:00:00. > :00:49.Hello again from a busy player's lounge.
:00:50. > :01:02.We have already had a couple of shots this week when Neil Robinson
:01:03. > :01:11.was booted out by Lines. The world number four, John Higgins fear, as
:01:12. > :01:19.enjoyed a fantastic November. He really is flying at the moment. Good
:01:20. > :01:25.24-year-old Noppon Saengkham bring back? This guy has achieved
:01:26. > :01:30.something great this week. He beat Candie D6-
:01:31. > :02:14.It will be interesting to see if this red just above the black wool
:02:15. > :02:20.pot into the left-hand side pocket. He is coming around to have a look.
:02:21. > :02:30.It clearly does go, so -- It clearly does go,
:02:31. > :02:43.so that will certainly He will be trying to get down to the
:02:44. > :02:53.black as soon as possible. He will not be able to on this occasion.
:02:54. > :03:30.At least three open roads around the black. And the pink...
:03:31. > :03:44.Sometimes when you make a poor break at the table, you leave your
:03:45. > :03:50.opponent with a chance to leave the frame in good succession. He still
:03:51. > :03:53.has a bit of work to do. Yes, you cannot drop your concentration for a
:03:54. > :04:02.second. So if John decides to play the low, it is all about line and
:04:03. > :04:20.length. It is all about line, but a little bit hard.
:04:21. > :04:29.-- So if John decides to play the yellow,
:04:30. > :04:39.Played that nicely. I was wondering if he was going to go into the reds.
:04:40. > :04:47.Perfect on the pink. But decided not to play the canon. It is imperative
:04:48. > :04:52.that he pots this red -- to pot this red that he gets a good angle on the
:04:53. > :05:01.bike. Because this is the last of the open reds.
:05:02. > :05:11.He is low, but can he generate enough backspin with the amount of
:05:12. > :05:14.pace he needs to bring the reds into play?
:05:15. > :05:37.Straight here for the pink as well, I think. Would have loved that
:05:38. > :05:45.little bit more of an angle, again. Straighter than he would have liked,
:05:46. > :06:02.so he does not have the proper angle to go into the pack, here. There are
:06:03. > :06:08.you think he would leave yourself a half or green, here, or a half all
:06:09. > :06:15.yellow. Pods the yellow and come off the side cushion. It is a little bit
:06:16. > :06:24.straighter than he would have liked. He has got to bring other Reds into
:06:25. > :06:29.-- He has got to bring other reds into play, now.
:06:30. > :07:14.And that is not going to do it. By the look on Jon's face, you can
:07:15. > :07:37.always tell what mannerisms they have and what it means.
:07:38. > :07:43.He is trying to get this in behind the green, I think, but has he
:07:44. > :08:13.missed you? -- miscued. He has put its hand in it and
:08:14. > :08:15.apologise. That was not the intention. But he will settle for
:08:16. > :09:03.it. -- apologised. That was a surprise. It hasn't
:09:04. > :09:16.settled just yet, it John Higgins. -- he has not. We haven't seen any
:09:17. > :10:19.of those misses from John Higgins in the last little while.
:10:20. > :10:32.I don't think there is a red available, but he has the perfect
:10:33. > :10:38.angle. He wants to come off that top cushion straight into the that
:10:39. > :10:43.cluster. Don't miss the black, though, it never take your eyes off
:10:44. > :10:46.the pot. It was half a chance, but he has gone begging. -- and never
:10:47. > :11:39.take. That was a much better shot than it
:11:40. > :11:48.looked. Perfect position for John Higgins.
:11:49. > :11:57.Certainly a frame when, right there. 43, black will be 50. One more red
:11:58. > :12:14.after this black. You could say he has had a little
:12:15. > :12:29.bit of a let off. The young man did not take his chance when he had it.
:12:30. > :13:30.Surely this is the second frame sewn up.
:13:31. > :13:36.He won't be bothered about missing the red. Noppon Saengkham has
:13:37. > :14:10.conceded that. Not one site So John Higgins gets thrown away.
:14:11. > :14:21.These matches best of 11. Used to be Best of 17 in the championships, but
:14:22. > :14:29.now they are best of 11. The thing is with best 11, if you have a bad
:14:30. > :14:34.session, or you can be out. In 17, it you could have a bad session and
:14:35. > :15:03.still have a chance of coming back. Now it takes six to win.
:15:04. > :15:12.This is the Barbican Centre from the back of the hall. A wonderful view.
:15:13. > :15:18.I believe the final has already sold out. That has always been popular
:15:19. > :15:23.here in York. Good to see so many people in here today, as well. A
:15:24. > :15:31.really great crowd for the afternoon.
:15:32. > :15:41.Perfect Snuka weather. There is a chill in the air. You would rather
:15:42. > :15:49.be in doors than outdoors. -- snooker weather. I'm a little bit
:15:50. > :15:54.mystified by the pace of the table at the
:15:55. > :17:02.-- it is not a dangerous shot. Play for the black. Started as a 70. --
:17:03. > :17:27.certainty. He has played the same shot again.
:17:28. > :17:32.Has he got at this time? He has played exactly the same shot with
:17:33. > :17:41.the previous black. You would think that he would learn his lesson.
:17:42. > :17:52.And no plant this two countries rescue. Suggest a safety. -- and no
:17:53. > :18:10.plant this time to come to his rescue. Just the safety.
:18:11. > :18:16.Straightforward, hard back up towards the yellow.
:18:17. > :18:27.He could find himself in a little bit of trouble if this cue ball
:18:28. > :18:29.moves a little bit more. He looks a little perturbed at the moment, John
:18:30. > :19:27.Higgins. Obviously can't get through to the
:19:28. > :19:36.yellow from here, so I can't see a way back. He has got to catch this
:19:37. > :19:47.just right. Don't want to hit this too hard. It's in the pink. Those
:19:48. > :19:57.that leave a nice easy starter for John Higgins? I think it does. When
:19:58. > :22:17.you see a gift... -- that was a nicely controlled
:22:18. > :22:33.strike. This is the last of the open reds. He may not have too play into
:22:34. > :22:37.the pack, here. -- to play. Either of those two reds, directly above
:22:38. > :22:40.the cue ball, as we look now. He just had a quick look to see how
:22:41. > :23:20.both of them pot. All the while building a nice
:23:21. > :23:25.healthy lead in this frame. 75 still on the table, so he needs one more
:23:26. > :23:37.red. He will need the black, first. It is incredible, we have seen a lot
:23:38. > :23:39.of balls miss judged in a way we have not seen the last couple of
:23:40. > :24:02.weeks. -- misjudge. Some screenshots are being played.
:24:03. > :24:07.-- strange shots. The red closest to the cue ball will go to the far left
:24:08. > :24:12.corner. I do not know why he is not go to play the pot, here. If you
:24:13. > :24:17.went straight to the question, he would be on the black, but if he
:24:18. > :24:24.trickles off and tries to play safe, he could leave a red to his right
:24:25. > :24:35.corner. Or is he paying it to the far right corner than? He must be.
:24:36. > :24:37.So close! But the only thing with playing it that way is that if you
:24:38. > :25:02.miss it, you leave one. I could not believe he did not get
:25:03. > :25:37.the cue ball tighter to the top cushion.
:25:38. > :25:47.Once again, a little bit disappointing. He is still looking
:25:48. > :25:59.for a another red. Once he pops, Potts
:26:00. > :26:09.-- starting to go for the blue. That is the case along as he does not
:26:10. > :26:13.come to straight. I think he just has the angle to go to the red along
:26:14. > :26:22.the long question. Back to tie up this frame. We will see that. 66, it
:26:23. > :26:31.67 with the black over the corner. He has everything worked out, here.
:26:32. > :26:35.So this red goes 67 ahead, 67 remaining. As SA, the black is a
:26:36. > :27:12.formality. -- as I say. 74 points the lead, 67
:27:13. > :27:21.remaining. In four frames, there will be in. -- and interval.
:27:22. > :28:18.I have never seen as many plants! It is like Gardeners World!
:28:19. > :28:28.John Higgins will be concentrating, here, because he is just not found
:28:29. > :28:35.his place in the table, yet. OK, he will have a 2-1 advantage, but this
:28:36. > :28:40.is a chance to... And he misses the black, so that is it. That was a bit
:28:41. > :28:51.more like it. But still got the odd missing them. And John Higgins now
:28:52. > :28:57.leads by two frames to wine. -- two frames to one. Last session before
:28:58. > :29:09.the interval. Tao, a short his compatriot would
:29:10. > :29:23.have given him some voice. --I am sure his compatriot.
:29:24. > :29:41.What a wonderful player he was from Thailand, and still is, of course.
:29:42. > :29:59.The most successful player from Thailand. Still practices at the
:30:00. > :30:06.academy. James Wattana. And to a lesser degree Stephen Hendry from
:30:07. > :30:09.Scotland. Even said this is how you can do it, guys, you put in the hard
:30:10. > :30:27.work, practice. James Wattana, of course, was a
:30:28. > :30:31.fantastic player, I wonder how much he would have passed on some of that
:30:32. > :30:48.experience. That is not bad! I thought the red
:30:49. > :30:55.was going to go in but the red and black are now a plant. You hit the
:30:56. > :30:59.red to the left of the blackspot, at some point or other, and hit the
:31:00. > :31:02.black and not the red in. And the black will be over the hole,
:31:03. > :31:08.waiting. It could have all gone wrong and it
:31:09. > :31:36.has gone all right. You would love the pink to go to the
:31:37. > :31:46.right, that would be a bonus. It looks a bit tight. Maybe half a
:31:47. > :31:56.pocket. There is half a pocket but he has decided to play the black
:31:57. > :32:01.now. The more pace you pay -- play this shot, the more chance you have
:32:02. > :32:05.of missing it. I think the red to the left of the blackspot will putt
:32:06. > :32:14.into the bottom right-hand corner pocket. Maybe try to get on that.
:32:15. > :32:20.Nicely played. Some nice shots with the reds so far this match. I was
:32:21. > :32:26.going to say that. He has not had much to go worn but four from four
:32:27. > :32:38.and played some pressure balls. -- not had much to go on.
:32:39. > :32:44.A couple of times during this match when he has had these opportunities
:32:45. > :32:48.in and around the black. These are the chances you hoped for but a
:32:49. > :33:02.couple of times he has missed the black. Got to make the most of this.
:33:03. > :33:10.As Ken alluded to, this is a brig -- big frame for him. Two adrift, two
:33:11. > :33:26.apiece and will keep the pressure on John Higgins.
:33:27. > :33:34.May have got a little strain on the black but still three or four reds
:33:35. > :33:42.to go on. He is looking to the one on the right. An angle to come
:33:43. > :33:47.around, two cushions and put the ball in the middle of the table
:33:48. > :34:01.somewhere. You have read either left or right centre. Tried to get on the
:34:02. > :34:30.red closest to the ball, tried to force the angle.
:34:31. > :35:07.You would think big yellow, got to get the right line. You would think
:35:08. > :35:16.the red adjacent to the pink, you have got to judge the gap between
:35:17. > :35:39.the red and the blue. Couldn't have played it any better, good shot.
:35:40. > :35:56.He needs an angle on this black. Has he got the angle? Perfect angle. You
:35:57. > :36:04.have got to hit it at the centre and cue get smooth. Should have played
:36:05. > :36:10.that off two cushions but it only just reached the second cushions so
:36:11. > :36:17.that tells me he didn't hit it as sweet as he might have and that is
:36:18. > :36:23.not good. If he is straight on the red, fine but to concede off
:36:24. > :36:29.straight he will run into the black. The last shot was the poor
:36:30. > :36:50.positional one. He just managed to hit the black and
:36:51. > :37:05.it is in a good position. He has got to make certain he pots the black.
:37:06. > :37:13.Cannot afford to miss this one. Played it well. If he is not on one
:37:14. > :37:23.that is very unlucky. Has he got one to the right middle? If he is not on
:37:24. > :37:29.anything he is very unlucky. He couldn't have played it much better.
:37:30. > :37:39.Plenty of pace as well, didn't he? Could easily have been one of these
:37:40. > :37:51.reds right or left centre. He has got to be careful with the cue ball.
:37:52. > :37:57.Playing a delicate little shocked. John Higgins got the cue ball to the
:37:58. > :37:59.ball carrier. He would love to take the red to the left-hand cushion and
:38:00. > :38:36.bring it to open play. OK, a little bit short of pace. He
:38:37. > :38:45.is going to try to nurse his lead but should he give John Higgins a
:38:46. > :38:54.chance, every read in an potable position. The three rents across the
:38:55. > :39:06.black and try to get the cue ball across the black but he is not going
:39:07. > :39:19.to play that shot. That looks pretty good. I agree, I don't think he
:39:20. > :39:20.could play it any better, really. Higgins not leaving an opportunity
:39:21. > :39:55.to win the frame. He tried to finds the bottom
:39:56. > :40:03.cushion. He has knocked the red to the far left corner. He has got this
:40:04. > :40:09.red to the middle and if he can play that and covered red to the pink you
:40:10. > :40:21.would play it. If you cannot, maybe it is too risky.
:40:22. > :40:28.It was too risky. I don't blame him for not taking it but he had to get
:40:29. > :40:30.the snooker and right behind the line of the shot, just about covered
:40:31. > :40:52.the potting angle. Just wondering, can he put a bit of
:40:53. > :41:00.right-hand side to create a bit of an angle to try to pot this. Tried
:41:01. > :41:13.to. Just about enough cover. The chance to go into the midsession
:41:14. > :41:20.interval at two apiece with the world number four.
:41:21. > :41:33.It is all about the pace. Doesn't want to shoot it too hard and not
:41:34. > :41:45.tried to get the black. Maybe a blue. Keeps his options open. He has
:41:46. > :41:53.been very fortunate. How lucky was that? If he doesn't catch the bumpy
:41:54. > :41:59.would be tight against the side and any colour would be difficult. After
:42:00. > :42:01.this blue, another couple of reds and colours would be sufficient to
:42:02. > :42:39.take the frame. Straight on the blue. Still got the
:42:40. > :42:49.red that separated to the right of the Peach. Just looking for the blue
:42:50. > :43:05.and one more red, which will help the situation. Horrendous kick ex-
:43:06. > :43:15.commission mark you heard it and the cue ball hardly moved, I'm lucky. So
:43:16. > :43:29.he has got this red. Under pressure but he is using the red. So far he
:43:30. > :43:34.is 100% success. A few pressure balls with the rest so far and he is
:43:35. > :43:45.going to need another one. 67 on, 65 ahead. Very good shot. Excellent.
:43:46. > :43:51.Under the circumstances. And particularly after you had a bad
:43:52. > :43:53.kick. That to ball looked like it got stuck in some mud. When that
:43:54. > :44:08.happens you can be very frustrated. He will certainly win the frame now.
:44:09. > :44:18.He has held himself together very, very well.
:44:19. > :44:34.Nice shot. I sure his cup of tea will taste a little sweeter.
:44:35. > :45:12.It is good stuff. He has fed off John's mistakes but his solid and
:45:13. > :45:26.looks capable, very capable when he gets in. -- and he is solid. He
:45:27. > :45:32.disgruntled figure a little bit in these first few frames, John
:45:33. > :45:41.Higgins. He is struggling a bit with the pace of the table. The good
:45:42. > :45:47.thing is, it is interval time coming up, a time to regroup and it is the
:45:48. > :45:57.first of six and plenty of time for the players to play to the best of
:45:58. > :46:02.their ability at the moment. Knocking some nice balls in and it
:46:03. > :46:44.will give him a bit of confidence in the second half of the match.
:46:45. > :46:55.He has missed the blue but John Higgins says enough and gets his
:46:56. > :47:24.second frame on the board and levels the match at two frames.
:47:25. > :47:37.More or less forced into playing that. Obviously the black was
:47:38. > :47:45.available. It makes me wonder, I sure there is a pot on here in
:47:46. > :47:58.regards to getting on the colour, I don't think it is a straightforward
:47:59. > :48:02.pot. It seems to be the one below the black he is looking out for a
:48:03. > :48:15.little further up. Can he forced the two ball in? Don't take your eyes
:48:16. > :48:22.off the pot. Want him to play with a bit more pace than that, young man.
:48:23. > :48:31.Not the pot but position. He has played a bit tentatively. Got to
:48:32. > :48:36.push the cue ball. Four, five inches would be nice, the black or the pink
:48:37. > :48:43.into the middle. Definitely the worst possible scenario is being
:48:44. > :48:48.short. He has been very good with the rest but we will see what he is
:48:49. > :48:53.like with the spider. Surely he cannot take the black on. He is
:48:54. > :49:01.looking at the potting angle. This is as tough as it can get.
:49:02. > :49:13.Five out of five with the rest. Too difficult. Has he got away with it?
:49:14. > :49:17.On first glance it is not too bad because he cue ball is close to the
:49:18. > :49:27.left-hand side cushion but John has a bread to the centre here. -- has a
:49:28. > :49:38.red. If he misses it he will be leaving a red, a bit of pressure on
:49:39. > :49:48.this. Will you keep still please. Excuse me? Just a bit of movement.
:49:49. > :49:59.This is a big shot, as you say, he has got to cue this nice, beyond the
:50:00. > :50:05.pink if it goes in. Did not play it as confidently as I would have
:50:06. > :50:13.expected. I thought he might have fully committed to that, hedged his
:50:14. > :50:17.bets, somewhat. Went for ball colour as opposed to just dropping it in.
:50:18. > :50:27.Taking the pink into the bottom left hand pocket he has left it to the
:50:28. > :50:46.corner pocket. The black is waiting for the opposite corner. It needs
:50:47. > :50:54.good two. To eat nicely. -- he cued it nicely.
:50:55. > :51:08.Nicely controlled as well off two cushions, read to the left corner
:51:09. > :51:21.pocket. Must leave himself a nice angle on the black. If you can try
:51:22. > :51:25.and leave somewhere, he cue ball, leave it exactly where the red is.
:51:26. > :51:41.Nice angle on the black, that is perfect. A couple of reds. The two
:51:42. > :51:43.reds below the pink if he wishes. Red into the right corner. Let's see
:51:44. > :52:28.what he chooses here. Again, nice angle. He is coming to
:52:29. > :52:33.look at those two reds above the black to the left. Into the
:52:34. > :52:50.left-hand corner pocket. Played it nicely. Slightly hampered.
:52:51. > :52:56.I don't know whether he can just roll it through and get position on
:52:57. > :53:01.the black. Looks like he will run into the second red so he has to be
:53:02. > :53:10.a bit careful. Played it well. Decent chance, this. There are a few
:53:11. > :53:15.reds covering each other but if he can keep control of the cue ball,
:53:16. > :53:23.this is a chance to build up a useful lead here.
:53:24. > :53:35.It is one of those situations. You take one red and another opens up.
:53:36. > :53:40.The red on the pink spot looks like it pots to the right centre as well
:53:41. > :53:45.as the bottom left-hand corner pocket. He is thinking a few shots
:53:46. > :53:49.ahead, looking to the red to the right of the pink, to the right-hand
:53:50. > :53:57.corner pocket. He has got plenty of options. Going to make sure he has a
:53:58. > :54:09.nice angle on the black, the pink when putting this red. Clement it
:54:10. > :54:13.looks like he played for the pink but he has over screwed that
:54:14. > :54:15.slightly, he needed to be straight on the pink. He has still got the
:54:16. > :54:29.black as a second option. I am surprised he didn't play for
:54:30. > :54:57.the black. This red goes to the bottom, two
:54:58. > :55:03.close together to the bottom left-hand corner pocket and then the
:55:04. > :55:05.other will be open to the right-hand corner pocket so it is unravelling
:55:06. > :56:23.nicely here. He has got a nice angle on the pink
:56:24. > :56:27.but there is no need to go into these reds. Whenever you play a
:56:28. > :56:38.Canon you trust a little bit to luck so if you can avoid the cannon that
:56:39. > :56:42.is the better option. He tried to avoid the cannon and didn't! And now
:56:43. > :57:01.he has got a very tough shot along the top cushion.
:57:02. > :57:29.That was a wonderful shot, got it in beautifully. Not a tricky enough
:57:30. > :57:32.black but 56 is the difference, he will need a black or 63, he will
:57:33. > :58:18.need a red and colour. He is not daunted by the fact that
:58:19. > :58:38.he is playing John Higgins. Just what he was looking for after the
:58:39. > :58:50.interval. And that's yet. That is frame ball. -- that is it. Just 67
:58:51. > :58:56.remaining, 71 the lead. Noel Rhoys Wiggins red, I would suggest. If he
:58:57. > :59:06.drops it in, John Higgins will not bother playing for snookers. He's
:59:07. > :59:31.landed in any way. He has taken it well, very well. The look has come
:59:32. > :59:45.across John Higgins' face. His opponent has settled down. He will
:59:46. > :59:51.have two mind his work. He has a bit of a kick there. It doesn't really
:59:52. > :59:59.matter. He is not at the peak. But he certainly has each as put the
:00:00. > :00:04.blue in the pocket. It would be nice to him to make his century. Hoping
:00:05. > :00:11.this blue goes in, of course. Shot. Yes, he has used all the
:00:12. > :00:45.pocket, but it went in. He left John Higgins with a
:00:46. > :00:50.difficult read, but John Higgins is still fully committed to it, trying
:00:51. > :00:59.to hedge his bat. Mr Hughes red, and has been sat down ever since. He has
:01:00. > :01:22.not been flawless, so far, in this match. And it looks like this young
:01:23. > :01:23.man is growing in confidence, to me. This red and the colourfully
:01:24. > :01:51.century. -- colour for the. Played! Verrer played indeed! --
:01:52. > :02:01.well played! -- very well played indeed!
:02:02. > :02:11.Not sure how many centuries he would have made on TV. He made a century,
:02:12. > :02:24.I think, in the match against you, didn't he? He did. You will probably
:02:25. > :02:36.mention that match if few more times, won't you.
:02:37. > :02:48.He has a good solid cue action, he hits through the ball nicely. He hit
:02:49. > :02:55.a bit of a rocky patch, in the first four frames, after he won the first
:02:56. > :02:59.frame, but it just shows you that frame just before the interval is an
:03:00. > :03:17.important frame for him to win. And he has come out firing.
:03:18. > :03:24.Excellent! Very well played indeed! As you say, that frame before the
:03:25. > :03:32.interval before the midsession is important. He has come out with a
:03:33. > :05:13.wonderful break of 131, and leads, a gain. 3-2.
:05:14. > :05:30.People to the red, didn't do a lot with the cue ball.
:05:31. > :05:48.John Higgins, one. A little shake of the head, again, it is not happy.
:05:49. > :06:01.Purposely playing that read into the blue. And the cueball back to the
:06:02. > :06:07.cushion. That was incredible. It went up the table, down the table,
:06:08. > :06:09.and could have been perfect. John Higgins now shut his Reds back to
:06:10. > :07:47.safety. Well he went for that all out that
:07:48. > :07:51.listed by quite a distance. Worse, he has left Jon Higgins with a nice
:07:52. > :07:53.easy starter. He needs to start scoring heavily from these
:07:54. > :10:48.opportunities. -- John Higgins. Now that read, if it does not pot,
:10:49. > :10:54.but it clearly does. Just put one into play, there. That was a nice
:10:55. > :11:01.little touch, there. This will certainly open things out -- this
:11:02. > :11:14.will certainly open things up. Like with all the great players,
:11:15. > :11:22.when they are under pressure you are expected to respond to the pressure.
:11:23. > :11:29.Maybe this will be the time for John Higgins.
:11:30. > :11:45.Has not really done it in one visit so far in this match. Highest break
:11:46. > :12:05.has only been 44, so far. Nothing can fly you up more than
:12:06. > :12:11.your opponents are on to play well. That certainly sharpens the mind. A
:12:12. > :12:18.little bit straight on this black, but because the reds, I'm sorry, on
:12:19. > :12:27.the raids, but he wants to leave a nice angle on the black, here. I
:12:28. > :12:31.don't think one of these reds plots, but their perfect angle to go into
:12:32. > :12:40.them. Always need a little bit of luck. That has worked out well. I
:12:41. > :12:48.was going to say nicely, but it was not too bad, but it could have been
:12:49. > :12:53.better. One to the right corner. A little bit with the cueball being so
:12:54. > :13:00.close to the red, it is not there to be so easy. He's getting Gabbedy
:13:01. > :13:06.Creek, so you is not too unhappy with the situation. Oh, he has
:13:07. > :13:15.played it nicely. And he just to pass the red to the black. Good
:13:16. > :13:22.reply, there is. -- good reply, this.
:13:23. > :13:29.His opponent has knocked a century. Concentrating on getting the frame
:13:30. > :13:49.over the line first. Lal. A very poor shot there. Easy on
:13:50. > :14:00.the blue? -- wow, a very poor shot there. He might have to take the
:14:01. > :14:06.pink to the left centre. Maybe it was a bad contact, he immediately
:14:07. > :14:11.asked for the cueball to be cleaned. He will certainly didn't want to
:14:12. > :14:17.leave himself in this position. Write in the heart of the pocket.
:14:18. > :14:19.But the position on the red. 66 points ahead. 67 remaining. It is
:14:20. > :14:56.not over just yet. John Higgins has certainly had to
:14:57. > :15:16.work for this. Now, can he go on to make a century, from here?
:15:17. > :15:21.I don't know what they were drinking at the midsession interval, but
:15:22. > :15:38.certainly the players have come out firing. Must have been strong tea. I
:15:39. > :15:46.have to get some of that key! That tea!
:15:47. > :15:52.A good position for John to reply with the century. He played that
:15:53. > :16:23.well. Not the best position of shot on
:16:24. > :16:25.this red to take into the century. Going into what we call a blind
:16:26. > :16:54.pocket. But nicely played! This is more like it, isn't it?
:16:55. > :17:18.Excellent break from John Higgins! That is what you need to do. 104.
:17:19. > :17:42.Certainly responded to his opponent better than the previous frame. 131.
:17:43. > :17:45.I wonderful 126 break. 648 Korea century for John Higgins. The levels
:17:46. > :18:19.at the match once again, 3-3. A good plot. Completed very
:18:20. > :18:23.competently. Didn't try to hide the cueball. Let the cueball in the
:18:24. > :18:31.middle of the table, and that tells you how a player is feeling. He has
:18:32. > :18:40.a straight blue to the bottom right pocket. He doesn't like it, and is
:18:41. > :18:52.going to take the green. More work to do with the cueball, here. Could
:18:53. > :18:57.have played that little better. Yes, I agree with you. Because when you
:18:58. > :19:01.get in this sort of pressure situation, the closer the cueball is
:19:02. > :19:09.to the object ball, the easier The Potters. There is a decent chance if
:19:10. > :19:23.you set about right that the black can get into both corners. Right in
:19:24. > :19:30.the heart of the pocket. Playing is better this time. Playing the red
:19:31. > :19:49.just above the black. Just gently, don't hit it too hard. The problem
:19:50. > :19:53.is if you hit it too hard, you go to knock it out of condition. If you go
:19:54. > :20:05.to play like Matt -- if you can go to play it like
:20:06. > :20:09.that, it you need to play it a little bit harder, phonics. That is
:20:10. > :20:16.part of the art of break building. Just a little delicate touch on that
:20:17. > :20:21.previous shot, as you pointed out. And he would have a read to go out.
:20:22. > :20:30.He has two pot this pink into the right centre, and a couple of reds.
:20:31. > :20:34.A possibility, once he has taken the black, I think. -- another
:20:35. > :20:56.possibility, it is taking the black. A couple of ways to play this.
:20:57. > :21:19.Either play low on the black, or play high on the black with the
:21:20. > :21:23.cueball. There is each as one of those reds would go to the right
:21:24. > :21:29.corner, but you need to be so precise. Maybe there is no chance,
:21:30. > :21:38.but if he's tried to force it into the cluster, he will have two have a
:21:39. > :22:09.bit of luck, here. Oh, well. Dost me down and call me Harry. -- dust. You
:22:10. > :22:14.could not dream of a better result. That has given him a nice angle, and
:22:15. > :22:20.that he has to play it. He has to pot this black and go into the red.
:22:21. > :22:43.As we always say, don't forget the pot. Called it right. He has been
:22:44. > :22:50.very fortunate with the cueball. On those shots, make sure of the black
:22:51. > :22:58.kite like you say. You can take your eye off it so easily. -- make sure
:22:59. > :23:01.you keep your eye on the black, like you say. That is very good.
:23:02. > :23:18.Excellent shot. Tremendous pot. He might have to go
:23:19. > :23:29.in and out of the bulk. Going to miss the yellow, come around,
:23:30. > :24:11.-- come around, and misty blue. -- and miss the blue. John Higgins just
:24:12. > :24:15.look at the scoreboard, he will already have done the calculation is
:24:16. > :24:23.in his head. Seven raids around the pink and black spot. -- seven raids.
:24:24. > :24:26.He will not need the difficult read that is near the middle pocket.
:24:27. > :24:38.-- He will not need the difficult red that is near the middle pocket.
:24:39. > :24:48.That is what the glance at the scoreboard was.
:24:49. > :25:03.-- The balls are certainly perfect here around the pink.
:25:04. > :25:11.Just have to keep a control. There is a fair bit to go in this match,
:25:12. > :25:17.but that is the difference between the two players. The cueball
:25:18. > :25:23.control. You almost feel when John Higgins gets into situations like
:25:24. > :25:31.this that he has tighter control of the cueball than his opponent. As
:25:32. > :25:40.you say, if he can stick to the blacks, in particular, it won't need
:25:41. > :25:42.the red that is near the left-hand side cushion. This black will put
:25:43. > :25:57.him nine points to lead. That is another 32 points. 35
:25:58. > :26:27.remaining after that. It was a tremendous opening raid. --
:26:28. > :26:37.red. Just a little bit short, this time. 46. I think in afford one
:26:38. > :26:56.blue. -- I think he can afford one blue.
:26:57. > :27:08.23 boys to lead. To reds, two pinks. That would be enough. -- 23 points
:27:09. > :27:32.to lead. If he could stop the blacks, there
:27:33. > :27:49.would only be a couple of snooker is Red is in a nice position for a
:27:50. > :27:56.possible double, as well. Anywhere with the cueball just write off the
:27:57. > :28:03.blue ball. And it would be a straightforward, you have to say...
:28:04. > :28:11.Across the double. I heard Stephen Henry say a few weeks ago, he is the
:28:12. > :28:30.best doubler in the game. And he is not wrong!
:28:31. > :28:44.37 points in front. 27 remaining. John Higgins is one frame away from
:28:45. > :29:12.victory. You like the odd double now and again, don't you?
:29:13. > :29:36.Against John Higgins. I don't think so.
:29:37. > :29:46.It is fair to say that he had first chance in this frame, didn't he?
:29:47. > :30:01.Yeah, certainly did. Disappointed he didn't make more of it. That black
:30:02. > :30:08.he just took his eye off. Such a big frame to go one up with two to play.
:30:09. > :30:12.Yes and John Higgins, you can bet your life, in the next frame will
:30:13. > :30:17.use all his experience could try to keep it tight. This looks close.
:30:18. > :30:43.This looks close. (CHEERING).. He has missed the blue but it
:30:44. > :30:45.doesn't matter. Noppon concedes, goes to the dressing room. John
:30:46. > :31:21.Higgins is one frame away. He leads. I was a little surprised he didn't
:31:22. > :31:27.play the run through for the black. Playing for the pink, had to be so
:31:28. > :31:39.precise. I tell you, this is a tough one. He will need the extension. He
:31:40. > :31:49.is going to be playing a difficult pink into the corner pocket. If it
:31:50. > :31:53.goes in, good setup. Possible matchwinner but he could miss this.
:31:54. > :32:04.He could miss it but he hasn't, excellent shot. That was a brave
:32:05. > :32:09.shot. It certainly was. He has not backed off much today. He could have
:32:10. > :32:27.had better position. This red by the green is missable.
:32:28. > :32:40.That would have felt good, right in the heart of the pocket. One good
:32:41. > :32:43.positional shot here. Come down the left-hand side or the right-hand
:32:44. > :32:51.side of the table. Red above the black and a couple of reds above the
:32:52. > :33:00.pink. He needs to slow up the cue ball. How much side he got on that,
:33:01. > :33:23.that was incredible. He certainly has overrun it. Qubit cued it too
:33:24. > :33:34.well. He is looking to see if the Red Bull go to the left frame. -- if
:33:35. > :33:43.the red will go. He needs to pot this. Which he has done. Where is
:33:44. > :33:47.the cue ball going? It is OK, he is on the blue, has not red to the
:33:48. > :34:25.right corner. This is a match-winning opportunity.
:34:26. > :34:35.You don't often see John Higgins lose it like that but he knew that
:34:36. > :34:39.was the chance to put the match to bed. He has never quite got the pace
:34:40. > :34:47.of the table. He is very disappointed. He is looking at the
:34:48. > :34:55.cushions as if he got a big bounce off the side cushion. He is
:34:56. > :35:02.struggling with the table all day. He has been at odds with himself, a
:35:03. > :35:15.lot of frustration. That was a double whack of the table. He is
:35:16. > :35:20.absolutely fuming. Such a frustrating game and he knew that
:35:21. > :35:24.was a chance to put the match, as I said, to bed and now it could still
:35:25. > :35:33.be in the balance. Points all square.
:35:34. > :35:51.That is reasonably safe. OK, this red to the left of the pink but
:35:52. > :36:07.surely you cannot risk playing that. No, he is playing for safety.
:36:08. > :36:15.It is funny, when you see a player is his opportunity and show his
:36:16. > :36:22.emotion, it seems to have had an effect on the match. The crowd has
:36:23. > :36:24.gone a bit quieter. They realise now that anything can happen in the next
:36:25. > :36:38.30 minutes. It is not often you see John Higgins
:36:39. > :36:52.do something like that. Normally very composed. Taking this on. And
:36:53. > :36:58.getting it! And he is going to be on the blue and if it stops short of
:36:59. > :37:00.the cushion, that is nicely done. A chance now to take us to a deciding
:37:01. > :38:57.frame. Can he get a little cannon to the
:38:58. > :39:05.top position for the other red? He has played it well, exceptionally
:39:06. > :39:09.well. Just a bit unfortunate the red carried up on the cushion a bit more
:39:10. > :39:11.than he would have liked but he is still on the red below the black
:39:12. > :39:39.nicely. He has a nice angle on the black,
:39:40. > :39:45.the pink as it turns out to get to the left-hand side cushion for the
:39:46. > :39:47.red. He plays and could get the red away from the cushion. Depends how
:39:48. > :40:05.he sees it. I don't think he played the cannon
:40:06. > :40:15.like that but it could have been worse, just 27 points remaining. He
:40:16. > :40:23.has been very good with the rest today.
:40:24. > :40:32.But not this time. Where is the red going to finish? He has got away
:40:33. > :40:50.with it. I don't think this red pots.
:40:51. > :41:03.John Higgins thinks it does. Where is the cue ball going to go? It
:41:04. > :41:08.looked too thin for the pot for me. Maybe he didn't play the pot in the
:41:09. > :41:11.end, I don't know, it is hard to say but he will be happy with the
:41:12. > :41:18.result. He definitely played the portal right. Someone in the crowd
:41:19. > :41:24.said, good shot, John. I don't think his opponent thinks that. He got
:41:25. > :41:29.very lucky there. The natural right-hand side cushion you want to
:41:30. > :41:34.hit, I think the greenies blocking that so he might have to swerve. It
:41:35. > :41:41.is the age-old problem. He has a 20 point lead but can he hit the red
:41:42. > :41:56.and more importantly, get it safe? This is a big swerve, big swerve
:41:57. > :41:58.this. Well played. Well played. But he could have left the chance with
:41:59. > :42:31.the red and he has done. The brown come to his rescue. I
:42:32. > :42:37.think I saw a little hand up from John Higgins there. The dreaded hand
:42:38. > :42:43.up. Has he covered the potting angle?
:42:44. > :43:03.Yes he has. But this looks good. Is there a gap between green and blue?
:43:04. > :43:08.Out of shot from John Higgins so I can only suggest it is a snooker.
:43:09. > :43:25.Got to get it safe. The frame is still in the balance.
:43:26. > :43:33.That was an excellent shot, very well controlled. A lot of players
:43:34. > :43:46.may have tried to hit that and hope this safe that he was confident of
:43:47. > :44:00.hitting it onto the side cushion. A bit of a nervy one.
:44:01. > :44:13.Just over the three hour mark now. This looks pretty good.
:44:14. > :44:21.Yeah, three hours. The first frame took just over half an hour but
:44:22. > :44:29.since then it has been good snooker. OK, a few mistakes along the way but
:44:30. > :44:47.that adds to the interest. Don't miss the snooker! I am amazed that
:44:48. > :44:51.he is having the balls replaced. If he hits this fall in the face he
:44:52. > :44:58.will send it up the table and might even get a snooker back.
:44:59. > :45:09.It didn't look too difficult to get out of. Two cushions. If you catch
:45:10. > :45:13.the red fall in the face the white. Where the red is and the Red Bull
:45:14. > :45:18.have it up the table. I cannot believe he has had it replaced, who
:45:19. > :45:23.is right, who is wrong? He has hit it the other way but still the same
:45:24. > :45:29.effect. He has got away with it, he has got a snooker. But it was never
:45:30. > :45:41.going to miss the second time around. Very surprised John had it
:45:42. > :45:53.put back. Trying to lay on the red. Which he has done but you just feel
:45:54. > :45:54.now that Noppon Saengkham has the advantage in this important tactical
:45:55. > :46:18.battle. I'm not sure what he is playing
:46:19. > :46:24.here. He has got to control the red, he doesn't want it coming up and
:46:25. > :46:28.down the table. He is lucky it stopped short of the middle. The red
:46:29. > :46:31.could have come up and down the table quite easily. Still a bit to
:46:32. > :47:00.learn, this young man. Couldn't have played that any
:47:01. > :47:06.better. To find the gap of three cushions in between green and blue.
:47:07. > :47:23.Superb and there is no gap. There is always a gap! But not this time.
:47:24. > :47:29.This will be harder to get safe if he hits it with pace. He needs a bit
:47:30. > :47:44.of luck. He has got it. The red down behind the black and
:47:45. > :47:52.cue ball somewhere in the middle of the ball cushion, I would expect. He
:47:53. > :47:58.has gone the other way. He has not got the snooker this time. Yeah and
:47:59. > :48:04.even if he has, it is an easy swerve.
:48:05. > :48:42.I don't think John will be taking this red on. Could get a snooker
:48:43. > :48:59.behind the pink. Just caught it a bit. Safe though. One good safety
:49:00. > :49:08.shot could swing the frame into the player's favour. Behind the black
:49:09. > :49:14.and pink and push the red into the middle of the ball cushion. It looks
:49:15. > :49:25.a lovely line. It looks a lovely line.
:49:26. > :49:39.Got a snooker but again, an easy hit. Good shot.
:49:40. > :49:50.Finally enough this makes it difficult to play a telling safety
:49:51. > :49:56.shot. That is normally when you can leave distance between cue ball and
:49:57. > :50:09.object ball but you can't with this shot.
:50:10. > :50:17.Will he send the red down the table for the cue ball down behind the
:50:18. > :50:24.black? Maybe the red. Well. He hasn't played that very well. He may
:50:25. > :50:34.have left the pot on. He had such margin for error. Very disappointed.
:50:35. > :50:40.Just a lapse in concentration. In an important part of the match, how can
:50:41. > :50:54.you have that? As you get older, that is what happens. A chance now.
:50:55. > :51:02.He is not going to be on the black. John Higgins maybe staring at the
:51:03. > :51:08.deciding frame, in the face now. He is not on the black but you expect
:51:09. > :51:18.him, if he didn't go for the black, to lay a good snooker. 14 points the
:51:19. > :51:23.lead. I don't think he should worry about putting the black safe. He has
:51:24. > :51:28.to make the snooker as difficult as possible. That has cut off the
:51:29. > :51:35.escape of the right-hand side cushion. Surely he is not thinking
:51:36. > :51:37.about the black into the centre pocket. All he has to do is get
:51:38. > :52:01.tight behind the black. OK, he has got him snooker probably
:52:02. > :52:03.but the one thing he had to do is make it difficult to hit. Coming off
:52:04. > :52:26.the right-hand side cushion. Can he get it safe? He can. He made
:52:27. > :52:29.it too easy to hit. If he blocks the right-hand side cushion he has to
:52:30. > :52:32.come off the left-hand side cushion, it is a wider angle and so much more
:52:33. > :53:06.difficult to hit and get safe. That was another superhit from John
:53:07. > :53:24.Higgins. Noppon can get either Brown to keep
:53:25. > :53:32.the yellow. Guaranteed a good safety here.
:53:33. > :53:45.No. The brown and yellow is available to the left middle. He has
:53:46. > :53:47.got to avoid the kiss on the pink and the in off into the right
:53:48. > :54:08.corner. Didn't avoid the kiss on the pink.
:54:09. > :54:39.12 points if he gets into the green. John Higgins behind.
:54:40. > :54:48.Since the first frame it has been quickfire snooker but this is now
:54:49. > :54:52.the longest frame of the match and understandably, the situation we are
:54:53. > :54:53.in, both players have had opportunities. John Higgins the
:54:54. > :55:22.better of the two. Well, would you risk playing the pot
:55:23. > :55:29.on the green? Or do you think, play safe and try to get the snooker?
:55:30. > :55:49.Playing safe, I thought, was the order of the day.
:55:50. > :55:58.Well, that has made it easy for John Higgins to play a lot better safety
:55:59. > :56:03.shot than that. It may even be possible to get the cue ball in
:56:04. > :56:13.behind the brown but close to the cushion.
:56:14. > :56:24.He did not get in behind the brown but the black has come to his
:56:25. > :56:33.rescue. He has got to judge this perfect. The jaws of the pocket with
:56:34. > :56:38.the cue ball. It could be a free ball. This could be a turning point,
:56:39. > :56:51.the chance John Higgins is waiting for. It looks like a free ball to
:56:52. > :56:56.me. What a mistake. In -- his inexperience. The one thing you
:56:57. > :56:57.cannot afford to do is to miss like that and this is John Higgins's
:56:58. > :57:16.chance to clinch frame and match. I think the positional shot from
:57:17. > :57:19.green to brown is the one but perfect angle, just drop the green
:57:20. > :57:27.in from the side cushion and just above the right centre pocket and it
:57:28. > :57:35.will be nicely on the brown. Yes and now just needs the brown, blue and
:57:36. > :57:41.pink. After three hours of play, he has done everything right, just one
:57:42. > :57:58.simple error could have cost him this match.
:57:59. > :58:06.So just the simplest of pinks now to secure his place in the last 32 and
:58:07. > :58:19.I would suggest it will be a very relieved John Higgins. It is in. He
:58:20. > :58:25.had the chance belly up but didn't do it. Showed a lot of frustration.
:58:26. > :58:30.Keep your eyes open, Noppon Saengkham. He is a good player with
:58:31. > :58:35.a lot to learn but John Higgins was just that bit more experienced and
:58:36. > :58:42.he is through to the last 32 with a 6-4 win over the young man from
:58:43. > :58:47.Thailand. Well, the two-time UK champion John Higgins is through but
:58:48. > :58:50.only after an almighty scrap with this young player today. Almost
:58:51. > :58:54.another shock and perhaps we will have a few more close matches when
:58:55. > :58:58.we are back at one o'clock this afternoon on BBC Two with more
:58:59. > :59:02.second-round action. In the meantime get some sleep and catch you soon.
:59:03. > :59:05.Wanting something to be true doesn't make it true.