Day 9, Part 1

:00:47. > :00:52.Welcome back to the big-time! Mark Welcome back to the big-time! Mark

:00:52. > :00:57.Joyce beats the world No. 1 and reigning champion. That is the end

:00:57. > :01:07.of this year's UK Championship for Mark Allen. Mark Williams, gracious

:01:07. > :01:09.

:01:09. > :01:12.in defeat. Absolutely brilliant, John Higgins. Maximum break. Neil

:01:13. > :01:19.Robertson, I would think he is absolutely shell-shocked. Mark

:01:19. > :01:25.Selby somehow has turned it around. He missed a couple of pinks which

:01:25. > :01:28.would have got him into the semi- final. Shaun Murphy goes through.

:01:28. > :01:35.Ali Carter congratulates Shaun Murphy on quite a remarkable

:01:35. > :01:41.comeback. Great performance from Mark Davis. But it is Mark Selby

:01:41. > :01:44.going through to the final. He has going through to the final. He has

:01:44. > :01:48.got a big match facing Shaun Murphy. Something to really look forward to.

:01:48. > :01:53.Good afternoon. This unforgettable sporting year might be closing but

:01:53. > :01:58.we have still got a couple of big prizes to claiming 2012, starting

:01:58. > :02:04.today at the York Barbican Centre in the final of this Championship.

:02:04. > :02:09.They are playing for a first prize of �125,000. That has got to

:02:09. > :02:13.improve the quality of your Christmas list. But if it is

:02:13. > :02:23.quality you are after, quality you shall get. With the newly-restored

:02:23. > :02:25.

:02:25. > :02:30.world No. 1 Mark Selby facing the I think it is going to be very

:02:30. > :02:34.tough game. He would not give you anything. We are really good mates

:02:34. > :02:37.but that will be left behind in the dressing room. When we step out

:02:37. > :02:46.there we will try to kill each other. We will love the banter

:02:47. > :02:50.because of it. He is a great player. We have known each other a long

:02:50. > :02:55.while and we are great friends of the table but on the table we will

:02:55. > :02:59.try to beat each other but we will still be friends. We go back such a

:02:59. > :03:04.long way and we have always said to each other it would be nice to play

:03:04. > :03:09.each other in a final. It would be amazing. I looked at the roll of

:03:09. > :03:13.honour when we got here last week and I saw the names and we have got

:03:13. > :03:17.some serious names on that trophy. Some people have taken it more than

:03:17. > :03:27.once and that is an even smaller group and they are going to go down

:03:27. > :03:28.

:03:28. > :03:31.in history. To have a chance of joining that club... It would be an

:03:31. > :03:35.amazing feeling just to win the tournament with the standard the

:03:35. > :03:45.way it is at the moment. It is a great achievement to win the second

:03:45. > :03:47.

:03:47. > :03:52.biggest tournament on our calendar. come through the junior ranks

:03:52. > :03:58.together but they have never met in a major final before. Murphy has

:03:58. > :04:02.the edge in previous professional encounters at 8-5. But be just a

:04:02. > :04:08.from Leicester had the last laugh in the air and the other long

:04:08. > :04:12.format match at the Crucible five years ago. Factor all of that into

:04:12. > :04:17.years ago. Factor all of that into your computations. It is certainly

:04:17. > :04:22.one of the biggest stages in a player's career. Steve Davis and

:04:22. > :04:28.Ken Doherty now without major finals. This would be a significant

:04:28. > :04:32.victory for either player for different reasons. Shaun Murphy was

:04:32. > :04:37.asked how he would feel about being a multiple champion and cementing

:04:37. > :04:43.his place in the game. But it could be considered more important for

:04:43. > :04:47.Mark Selby. The best in the world but yet to win this championship.

:04:47. > :04:52.In the eyes of players around the world, they are monumental great

:04:52. > :04:59.players anywhere. Who is it more important for? We are splitting

:04:59. > :05:04.hairs. And I have not got as many as you! Who has played better to

:05:04. > :05:09.get to the final and is it important? They have both had a

:05:09. > :05:17.difficult road to the final. Luca Brecel could have put one of them

:05:17. > :05:22.out of this tournament. And that match against Neil Robertson. As

:05:22. > :05:27.the tournament has gone on, they have got better. Shaun Murphy has

:05:27. > :05:31.kicks on more. But Mark Selby and his matchplay and instincts of

:05:31. > :05:36.keeping him there even when he is not playing well, his game is so

:05:36. > :05:43.good. No matter what he brings to the table, it will always be a

:05:43. > :05:52.tough match with M. It will be fascinating. Can you pick a winner?

:05:52. > :05:56.No! It is going to go very close. It will be 10-8, or 10-92 either

:05:56. > :06:04.player. The best thing we can do is to get the players in the

:06:04. > :06:08.auditorium. -- 10-9. What a climax we have got in store for this

:06:08. > :06:18.year's UK Championship. It has been an epic week and we have got an

:06:18. > :06:36.

:06:36. > :06:40.epic showdown. Without further ado, Please welcome a class act on and

:06:40. > :06:47.off the baize. His comeback against Ali Carter in the semi-final was

:06:47. > :06:52.one of his greatest moments in the game. Attempting a second UK title,

:06:52. > :06:58.the 2005 world champion, he has had a sublime week and can he keep it

:06:58. > :07:08.going? We can find out. Ladies and gentlemen, shorn of the Magician

:07:08. > :07:38.

:07:38. > :07:43.And his opponent, one of the most colourful characters on the circuit.

:07:43. > :07:48.A brilliant comeback this week against Ryan Day and Neil Robertson.

:07:48. > :07:54.He recaptured the world No. 1 spot last night. He is bidding for his

:07:54. > :08:04.first UK title. Ladies and gentlemen, the Jester from

:08:04. > :08:27.

:08:27. > :08:32.HAZEL IRVINE: This is and has the makings of a great afternoon and a

:08:32. > :08:37.great final and guiding us through the opening frames in the best-of-

:08:37. > :08:41.19 his A-team that has seen some great sessions already. Stephen

:08:41. > :08:46.Hendry and Dennis Taylor. Good afternoon everybody at home and

:08:46. > :08:52.what a reception both players have got at the Barbican Centre. Both

:08:52. > :09:00.had a standing ovation. We have had at the this audiences all week here

:09:00. > :09:10.and I just hope the final lives up to expectations. -- fabulous

:09:10. > :09:23.

:09:23. > :09:33.REFEREE: The first frame. Shaun Shaun Murphy won the toss and

:09:33. > :09:35.

:09:35. > :09:40.elected to break. This is the First to 10 frames. Ken Doherty and Steve

:09:40. > :09:50.Davis would not commit themselves and I do not blame them. It is

:09:50. > :10:06.

:10:06. > :10:16.tough to decide who is going to be I agree with Steve Davis, Mark

:10:16. > :10:33.

:10:33. > :10:37.Selby just getting to world No. 1, I think it is important to cement

:10:37. > :10:44.your ranking by winning one of the big events. After the World

:10:44. > :10:48.Championship, this is the next biggest. The UK, the World

:10:48. > :10:57.Championship at the Masters. They are the top tournaments in the

:10:57. > :11:07.world. They are all pretty difficult to win. Shaun Murphy as

:11:07. > :11:21.

:11:21. > :11:31.won or three. -- has a won or free. His safety is going to have to be a

:11:31. > :11:31.

:11:31. > :11:40.lot better. On that occasion he was a bit unlucky. He could not take

:11:40. > :11:44.the green on but he has got second best. He has blocked the path to

:11:44. > :11:54.the red and with a red either side of the bunch, not easy for Mark

:11:54. > :12:05.

:12:05. > :12:12.He just got into it too much and didn't finish on the green. And he

:12:12. > :12:18.was in a bit of a whole, to say the least. Shaun Murphy has got another

:12:18. > :12:28.chance. Black tied up. Lou available. I am not sure about the

:12:28. > :12:35.

:12:35. > :12:45.pink. It might go into the left- Pink also available to the middle

:12:45. > :12:53.

:12:53. > :13:00.I think he needed a day off after that match against Ali Carter. To

:13:00. > :13:06.come back after five frames was an unbelievable performance. I am not

:13:06. > :13:16.sure what is best, to have a day off, or playing the day before the

:13:16. > :13:33.

:13:33. > :13:41.final. But it certainly helps to He just nudged it back when he was

:13:41. > :13:48.putting it back to the balls. has been referee in three finals in

:13:48. > :13:55.China. It is a big day for him, as the white gaze into the bunch. A

:13:55. > :14:02.possible pot in the right middle. He did not get high enough on the

:14:02. > :14:12.blue with the cue ball. It is difficult to generate enough speed

:14:12. > :14:32.

:14:32. > :14:42.That day of rest does not seem to have made much difference. He

:14:42. > :15:10.

:15:10. > :15:20.started today the way he finished It might take a while to get the

:15:20. > :15:33.

:15:33. > :15:43.pink. It has got to go behind the Pink and black are totally out of

:15:43. > :15:48.the game at the moment. He has not got the angle to go into the bunch.

:15:48. > :15:58.It is imperative he gets the correct angle on the blue to go for

:15:58. > :16:09.

:16:09. > :16:14.It looks like he is going a bit too far. He is looking at the blue but

:16:14. > :16:24.you can tell by that expression that he doesn't like it. We keep

:16:24. > :16:28.

:16:28. > :16:38.talking about his power. Watch the It was never going to be easy, but

:16:38. > :17:12.

:17:12. > :17:22.He could do with a touching ball, just to resolve this. He cannot run

:17:22. > :17:46.

:17:46. > :17:50.Back to normal after that shot. He can take the white up the table.

:17:50. > :18:00.The natural angle from that red would just take him up past the

:18:00. > :18:09.

:18:09. > :18:19.He is going thin. That is close to the pocket. In fact he almost got a

:18:19. > :18:21.

:18:21. > :18:31.snooker. He just got that much too thin. I did not think that is a

:18:31. > :18:36.

:18:36. > :18:41.three-ball plant. But hang on there. He is wondering if he can make that.

:18:41. > :18:51.It would be macro 4 balls but he might squeeze is away. -- a for all

:18:51. > :18:58.

:18:58. > :19:08.He does not look to have settled, Mark Selby. He has made a few

:19:08. > :19:08.

:19:08. > :20:04.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:20:04. > :20:14.Nice touch, Shaun Murphy. Tight on No escape for Mark Selby. Using

:20:14. > :20:15.

:20:15. > :20:25.this end as a safety and sending the red back-up. He might have left

:20:25. > :20:39.

:20:39. > :20:42.at red next to the pink. I think that could go. That is surprising.

:20:42. > :20:52.If the white at not been tight on the cushion, this would have been

:20:52. > :21:13.

:21:13. > :21:20.And that just shows you how lively the cloth is. A bit of a

:21:20. > :21:30.distraction did not help Shaun Murphy. He had to get back down

:21:30. > :21:42.

:21:42. > :21:52.Well, he will take that. He has now got the perfect angle on the blue

:21:52. > :21:57.

:21:57. > :22:04.Just this growing at the moment. He did not intend to hit the knuckle

:22:04. > :22:14.of the pocket but it could not have turned out better. As you say, he

:22:14. > :22:19.

:22:19. > :22:25.will take it. But he has got to be I think he was worried about that.

:22:25. > :22:35.He thought he might plant the two reds into the colour pocket. He did

:22:35. > :22:35.

:22:35. > :23:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:23:25. > :23:31.A bit of a problem here. There is his wife in the middle. And her

:23:31. > :23:41.sister and his manager and his manager's wife, or coming all the

:23:41. > :24:02.

:24:02. > :24:11.way from Russia. Did Michael Ladies, That was the first quality safety

:24:11. > :24:19.shot he has played in this final so far. An excellent shot to find the

:24:19. > :24:29.path between the balls next to the cushion. They are both fantastic

:24:29. > :24:31.

:24:31. > :24:37.tactical players. We are getting a bit of everything in this final. We

:24:37. > :24:47.will see some high breaks and high- quality safeties. The referee has

:24:47. > :25:20.

:25:20. > :25:30.asked the audience to turn down a I like that shot. Bringing the

:25:30. > :25:40.

:25:40. > :25:50.black in to play. A very good, positive safety shot. He could

:25:50. > :26:14.

:26:14. > :26:24.avoid the black here. Out of the REFEREE: Can you please make sure

:26:24. > :26:36.

:26:36. > :26:43.It is always nice to draw first blood. You were one of the best at

:26:43. > :26:53.winning the opening frames, along with Steve Davis. You were winning

:26:53. > :27:08.

:27:08. > :27:18.throughout the 1990s as he was The Barbican Centre here in York

:27:18. > :27:34.

:27:34. > :27:43.That is what these players practise all hours for, to be in places like

:27:43. > :27:48.this in one of the biggest tournaments in the season. If you

:27:48. > :27:58.cannot get a buzz from playing games like this, then you will

:27:58. > :28:35.

:28:35. > :28:43.never get a buzz, would you? Still He has not quite got the angle to

:28:43. > :28:49.take this red into the corner and finish on the black. He will maybe

:28:49. > :28:59.try and pot this. It would not leave a great deal but it still

:28:59. > :29:01.

:29:01. > :29:07.He forced the angle to get on to the black and look where the red

:29:07. > :29:17.has come, right over the middle pocket. It was just pace keeping

:29:17. > :29:20.that red out. When they rattle in the jaws, they go out to be called

:29:20. > :29:30.a pocket usually but he has been unlucky and it has come out towards

:29:30. > :29:44.

:29:44. > :29:54.The green is going to be awkward because of the free reds. That is

:29:54. > :30:08.

:30:08. > :30:18.why he is taking the blue. -- three Great shot and a good cue ball. He

:30:18. > :30:24.

:30:24. > :30:29.has certainly played into an area You are looking at two players who

:30:29. > :30:39.turned professional together, grown up in my game together and they are

:30:39. > :30:53.

:30:53. > :30:59.two fantastic ambassadors more the It does not matter how close you

:30:59. > :31:09.are off the table, all the table it is a whole new ball-game. -- on the

:31:09. > :31:27.

:31:27. > :31:37.A quick glance at the scoreboard, if he can get the two loose reds

:31:37. > :31:37.

:31:37. > :32:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:32:30. > :32:36.with colours, the frame will be Surprising mess on the blue --

:32:36. > :32:46.missed that a snooker needed. will be annoyed at missing that

:32:46. > :32:46.

:32:46. > :34:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:34:44. > :34:54.He would like to have seen or read disappear because every chance to

:34:54. > :35:03.

:35:03. > :35:07.get now, but he cannot really hold He did try to force that to come

:35:07. > :35:17.back round the table so he is having to take the long pink. This

:35:17. > :35:19.

:35:19. > :35:23.And he looks over at Shaun and says that is enough for this frame. No

:35:23. > :35:27.big breaks, the balls were a little bit awkward but Shaun Murphy has

:35:27. > :35:31.done what he wanted to do and he started the match by taking the

:35:31. > :35:36.opening frame. HAZEL IRVINE: 26 minutes for the

:35:36. > :35:41.opening frame, a bit cagey, obviously it. Ken and John and tell

:35:41. > :35:45.me, the two styles of these guys. What sort of final tee you think it

:35:45. > :35:50.lends itself to? I think it looks like it could be a close final

:35:50. > :35:58.because of the styles of play. I am not saying that Mark Selby is that

:35:58. > :36:02.much slower than Shaun but slightly more... How shall we say it, a more

:36:02. > :36:08.of a match player. Selby can make it difficult match plate which is

:36:08. > :36:12.probably the way he will look at this final if he is not at the best.

:36:12. > :36:15.He has played well but overall has not been at his best. A I it think

:36:15. > :36:21.it is important for Shaun Murphy, when he gets the chance to close

:36:21. > :36:24.out the frame, he should have closed it out like with that blue.

:36:24. > :36:29.He wants to kill off the frame, said his energy for the next one

:36:29. > :36:32.rather than letting Selby drag on and playing for snookers because

:36:32. > :36:37.that can come back and take a bit out of you towards the end of the

:36:37. > :36:42.match. What has been so good in this match, a serious business out

:36:42. > :36:45.there at the table but before they went out to play, very seldom do

:36:45. > :36:49.you get two finalists in the same practice room having a laugh and

:36:49. > :36:52.joke. They are obviously great friends and it was lovely to see

:36:52. > :37:01.the level of relaxation between these two men before they went out

:37:01. > :37:04.DENNIS TAYLOR: That can happen. My best friend on the service -- best

:37:04. > :37:14.friend on the circuit was Cliff Thorburn, and we probably hated

:37:14. > :37:26.

:37:26. > :37:32.each other with a dependence on the The only thing with Mark Selby, I

:37:32. > :37:36.hope he does not try too hard to get that big major under his belt.

:37:36. > :37:42.Sometimes when you try too hard, it doesn't happen but he is well

:37:42. > :37:49.experienced. He has been the world number one on a number of occasions.

:37:49. > :37:59.A terrific amount of experience. He will have to call on all that

:37:59. > :38:25.

:38:25. > :38:30.It all depends how the balls will split up. It dictates how the match

:38:30. > :38:35.will be. If you get the big colours going safe early on, you will get

:38:35. > :38:38.tactical play more. You never know with a game of snooker how they

:38:38. > :38:48.will break up at the beginning of a frame.

:38:48. > :38:54.

:38:54. > :39:04.Have a look at that shot! How hard did he cue that, Stephen?

:39:04. > :39:04.

:39:04. > :39:13.stunning long pot. And the queue power. -- cue power, is phenomenal.

:39:13. > :39:23.A great shock to have in your To be able to do that with very

:39:23. > :39:50.

:39:50. > :39:59.little at that is a huge advantage. Not a bad set to return shot there.

:39:59. > :40:04.-- not a bad safety return. The white stops and then starts to spin

:40:04. > :40:06.back and we can show you with the black and white ball, it is amazing,

:40:06. > :40:16.watch how it stopped there and almost certain it picks up speed

:40:16. > :40:38.

:40:38. > :40:46.and keeps on coming back. All done And now a useful snooker behind the

:40:46. > :40:49.yellow. Mark immediately will be looking through to a route behind

:40:49. > :40:59.the red and he is so close to the yellow, it will not be easy to find

:40:59. > :41:06.

:41:06. > :41:11.If he can get enough side on this, he can get across the table twice

:41:11. > :41:21.to get there but there's a red a slightly in the way it there and he

:41:21. > :41:21.

:41:21. > :41:27.Possibly if he could see enough of that he could get was a cross and

:41:27. > :41:37.land on that red, I am not sure if that red is... The line is in the

:41:37. > :41:52.

:41:52. > :41:57.wake there, said he has got an That was a slightly more risky

:41:57. > :42:07.escape but may be a two-cushion escape, he was frightened of

:42:07. > :42:36.

:42:36. > :42:40.hitting the road that was to the I am not sure if he can hold this

:42:40. > :42:46.white or whether he will try to go round the table to get back up to

:42:46. > :42:56.the reds. Lots of colours in the way. He has avoided the brown and

:42:56. > :43:26.

:43:26. > :43:35.The black now on the green spot, I think the pink pots to the right

:43:35. > :43:43.corner pocket. He has got a choice with this road. It depends where

:43:43. > :43:53.the pink will be re-spotted, of He does not want to block another

:43:53. > :44:12.

:44:12. > :44:15.He keeps so still on the shot, Shaun. One of the players that

:44:15. > :44:25.doesn't seem to have any movement in his head when he delivers the

:44:25. > :44:26.

:44:26. > :44:31.cue. It is very difficult to Even on the power shots, he seems

:44:31. > :44:41.to keep his head perfectly still in contrast to Mark Selby who moves

:44:41. > :45:00.

:45:00. > :45:06.around a little bit on the shot. If he gets on a roll, the way he

:45:06. > :45:14.played against Ali Carter, and get a few frames against Mark Selby in

:45:14. > :45:20.front, he will take some stopping. The cannon on the brown this helped,

:45:20. > :45:30.he ever had that. He removed the red from the black spot and played

:45:30. > :45:33.

:45:33. > :45:42.to get on the black there and One of the things that Shaun does

:45:42. > :45:46.more than any player, he tends to play a lot of position shots and

:45:46. > :45:56.overhit them. He times the ball so well but possibly it is more

:45:56. > :46:32.

:46:32. > :46:36.reaction from the cue ball than I am not sure if the red next to

:46:36. > :46:44.the pink... He is looking at it now to see if it will go in the left

:46:45. > :46:54.corner. It is pretty tight, that. As we bring our camera in, it's

:46:55. > :47:06.

:47:06. > :47:16.Shaun not taking any risk for He looked the more comfortable of

:47:16. > :47:26.the two players. -- looks. He has got his first frame on the board,

:47:26. > :47:39.

:47:39. > :47:42.hasn't he? Always settles you down. It will be interesting to see if he

:47:43. > :47:52.plays for that read now, the one next to the pink after potting this

:47:53. > :47:57.

:47:57. > :48:07.He has played a can -- Cannon, that was very well played with the rest.

:48:07. > :48:11.

:48:11. > :48:21.He is definitely one of the top two or three players in the world with

:48:21. > :48:28.

:48:28. > :48:38.94% is very impressive. I am glad they did not have those statistics

:48:38. > :48:43.

:48:43. > :48:49.when I was playing! It would be The white is in, the white is in.

:48:49. > :48:53.Awkward cueing and he never thought the white would go in. It was some

:48:53. > :49:00.shot to put the red from that position but a trick shot to get

:49:00. > :49:07.the white in also. And is there a possible plant here to be made?

:49:07. > :49:17.Could that be a turning point? Two reds there to the left and he might

:49:17. > :49:34.

:49:34. > :49:39.just plant the second one into the As you can see, it had to be made.

:49:39. > :49:49.A choice of playing the yellow with a rest or playing the green in the

:49:49. > :49:59.

:49:59. > :50:09.He is choosing the first choice. It is much easier to control with

:50:09. > :50:40.

:50:41. > :50:44.I was going to suggest he would play a cannon but it did not look

:50:44. > :50:54.like he played that because he did not hit it that hard. Still on this

:50:54. > :50:59.

:50:59. > :51:05.Has he finished straight on this red? Yes, he has got a bit of

:51:05. > :51:15.angled to screw out on the black. In fact, he could stand out on to

:51:15. > :51:25.

:51:25. > :51:35.A bit of an early turning point in the match, Shaun was on his way to

:51:35. > :51:49.

:51:49. > :51:59.leading 2-0. And tell that in-off. He has got a slight angle and the

:51:59. > :52:09.

:52:10. > :52:19.last thing he wanted to do was He will probably play off two

:52:20. > :52:25.

:52:25. > :52:30.REFEREE: Can you put that camera I think there was someone with a

:52:30. > :52:40.camera, the referee spotted him saying he is having the cue ball

:52:40. > :52:47.

:52:47. > :52:57.He is giving him a Colin Montgomerie Tapper of look there! -

:52:57. > :53:12.

:53:12. > :53:22.Played beautifully. That was a superb position shot

:53:22. > :53:49.

:53:49. > :53:53.So he needs the brown. Giblin and Even the great players never settle

:53:53. > :54:03.until they get the first frame on the board. He has left it awkward

:54:03. > :54:23.

:54:23. > :54:31.but he only needs the pinks so he Well played, Mark Selby!

:54:32. > :54:39.Shaun Murphy a bit unlucky but that was a superb clearance at 54 from

:54:39. > :54:42.Mark Selby and nothing to pick between the players, one from all.

:54:42. > :54:47.-- one frame all. The first to 10 but very important, that frame,

:54:47. > :54:50.because Shaun Murphy was getting into his stride and looking good,

:54:50. > :54:53.and although a sudden he was hampered and he had a difficult

:54:53. > :54:57.shot to take up into the corner pocket. I suppose he never thought

:54:57. > :55:07.about the cue ball going in the middle, did he? Of estate he didn't

:55:07. > :55:08.

:55:08. > :55:12.think the angle was there -- obviously he didn't. He has left a

:55:12. > :55:17.plant. He is not dead set but he is coming from the right side of the

:55:17. > :55:26.rest to make it comfortably. He played the cue ball with not that

:55:26. > :55:29.much speed, deliberately to land on a cover. He could not play its off

:55:29. > :55:33.one cushion and he finished up using two cushions and that is a

:55:33. > :55:36.shot the players will practice but to trouble all this way with a

:55:36. > :55:41.little touch of right hand side, two cushions and to miss the yellow,

:55:41. > :55:47.that was the shot of the break and that paved the way to giving him

:55:47. > :55:57.the frame. That is what they are playing for, this beautiful trophy

:55:57. > :55:59.

:55:59. > :56:07.that Stephen Hendry has won on five I think these players have said

:56:07. > :56:17.many times are so finely matched, it could be whoever wins is the

:56:17. > :56:29.

:56:29. > :56:39.person who wins the most That is a super pot. It just shows

:56:39. > :56:39.

:56:40. > :56:49.you how confident he is after See how low he is hitting the cue

:56:50. > :57:03.

:57:03. > :57:10.The white is almost tight on the But that is certainly not terrific

:57:10. > :57:20.cueing. No, he is annoyed comic he ever screwed the yellow and left

:57:20. > :57:34.

:57:34. > :57:39.himself with a thin neck out. -- a He rarely misses those as Stevens

:57:39. > :57:49.says. At least the pink and black out of commission that may not be

:57:49. > :57:49.

:57:49. > :58:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:58:44. > :58:49.He thought he might nudge the reds He works so hard at his game, Mark,

:58:49. > :58:53.and throughout this UK Championship even at the mid-session interval,

:58:53. > :59:02.he has been in the practice room. Other players go back to their

:59:02. > :59:09.dressing room but Mark is always on beat practice table. -- on the

:59:09. > :59:19.practice table. A perfect angle on the green if he wants to go in and

:59:19. > :59:32.

:59:32. > :59:36.to the green and reds, get plenty He did not get as much pace in that

:59:36. > :59:41.cue ball as he would have liked. Perhaps the angle was a bit thin.

:59:41. > :59:51.It is hard to generate the speed on the cue ball if you do not have the

:59:51. > :00:06.

:00:06. > :00:16.Is there a plant into the middle He might even be able to play the

:00:16. > :00:16.

:00:16. > :01:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:01:40. > :01:45.Well. He would like to have a go at that one again, that was a total

:01:45. > :01:55.mishit. He has left Mark Selby right among them. That is very

:01:55. > :02:28.

:02:28. > :02:38.unlike Shaun Murphy to make a Not sure about that shot. He is

:02:38. > :02:38.

:02:38. > :03:39.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:03:39. > :03:49.That is not what he intended by any He has left himself awkward on the

:03:49. > :04:00.

:04:00. > :04:10.He didn't have do much thinking about position, just make sure of

:04:10. > :04:31.

:04:31. > :04:35.I think the cloth is catching both players out. It is so lively. He is

:04:35. > :04:40.just about OK. Looked like it was going to slip in behind the pink,

:04:40. > :04:50.from that picture, you think he was snookered on it. From the other

:04:50. > :04:50.

:04:50. > :06:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:06:35. > :06:45.Shaun was looking the more Now it is Mark Selby that looks the

:06:45. > :07:13.

:07:13. > :07:23.more relaxed. It is going to be a He looks in terrific shape in the

:07:23. > :07:29.

:07:29. > :07:39.way he finished that previous frame, The psychological boost he would

:07:39. > :07:50.

:07:50. > :08:00.Mark Selby has gone from strength Unlucky there. Tried to free the

:08:00. > :08:06.

:08:06. > :08:11.There was a possibility of a century, but I tell you what, that

:08:11. > :08:15.was a terrific 66 from Mark Selby. He gets himself in front. He now

:08:15. > :08:21.leads 2-1. HAZEL IRVINE: It has been a special occasion in that

:08:21. > :08:28.arena even before the match got under way. World snooker's official

:08:28. > :08:32.charity is Blue bell Wood children's hospice and we had a

:08:32. > :08:36.visit from pupils and staff who have released a single. It is out

:08:36. > :08:41.today, it is called Stand Together. All the money raised from that will

:08:42. > :08:46.be going to the children's hospice, the players are doing their bit,

:08:46. > :08:51.the sponsors are donating �250 for every century made, we have had 33

:08:51. > :08:55.so far, so over �8,000. And all fines from some of the players are

:08:55. > :09:02.going straight there as well. I am not encouraging anything by the

:09:02. > :09:07.way! It was a wonderful moment when the kids gave us a song.

:09:07. > :09:14.# We'll stand together # Shoulder to shoulder

:09:14. > :09:18.# Stand together # As the days become colder

:09:18. > :09:26.# Stand together # Side by side you and I

:09:26. > :09:33.# Together we're strong # And when your hopes and dreams

:09:33. > :09:43.have all gone # We'll stand together as one

:09:43. > :09:55.

:09:55. > :09:58.# Together as one. # That was Sarah with the lead vocal

:09:58. > :10:02.there. What a fantastic voice she has, congratulations to all

:10:02. > :10:07.concerned and we hope you have a number one smash on your hands, all

:10:07. > :10:17.for the Bluebell Wood children's hospice. Meanwhile, back to

:10:17. > :10:22.

:10:22. > :10:26.That was a great moment in the Barbican Centre. The children were

:10:26. > :10:30.singing there. Got even in a great mood. There have been -- they have

:10:30. > :10:40.been in a superb mood throughout the UK Championship. Always goes

:10:40. > :10:45.

:10:45. > :10:55.down well in York, at this lovely One more frame before the mid-

:10:55. > :10:55.

:10:55. > :12:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:12:07. > :12:12.The red to the right corner, when you are going over, all you need is

:12:12. > :12:22.the slightest millimetre, unwanted, and it pulls the cue ball away, so

:12:22. > :12:29.

:12:29. > :12:39.important to make sure you strike Well played. Didn't expect him to

:12:39. > :12:41.

:12:41. > :12:46.miss it, but you have to give a bit That is where the height comes in

:12:46. > :12:56.handy, both players are over six feet tal. When you are bridging

:12:56. > :13:09.

:13:09. > :13:19.It is not a good pack to go into from the black, because of the way

:13:19. > :13:19.

:13:19. > :14:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:14:05. > :14:15.Have you have to play with too much bottom on the cue ball you tend to

:14:15. > :14:34.

:14:34. > :14:41.bring it back to the black cushion, . Look at the power he generated

:14:41. > :14:51.there. The whited then it spins on. -- the white stopped, then it spins

:14:51. > :14:54.

:14:54. > :14:58.You see the advantage of playing the split from the cushion, because

:14:58. > :15:08.the white ball stays in among the reds, when you are playing from low

:15:08. > :15:18.

:15:18. > :15:28.in the black, the white ball comes John Higgins can rest easy for

:15:28. > :15:35.

:15:35. > :15:45.another frame! Yes, that maximum �10,000 for a maximum break, and

:15:45. > :15:58.

:15:58. > :16:08.3,500 for the highest break, he has He has come up a bit short. I don't

:16:08. > :16:08.

:16:08. > :16:12.know whether he got a slightly He potted the red in the right hand

:16:12. > :16:22.side, he almost missed it. Therefore, the cue ball didn't go

:16:22. > :16:34.

:16:34. > :16:44.Looking to see if one red passes the other, it is a slightly easier

:16:44. > :17:01.

:17:01. > :17:10.pot than the one that is closest to The pink is available. Good shot

:17:10. > :17:15.I think he is having the cue ball cleaned because of the way he is

:17:15. > :17:23.going to clean the pink. If you are rolling it and dropping it in,

:17:23. > :17:33.Mark Selby, he can't do much about this, so there is very little

:17:33. > :17:33.

:17:33. > :18:50.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:18:50. > :18:58.That is the frame safe. He can concentrate on making the century

:18:58. > :19:08.break now. He made 34 centuries last season. Mark Selby made 55

:19:08. > :19:17.

:19:17. > :19:25.Shaun only 13 centuries this season. If he can make that century, if he

:19:25. > :19:28.can make that century... No century break. He will be pleased though.

:19:28. > :19:35.Mark Selby deciding whether to come back to the table, but I don't

:19:35. > :19:39.think so. That break of 83 was superb and we go to the mid-session

:19:39. > :19:44.interval. It couldn't be closer. HAZEL IRVINE: With the exception of

:19:44. > :19:50.that opening frame, this has been brisk business so far, Ken. There

:19:50. > :19:55.has been really good quality stuff. I thought sell b bee was getting on

:19:55. > :20:00.top, but in all fairness to Shaun Murphy, he came back with a much-

:20:00. > :20:03.needed break and started off with a fantastic black, into the pack.

:20:03. > :20:08.have watched a lot of stuff this week, players haven't been getting

:20:08. > :20:13.into the pack with pace this is how to open up the pack. You have to

:20:13. > :20:17.have a gue accuse -- cue action: There is so much top spin. Hits

:20:17. > :20:22.them perfectly. That is the way to play that shot. Have to play it

:20:22. > :20:26.with pace. It is great to see them urging each other on, for a moment

:20:26. > :20:30.in that first frame it looked like we are in for a bit of a grind.

:20:30. > :20:35.Exactly. Both will want to get on with it. I just worry about Shaun,

:20:35. > :20:38.if the game gets down to the nitty gritty, that Selby is probably

:20:38. > :20:43.better in that department. I mean Shaun has been cueing so well. We

:20:43. > :20:47.saw a red he took into a corner pocket there, screwed back in to

:20:47. > :20:50.the baulk. There is not many players can play that. He is

:20:51. > :20:56.hitting the ball so well, and sometimes too well, but it is good

:20:56. > :21:03.stuff so far. How do you assess their core venion rates in finals.

:21:03. > :21:09.Selby has been in ten major final, including world ranking and Masters

:21:09. > :21:13.finals. He has a slightly better rate from Shaun. I would say that

:21:13. > :21:17.is not bad, not brilliant but you have to remember who they are up

:21:17. > :21:22.against. I bet Mr O'Sullivan was in a few of them. Yes. All right. That

:21:22. > :21:29.is the situation, it is all square, as they head into their interval.

:21:29. > :21:33.You know, this wonderful city, York is a lovely, inspiring place to be,

:21:33. > :21:37.at any time of year not just in the run-up to Christmas. In the way

:21:37. > :21:40.Sheffield is the home of the world, this Barbican Centre is the

:21:40. > :21:44.established home of this UK Championship. It has been about a

:21:44. > :21:49.bit this is the fifth city it has travelled to. But if it's a sense

:21:49. > :21:58.of history you want, it is of history you want, it is

:21:59. > :22:04.everywhere here. York is a city that is well used to contest. There

:22:04. > :22:09.have been claims laid to the lands between the rivers going back over

:22:09. > :22:18.7 thousand year, from the peoples of the Bronze Age, the Roman, the

:22:18. > :22:23.Anglo sackss on, the Vikings, their last king was Eric Blood Axe. The

:22:23. > :22:33.Championship has its roots in the red rose County, rather than the

:22:33. > :23:00.

:23:00. > :23:03.It was thought Blackpool would be a good venue because they had the

:23:04. > :23:08.world Championships in the 50 and 06s, but that was in April. This

:23:08. > :23:18.was December and the place was freezing, and the crowds weren't

:23:18. > :23:49.

:23:49. > :23:53.I was 11-7 in front after the first 18 and we started every session at

:23:53. > :23:58.two clock. I didn't realise on the Saturday afternoon they started

:23:58. > :24:04.earlier for Grandstand and I got a phone call in my hotel room saying

:24:04. > :24:09."Where are you?" I said we don't start till the two. He said we we

:24:10. > :24:14.start at one. I got there late and I was told because I was so late I

:24:14. > :24:19.was 20 minutes later than the start time, I was forfeited two frames,

:24:19. > :24:24.it has never been done before. went in to see John because I felt

:24:25. > :24:28.awful. I said look, John, I am very sorry, I said I don't want the

:24:28. > :24:34.frames but if you want to do something with the prize money,

:24:35. > :24:39.trying to be helpful, and he turned round and he said "Well you haven't

:24:39. > :24:44.won yet" I beat him 14-13. At the end it was the best day of my

:24:44. > :24:51.snooker life and the worst day. This is all that remains of York

:24:51. > :24:56.castle, built by William the Congress cancer. Henry VIII had the

:24:56. > :25:01.bodies of his enemies put on display here. And when it comes to

:25:01. > :25:05.power, in our parallel history story Steve Davis has a monopoly on

:25:05. > :25:14.that, he took the Championship Trophy captive and he held it

:25:14. > :25:18.hostage throughout much of the '80s. Looking back, I think I was in the

:25:18. > :25:21.right place at the right time. The golden years of snooker were the

:25:21. > :25:31.80s, it was fresh on television screen, and I was a new kid on the

:25:31. > :25:43.

:25:43. > :25:47.And there he is with a big smile. don't think I really realise I was

:25:47. > :25:51.capable of winning until I was lying in a bath after my

:25:51. > :26:01.quarterfinal win, and all of a sudden it dawned on me I was

:26:01. > :26:19.

:26:19. > :26:29.capable, if not very capable of Shows you of how much a fighter

:26:29. > :26:37.

:26:37. > :26:42.Alex Higgins was, that is one of my It mist have been a bitter pill for

:26:42. > :26:46.Alex to swallow, to see somebody like me come on to the scene, in

:26:46. > :26:51.him charismatic exciting player and me the boring robot. He came out

:26:51. > :27:01.with a line he would rather have a drink with idy am minute than me. I

:27:01. > :27:11.

:27:11. > :27:15.think I must have driven him mad. - And that is unbelievable. I should

:27:15. > :27:19.have rolled through the blue, I decided to screw back save me

:27:19. > :27:23.walking round, I missed the blue, thinking I could lose this match

:27:23. > :27:28.now I realised perhaps I had a chance and it gave me a bit of a

:27:28. > :27:32.Springboard. I think in fairness, if I had been playing anybody else,

:27:32. > :27:37.I would have surely won, Steve Davis is one of those players who

:27:37. > :27:41.could change gear when he saw weakness, he saw me thinking "I am

:27:41. > :27:51.near the line." And he did the job on me, played really well in the

:27:51. > :28:21.

:28:21. > :28:26.Still standing today it is on two- and-a-half miles worth of the 13th

:28:26. > :28:31.century wall that surrounded the medieval city of York, built to

:28:31. > :28:35.repel the advances of the Scots. The Scots sacked this places

:28:35. > :28:45.several time, and indeed it was also a Scot who in the end

:28:45. > :28:46.

:28:46. > :28:50.successfully laid siege to Steve Davis's UK fortress. Steve Davis

:28:50. > :29:00.would strangle you to death on the table and Stephen Hendry came up

:29:00. > :29:00.

:29:00. > :30:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:30:20. > :30:30.You could say it was the end of To go back 13 years later and sit

:30:30. > :30:56.

:30:56. > :31:00.in virtually the same chair was Running at 17 was playing people

:31:00. > :31:05.about 10 years older. Nobody has been competing at that sort of

:31:05. > :31:15.level at such a young age. Ronnie O'Sullivan, ladies and gentlemen

:31:15. > :31:33.

:31:33. > :31:35.To finish a match off in style like that gives you a good pleasure. A

:31:35. > :31:45.total of 146 is my highest ever break in the final frame of a

:31:45. > :31:47.

:31:47. > :31:57.ranking final so that was pretty # Solitary brother, is there still

:31:57. > :32:03.

:32:03. > :32:08.Believe me, I was trying to beat every record that Steve had! I knew

:32:08. > :32:13.it was the benchmark, I wanted to take every record he had so that is

:32:13. > :32:23.one of the regret of my career, that I hadn't managed to overtake

:32:23. > :32:42.

:32:42. > :32:49.The HAZEL IRVINE: It's humbling to think that the majestic York

:32:49. > :32:52.Minster has stood here for over 1,000 years and B36 yet history of

:32:52. > :32:56.our championship seems a mere drop in the ocean compared to that but

:32:56. > :33:01.when we moved here in 2001, it marked the start of the modern era

:33:01. > :33:04.in an ancient setting and we have had a jumble of winners since then,

:33:04. > :33:14.nine different champions in the last 12 years.

:33:14. > :33:15.

:33:15. > :33:19.With the new generation really We have gone through the Steve

:33:19. > :33:22.Davis era and Stephen Hendry where they dominated and the standard is

:33:22. > :33:32.so high in the modern era that if you are not on your knock, you will

:33:32. > :33:50.

:33:50. > :33:55.# Everybody's changing and I don't The 2006 final was a fairy-tale

:33:55. > :33:59.journey from a. I hadn't shown any form up until then, I was

:33:59. > :34:09.struggling and then I started playing quite well and knocking on

:34:09. > :34:09.

:34:09. > :35:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:35:45. > :35:55.the doors of winning the UK This is his chance to show he could

:35:55. > :36:01.

:36:01. > :36:04.be the real deal and boy, did he HAZEL IRVINE: 36 years of history

:36:04. > :36:10.and Steve Davis is the six-time winner, record winner of this event.

:36:10. > :36:16.Do you think, that record will ever be pinched, Ken? I don't know, at

:36:16. > :36:20.least he has changed his hairstyle! Be one man still capable of doing

:36:20. > :36:24.it, Steve has gone on five wins and John Higgins, do you think he has

:36:24. > :36:29.still got the fight and desire to achieve that? Are absolutely, there

:36:29. > :36:31.are a few players, John Higgins is certainly one of them. He will

:36:31. > :36:36.always be around and is probably one of the best players I have ever

:36:36. > :36:41.played against. John Higgins and Steve Davis will alludes to that

:36:41. > :36:45.and he will be around for a few years yet. When you look back at

:36:45. > :36:50.the achievements, what for you does stand out as perhaps the greatest

:36:50. > :36:59.win for you in this event? suppose the first. I suppose it

:36:59. > :37:07.always is. It jumped me up a couple of levels in stature and it was

:37:07. > :37:12.very important in my heart and many people's heart, it was very

:37:12. > :37:15.important from a television and perspective. It is a bit harder now

:37:15. > :37:21.because of the vagaries of luck. You will get good players get to

:37:21. > :37:28.the final but which ones they are, we don't know. You're one of

:37:28. > :37:33.several multiple winners. Shaun Murphy would love to be the eightth.

:37:33. > :37:36.Here they come, locked together at two frames apiece. Having a bit of

:37:36. > :37:45.a rest before the evening session and then raring to go, two former

:37:45. > :37:52.UK champion has an two Johns, John Virgo and John Parrott. The JOHN

:37:52. > :38:01.VIRGO: thank you, Hazel. So far, the snooker has not

:38:01. > :38:11.Not at all, the opening frame was a little scrappy but the first three

:38:11. > :38:18.

:38:18. > :38:28.are top class. I can't believe he You would not want to give anybody

:38:28. > :38:29.

:38:29. > :38:35.an opportunity like that but It is a straightforward shot, the

:38:35. > :38:40.break-up shot. A little bit of carelessness there I would imagine

:38:40. > :38:44.from Shaun. He has played the safety shot with left hand side and

:38:45. > :38:54.just pushed the cue ball over and that is why he caught the cue ball

:38:55. > :39:30.

:39:30. > :39:40.much too thick -- the red. And that He has a nice angle on the black

:39:40. > :40:00.

:40:00. > :40:06.here and he may decide to play for A choice of shots here. If he goes

:40:06. > :40:16.in really firm, he could open a lot here. Decided to flick off the red

:40:16. > :40:41.

:40:41. > :40:51.He can just get past the red with He will be a bit disappointed with

:40:51. > :41:17.

:41:17. > :41:24.He decided he did not get enough into the cue ball to get back up

:41:24. > :41:34.the table so he let himself with this park. -- left himself with

:41:34. > :41:38.

:41:38. > :41:43.He played that well. Just about on a red which I think he can play the

:41:43. > :41:51.pot. Nothing to do with the cue ball. Roll through for the black in

:41:52. > :42:01.the opposite corner. Awkward Oh, awkward enough to cause the

:42:02. > :42:10.

:42:10. > :42:20.That is the type of shot way you worry about the cannon and you

:42:20. > :42:38.

:42:38. > :42:43.He bounced off the top cushion a little too high so I am not sure he

:42:43. > :42:46.can play a red into the opposite corner to the black. Having to play

:42:46. > :42:56.for the red along the top cushion which would not have been his ideal

:42:56. > :43:09.

:43:09. > :43:19.choice but not much else he can do. The bottom red on the right is

:43:19. > :43:26.

:43:26. > :43:31.I like that shot, John. I think that has been the one thing that

:43:31. > :43:38.has been evident all week. OK, he has had a few scrapes, Shaun, but

:43:38. > :43:47.he has had a positive attitude when he has got in amongst the balls. He

:43:47. > :43:52.certainly showed it there. All the Let's be fair, after the break-off

:43:52. > :44:02.shot, he will be glad to have a chance in this frame. The very much

:44:02. > :44:03.

:44:03. > :44:06.I think we have seen in this frame itself that marks a bit looks like

:44:06. > :44:12.he will play on loose red and try to chip away and get them out

:44:12. > :44:22.whereas Shaun Murphy, very positive straight into the pack and opening

:44:22. > :44:26.

:44:26. > :44:36.That wiped its feet, didn't it? A bit more pace, I don't think it

:44:36. > :44:36.

:44:36. > :45:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:45:18. > :45:28.Back in prime position now and just That put the points all square. A

:45:28. > :45:28.

:45:28. > :46:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:46:14. > :46:19.I get the impression in this match that Shaun Murphy's scoring is

:46:19. > :46:23.slightly better than Mark Selby's in this tournament, a bit more

:46:23. > :46:26.comfortable in amongst the balls but that is not to say that Mark

:46:26. > :46:31.Selby cannot win this final - of course he can because he is such a

:46:31. > :46:37.competitor. You can always get inspiration from somewhere but

:46:37. > :46:43.usually we caught Mark Selby the Hoover. We have not seen too much

:46:43. > :46:53.of that in this tournament but what we have seen is somebody trying

:46:53. > :47:00.

:47:00. > :47:10.He needs these remaining two reds after the black, just needs the red

:47:10. > :47:28.

:47:28. > :47:32.now. Doesn't need a car luck. -- He is short of that one. He would

:47:32. > :47:42.have liked to have been a bit easier than this. This red would

:47:42. > :47:54.

:47:54. > :47:59.put him 30 points in head with 27 Clean as a whistle. And a bit of

:47:59. > :48:09.pressure on that, wasn't there? just another example of 1 double

:48:09. > :48:37.

:48:37. > :48:47.The cue ball flew back into the Just short of the century break but

:48:47. > :49:06.

:49:06. > :49:09.He has used the pink and the black A terrible break shot but Mark

:49:09. > :49:13.Selby had the first chance and could only make 35 but he missed

:49:13. > :49:22.when he was in and that could be costly and Shaun Murphy now goes

:49:22. > :49:26.one frame ahead again at three frames to two. As I said at the

:49:26. > :49:31.time, John, after a break-off shot like that, he was lucky to get

:49:31. > :49:40.another chance they didn't he take it will? This is the shot that

:49:40. > :49:43.marks will be missed -- that marks Selby missed. He is just trying to

:49:43. > :49:47.make sure he does not get a thick cannon on the red because if he

:49:47. > :49:54.does, it will hold the key ball from going through, it dug down and

:49:54. > :49:58.missed the pot. Many times do we see that, a player who is so

:49:58. > :50:08.concerned about where the cue ball will end up, they forget about the

:50:08. > :50:08.

:50:08. > :51:12.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:51:12. > :51:20.REFEREE: thank you, frame six, Mark Oh, catching the green... He nearly

:51:20. > :51:27.let this read on. -- left this read on. It looks as though there is a

:51:27. > :51:31.chance of playing the pot here but it is quite an acute angle. If it

:51:31. > :51:39.caught the FA jaw, it could come back to the cue ball so digging in,

:51:39. > :51:43.trying to get back to the baulk Couldn't play it much better than

:51:43. > :51:53.that although having said that, he is a little unlucky to have left

:51:53. > :51:59.

:52:00. > :52:05.The brown has come to his rescue but a bit unlucky to have left that.

:52:05. > :52:15.Marc moved out the way it there to let the referee have a look. Maybe

:52:15. > :52:19.

:52:19. > :52:29.that will suggest he will try to He put the side on and just stayed

:52:29. > :52:57.

:52:57. > :53:02.He certainly has had his potting boots on in this tournament. Great

:53:02. > :53:06.shot. And grid position because if he can get past the yellow, you see

:53:06. > :53:16.the red going in there. If he can get past the yellow here, he has

:53:16. > :53:29.

:53:29. > :53:32.You always just a little bit too luck but he could not have hit this

:53:32. > :53:42.cluster better than he did but the cue ball just ran through that

:53:42. > :53:42.

:53:42. > :54:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:54:23. > :54:27.little too far. I am not sure he You have got to be 90% at the

:54:27. > :54:37.standard for your pot success and 95%, that is very good for Shaun

:54:37. > :54:53.

:54:53. > :54:58.Someone once said that snooker is chess on a green baize and the next

:54:58. > :55:05.move now, Shaun has an opportunity to get the cue ball back to the

:55:05. > :55:14.baulk end. Yes, anything to guard against this to make sure you don't

:55:14. > :55:18.put your cue ball in-off. Chipping off this red but making sure you

:55:18. > :55:28.take out the possibility of the in- off. He is looking to see if he can

:55:28. > :55:35.

:55:35. > :55:45.Don't hit be read either - that is a very poor shot. No excuse for

:55:45. > :56:04.

:56:04. > :56:12.An unforced error there, and once again Shaun has given him a chance

:56:12. > :56:17.for no apparent reason. He was not in any great trouble. And those are

:56:17. > :56:27.the ones that Hurd, John. You know you have not been in trouble and

:56:27. > :56:37.

:56:37. > :56:47.He has an angle to stun off but He will not be happy with this,

:56:47. > :56:49.

:56:50. > :56:57.surely? To come this side of the That is another example of Mark

:56:57. > :57:00.Selby playing on a single red again. He has come up far too short. He

:57:00. > :57:04.could have really played into the pack there with the red being in

:57:04. > :57:14.the top right hand side cushion, he could have bought the pink or black

:57:14. > :57:21.

:57:21. > :57:31.in to play but he is unlucky not to He is trying to be exact and

:57:31. > :57:31.

:57:31. > :58:24.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:58:24. > :58:34.If you do not miss the pot, you get Shaun thinks there might be a shot

:58:34. > :58:34.

:58:34. > :59:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:59:14. > :59:23.to nothing here, similar to what Shaun just having a look and there

:59:23. > :59:28.are good friends off the table and Mark had a result then. He lifted

:59:28. > :59:38.his foot up to see if there was anything on the bottom of his shoes

:59:38. > :59:53.

:59:53. > :59:57.The only thing is, if he plays the shot, he will have to play it with

:59:57. > :00:01.a trace of left-hand side and it is a bit more difficult to judge the

:00:01. > :00:11.pace of it because when you put side on, it will come off the

:00:11. > :00:13.

:00:13. > :00:17.cushion quicker. He is playing just REFEREE: foul and a miss, Mark

:00:17. > :00:22.Selby, four. The baby he was playing the two-cushion but the

:00:22. > :00:26.trace of side. I think the middle pocket is in the wake of what would

:00:26. > :00:36.normally be the perfect two-cushion escape but he has got some idea of

:00:36. > :00:36.

:00:36. > :01:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:01:33. > :01:43.the line-out. Yes, you could say he There may be a return to baulk here,

:01:43. > :01:43.

:01:43. > :02:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:02:45. > :02:55.It was all about making sure you At first glance, I can't see a

:02:55. > :03:08.

:03:08. > :03:18.Well only if you play it adds thin It is one of those where you are

:03:18. > :03:27.

:03:27. > :03:37.happy to get back into the baulk It could have been a not to -- is

:03:37. > :03:55.

:03:55. > :03:59.Make certain you pot the red, with He always going to struggle to know

:03:59. > :04:09.where the cue ball is going to go. But he got the red so he gets the

:04:09. > :04:20.

:04:20. > :04:23.You don't want to get too clever. Make sure you get the cue ball

:04:23. > :04:33.tight to the baulk cushion. could be one of those instances

:04:33. > :04:39.

:04:39. > :04:49.where you prefer to let your Sometimes leaving a difficult shot

:04:49. > :05:03.

:05:03. > :05:06.on aed are is good. -- on a red is Well worked out. The black is

:05:06. > :05:16.stopping the path down the right hand side, I think the blue may be

:05:16. > :05:16.

:05:16. > :06:12.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:06:12. > :06:22.He will be happy with the result of It is tough snooker at the minute,

:06:22. > :06:36.

:06:36. > :06:46.It is difficult to get behind the baulk colour, unless it is brown.

:06:46. > :06:57.

:06:57. > :07:03.Once again the black playing a big He didn't hit it too thick. He

:07:04. > :07:09.didn't mean to hit it that thin. Here is a chance for Shaun in

:07:09. > :07:19.potting some tremendous long reds and Mark Selby may have left him a

:07:19. > :07:30.

:07:30. > :07:34.I couldn't have been much closer: He didn't go all out for it. Wasn't

:07:34. > :07:38.fully committed. That is probably what caused him to miss it. He just

:07:38. > :07:48.hedged his bets and screwed the cue ball back to the baulk end, that

:07:48. > :07:48.

:07:48. > :09:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:09:08. > :09:18.He will have to hit this so thin, It was a thin one but he has left a

:09:18. > :09:31.

:09:31. > :09:38.The difference with that shot is Mark had an angle where he wasn't

:09:38. > :09:48.going to canon, so there was a lot less pressure. Good clean pot but

:09:48. > :10:03.

:10:03. > :10:08.he knew he wouldn't canon into a . He wanted to get behind the green.

:10:08. > :10:18.I am not certain how much of the cushion he can get to, maybe he

:10:18. > :10:18.

:10:18. > :11:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:11:21. > :11:25.can't play it, it doesn't look as You cannot strike a snooker ball

:11:25. > :11:34.better than that. That is just magnificent. The cueing, arrow

:11:34. > :11:39.straight. Brilliant. You know if he doesn't get near the pot, he could

:11:39. > :11:49.have gone anywhere, the cue ball, he needed to hit it perfectly to

:11:49. > :11:51.

:11:51. > :11:57.He will be disappointed he didn't get the snooker. Sometimes it is

:11:57. > :12:07.not the worst thing to let them see the ball, as I mentioned earlier.

:12:07. > :12:11.

:12:11. > :12:21.This is very difficult. We call it Because you are striking down, it

:12:21. > :12:38.

:12:38. > :12:48.is hard to see the edge of the ball, I'm not so sure he hit the right

:12:48. > :12:57.

:12:57. > :13:07.I thought he may have been playing the one near the pink and missed it,

:13:07. > :13:07.

:13:07. > :14:24.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:14:24. > :14:34.A very good chance. Two reds to the He could play the canon. Doesn't

:14:34. > :14:47.

:14:47. > :14:57.If he had compile add DVD of long Interesting choice, is he going to

:14:57. > :14:58.

:14:58. > :15:08.play for one along the top cushion? Two thirds of your long pots, are a

:15:08. > :15:18.

:15:18. > :15:28.He will have to play the canon. If he could just hit the red second

:15:28. > :15:34.

:15:34. > :15:44.Perfect. He missed the canon I think he was playing but he managed

:15:44. > :15:48.to knock another red on, so still I think I am with you. I think he

:15:48. > :15:58.played that one, but played it nice and softly so he knew he would get

:15:58. > :16:19.

:16:19. > :16:27.It doesn't look like there is any . That was very careless. Straight

:16:27. > :16:34.for it, shake of the head, bemused. After the amount of time he took.

:16:35. > :16:41.He had a good look and tried to work it out, but to do that... Very

:16:41. > :16:51.surprising.. He gets an extra five points, he might refuse the pot

:16:51. > :17:01.here, you know. He could chip the blue on the side cushion and leave

:17:01. > :17:02.

:17:02. > :17:05.the white behind yellow and green. He will be disappointed with the

:17:05. > :17:15.finish of that visit. That was a nothing shot. Didn't achieve

:17:15. > :17:23.

:17:23. > :17:28.Excellent shot from Mark Selby. How many times at this level does that

:17:28. > :17:31.happen? You make a very poor shot, don't do anything with the cue ball,

:17:31. > :17:37.don't get the colour safe, you are trying to chip on the cushion, the

:17:37. > :17:47.next time you come to table, you are in all sorts of bother. He is

:17:47. > :17:54.

:17:54. > :17:58.It is worth a go here. He has a choice of reds he could flick off.

:17:58. > :18:08.The first one on the line, then the one behind the pink. I think if you

:18:08. > :18:08.

:18:08. > :19:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:19:05. > :19:15.try to just nestle up to one, you He is lucky to come off the side

:19:15. > :19:19.

:19:19. > :19:24.cushion to play the red. He has hit OK, this will be some effort from

:19:24. > :19:34.Mark Selby to win the frame from here, but he can get himself back

:19:34. > :19:48.

:19:48. > :19:58.As you say, the blue is off it spot. The black is tide up. The pink is

:19:58. > :20:02.

:20:02. > :20:12.not readily available. Not the The pink doesn't pot it really is

:20:12. > :20:28.

:20:29. > :20:33.. Yes, he has brought the pink in to play. Now, where does it go when

:20:33. > :20:43.it is respotted. That is the question. Does it high up -- tie up

:20:43. > :20:49.

:20:49. > :20:53.these two reds in the middle of the That not only has the pink in play,

:20:53. > :21:03.it has put the reds on the spot. Could have done with a bit more on

:21:03. > :21:16.

:21:16. > :21:26.Well, what a fluke ch does this black go? If the black pots as well,

:21:26. > :21:51.

:21:51. > :22:01.That was the ultimate. If he could have cleared up here. That would

:22:01. > :22:01.

:22:01. > :23:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:23:16. > :23:21.All this situation has arisen from that one careless shot from Shaun

:23:21. > :23:31.Murphy, when he didn't get on the blue. He doesn't have all this that

:23:31. > :23:31.

:23:31. > :24:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:24:23. > :24:31.He hasn't quite got the snooker, so but the safety shot isn't any

:24:31. > :24:34.easier. Bad news for Mark, as he has knocked the brown on to the top

:24:34. > :24:44.cushion into a more awkward position. It is close to to --

:24:44. > :24:44.

:24:44. > :25:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:25:48. > :25:58.close to the green, but groun blue Does it bounce? I think it may just

:25:58. > :26:00.

:26:00. > :26:10.have stopped, to not leave the pot It is quite an acute angle. It

:26:10. > :26:15.

:26:15. > :26:19.looks easy from that shot, doesn't It was a good pot and he is looking

:26:19. > :26:29.for the pink and just the yellow, to get to the snooker required

:26:29. > :26:29.

:26:29. > :27:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:27:22. > :27:30.He usually is. I was about to say The good news is he didn't get

:27:30. > :27:36.position. He flicked the pink to the, or near the right hand side

:27:36. > :27:46.cushion. That is very low for Shaun Murphy, he is usually excellent

:27:46. > :27:47.

:27:47. > :27:57.with the rest. This is a very messy table. If Mark Selby gets a chance

:27:57. > :28:03.

:28:03. > :28:11.he could win the frame in one visit, It takes pressure off Shaun Murphy

:28:11. > :28:16.here, when he is playing the safety. Sometimes when you are on the six

:28:16. > :28:26.remaining colours, one mistake could cost you, but highly unlikely

:28:26. > :29:03.

:29:03. > :29:09.Mark would love to play a shot where he could clip the yellow over

:29:09. > :29:16.and get the pink out. He has tried to move the pin it can other way.

:29:16. > :29:26.It is a very clever shot. Appreciated by Shaun. The only ball

:29:26. > :29:43.

:29:43. > :29:47.safe, aside from the yellow, is the The referee wasn't too certain when

:29:47. > :29:54.he hit it or not. I don't know whether it is worthwhile, it

:29:54. > :30:04.probably more difficult play it from there, that is the two choices.

:30:04. > :30:09.

:30:09. > :30:19.He missed it by quite a distance He needed to get past the middle to

:30:19. > :30:24.

:30:24. > :30:30.be safe. Is it going to get there? Can he cuts that? The problem is

:30:30. > :30:40.that if he did play that, he could run into the black. Maybe the pot

:30:40. > :30:40.

:30:40. > :31:28.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:31:28. > :31:36.Just playing around the ankles. -- It looks like a straightforward up

:31:36. > :31:42.and down for the yellow. But if he hits it too hard, it might get past

:31:42. > :31:52.the black in to the right corner. That is why he deliberately played

:31:52. > :32:02.it short. Not much pressure on Mark Selby to play a better shot than

:32:02. > :32:36.

:32:36. > :32:46.Good shot. I think he is trying to get that yellowed as close to the

:32:46. > :33:01.

:33:01. > :33:11.They have been playing now for two hours. This frame, 42 minutes and

:33:11. > :33:23.

:33:23. > :33:33.For me, playing the containing safety Ham's the initiative -- is

:33:33. > :33:35.

:33:35. > :33:45.handing the initiative to Shaun He does not want this yellow to

:33:45. > :34:09.

:34:09. > :34:19.A good effort. But if Shaun Murphy can get to the left-hand side of

:34:19. > :34:22.

:34:22. > :34:30.this year low, he could easily get back to baulk. -- this yellow. He

:34:30. > :34:40.still needs yellow, green and brown. EC contemplating the double? Maybe

:34:40. > :34:49.

:34:49. > :34:56.Maybe he had half a thought for the travel! And he did not apologise to

:34:56. > :35:06.Mark Selby. That might have been in his mind. He is on the green, but

:35:06. > :35:25.

:35:25. > :35:33.He did not put his hand up, so he must have played at the treble. Is

:35:33. > :35:43.there any value in potting yellow and green for Shaun Murphy? If he

:35:43. > :36:23.

:36:23. > :36:33.got a chance now, you would fancy That has tightened it up a little

:36:33. > :36:47.

:36:47. > :36:57.He will not be playing the pot because of the pink and black. He

:36:57. > :37:15.

:37:15. > :37:25.I tell you what, I think he has left this brown. Shaun Murphy needs

:37:25. > :37:50.

:37:50. > :37:56.it to go 23 in front, with 18 Has he fluked? Boy. Mark Selby had

:37:56. > :38:06.his bit of luck. And on the last few occasions it has been Shaun

:38:06. > :38:18.

:38:18. > :38:22.Can he get this? Way is that cue ball going?! That is the worst

:38:22. > :38:32.possible result because now he needs a snooker and of course it is

:38:32. > :38:46.

:38:46. > :38:51.a free ball. Interesting here. What do you do? Do you put it back in?

:38:51. > :39:01.do not see any harm. It is a snooker. It might be easy to hit.

:39:01. > :39:02.

:39:02. > :39:07.But I do not know how he is going to get the brown safe. He could

:39:07. > :39:17.clip of the blue and come back down the side of the table, or take the

:39:17. > :39:49.

:39:49. > :39:58.Now, can he hit this gently enough to leave it more or less where it

:39:59. > :40:08.is and get back to baulk? I am a little bit surprised that he did

:40:09. > :40:09.

:40:09. > :40:18.not make him try again. He has given Mark Selby a lifeline of

:40:18. > :40:23.sorts. He is looking to see if he can dig in to the cue ball and get

:40:24. > :40:32.in between the cushion and the brown and stick the cue ball in

:40:32. > :40:42.where the brown eyes. I think it needs to be a bit further wrath. --

:40:42. > :40:54.

:40:54. > :41:04.Well, it was only the double cares. Absolutely. -- double guess. --

:41:04. > :41:14.

:41:14. > :41:24.And that is the frame firmly in the pocket of Shaun Murphy. Just plain

:41:24. > :41:34.

:41:34. > :41:43.To snookers required. I think the big problem here is that if you

:41:43. > :41:47.told the blue, two snookers with only pink and black is a big ask.

:41:47. > :41:57.He is very good in this department, Mark Selby. But he will need to be

:41:57. > :42:10.

:42:10. > :42:20.Just missed it and he has left the pot on the pink. 52 minutes, this

:42:20. > :42:27.

:42:27. > :42:35.He got a remarkable snooker against Ryan Day when he was left with pink

:42:35. > :42:44.and black. One of the best shots I have seen all week. But this is

:42:44. > :42:53.nearly impossible. And that should be it. Yes, it is just, it give me

:42:53. > :43:03.the pink. A lot went into that frame. But we have got a gap of two

:43:03. > :43:12.

:43:12. > :43:17.Here, I would be Roger Federer. I think his professionalism is second

:43:17. > :43:24.to none. He is the ultimate professional but I had seen. One of

:43:24. > :43:28.the best players that has ever play tennis. And away from tennis, a top

:43:29. > :43:35.man. Always polite and well spoken. Always does his job as a

:43:35. > :43:41.professional. 100 %. I think he speaks five languages. He is

:43:41. > :43:47.switched on. I think for children looking for somebody to look up to

:43:47. > :43:50.and emulate, they could do a lot worse than Roger Federer. I had it

:43:50. > :43:59.installed into me from a young age that being a professional sports

:43:59. > :44:02.person was a privilege. It is not a right. What comes with that is a

:44:02. > :44:09.responsibility to the next batch of people watching and things like

:44:09. > :44:14.that. And being professional at all times. Keeping the sport open and

:44:14. > :44:18.trying to be a certain way I think comes with the territory. I think

:44:18. > :44:22.in all sports we have got people doing that well and people not

:44:22. > :44:31.doing it quite as well as perhaps they should. But Roger Federer is

:44:31. > :44:35.leading the way for me. And indeed he is very near the top. Especially

:44:35. > :44:45.with long games. Some of those shots have been absolutely

:44:45. > :44:45.

:44:45. > :44:51.spectacular. I think in a way, anybody knows how tough it is to

:44:51. > :44:56.get these shots. I have got nothing but admiration for his cueing. And

:44:56. > :45:00.but admiration for his cueing. And also his bravery. At the moment, he

:45:00. > :45:05.is not share in any responsibility on the table. Some of these shots

:45:05. > :45:10.are very difficult but look how he gets through them as well. That

:45:10. > :45:14.power he can generate even when he is tight on the baulk it is

:45:14. > :45:21.fantastic. One of the best at cueing in the game, if not the best.

:45:21. > :45:27.He gets through those balls easily. He is matching Mark Selby. It was a

:45:27. > :45:30.slow frame. But he has matched him even in the safety department. He

:45:30. > :45:37.made a few little mistakes and some bad choices but he has matched him

:45:37. > :45:41.as well. That was a part of his game lacking a few years ago. But

:45:41. > :45:42.he has learned his craft. He is still going for his shots but he

:45:43. > :45:50.still going for his shots but he has learnt the craft of the safety

:45:50. > :45:56.as well. And I think he looks at the positive strategy all the time

:45:56. > :46:01.bus-stop if anything is sticky --. If anything is sticking out, he is

:46:01. > :46:07.going to go for it. His opponent was very worried about the cue ball

:46:07. > :46:11.to stop him going for his shots. Mark Selby has got a difficult job.

:46:11. > :46:18.Obviously we have got a lot of things which could have gone either

:46:18. > :46:23.way. But he deserves to be in front 4-2. He is playing powerhouse

:46:23. > :46:29.snooker. Mark Selby will try to claw back and we know that he can.

:46:30. > :46:35.It will be set up for a fascinating evening session. But if it is 6-2,

:46:35. > :46:41.that is very worrying for Mark Selby. Shaun Murphy is getting into

:46:41. > :46:46.the pack a lot quicker than Mark Selby. You can see the confidence

:46:46. > :46:51.that he has got. He is into the pack and trying to win the frame on

:46:51. > :46:57.his first visit. He knows he cannot be behind now going into the

:46:57. > :47:03.be behind now going into the evening session. He has got a

:47:03. > :47:11.couple of bites of the cherry to try and extend his lead as well. If

:47:11. > :47:21.he can get both, it is a bonus, 6-2. Mark Selby under pressure. He has

:47:21. > :47:21.

:47:21. > :48:04.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

:48:04. > :48:14.got experienced match play. He Quite an attacking safety shot from

:48:14. > :48:15.

:48:15. > :48:20.Mark Selby. I had no idea he was going to bring the black into play.

:48:20. > :48:30.Always one of these, when you play a thin edge down the right-hand

:48:30. > :48:33.

:48:33. > :48:39.side. One can always get knocked over to the left. And that little

:48:39. > :48:45.touch has made it a very good safety shot. Excellent length on

:48:45. > :48:55.the table. Knocked the black to the left hand cushion. He has given

:48:55. > :49:10.

:49:10. > :49:15.He has got a serious problem. He is looking to see if he can come down

:49:15. > :49:20.to the top cushion and played virtually dead weight and move the

:49:20. > :49:30.cue ball on the top rail. But he would have to rely on the table

:49:30. > :49:33.

:49:33. > :49:43.He took a chance and it had a good chance of going back down the table.

:49:43. > :50:16.

:50:16. > :50:22.Another very good shot again. He is keeping the pressure Rom. I think

:50:22. > :50:31.his game is in slightly better neck. But that does not mean Mark Selby

:50:31. > :50:38.cannot win. -- better order. He has got great survival skills and he

:50:38. > :50:48.has got terrific match play and is a brilliant competitive. --

:50:48. > :51:10.

:51:10. > :51:20.Just a containing safety. One red will go to the right centre. But it

:51:20. > :51:20.

:51:20. > :51:30.is tough. And there is no way back to the baulk. I cannot see him

:51:30. > :51:33.

:51:33. > :51:41.playing it. That red on the right hand side, he could play of that.

:51:41. > :51:51.Or he could play up towards the alive. -- you live. Once again, try

:51:51. > :52:09.

:52:09. > :52:19.and get it as tight as you can to Much to effect. He has been a bit

:52:19. > :52:33.

:52:33. > :52:41.fortunate. -- much too thick. Good He could get through closest to the

:52:41. > :52:51.pocket. He will be disappointed he did not pot that. Amazing. You see

:52:51. > :52:53.

:52:53. > :52:59.all the safety and you see a bad safety and it gets him. And the

:52:59. > :53:07.black was on the left-hand side cushion a minister gave. -- a

:53:07. > :53:17.minute before. It looks like those two reds are very close to

:53:17. > :53:30.

:53:30. > :53:37.I think his intention was to try and get on the blue. But I do not

:53:37. > :53:42.think he has got an angle. If he pots the black, he will get tied up

:53:42. > :53:52.five days two reds. He would like to play for one of them and make

:53:52. > :53:53.

:53:53. > :53:59.room for the black when it has been It must be very tight because if it

:53:59. > :54:09.went behind, that would not be too bad. It is obviously very close to

:54:09. > :54:29.

:54:29. > :54:39.going on, if indeed it does not. Trying to stun of the side and get

:54:39. > :54:40.

:54:40. > :54:50.an angle Ombersley. -- trying to stun off at the site and get an

:54:50. > :54:52.

:54:52. > :55:01.angle on the blue. That is not what he would have liked. It was not the

:55:01. > :55:09.most convincing visit, or was it? A little bit tentative. I do not

:55:09. > :55:16.think he has got his scoring boots on today. He had a fantastic frame

:55:16. > :55:24.clinching the second, but he has not looked good sense. He has got

:55:24. > :55:28.another chance. An interesting stage in the match. Shaun Murphy

:55:28. > :55:34.knows he is playing better than his opponent and he is trying to pull

:55:34. > :55:44.away from him but that can increase the pressure. That last frame took

:55:44. > :55:45.

:55:45. > :55:49.52 minutes. That could just take the edge away from your shots. This

:55:49. > :55:59.time he is going to have to play the black but I still think it will

:55:59. > :56:18.

:56:18. > :56:28.Now, where does he put the black? That marker is the size of a ball.

:56:28. > :56:32.

:56:32. > :56:42.It cannot be touching. It looks close. But it will not be touching.

:56:42. > :56:52.

:56:52. > :56:56.He would have light the blue in the middle but he is not perfect by any

:56:56. > :57:06.mint -- he would have liked the blue in the middle but he is not

:57:06. > :57:09.

:57:09. > :57:19.He is just fighting for position at the minute. Everything is too much

:57:19. > :57:29.or too little. Maybe a foot too far with the cue ball. He is keeping

:57:29. > :57:46.

:57:46. > :57:55.And that is an excellent shot. Very well controlled. And it looks like

:57:55. > :58:05.a very good angle on the blue. He can move a few reds if he wants. He

:58:05. > :58:13.

:58:13. > :58:23.is playing off the a Hello for a That pink is just separated from

:58:23. > :58:24.

:58:24. > :58:28.the reds. He is just trying to clear that area. Slightly hampered.

:58:29. > :58:33.But that is all right if it is just a straightforward shot to get the

:58:33. > :58:43.pink and get a position on the red. But hampered like this, you cannot

:58:43. > :58:57.

:58:57. > :59:07.What is on our after the pink is replaced? And the red is going to

:59:07. > :59:07.

:59:07. > :59:10.the centre. This is all right. He needs to make a decent contribution.

:59:10. > :59:20.Winning in one visit and getting himself back into the frame. He is

:59:20. > :59:55.

:59:55. > :00:04.An error of judgment there. A lot will depend on this angle with the

:00:04. > :00:12.red to the left middle. Can he bring the black in to play? He

:00:12. > :00:21.certainly can. Good shot. Yes, excellent. As good a shot as he has

:00:21. > :00:26.played in quite a while. Very well judged. This is more like him. This

:00:27. > :00:36.is what is very good at, scoring. In among the balls and winning in

:00:37. > :00:59.

:00:59. > :01:04.He should get over the line in this He had a choice of pink or black

:01:04. > :01:09.but he has gone a bit too straight on this pink but still no problem.

:01:09. > :01:17.But by clearing the pink, it brings those two reds into positions that

:01:17. > :01:20.he can pot. Eclair run to the winning line in this frame. -- a

:01:20. > :01:25.clear up run. He will be very disappointed if he does not take

:01:25. > :01:30.this opportunity. It certainly wasn't plain sailing at the start

:01:30. > :01:33.of this break, he was scrapping for position. Not quite there. But he

:01:34. > :01:43.has taken these brilliantly well and that lovely shot to flick the

:01:44. > :01:54.

:01:54. > :02:04.That put him 60 points in front with 59 remaining, a snooker

:02:04. > :02:32.

:02:32. > :02:42.If you needed any further example of White Mark Selby at such a good

:02:42. > :03:20.

:03:20. > :03:22.competitor, this is it -- of Hawaii Well, I thought we would see a

:03:22. > :03:29.century, another one of the tournament but that is more like it

:03:29. > :03:39.from Mark Selby. OK, he got in from his opponent but he is now just one

:03:39. > :04:16.

:04:16. > :04:20.VARIOUS CROWD NOISES, GROWING IN JOHN VIRGO: That is a hard decision

:04:20. > :04:26.this year, Sports Personality of the Year. Some unbelievable

:04:26. > :04:30.performances. Yes, a magnificent summer of sport, basically climb

:04:30. > :04:36.the trophy and give them all one. They have been superb, wonderful to

:04:36. > :04:41.watch. -- basically climate the trophy. They are just plain ball

:04:41. > :04:46.one trophy today. -- copy the trophy. It is the second most

:04:46. > :04:50.important one in the sport, the UK Championship. Shaun Murphy has had

:04:50. > :05:00.his hands on that trophy once before and Mark Selby, this will be

:05:00. > :05:37.

:05:37. > :05:47.He didn't fancy the risk of getting back to baulk, containing safety

:05:47. > :05:50.

:05:50. > :05:53.but you don't get any real Just one more frame to be played in

:05:53. > :05:59.this session and then we will return this evening. A big frame.

:05:59. > :06:09.Will it be all square or well Shaun Murphy had a two frame advantage? A

:06:09. > :06:17.

:06:17. > :06:27.They are sure to know it and there Trying to make sure you don't make

:06:27. > :06:42.

:06:42. > :06:47.There is a possibility now that he did not miss the brown that Mark

:06:47. > :06:57.Selby could play this to the right corner, stun across and play for

:06:57. > :07:16.

:07:16. > :07:20.We have seen Shaun Murphy's cueing He has not been lucky either.

:07:20. > :07:25.tried to play it as a shot for nothing... Oh, he has got away with

:07:25. > :07:35.it, he has not left the red. He can get through to hit it but he can't

:07:35. > :07:37.

:07:37. > :07:40.pot it. Wow, what a difference that makes. Played it in a way to try to

:07:40. > :07:50.pot/safety but it was always a possibility that that might be left

:07:50. > :08:06.

:08:06. > :08:11.on. He got away with it and Shaun The frame before the last which

:08:11. > :08:21.took 52.5 minutes, it can take the edge off your potting been a long,

:08:21. > :08:28.

:08:28. > :08:38.That was a nice, confident pot. If you are not the right side of the

:08:38. > :08:40.

:08:40. > :08:45.blue, the more angle, the better. They are not the easiest when they

:08:46. > :08:55.are being played slow like that. A comfortable path in and out of

:08:56. > :08:59.

:08:59. > :09:03.He needed a bit more side than that but it is not too bad. As long as

:09:03. > :09:13.this... I think he played for the outside red and he is not on it.

:09:13. > :09:23.

:09:23. > :09:27.It clearly goes, can he see enough I agree with you, needed more side

:09:27. > :09:37.on that and needed to make sure that he was further out into the

:09:37. > :09:37.

:09:38. > :09:45.centre of the table there. Both of He went not close enough to the

:09:45. > :09:50.green, really. A bit much stun. He obviously does not feel that he can

:09:50. > :09:54.just get to the potting angle. If he cannot, he will be very

:09:54. > :10:04.disappointed. OK, the red just above the black will cut but he

:10:04. > :10:13.

:10:13. > :10:23.Good recovery, needs a good case. A kiss on the pink isn't too bad.

:10:23. > :10:35.

:10:35. > :10:45.Trying Again to one of these two reds. He is beyond one of them but

:10:45. > :10:49.

:10:49. > :10:53.he can get to the potting angle for I think he is deciding. He would

:10:53. > :11:03.love to run this through, and play for the black off the side cushion

:11:03. > :11:19.

:11:19. > :11:29.that may have to go back for the He had hit it been so maybe he

:11:29. > :11:32.

:11:32. > :11:38.couldn't get through to the potting The pots have dried up at the

:11:38. > :11:45.moment for Shaun. I think he is getting a little frustrated at the

:11:45. > :11:54.opportunity he is getting. They are either hampered or covered or

:11:54. > :12:00.He thinks he is playing well - well, he is but he needs an easy starter

:12:00. > :12:10.and it is not coming his way. pot success was 95% a couple of

:12:10. > :12:28.

:12:28. > :12:38.I don't think there's any value in taking the pink here. Be straight

:12:38. > :12:50.

:12:50. > :12:55.He is such a good competitor. He has just missed eight red, Mark

:12:55. > :13:04.Selby, but he is back at the table again. He certainly compete,

:13:04. > :13:06.doesn't he? The s, the only concern is that he is relying to get the

:13:06. > :13:11.frame clinching opportunities by mistakes from his opponent rather

:13:11. > :13:16.than doing it himself. But he will take whatever is on offer. This is

:13:16. > :13:22.a big frame as I said and the difference between being two frames

:13:22. > :13:29.behind or all-square going into this evening session. And as has

:13:29. > :13:32.been well-documented, OK, he has won the Masters but he has been

:13:33. > :13:42.world number one around that for the last few seasons at all stop he

:13:43. > :13:57.

:13:57. > :14:03.would love to have the UK All about the split here.

:14:03. > :14:13.Magnificent arena, the Barbican Centre in York. We are all totally

:14:13. > :14:17.

:14:17. > :14:27.That can happen, he got into it a bit too much. The cue ball has gone

:14:27. > :14:31.

:14:31. > :14:40.forward before being screwed back He had to hit that 14, the first

:14:40. > :14:50.red. -- he had to hit that one full. Sometimes it takes a while for the

:14:50. > :14:56.

:14:56. > :15:06.He wanted to find the baulk cushion here. He will leave a chance for a

:15:06. > :15:13.

:15:13. > :15:20.Is this a plant? He is having a look at it. It could be a three-

:15:20. > :15:24.ball, the three-ball could make it. If those two go into the left hand

:15:24. > :15:29.jaw, it will push the second one to the left and so you could do it by

:15:29. > :15:36.hitting the loose red onto the two that are close together. And you

:15:36. > :15:43.can play this in a way where there is a bit of safety involved. Yes,

:15:43. > :15:53.returning to baulk so worth taking on, this. Not guaranteed so that's

:15:53. > :15:56.

:15:56. > :16:03.why you find a path back to the But it is there, and he is hoping

:16:03. > :16:13.he is on a colour. And he is just about of the pink. -- all the pink.

:16:13. > :16:30.

:16:30. > :16:40.He would like to be a bit It is more difficult than it looks

:16:40. > :16:41.

:16:41. > :16:51.on the screen and that is why he missed it. I get the feeling that

:16:51. > :17:16.

:17:16. > :17:20.he needed chances slightly easier There is certainly one red at the

:17:20. > :17:30.top of the cluster that is available into the top left corner

:17:30. > :17:40.

:17:40. > :17:50.I am wondering whether in he goes through here, he might like another

:17:50. > :18:08.

:18:08. > :18:18.He flicked one back in, John. is the problem, he needed to pot

:18:18. > :18:28.

:18:28. > :18:34.that ball in the middle of the He has got a 50 point lead without

:18:34. > :18:44.doing anything too startling. And his third good chance in this frame.

:18:44. > :18:49.

:18:49. > :18:59.He will be delighted if he gets out This red is pretty tight, it makes

:18:59. > :19:04.

:19:04. > :19:13.it look easier but it is tied. -- tight. Able to just loosen those

:19:13. > :19:19.three reds. Not much to choose between them. If they can get off

:19:19. > :19:28.this green, there will not be much between them, frame-wise. A great

:19:28. > :19:34.The red on the left-hand side cushion is causing him a bit of a

:19:34. > :19:44.problem because his way to go it will be getting pretty close to it.

:19:44. > :19:46.

:19:47. > :19:56.-- his waistcoat will be getting It is his hand at his closest,

:19:57. > :20:28.

:20:28. > :20:38.So red, blue, red, pink. He cannot I would suggest the pink and that

:20:38. > :20:48.

:20:48. > :20:55.would put him 61 points in front He will be absolutely thrilled,

:20:55. > :21:00.Mark Selby. Looking like danger signals for him this afternoon and

:21:00. > :21:10.Shaun Murphy will be scratching his head wondering how he will not be

:21:10. > :21:20.

:21:20. > :21:27.All set up for a battle royal this It might be a late 1, JV. They look

:21:27. > :21:32.equally matched. A very interesting match, you have got a contrast of

:21:32. > :21:39.styles, really. Shaun Murphy who is trying to get in with long pots and

:21:39. > :21:49.breaks but as you just said, the last few frames, his putting has

:21:49. > :21:56.

:21:56. > :22:02.gone off. Will it be back there I think we have already alluded to

:22:02. > :22:06.the fact that Mark Selby has a secondary game but I am not sure

:22:06. > :22:12.about Shaun's secondary game but his primary game is the most

:22:12. > :22:16.important thing. A very interesting opening eight frames. A warm shake

:22:16. > :22:20.of the hands from both players, they will be coming back at 8

:22:20. > :22:25.o'clock tonight but I think Shaun Murphy will be disappointed. Be

:22:25. > :22:29.held a two frame advantage between Alan now all square at 4-4.

:22:29. > :22:34.HAZEL IRVINE: And the gentleman in the studio will concur with our

:22:34. > :22:37.commentary team, it could be a long night because no matter who will

:22:37. > :22:45.pull away, the other is perfectly capable of mounting a rearguard

:22:45. > :22:49.action. And obviously a ability to drag you back. We have seen the

:22:49. > :22:52.classic example. These two are capable of pulling out the fire

:22:52. > :23:00.when required. Mark Selby producing some great stuff in the frame

:23:00. > :23:05.before but it will become tough tonight. It just shows, the

:23:05. > :23:09.character of Mark Selby, you never write him off. Four frames a piece,

:23:09. > :23:16.I hope you can join us when we come back at 8 o'clock here on BBC Two

:23:16. > :23:20.because we have a possible - possible - 11 more frames to play

:23:20. > :23:25.until somebody get their hands on his snooker's second most coveted

:23:25. > :23:32.prize. Will it be Shaun Murphy for a second time? Or will it be Mark