Second Round: Bingham v Hamilton, Murphy v Zhou UK Snooker Championship Highlights

12 days of competition. 128 plays. televisions. We will see you

12 days of competition. 128 plays. 11 former champions. One wind. Hello

there. If only everything in life was as reliable as Jamie Vardy.

Sadly, consistency in snooker has been a little harder to come by. You

have to go back to the mid-19 90s to find the last back-to-back winner of

this great event. That was Stephen Hendry. We will not have won this

year either. Ronnie O'Sullivan has decided not to defend his title this

year. Of the other former winners became to York, three have been

shown the exit door already. Jin Jeong Way was sent packing by Adam

Duffy. Matthew Stephens lost a final frame decider to Chris Wakelin. And

Mark Williams lost out to Lester's Tom Ford, despite being 5-3 in front

and 60 points up in their decider. Mark will have a lot of time to Stu

on that on the way home to Wales. Let us get to happier matters for

John Higgins, a former three-time winner of that event. We were

watching him this afternoon. John recovered from six -down. He

wrapped it up with a century. He has won two big titles this term. Steady

stuff from him. Happy with the win, obviously. Could have been a better

performance. The first frame was really important. I managed to go

4-1 in front. From then really important. I managed to go

4-1 in front. From then on it seemed as if I was in control. Also on show

today, the man who thrilled us at the Crucible in Maine. Ladies and

gentlemen, the champion of the world 's, Stuart means.

Stuart trying to join a select group. -- Stuart Bingham. Surely one

of the most underrated players in the sport, Anthony Hamilton. Bingham

one 5-3. We join them in the ninth. APPLAUSE. It is a chance to win the

match. He will be desperate to win the match in this frame.

Can pot the brown in and get a cannon into the bunch with the

question of the cue ball. He will think is onto something. The more

times he walks around the table the more you think he is going for the

yellow. But he is taking on the brown. Cue ball into the bunch.

Is what a chance. To get the match over with.

Hard to say where he can go wrong. It is a matter of keeping your

concentration. Could not asked to be a better place to win the match.

Those two reds just below the pink, if he can cannon into those two he

would be in a perfect position. You can see what has made him think.

He has gone straight. If he plays the deep screw he would play that

read on the right-hand of the table, which he to avoid. -- red. It is not

as straightforward as he would like it to be. He manages to swing it

quiet. He looks to have played it pretty well. -- wide. Just avoiding

the Kizarny red on the left-hand cushion. It is OK. The red to the

right of the pink is available. Just about OK. His heart would have

been in his mouth for a second there. Wobbly, but in he went. It is

ready you see them going when they hit the first job in the pocket. You

think this is not going in. It is perfect on this red. That might

sharpen his concentration, the fact that he almost missed that.

It is always nice to play your best medical all the time. For the main

contenders it is the first round is the first rounds. -- snooker. I

think we've Stuart's came he needs victories. It is just a victories.

You start building up the little bit of momentum and it gives you

confidence. You think he is World Champion why is he lacking in

confidence? We look at the point score and he is lacking in that

department. As I said earlier today, that World Championship victory

earlier in the year will be a distant memory once you start losing

matches. And everybody trying that extra bit hard against you because

you are one of the big scalps in the game. Looks all over bar the

shouting now. This pink and one more read required. Then Anthony

Hamilton's race will be run. He has shown blintzes of his old form. --

glimpses. If that was boxing and on points and

he would be in front. Now 69 points the lead. 67

remaining. A nice easy black to pot. Used all the pocket on that one. In

it went. Three snooker is required. To many required. Anthony Hamilton

has played very well. On reflection, when you look at the stats, it is

hard to understand why he will lose this match 6-3. Maybe the first

frame was the catalyst. Anthony was in front with a break of 36. Stuart

cleared up with a 71. That settled Stuart somewhat. Anthony Hamilton

starting to get his equipment together. Is that the time?

Anthony Hamilton treated us to a wonderful break of 135 in frame two.

Stuart Bingham as a possible 143 on.

APPLAUSE. He will be feeling good inside,

Stuart Bingham, coming through this match. Not his absolute best. Not

the way he played in Sheffield. But a good victory. He knows, as we were

saying, that Anthony Hamilton, on his day, is capable of giving

everyone a run. Just as a matter of interest, the highest break of the

tournament so far is 142. If Stuart can get this red, the black, and all

the colours, 143. He will have a chance now. The yellow is slightly

off its spot. Not a problem. The blue is off its spot. It may be

a little bit tricky. You cannot imagine it being a problem. Just

carelessness would cause Stuart not to clear up here. It would be nice

if he clears up. Who do you go and see? You want to go and see the

world champion. How did he play? He made the 143 break. He has a little

bit of work to do. He has just overrun that. He may be able to hold

for the pink. Probably can. Looking at it from that low angle. Pink and

black for the highest break of the tournament. A wry smile. He should

have screwed that back another two inches. That was always needed. This

for the break of the tournament. In goes the pink. Andy black, for a

total clearance, of 143. -- and about. It is there. Well played

Stuart Bingham. Anthony Hamilton probably did not get the best out of

that match. But he put it up to Stuart Bingham. Stuart Bingham

responded. What a marvellous way to win the match. The highest break of

the tournament so far. 143. The World Champion is through to the

third round, winning by six frames to three. I am happy the way I

finished the match. The first round and made a couple of times. A couple

of little glitches here and there. Just got to iron them out. Once I

get some confidence, winning a couple of matches here, hopefully I

can kick on and go a little further. The

couple of matches here, hopefully I can kick on and go a little further.

The 142 has been beaten by Stuart. He has reminded us why he is the

World Champion. We do not need reminding of who he beat on that

famous day at the Crucible in May. It was Shaun Murphy. While Shaun

Murphy was disappointed to lose that final, he was universally applauded

for his grace and his sportsmanship in defeat that day. In fact, he has

been a class act ever since he turned professional 17 years ago.

Tonight, Murphy was up against a 17-year-old who is widely being

tipped for superstardom in snooker. In June he and a 15-year-old teamed

up to win the World Cup for China. Joe went on to knock out Stuart

Bingham in the champions event in Coventry. This lad is fearless.

Murphy is bound to be wary. He lost to jail young in Coventry a few

weeks ago. Murphy took the opening frame with a knock of 63. It is

Dennis Taylor and John Virgo talking of through this tonight.

If he tries to get back to... It does not look as if he is doing it.

He is playing the containing safety. There may be a possibility of a red

to the right middle. He may consider it a little bit too risky. He is

taking it on. Tremendous pot. Clean as a whistle. Beautiful queueing.

That is what makes him one of the top players in the world, without a

doubt. Never any hesitation. An easy streaky shot of the red he is close.

A chance to build up a big lead. He has got a one to the middle. It

has finished a little awkward. This one coming to his rescue. He played

the shot well. Unlucky to cover a lot of the reds. A good positional

shot. Back in amongst the reds with a chance to score quite heavily

again. He did have that 39 and 63 in the opener.

I think he has just about finished on this red perfect. He does not

want the black in the same pocket. If he can run through and avoid the

Kiss on the red that is how he would like to play. Just giving a little

bit of thought. If the red was not in the top cushion it would be a

formality. The way to get precise positional play is to not have the

cue ball travelling too far. The fact he has given it plenty of

thought may mean he cannot just drop it in. He could. That may be

positional side of the shot so much easier.

He had a bit of a setback to his season not that many weeks ago when

he lost to John Higgins in China, 6-0, John beat him in the

quarter-final. That was of the international. John Higgins in with

a very good chance of winning this year's UK Championship. Back to his

best. Shaun will give it a good shot this year, I feel, the way he is

queueing. His head hardly ever moves. It is a

beautiful cue action. Choice of reds, one to the middle, one to the

corner. The middle one will give him better position.

Just needs the black and one more red to secure the second frame. This

time he looks as though he will do it with one visit.

Perfectly played. Every chance we may see a clearance. Already on 65.

Certainly every chance of a century, that is for sure. Doesn't

he make it look so easy when he is playing like this? You can see the

other players in the background. They have got used to this sort of

situation now where they can see the other tables. It can be a bit

offputting. They have got well used to it now. You ignore what is going

on around you. They made 52 centuries last season.

He has been struggling this season. He only made nine. He made that

magical 147 on four occasions. APPLAUSE. 365 centuries in his

career. This all started with a cracking

opening round into the middle pocket. He took the risk and this is

the result. Fabulous century break from Shaun Murphy.

Cannot beat the Huybrechts. Being made a magnificent break this

afternoon. -- high breaks. An exhibition shot to finish off with.

The wrong side of the pink. No problem with cue power with this

play. He did not get the side on it. He will have to cut the black in or

double it. He got one chance in the second

frame and that was all he needed. A magnificent effort. That break of

100 and before Woods magnificent effort. That break of

100 and before Woods Shaun Murphy 2-0 in front. Sean Monis title seven

years ago and is in no mood to Mark about tonight. -- Sean won best. We

will go into the next. The teenager Zhou is eight points ahead. Probably

finish up and just pots this one into the middle pocket. Nearly. It

was close. In the end that was all he could do. Make certain you hit a

red. I think that is exactly what he played. He played to hit that red.

Maybe a chance potting it. This red he has left on.

Last frame. He did a wonderful break of 124, did Shaun. What you make of

this chance? The best possible start for one of

the favourite. A key shot coming up. Only a couple more reds. He will

have to get into them. Stephen always wanted to get the reds split

open as soon as he had the chance. Some players like to pick them off

and then go into the bunch. He's OK, it might even be planting it into

the other corner. You're thinking, that's so lucky. Not far off a

plant, those two reds in the corner. That would be a bonus. Of their's

your bonus -- there's your bonus. When you're struggling, things go

slightly astray. Not a lot he can do about this. You can't do anything

when you're sitting in your seat. That tells a story, he's had a few

chances, particularly in the first frame. You've got to score at this

level when you get opportunities. One or two chances is all you will

get per frame. Looks a bit straight on this black,

not straightforward. 63 points to lead, a possible 75 remained. Still

looking for one more red, not sure where it will come from. Placing the

reds to the far left corner. I thought it was a little bit

worried at first, but no problem. He really has one of the best few

actions I have ever seen in the game -- cue actions. Could it be

back-to-back centuries? Pink or black for back-to-back

centuries. It never looked like it was touching the side. Absolutely

superb. A player enjoying his game at the moment. He probably lost a

bit of concentration, but that is back-to-back centuries. Shaun Murphy

leads, 3-0. Murphy has snuffed out the resistance for the time being,

Joe is at the table. 31 points to make up.

All of a sudden, gets a run at the ball. Bringing the pink to play. The

pink and The reds to finish perfectly on the black. -- the red.

Keeping himself in this year's UK championship. Not finished just yet.

Just overdid it slightly. Still got the blue in the middle to play for.

This will put him nine points behind. He's going to need the

remaining points. That could be his last shot at this year's UK

championship. Needed a lifeline. Maybe he got a bad contact.

Definitely jumpstart trade. -- jumped the red. Needed that. He won

his opening match, six frames to one against Ashley Hugel. I am not sure

if he was a professional or in a mature, some are mature as did

qualify. He hasn't done much wrong in this match. Just that blew that

he missed. Looked like he was going to clinch the match. Pretty quick

coming up to an hour and 35 minutes. A couple of century breaks. 63 and

73. If he could have rolled the red in and played for the blue, fine.

But he needed the black. I didn't expect him to miss it. 28 points

behind, 43 remaining. This red that he is faced with is much more

difficult than the one he missed in the opposite. Lost a bit of

concentration, he doesn't fancy that one.

APPLAUSE Beautiful cueing. He missed a middle pocket, but then knocked

that one in. A learning experience, as you say. He properly won't

realise at the moment. A few chances in the first frame, if he had taken

them he might have put on the pressure. It was just too much for

the outsider. He was unfortunate, he will be disappointed, no doubt. We

will see a lot more of this young player, I think he plays very well.

A great ambassador for the game, Shaun Murphy. I'm sure he will have

a few words with his young colleague after this. Trying the trick shot,

back-to-back centuries. A comfortable evening for the former

UK and world champion, Shaun Murphy. Going through to the next round with

a comfortable scoreline. In snooker, although there are two of you

playing, you can only concentrate on your game. At the end of the day, if

you get in and get your chances and you take them, that is great. I know

how good these young Chinese players, they are too young to wear

our sponsor's although ago. They are not allowed to wear a gambling logo

-- sponsor's logo. One of them beat me two weeks ago. I know how well

just how good they are. I needed to put in a professional performance,

and I am very pleased to do that. A crisp performance for Shaun Murphy,

a couple of days of before his next round. Earlier in the players

lounge, we met Joe Perry's daughter. It was a special day for her, it is

the first time she has travelled to watch her dad play live. It turned

into a very tough evening. This match went 3-3 with Robbie Williams,

the world number 56. Williams won the next two, going 5-3 in front.

Williams must be sensing an upset against the world number ten. Very

tight. This white is very loose. Didn't hit

that as well as he wanted to. McIlroy a chance with the side

cushion behind the pink. -- a chance.

Good shot from Joe Perry. Making it a bit more difficult to control.

Just wondering what the long bubble is like. A lot of topspin on the cue

ball. This doesn't look too bad. That's the only way you can't play

that safety shot. The White can't come more than two or three inches

of the question. He has been very fortunate. He's got a kick on that.

Slowing the pace. This is his chance. He has been knocking a few

of these long balls in. As we all know, this is really the frame ball.

A lot of pressure. That's way he is putting everything into it. One good

plot, that is all he needs. Lovely shot. It looks absolutely perfect.

He is on the brown, but still has some work to do. Anything can

happen. If it is not straight, the player doesn't pass the black. If

it's just off straight, the only thing he can do is play the blue to

one of the top corner pockets. It is almost as awkward as it could have

been. If he gets the cue ball anywhere in the middle of the table,

he will have a shot at the blue. Needs to slow down. Perfect.

Good shot. What a victory for Robbie Williams. Hard work for Joe Perry.

The biggest win of Robbie Williams' career. The world number 10 is out.

Well played to Robbie Williams. Some other matches to show you. There are

16 matches today, these are some of the highlights. Mark Davis, pretty

good win. Wilson had a good shot. In the big picture, he will be chuffed.

Into the last 32. Snooker Extra is coming next. You

will see John Higgins's match. We are back on the air at 1pm online

and red button. Our actual coverage on the network two, starts at

5:30pm. That is the scheduled time. That is contingent on how things go

in Belgium with the conclusion of the Davis cup final. It might be

earlier. Watch this space. Ultimately, watch it online. I hope

we catch you at some time. In the meantime, from us at York, it is

good night. Who is this dangerous renegade,

this maverick,