:00:13. > :00:39.Hello and welcome to Snooker Extra. Extended highlights of the 2015
:00:40. > :00:45.Betway UK Championship. Our featured match sees Mark Allen, who won the
:00:46. > :00:50.Bulgarian Open in 6 just last month, take -- just last month take on
:00:51. > :00:54.Martin Gould who reached the final of the Australian Open earlier this
:00:55. > :01:16.season. Your commentators is Ken and Willie.
:01:17. > :01:21.Mark Allen is the favourite, Ken, but I won't be straightforward. No.
:01:22. > :01:28.It will be an interesting match. No doubt about that. Looking forward it
:01:29. > :01:33.to. There will be a few big breaks, and quick fire frames. Without
:01:34. > :01:35.missing around with the safety too much, but still very proficient in
:01:36. > :01:49.that department. Showing a lot of form this season.
:01:50. > :01:53.Of course, Martin, the last frame to John Higgins. He was hoping to be
:01:54. > :01:58.down there, and watched the final. An excellent final between him. So
:01:59. > :02:01.he was unlucky not to ring his fourth major ranking tournament.
:02:02. > :02:08.He's been playing well this season and Mark Allen, of course, has just
:02:09. > :02:12.won the European Tour event. As you said, final at the Champion of
:02:13. > :02:20.Champions. So both player have good form coming into this tournament.
:02:21. > :02:25.Sydney FC he was a little bit short there and took a risk. It's gone
:02:26. > :02:33.astray. So this is the first real chance.
:02:34. > :02:51.One. ... Not the greatest angle on the blue.
:02:52. > :03:17.Now, a possibility of going into the puck and still being on the red in
:03:18. > :03:23.the corner pocket. Plenty of cue power, Mark Allen. Just... Didn't
:03:24. > :03:28.hit the puck exactly where he wanted. But he is still on this red.
:03:29. > :03:44.He is running away from the black now, down for possibly a bar colour.
:03:45. > :03:54.Just the one red at the back of the pack available and it isn't easy to
:03:55. > :04:00.get on to that from the blue. He me decide to play to the left-hand side
:04:01. > :04:05.of the bun. . There is a gap between brown and green. You could possibly
:04:06. > :04:12.get on to that red that's available into the a little bit corner. He is
:04:13. > :04:16.going to have to come close to the middle pocket when coming off the
:04:17. > :04:20.ball cushion. Looks like he has left hand... Probably play the shot I
:04:21. > :04:23.suggested one, playing off one cushion rather than two. But, as
:04:24. > :04:30.always, those blues are miserable. Yeah. He's been a bit fortunate he
:04:31. > :04:35.didn't catch the puck. A little bit more fuller, could have made an
:04:36. > :04:42.easier chance. There is a bull right in the middle of the puck. He can
:04:43. > :04:46.get on the black. There you go. Requires very good cuing, though,
:04:47. > :04:52.particularly after the side cushion. Keep your head, very, very still in
:04:53. > :04:57.this shot. No, he's played it well, played it very well! That's the key,
:04:58. > :05:02.isn't it, on those types of shots. You have to keep your head so still
:05:03. > :05:08.and push that cue in a straight line. And also you can't afford to
:05:09. > :05:10.put any sort of side-on because you are cuing sidedown. It virtually
:05:11. > :05:27.makes a swerve. Perfect! Yeah, that was a good shot,
:05:28. > :05:33.wasn't it? Aggressive. And that's what we will see a lot of, I think,
:05:34. > :05:36.during this match. I think it is going to be a very interesting
:05:37. > :05:45.match-up between these two guys today. Good break, this. Mark Allen
:05:46. > :05:51.has recorded 263 career centuries, 25 last season, already 80 in this
:05:52. > :05:57.season. Martin Gould, 132 career centuries. He's had seven this
:05:58. > :06:17.season, 15 last season, so they are quite - both prolific scorers.
:06:18. > :06:28.Has that gone astray? That little cannon there. He may not be on the
:06:29. > :06:35.reds in the middle. You can see that he's not. There is a red just at the
:06:36. > :06:40.back of the pack cutting into the corner, but this is certainly not
:06:41. > :06:46.what he played for. Have to be going up for a colour here, through the
:06:47. > :06:56.gap of the two reds. Then he has the kiss and a bit on the right to miss
:06:57. > :07:01.that. Yes. Possible - possibility of the blue went to the right centre,
:07:02. > :07:08.but that's what we call a blind pocket. You can't see the pocket.
:07:09. > :07:14.That's why he is going to take the green. But a big shot, yeah?
:07:15. > :07:24.A good, solid pot. Needs to miss the yellow and I think he has done. Oh,
:07:25. > :07:31.just about! Excellent shot! Confident start so far.
:07:32. > :07:38.It is obviously a lovely feeling, as well, isn't it, when you hit the
:07:39. > :07:45.ball so crisply and it hits the back of the put, the sound of it, it is
:07:46. > :07:51.just great to hear when you are playing out there and it gives you a
:07:52. > :07:55.bit of confidence. I was going to say exactly the same thing. There is
:07:56. > :08:00.nothing better than hearing that sound because of a sudden you think,
:08:01. > :08:05."Right, I am into the centre of the pocket, I am cuing OK." The key
:08:06. > :08:20.thing is taking advantage of situations like
:08:21. > :08:27.We have talked his glasses many occasions. He gets annoyed with the
:08:28. > :08:34.commentators talking about it, but he looks over the shot when he is --
:08:35. > :08:40.over the top when he is playing the shot, which is amazing. We will get
:08:41. > :08:45.a good chance - he is using the rest so we can't really tell from here.
:08:46. > :08:50.But... He is looking through his gases from that position. When he
:08:51. > :09:08.gets down on the shot he looks over the top of them. Mmm. A mistake.
:09:09. > :09:16.I am a bit surprised. He had that red into the corner pocket. I don't
:09:17. > :09:22.know why he screwed back for the blue. He could have easily tried to
:09:23. > :09:25.get on to the black. The kiss wasn't very favourable, so just a safety
:09:26. > :09:28.shot. Disappointed, Martin Gould. There was a really good opportunity
:09:29. > :10:47.to win the frame from that visit. Yeah, felt it was worth having a go.
:10:48. > :10:53.Wasn't leaving anything into the left centre. Only could possibly
:10:54. > :10:57.leave the red. He played, and that is save. Possible double for Martin
:10:58. > :11:03.Gould. He could play the same type of shot here, leave the cue ball
:11:04. > :11:06.somewhere down the right-hand side of the table. Wouldn't be leaving
:11:07. > :11:13.anything, unless the red comes back off the knuckle back down towards
:11:14. > :11:19.the black. Should be OK. Well, plays it like that... Could always leave
:11:20. > :11:23.the red down the end of the table, but I am a little bit surprised he
:11:24. > :11:27.played it that way. Oh, this is a tester.
:11:28. > :11:44.APPLAUSE What a shot that was! That was an
:11:45. > :11:46.excellent pot! You won't see many Bert than that today -- many better
:11:47. > :12:02.than that today. Got an angle on the black,
:12:03. > :12:07.an angle where you can guarantee you will get on to the three reds
:12:08. > :12:12.nicely. I think it is worth the risk. Because if you police the
:12:13. > :12:16.cannon you have the red near the green there that's available. He
:12:17. > :12:23.will have to play the cannon firm, buzz it isn't ideal to get a kiss on
:12:24. > :12:27.the outside red. I can only presume the top red of the three pots,
:12:28. > :12:31.because if it does, that's an excellent shot. Yeah, we can see it
:12:32. > :12:34.does pot. A clever little shot, that. Wants to leave the pink.
:12:35. > :12:37.Doesn't want to pot the pink, because that will tie the other two
:12:38. > :12:55.reds up. So, he has a chance He could take
:12:56. > :12:58.for the red into the right centre, yellow for the red near the ball
:12:59. > :13:11.cushion. Well, he's done neither!
:13:12. > :13:18.LAUGHTER Played for the ball cushion but
:13:19. > :13:26.still in very good position. Not sure with two reds on the pink spot,
:13:27. > :13:33.whether they putt into any pocket, so he may have to make one more
:13:34. > :13:38.cannon to bring those into play. So, that will be Gould guld's only --
:13:39. > :13:45.Martin Gould's only hope in this frame He has a great angle to roll
:13:46. > :13:51.it in on the pink in the middle or the black in the corner. As long as
:13:52. > :13:57.it isn't straight on either of those two balls he will have a chance of
:13:58. > :14:02.playing some sort of cannon on those two reds. Good thinking here. Left
:14:03. > :14:06.himself an option to get on to either ball, pink or black. And then
:14:07. > :14:12.whichever one avails the better position to move the two reds, that
:14:13. > :14:17.is the one he will play. Yeah. He has perfect on the pink here. Just
:14:18. > :14:23.needs a little glancing blow on one of these reds. He has just hit it
:14:24. > :14:28.too fully. Little sort of half ball as opposed to a full ball contact on
:14:29. > :14:34.there. That would have been perfect. I thought he was going to play the
:14:35. > :14:36.shot he suggest - you suggested, which would bring both into play.
:14:37. > :15:06.Yeah. The key thing is when you lose
:15:07. > :15:11.position, make sure you play a good safety shot and that is exactly what
:15:12. > :15:15.he's done here. Eight points now behind Martin Gould. With both reds
:15:16. > :15:20.being available, the one next to the black will pot in the right-hand
:15:21. > :15:22.corner. It is key to get these save. -- save.
:15:23. > :15:31.Has to be careful where the red will end up. It could end up right over
:15:32. > :15:36.the right-hand side pocket. Didn't understand that safety shot as all.
:15:37. > :16:07.The red was bound to go there. Why was he doing that, I ask myself?
:16:08. > :16:20.The referee taking a bit of chalk off the cue ball. Just a little bit
:16:21. > :16:37.left on it he missed. I have to be honest, I can't see anything.
:16:38. > :16:48.Just got a little bit of top spin into the cue ball and that's why it
:16:49. > :16:54.sort of arced a little bit. I think he just about as the angle to pot
:16:55. > :17:01.the pink. Missed the yellow on the way down. Back up for this red.
:17:02. > :17:03.Needs to slow-up, otherwise he may be - or keep going!
:17:04. > :17:40.LAUGHTER One or the other! . CROWD: Oh!
:17:41. > :17:50.I bet his heart skipped a beat! The blue person -- the blue one
:17:51. > :17:51.perilously close to the corner pocket!
:17:52. > :17:58.LAUGHTER That isn't easy for me to say that!
:17:59. > :18:02.LAUGHTER Unlucky there, in fairness. Any
:18:03. > :18:10.other kiss on the blue would have been perfect. This yellow is
:18:11. > :18:16.miserable. Played it in such a way he was going to cover the pocket.
:18:17. > :18:18.Comes back to his own spot now. 18 points in front. Up to and including
:18:19. > :18:36.the brown . Struggling a bit with the pace at
:18:37. > :18:43.the moment. You can see 20-point lead, with 25 remaining.
:18:44. > :18:51.Actually puts him 23 in front. It would be 22 remaining. So, brown to
:18:52. > :18:58.make the frame save, but this is game ball. He would be pretty
:18:59. > :19:03.pleased with this opening frame, Mark Allen, because Martin Gould was
:19:04. > :19:07.right in the balls and looked certain to win it. That shot ended
:19:08. > :19:41.up costing him the frame. Made that right there when he was
:19:42. > :19:44.needed. He ended up winning it and he leads by one frame to nil. Second
:19:45. > :20:09.frame. Mark Allen to break. He would be disappointed with that
:20:10. > :20:14.break-off. Hasn't covered the red to the left centre and he's got a
:20:15. > :20:25.straightforward natural angle to get down for the black. Lots of reds in
:20:26. > :20:30.the open. It is a pet hate for any snooker player. They win the first
:20:31. > :20:37.round, play pots -- pot some stuff balls to get over the frame and get
:20:38. > :20:41.it on the board, and then give your opponent the very first chance at
:20:42. > :20:46.the next round from the break-off. You know, it is such a pet hate for
:20:47. > :20:50.snooker players. Because people play off as regular as clockwork, it is
:20:51. > :20:53.just a natural sort of thing. Sometimes players get down and don't
:20:54. > :20:58.give it the concentration it deserves, the break-off, because it
:20:59. > :21:03.is one of the most shots of the frame, isn't it? Mmm. You know, get
:21:04. > :21:08.your opponent in trouble. A lot of players win the toss and let the
:21:09. > :21:13.opponent break, because more times than not, a red will come over the
:21:14. > :21:16.right-hand corner pock account or the left-hand corner pocket and give
:21:17. > :21:23.your opponent first shot or nothing. It is hard to get that cue ball in
:21:24. > :21:27.behind the green and close to that ball cushion. Sometimes when they
:21:28. > :21:33.slide so much, but this left a good opportunity now for Martin Gould.
:21:34. > :21:38.The highest break is 139. I am surprised he's not had a maximum
:21:39. > :21:46.break in snooker, because he's a very good break builder. Not the
:21:47. > :21:51.greatest pack to go into. He will get a nice angle on the black and I
:21:52. > :21:57.am sure the perfect angle is plain to him. It is one of those pucks
:21:58. > :22:03.where he would like to go into the side. He arced the cue arrive the
:22:04. > :22:08.black. He plays this shot as good as anybody I have ever seen. See, he is
:22:09. > :22:18.now thinking about playing for a loose red because he doesn't fancy
:22:19. > :22:19.it. Not bad! Well played. This is a good chance.
:22:20. > :22:25.APPLAUSE Played that perfectly. Yeah, played
:22:26. > :22:31.it very well, didn't he? 32. Purposely went off the corner of the
:22:32. > :22:37.pack knowing the cue ball was going to push through and still beyond the
:22:38. > :22:44.red. The red over the middle pocket, that is a bonus because you can keep
:22:45. > :22:53.that as a - always if he runs into a bit of trouble.
:22:54. > :22:59.The first priority is of course winning the frame but that's five
:23:00. > :23:04.reads and five blacks. You did mention he hasn't had a maximum, but
:23:05. > :23:14.if he stays on the black here he's got half a chance.
:23:15. > :23:25.That's a massive prize, this week, as well. No-one's had a maximum now
:23:26. > :23:31.for a few months, it's rolled up to almost 4,000 pounds Yan 4 or 5,000
:23:32. > :23:37.for the high break. So 40-45,000 for a 157 break this week. A nice
:23:38. > :23:43.Christmas Bock! Run a bit too far. If he can still kiss the outside of
:23:44. > :23:48.the back and hold for the one directly near the black... He's
:23:49. > :23:53.played that well. Now, this is now a really good chance. Certainly is.
:23:54. > :23:58.When he pots this red, the red to the right of it will be pottable
:23:59. > :24:04.into the left-hand corner pocket. I tell you what... Nicely situated,
:24:05. > :24:13.the reds at the moment. I am sure, without a doubt, is maximum is on
:24:14. > :24:18.his mind. . He wouldn't be too pleased with that shot there. You
:24:19. > :24:23.can't be go straight on the black, because you have only got one
:24:24. > :24:28.option, screw back. Just a slight angle, not dead straight. He has to
:24:29. > :24:34.get top side on one of these reds. Mmm. . Played with the wrong side.
:24:35. > :24:40.If he played on the right it would have come higher up. I am sure he
:24:41. > :24:46.could easily go and play for a ball colour after this read, but there is
:24:47. > :24:52.-- red and there is plenty of value of putting the red into the middle,
:24:53. > :24:56.up and down, top cushion, side cushion and back tore the black. --
:24:57. > :24:59.back for the black. Needs to slow down. That looks pretty good. Not
:25:00. > :25:09.slow down too much. This is the time when he can
:25:10. > :25:13.possibly use that red over the middle pocket, because unless he
:25:14. > :25:18.tries to impart a lot of left-hand hand side and go into the putt, he
:25:19. > :25:23.will possibly go up two cushions over the red. What would your choice
:25:24. > :25:30.be. I would want to near the green or brown. I would play two cushions.
:25:31. > :25:34.I think it is a bit risky to play with check side but unfortunately
:25:35. > :25:40.now he is using the rest. Whatever he plays, it is tough. If he plays
:25:41. > :25:46.it plain ball he won't leave an angle to get on to the black from
:25:47. > :25:50.the red over the middle. What a shame! What a shame! Good effort. He
:25:51. > :25:51.will be disappointed. He hasn't won the frame yet.
:25:52. > :26:47.APPLAUSE That little bit of side has tucked
:26:48. > :26:52.it away from the gap between green and brown where he could have seen
:26:53. > :27:01.the black. But he can see the brown. He is see the black full ball but he
:27:02. > :27:07.needs to sit it on the left. He may be able to swerve around the red. If
:27:08. > :27:12.he can get on to a red from the brown, that's the one he will take.
:27:13. > :27:20.You know more than anybody, Ken, what a body blow this would be to
:27:21. > :27:24.Martin Gould if Mark Allen wins now, because it would have been easier
:27:25. > :27:28.not going tore the maximum, but obviously you only get one chance,
:27:29. > :27:32.as you say, for 45,000. You are going to play it. It's note beyond
:27:33. > :27:38.the realm of possibility that Mark Allen is in the clear. Yeah. We talk
:27:39. > :27:43.about pivotal frames and matches, and this could certainly be one of
:27:44. > :27:51.them, even though it is so early on. He still has is a lot of work to do.
:27:52. > :27:56.If you had to have a pound on somebody to win the frame, would you
:27:57. > :27:57.favour Mark Allen, because he is in the balls, wouldn't you? Absolutely.
:27:58. > :28:11.Played that shot very well. Try to get on the red, extreme left,
:28:12. > :28:21.of the three reds below the pink because that will open the two reds
:28:22. > :28:26.into the opposite corner. Too much difficulty, I would have to say, if
:28:27. > :28:33.you have a red that's not very close to the left, there is loads of room
:28:34. > :28:35.around the back of that, so it is an excellent chance here for Mark
:28:36. > :28:43.Allen. Needs an angle on the pink but has
:28:44. > :28:51.that. But obviously would like to take the blue because the pink may
:28:52. > :29:16.tie the two reds up. He's gone favourite now to win this frame.
:29:17. > :29:26.Well, would you could believe it?! Would you believe it?! What a
:29:27. > :29:30.let-off for Martin Gould! You can see his disappointment. Not quite
:29:31. > :29:36.sure whether that was a kick or not. But it looked like he put a bit of
:29:37. > :29:41.side. He is shaking his head. Maybe he did get a bad contact. I didn't
:29:42. > :29:45.hear anything from our commentary position, but maybe he was
:29:46. > :29:51.concentrating on flicking a bit of - he tried to hold for the red. Not
:29:52. > :29:56.quite sure. Being ultra critical, he quit on it. Didn't get through it.
:29:57. > :30:01.Because it was almost at a proper stun shot and he kind of played half
:30:02. > :30:07.a stun run through, didn't get any bite on the cue ball, And that in
:30:08. > :30:11.Turnbulled the cue ball over. What a reprieve for Martin Gould. He will
:30:12. > :30:15.be absolutely delighted. He must have been sitting there thinking it
:30:16. > :30:18.is going to be one each, and... Obviously Mark Allen will be 2-0 at
:30:19. > :30:34.the table. He is just making sure of the black
:30:35. > :30:41.there. He's a little bit surprised where the cue ball ended up. No more
:30:42. > :30:46.than we are here in the commentary box. The most important thing he is
:30:47. > :30:48.37 points ahead. That means that Mark Allen now needs a four-point
:30:49. > :31:10.snooker. S ..to win the frame... The frame certainly is not over yet.
:31:11. > :32:04.The four-point penalty snooker Martin Gould will be 1-1.
:32:05. > :32:10.APPLAUSE Yeah, that was a nice pot. That was
:32:11. > :32:18.surgery -- that will certainly put pay to the frame. He will be
:32:19. > :32:22.relieved, Martin Gould. Ing but I am sure Mark Allen will be very
:32:23. > :32:22.disappointed. Might get a chance to ask him.
:32:23. > :32:28.APPLAUSE ..in the players' room later on
:32:29. > :32:30.whether it was a kick or not on the black. If it was, it was very
:32:31. > :32:50.costly. Four tables, of course, in action at
:32:51. > :32:53.the same time. Players tend to watch the other matches. Just to take
:32:54. > :33:03.their mind off things. You are always sort of aware, aren't
:33:04. > :33:09.you, what's going on on the other tables. They are so close and you
:33:10. > :33:19.are checking out. Who is playing well, what is score is at...
:33:20. > :33:26.So, Martin Gould pots the black and gets his first frame on the board.
:33:27. > :33:29.APPLAUSE A relieved Martin Gould levels the
:33:30. > :33:34.match now, 1-1. APPLAUSE
:33:35. > :33:38.Both players nicely settled in. You don't settle until you get a frame
:33:39. > :33:44.on the board. They have both done that. Two frames before the
:33:45. > :33:47.mid-session interval. Martin Gould breaking off. That's a pretty good
:33:48. > :35:34.break-off as well. If the cue ball was a couple of
:35:35. > :35:42.inches off the table he will take that on but he will have no idea. If
:35:43. > :35:46.it is - it has to be mighty fine. He is playing a thin safety shot.
:35:47. > :36:16.Mighty fine it was. Excellent rereply. Well played.
:36:17. > :36:22.A bit fortunate there, but three excellent safety shots one after the
:36:23. > :36:28.other. That kiss was a little bit fortunate, but a big target to get
:36:29. > :36:31.into the side of the pack where the pink is, just rest on those three
:36:32. > :37:21.reds just below the pink. Not straightforward this time to
:37:22. > :37:26.rest, because - behind the brown spot area, it is very easy to
:37:27. > :37:29.negotiate this shot, but you get a bit of slide off the cushion
:37:30. > :37:35.sometimes, and - see, so concentrated on the slide, he's -
:37:36. > :37:39.has he got it? Just caught the pink. Lot more difficult, isn't it, Ken
:37:40. > :37:44.from behind either the green or the yellow, than it is from behind the
:37:45. > :37:50.brown to rest into the pack? Yeah. They do slide quite a bit, but... At
:37:51. > :37:54.first glance it is amazing how quick these tables are, and these... I
:37:55. > :37:59.mean, he barely touched that cue ball but look at the distance it
:38:00. > :38:05.travelled. But, yeah, it's - harder to judge it off one cushion as well.
:38:06. > :38:11.If you are coming off two cushions, to get out of a snooker, it is is a
:38:12. > :38:14.lot easier. But one cushion, particularly the first time you play
:38:15. > :38:15.it... Now he's overcompensated this time. Oh!
:38:16. > :38:20.LAUGHTER Wow! No foul. Just glanced off the
:38:21. > :38:27.red. The red didn't even move there, did it? Just took a bit of paint
:38:28. > :38:51.off. APPLAUSE
:38:52. > :39:01.That is the first bad safety shot of the match but he's got away with it.
:39:02. > :39:06.Completely mis-hit that. Been a good safety, apart from that shot. Yeah.
:39:07. > :39:10.Unfortunately we may have a bit of a stalemate here, if Mark Allen
:39:11. > :39:16.chooses to come off two cushions into the back of the pack. That red
:39:17. > :39:23.is going to cause a lot of problems up in the baulk. We may be seeing a
:39:24. > :39:37.stalemate here a few shots down the road.
:39:38. > :39:50.Wow! Looked like it drifted, that cue ball. Has he left the red at the
:39:51. > :39:53.bottom of the pack? . APPLAUSE
:39:54. > :40:07.. What a mistake that is! Not quite sure why he played that
:40:08. > :40:12.red initially. Why didn't he just come off two cushions into the back
:40:13. > :40:19.of the pack? Pretty straightforward, same result.
:40:20. > :40:26.Sometimes when you are playing those shots, dead weight, finger mark, a
:40:27. > :40:29.bit of chalk, and deviate the cue ball off its line and that's exactly
:40:30. > :41:35.what's happened there. (APPLAUSE)
:41:36. > :41:40.Very good recovery. Now, then, OK there is a red beside the black
:41:41. > :41:47.available. The angle on the yellow is perfect to go into the side of
:41:48. > :41:54.the bunch. The thing is if he gets one of those loose reds on is the
:41:55. > :41:58.black in a way he can't get on to the black, there is no advantage.
:41:59. > :42:03.Sometimes you have to take the chance and go into them. That's what
:42:04. > :42:04.he's done. What he gets now he deserves. He played the correct
:42:05. > :42:20.shot. Well done! Just looking if he pots this red
:42:21. > :42:24.just above the black into the corner pocket, looks like he may be running
:42:25. > :42:29.into the red. When the cue ball bounces off the top caution, maybe
:42:30. > :42:36.running the red just to the left of the black, if he can avoid it. He
:42:37. > :42:44.will try to do so. Yeah. Just running into it. It made this black
:42:45. > :42:57.a little bit more awkward than he would have liked.
:42:58. > :43:12.No! A long way away. Martin Gould 10. Ken, I have obviously not been
:43:13. > :43:17.playing the last 15 years actually on these superfine clothes, is it
:43:18. > :43:23.harder to cut a ball back now than it used to be on the thicker cloth?
:43:24. > :43:29.Mmm. Not really, no. I have seen so many people do that, hit them thick
:43:30. > :43:34.when they are playing cut shots. . I think the fact it was just - they
:43:35. > :43:40.were very close together and it is hard to see the line. Again, we talk
:43:41. > :43:46.about the blind pocket. It is hard to see the line when there was -
:43:47. > :43:50.particularly when they are so close together as well, and... He was
:43:51. > :43:57.quite a way away from that. You see it so often these days. When they
:43:58. > :44:00.miss it, they miss it by a couple of inches. These balls are in the
:44:01. > :44:03.perfect position for Mark Allen to get a sizable lead in this frame, if
:44:04. > :44:55.not a frame-winning proportion. That was a clever shot. Had to make
:44:56. > :45:08.sure he got the kiss on the full there to get nicely on to the pink.
:45:09. > :46:04.39. I think he's just about got an angle. 40. Nicely played.
:46:05. > :46:15.And that's beautifully judged! That will certainly win him the frame
:46:16. > :46:29.now. It opened up all four reds with one shot. 48.
:46:30. > :46:34.Yeah, he would be disappointed. He had a got opportunity there again.
:46:35. > :47:03.54. 55. Concentrate. After this... He will
:47:04. > :47:21.make the first century of the match. 63.
:47:22. > :47:29.Concentrating goals the first century in this particular match.
:47:30. > :47:40.Sponsors, Betway, give 10 pounds a point after 100 to a hospice and it
:47:41. > :47:51.is already over 11,000 pounds. They have given away so
:47:52. > :48:00.Lovely to watch when he gets in the balls, Mark Allen. 85. Gone a
:48:01. > :48:06.fraction too bar but should be able to get around the back of the black.
:48:07. > :48:09.The bounces. It is OK. Perfect angle on the black to get on to the
:48:10. > :48:23.yellow. He dear vs a century. This is break
:48:24. > :48:29.building at its very best. Got every ball he played for, had a couple of
:48:30. > :48:42.nice kisses. Played that perfectly as well.
:48:43. > :48:54.Very well played Mark Allen! Excellent!
:48:55. > :49:07.APPLAUSE LAUGHTER
:49:08. > :49:11.Played a little exhibition shot there. Doesn't matter, though! Mark
:49:12. > :49:16.Allen won another frame. He now takes the lead by two frames to one.
:49:17. > :49:37.Mark Allen to break. Last frame before the mid-session
:49:38. > :49:41.interval and a much bureaucrater -- better break-off from Mark Allen.
:49:42. > :49:48.He's covered the reds down the right-hand side of the table.
:49:49. > :49:53.Particularly for a pot, he can play a containing safety shot off this
:49:54. > :49:55.red but... Just got to be careful he doesn't leave anything to the left
:49:56. > :51:00.centre. If the black was available he would
:51:01. > :51:05.be taking this red on. I mean, the black is available if he finishes
:51:06. > :51:11.tight on the back cushion because it is no good. If you play this plain
:51:12. > :51:18.ball you will do well to miss the kiss on the pink. He doesn't fancy
:51:19. > :51:24.the pot because of that reason. Martin Gould needs to play an
:51:25. > :51:29.attacking game Because OK he may be able to compete with them in the
:51:30. > :51:46.safety department but he is a very good break builder himself.
:51:47. > :51:52.He won that safety battle. But, at first glance, he's -
:51:53. > :51:58.straightforward. He can just jab this red into the middle pocket, but
:51:59. > :52:06.can he get the right side of the blue?
:52:07. > :52:15.Yes, he can get the right side of the blue. So, this is a good chance
:52:16. > :52:19.now. The way it's gone, I think really Martin should have won one of
:52:20. > :52:25.the two frames he did loose against Mark Allen there, because he got the
:52:26. > :52:29.first chance in a couple of of the frames. 2-2 would be pleased, both
:52:30. > :52:58.players. Mind you, that's not very good. Six.
:52:59. > :53:47.Stretching on the blue. Doesn't want to use the rest. A little extension
:53:48. > :53:53.on the point of the cue. A bit of pressure on this blue. OK. If those
:53:54. > :53:58.two reds - he is going to be bridging over weren't there, it is a
:53:59. > :54:03.lot easier, but throwing a lot of cue from the bridge hand as well,
:54:04. > :54:08.which means you don't have as much control. He played that nicely!
:54:09. > :54:13.Didn't do too much with the cue ball, just wanted to make sure the
:54:14. > :54:18.pot... He is going to require now another good pot to get back up for
:54:19. > :54:23.the blue. Black isn't available into the left corner pocket. Doesn't look
:54:24. > :54:31.like it from my commentary position. You see the red is blocking it. Had
:54:32. > :54:36.a bit of power in this redback up -- red back up for blue.
:54:37. > :55:02.That helps now. The black will be available into both corners after
:55:03. > :56:14.this next shot. Looks to be one more loose red
:56:15. > :56:20.available in the bottom corner. So he could play just a little bit of
:56:21. > :56:25.check side for that red, but he would like to play a little thin
:56:26. > :56:30.cannon of the two reds directly above the black. He isn't guaranteed
:56:31. > :56:39.to be on the red. So, he may decide just to play for the loose one. He
:56:40. > :56:43.will try to get into the bunch on the pink. Obviously something
:56:44. > :56:48.available that we can't see. That must be available, right in the
:56:49. > :56:51.middle of the pack. He obviously has the one down the left-hand side
:56:52. > :56:58.cushion as well. That tied a few more reds up,
:56:59. > :57:58.doesn't it? If he gets a good angle on the black
:57:59. > :58:05.here... 32. He has a decent angle. He is going to have to generate a
:58:06. > :58:11.lot of power, if he wants to go into the reds from this black. There is a
:58:12. > :58:16.red in the middle of those bunch, would you believe, into the - that
:58:17. > :58:20.is available into the bottom right-hand corner pocket. That is
:58:21. > :58:22.the one. He has to be very, very precise with his cue ball. Yeah,
:58:23. > :58:36.just above the pink. May beside to go into them. He's
:58:37. > :58:45.played it pretty well. He's on this red. 39. When he pots this one, the
:58:46. > :58:51.one just above it will be available into the left-hand corner pocket, as
:58:52. > :58:52.well. Now, all of a sudden, excellent opportunity to level up
:58:53. > :59:06.the match. It's been good stuff, hasn't it?
:59:07. > :59:10.Yeah. Both players look in good tomorrow when they are getting
:59:11. > :59:15.around the black spot, that's for sure. 47.
:59:16. > :59:22.These tables have been recovered overnight, so all four tables that
:59:23. > :59:30.are on show have got brand new cloths on. That may help. It is
:59:31. > :59:33.great when you play on a great new cloth. They slide a little bit
:59:34. > :59:35.better. LAUGHTER
:59:36. > :59:40.They certainly do. It is just the pace and control. It is amazing
:59:41. > :59:44.after - when I first played here last Tuesday, the tables had just
:59:45. > :59:48.gone in. Absolutely beautiful. Came become on the Saturday and the
:59:49. > :59:53.cloths had change sod much within those four or five days, it was
:59:54. > :59:58.almost like a different table. It is amazing. You don't get as much life
:59:59. > :00:03.out of these cloths as they once did. Sometimes you go into the club
:00:04. > :00:08.and they may not have changed the clothes for six months, but they
:00:09. > :00:11.have to change them after about four days here. One of those cloths
:00:12. > :00:17.wouldn't lost a month, would it? That would be ruined. They have to
:00:18. > :00:23.get top side. He's done just that. He is one shot away from securing
:00:24. > :00:29.the frame. I know he is 56 points in front, but he needs another two
:00:30. > :00:33.reds, two colours. Should be able to hold the one to the extreme left of
:00:34. > :00:39.the pack there that's available. That's what he has done. Of course,
:00:40. > :00:41.getting on to the black, the pink spot pots and that will be frame
:00:42. > :01:18.ball. 61. A nice century break in the last
:01:19. > :01:24.round, but he had to sit through this, this one, miss placed a safety
:01:25. > :01:30.shot. It's been a very good standard. 70. Liberal Party # -- So
:01:31. > :01:46.far. A bit unlucky there. Just couldn't
:01:47. > :01:52.generate the speed. The cue ball to - really open those reds into play,
:01:53. > :01:58.touching ball, so he will just may away, but, still, nice break and a
:01:59. > :02:03.nice Replay from Martin Gould. Mark Allen will say, "That's enough", and
:02:04. > :02:06.I am sure it does. Mark Allen walks off. Players will go to the
:02:07. > :03:04.mid-session interval. Nothing between them. It is two frames each.
:03:05. > :03:10.He hasn't -- it hasn't stopped? Covered the red, has it? I think it
:03:11. > :03:15.has. A little bit careless, to be honest, because he has another foot
:03:16. > :03:21.of table he put have put the cue ball in there to be on all three
:03:22. > :03:25.reds. That is just about the only place where he isn't on all three.
:03:26. > :03:29.Slightly hampered cuing, but maybe the bounce can take a bit of pace
:03:30. > :03:33.out of the white. Yeah. Very disappointed. It was a good
:03:34. > :03:42.opportunity, wasn't it? He carved it out of - getting out of that snooker
:03:43. > :03:49.initially. It is it a very dangerous shot.
:03:50. > :03:53.Played it well. Good pot. Bit of pressure on that one.
:03:54. > :03:59.APPLAUSE Nice angle on the blue. And the fact
:04:00. > :04:04.that the yellow is off its spot, just makes this shot a little bit
:04:05. > :04:09.easier. Could play on that red, over the right-hand centre and bring the
:04:10. > :04:12.cue ball down around the end of the table. He has too much on it. Too
:04:13. > :05:02.much! Needs to slow up. Yeah, looks like... Looked like he
:05:03. > :05:05.got a bit of a string off that -- spring off that cushion. Certainly
:05:06. > :05:27.not happy. Yes, he is tempted to take this into
:05:28. > :05:33.the ball pocket. With it being virtually dead straight, knock it
:05:34. > :05:39.in... Wow! It's not happening for Mark at the moment. He's had plenty
:05:40. > :05:43.of chances and the balls are in a perfect position on the two
:05:44. > :05:44.occasions he's been in the balls in this frame. Unfortunately, for him,
:05:45. > :07:07.he's not scored enough. I think there is enough room for
:07:08. > :07:11.this red to pass the other red. There certainly. Now, Martin, a
:07:12. > :07:17.little stun run through. The pink is available. If he doesn't get the gap
:07:18. > :07:22.tore the black, if he plays a stun run through he has another one. He
:07:23. > :07:28.is playing the outside red. Still playing a pot, though. Mmm. I fancy
:07:29. > :07:42.him knocking the long one. I am surprised he took the half-ball one.
:07:43. > :07:49.It just isn't happening. state putt the pic but the black was
:07:50. > :07:56.a certainty, bar for it just brushing by the red. When you are in
:07:57. > :08:01.front, these are no problem. When you are behind it is a little bit
:08:02. > :08:06.more tricky. Well done! A good recovery.
:08:07. > :09:31.Concentrating on the pink for the moment. But I am sure he would like
:09:32. > :09:36.to get on the black. And try to free up the pocket on the right-hand side
:09:37. > :09:39.here as soon as possible. He is building up a nice lead at the same
:09:40. > :09:48.time. Bottom one of these two reds are
:09:49. > :10:01.closest together will pot. Stay on the black then. 29.
:10:02. > :10:09.If he got back to that's cape -- that's cape took him almost four
:10:10. > :10:14.minutes to get out of it, but he negotiated a path from a position
:10:15. > :10:19.that if he hadn't have, it might have been 5-2 down, so he put
:10:20. > :10:28.himself back in this match. 37. A really good escape.
:10:29. > :10:34.Probably be a lesson for any budding snooker player, is take your time,
:10:35. > :10:39.particularly those big shots. 44 Give yourself time to work out a -
:10:40. > :11:03.an escape route. And maybe this is the impetus that
:11:04. > :11:09.Mark Allen required in this match. 45 minutes he went without potting a
:11:10. > :11:13.ball, but... This will give him a bit more confidence. 59. Now it is
:11:14. > :12:11.match on again. 60. 74. Made a century in the third
:12:12. > :12:12.frame, Mark Allen. The 64 -- the 264th of his career. Another
:12:13. > :12:19.possible opportunity here. You see, six pinks and four blacks.
:12:20. > :12:41.Fifth black coming up. And from nowhere this break has
:12:42. > :12:47.really come about, hasn't it? 82. He's had to grind his way to get
:12:48. > :12:49.back into this match and he's done that. When he had the first
:12:50. > :13:14.opportunity, 84 and counting. Frozen out for three frames. When I
:13:15. > :13:18.say frozen out, he was completely frozen out. This has been top
:13:19. > :13:22.drawer, it really has. A very good break.
:13:23. > :13:30.Second century of the match, a break of 102. Doesn't worry about the
:13:31. > :13:32.black. He has himself back into the game but he still trails by four
:13:33. > :13:36.frames to three. Certainly buoyed by that wonderful
:13:37. > :14:24.century in the last round. Top of the table or not, a good
:14:25. > :14:30.safety shot there from Martin Gould. The cue ball isn't tight on the
:14:31. > :14:34.ball, but - yeah. Foul That is a disaster! Not the cue ball going
:14:35. > :14:39.into the pocket, but certainly the red going over the pocket. He had
:14:40. > :14:44.them in trouble. The safety's been - excellent today, Martin Gould, I
:14:45. > :14:58.must say. I have been very impressed with it.
:14:59. > :15:08.I am a bit surprised. I mean, pink was on into the right centre pocket.
:15:09. > :15:15.I am very surprised that Martin didn't take the ball and try and get
:15:16. > :15:21.that cue ball slower and try to get on to that pink in the middle. Much
:15:22. > :15:25.more difficult to get up or the brown. There is always the
:15:26. > :15:30.possibility of getting too much top spin on that. . He's played that
:15:31. > :15:36.shot a couple of times when he's tried to get on to blue, rather than
:15:37. > :15:41.play the pink or black. The black wasn't available then, but earlier
:15:42. > :15:47.on it was. He is leading 4-3, so it is hard to criticise the way he's
:15:48. > :15:51.played. His safety, as you say, Ken, has been first class. Scored pretty
:15:52. > :16:01.heavy when he's got in. That's a recipe to win matches.
:16:02. > :16:32.This is going to be a goal special. -- gold special. He is blessed with
:16:33. > :16:37.an awful lot of cue power, so he may be playing to pot this and screw
:16:38. > :16:41.back for one of the colours and maybe running through off one
:16:42. > :16:46.cushion but still playing for ball colour. Yep. Such a got podder. I
:16:47. > :17:01.don't know why he doesn't play more pots.
:17:02. > :18:37.He would like to be a bit straighter on this blue. Can't do much with the
:18:38. > :18:44.cue ball when you drop it in. He is going around to have a look to see
:18:45. > :18:49.what the red is closest, not the one month the bottom, the one just above
:18:50. > :18:56.that. Will that go into the right-hand corner pocket?
:18:57. > :19:36.But the other thing would be trying to get on a red and bring that pink
:19:37. > :19:46.and - open up around the pink spot, if he can.
:19:47. > :20:32.Overrun slightly, but it is OK. It is the one above the black, which in
:20:33. > :20:39.turn gives more chance of getting the black in play at some time. You
:20:40. > :20:44.know, it's not - hardly - I suppose he could win the game off here,
:20:45. > :20:49.after the pink and blue. But he would like to get the black in,
:20:50. > :20:55.though, and play very soon. 19. That was a clever little shot, wasn't it?
:20:56. > :20:59.Just freed the pink up into the middle and... Moving that red away
:21:00. > :21:04.now opens the couple of red arounds the pink spot into the right-hand
:21:05. > :21:10.corner pocket. So... A really good chance now. That's what he had to
:21:11. > :21:15.do, he had to get the pink or black into play to really have a good
:21:16. > :21:23.opportunity to win this frame in one visit. 25 .
:21:24. > :21:29.26. Looking pretty good now to be two-up with a possible three to
:21:30. > :21:51.play. I don't think that's the best shot
:21:52. > :21:53.he's ever played. Could have done with being a lot straighter on this
:21:54. > :22:00.red. Could have played on the red Close
:22:01. > :22:05.to the corner pocket as well, the right-hand corner pocket. The red
:22:06. > :22:09.below the black pots into the a little bit corner pocket and he's...
:22:10. > :22:16.Yeah, he's struggling a bit. OK. He is on the red but he has a bit more
:22:17. > :22:25.work to do with the cue ball. It could go wrong.
:22:26. > :22:32.He's judged that nicely. Good shot! I presume he was hoping the red
:22:33. > :22:38.would come away from the black, but he's got the right side of the blue.
:22:39. > :22:44.The next two reds are no problem. That would put him best lot of 60
:22:45. > :22:46.points in front. He only needs one of the more difficult reds and a
:22:47. > :23:22.colour. 38. It's been an excellent play this.
:23:23. > :23:27.The black has been throughout commission throughout the break. The
:23:28. > :23:37.pink was tied up pretty much for the first part of the break. That puts
:23:38. > :23:53.him 56 in front. 46. The pink is 62. So one more red.
:23:54. > :24:01.Looks like he's just too straight to be able to get close to the red that
:24:02. > :24:06.is tight on the cushion. He only needs a red, just get on it. Doesn't
:24:07. > :24:12.matter... Just leave yourself some sort of shot on the red. It is worth
:24:13. > :24:26.taking on because it is unlikely that Mark Allen can clear it in one
:24:27. > :24:38.53. The 53 break as almost been as good as one of Mark Allen's
:24:39. > :25:05.centuries. That's how difficult it was when he started.
:25:06. > :25:34.The red doesn't got in, and... OK. 69 points ahead, barring snookers.
:25:35. > :25:38.It looks like Martin will go 5-3 in the lead.
:25:39. > :25:47.. Martin Gould, one frame away from victory as he breaks off in frame 9.
:25:48. > :25:51.Mark Allen, quite simply, has to win the remaining three frames. He is
:25:52. > :25:55.scoring well enough. But, like I said earlier, his safety has not
:25:56. > :26:13.been up to scratch today. Looking at a possibly three-ball plant.
:26:14. > :26:45.And a three-ball plant got! Well played.
:26:46. > :26:50.Decided to take that difficult brown on, knowing that he has to make
:26:51. > :26:56.something happened. Does Martin Gould have an angle on the red to be
:26:57. > :27:02.able to bring the black into play? Certainly looks that way in the red
:27:03. > :27:06.and the black are directed. It looks like the black will certainly be
:27:07. > :27:11.going towards the corner pocket. Looks like it is almost a plan.
:27:12. > :27:14.Doesn't have to put too much pace, but just enough to get the red away
:27:15. > :27:26.from the black spot. Well, maybe, because the fact that
:27:27. > :27:33.it was a plant he was afraid. He's come too short on the blue. He has
:27:34. > :27:38.the brown, and the brown is a perfect angle to go into the pot,
:27:39. > :27:47.just below the pink, but, again, difficult pot into a blind pocket.
:27:48. > :27:54.Looks like he decided to take the brown on and bring the pink into
:27:55. > :27:59.play. There is every chance the red could spring off the pack and bring
:28:00. > :28:04.the black into play as well here. Brought the pink out. But hasn't
:28:05. > :28:09.brought the black out. Tu it was an excellent shot. At first glance, I
:28:10. > :28:14.don't think he is on anything. That is unlucky, subject it! De-- isn't
:28:15. > :28:30.it! He deserved to be on something there. Five.
:28:31. > :28:48.Martin Gould five. But, again, the back wall and cue ball very close to
:28:49. > :28:54.the ball cushion. He has a safety shot off the edge of the pack. If he
:28:55. > :29:01.does play that he will be bringing the black into play. That is why you
:29:02. > :29:05.have to be careful. You have to find the ball cushion if you are playing
:29:06. > :29:09.that. He's decided against it. Just playing a containing safety shot
:29:10. > :29:13.here, leaving the white at the centre of the table. I wonder
:29:14. > :29:16.whether that red's gone far enough to be able -- to be available in the
:29:17. > :30:02.middle. I don't think it has. That is an attacking safety shot but
:30:03. > :30:09.unfortunately, as you can see, he hasn't got the pace again. One good
:30:10. > :30:11.pot for Martin Gould. He has a good chance here with the spread. He
:30:12. > :30:46.needs a good pot. The fact that Mark Allen is a
:30:47. > :30:52.left-hander - I am sure he has enough of the red to the left corner
:30:53. > :30:58.and he can possibly just try to run into the red that's - well, no. He
:30:59. > :31:03.doesn't have... I thought he could have potted the red that is closest
:31:04. > :31:18.and try to get on the black, but that's a good pot. One.
:31:19. > :31:45.He would love to get on the red and the black spot here, if possible.
:31:46. > :32:43.Just two more loose reds now. ..Before he will start contemplating
:32:44. > :33:02.disturbing that pack of six reds. The last of the loose reds to
:33:03. > :33:08.follow, and then a nice angle on black or pink. That will make this a
:33:09. > :33:25.frame-winning break. Usually when the pack are very tight
:33:26. > :33:32.it isn't easy to go into them from the black, but rather than six reds,
:33:33. > :33:38.they are all big - pushing towards pockets, if he goes into them. 34.
:33:39. > :33:42.That will be one going towards the yellow, one to the right - sorry,
:33:43. > :33:48.the left-hand middle pocket. Unless he sticks on a read it is almost
:33:49. > :33:56.bound to be on a red into almost the corner or the middle.
:33:57. > :34:02.Push one to the corner, unfortunately hit the wrong side of
:34:03. > :34:07.the pack. Nair but there. Amazing, isn't it Ken? Yeah, you generate a
:34:08. > :34:15.lot of power off that side cushion as well but the angle on the black
:34:16. > :34:21.wasn't great, was it? A bit unlucky really. Could have easily been on a
:34:22. > :34:27.red. But just didn't break nice for him. So, just a safety shot. A
:34:28. > :34:30.37-point lead, but the situation with the reds... One chance. It
:34:31. > :35:23.could be crucial. 37-point lead. He would like to
:35:24. > :35:29.leave the black and red alone at the moment, with that lead. He would
:35:30. > :35:31.like to get a baulk colour save. Martin Gould is still well within
:35:32. > :35:46.this frame. That's not the best safety that he's
:35:47. > :36:12.ever played. This red may be pottable.
:36:13. > :36:21.A good safety shot. Well played. May force Mark Allen to take this long
:36:22. > :36:26.putt on and get the gap between the red and the black. He can get back
:36:27. > :36:32.into the baulk. Probably play for the yellow here off two cautions,
:36:33. > :37:02.maybe -- cushions, maybe three. Mmm. A chance for Martin Gould.
:37:03. > :37:11.Amazing! It was first after the match. Didn't knock that in without
:37:12. > :37:13.any problem. He has a chance of winning the frame and the match. I
:37:14. > :37:51.think it is slightly more difficult. a bit closer to the cushion than he
:37:52. > :37:58.would like, but shouldn't be any real problem.
:37:59. > :38:40.Quietly as you can, please, thank you. Getting ever-close tore the
:38:41. > :38:45.winning post. Just within one frame. He leads by 47. Two more reds, two
:38:46. > :39:19.more colours. He really needs two more reds to
:39:20. > :39:25.keep goult Gould -- Martin Gould coming back to the table. This red -
:39:26. > :39:31.he knows Martin Gould will come back. He would love to pot red, the
:39:32. > :39:36.colour red, and then he won't come back to the table. Why he is
:39:37. > :39:41.starting the cue libt better -- a little bit better, he would rather
:39:42. > :39:48.just keep him off the table. Judged that nicely, the hole for the pink.
:39:49. > :39:59.Red... To follow. He will be making sure this red, as you can see, 60
:40:00. > :40:07.points ahead, make sure of the red. That will close the gap and it is
:40:08. > :40:10.match on again. What a shot that was!
:40:11. > :40:26.32. When he is in amongst the pink and black, he's been excellent. But,
:40:27. > :40:32.as you said, Willie, just a few loose safety shots has cost him a
:40:33. > :40:41.few frames in this match. But he's still - well... Still well within it
:40:42. > :40:47.and well within Martin Gould's sight.
:40:48. > :40:57.Well, when he is flowing he is as good as anybody, isn't it? Very
:40:58. > :41:02.aggressive player. But, as Ken mentioned, it is only the safety
:41:03. > :41:05.department that hasn't been up to scratch today, because everything
:41:06. > :41:11.else - he has certainly been the better of the two as far as breaking
:41:12. > :41:16.is concerned. And should he clear he will be in front of aggregates as
:41:17. > :41:22.well. He is learn I potting as many balls as Martin, but just that bit
:41:23. > :41:29.of safety. He is back in the match now at 5-4. He's already had breaks
:41:30. > :41:33.of 170 and 102. This is this break over 50, apart from those two
:41:34. > :41:35.don'tries. That's what he is blessed with - an amazing amount of cue
:41:36. > :41:52.power. No pot on the black! An excellent
:41:53. > :41:57.break of 67. He reduces the deficit to just one frame. He still trails,
:41:58. > :42:09.though, by five frames to four. APPLAUSE
:42:10. > :42:17.So, again, Mark Allen not the best break-off. Half a chance for Martin
:42:18. > :42:30.Gould. Quite a long way away from there,
:42:31. > :43:50.this time. Has he left anything? At early chance here for Mark Allen
:43:51. > :43:56.to get a few points on the board. The way he is feeling at the moment,
:43:57. > :44:00.he is looking very aggressive at the moment and who knows? In a few
:44:01. > :44:06.moment's time we might be all squared a 5-5. Needs to come by the
:44:07. > :44:51.red. Just OK. A good shot. 11. The red at the bottom of the pack is
:44:52. > :44:59.a -- is in an ideal situation. He can drop the blue, try to get on the
:45:00. > :45:06.red, but finish low on the red so he can - on potting the red he can
:45:07. > :45:12.bring the - some more reds into play. Just watch the cue ball here.
:45:13. > :45:17.It will be certainly... OK, if he finishes straight, he still has the
:45:18. > :45:24.black and a couple of loose reds, but try to finish low on the red. He
:45:25. > :45:29.has overran it but... 25. He still has the black to split the reds and
:45:30. > :45:41.still couple of loose reds available.
:45:42. > :45:47.Got a lot of action on that, and, again, he's been very unfortunate.
:45:48. > :45:59.33. That's why it would have been so
:46:00. > :46:05.much nicer for him to be finished low on the previous red. So much
:46:06. > :46:10.easier when you are splitting the reds with a red, because it - of the
:46:11. > :46:15.position of the pack is very flat, wasn't it, Willie? Never easy to
:46:16. > :46:20.generate cue ball movement when it is like that. Unlucky not to be able
:46:21. > :46:25.to cue something better than this. The baulk is pottable, but... He
:46:26. > :46:53.won't be too interested in that. APPLAUSE
:46:54. > :47:48.Another good safety shot from Martin Gould. Not easy having to baulk from
:47:49. > :48:24.here. Tempt into the middle pocket. If he
:48:25. > :48:31.can get somewhere near the jaws of the middle pocket, he will be on the
:48:32. > :48:36.blue if he goes in, he won't be leaving an off lot if he doesn't,
:48:37. > :48:40.but I don't think he's even attempting it, playing the safety.
:48:41. > :48:45.He's been a little bit cautious today. That is probably the reason
:48:46. > :48:51.he is in front, but now and again he may have attempted a shot that - he
:48:52. > :48:57.is such a good potter, the safety has been superb. Yeah. There is more
:48:58. > :49:04.evidence of it, bringing the two reds into play, and... Putting a bit
:49:05. > :49:09.of pressure on Mark Allen here. This is a strange shot. He is always
:49:10. > :49:15.leaving this red over the right middle. Why you would want to move
:49:16. > :49:21.the cue ball down this end of the table? OK. He wanted to get close
:49:22. > :49:28.wear the cue ball to the corner pocket, so this red would be on
:49:29. > :49:33.touchable, but straightforward now. A natural angle to go through the
:49:34. > :49:39.baulk colours, without kissing them. One. . This is the first chance he's
:49:40. > :49:44.had in the last frame-and-a-half to have a chance of winning frame and
:49:45. > :49:48.match. But the ball was in a nice position here. You can see him
:49:49. > :49:52.getting right back into the frame here, if not winning it at this
:49:53. > :49:58.visit. That's the only problem. When it is the final frame, the frame to
:49:59. > :50:03.witch the match, all of a sudden players start to be too cautious.
:50:04. > :50:08.But this is a chance, make no mistake. No reds on the cushion. The
:50:09. > :50:11.two difficult reds that were on the cushion, from his previous safety
:50:12. > :50:16.shot, he brought them into play. So... He's set this opportunity very
:50:17. > :50:21.nicely for himself. He won't get a better opportunity than this.
:50:22. > :50:47.Three or four inches and there is a red available into the opposite
:50:48. > :50:55.corner pocket, and one available in the middle as well. He's not made a
:50:56. > :51:01.very good fist of that. No, that's a very tentative shot. Wanted to be -
:51:02. > :51:12.didn't want to be straight on this red.
:51:13. > :51:34.That's not the best shot either. May have a slight angle on the blue,
:51:35. > :51:43.just to get closer down to these reds, but...
:51:44. > :52:03.It looks like he is on the middle red of the three if he wants to play
:52:04. > :52:09.for the black. The angle he has on the one we can see there in open
:52:10. > :52:14.play on the left is not natural, because he is going to finish close
:52:15. > :52:19.to the cushion, unless he bounces it is. That is what he has done. Played
:52:20. > :52:25.it pretty well. Looks like he is straight on the black. Again, he is
:52:26. > :52:30.going to need a really good shot. Well, actually, the angle has gone
:52:31. > :52:34.away from where he would have liked. APPLAUSE
:52:35. > :52:36.He has to play this with a lot of reverse side. He could overscrew
:52:37. > :52:49.this. Oh! Wow! Just played that absolutely
:52:50. > :52:53.perfect. Not quite sure whether he played for those two reds, to be
:52:54. > :52:59.honest! I thought he was play for the two reds coming up for the
:53:00. > :53:05.little extreme left red. Moving this one, brings the other two into play.
:53:06. > :53:09.This is a great chance for frame and match. Once again - he does this
:53:10. > :53:15.often. Careless when he gets around the black spot. You have to make
:53:16. > :53:19.sure you finish low or high. He has given himself plenty to do again
:53:20. > :53:24.with this cue ball now. Didn't want to be straight. He has two reds
:53:25. > :53:29.below the pink there available into the right centre. Again, the same
:53:30. > :53:35.angle as almost the last black he played. He will play this shot
:53:36. > :53:42.again. He's played for the two reds into the right centre. He's played
:53:43. > :53:47.it very well. But, of course, whatever he pot - these are a bit
:53:48. > :53:53.more difficult than they should have been - there is of course, the added
:53:54. > :53:55.pressure. The points are all square after that last colour. Now he is in
:53:56. > :54:04.the lead in this final frame. Those two reds to the left of the
:54:05. > :54:09.pink, he is going to have to negotiate the path of one of those
:54:10. > :54:16.two very shortly. Once he gets rid of the one below the pink, that will
:54:17. > :54:18.open at least one of them. This is a wonderful chance now for frame and
:54:19. > :54:36.match. 41. Yes, again! Wanted to be a little
:54:37. > :54:39.bit higher with the cue ball on this black. Every time, just puts
:54:40. > :54:47.himself... Puts himself under pressure. He's been at that angle
:54:48. > :54:54.for at least three times now during this break. He's played an excellent
:54:55. > :55:01.recovery there! Forcing the angle on the black and out through the gap.
:55:02. > :55:09.49. The only hope for Mark Allen is the red that's closest to the pink.
:55:10. > :55:13.50. Once again! LAUGHTER
:55:14. > :55:19.You might think he's doing it on purpose! A write smile from -- wry
:55:20. > :55:23.smile! You would think he would learn from the last previous shots.
:55:24. > :55:26.Four times he has got the wrong angle. Four times he's got out of
:55:27. > :55:52.it. Will he do it again? Eventually, I suppose, when you keep
:55:53. > :55:57.playing screw shot after screw shot you are going to get a bad contact.
:55:58. > :56:03.And that's what's happened there. 57. 24 points in front. It is worth
:56:04. > :56:30.taking this one on to the green pocket.
:56:31. > :56:41.A great shot! A great pot! A wonderful angle on the black! This
:56:42. > :56:45.is Mark Allen's only hope. He is 25 ahead, Martin Gould. Black will be
:56:46. > :56:51.32. Mark Allen, can't bear to watch at the moment, but he needs a good
:56:52. > :56:57.kiss on this red, bring it into play. Would you play the pink and
:56:58. > :57:03.the red at the same time? Or just play into the red? Just play into
:57:04. > :57:07.the red, just a half ball. But he's played it very well. He's played
:57:08. > :57:09.into the pink full ball. So... APPLAUSE
:57:10. > :57:11.That's it! That's red to put him... ..Into the next round of the UK
:57:12. > :57:37.Championships. 66. 71. We said we were expecting high
:57:38. > :57:41.quality snooker from both players, who have come into a bit of form.
:57:42. > :57:48.They certainly provided us with that. Couple of centuries for Mark
:57:49. > :57:56.Allen. 77, 66, 59, 57 for Martin Gould. 76 and counting here.
:57:57. > :58:00.Excellent quality! And exalt safety play for Martin Gould, has to be
:58:01. > :58:01.said. That has been the difference. He's carved out the opportunities
:58:02. > :58:21.for himself. He is going to finish with the
:58:22. > :58:28.black. Will we see a little exhibition shot?
:58:29. > :58:34.Well, a wonderful break from Martin Gould! A 98 to finish off the match.
:58:35. > :58:42.Well-played, Martin Gould! APPLAUSE
:58:43. > :58:46.Congratulations to Martin Gould. He now meets Northern Ireland's Joe
:58:47. > :58:50.Swail in the fourth round. We are back with live coverage from the
:58:51. > :58:57.Barbican here in York. 1 o'clock on BBC2 as we move into the fourth
:58:58. > :58:58.round and to a two-table set-up. We will see you then. From all of us