Second Round: Part 1 UK Snooker Championship Extra

Hello again, from the Barbican

Centre in the magnificent city of

York. We are here for what is the

first of three majors in the snooker

season. The bit where United Kingdom

championship. This is a very special

week. Neal Robinson knows what it

takes to win. He has done it twice

before, and in the second round

match was up against Ken Doherty who

has graced three UK finals. Ken fell

off the tour at the end of last

season but was given special

invitational status to continue and

he really has been courteous wave

through some of the tournaments

already this season and trying to

make the most of that opportunity.

We will join them in this best of 11

second-round match.

Excellent. Great length on that

stately shot. To get back on these

tables with the cloth is by

stately shot. To get back on these

tables with the cloth is by the fist

and to get it on the cushion is

excellent judgment. It makes such a

difference.

You can see the left

channel for Ken Doherty. He can play

the cue ball up there and he has a

different problem now.

That really is an excellent shot. He

has left him the maximum amount of

trouble he could be in. I cannot see

a way back down into the baulk area

from any shot at it as so he may

have to roll down the cushion and

rest on something here.

He will be catching this on the

thick side. He is playing a return

on trying to buy himself another

shot. I think this will be a feature

of this match actually, they are

both fantastic tactically. You would

think Neal is the heaviest scorer

but not many players in the world

can outmanoeuvre it can in the

tactical department. This match is

important for both players. They

want to get off to the best start

possible. This is good stuff from

Ken Doherty already.

There is a type of shot as well but

if Neal takes it on he can play with

a bit of safety in mind and if he

stands it over to the other side of

the table it is merely a shot to

nothing. I am not saying he can't

leave anything. He is that far away

from this that he will leave it

surely. A long way away that.

That was a better shot and looked.

There was not much margin for error.

Just to screw it in with a bit of

check side. Ideally he would have

liked another six inches or so on

the cue ball to come up straight on

the blue but it was a pretty good

shot.

It is tough to score from here. He

will need a little screw shot and to

try and land on the black if he can.

He has played for the gap on the

pink and I don't blame him for that.

We had both shots there. It is not a

straightforward chance.

Still play with that old cue he has

had, he got it for a few quid in

Dublin and he is still playing the

same cue. He is properly had a new

ferry all and a bit of waiting done

to it over the years because they

tend to wear out but it does in good

stead, that one.

He has always stuck

with that. It is a trusty old one.

It is good to see Ken back playing

well again. The last five or six

years he has not been how we use to

see him but he really has played

this season.

He seems to be working

hard at it. He was a little bit awry

with the cue ball there. He may have

to take a plant on now. The scenes

have a lot of enthusiasm. I have

been speaking to in the last couple

of weeks and he still loves playing

and compete again there was nothing

like having a few good results your

confidence. That is the big thing.

If you get a few matches you can win

a new play good in those then all of

a sudden the world is a rosier

place. The table looks like it is

playing nice as well.

That red looks tight, doesn't it? He

is as good night as he possibly

could be but possibly just off the

left jaw.

He played a touch further

down the table to leave himself two

options. The one he is taking now

with the second option. He would

have loved to be a little bit lower.

It could work in his plays are --

they could work in his favour. The

play for any particular colour, just

an area above the blue spot. It is

getting harder from where we are

sitting.

He is scrapping for the cue

ball, isn't it? He would love to be

able to chip the blue in the middle

and play little cannon into the pack

but it looks very acute, that.

Certainly on these tables that play

with a little bit of side. The cue

ball can move off very quickly.

Quite sensibly, he is taking the

yellow. Once again he will need a

good cue ball. As the other plans?

He will fancy this. It is a virtual

certainty for a player. A little

brush cannon off the second and then

he could be up for blue under baulk

colour. This might be enough in the

middle. Oh, wrong.

I didn't see him

missing it, but I certainly didn't

see him missing it by that far. That

was very unusual. A complete mis-hit

there.

It was almost like a miscue.

I don't quite know what happened.

It is sometimes tricky to get out

from these reds. How would you play

this shot?

I think you should be

disturbing pink and black kid

because he will be busy getting

topside of the blue. The base just

comes off the cue ball. Past the far

corner. That is no good. I think

that was worth the risk there.

People look at the shot and see the

red and they think it will be easy

and he will make a few from here but

some shots you cannot get the cue

ball out of at it the more it was

going to have a reaction.

So, from looking like maybe a

chance, it is just going to be the

safety now and he is checking out

where the places that he could leave

the cue ball for the most trouble

for Ken.

A nice target that behind the green

and brown. There is one red towards

the corner pocket but if he can get

in there a could pay dividends.

Yes, I was thinking the same myself,

but what a pot that was.

It

certainly was, I didn't even think

that went. Fabulous cueing. Brown

will just about pass the green. OK,

a couple of positional shots away

from being a nice chance by the way

the two breads are -- the way the

two red Czar this could be the first

real scoring opportunity finial.

These are little testers. You should

pop this red. The difficulty is that

you are not sure where the cue ball

is going to finish. It is impossible

to avoid a cannon and you have to

trust to a little bit of luck here.

He is trying to spring open pink and

black.

Good shot.

Unlucky.

Yes,

obviously couldn't get a fair bit of

work, he needed to be down the table

more for the brown in the green

looks like it is over the corner but

you cannot bridge left-handed

anyway, that will be horrible. Just

the safety. An interesting opening

frame this. Both players are

scrapping for chances.

The red over the left corner pocket

is a bit of a problem here because

Ken would like to play the safety of

the red near the blue but the red

left corner is a bit a problem.

Well, there is a confident shot from

a confident man. You don't want to

touch that because you know full

well you will be leaving it. Would

you have played that?

I don't think

I would in all honesty. That was

some shot. Two or three out of ten.

That is not slipping on the back is

it? Just about OK. Going back. It

goes back to where the greenies. Ken

will be tracking in behind it.

That is about as good as he could've

done with that one really because if

he had left it to the side he would

have been slipping him behind the

green, but he get there now. He has

done quite well to get himself out

of that one, Neil. Once again Ken 's

judgment is excellent.

This is dangerous. If he gets this

thin the rate will go to the corner.

That was unfortunate.

Yes, all

caused by the excellent safety. Just

the total difference of having that

cue ball tight on the bottom cushion

as opposed to six or eight inches

offered made all the difference to

that made it a lot more difficult

for Neil. Ken has a great chance to

take the opening frame and he can

score here. This isn't bad on the

blue.

I wonder if that pink will

pass into the left corner. He just

overcooked this. If he has landed on

that red just above the pink and it

goes then that is an absolute

result.

I think he has. Wow. What a

result that was.

I am not sure if

Ken knew, I think he played for the

loose one. Either way, it is now

offering winning chance. -- a

winning chance.

Now that is even nicer with the

black going on the pink spot. He

looks confident. His safety has been

superb. It is all looking good at

the moment. Both of us are dismayed

by the fact that he still has

excellent eyesight at his age. We

both need glasses for reading but he

was showing off that he does not

need them any more.

We were

comparing specs. He seems like an

eagle. He must have eaten a lot of

carrots. It has been a good start,

hasn't it? As you say, his safety

has been exemplary in the first

frame but we expect that from Ken

Doherty. The ideal start. We said it

earlier in this frame that he will

make Neil work for his chances.

Nothing has happened in the opening

frame to make me change my mind. A

great matchplay.

Yes, never been afraid to play

anybody. If they have a cue he will

go into battle. He has always been

the same.

A good idea to clear up as well.

Keep Neil off the table. An

important start to the match, when

the first frame and keep your

opponent sitting there a little bit

cold and that will help you in the

second frame.

Just going back to the

blue that he landed plum on the next

red, that is the kind of thing that

happens when you are in good form

and feeling confident. The end

result is that he will win the frame

with a decent contribution. When

things like that just go your way.

He's just keen to clear the table,

get the feel of the cloth on the way

the conditions are playing.

-- cushions are playing.

The ideal start for Ken Doherty. He

leads Neil Robertson 1-0.

I was watching closely yesterday on

the practice table just around the

corner at the hotel. A really

purposeful stride he had. He has

always had that and in the last

couple of years he struggled with

his game and he has not looks like

the Neil Robertson we would normally

see but I noticed in practice that

he looked full of purpose and fuller

figure. He was hitting the ball

beautifully. He is up against an

opponent, as we said a few times

today, he will have to work his

socks off for his chances.

Goodness me. They may as well just

give him the trophy. I was a

fantastic pot. OK, he was not

playing a wholly with the intention

of knocking it in, it was one where

he just wanted to get out of

trouble, but nevertheless, superb

cueing. This is a little tester.

Right in the heart of the pocket. He

has played for the rednecks to the

black as well. This is what the very

best players in the world do. They

shot selection is of such paramount

importance. That was a brilliant

choice. This red is tough but if it

goes in he has created a good chance

out of absolutely nothing.

Yes, well

the last shot had been cueing and

this one is going to have to be even

better. These are smelly little

shops.

He turns away in frustration. It is

the first good chance the Neil

Robertson. That was a horrible one

and it is very easy to flick a bit

of side on the ball there. We have

seen can stamp his authority on the

match at the start, showing you how

well he was hitting the ball, and

now it is Neil was my turn. Red at

the back of the pack that is loose

is not in a bad place because if you

can pop out and play little screw

cannon into the and out you could

knock a few balls out. It is just a

matter of which were Neil decides to

go but he will not be too enamoured

by that shot, he overscrewed it.

Excellent recovery.

Yes, he is

coming around to look at that rate

but this is the absolute optimum

angle he has on this blue. I think

he will split them.

Well played. He played in such a way

that he didn't lose the cue ball.

Just checking to see how far down he

has to be once he plays this, he

might have to run through just an

inch or so to be on the black.

It doesn't seem to be a problem,

does it?

He obviously wants to make

life as easy as possible by hitting

it as straight as he can but he will

have to play some sort of little cut

back on the position is not

guaranteed. Coming back from blue?

Well, not what he wanted but

definitely second prize. This is a

lovely way to finish, straight blue.

Not happy with the contact there,

for some reason.

I think it was just

an audience member took a drink from

a bottle of juice or something just

on his backswing.

a bottle of juice or something

just on his backswing.

He actually is a bit of work to do

with these red the way they are. It

is not straightforward. He is pretty

straight on the black which doesn't

help. He is two or three good

positional shots away from having a

really good chance, but not

straightforward.

That is the best shot he has played

today.

You called it before when he played

a little cannon. He might be tempted

to play another one here. There are

two reds. There was a cluster of

four when a line on the right and he

defeated get on the one that looks

furred up in those four. The top

cushion would be all right. It

depends how he sees this. They are

not perfect the way they are. I

wonder if he could drop a little

cannon on there. Have you looked? It

is fine. Didn't blame him at all for

playing that shot. He was always

bound to land on one, wasn't he? It

is important that he gets the top

side of it, which he has done. The

reds are just covering one another

and sitting diagonally. They're

covering the corner in the middle.

It has been a funny break because

every time you scum the reds had

been blocking each other off and he

has had to work quite hard for this

break.

He has to play another little

cannon. Nothing is guaranteed. He

will have to work the cue ball. He

is playing the screw. If the red

below the pink spot goes there is a

plant as well. Not bad, not ideal.

Yes, slightly overhit that one. A

fair bit of distance between these

two reds. The plant before we

thought was that the unmissable but

this one has a little more Arjun --

margin for error.

He will probably

get it more times than not but one

good thing about if the line that he

is looking at he can screw back for

blue which kind of makes the plant

little easier as far as the pot

goes. I fancy him for this. Yes.

A good shot, and once again, I do

not know whether there is a red in

the middle that goes... Maybe?

Ooh... Off the bump.

This will be a

good shot.

46.

Busy cueing that was... That was the

shot of a confident man. Here comes

another one...

Neil Robertson, 47.

I do not blame

him on that occasion, taking on the

blue, he probably cannot lose the

frame, he could win it if he pots

it. Figuring if he goes on behind

the yellow, being the player he is,

Ken was always going to drop on one

of these four reds.

A 40 point lead for Neill. The lead

is pretty massive at the minute...

Trying to make a clearance with the

way that the balls R.

-- with the way that the balls are.

Excellent. Ken can just get through.

Almost playing to miss this time.

That is what has happened.

As long

as he doesn't leave a free ball,

he's OK. He's a liar, needs glasses!

Just having a little side there.

The referee checked whether he could

see it full ball, which is

important, because if he misses this

time... He would be warned, on the

third time of asking. He has got it

this time. Experience, again, coming

into play for Ken. Another thing

that Doherty knows in this, OK, he

is 44 behind but if the frame goes

on for another three or four minutes

playing safety, eventually he will

get the chance to bring those reds

interplay. -- into play.

You thought the frame was messy

before, this would put them even

closer together.

An excellent shot again from Neill.

Very high quality safety at the

minute.

A clip off the outside read here.

Getting in behind green or blue, the

pink may have covered the way back

to the baulk area. Just past the

blue, and clipping that read. It

would be a decent shot, that.

Yes. Cannot get through to the red.

An awkward bridge, over the blue.

This is tough. I think Neil had a

result there, with how it has worked

out. Very good. Slowly but surely,

the reds had come into better

positions.

The red and the black have gone a

bit awkward, that isn't on, to knock

that one in... Hull and a miss.

I

thought it looked tight, right

behind the line of the shot. Ken can

get the red this time.

The referee

delighted that they are going back!

Was it a pink on the spot?

Making

use of the monitor to double-check.

A little that way... Seems happy

enough with that. All about the cue

ball.

It is tough. This is where

trust plays a part. For me, just

looking at the line, I thought they

would struggle to get through. There

wasn't a lot of room. I don't know

whether... Maybe he didn't look at

it properly?

One thing that he will not do is to

steal any advantage here.

I've said before that the red and

black was awkward, you cannot play a

plant that you can now. Those two

reds there, easy PC.

I don't leave

he can play it slowly to make sure

he doesn't cover the pocket with the

other red. He is thinking the same

thing... Openly black and still go.

It's not ideal, he was a little

unlucky. Maybe just drop the red in?

A better chance of being on the

black. The pace more or less made it

shot on.

He could see the red, it

was possible he could foul. Playing

it slowly, that was why he wanted to

guarantee getting the ball. But I am

surprised at that. Not taking one of

those colours on. And I'm even more

surprised at the shot he plays after

it.

Very careless. You don't get

position on the colour. It isn't

like him to put them in trouble.

Punishing them. The red coming up

the table. In behind the blue...

Just about. I'm just looking to see

if he can play a plant. He could be

onto the pink... This is a chance.

If he plays the first red, he could

hold the cue ball on the pink. This

is a chance for a frame here.

I

couldn't agree more. It's very much

uncertainty. Anything filly, and the

red will drop. It is a good chance.

And a good shot. Lost the cue ball.

One thing he had to do there was

ensure that he had plenty of work on

the cue ball. If he got that, it

would have been a chance and a half.

He just had to hold it for the pink.

Now, will he be brave enough to take

the pink? What do you think?

I think

he might play it. I think he is 1-0

up, and he has been given. A chance

in the frame, if this goes on,

they'd get a frame. He has taken it

on.

Ken Doherty, one.

I do not blame him

taking it. The shop before was the

one. Just had to hold the cue ball,

the whole frame was looking

unpromising. That was the lifeline

he was looking for. Didn't quite get

that cue ball. Should really be 1-1

now.

The black is in a slightly tricky

position. Just near the side

cushion. But it shouldn't be a

problem for Neil... 42 in front,

just needing to drop that black in.

A 49 point lead. He keeps having a

good look at it. Looking relatively

simple from here. Yes, that should

be the frame.

Two excellent frames of snooker.

Good matchplay. Good positional

play. It's fascinating to watch

these two top-class protagonists go

at it. Ken cannot really complain.

He had a couple of chances in this

frame. The long pink was one that he

had to get.

It has been good stuff.

It isn't there, but that is Neil

Robertson. With a break of 47 and 35

in the frame.

Leather

-- levelling the match at one frame

all.

1-1. Enjoyed it so far. These two

great players trying to outthink

each other.

Well, that is a shocker. I don't

know what he was doing there to hate

it so thick. He will be kicking

himself. Those hurt, those unforced

ones. No trouble at all and then you

go and do that.

A little gift. There

will not be many from either player

this afternoon. It is a bad one by

any standard.

It's a good shot. A choice of two

reds is excellent. Staying down the

business end of the table. The pink

might even go to the left corner.

Plenty of options. Early on...

Even that was a lovely touch and

absolutely perfect. Could not have

put it any better. The long tackle

is difficult to get the actual feel,

it's different to the weight of your

cue. I'm impressed with how he hit

the ball.

He is going to have a little more

work to do. What he does next, it

would have been lovely to leave that

there. Playing the cannon into the

pack. A loose one at the back, he

cannot do that any more. He will be

relying on some luck when he splits

up the pack... Here we go... A good

angle.

Three reds and a line

committee would love to catch the

right of the three. He has done,

slipping off the other one. Does the

right go past the pink? Right

middle... I don't think it does.

I'm

not really one for taking players to

task but how he went about that

break there, I thought he'd got it

wrong. Those reds at the bottom of

the pack, they play the cannon into

the pack. That's the insurance

policy on the break. And there is

the recovery.

A great pot but once again, a little

straight on the black. Looking to

see, if he runs through slightly, at

least a shot at one in the middle?

He is thinking to play the right one

of the two. The green or the brown.

Almost playing as a half shot to

nothing but it makes that pot a

little easier. A bit more pace into

it. I'm not sure of the angle.

Running into the blue, playing the

ball.

A clever shot, he took the pressure

off himself by going over to the

other caution. That was good

thinking. He wouldn't be leading

anything. He has done well, unusual

in how he has done it but

nevertheless... He is still on the

table and he is still scoring.

Doesn't have too play a cannon here.

They can go up the table and passed

the pink on that one. It all

depends. Looking like the back one

pots as well... Perfect!

Playing a little cannon here. Going

through for a black, it should be

all right, I think. Not

guaranteed... Going wrong, he is the

pink.

It was a shop before for me.

If you knows this two reds comedian

got to be on the table. You do not

have to play any cannon. Being a

little short on the last one was a

problem. And just the fact that he

is keen to put the blue there. Not

absolutely safe but losing the cue

ball. Neil Robertson's long game,

the last couple of seasons, hasn't

been to his normal standard. Let's

see how he tackles this one... A

good pot.

Just about on the yellow.

Just about will do. You would expect

him to get as far as that blue,

wouldn't you?

In an ideal world

comedies like the blue on another

question, to be honest, being

left-handed. The blue isn't as hard

for him as it would be for a

right-handed player, he could use

his own cue as opposed to the rest.

It's a long way down the line but I

do not think that a blue will be as

much of a problem if he gets there.

A classic chance of a counter attack

here. Is he up to it?

Looking down

the line, if he gets as far as those

colours. A half Paul Green. Flicking

the blue into play. If this

develops, Doherty would be worried,

sitting in his chair...

A fabulous

shot, a brilliant shot.

How many

players would have thought of that?

That is absolutely superb! The red

was always going to be a problem. It

would have been a half ball and he

plays a screw of the condition and

promotes it into play. -- off the

cushion.

That really is a tremendous

shot, it looks like nothing against

everything that it was superb.

These are the frames, the ones that

really hurt. It's a brilliant

opportunity for Neil Robertson.

Some

people say that snooker is not a

physical game, but this will hurt.

Making the clearance... Already, the

tension will have been on the green,

getting the blue out, that's what we

are talking about. This red is a

little thinner.

The backhand shot, where he played

the blue, he clipped it. Would he

have been better making sure he got

the cue ball type? He would love to

have have got one of them. On the

cushion, this does not come.

The

fact he is as nice as he is, this

red points to the road. 25 behind,

playing for a bold colour which sets

them up. Now looking at the green.

He can almost use the cue ball on

his hands, the timing is perfect.

It's a good shout from before, off

the green. Looking at it now, he is

just perfect, where he has finished.

This has been a superb performance

so far. A lovely screw splitting up

the reds with the best of the break.

This is important, and if he flicks

this blue out... Well, it's gone

wrong. He has just made it ten times

worse! Because he is left-handed,

that is in a shocking position, that

blue.

He doesn't need the blue, he

is still 17 in front.

Did he play it

a little hard? You only really want

to promote the blue a foot or so

outside of the cushion.

You're

right, he was guaranteed to get the

cushion first and then kick the

blue. No need to play with pace. At

least off the brown, you can get the

blue of that. It's important he does

not leave Ken one shot to nothing,

it's easier to get the blue near a

cushion.

He has left him some temptation,

it's one of those shots that can win

you the frame but it could also lose

you it. It is decision time!

What a pot!

Thinking that Neil

Robertson was going to let that

frame... He's going to be 2-1 in

front.

Two snookers.

It was an

excellent pot. Of course, it is just

one. And there it is. Wouldn't

really be a problem to Ken, of the

side cushion. But nevertheless,...

Took a chance hitting it hard. You

are bringing pockets into play when

you play it that firm.

I would

agree, sometimes you've just got to

think, hit the pink! Slow pace, just

hit it and if you don't, fair

enough, you have made the mistake!

You are right, he was bringing other

pockets into play.

That will be a

pot.

It is far from a lost cause.

Robertson made play the cross

double. Depending on the pocket that

he has. What he doesn't want to do

is leave the cue ball and the pink

close together because he knows the

control that Neil Robertson has, he

will fancy getting in behind the

black.

The other thing is because the black

is on its spot, it is a position you

know really well and you know the

angle to get in behind. Neil has not

played that particularly well. It

should be OK for Ken to drop in. He

does. What a fantastic frame of

snooker that was. Absolutely

brilliant. It looks like Neil

Robertson would come back and make

it but Ken Doherty leads the frame

2-1 in a very interesting match.

Neil Robertson breaks off in frame

four. A very interesting encounter

so far this afternoon. Most people

would have been thinking that the

Australian was a big certainty for

this match, playing against Ken

Doherty, but we all know

differently. Ken has been in good

nick and always an excellent match

player. He has given Neil plenty to

think about in this opening session.

He has been a top-class player for a

long, long time. He was an amateur

champion and turned professional in

1990. He was a constant on the

circuit up until the last year or so

when he got a wild card. He is

certainly making the best of it.

Good results. It looks like he is

still enjoying being out there

competing which is the big thing. As

long as you can't wait to get your

dickie bow and get your cue out of

the kiss and go and play and compete

and as long as you still feel like

that then there will be good

performances.

That is a good point, the desire and

the hunger to stay out there. Just

getting your cue out of the kiss, it

sounds like a simple thing but you

have to be up for it. The way the

top players are and with the

youngsters coming through, with the

Chinese contingent of players that

are all hungry, you have got with

the same.

You are very fortunate

that you haven't got there yet but

you do know when your time is up and

you have had enough of it. I have

the ultimate respect for this game

and everything I have got is because

of it but if you do not enjoy being

out there eating then you know. That

is what happened to me in the end. I

thoroughly enjoyed watching and

talking about it but the competing

side of it now I have been and gone

and done it so I have a great deal

of respect for the likes of Ken and

yourself who are still out there.

Even that is a clever shot by Ken.

Lee Camp play round the black but he

is leaving a guaranteed shot to

nothing Neil Robertson, so clever.

He play shots other people do not

play and the fact that he is in

better form all around now we get to

see him do this. For a couple of

seasons he has been off the radar

but when you watch him play and you

are in the commentary box watching

him play you realise why he has been

around for a long time.

And now he

can maybe play the safety around the

back. Back into the baulk. He has to

be careful not to push a red into

this right corner. He has not done.

That lost -- that last shot he

played with tactical brilliance. You

cannot teach that either, can you?

You have to learn it for yourself.

There are people in play the circuit

and they just do not get it. They

don't. He, obviously, through his

mouth and his tactical awareness he

does. How many players would have

played that that way around to give

yourself the best opportunity?

Absolutely. Ken has all the moves.

He is just asking questions of Neil

Robertson.

There was an answer.

Sometimes you

just have to hold your hand up and

say, great shot, and that was one of

them. He was in a fair bit of

trouble there but what a pot that

was.

By all accounts, I think you have

heard that Neil is practising really

hard and putting all of the hour was

same, which is what you have to do

to get back to the levels he was

that. The snooker he was playing a

few years ago and one year in the

Masters he played up until the final

when he played Ali Carter in one

game and it was as good as I have

seen anyone play. He beat Ali Carter

and missed one ball in the whole six

frames. It was a blue when the frame

was over. He was as close to

perfection as you can get. He beat

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Unfortunately he

didn't have much left in the final

because he played so well but he has

produced some of the best

performances on a snooker table I

have ever seen. It is difficult to

maintain the standards but you

reckon he has been grafted hard

which is always a step in the right

direction.

Absolutely he has been

putting the hour was in. I think I

was on the circuit are not always

aware of what the others are doing

but with social media and everything

that goes with that, news does

filter out there.

Neil Robertson is going to get to

work. This looks like the last of

the easy red. He doesn't have any

plants on stop he must get top side

of the blue.

Absolutely perfect and now the full

ball cannon into the screw and hold

the cue ball. How does he look?

Well, not great actually. It is all

right but that a crude -- a tricky

shot demolition. -- off the cushion.

The more power on the shot the

harder the pot becomes.

He hit that so well. He didn't quite

get the pot just right on the cue

ball, but just on the blue though.

It can the yellow. It is a natural.

It is all the pot here. Guarantees

to finish on the red. He has just

slipped past the yellow, but not too

bad.

I think he is one of the best

players in the world of the push on

with those little shots like that,

he cues the ball so straight. We

have already seen an example this

afternoon when it was on the

left-hand side of the table and he

cued through it beautifully. It is

very easy to click a bit of side on

those and you'll doesn't do that.

Is

he playing for black you? Much

easier. The position was never

guaranteed. That red was then and it

is decent on the yellow. He can just

about reach it.

It is amazing to think that he

actually lost his tour card right at

the start. You have to have

something about you to come from

Australia as far as he has come like

he has come over here and lose your

card and not get on the circuit and

come back into the player he is

today, you have to have plenty about

you. He is made of stern stuff.

A

typical Aussie. Great sportsman with

the Cricketers in late Intuit and

all of those sort of guys. He has

been fabulous. I think he won his

first ranking event 13 or 14 years

ago in Aberdeen.

I don't quite know what he is

looking at here, maybe just trying

to work out at he thinks the reds

will do off the safety. He played

that like a shot to nothing there,

trying to flick off the other one.

Quite a clever shot.

Foul. Neil Robertson, four.

He knew

it was going closely was trying to

make sure he didn't promote to the

corner but unfortunately for him he

has now got a plain-ball on this

red.

Ken can look forward to being right

up behind the brown here, I think.

Yes, it is important that he gets

tight in behind this. Ken will be

trying to drop on the red to the

black against the table in a few

seconds.

Switch it off please!

The

dreaded mobile phone goes off. He

has just come back to that red near

the black. I think it passes.

Neil

Robertson, one.

He has not got it.

He was just doing what you were

saying, trying to cover that side of

it and make the escape more

difficult but unfortunately for him

it was a little too far.

He was

trying to get the liftoff of the

brown as we see it. He was trying to

snooker him, these boys try to make

it as difficult as possible. There

is a way back into this frame for

Ken.

That was a better shot than it

looked. You can't do much else

there. You would have been playing

the cannon onto the black and just

about getting the cue ball down the

table so he did pretty well there.

The area down behind the green is

looking like a good spot if you can

get the cue ball down there. He

tried.

He would love to take this

red on. It is just what he is

weighing up, is it worth it? The

question more pertinently is, how do

I feel about it? Sometimes you feel

confident. He is looking to see if

he can leave the cue ball somewhere

and maybe get away with it.

I don't

think this is one of those

situations. This is one where you

just have to go all your eggs in one

basket and be committed to the pot.

Not be worried about what will

happen. If you are taking this on

then it needs to go in the pocket.

Yes, couldn't agree more. I think is

it on.

What a shot.

Perfect cue

ball.

Deserves everything he gets after

that shot. Absolutely excellent. A

lot of players may have played along

stunt shot with that but Ken dropped

it in. He did it the way he fancied.

Now it is just a matter of keeping

the cue ball under control. The

first priority is get yourself back

in the frame. He hasn't really made

a good effort of the last red, he is

slightly awkward here. The yellow

was a bit of a problem.

Great shot. To find the gap, and

that was quite deliberate as well.

Quite back in perfect position, I

don't know if he can hold for the

blue. He is certainly going in and

out of the ball. It is not quite in

position yet.

He is scrapping for

it, isn't he? There are some great

points to keep it going and the last

positional shot was to rigour and

that was better than it looked. He

just needs to get one really good

positional shot, and not miss the

brown! Goodness me. I did not see

that coming.

Amazing, isn't it, this

game. The professionals tell you you

can miss anything. You take your eye

off it for a split second and you

can miss it.

It is funny how it

happens as well because he has

played all the tricky shots with the

Longbridge and gone through the gap

in through the middle and it is

almost as though your concentration

drops a little level and you don't

put it all in for the next pot.

I am just wondering if that could be

a big turning point in this match.

Ken has done really well this

afternoon so far and that was the

first really big mistake he has

made.

We always said it was going to

be a big frame. It always is before

the mid-session interval. This black

and one more red will stop that will

be the insurance and then it will

all be square again towards the

interval. They have already passed

the point that once they see this

red disappear it is going in and Ken

wouldn't return to the table.

Neil Robertson, 23. And the frame.

The concession from Ken Doherty, it

will be 2-2 and all to play for when

we return. Neil Robertson makes it

2-2.

So, Ken Doherty breaks off in frame

five after the mid-session interval.

A very good session before the

interval it was too. Interesting

tactical play. Some good, long

potting. Ken making himself a little

bit after a chance on the brown that

he had and he should not have

missed. He could have got a counter

clearance in the last frame but it

has all gone now. 2-2 and all to

play for.

He has got to be a little bit

careful with this return safety. If

he decides to play in with a bit of

check side. Well, he played another

shot completely, and he would like

to have that one again. The thing he

had to avoid there was double-kiss.

Yes, he just caught the far jaw in

the corner. The double-kiss.

We said before the interval, tough

as the Australian sports stars are.

The Australian Rugby league team won

the World Cup this morning against

England full is not 6-0.

At one point that was looking

distinctly unpromising, that splits,

but Neil has a couple of options

now. One of which is a red in the

middle pocket, if he wants it. The

left corner is also portable. One

good pot and a positional play away

from a really good chance here.

Yes, the way these reds are sitting.

Please shots a masterful. That was

good, that was good.

I mentioned

earlier, his cue action is

absolutely bowled straight and those

shots are made to look effortless.

He was right to the middle of the

cue ball, as straight as you like,

and that is tough to do.

It is something else actually that

this season, talking about

conditions, the conditions have been

really good. They have not been

bouncing the way they were two or

three seasons ago and it gives you

this kind of little shot, it looks

like nothing but it gives you

confidence you can get it properly

and not lose the cue ball.

Do you

know why it has improved?

Not

really, I had to be honest. It has

been a feature of this season. I

think I'm back to social media are

you hear players complaining about

tables misbehaving but there has

been none of that this season and we

hope it stays the same.

And

wondering if it is because the boys

are all using the new chalk and it

doesn't give any kicks because it

doesn't rest on the table other

conditions. It is good. You want

consistency and you want to know

exactly how the ball will come of

the cushion. If the tables are doing

the job, then great. Much has been

made of this new chalk. Are you

using it? Are you an advocate?

I do

have a piece of it my cue kiss but I

have not started using it as yet. I

think I probably will. The only

thing I have heard reports that a

lot of players are miss cueing more

than they ever would say that his

aim con servant but it definitely

takes away the chalk marks. Why, I

don't know, but it does. Kicks, you

still get the odd bad contact but I

think they do reduce kick count.

Meanwhile Neil Robertson has taken

these brilliantly well. I mentioned

before the interval that it could

change the course of the match. At

the moment it is looking very

promising for Neil. There is another

one of those shots where there are

kings of the condition where the cue

ball was coming up far too far and

that is the second one he has had in

the break. It is absolutely perfect.

That is great. If you're playing all

the time and you know that is

happening, that is exactly what you

want.

Even with that shot it helps, you

can punch it improperly and know you

will not lose the cue ball topside

so it makes a difference to players

of this standard. An awful lot of

shots, it's not something we want to

be talking about, you don't want it

to be an issue so may it continue

the weather conditions have been.

Neil Robertson getting up of steam

here.

He is not daft. He has been

around the block, he knows he may

have got away with one in the last

frame of this with Ken missing

brown. Players know, they can sense,

there are certain parts of the match

were you know your opponent should

have gone ahead or pressed ahead and

he hasn't done it then you try even

harder than you are doing in the

next frame just to make him remember

it. He is taking this beautifully

well so far. The cue ball has been

exemplary. He is already 64 points

in the league. This will put him

over the line in the frame said

there is nothing like winning in one

visit which is what he has not been

able to do so far in this match. If

safety shot and a double-kiss the

Ken will cost in the frame. -- that

safety shot and the double-kiss will

cost Ken the frame. Play a little

cannon off the pink here and take

the outside red as well if he wants.

A little flick across. He just

dropped it in. Could take that shot

on if he wanted it.

No reason why now we should not see

the first century of this match. He

has taken these beautifully. Red and

a colour will see him not that

century. Very impressive.

A beautiful century for Neil

Robertson. The red doesn't matter.

He will be in the lead for the first

time at three frames to two.

Neil Robertson breaks off in frame

six. He will not be happy with that

break. He will need a bit of luck to

get away with it. Has he?

Ken can

just about get through to red. It is

a difficult pot. Yes, those are not

easy when you have been your chair,

added to the interval 15 minutes it

is probably a good half an hour or

hour or so or 40 minutes.

The double

whammy was that the red has come out

to a portable position. He just hit

so so nicely. It is once again such

a nice example of that straight

cueing. You cannot put that ball

unless you cue threw the ball

straight.

That was beautiful. The control.

Three or four times today he has

landed absolutely perfect on the

blue. Into the reds again. How is

his luck. Not great. Can he get

through for pink to the right

middle?

Won over the middle. It is

not a cinch. It is not easy to

control the cue ball playing it.

This is definitely an example of

straight through the ball cueing

here... Which, once again, was not a

problem. It really is bowled

straight. It looks like nothing

though.

It was a beautiful shot.

A

very fine left-hander as well. To be

on the pink but not on the rest, it

shows you the control. Picking a

spot for the next red, meaning

business again... Is he playing the

cannon into the reds? No, he can

pick out one. Edit the gap looking

promising...

Stepping through the

gaze at the minute. Trying to go a

little quicker... That was the

importance of scoring heavily. In

this part of the match he feels he's

got Ken slightly on the ropes at the

moment.

It's a clever shot that shows you

how well he is thinking. Just about

the top side of the blue. Finding a

way back down to the next red. It

isn't going to be easy. Loosely

spread. Covering one another. It's

an important shot right here.

Finishing the red how he is playing.

You would fancy him. I wonder that

red at the top, dropping the blue,

it would be OK if he runs that cue

ball three.

Let's have a look at the

red that I thought would be the one

for Neil. Leave the cue ball right

there, play a thin clip in and play

up the table. That looks to be the

best option at the moment... He has

gone on the same line, going twice

across...

He played a two in 1-shot there. He

played for the choice of a plant a

loose red corner. Filling in the

knowledge, on the red, he was

thinking clearly. Good thinking. One

good positional shot away, a fine

chance. To win the frame his

visit...

We said earlier in the day

that all of the breaks, one of those

made by Ken, he was scrapping for a

position. It's another one here. He

hasn't been right for the last three

or four shots. Another good

positional shot is required.

Now, is he on one? He is not on the

one closest to the black on the

right-hand side but he is on one

above. Once again, got to knock it

in because you don't really know

where the cue ball is going. What a

shot.

As good as anything today.

Again, beautifully striped. A choice

of green or blue. If it goes in it

looks like it would be the end of

the frame. Just gone through the

Boxall of a sudden...

A worried Ken sat in his chair

there. 20 minutes since he last

potted a ball. Really, 45 minutes

since he had any decent table time

to speak of...

And he doesn't look

like he is getting any time soon,

either. He is playing really quickly

at the moment. He is obviously very

confident. You can always tell when

a player is in good stroke.

Certainly with Neil Robertson, his

shoulders go back and he walks as

proud as a peacock around the table.

Quick and fluent. That is what is

happening at the moment.

69...

Hard to play any better than this.

Just beginning to enjoy himself out

there, Neil, the first three or four

frames were hard-fought today. A

good single for plotting, but not

really the fluency we are expecting.

But he is beginning to move through

the gears. He is looking good.

It

was interesting, a couple of shots

he could have played and flicked the

pink off the cushion. He ignored it.

He didn't even take a chance on that

one, he just wanted to make a

century. And there it is.

Consecutive century breaks.

Extremely impressive. Done in pretty

quick time. Superb from the

Australian.

Great to see him playing back like

this. As you say he's one of the

finest players I've ever seen in

this game and when he motors like

this, here's a handful! It would

take someone exceptional to beat him

if he continues in this vein... It's

great stuff.

The way he's hitting this, it's a

certainty! APPLAUSE

124. The frame to Neil Robertson.

102 in the last, opening up a two

frame lead. Neil Robertson leading

Ken Doherty four frames to two. He

is looking good.

My goodness. Well... That's what

happens, unfortunately, in sport.

When somebody is playing so well

they get the rub. That is one of

those, missing it by a foot.

Straight into the corner. I wouldn't

put it past him making another

frame-winning contribution here.

That is tough to take.

Yes, this

game, it seems to have a memory. On

what has gone on before in the last

couple of frames, the half-century

breaks by Neil... Not bad enough for

Ken Doherty that the opponent is

playing the way that he is. Like is

also on his side. Clever, playing

for the pink right there. It will go

to the back of the cluster.

It clears a couple of rates and some

shots to work out the order that he

is going to take the reds in.

Already thinking of the best way to

win this bunch.

A couple of loose reds before he

needs to think about that but, once

again, a cluster the way that they

are. Off the blue, that would be

happy but he has come a little short

on this one. Just about the cannon

that he gets here. The fact that he

can sneak past the side of the pack,

I didn't think he could see that at

first but that is all right! Still

got two loose reds before he has two

manoeuvre any more balls into play.

This frame, all about the split. I

do think though that, is there a

plant on the same pocket? I think

that he's going to play for the

loose red.

Similar how he was on it

a couple of shots ago. Finishing

where his farm is there. That is

perfect! That is perfect.

Played it

nicely. Once again judging the

cannon. You have to be careful, how

hard you hit these. And also making

sure you do not screw it off in the

middle pocket, that is a

possibility. Interesting to see

which way he does this.

He can

actually push the reds in. I wonder

if the plant is still on.

It can definitely be made. No doubt.

It looks like it is all happening

here. A fluke on the opening red and

he has found a plant as well. Hmm.

The other thing is, he will be

pushing the other reds into play and

playing this... If the balls are

even virtually touching, they don't

have to be touching, and he can

still manufacture this, putting it

into the middle of the pocket...

Yes. A good shot.

My goodness,

honestly, this frame, you want to

put a line through this one. Ken

wants to sit and look for the fluke,

then the plant, the split is

absolutely perfect. I would not be

backing any horses if I was Ken!

It

is a tough life sometimes, the life

of a snooker player. Playing in this

kind of form, since the interval,

you don't have to do much wrong...

You can bet he's trying to make

another century, he likes to make

three or four on the spin. He's

obviously very motivated by the

history of the game and wants to win

as many majors as he can, scoring

wonderful centuries that season,

with over 100 of them. Just coming a

little straight on this, otherwise

he would have played it already.

And

it is also very good matchplay, in

terms of the experience. He's

reached a stage in the match where

the next half a dozen shots are so

important, to take him to a 5-2 lead

which you would think are not

unassailable but are in a very

strong position. He's taking his

time, fluent, but there are times in

a match where you would want to hang

back and weigh up your options this

is one of them.

Once again, that was beautifully

played. The pot on the bottom of the

pink. That is just... Well, it is

superb. Well, this looks like they

are all going to go. Certainly

enough to get past the line. 48

ahead already. John Paul used to say

that all he's got to do is to mind

his work!

As I say, taking his time.

He knows. He knows how important

this visit is. Keep Ken in the

chair. Get a 5-2 lead. He isn't on

the red. As far as patting it

directly but it should be all right.

Virtual certainty...

That shot on the right-hand side can

he left himself in the right place

to placed and cannon, all the time

he is thinking of using his brains.

Not much you can do about this. ...

If you play golf, but when your

opponent has the cue ball, you've

just got to sit and watch. This has

been brilliant from Neil Robertson.

There is nothing Ken Doherty can do

about it.

Chasing centuries again... Deep

enough into this to push the red

over to the left middle.

He needs to

work on his positional play. Been

absolutely superb for the last two

and three quarters frames. Looking

like someone who has won of the last

for the United Kingdom. That is what

he has done. It's great to see him

back playing so well.

The only way to get the read out, I

think.

He tried to get it out a

couple of shots ago. What a shock it

was.

Everything working in perfect

harmony.

So, pink, red, and another colour.

That will be three centuries on the

spin for Neil Robertson. Absolutely

grey day -- absolutely A great

today. Dropping this in...

That's three times in a row.

Neil

Robertson is flying out there.

Make

no mistake, ladies and gentlemen. He

is back. The real Neil Robertson has

entered the building. Hasn't been

massively off in his game but

slightly awry with how he has been

playing. He has been saying that

people are playing good against him

but trust me, he isn't playing that

good when he plays them. It is

vintage stuff at the moment.

He is really enjoying himself out

there now.

124 and 129. Neil Robertson, with a

three frame lead. One from victory

at 5-2.

Neil Robertson to break.

Neil Robertson to break off in frame

eight.

It's been an exhibition since

the mid-session interval from the

Australian. Three consecutive

century breaks. Fabulous control of

the cue ball. Exhibition

break-building the highest numbers.

Not much that Ken Doherty can do on

that. You've just got to hope that

things turn around.

It's another wonderful piece of

cueing. When he is on like this, his

long game is sensational. There are

not many better.

A couple of ways of playing this. He

may drop a dead weight. Playing two

cushions for a choice of rates.

Deciding on the dead weight, if he

finds this gap through the red, left

of the black... He plays it within

an inch.

Were you expecting anything

else? Not really! And there it is.

He is up and running again.

I love

how he plays the game. As far as his

safety he takes his time and place a

correct short but when he gets in

close he likes to get motoring and

picking up the pieces. He's done

that since the interval, wasting no

time.

Flat black, 400 points without

reply. For Neil Robertson. Clean as

a whistle as well. I think that the

record is somewhere in the region of

560. Maybe John Higgins against

Anthony Hamilton at the Crucible?

Suppose that the good news is it

looks like the last frame because

there were more in this match that

could be happening here. He is not

liking this at the moment. The cue

ball is absolutely superb.

Of course, losing the cue ball for

the first time... But mind you, he

has been knocking these in for fun!

It was over the pocket, no

hesitation, again.

Weight a deep screw. A cannon into

the pink. It is a clever shot. Is he

on one?

The only where he is not

going to pot one, if he's looking at

a chance of going in the pocket, I

think this is the end of the break.

A little bit of luck needed there.

You can take it onto the corner but

the way that he is going, he has

knocked everything in. 44 points in

front, 5-2 ahead and when you play

as well as he is, sometimes it is

difficult to steal yourself that you

still need to play the right shot

and the right shot here is to skip

out.

Yes, a medicine shop this, I

think.

Play the shot on its merit,

he wants to make four tons in a row,

of course he does. But if it doesn't

cut, there's no point in playing it.

He isn't playing someone in the club

handicap, he plays Ken Doherty,

capable of clearing up if he misses.

Play the right shot, I'm sure he

will do. And there you go.

That is

why he is the champion.

Now then!

CHEERING

CHUCKLES

That is nice to see.

Just don't miss

that brown though!

It's been a long

time coming but worth the wait in

the end. It's a decent chance. Not a

certainty, the brown, but so fully

capable.

This is why like to play

the screw on the angle, try and get

into the pack... There he is, he has

Mr brown. That's the shot I was

thinking... Hmm... -- he has missed

the brown. Unfortunately, his

position is good.

Year, it's a

symptom of a lack of table time,

isn't it? Look at that. That's where

you put the cue ball with your hand.

No idea really of where he was going

to land but that is plumb.

If this

match isn't over now, Neil Robertson

would be very annoyed with himself.

51 points in the league... Easily 20

or 30 more to come, you would think.

He has been hugely impressive this

afternoon. The second session has

been as good as he can play. The

only reason he hasn't made for

centuries on the spin is because he

lost the cue ball, on the positional

shot, not because he missed

anything. Back to his very best and

he is going to take some stopping

here... Whoever he plays against.

Just making sure of the black.

Playing the match... He has been

good, hasn't he?

He has, an

exhibition of power and control.

APPLAUSE

And it is good to see him play this

way again... It's not like he hasn't

been playing that well, still

knocking in centuries but to put it

together, all in one burst... The

red didn't go in, but the Australian

was absolutely all for nothing in

the interval. Wrapping it up there.

In the final frame. Brilliant play

from Neil Robertson the Australian,

Ken Doherty can do much about it in

the second session. The Australian

was awesome, winning 6-2.

the second session. The Australian

was awesome, winning 6-2.

What a performance from Neil

Robertson, 422 points without reply,

two matches in a row where he has

made three successive centuries. He

looks very good, does the two-time

UK champion. 16 second-round matches

remaining, we will get through those

on Sunday, starting at one o'clock

and we will be ready, on-air, for

the match between Ronnie O'Sullivan,

the five-time champion of this

event. I hope you join us for that,

but in the meantime, get some sleep.