Day 8, Part 2 UK Snooker Championship

MUSIC it is all I wanted to do as a young man, growing up. It feels

brilliant. I am over the moon. We have had some hard years over the

Good evening. This is a walk of fame in snooker. Down at the York

Barbican Centre, it is a journey that all the players are making in

the williamhill.com UK championship. Forgive me if I do not dance down

the stairs. The remarkable Mark Davis and Mark Selby, for one of

them it will be the last time they make this journey tonight. That is

because we are at the semi-finals. A possible nine frames to be played

tonight. But which will stay and which will go? Its it is Selby in

control. If this is anything like last night we are in for a treat.

What about that for a shot? Mark Selby opens his account and Leeds

1-0. Well played, Mark Selby. the best possible start for Mark

Mark Davis gets his first frame on the board. That is as good a shot

And they have spread. Lovely. Mark Selby goes further ahead. It is now

5-1. Mark Davis is back in it. Mark Selby, I think he will be well

pleased with that session. He has taken it 6-2. But still all to play

Indeed and Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis have taken this title 11

times between them. How much would lock Mike -- Mark Selby like to

join the you? What did you make of his performance? He was not at his

best. I caught his long potting was super. Generally he was very solid.

And you waited 21 years to get to a ranking semi-final and three come

along in the same season. What part might that applied for Mark Davis?

I think it raises the stakes. The one-table set-up is a tough

atmosphere. And he had to fight against the possibility of too much

excitement and possibly expectation that would be as far as he would go.

Perhaps he will be better tonight. Terry Griffiths is in his corner.

The help you for many years, Stephen Hendry. Give us an idea of

the kind of things that he might have said to him before tonight's

session. Just relax and enjoy it and play your natural game. He

should think about how he has performed this week and he is not

out of it. An epic performance and some epic comeback in this

championship, not least from Mark Selby. And Shaun Murphy against Ali

Carter. Could we get another one tonight? Obviously we could do. 40

people in this room and watching on television, they would expect Mark

Selby to get through without difficulty. But he has to

capitalise on his lead and it is not easy. Did you know that we were

guaranteed to the first all English final in this championship in 20

years, I think it is. And who was in the last one? Jimmy White and a

certain John Parrott! What a memory you have! I am with Ken Doherty and

John Virgo. You are not averse to comebacks. Mark Davis has got it

all to do. But we have seen great comebacks already. Mark Selby

against Shaun Murphy last night. He has to get off to a good start. If

he does not you would have to say it is difficult and he could be out

of stock but the beauty about snooker is --. But the beauty about

snooker is taking one frame at a time will stop take each one as it

comes --. Take each one as it comes. A what will his approach be

tonight? Is it all about this first frame? I think the problem is that

he is in a new environment. He was a bit tentative. But look at what

happened in the eight frames. What he has got to do when he makes a

mistake is make the most of it. He needs a good start and he meets

three of the first four. -- he needs. Good evening. Saturday night

in York and this is the last session of snooker but for

tomorrow's final. Shaun Murphy is there. Who is going to join him? We

can find out now. A quiet it has had the most memorable week of his

21 year career. He has not out John Higgins and former winner, Matthew

Stevens. Can he mowed a comeback on this, the biggest match of his

life? Give him a big reception. The And his opponent, one of the most

colourful characters, the circuit. Ski stage a dramatic comeback

against Ryan Day and Neil Robertson. He is on the verge of what would be

his first UK Championship final. A double Masters champion. Give it up

for the Jester from Leicester, Mark We have met the players and the

commentators. We are in good hands. JOHN VIRGO: Thank you. We are all

set. Mark Davis will try to claw back. As we said just before, but

first four frames are so important. Literally, he has to play snooker

Absolutely. As we said this week, Mark Selby has made some fantastic

comeback. Mark Davis got a wonderful reception when he came

downstairs. They have seen a good few frames tonight, the audience

I do not think he has reached the top of his game this week but he is

He is looking at this red. These are the kind of pots that he needs

He played it with an element of safety. He played it in such a way

that he thought the only red he could have left was the one he was

playing. That is all right but he is not that good on the blue.

will give him a lift, getting shots The angle on this red, he does not

have the angle to take it on to the black. He might be able to get it

off the top cushion. He has got to Well, that is not too bad. He did

not get on to the top cushion but have a look at that. A nice little

You have got to play well and hope for a little bit of help from your

opponent. But he had a nice run there and he will be hoping that

He has knocked the red above it into a safe position. The only one

he can go for is the one at the top. Will that get into the bottom

Heavy contact and he has taken the pace out of the cue ball. The red

does pot into the right-hand corner pocket. This will be a tough shot

if he decides to take it. I do not know if he would be tempted this

time. I do not blame him for not playing it. The original red would

This is tough. Excellent pot. And he has got a good angle on the blue.

He could not have played that any Well, that is incredible. He hit

that with tremendous power. Just missed the pink on the way down. If

he hit that it would have been perfect. I am sure he would have

knocked a couple of reds into play. He has left a touching ball. He has

to play a wave. But the problem is that red near the green is causing

a few problems. If he can cover that red just above it, that would

be the ideal position. I think he can play the top cushion at the

He has played the containing safety. I thought it might have been

possible to put more pressure on Mark Selby with that safety. There

are two ways of climate. You can play a bit more aggressive or go

into your shell. -- ways of He was looking at the red below the

pink to see if he would be leaving anything. He has left, possibly,

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Not the best safety and we have got a red on to the left middle. A bit

of pressure on it. But he has got to take these opportunities when

I think that red might be a possibility for Mark Selby. A bit

more difficult than it was for Mark Davis. He can be a bit more

adventurous. It seems to me from the style of this game that maybe

keep it tight and do not take any risks. These reds into left centre

are a lot easier when you are 60 a He has gifted a great opportunity

for Mark Davis. And that should fill him with a bit of confidence

because that was a dreadful safety shot. You have got to jump on these

mistakes. Make the most of this now. A nice and easy starter. But black

is available and the reds are nicely spread. He has just got to

That did not go into the heart of the pocket but he will not mind. He

has to get his blue on the spot. He has got a nice angle on the blue

to come down to these reds and start playing for the black. That

is where you score heaviest. He has got a great chance and he must take

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Would you believe it? He wanted to That is not the best shot Mark

Selby has ever played. He is a bit How costly well that red before

Mark Davis? These are the situation as Mark Selby can excel in. It will

be a dent to his confidence and he needed his confidence to be high.

He needed it to get back into this He might try and get into a

position where he has got a choice of reds. He would love to get on to

that red next to the pink. If he can get right behind it... It is

That mistake from Mark Davis. He would not have missed many of them

this week. That flew will put him two a head. -- that Blue will put

He has not hit that very well. He will be disappointed. That was a

poor shot. It is not a formality He is able to roll back in and hold

the cue ball. The yellow will come He had a little problem but it

He will not have to worry about any difficult shots from brown to look.

That was flying off the side cushion. But it has just about

stopped. This will put him 21 in One snooker needed. Not impossible

just yet. Normally at the way to play this would be to try and get

tight in behind the black. Not a bad line. Not bad. It might come to

his help as well. He has got the snooker but it does not look that

difficult to hit. Not when you can get tied up behind the ball. --

He wasn't guaranteed to get the snooker. And if not, the main

He has hit that thinner than intended. With that pink close to

the black... Maybe it is worth trying to get the cue ball as far

down this end of the table as he In goes the blue. That will keep

Mark Davis in his chair. He will be very disappointed. He has conceded.

But he knows he had a great chance to take that opening frame. The

task just gets harder. Just a couple of frames away from a place

couple of frames away from a place in the final, leading 7-2.

started off with real gusto as we might expect but undone by a very

bad mistake. They would have been sat in the dressing room and the

hotel thinking, I have just won that first frame. And look at this.

Unforgivable. That is possibly his last chance to win this match even

there. Do you see that the same way? He got in first and started

scoring and they were all open and it was a chance. It was going his

way. You can get behind in a match and you are never the same. It is

going to be very heart. Especially against a player that does not give

you much. And also as we have already said, this is his first big

semi-final in Great Britain will start he has reached semi-finals --.

He has reached semi-finals in China and Australia but he must be

getting nervous. There is no getting away from it. But everybody

getting away from it. But everybody has to go through this some time

but stuck he has got to take --. He has got to take something from best.

His game is improving all the time. But there is still hope. Mark Selby

COMMENTATOR: Mark Selby has broken off. Mark Davis has got a couple of

chances. He can't get through to the potting angle because of the

It has just come up the cushion from the corner pocket. It makes

the pot a bit more difficult but he has left this one into the left

corner pocket. I am sure the black That was an excellent pot. Tight.

The black never touched the sides. He struck the black with a

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tremendous amount of confidence. He The top spin he employed helped to

arc it. It arrived too late and the cue ball went off as well. The are

caused just a little bit too late. Lovely behind the yellow.

You can get to the side cushion just before the right centre pocket

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but it is very tricky. There are a He needed a bit of luck there. He

got a little bit. Not much. I do not think he has left the pot on

Would you believe it? I did not think he could see enough of it and

he has it too much of it! Unbelievable how you can do that.

He maybe played with a trace of side to try to turn it over but he

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Slight Terry contact on the cue A little cannon would be the order

If he got back line, he would have been inch perfect. Overscrewed it

but the same effect. -- got back He had as good a chance as this in

the first frame and unexpectedly missed so we will not count our

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If the one at the extreme left will He wanted to be a bit straighter on

His next shot may be taken with the He has a 25 point lead. It looks

like the pink is tied up. The That is OK. He has not got a great

angle on the blue but he has only got to roll it in for a straight

That was the key shot of the frame. Potting that red and leaving a nice

Wide! Wide! Same pocket as the last Just when he looked as though he

was going to win the frame. He needed that black and one more

An uncharacteristic miss from Mark Selby has gifted the frame, you

A clever shot, bringing the other two reds into play. He played it

There is a little bit of pressure on this. He only needs the red but

he has missed a couple of balls But safely in this time. He needed

a couple of chances. Maybe he was fortunate to get this last one. I

said that he needed to play well and needed a bit of help from his

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There is no way Mark Selby is going to come to the table but the

gentlemanly conduct is that you do not concede when your opponent is

at the table. The green has not come in but it does not matter. I

think both players wish to get on with the next frame. Mark Davis

missed his opportunity in the first frame this evening but did not miss

that one. He needed a few chances but he took it in the end. He is

hanging on in there but still He was lucky to get that extra

chance at the end after missing the black off the spot but just signs -

and I don't know why because you can't say lack of concentration

because Mark Selby is too experienced for that - but a couple

of surprise misses. He had to use a bit of side on this one but this

was even more surprising. He had a great chance to steal the frame but

He will be very disappointed to at not taking those opportunities.

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Mark Selby was in first in that A terrific opening red. It needed

to stop short of the baulk line to be good on the colour and it did

He had the nice angle on the brown to play the run-through. This was a

terrific opening red. Good cueing. It just ran a little bit too far

but just had enough angle on the It does not look as though the pink

spot is available. The pink goes on its own spot in a direct line with

If he gets a real good angle, he may consider going into the cluster.

There is the red just above the black that is available into the

He forced the angle. If you have not got the natural angle and you

are forcing it, if you don't inject enough pace into the cue ball it

Another opportunity gone awry for The red he would like to play it is

the one on the left-hand cushion but it is covered by the brown. The

ones on the right hand side are covered by the green. He has a

He felt he could play a containing safety but wanted to avoid the

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double-kiss and he did not. A It is always ideal on the black is

That black put him 41 points in front.

Another 40 points, and it does not look too difficult, and the frame

You can see this pink going into the right hand corner pocket. The

From this position, you would have to say it is going to be another

That double-kiss may have cost Mark Davis another frame. He was in a

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He has already had 121 in the A good opportunity for another

That pink but since 70 points in front with-67 remaining. -- puts

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Grande the nice angle on the pink, drop the red in. He tried to take

the red out with the red in the same shot but the only problem with

that is the cue ball is too close Williamhill.com are donating �250

to a children's hospice for every century this week. Unfortunately,

it is not going to be another 250. But he has put another frame on the

He is nearly there and you get a sense that he just wishes to get

this over and done with that. would be ideal to have an early

night with the final tomorrow. If it is Selby and Murphy, you cannot

imagine it being their short final because they are so closely matched.

It could be 10-8, 10-7. Shaun Murphy has had a day after day to

try and get some practice for tomorrow. He has a natural

advantage in some ways, whoever he plays. Yes, and from a perspective

of Mark Selby's position, if he had a big night, he could be considered

the second favourite going into that final. It is nicely set up for

tomorrow. As a player, I have already disregarded the rest of

this. He is going to get through. I am looking to see who is going to

be stronger start of the two of them but I think Mark Selby has

done very well, especially when you think about the fact that at the

World Championship, he was very worried about his future, with his

neck. This will be great news for him and it will settle his mind in

many ways but for the future of his career, it is good. A Mark Selby

had a bulging disc at the back of his neck and has undergone

extensive physiotherapy. He was very concerned about his career at

one point but assures us he is back to full strength. He is still

receiving physiotherapy. It is such a difficult situation for a snooker

player because you are reliant on good health, particularly with your

positioning. A specially coming at the peak of his career. Near the

end of by not be such a catastrophe but coming when it has, when he has

gone to the world number one, nearer the beginning of his career

than the end, it must have been a frightening experience. And if he

were to get through tonight, he will go back to world number one.

Just when he was used to that for a year, Judd Trump took it off him,

but it must be a very satisfying thought and another incentive for

him to get over the line. Yes, because he was playing some of the

most consistent snooker. People were saying he was not the best but

he was certainly the most consistent. But he could not be so

consistent if he was going to have health problems. Health problems

have heard people in the past. Chris Small had to retire from

snooker. Martin Clark effectively stopped playing because of a bad

neck in the 1980s. -- Martin Clough. None of them are walking around

with bad backs like golfers but when it does strike, it is horrible.

Nearly time to get back out there. Put yourself in Mark Davis's

position. Are you still plugging away out there? Or are you taking

satisfaction from getting here in the first place. He will be

disappointed. He would like to have played the way he has been playing

all week. I hope he makes a couple of frames, a couple of big breaks,

just to show everyone that he deserves to be there. He has shown

us exactly what an amazing story it has been for him to come through

the last 18 months into the top 16. Or would you say are the hallmarks

of this story? -- what would you say. He has raised his consistency

level. To start believing a higher level is something you do not

expect from somebody as they get older in their career and he has

revelled in the amount of tournaments we have had. All of a

sudden, he has become a player we are looking to get to the last part

of the tournament. He is not a surprise any more. Yes, and he has

been called the most improved player on the circuit in the last

few months. That is what has brought him to this UK championship

semi-final but he is in deep trouble now. Mark Selby is looking

to tie up a place in tomorrow's For Mark Davis now, it is all about

pride. No player likes to get beaten before the middle session

interval. He will want to get into the final session. Can he do it?

You do not think about winning the match in a situation like best. You

are just playing for pride. But that is a very poor shot. He did

not get the right connections. Has it a run? It has run too far

and he is not on the black. As soon as he hit it, he thought it was

perfect but look at that on the top It is very easy to hit the black,

obviously but he will be leaving a red. He will try to cover the red

closest to the bottom right-hand corner pocket. He has nominated

green. Even if the red is left, it will still be very difficult for

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Terrific pot. Screwing back to the baulk. He will wish he fully

He has nestled behind the green. He is a bit early! I hope he got my

letter. I went to the most northerly Post Office in the world.

Apparently that is where all the letters are sent for Father

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He is getting a good line but he needs more pace. And when you play

these shops over two cushions, when you play with a bit more pace, it

can come off the cushion slightly different way. -- slightly

different. He has got a good line this time. It just caught the

knuckle! That is why he missed. I do not think he has got anything to

go at. Put it back. Mark Selby is saying, did you call a mess? He

said yes and he said really? -- Where's the cue ball going?! Will

he put it back this time? He has This looks better. This looks

He is considering the possibility of the pot. It is difficult to

judge the angle when you are disclosed. He is taking it on, is

he? Thinking about it. I do not think he will be leaving too much

Good shot. Held for Black. He has given himself a chance. Can he make

the most of it? That red next to the black spot is making it just a

He just wanted to clear that spot. He might choose to play this red to

the far right corner. There is Nice kiss on the blue, holding the

cue ball in the middle of the table. Can he take us to the middle

It needs to slow up a bit, all run along. But it might have just

landed inch perfect. He will settle for it. He can just get through to

it. He has not got to do much to the cue ball to get on the black.

Why did he not run through? Rolling it in, it looked like he could have

avoided a kiss on the black. He had no need to play the cannon. He did

not fancy roll in ed. That is all Mark Selby has been here before.

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Not certain to get this saved. The reds are spread. Coat of paint. But

you can understand the referee, with the reds being spread. We know

a his nickname, the Jester from Leicester. He could not have got

much closer. But he does not want to hit it any harder and leave a

pot. It is the same shot. But it is It is a good line and a good length.

That is not as good. I wonder if he will try and get back for a black

Good pot. Not a shot you would expect him to get. He will hope to

get the black back on the spot, or That was a good shot. Screwed back

for be read and back up for the This should open things up for him.

Looks pretty good. This one that he is closest to in the left-hand

corner is a little bit awkward. think if he can get on the pink, I

am not sure if it will get back on the spot. If it does not it will be

more beneficial to Mark Selby. It will certainly tied things up. It

is not the best position. It might get back on the spot and if it does

it will certainly have things tied If he had to do more with that cue

ball he would have been struggling. But he can play that little cannon

Just checking if it will or not. That market is the size of the ball

and it looks like it will get back on the spot. -- that marker. Now he

will be hoping it did get back on the spot. Tied up. That makes

matters worse. It is very close. Now, has he got an angle to get

He is on this red which was just about stopping the pink from coming

back on the spot. Have you got an angle to pot this red and get back

on for the black? Would that be too risky? If he had to play that with

any sort of pace, it could easily have been missed. He will

concentrate on the blue but it will not make it easy. This will put him

three behind. Not a formality at Good position. He has got a chance

to bring the pink into play but I think he will concentrate on the

blue. The fact that he has pots that red will release the others. -

- potted. He has hit it too hard. Very difficult. I do not think he

can keep this break going. He has got a three-point lead and I think

He was desperate to get behind the green but did not quite make it.

This frame well and truly in the This is a difficult shot that he is

faced with here. He will try to clip the outside. Always the

possibility of a double-kiss. Tough shot. Is there any value in trying

Just catching b n. Excellent. Very well worked out. -- the end of the

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Not the best safety shot. There is the possibility of a pot. If he was

tight on to the baulk cushion, he would not fancy his chances. But he

can swing back to the baulk. It is below one, nearest the top cushion

that looks to be the one to play. He played the top one. I thought to

be one further down. He has had half a result. Running safe. He

could have left an easier one than that for his opponent. He could

cannoned into the pink and red and He could say he has got away with

it. But Mark Davis should look at the positive. It was a match-

winning chance that Mark Selby has missed. And this can go to the left

middle. He does not have to do much with the cue ball to get on the

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The frame you need to win a match is always the hardest and he is

proving that theory correct at the Normally you would think, three

reds and three colours could get in the frame. But with where the reds

are, it is hard to see it happening. One shot at a time. Do not get

Do not cover yourself on this red. I do not care. As long as you are

on it, you can play the snooker behind the green. You do not want

this with too much pace. I would suggest putting it and playing for

the snooker. That is the problem with that type of shot. The problem

is that the red next to the pink was not available. If he made

certain of the red and played for the snooker behind the green, his

opponent would have been in all kinds of trouble. Wrong decision

Now, the problem of the last red. He cannot get to it from the blue.

Has he got an angle on the black way he can run through and kissed

the red? -- where he can run through and kiss the red? I do not

think he house. I do not think he has the angle. He is looking at the

What a shot this could be. This could be brilliant! Sensational

shot. And a little unlucky on the pink. This could have been a

formality but if he is not on the red he can get an easy snooker. But

is he determined to go for it? He is going for it. He has got it! Is

this pink going to block the blue? Of this black is not easy. But he

needs the black and BL8 to keep his That black was not easy. One of

those where you are trying to stun to the side cushion. He needed to

give that one a bit more thought. Shouts of get it in from the crowd.

He could be in trouble here. A bad shot again from Mark Selby. He has

played a very scrappy game. He might be in his comfort zone, but

you never know with this game. Mark Selby might regret those missed

He has left the pot with this yellow, but how is he going to get

to this green? He has got to avoid This would be some shot if he can

get on the green from here. Would you believe it?! But for that kiss

he would have been inch-perfect. It would have been one of the shots of

the championship. It is all about fractions. Perfect example. It

looked for all the world it was going to get past the black. The

problem is he cannot play dead weight. He would be leaving himself

He had to hit it hard and hope to get it safe. It is pottable. Mark

Davis just needs the green and In goes the green, nicely on the

brown. The brown will put him 22 points in front with just 18

Great cheers from the crowd. They want to keep this match going. They

He has got it all to do but you can only play their frames in front of

you and take the chances. But for a snooker, he will take us to the

I think he would have been a snooker even if the blue had not

kiss the pink. The thing is, with all these shot, if you can get to

one cushion for the escape, they The black is in a good position for

It was close and it was their! -- It is still a long way to come back

from but every credit to Mark Davis. He is only playing for pride. Mark

Selby will be ruing his missed opportunities. He could have been

over by now. But Mark Selby is still 8-4 in front but Mark Davis

Let's talk first of all about the tenacity and grip that Mark Davis

has shown in the last frame. He is not just going to roll over and

give it to Mark Selby. A great green to brown there. That was the

middle pocket that he had to negotiate with the cue ball. Mark

Selby took on some risky pots in that frame, may be trying to get

the match over with. But you have still does got to play the game and

get over the line. There is a danger when you can see the line

that the game starts to go off the boil. Yes, and I do not want to put

a dampener on it because we are supposed to talk things up but he

has done his job. End of, really. He has got to get over the line but

I do not the key is going to have a problem doing it. That is fairly

clear cut from your perspective! I am sure Mark Davis is not thinking

like that! Let's be honest, last night Shaun Murphy was in exactly

the same situation at 4-8, and he came down and won the next five.

can happen but I do not sense it, do you? No disrespect but we are

talking about two different players - one who has been in that position

a few times and won tournaments, but Mark Davis is new to this. I

can't see him going through four frames without giving Mark Selby

any chances, of which is what Shaun Murphy did last night. They are

going to have a cup of tea and think about it and why as they do,

let me remind you of how event for a championship this has been. Judd

Trump went out in round one and we have had all sorts of happening. We

had 17-year-old Luca Brecel going all the way to the quarter-finals.

We have had Dominic Dale competing despite the fact he did not know

the had chickenpox - one to forget - and then this from frame eight in

the second round match between John Higgins and Mark Davis. Remember

COMMENTATOR: Bread into the pocket that he can have a dig at. That is

more like it. Mark Davis did not get away with that. -- red into the

If you don't get a pure strike, you That was a lovely strike - Margaret

got the right action of the cue Of all the players on the circuit

to play this wonderful game, it is probably John Higgins who has made

more comebacks than anyone I have He will need special on this

evening, again. -- eight special one. He beat Mark Selby in the

World Championships one of the deity won. It was the best I have

ever seen anyone play. -- one of He has done it lots of times. All

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He is 5-2 down. He might be You, of all people, cannot have a

go at that. -- it a go at him for It would be quite ironic if he went

on to make one. He has not really had his shooting boots on this

evening break wise. A nice break of 47. If he does make it, it will be

But the right-hand side of these two reds and he will just be able

to stay on the black. He will have to disturb the five reds at this

If he plays a cannon on the right red of the five, he has got to

remember he has to win the frame first. He has got to keep an eye on

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A red to the left of the fall will The people on the other table are

I didn't think any of the three reds pot without disturbing them.

The cannon has got to be quite firm They would like to play the red in

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the middle first but I think it is He could not do any better than

this. You hold yourself together This is the shot. Nice on the brown

Absolutely perfect. What a Coming up, the biggest buzz you can

It's their! Absolutely brilliant. - - it is there. Superb cue ball

control all the way through and a fantastic end. He takes the frame.

5-3-Mark Davis. He has plenty left Albeit that John went on to lose

that match in the final frame decider, it was quite an

accomplishment. He has only got four to go and he is going to match

you and Ronnie. I thought when Ronnie retired, he could not beat

me but now and John is creeping up! It was a near-perfect textbook 147

maximum. We have had a lot of e- mails and tweets from you this week.

We have one from Jerry who asks what the best practice routine

would be for a break balling and safety. He has only dusted down his

crew - something you thought you would never see again, John Parrott

cue in hand! A couple of routines. You have

probably seen this before. This is a line up. We have got them down to

the pink and Henry the players will put them in between pink and black.

That is a good routine to get you going. Most players will use that

to warm up. They will Brit for stones and screws and position. If

you are more advanced player, this is fantastic because you have to

pot the bottom red to get on the black and leave an angle. Unless

your position is of a high standard, you will not be able to pot the

next red. This is a routine at a lot of the top boys used. John

Higgins certainly did. You keep doing that. Brilliant for your

maximum breaks. Safety now - what is the best way

to practise safety? Safety is not the most riveting

been to practice but is very important. There are a couple of

things you can do. If you are in the club and you want to play

safety, make it into again with a points system. You are always

trying to get the cue ball near to the cushion or somewhere close to

it. So if you put a block of chalk there and that is your line to get

behind, start off with the cue ball on the baulk line. You play a shot

down the table and she will be playing the same safety shot and

your intention is, if you can pot it, absolutely great. But if not,

you are trying to bring it down the table. I would get extra points for

the flick of the green. If you set up a points system with your pals,

then you can move the cue ball system back and when you of really

advanced, try playing off the cushion.

The master class continues. Simon and Robert have contacted us. They

are both asking the same question. "John Parrott talk about getting

the right side of the blue being the shot all players want to get

correctly. What do you mean by that and how is it achieved?" If you

finish on the right side of the blue, all you can do is pot it and

go right through and come back on a straight line.

You are keeping the cue ball further away from the reds. If the

cue ball is there, you have a multitude of shots and so many more

options to play. He could spin back and come off the cushion.

Everything can be played of the blue if you finish three-quarter

ball. There you are further away from the reds and have few options.

When are you coming out of retirement? I potted a few balls in

practice. It was amazing! I had my eyes closed for most of them!

sure Mark Davis is hoping it is not too late for him because he has a

huge amount to do. 4-8 behind. Mark Selby still does needs one to go

through to tomorrow's final. -- it still just needs.

A great reception as both players come back out. I managed to catch a

word with Mark Davis and that was one course he was aiming for - to

get past the mid-session interval. You have to set yourself little

girls. Thoughts of winning the And Mark Davis's position, did just

try and take each day as it comes. That is the best gloss of the to

Mark Selby has given him chances in each of the four frames, so he will

Just a fraction short of perfect position. He is posing a problem

Not a bad return but kissing the yellow does not make it too

difficult. Mark Davis can play a He would have to fully commit to

get the reds that he is able to go He played it knowing full well he

was going into the second red. He was on the black. These are very

The more pace you play, you put on a cue ball and the more difficult

it becomes. He had to play with a bit of pace to try to get out for a

Every safety shot, there is a lot of pressure because you know it may

I take all of what you're saying about the pressure but he knows

that if he is going to get anything out of this match, he has got to

start playing better than he has The way the reds are spread is

absolutely perfect for Mark Selby. If he had little practice during

the mid-session interval, it would It has come in a little pink but he

could still be on a couple of little reds into the left-hand

He obviously came too straight on the pink. This would not be the

He is a little bit straight on the Just a slight angle on the blue to

We were just looking good John Parrott's master class in the

interval and he was saying how important it was to be on the right

side of the blue. Those couple of inches just past the blue made it

It is looking quite ominous for He can't be too disappointed. He

has had a fantastic week. He has beaten some really good players

along the way in his first major semi-final on UK soil. I am sure we

are going to see many, many more of them. During the mid-session

interval, we watched his match against John Higgins when John

Higgins made that marvellous maximum and he came back to 5-5. He

At the moment, it looks as though it this semi-final was just a step

too far but he can build on his That is the problem with paying for

the blue. I'm sure he played for that red so the could go for the

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He has just run out of perfect He cannot afford to miss any ball

He could not afford a miss unless They are always a little bit tricky.

Not straightforward. Particularly with a little bit of sight. --

Judged that well. He has covered the path of the red which might

have been possible to the right hand corner. He is going to have to

get this absolutely perfect and not A bit unlucky. He played a pretty

good shot and a kiss on the green Where is that you ball going?! That

pocket is always there! Just making certain of the pot. Maybe he needed

to straighten it up to avoid that. He fully committed. He sits down in

his seat thinking that could be his last shot in this year's UK

Those two open reds with colours I am sure there have been a few

moments in this tournament where Mark Selby could not believe he

would get to the final. 3-0 down against Ryan Day and 4-0 down

against Neil Robertson. But he looks like he is a few shots away

from going out. We commentated on that match against Neil Robertson.

He used all his experience and matchplay instinct to get through

that match. It needs to travel a bit more. It needs to go by the

black. Still something left in this match. Funny, isn't it? Mark Davis

will be coming back to the table, it appears. He played a bad

position with his shot. He just needed one more red. But it will

not be at this visit, it appears. I do not think he can get past that

black to the potting angle. Does he feel he can swerve? It does not

look like it to me. I think is going to knock this up to baulk. He

needs at least two blacks if he is That could give another four points

the way. Would you believe it?! you said, the way it was, Mark

Davis needed to plaques and could have afforded one pink. -- two

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He was looking at this red into the corner. It may be worth having a go

at this red. He only needs one more. It is a difficult pot. But it may

He has hit it too hard. A slim chance for Mark Davis. That has

just given him a little bit more to Do not get me wrong, this will be

an unbelievable clearance if he can win it with this visit but all he

He would have liked to have gone Yellow is in a good position. He

That has made it a bad safety. He has made it a lot easier for Mark

Selby to get that safe. His wife. I suppose you thought you were going

to go out for dinner earlier, did Well, risky. I do not mind when

people attempt on the top cushion but when they only need the red for

frame and match... This is it for a He has given it every chance to

drop and it has done. The 39 in front. 35 remaining. He did not

need any pace at all. Just drop it. He needs to be careful. Behind the

green would be a better choice. A That was a decent hit. But he has

left the pot. Then that will be a He is not there yet. One snooker

I do not blame him for playing the pot and he has got a snooker!

unorthodox. But he will settle for Can he judged the pace of this? He

could play its low enough and try and get a snooker behind the pink.

It is risky going across. But it is a chance to get behind the pink.

Is it going to nestle behind the yellow? What a shot! Unfortunately,

although I do not think he can get directly to the red, it is an easy

hit. If he was fully behind the yellow, this would have been

He has got a good chance. Half all. I think he has got enough angle if

And he has potted. He is in the two snookers required stage. He has got

to take this black on and if he Now he is 37 behind and only 27

And the cue ball is close to the middle but that will be a

concession, I am sure. It's there are many times -- a great

performance from Mark Davis. He played well against John Higgins

and he can take that away with them. But it is Mark Selby, he has got it

and he will have a big match tomorrow playing Shaun Murphy.

Something to look forward to. He is through to the final. He has never

through to the final. He has never won the final before. It took a

while but he is there. He just got over the line and the first time he

has been in the final. This is a very big win for him. And he

grafted all week and he got what he deserved. He was out of it at 4-0

Down. He was not firing on all cylinders but he is plain enough

and doing enough to win the event. -- playing well enough. I think it

is hard when you get to 8-4. You know you are going to win 90 % of

the time and concentration can drift but he kept focused.

there he is, UK finalist. Congratulations. Hard graft in the

end. It was. Obviously I have started badly in the last few

matches. Today I started as it. I still did not perform but I did

play some good snooker. I was getting to about 40 and 50 and then

getting out opposition. I need to wear combat tomorrow. A great

victory because you are in the final for the first time and back

at world No. 1 officially. What does that mean to you? It is a

great feeling. To get back there is very special. But when I was there

before, I think I put a lot of pressure on myself. I will learn

from that and enjoy tomorrow. the moment I think it is 8-5 in

head to head with Shaun Murphy but what are your matches usually

right? We are more or less the same age and we went up together through

junior ranks. Every time the draws come out we had either been in the

same half or one of us has lost every. And you have got two ranking

titles already with the Masters. But you have still yet to get one

of the big ones, this one, or the world title. How motivated are you

feeling? The way I have played this week, it has not been fantastic. I

have been grounded and played good match snooker but I need to play a

lot better. You have taken five centuries so far. But not

consecutively. All the best and thank you for popping in to see us

tonight and all the best for tomorrow. We are back at 2:15pm