Saturday, 1st Round, Morning Snooker: World Championship

Old friends reunited, what memories these men have given us over 40

years in Sheffield. Last night champions past and present came

together to remember and celebrate in this most iconic venue in the

sport, The Crucible Theatre. Good morning. We are about to get

this World Championship underway. Mark Selby, the defending champion,

is about to walk out, leading the gang of 32 in another quest for

Crucible glory. Even before a ball was potted, Larsen I is for

developers in the event kicked off in files. -- in fine style.

Thanks to whoever thought this up, this is great! OK. You know what to

do. When we met up, it was fantastic. He

put his arm out to shake and is, I disregarded his hand and I gave him

a hug. I feel like I'm more consistent. 17 days of this is fun!

These lovely people are about to sign a document which will keep this

great championship at the Crucible and in the city for another ten

years at the very least. It's a fantastic tournament, it doesn't

matter whether you've been here one time or ten times, you still get

goose bumps. John and Steve were part of that amazing Parade of

champions. 17 of you. What an amazing way to start. Absolutely

brilliant, I haven't seen a player who said they didn't enjoy

themselves. So much history in this place, but to see all those players

was fantastic. Peter Ebdon said he was about to crack up! 950 seats

this morning, all packed. There were two moments that resonated with the

crowd. Barry Hearn mentioning there will be two wild cards to Ken

Doherty and Jimmy White. How popular was that? The round of applause told

its own story. How much they've given to the game of snooker. They

don't want to retire so the extension of two more years gives

them a chance to bow out in style or get back on the main tour. They will

both take up the option. The other moment was the signing of the

document. Many other cities were in for this championship, they wanted

it, they know how good it is. A very important statement. There's always

been uncertainty about whether it would move. We are here for the next

ten years, it's an iconic venue and this is where the World Championship

should be played. A possible 705 frames to play before somebody lifts

this trophy. These are the 32 in it to win it this time.

Mark Selby goes for the title number three. Fearless Fergal O'Brien isn't

fazed. One Welshman in the draw this year, Ryan Day, up against one of

six from China. Neil Robertson faces the lowest ranked here. Yan Bingtao,

born in 2000, against Shaun Murphy. Ronnie O'Sullivan's 25th campaign.

Liang Wenbo against Stuart Carrington. He knocked out Mark

Williams. Ding Junhui meets Zhu Ying long. Battle of the ex-champions,

being against Ebdon. Kyren Wilson facing Yorkshire's David Grace.

Northern Ireland's world number 11 Mark Allen against Robertson. John

Higgins against Martin Gould. Barry Hawkins, finalist four years ago,

takes on Tom Ford. A bruiser of a tie, Ali Carter against Graeme Dott.

As is this, McGill against Maguire, both from Glasgow. The favourite,

Judd Trump, against Rory McLeod on Tuesday. Amongst the five newcomers,

we have a man who was born and becomes the first player born in the

21st-century, Yan Bingtao. Makes you feel a bit to credit! He doesn't

even remember who I used to be! The standard improves and the players

come through. Amongst the qualifiers, Fergal O'Brien, 45 years

of age. He set a world record to be here. He came through a final frame

decider into two hours, three minutes. I could have watched the

break off in Liverpool and seen the handshake in Carlisle. Fergal said

it took in seven years to get here I figured another two hours wouldn't

make a difference. He will be up very shortly. The qualifiers have

removed a large number of bigger name players. No Mark Williams for

the first time in about 20 years. Joe Perry, Mark King, Anthony

Hamilton, the list goes on. Of the nine qualifiers out of 16, nine of

them are ranked 40 in the world or above. What does that tell us? It

shows you the standard is tough. That qualifying section is a total

bunfight. A tournament within the tournament. To get through, the

relief on the players faces. The top-quality players are getting to

the stage where they are getting bunched up. You never know exactly

who will come through. 20 or 30 players could be in the field for

these places. The qualifiers can go a long way. Alan McManus got to the

semis last year. The bookmakers make Trump and Selby joint favourites.

Talking about the bottom half being easier, but there's no such thing at

The Crucible. Unusual not to see Ronnie O'Sullivan is the favourite.

11-2 best for price. If he turns up with his best game, it might be a

big price. It might be liberating for him. Regardless of how the next

two weeks ago, Mark Selby will be ending the season as the world

number one for the sixth time. We are in the Selby in rack. He's

getting the hang of this place with two wins the last three years.

Walking down then steps into the final knowing I'm on the verge of a

little bit of history, being one of only a few players to have won it

more than once, very exciting and looking forward to it again this

year. I come here with not much expectation because my form isn't

great. You just come here and relax and play. On the other side of the

coin, as far as the pressure goes, I put a lot of pressure on myself

because if I play how I'm capable of, I know what I can achieve. If

I'm not achieving that, I'm quite hard on myself so that's where the

pressure comes from, not the occasion. Mark Selby, for the second

time, lifts the world title and he becomes the world champion 2016. To

win it once is a great achievement. To win it twice is something

unbelievable. To think I was going to do that at the start of the

career, I have to pinch myself. To win a tournament this special is

very difficult. I know what to expect now. Before walking out as

defending champion, I didn't know what it would be. I had The Crucible

KERS against me, nobody had ever retained it. -- curse. I can just go

out there and enjoy it and give it my best shot. Mark Selby must be

absolutely delighted. He lifts the UK title 2016. To win that for the

second time, beating Ronnie in the final, it gave me huge confidence

and I clicked on from there. Working hard on the practice table, as

always. Believing in yourself and being confident. Fergal is a great

player, he's been here many times, he understands the occasion and he

knows what to do. He's achieved great things in his career. Great

player, tough competitor and really hard to beat. He sure is. Welcome

back to 45-year-old former world number nine Fergal, who returns

after a seven-year wait. A rather mind-numbing to our and three

minutes decider against David Gilbert on Wednesday night, Thursday

morning. We have that at epic frame. After

about 20 minutes, half an hour, the balls were scrappy and safe. A lot

of good safety. What's at stake tends to loom large and you can

become too cautious, afraid to make a mistake. In previous years I've

lost 10-9 on the pink, on the black. The fear of losing another close one

was pulling my strings. You are tired, concentration is going so

you're trying to give yourself extra time to concentrate. You're probably

making it worse. I just got over the line, thankfully. When you lose,

chances are you're walking by the place to get your hotel. It's

literally within touching distance. You come around the corner and see

this magic. A tough draw, but a great occasion. The defending

champion comes back on the first day and place all day. Always a great

atmosphere on the Saturday morning at the start of the tournament.

Since the first couple of times it's been pretty poor. He's beaten me 4-0

a few times. Hopefully over a longer match things will be different. This

is the seventh time these two have met. Selby holds the aces. Fergal

asked beat the world champion 11 years ago. This match and a local

Glasgow derby between McGill and Maguire are the first of 31 matches

between now and May one in the championship. Here comes Rob Walker

with the first of 50 sessions. Lozenges at the ready!

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. After an absolutely epic season, we

are back at the sport's spiritual home for this seven day and day

marathon of drama and glory. This is The Crucible and this is the 2017

Betfred worlds Snooker championship. -- World Snooker Championship.

Please welcome a five-time ranking event winner who came through

qualifying brilliantly to book a 14th consecutive appearance at The

Crucible. Twice he's made the semis, when he's good he's on file, he's

Stephen Maguire! -- on fire. His opponent, a player who thrilled

us all with that superb run to the quarters two years ago on his debut.

Winning the Indian open and the Snickers shoot out this season, is

into the top 16 for the first time. He's back at The Crucible with

nerves of steel, here comes the smiling assassin, Anthony McGill.

On table one, please welcome back a player who last appeared here in

2010. He has secured his tenth Crucible of parents with that

record-breaking display of determination, beating Gilbert in

the epic two hour three-minute deciding frame in the qualifiers.

Here comes Ireland's Marathon man, the fabulous Fergal O'Brien!. Jump

Around by House of Pain. Finally, here comes a player in

absolutely sensational form. This season alone he's added four more

majors to his collection. Reigning UK champion, winner of this month's

China Open, the current world number one, the defending world champion,

the Jester from Leicester. Mark Selby!

We are off. Live coverage on the red button, connected TVs and online of

the match between McGill Anne McGuire. For now, we'll watch the

opening exchanges featuring the world champion. All settled in?

Good morning, everybody. We are back. Crucible Theatre, nice warm

handshake. As has already been mentioned about Fergal, boy did he

have to work hard to get here. I suppose a past -- apart from your

first year, Stephen, you never had to qualify. I didn't. It's a

sporting event in its own, especially that last day when

everyone is grasping for the places to get here. As was said, what a

struggle Fergal has had to get to The Crucible. We mustn't forget how

he can play. The UK Championship, five centuries in the best of 11.

Unbelievable, yeah. When I came through the qualifying stages a

couple of times, not only does it make you match sharp, in a way you

relax when you get to The Crucible. It's a tournament of its own, it's

an achievement to be here. I expect Fergal to play well. I hate that

thing where you got nothing to lose, but he can relax. He's playing the

world champion. Four matches I had to play at the Preston Guild Hall to

qualify. I played Willie Thorne here in the first round. He never forgets

that! I think this match, a lot will depend on the way the ball is run.

If the balls go awkward, the pink or black get tied up, we could have

some long frames. Both players will score heavily. If the colours remain

in the open. Mark Selby has been playing at his

best. He won the China Open, the UK Championship. World number one by a

long way. Not the most attacking of safety

shots from Fergal O'Brien. He does that quite a lot. He concentrates

more on getting it safe than playing an aggressive shot. But he's up

against the king of containment today. I don't think he will force

Mark Selby into making any rash shots. This is a more attacking

shot. Best of 19, of course, these

first-round matches. They will play nine frames in the first session and

they will finish this match tonight with the remaining frames. First to

10. I remember I was reminiscing last at the 40th anniversary

celebration. I said that Patsy Fagan and I, that first morning, we sat in

the arena and there were only 20 or 30 people here. It was the first

place we'd ever played where there were two tables in the same room.

Played the cross double and got it. If the cue ball bounces, he's on the

black. Perfect. Just sit still, please. Obviously

coming into the World Championship in good form. On the back of a win

in Beijing. That was two or three weeks ago. Oh! That was horrendous.

From having a lovely opportunity to score, that kick means end of break.

I hope we are not going to be bogged down with bad contact. Nearly

through the read off-line. It did go in, but disappointing. You're right.

Surprising to see it so early in the frame. You hope it will not be one

of these tournaments that will be affected by that. I remember last

year the first game on this table was horrendous on this side of the

arena. Always that first morning, the doors have been open while the

table fitters have been putting up the table and you get cold air and

it can change it slightly. It takes maybe a day to settle down.

It looks like he can get through to this red macro to the left middle.

Not certain where the cue ball will finish. Tried to play it dead

weight. Not quite. Fergal off the mark, he played it

nicely and perfect on the blue. Good chance.

I'm not sure if this is the red he played for. This is a thinner cut

than it looks on screen. You have to control the cue ball. It was always

running away. I don't think that was the Reid he played for. I think he

played for the want to the left corner. -- Reid.

He obviously didn't have as good an angle on the blue as I thought. I

can't see him taking on the black and the pink is risky. If the pot

sitcom he will run into the blue. -- if he pops it, he will run into the

blue. Looks like he's taking it on. He did take it on. I didn't see a

lot of value. He could have kissed the blue on the other side. He

doesn't appear to have left much. Possibly this red to the left

corner. Good shot. And nicely controlled.

Played that well with the rest and stunned across for the pink into the

left middle. Played the attacking shot. Possibly

didn't hit it as hard as he should have. Could have got the pink...

Maybe had to create a bit of an angle, but didn't disturb a lot. I

don't think the pink pots to the right corner. Up for a baulk colour.

Don't know if I agree with that shot. Didn't look possible. If he's

going to play it, I think ideally you want to play it with a trace of

side if it's natural to run into the balls, but he just wanted to make

certain of the red. He could get a snooker behind the black. It turned

out OK in the end. Tense opening frame. This is what I said at the

start of the frame. Mark Selby was very unfortunate with that kick when

it looked like he could score a few. The black is a bit further off the

crucial now and the pink doesn't go to all the pockets. It could be

quite a scrappy opening frame. Trying to find the two reds to the

left of the pink. He's done that well. Yeah. Absolutely into perfect.

I think Fergal will get him black -- back behind the black. The table

seems to have a nice speed. I thought that would finish short of

the black and leave a red to the middle, but it kept rolling.

Dangerous, the red on the right cushion if Mark Selby plays the cue

ball back behind the black. I don't think he can get to the right-hand

side of the cue ball to play the shot.

He didn't take on the double. This is a great shot.

The last two visits, the escape from the snooker was inch perfect and the

same with that safety. Great snooker.

Not guaranteed to get this safe, Fergal. He's in a of bother. -- a

spot of bother. I'm looking at the table. If he tried to nestle on one

of the reds in between the pink and black, he could leave one. Any value

coming off two Prussians and playing the red near the baulk Kristian? I

was going to say that. -- the baulk cushion. It's worth a try. I don't

think he even looked at that shot. No. And he's left this and it could

be very costly. Mark Selby will want to make sure he

takes advantage. He doesn't want to get drawn into long frames, or

script frames. As defending champion, playing the first day, he

wants to get this first round over and done with as quick as possible.

He just let that cue ball ran away slightly. Could have been straight

on this red. A little careless. He was able to drop it in and still

hold are baulk colour. He didn't hit that well. That is to

poorer position Shockley has played now. I don't even think he can get

on a colour if he popped this redback.

Guaranteed be one of those two reds to the pocket. Even if he misses he

could cover it with the slow pace. That will do a little bit, but it is

still going. It just tries to pull a little bit

to the right hand side. 25 point lead, he still needs three

of these remaining red. I don't see him potting one of the reds near the

baulk. For him, that is a poor shot. Maybe

Saturday morning jitters. It certainly looks that way.

As we always say, at least if you pop the ball you get to the next

shot. It might not be a Snicko, but it will be difficult for Fergal to

get this safe, 32 point behind. He cannot afford to leave mark

another chance. He has to go of 23 cushions. It is a good line and a

good length, a good shot. Much too thick. And I think this red

will cut to the middle pocket. He will need red, colour, red. It looks

as though he can cut it. I think he got the balance their

author baulk cushion. If he has an angle on the pink he will not be too

disappointed. Again, disappointed about this, and a massive kick and

then a balance of the cushion. This red for the first frame, to 40

ahead. This could be a steal and a half. It

is one of those, you think you just hit it in and it is down to drop.

But a chance now for Fergal to steal this. In food mark under a bit of

pressure. I know it is the first frame, and the best of 19, but this

would hurt. The only problem, the red tight against the cushion. I

wonder if he has the angle on the Brian to go and disturb it. Potting

the brown coat and 34 behind, so he will need black to win the frame. It

is pop the brown and played good safety.

I thought he might have tried to bring the black out with the red.

But he has the safety shot. If the red does not run into the pink, he

would have had it. You might be thinking of the left

corner, he only needs the red, remember.

It was definitely worth the risk. With the blankets, it will be

difficult for Fergal O'Brien. Not only to pot the black, but also to

get position on the yellow for a clearance.

Much too thick. And that could cost and this first frame.

Right in the heart of the pocket. So Mark Shelby, the sheik, this first

frame. But he has won it now. As the favourite and the defending

champion, certainly a strong favourite to win this match, it is

important that he keeps Fergal as long as possible without winning

that first frame, because that is very important for Fergal O'Brien in

this match. To get a frame under his belt, to relax.

A little bit of an exhibition shot from Mark. The frame nicely in the

back, and just getting his queuing I'm a bit more loose. But over 25

minutes, but the reigning champion is one frame in front. HAZEL IRVINE:

and it is no wonder that the boot-mac is making joint favourite

along with Judd Trump. Ronnie O'Sullivan comes not as favourite,

but not too far off at 5-1. What do you make of the rest of the

rankings? Neil Robertson is fancy about Ding Junhui, last year's

runner-up. He has not really done it this season. It is unusual for Neil

Robertson, he has gone off the boil slightly, but that's not to say he

can find it here. The bookmakers have long memories, and they know

that Neil Robertson still has a chance. I am looking at Marco Fu,

having a fantastic season, got very close last year. Yes, he is in a

tough section as well, he might have to play Neil Robertson in the second

round, and he will be in the Mark Selby section as well, so it is not

an easy draw, but there are no easy draws. You can put yourself anywhere

in there and you will not find an easy match. Fergal O'Brien ranked at

500-1 by the bookmakers, he has tough match. And we find ourselves

in our beautiful studio here in the Winter Gardens in Sheffield, we will

be reflecting on the rather lovely environment here in a second. But

Mark Selby is having the best session of his career, he has

already won four picture in and, in the form of his life, to Sheffield.

Yes, and also he is very comfortable around the circuit. I was chatting

to him just before he was going out to play. He was not uptight or

anything, he was just enjoying the moment. I think he is in a good

place in his mind as far as tournament players concerned. And he

tough defeat and shake off. Even when he is behind, he has a

calmness. He came here having one the China open last weekend, and no

one has ever managed to take the China open and the world title. It

is no longer a Crucible curse, but again he is trying to buck the trend

of history. You love your stats! Back we go. JOHN VIRGO: yes, Mark

Selby certainly has chance of proving that statistic wrong. But

that is a poor break-off shot. He will be a little bit disappointed

with that. In the practice room this morning, having a go at shots like

that. It wasn't the cleanest pot you will

ever see. The pocket swallowed. Surprised to see it coming off the

job at that pace. I said earlier about stamping your

authority on matches as the favourite. Playing nine frames this

morning, I'm sure Mark Selby would have target of something like 7-2.

Maybe even 8-1. But he would like a 7-2 lead going into tonight's

session. You can win these long frame matches in the first session.

Electing to play this red just to the left of the pink. It clears the

thing for both corners. Will the pink still be in the open?

It didn't go in either corner pocket none, so it is tied up a little bit.

A good angle on the blue note is imperative. Just about made it.

He wants to go for the red that is just to the left corner of the

black. I don't think red above the black pots anywhere.

That is well played. That is an excellent position shot. Coming to

see the black is available to the left corner.

A well-controlled cannon. I think possibly the red above the black

will pot to the left corner. So this break is developing nicely.

You can see, the red will go in this pocket, a nice angle on the black

just to come off the cushion and play for the red that is now

available. This is the last of the loose read

this. And it is a good angle on the black to go into them.

I think he will be a little bit disappointed with that. He should

have left himself a bit more of an angle on this. It is certainly not

the angle he was looking for. Careless.

How well did he hit that? The acceleration on the cue ball was

fantastic. Look at the pace pick-up. There was a delay of a couple of

seconds there before this group took effect. Yes, he could not have

struck it any better. Can he cut this in? He has done. It was like

the ministry of funny walks trying to get the cue ball back past the

baulk line. It worked for John Cleese, but not Mark Selby. A safety

shot man. Behind the green, unless he wants to put the green on the

cushion. That is what he has played. Just for a bit of insurance should

Fergal get an opportunity. A little bit disappointed, but it was a poor

positional shot on the black which basically made the break harder. And

that is what has put him back in his seat. The problem with this shot, he

has to get a thick contact on the reds to avoid the green, which will

obviously open them up. He needs a good cue ball here. What a result!

You never thought of that one, did you? Not even a flicker from Fergal.

As you say, John, there is always a gap. Always a gap!

He has to be a little bit careful with this type of shot. If you catch

it and it thick you can get the double-kiss. He has played it OK,

but with the brown on its part, the green on the site cushion, there is

only the yellow on the baulk end to hide behind. It is difficult to play

a telling safety shot at the moment. He could play this with right-hand

side to go into the four reds. If he misses he still has every chance of

being on a colour. He is playing it with left-hand side, plaintiff avoid

the middle of the table. I thought it was going to land

perfect on the blue. One can only assume these two reds

around the black area must be a plant. I am wondering what he played

for. Mark is having a look... It could be made, I suppose. I can't

think of any other reason to play the blue.

Mark didn't want to risk it. Where is the cue ball going?

Certainly very awkward queuing for Fergal. Basically with no room for

your hand, you have to put your fingertips on the pocket.

He had to hit it absolutely perfect, the first red, and he did. He will

not play the pot here, he will try for the smoker. -- the snooker. Yes,

and in potting that plant, he flicked the green into play. So if

he does get an opportunity, it is a much better one to try to pinch this

second frame. That must have been like a dagger to

Fergal O'Brien, that red going in. Absolutely. I'm sure he tried to get

the snooker behind the brown, but he thought with the cue ball tight on

the baulk cushion them was not going to be a lot of danger. What a pot

that was. There you see it. Which means that if he pots this red

committee will go 54 ahead with just 51 remaining. No. He just

decelerated on that. Yes, definitely. That's what happens, you

missed them thin, you don't accelerate through the cue ball. He

missed by a long way. I think if you get the cue ball straight on it, it

is unmissable, the plant. He is still in this frame. But he

obviously needs the next chance. I don't know what kind of angle he

has on this red, whether it is thin enough to avoid the red to the right

of it and stay on the black. A chance missed, and that will cost

in the frame. Snookers are needed. I know it is

only 2-0, but Fergal O'Brien needs to get a frame on the board quickly,

I feel. I said before, just to calm him down, get into this match.

This is what you create when you're the world number one player and

defending champion. You can have your opponents on the back foot

before you even get to the table. Every chance they have, there's so

much pressure on it. I don't The Hammers points or frame -- I don't

know how many points of frames that's worth, but it's a few.

Absolutely. If you're going to have a result, you need a good start, we

always say that, but it's true. Fergal has had the worst start,

really. Mark looked a little bit shaky in the first frame.

Understandable. You come here with a big weight of expectation on your

shoulders. But he'll be getting a lot calmer now. He's not had to do

too much to take these opening two frames.

That's enough for Fergal. Easy Pisi at the moment for Mark Selby.

He leads 2-0. (STUDIO) a very confident start from the defending

champion. You noticed a shot which signalled his intentions early. A

clever little shot. A lot of players would have rolled up behind the

green and he decided to chip the green on the side cushion for safety

and leave him looking at the pack where he has to open the pack.

That's what makes him a tactical player. You feel Selby appreciates

he will have to be clinical against a man famous for never giving in. He

has a lot of Digg. He has. I don't think Mark Selby would have been

that disappointed with the draw. He knows what he will get from Fergal

O'Brien and he knows he can probably cope. Nobody can outplay Mark Selby

in that department. A good draw. Not necessarily a good draw for Fergal

after having a tough... He could have done with a player who is a bit

more up and down in his form. Stephen made a good point which we

remember from December when Fergal was in a match against Barry Hawkins

and made five centuries in a best of 11 frames. That was another world

record in a world record-breaking season. He can play, all right. But

he's had a poor record recently against Mark. Fergal won the first

two, but since then it's been one-way traffic and Mark as won

three of those to kneel. Good to see people like players like Fergal

qualifying. It shows the strength in depth within snooker, like golf. You

have the youngsters, but you still have the capacity for the older

fellas. The more experienced players. As long as you keep

yourself in good nick, you can play this game. It's the age-old thing

about experience against youth. They can both work. When it comes to the

big stage, The Crucible, it helps to have a track record. From Fergal's

perspective, it maybe another ask too much, this match, but even so,

it establishes himself with plenty of prize-money, plenty of ranking

points, to keep up. It's still important to qualify for The

Crucible. In terms of age and qualifiers, we saw Alan McManus last

year, into his 40s, getting to the semifinals. It shows people like

Fergal, who's had this great warm up through the qualifying rounds, they

can be dangerous. Alan McManus proved it's possible. Players around

the same age of thinking there's a chance for me. Back we go.

If he's going to have a chance, he needs to win a frames sooner rather

than later. Four frames and then a mid-session interval. He needs one

of the next two, you would have thought.

Just a containing safety. Interesting to see what Mark does

here. I was thinking, will he play the red to the left of the black

just to bring the black interplay? That tells me he's now looking or

feeling a lot more confident. He wants that black in play, available

to both corner pockets so when he gets a chance he can score heavy.

There is another thing there, Stephen. There's a few players may

have played for one of the reds into the left middle. With Fergal, you

almost know what he's going to play. He's not going to take any undue

risk. I don't blame him. Similar to what Steve was saying. He's in a

comfort zone, Mark Selby, in this match. If he was playing perhaps one

of the young Chinese players, he wouldn't know what to expect if they

came out firing. Yeah. Fergal's game is built around good safety. As

we've mentioned, when he does get on the role and gets amongst the balls,

he can score as heavy as anybody. He's having a look at this red.

Not certain to get this safe, this is risky. I think he may have left a

red to the left middle. Even the red closest to the cue ball may cut to

the left corner. A flick on the yellow didn't affect

the position. The cue ball came in and out of baulk and nicely on the

green. With the black available into both corners, a good chance.

He wouldn't mind having that one again, though.

Played that nice. Lucky to have that good angle on the red.

He had to get into the cue ball when -- well there and he did so, to

avoid the brown. Just hasn't got past the blue. It

goes without saying he would love to get the black back on its spot. The

red he's looking at playing next, he could play for the black. One

cushion 4-2 cushions. -- or two cushions.

Just got to avoid the red close to the right cushion. He's looking at

the path he wants the cue ball to take. Stunning off two cushions to

the black. He got into the cue ball... He went

the other side of that red. A chance to go for the black here.

If he's short of pace, he will have the blue for insurance. Didn't even

look like he played for the black, which surprises me because he has

the cue power to comfortably screw up there. And if he had got a nice

angle on the black, he could have come off the side cushion into the

reds. How is he? I'm looking at his body

language. Is he on a red? No. End of break.

He could have played that with top spin off the left cushion, with lots

of top and left-hand side. I think that would have been an easier shot.

You don't see that shot played much. No. As you say, there's no reason

why he couldn't have played it. When you're forcing an angle, like he was

then, you hit a little bit below centre. Rather than stun, you get

back spin. I'm sure he played to run into the pink. Just got a little bit

too much into the cue ball and missed the pink. He's unlucky, in

all honesty, not to be on a red. You can have good luck and bad luck in

this game, we all know that. Needs a good cue ball. Boy has he

got one! That's the best shot he's played in this match so far. The two

reds near the right cushion are very close to a plant to the right

corner. But that's very risky. Just hitting the left hand side jaw. He

won't be looking at that. He's in a tough situation here.

If he comes off the right cushion and drops on the red near the

pocket, it wouldn't be a bad result to go in off.

That was a very honest shot. A few players might have been tempted to

drop the cue ball in the pocket off that red! No names! I might have!

Of course, Fergal can't leave this read here, he has to nudge it away

from the pocket. Needs a good cue ball, needs it tight on the baulk

cushion. Where's the red going? Has the black

come to his rescue? He's had a quick look. Just. A shake of the head from

Mark. He was lucky. He might be forced into playing the

swerve. I fancy him getting this. Good shot.

Striking down, right hand side. Don't hate it too hard, you have to

give it a chance for the side to take and he played it perfectly.

Inch perfect on the pink and he should win the frame now. He played

for the pink. He didn't play it just to pot the red and nothing else.

Excellent shot. Worrying times now for Fergal

O'Brien. Just a red needed to go 63 ahead

with just 59 remaining. There you go. Three snooker is

needed. No way back to the table now for Fergal. One more frame before

the mid-session interval. You feel as though he needs that just to give

him some hope. There you go. One hour for three

frames. It took Fergal over two hours to play one frame in the

qualifiers! Unfortunately for Fergal, Mark Selby is making all the

running and scoring all the points. Not quite. Fergal coming to the

table. I can only assume he wants a bit of potting practice. I don't

blame him. The next frame coming up is very important for him. I agree.

Over 20 minutes since he's potted a ball, very important to get his hand

on the table and get his cue moving. He would love to clear up here.

Not great position on the pink. As Stephen said, he would like to clear

up here. Played the double. He will look at

Mark and say that's enough. Mark Selby gratefully receives the

concession. Fergal O'Brien, 3-0 behind, one more to play before the

mid-session interval. Impressive stats. The world number

one and reigning champion, Mark Selby. He's made the perfect start.

The interesting thing, Stephen... As Mark was getting down to break, he

noticed the brown wasn't on its spot. A few years ago if you played

and the ball was put on the wrong spot, it's a foul against the player

at the table. They've changed the rule, the onus is now on the referee

so it wouldn't have been called a foul, he just wanted to tell the

referees the ball wasn't on its spot. That rule was changed a few

years ago. I suppose the players should be aware where it is. He's

just looking and he's saying, the brown isn't on its spot.

Which way does Fergal play this? Keeping it tight, playing a

containing safety. No thought of coming off the main

bunch. Opening them up. He has to try and do something

different in this match, Fergal. At the moment its pipe and slippers

time for Mark Selby. Very comfortable out there.

He will be all day playing negative safety shots and waiting for a

chance, I'm afraid. As it turned out, he's left a pot on. -- he had

left. You just feel as though Fergal has got to try and make things

happen. He's just in such a difficult

situation at 3-0 down. We say play more aggressive safety shots, but

what if he does that and leaves Mark Selby in. Selby is more relaxed and

he will probably win the frame in one visit. Really tough now for

Fergal O'Brien to get into this match. That was half a chance, that

one in the middle. He's not left anything, it doesn't appear.

That was a kick. Fergal gets a chance. Dear me. That stamp from

Mark tells you how annoyed he was. No way in the world he could have

hit this red and Canada and the other one, but look at the contact.

It jumped in the air. And then the stamp.

That stamp is because he knows he has a stranglehold in this match. He

doesn't want to give Fergal any easy starters to get into frames. This is

such an important chance to take for Fergal O'Brien in this match.

If he can get on this red and a nice angle on the blue and then get into

the pink ball, split the reds everywhere. We know how he can score

when he gets in. Looks to be perfect on the red and he could basically

put the cue ball wherever he wants for the blue.

I think that's now going to be the option. Absolutely perfect. Pot the

blue, try to hit the pink fall in the face. How aggressive is he going

to be? He hit it well, just didn't catch

the pink full in the face, though. The pace was right.

Just hits the pink half ball. You have to be fortunate to be on a red

when that happens. The cue ball invariably ends up near the black

cushion. He has a red to the far right corner. He's looking at all

the places where it can be safe if he misses the red. Just go for the

red 100%, Fergal. When you start to think about leaving it safe, you

missed the pot. Good shot. Good shot. Yes, excellent

shot. As you said, this is a massive visit now for Fergal. Because

through no fault of his own, Mark Selby left this chance, the

horrendous kick. He was in control, he was keeping Fergal in his seat.

All plain sailing, and then this safety, as you see, look how the

ball jumped in the air. And left a nice easy starter.

Well! A chance missed. Yes, he will be fuming in his chair, Fergal

O'Brien, after that. After a great red to the green pocket. You said

before coming into this match, the only chance of winning would be if

he did not miss when he got in, Fergal.

So difficult, this place, when you go behind in these long matches.

Yes, and after qualifying as he did, the euphoria of coming to the

Crucible, and when he saw the draw, playing the defending champion...

You know, it is something you would really look forward to. This is not

the start he was looking for. He absolutely loves snooker, Fergal

O'Brien. So looking forward to be being back here at the Crucible.

This could be the key shot. They read directly above the black, he

can cannon into that quite full, but then he might not think, he might

not play a specific red, just go into them firm. Looking at that red

now. Just hoping he does not make it into a plant for a red to the

middle. But if these open nicely, a frame-winning chance. He will settle

for that. Yes, played this perfectly, he stunned into the red.

Could not play it at the bottom of the cue ball because that would

bring the cue ball back to the black cushion. You would expect this to be

4-0. Mark Wood expected to be 4-0. Pretty straight, but I think he can

just avoid that red. He didn't, that he did not hit it full, which was

the most important thing to avoid. It has opened up the red to the

right middle. A 13 point lead to build up.

When he played this black he rubbed his hand across the cushion, he was

concerned he had gone a bit too far the own this red. He pleaded a bit

tentatively, but you would not expect him to miss this red to the

middle. Playing for this red, and the two

reds just below the pink. Once again, he underrated slightly

because he is frightened of overheating it.

And he has left himself a tricky black.

Right in the heart of the pocket. And that is the confidence you get

by winning the first three frames. Yes, that is so much easier that

black and if you are 3-0 down. This will put him 45 points in

front, so he still needs another red and colour, and it is not obvious to

see where that will come from. A good shot needed here. A good

effort. He mist-mac a red similar to this already in this match.

Decelerated and missed it then. He had the right hand side cushion a

long way before the pocket, let's see if he can get closer this time.

If he can cue more positively. Great shot.

Maybe if the red had gone right in the heart of the pocket he would

have got more run on the cue ball. He has a 46 point lead but there is

still 51 remaining. What a pot that was! Couldn't see a

way out. Couldn't see a safety, so he was forced into it.

He won't be thinking of winning the frame at this visit, but he can

certainly get right back into it. He has left an angle. If he parts

the black he will be 30 points behind. That is why he is looking at

the scoreboard. 30 points. Red, blue, brown, pink. He does not need

a black of the last red. Could be worth it if he has the angle, to

disturb it. I think he is just looking at spotting the black and

playing a safety. A good chance of getting the cue ball in behind the

pink, I suppose, with the red at this end of the table. He would have

an angle in the end. But now it is not an easy safety shot. Yes, if you

are going to play the cannon, get it, and that was not the most

difficult of cannons. When he was looking at the angle for

safety I thought he was a bit too straight on the black, but in the

end it was an almost perfect angle. He may have had to widen it a little

bit, but he needs to get this safe. Where is the red going? It is going

towards the pocket. And he has not covered it. And Mark Selby only

needs the red. Disappointment for Fergal.

He has had a couple of chances the last couple of frames, Fergal, and

not make the most of them. You are always going to get chances.

He played this nicely. He may just have the snooker, but the problem is

at this level, just bending it slightly, left-hand side on the cue

ball. I can't think of too many players I dislike trying to get

smokers against more than Mark Selby.

I think if I was Fergal I would get to the practice table and try to get

the cue going for the next session. I suppose that green and blue are

close to that side cushion if he could get tight behind them he might

cut out the one-cushion escape. In an ideal world he would like to

keep the yellow on the table just as more colours to snooker behind.

Not quite, but as I say, you have to get tight behind the snooker in all

if you're going to force a player this level to miss.

He did want to come off the baulk cushion first, will not want to take

a chance trying to clip that thin yellow. And hit the pink back by

mistake. The most obvious thing here is to

try to get the cue ball in behind the black. He wants to put the

distance between the cue ball and the object ball. And of course get

the object all safe. That wasn't a bad idea, but he

underhit it by a long way. You feel this Mark Selby knocks in this

yellow, that will be the end of frame and off to the dressing room.

I suppose you could think of one reason for Fergal playing on is to

knock Mark office rhythm, if he misses a couple of long parts like

that it could knock his cue action out of rhythm. Where the pink is, I

think that will give Fergal some hope, if he is not behind the pink

himself, yeah. I do think his time would be better

spent back in the practice room. You can hear the hubbub at the

Crucible Theatre. Things that 40 years ago when we first came here

you never had before. To table situation. Anyway, that will be the

end of this frame. Fergal has conceded to stop has he? No. He

disappeared out of my shot. I could not see him. I suppose it is not

etiquette to concede when it is your opponent's turn at the table.

And he is playing it with the extension.

And that is the concession. So it is not the start that Fergal O'Brien

was looking for, but just the start that the defending champion was, he

leapt at the mid-session interval 4-0. HAZEL IRVINE: an emphatic start

by the defending champion, absolutely pin sharp and perfect so

far. Yes, it is comfortable. The boys mentioned it in commentary,

probably looking like a good draw, he has a good record with them, full

of confidence up the winning in China, and Fergal is not used to

playing at the Crucible. It looks at one-way traffic. Before the jumping

ship Stephen Hendrie was talking about horses for courses, and the

fact that Mark Selby's mental stamina more than anything seems to

suit him coming here. He seems to always find a way when he asked to.

When you look at the last couple of times he won the championship, he

has always had one match along the way when he really had to pull

something out of the bag to get through. He seems to have this

different years to go through. Yes, and also he has perhaps more

departments of standards in different areas than any player

we've ever seen. Even John Higgins we mentioned on many occasions, and

last night talking about great match players, arguably Mark Selby is

making a case for being the greatest player the game has ever seen. The

think so? ! Greatest match player the game has ever seen. Greatest

player you have ever seen is a different thing. I mentioned coming

over here to the Winter Gardens that we are in the Mark Selby era. Does

it feel like that? He is so far clearer head in the rankings list

and the prize money, it is hard to argue with the stats. His game is

tailor-made for this place. The length of it. The long frame

matches, everything about it suits him. He is a snooker chameleon,

because he can change from being a scoring machine to somebody who has

a back-up game that is incredibly difficult to play against, and

everything about this tournament suits them. Difficult to play

against. People say that the reason he can get back into Amat is that he

is dog-eared and slows down, he is not, he is granite. He has plenty of

bottle. You don't get back in a match that is going wrong if you

don't have it in yourself to get back in it by giving everything

inside of you. These are best of 19 frame first-round matches, they have

another five frames to play after the interval. We will change channel

very shortly, but before we do let's focus on the match on the other side

of the curtain, and it has the two Glaswegians, it is Anthony McGill,

27-year-old who has come of age this season from an up-and-coming to

multiple world ranking winner this season with victories in India and

the snooker shoot out. He is the automatic qualifier. The boot is on

the other foot, because Stephen Maguire, a former world number two,

has had to come through qualifying. He well remembers a few years ago

when he was the main man. McGill beating here on what was Anthony

McGill's debut, in a very sore one, 10-9. It is a repeat between this

match between two old friends. We will join them with McGuire 2-1 in

front. It is frame format, good quality so far with 4/2 centuries.

It is do- to add their interval and that one continues live online for

the last five frames of the opening session. We will be back at 1:15pm

on BBC One to rounded up for you. It is day one in the big Crucible

house, and all the housemates are really excited! We hope you are as

well. We are ramping up our coverage like never before, because every

single session will be presented live either on BBC One, BBC Two, or

on the red button. That is our commitment to you. And there is an

awful lot of snooker to be played between now and the 1st of May when

a trophy is hoisted aloft by the new champion. And you don't just have to

sit on the sofa and watch it, you can watch it anywhere you like.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy our coverage of this year's World

Championship. As well as our extensive coverage on BBC One and

BBC Two, we are also on the red button. During the evening sessions,

Hazel, Jason and the studio team will bring you fool coverage. Just

press red. It belongs to Ken Doherty. You can watch all the

action on the BBC sport act on your mobile phone, tablet and connected

TV. Radio 5 Live will bring updates throughout the day. There are news

features and more on the BBC sport website. And you can join in the

conversation on social media. I think it is fair to say we are all

over it. Are you dug in boys, ready for the next 17 days? Yes, it feels

like only since last year, marvellous to be back. I absolutely

love this. It is a great time to watch snooker. Looking forward to

spending the next 17 days in your company and the company of all the

team. But don't forget we will be back at 1:15pm over on BBC One. We

will finish off the opening session and then we will see live, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, coming back for its 25th campaign ticking on the debutante,

Gary Wilson, who made a 147 to get here. Lots to come on day one here

in Sheffield. See you soon.