Day 3 UK Snooker Championship

Good afternoon. 12 men are already through to the second round of the

williamhill.com United Kingdom championship. This is one of

snookers big three events with the World Championship at the Crucible,

and the Masters in London been the other two. Neil Robertson already

owns two of the three main titles and as me therefore and said, that

isn't bad. This is the one he needs to complete the set. His -- he's at

odds of so doing were sharply reduced with the departure of last

year's runner-up, Mark Allen of Northern Ireland, and the defending

champion and world number one, Judd Trump, this was a shocker. I went

into that game expecting to beat, I know there was a lot of pressure on

the defending champion, snooker is one of the hardest games in the

world when you are under pressure. When you get out there, especially

when you are not used to it, the pressure to perform, you're playing

on the BBC, everybody is watching back home, there is a pressure to

put on a good performance. There was no atmosphere out there. I was

trying to force it a little bit, playing a few shots I should have

done to get the crowd involved. He's into bit miserable. A bit

depressing. I think it was 4 1/2 one when I put the pink into the

pocket. 4-2, I kept fighting. I didn't do too much wrong at 5-2, it

just wasn't meant to be. It didn't matter, he is now one frame away

from a place in the last 16, 5-2. Just about on the yellow. Lots of

In my opinion, if the yellow had stayed straight, I would have won.

He needed a little bit of help, played nowhere near what he can,

neither did I. Overall I think he deserved to win, I take nothing

I knew I could have beaten. There was another surprise as Mark Allen

he played so brilliantly to reach the final last year was put out by

Marco Fu, himself a former runner- up in this event. It was a very

good performance. Allen through in the towel in the last of the frames

and have it thrown straight back. It was a pretty in century

background to the match with the Crucible comments about the Chinese

players being revisited. Allen out, Marco Fu is through. I didn't try

any harder tonight. I just wanted to play a game of snooker. I didn't

try any harder to beat Mark. Just a normal opponent, which was probably

a good attitude for me, because in the past I was playing the player

rather than the table and tonight I displayed the table and it really

work. If I have anything to say any more I will get it on paper first,

because no matter what a say in the press it always seems to be twisted.

It will be interesting to see what you ghost talk about with me and

Judd Trump out of the tournament, it might be a shame you have to do

about snooker. I am here with a couple of press boys. And what did

you make of Judd Trump? Shocking, he has been playing superbly. It

was quite a scrappy match against Mark Joyce. At 5-2 he looked a

certainty. Credit to Joyce, he kept battling. He managed to fall over

the line and it is wide open. hate to use the word disrespect, 30

the take a couple of liberties. takes a couple of Liberty's in

every match, that is why he is so exciting. He plays about this

figure that I think is a precedent you. We have seen so many fast

attacking players, it is not always going to come off, yesterday it

didn't. What did you make of Mark Allen's exit? Reportedly, Marco Fu

was great Marco never looked like missing. Credit to have he did take

a couple of cavalier shots.. He lost his head a little bit. I

thought Marco Fu was Willie. there was an undercurrent because

of comments Mark Allen made at the championship? I don't see why that

should be effective. He should seek other sports where more serious

things go one. If you are a professional sportsman he should be

with your mind of what you were doing. Going back to the press,

Judd Trump has said one or two things. It is a two-way sort, you

cannot really expect them to say nothing. If they sit there, it all

the time it would be any good to you. There is a fine line between

speaking your mind at saying something legitimate the you have

to be careful not to cross the line it to commence you cannot

substantiate that a legally dubious and that is what plays have to be

mindful of. We have got to the players out of the draw, plenty of

players looking where they are in round two. And he will face

Allister Carter, who dispatched Steve Davis back to his other day

job with us in the studio. Jack Lisowski asked questions of

Stuart Bingham last night that Basildon's own had all the answers.

Stephen Maguire await after impressing against Fergal O'Brien,

three times on the trot for the Scot in that one.

Did to who Marks me this evening for the right to face either Ricky

Walden Luca Brecel. He was 2-0 down, Graeme Dott one to

come through against Martin cooled. He has earned the right to play

Shaun Murphy. John Higgins, very much on track

for a 4th UK crown. Got past Michael Holt 6-3. He will run into

a pretty confident Mark Davis. His victory was a mess of that so far.

Those two Welshman are scheduled for this afternoon. And awaiting

one of those is Marco Fu after a highly polished performance against

last year's runner-up, Mark Allen. Semi-finalist last year, a quarter-

finalist the year before, Neil Robertson is getting close, he

stars his campaign against Tom Ford shortly. Barry Hawkins, this year's

Australian Open winner, watched very closely because he will play

the winner. Great win for Ryan Day. That sets up a date against the

world number two, Mark Selby, he said Michael White home. -- who

Mark Selby could be going back to number-one were he to make the

final the Sunday. We were examining the fall out of Judd Trump's

departure. He said I should never have played that badly, it you will

never see another world number one play as badly as that. What did you

hope he has let? I think you should be able to learn

from every performance. You learn more from losing and winning. He

obviously said a few things afterwards lead no atmosphere, and

we head Philip start talking about that is his way of playing,

entertaining. But you cannot entertain at this sharp end of the

event if you are not in it. There is a point in this game, it is just

about winning. It is a sport and you have got to get over the line.

I wouldn't say disrespectful, but sometimes when you take liberties

with the game the balls never forgive you, they punish you, and

you let your opponent back in. Judd Trump, it does he decide to go down

the road of just playing entertaining snooker, orders he

tried to be more of a winning We plough on here without them, and

top of our wish list a to cracking matches featuring these fellows.

The Wallabies may have Nick a win in Wales but Neil Robertson would

rather avoid the last gasp stuff in his opening match today.

Tom Ford must summon all of his powers of resistance, he fell at

this first hurdle to Robertson here last year.

Fuelled by memories, Matthew Stevens returns to the scene of his

greater success when he lifted the trophy nine years ago.

No doubt of it in the practice room is his opponent, this baseman,

Dominic Dale. -- spaceman. There's tell you a bit more about Neil

Robertson, the most successful overseas player in history of the

game with six world ranking titles Always one of the best players in

the world. Always well prepared, always gives 100%, one of the

players, if you had to give somebody a shot to play for your

life he would be one of the people you would choose. Lovely person,

He is brilliant, he cues the ball very straight, which surprisingly

enough not many of the top players in the world do that. Always

conducts himself very well. Just One of the best out there, hits the

ball better than anyone. Has the temperament under pressure. He's

the one to have your money on. knows every part of it, very strong.

He has changed completely. He went from unbelievably attacking,

probably an all-round match player year-old from Leicester. 12 years

in the sport, a winner of too small events, hit a maximum break earlier

in the season. Hendry and Taylor In this match today, we haven't

seen a lot of Tom Ford on TV, what way -- what can we expect? He has

won two smaller events, he perhaps hasn't fulfilled his potential in

the big events but he can score. any match you want a good start but

you feel with somebody who hasn't been on TV it is good to get a good

win today. If he doesn't get a good start against Neil he could

steamroller him. There is a lot to play for. The three big ones have

been the Masters, the world champion and the UK. He beat Shaun

Murphy 10-6 so he will be after the UK this year. Added pressure, know

Ronnie O'Sullivan won at the moment, Judd Trump out yesterday. -- no

Ronnie O'Sullivan at the moment. They are all in with a chance. He

does add pressure, even though he's seems to make it easier, it adds

more pressure. The defending champion has gone. Thank you for

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. What a dramatic start we

have already enjoyed to the Sears williamhill.com championship. We

complete the line-up. Please welcome the player who has shot

into the world 32 winning an event in each of the last two seasons,

produced a sparkling one for 7 in Bulgaria, from Leicester, Tom Ford.

And his opponent, a player with a superb temperament for the big

occasion, winner of six ranking event titles including the 2010

World Championship, the reigning Masters champion, can you hear the

Thunder from Down Under? He'll -- HAZEL IRVINE: This is our feature

match but you can access table two throughout the afternoon by looking

Best of 11 frames stretching before Another good crowd here at the

Barbican Centre in York. Wiping his Tom Ford gets the opening frame

under way. Pretty good length with the cue ball. Left that red to the

right. Might be worth Neil having a go at this. Could get himself on

Not the easiest of opening shots. It is certainly one that is a huge

confidence boost if he can get it. It has become his trademark over

the years. I don't think he has Somebody's ear piece is really loud.

An interesting choice. Might be a little bit tight as to whether the

Interesting to see how come place today. He has had success in the

smaller events -- how Tom plays. Yet to have any major success on a

fall television tournament. I think with those events it is giving

players the confidence. They don't play as often on television but the

more they play them, if they had success, we have seen that with

Mark Joyce against Judd Trump, fantastic comeback to knock out the

defending champion. Also it they are getting used to playing the top

players more regularly. Before we used to have them seven rate

tournaments, you wouldn't get a chance, only when they qualified

for these venues. Very nervous playing against the top players,

Neil has dropped down to No. 6 in the world rankings. He will want to

do something about that. He has started playing well again, a great

victory in the Masters. That was back in January. A bit of a chance

With the cue ball he had safety in mind. A very risky brown he's

looking at. With the reds open, that is what you call a shot to

nothing. This could pay dividends if he knocks this brown in. That is

all you need. The only consolation is he may have snookered in -- Neil.

Have a look at this. Certainly doesn't do your confidence any good

He didn't cover that red. And mention the one he played, very

unlucky when that happens. Don't mind if he played a bad shot leave

One of the best cue actions in the game, Neil Robertson. Effortless

I don't know what it is about the left-handed players, the best

potter is in the game, going back to the South African, Mark Williams,

Judd Trump, Mark Allen, Jimmy White, it is amazing how they a look so

good at potting. -- how they are so Want to know where they he has got

a new pair of shoes on, but he is slipping slightly. -- weather. Got

to be careful. You can do yourself I actually remember playing Ken

Doherty, I hadn't paid for maybe 10 years, looked over the table and

cracked a rib. Couldn't believe it. They are mocked by a new shoes as

you can see. -- they are not brand new shoes. This is the red he

wanted to play for. Clears the Never ceases to amaze me, Tom Ford

got himself psyched up for this match, newt it was going to be very

tough, -- he knew it was going to be very tough. Watch him pot the

balls he was going to pot. Just going to show it to you one more

time. Looked as if he struck it There is that cue power that

Stephen was talking about - effortless. He is playing a cannon

Timing the ball beautifully at the moment. He will want to stamp his

authority on the match as quick as possible. Tom will be disappointed

with his kick from the brown and he will want to keep him in that state

Neil is doing what all the great players down the years seem to be

able to do - get off to a quick start. Stephen, who is sat next to

me, was a past master at that, along with Steve Davis. As Stephen

I used to think you could almost win the match in the first two

frames if you got off to a good start. You put so much pressure on

your opponent if you can keep them off the table for the first few

He can't do anything about this. He's just got to get himself ready

for the first frame. You have just got to put it out of your mind,

Neil Robertson is a great break- builder. Looking at his centuries

He is good to watch, Neil. He is very fluent around the table. A

couple of seasons ago, he wasn't Not keen on the shot clock they

have on some of the tournament but when he gets going, he is very

That little cannon on the red gives Another reason Tom will be

disappointed with the kick on the brown is that he could have played

end easy safety shot but he chose to play the right shot and was

punished for it. I was thinking the same. A lot of players would have

ducked behind the green with the We have had 12 centuries so far and

we are only into a 3. Stephen Maguire and Marco Fu have both made

He was hoping to drop in on the pink to be nicely behind the red.

He can screw in from behind the blue. He might need his extension

He took the brown to get right behind the red. He has played that

The sponsors are giving �250 for every century break to charity.

That is 22 centuries he has made I think Marco Fu is the most

impressive so far, along with Stephen Maguire. They have both

played exceptionally well but Neil Well, that is a fantastic start

from the Australian! You can't do better than that in the opening

frame. He has cleared a lot with a break of 129 and he beads 1-0.

That is the way to get going in a match, isn't it? Just after saying

that Tom Ford needed a good start, he goes and gets a horrendous kick

on the brown in the middle pocket and Neil Robertson with a break

like that wins the frame. significance of that could be the

storyline of the match. Even though it is just one frame, one shot, if

you don't get off the ground in a match, and you are left Gordon the

starting blocks, that can be the story of the day. Neil Robertson

has done his job. He has mop up the tears very well and Tom Ford is

still on 0. If it Neil Robertson wins the next and the next, all of

a sudden Tom Robertson goes into the press conference and says,

"that kick, second shot of the match, cost me the match." If you

look at the last season, he was a bit slow to start. He has already

started in that frame with a smaller victory and has been

thereabouts. Do you see him started to get the crispness that would

indicate that he is coming to the ball? Yes and I think he is a

massive occasion player. The bigger the occasion, the better he plays.

He has won the Masters and the world. This is the one he wants to

complete his CV. Frame two. I am sure Tom Ford will feel like he has

He has been hit with the Thunder Stephen mentioned in the previous

frame, Tom Ford was very positive. He could have tucked up behind the

green but went for a positive shot and got that horrendous kick, which

was his last shot in the opening Not the best kiss in the world for

Tom, catching the brown. These are one of Neil Robertson's trademark

shots. There are two reds I think He can get through to the one that

is near the pocket and he can take the one to the right of the blue. I

He can get through to the one near the pocket, which is the one he is

I am going to put you on the spot, Stephen. I said Judd Trump was the

best potter I had ever seen in the game. Up until then, it was Neil

Robertson. Who is the best potter you have played against? It is

difficult to say because on the day, all of these players can pot

fantastically. I gauge it on who is the most consistent and you have to

say Neil is right up there. He consistently gets the long balls. I

He is so close to the brown. There he is - one of the greatest potter

as I have ever seen, Mark Williams, looking very smart! He is right up

Tom is trying to negotiate the snooker off four cushions to get

He did not quite make the 4th It is somewhere near those lines.

He is just telling the referee he Neil Robertson is looking to the

top corner. He is having a think about it. He does not like it so he

Can it be third time lucky? The line he went, if he had hit it a

bit harder, he might have got into the pack but he could have pushed a

red on. It is not a bad choice if If he has left and so straight on

That was the best he could do. In a couple of shots' time, he might get

back up into the reds. He needs to pull up if he is going to go into

the bunch. He may have to come off If one of the reds pots of the

right corner, he does not have to try and get into the bunch on this

A lovely angle if he chooses to follow through for the cushion with

lots of top spin into the pack. Always good to do it when there two

He is wishing he hadn't gone into them, maybe, but that is pretty

careless. He just forgot about the pot. I think he was concentrating

on where he was leaving the cue He wouldn't have up and over again.

-- he would like to have that one over again. The cue ball ran away

The last thing Tom wants to be thinking is about the kick in the

first frame. He will just have to be patient and wait for a decent

He has played it well, to get over those reds and the pink. An easy

safety off the red on the left side He wanted to be careful where the

pink went. That is OK. I think he has covered the left-hand side so

that as a good shot. -- that is a good shot. I think he can just get

past the blue to play that red and A chance for Tom to use that target

If he opens the pack, he has got to It needs to run because of red has

come up over the middle. It has He has snookered Neil on all the

reds. His heart was in his mouth, willing that cue ball down the

He has to be very precise to come off a couple of cushions and nestle

into that bunch. He could easily leave one on and there are only

five reds in that little cluster He slipped away. I don't think he

This is important for Tom. He has to try and win this frame at this

visit, if for no other reason than to show his opponent he is capable

A nice positive shot, opening the reds up straight away. Still lots

of reds to play for. He has made two 147s so he knows his way around

He played for the red into the left centre pocket. He has gone a bit

too far. He has left himself He will want to use the red

immediately to the right of the pink to take it off the side

cushion. A half ball pot on that Tom has a nice tempo round the

table. I like his style. Another very good player coming from

The red Stephen mentioned he has brought into play so that was

He is now doing what John Parrott said he had to do - he had no

chance in the opening frame after the kick but he has still got quite

a bit to do here. It would be nice if he could win this frame with

this visit. That would help him forget what happened in the opening

I think he thought he had missed that! I don't think any of the two

He can play for the left red into He can't run through and much that.

The only problem with the pink is that he has got to make sure he

gets on it this time because playing on to the blue, there is no

way he can cannon into the reds because of the pink. I would have

liked to have seen him play for that left red into the centre for

He had to leave himself nicely on the pink. It looks not to have a

The energy needed - he hit it a little bit harder than that. -- the

You could say he is a bit unlucky but a different shop would have

taken that out of play. A good shot. Heading towards the green and brown

with the cue ball. He could slot this into the corner pocket. Even

if it didn't finish on green or brown, he could put Neil Robertson

in all sorts of trouble. This would A very good shot indeed. Look at

the brown! But he has not got the angle this time. The one in the

opening frame he got a kick on was Well played. Maybe if he had hit

the brown a little bit harder, but he has got it safe and got the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

snooker. Advantage Tom Ford in this These balls are nicely placed to

get snookers behind. Especially if He may take the pot on to the right

corner but just played a safety. If he can make contact, he can head up

behind the yellow but can he see He can only see the other side of

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He will be having a go at this. It looks to be absolutely dead

straight - the type of shot that Just cued across it slightly. It

will pot. He has left it on. It That was pretty attacking. He tried

to develop the brown in potting He has covered the escape to the

left cushion, closest to the yellow. Quite a big margin of error to hit

the yellow. That is the sort of line he could take, interesting to

He has gone right around the back A miss was called. Neil will not

Big advantage being left-handed here. He might be able to drop in

behind the brown. I think he will play this with a lot of right-hand

Try and get in behind the brown or even bring the brown off the

All is not lost for Tom Ford in the second frame. It is a bramble fight,

whoever pots the brown should win That seemed a strange shot. He

might have put himself in trouble with that safety shot. Give the

advantage stated on. -- straight it Could he would love to play cushion

first here but I don't think there Maybe just a little bit too close

He will have a shot at it, Tom, there is a lot of pressure on this.

He needs the brown and he needs the blue. The position is automatic,

just concentrate 100% on getting That is just the pressure of the

occasion. He has left the brown for Neil Robertson. It is all about

trying to deliver that crew through He doesn't miss many of those, Neil

Robertson. He has got very little to do, position wise. A similar

situation to come. Pot the blue and you on the pink. It looked as if

Tom Ford was going to level it. He Neil Robertson gets himself into a

two frame lead. HAZEL IRVINE: Very nicely done. As you can see, there

is Tom's current rating. Neil Robertson right near the top. You

fancy John Higgins slightly ahead. I should imagine the 5/1 on offer

is probably changing all the time. Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby, it is

rather strange not to have Judd Trump in the next. That has had an

bit of value further down, Mark Williams is playing pretty good.

14/1, might seem a big price for Assess what we have seen so far

from Tom for a's perspective. cruel game, in a way. -- Tom Ford.

It looked like he was going to have an opportunity, but cast your mind

back to the two reds below the pink, he failed to resolve that situation

and has paid the ultimate price. When he looks at that situation he

had, it could have been 1-1 if he resolved that. Third frame, we are

Not a bad length with a break-off shot. Some players seem to be able

to get the white further to the left. Most players are coming up a

little bit short of reaching a Neil is still treating come up with

lots of respect, the chance of a Treating the play with utmost

respect, you have got to do that no matter who your opponent is, that

is close to the pocket, that could be in. You cannot take liberties in

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

this game, it kicks you right back That is the difference between the

two players at the moment, that was the type of shot Tom Ford had a

There is the long pot success rate, five out of five. They it is pretty

consistent, 100%. -- that is pretty consistent. There is a trick shot

You would not see a better trick shot than that. He was thinking

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I think you should really get 11 Perfect contact on the red. Pretty

He is aiming down on the right-hand side to bend it around the green,

clip the edge of the red. It is dangerous. You did would to swerve

too much and catch the red thick. I think this is a see the shot. --

sailfish shot. Gone back to his Just getting a little bit messy now,

knocking the blue on to the side That might be a free ball. It is.

Neil can take the brown, that is amazing. You cannot believe what is

going on at the moment. Thought he would have a couple of goes. He

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

Exactly the same brown from the Potting the red, cannoning into the

path, hopefully leaving herself -- leaving himself with the pink.

Couldn't have played it much better The only thing is it has put the

black out of commission, it was Is the pink spot available? It may

be tied up. The blue is out of Looking at the bottom of those two

There seems to be enough room for the pink to go back on the spot.

Just about, that is the pink and black out of commission. He will

have to go for one of the bulk colours and cannon into the pink

and black. Yellow would probably be He is a little bit straight on the

green. He will have to play for a single red. Playing this off three

cushions. I am just wondering if he He needs a bit of angle to attempt

He might be able to see enough of the black. This will open more of

He tried a delicate one of rather than forcing the black. It is

He feels he can pot this red without the red he is touching. If

that moves affection it is a foul Play this black with a touch of

right-hand side. Given the choice of the red beneath the black or the

red to the right. A nice shot that was. Always a danger if you flick a

bit too much side on you can miss He has got such a delicate touch,

as he proved with that lapsed shot. -- the last shot. That didn't sound

too healthy. Might work to his advantage, he is forced to go into

the bunch. Certainly opened the remaining reds up. If he drops on a

colour it will be 3-0. If he cannons the two reds there can only

below the pink and promote the pink towards the middle pocket. He just

You can see the whites pinning up the table. I don't think he was

expecting to get that far up the He's not doing much wrong at the

moment, Neil Robertson. Tom Ford had a chance to take the second

frame. Neil Robertson looks in fine fettle as they used to say in

During a real professional job on time today, -- he's doing.

Even when Neil plays soft shots the cue always accelerates through the

ball, almost the perfect cue action. I the key to a lot of games is to

follow through. The number of times they forget to do that. Golf is a

typical example. If you quit on the shot and did follow-through it will

be a bad shot -- do not follow Worrying times for Tom Ford.

Playing all the right shot, gets in, never misses. There has never been

a better format. Good, tactical Force your opponent into making an

A little bit of everything here, an Apart from when he got the kick on

the black, he has out of danger. Had to negotiate earlier wrong when

the pink and black were blocked up a little bit. Done it so well.

great staying, the cue ball is on a piece of string. Sometimes we need

them while struggling you have it on the end of a piece of rope --

sometimes when you are struggling. Absolutely fantastic from Neil

Robertson, his second century of this match. He's 23rd this season.

-- it is his 23rd this season. He has made 236 centuries in his

career. A little exhibition shot to try and move the blue. Things are

going so well. He might try and loch -- knocked the blue out. Look

at the side on not. Watch the white spinning off those cushioned. It's

And then a delicate little 1 up the cushion. It is just coming away

slightly. What a fabulous break. Two centuries in three frames. He

leads 3-0. His all-round game is unbelievable. His long pot success

is at 100%. Talk us through these. His very first pot of the match.

Time it so well. When you knock in the first one it gives you so much

confidence for the rest of your game. Sometimes if he missed the

first ball you go for it can have you a little bit on edge -- if you

miss. Seen a couple of dental long pots. Not forcing them. -- gentle.

This is a Neil Robertson special. They used to be a Stephen Hendry

special. I don't think I had his cue power. Very little effort goes

into it. That last red, I remember when he used to go up to sterling,

keep an eye her new practising. -- Stirling. He very rarely misses

One more frame before the mid- session interval. Tom Ford, he

badly needs this frame. I don't think going to the mid-session 4-0

down would be what he's after. That is the beauty. Needs a little

bit of good luck when he plays the cannon here. If he can hit the red

at the end of the pack it would be better than heading the one above

it. If you could cannon that when it would be even better. He has hit

the other one, a little bit of good fortune, there is one gone over the

He played that very well. Almost as a spun it rather than he screw shot

it to make sure the white doesn't come back towards the black.

white is tight and the red in a middle is dead straight so he

cannot get the correct side of the blue. Go he has got to give it a

bit of care and attention. A slight angle. Forced to leave himself the

wrong side of the blue. He is struggling, these situations all we

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

seem a little awkward. The landed No kick for Neil Robertson. Perfect

I think he can leave the white where the black is. He wants to

clear that red away. He wants to put the black on both corner

Makes it more awkward because he is left-handed so he has to lean over

If it was straight for the black, he could screw back and leave the

red on to the opposite right corner. Just about perfect. He had to be

aware that the black when it was A little bit careless. Had to bring

the cue ball over to the left side He will probably play with what we

It is one of those where you have to hit the ball on the cushion at

Everything is just so easy for Neil Robertson at the moment. He looks

in superb form. One more good shot The blacks struggled. Wiped its

This will go to the middle pocket and he can get nicely on the black

again. A bit of a quick bounce. It may have to be the pink now. He is

such a good long potter and all he has to do is bring the white back.

Then he has got an easy red Those shots are a lot more

comfortable when you 1 3-0 up, rather than 3-0 behind. The-year-

old when you are. He has a He got to the quarter final of this

UK championship in 2010 and lost, he got to the semi-final and lost

to Judd Trump and I think he wants to go one better this year and add

the UK title to that illustrious Wouldn't it be something if he

could make another century? That would be three centuries in four

frames. Stephen Maguire did that in Frank Callan was the daddy of them

all in regards to coaching. They all learned from him. He used to

coach at least five or six world champions. A lot of them who are

coaching nowadays learned from Frank. Myself included. Had some

I wish him well if he is watching. I am sure he is. He bus his snooker.

Meanwhile, Neil will be trying his hardest to make a century. He is

one of the players that will try his hardest to clear the table.

the frame, will just relax but Neil really wants to finish this off.

Well, we are not going to get three centuries but what a performance

from Neil Robertson. He has missed virtually nothing in this match so

far. Two century breaks and that one is 74. He goes into the mid-

session interval leading 4-0. Extremely impressive and you get

the impression... We talked about the level of professionalism in his

performance and T just seems ready to do a job today. Exactly. When

you have Tom Ford, who is in excellent form, 147s and started to

qualify for the next stage, looking to try to improve his standard at

top class level and you come up against Neil Robertson, it is so

tough. You don't need many mistakes before it all comes undone. He has

not done a great deal wrong but is really up against it. What has been

the hallmark of his play? His total professionalism. He is one of those

players who when he has you on the black will make sure you stay there.

There is no let-up in him at the minute. One or two players this

week have let people off the hook. It goes back to your point before

we got the match under way with regard to whether you were going to

be an entertainer or a wing machine. Neil has chosen the latter. --

winning machine. Yes, Neil Robertson, having dropped off the

circuit and struggled at one stage, comes back and appreciates the need

to win more. He has learned that it is all about winning and now there

is a winning machine on the table. He does destroy you and he does not

look like he has got anything else in his mind other than that. It

sounds stupid but you go into the table looking to win the frame and

looking at every shot. It is very entertaining doing it. He is making

century breaks and a big long pot. Entertaining but it is a quicker

way to win. They are going to have to think about that. Tom will be

thinking about it during the interval. Whilst they do that, we

will look at events on the other table. Matthew Stevens, a man who

loves this venue - it was here that he won his only world ranking event

in 2003. Let's open the profile on Looking back 10, 15 years, I would

have predicted that Matthew Stevens would have been a multiple ranking

tournament winner with his talent but it hasn't happened. No, and a

lot of people would have thought that he had wasted his talent.

Seems to, from the outside, have gone off the rail a few times.

Leaves on the track or whatever. But to his credit, still a top 16

player, or knocking on the doors. Like Stephen Lee, when they first

came on the seen, everyone predicted great things but perhaps

they enjoyed themselves a bit much. But they have dragged themselves

back. The reason for Matthew Stevens is his huge talent. Also,

regardless of how he must have felt confidence wise, form wise, he has

not changed his game at all. He still plays exactly the same

attacking, brave snooker. He is never going to shirk his

responsibilities on the table. Great cueing and when he gets

amongst the balls, he is likely to shake them up. He has given himself

a chance to win matches by doing that. They fact that he is more

active got playing tournaments all the time, has helped him. There is

no chance of being bored at home for weeks on end with nothing to

look forward to. He is playing every week and that is important.

UK champion, of Bisley, and failed at the final hurdle in the World

Championship. Difficult to say for sure if he would get back to those

levels. On his day, he is a match for everybody. He has got every

shot in the book. He has failed at the final hurdle a couple of times

but he has been UK champion, so he knows what it takes to win big

tournaments. It remains to be seen if he can push on. He has got

himself almost in the top eight - can he go on and win tournaments

again? This is how his opponent's record looks. He is now 40 and

still capable of good performances. He is a double ranking event when a

but has always struggled in this event, curiously. This is his 21st

campaign - never got past the third round. Willie Thorne and John Virgo

are going to talk you through those frames. Matthew is at the table. No

JOHN VIRGO: You can always just run off a little bit. A chance to

Lives in Berlin, now, Dominic. He has moved away with his fiancee to

Berlin. He is enjoying himself over Didn't get that red into the middle

of the pocket, which is why it is going to be a little bit thin. A

bit further down the table and he would like but there are reds

Going back to the fact that he is unwell. He of looks as though he

has got a rash on his face. It can work both ways when you don't feel

too good. Sometimes, if you get a bad start, you start thinking about

your ailment, but if you get a good start you sort of forget about it

and top to concentrate a little bit more. They say beware of the

injured golfer. Beware of the injured snooker player. Remains to

be seen how he will play during this match. This is his first real

scoring opportunity. Not many bad players have ever won a ranking

event. He won won a few years ago A great student of the game. He

really builds all the facts and He is asking for the cue ball to be

cleaned but I think he misjudged the contact on the second red. That

is why he didn't get through it. It That was an excellent shot. Awkward

cueing for the next red but the pot Can't do anything but stun this in

to miss the kiss on the black. He really has to get into this. He

decided to play for blue. He knew it was a risk. Not the best kiss in

the world, even though he is on the That was a lovely controlled

positional shot, potting the blue. Swan it round of the two cushions.

The cannon helped to get perfect position. Couldn't have played it

better. Considering he has got out of his sickbed to be here this

afternoon, this is a good start. The two reds up of -- above the

black, he would like to kiss that off and that would bring the others

I don't know whether he is on anything but he is playing for the

Couldn't get the right side of the blue. I am not certain he played on

that black before when he ran into He has got a bit of work to do with

the cue ball here. Why doesn't he play the straight one? He didn't

need to. Judged that to perfection. The red just above the pink was the

one he played for but he may be on the one just below the pink. I

can't believe he played for this After this black, one more red and

a colour and he will win the first He played to the pink for an

opportunity to get on the next red. Exactly right. Could not have

That put him 71 points in front with just 67 points remaining. Very

well done indeed. Matthew had the first chance with a long red but he

missed. I was going to say, maybe we would see a century, but Dominic

Dale has taken the first frame, but for snookers.

That was enough to nail down the opening frame. Dominic not feeling

very well. He has got a rash and we are hoping he is not contagious! I

I don't know whether he was trying to blow the ball in all wave a fly

away their! He left Matthew a nice easy contingents because once he

missed, he was very lucky not to Gave him another chance. Cued that

That blue put him 53 points in front. The fact that the black is

tied up will not bother him. If he pots the one of the cluster of

three that is just above the black, it will open up the others, so a

chance to win the frame in this He would like to have that one

again! A very poor positional shot. Looking for one more colour and of

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

red. Should have been bet on the If he gets this, he is almost

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

certain to get on to a colour. The T7 is his lead, 67 on the table.

Just this red needed. -- 67 is his Tried to develop the black there

I am sure Dominic will remain in his chair. He nodded his head of

the referee soap largely due to a break of 43, Matthew Stevens has

levelled. We will bring you a little more of

that match later but if you want to continue watching it, let me remind

you of the many ways you can keep the cost all of the event at the

Barbican Centre this week. In addition to BBC Two's coverage,

you can watch uninterrupted live coverage through you're connected

TV, mobile or computer. There will also be regular updates on Radio 5

Live, and check the BBC Sport website for the latest on demand

highlights, news and interviews from the Barbican Centre.

There's a lot more to winning that particular trophy this week. Neil

Robertson has got close in the past. Semi-finals last year. He fell to

Judd Trump. No Judd Trump now, though, of course. Appeal is

playing very well against Tom Ford. Two centuries in four frames. --

and Neil is playing very well. Back to Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor

we go. We were in the players' room as we

watched that shot and Tom was very philosophical about what happened

and said he was going to go and make a maximum break. It is 10

grand for a maximum so he is current a give it it is best shot.

I always felt that as long as your opponent needed two frames, you

were in for a shot no matter what the score was. And 97% success rate

for Robertson. That is going some! 102 out of 105. His safety success

rate has just gone down after that shot! Come on, Tom, let's get the

frame on the board that you need. The last thing a player wants is a

whitewash. Tom will be hoping that the interval will have got rid of a

little bit of Neil's intensity and his concentration. If he had

carried on the match without an interval, there would be a danger

of losing this match 6-0. But sometimes an interval can make you

That would be a big advantage of the red above the black was

available in a couple of shots' At the moment, the black is totally

out of commission. If that red would pass the black, it would make

quite a difference. Might not be He has played for that red that we

showed you. It is not the correct Might b able to miss the bunch and

I did know whether that was a bad shot or a heavy contact. -- I do

not know. It seemed to to square up. The I mentioned earlier about the

red next to the black, there was no problem, both the red and black

I'm sure the black was sitting on its spot, even if it wasn't it was

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

as near as possible, the red still Purposely leaving an angle so he

He makes that look so easy. The cue One more good positional shot.

Another sizeable break coming up, We were saying in the studio he was

Obviously the pot is no problem, the position is not quite as

guaranteed as it would if the cue ball was down at this end of the

table. Got to be careful with the red. He may even play the cannon on

that red. He has chosen the blue. This time is -- the red is not

close to the pocket. Not quite as easy to get good position. The red

was over the pocket. When you can pot the way he does he doesn't mind

That red, that is blocking the path for another couple of reds into

Can he hold for the black this He slowly drag shot. Potted them

both. Played back round the angles comfortably. One positional shot

here and the frame is at his mercy. That will be the 4th had he has

said that. He opened with a break of 129, then 112, 74, and now this.

It is hard to compete against this type of player. Tom Ford just

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

Even that shot he made look very easy. It is also comfortable and

easy for Neil Robertson, he is at the top of his form here, making

everything look ridiculously easy Have a look at that pot success

rate, 98%. Looking at the greatest a Australian player there has ever

He is up there with the greatest potter the game has ever seen. Give

himself a chance to play a little exhibition shot. He makes sure of

the century. Three centuries in five frames. It doesn't get any

Quite out standing there wait this straight Ian is playing, three

centuries in five frames. -- the this season, his 24th century into

third place. He was jointly holding that position with Stuart Bingham.

Marco Fu is having a great season, 26 century so far. Way out in front,

Judd Trump. There will be no more of those from him in the next week,

Three out of five, pretty good. Hitting the ball beautifully, a lot

of authority. This form he is in is the form he was in when he won the

championship and it took O'Sullivan at his very best to knock him out

so we he will have a good chance. Demolishing a very good player, Tom

Ford. You don't do that by occasionally potting balls, it has

got to beat brother stuff. It is the type of form you need to win

events these days. When we have seen Mark Selby effective bleak

repetition of his cue action, not monotonous, but keeping going, that

is what he is doing. Is it mentality, good form or a

combination? You talk about focused and calm -- concentration, is it a

mind set you have to get yourself into? You are there to do a job,

Just looking at their centuries that have been made this season,

Neil Robertson last season made 54 I work to an Judd Trump's match

yesterday. -- I work on. -- I worked on. Neil Robertson is

That can happen if you put it in the jaws of the pocket at that kind

of pace. Just catches in the jaws of the pocket. Not quite the

I suppose Tom Ford is a little bit demoralised now. We will never

really know how well he is playing, It is tough when you are 5-0 down.

Very difficult. You can feel like it is the first time you ever

played snooker, the cue doesn't feel normal in your hands.

would you know that, it you would never 5-0 down in your life!

found that the last couple of games, that is why I am here with you now.

He may have left everything safe. Not delivering the cue in a

Obviously didn't plan on the red When you need a good kiss, you

rarely get one. It is awkward, the It is just not happening now for

Tom. I think he just wants to get Not going to be easy to get onto a

red. The blue is much more A good think he will be taking a

good -- any liberties, keeping thinks tied. Very professional.

That is what you have got to do. If you can let your opponent off the

hook slightly the game can take the lead changed around. Mark Joyce

from 5-2, behind against Judd Trump, what a terrific performance. Things

The pot was good, played with some that side so he didn't cannon into

the reds. Everything is going nicely for Neil. Even this type of

shot playing with that aside, has to be very well judged. The two

reds to the left of the black, the one hirer, there is a gap through

the two bunches of reds for a cannon to be made. Whether they can

If he can get somewhere near that circle the red would be able to

play the cannon. Given up plenty of thought. -- given that. A long way

That is the one he is looking at. That is a superb shot. Tom cannot

believe what is happening. He wasn't looking at the table but he

is watching the player at the top of his form. It wouldn't matter who

you are, you can't do anything about this. The shot before the

green was a fantastic positional It bounces off three cushions here.

Couldn't really have placed that cue ball in a much better position.

Mentioned before about these table, playing beautifully, the cloths are

They played beautifully if you are on your game. If you are off your

game it is so easy to run out of position. The way Neil Robertson is

I don't know where the you can watch poetry, listen to it, you

know what I mean -- I did know A little bit careless with the

cannon he played before. A little Probably a deep screw on the yellow,

two reds to the right of the pink They have all been pretty quick

frames, the second month 26 minutes. The rest 14, 12, 11. The average

That whitewash is clearly on the cards now. Not nice to see for any

player to not win a frame. It may I think his biggest margin would be

2003, it 9-4. He has never Over the last five or six seasons

That is when we used to have two sessions, before the format change

to the best of 11. -- changed. I am in agreement with you, you think it

is a fair amount of frames. It is nice when you can tune in and see a

result in one session. That is the first careless shot he has played

in the whole match. That is what he thinks of it. Tom Ford, you have

got a chance to try and prevent That will annoy Neil. Such a

flawless display today. He wanted to win this match in one visit.

These type of shot I usually easy but when you off five-zero down.

You don't usually get a lot of expression from Neil but he didn't

Tom Ford, keep your concentration, try and clear these up. Get your

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

The yellow just off its spot, shouldn't cause a problem, just

makes it a little bit different. -- Just roll this in and back over the

He has only been playing for just over two minutes. A 43 break. Well

done. He will get a big round of applause. Nobody likes to see a

Well done, Tom Ford, he prevented that whitewash. Terrific clearance,

that break of 50 it keeps him in the championship, a long way back,

He will be a little bit relieved. He has got a mountain to climb but

it was interesting to see Neil Robertson's expression when he

missed that red. His performance today has been

outstanding, hardly missed a pot. He will be wanting to win the match

6-0 and have that flawless display. That will annoy him now. I am not

saying, is going to win the match, but it is irritating when you want

to keep that performance as good as possible. His long pot success rate

is still outstanding. 80%. He was at 100% for a lot of the early

frames. Just having a look at the other tables to see what is

happening as our referee complete setting the balls up. Another good

crowd in here at the Barbican Centre in York. Great crowds for

A very good break-off shot. You're always trying to get the white over.

Just enough past the green to come Because of the red up past the blue

makes the safety shot slightly more difficult. You have got to get a

The green and brown are now a pretty good target for the safety

Very delicately played, that one. black is out of commission. Not

sure if the pink spot is going to be available or whether he will

have to go on to the brown spot, which will hamper it slightly.

Plenty of room there, as you can Not quite as intended. It needed to

go through a little bit further. That red might be a slight

Potting this red into the left corner and then put in the pink

into the same bag. That is the shot Stephen was talking about somewhere

Neil will be determined not to miss out on this chance to close off the

match. Already missing the last frame will be like an alarm bell.

Make sure his concentration is 100% Just forget about the black. He has

the pink and if he goes astray, he has the blue. Obviously much easier

playing your break on the pink because the pink goes into four

pockets where is the black only pots in two. It makes closing the

This will be his 5th pink. He has landed dead straight on the pink,

which makes it slightly awkward to That was a very delicate one. It

had to be to leave the gap. The only thing here is if he takes the

risk, he may have to play a cannon It has gone further up the reverse

side of the table. Watch the white as it hits the cushion. You think

it will be perfect on the blue and then the side kicks in. Now it is

the green you would feel that will Looking at those reds, they are all

plucky to the into the left corner pocket. The one at the side of the

That's OK. He has got the one near the black spot. He is back in prime

That last frame rang a little alarm bell and he has not made the

mistake this time. That was not his fault. That was a heavy contact

just as he was creeping nearer to the winning line in this match. The

red jumped and took the pace out of Without that heavy contact, it was

a straight forward run to the He has played for the plant, like

Willie Thorne used to say about you, Stephen. There was always a plant

available for you! It is clearly not in a direct line so he has

taken the other one. Nicely into the gap of the two reds there. He

has got that cue ball under perfect I think we have got a new favourite

for this year's UK Championship on this form, Stephen. I was just

thinking that. This is by far the most impressive performance I have

watched this week. He has not been put under a lot of pressure but

that is mainly because of the fact he has played so well. Looked

comfortable from the very first I commentated on Marco Fu's match

against Mark Allen and he played remarkably well so he is in with a

shot, the way he played. That is That makes absolutely sure, right

A distinct possibility that he could make another century, and

that would be four centuries in six frames. I think it was the UK

championship sway you made five centuries in seven frames, Stephen,

and seven centuries in 10 frames when he defeated Ken Doherty. I

thought that was a record that would never lead beaten but he is

going to get close to it if he makes the century. It is a great

feeling when you are in that zone and everything is coming easily,

you are getting everything perfect, every positional shot is perfect. A

great place to be. Not always like this. Snooker is a very difficult

game, believe it or not. It is for most of was! It has certainly been

tough for Tom today. -- most of us. Tom has had few chances today and

has done very brittle wrong. He will be the first to hold his hand

up and say Neil Robertson has been Unbelievable! It really is

unbelievable from this Australian. This is just like a practice

session for Neil Robertson and there are not many players that can

take a practice game to the match arena. But that is exactly what he

That is one way of getting on the black! Well, you won't see any

better than this. Neil Robertson, former world champion, as made four

century breaks and two defeats Tom Ford with a fabulous display of

snooker, up 6-1. He acknowledges the crowd. He has a half standing

ovation. He is being treated royally this afternoon.

Exactly the same scoreline as he managed last year against Tom Ford

in the same round, but how much more impressive this time around?

You can't ask for anything better. At one missed a ball? Very, very

high standard. The trouble with that, I suppose, is trying to keep

it up. But Tom Ford will be going back to his dressing-room wondering

what happened. No question of him playing his way quietly into a

championship this time. You could see he was disappointed when he

missed that red not to win 6-0 because he just wants to get it

over with. The level of his performance today was the best I

have seen so far. Marco Fu was excellent the other night and

Stephen Maguire made some centuries in the last four Lycra games of his

match so that was very good. Would you say it is the best performance

we have seen so far, as he pops in to see us? Yes, I think so. From

Neil's perspective, a job well done. We were just saying that is without

question the best performance we have seen here all weekend colonial.

What is your feeling about it? -- all weekend, Neil. I was really

sick the last frame. I know how much Stephen Hendry takes it when

he does not make a century and he was right there and I missed and I

look to put him straight away and he was just laughing because he

knows how I was feeling. I scored fantastically well. The other two

frames - or one of them I won on the black, which was good. Really

happy. I really pushed on and tried to keep scoring. A couple of

matches I have lost this year, a couple of close ones, to judge in

the final international. I was 8-6 up and just sat back and waited for

mistakes do happen. We have been talking about the better players

like cue at the start of major championships like this not having

as much time to feel your way end, having to be really sharp from the

off. Are you conscious of that? Because it is the best out of 11?

That and the standard overall that we are seeing now. On paper, it

looks like there have been a few upsets already in the tournament

but if you ask a lot of the players, maybe the one where Judd Trump

lost... Marco Fu BT Mark Allen is not an upset. We will probably

never see a core of players like the top 10 of 2000, 2001, where

there were it incredible players, but the players from 10-40 in the

world are fantastic. It must be good for you. With this being a

major event, you can practice here, but your name down and get a time,

more than some of the tournaments way you are playing in the cubicles.

You are a big occasion player. You would like to win this one for your

CV. Yes, I would love to win it. I still see it as there being three

majors in the game. For me, it takes a lot of history to become a

major championship so for me, the Masters, worlds and the UK

Championships other three majors. I would love to be one of the players

to have won all three. The standard in the game - playing superb stuff

and you still can't guarantee to win the matches and the tournament.

There are so many players cueing up to win them. You've got to retain

the confidence even though he will not always be on the podium. Yes,

with how may tournaments there are, you are bound to play someone along

the way to a final playing really well, as well. You need that bit of

luck and just to be patient. I have when, one of the European PTCs

earlier this season, lost in a couple of Cemaes and a final

international. Not hugely disappointed. -- a couple of semi-

finals. Is there conscious change in your attitude over the last few

years? We have just been discussing the nature of entertainment this

has been a winning machine. Did you have to change your mentality? --

entertainment against a being a winning machine. Sometimes I can

look at safety shots a little bit too much but I think, when I was

younger and I was coming through, the lunatics style of play that I

used to play - or when you are coming up against people like Peter

Ebdon and Ken Doherty at their best... Ever so many match players

in the game now compared to what there were, so it is easier for all

our players in tournaments. You don't see so much of the craft in

the game and the tactics. It is a little bit of a shame but that is

just the way the game is played now. I have had to a does my game for

sure because people like Stephen Maguire - I lost to Stephen Maguire

eight times in a row because I was too attacking and made it too easy

for him. He was the player who made me change my game to become more

aware. I have had good results. want to remind everybody about the

story of the international champion to way you got into the runner up

spot. You had a major wobble about the visa. Oh, come on! It is always

me! Mark Selby did not have a visa and had to go to Hong Kong to get

one. He was on the way to China, had to stop off halfway, go back to

Ireland to get his passport, so it is not just me! I got there and I

got to the final! I was very lucky at the immigration. I had a whole

nightmare getting there. World Snooker help me out getting me to

China in the first place. Once I got there, that was when the hard

work began. I was at immigration for about five hours but the funny

thing was that I was just signing autographs, taking pictures with

them, watching movies... I don't think it was the normal treatment

if you turn up in China without a visa. Luckily, snooker is Ready big

there. I was watching movies with them. They went out and they were

getting the food and everything. know that your brother Mark was

very keen to join the snooker fraternity. We saw him over the

last couple of years helping you out but he gave the cue school ago

this year. Yes, he didn't do too bad. P won half a dozen matches and

got to the 4th round a couple of times. It was a bit of fun. I was

trying to convince him to stay in the UK with mean. If he can play a

bit of snooker, that is good. It is very tough. Once you qualify for

the main tour, it is still a lot of work. It is up to him if he wants

to have another crack at it, and I will be more than happy to support

him. Looking ahead, it is going to be Barry Hawkins next. Prospects of

that and the improvement in Gary's game over last couple of months -

what do you think? He has really become a winner. He has always been

very capable of winning tournaments. I was very happy for him in the

Australian Open. He played very well against Peter Ebdon. It will

be a tough match. He has got a very good all-round game. Another

performance like that will probably be enough to win. Thank you very

much. We are going to go back to the

match we were watching earlier on table two, which features Dominic

Dale. He is everybody's hero as a non-conformist. He is well loved on

the snooker circuit but who is our I have always enjoyed watching the

tennis player Boris Becker. Be glad -- a gladiatorial guy, a 6 ft 3

lumbering German and a great match player. He was in the shadow of

somebody like Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, who was world number-one

for many years, but when Boris played him or anybody, he was the

number one and I recognise that in him. I had just turned professional

myself. People like guys that have been interesting off the court life

in tennis all of the table live in snooker. He has a great deal of

charisma. He showed that on the Dominic is not short of charisma,

either. 1-1 is where we left this match and we are going to head into

frame three. Willie Thorne and John Four frames before the mid-session

interval so this is the third one. Not there. He will be lucky if he

has not left anything here. There certainly was a red available to

the middle. Maybe the one behind This is a lot tougher but it is a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

No problem hitting a red but how does he get it safe? I can't see a

position where he can not leave himself on the black. In that case,

it is the two-cushion escape with pace. But he will have to be

There is the red just below the pink and the red just above the

pink. Even if he managed to catch the pink, he would still get

another chance because it would be called a miss. Is he trying to rest

No hesitation from Matthew. He just fancied stretching his legs, just

to come round. There was no way he was not going to have that put back.

I suppose there was a slight chance there could have been a plant

somewhere. It but like it was going to be very difficult. Dominic has

decided to play the same way. When you hit them a bit harder, they

widen. Let's see if he misses it further to the left this time. He

has played it nicely this time. Well played. Excellent, Dominic.

When you look this close, you assume he is considering playing a

thin cut and trying to pot this red. If it was a safety, you would not

give it this much care and attention. He managed to sneak it

in. You wonder how he is going to That shot was played beautifully.

It really was. He is trying to get a choice of reds there, one either

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Pretty soon, he is going to have to leave an angle on that to get into

the pack. He could just told this red to leave the black half ball.

He is just seeing if there is a He has left an angle to go into

them if he wants. He is very powerful. He does not want to hit

the one directly above the black. He wants a real deep screw and come

back into the cue ball. He does not want to go straight into them. It

is fortunate to get that one so easy but that was a way of

splitting them. If you screwed directly into them, you could end

up firing them wide into the back cushion behind the black. He played

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that really well. He will be If there is not one available, he

can go into them. He didn't even look to see if there was one

available into this corner. There is one available in the middle of

the pack. With the reds being split like that, if he does pot the red,

he will be bringing other reds into play. That red he is on is bound to

bring at least one red into play. He is looking close. Can he get to

the potting angle? The red just above the one he has been thinking

That was not the red he wanted to be on. He was running into other

reds. He has got a chance for this blue. Not many better potters in

the game. A bit of work to do with the cue ball. If this blue was

straighter, I don't think there would be a problem but a little bit

He did cue it well. He is one of those players that can get lots of

action on the cue ball without having to hit it hard. It is all

It is like Mike chipping in golf, it has improved tremendously!

I wish I could explain how about your chipping was to the people

listening. It was a sight to behold! It was like somebody trying

to Rolland behind the brown and finishing about four inches short.

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Dominic still has a chance in this He is 68 in front now, so he can

Not on the red, but with 75 points in the lead, I wonder whether

Dominic will carry on. It is a big ask, two Snooker's to tie. --

He has conceded. He stood up, worked out how many were needed,

thought it was too much, so it is Matthew Stevens will be quite

relaxed, having lost the opening frame, to win the next two. Dominic

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really needs to try and level. His It was difficult because it was on

the top cushion but, nevertheless, he will be disappointed. Most of

these matches at this level are all A bit of noise coming from the

other side of the arena, there are between frames. But this is part

and parcel of the modern game. You have to focus on what you are doing

He would have liked to finish higher on the pink so that he could

have gone through and brought the reds into play. He is looking where

he needs to finish. He needs to come back about an inch and he will

I will be surprised if he is on it there. He stunned it. But he must

be, because the pink does not go on When there is no spot available, it

has to go in a direct line with its own spot and the direct line with

the middle of the top cushion. He is having a look to see where he

would like to leave position on the He tried to leave an angle to go

between the gap between the pink and the red, but he cannot play it

He kissed the pink first, and that is what happens, invariably you

finish up on nothing. He left himself a little bit too much angle

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We assume he has not left anything, other white-clad double would have

It is not as easy to play safe in the baulk end no because that red

is far enough beyond the middle The road ran towards the left

corner, but I think it is covered. -- the red. The tap on the table

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tells you that he is appreciating The red just managed to run safe,

This is tempting for Dominic. There are reds in the middle. If he was

in front, he would feel there was an advantage in going for it. But

when you're behind, you know that if you miss this, you are likely to

lose the frame. Then you ask yourself, is there an option of an

easy safety? I cannot see that one. If there is no easy safety, you

He cannot see enough of the red to left of the black in order to just

cut that and leave the option for That was the more difficult of the

two reds. I would have taken the one near the pink spot. He was

forced into playing the pot, and it was a tough one. He got close, but

He could not wish for a much better chance to take a 3-1 lead into the

Of all the places in all the world, he nearly finished in trouble!

he can just get past this red. As long as he avoid the kiss on the

second red it should not be a Matthew always used to overstretch

m used the extensions and I said he did not like using the rest. He

said, I loved using the rest! We don't talk about it any more!

was one of the first player to do Whether Dominic is poorly or not,

he has not had much of a chance in this match so far. He is only had

one chance, I think. I cannot remember him missing an easy pot.

His pot success rate is down at 77 %, which is certainly not good

enough, but it does not look too could. -- good. Worst thing in the

world, to come out in a major championship and be under the

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weather. You would not wish that on He was unlucky to cover the black

but the frame is now safe. This is good cueing from Matthew. He is

looking in good form. The tournament is getting more and more

open. The bookmakers are four to want the field, and we are not in

the second round, that is unusual. It was a foul, but it did not

matter, and I am short Dominic will concede. Matthew Stevens leads

quite comfortably, three frames to one.

Not proving to be a perfect day for Dominic so far. I wonder if things

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It is very awkward with hampered REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

hesitation in putting it back but I do not really see that he is going

to leave much here. As long as he He did not hit it full face. Does

that red go to the right middle? Obviously not, because he is

He needed a good cue ball there, and I do not think the blue has

come to his rescue. He can get through to the red and has enough

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Pink and black are tied up at the He hit back really well. Just

He may be able to get on the blue from here. There is a window

through to reds two away from the He is apologising to Dominic. That

is one of the luckiest positional It is hard to work out how you can

miss intended position by so much The black cannot be touching that

He has gone up for the blue, so maybe the black does not go into

He ideal red to get on is the one just a left of the black. If he

could, he would release the black. If he is straight on the yellow, he

He has a lovely, it lazy cue action. He can get plenty of pace without

If he can get the red just to the left of the black, the one almost

touching it, then he can get the We talked earlier about how you can

make an angle that is not there. This cloth is so fine and the balls

also lively there are things you can do it that were not available