Day 4, Part 1

:00:37. > :00:42.HAZEL IRVINE: Hello. Great expectations up-and-down the land

:00:42. > :00:47.at the moment about a little boy or girl who will be born to be King or

:00:47. > :00:52.Queen next year. In York, which is the second city of the realm, our

:00:52. > :00:56.focus, until Sunday, is on the man who will rule snooker's kingdom. We

:00:56. > :01:01.have lost quite a few of the obvious candidates. Four of the

:01:01. > :01:05.world's top ten players are out. But there remains four men who at

:01:05. > :01:15.least know what it takes to get their name engraved on this lovely

:01:15. > :01:15.

:01:15. > :02:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:02:05. > :02:15.Those former champions still lurking in the draw. This is how it

:02:15. > :02:15.

:02:15. > :03:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:03:16. > :03:24.So much to look forward to. We are in great company today. Stephen

:03:24. > :03:29.Hendry and Ken Doherty. Who has impressed you most so far?

:03:30. > :03:36.Robertson. I commentated on his game yesterday. He was awesome.

:03:36. > :03:39.Kenny? Robertson. Fantastic form. Stephen Maguire got off to a slow

:03:39. > :03:44.start against Fergal O'Brien, but after the interval, he could have

:03:44. > :03:51.finished up with four centuries. He looked impressive. A few of them

:03:51. > :03:54.looking very good. We have lost four of the top ten. We have four

:03:54. > :04:00.former champions remaining. But Mark Williams is one of the ones

:04:00. > :04:10.who has gone out. This was a shocking and terrible performance

:04:10. > :04:15.last night against Mark King. He 6- 3. How would you describe it?

:04:15. > :04:18.described it well enough! Williams seemed to suggest he is on the

:04:18. > :04:27.crest of another slump, something he went through a few years ago

:04:27. > :04:32.when he spiralled down to 47 in the world. I didn't get going. That is

:04:32. > :04:35.one of the worst performances I have played for many a year. I

:04:35. > :04:40.haven't played many good performances for a long time now. I

:04:40. > :04:45.seem to be getting worse! I was probably 20 points worse than I was

:04:45. > :04:52.five or ten years ago. I have probably gone back further now. And

:04:52. > :04:58.I probably got what I deserved - I lost! Safety - I couldn't buy a

:04:58. > :05:04.long pot! I was still trying. It is difficult to beat anyone from 5-1

:05:04. > :05:08.down. Overall, dire! Brutal honesty from your friend, Mark. How would

:05:08. > :05:14.you characterise the place he is in right now? Would you say he is

:05:14. > :05:18.beginning to show the signs that he did a few years back? I don't know

:05:18. > :05:23.if it is as bad as that. The way the ranking system works now, you

:05:23. > :05:28.can rise very quickly and you can go down very quickly. He is down to

:05:28. > :05:32.five. I don't know how far he will drop after this tournament. We

:05:32. > :05:38.always talk about Mark being laid- back. Last night, he didn't look

:05:38. > :05:44.confident at all. I can't remember him potting a long ball. He was

:05:44. > :05:50.outdone in the safety department. Mark King played solid sthoobger,

:05:50. > :05:59.but Williams was -- snooker, but Williams was bad. Kenny, one man

:05:59. > :06:05.making his UK Championship debut, Luca Brecel. He was 4-5 down and

:06:05. > :06:14.still won this. Amazing. He was a bit naive at times. I tell you what,

:06:14. > :06:19.he won a frame when Ricky Warden had a 68 break with 67 left on the

:06:19. > :06:26.table. He cleared up. It was a turning point in the game for him.

:06:26. > :06:32.I loved his attitude. He bounces around the table. He's always got a

:06:32. > :06:36.smile on his face. Dennis said he looked like a young Fergal O'Brien

:06:36. > :06:40.with hair! But a lot faster than him! LAUGHTER It is great

:06:40. > :06:45.experience for him. It is only his second time on British television

:06:45. > :06:52.playing in a major tournament. He's loving every bit of it. He is one

:06:52. > :06:59.for the future. The future could be imminent. He certainly is. Now, you

:06:59. > :07:04.were watching yesterday when we saw Dominic Dale really suffering. He

:07:04. > :07:11.wasn't feeling well. He was diagnosed this morning with

:07:11. > :07:21.chickenpox! LAUGHTER He's done it before, of course. Get well soon.

:07:21. > :07:31.Thank you so much for spreading the love yesterday(!) He looks better.

:07:31. > :07:31.

:07:31. > :07:41.We are left with 16 men in the draw here. The first two that we will

:07:41. > :07:47.

:07:47. > :07:53.feature this afternoon - Marco Fu will be playing Matthew Stephens.

:07:53. > :08:00.It is always nice to come back to a venue where you have won before. It

:08:00. > :08:10.does give you a boost. Fantastic memories, especially beating

:08:10. > :08:10.

:08:11. > :08:16.Stephen, my hero. I have been working with my coach in Hong Kong

:08:16. > :08:26.and he has changed a few things with me. The consistency will be a

:08:26. > :08:26.

:08:26. > :08:31.lot better. I have had some great matches over the years with Marco.

:08:31. > :08:40.He is a fantastic scorer. He is one of the best break builders in the

:08:40. > :08:44.game. I know what to expect and I will have to play well to win.

:08:44. > :08:47.will be very tough. Matthew is playing very well. He won his match

:08:47. > :08:57.quite comfortably. I think both of us are playing quite good.

:08:57. > :09:01.

:09:01. > :09:10.Hopefully, it will be a good game. Matthew Stevens slightly ahead in

:09:10. > :09:14.the head-to-head. Marco, whose form can blow hot and cold, looked like

:09:14. > :09:20.he was warming up nicely the other day. Both of them are ready for the

:09:20. > :09:23.day. Both of them are ready for the Rob Walker treatment! ROB WALKER:

:09:23. > :09:27.Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The second round begins

:09:27. > :09:31.in earnest today at the williamhill.com UK Championship. We

:09:31. > :09:36.have already had some incredible results. So let's find out what

:09:36. > :09:42.further drama lies in store here over this scintillating session of

:09:42. > :09:47.snooker. Please welcome an absolute gentleman of the modern game, Grand

:09:47. > :09:52.Prix champion in 2007, UK Championship runner up in 2008. He

:09:52. > :10:02.knocked out last year's finalist Mark Allen in the first round. In

:10:02. > :10:09.

:10:09. > :10:14.Hong Kong they call him "The APPLAUSE

:10:14. > :10:24.# I got a feeling # That tonight's gonna be a good

:10:24. > :10:29.

:10:29. > :10:34.And his opponent, a player who absolutely loves the big occasion.

:10:34. > :10:39.He won this title here in 2003. He's also a Masters' Champion,

:10:39. > :10:49.twice a Crucible runner up. He has a great knack of holding his nerve

:10:49. > :11:04.

:11:04. > :11:14.on the big stage. Please welcome # There's so many ways to love

:11:14. > :11:17.

:11:17. > :11:25.HAZEL IRVINE: We will be focusing on this game. If you would rather

:11:25. > :11:35.concentrate on table two, it is available on the red button. It is

:11:35. > :11:39.

:11:40. > :11:49.over to that shy, retiring duo of John Parrott and Willie Thorne.

:11:50. > :11:55.

:11:55. > :12:00.WILLIE THORNE: Good afternoon, John, it is a tough one to call.

:12:00. > :12:10.JOHN PARROTT: It is. Matthew will be confident after the 10-3 victory

:12:10. > :12:39.

:12:39. > :12:46.Do you think it makes any difference, the fact that Matthew

:12:46. > :12:56.Stevens had his match on the left hand table and Marco had his game

:12:56. > :13:11.

:13:11. > :13:21.on this table? I don't think it is He doesn't appear to have come far

:13:21. > :13:42.

:13:42. > :13:47.enough. Maybe a safety shot is the Not a bad shot, that. Can't get

:13:47. > :13:51.passed the plue to the right-hand side of the -- the blue to the

:13:51. > :14:01.right-hand side of the pack. The red on the left-hand side could be

:14:01. > :14:19.

:14:19. > :14:26.That was the red that John was talking about. I expected him to

:14:26. > :14:30.get round the back of that. If the black pots in the right-hand corner,

:14:30. > :14:40.this is the first chance. wondering whether he has got away

:14:40. > :15:01.

:15:01. > :15:11.with it. It is a touching ball. Matthew is looking to see where he

:15:11. > :15:48.

:15:48. > :15:52.That's a proper result so early in This is a similar situation to the

:15:52. > :15:56.one Marco had previously. There is a red on the right-hand side which

:15:56. > :16:01.is the problem here. He is play off the red below the pink. He has to

:16:01. > :16:05.make sure he doesn't cannon that red on the way back. He is having a

:16:05. > :16:15.look to see if he can push a red up-and-down and leave the cue ball

:16:15. > :16:15.

:16:15. > :17:24.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:17:24. > :17:34.You can see it passes. He can hold I expected him to get close to that.

:17:34. > :17:34.

:17:34. > :18:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:18:41. > :18:51.JOHN PARROTT: This is the key to this break. I don't know whether

:18:51. > :18:54.

:18:54. > :19:01.there is a red above the four that If he had played into the circle,

:19:01. > :19:04.he would have been guaranteed to get on to the black.

:19:04. > :19:14.WILLIE THORNE: The middle red on the left-hand side is the problem

:19:14. > :19:14.

:19:14. > :20:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:20:18. > :20:23.Sometimes you can try and be too careful. He's tried to hold the cue

:20:23. > :20:27.ball for the red next to the black and he has underhit it. The plant

:20:27. > :20:37.is on as well. Most players would have played the cannon into the

:20:37. > :21:02.

:21:02. > :21:06.It is hard work at the minute, this break. When he started it, I

:21:06. > :21:16.thought it was a very good opportunity - and it still may be.

:21:16. > :21:29.

:21:29. > :21:34.The cue ball is not where he wants He will be very disappointed with

:21:34. > :21:44.this visit to the table. He made that much harder than it should

:21:44. > :22:06.

:22:06. > :22:11.have been. At this level, that was Just looking to see if there is a

:22:11. > :22:21.possible plant. It is not completely set there. Can he make

:22:21. > :22:31.

:22:31. > :22:41.that? If he can get back into baulk, I bet you Marco is sick he didn't

:22:41. > :22:41.

:22:41. > :24:04.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:24:04. > :24:09.have a look at that before he I don't think the three reds below

:24:09. > :24:16.the black are a problem. Matthew is looking to see if the left-hand

:24:16. > :24:22.side of those three reds is pottable. That will go. It needs to

:24:22. > :24:32.be a bit lower on that one. At the moment, he is doing a bit of

:24:32. > :24:45.

:24:45. > :24:55.It appears to be something that won't come out of the cloth. It is

:24:55. > :25:22.

:25:22. > :25:27.A slight imperfection. Shouldn't He wanted to finish on the top one

:25:27. > :25:37.of the three. He will have to play for the one on the blackspot and

:25:37. > :25:57.

:25:57. > :26:01.Just about the right side. Both players have made hard work of this

:26:01. > :26:06.opportunity. But it is the first frame. Getting the pace of the

:26:06. > :26:16.table is always a problem. I do think Matthew is hitting the ball

:26:16. > :26:39.

:26:39. > :26:49.Both players have had a good chance in this frame. Matthew still has a

:26:49. > :27:08.

:27:08. > :27:18.It is so important to get the first That was a good recovery. He has

:27:18. > :27:23.

:27:23. > :27:33.every chance of winning the frame He's a beautiful striker when he is

:27:33. > :28:01.

:28:01. > :28:11.WILLIE THORNE: He has a nice angle on the black. Should be able to get

:28:11. > :28:21.

:28:21. > :28:31.JOHN PARROTT: Ideally, a cannon on the pink would be brilliant, full-

:28:31. > :28:31.

:28:31. > :29:52.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:29:52. > :29:56.He didn't really hit that it too hard. Stevens takes the first round.

:29:56. > :30:04.When we think back in that frame, there was one moment Matthew

:30:04. > :30:10.Stevens was able to get in, it looks like a mistake from Marco.

:30:10. > :30:15.The guys in the commentary said he probably didn't look, but the red

:30:15. > :30:23.came back and opened it up as a plant. It wasn't careless from

:30:23. > :30:28.Marco, just a little bit unlucky that it opened a path. He had a

:30:28. > :30:34.chance, he should have taken more. And as a head-to-head, had you

:30:34. > :30:40.fancy this match? It will come down to long potting and safety. He need

:30:40. > :30:46.to create your own opportunity or forced an opportunity. We have

:30:46. > :30:52.talked about Marco Fu and how hot and cold he can blow. Where he's he

:30:52. > :30:56.now -- where is he now? He is hot, one of those players that for one

:30:56. > :31:03.or two months can beat anybody then you will not hear from him again

:31:03. > :31:08.for a year. But when he is on he is awesome. What accounts for that?

:31:08. > :31:13.Players go through phases of confidence. You wouldn't say he was

:31:13. > :31:20.always an ultra confident type of player. When he goes about things

:31:20. > :31:30.in a quiet manner, as Stephen said, a very accomplished break-builder,

:31:30. > :31:33.

:31:33. > :31:38.one of the few players who can build breaks. His safety play is

:31:38. > :31:43.very high quality. He is so consistent, when he is on top form

:31:43. > :31:51.you rarely see him mess or make any bad errors. But it could come down

:31:51. > :31:55.to long potting, safety, this could be a close match. 26 centuries

:31:55. > :32:04.already for Marco Fu this season, second in the rankings behind Judd

:32:04. > :32:14.Trump. If you have any questions please e-mail us. We would love to

:32:14. > :32:19.

:32:20. > :32:29.hear from you. Or you can get in Trust Hawkeye docketed t notice my

:32:30. > :32:32.

:32:32. > :32:41.mistake. -- Doherty. Plenty you can do in frame two. Try and establish

:32:41. > :32:48.himself in this match. The referee was having a chat with the two

:32:48. > :32:55.players, that is something in the cloth that will not come out. They

:32:55. > :32:58.may change the cloth after this has finished. They might try and do

:32:58. > :33:06.something at the interval. It is off-putting when you can see a mark

:33:07. > :33:16.on the cloth. You would be a little bit worried when you have got to

:33:17. > :33:19.

:33:19. > :33:24.play a slow shot, changing the path I think all the years I have been

:33:24. > :33:28.playing, I don't think I have ever seen that on the cloth before.

:33:28. > :33:38.First thought, wondering if it was a bit of the pen they used to mark

:33:38. > :33:44.

:33:44. > :33:51.the spot, but obviously it is not. If the black was free in the left-

:33:52. > :34:01.hand corner Matthew might take this on. If it is just off straight he

:34:02. > :34:06.

:34:06. > :34:14.A very fortunate kiss. You deserve a kiss after a pot like that.

:34:15. > :34:24.cueing. It could be about long potting, Matthew Stevens is all

:34:25. > :34:25.

:34:25. > :35:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:35:18. > :35:28.A little bit under it that time. -- We will just put our Twitter

:35:28. > :36:01.

:36:01. > :36:05.The lads in the studio are looking This frees the pocket, not quite on

:36:05. > :36:10.to playing a cannon on the red. It is all about that red to the right

:36:10. > :36:20.of the black. If he plays a cannon on the two reds he could be on it

:36:20. > :36:31.

:36:31. > :36:41.now. Got to be careful with this The art of good break-building, it

:36:41. > :36:43.

:36:43. > :36:47.seizing the first opportunity. It has opened this end of the table.

:36:47. > :36:57.Another two inches of pace would have been perfect. That is not a

:36:57. > :37:03.

:37:03. > :37:07.All the hours we do in this commentary box, if there is one of

:37:07. > :37:17.shot all the players would like to guarantee his get the right side of

:37:17. > :37:24.

:37:24. > :37:31.Far too risky to play a baulk colour. Unless he can pot the

:37:31. > :37:41.outside red, having potted the blue, it will be a safety shot. There is

:37:41. > :37:58.

:37:58. > :38:03.room round the back of the black so Just getting the wrong side of the

:38:03. > :38:13.blue, everything becomes difficult. It will forced the mistake from

:38:13. > :38:13.

:38:13. > :39:13.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:39:13. > :39:20.Nicely played. The black will not Talking about getting the right

:39:20. > :39:30.side of the blue, made sure of it, you have always got a chance of

:39:30. > :39:31.

:39:31. > :39:39.Just about the only place you can finish where it is ready to have to

:39:39. > :39:45.get onto a red. Trying to get on to the one nearest the pocket, that

:39:45. > :39:55.has got to be played very delicate Lee, not a very big gap. --

:39:55. > :40:00.

:40:00. > :40:10.He has decided to try and come wide of the black and very well played

:40:10. > :40:29.

:40:29. > :40:35.if it is on that red, very good The next red not a problem. Is

:40:35. > :40:45.there a plant on the left-hand side of the pack? Have a little look in

:40:45. > :40:55.

:40:55. > :41:02.He will probably split the back-up. -- pack up. If he plays the outside

:41:02. > :41:12.red, the fact the other red will kiss the pink, he made snooker

:41:12. > :41:26.

:41:26. > :41:35.himself on the decided to red, one Off all the brilliant shots he

:41:35. > :41:45.played he played that better than anybody else I have seen. Good

:41:45. > :41:53.

:41:54. > :42:03.recovery. A chance to level the Not absolutely ideal.

:42:03. > :42:11.I wonder if there is anything from where it is all he is going to go

:42:11. > :42:21.round and played the red in the other pocket. It is a bit awkward,

:42:21. > :42:31.The cut in the middle pocket may look like it has gone a fraction

:42:31. > :42:31.

:42:31. > :43:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:43:27. > :43:36.Should be able to get onto the A better shot than it looked. Tough

:43:36. > :43:46.to get it exactly how you wanted. He has covered the left-hand side.

:43:46. > :43:57.

:43:57. > :44:01.He is in a quandary, Matthew That is incredible! I think he is

:44:01. > :44:09.going to have to take the miss, there isn't an easy red. I thought

:44:09. > :44:13.he had covered the escape to the left town. -- left-hand. Marco

:44:13. > :44:18.cannot believe it. A little bit risky that red in the middle. He

:44:18. > :44:28.will be very lucky to get away with it if he plays that at 100 mph

:44:28. > :44:38.again. He will play it again. You don't want it when he hits 100 mph

:44:38. > :44:43.

:44:43. > :44:51.Unless this red comes right over the middle pocket he has got away

:44:51. > :44:55.with it. Very rarely does Marco Fu show any emotion but his head

:44:55. > :44:58.dropped as the cue ball finished on the cushion. Matthew can smile,

:44:58. > :45:08.always been a lucky fellow, sometimes you have got to do that

:45:08. > :45:14.

:45:14. > :45:20.when you have got no option, rely If that is a head drop I would have

:45:20. > :45:30.settled for that in my career. head would have dropped off. She

:45:30. > :45:34.

:45:34. > :45:44.did like a head shake. -- you did My to just only be able to roll up

:45:44. > :45:49.

:45:49. > :45:56.to this. Take the chance of getting the cue ball back in the baulk area.

:45:56. > :46:06.Nothing wrong with getting the cue ball in the balls -- in the jaws of

:46:06. > :46:06.

:46:06. > :46:49.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:46:49. > :46:59.Nothing wrong with that, he pots a Might be taking a pot on here, it

:46:59. > :47:04.

:47:04. > :47:14.just got to be careful he doesn't Whoever pots the next red could go

:47:14. > :47:36.

:47:36. > :47:42.Excellent pot, but is he on Nice and clean. He has been

:47:42. > :47:52.unfortunate again, not on the brown, just looking to see where he can

:47:52. > :48:00.

:48:00. > :48:10.Thin as you like off the yellow, tucked in the cushion behind the

:48:10. > :48:15.

:48:15. > :48:20.brown. Of the green behind the He might not have got the snooker

:48:20. > :48:30.but quite happy with that shot, a good idea. 16. Lead, it may be

:48:30. > :49:02.

:49:02. > :49:12.crucial. -- 16 point lead. Good Things not going to plan according

:49:12. > :49:13.

:49:13. > :49:19.to Marco, every time he comes to This is in stark contrast to his

:49:19. > :49:24.match the other night, he came to the table in good positions, his

:49:24. > :49:34.positional play was excellent, safety shot superb. Bit tricky at

:49:34. > :49:43.

:49:43. > :49:52.You would have to say that was a little bit careless to get the

:49:52. > :49:57.double-kiss, he has covered both Got to be careful where that green

:49:57. > :50:07.is, will be right under his body. This is one of those shots that

:50:07. > :50:07.

:50:07. > :50:47.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:50:47. > :50:57.come when you a frame or lose you a You called it, that may have done

:50:57. > :51:15.

:51:15. > :51:25.just that. I think 1-1 would be a Could have played that a lot better.

:51:25. > :51:31.

:51:31. > :51:41.Need the cue ball slightly further down, a little tricky. And that is

:51:41. > :51:41.

:51:41. > :53:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:53:26. > :53:35.This makes certain Matthew will not Marco Fu not bothered about that

:53:36. > :53:36.

:53:36. > :54:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:54:20. > :54:26.one. He takes the second frame and It has been a very exciting year,

:54:26. > :54:36.Olympics, golf, everything. Just wonder whether it we will see

:54:36. > :54:39.

:54:39. > :54:49.something very special in this I think they should just make more

:54:49. > :54:52.

:54:52. > :55:02.trophies and give them all one. Marco Fu will be pretty believed

:55:02. > :55:02.

:55:02. > :55:49.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:55:49. > :55:56.Pretty pleased with his morning's Normally players would just roll

:55:56. > :56:06.off this from two cushions. There is a pot on for Marco. He does go

:56:06. > :56:08.

:56:08. > :56:18.Just a little bit of right-hand side to kiss them -- t miss the

:56:18. > :56:18.

:56:18. > :57:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:57:20. > :57:30.Certainly played for the blue. I think he has gone too far. The pink

:57:30. > :58:08.

:58:09. > :58:18.Far from easy, this. Requires one very good pot.

:58:19. > :58:22.

:58:22. > :58:32.A good pot. Chance of the mid- range red.

:58:32. > :58:57.

:58:57. > :59:07.Got to put a bit of power in, we That is the first one he hasn't

:59:07. > :59:07.

:59:07. > :00:01.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:00:01. > :00:11.WILLIE THORNE: Both players have had a couple of half chances at

:00:11. > :00:48.

:00:48. > :00:58.JOHN PARROTT: Matthew having a look to see if he drops into the reds

:00:58. > :01:29.

:01:29. > :01:32.from the side, whether he will be He has to make sure he doesn't make

:01:32. > :01:37.contact with the blue when playing around these three cushions. He is

:01:37. > :01:47.looking at the two-cushion escape which brings the brown into play if

:01:47. > :01:47.

:01:47. > :02:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:02:30. > :02:38.Is the green going to come to the rescue? It is! He is having a good

:02:38. > :02:48.run at the minute, Matthew. He didn't play to put the red over the

:02:48. > :02:56.

:02:56. > :03:06.If Marco plays a thin safety shot, the only covering ball he has is

:03:06. > :03:17.

:03:17. > :03:27.This has got one of these re-rack looks about it! What else can they

:03:27. > :03:37.

:03:37. > :03:41.I think they have nodded their head on the re-rack, so both players

:03:42. > :03:51.have decided on that. That is the first one we have seen in this

:03:52. > :03:54.

:03:54. > :03:58.tournament so far. In fairness, John, it makes it quicker. Most of

:03:58. > :04:04.the players look at each other straightaway and they know when it

:04:04. > :04:14.is a situation like that. Do you want to set them up again? Quite

:04:14. > :04:19.

:04:19. > :04:23.right too! Are you in favour of this open-plan? I think it is OK.

:04:23. > :04:27.You know yourself, you are playing your match and you are half-

:04:27. > :04:37.listening to the other table, you know when there is a century coming,

:04:37. > :04:37.

:04:37. > :05:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:05:34. > :05:44.so you get used to it. Frame three A very fortunate fluke! An even

:05:44. > :05:51.

:05:51. > :05:56.He got everything there, didn't he? It wasn't a great safety shot.

:05:56. > :06:06.Because it wasn't, he has full- balled the yellow after fluking the

:06:06. > :06:06.

:06:06. > :06:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:06:58. > :07:02.red. Difficult to sit there and not The plaque is out of commission so

:07:02. > :07:12.he would like to get the pink -- the black is out of commission so

:07:12. > :07:17.

:07:17. > :07:27.he would like to get the pink into I think he might have to put a

:07:27. > :07:56.

:07:56. > :08:01.Matthew has a very nice touch around the table. He is a welcome

:08:01. > :08:11.addition back into the top players of the world. A couple of seasons

:08:11. > :08:19.

:08:19. > :08:29.He is an asset to our game when he is playing like this. He is one of

:08:29. > :08:37.

:08:37. > :08:47.the players who is a big-occasion He's already won a UK Championship.

:08:47. > :08:47.

:08:47. > :09:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:09:31. > :09:41.He can play on the big stage. And This is an asset that we never had

:09:41. > :10:02.

:10:02. > :10:06.- being able to play left handed. The fact he has come too far over

:10:06. > :10:15.for the pink in the middle means he is struggling for position on the

:10:15. > :10:19.next red. He has the angle to screw the pink in and kiss the red on the

:10:19. > :10:29.right-hand side of the pink - that would be OK. Looks like he is going

:10:29. > :10:32.

:10:32. > :10:36.for the top pocket. This is APPLAUSE

:10:36. > :10:46.That is well played. Just for a second, I didn't think it was going

:10:46. > :10:52.

:10:52. > :10:58.to reach. Now it is a cracking It was a shot that you don't see

:10:58. > :11:08.players play very often. Three- quarter ball playing slow was very

:11:08. > :11:24.

:11:24. > :11:32.It was going to the right hand jaw The break is going to be going to

:11:33. > :11:42.45 after this. This all came from a lucky shot. He played a safety shot.

:11:43. > :11:55.

:11:55. > :12:03.Because the safety was poor, full- Balkan none on the yellow and this

:12:03. > :12:13.is what has come -- full-ball cannon on the yellow and this is

:12:13. > :12:44.

:12:45. > :12:54.He may decide to take the one to the left of the black after this

:12:55. > :13:28.

:13:28. > :13:32.The pink will be 66 with 67 on so It came off a fluke but he has

:13:32. > :13:42.played them very nicely considering the black has been out of play for

:13:42. > :13:57.

:13:57. > :14:07.It's just about got there. Pot this and flick the other red out.

:14:07. > :14:12.REFEREE: Foul. What a shame. Marco Fu trails 2-1.

:14:12. > :14:15.HAZEL IRVINE: It is interesting stuff so far. There's been a couple

:14:15. > :14:20.of incidents that people at home will be interesting in, not least

:14:20. > :14:28.the scoring, but there was a speck on the cloth that some people have

:14:28. > :14:36.picked up on on the tweets. You think you know what that might have

:14:36. > :14:41.been? Yes. The table fitter reckons it's a bit of nylon. It may have

:14:41. > :14:48.been a speck that came from the bag of nylon. Of nylon? That's got

:14:48. > :14:53.mixed in with the wool. It's not something that you can really cut

:14:53. > :15:00.because you might take some of the cloth with you. It's only going to

:15:00. > :15:06.affect someone when the balls are close, which is once in every - I

:15:06. > :15:15.don't know - quite a long time! LAUGHTER The tweeters are coming

:15:15. > :15:21.out. Mick has written to us, he says "How does it -- how long does

:15:21. > :15:25.it take to change the cloth?" bed cloth would be very quick. The

:15:25. > :15:35.cushions take the most time. "The cost of changing them would be

:15:35. > :15:36.

:15:36. > :15:42.what?" My table at home would cost me �500 all-in. Here, I'm sure the

:15:43. > :15:45.Association have done some sort of a deal. When they go down to one

:15:45. > :15:51.table, they will have a new cloth on the table. That will probably

:15:51. > :16:01.stay for the final as well. OK. We hope we have answered some of your

:16:01. > :16:03.

:16:03. > :16:13.questions. This table is pretty JOHN PARROTT: It certainly is.

:16:13. > :16:15.

:16:15. > :16:23.Stephen Hendry paying �500 - I bet that hurts him!

:16:23. > :16:27.WILLIE THORNE: I don't think he would have paid that! Marco

:16:27. > :16:37.deserves a bit of good fortune given what's happened in the

:16:37. > :16:37.

:16:37. > :17:36.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:17:37. > :17:46.That's one of those pots where you Unless the red pots next to the

:17:47. > :17:47.

:17:47. > :17:51.pink - I think not. The outside red - you can see they are both

:17:51. > :17:55.available. I'm wondering whether he can hold the cue ball. Ideally, you

:17:56. > :18:05.would like to be able to hold it. The pink will go in the middle

:18:06. > :18:17.

:18:17. > :18:21.pocket. I don't know whether he can He stayed down an awful long time

:18:21. > :18:27.there. I think that was in his thinking - "Can I really hold

:18:27. > :18:37.this?" He was trying to keep hold of the white there and he has hit

:18:37. > :19:06.

:19:07. > :19:16.across it. You have to hit them a He took that on thinking it was

:19:17. > :19:45.

:19:45. > :19:51.possibly the only one he could He doesn't seem at ease with

:19:51. > :19:55.himself like he did against Mark Allen. He is not looking confident.

:19:55. > :20:05.You never get too much from Marco Fu. The time he is taking on the

:20:05. > :20:05.

:20:05. > :21:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:21:21. > :21:31.shots, he is looking for the easy That was a brilliant safety shot.

:21:31. > :21:31.

:21:31. > :22:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:22:18. > :22:28.Well played. Is the red next to the If he can see it... It will be

:22:28. > :22:28.

:22:28. > :23:15.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:23:15. > :23:25.The other table have reached the interval before us so a bit of

:23:25. > :23:46.

:23:46. > :23:56.There they go, the stragglers for a half-time cup of tea! He wants to

:23:56. > :23:56.

:23:56. > :24:00.get behind the yellow and brown, It is all about the pace of the cue

:24:00. > :24:05.ball. He's not quite got there. What a difference that makes. The

:24:05. > :24:09.red next to the black is available for Marco to clip off. The first

:24:09. > :24:14.person who gets in behind the yellow and brown will have a

:24:14. > :24:22.massive advantage. Marco has a better angle. He can swing it

:24:22. > :24:32.around three cushions rather than It depends on which way he wants to

:24:32. > :24:49.

:24:49. > :24:59.He's done as good as he could have done. He is snookered on most of

:24:59. > :24:59.

:24:59. > :26:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:26:11. > :26:21.the reds. He can't get back to Is this another hit and hope?!

:26:21. > :26:30.

:26:30. > :26:40.For a second, I thought he had got away with that. I would fancy

:26:40. > :26:55.

:26:55. > :27:03.potting this one! You have Marco Fu doesn't look confident at

:27:03. > :27:08.the moment. He is not playing anything with any confidence.

:27:08. > :27:14.Matthew having the old hit and hope - it didn't quite come off. Marco

:27:14. > :27:24.has not played the best shot there. A cannon on the two reds up to the

:27:24. > :27:36.

:27:36. > :27:44.right-hand side of the black would Where's it going? He could fluke

:27:44. > :27:51.this. Is it Marco's turn? It is! What's happening here?! It's been

:27:51. > :27:57.such a strange game. That might be the thing that will put some fire

:27:57. > :28:07.in his belly! Matthew's nodded to me there saying, "Fair enough, I've

:28:07. > :28:18.

:28:18. > :28:23.There was plenty of room for that red to pot. He is not at the races

:28:23. > :28:29.at the moment. This is a chance for Matthew to take a stranglehold on

:28:29. > :28:34.this match. I couldn't agree with you more. He has played enough

:28:34. > :28:39.matchplay snooker to know he's got his opponent on the ropes here. He

:28:39. > :28:49.is a long way from this. There is a big gap to go through. That's poor

:28:49. > :29:12.

:29:12. > :29:18.If he's landed on that red and can't pot the one on the left, that

:29:18. > :29:28.is a very poor shot. He may have got away with it. He shouldn't have

:29:28. > :29:37.

:29:37. > :29:47.been anywhere near there. This positional shot is made easier by

:29:47. > :30:11.

:30:11. > :30:16.The player at the moment has got the white on a string, as it were.

:30:16. > :30:24.I still fancied Matthew knocking this red in. A bit trickier than it

:30:24. > :30:27.should have been. A little bit more difficult to control. The right

:30:27. > :30:32.side of the blue. Two reds on the right-hand side in that top pocket

:30:32. > :30:38.causing a problem for this break. They are stuck together, neither of

:30:38. > :30:42.them pots. Stopping a colour going in there. Not sure he can get on a

:30:42. > :30:52.red here. Unless he plays it it two cushions and tries to get one in

:30:52. > :31:08.

:31:08. > :31:18.Can he get round the back of that Could you sit down please? That is

:31:18. > :31:55.

:31:55. > :32:02.the only downside of this Marco Fu, if he can get out of this

:32:02. > :32:12.2-2, he will be delighted. Just hasn't been in the race these first

:32:12. > :32:19.

:32:19. > :32:29.That is a pretty good shot, choice of two reds, added think the black

:32:29. > :32:38.

:32:38. > :32:45.will pot in either of the two A tricky little opportunity. Two

:32:45. > :32:55.reds on the right, top pocket, certainly a problem. You can see

:32:55. > :33:31.

:33:31. > :33:36.Marco potting at least the next red, Then you either black or pink is

:33:36. > :33:46.tricky. Not guaranteed to pot either one of these two. Taking it

:33:46. > :33:46.

:33:46. > :35:39.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:35:39. > :35:45.into one of the baulk pockets. Just That I did think there will be hit

:35:45. > :35:55.it note this time. -- I do not think. Looks like it might be the

:35:55. > :36:07.

:36:07. > :36:17.Just had pink -- just hoping we don't have another re-rack.

:36:17. > :36:44.

:36:44. > :36:48.Certainly will be some ball tapping It is not the match I expected,

:36:48. > :36:58.they were both in great form in the first round. Marco Fu seems very

:36:58. > :37:02.

:37:02. > :37:12.and combative. The this could make a difference. Having a good look.

:37:12. > :37:12.

:37:12. > :37:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:37:58. > :38:08.What a good kiss that was. At least it takes away the possibility of

:38:08. > :38:19.

:38:19. > :38:29.the re-rack. After 22 minutes you Certainly be taking this pot on but

:38:29. > :38:40.

:38:40. > :38:50.he will be taking it as a shot to Not to take the white too far wide,

:38:50. > :38:50.

:38:50. > :39:00.that is a brilliant shot. After that tactical exchange, the bottom

:39:00. > :39:11.

:39:11. > :39:21.Neither of these two reds are going to be a problem now. He played a

:39:21. > :39:27.

:39:27. > :39:37.stun it run through to miss the In some ways this is a bigger frame

:39:37. > :39:47.

:39:47. > :39:57.If this rest on the red he is on nothing. Just kissed it into play,

:39:57. > :39:58.

:39:58. > :40:03.did it past these two reds? It did. It is so close, not guaranteed.

:40:03. > :40:10.These are always horrible. Too much distance between the cue ball and

:40:10. > :40:18.object ball, difficult to judge the angle. Make sure you did play a

:40:18. > :40:25.push shot either. -- you do not play. A bit unfortunate to have a

:40:25. > :40:35.pot on this red. It definitely goes off the middle of the pocket. If he

:40:35. > :40:38.

:40:38. > :40:48.favours the left hand jaw he will Just when he looked like winning

:40:48. > :41:15.

:41:15. > :41:20.Marco Fu made two centuries against Mark Allen the day before yesterday.

:41:20. > :41:25.Doesn't look like making eight at the moment. Amazing how you can

:41:25. > :41:30.feel so different between one day to another. Mate 26 centuries this

:41:30. > :41:40.season, number two on the centuries made this season, it looks like a

:41:40. > :41:46.

:41:46. > :41:56.player totally out of confidence at Certainly cueing well, Matthew,

:41:56. > :41:56.

:41:56. > :42:39.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:42:39. > :42:43.wondering why he has not won this Decision time, do you play the pink

:42:43. > :42:48.and move the two reds are because you will need at least one of them,

:42:48. > :42:55.do you drop the one on the top cushion and move the reds out?

:42:55. > :42:58.Decision time. I would be an advocate of getting the two reds

:42:58. > :43:06.out now because he might not get an angle on a colour after potting the

:43:06. > :43:13.next red to get them into play. A massive target, one cushion screw

:43:13. > :43:18.across the table, off the back cushion into them. He is thinking

:43:18. > :43:23.of leaving an angle where he can play a bit of run inside and clip

:43:23. > :43:30.that red in and flick one out of the side rail. He should be try to

:43:30. > :43:40.move the reds about already. He has played the second option, that is

:43:40. > :44:05.

:44:05. > :44:13.He would like to go back a couple of shots and have that pink again.

:44:13. > :44:23.20 points clear. You don't have to win it in one visit but there is a

:44:23. > :44:34.

:44:34. > :44:44.I the minute he is in control of the game -- at the minute. I think

:44:44. > :44:54.

:44:54. > :45:04.It has gone a bit scrappy. Marco is not really playing great, Matthew

:45:04. > :45:14.is not thinking straight. It can happen after a tactical exchange.

:45:14. > :45:44.

:45:44. > :45:47.There is no weight in the cue ball. Marco would like to remove the red

:45:47. > :45:57.off the side cushion. I don't think he can play a good safety shot and

:45:57. > :46:04.cover the one on the left, got to play the one out in the open. He is

:46:04. > :46:14.a long way from everything. The cue ball is not great. He has managed

:46:14. > :46:32.

:46:32. > :46:37.The longest frame of the match so Not so much getting the fluke, it

:46:37. > :46:45.is the troubled Marco will be in after the next shot, added see a

:46:45. > :46:55.colour. Amazing how many times that happens when you hit the ball hard

:46:55. > :47:18.

:47:19. > :47:22.and it jaws, often stick to the top Matthew is taking a little bit of

:47:22. > :47:28.time, thinking he could pot the yellow and play a good safety shot

:47:28. > :47:38.behind one of those colours of the red, all played the snooker now.

:47:38. > :47:38.

:47:38. > :47:44.Sometimes you can effect think. -- over. Such an easy safety shot,

:47:44. > :47:48.reds on the back cushion, behind the baulk colours. You could just

:47:48. > :47:53.play the pink and drop the pink on to the cushion and leave it behind

:47:53. > :48:03.the green. So many options. Understand he has got a chance on

:48:03. > :48:04.

:48:05. > :48:09.the blue, a move the red out. Loads of things he could do. Decided to

:48:10. > :48:19.put a colour safe but I don't think he has got the snooker. That was a

:48:20. > :48:32.

:48:32. > :48:42.A much better strike from Marco there, his last couple of safety

:48:42. > :49:17.

:49:17. > :49:23.shot have been a week. A lot better. Should be relatively

:49:23. > :49:30.straightforward to leave Matthew snookered. He should have been.

:49:30. > :49:40.That is an example of how far out of kilter Marco Fu is. That is an

:49:40. > :49:40.

:49:40. > :50:24.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:50:24. > :50:34.Back good pot, but obviously shouldn't have had the opportunity

:50:34. > :51:07.

:51:07. > :51:12.That is not as bad a kiss as it looks. The green could be on. The

:51:12. > :51:22.fact he is 26 points in front, a game ball, it decides against it.

:51:22. > :52:02.

:52:02. > :52:12.Another poor shot from Marco. Just needs this yellow. 100%

:52:12. > :52:24.

:52:24. > :52:28.That is frame ball, no chance of potting the green. Could do with

:52:29. > :52:37.bringing the green a little way from the pink. You don't want it so

:52:37. > :52:44.that market can play in behind it. -- Marco. The pink is in a lovely

:52:44. > :52:54.place for snookers if you get the opportunity. If market get a chance

:52:54. > :53:02.

:53:02. > :53:12.for a snooker the pink will be the 28 in front, Marco requires one

:53:12. > :53:48.

:53:48. > :53:53.Got a chance here, that pink you were talking about, he can swing it

:53:53. > :54:03.around. The green will be in the middle of the table. Also a chance

:54:03. > :54:12.

:54:12. > :54:17.of running behind the blue if he Trying to get in behind the pink.

:54:17. > :54:27.Unlucky. Just what you don't need, but in the pink completely on the

:54:27. > :55:03.

:55:03. > :55:13.Going to be quite difficult for Marco to get a snooker. The balls

:55:13. > :55:20.

:55:20. > :55:30.are not positioned come deucedly. - The black is in the middle of the

:55:30. > :56:00.

:56:00. > :56:06.That should really be it. Marco Fu has had enough. A very scrappy

:56:06. > :56:13.frame it sees Matthew Stevens take it. He leads 3-1 at the interval.

:56:13. > :56:21.45 minutes frame, not riveting, what is a problem with Marco? He is

:56:21. > :56:26.clearly not there. They will not be making too many DVDs of that frame.

:56:27. > :56:30.Just lost his way a little bit. We spoke about sometimes how he can

:56:30. > :56:36.lose his concentration and go from search highs t such close,

:56:36. > :56:40.completely different players. Amazing how you can see such a

:56:40. > :56:43.change. We spoke about his confidence, not getting through the

:56:43. > :56:47.cue ball, his safety has been really poor, which Ali thought

:56:47. > :56:54.might be the defining factor because I thought his safety, he

:56:54. > :56:57.has a much better say for the game -- safety game. Matthew has had a

:56:57. > :57:00.couple of Fleet and capitalised on them, that is probably the

:57:00. > :57:10.difference. Apart from that, he seems to be scoring a little bit

:57:10. > :57:11.

:57:11. > :57:21.more heavily. In the zone more than market. We had re-rack. One I can

:57:21. > :57:25.

:57:25. > :57:27.see you visibly twitching. Matthew Stevens, he will get himself to

:57:27. > :57:32.play an outrageous shot to get himself going, does everything

:57:32. > :57:39.ready well but not the most flamboyant player. It is hard to

:57:39. > :57:45.see how he will get that sparked back. At the same time when we come

:57:45. > :57:49.to this into nil -- interval, 3-1 up, definitely some it clear water

:57:49. > :57:56.and that will spare Matthew on. will be very police. Not many

:57:56. > :58:06.scrappy frames like that that Matthew would have a history of

:58:06. > :58:06.

:58:06. > :58:12.winning. Thankfully he fluked and got the advantage. I think he will

:58:12. > :58:18.be very happy having that lead. will switch our focus to the other

:58:18. > :58:22.table, and a match featuring Mark Joyce, who has been the bookie's

:58:22. > :58:27.favourite so far. The flavour of the month where they are concerned

:58:27. > :58:32.after knocking out Judd Trump, the world No. 1. His story of tenacity

:58:32. > :58:42.and character he showed at the table has been repeated in his life

:58:42. > :58:47.

:58:47. > :58:51.Had a good run a couple of years ago at Telford, decided to go out

:58:51. > :59:01.for a few beers for Christmas, and it was a case of being in the wrong

:59:01. > :59:06.

:59:06. > :59:13.I broke my elbow, a fractured eye socket which they didn't realise I

:59:13. > :59:16.had until I tried playing snooker a couple of months after. If I wasn't

:59:16. > :59:24.a snooker player I probably wouldn't have realised I had double

:59:24. > :59:28.vision. I went to the local hospital, they wanted to do surgery,

:59:28. > :59:33.but I decided to try and see the rest of the season out. Luckily for

:59:33. > :59:40.me, the more I practise with it, the muscle released itself in my

:59:40. > :59:46.eye, luckily it cleared up on its own. I can probably count on one

:59:46. > :59:52.hand the matches I watched in 2011, 2012. It cost me four or five

:59:52. > :59:57.months, mentally it cost me a lot longer. The snooker at this level

:59:57. > :00:01.is 95% upstairs, in my head. Once you get on to a losing streak, it

:00:01. > :00:07.is hard to turn it around. It is only now a couple of years on it

:00:07. > :00:15.has taken the 18 months to get back to winning matches and playing some

:00:15. > :00:19.good snooker again. I think not taking things for granted any more,

:00:19. > :00:23.you come to venues, make it count. To be back at a venue competing

:00:23. > :00:33.with the top players in the world, determined to take my chances and

:00:33. > :00:52.

:00:52. > :00:57.He is up against Mark Joyce, at No. 50 in the world. Steve Davis,

:00:57. > :01:07.Dennis Taylor, are in charge. Carter it took the first frame.

:01:07. > :01:28.

:01:28. > :01:36.If the white was further away from the cushion, Mark Joyce would be

:01:36. > :01:46.tempted to the red. Much too difficult. Not that far off the

:01:46. > :02:23.

:02:23. > :02:33.DENNIS TAYLOR: Might still be able He tried to control it with a bit

:02:33. > :02:52.

:02:52. > :02:56.STEVE DAVIS: Ali Carter has played that too softly, or at least it

:02:56. > :02:59.looked like he got a kick which slowed the cue ball pace down. He

:02:59. > :03:04.was looking to get the perfect angle on the green to then smash

:03:04. > :03:14.into the pack off the side cushion. Now, it looks like the

:03:14. > :03:26.

:03:26. > :03:36.straightforward screw-back for the DENNIS TAYLOR: He played that very

:03:36. > :03:42.

:03:42. > :03:48.Has he left - he almost missed that red. He's gone a bit straighter on

:03:48. > :03:52.the black. He wanted a better angle to crash into the reds there. I

:03:52. > :03:57.don't know what he can do now. He might have to screw-back on to the

:03:57. > :04:01.two reds to develop them. He still has a bit of angle. That will do

:04:01. > :04:11.nicely! He really powered into that and made an angle that wasn't there,

:04:11. > :04:12.

:04:12. > :04:18.Steve. Well, that was a fantastic shot from Ali Carter. To be able to

:04:18. > :04:28.force the cue ball to one side before the screw-back takes effect

:04:28. > :04:29.

:04:29. > :04:39.is fantastic cue power. He has got every shot in the book. Great

:04:39. > :04:57.

:04:57. > :05:07.positional player. Strong potter. A soft screw-back turned into a

:05:07. > :05:07.

:05:07. > :05:59.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:05:59. > :06:09.drag shot in the end to leave Not the greatest contact with that

:06:09. > :06:19.

:06:19. > :06:25.shot. He has left himself straight I don't know if he can hold for the

:06:25. > :06:35.pink. He can't get on to the black this time. He could run through the

:06:35. > :06:40.bunch of reds. He's still on the blue. You are never sure where the

:06:40. > :06:44.cue ball is going to finish. The yellow is off its spot which makes

:06:44. > :06:54.it easier to pot the blue. The white will come over the yellow

:06:54. > :07:13.

:07:13. > :07:23.That was a very low-risk way of opening the pack of reds that Ali

:07:23. > :07:35.

:07:35. > :07:43.He's developed these reds into a frame-winning opportunity. Just

:07:43. > :07:53.having the cue ball cleaned. He's got options here. There's three

:07:53. > :08:31.

:08:31. > :08:36.He is looking very good. Cueing They have only played each other

:08:36. > :08:46.once and that was two years ago in the UK Championship. That was in

:08:46. > :09:01.

:09:01. > :09:11.the first round. Mark Joyce came The red to the top of the four reds

:09:11. > :09:16.

:09:16. > :09:26.cuts into the left corner. Or the He's gone back to the more obvious

:09:26. > :09:47.

:09:47. > :09:53.shot, although these are always He hasn't left an easy starter for

:09:53. > :09:58.Mark Joyce. That helps a little bit if you miss and you don't stick one

:09:58. > :10:06.right over the pocket, Steve. asked a big question of Mark Joyce.

:10:06. > :10:10.Mark has missed two unforced errors so far. He's got a dangerous red

:10:10. > :10:17.into the middle pocket, should he take it on, roughly a straight one.

:10:17. > :10:26.Now he is eyeing up the cut into the middle pocket. Going back to

:10:26. > :10:36.the all-or-nothing shot here, I feel. He can cut this red into the

:10:36. > :10:41.

:10:41. > :10:47.middle pocket and bring the cue A bit of a nothing shot in the end.

:10:47. > :10:52.He's not got it safe. Not got going yet, Mark. It is not easy out there.

:10:52. > :11:02.He needs something a bit easier to get his cue arm going and knock a

:11:02. > :11:18.

:11:18. > :11:22.One more good positional shot and He didn't have to cannon into the

:11:22. > :11:31.four reds there. He still might be able to hold for a red without

:11:31. > :11:38.That was well played. You don't want to risk playing a cannon at

:11:38. > :11:48.this stage. You are only a pot away from securing the frame. 65 in

:11:48. > :11:48.

:11:48. > :12:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:12:30. > :12:34.front with 67 remaining. This red 59 points remaining on the table -

:12:34. > :12:37.Ali Carter is 68 ahead. You would think that would give him a two-

:12:37. > :12:40.frame advantage. HAZEL IRVINE: It did. 2-0 as we

:12:40. > :12:44.leave it there. We will be going back to that match throughout the

:12:44. > :12:47.afternoon. If you would like to continue to watch it, you can do so

:12:47. > :12:53.via both the website and of course it is on the red button this

:12:53. > :12:57.afternoon on table two. Now, table one, we were all very concerned, as

:12:57. > :13:03.were you, because we had a couple of tweets about it, about that

:13:04. > :13:07.piece of nylon. There we are, table fitter and demon with the tweezers

:13:07. > :13:12.removing that piece of nylon. Now, all female members of the

:13:12. > :13:17.production team are lining up to have our eyebrows done! LAUGHTER

:13:17. > :13:22.Very impressive. Good work. We have been getting lots of tweets from

:13:22. > :13:25.you today. Some good ones. Paul says, "Gentlemen, my question is

:13:25. > :13:35.what do you consider to be the best and worst changes that have

:13:35. > :13:38.happened to snooker over the last couple of years?" I think with

:13:38. > :13:43.Barry Hearn's introduction, the volume of tournaments you have now.

:13:43. > :13:53.I didn't like playing all of them. For a young guy, it is phenomenal

:13:53. > :13:57.the opportunities to play snooker. Kenny? I would say the introduction

:13:57. > :14:03.of the Association. A lot of those guys have taken advantage of that.

:14:03. > :14:11.That is why the standard has risen over the last couple of years.

:14:11. > :14:20.has kept you busy? Yes. We are go out into the Barbican Centre and

:14:20. > :14:25.Marco Fu and Matthew Steves. One more tweet, "How many maximum

:14:25. > :14:30.breaks has Willie made in his life?"

:14:31. > :14:39.WILLIE THORNE: At the time I retired it was 198:I'm sure there

:14:39. > :14:49.are a lot of players that have gone past me. In my day, they weren't

:14:49. > :14:57.

:14:57. > :15:05.WILLIE THORNE: Marco Fu would have been in the practice room trying to

:15:05. > :15:10.get his timing right. JOHN PARROTT: That's a very good

:15:10. > :15:16.idea, to try and get the cue going and change the outlook for the

:15:16. > :15:21.second session. It is not like you have lost your game in two days. He

:15:21. > :15:31.played brilliantly first round. He needs to have a good chance and he

:15:31. > :15:41.

:15:41. > :15:51.Matthew's long game has never been in question. That was a beautiful

:15:51. > :15:51.

:15:51. > :16:01.pot. Marco will find it tough to win this match if he doesn't win

:16:01. > :16:07.

:16:07. > :16:12.this frame. 4-1 behind will be too A lot of time when you are playing

:16:12. > :16:22.a long pot, you are playing it as a shot to nothing. So eight out of 12

:16:22. > :16:52.

:16:52. > :17:02.I think the kick has made the white He can play the cannon into the

:17:02. > :17:10.

:17:10. > :17:20.pink if he wants to. It's a way of He played that softly. What is he

:17:20. > :17:48.

:17:48. > :17:58.It's obviously fairly tight. We did see that it would go. Has he

:17:58. > :18:02.

:18:02. > :18:06.Good shot! Well controlled as well. The cue ball is back in fine

:18:06. > :18:11.position now. That red to the left of the black is the problem with

:18:11. > :18:16.his break here. If Matthew can - he is looking to see about the black.

:18:16. > :18:26.The four reds in a curved line at the back of the main bunch - if he

:18:26. > :18:30.

:18:30. > :18:40.can get on the second one on the Could have done with a bit more

:18:40. > :18:40.

:18:40. > :19:53.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:19:53. > :20:03.there. Not sure he can get on to It's a funny game, this, when you

:20:03. > :20:03.

:20:03. > :21:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:21:08. > :21:14.are not quite there, the balls Doesn't appear to be any damage

:21:14. > :21:24.done. Marco is having a look at a plant. How do you get to it? You

:21:24. > :21:32.

:21:32. > :21:42.are going to need scaffolding! It He has to be careful he doesn't go

:21:42. > :22:14.

:22:14. > :22:18.anywhere near the black with the When we look at the camera angle he

:22:18. > :22:22.has, that red is in the play. The one on the black spot is the best

:22:22. > :22:29.to play. At least he's got a better contact on the red. If he plays the

:22:29. > :22:33.one on the cushion, he might get the double-kiss. If that red was

:22:33. > :22:43.over the hole, he would be taking the one higher up here and playing

:22:43. > :22:53.

:22:53. > :23:01.It wasn't unmissable. It wasn't right in the jaws, that red.

:23:01. > :23:11.Matthew has covered the red with the blue. Amazingly enough, even

:23:11. > :23:18.

:23:18. > :23:25.though Marco might pot the red, he He played a three-ball plant and

:23:25. > :23:35.missed it by the proverbial mile! Matthew should play a plant with

:23:35. > :23:35.

:23:35. > :24:24.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:24:24. > :24:29.I would have played it the other He played to pot the red a lot

:24:29. > :24:33.thicker than that. Because he hit it thin, he lost the white a bit.

:24:33. > :24:43.But the second prize is there - the pink is available in the middle. If

:24:43. > :24:48.

:24:48. > :24:58.he screws back he can open the reds This is an excellent chance to take

:24:58. > :25:26.

:25:26. > :25:36.a 4-1 lead now. The two reds at the Poor contact again, Matthew said

:25:36. > :25:36.

:25:36. > :26:19.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:26:19. > :26:24.He just managed to force an angle If he plays into the pack, he will

:26:24. > :26:34.miss the kiss on the red behind the black spot so he can play this with

:26:34. > :26:51.

:26:51. > :27:00.That was unlucky. REFEREE: Foul.

:27:00. > :27:05.That ball had a bit of right-hand side on. He is unlucky to pot a red.

:27:05. > :27:15.He hasn't left anything straightforward for Marco - only a

:27:15. > :27:32.

:27:32. > :27:39.Marco is deliberating over this because he can't get in behind the

:27:39. > :27:49.baulk colours. He won't want to stun off this red because he will

:27:49. > :27:57.

:27:57. > :28:07.As it happens, that is not too bad. Matthew will try and rest on the

:28:07. > :28:40.

:28:40. > :28:45.Marco should get in behind the That's a good shot. There is one

:28:45. > :28:49.red that Matthew can see and that's behind the black. You have to hit

:28:49. > :28:59.these correctly. They definitely go wrong, these. Too thin is no good.

:28:59. > :29:11.

:29:11. > :29:15.Too thick you can hit the jaw on Marco's good safety shot forced the

:29:15. > :29:22.error from Matthew. He hasn't potted a red at length for some

:29:22. > :29:32.time, Marco. This would be a good time to start. If it goes in, he is

:29:32. > :29:46.

:29:46. > :29:56.Can you believe it? I don't think I have ever seen him miss balls by so

:29:56. > :30:05.

:30:05. > :30:14.This is almost six inches away from the pot. He has always tinkered a

:30:14. > :30:23.lot with his action. When you do that so much you can forget what

:30:23. > :30:30.you are doing. He is not playing a tall today, Marco. Matthew Stevens

:30:31. > :30:40.is struggling to put them away. You know you are playing better than

:30:41. > :31:00.

:31:00. > :31:10.your opponent. But you are racing Just using the reds to slow the cue

:31:10. > :31:10.

:31:10. > :31:52.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:31:52. > :32:02.Should be pretty straightforward to It is a to run a race with only one

:32:02. > :32:07.

:32:07. > :32:12.Marco Fu has had better after means. That last shot he missed was a long

:32:12. > :32:22.way away. Doesn't bode well for the future of this match, he will have

:32:22. > :32:26.

:32:26. > :32:36.No sizeable breaks for Matthew Stevens, he has won the last two

:32:36. > :32:41.

:32:42. > :32:50.Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry, growing up watching them. A big

:32:50. > :32:58.inspiration. Especially Jimmy, lost in six finals. Not as disappointed

:32:58. > :33:04.as he is, but I can see how frustrated he might be losing in

:33:04. > :33:12.six, it is bad enough losing two. He handled himself in a fantastic

:33:12. > :33:21.way. Stephen Hendry, the killer instinct, he sees a chance. He just

:33:21. > :33:27.jumps a new. He is a winner. Having watched him in the 90s, winning all

:33:27. > :33:33.those tournaments, then to actually play him, it gets big frustrating

:33:33. > :33:43.after a while, he doesn't miss many balls. Winning tournaments, just a

:33:43. > :33:45.

:33:45. > :33:53.No problem having Jimmy White as you hero, great player. Not to

:33:53. > :34:03.embarrass me too much, who is your hero? Obviously not be there. --

:34:03. > :34:04.

:34:04. > :34:14.Matthew Stevens will be pretty relaxed at the moment, he is not

:34:14. > :34:19.

:34:19. > :34:26.playing at his best but he has 84-1 lead. -- he has a 4-1 lead. He

:34:26. > :34:36.might hit this thin. The first good long pot he has potted in about

:34:36. > :35:06.

:35:06. > :35:16.This is a decent little chance for Marco, got to find something from

:35:16. > :35:23.

:35:23. > :35:33.somewhere. Spring together a few Superb in his first-round match

:35:33. > :35:33.

:35:33. > :36:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:36:31. > :36:38.against Mark Allen. Today it has Just not quite got the cue ball in

:36:38. > :36:48.this break. Tried to leave himself in a position there. Obviously

:36:48. > :36:55.

:36:55. > :37:00.playing police one playing the least one. Good shot, good recovery.

:37:00. > :37:10.It looks like stun up, make sure you get past the right angle for

:37:10. > :37:43.

:37:43. > :37:53.Good split required here. That Played this well, couldn't have

:37:53. > :38:12.

:38:12. > :38:19.asked for any more for that. Got to Well done. He went in. -- it went

:38:19. > :38:29.in. When you're not confident like Marco is at the moment, those are

:38:29. > :38:31.

:38:31. > :38:41.the shots you are wary about. The balls are being good position for a

:38:41. > :39:12.

:39:12. > :39:22.sizeable break. Still not timing it Marco will probably play for the

:39:22. > :39:43.

:39:43. > :39:53.loose red. He has decided to take This is a very good effort. A long

:39:53. > :40:09.

:40:09. > :40:18.way from his best today. Doing very The sees his highest break so far.

:40:18. > :40:28.Matthew hasn't had a decent break since frame three. Just needs one

:40:28. > :40:29.

:40:29. > :40:38.good shot then he's going to win the frame. Not so sure that is it.

:40:38. > :40:45.Marco it seems to not have that shot in his armoury. Earlier he was

:40:45. > :40:48.on the blue, perfect angle, and he was going to have to move the pack.

:40:48. > :40:58.Pretty sure O'Sullivan or Hendry would have been straight into the

:40:58. > :41:01.

:41:01. > :41:07.pack. He wouldn't have got himself 61 in front, red, colour, red is

:41:07. > :41:17.what he's looking for. There is the red. The green is OK. Might still

:41:17. > :41:22.be OK. Got to take your hat off to Marco Fu, at 4-1 behind, can't pot

:41:22. > :41:32.a ball, then suddenly to produce the highest break of the match,

:41:32. > :42:03.

:42:03. > :42:09.good effort. Just shows you what a Luckily he is past the winning post

:42:09. > :42:19.because he hasn't played that very well. He would like to knock this

:42:19. > :42:19.

:42:19. > :42:29.back -- black into get a frame on the board quickly. Very well done,

:42:29. > :42:29.

:42:29. > :43:17.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:43:17. > :43:27.Marco, excellent. Trying to make a He holds the highest break so far

:43:27. > :43:39.

:43:39. > :43:45.this year, one -- 131. A possible We have already had 18 centuries in

:43:45. > :43:52.this tournament, Marco has had two himself. To be honest, how he has

:43:52. > :44:02.played today, I don't know how he has produced this form. Timing it a

:44:02. > :44:07.

:44:07. > :44:15.little bit better. Still not a The main think these he is winning

:44:15. > :44:25.the frame cometh the scoreline changes quicker. He will sit down a

:44:25. > :44:32.lot more comfortably now than he His tempos seems to have quickened

:44:32. > :44:37.up a bit and he looks a bit more fluent than he was half an hour ago.

:44:37. > :44:42.We in the frame in one visit with a big break, nothing to bring more

:44:42. > :44:48.confidence than that. He came in here just as you predicted, how

:44:48. > :44:51.come that changed momentum? It is just potting a few balls and

:44:51. > :45:01.getting your arm going and releasing that cue, getting that

:45:01. > :45:05.free-flowing movement a. Rhythm. Trying to find something. Just get

:45:05. > :45:11.your arm going. He was stopping and starting. Every time he went in,

:45:11. > :45:16.broken down, a 45 minutes frame, 27 in a frame, it was quite lethargic

:45:16. > :45:20.at times. Nice to win a frame in one visit, just what the doctor

:45:20. > :45:26.ordered. He needs that for a bit of confidence. How often has that

:45:26. > :45:32.happen to you? We were going well, the interval has sorted you up.

:45:32. > :45:36.Definitely it is a big help. Sometimes I have been in that bad a

:45:36. > :45:46.mood somebody who has been cut Jimmy has had to force me to the

:45:46. > :45:52.table. -- pitching me. He just changes your mind set. If you are

:45:52. > :45:56.on top in a match you wouldn't bother but when you're behind, put

:45:56. > :46:02.out a few reds, I watched him, he was really struggling, he looked

:46:02. > :46:09.down the and his head was shaking, I am just not timing the ball.

:46:09. > :46:15.Sometimes you can find something, get your rhythm. It can sometimes

:46:15. > :46:20.change. He still has got a long way to go. His form so fleeting in

:46:20. > :46:28.snooker that it can switch around with into a three minutes?

:46:28. > :46:34.Especially in an arena like this, it just takes you to spot something

:46:34. > :46:38.and you focus has gone. It takes a long had to get it back. Hopefully

:46:38. > :46:44.that break will have sparked his focus back. That is a lot to do

:46:44. > :46:48.with concentration, how easily you can maintain it. Every single frame

:46:48. > :46:52.is different. As long as you can keep your opponent is sitting in

:46:52. > :46:56.that chair, it is a matter what has gone before, have boy you are

:46:56. > :47:00.behind, as long as you can keep your opponent sitting in that chair,

:47:00. > :47:04.every frame is different, the more momentum you get and the worse it

:47:04. > :47:14.gets for your opponent. We have seen it so many times, players have

:47:14. > :47:14.

:47:14. > :47:24.come back from 4-1, 4-0, it is possible. Getting better for Marco,

:47:24. > :47:27.

:47:27. > :47:37.COMMENTATOR: You are dealing with snooker players, ephemeral, where

:47:37. > :47:42.

:47:42. > :47:52.There is no way back into baulk from here. Taking the thin safety

:47:52. > :48:28.

:48:28. > :48:34.Little bit unlucky, played the shot pretty well. Once you have missed

:48:34. > :48:44.the pot you expect to get the jaw. You think it would be safe but it

:48:44. > :48:49.

:48:49. > :48:58.has come across again. Hit and hope Never going to get a good cue ball

:48:58. > :49:08.from that. One of those trapped earth 30th on -- one of those shots,

:49:08. > :49:45.

:49:45. > :49:55.May just choose to drop into the side of the pack. There is probably

:49:55. > :49:55.

:49:55. > :51:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:51:25. > :51:34.He has decided to nestle into the back of the part with two cushions.

:51:35. > :51:44.That is all right, unless he has made that into a plant. Matthew is

:51:45. > :51:52.

:51:52. > :51:57.He is taking it on so he must have done, set to the left hand jaw. A

:51:57. > :52:07.surely he cannot screw back to get the pink out of here, it is Click -

:52:07. > :52:38.

:52:38. > :52:48.- two close. -- it is to close. It Maybe that break has made Matthew

:52:48. > :52:51.

:52:51. > :52:55.think about things. I would have fancied him to get out. What has

:52:55. > :53:02.Marco Fu got left? The blue is out of commission, pink is no good,

:53:02. > :53:09.black is tied up unless he plays a cannon. Could try and promote the

:53:09. > :53:13.black towards the corner, that is the only hope. I think it is worth

:53:13. > :53:23.the risk, to be honest. Not going to school many without getting the

:53:23. > :53:23.

:53:23. > :54:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:54:25. > :54:30.A decent shot. The obviously the blue is such a big ball. When it is

:54:30. > :54:40.not there it can make it difficult because the pink is tied up on the

:54:40. > :54:54.

:54:54. > :54:59.left-hand cushion. Scoring will be Good shot. All he could do. Have to

:54:59. > :55:09.make sure he didn't have contact on the two reds in the top cushion on

:55:09. > :55:09.

:55:09. > :55:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:55:58. > :56:04.the right hand side. He missed Very good length on the cue ball.

:56:04. > :56:14.Matthew Stevens cannot get through to this. The red towards the left-

:56:14. > :56:15.

:56:15. > :56:25.hand pocket is not available. It may be, but it is very tight. A bit

:56:25. > :56:32.

:56:33. > :56:42.of a shot to take on. Although he might not have many alternatives.

:56:43. > :57:08.

:57:08. > :57:13.That shot has brought the back -- black into play. Is there enough

:57:13. > :57:16.room for Marco to screw that in and swing it round for the brown or

:57:16. > :57:26.green? If you get the pot you get the natural angle round the back.

:57:26. > :57:54.

:57:54. > :58:04.If you miss it you look silly and As low as you can, up to the blue.

:58:04. > :58:06.

:58:06. > :58:16.Very tactical at the minute. Good news, as you say, black is out in

:58:16. > :58:20.

:58:20. > :58:30.Matthew can swerve around this blue. To get to the red on the right hand

:58:30. > :58:35.

:58:35. > :58:45.side. Can he hit it and leave Don't know whether he can play this

:58:45. > :58:57.

:58:57. > :59:07.at a pace and flick it on the way Good shot, settled for that. Marco

:59:07. > :59:24.

:59:24. > :59:30.Fu's previous shot needed to be Up for Matthew just coming round to

:59:30. > :59:40.see what happens, he knows he will be kissing into other balls, trying

:59:40. > :59:48.

:59:48. > :59:58.to see what will happen to those Decided on an alternative and he

:59:58. > :00:18.

:00:18. > :00:25.Once again, he will do very well to That path always looked like it was

:00:25. > :00:35.going to be blocked to get back down to a colour. It is very

:00:35. > :01:08.

:01:08. > :01:18.scrappy at the minute. Not much he He thought about it long and hard

:01:18. > :01:41.

:01:41. > :01:49.A similar problem to what Marco had. How are you going to get out of

:01:49. > :01:59.that cluster to get on anything? Whatever you do, Matthew, don't

:01:59. > :01:59.

:01:59. > :02:50.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:02:50. > :02:54.So conscious of trying to get on to He would love to get pink or black

:02:54. > :03:04.into a pottable position. It had completely changed the frame if he

:03:04. > :03:16.

:03:16. > :03:26.He was just looking at the angle he had on that red to the pink. He may

:03:26. > :03:27.

:03:27. > :03:37.have a chance to bring the pink and black into play. He will be playing

:03:37. > :03:41.

:03:41. > :03:51.Maybe first thought was to play the cannon on the pink. Didn't have to

:03:51. > :04:02.

:04:02. > :04:12.Whichever way, it wasn't that one. He didn't want that cannon on the

:04:12. > :04:33.

:04:33. > :04:43.His heart must have been in his mouth fair. He didn't mean to

:04:43. > :04:57.

:04:57. > :05:07.He had a chance to check that in the middle and come back and move

:05:07. > :05:31.

:05:31. > :05:36.the pink again. -- chipped bark. -- He did have a look at the reds to

:05:36. > :05:46.see if one potted. If that red pots in the middle, he might be just on

:05:46. > :05:49.

:05:49. > :05:59.the one nearest the pocket. He can pot this. The only problem is that

:05:59. > :06:09.if he plays for the black this time, He would have to hit this very hard

:06:09. > :06:28.

:06:28. > :06:32.indeed. Not much angle on it. He He has left a gap. Matthew can get

:06:32. > :06:38.through. Once again, back to the same old problem - what colour are

:06:38. > :06:48.you going to be on? He is on and 18. Lead but the way the balls are

:06:48. > :06:48.

:06:48. > :07:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:07:43. > :07:47.positioned, that is not a bad lead. He tried to get onto the black on

:07:47. > :07:50.the left-hand corner but has got second prize - he is on it on the

:07:50. > :08:00.right-hand corner which is better because one of the reds may pot in

:08:00. > :08:39.

:08:39. > :08:44.The top one pots, but does the If he was directly behind this, he

:08:44. > :08:49.would pot it but coming from this angle, do you think it pots it?

:08:49. > :08:56.is very tight indeed. There is one way of playing this. You could take

:08:56. > :09:06.this on because yellow and blue are quite a big target. It was so tight

:09:06. > :09:12.

:09:12. > :09:16.he did not take it but same thing - Didn't quite get all balls

:09:16. > :09:26.snookered but he has left Matthew a tough shot. Sometimes you are

:09:26. > :09:26.

:09:26. > :09:30.better often -- better off to let your opponent take the ball.

:09:30. > :09:40.Matthew Stevens has hit those very well today. A lot of good safety

:09:40. > :09:40.

:09:40. > :10:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:10:34. > :10:44.A good run of the balls there for Marco. He did that particularly

:10:44. > :10:46.

:10:46. > :10:54.well. The flick off the green was You don't see that shot played very

:10:54. > :10:58.often, do you? He played the double-kiss to get back into baulk.

:10:58. > :11:08.If you don't hit it up virtually full ball, you don't get the

:11:08. > :11:35.

:11:35. > :11:38.double-kiss and you end up smashing It is a very big target behind the

:11:38. > :11:47.green comedy yellow and blue, so I would expect Matthew to get a

:11:48. > :11:51.snooker here. It actually kissed the front ball. It is one of those

:11:51. > :11:55.matches weather is not much you can do about it. You just have to

:11:55. > :11:59.compete and the object of the exercise is to win and get to six.

:11:59. > :12:02.Everyone would like to play games where it is free flowing and fast

:12:02. > :12:09.and you make centuries but some frames are just awkward and the

:12:09. > :12:16.only thing wrong with the frames that take 30 or 40 minutes is that

:12:16. > :12:22.it is a lot of effort for nothing if you lose them. Certainly cueing

:12:22. > :12:32.a lot better in the last frame and a half. He really struggled in the

:12:32. > :12:46.

:12:46. > :12:49.A lot of players would have been prepared to pot the green in the

:12:49. > :12:59.middle pocket as they were so close to it but it looks like Marco

:12:59. > :13:19.

:13:19. > :13:22.He has got the option of a two in one shot. He could play around the

:13:22. > :13:27.angles for the loose shot on the right-hand side. If he misses, he

:13:27. > :13:37.could hit the one on the top cushion. It is there to win one

:13:37. > :13:48.

:13:48. > :13:52.He is not happy with it at the The problem is, if he plays the one

:13:52. > :14:02.on the right hand side cushion, if he hit it he would be leaving the

:14:02. > :14:23.

:14:23. > :14:26.At least he knows after playing that shot it is definitely on. It

:14:26. > :14:36.is not like it will not be available so he will keep playing

:14:36. > :14:57.

:14:57. > :15:01.These four points are very valuable. He is already 21 points in front.

:15:01. > :15:05.He does not want to give too many points away because the pink is in

:15:05. > :15:15.a great position so Marco will be strong favourite if he gets another

:15:15. > :15:18.

:15:18. > :15:28.eight points. He did not play to He got a very good second prize

:15:28. > :15:31.

:15:31. > :15:35.I mentioned before that I thought 18 points was a big lead but at the

:15:35. > :15:45.moment, 21 certainly is say Marco will not be removing the red that

:15:45. > :15:58.

:15:58. > :16:07.is tight on the top cushion at any I don't know whether Matthew can

:16:07. > :16:11.pot this red. It might just be a guide. He might be able to pot it.

:16:11. > :16:21.No, he tried to get the other one of the cushion. He did not hit it

:16:21. > :16:21.

:16:21. > :17:12.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:17:12. > :17:15.particularly well but he has got That was not the greatest shock. I

:17:15. > :17:25.know Marco did not have a lot he could do there but he should not be

:17:25. > :17:25.

:17:25. > :18:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:18:09. > :18:12.giving him the chance to get it in. It would not be the worst shot to

:18:12. > :18:18.play the green on to the pink. But you would not get a great deal of

:18:18. > :18:24.advantage by playing a snooker. Later on in the frame, if the two

:18:24. > :18:30.reds come out in the open, there is a chance of a clearance. You don't

:18:30. > :18:34.always have to get the absolute with this. Just need to think a bit

:18:34. > :18:42.longer term. There is every chance of getting in behind the blue, as

:18:42. > :18:52.well, if he plays that shot. He is thinking about potting the yellow

:18:52. > :19:04.

:19:04. > :19:10.and seeing what the safety shot The safety shot is not

:19:10. > :19:20.straightforward. He can't play it in to the baulk area because he

:19:20. > :19:34.

:19:34. > :19:44.will be fishing the red down to the He took a chance there and just

:19:44. > :19:44.

:19:44. > :20:37.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:20:37. > :20:47.made sure of getting a good wide. That red has been covered by the

:20:47. > :21:06.

:21:06. > :21:09.black. This is an excellent shaved He was trying to play it slow

:21:09. > :21:19.enough to leave them both in the baulk area. I didn't understand

:21:19. > :21:54.

:21:54. > :21:58.Matthew's poor shot has actually They could try but I hark back to

:21:58. > :22:08.that situation before. Will Matthew Stevens regret not moving that pink

:22:08. > :22:31.

:22:31. > :22:36.He may have an angle to bring the pink into play, knowing he is bound

:22:36. > :22:42.to be on the red in the corner. But I imagine he is a bit punch-drunk

:22:42. > :22:52.at the moment. He has not played particularly well. He is going to

:22:52. > :23:05.

:23:05. > :23:15.The way this frame has gone, he would just be delighted to get back

:23:15. > :23:33.

:23:33. > :23:43.The only way he will get from blue to pink in a few moments is by

:23:43. > :24:13.

:24:13. > :24:16.bringing the blue into open play, The way Matthew has to spin round

:24:16. > :24:22.the table to put that pink, he may be thinking about the back double.

:24:22. > :24:32.He is thinking ahead. Get on the brown and try to beat an angle for

:24:32. > :24:36.about double on the pink. -- leave At least it is giving him a chance

:24:36. > :24:42.now. He may have a chance to bring the pink into play if he does not

:24:43. > :24:52.fancy getting on the double. He will only needed the one ball so he

:24:53. > :25:26.

:25:26. > :25:36.could play the cross in such a way It is Marco's turn to decide

:25:36. > :25:54.

:25:54. > :25:58.whether he is going to need the The cross double is on but if the

:25:58. > :26:01.white had been another three or four inches down, he would have

:26:01. > :26:11.played it but it is dangerous now because the white would be in open

:26:11. > :26:38.

:26:38. > :26:41.Probably just trying to chip the It looked like the pink was always

:26:41. > :26:51.going to be the most important ball in this game and it is proving to

:26:51. > :27:13.

:27:14. > :27:23.Because it landed on the cushion, it was pretty good. Well played.

:27:24. > :27:52.

:27:52. > :27:55.This is very difficult to get safe. Not enough side. I would not have

:27:55. > :28:05.been thinking about putting behind the black. I would have does wanted

:28:05. > :28:09.them lined up but he has not played either shot. A pretty poor effort.

:28:09. > :28:19.And because it was not that great, Marco was able to play an easy a

:28:19. > :28:21.

:28:21. > :28:28.safety shot. Missed a trick there, He does not have any option but to

:28:28. > :28:32.push it on the side cushion but the double will be on, then. It has

:28:32. > :28:40.been a bit scrappy. We have had two frames over more than 40 minutes.

:28:40. > :28:44.This is the longest frame of the match, just over 42 minutes. If he

:28:44. > :28:54.pushes this on the side cushion, he will be leading a double for Marco.

:28:54. > :29:05.

:29:05. > :29:10.I can't see another shot, to be That is as good as he could have

:29:10. > :29:15.done from there. That is excellent. The cue ball slightly higher up the

:29:15. > :29:25.table than the pink to stop the doubles. Or Marco can really do is

:29:25. > :29:47.

:29:47. > :29:56.put the pink back on the top There is room to get in behind it.

:29:56. > :30:04.There have been three of those shots played in the last 10 minutes.

:30:04. > :30:14.I wonder have he is thinking about playing it harder. It is a high

:30:14. > :30:33.

:30:33. > :30:43.He decided against taking it on. He thought the safety shot was easier.

:30:43. > :30:55.

:30:55. > :31:05.He has played a beautiful shot here. Faber we shot from Marco Fu,

:31:05. > :31:05.

:31:05. > :32:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:32:22. > :32:32.How important was that excellent Good shot by Marco to get up there.

:32:32. > :32:36.

:32:36. > :32:46.Get behind the black. Marco will be trying to keep the pink in the

:32:46. > :33:18.

:33:18. > :33:28.Could not see an alternative to this chance. It is not easy, off

:33:28. > :34:04.

:34:04. > :34:11.the cushion, check side. Good What a try this is. Brilliant

:34:11. > :34:14.effort, best shot of the match. Just unfortunate, if that pink had

:34:14. > :34:23.been three or four inches of the cushion, it is such a big target,

:34:23. > :34:30.where it is. We used looking now, Marco, if you hit the pink on the

:34:31. > :34:40.left-hand side, you can go in, off. He cannot afford to hit it hard,

:34:41. > :34:41.

:34:41. > :34:47.because, if he misses it, he will leave the pot on. I would be

:34:47. > :34:55.reluctant to play it off two cushions because if you screw it up,

:34:55. > :35:04.I think one cushion, risky the which is, is definitely the way. --

:35:04. > :35:14.risky though it is. That looks pretty good to me. Very well done,

:35:14. > :35:14.

:35:14. > :35:56.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:35:57. > :36:04.Perfect line. What an excellent pot from Marco Fu at the end. Marco Fu

:36:04. > :36:10.is back in a match, but he trails 4-t. It was not the quick-fire

:36:10. > :36:15.match many of us expected, nearly 15 minutes for that frame, but that

:36:15. > :36:23.snooker was worth the wait, beautiful shot. Yes, there was a

:36:23. > :36:30.huge margin for error, were the pink was, fantastic shot. He would

:36:30. > :36:34.be proud of that one. As Stephen said, when the balls are so close

:36:34. > :36:38.to the pocket it makes it easier to get out of the snooker, if the pink

:36:38. > :36:44.is a couple of inches out from the cushion it is possible to get in a

:36:44. > :36:48.round the back. A lot of players would have gone for the pot, but he

:36:48. > :36:53.refused the pot and played a clever shot, the snooker, and subsequently

:36:53. > :37:00.missed it, and then, he needed a snooker, so it was quite a clever

:37:00. > :37:06.shot that won the frame, for Marco Fu. He's back in the match at 4-3.

:37:06. > :37:11.He has not played at his best. He has been struggling with his form,

:37:11. > :37:16.but of a sudden he has scrapped his way back into the match and the

:37:16. > :37:21.pressure something reverse back onto your opponent. Actually, we

:37:21. > :37:25.have had an e-mail from Tony Carr, who said we can see Marco Fu is

:37:25. > :37:31.having problems with timing through the ball - how can you practice to

:37:31. > :37:35.improve timing in this department? Stephen would be no more about

:37:35. > :37:40.timing than me because I don't do it as well as he does, but we had

:37:40. > :37:48.been talking about rhythm. It is a bit practice, rhythm, tempo,

:37:48. > :37:53.getting through the ball, trying to play those nice long screw backs,

:37:53. > :37:57.just trying to get a bit of reaction on the ball. It is hard to

:37:57. > :38:01.get it in a few minutes that you have got for practice, it is

:38:01. > :38:09.something back to work on in solitary practice. It doesn't have

:38:09. > :38:13.to be difficult pots, just to get the cue going and get comfortable.

:38:13. > :38:18.You had been chatting about the soul has, as indeed everybody does,

:38:18. > :38:22.but this was you're preferred mode of practice, putting in the rules

:38:22. > :38:27.your sales. I got the most benefit from longer hours of practice on my

:38:27. > :38:36.own, that went my timing, my technique, and as you get older you

:38:36. > :38:42.get lazy and you tend to leave off. But it appears, Tony, that the

:38:42. > :38:52.answer is, keep practising! This match, suddenly, is a context once

:38:52. > :38:57.

:38:57. > :39:07.again. -- contest. The have to give Marco Fu great respect. He

:39:07. > :39:07.

:39:07. > :39:12.struggled early on, but it is 4-3, now. He would still be in the match

:39:12. > :39:16.if he lost the next rain anyway, so you have a little bit of time to

:39:16. > :39:20.recover. Only about half a dozen players and the game at the moment

:39:20. > :39:24.that, playing this bad, could still be in the match. A lot of the young

:39:24. > :39:30.lads are great players, and if they are playing this bad they were

:39:30. > :39:35.struggle to find a way to win these three frames. His temperament is

:39:35. > :39:45.one of his strongest suits. He will not be happy with that one. Well,

:39:45. > :40:01.

:40:01. > :40:06.and a miss, four, Mark Stevens. -- What about this pack? How would you

:40:06. > :40:10.be playing this? Certainly will not into it with screw, you would want

:40:10. > :40:16.to play a deep screw and dark when the front and catch the side of the

:40:16. > :40:22.pack. Ed Solomon was great at this type of shot, people with plenty of

:40:22. > :40:28.cue power, and Matthew Stevens has plenty of cue power, if it hits the

:40:28. > :40:33.front red, it could end up on the back cushion. He's not going to

:40:33. > :40:42.play for the pack. He's going to play for the loose red. He may feel

:40:42. > :40:45.that he can bring reds into play from this. This is the power shot,

:40:45. > :40:55.where you stun this first and get the screw back later, then split

:40:55. > :41:14.

:41:14. > :41:21.the reds. I thought there was more going to happen. I think he may

:41:21. > :41:31.just drop the pink in. The one he is looking at now, that is all he

:41:31. > :41:55.

:41:55. > :42:00.Matthew is struggling. He has got a bit of surgery to do, here. The

:42:00. > :42:10.pink spot there, in it that we cling, there you go, he has found

:42:10. > :42:30.

:42:30. > :42:34.another gear up for it. -- in it He was short with the cue ball.

:42:34. > :42:40.There is a chance to go in and out of baulk, and come back and split

:42:40. > :42:50.the pack. He's usually pretty good at this type of shot, so plenty of

:42:50. > :42:50.

:42:50. > :43:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:43:34. > :43:39.Looking at the reds, at first glance, they look nice, but he may

:43:39. > :43:43.have to go into them again. It is a massive target to go into the ones

:43:43. > :43:48.above the black, five reds above the black, he would be lucky to go

:43:48. > :43:51.through the gap of those five reds, but that is about as good a shot as

:43:51. > :43:57.anything to play at this time. Just make something happen. Sometimes

:43:57. > :44:01.you have to do that. You have no choice. He would be cursed if he

:44:01. > :44:11.went through the gap of those five, but that is the only way he could

:44:11. > :44:17.

:44:17. > :44:21.guarantee getting on one, playing into them. He must have found one.

:44:21. > :44:29.It does not look like it from this camera position. Looking at that

:44:29. > :44:39.shot, I am not sure he is on one, anyway. The top one pots, I didn't

:44:39. > :44:58.

:44:58. > :45:07.know that. Once again, position is The one that is closest to this

:45:08. > :45:17.pink spot is readily available. And the one just above the pink - that

:45:18. > :45:23.

:45:23. > :45:27.was very well struck, that brown. Could strike. -- Good strike.

:45:27. > :45:32.is the art of a class a break- builder. He has not had much

:45:32. > :45:35.opportunity amongst the balls, the first chance he has got, he is on

:45:35. > :45:45.for two, and counting, and if he gets the cannon right, he should

:45:45. > :45:46.

:45:46. > :45:56.win the frame. How's the cannon? had to play it harder than that,

:45:56. > :46:25.

:46:25. > :46:32.surely. It looked like he had to That is very risky, trying to

:46:32. > :46:39.swerve round the first red. I know that he is best but to win the

:46:39. > :46:49.frame at this visit, but sometimes, you need to have a bit of patience.

:46:49. > :47:05.

:47:05. > :47:09.He has decided this red cuts, and Good pot, a little bit unlucky to

:47:09. > :47:19.finish where he did, he played that shot might have a lot of check side,

:47:19. > :47:22.

:47:22. > :47:32.to make the cut easier. These are hard to get absolutely tight, he

:47:32. > :48:03.

:48:03. > :48:13.Marco Fu has got a poor, if he wants to take it on. -- has got a

:48:13. > :48:13.

:48:13. > :48:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:48:55. > :49:02.Just that pink causing problems at the minute, if he could get nicely

:49:02. > :49:07.on the black to get the pink out of the way, one could positional shot

:49:07. > :49:17.from making this a frame-winner. He needs about three or four of these

:49:17. > :49:33.

:49:33. > :49:41.reds, that are all in open play, It is about the only place that it

:49:41. > :49:45.is not perfect. The red dye required of the black, if he can

:49:45. > :49:48.clear slow cannon onto that, if he misses the cannon he's on to the

:49:48. > :49:53.one in the middle, but it is not straight forward, it could go wrong,

:49:53. > :50:03.playing the cannon. He is going for the outside red - that is as good

:50:03. > :50:08.

:50:08. > :50:18.You can see that he is pretty straight on this red. Coming round

:50:18. > :50:21.

:50:21. > :50:31.to see if he can possibly get on the green or pink. If he stands the

:50:31. > :50:41.

:50:41. > :50:47.red in, he looks Perry Street on it. -- if he stuns the red in, he looks

:50:47. > :50:52.very straight on it. I don't understand playing for the blue,

:50:52. > :50:58.there. The two which need is the pink spot only pot in the right

:50:58. > :51:05.hand corner. He needs to stun through the gap between brown and

:51:05. > :51:08.yellow with left-hand side. That was always hard, and he had been

:51:08. > :51:17.very unfortunate not to get the position he wanted, but having said

:51:17. > :51:27.that, it has pulled up, this is a real chance for a retaliatory

:51:27. > :51:40.

:51:40. > :51:45.One of the frames he won against Mark Allen the on it, he came to

:51:45. > :51:55.the table 60 points down with five reds on and manage to clear up.

:51:55. > :52:28.

:52:28. > :52:32.There wasn't the pressure on him He is availing himself of the

:52:32. > :52:36.position on the green, getting the green back up where we should be,

:52:36. > :52:46.to make a clearance easier, clearing up the pocket for the

:52:46. > :53:08.

:53:08. > :53:18.black, and this really is a very Perfect angle just to drop on the

:53:18. > :53:20.

:53:20. > :53:24.red on the top cushion, here. That is pretty good. Only thing that

:53:24. > :53:27.could go wrong is the key snookers himself on the black, so that is

:53:27. > :53:37.why he might play the cannon on the pink, to make sure that cannot

:53:37. > :53:41.

:53:41. > :53:44.He has played this at a good piece, though. Not many players I

:53:44. > :53:50.mentioned at the start of this frame who could have got himself

:53:50. > :53:54.back in the match, playing so poorly, Marco Fu was so far off the

:53:54. > :54:04.pace in the first five frames that it looks like it could have been 6-

:54:04. > :54:10.

:54:10. > :54:16.1. Now, he looks like the stronger That is what makes this wonderful

:54:16. > :54:22.game so interesting. Players have spells at the table at their best

:54:22. > :54:32.and at other times they could not pot three balls. He has taken these

:54:32. > :54:33.

:54:33. > :54:39.superbly, so far, and if he can negotiate these colours, it is 4-4.

:54:39. > :54:45.He must be mentally very strong, as the boys in the studio know, his

:54:45. > :54:55.timing was so out in the first four frames. That spell and the practice

:54:55. > :54:59.

:54:59. > :55:09.room might just have got him right. He couldn't make the tea, the 4th.

:55:09. > :55:18.

:55:18. > :55:25.Still needs the three remaining colours. He made a break of 97 in

:55:25. > :55:35.frame six. This can only be a possible 60, but the break has been

:55:35. > :55:51.

:55:51. > :55:57.He led by 38-0, Matthew Stevens, but the clearance of 60 was

:55:57. > :56:00.outstanding, to make it 4-4. Suddenly Marco Fu looked like the

:56:00. > :56:06.man who beat Mark Allen the other night in such stylish fashion. What

:56:06. > :56:12.has happened? He has got some momentum going. In these matches

:56:12. > :56:19.things can change, and that will hurt Matthew Stevens. From 4-1-4-3,

:56:19. > :56:25.looked like he was going to stretch away, but the game is on. That was

:56:25. > :56:29.a supremely confident clearance from Marco Fu. He has the momentum.

:56:29. > :56:33.At 4-1 it looked like there was no way back, but the beauty of this

:56:33. > :56:36.game is, every single frame is complete the different and as long

:56:36. > :56:40.as you are trying and keep your concentration, even if you miss

:56:40. > :56:44.some pots and play the right shots, he's always going to play the right

:56:44. > :56:48.shorts and try his heart as, he will always put in consistent

:56:48. > :56:55.safety shots and try everything to win this match, Marco Fu, and that

:56:55. > :57:00.is exactly what he has done. Matthew has gone on the back foot.

:57:01. > :57:08.He is now second favourite, from an almost unassailable position.

:57:08. > :57:14.you seen much that has changed in Matthew's game? He has not been at

:57:14. > :57:17.his best, neither player has. Many of the frames have been scrappy.

:57:18. > :57:25.You would think that would sit Matthew more than Marco, Marco just

:57:25. > :57:34.wants to get on and make big breaks, but, at 4-4, it is the best of

:57:34. > :57:38.three. It seems longer than the best of nine. There was one classic

:57:38. > :57:43.shot that Matthew miss, that blue to the middle, trying to get back

:57:43. > :57:48.into the reds, to force it in, and at this stage of the match you

:57:48. > :57:55.always try to make sure of the pot, and that cost him the frame,

:57:55. > :58:01.because, he had a healthy lead there and those are the type of

:58:01. > :58:06.shorts that can come back and haunt you. It is remarkable that Matthew

:58:06. > :58:15.has not been to the quarter finals of this event since he won it, in

:58:15. > :58:19.2003. He dropped out for three or four years. So he was not getting

:58:19. > :58:24.to the final stages of any tournament, but now, he's back at

:58:24. > :58:29.the top of the game, you expect him to be making the quarter finals and

:58:29. > :58:39.semi-finals of every tournament. The first to six frames will go

:58:39. > :58:43.

:58:43. > :58:52.So, Marco Fu breaks off in frame nine and what a turnaround this has

:58:52. > :58:56.been this afternoon. Sometimes it is very interesting how these games

:58:56. > :59:02.go. The players who is behind thinks he is not playing very well

:59:02. > :59:06.and might be going out and all of a sudden, the score line changes

:59:06. > :59:16.under pressure reverts back on you. Interesting to see how he handles

:59:16. > :59:35.

:59:35. > :59:39.It was always going to be tricky to land on anything there. As for

:59:39. > :59:49.Matthew Stevens, he has got to put behind him that chance in the last

:59:49. > :59:49.

:59:49. > :01:56.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:01:56. > :02:04.He will have to blank that and win Miss REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

:02:04. > :02:14.unless he happens to be get on, he If it hits the yellow full ball,

:02:14. > :02:30.

:02:30. > :02:36.that red will be on. It hit it half A pretty easy route back to the

:02:36. > :02:46.baulk area but you do not want to be sticking a red on the rig.

:02:46. > :02:55.

:02:55. > :03:05.Played with a bit inside to widen A chance of the red near the blue

:03:05. > :03:28.

:03:28. > :03:38.Had to play it very hard to try to get over for the black again but

:03:38. > :03:39.

:03:39. > :05:19.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:05:19. > :05:29.A decent shot. Not much else he could do. Matthew will want to play

:05:29. > :05:29.

:05:29. > :07:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:07:41. > :07:49.Matthew was just checking to see if there were any plants available but

:07:49. > :07:56.there were none. He needs to play a really good safety because there

:07:56. > :08:06.are not many balls to hide behind. Players are pretty reticent open

:08:06. > :08:06.

:08:06. > :10:32.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:10:32. > :10:35.Matthew is in a situation where he has controlled the match for the

:10:35. > :10:42.first five games but now is struggling a bit. You can sometimes

:10:42. > :10:52.be a bit too careful when you are playing. This looks a pretty good

:10:52. > :10:53.

:10:53. > :10:56.safety shot. He has just covered the red with the blue. There is a

:10:56. > :11:06.gap and amazingly enough, he could get on the black here if he wishes

:11:06. > :11:08.

:11:08. > :11:18.to take it on. As long as you've finished tight on the cushion here,

:11:18. > :11:23.

:11:23. > :11:33.the red that is just above the Well played. The red just above the

:11:33. > :11:39.

:11:39. > :11:49.black would have been a tough pot, Because the cue ball has finished

:11:49. > :12:07.

:12:07. > :12:16.Excellent. The unlucky think - he did not quite push the red far

:12:16. > :12:21.enough to take it away from the black. -- unlucky thing. If that

:12:21. > :12:23.red had gone another two inches, he could have been playing for a

:12:23. > :12:33.different colour then the black off this red and then the black would

:12:33. > :12:48.

:12:48. > :12:53.This has certainly been a lesson to all players that if you play badly

:12:53. > :13:01.for half a match, just stay with it because Marco Fu is now favourite

:13:01. > :13:11.to take this frame. But to have even got back into the match the

:13:11. > :13:33.

:13:33. > :13:40.The angle on the red is just about OK. He can run that on the two

:13:40. > :13:46.cushions and be on the black in the opposite corner. I am not so sure.

:13:46. > :13:56.This will have to be played with a bump. It is pretty tight. The

:13:56. > :14:04.

:14:04. > :14:08.pockets do not give you much. He What is the problem?! As I said, he

:14:08. > :14:18.could not run through. He had to bob it. It was a very, very good

:14:18. > :14:18.

:14:18. > :15:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:15:20. > :15:23.There is not an awful lot of room here. He is looking at playing the

:15:23. > :15:33.stun round the back of the black. He will have to get perilously

:15:33. > :15:59.

:15:59. > :16:09.close to the red. He could hit this I did not think that was on. That

:16:09. > :16:18.

:16:18. > :16:25.He had to widen the angle and this is the shot he played, just to

:16:25. > :16:28.widen the angle. We have the chance to show you here. A couple of

:16:28. > :16:38.chances just to show you how that shot is played and what actually

:16:38. > :16:52.

:16:52. > :17:00.It stops for a second and then goes through. That is what has called a

:17:00. > :17:03.stun run through. That has developed into this chance now. The

:17:03. > :17:13.ball's are pretty good at the moment. Just one more positional

:17:13. > :17:31.

:17:31. > :17:34.shot. He could make this a certain Marco's seems reluctant to play

:17:34. > :17:44.into the four read but I think that is the only way he can get things

:17:44. > :17:50.

:17:50. > :18:00.I don't know why he made that look more difficult than it was. That

:18:00. > :18:21.

:18:21. > :18:26.Running round two cushions to play for the red in the middle. Once

:18:26. > :18:36.again, this has been an excellent contribution from Marco. Nothing

:18:36. > :18:51.

:18:51. > :19:01.has been straightforward in this At the moment, the positioning is

:19:01. > :19:26.

:19:26. > :19:32.very good. Perfect angle on the Just could have done with another

:19:32. > :19:42.role of the cue ball there. It is still pottable but more difficult

:19:42. > :19:44.

:19:44. > :19:52.than he would have liked. That is It was just that one good

:19:52. > :19:58.positional shot away from getting those balls perfect. If the plant

:19:58. > :20:06.is on, Matthew will take it. It has got to be made. And as it happens,

:20:06. > :20:10.the angle he has got on it, it would be on the black if he pots it.

:20:10. > :20:20.52 in front, you would not contemplate taking this plant on.

:20:20. > :20:27.

:20:27. > :20:37.This is a great chance. I would not fancy him to clear from here but a

:20:37. > :20:37.

:20:37. > :21:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:21:23. > :21:26.great chance to get right into this Ideally, he would like to bring the

:21:26. > :21:36.red on the right hand cushion into play at some time. He does not want

:21:36. > :21:36.

:21:36. > :22:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:22:27. > :22:34.He could really do with bringing He is just going to have the one

:22:34. > :22:37.chance now when he gets on this red. The chances of moving the red out

:22:37. > :22:40.now appear to have disappeared because he is not on its great,

:22:40. > :22:48.unless he goes higher on the blue. He is looking at the angle on the

:22:48. > :22:58.blue. He would like to be on the blue half ball and then he could

:22:58. > :23:19.

:23:19. > :23:28.He was having a look at this before - whether to put that down the rail.

:23:28. > :23:38.But of shots down the cushions on these table. -- it tough shots.

:23:38. > :23:50.

:23:50. > :23:53.would rather finish straight so you He has got the angle now. He could

:23:53. > :23:59.take his choice - do you run through for the black or screw back

:23:59. > :24:04.for the blue? I would prefer to play the screw shot myself. A lot

:24:05. > :24:08.more confident playing it that way but he is a tough player. He is

:24:08. > :24:12.looking at the angle of the backs of he fancies ruling it in but if

:24:12. > :24:22.you miss, it stays there. He has a chance of getting away with it with

:24:22. > :24:32.the screw shot. An excellent pot. And a perfect angle to get onto the

:24:32. > :24:39.

:24:39. > :24:43.He is looking for anything but straight on the yellow. It is fair

:24:43. > :24:46.to say we have had one or two frames this afternoon that could be

:24:46. > :24:56.described as turgid but this has not been one of them. This has been

:24:56. > :25:03.

:25:03. > :25:08.Well played. The fact that he had to put spin on it made that of.

:25:08. > :25:18.That was as good a shot as he has played in this break. Very good

:25:18. > :25:32.

:25:32. > :25:42.potting the yellow but to get up Win or lose, this has been an

:25:42. > :25:47.

:25:47. > :25:57.Marco Fu had a break of 97 in frame six but this is by far the best

:25:57. > :25:59.

:25:59. > :26:03.break of the match. Certainly the most important. Absolutely superb.

:26:03. > :26:13.When he missed that red, Marco, I bet he was not thinking he was

:26:13. > :26:15.

:26:15. > :26:24.And lose the frame he has done. He was 52 points in front and Matthew

:26:24. > :26:26.Stevens was back against the wall. That is what champions are made of.

:26:26. > :26:30.Almost half an hour but that was worth waiting for. Some of the

:26:30. > :26:35.quality of the shots, particularly at the end, were magnificent.

:26:35. > :26:38.is the frame of the match without a doubt. The match is starting to

:26:38. > :26:45.catch alight now. That was a phenomenal appearance by Matthew

:26:45. > :26:48.Stevens. This plant - market tried to stun down for a loose red but

:26:48. > :26:53.did not look at the plant. He missed the red and subsequently

:26:53. > :26:58.left that time. Matthew took the ball by the horns and made a great

:26:58. > :27:03.plant. This is a fantastic shot - the last red down the cushion. He

:27:03. > :27:08.got behind it with the blue. If he hit it any harder, the red would

:27:08. > :27:12.not go in. It was so tough. He also got on the yellow, which was no

:27:12. > :27:17.easy shot, but it was probably one of the best breaks you will see

:27:18. > :27:22.this week. He needed a clearance and needed them all up to the blue.

:27:22. > :27:28.He will not make any better breaks than that this week. Those pots

:27:28. > :27:32.down the cushion - not like to buy you chaps, are they? No but it is

:27:32. > :27:36.amazing. That very first plan - if you play a good shot like that you

:27:36. > :27:41.think that you are going to clear up. It looks like he has suddenly

:27:41. > :27:44.got a little spurt of adrenalin. It was coursing through him and

:27:44. > :27:54.suddenly, from having been in a very difficult position in the last

:27:54. > :27:59.

:27:59. > :28:09.frame, Stevens is within sight of COMMENTATOR: I have got a feeling

:28:09. > :28:11.

:28:11. > :28:21.it is not over yet, this match. It has ebbed and flowed. I wondered

:28:21. > :28:33.

:28:33. > :28:41.whether that cue ball had gone far Just lost the cue ball a little bit.

:28:41. > :28:51.If he does pot the black, as we see this red again, it is lovely. If he

:28:51. > :28:52.

:28:52. > :29:02.pots it, he will be nicely on two That was as good a shot as you can

:29:02. > :29:07.

:29:07. > :29:12.You cannot cue them better than that. Has had kept perfectly still.

:29:12. > :29:22.-- his head. A perfect angle here to finish low on the black. He is

:29:22. > :29:29.

:29:29. > :29:39.Two reds at the back, one on the left-hand side. You would love to

:29:39. > :29:39.

:29:39. > :29:47.get into that, half ball firm. He screwed it slightly. Got one in the

:29:47. > :29:55.green bag. Very rarely do you... If you screw them into that at, the

:29:55. > :30:00.white does nothing but screw back. You have got to stun them. You can

:30:00. > :30:07.play this with confidence because there is nothing on. If he does

:30:07. > :30:17.screws back three or four inches, a chance to be flamed the match. B&B

:30:17. > :30:31.

:30:31. > :30:36.A great shot. Hazel mentioned in the studio that she thought she was

:30:36. > :30:46.playing with the crooked tempo and a bit of spark. -- thought he was

:30:46. > :31:17.

:31:17. > :31:22.playing. He is fully focused at the All of a sudden, everything seems

:31:23. > :31:32.to be going to plan, as far as Matthew Stevens is concerned. Marco

:31:33. > :31:39.

:31:39. > :31:43.Fu has fought so hard to get back I don't think he is quite right on

:31:43. > :31:53.either of those two reds on the right, that he played on, so change

:31:53. > :31:54.

:31:54. > :31:58.of plan, going down the left-hand side instead. There was no reason

:31:58. > :32:04.why he should not get on the now from this blue. Isn't it amazing

:32:04. > :32:08.how much you can be out of sorts, then you get one lifeline, as he

:32:08. > :32:12.did in the previous frame when Marco Fu missed that red, now he

:32:12. > :32:18.looks like clearing up a couple of frames, striking the ball

:32:18. > :32:22.beautifully, position in almost perfect. I would be surprised if he

:32:22. > :32:25.doesn't win frame and match, at this visit, if he gets the three

:32:25. > :32:35.loose reds he still needs one of the six that are still in a safe

:32:35. > :32:36.

:32:36. > :32:42.fish position in the bunch. -- safe-ish position. This could be

:32:42. > :32:46.exactly it. The one in the middle of the three underwear and said,

:32:46. > :32:51.hit that full ball with screw and he will be on the reds to the

:32:51. > :33:01.middle and corner, he's playing for the loose one. Don't blame him.

:33:01. > :33:03.

:33:03. > :33:13.Mr Hendry in the studio would definitely have gone for those six,

:33:13. > :33:48.

:33:48. > :33:55.Good effort, this. Fabulous clearance in the last frame, and he

:33:55. > :34:01.has carried on in the same vein. The angle looks fairly straight on

:34:01. > :34:11.this red. Keeping the cue ball cleaned would suggest he doesn't

:34:11. > :34:17.

:34:17. > :34:23.fancy getting the kick. Sometimes That is the reason why, when he had

:34:23. > :34:33.the perfect angle on the black a few shots ago, he may not get that

:34:33. > :34:44.

:34:44. > :34:47.could an angle, this time. -- that This next shot will tell us whether

:34:47. > :34:53.there is any more life in this match sure whether Matthew Stevens

:34:54. > :34:58.will take it at this visit, this one shot will tell us a story of

:34:58. > :35:08.the match. Marco Fu can only hope that the cannon on the pack doesn't

:35:08. > :35:08.

:35:08. > :36:32.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

:36:32. > :36:40.work. No conviction whatsoever. Good contribution there, break of

:36:40. > :36:44.59. I don't know which is the most important thing now, he has left a

:36:44. > :36:50.shot to nothing on, that red on the cushion is going to be a saviour,

:36:50. > :37:00.probably. He would rather not have left this red on. I could see him

:37:00. > :37:10.

:37:10. > :37:18.potting that. He needs a kiss, and Do you roll it behind the brown?

:37:18. > :37:23.Difficult to get absolutely touch- tight, so be careful. Some players

:37:23. > :37:28.have played those roll-ups in the past and not quite got there.

:37:28. > :37:33.was an easy shot on the thicker cloth, but a very rarely now do you

:37:33. > :37:37.see them leaving an almost touching ball. It hardly ever happens now.

:37:37. > :37:43.Matthew will think he can swerve round that to hit the three reds

:37:43. > :37:53.below the pink. He was looking to see if it was a plant, but surely

:37:53. > :37:55.

:37:55. > :38:00.He presumably thinks if he swerves round and hits it too thick, he

:38:00. > :38:06.will push the red over the corner. He can just about see enough of it

:38:06. > :38:16.to hit it very finely. If that red is going over the corner, can Marco

:38:16. > :38:19.

:38:19. > :38:28.Fu see it? The answer to that, is no. What do you do here, John?

:38:28. > :38:38.suggest he is in a bucket load of trouble. Blue, brown, pink, the two

:38:38. > :38:40.

:38:40. > :38:45.reds behind the pink. He can't take either of the two reds on the right

:38:45. > :38:55.hand side. He might be forced into having a go at the one closest to

:38:55. > :38:59.

:38:59. > :39:04.the cushion. This could be Marco Fu's last shot in this tournament.

:39:04. > :39:14.And I was a hazard a guess to say that that was his last shot in the

:39:14. > :39:18.

:39:18. > :39:28.tournament. -- I would hazard a He was in all sorts of bother,

:39:28. > :39:29.

:39:29. > :39:38.there, Marco Fu. Good try. It has said and flowed this afternoon this

:39:38. > :39:48.match -- ebbed and flowed. But Matthew Stevens has been top draw,

:39:48. > :39:49.

:39:49. > :39:59.and deserves to win any match. -- top drawer. In the latter part of

:39:59. > :40:26.

:40:26. > :40:32.He will be quite relieved, Matthew Stevens, as he tidies away these

:40:32. > :40:36.final few balls, he tried to be ultra careful, and all the sudden

:40:36. > :40:41.Marco Fu found something and got back into the match, but for the

:40:41. > :40:45.last two and a half frames he has been top draw. He had been pretty

:40:45. > :40:55.pedestrian up until then but over the last two or three frames he has

:40:55. > :41:04.

:41:04. > :41:08.Marco Fu played a good part in this match, but it did not look like

:41:08. > :41:16.Matthew Stevens was going to lose in the last couple of frames, and

:41:16. > :41:20.he takes the match 65 and 4. It was the last 40 minutes were the damage

:41:20. > :41:26.was done by Matthew Stevens. Can you give us you assessment of the

:41:26. > :41:30.later stages of that match, Ken Doherty? That was a fantastic

:41:30. > :41:33.clearance in the penultimate frame. And another great break in that

:41:34. > :41:37.frame, getting in of a long red, potted a good black at the

:41:37. > :41:43.beginning of the frame to keep the break going. Very good performance

:41:43. > :41:48.in the latter part of the match but, you will be disappointed with

:41:48. > :41:52.having stuttered in the middle part of the match. When the pressure

:41:52. > :41:56.comes down on Matthew Stevens, he seems to be able to respond

:41:56. > :42:02.brilliantly. We have seen that time and time again in his career.

:42:02. > :42:09.has tremendous bottle. Sometimes when you play a very good, risky

:42:09. > :42:14.shot, something clicks, and you think, I am back. It was a great

:42:14. > :42:20.best of three, in the end. It took us along thing to get there. Here

:42:20. > :42:24.he is, the winner of that best of the, mate Stevens. It was

:42:24. > :42:30.pedestrian for a lot of the time, but you were safely going through,

:42:30. > :42:37.4-1 up, and what happened? It is the same old Matthew Stevens, isn't

:42:37. > :42:44.it!? I need a good clearance, there, when it was for Ivan for. I made

:42:44. > :42:48.hard work of it, and Marco Fu struggled a lot. It was not a great

:42:48. > :42:54.match to be involved in but that is always nice to get a win. I hope

:42:54. > :42:59.that they can improve a little bit on that. Probably one of the best

:42:59. > :43:05.clearances you have ever made, you back. Against the wall, you had

:43:05. > :43:10.been 4-1 up, then 5-4 down, then you get the red down the rail and

:43:10. > :43:18.into the yellow, that was a great shot under pressure. Sometimes the

:43:18. > :43:23.role-reversal happens of it, under pressure. When it is a scrappy, and

:43:23. > :43:29.I managed to do. Why do you think you can respond under that

:43:29. > :43:35.pressure? How do you do it? It is instinctive. When you're up against

:43:35. > :43:38.it, and you do something, and something clicks from somewhere.

:43:38. > :43:45.When you pot at the plant at the beginning, it seemed like you said,

:43:45. > :43:52.OK, we're clearing up here. It was quite a scrappy match, I felt sorry

:43:52. > :43:56.for the crowd, to be honest, one guy was snoring! It is the first

:43:56. > :44:02.thing you'll be in the quarter final say she won this championship

:44:02. > :44:08.in 2003. You have been in so many great events. You have thrilled as

:44:08. > :44:12.in so many respects, but is it good to overcome that nine-year hurdle?

:44:12. > :44:17.A course it is. You want to win events. There is no good in losing

:44:17. > :44:22.quarter finals and semi-finals, you want to win titles, but I am in the

:44:22. > :44:28.quarter finals, the tournament starts here. It is just nice to be

:44:28. > :44:31.involved and playing again. John Higgins or Mark Davis in that

:44:31. > :44:37.quarter final, you were watching with great interest tomorrow night,

:44:37. > :44:42.I suspect. Well played, today. Thanks. Just time to see what was

:44:42. > :44:49.going on on table two worst these guys were slugging it out on table

:44:49. > :44:56.one. Mark Joyce was slugging out against Ali Carter, and the match

:44:56. > :45:06.went to 4-0, 4 Ali Carter, but Mark Joyce summoned some resistance, but

:45:06. > :45:08.

:45:08. > :45:18.Ali Carter is 5-2 up, and rejoin the match at frame eight, let's get

:45:18. > :45:22.

:45:22. > :45:32.Can he pot the black and get nicely onto a red? They are also tough

:45:32. > :45:40.

:45:40. > :45:48.covering each other. -- all sought There are a few reds around the

:45:48. > :45:52.pink available. What sort of angle has he got on this black, here?

:45:52. > :46:02.Probably his best bet to get on the two top side of the pink, running

:46:02. > :46:06.the cue ball round off two cushions, but it is a stretch. Playing won

:46:07. > :46:12.through with a bit of side spin on, with the extension on the end of

:46:12. > :46:20.the cue, which changes the characteristics of the cue, a

:46:20. > :46:30.fraction, it is not guaranteed that the site spin takes the same way --

:46:30. > :46:47.

:46:47. > :46:52.side spin. Unless he can stand for That was more guaranteed position.

:46:52. > :46:59.The cue ball's going to have to do some mileage around the table to

:46:59. > :47:04.keep this break going now. Yes, probably, playing on for the yellow,

:47:04. > :47:14.the green is off its spot, and then back down for those reds near the

:47:14. > :47:16.

:47:16. > :47:26.pink. One more good positional shot, and he gives himself a chance to

:47:26. > :47:45.

:47:45. > :47:50.Has he finished straight on a red here? That is straight, he can roll

:47:50. > :47:59.it in, he has the pink to the middle, black to the corner, he

:47:59. > :48:04.might be able to avoid the other red and get nicely onto the black.

:48:05. > :48:14.He has left the slightly more difficult pink, but when he plays

:48:15. > :48:20.

:48:20. > :48:24.the cannon here, this is the key He has got them open now. The

:48:24. > :48:34.chances are there, he'll Indies one more frame to go through to the

:48:34. > :48:35.

:48:35. > :48:45.quarter final. -- he only needs one In 2005 he got to the semi-final,

:48:45. > :48:48.

:48:48. > :48:57.and and 2008. -- in 2008. He has played in this UK championship 15

:48:57. > :49:02.times. He will feel that he is overdue a major, he has won two

:49:02. > :49:11.ranking titles. He has all the ability to do that. He looked

:49:11. > :49:16.comfortable at 4-0 in front. Mark Joyce got to just two behind, but,

:49:16. > :49:24.there is not a lot he can do about this, just hoping that Ali Carter

:49:24. > :49:34.can slip up. He's having to go up and down the table much better, to

:49:34. > :49:37.

:49:37. > :49:45.keep close control. And that, well, I don't know what that was! Now he

:49:45. > :49:49.has made it really difficult for himself. It is still quite tough to

:49:49. > :49:59.win the frame that gets you over the winning line, but the top

:49:59. > :50:08.

:50:08. > :50:12.players that are used to winning APPLAUSE that is a great recovery.

:50:13. > :50:22.It was far from easy. Can he get himself back up to these reds? He

:50:23. > :50:23.

:50:23. > :50:29.has got to be a little bit careful. A absolutely marvellous pot, there.

:50:29. > :50:32.He looked to have missed it up, if he had missed that and went back to

:50:32. > :50:42.his chair, he would have been distraught and disgusted with

:50:42. > :50:45.

:50:45. > :50:49.himself, it would have made up for the poorness of the shot before. He

:50:49. > :50:56.has looked like nothing other than the winner of this match, right

:50:56. > :51:01.from the start. It to be truthful if he went to the press room

:51:01. > :51:07.afterwards and said he was disappointed with his plea, but it

:51:07. > :51:17.has been an excellent performance. No two games are the same. He's

:51:17. > :51:19.

:51:19. > :51:29.started well, breaks of 46, 58, 67, 73, he was not missing much. Good

:51:29. > :51:35.

:51:35. > :51:42.They are all there for the taking now. Mark Joyce will fear the worst.

:51:42. > :51:47.It is a fabulous comeback, to beat Judd Trump, the defending champion,

:51:47. > :51:57.5-2 behind, as he is here, but you could not ask for these balls to be

:51:57. > :52:31.

:52:31. > :52:41.The winner of this match will play either Stephen Maguire or Stuart

:52:41. > :52:42.

:52:42. > :52:52.Bingham, both players on terrific He is going to close the match it

:52:52. > :53:17.

:53:17. > :53:23.It is always a nice feeling when you have clinch the match, just to

:53:23. > :53:28.be knocking a few balls a round, you let nice and composed but on

:53:28. > :53:36.the inside, you are always delighted with yourself, pulling

:53:36. > :53:41.off a victory. But that was nice to see Mark Joyce playing so well

:53:41. > :53:45.against Judd Trump. We talk about that incident a couple of years ago,

:53:45. > :53:49.when he was marked and had all sorts of problems and it has been

:53:49. > :53:56.nice to see him back again. He will take a lot from defeating Judd

:53:56. > :54:01.Trump, but his opponent today was just a bit too good for him. It

:54:01. > :54:07.does not matter about the blue, in the end, Ali Carter finishing off

:54:07. > :54:17.in style. That was in a superb 73 break that takes him through to the

:54:17. > :54:21.

:54:21. > :54:28.Ali Carter through to his 5th UK Championships quarter final. He was

:54:28. > :54:33.a dangerous man after what he did to Judd Trump, what was the

:54:33. > :54:39.attitude going out to face him? was a potential banana-skin having

:54:39. > :54:47.to play Mark Joyce. But now, I am in the quarter finals, so I am

:54:47. > :54:53.pleased. 4-0 up and cruising, what was happening thereafter? At 4-0

:54:53. > :54:58.you're in the driving seat but this game has a funny way, if you take a

:54:58. > :55:02.liberty, so I was conscious to keep my foot on the gas and keep going

:55:02. > :55:07.as quickly as possible. Did you watch any of the match against Judd

:55:07. > :55:12.Trump? I was on the other table at the time, I think Judd Trump was

:55:12. > :55:17.more watching my match then I was watching his! He thought he. And

:55:17. > :55:23.cruising but it turned round and Mark Joyce put through. How do you

:55:23. > :55:29.keep your concentration up when you're 4-0 and cruising - what is

:55:29. > :55:33.your mind doing at that point? 4-2, I thought, in fairness, I was

:55:33. > :55:39.playing within myself, but I felt too solid to lose, so I felt, don't

:55:39. > :55:45.panic, wait for your chance, and don't push the balls out, just nick

:55:45. > :55:51.a frame, to go 55 into, then, as long as you play good match snooker

:55:51. > :55:56.you going to be hard to beat, at 52. Our last memory and the BBC have

:55:56. > :56:01.you was at the World Championship final at the Crucible. Many of us

:56:01. > :56:05.were relieved and pleased Dutch revised the decision to leave the

:56:05. > :56:11.game and carry on this season. With the benefit of hindsight, how do

:56:11. > :56:15.you feel about that decision and is at the right one? It is the right

:56:15. > :56:20.one, I wasn't a bad place last Christmas time, with the UK, and my

:56:20. > :56:24.health and everything like that, but the World Championships are

:56:24. > :56:27.probably done me a favour. All the other players were playing and

:56:27. > :56:30.everything, and I was a little bit fresher and managed to get through

:56:30. > :56:35.the first couple of rounds and dined my form, then obviously got

:56:35. > :56:41.through to the final, so I was pleased, and to face Ronnie in the

:56:42. > :56:45.final was tough, he is the main man. Unfortunate to face him twice. But

:56:45. > :56:53.if you are going to be world champion you have got to be the

:56:53. > :56:56.best. Absolutely. It does not seem 12 months ago, but an amazing

:56:56. > :57:00.turnaround in your fortunes and your health. You have discovered a

:57:01. > :57:07.new diet. How much better, physically, do you feel than a year

:57:07. > :57:12.ago? I feel a lot better. Excluding lots of things from my diet has

:57:12. > :57:16.been a nightmare. It is still an ongoing better thing. But if you're

:57:16. > :57:24.feeling half well, you can get up and police the cannon do your job.

:57:24. > :57:28.It is a matter of maintaining it. I keep as fit as I can all the time

:57:28. > :57:36.to give myself the best possible chance, not to get as old as these

:57:36. > :57:42.boys, and keep it going! Let me just remind you of the line-up for

:57:42. > :57:48.this evening's second red matches. Shaun Murphy facing Graeme Dott for

:57:48. > :57:53.only the 4th time ever, both former world champions. And we are Stephen

:57:54. > :57:59.Maguire meeting Stuart Bingham, the winner to face Ali Carter. Plenty

:58:00. > :58:05.to watch and plenty of ways for you to cash the snooker from 7pm, when

:58:05. > :58:10.the snooker stars. In addition to BBC Two's extensive coverage you

:58:10. > :58:14.can watch live matches through your connected TV, computer, tablet or

:58:14. > :58:19.mobile phone, with the red button always keeping you in touch with

:58:19. > :58:25.the best of matches. It is a close finale between these two players.

:58:25. > :58:29.Also, a regular up these on BBC 5 Live and check the BBC Sport

:58:29. > :58:35.website for the latest on demand highlights, news, views and

:58:35. > :58:40.interviews. You can watch it live in a variety of ways, otherwise,