:00:42. > :00:48.William Hill championship stfplt 2003 winner Matthew Stevens is back
:00:48. > :00:52.in the top 16 after a four-year absence up against two-time title
:00:52. > :00:56.holder Wi who struggled against Mark Davies. We join it at the
:00:56. > :01:06.start of the first frame. Dennis Taylor and Terry Griffiths are your
:01:06. > :01:18.
:01:18. > :01:27.commentators. That is a textbook break-off. You are trying to get
:01:27. > :01:31.the cue ball as close to the Green as possible covering as many of the
:01:31. > :01:41.Reds. He will not being taking the pot on here because this black is
:01:41. > :01:52.
:01:52. > :01:57.tied up. It is amazing they have played five times and Wi has won
:01:57. > :02:02.all times but Matthew is getting back to where he was four or five
:02:02. > :02:12.seasons ago. You can see the match on the other tables, O'Sullivan and
:02:12. > :02:21.
:02:22. > :02:25.Trump. All three players got a fabulous reception. He will not be
:02:25. > :02:35.too pleased with that and a lot of his supporters will not be too
:02:35. > :02:43.
:02:43. > :02:49.pleased with either. Switch all the cameras off now, please. There are
:02:49. > :02:59.a lot of Chinese supporters in here today. A bank of them. Matthew
:02:59. > :03:04.
:03:04. > :03:14.would like the like that one again. There are lots of ladies there as
:03:14. > :03:25.
:03:25. > :03:32.well. He is a superstar in China. miss. Stevens 1. Ding, 4. A bit of
:03:32. > :03:36.a slow start to these two. They both played well in their first
:03:36. > :03:46.rounds. Stevens scored very heavily. Ding is glad to get through against
:03:46. > :03:50.
:03:50. > :04:00.Mark Davies, six stpraipls to five. Won the match. Could well have gone
:04:00. > :04:18.
:04:18. > :04:24.faces another tough opponent. McLeod finished with a terrific
:04:24. > :04:32.fluke the other day as well as the match is almost identical. So both
:04:32. > :04:35.these top players could have been out in the opening round. Mark
:04:35. > :04:41.Davies and Rory McLeod will be pleased you mentioned that Dennis.
:04:41. > :04:46.Bring back some happy memories! (LAUGHTER). Yeah. Sorry boys to
:04:46. > :04:56.have spoilt your Christmas. Two smashing lads. Rory was great, he
:04:56. > :05:01.
:05:01. > :05:07.was round the following day. the two highest breaks there Matt
:05:07. > :05:17.thuerbgs 140 and 136. Let's see if he can knock this long one
:05:17. > :05:17.
:05:17. > :06:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:06:02. > :06:12.injustice to get an early the modern technology you have
:06:12. > :06:19.
:06:19. > :06:25.Heathers under the table that keep this clothe nice and warm. You
:06:25. > :06:30.would know more about that, Terry, about the thermostats, do you have
:06:30. > :06:34.them under the tables in your club? I am just wondering if they have
:06:34. > :06:38.them here under the seats in the commentary box. Yes, they do have
:06:38. > :06:42.the under-table heathers, keeps the clothe as Danny sairbgsd more on
:06:42. > :06:52.the dry side so the ball travels fatser along the cloth and the
:06:52. > :07:04.
:07:04. > :07:08.spins are more responsive for the players. He is blocked a little
:07:08. > :07:18.Matt thuefpl. I cannot see how you can get on the cushion to the black.
:07:18. > :07:27.
:07:27. > :07:37.There is not enough room to get through there. It is a trick shot
:07:37. > :07:43.
:07:43. > :07:53.the table and tries to hit that one the right of the pink, if he misses
:07:53. > :07:58.that he may catch the one that is behind the bhind the bs over a
:07:58. > :08:07.minute and a half, his coming nearer to two minutes by the time
:08:07. > :08:17.he see sides to play the escape. -- decides. At the red he would like
:08:17. > :08:36.
:08:36. > :08:41.the get to it. Over two minutes now. That is near the black. How does he
:08:41. > :08:48.find the gap? The call is on and he might be able to get near the black
:08:48. > :08:56.and if he could hold the black he could free the blackspot with those
:08:56. > :09:06.or either of those two reds I don't like that type of shot. He is a
:09:06. > :09:19.
:09:19. > :09:24.very good attempt. This red pot and the black is respotted. 8. I don't
:09:24. > :09:34.think so. Can he see enough of that? From that picture you would
:09:34. > :09:43.
:09:43. > :09:51.not think he could but maybe he can just pot it. Yep. Three lose reds
:09:51. > :09:57.at the moment. Might be playing a little cannon here. Just playing
:09:57. > :10:07.for to lose reds. Having the cue ball in a position where he was
:10:07. > :10:18.
:10:18. > :10:20.leaving himself the choice of reds on the corner, one the middle.
:10:20. > :10:30.Certainly one of the better positions of the players.
:10:30. > :10:31.
:10:31. > :10:35.(APPLAUSE). He has just slipped out of position. (LAUGHTER). Plays to
:10:35. > :10:45.the pink but he is okay, he has the blue. Come back down for the three
:10:45. > :11:07.
:11:07. > :11:11.reds that are available. There are a few advantages of being a good
:11:11. > :11:15.position player. One is it takes the pressure off you leaving your
:11:15. > :11:22.several a success sefgs easy shofplts just as important, the
:11:22. > :11:27.opponent sits in the chair thinking "Well, he is never going to miss!"
:11:28. > :11:32.Saying last night when we watched the Mark Williams match he pot add
:11:32. > :11:38.lot of good shots to keep breaks going and plays in the chair with a
:11:38. > :11:41.bit of optimism thing "Well, it could get in here". And he keeps
:11:41. > :11:51.knocking them in when Ding is more a position player. Reminds me of
:11:51. > :12:26.
:12:26. > :12:30.Steve Davis a bit. That is a key angle for the blue F the reds open
:12:30. > :12:36.nicely he should take the opening frame. He did not hit them as he
:12:36. > :12:41.intended but he is just about okay. (APPLAUSE) Playing back the blue
:12:41. > :12:46.again. Let's have a look. He has one other red but he will need one
:12:46. > :12:56.of the difficult once. A good angle required again on did blue.
:12:56. > :13:07.
:13:07. > :13:14.(APPLAUSE) 44. 53 the difference. He is going to need one of those
:13:14. > :13:17.five reds around the pink shot. He is just around the cannon now. He
:13:17. > :13:27.does not have to hit them as hard as he would normally do going
:13:27. > :13:30.
:13:30. > :13:40.around the full back. Well, that is a tricky little cut-back now.
:13:40. > :13:44.
:13:44. > :13:48.He needs a colour with this red. Two would be enough. In fact, he
:13:48. > :13:53.needs the colour red. He will cannon into the reds as he hits
:13:53. > :13:59.this in. He tried the avoid the cannon but I do not think he could
:13:59. > :14:09.do, that is why he missed the pop there. (APPLAUSE) Very good effort
:14:09. > :14:18.
:14:18. > :14:22.but Ding would have been hoping to have secured the opening frame.
:14:22. > :14:27.Good pot. Has not left him the best of angles. I think he has just
:14:27. > :14:37.about the enough angle the move with the cue ball into the outer
:14:37. > :14:44.
:14:44. > :14:47.block. How is your luck u Matthew? 6. (APPLAUSE) He could score enough,
:14:47. > :14:50.you know, just staying on the blue here, but he would have to keep
:14:50. > :14:58.getting the correct side of the blue. There is enough points there
:14:58. > :15:02.with reds and blues. He is looking at the black but 51 the difference.
:15:02. > :15:06.He did look at the black but it is a tricky one along the cushion.
:15:06. > :15:16.Maybe pit is easy just to drop on the black than try to force it to
:15:16. > :15:16.
:15:16. > :15:20.get up to the blue. The first one to use an extension and it could
:15:20. > :15:30.use a coat of varnish there it looks like it is well-worn, that
:15:30. > :15:41.
:15:41. > :15:44.one. He has come up short. That is not good. Looks a little like my
:15:44. > :15:48.face in the morning there are a few more marks than they used to be!
:15:48. > :15:58.Thank God I do not have to see your face first thing in the morning,
:15:58. > :16:10.
:16:10. > :16:15.Terry! Laugh laugh Another key shot coming back up using the back to
:16:15. > :16:20.screw the back off. He plays that shot so well. Look where the cue
:16:20. > :16:25.ball has finished up. How well did he hit that? But listen w the three
:16:25. > :16:35.reds as they are it has put him in a very difficult snookers he is
:16:35. > :16:42.
:16:42. > :16:46.right back in this opening frame. Matt Stevens 136789 double 5.
:16:46. > :16:51.(APPLAUSE) Seems to have lost control of the two-ball when it has
:16:51. > :16:55.gone directly on the a cushion. The cloth has been fast since the star
:16:55. > :17:05.of the tournament but the cushions look a little shro in certain
:17:05. > :17:13.
:17:13. > :17:18.places until the table has to settle down. -- slow. Not in his
:17:18. > :17:23.favour the black being off the spot. Pink is down in the brown spot.
:17:23. > :17:27.There is more of the blue really. It is the correct spot. You might
:17:27. > :17:37.get a few points off this situation here because it is not easy to get
:17:37. > :17:39.
:17:39. > :17:46.out of the snooker. He has to go twice across the table. How close
:17:46. > :17:51.did he get to that red? Absolutely. There is the referee, hissing to go
:17:51. > :17:56.keep are keep calling. He played for the bigger Target which was the
:17:56. > :18:00.two reds and there was a chance of him leaving them on so everything
:18:01. > :18:06.was fair from Ding's perspective but referees do not get an option.
:18:06. > :18:09.They are just told they have to give a miss. Yeah, he is placing
:18:09. > :18:19.the easiest escape route really. Twice across the table to hit those
:18:19. > :18:29.
:18:29. > :18:39.two reds. What is amazing to mist red and go in the pocket. I tell
:18:39. > :18:45.
:18:45. > :18:49.you what - he could stand there all day and not do that! The odds ever
:18:50. > :18:59.playing that Mascot, getting it twice, well, it would be remarkable.
:19:00. > :19:04.
:19:04. > :19:09.Now he has overcome it. He might get a few points from this. There
:19:09. > :19:13.are certain aspects sometimes when the first attempt was so close.
:19:13. > :19:23.don't agree with this at all, but the only advantage here is that he
:19:23. > :19:24.
:19:24. > :19:34.is playing a Welshman! (LAUGHTER) That is better. Left himself a bit
:19:34. > :20:10.
:20:10. > :20:15.short even if he did stroke the don't know what happened there
:20:15. > :20:17.maybe the cue ball has not come up the table and we are doing him an
:20:17. > :20:27.injustice. He had a heavy contact on. That something must have
:20:27. > :20:33.
:20:33. > :20:40.happened. There is a snooker. The brown. Not quite. A bit of a fee
:20:40. > :20:44.shot. He can take that red on. Try to cut it in. As long as he does
:20:44. > :20:54.not catch the jaw of the middle pocket. He can have it safe if he
:20:54. > :20:59.
:20:59. > :21:05.misses it. Same shot for Ding. In fact, look the brown now. He has
:21:05. > :21:15.moved in the better position so if he cuts the red in he wins the
:21:15. > :21:24.
:21:25. > :21:31.frame, if he hits the red a good chance of a snooker. He got the
:21:31. > :21:35.snooker. Surely there is not a red through, there is there? There is,
:21:35. > :21:45.but I think he would be hitting the black I think. Can he just catch
:21:45. > :21:45.
:21:45. > :22:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:22:45. > :22:55.never easy out off the cushion by the pocket. On the leather of the
:22:55. > :22:57.
:22:57. > :23:05.pocket there. He has 345 that well. -- played that well. Very good.
:23:05. > :23:14.(APPLAUSE). Very good length. Just dropping off the side cushion onto
:23:14. > :23:24.the one near the black cushion here. He has gone past it, has it? Just
:23:24. > :23:24.
:23:24. > :28:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:28:55. > :28:58.Finding frame three and cushion with the break-off shot. It is more
:28:58. > :29:02.or less id cattle to his opening or less id cattle to his opening
:29:02. > :29:09.bake-off shot. He has left the red towards the right corner but the
:29:09. > :29:19.black is not available and Matthew just pushed this red back up the
:29:19. > :29:27.
:29:27. > :29:31.table. Left the white up the blackspot end of the table. You
:29:31. > :29:35.will not see any better under the circumstances. Two fraiplgs. He
:29:35. > :29:38.must be disappointed with his play - frames. He wants to make
:29:38. > :29:45.something happen and I tell you what, Terry, that is the best play
:29:45. > :29:52.of the match without a doubt. well I think he is fully aware that
:29:52. > :29:57.he has missed a chance so far in this match and Ding has been
:29:57. > :30:01.dominant in the frames although Matthew has had a chance to win
:30:01. > :30:06.both first and second frame. Particularly the choices, you can
:30:06. > :30:16.either wait for your opponent to make a mistake or grasp the nettle
:30:16. > :30:40.
:30:40. > :30:49.himself and that is what he did there. Pink goes in the middle.
:30:49. > :30:59.Just squeezed in from the corner. The referee asks for a second. He
:30:59. > :30:59.
:30:59. > :31:03.has an awkward placement of the cue ball. All the spots are occupied.
:31:03. > :31:08.Which gives Matthew a bit of a problem now. He is looking to see
:31:08. > :31:13.to the black can go. He cannot get on the black this time. But he is
:31:13. > :31:17.thing a few shots ahead, he can get on the red and in a few shots time
:31:17. > :31:23.will the black be available? It is pretty tight but he has a few ball
:31:23. > :31:29.before he gets there. He has a red into the left, the middle, one into
:31:29. > :31:39.the left corner. I know he has plenty cue power to screw back for
:31:39. > :31:50.
:31:50. > :32:00.the blue one. (APPLAUSE). Now he has a long way to travel. To get
:32:00. > :32:01.
:32:01. > :32:04.back to the blue. Yes, it is awkward, isn't it? He may have an
:32:04. > :32:14.angle to go into the pot to bring the pink into play but his chances
:32:14. > :32:19.
:32:19. > :32:29.are slim. He is a little too far from the blue. Not great on the
:32:29. > :32:29.
:32:29. > :36:15.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:36:15. > :36:19.little bit annoyed. There is the Most of them have finished a bit
:36:19. > :36:29.scrappy but they cannot do much about it when the ball ends up like
:36:29. > :36:32.
:36:32. > :36:36.this. Quite similar to the last frame. When the pink and black is
:36:36. > :36:45.tied up and the Blue is available, it makes things a bit more
:36:45. > :36:55.difficult. You need to get a good break. A bit more extension there,
:36:55. > :37:07.
:37:07. > :37:17.the noisiest as well. Every time he screws it aufrbgs -- off You do not
:37:17. > :37:27.
:37:27. > :37:31.have WD40 in Wales then Harry? it takes is a bit of Vaseline, that
:37:31. > :37:41.stops them leaking as you screw them in. I must remember that Terry,
:37:41. > :37:41.
:37:41. > :38:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:38:25. > :38:30.because my joints are feeling a on the blue. They are still able to
:38:30. > :38:34.work very hard for the points but starting to build up heed for the
:38:34. > :38:43.first time. Just saying that in front in the first two frames they
:38:43. > :38:49.are always a tight thing to get back into them now. Starting to
:38:49. > :38:53.strike the ball a bit better now. Mark Stevens always plays better
:38:53. > :39:00.when he speeds is game up a little bit which is easier said than done
:39:00. > :39:05.when you are service struggling out there. Another mis-cue and Murray
:39:05. > :39:13.want to bite the tip-off! That is twice now! He could do with a
:39:13. > :39:16.little fire. I remember Ronnie O'Sullivan using the fsing the fe
:39:16. > :39:26.used to did a bit of coach wing Ronnie. He needs to rough the tip
:39:26. > :39:36.
:39:36. > :39:40.up a little bit. It habit. It ha got a little too smooth. He is
:39:40. > :39:44.having a good, hard look at it now I do not think he has done any
:39:44. > :39:49.damage to the tip. There is just a little shiny spot on it I do not
:39:49. > :39:54.think the tip is the trouble, Dennis. I think he is not timing
:39:54. > :39:59.his delivery well enough. His grip on early, just getting bee threat
:39:59. > :40:02.the cue ball which could cots him again here too which it is bound to
:40:03. > :40:12.go go into this Pacific reds with the pink an the black there as well,
:40:13. > :40:14.
:40:14. > :40:18.hoping to bring everything into play. Let's see how his luck is.
:40:18. > :40:24.Well, he's out I'm afraid F the pink has come out but there is no
:40:24. > :40:34.red. Not easy to pot. Not an easy shot. Three of the reds still on
:40:34. > :40:49.
:40:50. > :40:53.cushions. That is incredibly unlucky. He could not really avoid
:40:53. > :41:03.it. He took it full-blooded and could not control the cue ball
:41:03. > :41:05.
:41:06. > :41:15.really. He was asking Matt if he - to see if wanted to go out to try
:41:16. > :41:16.
:41:16. > :42:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:42:06. > :42:09.to repair his tip. They are allowed paper this looked like a quick
:42:09. > :42:19.match but the second frame under 27 minute and it is simply because of
:42:19. > :42:19.
:42:19. > :43:04.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:43:04. > :43:09.the way the balls have gone in the two opening frames. He has left
:43:09. > :43:14.Matthew a chance here, he is 42 point in front and he should win
:43:14. > :43:18.his first frame. I think he has lots his confidence new after that
:43:18. > :43:23.miscue. Yeah, I think you are absolutely right, Terry. Luckily
:43:23. > :43:26.that red has gone safe, but the other ones available, okay, they
:43:26. > :43:36.look very awkward but in a couple of shots time he could have the
:43:36. > :43:42.
:43:42. > :43:46.black in play. Surely the blue has not covered the red. I think he can
:43:46. > :43:56.get past the bird flu. Both players starting to miss. Very scrappy,
:43:56. > :44:01.
:44:01. > :44:05.this third frame. It officer happens because both players have a
:44:05. > :44:10.mind-set they will have to play very well to win. Then they start
:44:10. > :44:20.the struggle and it gets scrappy. Changes the mind-set of both
:44:20. > :44:28.
:44:28. > :44:31.players. Sure they will get better. Think of having a laugh because
:44:31. > :44:37.Martin needs to play this blue in the corner with a lot of back spin
:44:37. > :44:47.to get down to the reds and he has on are obviously been miscuing and
:44:47. > :45:15.
:45:15. > :45:20.there is a tip that he is turning players of the highest quality
:45:20. > :45:30.producing what you would see on another night in an amateur game.
:45:30. > :45:47.
:45:47. > :45:54.Amazing. That was the frame ball and fit droppedfully more pace the
:45:54. > :45:57.black would have stayed there. might even stay in list seat. I
:45:57. > :46:02.think he has had enough of this frame. It will be interesting to
:46:02. > :46:06.see if he carries on. He needs a couple of snookers. He is going to
:46:06. > :46:16.carry on but barring those snookers Matthew Stevens has his first frame
:46:16. > :46:16.
:46:16. > :47:36.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:47:36. > :47:46.this time. He is still in with a chance. Of course he could have
:47:46. > :47:52.
:47:52. > :48:02.gone for the pink. Now he is just two. (APPLAUSE) He is two point in
:48:02. > :48:02.
:48:02. > :48:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:48:55. > :49:00.front. Just 35 left. This is a tough one to get. They have all
:49:00. > :49:03.gone past the 10 or 11-minute mark. And the 20-minute mark. They have
:49:03. > :49:07.not scored well enough to make the frames. One player has made a shot
:49:07. > :49:11.and a miss then the other player gets back into the game so that
:49:11. > :49:21.prolongs the frames. They are certainly not slow players by any
:49:21. > :49:49.
:49:49. > :49:59.means. Didn't play the pot there. It was a very, very good attempt
:49:59. > :50:03.
:50:03. > :50:08.there to get behind yellow. With the Green and brown in place there
:50:08. > :50:18.is a very good chance of Ding getting back into this frame. Not
:50:18. > :50:24.on this shorts of course, but if he were to get the chance to 39 a red
:50:24. > :50:32.and a black - to pot a red and a black. You could pot the yellow and
:50:32. > :50:42.play a very good position shot on the Green A tough snooker for
:50:42. > :51:21.
:51:21. > :51:31.Martin to hit so not a certainty black is going to come to the
:51:31. > :51:32.
:51:32. > :51:37.rescue. No. He had his chance if he wants to take a red and black, get
:51:37. > :51:40.down to the own snooker. Stevens behind the brown. It turns the shot
:51:41. > :51:45.down, did not even consider it. There is a surprise in that.
:51:45. > :51:49.with you, terry. I thought he would have taken the red on t black t
:51:49. > :51:55.yellow and he was guarantee add good snooker but for some reason
:51:55. > :52:01.Ding never even gave eight thought! -- gave it a thought. That is the
:52:01. > :52:11.end of the frame. (APPLAUSE) Ding has succeed so Matthew Stevens gets
:52:11. > :52:34.
:52:34. > :52:37.his first frame on the board but he still trails 2-1. Much too thick a
:52:37. > :52:47.contact there from Ding but once again the pink and the black are
:52:47. > :52:56.
:52:56. > :53:06.tied up straight away. Did you see the tip there he has had a few
:53:06. > :53:07.
:53:07. > :53:12.problems with as he strikes the cue ball there. (APPLAUSE) There is not
:53:12. > :53:17.much of a tip on that cue. It is a bit like the old players, in the
:53:17. > :53:26.old days they used to play with very little tip, put it on the near
:53:26. > :53:32.jaw! Oh! Gravity took over. If that had stayed this for another couple
:53:32. > :53:35.of seconds then dropped would it have had to have been replaced. But
:53:36. > :53:45.once it touches the near jaw you do not expect it to drop but it was
:53:46. > :53:46.
:53:46. > :54:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:54:34. > :54:39.the pace that let it fall into the delighted but he will be delighted
:54:39. > :54:49.to be two frames in front. Just about everything has gone wrong for
:54:49. > :54:51.
:54:52. > :54:56.Matthew Stevens in the match so far has gone wrong. If they are two-up
:54:56. > :55:00.like Ding was and it is two-all you feel disappointed because you feel
:55:00. > :55:06.you have lost something out ?. The opposite for your opponent if he
:55:06. > :55:11.feels he has gained something. Two- all, never changes irrespective of
:55:11. > :55:21.what happens in four frames but it can change. It can change the
:55:21. > :55:27.
:55:27. > :55:31.outlook of the match (APPLAUSE). Much better from the Welshman, that
:55:31. > :55:35.is a bit more like the mat through Stevens we have seen in round one.
:55:35. > :55:41.If he just catches tend red with a stun shot he can open them up there.
:55:41. > :55:45.He laid that beautifully. He did not screw into the red. He stunted
:55:46. > :55:55.into the red and that is a text- book way of playing that shot. You
:55:56. > :55:57.
:55:57. > :56:03.will not see many better than that. Really I suppose this is the first
:56:03. > :56:13.chance either player has had, had right in among the ball was the
:56:13. > :56:24.
:56:24. > :56:28.black three. First three frames that went rather awkward. Wfrpblgts
:56:28. > :56:37.three or four reds you could have been on but let's see what he has
:56:37. > :56:41.here into this right corner. You can see he is tight. Looks as if
:56:41. > :56:44.hissing to go have to use a bit of the trace aside if he wants to make
:56:45. > :56:54.that pot. He has still run through with the black but he is playing
:56:55. > :57:14.
:57:14. > :57:18.with a touch of right-hand side to make the angle. Alters the angle of
:57:18. > :57:21.the bafplt all reds and blacks so far. What he does not want here is
:57:21. > :57:27.a deep square shot. There is no doubt if he will be affected. He
:57:27. > :57:32.will have to play deep screw. He has had do very bad miscues in this
:57:32. > :57:36.match. Absolutely. It looks as government he is trying to stay on
:57:36. > :57:43.the black. Matthew has never made a maximum break in the tournament.
:57:43. > :57:53.The highest break is 145. Made that on two occasions, in the 96 Grand
:57:53. > :58:00.
:58:00. > :58:10.Prix and the 2002 world championship. Might just have
:58:10. > :58:27.
:58:27. > :58:31.spoiled it. He snook yerd himself on the black. He was hoping to stay
:58:31. > :58:34.on the black the blackthe difference? 65. He needs another
:58:34. > :58:38.colour here to secure the frame which is the most important thing.
:58:38. > :58:44.The reason he was not on the black Dennis, he needed a deep screw. He
:58:44. > :58:47.just did not hit it low enough. A bit frightened to miscue in.
:58:47. > :58:57.Another few inches and he would have been perfect on the black the
:58:57. > :59:05.
:59:05. > :59:12.pass that red. It is hard to explain to the viewers but it makes
:59:12. > :59:20.you feel very uncomfortable Do you remember the professional player
:59:20. > :59:23.who took the world championship as the Crucible as well? It was
:59:23. > :59:33.amazing, he kept jumping over the black. I was a psychological thing
:59:33. > :59:33.
:59:33. > :00:49.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:00:49. > :00:56.in the end, he could not cue break. He has made 223 in his
:00:56. > :01:06.professional career. Turned pro in 1994. Made 28 sin tries last season.
:01:06. > :01:21.
:01:21. > :01:26.-- centuries. Not easy. Not to be. On the other hand, Stevens will be
:01:26. > :01:36.delighted to get back din the match. It is two frames each. -- into the
:01:36. > :01:46.
:01:46. > :01:53.he had a big area to miss that. Nothing to forfeit A
:01:53. > :01:57.straightforward state ofy shot. If the black does go, well, I think it
:01:57. > :02:05.does, he is not going to take the red into the centre to get on the
:02:05. > :02:13.black. A nice easy red a files angle on thegle on theeprieve here.
:02:13. > :02:16.(APPLAUSE) He has a chance. Yeah, he is just looking to see if the
:02:16. > :02:26.black spot is covered, but in a couple of shots time he might get
:02:26. > :02:29.
:02:29. > :02:33.on the red to the left of the black there. I think he will be playing
:02:33. > :02:37.red, blue then possibly leave himself on that one do the left of
:02:37. > :02:47.the black. If he rolls that in t black definitely is available into
:02:47. > :02:47.
:02:48. > :02:51.the right corner, but that may be a good few shots from now. (APPLAUSE)
:02:51. > :02:56.Does not necessarily have to get onto that red straight away, but
:02:56. > :03:00.the sooner the better. He could do it here if he pushes through and
:03:00. > :03:10.off the cushion while he is playing the stun shots or he is going to
:03:10. > :03:42.
:03:42. > :03:49.15 Blues and all the kolyourgs. -- colours. He has dropped on that red
:03:49. > :03:54.as I mention mad. He is state on it so perfectly played. I forget one
:03:54. > :04:04.match last season I commentateed on and I think a player got 13 reds an
:04:04. > :04:04.
:04:04. > :05:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:05:06. > :05:10.is just what Ding needed after seeing that last frame slip away.
:05:10. > :05:14.But he is such an experienced campaigner now, and he will be
:05:14. > :05:24.pretty good of doing what you mentioned, Terry, putting it out of
:05:24. > :05:34.
:05:34. > :05:39.his mind and just looking for the future. It is nice to watch when
:05:39. > :05:44.you see players spin in with a cue ball into a certain position. It
:05:44. > :05:49.all looks so simple these players but you just go down once in your
:05:49. > :05:53.club put a red down, stand up for blue then leave a perfect angle to
:05:53. > :05:59.put it back down again. See how many times you can do that. It
:05:59. > :06:03.would be a good exercise. You cannot die to hit it harder, Dennis,
:06:03. > :06:07.or easier. You just have to rely on instinct on that shot to get the
:06:07. > :06:10.exact angle on the blue. Yeah, I know you do a lot of coaching but
:06:10. > :06:20.that is one thing you can coach someone t pace they have to hit the
:06:20. > :06:26.ball, that is a natural thing that comes with practice. Really the
:06:26. > :06:32.first three frames the balls went rather awkward. The first frame was
:06:32. > :06:42.27 minutes, 26, 23 but since then we have a nine-minute frame t 13
:06:42. > :06:42.
:06:42. > :07:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:07:22. > :07:30.minute, 12 minute. Red and black will suffice. 35 minutes and he has
:07:30. > :07:34.not been hanging around. Just makes you realise when Ronnie O'Sullivan
:07:34. > :07:38.made that imagine knife sent break in 5 minutes 20 seconds how out
:07:38. > :07:48.standing that was. Something that will probably never be equalled in
:07:48. > :07:58.
:07:58. > :08:02.a game of snooker to make a maximum in that A time. It was a bit tight.
:08:03. > :08:07.He will not bother about not making the century A good response from
:08:07. > :08:17.Ding after what happened in the previous frame. Takes him back into
:08:17. > :08:17.
:08:17. > :10:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:10:44. > :10:49.the lead at four frames to three. That is nearer the pink. What an
:10:49. > :10:54.early chance this is. Straight away he has played a very poor
:10:54. > :10:58.positional shot. Who was trying to pot the three t black into both
:10:58. > :11:03.corners but he has multiple choices the and he has made a bit of a hash
:11:03. > :11:13.of it. He can still get through the that red but he is going to need
:11:13. > :11:14.
:11:14. > :11:18.quite a bit of help. He is going to need text tend rest. Even then he
:11:18. > :11:24.is going to be close to the side of that red when he is cuing. Cannot
:11:24. > :11:31.hold for the black. He will be heading up between the red and the
:11:31. > :11:41.bunch of reds. The red next to the rest there. The watch for the right
:11:41. > :11:42.
:11:43. > :11:52.through the gap and he is through. So one more good positional shot
:11:53. > :12:12.
:12:12. > :12:17.and he is in business again. only ex-Florida nation you can give
:12:17. > :12:20.for that brown is the -- explanation is the amounts of the
:12:20. > :12:30.shot that is powered. It is never easy to keep the act sift delivery
:12:30. > :12:42.
:12:42. > :12:46.of the cue when you play with power. So Stevens would not have been
:12:46. > :12:56.expecting the this chance : while he has gone into the pack he did
:12:56. > :13:18.
:13:18. > :13:25.not quite get the spin on. He just did not hit the shot correctly.
:13:25. > :13:33.you can get to the potting angle of hit the is a bit of a bonus for him.
:13:33. > :13:43.Oh! Just touched the edge off and he will not go in in these pockets.
:13:43. > :13:43.
:13:43. > :14:57.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:14:57. > :15:07.the red. Should have been on the other one and if he missed the red
:15:07. > :15:16.
:15:16. > :15:20.on the way past, he is already on the red he played. (APPLAUSE)
:15:20. > :15:26.has slightly overdone that one. He has a red in the centre of course
:15:26. > :15:29.but that takes him out of his comfort zone really. Players like
:15:29. > :15:34.when they get in, the reds around the block they want the stay down
:15:34. > :15:44.there so he is going to reply a good shot now off probably the
:15:44. > :15:48.
:15:48. > :15:54.yellow. Get back down to the reds. It can go wrong. Between the
:15:54. > :16:00.position of the yellow and when he wanted the cue ball to stop. He is
:16:00. > :16:03.a good 8 foot like 3 inches short I'm not sure if he can avoid coming
:16:04. > :16:07.into right of the red and the pink when potting this into the left
:16:07. > :16:11.corner because if he could do he would finish nicely on the black.
:16:11. > :16:17.He has to make sure of the pot first. If he is going to hit them
:16:17. > :16:22.he may come back towards the blue. He played it beautifully.
:16:22. > :16:32.(APPLAUSE). Played that shot beautifully. To hold that without
:16:32. > :16:35.
:16:36. > :16:45.coming into the red there was very good indeed. A key shot if this
:16:46. > :17:02.
:17:02. > :17:06.works out. He will take the frame. Just the most gentle of nudges.
:17:06. > :17:10.(APPLAUSE) The reason he did not play hard into those Reds, he does
:17:10. > :17:20.not need the four difficult reds F he can get colour was those four
:17:20. > :17:34.
:17:34. > :17:38.lose reds he will leave Matthew needing a snooker. Stevens missed
:17:38. > :17:48.the red in the centre. Not an easy one. But the quality has been very
:17:48. > :18:04.
:18:04. > :18:08.good after the interval for both flicked one of the reds out snuff
:18:08. > :18:12.to be possible into the middle pocket. Not a lot of pressure on
:18:13. > :18:20.this. His opponent needing a snooker but this to make absolutely
:18:20. > :18:30.certain. There you go. He is only going to need one more frame for
:18:30. > :18:31.
:18:31. > :18:41.victory. Missed the cannon this time but not too concerned about.
:18:41. > :18:46.
:18:46. > :18:50.That Matthew will stay in his seat. He did not get one. But the 65
:18:50. > :19:00.breaks up new moves away now leading by two, fame frames to
:19:00. > :19:06.
:19:06. > :19:16.three. Good he didn't hit this break-off shot. A long way short.
:19:16. > :19:32.
:19:32. > :19:37.Has not left anything easy. value in attempting a pot because
:19:37. > :19:47.the black is tied up somewhat. is a good safety though a good pace
:19:47. > :19:47.
:19:47. > :20:32.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:20:32. > :20:37.there. Once again I'm afraid he was lost through power with Ding there.
:20:37. > :20:42.(APPLAUSE) Needs to pot this red. I think he can either go in between
:20:42. > :20:46.the red and the cushion or hit the red onto this second one. Yeah, the
:20:46. > :20:51.problem is if he hits this cushion first and pots the red the white
:20:51. > :20:54.will swing towards the pack of reds. If he hit it harder the white would
:20:54. > :21:00.swing over towards the reds that are near the black. See where he is
:21:00. > :21:10.pointing the tip of his cue? So if he hits the cushion at pace and the
:21:10. > :21:12.
:21:12. > :21:22.side - you keep an eye on the cue ball here, how it goes to the left.
:21:22. > :21:22.
:21:22. > :22:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:22:05. > :22:11.Trusting a little bit to luck and he did not get any. A cut needed in
:22:11. > :22:17.this safety shot. Not an easy one, this is, he is going to cross the
:22:17. > :22:23.red as we say. If he cuts the red slightly thick you could move to
:22:23. > :22:33.the red on the way back or a blue. He could leave Matthew in, so, he
:22:33. > :22:33.
:22:33. > :24:04.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:24:04. > :24:07.Needs to screw back about three inches. He knew he would be on the
:24:07. > :24:17.Pinkney way. If he had not have screwed it, could it have been
:24:17. > :24:43.
:24:43. > :24:53.tough. (APPLAUSE) Didn't take that too well. Asking the man of the
:24:53. > :24:53.
:24:53. > :25:03.house to clean the cue ball, so obviously a slight kick there.
:25:03. > :25:20.
:25:20. > :25:30.Still on the black but not the one he would have wanted. (APPLAUSE)
:25:30. > :25:37.
:25:37. > :25:46.would be pleased with that. It is a very good shot. Of course he is at
:25:46. > :25:56.the point of no return. Needs to win this one. And the next to to go
:25:56. > :25:58.
:25:58. > :26:08.through into the quarterfinals. Sometimes we are in that position.
:26:08. > :26:19.
:26:19. > :26:23.It just sharpens the senses up a bit. Mmm. Didn't take the red, but
:26:24. > :26:33.at least he can drop the black in and stay on the red for the length
:26:34. > :26:34.
:26:34. > :27:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:27:16. > :27:26.of the cushion. The pot is not so plain sailing position-wise, but he
:27:26. > :27:39.
:27:39. > :27:48.is till there. That is it F you not absolutely sure get back up and
:27:48. > :27:52.back down on the shot. That is a golf shot. See the golfers do it,
:27:52. > :27:56.they are not going to play the shot, they are not quite ready, they walk
:27:56. > :28:00.away from the slot and back up again. Almost a good thing if you
:28:00. > :28:10.change your mind and you are down on the shot, all of this seems to
:28:10. > :28:12.
:28:12. > :28:17.go wrong. As Frank Kharn used to say t first professional coach to
:28:17. > :28:27.come onto the circuit with the top players "If you ever find yourself
:28:27. > :28:27.
:28:27. > :28:37.in two minds, don't forget you only have one!". Frank Cullen, hey! He
:28:37. > :28:49.
:28:49. > :28:51.has coached most of the world champions, certainly the older ones.
:28:52. > :28:56.Just come up a little bit short there Needs to get the extension
:28:56. > :29:01.out. You can see there he only needs this red and black. Can he
:29:01. > :29:07.reach round tonight is a bit of a stretch this. He is a bits
:29:07. > :29:13.reluctant to get the long tackle out, but I don't know if he can
:29:13. > :29:23.reef it with a normal red. He will use that battered extension that he
:29:23. > :29:31.
:29:31. > :29:41.has, the one with all the marks on it. He just has to drop it in and
:29:41. > :30:03.
:30:03. > :30:13.he will automatically finish on the Stevens far from finished in this
:30:13. > :30:13.
:30:13. > :31:17.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:31:17. > :31:27.match. 5-4 to Ding in this one Disappointed he is short here for
:31:27. > :31:27.
:31:27. > :32:37.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:32:37. > :32:40.this red. Good defending to finish you want to you can have the frame
:32:40. > :32:50.you need to Matthew Stevens not finished yet with the aid of that
:32:50. > :33:05.
:33:05. > :33:09.67 break. He is just one behind now at 5-4. Very good length on the cue
:33:09. > :33:19.ball on that break off. Black does not go into the right corners so it
:33:19. > :33:29.will not be taking a red on here. At the left of the table he may
:33:29. > :33:29.
:33:29. > :36:36.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:36:36. > :36:43.to it? Even if he can pot the blue he cannot get the red into it in
:36:43. > :36:47.the right centre pocket if he wants to keep the breaking go. Ding has
:36:47. > :36:57.not done much wrong since he was 5- 3 in front. He has not really had
:36:57. > :37:02.
:37:02. > :37:07.any clear-cut chances. This is not a gimme after having had contact.
:37:07. > :37:10.The very well lead. Is he far enough? Did not maintain to cannon
:37:10. > :37:20.the blue. Might have to tick the Redbacks into the corner pocket if
:37:20. > :37:28.
:37:28. > :37:33.it passes the other reds. He is back looking at this corner. They
:37:33. > :37:36.are both tough. The one into the corner he will be guaranteed
:37:36. > :37:46.position on the yellow, Green or brown. It is awkward to judge the
:37:46. > :37:50.
:37:50. > :38:00.angle when you are so close to the object ball. Straight in the middle
:38:00. > :38:09.
:38:09. > :38:13.of the pocket. I think the one to the right of the pink is available.
:38:13. > :38:23.A good perform tkwrapbs program the Welshman here. Really is --
:38:23. > :38:23.
:38:23. > :42:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:42:20. > :42:27.and it will be five each. That is pretty well played. Needs the red
:42:27. > :42:33.to stop though amounts bit unlucky there. He is having the red clean
:42:33. > :42:37.but has an easy safety but he needs to get the reds up the far side of
:42:37. > :42:47.the table. Since Ding gets a chance he will not find it so easy to get
:42:47. > :43:27.
:43:27. > :43:37.reds and blacks. (APPLAUSE) would have to say looks the slight
:43:37. > :43:58.
:43:58. > :44:03.favourite going into the decider. He just got out of jail a bit.
:44:03. > :44:13.we go then with did t deciding frame in this fascinating second
:44:13. > :44:14.
:44:14. > :44:21.round match. Matthew Stevens backwards against the wall, 5-3
:44:21. > :44:31.down H to win the three remaining frames. He has made breaks of 67
:44:31. > :44:41.and 27 to take us to the decider. No Val Ian taking that red on
:44:41. > :44:42.
:44:43. > :44:50.because the black was tied up there. It is all the knives, they have
:44:50. > :44:54.played each other five times t score is five frames each. Ding is
:44:54. > :45:04.- has won all five previous meetings. Who is going to win this
:45:04. > :45:34.
:45:34. > :45:44.one? Matthew won Intel forward in 2009 when he beat John Higgins in
:45:44. > :46:07.
:46:07. > :46:11.the final. He has taken the pot on which was a little ambitious but it
:46:11. > :46:20.certainly has stirred the black. All of a sudden the safety zone is
:46:20. > :46:27.declined black and near the cushion. You want to get did white tight in
:46:27. > :46:37.the cushion the leave your opponent struggling to return the ball to
:46:37. > :47:02.
:47:02. > :47:06.that cushion which is now the safety zone. (APPLAUSE) Knocked the
:47:06. > :47:10.plant into the centre pocket. Not quite sure if he played it.
:47:11. > :47:14.Certainly did not play position. The black will pass that red. I
:47:14. > :47:24.think anyway into the centre yes a clear path, there but not much
:47:24. > :47:24.
:47:24. > :47:34.value. Not much value in either, really. Matthew can see the red now
:47:34. > :47:36.
:47:37. > :47:43.but even if he could not it is an easy escape off the side cushion.
:47:43. > :47:53.This year he has contemplated take ache one into the centre but it is
:47:53. > :47:55.
:47:55. > :48:05.very narrow opening into the centre pocket from there. Played for it in
:48:05. > :48:09.the bottom pocket. The one thing about this type safety belt is the
:48:09. > :48:13.reds are going to be open if one player gets a chance, it puts
:48:13. > :48:23.pressure now on both players whether they are taking a pot on or
:48:23. > :48:29.
:48:29. > :48:34.playing the safety. This might mess the table up a little bit. He has
:48:34. > :48:37.knocked the pink away but he has a good cue ball. Not quite tight on
:48:37. > :48:42.the cushion but very difficult to get any sort of back spin from that
:48:42. > :48:52.situation. He is having to trace buffer of the cue there. You can
:48:52. > :48:52.
:48:52. > :49:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:49:51. > :49:57.see, there striking right down on it. All of a sudden you can hear a
:49:57. > :50:07.pin drop. Now you can see just the one table so sit changes totally.
:50:07. > :50:07.
:50:07. > :52:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:52:31. > :52:41.There is no noise coming from that reason why he can't but in a
:52:41. > :52:41.
:52:41. > :54:52.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:54:52. > :54:56.deciding frame it is amazing what of the white. He has pretty good
:54:56. > :55:06.determine practice meant, Ding. He used to be a little bit suspect,
:55:06. > :55:06.
:55:06. > :57:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds
:57:06. > :57:12.(APPLAUSE) He needs to keep his head together. He has played very
:57:12. > :57:18.well. He got a result in the first match, Davies, didn't he. 6-5 which
:57:18. > :57:24.he could well have lost. Yes, I think it is a terrific fluke to win
:57:24. > :57:27.that match in the deciding frame but this has been very good here
:57:27. > :57:33.and Matthew Stevens was absolutely flying to get back into it with
:57:33. > :57:43.breaks of 67, 72 and he was in the balls and he decided to have a
:57:43. > :57:48.