Day 4, Part 1 UK Snooker Championship

HAZEL IRVINE: Hello. Great expectations up-and-down the land

at the moment about a little boy or girl who will be born to be King or

Queen next year. In York, which is the second city of the realm, our

focus, until Sunday, is on the man who will rule snooker's kingdom. We

have lost quite a few of the obvious candidates. Four of the

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

least know what it takes to get their name engraved on this lovely

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Those former champions still lurking in the draw. This is how it

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So much to look forward to. We are in great company today. Stephen

Hendry and Ken Doherty. Who has impressed you most so far?

Robertson. I commentated on his game yesterday. He was awesome.

Kenny? Robertson. Fantastic form. Stephen Maguire got off to a slow

start against Fergal O'Brien, but after the interval, he could have

finished up with four centuries. He looked impressive. A few of them

looking very good. We have lost four of the top ten. We have four

former champions remaining. But Mark Williams is one of the ones

who has gone out. This was a shocking and terrible performance

last night against Mark King. He 6- 3. How would you describe it?

described it well enough! Williams seemed to suggest he is on the

crest of another slump, something he went through a few years ago

when he spiralled down to 47 in the world. I didn't get going. That is

one of the worst performances I have played for many a year. I

haven't played many good performances for a long time now. I

seem to be getting worse! I was probably 20 points worse than I was

five or ten years ago. I have probably gone back further now. And

I probably got what I deserved - I lost! Safety - I couldn't buy a

long pot! I was still trying. It is difficult to beat anyone from 5-1

down. Overall, dire! Brutal honesty from your friend, Mark. How would

you characterise the place he is in right now? Would you say he is

beginning to show the signs that he did a few years back? I don't know

if it is as bad as that. The way the ranking system works now, you

can rise very quickly and you can go down very quickly. He is down to

five. I don't know how far he will drop after this tournament. We

always talk about Mark being laid- back. Last night, he didn't look

confident at all. I can't remember him potting a long ball. He was

outdone in the safety department. Mark King played solid sthoobger,

but Williams was -- snooker, but Williams was bad. Kenny, one man

making his UK Championship debut, Luca Brecel. He was 4-5 down and

still won this. Amazing. He was a bit naive at times. I tell you what,

he won a frame when Ricky Warden had a 68 break with 67 left on the

table. He cleared up. It was a turning point in the game for him.

I loved his attitude. He bounces around the table. He's always got a

smile on his face. Dennis said he looked like a young Fergal O'Brien

with hair! But a lot faster than him! LAUGHTER It is great

experience for him. It is only his second time on British television

playing in a major tournament. He's loving every bit of it. He is one

for the future. The future could be imminent. He certainly is. Now, you

were watching yesterday when we saw Dominic Dale really suffering. He

wasn't feeling well. He was diagnosed this morning with

chickenpox! LAUGHTER He's done it before, of course. Get well soon.

Thank you so much for spreading the love yesterday(!) He looks better.

We are left with 16 men in the draw here. The first two that we will

feature this afternoon - Marco Fu will be playing Matthew Stephens.

It is always nice to come back to a venue where you have won before. It

does give you a boost. Fantastic memories, especially beating

Stephen, my hero. I have been working with my coach in Hong Kong

and he has changed a few things with me. The consistency will be a

lot better. I have had some great matches over the years with Marco.

He is a fantastic scorer. He is one of the best break builders in the

game. I know what to expect and I will have to play well to win.

will be very tough. Matthew is playing very well. He won his match

quite comfortably. I think both of us are playing quite good.

Hopefully, it will be a good game. Matthew Stevens slightly ahead in

the head-to-head. Marco, whose form can blow hot and cold, looked like

he was warming up nicely the other day. Both of them are ready for the

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

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The second round begins

in earnest today at the williamhill.com UK Championship. We

have already had some incredible results. So let's find out what

further drama lies in store here over this scintillating session of

snooker. Please welcome an absolute gentleman of the modern game, Grand

Prix champion in 2007, UK Championship runner up in 2008. He

knocked out last year's finalist Mark Allen in the first round. In

Hong Kong they call him "The APPLAUSE

# I got a feeling # That tonight's gonna be a good

And his opponent, a player who absolutely loves the big occasion.

He won this title here in 2003. He's also a Masters' Champion,

twice a Crucible runner up. He has a great knack of holding his nerve

on the big stage. Please welcome # There's so many ways to love

HAZEL IRVINE: We will be focusing on this game. If you would rather

concentrate on table two, it is available on the red button. It is

over to that shy, retiring duo of John Parrott and Willie Thorne.

WILLIE THORNE: Good afternoon, John, it is a tough one to call.

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

Do you think it makes any difference, the fact that Matthew

Stevens had his match on the left hand table and Marco had his game

on this table? I don't think it is He doesn't appear to have come far

enough. Maybe a safety shot is the Not a bad shot, that. Can't get

passed the plue to the right-hand side of the -- the blue to the

right-hand side of the pack. The red on the left-hand side could be

That was the red that John was talking about. I expected him to

get round the back of that. If the black pots in the right-hand corner,

this is the first chance. wondering whether he has got away

with it. It is a touching ball. Matthew is looking to see where he

That's a proper result so early in This is a similar situation to the

one Marco had previously. There is a red on the right-hand side which

is the problem here. He is play off the red below the pink. He has to

make sure he doesn't cannon that red on the way back. He is having a

look to see if he can push a red up-and-down and leave the cue ball

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You can see it passes. He can hold I expected him to get close to that.

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

there is a red above the four that If he had played into the circle,

he would have been guaranteed to get on to the black.

WILLIE THORNE: The middle red on the left-hand side is the problem

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Sometimes you can try and be too careful. He's tried to hold the cue

ball for the red next to the black and he has underhit it. The plant

is on as well. Most players would have played the cannon into the

It is hard work at the minute, this break. When he started it, I

thought it was a very good opportunity - and it still may be.

The cue ball is not where he wants He will be very disappointed with

this visit to the table. He made that much harder than it should

have been. At this level, that was Just looking to see if there is a

possible plant. It is not completely set there. Can he make

that? If he can get back into baulk, I bet you Marco is sick he didn't

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have a look at that before he I don't think the three reds below

the black are a problem. Matthew is looking to see if the left-hand

side of those three reds is pottable. That will go. It needs to

be a bit lower on that one. At the moment, he is doing a bit of

It appears to be something that won't come out of the cloth. It is

A slight imperfection. Shouldn't He wanted to finish on the top one

of the three. He will have to play for the one on the blackspot and

Just about the right side. Both players have made hard work of this

opportunity. But it is the first frame. Getting the pace of the

table is always a problem. I do think Matthew is hitting the ball

Both players have had a good chance in this frame. Matthew still has a

It is so important to get the first That was a good recovery. He has

every chance of winning the frame He's a beautiful striker when he is

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

JOHN PARROTT: Ideally, a cannon on the pink would be brilliant, full-

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He didn't really hit that it too hard. Stevens takes the first round.

When we think back in that frame, there was one moment Matthew

Stevens was able to get in, it looks like a mistake from Marco.

The guys in the commentary said he probably didn't look, but the red

came back and opened it up as a plant. It wasn't careless from

Marco, just a little bit unlucky that it opened a path. He had a

chance, he should have taken more. And as a head-to-head, had you

fancy this match? It will come down to long potting and safety. He need

to create your own opportunity or forced an opportunity. We have

talked about Marco Fu and how hot and cold he can blow. Where he's he

now -- where is he now? He is hot, one of those players that for one

or two months can beat anybody then you will not hear from him again

for a year. But when he is on he is awesome. What accounts for that?

Players go through phases of confidence. You wouldn't say he was

always an ultra confident type of player. When he goes about things

in a quiet manner, as Stephen said, a very accomplished break-builder,

one of the few players who can build breaks. His safety play is

very high quality. He is so consistent, when he is on top form

you rarely see him mess or make any bad errors. But it could come down

to long potting, safety, this could be a close match. 26 centuries

already for Marco Fu this season, second in the rankings behind Judd

Trump. If you have any questions please e-mail us. We would love to

hear from you. Or you can get in Trust Hawkeye docketed t notice my

mistake. -- Doherty. Plenty you can do in frame two. Try and establish

himself in this match. The referee was having a chat with the two

players, that is something in the cloth that will not come out. They

may change the cloth after this has finished. They might try and do

something at the interval. It is off-putting when you can see a mark

on the cloth. You would be a little bit worried when you have got to

play a slow shot, changing the path I think all the years I have been

playing, I don't think I have ever seen that on the cloth before.

First thought, wondering if it was a bit of the pen they used to mark

the spot, but obviously it is not. If the black was free in the left-

hand corner Matthew might take this on. If it is just off straight he

A very fortunate kiss. You deserve a kiss after a pot like that.

cueing. It could be about long potting, Matthew Stevens is all

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A little bit under it that time. -- We will just put our Twitter

The lads in the studio are looking This frees the pocket, not quite on

to playing a cannon on the red. It is all about that red to the right

of the black. If he plays a cannon on the two reds he could be on it

now. Got to be careful with this The art of good break-building, it

seizing the first opportunity. It has opened this end of the table.

Another two inches of pace would have been perfect. That is not a

All the hours we do in this commentary box, if there is one of

shot all the players would like to guarantee his get the right side of

Far too risky to play a baulk colour. Unless he can pot the

outside red, having potted the blue, it will be a safety shot. There is

room round the back of the black so Just getting the wrong side of the

blue, everything becomes difficult. It will forced the mistake from

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Nicely played. The black will not Talking about getting the right

side of the blue, made sure of it, you have always got a chance of

Just about the only place you can finish where it is ready to have to

get onto a red. Trying to get on to the one nearest the pocket, that

has got to be played very delicate Lee, not a very big gap. --

He has decided to try and come wide of the black and very well played

if it is on that red, very good The next red not a problem. Is

there a plant on the left-hand side of the pack? Have a little look in

He will probably split the back-up. -- pack up. If he plays the outside

red, the fact the other red will kiss the pink, he made snooker

himself on the decided to red, one Off all the brilliant shots he

played he played that better than anybody else I have seen. Good

recovery. A chance to level the Not absolutely ideal.

I wonder if there is anything from where it is all he is going to go

round and played the red in the other pocket. It is a bit awkward,

The cut in the middle pocket may look like it has gone a fraction

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Should be able to get onto the A better shot than it looked. Tough

to get it exactly how you wanted. He has covered the left-hand side.

He is in a quandary, Matthew That is incredible! I think he is

going to have to take the miss, there isn't an easy red. I thought

he had covered the escape to the left town. -- left-hand. Marco

cannot believe it. A little bit risky that red in the middle. He

will be very lucky to get away with it if he plays that at 100 mph

again. He will play it again. You don't want it when he hits 100 mph

Unless this red comes right over the middle pocket he has got away

with it. Very rarely does Marco Fu show any emotion but his head

dropped as the cue ball finished on the cushion. Matthew can smile,

always been a lucky fellow, sometimes you have got to do that

when you have got no option, rely If that is a head drop I would have

settled for that in my career. head would have dropped off. She

did like a head shake. -- you did My to just only be able to roll up

to this. Take the chance of getting the cue ball back in the baulk area.

Nothing wrong with getting the cue ball in the balls -- in the jaws of

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Nothing wrong with that, he pots a Might be taking a pot on here, it

just got to be careful he doesn't Whoever pots the next red could go

Excellent pot, but is he on Nice and clean. He has been

unfortunate again, not on the brown, just looking to see where he can

Thin as you like off the yellow, tucked in the cushion behind the

brown. Of the green behind the He might not have got the snooker

but quite happy with that shot, a good idea. 16. Lead, it may be

crucial. -- 16 point lead. Good Things not going to plan according

to Marco, every time he comes to This is in stark contrast to his

match the other night, he came to the table in good positions, his

positional play was excellent, safety shot superb. Bit tricky at

You would have to say that was a little bit careless to get the

double-kiss, he has covered both Got to be careful where that green

is, will be right under his body. This is one of those shots that

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come when you a frame or lose you a You called it, that may have done

just that. I think 1-1 would be a Could have played that a lot better.

Need the cue ball slightly further down, a little tricky. And that is

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This makes certain Matthew will not Marco Fu not bothered about that

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one. He takes the second frame and It has been a very exciting year,

Olympics, golf, everything. Just wonder whether it we will see

something very special in this I think they should just make more

trophies and give them all one. Marco Fu will be pretty believed

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Pretty pleased with his morning's Normally players would just roll

off this from two cushions. There is a pot on for Marco. He does go

Just a little bit of right-hand side to kiss them -- t miss the

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Certainly played for the blue. I think he has gone too far. The pink

Far from easy, this. Requires one very good pot.

A good pot. Chance of the mid- range red.

Got to put a bit of power in, we That is the first one he hasn't

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WILLIE THORNE: Both players have had a couple of half chances at

JOHN PARROTT: Matthew having a look to see if he drops into the reds

from the side, whether he will be He has to make sure he doesn't make

contact with the blue when playing around these three cushions. He is

looking at the two-cushion escape which brings the brown into play if

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Is the green going to come to the rescue? It is! He is having a good

run at the minute, Matthew. He didn't play to put the red over the

If Marco plays a thin safety shot, the only covering ball he has is

This has got one of these re-rack looks about it! What else can they

I think they have nodded their head on the re-rack, so both players

have decided on that. That is the first one we have seen in this

tournament so far. In fairness, John, it makes it quicker. Most of

the players look at each other straightaway and they know when it

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

right too! Are you in favour of this open-plan? I think it is OK.

You know yourself, you are playing your match and you are half-

listening to the other table, you know when there is a century coming,

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so you get used to it. Frame three A very fortunate fluke! An even

He got everything there, didn't he? It wasn't a great safety shot.

Because it wasn't, he has full- balled the yellow after fluking the

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red. Difficult to sit there and not The plaque is out of commission so

he would like to get the pink -- the black is out of commission so

he would like to get the pink into I think he might have to put a

Matthew has a very nice touch around the table. He is a welcome

addition back into the top players of the world. A couple of seasons

He is an asset to our game when he is playing like this. He is one of

the players who is a big-occasion He's already won a UK Championship.

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He can play on the big stage. And This is an asset that we never had

- being able to play left handed. The fact he has come too far over

for the pink in the middle means he is struggling for position on the

next red. He has the angle to screw the pink in and kiss the red on the

right-hand side of the pink - that would be OK. Looks like he is going

for the top pocket. This is APPLAUSE

That is well played. Just for a second, I didn't think it was going

to reach. Now it is a cracking It was a shot that you don't see

players play very often. Three- quarter ball playing slow was very

It was going to the right hand jaw The break is going to be going to

45 after this. This all came from a lucky shot. He played a safety shot.

Because the safety was poor, full- Balkan none on the yellow and this

is what has come -- full-ball cannon on the yellow and this is

He may decide to take the one to the left of the black after this

The pink will be 66 with 67 on so It came off a fluke but he has

played them very nicely considering the black has been out of play for

It's just about got there. Pot this and flick the other red out.

REFEREE: Foul. What a shame. Marco Fu trails 2-1.

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

of incidents that people at home will be interesting in, not least

the scoring, but there was a speck on the cloth that some people have

picked up on on the tweets. You think you know what that might have

been? Yes. The table fitter reckons it's a bit of nylon. It may have

been a speck that came from the bag of nylon. Of nylon? That's got

mixed in with the wool. It's not something that you can really cut

because you might take some of the cloth with you. It's only going to

affect someone when the balls are close, which is once in every - I

don't know - quite a long time! LAUGHTER The tweeters are coming

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

it take to change the cloth?" bed cloth would be very quick. The

cushions take the most time. "The cost of changing them would be

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

Association have done some sort of a deal. When they go down to one

table, they will have a new cloth on the table. That will probably

stay for the final as well. OK. We hope we have answered some of your

questions. This table is pretty JOHN PARROTT: It certainly is.

Stephen Hendry paying �500 - I bet that hurts him!

WILLIE THORNE: I don't think he would have paid that! Marco

deserves a bit of good fortune given what's happened in the

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That's one of those pots where you Unless the red pots next to the

pink - I think not. The outside red - you can see they are both

available. I'm wondering whether he can hold the cue ball. Ideally, you

would like to be able to hold it. The pink will go in the middle

pocket. I don't know whether he can He stayed down an awful long time

there. I think that was in his thinking - "Can I really hold

this?" He was trying to keep hold of the white there and he has hit

across it. You have to hit them a He took that on thinking it was

possibly the only one he could He doesn't seem at ease with

himself like he did against Mark Allen. He is not looking confident.

You never get too much from Marco Fu. The time he is taking on the

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shots, he is looking for the easy That was a brilliant safety shot.

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Well played. Is the red next to the If he can see it... It will be

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The other table have reached the interval before us so a bit of

There they go, the stragglers for a half-time cup of tea! He wants to

get behind the yellow and brown, It is all about the pace of the cue

ball. He's not quite got there. What a difference that makes. The

red next to the black is available for Marco to clip off. The first

person who gets in behind the yellow and brown will have a

massive advantage. Marco has a better angle. He can swing it

around three cushions rather than It depends on which way he wants to

He's done as good as he could have done. He is snookered on most of

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the reds. He can't get back to Is this another hit and hope?!

For a second, I thought he had got away with that. I would fancy

potting this one! You have Marco Fu doesn't look confident at

the moment. He is not playing anything with any confidence.

Matthew having the old hit and hope - it didn't quite come off. Marco

has not played the best shot there. A cannon on the two reds up to the

right-hand side of the black would Where's it going? He could fluke

this. Is it Marco's turn? It is! What's happening here?! It's been

such a strange game. That might be the thing that will put some fire

in his belly! Matthew's nodded to me there saying, "Fair enough, I've

There was plenty of room for that red to pot. He is not at the races

at the moment. This is a chance for Matthew to take a stranglehold on

this match. I couldn't agree with you more. He has played enough

matchplay snooker to know he's got his opponent on the ropes here. He

is a long way from this. There is a big gap to go through. That's poor

If he's landed on that red and can't pot the one on the left, that

is a very poor shot. He may have got away with it. He shouldn't have

been anywhere near there. This positional shot is made easier by

The player at the moment has got the white on a string, as it were.

I still fancied Matthew knocking this red in. A bit trickier than it

should have been. A little bit more difficult to control. The right

side of the blue. Two reds on the right-hand side in that top pocket

causing a problem for this break. They are stuck together, neither of

them pots. Stopping a colour going in there. Not sure he can get on a

red here. Unless he plays it it two cushions and tries to get one in

Can he get round the back of that Could you sit down please? That is

the only downside of this Marco Fu, if he can get out of this

2-2, he will be delighted. Just hasn't been in the race these first

That is a pretty good shot, choice of two reds, added think the black

will pot in either of the two A tricky little opportunity. Two

reds on the right, top pocket, certainly a problem. You can see

Marco potting at least the next red, Then you either black or pink is

tricky. Not guaranteed to pot either one of these two. Taking it

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into one of the baulk pockets. Just That I did think there will be hit

it note this time. -- I do not think. Looks like it might be the

Just had pink -- just hoping we don't have another re-rack.

Certainly will be some ball tapping It is not the match I expected,

they were both in great form in the first round. Marco Fu seems very

and combative. The this could make a difference. Having a good look.

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What a good kiss that was. At least it takes away the possibility of

the re-rack. After 22 minutes you Certainly be taking this pot on but

he will be taking it as a shot to Not to take the white too far wide,

that is a brilliant shot. After that tactical exchange, the bottom

Neither of these two reds are going to be a problem now. He played a

stun it run through to miss the In some ways this is a bigger frame

If this rest on the red he is on nothing. Just kissed it into play,

did it past these two reds? It did. It is so close, not guaranteed.

These are always horrible. Too much distance between the cue ball and

object ball, difficult to judge the angle. Make sure you did play a

push shot either. -- you do not play. A bit unfortunate to have a

pot on this red. It definitely goes off the middle of the pocket. If he

favours the left hand jaw he will Just when he looked like winning

Marco Fu made two centuries against Mark Allen the day before yesterday.

Doesn't look like making eight at the moment. Amazing how you can

feel so different between one day to another. Mate 26 centuries this

season, number two on the centuries made this season, it looks like a

player totally out of confidence at Certainly cueing well, Matthew,

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wondering why he has not won this Decision time, do you play the pink

and move the two reds are because you will need at least one of them,

do you drop the one on the top cushion and move the reds out?

Decision time. I would be an advocate of getting the two reds

out now because he might not get an angle on a colour after potting the

next red to get them into play. A massive target, one cushion screw

across the table, off the back cushion into them. He is thinking

of leaving an angle where he can play a bit of run inside and clip

that red in and flick one out of the side rail. He should be try to

move the reds about already. He has played the second option, that is

He would like to go back a couple of shots and have that pink again.

20 points clear. You don't have to win it in one visit but there is a

I the minute he is in control of the game -- at the minute. I think

It has gone a bit scrappy. Marco is not really playing great, Matthew

is not thinking straight. It can happen after a tactical exchange.

There is no weight in the cue ball. Marco would like to remove the red

off the side cushion. I don't think he can play a good safety shot and

cover the one on the left, got to play the one out in the open. He is

a long way from everything. The cue ball is not great. He has managed

The longest frame of the match so Not so much getting the fluke, it

is the troubled Marco will be in after the next shot, added see a

colour. Amazing how many times that happens when you hit the ball hard

and it jaws, often stick to the top Matthew is taking a little bit of

time, thinking he could pot the yellow and play a good safety shot

behind one of those colours of the red, all played the snooker now.

Sometimes you can effect think. -- over. Such an easy safety shot,

reds on the back cushion, behind the baulk colours. You could just

play the pink and drop the pink on to the cushion and leave it behind

the green. So many options. Understand he has got a chance on

the blue, a move the red out. Loads of things he could do. Decided to

put a colour safe but I don't think he has got the snooker. That was a

A much better strike from Marco there, his last couple of safety

shot have been a week. A lot better. Should be relatively

straightforward to leave Matthew snookered. He should have been.

That is an example of how far out of kilter Marco Fu is. That is an

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Back good pot, but obviously shouldn't have had the opportunity

That is not as bad a kiss as it looks. The green could be on. The

fact he is 26 points in front, a game ball, it decides against it.

Another poor shot from Marco. Just needs this yellow. 100%

That is frame ball, no chance of potting the green. Could do with

bringing the green a little way from the pink. You don't want it so

that market can play in behind it. -- Marco. The pink is in a lovely

place for snookers if you get the opportunity. If market get a chance

for a snooker the pink will be the 28 in front, Marco requires one

Got a chance here, that pink you were talking about, he can swing it

around. The green will be in the middle of the table. Also a chance

of running behind the blue if he Trying to get in behind the pink.

Unlucky. Just what you don't need, but in the pink completely on the

Going to be quite difficult for Marco to get a snooker. The balls

are not positioned come deucedly. - The black is in the middle of the

That should really be it. Marco Fu has had enough. A very scrappy

frame it sees Matthew Stevens take it. He leads 3-1 at the interval.

45 minutes frame, not riveting, what is a problem with Marco? He is

clearly not there. They will not be making too many DVDs of that frame.

Just lost his way a little bit. We spoke about sometimes how he can

lose his concentration and go from search highs t such close,

completely different players. Amazing how you can see such a

change. We spoke about his confidence, not getting through the

cue ball, his safety has been really poor, which Ali thought

might be the defining factor because I thought his safety, he

has a much better say for the game -- safety game. Matthew has had a

couple of Fleet and capitalised on them, that is probably the

difference. Apart from that, he seems to be scoring a little bit

more heavily. In the zone more than market. We had re-rack. One I can

see you visibly twitching. Matthew Stevens, he will get himself to

play an outrageous shot to get himself going, does everything

ready well but not the most flamboyant player. It is hard to

see how he will get that sparked back. At the same time when we come

to this into nil -- interval, 3-1 up, definitely some it clear water

and that will spare Matthew on. will be very police. Not many

scrappy frames like that that Matthew would have a history of

winning. Thankfully he fluked and got the advantage. I think he will

be very happy having that lead. will switch our focus to the other

table, and a match featuring Mark Joyce, who has been the bookie's

favourite so far. The flavour of the month where they are concerned

after knocking out Judd Trump, the world No. 1. His story of tenacity

and character he showed at the table has been repeated in his life

Had a good run a couple of years ago at Telford, decided to go out

for a few beers for Christmas, and it was a case of being in the wrong

I broke my elbow, a fractured eye socket which they didn't realise I

had until I tried playing snooker a couple of months after. If I wasn't

a snooker player I probably wouldn't have realised I had double

vision. I went to the local hospital, they wanted to do surgery,

but I decided to try and see the rest of the season out. Luckily for

me, the more I practise with it, the muscle released itself in my

eye, luckily it cleared up on its own. I can probably count on one

hand the matches I watched in 2011, 2012. It cost me four or five

months, mentally it cost me a lot longer. The snooker at this level

is 95% upstairs, in my head. Once you get on to a losing streak, it

is hard to turn it around. It is only now a couple of years on it

has taken the 18 months to get back to winning matches and playing some

good snooker again. I think not taking things for granted any more,

you come to venues, make it count. To be back at a venue competing

with the top players in the world, determined to take my chances and

He is up against Mark Joyce, at No. 50 in the world. Steve Davis,

Dennis Taylor, are in charge. Carter it took the first frame.

If the white was further away from the cushion, Mark Joyce would be

tempted to the red. Much too difficult. Not that far off the

DENNIS TAYLOR: Might still be able He tried to control it with a bit

STEVE DAVIS: Ali Carter has played that too softly, or at least it

looked like he got a kick which slowed the cue ball pace down. He

was looking to get the perfect angle on the green to then smash

into the pack off the side cushion. Now, it looks like the

straightforward screw-back for the DENNIS TAYLOR: He played that very

Has he left - he almost missed that red. He's gone a bit straighter on

the black. He wanted a better angle to crash into the reds there. I

don't know what he can do now. He might have to screw-back on to the

two reds to develop them. He still has a bit of angle. That will do

nicely! He really powered into that and made an angle that wasn't there,

Steve. Well, that was a fantastic shot from Ali Carter. To be able to

force the cue ball to one side before the screw-back takes effect

is fantastic cue power. He has got every shot in the book. Great

positional player. Strong potter. A soft screw-back turned into a

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drag shot in the end to leave Not the greatest contact with that

shot. He has left himself straight I don't know if he can hold for the

pink. He can't get on to the black this time. He could run through the

bunch of reds. He's still on the blue. You are never sure where the

cue ball is going to finish. The yellow is off its spot which makes

it easier to pot the blue. The white will come over the yellow

That was a very low-risk way of opening the pack of reds that Ali

He's developed these reds into a frame-winning opportunity. Just

having the cue ball cleaned. He's got options here. There's three

He is looking very good. Cueing They have only played each other

once and that was two years ago in the UK Championship. That was in

the first round. Mark Joyce came The red to the top of the four reds

cuts into the left corner. Or the He's gone back to the more obvious

shot, although these are always He hasn't left an easy starter for

Mark Joyce. That helps a little bit if you miss and you don't stick one

right over the pocket, Steve. asked a big question of Mark Joyce.

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

into the middle pocket, should he take it on, roughly a straight one.

Now he is eyeing up the cut into the middle pocket. Going back to

the all-or-nothing shot here, I feel. He can cut this red into the

middle pocket and bring the cue A bit of a nothing shot in the end.

He's not got it safe. Not got going yet, Mark. It is not easy out there.

He needs something a bit easier to get his cue arm going and knock a

One more good positional shot and He didn't have to cannon into the

four reds there. He still might be able to hold for a red without

That was well played. You don't want to risk playing a cannon at

this stage. You are only a pot away from securing the frame. 65 in

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front with 67 remaining. This red 59 points remaining on the table -

Ali Carter is 68 ahead. You would think that would give him a two-

frame advantage. HAZEL IRVINE: It did. 2-0 as we

leave it there. We will be going back to that match throughout the

afternoon. If you would like to continue to watch it, you can do so

via both the website and of course it is on the red button this

afternoon on table two. Now, table one, we were all very concerned, as

were you, because we had a couple of tweets about it, about that

piece of nylon. There we are, table fitter and demon with the tweezers

removing that piece of nylon. Now, all female members of the

production team are lining up to have our eyebrows done! LAUGHTER

Very impressive. Good work. We have been getting lots of tweets from

you today. Some good ones. Paul says, "Gentlemen, my question is

what do you consider to be the best and worst changes that have

happened to snooker over the last couple of years?" I think with

Barry Hearn's introduction, the volume of tournaments you have now.

I didn't like playing all of them. For a young guy, it is phenomenal

the opportunities to play snooker. Kenny? I would say the introduction

of the Association. A lot of those guys have taken advantage of that.

That is why the standard has risen over the last couple of years.

has kept you busy? Yes. We are go out into the Barbican Centre and

Marco Fu and Matthew Steves. One more tweet, "How many maximum

breaks has Willie made in his life?"

WILLIE THORNE: At the time I retired it was 198:I'm sure there

are a lot of players that have gone past me. In my day, they weren't

WILLIE THORNE: Marco Fu would have been in the practice room trying to

get his timing right. JOHN PARROTT: That's a very good

idea, to try and get the cue going and change the outlook for the

second session. It is not like you have lost your game in two days. He

played brilliantly first round. He needs to have a good chance and he

Matthew's long game has never been in question. That was a beautiful

pot. Marco will find it tough to win this match if he doesn't win

this frame. 4-1 behind will be too A lot of time when you are playing

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

I think the kick has made the white He can play the cannon into the

pink if he wants to. It's a way of He played that softly. What is he

It's obviously fairly tight. We did see that it would go. Has he

Good shot! Well controlled as well. The cue ball is back in fine

position now. That red to the left of the black is the problem with

his break here. If Matthew can - he is looking to see about the black.

The four reds in a curved line at the back of the main bunch - if he

can get on the second one on the Could have done with a bit more

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there. Not sure he can get on to It's a funny game, this, when you

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are not quite there, the balls Doesn't appear to be any damage

done. Marco is having a look at a plant. How do you get to it? You

are going to need scaffolding! It He has to be careful he doesn't go

anywhere near the black with the When we look at the camera angle he

has, that red is in the play. The one on the black spot is the best

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

one on the cushion, he might get the double-kiss. If that red was

over the hole, he would be taking the one higher up here and playing

It wasn't unmissable. It wasn't right in the jaws, that red.

Matthew has covered the red with the blue. Amazingly enough, even

though Marco might pot the red, he He played a three-ball plant and

missed it by the proverbial mile! Matthew should play a plant with

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I would have played it the other He played to pot the red a lot

thicker than that. Because he hit it thin, he lost the white a bit.

But the second prize is there - the pink is available in the middle. If

he screws back he can open the reds This is an excellent chance to take

a 4-1 lead now. The two reds at the Poor contact again, Matthew said

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He just managed to force an angle If he plays into the pack, he will

miss the kiss on the red behind the black spot so he can play this with

That was unlucky. REFEREE: Foul.

That ball had a bit of right-hand side on. He is unlucky to pot a red.

He hasn't left anything straightforward for Marco - only a

Marco is deliberating over this because he can't get in behind the

baulk colours. He won't want to stun off this red because he will

As it happens, that is not too bad. Matthew will try and rest on the

Marco should get in behind the That's a good shot. There is one

red that Matthew can see and that's behind the black. You have to hit

these correctly. They definitely go wrong, these. Too thin is no good.

Too thick you can hit the jaw on Marco's good safety shot forced the

error from Matthew. He hasn't potted a red at length for some

time, Marco. This would be a good time to start. If it goes in, he is

Can you believe it? I don't think I have ever seen him miss balls by so

This is almost six inches away from the pot. He has always tinkered a

lot with his action. When you do that so much you can forget what

you are doing. He is not playing a tall today, Marco. Matthew Stevens

is struggling to put them away. You know you are playing better than

your opponent. But you are racing Just using the reds to slow the cue

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Should be pretty straightforward to It is a to run a race with only one

Marco Fu has had better after means. That last shot he missed was a long

way away. Doesn't bode well for the future of this match, he will have

No sizeable breaks for Matthew Stevens, he has won the last two

Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry, growing up watching them. A big

inspiration. Especially Jimmy, lost in six finals. Not as disappointed

as he is, but I can see how frustrated he might be losing in

six, it is bad enough losing two. He handled himself in a fantastic

way. Stephen Hendry, the killer instinct, he sees a chance. He just

jumps a new. He is a winner. Having watched him in the 90s, winning all

those tournaments, then to actually play him, it gets big frustrating

after a while, he doesn't miss many balls. Winning tournaments, just a

No problem having Jimmy White as you hero, great player. Not to

embarrass me too much, who is your hero? Obviously not be there. --

Matthew Stevens will be pretty relaxed at the moment, he is not

playing at his best but he has 84-1 lead. -- he has a 4-1 lead. He

might hit this thin. The first good long pot he has potted in about

This is a decent little chance for Marco, got to find something from

somewhere. Spring together a few Superb in his first-round match

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against Mark Allen. Today it has Just not quite got the cue ball in

this break. Tried to leave himself in a position there. Obviously

playing police one playing the least one. Good shot, good recovery.

It looks like stun up, make sure you get past the right angle for

Good split required here. That Played this well, couldn't have

asked for any more for that. Got to Well done. He went in. -- it went

in. When you're not confident like Marco is at the moment, those are

the shots you are wary about. The balls are being good position for a

sizeable break. Still not timing it Marco will probably play for the

loose red. He has decided to take This is a very good effort. A long

way from his best today. Doing very The sees his highest break so far.

Matthew hasn't had a decent break since frame three. Just needs one

good shot then he's going to win the frame. Not so sure that is it.

Marco it seems to not have that shot in his armoury. Earlier he was

on the blue, perfect angle, and he was going to have to move the pack.

Pretty sure O'Sullivan or Hendry would have been straight into the

pack. He wouldn't have got himself 61 in front, red, colour, red is

what he's looking for. There is the red. The green is OK. Might still

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

a ball, then suddenly to produce the highest break of the match,

good effort. Just shows you what a Luckily he is past the winning post

because he hasn't played that very well. He would like to knock this

back -- black into get a frame on the board quickly. Very well done,

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Marco, excellent. Trying to make a He holds the highest break so far

this year, one -- 131. A possible We have already had 18 centuries in

this tournament, Marco has had two himself. To be honest, how he has

played today, I don't know how he has produced this form. Timing it a

little bit better. Still not a The main think these he is winning

the frame cometh the scoreline changes quicker. He will sit down a

lot more comfortably now than he His tempos seems to have quickened

up a bit and he looks a bit more fluent than he was half an hour ago.

We in the frame in one visit with a big break, nothing to bring more

confidence than that. He came in here just as you predicted, how

come that changed momentum? It is just potting a few balls and

getting your arm going and releasing that cue, getting that

free-flowing movement a. Rhythm. Trying to find something. Just get

your arm going. He was stopping and starting. Every time he went in,

broken down, a 45 minutes frame, 27 in a frame, it was quite lethargic

at times. Nice to win a frame in one visit, just what the doctor

ordered. He needs that for a bit of confidence. How often has that

happen to you? We were going well, the interval has sorted you up.

Definitely it is a big help. Sometimes I have been in that bad a

mood somebody who has been cut Jimmy has had to force me to the

table. -- pitching me. He just changes your mind set. If you are

on top in a match you wouldn't bother but when you're behind, put

out a few reds, I watched him, he was really struggling, he looked

down the and his head was shaking, I am just not timing the ball.

Sometimes you can find something, get your rhythm. It can sometimes

change. He still has got a long way to go. His form so fleeting in

snooker that it can switch around with into a three minutes?

Especially in an arena like this, it just takes you to spot something

and you focus has gone. It takes a long had to get it back. Hopefully

that break will have sparked his focus back. That is a lot to do

with concentration, how easily you can maintain it. Every single frame

is different. As long as you can keep your opponent is sitting in

that chair, it is a matter what has gone before, have boy you are

behind, as long as you can keep your opponent sitting in that chair,

every frame is different, the more momentum you get and the worse it

gets for your opponent. We have seen it so many times, players have

come back from 4-1, 4-0, it is possible. Getting better for Marco,

COMMENTATOR: You are dealing with snooker players, ephemeral, where

There is no way back into baulk from here. Taking the thin safety

Little bit unlucky, played the shot pretty well. Once you have missed

the pot you expect to get the jaw. You think it would be safe but it

has come across again. Hit and hope Never going to get a good cue ball

from that. One of those trapped earth 30th on -- one of those shots,

May just choose to drop into the side of the pack. There is probably

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He has decided to nestle into the back of the part with two cushions.

That is all right, unless he has made that into a plant. Matthew is

He is taking it on so he must have done, set to the left hand jaw. A

surely he cannot screw back to get the pink out of here, it is Click -

- two close. -- it is to close. It Maybe that break has made Matthew

think about things. I would have fancied him to get out. What has

Marco Fu got left? The blue is out of commission, pink is no good,

black is tied up unless he plays a cannon. Could try and promote the

black towards the corner, that is the only hope. I think it is worth

the risk, to be honest. Not going to school many without getting the

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A decent shot. The obviously the blue is such a big ball. When it is

not there it can make it difficult because the pink is tied up on the

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

make sure he didn't have contact on the two reds in the top cushion on

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the right hand side. He missed Very good length on the cue ball.

Matthew Stevens cannot get through to this. The red towards the left-

hand pocket is not available. It may be, but it is very tight. A bit

of a shot to take on. Although he might not have many alternatives.

That shot has brought the back -- black into play. Is there enough

room for Marco to screw that in and swing it round for the brown or

green? If you get the pot you get the natural angle round the back.

If you miss it you look silly and As low as you can, up to the blue.

Very tactical at the minute. Good news, as you say, black is out in

Matthew can swerve around this blue. To get to the red on the right hand

side. Can he hit it and leave Don't know whether he can play this

at a pace and flick it on the way Good shot, settled for that. Marco

Fu's previous shot needed to be Up for Matthew just coming round to

see what happens, he knows he will be kissing into other balls, trying

to see what will happen to those Decided on an alternative and he

Once again, he will do very well to That path always looked like it was

going to be blocked to get back down to a colour. It is very

scrappy at the minute. Not much he He thought about it long and hard

A similar problem to what Marco had. How are you going to get out of

that cluster to get on anything? Whatever you do, Matthew, don't

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So conscious of trying to get on to He would love to get pink or black

into a pottable position. It had completely changed the frame if he

He was just looking at the angle he had on that red to the pink. He may

have a chance to bring the pink and black into play. He will be playing

Maybe first thought was to play the cannon on the pink. Didn't have to

Whichever way, it wasn't that one. He didn't want that cannon on the

His heart must have been in his mouth fair. He didn't mean to

He had a chance to check that in the middle and come back and move

the pink again. -- chipped bark. -- He did have a look at the reds to

see if one potted. If that red pots in the middle, he might be just on

the one nearest the pocket. He can pot this. The only problem is that

if he plays for the black this time, He would have to hit this very hard

indeed. Not much angle on it. He He has left a gap. Matthew can get

through. Once again, back to the same old problem - what colour are

you going to be on? He is on and 18. Lead but the way the balls are

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positioned, that is not a bad lead. He tried to get onto the black on

the left-hand corner but has got second prize - he is on it on the

right-hand corner which is better because one of the reds may pot in

The top one pots, but does the If he was directly behind this, he

would pot it but coming from this angle, do you think it pots it?

is very tight indeed. There is one way of playing this. You could take

this on because yellow and blue are quite a big target. It was so tight

he did not take it but same thing - Didn't quite get all balls

snookered but he has left Matthew a tough shot. Sometimes you are

better often -- better off to let your opponent take the ball.

Matthew Stevens has hit those very well today. A lot of good safety

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A good run of the balls there for Marco. He did that particularly

well. The flick off the green was You don't see that shot played very

often, do you? He played the double-kiss to get back into baulk.

If you don't hit it up virtually full ball, you don't get the

double-kiss and you end up smashing It is a very big target behind the

green comedy yellow and blue, so I would expect Matthew to get a

snooker here. It actually kissed the front ball. It is one of those

matches weather is not much you can do about it. You just have to

compete and the object of the exercise is to win and get to six.

Everyone would like to play games where it is free flowing and fast

and you make centuries but some frames are just awkward and the

only thing wrong with the frames that take 30 or 40 minutes is that

it is a lot of effort for nothing if you lose them. Certainly cueing

a lot better in the last frame and a half. He really struggled in the

A lot of players would have been prepared to pot the green in the

middle pocket as they were so close to it but it looks like Marco

He has got the option of a two in one shot. He could play around the

angles for the loose shot on the right-hand side. If he misses, he

could hit the one on the top cushion. It is there to win one

He is not happy with it at the The problem is, if he plays the one

on the right hand side cushion, if he hit it he would be leaving the

At least he knows after playing that shot it is definitely on. It

is not like it will not be available so he will keep playing

These four points are very valuable. He is already 21 points in front.

He does not want to give too many points away because the pink is in

a great position so Marco will be strong favourite if he gets another

eight points. He did not play to He got a very good second prize

I mentioned before that I thought 18 points was a big lead but at the

moment, 21 certainly is say Marco will not be removing the red that

is tight on the top cushion at any I don't know whether Matthew can

pot this red. It might just be a guide. He might be able to pot it.

No, he tried to get the other one of the cushion. He did not hit it

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particularly well but he has got That was not the greatest shock. I

know Marco did not have a lot he could do there but he should not be

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giving him the chance to get it in. It would not be the worst shot to

play the green on to the pink. But you would not get a great deal of

advantage by playing a snooker. Later on in the frame, if the two

reds come out in the open, there is a chance of a clearance. You don't

always have to get the absolute with this. Just need to think a bit

longer term. There is every chance of getting in behind the blue, as

well, if he plays that shot. He is thinking about potting the yellow

and seeing what the safety shot The safety shot is not

straightforward. He can't play it in to the baulk area because he

will be fishing the red down to the He took a chance there and just

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made sure of getting a good wide. That red has been covered by the

black. This is an excellent shaved He was trying to play it slow

enough to leave them both in the baulk area. I didn't understand

Matthew's poor shot has actually They could try but I hark back to

that situation before. Will Matthew Stevens regret not moving that pink

He may have an angle to bring the pink into play, knowing he is bound

to be on the red in the corner. But I imagine he is a bit punch-drunk

at the moment. He has not played particularly well. He is going to

The way this frame has gone, he would just be delighted to get back

The only way he will get from blue to pink in a few moments is by

bringing the blue into open play, The way Matthew has to spin round

the table to put that pink, he may be thinking about the back double.

He is thinking ahead. Get on the brown and try to beat an angle for

about double on the pink. -- leave At least it is giving him a chance

now. He may have a chance to bring the pink into play if he does not

fancy getting on the double. He will only needed the one ball so he

could play the cross in such a way It is Marco's turn to decide

whether he is going to need the The cross double is on but if the

white had been another three or four inches down, he would have

played it but it is dangerous now because the white would be in open

Probably just trying to chip the It looked like the pink was always

going to be the most important ball in this game and it is proving to

Because it landed on the cushion, it was pretty good. Well played.

This is very difficult to get safe. Not enough side. I would not have

been thinking about putting behind the black. I would have does wanted

them lined up but he has not played either shot. A pretty poor effort.

And because it was not that great, Marco was able to play an easy a

safety shot. Missed a trick there, He does not have any option but to

push it on the side cushion but the double will be on, then. It has

been a bit scrappy. We have had two frames over more than 40 minutes.

This is the longest frame of the match, just over 42 minutes. If he

pushes this on the side cushion, he will be leading a double for Marco.

I can't see another shot, to be That is as good as he could have

done from there. That is excellent. The cue ball slightly higher up the

table than the pink to stop the doubles. Or Marco can really do is

put the pink back on the top There is room to get in behind it.

There have been three of those shots played in the last 10 minutes.

I wonder have he is thinking about playing it harder. It is a high

He decided against taking it on. He thought the safety shot was easier.

He has played a beautiful shot here. Faber we shot from Marco Fu,

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How important was that excellent Good shot by Marco to get up there.

Get behind the black. Marco will be trying to keep the pink in the

Could not see an alternative to this chance. It is not easy, off

the cushion, check side. Good What a try this is. Brilliant

effort, best shot of the match. Just unfortunate, if that pink had

been three or four inches of the cushion, it is such a big target,

where it is. We used looking now, Marco, if you hit the pink on the

left-hand side, you can go in, off. He cannot afford to hit it hard,

because, if he misses it, he will leave the pot on. I would be

reluctant to play it off two cushions because if you screw it up,

I think one cushion, risky the which is, is definitely the way. --

risky though it is. That looks pretty good to me. Very well done,

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Perfect line. What an excellent pot from Marco Fu at the end. Marco Fu

is back in a match, but he trails 4-t. It was not the quick-fire

match many of us expected, nearly 15 minutes for that frame, but that

snooker was worth the wait, beautiful shot. Yes, there was a

huge margin for error, were the pink was, fantastic shot. He would

be proud of that one. As Stephen said, when the balls are so close

to the pocket it makes it easier to get out of the snooker, if the pink

is a couple of inches out from the cushion it is possible to get in a

round the back. A lot of players would have gone for the pot, but he

refused the pot and played a clever shot, the snooker, and subsequently

missed it, and then, he needed a snooker, so it was quite a clever

shot that won the frame, for Marco Fu. He's back in the match at 4-3.

He has not played at his best. He has been struggling with his form,

but of a sudden he has scrapped his way back into the match and the

pressure something reverse back onto your opponent. Actually, we

have had an e-mail from Tony Carr, who said we can see Marco Fu is

having problems with timing through the ball - how can you practice to

improve timing in this department? Stephen would be no more about

timing than me because I don't do it as well as he does, but we had

been talking about rhythm. It is a bit practice, rhythm, tempo,

getting through the ball, trying to play those nice long screw backs,

just trying to get a bit of reaction on the ball. It is hard to

get it in a few minutes that you have got for practice, it is

something back to work on in solitary practice. It doesn't have

to be difficult pots, just to get the cue going and get comfortable.

You had been chatting about the soul has, as indeed everybody does,

but this was you're preferred mode of practice, putting in the rules

your sales. I got the most benefit from longer hours of practice on my

own, that went my timing, my technique, and as you get older you

get lazy and you tend to leave off. But it appears, Tony, that the

answer is, keep practising! This match, suddenly, is a context once

again. -- contest. The have to give Marco Fu great respect. He

struggled early on, but it is 4-3, now. He would still be in the match

if he lost the next rain anyway, so you have a little bit of time to

recover. Only about half a dozen players and the game at the moment

that, playing this bad, could still be in the match. A lot of the young

lads are great players, and if they are playing this bad they were

struggle to find a way to win these three frames. His temperament is

one of his strongest suits. He will not be happy with that one. Well,

and a miss, four, Mark Stevens. -- What about this pack? How would you

be playing this? Certainly will not into it with screw, you would want

to play a deep screw and dark when the front and catch the side of the

pack. Ed Solomon was great at this type of shot, people with plenty of

cue power, and Matthew Stevens has plenty of cue power, if it hits the

front red, it could end up on the back cushion. He's not going to

play for the pack. He's going to play for the loose red. He may feel

that he can bring reds into play from this. This is the power shot,

where you stun this first and get the screw back later, then split

the reds. I thought there was more going to happen. I think he may

just drop the pink in. The one he is looking at now, that is all he

Matthew is struggling. He has got a bit of surgery to do, here. The

pink spot there, in it that we cling, there you go, he has found

another gear up for it. -- in it He was short with the cue ball.

There is a chance to go in and out of baulk, and come back and split

the pack. He's usually pretty good at this type of shot, so plenty of

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

Looking at the reds, at first glance, they look nice, but he may

have to go into them again. It is a massive target to go into the ones

above the black, five reds above the black, he would be lucky to go

through the gap of those five reds, but that is about as good a shot as

anything to play at this time. Just make something happen. Sometimes

you have to do that. You have no choice. He would be cursed if he

went through the gap of those five, but that is the only way he could

guarantee getting on one, playing into them. He must have found one.

It does not look like it from this camera position. Looking at that

shot, I am not sure he is on one, anyway. The top one pots, I didn't

know that. Once again, position is The one that is closest to this

pink spot is readily available. And the one just above the pink - that

was very well struck, that brown. Could strike. -- Good strike.

is the art of a class a break- builder. He has not had much

opportunity amongst the balls, the first chance he has got, he is on

for two, and counting, and if he gets the cannon right, he should

win the frame. How's the cannon? had to play it harder than that,

surely. It looked like he had to That is very risky, trying to

swerve round the first red. I know that he is best but to win the

frame at this visit, but sometimes, you need to have a bit of patience.

He has decided this red cuts, and Good pot, a little bit unlucky to

finish where he did, he played that shot might have a lot of check side,

to make the cut easier. These are hard to get absolutely tight, he

Marco Fu has got a poor, if he wants to take it on. -- has got a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

Just that pink causing problems at the minute, if he could get nicely

on the black to get the pink out of the way, one could positional shot

from making this a frame-winner. He needs about three or four of these

reds, that are all in open play, It is about the only place that it

is not perfect. The red dye required of the black, if he can

clear slow cannon onto that, if he misses the cannon he's on to the

one in the middle, but it is not straight forward, it could go wrong,

playing the cannon. He is going for the outside red - that is as good

You can see that he is pretty straight on this red. Coming round

to see if he can possibly get on the green or pink. If he stands the

red in, he looks Perry Street on it. -- if he stuns the red in, he looks

very straight on it. I don't understand playing for the blue,

there. The two which need is the pink spot only pot in the right

hand corner. He needs to stun through the gap between brown and

yellow with left-hand side. That was always hard, and he had been

very unfortunate not to get the position he wanted, but having said

that, it has pulled up, this is a real chance for a retaliatory

One of the frames he won against Mark Allen the on it, he came to

the table 60 points down with five reds on and manage to clear up.

There wasn't the pressure on him He is availing himself of the

position on the green, getting the green back up where we should be,

to make a clearance easier, clearing up the pocket for the

black, and this really is a very Perfect angle just to drop on the

red on the top cushion, here. That is pretty good. Only thing that

could go wrong is the key snookers himself on the black, so that is

why he might play the cannon on the pink, to make sure that cannot

He has played this at a good piece, though. Not many players I

mentioned at the start of this frame who could have got himself

back in the match, playing so poorly, Marco Fu was so far off the

pace in the first five frames that it looks like it could have been 6-

1. Now, he looks like the stronger That is what makes this wonderful

game so interesting. Players have spells at the table at their best

and at other times they could not pot three balls. He has taken these

superbly, so far, and if he can negotiate these colours, it is 4-4.

He must be mentally very strong, as the boys in the studio know, his

timing was so out in the first four frames. That spell and the practice

room might just have got him right. He couldn't make the tea, the 4th.

Still needs the three remaining colours. He made a break of 97 in

frame six. This can only be a possible 60, but the break has been

He led by 38-0, Matthew Stevens, but the clearance of 60 was

outstanding, to make it 4-4. Suddenly Marco Fu looked like the

man who beat Mark Allen the other night in such stylish fashion. What

has happened? He has got some momentum going. In these matches

things can change, and that will hurt Matthew Stevens. From 4-1-4-3,

looked like he was going to stretch away, but the game is on. That was

a supremely confident clearance from Marco Fu. He has the momentum.