06/12/2013

:00:35. > :00:39.Good afternoon. Moments after reflection here after we heard the

:00:40. > :00:45.news of the passing of Nelson Mandela, one of the most influential

:00:46. > :00:50.people of our time. Key figures in sport have paid tribute to him, who

:00:51. > :00:54.once said sport has the power to change the world, the power to

:00:55. > :01:00.inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does.

:01:01. > :01:06.Nelson Mandela love sport and it is with great sadness that we bid him

:01:07. > :01:12.farewell. Sport in the shape of snooker has brought us great joy and

:01:13. > :01:15.entertainment over the last ten days in this Championship. We have

:01:16. > :02:02.reached the semifinal stages and this is our line-up. I defending

:02:03. > :02:06.champion left it late last night to overcome Barry Hawkins and is still

:02:07. > :02:13.on track to emulate the deeds of this man. One of only two men to

:02:14. > :02:18.retain the UK Championship. What did you make of Mark Selby's performance

:02:19. > :02:23.and which aspects of his game will need sharpening up? Not since Steve

:02:24. > :02:29.Davis have we had a player who can go so far in tournaments not playing

:02:30. > :02:33.at his best. I have commentated on a couple of matches, and he has not

:02:34. > :02:42.been scoring heavily but he keeps on winning. He beat Barry Hawkins and

:02:43. > :02:52.he scraped through, at heartbreak of only 77. I have played Mark Selby,

:02:53. > :03:00.that is the sort of game he would like to bring to the table. He will

:03:01. > :03:09.play Ricky Walden tomorrow. Ricky Walden is a more attacking player.

:03:10. > :03:16.Barry Hawkins and Graeme Dott are more percentage players. We will

:03:17. > :03:23.concentrate on seeing Neil Robertson up against Stuart Bingham. How do

:03:24. > :03:31.you view this one? This is not straightforward. Robertson is

:03:32. > :03:35.playing the best snooker of anyone consistently. He is the favourite to

:03:36. > :03:45.lift the trophy. Stuart Bingham has a really good record. We are looking

:03:46. > :03:54.forward to it. You will see that the table is ready. The table features

:03:55. > :04:02.were here until the early hours. These semifinals are the best of 17

:04:03. > :04:17.frames. It is Australia against England. I complain some good

:04:18. > :04:28.snooker, at the moment it has been solid garbage. I have a good record

:04:29. > :04:35.against Robertson. I will enjoy every moment. He is a much improved

:04:36. > :04:44.player. A few years ago, he would really struggle. Now, he is

:04:45. > :04:47.competing in finals. He is one of the top eight players in the world.

:04:48. > :05:00.I will try to give it everything I have got. This season he has been

:05:01. > :05:06.made -- he has been making every other frame. He plays the game

:05:07. > :05:11.positively. That is why he is the number one. It will be tough. If I

:05:12. > :05:21.take chances, hopefully I will come out on top. He beat Ronnie, you have

:05:22. > :05:30.to make a favour -- a favourite for that. I will have to improve on my

:05:31. > :05:35.performances. It might surprise you to learn that Neil Robertson has

:05:36. > :05:41.only beaten Stuart Bingham him once. That was on their very first

:05:42. > :05:46.meeting. Stewart has had the upper hand in their most recent matches,

:05:47. > :05:51.including two wins and overall, including all the Championship

:05:52. > :05:58.league matches, seven wins out of ten. Those statistics have raised a

:05:59. > :06:05.few eyebrows. Did you know that was a records? We spoke to Stuart

:06:06. > :06:09.Bingham and he said his record, seven in three in all types of

:06:10. > :06:13.tournaments, a fantastic record, there are not many players in the

:06:14. > :06:19.world who can say they have a record like that against Neil Robertson.

:06:20. > :06:28.After yesterday's game, he came of age. He did really well to weather

:06:29. > :06:34.the storm. That is the one thing we thought about him, would he run out

:06:35. > :06:40.of steam, but he certainly did not. This will be a different test, it

:06:41. > :06:44.will not be as free-flowing. There will be more tactical play from Neil

:06:45. > :06:50.Robertson, but with Stuart Bingham's record against him, he

:06:51. > :06:57.will cope with that. Robertson has been dismantling people. Robertson

:06:58. > :07:03.has had an easy passage. He is going to come under a little bit of heat.

:07:04. > :07:09.Stuart Bingham will be confident. It will be interesting to see when he

:07:10. > :07:17.is put to the test, how good Neil Robinson -- Neil Robertson is. He is

:07:18. > :07:20.confident. Stuart Bingham, sometimes after you have had a big

:07:21. > :07:28.performance, it is difficult to pick yourself up again. He did not get a

:07:29. > :07:32.lot of sleep last night. Obviously he was thinking about the match and

:07:33. > :07:38.the euphoria of beating Ronnie O Sullivan. This is another thing that

:07:39. > :07:46.is brought out in these tournaments, hopefully both players can produce

:07:47. > :07:51.their best game. Over to Rob Walker. There is a real buzz around this

:07:52. > :07:58.place when we get down to the one tables set up, because it is

:07:59. > :08:03.semi-final time here. Four of the very best players in the world left

:08:04. > :08:07.in this most prestigious of tournaments and two of them are set

:08:08. > :08:11.to entertain us in fine style. Please welcome first of all, a

:08:12. > :08:14.player making his first appearance in a world or UK semifinal, he

:08:15. > :08:21.knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan yesterday, his wife has been

:08:22. > :08:28.delighted with his progress and she has phoned to ask for a fancy watch

:08:29. > :08:29.for Christmas if he makes the final, the pressure is on for Stuart

:08:30. > :08:51.Bingham! His opponent, bidding for his first

:08:52. > :08:58.appearance in the UK Championship final, what a story, what a journey

:08:59. > :09:03.he has been on in his ten years here from Australia. Knocking out Stephen

:09:04. > :09:06.Maguire yesterday, can you hear the thunder from down under, Neil

:09:07. > :09:27.Robertson! APPLAUSE.

:09:28. > :09:35.Ladies and gentlemen, would you all now please be upstanding and join us

:09:36. > :09:38.in a minute's silence, in memory of the great man whose spirit and

:09:39. > :09:42.humility change the face of a nation, inspired a continent and let

:09:43. > :09:47.the rest of the world staring in wonder at the power of his words and

:09:48. > :10:55.his vision, we remember Nelson Mandela. Thank you. A great man

:10:56. > :11:02.remembered and a great semifinal in prospect. A poignant start to our

:11:03. > :11:03.afternoon. We are poised for the opening eight frames of this

:11:04. > :11:27.semifinal. These great players, and I would

:11:28. > :11:32.say, form wise, to me, they have produced the best snooker in this

:11:33. > :11:39.tournament so far. I am really looking forward to this match. Neil

:11:40. > :11:43.Robertson, the world number one against Stuart Bingham who must be

:11:44. > :11:50.on top of the world, particularly after that great victory over Ronnie

:11:51. > :11:55.O Sullivan yesterday. He must be feeling on top of the world. The

:11:56. > :12:30.first frame. Best of 17. Looks like a decent break. A good

:12:31. > :12:34.break from Stewart. Neil Robertson is renowned for his long potting. It

:12:35. > :12:42.puts a lot of pressure on your safety. Stuart will be pleased that

:12:43. > :13:07.he has not left a chance. There are a few loose reds. He will have to be

:13:08. > :13:18.a little bit careful. Foul and a miss. Stuart Bingham, four.

:13:19. > :13:23.Stuart had a look, there was no free ball. If there had have been a free

:13:24. > :13:37.ball, he would have taken it. It is a two cushion escape. He will

:13:38. > :14:02.try to clip that Roush. -- red. If it runs a little bit, this could

:14:03. > :14:03.be a free ball. It is definitely worth taking this brown on into the

:14:04. > :14:11.centre. He can possibly just stunned that

:14:12. > :14:23.and take the brown again and possibly the green. --

:14:24. > :14:34.a lot of players might have just stun it into the middle. When people

:14:35. > :14:40.ask you what is the highest possible break, this is an incident, if you

:14:41. > :14:54.get a free ball, that brown counts as a red. If he pots the blue, and

:14:55. > :15:00.there are still 147 points left on the table, that is how you beat the

:15:01. > :15:16.maximum. It is the equivalent of having 15 reds on the table.

:15:17. > :15:25.Just checking to see if that red just above the black is available.

:15:26. > :15:32.He has got enough angle on the blue and it doors go, -- if it does go,

:15:33. > :15:33.he would love to be on it. He would have the black in both corner

:15:34. > :16:37.pockets. A nice angle now if he chooses to go

:16:38. > :16:44.into the pack, just have to miss that first red directly above the

:16:45. > :16:46.cue ball. He has played a little cannon. He could have played that

:16:47. > :17:03.with a deep screw. It is OK. Even though these matches are the

:17:04. > :17:21.best of 17, the first to nine, that is the main reason he is not going

:17:22. > :17:29.into a little bit more pace. It seems as though he did not want to

:17:30. > :17:33.take any undue risk. If you get that nice angle and you turn it down,

:17:34. > :17:36.will you get a better chance? He has not got a better angle here on the

:17:37. > :17:48.black to open anything up. Obviously red that will pass the

:17:49. > :17:54.cluster and he has that nicely. He has to look for a good angle on the

:17:55. > :18:00.black here. He has had a quick look at the pink on the left centre,

:18:01. > :18:09.because that would follow up within easy red that is right the pink. --

:18:10. > :18:22.with an easy red. He has got on the black and has a nice angle now. He

:18:23. > :18:34.has to be careful. If he stuns it, this could go wrong. He has taken

:18:35. > :18:35.the loose reds, that is a couple of times he has refused to go into that

:18:36. > :19:17.bunch. Going back up for the blue. A loose

:19:18. > :19:22.red he can play on here, perhaps he can nudge a few reds open if he gets

:19:23. > :19:27.the right angle. He will not want to be too straight. He will need a good

:19:28. > :19:40.angle on the colour to bring other balls into play. He could try to get

:19:41. > :19:44.the pink into the centre and leave a half-ball on the pink in the centre

:19:45. > :19:52.or try and leave the cue ball high on the black and use the top cushion

:19:53. > :19:55.to go into the bunch of reds. There is the possibility of screwing back

:19:56. > :20:00.and take the pink into the same pocket as the red.

:20:01. > :20:34.He is on a red. Fortunately he has just tied the black up slightly. He

:20:35. > :20:38.thought the pink would have spun off its spot. He breathed a sigh of

:20:39. > :20:54.relief. The rectory spotted the pink. -- referee.

:20:55. > :21:02.I have never seen a 16 red clearance. The do not think so. -- I

:21:03. > :21:36.do not think so. Just not the right angle on the

:21:37. > :21:42.pink, once the black was tied up, it was always a struggle. He just needs

:21:43. > :21:50.the pink now. Neil Robertson will need a snooker. This pink will put

:21:51. > :21:53.him 79 points in front. There will be 75 remaining.

:21:54. > :22:20.He could not hit the reds. Free ball. It has all been Stuart

:22:21. > :22:26.Bingham. The highest break of the tournament so far is 142. As the

:22:27. > :22:35.frame is safe, is it worth trying to bring the black interplay. He has

:22:36. > :22:51.got the frame sewn up. -- in to play. It is a little bit risky.

:22:52. > :23:02.He is trying to work it out. He knows the highest break is 142.

:23:03. > :23:06.Maybe worth playing a little cannon on the red, knocking it away from

:23:07. > :23:30.the black. That is unlucky. He is trying to

:23:31. > :23:38.nudge it away. Is there a gap through these two reds? There is!

:23:39. > :23:49.There is! Has he hit it hard enough? What a pity. Stuart Bingham has won

:23:50. > :23:56.the frame in one visit. Neil Robertson will not think much of his

:23:57. > :23:58.chances of winning the frame. He is AT behind and there is only 67

:23:59. > :24:22.remaining. -- 80. You do not blame Neil Robertson for

:24:23. > :24:59.wanting to play on, trying to get the pace of the table.

:25:00. > :25:13.APPLAUSE. Trademark long pot they there from

:25:14. > :25:42.Neill. Right in the middle of the pocket.

:25:43. > :25:53.He is just using this for a bit of practice. Four snooker is needed.

:25:54. > :26:04.That is a tall order against anyone. -- snookers.

:26:05. > :26:13.The results of the possibility of a free ball. -- there is also.

:26:14. > :26:28.If he pots and other two reds and two blacks, there is a chance.

:26:29. > :26:36.Anything is possible. It is a very tall order.

:26:37. > :26:41.He has gone about these as if he wants to play on, as if he still has

:26:42. > :27:11.ambitions of winning this frame. I think the key of this shot, as

:27:12. > :27:19.well as getting the cue ball, is to pot the black on the next shot. Get

:27:20. > :27:22.the cue ball as tight to the pink as possible and the red as close to a

:27:23. > :27:39.ball colour as possible. It would be amazing if he did manage

:27:40. > :27:46.to get the free ball. Could it finish with one? He should have been

:27:47. > :27:57.straight on the red, he made S of that. -- he made a mess of that.

:27:58. > :28:27.I think the problem here is he cannot get any distance. He will

:28:28. > :28:33.have to lie on the pink here. APPLAUSE.

:28:34. > :28:44.He has got a snooker, but not the one he would have hoped for. He has

:28:45. > :28:53.to be a little bit careful. He will have to play on the right-hand

:28:54. > :29:03.side, check it of the cushion. -- off the cushion. It should not be a

:29:04. > :29:13.problem. It just shows you. He needed a bit more right-hand side on

:29:14. > :29:24.that. He just skimmed past it. It will give Neil Roberts and

:29:25. > :29:33.encouragement. -- Neil Robertson. He could win this. What a turnaround

:29:34. > :29:38.that would be. This is a pretty good line, but where is the red going?

:29:39. > :29:44.The one thing when you are playing those shots, you have to get the

:29:45. > :29:58.object ball safe. If Stuart comes in, it is the end of the frame. Long

:29:59. > :30:17.way away. Will the Green come to his rescue?

:30:18. > :30:35.A good line, a bit short of pace though.

:30:36. > :30:52.He could just try to stun the cue ball behind the yellow.

:30:53. > :31:00.If he stuns the red into the Brian, it stops the red coming up and down

:31:01. > :31:16.the table. He looks to be coming thing of the

:31:17. > :31:30.red. The stunt would be the normal choice.

:31:31. > :31:39.He will wish he had played snooker behind the yellow, now. Yes, so easy

:31:40. > :31:42.to hit this red, not sure why he didn't try to roll the cue ball into

:31:43. > :32:06.the brown or blue there. A chance of May be sent red up or

:32:07. > :32:19.down the table and the cue ball on black.

:32:20. > :32:46.He may have to go for the pink here. He's just looking at the scoreboard.

:32:47. > :33:16.That is enough. Stuart Bingen in first. Good break of 72, wins the

:33:17. > :33:27.first frame. HAZEL IRVINE: We had a 16 reds situation there. Very

:33:28. > :33:31.unusual. Yes. Never been seen before, especially in a semifinal.

:33:32. > :33:46.Still very impressive by Stuart. What is the highest you have ever

:33:47. > :33:52.made officially? 149. When did you do that? I was practising with eight

:33:53. > :33:58.pro 80 years ago. The chance for 150 that dealt with but went for an easy

:33:59. > :34:04.positional shot with the pink rather than the black. I note most players

:34:05. > :34:12.have had a 147 in practice, but these things fairly commonplace in

:34:13. > :34:17.even the artist rooms? Not really. I remember a plain happy a read only

:34:18. > :34:26.cushion that he thought he was going to get 4151. Unfortunately he missed

:34:27. > :34:42.the last red. I have had consecutive ones, though.

:34:43. > :35:00.COMMENTATOR: I had two 147s in a row, once. Did you? Yes. They were

:35:01. > :35:08.buses, though. The maximum is 155 if you get the free ball.

:35:09. > :35:13.I had a chance on one wins. I was on the final black. And somebody woke

:35:14. > :35:28.me up. He is not a slow player, Neil

:35:29. > :35:50.Robertson, by any means. But run it makes his mind up very

:35:51. > :35:52.fast, what shot he's going to take. -- but Ronnie O'Sullivan makes his

:35:53. > :36:37.mind up very fast. He has got too much side on that.

:36:38. > :36:45.Yes, he could not have come worse. OK, the pot is easy enough, but how

:36:46. > :36:52.do you get the power? He hit the read a bit wide. If he had hit it in

:36:53. > :36:54.the middle of the pocket may be he would have controlled the cue ball a

:36:55. > :37:08.little better. Is it a three ball plant on the

:37:09. > :37:15.extreme right? It could be. Trying to get the canon of the yellow. Good

:37:16. > :37:23.effort. He might play this free ball plant. A good effort. Just not

:37:24. > :37:30.enough arc on the cue ball. Plenty of cue power. He can play this free

:37:31. > :37:50.ball plant. It is not far away. He did not play that very well. The

:37:51. > :37:54.read he has knocked towards the corner is covered by the blue. He

:37:55. > :38:34.will be disappointed he did not make more than that.

:38:35. > :38:41.Catching the bump is not what he wanted. So here is a chance for

:38:42. > :38:55.Stuart Bingham. It is not too bad. The pink is in

:38:56. > :39:18.the left centre. The only problem with this pot is

:39:19. > :39:22.you have to be careful because you are going into another red and he

:39:23. > :39:26.needs a little bit of pace to get away on to the next red and into the

:39:27. > :39:33.left-hand corner pocket. It is a similar shot to this forced

:39:34. > :40:20.red. Oh, he has missed it again. He will

:40:21. > :41:16.be disappointed with that. It was straightforward for Stuart Bingen.

:41:17. > :41:29.That was always a danger, playing of the canon. If you just stuck to a

:41:30. > :41:35.read you would be on the pink. -- a red.

:41:36. > :41:40.That was all brought about because he did not get the canon on the red

:41:41. > :42:29.that you mentioned earlier, Ken. Neal is a little bit reluctant to

:42:30. > :42:32.play after the pack of rents just in case he may not something over this

:42:33. > :44:00.left-hand corner pocket. You can see the disappointment on

:44:01. > :44:02.his face. He was a long way with that red. He did not even get in the

:44:03. > :44:16.jaws of the pocket. red. He had a nice angle. He could

:44:17. > :45:47.have made the pot easier. Well, that was a nice little chart.

:45:48. > :46:20.He judged it perfectly. It is imperative for Stuart that he

:46:21. > :46:22.makes the most of these type of chances, keep the pressure on Neil

:46:23. > :46:45.Robertson. He did not play the canon this time.

:46:46. > :47:58.There were enough open reds. Considering he had nice, close

:47:59. > :48:28.control of the cue ball, quite a poor positional shot on the pink.

:48:29. > :48:36.Not quite sure with the red next to the black whether he can get the red

:48:37. > :48:46.away and get the cue ball as tight to the black as possible.

:48:47. > :48:54.That is pretty good. Excellent safety shot.

:48:55. > :49:14.APPLAUSE Yes, Ken, it is an absolute cracker.

:49:15. > :49:24.Because the reds loose, he has two get the line and length perfect.

:49:25. > :49:41.He was sizing up initially to try to get a drop on the red beside the

:49:42. > :49:43.lack that he thought that was too dangerous. But that was perfect. He

:49:44. > :50:15.could not have hit that better. Stuart does not want to bring the

:50:16. > :50:21.black into play. The black isn't tied up is a little bit of

:50:22. > :50:35.protection. -- the black being tied up. He needs a good safety against a

:50:36. > :50:52.potter. -- a potter of the class of Neil Robertson.

:50:53. > :50:58.It was pacey. It was a good enough line. He had to play it with that

:50:59. > :51:31.bit of extra pace. It is not safe. Here is a chance for

:51:32. > :51:51.Stuart. Red to the left corner. Could win the frame.

:51:52. > :52:04.He is not even getting close at the moment, and where is the red going

:52:05. > :52:14.to go? Oh! Well, he didn't deserve it but sometimes this game is not

:52:15. > :52:23.about what you deserve. Once again, quite a long way away with the pot.

:52:24. > :52:29.That is normally one of Stuart's strengths.

:52:30. > :52:38.Because he was so far away with the pot, that is why the red ran loose.

:52:39. > :53:03.And it looked as if it was going to drop.

:53:04. > :53:06.Some people would consider Neil Robertson favourite now for the

:53:07. > :53:17.frame. He has virtually come through all

:53:18. > :53:26.his matches without any scrapes or bumps.

:53:27. > :53:53.The situation of the reds, I cannot see anything difficult on the table.

:53:54. > :53:57.He will try to play on the red that is closest to the cue ball when he

:53:58. > :54:44.plays this black. When he parts these red, the other

:54:45. > :55:48.red will be released into the opposite corner pocket.

:55:49. > :55:54.I have always felt that when you are clearing the colours, yellow is

:55:55. > :55:57.always the easier positional shot, to the left-hand side. And like the

:55:58. > :56:18.green. He has controlled it nicely on the

:56:19. > :56:33.Brown. So Stuart Bingham, a little bit to

:56:34. > :56:59.think about with his long pot. It just shows you the benefit of

:57:00. > :57:10.Neil Robertson in that first frame, having a bit of table time.

:57:11. > :57:20.Now we are all square. One apiece. HAZEL IRVINE: A good response from

:57:21. > :57:27.Neil Irvine against a player that he has just never really got to grips

:57:28. > :57:33.with. Stuart Bingham has held all of the aces on most of their meetings.

:57:34. > :57:36.It is funny how things like that work-out. You have certain players

:57:37. > :57:47.come along who you just do not play against. The words Mark Johnston

:57:48. > :57:57.Allen may go some way to doing it. He has been waiting all day to say

:57:58. > :58:05.that! Mark Johnston Allen was my bogeyman. Why is that? The first one

:58:06. > :58:12.I lost 5-0 and after that, I do not know. I remember him going out to

:58:13. > :58:16.play in the third time. I said, if he beats you today, he's going to

:58:17. > :58:25.take you home and put you on the mantelpiece excavation mark the

:58:26. > :58:29.point remains, however... I will take one on the chin because he beat

:58:30. > :58:34.me in the quarterfinals. The only one who beat him is Jimmy. The point

:58:35. > :58:39.is that clearly there are players that one struggles to play against.

:58:40. > :58:44.Why do you think it is in Stuart's case? What style does he have that

:58:45. > :58:48.proves so problematic for Neil? Neil seems the sort of character that

:58:49. > :58:53.would not get into that sort of thing. He seems to be oblivious to

:58:54. > :58:59.people's records. It surprises me. But they play each other so many

:59:00. > :59:02.times, these players, nowadays. I used to think it was very important

:59:03. > :59:10.the first time you play somebody, I used to be conscious not to be lost

:59:11. > :59:15.very early on. If that happens, he thinks, I can beat him. The very

:59:16. > :59:19.first time you play him, I used to think it was important to play well

:59:20. > :59:27.and so he did not get it in his head that he could beat you. In terms of

:59:28. > :59:31.the way Stuart has played so far, we talked about how he has knocked out

:59:32. > :59:37.Ronnie O'Sullivan and the fear factor of Ronnie O'Sullivan. I

:59:38. > :59:40.looked at it last night. He was beaten 13-4 at the world

:59:41. > :59:45.Championship by Ronnie O'Sullivan, and suddenly he has the confidence.

:59:46. > :59:50.There was one session in the match that was the best but Ronnie has

:59:51. > :59:56.played in the entire Championship. O'Sullivan was brilliant. But

:59:57. > :59:59.yesterday, he stood up to him. From 4-1 in front, Ronnie stood up to him

:00:00. > :00:33.and he was brilliant. An interesting conversation between

:00:34. > :00:39.the two lads. Neil Robertson will be settled into the match now. Stuart

:00:40. > :00:44.will be a little bit disturbed, he had a good chance in the middle of

:00:45. > :00:55.that frame to win it. He could have taken the lead. That is better. That

:00:56. > :00:59.is what we have come to expect from Stuart. That will make him feel a

:01:00. > :01:11.lot better. It would have been a bit

:01:12. > :01:18.disconcerting couple of Mrs, particularly the couple of long ones

:01:19. > :01:27.-- misses. You must keep your eye on the ball. Concentrate on getting the

:01:28. > :01:37.cue ball in and getting more reds into play. The old problem, he was

:01:38. > :01:43.playing it on the right-hand side. If you saw were the green went on,

:01:44. > :01:45.the right-hand side pushes the green in. He was lucky to get away with

:01:46. > :02:01.it. Just watch the green, he has put the

:02:02. > :02:07.right-hand side on the cue ball. He needed that to widen the angle.

:02:08. > :02:11.Having gone into the reds, he was lucky not to leave anything for his

:02:12. > :02:26.opponent. He should not have missed the green.

:02:27. > :02:37.He has left reds to either corner pocket. It is not bad, but it is not

:02:38. > :03:28.tight against the ball cushion which you need to be.

:03:29. > :04:02.Maybe the fact that he was running into reds, it makes the part so much

:04:03. > :04:09.more difficult. -- pot. If there were no reds, he would go for that

:04:10. > :04:11.pot, without even thinking about it. Running into other reds makes the

:04:12. > :04:39.pot so much more difficult. Where is the cue ball going? He had

:04:40. > :04:54.better tiptoe back to his chair! Is there no gravity here?

:04:55. > :05:03.It is very awkward cueing as you can imagine. He will have to put his

:05:04. > :05:08.fingertips on the leather of the pocket to get any sort of distance

:05:09. > :05:50.between his bridge hand and the cue ball. It makes it very awkward.

:05:51. > :07:05.It nearly went in off the ball. It makes it very awkward.

:07:06. > :07:19.He should have moved the red. It was such a simple shot. He obviously

:07:20. > :07:32.thought the black went back on its spot. That is surprising.

:07:33. > :07:41.It is obvious, but it is easy for us to say now. Surely if the black was

:07:42. > :07:48.not going to go to the spot, he would play a soft run to remove that

:07:49. > :07:59.bread. He could have played it slowly and nudged the red -- the

:08:00. > :08:05.red. The pink is in the way if he moves on the blue.

:08:06. > :08:27.The problem is, if he pots the red and gets on the pink, the pink will

:08:28. > :08:33.go on the green spot. He was going to be high on the blue and he

:08:34. > :08:38.finished up on the brown. He has not got good close control of his cue

:08:39. > :08:47.ball. Not yet. There are plenty of reds in the open. He needs one good

:08:48. > :08:53.positional shot. Ideally, he would like to get on the red which is on

:08:54. > :09:01.the black spot. When he tried to get on it, he needs big kiss on the

:09:02. > :09:08.red. That is not too bad. -- he needs their case.

:09:09. > :09:56.The chance has presented itself to win the frame from this position. He

:09:57. > :10:02.is asking the referee to clean the cue ball. That has given him some

:10:03. > :10:09.thinking time. I do not know whether he will risk playing for the pink or

:10:10. > :10:15.go for the blue. Back up for the blue, it is OK as long as you can

:10:16. > :10:23.get an nice angle on the blue. No need to play cannons. There are

:10:24. > :10:28.loose reds he can play on. He will not risk. When you play at Cannon,

:10:29. > :10:33.you take a slight risk that you can run out of Opposition. Why take a

:10:34. > :12:00.risk when there are reds there? He can pot the pink and leave the

:12:01. > :12:17.cue ball close. That is OK. When he removed this red, he left the pink

:12:18. > :12:28.open to both pockets. The photographer obviously has his flash

:12:29. > :12:33.on. That just shows you the experience of Stuart now, with a bit

:12:34. > :12:48.of time, he would have missed the red, and said that seller put him

:12:49. > :12:55.off. -- fellow. He is the complete player and it is all down to belief.

:12:56. > :13:04.From the moment he came on the scene, the first time I saw him, he

:13:05. > :13:10.missed a pink for the 147. I thought he had a great future. It is just

:13:11. > :13:14.believing you can do it against the top players. For a time, he did not

:13:15. > :13:49.have that belief, but he has it now. An excellent break, but he had to

:13:50. > :13:54.work for it. He is an excellent break builder. He has made a 140 73

:13:55. > :14:25.times in his career. -- 147. I think winning his first tournament

:14:26. > :14:31.in Australia a couple of years ago, I think that gave him the confidence

:14:32. > :15:01.to really produce the goods at top level and against the top players.

:15:02. > :15:10.We have already had 77 century breaks in this tournament. Could

:15:11. > :15:18.this be the 78th and Stuart's fourth?

:15:19. > :15:36.Playing for the pink, he will need the yellow and green for the 100.

:15:37. > :15:48.Nicely played to! -- nicely played! He took it beautifully. Well

:15:49. > :16:06.played! That puts down a marker. Always puts down a marker to your

:16:07. > :16:10.opponent that if you make one mistake, I am in that type of form

:16:11. > :16:12.that will keep you in your seat for the rest of the frame.

:16:13. > :16:43.APPLAUSE. Just saying a few little exhibition

:16:44. > :16:46.shots. -- playing a few. When he did get in, it was perfection. He is

:16:47. > :16:57.happy, he leads to-1. There was the one where he missed

:16:58. > :17:01.the green, played the cannon and got away with that and then he played as

:17:02. > :17:08.safety shot and it looked as though the cue ball would drop in the

:17:09. > :17:16.pocket. Here it is. It would have dropped. It looked like it was going

:17:17. > :17:26.in. It put Neil Robertson in a difficult position. A fantastic

:17:27. > :17:31.break. It all came about when he played the brown in around the

:17:32. > :17:43.ankles and got a lovely kiss on the red. Once the blackspot was open, he

:17:44. > :17:48.could win -- angles. How that cue ball did not drop them, I do not

:17:49. > :17:53.know. That red would have been there for Neil to play. He had a difficult

:17:54. > :18:14.safety and did not get it safe and sat down for the rest of the frame.

:18:15. > :18:27.There will be an mid session interval after this frame. Neil

:18:28. > :18:31.Robertson would like to stay close. We will play eight frames in this

:18:32. > :18:40.first session and the remaining frames, possible nine, in the second

:18:41. > :18:44.session this evening. This is why the UK Championship is rated second

:18:45. > :19:02.only to the world, it is the amount of frames you play.

:19:03. > :19:07.It was an excellent length, but that was the possibility of the red being

:19:08. > :19:18.pottable, but it is covered. A beautiful shot. Perhaps a fraction

:19:19. > :19:29.short of pace. Caught the red nicely, but you do

:19:30. > :19:36.not want to leave Neil Robertson the chance of a pot at this stage.

:19:37. > :19:51.He is refusing it. That does surprise me.

:19:52. > :20:01.Do you think Neil Robertson has a better chance occurs he thinks his

:20:02. > :20:06.tactical game is better? Diet -- occurs.

:20:07. > :20:18.That was a fluke! It was not intended. Look at the position. I am

:20:19. > :20:28.surprised that Neil turned that red down. He had no intention of trying

:20:29. > :20:42.to cut that red in, but he will certainly take it. Not the best

:20:43. > :20:50.positional shot. He had the choice of two reds to play on. He might

:20:51. > :20:55.still play this red. He will be running into other balls, he can

:20:56. > :21:01.screw back up the table. Do not take your eyes off the pot, that is the

:21:02. > :21:12.most important thing. He will not want to miss this red. He will be

:21:13. > :21:18.using the other reds and pink to get back. Perfect! He is on the black

:21:19. > :21:44.perfectly. Another great opportunity for Stuart

:21:45. > :21:45.Bingham. I wonder if Neil Robertson the reflecting on the shot he turned

:21:46. > :22:03.down. -- will be reflecting. From Stuart's point of view, he

:22:04. > :22:12.would have thought Neil would have a go. That would have given him

:22:13. > :22:17.confidence. You can see big disappointment on Stuart's face when

:22:18. > :22:24.he left the cue ball on their baulk line. He thought he had left him a

:22:25. > :22:28.chance. For Neil to refuse it, that is a bonus in itself. -- the baulk

:22:29. > :22:43.line. The head to head is in favour of

:22:44. > :22:50.Stuart Bingham. He could have screwed back for the blue. It was a

:22:51. > :23:00.decent safety, but if you get a chance to score, why would you

:23:01. > :23:06.refuse it? You have to play your natural game. The only way you will

:23:07. > :23:10.win these matches is to play at your best. To play your best, you have to

:23:11. > :23:19.give yourself a chance. It can all get a little bit

:23:20. > :23:31.negative, but it surprises me so early in the match.

:23:32. > :23:40.That has worked out absolutely inch perfect. Just below centre.

:23:41. > :23:50.They kiss on the red on the right-hand side just leaves the cue

:23:51. > :23:51.ball perfectly -- the case. Stuart will be disappointed if he does not

:23:52. > :24:01.win the frame. There is sure pot success, 94 each.

:24:02. > :24:17.-- there is your pot success. I think that mid-60s is OK for a

:24:18. > :24:45.long pots. Safety is a bit low. The opening red that Stuart Bingham

:24:46. > :25:04.got was a fluke. That was a bad safety. That was not his best shot.

:25:05. > :25:14.He may have to use the side of the reds to negotiate his next pot after

:25:15. > :25:26.this red. He may have to use the side. This could go wrong. He has

:25:27. > :25:34.already parted an excellent red at the start of this frame. -- potted.

:25:35. > :25:44.It could go wrong and it has gone wrong. It was the previous shot, it

:25:45. > :25:49.was a straightforward blue to red. He did not get on that red as he

:25:50. > :26:04.would have liked. A report for Neil Robertson. -- a reprieve.

:26:05. > :26:13.He could possibly put the green on the right side, on the cushion, try

:26:14. > :26:18.and put it in a safe place. Neil Robertson is left-handed, anything

:26:19. > :26:23.on the right-hand side of the table, is not that difficult for a

:26:24. > :26:35.left-hander. Stuart Bingham will want to see the best possible place

:26:36. > :26:40.to put the cue ball. If you could put the brown on the left-hand side

:26:41. > :26:51.of the table, that would be better. -- if he could put the brown.

:26:52. > :27:14.He will be disappointed if he does not run the frame. He has played a

:27:15. > :27:48.good safety. -- win the frame. It is not a certainty to get this safe.

:27:49. > :28:01.Where is the cue ball going? Foul, Stuart Bingham. If it had stayed in

:28:02. > :28:10.the jaws it may have been saved, but now the chance of a long pot for

:28:11. > :28:14.Stuart. There is judgement there for Neal and if he knocks that end,

:28:15. > :28:23.automatically on the black and should win the frame -- Neil.

:28:24. > :28:31.Close! Not quite there and a chance now for Stuart Bingham... Sorry,

:28:32. > :29:15.Neil Robertson to punish Stuart. He had to take it on.

:29:16. > :30:52.He makes these shots look so easy, but you have to be so accurate.

:30:53. > :31:02.This one open red next to the brown. I do not think he will be able to

:31:03. > :31:20.win the frame. Not that this visit, without needing the awkward blue.

:31:21. > :31:27.Will he take a chance of trying to bring the blue into play here? It

:31:28. > :31:35.would be a bit risky. It could come of two cushions with the red.

:31:36. > :31:59.He avoided that. The last of the easy reds.

:32:00. > :32:05.23 points behind, now. 43 remaining. He has just got an angle on this

:32:06. > :32:23.thread. -- this red. As I say, they make them look so

:32:24. > :32:29.easy but you have got to be spot on. He just caught the left-hand jaw

:32:30. > :32:40.as we look. They never go in when they do that.

:32:41. > :32:50.I think he has just come far enough up the table.

:32:51. > :33:00.He could have played that a bit better.

:33:01. > :33:04.You would have thought something a bit more attacking than that. He has

:33:05. > :34:07.put Neil in no trouble. He tried to note that red but he

:34:08. > :34:23.just caught it a little bit too thin.

:34:24. > :34:27.Cleverly bringing the other brought into play. Perfect on the pink. --

:34:28. > :34:38.the other red. The only hurdle now is the blue. The

:34:39. > :35:01.only thing that could stop him from winning this frame.

:35:02. > :35:08.I know it is a strange thing to say but if the room was on its own spot,

:35:09. > :35:13.he would feel more confident about getting on the blue. But because it

:35:14. > :35:15.is on a different spot, it is a slightly different table from when

:35:16. > :35:24.you normally practice clearing up. The key will be to get a good angle

:35:25. > :35:52.on the problem, and get on the blue. Will he leave an angle on the green

:35:53. > :36:07.here? It is a perfect angle on the green.

:36:08. > :36:15.He could stun onto the cushion and just bring the blue into the open if

:36:16. > :36:20.he wishes. He has played it well. The only trouble with that was the

:36:21. > :36:25.cue ball was going to stay relatively close to the cushion. But

:36:26. > :37:04.he does not have to do much with the cue ball.

:37:05. > :37:10.Stuart Bingham had the chance to take an advantage into the

:37:11. > :37:16.mid-session interval, but Neil Robertson will be pleased with the

:37:17. > :37:19.outcome, all square, two apiece. And Stuart Bingham might feel he

:37:20. > :37:23.missed a trick in that frame with maybe a choice of shot that might

:37:24. > :37:26.have bought him a bit of time early on, John? Yes. We are going to show

:37:27. > :37:34.you the table. He has a 50 point lead. You have got

:37:35. > :37:41.to put the brown on the side cushion. Neil Robertson is

:37:42. > :37:47.left-handed and he is not like Ronnie O'Sullivan and can play

:37:48. > :37:53.right-handed. He has clicked the green. Later on in that break, he

:37:54. > :37:58.has come off the green and cleared the blueprint and cleared up. The

:37:59. > :38:02.row itself... It stops the counter clearance.

:38:03. > :38:09.As you said when we were watching, it is a little old-fashioned but he

:38:10. > :38:19.would have done it. It is as old as the hills but I would have done it?

:38:20. > :38:23.Stephen? You lost me at hello! I had to do it against him all the time.

:38:24. > :38:29.You had to stop him clearing up. I was always looking for that shot.

:38:30. > :38:35.What is your reading of the situation? Over a 17 friend match,

:38:36. > :38:38.it sometimes can be about those frames rather than the ones where

:38:39. > :38:44.you get centuries, the once you shouldn't have one. Those frames

:38:45. > :38:49.could be important. Will Stuart be stewing on that? I do not think so.

:38:50. > :38:54.He did not think of the shot anyway. He has been by far the

:38:55. > :38:58.better player. So he will be happy with 2-2. It does not seem that long

:38:59. > :39:04.ago that a certain Stephen Hendry was a bit of a teenage prodigy.

:39:05. > :39:09.Actually, I am lying, it was a very long time ago! But since then there

:39:10. > :39:16.have been lots of players cueing up to be the next big thing in

:39:17. > :39:25.snooker. How about this? This young man is only five years of age. He

:39:26. > :39:30.has been from -- he is from Gateshead and he goes by the name of

:39:31. > :39:38.Bo Thirsk. Young players are the future of this game. Many players

:39:39. > :39:45.developed a gift at a very young age and even at the UK Championship here

:39:46. > :39:50.in York, we witnessed 15-year-old Shane Castle push the reigning

:39:51. > :40:00.champion all the way. But could this young man, five-year-old Bo Thirsk,

:40:01. > :40:04.be the next big thing? He had a little table when he was two and

:40:05. > :40:09.within a couple of weeks, you could see he had cueing action and ever

:40:10. > :40:14.since then it has got better and better. As soon as he was tall

:40:15. > :40:15.enough, we put him on a snooker table, and ever since then he has

:40:16. > :40:33.got better and better. His dad came in the club and he sent

:40:34. > :40:39.me some clips of YouTube. I was really impressed with what I saw. I

:40:40. > :40:49.said, bring him up to the club and we will have a look at what we can

:40:50. > :40:59.do with him. I do it after school. And on the weekend. Two times a

:41:00. > :41:05.week. At his age, I just told his dad to get induced to hitting balls

:41:06. > :41:13.for another couple of years. Then he can start developing. But it is in

:41:14. > :41:19.his hands. We are nothing his fringe and loving his style! Beau Thirsk,

:41:20. > :41:23.you heard it here first. He has already had an exhibition matches

:41:24. > :41:26.against Mark Williams, Steve Maguire and even Davis and he's looking

:41:27. > :41:34.forward to playing Jimmy White early next year. Extraordinary! I was with

:41:35. > :41:39.a three-year-old Chinese boy giving a similar thing. It is incredible.

:41:40. > :41:43.You cannot believe how they can get the cue action going. Amazing.

:41:44. > :41:49.Amazing that he has the mechanics so young, but when do you want to know

:41:50. > :41:54.if you have the makings of a champion? Well, you can't, really.

:41:55. > :42:00.If you have a natural ability that is the first thing. He will need a

:42:01. > :42:05.couple of years just to grow for his cue action. Junior events, there are

:42:06. > :42:09.so many things in the recipe, but he has the natural talent and that is

:42:10. > :42:14.the start. But the enjoyment is surely the key thing at the moment?

:42:15. > :42:23.Yes, don't teach in anything, just let him enjoy playing sleeper. 20 we

:42:24. > :42:33.first see you playing? At 12 I got a table for Christmas. Same thing for

:42:34. > :42:38.me, 12. I started playing and then that was it, I was hooked. You might

:42:39. > :42:43.be seen Beau Thirsk in a UK semifinal in years to come. We will

:42:44. > :42:45.have a quick look now at the other semifinal and it features Mark

:42:46. > :42:52.Selby, the defending champion, who is very glad today of a day off, I

:42:53. > :43:01.am sure. But as I speak, I notice he is packed in the background here. He

:43:02. > :43:05.is up against Ricky Walden, defending champion. It is going to

:43:06. > :43:14.be an interesting match. Let's get their views.

:43:15. > :43:21.I am happy that I am still in the tournament so I have to take a lots

:43:22. > :43:28.of positives from that. Saturday is another day. It will be my second

:43:29. > :43:34.semifinal. I lost to mark in that one so hopefully this time I can get

:43:35. > :43:40.to the final. But these are the times that you want to cherish. Me

:43:41. > :43:45.and Mark have known each other for a long time, since university. He

:43:46. > :43:50.improved so much when he came on the circuit. He is in the number one

:43:51. > :43:58.spot and is an ultimate pro. He is a fantastic player. He has a great

:43:59. > :44:02.all-round game. He scores very well, very heavy and quickly. He does not

:44:03. > :44:08.have that many weaknesses. It will be a tough match. You are putting

:44:09. > :44:13.your day's practice in and kicking around, waiting for your match, and

:44:14. > :44:22.you have two plates top-notch snooker. It takes its toll a bit. It

:44:23. > :44:26.has been a long season so everyone will be glad when Christmas comes

:44:27. > :44:30.round just to have a rest and put the cue away for a few weeks.

:44:31. > :44:33.Where he is, the defending champion. Last night after his match

:44:34. > :44:38.against Barry Hawkins, Mark promised he would be in here working hard to

:44:39. > :44:42.iron out what he said were a few weaknesses in the game. Ian and I

:44:43. > :44:47.touched on this game last night, against Ari Hawkins. What was your

:44:48. > :44:52.perspective right? He knows himself he's not playing his a game and his

:44:53. > :45:00.top rate was 77 last night. Did he win? Sure did. That is the object of

:45:01. > :45:10.the exercise. You have to keep going. Barry Hawkins got 135... 142

:45:11. > :45:15.last night. The object of the exercise is to win and he has an

:45:16. > :45:21.uncanny knack of being able to do it when he is not at his best. Mark and

:45:22. > :45:24.I talked recently about this whole brinkmanship issue where he does not

:45:25. > :45:29.feel he is actually in a match until his back is against the wall. And he

:45:30. > :45:32.says that is when it really starts to kick in. He suddenly feels that

:45:33. > :45:38.feeling that he does not want to go home. Did you get that? Yes, I think

:45:39. > :45:44.all the top players get that. You sensed danger and you just go up a

:45:45. > :45:49.gear. Since Davis, he's one of the best at having a B game and getting

:45:50. > :45:53.results. 77 is not a good standard of breaks but he won the match and

:45:54. > :45:57.that is the important thing. He is in the semifinal. Maybe slightly

:45:58. > :46:04.behind Robertson as the favourite to win it. You can always find your

:46:05. > :46:07.game here, find a bit of form, something right click all of a

:46:08. > :46:13.sudden. That is why he is in here at dissing today. What is your

:46:14. > :46:17.assessment of Ricky Walden? Semifinal at the Crucible this time

:46:18. > :46:23.will stop he ran out of steam pedestal bit, by his own admission.

:46:24. > :46:33.It is something different at the Crucible. But tournament is a long

:46:34. > :46:37.haul. -- that tournament. He will be more used to it now, more

:46:38. > :46:42.experienced. He is fluent, scores heavily on so he has a chance. That

:46:43. > :46:47.match gets under way tomorrow afternoon and we will be seeing it

:46:48. > :46:52.through on both sessions, morning and evening. We talked about Neil

:46:53. > :46:58.Robertson, really regarded by most as a complete player will stop but

:46:59. > :47:02.he needs this title to complete his CV, because inked into that CB

:47:03. > :47:08.already is the Masters crown and the world title. He would love to

:47:09. > :47:15.complete the set and get a triple Crown.

:47:16. > :47:23.The UK is one of the top prizes that has just alluded to you. Did you

:47:24. > :47:29.feel it is the right time to go for it this time? Yes, I think so. I am

:47:30. > :47:35.playing really well. This season I think we have had five ranking event

:47:36. > :47:42.so far and all but one I have lost to the eventual winner. I lost twice

:47:43. > :47:46.to Ding in the quarterfinals. So I feel bizarre being very closed to

:47:47. > :47:51.winning three of four ranking events already this season myself but there

:47:52. > :47:58.are top players playing at the top of their game. I do not have to

:47:59. > :48:03.worry about my game. I am as confident as ever. So I just need to

:48:04. > :48:09.be patient, wait for the right time, and just try to prepare as well as I

:48:10. > :48:13.can for the UK and see what will happen. I'm not going to put any

:48:14. > :48:17.desperation all for it to become an session to win the UK. If you start

:48:18. > :48:22.doing it you get into a little bit of trouble. I just have to keep

:48:23. > :48:26.doing what I have been doing every tournament. This one is probably the

:48:27. > :48:33.one I have prepared the best four. You have this natural aggression and

:48:34. > :48:38.you go for long pots and then you almost inhibited course of a it by

:48:39. > :48:42.trying to become spiky defensive at times, and then use the address this

:48:43. > :48:51.situation and you go back to the aggression. Did you decide to play

:48:52. > :48:59.more quickly after Robert Milkins? When I made that game I was playing

:49:00. > :49:02.really well and I lost 5-4 up. I thought if I tidied it up I was

:49:03. > :49:09.guaranteed to win. But the opposite happened, where it put me under a

:49:10. > :49:14.bit more pressure. I lost every scrappy frame on the colours. I have

:49:15. > :49:20.never had that in my love, losing every single frame on the pink or

:49:21. > :49:25.the black or the blue. Even if I had one I would not have enjoyed it, the

:49:26. > :49:31.strain that it would have put me under. Seeing a couple of Ronnie

:49:32. > :49:35.O'Sullivan's interviews during the World Championship, and how he

:49:36. > :49:39.always keeps his opponent under pressure, keeps going for it, he

:49:40. > :49:43.does not go for really reckless shots but he keeps attacking, and

:49:44. > :49:49.when you stop attacking in this game, you stop scaring people. Judd

:49:50. > :49:54.Trump is probably at a bit of a crossroads now with his shot

:49:55. > :49:57.selection. When he won the UK he was going for everything, scaring

:49:58. > :50:02.people. The problem with being over attacking is you give your opponent

:50:03. > :50:06.lots of chances so you are kind of banking on their bottling it,

:50:07. > :50:09.basically, which is what is happening against Judd. You are

:50:10. > :50:14.paying attention to the height and getting too involved in that and

:50:15. > :50:22.bottling it against him. Now he's trying to win and play really good

:50:23. > :50:26.safety. And now the fear is sort of gone, so people are not afraid of

:50:27. > :50:29.playing him any more. He's definitely a much better player than

:50:30. > :50:35.when he was playing the UK Championship, but he's nowhere near

:50:36. > :50:39.as to play. Does he go back to being reckless, scaring people, or play a

:50:40. > :50:44.much more brand game and that is something that I have had to deal

:50:45. > :50:49.with. You can always adjust it. More attacking, more safety... I have

:50:50. > :50:51.been much quicker this season, thinking more instinctively about

:50:52. > :50:59.shots I want to play cover getting there and playing them. People like

:51:00. > :51:05.Mark Allen have said sometimes I play too slow. I was not doing it on

:51:06. > :51:10.purpose to try to slow them down. I was just trying to make the right

:51:11. > :51:16.decision. I have much more enjoyed my sneaker, really enjoyed making

:51:17. > :51:23.the centuries. People go on about making 70 or 80 or 100 this season.

:51:24. > :51:29.I do not think I can make 100. But most certainly I will definitely

:51:30. > :51:36.break the record this season. COMMENTATOR: Robertson, a century,

:51:37. > :51:40.number 51 of the season. Yes, I am certainly enjoying my sneaker more

:51:41. > :51:46.than ever. Neil has now made 55 centuries.

:51:47. > :51:56.He is head and shoulders above everyone else. Ding Junhui is the

:51:57. > :52:02.closest, on 38. He is almost certain to beat the record of 61 in one

:52:03. > :52:10.season. People have taught about him making 100 100. Is that possible? He

:52:11. > :52:13.does want to clear up every single time, and that gives you confidence

:52:14. > :52:18.going into the next frame, even if it looks like it may mean nothing,

:52:19. > :52:22.it gives you that boost. To clear it with a hundred.

:52:23. > :52:30.He talked about speeding up, becoming more instinctive. When he

:52:31. > :52:36.went out in the first round against Milkins, he felt he had slowed down.

:52:37. > :52:38.It is, he says, a bit of a balance between natural aggression and

:52:39. > :52:43.trying to be a bit more reserved. How did you get through those

:52:44. > :52:49.periods? A lot of top payers are afraid of losing more than afraid of

:52:50. > :52:55.winning. They play a bit too defensively. A lot of people make a

:52:56. > :52:59.big deal about going out in the first round. It does not matter if

:53:00. > :53:03.you are a fast player or a slow player, you play the game that

:53:04. > :53:08.matches yourself. He certainly had a lot of success two years ago when he

:53:09. > :53:13.won the world title. You might remember, his mother, Alison, flew

:53:14. > :53:17.in from Australia to watch the match and arrived just before it got under

:53:18. > :53:21.way. She is here again for the latter stages of this event and she

:53:22. > :53:28.is with John now. Lovely to see you again. How is the jet lag? It is

:53:29. > :53:37.awful. I am trying to remember the day I got here. Wednesday, about

:53:38. > :53:44.3pm. Not too good, the jet lag? No, not so good. It is about 3am for me,

:53:45. > :53:49.really will stop you are here for another reason, to see your

:53:50. > :53:56.grandson, Alexander. Yes, that is right. I cannot wait to make cookies

:53:57. > :54:04.with him and play Lego. It must be a while since you saw him? A year and

:54:05. > :54:08.a half. As for your boy himself, he is doing well. You are not the one

:54:09. > :54:17.who goes in and gives him a team talk in the interval, are you? No,

:54:18. > :54:20.but I'd like to see play his own game. The last time he came over he

:54:21. > :54:30.won the World Championship will stop working Mac lets not jinx it just

:54:31. > :54:36.yet, but I have my fingers crossed. Are you a good watcher? Yes, I try

:54:37. > :54:44.not to get too nervous or make any loud noises! Nice to see you.

:54:45. > :54:50.It is very tense and tied in this semifinal as Allison watches her

:54:51. > :54:56.boy. This is the man he is playing, Stuart Bingham. It is poised at two

:54:57. > :55:00.frames apiece. We welcome them back for another four frames this

:55:01. > :55:02.afternoon in this best of 17 match. We hand back to John and Ken in the

:55:03. > :55:12.box. COMMENTATOR: I think that Neil

:55:13. > :55:13.Robertson would be mighty relieved to get that fourth frame before the

:55:14. > :55:30.interval. Both players now into the match.

:55:31. > :55:36.Didn't expect it to run away in this match anyway. It is a close to call

:55:37. > :55:42.contest. Four more frames to be played in

:55:43. > :56:03.this first session. Pretty quick smoker. We have had two

:56:04. > :56:28.frames over 20 minutes, the first two frames, but then it speeded up.

:56:29. > :56:35.I was wondering whether that was a plant or not. That was the break of

:56:36. > :56:41.shock. He made the plant. Unfortunately, he has not got on a

:56:42. > :56:51.colour. -- that was the wake of shot.

:56:52. > :58:12.Not certain about that choice of shock.

:58:13. > :58:22.And he has not played that are well, to be honest. And he's such a good

:58:23. > :58:32.player at these long pots. He has not even looked at taking

:58:33. > :58:39.that red on. He's such a good long potter.

:58:40. > :58:49.It was thin, but not that then. He will be pleased with the outcome.

:58:50. > :59:18.That was as good a safety shot as you have played, Stuart. Well done.

:59:19. > :59:23.Went for that one but was more concerned about getting the cue ball

:59:24. > :59:57.back to the balk cushion, which he has done very well.

:59:58. > :00:21.An excellent shop there from Stuart. -- shot.

:00:22. > :00:57.Neil just having eloped at the left-hand edge. -- just having a

:00:58. > :00:58.look. He is wary of knocking something towards the right corner

:00:59. > :01:04.pocket. It is still a good target behind the

:01:05. > :01:27.green and brown. Stuart Bingham needs to come up with

:01:28. > :01:35.a good one. There is a gap between the green and round to catch a red.

:01:36. > :02:10.It is still tight to the ball cushion -- brown.

:02:11. > :02:26.From what we have seen, perhaps Neil will not be tempted by the reds. He

:02:27. > :02:34.is trying to get in behind the green and brown again.

:02:35. > :02:39.The cue ball has not got enough pace in it. I do not think Stuart will

:02:40. > :03:04.turn this down. That shot just had enough angle on

:03:05. > :03:20.the blue. Playing this thread, he is hoping to

:03:21. > :03:36.be on the black. -- red. He would like a bit more angle, but

:03:37. > :03:50.now he is playing for the black, he should stick to that plan.

:03:51. > :04:04.He just asked to roll this black in. He just -- he just has to to.

:04:05. > :04:21.A good chance early on in the frame. It started with a good long pot.

:04:22. > :04:35.He has two hit the red full-ball. He has to get a full-ball connection.

:04:36. > :04:43.He feels it might hit the side and go through the gap.

:04:44. > :04:51.Would you believe that? Would you believe that? The most important

:04:52. > :04:58.thing is to pot the ball first and then worry about position.

:04:59. > :05:07.Normally he is such a good player with the rest. He is thinking more

:05:08. > :05:26.about position and forgets the pot. A schoolboy mistake.

:05:27. > :05:54.He will not be too disappointed with that. He finishes on the black.

:05:55. > :06:04.He does not want to use the rest, so he is at full stretch here. He has

:06:05. > :06:38.played it nicely, good shot. He would love to get that red as

:06:39. > :06:40.close to the cue ball and get that out of the way after he pots that

:06:41. > :07:06.black. We are starting to get momentum in

:07:07. > :07:11.this match. Stuart Bingham was in control of previous frames.

:07:12. > :07:19.When you pinch a frame off a player, it gives you a great boost

:07:20. > :07:27.and has the reverse effect on your opponent.

:07:28. > :07:40.He will be thinking about those missed chances.

:07:41. > :07:56.And there was the Black King missed. -- the black he missed.

:07:57. > :08:05.There is no doubt about it, Neil Robertson would have been a happier

:08:06. > :08:17.of the players being all square at the interval. -- the happier. To be

:08:18. > :08:23.gifted this chance, he will be feeling very good inside. This could

:08:24. > :08:24.be the key to the frame. A nice angle on the blue. If this goes

:08:25. > :08:48.right, it should be frame over. You felt as long as he made contact

:08:49. > :09:05.on the first red, it would open up nicely.

:09:06. > :09:18.That Miss Black from Stuart will cost him his frame -- missed black.

:09:19. > :09:26.You cannot give your opponents chances like this and expect to get

:09:27. > :09:32.any reward. He was nicely on the black, I think he oversaw to it. --

:09:33. > :09:37.over thought it. To red is needed, that is all -- to

:09:38. > :10:31.reds needed, that is all. -- two. If he parts of this black, he will

:10:32. > :10:57.go 65 points in front. -- if he pots.

:10:58. > :11:20.He has stayed nicely at the business end.

:11:21. > :11:26.Could not do a lot with that, came to straight. He would do well to the

:11:27. > :12:03.century now. Stuart Bingham will be very

:12:04. > :12:08.disappointed, he had first chance and missed a straightforward black.

:12:09. > :12:19.Neil Robertson made no mistake and he now leads 3-2. We go back to that

:12:20. > :12:29.black, he played for the awkward red so he could get the black on its

:12:30. > :12:34.part. It looked perfect. He looked at this for a few moments and he was

:12:35. > :12:42.not sure that he would get a full-ball contact. He tries to hit

:12:43. > :12:48.the red just above it and try and force it down and because he was

:12:49. > :12:58.trying to force it down, he took his eye off the pot. He will be very

:12:59. > :13:04.disappointed, because he created that from a wonderful long ball.

:13:05. > :13:16.That is another frame he will be sad to have lost. He could quite easily

:13:17. > :13:24.have been 4-1 in front. He had chances to win every frame. Neil

:13:25. > :13:27.Robertson, very impressive once he gets in amongst the balls. He was

:13:28. > :13:59.cueing them so well. gets in amongst the balls. He was

:14:00. > :14:09.cueing them gets in amongst the balls. He was

:14:10. > :14:45.those chances from Stuart making Just let that cue ball run loose

:14:46. > :15:05.slightly. That blue will make it very awkward

:15:06. > :15:14.cueing. He has just lost the light somewhat. Just watch the white, it

:15:15. > :15:22.when it comes off the cushion, it goes up the table away from the

:15:23. > :15:27.reds. A little bit of a unintentional slide there. He feels

:15:28. > :15:34.he can pot this, but it is awkward cueing. Well played! A good kiss on

:15:35. > :15:38.the yellow. It looks as though he has an angle

:15:39. > :16:02.on the brown, it is not all bad. That was a good pot. The only

:16:03. > :16:12.problem is, the blue and pink are tied up for the moment.

:16:13. > :16:22.He wanted to be down, and little bit further down and he could have been

:16:23. > :16:33.perfectly on this pink in the corner pocket -- a little bit further down.

:16:34. > :16:48.He is looking to be positive, he is looking to get the high-value

:16:49. > :16:53.colours in place, so he can win the frame in one visit. He is just short

:16:54. > :17:05.of pace, having to play the yellow, rather than the pink.

:17:06. > :17:34.He rushed that a little bit. He was uncomfortable with that shot.

:17:35. > :17:42.Neil was trying to cannon the blue and pink, but he missed the cannon.

:17:43. > :17:53.He was probably on the yellow, but so tight on the cushion, he cannot

:17:54. > :18:15.get on the next red. I think he is looking to play a tactical snooker.

:18:16. > :18:50.That is unlucky. He will have to play away from the reds. It is a

:18:51. > :18:59.similar position to where he was. It is a little bit more awkward to

:19:00. > :19:36.get it behind the yellow. It is a lot easier to get in behind

:19:37. > :19:48.the brown, but for some reason he does not like that.

:19:49. > :19:58.If you can get in behind the yellow, but may be a he was not that

:19:59. > :20:03.bothered about the snooker. Maybe he wanted Stuart to have the reds. The

:20:04. > :20:07.way they are tightly clustered, if he got the snooker, there was not

:20:08. > :20:27.much danger of Stuart leaving anything.

:20:28. > :20:34.His main priority was to get the cue ball back to the ball cushion, but

:20:35. > :20:39.he did think there might be a chance of putting the red, but it was

:20:40. > :21:49.completely on the wrong side. -- potting.

:21:50. > :22:01.He has left to chance, this thread goes to the right medal. -- left a

:22:02. > :22:06.chance. -- this red goes to the right medal.

:22:07. > :22:15.Nicely played, it he will kiss the yellow!

:22:16. > :22:25.You could say it is unlucky, but that yellow was always close to the

:22:26. > :22:45.pocket. He concentrated on the part -- pot, but it was unlucky.

:22:46. > :23:15.The only problem to me, playing the yellow, he may just play this

:23:16. > :23:21.snooker behind it. He decided to go for it.

:23:22. > :23:31.He is on this red in a fashion. It is not as easy as it looks, it is an

:23:32. > :23:33.acute angle. He will need a little bit of pace to get that position on

:23:34. > :23:45.the black. The made light of it. He made it

:23:46. > :23:52.look so easy. -- he made light of it. That was a very acute angle. It

:23:53. > :24:34.never touched the side, good shot. That is a surprise. He tried to

:24:35. > :24:42.screw off the cushion, back out, and that made it a little bit more

:24:43. > :24:46.difficult. At that pace, you have to be so accurate. I am surprised he

:24:47. > :25:34.missed, though. Will Neil Robertson have a go at the

:25:35. > :26:20.red into the yellow pocket? It is certainly a more Conservative

:26:21. > :26:26.Neil Robertson. It is certainly effective, a big target for Stuart,

:26:27. > :26:31.he is a bit reluctant to disturb the pack of reds for fear of knocking a

:26:32. > :26:38.red into one of the corner pockets, but there is a big target up behind

:26:39. > :26:39.the green and brown should he risk moving the cue ball off three or

:26:40. > :27:06.four cushions. He will settle for the outcome. He

:27:07. > :27:10.obviously did not play the pot. That little flick on the black made it a

:27:11. > :27:23.better shot than it looked it was going to be.

:27:24. > :27:32.I do not think there is any shot he can play here, only roll into the

:27:33. > :28:44.reds. It could go off the side of the reds.

:28:45. > :28:53.The one thing you have to be wary of, and they do not think Neil

:28:54. > :28:57.Robertson has the shot on, but if you could snick off the reds, it

:28:58. > :29:20.would be a very telling safety. Does this black cover the reds in

:29:21. > :29:24.the middle. It does not. This is where the game is slightly

:29:25. > :29:31.different. If that blue was available, he would have every

:29:32. > :29:39.reason to take this red on. He cannot just drop it in. The fact

:29:40. > :29:44.that the pink and blue are tied up, he cannot drop it in and leave it in

:29:45. > :29:50.the middle of the table. The brown is blocking the path of the green

:29:51. > :29:56.into its pocket. I am not quite sure if he can pot the red and push the

:29:57. > :29:59.cue ball through and miss the red which is closest to it. It is a

:30:00. > :30:16.tough pot. Well, he got the cue ball clean. He

:30:17. > :30:22.was going to size up the pot that there is no real value. -- but there

:30:23. > :30:30.is no real value. Is he going to take this red on into

:30:31. > :30:51.the pocket near the brown? Too thin, and that is why the cue

:30:52. > :30:57.ball has gone in the pocket. He has now just gifted, as he has done in a

:30:58. > :31:07.few frames, he has gifted a chance to Neil Robertson. Neil Robertson

:31:08. > :31:13.comes to the table 24 points behind. Blue and pink are out of commission

:31:14. > :31:36.but the blacks are available into both corners.

:31:37. > :31:49.He purposefully played for the brown. It is stopping the green

:31:50. > :31:57.going in that pocket. He has cleared the path. It was always going to be

:31:58. > :32:31.a straightforward positional shot. But how careless was that?

:32:32. > :32:38.Lucky to be on that red that he has not we covered the situation just

:32:39. > :33:17.yet, such was the situation of the red. He put all his concentration

:33:18. > :33:23.into the pot. Well, Stuart Bingham will come back to the table. I do

:33:24. > :33:29.not know what Neil is feeling, but we have two reds adjacent to the

:33:30. > :33:34.left level and just over it. If he thought he was going to hit that

:33:35. > :33:42.line, he would have hit it harder and wrote all those reds into play.

:33:43. > :34:16.Well, he caught it well. Could have done without the keys on the brown

:34:17. > :34:47.but he has not left anything but he could be in trouble next shot.

:34:48. > :35:28.Well, he has left a possible pot on this red into the corner pocket.

:35:29. > :35:37.It is an important frame for both players, particularly Stuart King.

:35:38. > :35:41.He needs to study this ship. A good pot gain from Neil Robertson. Needs

:35:42. > :35:45.a bit of luck on the brown and he has got it. Kiss on the brown.

:35:46. > :36:47.Excellent pot. The only slightly difficult ball is

:36:48. > :36:56.the red closest to the top cushion. The field that is the only possible

:36:57. > :37:10.saving grace for Stuart Bingham. Not the best positional shot there

:37:11. > :37:33.from Neil close to the cushion. If Stuart finds himself for -2

:37:34. > :37:41.behind, he will be very disappointed with the chances he has had. That is

:37:42. > :37:47.a fantastic pot. Cleared that in so well.

:37:48. > :38:03.A lot of pressure on that pot. Oh, but he did not cue that one so

:38:04. > :38:08.well, and has he got away with it? Has he got the cover on the red

:38:09. > :38:31.left-centre? Has the yellow come to his rescue?

:38:32. > :38:38.A tremendous pot on the black. You never expected him to miss that. So

:38:39. > :38:53.a chance for Stuart, but he will need the blue or pink.

:38:54. > :39:53.April positional shot, just at the wrong time. -- April

:39:54. > :40:00.He has had a few chances and it will be gnawing away at his confidence

:40:01. > :40:02.that he has not taken them. Brilliant shot, that was. Lots of

:40:03. > :40:14.top spin. And the added bonus that he has

:40:15. > :40:20.clipped the pink away from the blue so there is not a safe ball on the

:40:21. > :40:23.table now. If Stuart does not contain this situation, he could

:40:24. > :40:42.lose the frame. This could be his last shot at it.

:40:43. > :41:15.Just a little bit too much left-hand side on that cue ball. More

:41:16. > :42:27.difficult than he would have liked. Another good shot needed here, it

:42:28. > :42:56.seems. He has missed it. Would you believe

:42:57. > :43:13.it. Can Stuart just see enough of this

:43:14. > :43:35.yellow? Getting a bit tense out there now, John. Yes.

:43:36. > :43:42.Not quite a snooker but he has got the yellow safe. He may consider it

:43:43. > :43:46.unlikely but deep down he should be glad that he's in this frame still

:43:47. > :44:05.because for all money it looks like he should have lost it.

:44:06. > :44:27.Believe it or not this is a tricky shot to get it safe.

:44:28. > :45:49.It is pretty good. It is not a snooker.

:45:50. > :46:04.It looks straightforward, twice across the table with the yellow.

:46:05. > :46:25.He has not made the best fist of that.

:46:26. > :46:43.You cannot get much closer without them dropping.

:46:44. > :46:53.It is not going to be the EEC used shot, though, as we say on many

:46:54. > :47:09.occasions. -- it is not going to be the easiest shot.

:47:10. > :48:05.He can play cushion first. Needs yellow, green and brown.

:48:06. > :48:12.He has over screwed it. That is hard to believe.

:48:13. > :48:22.You see, plenty of bottom. It was helped a little bit because it came

:48:23. > :48:27.off the cushion, but still, look at the axe being that was in that cue

:48:28. > :48:33.ball. The green will go to the middle so he could still win the

:48:34. > :48:38.frame at this visit. Oh, tremendous! APPLAUSE

:48:39. > :48:58.Neil Robertson knew the importance of that shot.

:48:59. > :49:09.He gave it a little bit of a dash yes! Well, he

:49:10. > :49:20.great part on the green. She do but indent will be very disappointed. --

:49:21. > :49:27.great pot on the green. Stuart Bingham will be very disappointed.

:49:28. > :49:36.Just beginning to exert the screw there. Ya, the yellow and green

:49:37. > :49:43.fantastic. A little bit scrappy. Of the two players it has suited Neil a

:49:44. > :49:50.bit more than Stuart. He has lost a bit of fluency. In the first round

:49:51. > :49:56.Neil just wanted to get the match is over and done with. Stuart seems to

:49:57. > :50:02.have lost a bit of fluency, why is that? In the last four or five years

:50:03. > :50:07.he has played a much quicker pace. He is more confident in his game and

:50:08. > :50:12.he likes to get the breaks. He has lost two frames a day where he was

:50:13. > :50:14.ahead and that Neil has pinched. He started off stronger and he is

:50:15. > :50:21.definitely happier when he's making big breaks. Is there any suggestion

:50:22. > :50:28.at all that having had such a big victory the day before effects you

:50:29. > :50:31.for the next day? Is it adrenaline? It is a possibility. I do not think

:50:32. > :50:40.that has happened today. The balls has been awkward the last couple of

:50:41. > :50:50.frames. Is he of the boil a little bit here, Neil Robertson? Sometimes

:50:51. > :50:54.your rhythm goes a little bit. Neil has got to the first target, getting

:50:55. > :51:02.to four. They are playing eight frames so he cannot be behind going

:51:03. > :51:07.into the next session. But this next frame is pretty big in the context

:51:08. > :51:13.of the match. This one coming up is very important. And the pressure is

:51:14. > :51:18.piled on Bingham White a bit, with the overall context of this match

:51:19. > :51:23.with the second session to come tonight? Yes, he has won smaller

:51:24. > :51:27.events. He wants to be considered and he is considered for one of the

:51:28. > :51:32.favourites to win tournaments that until he can win a major one he will

:51:33. > :51:38.not be considered one of the top players. When Stuart has been on the

:51:39. > :51:43.cusp of something... He won the Australian and that was a big thing

:51:44. > :51:46.for him but he wants to cement his place. That is what you play the

:51:47. > :51:50.game for and that is what he is hoping to do. At the moment he just

:51:51. > :51:56.needs one good chance to get his fluency back. Not taking him to long

:51:57. > :52:06.to bring a friend, just getting back into his rhythm. Penultimate frame

:52:07. > :52:14.of the session. -- not too long to win a frame.

:52:15. > :52:22.COMMENTATOR: Neil Robertson, to me, just seems to be winning the frames

:52:23. > :52:25.on Stuart's mistakes. That could be worrying for Stuart. He must be

:52:26. > :52:36.kicking himself. He has lost the last three frames in

:52:37. > :52:54.a row and he has probably been the better player in amongst the balls.

:52:55. > :53:14.And here is a couple of the mistakes. A straightforward black.

:53:15. > :53:17.Trying to screw that with a lot of pace. This was another mistake.

:53:18. > :53:29.Going off into the corner pocket. But he should not panic just yet. He

:53:30. > :53:32.has been doing really nicely and when he gets in amongst them, he has

:53:33. > :53:45.a really good pace. And he scores very well. He just has

:53:46. > :53:49.not been clinical enough. Those frames that Neil Robertson Pinches,

:53:50. > :53:59.when players do that, they really are a sucker punch.

:54:00. > :54:05.Any frame you lose when you have not had a really good chance, what more

:54:06. > :54:10.can you do about it? When you have had a couple of chances in the frame

:54:11. > :54:14.and missed some easy balls that Stuart has missed...

:54:15. > :54:31.No need to panic any more because it is not first to six, it is first to

:54:32. > :55:36.nine, so Neil Robertson still needs five more frames to win this match.

:55:37. > :56:03.Well, he went for it. Tried to screw the cue ball back to the book

:56:04. > :56:13.cushion. Kiss of the yellow. It could have gone wrong. It hit the

:56:14. > :56:26.cue ball, EQ bought it the yellow. -- the cue ball hit the yellow.

:56:27. > :58:11.Well short of pace with that one. A chance for Neil to have a good

:58:12. > :58:19.Just a safety, and that is an safety or snooker.

:58:20. > :58:45.Just a safety, and that is an excellent shot.

:58:46. > :59:46.Stuart had his head in his hands there.

:59:47. > :59:53.I mentioned earlier I was talking to him and I asked how he was feeling

:59:54. > :59:57.and he said he did not get much sleep. The euphoria of the match

:59:58. > :00:10.with Ronnie O'Sullivan and thinking about this match, it can get to you.

:00:11. > :00:14.When you are involved in a big tournament like this, it is hard to

:00:15. > :01:39.get a good's nights sleep. He played that well, nice angle on

:01:40. > :01:46.the blue. During the interval, John Parrott was chatting to Neil

:01:47. > :01:51.Robertson's mother and she mentioned something she got for her grandson.

:01:52. > :02:43.It is a chocolate biscuit. If he can just get through to this,

:02:44. > :02:49.without having to bridge over the ball, it will be a good shot. He

:02:50. > :02:57.would like to stay on the black, but I am not certain he can now. He will

:02:58. > :03:04.want to play the red along the top cushion. He is not certain to be

:03:05. > :03:12.able to hold for the blue. He certainly cannot play for the black.

:03:13. > :03:20.He needs a good recovery. He needs a good positional shot.

:03:21. > :03:30.Where is the cue ball going? Well, he will be fortunate if he has got

:03:31. > :03:36.an angle on the green to send the cue ball back up to the other end of

:03:37. > :03:40.the table. It looks as though he has. If he can get past the yellow,

:03:41. > :04:22.he is perfect on the screen. He could not have had a better run

:04:23. > :04:30.than that, he was fortunate to be on the brain. Look at the kiss. You

:04:31. > :04:45.could not ask for a better one -- on the green. If he can get an nice

:04:46. > :04:47.angle off the pot on the red. There is a red at the bottom of the pack

:04:48. > :04:55.which is pottable. There are plenty of reds in the

:04:56. > :06:11.open. This will be four in a row. This has been very impressive.

:06:12. > :06:22.Excellent snooker. Yes, he must be delighted. He played his best

:06:23. > :06:31.earlier on, but he gave Stuart chances earlier. He is getting more

:06:32. > :06:36.confidence, he is looking more confident now. He looks more

:06:37. > :06:45.positive and believes he will win the frame at this visit. I would not

:06:46. > :07:15.go against that. Now you see the pot success.

:07:16. > :07:30.71, with 67 remaining. This is going to be a masse of last frame for

:07:31. > :07:37.Stuart Bingham. -- a massive last frame. If he can salvage and win the

:07:38. > :07:42.last frame, he would only be two behind going into the session this

:07:43. > :07:49.evening. He would be still well in the game.

:07:50. > :07:58.A 6-2 deficit would be hard to overturn.

:07:59. > :08:08.Well, if it did not go in, but he has a 72 point litre. He will be a

:08:09. > :08:20.bit disappointed -- a 72 point lead. He has had chances, but he has not

:08:21. > :08:30.made one. He will not be bothered about that. Stuart will need to get

:08:31. > :08:37.position on the black. It may go all around the houses.

:08:38. > :09:10.Nice pot. Very hard to keep your concentration.

:09:11. > :09:22.He will start trying to lay his first one here. He will not be

:09:23. > :09:26.trying to pot this last red. He should have kept this close, he

:09:27. > :09:35.needs to get this red if he can, tucked up near the pink and brown.

:09:36. > :09:47.He has got it near the pink and brown. He has got the snooker, this

:09:48. > :09:54.is not easy to hit. If he comes off the right-hand side cushion, he has

:09:55. > :10:02.not got all the red to head. -- to hit.

:10:03. > :10:11.It is probably the line that the red took off the side cushion.

:10:12. > :10:19.There is quite a tight gap between the yellow and brown, he will need

:10:20. > :10:31.to hit this hard. He will not want to leave a free ball.

:10:32. > :10:43.Foul. Stuart Bingham, four. Free ball. 44 points behind, 35

:10:44. > :10:54.remaining. If he could pot the brown, get the

:10:55. > :10:56.position on the black, he would only need one snooker. He is just trying

:10:57. > :11:01.to work it out. If he was only 43 behind, he could

:11:02. > :11:09.tie here. If you could get on the black, it

:11:10. > :11:16.would be good. Good shot. This looks perfect. Very

:11:17. > :11:39.well played! If the parts the black, he could

:11:40. > :11:50.even play for the pink off the last red. -- if he pots the black. If he

:11:51. > :12:04.can get the cue ball near that circle...

:12:05. > :12:31.He only needs one four point snooker. The blue would put him

:12:32. > :12:43.still in that one snooker required stage.

:12:44. > :13:26.There is enough room around the back of the yellow. Neil Robertson will

:13:27. > :13:44.be concerned with that. You still fancy him to hit the yellow.

:13:45. > :13:52.He has got a nice angle he can go off the soft cushion and lay in

:13:53. > :14:01.behind the black. It is a big target behind the black.

:14:02. > :14:07.Just that extra role, it is not there.

:14:08. > :14:38.The first priority here is to get the object ball safe.

:14:39. > :14:43.If you get the snooker as well, good luck to you and he has got it. Good

:14:44. > :14:59.shot! It does not look too difficult a

:15:00. > :15:05.swerve to hit the yellow, but if he hits it with no pace, he will leave

:15:06. > :15:20.himself open for being snookered on the next visit. That is a certainty.

:15:21. > :15:22.If he does not hit it, Stuart Bingham can win the frame. A swerve

:15:23. > :15:30.it is. He has over swerve debt. -- over

:15:31. > :15:50.swerve it. This is turning into a massive frame

:15:51. > :16:01.for Stuart Bingham. He looks certain to be 5-2 down.

:16:02. > :16:23.Absolutely inch perfect on the green. A terrific pot.

:16:24. > :16:33.He got the second prize. It is not too bad. It was a good chance to

:16:34. > :16:36.steal the frame. Will he get another one?

:16:37. > :16:58.He played that well. He left distance between the green and the

:16:59. > :17:04.cue ball. This frame is still in the balance, but Stuart Bingham had a

:17:05. > :17:09.great chance. He was not too bad on that green. A bit harder than what

:17:10. > :17:18.it was, he thought. He should have potted it.

:17:19. > :17:32.I think he played the other side of the blue. It is not bad. Even though

:17:33. > :17:41.Neil Robertson is 24 points in front, you feel that he ever parts

:17:42. > :17:58.the green, will win the frame. -- whoever -- pots.

:17:59. > :18:10.Does this run past the blue and is it pottable? They are both looking

:18:11. > :18:16.from one end to the other. I think Stuart thinks that with a little bit

:18:17. > :18:21.of side, he can get to the potting angle of the screen.

:18:22. > :18:38.I cannot believe he has overcooked it. He had to swerve it slightly.

:18:39. > :19:09.Just look at this. He has overcooked it. He will not get another chance.

:19:10. > :19:21.Neil Robertson will be mightily relieved. Blue has not gone end but

:19:22. > :19:26.I do not think Stuart will bother carrying on. He concedes. It was a

:19:27. > :19:35.chance to put those bad misses behind him, but he did not take the

:19:36. > :19:41.opportunity. One more opportunity. Neil Robertson is in front, and he

:19:42. > :19:51.is happy. He got away with that one. It was beautifully fought out. He

:19:52. > :19:55.parted some great balls. We thought the frame was dead. The way he

:19:56. > :20:02.worked out how to get the snooker was very good. The impact of losing

:20:03. > :20:10.that, after all that hard work, what is that? I am not surprised he left

:20:11. > :20:21.the auditorium. This is a huge frame coming up. 6-2, there is no way

:20:22. > :20:30.back. He has two windows. -- he has two win this. When you get four

:20:31. > :20:38.snookers, the pressure switches. The green was in a funny position where

:20:39. > :20:43.he had to hold for the position. When you rewind in that frame, it

:20:44. > :20:51.was that Henk from Robertson, if he had put that away, it was over. --

:20:52. > :20:59.pink. All credit to Stuart for keeping going. They either frames

:21:00. > :21:02.which really hurt. One minute you're playing shots freely because you do

:21:03. > :21:09.not think you can win, then there is a chance to win it, and he missed

:21:10. > :21:21.it. If you work in Stuart's Corner, what would you tell him? He has got

:21:22. > :21:29.to hope to get a decent chance. He has been frozen out in the last few

:21:30. > :21:35.frames. The mistakes have been pounced on by Neil Robertson. It is

:21:36. > :21:44.time for the last one before the interval. The big question, will

:21:45. > :21:57.Neil Robertson have a four frame lead or just two? It is must win for

:21:58. > :22:07.Stuart Bingham and that is a good start. He could take the blue. The

:22:08. > :22:25.red has gone over to the left-hand corner pocket. How he could do with

:22:26. > :22:57.a good sizeable break here. He wasn't missing them at yesterday

:22:58. > :23:05.against Romeo Sullivan. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan. Even at last spring,

:23:06. > :23:13.when he had a chance from nowhere, he is hurting at the moment. -- even

:23:14. > :23:32.that last frame. If the black is at the soft spot,

:23:33. > :23:41.you can miss when you are in. It can be costly. He has been jumping on

:23:42. > :23:46.these mistakes, has Neil. Stuart, he will be distraught if he goes into

:23:47. > :25:01.this session this evening behind. It is the first to nine. An excellent

:25:02. > :25:12.pot. He finished perfectly on the blue to smash into the pink and

:25:13. > :25:19.bring the reds interplay. -- in to play. Not a lot moved. You have to

:25:20. > :25:23.hit the pink full in the face and he did not. Then the pink goes into the

:25:24. > :26:05.reds. He will be disappointed. Someone has got a fit of giggles in

:26:06. > :26:15.the front row. Good sharks. -- good shot. It is not

:26:16. > :26:52.too bad. Imperative he gets a good angle on

:26:53. > :27:05.the blue. He has got it. One good split here

:27:06. > :27:16.from the blue into the reds, if he can go into the ones bunched

:27:17. > :27:29.together to the left of the pink... It is not too bad. By goodness for

:27:30. > :27:31.the second red! It looked terrible for a moment. The red came off the

:27:32. > :27:47.top cushion. That is OK. It stopped short of the

:27:48. > :28:33.baulk line. What will the difference between

:28:34. > :28:40.MBE, two or three frames? You can keep watching online. The second

:28:41. > :28:45.session begins at 7pm. Nine more frames to play then. We have to

:28:46. > :28:48.leave York and head to Brazil next, the shape of the World Cup draw is

:28:49. > :28:51.about to be revealed. Goodbye.