Second Round: Part 1 UK Snooker Championship Highlights

APPLAUSE Good evening.

It's Strictly Snooker here at the Barbican. Plenty of balls but no

sign of Eddie, fortunately! We've had a few upsets already here in

York, not least the departure of last year's champion, who was beaten

in the opening round. The 128 stage. But safely navigating his way

through that was the world number one, Mark Selby. He strode out into

the arena today at the start of round two.

He is the reigning world champion, he is the current world number one,

he is the just from Leicester, he's Mark Selby!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE -- the Jester from Leicester.

Well, as you might have seemed earlier this afternoon, the

Leicester man wasn't having it easy against Daniel Wells, ranked 67

places below him in the world rankings. The former European

amateur champion. He went into a pre-1 lead but back came the Selby

man and we pick it up. STEPHEN HENDRY: How is the angle on

this yellow? Excellent red into the middle of the pocket. He needs so

much right-hand side with this cue ball here. Watch this take effect

here... Great shot. DENNIS TAYLOR: Already planning his

root out as to how he can get to the pink, get it into play. -- route. Up

to the cushion and down again. He'll have to do it from the blue. A nice

angle on the blue. He wants to be up this side of it so he can pop the

blue of the baulk cushion and then hopefully bring the pink into. --

pot. He's had enough angle to try to move the pink from there. It's a

great effort, you know! But the blue is off its spot. But what a great

effort that was. Played with lots of top left-hand spin to send the white

towards the pink. Had he hit the pink fullbore it would have been

straightforward. -- full ball. Here comes the white and it is hard

enough. Daniel taps his head. Mark Selby has just played some of the

best snooker of the match. Somehow he gets himself into the lead and it

is now 5-4 to the world champion. HAZEL IRVINE: What does the Welshmen

have next left? Let's find out. The Welshman is trailing by 25 points.

DENNIS TAYLOR: If this goes in, they are there for the taking. Ooh!

Close. But not quite close enough. Does the red pass the green? Just

the pace kept it out. Any slower, that would have dropped in. That

doesn't go but there's one up into the left corner, being a

left-hander. He's getting a bit edgy now, is

Daniel. outside cushion. He's 19 in front.

That will be 26. He will want to pot this red and

move the other red at the same time. He is guaranteed to be on pink or

black. Can he pull this off? He did very well.

The yellow's a big shot. He's in there looking at some way to leave

the cue ball safe. Looking at the pink.

Just making his mind up whether to take the pot on.

He's going to wait for another chance but he's played a good shot

here. A beauty. He thought long and hard about whether to take the pot

on and decided, let's get the snooker, I'm in the driving seat.

33. He's got to hit this. Otherwise he will need a snooker. It is a

must-hit situation for the Welshman. Every chance he would leave a free

ball if he doesn't hit it but he has to hit it otherwise you feel it's

all over. He's looking to see two cushions. Players prefer to do that

rather than just come off the one cushion. He's got to go round the

back of the yellow if he's going to play two cushions. Get close to that

middle pocket with lots of side. I wonder if he'd be tempted to take

this red on to the far corner. Where the green and brown is, it's not the

easiest clearance in the world should he missed it. -- mist it.

That was the perfect picture as to whether it was going to go in or

not. And right to the pocket! Daniel Wells has put up a great fight here.

And he comes forward... The world champion and world number one. He

had a couple of century breaks but in the end, Mark Selby is through to

the last 32, beating Daniel Wells 6-4.

It was a strange match and patches I felt I was scoring well but other

patches where I felt I could miss anything. So very strange game.

Thought my focus was in and out or match, and when I needed to sort of

getting the zone at the end when I looked like going behind and was

potentially getting beaten, I played my best stuff. I've not won a game

on TV. I've come close a few times and pushed a few players close so

felt like a bit of a monkey on my back, really. Had to get ready in

front to, I suppose, roll over the line. I did commit to a few shots I

didn't win which could have swung it in my favour. Once I had made the

centuries I thought, this is it, I'm going to kick on and play better,

and then in the next round, it was back to square one! Just glad to get

over the line. Mark Selby was the only one involved

in a real tussle against a youngster. John Higgins was involved

in a real tussle ago -- against 24-year-old Thai player Noppon

Saengkham. He has had to come from 2-3 behind to finally get ahead at

5-4. He was itching to get over the line but Saengkham was at the table.

This is being watched by John Virgo. JOHN VIRGO: He's just made it easy

for him to play the safety shot. In behind the brown and close to the

baulk cushion. He didn't get in behind the brown but the black has

come to his rescue. He's got to judge this perfect, with

the jaws of the pocket and the cue ball. This could be the chance John

Higgins has waited for. It looks like a free ball to me. Wow! What a

mistake. Yeah. Inexperienced there. The one thing he couldn't afford to

do was miss like that and this is John Higgins' chance now to clinch

frame and match. I think the positional shot from

green to brown has the perfect angle. He's just got to drop the

green in-off the side cushion and then just above the rights centre

pocket he'll be nicely on the brown. Yes, and now just needs brown, blue

and pink. And after over three hours of play, John, I mean, he's done

everything right... Just one simple error there and it could have cost

him this match. So just the simplest of pinks now to

secure his place in the last 32. And I would suggest it'll be a very

relieved John Higgins. It's there! He had a chance to clinch the match

earlier in that frame but didn't do it. Showing a lot of frustration.

Keep your eye out for Noppon Saengkham. He's got a bit to learn

but John Higgins today was just that bit more experienced and he is

through to the last 32 with a 6-4 win over the young man from

Thailand. When he won the seventh frame on the

spotted black I thought, well, I deserve to lose after losing that

frame, but luckily for me, you get a bit of a bad run the next frame and

then lucky to still be in the event. He missed a couple of crucial balls

at the end there. Lucky for me. But he's a really, really good player. I

made a clearance to make it 5-4 and then got a terrible kick. Whereas I

felt good. I felt I could win the match 6-4. But, no, I'll get a new

tempo and try to come back and play better.

HAZEL IRVINE: Also this afternoon, two more former winners were

involved in matches in the main arena and won. First of all, Mark

Williams, who's clinging onto his top 16 status in the world rankings,

up against the ever competitive Higginson. Mark goes through. Whilst

Stephen Maguire, the winner of the title in 2004, finished his 6-2

victory over up-and-coming the 19-year-old Chinese men Zhou

Yuelong. Closing a break there. Glasgow's number two looks full of

resolve this season. And so to tonight's matches, and one contest

has really dominated proceedings. A proper heavyweight contest, this,

between two of the most rock-solid, wily and experienced campaigners in

snooker. England's former Crucible finalist -- finalist Barry Hawkins

and Fergal O'Brien, a former veteran of the circuit and former champion.

It is four frames apiece and by this point O'Brien has made three

centuries and two consecutively to level the scores. Really is in

vintage form tonight. In fact, here is Fergal on a third century on the

trot! This is now four times in nine frames so far to go ahead 5-4. He is

now ranked at world number 50. He's a former masters finalist, of

course. That was way back in 2001. But he's taken it to walkins here,

who has hit a purple patch recently. -- Hawkins. They take this into a

final frame decider. It's going all the way to the wire. It's Fergal to

play 20 points behind. It left Dennis Taylor enthralled, as were we

all! DENNIS TAYLOR: Well played. Doesn't

want to be straight on the brown. Well, they both had that one chance

you were talking about now. So a player can be unlucky in this match.

As you mentioned, you might be slightly straight. He's not got down

on it yet to play the shot, so it must be more difficult than it looks

from here. Key shot coming up. He's got himself

on that read to the right corner and very little to do with the cue ball

to finish on the black. -- red. Steadying himself. He knows the

importance of this next shot. Just a bit of a stretch with the

yellow there, so that's why he's using the extension, which makes it

a bit more difficult. Just concerned about the yellow and leaning over.

Well, I can see at least another three or four reds available. For

Fergal. Who's going to hold themselves together in this deciding

frame? That is the question. Yes, Barry can only hope now that Fergal

loses position, because, as you rightly say, the next few should be

relatively straightforward and then the work starts. I tell you what,

you got a kick there from heavy contact. -- he got a kick. Luckily

it was close to the pocket. The referee's giving the black a clean

there. And it spoiled it a live of it, that heavy contact, because the

black is only available into the left corner pocket. -- spoiled it a

bit. Just had to miss the case on the

black. -- the kiss. Just trying to see what angle he

needs on this next black to go into the bunch.

How was the ankle? If this goes right, the chance of frame and

match. -- how is the angle? He's been a professional since 1991. As I

mentioned before. This is one of the finest matches I've ever seen Fergal

play. And that's OK. That is fine. 44 years of age and it's amazing.

They keep saying it's a young person's game, but the 40 plus is

showing there's still plenty of life left in the senior players.

Well, he's a bit straight on the blue but he could screw back and

leave on the two red there. Just a bit of a nervous one there.

It's all about keeping close control and making the next pot as easy as

possible. Well done, therefore the taking. Can

he hold himself together? A remarkable performance.

This is a red in the middle of that little group of four that will go.

Then threw onto the black. Barry Hawkins a little unlucky.

Moved a few reds and didn't finish nicely on one. This has been

brilliant from Fergal O'Brien, already 30 in front. Can he hold

himself together for the terrific win?

Just a little lock for those three reds. Might have to play a cannon.

If you just can in the one on the left. Maybe a bit reluctant about

playing a cannon at this stage but it is the shot he would normally

play. That's OK. The break goes to 58 and

this is the key shot. The chance for a possible century

number five. Very well played and they are for the taking now.

She is OK. He didn't intend to cannon that red, he only needs one

more and what a performance by Fergal O'Brien.

He is going out of this year's championship. Just not that many

shots away from leading 5-2 and missed an easy one but after that

Fergal O'Brien has been absolutely sensational. Three centuries in a

row. Barry threw a 78 break to level at 5-5 and Fergal O'Brien has

responded like the best, the best he has ever played. 5 cents a decent

total in six frames he has one, quite amazing.

Barry came into this UK championship having reached the final of the

Northern Ireland open where he lost the last train to mark King. He

certainly wasn't expecting a bad Irish like this. -- barrage like

this. APPLAUSE. Straight on the black soul

if he screws back he will have to play the reverse side and he is

looking to the pink. Maybe slightly easier.

I have enjoyed every shot in this match. Without doubt, one of the

best matches, and this is only day one of the televised stages, but

what a match. He must be absolutely buzzing inside

just hoping he can make his fifth century. Boy, does he deserve it.

It would give him another century. And do you know, all the century

breaks he has made, his professional play has been superb.

Absolutely incredible from Fergal O'Brien. It really is very special.

He is coming round to take the black as well but Barry Hawkins, one of

the nicest people you could ever wish to meet will come forward and

congratulate Fergal O'Brien on an absolutely stunning performance. He

is saying well done. One of the best matches I have seen for quite a

while and Fergal O'Brien has made five century breaks in the six

frames he has one. No wonder he beats Barry Hawkins 6-5.

To win 6-5 and there have been seasons I haven't had five centuries

so in the best of 11 it is fantastic. He just blew me away. I

missed three easy balls, a lapse of concentration, but I am speechless

how well he has played. Unbelievable. You probably won't see

a better match now for the rest of the tournament. Five centuries in

the six frames is fantastic, to be fair, so fair play to him. Probably

the last few weeks I have been playing a lot more and probably

playing too much on my own and when I have come to matches I have been

struggling for fluency and read them, so played a lot more matches

with the lads back home. I was 3-1 down at a very big frame, that he

won in one visit, and at 4-2, he had every chance of a maximum and he

missed a simple red and from there I made a break and just got in the

groove. Nothing I can do, really. Just got to go out and get drunk and

go onto the next one. Quite the right! Actually he was mentioning

the pot success, 95% tonight in a quite extraordinary match. Five

centuries in a best of 11 and only Ronnie O' Sullivan has better that

with five any best of nine silly little bit of Tess Daly this evening

and hats off to him. Stuart Bingham, the world number two, trying to

follow up that Crucible success 18 months ago with a first trophy since

then, was having all canes of struggles against Yu Delu, ranked at

60 seconds with a strong record against some leading players. Stuart

Bingham has fought back from two lead 4-3 but Yu Delu won the next

two frames and is now 5-4 in front, so nervous times and trailing by 26

points and Stephen Hendry and John van Gogh have teamed up for this

one. -- John Virgo. Played it pretty

well. He has not left anything. Every shot he plays has got to be

perfect. This doesn't look too bad. Just a little bit to pacey and has

left his opponent with a hand on the table so you would expect a better

safety shot than that. This just those two reds together.

There is a thread that will go. It could be a guide. He courted to

spend. He has left the chance for Stuart Bingham, to get past the

pink. He can. This will answer a few questions for us. Can he make the

most of this opportunity? He can't believe it and neither can

I. That is unbelievable. He is normally so reliable on the long

potting. Apart from one frame this evening, he has done none of it. I

am giving him the benefit of the doubt, he may have had a bad

contact. The red definitely jumped. In many ways the way he has played

tonight doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt but I will give him

that. A lot of the time those things happen when you don't cue properly.

He probably had to play on the right-hand side to bend its likely

and may be that through the red off but he is back in his seat and

wondering if he will get another chance.

You can do more in your bad luck but he has had enough chances to win

three matches. The left-hander in the cluster of

five goes into the pockets of that was perfect. No problems yet.

If he doesn't miss anything easy the match is at his mercy. You would

think. The angle and the position he gets on the black ball, the

trickiest shot he has got. If he gets an angle, it is much over

and if it is straight it is OK, just a matter of screwing off the side

cushion. Body language is not perfect. That was the last hard shot

he had to play, to get on this black properly and he has not managed it.

He may have to risk the cannon. He has done. It looks as though it

is perfect. He will not mind being straight.

He can put the black in the same pocket. A bit more of a balance but

it is only the black that is needed. And Stuart Bingham's run in the UK

championship is over. So we have lost the reigning champion and it

looks for all money as though we will lose the world number two.

You have to give Yu Delu credit, this last frame has been a great

effort. We have perhaps not given him as much of a shout. He has been

able to hold his temperament together. Still focus on winning the

match, something the world number two has not been able to do. We just

saw in the corner Stuart Bingham taking the ball tie off. Perhaps it

said he will not be coming back to the table and he is shaking his head

and looks very annoyed. One of the nicest people on the circuit and one

of the nicest people you could meet. Just didn't have the fire in his

belly tonight it seemed. He has got it now but it is too late, I am

afraid. A long time since I have seen

someone that has projected in the chair as that.

The red didn't go in. Congratulations. Very disappointed,

the world number two. He had chances but didn't take them but credit to

the young man from China. Yu Delu thrilled at 4-3 and Stuart Bingham

was getting into his stride but never gave up. He runs out a 6-4

winner and is in the last 32. Well played.

I watched the session at six o'clock and had some food and came back and

had an hour or so before I had to get ready and actually blocked off

to sleep and woke up at 5:30pm and it took me maybe two or three

minutes just to focus and come round. I went on the practice table

and everything was going wrong. I took it to the table. I had little

spells where I was trying to cheer myself up but everything was hard

work tonight. I cannot... I was gutted. If I had another cue I would

probably snap the cue how bad that was, but it happens and it is sport

and you have to take it on the chin and get on with it. Quite literally,

you snooze, you lose. A rather surprising evening with a few other

headlines for you. Ali Carter through against Robbie Williams.

Michael Holt, a big defeat with a surprise loss to Yuelong. Michael

White lost his compatriots. The former world champion Graeme Dott is

out, and 6-2 to Jamie Jones against this year's Crucible semifinalist.

Smoker extra follows next and we're back at one p.m., BBC Two, Sunday

afternoon with much more of the live stuff with Ronnie O'Sullivan

returning. One more UK territory will will put him tied with Steve

Davis and we will also see the Crucible winner in action which

sounds like a recipe for the good afternoon to meet! We will catch you

then, good night. There is an image system at work

in the world. To behave in accordance with these

images bores us. To deviate from them fills us

with anxiety. So we wait for an experience

brutal enough