Day 8, Part 3 UK Snooker Championship

Hello and welcome to Saturday night at the snooker. If singing and

dancing is not pure pink, we will provide you the some alternative,

high-quality competition here, in your. And you don't have to lift a

finger to vote anybody in or out. Sit back, relax, and so Cup the

drama and the tension, as we find out whether Northern Ireland's Mark

Allen or Chester's Ricky Walden will join Judd Trump in the final

Here is how their afternoon's session played out. Two young

players, coming into unknown territory. I think that nerves

In it goes, as scrappy affair, Mark Allen won't mind. He has only

himself to blame. That is one too many. The cue ball goes in! The red

has gone towards the pocket, is it in the pocket? It is not. I was

going to say that it was unmissable. Breaks of 60, and 66, getting right

back into the match and we are all square, at 3-3. No matter what

happens, we are in for a feast of snooker this evening. We have had

some good snooker this week. If he is looking to push on from this,

one more frame left in this first session. Ricky Walden, he is

finding top form. You came out with 60, 66, 98, and a fabulous 127

clearance, to take a 5-3 interval lead. Mark Allen would have been

disappointed after the afternoon session to be 55 and 3 behind, but

the beauty of it to session matches that there is enough breathing

space and time to rectify a bad session. It and give -- in his

corner as Terry Griffiths, a great coach. He will have told marked the

start of the session the same way he started off the match. I don't

have a clue what will happen but Mark Allen will not be out last,

and he will be fighting, every inch of the way. What damage the doesn't

week it has been for Ricky Walden, dispatching Mark Williams and Shaun

Murphy to reach the semi-final. 3-1 down in the semi-final. He produced

a bar edge of breaks, two 60s, and and 90, and two centuries to take

the lead. His game is top notch, he is in the best form he can be, he's

you to meet stubborn resistance from Mark Allen, but he is in a

good position. We are joined by seven times world champion Stephen

Hendry and the 1985 world champion, Dennis Taylor. We know that Mark

Allen has put in a gutsy performance, but how much is he

going to have to rely on those guts of is to get back in this game?

Ricky Walden is producing the snooker he produced in China in

2008 when he beat Ronnie and sodden in the final. Mark Allen has a big

task this evening. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan pulls up Mark Allen is

from Northern Ireland, but Ricky Walden uses my stable to practice

in in Cheshire. Steve and, a man who has been in this position many

times. What sort of emotions will Ricky Walden be feeling at the

moment? He knows he is playing fantastic snooker. Mark Allen is a

great performer, but he has never been in a ranking final, so, he is

under pressure. But you cannot write him off. Over to Rob Walker,

M C. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is the last session

of snooker before tomorrow's final, a huge opportunity for both players,

waiting at the top of the stairs, and either of them could see it.

Please welcome a player enjoying the best form of his life. He has

beat Stephen Lee, Mark Williams and Shaun Murphy this week. He produced

a brilliant white back this afternoon, he shocked the world

wedding in Shanghai, and he was to do it all over again, here comes

the Stamina Man, Ricky Walden! MUSIC: "Shuffle" by Bombay Bicycle

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Club Please welcome, from Northern Ireland, Mark, that the store, Alan

-- The Pistol. MUSIC: "Ever So Shy" by General

And here we go. It is lovely to have a five-times winner of this

title, Stephen Hendry, alongside Dennis Taylor. Are you two all set?

Yes, good evening to everyone at home. It should be a fascinating

semi-final. As indeed was the first semi-final. Mark Allen has caught

it all to do. He is making sure he has a full glass of water. He is up

against a player who has played It is Mark Allen the gets the first

frame of this evening session under way. He will be hoping for a repeat

of the opening frame, which was close, but he took that, this

Straight away, he will have to play the long red. He will try to plea

run the back of the black, assure to nothing. -- to play it round the

Bit of a mishit. Left the chance for Mark. It was not going to be

easy from that position. If the blue pots, he will take that on.

His poor success rate is very high. Mark Allen at 93, Ricky Walden at

That is why it will Walker introduced him as fast as that --

that is why Rob Walker and introduced him as The Pistol. The

pink and black tied up, having to concentrate on the blue. There is

Mark's go front. She will be hoping that he gets a good start. Has she

got in your piece? Yes, she has! Have a good night. -- an earpiece.

Isn't it you, been way, is there, as well. He must be delighted to

Nothing fazes this young player from County Antrim. This is semi-

final number six in his career. He is all would you. -- overdue.

could not have two more opposing cue actions. Ricky has a long,

smooth cueing action, Mark Allen as much more of a shot -- short, jemmy

action. He's very compact, Mark Allen. Not one of the tallest

players. One of the great champions, Joe Davis, was only about five foot

I am not sure if the pink is sitting on its spot at the moment.

If he pots it, it might get tied up again post -- again. Still three or

four reds in pottable positions. He does not have to worry about going

into the pack yet. The pink is behind that red in a straight line.

But what we behind the spot. -- directly. The pink is out of

commission there. It might pot into the corner, but he cannot get at it

from here. He needs that wipe to keep running. -- white. He has

pushed the red over the corner pocket, so if he pots the blue he

This is a situation, Stephen, what sort of shot is he taking on here?

To much angle to finish on the pink, so we'll -- he will have to go up

through the gap between the pink and black to get back onto the blue.

You can see why you have won seven titles, weren't you could see the

potential for a short. -- when you could see. -- for that shot. I have

forgotten how many times you won the UK Championship. Was it five?

It was six. It is amazing how tricky it is win the black is tied

up. It is all important to get the right angle each time. That pink

does pot into the left corner -- the right corner. It is just the

start that Mark Allen wanted for tonight. It is a huge frame for him,

The white has stuck. He has got that red to the middle pocket but I

don't think he expected the white just to stay there. That was what

you call a stun shot when you hit the white in the middle and the

white there has not go forward or combat words. -- the white does not

go forward. Or, come back once. -- backwards. When used and no ball,

absolutely nothing happens with the cue ball -- when you stun the ball.

I don't will who it is that please all of those demonstrations shots,

but they are all perfect. It is Martin Clark, one of the tournament

directors, who used to be in the top 16 in the world. He played

those shots, and he played the more perfectly. -- he played them all

Mark has got to be careful because that looks like it is a plant. He

could leave that on for Ricky There is not the best safety shot

Mark Allen has ever played. It is an easier pot, the red to the right,

but there is no position, so he could take the one into the left

corner pocket, a slightly more difficult pot. Great to see Ricky

Walden doing well. It is 2008 since he won in China, he's a smashing

lad, and he is delighted to be playing so well on the BBC, at the

He needs the blue to come to a Swiss you, and it might have. He

has been rather fortunate. Not only did he missed the pot, he has freed

up the black and covered the reds. What a bit of good fortune that was.

All but certain, that 43. At Wantage, look where that red went -

- advantage. That red is still available to the right corner so he

cannot play safety to the Heal side of the baulk end. -- to the right

It has worked out for him, because he cannot get to the right side of

the reds, for an easy path back to the baulk end. He is in a spot of

trouble. I can only see one escape shot. It is a possibility. He could

play off the red behind the black at the end the back of the pink and

summer up there, he would cover that red. He has three reds and the

yellow to cover it. I don't know if he can hit that put it can read,

but he can hit the one just above He will have to be so precise, if

he takes that shot on, but it is available to him, as long as he

does not cannon those reds up near the middle pocket on the left-hand

That was difficult. Good chance before Mark Allen to go on and take

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this will bring them -- this Quick glance at the score board. He

is not that many pots away from Just makes it slightly more

difficult with the blue not being on its spot, he has got quite a way

to travel with the cue ball, and he looks dead straight on the yellow,

so he's going to have to get a lot of screw on this. I don't know what

sort of angle he has got but he needs to play good shot here. If

he's dead straight he will have to get back somewhere near the line,

depending on the angle. That is He played that with a lot of screw,

and left hand side, generating the Amazing, he just caught the black.

He will just roll up to the black. A pretty good start from Mark Allen,

who badly needed a good start. It looks like he has taken the opening

frame. One snooker required at the moment. Ricky will do well to hit

these reds, and keep them safe, He can just relax now, and try to

As you can see, years, not racing round table, but he is pretty

relaxed at the moment. -- as you He's not really bothered about this

final red. He needed a good start. Ricky Walden just missed one half

chance, and Mark Allen has won the opening frame, reducing its deficit

to just one behind, at 5-4. At the studio we're playing musical chairs,

we have Ken Doherty and John Parrott in the comfortable seats,

and Steve Davis is standing by to go was his nuggets of wisdom at the

table. We make of the old chap a seat later on! If you have got any

questions, the address will be up shortly. From what we saw there, we

discussed in the afternoon that Ricky Walden was very much in the

ascendancy. The end of that session came just at the right time for

Mark Allen. Yes, it took a while to settle down, he certainly did not

in the first frame. He made it easy for Mark Allen with a couple of

loose safety shot. At this is the beauty of the best of 17 frames.

You have to restructure you're thinking. Yes, there is an awful

long way to go in this match. He had a half chance that he missed,

Ricky, but he will want to try to get this first frame on the board

to establish himself, and settle his nous, because that will play a

big part in this match. -- nerves. Mark Allen has more experience in

this type of match in the UK, so It is different pressure when you

come to the second session of a long frame match. When you are

ahead. I did not say that you on a hiding to nothing, but if you have

got a lead, you try to protect it. He will not want to let Mark Allen

get back to 5 had than five. Two frame lead is very useful, after

the first session. He had the result with the cannon on the

yellow. Ricky has held his hand up to apologise for that bit of good

fortune because there is no escape back down to the safety zone, here.

A pretty good shot he has played, but just watch the yellow. That

In fact, I cannot see an escape route back down the table for Mark

Allen. No gap between the blue and pink. And it went no -- I don't

know if he can see enough to plate and Lee and avoid cannoning into

the reds. Well played. Past - to play a thinly. There was very

little else available to him. If Ricky Walden takes this on, it

looks as if he's going to cannon the two reds, near the black. A

nervy start For Ricky, here this evening, he's usually very good at

It is amazing watching both players on the practice tables before

coming out, they were potting everything and feeling good, but

coming up here, it is completely different. Ricky Walden did not

score a point in the last frame. He just needs a couple of easy balls,

to get his cue arm going again. crowds have been fantastic at the

Barbican Centre. It is open-plan, they enjoyed it going down to one

table. They have been super. It is good to be back in your. Most

snooker fans are loving every minute of this. -- it is good to be

Ricky Walden was struck, having a minute to think about how he can

get the cue ball back down the table. I cannot see a path down to

Nestle on the red just behind the black. He has not potted a ball for

the last 20 minutes. There is no path to land on that red near the

cushion. He could go twice across the table. He has not brought about

that yet. But it is a possibility. -- he has not thought about that.

If he went twice across the table, he could get to that red, possibly.

He's probably frightened of slipping past into that bottom

right hand corner, but it is as good a short as any, just to have a

This will have to be very precise just to nestle on this one into the

middle pocket. That is not going to reach. There are tell you what, it

was not a bad choice. The smile, he is waiting for it to go back. Not a

bad choice if he can judge the This where you rely on the referee

to put it back on the exact spot. The referee puts it just near where

it was before. It is slightly away from where it was, but it is not

too bad. He has hit it too hard It just shows you, you have been to

be spot on. You can't afford the leave Mark Allen. He is such a good

In my 30 odd years as a profegal, I have never known -- professional I

have never known when we have had three left harders in the semi

final of a major tournament. It has never been known in the history of

the game. There does seem to be more than there used to be. We have

one in the final and Judd Trump beat Neil Robertson, a left-hander

from Australia. Mark Allen is a left-hander. And Mark Williams and

most seem to be some of the best potters we have ever had in the

He can't get anywhere near a red if he rolls the blue. He might be able

to get himself on to the black. Let's look what sort of angle he

has on this red. I don't know whether he can stun it through and

He hit that superbly well. Timed it fantastic. It shows you even with a

short cue action, he managed to generate the speed that he needed

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Well that kicked. Well... I think Mark thought it was going to throw

the blue off line, but well it would have been a shame if that

blue hadn't have dropped in the pocket, but it did kick and

striegten up slightly. It went in - - straighten up slightly. It went

in off the jaws. You hate to see a player sort of losing a frame with

a terrible contact like that. Butless still in control. -- but he

is still in control. I think he was convinced that he was going to miss

It is a good recovery. This is the perfect start for Mark Allen

Ricky's had one half chance in the opening frame and that has been

about it. You can't pot them if These two boys are both fluent

players. They don't hang around, Has he left a slight angle here? He

That was the best he could do. He needs a delicate cannon to hold the

Oh he has hit the wrong red and it's going to be difficult. There's

only one possible cut into the middle pocket. As we show you him

He is playing really well Mark Allen and we could have a cracking

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He needs the black to leave Ricky He will want to keep potting these

balls and not give Ricky an excuse to get to the table and have a

That was a good effort, but it just stopped. But Ricky signals to the

referee. What a start for Mark Allen. You can't do any better than

win the two opening frames and he's all square. HAZEL IRVINE: Poised at

the table is Steve Davis. What have you noticed, Stephen was mentioning

the difference in styles. Yes, Ricky Walden has a longer flowing

action and Mark Allen has a shorter delivery. Here is Ricky Walden's

pull back, cue ball in line with the yellow. And Ricky pulls the cue

back to the blue and then smoothly through the ball. Whereas Mark

Allen has a much shorter pull back. Mark Allen will only pull the cue

back as far as the pink ball. Faster through ball, but still he

can screw the ball back. Which one is better? Well it is a trade off.

If you're too short, your too jerky, if you're too long, unnecessary

back swing. Difficult to call. But in between is quite nice. Thank you.

Is Ricky Walden going to get the chance to play some balls into the

pooct? Not if he -- pocket? Not if he keeps playing safety shots like

that. Look at the way the reds have opened already. One good long pot

and Mark Allen could give himself another opportunity. He is ahead in

He's obviously been on the practice table with his coach, Terry

Griffiths. That was straight from Terry's locker that shot. I don't

think so! Er the kwhri was -- Terry was a fine cueist. More flowing,

more Ricky Walden than Mark Allen It is the first time in the first

three frames where we has had the black in the clear early in the

frame. So he can see the red above He is making sure the black doesn't

block the red when it gets He may have to go for the blue here.

This is where the short cue action is an asset, Dennis. Around these

little stun shots on the pink and black. Absolutely. There is not a

lot can go wrong with these little screw and stun shots with the short

action that Mark has. The pink will have to go behind the reds, all the

Just got a bit of a kick there. Because he is having the cue ball

cleaned here. Didn't detect a bad contact there, but Mark would have

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He nearly fluked it into the corner. But he hasn't left anything. That

is the first ball that Mark Allen He hasn't covered that red to the

It is the only red he could leave and it's gone safe. So no problem.

He still can't get a chance. Coming up to 37 and a half minutes since

An awkward frame now with the three reds at the other end of the table.

Mark Allen is 35 points in front. So there will be little chance of a

stalemate. Has he left another tempter for Mark Allen into the

left middle? He missed the last one into the right middle pocket. He is

having a look to see if the red passs the brown. If it doesn't, it

Now then... First chance of the night for Ricky. I think he can cut

this red in comfortably. One That took a big bounce off the

cushion there. He was attempting to leave an ang toll go -- to go into

the reds. The top of the two reds Not a good enough angle to go into

He may have to screw straight up. He is looking to arc the red around

the blue. He is playing for the red for the right centre. Didn't quite

get the connection right on the cannon. It looks to be straight

this red into the corner. If he can leave a good angle on the greend or

This is the key slot coming up. -- shot coming up. Played it well.

How's your luck? It's not bad. He can get on the blue off this red.

She is showing pretty good temperament. Because he never got a

It is a key frame, having lost the first two and to see the two frame

advantage to disappear. Well he didn't pot a ball in the first two

frames. If he is thinking I'm still only level, although I haven't

potted a ball, I'm still in the Playing that black with a trace of

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The problem is going to be the red If he takes a black with this final

red, he will want to leave himself half a ball to drop it in for the

Red, black, red green would be enough. Can he achieve that? He has

the perfect angle to stun down. I don't know whether he can go below

the pocket. He has a choice. But that is an option for him. He

doesn't want to kiss the brown. He has got into that position. He is

now looking at the score board. He can roll this in and get on to the

This is the key shot. And Mark Allen knows these are not straight

It looks easy, but that was a difficult shot played at that pace.

Just the brown needed. No he has missed it. Amazing. If you don't

look at the score board and just get on, it seeps easier. But when

you see that -- seems easier, but when you see that is a frame ball

it is amazing what happens to the What a turn around this is. Could

that be the shot we're talking about later on at the end of this

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Alyle fist pump from Mark Allen, he knows the importance of this frame.

He has won three frames in a row and he has got limbs into the lead

at 6-5. And Ricky Walden, that will be a body blow. And Stephen Hendry

said, he called it and he stunned the red in, left himself on the

brown. But if he had have finished on the green he wouldn't have had

to play a position. It is a straight forward brown and that is

a body blow not to knock this in. Sometimes when you have the longer

flowing cue action f you don't deliver a positive strike and you

get a bit of side, you pull the white over and mitt the brown a bit

thinner. Brown or green, who is to say what is the right or wrong shot.

But I felt the green would have been the easier pot to win the

frame. Well Mark Allen, he is a feisty player. There has been

controversy this week, but it seems to have helped him. But look, that

is just a nice little, as if to say, I'm delighted with that. And so he

should be, three in a row to get himself into the lead. HAZEL

IRVINE: And Steve and Ken have been listening to the boys' comments.

Are you in agreement with Stephen? Well it doesn't matter whether you

get on the green or the brown, but why track the yellow? You don't

need the yellow. Just pot the brown. Even screw it back on to the baulk

cushion. But don't try and get position on the yellow when you

don't need it. Just pot the brown F you miss the brown, you aren't

going to give Mark a chance. But that is what pressure does. He is

sitting there stewing as well. Mark's probably gone out to make

him do that. It is part of the match playing and psychology. There

was a massive frame when Mark Allen should have gone 4-1 and it went 3-

2. It changed the running of the match. That might be the one

tonight that changes it. He has done well to come back. He was

nervous and got himself in, and looks like winning the frame. How

big will that frame prove to be?. Three in a row for Ulsterman. He

has been so close before. He has been in five ranking semis, but

never made it. Is this his opportunity? DENNIS TAYLOR: this

frame will play a bibg part in this story. Ricky Walden, if he was to

lose all the frames, you would have to fancy Mark Allen and

straightaway, not the best break I like to see the little fist pumps

and Eigg -- everything. I love to see a bit of that. We never got

much chance to fist pump against you, Stephen, you were so hard to

Just a gentle one, not overdoing it. A lot of the players don't like

that. They talk about it backstage - did you see that? You watch other

sports like tennis, they do it every other point. The first one to

do it was Peter Ebdon, he liked a -- fist pump. He really is cueing

very well, doing very precious Might b able to bring a few more

That is the only problem with that shot, it is amazing how many times

you finish up on the cushion. If he rolls the black in, those two reds

to the right of the pink are available, and there is one at the

back of the bunch. Very good cueing. Don't be surprised if this young

gentleman from County Antrim He will have to win this frame in

one visit, and really keep Ricky thinking about that last frame

She must be absolutely delighted with this performance, he's not

putting a foot wrong. Thumbs up from her. Can he continue and win

four frames in a row? Funny enough, Ricky Walden has done precious

little wrong, only that brown. Why try to get yourself on the yellow?

I think it was a little bit harsh from Ken Doherty, I don't think

Ricky thought for one minute he would miss that. It is a natural

for a snooker player to get onto the next ball. I know what he was

saying, but there is no way he will screw the white back to the baulk

cushion. Yes, how many times would he miss that? One in 20, maybe? The

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light was reflecting off and -- a Just gone a little bit further than

he anticipated. With a cut back into the corner, you are putting it

into a blind pocket. The white just keeps on running. He has got to

give these a little bit more care The red to the right of the bunch

and the pink is available if he doesn't want to go into them. They

are not a good bunch to go into from here, so he has the perfect

angle on the black but doesn't really want to risk sticking them

in the back of the reds. The way the reds are situated, he will have

to hit them pretty hard to be able That is pretty good. There might be

a plant below the pink to the right corner. Stephen Hendry, looking for

a plant again. He can spot them The angle he has on the pink, he

will need a plant to be on. Just looking at the red to the extreme

left of the bunch, if he storms the white somewhere up between the pink

and blue, he might be able to pot that into the left corner. I'm not

sure if there is a possible three ball plant into the left corner.

What is available into this left corner? The pink will have to go

behind the reds. That is a possible three ball plant, but he has got to

be a bit careful. He could squeeze the second red away from the pocket.

He's just double checking it. If the two reds are touching, when he

hits the first ball on to the two reds, it might just push them away

Yes, it wasn't guaranteed but he has played a good safety shot. A

Plenty of reds on the table for Ricky Walden, but will he get a

chance? Doesn't really want been knocking them safe here, when

Just coming up to three hours, this has been a very good semi-final.

Ricky Walden dominating the first session, Mark Allen certainly

I do think he has Ricky trapped here, at first glance. I don't know

if he can see enough of the red near the pink spot, just to get

back down the table. He might be able to get past the blue to hit

It is tricky, he has to make sure he doesn't cannon the red next to

the middle pocket. He would love to play the red next to the black half

ball, but he can't. Playing this wide off two cushions, lots of

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If he placed the red to the left of the black, he will probably play

that with a touch of left-hand side, keep the white away from the two

reds on the left-hand cushion. Just a little bit thin. You could see

the cue ball straight-not with the side that Stephen mentioned. The

natural angle would have taken him into the reds. That is probably why

he finished up hating it too thinly. -- hitting it. I think he can pass

the other red to get to the one What a cracking pot that is. That

is a superb pot. Great cueing, and he's on the pink. There is a slight

chance for him before the mid- session interval. Is he on the

pink? Can you believe it? Just a fraction. He will have to bend it

He could follow this in if he doesn't get it right. The other

thing, if he does swerve, pots the pink, that will be re- spotted

below the red. He will not be on much if he pots the pink here. A

bit unlucky. So disappointing when you knock a red like that in, then

It has got him �6, -- six points, but, as Stephen said, when it goes

back on the spot, he may just have to play a safety shot. He could

play off the one near the left hand side cushion. He could do with that

in play. If he plays off the one next to the pink, he could get the

white into the jaws of the corner pocket and possibly develop three

reds. He would like to bring that one off the cushion. He's back

looking at this one along the black What a pot! On these match pockets,

forcing them into the pocket. Mark Allen applauded that shot. I

must admit, I didn't think that was the right shot, but a phenomenal

pot. Here is another one, he really needs to get into this quick to

cannon the pink. In fact he played around the table for the red on the

left cushion. Even though it was a fantastic pot, I didn't think it

was the right shot. There was no way he could get any better on the

black. And nice safety shot probably would have been better. As

cities, he only needs one more red. I don't know if he is asking the

referee here... Not sure. I think I am happy enough. I don't think we

can get it back. He is looking to get something back, but I don't

know what he is asking. He moved the red, but you can't do anything

about it now. If he moved the red, it is gone, you can't do anything

about it. Even if the referee was happy to move the red, that is gone,

isn't it Stephen? Don't start asking me about rules, Dennis!

must have moved it's like the. Maybe it's still -- it still pots.

Anyway, the red goes in and that is all he needed. Who would have

expected this, this evening? Ricky Walden with 124, 127? Both players

still smiling, so it is played in good spirits. To come out this

session and win all the frames here, it is quite a performance from Mark

Allen. It really is. Yes, Mark doesn't really want the interval,

he wants to stay out there. A very good point, because we know the

interval can change things around. Ricky Walden will probably head to

the practice table. A cracking cannon, although he is not on the

red. Ricky couldn't do very much about

that, it is all Mark Allen. He had Chatting on the way out, but what a

turnaround. What do you make of the way Mark has gone about his

business this evening, Ken? always said he is full of fire, and

it is a gutsy performance. That interval probably came at the right

time for Mark, but he has come out all guns blazing, doing what he has

to do. Ricky Walden is making it a little bit easier for him but he is

doing what he has to do. John, this is the first time in this match.

The earlier on, Ricky went 3-1 down, and he showed what he was made of

then, but to do this in the last concluding frames will be even more

difficult for him. This is a totally different kettle of fish.

Now Mark Allen doesn't want the interval. Earlier on, Ricky was

playing the better snooker, now the interval has come at the right time

but not for Mark Allen, for Ricky to go and do something about it.

The next frame is massive. If he goes to five, I can't see him

winning from there. As you know, they have stepped out for the

interval. We have been getting a lot of messages from you tonight, a

lot going to Mr Davies. The first one is from Christopher, who says

"I would like to know about the snooker stance. I am told I am to

You can go down your local hardware store and buy some tape. This line

is the line of the shot, this line at 90 degrees, this line at 60

degrees. Put this fought on the line at the shot, put the other

he'll on the 60 degree line. Keep your right leg straight, your left

leg bent, and that is the position to get down into the balls. This

distance could be your problem. If this is to close, you might be

hunched up, or if this foot is in front, you might look a bit strange.

You are trying to spread the load and the weight of your body, social

length apart, then you have a solid stance. That is about the best I

can manage without seeing you personally. Next question? It looks

like a crime scene with that tape. What is the best way, says Andrew

Scott, to become more consistent with the rest? Probably the best

way is to keep playing with the rest as much as you can. The most

important thing about the rest is this end is replicating you're

bridge. These are plastic feet, not gripping, so when you put this on

the cloth, you have got to try to make sure this end doesn't flow to

round on the cloth. The only where you can do that is by pushing down

to make it as solid as possible. The next trouble is keeping the cue

in a straight line because it is a different position for your arm.

The only way to do that is to keep on playing until you can groove the

action. The last tip is technical, but when you want to hit the white

ball, look at the red. Then whack that through, like that. Keep your

head still as well. It is Saturday night, let's not get too technical.

The next one from Paul Thorne, who says "what practice routine would

you recommend for a player of reasonable ability to sharpen their

I was talking to Stephen Hendry the other day about what he used to do

when he was in his peak. Pot one red, two blacks. Then three reds,

three blacks, four reds, four blacks. The moment you miss, go

back and do it again. He was a masochist, but that is good

practice. See what your personal best is, how far can you go through

the pack? I think I would be there for about three years. Now, we are

going to move on and tell you about some tension last night. If you

thought it was tense this evening, you should have seen it last night.

It was between 22 year-old Judd Trump and former world champion

Neil Robertson. You can't take your eyes off these players at the best

of the times, but certainly not last night.

What a match this is likely to be, two of the best potter as we have

seen for quite sometime, and amazingly enough, they are both

left-handers. That is a nice start, a fluke in the first frame. You

have got to take your hat off to Neil Robertson, he was behind and

better here! How do you like those Neil Robertson will be playing

catch-up again. It has slowed up. All square at 4-4. That was frame

ball and Judd Trump missed it. That And what about that for an

attacking shot! It is not vintage snooker at the moment, but it is

If this goes in, he has a great chance. You can just sit and wait.

Just the brown needed. And the crowd erupts at the Barbican Centre.

Both players have had a fabulous reception from this terrific crowd.

What a match these boys have provided. We will be seeing a lot

of them down the years, but it is Judd Trump's night, and he goes

through to his first ever UK final, and a 9-7 winner. It has been a

brilliant year for me, to reach the world final and now the UK final,

it is just the signed I am really improving as a player, even though

I am not playing my best snooker. Absolutely sensational stuff last

night, it was very intriguing right to the end, but Judd Trump is

through and he will be featuring in the final which starts tomorrow at

2:15pm. Ken and John, when we look back on our final, it's amazing to

think Judd Trump only not in four 50 plus breaks but his performance

was illuminated by some outrageous potting. It was a session of some

ridiculous potting, but not the best positional play and a few pots.

It made it very exciting to watch. These players are so good but when

you get a session when both players are missing and it means so much to

them, I mean I don't think I have seen Neil Robertson missed so many

easy pots. He will be kicking himself. We have seldom seen Neil

Robertson so fired up as that. it is nice to see. We all love

century breaks, but how much more do we love exciting breaks when it

comes down to nitty-gritty. It is just fantastic, but those two guys

are probably two of the best potter as I have ever seen. Jimmy White

comes to mind as well, but they are unbelievable. The accuracy, the cue

power, and how hard they can hit the ball as well. Because Judd

Trump is so predictable, Neil Robertson said before the match you

have to be so sharp on your toes. He also kept the pack pretty tight.

A lot of times I thought he had a safety shot, but he was making a

conscious effort not to play them because on these cloths the reds

can open up. He just didn't quite play as well as we know Neil can do.

Judd stuck in there yesterday. will be a handful for whoever gets

through tomorrow. Mark Allen has had a pretty controversial week,

making some outspoken comments. He staged the silent Sellotape protest

at a press conference, a rather bizarre sight, but for all that

over the last few days, it seems to have helped his game. He has been

outspoken in his defence of the game's traditions this week, so

where better to take him than one of York's oldest snooker clubs to

talk to him about the game he has always loved. I started when I was

about 11, 12. My dad took me and my brother down the social club. I

used to play every Sunday morning. The process hasn't changed much. If

you look at the table, it is damaged, and this is where people

come to enjoy the social side of it as well. The traditions of snooker

are part and parcel of what the game is all about. When you look at

a club like this, this is what snooker is all about. It was

concerned about traditions that caused him to have that bizarre

press conference. Did Terry Griffiths have anything to do about

it? I felt I couldn't say what I wanted. I are obviously ended up

criticised for what I said in the first press conference. That is

unfair, everybody should be entitled to their opinions. He

didn't put me up to it, but he didn't disagree with it either. I

don't mind media attention, good or bad. It won't make a difference.

But now the focus is on fire into his first ever ranking final,

something that has tripped him up five times until now. I have been

more solid. I have scored probably the best of scores so far against

Ali Carter, against Marco Fu I did what I needed to do. I produced

probably the best two frames of the match, in my opinion. I don't

deliberately go out to lose in semi-finals. Sometimes I have

played well and come up against someone who is better. But he will

be better in the shoot-out against Ricky Walden? Ricky is such a good

player that if I don't play well, I am going to lose. He is a

tournament winner at the end of the day, a very high scorer. He can

keep you out for long periods of time and win frames in a very short

period of time. That is a very bad combination. I would like to prove

people wrong. So can he hit his target? In contrast with Mark Allen,

Ricky Walden's progress has been largely untroubled this week. He's

just looking some balls around, heat is the world number 22, the

lowest ranked player to make it this far, and he's trying to become

only the 4th qualifier ever to make it to the final of the UK

What a week it had been for Ricky Walden, who has been the surprise

package in York. Beating three top 16 players along the way, he aims

to stay on track to the final. He could book a place in a second

major final today Swail. I had been the underdog in all three games and

I have been happy with that. I can get on with my game and sneak in to

the semi-finals. Along the line, the man from Chester shunted number

13 Stephen Lee out of the tournament in round one. We were

going frame for frame and then I kicked on from there. I won the

match. It was pretty decent in the Ken. He is a for Pinball Wizard

from Chester. The next stop was Mark Williams, but not even the

world No. 2 could derail Ricky. was in a good position from frame a

three. I had a lot of opportunities in that game. In the quarter-finals,

Ricky met Shaun Murphy, when he turned in another composed

performance. I played OK. Luckily there were a couple of big frames.

To keep going, it round by round, it is pleasing. With Ronnie

O'Sullivan and other past champions out, only Mark Allen stands between

him and the final. He has beaten him in three of their previous

meetings. He is a great player. The top 16 does not have as much impact

as people think. You know you have to play well each time you go up

there. Rickey is clearly a man in form and the signals look good.

Well, the signals will have to remain good if he is to turn this

around. We will not talk about him whilst he practices in the

background!. Instead we will talk about this week to have been

sending us. Thank you. -- beat tweet you have been sending us.

Does it hurt more to lose in the final frame? Difficult. I remember

losing 10-9. That would rankle with you more, well, for me anyway. When

it goes down to a final frame, for me, when you get down to the last

frame, you think you could have won, could have played a shot

differently and that cost you the championship. That hurts you the

most. They stay with you longer, especially if you had a chance and

the last frame. If you have one and make a mess of it, it hurts. You

sit on the coach -- couch for a few days, ignore the wife. This one

says, can anyone play snooker at the highest level, or do you have

to be born with the skill? Everybody needs natural ability to

start off with. It is what you make of it after that. You can coach

certain people at certain sports. You could not make me a rugby

player if you tried, but if someone has natural ability and application,

they have a chance. You do need something. You cannot turn up and

be unco-ordinated cost it will not happen. I never man with natural

ability. Steve Davis, who cannot stay away from the auditorium, can

you? I can't. It reminds me of when I was playing Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Where having a great time. This is your first time at a snooker event?

Yes, it tears. How does it feel compared to watching it on the

television? The atmosphere it, there is nothing like it. --

atmosphere. I see you have chosen the earpiece. You will have to

listen to the likes of Willie Thorne. Yes, but it helps. Thank

you. This is not your first time? It isn't. I have been to the

Crucible in Sheffield. Special interest in the match? Might

manager at his friends went Ricky Walden. The one Ricky to win? I

don't. Mark Allen. And you are supporting Ricky Walden. Yes. Allen

has got his head back in the gain - - in the game. Thank you. They are

ready to come back out for these last few all-important frames. Were

the winners will go into the final. At the moment, Mark Allen is seven-

fight in front. Out they come. The body language was interesting. I

wonder what Ricky Walden can do it to turn things around. We have had

several momentous shifts in this game so far. Let's go back to the

commentary box. Thank you. The players are getting their water.

Whilst they are doing that, we will show you the incident would be read.

He does not want to miss this because it will take all the pace

He managed to get the cue ball back, That was a bit of a mistake. Will

things change around again? If we hadn't had that interval, I think

he would have spotted that red. He was not on the practice table.

Rikki was. -- Ricky Walden was. A If it. Short, he has got the one

This is a huge frame full Ricky Walden. He really needs this one.

The first one that gets to nine will go through to Tamara's final.

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He has got to get this one right. He has come up a bit short. Cannot

get on the black this time. Can he hold for the pink, or will he have

to find a gap to get on to the That was a good recovery. It was

It is always good to go into the pack when there is one at least red.

That looks about perfect. -- is at Just as he predicted, Stephen. He

hit that red would stun. -- with it He needs to get his first frame on

the board, a frame that he badly needs. Once again, playing for a

Just over five minutes for this That is so careless. A lack of

concentration. He had a choice of shots to play and he did not cure

it very well. -- cue it very well. A lifeline for Ricky Walden. I

thought Mark Allen would have There is Ricky Walden's mum,

girlfriend and nephew. I think they felt the worst when he missed that

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easy red. He is back at the table He could have made it a little bit

He has got to put a good shake the shot in. Why risk it? -- safety

If he can knock the black safe, it What a brilliant shot that was,

under the circumstances! He He was probably so disappointed

with his last shot, he decided to Mark Allen stays in his seat. If

you are uncharacteristic misses. -- The mid-session interval can change

things around. It did not look as if Mark Allen would miss and all of

a sudden, he has missed a couple of sitters. Before, he looked 100 %

focused. When you do not hit it properly, you do tend to get back

contact -- bad contact. But this one here, I don't know what he was

thinking. Anyway, that is history and it makes it even more

fascinating. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Frame 14. Ricky Walden

He never got anywhere near that one, which is surprising. Mind you, we

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He needs a couple of pots to get himself back going again. Mark will

be pleased that the red it cannoned into the green. -- cannoned into

Look where the Black has finished. It is tied up completely in the

bunch. -- where the black has That was a good shot. He managed to

avoid the cannon on the blue. the black was on the spot, Mark

I tell you what, Judd Trump will be No problem, and he has missed the

blue Swail. A couple of good safety shot spare. -- and he has also

missed the blue. A couple of good If that pink does not go into the

right corner, he will have a lot of He definitely wants to get the pink

He is playing for the loose red, so he will have to keep getting on to

the blue. There is nothing in the role box saying that you cannot win

a frame of of the blue. -- off of He has got different options

available to him. There is enough angle to get close to the poll. --

Maybe he has not played the can and because he is frightened of leading

How do you get back to the blue? He would need to screw it right back

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Now he is the wrong side of the That is a beautiful shot. Back in

prime position again. That was a A couple of shots ago, the reverse

side - this is the reverse side. Watch the white as it hits the

cushion and spins towards the blue. That is what you do when you play

This time it might take him into the corner pocket. The only problem,

when you catch another ball and you are playing with side, it generates

But he has a 43 point lead. I think he was trying to push the yellow

safe as well as trying to play a good cue ball. That's why he was

shaking his head. He wants to put the yellow on the side cushion, and

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Ricky didn't fancy playing off that red to get back down the table, he

thought it was just a little bit There is very little to play behind,

the green is on the cushion, the yellow is over the pocket, and

there was only the brown to get the snooker behind. This will help

Ricky, if he frees the pink. That is certainly to Ricky Walden's

advantage. There is a couple of reds Ricky could have a go at. The

one near the pink spot would go into the right corner. If he can

get to the back of the red near the left side cushion, he could take

this pot on. He can also get past the yellow. He has looked at both

He needs the brown to come to his Just looking at the angle, to pot

the red into the middle pocket, he is going past the red and the pink.

The pink and black don't go into the left corner, so not guaranteed

good position here. It will have to be the yellow because of that

reason, the pink and black not available into the left corner. One

good positional shot and he could put himself a few frames in front,

and he would only need one to get Is he going to cover everything? He

has. Covered the lot. He has the choice of two reds. The bottom red

of the four goes into the bottom corner. He will be annoyed he has

Taken the opportunity to put the red safe. That is a good safety

He hit that red much more thinly than he wanted to. He has caught it

almost half ball. This red courts That was pretty careless from Ricky

Walden. It was straightforward, just double the red up the table.

The shake of the head tells you what he thinks of it. He has not

really given himself a chance in It was straight forward, he hit

that half ball, as Stephen said, and left the red for the middle.

You could see that just clipped one of the reds out there, so there are

two reds available. Might be straight on the blue, but the pink

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will get him to the back red of the Almost equal now on balls potted,

just two pots behind but the most important thing is Mark: has a two

frame advantage. There is a trick shot for you! Ricky says it is OK,

He only needs one more frame, it is 8-6. He has been at the winning

post before, and I wonder how much that history plays on you at this

point? I think he has more experience than Ricky and to show

in this evening. He is able to handle it because he has been here

a few more times. You can see from Ricky's demeanour he's finding it

tough going. We have all played sessions where we don't quite know

what is going on. Things are running away from him a bit at the

moment, and Mark's experience is coming to the fore. Well it is your

view at the way Mark came back at him but the challenge seems to have

fizzled out. Again, he seems to be giving him easy chances. When the

pressure is on, the first thing you want is an easy opener. He came

back well in the first frame after the interval but he has played a

couple of careless safety shot, leaving Mark easy openers, building

up a lead. You can't do that at this level. Terry Griffiths is

obviously a man in Mark's camp, and has been for a few years. What

difference does Terry make to him and other people who have been in

his charge? He's well known for his skills as a coach. You will be

listening to someone who has been there and done it, it is a big help.

Sometimes he might be a shoulder to lean on, sometimes he might be a

punchbag, but whatever it is there will be commonsense involved. It

obviously helps to have someone who has done it. I'm sure Terry will be

helping him, telling him what to expect. If you were to be advising

Ricky Walden right now, Ken, what would be your words of wisdom?

would just say to go out and take each frame as it comes. Your back

is against the wall, but the first chance you get, take it,. You have

nothing to lose. Every frame is different. Once you get one frame

Ricky has lost five of the last six frames and he wants to be thinking

about the four frames he won in a row. Here needs to put a little run

together. His back is against the wall. He is a very talented player,

He has looked at the possibility of putting this in the middle pocket.

It is a thin cut. He has changed his mind. The last thing he wants

to do is make a careless mistake and just leave Mark in the balls

here, Stephen. Yes, because Mark is very good a close in the match out.

He certainly doesn't shrink away I think he was forcing that one a

little bit. That is a tough shot. The double kiss has put Mark in,

but that was the last thing Ricky We can clearly see the black would

pot. Didn't he play that well? He also has the pink. He has left

Just looking to see if he pots the black if it does re-spot. The red

he would love to play for is the one directly above the black.

course you can't ask the referee, you have got to use your own

judgement. He has looked at it from both sides. I think he can see

enough of the pink, but he would prefer to try to pot the black. He

hasn't got the angle to move the Even if the black doesn't go on its

own spot... He is standing there praying that the black will be

pottable! One of those where you have just got to trust to your

judgement as to whether the ball will pot. The other red wouldn't go.

Now he can play for the red there is a little bit awkward, the one

I don't think he has come far A loose red to the bottom of the

pack, he will be playing for that to the right corner. He will want

to disturb a couple more reds. In fact I think he is playing for the

This is what you want when you are one frame from winning the match,

nice and easy. Just take your time, one ball after time. -- at a time.

That one near the pink spot must obviously pot into the left corner,

He looks very composed, playing at Just picked off the loose reds and

it will become more difficult after There might still be one, the one

closest to the pink, to the right of the little triangle. That might

go to the middle pocket. It obviously does, the way he has

played position. This is the last He hasn't got the angle to go into

the bunch, so he is looking at the two reds to see if he could leave

He's creeping closer to that winning post to get himself into

his first major final. Ricky Walden can only sit and watch. He took the

more difficult of the reds. Look where the red has come to. It is

not over just yet for Ricky Walden. But what at -- a tall ask. Has he

got enough angle to play that with top-spin and opened the reds up? He

has got to be careful not to slide off the bunch and go towards the

I don't think he's done one. -- on one. A millimetre too much angle on

the pink to play that shot. You convince yourself it is going to

work out, even though sometimes you The red he sent up the table has

gone close to the corner pocket, but he has covered that. This gives

Mark a bit of a problem. He has got a chance to play this red to the

right centre and play as like shot to nothing. I'm just looking, I'm

wondering if he takes the pot on if He did, but he stormed it so he

wouldn't cannon the blue. -- Key shot coming up. I think he did

expect to go somewhere near the reds, and I think the pace he

played it that, I think he swerved the white away from the reds.

is a pressure ball. He has got to go for it. This could be the end of

his UK Championship, if this doesn't go in. I'm not sure if he

has a natural to pot the yellow and come along the line to pot the red.

It just depends on the angle he has on the yellow, although, as Stephen

said, if he takes it on he has to get it. I'm just wondering if he

He has played for the other red, so that is OK. Just dropped it in dead

weight. We know that red is still available to the left of the four.

What a frame this would be to win. When he potted the yellow, you

could hear Mark's a "good shot" so He has got to play for the single

Imperative that he gets a good angle on the black. So here we go

then. The only thing that can go wrong here if he catches the first

red a little bit thinly. He has got into them enough. I still don't

cannon if he is going to clear up I suppose he was a little unlucky

to get the cannon and leave three of them still tied up. The ideal

colour would be the pink, to play the cannon, but it has to be an

What a great call that was, and he has played it with loads of left-

hand side to lead himself on the pink. -- leave himself. He's

showing a lot of character here, The cue ball needs to stop. It is

OK, you can tell by his body I always like to play for the blue

off the final word, if possible, because it is the easiest way to

He has to force it slightly, but it He just needed a touch more side on

that and he wouldn't have had to use the rest so this is a big

yellow coming up. Not so much the Under the circumstances, this is a

He won't need the black, just needs He has come up short. The only good

thing, he doesn't need the black. A Well done, Ricky Walden. Mark had a

break of 54, it looked as if he was on his way to the final, but Ricky

Walden has cleared up with a break of 65 to keep him in the semi-final.

Some inspired play from Ricky Walden, nothing to lose snooker.

This was a great chance that he took beautifully. Hats off to him,

he showed a lot of bottle. It is a testament to his skill, and also

his character. He played one shot in that that is the best shot he

has played in the match. He played this with check side to get down to

the pink. He has come down to leave an angle on it. As Ken did today

when he did demonstration and picked the cue ball up with his

hand, you could not play that with your hand any better if you tried!

You would have been proud of that. It was so difficult to make a

cannon on those three reds, it would have been perfect with his

pink. A little window into Mark's mind perhaps when he was praying

that the black was pot a ball, which shows you the tension he is

under. Obviously you would like to be 8-7 in front, but two frames can

Will it be the last frame, or well Ricky Walden take us into a

You can sense more of a spring in his step after winning that frame.

When Mark was on 54, he knew he was probably out of the championship.

As you say, Stephen, game on. He has played a beauty here. Ricky

will have to come off two cushions and try to nestle behind the red

next to the black. He has got to be pretty precise with this. He got

the right line, but didn't hit it hard enough. He doesn't want to

slip past the red. He has got to be It is not touching, but he hit the

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If he took that path, it would be He was not 100 % happy plain bad. -

It was difficult to get to the other side of the blue from that

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It is not on, but he could make He did not judge the first red

He will need his extension because of the green. If he gets the cue

ball where he wants, he can finish on the back. -- black. That is

better. Has he found that gap? He certainly has. Very well played,

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He wants to play the black into the He needs to clear the red above the

black. It is not straightforward at the moment. He is having to find a

gap every time and he has done it again. That was a very good at shot

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

He is looking at the blue, but the If he can cannon that road above

the black, it will be absolutely But was a better shot than it

He has forced an angle and there is one available into the middle

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

He is not bothered about that. Ricky Walden comes forward to shake

his hand. You have got a hand it to Mark Allen, he won the first four

frames and he has gone on to get himself into his first ever major

final, and what a match we had. Cannot wait for tomorrow.

Very well played to Ricky Walden. But at last, Mark Allen is no

longer a semi-finalist, he is a finalist in a world ranking event

and he has picked a good one to be in. He is on his way, we hope, to

chat to us. What was the difference for Mark Allen tonight? I think he

showed greater composure than Ricky. It is the massive night for Ricky

Walden. But that little extra bit of experience recounted this

evening. -- really counted. much value is this experience for

Ricky going forward. Well, he has beaten some great players in a huge

tournament. When the questions were asked, he answered them,

particularly in the penultimate frame. He is probably disappointed,

but Mark Allen showed a lot of composure, a lot of determination.

It's the same old cliche, but he never throws in the tackle. In a

final session when it means more and there is a winning post

involved and it is his first final, it is a great performance. It is

indeed. It will be great. When I look through the statistics, Trump

has won one game. Here he comes. Congratulations!. Well done indeed.

Just tell us what it means to you to have finally cracked it. His it

means everything. -- it means everything. It is great to finally

get over the line. Did you think you would ever crack it? Well, you

have to believe in yourself. I have been working very hard on my game

and it is paying off. He lost in this previous semi-finals, but they

have been a big stage to play on. Had they still due in good stead?

Definitely. I am getting better, but I did not play my best there.

How did you feel, having to come back after losing those frames.

was a struggle. Richard macro played brilliantly. -- Ricky played

fantastically. You have been asking for the best of 17 frames and in

their Ken, it was just as well it was. -- in the Ken, it was just as

what it was. You have been the man who has been talked about all week,

but it seems to have galvanised you. Been behind a cause seems to have

strengthened you. how have you done it? I think when my back is against

the wall, it just makes me stronger. None of the press I had been

getting bothers me. It spurs me on. I am entitled to my opinion. I know

it was not well received, but it is my opinion and I am entitled to it.

I know you have had your health problems Lycia obviously, but you

seem to have turned things around. How positive are you feeling within

I am feeling a lot better. I'm have only been playing 50 %. My safety

has come through, but I have only made one century. I am not quite

there, but but it proves where my game is at as a Hull. How much a

you looking forward to tomorrow? have been waiting for a long time.

I cannot wait. How many times have I have played in 10 or 11 times and

never lost to him. I just want to get that in! All the best. We will