Third Round: Day Two UK Snooker Championship Highlights

Morning, all. This time last night, about midnight, Mark Selby, the

world number one, was just scraping himself across the line against

Jamie Jones and into the last 16 of this year's Betway United Kingdom

Championship. This evening, another former winner of the event,

Australia's Neil Robertson, was hoping he would have a considerably

easier time of things. Well, drama has followed, and you do not want to

miss this this evening. The main course is coming. But first a little

statistical starter for ya. Well, tonight Robertson was up

against Bangkok's world number 36, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. He won at home

in September, a real breakthrough for

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. He won at home in September, a real breakthrough

for him in his world's first professional title. Let's see how he

does with 15 reds on the table. This is frame six, Robertson leading 4-1.

Stephen Hendry is sitting alongside John Virgo in the box. They are

about to hold on to their hats. Once again, not the best safety.

Whenever you hit a ball colourful in the face, you're always gonna leave

your opponent with a hand on the table and the chabs of a pot, or a

decent -- chance of a pot or a decent safety. Up couldn't imagine

him turning this opportunity down. It's difficult to see where the

colour comes from. Yeah, in the black pots in the right

corner. But I don't think he's straight enough on this red. Unless

he plays a cannon in the second one. Hmm. That was unlucky. I think he's

on the black. APPLAUSE

I think he will settle for it, though. At least he's got a go at a

colour. If Thepchaiya has any chance of

winning this match, he's gotta take these chances now.

Got to start winning frames in one visit.

Well, the fact that he played a lot of check for the black. And, of

course, that's the best way to make breaks, staying at this end of the

table. Now, he wants to be almost straight on the register right at

the black. He's not. So, he's gonna have to play a little cannon here.

Well, he's gonna put screw back for the black in the same pocket.

A nice touch when he's in and around the black spot area.

Now he looks to be nicely on this red. Of course, this clears the

black for both corner pockets. A decent chance.

As Stephen said, he's got to make the most of these opportunities now.

He's going to play some sort of cannon here, you would think, into

the cluster of reds. They all seem to be covering each other. This for

a bit of power. Make sure you don't get the gap. Like that.

He's still OK. He's got a red to the left centre. If he can get it

straight enough, he will be able to go through for the black to the

right corner. Oh, he's got too much angle, so the black to the left

corner. He's played that very well. What he's done there, I must admit

I've not seen a lot of him play. But I'm very impressed with what I've

seen. But for a few... ..Things running against him, this match

would have been very close. But that's not to say that he's not

out of this yet. Anyone who can score. And he looks

as though he's got the touch to make big breaks when he gets

opportunities. Never frightened to open the balls up.

And this, John, for his seventh black.

Yeah, and I think it's the roll-up. Got the maximum required. And it

rolls up, I think it's ?40,000 for the maximum.

If he was to lose the match, it wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.

Nice shot. This was aile lovely red to get rid of.

I wish you luck, young man. Let's hope you don't get any heavy

contacts. He does make the game look easy,

when he's in flow. So far, he looks calm, cool and

collected. Got to play for a choice of two reds

here. He's got the angle of two cushions. If you're not on it, you

have the chance of playing the red to the right centre. Then the baulk

back down to the black. The same type of shot.

Attempted to play the red to the right centre, myself.

He's not even looked at it. I hope he gets a nice angle on it

the next time. Mmm. Oh, dear. Didn't even look at

the red to the right centre there, John. No, heb didn't. And it was a

natural one -- he didn't. And it was a natural one. The line was there.

It was just about the pace. A tough pot required here. Can he get on

that last red? He's got the black. He's found the

gap. APPLAUSE

Slow doufenlt just give him any chance, please -- slow down. Just

give him any chance, please. I think he can get just past the green and

it passes the pink. Sensational! Sensational!

What a pot. What a pot. Shot of the Championship so far for

me. I think that's one of the best pots

I have ever seen at any on TV. Absolutely. And just good position

on the green needed. All tables have stopped to watch

this. He doesn't look like he's got a

nerve in his body. No. Just a little bit short. He's gonna have to come

off the top cushion here. I don't think he can run through and develop

the pink. And he has done. He has done. It

looks a formality. But as you well know, Stephen, there's no

formalities when you're looking at making a maximum, your first one on

British television. Fortunately, he's perfect on the

pink. Because I never like to see people getting the cue ball clean

and stopping when they're in rhythm. Deep breath.

Brig breath. And trust the technique. The black for the

maximum. And ?44,000. Oh! No! Would you believe it?!

Well... Words can't describe he must be feeling. What a moment it

was in his career. In his snooker career, in his life. I can't believe

He still trails by four frames to it. Neither can he. Unlucky.

He still trails by four frames to two.

He still trails by four frames to Yeah, forever to become known, I

think, as Thepchaiya Oh No! His head must be reeling, and not just

because ?44,000 up for grabs, had that black gone. What do you think?

Let's find out in the next frame? Slightly hampered but controlled

that well, did Neil. Nicely on the blue. Just coming to

have a look. Legs are spread, but maybe all covering one another.

I think the red just above the black and to the left will be available.

But to get on that is another matter. He's played a little cannon.

Oh, and that couldn't have worked out any better. I think he can get

through to this red that's just above and to the right of the black.

In potting this, oh, does it go? My commentator's eyes are getting a

bit fuzzy as the years go by. I think it was one of those, if you

were right behind it, you'd fancy knocking it in. But made it into a

slightly blind pocket makes it more difficult. And if it doesn't go,

what does go? APPLAUSE

Well, decided that the double, the only red he could leave was the one

he was playing. And he couldn't have played it much better.

That one to perfection. So, now this is a chance now for Neil to get

within one frame of victory. All the hullabaloo of the last frame.

Now just methodically trying to chip away at these reds and blacks.

He's having a look at red to the left corner, but surely you'd just

roll the one into the right corner. Bound to be on the black.

Asking for the cue ball to be cleaned. But if it was a heavy

contact, it's not done him any harm. It's left him a nice angle on the

black. Thepchaiya-in-noo, what's going through his mind? You can --

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, what's going through his mind? You can only

assume that missed black. What a sickener.

So, he's, in potting that red, he develops another two reds. He's got

one in the same pocket as the black, which he's played on now. He's got

three in the middle that will go to the left corner.

You'd be amazed if he didn't win the frame with this visit now.

Red, colour red, all that's required.

This, of course, was all brought about by the...

APPLAUSE You just get the feeling that that

missed one was still in his mind when he played it.

But I like the cut of his jib. I think he's a good player and I think

we'll see a lot more of him. Not saying he's out of this match just

yet. It's never over until someone gets to six frames. But you'll have

to put the disappointment of that missed black behind him.

But he will be back, no doubt about that.

Just the red needed. Should have been easier.

But no matter, in it goes. Puts him 71 points in front, with just 67

remainling. Two snookers needed.

Well, we was talking about the 147 in the last frame. The highest break

at the moment, of which is the ?4,000 prize, is held by Stuart

Bingham, a break of 143. Neil could better that here.

He needs blacks, and one pink, would take him past that mark of 143.

It has to be said, he's shown great focus after what went on in the last

frame. He's just got on with the job.

Now, Stephen, do you think he's aware what the highest break is?

Absolutely. I think if there was one player playing this tournament that

knows exactly what's going on, it's Neil Robertson.

Yes, absolutely. Come back for the black. The black will, if he pots it

in the sixth, it will make it a break of 145. Of course, it looked

like 147 was gonna be the highest break after the last frame. What a

standard we've seen. In it goes. Now, that cue ball needs

to slow. It's running on. It's running on.

It's just stopped in time. Yeah, I think it stopped in time

enough for him not to have to play this on the right-hand side.

I this on the right-hand side.

end of the table. I thought he could drop it in.

In the last frame, saying it was ?44,000. This is not such a paltry

sum of ?4,000 for the highest break in the tournament. And the pink and

black will make him the frontrunner for that.

Superb! Absolutely brilliant. And a big smile on his face as well. As

you say, Stephen, he knew what was required. 143 was the target. He's

beaten it, at 145. Fantastic. And it takes Neil Robertson just one frame

away from victory. He now leads by five frames to two.

Yeah, no wonder he's grinning. Un-Nooh, though, still queasy and

Yeah, no wonder he's grinning. seeing pound signs before his eyes.

He's got a chance to win the eighth here, with a black on its spot yet

again, though. Oh! And another black that's missed!

And do you think, Stephen, it was a little thought of that other black?

Yeah, I think that was in the back of his mind.

He was determined not to have the same black at the same side of the

table, and, yeah, definitely. He wasn't 100% focused there.

And that's definitely left a scar. Well, let's hope the scar doesn't

remain with him too long. But, yeah, I agree with you. He's probably

playing that black and thinking, "Dear me. I missed one before. I'll

knock this one in and have a think about how did I miss the

knock this one in and have a think Things that can go through your

mind. He's left a chance here for Neil

Robertson to clinch it. So close. But it's run very, very

safe. And if this cue ball goes tight, or

almost tight to the top cushion, try getting this one safe.

I think the only shot he's got - or one of the only shots - is playing

it full ball, get a double-kiss, and the cue ball back up the table.

Well, this was fraught with danger, playing it this way, I'm afraid.

Yes. I think he wanted to concede there he didn't expect Neil

Robertson to miss this. And I must confess, neither do I.

This for the match. Just wondering whether to put his

hand on the table or hand on the cushion.

In it goes. So, that's it. Neil Robertson will offer his sympathy to

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. Missing that black for the maximum. But Neil

Robertson replied with a 145. Highest break in the tournament. And

at the end there, really started to cue well. Definitely a major

contender for the title, is the Aussie. And he runs out, you think a

comfortable winner, but that doesn't tell the story. But he does win by

six frames to two. First time, I was make 15 black, and

clear all the colour except the last black. First time for me. I never

did 147 like this before in the big tournament, big game. With Neil

Robertson, maybe too much pressure for the last black. He's made that

unbelievable break in, like, six or seven minutes or something, and he's

missed the black. I feel really terrible for him, because, you know,

the prize money would have meant quite a lot to him as well, being an

overseas player, it would have really helped with his expenses for

the next couple of years. If I pot the red, I have jackpot.

Sensational! Sensational! So, my - not escalate about the

black one. Concentrate about how I'm going to do later. That's why I

missed the black. You know, once he missed it, I had

to try and focus on my game. And the next frame I made 145. Obviously

very delighted with that. But, yeah, I don't know, it was just, uh, yeah,

I still feel bad for him now. Raise raze yeah,

I still feel bad for him now. Raise raze yeah, Robertson goes through to

the last 16. Thepchaiya goes to maybe crawl under a rock for a bit.

We'll leave him beand talk about someone else. How about Shaun

Murphy? It was pretty much one-way traffic as he ran over Ben Wilson.

The 2008 champion took a 2-1 lead with 22 clears to win

The 2008 champion took a 2-1 lead with 22 clears to win it on the

black and never A break of 106 in the eighth gave

him a 6-2 win and he is looking like one of the form players so far.

The first frame, I got a good chance. Should have had a century

break for the charity that I work for and the charity that we're

helping here. But a kick and we all know about kicks till we're blul in

the face. But a kick cost me the -- blue in the face. But a kick cost me

the century break. Fortunately, it went my way and I was able to push

on. It was all much tighter between

Martin Gold and Mark Allen. Allen led 2-1 thanks to a tonne in the

third, but Gold then rattled off three frames in a row. Solid safety

was one of the keys. But then a 98 break in the 10th saw him safely

through six frames to four. Good win.

It was a very high-quality match, I thought. We both scored very heavy.

I think my safety probably was one of the keys for me today. I had him

in a fair bit of trouble quite often and I created quite a few good

opportunities and scored off them. So, let's take stock. We've got the

one-on-one, Selby -- we've got the world number one, Selby, Murphy.

Missing from the equation, number two, and Ronnie O'Sullivan, who

chose not to defend his title. We have heard in the last few hours,

though, that Ronnie will r indeed, return to action at the Masters next

month. So, what about the world number six currently, Judd Trump?

We're gonna see snooker's box office boy shortly, but not before we've

heard what his fellow pros think of him, or at least what they're

willing to tell us. The future of snooker, I think, he's

got the flair, he's got the personality to sort of sell snooker,

and hopefully he can remain at the top of the game. And I would love to

see him be world champion, because I think he can make a big difference

to the future of snooker J he's the Alex Higgins of the modern game.

He's unpredictal. Got an abundance of shots. Can play every shot in the

book. Flamboyant. A great entertainer. Probably a little

misunderstood off the table. People see him as too flamboyant and a

partygoer. But if you know Judd and his family, he's not like that. A

great kid and very, very quiet. A brilliant potter. Amazing. Great

attitude. Sometimes he gets a bit of Schtick. But I love his attitude.

Crack on, mate. Hard, quick, quiet. And a very good player. Devastating

potter. He's rentered his game now, which has maybe taken a bit off his

potting button, in the long run, it's gonna be a lot better for his

career. One of the best potters the game's probably ever seen. And great

building, flair, he's got everything. Judd Trump loves naughty

snooker, goes for everything, plays great attacking snooker. The crowd

love to watch him. I love to watch him. And I'm sure he's a world

champion love to watch him. I love to watch

him. And I'm sure he's a world champion in the making.

Well, tonight Judd had a match with China's player, who's had seven

years of living down this moment at the Crucible, where he may not have

had a clue where he was going backstage or indeed front of house,

but he sure knew what he was doing once he got to at the time table,

reaching the quarterfinals. He's now 20 years of age. He's ranked 32 in

the world. By the way, he led Judd by two wins to one in previous

matches before tonight. The Juddernaut was living up to

matches before tonight. The Juddernaut was living up to his name

earlier on this evening. We join them in frame nine. Judd had banged

in some junkie contributions earlier on.

Liang, who reached the final in September that I was talking about

that, the luckless thep that Ia won, has dug in here. Dud's focus doesn't

appear to be sharp -- Judd's focus doesn't appear to be sharp. And the

Chinese has holed himself back into this, despite not making more than a

54 break in the last three frames. He has knocked in a 62 at the start

of this one. And he's over the line here.

Taking a 5-4 And he's over the line here.

turnaround this is. And you And he's over the line here.

there is potentially a big story brewing. Now, some of you might

remember a Judd collapse here in York four years ago from a similar

position against Mark Joyce. Surely it couldn't happen again.

Let's get into Frame ten, then. Liang has a 40-point lead and a pink

to the middle. Well, that is abamazing miss.

-- an amazing miss. That has to be put down as a big

twitch. That's what we call them. You can see the movement there as

well. But if Judd Trump can somehow get

out of this, it will be remarkable. Because I'm sure he felt a couple of

times during this frame that his UK Championship had gone.

But it hasn't gone just yet. Could do really with a pink back in

its spot. It's going to be very hard to get back into this frame without

the blue or pink in play. Obviously he would like to get on to the black

as well. That's a possibility. But the black along the cushion is

missable. I just sometimes, there's an inner

strength that a top player can call on. You know, it's all the

experience. He's won a lot in the game.

And he's having to call on that now. game.

risk... Well, that's not any good, is it? That's nowhere.

The only good thing here, he might be able to get on to the blue, if he

decide to cut this be able to get on to the blue, if he

You can see the disappointment in his face. He's disgusted with the

way he's played that positional shot.

He's on the blue, what he suggested. And getting it back on to its spot

will be a big help. He's only 31 points behind here.

Couldn't hole for the blue. On that occasion. But it's not a

straightforward clearance by any means. A clearance that he badly

needs. Now, if he could drop on this in

such a way, he might play for the black. But, no, it will be back for

the blue, looking at the angle he has on it there, as you can see.

And he hasn't hit it hard enough. Another disappointing shot from

Judd. It's gonna have to be the brown now, if he wants to get back

on the last red. Under the circumstances, you know, it might be

better - he's got a slight angle. Just pot the blue and then send the

red into the black and bring the black into play.

Yeah, I totally agree. There's no way he's gonna clear the table at

this visit now. Well, he's had the blue cleaned and now he's taking the

brown, the attacking shot. Just slicing at the balls. His

cue-action has gone completely. That's a bit of luck he's had for a

change there. Yeah. That's the sort of shot that

he's very good at. But under these circumstances, it was difficult. And

what's the difference? 20 points, Liang needs a red and black to leave

Judd needing a snooker. And this time, luckily for Judd, he didn't

get onto the red. He hangs to see if he got the

snooker, but it's travelled a little too far.

That's a pretty good shot, I think. He snookered him. And not a stroort

hit. -- and not a straightforward hit.

There's a little bit of room to go around the back of this red. And, of

course, if he hits it, he will be pushing it towards the corner.

I think the easiest way out of this snooker is off this cushion up near

the black. I don't know if he can swerve it. Maybe he wants a big

swerve. Well...

Good luck getting the balls back in the right place.

Yeah, he will need a little bit of help from one of the monitors that

they have available to them. Peter Williams there, one of the

other referees. He's on scoring duties here. Where am I going, Pete?

"Where am I going, Pete?" Yeah. That's where they were.

The pink's not too far away. The red was definitely off the cushion. But

whereabouts? To you? I said, "Keep coming." "That will

do. Perfect." Pink? Not bad.

Pink about half an inch to the right.

Away from you. Just have a look on the big screen,

Pete. Is that how it is now? Yeah. That's how it was. He's saying

to Pete. So, the red has gone to the...?

No, not really. Well, hmm... Pink is a bit further up the table,

right? Yeah, that's better. That's where

they were. And I think that's pretty spot on now. Yep that. Will do. That

will do very nicely. How's that look? Will he play the square shot

again or will he come off the top cushion this time? OK? Yeah? Judd,

thank you. Thank you, Pete. APPLAUSE

Still gonna play the swerve shot. If he could hit the cushion first, he

could send the red up the table. He's gotta get a lot of swerve on

it. APPLAUSE

Under the circumstances, one, that was a fabulous pot from Judd there.

After the few that he's missed, that is a little peach he's just pulled

out there. And if he can somehow win this

frame, he's gonna be a strong favourite in the last frame, because

Liang has had five chances in this frame to lynch the match. It just

shows you how important it was when Judd got him to hit the pink in that

first, because now he doesn't need the black. But once again a very

poor positional shot from Judd. That young man has had five glorious

chances to win this frame. And usually you're happy with one.

Well, he's thought about taking that pot on and putting the white all the

way back up the end of the table and back down again. Now he's changed

his mind, because that would be far too risky.

He's hit the... That's a poor shot. OK, the white's

tight on the cushion, but what did he do there?

Well, OK, this is not a straightforward pot. But if it goes

in, it's match over. Surely he's gonna pot brown on blue.

A bit of movement on that. Safely in the pocket, but this is still not

straightforward. I mean, he's ten in front. He needs the brown and the

blue for the biggest win of his career. There's a lot of pressure on

this brown. He's gotta try and keep everything still and push that cue

through in a straight line. What a great pot. Where's the cue

ball going? Where's the cue ball going? Wow.

LAUGHS Chance number six.

Blue to win the match. Oh, he's so close to the blue, it's

tough to pick this angle out. We'll know before he does if it's in or

not. APPLAUSE

Well t 12. That's what it means to this young Chinese player.

And Judd Trump, wow. 4-1 in front. He was cruising. And suddenly

everything turned right around. Hard to believe he's lost this.

We'll leave every credit to Wenbo Liang. Absolutely, Dennis. An

amazing victory. From 4-1 behind, he's won five frames on the trot.

Judd Trump seemed to disappear towards the end of the match. Wenbo

Liang has won his biggest win of his career. Goes into the last 16. A

winner by six frames to four. I felt in control at 4-1, then I had

a kick with the balls everywhere. That kind of frustrated me a bit. I

thought I would still win. From then on, everything didn't seem to go my

way. The last frame, I think three chances I can win the game, yeah?

You I thinking too much. I think it's no finished yet. I think, "Win

already." That's no good, yeah? I need to remember this big problem

for me. I need change! I just felt like I couldn't pot a ball by then.

I was a little bit disappointed and I just had another feel - it was

just embarrassing toward the end. I just wanted it over and done with.

The 2011 champion goes home. Well, Snooker Extra follows next with

Jason. Then we're back at 1:00 with more live snooker. 16 men remaining

in this Betway United Kingdom Championship. And Mark Selby is the

star man tomorrow afternoon. But another, Judd Trump, has been posted

missing. What a night it's been. Thanks for your company. Bye.

The Hybrid will stand in the ruins of Gallifrey

and destroy a billion hearts to heal its own.

The Hybrid will stand in the ruins of Gallifrey

and destroy a billion hearts to heal its own.

Isn't this going a little far? I've barely started.