. Now,

what can Peter do with this opportunity?

Thank goodness for the kiss. Would have been snookered.

Peter started at 32, he is now up to 33. I am glad Ken is not in the

commentary box! Ken Doherty. Tirty tree seconds per shot!

There were spells through his career, Peter, when he played quick

and he looked a better player, for me. Any player, because in practice

you would not play at this pedestrian style. You like to get a

nice rhythm going. When you are out there in the heat

of battle, you tried to play to get over the nerves, to give you time to

settle. A classic example of that, going back to all those years ago,

was Terry Griffiths. As an amateur, he was never a slow player. When he

won the world title in 1979, he thought that was the way to calm his

nerves, by taking longer over his shots. That was a good shot from

Peter. Especially if he is straight on this thread, which hears. Stun

them or all the tin. Some people just play a little bit of top spin.

It will be interesting to see what way he plays it. A stun run-through.

Could've done with another two inches of pace. Two red strictly

above the black, if he hits the join, he is bound to be on a red.

Interesting to see how he plays this. It looks like he is playing

that short, as suggested. He is bound to be on one. But sometimes

you play a shot and it is impossible to get on the ball. That was one of

those occasions. That is the problem with that short,

he was on it and there were elements of trust and luck. The kiss on the

blue did not help. Striking down like that, all the tension is put on

potting the red. He did not have much position.

Getting his extension out. He's going to play a pot here. If you are

going to play a pot, you would think you would play the green. It is a

bit of a stretch over all these reds. This is strange, isn't it. He

must be playing the pot because if he is just playing safety, you would

surely use the rest. Once again, movement. Worrying times

for Peter here. He is addressing the cue but when he brings it back, it

is almost a blur as he goes back to hit the ball. It is almost like he

cannot let go and he is trying to force it through. Nothing smooth

about it. We go back to the great patsy frame, and in the end he would

almost be unable to hit the ball. That is what is happening for Peter.

The nerves have got the better of them. And it gets worse as you get

older. The red that is to make down from

the pink, he can play Finn of that one. Make sure you kiss the brown on

the way back, and it makes it very easy to play the next safety shot.

He is looking at the potting angle. There is a gap in between the reds

and the black, but goodness me, this is tough. And there is the gap. What

a brilliant shot. Brilliant. He has always been the same, he is a

shotmaker, Peter. But what he has got to prove to me now is that he

can win frames in one visit. It is all right knocking long ones in and

getting the opening, but you have to take advantage. But a terrific pot.

There is a little bit he can do with the cue ball. He could play a little

cannon to get on the pink in the middle. He could hold it as well,

but he concentrate so hard on the ball, and that was another very

anxious little jab, almost. I am afraid it is not looking good for

Peter at the moment. He just cannot get that cue going smooth. And you

need to. You need to start jabbing on the superfine cloth is, otherwise

the cue ball does not go where you are aiming it, pure and simple.

Not perfect here. The red to the left middle. He may have wanted the

left corner, but to get position on the colour... He could avoid a kiss

on the pink. I thought he was going to run into the pink there. From our

commentary position, it looked to be a certainty. My commentator's eyes,

on the wane. A delicate cannon on that red. That

one little kiss makes all the difference. Brought three or four

might reds into play. He would like to be straighter but you cannot do

that. He either as to fall for it, and bring the pink into play or play

to the right, and screw off the cushion into the reds. He has taken

a choice, by the look of things. Don't get into the cue ball there

because it is not a strange part. Or use the reds to swing onto the

black. Very good. The fact that Peter has missed these

opportunities will only be adding to the confidence of his opponent. He

will see the weakness in Peter at the moment. He will be gaining in

confidence. It is a funny thing, sometimes you

are on your table and you can hear what is happening on the other side

and you know that there is going to be a big round of applause, or a

raw, and maybe that is what Stuart was waiting for, but he has made a

miss of that. That is a very disappointed Stuart

Bingham. Any other shot would have been certain to be on the corner,

but he hit the ball dead is to the wide. He will be very disappointed

that the frame-winning opportunity has gone astray. It is not a

straightforward safety shot now. If he plays Finn off the one he is

touching, just to tie up the second red and push them together... But he

is not a happy chavvy. That was an excellent chance to win the frame at

that visit. -- happy chappy. OK, he played the right shot. I

wonder where he got his name from? I think you give it to him, didn't

you? Peter, just adding to the torment he is suffering at the

moment. He needs to brace himself for the shot. If he doesn't get this

safe, he is going to for four frames behind. And this is it, when the

ball was running like that. But if you are being philosophical, you

would say, well, it is my own fault because I missed my chance when I

was here. But you don't think like that. You don't think like that, you

think, how can this happen? And you forget what has gone before.

What you think of that? I like it but I would probably play off one

less cushion and try to rest on the red. It looks good to me. I just

like the lines. The reason I would not go off one and two, I think the

yellow was in the way of the shot you are suggesting. You get in

situations like this sometimes and you think, I will do it, but because

he is so close to the brown, the hit and hope is not on. The

three-cushion escape, or the four-cushion escape, threes and

fours, I don't know. And those two reds on the right-hand side of the

table, that could certainly be made into a plant. It could be a W1A.

What has he decided? -- it could be a double whammy. If he plays to the

left of the pink there, he would be unlikely to hit it. That is the only

one he can leave off. Very well done. He has got it safe. It was a

controlled hit and hope. That is what I will say.

A bit short of pace with that safety. A long, straight red.

Fraught with danger, of course, if he misses it. We will leave him to

make the decision. Has he decided to try to cut this

one in? If it ever got anywhere near the

pot, the way he had played it, it would have come into the two reds

and the pink. But I think he has covered everything up. A wry smile

from Stuart Bingham. You could see the red near the left corner,

covered by the yellow. The problem Stuart has now, he got to cover that

red. And that is why he went for the part. Not the best kiss on the blue,

but a tremendous pot. More or less forced into it.

But if he had kissed the blue full ball, it would have been nicely on

the ground. Maybe he's thinking of the brown, with that red being

adjacent to the left corner. That was a confident shot. A very

confident shot. He deserved to win a frame after those last two parts. --

pot capital mack. When you consider that he had not potted a long ball.

It was two out of 12 at one stage. The first red was very, very good

and the brown was excellent. Obviously this red, second down from

the pink, is available. And that is just about perfect. The reason I say

that, potting it, he will be able to bring the other red into play. A

couple of reds and a couple of colours.

Perfect on the blue. It looks like a formality now. Four frames in front.

It just shows you the fine margins. Ebdon could've won the opening to

make frames. But he has lost them. And there is another one he could

have won. Fine margins. And of course, Peter had every chance of

winning this first frame and making it five apiece. He made a 55 break.

But Peter missed a trick in that frame. He should have won it. But he

broke down at 55 and since then, he has looked very, very edgy. This

frame is all over now. One more frame before the mid-session

interval. It goes without saying that Peter needs it desperately now.

I am not certain what he has got left in the locker. If you lose

frames that you should have won, it gnaws away at your confidence. And

your opponent just get stronger. It doesn't matter about the pink.

And that is enough for Peter Ebdon. It looked at one time Square at 5-5

but now he is four behind and Stuart Bingham leads 8-4.

And this afternoon, a former champion from 2005, Shaun Murphy. He

is 6-3 up against the 17-year-old Chinese sensation, Yan Bingtao. He

will be taking nothing for granted. Certainly a contender, Shaun Murphy,

as he is in every tournament. We have discussed on a number of

occasions am I cannot see a winner this year. I do not know who is

going to win. It is a tough one. Funnily enough, I have said it for

the last few years, I think it is the most open World Championships

but I think we're going to get that now because there are so many heavy

scorers in the game. And if you are a heavy scorer, then you can win

matches and you can beat anyone and Shaun Murphy comes into that

category. The thing that worries me about people like Shaun and Judd

Trump, they do not win enough scrappy frames. Exactly. They rely

on their heavy scoring rather than having an all-round game. Back in

the arena, Stuart Bingham will probably be very comfortable because

he would've looked at this match, and we were talking about the seeds

being under pressure. He does not have the best record against Peter,

so he would have been looking at this as a bit of a banana skin. I

would rather play Peter than Michael Holt, but he battled so well in the

three qualifying games and he has been well in this match until now.

As you rightly say, I'm not sure whether they can get back into it

from this position. Peter Ebdon, a must win frame, as

they all are. To go 9-4 behind, it is very unlikely he would win. At

8-5, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

It would not surprise you if Peter played the pot on this red. He took

it down to the top cushion. But he's put Stuart under no pressure there

to play safety. Close to the red, the hand on the table. He asked for

that. He has been fortunate that the red has been pushed over the corner

but it is so hard to get behind. All your eggs in one basket, isn't it?

It will be interesting to see how the cues this, keep his head still

and push the cue through straight. It is like he's trying to them in.

-- trying to swerve them in. Alex Higgins used to move a lot on his

shorts. Look at his body language. All of a sudden he's leaning, hoping

that it is going to go when rather than expecting it is going in. And

that is not a smile, that is a grimace. Because the preparation for

the shot is fine, but when it comes to the actual hitting the ball, as

you said earlier, he is just not getting through it. And of course

Stuart will pick up on that. What he's got to do is stay focused.

I'm sure he feels at the moment that there is no way he can lose this

match, and I think the only one who could beat him would be himself.

His target will be the green fee is playing the reds to the left of the

pink. Plenty of room to swing this round.

Three cushions, get behind the green. Just a little bit thin.

That was a good pot with a nice kiss on the green. Noticeable there that

he pushed the cue through and stayed still, because he knew he had hit it

right. When he knows he has not hit it right, that is when the body

movement comes into it. But he played that one well. Now Peter

needs to step up to the play it and keep his cue action smooth. -- step

up to the play it. He would've liked to have been

closer to the red. The closer you are, the easier the pot.

Yes, he would love to get onto the red to the right of the black spot,

and in such a way that he can get the black on its own spot.

Because Peter is playing with lack of confidence at the moment, he may

decide to play into the pink. He is just not cueing nicely enough to

guarantee perfect position. Well, he has played for the loose red and he

has got a good angle. Not sure whether the black passes the red

nearest the pocket. Clearly not. Could have done with

two or three inches of pace. We'll have to play for the blue again.

Even that was very jabby. Just no confidence at the moment. Very quick

with the final delivery. A bit of body movement. He is almost willing

them in. But we know what great strength of

character this man has got. Has seen adversity loads of times in his

career and has come out fighting. Now, will he risk playing for the

black? I would suggest no reason not to play for the black here. If he

has any thoughts of winning the frame at this visit. And he's going

to need good strength of character, because a few shots he has played in

the last few frames would have knocked anybody's confidence. Has to

did in now. -- dig in now. Doesn't have the angle to go into

the bunch. Not a particularly good shot, to finish straight on the

black. Could have rolled it in rather than coming on and off the

cushion. We'll have to play for the red on

the cushion now. Didn't really want to play for the

red along the top cushion, but didn't have an alternative.

But did enough for the pocket to take it.

And that's what you get with that sort of dipping action at pace that

Peter is playing. You can bet your life the cue ball was bouncing when

it hit the black, which was then bouncing and that's why it

eventually it bounced off the table. Nothing smooth about it. In

fairness, the black wouldn't have gone in any way.

Amazing. When everything is going right, all of a sudden he has a gap

through the reds... When you go bad, you finished Chinese on that kind of

shot. I know. It was a thin cut. He knew it was

going to run into the black, but to finish like that, developing the

black, opening up the reds, what a bonus.

He will be disappointed there to have missed that, Stuart. It might

seem an odd thing to say, but I think Stuart... You never take

anything for granted, but he will be thinking he has won this match.

Really what he wants to do now is finish on a high to take into the

second round. You want to go in thinking, I'm really playing well

now. Gives you confidence for your next match. Missing shots like that

and winning the match scrapper Lee will not be doing a great deal for

his confidence. -- scrapper Lee. He will spend an awful long time

practising his long pots. Maybe that could be the turning

point to get Peter's confidence going.

You never know what can turn. A frame or a match.

And when we talk about Peter, a lot of movement, not getting the cue

through smoothly, he will be aware of that. So every time he will be

thinking, bring it back, deliver it smooth, don't move, push the cue

through straight. If eventually he gets it together, he could reel off

a couple of frames. It certainly helps if your opponent

misses opportunities that Stuart has just missed.

Yes, this was the one you would expect Stuart apart quite easily.

Just caught the near jaw. The middle pockets are playing quite tough, but

the corners are not. You have to keep still on those. A

bit of body movement but it went in nicely.

Just watch his arm, just willing them in sometimes.

It's always been a mind game this, John, hasn't it? It's between the

ears, no doubt about that. Uncertain if you saw Peter in

practice, he would be cueing as straight and smooth as anything. --

I am certain if you saw Peter in practice.

He has a chance here. Just got the black in the wrong side of the

pocket, but still on the red second down from the pink.

52 the lead. Just needs this red to go 53 ahead with 51 remaining.

Just checking to see if the red pots, but if it doesn't he can play

the cannon on the pink. I assume this road red goes past the

pink. Just one snooker needed. Even if he

plays the pink. Thought this would make it easier to

get on one of the two awkward reds. But he didn't get nicely on the

pink, so I think he will play the double here.

46 behind, 43 remaining. Worth carrying on.

I wonder if Peter will play the cross double?

If Stuart can cue past the yellow, he can just about pot the red. Bound

to be on the black. One snooker... Not the tallest order.

38 behind... He's going to snooker himself.

I can only presume he was trying to get on the red to parka it, and then

the black, to get the snooker on the yellow. -- to pot it.

A good hit, got it safe. Still has a slim chance in this frame.

Stuart will be pretty pleased with that session, but he still has it

all to do. STUDIO: Peter Ebdon still very much

in this, two more frames for Stuart Bingham and he will be through to

the second round. Meanwhile on the other table, a fascinating all

Chinese affair. Ding Junhui who of course reached the final last year,

losing to mark Selby, taking on Zhou Yuelong. We will join it in the

third frame. Ding 27 in front. Commentary from Dennis Taylor and

Stephen Hendry. Five reds up there now, and there

might be another one heading in that direction after the next jot. Or

does the red go in the middle pocket? He would be on the black.

Good cueing, and it's the first chance he's really had. He's been

kept off the table. It's a bit of an awkward table, but at least he is in

the balls. It's worked out reasonably well. The

only problem is he has to head up towards the yellow and brown.

As Stephen mentioned at the start of the match, as long as you don't miss

any easy balls, you give yourself a chance. He has missed a sitter

there. Just can't afford to do that. He has hit this too thin. With a

consequence the white has travelled a lot further than he intended.

Just needs to make 40 or 50, Zhou Yuelong. To really settle into this

match. Too far for the pink to the left

middle. He is seven out of seven with long pots so far, so if he is

not on the pink, he could fancy the yellow, possibly even black.

Could play the yellow plain-ball for the red next to the brown into the

same pocket. As long as he's not being put under

any pressure by his opponent, those long pots are going to be very

comfortable for Ding Junhui. 100% success rate, no that's just

the long pots. All looking very comfortable for

Ding Junhui this morning so far. First to 10 goes through to the last

16. Just a safety shot. But barring a

snooker, Ding Junhui is going into a 3-0 lead.

STUDIO: He did take the next frame. Not going well for Zhou, making his

Crucible debut at Sheffield this year. Let's show you what happened

in the next. Zhou to play, no score. Just cued across it slightly. It's

such a precise game and when you are under a bit of pressure, or a lot of

pressure, the margins are very, very fine. You could see that wasn't a

smooth delivery of the cue at all. With each frame that goes by without

him winning one, the pressure gets more and more.

Meanwhile, Ding Junhui is having a lovely time. He's very relaxed.

Being put under no pressure whatsoever.

And he played that beautifully. Didn't screw into the pack, stunned

into the pack, and has opened up the reds beautifully.

The only thing lacking this morning from Ding is winning a frame in one

scoring visit. A century break. Even 70 or 80. He has had a couple of

50s, a 60. Hasn't won a frame in one scoring visit. A good chance here,

the reds are very well placed. A choice of reds to play for. One to

left corner, one to left middle. It's going to be the one to left

middle. The way the reds are sets now,

depending how confident Ding is feeling, I would be shocked if he

doesn't make a century break. It could only be a lapse in

concentration that will stop it. ?10,000 for the highest break in

this year's BetFred World Championship, but just 5000 on offer

for a maximum. Pathetic. I think I mentioned yesterday, back in the

90s, you made a maximum here and you got a motorcar worth ?180,000, and

you are still driving it, Stephen. It just astounds me that there is

not a major prize for a maximum. It's the most exciting thing that

can happen on a snooker table. How can the maximum prize be less than

the high break prize? You telle-- you tell em, Stephen.

I might not commentate on that for a while, Dennis. I'm trying to get

over that stat you just told me. Another clever little break-building

shot there. Looks simple enough, but he plays them at the right pace.

Most professional smoke players know that shot but sometimes they hit it

too hard. -- snooker players. Every shot is hit precisely when he is in

among the balls. Just about... Looked like he was

going to nestle on the red, but fine.

Mid-session interval coming up after this frame. I think Zhou Yuelong

will have to head to the practice table, because he hasn't had much of

a chance. Has just missed one or two... In fact I can only think of

one easy shot that he missed. Hasn't had much to go at. Because Ding

Junhui looks very comfortable out there this morning.

Having to work a little bit now to try and make the century break.

If the pink goes in, he will make it.

We have had 12 centuries so far. Today, three.

I think Ronnie has the highest, with 124. That would be superseded if he

can clear them up. I think the record will be broken this year,

centuries at the Crucible. From what I've seen so far, the pockets are

not playing too difficult. You got the feeling it was

inevitable. 441 in his illustrious career. 24

this season. A nice way to head to the mid-session interval.

What a break. You cannot play much better than that. He has finished

this session with a century break. He leads 4-0. He looks in the

groove. Marvellous from Ding Junhui. The highest century break so far at

the Crucible, 136. Then Ronnie O'Sullivan with 124 and 122. Let's

hope for more of the same. If you want to carry on watching that

match, it is available online on the BBC sport website and at. Remember,

all the matches are at your fingertips. In the meantime, live on

BBC Two, let's return to our featured match, live coverage

continues here. Stuart Bingham, to more frame is needed to go through

to the second round, taking on Peter Ebdon. He has a real battle to stay

in this year's tournament. Let's rejoin Willie and John. Thank you,

Jason and welcome back everybody. This match looks as though it is

going the way of Stuart Bingham but you never know. Intervals can change

things. But from what we've seen so far this morning, I think Peter

Abdoun has got to raise his game and find his best form. And also, try

and get that confidence, pushing the cue through without the body

language she has been showing. Every time he stuns the ball, he seems to

lean into it a little bit. But he is blessed with an unbelievable

temperament. And a never say die attitude. He going to be just

scraped off the table. Let's see what body movement that is on this

one. Not too bad. He is very close when he does not move.

He will need a result here to get away with it. The red is available

in the yellow pocket, but he might hit a safety. The blue is off its

spot. Maybe he needs to play it into the yellow pocket rather than the

black. He has not looked at it yet. Absolutely dead straight. This is

not straightforward, this one. Very good.

That was an excellent shot. Could've done with a little bit more.

Obviously, he has got the red to the right corner, an easy one. But

potting it, he is going to run into the red near the top cushion. It is

not certain where the will finish. He played a double-kiss. Could not

have gone much worse. He tried the double-kiss, but it did not work out

that time. And no name colour. -- and now, name a colour. You would

usually say yellow in those circumstances. The easiest one to

hit would possibly be the brown from here but amateurs always take the

yellow, always. I can see it coming, it is going to

be yellow. Looking at a three-cushion escape

for the yellow, to the right-hand side. I think the red closest to the

top cushion is coming down on the natural angle. Looking this way, he

might say green. Foul and the miss. It is sliding off

the cushion. Because that red was close to the top cushion, I think he

is cutting that out. There is no problem playing the brown, which

would be the easiest in this game. If he is playing the yellow again, I

don't think it is on. But you get closer to the left pocket here...

Foul and the miss. If only he could have nominated. We are all wise

after the event. He has got to get very close to the middle pocket. It

is not out of the realms of possibility. Because he's going to

slide off the third cushion. Pink? Is going for the pink. Trying to

repeat what he did before. Oh and this. -- foul and a miss. Why is he

not playing the two cushions? This is where the miss rule comes in. I

don't understand that. He's going to call miss. Foul and a miss. A free

ball? I thought it was going to run past. He is not going to nominate a

blue note, is he? He had the yellow this time. Foul

and a miss. Now,... Settle down, please. Hard to guess which one he's

going to pick now. Somebody tell him to play the brown off two cushions,

please? Just making sure in playing this

safety shot he is not going to be pushing into the corners. He does

not want to push it over the right-hand corner because this red

will be cannoned into another red. And there it is. He did have a look

at a possible plant. Did he come around to have a look? Difficult to

say. Thank you to Willie and John for

their time on BBC Two but you can continue watching this match on the

red button. It red now for the live coverage. Peter Ebdon really needs

this frame to stay in this tie. The other matches available on the BBC

sport website and also on the app. We're back at 1pm with more live

coverage. We will see you then. From all of us here, goodbye for now.

Are you ready for some Car Share magic?