:00:39. > :01:06.12 days of competition. 128 plays. televisions. We will see you
:01:07. > :01:18.12 days of competition. 128 plays. 11 former champions. One wind. Hello
:01:19. > :01:23.there. If only everything in life was as reliable as Jamie Vardy.
:01:24. > :01:28.Sadly, consistency in snooker has been a little harder to come by. You
:01:29. > :01:33.have to go back to the mid-19 90s to find the last back-to-back winner of
:01:34. > :01:37.this great event. That was Stephen Hendry. We will not have won this
:01:38. > :01:41.year either. Ronnie O'Sullivan has decided not to defend his title this
:01:42. > :01:47.year. Of the other former winners became to York, three have been
:01:48. > :01:57.shown the exit door already. Jin Jeong Way was sent packing by Adam
:01:58. > :02:05.Duffy. Matthew Stephens lost a final frame decider to Chris Wakelin. And
:02:06. > :02:12.Mark Williams lost out to Lester's Tom Ford, despite being 5-3 in front
:02:13. > :02:17.and 60 points up in their decider. Mark will have a lot of time to Stu
:02:18. > :02:21.on that on the way home to Wales. Let us get to happier matters for
:02:22. > :02:24.John Higgins, a former three-time winner of that event. We were
:02:25. > :02:37.watching him this afternoon. John recovered from six -down. He
:02:38. > :02:44.wrapped it up with a century. He has won two big titles this term. Steady
:02:45. > :02:53.stuff from him. Happy with the win, obviously. Could have been a better
:02:54. > :02:57.performance. The first frame was really important. I managed to go
:02:58. > :03:00.4-1 in front. From then really important. I managed to go
:03:01. > :03:06.4-1 in front. From then on it seemed as if I was in control. Also on show
:03:07. > :03:13.today, the man who thrilled us at the Crucible in Maine. Ladies and
:03:14. > :03:19.gentlemen, the champion of the world 's, Stuart means.
:03:20. > :03:31.Stuart trying to join a select group. -- Stuart Bingham. Surely one
:03:32. > :03:33.of the most underrated players in the sport, Anthony Hamilton. Bingham
:03:34. > :03:55.one 5-3. We join them in the ninth. APPLAUSE. It is a chance to win the
:03:56. > :04:11.match. He will be desperate to win the match in this frame.
:04:12. > :04:16.Can pot the brown in and get a cannon into the bunch with the
:04:17. > :04:21.question of the cue ball. He will think is onto something. The more
:04:22. > :04:25.times he walks around the table the more you think he is going for the
:04:26. > :04:36.yellow. But he is taking on the brown. Cue ball into the bunch.
:04:37. > :05:56.Is what a chance. To get the match over with.
:05:57. > :06:06.Hard to say where he can go wrong. It is a matter of keeping your
:06:07. > :06:24.concentration. Could not asked to be a better place to win the match.
:06:25. > :06:29.Those two reds just below the pink, if he can cannon into those two he
:06:30. > :07:17.would be in a perfect position. You can see what has made him think.
:07:18. > :07:21.He has gone straight. If he plays the deep screw he would play that
:07:22. > :07:28.read on the right-hand of the table, which he to avoid. -- red. It is not
:07:29. > :07:35.as straightforward as he would like it to be. He manages to swing it
:07:36. > :07:42.quiet. He looks to have played it pretty well. -- wide. Just avoiding
:07:43. > :07:45.the Kizarny red on the left-hand cushion. It is OK. The red to the
:07:46. > :08:05.right of the pink is available. Just about OK. His heart would have
:08:06. > :08:22.been in his mouth for a second there. Wobbly, but in he went. It is
:08:23. > :08:32.ready you see them going when they hit the first job in the pocket. You
:08:33. > :08:38.think this is not going in. It is perfect on this red. That might
:08:39. > :09:09.sharpen his concentration, the fact that he almost missed that.
:09:10. > :09:18.It is always nice to play your best medical all the time. For the main
:09:19. > :09:31.contenders it is the first round is the first rounds. -- snooker. I
:09:32. > :09:42.think we've Stuart's came he needs victories. It is just a victories.
:09:43. > :09:47.You start building up the little bit of momentum and it gives you
:09:48. > :09:52.confidence. You think he is World Champion why is he lacking in
:09:53. > :09:58.confidence? We look at the point score and he is lacking in that
:09:59. > :10:05.department. As I said earlier today, that World Championship victory
:10:06. > :10:12.earlier in the year will be a distant memory once you start losing
:10:13. > :10:16.matches. And everybody trying that extra bit hard against you because
:10:17. > :10:28.you are one of the big scalps in the game. Looks all over bar the
:10:29. > :10:35.shouting now. This pink and one more read required. Then Anthony
:10:36. > :10:41.Hamilton's race will be run. He has shown blintzes of his old form. --
:10:42. > :10:48.glimpses. If that was boxing and on points and
:10:49. > :11:16.he would be in front. Now 69 points the lead. 67
:11:17. > :11:31.remaining. A nice easy black to pot. Used all the pocket on that one. In
:11:32. > :11:38.it went. Three snooker is required. To many required. Anthony Hamilton
:11:39. > :11:42.has played very well. On reflection, when you look at the stats, it is
:11:43. > :11:48.hard to understand why he will lose this match 6-3. Maybe the first
:11:49. > :11:55.frame was the catalyst. Anthony was in front with a break of 36. Stuart
:11:56. > :12:00.cleared up with a 71. That settled Stuart somewhat. Anthony Hamilton
:12:01. > :12:29.starting to get his equipment together. Is that the time?
:12:30. > :12:48.Anthony Hamilton treated us to a wonderful break of 135 in frame two.
:12:49. > :12:51.Stuart Bingham as a possible 143 on.
:12:52. > :13:11.APPLAUSE. He will be feeling good inside,
:13:12. > :13:15.Stuart Bingham, coming through this match. Not his absolute best. Not
:13:16. > :13:22.the way he played in Sheffield. But a good victory. He knows, as we were
:13:23. > :13:27.saying, that Anthony Hamilton, on his day, is capable of giving
:13:28. > :13:35.everyone a run. Just as a matter of interest, the highest break of the
:13:36. > :13:48.tournament so far is 142. If Stuart can get this red, the black, and all
:13:49. > :13:54.the colours, 143. He will have a chance now. The yellow is slightly
:13:55. > :14:16.off its spot. Not a problem. The blue is off its spot. It may be
:14:17. > :14:20.a little bit tricky. You cannot imagine it being a problem. Just
:14:21. > :14:31.carelessness would cause Stuart not to clear up here. It would be nice
:14:32. > :14:39.if he clears up. Who do you go and see? You want to go and see the
:14:40. > :14:44.world champion. How did he play? He made the 143 break. He has a little
:14:45. > :14:49.bit of work to do. He has just overrun that. He may be able to hold
:14:50. > :14:55.for the pink. Probably can. Looking at it from that low angle. Pink and
:14:56. > :15:02.black for the highest break of the tournament. A wry smile. He should
:15:03. > :15:08.have screwed that back another two inches. That was always needed. This
:15:09. > :15:22.for the break of the tournament. In goes the pink. Andy black, for a
:15:23. > :15:29.total clearance, of 143. -- and about. It is there. Well played
:15:30. > :15:34.Stuart Bingham. Anthony Hamilton probably did not get the best out of
:15:35. > :15:38.that match. But he put it up to Stuart Bingham. Stuart Bingham
:15:39. > :15:43.responded. What a marvellous way to win the match. The highest break of
:15:44. > :15:48.the tournament so far. 143. The World Champion is through to the
:15:49. > :15:51.third round, winning by six frames to three. I am happy the way I
:15:52. > :15:58.finished the match. The first round and made a couple of times. A couple
:15:59. > :16:03.of little glitches here and there. Just got to iron them out. Once I
:16:04. > :16:11.get some confidence, winning a couple of matches here, hopefully I
:16:12. > :16:11.can kick on and go a little further. The
:16:12. > :16:13.couple of matches here, hopefully I can kick on and go a little further.
:16:14. > :16:17.The 142 has been beaten by Stuart. He has reminded us why he is the
:16:18. > :16:21.World Champion. We do not need reminding of who he beat on that
:16:22. > :16:26.famous day at the Crucible in May. It was Shaun Murphy. While Shaun
:16:27. > :16:29.Murphy was disappointed to lose that final, he was universally applauded
:16:30. > :16:34.for his grace and his sportsmanship in defeat that day. In fact, he has
:16:35. > :17:38.been a class act ever since he turned professional 17 years ago.
:17:39. > :17:47.Tonight, Murphy was up against a 17-year-old who is widely being
:17:48. > :17:52.tipped for superstardom in snooker. In June he and a 15-year-old teamed
:17:53. > :17:58.up to win the World Cup for China. Joe went on to knock out Stuart
:17:59. > :18:08.Bingham in the champions event in Coventry. This lad is fearless.
:18:09. > :18:11.Murphy is bound to be wary. He lost to jail young in Coventry a few
:18:12. > :18:17.weeks ago. Murphy took the opening frame with a knock of 63. It is
:18:18. > :18:25.Dennis Taylor and John Virgo talking of through this tonight.
:18:26. > :18:30.If he tries to get back to... It does not look as if he is doing it.
:18:31. > :18:47.He is playing the containing safety. There may be a possibility of a red
:18:48. > :19:02.to the right middle. He may consider it a little bit too risky. He is
:19:03. > :19:09.taking it on. Tremendous pot. Clean as a whistle. Beautiful queueing.
:19:10. > :19:15.That is what makes him one of the top players in the world, without a
:19:16. > :19:21.doubt. Never any hesitation. An easy streaky shot of the red he is close.
:19:22. > :19:56.A chance to build up a big lead. He has got a one to the middle. It
:19:57. > :20:01.has finished a little awkward. This one coming to his rescue. He played
:20:02. > :20:10.the shot well. Unlucky to cover a lot of the reds. A good positional
:20:11. > :20:17.shot. Back in amongst the reds with a chance to score quite heavily
:20:18. > :20:36.again. He did have that 39 and 63 in the opener.
:20:37. > :20:44.I think he has just about finished on this red perfect. He does not
:20:45. > :20:48.want the black in the same pocket. If he can run through and avoid the
:20:49. > :20:55.Kiss on the red that is how he would like to play. Just giving a little
:20:56. > :21:01.bit of thought. If the red was not in the top cushion it would be a
:21:02. > :21:06.formality. The way to get precise positional play is to not have the
:21:07. > :21:12.cue ball travelling too far. The fact he has given it plenty of
:21:13. > :21:26.thought may mean he cannot just drop it in. He could. That may be
:21:27. > :22:02.positional side of the shot so much easier.
:22:03. > :22:20.He had a bit of a setback to his season not that many weeks ago when
:22:21. > :22:23.he lost to John Higgins in China, 6-0, John beat him in the
:22:24. > :22:36.quarter-final. That was of the international. John Higgins in with
:22:37. > :22:43.a very good chance of winning this year's UK Championship. Back to his
:22:44. > :22:48.best. Shaun will give it a good shot this year, I feel, the way he is
:22:49. > :23:08.queueing. His head hardly ever moves. It is a
:23:09. > :23:12.beautiful cue action. Choice of reds, one to the middle, one to the
:23:13. > :23:25.corner. The middle one will give him better position.
:23:26. > :24:26.Just needs the black and one more red to secure the second frame. This
:24:27. > :24:44.time he looks as though he will do it with one visit.
:24:45. > :24:59.Perfectly played. Every chance we may see a clearance. Already on 65.
:25:00. > :25:03.Certainly every chance of a century, that is for sure. Doesn't
:25:04. > :25:08.he make it look so easy when he is playing like this? You can see the
:25:09. > :25:12.other players in the background. They have got used to this sort of
:25:13. > :25:18.situation now where they can see the other tables. It can be a bit
:25:19. > :25:20.offputting. They have got well used to it now. You ignore what is going
:25:21. > :25:47.on around you. They made 52 centuries last season.
:25:48. > :26:04.He has been struggling this season. He only made nine. He made that
:26:05. > :26:11.magical 147 on four occasions. APPLAUSE. 365 centuries in his
:26:12. > :26:46.career. This all started with a cracking
:26:47. > :26:51.opening round into the middle pocket. He took the risk and this is
:26:52. > :27:25.the result. Fabulous century break from Shaun Murphy.
:27:26. > :27:36.Cannot beat the Huybrechts. Being made a magnificent break this
:27:37. > :27:41.afternoon. -- high breaks. An exhibition shot to finish off with.
:27:42. > :27:47.The wrong side of the pink. No problem with cue power with this
:27:48. > :27:49.play. He did not get the side on it. He will have to cut the black in or
:27:50. > :28:04.double it. He got one chance in the second
:28:05. > :28:05.frame and that was all he needed. A magnificent effort. That break of
:28:06. > :28:08.100 and before Woods magnificent effort. That break of
:28:09. > :28:14.100 and before Woods Shaun Murphy 2-0 in front. Sean Monis title seven
:28:15. > :28:22.years ago and is in no mood to Mark about tonight. -- Sean won best. We
:28:23. > :28:28.will go into the next. The teenager Zhou is eight points ahead. Probably
:28:29. > :28:39.finish up and just pots this one into the middle pocket. Nearly. It
:28:40. > :28:48.was close. In the end that was all he could do. Make certain you hit a
:28:49. > :28:54.red. I think that is exactly what he played. He played to hit that red.
:28:55. > :29:04.Maybe a chance potting it. This red he has left on.
:29:05. > :29:15.Last frame. He did a wonderful break of 124, did Shaun. What you make of
:29:16. > :29:54.this chance? The best possible start for one of
:29:55. > :30:15.the favourite. A key shot coming up. Only a couple more reds. He will
:30:16. > :30:19.have to get into them. Stephen always wanted to get the reds split
:30:20. > :30:34.open as soon as he had the chance. Some players like to pick them off
:30:35. > :30:39.and then go into the bunch. He's OK, it might even be planting it into
:30:40. > :30:49.the other corner. You're thinking, that's so lucky. Not far off a
:30:50. > :31:09.plant, those two reds in the corner. That would be a bonus. Of their's
:31:10. > :31:19.your bonus -- there's your bonus. When you're struggling, things go
:31:20. > :31:33.slightly astray. Not a lot he can do about this. You can't do anything
:31:34. > :32:00.when you're sitting in your seat. That tells a story, he's had a few
:32:01. > :32:06.chances, particularly in the first frame. You've got to score at this
:32:07. > :32:09.level when you get opportunities. One or two chances is all you will
:32:10. > :32:53.get per frame. Looks a bit straight on this black,
:32:54. > :33:00.not straightforward. 63 points to lead, a possible 75 remained. Still
:33:01. > :33:07.looking for one more red, not sure where it will come from. Placing the
:33:08. > :33:36.reds to the far left corner. I thought it was a little bit
:33:37. > :33:47.worried at first, but no problem. He really has one of the best few
:33:48. > :33:49.actions I have ever seen in the game -- cue actions. Could it be
:33:50. > :34:56.back-to-back centuries? Pink or black for back-to-back
:34:57. > :35:17.centuries. It never looked like it was touching the side. Absolutely
:35:18. > :35:28.superb. A player enjoying his game at the moment. He probably lost a
:35:29. > :35:45.bit of concentration, but that is back-to-back centuries. Shaun Murphy
:35:46. > :35:50.leads, 3-0. Murphy has snuffed out the resistance for the time being,
:35:51. > :36:00.Joe is at the table. 31 points to make up.
:36:01. > :36:11.All of a sudden, gets a run at the ball. Bringing the pink to play. The
:36:12. > :36:28.pink and The reds to finish perfectly on the black. -- the red.
:36:29. > :36:58.Keeping himself in this year's UK championship. Not finished just yet.
:36:59. > :37:11.Just overdid it slightly. Still got the blue in the middle to play for.
:37:12. > :37:47.This will put him nine points behind. He's going to need the
:37:48. > :37:56.remaining points. That could be his last shot at this year's UK
:37:57. > :38:05.championship. Needed a lifeline. Maybe he got a bad contact.
:38:06. > :38:32.Definitely jumpstart trade. -- jumped the red. Needed that. He won
:38:33. > :38:41.his opening match, six frames to one against Ashley Hugel. I am not sure
:38:42. > :38:53.if he was a professional or in a mature, some are mature as did
:38:54. > :39:00.qualify. He hasn't done much wrong in this match. Just that blew that
:39:01. > :39:15.he missed. Looked like he was going to clinch the match. Pretty quick
:39:16. > :39:37.coming up to an hour and 35 minutes. A couple of century breaks. 63 and
:39:38. > :39:47.73. If he could have rolled the red in and played for the blue, fine.
:39:48. > :40:14.But he needed the black. I didn't expect him to miss it. 28 points
:40:15. > :40:19.behind, 43 remaining. This red that he is faced with is much more
:40:20. > :40:29.difficult than the one he missed in the opposite. Lost a bit of
:40:30. > :40:44.concentration, he doesn't fancy that one.
:40:45. > :41:02.APPLAUSE Beautiful cueing. He missed a middle pocket, but then knocked
:41:03. > :41:08.that one in. A learning experience, as you say. He properly won't
:41:09. > :41:15.realise at the moment. A few chances in the first frame, if he had taken
:41:16. > :41:48.them he might have put on the pressure. It was just too much for
:41:49. > :41:55.the outsider. He was unfortunate, he will be disappointed, no doubt. We
:41:56. > :42:18.will see a lot more of this young player, I think he plays very well.
:42:19. > :42:25.A great ambassador for the game, Shaun Murphy. I'm sure he will have
:42:26. > :42:40.a few words with his young colleague after this. Trying the trick shot,
:42:41. > :42:48.back-to-back centuries. A comfortable evening for the former
:42:49. > :42:57.UK and world champion, Shaun Murphy. Going through to the next round with
:42:58. > :43:00.a comfortable scoreline. In snooker, although there are two of you
:43:01. > :43:05.playing, you can only concentrate on your game. At the end of the day, if
:43:06. > :43:11.you get in and get your chances and you take them, that is great. I know
:43:12. > :43:15.how good these young Chinese players, they are too young to wear
:43:16. > :43:25.our sponsor's although ago. They are not allowed to wear a gambling logo
:43:26. > :43:31.-- sponsor's logo. One of them beat me two weeks ago. I know how well
:43:32. > :43:38.just how good they are. I needed to put in a professional performance,
:43:39. > :43:42.and I am very pleased to do that. A crisp performance for Shaun Murphy,
:43:43. > :43:49.a couple of days of before his next round. Earlier in the players
:43:50. > :43:53.lounge, we met Joe Perry's daughter. It was a special day for her, it is
:43:54. > :44:00.the first time she has travelled to watch her dad play live. It turned
:44:01. > :44:09.into a very tough evening. This match went 3-3 with Robbie Williams,
:44:10. > :44:16.the world number 56. Williams won the next two, going 5-3 in front.
:44:17. > :44:18.Williams must be sensing an upset against the world number ten. Very
:44:19. > :45:02.tight. This white is very loose. Didn't hit
:45:03. > :45:08.that as well as he wanted to. McIlroy a chance with the side
:45:09. > :45:33.cushion behind the pink. -- a chance.
:45:34. > :45:48.Good shot from Joe Perry. Making it a bit more difficult to control.
:45:49. > :46:07.Just wondering what the long bubble is like. A lot of topspin on the cue
:46:08. > :46:12.ball. This doesn't look too bad. That's the only way you can't play
:46:13. > :46:18.that safety shot. The White can't come more than two or three inches
:46:19. > :46:30.of the question. He has been very fortunate. He's got a kick on that.
:46:31. > :46:37.Slowing the pace. This is his chance. He has been knocking a few
:46:38. > :46:46.of these long balls in. As we all know, this is really the frame ball.
:46:47. > :47:05.A lot of pressure. That's way he is putting everything into it. One good
:47:06. > :47:18.plot, that is all he needs. Lovely shot. It looks absolutely perfect.
:47:19. > :47:41.He is on the brown, but still has some work to do. Anything can
:47:42. > :47:46.happen. If it is not straight, the player doesn't pass the black. If
:47:47. > :47:53.it's just off straight, the only thing he can do is play the blue to
:47:54. > :47:57.one of the top corner pockets. It is almost as awkward as it could have
:47:58. > :48:05.been. If he gets the cue ball anywhere in the middle of the table,
:48:06. > :48:23.he will have a shot at the blue. Needs to slow down. Perfect.
:48:24. > :48:43.Good shot. What a victory for Robbie Williams. Hard work for Joe Perry.
:48:44. > :48:51.The biggest win of Robbie Williams' career. The world number 10 is out.
:48:52. > :48:57.Well played to Robbie Williams. Some other matches to show you. There are
:48:58. > :49:30.16 matches today, these are some of the highlights. Mark Davis, pretty
:49:31. > :49:32.good win. Wilson had a good shot. In the big picture, he will be chuffed.
:49:33. > :49:50.Into the last 32. Snooker Extra is coming next. You
:49:51. > :49:56.will see John Higgins's match. We are back on the air at 1pm online
:49:57. > :50:05.and red button. Our actual coverage on the network two, starts at
:50:06. > :50:08.5:30pm. That is the scheduled time. That is contingent on how things go
:50:09. > :50:13.in Belgium with the conclusion of the Davis cup final. It might be
:50:14. > :50:17.earlier. Watch this space. Ultimately, watch it online. I hope
:50:18. > :50:20.we catch you at some time. In the meantime, from us at York, it is
:50:21. > :50:26.good night. Who is this dangerous renegade,
:50:27. > :50:29.this maverick,