:00:57. > :01:05.To win the UK, as well as the one Prix and the Masters would be a
:01:05. > :01:09.pretty amazing feeling. -- Grand Prix. A big tournament on BBC and
:01:09. > :01:17.the UK, I have been struggling for a little while in major tournaments,
:01:17. > :01:21.so to come here and have a good run, it is pleasing. Mark is a very
:01:21. > :01:25.experienced tournament winner. I don't think either of us will
:01:25. > :01:35.struggle that much to get over the line, it will be he plays better on
:01:35. > :01:36.
:01:37. > :01:40.Welcome to highlight of the quarter final stages of the williamhill.com
:01:40. > :01:44.UK to a future from the bath -- but the centre in York. If we are
:01:44. > :01:49.supposed to start with that cracking match between two of
:01:49. > :01:53.snookers most boys, Mark Selby, and former world champion from astray
:01:53. > :01:57.the Neil Robertson. In some quarters it was expected to be the
:01:57. > :02:00.winner from this -- he can do he would be favourite to take the
:02:00. > :02:04.title and the stadium took an early grip on the match winning the first
:02:04. > :02:07.four frames. Selby has not got to his lofty position in the world
:02:07. > :02:14.rankings this just talent and showed his tenacity to win the next
:02:15. > :02:17.showed his tenacity to win the next three. Then in frame rate Mark
:02:17. > :02:22.Selby showed all his skill, suddenly from being down and out he
:02:22. > :02:25.was back on level terms. He also looked down to out in his second-
:02:25. > :02:32.round match against Ryan Day be turned that one around. Whether he
:02:32. > :02:41.can complete turned this around still remains to be seen. But from
:02:41. > :02:44.4-0 down, Mark Selby is now 4-4. We are going to join this match live,
:02:44. > :02:50.at 4-4 in frame nine. Ken Doherty and John Virgo are in the
:02:51. > :02:54.commentary box and can bring us right up to date. COMMENTATOR:
:02:54. > :03:00.Added say early on in the evening you can join us for the highlights,
:03:00. > :03:07.but it is still going on. The story of the match has been Neil
:03:07. > :03:14.Robertson took a 4-0 lead, made 105 in the fourth frame to go at the
:03:14. > :03:21.mid-session interval and has not made a break over 30. That 100
:03:21. > :03:27.break, of Mark Selby, that is the one real decent break he has made,
:03:27. > :03:32.he has only made a 58 and one other break over 30. It is really
:03:33. > :03:39.becoming a tough, hard match. Both players have had good chances, you
:03:39. > :03:45.have to say Mark Selby looks now to be getting the other hand. He is 47
:03:45. > :03:51.points in front. Still a possible 75 remaining. Neil Robertson has
:03:51. > :04:01.just hit a wall since the mid- session interval. He has had
:04:01. > :04:19.
:04:19. > :04:25.chances and plenty of them. Not You can see the match time, coming
:04:25. > :04:30.up to four hours. It has been tough match play snooker, amazing, we
:04:30. > :04:40.always talk about intervals, they can sometimes change matches. And
:04:40. > :04:57.
:04:57. > :05:02.That is a good hit. The red passes the other red into the top corner
:05:02. > :05:12.pocket. He is having a look at it into the left centre. He conceded
:05:12. > :05:12.
:05:12. > :06:00.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:06:00. > :06:10.time since his last port. Almost 36 Can he just get through to play the
:06:10. > :06:12.
:06:13. > :06:17.It is a bit thinner than he wanted all intended. You may notice the
:06:17. > :06:23.brown is by the pink on the left hand side of the table, there was a
:06:23. > :06:31.shot Mark's will be played, just before you joined us. Basically a
:06:31. > :06:37.bit of insurance. Even if Neil Robertson gets a chance, highly
:06:37. > :06:43.unlikely he can win it in one visit. But, as I say, since the mid-
:06:43. > :06:53.session interval you would never bet he would not make a break over
:06:53. > :07:00.
:07:00. > :07:04.30. Just stopped scoring completely. Fully committed to that one. That
:07:04. > :07:14.cue ball, very close to the side cushion, doesn't make this black
:07:14. > :07:23.
:07:23. > :07:30.any easier. The the this is a tough Excellent pot from Neil Robertson.
:07:30. > :07:40.White his feet a little bit. wasn't going to drop, but it just
:07:40. > :07:45.
:07:45. > :07:55.did. Any harder, it wouldn't have done. Slightly hampered with the
:07:55. > :08:13.
:08:13. > :08:22.Got to be careful here. He has left himself with a more difficult red
:08:22. > :08:29.than he would have liked. It is a tough one, got to be very accurate
:08:29. > :08:39.with this. Beautifully played. That is as good a shot as he has played
:08:39. > :08:43.
:08:43. > :08:53.With the brown and pink tide up as they are, it is hard to envisage
:08:53. > :09:04.
:09:04. > :09:14.Just a case of getting back into this frame. When he came to the
:09:14. > :09:21.
:09:21. > :09:26.table he had a 47. Deficit. -- 47 Cut have gone wrong, I think it has.
:09:26. > :09:33.He was looking for a red to the left middle. They have covered one
:09:33. > :09:43.another. Could play it in the far left corner, but that is a risky
:09:43. > :09:51.
:09:51. > :09:57.He is putting the tip of his cue on the left-hand side of the table, he
:09:57. > :10:07.can have a go with this red, into the yellow pocket and leave his cue
:10:07. > :10:15.
:10:15. > :10:25.ball somewhere where he had his cue. He has reduced it to 15, back in
:10:25. > :10:33.
:10:33. > :10:39.Probably worth having a go at this red into the centre, put in the cue
:10:39. > :10:49.ball behind the black should he miss. You can see his again --
:10:49. > :10:51.
:10:51. > :10:55.I just get the feeling Mark Selby has got his way back in this match,
:10:55. > :10:59.not by playing brilliantly, he would be the first to admit that,
:10:59. > :11:03.but by making it hard work for his opponent, seemed to have knocked
:11:03. > :11:08.the age of Neil Robertson, the way he is going to carry on the rest of
:11:08. > :11:13.the match, try and grind out this victory, not take too many risks.
:11:13. > :11:23.He's right back in it now, for each. The pressure is keeping on the
:11:23. > :11:37.
:11:37. > :11:47.Australian. He is tied against the baulk cushion. Basically playing
:11:47. > :11:51.
:11:51. > :12:01.that containing safety shot as he did, to mark. A chance here now to
:12:01. > :12:10.
:12:10. > :12:20.come off that red, could possibly It is safe but no real pressure. He
:12:20. > :12:22.
:12:22. > :12:32.can play a better safety shot,. This is a good line, what about the
:12:32. > :12:35.
:12:35. > :12:45.I think he has covered the red to the left of the yellow. Mark can
:12:45. > :13:10.
:13:10. > :13:20.It is not the easiest safety shot Couldn't have played it any better.
:13:20. > :13:28.
:13:28. > :13:38.I think this red is pottable. The You were right, he hit it too thick.
:13:38. > :14:16.
:14:16. > :14:23.Or too thin. He has left it. Too That has been the story of the play.
:14:23. > :14:32.Neil Robertson make 105 in frame four. In frame eight to level the
:14:33. > :14:42.match, 106 from Mark Selby. There has not been much in between. A
:14:43. > :15:03.
:15:03. > :15:09.couple of breaks over 50, that is One thing or Mark Selby will be
:15:10. > :15:16.desperate to avoid is bringing that pink and brown into play. He was
:15:16. > :15:26.the one who put the brown close to the pink as his insurance policy.
:15:26. > :15:29.
:15:29. > :15:34.He doesn't want to open up the Can he get in between the gap of
:15:34. > :15:44.the red and pink and come in the side cushion and just nestle on
:15:44. > :15:44.
:15:44. > :17:52.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:17:52. > :18:02.Doesn't want to leave a touching Doesn't want to knock the red
:18:02. > :18:26.
:18:26. > :18:33.closest to the black onto the other He has thought maybe the
:18:33. > :18:40.possibility of a plant. It wasn't ever going to be the case. He has
:18:40. > :18:46.left the red on. Slight angle. Disappointed with that outcome, is
:18:46. > :18:55.Mark. There is a slight angle. Come round with two cushions for the
:18:55. > :19:04.black in the opposite corner. Not ideal on the black to get on the
:19:04. > :19:11.next red. Possibility if he rolls the black in could play a snooker.
:19:11. > :19:15.Awkward last red. Definitely don't think there's going to be too many
:19:16. > :19:22.heroics on this black. If he can just pot the black, leave the cue
:19:22. > :19:31.ball up in the middle of the day. In the ideal situation, near the
:19:31. > :19:37.blue spot. Knock the red round the table, try and get the cue ball
:19:37. > :19:47.tight to the pink and brown, got to be careful of the red, it doesn't
:19:47. > :20:04.
:20:04. > :20:11.Would have loved to be really tight to the pink, would have stopped box
:20:11. > :20:15.will be coming off this side cushion. -- Mark Selby. Would have
:20:15. > :20:25.been more difficult to escape as we see the frame time, past the 40
:20:25. > :20:34.
:20:34. > :20:40.The longest frame in this match was 44.5 minutes. We are marketing to
:20:40. > :20:50.the nitty-gritty of this match.- shot taking on a little bit more
:20:50. > :20:51.
:20:51. > :20:58.important. He has certainly not hit it as intended. Has he got the
:20:58. > :21:04.angle? T play to pot this red and try and cannon onto the pink and
:21:04. > :21:14.brown. It is worth a chance. If he doesn't get on and he can play a
:21:14. > :21:15.
:21:15. > :21:20.snooker. He should take the opportunity, the perfect angle. Not
:21:20. > :21:24.the right choice, looks like he is a little bit straight on this black.
:21:24. > :21:31.If the pink and brown didn't come out at five it would be a very easy
:21:31. > :21:34.snooker. -- out that far. There was a case for just making certain of
:21:35. > :21:43.the red and he could have played the pink, snooker behind the pink,
:21:43. > :21:46.push the brown over the middle. He has come such a bad position on the
:21:46. > :21:54.black he would be struggling to get good position on the yellow,
:21:54. > :21:59.looking at the scoreboard. Pots the black, go one point in front. Her
:21:59. > :22:09.suppose he could still play the snooker behind the pink and brown,
:22:09. > :22:09.
:22:09. > :22:56.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:22:56. > :23:03.I think a couple of wrong shot choices there, in all honesty. He
:23:03. > :23:08.has got the brown to contend with, has not. He will do well to get a
:23:08. > :23:18.good angle on the green to try and play the cannon to bring the brown
:23:18. > :23:22.
:23:22. > :23:32.He is one point behind, the yellow will put him one. The for. He needs
:23:32. > :23:38.
:23:38. > :23:46.the yellow, green Cup at the. -- Has he got the angle? I think he
:23:46. > :23:51.may be able to play the cannon. He wanted the green to be an easier
:23:51. > :24:01.pot. That is why he is not too happy. Doesn't look like he is
:24:01. > :24:01.
:24:01. > :25:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:25:22. > :25:32.The green is safe enough. What will determine this frame is he pots the
:25:32. > :25:46.
:25:46. > :25:54.brown. Hampered by the black. Conceded is any way he's going to
:25:54. > :26:00.pot the green -- I cannot see. He needs to get to some sort of
:26:00. > :26:10.position way he can play a snooker on the brown. He has got the angle
:26:10. > :26:21.
:26:21. > :26:31.to from round two cushions, added Came down pretty quick, must be
:26:31. > :26:44.
:26:44. > :26:52.The old story, not hitting the brown. Can you get it safe. If he
:26:53. > :27:02.just plays it's nearly -- it slowly he will be on another snooker. If
:27:03. > :27:05.
:27:05. > :27:14.he hits it he will be in more Would you have it put back? I don't
:27:14. > :27:24.think so. He is in a good position. If he has it put back, Neil
:27:24. > :27:32.
:27:32. > :27:41.Robertson hits the full ball it is Neil Robertson eight points behind
:27:41. > :27:51.his opponent. Just requiring brown and blue. He will be playing this
:27:51. > :27:58.
:27:58. > :28:08.one with a bit more pace. Hope he can get it safe. He has gifted the
:28:08. > :28:33.
:28:33. > :28:41.Both this blue to go 22 points The comeback not any completes, he
:28:41. > :28:51.has gone one frame away from a place in the semi-final. Barring
:28:51. > :28:52.
:28:52. > :29:01.two snookers. Amazing turnaround. Neil Robertson will be shell-shock.
:29:01. > :29:11.Contemplating playing for the star two snookers. Don't hold much hope
:29:11. > :29:24.
:29:24. > :29:29.So, Neil Robertson, 4-0 in front at the mid-session interval, after
:29:29. > :29:36.that, it has been all Mark Selby, he has taken the next five and no
:29:36. > :29:40.one frame away from a place in the semi-final. Incredible comeback,
:29:40. > :29:43.fie frames in a row for the man from Leicester. Let's have a look
:29:43. > :29:51.at what happened and the first couple of border files this
:29:51. > :29:56.afternoon. Teenager Looker the cell preacher and martyr, and the
:29:56. > :30:03.magician edged it 6-5. Luca Brecel had his chances but could not seal
:30:03. > :30:07.the deal, leaving the magician to make his way to the semi-finals.
:30:07. > :30:12.Were if has a funny way of doing things. I have lost matches like
:30:12. > :30:16.that before, and I have been in Luca's position before. He will
:30:16. > :30:19.take some fantastic things from this week. If he continues to
:30:19. > :30:26.improve the way he has done in the last couple of years, he is going
:30:26. > :30:35.to be big news. I am not sorry that I beat him, but I wish him all the
:30:35. > :30:45.best. It was a fantastic match and a great week, so I am still happy
:30:45. > :30:45.
:30:45. > :30:49.Also through to the last four is Ali Carter, who defeated Stuart
:30:49. > :30:52.Bingham 65 and 4, 12 months on from contemplating retirement, the
:30:52. > :31:01.captain is a reinvigorated and into the semi-finals of this event for
:31:01. > :31:05.Four years. I will buy are not finished yet. The game started off
:31:05. > :31:11.quite yet. The first five or six frames were quite good. Then it got
:31:11. > :31:15.a little bit scrappy. A few balls missed, a bit of tension crept in,
:31:15. > :31:20.but that is what happens. You are playing for a lot out there, and
:31:20. > :31:24.that is a big tournament. I will take the victory. I am pleased.
:31:24. > :31:34.Stuart's tactical play was good and we had some good safety battles,
:31:34. > :31:36.
:31:36. > :31:42.but I am pleased to come out the Mark's will be's comeback, but Neil
:31:42. > :31:51.Robertson still out of the arena. Let us look at a few statistics. --
:31:51. > :31:59.Mark Selby's. You have got to be 90% and above one pot success. Not
:31:59. > :32:05.a lot to choose between them. Heavy high breaks, OK, they only won one
:32:05. > :32:10.frame, and in between that, apart from one or two breaks over 50,
:32:10. > :32:15.there has been nothing of any substantial amount. They were my
:32:15. > :32:20.difference is that Mark Selby has shown he is a match play qualities
:32:20. > :32:30.better than your Robertson, and he has taken the scrappy frames.
:32:30. > :32:30.
:32:30. > :33:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:33:11. > :33:16.He finds himself one frame behind Normally, you think he just drop
:33:16. > :33:26.off the right hand side cushion, but the brown is stopping him play
:33:26. > :33:30.
:33:30. > :33:40.that shot. He's not guaranteed to get this safe. He has got to judge
:33:40. > :33:41.
:33:41. > :33:51.this correctly. The system risky way, this is very risky. -- this is
:33:51. > :34:02.
:34:02. > :34:07.Foul and a miss, Neil Robertson four. It seems the potting angle in
:34:07. > :34:17.potting the red, he will move the black, but the black might run up
:34:17. > :34:25.
:34:25. > :34:28.to the red just above it, so he But, before got about the red, --
:34:28. > :34:38.he forgot about the red, concentrating that much on what was
:34:38. > :34:55.
:34:55. > :35:05.happening with the cue ball a. It An excellent a opportunity for Mark
:35:05. > :35:08.
:35:08. > :35:18.Selby to go into the pack, to bring You always had that red over the
:35:18. > :35:18.
:35:18. > :36:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:36:07. > :36:17.The reds are spread but, in a frame that can win the match has its own
:36:17. > :36:21.
:36:21. > :36:31.type of pressure, so take nothing He would like to pot this red and
:36:31. > :36:39.
:36:39. > :36:45.stay on the black but, whether he He has over one that attraction. --
:36:45. > :36:49.over run that a fraction. He would like to play the blue and hold for
:36:50. > :36:59.the next red, but I don't think he can. He has played the cannon, and
:36:59. > :37:07.it has worked out nicely. Just purposely went into this red to the
:37:07. > :37:17.left of the pink. This red now one to the left hand corner pocket. --
:37:17. > :37:18.
:37:18. > :37:27.on to. Plenty of reds in open play, so you will not be contemplating
:37:27. > :37:35.going into the pack, and when he does go into the pack you might
:37:35. > :37:42.find the match being beyond Neil Robertson. He still has a lot to do,
:37:42. > :37:52.but he has given himself a good chance, Mark Selby. Pot success
:37:52. > :38:02.rate for Neil Robertson down to 85%. 91% for Mark Selby. Fie frames ago,
:38:02. > :38:14.
:38:14. > :38:24.it had been completely the opposite -- five frames ago. He has a little
:38:24. > :38:26.
:38:26. > :38:36.dilemma year. -- here. The green is the easier pot, but whether he can
:38:36. > :38:36.
:38:36. > :39:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:39:34. > :39:41.get closer to the next red is This is like the old days, just
:39:41. > :39:47.past midnight, and the audience, for a plea to them, I don't think
:39:47. > :39:54.any of them at the mid-session interval thought it was going to be
:39:54. > :39:59.Mark Selby who would win this match when he framed -- he trailed 4-0.
:39:59. > :40:04.Neil Robertson made a break in that frame of 105, and he looked like he
:40:04. > :40:08.was going to storm away with it, but you never know what is going to
:40:08. > :40:18.happen in sport. That is a good break from Mark, and now he has a
:40:18. > :40:26.
:40:26. > :40:33.Just looking from Neil Robertson's point of view, the first match, he
:40:33. > :40:39.beat Tom Ford 6-1, made four centuries. I watched as much last
:40:39. > :40:44.night against Barry Hawkins, It was Mark Selby who beat Ryan Day, and
:40:44. > :40:54.he struggled a bit, there. It just shows you, different day, different
:40:54. > :41:00.
:41:00. > :41:07.player. He will be disappointed. At 4-0 up, he was cruising. You have
:41:07. > :41:15.to say, hats off to Mark Selby, this is a fantastic performance.
:41:15. > :41:22.Not a high-quality performance, but, as regards character and match play
:41:22. > :41:29.snooker, a lesson to other professionals. Never give in, no
:41:29. > :41:36.matter what the score is. I know a lot of players, and I know that you
:41:36. > :41:40.do, Ken, but if they had played as poorly as Mark Selby did in the
:41:41. > :41:46.first part of this match, their heads would have dropped and they
:41:46. > :41:50.would almost have given in, but he is not that type of player, and
:41:50. > :41:54.even in the second half of this match when he missed that frame
:41:54. > :41:58.opportunity, I think back to that room where he needed the yellow and
:41:58. > :42:06.green, and he snookered himself on the green, I should have lost that
:42:06. > :42:16.frame and he didn't. At the end of the day, he is getting the job done.
:42:16. > :42:20.
:42:20. > :42:30.I don't think he's going to get out This pink, to go 67 points in front.
:42:30. > :42:36.And only 67 remaining, so one more red needed. A remarkable win. Well
:42:36. > :42:44.this has come from, I don't know. Obviously, you need that little bit
:42:44. > :42:52.of help for your opponent, but that will not make Neil Robertson any
:42:52. > :42:57.happier. As I say, he has ground it out, he is thumping the table, this
:42:57. > :43:07.is a result to be very proud of. He had his head down when he was
:43:07. > :43:09.
:43:09. > :43:19.struggling. He kept battling away. And now, frame and match his own,
:43:19. > :43:57.
:43:57. > :44:07.is his, and Neil Robertson is out Can he finish with a censure ear?
:44:07. > :44:24.
:44:24. > :44:33.If this is a century break,, what a performance this is. He has got
:44:33. > :44:42.stronger and stronger. Victory for the Jester from Leicester. He will
:44:42. > :44:48.be smiling now. Neil Robertson will be absolutely shell-shocked. 4-0 up,
:44:48. > :44:54.then he stopped playing, and that fist pump tells you all. Mark Selby
:44:54. > :45:00.somehow turned it round. What a fabulous comeback from the world
:45:00. > :45:06.number two, Mark Selby. And he is through to the semi-final of this
:45:06. > :45:10.year's williamhill.com UK Championship. Who will he play?
:45:10. > :45:18.Let's have a look at the match featuring Matthew Stevens, up
:45:18. > :45:23.against Hastings man, Mark Davis. This look tough on paper for Mark
:45:23. > :45:28.Davis who overcome and John Higgins, but the man from Hastings overcame
:45:28. > :45:32.a slow start, and after nine frames, Davis was just one frame away from
:45:32. > :45:38.his first ever semi-final at the UK Championship. We are going to join
:45:38. > :45:48.it in frame ten. Stevens is trailing by 47 points. Your
:45:48. > :45:52.
:45:52. > :46:02.commentators are Dennis Taylor and That has made it much easier now.
:46:02. > :46:11.That was another half chance. 47, 48, the green will be 51, so he is
:46:11. > :46:20.going to need one more red. He could play up for the blue. And
:46:20. > :46:25.that is what he has done. Guaranteeing that Matthew is going
:46:25. > :46:31.to need a snooker. And it is a shame, because that kick at the
:46:31. > :46:37.wrong time has cost Matthew this match. Take nothing away from Mark
:46:37. > :46:47.Davis. He still playing some fabulous snooker, here. Just
:46:47. > :46:50.
:46:50. > :46:54.looking at the score board to make absolutely sure. He must be over
:46:54. > :47:02.the moon with his plea. Matthew Stevens got off to a flyer with
:47:02. > :47:12.breaks of 81 and 52. Then Mark came storming back with a century then
:47:12. > :47:15.
:47:15. > :47:25.80, 98, 70. It was tough to lose with a heavy contact but it can be
:47:25. > :47:31.
:47:31. > :47:35.He must be absolutely delighted with himself inside. It is the best
:47:35. > :47:41.feeling in the world, getting yourself through to the semi-final.
:47:41. > :47:46.The first semi-final of a major event, as I mentioned, he has
:47:46. > :47:51.caught two semi-finals this year. Matthew Stevens smiles at them in
:47:51. > :48:01.congratulations, and why not? Mark Davis has played very well in this
:48:01. > :48:04.
:48:04. > :48:09.quarter final and he runs out a I am over the moon to beat Matthew.
:48:09. > :48:18.He's a great player, and it is a great result for me. I am over the
:48:18. > :48:23.moon. I am disappointed to lose to Mark. I started off well in the
:48:23. > :48:33.first couple of frames but Mark responded and put me under some
:48:33. > :48:33.
:48:33. > :48:39.pressure. But good luck to him, the better man one on the night. And so,
:48:39. > :48:44.this is the semi-final line-up for the 2012 williamhill.com UK
:48:44. > :48:49.Championship. Shaun Murphy is up against Ali Carter. And world
:48:49. > :48:55.number two Mark Selby is up against UK semi-finalist bother first time,
:48:55. > :48:58.Mark Davis. On Friday, the focus intensify is, and the pressure
:48:58. > :49:02.increases as we are down to just one lonely table in the midst of
:49:02. > :49:09.the Barbican Centre. Preparations will soon be under way to get the