04/12/2013 UK Snooker Championship

I'll just practice tomorrow and hope I keep it going. To come through and

beat Sean is really pleasing. We have a fantastic afternoon of

snooker ahead. The much we're focusing on is Judd Trump taking on

Mark Allen. Two players are already through to the final eight.

John Parrott and Ken Doherty are keeping me company. Good afternoon.

Does it feel such a long time since the Crucible? I've missed you! Have

you missed me? No. Very nice. Let's get stuck into the snooker. It's

great to see you. Is the draw shaping up to what you'd expect? I

think so. If you were picking it, I think there is only Marco Fu who

hasn't come through. You expected all the big names to come through

and they have done. The difficult bit starts from here because it is

tough to pick a winner. What is it like when you reach this point of

the tournament? For the top layers, this is the part of the tournament

they'll really like. This is where the venue comes into its own will

stop the real atmosphere, particularly with a good crowd. I'm

sure the players are delighted with the way the setup is now. We've had

over 65 or 66 century breaks so far and it's been a top-quality game.

There are more fireworks coming with some cracking matches. So we can

White who is your money on? There are going to be a lot of six - fors

and 6-5s. That's where my money is. It makes it exciting. Interesting

comments from Ronnie O'Sullivan on saying he's expecting a surprise

name on the trophy. Is that just mind names? He's probably playing

his own form down a little bit. He struggled to get over an opponent,

even though he threw in a couple of centuries. He's very hard to stop

when he gets in the throw. -- flow. Some great matches coming up over

the next few days. I think the one this afternoon will be a humdinger.

Got to be centuries in this match. We're looking forward to it. Here's

what's coming up. Last year's UK championship win at Mark Selby won

6-0 in his match but he will be pushed today. Graeme Dott, the

former world champion, saw off Ali Carter in the last round and beat

Selby in their last meeting in November. Judge Trump has dropped

just three frames in his matches so far. He knows what it's like to lift

the title. Trump has the edge over his opponent, Mark Allen, in career

wins, although Mark Allen won the last meeting between the two. Is A

One man has already booked his place in the last eight, Natalie Steward

Bingham. They started this match at 9:30am. -- and that is Stuart

Bingham. Congratulations to Stuart Bingham. There is a very big match

taking place now, the other game on the other table. Ding Junhui taken

on Ricky Walden. This has been a to refit encounter. We are going live

to join the players. Ricky is at the table and he is leading by five

frames. You couldn't join at a better

moment, really. Ding ended up clearing the table.

Ricky Walden just one frame away from victory.

Pretty decent shot. Ricky Walden is very much an underrated player, I

think. In full ranking tournaments, he's 22

matches undefeated, Ding Junhui. He won the Indian open, three matches

here. He would like to cover the red with

the green but he has not done that. That was a little bit careless.

That is what happens when you play one of the top players. It was a

good shot as well. My word. Stray into that question, that would be a

difficult one. -- straight into that caution, that would be a difficult

one. Oh, dear. It could be a free ball

which would save the day, I think. If that is not a free ball, I would

be very surprised. Maybe there is a red on the left. Ricky is more than

happy to get involved with this. The green is in the way. He didn't even

notice the green. I am pretty certain it is a free ball.

It is one of those rare instances where a lot of balls have been

ported -- potted. It would be nice to think Ricky

Walden would get a chance. But the moment, a lot of things point of

this match possibly going 5-5. Not all of Ding 's gains were easy.

There is a lot of work to be done. He would never have missed a shot

like that in a month of Sundays. I think he is so tired.

The harder you hit that, the narrow it will go across the table.

He can get round the back of the black. He's looking at the

alternative safety. Another example of how poorly he is

queueing. -- cueing. How did that stay up? It was trying

very, very hard to go into the middle pocket.

He played that beautifully. The black is going to go out of

He played that beautifully. The commission.

He played that beautifully. The black is

He could do with the pink. This is the key shot in this frame as far as

Ricky is concerned. His angle looks pretty good to me.

This looks perfect. Perhaps an inch too far to bring loads of red into

play. A slight stretch here. That is not

necessarily the most comfortable position to get yourself in. He has

two playback onto the black ball. He will have to be careful not to miss

this. Very, very good. That is an

excellent shot. There is so much mileage here. He's

only 11 points in front. If he plays for the loose red, he has to go into

them again for the next shot. He looks like he's playing for the

loose one. He might regret that. It might go into the middle. It

might going to the corner. He was one shot away from winning

frame and match there. If he's playing safe, he could get

Ding in trouble. He has got to make sure he doesn't

push the red below it. He has found a little gap on the other side.

He might try to get the cue ball back into a similar position to what

it is now. Just play the same shot. Not many

positions whether red nearest the pocket is portable. -- not many

positions where the red nearest the pocket is portable macro. --

pottable. He got he would grab the chance

there to win the match. He has given Ding a chance.

That certainly could have come out worse, couldn't it? Here is the shot

again. I think he has been frustrated

today. I think throughout the tournament, there have been signs he

is not at his best. If he could find a way of winning

this match, maybe he could be a different player. He wouldn't mind a

few more of these going safe. There is nothing easy here. It has

taken him the best part of a minute to come up with anything. That was

the one place on the table he could get Ricky into some trouble.

Excellent shot, wasn't it? He thought long and hard about that.

Good heavens. That is a fluke and a half. Ricky smiles, but I don't

think inside he is all that happy. He certainly got a double kiss on

the red. He has played it up and down. He couldn't consider going for

the brown to the corner. Plenty of reds to hate. -- hit. The two on the

left, he does not want to play those. You will have to play for

those in the open. -- he will have to play for those in the open. He

will have two hits them from behind slowly. That is his only hope.

I feel for him there. It was only just out, but in this case, it has

done lots of damage. It is still hard to imagine Ding

winning the frame from here. I wonder whether he has an angle on

this red to bring one of the others into play. It doesn't matter which

red he hit first. Unless you get a double kiss.

Amazing. I am not sure if he can get down.

The blue-macro could be in the way. -- the blue could be in the way.

I believe it was on the way and he knew it. He nailed that shot.

Another tense frame. We had a frame at 33 earlier which went to the

black and they both played shot at it. -- at pre-3.

Might get a chance to see a very difficult black. Those are the

frames that make a difference at the end.

This is the shot from earlier. I think it is one of the best shots

I've seen all week, to calmly rolled out in. That was an excellent black

to go for -3 in front. -- 4-macro-3. Where the balls are, this frame

feels like it might go down to the last couple of colours like the

earlier one we showed you. It almost has the feel of a decider but, of

course, we may still get one of those if Dean wins this one. -- Ding

Junhui. It would be very unlike him to clear up where the balls are if

he does get a chance on the final two reds.

Things could change in the next couple of seconds. A good pot that

gives him a lot of options. He won't want to allow an escape to the left

cushion. If he finishes where he's put his finger, if he does block off

the left side of the table, he may... Wouldn't you rather come of

the left side of the table? I wouldn't mind that because if you go

of the top, you've got a chance of getting the red safe.

He hasn't even snooker team. That has to be a terrible mistake.

Is there a pot available? The green looks to be in the way. He can't pot

it in the right-hand corner. Ding has been a bit fortunate there

because he messed up that safety shot completely.

That was close. I bet his heart was in his mouth for a second.

That was close. I bet his heart was in his mouth for a second.

That was close. I bet his heart was in his mouth

That was close. I bet his heart was couldn't risk bringing the red

That was a great effort. He has left Ricky and awkward one, cueing over

the top of the black. A lot of tension in this frame. It's

been going on 35 minutes and we're still not certain who's going to win

it. This would be one of Ricky's best victories for quite some time.

Semifinalist at the Crucible earlier in the year, losing to Barry

Hawkins. Been fairly quiet since then.

If the white was a little bit further into the middle of the

table, he could risk playing it off the blue, but not whether white is.

He could try to Phuket in the middle pocket. -- fluke it.

Ding had the insurance of the black there. Full ball cannon on the green

would have been interesting. Not the easiest of safety shots with the

yellow there. He can't get across it. He needs to be careful of any

double-kiss playing up and down. Whoever puts the red, you'd fancy

strongly to win the frame because of where the yellow has ended up.

It's all about getting the object ball safe here. Almost impossible to

get in behind a colour. It's amazing. All the positions on

the table to finish there was no real shock where he could get

snooker. -- shot. I don't think Ding could leave

anything but a chance for Ricky Walden here. He may think it is

worth having a pot at this red with the blue over the pocket if he could

run through. Safety shot is not guaranteed.

Can't blame him for having a go at that. Colour was guaranteed. That

has worked out fine. Never knowing where the object was going to

finish. The white whoever goes on to win the

frame, you would expect to win the match.

He didn't quite have the angle to get that red ball around wide enough

to miss all the colours. It difficult safety battle. It's

hard to work out who exactly is dominating. Normally one player has

the edge and is getting his opponent in trouble.

Ricky didn't play that quite as well as he could have and he could have

got Ding in big trouble. I don't think that is even half a

pocket. Not achieved the snooker. Ricky

should get the upper hand. He should be able to get Ding in trouble for

this. Plenty of tension. These two are

quick players. But this frame is coming up to 44 minutes long and no

immediate sign of it finishing. There may be a sliver of that red

slipping out but if it is, it's not going to be enough for Ding to play

it. One of the longest frames of the

match so far but what an important frame it is. Just coming up to 45

minutes. Had to rely on good fortune where

that was going to end up. It is one of those - do I or don't I? ?

APPLAUSE That might have been slightly ironic cheer at he ended up

winning that safety dual. Green black to yellow doesn't appear

to be a problem. This is the key shot now.

That was terrible. It's worked out so badly that he still has the shot

from yellow to green. It wasn't what he was looking for. He has to

compose himself, for get about the last shot.

Oh, dear. Oh, wow! That really was a golden chance to win the match and

now he's given the chance to Ding. The shot on the block was not a good

one and it makes that one seemed even more difficult. -- the black.

It is only the blue to think that you feel could save Ricky come

looking at the table. -- Bluetooth pink.

If the pink was on its spot, things would be so much easier.

get the rest out and swing the cue ball right

He'd love to play to the middle Ricky will be saved by a chance

He'd love to play to the middle pocket but

He can't pot it without playing with eye line, you

He can't pot it without playing with side. Felt like he wanted to hit

that hard and come out in the middle of the table.

Waldrom wants a ball and is favourite because he's got first

safety in. -- Ricky Walden. That didn't look a natural. But it's

nice to have a shot to win. There has been some excellent

safety. There has been a lot of missing going on. A lot of tension.

There were so many ways to play that shot. The only thing you don't do is

play that shot. That is up there with one of the worst safety shots

we've ever seen. Can you believe it? ! He really is

struggling, Ding. He's done well to keep this much alive because he's

played so poorly. Apart from the 135, he's in so poor. He almost

wants to shake before the shot. Some great safety play from the two

players. Both had lots of chances of the final frame but Ricky Walden

goes into the next round, leading by 6-4.

STUDIO: What a terrific start to the snooker. Ricky Walden through to the

last eight and he will be playing Mark Allen or Judd Trump. He is

behind me in the studio, Mark Allen, and is about to take on Judd Trump.

We'll bring that to you live after we have a chat about Ricky Walden

and Ding Junhui. If we had a camera in the studio, about three shots

before Ricky sealed the frame, you said you didn't believe what you

were seeing. He's had an incredible run, Ding. To come to a losing end

like that, I don't think I've ever seen him miss like that. Incredible

stuff. He snookered himself on the pink but have a look. I don't know

what he's trying to do. He's trying to screw it in, not use a caution at

all and he's come totally across it. He's missed that by quite a way. I

think he's played this done there. He's not played either shot, really.

He was laughing himself. There was a shot of Ricky Walden, where you

could see by his body language he thought he had blown it. Lack to

yellow was a brewer shot. -- black to yellow was a poor shot.

What is incredible is the way Ding has been playing. Hard to believe he

could miss that pink. He is usually so solid and strong, particularly on

the pressure shots. But a couple of shots there... Never in doubt! Here

he comes. We were just talking about your body language. You were looking

at Ding, thinking you had blown it. I needed a good read to clinch it

and I just played a shocker, black to yellow. No excuse, really. But

then Ding misses the pink. Incredible stuff. I couldn't believe

it. I thought we were in for a decider but I got my chance. You've

been through all the motions in the past five minutes. It was a tough

game. I can't believe he missed this, to be fair. I thought he was

playing a stunt to come off the back question. We were both missing a few

shots. Ding is flying at the moment. When

you get your chance and feel that you have blown it, there is nothing

worse, really. I didn't play my best but I stuck in there. He has been on

fire. It must give you great confidence. I am happy when I can

just go and compete. If you turned up at the semifinal and played

well, that is the pinnacle. People who do well at the Championships in

Sheffield do well in the Championships. I had a good run. I

won a couple of tournaments in China. I have struggled to get my

foot in the door. You can relax and watch Liverpool play Norwich

tonight. Exactly. Man United and Everton are playing tonight. Ricky,

thank you for coming in for a chat. The much we are concentrating on is

a rerun of the 2011 championship final. Judge Trump is taking on Mark

Allen. We will bring you that shortly.

This is where it happens. This is my office. This is where I play table

tennis. So this is the office, is it? This is where the real hardware

companies. These lovely ladies do everything for me, really. They look

after my flight, sorting me about my passports. Nobody really gets to see

that. I have no worries off the table. I just turn up and play

snooker. This is the main man, Django. He pretends to work hard but

really, he is on his laptop looking for a new car. This guy is good.

Without him, I would be nothing. The facilities are his. There is now

have improved myself is done to him, I think. -- the reason I have

improved myself is down to him, I think. How many people are behind

you? Here, there is probably five. The is a team in China as well.

Django solves everything out and looks after me. A lot of the hard

work is done here. I think most people think you go to a club and

play against the general public, but that is not the case. So, tables.

Tommy. There are five tables. I normally stick to the same table,

unless somebody gets there before me. This is mine. I used to be at

the back left but got bit lonely so I moved to the front. How many hours

a day are you spending in here? Spending and playing is a different

thing. I probably spent pretty much all day here. I get here about ten

or 11 and that leave until seven or eight. Practice was, three or four

hours a day. What do you do with the rest of the hours? Sit down and

watch TV. Really? Yes, I watch TV. If I play my own, maybe six or seven

frames, then sit back, gets in concentration, have some food, then

come back and practice. If I play on my own for two long, I get bored.

Nice place to work. Is it lonely? He is in the background, but you are in

here a lot on your own. Do you get bored? Not really. I stick music on

quite a lot to keep me sane. I enjoyed it. There are a lot worse

things I could be doing. It is not like a job. At the end of the day,

there is a tournament to go to at the end of most weeks, so I always

have something to look forward to. You have distractions like people

coming up to you in snooker clubs, and noise that can put you off.

Here, you can just get down to business.

Very impressive, and thank you to judge Trump for showing as that. It

is not an you get the chance to see how somebody prepares. I remember

those days. Playing there from 11 until about five or six at night.

Where did you practice? At a club. I used to sweep, mop, Hoover. .

Doesn't it show how the sport has evolved? Very swish offices there.

Bed-macro said he has his stuff their booking his flights, and so he

can concentrate purely on practising. -- Judd said he has

people were booking his flights, so he can concentrate purely on

practising. Yes. You need to do that. You go down, do you practice

and that is all you have to worry about, look after yourself, make

sure you are well rested. Exercise as well is very important. It looks

very professional outfit. It has become a lot more professional over

the years. When you play in those types of conditions, you are well

used to it. You couldn't always play on those tables in your own club and

you would come here and it would be different. Judd is up against Mark

Allen this afternoon. That is our live match this afternoon.

There is a lot of hype around it because we are both attacking. Some

of it could be a little bit edgy. There is a lot of pressure.

It is down to a two table setup now. I have not been at my best,

especially with my safety, that has been poor. If I can tighten not up,

my game is in good shape, I think. I am just going to go out and

attack. So here we go. Judd Trump versus

Mark Allen. It could be a rematch of the 2011 game. The boys in the

studio are looking forward to this as our our commentators.

Thanks, Jason. This has the feel of a very high-profile match. They have

been given the OK on that table. Here they come to start their match.

I think this has the makings of the most attractive of all the matches

in the 16. We had Barry Hawkins overcoming

Shaun Murphy. I expect it to be fast and furious. They play the same game

and it is a question of who plays it better. I think Judd Trump is

probably expected to be the favourite. He was almost on top form

in the last game. I don't think it will be a walkover

for one of the two players. Two years ago, Judd beat Mark by ten

frames to eight. Chance to play the first attacking shot of the game.

That match you were talking about, that is the best I have seen him

play in the last few months. The signs are that he is getting back to

his best. Things are looking up. He did not play in the Australian

open. Both these players are gentlemen who

take the game very, very seriously. They both have wonderful facilities

where they play. A lot to look over to -- a lot to look forward to over

the next few years, for both of these players. I think there will be

around for quite some time. When that punchy cue action works

for Mark Allen, he can be unstoppable.

Coming up to three and a half minutes.

They have both played brilliant this so far.

Very good shot. He deserves a bit of good luck.

These two boys can play safe, but amongst them, I would think they are

two of the quickest players on the tour.

Mark as to think about this next shot.

Could have done with being on the one in the middle first.

He is trying to bring the pink interplay. -- into play.

Of all the top players, if Judd has an Achilles heel, now and again he

misses a pot you think he shouldn't. But boy, he can play.

You can easily nudge into one. He does play the nudge.

It is always nice to see that. It gives you an insight.

It would have been a little bit higher up on the cue ball than last

time. Well, that will be another good

shot. Red and the black, then the frame will be his.

Beautiful control. I was under the impression he looked a lot better

the other day. He hadn't been playing that well this season.

Players will on and off form this game.

That was a lovely break. It is 1-0 to Judd.

This is how they love head-to-head. All very tight.

He looks very relaxed and a solid start.

Yes, he's on good form. I thought his overall play looked like being

back in the big venue suits him. He likes being in the big time. He also

likes being in front of the cameras. He has only dropped three frames so

far. I was very impressed with that great. It was very controlled, very

assured. -- was very impressed with that great. He gritted his teeth a

few times. He has a steely determination. As John said, his

form is getting better. I think he wants to show something. And what

Mark Allen did there, he cannot do it again.

COMMENTATOR: You remember the ones you miss when you see your opponent

pot balls. Miss one ball, get punished and have

time to dwell over it. Both reds are pottable but it doesn't look like

you can get to the back of either of them. He may be looking at a safety.

Should might be able to get to them. He may be looking at a safety.

Should might be able to get to but given the way they pot

Should might be able to get to Nobody likes playing shots

Should might be able to get to hasn't passed the blue. Judd being

left-handed will need his extension. The black is available. If he

finishes low, he can get that away from the other one and quickly have

a chance to score heavily again. Just gone a little bit too far to

make the position a certainty but he can move the red out. He just wanted

to hold his cue ball about two inches closer to the black than it

is. A good shot, bouncing the black off

the cushion and back. A nice pair of Danny LaRues there.

He has got a lot like that! Very sparkly.

They're about 500 quid each. Each shoe!

They are Strictly Come Dancing shoes, those!

A little trip into the bunch of red looks of the order of the day. S he

deleted by one but it has certainly still got to happen.

Interesting that he didn't take that opportunity a couple of shots back

because by going up for the blue, he's coming away from the high value

colours and the action. This looks to be the last of the

easy read Sony may have to play that cannon after the next shot.

-- easy reds, so he may have to play.

He was just below centre on that. It ended up almost a screenshot, more

than a hard stun shot. -- screw shot.

He didn't go for that because the red wasn't pottable passed to the

blue. You can't always win the frame in one visit but if you don't, it's

good to think the player will keep the game very tight. Mark Allen is

not getting any table time at all at the moment.

Mind you, what about that for a shot? Seems like he felt he would be

playing it to keep the cue ball safe but a tremendous shot all the same.

He deserves to win back the advantage after the red he potted.

At first glance, I can't see how he can get them safe.

Might have another try, using the right hand, rather than the left.

He hit it with tremendous judgement of pace.

You just saw the red move slightly, just quiver. He's got himself out of

trouble there. It cost him four points initially but he won't worry

about that too much. Very honest of Mark Allen. He didn't

believe he hit it. He said he didn't hit it so he called a foul on

himself. A tap on the table from Judd, who wasn't aware. Mark,

understandably, is big on all of that and calling fouls on himself is

what snooker players do. Well done to him. Losing four points could

make a big difference. It's all about the integrity of the players.

He's going back now. This is fun. It must have been very close to

touching. I didn't see the point of having it

moved back because he knows he's going to play the same shot and he's

in a worse position this time because he's tighter to the cushion.

He could have made Mark play it from here.

This week are wide and this is an excellent safety shot -- That could

have been an excellent safety shot. A 4-ball kiss would have been

unlucky. That didn't make much difference. Just overscrewed that

slightly but should be OK. Those shots seem to be going into

the middle of the pocket, which is always a good sign, but I don't want

to jinx him. So far, Mark Allen has had very few chances.

Maybe just decelerated there and all of the sudden, the match has taken a

different turn. Certainly the frame house. This is Mark's first chance

of any real note, I would say. Now and again Judd is more prone than

any of the top players to making a mistake where he misses easy shots,

more than any other player. That is the easiest ball mark has missed

this week. It may be a lack of table time.

It will be a great relief in the end if Judd wins the frame after that

thin black that he missed. REFEREE: Frame conceded. That is

strange, Mark allowing the frame to be conceded at that point. He leads

2-0. Jason STUDIO: He was quite considered in

the first frame. He's missed one or two there but he

looks much more settled than Mark Allen. He's missed a couple of balls

already in the first couple of frames but he looks like he is here

to win. Normally you see Judd smash the ball is open as quickly as

possible but he's just been picking off reds and going up and down. Neil

mentioned he was expecting him to go into reds aren't open them up and

try to win the frame but he's been quite conservative about his

break-building but you can tell, as we can see just from his body

language, a really steely resolve. He's very determined, very gritty.

It's something we haven't seen from him for quite a while. I was

listening to Stephen Hendry saying he didn't know how much practice

Judd does yet he seems be in the groove. I'm sure he does enough.

Some players do two or three hours and that is enough where is other

people have to do five to seven. The main thing for him is that he's back

in a big arena, in the second biggest tournament in the world and

he enjoys it. I'm very impressed. His safety shots have been

excellent. Good weight on his cue ball control. He's putting it all in

today. The last time they played, he lost to Mark Allen and he's probably

remembering that and giving him a lot of respect. When we turn up to

the TV tournaments, we talk about a couple of players - Ronnie

O'Sullivan and Judd Trump. Do you think Judd needs a big TV tournament

and then suddenly we'll see him fulfil his promise? He likes the big

stage and loves playing in front of the cameras and big crowds. He's one

of those players that is a born entertainer, like Jimmy White, Alex

Higgins before him. He's a great talent but I think he really gets a

buzz out of playing in these big events and that's why he's done so

well here in the UK and he got to the final in the World Championship,

as well. I'm not sure what he gets excited about but he probably goes

to the European tour events for a bit of practice. These events - and

all the top players are the same - they focus on the bigger events.

This is where the focus and concern is.

WILLIE THORNE: Mark Allen has been in tremendous form but has struggled

this afternoon. Played a couple of loose safety shots. Certainly missed

more easy balls in the first two frames than he has in quite some

time. This was one of the first shots of

the match that was very tough. There was a degree of difficulty about

that, and this, too it wrongly. This is the one that might play on his

mind more than the other three. The red sticking out of the pack is

causing him a problem. If he did the one at the pyramid he would knock it

into the right hand side. He decided on the containing safety.

You can't gain any advantage from Matt and sometimes just have to wait

for a better chance. -- from that. He played right in behind the

yellow. Not sure what he intended. The red might pass the blue.

One of his specials, straight into the middle of the pocket. A bit

close to the side cushion for his colour.

It was slightly awkward but I thought Judd would get it.

Mark Allen needs a 30 or 40 break to get back a bit of confidence. It's

the first time I've seen him play where he is lacking in confidence,

overhitting balls and underhitting balls. He's one of those players

that likes to dominate. He works very closely with Terry

Griffiths and, Terry, I'm sure you'll be watching. You've not been

very well, so get well soon. The problem there was that he didn't

get into the pack. The red was protecting part of it.

He had a target to hit. It's just the red sticking out that he goes

into so the pack would never go very far because the pace had been taken

off by the time it reached the pack.

Just not at the races today, Mark Allen, for some reason. I'm sure he

went to bed last night really looking forward to this map -- map

-- game. Such a poor safety from Mark Allen,

that. It's amazing. I'm sure people

watching haven't seen Mark Allen play this badly for a while.

Probably a good job he's playing best of 11 because he's got time to

get back into this match. When he hit this one, I thought he was on

his way into the pocket. That has rattled the jaws.

That wanted, as well, with a better outcome. -- that one did.

He needs to settle into the match and he hasn't done that yet. You

don't quite ever feel at home in a snooker match until you've got a

frame on the board and you're starting to motor. He just can't get

out of first gear at the moment. That one he did hit well. The way he

struck the cue ball could give him confidence. And that's the best he's

played in the match so far. He's got a little bit of work to do

yet to make this a frame-winning opportunity. He only needs another

40 - odd points. When he gets that punchy action

going, he uses the cue ball exceptionally well.

He starts somewhere and he was on average form. You have to start

somewhere with trying to find your form and get your touch. At the

moment, to more breadth and he has that frame on the board. -- two more

raids. So, the frame will be Mark's. And

that is more like it. A beautiful shot.

It seemed unlikely that he could make a century when he came to the

table but now it is a positive. It has been a very one-way break. He

has not been able to use the black ones. -- the black once.

You mention he hasn't put at the black ones and he has put it at just

the right time. This is a really good effort. When

you consider, he literally could not put a ball in the first two frames.

His potting was all over the place of this is a really good effort.

He just needs to get into a situation where he can make 30 or 40

just to gain his confidence. He has got -- he has a lot more than that.

The shot was on but he could not have played it any better. That is

what I was saying about how his cue ball comes under excellent control.

128 men after the Aachen -- Barbican. This is looking very much

like he will be the 70 third. What a break. A typical Mark Allen breaks,

this tubal not travelling very far. -- this tubal.

That is a shame. He has pulled a frame back. Judd Trump is still

leading, 2-1. But he really did need that frame, no doubt about that.

Everything was a struggle. But very fine margins at this game. You sort

to shops in that frame, one from Judd, one from Mark, into the same

pocket. The first one rattles violently. Judd was cueing well.

Marcus left here with a very easy read but even this, keep an eye on

the red. It called the father jaw and eventually, that has dropped.

Until that, he really did look all at sea. He did. Also an example of

where there is such a fine margin between a century break or not. Judd

might have made a hundred break but it was only the speed that kept it

out. Mark was a fraction of an elite closer to the pocket and that is why

the pocket accented the ball. -- accepted the ball. He will be

delighted to get a frame on the board. If Judd Trump loses this

frame, he will be kicking himself to think he could have come out of this

session 2-2 when he is the more dominant player.

Things looking up. It is 35 from 39 now. He hasn't missed anything for a

good while, making that rape. He has boosted -- making that break.

If the black was on it, he could rival this and get on the back. But

it is dead straight. Maybe he could go for a walk colour. -- walk

. That is more likely Mark Allen we are used to watching. Playing for

the blue -- but he has a second prize.

He has the problem of the ridge-macro by the black. I think he

tried to move it there. But he is OK. But the black the out of play,

he would like to bring the pink into play. A bit dangerous because it is

just off its sport. -- off its spot. He may be refusing to get into

the pink because it is covered. If he puts the pink off the next red,

it will go amongst the reds and put the black out of play.

He is just trying to work out exactly with the pink would go,

whether it would be totally out of commission. He might be able to

leave half ball pink in the middle. He is not guaranteed to get a

session on the red here. They get in the way of each other here. He may

have to play this quite pacey. That was his problem, wasn't it?

Because of the pace he had to play, he cleared the ink spot but he

forgot about the pink. -- he cleared the pink spot. It was always high

up. At this sort of speed, it was never going to go in.

Kept out of play for about a frame and a half.

He couldn't have done any better. He generated much spin. It seemed to

speed up having hit the second cushion. It suddenly took off from

the cushion, there. It had that much spin.

Still a lot of work to do with the balls are at the moment. The next

five reds and colours are OK. It is tough to win a frame of the

pink and the blue. He did really well to hold that. It

was quite thin and didn't want to get past the old line. This next

shot will tell us more about his chances of making this into a

frame-winning break. Playing on the right-hand red, he

may have the shot. If not, he has more work to do. What a great shot

that was. I thought he was trying to move one. That was absolutely

perfect. Very well played. Hilliard. -- brilliant.

A clever shot, this. And certainly the shot that followed it, also.

Again, the red just above the back. -- the black. Still more to do to

get him into the frame and get him to the point of winning it.

He has to be little careful here. He may just try to drop one in the

middle pocket and try and get in behind the back of the red.

He is purposely trying to get straight on this to leave an angle

on the black. Unlucky, though, he has finished nowhere.

Blue to bring the red into is tough. If you place it firmly, he might be

on the other red. There have been one or two mistakes but in between,

some good snooker. If he nudges the left-hand red and

plays it slowly, there will still be the chance that he is on the other

one. If he plays it at speed, he puts all his eggs into one basket.

A good rake, there. There was nothing on, when he came to the

table. Pink and black were out of play. A lot of players would have

paid to get in between those and leave themselves an option of being

just off straight on one of them to get onto the black. A good safety

shot here. This was the attempted move on the

loo. -- on the blue. That was a miss and this might be a

free ball which is an unbelievable mistake at this stage. In kernel. --

incredible. He didn't get the kiss right. If he

had just dropped on it, just dead weight, it would have been the

choice of two reds. He decided to play the case. -- the case. I wonder

if he can get onto the black from this. It would help matters if he

could get behind the black with an angle. That is asking a lot from

where he is. He has tried it and I don't name

him. It needs to be top side. He is ever so unlucky there. He has

a very slight angle but it was a great idea to put it on the black. I

think you can just about force it in. Kissed the top red.

Not quite enough in front yet, 37. He didn't quite get it thick enough,

that red. The safety shot is not straightforward. He is not over the

line yet. I want if he has the shot to push both reds up the table. That

would be very handy. But risky, perhaps, under the circumstances.

He hasn't got many shots on. That is why he was so upset. He only wanted

another red. The double-kiss has frustrated him a lot.

But that shot because he knew the red would come off the cushion onto

the black and stopped it going up the table.

This is another very good safety shot from Judd. I have been

impressed from him -- with him. He would have to tighten his game

little bit to compete at the top level all the time. When he is not

at his best, he have to rely on his all round game. Boy, he has tried

hard on this. We don't think of him as a safety player but all these

guys know how to do it. Hit and hope. we know that his A game is

good enough and now his B game is good enough to compete.

In the end, I think what Mark Allen always knew what happened is

happening, that he is playing it again.

Does it past the black? I think it does. I am pretty sure it does. The

only thing is the tube always coming dangerously down towards the other

red. -- the cue ball is coming dangerously down.

I think he has held himself together produce the last few shots. A couple

of tactical shots and he deserves to win the frame in the end. That was

an excellent break he made in that frame, it was only 48 but it was

almost as good as a century, where the ball square. -- where the balls

were. 42 points in front, the black. But

slightly at the one end of the table. -- at the wrong end of the

table. Mark Allen Combe and in any more trouble. This will be a

concession if he goes around the back. There is the concession. A

pretty good standard of frames there. It is Judd Trump who take the

3-1 lead. How pleased have you in with the all-round game today of

Judd? Very impressive. We think he has come in here with the match

mode. Some excellent safety play, thought out well. We're expect

things a lot but I have been really impressed with Judd's all-round game

today. What does he need to do now? he made a good break to make it 2-1

but he doesn't seem to be firing on all cylinders. The safety has to be

a little bit better. He was a bit critical about his safety and said

it needed to improve and it hasn't and it has caused him a problem. He

has let Judd in for us and dominate the frame. He has missed the pink of

the spot. He completely took his eye off the end, missed the part and

since then, he was never in the frame after that. He has missed four

or five pots that are literally simple pots for him. It is quite

unusual for him to not get those. Judd is probably all of a sudden

inking, I and getting bees easy chances. He is making the most of

them and it is a very professional job he is doing. By macro but Mark

made a good break of 48. yes, but that is one frame. You need to

because it through the match. He is definitely second in the match,

compared to Judd. How difficult is it went you see 2-down, there may be

little bit of urgency to get back into the game, how tough is that? It

is a bit like playing and Sullivan at his best. You have to let them

know you are in the match. Judd is not really a frontrunner today. He

is doing it with wheelie good matchplay and Mark has come to the

table and there is nothing for him to play. Thank you very much indeed.

The other match we are concentrating on is the match between frame. And

Mark Selby. I think he has a very repetitive

action, it is very smooth. John Higgins. His position is good as can

be. Ronnie O'Sullivan. I think his game

is phenomenal. Stephen Maguire. Sean Moss. He make it the ball a bit

hard, but he can get it through. Again, John Moffitt.

Higgins. He has proved it so many times. He can still manage to go

over the line. I could say John. John is the best tactical player we

have got. Selby, I think. He has done similar times. Mark Selby.

Really love those items and Mark Selby gets mentioned there. He won

his last match 6-0. Today, he took the first frame with a break of 73.

In two the next frame. You would expect him to be able to

put this. A good solid pot. There are a few

chances. Surely, this time, it will be level at one each.

What a change in this frame in Mark Selby from the first frame.

Absolutely. He has missed a few long ones. OK, one was brought to an

abrupt halt by a horrendous kick. But that last miss, he was trying to

bring the awkward red into play and played it perfectly. But hammy times

do we see it, he concentrates so much on the position that if it gets

the pot. -- but how many times do we see it?

So, 19 point indeed. -- 19 points in the lead.

It is a bit tricky to put this green. He will need the brown. The

green will put him 22 point inch front but there are still 22

remaining. Well, he had his chance, didn't take

it. Now, he has left the round but with the pupil being close to the

cushion, he has to be very wary. the left middle looms large on these

types of shot. So, blue, pink and black to tide the frame. And take us

to a respot. He could be in the middle of nowhere

here. Not good on the pink to get on the black and being so close to the

cushion, the player goes in and out of baulk but it's a big ask.

A complete reversal to the frame before but in a way this one is more

exciting! If Selby was to win, there would be more pleasure in this frame

because he will have felt as if he had stolen it. The last frame,

Graeme Dott broke off. That was the end of the frame. He won't want to

lose this one. He has played the double.

That wasn't a shot I would have thought of.

And in it goes! We will have a respotted black to determine the

winner of this second frame. Graeme Dott, as you alluded to, will be

very disappointed should he lose this one. Absolutely. A bit of

frustration and thinking a second bite of the cherry.

Will Mark fancied the double? The safety shot isn't that easy.

No 44 mark, making sure the black was safe.

It is easy to get the line right but you have to get the pace right.

He thought he might doublet but he played it better pace this time. A

tap on the table from Mark Selby tells us that Graeme has given him a

problem here. Not straightforward to get this safe. Yes, maximum distance

between object and cue ball. It makes this very tough.

He hit it full than he intended. A shake of the head from Graeme. This

black is honoured to the left middle but it is no certainty by any means.

It is an acute angle. He needs to find the middle of the pocket. He

will go for it. Good shot! That has relieved Graeme

Dott because if you lost that frame, he would have been disappointed. A

good black and one apiece. A good shot, all square but Selby took the

next with a break of 53. Frame four, Graeme Dott at the table leading

28-10. It was thin and he hit it too thin.

Another chance for Mark Selby. It's always difficult in the jaws of the

pocket. Interesting to see how he plays this.

That is the last thing he wanted, to pot to read. -- two rodes.

He would like to have been straight the black.

He looks to have an angle on the black. A slightly more difficult

position or shot. It wasn't too difficult but made

easy because if he wasn't on the pink, you have the green available.

Well, three points in front. How quickly it goes. A tall order now to

win the frame at this visit. That was the last of the

straightforward reds. It isn't beyond the realms of possibility but

he will do well to win the frame. He has come straight on the red than

he would have liked. He has two leave himself the perfect

angle on the black so he has nothing to do with the cue ball. Well, that

is sheer carelessness. He decided that he could not do a lot so roll

the red in. And maybe play a snooker. He took his eye off the

pot. So careless, that. You cannot drop your guard for a second in this

game. The red hit the cushion immediately

almost. He made contact with it. He will not be happy with his

performance so far, Graeme. He has had chances. That was a tough read.

You would expect, you would prefer to play for the blue. The blue if

stopping the green going in its normal pocket. He decided to play

for the black. It makes the points he needs more difficult.

As long as he finishes either straight or high of the yellow. Now

he has to go around the table. Two cushions.

Good shot. An excellent shot. So, 13 points the lead. Green and brown

required. I am sure he will beginning this all

his attention. He won't take his eye off this ball, you wouldn't think.

He will want to get rid of the blue. One snooker isn't beyond the realms

of possibility. That will discourage Graeme Dott

from coming back to the table. I do not think Graeme will be able

to keep the pink out. We will keep you up-to-date with that match but

if you want to watch it live, hit the red button. The match we are

concentrating on is Judd Trump against Mark Allen. The best of 11,

it is 3-1 to Judd Trump. Judd Trump is playing very very well. Yes, his

form has been much improved this tournament. We have not seen in the

first three or four months of the new season and maybe it is coming

back to a tournament that he has done so well in before, 2011 and the

man he beat in the final is his opponent today, Mark Allen. A great

match. They have been playing for just over

an hour. Some really good snooker. Balls were missed, if you thrills

and spills. A nice break of 98 from Mark Allen which got his pot success

up. Judd Trump has missed less balls. The 3-1 is backed up by the

other stats, long pot success and I am impressed with Judd Trump's

safety. He played a few clever shots. And the 98 break, the shining

light for mark in those four frames. A long way to go. The first to

sixth. A good job it kissed the black. The

overhit that completely and it would drift by and leave an easy read. --

rode. It is easy to stun in behind the

black. The red might not snooker Mark Allen. That's what his worried

about. He has put itself in so much

trouble. Mark Allen isn't hitting the ball

very well today. He has been cueing poorly.

It wouldn't take much of a swerve, if you can't get to it directly. He

is wondering about playing cushion first. It is not hanging over the

pocket. If he pots it directly, the White with career into the pack and

he might snooker himself. The top spin doesn't take the cue

ball very far, that the issue. He has the black to play safe off.

He would like to get in behind the yellow if he can to cover the reds

in the middle. It is very tight... It possibly pots

in the top. It is difficult to see a shot. The

safety shot isn't easy with the two reds up the other end. If he could

find his way down on the cushion to the left of the pink that would be

pretty decent. But getting there is not easy. He is looking at a 2-ball

plant. not easy. He is looking at a 2-ball

TV the shots look easy from the low He does not have the usual fiery

aggression in his game yet. He needs to be worked up and psyched up for a

match like this. As soon as he gets it back, he will be very dangerous.

Why not play its dead weight and play for the blue?

He cannot get the cue ball under control. I did think he can get

enough side on to go over the black spot area and get back onto a read.

Brilliant. That is the best shot of the match so far. Yes, it is what he

played. The pace tells you on the blue. Through the ion the needle. --

I of a needle. These six reds either side of the

pink spot area, he needs a big killer app that end of the table.

Now, he can think about winning the frame at the visit. If he can get

out of this five frames, 3-2, he has done remarkably well. He is out of

sorts this afternoon. When the black is respotted, it is

in line with the cue ball. He might be able to get to most of the cue

ball here. Complaining about the spring off the

cushion. Rubbing the cushion can only make it worse.

This is a lot better, he built himself up to this.

Now we are seeing Mark at his best, when the cue ball doesn't travel

very far at his getting his timing together, the short cue action that

he has got. It is devastating when it starts to work out.

72 will do. That was a good break. It takes him a frame closer, Judge

Tom, -- Judd Trump, three. That is what marks needed. is

probably what you would start at -- expect at the start of the match.

Judd has been on top. He probably had a word with himself at the

interval and was determined to win the frame and heeded just that. He

was back to his old self, he went for a crazy plan, trying to get the

cue ball back up to baulk. It was a straightforward shot. Behind the

pink, the green, Andy brown. He decided there was enough taken on

the plant. Sometimes you have to much time. You end up not playing

any shot at. If you walk up to it straightaway and play, you generally

played the Eto'o one. Is the recovery on? It can be but the way

Mark Allen is playing, and not shop. It sounds strange when he has had a

break of 72 and 98, but it is every credit to him and now he has a

chance to get back into it. He still has to improve in a lot of

departments today. That is a very good safety shot,

Mark Allen. This could boil up into a very

interesting match. Interesting because yet again, he

laid it again as a shot to nothing. I suppose when the pot goes in, it

doesn't matter that you click the other red, it is anywhere in the pot

doesn't go in that you have to worry. He has a thin one on this, it

is never an easy shot. Oh, he missed it. But the cut by a

long way. -- overcut by a long way. Another example about who is

playing. Judd really has to get a foothold in

this match. He is letting this slightly slip away. If you look at

Mark Allen playing this... If he is low on this, he has every

excuse to go into the reds because the black is hanging over the

pocket. He doesn't want it ending up embedded in the reds, of course. He

might want to plough through these. I like that shot. The insurers is

the black was always going to be there for him. -- the insurance. Not

actually are screw shot, almost a hard stun shot. Just below centre.

Making sure he got plenty to get the cue ball out of there. Otherwise, it

is the only way it could go wrong. There is a strange one, he probably

wouldn't usually need the rest for this. A bit awkward to reach across

the table without playing foul. The angle is OK but I don't quite know

what happened to the little bit of stun that he had on it. I think you

forgot to use it. It should be all right.

He recovered well with a very nicely played a shot.

It has been a strange sort of match, this. Both players coming into it

with you into beautifully. But neither player doing as well as they

have done so far in the tournament today.

Beautiful. Beautiful shot. Effortless, as well. He is blessed

with the wonderful cue action. Wonderful spin. A bit like

O'Sullivan. They don't seem to hit the ball hard but the spin makes the

ball go around the table. Two ways of playing this, you come

to the left of the table and he is top centre of the cue ball. But he

decided to go to the right of the table. He played with screw and

reverse side. That was a great shot. He hit the bottom of the ball but it

is also the right of centre, reverse side, to take it fizzing down there.

It was a lovely shot. he needs to get into this 2-ball

here. If he catches the middle red of the three, he would like to

market around the first one. He had just caught the other one. That is

why the white went away. Just trying to art it around the red. She just

wanted to miss the first red. It just caught the first red. Maybe a

fraction of the ball, almost towards the centre of it, taking it a little

bit further to the right and that might have been the difference. A

lot of it is where you strike the ball. It has put him in a bit of

trouble. He could put the red down the

cushion but that is very difficult. It is an awkward one for the Judd

because he is a left-hander that uses the rest right handed and he

has a blind spot. That is why he often plays it with the wrong hand.

Mark Allen is the same. The problem with playing that safety

shot is that Mark Allen has two plate of the cushion now. If he had

played back into baulk, I could have agreed with leaving that red where

it is not splitting them up and leaving an easy chance to move off

the cushion, he could find himself in trouble in a moment. But as a

poor choice of shot from Judd. -- that is appalled choice of shot. --

that is a poor choice of shot. Good grief. He needs to be lucky

day. If he gets the pot, the cue ball misses the pack but to miss it

the way he did, it has gone straight through. How has he not made contact

on the way back? It is impossible to go through that gap.

The chance that he could get Judd in trouble with this one. He has got

the weight of the shot right. It could have an worse. I think Judd

might be feeling he has got away with one there. But the state of the

table, 47.8, it is not worth that much. -- A47 -- 47 points lead.

A good shots but one, trying to put the pink and the red out of play. 47

points in the lead. It is also the weight of the shot, the fact that it

is failed to that cushion. It is very, very hard to play that. You

are very limited in what you can achieve there.

A bit unlucky to go into the brown. It was actually quite well played, I

thought. Judd has got a little tempter, if he fancies dribbling up

to the red and the loo and snookering. -- the blue.

If he does play it, it is the kind of shot you really have to trust in

the dish and is to take it. -- trust in the conditions.

That is a good touch, I'd then. I am not sure if he has got the snooker

on the other red. He anxiously looks around.

Unlucky there. An excellent safety shot but he has put the link out of

commission, really. -- the pink. That has gone wrong in so many ways,

hitting six, not getting far past the blue spot. That could be his

last shot in the frame. He has got to get onto a colour and he will be

OK. Maybe easier said than done with the

black is. Probably the kind of shot that if you could overhead it, you

could have been perhaps on the blue of the green. The mop top you put on

those, it doesn't mean the cue ball goes up the table that far, it

almost stops the cue ball. He may try to screw it in and go round the

back of the green. He really has to get a lot of side

on here otherwise he will cannon into the green. Just before the

middle pocket. Amazing, isn't it, when you get one

bad positional shot, it can through you. -- throw you. It is almost the

kind of shot you play if you are 40 or 50 behind. It wasn't guaranteed,

it was above centre striking to get around the table. I don't know if he

thought he would miss that for a second. He leapt up as though he

thought he had hit it too thick. I am not too sure where it is one of

those situations if both players agree to have the white changed. At

this moment in time, every other shot is coming off the cushion

badly. What that does is just drains your confidence. Mark Allen is

really struggling today and he has every chance of getting this 3-3.

He was desperate for the cue ball to slow down. He has got onto the

middle. Those two shots in a row, the red he

didn't seem to be put off his stride. The black Nevers. Rolling

and he didn't get onto the red after it. -- the black never stopped

rolling. That might have just about

eventually sealed the frame, the tab -- the fact that it was top side of

the blue, it was lovely. They are both really finding it

tough out there at the moment. A little way smile of their common

Judd. -- there, Judd. Once again, he has finished to low

on the black. He will need to snooker Mark Allen

but this will put the frame beyond any doubt.

He cannot get to those because he have to play them might handed. --

right-handed. It is a good job he can play with his wrong hand.

The 2-ball is on fire, fair, I think. -- the cue ball.

It is amazing what these guys are able to do do, you can loosen your

arm a bit at the end of the frame. I think we might get another one

here. All of it pretty much an irrelevance. Judd Trump has

scrambled over the line and he leads by two frames and 4-2. That recovery

was talking about, Mark Allen didn't last long. You have been impressed

by his safety pay. I think he's applying himself very well. I don't

think Mark Allen is anywhere near his best. Judd isn't but he is

playing better than Mark Allen. There is no spark in Mark Allen. He

needs to come out and getting amongst the balls. He made a 98

earlier. He needs something to happen, at the moment. He had

opportunity for a good counter attack. He snookered himself on the

red. He missed a relatively straightforward red to the left that

you would expect them to get. But he seems little bit out of sorts, not

like himself. It is unusual to see him with so many and make so many

mistakes. There wasn't too much between them this morning but at the

moment, it looks like only one winner. Remarkably, Mark Allen has

beaten Judd priced this calendar year. on paper, you would say coming

into this match that Mark Allen would have been the slight

favourite. On current form, but as you said, the bookies thought it

would be very close. We thought it was going to go 6-4 either way. It

may still do that but that the moment, Judd still has the bit of

the gap. Could he go all the way? It is not all the fireworks we expect

it, it is not a 100 break every frame but he is applying himself

very well. Mark Allen has played really well so far. But there is no

spark in him today. And conversely, we said when we spoke to Judd Trump

four, we all, did on how relaxed he looked, and he was laughing and

joking with us. Behind the scenes, very relaxed, very quiet. He likes

to chill out and get ready for his game in his own way. When he gets on

there, he is a difficult -- a different animal. Judd re-tweeted

one of my tweets today. God bless you, Judd! he likes to know what

everyone is thinking on Twitter. Sometimes in the mid-session

interval, he has put something up there. He has to play better, or he

is buzzing, or whatever. It is the way the world has changed. I have

enjoyed this game. A few mistakes made, we know that, I think Judd is

playing slightly better than he has been playing, still.

But Mark, apart from a few grimaces, has struggled. No doubt about that.

When you miss the red you never know where it is going to go and it just

clattered into the pack. It could have been worse.

Judd is having a really good look at this. He would have to play one red

onto another. Amazingly, even if it is dead set, B doesn't hit it full

in the face, red onto red he will miss it and have to reverse it.

He has two headed full on. Otherwise, it would make it a

reverse plant. Let's just see what happens.

You see. It was a certain plant if he had hit it full on. It was the

sort of plant you would never miss if you just have to play the cue

ball on to it looks so inviting. You could see he wasn't sure about it

because of the way he played, but in the cue ball up the table.

Everything is going wrong at the moment for Mark Allen. He just

hasn't made it today. Apart from the 98 and the 72. He rehearsed recalled

to make 30. -- he really has struggled to make 30.

Not easy to get onto the red here. It could run around to cushion is

and try to get into the pack. The fact that it is just off straight,

he could screw back off the cushion beside it and get into the bunch.

Playing the screw to get into the bunch. Well played. A good shot. He

had to play with a little bit of reverse side, there.

That one shot has developed into a good chance to go further clear.

Once again, quite difficult for Judd to get to this. He really is

stretching. An extension on the queue should be enough for him to

reach it, I think. his cue ball is a little out of

position now, just a touch. The shot, you think, would be the angle

to hit the red. It is a shot too has played well and till now. He called

the wrong side of it. You can kiss it anyway, that is the

only way he could not get on one. Mark Allen has a reprieve here.

Jersey could have made better out of that safety shot. -- Judd Trump.

Mark Allen cannot believe it and neither can we. He is struggling to

knock the long ones in. Normally, he is so good at that shot.

He is a bit amused, as we are. You cannot play well all the time, it is

a tough game. It had a serious wobble in the jaws.

This is more difficult. Amazing. This was a beauty.

He can get back into the frame with what is there but the frame is

leading up to the cluster of reds on the right.

He is not fitting them right today, it is a struggle!

It jumped out of the pocket. Good call.

Sometimes they go so much into the centre they bounce out. He hit it

very hard and nearly broke the ball in half! The good thing was he did

not get the kiss right. That wasn't a bad shot. It was not getting the

angle on the blue previously. It only happens in the middles. It

does not happen in the corners. He is clearly rattled. It has not been

his day at all. He has a big targets to go into

here. A couple of shots that would frustrate any player, I think.

It can be an infuriating game at times. The odd thing is go wrong and

awkward situations arise. He has a good temperament and likes

a scrap. Is this thread pottable? He could

bring all of the reds into play. Amazing. I think he hit the wrong

road-macro first. A long time since we have seen a

strong player struggle so much but hang on in there.

Maybe he wants to avoid a kick in the next few shots. It is possible

the shot we showed you a few times has changed the match because

there's no obvious signs Mark was going to the frame. I think he

looked a bit rattled. All of a sudden, here he is with a chance to

make it one down. Well done, a good pot. He needs

yellow and green. What a valuable break that was. One

snooker to tie the frame. He has conceded the frame. He is one

down, 4-3. I was watching the Irish open. It is good to get out, the

weather is nice but the day before your, it wasn't so good. This was us

on a night out. We were in Bulgaria. Me and the champagne bottles my

manager sends me when I win a tournament. My wife and my little

girl. This is the kids of today and how it goes. Interesting. He is a

very good golfer. He has kept himself in the game,

it's amazing really. He has battled hard. He is sticking in there.

I don't know what made him miss that. By playing it to the left of

the pocket, it wouldn't have made any difference. I think it was a

lapse. Playing the swinging safety shot,

near a pocket. He gives another chance away.

He's not happy. He believed, how close did he get to the other red?

It is one of those matches, they can be a slow burner. This one started

quite promisingly and now it's got worse. We are not even at the point

where it can get serious yet. It could be a thriller.

That is amazing. How he can be cueing so badly at times and then

that was timing personified. One shot so perfect and one-shot so

bad. They are having a laugh with each

other saying it seems hard work for both of them at the moment. Mark

Allen cannot believe he has played so many poor safety shots today.

He took a chance hoping to bring black into play. The green is still

on. Unlucky not to have a more favourable position than this. I

can't believe it, I really can't. He is one of the greatest potters in

the game. Really struggling. That was miles away! They both lost

all direction. A little hug between the players. That's what they

needed. It is always a good thing. That was quite funny.

Everyone needs one sometimes, come on.

It was meant in good faith. They both missed easy ones in a row.

He needs his concentration back. It is easy to say and difficult to do.

The chance to get into the quarterfinals of the UK

Championship. Both of these players are capable of being the champion on

Sunday night. Whatever happens, get through the match. And move on. When

you are playing like this, you feel an element of embarrassment that two

are not playing and doing yourself justice. That is the emotion.

This is very dangerous. This isn't easy. Very good. He is not

frightened. He plays the game the same whether he is potting them not.

Tremendous recovery. Once again, the cue ball not going

far enough. The blue looks favourite. Reaching the blue would

be difficult with all of the obstructing reds and the green ball.

The little hug helped him. Shame it didn't involve the referees as well.

They are all in this together. The cameraman to a wonderful job, it

has been a real struggle this frame. That is the first time in a snooker

match I have seen someone can so the opponent. You are never that

charitable! I am not sure Judd Trump was mad for it. On paper and the

breaks, there's been eight breaks over 40. They have needed four or

five chances of frame. He played it really well. He knows

that any contact right of the green leaves him with hope. These are all

important parts of the match. We've seen the way the frame descended

into almost a farce. Mark Allen stepped up a little bit but it could

be a massive boost to Judd Trump. This is really good thinking. That

is very clever. Many players would have gone for blue or pink then. It

is a good shout. This is a serious chance to win the

frame. We know he will need the lot. The black on the side cushion is

available to a left-handed player. Anything but straight on the brown

is OK. He has to use the rest. He has two forces. It is not the

easiest rest shot. He got the wrong side on there, that

is how badly he is cueing as well. it means the clear is even more

difficult. He got a date -- great conclusion to

the frame. He could pinch the pocket and hit

the new jewel. The new jewel. He is having another look at the one

down the cushion. If he's left-handed trauma, surely he has

two play it down the cushion. This is missable now. Miscible anyway but

a lot more difficult. That is the real struggle. It is one

of those, you have to make your mind up time.

This has been a remarkable clearance up to here.

No. Well, he has got away with it. A fabulous rate, that. It was only 36

but it was as good a break as we have this afternoon.

Interesting way to play. I am surprised he didn't get all fight up

onto the baulk ocean. I don't think I would like to leave Judd anything

at long range. He has forced him to go for it, playing that shot.

But he did write, it is comfortable.

He have to hope it doesn't go into the middle pocket.

Well, in some ways, this has been a tremendous frame. Unbelievable frame

of snooker, that, and Mark Allen has done what he wanted to do, level at

4-4. Considering he was 2-0 down, that is a remarkable spring of

snooker. I said earlier run, there was only one winner because it

looked liked the Trump was so far on top. He has competed and stayed in

there and tried as hard as he can when he hasn't got any game, not by

his standards. We can all play when it is going your own way but

everyone can do that. When you haven't got a game, you are missing

balls, you are not happy with it, to stick in and stick in like he has

done is incredible. Healey has dug in. Nothing has been going right for

him. he almost through that frame away. Judd made a fantastic trip.

Just overshot the pink little bit. For a left-hander, that is where he

had to use the rest. A much more difficult shot. On the cushion with

the cue ball have been a lot easier. Both players have shown some great

fighting qualities. What did you say to me when Judd missed the black? I

thought he played white well. If you dropped a dead weight, if the -- if

it came out, it would have got some safety. He was a it unlucky, he had

to force an angle and that means it is more difficult to control it. Can

you pick a winner? No, you can't. It is very interesting. It hasn't been

the rest already but they have shown a lot of other good oddities. They

have shown lot of fighting qualities. Sometimes you have to

rely on your B game when you're A game is not there. Judd leads by

just one. Mark Allen has beaten Judd twice this calendar year already.

When you have been defeated by your opponent, you conscious of your

record of your opponent? it would do if it was one-way. But not these

two, they play each other and they know each other's games so well.

Judd have to think about how he started the match. He nearly made a

pretty clearers there. Mark Allen should give himself a pat on the

back. Mark Allen is in the ascendancy now. Judd Trump would be

kicking himself if he didn't have a bigger lead. He had a couple of

chances in the previous frame. The sudden, Mark Allen will be feeling

much more confident. That was a bad low for Judd Trump. Having one that

frame, there is no doubt he would have gone on and won the match but

now, he must be kicking himself that is -- that it is 4-4. To get this

one ahead, you have to get to six now. Winning the next one, massive.

Psychologically, it could be a huge blow for whoever wins this one. It

is great. It is what separates new kids in other sports.

Let's go back to William Hill. we have seen everything in this match,

good, bad, indifferent. It almost has the feel of a decider,

that frame. We probably have to to come. It could literally go down to

the last few pots. There was a friendly exchange

between them and Mark asked have been saying, what is going on out

here? Judd was insane and awful lot in return. -- Judd wasn't saying and

all for what in return. -- and awful lot

It is not perfect on the black. The pink is in the middle but if he

plays little cannon -- a little cannon, he needs to finish level on

the spot rate. -- he needs to finish low on this bottom red.

Again, it was the same old story that if it had been slower, it would

have dropped. I keep thinking this match will spring to life but

something happens and the players just raked down, just when they seem

to be getting into a bit of a stride.

A perfect angle on the blue. Perfect to go into the cluster of six reds.

He deserves to be on one. He hit them well. I think he can just about

play the swerve and get on the black. I don't know if he will fancy

that the way things are going. If he goes in on the black, he could

win the frame. If the black was nearer the cue ball, he could get

the swerve in early. But this would be delayed swerve.

It means he is limited in how far he can move the cue ball. With the

short backswing he has, he can play those shots better than other

players. He has the chance to take the lead

for the first time in this match and that would be an unbelievable feat.

I says that this is his moment to really get himself fired into this

match. He has always been known to be

outspoken in the rest conference, I don't know whether he feels the

table is not to his liking today. A lot of kicks and bounces off the

cushion. The press gather round when he is in there, that is for sure.

He is taking these really well so far. It is the first time in quite

some time he has happy cue ball under control.

Lovely tubing. That is much better. -- lovely cueing.

And all of a sudden, we are seeing the reason why Mark Allen is such a

good actor. -- good bachelor. He has reeled off three in a row

now. You have to give in credit there, that was much better break,

apart measures break right when he needed it. Judd was unfortunate, he

went into the pack quite nicely earlier on. You can see whatever

happens, he has a slightly thick contact and it left with a very

difficult pink or lack. If you played this slow, it has hit him in

the far jaw. The parents from Mark Allen will soon. The clearance. He

is 5-4 in front, one out, with a possible two to play. it wouldn't

surprise me if that worst of form makes Judd play better. -- that

burst of form. Quite a turnaround if he could take the match because it

feels like a match that is heading towards a decider to me. We will

see. Judd will be very angry with himself and we might see some

fireworks in this frame. He might miss them, one of them, I can see

winning the frame in one visit. we have said Judd is playing better

again and this is when we will really find out if he can raise his

game when he really needs it. This will be the biggest test of his

season so far. To turn this mess around.

That is as good a safety shot as he has played. He has played a lot of

cushion safety shots today and left a lot of reds on.

The trouble is you can't leave the cue ball and baulk. He has gone

walkabout. Where is he written Mark -- where is the? The commentator is

very cosy in there. The commentary box. Not too cosy here with this

shot. He is in trouble. He has the reds at the other end of the table

which means he can't really get back to the baulk area. It would be a

really good shot if he did. It might come down, if he can cue underneath

this, he has to be careful when the reds finish. That is not bad. It is

a shame he never got tight on the ocean. the fact that he is 5-4 in

front, this could go more. He knows it as a chance to win the frame and

match. The way things have gone so far, I am not too sure he will get

this. Nearly at the jaws. As much as it

hurts Judd Trump, he needs to roll this colour in. One thing he can be

certain of is at some point during Mark's Korea, someone would do this

to him. It is a cruel game but just only has

himself to blame today. This is one he has definitely let slip. You can

seek it in his face how much it is hurting.

friend of mine in Chesterfield who has had a couple of quid on this

game will not be enjoying his cup of tea now.

It is a marvellous chance and it is a typical Mark Allen table where he

doesn't move the cue ball much and keeps tight control of it. The

chance to get 60 will be the first target.

When the print of the match is out and it says the frame schools and

the points, it doesn't say anything that starting the game with a

fluke. That bash but that is what we saw here. He was very embarrassed to

see it drop in that orchid but not so embarrassed that he didn't want

to win the frame and much from it. The key thing is the frame score.

Very close. But Mark Allen will not get a to chance to win a match than

this. He needs to notch a couple of reds

in play. He will need at least one of those reds in the pack.

He decided not to. He decided just to go for the blue. He will still

need one of those reds at this end of the table.

It is amazing when you refuse a chance to do something and then it

gets harder and harder. I think he might be able to get onto the bottom

red. There is certain and every around here where he can get to the

bottom red from. I think that is absolutely fine. He

has to go through the pack now or what is left of it. Getting onto a

colour here was bubbly the last step to him winning the match. --

probably the last step. If he plays the cannon, he could

push the pink right over the middle pocket. He didn't quite hit it

right. There is still life in this match yet unless you take the blue

but it is unlikely. Striking higher on that maybe have

-- maybe would have taken him to a better place. The colours are

dangerously very near their own spots so the claimants could take

place. -- so the clearance could take place.

A good break, that. It started with an outrageous fluke.

He may decide an outrageous fluke.

He may decide because he has to get the cue

backing to baulk. If Well now... The cue ball has

gone... He can't believe it. He walks away because this is awkward.

Judd Trump feels the game has not gone his way. This is a very

difficult opener. Yes, he is pretty gutted. I think,

if I'm honest, Mark will admit he has had luck at the important stage

but Judd Trump had a lot of chances. He had Mark Beaton but didn't finish

off he could. -- Beaton. He probably feels the world is

against him right now. That is the game of snooker. We have all felt

these things. In the first six or seven frames...

Mark Allen wasn't at the races. He is doing -- digging extremely deep.

Mark Allen will have to play much better in his next round. Both

players will be pleased to get out of the auditorium.

APPLAUSE Well, many congratulations to Mark

Allen and what a spirited fightback. It was on frame three, is

the recovery on but we did not think we -- he had it in him. He wasn't at

his best. He made a great 65 but he had some luck. He missed the red by

a mile. It must have been a knife through Judd Trump's heart. He has

won four frames on the bounce. The balls never forgive you. When you

have your chances and don't take them, snooker has a funny way of

coming back and biting you when you don't take those chances. Judd Trump

was in total control, it could have gone 5-2 up. When you get those

chances, at this level, if you don't take them and crush your opponent,

sometimes it comes back and it plays mind games. When you know you should

be in the dressing room back in the hotel room watching the highlights,

instead you are still embroiled in a tough match. It hurts you. You said

Mark had element of luck. We will ask him how he analyses the match.

Until the mid-session interval, there was only one winner. Yes,

there was only one player and Mark was a bit flat. Here he comes.

Congratulations, Mark. Brilliant performance. You really battled on.

An interesting choice of words, well done. I was very lucky. I could not

have played any worse. The fruit in the last frame was massive. He let

me off the hook so many times. I felt nervous and edgy. I never

recovered, even with the 98. I felt so bad. I was shaking. I don't know

why. It isn't as if you haven't played him before. No, nothing to do

with that. It was one of those games where I felt edgy and nervous. I

never settles. It was a comedy of errors. If you had seen me play, it

was ridiculous. I could not pot a ball on the practice table. I kept

up the way I was. You were still fighting and well involved. I don't

give up. I am a fighter. I don't know how I won the max. Judd Trump

will be kicking himself. He will look back at that last fluke but he

should have had me dead and buried. -- won the match. What were you

saying to yourself? The best I felt was in the third frame and fourth

frame and I felt good in the interval, 3-1 down. When I went back

out, I felt edgy again, I was missing ball after ball. It is hard

to put your finger on why. You know many tournaments you go out and

think you shouldn't have. You think to yourself I could have gone out in

the last round. It has been a long time coming for me. Normally I have

played well and got beaten. It is not often I get that. It is such an

important quality to have, especially for young players.

Sometimes when the game is not on, you are fighting to still believe

you can still pull it out of the fire because eventually if you keep

fighting it will come good. You never give up because you never know

what will happen. Judd Trump maybe got distracted and I dragged him

down. The hug was a celebration. Ricky Walden is next. How is your

luck? He beat me twice but I beat him in the semis so do not forget,

Ricky! Well played today. The other match are concentrating on today is

the reigning UK champion Mark Selby taking on Graeme Dott. The last time

we left the match it was 3-1. It went to 4-2. We join it in seven. I

suppose, in a way, he doesn't have to hit this to heart. -- too hard.

That was a long way away. He hasn't got away with it.

He has finished up absolutely inch perfect. Look at that.

You would think he would play a cannon into the pack. The perfect

angle on the black here. I think that shows how low in

confidence he is at the moment. Absolutely. You have hit the nail on

the head. A confident Mark Selby would have

brought all of the reds into play and thought about winning the frame.

He is concentrating on getting as many points as he can. And if he

should miss, he has not opened up the frame for his opponent. But, he

has missed a few balls so maybe he cannot -- you cannot blame him for

thinking negatively. This is a tricky little shocked...

-- shot. That is a result. I thought he would have to use the

spider. It was a result finding a gap like

that. The spider would have been much more difficult.

No reason to suspect he won't win the frame at this visit, Mark. The

way things have gone, I take nothing for granted.

He has come through a stage in the match where he has been playing

really badly but he has not been punished. He has come out the other

end. Now, time to get stronger again.

He is looking for one more red. He might have to play a little cannon

here. He wishes he played the blue now.

As long as you have a thick contact on the red, he was bound to be on

something. That never touched the side. He

wanted it to be easier than that. He is 63 points in front. 59 remaining.

Graeme Dott is snooker to. It looks, 5-2, Mark Selby. -- snooker

it. Graeme Dott will be very

disappointed going for a comfort break. Mark Selby will be happy when

he looks at the scoreboard. One frame away from the quarterfinal.

The reigning champ edging further to victory.

Nicely played and played it is confidently. The perfect angle on

the blue. A little bit straighter on the red

that he would have liked. The pink is available into the middle pocket.

It is one of those, after hitting the object ball, you are so close to

the cushion. As long as he doesn't have to do too much, and he won't if

he plays for the pink in the left middle. He is playing a deep screw.

It was the right shots to play. He has got his just deserts.

He does hit those screw back shots really well. He has nice long cue

action. He timed them really well. Yes, to be honest if it wasn't for

the movement when he is on the shot as we saw there, I mean he has the

perfect technique. Surely that movement must affect and that's what

he misses occasionally. But when he is on form, he never looks like

missing anything. I know he has had a few problems with his neck. Which

was probably brought on by that movement, a bit of tension in the

neck area. Imagine how times he bends over the table, it is not a

natural position. There was always slight movement.

I think Mark and Neil Robertson and Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, these

players have the best cue action and power, they bring the tip of the cue

back generating the power. You would not expect any mistakes

now. Those four reds run the pink, I am not sure about the availability.

A nice angle on the blue. This blue will put him 61 points in

front. A possible 75 left on the table. He is looking for a couple

more reds. He has played that absolutely inch

perfect. I can see that Graeme Dott is

starting to unbutton his waistcoat. He will be very disappointed. I

thought this could go all the way. But he just never queued like we

would expect into. APPLAUSE

Mark Selby went through a bit of a lull but in the end he got it

together and he will be quite pleased to have run out a 6-2 winner

and a place in the quarterfinal. I don't think I played fantastic.

Graeme played below par. I am sure he will be very disappointed with