Day 3 UK Snooker Championship Extra

play. This is not guaranteed to push through that red. It will have

to play some sort of carry-on. I don't think you can run through -

it looks like he is playing the run-through so that tells me e that

two reds did pot. Saying that, I don't know if he's on anything. He

wouldn't have been playing for the the black before when he ran into

the red. Anyway, you just roll the blue, you would have thought, leave

yourself a mid-distant red. He' got a little bit of work to do with the

cue ball here. Why doesn't he play the straight

one? He didn't need to. He hit that to perfection. You couldn't wish

the one just below the pink. I can't believe he would play for

red and a colour and he will have red. That is exactly right.

Couldn't have played it any better just 67 remaining.

Very well played, indeed. APPLAUSE

He had a chance - a long red. He missed that. I was going to say

maybe we will see a century, but Dominic has taken the first round.

he will need one snooker to -- remaining in red, he will need one

snooker to tie. Anything but a black and he will need two snookers.

He's done the maths, as you know. APPLAUSE

Ideally he would like to leave the red next to the pink. That is

probably the last red he will leave on. Two more reds and blacks. Were

you always an advocate on leaving the red? I think if you only need

one snooker, but in this case it is a snooker to tie. I would leave it

on just because you may get... APPLAUSE

If you only needed one snooker, I see no reason trying to get a good

position on the other side of the yellow and trying to push the

yellow up the table, get a snooker behind the brown. He's played a

lovely shot there. He doesn't have to take the easy route. He is

taking the awkward one which he kissed out. You are kidding me.

played it in the other pocket. (LAUGHS)

. Concentrate. Pay attention! would have been happy with that on

a big break, wouldn't you? Of course now, the snooker is going to

be late. That was an outrageous fluke. Disappointed he didn't cover

the righthand side cushion. APPLAUSE

You would expect Dominic to miss this. He's got to be careful if he

plays it with any sort of pace he doesn't leave a free-ball. If he

should miss it. If he misses this, then he will be able to tie. He is

just thinking here whether he plays it hard or soft. Just make certain

am not sure if he's coming inside the red or virtually where the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

Dominic can't really play any positive shots, so he keeps leaving

again, but there is another gap. is amazing, isn't it? He played two

good shots and he is just a fraction away from getting the

snooker. Dominic may be taking this on. That is how much of the red he

The black or the white... He's got shot, even though the red is more

or less in the middle of the table, there is plenty of room to go

around it, but there is a one- cushion escape. Players at this

several, this standard, you wouldn't expect them to miss a

snooker. They are only coming off black and all. It goes to a respot.

The red is cut. How does he get on the black? I don't think he can.

I thought for one minute he was going to get the snooker there. He

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

played a pot and missed it by the the red unless he can get a

position on the black otherwise he will need snookers, but there may

be a chance here again he could snooker and then he could force his

The red is about another inch of the cushion, it would have been

ruined around the back of it. As it is, it is quite a big target for

Dominic. Not a straightforward hit this, though.

Left-hand side cushion, right-hand side cushion. There is a gap

between the yellow and pink - this would make it a lot easier to get

out of. He is swerving it. So you then it would be risky. A good hit.

APPLAUSE Once again, no angle on the red to

get on the black so Matthew will probably refuse it. If he tries it

half ball and tries to get the white off the black position and

get the pink and yellow. I am not shower if he can play that shot

from this angle, but he certainly There is a possibility he could

play the red off the black no the left-hand corner. I think it is

worth a go because he can still get that cue ball up behind the yellow

and pink. Looks like he's changed his mind. I thought he could do it

from this side. He could put the black -- you've got the chance of

putting the black out of commission if you played it. Yes. As I say, he

was always sending that cue ball back towards the yellow and pink,

but a little bit pacey. Now, decision time for Matthew.

Absolutely. Very sinister, first ready play at the other end of the

table, John, when he rolled it in, it may have rolled off. This is

another one if he is going to play it, he has to roll it slow. Whether

or not he plays the pot or not. We will know in a couple of seconds.

He's gone all out for it. It is a fabulous pot. Well done.

APPLAUSE He's in for a tie. Yes, and I think

- well, I know the yellow passes the pink. I think the groan just

passes the brown. -- green just passes the brown. What a chance

this is. He couldn't play for the yellow in the conventional pocket.

He is playing this yellow now. You have just got to be wary he doesn't

have an intentional cannon on the pink. He definitely passes the

brown. OK. He may have got that up, but he

will be very disappointed he's missed the frame. Well, a chance to

get a re-spotted black there. He might get a better chance. He e

could be snookered here if Dominic plays this right. The bad news is

he's played a bad shot. The good news is the brown is safe. He

possibly might get another chance in this frame before the respot

comes. It was a strange choice of shot. You can't really pot the

yellow and hold it low enough on the greens and leave the green to

kiss the browns out. He may have to play that up and down. You would

love to roll it on dead weight and leave it on the angle on the green.

It looks a little bit thin to me. he? He tried to play it as slow as

he could to give himself a chance. and playing the double on the brown.

Surely roll the green and try to get a snooker from brown behind the

black. It keeps him in control of the situation. Well, he has made

the angle. APPLAUSE

It is amazing how you can manoeuvre the cue ball almost straight and

you can move it sideways. Does this drop in the middle? It looks as

though it will. APPLAUSE

would probably run safe and that is what has happened. Dominic trying

to get in the pink here. He's played it nicely. The key thing

there was the object ball. The cue ball wasn't so important that time,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

but the object ball was. He's got plays it up and down, the brown is

almost certain to kiss the blue. He's got to be careful where the

white will end up. This has been made a not too difficult pot. It is

frame ball. It looked like it was go dog be a

lot quicker than that. APPLAUSE

-- Going to be a lot quicker than that.

APPLAUSE This looks like it has clinched it

for Dominic. 26 points the lead. So even though he is not feeling

too good, in all honesty, he doesn't look too good either.

fact that he's playing made a nice the frame. He struggled a bit after

that, but he's won the first frame. 1-Nil.

Matthew Stevens getting frame 2 under way. Plenty of - I think best

of 11. 3-1 at the interval is not such a terrible thing. It useed to

be best of nine if you were 3-1 behind it was worrying times,

wasn't it? Yes, but best of 11s, you could get a few frames and have

a good run of the ball and you are 3-nil behind or under it.

doesn't look well, does he? At least it is coming out, I suppose.

If it is coming out, it is probably a bit like a browse. If it is

coming out, at least it is not staying? Your bloodstream. -- It is

probably a bit like a bruise. If it is coming out, at least it is not

staying in your bloodstream. So this will be a little test of the

cow action now for Matthew Stevens. -- cue action now as Matthew

Stevens as Dominic sips his water because he's got a straight red

here. If he leaves the cue ball where the red is and the black is

He cueed it beautifully. mentioned how nice it is to see

Matthew play beautifully again. When he does, he strikes the ball

well and gets through it all. His breaks are very good. Paul Hunter

came on the scene at the same time, John and we always knew that

obviously the late, great Paul hunter we don't see any more, but

we always knew they were going to be good players.

good, all-round player and sets a very high around the. I don't think

he is frighened to win, though, John, is he? You get a lot of

players who are great players, but when it comes to the winning post,

they don't want to go by. Matthew is not one of those. No, no, he's

been a winner from his very early days. He just missed the cannon

there. He's got a choice of the centre, but just a little bit

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

awkward. practice do things you can't

compare it with play. He would just play the red along the top,

wouldn't he? Not even thought about it. In these tables, in these big

competitions, you always feel they are a risky shot to play and you

only play them if you have to. He is not good on this red. He is

worried about the pink, John, isn't he? He is going to play the cannon

and hoping he will push the pink off the cushion, I think. That is a

very clever shot. A very clever not perfect on either red.

This is what you have to do sometimes. You don't always play

for just one red. You have to give yourself options. This time he's

got no choice but to play for one red unless he goes into the pack.

They will only play for the loose when you are down. Just a bit

thinking about where the cue ball was going to finish, he forgot the

pot. How many times do we see that? And what a result he'd had. What a

result. Once you have missed it, you deserve to leave something on

when you are going into the reds. He hasn't done that. That was a red

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

trying to blow the ball in and have a fly away there. A nice easy

contin Jennifer Aniston now because once he missed, as you say, Willie,

he was very lucky not to leave anything. It cost him nothing. -- A

nice easy contingency as you say, Willie, he was very lucky together

to leave anything. It cost him nothing.

The fact that the black is tied up won't really bother him. The little

cluster of three, when he pots the one just above the black - so a

good chance to win the frame with this visit.

APPLAUSE Contact see a problem now. -- can't

again. That is a very poor positional shot.

APPLAUSE Locking for one more colour and a

red. -- looking for one more colour and a red. Should have been better

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

colour. Hmm. The frame is not over 67 points to lead, 667 on -- 67 on

The desired kiss. Sure Dominic will remain - it comes

to a stand. He has nodded at the referee. Matthew Stevens has

levelled at 1-all. interval. So this is the third one

that Dominic Dale gets under way. He's left the proverbial long red

which he knocks in, bound to be on anything here. Maybe the one red

behind the black. He might be able to get through to the one in the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

middle. It is a lot tougher, but it but how does he get it safe? He is

looking to rest in the pack, but I can't see a position where he could

rest in the pack but independent leave a ready on the side of the

pack. Well, in that case it is the two cautions with pace. But you

have got to catch this just right. It looks a natural shot, just

passed the middle pocket on the left. There is a red beside the

pink or the red just above the pink. Even if he managed to cast the

pinks in, he would still get another chance because it would be

called a miss. I think it is very dangerous. What was he trying to

rest on that red just above the pink. Is he hard enough? He is.

he? He's been hard enough to nestle on the red just above the pink, but

not the one just below the pink. No hesitation from Matthew. He is

probably just stretching his legs just to come around. There is no

way he wasn't going to have that put back. There is a slight chance

he could have had a look at the pack. Dominic has decided to play

the same way. The thing is when you hit them a bit harder, the angle

comes off wider. Let's see if he hits it off to the left this time.

He's played it excellent this time. Well played. That's excellent,

assume he is considering playing the thin cut and considering

popping this red. If it was a safety he wouldn't give it this

much care and attention. APPLAUSE

He just Nicked it in. He didn't know how he was going to keep it

safe escaping from the snooker and was. A choice of reds there. One

either side of the black. If he is not hampered, but he must be with

his body language, you would like to stun this in and pop the black

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

in the same pocket, but that makes to get in the pack. He can hold

he wants. He is very powerful Matthew. He doesn't want to hit the

one directly above the black. He is one of those shots where he would

like to ark the ball and go straight back into the pack. He

doesn't want to go straight into them. That is what he has done, you

see. It is fortunate to get one so easy, but that was a way of

splitting them. You can end up finding your white on the back

cushion behind the black, so he played that very well. You hope he

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

there is one available in the middle of the pack there. Of course

with the reds being split like that, if he does pot the red, he will be

bringing other reds into play. There you can see the red is on,

which is bound to bring at least the potting angle? The red just

above the one we were thinking. He is not certain to be able to cover

off that. Well, that wasn't the red that he wanted to be on. He was

running into other reds. OK, he e's got a chance at this blue and

there's not many better potters in the game than Matthew Stevens, but

he's a bit of work to do with the cue ball. If this blue was

straighter e, I don't think there would be a problem, but a little

to the right, so he could screw back for that, but he's got to cue

it well he did cue it well. you have eluded to that can get a

lot of action on the cue ball without having to hit it hard. It

is all about timing and delivering the cue and not accelerating when

you put the cue through. It's like my chipping at golf. It's improved

tremendously. It needed to, to be honest. Don't deaccelerate.

It is more of a chip than a chup these days. That's how bad our

tipping was. You should be getting the message. Trying to roll up

behind the brown and finishing 4 inches short of it. That is how bad

your chipping was. He's not guaranteed to be on the next red.

He's going to have to play a distance again and, as John

great Potters, so he's got a chance in this frame.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

front. He could play this with a bit of confidence. It would be a

tricky black if he needed it. The fact he doesn't nobody it, makes it

I wonder if Dominic will carry on. It is a big ask. Two snookers to

tie. Probably two snookers - he could win with two snookers. Just a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

safety. Let's see if Dominic is cushion there, made it a little

cushion there, made it a little easier for Dominique watch problem

now. I do not think the blue has come to his rescue. Just enough

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

Line9 There is a gap through the red. May even be able to get on a

blue funnily enough. There is a little window through the red away

from the black. There is a gap he can get through. He can't believe

that. He is apologising to come Nick. Second prize! Unbelievable

is just hard 20 work out how you can mist intended position by so

can mist intended position by so Maybe he does play to go into the

left corner pocket. Now it doesn't. Still not a bad chance. That is the

red to get on, the one to the left. So if he can get on that impossible

position. If he does, he will be able to release the black. If he is

straight on the yellow, he may decide to play for that red. He has

a lovely lazy cue action, has Matthew. Plenty of pace without the

seemingly hitting ball too hard. Feel as though that was the time to

play for the red, just above the black. Nicely on this one, needs a

good angle on the blue though off this red. I don't think the pink is

in play at the moment. And he can get the black into reply and think

about winning frame at this visit. Is the red he has been looking for,

the one just left of the black. There are things you can do on a

table now that were not available on a table years ago Yeah, true. He

wants to come down the right of the table, because those two reds are

the left of the black. They are available. Just the line and length

of this shot, well - it is a lovely line. And a pretty good length. Not

inch-perfect. He ran maybe 2 inches too far. He may be able to push

through the red and play the black if he and the the play it that way.

Once again going for the blue. Hard work at the minute. He is ready to

play plenty of distance all the time. Could come unstuck soon.

he is almost through that by a good 2 feet. That is the problem, when

the cue ball starts the travel distances it is not that easy to

keep finding perfect position. This red may cut but with the cue ball

running lose he may not be certain which colour he has to be on. The

pot is difficult enough. Matthew always has a look at the potting

angle, where he would like to hit the red he is playing with the tip

of his cue to pot it. Good pot. He has an angle on the bounce because

these reds are lined up on the top cushion. Maybe a snooker behind the

green is the order of the day. It all depends on the angle he has on

the brown but he will do well to do well on the next. He just has a

slight angle. A big ask A difficult position trying to kiss the red and

the pink and hopefully mature that red. But he leads by 47 with six of

the red safe. I would be leaving that red next to the pink with 47

in front. The thing about playing it safe, maybe he is thinking about

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

Line9 Now a break from where the reds are. It is a free ball. In

fairness Dominique should pot the yellow, the blue then go into the

red. Is what they should be playing. Get back into the frame. If

Dominique is not feeling well I can forgive him for that but that is

just elementary to pot the yellow blue then the ball. - the blue. Is

what he has to do there. He has left this red, I think the one

above the black for Dominique. Of course he can judge the screw round

the two cushions off the black to the same pocket. Line9 Line9 These

Reds are very congested. With no Assume the red does not to go the

right corner. A little unlucky that, to be honest. It does not look as

if it is easiest of safety shots, either. Line9 Trying to get the

brown, maybe he can not avoid the kiss if the black if it is going to

way. Line9 The fact he was not on the red and the fact he could not

play a telling in safety. He said that he left the red near the

corner so Lynn courage Matthew to touch the ball maybe. The referee

always call as touching ball. Very touchy this sort of shot, isn't it?

There is a chance he flicks off this red, can he get in behind the

brown? Looks as though he possibly could. I know he is worried about

this red near the right corner, but... You have to be careful of a

push here, surely. A push is when the tip of the cue hits the cue

ball and the object ball simultaneously. He does not fancy

the thin off the red ball. Just a little top here. He fancies this

one even less. More than this one than the one on the left. Back did

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

the thin one trying to get in He wants to hit this as thin as he

possibly can. There is a strange swerve try to pot the red but there

is one left next to the black then it is possible. Trying to get the

white where it is again now. Far too thick if he pushes one over the

middle. 23 points in front is Matthew, so this is half a chance

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

for Dominique to get back into the frame. (APPLAUSE) You can see the

disappointment in his body language there. Is how important it is to

get top of the blue. If he plays it in and out he will do well to leave

the kiss on the brown. He may need inform run through the blue an

leave a long red. He has missed the brown. Hasn't missed the yellow

though, unlucky. Unlucky, he hit that really good. I cannot believe

in fairness once you have gone around that angle how you can kiss

the yellow. That's unlucky. If you had said that and he got near the

jaws of the pocket the red would not have come down the table with

the cue ball so Matthew now nine points the lead. This is a thin cut,

I think it is on. Of course the 2- all could resonate the top cushion,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

but that is not going to make life any easier. Half a chance here for

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

Dominique. 10 points behind as he comes to the table. Nrgs Not the

best positioned shot. I know the would, you

would think the blue, but, um, a no-give me, this. You would not

want to play it for too much pace. the opposite middle. Just under the

cross, so I assume this red passes the brown. Just enough. A good

clean pot and if it bounces enough it will be perfect on the black.

This black will put him 24 points in front, so just the yellow

required. Not the best shot that. He played to the side and did not

get any on. If he gets the side on he gets to slide to that black

cushion and gets a half-ball yellow. So I do not think he is looking at

the saidy angle but looking at the safety shot. Yes, I'm a bit

surprised he thought to come off the cushion. He looked to be at an

angle where he could have come straight up the table with the

yellow. He only needs the yellow, but he is having to be patient.

Matthew Stevens forces his way through. A better chance.

(APPLAUSE) Well, it never rains but it pours, doesn't it? So that four-

point penalty means that he needed the snooker anyway but barring

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

pot. At least it stopped short of that fault line. Slow down, George!

that fault line. Slow down, George! He is OK. (APPLAUSE) I would assume

that this black would go back on its own spot. Dominique would

certainly look it to. Just a little bit on had hit there it is not

going to go on its own spot. I think he thought it may have had to

go as close to his own spot as it could. He did not think the pink

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

spot was available. (APPLAUSE) Being the wrong side of the blue

and of course the next intended is the red.. I would say he could just

about reach it and he has a full stretch. He has the yellow in his

way. Be careful he does not get close to it. Good pot. And if he

plays the canyon, certainly the black he would like to bring into

play. He is lucky really. In respect he did not bring too many

reds into play. But he can play for the black. Was not as bad as I

thought! Nice from Dominique. I think this red will pass the other

led. You can certainly see the right-hand draw and if he plays it

slow he should be able to pot it. If he leaves an angle on the black

he will have to get into them an has the frame at his mercy. He

needs to win this frame. That's amazing. I like you thought that

red had went but he decided to play the plant. Mmmm. Strange choice of

shot from Dominique there, but when you hit the table you see it

completely different than we do in the commentary box. He does not

necessarily have to go low into this black. He just needs to get

the reds into this play. He came to the table 36 point behind. It

appears to be the last lose red he is playing now, so it is essential

to get the angle this time otherwise he will be kicking

himself he did not go into them last time. He has the angle so it

is OK. He needs to catch them fuller now. Has he been lucky? The

red has gone into the middle. Can he get past the yellow, to play the

pot? No. Looks as though it was a poor canyon he played, and he did

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

24, Matthew Stevens. I'm just looking at the potting angle, but

surely he is not looking at playing pot on, just playing a little

snooker. But I don't think he has hit it hard enough. It just cuts in,

but is unlikely he will play it because he cannot avoid a canyon on

the blue. Just a bit short of the pace here. This is a chance for

Dominique. He is getting to that stage he needs to be taking all

these half chances. Another one missed. This match is beginning to

slip away from him. I know he is not 100% health-wise, but he has to

dig in here. He will be just ruined now the fact that he has given up a

good chance to clinch that frame. That was a pretty good shot but as

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

you can see he has hit too close to the black. The only thing is

because of the difficulty of the pot he did not really have much

control over the cue ball. He has left himself tight against the side

cushion. Now a lot will depend on the potting angle of this red. Is

it just at straightforward pot and you get this position, if he has to

do something with the cue ball then it is very difficult. Can he run

past the black for the black in the opposite corner? He struck that

beautifully, and he could. He had the natural angle so could not have

played it better. That black now puts him four points in the lead

the red is left on the table with colours and would be enough to give

him this frame. Just a little bit lower than he would have liked but

he still has the canyon on the red and if he can bring all three into

play... Did not play that very well. Just lost the cue ball a little bit.

Considering he was so close he played that beautifully. A good,

clean shot. Kept control of the cue ball. Brown now puts him 17 point

in front, but he is a bit short of pace. In fact, it was not so much

the pace. He just went into the brown too much. Came too down if

middle, if you like. He has been canonning the red but not certain

of his position. Helps. Has had a few little kisses today that have

worked for him. He played a shot early on when he played to get on

the blue and all of a sudden everything kissed and I was on the

black Yeah, that one looked as if he would have to play a very

difficult pink down the side cushion. The second red has come up

and a nudged him so he is on the blue. I think he can roll the blue

in, because he is on the last red. It will be a thin cut and he will

not be certain where the cue ball is going. He has a 23- point lead

and just needs this red. And a red. If he pots the brown, he will

be 28 point in front and it will be snooker required. When the balls

run nice, doesn't this game look easy? Yes, I think he has been the

dominant player regardless of hat colour ball he has had. But he has

had two pieces of outrageous good fortune to keep the rates going but

Dominique is OK. We know he is ill but he has had not too much chances

today, to be honest. He has been outplayed so far. Two very, very

nice breaks. 36 point behind but came to the table with 36 behind

and clears at 67 and Matthew Stevens goes one away from victory.

Dominic Dale as to win the remaining five frames. It will be a

tough order when you are feeling well. When you are not feeling too

well, even tougher. Well, believe me you cannot cue a ball better

than that. Right in the heart of the pocket. Look at the reaction he

got on the cue ball. A super shot. They do not hit them any sweeter

than that. They talk about Robertson. It was definitely the

given him a chapbs now to take frame and match. Open the red at

the top will be ready to pot so he will be getting on as soon as

possible. If the black pots he may be able to get on the red in the

middle. One of the reds he spotted to the left of the black has become

available. Just in case he played it further up the table. But - yeah,

there is plenty of room for the red, plenty of room. He would have wired

he had been a bit straighter on it now. Wishes the position he is in

now in potting, he might just canyon the black. A change of heart.

He tried to play for two reds. In that case it was not necessary. And

you would not expect him to miss this blue, though. I don't know

what that noise was. Someone stood on a cat's tail! Another excellent

shot from Matthew which has given him a chance now for frame and

match. There are still two or three lose reds. We said about his cue

pad, he has that lazy sort of style, but he can generate so much without

even the seemingly hitting ball too hard. Not many players can do that.

are talking about. His white went into the back and spun again. Looks

like he is in between, not nice on anything. Yes, but went into it

then the back spin took over and he went again. None of them are nice.

He has made a century break I think left-handed. It looks like we might

see a left-handed shot here t first of the match. (APPLAUSE) If I run

out of opposition that many times - I think it was a good pot but the

pace of it, he has overrun it, so it might just be a little trickle

Dominique is looking at his chair now and is definitely feeling not

so well. It took him an age to get wish Matthew Stevens to have won

the frame at that visit. As you say, he now lives in Berlin, so he has

got the journey home to contend with. Is not a good thing when you

are not 100%. He is trying to come round here and nestle into the side

of the red. This is the more difficult way to play it. He missed

the pink. Now it is done, but he found the gap. Which has left the

red on for Matthew. Nothing going That could have been a helpful

little bump off the middle pocket. When you play a thin pot you always

are likely to lose control of the cue ball. This Mew goes to the left

corner though. So I could are you could expect him to miss it. He

would have liked to to have played it better than that because he left

himself hampered. He just needed to stun across a little bit more. But

if you just watch - he just flicked the red and that is what has left

him hampered. In easy pot now, also it is the red he is closest to.. I

think that is the one he is going to take, John, to put the ex-

tension on. This will be a tough shot for the rest because you would

be trying to put the rest out of the way so it would be a lot easier

to put that long extension onto play this It is there, I think.

Only just. (APPLAUSE) The wrong side of the blue. It always looked

like it was going in and it just seem to go to the right-hand tab.

We know there are two reds on the left-hand side of the pot. It looks

like he will just leave the long shot. I know these reds are

I would much rather see a player do that rather than risk being

alongside the blue, get on the side of over-screwing so if you are not

on the blue nicely, you have ball colour. If that is the case he will

finish as a resultly pinpoint perfect. I was thinking that

Matthew might go onto win the frame if he gives Dominique half a chance.

I did not expect him to miss this one. 42 point in front. He needs a

lot more. I think he is now struggling. Yes, I think he has not

conceded in his mind but he just knows that he is at the point where

he cannot - I mean, if he was to win this match, he would have to

win the next five frames and I do not think he has that in him at the

moment, the way he is feelinging, and of course the way Matthew

Stevens has been playing. But he has done well. He has turned up.

There was definitely a case of him not doing so. He went to the

hospital this morning and I think Shoots that to perfection. That red

going in, he is now 57 points in the lead, but there is still 59

remaining. He still needs the colour and he is not on it

perfectly. Just got a heavy contact off the first red which stopped the

pace of it as it was running off the next red. So it may be

worthwhile playing the cut on the black. If he pots the black, he is

64 points in front with 59 remaining. Well, he can play it as

a shot for nothing, can't he, John? He can get the gap an go wide up

the gene somewhere, so he does not have to play position. It is

definitely worth the risk. He can leave the white on the ball cushion.

There is one thing fort certain, there are not too many players who

would refuse it. Dominique sat there, a sad figure in a way, not

being as well as he is. In the end he decided not to but the black is

safe. It is a tough school this isn't it? No sympathy here. I have

to say I'm a little shocked. It will probably end up being the

right thing to do, but if he played the clip on the black, it wrote

have naturally gone through the white and the two reds and left the

white on the cushion. Dominique can still win now if he goes onto pot

the black. Where is the cue balancing go? Very close. A big ask

though as you say if Dominique did get a chance where the black is, he

is going to need - well, all blacks. That was a good result the other

day, wasn't it - England beating the All Blacks? Didn't see that one

coming. Well done England! I wonder where Dominique will play the deep

screw here? Very clever shot. Absolutely. Now Matthew wishes he

would have taken the clip there! Yes, 5-1 in front and just needing

one ball. I mean if he did not play the black, I mean funnily enough

going back to that situation given every chance he could have played

the blue, the way he potted that. You know, with a little safety,

but... I was his choice, but he will do well to get this safe. May

even have to take the pot on here. He has done well to get that save.

Is a excellent shot. The one thing about the Welsh players, it is a

hotbed of snooker of course. I'm not saying Matthew is from South

Wales, he is from Mid Wales, but they are the hotbed of snooker.

They know their way around the snooker table, don't they Will many

was one of the all-time greats. meant on the safety margin they are

obviously Moree nouned for being one of the best mothers but he is

one of the best safety players in the world, make no mistake.

Dominique of course, Welsh. Great singer. Yes, he likes to do the Roy

Orbison, try him with the high notes! He goes into his play-on

music is Pavarotti song, isn't it? He has a good snooker brain,

Matthew. As we said during the match, he has everything it takes.

I would not say an under-achiever. He has been to the final of the

world championship twice. He has won this UK title once. (APPLAUSE)

Well, that is unlucky. How can that happen? What a tremendous pot. He

desperately needed to be on the black or the pink. He is on neither.

Just look at Matthew's face. He just nodded his head thinking it

could happen. Let's have a look at it again. How did it happen?

Thumbs-up. I think it is the old thumbs-down as far as this match is

concerned, I think, Dominique, I'm afraid. Even if you bolted the blue.

If he pots the black one he can get to the blue Maybe he can. Can he

see enough of this blue to pot tonight if he does, he can still

tie. He had to play the cut in the middle, and I would suggest that he

is very near a handshake now because snooker is required. How

unlucky was he there? He will be pretty pleased to be out of it. He

has done very well to turn up. Let's make no mistake. In fairness

he would have had to beat Matthew today the way he has played. In the

last two frames Dominique has not really competed. One of the game

ease great faces. He is a lovely lad but he has lost this match

convincingly by six frames to one and it is Matthew Stevens who goes

into the next round. Matthew Stevens goes through against an

under the weather Dominic Dale. We will be back at 1 o'clock at the