Second Round: Robertson v Mehta, Maguire v Cope UK Snooker Championship Highlights

Hello again. This weekend of the UK championship is amongst the busiest

in any snooker season. We have had 16 matches, 64 players marching in

and out of two arenas in York. They then come to the players lounge to

celebrate or commiserate with family and frames. It is a precarious

business. Yesterday, we lost the world number ten, 12 and 13. Joe

Perry, Ricky Walden and Mark Williams. This afternoon, some of

the biggest names came through unscathed. Judd Trump was successful

over the world number 60. It included a single century. There

looks to be more to come from the favourite. It was a bit scrappy, my

concentration was a bit scrappy, my concentration get through. I haven't

had a great last couple of tournaments, but I just want to get

into it. I just want to produce my best work -- I hope I just get

through. This much finished with a 97. It was class, all right. I think

Oliver did not really settle as well as he would have liked. You could

tell he was a bit nervous. I got off to a good start, I could put him

under the a lot of pressure. 136 in the first frame, and I managed to

continue that. This afternoon, we have rain day at the hands of the

charismatic player -- Ryan Day. He has really return to form. This is

the latest of many in a stellar career.

Tonight's matchup, a clash of the. We have the former Indian open

finalist, making an official 147 last season. We pick it up in frame

three, one frame apiece so far. Through the gap of the pink and

blue. They even take it on. He has a natural angle to get it to the

green. Where is he going to finish? I think he has been a bit fortunate.

A little hold. BC the top players I think he has been a bit fortunate.

always had the luck -- they say. -- have.

Has he covered the yellow? If he has, he has to be careful. You don't

want to play it with pace, you just want to keep the initiative from

your opponent. Nearly. He has actually claimed the advantage in

the safety by playing it poorly. Not easy to get this into position,

leaving a snooker for his opponent. The key thing is to get the object

ball safe. I'm not sure he can avoid a double-kiss. The top of the table

at billiards, that is an art. The double-kiss. Giving Robertson a

chance. I don't know if he can plot the yellow and avoid pictures -- the

kiss on the green -- pot. A reflection of these opening three

frames, they have both had plenty of chances. It looks like Robertson

will take the lead. That was a horrible contact. The pink is almost

unmissable. Just watch it, it went dead. Should still pot the pink. No

breaks of significance from Robertson in this frame. You won't

be too disappointed not making a sizeable break. He now leads 2-1.

Robertson spent about five weeks at home in his native Australia. It is

the first time he has done it and missed a chunk of the season since

moving here as a professional about 12 years ago. Hopefully will stand

him in good stead in this important middle part of the season. Let's see

if he pushes on from here in frame for. -- four.

Playing the cannon to the right of the black. I think he did, do you?

He knew if he didn't get it, it would be on the pink. Where does the

pink bow? -- go? Does it fit in the middle? Known. -- no. Close to his

own spot, lining it up with the top cushion without touching the other

balls. The gloved hand. He is actually playing for the one

behind the pink. It has gone about two feet further than he thought. No

problem, still pots eat. Everything seems heavy. All these top players

are exceptional front-runners. They seem to be gaining in confidence.

Had a few chances today, hasn't he? He has. He will be a bit

disappointed. Once the top players to get their nose in front, they do

get confident. He will be thinking, I'm not playing my best yet, it is

yet to come. Still not an easy opportunity. The pink and black are

tied up. Played that nicely. Definitely released the pink, but is

it worth it? He could bring the black into play, but it could mess

the reds up. I can't see an alternative but to play the cavern.

-- cannon. Not a hard cannon, just a soft one. Having a look to see

whether there is a gap to the same pocket. The pink, is there a gap?

There is always one. A bit risky, swinging it around the back. It is

easy to get on to the blues. -- blue. He played the cannon for the

back. He knew if he didn't get it, he would have been on the pink. He

is thinking better, this is a golden opportunity to seize the frame.

Seems to be getting a lot of heavy contacts. Didn't like the sound of

that. I thought the cue ball would have been further back. A little

bounce in the black. Only one good positional shot to make this a frame

break now. Want to make sure he hits it right. A lot of players try to

finish perfectly, sometimes you just need to give yourself options.

Playing that shot, he knows he has options of the brown and yellow.

He's got three reds in the open, more than enough to play a cannon

into those. He might just play a little cannon, you saw the red just

below the pink. He doesn't have to. He can win this with enough points

with those two open reds. He did play the cannon. Does it help using

your left hand? This black to go 65 points in front. After this black,

one more red required. And the pink for the 100. Well

played. Is -- easy once he played the cannon on the red to get a

black. Getting the balls into the middle of a -- the pocket.

Mehta will know now that he has to produce his best to get anything out

of this much, Robertson is starting to get on a roll -- match. That can

take a toll on you, if your opponent gets a bit scrappy. You think you

don't have to do your best. But now, Robertson is finding full stride.

APPLAUSE The world number three goes to the next session leading 3-1. He

took the next as well, with a 93 in the sixth before Mehta slowed him up

in the seventh frame. But Robertson is perhaps waiting to pounce in

this, the eighth frame. Once he gets the black on the spot

it makes things a lot easier. It is all about this next shot. There will

be three or four reds he could get, for a sizeable lead. That is not the

shot he was looking for, the black is admissible. Not very good at all.

No excuse for being short. The pink to the left, it is a poor positional

shot. Playing it with a trace at the left-hand side. Sometimes a bad shot

can help you. If the black goes in, he will move the reds around.

Looking at the pink as an alternative if the black is too

difficult. You can get to the red on the outside of the pack -- he.

That's one of the reasons you don't really want to be potting the pink.

I think he can play on the black. If he gets on the black, the yellow

spot looks unavailable. APPLAUSE It is just like he is

getting nothing out of the white, it is like a dead weight. A bit of

bounce. You can see it again. Whether he can call the pink now is

a different matter. -- he can hole. Got the right angle on the blue,

there is one loose red. Maybe he will decide to go into the cluster

with pace. Gave it the old kick of the leg. I think he's OK. Trying to

get it through the gap. A match-winning opportunity.

Doesn't have to play on the pace this time. The three reds to the

left of the pink, if he could hit the front one, he could tie the pink

up. That's the problem playing it that way. I would have pleaded a lot

slower than that -- played it. He didn't get the nickname Mr maximum

for nothing. He wouldn't want to release a cannon unless he was

straightforward. Now he can concentrate on the blue. Left the

black nicely, it would have come up on the pink spot. A bit of work to

do from here. I think there are enough loose reds. He just needs to

find a nice angle on the next ball. Here is a possibility, if he wanted

to pot this red. It could go wrong. At the moment you are looking for

things that can go wrong. I would much rather go for the black, I

think. If he plays for the black or blue, can't go wrong. Good trace,

well done. Mr Maximum and Mr Cannon.

He needs to more reds and two more colours -- two. This cannon plays

perfectly, but the next shot very badly. A lot of bounce off the

cushion, appeared to be a little bit too hard. Still might out of the

woods. The pink is not straightforward. -- still not. He

feels the blue is an easier shot than the pink. And it is. A little

bit of noise in that one. Kept getting it back. This pink will put

him in the snooker required stage. He may have to go back to practise,

Mehta. Start break-building and scoring quickly. We know he is a

decent safety player. He has to get in quickly. I think he will know

that. We need to get opportunities, you need to weigh them up. He hasn't

done that. He has missed a few times. He has had enough

opportunities to be a bit closer to Robinson than he is.

As Assad at the start of the match, always one of the main contenders

for any tournament that he plays at. On his top game, a match for

anybody. Didn't have to be at his top game this evening.

Break of 114. Have been a 93 break in frame six.

So a good pot on the pink needed. It's a natural, if he pots in on the

middle, it will finish on the yellow.

Well played. The second century needed. And to finish the match off

in style. Much appreciated by this Barbican crowd. As I say, one of his

best performances. If I was giving him marks out of

ten, I would say seven. But this is what he is capable of,

and I'm sure there is better to come. A decent match. It never

really put him under any pressure, and he could have, Neil wasn't on

his A-game, but his B game was enough, and the world number three

goes through into the third round. He wins by six frames to two. It

looks like a pretty convincing scoreline, with the breaks I made as

well. The table was pretty tough to play on, and reflected in some of

the unusual shots being played. Overall, repleased with the way I

handled the table actually, and yeah, you know, played, considerably

a fair bit better than my first round match. Building up nicely.

Five rounds more to go if Neil is to win this UK title for the second

time in only three years. It's amazing to think it's over ten years

now, since this Championship launched Scotland's Steven Maguire

into the snooker spotlight. He won it in 2004, and he has a strong

record since. He made it through to another three semis and quarters. He

can count himself lucky this time, after sweecking through in a decider

in the first round. He was tonight taking on Jamie Cope, a quick heavy

mega scorer. He is now 30, and climbing back into the rankings

after a tough couple of years to stay in the sport, after hereditary

condition that causes his hands to shake. This is going to same way.

Maguire, 4-0, with a top break of 60. And it's Dennis Taylor and

Stephen Hendry in charge. He has not looked comfortable on the long pots.

And even though he is 50 in front, look how the reds are situated. It's

almost like he knew in importance of that red, knew it was frame ball.

Didn't really get close. He could practically become

favourite for this frame. It's very early days, but the only

colour that, having said that, he played a terrific pool shot there

and got such a margin for it. He may just be OK. The red that is closest

to, he can pop that and stun past the two reds to leave himself on the

black. Don't know whether he can get to this one, to the left corner. May

be even to see enough off it. A little trace aside will help. Yeah,

I was going to stay, the pink is the only ball off its spot.

Unless he does something careless, the only ball that can come to

Jamie's rescue, you would feel. Is that a kick? It took a bit of the

pace out the cue ball, but he is still OK. He can get the blue. So

long as he avoids the baulk colours, he can get up for the last red.

So as previously mentioned, a key ball is going to be the pink.

Popped into Stephen's dad in the corridor. He is down to watch his

son. Travels around quite a bit to watch Stephen.

Well, if he is dead straight, he is going to have the leave the white

where the blue is, and leave slightly more difficult pot on the

pink, I mean, you could screw the white back, when then you need to

rest. So yep, see where he is cueing up? Just leave it there. A better

angle on the blue, he would have got a lot closer to the pink.

And the pink is safely in the pocket as Jamie Cope had a chance to get

his first frame on the board, only made 40. And Stephen Maguire with

that terrific clearance of 63, he extends his reed. He just needs one

for a place in the next round. And that is his top break of this match.

It's put him on the verge of a place in the next round. He played Jamie

on four previous occasions and in three of them, he has won them for

the loss of only three frames. Can he complete the whitewash this time?

He keeps his head so still on the shot and look at the kiss on the

red. That is what happens when you are playing well. You always get the

favourable kiss. He left himself on the pink. He was hoping to get back

up the table when he took that red on, and but he cannoned the other

red. He finished absolutely spot-on. If he can get on his red to the left

of the black, it could clear the black in both corner pockets and

give himself a great chance. In this sixth frame. If he takes it, it will

put himself into the next round. Couldn't quite get on the red on

this occasion but may be able to do it vet shortly. -- very shortly.

Should be able to get on that red to the left of the black now.

He opened the match with a break of 60, which even that opening frame...

His highest break was in the last frame after Jamie Cope made a 40. He

cleared up with a 63. Looked like all the top players seem to be able

to close the match out with a frame-winning effort. It wasn't the

best cannon he ever played. May have to take the one to the right of the

pink now. He had a look at that. Doesn't fancy

it. Just got to be careful when you are

aiming down on the cue ball. You don't want to put any unwanted side

on it. Looks pretty relaxed now. Obviously, 5-0 up, hasn't been put

under too much pressure tonight. He has dominated this match.

It would be very disappointing for Jamie Cope. In the last round, he

beat Rory McCloud in a deciding frame 6-5. Rory won his first

tournament this year, on the PTC events. Like to see that. Jamie

would have been looking forward to this match, after getting through on

a deciding fraim, but he never got going since he missed that black

early on. The second to third frame. He is looking to this red, to the

right corner. You can go up and cannon up towards the pink. If he

wanted that, it would open them all up. If the red goes, he'll play for

that. Oh, he played the cannon. On the red to left corner, you suggest

that's match over. Always plays the aggressive shot, Stephen Maguire.

As I said, he hasn't been put under that much pressure. You still got to

do it. Been a very solid performance.

He made 28 centuries last season. Only five this season. 307 in total

in his professional career. He turned pro in 1999. A big incentive

for all the players, for every century made, the charity gets a

nice prize and it's over ?9,000 at the moment. Not going to be easy to

make the century, with the red near the cushion. Via the black here.

Reminds me of you. You used to start the matches with a century break,

and the number if times you finish would a century break was amazing.

And this is the one, but it's going to be very, very difficult. It would

be nice if he could drop this in. Get in. Get in, there! Come on, keep

going! Oh, what a shame! No century break but what a terrific

performance from the Scot, Stephen Maguire. Jamie Cope never really got

going in the match. Never nice to see a whitewash, but that's what we

have. The start of the match, you know, it was a bit tighter. And

then, I think that Jimmy lost a bit of interest once I stole a frame to

go 3-0. He looked a bit disinterested in the end. I know

Jamie. He has beaten me a few times before. It was tough conditions

tonight and it was just me managed to get two more chances than him.

6-0 was good. It could have been a lot messier and go on for a few

hours. The other significant results. He won the Bulgaria yain

Open. He is through. Ali Carter back in the winning groove. And Ryan Day,

a big surprise for him. Hawkins, the highest seed to depart so far. His

miserable fortunes in this event continues. The world number 17 is

gone as well. That is one of the best results of David Grace's

career. He is through. So it's been a very costly evening for some. Now,

there's much more snooker to come. I know it's a school night, but

Snooker extra continues after his programme. Otherwise, you can join

us again at: a lot on our plate at the start of the last 32. Higgins

versus Ali Carter is our featured match. It's not how you start, it's

how you finish in a major championship. And we made a good

start so far. Great stuff. Bye for now.