Day 6, Part 2 UK Snooker Championship

Welcome from the players' lounge at the Barbican Centre in York. We

have a quarter fell tonight featuring four of the best players

in the world. Before we get started, let's show you what happened in the

first two quarter final matches this afternoon. Shaun Murphy and

teenager Luca Brecel treated the cloud -- crowd to a high drama in

their match with the magician Life has a funny way of doing

things. I have lost matches like that before. I have been in Luca's

position before. I think if he continues to improve as he has done

in the last couple of years, he's going to be big news in a couple of

years. I am not sorry that I beat him but I wish him all the best.

is very disappointing, but it was a fantastic match. I am still on

happy, so yes. Not to be in the quarter final. Or so through his

Ali Carter who won the Battle of Essex, the feeding Stuart Bingham

6-4. The captain is reinvigorated and into the semi-finals of this

event for the first time in four years. I am through to my second UK

Championship semi-final. I hope I am not finished yet. The game

started off quite well, the first five or six frames were very good,

then it got a little bit scrappy in the middle, a little bit of tension

kick in, but that is what happens. It is a big tournament. I will take

the victory. Stuart's tactical play was very good. I am pleased to come

out the winner. I am joined by Stephen Hendry. Fabulous my

afternoon with both matches wonderful to watch, but Luca Brecel

and Shaun Murphy, that will be the match that takes the headlines.

What did you think? I was working on the other match, but Luca has

been fantastic all week. He is not nervous, he scores heavily. Perhaps

a little bit of inexperience at the end of the day. Do you think Shaun

Murphy is in a place like to repeat what he did in 2008, is he back to

that level? All you can do is put yourself in the semi-final, two

match is away from the final, but there are good players left in it

and a long way to go. In the first but are Mike frames today, Ali

Carter was fantastic. After, a little bit scrappy and I think he

was pleased to get the victory in the end. We are now going to

concentrate on the match we will be focusing on this evening on BBC Two,

featuring two players to have been world number one in the past two

years, Neil Robertson and Mark's of To win the UK, as well as being a

player who has won the Grand Prix and the Masters would be a pretty

nice thing. It is a big tournament on the BBC in the UK, so it is huge,

but I have been struggling for a little while in a major tournaments,

so to come and have a good run, it is pleasing. I do not think either

of us will struggle to get over the line. It will more or be a case of

who turns up and plays better on that day. In three matches between

them, Mark Selby has the edge, but Neil Robertson won the most recent

meeting in the Premier League this year. Four fabulous players in

action and they are waiting for Rob Walker to welcome them out. Good

evening ladies and gentlemen. We have had time to pause for breath.

What a John we have enjoyed at the williamhill.com UK snooker

championship. Some amazing matches, and it continues now it with two

places up for grabs in this year's semi-finals. Please will come a

player enjoying his spell in the world top 16. He came through an

absolute classic against John Higgins last night which had us all

on the edge of our seas. Can he do it again? From Hastings, Mark

MUSIC: "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson And his

opponent, one of only two players still in the tournaments to have

won it before, he can through beating Marco Fu in the second

round, here comes the Welsh Dragon, Here on table number one, will come

a player who tends to get better as tournament go on, winner of six

ranking event titles including the 2010 World Championship. Bidding

for a second successful UK semi, you comes the Thunder from Down

MUSIC: "Heart Of Courage" by Two And his opponent, one of the most

colourful characters on the circuit, double Masters champion, double

ranking event winner. He came back from 3-0 down to beat Ryan Day and

the second round, here comes the Well we are concentrating on Mark

Selby and Neil Robertson, but if you want to watch the other table

you can through connected TV, computer, tablet or mobile phone.

Go to the BBC website for more details. Time to join commentators,

former UK champion, John Virgo, and We have got a very interesting game

here. It is hard to pick a winner. They have not met that many times,

two times in the Premier League, which I do not really at count. It

is not the type of snooker you see Indies major events. It is hard to

pick a winner -- in these major events. I am really looking forward

to this. Fantastic atmosphere in the Barbican Centre in you're. It

is surprising, that statistic, they have only played each other three

times, as you say. Neil Robertson is looking at the line of the

Of both players, Neil Robertson has been playing a little bit better,

but look at the tournament pot success, 90% for Mark Selby, 89%

for Neil Robertson, on that, you He refused the pot. We didn't think

there was any value playing the difficult pot. Just looking at that

pots a success rate of Neil Robertson, he was 97% in his first

match, and dropped somewhat, when he really struggled against Barry

Hawkins. He had four centuries and at first match, fantastic. -- in

You probably have to say that Mark Selby is the more clever of the two

in the safety department, but Neil Robertson in the last couple of

years has really improved in that department and that is what has

made him so consistent. Two of the best scorers in the game as well,

70 career centuries for Mark Selby. Excellent opener. Has he held upon

There are the highest breaks in the Terrific opening pot. I didn't

think the black would go, maybe it did. It looks as though he played

for it. This is a slight surprise, having to hit this red. He could

leave this on. If he had hit that full of, he may have left it on to

the far left corner, but it is safe Just going back to that centuries

statistic, 270 for Mark Selby in his career, 288 for Neil Robertson,

but 54 centuries for Neil Robertson last season and 55 for Mark Selby -

At this tournament alone, four centuries from Neil Robertson in

the first round, two so far in the He didn't want to risk that pot,

but he needs the green to come to his help. He seems to have left

Good pot, wasn't it, and it wasn't into the heart of the pocket, and

that is probably why the cue ball has gone close to that cushion. It

The red to the right of the pink in open play would possibly be his

That struggled in as well, and because he is a little bit straight

on this black, he may want to take the red to the right centre, that

is what he would like the cue ball, Maybe would have preferred a

slightly better angle on the red than this. There is a case for just

playing for the pink to the opposite middle. Some people don't

like rolling balls, but I don't So, the pink goes on its spot. He

can't play for the black so you will have to go up for the blue.

You would think he was looking for a nice angle on the blue to play

the cannon and bring the other reds into play. That is about perfect.

Normally I would suggest hitting the pink full in the face, but with

it being separated, he might decide to play in the reds. He played into

the pink anyway, he would be unlucky not to be on one. He is not

on one good, is he? Looking at the separation of the reds, he was

unlucky, it is not straightforward, Just having a look at those two

reds around the pink spot, which may plant into this bottom right-

hand corner pocket. They do not look set, and it looks like he's

not going to take the chance. like he cannot get past the pink to

go for them. I think there is a plant, but he cannot get to them

because of the pink. What looked like a good cannon, you felt

certain he would leave himself a good pot on, but he didn't. I am

not sure Mark Selby has look at these reds from the other side of

the table because he can see the reds just below the pink of a plant,

but I don't think he came round this site to have a look at that

plant. What do very did he has played a very poor shot, there,

kissing the blue full and the face. If Neil Robertson was a right

hander this would be a certainty, but being left handed he's going to

have to use the rest, which makes it a little bit more difficult. The

black is unavailable, so you feel that the shot to play it to stun,

one through and play for the pink in the right middle. Using the rest

doesn't make it any easier. I think there may be a case that he could

play it as a shot, if he can cover the reds with the black into the

right hand corner pocket, but he does not feel that confident with

I cannot believe he has refused that pot. And it is only because he

had to use the rest and he did not fancy playing for the pink, he

wanted to play a screw shot for the baulk end, and because he had the

rest to play with, he didn't fancy it. Amazing. He has got second

prize, because he has put the cue ball in just about the best

possible position. If it was tight to the cushion it would be a little

bit better, but he cannot complain about position. Mark Selby is

forced into having a go at this red, There was concern that he's not

going all out for the pot, he has forced the cue ball back to the

baulk end, but it was a little fortunate that, to one into the

If it misses the brown this is an excellent safety. Cannot played

That was a helpful little bit of the yellow, and credit to Mark, he

did well to get back to the baulk end. It wasn't easy. Safety play

Kissing the blue was not advantageous. Leaving the red on to

this corner pocket. The problem is, it is all getting very congested on

this left an side, the black is not available to the right corner. --

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

He caught that much too thick, and, in a way, he was a little bit

fortunate to go in, off. Mark Selby would have loved the cue ball to

stay in this half of the table which it could well have done, if

it had not gone into the middle pocket. He has caught the knuckle,

but there is a plant on to this bottom left-hand corner pocket. Am

not sure whether Mark can get enough of the first red to make the

The shot, excellent pot. The black goes to this left hand corner

pocket, but let's just see this pot Those are very tough. Tight up

against the side cushion. Never easy. And you are sort of forced

into playing them. If they are Street, you fancy just dropping

them in, but playing across the nap, there, he knew, as soon as seat

potted the red that he had lost the cue ball slightly and that black

was always going to be difficult. But what a chance this is no for

Neil Robertson, with a 20 point lead, something to build on. --

He can just get through to the He is just coming around to that

left hand side of the table. He has just nudged it, he didn't

play for that, but funnily enough, it has worked out OK. It is going

to be quite difficult to get a round the back of those reds and

black without warning into anything. -- running into anything. This is

an eye of the needle shot. There are a few things to a void, there.

-- avoid. He did well to find the gap, but not inch perfect. The fact

that he is left-handed, if you are right handed this is easier, but,

now, he has to use the rest. Makes this pot a lot more difficult.

refused a red with the rest earlier. We will see how good he is with

this one. Pretty good. Excellent Didn't hold for the black that time.

Just about on the yellow. He has a 37 points lead. You feel that if he

could get a good positional shot with three reds in the open, he

could clinch the frame at this He may be able to drop this in and

Mr two which to the left of the black -- miss the two reds. He

could not have played it better. Now, there is no reason why he

should not clinched the frame at this visit, 47 ahead, 67 remaining,

but now that red has gone in there is only 59 remaining, so this black,

one more red, that would get us to Pot this red, gold 56 ahead, 51

When Mark Selby not in that long red, you thought, here is a chance,

but he strayed too close to the side cushion, leaving him that

tricky black, he went all out for it, and when he missed it, he left

his opponent in amongst the balls. And when you leave him with a

chance like that, you're going to lose that frame. But, he had his

chance. He will certainly get some chances in the match tonight,

Lovely shot. No chance of a century break, but Neil Robertson looking

The yellow didn't go in but it didn't matter. He struggled a bit

last night in his match against Barry Hawkins, but that was more

like the Neil Robertson we have come to expect and he wins the

first frame. We will have a quick look over to

table two, and see what happened in the opening frame between Matthew

Stevens and Mark Davis. Matthew Stevens has taken it with a break

of 81, it is a great opportunity for Matthew, how difficult will

Mark find it to lift himself after what happened last night?

He is suffering a hangover from last night, an unbelievable match

against John Higgins, different proposition, different tonight.

Back to the Robertson, Selby match. Last night Neil dipped struggle a

bit. He said conditions were tough -- did struggle a bit. I suppose he

is confident he is playing well. They have tremendous expect --

respect for each other, they probably seek Heger there as a

major obstacle getting through to the final -- see each other. Tough

to call. COMMENTATOR: The red has come up

adjacent to the blue. May decide to play the pot here. The only red he

Got the double-kiss, the dreaded double-kiss. The dreaded double-

kiss, what you did want when he played this dashed when you play

those shots. Up -- what you do not want when you play this shot. The

two reds will go into this bottom left-hand corner pocket. Just

having a look at the pink. After he pots it, will it go back on its own

spot? The referee, from Malta. It will go directly in line with the

black on the top cushion. Close to those reds as possible. Got to have

a good steady hand for this. I was thinking that when he first put it

down. He wouldn't be the first It happened at the World

Championships, it was top class potting it. -- it was dropped while

spotting it. The referee damp the gloves slightly so the balls don't

slip out of their hand. Talking to him today, he refereed a maximum

break from John Higgins, the 30 has refereed. Always nice thing to have

on your CV, you refereed a maximum Doesn't have the angle on this red.

Back up for the blue. We saw the previous frame he played the blue

to well. Just having a look to see if anything will plant into either

corner pocket. Always a possibility when you hit it that hard that the

A maybe he thought the possibility of a plant. The way the bed was

running towards the corner, that was concerning him. -- the way the

If he was worried about that he should have hit that top red on the

right hand side as we looked to make certain the cue ball was

coming to this right half of the Could have a bit of a stalemate

here, the problem for Mark Selby his the red is so close to the

bottom corner pocket he will take a really good shot to cover that from

a word colour. -- baulk colour. He would have the chance of covering

up with the yellow and the blue but very difficult to get the cue ball

on that side of the table. May just roll into him here. When you're

doing this you have got to be careful, don't leave a touching

ball. It adds the advantage to your opponent, and that is exactly what

It is imperative in this match Mark Selby gets a good start. He won

against Ryan Day from 3-0 behind, but he played so poorly in the

first three frames he need -- he needs a good start for his own

self- belief. Knocked in a couple of good reds in the first frame,

failed on a tricky block. Is it just touching? Mark Selby is having

a look at Neil saying do you want to be rack? -- re-rack. Both

players have got to agree. Neil will certainly try and get that cue

ball somewhere around edge of the pocket. If he tries to put it in

the jewel of the pocket he will cover it with the blue. -- jaw. A

you have got to make sure you cover the red over the pocket. Chance of

a stalemate. He is OK, a little tap I don't think there's a chance Mark

will try and slide off the pack and put the cue ball. Come off the side

cushion, top cushion, it is possible. If he tries to get the

cue ball back in the same position I saw Mark Selby, looking up. This

red to the right of the pink will pot. To leave this. He has missed

it, I don't think -- I don't think he has done too much damage. Having

played that type of shot and bringing the reds out, lucky not to

There is no way he wanted that red to Korea into the brown. May be

forced Neil into playing a pot. That red knocked the brown off its

spot, he certainly wouldn't have been on this red. That is key

beautifully. Excellent killing. Similar black to the one Mark Selby

missed in the last frame, shows you the difference being away from the

cushion and being tight on the cushion. You feel you have got more

of the cue ball to hit. One along the top cushion. He is playing a

deep screw. Surely he has not got away with it this time. I think

this red does pot, very tight. Just looking at this miss it again.

wondering if he was trying to pinch a bit to get the screw back, didn't

look as if he could get on the black. In an effort for position

took his eye off the pot. This looks as if it just goes, but it is

one of those, if you were right behind it I think it would be

unmissable. When you're trying to judge the angle, you are thinking

you have got to get it past the second red, you hit it too thin.

What can he make of this chance? This is his best chance of the

match so far. The last one, as I say, missed a difficult black. This

one, you expect to score heavy. I The only problem with this

particular chance is pink and black are tied up slightly. Have to get

Nice angle. I would love to get that black into play. See how he's

feeling. Decided for the loose one. He has to go back up for the blue.

A red just about on the black spot, might be a good ball to get on. If

he could leave himself nice and straight on that, something near

the circle, has under it up. The reason I wouldn't be thinking about

this red, or I wasn't thinking about it, his the black will not go

on its spot. Maybe this is the red he played on but he will leave

Trying to develop the black. Can he get through to the cut? I don't

Added think he can get to hit this black thin enough. He is playing it,

no problem. My excuse is it is a new camera angle. My commentators I

It was an excellent shot, will need a nice kiss on the black. That is

why we can say when a fit you got close to the cushion you have got

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

to pot the ball -- when ever you The possibility of a second red to

the right of the black, looks like He hasn't got away with this one.

Come over the left hand corner I think he can pot this blue and

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

avoid the cannon. Aim for that red Judge that very well. Just coming

around to see this red below the pink, does it going to the opposite

That was an excellent shot, forced it in-off two cushions to get on

the pink. That will certainly open this red now. The red does pot.

Excellent opportunity now for Neil Robertson. 17 points ahead.

think in playing this red he would like to get up to the blue. Nothing

to suggest that. You could see the cue ball was bouncing before it hit

the pink which is probably why. This red by the yellow is a little

bit awkward. If he can get on a colour that is closer, the blue I

would suggest. The yellow could be a snookering ball if he is not

careful, didn't have the angle to play for the blue. This frame is

all about this positional shot. Quick glance at the scoreboard, 18

points in the lead. He will be afraid to go up towards the baulk

end because he could under run it and snooker himself. Any way down

the left-hand side of the table. He will definitely be on the red, he

will have to take it with the best, of course, but he will definitely

want to be honest red. He has gone down. He has got a little bit too

Wouldn't have been my choice to He needs the red, colour and the

six remaining colours to steal a frame he never thought he could win.

There is the shot again, that was also a problem coming down the side

of the table. Certainly mustn't be too confident with the rest, Neil

Robertson. In the first frame he refused the red with the rest. Did

want it to play that last red with the rest. -- did not want. Not very

Do well to get good position office-bound. What about the

length? Does this yellow pass the brown? If it does that is an

This is one of his great assets. The last red colour is strong on

positions like this. A little bit short of pace, it needs to be a

little bit straight on this blue, may have to take it into the corner

I it always say, when they are clearing up, it is the shot from

brown to blue that is the key to whether it is the simple clearance

all possible banana skin. He just didn't get on the blue, played for

it in the middle, wanted it to be in the middle, it Neil Robertson

with the chance. The blue is all he He just overcut it. Mark Selby gets

It is in. If it had just run past him it would have been a formality,

but he hasn't. That is hard to believe. A full ball kiss or even a

half ball kiss would have been perfect. He could still have a go

at this pink, as we look at the He was leaning back. I think the

thing is with this shot, obviously using the extended rest, because he

so close he may be able to pot the pink and screw off the right-hand

side cushion and top cushion to If he was further away I don't

think he could hold the cue ball, but being so close he can get the

Players like to play this with a lot of pace. He might be going in

and out of baulk with this. refused it. Not saying I blame him.

That is another chance that has I don't think you can get the cue

ball back to the baulk cushion but he will try and cover the pink with

the black here. Try and get the pink behind the black. He hasn't

done it. At least it is in a safe He is playing the double, and it is