Day 5, Part 1

:00:35. > :00:40.Good afternoon. The ladies and gentlemen of the press have had

:00:40. > :00:46.plenty to sink their teeth into in recent days. Ronnie O'Sullivan said

:00:46. > :00:55.goodbye and painted again that a final goodbye not be far away. --

:00:55. > :01:01.hinted. John Higgins is also on the way home early. And Mark Allen has

:01:01. > :01:11.been getting a telling off over some of his comments here a few

:01:11. > :01:24.

:01:24. > :01:34.days ago. Plenty of column inches He has missed it. It is building

:01:34. > :01:34.

:01:34. > :02:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:02:22. > :02:32.What a horrible way to end a match. He took everything the Rok could

:02:32. > :02:32.

:02:32. > :02:37.throw at him today. He has played Judd is a great player. He is

:02:37. > :02:42.probably the most dangerous player I have ever played. He will take a

:02:42. > :02:48.lot of stopping. I did not play great today. A lot of my game was

:02:48. > :02:52.not great. When you play like that and you can still beat Ronnie,

:02:52. > :03:02.ladies and nice confidence boost. I am still in the tournament.

:03:02. > :03:17.

:03:17. > :03:25.It was a brave fightback from the Welshman. Doing is absolutely

:03:25. > :03:35.delighted. -- Ding Junhui. Absolutely Maya Pedersen from

:03:35. > :04:03.

:04:03. > :04:06.Stephen probably -- Stephen Maguire probably a deserved winner.

:04:06. > :04:12.defeat is devastating. What if you know you have not played well

:04:12. > :04:17.enough, you have no complaints. beat the world champion, I beat

:04:17. > :04:24.John Higgins. It is a great result for me. I have not been getting

:04:24. > :04:34.many results against the top Wise. They do not come across any better

:04:34. > :04:43.

:04:43. > :04:47.And eventful 48 hours. Even more sensational headlines this morning.

:04:47. > :04:53.Barry Hearn has hit back at Mark Allen over his comments on Monday.

:04:53. > :05:02.We have three members of the press. Terry Rushmore, Neil Goldie and

:05:02. > :05:08.Jimmy brought in. Firstly, you take on Mr Alan? I can understand why

:05:08. > :05:18.Barry was upset. He came into the game at a time when many people

:05:18. > :05:19.

:05:20. > :05:25.thought it was sinking. He has delivered more prize money. In

:05:25. > :05:29.general he is doing a lot of good for the game. Is there a silent

:05:29. > :05:35.minority in agreement with Mark Allen with regard to the changes?

:05:35. > :05:41.think there is. A lot of people have not said it. Mark was pretty

:05:41. > :05:44.bald to say it. He may be sued for it. The only thing he did regret

:05:44. > :05:49.was swearing and the press conference, which is understandable.

:05:49. > :05:57.I spoke to him off the record and he is unhappy. He also feels as if

:05:57. > :06:02.he is being harshly treated about the disrepute charge. More players

:06:02. > :06:08.need to say things end of the press. It does give good column inches for

:06:08. > :06:15.snooker. Jamie, your listeners on Radio 5 Live very interested. What

:06:15. > :06:21.is your take on at? It is very interesting that Mark Allen has

:06:21. > :06:26.been so outspoken. John Higgins was very critical about this shortened

:06:26. > :06:32.format. None of them think Barry Hearn is doing a bad job. Only Mark

:06:32. > :06:37.Allen has been this outspoken. Still column inches left in this

:06:37. > :06:42.one. Ronnie Oswell that always makes good copy. -- Ronnie

:06:42. > :06:47.O'Sullivan. It looks as if he may be thinking of calling it at bay

:06:47. > :06:56.again? You'll have to excuse me if I do not by too much into this one.

:06:56. > :07:02.I am sure we have heard this before. I am sure we will see him next

:07:02. > :07:07.month at the Masters. Dr Steve Pietersen working very effectively.

:07:07. > :07:15.For me it was pretty heartfelt. He seems pretty lonely away from the

:07:15. > :07:22.table? He does. Ronnie has had some knelt dance. He is one of those

:07:22. > :07:27.unpredictable characters. -- knelt down. Steve Peters is helping him.

:07:27. > :07:33.What will he do if he quits snooker? Nobody knows. When he

:07:33. > :07:39.quit? Only he knows. Finally, from your perspective, Ronnie O'Sullivan

:07:39. > :07:44.is always great box-office for snooker. How much do people want to

:07:44. > :07:48.see him? The crowds of people cueing to get in yesterday proved

:07:49. > :07:54.he is still the Marky player. He is the one we want to write about and

:07:54. > :08:02.talk about. Snooker needs him. If it is a question of his men --

:08:02. > :08:10.health and battle stability, so be it. Couldn't -- goodness knows what

:08:10. > :08:14.stories we are going to one Earth today. -- on earth. Mark Williams

:08:14. > :08:20.accelerated to the top of the sport again last season. He is struggling

:08:20. > :08:24.here. He would have to turn on the power today. Especially against

:08:24. > :08:32.Ricky Walden, one of only two unseeded players through to the

:08:32. > :08:41.last 16. Shaun Murphy won this title in Telford three years ago.

:08:41. > :08:51.How he would love a second success in York. He needs Martin Gould, who

:08:51. > :08:51.

:08:51. > :09:01.could always swap his cue for some arrows. And we're a frank and

:09:01. > :09:05.fascinating interview with Ronnie O'Sullivan. -- we here. I have

:09:05. > :09:11.become virtually a nightmare to be around, probably. I do not know.

:09:11. > :09:16.That is how I feel inside. I do not want to put people through that no

:09:16. > :09:24.more. I want to have a life. I have tried and I didn't think I can have

:09:24. > :09:29.a live and play snooker. -- I don't think. And Mark Allen's response to

:09:29. > :09:33.the controversy over his comments about Barry Hearn. I do not

:09:33. > :09:40.understand the changes he is making. He will ruffle a lot of feathers.

:09:41. > :09:50.It is a pity that I am the only one standing up to them. Not time to

:09:50. > :09:56.mess about today. Our two second round batters got under way. --

:09:56. > :10:06.matches got under way at midday. Would Mark Williams bothered to

:10:06. > :10:42.

:10:42. > :10:46.walk to his seat, or hop over his And his opponent, one of the finest

:10:46. > :10:53.Welsh players ever to grace the modern game. His laid-back approach

:10:53. > :10:59.has taken into just about every title in the sport. Will he jumped

:10:59. > :11:09.over the set this time or walk all the way round? Here comes the Welsh

:11:09. > :11:30.

:11:30. > :11:37.No short cuts firm mark this afternoon, especially after Ricky

:11:38. > :11:47.Walden was on a break of 68. Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor in the

:11:48. > :11:54.

:11:54. > :12:04.It is going to come back across the table. Even then he has left it for

:12:04. > :12:06.

:12:06. > :12:16.the other corner. In potting this red, if Mark Williams decided to,

:12:16. > :12:24.he could try to knock the pink out. He is not going to. It was an

:12:24. > :12:34.option. He has now got a good chance. The key to this frame will

:12:34. > :12:38.

:12:38. > :12:43.be how he gets on at the blue. -- He has got to be absolutely spot on.

:12:43. > :12:53.I am thinking a few shots ahead. If he can get the white somewhere near

:12:53. > :13:07.

:13:08. > :13:17.It is a similar shot. This is more difficult now. Screwing Oudin and

:13:17. > :13:27.off the cushion. -- screwing it in. Being a left-hander, he could

:13:27. > :13:30.

:13:31. > :13:36.possibly dropping behind it. -- drop in. There are two options.

:13:36. > :13:45.Move the pink all around the table. He wants to move the pink but not

:13:45. > :13:55.too far up the table. He played for the double. He is a bit short of

:13:55. > :14:05.

:14:05. > :14:15.An unusual choice to leave the double rather than trying to move

:14:15. > :14:33.

:14:33. > :14:38.That is an excellent shot. What a good start for Ricky Walden. Mark

:14:38. > :14:48.Williams was in first. Ricky will be delighted to have taken the

:14:48. > :15:03.

:15:03. > :15:11.Ricky breaks off in frame two. A little bit short of pace. Possible

:15:11. > :15:21.pot into the left corner and he could keep himself on the black. --

:15:21. > :15:36.

:15:36. > :15:39.That was a terrific shot. A poor break off a shot from Ricky Walden.

:15:39. > :15:49.You cannot afford to leave it potter like Mark Williams would

:15:49. > :15:59.have a chance. -- with half a chance. It really was a superb shot

:15:59. > :16:00.

:16:00. > :16:07.Mark Williams played to start this potential break. Lovely way around

:16:07. > :16:17.the table. Get on with the shops but does not rush anything. -- he

:16:17. > :16:21.

:16:21. > :16:31.Opening the pack of raids. Still some work to be done. It was a good

:16:31. > :16:31.

:16:31. > :17:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:17:14. > :17:20.Fantastic close control. His shot time is so quick. As fast as

:17:20. > :17:30.anybody in the game. It just does not look that way. 16 seconds per

:17:30. > :17:33.

:17:33. > :17:41.shot at the moment. And all of these shops any of the club players

:17:41. > :17:51.could play. Easy position. The skill is in the control. The right

:17:51. > :18:27.

:18:27. > :18:37.This will be his 7th black coming He may be in a predicament here. He

:18:37. > :18:50.

:18:50. > :18:55.was trying to get on the red to the Close. What a massive shot. He was

:18:55. > :19:03.going for the 147. He had to keep the break going as well. The

:19:03. > :19:08.trouble is, he has let Ricky Walden in. If Ricky Walden could steal

:19:08. > :19:16.this frame, Mark Williams has played effectively two fantastic

:19:16. > :19:21.frames and would be two behind. A big frame, I reckon. Look at how

:19:21. > :19:31.the balls are sitting. Of a confidence boost this would be if

:19:31. > :19:35.

:19:35. > :19:42.Ricky Walden could clear from here. -- what a confidence boost. I am

:19:42. > :19:52.just looking at those three red balls near the pink, they can all

:19:52. > :20:14.

:20:14. > :20:20.The raid in line with the blue pocket has caused a problem. -- the

:20:20. > :20:25.red. Ricky has run out of position, even though it does not look it. It

:20:25. > :20:35.is weird how that can happen. played for the other red, the two

:20:35. > :20:44.behind the pink. It is not a problem, but there was a better way

:20:44. > :20:48.he could have gone. Anyway, as long as you keep knocking them in, Steve.

:20:48. > :20:54.He did not really want to pot this pink until he had cleared the reds.

:20:54. > :21:01.That is why he has run out of position. There will be some work

:21:01. > :21:11.to do to split the pink away from the wreck. It has only tied 1 red

:21:11. > :21:45.

:21:45. > :21:51.He has left himself a choice of Does that raid go passed into the

:21:51. > :21:59.right corner? I think it does. -- red. I do not know why I even

:21:59. > :22:09.asked! If that one goes, there is the possibility that red Bull Pot

:22:09. > :22:12.

:22:12. > :22:22.into the right middle. -- will pot. The pink will be available. The

:22:22. > :22:31.

:22:32. > :22:41.pink will go back on its spot and Probably after this pink, the red

:22:42. > :23:07.

:23:07. > :23:14.He he is looking in great form. Mark Williams looks in great for me.

:23:14. > :23:20.So much so, Mark was trying to make a maximum break. He makes sure you

:23:20. > :23:30.score enough to win the French before you concentrate on a maximum.

:23:30. > :23:42.

:23:42. > :23:52.He last met her friend. -- win of Ricky has taken his chance

:23:52. > :23:52.

:23:53. > :24:01.beautifully so far. Very fluent with the queue. Not ideal on the

:24:01. > :24:09.blue. First problem. Played that very well. I was not certain he

:24:09. > :24:14.could hold the cue ball up there. He should clear the balls. He just

:24:14. > :24:24.needs to concentrate a little bit harder. A little bit of noise from

:24:24. > :24:28.

:24:28. > :24:38.the other table. I do not think Mark was expecting this. He has

:24:38. > :24:53.

:24:53. > :24:59.played these absolutely to Mark Williams was on his way to

:25:00. > :25:05.make a maximum. He missed a red and Ricky Walden has cleared. He is two

:25:05. > :25:12.friends in front. At very fast start indeed from the Chester

:25:12. > :25:19.player. He not been a break of 81 in the third frame. At 3-0

:25:20. > :25:29.advantage as we enter friend of four. Williams trialling. -- frame

:25:30. > :25:36.

:25:36. > :25:46.I think Ricky felt he was going to cover that with the red. A chance

:25:46. > :25:48.

:25:48. > :25:58.for Mark Williams. He has got to take advantage. He just clipped the

:25:58. > :25:59.

:25:59. > :26:04.red. It has missed his position up straight away. He was looking to

:26:04. > :26:09.hit that read full. Collide with some of the pack behind it. This

:26:09. > :26:19.will take some working out to get on the black. Perhaps it can and

:26:19. > :26:34.

:26:34. > :26:44.onto the raid to the right of the Pot the black, screwed into the

:26:44. > :26:54.rest of the pack, retain position. -- screw. He needs to make this

:26:54. > :26:54.

:26:54. > :28:36.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:28:37. > :28:44.He would have liked to have been on the blue. A lot more difficult now

:28:44. > :28:54.to win the frame in this visit. Looking at one of the ball Collor's

:28:54. > :29:03.

:29:03. > :29:09.Is their any value in potting the blue. --? If he does not like the

:29:10. > :29:19.blue, he could put the pink saved, put the ball safe. This is very

:29:19. > :29:23.aggressive. I think he may be thinking of a safety shot. The

:29:23. > :29:33.plant is a risky. We know what happened in the second frame when

:29:33. > :30:13.

:30:13. > :30:21.he was on his way to a possible Frame before the mid-session

:30:21. > :30:24.interval, superbly. And also with the plant, he did not panic. He

:30:24. > :30:34.controlled it nicely, gave the red up every chance to go into the

:30:34. > :30:36.

:30:36. > :30:46.pocket. Very close to being over One more red. And he has got on the

:30:46. > :31:06.

:31:06. > :31:10.For a left-hander, not so bad. Any colour will do and he has

:31:10. > :31:20.finished perfectly on the black so this is a good response from Mark

:31:20. > :31:25.

:31:25. > :31:35.The gentlest of cannons has pushed one on. Just showing what a great

:31:35. > :31:42.

:31:42. > :31:45.Because Ricky Walden has done very He has been a finalist in the first

:31:45. > :31:53.two ranking tournament of the season so you would expect him to

:31:53. > :31:57.He wants to get to the mid-session interval and a great performance

:31:57. > :32:03.from Ricky Walden, Mark Williams did very well to take that frame

:32:03. > :32:08.and he will be pleased slightly because he is 3-1 behind.

:32:08. > :32:13.HAZEL IRVINE: Comparisons in the studio with Ken Doherty and John

:32:13. > :32:19.Parrott. Your assessment of the way Ricky Walden came out of the box

:32:19. > :32:22.like a shot. He has not missed a ball. He looks very at ease and

:32:22. > :32:28.comfortable in and around the balls, knocking them in and made a

:32:28. > :32:31.brilliant break particularly in the second frame. It was a big frame

:32:31. > :32:36.from Mark Williams there and he made a terrific plant and it just

:32:36. > :32:41.shows you. Characters have a lot of friends left in this match but a

:32:41. > :32:44.great start for Ricky Walden. you look back at recent form, the

:32:44. > :32:51.first competitive maximum and a runner up in one of the small

:32:51. > :32:57.events as well so it seems like his form is coming to the peak at the

:32:57. > :33:03.right time. He is a quick score as well. Mark Williams did a brilliant

:33:03. > :33:07.response there. Two behind at the interval instead of four? A lot of

:33:07. > :33:12.snooker left. What were your impressions of what was a pretty

:33:12. > :33:19.faltering performance against Joe Jogia? His own expression were the

:33:19. > :33:23.wheels came off. Joe Jogia put him up to it a little bit. And Mark

:33:23. > :33:27.said he had better get his head down and for the last two frames he

:33:27. > :33:33.was good again but in the middle of the match, he did not know where he

:33:33. > :33:38.went. You see the difference, it is amazing. When Judd Trump bashes the

:33:38. > :33:41.balls around and Mark Williams is the opposite, he floats around the

:33:41. > :33:45.table and plays lots of slow roles. Completely different but just as

:33:45. > :33:50.effective. It is shaping up to an intriguing match. We hope you stay

:33:50. > :33:53.with us. If you have been skimming through the newspapers and as we

:33:53. > :33:58.indicated at the top of the programme, a fair bit of interest

:33:58. > :34:02.in Ronnie O'Sullivan following his exit to Judd Trump and that came

:34:02. > :34:05.after one day after his 36th birthday and he has raised the

:34:05. > :34:09.possibility that he might be ready to think about calling time on her

:34:09. > :34:12.snooker career. He has also talked openly about the difficulty he

:34:12. > :34:22.finds in achieving a work-life balance. This is what he was

:34:22. > :34:28.

:34:28. > :34:31.If I had won that match I would have found it difficult to enjoy my

:34:31. > :34:36.life in between matches and -- matches in between tournaments.

:34:36. > :34:42.Sticker has been great and I love it but you know what, there's so

:34:42. > :34:47.much more that I want. I don't feel comfortable with me let alone

:34:47. > :34:52.trying to blend in, I have shut myself off from a lot of people

:34:52. > :34:56.just because I want to continue my career and I know that sometimes I

:34:56. > :35:03.am not the easiest person to be around when I am carrying some of

:35:03. > :35:08.those emotions. I don't want to be a lonely old man

:35:08. > :35:13.at 45 having gut-wrenching anxiety. I feel I am not a good person to be

:35:13. > :35:17.around when I am trying to... I think I have come round to

:35:17. > :35:21.admitting to it. When I have four months off in the summer, I was a

:35:21. > :35:26.different person, a joy to be around and I want to be that person

:35:26. > :35:30.that is good to be around. I want to share my life with somebody.

:35:30. > :35:38.Probably the reason why I am not with my partner now or whatever was

:35:38. > :35:45.because I was so hard to be around. I had two kids and I am not with

:35:45. > :35:48.her no Mall and I have kind of... - - I am not with her any more and I

:35:48. > :35:51.put that down to being obsessed with getting snooker right that I

:35:51. > :36:01.neglected people. I neglected people that, at the time, should

:36:01. > :36:08.have mattered but in my little world I was so consumed by it, they

:36:08. > :36:12.did not become unimportant but they become the second thing I need to

:36:12. > :36:18.concentrate on. I become virtually a nightmare to be around, probably.

:36:18. > :36:23.I don't know but that is how I feel inside. And I don't want to put

:36:23. > :36:33.people through that no more, I want to have a life but I have tried and

:36:33. > :36:37.

:36:37. > :36:40.I don't think I can have a life and Well, Ronnie is brutally honest as

:36:40. > :36:49.he can glee and your impressions on listening to that, first of all,

:36:49. > :36:54.John. He has got a lot going on, hasn't he? He seems very controlled

:36:54. > :36:58.in the venues and very happy and to be around the other players and

:36:58. > :37:04.tournaments are looking at that, he is not. It is very sad. He is the

:37:04. > :37:08.type of guy... We love watching him play and you want to give him a big

:37:08. > :37:12.hug, he has got a lot of demons obviously. Some players when they

:37:12. > :37:16.go home to their families they can leave snooker at the venue. But

:37:16. > :37:20.some can't. We all have to deal with pressures and to be successful.

:37:20. > :37:25.Getting over matches that he would have lost and some find it harder

:37:25. > :37:29.than others. Ronnie during the bad times takes it home with him.

:37:29. > :37:34.Instead of leaving it at the snooker venue, being a different

:37:34. > :37:38.person around your family. Ironically, working with Dr Steve

:37:38. > :37:42.Peters as we have discussed, in terms of his competitive attitude,

:37:42. > :37:46.that night and day is so much better he seems so much focused

:37:46. > :37:50.around the table. That is why the interview was strange because I am

:37:50. > :37:55.thinking the same thing. He went out in the tournament playing

:37:55. > :37:59.really good stuff. He is his own worst critic so he might not say

:37:59. > :38:03.the same but he played a great match yesterday. Every part of it,

:38:03. > :38:08.he tried as hard as he could. It has not always been the case, we

:38:08. > :38:12.know that. But at the moment, he is trying the best you can put away

:38:12. > :38:18.from the table he seems to be having problem. He has been on tour

:38:18. > :38:27.since he was 17 and has undertaken a demanding schedule with the new

:38:27. > :38:32.changes coming through. You change in the way you have philosophise

:38:32. > :38:37.and John, you have had to give it up. What was the catalyst for you

:38:37. > :38:40.do it any more? The level of performance and through it, the

:38:40. > :38:47.enjoyment of the game. I still think it is a fantastic game but I

:38:47. > :38:52.do not want to play at that level because I was losing two players

:38:52. > :38:57.that I would have beaten before. I have had a great career, I have

:38:57. > :39:00.played in some wonderful venues. Why try to compete against a 17-

:39:00. > :39:04.year-old that he would have beaten before and you then lose. That is

:39:04. > :39:10.when you know. The artist of the situation for Ronnie because he is

:39:10. > :39:13.still a very competitive force. is still the man to beat. I know he

:39:13. > :39:16.went out yesterday but had he got through, he was still the favourite

:39:16. > :39:20.for the tournament. He is at the top of his game and it is about

:39:20. > :39:23.enjoyment. It is about the level of performance but also the how much

:39:23. > :39:32.you enjoy a competing at these events and should be enjoying the

:39:32. > :39:36.game. If you are not, I mean, look at Steve Davis. He still loves

:39:36. > :39:39.playing the game and has passion. He still get beat, he is not

:39:39. > :39:42.playing to the level he was playing 20 years ago but he still gets

:39:42. > :39:46.great enjoyment and that is maybe something. Maybe Ronnie could talk

:39:46. > :39:51.to Steve about it. Are you confident we can see him at the

:39:51. > :39:58.Masters? Very, I just thinking used to cool off and reassess. He will

:39:58. > :40:02.speak to his doctor and that will be a help to him. -- I just think

:40:02. > :40:06.he needs to call off. I am sure Steve will understand. We hope

:40:06. > :40:11.you're back, Ronnie and it will be great to see you at the Masters.

:40:11. > :40:21.Let's look at what is shaping up as a very intriguing last few days.

:40:21. > :40:22.

:40:22. > :40:26.These are the remaining second taking on Marco Fu, one of the only

:40:26. > :40:31.unseeded players through to this stage. And Ali Carter plays the

:40:31. > :40:41.person who has been making plenty of headlines, Mark Allen. In fact,

:40:41. > :40:41.

:40:41. > :40:45.the Northern Irishman does seem After his criticism of Barry Hearn.

:40:45. > :40:49.He will be called before a disciplinary committee because of

:40:49. > :40:54.his language at a press conference when he made those comments but he

:40:54. > :41:03.does seem to stand by them despite the fact that there could be a risk

:41:03. > :41:06.I have not been one to shy away from speaking my mind and that is

:41:06. > :41:09.what players need to do more, because lot of people have said

:41:09. > :41:19.exactly what I said amongst themselves but they are not man

:41:19. > :41:21.

:41:21. > :41:27.enough to say it to the public and Obviously I was criticised for

:41:27. > :41:32.swearing and it is not setting a good example but I stand by

:41:32. > :41:37.everything I said. I was very negative towards Paris but it does

:41:37. > :41:40.seem that way, I do not know him, he is probably a nice man and has

:41:40. > :41:44.done well in the past for the tournament and I am sure he will do

:41:44. > :41:47.a good job for snooker but I just think in the short term, he is not

:41:47. > :41:51.making goods changes that will benefit the sport and the players.

:41:51. > :41:56.I do not understand the changes he is making and he will ruffle a lot

:41:56. > :42:01.of feathers. It is a pity that I am the only one standing up to him.

:42:01. > :42:05.have heard the Commons that he has been critical about Barry Hearn, I

:42:05. > :42:09.am sure that story will look at the issue himself with Mark Allen but

:42:09. > :42:12.generally speaking, it was the use of inappropriate language that we

:42:12. > :42:22.were concerned about, the matters has been referred to our

:42:22. > :42:24.

:42:24. > :42:29.disciplinary chairman who will take a view and that will be decided on.

:42:29. > :42:36.It looks very promising when you look at it but 12 of the events are

:42:36. > :42:40.PTC events and only eight of them are �12,000 for the winner and

:42:40. > :42:44.expenses to go to those 12 events you are looking at close to �10,000.

:42:44. > :42:48.You need to win at least one of those events just to break even. It

:42:48. > :42:53.is about finding the balance, I think. We need more tournaments but

:42:53. > :42:55.the money he has put into 12 PTC events could have been put into

:42:55. > :42:58.three more major ranking tournaments. That is what every

:42:58. > :43:04.player would want. We make ourselves available to discuss

:43:04. > :43:10.these issues and we consult with the players face to face while we

:43:10. > :43:14.are at the tournaments and I am disappointed we have not had

:43:14. > :43:18.opportunity to discuss that the 4th. HAZEL IRVINE: Taking this on and I

:43:18. > :43:28.know that Ricky was discussing it with you guys, the alleged response

:43:28. > :43:30.

:43:30. > :43:39.from Barry Hearn is that he might be formulating a case to sue mark

:43:39. > :43:44.for slander. Your response first of all to the way that Barry has come

:43:44. > :43:48.back on the story. He is obviously very upset about it and looking at

:43:48. > :43:56.the comments, he probably should be. It is difficult to argue a case

:43:56. > :43:59.that the game has not been improved. Obviously the PTCs... It is my view

:43:59. > :44:03.and I do not play anymore, I think they need a few less of them and

:44:03. > :44:08.they may need tweaking and some of them that our domestic, a few of

:44:08. > :44:12.the players may not be happy. And with the prize money, it may

:44:12. > :44:16.appease some of the players but it is difficult to argue with the

:44:16. > :44:18.prize money that has been increased and with this week, record ticket

:44:18. > :44:23.sales and attendances, very difficult to make an argument

:44:23. > :44:27.against at the moment. I ask people in the press room if they knew of a

:44:27. > :44:33.strong but silent minority he might be in agreement, what is your take

:44:33. > :44:38.on but? I think a lot of players may be unhappy about the PTCs and I

:44:38. > :44:42.think people are delighted that we have more tournaments on. Paris has

:44:42. > :44:51.increased the prize fund up to �6.5 million and on the way to �10

:44:51. > :44:55.million which will be great. -- Barry has increased. The

:44:55. > :44:59.opportunity to get players to play more for prize money that far

:44:59. > :45:02.greater sums. We have got a tournament in Brazil, more

:45:02. > :45:06.tournaments in China, a World Cup this year which was successful and

:45:06. > :45:10.we will have more tournaments maybe in India and China and Australia of

:45:10. > :45:18.course. I don't know where he is coming from in that respect. I

:45:18. > :45:22.think most players are happy that he has come in. Big changes but

:45:22. > :45:30.there have to be tweaks, more money in the PT sees because a lot of

:45:30. > :45:40.players cannot play in them. -- in What do you think it will be like

:45:40. > :45:41.

:45:41. > :45:45.going on? It depends if he can look A few issues arising from this but

:45:45. > :45:48.we will discuss pure snooker for the rest of the afternoon because

:45:48. > :45:53.on the they come, Mark Williams who has not hopped over the set this

:45:53. > :45:57.time, he has walked to his seat and he will get a bit of a move on

:45:57. > :46:02.because 1-3 behind Ricky Walden who is playing beautifully and cueing

:46:02. > :46:12.beautifully. Certainly in the groove. Goes to Stephen and Dennis.

:46:12. > :46:15.

:46:15. > :46:22.Mark Williams will get it under way after the mid-session interval. A

:46:22. > :46:26.little bit too hard with the break- off shot. Hazel mentioned about

:46:26. > :46:36.Mark taking a short cut into the arena and we might be able to show

:46:36. > :46:43.

:46:43. > :46:53.A pretty good length on that. In fact he has got Mark in a spot of

:46:53. > :47:02.

:47:02. > :47:06.He may be forced to play the cue ball to the top cushion here. It is

:47:06. > :47:16.the any safety option, he is just checking where the cue ball may end

:47:16. > :47:25.

:47:25. > :47:35.Look at that pot success rate, And three out of three on the long

:47:35. > :47:48.

:47:48. > :47:53.Just as effective, that side, I The red pot into the left corner. -

:47:53. > :48:03.- pots. Difficult to see how we will go on a colour but he is going

:48:03. > :48:13.A big mistake by Mark Williams. What a great shot from Walden, well

:48:13. > :48:17.

:48:17. > :48:27.Perfect. Yeah, it did not look on but loads of top spin to take the

:48:27. > :48:31.white through and 10 out of 10 for There's four reds in the open but a

:48:31. > :48:39.perfect angle to stun into the edge of the pack. He does not want to

:48:39. > :48:49.screw into the middle of that pack But Ricky is a pretty attacking

:48:49. > :49:09.

:49:09. > :49:13.The white has just treated at the It would be a precocious plant but

:49:13. > :49:16.they are dead set for the pocket. The plant that Mark Williams played

:49:17. > :49:24.in the frame before the mid-session interval was much tougher and he

:49:24. > :49:34.went on to take the frame but it is a tricky one. I wonder if he will

:49:34. > :49:39.be tempted if there is no safety Are not sure what the success rate

:49:39. > :49:45.on the plant would be. A bit higher than he would think, probably. But

:49:45. > :49:55.the balls are significantly far enough apart that there is an

:49:55. > :50:00.

:50:01. > :50:06.Risky with that as well but he went for it. The red does go past into

:50:06. > :50:16.the yellow pocket, I think. A shot to nothing in some ways for Mark

:50:16. > :50:25.

:50:25. > :50:29.No, it was always going to go on the near jaw. Mark is still there,

:50:29. > :50:39.maybe he thought he would have potted it and it drifted slightly

:50:39. > :50:40.

:50:40. > :50:45.but we were right behind it and we There is a difference between the

:50:45. > :50:50.likes of, say, Judd Trump and Mark Williams. Judd Trump and other

:50:50. > :51:00.modern-day players hit the balls a lot harder. The harder you hit the

:51:00. > :51:02.

:51:02. > :51:12.shot, the less likely that the ball goes off Lin if there is a bit of

:51:12. > :51:14.

:51:14. > :51:24.I think it goes into the middle pocket. It is a thin one but he has

:51:24. > :51:30.

:51:30. > :51:40.He has looked about and I think he It looks like the safety option is

:51:40. > :51:45.

:51:45. > :51:48.the one to the top cushion but this Whereas the cue ball going?

:51:48. > :51:58.REFEREE: Foul. Possible turning point as well for. That is so

:51:58. > :52:10.

:52:10. > :52:20.unlucky. Not only the in-off but a It could be a turning point as you

:52:20. > :52:29.

:52:29. > :52:33.say, Steve. Very unlucky to come There's a very keen snooker fan

:52:33. > :52:36.watching today, I know. I was speaking to him, he has not been

:52:36. > :52:40.very well but he is back to his fighting best, the great Frank

:52:40. > :52:47.Carson will be watching snooker in Blackpool, one of the greatest

:52:47. > :52:57.comedians this country has ever produced. I am glad that you are

:52:57. > :53:01.

:53:01. > :53:11.keeping a bit better, Frank. It is What a great catchphrase from Frank

:53:11. > :53:21.Carson, "it's a cracker, it is the Meanwhile the Welsh Potting Machine

:53:21. > :53:25.

:53:25. > :53:35.is trying to get himself right back Similar shot to the one that Ricky

:53:35. > :53:44.

:53:44. > :53:54.played, he does not want to go into As long as he did not stick in that

:53:54. > :54:01.

:54:01. > :54:05.bunch of reds, he was mine. -- he A little mention for the Tucker he

:54:05. > :54:10.has not been in the best of health, everybody in the London area knows

:54:10. > :54:20.Lee Tucker. He's getting married to his girlfriend on the nap of

:54:20. > :54:40.

:54:40. > :54:45.despair -- 9th December, have you Has that red covered the pocket? It

:54:45. > :54:50.has. He might be able to get to the potting angle for the pink and play

:54:50. > :55:00.for the red that is up past the blue. But think it is the pink, not

:55:00. > :55:11.

:55:11. > :55:21.Ken was talking about Mark Williams and you're also talking about how

:55:21. > :55:54.

:55:54. > :55:58.Still the three reds around the I am not sure if the two reds near

:55:58. > :56:02.the pink are pottable. Mark is having a look at one of them and

:56:02. > :56:12.that is pretty tight. I don't know if it is the one nearer the pink he

:56:12. > :56:22.

:56:22. > :56:26.I don't think he is sure, he has been on the shot for a long time.

:56:26. > :56:31.It is certainly tight, but there is one near the blue he could take. He

:56:31. > :56:41.may have to finish up doing that but he would rather take the easier

:56:41. > :57:01.

:57:01. > :57:11.He has thought for about a minute He would probably be able to play

:57:11. > :57:23.

:57:23. > :57:28.the shot with right hand Spain and He could play it in a way that he

:57:28. > :57:32.would not leave anything on the red he is taking on. Take it on, stun

:57:32. > :57:40.over for the pink. Those two reds will not pot. It may even past the

:57:40. > :57:50.Nearly two minutes by the time he plays this.

:57:50. > :57:52.

:57:52. > :58:02.This was always the correct shot. If he thought it was too tight, the

:58:02. > :58:14.

:58:14. > :58:19.47 is the difference, just one more It is amazing, even for a seasoned

:58:19. > :58:29.campaigner like Mark Williams, that ball that takes you past the

:58:29. > :58:32.

:58:32. > :58:42.winning line in the frame seems to A lifeline he did not want to give

:58:42. > :58:52.Ricky with a problem of not only potting the red but retaining

:58:52. > :58:59.

:58:59. > :59:03.And now forced to play the black into the yellow pocket. He is

:59:03. > :59:13.looking at the score board, he has to pot it otherwise he will need a

:59:13. > :59:18.

:59:18. > :59:24.snooker. He is having the cue ball When mark played the shot, if he

:59:25. > :59:34.thought it rolled off to the near jaw it will be a problem for Ricky

:59:35. > :59:40.

:59:40. > :59:44.It has gone in-off the green! is a monstrous fluke. It really is.

:59:44. > :59:53.An even better, it has cleared the path for the yellow into the pocket.

:59:53. > :00:03.Wow! That is awful. Not awful from Ricky Walden's point of view. That

:00:03. > :00:06.

:00:06. > :00:15.is for sure. He has missed hit that a little smile, he has let slip

:00:15. > :00:24.there. It definitely would go but it was like a spitball, the way he

:00:24. > :00:31.-- split ball. He is saying things to Ricky on the weight. He has such

:00:31. > :00:41.a wicked sense of humour, Mark Williams. He got away with it as

:00:41. > :01:07.

:01:07. > :01:17.That is a much better Sharp, cent of the rare back behind the black.

:01:17. > :01:32.

:01:33. > :01:38.-- that is a much better shot. Send That is the correct shot. A very

:01:38. > :01:48.nice outcome. He could not have asked for that to happen. Whilst

:01:48. > :02:10.

:02:10. > :02:17.Ricky Walden foot to the black of I do not really think that was on.

:02:17. > :02:27.You have to get really close to the plaque to get -- read. - the black

:02:27. > :02:32.

:02:32. > :02:40.to get the red. He can tie at the moment. The referee is just

:02:40. > :02:44.explaining that. The rules have changed recently. Obviously the

:02:44. > :02:49.rule has changed because Ricky Walden did not want to eat himself

:02:50. > :02:59.in a situation where Mackie could not win the frame. -- leave himself

:03:00. > :03:10.

:03:10. > :03:20.in a Sicher way Sinn where he could No problem as the rate goes in. 3-2

:03:20. > :03:32.

:03:32. > :03:42.the score line. Mark Williams will A Mark Williams special Honda are

:03:42. > :03:52.shot with power. -- underarm. It is amazing how we can generate the

:03:52. > :04:26.

:04:26. > :04:36.power. -- he can generate. It is Amazing. That is just what Mark

:04:36. > :04:42.Williams needed. He is just one frame behind. - leaves the arena,

:04:42. > :04:52.we will show you how he entered the arena. -- - Williams leaves the

:04:52. > :04:54.

:04:54. > :05:01.arena. He is a laid-back character. He slips over the barrier. Before

:05:01. > :05:09.play starts they usually have an introduction. This is Barney Miller.

:05:09. > :05:14.That is what you call an entrance. This lovely lady is getting married

:05:14. > :05:24.on 17th December. It is a bit of fun that Robert Walker has with the

:05:24. > :05:26.

:05:26. > :05:36.people. How very nice way to come into the arena. She is waiting. --

:05:36. > :05:47.

:05:47. > :05:57.What a good frame from Mark Williams. He was a bit lucky. This

:05:57. > :06:08.

:06:08. > :06:18.is what has happened so far in the We will show you this shut again. -

:06:18. > :06:29.

:06:29. > :06:33.Yes, he had a chance later in the frame. That went awry. Mark

:06:33. > :06:39.Williams is one of the most dangerous players in the game. It

:06:39. > :06:46.is very hard to shake him. Even though he was three behind in this

:06:46. > :06:53.game, nothing seems to faze him. He can always get himself back in.

:06:53. > :06:57.Mark Williams, the first two ranking tournaments of the season,

:06:58. > :07:07.he has got to the final in bulk. Back in his brilliant best after a

:07:08. > :07:08.

:07:08. > :07:13.time out of the top 16. We just saw the beautiful trophy. Mark comes

:07:13. > :07:23.back into the area. He does not usually go out after every frame.

:07:23. > :07:23.

:07:23. > :08:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:08:58. > :09:03.The difficult long raid into the left corner that Wicky is looking

:09:03. > :09:13.at. -- added to that long red into the left corner that Ricky Walden

:09:13. > :09:51.

:09:51. > :09:57.Ricky played a pretty good shot. Mark has played a better one.

:09:57. > :10:03.difficult on these very fast cloths to get the cue ball completely

:10:03. > :10:13.behind the brown. It would look like he has given Ricky an easy

:10:13. > :10:26.

:10:26. > :10:36.David Bryant at his very best could not have done that. Perhaps he

:10:36. > :10:43.

:10:43. > :10:53.could! One of the great indoor bowlers. We have not had too much

:10:53. > :11:02.

:11:02. > :11:08.tactical play in this match. Breaks The fourth raid in from the left

:11:08. > :11:18.looks to be a ball he can play safe of to get back down the table. --

:11:18. > :11:32.

:11:32. > :11:42.That is the one. He may cannon another over the pocket. He has got

:11:42. > :11:43.

:11:43. > :11:48.a few options. How did he find the gap? That was superb. Great

:11:48. > :11:58.opportunism. You have got to know exactly how the ball is going to

:11:58. > :11:59.

:11:59. > :12:06.react. He found the gap. Did not necessarily get away with it. Mark

:12:06. > :12:16.Williams makes the most of a half chance. Cannae get back up Eee Top

:12:16. > :12:38.

:12:38. > :12:44.half of the table? -- can he get What a miss. He may have got away

:12:44. > :12:54.with this. If he has, he is very fortunate. He mishit that raid.

:12:54. > :12:54.

:12:54. > :13:02.Never got near the pocket. He has been very fortunate. He should have

:13:02. > :13:12.stuck Ricky Bourgain in here. -- Wicky Bourgain. The big difference

:13:12. > :13:30.

:13:30. > :13:40.between the two players is on the When Mark played that one of the

:13:40. > :14:02.

:14:02. > :14:11.cushion, he was perhaps a bit more A Puffin chance for Ricky Walden. -

:14:11. > :14:16.- potting chance. Absolutely no guarantee of position. If he does

:14:16. > :14:21.pot at this into the corner, and play a run-through for the blue,

:14:21. > :14:31.there is every likelihood people can and that second red along the

:14:31. > :14:37.

:14:37. > :14:44.cushion in the top. -- cannon. A straightforward safety shot.

:14:44. > :14:54.Maybe that might be the better choice. He is quite an attacking

:14:54. > :14:56.

:14:56. > :15:04.player. But he was 3-0 ahead. That can earn on the alarm may have left

:15:04. > :15:12.a chance for Mark. -- cannon on the the yellow. That was a split

:15:12. > :15:18.decision on whether to go For the Pot or play safety. He has given

:15:18. > :15:28.Mark a chance. Same problem. OK, you pop the ball, but is it too

:15:28. > :15:42.

:15:42. > :15:45.Great shot. That is an absolute classic shot to nothing. If the

:15:45. > :15:55.rate goes in, he has got the green. If he misses the pot, he has got

:15:55. > :15:56.

:15:56. > :16:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:16:48. > :16:58.He might be able to get up behind This shot Ricky Walden can pot and

:16:58. > :17:05.get back up the table for the blue. All things considered, a couple of

:17:05. > :17:15.nice cases, even though he is the wrong side of the blue. -- kisses.

:17:15. > :17:19.

:17:19. > :17:26.You cannot beat a nice kiss, Steve. Not easy from this position. He

:17:26. > :17:32.should not have been anywhere near the cushion. That is one of the

:17:32. > :17:42.worst position all shot he has played for some time. -- positional

:17:42. > :17:54.

:17:54. > :18:01.A very frustrating conclusion to this mini-break. It is difficult to

:18:01. > :18:08.see if he can pot this. I do not think he can. No. The pink is

:18:08. > :18:13.slightly in the way. He may have to play with some screw to try to get

:18:13. > :18:23.up towards the green. He does not like the life. That is why he is

:18:23. > :18:30.

:18:30. > :18:40.taking another route. That is not the best either. He cannot leave

:18:40. > :18:50.

:18:50. > :18:59.Marvellous shot from Mark Williams. He has got options. It is not the

:18:59. > :19:09.type of situation where he pops the blue and goes into the reds. -- pot.

:19:09. > :19:26.

:19:26. > :19:30.What about the pink? That is an I thought he was going to play the

:19:30. > :19:40.brown from the ears. He had three choices. Pink was the better for

:19:40. > :19:42.

:19:42. > :19:46.the position. That was a dog of a shot. The two players have played

:19:46. > :19:56.some great shots in this matter. A little bit of tension creeping in,

:19:56. > :20:04.

:20:04. > :20:14.perhaps. He will automatically head The shot to nothing for Mark

:20:14. > :20:24.Williams. A clever shot. Obviously low percentage on the raid. -- red

:20:24. > :20:35.

:20:35. > :20:42.Almost swung it all the way around the ankles. It is who gets the real

:20:42. > :20:52.telling safety shot. It is fascinating to watch this puzzle. -

:20:52. > :20:57.

:20:58. > :21:05.This is a frame that Ricky Walden would desperately like to win. Try

:21:05. > :21:14.to get some more breathing space. Do you think Marquez got the pace

:21:14. > :21:18.of the table? -- be think Mark Williams has got the pace? From a

:21:18. > :21:26.situation where it did not look as though he was going to put Ricky in

:21:26. > :21:34.trouble, he has got a small problem. He will be happy with that. No

:21:34. > :21:44.damage done at all. OK, the cue ball has come out of both, but an

:21:44. > :22:20.

:22:20. > :22:26.Very good again. A very good bout of tactical play. A phone call this

:22:26. > :22:31.morning from -- about our dear old lady who came to the Crucible for

:22:31. > :22:40.30 years. Sadly passed away recently. I think she was in her

:22:40. > :22:44.90s. For more than 30 years she sat in the front row in Sheffield. Her

:22:44. > :22:50.granddaughter informed us. Very sad to hear about your grand mother,

:22:50. > :23:00.Emily. She was a lovely lady. She used to send me a bunch of

:23:00. > :23:11.

:23:12. > :23:21.That has turned out interesting. This is a tough pot from Mark

:23:22. > :23:32.

:23:32. > :23:36.You talk about Mark Williams stroking the ball. This was played

:23:36. > :23:46.similar to Judd Trump. When he needs it, he can power them into

:23:46. > :23:52.

:23:52. > :24:02.the pocket. How clever as well. He Just need to come out enough to be

:24:02. > :24:13.

:24:13. > :24:23.able to pot the red next to the There are a few of those reds

:24:23. > :24:38.

:24:38. > :24:45.available. It was not imperative He has spotted another raid that

:24:45. > :24:49.goes, which is helpful. If he is dead straight on this, he can go

:24:49. > :24:59.through for the black in the opposite corner. If he is not,

:24:59. > :25:09.Airey is still some work to be done. -- their rhys mack. -- their rhys

:25:09. > :25:23.

:25:23. > :25:33.He struck that nicely. Perhaps he Definite chance to level the match

:25:33. > :25:44.

:25:44. > :25:50.here. It has been a very high standard, this match. Mark Williams,

:25:50. > :25:57.when he starts knocking this type of shot in and at pace, you have to

:25:57. > :26:07.watch out. Both players cueing really well. In a few shots we

:26:07. > :26:09.

:26:09. > :26:17.could be all-square at three apiece. The pot success rate, both still in

:26:17. > :26:27.the 90s. It looks to be a marvellous recovery from Mark

:26:27. > :26:29.

:26:29. > :26:38.Williams to have got back to level scores. Still enough of the match

:26:38. > :26:48.left a bit short of pace there. I am not too sure if he can play this

:26:48. > :26:51.

:26:51. > :27:01.with side spin. No real problems. Just this red. He does not have to

:27:01. > :27:12.

:27:12. > :27:18.I think we all thought Mark would be here as the defending champion.

:27:18. > :27:25.The final last year in Telford was unbelievable. Mark LED John Higgins

:27:25. > :27:35.9-5. John won five frames in succession to pinched the title. It

:27:35. > :27:39.

:27:39. > :27:49.was a remarkable performance from That is the end of the break.

:27:49. > :27:49.

:27:49. > :27:57.Unless he can pull a spectacular shot off. I thought he had done.

:27:57. > :28:06.Mark Williams, the Welsh potting machine, is right back in this. It

:28:06. > :28:12.is all square. Three each. Yes, and Ricky Walden's early

:28:12. > :28:16.Yes, and Ricky Walden's early momentum has dissipated somewhat.

:28:16. > :28:26.lesser player may have been swamped this afternoon. The way Ricky

:28:26. > :28:41.

:28:41. > :28:48.Walden started this match was The he was covering the raid over

:28:48. > :28:53.the pocket. He is a master tactician. Brilliant at playing

:28:53. > :28:59.scrappy frames. When it goes awkward, he is very clever. He is

:28:59. > :29:03.on orthodox but very clever. He is a master tactician. That last frame

:29:03. > :29:10.before the interval was so crucial for Mark Williams. Captain in the

:29:10. > :29:19.matter. By -- it kept him in at the match. He has got a lot of

:29:19. > :29:24.character, a lot of heart. Also, terrific consistency this season.

:29:24. > :29:27.Ind two finals, Australia and Shanghai. He lost both. When the

:29:27. > :29:33.key events come round, he has been able to phase in his form

:29:33. > :29:40.gradually? Yes. And he has come back. He was playing in qualifiers

:29:41. > :29:45.for a couple of seasons. He had lost his ranking in the top 16. He

:29:45. > :29:49.was qualifying. He has come back and he has got his game back. I

:29:49. > :29:56.love watching him play. He is one of those players I never get tired

:29:56. > :30:00.of watching. There is something unorthodox and led the way he plays.

:30:00. > :30:04.There is always something there that you say, I did not think of

:30:04. > :30:10.that. How do you think he would feel about losing his No. 1

:30:10. > :30:15.ranking? He started the new season as No. 1 again. Mark Selby has

:30:15. > :30:21.overtaken him. Well that bothered him. I do not think so. He would

:30:21. > :30:24.obviously still like to be number one. I do not think they are

:30:24. > :30:29.preoccupied with the number one. They like to win the major

:30:29. > :30:33.tournaments. That is where the -- that is what they feel is the most

:30:33. > :30:43.important thing. The rankings will look after themselves. I do not

:30:43. > :30:48.think you will be preoccupied with It is all square, three apiece.

:30:48. > :30:58.DENNIS TAYLOR: It is now the best of five to see who will get through

:30:58. > :31:16.

:31:16. > :31:21.That is a bad mistake, he hit that far too thin and he has stock this

:31:21. > :31:31.red up. If he had have got that it would have been on the black but

:31:31. > :31:31.

:31:31. > :31:41.that is the worst thing that Ricky Lost three frames in a row. -- when

:31:41. > :31:59.

:31:59. > :32:09.Dear me, what a kick and heavy contact. He might have got away

:32:09. > :32:10.

:32:10. > :32:20.What a swipe there with the cue when he got that kick. You could

:32:20. > :32:38.

:32:38. > :32:48.Martin Gould is on the other table and will wonder what on earth

:32:48. > :33:23.

:33:23. > :33:27.happened. I amongst the balls, he Very good and he is perfect on the

:33:27. > :33:31.blue and he will go straight into the pink full ball and send the

:33:31. > :33:35.reds all over the place and this is a key shot coming up, he needs to

:33:35. > :33:42.get himself going again. He has had to sit out and watch Mark Williams

:33:42. > :33:52.for the last three frames. He looks to see if there are any of this

:33:52. > :33:57.

:33:57. > :34:07.He is left with a thinner pot against the right corner. You're a

:34:07. > :34:13.

:34:13. > :34:19.master at that shot, he did not hit You are always trusting to luck.

:34:19. > :34:24.You hope if you open up the balls you will get some sort of leaves

:34:24. > :34:34.and you would feel aggrieved if you don't. He nearly got Mark Williams

:34:34. > :34:34.

:34:34. > :35:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:35:22. > :35:27.A bit awkward with the pink and Ricky Walden is not a bad tactical

:35:27. > :35:37.player but he would do well to out to Mark Williams, one of the finest

:35:37. > :35:57.

:35:57. > :36:07.An excellent return from Ricky, he It two-cushion escape. What about

:36:07. > :36:12.

:36:12. > :36:17.Also helped with a nudge on the green. There is a pot on the match

:36:17. > :36:27.but when you are against this cushion, I don't know if you could

:36:27. > :36:29.

:36:29. > :36:38.pot it and then get back up. If he gets away with this, he has

:36:38. > :36:48.had a result. He has had a result! This red is very thin on the top

:36:48. > :36:48.

:36:48. > :37:38.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:37:38. > :37:48.There's no easy way back down behind the green and brown. A few

:37:48. > :37:54.

:37:54. > :37:58.You can see how much side there was on it, that is the reason he got no

:37:58. > :38:06.where near the pot. When you put that amount of side on it on this

:38:06. > :38:16.fast cloths it is so difficult to judge. He was in an awful lot of

:38:16. > :38:26.

:38:26. > :38:36.trouble and it had to be struck If he can convert this chance, what

:38:36. > :38:55.

:38:55. > :39:01.a turnaround in this match. Totally Clever, he wanted to get the black

:39:01. > :39:07.onto its spot and only had the blue to work with there. The first

:39:07. > :39:17.opportunity, he has taken it. To get the black back on to its spot.

:39:17. > :39:20.

:39:20. > :39:30.No heroics with the under the body The lowest red pot past the pack

:39:30. > :39:36.

:39:36. > :39:46.once in the spots, I think so just Every chance of converting this

:39:46. > :39:50.

:39:50. > :39:55.That is a bit like the old Mark Williams, looks in control and then

:39:55. > :40:05.put in a careless one. That was just concentration, chance a little

:40:05. > :40:22.

:40:22. > :40:28.and did not push the cue through. Excellent shot from Ricky Walden,

:40:28. > :40:32.so can he kick start the engines again? He has got to do here

:40:32. > :40:40.because Mark Williams is taking control of this match but that

:40:40. > :40:50.could all turn back in Ricky's You could not ask for them to be

:40:50. > :40:52.

:40:52. > :40:56.The only thing different from a practice set up his the pink is off

:40:56. > :41:06.its spot. He might have to play a little cannon here, he does not

:41:06. > :41:17.

:41:17. > :41:27.want to be but it has not pushed That is the advantage of being tall,

:41:27. > :41:37.

:41:37. > :41:47.That cannoned caused him a bit more of a problem than before he played

:41:47. > :41:50.

:41:50. > :42:00.He wouldn't want to be playing into the middle pocket this early in the

:42:00. > :42:30.

:42:30. > :42:35.The last two seasons in the UK Championship, Ricky Walden has lost

:42:35. > :42:45.to John Higgins 9-7 and then Mark Selby last year in the first round,

:42:45. > :42:51.

:42:51. > :43:01.9-6. He will be helping to keep his Just a little bit short of pace, he

:43:01. > :43:05.

:43:05. > :43:12.will have to go back up for the He is ranked 23 in the world at the

:43:12. > :43:15.moment. It looked like he would get himself into the top 16. He is

:43:15. > :43:23.taking these very nicely, just starting to get a bit more

:43:23. > :43:33.difficult now for him. 27 in front so he will not need the difficult

:43:33. > :43:42.

:43:42. > :43:45.That carelessness from Mark He just seemed to lose his

:43:45. > :43:55.concentration and was thinking about the position and for got the

:43:55. > :44:05.

:44:05. > :44:13.Under the circumstances, this is very good from Ricky Walden. He has

:44:13. > :44:20.been frozen out from the last three frames. He got off to a flyer with

:44:20. > :44:26.the breaks. That is a poor shot. He is 43 ahead with 43 on the table,

:44:26. > :44:32.such a margin for error. How could you leave yourself short there,

:44:32. > :44:42.Ricky? OK, the red was hampering him a bit but he will have to wait

:44:42. > :44:47.

:44:47. > :44:53.He can't play it off the red behind the pink and get into the green and

:44:53. > :44:58.brown because of the angle they are sitting at. It would not be a bad

:44:58. > :45:03.shot to flick off that and clear the pink but he has got the reds

:45:04. > :45:13.open. If he played extra thin on that red, he may be able to lined

:45:14. > :45:19.

:45:19. > :45:22.the three balls up. Playing to the It is as good a shot as anything,

:45:22. > :45:26.that, because if he does flick the pink he might even put it on the

:45:26. > :45:31.cushion and if he was to leave the white tight on the cushion, not a

:45:31. > :45:35.snooker, it would be a pivotal position for Mark Williams, I like

:45:35. > :45:38.your shot. In some ways not putting the pink on the cushion may help as

:45:38. > :45:48.well but obviously from our point of view of Mark William clearing

:45:48. > :45:54.

:45:54. > :46:04.the balls up, it would be nice That is definitely a good shot.

:46:04. > :46:35.

:46:35. > :46:44.may be able to play to the side He doesn't have to but if he knocks

:46:44. > :46:47.it in, p frame would definitely be over. At the moment, Mark Williams

:46:47. > :46:57.wants several balls to tie. This is the type of shot that Ricky

:46:57. > :47:04.

:47:04. > :47:10.That is going to be OK. If Mark Williams can somehow get in behind

:47:10. > :47:20.the green and brown, he might not be able to do it off the one next

:47:20. > :47:24.

:47:24. > :47:29.Ricky will be pleased to see the green going tight on the cushion.

:47:29. > :47:39.So one good shot now, a shot to nothing. I don't think he will

:47:39. > :48:00.

:48:00. > :48:10.He has now brought the pink out No, but it was worth the chance

:48:10. > :48:16.

:48:16. > :48:21.Not that easy for Ricky to play a good safety shot because he does

:48:21. > :48:24.not want to push one of the reds into a pottable position. He could

:48:24. > :48:29.hit the cushion first and then flicked the first red which would

:48:29. > :48:35.take the white up the table but what we did do with the red? He may

:48:35. > :48:40.be able to... Play the hard stun shot and try to get both reds up

:48:40. > :48:47.the table away from the black spot area as well because Mark needs

:48:47. > :48:51.blacks with both reds. You could risk this. Belt the life out of it

:48:51. > :48:57.and stun the white ball dead on the cushion, send the reds up the

:48:57. > :49:01.table... Somewhere! If they were closer to the cushion, it would be

:49:01. > :49:06.on and if he gets the shots to the other side of the table, needing

:49:06. > :49:16.two blacks, that is a good call because if one of the reds would

:49:16. > :49:19.certainly go up the other end of It is whether he can guarantee the

:49:19. > :49:24.second red would not wobble and stay at the top of the table

:49:24. > :49:34.somehow. The first red would go down the table. Or he can of course

:49:34. > :49:44.just drop on it but it is a bit He may leave them touching or a

:49:44. > :49:52.

:49:52. > :50:02.chance for Mark to put him in Well, he didn't but I am just

:50:02. > :50:16.

:50:16. > :50:26.wondering if Mark will attempt this I didn't think it was and now he

:50:26. > :50:36.

:50:36. > :50:40.has left himself no chance at the Not the best from Mark, I think. He

:50:40. > :50:48.was not playing the snooker behind the blue and he was trying to get

:50:48. > :50:58.behind the black. Outside chance of a snooker behind the brown off two

:50:58. > :50:58.

:50:58. > :51:02.cushions but it is risky, I am not He did not play it hard. And for

:51:02. > :51:06.that reason I don't think he would have got behind the brown anyway.

:51:06. > :51:16.Big shot for Mark Williams to take on to try to pot this and retain

:51:16. > :51:20.

:51:21. > :51:30.position on the black. Is that his He seems to be looking at the

:51:31. > :51:33.

:51:33. > :51:39.He has tried the snooker and he has played it... I was going to say

:51:39. > :51:43.pretty good but the fact the red is near the cushion, he can come off

:51:43. > :51:51.the side cushion and on to that red to escape. If it had bounced a

:51:51. > :51:56.fraction it would have been easier for Ricky Walden. But a bit of pace

:51:56. > :52:04.with this, I don't think there is any choice intro to land on it

:52:05. > :52:14.because he could stick it up. -- any choice in trying to land on it.

:52:15. > :52:27.

:52:27. > :52:37.How is the pace on this? It might play a snooker but he can see

:52:37. > :52:42.

:52:42. > :52:52.enough of the side cushion to hit He will settle for that. He has

:52:52. > :52:59.

:52:59. > :53:05.knocked the brown awkward and has More likely that Mark Williams will

:53:05. > :53:13.now play for snookers rather than play for the red with the brown

:53:13. > :53:18.It would be difficult to clear the colours from one visit in this

:53:18. > :53:22.position, it would have been easier if the brown had gone safe. I would

:53:22. > :53:25.be tempted to double this into the right corner pocket because you

:53:25. > :53:35.have got a great chance of getting a snooker and if he doesn't knock

:53:35. > :53:36.

:53:36. > :53:42.the red into this right corner He is trying to keep distance

:53:42. > :53:45.between the balls but Mark might have a go at this. Under those

:53:45. > :53:48.circumstances, you have got to keep the object ball safe as well.

:53:48. > :53:58.Williams will only pot this red if he can feel he can guarantee

:53:58. > :54:09.

:54:09. > :54:19.How was the cue ball? He did not play it in his pocket, amazing shot

:54:19. > :54:22.

:54:22. > :54:31.to get round that side. He held his He has missed it... Oh, that looked

:54:31. > :54:41.as if it would wobble. Are we going to have a re-spotted black? Any

:54:41. > :54:43.

:54:43. > :54:53.more pace, it would not have And a chance, well, he is left-

:54:53. > :55:20.

:55:20. > :55:24.He really put everything into that position. That flick on the brown

:55:24. > :55:28.may have cost him the frame. It looked like he would have got away

:55:28. > :55:38.with that until that brown kissed into the cue ball. That was a bit

:55:38. > :55:42.

:55:42. > :55:49.of a chance to have a re-spotted That will be a pretty relieved

:55:49. > :55:59.Ricky Walden. The last thing he wanted what -- was a re-spotted

:55:59. > :56:04.

:56:04. > :56:09.Mark Williams will probably leave the arena. That is enough, Ricky.

:56:09. > :56:15.Ricky Walden with that break of 58 gets his nose in front again, he is

:56:15. > :56:18.back in the lead, 4-3. HAZEL IRVINE: It looked like we

:56:18. > :56:20.might head for a re-spotted black but for that Williams miss on the

:56:20. > :56:26.brown. What did you put that one down to,

:56:26. > :56:29.Ken? He played a lovely shot before that and not the green out. He was

:56:29. > :56:33.trying to deep screw it with a lot of left-hand side to get back up

:56:33. > :56:38.for the blue and it is never easy when you are putting that much side

:56:38. > :56:45.spin on a cue ball. It could have gone for a re-spot but he would

:56:45. > :56:50.back in the match -- he was back in the match. Signs that Ricky was

:56:50. > :56:54.looking a bit wobbly early in the frame. The site will largely a

:56:54. > :56:59.snooker is weird. Mark Williams is 3-0 down in no time, he has fought

:56:59. > :57:05.his way back but for some reason he cannot find his way in front. A

:57:06. > :57:11.very interesting frame, a put couple of Mrs from by the -- a

:57:11. > :57:15.couple of misses from both players. He will go out and dust himself

:57:15. > :57:25.down and get ready for the next frame but there's still a lot of

:57:25. > :57:26.

:57:26. > :57:31.snooker. But as well the beauties, even if you are 3-1 down, there is

:57:31. > :57:40.still a lot of snooker to play. think best of nine is not a lot.

:57:40. > :57:43.Best of 11 is a good test. It feels a lot longer. By the way, we hear

:57:43. > :57:46.that Mark Williams is tweeting a fair bit of the time which is

:57:46. > :57:51.unlike him and he has been tweeting in between frames. He has got the

:57:51. > :57:55.bug or they seven. I think it is something nasty about Steve Davis'!

:57:55. > :57:58.Steve has been very good at commentary today because he has not

:57:58. > :58:08.said too much about Mark. They have a healthy relationship of slagging

:58:08. > :58:08.

:58:09. > :58:14.each other off! The Twitter is between the two of them. In terms

:58:14. > :58:19.of general terms, who is looking the stronger of the two? Equally

:58:19. > :58:22.balanced. You could not discount Mark, he is a frame behind but you

:58:22. > :58:26.can never discount the great champion. He has so much more

:58:26. > :58:31.experience and that is the test for Ricky. Although he has been

:58:31. > :58:39.successful at the business end of tournaments, he is only one

:58:39. > :58:44.tournament and the Shanghai Masters. -- that is the Shanghai Masters. It

:58:44. > :58:53.may be the talent factor. Back we go and Steve, what about this

:58:53. > :58:57.Twitter thing? Have you been We are playing each other in a

:58:57. > :59:04.shoot-out so it is getting strained out there. He thinks he has a

:59:04. > :59:14.chance of beating me in a one frame shoot-out match. Ridiculous! I

:59:14. > :59:18.

:59:18. > :59:24.would advise you not to look at his How the game of snooker has changed.

:59:24. > :59:29.Imagine the great Joe Davis tweeting in between frames! No

:59:29. > :59:32.tweeting back in the 40s and 50s. Mark needs to be concentrating on

:59:32. > :59:37.this match, never mind tweeting, because he might not have anything

:59:37. > :59:47.to tweet about it he loses. Davis would have probably sent a

:59:47. > :59:50.

:59:50. > :59:54.And early chance for Mark Williams. The path of the cue ball is a bit

:59:54. > :00:04.difficult, a few reds in the way but around the back of the black is

:00:04. > :00:12.

:00:12. > :00:19.OK but after that it becomes a Has he got away with it? He has

:00:19. > :00:25.been very fortunate indeed. He could have stopped Ricky Walden's

:00:25. > :00:35.right in the balls. -- he could have stock. That is a dangerous

:00:35. > :00:45.plant. He was very lucky. That is a sign of repetitive strain injury.

:00:45. > :00:47.

:00:47. > :00:51.thought he was going to leave Ricky ride in amongst them. Well, he did!

:00:51. > :01:01.When you play a shot like that and get away with it, it is a great

:01:01. > :01:15.

:01:15. > :01:25.The blue has covered the red near the corner pocket. That means Mark

:01:25. > :01:29.

:01:29. > :01:33.Williams has got very little to play. That is nowhere near. In fact,

:01:33. > :01:40.it is so short, Ricky Walden may play the pot and leave himself on

:01:40. > :01:44.the blue. He could play this shot in such a way, he would not leave

:01:45. > :01:54.the red on for the corner pocket but he would still be on the blue.

:01:55. > :02:00.

:02:00. > :02:10.He hedged his bets. It was at 3 Sharp the way he played it. -- it

:02:10. > :02:10.

:02:10. > :02:16.was a free shot. He should have played more -- he should have made

:02:16. > :02:26.more of that attempt. It did not look like he was lined up for the

:02:26. > :02:36.pot. Years back it was the decision of the referee. Now it becomes the

:02:36. > :02:37.

:02:37. > :02:44.players. That is the end of that frame. Or the start of that frame!

:02:44. > :02:52.I do not blame them for doing it. They knew they were going nowhere.

:02:53. > :03:02.Not enough time for Mark to tweak this time. -- to two weeks. He was

:03:03. > :03:03.

:03:03. > :03:07.a little unhappy with the red he missed into the black pocket. Judd

:03:07. > :03:17.Trump is very good at knowing -- letting his fans know what is

:03:17. > :03:17.

:03:17. > :04:19.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:04:19. > :04:29.happening in all other matters. -- That was a poor shot from quickie.

:04:29. > :04:38.

:04:38. > :04:45.He knew straight away. -- a poor That was an half chance for Mark

:04:45. > :04:55.Williams and he did not get near the pot. Ricky Walden's poor safety

:04:55. > :05:17.

:05:17. > :05:27.All of a sudden, it is a good chance. A little bit awkward at the

:05:27. > :05:56.

:05:56. > :06:02.He may have to go back up the table if he is not high enough. Obviously

:06:02. > :06:09.the blue is the best ball to go into the pack from. Getting the

:06:09. > :06:19.correct side of the blue is important. I think he has got an

:06:19. > :06:42.

:06:42. > :06:52.angle to storm of that red. -- took Still a great line. This is the key

:06:52. > :06:57.

:06:57. > :07:07.shot coming up. A bit unlucky again. That time he hit the pink. But he

:07:07. > :07:18.

:07:18. > :07:23.did not screw it in. He lost the It gets a bit technical to explain.

:07:23. > :07:31.As group shot would have kept the wide near the pink spot area. --

:07:31. > :07:34.had he played a screw shot. After potting the blue, if you put back

:07:34. > :07:44.spin on the cue ball, but wide ball is effectively spinning in that

:07:44. > :07:48.

:07:48. > :07:58.direction. Every shot you see on the table, some sort of spin has

:07:58. > :07:58.

:07:58. > :08:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:08:43. > :08:53.I followed every single word of At trick shot from the Welsh

:08:53. > :09:08.

:09:08. > :09:18.He needs a little bit of angle on this ride macro. -- red. He had not

:09:18. > :09:18.

:09:18. > :09:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:09:58. > :10:06.got that angle. That is why he had That was a bit careless. He was

:10:06. > :10:13.trying to play at delicate screw shot. He did not push through the

:10:13. > :10:23.cue ball as he intended. He did not get the intended spin he was

:10:23. > :10:30.

:10:30. > :10:40.Ricky Walden practices that are shot. They do say practice makes

:10:40. > :10:40.

:10:40. > :10:48.perfect. He has got a Championship table in a chapter -- Chester at he

:10:48. > :10:54.practises on. He kindly let me use his table just before the legends

:10:54. > :11:04.games, the tour that we did. It is a lovely table to practise on. Very

:11:04. > :11:04.

:11:04. > :11:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:11:51. > :11:59.Maeda -- he just needs a gentle Just losing the cue ball at the

:11:59. > :12:09.moment. A very important friend. If Ricky was to go 5-3 ahead, it would

:12:09. > :12:36.

:12:36. > :12:45.be a tall order for Mark Williams. He does seem to play that shot

:12:45. > :12:54.particularly well, into the middle pocket. James Watt Tanner from

:12:54. > :13:00.Thailand was excellent. As indeed are a lot of the Chinese players.

:13:00. > :13:10.45 ahead, 75 remaining. No problem getting on the black of this use

:13:10. > :13:17.

:13:17. > :13:27.He has got the angle on the black to get a cannon. This is the key to

:13:27. > :14:03.

:14:03. > :14:08.He is thinking about this. He knows the importance of this shot. Is

:14:08. > :14:14.there a plant? Cannae get through the gap? I think he is looking at

:14:14. > :14:24.the plant. He had the perfect angle to cannon that. That looks to be

:14:24. > :14:38.

:14:38. > :14:48.going to the right of the pocket. He made it look very easy. He just

:14:48. > :14:51.

:14:51. > :14:57.squeezed it slightly and made the He has given himself some breathing

:14:57. > :15:06.space in this match. He will have three cracks at getting over the

:15:06. > :15:11.line. And I am sure he thinks, as long as he gets some decent chances,

:15:11. > :15:21.he may convert one. Worrying times for Mark Williams and his legion of

:15:21. > :15:29.Twitter fans. Very good from Ricky Walden. 3-0 ahead. He lost three in

:15:29. > :15:39.succession. He has come back with this. A very good indeed. -- very

:15:39. > :15:48.

:15:48. > :15:58.He is doing it in style. At 58 break in the previous frame.

:15:58. > :16:07.

:16:07. > :16:12.He will not bother about that. Very good from Ricky all that. -- Ricky

:16:12. > :16:21.Walden. He just needs one more frame for a place in the quarter-

:16:21. > :16:26.final. Steve was talking about spin and what happens to the ball. We

:16:26. > :16:36.have got a wide ball with the red spot on. It is amazing what happens.

:16:36. > :16:46.

:16:46. > :16:51.Have a look at what happens. Have a look at this. It keeps on spinning.

:16:51. > :17:01.That is so clever that, to show you exactly what happens with the cue

:17:01. > :17:01.

:17:01. > :17:06.ball. It is still going. That why it has got more spin then you have.

:17:06. > :17:12.-- that ball. Every time you play a shot with side spin, you're trying

:17:12. > :17:19.to change the angle of the cue ball off the cushion. Top spin is

:17:19. > :17:26.usually employed to make the ball go forwards or backwards. Different

:17:26. > :17:32.spins for different jobs. Meanwhile, that is a better break from Mark

:17:32. > :17:42.Williams. He cannot afford to make many more mistakes or he could be

:17:42. > :17:42.

:17:42. > :18:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

:18:45. > :18:49.Apparently that a cue ball is still He could have played that harder

:18:49. > :18:59.and tried to get behind the green. He felt the angle was not perhaps

:18:59. > :19:15.

:19:15. > :19:23.This looks very good. That is what Mark Williams need to do. He is

:19:24. > :19:33.having a glance at the other table. He has got to be pretty precise

:19:34. > :19:48.

:19:48. > :19:55.He has played that beautifully. Well judged. Touching would help

:19:55. > :20:05.Mark Williams. The referee has spotted it is touching one of the

:20:05. > :20:34.

:20:34. > :20:44.A similar type shot. Still quite A bit short of pace. Just a bit

:20:44. > :21:22.

:21:22. > :21:28.A chance for Ricky to return the He got away with that. Or has the?

:21:28. > :21:33.It looked easier on the screen than it actually was. Mark will still be

:21:33. > :21:43.disappointed to have missed that. He should have not begin. He has

:21:43. > :21:45.

:21:45. > :21:55.been rather fortunate that it has They have played each other three

:21:55. > :21:56.

:21:56. > :22:06.times. Mark is leading 2-1. Played in the UK Championship in 2007. 9-3

:22:06. > :22:10.

:22:10. > :22:14.to Mark Williams. Ricky may be in a bit of trouble here. He may have to

:22:14. > :22:22.jack the Ku up right in the air, 90 degrees to the table, effectively

:22:22. > :22:27.potting a lot of black -- back spin. Bring the cue ball back into both.

:22:27. > :22:36.You were one of the best at the game -- in the game at playing this

:22:37. > :22:46.particular shot. You need to be very tall to get that ball in the

:22:47. > :22:53.

:22:53. > :22:58.air. The other option is to touch I have seen some strange rewrite

:22:58. > :23:04.positions before, but this would be the strangest of all. If there is

:23:04. > :23:08.one, I will take you out for a meal tonight. He will be delighted with

:23:08. > :23:18.that. He will be absolutely delighted. He will have just

:23:18. > :23:23.

:23:23. > :23:32.returned to his chair and just die! He tried that very difficult shot

:23:32. > :23:39.that you mentioned. He did not pull it off. That is a little bit too

:23:39. > :23:47.pacy. He wanted to finish on the blue. He may still be able to get

:23:47. > :23:57.background. -- back around. He has got a long way to travel. He has

:23:57. > :24:17.

:24:17. > :24:27.got a pretty decent angle on it be That was unlucky. He played this so

:24:27. > :24:30.

:24:30. > :24:40.well. Unlucky. Yes, he has got the chance of the red macro into the

:24:40. > :24:55.

:24:55. > :25:05.Well, this is a judgment Sharp. It could be a match-winner if this

:25:05. > :25:11.

:25:11. > :25:21.It could be Ephraim the loser, of course, as well. -- affray and

:25:21. > :25:52.

:25:52. > :26:02.He has got one to the middle. could not have hit those rates

:26:02. > :26:11.

:26:11. > :26:21.better. The perfect cannon. -- The rates just open enough. -- the

:26:21. > :26:31.

:26:31. > :26:38.reds. Only a couple out at the That was very well played. There

:26:38. > :26:48.was not much room for error. A little knowledge of the pink to

:26:48. > :27:04.

:27:04. > :27:11.He is on that red. Not as he would have liked. He indicated by his

:27:11. > :27:20.reaction that he got a little bounce of that cushion. -- of the

:27:20. > :27:26.cushion. Yes, throws his hand up in the air. Maybe it was a cake. --

:27:26. > :27:36.kick. He will have Buchanan a mother of red in potting this one.

:27:36. > :27:59.

:27:59. > :28:09.-- he would have to cannon another Ricky Walden really had a good

:28:09. > :28:38.

:28:38. > :28:48.One certain thing about it Mark Williams, he never gives up. He

:28:48. > :29:05.

:29:05. > :29:15.will try to the end. This is a big He made that he shot look a lot

:29:15. > :29:28.

:29:28. > :29:32.easier than it was. Perhaps go into Not too sure if he likes that one.

:29:32. > :29:42.I think he should have gone into the pack. I will not start to

:29:42. > :30:04.

:30:04. > :30:08.He has done exactly what we keep all done did. -- Ricky Walden. Just

:30:08. > :30:16.because they were not perfectly on the black. It looked as if it was

:30:16. > :30:26.in. All of it -- all the sudden it touched the jaw and it did not drop.

:30:26. > :30:36.

:30:36. > :30:40.Here is Ricky Walden's first chance That red and a possible plant is on,

:30:40. > :30:43.that is what Ricky is thinking about. He does not want to play it

:30:43. > :30:53.this time, he has got the easy red to the middle pocket but he is

:30:53. > :30:53.

:30:53. > :30:57.wondering if he should play for the I would not play that shot,

:30:57. > :31:07.bridging over the pink? I would rather have the one in the middle

:31:07. > :31:18.

:31:19. > :31:21.If he thinks those are tied, he can The black, it is. And it is

:31:21. > :31:25.difficult to judge the cue ball when you are so close. It would not

:31:25. > :31:30.be a bad idea to hit the cushion just before the black and it would

:31:30. > :31:38.taken towards the triangle of reds. It just a delicate little shot but

:31:38. > :31:48.I think it will be the one to play in he just hit before the pocket. -

:31:48. > :32:00.

:32:00. > :32:09.I think he has got to be happy with that. Yeah, he can get on the blue

:32:09. > :32:14.nicely or the pink and the two red He couldn't have played that better,

:32:14. > :32:24.he needs the right angle. It is all about the red on the left cushion

:32:24. > :32:24.

:32:24. > :32:30.as to whether Ricky can win frame This would be an easier clearance

:32:30. > :32:34.for Mark Williams, being left- handed. The question is, does Ricky

:32:34. > :32:40.Walden try and get the red out or try to play his down the rail? I

:32:40. > :32:49.would suggest that it is far enough down the table away from the middle

:32:49. > :32:59.pocket that he may be forced to It depends how becomes on the

:32:59. > :33:01.

:33:01. > :33:05.He chose to leave it to last. only problem with that red, if he

:33:05. > :33:12.leaves it down the cushion, and he missed one earlier in the match

:33:12. > :33:16.with the rest, it depends how comfortable you are with the rest.

:33:16. > :33:21.He is thinking that he may have to leave himself behind the difficult

:33:21. > :33:31.red. I think it is red to pink and then pink to read. A pretty simple

:33:31. > :33:35.

:33:35. > :33:40.He tried to move it with that shot so he obviously does not fancy

:33:40. > :33:44.leaving it up the cushion and he still might have an angle. The

:33:44. > :33:54.black brings it out but he is looking back again to see if it

:33:54. > :34:06.

:34:06. > :34:12.He is back there again and he will have to use the rest. If he just

:34:12. > :34:16.leaves the white a few inches further up the table here he will

:34:16. > :34:22.have an angle to roll the pink in and get on the yellow and he is

:34:22. > :34:30.just ten-points behind, this could send Mark Williams out of this

:34:30. > :34:34.year's UK Championship if this next Under normal circumstances, you

:34:34. > :34:44.would be screwing back for the blue but it is a nice ball to be on the

:34:44. > :34:45.

:34:45. > :34:49.He chose the blue and that is a perfect position for the yellow.

:34:49. > :34:53.Nothing wrong with that choice, a much more difficult pot, forcing it

:34:53. > :34:59.in. He missed one earlier but he did not miss that. It would have

:34:59. > :35:05.been easier to get on the yellow from the blue but he is on the

:35:05. > :35:08.cushion. What a performance this is from Ricky Walden, this will be one

:35:09. > :35:18.of his best wins for quite some time. He defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan

:35:19. > :35:22.

:35:23. > :35:27.in the final of the China Open a Under the circumstances, he got off

:35:27. > :35:31.to a flyer, 3-0 in front and then you see, Mark Williams won three in

:35:31. > :35:41.a row and it looks like he will win three in a row to clinch the match

:35:41. > :35:48.

:35:49. > :35:58.but we know what can happen under Just coming up to two hours, 22

:35:59. > :36:05.

:36:05. > :36:11.With the pink being off its spot, it is just a little bit more

:36:11. > :36:21.difficult. Having the cue ball cleaned, that is the way he wants

:36:21. > :36:32.

:36:32. > :36:36.He is hoping to drop nicely on the It is not absolutely dead straight.

:36:36. > :36:40.He will be playing it in the middle. We saw Mark Williams plays a

:36:41. > :36:50.similar shot to this earlier in the frame. He would expect to get it.

:36:51. > :36:51.

:36:51. > :36:58.He can play safe with the cue ball It is there, what a great victory

:36:58. > :37:04.for Ricky Walden. He lost three, he had won three and he has won the

:37:04. > :37:09.most important frame, the deciding frame there and takes it into the

:37:09. > :37:13.quarter-final. In the end, it looks quite comfortable. 6-3 to the

:37:13. > :37:18.likeable man from Chester. HAZEL IRVINE: Well played, Ricky

:37:18. > :37:22.Walden. That represents the best progress she has made in this

:37:22. > :37:28.championship, never been beyond round two and there he is. It was a

:37:28. > :37:35.well deserved victory in the end. You, fantastic clearance. He did

:37:35. > :37:40.miss a black in the early part of that frame. -- yes, fantastic

:37:40. > :37:44.clearance. It seemed to fall on to the top cushion and fair play to

:37:44. > :37:47.him, he held himself together. It was a really good pressure

:37:47. > :37:56.clearance and you could see how much he enjoyed that because it is

:37:57. > :38:03.a big win for him. And a tail two clearances. He has won 6-3 but he

:38:03. > :38:09.cleared up and it shows you there is so little between the players at

:38:09. > :38:13.this field. A strange pattern to the match. 3, 3 and three in a row.

:38:13. > :38:18.Difficult to explain to people at home and they say, how does that

:38:18. > :38:24.happen? People in the ascendancy. That is the way professional

:38:24. > :38:29.snooker is. Here he comes, Mr Walden. Congratulations for the of

:38:29. > :38:34.well done. Well done, into the quarters. We were talking about the

:38:34. > :38:39.pattern of the match what did you think when Mark came straight back

:38:39. > :38:49.at 2 to level the scores at three apiece? I knew he was playing well

:38:49. > :38:51.

:38:51. > :38:56.so I was just waiting to my chances to happen. It is just trusting my

:38:56. > :39:02.game. You have been playing really well the last few weeks and he made

:39:02. > :39:07.the maximum at the last of the PTC events, you have been a PTC final,

:39:07. > :39:12.runner up there. What has changed? The standard with the qualifiers

:39:12. > :39:16.and the PTCs. I have been working a little bit harder, trying to do the

:39:16. > :39:26.right things on and off the table. What are you doing better off the

:39:26. > :39:30.

:39:30. > :39:36.table? Not as much drink, really? You won the Shanghai. Has it been

:39:36. > :39:41.tricky after that? After I won that, I expected myself to kick on but it

:39:41. > :39:45.does not always work like that. I struggled in a few games here and

:39:45. > :39:49.there and just seems to get picked up the post. Hopefully I can get

:39:49. > :39:53.get back to lifting trophies and back on form. So little between the

:39:53. > :39:57.players, those clearances you make it in the second and last frame,

:39:57. > :40:00.such a difference. Obviously, the balls were there to be taken but

:40:00. > :40:02.you still have to do it and I managed to keep myself together for

:40:02. > :40:11.a few frames which was the difference in the match. You looked

:40:11. > :40:19.but -- looked pretty pleased. It is a big win, it will give you a lot

:40:19. > :40:24.of confidence. Attitude -- thank you, made. Tough to play against a

:40:24. > :40:27.very clever player. Yes, one of the best on the tour. You have got to

:40:27. > :40:30.take the chances when they come up. Well done, Ricky. We are about to

:40:30. > :40:34.show everybody happening in the match which will fit your next

:40:34. > :40:37.opponent in the quarter-finals. Because it has been topsy-turvy, we

:40:37. > :40:40.will it Ricky go and relax before the quarter, and we were just

:40:40. > :40:45.remind you of what is happening on the other side of the arena today.

:40:45. > :40:49.An amazing match between Shaun Murphy, former winner of this

:40:49. > :40:55.championship and Martin Gould who is now in the top 16 for the first

:40:55. > :40:59.time. Shaun Murphy straight ahead, a 5-0 lead and for a while it

:40:59. > :41:03.looked over but Martin won frame six with a break of 133 and then

:41:04. > :41:07.this happened. This was the seventh frame and Murphy had this ball

:41:07. > :41:11.effectively the pink for victory and a place in the quarter-final.

:41:12. > :41:16.He missed it and gentlemen, this was getting very twitchy at this

:41:17. > :41:22.point but somewhere and from some place, Martin has summoned reserves

:41:22. > :41:25.of strength and nerve and look at this. The type of frame like that

:41:25. > :41:34.can change a much. I am surprised Shaun played it the way he did. Why

:41:34. > :41:44.did he play the ball like that? Martin has gone on on won the frame

:41:44. > :41:50.

:41:50. > :41:54.from him. This one to stay in the That made it 5-2 and he went on to

:41:54. > :41:58.a 5-4. He has won four in a row and you can continue to watch this

:41:58. > :42:05.match on the red button or on line because it is still going and as I

:42:05. > :42:09.look at it right now, it is Shaun Murphy at the table, he is... It is

:42:09. > :42:13.22 points apiece. That is the situation live as we look at it. It

:42:13. > :42:17.is very tense. If you want to continue watching that, press your

:42:17. > :42:22.red button now and you can do so. Gentlemen, it is a bit nervy.

:42:22. > :42:26.very nervy and twitchy. We were saying off camera, I can remember

:42:27. > :42:31.anybody coming back from 5-0 to win 6-5. A fantastic performance from

:42:31. > :42:34.Martin Gould. It shows you that you never throw in the towel. Every

:42:34. > :42:41.frame, particularly in snooker, is particularly different. If you take

:42:41. > :42:46.it one frame at a time and fair play to Martin Gould. If you are in

:42:46. > :42:52.front and see him go 5-1, 5-2, you think that the pressure is all on

:42:52. > :42:55.you. What do you make of the match going on the other side? That big

:42:55. > :42:59.turning point in the match and Martin can really score so it is

:42:59. > :43:02.anybody's game. A weirdly enough, he is doing to Shaun Murphy what

:43:02. > :43:06.Neil Robertson did to him in that amazing second round at the

:43:06. > :43:10.Crucible. It just shows you the momentum can swing so vehemently.

:43:10. > :43:16.He must keep it going and that is what he has done. He has not

:43:16. > :43:20.shirked any shots and good luck to him. Gentlemen, thank you to you.

:43:20. > :43:24.Continue to watch with the red button or online but Rishi Persad

:43:24. > :43:29.will be back and will tell you exactly what happens and also have

:43:29. > :43:32.the action from this evening's matches, it is Carter against Alan