Day 9, Part 2

:01:38. > :01:43.Good evening. This time next Sunday we will be engrossed in Sports

:01:43. > :01:47.Personality of the Year. But what is it they have been asking us? How

:01:47. > :01:54.much more excitement can we take? Plen city the answer here in York,

:01:54. > :02:00.with the final of the Williamhill.com UK Championship. So

:02:01. > :02:04.Bradley, Mo, Jess and Andy will have to wait their turn. Tonight it

:02:04. > :02:09.is Shaun Murphy and Mark Selby who are hogging the sporting limelight.

:02:09. > :02:19.It is not often we predict a classic but after this afternoon's

:02:19. > :02:19.

:02:19. > :02:27.opening session we are going for it P -- it. Fabulous crowds all week

:02:27. > :02:37.here. Hope the final lives up to expectations. Two great friends,

:02:37. > :02:51.

:02:51. > :02:54.but on the table the friendship Shufr has done what he wanted to do,

:02:54. > :03:04.-- Shaun Murphy has done what he wanted to do, took the opening

:03:04. > :03:24.

:03:24. > :03:34.Fantastic shot. Couldn't be closer. We are all square, two each. I like

:03:34. > :03:51.

:03:51. > :03:57.Sorry is the word you are looking for. Seems to be the hardest word.

:03:57. > :04:07.This is it. He needed to make a decent contribution,. That is what

:04:07. > :04:14.

:04:14. > :04:17.A very interesting opening eight frames. Shaun Murphy will be

:04:17. > :04:25.disappointed. He had a two frame advantage but we are all square at

:04:25. > :04:29.four all. He is a world and UK champion. Shaun Murphy has

:04:29. > :04:34.ambitions to become one of the legends of the game. Do that, he

:04:34. > :04:39.has to become a multiple win over snooker's greatest prizes. Mark

:04:39. > :04:46.Selby is at number one, he has won the Masters twice. There is a large

:04:47. > :04:51.gap in his CV. He has yet to get his name engraved on the sport's

:04:51. > :04:55.two most prestigious trophies, the world championship and the UK

:04:55. > :05:00.Championship. He has been cracking in the long once all afternoon. If

:05:00. > :05:05.he continues do that he will be so so hard to beat. The positives from

:05:05. > :05:09.Mark Selby, the usual survival skills. 4-2 down and being

:05:09. > :05:16.outplayed by Murphy, he has level at four frames all. So who will

:05:16. > :05:21.whip this coveted UK trophy tonight? All will be revealed.

:05:22. > :05:31.Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the former world champion,

:05:32. > :06:11.

:06:11. > :06:19.MUSIC: "He's a Pirate" by Klaus And his opponent, the world number

:06:19. > :06:29.one, the Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby.

:06:29. > :06:53.

:06:53. > :07:00.HAZEL IRVINE: A possible 11 more frames to play in this best of 19

:07:00. > :07:05.frames final and teaming up to take the first stint in the commentary

:07:05. > :07:08.box is Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor. Good evening. A very good

:07:08. > :07:18.evening to everyone at home. What a reception, both players received

:07:18. > :07:23.

:07:23. > :07:28.Looking forward to this Ken, you can't separate them. It looked as

:07:28. > :07:34.Shaun was going to pull away, but he missed one or two longish pots,

:07:34. > :07:40.and Mark Selby was right back in there. I am sure of the two players

:07:40. > :07:50.Mark Selby the happier going ininto this session but a fantastic first

:07:50. > :08:07.

:08:07. > :08:12.It is nicely poised. Possible 11 There is the match time there, just

:08:12. > :08:22.over two hours and 45 minutes. REFEREE: Put your camera away.

:08:22. > :08:38.

:08:38. > :08:48.referee ordering someone to put This could be an awkward frame with

:08:48. > :08:59.

:08:59. > :09:09.Tactics will play a big part in this match. Shaun is ahead in the

:09:09. > :09:46.

:09:46. > :09:50.That was a good shot, Shaun's last The red has gone near this right

:09:50. > :10:00.hand centre pocket. It will probably make it more difficult for

:10:00. > :10:21.

:10:21. > :10:25.Shaun to put this cue ball back on His long putting has gone off

:10:25. > :10:35.slightly. He is a very aggressive player but I am not sure about that.

:10:35. > :10:35.

:10:35. > :11:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:11:21. > :11:31.He may have got the white safe had A lovely shot. It has a -- perfect

:11:31. > :12:08.

:12:08. > :12:15.angle to do into the pack and still He played for a choice of reds

:12:15. > :12:25.He was hoping to finish on either of those, he has gone a bit too far,

:12:25. > :12:25.

:12:25. > :13:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:13:25. > :13:35.so he has to control this cue ball It must be pretty tight. He might

:13:35. > :13:38.

:13:38. > :13:48.That risky long red that Shaun took on, might just cost him this

:13:48. > :13:53.

:13:53. > :14:03.It was dead straight and because he put the red on to right, of the

:14:03. > :14:16.

:14:16. > :14:24.pocket, that is the reason he left Looking at that again, it wasn't as

:14:24. > :14:29.risky, he just hit it wrong, didn't he. He did. We see it again. We see

:14:29. > :14:34.where it has gone to the right, that is why the cue ball has gone

:14:34. > :14:44.into the green. Still a risky shot, Mark Selby hasn't hit that as he

:14:44. > :14:52.

:14:52. > :14:57.would have liked, wanted to have This table is flying, Ken. It is

:14:57. > :15:07.quicker than it was when we had the two tables here, but this seems to

:15:07. > :15:42.

:15:42. > :15:46.There is a red available. He is That is amazing, once you run out

:15:46. > :15:50.of position on one shot, it does take you a couple of shots to get

:15:50. > :15:59.that position back, he got 250 close to the cushion on the black,

:15:59. > :16:09.played the black off two cushions, He will have to play this red after

:16:09. > :16:12.

:16:12. > :16:22.I don't think that was hard enough. Defend if this red cuts into the

:16:22. > :16:41.

:16:41. > :16:51.left corner. He can take it as a Looks like end of break, I don't

:16:51. > :16:51.

:16:51. > :17:36.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:17:36. > :17:46.think this red pots. Trith -- you REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

:17:46. > :18:10.

:18:10. > :18:20.better off missing that on your That is where it was and that is

:18:20. > :18:28.

:18:28. > :18:31.REFEREE: Foul and a miss. It is not easy to judge this, he is trying to

:18:31. > :18:41.come off the top cushion and clip the extreme right of this red on

:18:41. > :18:46.

:18:46. > :18:56.There is still plenty of reds on, if Shaun could pull this shot off.

:18:56. > :19:31.

:19:31. > :19:34.Mark Selby would love to knock one of these reds in. He wants to try

:19:34. > :19:44.and get as many safe balls, as possible, or close to the cushion

:19:44. > :19:59.

:20:00. > :20:04.He will be happy with that. Good He needed one red safe to give him

:20:04. > :20:14.that bit of insurance and what is Shaun doing? He is removing the

:20:14. > :20:21.

:20:21. > :20:24.difficult red and bringing it back This is very good. Excellent shot.

:20:25. > :20:29.Is there just enough room past the brown? He has to watch the pin fbg

:20:29. > :20:34.he plays off that side. You can see there is a bit sticking out there,

:20:34. > :20:44.but if he hits it thin he won't canon into the pink. This. I think

:20:44. > :21:03.

:21:03. > :21:07.this red might be on for a pot, Stiements it helps when you have

:21:07. > :21:14.got the brown and blue in your line of sight, because it gives you a

:21:14. > :21:24.bit of a guide to the object ball, in this case being the red. --

:21:24. > :21:26.

:21:26. > :21:36.REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Oh, well he has called it a miss, but I tell

:21:36. > :21:39.

:21:39. > :21:49.you what, the referee is hoping he might not take it back. The bet of

:21:49. > :21:52.

:21:52. > :21:59.You wouldn't do it on your best friend, would you. How lucky was

:21:59. > :22:09.Mark to get away with that? After he mishit it and hit the black? We

:22:09. > :22:36.

:22:36. > :22:40.It was a great effort, but he deadn't quite get the snooker. Had

:22:41. > :22:50.he got tight in behind the green, what a situation Mark Selby be

:22:51. > :23:18.

:23:18. > :23:23.There is a dumb of reds he could try and pot, certainly that one

:23:23. > :23:33.there, but... He might try and pot it in such way he will leave the

:23:33. > :23:42.

:23:42. > :23:47.There was no path back down the table, and he potted his way out of

:23:47. > :23:51.trouble there. Now if the scores were the other way round and Shaun

:23:51. > :24:01.Murphy was in he would be trying to pot the black in the middle pocket.

:24:01. > :24:39.

:24:39. > :24:44.But Mark has that lead and that He is in a spot of bother because

:24:44. > :24:54.the pink is in the way of the natural angle back down the table.

:24:54. > :25:01.

:25:01. > :25:06.Will he be forced into having to The yellow is safe, one red safe

:25:06. > :25:11.and there is a chance for a medium length pot from Mark Selby. In fact

:25:11. > :25:21.he can cut the one into the middle, it has -- passes the other. That is

:25:21. > :25:39.

:25:39. > :25:49.Now, then. A surprising miss. A bit of tension in this opening frame.

:25:49. > :26:12.

:26:12. > :26:20.He is contemplating on trying to take the red off the side cushion,

:26:20. > :26:25.but the problem is that unless he hits the two reds, that reds could

:26:25. > :26:35.come back up into baulk. I am wondering if he is thinking about

:26:35. > :26:44.

:26:44. > :26:54.trying to back double that, but it It looks as if he is going to have

:26:54. > :26:58.

:26:58. > :27:08.another go at a red into this right Another chance for Mark Selby to

:27:08. > :27:17.

:27:17. > :27:27.It is obviously was tactic, to try and pot his way out of trouble.

:27:27. > :27:49.

:27:49. > :27:52.Well... Two great chances for Mark I think the red might go into the

:27:52. > :28:02.same pocket at the pink. It might be a gap between the green and the

:28:02. > :28:03.

:28:03. > :28:13.He tried to move the yellow. That is a pretty good shot. A positive

:28:13. > :28:16.

:28:16. > :28:26.He has every intention of potting the remaining reds with colours if

:28:26. > :28:55.

:28:55. > :29:02.We keep talking about the big part that psychology plays in this game.

:29:02. > :29:05.If Shaun Murphy was to pinch this opening frame this evening, what a

:29:05. > :29:15.psychological blow that would be for Mark Selby 4, who has had three

:29:15. > :29:17.

:29:17. > :29:21.That would be difficult from this position, would have liked to have

:29:21. > :29:31.got an angle on this red to take out the other red. Not sure if he

:29:31. > :29:35.

:29:35. > :29:45.If he is straight enough he can pot into the middle and still be on the

:29:45. > :29:50.

:29:50. > :30:00.Now everything is certainly in the open. He needs a good shot here.

:30:00. > :30:05.

:30:05. > :30:14.will have to play with the rest. He doesn't miss many with the rest.

:30:14. > :30:24.Missed one or two this afternoon, but 94% for the tournament with his

:30:24. > :30:41.

:30:41. > :30:51.Going into the cue ball nicely and into the centre, trying to get on

:30:51. > :30:56.

:30:56. > :31:01.That flick on the yellow from the pink, a few shots ago, could prove

:31:01. > :31:05.very beneficial for Shaun Murphy here. He could try to get another

:31:05. > :31:08.angle on the red off the green and bring the yellow into more open

:31:08. > :31:18.play but there's still plenty of room behind the yellow should he

:31:18. > :31:27.

:31:27. > :31:33.get the opportunity to position the He's having a little smile to

:31:33. > :31:37.himself a, he is saying "what do I do? Do I try to get the yellow

:31:38. > :31:47.further out on to the table, leave it where it is?" but what a steal

:31:48. > :31:52.

:31:52. > :32:02.He absolutely relishes the sort of He is too straight on the red,

:32:02. > :32:06.

:32:06. > :32:12.Plenty of room behind the yellow, and if he gets somewhere between

:32:12. > :32:17.the yellow and the baulk Lin, he could get into the middle or to

:32:17. > :32:27.what one of the corner pockets. That looks about perfect, excellent

:32:27. > :32:28.

:32:28. > :32:38.A chance for Shaun Murphy to steal this frame and what a steal this

:32:38. > :32:43.would be. This would hurt Mark This was a sitter really, he took

:32:43. > :32:49.his eye off that and another one in the opposite middle pocket. And now

:32:49. > :32:53.he must sit and watch Shaun Murphy - it has to be said, this is some

:32:53. > :33:00.clearance because it was not on when he set off. He has had to work

:33:00. > :33:10.so hard for these. This is the key shot, brown it to blue. If you get

:33:10. > :33:20.this right, it should not be a What an opening frame this could

:33:20. > :33:51.

:33:51. > :33:54.What an opening frame this Barbican crowd has had here this evening.

:33:54. > :33:58.Mark Selby missed three chances to clinch it, Shaun Murphy had a

:33:58. > :34:02.fabulous clearance and he is back in the front at 5-4.

:34:02. > :34:06.HAZEL IRVINE: We thought this might be special and we have got the 11

:34:06. > :34:10.times tight lists, showing that between them. 6 and 5 respectively

:34:10. > :34:15.for Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry. And between you, you have grace

:34:15. > :34:20.something like 16 finals, two against one another. You know what

:34:20. > :34:23.it is like. And rate that for a clearance. A marvellous, marvellous

:34:23. > :34:28.clearance and I know exactly what it would be like to sit in the

:34:28. > :34:31.chair and watch that happen in the first frame. Mark Selby will be

:34:31. > :34:36.distraught inside, that was an awful frame to lose from his

:34:36. > :34:42.perspective. Who has been the most fluent of the two? T day and for

:34:42. > :34:47.the whole tournament, Shaun Murphy, no doubt about it. Mark Selby

:34:47. > :34:51.missed two easy reds but he has done that all week, missing balls

:34:51. > :34:55.he would never expect him to miss. His concentration and focus is

:34:55. > :34:58.normally it much better than that. The cue look at the statistics, you

:34:58. > :35:03.have got Murphy with three centuries to this point and Mark

:35:03. > :35:06.Selby has outscored everybody with five but I take your point, Steve,

:35:06. > :35:11.it Murphy seems to be making the breaks and seems to be more fluid

:35:11. > :35:14.all round. Yes and cracking the long ones in and he started off in

:35:14. > :35:19.this session by missing some long ones and we thought this was time

:35:19. > :35:23.for Mark Selby to get going but he has an done that could work with

:35:23. > :35:33.the two misses. Let see how badly it at all he is affected by that as

:35:33. > :35:34.

:35:34. > :35:44.DENNIS TAYLOR: It will all be very fascinating this evening. Shaun

:35:44. > :35:52.

:35:52. > :35:58.Murphy missed a couple of long pot. Someone living in his line of sight

:35:58. > :36:08.there -- moving in his line of sight. Let's see if the his long

:36:08. > :36:16.

:36:16. > :36:22.This would be a brave black to take on. He went all out for the pot. He

:36:22. > :36:32.might have thought he would miss the cannon.

:36:32. > :37:01.

:37:01. > :37:08.Say, when there's a distance between the two reds it's so easy

:37:08. > :37:18.to judge the plant and he has not got away with it. He has left the

:37:18. > :37:39.

:37:39. > :37:49.red but he tried to plant. -- that Excellent pot, straight into the

:37:49. > :37:55.

:37:55. > :38:05.heart of the pocket, top side of He is certainly low enough on this

:38:05. > :38:18.

:38:18. > :38:28.Well, he has put balls all over the table and he was hoping to drop

:38:28. > :38:43.

:38:43. > :38:53.onto the black for that pocket but Just a little thin one off the back,

:38:53. > :39:21.

:39:21. > :39:31.as long as he does not go in-off He has to be careful here, Mark

:39:31. > :39:34.

:39:34. > :39:39.Bringing the cue ball back in to the baulk area, but a big target

:39:39. > :39:43.behind the pink and the green but it is the old problem that the red

:39:43. > :39:53.could come back up into baulk and that is why he might contemplate

:39:53. > :40:03.

:40:03. > :40:07.leaving the cue ball down this end I didn't see that one, Dennis, that

:40:07. > :40:12.one? I am surprised you didn't, it was a straightforward pot in the

:40:12. > :40:17.end. He has to take advantage of this bit of good fortune as we show

:40:17. > :40:27.you this. He was playing for on to the black there and as good a trick

:40:27. > :40:31.

:40:31. > :40:35.What a chance and what a fluke that could prove to be if he could get

:40:35. > :40:38.the black back on its spot, the pink is out of commission but with

:40:39. > :40:48.the black and blue on their spots on the reds as they are, great

:40:49. > :41:27.

:41:27. > :41:33.He wants to play for the black but I'll! I tell you what, how did that

:41:34. > :41:40.drop in? It was there for a second or two and we all thought it was

:41:40. > :41:50.going to stay right on the jaw of the pocket. It didn't look in at

:41:50. > :41:54.

:41:54. > :42:02.Mark is a little bit fired-up and the adrenalin is pumping a bit too

:42:02. > :42:12.strongly at the moment. Luckily, he can anded the red. -- he can anded

:42:12. > :42:12.

:42:12. > :43:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:43:11. > :43:14.He is just a little straight on the red, cannot get top side of the

:43:14. > :43:24.blue it and that is why he is taking this one to bring back on to

:43:24. > :43:40.

:43:40. > :43:48.Not the best shot in the world, he He is under pressure here, he just

:43:48. > :43:53.wasn't comfortable. He was lucky a couple of times in that break and

:43:53. > :43:57.he hasn't left anything, he was trying to get on those two reds

:43:57. > :44:07.into the same pocket. A possibility of a plant into the bottom left-

:44:07. > :44:18.

:44:18. > :44:23.He could play it and try to screw He has got an easy safety shot if

:44:23. > :44:33.he wants but it looks like he wants to have a go at this difficult

:44:33. > :44:34.

:44:34. > :44:44.He is looking to see if the red will go past the black. From the

:44:44. > :44:45.

:44:45. > :44:49.angle, half in which he -- how thin would he have to hit the red?

:44:49. > :44:52.think he is a bit concerned when he leaves the cue ball, that he will

:44:52. > :45:01.be leading that opportunity for Mark Selby but I definitely think

:45:01. > :45:11.this is what having a go. -- worth having a go. It is one of those, if

:45:11. > :45:17.

:45:17. > :45:21.it goes in, great shot, if it And look where the red has gone. He

:45:21. > :45:24.was hedging his bets a little bit there. Trying to screw back for

:45:24. > :45:34.safety in case he missed the plant but he had a straight forward

:45:34. > :46:02.

:46:02. > :46:12.That's amazing, he got a slight clip on the brown and that forced

:46:12. > :46:16.

:46:16. > :46:22.If he can play a delicate little shot and get some way into this

:46:22. > :46:25.circle, he would leave those two reds for the left middle pocket but

:46:25. > :46:29.when they are a thin snick like this it is difficult to control the

:46:29. > :46:34.cue ball. He has got more margin for error but he he goes any

:46:34. > :46:38.further up the table, he will not have a pot on. It is a delicate

:46:38. > :46:48.little shot playing with a little touch of screw, just to hold the

:46:48. > :47:04.

:47:04. > :47:14.Never easy to control that. I think he has gone too far, Dennis. He can

:47:14. > :47:24.only take this red with the rest As you said, the cloths on these

:47:24. > :48:03.

:48:03. > :48:08.Again a bit short of pace. Sometimes when you are under

:48:08. > :48:15.pressure, you can either overhit the ball or sometimes underhit it.

:48:15. > :48:25.A bit of tension in your arm. He will be reading still from losing

:48:25. > :48:39.

:48:39. > :48:48.If he rolls it in and plays the cannon, he will not be able to, he

:48:48. > :48:58.will have to get the white moving. He has taken the more difficult one

:48:58. > :48:58.

:48:58. > :49:02.and he got a perfect on the black He is struggling a little bit here

:49:02. > :49:09.with the cue ball, getting it into the right position and once again,

:49:09. > :49:19.he has given Shaun a chance. OK, it isn't easy, but it wasn't in the

:49:19. > :49:20.

:49:20. > :49:24.Well, he is not going to clear up this time.

:49:24. > :49:28.REFEREE: Settle down, please. crowd have got really involved in

:49:28. > :49:32.this match. The reception they have both got this afternoon and this

:49:32. > :49:42.evening. You don't often see a standing ovation at the start of a

:49:42. > :50:11.

:50:11. > :50:21.This shot could be a frame-winner. Red over on to the black and then

:50:21. > :50:28.

:50:28. > :50:38.Still a bit of tension there, there really is. He has not missed many

:50:38. > :50:47.

:50:47. > :50:51.with the rest. He never even got it He could go for the open red over

:50:51. > :51:01.the middle but he has got a lovely angle to take this red out with the

:51:01. > :51:08.

:51:08. > :51:11.Has it gone too far? It might have, Ken, but there by a couple of

:51:11. > :51:16.possibilities. 1 up into the corner and he can play this in such a way

:51:17. > :51:24.to knock the red in. It depends whether he wants to go full-blooded

:51:24. > :51:28.older pot both balls in. That is a sign of how confident he is and he

:51:28. > :51:32.might be able to take the other red out if he wants to and if he

:51:32. > :51:42.doesn't cannon the red, he has got the one over the middle. This is a

:51:42. > :51:47.

:51:47. > :51:57.key shot now. A perfect angle on He could try to get in behind the

:51:57. > :52:03.

:52:03. > :52:10.red but there are big moments in He has missed the red but he has

:52:10. > :52:20.still got the insurance. Definitely in the shot to play there. He can

:52:20. > :52:43.

:52:43. > :52:53.He will have to force this in to He is looking at the scoreboard, 15

:52:53. > :53:05.

:53:05. > :53:09.points behind. He will need the With the yellow been off its spot,

:53:09. > :53:14.he was dead straight, it would be a lot easier to get on the green but

:53:14. > :53:24.then leave himself an easy yellow so he is absolutely dead straight,

:53:24. > :53:27.

:53:27. > :53:37.he might not leave himself on the If he wants to, he can go past the

:53:37. > :53:46.

:53:46. > :53:52.blue and leave a green that is Maybe the brown goes also. He is on

:53:52. > :54:02.the yellow anywhere. Any of those colours were much better than

:54:02. > :54:18.

:54:18. > :54:23.playing for the blue. I think he It's going to go on the pink spot.

:54:23. > :54:28.Believe it or not and it is still able to be potted but the brown

:54:28. > :54:38.would pass the yellow, he was just unlucky there. Because if he had

:54:38. > :54:55.

:54:55. > :55:05.pulled up short, he would... It is It's great to hear the sound of the

:55:05. > :55:19.

:55:19. > :55:29.He tried to get the cue ball behind the black. Not the best shot he has

:55:29. > :55:58.

:55:58. > :56:03.He has got away with this one. That People from all over the United

:56:03. > :56:07.Kingdom here at the Barbican. And it two couples. One from Dubai,

:56:07. > :56:17.they have come in for the final and they are flying back tomorrow. One

:56:17. > :56:27.

:56:27. > :56:32.shot from America and his wife is He could stun the yellow up the

:56:32. > :56:42.table and get the cue ball behind the black or clip off the yellow,

:56:42. > :56:47.

:56:47. > :56:51.big target behind the pink and He gutted behind the blue -- he got

:56:51. > :56:54.it behind the blue but it is not what he would have liked. A chance

:56:55. > :57:04.for Mark Selby to play the same shot. I and send the yellow behind

:57:05. > :57:09.

:57:09. > :57:19.That is not a bad kiss on the green. Who is going to get in behind that

:57:19. > :57:21.

:57:21. > :57:31.pink first? We have seen Shaun take He will automatically come up

:57:31. > :57:45.

:57:45. > :57:51.Well, the black is in and where is Maybe the wrong choice, he is

:57:52. > :57:55.thinking now. He has left a free ball. He can nominate the green as

:57:55. > :58:05.a yellow. Not quite sure where he could do that and plant the green

:58:05. > :58:14.

:58:14. > :58:17.If he is on the green, he could use the green as the free ball and the

:58:17. > :58:27.green would automatically become a yellow, and cannon the green on to

:58:27. > :58:31.

:58:31. > :58:38.the other, pot the yellow and then A narrow angle to come back across

:58:38. > :58:41.past the pink but if he tried it that way, he could try to pot the

:58:41. > :58:51.yellow, going round the angles. I am not sure if the black is that

:58:51. > :59:04.

:59:04. > :59:09.the in the way. -- black is Look how close he would have to get

:59:09. > :59:19.to the black. Not a lot else available to him. He is looking out

:59:19. > :59:26.

:59:26. > :59:36.It might be the only way to him and it looks like he is. Somewhere near

:59:36. > :59:47.

:59:47. > :59:57.Somewhere near that but look at the That was some shot!

:59:57. > :00:16.

:00:16. > :00:26.That was a great effort and he was That was what you call knowledge of

:00:26. > :00:27.

:00:27. > :00:37.the angles but the double-kiss You cannot separate these two

:00:37. > :00:48.

:00:48. > :00:56.A totally different frame to the opening one, where there were just

:00:56. > :01:06.two visits. 58 by Mark Selby and an unbelievable 64 the clearance by

:01:06. > :01:22.

:01:22. > :01:32.28 is the difference. Two five. Snookers needed to tie. -- two

:01:32. > :02:05.

:02:05. > :02:08.He wanted to pot the black, as well. And in it goes. And so does the

:02:08. > :02:15.white - a trick shot to finish. We cannot separate these players at

:02:15. > :02:18.the moment. It is 5-5. It is certainly eventful and Mark

:02:18. > :02:25.Selby came out looking very positive at the start of the

:02:25. > :02:28.session. He has wobbled several times. The score on because of the

:02:28. > :02:32.first frame that he lost. He was presented with a very easy chance

:02:32. > :02:35.after fluking the ball early on. He did not make the most of it and

:02:36. > :02:41.then cracks started appearing. He missed some awful shot by his

:02:41. > :02:45.standards. Looked a very wobbly indeed. From his perspective,

:02:45. > :02:49.fairly fortunate that he got over the line in that one. He got on a

:02:49. > :02:55.level par and might be able to steady the ship a bit. What do you

:02:55. > :02:58.put this down to? I think it is a big night for both of them and they

:02:58. > :03:02.respect each other's games. It might take one person making a

:03:02. > :03:08.century to spark the other into life but at the moment collar it is

:03:08. > :03:13.not great. There is a lot of pressure out there. It is quite

:03:13. > :03:18.exciting. It has taken an hour for the first couple of frames. It

:03:18. > :03:21.could be going late this evening. What is at stake for these guys? We

:03:21. > :03:26.have already talked about this being the biggest event in the

:03:26. > :03:31.snooker calendar. It means a huge amount. I don't know if Stephen

:03:31. > :03:35.feels the same way but if you look at his career in the 1990s and mind

:03:35. > :03:40.in the 1980s, we got lots and lots of chances to win events, and it

:03:40. > :03:50.probably can't do down to a degree. But it is not guaranteed for these

:03:50. > :04:15.

:04:15. > :04:25.COMMENTATOR: It is a fabulous seen. If you can't play in front of a

:04:25. > :04:33.

:04:33. > :04:43.crowd like this, where could you You cannot hit the ball any better

:04:43. > :05:01.

:05:01. > :05:09.It did not seem to be the time to go into them with that red away

:05:09. > :05:19.from the bounce. Playing with a lot of top spin. Might be a chance to

:05:19. > :05:19.

:05:19. > :08:00.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:08:00. > :08:10.He is contemplating on taking this green. It is a tough pot. Good

:08:10. > :08:43.

:08:43. > :08:53.He has to be absolutely spot on here. That is pretty good judgement.

:08:53. > :09:04.

:09:04. > :09:09.Very well played. He might be able to go between the

:09:09. > :09:19.reds there to get on towards the brown. He could go twice across the

:09:19. > :09:30.

:09:30. > :09:34.table but can he see enough of it? Just a bit of a stalemate here for

:09:34. > :09:44.the time being until one of the players can run away up the table

:09:44. > :09:57.

:09:57. > :10:00.Could do with a touching ball to Might be a slight mistake, Shaun

:10:00. > :10:07.could be in trouble, I am sure he can get twice across behind the

:10:07. > :10:17.brown. I don't know whether he has opened the door for this type of

:10:17. > :10:38.

:10:38. > :10:48.shot. It looks like he has. That Not far away. He has left a couple

:10:48. > :11:05.

:11:05. > :11:15.of pots available, the pink would He could have a go at this,

:11:15. > :11:15.

:11:15. > :12:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:12:25. > :12:29.wouldn't leave a great deal. If it That is not a bad length of the cue

:12:29. > :12:35.ball. One red has gone towards the right corner but it is not a

:12:35. > :12:45.natural angle to take this pot on and go round the back of the black.

:12:45. > :12:59.

:12:59. > :13:09.If he takes this on, I feel he That was a great shot from Shaun

:13:09. > :13:21.

:13:21. > :13:26.A thin one on the green, he will have to come across the table twice

:13:26. > :13:36.to leave that one to the left of the bunch. He cannot just stand up

:13:36. > :13:50.

:13:50. > :14:00.to it. He must travel across. -- Having said that was perfect, the

:14:00. > :14:08.

:14:08. > :14:18.He can screw back. With the cue power he has, he can run it through

:14:18. > :14:41.

:14:41. > :14:45.He might be able to get on the Good shot. Nice angle on the red.

:14:46. > :14:55.He beats himself a nice angle on the black by potting this red.'s

:14:56. > :15:10.

:15:10. > :15:17.He wants to screwed past the three He did not get into them with

:15:17. > :15:27.enough power. He got the are, White. He did not quite get as much as he

:15:27. > :15:30.

:15:31. > :15:40.wanted. A -- he got the arc on at He can play a similar shot to the

:15:41. > :16:04.

:16:04. > :16:14.I wonder whether he can judge it He will not be happy with that. He

:16:14. > :16:17.

:16:17. > :16:27.has left one. It is a shot to You always expect with Mark Selby

:16:27. > :16:45.

:16:45. > :16:52.that if he does not get them, they He was a wee bit unlucky there. He

:16:52. > :16:55.has got second best. I am not sure if he can nestle on the triangle of

:16:55. > :16:59.reds. The middle pocket may be slightly in the way but that is

:16:59. > :17:04.what he would like to play. wonder whether people take the risk

:17:04. > :17:14.of dropping on to the three reds. It is very risky. Mark tried to

:17:14. > :17:51.

:17:51. > :17:54.play a to cushion escape. -- it COMMENTATOR: He does not mind

:17:54. > :18:04.giving away the points here. Much better missing it than hitting it

:18:04. > :18:05.

:18:05. > :18:09.thick. This one is slightly more difficult than the previous one.

:18:09. > :18:19.The time before, he was just coming off the back cushion to flick the

:18:19. > :18:31.

:18:31. > :18:41.I had it pretty much directly That is where it was before. Where

:18:41. > :18:56.

:18:56. > :19:06.COMMENTATOR: Is it going to be third time lucky? This is exactly

:19:06. > :19:20.

:19:20. > :19:30.what happened on the previous That was always the problem, wasn't

:19:30. > :19:30.

:19:30. > :20:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:20:34. > :20:44.it? It is always going to be He overscrewed that slightly and

:20:44. > :21:15.

:21:15. > :21:25.He will have to get a nice angle to take the red out on the side

:21:25. > :21:25.

:21:25. > :22:28.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:22:28. > :22:37.Not a bad idea to get this one out It really was good thinking. Has he

:22:37. > :22:47.come up far enough? The black was writing the way of moving the red.

:22:47. > :23:12.

:23:12. > :23:15.He is certainly thinking very This is where the balls were. It is

:23:15. > :23:25.blocking the path of the cannon of the black so that was great

:23:25. > :23:40.

:23:40. > :23:43.His look could have been better. -- luck. If he cannot cut it in, he

:23:43. > :23:53.might be tempted to take it into the corner and screw back towards

:23:53. > :24:30.

:24:30. > :24:39.I did not think it would cut into the middle. It did not look like it

:24:39. > :24:49.from this angle. An opportunity now for Shaun Murphy. In the end, he

:24:49. > :24:56.

:24:56. > :25:05.did not hit it that thin so he 24 points ahead before he potted

:25:05. > :25:10.that red so he will need up to and He might have to leave the pink

:25:10. > :25:16.until he eventually gets on the brown. If he pots the brown and

:25:16. > :25:26.cannons the pink out, he will still be on the blue. I think that is his

:25:26. > :25:50.

:25:50. > :26:00.Has he got the angle to try to move the pink? Maybe not. There will

:26:00. > :26:08.

:26:08. > :26:14.Just over four hours now off fascinating snooker. That is a

:26:14. > :26:24.terrific shot. Does he have enough angle to pot the blue and bring the

:26:24. > :26:56.

:26:56. > :27:01.That was unlucky. What a shot this Mark Selby will be absolutely

:27:01. > :27:04.delighted. That was very risky. He could have played a snooker in

:27:04. > :27:14.behind the black but Shaun Murphy went for it and it did not pay off.

:27:14. > :27:14.

:27:14. > :27:56.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:27:56. > :27:59.What a frame that was. It was all down to the pink and Shaun had a

:27:59. > :28:02.choice. He could have flicked of the pink and but as snooker behind

:28:02. > :28:08.the black but he was feeling very confident. That would have been

:28:08. > :28:18.some shot to pot and get on the black.

:28:18. > :28:28.REFEREE: Take your seats quickly, COMMENTATOR: One more frame before

:28:28. > :28:28.

:28:28. > :29:19.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:29:19. > :29:27.the mid-session interval. People do The last time Mark Selby was in the

:29:27. > :29:37.lead was in the third frame. He got 66 to go 2-1 up. He has had to wait

:29:37. > :30:06.

:30:06. > :30:12.a long time but has got his nose I don't think he has played his

:30:12. > :30:22.best snooker by any stretch of the imagination, Mark Selby, but he has

:30:22. > :30:53.

:30:53. > :30:57.All champions have that even when You can always send one over the

:30:57. > :31:04.pocket when you take that shot. I do not think the yellow has come to

:31:05. > :31:12.his rescue. He can pot the red but look where the cue ball is going to

:31:12. > :31:22.finish. There is a little tap that he could possibly go through. --

:31:22. > :31:31.

:31:31. > :31:41.Well, that is unlucky. To go right through the reds, spread them all

:31:41. > :31:47.

:31:47. > :31:57.over the table and finished there Because of the red either side of

:31:57. > :31:57.

:31:57. > :32:01.the blue, it is not easy to roll to He has definitely got to try to

:32:01. > :32:05.take the green and the red away from the right middle and screw

:32:05. > :32:10.back to the baulk cushion. He has got to get the red away from the

:32:10. > :32:20.right middle because that is the danger. Screw the green into the

:32:20. > :32:23.

:32:23. > :32:28.red and try to get the cue ball Ken you believe he has knocked that

:32:28. > :32:38.in? You could try doing that for a year and a half and it would not go

:32:38. > :33:01.

:33:01. > :33:11.He needs to use the reds as a Nice tap on the table for Mark

:33:11. > :33:21.

:33:21. > :33:31.Selby, acknowledgement that it was As the blue come to his rescue? I

:33:31. > :33:44.

:33:44. > :33:48.don't think so. He is on this red That is not too bad, he will

:33:48. > :33:58.certainly settle for that. Dead straight blue into the green pocket.

:33:58. > :34:23.

:34:23. > :34:28.I feel he needs a big break, just The reds are perfectly placed here

:34:28. > :34:38.but the pink and black are just off their spots so needs a bit of

:34:38. > :34:39.

:34:39. > :34:49.That helps the situation getting the pink back on its spot. Shaun's

:34:49. > :35:06.

:35:06. > :35:13.highest break has been 90 it and Last season, Mark Selby made 55

:35:13. > :35:23.century breaks. Shaun Murphy made 34 Sir not many better players with

:35:23. > :35:27.

:35:27. > :35:37.He will be disappointed, he got a bit of a heavy contact. Took the

:35:37. > :35:54.

:35:54. > :36:04.You could see the cue ball bounce a He has been pretty good with the

:36:04. > :36:10.

:36:11. > :36:14.Excellent. Not many players would have left

:36:14. > :36:24.the white in that position, they would have wanted to get closer to

:36:24. > :36:59.

:36:59. > :37:03.the red but he is so confident with I think he is one of those players

:37:03. > :37:13.when he is under pressure, he seems to play some of his better snooker,

:37:13. > :37:13.

:37:13. > :38:00.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:38:00. > :38:10.Shaun. Ali Carter, the way he He may elect to pot this red,

:38:10. > :38:17.

:38:17. > :38:27.All he needed was a glancing blow there. Take the cue ball back to

:38:27. > :38:30.have the pink into the right centre. That is the perfect indication of

:38:30. > :38:35.why players try to clear up without a little cannon. But he needed the

:38:35. > :38:45.cannon on that occasion and it was a bit of a shocker, to be fair,

:38:45. > :38:46.

:38:46. > :38:56.He wanted to hit that red half ball so the red finish nicely on the

:38:56. > :39:07.

:39:07. > :39:17.It is as if he wants to put the That is a pretty good shot.

:39:17. > :39:48.

:39:48. > :39:52.Not the best safety shot from Mark Selby will stop the mid-session

:39:52. > :40:02.interval coming up and one good pot here and one good positional shot,

:40:02. > :40:32.

:40:32. > :40:37.I think we were asked he would win this match and nobody would commit

:40:37. > :40:46.themselves because it was so difficult to pick a winner. Look at

:40:47. > :40:51.that, 169 balls potted each. Almost cloth frames of play already and

:40:51. > :40:59.such a fine line between the players -- almost well frames of

:40:59. > :41:05.play. -- 12 frames. I think we will be in for a late finish to this

:41:05. > :41:15.match. We might have some late night drama here at the Barbican

:41:15. > :41:15.

:41:15. > :41:22.Centre in York. A fabulous week. Play started here last Saturday,

:41:22. > :41:27.the crowds have been superb throughout the tournament. And it

:41:27. > :41:37.looks like they will have something a bit special here this evening.

:41:37. > :41:49.

:41:49. > :41:59.There we have had everything in these first four frames. Lots of

:41:59. > :42:01.

:42:01. > :42:07.drama, close frames. Yeah, the first frame was a belter,

:42:07. > :42:11.wasn't it? 58 break by Mark Selby, missed a couple of chances but

:42:11. > :42:21.Shaun cleaned up with the wonderful 65 and then some great match

:42:21. > :42:27.

:42:27. > :42:32.A little exhibition shot here, possibly? Around the houses it is

:42:32. > :42:37.in the pocket but he will not be bothered? And Shaun Murphy with the

:42:37. > :42:43.aid of a 39 and that 38 break brings us all square again, we just

:42:43. > :42:49.cannot separate them, what a final. It is six frames all HAZEL IRVINE:

:42:49. > :42:54.Added think anybody was too surprised that we are even

:42:54. > :43:02.Stephen's, if you pardon the pun. The quality has been up and down.

:43:02. > :43:06.Moment of brilliance but also some bad position. They are playing

:43:06. > :43:15.careless cannons, so none of them got into their scoring rhythm. It

:43:15. > :43:23.is tough match play but I could do with looking for some big breaks.

:43:24. > :43:28.Not your kind of March, Stephen. -- match. We have got two very

:43:28. > :43:31.attacking players. Mark Selby, always an attacking player. And

:43:31. > :43:35.Shaun Murphy will always try to take on a red that is sticking out

:43:35. > :43:40.to try to get a point on the board and he is positive about going into

:43:40. > :43:44.the pack early. Yes, and in the frame earlier, we saw him take on

:43:44. > :43:47.an outrageous pink down the rail. We were talking in the roof here

:43:47. > :43:51.while it was happening, we both agree but perhaps we would not have

:43:51. > :43:55.taken it on and that is from me who is supposed to say that and Stephen

:43:55. > :44:01.said the same. It is how you see it out there. The way he has played

:44:02. > :44:05.and the way he won the World Championship, he went on fork shots,

:44:05. > :44:10.he continued to go for them. You can get picked off, it is tough but

:44:10. > :44:14.it is possible. And if Mark Selby does not had full speed, it could

:44:14. > :44:19.work. It will be interesting to see when fatigue and concentration

:44:19. > :44:25.start to play a part because it is now a 9:45 and they have been

:44:25. > :44:32.playing since 2 o'clock, that must kick in at some point. I think the

:44:32. > :44:37.adrenaline of the final takes that naturally. You have got something

:44:37. > :44:40.to do out there, you have got to win the championship. A sugar

:44:40. > :44:46.bruised as they look forward to the last few frames. But I am sure you

:44:46. > :44:52.are rare that Ronnie O'Sullivan is taking an extended break -- aware

:44:52. > :44:56.that Ronnie O'Sullivan. His absence plus the emergence of a new

:44:56. > :45:00.generation of snooker players and their relentless new international

:45:00. > :45:09.calendar means that there is real change in snooker right now as

:45:09. > :45:15.Steve has been looking at the way I reached the televised stages

:45:15. > :45:18.earlier this week at the tender age of 55. I know I am exceptional but

:45:18. > :45:25.I am exception as snooker spread his wings beyond these shores and

:45:25. > :45:28.entices younger stars onto the baize. While some are seizing

:45:28. > :45:38.opportunities, others are finding the new world order a bit of a

:45:38. > :45:45.

:45:45. > :45:50.# Stop me if you've heard this one # Stop me if you think you've heard

:45:50. > :45:55.this one before. # Nothing has changed, I still love

:45:55. > :46:05.you, oh, I still love you. # Only slightly, only slightly less

:46:05. > :46:06.

:46:06. > :46:11.It is a shame that Ronnie is not here and I, for one, miss him being

:46:11. > :46:15.at tournaments. A certain buzz that is not here. The run a factor but

:46:15. > :46:19.there are so many other good players on the tour, the arrival of

:46:19. > :46:29.the Judd Trump bringing a new wave and appreciation with him, it is

:46:29. > :46:32.

:46:32. > :46:37.At the end of the day, sport cannot rely on one person so Ronnie has

:46:37. > :46:41.been the flagbearer for the last 20 years so it is time somebody came

:46:41. > :46:49.through with an attacking style of snooker. Big game is a lot more

:46:49. > :46:51.attacking. -- the game is a lot more. It was pretty much

:46:51. > :46:57.everybody's favourite, Ronnie O'Sullivan so they must learn to

:46:57. > :47:02.love somebody else. I think it opens paths for other players. He

:47:02. > :47:12.has achieved everything so if he wants to stop and it makes him

:47:12. > :47:14.

:47:15. > :47:22.happy, he has got nothing left to I am not saying it because I and

:47:22. > :47:32.just 16, I think I made the right decision, have a break, have a year

:47:32. > :47:38.

:47:38. > :47:48.out. I am sure of not playing for a Ronnie has done a lot for the game,

:47:48. > :47:49.

:47:50. > :47:56.and lots of people out there who adore him. Ronnie fans do not

:47:56. > :48:00.realise he may not have entered the championship, some of them. Ronnie

:48:00. > :48:03.is a great player and talent but he only played in one tournament this

:48:03. > :48:13.year and the majority of the other tournaments have gone ahead and

:48:13. > :48:14.

:48:14. > :48:19.still managed to attract good He has said before that he wants to

:48:19. > :48:29.retire and he will not give up, Sir for his own benefit, I think a year

:48:29. > :48:29.

:48:29. > :48:34.out is probably the best thing for It is the Ronnie O'Sullivan show

:48:34. > :48:38.when he turns up. It is not now because he is not here. It is one

:48:38. > :48:42.of those things, he has his own personal reasons why he is not

:48:42. > :48:52.playing. I am sure he will be back next year and I think he might come

:48:52. > :49:06.

:49:06. > :49:09.back for the Crucible but, who One of Ronnie's problems has been

:49:09. > :49:13.the amount of travelling required for the modern professional and you

:49:13. > :49:23.do not have to go too far down the road from Romford to find the man

:49:23. > :49:27.

:49:27. > :49:35.that epitomises the game's new Give me a cue and a table, I will

:49:35. > :49:40.play anywhere. Just playing in a lot of tournaments until I reached

:49:40. > :49:50.about 30 this season. It is tiring, lots of jet lag and travelling. But

:49:50. > :49:51.

:49:51. > :49:55.It just seems I am literally getting home one day, packing,

:49:55. > :49:59.doing my washing, ironing, packing again and then off ago, come back

:49:59. > :50:07.from China a couple of weeks ago on Sunday morning, Monday afternoon

:50:08. > :50:11.hours going to cluster and playing in a PTC. People look forward to

:50:11. > :50:17.staying in hotels but it seems like a bit of a ball sometimes. At the

:50:17. > :50:24.end of the day, I am here to play snooker and it is a job. It is

:50:24. > :50:28.playing a numbers game. I have won three tournaments of 30, you will

:50:28. > :50:36.win at some if you play all the time, playing in good conditions

:50:36. > :50:40.and your game is sharp. You will get a bit tired in China game after

:50:40. > :50:48.game if you travel and play all the time. It is the best thing that has

:50:48. > :50:52.ever happened, I don't know why people moan. I think there needs to

:50:52. > :50:58.be more players come through for people to reach the top but if

:50:58. > :51:01.people going over there and supported the game over there it

:51:01. > :51:11.will get bigger and people from as many countries as possible, it will

:51:11. > :51:18.

:51:18. > :51:25.There are so many tournaments now, it is impossible to peak for every

:51:25. > :51:30.event so I am concentrating the -- on the ones that I want to do well

:51:30. > :51:36.in. We finished playing in the world and the autumn season starts

:51:36. > :51:39.again in the June. Before we were only classed as part tab

:51:39. > :51:43.professionals and you could not class it as a job, you are only

:51:43. > :51:47.playing for six months of the year but now it is full-time.

:51:47. > :51:55.standard of play is unbelievable now. Either I am getting worse or

:51:55. > :52:00.everybody else is getting better because it seems that you are even

:52:00. > :52:10.50, 60, everybody is clearing up. It is not just the top 16 players,

:52:10. > :52:10.

:52:10. > :52:15.There are a lot of players capable of winning every tournament now

:52:15. > :52:25.because we are playing all the time, so sharp. Any tournament could be

:52:25. > :52:30.

:52:30. > :52:36.You realise that our little game we play back in the UK and have done

:52:36. > :52:39.so for many years is now worldwide as a sport and we are playing that

:52:39. > :52:45.game, millions and millions of people are watching it here in

:52:45. > :52:50.China. The globalisation of the game continues apace and the raft

:52:50. > :52:53.of new Thomas is also rejuvenating snooker. With three teenagers

:52:53. > :53:03.making their York debut this week, is this the shape of things to

:53:03. > :53:18.

:53:18. > :53:28.# Hai, shining star # No matter Jack Lisowski! From Wales, Michael

:53:28. > :53:31.

:53:31. > :53:37.White Lightning! The Belgian bullet, Me and Jack Lisowski have qualified

:53:37. > :53:42.for this, it is good to be a professional now because you get to

:53:42. > :53:47.travel a lot and if you do well, you get a bit of money and whatever.

:53:47. > :53:55.It is good. I think the game will change and over the next few years,

:53:55. > :54:00.we will see lot of other players Players are learning fast and the

:54:00. > :54:07.best young players I am sure are coming through. Five years will be

:54:07. > :54:12.Judd Trump, Luca Brecel, and me. We will be in the top 16 I think. It

:54:12. > :54:16.is a good break through. You cannot expect to come to a major

:54:16. > :54:21.tournament suddenly and win it so I do think I have to do things step

:54:21. > :54:24.by step. By what to do it quickly but it helps if you can get to the

:54:24. > :54:34.top ranks because you see some players who are brilliant but they

:54:34. > :54:40.

:54:40. > :54:47.It could be now, or two or three years. I am not a big rush sort of

:54:47. > :54:50.person. He is very dangerous, stays fluent. He can be scary.

:54:50. > :54:56.tournaments that Barry is putting on now, it gives players a really

:54:56. > :55:04.good chance. We are learning every week. It is really good that they

:55:04. > :55:10.are starting to come through. You get to see some new faces on TV.

:55:10. > :55:15.Hopefully it will improve snooker's image as well. I was on holiday in

:55:15. > :55:25.Italy and I played bought there for the first time and when I came back

:55:25. > :55:46.

:55:46. > :55:54.to Belgium, I played snooker for I felt pressure at the end but I

:55:54. > :56:04.was just enjoying it. I don't know, I don't expect anything so I just

:56:04. > :56:12.

:56:12. > :56:22.enjoy this moment and I do my best. DENNIS TAYLOR: And he's done

:56:22. > :56:29.

:56:29. > :56:34.exactly and as he had done in the Luca has been the name of the

:56:34. > :56:39.tournament. He will take some fantastic things from this week. If

:56:39. > :56:46.he continues as he has been doing, he will be fantastic news. I like

:56:46. > :56:50.it because I can shut people's mouths! Keeping the focus to stay

:56:50. > :56:54.No. 1 is a tough proposition right now. For nearly three decades from

:56:54. > :56:58.the start of my rain, only five players have held that exalted

:56:58. > :57:03.position but in the last two, three men have broken that stranglehold

:57:03. > :57:13.on the game. Neil Robertson, Mark Selby and Judd Trump. Competition

:57:13. > :57:17.

:57:18. > :57:21.has never been fiercer in the race When you good to number one,

:57:21. > :57:28.everybody wants to bring you down. That was the same with Mark Selby,

:57:28. > :57:32.he held the position for quite a long time. Everybody wants to be

:57:32. > :57:37.number one so you must keep battling away. It is so tough

:57:37. > :57:42.nowadays, if you take your foot off the gas, somebody will overtake you.

:57:42. > :57:46.I have won two titles this season, one began one little 1, but I have

:57:46. > :57:53.reached the last four finals so that has not been done for quite a

:57:53. > :58:00.while. The way I am playing is consistent. The way the ranking

:58:00. > :58:04.system is now, if you are playing well you benefit from that. Judd

:58:04. > :58:09.Trump is playing consistently, same with Neil. And they have benefited

:58:09. > :58:13.from that but a few years ago, you were protected and even if you did

:58:13. > :58:22.have a good season, you could only move up a couple of places but now

:58:22. > :58:26.To get to number one was a massive privilege because that is one of my

:58:26. > :58:29.aims as a professional, to be world champion and to get to world number

:58:29. > :58:33.one so I managed to come: Of them but at the time when I was number

:58:33. > :58:37.one, I felt I was putting too much pressure on myself going into

:58:37. > :58:42.tournaments and that the same time, losing the spot probably was not as

:58:42. > :58:45.big as what I thought it would be. And I have come here to try to

:58:45. > :58:51.enjoy the game. It is a huge achievement especially the

:58:51. > :58:54.standards the way they are. The positions can change very quickly

:58:55. > :59:04.so to get to number one is a massive achievement, even if you

:59:05. > :59:17.

:59:17. > :59:21.It is a little bit different for me compared to Mark because I am still

:59:21. > :59:31.a good four or five months away from being able to take the number-

:59:31. > :59:32.

:59:32. > :59:35.The rankings have changed nowadays. The top of the ranks is going to be

:59:35. > :59:39.a lot more volatile. You get players who are in form for a

:59:39. > :59:44.couple of months getting to number- one and then they might drop off

:59:44. > :59:46.and the next player will get to number one. And so many tournaments.

:59:46. > :59:56.Whoever plays the most tournaments will have the chance of getting to

:59:56. > :59:57.

:59:57. > :00:00.It would be nice to be world number one and world champion in the same

:00:01. > :00:07.year. That would be perfect. There is a lot of time between now and

:00:07. > :00:16.April. A lot can happen. I need to stay confident quality practising,

:00:16. > :00:19.keep my head straight and keep Judd Trump's reign at the top as

:00:19. > :00:23.the 10th world number one lasted five weeks. That is going to be a

:00:23. > :00:33.sign of the times. Mark Selby, according to the new list that is

:00:33. > :00:38.about to be published, is There is not much movement. Shaun

:00:39. > :00:48.Murphy, whether he wins tonight or not, will remain at No. 4. Ronnie

:00:49. > :00:49.

:00:49. > :00:54.It keeps the interest of the viewer with some good to talk about each

:00:54. > :00:57.tournament. The way it used to be, number-one was guaranteed for a

:00:57. > :01:01.whole season. It creates a talking point and create pressure on

:01:01. > :01:06.whoever is number-one to stay there. It is something for younger players

:01:06. > :01:10.to a match. We saw Jack Lisowski and Michael White and Luca Brecel.

:01:10. > :01:14.He had a magnificent run to the quarter-finals. How long before we

:01:14. > :01:19.see these young men and others fighting in the top 16? It is going

:01:19. > :01:22.to get quicker. Up until now, the ranking list has been on ranking

:01:22. > :01:26.points and if you were further through the event, you had a better

:01:26. > :01:30.chance of getting the points. We have been running concurrently a

:01:30. > :01:33.prize money ranking list to see how it fares. It seemed to fair very

:01:33. > :01:37.well and as quick as we can, we are going to make it prize money

:01:37. > :01:46.ranking. So if a good young player has a very good result, he will

:01:46. > :01:51.jump up a lot quicker. You will see, even more volatile, a different

:01:51. > :01:57.list. Changing times in snooker and healthy for it. Do you believe

:01:57. > :02:00.that? Absolutely. When you are number one, you have got to keep

:02:00. > :02:05.consistently performing because you know someone is going to take your

:02:05. > :02:10.ranking. It creates tremendous competition between the top five or

:02:10. > :02:12.six players. It is greater than we have the world number-one and the

:02:12. > :02:18.world number four contesting this evening. John has managed to catch

:02:18. > :02:22.up with a couple of very on edge spectators.

:02:22. > :02:26.Yes, these are the other half of the respective finalists, Clare and

:02:26. > :02:30.Vicky. Am I right in thinking this is the first match you have been 2

:02:30. > :02:37.to see Shaun play? It is not the first but it is my first massive

:02:37. > :02:41.I went to see him in Thailand but this is my very first big

:02:42. > :02:47.tournament and I am really nervous! My next question was whether you

:02:47. > :02:52.were coping all right. Not really! I am taking on the nerves for Shaun.

:02:52. > :02:55.It feels like I am playing for him. I saw him relaxing before. If he

:02:55. > :03:01.went in the restaurant and seemed very relaxed before the evening

:03:01. > :03:06.session. He likes to chill out between the sessions. He puts

:03:06. > :03:12.Celine Dion on! You should not have said that! He will kill me now I

:03:12. > :03:18.have said that! This will be her last interview! Celine Dion has

:03:18. > :03:23.ruined it! He will not mind. That is what we do to chill out. We go

:03:23. > :03:28.and get some Italian food and just relax. No stress. The key, you are

:03:28. > :03:32.used to this. Mark has been one of the top players for quite a while.

:03:32. > :03:37.Does it get easier? Not at all. I am shocked to be here. I thought he

:03:37. > :03:43.was going to go out twice. I was shocked that he came back against

:03:43. > :03:47.Neil. I am really chuffed to be here. Has he been under a bit of

:03:47. > :03:52.extra pressure because he has been trying to get back to number one?

:03:53. > :03:56.don't think so. With his neck injury, but set him back a lot and

:03:56. > :03:59.knock his confidence. It is just nice to see him in the final and

:03:59. > :04:04.hope the be trying to enjoy it. He has been put in too much pressure

:04:04. > :04:08.on himself early on, so hopefully he can just relax now and try to

:04:08. > :04:13.enjoy the second session. I think you are very brave to watch. I

:04:13. > :04:23.couldn't watch! I will remember that so been Dionne comment! Shaun,

:04:23. > :04:25.

:04:25. > :04:29.what are you thinking?! But a group This has become a best-of- seven

:04:29. > :04:34.now in the race for the UK title. We are playing musical chairs in

:04:34. > :04:38.the commentary box it is all change, as Stephen Hendry has nipped out of

:04:38. > :04:41.the studio like greased lightning and he is there alongside John

:04:41. > :04:51.Virgo to guide us through the closing stages of this intriguing

:04:51. > :04:58.

:04:58. > :05:02.JOHN VIRGO: It certainly is intriguing. It was like two boxers

:05:02. > :05:06.throwing a punch for punch and playing outrageous shot.

:05:06. > :05:16.Interesting to see what the mind set is now of both players as we

:05:16. > :05:16.

:05:16. > :07:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:07:02. > :07:12.Another nice little runner for Mark. He left it tight near the baulk

:07:12. > :07:29.

:07:29. > :07:39.He will have to catch this very thin. He has got to be careful not

:07:39. > :07:48.

:07:48. > :07:52.Interesting to see if either of these players can step up a gear in

:07:52. > :08:02.the second session. It has been a tough match but both players can

:08:02. > :08:15.

:08:15. > :08:25.We have not had a century break in A little problem of where to put

:08:25. > :08:56.

:08:56. > :09:00.What is beginning to show to me is that both players had a lot of

:09:00. > :09:10.frights along the way to get to the final. They have been up and down

:09:10. > :09:13.and not really played consistently It seems at the moment that they

:09:14. > :09:19.are pushing it a little bit, trying to get things going. It is a risky

:09:19. > :09:26.thing to do. Shaun has played one or two pots that I cannot imagine

:09:26. > :09:36.anybody going for. The pink in the 11th frame... I can't think of many

:09:36. > :09:47.

:09:47. > :09:51.players who would ever have played You are right. They are good

:09:51. > :09:58.friends of the table and it is if they have too much respect for each

:09:58. > :10:07.other. -- off the table. I don't know if either of them are just

:10:07. > :10:17.scared to take the bull by the If one player start knocking big

:10:17. > :10:53.

:10:53. > :10:58.That cue ball may have gone in the Not the best of safetys by any

:10:58. > :11:08.means. That is poor, so close to the reds. It should definitely have

:11:08. > :11:30.

:11:30. > :11:33.A fantastic shot. Find a path through all the reds. If he had

:11:33. > :11:43.missed the pot, he would have been guaranteed to Korea through the

:11:43. > :11:52.

:11:52. > :12:02.We know Mark Selby can score heavily. We have seen him do two or

:12:02. > :12:20.

:12:20. > :12:30.three centuries in a row. Can he do And that is unbelievable. What a

:12:30. > :12:55.

:12:55. > :13:01.miss that walls. -- walls. He hit I thought Shaun Murphy missed a

:13:01. > :13:07.trick when he won that first frame with a clearance of 65. He had Mark

:13:08. > :13:12.Selby wobbling but he could not take advantage of it. If you think

:13:12. > :13:22.it is tends now, wait until we get closer to the winning line, which

:13:22. > :13:22.

:13:22. > :14:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:14:21. > :14:31.He caught that a bit too thin. A wry smile there from Shaun Murphy.

:14:31. > :14:40.

:14:40. > :14:45.The one furthest away... There is one near the pocket which is

:14:45. > :14:50.definitely cuttable. If he went for that, he would definitely have to

:14:50. > :14:54.get it because the cue ball would be running into other reds. The one

:14:54. > :15:04.further up is more of an open pocket and more controlled. It

:15:04. > :15:28.

:15:28. > :15:38.Not ideal. If he decides to play the pink, there are quite a few

:15:38. > :15:51.

:15:51. > :16:01.There is an easy safety shot off the green to be the white on the

:16:01. > :16:04.

:16:04. > :16:14.baulk cushion but if he plays that, He just tried to cover the red but

:16:14. > :16:24.

:16:24. > :16:34.One of the few times a pot has been You can see that you can clearly

:16:34. > :17:11.

:17:11. > :17:20.He is looking at the pot on this You can see it clearly go. I think

:17:20. > :17:30.at the moment, the occasion is getting the better of both players.

:17:30. > :17:36.

:17:36. > :17:40.You just have to clear your mind Definitely one of those matches

:17:40. > :17:43.where each player's play is affecting the other and that is why

:17:43. > :17:53.it needs somebody to do something a little bit special, than the other

:17:53. > :18:14.

:18:14. > :18:24.If there was one thing you could have relied on this week, it was

:18:24. > :18:47.

:18:47. > :18:52.S, and he matched Shaun Murphy Mark Selby was 4-0 down to Neil

:18:52. > :19:02.Robertson and managed to win that. He is not showing consistency. Fits

:19:02. > :19:12.

:19:12. > :19:20.Once he pots the black, it it will be back on its own spot, available

:19:20. > :19:30.to both corners. Reds are nicely spread. Could not wish for a much

:19:30. > :19:35.

:19:35. > :19:45.This is just the sort of opportunity you would be looking

:19:45. > :19:45.

:19:45. > :19:55.for if you were struggling or a The reds are set up like a practice

:19:55. > :19:55.

:19:55. > :20:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:20:58. > :21:02.He was not good on that red so decided to make certain of the pot.

:21:02. > :21:12.He knew that the blue would hold the cue ball in the middle of the

:21:12. > :21:38.

:21:38. > :21:44.He needs to get down on this black It has been a great atmosphere. We

:21:44. > :21:54.have had great audiences all week. They have really come out and

:21:54. > :22:07.

:22:07. > :22:17.support of this tournament and it He should be able to run this in,

:22:17. > :22:27.

:22:27. > :22:30.come off the side cushion and put As you saw, the cue ball and the

:22:30. > :22:40.object ball jumped of in the air but it did not affect the

:22:40. > :23:00.

:23:00. > :23:06.Once again, having to go up for a baulk colour. It makes it that

:23:06. > :23:16.little bit harder. If he pots this green, he goes 59 points in front

:23:16. > :23:19.

:23:19. > :23:24.Just landed awkward on the green. If he plays the follow-through, he

:23:24. > :23:34.is going to cannon the blue in. If he does a screw back, the cue ball

:23:34. > :24:06.

:24:07. > :24:16.Frame ball. Cannot say it is a surprise. We have seen lots of

:24:17. > :24:48.

:24:48. > :24:58.balls Mr This evening. -- missed Played that with a lot of right-

:24:58. > :25:02.

:25:02. > :25:12.hand side. 51 point behind, 59 The awkward red is the one near the

:25:12. > :25:17.

:25:17. > :25:27.Mark Selby will be sat there up ruling that missed opportunity.

:25:27. > :25:37.

:25:37. > :25:44.He has got an angle now in playing this red to bring it away from the

:25:44. > :25:48.Snooker players used to believe that you should never try to bring

:25:48. > :25:52.the red of the cushion bind potting a red. But the reason was that you

:25:52. > :26:02.won not guaranteed to be on a colour. You are never guaranteed to

:26:02. > :26:08.

:26:08. > :26:12.He brought the red into play but was not certain where the cue ball

:26:12. > :26:22.was going to finish. To be honest, it could not have finished much

:26:22. > :26:45.

:26:45. > :26:54.He is building himself up for this one. Big shot.

:26:54. > :26:58.APPLAUSE Such was the difficulty of the green, he had to concentrate so

:26:58. > :27:08.hard on the pot that he has lost perfect position.

:27:08. > :27:25.

:27:26. > :27:35.He is not on the black. He needs a colour, otherwise he will need a

:27:36. > :27:43.

:27:43. > :27:53.He can afford to play the blue. If he plays and pots the green, he can

:27:53. > :28:02.

:28:02. > :28:12.only time. If he pots the blue, he If ever he needed his long game to

:28:12. > :28:25.

:28:25. > :28:35.50% - that is not what it has been A stunning pot. Just gone into it a

:28:35. > :28:38.

:28:38. > :28:48.Tremendous cue power and timing. You just cannot have a ball better

:28:48. > :28:48.

:28:48. > :30:03.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:30:03. > :30:13.Off this red, he needs a pink or Not certain whether he can get to

:30:13. > :30:17.

:30:17. > :30:27.I was thinking just done of the right hand side of the red and then

:30:27. > :30:28.

:30:28. > :30:35.cue ball on the pink. That was the He just did not get into it enough.

:30:35. > :30:45.There is a chance here for Mark Selby. He needs this red. Shaun

:30:45. > :31:09.

:31:09. > :31:16.Murphy will need two snookers if he Attention all pockets but the red

:31:16. > :31:24.is running over the corner. But remember, it's got to be pink or

:31:24. > :31:34.black with this last red. To win the frame at this visit. 33 behind,

:31:34. > :31:46.

:31:46. > :31:51.35 remaining. By don't think he can He's on the black, that was a

:31:51. > :31:56.tremendous attempt but he looks a little too straight to be able to

:31:56. > :32:06.get back up for the yellow. That is really unlucky, that was a

:32:06. > :32:20.

:32:20. > :32:30.Well, he is on the yellow but... It is not easy to get on that green

:32:30. > :32:45.

:32:45. > :32:50.Tremendous shot to just missed the Playing a little drag shot, trying

:32:50. > :33:00.to get in for the green, made the yellow more difficult but about the

:33:00. > :33:33.

:33:33. > :33:40.only saving grace is that it had Believe it or not, that there is a

:33:41. > :33:46.gap between the green and brown. Whether that is good for Shaun, I

:33:46. > :33:56.don't know. He is looking to come off the two cushions but needs a

:33:56. > :34:25.

:34:25. > :34:35.It up on the table from Mark Selby, He would like to hit the yellow off

:34:35. > :34:41.

:34:41. > :34:51.Always a chance he might leave it but the blue may have helped him. I

:34:51. > :34:56.

:34:56. > :35:06.don't know if he can cue The problem is the brown being so

:35:06. > :35:40.

:35:40. > :35:45.The is all that -- the yellow is He certainly made sure of potting

:35:45. > :35:55.the yellow, he has almost snookered himself on the green. Only one

:35:55. > :36:28.

:36:28. > :36:38.snooker required. Shaun Murphy is It runs, it certainly does. And

:36:38. > :36:48.

:36:48. > :36:53.there's a little bit of run around One snooker required and this is it.

:36:53. > :37:03.Mark is looking off the side cushion, you could come off the

:37:03. > :37:18.

:37:18. > :37:28.left-hand side cushion, top cushion. He has hit it. Good shot but

:37:28. > :37:56.

:37:56. > :38:06.another chance now for Shaun to A tap on the table with the chalk

:38:06. > :38:20.

:38:20. > :38:30.must mean that it is a tough shot Good hit, very good hit.

:38:30. > :38:35.

:38:35. > :38:41.It depends on how he feels an way he can get this green. If he can't

:38:41. > :38:51.play the snooker and cannot do a good safety, play the snooker off

:38:51. > :38:51.

:38:51. > :39:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:39:51. > :39:56.He'll be wishing he could roll the Clever shot by Mark Selby,

:39:56. > :40:06.cannoning the ball which has taken away one shot for Shaun Murphy's

:40:06. > :40:45.

:40:45. > :40:55.The age-old problem, can he leave the green safe? He will settle for

:40:55. > :40:55.

:40:55. > :41:38.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:41:38. > :41:42.If you cannot lay the snooker, it There's a chance of playing a

:41:42. > :41:52.snooker if he chooses to play cushion first with right hand side.

:41:52. > :41:55.

:41:55. > :42:05.He must make sure he hits the green He didn't catch the green for

:42:05. > :42:18.

:42:18. > :42:28.enough. -- full enough. That looks Another scrappy frame, really. In

:42:28. > :42:34.

:42:34. > :42:44.Mark Selby made a 51 break and he's just about managed to hold the

:42:44. > :42:54.

:42:54. > :43:00.No heroics with the pink, roles it in gently. Shaun Murphy once again

:43:00. > :43:06.goes behind. Mark Selby leads seven frames to six.

:43:06. > :43:13.HAZEL IRVINE: Certainly attrition also five. Frame ball almost every

:43:13. > :43:23.frame so far. -- certainly a battle of attrition so far. Mark Selby got

:43:23. > :43:28.to 60 ahead and needs one red to go up and all seven of a sudden it

:43:28. > :43:31.goes differently. It is different a to how we expected. All of us in

:43:31. > :43:36.the studio thought we would have quite a lot of big breaks and

:43:36. > :43:39.frames won on one visit. I think we get spoiled by some of the great

:43:39. > :43:42.snooker we see and we tend to think that these players can produce all

:43:42. > :43:49.the time, even on the biggest of occasions like the final but of

:43:49. > :43:54.course, tension does rear its ugly head and it can sometimes be the

:43:54. > :43:59.determining factor. Adrenalin can push players up to another level

:43:59. > :44:03.but it always happens that one player catches somehow and it is

:44:03. > :44:08.great when you don't catch what the other player has got. I at the

:44:08. > :44:11.moment, Shaun Murphy - this is not the pace of match that suits him.

:44:11. > :44:21.It obviously doesn't suit either player but the way it is going,

:44:21. > :44:23.

:44:23. > :44:28.Mark Selby can cope with it a bit better than Shaun. I think he looks

:44:28. > :44:34.better in certain positions but he is not getting in to do it. You

:44:34. > :44:38.have got to go through it. Big game is open and the balls are open, you

:44:38. > :44:40.just have to win it. Shaun Murphy had the monstrous deal in the

:44:40. > :44:47.opening frame and the thought he would push on from that but he has

:44:47. > :44:51.not had the chance. That is the way it goes. Snooker, you never know

:44:51. > :44:57.what will happen on the table. You hope it goes nicely on the day. You

:44:57. > :45:01.can make your own luck sometimes but you can also dig yourself into

:45:01. > :45:05.a whole and all you can do is try to forget about what has happened,

:45:05. > :45:08.play the balls in front of you and it is the most boring thing that

:45:08. > :45:13.when you sit in the dressing room in the interval sometimes, you

:45:13. > :45:21.think "one frame at a time, one ball at a time, focus on the

:45:21. > :45:26.moment", that is all you can do. Sometimes it is difficult out there.

:45:26. > :45:32.Especially when the crowd are making noises. Groaning and the

:45:32. > :45:40.like. What impact do you think we will see in the latter part of this

:45:40. > :45:45.match? It will certainly get more, it tension-wise. The thing with

:45:45. > :45:48.this game as Steve said, you do not know how the balls will break up.

:45:48. > :45:52.Shaun can win a frame fluently people's break up. At the moment

:45:53. > :45:56.the way it is going, Mark Selby is doing slightly better at it four

:45:56. > :46:04.stock sometimes the finishing line, while you would imagine it will

:46:04. > :46:11.keep things bad, it can help things. All of a certain there is a focus

:46:11. > :46:17.which can go in the middle part of a game so in the best of 11 games,

:46:17. > :46:22.we have seen focus happen very quickly. It is a long slog, best of

:46:22. > :46:30.19 and a long day. They started at 2 o'clock and now they are starting

:46:30. > :46:34.at 8 o'clock and hope the Freudian slip does not happen when we go

:46:34. > :46:38.into tomorrow, but come the end of the day, they will focus again.

:46:38. > :46:43.John, we will need to get the 80s and copies in because we are

:46:43. > :46:47.definitely not leaving this -- will need to get the tea and coffee in.

:46:47. > :46:55.We have had brilliant night, they have gone to Nick Knight and beyond

:46:55. > :46:59.obviously but all these players -- to midnight. The players, are they

:46:59. > :47:08.aware of the circumstances they are in? They are out there to win. Is

:47:08. > :47:18.the balls open up, you can make 100. You have to lift the trophy.

:47:18. > :47:22.

:47:22. > :47:32.JOHN VIRGO: Mark Selby with a decent enough break. I do not think

:47:32. > :47:39.he has left a pot on that will tempt Shaun, it is just to get back

:47:39. > :47:43.One of the reasons we are getting scrappy games is because these

:47:43. > :47:53.players are not playing as well as they can and when you start missing

:47:53. > :48:16.

:48:16. > :48:26.There have been some balls missed. A good opening red. A bit too close

:48:26. > :48:43.

:48:43. > :48:50.to the cushion for comfort. Can he When people are missing balls, the

:48:50. > :48:56.balls run awkward and both of them below 90% and remember that Shaun

:48:56. > :49:06.Murphy at one time during this match was up 95%. That is a real

:49:06. > :49:31.

:49:31. > :49:39.drop in standards as far as he's Never going to be a good safety

:49:39. > :49:49.when you catch the baulk colourful in the face. -- when you catch the

:49:49. > :49:56.

:49:57. > :50:05.Not a very good shot there, Mark Selby but the brown has come to his

:50:06. > :50:15.rescue. I don't think Shaun will play as he was going to, hampered

:50:16. > :50:19.

:50:19. > :50:29.But I am not certain of the alternative is. Certainly not an

:50:29. > :50:48.

:50:48. > :50:58.If he played the pot on this red, he could leave the one he was

:50:58. > :51:02.

:51:02. > :51:12.playing so as long as he avoids the Well, he did not. Not an easy shot

:51:12. > :51:16.

:51:16. > :51:22.A little unlucky to become hampered by the brown. He could have played

:51:22. > :51:26.more confidently than that. He has left the red to the right corner

:51:26. > :51:36.but because he is so close to the cushion, he will think it is worth

:51:36. > :51:36.

:51:36. > :52:19.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:52:19. > :52:29.REFEREE: foul and a miss. gadabout it, these frames certainly

:52:29. > :52:32.

:52:32. > :52:42.favour Mark Selby over Shaun Murphy. Shaun Murphy is an inspiration

:52:42. > :53:09.

:53:09. > :53:19.player, these long periods of Three misses when you can hit a

:53:19. > :53:49.

:53:49. > :53:59.Can he hit the red ball in the He can only hit the red half ball.

:53:59. > :54:05.

:54:05. > :54:15.Shaun is now asking the referee, is he? He is saying you do not have a

:54:15. > :54:16.

:54:16. > :54:18.full-ball contact so therefore he I could hit that red full ball.

:54:18. > :54:27.REFEREE: Can you bring it up to check this?

:54:27. > :54:37.Berry sporting of Shaun, he thought he could hit the red full in the

:54:37. > :54:57.

:54:57. > :55:07.Some players stood there -- the two players stood there waiting for the

:55:07. > :55:17.judgement. About there? That is where it was. And that is where it

:55:17. > :55:18.

:55:18. > :55:28.It looks like he can get past the blue to hit it full in the face.

:55:28. > :55:37.

:55:37. > :55:41.But the referee does not think he Well the Jester from Leicester

:55:41. > :55:51.trying to have a joke with Shaun Murphy. I don't think he is in the

:55:51. > :56:12.

:56:12. > :56:17.Obviously the red was not straight enough so he could play the pot and

:56:17. > :56:27.run up the table but at the moment, just referring back to what Stephen

:56:27. > :56:27.

:56:27. > :57:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:57:21. > :57:29.said, he is more comfortable with All things considered, that was an

:57:29. > :57:39.excellent shot. Just one red are poking out but did well being in

:57:39. > :58:01.

:58:01. > :58:11.Mark Selby will be trying to get I don't think there's a plant on.

:58:11. > :58:20.

:58:20. > :58:23.He will be looking to see if he A chance of a pot in the left

:58:23. > :58:33.corner but I don't know whether he can avoid the kiss on the second

:58:33. > :58:36.

:58:36. > :58:46.red. If he deal he can't, it is a risky pot to take on. -- he feels

:58:46. > :58:56.

:58:56. > :59:06.He potted it and found the gap, needs a good kiss and the blue has

:59:06. > :59:09.

:59:09. > :59:13.gone over the middle. That is good It was a good pot and it was one of

:59:13. > :59:23.those were we would be saying he is unlucky enough not to be on a

:59:23. > :59:34.

:59:34. > :59:44.colour. He may choose to screw into Again, he has brought a red out.

:59:44. > :59:47.

:59:47. > :59:56.This is what has been happening the the whole match. The pink and black

:59:56. > :00:06.are in play. We keep getting that good angle on the blue. He has

:00:06. > :00:12.

:00:12. > :00:22.managed it this time, that is a Value in playing the -- into the

:00:22. > :00:34.

:00:34. > :00:44.It looks as though he has got it in his mind now. He has got the lead.

:00:44. > :00:46.

:00:46. > :00:56.He is not showing off his potting Maybe it is a plant now not take

:00:56. > :01:05.

:01:05. > :01:15.too many risks and just get what is That time, he did take the

:01:15. > :01:15.

:01:15. > :01:20.opportunity. It looked as though he For me, that had a better angle the

:01:20. > :01:30.last time. If it goes wrong, he would have left over the middle.

:01:30. > :02:09.

:02:09. > :02:13.In potting the red, he is bound to That is a poor shot. The cue ball

:02:13. > :02:23.should have been nowhere near the side cushion. He had a trace of

:02:23. > :02:46.

:02:46. > :02:53.four reds to play on there. -- The problem is, when you keep

:02:53. > :03:03.losing the cue ball, as Mark is to win, it is not going to be easy to

:03:03. > :03:10.

:03:10. > :03:16.Everyone is enjoying this. It is getting later and later but we have

:03:16. > :03:26.had some high drama in these finals. It looks as though that is what we

:03:26. > :03:42.

:03:42. > :03:52.I don't know if the top of those He is asking for the extended rest.

:03:52. > :04:17.

:04:17. > :04:27.He took the pot on but did not play it with positivity to definitely

:04:27. > :04:27.

:04:27. > :05:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:05:22. > :05:32.get on a colour. He played it as a A little bit thinner than he would

:05:32. > :05:36.

:05:36. > :05:46.have liked. He could bring a couple It is not ideal. There is work to

:05:46. > :06:10.

:06:11. > :06:20.do with the cue ball to get The red on the right offers the

:06:21. > :06:46.

:06:46. > :06:51.That is not too bad. Checking to see where the pink will go when it

:06:51. > :07:01.is potted. The right hand side of those two reds in the middle is

:07:01. > :07:16.

:07:17. > :07:21.The referee has his ball marker out. Has to go on the highest available,

:07:21. > :07:27.a black spot. And that is not available so it looks like the

:07:27. > :07:37.green spot. They will not matter to Mark Selby. He is looking for red-

:07:37. > :07:45.

:07:45. > :07:55.If he gets a red after this blue, Shaun Murphy is going to need

:07:55. > :08:04.

:08:04. > :08:08.snookers and looks certain to fall Should not be leaving yourself the

:08:08. > :08:18.rest! He has a smile on his face. It should have been easier than

:08:18. > :08:36.

:08:36. > :08:39.I did not really know what he has got to do. I think he would like to

:08:39. > :08:49.play an attacking game and open the balls up but they are just not

:08:49. > :09:00.

:09:00. > :09:10.running for that type of game at 69 points is the lead, with just 51

:09:10. > :09:10.

:09:10. > :10:03.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:10:03. > :10:13.A good time of the match to open up Could we be about to see the first

:10:13. > :10:24.

:10:24. > :10:34.The green is in an awkward position but because the brown is very close

:10:34. > :10:45.

:10:45. > :10:55.to the left middle, that should not He has played this well. Lovely

:10:55. > :11:09.

:11:09. > :11:19.We have had 33 centuries already. Mark has made five. Just a bit

:11:19. > :11:27.

:11:27. > :11:31.Just did not get the right kiss. Our sponsor, williamhill.com, are

:11:31. > :11:39.kindly donating �250 to the children's Hospice for every

:11:39. > :11:44.century made. What a pity! He will not be too displeased with the

:11:44. > :11:54.score line. Disappointed not to have made the century. Shaun Murphy

:11:54. > :11:58.

:11:58. > :12:02.with quite a bit to think about I think we were discussing the

:12:02. > :12:08.match when we were talking about the evening session and we wanted,

:12:08. > :12:14.if you are not playing at your best, you need a B game. Mark Selby's be

:12:14. > :12:19.game is a bit better and Shaun Murphy's. Definitely. He seems to

:12:19. > :12:23.be a better scrapper than Shaun Murphy. He seems to be able to keep

:12:23. > :12:29.his focus a bit better. Shaun Murphy relies on his long game to

:12:29. > :12:34.get into the opportunities. If the long pots are drying up, as they

:12:34. > :12:42.have been in the last three frames, you find it hard to see where the

:12:42. > :12:47.opportunities are going to come And judging by that frame there,

:12:47. > :12:52.where Shaun never potted a ball, it just looked as though it was just

:12:52. > :12:55.tilting, this match, in favour of Mark Selby. I know he has her two

:12:55. > :13:00.frame advantage but he just started to find the middle of the pocket

:13:00. > :13:05.with his pots. Still not sure about his control of the cue ball but you

:13:05. > :13:15.can always pot your way out of trouble. What can Shaun Murphy

:13:15. > :13:19.

:13:19. > :13:25.produce? He needs to produce Shaun needs to produce some of the

:13:25. > :13:35.form that he had against Ali Carter. He never missed a ball, Hann, for

:13:35. > :13:35.

:13:35. > :14:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:14:33. > :14:43.That was a good shot. Couldn't get to the potting angle on that red.

:14:43. > :14:51.

:14:51. > :15:01.It was too risky to play the pot in Shaun will be pretty pleased with

:15:01. > :15:26.

:15:26. > :15:36.Much too thick. Is there a plant He missed it! Does he not see it?

:15:36. > :15:40.

:15:40. > :15:47.I can only presume the third red was blocking it. You would not the

:15:47. > :15:57.cue would no something like that. - - think he would miss something

:15:57. > :16:27.

:16:27. > :16:37.Mark Selby did not hit that well. They are not going in at the moment.

:16:37. > :16:37.

:16:37. > :17:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:17:21. > :17:31.By playing it this way, he has made the black available into both

:17:31. > :17:33.

:17:33. > :17:43.corners but he has underhit it It was questionable whether he

:17:43. > :18:14.

:18:14. > :18:19.could make it for the black but he Mark Selby will be sensing that

:18:19. > :18:24.Shaun is weakening slightly. Pots are not going in so this will be a

:18:24. > :18:34.time to be the intensify his concentration and push for the line.

:18:34. > :18:46.

:18:46. > :18:56.Whether he is on one and can play for the black is debatable. He has

:18:56. > :19:11.

:19:11. > :19:21.the pot on. You can always go wrong Be handy if the red on the pink

:19:21. > :19:26.

:19:26. > :19:29.spot pot to the right corner. I That is the one he has played on

:19:29. > :19:39.but he wanted to be straighter on it so he could just roll it through

:19:39. > :19:52.

:19:52. > :19:56.and play for the black in the It all depends on this type of shot.

:19:56. > :19:59.If it is just a natural to pot it and go round the back of the bat,

:19:59. > :20:09.it should be easy but if you have to do a bit with the cue ball, the

:20:09. > :20:17.

:20:18. > :20:27.red is missable. Looser group round It was a natural to be on the black

:20:28. > :21:03.

:21:03. > :21:13.He has run through a little bit further than he would have liked.

:21:13. > :21:28.

:21:28. > :21:32.Once again, having to play a red The key shot to the frame is coming

:21:33. > :21:42.up. The black is available to both corner pockets on the reds are

:21:43. > :21:45.

:21:45. > :21:55.That was possibly the frame ball but look what has happened! He has

:21:55. > :21:55.

:21:55. > :22:05.We always say, when you miss when you are in, it can cost you the

:22:05. > :22:24.

:22:24. > :22:30.frame. Fortunate to get away with The biggest. Both players today has

:22:30. > :22:38.probably been the positional play. -- the biggest fault of both

:22:38. > :22:48.It is to have to keep putting all the time when you are out of

:22:48. > :23:00.

:23:00. > :23:10.I would expect them to have a couple of centuries each by now but

:23:10. > :23:34.

:23:34. > :23:40.It's very important safety exchange, He did not want the kiss on the

:23:40. > :23:48.pink. This is very important for Shaun Murphy because if he was to

:23:48. > :23:56.lose this frame... We are in the 46th minute since he has potted a

:23:56. > :24:06.ball. But if he loses this frame, he is just one frame away from

:24:06. > :24:12.

:24:12. > :24:22.Terrific pot but I do not think he is on the colour. Can he get

:24:22. > :24:42.

:24:42. > :24:47.It was a good pot. But he knew how As I say, a very important frame -

:24:47. > :24:57.if he was to lose this one, he would really be in trouble. Harder

:24:57. > :25:17.

:25:17. > :25:22.to see him winning the match if you He tried to get in behind the green.

:25:22. > :25:26.He thought that off the brown he could kiss the pink and it would

:25:26. > :25:36.leave it near the baulk cushion. Did not really put much pressure on

:25:36. > :25:45.

:25:45. > :25:55.A good lead, 43 points. If he gets the next opportunity, another 30.

:25:55. > :26:11.

:26:11. > :26:15.Would see him over the line in this With good safety like that, the

:26:15. > :26:25.chances are that he will get that opportunity sooner rather than

:26:25. > :26:52.

:26:52. > :26:59.He has left a pot on. A pot that we have seen Mark Selby play quite a

:26:59. > :27:04.few times this evening and knock them in. He will be able to stun

:27:04. > :27:08.them in, find the gap between the red and black so he can play with a

:27:08. > :27:18.bit of confidence. An element of shot to nothing about it as long as

:27:18. > :27:18.

:27:18. > :28:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:28:07. > :28:12.A little unlucky to get tight on Could not get close to the red but

:28:12. > :28:21.the red two old from the side is available. It is a big shot if he

:28:21. > :28:31.knocks it in and get position on a Well Shaun Murphy get back to the

:28:31. > :28:40.

:28:41. > :28:50.table? -- will. Missed it by a long When he misses, he is not leaving

:28:50. > :28:56.He hit that far too thick. Was probably playing with fright and

:28:56. > :29:06.signed. When you do not cue properly, you push the cue ball to

:29:06. > :29:07.

:29:07. > :29:17.the left or the right hand side, He has not left anything easy.

:29:17. > :29:27.

:29:27. > :29:37.Trying to get the cue ball behind He did not want to tie the black up.

:29:37. > :30:05.

:30:05. > :30:14.I think the black is probably still It is always dangerous when you

:30:14. > :30:20.push a red over the corner but once again, it is not easy for Shaun. It

:30:20. > :30:30.is covered. If he plays the pot on the one above it, he has got to get

:30:30. > :30:38.

:30:38. > :30:48.Well, that was a tremendous pot. Deserves a bit of luck here. Found

:30:48. > :30:51.

:30:51. > :30:55.the gap between brown and blue. The Tremendous long pot, unlucky

:30:55. > :31:00.perhaps not to get a cannon on the blue or brown but that is what he

:31:00. > :31:10.must do to make things happen. You need to start getting the long

:31:10. > :31:25.

:31:25. > :31:30.Just checking to see if the blue is available. The black is out of

:31:30. > :31:36.commission at the moment. He has underhit that by a long wait. It

:31:36. > :31:46.could work in his favour. Once he has potted the brown, the blue

:31:46. > :32:08.

:32:08. > :32:18.becomes available into both centre He didn't play that well at all and

:32:18. > :32:19.

:32:19. > :32:22.he's very fortunate to be on the Sometimes you need a run on the

:32:22. > :32:32.ball and to be fair, it has favoured Mark more than him this

:32:32. > :32:45.

:32:46. > :32:50.You see, to me there, and I don't question the shot choice, but

:32:50. > :32:55.didn't he get down and play it quick? I think that type of shot,

:32:55. > :33:05.you just need to give a couple of seconds extra thought. It wasn't

:33:05. > :33:44.

:33:44. > :33:54.Perhaps he feels he must pick up Mark Selby has the lead and the

:33:54. > :34:02.

:34:02. > :34:12.34 points is a big lead, the way The double-kiss has not affected

:34:12. > :34:12.

:34:12. > :34:57.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:34:57. > :35:07.O, superb! Absolutely superb! He has given himself a chance, can he

:35:07. > :35:16.

:35:16. > :35:26.Those reds are hard enough playing That was a great shot, for the

:35:26. > :35:34.

:35:34. > :35:44.If he cannot go for the black, it is imperative that he goes for the

:35:44. > :35:55.

:35:55. > :36:00.At this stage of a frame and the position he's in in the match, he

:36:00. > :36:10.wants everything to be easy. He couldn't get close to the red so

:36:10. > :36:10.

:36:10. > :36:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:36:51. > :37:01.He will need the six remaining Would you believe it? The balls he

:37:01. > :37:22.

:37:22. > :37:32.Unbelievable. He did all the hard I can only think he was

:37:32. > :37:43.

:37:43. > :37:53.concentrating so much on the cue Just this green to go 24 ahead with

:37:53. > :38:09.

:38:09. > :38:14.There's mark's wife, she will be relieved. And Shaun potted those,

:38:14. > :38:24.particularly along the top cushion with the red and he felt certain

:38:24. > :38:26.

:38:26. > :38:35.And to miss the blue, it just gifted it. He is not bothered

:38:35. > :38:39.whether it he is on the pink. Shaun That massed blue gifted the frame

:38:39. > :38:48.to Mark Selby. He is going out of the arena to build himself up for

:38:48. > :38:55.one more frame which he will need to make him become no champion.

:38:55. > :39:03.HAZEL IRVINE: Never say never but this game looks like it will be

:39:03. > :39:06.slipping away. So much of the hard work. -- he will be williamhill.com.

:39:07. > :39:11.I remember Willie Thorne missing a blue similarly in the final against

:39:11. > :39:15.Steve and he came back. He will have nightmares about that. He has

:39:15. > :39:20.done all the hard work. Great red down the cushion, got the chance.

:39:20. > :39:26.HAZEL IRVINE: Some brilliant shots to get into that place. Some

:39:26. > :39:30.fantastic shot. He is the bravest player ever, a heart of gold and he

:39:30. > :39:34.has cut on the blue, it is an open pocket, it is a shot that sometimes

:39:34. > :39:39.you can take for granted because sometimes you roll it towards a

:39:39. > :39:43.Middle, the pocket swallows it up. If you have played snooker in the

:39:43. > :39:47.clubs, you know, it has half missed it but it swallows it up and it was

:39:47. > :39:55.not a kick because it went wide as opposed to narrowed and the look of

:39:55. > :39:59.shock on his face. And the shock even sitting down. And he will need

:39:59. > :40:03.to sit there for a while. You talk about the bravery and the attitude,

:40:03. > :40:07.the positive attitude he has shown. The same attitude that manufactured

:40:07. > :40:10.the wondrous come back in the semi- final against Ali Carter. Is it too

:40:10. > :40:16.late, John? He will have to surpass that because of the circumstances

:40:16. > :40:23.of the final. He will have to play unbelievable snooker. Even better

:40:23. > :40:29.than he played against Carter. He will have to show strength of

:40:29. > :40:33.character that is near superhuman. And I sent Mark Selby is a clever

:40:33. > :40:39.player when he wants to make it difficult for players to get back

:40:39. > :40:49.into the game. It is a tough deal for him now. Will this be the last

:40:49. > :40:50.

:40:50. > :41:00.frame of the evening, is that Mark JOHN VIRGO: Another bad break-off

:41:00. > :41:06.shot but there is a red that is at the point of no return, he cannot

:41:06. > :41:11.afford any more mistakes, because every ball he misses, it could be

:41:11. > :41:21.his last shot. I think that has run safe. I don't think he has left

:41:21. > :41:25.

:41:25. > :41:29.Fair play to him, he committed to The difference in the situation

:41:29. > :41:34.when Shaun played Ali Carter, he was outplayed, and you don't feel

:41:34. > :41:44.as bad as when you do on the chances. Putting that blue out of

:41:44. > :41:47.

:41:47. > :41:51.your mind and doing the same Funnily enough, Stephen, John had

:41:51. > :41:57.mentioned it, the Willie Thorne blue. You are going to mention it.

:41:57. > :42:01.Sorry to remind you of it, Willie, but it cost in the UK Championship.

:42:01. > :42:10.That was at the Guild Hall many years ago against Steve Davis.

:42:10. > :42:20.wasn't going to mention it, John! He told me you were! -- you've told

:42:20. > :42:20.

:42:20. > :43:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:43:35. > :43:45.REFEREE: foul. Well, that is one Shaun is eyeing up this red but

:43:45. > :43:52.

:43:52. > :44:02.anything he goes 4, he has got to A terrific pot. He must have landed

:44:02. > :44:06.

:44:06. > :44:11.absolutely inch perfect on this When you are playing catch-up like

:44:11. > :44:21.this, it goes without saying, if you can win a frame in one visit,

:44:21. > :44:25.

:44:25. > :44:35.All the frames at the moment seem to be dragging out and seemed to be

:44:35. > :44:57.

:44:57. > :45:07.sitting Mark Selby more than Shaun. He has been fortunate, another

:45:07. > :45:07.

:45:07. > :45:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:45:48. > :45:53.He is looking at the two reds into the middle of the table, to see a

:45:53. > :46:03.plant is available, but if he goes for it, he must beware because he

:46:03. > :46:07.

:46:07. > :46:17.That is why he decided to play the pot but where will the red to

:46:17. > :46:26.

:46:27. > :46:36.I think Shaun has decided on all- out attack now, he has got nothing

:46:37. > :47:12.

:47:12. > :47:20.Good pot. He was expecting to miss the kiss on the second red, he

:47:20. > :47:30.thought he would play it as a shot for nothing but now that it's gone

:47:30. > :47:30.

:47:30. > :47:40.in, this black... It could be the Good pot, he's giving himself a

:47:40. > :47:44.

:47:44. > :47:50.chance now, a clear line to the You could not wish to have the reds

:47:50. > :48:00.in a better position, in a frame way you need to win the match.

:48:00. > :48:07.

:48:07. > :48:17.Concentrate, one shot at a time, Well, will Shaun be getting back to

:48:17. > :48:34.

:48:34. > :48:44.To me, now it is all about Mark He only hit the right hand side and

:48:44. > :48:45.

:48:45. > :48:55.did not get into it enough, it He wanted to get in the join of

:48:55. > :49:24.

:49:24. > :49:28.those two reds. He has still got He played the cut into the right

:49:28. > :49:32.middle. He wants it to bounce now but he played it in such a way that

:49:32. > :49:42.if the red did not go in, it left it safe and he knew he always had

:49:42. > :50:00.

:50:00. > :50:10.That was a tremendous chance to kill the match off there and then.

:50:10. > :50:29.

:50:29. > :50:35.Well, he hit the red pretty well but he's left the long pot on. And

:50:35. > :50:45.if he was to knock this red in, he would automatically be on the black

:50:45. > :50:54.

:50:54. > :50:59.and have another chance to win the No! Oh, well. The only saving grace

:50:59. > :51:09.for Shaun is that he is not on a colour, but boy, was he a long way

:51:09. > :51:36.

:51:36. > :51:46.Yeah, that... You would not want to And not certain what he is looking

:51:46. > :51:56.

:51:56. > :52:06.at. It does not appear that the Nestling up to the blue is easier

:52:06. > :52:11.

:52:11. > :52:21.In all honesty, he is lucky to have the next shot. Shaun Murphy should

:52:21. > :52:34.

:52:34. > :52:40.I can only assume he is trying to push the yellow and blocked the

:52:40. > :52:47.pocket. And this he will move the red with the yellow. -- and Les he

:52:47. > :52:57.will move. Just trying to block the pocket and he has not succeeded.

:52:57. > :52:57.

:52:57. > :54:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

:54:05. > :54:15.There is no doubt in my mind that The only thing is he has put the

:54:15. > :54:51.

:54:51. > :54:56.red next to the pink. It does not The situation is such that you want

:54:56. > :55:06.to lead easy pots. That was a poor positional shot that left him in

:55:06. > :55:24.

:55:24. > :55:34.It is harder watching sometimes than playing. I am sure the key

:55:34. > :55:36.

:55:36. > :55:46.will tell you that. -- Vicky. Mark Selby's wife. She will be hoping

:55:46. > :56:15.

:56:15. > :56:25.Look at this. When Purves things happen, John,

:56:25. > :56:51.

:56:51. > :57:01.you could think your name was on That now puts him 5 points in the

:57:01. > :57:07.

:57:07. > :57:17.lead. The black will put in 12 I was going to suggest two reds,

:57:17. > :57:47.

:57:47. > :57:53.two blacks. But I don't think he He has played the cannon, developed

:57:53. > :57:59.it, not ideally but at least he has given himself a chance. 18 points

:57:59. > :58:09.in the lead. If he pots this and gets on a colour, Shaun Murphy's UK

:58:09. > :58:17.

:58:17. > :58:27.Right in the heart of the pocket, and he now needs the black and then

:58:27. > :58:45.

:58:45. > :58:51.It looks like Shaun Murphy's raised They say the measure of any great

:58:51. > :59:01.champion is to win when you are not at your best. That is what I

:59:01. > :59:16.

:59:16. > :59:26.The brown has not gone in. 31 points is that mead, 22 remaining.

:59:26. > :59:35.

:59:36. > :59:40.I have like Shaun Murphy's attitude throughout the UK Championship. He

:59:40. > :59:43.has gone for his shots and potted some tremendous balls. He will be

:59:43. > :59:53.disappointed with his performance in the final. He has just not

:59:53. > :00:18.

:00:18. > :00:28.Mark Selby will be feeling that warm glow inside. He is world

:00:28. > :00:36.

:00:36. > :00:46.number one but he wanted this title A great snooker. Because it has

:00:46. > :01:03.

:01:03. > :01:08.gone tight to the black, it is A good hit. And that is the problem

:01:08. > :01:10.- not only have you got to get the snookers, but someone like Mark

:01:10. > :01:20.Selby certainly knows his way around a snooker table and you have

:01:20. > :01:48.

:01:48. > :01:55.Last year's winner of this great championship was a Judd Trump, who

:01:55. > :02:03.Mark Selby has this week overtaken as the world No. 1. He wants titles,

:02:03. > :02:09.does Mark. He has probably under achieved and when you what world

:02:09. > :02:19.number one, you want to prove it by winning the biggest titles. -- when

:02:19. > :02:20.

:02:20. > :02:24.He has won the Masters on two occasions but I know he was

:02:24. > :02:30.desperate to win this and of course, he will be desperate to win the

:02:30. > :02:40.Shaun knocking the black out of commission is not going to help. It

:02:40. > :02:49.

:02:49. > :02:55.And in goes the blue. Shaun Murphy will wait for him to

:02:56. > :03:00.pot the pink and then congratulate him. The world number one is the

:03:00. > :03:05.williamhill.com UK champion 2012. He has not played his best. Neither

:03:05. > :03:09.player has in this final. They have gone through scares to get here but

:03:09. > :03:15.it does not matter. If you can win when you are not at your best, that

:03:15. > :03:25.is the measure of a great champion. Mark Selby will be over the moon.

:03:25. > :03:32.

:03:32. > :03:36.He has beaten Shaun Murphy and his Hard match play snooker to mind but

:03:36. > :03:45.what an epic final we have had. Let's hear it for both of our

:03:45. > :03:49.finalists this evening. Shaun, come and join me. Our commiserations.

:03:49. > :03:54.You stole the opening frame of the session this evening and we thought

:03:54. > :03:59.the momentum was with you but have totted Mark make it for you? He is

:03:59. > :04:03.the hardest player on tour by a mile and is a worthy world number

:04:03. > :04:08.one. He fully deserves it and he fully deserves tonight. That is

:04:08. > :04:11.very generous as we would always expect from you. Everybody has been

:04:12. > :04:15.amazed and very enthused by the positivity you have shown, the

:04:15. > :04:20.positive attitude, the way you would feel shots right throughout

:04:20. > :04:23.the championship. I hate to remind you about the blue in frame 15

:04:23. > :04:27.because that must have been a cut that went deep. I have never liked

:04:27. > :04:32.rolling the ball dead soft like that. It has never been a good shot

:04:32. > :04:38.of mind. But this tournament does not bow me anything. I should have

:04:38. > :04:42.gone home to Luca Brecel in the quarters and Ali Carter in the

:04:42. > :04:46.semis. I have had a great week. Thank you. I know do desperately

:04:46. > :04:49.wanted to join the list of players who have won this on multiple

:04:49. > :04:54.occasions but what other positives you will take forward into the

:04:54. > :04:58.Masters next year? I was going into the Masters this time last year not

:04:58. > :05:01.playing quite as well and I nearly won it. So I take a lot of

:05:01. > :05:06.confidence from this week. I have played some good stuff and been

:05:06. > :05:10.beaten by the best in the world, so it is not all bad. As ever, a

:05:10. > :05:18.perfect gentleman. Shaun, very well done. Thank you very much.

:05:18. > :05:20.And our champion, Mark Selby. The world number one but you have done

:05:20. > :05:24.it. You have landed one of the biggest titles in the sport and

:05:24. > :05:29.join some of the greatest names. I wonder what kind of special

:05:29. > :05:33.satisfaction that has. I am over the moon. It means a great deal. To

:05:33. > :05:37.beat somebody of Shaun's class in a major final makes it even more

:05:37. > :05:41.special. It has been tough for me for the last few months with my

:05:41. > :05:45.neck injury and stuff, so I have been hard to live with. My wife has

:05:45. > :05:48.put up with a lot so I would like to thank Vicky and everybody around

:05:48. > :05:52.me who has supported me through that of times. Tummy about the

:05:52. > :05:58.relief you feel now that you have proved yourself, you are back at No.

:05:58. > :06:02.1 and the injury is a distant memory. -- it tell me. It is great

:06:02. > :06:07.that the injury has gone and I can carry on playing snooker for a. It

:06:07. > :06:12.was a strange game tonight. It was not really pretty. I was twitching

:06:13. > :06:22.all over the place and flicking them here and there. Vicky, you are

:06:23. > :06:23.

:06:23. > :06:27.It is only appropriate that that should share in this. Your wife is

:06:27. > :06:30.here. I can only assume �125,000 in the bank account means that the

:06:30. > :06:35.quality of the offerings on the Christmas list will be much higher

:06:35. > :06:42.this year! We can have a bit more tinsel and a few more balls so that

:06:42. > :06:48.is good. You are a comeback king. At times, you have not played to

:06:48. > :06:53.your best. How have you found it this week? Just the same old thing.

:06:53. > :06:57.I never give in until the last ball is potted. That is me all over. If

:06:57. > :07:01.I was not like that, I would not have got to the final. Very similar

:07:01. > :07:05.to Shaun, I should have gone out to Ryan Day, probably should have got

:07:05. > :07:09.out to Neil Robertson, but here we both are in the final. I have to

:07:09. > :07:12.give the last word to your wife. You have always said it is tough to

:07:12. > :07:15.watch him but what satisfaction do you take from all the trials and

:07:15. > :07:19.tribulations of the last few months? He is here, number one, the

:07:19. > :07:25.world champion. I cannot believe it. After everything we have been

:07:25. > :07:30.through this year, as you can see, I am in bits. It is lovely to see

:07:30. > :07:40.that two of you celebrating. Your champion, Mr Mark Selby. Well done,

:07:40. > :07:44.

:07:44. > :07:49.Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your presentation party,

:07:49. > :07:58.Jason Ferguson, and the betting shot manager of the Year Barbara

:07:58. > :08:08.You'll runner-up, receiving the silver medal after stunning week of

:08:08. > :08:24.

:08:24. > :08:30.snooker, ladies and gentlemen, And the winner, receiving the

:08:30. > :08:40.cheque for �125,000, the trophy and the title williamhill.com UK

:08:40. > :09:08.

:09:08. > :09:11.Ladies and gentlemen, your champion HAZEL: There he is, the world

:09:11. > :09:15.number one, the UK champion. That is the fastest I have moved all

:09:16. > :09:19.week to get up here with you! This is confirmation of what we already

:09:19. > :09:23.knew it - he is a wonderful player and has the temperament to win the

:09:23. > :09:28.big ones. It was a study in assistance all week. I have seen

:09:28. > :09:34.him play much better than that but he would not give in. 3-down one

:09:34. > :09:39.match, 4-0 down in the other. His be game was better than his

:09:39. > :09:44.opponents and he stuck in there. Shaun Murphy regrets anything about

:09:44. > :09:48.his performance, what will it be? It is very hard when you look back

:09:48. > :09:51.at things and think of all the shots that go right and wrong. It

:09:51. > :09:54.is the vagaries of luck that happen all the time. He might think he did

:09:54. > :09:59.not get the best of it. In the end, though, the blue was the killer

:09:59. > :10:03.ball for him. It was the difference between a three frame lead and a

:10:03. > :10:07.one-frame lead. He was looking like he was going to clear up and he

:10:07. > :10:11.could have done another super human performance if the blue went in.

:10:11. > :10:15.The look of shock on his face when he missed it summed it up and from

:10:15. > :10:19.that moment, we all knew the result. He can be proud of what he has done

:10:19. > :10:24.but unfortunately, he has not got his name on the trophy. Well, for

:10:24. > :10:28.Shaun, the last part of a Triple Crown remains the Masters and for

:10:28. > :10:31.Mark Selby, the it is the World Championship. Those are the next

:10:31. > :10:36.two big events on the BBC and they are major forces to reckon with for

:10:36. > :10:40.the rest of the season. Absolutely. Mark Selby is a major force in

:10:40. > :10:44.anything. The standard of snooker he has produced over the years, he

:10:44. > :10:47.deserves to win one of them. It is the best performance I have ever

:10:47. > :10:52.seen in the Crucible but lost against John Higgins. He deserved

:10:52. > :10:56.to win on that. He has got to get the form back again. If he tries as

:10:56. > :11:00.hard as he does, he is in with a shout. And gentlemen, we shall be

:11:00. > :11:05.together again very shortly because, as I mentioned, the Triple Crown -

:11:05. > :11:09.the next part of it is the Masters at Alexandra Palace. Neil Robertson

:11:09. > :11:14.beat a certain Shaun Murphy in the final earlier this year. He will be

:11:14. > :11:18.defending his title when we get under way on Sunday, 13th January.

:11:18. > :11:24.Eight days of Invitational snooker await us.Voted to join us in person

:11:24. > :11:28.or, indeed, on the sofa. But that is it from us here in York. The big

:11:28. > :11:32.breaks are over, now it is time for the Christmas break. We hope you

:11:32. > :11:35.will enjoy yours and we hope we will catch up again in the new year