06/12/2013 UK Snooker Championship Highlights

It might going if it runs. spells of sunshine and temperatures

He has played it well. Would you believe it?

Neil Robertson puffs his cheeks but he is 5-2 in front and happy.

Excellent eight frames. Stuart Bingham can smile, he will go into

the evening session training to the world number one x 5-3.

And he won the first frame of the evening session. We could pick up

the action in frame ten. Well done. He has called his way

back into the frame. -- clawed his way.

He has of this group that by about a foot. Doesn't have the cue ball

under control at the moment. The red next to the pink is available into

the left corner. If he can take the blue into the

right corner and just come back across the face of the Black to

leave the red on, might be able to do that.

Yes, he is working very hard here, he would love an ankle on the red,

but he doesn't have it. I think the one up at the end, if he

got right behind it, he would put in the middle.

If he gets himself onto the blue, he could ring the reds into play, it

would be a delicate parts on the blue. -- a delicate part on the

blue. He has had a look at the red, a

thought to be good riding behind it, it might part, but he has an angle

on the blue. He felt it would put the got in

behind it but not from there. This is another frame when he has

had chances. The balls have been nicely spread on

a few occasions, he has just lost position. Good safety shot needed

unless this red parts. Tough to judge the angle, but no.

And not only has he missed it, he thinks he might have knocked it

safe. He was on the blue that he could have them can end the two reds

but that was a tough part he took on there. -- a tough pot. He wasn't too

far away. The chance was there, now it is Neil 's chance.

If Neil Potts the black, he will go 7-3 in front.

It looks as if the Black will be available all the red that he will

need, that will be next to it. He has a couple -- he is a couple away

from another frame. He has definitely been the most

consistent, goes without saying, but it's not really his great play that

has won it, Stuart has been giving him chances.

But it's the Australian that is taking his chances.

It's going to be a long way back for Stuart Bingham, but you always feel,

as long as you are paying it needs to frames, you are in with a chance.

-- your opponent needs two frames. I have not seen the ill played as

hard in a snooker match, where his safety has been pretty good.

No real big breaks in this frame. The equation is the same. He is

winning them. Well done Neil Robertson. Stuart

knows now he is in a bit of trouble. Robertson leads 7-3. Then the world

number one won the next to move within one frame of victory. Burr

then Bingham won the next. Now Robertson 57 behind. This is a pot

if he hits it right. It wasn't far away.

Well, that was poor cueing from Stuart. Just cued across that one.

If there can be a good thing about that shot, for a moment it looked

like sticking the pink up as well. But the pink is safe.

There is that point situation, Stuart's scored 28 points more than

Neil. But he is 8-4 behind. It is essential to get on the top

side of the blue and he has played that perfectly. He will be able to

get on to the black after this next shot.

I wonder if he would play for the pink? That would give him the chance

for frame and match. Ooh, I thought he had missed that!

Any more pace it wouldn't have dropped. He has a long way to go

before he decides to play for the pink off the last red.

I think he has just got to keep potting balls and he will be in with

a chance of winning the match. Right in the centre of the pocket.

Doesn't want to finish straight on this red. Absolutely no way he would

be thinking of playing for the pink. Anything but straight and he can

drop it in and be on the black. He has got to play it with pace now. It

is missable. He is in the driving seat, I think

he is going go for it. He played the snooker and hope

Stuart will leave the yellow on when he escapes.

It won't be a difficult snooker to hit.

That is good thinking. He has now got the pink in a position with the

black, where the pink is not difficult any more. I didn't even

think of that. That was a good shot. Well he is a great thinker, Neil

Robertson. He has got him snookered and the black up near the pink.

I think the green does pass the black. OK the green's available in

the other corner pocket. But that was a good swerve shot. But he was

never going to be guaranteed to knock it safe.

Oh he will want to it pull up. It hasn't. Might be able to play the

snooker here. Bringing the green away from the

cushion. That has made it difficult. Not difficult to escape from.

Well has he doubled it? Has he fluked it? Hello! Neil didn't see

that coming. Well, none of us seen that coming!

Just trying to get a half ball contact and knock it safe. But it is

safe in that little pocket. In coming just at the right time for

Stuart Bingham and it keeps him in this semi final. But he is still 8-5

behind. Bingham fighting back. He took frame 14 with a break of 86.

Next the Englishman back at the table with a healthy lead. There is

a possible plant, the reds are apart, but a possible plant.

Oh, this is much too hard. It is a chance for Neil Robertson. He hasn't

had a chance in the last three frames. He had a slight chance in

frame 13, where he was 44 points on the board. This is the first real

chance help has had to win a frame. A very good angle. Any sort of kiss

on these reds if it goes nicely, he has an excellent chance.

Obviously, one of the reds pots. He can maybe start clearing the reds as

he pots this. Wrong side of the blue and may have

to take the pink. Just over five hours for this

fascinating semi final. He will be OK when the pink goes

back on to its spot. That red to the right of it will still be available.

Looking at the other four though, they're all covered. So a good angle

needed after this red. A key shot coming up. This could be

a match-winner if it works out. And Stuart, well all he can do is sit

and hope that somehow the cannon doesn't work out for Neil.

That wobbled a few times! Let's have another look at this one. Three or

four times it wobbled! Not easy this next red. He will have to play it

quite firm. It is there. Now can he get into the

next red? He is hoping the pink spot is covered. Because it means that

red's available. The yellow is the only available

spot. I think the reds may be available.

He would like one of them to pot in the right middle pocket.

This is still Bingham's last hope, I think. He knows, Stuart knows there

is a bit of pressure on this one. He is one of the best potters in the

game, is Neil. It is a big shot and it's not there.

He thought he would knock one in. So it is not all over just yet for

Stuart Bingham. That red will pass the yellow. If he can get a red,

black, he can get on to that last red.

And he has got the perfect angle to leave that red.

He has missed all the colours - he couldn't have played it any better.

That is about perfect. A low will come up onto the pink

long as he doesn't screw up into the middle pocket, I think he's OK.

Neil Robertson was a fraction away from being in the final.

Well, we were expecting a mini comeback, but this is something

special now. Four frames in a row all won by Stuart Bingham. He is

still in this UK championship still has another frame to win to draw

level. A break of 107 pleated and amazing

fight back, winning five frames on the bounce. Into the deciding frame.

Robertson at the table. Believe it or not, it's the pocket

that he will board the red in to clinch the semifinal. Can he get it

this time? Right in the centre of the pocket! That was a brilliant

shot. His mum Alison, applauding it. Stuart Bingham, you have put up

one of the best comebacks I have ever seen in the UK championship.

But the red might just be the shot that votes kneel in the final. --

votes kneel in the final. Yes, we may see a little celebration from

kneel here if he comes through this match. I think in respect to

steward, he doesn't deserve... He must be delighted, Neil

Robertson, he is always gracious in victory and defeat, but Stuart

Bingham, you have put up some fight him.

I thought he had missed! Getting too excited here!

I don't know whether he heard me there! I think he said, Dennis is

getting too excited! Sorry about that Neil!

This is frame and match all. -- frame and match ball.

He is just cleared a foul, so even if he had parted the red, it

wouldn't have mattered. Neil immediately stood up and declared

that he fouled the brown. That was where he wobbled the red,

and you can see, he was just hiding from the referee, but straightaway

he points to it. We can't have another twist, surely! He is going

to have to play the plant, but I'm sure he is worried about knocking

both reds in Surrey couldn't win. -- so he couldn't win. If he plays the

plant, to hope only one the Redskins in.

Really surprised didn't just roll it in but has he got away with it?

Believe it or not, he has got away with it. Once he missed the plant,

you would've thought would be all over. But how can you knock both

reds safe from there? He is looking to see the red would

pass the yellow, but surely not. He only needs one red.

Bringing the yellow out could be a mistake.

Every single shot that is played now is just pure pressure. Even this one

now that stood Bingham is faced with. He will be thinking about

bringing the yellow interplay. Read will possibly push past the middle

pocket. He is staying positive, he's going to have a go.

Where is the cue ball? He has got it safe again! Absolutely amazing! He

took the plant on, missed it, left them safe, took the difficult read

on, missed it, left safe. He would have had to have popped the black

otherwise he would have needed a snooker.

If that redheads gone in, Stuart was left with the difficult black. Then

he would have needed a snooker. But as it is, it still alive, this

deciding frame. He has put one of the reds safe but

he has sacrificed that by leaving the other one. So he has missed an

easy plant. He has missed a difficult read. What can you do with

this? He may be pretty pleased he has put

that red safe now. That was a good pot under the circumstances. He was

trying to pot this, leave one of the two reds but it doesn't have an

angle on the blackboard. -- the black ball.

He has to put a colour to stay in the frame now.

Well, is he just going to bring this raid into play and get behind the

black? Is he thinking of taking the double on? He is looking at the

double. Do I don't I? He would love to take a double on, wouldn't he?

But he knows he can get back behind the black and keep it tight. If he

doesn't play, Neil can put the reds in baulk.

I think there is value in the double.

In goes the double, and he is on the black, he is looking at the

scoreboard, he can roll it in, but this lack has to go in. -- this

black. All he can do is roll this and hope

he puts it. That looks good to me! That amazing, the tension. What a

pot that was. So 38 points behind. This was tough, he would have known

before we did that was in. He can't play safe office because he

will bring the other red interplay. -- into play. He might be forced to

play the part. -- play the pot. Can't really play safe off this

raid, can cos he will bring it into play. We will find out.

Played it very well! OK, he was and expecting to get the snooker but

what a terrific shot Neil Robertson has pulled off. -- wasn't expecting

to. The little flick on the black just helped him, but I suppose, to

be fair, he had a go at a plant and knocked both reds safe, Neil played

so well, he deserved the little flick. When he missed it he

thought... Both reds ran safe! If you missed the red, you would be

42 behind with 43 on the table. Can he knock it safe?

Two cushions, he would send the red into the green.

Maybe he can't get through to it. This is unbelievable. In fairness, a

deserved it, without kissing the back exactly half ball, Stuart Eggen

wouldn't have in snooker. -- Stuart Bingham. I would rather play wins it

on merit. If he can see enough of the red he will try and double it

into the other kit. This could put him in the final.

He has decided just to flick off it, and it is for the yellow interplay.

-- it has brought the yellow into play.

You're kidding, he has played the double again. This is a tempter,

though. We are looking at one of the game's and greatest long putters in

Niall Paterson. This would put him in the final.

You could hear a pin drop! What an evening's snooker they have

witnessed. Well, you can see where he has put

the cue ball. He had a bit of safety in mind and he didn't really give

the pocket a chance. And he has left a possible cut in. The only problem,

if he plays it plain ball, he will be kissing into the pink or black.

He needs a good kiss there if he is going to need a kiss. But it is OK.

Well, Neil only had a go at that red, had a bit of safety in mind.

Maybe he would have better have just tried to knock it in, instead of

forcing it in. Where the red is, Neil is still favourite. If Stuart

can get close to the middle pocket. He could do with a kiss, but not

that one. Well, look at the colours now. It is a red ball fight. Whoever

pots the red you would fancy to win this semi final.

Where is the red going? Has he stuck it up or has he covered it slightly

again? An anxious look from Stuart, an anxious look from Neil. Can he

see it direct, or is he going to have the bend it? It must be tight.

It is one of those if he plays it with a touch of side the in on the

middle pocket could be on. He can't pot it without side. He has got to

bend it and take the risk and let the white run wherever it wants to.

What a great shot! Well, Stuart Bingham, you've given us one of the

best semi finals I have seen for many a year here in the UK

Championship. What is Neil feeling like inside

now? Luckily for Neil, he has got a day

off to recover from this semi final and he is going to need it. Because

Stuart Bingham has really put the number one through the ringer.

The reason he is number one in the world is because of what he has done

in this deciding frame. In the past, we have seen Neil give it the old

fist pump. But he has not done it here because he has been involved in

a cracking semi final. Stuart comes to the table. But

barring a load of snookers, it is the world number one that gets

himself into the fist ever, or his first ever UK final.

40 points the difference. Just 25 on the table.

At the moment Stuart needs four four point snookers. Pots the green, pots

the brown he will have a snooker behind the black.

Well he doesn't want to leave the arena after that fight back. But he

has played a clever shot. If he doesn't hit the blue, he will leave

a free ball. He could play two cushions rather than one. At least

then he will hit the pink or blue. He needs three snookers, maybe he

might... No, I thought he was going to go and shake hands. Three snooker

to tie at the moment. That is the one and Neil turns to

Stuart Bingham. What a fantastic semi final we have had here. That is

Neil's mother, she is relieved. But he kept his cool and he has seen

that fight back from Stuart Bingham. It was anyone's decide Ig frame. But

the Australian was too strong and is in his first ever UK final.

Congratulations to both players. What a semi we have had.

Gutted. Absolutely gutted. Well, dead and buried, 8-3. Tried to make

the score look respectable. Sort of come back well. But... Words can't

describe it at the moment. It's just a sour taste in my mouth. I didn't

really have a shot. I didn't do much wrong. I stayed calm in the decider.

There is not too many players could have stayed as calm as I was in that

last frame. I thought I played a good last frame and proud with the

way I played it. I thought I played a good frame. But I mean I got to

congratulate Stuart, coming back from 8-3 to 8-8. What a brilliant

semi final. So it will be Australia versus England in the final on

Sunday. Neil Robertson plays the winner of match between Mark Selby

and Ricky Walden. Live coverage on BBC1. From all of us here, good

night.