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you hello again from the United | 0:00:35 | 0:00:40 | |
you hello again from the United
Kingdom championship. Cracking match | 0:00:40 | 0:00:41 | |
this evening, I must say. It
features John Higgins, the | 0:00:41 | 0:00:45 | |
42-year-old still in the top ten,
the world number five, facing a | 0:00:45 | 0:00:50 | |
17-year-old who hadn't even been
born when John Higgins won the first | 0:00:50 | 0:00:53 | |
of his first three UK jumping ships.
Yan Bingtao is the new emerging star | 0:00:53 | 0:01:00 | |
and snooker. He has shot up the
rankings from 57 to 26 already and | 0:01:00 | 0:01:05 | |
only ten days ago featured in his
first world ranking final. This | 0:01:05 | 0:01:09 | |
fellow knows no fear. And in fact
the John Higgins a month ago, 6-2, | 0:01:09 | 0:01:18 | |
in the International Championship.
No wonder, then, that John Higgins | 0:01:18 | 0:01:21 | |
ny was in for a match. Let's catch
this best of 11 frames encounter in | 0:01:21 | 0:01:27 | |
the company of Alan McManus and
Steve Davis. | 0:01:27 | 0:01:29 | |
So, John Higgins gets is underway
against the young Chinese sensation, | 0:01:38 | 0:01:43 | |
Yan Bingtao. Very much a generation
gap. 25 years between the two | 0:01:43 | 0:01:52 | |
players. Yan Bingtao, you wouldn't
know it. He's had a fantastic first | 0:01:52 | 0:02:02 | |
half of the season. He will be right
up for this match today, Steve | 0:02:02 | 0:02:08 | |
Davis. Yes. If you haven't seen him
on your TV screens before, you are | 0:02:08 | 0:02:15 | |
in for a treat. Phenomenal player,
at such a young age. | 0:02:15 | 0:02:27 | |
There is a risk when you're doing a
slow shot like that to try to get | 0:03:07 | 0:03:18 | |
the Google on the top cushion. If
you get the double-kiss, and the | 0:03:18 | 0:03:31 | |
table doesn't pull absolutely true,
first blood to John Higgins. | 0:03:31 | 0:03:45 | |
I was in the box a couple of
evenings ago when John Higgins beat | 0:03:48 | 0:03:57 | |
Yan spits Patrick, and to be fair, a
struggle, for John Higgins, that is. | 0:03:57 | 0:04:04 | |
Five or six basic shots he missed,
not cling to his standards. It will | 0:04:04 | 0:04:09 | |
be interesting to see the start that
he gets off to this afternoon. He | 0:04:09 | 0:04:18 | |
didn't really leave himself that
nicely on the red, but he has | 0:04:18 | 0:04:23 | |
managed to bring the cue ball into
play for the pink. Just nudged its | 0:04:23 | 0:04:28 | |
way clear from the pack. Ideally, he
would like to get this back on the | 0:04:28 | 0:04:43 | |
spot, but if it doesn't spot... | 0:04:43 | 0:04:48 | |
APPLAUSE | 0:04:56 | 0:05:06 | |
That's unfortunate. That was a good
shot from John. The pink does spot, | 0:05:21 | 0:05:31 | |
but unfortunately it's end of break.
It would be a bit of a shot to get | 0:05:31 | 0:05:39 | |
this in behind the black.
APPLAUSE | 0:05:39 | 0:05:59 | |
Hassey got the one-cushion escape to
the right-hand side of the table or | 0:06:03 | 0:06:18 | |
be forced to play this with a couple
of cushions? The left-hand side is | 0:06:18 | 0:06:21 | |
no good. Not even a red playing that
way. He's got the side. If he | 0:06:21 | 0:06:26 | |
decides to choose the ball lowest
and closest to our cameras, he wants | 0:06:26 | 0:06:31 | |
to hit it on this side. Mostly
judged. I suppose you could say a | 0:06:31 | 0:06:51 | |
bit unlucky, warbling in the jaws
and then the cue ball sliding up the | 0:06:51 | 0:06:54 | |
table a bit because this is now a
realistic chance of a popped into | 0:06:54 | 0:06:57 | |
the middle for John Higgins. -- a
chance of a pot. Gorgeous shot. He's | 0:06:57 | 0:07:12 | |
off running now. That is what you
call a proper chance. Wonder how he | 0:07:12 | 0:07:22 | |
cueing, looks like he had struggled.
He had some issues with his tip | 0:07:22 | 0:07:29 | |
which he had changed a couple of
nights ago. | 0:07:29 | 0:07:38 | |
Not that John Higgins ever needs any
motivation to give it 100% but he | 0:07:44 | 0:07:51 | |
will be well aware of Yan Bingtao's
prowess, Corsie lost to him, 6-2, in | 0:07:51 | 0:08:03 | |
the International Championship, so
he will be fired up for this match. | 0:08:03 | 0:08:15 | |
Every time John Higgins plays a
shot, it's always the same | 0:08:28 | 0:08:32 | |
preparation. The same backwards and
forwards movements of the cue. Even | 0:08:32 | 0:08:38 | |
the symbols of shots. And the great
thing about that is, doing it like | 0:08:38 | 0:08:46 | |
that, it's just like you are all O2
pilot. You don't have the worry | 0:08:46 | 0:08:49 | |
about thinking how you cueing. You
have done it so many times before, | 0:08:49 | 0:08:54 | |
and you just keep repeating. -- you
are on autopilot. | 0:08:54 | 0:09:04 | |
May be on very easy shots he gives
it one less further and on very | 0:09:15 | 0:09:21 | |
difficult shots perhaps one more,
but other than that it is the same | 0:09:21 | 0:09:26 | |
pace of cueing all the time. Very
relaxed but very assured. Such a | 0:09:26 | 0:09:37 | |
smooth technique, John Higgins has.
One of the secrets of this game, be | 0:09:37 | 0:09:45 | |
as smooth as you possibly can. John
has got it to an absolute tee. It is | 0:09:45 | 0:09:57 | |
a gradual backswing, but so smooth,
and my spores and delivery, and as | 0:09:57 | 0:10:02 | |
Steve said, always the same. Talking
about the simple shots, he has a | 0:10:02 | 0:10:09 | |
couple of feathers. And one of the
big mistakes amateur players make is | 0:10:09 | 0:10:23 | |
that final backswing. They swing it
back too quickly. He begins my son | 0:10:23 | 0:10:31 | |
with that backswing, and would have
expected a better result. He's not | 0:10:31 | 0:10:36 | |
over the line yet in this frame, so
hope for Yan Bingtao. | 0:10:36 | 0:10:50 | |
Very good effort trying to get that
cue ball of trouble. It was tough to | 0:11:23 | 0:11:33 | |
control. John Higgins has a stenting
long red into the left corner, but | 0:11:33 | 0:11:45 | |
if he misses it, there was a
counterattack on so this is where | 0:11:45 | 0:11:49 | |
John Higgins has great strength in
his matchplay, deciding when there's | 0:11:49 | 0:11:53 | |
a little bit too much danger
involved in playing a shot, or how | 0:11:53 | 0:11:56 | |
to play the shop. Perhaps this is
one where he would play the screw | 0:11:56 | 0:12:02 | |
back to safety at the same time even
though that makes the pot more | 0:12:02 | 0:12:09 | |
difficult. If he fancies the pot
completely, and he goes for it, | 0:12:09 | 0:12:16 | |
full-blooded. A little bit of screw
back for insurance, not all the way | 0:12:16 | 0:12:27 | |
back to the baulk cushion because
then no value in potting the red. | 0:12:27 | 0:12:32 | |
But leaving his opponent at
distance, if he missed. | 0:12:32 | 0:12:46 | |
Yan Bingtao wouldn't have wanted to
see that black going sane. He was | 0:12:53 | 0:12:57 | |
hoping to break it out, but not to
the side cushion. -- black going | 0:12:57 | 0:13:01 | |
safe. I didn't see the match between
them in the International | 0:13:01 | 0:13:14 | |
Championship, whether it was an open
game that suited the younger player | 0:13:14 | 0:13:17 | |
or whether Yan Bingtao played a
great safety game as well, but it | 0:13:17 | 0:13:23 | |
lends itself well but if Yan Bingtao
can beat John Higgins 6-2 when John | 0:13:23 | 0:13:31 | |
Higgins was on form, then he must be
a great tactical play, too. Yes, he | 0:13:31 | 0:13:37 | |
bossed it. This is where he has been
strong. This type of shot. He has | 0:13:37 | 0:13:52 | |
been knocking those income of late.
That was a surprise for me, him | 0:13:52 | 0:13:56 | |
missing that. Once again, John is
going to have to go to work | 0:13:56 | 0:14:05 | |
tactically year. -- here. | 0:14:05 | 0:14:21 | |
It was important for that shot to
get the cue ball tied to the cushion | 0:14:34 | 0:14:41 | |
to stop Yan Bingtao being able to
screw back to baulk. It'll be | 0:14:41 | 0:14:47 | |
interesting to if John Higgins is on
top format was a good safety game | 0:14:47 | 0:14:52 | |
together as well. And how Yan
Bingtao can cope with that. You | 0:14:52 | 0:14:57 | |
don't expect the younger players to
have great tactical nous but the | 0:14:57 | 0:15:06 | |
reason why it didn't. Well, he plays
enough. The interesting thing is, | 0:15:06 | 0:15:14 | |
spending a fair bit of time on it,
nothing wrong with that, the be shot | 0:15:14 | 0:15:18 | |
would be the long red to the corner,
screw back to safety but there's a | 0:15:18 | 0:15:23 | |
red over the top corner so perhaps
he can play the cut red, the more | 0:15:23 | 0:15:30 | |
aggressive pot. Tough shot. Nothing
wrong with going for that. He was | 0:15:30 | 0:15:40 | |
playing catch up, 54 points behind.
He didn't just brush into it. He | 0:15:40 | 0:15:47 | |
considered it well before he played
the shot. John Higgins still needs | 0:15:47 | 0:15:53 | |
another red to more or less
guarantee this frame. | 0:15:53 | 0:16:05 | |
You could say that was a little bit
unlucky. Going in off. You would | 0:16:07 | 0:16:13 | |
think perhaps the green and the
black would have been like | 0:16:13 | 0:16:20 | |
goalkeepers, but he found the gap.
Talking about John scoring. His | 0:16:20 | 0:16:28 | |
highest break in his first two
matches was only 64. Then early | 0:16:28 | 0:16:34 | |
three other breaks of 50, in the 12
frames that he's won. When would you | 0:16:34 | 0:16:40 | |
ever think that about John Higgins?
Then if he had some kind of tip | 0:16:40 | 0:16:48 | |
problems and he has been able to
sort that out, then perhaps you will | 0:16:48 | 0:16:51 | |
see a different John Higgins here
today. I think that the tables have | 0:16:51 | 0:16:55 | |
been recovered not last evening but
the evening before. And the evidence | 0:16:55 | 0:17:01 | |
of the matches yesterday the
standard has been excellent. I spoke | 0:17:01 | 0:17:04 | |
to Graeme Dott. He enjoyed the
table, though way it was plain. So, | 0:17:04 | 0:17:11 | |
conditions better, you would expect
a better performance. And what a | 0:17:11 | 0:17:19 | |
performance that was. | 0:17:19 | 0:17:28 | |
Can't do much with this. The sort of
under it that. I thought he was | 0:17:32 | 0:17:43 | |
going to try to play that to get
onto the top cushion but that looks | 0:17:43 | 0:17:47 | |
suicidal. I think he was trying to
push the reds towards the other reds | 0:17:47 | 0:17:54 | |
on the black cushion. It must have
just run off the pad. Surely he | 0:17:54 | 0:17:58 | |
wouldn't have tried the pot at that
pace. Too risky. He has tried | 0:17:58 | 0:18:06 | |
something with the reds, but he
would have hoped for a better | 0:18:06 | 0:18:10 | |
outcome than that. So this is a very
tough and missable pot into the | 0:18:10 | 0:18:16 | |
middle, especially as he's going to
try and play position as well. Very | 0:18:16 | 0:18:20 | |
difficult shot, and he hasn't had
much table time. That's an | 0:18:20 | 0:18:28 | |
interesting thing, Alan. That shows
some maturity, understanding that | 0:18:28 | 0:18:35 | |
playing for position made the pot
more missable, so cut your losses, | 0:18:35 | 0:18:40 | |
get the points, play good safety
shot. Quite impressed with that. | 0:18:40 | 0:18:45 | |
Couldn't agree more. Almost playing
the numbers game. He is 43 behind, | 0:18:45 | 0:18:51 | |
there's still plenty on the table,
should he another chance. I tell you | 0:18:51 | 0:18:57 | |
what, you don't see that often from
younger players. Because of the | 0:18:57 | 0:19:02 | |
exuberance of youth, you see your
chance and you go for it. You missed | 0:19:02 | 0:19:06 | |
the chance and you lose a frame and
go, I couldn't do anything about | 0:19:06 | 0:19:11 | |
that, but that has kept him in the
game, that shot. Interesting. I | 0:19:11 | 0:19:15 | |
thought it was a good choice. It
sends a message the John that, | 0:19:15 | 0:19:21 | |
tactically Yan Bingtao is learning
all the time. And he has got his | 0:19:21 | 0:19:26 | |
reward. The pink goes safe and he's
got the mess. There's another | 0:19:26 | 0:19:33 | |
decision. Do you play the open red
even though the balls are worse | 0:19:33 | 0:19:38 | |
positions or do you put the opponent
back in? This is worth thinking | 0:19:38 | 0:19:41 | |
about an open to debate, even in the
commentary box. I think I would put | 0:19:41 | 0:19:50 | |
him back. The pink going to the side
is a massive plus for John Higgins. | 0:19:50 | 0:19:56 | |
In these situations, if you put
yourself in the other guy's shoes, | 0:19:56 | 0:20:01 | |
John Higgins will be standing
thinking, I hope he goes for the | 0:20:01 | 0:20:04 | |
red. Air again, if he puts them back
in and John Higgins plays a great | 0:20:04 | 0:20:12 | |
safety shot, he is no closer, points
wise, so perhaps he could play for | 0:20:12 | 0:20:17 | |
the black. Get it back on the spot. | 0:20:17 | 0:20:27 | |
The point about is that John Higgins
will be sitting in his chair, | 0:20:32 | 0:20:39 | |
delighted that Yan played the red.
No chance of getting on a red, you | 0:20:39 | 0:20:44 | |
would think, unless he pull
something out of the bag. He would | 0:20:44 | 0:20:57 | |
have hoped to have been in a better
positional shot, certainly he would | 0:20:57 | 0:21:02 | |
have been hoping to get further down
the table. But, even so, only 29 | 0:21:02 | 0:21:11 | |
points behind now so there is only
that pink ball that is safe. That is | 0:21:11 | 0:21:17 | |
a bit of a loose safety shot.
Getting some, not enough right hand | 0:21:17 | 0:21:22 | |
side spin on the cue ball. He should
have played with check. Been | 0:21:22 | 0:21:29 | |
ambitious enough to try and lift the
ping from the position is in. That | 0:21:29 | 0:21:37 | |
was something he didn't quite spot.
For John Higgins now, the scoreboard | 0:21:37 | 0:21:42 | |
is important. That position looks
nice on the black. That is perfect. | 0:21:42 | 0:21:52 | |
That is a brilliant shot. Especially
as he needs two reds to keep eye on | 0:21:52 | 0:22:00 | |
the black, it was excellent. Not
guaranteed to pot the red along the | 0:22:00 | 0:22:06 | |
cushion, but he's given himself
every chance. Especially from there. | 0:22:06 | 0:22:11 | |
APPLAUSE | 0:22:11 | 0:22:21 | |
You live and die in this game by the
decisions you make. You are all | 0:22:30 | 0:22:34 | |
capable of playing the shots, but
the decisions are so important. I | 0:22:34 | 0:22:40 | |
think that Yan should have put John
back in when he missed the resonate | 0:22:40 | 0:22:43 | |
the pink. It is gone now obviously
but he will be learning all the | 0:22:43 | 0:22:47 | |
time, obviously, Yan Bingtao. It
wasn't the worst decision in the | 0:22:47 | 0:22:57 | |
world, splitting hairs on the
decision. Barring snookers and | 0:22:57 | 0:23:03 | |
accidents, John Higgins will take
the first frame. | 0:23:03 | 0:23:09 | |
John Higgins breaking off in frame
three. He's been put through his | 0:23:36 | 0:23:40 | |
paces so far this afternoon. | 0:23:40 | 0:23:51 | |
We'll see just how well he knows how
to play winning snooker, regardless | 0:23:53 | 0:23:56 | |
of the standard. That was a
brilliant opening opportunist red | 0:23:56 | 0:24:03 | |
that setup that contribution, his
highest break of the tournament so | 0:24:03 | 0:24:08 | |
far, 66, he made. | 0:24:08 | 0:24:18 | |
He made that opening red look a lot
easier than it was. Played for | 0:25:18 | 0:25:22 | |
position at the same time. Didn't
just blast at it. A couple of blues | 0:25:22 | 0:25:27 | |
reds. -- a couple of loose reds.
Nicely judged. I think he's got | 0:25:27 | 0:25:41 | |
enough of an angle that he can
bounce the cue ball to the top | 0:25:41 | 0:25:44 | |
cushion and get back on that red.
Might be going into the reds, here, | 0:25:44 | 0:25:48 | |
though. Not so, the third shot. I
thought for a minute he was setting | 0:25:48 | 0:25:58 | |
up to disturb more. Now he will need
a nice angle on this black to go | 0:25:58 | 0:26:04 | |
into the pack, though. That little
flick on that red creates the angle. | 0:26:04 | 0:26:12 | |
And that second red of the two
together at the back looks inviting. | 0:26:12 | 0:26:17 | |
That should disturb things quite
nicely, to stun into it. Obituary | 0:26:17 | 0:26:27 | |
low on that, I think. Preferred more
of a power stun, there. Maybe he | 0:26:27 | 0:26:38 | |
felt the shape of it wasn't
conducive to going in with power, | 0:26:38 | 0:26:42 | |
with the deep screw, but he's got
one, a tough little red to middle, | 0:26:42 | 0:26:46 | |
but should it go in, and it has,
John Higgins slowly but surely | 0:26:46 | 0:26:53 | |
finding his way into a bit of form. | 0:26:53 | 0:27:04 | |
Just sizing up the situation. Is it
worth playing for a choice of pink | 0:27:23 | 0:27:27 | |
and black office red? -- off this
red. Not sure what he's doing. | 0:27:27 | 0:27:42 | |
Whether he is deciding to play on to
the blue to split the pack up rather | 0:27:42 | 0:27:49 | |
than the black because he doesn't
like the shape of the pack. The | 0:27:49 | 0:27:55 | |
pink, as well, but why he kept
looking at that red to the middle | 0:27:55 | 0:28:00 | |
pocket, I don't know. Maybe he
wasn't looking at the red, he was | 0:28:00 | 0:28:08 | |
looking at the pink. Never really
liked this type of shot but | 0:28:08 | 0:28:20 | |
sometimes you have to play it. Not
always easy to guarantee, are they | 0:28:20 | 0:28:27 | |
going to split? Now what? That was a
brilliant shot, actually. Looks like | 0:28:27 | 0:28:36 | |
that pink doesn't spot, but it may
be covered, it will go close to it, | 0:28:36 | 0:28:44 | |
can he still get the red in the
middle? | 0:28:44 | 0:28:55 | |
The referee will try to make sure
this is perfect, as close as | 0:28:56 | 0:29:01 | |
possible to soon spot, in a direct
line to line the spot, but not | 0:29:01 | 0:29:06 | |
touching the cue ball, as close as
possible to it. It is very classy of | 0:29:06 | 0:29:13 | |
John just go back to his chair and
have a set of water, wherever | 0:29:13 | 0:29:27 | |
Tatiana replaces the pink, he will
still get it. Tatiana, there, doing | 0:29:27 | 0:29:31 | |
a very good job. | 0:29:31 | 0:29:44 | |
All she is doing a fantastic job in
refereeing this and looking after | 0:29:44 | 0:29:49 | |
two children and Ben Woollaston as
well. The ups and downs of the | 0:29:49 | 0:29:53 | |
snooker player. | 0:29:53 | 0:29:58 | |
That was another brilliant shot. He
is unlucky if he is not on one. | 0:30:03 | 0:30:18 | |
I think I am correct in saying that
then 's wife, Tatiana, she cannot | 0:30:24 | 0:30:30 | |
referee Ben 's matches but I do not
think she can referee matches that | 0:30:30 | 0:30:35 | |
he has an interesting as well. She
has to be seen to be correct, of | 0:30:35 | 0:30:39 | |
course nothing would be untoward
but... There must be absolutely | 0:30:39 | 0:30:44 | |
correct decisions by W the BSA. That
was tight and she got it. -- he got | 0:30:44 | 0:30:51 | |
it. This black is not guaranteed. He
is a little bit out of position so | 0:30:51 | 0:30:58 | |
the biggest shot of this frame so
far for John Higgins. | 0:30:58 | 0:31:02 | |
He would not want to take his foot
off the pedal here. | 0:31:05 | 0:31:13 | |
Well, after a tough start this is
starting to look like a John Higgins | 0:31:57 | 0:32:01 | |
masterclass here today. | 0:32:01 | 0:32:04 | |
Perhaps it needed a match of this
quality for John to focus properly, | 0:32:12 | 0:32:17 | |
or it could be the fact that he has
had two problems. One of the two. -- | 0:32:17 | 0:32:33 | |
tip problems. We're getting the full
gambit of John 's abilities. He is | 0:32:33 | 0:32:39 | |
tough to out. He has spotted some
very clever shots, like that red | 0:32:39 | 0:32:45 | |
into the top pocket that set up the
frame-winning chance in frame two. | 0:32:45 | 0:32:57 | |
Higgins is just building up of
steam. | 0:32:57 | 0:33:01 | |
It is that ability to just slip into
scoring mode, even though it appears | 0:33:06 | 0:33:10 | |
he is not quite on top of his game. | 0:33:10 | 0:33:15 | |
John Higgins 80. No century but a
classy break of 80 and John Higgins | 0:34:00 | 0:34:05 | |
is halfway home. Frame for. Yan
Bingtao to break. | 0:34:05 | 0:34:17 | |
Yan Bingtao is 3-0 down. One of the
old Masters of this game but can he | 0:34:24 | 0:34:31 | |
find his way back in it? Perhaps
John Sutton stall out today, coming | 0:34:31 | 0:34:40 | |
into this match, having lost
recently to Yan Bingtao in China. | 0:34:40 | 0:34:45 | |
Maybe he set his stall out and said
he would give the boy nothing today. | 0:34:45 | 0:34:51 | |
I don't think he played that red on
the far side of the brown, it was a | 0:35:16 | 0:35:21 | |
tough shot but even so a good
outcome stop he is just trying to | 0:35:21 | 0:35:25 | |
contain things. Another excellent
shot from John Higgins there. Yes. | 0:35:25 | 0:35:37 | |
Very rarely does John Higgins
collide with a full colour. He knows | 0:35:37 | 0:35:41 | |
his way around the snooker table.
There doesn't seem to be a lot to | 0:35:41 | 0:35:49 | |
Yan Bingtao can do at the moment
except play containing snooker and | 0:35:49 | 0:35:53 | |
hope for a mistake will stop he
doesn't seem to have lost his | 0:35:53 | 0:36:01 | |
patience, dusty? Is facial
expressions haven't changed. Yes, | 0:36:01 | 0:36:07 | |
but the only thing that we both
know, when you are in that sort of | 0:36:07 | 0:36:11 | |
defence and battling mode, it is
difficult to flick the switch and | 0:36:11 | 0:36:15 | |
then be aggressive because you do
not feel aggressive. At some stage | 0:36:15 | 0:36:19 | |
of this map he is going to have to
be. He will have to change things | 0:36:19 | 0:36:28 | |
up. I would be telling him to get
the balls openers early as I | 0:36:28 | 0:36:33 | |
possibly could. Obviously he cannot
do it from a position like this but | 0:36:33 | 0:36:40 | |
at the start of the frame try to get
the balls openers darted up a | 0:36:40 | 0:36:43 | |
little. It is tough because you
cannot force it. You would just get | 0:36:43 | 0:36:50 | |
picked off. It is a very difficult
one. | 0:36:50 | 0:36:57 | |
He may have left a red to the yellow
pocket. Yes, if Yan Bingtao plays | 0:37:05 | 0:37:15 | |
this match and loses 6-0 because
John Higgins totally out place in it | 0:37:15 | 0:37:20 | |
will not change my opinion of Yan
Bingtao. He is a future champion. | 0:37:20 | 0:37:27 | |
This is not a certainty but the fact
that John Higgins has had most of | 0:37:27 | 0:37:31 | |
the table time, you would expect him
to get very, very close. Yes. What | 0:37:31 | 0:37:37 | |
do I know? That was awkward cueing,
wasn't it, that made it difficult. | 0:37:37 | 0:37:45 | |
You would fancy knocking it in. He
is able to get the middle ball | 0:37:45 | 0:37:53 | |
striking. I think Yan Bingtao should
be opening up the pack and play your | 0:37:53 | 0:37:57 | |
safety and just changing a little.
He will not get anywhere against | 0:37:57 | 0:38:02 | |
John just tapping around. Half an
hour since Yan Bingtao wanted | 0:38:02 | 0:38:12 | |
anything. He did have a chance to
open the balls but is so tough will | 0:38:12 | 0:38:26 | |
stop to criticise that, it is a
tough one, and I understand exactly | 0:38:26 | 0:38:30 | |
what you are saying. If he plays a
shot to open the balls up from 61 | 0:38:30 | 0:38:36 | |
overrate whole because you cannot
guarantee how they will go then you | 0:38:36 | 0:38:39 | |
look like a mug! It is a risk game
but sometimes you just have to say | 0:38:39 | 0:38:44 | |
to be aggressive and not care about
the consequences because tipping and | 0:38:44 | 0:38:49 | |
tapping around he will not get
anywhere with John. Take this on, | 0:38:49 | 0:39:00 | |
cut the middle, cue ball through the
gap. He has played a safety again. | 0:39:00 | 0:39:05 | |
That is a fabulous shot. Now there
is a chance to get a few reds into | 0:39:05 | 0:39:13 | |
the open. | 0:39:13 | 0:39:14 | |
He might be able to play the four
collision safety and hit the red | 0:39:17 | 0:39:23 | |
vicar. Since safety doesn't open the
reds as much. He picked out another | 0:39:23 | 0:39:37 | |
red. He hasn't really hit that
particularly well, to be quite | 0:39:37 | 0:39:41 | |
honest. The balls to open very
easily on these thin cloth is, so | 0:39:41 | 0:39:48 | |
you don't always have to whack them
hard, they start to open up pretty | 0:39:48 | 0:39:53 | |
easily. Can you imagine balls on a
little bit of the carpet, they | 0:39:53 | 0:39:57 | |
wouldn't spread apart like they were
on a piece of ice. John is also | 0:39:57 | 0:40:04 | |
playing a trace a check on this
behind the yellow. It didn't quite | 0:40:04 | 0:40:09 | |
get the line. Not bad. As lines go,
it is not bad. I am not too sure | 0:40:09 | 0:40:20 | |
that Yan Bingtao has a way back to
baulk now. I cannot see one. | 0:40:20 | 0:40:28 | |
Unless he can play extra thin on the
red to the right of the table but I | 0:40:39 | 0:40:43 | |
do not think that is on, to be quite
honest? Is there any shot he can | 0:40:43 | 0:40:46 | |
play? There is the bottom left. He
might be able to see that. Only he | 0:40:46 | 0:41:04 | |
will be able to see exactly what
parts of the reds he can contact. He | 0:41:04 | 0:41:08 | |
may be able to get this red than
enough. It is for with danger and | 0:41:08 | 0:41:12 | |
there was to red behind the blue to
contend with and if he hits a | 0:41:12 | 0:41:15 | |
diffraction thick. I never thought
about. What a great shot that is. | 0:41:15 | 0:41:24 | |
Obviously, no one understood. Maybe
it is a new shot from the practice | 0:41:24 | 0:41:32 | |
room. He has had plenty of time to
practice. What a shot that was. John | 0:41:32 | 0:41:38 | |
is behind the yellow again. He needs
a bit of help, Yan Bingtao, and a | 0:41:38 | 0:41:45 | |
slice of luck, but he has not got
anything out of it because John | 0:41:45 | 0:41:50 | |
Higgins is like a lump of granite
here today. You are bashing your | 0:41:50 | 0:41:52 | |
head against a brick wall. Bingtao
will have his patience tested | 0:41:52 | 0:41:57 | |
thoroughly here. | 0:41:57 | 0:42:02 | |
An excellent shot. About the best he
could hope for. Perilously close to | 0:42:23 | 0:42:27 | |
the blue and the corner pocket.
Don't tell me he has left the plant. | 0:42:27 | 0:42:31 | |
It is all going wrong if he has left
that on. | 0:42:31 | 0:42:39 | |
It looks on. If John Higgins goes
for it I expect him to get it. He | 0:42:50 | 0:42:56 | |
could get on black depending on
which way he plays it. He has played | 0:42:56 | 0:43:00 | |
with control. This is brilliant.
What a shot that is. Well, this is | 0:43:00 | 0:43:27 | |
currently a master surgeon at work.
He is not ideally placed on the reds | 0:43:27 | 0:43:40 | |
but the way he has started to cue
you fancy this red in the middle | 0:43:40 | 0:43:46 | |
pocket. Not much of a pocket to go
for, is there? It never touched the | 0:43:46 | 0:43:55 | |
sides. What a performance so far
this has turned into. You have got | 0:43:55 | 0:44:04 | |
to say he has to be one of the
favourites for the UK championship | 0:44:04 | 0:44:08 | |
this year. A few big names have gone
out. There are a few still in, of | 0:44:08 | 0:44:13 | |
course. | 0:44:13 | 0:44:15 | |
Yes, not absolutely the way he
played it. Still on one. He is going | 0:44:41 | 0:44:46 | |
to put all his eggs in one basket
here. This is in or over, dead | 0:44:46 | 0:44:50 | |
weight. It is a fairly new cloth and
it may help the shot. I fancy him to | 0:44:50 | 0:44:57 | |
get it but it is missable. It should
go in, but no. John Higgins, 16. Yan | 0:44:57 | 0:45:09 | |
Bingtao sat in that chair for most
of the last couple of frames, has | 0:45:09 | 0:45:13 | |
got at last, at long last, a decent
chance. It is very easy to say that | 0:45:13 | 0:45:24 | |
he has got to make something from
this but when you have been kept off | 0:45:24 | 0:45:28 | |
the table for so long it is tough.
This is a difficult one to judge, to | 0:45:28 | 0:45:38 | |
get the correct weight. You cannot
argue with that. He made sure he did | 0:45:38 | 0:45:49 | |
not leave it short, too short. That
is assuming the black does go fully. | 0:45:49 | 0:45:54 | |
It must do. | 0:45:54 | 0:45:57 | |
It will be a good boost for the
morale now for Yan Bingtao to win | 0:46:08 | 0:46:12 | |
this in a classy way, this frame.
Just to show John Higgins what he is | 0:46:12 | 0:46:19 | |
capable of. This is not an absolute,
bona fides chance to win this frame | 0:46:19 | 0:48:03 | |
yet. I do not think any of those
reds will go in the pocket that you | 0:48:03 | 0:48:08 | |
have two manufacture something. He
will not want to play the one to the | 0:48:08 | 0:48:14 | |
right middle, that would be
missable. He is looking for | 0:48:14 | 0:48:17 | |
something more certain. A little
tester, just up the fact he has not | 0:48:17 | 0:48:31 | |
had much table time. He is expecting
to get it nice and straight. Not a | 0:48:31 | 0:48:35 | |
lot to do with the cue ball, just
get the pot and opens up the frame a | 0:48:35 | 0:48:39 | |
little. This is why you play eight
hours a day or whatever you decide | 0:48:39 | 0:48:51 | |
to play, so that when you do get a
chance when you have been kept off | 0:48:51 | 0:48:54 | |
the table you are quickly into your
stride. | 0:48:54 | 0:49:02 | |
It is definitely a measured approach
from Yan Bingtao. A simple black and | 0:49:27 | 0:49:31 | |
you would think he would already
know what red he is playing for next | 0:49:31 | 0:49:35 | |
but he is taking his time. His
average shot time is 21 seconds and | 0:49:35 | 0:49:40 | |
that is really pedestrian by modern
standards. Yes, but it is indicative | 0:49:40 | 0:49:46 | |
of what he has had to put up with
today. I do not think this is his | 0:49:46 | 0:49:49 | |
natural speed. It floated pass
there, does the other red go? It is | 0:49:49 | 0:49:54 | |
OK if it does. That is OK. If he was
the one that was dominating | 0:49:54 | 0:50:01 | |
proceedings you would see a much
faster speed. | 0:50:01 | 0:50:05 | |
That one red at the bottom of the
pack goes, although you cannot get | 0:50:13 | 0:50:16 | |
the right side of it. Maybe another
red goes. The pink is available and | 0:50:16 | 0:50:24 | |
that helps. Yes, the pink goes on
the green spot now so that is frame | 0:50:24 | 0:50:32 | |
-- fine. A good frame-winning chance
now. It is not necessarily a bad | 0:50:32 | 0:50:40 | |
thing, the pacing is played today,
it is almost another string to his | 0:50:40 | 0:50:43 | |
bow, isn't it? Exactly. You wouldn't
always want to be playing at 30 | 0:50:43 | 0:50:49 | |
seconds a shot. That is tough to get
the rhythm with but he has been up | 0:50:49 | 0:50:53 | |
against and it is impossible for him
to have had any rhythm in this match | 0:50:53 | 0:50:56 | |
so it is understandable that he shot
time would be slow. Most of the | 0:50:56 | 0:51:02 | |
shots he has had to play with and
scratches. He does not want to be | 0:51:02 | 0:51:08 | |
straight on this. It is not good if
it is straight. He has got enough of | 0:51:08 | 0:51:17 | |
an angle. He just has to judge the
pace of this because if he goes too | 0:51:17 | 0:51:21 | |
far he will not be on the red. Not
far enough and it is too fine a cut. | 0:51:21 | 0:51:31 | |
That is very nice indeed. He is
going to disturb other reds now. The | 0:51:31 | 0:51:38 | |
good split of those reds and
guaranteed position on the black, | 0:51:38 | 0:51:42 | |
pace wise, and he could be over the
line. | 0:51:42 | 0:51:48 | |
I think the other thing it tells us
is that the way he is taking his | 0:51:57 | 0:52:03 | |
time this afternoon, especially in
this contribution, is he thinks he | 0:52:03 | 0:52:06 | |
can still win the match and that is
important. It is not like he is | 0:52:06 | 0:52:11 | |
almost... Some players could be
forgiven for mentally almost giving | 0:52:11 | 0:52:14 | |
up. I would just throw my cue at a
few shots and hope something happens | 0:52:14 | 0:52:19 | |
but it has all been measured and in
a good way. | 0:52:19 | 0:52:24 | |
He is still in line for being the
youngest ever winner of a major | 0:52:33 | 0:52:37 | |
event, up until the German Masters
next year. But, to be quite honest, | 0:52:37 | 0:52:42 | |
that would just be a small record, I
think, when the history books | 0:52:42 | 0:52:48 | |
finally close on this game of
snooker, if they ever do get closed. | 0:52:48 | 0:52:52 | |
I think you will see the Yan Bingtao
name cropping up a few times. Yes, | 0:52:52 | 0:53:03 | |
how can you win the World Cup at 15?
He did that with his compatriot. | 0:53:03 | 0:53:17 | |
That was a couple of years ago. Yan
Bingtao 79. John Higgins may decide | 0:53:17 | 0:53:36 | |
to come back to the table here.
Bingtao poo Mac last positional shot | 0:53:36 | 0:53:42 | |
was perhaps a bit risky. -- Bingtao
's last positional shot. It is a | 0:53:42 | 0:54:06 | |
tough ask but not much different to
that first frame with Yan Bingtao | 0:54:06 | 0:54:11 | |
carrying on. He will want to keep
the last red on the table. That | 0:54:11 | 0:54:21 | |
keeps open the option of three
balls. It is a quicker way to get | 0:54:21 | 0:54:27 | |
penalty points. So, no positional
shot played. Can he get in behind | 0:54:27 | 0:54:37 | |
this black? Should you so choose? He
misjudged that by miles. A poor | 0:54:37 | 0:54:50 | |
effort, really, from John Higgins. | 0:54:50 | 0:54:57 | |
Frink conceded. Yan Bingtao gets a
frame on the board but John Higgins | 0:55:12 | 0:55:18 | |
goes into that interval leading
three frames to one. John Higgins, | 0:55:18 | 0:55:26 | |
to get us under way will stop the
second session. He will be quite | 0:55:26 | 0:55:36 | |
satisfied that interval 3-1 in
front. He got himself a foothold in | 0:55:36 | 0:55:43 | |
the match. | 0:55:43 | 0:55:46 | |
Now, there is a big mistake. I just
had a feeling that John was not | 0:57:19 | 0:57:23 | |
comfortable playing that. He is
worried about the new tip on the | 0:57:23 | 0:57:28 | |
cue. | 0:57:28 | 0:57:33 | |
Nicely judged positional shot from
Bingtao to get through a bit of a | 0:57:57 | 0:58:01 | |
gap with is cute. The red into the
centre. -- the gap with his cue. | 0:58:01 | 0:58:15 | |
Nothing, it would appear, goes into
the right corner, apart from the | 0:58:15 | 0:58:18 | |
first red. | 0:58:18 | 0:58:22 | |
Plenty of roads in the open here. A
good chance to make a sizeable | 0:58:35 | 0:58:38 | |
break. | 0:58:38 | 0:58:45 | |
Yes, he didn't get where he intends
the reds on the left hand side | 0:58:56 | 0:59:02 | |
there. He doesn't want to put the
pink out of cushion by taking it | 0:59:02 | 0:59:05 | |
this early. | 0:59:05 | 0:59:16 | |
He doesn't have to start getting to
integrate. He can pop this rating | 0:59:17 | 0:59:21 | |
comeback for the blue. He can wait
for a better opportunity to get on | 0:59:21 | 0:59:26 | |
the black. That will do well to get
the right side of the blue. Just | 0:59:26 | 0:59:35 | |
about, I think. He can just pull it
back, should he so wished, for the | 0:59:35 | 0:59:41 | |
run-in to the right corner. He may
have a fraction of an angle to run | 0:59:41 | 0:59:50 | |
through. He might as well try and
get a little bit closer, perhaps. | 0:59:50 | 1:00:00 | |
The roads are obviously into the
left corner as well. Plenty of | 1:00:00 | 1:00:04 | |
options. He just has to keep
concentration. He must not let one | 1:00:04 | 1:00:11 | |
positional shot go adrift. | 1:00:11 | 1:00:15 | |
Nystad have these two reds into the
middle pocket. -- nice to have | 1:01:22 | 1:01:27 | |
these. It is helping him out no end,
in keeping in good position in this | 1:01:27 | 1:01:37 | |
break. He can try and screw back...
Awful kick. He was putting a bit of | 1:01:37 | 1:02:00 | |
right-hand side spin on that and it
twisted the black to the left and | 1:02:00 | 1:02:03 | |
twisted the white to the right. The
cue ball ended up nowhere. | 1:02:03 | 1:02:17 | |
Yan Bingtao straight back onto the
table. Bad timing for the ice bucket | 1:02:48 | 1:02:53 | |
to come back on to the table. Just
out of your picture one of the | 1:02:53 | 1:03:00 | |
officials delivering a fresh ice
bucket to John Higgins. It was | 1:03:00 | 1:03:10 | |
nearly in Bingtao's I line. --
eyeline. Well, perhaps justice is | 1:03:10 | 1:03:24 | |
served. | 1:03:24 | 1:03:31 | |
A pretty ramrod straight delivery of
the cue, which is always nice to | 1:03:40 | 1:03:45 | |
see. Not every player goes through
on a straight line. You would think | 1:03:45 | 1:03:55 | |
it would be essential but it's the
only at the point of hitting the cue | 1:03:55 | 1:03:59 | |
ball that that cue needs to be in a
straight line with the desired line | 1:03:59 | 1:04:04 | |
of the cue ball towards the object
ball. But common sense says it would | 1:04:04 | 1:04:10 | |
be better if it was in line all the
time from the end of the backswing | 1:04:10 | 1:04:15 | |
all the way through to the delivery.
Excellent effort there to keep on | 1:04:15 | 1:04:23 | |
the right side of the blue. As she
got their? -- has he got there. | 1:04:23 | 1:04:33 | |
Don't think he's got any angle. He
is poker straight on it. It will be | 1:04:33 | 1:04:39 | |
well within his competence, but he
won't want to play it unless he | 1:04:39 | 1:04:44 | |
absolutely has to do. Just a case of
how much he fancies the | 1:04:44 | 1:04:54 | |
long-distance red. This is a little
tester. | 1:04:54 | 1:05:00 | |
A little unfortunate there, not been
on anything. Is the plant possible? | 1:05:30 | 1:05:37 | |
Fabulous shot. Well played. That is
a bonus, landing on the black. Pot | 1:05:37 | 1:05:50 | |
this black in and he'll be back to
just one frame behind, Yan Bingtao. | 1:05:50 | 1:06:01 | |
He's on the red. Not as nicely as
she would've liked. He just needs | 1:06:12 | 1:06:20 | |
this red. The plant, as well. A bit
lucky, the way all of the other | 1:06:20 | 1:06:37 | |
plants have panned out for him. The
pink wasn't absolutely wonderful. So | 1:06:37 | 1:06:44 | |
from being completely outplayed and
getting the lifeline in that fourth | 1:06:44 | 1:06:53 | |
frame, all of sudden, Yan Bingtao
gets it back to only one behind. | 1:06:53 | 1:06:58 | |
Interesting times in this match. | 1:06:58 | 1:07:08 | |
Another massive kick. What's going
on? From having none to having a | 1:07:09 | 1:07:13 | |
few. It has been the general
consensus that a new brand of chalk | 1:07:13 | 1:07:27 | |
on the market reduces the amount of
kicks that players get in matches, | 1:07:27 | 1:07:33 | |
and handing towel doesn't use that
particular brand. -- Yan Bingtao. | 1:07:33 | 1:07:41 | |
Doesn't matter about the pink. 81
the break. Yan Bingtao hot on the | 1:09:51 | 1:09:57 | |
heels of John Higgins, brings the
score to 3-2. | 1:09:57 | 1:10:08 | |
John Higgins breaks off. And it
effectively is the best of five. | 1:10:19 | 1:10:35 | |
Not the easiest of safety shots to
the baulk end. | 1:11:15 | 1:11:21 | |
What has Bingtao spotted via? Very
aggressive. Monster shot. Monster. | 1:11:36 | 1:11:48 | |
Glover shot, an element of safety in
the shot. Not totally safe but what | 1:11:48 | 1:11:56 | |
a positive shot that is. Terrible
kick, again. | 1:11:56 | 1:12:03 | |
He's not now on the road that he
wanted to play, the one in open play | 1:12:11 | 1:12:16 | |
to the right of the table. -- he's
not on the red. It now has an | 1:12:16 | 1:12:22 | |
unmissable red into the corner. He
can't get the cue ball too far away | 1:12:22 | 1:12:31 | |
into the middle of the table. He
doesn't want to cheat the pocket too | 1:12:31 | 1:12:36 | |
much. That could be enough. Normal
service has been resumed. This would | 1:12:36 | 1:12:56 | |
be some scalp, if he wins here. Just
the style of it, not just the win, | 1:12:56 | 1:13:07 | |
we know that capable of winning. All
of these players, on Thursday, R. I | 1:13:07 | 1:13:19 | |
think I'm right in saying that
Bingtao has made the most progress | 1:13:19 | 1:13:23 | |
up the ranking list in recent
months. Huge jumps up the ladder. | 1:13:23 | 1:13:38 | |
Not the best shot, there. Too close
to the cushion. And because of that | 1:13:39 | 1:13:46 | |
a bit too straight on the black. So
a good shot required here to keep | 1:13:46 | 1:13:53 | |
this break going. He's got a bit of
an angle. He's going to put a bit of | 1:13:53 | 1:13:58 | |
power into this. Didn't hit it as
well as he was hoping. A good, so | 1:13:58 | 1:14:11 | |
the pot, it is probably a bit
thinner than it looks on our | 1:14:11 | 1:14:14 | |
screens. He will do well to get on a
colour if he pops this. This is a | 1:14:14 | 1:14:27 | |
toughie. Difficult to get on a
colour. He was never going to get | 1:14:27 | 1:14:31 | |
south of the pack as far as a black
goes. So end of break. It was the | 1:14:31 | 1:14:38 | |
red, previously, that was the
problem. Equals the previous lack of | 1:14:38 | 1:14:44 | |
position that then was magnified by
the next one. So, cut your losses. | 1:14:44 | 1:14:55 | |
Not enough of a lead to bother about
trying to put the black safe. Could | 1:14:55 | 1:15:09 | |
need another bite of the cherry to
get over the line. John Higgins has | 1:15:09 | 1:15:16 | |
been there, done it all. But
interesting to be able to see into | 1:15:16 | 1:15:23 | |
his mind to see how he's feeling
currently, compared to how he was | 1:15:23 | 1:15:28 | |
feeling at 3-0 up. One thing he does
do, he enjoys competing, doesn't he? | 1:15:28 | 1:15:37 | |
He'll love the challenge. He sure
does, John. | 1:15:37 | 1:15:44 | |
Yan Bingtao has given him a real
challenge today. He has been tested | 1:15:50 | 1:15:57 | |
in every department, John. | 1:15:57 | 1:15:59 | |
Now, that could be a massive error.
That one, he seemed to play a bit | 1:16:12 | 1:16:21 | |
casually. He probably didn't. He
just seemed like he did. | 1:16:21 | 1:16:32 | |
APPLAUSE | 1:16:39 | 1:16:49 | |
The red actually moved, there, 1p
ordered it. Yeah, played a | 1:16:53 | 1:16:58 | |
combination shot, didn't he? -- when
he potted it. | 1:16:58 | 1:17:06 | |
Nicely judged. Didn't go in to them
too hard but he knew that they would | 1:17:11 | 1:17:18 | |
open up nicely. It's a nice feeling
when you play that little cannon and | 1:17:18 | 1:17:26 | |
they spread over like they have. It
doesn't guarantee anything but it | 1:17:26 | 1:17:31 | |
makes the next 30 points as
straightforward as they can ever be. | 1:17:31 | 1:17:36 | |
It just gives you a nice little warm
feeling inside. When it works out as | 1:17:36 | 1:17:42 | |
intended. He needs a few good things
to happen right now, John Higgins. | 1:17:42 | 1:17:51 | |
To re-establish some authority in
this match. | 1:17:51 | 1:18:01 | |
He could conceivably get over the
winning post without needing that | 1:18:10 | 1:18:15 | |
red on the side cushion. Not
necessarily sure that he will have | 1:18:15 | 1:18:22 | |
done those maths. The job in hand.
He has to be precise with this | 1:18:22 | 1:18:32 | |
black. Isn't the end of the world as
the isn't. But that was as easy way | 1:18:32 | 1:18:45 | |
as any of on those reds. -- getting
on those reds. | 1:18:45 | 1:18:58 | |
It is a good point about the red on
the right side cushion. He can get | 1:19:06 | 1:19:13 | |
away with one more extra on the
pink. Six reds, six blacks, would | 1:19:13 | 1:19:19 | |
put him 58 points and fun. Two pinks
and three blacks. Well, four blacks, | 1:19:19 | 1:19:28 | |
and he wouldn't need that red. It is
something that you should do the | 1:19:28 | 1:19:39 | |
maths for, but sometimes there's so
much work to be done you're just | 1:19:39 | 1:19:42 | |
sometimes concentrating on keeping
position. Where these bores you | 1:19:42 | 1:19:46 | |
would sometimes be going for blacks,
but if you take too many pinks it | 1:19:46 | 1:19:52 | |
would be a minor mistake. John
Ashley would be thinking about it. | 1:19:52 | 1:19:55 | |
The future of the game, players
should be aware exactly if they need | 1:19:55 | 1:20:01 | |
that ball on the cushion or not. We
have the luxury of being able to sit | 1:20:01 | 1:20:06 | |
here pointing it out, and we don't
have too pot anything. That's a nice | 1:20:06 | 1:20:11 | |
little short! I don't know if he's
checked the scoreboard. He's having | 1:20:11 | 1:20:17 | |
a look at it now. It will be, not
maybe in the forefront of his mind, | 1:20:17 | 1:20:24 | |
for blacks would put him 36 in front
before the last, difficult red. If | 1:20:24 | 1:20:29 | |
you look at the scoreboard now, now,
has he done the maths? | 1:20:29 | 1:20:37 | |
Is it the maths, or is it the math?
My American? I think the singular is | 1:20:47 | 1:20:57 | |
the posh way of saying it! Is there
a Scottish way? Probably. That is a | 1:20:57 | 1:21:08 | |
good shot as well. So, a few blacks. | 1:21:08 | 1:21:13 | |
Think he can screw back to the side
cushion with this. It's dead | 1:22:17 | 1:22:23 | |
straight. Doing its job of keeping
the black -- keeping on the black. | 1:22:23 | 1:22:37 | |
The best way of playing for this red
is to the corner, he doesn't want to | 1:22:37 | 1:22:43 | |
play for it in the middle. That's
clever, a very clever shot. An | 1:22:43 | 1:22:53 | |
indication again, all the shot
selection being the most important | 1:22:53 | 1:22:56 | |
thing. The way he played that he
didn't have to play the shot | 1:22:56 | 1:22:59 | |
perfectly, just get topside of the
red. And now that should be a | 1:22:59 | 1:23:05 | |
formality. He has taken them well. | 1:23:05 | 1:23:09 | |
After potting this black he's
looking to get the double as well, | 1:23:34 | 1:23:40 | |
just to put the tin lid on this
frame. | 1:23:40 | 1:23:47 | |
Barring slickers, that is John
Higgins back with his nose in front | 1:24:03 | 1:24:06 | |
at 4-3. -- barring snookers. | 1:24:06 | 1:24:14 | |
After a rerack he has a similar red
to the one here before but the white | 1:24:44 | 1:24:49 | |
is not right on the baulk cushion.
He hit it thick last time. He needs | 1:24:49 | 1:25:01 | |
to take the bull by the horns here
and be aggressive. This is a tough | 1:25:01 | 1:25:08 | |
shot. Bingtao has got to cut the red
ink, screw back and keep on the | 1:25:08 | 1:25:20 | |
black in the same pocket but in
putting all the effort into the | 1:25:20 | 1:25:22 | |
shot, they are missable and he would
present a John Higgins with a golden | 1:25:22 | 1:25:28 | |
opportunity. He has turned down a
shot that a few players would have | 1:25:28 | 1:25:35 | |
gone for. Plenty of players in the
game just would have automatically | 1:25:35 | 1:25:40 | |
got down and played that. I was
surprised. Any time I've seen him in | 1:25:40 | 1:25:49 | |
the past, he certainly would have
played it. It is a shot at nothing | 1:25:49 | 1:25:54 | |
that he's left John with, as well. | 1:25:54 | 1:26:05 | |
How's the split? This is good.
Things just beginning to happen now. | 1:26:25 | 1:26:30 | |
A big target, that. The pink half
ball. | 1:26:30 | 1:26:43 | |
John Higgins smelling blood, here.
He realises the significance of Yan | 1:27:53 | 1:28:02 | |
Bingtao's shot not being punchy
enough. | 1:28:02 | 1:28:08 | |
John will want to play for the red
on the cushion may as a last resort. | 1:29:04 | 1:29:17 | |
This was the shot that Yan Bingtao
played. He turned down a pot into | 1:29:24 | 1:29:28 | |
the left corner for the safety shot.
And John Higgins got in from that | 1:29:28 | 1:29:36 | |
shot. | 1:29:36 | 1:29:40 | |
are a John Higgins 37. | 1:30:34 | 1:30:38 | |
Yan Bingtao bashes the table with
his cue, which is the modern day | 1:30:44 | 1:30:48 | |
sign of an appreciative shot of your
opponent. He has left the road into | 1:30:48 | 1:30:57 | |
the middle. -- red into the middle.
Can he get past the black to the red | 1:30:57 | 1:31:07 | |
into the corner? It doesn't look
like it. | 1:31:07 | 1:31:10 | |
I think you would expect him to get
this. Wow, I thought that was going | 1:31:15 | 1:31:25 | |
in. Just a fraction too hard. I
still thought it was going in | 1:31:25 | 1:31:31 | |
though, didn't you, Aaron? You can
tell by Jon 's reaction as well, he | 1:31:31 | 1:31:36 | |
thought it was in. A puff of the
cheeks. | 1:31:36 | 1:31:43 | |
This is thin but I am sure he will
get it. That is why they have | 1:31:49 | 1:32:00 | |
experts in the commentary box! Wry
smile from John. He has managed to | 1:32:00 | 1:32:11 | |
somehow cover this road with the
blue. | 1:32:11 | 1:32:22 | |
Bingtao was trying to pay a better
positional shot than just potting | 1:32:26 | 1:32:29 | |
the red. A bit more pace it would
have been an ideal pace to pop the | 1:32:29 | 1:32:33 | |
red. Not easy to get a telling
safety shot here. | 1:32:33 | 1:32:54 | |
That got a bit close to the pocket,
didn't it? Yan Bingtao taps the | 1:32:54 | 1:33:05 | |
table but it was not that far off
being a mistake. Now it has caused a | 1:33:05 | 1:33:14 | |
few problems. Yes. If he is going to
play the up safety he will have to | 1:33:14 | 1:33:21 | |
get this very thin. He will drop the
cushion first on the left-hand red, | 1:33:21 | 1:33:28 | |
which he is doing. Used only to give
these respects. With the baulk | 1:33:28 | 1:33:45 | |
colours as they are, it is not easy
to get telling snookers. Surprised | 1:33:45 | 1:33:55 | |
here that the loose red left of the
pink spot, slide off it, cue ball | 1:33:55 | 1:34:01 | |
near the yellow pocket and Yang will
be in trouble. I think John will | 1:34:01 | 1:34:05 | |
find himself maybe not in masses of
travel but maybe he has given up the | 1:34:05 | 1:34:10 | |
initiative. There was thought behind
it. 37 points in front and tire | 1:34:10 | 1:34:16 | |
those three roads. He doesn't make
many tactical mistakes, does he? | 1:34:16 | 1:34:32 | |
There was one here that I think Yan
can play and leave John that one to | 1:34:32 | 1:34:36 | |
the left of centre, is close to the
ball cushion as you can. He is | 1:34:36 | 1:34:42 | |
shifting that red. John 's long game
has not been on it. He has not been | 1:34:42 | 1:34:46 | |
on song today. I would have left him
attempt there. A possible plant to | 1:34:46 | 1:34:54 | |
nothing. The thing about this
situation now is there is a way of | 1:34:54 | 1:35:04 | |
getting down the table and getting
good snooker. Not easy but from this | 1:35:04 | 1:35:09 | |
side of the | 1:35:09 | 1:35:20 | |
table that plant was a bit more on
than you would have thought from the | 1:35:24 | 1:35:27 | |
distance. Red struggled in but it is
definitely John Higgins with the | 1:35:27 | 1:35:33 | |
initiative. He is playing in behind
the brown here, I feel. It takes out | 1:35:33 | 1:35:43 | |
the rest of the left-hand cushion.
He is in trouble. Immediately Yan | 1:35:43 | 1:35:52 | |
Bingtao will be seeing if he has any
kind of route to the three reds on | 1:35:52 | 1:35:56 | |
the top cushion. He is looking at
possibly three-cushion escape. I | 1:35:56 | 1:36:12 | |
think he is going to have to try to
get close to the green after two | 1:36:12 | 1:36:16 | |
cushions. I don't think that shot is
on. Too much slide on the cloth. I | 1:36:16 | 1:36:32 | |
think he could probably try this all
day long and not get it. I think you | 1:36:32 | 1:36:38 | |
should know from what he has just
done, unless you get stupidly close | 1:36:38 | 1:36:42 | |
to the green he will not be able to
get out of it. Will slide too much. | 1:36:42 | 1:36:47 | |
I might be wrong. He can get that
close to it, that is close enough to | 1:36:47 | 1:36:54 | |
the green. Put the greenback,
though. | 1:36:54 | 1:37:07 | |
I don't think he can escape off
three cushions there. Really, | 1:37:08 | 1:37:13 | |
without being disrespectful, he must
know this now. We have had ago and | 1:37:13 | 1:37:17 | |
he must've seen have all released on
the third cushion. I was just about | 1:37:17 | 1:37:22 | |
to say that. It is important that
they get the green exactly where it | 1:37:22 | 1:37:25 | |
was because it obviously plays an
integral pot of the shot. | 1:37:25 | 1:37:39 | |
He might just have made it. Oh, wow!
He is having a little chuckle to | 1:37:48 | 1:38:01 | |
sell. That is the best he could have
done to get across the table. That | 1:38:01 | 1:38:05 | |
is the absolute limit. | 1:38:05 | 1:38:15 | |
Every credit to him to having
another go at it. He is perilously | 1:38:21 | 1:38:25 | |
close to the green. He might escape.
John will be making sure he doesn't | 1:38:25 | 1:38:39 | |
push this brown, I'm sure. He is
making the red safe, isn't? There is | 1:38:39 | 1:38:51 | |
no way John wants to get involved at
any time with having safety shot | 1:38:51 | 1:38:55 | |
Goneva brown. Once again Bingtao is
in enough trouble that it seems he's | 1:38:55 | 1:39:06 | |
going off the side cushion for the
three roads. I don't know what he | 1:39:06 | 1:39:10 | |
was doing there for a moment.
Another shot is available. What was | 1:39:10 | 1:39:16 | |
he lining up there? I think he was
just in between the top jaw in the | 1:39:16 | 1:39:25 | |
middle and the brown. He was looking
at the drop on the three roads -- | 1:39:25 | 1:39:30 | |
reds and he obviously didn't fancy
it. Yes, John playing this wreck | 1:39:30 | 1:39:39 | |
near the baulk line. It is not a
double-kiss but he doesn't really | 1:39:39 | 1:39:43 | |
want to shift it unless he has two.
He doesn't have to do anything | 1:39:43 | 1:39:53 | |
special here. He can just jump onto
the three reds. It is Yan Bingtao | 1:39:53 | 1:39:57 | |
who has to jump onto the aggressive
safety. The double-kiss is not on. | 1:39:57 | 1:40:03 | |
It would only be a double-kiss of
this was a straight ball to the | 1:40:03 | 1:40:07 | |
corner and the cue ball will win the
race. Nicely judged, although | 1:40:07 | 1:40:16 | |
Bingtao can improve the situation
with a thin contact on the first | 1:40:16 | 1:40:18 | |
red. Is there a gap between green
and blue that he can get the black | 1:40:18 | 1:40:31 | |
interplay? There might be. It might
be risky where the red goes. I think | 1:40:31 | 1:40:37 | |
he can get the black out here. | 1:40:37 | 1:40:48 | |
He needed to play an aggressive one
and he has done. You have to say he | 1:40:53 | 1:40:58 | |
asked the best possible question of
John Higgins under the circumstances | 1:40:58 | 1:41:01 | |
will is not John has got a
relatively easy path back to baulk, | 1:41:01 | 1:41:07 | |
but at least it has opened the reds
up and opened colours up. | 1:41:07 | 1:41:20 | |
There will not be many times in his
career he will be tapping the table | 1:41:28 | 1:41:33 | |
as many as he has done against John
Higgins here today. Great judgment | 1:41:33 | 1:41:37 | |
of weight there as well. It has
caused as much problems as the line. | 1:41:37 | 1:41:51 | |
A last resort shot. Once again the
side cushion and leave that one in | 1:41:51 | 1:41:56 | |
the jaws, that is a last resort. He
is coming down to see what kind of | 1:41:56 | 1:42:00 | |
shots John Higgins has got from the
jaws of that corner. I am not sure | 1:42:00 | 1:42:04 | |
he has too many other options. A big
shots to try and potted. He is | 1:42:04 | 1:42:18 | |
taking this on, I think. Yes, that
was so difficult. He has not left an | 1:42:18 | 1:42:27 | |
absolute sitter. John Higgins, you
would expect to take full advantage. | 1:42:27 | 1:42:42 | |
Well, he obviously believes in his
own ability. He could've played a | 1:42:43 | 1:42:46 | |
containing shots there. I think
probably the scoreline in the frame, | 1:42:46 | 1:42:52 | |
and knowing how clever John Higgins
is, perhaps he thought that was as | 1:42:52 | 1:42:56 | |
good as a chance as he would ever
get. It was not much of a chance. | 1:42:56 | 1:43:04 | |
John Higgins sticks that red in the
heart of the pocket. It was the | 1:43:04 | 1:43:11 | |
first frame really that has gone
against the grain. Yan Bingtao was | 1:43:11 | 1:43:17 | |
in first and he couldn't
successfully negotiate the | 1:43:17 | 1:43:19 | |
positional side of the frame and
John Higgins got back in and now it | 1:43:19 | 1:43:23 | |
looks like John Higgins has smelt a
bit of blood. He never balks at the | 1:43:23 | 1:43:33 | |
finishing line, that is for certain. | 1:43:33 | 1:43:43 | |
Yes, he has checked the school
board. Three of those reds. With | 1:43:45 | 1:43:54 | |
colours and then he should be one
away from victory. | 1:43:54 | 1:44:06 | |
He would still like this red into
completely seal the frame. | 1:45:51 | 1:46:03 | |
Striking the ball very nicely. He
never overhits a shot, John Higgins. | 1:46:07 | 1:46:12 | |
He knows when to stroke the shots
and went to punch it in. The | 1:46:12 | 1:46:16 | |
complete all-rounder. Apart from
those shots, obviously! That is John | 1:46:16 | 1:46:28 | |
Higgins 5-3 in front and needing one
more for a place in the last 16. | 1:46:28 | 1:46:41 | |
Well, if that red to the right
corner is dead straight, he could | 1:46:46 | 1:46:50 | |
play it as a shot to nothing. For
the black. The only Reggie would | 1:46:50 | 1:46:55 | |
leave on would be the one he missed,
other than the red into the middle | 1:46:55 | 1:47:00 | |
pocket that would possibly popped
but he has potential with this one | 1:47:00 | 1:47:05 | |
as well. There was the potential. He
was never going to be rolling it in | 1:47:05 | 1:47:17 | |
dead weight, that was too risky. Not
far of getting the snooker. He | 1:47:17 | 1:47:29 | |
didn't even look into that red in
the far corner perhaps wasn't | 1:47:29 | 1:47:34 | |
straight. | 1:47:34 | 1:47:43 | |
Never really going to be able to put
his opponent in too much trouble | 1:47:52 | 1:47:56 | |
from that shot. Yan Bingtao should
be able to find a path back to ball. | 1:47:56 | 1:48:10 | |
Actually it has been a feature of
this match and, to be honest, a | 1:48:10 | 1:48:17 | |
feature of the modern game, players
are loath to play the safety of the | 1:48:17 | 1:48:21 | |
pack and push the reds out
potentially over the corner and then | 1:48:21 | 1:48:23 | |
be sitting out for the rest of the
frame. I have seen it more. This | 1:48:23 | 1:48:27 | |
looks good. Not quite in behind the
brown suit John Higgins perhaps hear | 1:48:27 | 1:48:34 | |
about to gain the upper hand again.
Yes, he cannot play the full cushion | 1:48:34 | 1:48:45 | |
safety because of the red in between
yellow and pink in the way. He can | 1:48:45 | 1:48:49 | |
play the two question. Inside it
just behind the brown. Down to the | 1:48:49 | 1:48:55 | |
full cushion. Line it up. On the
yellow. Cut off the escapes down the | 1:48:55 | 1:49:03 | |
right-hand side of the table. I
sound like an know what I'm talking | 1:49:03 | 1:49:13 | |
about there! That was a brilliant
shot. I do not know if you will see | 1:49:13 | 1:49:27 | |
any return to the baulk area, I
suppose he could drop dead weight | 1:49:27 | 1:49:30 | |
into the cluster of the reds but
that has risk attached to it. Has he | 1:49:30 | 1:49:37 | |
another half ball one, red into the
pack behind the black? If he can see | 1:49:37 | 1:49:42 | |
enough of the right hand side of the
second raid on the left of the | 1:49:42 | 1:49:46 | |
table, if that makes sense. Yes, I
think you can. I cannot see many | 1:49:46 | 1:49:55 | |
other shots at the moment. That is a
good spot. You wouldn't like playing | 1:49:55 | 1:50:02 | |
it unless he can hit the red on the
thin side are not push too many open | 1:50:02 | 1:50:06 | |
reds out of the cluster, but what
else has he got? I think he has to | 1:50:06 | 1:50:13 | |
try and play the shot and trying get
in behind the black. A thin half | 1:50:13 | 1:50:17 | |
ball. Not too thick, as you say. He
has just looked at it there. He is | 1:50:17 | 1:50:22 | |
going through the same thought
process as we have gone through. | 1:50:22 | 1:50:28 | |
Yes, there you go, that is the shot
he is going to play. We think. | 1:50:28 | 1:50:36 | |
Unless he is seeing something else.
Can he play the one nearer the blue? | 1:50:36 | 1:50:42 | |
He could play the same shot. He is
not going to take the pot on? To the | 1:50:42 | 1:50:49 | |
top cushion? | 1:50:49 | 1:50:49 | |
Far enough out with the red that you
didn't get the cue ball tracking | 1:50:57 | 1:51:00 | |
right. As he left anything? Masses.
Why he has left is not John 's | 1:51:00 | 1:51:14 | |
favourite shot, especially pasta
plate slowly and hope for a black. | 1:51:14 | 1:51:18 | |
You will probably come around for a
choice of the pink or the blue and | 1:51:18 | 1:51:21 | |
that makes the pot a fraction
easier. He has dribbled it. Not as | 1:51:21 | 1:51:34 | |
easy as it looked on the TV, that
shot. | 1:51:34 | 1:51:45 | |
Frame and match-winning opportunity
here. The balls do not look that | 1:51:48 | 1:51:55 | |
much out in the open, but there are
enough loose reds around better | 1:51:55 | 1:51:58 | |
player of the likes of John Higgins
will be able to orchestrate a | 1:51:58 | 1:52:04 | |
chance. Straight on this black. It
would have been a lot easier had he | 1:52:04 | 1:52:15 | |
not been. A tremendous amount of
side spin on that. Has gone too far? | 1:52:15 | 1:52:27 | |
Has he overheated? He did overheated
a bit, but has he overheated too | 1:52:27 | 1:52:34 | |
much? Yes, he is just about all
right. The red in baulk helps him as | 1:52:34 | 1:52:43 | |
well. The next couple of shots he is
playing for the blue. Holding | 1:52:43 | 1:52:50 | |
flipping, though. This is a decent
position. Slowly but surely pushing | 1:52:50 | 1:52:57 | |
other reds into possible positions. | 1:52:57 | 1:53:08 | |
He might be a bit low on this red.
You should be able to slide off | 1:53:20 | 1:53:23 | |
other reds. It is hard to see from
the commentary box. He has to go | 1:53:23 | 1:53:29 | |
into something here. Very nicely
judged stop easy to have played that | 1:53:29 | 1:53:35 | |
soft and not got such a good split
but he had the experience to know he | 1:53:35 | 1:53:39 | |
had to punch that one in. Just
checking to see if he can play for | 1:53:39 | 1:53:50 | |
two reds on this. Just helped him to
get the cue ball high enough to be | 1:53:50 | 1:53:59 | |
perfect on the next red. This is
developing beautifully. Well, it has | 1:53:59 | 1:54:08 | |
been a fascinating match to
commentate on and should John | 1:54:08 | 1:54:12 | |
Higgins convert this chance, an
excellent match for John Higgins to | 1:54:12 | 1:54:19 | |
establish his mark in this
tournament and stake a claim on | 1:54:19 | 1:54:22 | |
possibly being the champion. He has
won it three times before, I think. | 1:54:22 | 1:54:26 | |
Who is to say he will not win it
again? He still has to mind his work | 1:54:26 | 1:54:32 | |
here though. A good chance to go
into the pack. He should not lose | 1:54:32 | 1:54:38 | |
the cue ball. He can go in with a
bit of pace. That was an outside | 1:54:38 | 1:54:44 | |
red. Apologies. I didn't think that
went. It flies in. He could have | 1:54:44 | 1:54:54 | |
gone into the reds there but it was
risky. He is just looking for | 1:54:54 | 1:55:02 | |
something more certain, isn't it? | 1:55:02 | 1:55:13 | |
It is actually a clever shot he has
played. It is virtually guaranteed. | 1:55:14 | 1:55:30 | |
If that red next to the pink went
and I would sort of agree with not | 1:55:38 | 1:55:44 | |
going into the reds. It is a bit
more difficult like this but such a | 1:55:44 | 1:55:49 | |
good player, John Higgins he may be
gambling by getting an unlucky split | 1:55:49 | 1:55:57 | |
I suppose. He would not have played
into them. There is a scoreboard | 1:55:57 | 1:56:06 | |
check, 55 and potentially another
six would be 61. He is still going | 1:56:06 | 1:56:10 | |
to need the red and the high value
colour from the cluster. | 1:56:10 | 1:56:22 | |
One good positional shot. Yellow. A
big area. Let us get that one right | 1:56:29 | 1:56:35 | |
at least. That is right, blue. I
would have played for the yellow. | 1:56:35 | 1:56:45 | |
Nothing wrong with the cue ball.
That is why we are really here. He | 1:56:45 | 1:56:51 | |
could have played this earlier. God
knows why he is playing it now. This | 1:56:51 | 1:56:59 | |
is effectively to win the match. A
good split and is over. | 1:56:59 | 1:57:11 | |
That red, 62, the black to follow.
The match ball is coming up. | 1:57:14 | 1:57:28 | |
He has had to fight hard all day
long. 3-0 in front pegs back to 3-3 | 1:57:37 | 1:57:43 | |
but using of is experience. Just to
confirm the victory. Not been | 1:57:43 | 1:57:54 | |
vintage John Higgins but it has been
good enough. It has been good enough | 1:57:54 | 1:58:00 | |
and Yan Bingtao has not been found
too much wanting either. John | 1:58:00 | 1:58:06 | |
Higgins has been the stronger but
Yan Bingtao has impressed greatly | 1:58:06 | 1:58:11 | |
today. 70 points in front and he has
not given up but he is on the brink | 1:58:11 | 1:58:20 | |
of giving up now. A fantastic
victory for John Higgins. He is | 1:58:20 | 1:58:25 | |
through to the next round where he
meets Mark King. From 3-0 down to | 1:58:25 | 1:58:38 | |
3-3, Yan Bingtao made a matchup that
but it was John 's experience, he | 1:58:38 | 1:58:43 | |
saw the finishing line and he was
able to stride over it in the end | 1:58:43 | 1:58:46 | |
and he goes through to play Mark
King on Wednesday afternoon. I hope | 1:58:46 | 1:58:51 | |
you have enjoyed that. It whetted
our appetite for more and I am sure | 1:58:51 | 1:58:54 | |
you will join us at 1pm this
afternoon for more of the same. | 1:58:54 | 1:59:01 |