Day 2

0:00:26 > 0:00:30This year's UK Championship attracted the best prevent sales in

0:00:30 > 0:00:36the history of the tournament. Tickets for this afternoon have

0:00:36 > 0:00:46been in particularly high demand. This is a generation game or right.

0:00:46 > 0:00:53

0:00:53 > 0:00:57Ronnie O'Sullivan against Steve He is flying. This is the first

0:00:57 > 0:01:02tournament I have qualified for this year in the ranking events. It

0:01:02 > 0:01:07is getting harder and harder. I have got to play currently two

0:01:07 > 0:01:17matches to get through to the final stages. I am knocking on the door

0:01:17 > 0:01:18

0:01:18 > 0:01:22of playing three if I do not put If you don't enjoy playing against

0:01:23 > 0:01:32Ronnie O'Sullivan, you should give up. He is a fantastic player and

0:01:32 > 0:01:42you have got to enjoy those moments. I just like playing. I just hope he

0:01:42 > 0:01:50

0:01:50 > 0:01:54It is nice to be back in at York. I think it is an excellent venue. All

0:01:55 > 0:01:59of the players are happy, they enjoy the atmosphere around York. I

0:01:59 > 0:02:06believe the ticket sales are going round the roof. I am pretty good

0:02:06 > 0:02:12for ticket sales no matter who did -- no matter who I am playing.

0:02:12 > 0:02:17That is all coming up. From the players' lounge at the moment. A

0:02:17 > 0:02:24few loose ends to tie up before the players are called into the arena.

0:02:24 > 0:02:29A brief precis of the top stories of yesterday's opening day. First

0:02:29 > 0:02:35knew it shortened format, only a single session, best of 11 frames

0:02:35 > 0:02:45until the semi-finals. It caused a fair bet of drama yesterday, not

0:02:45 > 0:02:52

0:02:52 > 0:02:59least for John Higgins. He had to 4-2 in front, with John Higgins on

0:02:59 > 0:03:07the ropes. John Higgins is now looking for one more frame. He has

0:03:07 > 0:03:17taken it to the decider. He is playing it well. Where is the red

0:03:17 > 0:03:23

0:03:23 > 0:03:29Where is the yellow are going? Not another fluke?! Rory McLeod the

0:03:30 > 0:03:39stands and smiles and things, what has happened? I am lucky to be in

0:03:40 > 0:03:52

0:03:52 > 0:03:57He missed it by a long way. Has he got a fluke? You cannot believe it!

0:03:57 > 0:04:04What a shame the match had to end in that way. I am a bit gutted

0:04:04 > 0:04:14because I think over all I probably should have got that one. This time,

0:04:14 > 0:04:26

0:04:26 > 0:04:36I was lucky. Next time, maybe not. He could not have played it better.

0:04:36 > 0:04:40

0:04:40 > 0:04:50Good shot. And he retains the lead with a marvellous break of 134.

0:04:50 > 0:04:54

0:04:54 > 0:05:01Steve Maguire wins this match. Six frames to breed. He is in the

0:05:01 > 0:05:10second round -- 6-3. Do I am not even contemplating trophies or

0:05:10 > 0:05:16anything just now. I am trying my hardest to get by John.

0:05:16 > 0:05:21You can tell it is John's round because we have just got or water.

0:05:21 > 0:05:27You opt old school of course, best of 17 frames. Yesterday, best of 11.

0:05:27 > 0:05:31Did we miss that second session? do not think so. A lot of players a

0:05:31 > 0:05:34have talked about not having the longer session but I think over all

0:05:34 > 0:05:41when they look at it, at least there is a focus on two tables and

0:05:41 > 0:05:46you are getting a result. I think that they are the first few rounds,

0:05:46 > 0:05:51it is OK. Best of 11 is still a really good test, no matter who you

0:05:51 > 0:06:00play. I think it will eventually lead to all the players enjoying it.

0:06:00 > 0:06:04So interesting results. Matthew Stevens had a 140 and 136. Good

0:06:05 > 0:06:12wins for Neil Robertson. By by Stephen Hendry. What did you think

0:06:12 > 0:06:18of him? I thought he played well until he got level at 3-3. Steve

0:06:18 > 0:06:27Maguire looked very solid. But Stephen Hendry showed glimpses of

0:06:27 > 0:06:33his I'll sell. His long ball game is his Achilles heel. He is joining

0:06:33 > 0:06:38the old be great because he is part of our telly team from Friday. --

0:06:38 > 0:06:45the old brigade. Ronnie O'Sullivan against Steve Davis for a day for -

0:06:45 > 0:06:53- today. Steve has beaten him many times but the last time was in that

0:06:53 > 0:07:001998. In terms of his attitude, what is Steve's mine said? He once

0:07:00 > 0:07:04did go out and put on a level of performance that he fans acceptable.

0:07:04 > 0:07:08If you play to the best of your capabilities at this time, whatever

0:07:09 > 0:07:14else comes along, fair enough. He just likes to make sure that his

0:07:14 > 0:07:18performance is good. As simple as that? I think he is playing at a

0:07:18 > 0:07:22good time as well because he is playing a few of these tournaments,

0:07:22 > 0:07:30getting a few results, he got to the semi-final in Poland, he has

0:07:30 > 0:07:35brought up a -- built up a bit of momentum and confidence. As Ronnie

0:07:35 > 0:07:40said, Steve Davis is playing well. He is going to be loving every

0:07:40 > 0:07:45minute of playing Ronnie O'Sullivan. I see you need a good start but I

0:07:45 > 0:07:50think it is crucial to go. He will be so nervous. If he can just get

0:07:50 > 0:07:56the nerves to go into concentration and get a good start... He has it

0:07:56 > 0:07:59all to do. As for Ronnie, he has shown some great flashes of form

0:07:59 > 0:08:03all season particularly in the small events but not in the major

0:08:03 > 0:08:07ranking events was that he did not go to Australia because of an

0:08:07 > 0:08:12injury and went out in the first round in that Shanghai. If Ronnie

0:08:12 > 0:08:17were to lose this today, there is a possibility he could drop out of

0:08:17 > 0:08:20the top 16 which seems unthinkable at this time. There is pressure on

0:08:20 > 0:08:25Ronnie and he will try to recruit some ranking points in a major

0:08:25 > 0:08:29event like this. I think Ronnie is ready to shine. He has shown more

0:08:29 > 0:08:34hunger for the game. He is enjoying it more. If you can tell from his

0:08:34 > 0:08:40interviews that he is more relaxed. He wants to put on a show for the

0:08:40 > 0:08:50British public and fans all over the world. Here we go. Gentlemen,

0:08:50 > 0:08:55

0:08:55 > 0:09:05let us enjoy it. Willie Thorne and Ronnie gets this first round match

0:09:05 > 0:09:07

0:09:07 > 0:09:14Four times winner of this event but no one does it better than his

0:09:15 > 0:09:24opponent Steve Davis. He is a 6 time when it in the UK Championship.

0:09:25 > 0:09:36

0:09:36 > 0:09:40I think my type of red you have got to be knocking him. That is what

0:09:40 > 0:09:46happens when you get a little bit older. Those are the kinds of shot

0:09:46 > 0:09:56you start missing at regular intervals. Steve Davis is still as

0:09:56 > 0:10:01good as most in need balls. Ronnie O'Sullivan has not won a ranking

0:10:01 > 0:10:09event for some time. He won at the league a couple of weeks ago and he

0:10:09 > 0:10:19played well against Ding Junhui. It all depends, what mood is Ronnie

0:10:19 > 0:10:41

0:10:41 > 0:10:51Just a little bit short of pace. I think he played for the blue. He

0:10:51 > 0:10:58

0:10:58 > 0:11:04has got the green and loose reds on You still marvel, we have been

0:11:04 > 0:11:12commentating on him for many years and the cue ball Movement he gets

0:11:12 > 0:11:22with little effort, it is always lovely to see him play. He is an

0:11:22 > 0:11:40

0:11:40 > 0:11:50Ronnie O'Sullivan is a pleasure to watch. It is absolutely packed up

0:11:50 > 0:11:57

0:11:57 > 0:12:07here at York. We are so pleased to That may have gone wrong. He is

0:12:07 > 0:12:11

0:12:11 > 0:12:16A good shot. He managed to play the cannon so the red did not stop the

0:12:16 > 0:12:26black from going into the left corner. A coven up shop right

0:12:26 > 0:12:50

0:12:50 > 0:13:00I think Ronnie noticed that the That has gone astray. End of breaks.

0:13:00 > 0:13:08

0:13:08 > 0:13:13Any thoughts of making the frame It is funny how the game has

0:13:13 > 0:13:21changed. On a match like this, you would think that Steve Davis's

0:13:21 > 0:13:31trance is to use his experience. -- best chance. But it is so high-

0:13:31 > 0:13:31

0:13:32 > 0:13:41scoring that when you get an opportunity... Ronnie O'Sullivan in

0:13:42 > 0:13:57

0:13:57 > 0:14:03particular is as good a safety Very aggressive shot from Steve.

0:14:03 > 0:14:11This is the difference. I do not know whether Steve has got the

0:14:11 > 0:14:21angle to get into the bunch, but that act was a super shot. Steve

0:14:21 > 0:14:28

0:14:28 > 0:14:38Ronnie would have generated more speed and gone in at pace. The

0:14:38 > 0:14:48angle was there to play. He got into it a little bit too much. It

0:14:48 > 0:14:56

0:14:56 > 0:15:00may be a possibility to get the red We know Ronnie O'Sullivan likes a

0:15:00 > 0:15:10quick-fire game. It will be up to Steve to try and contain him. If

0:15:10 > 0:15:21

0:15:21 > 0:15:31Back looked dangerous to people in the audience. If he gets the pot,

0:15:31 > 0:15:32

0:15:32 > 0:15:42he misses the case on that the red on the cushion. They are relatively

0:15:42 > 0:15:51

0:15:51 > 0:16:01good transport Steve. -- a Always difficult using the rest.

0:16:01 > 0:16:02

0:16:02 > 0:16:12Only a fraction out. Ronnie has got a chance. The blue is making it

0:16:12 > 0:16:14

0:16:14 > 0:16:21He has over a runner this a little bit. He will not be good on the

0:16:21 > 0:16:29colour. When you consider how many shots he plays left-handed, I am

0:16:29 > 0:16:39surprised he is good with the rest! It seems every department of the

0:16:39 > 0:16:39

0:16:39 > 0:16:49Steve tries to play safe down the left-hand side of the table, he has

0:16:49 > 0:16:58

0:16:58 > 0:17:04to be wary of the red near the He thought it was too risky. He has

0:17:04 > 0:17:14played the containing safety. I do not think Ronnie will be tempted

0:17:14 > 0:17:17

0:17:17 > 0:17:27Because of the respect back all of the players have bought Steve Davis,

0:17:27 > 0:17:52

0:17:52 > 0:17:58Definitely taking this one on. A Just a fraction thick on that one.

0:17:58 > 0:18:02But he is OK. Ronnie may play the double. A very unusual for a top

0:18:02 > 0:18:12player to play a double but he can play it to a shot to nothing. He

0:18:12 > 0:18:16

0:18:16 > 0:18:20He is taking the game very very seriously. He may be wishing now

0:18:20 > 0:18:30that he had taken your advice and played the double because that is

0:18:30 > 0:18:41

0:18:41 > 0:18:50not the best safety shot. There is A little bit disappointed with his

0:18:50 > 0:18:55two opening attempts, he will be. The older players cannot get out of

0:18:55 > 0:19:05the habit of playing that kind of shirt -- shot with the touch of

0:19:05 > 0:19:19

0:19:19 > 0:19:22We used to call it a helping side. That drifted the cue ball over. But

0:19:22 > 0:19:32with the superfine cloth, we have been playing with those for long

0:19:32 > 0:19:41

0:19:41 > 0:19:49enough, I am not going to use that Played it beautifully. Could do

0:19:49 > 0:19:59with a bounce to get on the yellow. He has got it. It is unlikely that

0:19:59 > 0:20:12

0:20:12 > 0:20:22he will win from here but he will Nice clean pop on the yellow. Too

0:20:22 > 0:20:54

0:20:54 > 0:20:58far with the cue ball. I think the His cue action has not changed over

0:20:58 > 0:21:08the years. He has it right in the centre of his chin and hits the

0:21:08 > 0:21:25

0:21:25 > 0:21:35Ronnie could not see any alternative than to roll the red.

0:21:35 > 0:21:45Ronnie knew by leaving the cue ball on the cushion might deter Steve

0:21:45 > 0:21:48

0:21:48 > 0:21:58from playing it. He is not bound to get the paint colour in play here.

0:21:58 > 0:22:30

0:22:30 > 0:22:36A little bit of left-hand side, Now he has a 44 point lead. Still a

0:22:36 > 0:22:46possible 67 left on the table but the way the balls are situated...

0:22:46 > 0:22:53

0:22:53 > 0:22:58I suppose there is another challenge here for Ronnie to

0:22:58 > 0:23:04outplay the master tactician. looks like he is enjoying this

0:23:04 > 0:23:10safety exchange. If he gets anywhere near the pot, he will be

0:23:10 > 0:23:20guaranteed to kiss the red on the right hand side. He did not even

0:23:20 > 0:23:52

0:23:52 > 0:24:02Steve cannot get past the pink, I assume. An opportunity to get the

0:24:02 > 0:24:04

0:24:04 > 0:24:08red away from the cushion and into Tactician wise, John, who would you

0:24:08 > 0:24:18suggest is the best tactician? think it is a little bit of an

0:24:18 > 0:24:22unfair question. No matter how good a tactician you are... And Ronnie

0:24:22 > 0:24:28slipped up with that one, it is what you are going to do when you

0:24:28 > 0:24:33get the opportunities. For the last two years -- few years, Steve Davis

0:24:33 > 0:24:39does not seem to score as heavily. John Higgins still scores heavily.

0:24:39 > 0:24:44I have never known anybody be so aware of where the object balls is

0:24:44 > 0:24:54going to go up as Steve Davis. But to pick between the two is

0:24:54 > 0:24:58

0:24:59 > 0:25:06That was a surprising choice. He felt he could not get onto a colour.

0:25:06 > 0:25:15I am not sure whether Ronnie would have refused the red. With the pink

0:25:15 > 0:25:25and black tied up, he really leaves the reds in the open. It might have

0:25:25 > 0:25:29

0:25:29 > 0:25:37worked in his favour because the He got very close to this, Ronnie.

0:25:37 > 0:25:47As John mentioned, the pink is now in play but he has got to avoid the

0:25:47 > 0:25:55

0:25:55 > 0:26:02I am surprised he has played for baulk colour. He has left himself a

0:26:02 > 0:26:09little bit to do here with the cue ball. He has still played it their

0:26:09 > 0:26:18own. And played it very well. A little unlucky, he has just flicked

0:26:18 > 0:26:28the black into the way a little. That was an excellent shot, perfect

0:26:28 > 0:26:36

0:26:36 > 0:26:42The most awkward red is the one on the left-hand side cushion. He has

0:26:42 > 0:26:52worked himself an opening. needed another two inches higher on

0:26:52 > 0:26:55

0:26:55 > 0:27:05the black so he could hold for the He may end up to pot the black and

0:27:05 > 0:27:15played for the red near the left hand Krishan as a double. -- left-

0:27:15 > 0:27:17

0:27:17 > 0:27:27It might just be on for the double to the right centre. If it goes in,

0:27:27 > 0:27:45

0:27:45 > 0:27:50How about the trouble?! -- trebled?! That red really squared

0:27:50 > 0:28:00up off the first cushion. He has the perfect angle on the black to

0:28:00 > 0:28:11

0:28:11 > 0:28:21He would have thought that Steve Davis would have such a good chance

0:28:21 > 0:28:28

0:28:28 > 0:28:37in the spring? Still a lot of work It just shows you the value of

0:28:37 > 0:28:47being patient. Bringing the reds away from the cushions, so that if

0:28:47 > 0:28:48

0:28:48 > 0:28:52He played a double on the red near the left-hand cushion and it turned

0:28:52 > 0:29:02into a troubled but these things can happen. The awkward ball is the

0:29:02 > 0:29:06

0:29:06 > 0:29:16The pink gives him a nice opportunity to get up to the end up

0:29:16 > 0:29:32

0:29:33 > 0:29:37Absolutely perfect to play the He decided to play and hit it fault

0:29:37 > 0:29:42to develop the green for the white middle. He has not it away and it

0:29:42 > 0:29:52is only just off straight green. If he cannot this end, he is a big,

0:29:52 > 0:30:02

0:30:02 > 0:30:07big favourite. -- if he can knock Whatever happens, he still knows

0:30:07 > 0:30:12how to get a frame one. At 54 years of age, the oldest player on the

0:30:12 > 0:30:22circuit at this moment in time. Do think you are playing possibly one

0:30:22 > 0:30:23

0:30:23 > 0:30:33of the all-time greats,... This would bring the house down if he

0:30:33 > 0:30:55

0:30:55 > 0:31:02Superb! Absolutely superb matchplay from Steve Davis. The Nugget

0:31:02 > 0:31:11brought the balls out. HAZEL IRVINE: So much for poker-

0:31:11 > 0:31:19faced. I loved the treble, such panache. He did not even smile, did

0:31:19 > 0:31:24he? It came at a great time for him. As Willie said, it squared up so

0:31:24 > 0:31:28much and that is how it ended up as a treble. It is the best possible

0:31:28 > 0:31:36start he could have made, isn't it? For his benefit, he needed a good

0:31:36 > 0:31:45start. Hit matchplay qualities are still in evidence. -- his matchplay

0:31:45 > 0:31:50qualities. It was a high tactical frame. Where do you stand on the

0:31:50 > 0:31:54debate that Willie and John touched upon about the best tactician of

0:31:54 > 0:31:59all time? You have played many great players, where does he rate?

0:31:59 > 0:32:04I have played a lot of great players. Even John Higgins would

0:32:04 > 0:32:12say that Steve was his idol. Everyone looked up them. When he

0:32:12 > 0:32:21plays certain shots, you think, I would never have thought of playing

0:32:21 > 0:32:25that. At one point, he took a red off the cushion because he knew

0:32:25 > 0:32:33evil was -- he was going to need it later on. Not everybody would do

0:32:33 > 0:32:43that. Shots like that, intuitive shops. That is what makes him the

0:32:43 > 0:32:43

0:32:43 > 0:32:53best player of all time. This guy here is not so bad,

0:32:53 > 0:32:58

0:32:58 > 0:33:03either! They did not call him Crafty Ken for nothing. Steve is up

0:33:03 > 0:33:13there. He comes out of that game with enormous credit.

0:33:13 > 0:33:18

0:33:19 > 0:33:28At first frame has really set the atmosphere here at the Barbican

0:33:29 > 0:33:31

0:33:31 > 0:33:41Centre. It was just a wonderful frame. Ronnie has a shot to nothing

0:33:41 > 0:33:47

0:33:47 > 0:33:57on. He has to be careful to miss But white has not kept the red. --

0:33:57 > 0:34:10

0:34:10 > 0:34:18It is going to be interesting now. I do not think that Ronnie did much

0:34:18 > 0:34:27wrong in that last frame. Of course, we can pinpoint the fluke that

0:34:27 > 0:34:37Steve got on the third to last red. Ronnie's great advantage on paper

0:34:37 > 0:34:39

0:34:39 > 0:34:49is that he is a much better scorer, break-builder and potter than Steve.

0:34:49 > 0:35:01

0:35:01 > 0:35:11That was unlucky. Let us see if With all his experience, and he

0:35:11 > 0:35:33

0:35:33 > 0:35:36It was very unlike Steve to miss a trick like that. We were just

0:35:36 > 0:35:43discussing that the older player tends to be a little negative in

0:35:43 > 0:35:53the opening the balls. That was an early attacking f -- attacking shot

0:35:53 > 0:35:53

0:35:53 > 0:37:02Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

0:37:02 > 0:37:11A little bit more pace in that cue Watch the arc of the cue ball. He

0:37:11 > 0:37:21wanted to nudge up the reds Open. With these superfine cloths, it is

0:37:21 > 0:37:52

0:37:52 > 0:38:02Ronnie O'Sullivan can win a frame in the blink of all eye. -- in the

0:38:02 > 0:38:08

0:38:08 > 0:38:15It is amazing how he has not been a regular tournament winner, isn't

0:38:15 > 0:38:25it? He looks so good at times that you would think, he must win three

0:38:25 > 0:38:37

0:38:37 > 0:38:47or four tournaments a year. He is One more red and that will secure

0:38:47 > 0:38:56

0:38:56 > 0:39:01That is a surprise. He may have been overstretching slightly, but I

0:39:01 > 0:39:07certainly didn't expect him to miss that. Going back to what you said

0:39:07 > 0:39:13in the first frame, he tried to put a little bit of help inside there.

0:39:13 > 0:39:23He pushed it end, he didn't judge it, and that is why he caught it

0:39:23 > 0:39:31

0:39:31 > 0:39:41Nice bump. There are good bumps and there are average bumps. That was

0:39:41 > 0:39:53

0:39:53 > 0:40:03an average one. He is still on the Well, same scenario as the last

0:40:03 > 0:40:16

0:40:16 > 0:40:26frame - 50-odd points behind and I do not know whether he can just

0:40:26 > 0:40:31

0:40:32 > 0:40:41roll in this black and get on the He has played it nicely. The only

0:40:42 > 0:40:49

0:40:49 > 0:40:59stumbling block appears to be the Inch-perfect on the blue. You would

0:40:59 > 0:41:37

0:41:37 > 0:41:45think he will play for the open red This is a key shot. He got a good

0:41:45 > 0:41:49result there, kissing the green full-on. Without that, it would

0:41:49 > 0:41:54have been the end of the break. I think he can just about getting

0:41:54 > 0:42:04to it. He has got to play with a lot of bottom here, lots of follow

0:42:04 > 0:42:12

0:42:12 > 0:42:20through. Just too much pace. I am a little surprised he miss the kiss

0:42:20 > 0:42:30there. There wasn't a chance for the back spin to take place. It

0:42:30 > 0:42:41

0:42:41 > 0:42:51The problem is there are 30 -- he is 35 points behind and there are

0:42:51 > 0:42:51

0:42:51 > 0:43:40Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

0:43:40 > 0:43:50Remember, if Steve pots the red, it has to be followed by the black

0:43:50 > 0:43:52

0:43:52 > 0:43:57otherwise he will need a snooker. The key thing for Ronnie was to hit

0:43:57 > 0:44:07the red full to make sure there was maximum distance from the object

0:44:07 > 0:44:19

0:44:19 > 0:44:29The kiss on the black has actually done him a favour. It was about to

0:44:29 > 0:45:04

0:45:04 > 0:45:12Like you, John, I have played Steve Davis many times. Whenever he

0:45:12 > 0:45:17needed a snooker, you almost felt like he went over the line. Even

0:45:17 > 0:45:27when he needed three or four snookers, he was an absolute genius

0:45:27 > 0:45:27

0:45:27 > 0:46:08Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

0:46:08 > 0:46:13I rest my case about snookers. He found enough swerve to play it. In

0:46:13 > 0:46:17this kind of situation you keep the last red on for the chance of a

0:46:17 > 0:46:20free ball. Steve knows he can pot this red and get on the black, but

0:46:20 > 0:46:25he will be reluctant to do that, given that he needs more than one

0:46:25 > 0:46:35snooker. Normally it is highly unlikely that they would get rid of

0:46:35 > 0:46:43

0:46:44 > 0:46:53He got the double-kiss. It took the pace out of the cue ball. Ronnie,

0:46:53 > 0:47:03in a way, would not mind rolling in this red. He is just going to play

0:47:03 > 0:47:13safe. He is trying to get it in behind the black. "This is what you

0:47:13 > 0:47:25

0:47:25 > 0:47:31should have done, Steve" he is It has just gone closer to the

0:47:31 > 0:47:41cushion to make this awkward. There is no pressure on this shot so he

0:47:41 > 0:47:43

0:47:43 > 0:47:47can play it pretty confidently. He has certainly given Steve plenty of

0:47:47 > 0:47:53respect, as you would expect, of course. He is an absolute legend,

0:47:53 > 0:48:03but I am sure that Ronnie would normally have gone for the pot

0:48:03 > 0:48:08

0:48:08 > 0:48:18there, the fact that he is 42 in The obvious target, you would think,

0:48:18 > 0:48:27

0:48:27 > 0:48:37is the yellow, brown and pink, that He is trying to get it behind the

0:48:37 > 0:48:37

0:48:37 > 0:49:43Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

0:49:43 > 0:49:52green. What a great effort that was. REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

0:49:52 > 0:49:55That was an exceptional gain of tactics for both of these players.

0:49:55 > 0:50:05Having won the first frame, a marvellous performance from Stephen

0:50:05 > 0:50:08the first frame. We picked out this plant. It is amazing that he did

0:50:08 > 0:50:13not notice it. He had the confidence of winning that first

0:50:13 > 0:50:18frame, you questioned whether he would try it and be aggressive.

0:50:18 > 0:50:28Unfortunately, just below the pink there are two reds. And they are in

0:50:28 > 0:50:28

0:50:28 > 0:50:33a direct line with the corner pocket. This is what happened next.

0:50:33 > 0:50:37He hits the pink full in the face as he wanted, but did not see the

0:50:38 > 0:50:42plant. From that, Ronnie made a break of 54. It turned out to be

0:50:42 > 0:50:48good enough to win the second frame. A little bit of disappointment

0:50:48 > 0:50:58there from Steve, after a high of winning the first frame as he did.

0:50:58 > 0:50:58

0:50:58 > 0:51:41Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

0:51:41 > 0:51:47This is a bit dangerous if he is playing the thin safety shot. He

0:51:47 > 0:51:52could not have played it better. How well did he get that?! That was

0:51:52 > 0:52:02slightly hampered by the brown. If he hit it any more than thing he

0:52:02 > 0:52:08

0:52:08 > 0:52:12would have been catching the jaws We can see that Steve can hit the

0:52:12 > 0:52:22red, but there is no point in playing that. It would just be

0:52:22 > 0:52:30

0:52:30 > 0:52:40He had to avoid the black bear. Which he did, no problem. -- the

0:52:40 > 0:52:59

0:53:00 > 0:53:03It is not just about getting the cue ball just in baulk, because he

0:53:03 > 0:53:07wanted to cover the right-hand side of the table, he played it with a

0:53:07 > 0:53:10little bit more side and got it in behind the brown and yellow area.

0:53:10 > 0:53:20That blocked off that right-hand side of the table. He is always

0:53:20 > 0:53:23

0:53:23 > 0:53:33Unless the pink is available in the middle, this is going to be an

0:53:33 > 0:53:45

0:53:45 > 0:53:55awkward shot to play. The pink is I thought he was dead straight, but

0:53:55 > 0:53:55

0:53:55 > 0:54:05he had an angle to get up for baulk colours. He certainly looks like he

0:54:05 > 0:54:11

0:54:11 > 0:54:21I think he may have played for a couple of reds that around a black

0:54:21 > 0:54:21

0:54:21 > 0:54:31area, so he did not get far enough down the table. -- that are around

0:54:31 > 0:54:51

0:54:51 > 0:54:55Another excellent safety shot from Steve. I would be surprised if

0:54:55 > 0:55:00Ronnie even looks at the red over the corner. This is where it is

0:55:00 > 0:55:06important now. Ronnie has to find the top cushion, and he has not

0:55:06 > 0:55:10done. An excellent safety shot from Steve Davis may have forced an

0:55:10 > 0:55:20opening. Does anything going to the left-hand corner? If not, he has

0:55:20 > 0:55:31

0:55:31 > 0:55:41He has found one, just to the left of the black. He needs a bit of

0:55:41 > 0:56:10

0:56:10 > 0:56:15It was a good pot. Can he get past the green to pot the brown? I think

0:56:15 > 0:56:25he can, because he is looking down for the next red. If he could not

0:56:25 > 0:56:25

0:56:25 > 0:56:35get the brown he would be thinking about a snooker.

0:56:35 > 0:56:38

0:56:38 > 0:56:48Once again, every opportunity, pink and black out of play, one shot and

0:56:48 > 0:56:48

0:56:48 > 0:57:28Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

0:57:28 > 0:57:38He will be a little disappointed with that, not getting on the right

0:57:38 > 0:57:43

0:57:43 > 0:57:53He has not really recovered the situation. He has reds to pot, but

0:57:53 > 0:58:01

0:58:01 > 0:58:11work to do with the cue ball for Yes, it is not getting any easier

0:58:11 > 0:58:21at the moment. The last three pots have been awkward. He should be

0:58:21 > 0:58:48

0:58:48 > 0:58:58able to get on a couple of reds if He has come back up for the blue. I

0:58:58 > 0:59:11

0:59:11 > 0:59:21am not certain where the black spot A little flick on the black, I do

0:59:21 > 0:59:36

0:59:36 > 0:59:46not think that was intentional. He Looking at that pack of reds, I

0:59:46 > 0:59:47

0:59:47 > 0:59:57cannot see what he was thinking about. He played an excellent

0:59:57 > 0:59:59

0:59:59 > 1:00:03safety shot. To be fair, all through that visit he never really

1:00:03 > 1:00:10had control of the cue ball and eventually it caught up with him.

1:00:10 > 1:00:20Steve will be relieved that, for one of only a few times, Ronnie has

1:00:20 > 1:00:23

1:00:23 > 1:00:33not made the most of an opportunity. This is a head scratcher. It is no

1:00:33 > 1:00:40

1:00:40 > 1:00:50Be one behind the pink, if it was not so near the cushion... That

1:00:50 > 1:01:00

1:01:00 > 1:01:06The other problem with that shot, if he got it perfect and landed the

1:01:06 > 1:01:16tightly knit the bulk macro Krishan, fine. But if he bounced out, the

1:01:16 > 1:01:35

1:01:35 > 1:01:39red would be on. He is to say the Lucky, lucky, lucky. Apart from the

1:01:39 > 1:01:49case on the brown, he would have been up the other end of the table.

1:01:49 > 1:02:02

1:02:02 > 1:02:10That was very special -- kiss on Ronnie's turned to not hit the

1:02:10 > 1:02:20safety shot quite right. The one to the right of the black, I do not

1:02:20 > 1:02:25

1:02:25 > 1:02:35know if he could play that as a He is bound to be on the ground if

1:02:35 > 1:03:14

1:03:14 > 1:03:19This is a tricky one. I would like to draw a line here and give you a

1:03:19 > 1:03:29clue but I am not certain there is any red on the table that he can

1:03:29 > 1:03:35

1:03:35 > 1:03:45hit and guarantee it being safe. That is as good as it gets.

1:03:45 > 1:03:49

1:03:49 > 1:03:59Absolutely superb. OK, he may have That is as good as he could have

1:03:59 > 1:04:05

1:04:06 > 1:04:15It is always hard to judge coming off two-cushions but he judged it

1:04:16 > 1:04:26

1:04:26 > 1:04:36A little flip on the green has not done any harm. The cue ball tight

1:04:36 > 1:04:54

1:04:54 > 1:05:00When you find the top cushion, it makes the safety so difficult. That

1:05:00 > 1:05:10is half a chance for Steve. The case on the black has put it

1:05:10 > 1:05:15

1:05:15 > 1:05:22slightly out of position. Ronnie's head dropped when he saw that.

1:05:22 > 1:05:32Steve is probably going to try and play the cannon. He missed it but

1:05:32 > 1:05:39

1:05:39 > 1:05:44He would have loved to have been straight on the black. The green is

1:05:44 > 1:05:54an alternative. But to get back in the frame, he needs the black in

1:05:54 > 1:06:02

1:06:02 > 1:06:10If he is straight on the red and plays a little stunned run it

1:06:10 > 1:06:17through, he has got a good chance. Not quite straight. If he plays the

1:06:17 > 1:06:27cannon on the red, he may not be on the black. He has got to be very

1:06:27 > 1:06:41

1:06:41 > 1:06:45He has played it well. A little Of course, the big problem with

1:06:46 > 1:06:55those three reds is that they are lined up at the top cushion but I

1:06:56 > 1:07:04

1:07:04 > 1:07:10do not think he will be worried They are easy to get out, when he

1:07:10 > 1:07:20finishes higher on the black. He wants to get back in the frame

1:07:20 > 1:07:24

1:07:24 > 1:07:30first. This is an time now. It may I will be surprised if he does not

1:07:30 > 1:07:38play a cannon of some kind on the three reds. He does not want a

1:07:38 > 1:07:48double-kiss. If he hits one of them full ball, he could get a double-

1:07:48 > 1:08:03

1:08:03 > 1:08:09He got the double Chris! I bet he That was disappointing. It was a

1:08:09 > 1:08:19decent chance if he could have brought the three reds into play,

1:08:19 > 1:08:19

1:08:19 > 1:09:29Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

1:09:29 > 1:09:36he would have been favoured for the He has got an angle on the blue. I

1:09:36 > 1:09:46do not know if he can avoid the case on the pink if he comes off

1:09:46 > 1:09:50

1:09:50 > 1:09:56He screwed direct. It is imperative to get the three reds into play. It

1:09:56 > 1:10:06is always difficult because when you play, by the time the cue ball

1:10:06 > 1:10:08

1:10:08 > 1:10:18reaches the reds, it loses a lot of A nine-point lead. Back to the

1:10:18 > 1:10:39

1:10:39 > 1:10:49APPLAUSE I think most people would have just clipped off the cue ball

1:10:49 > 1:11:06

1:11:06 > 1:11:15to the baulk end, but the that was Can Ronnie get behind the

1:11:15 > 1:11:25#ColourYellow And get in behind the red on the baulk cushion? Obviously

1:11:25 > 1:11:34

1:11:34 > 1:11:39not. He needs to keep both reds at A good shot. OK, a bit fortunate

1:11:39 > 1:11:49that he has covered the red in the baulk end, but it has worked out

1:11:49 > 1:11:56

1:11:56 > 1:12:06nicely. It is Steve turn up now to This is why it eludes never caught

1:12:06 > 1:12:24

1:12:24 > 1:12:34on! -- Billy its. Great Dane, but Back to normal now. He will be

1:12:34 > 1:12:34

1:12:35 > 1:12:41playing off two-cushions. That is just about perfect. His safety has

1:12:41 > 1:12:48been superb, hasn't it, John? is a lot of respect out there for

1:12:48 > 1:12:56both players. Steve Davis has earned his respect over the years.

1:12:56 > 1:13:06That was a tremendous shot from Ronnie. Even when it had dust on

1:13:06 > 1:13:16

1:13:16 > 1:13:26halfway, 88% for Steve, 90% for It is not all about potting balls,

1:13:26 > 1:13:34

1:13:34 > 1:13:44this wonderful game of ours. Unless he can get on to the red

1:13:44 > 1:13:53

1:13:53 > 1:14:03here, there is no real advantage of A tricky shot. He decided to play

1:14:03 > 1:14:06

1:14:06 > 1:14:16the snooker instead. I did not see that one. Ronnie may be snookered

1:14:16 > 1:14:43

1:14:43 > 1:14:53He has to be a little bit careful Steve will be disappointed with

1:14:53 > 1:15:05

1:15:05 > 1:15:10that by virtue of the fact he has We all love this century of breaks

1:15:10 > 1:15:17and the frame-winning breaks, but when you see two top-class players

1:15:17 > 1:15:23playing excellent safety... You can almost see the mind ticking over

1:15:23 > 1:15:33here. He is in trouble because he can go one cushion to head the red

1:15:33 > 1:15:35

1:15:35 > 1:15:45without a problem, but it is tough He may have to risk playing it very

1:15:45 > 1:15:56

1:15:56 > 1:16:01He decided to play a bit slow. didn't understand that. Steve

1:16:01 > 1:16:11thought he could not beat red to the top cushion but you were right,

1:16:11 > 1:16:28

1:16:28 > 1:16:38He checked it up too much. You have got to be a little bit careful

1:16:38 > 1:16:43

1:16:43 > 1:16:49because if you catch the near jaw, He did not really want the case on

1:16:49 > 1:16:53the pink. Makes it a bit awkward now. The most important thing now

1:16:53 > 1:17:03is to get good position on the most awkward colour which is the

1:17:03 > 1:17:09

1:17:09 > 1:17:15#ColourYellow -- yellow. Left-handed is an advantage now.

1:17:15 > 1:17:22The brown has gone in but he may have snookered himself here. Steve

1:17:22 > 1:17:32is having a look. He may be so far in the jaws he might not be able to

1:17:32 > 1:17:37

1:17:37 > 1:17:43He can get past the knuckle but this yellow is a tough. Wonderful!

1:17:43 > 1:17:53Absolutely wonderful. OK, a look on the brown coloured gave him the

1:17:53 > 1:18:04

1:18:04 > 1:18:10opportunity to play the shot but Back was one of the best pots on

1:18:10 > 1:18:20the yellow that I have ever seen. But I do not like it, winning a

1:18:20 > 1:18:21

1:18:21 > 1:18:28But that is part and parcel of this new club, I'm afraid. Ronnie could

1:18:28 > 1:18:33probably say that Steve won at the first frame of a fluke. That yellow

1:18:33 > 1:18:39was something else. Another frame at that could have gone either way,

1:18:39 > 1:18:45in all honesty. Steve Davis will be a little bit disappointed. Ronnie

1:18:45 > 1:18:52marches on. He now leads to have a one. STUDIO: You have been getting

1:18:52 > 1:19:02in touch on Twitter. Nice tactical battle, nothing better. And this

1:19:02 > 1:19:02

1:19:02 > 1:19:09one from... My Sunday afternoon is sorted, fire going, three up,

1:19:09 > 1:19:14Ronnie and Steve battling. Glad to hear you are enjoying it. It was

1:19:14 > 1:19:20through the fluke brown that make the difference. Steve had a foot in

1:19:20 > 1:19:26the last frames. Ronnie decides to use his right hand and fluked it.

1:19:26 > 1:19:34He was still in a bit of a predicament. He had a very tough

1:19:34 > 1:19:39#ColourYellow -- yellow. If you get one of those in every 10, that is

1:19:39 > 1:19:46good. You were saying, John, just with bowls. That is the frame that

1:19:47 > 1:19:54comes to mind. Five or six consecutive shots were top class.

1:19:54 > 1:19:58Willie alluded to it, saying that the minds were wearing a wave.

1:19:59 > 1:20:05Ronnie is up for it today. He sees it as a challenge. I agree with

1:20:05 > 1:20:11John. You do not want to get bogged down in it. But he is matching it

1:20:11 > 1:20:16with the tactical stuff. The two players are clearly enjoying it.

1:20:16 > 1:20:20Absolutely. You always enjoyed playing when you have contrasting

1:20:20 > 1:20:24styles but Ronnie is enjoying the tactical battle with Steve. He is

1:20:24 > 1:20:29testing himself and his own safety game against possibly the greatest

1:20:29 > 1:20:34that has ever played the game tactical wise. He always likes to

1:20:34 > 1:20:44have these protests. He is playing some fantastic safety, or I have to

1:20:44 > 1:20:46

1:20:46 > 1:20:56say. This is the last before the When that Ronnie had fluked the

1:20:56 > 1:20:59

1:20:59 > 1:21:05brown, I am sure Steve was wanting to have a go at it. His heart would

1:21:05 > 1:21:14have sank when he saw the way he played it because he played it at

1:21:14 > 1:21:24such a pace, it hardly touched the jaws. Not the big breaks we

1:21:24 > 1:21:47

1:21:47 > 1:21:55expected but it has been matchplay The highest breaks, 54 each.

1:21:55 > 1:21:59Sometimes it is the way the balls grunt as to whether you get lots of

1:21:59 > 1:22:09the centuries when they open them up. Ronnie had one a good chance

1:22:09 > 1:22:10

1:22:10 > 1:22:18and missed a red which eventually I am sure the big breaks will come.

1:22:18 > 1:22:23Let us sit back and enjoy this. Those first three frames, Willie,

1:22:23 > 1:22:28could have gone either way. You have the feeling that if Steve

1:22:28 > 1:22:35Davis stays close to Ronnie, he has a chance. Not a favourite, I will

1:22:35 > 1:22:45not go that far, but you know he is going to give everything. As much

1:22:45 > 1:23:03

1:23:03 > 1:23:07of a challenge as it is for Ronnie, The blue... He will have been

1:23:07 > 1:23:12disappointed to have caught that on the way back up. Amazing that he

1:23:12 > 1:23:22has got all that space, whoever invented that game, how did they

1:23:22 > 1:23:22

1:23:22 > 1:23:28know where to put the baulk Palace and the blue, you always kiss them.

1:23:28 > 1:23:37-- the baulk colours. To play a shot at that pace, knowing that if

1:23:37 > 1:23:47you miss it, you have left the lot In one at shot, he looks in good

1:23:47 > 1:24:12

1:24:12 > 1:24:22position. I am sure the black will The fact that he was a little bit

1:24:22 > 1:24:30

1:24:30 > 1:24:40low on that black meant he had to Unless of course the black will pot

1:24:40 > 1:24:47

1:24:47 > 1:24:57in the left-hand corner... It does The pink pots! I thought the red

1:24:57 > 1:24:57

1:24:57 > 1:26:08Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

1:26:08 > 1:26:14He has certainly got his game based All these little cannons he plays,

1:26:14 > 1:26:24that is the art of break-building. You cannot afford to let the white

1:26:24 > 1:26:28

1:26:28 > 1:26:38run free. The cannons slow the He is very close to taking a 3-1

1:26:38 > 1:27:04

1:27:04 > 1:27:14That is the highest break of the match so far. Red and pink and then

1:27:14 > 1:27:16

1:27:16 > 1:27:26one Mort red... Back will be enough, you would have thought, to give

1:27:26 > 1:27:31

1:27:31 > 1:27:39Ronnie i 3-1 lead. I fully expect a Port safety shot. Looks straight

1:27:39 > 1:27:43forward, caught the blue straight in the face. Ronnie floated a nice

1:27:43 > 1:27:49opening red in and the rest has looked a formality. He has never

1:27:49 > 1:27:59really looked in trouble. How many times have we said that when Ronnie

1:27:59 > 1:28:13

1:28:13 > 1:28:20is in and around the black spot He played back a little bit lax. He

1:28:20 > 1:28:28knows people would love to see a century. The highest break in the

1:28:28 > 1:28:38tournament so far is 140. That was by Matthew Stevens. Good to see

1:28:38 > 1:28:45

1:28:45 > 1:28:50APPLAUSE That is his 659th competitive century. Catching up

1:28:50 > 1:28:55with Stephen Hendry very quickly. Steve Davis is down at 326 and he

1:28:55 > 1:29:00is one of the game's greatest break-builders. You mentioned

1:29:00 > 1:29:10Matthew Stevens, I commentated on the match last night and he was

1:29:10 > 1:29:31

1:29:31 > 1:29:41He paid for it in the middle. is his 11th century already in the

1:29:41 > 1:29:47

1:29:47 > 1:29:55tournament this year. -- the 11th century. Just played exhibition

1:29:55 > 1:30:03snooker there! In the end, at Ronnie O'Sullivan goes into the

1:30:03 > 1:30:08interval leading 3-1. It was the long slow red at the

1:30:08 > 1:30:12start that was the foundation of the break fault Ronnie. The opening

1:30:12 > 1:30:17of red is played with such control and aplomb. To play it and land

1:30:17 > 1:30:23through the gap, with a little bit of drag on it to drop it in. It

1:30:23 > 1:30:27goes through the gap, softly it off the cushion and pots the black and

1:30:27 > 1:30:32screws beat red of the black spot. The opening red was played with

1:30:32 > 1:30:37such control. The interval may have come at the right time for Steve.

1:30:38 > 1:30:43After the momentum of something like that. Some great pots followed

1:30:43 > 1:30:47the back. It is great to see Ronnie. We have had a bit of everything in

1:30:48 > 1:30:52the first four games. What a beautiful century it was. When

1:30:52 > 1:30:57Ronnie is in full flow, he makes the game look so easy, compared to

1:30:57 > 1:31:05anybody else. He is always full of little beautiful cannons and

1:31:05 > 1:31:10knocking at reds and developing the reds and colours. And that is after

1:31:10 > 1:31:19a bout of extended safety. Beck's - - sometimes you can't lose your

1:31:19 > 1:31:29rhythm. Steve with all to do in the second half. We will be go up and -

1:31:29 > 1:31:36

1:31:36 > 1:31:41What this season Mark Selby has had. Three trophies and elevation to the

1:31:41 > 1:31:48top rank of snooker. He was playing Ryan Day of Wales, who has now

1:31:48 > 1:31:58slipped down into the 30s in the rankings. We are going to sea frame

1:31:58 > 1:32:06

1:32:06 > 1:32:16three. Ryan Day is on a break of 24 You're kidding! I thought that was

1:32:16 > 1:32:36

1:32:36 > 1:32:45in. He seemed to be on his way to I am surprised he missed it, to be

1:32:45 > 1:32:55honest. We have known Ryan Day for a long time. He is looking good

1:32:55 > 1:33:09

1:33:09 > 1:33:19He has beaten Mark Selby before. It is not like he did not fancy the

1:33:19 > 1:33:44

1:33:44 > 1:33:52job. Mark Selby has won twice. Last Here is another example of these

1:33:52 > 1:33:59top break-builders. He managed to bring a few more reds into play and

1:33:59 > 1:34:05that has developed into a good break. You always have to think

1:34:05 > 1:34:15about different ways of holding the white. See that little kiss there,

1:34:15 > 1:34:15

1:34:15 > 1:34:21it holds the white in place, splits the reds. You realise the advantage

1:34:21 > 1:34:31of playing the shot, realise that it gets reds into play. It looks

1:34:31 > 1:34:31

1:34:31 > 1:35:30Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

1:35:30 > 1:35:40Whenever you are cueing, you cannot afford any side or you will swerve

1:35:40 > 1:36:01

1:36:01 > 1:36:06After about three minutes, he has them in perfect position. It looks

1:36:06 > 1:36:14like another body blow for Ryan Day. He had first chance again. He

1:36:14 > 1:36:24missed a very easy red into the middle. I think he thought it was

1:36:24 > 1:36:35

1:36:36 > 1:36:41in, he but it pulled up and hit the Of course, when you're sitting

1:36:41 > 1:36:51there, you have nothing else to do but think about shots like that,

1:36:51 > 1:36:54

1:36:54 > 1:36:58just watching your opponent scoring. He has gone a little bit too far.

1:36:58 > 1:37:04He has to find a way through the other two reds to get on a colour

1:37:04 > 1:37:14from this. He would not be absolutely guaranteed to predict

1:37:14 > 1:37:14

1:37:14 > 1:38:08Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

1:38:08 > 1:38:14That takes him 38 points in front. Pink or black is sufficient to take

1:38:14 > 1:38:23him past the winning post in this frame. He is starting to look like

1:38:23 > 1:38:33the Mark Selby of old. Ryan has missed a few to leave him in this

1:38:33 > 1:39:11

1:39:11 > 1:39:16position, but he is looking very Very nice, he just missed the red.

1:39:17 > 1:39:26Slightly awkward cueing with the rest on this shot. He would like to

1:39:27 > 1:39:40

1:39:40 > 1:39:50think he could make a century. -- He has not had to play his best in

1:39:50 > 1:39:56

1:39:56 > 1:40:02this match, but he is not playing He is getting ever closer to that

1:40:02 > 1:40:12century. He made 86 in the previous frame and missed, he has 86 in this

1:40:12 > 1:40:12

1:40:12 > 1:41:04Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

1:41:04 > 1:41:14He needs to get relatively close to Mark Selby takes a 3-0 lead.

1:41:14 > 1:41:18

1:41:18 > 1:41:22HAZEL IRVINE: Further Bixter of 90, -- further breaks of 90 and 39

1:41:22 > 1:41:26helped. Ryan Day, a former top eight player, goes out of this

1:41:26 > 1:41:29year's championship, back home to Wales. Obviously, a little bit of a

1:41:29 > 1:41:32crisis of confidence for him, but it is Mark Selby who marchers

1:41:32 > 1:41:39through. I knew it would be a tough game

1:41:39 > 1:41:43against Ryan. In my eyes, he is still a top 16 players. I think the

1:41:43 > 1:41:46first frame could have gone either way. Ryan had a couple of chances.

1:41:46 > 1:41:53After that I seemed to play really well and put him under pressure

1:41:53 > 1:41:58from the second train onwards. Winning is what you strive for as a

1:41:58 > 1:42:03professional. I know there are players out there who want to beat

1:42:03 > 1:42:07me to get me off of that mantelpiece. It is tough, but I am

1:42:07 > 1:42:12in good shape. I had a great performance.

1:42:12 > 1:42:20I wonder how positive it it is for snooker that Mark Selby is the new

1:42:20 > 1:42:26world No. 1? He is new one of -- he is one of the new up and coming

1:42:26 > 1:42:30players. Not up and coming any more, but one of the new breed of players

1:42:30 > 1:42:35who is carrying it forward now. He is very steady, he has a great

1:42:35 > 1:42:39tactical brain. As we saw there, he scores very heavily when he gets in.

1:42:39 > 1:42:42He is a fresh face on the top of the leader board. He is the one

1:42:42 > 1:42:47they are trying to catch. It was earlier in the season that

1:42:47 > 1:42:51he took over from Mark Williams, who started as number one. What do

1:42:51 > 1:43:00you think of the ease with which he dispatched Ryan Day, who is

1:43:00 > 1:43:07obviously a very talented player himself? I think he was looking for

1:43:07 > 1:43:10the exit door when it went to 3- 014-0. If you get behind Mark Selby

1:43:10 > 1:43:18it is very difficult to play against him. Going back to the

1:43:18 > 1:43:23world ranking, he is number one but he would swap all that to win a UK

1:43:23 > 1:43:27or a World Championship. He got to two ranking finals last

1:43:27 > 1:43:31year, Mark Selby. He did not convert that into silverware. He

1:43:31 > 1:43:34has three trophies on the mantelpiece already this season. He

1:43:34 > 1:43:44has never traditionally been a great starter of the season, he

1:43:44 > 1:43:45

1:43:45 > 1:43:49comes on towards the end. As John said, he has been to the final and

1:43:49 > 1:43:51lost a close match against John Higgins. I think John Higgins

1:43:51 > 1:43:54beaten in a couple of World Championships along the way. He is

1:43:54 > 1:44:01one of those players who is knocking on the door of the big

1:44:01 > 1:44:04tournaments. He would swap his world No. 1 for a UK Championship

1:44:04 > 1:44:09or a World Championship. And to clarify, I think it would be a

1:44:09 > 1:44:14travesty if he does not win one. It is the best I have seen anyone play

1:44:14 > 1:44:19at the Crucible and get beaten. I think he is such a talent that he

1:44:19 > 1:44:24deserves it. There are just so many good players about. That is what I

1:44:24 > 1:44:28was going to save. They are so many good players just behind Mark Selby,

1:44:28 > 1:44:32just on the periphery of winning big tournaments. It is such a fine

1:44:32 > 1:44:37line between roundabout eight players who could win this

1:44:37 > 1:44:42tournament. That is the exciting thing, chaps. Mark Selby is a very

1:44:42 > 1:44:46polished article these days. But we have more news to bring you of the

1:44:46 > 1:44:51first departure of the first of the seeded players in this year's

1:44:51 > 1:44:55championship. Stuart Bingham has gone out, just a little earlier

1:44:55 > 1:45:01this afternoon. He was beaten by Marco Fu, runner-up at the Masters

1:45:01 > 1:45:08in January. It was a fine comeback from him. He is now ranked 30 in

1:45:08 > 1:45:18the world. The man from Hong Kong won four frames in a row and

1:45:18 > 1:45:19

1:45:19 > 1:45:25eventually closed at this match 6-4. His high break was 91.

1:45:25 > 1:45:33Marco picked his game up, he came out, controlled the game, and he

1:45:33 > 1:45:43did not really miss much, to be fair. When he did miss Mack, he got

1:45:43 > 1:45:48

1:45:48 > 1:45:53lucky and did not leave me anything. Stuart played really well and the

1:45:53 > 1:46:00first four frames. He punished me for every mistake that I made. I

1:46:00 > 1:46:06was playing OK. It could have been 3-1 up to me, the way I was playing.

1:46:06 > 1:46:11I knew I was not terrible. I just had to keep myself composed and

1:46:11 > 1:46:14wait for my chances in the second session. I was able to produce some

1:46:15 > 1:46:19pretty good snooker towards the end, so it was quite satisfying.

1:46:19 > 1:46:23Amazingly, this is the first of the major ranking Championships that

1:46:23 > 1:46:29Marco has qualified for this season. It has been a really ordinary time

1:46:29 > 1:46:36for him. And you just never know which of the Marco Fus is going to

1:46:36 > 1:46:42turn up. It is true in his case, isn't it? Marco is very much a

1:46:42 > 1:46:48confidence player. He has done well in the UK before. The longer

1:46:48 > 1:46:52formats generally suit him. He looks very quietly confident when

1:46:52 > 1:46:56he is practising. He is hitting the ball might very well. Stuart

1:46:56 > 1:47:02Bingham played very well and that match and Marco has done very well

1:47:02 > 1:47:05to win. His wife Shirley accompanies him to

1:47:05 > 1:47:10all of the championships there. As for Stuart, it is a big

1:47:10 > 1:47:17disappointment for him. After winning his first world-ranking

1:47:17 > 1:47:21title in Australia earlier this year obviously he wants to push on.

1:47:21 > 1:47:24You want to get in there in all the big tournaments and have a good run.

1:47:24 > 1:47:28The confidence that winning your first ranking tournament give you,

1:47:28 > 1:47:31you get a taste for success and you want to keep the ball might rolling.

1:47:31 > 1:47:35He will be very disappointed. He played so well in Australia,

1:47:35 > 1:47:40beating Mark Williams in the final. He would be hoping for a good run

1:47:40 > 1:47:44here in all of the big tournaments, particularly the television once.

1:47:44 > 1:47:47Marco Fu was always going to be a tough test for him anyway.

1:47:47 > 1:47:52Marco is through to the next round. We're just about to go back to the

1:47:52 > 1:47:56arena alive. Before we do so, new to our coverage this year, we are

1:47:56 > 1:48:06going to delve into the vault to unearth a few gems about Steve

1:48:06 > 1:48:15

1:48:15 > 1:48:19Davis. Here are the ones that he I have no superstitions other than,

1:48:19 > 1:48:22as a toddler to unfold, I find myself, if I get through round

1:48:22 > 1:48:28after round, I find myself repeating what happened the day

1:48:28 > 1:48:36before. I have a big problem with polystyrene. When they start

1:48:36 > 1:48:39rubbing it against each other it is the worst thing in the world. I

1:48:39 > 1:48:49would like to have gone back in time to see how good Joe Davis

1:48:49 > 1:48:56

1:48:56 > 1:49:03really was. I do have a bell that was given to me. It has been in my

1:49:03 > 1:49:10cue case ever since. I have a problem with vinyl. I like it. I am

1:49:10 > 1:49:17a collector of records. Ignorant people, rude people and people who

1:49:17 > 1:49:27have polystyrene in their pockets. Perseverance. There you go. I tell

1:49:27 > 1:49:31

1:49:31 > 1:49:35you what, perseverance. I never give up. Perseverance.

1:49:35 > 1:49:38And he is going to need those qualities this afternoon because

1:49:38 > 1:49:42The Nugget finds himself behind in this match against Ronnie

1:49:42 > 1:49:52O'Sullivan. I am sure that, had Ronnie known about his style for

1:49:52 > 1:49:54

1:49:54 > 1:50:04beer, he might just have taken a few bits into the arena. -- his

1:50:04 > 1:50:13

1:50:13 > 1:50:23A few little secrets about Steve Davis.

1:50:23 > 1:50:26

1:50:26 > 1:50:36We have been getting some great messages on Twitter. Do you think

1:50:36 > 1:50:39

1:50:39 > 1:50:47this format will hinder Ronnie? fact that it is all over in one

1:50:47 > 1:50:55afternoon will help. Ross has text it to say, just had a

1:50:55 > 1:51:05roast while watching the snooker. Nothing can beat that. -- Ross has

1:51:05 > 1:51:06

1:51:06 > 1:51:16We will be happy to hear your comments if you want to get in

1:51:16 > 1:51:19touch. Colin says, two living legends

1:51:19 > 1:51:29serving up a right Sunday afternoon treat. Very nice of him to talk

1:51:29 > 1:51:32

1:51:32 > 1:51:36about the commentary team like That was a bit of a loose safety

1:51:36 > 1:51:44shot from Ronnie. He has left Steve with a comparatively easy safety

1:51:44 > 1:51:54shot if he can get past the brown, which she obviously can. -- which

1:51:54 > 1:52:08

1:52:08 > 1:52:18No attempt to pot it, of course. He has brought a red quite near or the

1:52:18 > 1:52:36

1:52:36 > 1:52:42What a terrific shot, and perfect on the blue. I suppose, in a way,

1:52:42 > 1:52:49Steve was a little unlucky to leave Ronnie that red. It was some

1:52:50 > 1:52:53potting. What amazed me was the pace he got out of the cue ball.

1:52:53 > 1:53:00When a ball is so close to the pocket, lots of players play it

1:53:00 > 1:53:06with top spin. Somehow Ronnie managed to generate the pace to get

1:53:06 > 1:53:11past the blue area. It is so unlikely. Once again, after that

1:53:11 > 1:53:21long red, he has given him a chance to score heavily in this all-

1:53:21 > 1:53:44

1:53:44 > 1:53:53Just looking at Ronnie's pot success there, 94%. That is really

1:53:53 > 1:53:59good. As we say on so many occasions, if you drop below 90%

1:53:59 > 1:54:06nowadays, at this level, you're going to struggle. Steve is just

1:54:06 > 1:54:13not able to match him in in the safety success stakes at the moment.

1:54:13 > 1:54:23The key to the pot success rate, it comes after a lot of safety as well,

1:54:23 > 1:54:23

1:54:23 > 1:55:24Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

1:55:24 > 1:55:33which makes it an even better This is the key shot, as far as

1:55:33 > 1:55:38Steve Davis fans are concerned. If he splits these nicely he has taken

1:55:38 > 1:55:48the frame. Has he done? I do not think there is anything on in his

1:55:48 > 1:55:57

1:55:57 > 1:56:07right-hand corner. -- in this That was dangerous. Dangerous to a

1:56:07 > 1:56:07

1:56:07 > 1:57:20Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

1:57:21 > 1:57:30What looks to be another frame- winning break. I cannot remember

1:57:31 > 1:57:31

1:57:31 > 1:57:40Steve Davis missing anything easy. He is going to find himself 4-1

1:57:40 > 1:57:48behind. You do not have to do a lot wrong with Ronnie, do you? He has

1:57:48 > 1:57:58taken these superbly. Good opening red. As we said in the last ring,

1:57:58 > 1:57:59

1:57:59 > 1:58:09once he gets in there, and the pacy plays at, it is just scary. -- the

1:58:09 > 1:58:11

1:58:11 > 1:58:14He is just a pleasure to watch when he is in this frame of mind. We

1:58:14 > 1:58:22have seen him too many times where he looks like he is not bothered.

1:58:22 > 1:58:32He is certainly bothered this afternoon. Now, can he conjure up

1:58:32 > 1:58:33

1:58:33 > 1:58:38some shot to keep the scoring going and hit another century? Not quite.

1:58:38 > 1:58:46Steve Davis played aggressive safety but left the shot near the

1:58:46 > 1:58:51corner. Ronnie knocked it in. He now leads 4-1.

1:58:51 > 1:58:58We saw two wonderful examples of top spin there. He was in a

1:58:58 > 1:59:03situation where he had a red at the back of the Ritz. If you play this

1:59:03 > 1:59:07with normal pace, you have off white that is not going anywhere.

1:59:07 > 1:59:11It pushes its way through the pack. Without top spin that was not

1:59:11 > 1:59:17possible. Ronnie O'Sullivan, of course, went on to win the game.

1:59:17 > 1:59:23This is what we call top spin. It stops before it goes through. Keep

1:59:23 > 1:59:29an eye on the white. When it strikes the red it seems to stop

1:59:29 > 1:59:39and then of a sudden the top spin takes. That is why you sometimes

1:59:39 > 1:59:41

1:59:41 > 1:59:51see they have white forcing its way through. -- seed of white forcing

1:59:51 > 2:00:01

2:00:01 > 2:00:11That is the worst possible start for Steve - she has broken off and

2:00:11 > 2:00:28

2:00:28 > 2:00:38He did not judge that very well. I assume he was wanted to pot it.

2:00:38 > 2:00:38

2:00:38 > 2:01:28Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

2:01:28 > 2:01:38Steve has the option of having this replaced. That surprises me. It is

2:01:38 > 2:01:43

2:01:43 > 2:01:52asking Ronnie to play from where It looked like a straight forward

2:01:52 > 2:02:02safety to me. I would never question Steve Davis but he is in

2:02:02 > 2:02:13

2:02:13 > 2:02:23Well-played from Steve. Perfect length. How dare you question a

2:02:23 > 2:02:34

2:02:34 > 2:02:44He has developed a the opening from the little session of the safety

2:02:44 > 2:03:16

2:03:16 > 2:03:26play. How does he get on a colour This is a decent chance. What can

2:03:26 > 2:03:31

2:03:31 > 2:03:41he make of it? He has not scored a It is up to Steve to show Ronnie

2:03:41 > 2:03:55

2:03:55 > 2:04:05that if he gets a chance, he can Somehow, the older you get, your

2:04:05 > 2:04:06

2:04:06 > 2:04:16alignment definitely goes. You want to miss one of those bases and. --

2:04:16 > 2:04:17

2:04:17 > 2:04:27So many easy balls have been missed by the players like Steve Davis and

2:04:27 > 2:04:30

2:04:30 > 2:04:36Such a shame. He had played very well this afternoon until then.

2:04:36 > 2:04:43worst pain is that as you well know, Willie, it is such a blow to your

2:04:43 > 2:04:52confidence. He would never ever consider that... That he could miss

2:04:53 > 2:04:56a pink. He was in the balls, he had a nice few reds to go at. He has

2:04:56 > 2:05:06played a good safety, he created the opening with a good safety. But

2:05:06 > 2:05:12

2:05:12 > 2:05:16you have got to put to the balls in I think there is a red in the

2:05:16 > 2:05:26bottom cluster if he does not want to be playing cannons. He has

2:05:26 > 2:05:26

2:05:26 > 2:05:36played it. Could have done with a full-ball contact on the road. --

2:05:36 > 2:05:37

2:05:37 > 2:06:24Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

2:06:25 > 2:06:32He is just about on a red to the Not quite certain about that shot.

2:06:32 > 2:06:40Did not get the slide on the that he expected. He needed to be

2:06:40 > 2:06:48another two ft down the table. But it makes no difference! I do not

2:06:48 > 2:06:58think the black is on. Steve Davis has got a reprieve here. He will

2:06:58 > 2:07:13

2:07:13 > 2:07:18We were just talking off might about Ronnie's safety. He has found

2:07:18 > 2:07:28the top cushion 10, 15 times at least. This is not a bad safety

2:07:28 > 2:07:52

2:07:52 > 2:08:02Not this time. This red is on. He has hit it fit. Fractions make all

2:08:02 > 2:08:16

2:08:16 > 2:08:26But missed the pink will be a real body blow, as I said at the time.

2:08:26 > 2:08:33

2:08:33 > 2:08:39You would not be human if it did As you say, it must be alignment.

2:08:39 > 2:08:46He must have put a little bit of traced to the side and not hit the

2:08:46 > 2:08:56cue ball in the middle. Why do not know anybody who would bet him that

2:08:56 > 2:09:11

2:09:12 > 2:09:21he would not pot a pink like that I am not going to say it is safe

2:09:22 > 2:09:23

2:09:23 > 2:09:32because one of the reds below the pink will pot. Look at the cue

2:09:32 > 2:09:42ball! Superbly shot. It may be two inches short of perfect but still

2:09:42 > 2:09:42

2:09:42 > 2:10:23Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

2:10:23 > 2:10:33Normally when you play it a safety shot and leave the blue fault in

2:10:33 > 2:10:39

2:10:39 > 2:10:43the face, leave -- you leave your He missed the pot. As always

2:10:44 > 2:10:53happens in this game, when you need a bit of luck, you never get any.

2:10:54 > 2:11:33

2:11:33 > 2:11:39He has missed the red and left it He has been totally in control

2:11:39 > 2:11:47today, Ronnie. He has really enjoyed the safety battle. When he

2:11:47 > 2:11:57is in the balls he is cueing very nicely. A lot of players are

2:11:57 > 2:11:58

2:11:58 > 2:12:08playing well. I thought Mark Selby was excellent. Everyone gets up for

2:12:08 > 2:12:40

2:12:40 > 2:12:47Steve Davis has had enough in that frame. No big breaks from Ronnie

2:12:47 > 2:12:51O'Sullivan. But does not matter to him. He is further clear.

2:12:51 > 2:12:55As Steve steps back to clear his head, just describe the way you

2:12:55 > 2:12:59feel this match is running away from Steve? It is hard to catch

2:12:59 > 2:13:05Ronnie O'Sullivan when he is in total control. Everything he is

2:13:05 > 2:13:11looking at is going in. Steve had a couple of chances but the in the

2:13:11 > 2:13:17previous couple of frames when he did not pot a ball... And then he

2:13:17 > 2:13:24missed the easy pink. That is almost the final nail in the coffin

2:13:24 > 2:13:28for a start and your assessment? comes with age. You could never

2:13:28 > 2:13:32imagine missing that pink. When you are thinking about something else,

2:13:32 > 2:13:38you forget the ball in front of you and miss something as daft as that.

2:13:38 > 2:13:43He will be kicking himself. Ronnie O'Sullivan is in a very focused

2:13:43 > 2:13:50mood and is difficult to play against. To be fair, Ronnie has

2:13:50 > 2:13:56been focused all season. It is no coincidence. He started to see a

2:13:56 > 2:14:03sports psychiatrist and I was speaking to colleagues of his and

2:14:03 > 2:14:10he says that Ronnies -- Ronnie is one of his best pupils. It appears

2:14:10 > 2:14:16to have settled them. It certainly looks that way. As I said, he seems

2:14:16 > 2:14:19to have the appetite back. I know he has been talking about the BTs

2:14:19 > 2:14:25and how he does not like playing them but I think it has probably

2:14:25 > 2:14:30helped them get more matches and practice and more love for the

2:14:30 > 2:14:35games. For a few seasons, he seemed to fall out of love with the game.

2:14:35 > 2:14:40He loves it now I'm looking forward to every match. He seems at ease

2:14:40 > 2:14:49with himself. He does not seem uneasy. That is always a good sign.

2:14:49 > 2:14:53I hope he has a good run because if he falls out of the top 16... I

2:14:53 > 2:15:01hope he ends up in the 16th, it would be ridiculous if not. There

2:15:02 > 2:15:10is no danger at the moment. One More required fault Ronnie

2:15:10 > 2:15:15O'Sullivan for a place in the last When Steve Davis came back in, he

2:15:15 > 2:15:25got a tremendous reception. He has still got a few supporters. What

2:15:25 > 2:15:58

2:15:58 > 2:16:08There is the trophy. Ronnie O'Sullivan's name on it many times.

2:16:08 > 2:16:18A lot of great champions. There are no bad players on there. This is an

2:16:18 > 2:16:35

2:16:35 > 2:16:45Just caught the bump of the middle pocket. The first chance, as in the

2:16:45 > 2:17:11

2:17:11 > 2:17:17A nice opening red. A nice angle on the blue now. It would be good, but

2:17:17 > 2:17:21he does not have do do it, but he needs to get beat red away from the

2:17:21 > 2:17:31left corner pocket. He needs to get the black on its spot as soon as

2:17:31 > 2:17:37

2:17:37 > 2:17:47That is a very, very poor shot. He was playing to get tight on the

2:17:47 > 2:18:04

2:18:04 > 2:18:13I think he was so disgusted with his positional shot on the red that

2:18:13 > 2:18:19he intended to play on, that he just tried to make that pottable.

2:18:19 > 2:18:29It sounds a strange thing to say but sometimes you just talk

2:18:29 > 2:18:31

2:18:31 > 2:18:38We have talked about Ronnie to date with the rest, he is still at 100%

2:18:38 > 2:18:48success rate with the rest. I think he has played five now. He has

2:18:48 > 2:18:55

2:18:55 > 2:19:05played seven, actually. That is not As he hit it hard enough? Can he

2:19:05 > 2:19:16

2:19:16 > 2:19:24There are a few loose reds. He normally takes the first

2:19:24 > 2:19:30opportunity to go into the pink. It is imperative as Steve tried to do

2:19:30 > 2:19:40do remove the red away from the left corner. Then you can clear the

2:19:40 > 2:19:49

2:19:49 > 2:19:58A bit short of pace on the blue. He will go in and out of baulk. It is

2:19:59 > 2:20:08all about line and length. A lovely line. A beautiful land. --

2:20:09 > 2:20:32

2:20:32 > 2:20:37The problem is still the bread on That is so clever from Ronnie. I

2:20:37 > 2:20:42know it is not quite so good as he would like but because he knew the

2:20:42 > 2:20:52black would be tied up, he needed to get the pink him play. So he

2:20:52 > 2:20:59

2:20:59 > 2:21:09All he needs to do is finish low on the black so he can spring the red

2:21:09 > 2:21:36

2:21:36 > 2:21:46Can he nudged the red away, as a Willie explained? He has got one to

2:21:46 > 2:21:47

2:21:47 > 2:21:57Every chance that Steve Davis could have played his last shot in this

2:21:57 > 2:21:58

2:21:58 > 2:22:08Could this possibly be the last time we ever see Steve Davis play

2:22:08 > 2:22:11

2:22:12 > 2:22:21on television in the UK? It is not What a wonderful ambassador he has

2:22:22 > 2:22:28

2:22:28 > 2:22:38He is still competitive. It is a case of how long you decide to go

2:22:38 > 2:22:52

2:22:52 > 2:22:57He was the one most players looked Ronnie O'Sullivan was one of Steve

2:22:57 > 2:23:07Davis's biggest admirers. Steve may get back to the table because that

2:23:07 > 2:23:31

2:23:31 > 2:23:37Steve will get another chance. Back against the wall, 47 Points behind

2:23:37 > 2:23:47but a possible 75 remaining. It does not look like he will be able

2:23:47 > 2:23:56

2:23:57 > 2:24:06I think it is a tough shot to get safe here. He will have to move the

2:24:07 > 2:24:16

2:24:16 > 2:24:26red away from the corner. It is I do not think this is going to

2:24:26 > 2:24:41

2:24:41 > 2:24:48cover it. The kiss on the pink has The last Shot will definitely be

2:24:48 > 2:24:55Steve's last. We saw Stephen Hendry go out yesterday. He is a five-time

2:24:55 > 2:24:58winner of this championship. Steve Davis still holds the record,

2:24:58 > 2:25:08having won it six times. Ronnie O'Sullivan looks as though he could

2:25:08 > 2:25:11

2:25:11 > 2:25:21be the man to better that. He has It was the first tournament Ronnie

2:25:21 > 2:25:25

2:25:25 > 2:25:35ever won at the ripe old age of 17, Their plate to Ronnie. He has

2:25:35 > 2:25:45competed with Steve at every aspect of the game. -- fair play to Ronnie.

2:25:45 > 2:25:57

2:25:57 > 2:26:07Steve has not managed a break above 30 since the first frame. He has

2:26:07 > 2:26:35

2:26:35 > 2:26:43much to him in most departments Another wonderful position 0 a shot

2:26:43 > 2:26:47from Ronnie. He has cued really well. We can talk about the demise

2:26:47 > 2:26:51of Steve, but this is now laying down a marker for everybody in the

2:26:51 > 2:26:58tournament. Ronnie O'Sullivan has come here focused. Long may it

2:26:58 > 2:27:07continue. On this form, he is going to take some catching and beating.

2:27:07 > 2:27:17At the start of the tournament, I had never seen Ronnie at such a

2:27:17 > 2:27:28

2:27:28 > 2:27:33They shake hands. Ronnie O'Sullivan in his superb form. He has treated

2:27:33 > 2:27:37this Barbican Centre crowd to some wonderful snooker. He goes out of

2:27:37 > 2:27:43the arena and leaves the stage for Steve Davis and I am certain he

2:27:43 > 2:27:50will get as big a reception when he leaves, possibly for the last time

2:27:50 > 2:27:57ever in a UK Championship. One near San event is the winner by a 6-1.

2:27:57 > 2:28:01STUDIO: Steve had to win at two qualifying matches to be here. He

2:28:01 > 2:28:05will keep fighting, you can guarantee that. At 54-year-old,

2:28:05 > 2:28:15Steve has no plans to be retired was that he is the oldest on the

2:28:15 > 2:28:18

2:28:18 > 2:28:23circuit. A snooker legend, the record winner of this UK title. He

2:28:23 > 2:28:27has won it six times. Well played, Steve. And of course, well-played,

2:28:27 > 2:28:36Ronnie. How impressive it Ronnie look

2:28:36 > 2:28:46today? Fabulous. He was brilliant. To get 3-1 was an exceptional

2:28:46 > 2:28:46

2:28:46 > 2:28:54standard. Figo from three have a 126-1 -- to go from a 3-1 app 26-

2:28:54 > 2:29:001... How difficult is it to hold on to him? Very difficult. He beat

2:29:00 > 2:29:05Reid 10-1. I was lucky to get one! It is hard to stop him went the he

2:29:05 > 2:29:10is in a runaway train mode. For Steve, I think he will be back. He

2:29:10 > 2:29:15has a great hunger for the game, a great passion. He is very well

2:29:15 > 2:29:20respected. Everybody looks up to him and he has a great following

2:29:20 > 2:29:26and a great tactical brain. could have had an easier draw,

2:29:26 > 2:29:31couldn't he?! There are quite a few you would put -- pick before Ronnie

2:29:31 > 2:29:36O'Sullivan. He is a credit to the sport. To be playing at this level

2:29:36 > 2:29:39at 54, some achievement! It was indeed competitive before the

2:29:39 > 2:29:49interval. It was really good to watch, the matchplay between the

2:29:49 > 2:29:53two of them. A couple of balds and it could have been different. Once

2:29:53 > 2:29:58Ronnie O'Sullivan got going, when he is in free flow, there is nobody

2:29:58 > 2:30:02better to watch Oz but he makes the game look easy. It is great for

2:30:02 > 2:30:12snooker. It is great for snooker fans that he is enjoying himself

2:30:12 > 2:30:15

2:30:15 > 2:30:22And it is Dominic Dale or Judd Trump next for Ronnie O'Sullivan.

2:30:22 > 2:30:30If Judd gets through and he plays Ronnie, that will be a sell-out.

2:30:30 > 2:30:35watched them play at the final of the Belgian. Here comes Ronnie.

2:30:35 > 2:30:40Well done. We really enjoyed that today. I wonder how you felt about

2:30:40 > 2:30:47it, especially and -- in the early stages, that tactical interplay.

2:30:47 > 2:30:51can't remember much of the match, to be honest. There were a couple

2:30:51 > 2:30:57of flukes involved, but I got lucky in one of them and managed to make

2:30:57 > 2:31:01a few breaks. Are you feeling good? That is the first time I have

2:31:01 > 2:31:07played this week, to be fair. I have been lying in bed. I was not

2:31:07 > 2:31:16feeling too good coming in. I managed to do all right. What has

2:31:16 > 2:31:24been a problem? Just bad guts, to be fair. Not feeling good, a bad

2:31:24 > 2:31:34tummy bug. It has not been a problem for you, putting a new tip

2:31:34 > 2:31:35

2:31:35 > 2:31:40on and playing. Some people would take longer to play it in. I could

2:31:40 > 2:31:49not really getting a bite into the white at first. It took a bit of

2:31:49 > 2:31:55time. How are you feeling coming into this to none? Not good, mate.

2:31:55 > 2:32:00I did not want to rest. It was an enforced rest. It not my immune

2:32:00 > 2:32:10system down but I am here, and that is the important thing. You have

2:32:10 > 2:32:12

2:32:12 > 2:32:20played a lot of snooker, running. When you look at what you have

2:32:20 > 2:32:27achieved. I know you have had a lot to say about the PCTs, but do you

2:32:27 > 2:32:32feel it has benefited again? No, I do not think it has. I give 100%. I

2:32:32 > 2:32:35do not think it has made me a better player. I do not see it like

2:32:35 > 2:32:40that. It is time to concentrate on the bigger championships this

2:32:40 > 2:32:43season. In that regard, you have a little work to do. You're number 12

2:32:43 > 2:32:47in the rankings at the moment. How do you feel about your chances

2:32:47 > 2:32:54coming into these bigger events? How do you view them these days?

2:32:54 > 2:32:58You want to be producing your best snooker and winning tournaments. I

2:32:58 > 2:33:03do not really look at rankings. I would rather concentrate on trying

2:33:03 > 2:33:07to win tournaments. As long as you can do that then the rankings seems

2:33:07 > 2:33:15to take care of itself as I try not to get caught up in that sort of

2:33:15 > 2:33:20thinking. I was saying to Ken and John before you came in, we were

2:33:20 > 2:33:25talking about Dr Pete Stevens, who spoke at a conference that I was at.

2:33:25 > 2:33:28He said you were one of his best pupils. It is a good complement,

2:33:28 > 2:33:33considering he works with some of the biggest Olympians in British

2:33:33 > 2:33:42history. I wonder what you're getting from him and how it is

2:33:42 > 2:33:47benefiting you wrote looking competition? Before, if I played a

2:33:47 > 2:33:51few dodgy shots, I would want to get out of there. I have stopped

2:33:51 > 2:33:59thinking like that. I have moments when those thoughts come but I can

2:33:59 > 2:34:05manage to turn them round a little bit more now. I may not be playing

2:34:05 > 2:34:15my best of times, but I am still there trying. Is the joy in the

2:34:15 > 2:34:17

2:34:17 > 2:34:21game returning a bit for you? always want to stay in a tournament

2:34:21 > 2:34:26for as long as possible. If I was not cueing well I would think, I am

2:34:26 > 2:34:31not enjoying it. That would turn into thoughts of maybe not wanting

2:34:31 > 2:34:38to be there, go home and just chill-out and do some cooking and

2:34:38 > 2:34:41do some running. Even though I am not at my best form, I am still

2:34:41 > 2:34:47trying to play each ball as it comes and be a bit more optimistic,

2:34:47 > 2:34:52I suppose. Does the confidence returned to win these big

2:34:52 > 2:34:56tournaments? Earlier, you said you have under-achieve, but you have he

2:34:56 > 2:35:03-- you have achieved a heck of a lot. Is there more to come for you,

2:35:03 > 2:35:09do you think? There is a bit more to do. As long as I still think I

2:35:09 > 2:35:15have one or two years left in me I will continue playing. If I do not,

2:35:15 > 2:35:18there is no point in playing for me. It is about winning events. It is

2:35:18 > 2:35:23not easy these days. There are a lot of tournaments, so you have to

2:35:24 > 2:35:28take it as it comes. I still feel like, on my day, I can still

2:35:28 > 2:35:31compete with the best of them. It was great to see playing

2:35:31 > 2:35:35beautifully today. You have Judd Trump or Dominic Dale in the next

2:35:35 > 2:35:39round. I am sure that you, like us, we'll wait with interest to see who

2:35:39 > 2:35:42it is. Yes. Thank you.

2:35:42 > 2:35:46A one of the big bonuses of this centre is that there is no dividing

2:35:46 > 2:35:49wall between the two tables in the arena, which means that the crowd

2:35:49 > 2:35:54get the chance to keep tabs on both of the matches that are going on.

2:35:54 > 2:35:59Right now they are watching Ali Carter against Robert Milkins. We

2:35:59 > 2:36:05will get to it in a moment, but let us fill you in a little bit about

2:36:05 > 2:36:15Captain Carter. Mrs Howard jury of his Peers currently rates the

2:36:15 > 2:36:15

2:36:15 > 2:36:18current world No. Eight. Obviously, all of the players we

2:36:18 > 2:36:21are talking about the best in the war. But we're here to try to

2:36:21 > 2:36:26discuss the differences between them and perhaps pick up where

2:36:26 > 2:36:36there may be a fault. His Ali Carter's biggest Achilles heel his

2:36:36 > 2:36:40

2:36:40 > 2:36:43temperament? -- is Ali Carter's biggest Achilles heel. I saw him

2:36:43 > 2:36:47once admitting after a match that he wanted to smash the whole place

2:36:47 > 2:36:53up after he missed a shot. He will probably suggest that sometimes he

2:36:53 > 2:36:57has a little lapse in his temperament. A fantastic player,

2:36:57 > 2:37:01are really great all-round game, but I think he would probably admit

2:37:01 > 2:37:07himself that he sometimes lets himself down. Will he be aware of

2:37:07 > 2:37:11this? Abu spoken to him? When I played him in years gone by, you

2:37:11 > 2:37:18can see when he is feeling it. It gives you that bit of confidence. I

2:37:18 > 2:37:23always think, why make it easier for your opponent? If there is one

2:37:24 > 2:37:30thing he needs to sort out it is to try not to show his frustration as

2:37:30 > 2:37:35much. Very few people had the ball as well as him. Is he a good

2:37:35 > 2:37:38candidate for a sports psychologist? I think he definitely

2:37:38 > 2:37:42needs to sort his temperament out. He has a great technique, a great

2:37:42 > 2:37:46all-round game. Everything is there to show that he could go on and win

2:37:46 > 2:37:55more titles. I do think his temperament does let him down when

2:37:55 > 2:38:02he loses matches. With Stephen Maguire it seems to benefit him

2:38:02 > 2:38:07more. I think that sometimes if people show no emotion it could

2:38:07 > 2:38:13work against them. Ali definitely sometimes does let his opponent get

2:38:13 > 2:38:17back into matches, or definitely gives them inspiration if he misses

2:38:17 > 2:38:21something easy. He really let you know about it. I played him

2:38:21 > 2:38:28recently in a match, sitting in the chair, watching him cueing up. One

2:38:28 > 2:38:33of the best cure actions I have seen. -- cue actions I have seen.

2:38:33 > 2:38:37He controls the ball wide to perfection. He has the shots and

2:38:37 > 2:38:45the game. At times, it looks as if he is maybe trying a little too

2:38:45 > 2:38:50hard. Sometimes you can tell that players are enjoying it. Ali

2:38:50 > 2:39:00sometimes looks like he is not having fun out there. It remains to

2:39:00 > 2:39:00

2:39:00 > 2:39:05be seen. Maybe he has under- achieved for the talent he has got.

2:39:05 > 2:39:10Blocks of polystyrene everywhere. I wonder how Steve cope with that!

2:39:10 > 2:39:17What is your view of Ali Carter's progress in the game so far?

2:39:17 > 2:39:21temperament has let him down at times. He lets things get to him as

2:39:21 > 2:39:31a bid is quite visible and, as the guys said, it gives you a pawn and

2:39:31 > 2:39:39a boost -- it gives your opponent a boast to see that. He scores

2:39:39 > 2:39:42heavily, a great lock potter. There are so many guys like Ali Carter in

2:39:42 > 2:39:47the top 16 that are always knocking on the door. And you're waiting for

2:39:47 > 2:39:51him to win a big, big tournament. He has won a couple of ranking

2:39:51 > 2:39:57tournaments, but you are always waiting for him to take the next

2:39:57 > 2:40:00step. He has not done that. It may be a matter of time. He could work

2:40:00 > 2:40:07with a psychologist, I think everybody could. It can only

2:40:07 > 2:40:11benefit of the players. How do you feel about that, John? He has also

2:40:11 > 2:40:17had ill-health. He suffers from Crohn's disease, which certainly

2:40:17 > 2:40:22cannot be held. That is something against him. You need everything to

2:40:22 > 2:40:26be in your favour to compete and to beat the best players. To be

2:40:26 > 2:40:32perfectly honest, we never talk about this, but at Ali does not

2:40:32 > 2:40:36want us to talk about this. He never uses it as an excuse. There

2:40:36 > 2:40:40are times where he is clearly suffering and that shows in his

2:40:40 > 2:40:47form. To get back up to a level of fitness to be able to compete must

2:40:47 > 2:40:54be very difficult. To be fair, even when he is playing well, he comes

2:40:54 > 2:40:58unstuck against some of the players. Fair play to him, he does not use

2:40:58 > 2:41:01it as an excuse, and we do not know how difficult it is, but he is a

2:41:01 > 2:41:04great player. He has the potential, no doubt about it. He has

2:41:04 > 2:41:11everything that you would want in the game, but his temperament lets

2:41:11 > 2:41:15him down slightly. One thing I would say is that he is brilliant

2:41:15 > 2:41:19when he is second favourite. The ones where he was not expected to

2:41:19 > 2:41:25win, I used to think that he gave them such a hard time. And then he

2:41:25 > 2:41:29would lose to a player who was ranked lower than him. Sometimes he

2:41:29 > 2:41:36was better being second favourite. He has got past that now, he is up

2:41:36 > 2:41:44and the upper echelons of the game. He is certainly a favourite in this

2:41:44 > 2:41:47match against Robert Milkins. He is from Gloucester. He is making his

2:41:47 > 2:41:51first appearance in the television stages of this championship for

2:41:51 > 2:41:56four years, and it is certainly good to see him back. He has

2:41:56 > 2:42:05knocked out former champion Peter Ebdon, and that is no mean feat, in

2:42:05 > 2:42:13qualifying to be here. Their most recent meeting was two years ago.

2:42:13 > 2:42:23This is best of 11 in round one. We join it with the score at 2-2. It

2:42:23 > 2:42:34

2:42:34 > 2:42:39is Terry Griffiths and Dennis What a present this is for Robert

2:42:39 > 2:42:49Milkins. Christmas has come a little bit early for the man from

2:42:49 > 2:42:49

2:42:49 > 2:44:50Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

2:44:50 > 2:45:00An awkward bridge in there, but not If teapots the top red of the two

2:45:00 > 2:45:07

2:45:07 > 2:45:15below the pink, that will open up -- if he pots. He has certainly

2:45:15 > 2:45:17spotted a black. He has gone back to the pink again. Getting the

2:45:17 > 2:45:27black back on its sport would not have been a bad idea. Not

2:45:27 > 2:45:30

2:45:30 > 2:45:40imperative that he does that. -- back on its spot. He just has to

2:45:40 > 2:45:50

2:45:50 > 2:45:54That was not the best position of shot. He wanted to leave himself

2:45:54 > 2:46:04nicely on that red for the right corner. He might still be able to

2:46:04 > 2:46:24

2:46:24 > 2:46:26He has won to the middle, one to He has left in -- left himself

2:46:27 > 2:46:36hampered slightly. He has made things a little more difficult than

2:46:37 > 2:46:57

2:46:57 > 2:47:07That was a good shot, a very good Once again, he has slightly

2:47:07 > 2:47:16

2:47:16 > 2:47:26overdone it. I think he played for If he takes the black, it is black

2:47:26 > 2:47:28

2:47:28 > 2:47:38I don't know whether he can hold and leave the red that is to the

2:47:38 > 2:47:48right of the pink. He could. And he can get nicely on to the black

2:47:48 > 2:48:05

2:48:05 > 2:48:15He made a 54 in the third frame, but that is his best so far. Carter

2:48:15 > 2:48:42

2:48:42 > 2:48:45has done the two biggest breaks, 82 That was a cracking pot down the

2:48:45 > 2:48:54cushion to give himself the possibility of making a century

2:48:54 > 2:48:59break. It is going to be very difficult. He has made 73 centuries

2:48:59 > 2:49:04in his career. He turned professional in 1995. No century

2:49:04 > 2:49:09here unless it goes in-off the ground. He won't bother about that.

2:49:09 > 2:49:14That break of 79 takes the man from Gloucester into the lead. It is 3-2

2:49:14 > 2:49:20to Robert. HAZEL IRVINE: We can take you live

2:49:20 > 2:49:24into the arena now. They are now into frame six. Robert has a 3-2

2:49:24 > 2:49:28advantage. He has been to the quarter-finals of this UK

2:49:28 > 2:49:33Championship. Let us get the low- down on what is occurring out there

2:49:33 > 2:49:43now. As you join us, he missed the green

2:49:43 > 2:49:49

2:49:49 > 2:49:53that would have virtually clinched The boys were talking about Ali's

2:49:53 > 2:50:03temper but, earlier on he Mr shot and he gave the table such a wrap

2:50:03 > 2:50:13with his knuckles. It looked as if he was going to go to my behind

2:50:13 > 2:50:22

2:50:22 > 2:50:28there. Robert Milkins has certainly miss the trip. -- missed a trick.

2:50:28 > 2:50:33That is going to leave a difficult black. That is just about perfect.

2:50:33 > 2:50:37If he can screw up between the yellow and brown spot and get as

2:50:37 > 2:50:43close to the crucial -- cushion as possible to make the black fairly

2:50:43 > 2:50:47comfortable along the cushioned, but he has to get absolutely the

2:50:47 > 2:50:52right position. Is he a bit too hard? He does not want that to

2:50:52 > 2:51:02bounce. It is going to be a safety shot now. He might be able to cut

2:51:02 > 2:51:05

2:51:05 > 2:51:15Well, he could, and Robert Milkins has missed a trick there. He had

2:51:15 > 2:51:16

2:51:16 > 2:51:26the opportunity to open up at two- frame advantage. It is all-square

2:51:26 > 2:51:30

2:51:30 > 2:51:35Well, that was some frame for Ali to win there. Just as you joined us,

2:51:35 > 2:51:44it looked as if Robert Milkins was going to open up at two frame

2:51:44 > 2:51:48advantage. It is a totally different Maginnis. He played a

2:51:48 > 2:51:58great last red to get onto the green. He paid too much attention

2:51:58 > 2:52:10

2:52:10 > 2:52:19here on the positional shot. He Well, can he recover from that? OK,

2:52:19 > 2:52:23it is 3-3, but that was a pretty poor shot he played there. The

2:52:23 > 2:52:33referee is just getting the balls set up. There is still a little bit

2:52:33 > 2:52:46

2:52:46 > 2:52:56of noise, people moving around here Not the best break-off shot in the

2:52:56 > 2:53:04

2:53:04 > 2:53:08He knocks a shot like that in and he missed a sitter of a green to

2:53:08 > 2:53:17win the last frame. The green was a bit more important, though. Whether

2:53:17 > 2:53:20he took his eye off of it, I do not know. Sometimes you could of your

2:53:20 > 2:53:24concentration into the positional side of the shot and forget to pot

2:53:24 > 2:53:34at the ball. He has given himself a great chance

2:53:34 > 2:53:55

2:53:55 > 2:53:58here. In a few shots a posher the -- in a few shots' time. There is

2:53:58 > 2:54:08one at the back of the bunch that he could roll in and leave the

2:54:08 > 2:54:11

2:54:11 > 2:54:19black for the right corner. But has He hasn't and he is contemplating

2:54:19 > 2:54:29taking his red into the centre. He may have left Carter uneasy red. I

2:54:29 > 2:55:00

2:55:00 > 2:55:03am not sure if he can get through Yes, you're never sure exactly

2:55:03 > 2:55:10where you're going to finish. You want to get away from the cushion

2:55:10 > 2:55:20as much as possible. It is difficult to judge exactly where

2:55:20 > 2:55:25

2:55:25 > 2:55:35And that is the result. Luckily for rally, he got the positional side

2:55:35 > 2:55:37

2:55:37 > 2:55:43of it wrong. He hit that too hard. -- for Ali. There have been quite a

2:55:43 > 2:55:53few breaks so far for both players, but in between there have been

2:55:53 > 2:55:54

2:55:54 > 2:55:57quite a few errors, a few tactical battles. And this red is on, but he

2:55:57 > 2:56:01is a bit under pressure on it because if he is going to stop the

2:56:01 > 2:56:09white there, he is going to leave another red on if they were to miss

2:56:09 > 2:56:17it. -- if they were to miss it. boys were talking in the studio

2:56:17 > 2:56:21about psychology. Here, you think, if I'd miss this red I am going to

2:56:21 > 2:56:28put my opponent up. Sports psychologist will tell you to get

2:56:28 > 2:56:33down on the shot and think, if this goes in, I am going to pot these.

2:56:33 > 2:56:37If you get a little bit of negative then you're on a downward spiral.

2:56:37 > 2:56:42There have been a lot of very good players in the game who did not

2:56:42 > 2:56:52achieve what they should have simply because the thinking was not

2:56:52 > 2:56:54

2:56:54 > 2:56:58correct. Once they go down on the shot the decision is made. If they

2:56:58 > 2:57:04are going to think about missing the short they should get up and

2:57:04 > 2:57:09take another option. -- missing the shot. The standard has dropped a

2:57:09 > 2:57:16little bit in the last half an hour. I think he has just lost his cool a

2:57:17 > 2:57:26little bit, Ali, you can see it in his face. He normally knocks those

2:57:27 > 2:57:43

2:57:43 > 2:57:53Temperament plays such a big part He hasn't played that too well. He

2:57:53 > 2:57:56

2:57:57 > 2:58:03played for the red to the left of A good recovery pot. There may be

2:58:03 > 2:58:11some value in going into the pink and a pack of reds there. The black

2:58:11 > 2:58:17is off the spot. He is just looking at the possibility of whether he

2:58:17 > 2:58:27cannons into the pink and a reds. He has a loose red at the back, it

2:58:27 > 2:58:34

2:58:35 > 2:58:38He will have to force this red in to get the correct side of the blue.

2:58:38 > 2:58:48The pink is available in to the left centre pocket, but I do not

2:58:48 > 2:58:58know whether he can disturb He has left a good angle on the

2:58:58 > 2:59:04

2:59:05 > 2:59:09pink. Now he can bring them into He is usually very quick around the

2:59:09 > 2:59:15table. Have you been doing a little bit of work with Robert at the

2:59:15 > 2:59:22Academy in Gloucester, Terry? He is a very good player. I think

2:59:22 > 2:59:26he can do quite well in the game, but not with shots like that. I

2:59:27 > 2:59:36think one of his problems is, when he comes out here on the television

2:59:37 > 2:59:40

2:59:40 > 2:59:43table, he can be too quick. As he gets down to the shot he plays it

2:59:43 > 2:59:50very quickly, which is fine in practice, and perhaps in the

2:59:50 > 2:59:53qualifiers. When the pressure is at its highest, the pace sometimes

2:59:54 > 3:00:03plays a part and you have to give yourself that extra half a second

3:00:04 > 3:00:13

3:00:13 > 3:00:23Ali can get to the potting angle to scatter the reds. They will all be

3:00:23 > 3:00:35

3:00:35 > 3:00:45He has lost it, at the moment, has Ali. He is not a happy bunny.

3:00:45 > 3:00:55think you are being fair to him, saying he has lost it a bit. He

3:00:55 > 3:00:56

3:00:56 > 3:01:06Obviously did not catch the red as intended and screwed directly into

3:01:06 > 3:01:08

3:01:08 > 3:01:15Amazing. Now it is time for Ali Carter to regroup and get his

3:01:15 > 3:01:25concentration back. The Scot is 3-3. He is playing in the UK

3:01:25 > 3:01:30

3:01:30 > 3:01:40Championship. This will boost his No, but where is the red going to

3:01:40 > 3:01:41

3:01:41 > 3:01:46finish? When it those scrappy like this, you have got to be careful

3:01:46 > 3:01:52that you do not start looking for things that will happen before the

3:01:52 > 3:02:02shot. Both players are missing chances. It is easy in the box to

3:02:02 > 3:02:15

3:02:15 > 3:02:25be critical but the truth is that A little bit awkward with the

3:02:25 > 3:02:35

3:02:35 > 3:02:45With that spider bridging over the red, he has left Ali in amongst

3:02:45 > 3:02:45

3:02:45 > 3:02:55them. What a chance this is. He has missed a few, Robert. He had a

3:02:55 > 3:03:04

3:03:04 > 3:03:14The pink back on its spot is what is needed here. The black is

3:03:14 > 3:03:16

3:03:16 > 3:03:26All it takes is a nice little break to get going again and get your

3:03:26 > 3:03:34

3:03:34 > 3:03:44Yes, and in this type of frame, the man who wins it come outside --

3:03:44 > 3:04:06

3:04:06 > 3:04:14Early on it was great. Ali opened with an 82. Then he had a break of

3:04:14 > 3:04:2264. Robert had a 54 in frame three and a 79 later. The standard up

3:04:22 > 3:04:32until the last five or 10 minutes have been excellent. Made -- maybe

3:04:32 > 3:04:37

3:04:37 > 3:04:41they are a nervous being at live on I remember the first time I

3:04:41 > 3:04:51appeared on television in 1975. I watched it after and I was as white

3:04:51 > 3:05:20

3:05:20 > 3:05:30The difference is 26. He will need That is as good as he could have

3:05:30 > 3:05:35

3:05:35 > 3:05:45done from there. He was a bit short A good pot with the rest would

3:05:45 > 3:05:48

3:05:48 > 3:05:54clinched the frame. Amazing! Frame at ball, a bit of pressure and he

3:05:54 > 3:06:04has left Robert a chance to make up for the previous frame. Can he

3:06:04 > 3:06:12

3:06:12 > 3:06:22He needed at least pink. He has not got a good angle. He has got to run

3:06:22 > 3:06:41

3:06:41 > 3:06:47He has over done that slightly. It is a good angle to get onto the

3:06:47 > 3:06:57wrong colour. It unsubtle 0 went you are clearing up and you

3:06:57 > 3:07:16

3:07:16 > 3:07:23It just shows you that if you get slightly out of position, that is

3:07:23 > 3:07:33what can happen. You have got to try and keep it as simple as

3:07:33 > 3:08:03

3:08:03 > 3:08:07Nothing is certain at this stage. He is hampered with the black

3:08:07 > 3:08:17because he would like to play this with loads of left-hand side. He

3:08:17 > 3:08:37

3:08:37 > 3:08:44That white was dangerously close to He is struggling out there, Robert

3:08:44 > 3:08:54Milkins. It is obviously carrying forward the shots he has missed

3:08:54 > 3:08:56

3:08:56 > 3:09:06earlier in this frame. There is a chance this... A very good pot over

3:09:06 > 3:09:11

3:09:11 > 3:09:21Luckily for odd Mark -- luckily for Ali, two snookers are required. It

3:09:21 > 3:09:22

3:09:22 > 3:09:32is not imperative he hits this. He has missed it! They are at the

3:09:32 > 3:09:56

3:09:56 > 3:10:06snookers required stage. It is not 23 points in front with 22 left on

3:10:06 > 3:10:09

3:10:09 > 3:10:15the table. The balls on not ideally placed to get the snooker that he

3:10:15 > 3:10:23needs. Black is too close to the cushion. The blue could do with

3:10:23 > 3:10:33being a bit closer to the cushion to go behind. He has tried to do

3:10:33 > 3:10:35

3:10:35 > 3:10:45It seemed like a good idea at the time! Where have I heard that

3:10:45 > 3:10:49

3:10:49 > 3:10:59Amazing! The black is in a better position, not ideally placed, but a

3:10:59 > 3:11:01

3:11:01 > 3:11:05A bit risky to try and get over to the black because he would send the

3:11:05 > 3:11:15brown over the corner pocket. I would have expected him to knock

3:11:15 > 3:11:37

3:11:37 > 3:11:45He could tip the brown over towards the black and it maybe use the blue

3:11:45 > 3:11:55as a snookering ball. That might be what he attempts. I think he has

3:11:55 > 3:11:57

3:11:57 > 3:12:07In that situation, you have got to make sure that you get the object

3:12:07 > 3:12:16ball safe. That is the frame and the somehow Ali Carter has managed

3:12:16 > 3:12:21to get his nose in front. He leads 4-3 as both players leave the arena.

3:12:21 > 3:12:25STUDIO: Edgy and error-strewn. It is a funny game. The two players

3:12:25 > 3:12:28will not want that one on DVD! There were so many misses and

3:12:29 > 3:12:33totally out of character for both of them. Both are really good

3:12:33 > 3:12:43players, obviously. They will want to forget those. They might not

3:12:43 > 3:12:47

3:12:47 > 3:12:52come back! Is it something to do with the fact that... What could be

3:12:52 > 3:12:59the cause of such a scrappy encounter? I think that Robert

3:12:59 > 3:13:03Milkins missing that shot in the previous round... It has scrambled

3:13:03 > 3:13:10his brain a little bit. Sometimes when your opponent misses chances,

3:13:10 > 3:13:14it becomes contagious. When you do not expect to be back at the table

3:13:14 > 3:13:19and then you miss, you get edgy. Both players have felt it. It is

3:13:19 > 3:13:25quite evident. I do not know how Ali Carter won the frame. But he

3:13:25 > 3:13:33did. No wonder both players have gone out, they both need a breather.

3:13:33 > 3:13:39If Milkins gets himself back into the match, I would be surprised.

3:13:39 > 3:13:46is like me, not getting enough greens! He should have won both

3:13:46 > 3:13:50frames. He is a very quick player. He is brilliant to watch. He

3:13:50 > 3:13:57reminds me of Tony Drago in a way was that he can play brilliant

3:13:57 > 3:14:04shots. Then he can make a century break and then miss the easiest pot

3:14:04 > 3:14:07you have ever seen. If you are watching him and you are a fan, you

3:14:07 > 3:14:17would be on the edge of your seat ball of the time. Let us see what

3:14:17 > 3:14:39

3:14:39 > 3:14:45Looking a bit on the thin side. Robert Milkins comes to the table

3:14:45 > 3:14:51and he looks a little flustered. I know that his manager who is

3:14:51 > 3:14:55sitting at home watching the match will be on edge here. He is

3:14:55 > 3:15:05recovering as he has not been too well and is hoping to come up for

3:15:05 > 3:15:22

3:15:22 > 3:15:32the later stages. Robert Milkins is His approach owns the training

3:15:32 > 3:15:32

3:15:32 > 3:16:25Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

3:16:25 > 3:16:34venue. -- his coach. A great He may not the score heavily off

3:16:34 > 3:16:44that fruit but he could certainly put Robert Wilkins -- Robert

3:16:44 > 3:16:46

3:16:46 > 3:16:50Milkins in trouble. How did you get into the legends? We played 28 of

3:16:50 > 3:17:00the shows in the summer over the UK and a lot of century breaks made.

3:17:00 > 3:17:12

3:17:12 > 3:17:18In fact, you should get your cue out again! Do you just do the

3:17:18 > 3:17:22coaching now? I have watched some of the legends and I saw some on

3:17:22 > 3:17:31television the other day. Darren Morgan one. The difference between

3:17:31 > 3:17:41me and the other players, I know I am not any good any more. Well past

3:17:41 > 3:18:10

3:18:10 > 3:18:15He may have a path through to this one that has somehow cannoned over

3:18:15 > 3:18:25to the black and finishes over the pocket. But where is the position

3:18:25 > 3:18:33

3:18:33 > 3:18:43going to come from? There are a few We can quite safely say he may be

3:18:43 > 3:18:58

3:18:58 > 3:19:08nominating black here. That is the Is there a gap there? It is a very

3:19:08 > 3:19:18

3:19:18 > 3:19:28You could not say he was lucky after where the cue ball finished

3:19:28 > 3:19:39

3:19:39 > 3:19:49A big shot here. Potting the red and screwing back. He overdid it. I

3:19:49 > 3:19:59

3:19:59 > 3:20:09do not really see much. In potting He made forced an opening from this

3:20:09 > 3:20:09

3:20:09 > 3:20:19snooker, you never know. -- he may I think he has blocked the path

3:20:19 > 3:20:36

3:20:36 > 3:20:46He could come twice across the table and land on the red. If he

3:20:46 > 3:21:06

3:21:06 > 3:21:16landed on the four red that's -- Look at where the red has rebounded

3:21:16 > 3:21:46

3:21:46 > 3:21:56to! A bit of a result there, for That is a bit more like the Ali

3:21:56 > 3:22:02

3:22:02 > 3:22:10And the pink is going to finish up on the black spot. He will have to

3:22:10 > 3:22:20go for the blue here. He is at the run -- rung angle to run through at

3:22:20 > 3:22:20

3:22:20 > 3:23:06Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

3:23:06 > 3:23:13Obviously, he has not got the perfect angle here. He would like

3:23:13 > 3:23:23to be straight on the red in the middle there. He is going to play

3:23:23 > 3:23:31

3:23:31 > 3:23:39You were almost guaranteed that something would go wrong there!

3:23:39 > 3:23:45had a little smile too after that positional shot. Any more pace,

3:23:45 > 3:23:50that would have stayed out. Luckily, he has a red at to be back of the

3:23:50 > 3:24:00little triangle of reds that will go. Hampered, he could do very

3:24:00 > 3:24:35

3:24:35 > 3:24:40Well played, again. He is starting to hit the ball a little bit better.

3:24:40 > 3:24:50Still not blowing it stuff though, he is not getting prime position

3:24:50 > 3:25:13

3:25:13 > 3:25:23Just starting to take control of the match now. Robert Milkins six

3:25:23 > 3:25:25

3:25:25 > 3:25:30in his seat and a nose that he should be in the lead. He missed

3:25:30 > 3:25:40too many balls. They mentioned in the studio the easy green but would

3:25:40 > 3:25:51

3:25:51 > 3:26:01have opened up the advantage for He looks to have regained his

3:26:01 > 3:26:22

3:26:22 > 3:26:32composure now, Ali. He was annoyed That is falling. The right side of

3:26:32 > 3:26:34

3:26:34 > 3:26:40Just the red and the pink. He does not have to worry about the three

3:26:40 > 3:26:50it difficult reds. It would be enough to leave himself only

3:26:50 > 3:27:08

3:27:08 > 3:27:15needing one more frame to get Not perfect on this red. But there

3:27:15 > 3:27:25is no pressure on it. 53 ahead, 51 remaining. This red to make

3:27:25 > 3:27:43

3:27:44 > 3:27:53There is a path through to this red. Going to be very, very difficult

3:27:54 > 3:28:08

3:28:08 > 3:28:12for Robert Milkins. Especially now. STUDIO: He has not made sure of

3:28:12 > 3:28:22that one. It looks like Ali Carter could be across the line. To see

3:28:22 > 3:28:26the conclusion of the frame, press red now. We will return much later,

3:28:26 > 3:28:30past the midnight hour, with highlights of the matches and news