Day 6, Part 1 UK Snooker Championship

Good afternoon. I don't know if you heard the news yesterday, that

Daniel Craig's Sky Fall bond movie has become officially the biggest

earning film in British sib ma -- cinema box office history. I only

mention that firstly because it is nice to summon an image of Daniel

Craig, and because it brings to mind one of snooker's perennial box

office heroes. John Higgins, who had a chance himself, to boost his

earnings last night. John, the three time UK champion, found

himself in a bit of a sticky situation. Two frames to five down,

against the wily Mark Davies who had back-to-back centurys to this

point, when back to the wall, Higgins like a snookering 007 came

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Higgins like a snookering 007 came That was a lovely strike, got the

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John Higgins has made more comes I don't think he will go for black

this time, unless he drops on to the top red of the two that is

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You, of all people, can't have a He hasn't had his shooting boots on

He maybe needs something like a He will have to disturb the five

red at some stage, because they He has to remember he has to win

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This is one of the advantages of having the open arena here. People

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on the other table are well wear of John has already made a maximum

this season. He needs the cue ball What a magnificent shot. Absolutely

You count do any better than this. . If he is straight he just has to

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It's there. 147 maximum break. Superb cue ball control all the way

through. And fantastic. Takes the frame, 5-3 to Mark Davis. Well

played. HAZEL IRVINE: His seventh career maximum and the second one

of the season for Higgins. It inspired his come back to five

frames all. This deciding frame and just when it looked as though the

Scot would clear up to pip his Miss on the pink. The world number

16, Mark Davis, well, all credit, he held his nerve, very difficult

shot on the pink. In, it sends Higgins home and the Sussex's pro

best win of his career. If you can't take something from that, you

know, it is a brilliant win, I have not got a good record against him

in the past. It is nice to beat him. Played a bad shot on the brown,

left myself a long blue. Obviously sick. I have John and Steve in the

studio, were were enthralled by that match. John you were comments

on it. Normally clearing up in the last frame, I was all over the

place here I didn't deserve to win that match, so who knows how I made

that 147. Typically modest assessment but quite a match.

Unbelievable. The quality of the match play was superb. Not many

players can match Higgins for safety. Davis was brilliant.

Healthcare Commission looked like he was done and dusted. Where he

found the maximum from, I have no idea. He hadn't been scored. Then

he looked like he was out. It had everything. You are right. It was a

blockbuster. Not all about John Higgins, and what more did we learn

about Mark Davies.. He had improved a lot. I thought he was a good

player. I hate use the word journeyman, he has been for a while

but he is not now. He is scoring, he is full of confidence. He is a

mandhful. He will be in the quarterfinals. Higgins heads hope.

He does so with a bonus. If that is/that is not equalled. Geeed up

by the procession of his team Celtic in the Champions League. Not

all bad. But we are left with eight men at the quarterfinal stage of

this Williamhill.com Championship. The Only Way Is Essex here as Ali

Carter mien meets Stuart Bingham. Smurf -- Shaun Murphy faces Luca

And Steve, we should assess the quality of the players left. We can

do so with this graphic, which shows us, a bit about where they

are in the world. Mark Selby the top ranked here. For a tournament

that is best of 11 and so many shocks it seems these days, as

onwas talking beforehand. Seven out of the eight in the top 16. If you

made an ebg qien analogy, there are a couple of thorough breads in the

pack. There are a couple of work horses in the pack, they are now

reaching thoroughbred status, and we have one my little pony in Luca

Brecel from Belgium who is scaring the life out of people and jumping

the biggest fences of his life it very well set up. Every player is

on an upward curve in their career, so they have everything to play for.

There is no Ronnie, no Higgins and no Judd. So the guys are thinking

this could be the opportunity. It shows the strength, the standard is

getting so high nobody can guarantee winning. The interesting

thing is Stuart Bingham and Mark Davis they have come from

relatively nowhere in their careers, it seemed like they were going

nowhere, how many players are looking at that and thinking if

they can do it so can I. With more tournament, it is very difficult to

predict and very wrong for any player to say I am not going

anywhere in the game. If I try hard who knows what is achievable.

Another success story is Shaun Murphy, the second highest ranged

player left in the draw. We will see him next. -- ranked.

deserves everything he gets. He works very hard. He is a brilliant

ambassador. I said in the commentary box, he has that air

about him he walks round like he owns the place. Probably the best

technique in the game. A Rolls- Royce cue action. Quite a gentleman,

I don't think you will meet a nicer person on the circuit. Got an

incredible cue action. I think when he is at his best nobody hits the

ball as well as him. Top class player, along with trump and

Robertson he will carry our great sport forward.. What he did at the

World Championship, it was quite impressive, the way he came on and

took every ball on, and nobody really got near him, you know.

HAZEL IRVINE: What a moment this is for his opponent Luca Brecel, he

picks his moment, having only qualified to play in the World at

the crucible and now this one, he has won four matches to get here

and has beaten Ricky Walden and Mark King so far. He is unafraid of

anyone, and anything this young lad, so it is quarterfinals time. We

have four players primed and ready. What will we get today? Let us find

out. MC Rob Walker is ready. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, it

is quarterfinal day, an amazing at moss feerbgs only two of the eight

player left in have won this trophy before, so we could see a little

slice of history written on Sunday. Please welcome first of all, a

player enjoying life back among the games elite, two time ranking event

champion. Great to see him -- great to see him back in form. And his

opponent, winner of the Australian Open last year, won the Premier

League last week. From Essex, And here on table number one, the

teenage sensation taking York by storm. Beating Mark King yesterday

to make this his first ranking event quarterfinal, at the tender

age of 17. Please welcome Luca Brecel.

MUSIC: "Party Rock" by LMFAO And his opponent a class act on and off

the baize. One of only ten player to win the world and UK title.

Looking omnoulsly good, he is Shaun Murphy.

MUSIC: "He's a Pirate" by Klaus HAZEL IRVINE: This match on table

two is available on the red button an it is all there for you via BBC

sport website through a host of service, for now we are watching

the world number four and the world Very good afternoon to everyone at

home. You could be in for a treat here this afternoon. The young

Belgian player Luca Brecel breaking off. And what a feeling that must

have been when he was introduced to this terrific crowd here at the

Barbican Centre. Just 17, and he is a delightful young man from Belgium,

but he is up against one of the top players in the game. You heard a

few of the players talking about Shaun Murphy, he has one of the

finest cue actions we have ever seen in the game. And this young

I was invited to play speed snooker with him. Speed is not your forte

any Morden nis! -- more, Dennis. That is Jack, he is 100 and still

plays snooker and made a 33 break this year. He loves to do a bit of

painting. And he was saying earlier to Rob Walker he likes to cook for

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himself. I tell you what, he looks A you see how it goes to the right,

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We showed you John Higgins match That was a bit too strong. I think

he has gone too far to get to the The speed is almost the same on

this table. It make take him some He could have done with maybe

another inch up the table to be He still has a loose red there. If

he goes into the bunch and sticks in the back, he will still have

That was all he needed, just to hold for that red and develop one

or two without crashing into them. Yes he knows his way round the

break building department. He has worked with Chris Henry, who spent

some time with Peter Ebdon and You have to have some sort of

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He has a lovely way about him, this There is a lot of pressure on this

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Does he take the blue or the green? They must be pleased with that

start and that will help him settle down as well as them. He has

covered that red close to the right middle pocket. He is having a look

at it wanted the left corner. -- at It is just off the straight and he

doesn't like it and he is playing A 39 point lead is obviously not

That for me is not a safety shot. Not putting his opponent under any

That is a terrific safety shot from Shaun Murphy. I do not think he can

pass the brown. He would have to swerve slightly and that would be

risky. And he cannot really come This is a risky escape because if

he gets it wrong he will leave it near the blue. He could leave the

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He had no choice but to play a containing shot into the pack. But

It is slightly hampered, otherwise It is hard to think that Shaun

Murphy has been a professional for 14 years. When he first came on the

scene I spent three days and Peterborough practising with M. He

was a delight to play against and what a cue action. Happiness. --

fabulous. A great ambassador for our game and you could not meet a

nicer alive. -- nicer fellow. Not bad on the golf course as well. I

Quite a clever shot from Luca Brecel, just putting bat out of

commission. He will have to take this on. It could be a winner but

That is a good shot. Very good. He has got a very flowing action as

well and a long backswing before he He has got a very nice Paul's at

the back before he delivers. The best possible start for the young

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That makes the first frame almost a Shaun Murphy knows he has got a

battle on his hands. He seems to be He is a very quick but he does not

appear to mute that fast around the table. He certainly doesn't hang

What about that? And if he has got an angle on the pink and avoid

scoring into the middle pocket, he has got a year late. -- screwing

into the middle pocket, he has got The best possible start. He had a

break of 39 and he finished with 41 break of 39 and he finished with 41

and he is leading 1-0. And we will not be forgetting him, I suspect. A

fantastic start. What do you make of his attitude and is intent as

our you would imagine that he would have a carefree attitude -- intent?

You would imagine he would have a carefree attitude. He has got a

very long flowing action and backswing. That happens as a

younger player. You have got that freedom. Somewhere down the line

you start to analyse where you are going wrong and if you eliminate

the backswing, you cut down on errors. But when you are playing

for farm it is there is moot. -- very smooth. Where would you say

there are weaknesses? He is just a bit raw. But he is 17 and has

already played at the Crucible. I was still learning. He is way ahead

was still learning. He is way ahead of most people in his career. With

the tactics, his snookers were not great. But the rest of his game is

The last 17-year-old that played at the Crucible was Stephen Hendry and

what a player he turned out to be. I wonder if he will have the same

career Stephen Hendry at. It is a risky shot but he is pretty good at

I think he will try and play as a shot to nothing and try not to

That was such a clever shot. If it had been further down it would have

left a loose red. But if the black goes down, every chance the other

He did not even get that into the jaw. And as he left one? What a

mistake that was. Obviously played with too much side as well. I am

not sure if he can get through Yes, very tight. He will have to

That was not on, I am afraid. He had a bit of safety in mind. I

suppose when he missed that black, All I can think of is that he was

thinking of the cannon and forgot about the black. Completely off the

I do not think that was an attempt at a pot. He has not got the pace

of the table. Not quite. Yes, he can get past the green. These are

Perfectly on the alive. -- yellow. And that is how far that has got to

travel. It gives you an idea of how long the table is. 12 feet, by six

He did not get into that. In between the brown and yellow will

get him around nicely. He really needs to come down the left and

Keeping on running. That was close to being an excellent position but

just a bit too far. He will have to play some good safety shots today.

He knows Shaun Murphy will be scoring heavily quite soon in this

I was doing the other matches when Shaun Murphy was playing. This is

the first time I have seen him this year. Did he play well against

Graeme Dott and Robert Milkins? played well against Robert Milkins.

Graeme Dott did not at his best day at the office. One of the

contenders, Shaun Murphy. That was a good shot from Luca Brecel. I

cannot see any escape back down the table. He will have to find

That was a bit too thin. It is worth having a look because it is

an awkward position. But the previous position was more awkward.

It was worth having a look. What he was trying to do was attached a

collision and glance off that red. If he can get that, it will go into

that bunch of reds. It does not Clever shot. He played that

purposely. The one down from the pink, he can get into baulk from

He is not frightened to play an attacking safety. Beautifully

played. He seemed to play with a lot of sight. The green was

slightly in the way. Yes, he had to That is as good a safety as we have

seen today. He cannot get through to the angle. A little bit of

trouble here. He could maybe get the ball back to somewhere where it

He has found an alternative but it was not correct. Look at the way

the reds have finished. It is not easy to get on the black and get

out. He thought he could find that gap and he got too much on that. It

looked very clumsy in the end but he was not that far away from

getting back down the table. If he can get this into the corner,

Denbigh Black is there but that will stop him from getting out into

He will have to be absolutely tight He will have to be in a good

position. Of course, he does not have to stay on the pink. He has

That is a little bit Mary, as they say. A little bit too far on the

And that has gone a little bit too far. It does not matter what colour

he gets, as long as he does not miss any. Would you believe it?! A

little bit edgy, to say the least from Shaun Murphy. He missed a

black of the spot by a long way. And that was a very poor effort. It

is silly days in this match, but the more he does that, the more

confidence the Belgian player will He has got the same problem Shaun

Murphy had with the black. He will have to play with quite a bit of

pace. I am not sure he can get the right angle, looking at that shop.

Can he get on the red if it double- kisses? It is now used to him with

That was an unintentional S. We might have a bit of fun and games

with that black over the pocket. And the reds soakaways. -- that

close. Just coming around to have a look. We suggested that the only

way you could get that Black would be if you were tight on percussion.

And even on the question, you are not guaranteed to cut that, looking

at the angle. He has looked long and hard down the left. If he plays

him to get up to be yellow and brown, he might get the double-kiss.

This is quite difficult. He does not usually take long but he is

having to give this plenty of thought. It is a bit of a shock to

the system to see him make that mistake as early as he did with

That is as well as he could have played from there. It was the only

shot available. He thought long and hard about it because he was

frightened about getting a double- And he has caught that thick. And a

And we could have fun and games. We could even get a re-rack. We had

one yesterday in the opening frame. Ryan Day was playing for 30 minutes

and he had a re-rack. Are we going to get a snooker behind the black?

They are looking up in the commentary box with smiles on their

faces. It does not matter how good you are, a little bit of fortune

helps. He would be reluctant to see that again. He does not just want

to play a negative safety. If the black becomes free, but next shot

I am not sure if he can see enough And there is a gap back down for

Pretty good shot. He cannot get through to the left hand corner. If

he can play that would confidence, he knows he will get the yellow or

green. It needs a could kiss and he has not got one. Why not play a

little bit slower? It is like taking a plant and always getting

the white safe. You have got to be very precise. That has obviously

drifted a bit. And a little smile. That could have been a fingerprint

on the cloth or something. He has He kept his head perfectly still.

Much easier for him to get behind the green than for Shaun Murphy to

get behind the yellow. He did not reach. That is get us because he

had a lot of margin for error. He has put himself bang in trouble. He

did not have to get it height behind the green but what a mistake.

And the only safe place is landing He has played so many end this

escapes. He is only 17. Just play a few hours every day, practising

He has got to be precise. He is Still left a possible pot to the

There is a bit more room to get on the black at some stage. It is not

He has to be careful he doesn't cast the green. He might screw this

in and go left hand side of the Still quite difficult, at the

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moment, he has the too easy reds The black might be available if you

are tight on the cushion. But look He tried to divert one of those two

reds. He knew he would have a It is worth trying to play the

canon here. Snieth he will play the same shot, and if he gets it right

it is good, but he is odds against Lucas is still in this frame.

jumped. The white jumped in the air He made sure he kept the red safe

there. Sacrificed getting right Still a precarious situation where

the three reds and the black there, It is going to be tough to avoid

Couldn't find himself in trouble -- could. Ooh. Tell you what... I

tell you it his heart must have been in his mouth help he saw that

-- his heart must have been in his mouth when he saw that red come

It is a while since I have seen this sort of situation, where a

ball is blocking the pocket and the players are just trying to stop

themselves from knocking the ball That is a good safety shot. Well

done. I am wondering with the lead Shaun has, would he have a go at

Shaun doesn't want to get them right up to the black. He has a

nice lead. He doesn't want the referee to say you have three shots

and we might have to start again. That could happen if we carry on

He is looking to see if the red will go in off the black. I think

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Not sure if this is thin enough to So rolls reversed. Luca advantage

in this safety exchange. Trith -- He was almost pushing that red on

there. I think it is worth the risk taking the pot on. It could cost

him the frame but it could get him There is 100-year-old Jack. He will

enjoy this tactical battle. He still plays, had a break of 33 this

What a shot! What a fabulous shot that was. I mean Shaun, I bet he

It is amazing. Certainly a well thought out shot. It wasn't a fluke

in case anybody was thinking that He didn't have to hit it that hard.

He has left himself almost straight on the black. So that was careless.

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It wasn't even on the cushion. He hopes he will get another chance.

2-0 would have been a fabulous He has to be careful here, tries to

get over to the yellow, he could Matching Shaun for Shaun with the

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safety. -- matching Shaun shot for A free ball. The referee has put

Have you noticed he stand very high above the shot. I don't know

whether that helps. He seems to do that. He doesn't get down on the

shot. No other player does that, do they. Let us see if he can find the

He is not putting this side on. This time it is a free ball.

Coming up to 37 minutes this frame. A lot of that due to the fact the

black was right over the corner He is one of the best players have

seen using the rest. Mind you, Shaun Murphy will breathe a sigh of

relief. Luckily he needs two snookers Luca. He has one now. He

This is the first time I have seen Getting them, I meant, not playing

them. That was a hell of a snooker Not too great at getting out of

them. Let us see how he is trying That was a chance, he had a chance

Try and get a snooker from there. He doesn't want to know about it.

It was a long frame, almost 40 minutes, but what a good frame for

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Shaun Murphy to win. We are all HAZEL IRVINE: Can I just talk about

the relative quarterfinal appearances of all eight of the

chaps who have made it through to point. It is instructtive to do so.

Matthew Stevens is the most experienced at this late chance.

Luca Brecel taking part in his very first quarterfinal, and acquitting

himself very well so far. Steve, your impressions of this young man,

particularly given this stage on which he is performing? He is

showing good tactical nous. Good safety. One stage, we were talking,

it looked he was playing as good as safety if not bet than Shaun. It is

tough playing against a player like hsm we struggle against the new

kids on the block. You sometimes perhaps give them a bit, not

necessarily respect, but the fear factor, there, everybody is talking

about them and so therefore, somewhere down the line you have to

say, I am just playing a player, I am playing a normal player.

agree with that? Is it strange coming up against a young man,

there is a lot of hype which precedes his interest, and there

maub degree of curiosity from the more experienced player. It is the

unknown, you don't know how he play, you know after you have played a

few matches what the style of the game is going to be, so that is

something you have to get used to. I think the key to this match for

Shaun Murphy is to play really good safety play. Safety play needs to

be of a high standard to give him a better chance. Because listen, Luca

can pot balls if you put them out in the open for him. It is a

different situation for Luca from the first couple of match, he found

himself 2-0 and 3-0 down against Ricky Walden and Mark King. He

seems more at ease, wouldn't you say? You would. He has left this

red out and Shaun Murphy, when he is in form, that is the type of

ball ne knocks in. There is five, Lucaed very good safety there.

Shaun is probably plague one of the worst positional shots he has

played in the last week. He had a lot of margin for error to play on

the two reds. He could have got on the black and he has let it slip

straight away. I wonder whether this white is playing a bit light.

He screwed back off the green and snoorked himself on the brown. He

overscrewed it there. -- snookered. He can still get round on the black,

I think he is OK. Who would have thought you could kiss the black

and still be on it. That is amazing. An excellent shot, wasn't it. Once

you have kissed the black, you can't be on it, unless you kiss it

that thin. Going back, remember the That is effortless, the way he

played that, it looks so easy. Straight away, leaving himself an

angle to go into the pack. Which is awkward. But because of the loose

He knew this red was going to be He doesn't miss a trick when he is

This is a good opportunity to take This was the red that leukaemia

missed coming up. It wasn't tight on the cushion, he should have

knocked that one in. After the one he potted previously, that was a

Look that the shot from Shaun Murphy. That is played to

perfection. Lots of top spin, side, have a look at the white. It arcs

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round and cannons the red to Any budding young layers watching,

just -- players, watching, try and coppy Shaun Murphy, because

He had a couple of easy balls that he missed in the opening frame. All

He had 34 centuries last season. He We have had 25 centuries so far and

Here. Our sponsors are giving �250 to the Blue Bell children's hospice

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Well played Shaun Murphy, that is Ht might we see an exhibition shot?

Later You are far too exciting Willie. He does tend to play them

He is a delight to watch when he is Just over nine minutes for his

It is not going to be but it was a superb effort. A magnificent break

of 122. 2-1. That was a total contrast to the previous frame when

big black was over the pocket and it got awkward. One chance and he

has taken the frame. Luca Brecel could not do much about that. He

let the last one slip away when he had a chance. Early on, we thought

he was going to be struggling. He made a couple of shots we could not

believe. That was a tough yellow but look at that want. You cannot

afford to miss them. But all of a sudden, normal service resumed. We

can see how close he got to that red. He had to get it just right.

Almost as good as John Parrott striking off the cushion. He was

In a lot of ways, this one is even more important for Luca Brecel. If

he was 3-1 behind now he will be absolutely distraught to let his

That is pretty good. He was 3-0 down to Mark King, Luca Brecel and

he came back and won that match. He has got a good temperament but he

is up against a very good player in Now the emphasis is on good safety.

That was a tough escape. I now he is only 17 but he looks to have a

good tactical game. He will be learning all the time but at last

shot was an indication. He has got Dennis has mentioned a few times

that he is blessed with a good cue He just tried to nestle on to bat

on. He screwed the ball the full length of the table and a great

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He has got a good chance of the green. He may be just about looking

at it now. That is the shock Willie Thorne was talking about. As long

as you keep covering one side of the table, it is very tough to get

back to baulk. You cannot see the He almost hit the other red on the

way back down again. He has got to get this one thing, as we mentioned.

We can see that one nearest the right hand side corner pocket. The

players are not allowed to touch the ball. They can help the referee.

I am not sure if it was that close. That is much more difficult. Much

more difficult. He should have had a look at the monitor. But he is

such a gentleman he just accepted They have a monitor to look at the

weather is scoring. -- who is He really got worried into the ball

there to widen the angle. -- right We can see that it is spinning on

through the reds and he got plenty He has got a good chance if he can

keep his concentration and not play Just at the beginning of his match

against Ricky Walden, he just appeared to be rushing. He is

He has got a choice of reds. Three That was a little bit risky playing

it like that. But he has played it OK. He is just playing naturally.

We were talking about his lovely and flowing action earlier.

Sometimes under pressure, you have got a long way to deliver and you

can pull right back to the bridge, And now the work starts. He has

only got a couple of loose reds. He does not have to play hard. He can

have a soft cannon of the blue into the bunch. As long as he does not

He did cannoned into them but he might have won debatable. -- he did

cannon into them but he might have Terrific. But has he come up far

enough? He has not. One possible down to the left of a plaque. --

the black. A little bit out opposition. That caused the problem.

He is looking at the plant. I am not sure about that one. I think

And it has gone in. Well played. And this is not easy. I remember he

rolled up before behind the green and left it short. He will not be

leaving it short this time. Well I think he can see enough of that

just to get on that red will stop - -. That one was much too difficult.

He will not even contemplate that, I do not think. But you cannot be

sure with Luca Brecel. He thinks he can pot everything. I would rather

be one in the corner than be risky one in the middle. It looks like he

has decided to have a look at the one in the middle. But that is

That was the wrong one for me. is a chance for Shaun Murphy and he

will not be leaving anything. You might get one of them out of 10.

And Shaun Murphy should never have been left with that chance. He

should never have left that chance. That was the wrong choice by Luca

Brecel. And we have got the pink That double-kiss ruined everything

and that is why he has finished up at the end of the table. Three

questions, he will be hoping to It is impossible, I would have

thought, for it to finish where it He could not see another shot to

play safe. He thought if he kept the white close to the cushion, a

red would have to go near it. Luca Brecel would love to have had one

He has left another tempting shop. He will certainly be tempting fate.

He could get right back into the frame. I expected him to get that.

He was very close. A little bit lucky, I suppose. A couple of half

chances. That one that he put in And he has brought one of the

difficult reds in to play. And all of a sudden, the game is opening up.

It would be devastating for the young Belgian player if he wants to

lose this one. -- was a to lose this one. It is not beyond the

realms of possibility that Shaun Murphy could clear the table.

a little bit of noise at the other table. We are in the middle session

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He has still got those two reds. He has played the match. It is not bad.

If he knocked that a little bit further, he could have got the

other difficult one but that is not a bomb. But he is still in position.

-- that is not on. He could go around the back of the black. This

is the key shot. He needs to be dead straight and get back to the

black. That is just about what he has done. This for me is the key

shot for winning this frame. other stumbling block is the yellow

He has not missed many with a rest but he has missed. Not many. That

was the first shot with a rest and he has missed. He has potted five.

His success with a rest in the tournament is and 95 %. -- is 95 %.

An awful lot can go wrong. He is looking at the possibilities but

they are a bit risky. That was useful on the yellow. He has held

his hands up. But he got the red up It is not easy to get says. I think

the middle pocket will get in the Nothing there. How close was that?

And the referee has had to call it. I was going to say is an easy

escape. But it is too risky to play the swerving shot. If he does, the

middle pocket is going to get in the way. That is where it was.

Absolutely spot on this time. But is the escape spot on? He cannot

get much closer to the middle pocket without hitting the knuckle.

It is amazing. Those points have made Luca Brecel the favourite.

This could put him out of the game. It is very important way he hits it

The angle is not there. He has had three attempts. Luca Brecel is

looking to see if he can sneak that red but he cannot. Back in exactly

the same spot. Unless he can get some sort of side and create an

angle, he needs to go further to And he called the jaw is likely.

That is why he has gone on to the other side. Does he want to look

along that cushion? He had to play the pot. He could still lose this

frame. And it is the swerve. And he has pushed the red and unless the

blue comes to the rescue, it is the 17-year-old's frame now. He did at

one stage need that difficult red as well. But this has prevented

that. It is a good performance from Luca Brecel. Especially after the

way Shaun Murphy played in frame three. And he should have taken at

second frame. That shot on that red would have upset a lot of people.

It looks like it will be two reach. Shaun Murphy has decided to carry

At the moment he needs four snookers, worth four points. But he

is not close enough to be cushion and he can get plenty of sight. --

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

side. He just lost his That will put-in in no doubt at all.

I think it is a fair reflection when we put everything into

consideration. Now he is putting it to bed without any concerns at all.

Plenty to think about at the interval. He it has been very

enjoyable seeing the young man trying to cope with the established

players. Fascinating stuff. He will be pretty pleased, the fact that he

has not made a sizable break but he has done well. I am sure viewers at

home will realise that he is going to be a fabulous player. And lots

Growing in stature all the time. You have played in a couple of

times in exhibition matches. and he was a lot younger. And even

in that six-month period, that can make a massive difference. What we

now is that a play in his situation has much more match practice

against players higher up in the rankings than four years ago. It

does seem like he has got a good balance to his game and he is not

rushing around and playing matte shots like you would expect of a

17-year-old. Generally he is acquitting himself well. And is

only his second season on tour. And his second major event. And you

were saying it was a marked improvement even from the last

couple of games. I commentated on his last game with Mark King and it

is a serious step up from yesterday. Nobody likes it to be that awkward

but he had to cope with it. This is a serious improvement. And how do

you think Shaun Murphy is coping? How is his game plan reacting as

our we were discussing earlier --? We were discussing earlier that you

do not have to be quick, you can just wait for your chances. You can

play how it is going. That will dictate, the balls, how you play.

You could have a game plan but you could come unstuck. When we get to

the sharp end of the match, if he does it in too many chances, Luca

Brecel can get over the line but if he brings it back in again, he will

perhaps make some mistakes. It is fascinating and we do not know how

it is going to go and it is all a bit of a battle. We can turn our

attention to the other quarter- final. Stuart Bingham is buying Ali

Carter. Ali Carter has been suffering from an inflammatory

bowel condition for the past 10 years. Eight months ago he had one

of those moments when he thought, I am going to change things. He cut

out at Luton from his diet. - that he changed his diet. And the effect

I have ongoing problems, it is a problem I have to deal with, last

year it got the better of me, to be honest. This year I am in a

different place. I am enjoying my snooker to a certain extent again

and happy in my personal life and everything like that. It gives you

a whole new perspective on things. I have to be very careful with my

diet, with all the travelling it is particularly difficult. I am dairy

free, weed-free, gluten-free, which is a big problem -- we to free. A

look at a service station, there is pasta, a sandwich, Italian, you

cannot eat anything, so I pack my own lunchbox and carry it around

My health problem doesn't motivate me, I try and keep myself healthy

at all times, but there are certain tournament in the calendar that are

more important to me to win, so I tend to think what tournament it is

drives me more than my diet, to be honest. Snooker is based, for me,

in the UK, that is where I saw it as a gangster, and the tournaments

that mattered to me are the three biggest events but we have got

China and other places springing up. For me it is the UK, and I want to

be a UK Masters and world champion. I am in the quarter-finals here, I

have got a chance to fulfil my goals.

It is going well for him, in the quarter-finals playing Stuart

Bingham. Stuart has failed to beat him in the last five matches

stretching back six years. But it today Stuart Bingham won the first

frame and he is at the table in the second. Stephen Hendry and John

Virgo have teamed up for commentary I was about to say the first person

to get the white in the baulk cushion would be at age huge

advantage. He didn't hold back. The first good chance false to Ali

Some people look at the pot Bingham went to and say it is a bad shot.

If you are confident it is the The unfortunately the downside is

when you miss it, and give your opponent a chance like this, an

easy opener. First chance with the Even though he lost the first frame,

Ali Carter, looked as if he was striking the ball nicely. Ran out

I know it is only a Lee, but his pot success is 100, he has not

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

The black ball is out of commission that it will not bother him at the

moment, quite happy playing the pink. The pink ball box to four

pockets. -- pots. More margin for error. The black ball only pots to

Slight grimmest there, didn't want to be bridging on the pink for the

He has controlled the cue ball beautifully there. He may play a

The Essex boys are on form, John. The only way he's Essex. -- is

What do they call them? TOWIE? I thought it was a group when I heard

I don't know if these two players have any practice sessions with

each other, don't know how close they live, how familiar it they are

with each other's games. Sometimes it is tricky to play somebody you

Certainly both look in great form. Recently Ali Carter has been doing

quite a bit of practice with Jimmy Unfortunately didn't qualify for

the UK Championship. There is an example of somebody he is still

playing excellent snooker, did quite a bit of exhibition work with

Jimmy and he is hitting the ball well. It is when you get out there,

having that belief at holding yourself together, as you get a bit

older, the nerves get a bit frazzled. The that was an excellent

shot. Another red and the pink, will put him 69 points in front, up

with 67 remaining. Good stuff. He got the first chance in the first

frame, just run out of position, left with an awkward safety he

didn't manage to get. Stuart Bring the black into play.

Possibility of a century break here. Still 100% pot success. Everything

Apart from the 100% record, it is his ball-striking that has struck

me, it has been exemplary, timing It is a psychological game. When

you are sat in the chair there is nothing you can do about it. What

he is to lean, ShareLink Stuart Bingham, I lost the first frame,

but you leave me a chance, that is all I am going to need. Striking

the ball so well, inch perfect precision on practically every shot.

He had to do it without the black earlier on. It has just looked

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

inevitable this century was going Obviously the highest break in the

tournament, the maximum, 147. Doesn't get much better than this,

Well played, Ali Carter, absolutely superb, just given one chance, and

just swept them off the table, it to stroll round the table and cued

it perfectly. One each. What a start. Very impressive, best

break of this championship so far. What do you make about the way he

is able to go through the years? He's perfectly capable of scoring,

his match play has improved, when he got to the World Championship he

had a game-plan, don't think he was 100% with all his break-building. A

better all-round player than he was, also up against the most improved

player on the circuit, it Stuart Bingham. Interesting to hear them

talking about his priority in the UK tournament, and this is what

Stuart Bingham has been talking about, he has had a lot of success

in Asia with those two victories this season, but what do you think

the Premier League victory a couple of weeks ago has done to him and

his quest to have more of a domestic dominance?

On the biggest stage of all which is the UK, in the eyes of most of

the players, and in you remind, to win on home soil is probably a

bigger event, regardless of whether it is ranking or invitation. But it

is proving to him that he is able to sustain what he started off.

Definitely the most improved player by a mile, along with Mark Davis.

Fascinating encounter between these two. If it wasn't perhaps for the

fact Luca Brecel is on the scene at the moment we would be seeing that

match is the featured match. They have been so many good exciting

matches all week. If you want to continue to watch that one it is

available on your red button. It is also available on the BBC Sport

website through a whole myriad of connected devices. In addition to

BBC Two's extensive coverage you can watch live matches from both

tables three or connected t become a computer, mobile phone. With the

red button keeping you in touch with the action. A really close

finale install between these two players. There will be a regular

update on Radio 5 Live and click on to the BBC Sport website for the

latest on demand highlight coming use and interviews from here at the

Barbican Centre. For now we will return to the

Murphy, a Brecel a match and very intriguingly poised. Let's head

It is the 17-year-old that breaks off after the mid-session interval,

must be quietly pleased with his performance so far. Plean Against

the world number four, he is coping Where is the red going to finish?

That wasn't all that easy, Shaun could have left something a little

bit easier than that. Tough shot, those. I don't know if the pink is

available, difficult to get on the black. The pink is available. He

has played the cannon onto the This was his attempt of the break-

off shot. Once he missed the pot, moved quite a few balls, lucky to

A couple of shots time he can get himself on to the black, play a

nice little cannon, he will clear He can do that now. He needed a

gentle little cannon. Now he has got them sitting very nicely indeed.

Can white played the same shot again, a little soft cannon into

the black. -- might play ate the Another three or four loose reds.

Certainly should be at least 50 points in front before he has to

Might just be able to nudge another red out here, free a couple of them

up. Didn't have to do that, but he will have to do it this time

because of the red on its own. We have seen him so many times played

this shot so well, top spin, right Surely he hasn't covered that red,

might be unlucky here. He might be unlucky, yes, you see it. Even if

he had to play a little bit of swerve the red is slightly on the

way, so it end of break, he usually hits them a little bit harder than

that. Didn't play the cannon heart enough. Lucky not to be on anything

at all. A 46 point lead, can he swerve it a little bit and play the

That is all he could do, he couldn't a try and get up the table

because of the red up the left middle pocket. Nevertheless, 46,

but if the split had have worked I saw Luca in the corridor at the

interval, talking to a family, not a care in the world. I suppose at

that age you did. That has turned out to be OK. I thought he had left

an easy pot, but he he it hasn't -- but he hasn't. Chris Henry lives in

Brussels, yet every to me from Accrington. He has done a bit of

work with Luca but he has his own coach with him. He is here in York.

That is his coach there, a very charming it gentlemen, it certainly

doing a good job, that is for sure. Must be very proud of the 17 you

That is a bonus if he can get through to play this red. Maybe he

can get through. That kicked. He may have left a red, that is

unlucky. He would have screwed to the white back onto the cushion and

the yellow would have covered this, he got heavy contact there. Oh,

dear me. That could be costly, that bad contact. This red wouldn't have

been available, he needs a decent kiss now, that is even better.

Provided it keeps on running, it That was a little bit careless from

Shaun. He was frightened of not reaching the peak had he hit it a

little bit harder than he wanted. - This was the roll-up. We see Luca

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

not reached the ball, just hit it a You can just play a containing

safety shot, wouldn't have been any I like that shot, a simple shot, he

has brought the only difficult red there was into play. Shaun is

hoping to get something on to a That was a good cue ball, a good

object ball, but it safe again. A couple of tempters for Luca to go

for here. Did mind him taking these on, 47 behind. -- do not mind. This

could pay dividends if he can knock I did know whether he needed to hit

it quite that hard. -- I do not Might be hampered slightly with the

red on the side cushion, having to bridge over the top of that, that

makes the black much more difficult. A comfortable pot without that red

That is terrific cueing, striking It is hard to see him not winning

the frame as he played that excellent shot there. The way that

bounced. Amazing. Or will have a sudden the frame is not safe. Look

at his white. Just completely dead and the contact. You could see both

Have a look at this, watch the white and the red. We have lift-off.

56 points in front, OK, the black, That unfortunate kick has lost him

At first glance, there are three reds he could go at, but you can't

see a shot where he could take the pot on and get the path back round

It looks as if he is having a go at this one. He has fluked it. He has

fluked it. He has pushed a red over the middle pocket, which means the

black has got a little bit more pressure on it, he has to knock

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

this in. A fluke could have won him Doesn't really matter about that,

it was the earlier break of 46 that helped Shaun Murphy take this rain,

and he now leads 3-2. A few things happen that the start of that name.

Shaun Murphy, when he got in with that 46 break looked like he was

going to go ahead and finish the frame off. This is the first shot.

He has had a go at this long red, and then once he cannoned into the

reds I thought he was going to leave an easy one for young Luca,

but he left a half chance, which Luca did not convert, this is the

one. No easy, those shots. Win Shaun was and a 46 break, he stuck

a little bit, but thought he would have won the frame in one visit.

was unlike him, he played to hit the middle red, but he hit the

outside one. If he had hit the middle one, he could not have been

anything else but on the red, and he just ran through that red, so

little bit unfortunate. In the end, a nice little fluke that helped him

Shaun Murphy leading 3-2, with frame six under way, no, looking to

Some movement in the background It was highly unlikely that Luca

was going to win the frame, and he didn't get that chance. Shaun

Murphy could not see an easy way back to the baulk area, and look at

that for a delightful little moment He is coming up a little bit short,

here, well, he has dropped in behind the yellow. There is a pot

on, but there is no way back to ball, he will have to play the

cannon on the two which to stay on the black. I don't think there is a

gap. -- the two reds. But, he found one - will play it! Judged to

perfection and if he is not on a The eel pots, but hard to get back

up for the reds. He has terrific cueing action and cueing power, so

we might see something special from this young player - have a look at

that, poor positional shot. He is a little bit unlucky. To get the

white around to that position he needed to pot the yellow into the

middle at that pace, and look at the action on that cue ball. He

should have been on something It is a roll up. Played the

percentages, that time. It was too risky, but the yellow in the middle

pocket, you won't see any better. It is worth a look again. It takes

He might take this red up into the I to will you what, this young boy

He seems to have a very good temperament which will stand him in

good stead row at his career. -- throughout his career. Great to

seek new, young talent coming through, lots from China, but Luca

is the best player Belgium has ever produced. It would be nice to see

more coming through from Europe, the game is very popular in Germany.

Into the reds. He has got that one in the open as a little bit of

Played beautifully. I like his style. You cannot mess about at the

standard, getting 20 and put it, and playing safe, he's standing up

well to the pressure. This is probably the biggest match he has

played in his life. He has been a good player for the last three or

four years, we have known about him for long time. It took him to three

years to take the grade -- to make the grade, Judd Trump, and all of a

sudden, Luca Brecel has done it as well. You have got to serve your

apprenticeship, and even Stephen Hendry took six years to become

world number one and world champion, and with John Higgins and Mark

Williams, it was seven years, so you don't just go straight into the

game at the top. But it is wait to see this talent, here, isn't it? --

great to see. He's going to need one or two of those reds bunched

He has read a couple of them, so one more good, long pot. -- freed a

couple. But he's not safe yet. He has over a cup it. That is the one

you need to give yourself little bit more time on, the pressure ball.

He overcut it. Shaun Murphy can easily get on to the black. I am

wondering whether he will play the cannon. The middle red of the Pont

three, if he hits that full ball, he will push through for the black.

He has played the cannon and that is the reason I suggested playing

it. What are you the poor shot. When you get a chance, try and win

the frame at one visit by playing the correct shot. He has played the

correct shot. It has to be said, he should not have had that chance.

Luca had the frame at his mercy and A couple of possible stumbling

blocks, no problem with the four easy reds. I know that it is a long

way ahead, the green the pink right next to it, I am not sure if it

would be available into the left corner, and it is, there wouldn't

Hang on to your hats. What was that from Shaun Murphy? This black is

even more difficult than the one Luca missed. That was a lapse in

concentration. One of the toughest shorts and again, this stunned went

through, and the players make it look so easy, but that is what

happens when you don't quite get It depends whether the green and

pink are pottable into the left- hand corner. They must be otherwise

he would have been down there and played it, he is looking at the

brown no. It might come to his rescue. Wouldn't you just play the

half ball been, Dennis? He wants to get a good cue ball. That was the

most important part of the next shot. It is the green, so as long

as he knocks the pink safe. That is not bad. As long as Luca does not

pot this, it is not bad. He has now put Luca under a tremendous amount

of pressure with this next shot, and whether he is capable of

knocking this one in, he might go He did go for the car -- Cup to --

Well done Luca! Just one more red, and if he has got the right angle

on the blue, the red appears to be a certainty. This is frame ball

bashed nothing silly this time. is proving what a good temperament

That was a better pot than it looked, but, of course, the

I mentioned his coach, there, that is him, along with his father,

Carlo. What a trip it is for those He has still got the extension on

the cue. I have never seen that before! Great response from Luca

Brecel, fabulous break of 46, then 31, and he is back all square at

the-tree. He is proving to be a bit of a character. How visibly his see

growing in confidence whilst this match goes on? He is indeed. One of

the questions were going to get answered is, is he good at getting

over the line? This is the biggest occasion in her snooker career,

quarter finals of the UK championship, against Shaun Murphy,

one of the best players in the world, and at the moment he's

holding himself together very well. Reading the transcripts from the

press conferences, he's talking about becoming the youngest player

to win a world ranking event, currently held by Ronnie O'Sullivan

in this very event, and he is three-and-a-half months younger

than Ronnie assault and was at that time. To have that level of

ambition and the courage to come out and say these things, it is

quite refreshing. You s, and his belief is all the slow growing.

months ago, he would not have been saying these things, and now, he is.

I remember my own career, at one stage you are just a player, the

next stage, you look at yourself as a potential winner. And all the

players go through that phase. He is a fascinating character. He is

coming out of his shell. The players are playing for the

privilege over best of 17 in the final, so it could get a bit

panicky, to get to that stage. Shaun Murphy is expected to win the

game, and the tournament. He has not won a major championship since

he last won this punt -- tournament in 2008. There is a lot of pressure

on Shaun McRae, as we come into the closing stages of this match. -- on

Fantastic long red. He was trying to get through the gap. Got himself

out of position. He was unlucky. Listen to Steve Davis talking about

when he started, I remember before he turned professional used to go

to Pointon's at Prestatyn, and I looked through the door and saw

this ginger-haired lad with his sleeves rolled up practising. I

watched an clear the table again and again, and I thought, I hope I

never see him again, and he went on to be one of the greatest players

to ever held a cue. Still competing. Quite remarkable. There is an

attacking safety shot, you can always push the ball over the

pocket, but, look at the cue ball. Now, then. Shaun Murphy might be

tempted by that red to the left of the pink. But, if he missed it that,

it could go in-off the other red. There is no easy safety shot. He

might have to develop this one. If he doesn't, he might have to land

on the one near the pocket. He's looking to see whether in-off can

help. He may plant on to the one He decided to play the plant, with

an element of safety. That is not too bad. If he plays it as a shot

to nothing, he goes close to kissing the pink, so he is going to

have to hope he pots it. Luca just looks at the first angle to get the

cue ball back into baulk. You have got to look at what happens when it

comes off the second cushion. He missed the pot by quite a

considerable margin, but the kiss on the pink was almost a certainty,

if he potted it. If he had not just Just glancing at that again, he was

a little bit unfortunate. He found the two cushions. Let us have

another look. That red has hit another red, he's coming round the

angles and he hits that, otherwise Shaun has been doing that a lot

today, overscrewing the ball, the white keeps on running on these

superfine cloths. This is now missable now that he is cueing over

the top of it. It is so easy to hit these thick when you're playing

this shot. Well played. Good recovery. Plaque out of commission,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

but pink and baulk colours in play, He knew that he had the red to the

left corner pocket but the cannon has let a couple of real will to

the right. That was a clever shot. He has read up the pink spot, which

will be important if he eventually pots the pink. The pink spot was

covered, and now, all of a sudden, He is on that red. I thought he

This is the sort of shot with his cueing action that he makes look

fairly easy. He hardly hits it, and He could have done with the white

coming up the table a couple more inches. He got nicely on the pink.

He's going to have to play the cannon here, and he has cannoned

the wrong ball, and it is out of commission. That last green, he

came up a little bit short of where he intended, but this was badly

misjudged, find to cannon to the left of the two Ritz, there. -- two

He slips off the blue, to get in Maybe Luca can just get to be end

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

red, and missed the pink on the way That was a fabulous pot. He was

trying to get back of the table, as it turns out, he's nicely on the

pink. The pink wasn't a gimme, But I still expected him to knock it in.

This is not an easy chance, unless he can cannon into the red and

And he certainly could. And all of a sudden, it is a good chance. The

black is sitting awkwardly, but it was a good shot. We'll work that. -

- well worked out. The pink is still free, and the bottom red of

those three pots as well. So the black will not be in the way for a

This is a good chance to take the lead for the second time in the

match. He has not been in the lead He has just gone a little bit

No, is he on the back red? -- now, is he on the back red? He played

He is manoeuvring the cue ball very nicely, here. The only problem is

the red next to the black will not go to the left corner, because of

the red blocking his path. It is He is looking at the red up near

What a clever shot match, bringing the blue into play. The brown is a

decent pot, though. If he plays the brown, he can play the cannon on

the pink and the red if he plays the brown, half ball, and if he

misses it will drift round by the pink and black and he will still

have the red. It is a good effort, this. Perhaps softer, but he still

played that well, very good shot, The way he is playing here you

would think he has been playing top A little careless, you have got to

keep the next pot as easy as Good recovery. Quick glance round

at the scoreboard, 22 in front, he needs red, colour, red, to get

himself back in front. Very impressive. Shaun Murphy missed

that pink in the middle pocket but he has taken full advantage.

thought for a moment he was straight, remember in frame to,

make sure he doesn't miss it this That was a little bit of adrenalin,

I feel. He is taking the blue on. Need to get this, one snooker

needed. Is that little lack of experience? The last red he could

have rolled it in, for an easier pink or black. There was a little

One snooker is not a lot to me. He has got the option of potting this

yellow, and getting a good cue ball He certainly has a chance now to

get that snooker that he needs. This would be a big turning point

if it sure Murphy could somehow He has caught the snooker but he is

pretty good at this type of shot. Amazing, it could be a free ball as

well. This will drop in behind the blue. If it is a free ball, he has

got a nice easy blue in the middle pocket, all of us have done this

When he potted the last red I thought it was all over. He didn't

get on the pink or black. Now Shaun has put him back in again, all of a

That was a great effort. Look at the cue ball, look at the distance

to travel. If the green passes the brown he has been let off. It must

be tied. Just enough room. A bit of a cop there but he has learnt a lot

of that last blue he missed -- he Cup. Could quite easily have lost

He has fluked the pink. Yes, he has. A little bit of a let-off, Shaun

Murphy had a chance to pinch the frame, it were Luca didn't get a

colour off the last red, he has got himself into the lead at 4-3.

first time he has been in the front. It might have gone awry on that red

for him. We were talking about little things, as good a player as

he is, this is the last red, put him in front, make sure you

guaranteed position on the colour for this because it takes a load of

a good -- aggravation away from the rest of the brain. He could have

lost the frame for that one careless positional shot. He could

have lost it. Put that down to experience? When you get down on

the shot, you do see the game slightly differently, but there is

no way you cannot not cement the victory by making sure that last

colour. As it is turning out, you look back and think, I wonder if he

did have a game plan going into a match from Shaun Murphy's

perspective, to change his style to the player, which is unlike most

players ever do, this play say they will play their own style. If you

were out with the attitude of I will be playing really tight, I

wonder what the situation would be, not saying it is the right way, but

tough green, Shaun took on. He missed it and presented Luca with a

chance. If he had played negatively against Luca, string such things

can happen, it is only an opposition -- strange things can

happen, it is only an observation. Shaun has talked a lot in the last

few days about different styles of play. After his first-round victory

he talked about having to be patient and not going for

everything, how much he learned, after his second round matches

talked-about how he was going to go for things again. I'm not saying

for one second he is modelled in his bind but he has the ability to

do both. -- modelled in his mind. To complete leak interesting things

it. I think if he had gone there tighter today he would have got

over the line easier, a tough match. People play their own way. What do

you think? I agreed with Steve there. Young players used to be

able to tie up players. I remember they would he Masters at playing it

tight and making it difficult for the attacking player, it is

fascinating, that is the beauty of this game, you never know what is

the right way. When you can pot Shaun Murphy giving us one of his

specials. This is probably was before saying, OK, he's going to

pot the brown 19 out of 20 but this is a precious shot at the pace he

is going to play. Very good shot. - - pressure shot. Punching round

three cushions is a tough shot to If he played it slow he will just

kiss it but the harder you play it to the bigger kiss you will get on

the block. -- black. What a clever He is stomping around the table at

the moment, he is going to take It is as if he is marching around

the table at the moment, he means He needs to slip past the blue. Try

to leave an angle to pot the blue. He can still pot the blue in the

corner, but can he get himself onto the red? If not he would have to

play a cannon and screw it into the pink, that would be far from easy

when he hasn't even got an angle on the blue to do that. Just the

A at this level it is unlikely you will be winning the match 4-3 with

a high break of 48. The safety has let him down. He was trying to

swing it around behind the yellow He hasn't left anything but Luca

Pleasantly surprised that he missed that, behind the green and black

With the reds spread around the table, a good, telling safety will

open up a good chance. There might be a pot on into the left corner

I think he might be able to get He didn't catch it as he intended

A little bit thin, he would have missed the reds if he had got

anywhere near the board. The fact he didn't meant that the cannon was

on. Not looking straightforward for Shaun. Here is the shot. Right on

the far jaw. If he had potted it in the middle of the pocket he would

have gone wide of those reds. looks as if he has covered quite a

lot into this corner pocket, rather fortunate there. One possible red

You can see the one he can pot, can That will finished tight on the

cushion. Amazing, Shaun has just lost the last two frames, trying to

make things happen, you can tell he's play more aggressively, the

way he was strutting round the table, thinking, right, I am going

to show him. When you're struggling sometimes things don't go right and

this is another dangerous shot to play. Great pot. Under pressure,

fabulous. It looks as if the white was going to finish on that side

cushion. This was very good cueing. He knew one good shot could put him

right in amongst the balls, but the black up on to its spot would help

things. You can just take reds and With the black back on its spot,

Shaun just needs to keep his concentration here, he will

He is such a vastly experienced player, Shaun Murphy. Back to their

2005 Court championship, he beat Matthew Stevens. -- World

Championship. Some of the frames he played under pressure was quite

He is very good with the rest but we have seen him miss a relatively

easy shot. This is not as easy as it looks on the television, I

assure you. That is six out of seven, has only missed one out -- 1

up with the rest. The thing both players have had chances, both

around at 90% pot success rate which at this level you would

expect one of them to be above 90. Seen a lot of matches this week

where they have been 93, 94, those are the standard you need to be at,

Hard to see how he could not get the four reds and four colours he

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

55 points in front, one more red Lovely to watch, this. This series

of stunts and screw shots, already When they are under pressure it is

when the best players play their Possibility of a century, not

The players are well aware that children hospice in Sheffield gets

�250 for every century, so they will be trying their hardest, once

What's a shame, just when we thought a hospice was going to get

another �250. Just what the doctor Hero would be Roger Federer, his

professionalism is second to none, he is the ultimate professional I

have seen. On the court, one of the best players that has ever played

tennis. Away from the court, a top guy, always polite, always well

spoken, always does his job as a tennis professional, 100%, I thinks

he's -- I think he speaks four or five languages, obviously switched

on, and kids out there looking for somebody to look up to and emulate,

they can do any worse than somebody like Roger Federer. I had it

instilled into me from being a young age being a professional

sports person was a privilege, it is not a right to be in our

position. What comes with that is a responsibility to the next batch of

people watching, kids watching, and being professional at all times, B

Deane the sport up, -- bigging. In all sports there are people that do

it well, and Federer is certainly He is fairly serious about his

responsibilities towards sport and he is playing one of the next batch.

He has just got serious there. could sense the danger, he loses

that frame, 5-3 down, epic task. He has still got a big task be you can

see him sensing the danger, went up a couple of years, fully focused.

To get into the nitty-gritty, we will see if Luca is good getting

over the line. But a we were talking about how are you two would

have faced a young upstart coming through, up what were June have

done? You are always aware they are something special, Luca has been

starting to but if Fulham -- cue trees up in the qualifying session,

you would find a what he is like a. You cannot dictate the way the

balls roll, but you would like to. That is the problem. The modern-day

game, as Shaun has shown that, get a chance, go for it, some great

shots. If he continues in that way, you can't really argue with Shaun

Murphy's record, he can be a shoot- out with the best of them. Is there

any danger you don't want to be perceived as too negative, is

boiling his day, keeping him paint on the baulk cushion. What you have

got to do is a win, the object of your exercise is to say well done,

shake hands, they go home, simple as that. Shaun is simply on the way

now. Shaun has come back but Luca is going to take a little break.

When we look ahead it is an big moment for Luca Brecel as it is for

Shaun Murphy. He has not got to this stage in terms of getting into

the finals in the last we while, and obviously Neil Robertson here

at the moment, in that Masters final with him, but it is an

important time in his career. plays in every event, embraces

every event, and you would probably say he would be a little bit

disappointed he hasn't won a bit more, whether he it is because of

that style he has played, or in a couple of other finals Higgins

outplayed him. It is a big tournament. He will be looking at

the age he is that within the game, there is a new breed coming through,

how many more years Kelly have at the top? He has put himself in a

It is always exciting when you get to the sharp end of a match,

especially one close like this. That has just put the black out of

commission but he has got a good cue ball. A great piece Shaun had

done talking about would ephedra, 14 years he has been a professional