:01:16. > :01:21.Good evening. And ostia Autumn Statement and severe winter weather
:01:21. > :01:26.beginning to bite around the country but, despite it all, we can
:01:26. > :01:32.promise you some warmth and excitement and excellent snooker. I
:01:32. > :01:38.absolutely guaranteed excitement this evening in the williamhill.com
:01:38. > :01:42.UK Championship. It comes in the match between John Higgins and that
:01:42. > :01:47.John Lennon pro, or at least that is what he has been called up until
:01:47. > :01:55.now, Mark Davis, but the four-year- old has enjoying the best season of
:01:55. > :02:00.his career. Both men shared the first couple of frames, then there
:02:00. > :02:05.was a prettified minute grind, then the cue ball was changed, both
:02:05. > :02:09.players are unhappy with it, then Mark Davis lobbed in back to back
:02:09. > :02:18.centuries on the way to a 5-2 advantage. John Higgins, back
:02:18. > :02:22.against the wall going into frame it, and he can produce some amazing
:02:22. > :02:32.stuff in those situations. Stephen Hendry and John Parrott
:02:32. > :02:56.
:02:56. > :03:06.Actually, where it has finished that might be all right, down into
:03:06. > :03:30.
:03:30. > :03:35.the yellow pocket - another big ask. Makes another bad contact. When you
:03:35. > :03:43.are not playing well and more striking the ball well, you do tend
:03:43. > :03:53.to get more kicks. You can get a pure strike and sometimes get a bad
:03:53. > :04:13.
:04:13. > :04:16.That was a lovely strike, the right Of all the players on the circuit
:04:16. > :04:26.who play this wonderful game, John Higgins has made more comebacks
:04:26. > :04:30.
:04:30. > :04:38.Beating Marks will be in the World Championships, one of the years
:04:38. > :04:41.that he won, 13-12 against Mark Selby and it is the best a hard at
:04:41. > :04:51.the seen anyone play at the Crucible, and when John Higgins
:04:51. > :04:51.
:04:51. > :05:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:05:51. > :06:01.found that on, I will never know. - That as the shot he has played,
:06:01. > :06:10.
:06:10. > :06:17.maybe he is deciding, he is 5-2 And you, of all people, cannot have
:06:17. > :06:27.a go at him for that. The maximum was always the first thing on your
:06:27. > :06:39.
:06:39. > :06:49.Quite ironic if he went on to make one, since he has not had his
:06:49. > :06:54.
:06:54. > :07:02.shooting boots on this evening, brick-wise -- break-wise. It may be
:07:02. > :07:12.needs something like a maximum rate to restore his focus. -- maximum
:07:12. > :07:18.
:07:18. > :07:24.Still OK. To the right hand side of these reds he will be following the
:07:24. > :07:34.cue ball through and cannoning the other red, to stay on the black. He
:07:34. > :07:48.
:07:48. > :07:52.has to disturb the five reds at Do you think it might be now?
:07:52. > :07:57.plays a cannon on the right red of the five, he could bring it out and
:07:57. > :08:07.pot it, but he has got to win the frame first, so keep an eye on this
:08:07. > :08:07.
:08:07. > :08:14.In fact he didn't have to play a cannon. In potting this red, he is
:08:14. > :08:24.going to be disturbing the four Rex, so this is a great chance. -- the
:08:24. > :08:44.
:08:44. > :08:48.The red to the left of the four This is one of the great advantages
:08:48. > :08:54.of having the open a winner, people on the other table are well aware
:08:54. > :09:04.of what is going on and can watch and see the scoreboard and see what
:09:04. > :09:27.
:09:27. > :09:33.Red to the left centre, just sneaking in on the right hand side
:09:33. > :09:43.so cannon on the right hand red all these three. The cannon has got to
:09:43. > :10:18.
:10:18. > :10:28.be quite palm to get the cue ball He would like to play direct to the
:10:28. > :10:36.
:10:36. > :10:42.middle first, but I think it is too John's made a maximum this season
:10:42. > :10:50.already in the final of the Shanghai Masters. He needs that cue
:10:50. > :11:00.ball to run, he needs an angle. That is just off straight the wrong
:11:00. > :11:03.
:11:03. > :11:13.way. It will be a difficult black, What a magnificent shot that is,
:11:13. > :11:26.
:11:26. > :11:33.We said he needed something to happen, to give him focus. And for
:11:33. > :11:43.the rest of this match he could not do any better than this. When you
:11:43. > :11:48.
:11:48. > :11:51.hold yourself together and make the If he is dead straight, it is just
:11:51. > :12:01.as screw back on to the side cushion and he should have a nice
:12:01. > :12:22.
:12:22. > :12:32.Absolutely perfect - what a Superb, John Higgins. Coming up to
:12:32. > :12:35.
:12:35. > :12:42.the biggest buyers you can get in snooker. -- biggest buzz. It is
:12:42. > :12:49.there, brilliant from John Higgins, 147 maximum break, superb cue ball
:12:49. > :12:53.control all the way through. He takes the frame, 5 had into the to
:12:53. > :12:58.Mark Davis, there is plenty left to play in this match. Maximum break.
:12:58. > :13:02.Well played. His second career maximum and the second of this
:13:02. > :13:08.season. He made one and the Shanghai Masters final when he was
:13:08. > :13:12.five-zero down against Judd Trump, and that inspired him to come back
:13:12. > :13:18.and beat Judd Trump by a neck in that final. Well that have the same
:13:18. > :13:23.effect in this match against Mark Davis? It has potentially earned
:13:23. > :13:33.him a �13,500 bonus, but of course what he wants is the title for the
:13:33. > :13:45.
:13:45. > :13:49.I'm to make sure no red comes up to that end. -- trying to make sure.
:13:49. > :13:59.He wants to make sure that John Higgins, whilst potting this cannot
:13:59. > :13:59.
:13:59. > :14:52.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:14:52. > :15:02.That is not bad. He will settle for He just looks different round the
:15:02. > :15:19.
:15:19. > :15:29.That was a nice fluke on the red. - Will he play the cannon, or settle
:15:29. > :15:33.
:15:33. > :15:43.for a loose red summer? -- somewhere. I do not blame him for
:15:43. > :15:52.
:15:52. > :15:57.that blue coming into play in the I don't know if the pink goes to
:15:57. > :16:03.the left corner. I don't think so. He will need to make sure he gets
:16:03. > :16:13.on the right side of the blue each time. The pink does go, and that is
:16:13. > :16:15.
:16:15. > :16:24.a huge help. He can stun for the pink also enter the right centre. -
:16:24. > :16:34.- also into. The cue ball is on a string at the moment. So much of a
:16:34. > :16:36.
:16:36. > :16:46.contrast with his scoring ability earlier one in this match. He is
:16:46. > :16:46.
:16:46. > :17:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:17:27. > :17:37.coming round the pink, inch perfect. Slight disturbance from the other
:17:37. > :17:40.
:17:40. > :17:50.table, were the match has just He is fully focused now and once
:17:50. > :18:00.again perfect on the blue. Now he is hitting the ball properly the
:18:00. > :18:04.
:18:04. > :18:12.That is the first shot he has missed in a while, he played the
:18:12. > :18:18.cannon on the red just to hold for the one behind the pink, but once
:18:18. > :18:25.again he just slipped past, and such is the art of break-building,
:18:25. > :18:35.you play it such that you are on one, if you're not on another. Look
:18:35. > :18:35.
:18:35. > :19:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:19:21. > :19:30.You have got to take your hat off. What a competitor this boy is. He
:19:30. > :19:40.never knows when he's beaten. He is always in there, fighting. Great
:19:40. > :19:50.
:19:50. > :20:00.professional and personal pride in 58 ahead, 75 on, so a couple of
:20:00. > :20:35.
:20:35. > :20:42.reds and colours needed. At the If he can keep going and make
:20:42. > :20:48.another century, that would be very unusual, four centuries on the
:20:48. > :20:58.bounce, two from Mark Davis and two from John Higgins, at that does not
:20:58. > :21:00.
:21:00. > :21:06.He won't mind too much about the century - he has won another frame
:21:06. > :21:14.in one visit. But two-times UK champion John Higgins wins another
:21:14. > :21:19.frame and it is 5-4, Mark Davis. John Higgins completed a comeback,
:21:19. > :21:29.with a break of 44, so we are now it in the deciding frame, and this
:21:29. > :21:31.
:21:31. > :21:39.was it. We have the customary handshake before the final frame.
:21:39. > :21:46.For all the world, it looked like Mark Davis was going to go through,
:21:46. > :21:56.you can never leave John Higgins out of your calculations, because
:21:56. > :21:57.
:21:57. > :22:07.he can battle back. All to play for. Well, how do you like this long red
:22:07. > :22:23.
:22:23. > :22:28.A little bit similar to the long pot. Same sort of shot, straight,
:22:28. > :22:38.stun shot. He does not have to cue as hard for this one, but
:22:38. > :22:53.
:22:53. > :23:03.nevertheless, circumstances make He has left the red onto left
:23:03. > :23:13.centre. John will be taking that one on. Now be best to screw the
:23:13. > :23:13.
:23:13. > :23:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:23:58. > :24:06.That was a great pot, but he is going to need another one.
:24:06. > :24:15.Fantastic effort, that was. This will be another exceptional popped
:24:15. > :24:19.on the green, although the position will have to be pinpoint accuracy.
:24:19. > :24:24.There is a red at the back of the pack available, but it is a small
:24:24. > :24:32.window to leave the cue ball in. He could play the screw shot instead
:24:32. > :24:42.for the red that is near the baulk area. That was a great effort, two
:24:42. > :24:52.
:24:52. > :25:01.He has a great chance to leave the cue ball either on yellow or green.
:25:01. > :25:07.Then side cushion into the pack. As I mentioned earlier a couple of
:25:07. > :25:17.loose reds at the back of the pack. Makes the position more difficult
:25:17. > :25:26.
:25:26. > :25:36.when you only have got one to play That is the one he is playing on,
:25:36. > :25:53.
:25:53. > :26:03.When you play the deciding frame and a match, all you wish for is to
:26:03. > :26:12.
:26:12. > :26:17.He has got a red to the left centre - not bad. If he screws back for
:26:17. > :26:27.the black he has knocked leaving a lot if he misses it, so not a lot
:26:27. > :26:53.
:26:53. > :26:58.of pressure on this red. -- he is Superb. So far, this is a fantastic
:26:58. > :27:02.effort. He has been more or less frozen out of the match for the
:27:02. > :27:12.last three frames and the momentum definitely seem to be with John
:27:12. > :27:12.
:27:12. > :28:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:28:06. > :28:16.Higgins. So far, this is a good He would have liked another little
:28:16. > :28:30.
:28:30. > :28:36.Well played, and now, the perfect angle, although he does really not
:28:36. > :28:44.want to hit the pink, but that red to the left of the pink, the three
:28:44. > :28:54.in a line, if he can hit that full ball, he would be very unlucky not
:28:54. > :29:12.
:29:12. > :29:22.But, he hit the pink. He wanted to miss the pink and hit the red on
:29:22. > :29:32.Look. He that was the right shot, to win this match. -- he knew that
:29:32. > :29:56.
:29:56. > :30:02.Another very good pot, this has been an exceptional break, didn't
:30:02. > :30:12.quite get the cannon, some great pot. The opening to pot and the
:30:12. > :30:14.
:30:15. > :30:24.middle were superb. He is tucking Left John Higgins with a problem.
:30:25. > :30:26.
:30:26. > :30:29.Great effort that was. He has left him a won the cushion to get on to
:30:29. > :30:39.these five reds, got to be careful he doesn't slide past them, like
:30:39. > :31:04.
:31:04. > :31:08.39 point lead. Another chance, Doesn't have to play a cannon into
:31:08. > :31:18.the five reds, Ken just drop this in and played the loose red on the
:31:18. > :31:19.
:31:19. > :31:25.side. -- he can just. Priority here, you have got to leave yourself an
:31:25. > :31:30.angle to play the cannon up into the five reds. Had a look at the
:31:30. > :31:40.pink as well in the centre. Police a cannon into the back of the three
:31:40. > :31:46.
:31:46. > :31:56.If he can get that wiped into the gap between the two reds he cannot
:31:56. > :32:10.
:32:10. > :32:15.He didn't get the gap. Still on this red, but it is not easy.
:32:15. > :32:25.didn't really hit it hard enough. A bit harder than that and you would
:32:25. > :32:30.
:32:30. > :32:40.catch that red thick. Got to move 53 ahead, probably a couple of
:32:40. > :32:57.
:32:57. > :33:03.shots away from getting over the Slightly too thick. John can play a
:33:03. > :33:13.similar type shot here, to the left centre, bring the white roundabout
:33:13. > :33:29.
:33:29. > :33:34.I am surprised he didn't have a go Mark Davis has got a 53 point lead,
:33:34. > :33:40.but there is not a ball safe on the table. Hasn't got an insurance
:33:41. > :33:50.policy, no colours on the cushion. This is ripe for a county clearance
:33:51. > :34:12.
:34:12. > :34:22.Far from easy. Circumstances dictate that, but he will be taking
:34:22. > :34:39.
:34:39. > :34:47.That is phenomenal. You rarely see courage from a snooker player. That
:34:47. > :34:53.was much ball if he missed that. -- match. It might be match ball
:34:54. > :35:01.because he has potted it. The week these balls were positioned, there
:35:01. > :35:11.is a chance of a clearance. If there is any player in the game I
:35:11. > :35:31.
:35:31. > :35:38.wanted to make it, I would be Mark will be fearing the worst. He
:35:38. > :35:48.knows how good John Higgins is in this situation. That one of split
:35:48. > :35:53.
:35:53. > :36:03.Just needed to hit that harder when he had those five reds and the
:36:03. > :36:09.
:36:09. > :36:12.black. A little further and it Some pressure on this. I think
:36:12. > :36:22.Mark's only hope is the red on the left-hand side, it is off the
:36:22. > :36:26.
:36:26. > :36:36.cushion, the only one that might go I think the easiest played -- way
:36:36. > :36:46.to play that is moved the pink into the centre. The easiest colour to
:36:46. > :36:58.
:36:58. > :37:08.I think Mark Davis is sitting in his chair resigned to the fact that
:37:08. > :37:08.
:37:08. > :37:53.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:37:53. > :37:59.he is going to get knotted on the I thought he had missed that.
:37:59. > :38:05.Because he has overcut it, he has got to use the rest. The cue ball
:38:05. > :38:11.has run about a foot across the table too far. Mix the position
:38:11. > :38:21.more difficult for the brown. easy to let the football -- the cue
:38:21. > :38:58.
:38:58. > :39:02.ball get away from you. He has been Just a little short. Position on
:39:02. > :39:12.the green, not right on the brown, this is thinner than he would have
:39:12. > :39:25.
:39:25. > :39:35.liked. I think he has to play in This man is an animal on the table,
:39:35. > :39:41.
:39:41. > :39:46.Would you believe it, he has just potted one of the best blues under
:39:46. > :39:56.pressure and he has missed the pink. I am flabbergasted. I honestly
:39:56. > :40:04.
:40:04. > :40:14.Could play a double in the corner and leave the snooker behind the
:40:14. > :40:18.
:40:18. > :40:28.black. And he has played it in a John Higgins needs both pink and
:40:28. > :40:45.
:40:45. > :40:55.black, Mark Davis just needs the He will take that every day of the
:40:55. > :40:55.
:40:55. > :41:01.week, and twice on Sundays. Forget that, it so safe, the right result.
:41:01. > :41:07.All Mark Davis can do is push the pink up and down and hope to get
:41:07. > :41:10.the weight right. He have to feel for Mark Davis, it you have to have
:41:10. > :41:20.thought when he played that snooker, John doesn't deserve to get away
:41:20. > :41:36.
:41:36. > :41:45.Mark will be happy, a good shot he played, in a lot of trouble. World
:41:45. > :41:52.John Higgins play the cross double. No. Played it to the top cushion.
:41:52. > :41:57.Not absolutely tight. Would you go for this, Stephen? I think you have
:41:57. > :42:03.to go for it. Three minutes ago he was out the tournament, now he has
:42:03. > :42:07.got a lifeline, you have got to take it as far as I am concerned.
:42:07. > :42:17.The only problem, if he misses it, he has got to leave it over the
:42:17. > :42:29.
:42:29. > :42:35.It is there, what a fantastic pot into the corner pocket, Mark Davis
:42:35. > :42:45.after an absolute three-and there - - thriller comes through against
:42:45. > :42:48.
:42:48. > :42:51.John Higgins and wins the quarter frame will by 86-5. -- by 6-5.
:42:51. > :42:55.champion's comeback with the maximums and big breaks, a thought
:42:55. > :43:01.he was going to queue up in the last frame, but luckily he missed
:43:01. > :43:09.the pink. Just clipped the final pink, a bit of side to come back
:43:09. > :43:13.for the black, a bad shot on the brown. Absolutely sick. Every time
:43:13. > :43:17.you beat John Higgins, if you can't take something from that, a
:43:17. > :43:25.brilliant winner, I have not got a good record against him in the past
:43:25. > :43:28.so nice to beat him. Matthew has always been a class player, since a
:43:28. > :43:31.junior, just as hard tomorrow, I expect.
:43:31. > :43:35.What a match, best of the championship you would have to say
:43:35. > :43:42.with the maximum break and the century, all came down to the final
:43:42. > :43:47.pink. It goes down as one of the finest victories of Mark Davis's 21
:43:47. > :43:51.year career, through to the corner for idols -- quarter-finals. We
:43:51. > :43:55.will check in on the progress of the hotter favourite, your
:43:55. > :44:05.Robertson. But not before we have updated you on a couple of classic
:44:05. > :44:12.Mark Selby and Ryan Day had met five times prior to this match, and
:44:12. > :44:16.the gesture had had the last laugh in the previous four, but this time
:44:16. > :44:21.he was the Welshman he burst out of the blocks taking a three frame
:44:21. > :44:27.advantage. The world number two wasn't going to lie down and he
:44:27. > :44:35.eventually found his rhythm to claim the next two. Frame six
:44:35. > :44:40.looked to be giving Ryan's way, until he missed that vital pink.
:44:40. > :44:50.Only for his mistake to be compounded by a wonderful snooker
:44:50. > :45:15.
:45:15. > :45:19.The momentum was with the man from Leicester, within a frame of the
:45:19. > :45:29.quarter-finals. All-over in the 10th with Ryan Day confined to his
:45:29. > :45:32.
:45:32. > :45:36.chair. The world number two It was a struggle, I have gone out
:45:36. > :45:39.and wanting to win it really badly, probably tried a little too hard,
:45:39. > :45:45.and the harder I try the worse I seem to get but I managed to stick
:45:45. > :45:50.in there, come at the interval 3-1, got a scrappy frame to go 3-2 and a
:45:50. > :46:00.turning point was when I needed a snooker on the pink, if he goes 4-2,
:46:00. > :46:01.
:46:01. > :46:06.and may be sitting here not won the Score to settle, it was young Luca
:46:06. > :46:11.Brecel who knocked out Mark King in final qualifying for the Crucible
:46:11. > :46:21.earlier this year. The Essex man's revenge mission was on track early
:46:21. > :46:24.
:46:24. > :46:30.on in this match, as he notched up But the young Belgian fought back,
:46:30. > :46:37.this break of 76 tied the scores 3- 3. Things were going from bad to
:46:37. > :46:44.worse for the Essex man. 20 when years a pro, clearly not happy with
:46:44. > :46:49.things. -- 21 years. Mistakes were to prove costly with Luca Brecel's
:46:49. > :46:54.mother looking on, a superb second victory for her son, first place
:46:54. > :47:00.ever in the quarter-finals. first two frames were so bad, I
:47:00. > :47:09.wanted to go home, after that I played OK, and still won. Very
:47:09. > :47:13.happy. I was in front at 3-0, played two shots instead of one,
:47:13. > :47:17.played a poor safety shot and he cleared up. Every frame after that
:47:17. > :47:22.I had chances, but couldn't get nothing going, so frustrating and
:47:22. > :47:25.disappointing, that is one of the reasons why I have never won a
:47:25. > :47:30.ranking event because my consistency is about as consistent
:47:30. > :47:37.as meet growing a fringe by the morning, it is just so frustrating.
:47:37. > :47:43.He makes you laugh. Congratulations to Luca Brecel, but Mark King is
:47:43. > :47:50.sick after that one. An update on Neil Robertson macro polly --'s
:47:50. > :47:55.progress. The reigning Masters champion, were he to land this
:47:55. > :48:01.title he would become the eight player in history to complete the
:48:01. > :48:06.Triple Crown. He is still on track after a 6-2 win over Barry Hawkins,
:48:06. > :48:12.he knocked in four centuries in his first match, and much more tactical,
:48:12. > :48:16.tight game. His top break tonight, 68. After two days' worth of second
:48:16. > :48:26.round matches the quarter-final line-up has emerged through the
:48:26. > :48:32.
:48:33. > :48:40.he's Essex. Shaun Murphy against the dangers Belgian. Stevens