04/12/2013 UK Snooker Championship Extra

Hello again. This evening we are concentrating on the world number

one player, Neil Robertson of Australia, who has made great

progress through this championship so far. He has lost only two frames

in two matches. How will he said against the young trainees Lee Hang?

They played one another earlier this season and Robertson wrapped up four

centuries. Let's find out in the company of Willie Thorne and Dennis

Taylor. Lee Hang gets this match under way

with a pretty decent break off shot. He has got that cueball tight on

depression. -- the cushion. More of the Chinese players getting through

to the televised stages. Improving all the time. Li it up against the

man on form. The number one. Very comfortable.

I have been very impressed with Neil Robertson. He has planned his seize

on a bit better than most players. A lot of the top players are playing

every championship there is, but Robertson is missing a few of the

overseas ones, trying to get himself right for the three majors. Of all

the players on show so far, he has certainly been the more consistent.

Trump is playing well, but Robertson has been the better of the players

so far in this tournament. That was a half chance for Li Hang.

He will be feeling a little tense and this opening frame. -- in. He

can't afford to miss too many like that against Robertson.

Not a bad chance here. Still another three reds that are pottable.

He has only lost one frame so far in this World Championship. 6-0 against

Mitchell, and then 6-1 against Robbie Williams. It has been a

favourable draw. Two players that you mentioned have not had much

television exposure, but he has been making massive amounts of centuries.

He has already had 52 this season. Scoring has been fabulous. He may as

well get a couple of centuries in this match if he goes on to win it,

you never know. Very powerful player. He will have

two play a powerful shot on the black to get into the pack. The pack

is pretty closely knit it. He needs it to dangle on this next black. --

needs a good angle. He hasn't got it this time. A slight angle. He has

done well to have any sort of shot on the rate. Perfect. -- red.

It is amazing down the years, all be great players, people like Stephen

Hendry, Steve Davis, they always seem to start a match with a big

break. That is what Robertson is going to do here by the looks of

things. Great chances now to not only win

the frame at one visit and add to the amazing amount of centuries he

has made this season, but a chance of beating Judd Trump 's record,

which I think is 61. He should be OK. Come up little bit

short, but when he pops the cannon, it will push the cueball on through.

It has flicked the pink interplay also. But the only problem if he

plots the pink, it will have to go behind the rates. That is the reason

he has taken the black and playing for the red.

Beyond any doubt now, the frame, so he can try to make that century in

the first frame. He has not had too much television time, Li Hang, so

playing somebody like the world number one on television is the big

ordeal for him. I know our British viewers have not seen much of Li

Hang. But he is a very good player. Not the quickest player, as you will

see later on in the match, -- the match. We might not see too much of

Li Hang is Robertson carries on playing like this. -- if.

Just a bit of mental arithmetic here to see if he can be the highest

break. -- beat the highest break. Amazingly enough, with all the

centuries the top in made in the tournament so far, the highest is

only 137. You would not think he needs the extra four grand, Dennis,

would you? He has got a couple of million over the last few years.

Just shows you how hard he is trying to improve on that 52 centuries that

he has made this season. I think he can still cut this end. He won't hit

the pink and red at the same time. Well played. But it is still not

going to be easy to make the century. He is going to have to try

to move this red because the one to the left of the black is not quite

on, I don't think. A little cannon required. He might be able to leave

the one to the left of the black. He has had to come back across the

table. His timing the ball beautifully at the moment, Neil

Robertson. This red for a century in the opening frame. Very well played.

This will be some pot. He is taking the pink, which is just as difficult

as the black would have been. How well is he cueing at the moment? It

is as if he had his hand on the table. The White was tight on the

cushion. He has got to go all the way around

the houses to get onto the black. This black for the highest break in

this year 's UK Championship. What a start from the world number one. The

Robertson got one chance. Li Hang had his chance and missed it. What a

clearance. Magnificent. 141 break to take the opening frame.

A very pleased Neil Robertson have just turned a possible ?4000 for the

highest break. He breaks off in the second frame. If Li Hang was not

sure how Robertson is playing, now knows he is playing very well

indeed. -- he now. A good length of the cueball, but we

know what it devastating potter Neil Robertson is. He might take this on.

He had a look to see if he would leave anything. The only one he

could leave on was the one he attempted. But he almost hit that on

the wrong side. A little shake of the head. What a chance for Li Hang.

He has not had the cueball under control as yet on this break of 22,

but he now has an excellent chance to score heavily. The black is

available in the left-hand corner. He should be able to hold it for the

blue. The perfect angle to go right into

the joint of the pack, right above the black. But he may play a cannon

on the outside. A lot of players would go into them here.

Creeping near to the winning post in this second frame. This is a good

effort from Li Hang after what Robertson did in the opening frame.

Very cute. -- very good. Every chance now to make enough to level

the scores. The snooker doesn't get any better

than this. Little bit pedestrian at times in the previous frame, this

young man, but he certainly knows his way around the table.

Li Hang has only made three centuries the season. He has made 16

centuries in his career. He turned professional in 2008. This is up

there with the best of those rakes that he has made. -- breaks. It

would be good if you could go on to make a century. The frame is safe,

no reason why he couldn't. What a shame. It looks like he was

going to make his fourth century of the season. But he has done the most

important bit, he is answered the question that Neil Robertson set.

All squirm. One each. It looks like it was going to be one

of those awkward frames with the reds at the other end of the table.

But now Robertson has a chance. Not an easy chance just yet. And angle

on the black if he wanted to stun into the side of the bunch. It looks

as if he could stun into the edge of the pack. The way he's looking, he

is heading up the table. Robertson is one of the greats of

the game, with the number of centuries he has made.

He will be trying to miss the kiss on the red and the brown. Which he

has done. He is back in position. That think is in the way of getting

nicely into the blue. That is where he might take the green and go

early. That was a lot more difficult to play into the green than it was

into the black a few moments ago. He had a bad contact. A suggestion that

cushion reacted not the way he expect that. -- expected. That is

quite funny, Neal asked for the white ball to get cleaned. But it

could not get his marker. So they had to wait. Well, they didn't need

the marker. We know where the ball is.

He was looking at the possibility of making a plant. The red is in the

way, I think. Just in between the two that were a possible plan. I see

no way you can get one bread on to the other. -- red.

Yes, there was no attacking shot available. He would be in trouble

after the next shot. See if he can get the cue ball back. At first

glance, he can't really do that. Going for safety.

What a clever shot he sorted out their! He seems to be nicely on the

Pink. It is not straightforward but he will have to take it on.

The cue ball is very close and he has lost the wind. But he has a nice

angle on the blue. He can play also for the one below the green. He has

a choice of red over here. They are at the kind of 1's you

cannot miss against someone like Robertson. He would be very

disappointed with that one. It is a half chance. A couple of red

available. The blue is more less out of commission.

He left the yellow on the -- he left the angle on the yellow to play the

cannon. He might have enough angle to do that. He played for the loose

red first of all so he has to get a good angle on the black. Split that

little bunch of red is. -- reds. Plenty of angle to pot the black and

come of this cushion with a little trace a site to get into the reds.

He only hit the one that read but he had to make sure the black... It was

not that easy the black he left himself.

Not really close with that one. He leapt by 28 points. Li Hang being

kept off the table for the last 1.5 frames. He needs to start being more

at attacking if he wants to compete with Neil Robertson.

He has left a shot with nothing, the one to the right.

He might be okay. He has an angle on the green. He does pick them out,

the Australians. He is one of the best there has ever been in the

game. Marking in long walls. -- balls.

That was unbelievable. You can count on one hand the number of times Neil

Robertson missed a red light that this season.

That was a great effort from Neil. I do not think these reds are a plant.

Might possibly be. Playing the safety shot, of course. He is coming

right up to have a look. That is worth a look. He had not spotted the

old plant. It is not a certainty but it is a free shot.

He almost flew to the red but he had to play it quite firm to get the cue

back in. Both raise either side of the Pink are possible but both are

not guaranteed to get back into the ball player. He needs to be a little

bit careful. Yet, I think you can miss the cannon on this one. I think

that very easy pot he missed on the red couple of shots ago to make his

concentration has a slightly, and you would have to say. Neil

Robertson has dominated this match so far. If he can master to - Sue,

Li Hang will feel better of the two players. -- 2-2.

At first glance, I think he has gone too far. Can he flick the red in? I

do not think it can. We will know in a moment.

I was wrong, he was right. That is a cue for a song, Ronnie!

The chance is there. That is going to be the key ball. 17 points

behind. He did not hit that very well. He

wanted to be a way up the table, closer to the brown.

The reason he played for the colours is that it is going to be easier to

get onto the next red but it a bit of a stretch.

12 points behind and it looks like he's only gone get to small valued

colours. He is properly gained to need the blue as well. The blue is

certainly tough as well as was the green.

At least he does not have to force this too much to get onto the red.

The blue back on its spot, it definitely helps his cause. But if

he doesn't get this and the last red and yellow, he has that very

difficult green. That was a very good shot to put

in. At that pace. He would really like to be

getting... He is looking at the scoreboard, a red, and maybe get an

angle on the yellow to possibly move the green.

Does he have a slight angle? It might be able to play it to move the

green. If it leads the green along the cushion... He is looking at the

angle. If he had a good angle on the yellow, I would be tempted to maybe

just move the green and put it into an easier potting position but it is

just how he feels. I like that shot a lot! This is

similar to the blue he potted. But this is a key ball. If it can get up

just past there, he can pinch this frame.

This will be quite a good frame psychologically for the Chinese

player. It looked certain that Neal -- Neil would go on with it. The

scoreline tells you 2-2. That is a great break from Li Hang.

It looked almost certainly that he would be behind 3-1.

It was always difficult to manoeuvre It looked

If you saw the first opportunity, he the cue ball.

If you saw the first opportunity, he decided to get a EGYPT colour on its

spot. And now he has a chance to win the frame. -- a big colour.

I do not think it was a kick. I think it was feeling the cushion.

Telling it that he got a very weak bounce off that cushion. -- quick

bounce. Yellow and brown both on but both

very difficult. He does not have to do too much with the brown, just

make sure he pots that. A little bit surprised that has bounced so much

of the cushion but it is okay. -- off.

That was a beautifully played shot, wasn't it? He really had to dig into

the cue ball to hold it. Not quite out of the woods yet even though the

reds are imperfect position, he needs one more good shot. -- in a

perfect position. He may have to play for the red in the middle. It

is a play up's choice - it depends on which way he wants to play it. He

has the red in the middle. Just distract that. Mind you, there

are lots of distractions with for tables here. There is movement all

over the arena these days, players being able to see each other. That

is the arena and, you know, players said, if they raise that a little

bit so that you could not see the table and the crowd could see all

the four tables but not have it quite as low, it might be better.

They would not be their distraction and you would not see the other

tables. Not a bad point. The break is only 34 at the moment

but more important leak, he is 33 point in front and this has been a

very good break. We mentioned it would be tough to score. But he

brought the pink into play at the very first chance and now it looks

as though he will win the frame. That is a beautiful shot. I think he

just lost his concentration, he was not bothered about the red. Neil

Robertson takes the frame and he will lead 3-2.

Li Hang conceived the frame. It is the Australian that now leads 3-1. A

break of four in the previous round. That is the lowest rate in the match

so far, in winning the frame. Li Hang has been left with a shot to

nothing. He can take this on, go around to the black.

I was just about to say that was a nice kiss on the yellow, it would

have been ideal but it has been hampered. I do not know... Wow, this

is quite an attacking shot. Take the blue.

Every credit. That was now to refit blue! -- to refit. A very positive

as well. -- terrific. He would have liked the red at the

back of the pack nicely. His one in the middle is available as well. He

wanted to be on the one at the back of the pack but it looks like he is

playing this into the yellow pocket so his deafening playing for the

yellow as well. Good recovery. He has already had three to refit pots

in this effort. -- terrific. He works so hard to keep that head

still. It is not imperative to keep the head still but it helps.

This is a good positive start from the Chinese player. He is not fazed

by the world number one. Yes, this was of Neil Robertson's rate. Neil

would be disappointed his break did not reach the cushion. Yes, I think

Neil has watched Li Hang pot a few great ones. It just needs to be

careful with the cue ball went potting this one. -- went potting

this one. -- when. Very positive start!

Terrible contracts are. He might have spoiled the position slightly.

He can still potter, but what is the angle like? He is going to be going

towards the black with the cueball. The White would have been further to

the right. My straight red, and everything would have been

straightforward. A recovery positional shot needed here.

He has played that with so much side to get down to the blue. It might

have been better to get onto the black and maybe cannon the black.

Absolutely. He had a choice of shot. That was made 50% more difficult.

But he was very unlucky to get the kick. The position was not a problem

but luckily for him, Neil Robertson has not taken advantage. I tell you

what. He started off with 141 break, but he has looked a bit ragged, has

the world number one. That was really attacking shot did

not see that one coming. I thought he must have been playing a pot.

Amazing that the pink has gone in. Neil is not left with an easy chance

to get to a colour nicely. The fact it is very thin, he might have to

played a slow cannon into the blue. After that bad mess from Neil, a

chance to get himself flowing again. A bit of concentration with him at

the moment. Li Hang was 23 points in front when

Neil came to the table. The two reds at the left of the yellow maybe. He

may have won more difficult shot to play. If those rates don't pot, he

will be trying to get on the yellow -- those reds. The one in bulk,

you'll get on the yellow to move those two reds out.

A bit too close to comfort here. The fact that he has come a couple of

inches high of occasion as well, the pocket will not be his eye line.

This is a key shot now, this pink to red. He will need to get onto a

colour to bring those reds into play.

You have to get absolutely pinpoint position here to leave and angle to

bring those two reds into play. To the left of those reds, they think

it passes the red for the right corner. -- I don't think it passes.

Has he got that pinpoint position? I think he has. It looks as if the

yellow is going to be the best ball to bring those rates into play. --

reds. Now he is looking at the brown again.

Maybe that red pots after all. So there was never a problem. 20 of

room. -- plenty of room. Moving around the table at some pace

now. He just missed an easy red earlier on but he is fairly focused

again and it looks like it is going to be 4-2. It has been a very good

break. Li Hang plate and attacking shot in trying to force through the

reds. But we were not aware that the two reds next yellow were pottable.

Having had a shaky start to the second session of this match, he has

managed to win both the frames. He has had chances in both the opening

two frames after the interval. I think he would have been a long way

in front in this frame. It is the trick shot going to work? Not this

time. A very nice break of 68 from Neil Robertson, and he takes a 4-2

lead. His facial expressions have not

changed and he is not fazed by the fact he is behind. We have not seen

too much of this young man play before. It is my first experience of

seeing him, and I am pretty impressed with his safety play. I

think it great building needs to improve but he certainly looks

capable. -- his break-building. Not quite as he intended but he was

always going to have a chance released for reds to get in.

- for at least four reds. He never rushes a shot.

He has finished a bit straight on the black though.

It looks like quite straightforward shot. Not anything wrong with the

shot his playing, but he is making the cueball travel a lot more now.

The only problem with playing the way he has done is if he gets the

pink and the next two reds and pink and he doesn't get and angle on the

back red, it could be end of great. But we will see what happens. -- end

of break. He could be straight on this red to

roll tin and leave the black. -- roll it in.

That red at the back of the bunch is available. Even if he cannon is the

two to the right of that, he will be OK.

He has left himself a choice. One to the middle or the one at the back.

It is a good solid technique that this young man has. He does not rush

the shot. He feathers the cue and pushes it in and out three or four

times and then stops and delivers it.

He has got a nice pause before he delivers the cue.

He does not miss many. Look at that. 100% success rate.

He potted four out of four. Neil has potted six out of six. I am glad it

wasn't around when I was playing. You would have got nine out of ten

left-handed. This is an excellent chance.

He just needs that cueball to balance, and it has. Just a minute.

You are kidding me. How is your look? That was remarkable. He split

the bulls beautifully and for that red to come back off the cushion,

and especially being 51 in front, very unlucky. He has opened all the

reds up. Once you see the reds split up, and

you see the red comeback and land on the black, he would have thought,

this frame is not over yet. Well done. He has a brown safe, his

bit of insurance. He might be able to take the red

that is on the blue sport and get the pink back up the table. All of a

sudden, it is a half chance for Neil Robertson here.

I don't know what angle he has on the pink, but he could have the

angle to play the deep screw into the red and black. Even if he misses

the case, he is bound to be on one of the other reds. This could be a

cracker. No, it wasn't on. Until he gets that red into play that is next

to the black, he can't win this frame at the visit.

Looking at the angle, maybe a chance to ring the red to the right side of

the table. -- bring. He has done that. So just the one difficult red.

The one next to the black. I think it is pledged that red a bit too

far. I'm not too sure the cannon play at slow enough to hold for the

pink in the corner. -- if he can play it slow enough.

He decided to try the cannon onto the red and missed it. It would have

sent the black towards the corner pocket. He has put all his eggs in

one basket. If you are playing at safety shot, would you bring the

brown into play? Yes. He needs the brown into play.

what a cracking plot. He screwed the white all the way back.

The difference is 37. Still a possible 43 on the table. That last

shot when he tucked in behind the blue, I would have been tempted to

put the blue safe as well as an extra insurance. Yes, because you

only have the one ball safe. He may live to regret that. But he has a

good chance here. Now, he may have to risk playing of

the case. -- the kiss. There is nothing wrong with trying to double

this red and screw it back to the condition. He will probably play the

standard safety shot. I don't know if he can get there. He can get in

behind the black. As long as he keeps the red safe. Did he have a

quick look again? It looks uncomfortable from that position,

definitely. -- uncuttable. He has made a pretty good job of

that. To refit shot. It is acknowledged by the world number one

-- terrific shot. He quit glance round at the

scoreboard. -- a quick. That was a poor effort to hit the pink. It has

more or less handed the frame to Li Hang.

It was such an important frame for the Chinese player.

He just pushed the brown little bit further than he intended. But it

doesn't really matter. You have to keep one third on the floor, Li

Hang! He just slipped a bit there. -- one foot. It wouldn't be a thing

to play with new shoes out that. You could slip and do yourself an

injury. Well played, Li Hang. He had an

earlier break of 52 and then he has cleared them up to win the frame. He

is back in this match. He is just one behind at 4-3.

Neil Robertson is getting frame eight under way. It is not going the

way he wanted but Li Hang is playing very well. When you think he only

lost one frame in his two opening matches, it is a whole new ball game

against young Li Hang. There is the dreaded double case.

Every player 's nightmare. You need to be up in the 90s. Not too bad,

his success rate. This is a good chance for Neil Robertson. The red

next to the black... He is having a look to see if the red that will

go, if the black goes... If both balls go. See if it can get back to

bread out of the way. He may want to be a little straighter on it. He has

to be careful here. He died she is the black. -- nudges. Nice little

nudge. Just trying to bring an angle on to

the next black. He has a bit ink in the middle as well so that may bring

a better position. -- he has the pink.

He played it perfectly to go straight into the pink. He needs to

go to the right of the pink and he will still be okay. But not ideal.

That is dreadfully unfortunate. It is amazing...

Just when he looked like stamping his authority on the match again,

that happen. Very unlucky to finish next to those reds.

That could put Lee Hank in a little bit of trouble. He has gone for the

pot! Good shot! It was a bit of a shot to nothing but well judged.

Just trying to see... He is worried about not in on the pink nicely. He

needs to make sure that the red does not get in the way so he may play it

the blue. He is playing for the pink. I did not know that was going

to happen. I presumed it could. That is why he took his time on that

shot. That is why he was disappointed. I think he's in one of

those movies where he does not want to be out here any longer than

necessary. It looks like he is going to play the safety. It is not a bad

leader, 41, with the remaining five reds near the cushions.

Neil has given Li Hang something to think about here. It looks like it

is just a safety that he is trying. Maybe the pot, is that? Well, it was

the pot but... It did not get anywhere near that. That was asking

a bit much but suppose the fact that he is 41 behind, he felt it was

worth the risk. Should not really have any problem.

Little bit of noise coming from the camera. He does not seem to have any

problems winning this frame. It will take in one away from the tree will

stop -- take him. Away from victory. Perry awaits the winner of this

match. They both reside at the WT camp. What does that stand for? Does

it start with really and ended with Thorn. -- Willie.

That should be and of frame now. 56 in front. He needs to make sure he

wants another two reds. (APPLAUSE)

. Jenna rate power. -- generates

power. For such a tall player, he is very

elegant. His stance and cue action. Nice kick. Yet, nice kick with the

break of 41. It takes Neil Robertson one away from victory and he leads

5-3. Li Hang what he hopes will not be his last frame under way. He

would have to win the next three frames. Against the world number

one. A little bit fortunate to have

covered the bread, having missed that pot. -- of the red. Slightly

hampered by the brown. He deserves to be on something. That

was a billiard shot by Li Hang. That was a little beauty!

He has all the shots, this Chinese player. He can throw the ball back

with reverse side, he can send it rounded the angles. I want to say,

with lots of power that he will need more power here because he did not

eat that one too well. -- hit. As long as he misses the green and

brown he will be okay. It appears that it pink and black

are not available on the right-hand corner. Obviously, I'm not more work

to do. Not straightforward to get back top side of the blue. There is

room to get on the pink in the left pocket. He should get on to the red

on to the pink. But can he get to the top of the blue? That is the

question here. He has overrun this cue ball. That

could be and of break. He will attempt this pot but it is too

dangerous. I think a safety shot is the order of the day.

Excellent reply. It was a really good safety shot from Li Hang but

that was a really good reply from Neil Robertson.

Just get down the right-hand side of the table, there is no wear down the

left-hand side with those reds. (APPLAUSE)

. The fact that he isn't 37 points in

front -- that he is 37 points in front, does not mean he wants to

bring some colour is back into play. -- colours. As Dennis mentioned, he

has all the shots. Neil Robertson will try and bring pink and black

back into play. Neil has the ball in a position

where it will be okay to score but he is faced with a tough safety shot

here. He may have to take the pot on.

What a fabulous pot! What a fabulous kiss! Neil Robertson special, that

was. He has three comfortable reds

available and then those fought in the other cushion. He will have to

start thinking about those in the next couple of shots.

Just a fraction out of pace. The fact he has finished where he has,

he is left with the red at distance. He is thinking about something... He

is not bound to get in the pocket. But doesn't he have some cue power.

Goodness me, he generated so much speed from that!

Gradually closing in on the deficit. Just ten points behind now.

He would like to get the match over in this frame.

Good angle on the pink and he might be able to screw into those four

reds. Not a bad angle. It is not bad. He only moved one red but he

might be on this red Corner. He got a kick there but he is still

okay. He could get onto the blue and yellow without any problem but he

would like to be a couple of inches higher.

It is all about angle here. Half ball angle on the blue or even a

half ball pink. He would rather do it from the side, the right side of

the table. But he cannot do that so it will be slightly more difficult

from that site. It just looks to be a slightly the

wrong angle. He may be able to get on that pink. Let's see which way he

is going to play it. We saw him play the shot on a previous occasion. His

ideal is to be on the cushion, if he gets the kiss right, he could push

one over the middle. Wow, it was that not a bad effort

but it was never going to be easy. He has himself 11 points in front.

Not too bad. That was a good round break. It was not easy.

Oh, what has he done here? A little nod of the head tells you he has not

the red over the middle pocket. Could that be his last shot in this

year's UK championship? Not looking good for the Chinese

player. He knows that. But he is getting an experienced. He

is up against the world number one. Give them a good run. He was just

4-3 down at one stage. No problem with Neil Robertson to get up to the

yellow. It will be game ball this one. The world number one, he looks

to have done just enough to win this match today. He just snapped his

fingers... There was someone in his line of sight moving around.

(APPLAUSE) .

As we mentioned earlier, he did when he is opening matches 6-0. Li Hung

has made the world number one work a little bit harder. And just a little

bit of an exhibition shot. Smiles all round for the Chinese player who

comes forward and congratulates the world number one. In the end, Neil

Robertson a comfortable winner of the world number one through two

fight Joe Perry. He is having a very good season. That is to look forward

to. We will have more action later today at one o'clock. In the

meantime, good night.