0:00:33 > 0:00:40Hello again. After the dramatics on Saturday of the exits of the world
0:00:40 > 0:00:43number one, Mark Selby, and prior to that, earlier in the week, of the
0:00:43 > 0:00:48world number three Ding Junhui, all of the top seeds left in this year's
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Betway United Kingdom championship are taking nothing for granted in
0:00:51 > 0:00:55the early stages, especially not the world number six, Shaun Murphy.
0:00:55 > 0:01:00Despite the fact he's a terrific season so far, three big finals and
0:01:00 > 0:01:04he's converted one of them, the Champion of champions title, he knew
0:01:04 > 0:01:08he could be in for a bit of a tough match against the world number 69,
0:01:08 > 0:01:13Liam Highfield. The Stoke potter who after all went on a run to the last
0:01:13 > 0:01:1716 in this very championship here, 12 months ago. We are going to watch
0:01:17 > 0:01:21this one, best of 11 frames, in the company two former world champions,
0:01:21 > 0:01:30Dennis Taylor and Ebdon. -- Peter Ebdon.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39COMMENTATOR: Was Liam Highfield knocking the
0:01:39 > 0:01:45excellent long red in, Shaun Murphy will be sitting on his feet now
0:01:45 > 0:01:49thinking, I wish I'd taken the red into the yellow pocket. Unusual for
0:01:49 > 0:01:54him to turn a shot like that down. He's a very aggressive player, very
0:01:54 > 0:02:01attacking. That's a poor positional shot.Just didn't get through the
0:02:01 > 0:02:04cue ball there. He knew his red wouldn't go past the pink and has
0:02:04 > 0:02:10tried to come up past it, to leave it for the middle. He might be able
0:02:10 > 0:02:14to cut in, three reds to the right of the pack, may be played as a shot
0:02:14 > 0:02:21to nothing.Yeah, that one there, closest to the black, you can just
0:02:21 > 0:02:26see enough of that I think to try to cut it in. Well played.
0:02:29 > 0:02:37Now back in a reasonable position. He'd love to get on the red, near
0:02:37 > 0:02:41the right corner pocket, but the white has just run a little bit too
0:02:41 > 0:02:45far to make it a comfortable blue to drop on that.
0:02:48 > 0:02:55But he should be OK, one decent shot here, if he plays the cannon and
0:02:55 > 0:03:04finishes on a red. Well, a little bit more pace would have been better
0:03:04 > 0:03:06there.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17Red into the centre here, but this really did -- this is really tricky,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21very difficult cueing. That was really tough.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Shaun looks as if he is considering taking the thin cut into the left
0:04:01 > 0:04:10centre. Make cannon into the red, closest to the right centre, and
0:04:10 > 0:04:14that would stop the cue ball, and would be on the blue. If he misses
0:04:14 > 0:04:23the cannon on the red, he could be onto the black, into the left
0:04:23 > 0:04:29corner, so decided to play it as a screw shot. With right-hand side,
0:04:29 > 0:04:37controlled the cue ball well. But not ideally on a colour.
0:04:48 > 0:04:54That's a good pot, never easy when you are digging down into the cue
0:04:54 > 0:04:57ball, raising the butt of the cue, he played it with a touch of
0:04:57 > 0:05:01right-hand side as well which made the pot even more difficult. So it
0:05:01 > 0:05:06was a good pot, under the circumstances. A couple of very good
0:05:06 > 0:05:09pots, this is now a very good opportunity for Shaun Murphy to
0:05:09 > 0:05:11extend his lead.
0:05:17 > 0:05:25Can he get on the red that's near the right corner? Yeah, he can.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Because removing this red clears the path for the black into the same
0:05:28 > 0:05:35pocket and he's taking the red. Let's see if he can knock in a
0:05:35 > 0:05:37reasonable break here.
0:05:54 > 0:06:00Is not aggressive enough for you? That was the order of the day. He's
0:06:00 > 0:06:08given himself an excellent opportunity now. Couldn't have the
0:06:08 > 0:06:12reds sitting much better than this. It was a shot off the black that
0:06:12 > 0:06:20opens them up, shot that left the table like this.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32But that cue action, even when he's in among the balls, he still pulls
0:06:32 > 0:06:37his cue back quite a long way. It's just his natural way of playing, we
0:06:37 > 0:06:41keep talking about the Rolls-Royce cue action that he has and sometimes
0:06:41 > 0:06:48when you're in close control it can be a little bit of a disadvantage.
0:06:48 > 0:06:54But that pause and then delivering the cue, that's the key to this game
0:06:54 > 0:06:57of snooker.
0:07:31 > 0:07:38Very well controlled stun runs through from Shaun Murphy. When he's
0:07:38 > 0:07:43in full flow, he really is a beautiful play at the watch. He
0:07:43 > 0:07:46times the ball so well. I remember when he beat John Robertson in the
0:07:46 > 0:07:53final of The Masters, a little while ago. I think it was as well as I've
0:07:53 > 0:07:57ever seen anybody time the ball Forster P cued so well in that
0:07:57 > 0:08:05tournament. -- he cued so well in that tournament.When he won the
0:08:05 > 0:08:09world title against Matthew Stevens, he came behind in that and it was
0:08:09 > 0:08:13incredible how he played. I remember travelling down on the coach with a
0:08:13 > 0:08:17lot of the Welsh supporters and they thought Matthew would be world
0:08:17 > 0:08:20champion, but Shaun had other ideas. Talking about is break-building,
0:08:20 > 0:08:30he's made 438 centuries in his career. Well, he's going to have to
0:08:30 > 0:08:37pot the long blue, a trademark of Shaun Murphy. Not safe, so there's a
0:08:37 > 0:08:43bit of pressure on this. Let's see if it goes right in the heart of
0:08:43 > 0:08:51pocket. No. So even with that cue action, when you know the importance
0:08:51 > 0:08:54of the shot, even the great players can miss.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05Well, the chance is there for Liam. He had a bit of a chance in the
0:09:05 > 0:09:11opening frame, even though he was 60 odd behind. What can he make of this
0:09:11 > 0:09:19opportunity?Big pressure on Liam Highfield here. He knows the
0:09:19 > 0:09:26importance of this visit. He really wants to get a foothold in this
0:09:26 > 0:09:29match and draw level.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45The pink is on the right side of the table for him, being a left-hander.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49So the balls are there for him. It's just about keeping himself together
0:09:49 > 0:09:51now.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23The company of John, any harder, that would have stayed out.
0:10:34 > 0:10:41He'll have to come up for the blue here. He'd rather stay for the
0:10:41 > 0:10:45black, but underscrewed it slightly, so it's imperative he gets the other
0:10:45 > 0:11:00side of the blue. Doesn't want to come up short. I think he's just
0:11:00 > 0:11:05about OK, a glance at the scoreboard. 17 behind.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16He's trying to work out as to whether he'll need the pink, adding
0:11:16 > 0:11:19the score up in his head there.
0:11:37 > 0:11:43As Peter said, the pink won't be a problem, being a left-hander he can
0:11:43 > 0:11:47drop in behind that if he gets that far.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11And once again, must get the good angle on the blue, so he can drop
0:12:11 > 0:12:20writing behind the pink. -- right in behind the pink. Needs to run, and
0:12:20 > 0:12:27it's come up short. Wow, that's made such a difference. If it was the
0:12:27 > 0:12:31other side of the blue, he just rolls it in, gets about 18 inches
0:12:31 > 0:12:37behind the pink. Now he's got to force it in. And that's a pretty
0:12:37 > 0:12:41good effort, if it keeps running. Needs to pull up. He's going to be
0:12:41 > 0:12:49too close to the pink. Oh, dear. But it was the previous shot, he got the
0:12:49 > 0:12:55wrong side of the blue and this would be a body blow, because he was
0:12:55 > 0:13:00odds-on favourite to level the match. He's so close to the pink,
0:13:00 > 0:13:05it's not easy to get it safe.It's such a shame, because he'd held
0:13:05 > 0:13:08himself together so well up to that point.
0:13:12 > 0:13:21He's unlucky there.Just a fraction, he followed it all the way down and
0:13:21 > 0:13:25now that it's flicked the black, Shaun Murphy could cut this Ping Lin
0:13:25 > 0:13:28and the white will go close to the left middle pocket but if he cuts it
0:13:28 > 0:13:31in and it doesn't catch the middle pocket, he could finish on the
0:13:31 > 0:13:36black. Oh, close.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52Liam will be absolutely delighted to see the black going very close to
0:13:52 > 0:13:57the top cushion there. We only just needs this pink, where Shaun Murphy
0:13:57 > 0:14:06needs both balls. He can take this on, just needs to avoid beat in off
0:14:06 > 0:14:12into the left-hand black pocket. Which she has done and that's an
0:14:12 > 0:14:18excellent pot, well played, Liam Highfield. Levelled this match, one
0:14:18 > 0:14:20frame each.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Frame three, Shaun Murphy to break.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43Not the best break off shot in the world, with the brown coming to his
0:14:43 > 0:14:48rescue. Maybe not. There is an early chance for Liam Highfield here,
0:14:48 > 0:14:52because he can pot this and he can get on the black. Even the pink
0:14:52 > 0:14:58might be available, but it shows you the importance of a good break off
0:14:58 > 0:15:12shot. If he knocks this in he's got a great opportunity. You can see
0:15:12 > 0:15:15what he's doing with the cue there, that's telling you he didn't push
0:15:15 > 0:15:18the cue threw in a straight line.
0:15:52 > 0:15:57This is one of the toughest things about the game of snooker. You had
0:15:57 > 0:16:01the opportunity, you played a poor shot, and you have to go back to
0:16:01 > 0:16:04your seat and watched your opponent pot the balls you know you should
0:16:04 > 0:16:07have been taking on.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34Liam Highfield got that read in the middle and showed everybody why he
0:16:34 > 0:16:39thought he'd missed it and cued across the ball. It's probably not
0:16:39 > 0:16:46the wisest thing in the world to show a confident and attacking
0:16:46 > 0:16:50player like Shaun Murphy that sort of negative body language. OK, if
0:16:50 > 0:16:54you miss, you miss, but don't let your opponent know that you've cued
0:16:54 > 0:16:59across it, because that will just give him confidence.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22That last shot on the black, he could have done with a little bit
0:17:22 > 0:17:27more pace on the shot. I thought he was going to have an easy choice of
0:17:27 > 0:17:31reds, but the white just stuck in the reds there stop this is very
0:17:31 > 0:17:33awkward.
0:17:41 > 0:17:50It's a pretty good shot, but look where the cue ball has finished.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54Shaun was having a good look at the black cushion there, he feels he got
0:17:54 > 0:17:59a bounce there, in the sense that the cue ball came off the cushion
0:17:59 > 0:18:06with a lot more pace than he put into the shot. It's always one of
0:18:06 > 0:18:11the most difficult things for a player to contend with.
0:18:15 > 0:18:22Because it means that you lose position. And at the highest level,
0:18:22 > 0:18:27you don't get that many chances in a frame, although that is a very, very
0:18:27 > 0:18:33poor shot from Liam Highfield. A total misjudgement. He will be
0:18:33 > 0:18:39absolutely devastated with that. He'll be really annoyed with
0:18:39 > 0:18:41himself.
0:19:17 > 0:19:24He can't keep giving these type of opportunities to a player Shaun
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Murphy's class, because when he gets on a roll he can score very, very
0:19:28 > 0:19:36heavily, in three, four, five frames, and disappear in no time at
0:19:36 > 0:19:48all. I think one or two signs of nerves that Shaun had at the start
0:19:48 > 0:19:53of this match will be dissipating very quickly.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16You wouldn't expect many long frames with both these players. They are
0:21:16 > 0:21:22both attacking, a bit scrappy, the balls, that's why it lasted nearly
0:21:22 > 0:21:24half an hour.
0:21:50 > 0:22:08Doesn't need many more pots, pink, red, colour. It will be enough. You
0:22:08 > 0:22:13see it, 65 ahead, so he only needs this red, the way they are sitting I
0:22:13 > 0:22:19wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't what we say, doesn't dish up here of
0:22:19 > 0:22:22the lot.
0:22:36 > 0:22:43Maybe not now that he can and the red. He's a bit close. You might be
0:22:43 > 0:22:49able to pot the pink, but he's got to be careful he doesn't push this.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Well done.
0:22:55 > 0:23:08There is the possibility of a century.
0:23:24 > 0:23:30In fact, he made 37 centuries last season. He's on 20 so far this
0:23:30 > 0:23:33season.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43I think the table is playing a bit better today. It doesn't seem to be
0:23:43 > 0:23:47quite as heavy. As you said, the atmosphere can affect this. It's a
0:23:47 > 0:23:57beautiful day in York. The sun was shining. I was out for a little walk
0:23:57 > 0:24:04this morning, a gentle walk, no jogging for me. Maybe for you.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Interestingly, Liam Highfield was one of the fittest guys on the
0:24:07 > 0:24:13circuit. He's a really serious runner. Very lean and trim. And that
0:24:13 > 0:24:17really helps, especially in the longer matches.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25Yeah, this has been a terrific effort from the former champion
0:24:25 > 0:24:28here, Shaun Murphy.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35He overscrewed that slightly.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43Just the pink for the century.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52Oh! Unlucky, but he won't be too concerned. It was a great effort, he
0:24:52 > 0:24:56got one chance there and he took it all stop there was enough to win the
0:24:56 > 0:25:01frame. He's back in the lead, 2-1.
0:25:15 > 0:25:23Just trying to compose himself. He knows this is a tough shot. That's
0:25:23 > 0:25:25very well cued, well played.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34And look where he left the cue ball, he was always going to be on the
0:25:34 > 0:25:38black, but had he missed the red, look where he put the cue ball. That
0:25:38 > 0:25:43was a very clever shot. He had no intention of missing the pot though.
0:25:43 > 0:25:50So what chance now, to get right back into this fourth frame. Well,
0:25:50 > 0:25:54he has a chance to go to the mid-session all square, but there's
0:25:54 > 0:25:59an awful lot of balls to be potted before that happens.Yes, it was a
0:25:59 > 0:26:05very clever shot, the way he played it, he took a bit of pressure out of
0:26:05 > 0:26:09the pot because he knew that in playing it in such a way he wasn't
0:26:09 > 0:26:14going to be leaving an opportunity for Shaun Murphy, should he miss, so
0:26:14 > 0:26:18well played, well thought out.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Not ideal here though, the wrong side of the blue.
0:26:32 > 0:26:39Needs to avoid the cannon on the brown on the way down. Played it
0:26:39 > 0:26:43with right-hand side, just needs the cue ball to run. Well played, well
0:26:43 > 0:26:50controlled. He's looked at this pink a couple of times. It looks as if it
0:26:50 > 0:26:51does go.
0:27:03 > 0:27:09A chance to play for the black instead. Shouldn't be too much
0:27:09 > 0:27:14trouble here. He can play the black off one cushion, with top spin and
0:27:14 > 0:27:22have the joins Webber choice of at least two reds into the centre. --
0:27:22 > 0:27:30and have the choice of at least two reds into the centre. Under him that
0:27:30 > 0:27:34and may -- he has underhit that and may have to take the more difficult
0:27:34 > 0:27:46red into the green pocket. He's taken it into the centre. Now he's
0:27:46 > 0:27:49back in prime position. Nice pot.
0:28:06 > 0:28:12I think he's just OK for a moment, thought he had covered that red to
0:28:12 > 0:28:18the left middle, but he's OK. Just four points behind now. It's the red
0:28:18 > 0:28:23near the left side cushion that will be the key to this fourth frame.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05That's worked out very nicely. Did well to avoid the brown and the
0:29:05 > 0:29:14green. Didn't intend to get on the red in that fashion, but it worked
0:29:14 > 0:29:21out very nicely for him. He's probably playing for the red to the
0:29:21 > 0:29:25right of the pink.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41Just thinking a few shots ahead, when they decide to give themselves
0:29:41 > 0:29:47an ankle on the road to the left of the pink, to develop the red. Away
0:29:47 > 0:29:53from the left-hand side cushion. He's got the opportunity to do that
0:29:53 > 0:30:08now, if he wants to. Looks like he is playing behind the red, though.
0:30:19 > 0:30:28He got a kick Paire. -- there.Yes, and it might have helped him, does
0:30:28 > 0:30:33he have a slight angle here? He could roll it in but this is a tough
0:30:33 > 0:30:47one. This is virtually a frame ball. The difference is 23, to this red.
0:30:47 > 0:30:58Blue, pink or black would be enough that this is an awkward little one.
0:30:58 > 0:31:04That was an awkward one. He knew the importance of that, if he knocked it
0:31:04 > 0:31:09in he would have been into the mid session all square. A little
0:31:09 > 0:31:19annoying...
0:31:24 > 0:31:30Shaun still has to knock the men, though. -- knock them in, though.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34Not the best shot he has ever played, did not want to be coming
0:31:34 > 0:31:44into the blue there.
0:31:56 > 0:32:18Hmm... Can he just cue passed the blue? No. He got a little bit of
0:32:18 > 0:32:29unwanted side on that. A left off... 4-macro to there, when you are
0:32:29 > 0:32:43reaching over a ball like that, it's a possibility. Leading the yellow
0:32:43 > 0:32:57and the green. A very thin snooker this. He can screw along the
0:32:57 > 0:33:02cushion, from the yellow towards the pink and the black.I definitely
0:33:02 > 0:33:11think that is the right chart. -- the right shot, to screw the cue
0:33:11 > 0:33:21ball in from here. Could not have played it any better.He is looking
0:33:21 > 0:33:33anxiously to see is he has got the sneaker. -- snooker. He may just be
0:33:33 > 0:33:37able to sneak the yellow and play a safety shot but having said that, if
0:33:37 > 0:33:40he does that with the yellow committee could play into the black
0:33:40 > 0:33:51with the cue ball. Playing to swerve this. Together, a full-ball contact
0:33:51 > 0:33:58on the yellow. If you hit it thin enough and avoid going into the
0:33:58 > 0:34:07black, you can get a yellow save and a White safe.There's the option of
0:34:07 > 0:34:10coming off the top cushion and catching the yellow thin on the way
0:34:10 > 0:34:16back. It's a very good shot. Could not have played it any better. It
0:34:16 > 0:34:23was excellent. As Dennis alluded to, it was fraught with danger because
0:34:23 > 0:34:28it was so easy for him to get a double-kiss, playing with a cheque
0:34:28 > 0:34:35side, hoping to avoid a kiss but that was a gem, could not have
0:34:35 > 0:34:43played it better. An excellent shot. That was equally as good because
0:34:43 > 0:34:54there was very little room for manoeuvre there. Shaun can cut the
0:34:54 > 0:34:59yellow in and, if he does, the White will be heading back up towards the
0:34:59 > 0:35:03green, as long as he does not career into the pink but it is a tough
0:35:03 > 0:35:20cart. It is there. How is the kiss on the brown? It isn't bad.
0:35:40 > 0:36:00One good positional shots now. This would be a steal. For Shaun Murphy.
0:36:12 > 0:36:17Liam Highfield has to go to the next session interval all square but a
0:36:17 > 0:36:21slip up and Shaun Murphy pounced. He now goes to the mid-session interval
0:36:21 > 0:36:32leading three frames to one.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42Six, having to break...
0:36:55 > 0:37:04Liam Highfield breaks off, looking at frame six. Would liked to have
0:37:04 > 0:37:12had the cue ball tip on the baulk cushion. And that is why. A
0:37:12 > 0:37:16wonderful opening pot from Shaun Murphy. One of the very best in the
0:37:16 > 0:37:21business at that type of shot. He has been a little unfortunate to
0:37:21 > 0:37:35finish so tight to the green side cushion.
0:37:41 > 0:37:50He cued that in nicely. He is OK for pace. An opportunity for playing for
0:37:50 > 0:38:01blue or pink here.
0:38:02 > 0:38:15That is just OK. Going straight...
0:38:20 > 0:38:32Electing to play for the black this time...
0:38:42 > 0:38:46He might play the attacking shot here and go to the reds and stay on
0:38:46 > 0:38:56the black. He played it well. He would have liked to have seen the
0:38:56 > 0:39:02cue ball going away from the side cushion another few inches. He has
0:39:02 > 0:39:08been unfortunate to finish straight on the black as well. Just off, as
0:39:08 > 0:39:21you can see. From the angle. Just off straight.
0:39:28 > 0:39:38He has taken a more difficult pink. This is really tough. Just composing
0:39:38 > 0:39:44himself, some movement behind the shot. If you miss these, you tend to
0:39:44 > 0:39:49miss them thin. There is a lot of movement going on in the background,
0:39:49 > 0:39:55unfortunately. That is twice he has got up off his shot. He is just
0:39:55 > 0:40:11composing himself again. This is really tough... And that is an
0:40:11 > 0:40:23excellent pot. Well played.
0:40:34 > 0:40:42A nice cannon between the gap would do... Was always going to be on a
0:40:42 > 0:40:54red, having played it the way that he did.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58The pink was the shot there when he looked at the black and he took the
0:40:58 > 0:41:09more difficult pink to keep the break going. Sean is one of those
0:41:09 > 0:41:14players who could put bitter disappointment behind him. He missed
0:41:14 > 0:41:19an easy red when playing a cannon on the black but he is such an
0:41:19 > 0:41:24experienced campaigner these days, he quickly forgets about it. He has
0:41:24 > 0:41:33come out firing here on all cylinders.He has gone up a gear
0:41:33 > 0:41:40here, Dennis. Steve Davis talks about the top player sensing danger.
0:41:40 > 0:41:46Then, responding under pressure. Shaun Murphy is certainly doing that
0:41:46 > 0:41:59at the moment, despite a kick on the black there.
0:41:59 > 0:42:11This has been an impressive response from Shaun Murphy.
0:42:17 > 0:42:24Very well controlled. Did not have to be in with a lot of pace.It was
0:42:24 > 0:42:29a nice and gentle cannon. Look what he has done with the reds. Put them
0:42:29 > 0:42:35all in positions with a delicate positional shot there. He has
0:42:35 > 0:42:44already got a 57 point advantage. Well on the way to opening up a two
0:42:44 > 0:42:54frame advantage again.
0:43:04 > 0:43:1564 points ahead, 75 on the table.
0:43:58 > 0:44:03I thought he was going to go on and make a Huybrechts there. Certainly a
0:44:03 > 0:44:06sentry would miss them in the middle. He will not be too
0:44:06 > 0:44:13concerned. He stepped up a gear there. Now he is back with a two
0:44:13 > 0:44:25frame advantage at 4-2. -- I thought he was going to go on and make a
0:44:25 > 0:44:30Huybrechts there, certainly a 100 would miss them in the middle.
0:44:38 > 0:44:49There it is. An excellent shot.
0:45:20 > 0:45:25That is another one... It wasn't easy by any means, as Peter
0:45:25 > 0:45:36mentioned, a few frames back, these middle pockets are very very tight.
0:45:36 > 0:45:43It is difficult to explain to people, the player, the clubs, they
0:45:43 > 0:45:47think their tables are tight but a club table is completely different
0:45:47 > 0:45:52to these match tables. The middle pockets are very narrow indeed. On a
0:45:52 > 0:45:58normal club table, the middle pockets are very easy.I have
0:45:58 > 0:46:03noticed a distinct change in the cut of the pockets over the last few
0:46:03 > 0:46:08seasons. If you have the Corbel -- if you have the cue ball in hand and
0:46:08 > 0:46:13you try and pot the yellow in the pocket that Shaun Murphy just
0:46:13 > 0:46:18missed, you can only drop it in that way, if you play it with pace at
0:46:18 > 0:46:26all, it will not go. They are playing very, very small. I've seen
0:46:26 > 0:46:30more balls missed into the middle pockets in these last couple of
0:46:30 > 0:46:40seasons than in my entire career.
0:46:46 > 0:46:53It's an excellent opportunity now, for Liam Highfield. This is all
0:46:53 > 0:46:58about keeping his composure here. Retaining good control over the cue
0:46:58 > 0:47:08ball.
0:47:24 > 0:47:34Yes, there's a really good chance for him. He would have liked to have
0:47:34 > 0:47:40got the red away from the pink spot area, the one to the left. The paint
0:47:40 > 0:47:53is still available at the moment. There isn't a lot that he can do
0:47:53 > 0:47:59with the black at the present. -- the pink is still available at the
0:47:59 > 0:48:15moment. That will do! Could have played for the pink but the yellow
0:48:15 > 0:48:20was sacked over the pocket. As long as he got past the blue, he had
0:48:20 > 0:48:27agriculture could have got back from the reds to the yellow. He would
0:48:27 > 0:48:32have liked to have been straight on it, he doesn't want to have to play
0:48:32 > 0:48:44a little cannon into the pink. It should be OK... I say that, he is
0:48:44 > 0:48:50now the wrong side of the blue! It was a careless short, two shots ago,
0:48:50 > 0:48:55when he did not leave the correct angle. It's about making the game as
0:48:55 > 0:49:01easy as possible for yourself. If he was straight on the red committee
0:49:01 > 0:49:08wouldn't have had to play the cannon. -- if he was straight on the
0:49:08 > 0:49:16red, he would not have had to play the cannon. He will be faced with a
0:49:16 > 0:49:30difficult next round. He has got more and more confident. But I tell
0:49:30 > 0:49:39you what... This is a tough one, to keep the break going. He goes in,
0:49:39 > 0:49:43and it is nicely on the blue and it could be a frame-winner but...
0:49:43 > 0:49:45Hmm...
0:49:56 > 0:50:10That was the problem. On the red, he has missed it. It was pottable. They
0:50:10 > 0:50:14say when you are under pressure it is always nice to leave yourself
0:50:14 > 0:50:26close to the next pot. He is usually pretty good at this type of shot.
0:50:26 > 0:50:37Let's see what Shaun makes of this.
0:50:49 > 0:51:00How is your luck here, Shaun? How is your luck? Not very good! Is he on
0:51:00 > 0:51:11it? Maybe... Maybe just? Yes, he is. That type of shot there, he makes it
0:51:11 > 0:51:16look so easy. He barely hits the ball, but the action he gets on
0:51:16 > 0:51:26it...
0:51:44 > 0:51:56Having to concentrate on the blue at the moment.
0:51:56 > 0:52:00He played the previous shot very nicely. The screw on the right-hand
0:52:00 > 0:52:18side, a choice of -- a choice of two reds on the right-hand side.
0:52:29 > 0:52:34He wants to get on the right side of the blue, he wants to play it with a
0:52:34 > 0:52:41lot of right-hand side. Content to play for the pink.I think when you
0:52:41 > 0:52:54are so good with the rest, you don't mind leaving that type of shot.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02There are a couple of reds near the cushions, especially on the
0:53:02 > 0:53:09left-hand side of the table, that will be a key ball. A quick glance
0:53:09 > 0:53:21at the scoreboard, but he is still four points behind. So... He knows
0:53:21 > 0:53:28that he is going to need that difficult red! For others are not
0:53:28 > 0:53:41ideally placed... -- the others are not ideally placed... Removing this
0:53:41 > 0:53:46red clears the path from the one to the left of the black into the same
0:53:46 > 0:53:56pocket. Playing for the blue again here... Ooh, too fake! He's done it
0:53:56 > 0:54:01a few times, missing a few balls, I did not expect him to. They are
0:54:01 > 0:54:12proving costly. I'm sure it is fair to say, he could have had this much
0:54:12 > 0:54:26over and done with, can he?Yes. To be fair to Shaun, the red looked as
0:54:26 > 0:54:31if it straight and upon impact say he may have had a slight kick on the
0:54:31 > 0:54:35previous shot. He will not be worried now because he has a golden
0:54:35 > 0:54:45opportunity.We've said a number of times, nowadays with the equipment
0:54:45 > 0:54:51that they have, you can use your own kind of cue, they played with a long
0:54:51 > 0:54:55rest and a long cue and you would have had no chance of playing it. He
0:54:55 > 0:55:05has two screw it back to get onto the pink. In fact, if anything, he
0:55:05 > 0:55:14has screwed it too much. That red is now clear for the right corner
0:55:14 > 0:55:29pocket, the one closest to the black. This needs some good cueing.
0:55:29 > 0:55:40An excellent pot.
0:55:55 > 0:56:00Good angle on the black to drop in behind the difficult red on the
0:56:00 > 0:56:13left-hand side of the table. It is still far from easy, this. 19 in
0:56:13 > 0:56:26front. They like to follow. 26, if you roll the red in. 27 in front, 27
0:56:26 > 0:56:34on the table. This is a tough one, with the extended rest and the
0:56:34 > 0:56:42extension on his cue. As he goes full blooded and tries to drop it
0:56:42 > 0:56:58into the pocket.I think so...That was always the problem.He needs it
0:56:58 > 0:57:07to be tighter in behind the red. All of a sudden, the chance is there.
0:57:07 > 0:57:14Any colour would do for Liam, that is why he played up the table rather
0:57:14 > 0:57:18than playing for the black. If he can hold himself together here, we
0:57:18 > 0:57:29will be all square.
0:58:00 > 0:58:11Always the tricky one, brown to blue.
0:58:21 > 0:58:25Using the back cushion and he has played it well. He has played it
0:58:25 > 0:58:35very well!
0:58:49 > 0:58:54That is another good clearance under pressure from Liam Highfield. What a
0:58:54 > 0:59:00frame that was. Shaun Murphy, in a little bit of shock because all of a
0:59:00 > 0:59:07sudden it is 4-4.
0:59:22 > 0:59:34So, it is yet another lifeline, thrown to Liam Highfield. Highly
0:59:34 > 0:59:45unexpected. Can he retain his composure?Well, he has the black
0:59:45 > 1:00:01back on the pink spot. It is a big advantage. What a chance. He showed
1:00:01 > 1:00:07last season what a good player he was. He lost 6-5 to Mark Williams in
1:00:07 > 1:00:11the UK championship last year, and he lost 10-9 in the World
1:00:11 > 1:00:15Championship to the same player. You could see the scarlet jump there but
1:00:15 > 1:00:23it did not affect the shot much. He is quite capable, another big shock
1:00:23 > 1:00:30if he could pull this off from 4-2 behind, it looked to be plain
1:00:30 > 1:00:33sailing for Shaun Murphy.
1:01:15 > 1:01:20Just a delicate little hand here, just to knock the other red away. --
1:01:20 > 1:01:22delicate little cannon here.
1:02:10 > 1:02:13Yeah, the reds are not partly placed because if he get someone to the
1:02:13 > 1:02:18right of the little bunch of four, it will clear the path for another
1:02:18 > 1:02:28red. -- the reds are not badly placed. The other one might go,
1:02:28 > 1:02:33which is even better. Yeah, that will pot clearly.
1:02:46 > 1:02:50The two reds, I'm not sure if one of those will go, so it's not
1:02:50 > 1:02:58straightforward run to the winning line in this frame.I've noticed
1:02:58 > 1:03:04that Liam is very happy to play these soft stun drag shots, and he's
1:03:04 > 1:03:08very nearly pulled a few of them then. It's not really the ideal type
1:03:08 > 1:03:15of shot to be playing when the class is playing a little bit heavy.Yeah,
1:03:15 > 1:03:20earlier in the match he just cued across a few shots like that.
1:03:20 > 1:03:21across a few shots like that.
1:03:36 > 1:03:40Now, he's a left-hander, so the red is the wrong side of the table for
1:03:40 > 1:03:53him there. He will have to use the rest, for this one. 36 in front.
1:03:53 > 1:03:58Red, colour, red, still needed.
1:04:16 > 1:04:20It's harder to get to the red that he needs. He can't get close behind
1:04:20 > 1:04:24that one. It's the left side of the table. The other two are covering
1:04:24 > 1:04:30each other.
1:04:36 > 1:04:42Is he going to try and go round the table? Even then it will be
1:04:42 > 1:04:50difficult to get on the red. No. He's coming towards the red. He
1:04:50 > 1:04:55wants to go round the back of it now, which he has. It was a great
1:04:55 > 1:05:01effort. He put everything into the pot there. He almost cannoned that
1:05:01 > 1:05:03red out.
1:05:15 > 1:05:19I'm wondering if Shaun Murphy can pot red into the middle Loft the
1:05:19 > 1:05:28blue here. He's not looked at it. A chance to get a good cue Balde here,
1:05:28 > 1:05:37send it towards the brown. -- cue ball. Just about OK.
1:05:43 > 1:05:51Liam can just click the red thin. He's played that very well, unless
1:05:51 > 1:05:54the blue goes in.
1:06:07 > 1:06:12That would have been disaster. He would have left free ball there.
1:06:12 > 1:06:16Yeah, it was close to just flipping the blue in.
1:06:23 > 1:06:26Now, he had to play this on the thick side to get over behind the
1:06:26 > 1:06:29green.
1:06:39 > 1:06:47He needs this red and any colour from the brown upwards to leave
1:06:47 > 1:06:51Shaun needing a snooker.
1:07:21 > 1:07:24Could have done without the kiss on the brown bear, just wondering, it's
1:07:24 > 1:07:31a natural angle, if he can take this pot Iqbal cannon into the two reds,
1:07:31 > 1:07:34which would be the last thing he would want to happen. He's such a
1:07:34 > 1:07:38good long potter, he doesn't want to cannoned the reds, he'd have to
1:07:38 > 1:07:42force it a little bit and that makes the pot more difficult. A big shot
1:07:42 > 1:07:50coming up. He's digging down, far from easy, this.
1:08:04 > 1:08:09Yeah, the white was bouncing around, as you could see there, but it was a
1:08:09 > 1:08:12frame-winner, had he have knocked it in.
1:08:16 > 1:08:19I'm just wondering if Shaun Murphy might be tempted to play the cross
1:08:19 > 1:08:26table double here. Might be a little bit thin for that. But the blue is
1:08:26 > 1:08:32over the middle. And I wouldn't blame him for taking it on. Because
1:08:32 > 1:08:37he can get a good cue ball.
1:08:46 > 1:08:52It would certainly give him a chance to win the frame in this visit, if
1:08:52 > 1:08:57he did play the cross table double. And he's not certain to leave the
1:08:57 > 1:09:00red if he misses it.
1:09:08 > 1:09:17I think he did try and he got the worst possible kiss.It's what you
1:09:17 > 1:09:23call the TDK, the dreaded double kiss, and it could have cost him.
1:09:23 > 1:09:37The dreaded double kiss. So all of a sudden, from 4-2 behind, Shaun is
1:09:37 > 1:09:43going to have to win the last two frames. Who would have thought.
1:09:51 > 1:09:57Just a little bit of adrenaline there, he overscrewed that.
1:10:01 > 1:10:06This red to make absolutely sure and keep Shaun in his seat.
1:10:12 > 1:10:24It's not over just yet, this frame. OK, Shaun needs a snooker, but... I
1:10:24 > 1:10:28think it was just a little bit of adrenaline, when he screwed the blue
1:10:28 > 1:10:32in here, just overscrewed it.
1:10:41 > 1:10:45Another double-kiss coming up.
1:11:06 > 1:11:11He had a terrific shock yesterday, when Scott Donaldson played
1:11:11 > 1:11:16fantastically well to knock out the defending champion, Mark Selby. Is
1:11:16 > 1:11:21there another shock on the cards here today?
1:11:30 > 1:11:36Shaun still coming to the table, but Liam well past the winning post you
1:11:36 > 1:11:39would say, in this frame.
1:11:57 > 1:12:01I'm surprised Shaun is playing on here.
1:12:06 > 1:12:12There's the difference, 53, with only 35 on the table. He's just
1:12:12 > 1:12:20signalled over to Liam. He concedes the frame. What a turnaround from
1:12:20 > 1:12:254-2 behind, all of a sudden Liam Highfield is now just one frame away
1:12:25 > 1:12:27for another big shock.
1:12:51 > 1:12:58Needs the angle here to help him out and if he kisses the brown, he's OK.
1:13:02 > 1:13:08The white was heading up into the corners there, but that angle in the
1:13:08 > 1:13:10middle pocket just helped things.
1:13:15 > 1:13:21Shaun knows how tough it is to win the frame that gets you over the
1:13:21 > 1:13:27line. The more experienced. He knows that Liam Highfield will be under
1:13:27 > 1:13:29it.
1:13:32 > 1:13:37Well, I don't honestly believe that Shaun felt he was going to get
1:13:37 > 1:13:41another chance in this match, not one that red went into the right
1:13:41 > 1:13:49centre. He probably thought that was it. So this is an unexpected
1:13:49 > 1:13:51opportunity.
1:14:01 > 1:14:06He might be hampered slightly here, because of the green and he's got to
1:14:06 > 1:14:14get a little bit of action on the cue ball. He took the other red,
1:14:14 > 1:14:21which he's just played a little bit too hard. Have to take the blue book
1:14:21 > 1:14:28into the corner now. -- he will have to take the blue up into the corner
1:14:28 > 1:14:38now. I mean, the pink back on it spot in a couple of goes time would
1:14:38 > 1:14:40really help this situation.
1:14:47 > 1:14:58Amazing. That Rolls-Royce cue action has let him down on a pretty
1:14:58 > 1:15:03straightforward pot there. He was aware looking at the pink, so he was
1:15:03 > 1:15:09a few shots ahead. Well, another chance for Liam Highfield.
1:15:13 > 1:15:20Listen, at this stage of this player's Korea, the chance of taking
1:15:20 > 1:15:27a big scalp, everything is not straightforward. Straightaway he's
1:15:27 > 1:15:34left himself almost straight on this red, which means he's got to get a
1:15:34 > 1:15:42lot of action on the cue ball. It's amazing. It's all about the tension
1:15:42 > 1:15:45at the moment that is causing these slight errors.
1:15:55 > 1:16:06Shaun did look at the pink when he was at the table. Peter has told us
1:16:06 > 1:16:11a good few times how tight the middle pockets are. He doesn't want
1:16:11 > 1:16:13to be playing this with too much pace.
1:16:30 > 1:16:35He's going to need both reds with colours to secure this match. It's
1:16:35 > 1:16:37not going to be easy.
1:16:51 > 1:17:03Once again, that was just pressure. So close. Didn't even hit the jaws,
1:17:03 > 1:17:06really.
1:17:18 > 1:17:23Could have done without that kiss on the brown bear.Yes, not the best
1:17:23 > 1:17:29safety shot in the world from Shaun Murphy, at the time when he needed a
1:17:29 > 1:17:32really good safety shot.
1:17:35 > 1:17:45Oh, that's a wonderful pot a wonderful pot.Well, Shaun will be
1:17:45 > 1:17:50getting quite anxious as we show you that terrific long pot from Liam
1:17:50 > 1:17:55there, and he's got an angle on the brown to get onto the red. If he
1:17:55 > 1:18:03could finish about 18 inches either side of this red. And this looks
1:18:03 > 1:18:08pretty good to me, if it bounces off the question. He's in pretty good
1:18:08 > 1:18:11shape. That's an excellent shot.
1:18:19 > 1:18:26As we show you the positional shot again, he still needs this red, and
1:18:26 > 1:18:30any colour above the yellow would leave Shaun needing a snooker is, so
1:18:30 > 1:18:42this is the key. No. That just pure tension and pressure. So near, but
1:18:42 > 1:18:47yet still so far away from this upset here.
1:19:00 > 1:19:04It's not a straightforward table, is it, to clear up from, with the black
1:19:04 > 1:19:11on the side question, the green near the right cushion. -- the black on
1:19:11 > 1:19:15the side cushion. Lots of tension out there for both players.
1:19:39 > 1:19:48He's hit it a bit too hard now. Is he just about OK? I think he can
1:19:48 > 1:19:52take it in the left corner, but it could have been a lot easier than
1:19:52 > 1:19:58this.It certainly could. The only thing is it is a good angle. We
1:19:58 > 1:20:04should be on the brown, if he gets it. It's a great shot. That's a
1:20:04 > 1:20:15great shot. Unfortunately he couldn't control the cue ball.Yeah,
1:20:15 > 1:20:20it was as if he put everything into the pot there. And look where he is
1:20:20 > 1:20:21finished.
1:20:23 > 1:20:31I think once he potted the green, he thought he would be on the brown,
1:20:31 > 1:20:33but look where it finish.
1:20:47 > 1:20:51Well, if this was in practice, Shaun Murphy would probably cut the brown
1:20:51 > 1:20:56in with loads of Czech side, but this isn't practice.
1:21:03 > 1:21:09Needs to pull up a little bit, if he can get past the blue.
1:21:40 > 1:21:46Where is the brown going? Where is that brown going? Well, it's going
1:21:46 > 1:21:51to be all about the black. He thought he could see enough of that
1:21:51 > 1:22:02to pot it.
1:22:13 > 1:22:18I'm just thinking of a couple of frames ago, Shaun Mr red. It was in
1:22:18 > 1:22:24the same position that the black is, so if he pots the blue and drops in
1:22:24 > 1:22:27behind the black, it's not going to be easy. It will be interesting to
1:22:27 > 1:22:32see if he leaves an angle on the pink to see if you can bring the
1:22:32 > 1:22:35black into play.I was just going to suggest that and he's got that
1:22:35 > 1:22:49angle. He's got the angle to move the black, if he wants to.
1:22:52 > 1:22:56If he plays the black, he needs to be right behind it. He's played the
1:22:56 > 1:23:05cannon. This is a really, really tough black. If he decides to take
1:23:05 > 1:23:08it on, that is. There's an awful lot of pressure on this and this is
1:23:08 > 1:23:11really tough.
1:23:23 > 1:23:29Make your mind up time for Shaun Murphy.Is the crossed table double
1:23:29 > 1:23:40on?He may have looked at that, but it's all down to how he feels.
1:23:42 > 1:23:54It might be on, almost, but he always knew he could get it safe.
1:23:54 > 1:24:01Here we go, we've got the tensions of a black ball fight. One player to
1:24:01 > 1:24:07win the match, the other to stay in it. Oh, the double kiss, but it's
1:24:07 > 1:24:09not bad.
1:24:15 > 1:24:26Will he get a chance to shut the match out? Good shot from Shaun
1:24:26 > 1:24:31Batt, acknowledged by Liam. Just tapped the table.
1:24:39 > 1:24:46Oh, what a time to catch the jaw of the middle pockets. Well, he's had a
1:24:46 > 1:24:50couple of golden opportunities to knock Shaun Murphy out and we'll
1:24:50 > 1:24:56show you the black just catch the middle pocket. And in it goes, and
1:24:56 > 1:25:01somehow Shaun Murphy has kept himself in this year's Betway UK
1:25:01 > 1:25:05Championship, for all the world it looked as if he was out. No wonder
1:25:05 > 1:25:17he's smiling. We are down to a decider.
1:25:38 > 1:25:41Good safety shot from Shaun Murphy. Lots of pressure on every single
1:25:41 > 1:25:52safety shot now.
1:25:53 > 1:25:56Yeah, as John Parrott always says, the deciding frame, all you do is
1:25:56 > 1:26:05you need at least one chance. Who's going to get that first chance? This
1:26:05 > 1:26:10is a little gem here, if you missed the brown he would have had the
1:26:10 > 1:26:12snooker again.
1:26:22 > 1:26:25Good opportunity here though to possibly get the cue ball behind the
1:26:25 > 1:26:38brown. Unlucky. Good effort.I'm just wondering if we'll see a Shaun
1:26:38 > 1:26:41Murphy special, but there's quite a bit of pressure on Shaun as well.
1:26:41 > 1:26:51But this type of shot here, he's one of the best in the game at it.
1:26:51 > 1:26:55You've got the perfect picture. Can he deliver that cue in a straight
1:26:55 > 1:27:07line? There's the answer. So the first chance falls to the former UK
1:27:07 > 1:27:18champion.Shaun will be looking to move the red away from the black as
1:27:18 > 1:27:22soon as he possibly can.
1:27:29 > 1:27:36If he can get to the red off either the yellow or green, but he needs to
1:27:36 > 1:27:47be accurate with his positional play here.
1:27:48 > 1:27:52Yeah, we did see that red previously. I don't think it goes,
1:27:52 > 1:27:56baby that's why he didn't play to get on it. It was very, very tight
1:27:56 > 1:28:01-- maybe that's why he didn't play to get on it. I think he can get
1:28:01 > 1:28:05through to the one for the right middle pocket.
1:28:13 > 1:28:17I mean, they're not ideally placed. The reds are open but they're all
1:28:17 > 1:28:28sort of covering each other somewhat. We'll find out now if that
1:28:28 > 1:28:33red pots next to the black, but he's got the other one just above it. You
1:28:33 > 1:28:37see, I don't think you can get on that even if he finished short, so
1:28:37 > 1:28:42he's got to leave that for the time being.
1:28:46 > 1:28:54That helps his cause somewhat, but once the pink goes back on its sport
1:28:54 > 1:29:01it's still not going to be available into all pockets. Well, he's just
1:29:01 > 1:29:04got to sit there and hope that something will go wrong here for
1:29:04 > 1:29:14Shaun. And I think it has gone wrong, straightaway.
1:29:18 > 1:29:22It's not too bad, let's have a look how he's finished it. Yeah, he's
1:29:22 > 1:29:36just OK. Looks as if he can play up for the blue here. And there's a few
1:29:36 > 1:29:38obstacles in the way.
1:29:49 > 1:29:54There are a few obstacles in the way. He wants to be ultra-careful.
1:29:54 > 1:30:04He doesn't want to get down, can the read and put himself of position. --
1:30:04 > 1:30:09cannon the red.This is the most difficult thing about our incredible
1:30:09 > 1:30:14game. Liam Highfield is really struggling in his seat, now. He is
1:30:14 > 1:30:19really going through it. It's a tough game to handle mentally. You
1:30:19 > 1:30:25have to be so, so strong. The disappointment paw always far
1:30:25 > 1:30:29outweigh the victories and it is very difficult to handle. Even when
1:30:29 > 1:30:42you have not taken your chances... It is even tougher.Shaun Murphy is
1:30:42 > 1:30:47calling on all of his experience here. You can tell by the expression
1:30:47 > 1:30:55on his face as he left the arena, they levelled. He's pleased to be in
1:30:55 > 1:30:59this UK's championship this year, still. Now, he's well on his way to
1:30:59 > 1:31:13a victory. Already 37 in front. He had to get himself in the perfect
1:31:13 > 1:31:19position to get on that red next to the black and I think this time he
1:31:19 > 1:31:24has just about managed it...? Yes. That is exactly where he needed the
1:31:24 > 1:31:34cue ball.
1:31:44 > 1:31:51Hmm, well, hang on a minute, Liam. Let's see what Shaun has done with
1:31:51 > 1:32:01his positional shot. Is he just OK? He wanted to cannon the pink. A full
1:32:01 > 1:32:08ball. They are all covering one another so perhaps it isn't all over
1:32:08 > 1:32:17just yet for Liam Highfield?Shaun was looking at a plant there,
1:32:17 > 1:32:21Dennis, having run out of position it would be very dangerous. I think
1:32:21 > 1:32:29that he can play this red with the rest, and screw the cue ball around
1:32:29 > 1:32:34the ankles to the right-hand side, and if the red goes in he can play a
1:32:34 > 1:32:40snooker with a Billy McCullough, potentially the brown. I think those
1:32:40 > 1:32:46are the value shots, especially with a 45 point lead. He needs to play
1:32:46 > 1:32:52this with some pace, though. If he plays to cut the red in, he could
1:32:52 > 1:32:59leave it.That red does not go, he is playing a safety shot.I thought
1:32:59 > 1:33:11that the red went in, my apologies. So, he is in the driving seat. It
1:33:11 > 1:33:21has to be said, he should have shut that match out there. He knows it.
1:33:21 > 1:33:26It has thrown a lifeline to Liam that he did not expect to be
1:33:26 > 1:33:31getting. For all the world, he would have been convinced to sitting in
1:33:31 > 1:33:39his seat that he would be out of this year's UK championship. This is
1:33:39 > 1:33:55a tough pot that he has taken on here. That could be the end.That
1:33:55 > 1:34:00was a huge shot that he took on there. He is normally so good at it
1:34:00 > 1:34:05but under these kinds of conditions and what happened in the previous
1:34:05 > 1:34:10frame, when he knows in his heart of hearts that he should have won the
1:34:10 > 1:34:19match. But every credit to Shaun Murphy. He thought that he was on
1:34:19 > 1:34:31his way out, but far from it, now.
1:34:32 > 1:34:37He has come up a little short here, he should have been straight on the
1:34:37 > 1:34:50red to make it as easy as possible for himself.
1:34:52 > 1:34:57I think he got a miscue there, it was a positional shot but what a
1:34:57 > 1:35:05time to miscue it.This match has had a bit of everything. Deep screw
1:35:05 > 1:35:10shot on the left-hand side, a miscue at that vital time... And another
1:35:10 > 1:35:19lifeline. Can Liam Highfield take the opportunity this time? It is
1:35:19 > 1:35:33there. An excellent shot, well played.I've been around the blocks
1:35:33 > 1:35:37it a few times but my hands are starting to perspire in the
1:35:37 > 1:35:43commentary box. This is getting very exciting. We thought it was over in
1:35:43 > 1:35:48the last frame... We thought it was over there and then Sean miscues,
1:35:48 > 1:36:00what else do we have in store for you?
1:36:16 > 1:36:19These balls may look straightforward... This is a huge
1:36:19 > 1:36:29test of character for Liam Highfield. He will be under
1:36:29 > 1:36:34incredible pressure out there. He did not cue that very well, either.
1:36:34 > 1:36:44They have got heavy contact but it goes to show what pressure can do.
1:36:44 > 1:36:49This time, if he had the red up the other end of the table, which came
1:36:49 > 1:37:02to the rescue. The keyboard is the red next to the brown. A long way to
1:37:02 > 1:37:10go before he gets to the final red but the chance is there.I'm sure
1:37:10 > 1:37:18that Liam would be delighted to get that far, Dennis. Then, potentially,
1:37:18 > 1:37:25play a snooker. He has not played this very well... Did not play it
1:37:25 > 1:37:38very well at all. Lost a cue ball there. This red is no gimme, with
1:37:38 > 1:37:51the rest. If he misses it, it will save right over the pocket. Well
1:37:51 > 1:38:02played...There was a bit of pressure. He has gone a little too
1:38:02 > 1:38:06far, he has to take the blue into the corner but should be able to
1:38:06 > 1:38:11take the red. Both were available but it would have been better in the
1:38:11 > 1:38:27middle pocket. No problem. So far, so good. He is looking at the black
1:38:27 > 1:38:42to make sure that it passes the red. It must be tight, that is why he has
1:38:42 > 1:38:53played for the pink.
1:38:54 > 1:38:57He got a kick and some heavy contact
1:39:00 > 1:39:07There. I will not blame him for that. Let's have another look. Yes,
1:39:07 > 1:39:16the pink leopard off its spot. Unbelievable! -- the pink Spring off
1:39:16 > 1:39:21its spot. 18 points behind, and the red next to the brown is going to be
1:39:21 > 1:39:28a key ball. Webb there could still be some drama in this match, where
1:39:28 > 1:39:39that red is.
1:39:41 > 1:39:47If he does not get on the road to put the pot on, it's an easy snooker
1:39:47 > 1:39:51behind the brown. Make sure you have plenty of chalk on the tape because
1:39:51 > 1:40:08he is going to have to play this with a lot of screw and side.He
1:40:08 > 1:40:14would have preferred a better angle than this, Dennis. This is a lot of
1:40:14 > 1:40:20cue power. He is going to need all of it here.Where he is pointing the
1:40:20 > 1:40:25tip of the cue, he isn't even going to take the black on. I don't know
1:40:25 > 1:40:30what he was pointing the cue at, if he does not get on the red, he
1:40:30 > 1:40:36leaves himself in such a position he does not get the snooker. You don't
1:40:36 > 1:40:46want to overthink it. Well, he is not taking the pot on. It is a tough
1:40:46 > 1:40:54one to hit.It is a tough one to hit, Dennis. But, should he hit the
1:40:54 > 1:41:03red? Where the yellow and the pink. He may even look a snooker? I
1:41:03 > 1:41:08wouldn't be surprised with how this match has gone so far.Playing a
1:41:08 > 1:41:14trick shot here, now they look to the referee to put these back! A
1:41:14 > 1:41:20free ball, Sean may take the black and leave the balls where they are.
1:41:20 > 1:41:25Having a look at the scoreboard, take the black as the extra red. 23
1:41:25 > 1:41:46is the difference. The black only counts as a point.
1:41:49 > 1:41:56Maybe he should have them put back? Oh, dear! He looks at the referee
1:41:56 > 1:42:01and says, yes please! Well, we could be here a while. But we have the
1:42:01 > 1:42:11monitor to help...
1:42:13 > 1:42:16He had a choice, he could have potted the black and played for the
1:42:16 > 1:42:30blue down, then got the snooker on the last red. Liam Highfield is in
1:42:30 > 1:42:41such a hole here...
1:42:42 > 1:42:5623 is the difference. If he was to miss again, he could only afford two
1:42:56 > 1:43:00more misses. He sits in his seat and reflects on what has gone on. I
1:43:00 > 1:43:06should have been in the next round. He really has gone through it in
1:43:06 > 1:43:12this match.I feel sorry for him, he has done so well, from 4-2 down, to
1:43:12 > 1:43:16get three in a row, it looked like he got victory, and it would have
1:43:16 > 1:43:28been terrific to knock out the former champion.
1:43:37 > 1:43:44This is tough for the referee and the marker who has the modest. With
1:43:44 > 1:43:50so many balls move to... I mean, we can show you where they were
1:43:50 > 1:43:57originally. That is the position. The blue is on its spot. They will
1:43:57 > 1:44:04get there eventually. The shot that Liam was trying, he was trying to
1:44:04 > 1:44:09hit the cushion and make the angle. It was not a natural angle when he
1:44:09 > 1:44:13was trying to get out of the snooker, he tried to come off the
1:44:13 > 1:44:19side cushion and you are swerving the ball. We can show it again. This
1:44:19 > 1:44:25was the attempt. It isn't a natural angle. He was trying to make it but
1:44:25 > 1:44:34got too much on it. That is why he hit the green. He is playing a deep
1:44:34 > 1:44:43screw shot off the side cushion. Just to square the angle up.It is a
1:44:43 > 1:44:48shame that this match will finish with this. It's the last thing you
1:44:48 > 1:44:53want. You cannot blame Sean, he is completely in the driving seat, he
1:44:53 > 1:44:59knows what has gone on in this match. All he is concerned about is
1:44:59 > 1:45:07getting into the next round. He has one foot there already. We cannot be
1:45:07 > 1:45:14too far from it now...We could see a fracture of the red, I cannot see
1:45:14 > 1:45:24it any more.Lets see where they were. That is where they were.It is
1:45:24 > 1:45:35pretty good, this. That is not bad. Give me the picture...Yes, I think
1:45:35 > 1:45:47that you are almost there... Yes, that looks good to me. And I think,
1:45:47 > 1:45:57really, our referee deserves a round of applause here! Well...Thank you.
1:45:57 > 1:46:10It sums it up! Well done! Liam comes to the table, will he attempt the
1:46:10 > 1:46:22same shot again? I hope he does not hit the green again. Just
1:46:22 > 1:46:28double-checking, I think it is almost spot on. It is like a trick
1:46:28 > 1:46:39shot that he tries here. Ooh! He may go back again but at least that is a
1:46:39 > 1:46:50bit easier to replace this time! Once again, a free ball. Now, 27 is
1:46:50 > 1:47:04the difference, to pot the.--to pot the blue. It is a shame, that
1:47:04 > 1:47:09the outcome of this brilliant match will be decided on a fewer missed
1:47:09 > 1:47:24shots. But, those are the rules. Third time lucky for Liam...Foul. A
1:47:24 > 1:47:43miss. Shaun Murphy for a free ball. Now...If he misses this time, it
1:47:43 > 1:47:49would be a tidy but if Sean takes the black as a free ball, he would
1:47:49 > 1:47:56not need that difficult last red, now. Once again, he is putting them
1:47:56 > 1:48:13back in.Would you just check, please?If he misses the red this
1:48:13 > 1:48:18time, he would be 35 behind. If he does not hit one of the higher
1:48:18 > 1:48:34valued colours... There is no other easy escape route. He will get such
1:48:34 > 1:48:48a raw if he escapes from this. It is a tough shot that he is attempting.
1:48:48 > 1:48:53He needs to hit it up further along the commission, with all of that
1:48:53 > 1:49:00back spin that he is playing... Brilliant!Ooh! Will the blue come
1:49:00 > 1:49:10to the rescue? He has! He looks at Sean and smiles. Suddenly, there are
1:49:10 > 1:49:19smiles all round. What is going to happen next in this match?This is a
1:49:19 > 1:49:26brilliant escape, having to make the cue ball out, to hit the red. He
1:49:26 > 1:49:31thought it was over the end, he looks down the line, and he has got
1:49:31 > 1:49:48the snooker. Ooh...
1:49:48 > 1:49:5431 is the difference, there is still plenty of tension.Plays the cue
1:49:54 > 1:49:59ball up and down, the red across the table, behind the back. It is a
1:49:59 > 1:50:11corker. What a shot that is.
1:50:16 > 1:50:26Well, what a finish to this match. If he can take this from behind, get
1:50:26 > 1:50:34a snooker behind the black... Ooh, he has hit the black. It is a free
1:50:34 > 1:50:40ball. I tell you what, it is a free ball. He could bring the yellow into
1:50:40 > 1:50:46play, get in behind pink and suddenly, Liam... In fact, you can
1:50:46 > 1:50:57see enough of the pink to take the pot on.Would you be taking this
1:50:57 > 1:51:00pink on, Dennis?There's a chance he did not think he would get the way
1:51:00 > 1:51:15the situation was... It is there. Suddenly, he is right back in the
1:51:15 > 1:51:27deciding frame. What a finish!
1:51:38 > 1:51:45Did well to play for the gap between pink and brown there. The balls are
1:51:45 > 1:51:53at his mercy. Can he hold himself together? To knock out the former UK
1:51:53 > 1:52:04champion.
1:52:04 > 1:52:09He needs it to pull up. He has gone too far. The brown is slightly in
1:52:09 > 1:52:18the way of putting the blue. Going up and down the table... Just a
1:52:18 > 1:52:21little bit of adrenaline there, he would have been much better
1:52:21 > 1:52:27finishing even shorter, because he had the brown and the pink. He
1:52:27 > 1:52:31overhit it slightly. Can he avoid these colours and get back to the
1:52:31 > 1:52:47yellow?Missing the black, he hasn't.
1:52:59 > 1:53:09This looks OK.
1:53:11 > 1:53:17As we show you the gap there, Shaun needs yellow, green and brown to
1:53:17 > 1:53:27seal a victory.
1:53:29 > 1:53:35With 12 points the difference, if Liam can get a chance, he will not
1:53:35 > 1:53:45need a difficult black, yellow to pink would be enough for him.There
1:53:45 > 1:53:50have been so many twists and turns towards the end of this match, it
1:53:50 > 1:54:00has been incredible. Some unbelievable drama, here. At the
1:54:00 > 1:54:10Betway UK championship.You can screw the yellow and missed the
1:54:10 > 1:54:15pink, leaving the white on the cushion that he is concerned that
1:54:15 > 1:54:21the yellow does not career into the black. Needs to be a bit careful.
1:54:21 > 1:54:30Just decided on a containing safety there. It's all right, but it may
1:54:30 > 1:54:34have handed the advantage to Liam, if he can get a good cue ball behind
1:54:34 > 1:54:37the pink or stopping behind the black, there are a couple of
1:54:37 > 1:54:52options. That is OK. No matter how good a player you are, to come off
1:54:52 > 1:54:56the cushion and hit the yellow, to get it safe you need some good
1:54:56 > 1:55:06fortune.
1:55:10 > 1:55:21It does cut the yellow...
1:55:22 > 1:55:25This is a very thin cynic, and he plays it on the right-hand side
1:55:25 > 1:55:30which means he will have to play two overcut it, allowing for the throw.
1:55:30 > 1:55:41And he didn't. Can you believe this match? It's quite incredible. The
1:55:41 > 1:55:45reason why the yellow went thick was because of the right-hand side, that
1:55:45 > 1:55:50he imparted on the cue ball. Can Shaun Murphy play a good positional
1:55:50 > 1:56:01shot here?It is too card, much too hard. He still needs the green and
1:56:01 > 1:56:11the brown. Well, the number of times that we have told you that this is
1:56:11 > 1:56:27the best player in the game, using the rest, does he need it now?
1:56:28 > 1:56:41A good green. Some good cueing is needed on the brown.
1:56:46 > 1:56:51Just push the cue through in a straight line, the man in the
1:56:51 > 1:56:55studio, John Parrott, was brilliant from this position. Unfortunately
1:56:55 > 1:56:59for Sean he needs to get this, he played it with dead weight but what
1:56:59 > 1:57:09a great shot!
1:57:14 > 1:57:28Sometimes you get a bit confused, but Liam does need a snooker. As
1:57:28 > 1:57:33Peter said, we've had absolutely everything in this deciding frame.
1:57:33 > 1:57:38Surely Liam can get the snooker and keep it going? He has potted the
1:57:38 > 1:57:46blue and he did not want to. It is going to be tough to get a good
1:57:46 > 1:57:52snooker with the black sat as it is. A possible snooker here. He has not
1:57:52 > 1:58:04hit it hard enough, has he? No.
1:58:10 > 1:58:14What an incredible deciding frame that was! Smiles all round. A great
1:58:14 > 1:58:21match in the end. Liam Highfield was 4-2 down, winning three in a row and
1:58:21 > 1:58:24then it looks like he was going to knock out Shaun Murphy that in the
1:58:24 > 1:58:31end he puffs his cheeks and scrapes over the line, 6-5.
1:58:31 > 1:58:33end he puffs his cheeks and scrapes over the line, 6-5.STUDIO: You want
1:58:33 > 1:58:37drama committee gets drama at the Betway United Kingdom championship,
1:58:37 > 1:58:42Shaun Murphy 3-1, then 4-2 up, then having to win the last couple of
1:58:42 > 1:58:45frames. A fantastic match this evening. We hope you've enjoyed the
1:58:45 > 1:58:50show. There will be plenty more theatre to enjoy when we resume live
1:58:50 > 1:58:54coverage at 1pm this afternoon when Graeme Dott, the former world
1:58:54 > 1:58:58champion, takes on the juggernaut Judd Trump. Not to be missed. Good
1:58:58 > 1:58:58night!