06/12/2013 UK Snooker Championship

Good afternoon. Moments after reflection here after we heard the

news of the passing of Nelson Mandela, one of the most influential

people of our time. Key figures in sport have paid tribute to him, who

once said sport has the power to change the world, the power to

inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does.

Nelson Mandela love sport and it is with great sadness that we bid him

farewell. Sport in the shape of snooker has brought us great joy and

entertainment over the last ten days in this Championship. We have

reached the semifinal stages and this is our line-up. I defending

champion left it late last night to overcome Barry Hawkins and is still

on track to emulate the deeds of this man. One of only two men to

retain the UK Championship. What did you make of Mark Selby's performance

and which aspects of his game will need sharpening up? Not since Steve

Davis have we had a player who can go so far in tournaments not playing

at his best. I have commentated on a couple of matches, and he has not

been scoring heavily but he keeps on winning. He beat Barry Hawkins and

he scraped through, at heartbreak of only 77. I have played Mark Selby,

that is the sort of game he would like to bring to the table. He will

play Ricky Walden tomorrow. Ricky Walden is a more attacking player.

Barry Hawkins and Graeme Dott are more percentage players. We will

concentrate on seeing Neil Robertson up against Stuart Bingham. How do

you view this one? This is not straightforward. Robertson is

playing the best snooker of anyone consistently. He is the favourite to

lift the trophy. Stuart Bingham has a really good record. We are looking

forward to it. You will see that the table is ready. The table features

were here until the early hours. These semifinals are the best of 17

frames. It is Australia against England. I complain some good

snooker, at the moment it has been solid garbage. I have a good record

against Robertson. I will enjoy every moment. He is a much improved

player. A few years ago, he would really struggle. Now, he is

competing in finals. He is one of the top eight players in the world.

I will try to give it everything I have got. This season he has been

made -- he has been making every other frame. He plays the game

positively. That is why he is the number one. It will be tough. If I

take chances, hopefully I will come out on top. He beat Ronnie, you have

to make a favour -- a favourite for that. I will have to improve on my

performances. It might surprise you to learn that Neil Robertson has

only beaten Stuart Bingham him once. That was on their very first

meeting. Stewart has had the upper hand in their most recent matches,

including two wins and overall, including all the Championship

league matches, seven wins out of ten. Those statistics have raised a

few eyebrows. Did you know that was a records? We spoke to Stuart

Bingham and he said his record, seven in three in all types of

tournaments, a fantastic record, there are not many players in the

world who can say they have a record like that against Neil Robertson.

After yesterday's game, he came of age. He did really well to weather

the storm. That is the one thing we thought about him, would he run out

of steam, but he certainly did not. This will be a different test, it

will not be as free-flowing. There will be more tactical play from Neil

Robertson, but with Stuart Bingham's record against him, he

will cope with that. Robertson has been dismantling people. Robertson

has had an easy passage. He is going to come under a little bit of heat.

Stuart Bingham will be confident. It will be interesting to see when he

is put to the test, how good Neil Robinson -- Neil Robertson is. He is

confident. Stuart Bingham, sometimes after you have had a big

performance, it is difficult to pick yourself up again. He did not get a

lot of sleep last night. Obviously he was thinking about the match and

the euphoria of beating Ronnie O Sullivan. This is another thing that

is brought out in these tournaments, hopefully both players can produce

their best game. Over to Rob Walker. There is a real buzz around this

place when we get down to the one tables set up, because it is

semi-final time here. Four of the very best players in the world left

in this most prestigious of tournaments and two of them are set

to entertain us in fine style. Please welcome first of all, a

player making his first appearance in a world or UK semifinal, he

knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan yesterday, his wife has been

delighted with his progress and she has phoned to ask for a fancy watch

for Christmas if he makes the final, the pressure is on for Stuart

Bingham! His opponent, bidding for his first

appearance in the UK Championship final, what a story, what a journey

he has been on in his ten years here from Australia. Knocking out Stephen

Maguire yesterday, can you hear the thunder from down under, Neil

Robertson! APPLAUSE.

Ladies and gentlemen, would you all now please be upstanding and join us

in a minute's silence, in memory of the great man whose spirit and

humility change the face of a nation, inspired a continent and let

the rest of the world staring in wonder at the power of his words and

his vision, we remember Nelson Mandela. Thank you. A great man

remembered and a great semifinal in prospect. A poignant start to our

afternoon. We are poised for the opening eight frames of this

semifinal. These great players, and I would

say, form wise, to me, they have produced the best snooker in this

tournament so far. I am really looking forward to this match. Neil

Robertson, the world number one against Stuart Bingham who must be

on top of the world, particularly after that great victory over Ronnie

O Sullivan yesterday. He must be feeling on top of the world. The

first frame. Best of 17. Looks like a decent break. A good

break from Stewart. Neil Robertson is renowned for his long potting. It

puts a lot of pressure on your safety. Stuart will be pleased that

he has not left a chance. There are a few loose reds. He will have to be

a little bit careful. Foul and a miss. Stuart Bingham, four.

Stuart had a look, there was no free ball. If there had have been a free

ball, he would have taken it. It is a two cushion escape. He will

try to clip that Roush. -- red. If it runs a little bit, this could

be a free ball. It is definitely worth taking this brown on into the

centre. He can possibly just stunned that

and take the brown again and possibly the green. --

a lot of players might have just stun it into the middle. When people

ask you what is the highest possible break, this is an incident, if you

get a free ball, that brown counts as a red. If he pots the blue, and

there are still 147 points left on the table, that is how you beat the

maximum. It is the equivalent of having 15 reds on the table.

Just checking to see if that red just above the black is available.

He has got enough angle on the blue and it doors go, -- if it does go,

he would love to be on it. He would have the black in both corner

pockets. A nice angle now if he chooses to go

into the pack, just have to miss that first red directly above the

cue ball. He has played a little cannon. He could have played that

with a deep screw. It is OK. Even though these matches are the

best of 17, the first to nine, that is the main reason he is not going

into a little bit more pace. It seems as though he did not want to

take any undue risk. If you get that nice angle and you turn it down,

will you get a better chance? He has not got a better angle here on the

black to open anything up. Obviously red that will pass the

cluster and he has that nicely. He has to look for a good angle on the

black here. He has had a quick look at the pink on the left centre,

because that would follow up within easy red that is right the pink. --

with an easy red. He has got on the black and has a nice angle now. He

has to be careful. If he stuns it, this could go wrong. He has taken

the loose reds, that is a couple of times he has refused to go into that

bunch. Going back up for the blue. A loose

red he can play on here, perhaps he can nudge a few reds open if he gets

the right angle. He will not want to be too straight. He will need a good

angle on the colour to bring other balls into play. He could try to get

the pink into the centre and leave a half-ball on the pink in the centre

or try and leave the cue ball high on the black and use the top cushion

to go into the bunch of reds. There is the possibility of screwing back

and take the pink into the same pocket as the red.

He is on a red. Fortunately he has just tied the black up slightly. He

thought the pink would have spun off its spot. He breathed a sigh of

relief. The rectory spotted the pink. -- referee.

I have never seen a 16 red clearance. The do not think so. -- I

do not think so. Just not the right angle on the

pink, once the black was tied up, it was always a struggle. He just needs

the pink now. Neil Robertson will need a snooker. This pink will put

him 79 points in front. There will be 75 remaining.

He could not hit the reds. Free ball. It has all been Stuart

Bingham. The highest break of the tournament so far is 142. As the

frame is safe, is it worth trying to bring the black interplay. He has

got the frame sewn up. -- in to play. It is a little bit risky.

He is trying to work it out. He knows the highest break is 142.

Maybe worth playing a little cannon on the red, knocking it away from

the black. That is unlucky. He is trying to

nudge it away. Is there a gap through these two reds? There is!

There is! Has he hit it hard enough? What a pity. Stuart Bingham has won

the frame in one visit. Neil Robertson will not think much of his

chances of winning the frame. He is AT behind and there is only 67

remaining. -- 80. You do not blame Neil Robertson for

wanting to play on, trying to get the pace of the table.

APPLAUSE. Trademark long pot they there from

Neill. Right in the middle of the pocket.

He is just using this for a bit of practice. Four snooker is needed.

That is a tall order against anyone. -- snookers.

The results of the possibility of a free ball. -- there is also.

If he pots and other two reds and two blacks, there is a chance.

Anything is possible. It is a very tall order.

He has gone about these as if he wants to play on, as if he still has

ambitions of winning this frame. I think the key of this shot, as

well as getting the cue ball, is to pot the black on the next shot. Get

the cue ball as tight to the pink as possible and the red as close to a

ball colour as possible. It would be amazing if he did manage

to get the free ball. Could it finish with one? He should have been

straight on the red, he made S of that. -- he made a mess of that.

I think the problem here is he cannot get any distance. He will

have to lie on the pink here. APPLAUSE.

He has got a snooker, but not the one he would have hoped for. He has

to be a little bit careful. He will have to play on the right-hand

side, check it of the cushion. -- off the cushion. It should not be a

problem. It just shows you. He needed a bit more right-hand side on

that. He just skimmed past it. It will give Neil Roberts and

encouragement. -- Neil Robertson. He could win this. What a turnaround

that would be. This is a pretty good line, but where is the red going?

The one thing when you are playing those shots, you have to get the

object ball safe. If Stuart comes in, it is the end of the frame. Long

way away. Will the Green come to his rescue?

A good line, a bit short of pace though.

He could just try to stun the cue ball behind the yellow.

If he stuns the red into the Brian, it stops the red coming up and down

the table. He looks to be coming thing of the

red. The stunt would be the normal choice.

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

to hit this red, not sure why he didn't try to roll the cue ball into

the brown or blue there. A chance of May be sent red up or

down the table and the cue ball on black.

He may have to go for the pink here. He's just looking at the scoreboard.

That is enough. Stuart Bingen in first. Good break of 72, wins the

first frame. HAZEL IRVINE: We had a 16 reds situation there. Very

unusual. Yes. Never been seen before, especially in a semifinal.

Still very impressive by Stuart. What is the highest you have ever

made officially? 149. When did you do that? I was practising with eight

pro 80 years ago. The chance for 150 that dealt with but went for an easy

positional shot with the pink rather than the black. I note most players

have had a 147 in practice, but these things fairly commonplace in

even the artist rooms? Not really. I remember a plain happy a read only

cushion that he thought he was going to get 4151. Unfortunately he missed

the last red. I have had consecutive ones, though.

COMMENTATOR: I had two 147s in a row, once. Did you? Yes. They were

buses, though. The maximum is 155 if you get the free ball.

I had a chance on one wins. I was on the final black. And somebody woke

me up. He is not a slow player, Neil

Robertson, by any means. But run it makes his mind up very

fast, what shot he's going to take. -- but Ronnie O'Sullivan makes his

mind up very fast. He has got too much side on that.

Yes, he could not have come worse. OK, the pot is easy enough, but how

do you get the power? He hit the read a bit wide. If he had hit it in

the middle of the pocket may be he would have controlled the cue ball a

little better. Is it a three ball plant on the

extreme right? It could be. Trying to get the canon of the yellow. Good

effort. He might play this free ball plant. A good effort. Just not

enough arc on the cue ball. Plenty of cue power. He can play this free

ball plant. It is not far away. He did not play that very well. The

read he has knocked towards the corner is covered by the blue. He

will be disappointed he did not make more than that.

Catching the bump is not what he wanted. So here is a chance for

Stuart Bingham. It is not too bad. The pink is in

the left centre. The only problem with this pot is

you have to be careful because you are going into another red and he

needs a little bit of pace to get away on to the next red and into the

left-hand corner pocket. It is a similar shot to this forced

red. Oh, he has missed it again. He will

be disappointed with that. It was straightforward for Stuart Bingen.

That was always a danger, playing of the canon. If you just stuck to a

read you would be on the pink. -- a red.

That was all brought about because he did not get the canon on the red

that you mentioned earlier, Ken. Neal is a little bit reluctant to

play after the pack of rents just in case he may not something over this

left-hand corner pocket. You can see the disappointment on

his face. He was a long way with that red. He did not even get in the

jaws of the pocket. red. He had a nice angle. He could

have made the pot easier. Well, that was a nice little chart.

He judged it perfectly. It is imperative for Stuart that he

makes the most of these type of chances, keep the pressure on Neil

Robertson. He did not play the canon this time.

There were enough open reds. Considering he had nice, close

control of the cue ball, quite a poor positional shot on the pink.

Not quite sure with the red next to the black whether he can get the red

away and get the cue ball as tight to the black as possible.

That is pretty good. Excellent safety shot.

APPLAUSE Yes, Ken, it is an absolute cracker.

Because the reds loose, he has two get the line and length perfect.

He was sizing up initially to try to get a drop on the red beside the

lack that he thought that was too dangerous. But that was perfect. He

could not have hit that better. Stuart does not want to bring the

black into play. The black isn't tied up is a little bit of

protection. -- the black being tied up. He needs a good safety against a

potter. -- a potter of the class of Neil Robertson.

It was pacey. It was a good enough line. He had to play it with that

bit of extra pace. It is not safe. Here is a chance for

Stuart. Red to the left corner. Could win the frame.

He is not even getting close at the moment, and where is the red going

to go? Oh! Well, he didn't deserve it but sometimes this game is not

about what you deserve. Once again, quite a long way away with the pot.

That is normally one of Stuart's strengths.

Because he was so far away with the pot, that is why the red ran loose.

And it looked as if it was going to drop.

Some people would consider Neil Robertson favourite now for the

frame. He has virtually come through all

his matches without any scrapes or bumps.

The situation of the reds, I cannot see anything difficult on the table.

He will try to play on the red that is closest to the cue ball when he

plays this black. When he parts these red, the other

red will be released into the opposite corner pocket.

I have always felt that when you are clearing the colours, yellow is

always the easier positional shot, to the left-hand side. And like the

green. He has controlled it nicely on the

Brown. So Stuart Bingham, a little bit to

think about with his long pot. It just shows you the benefit of

Neil Robertson in that first frame, having a bit of table time.

Now we are all square. One apiece. HAZEL IRVINE: A good response from

Neil Irvine against a player that he has just never really got to grips

with. Stuart Bingham has held all of the aces on most of their meetings.

It is funny how things like that work-out. You have certain players

come along who you just do not play against. The words Mark Johnston

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

that! Mark Johnston Allen was my bogeyman. Why is that? The first one

I lost 5-0 and after that, I do not know. I remember him going out to

play in the third time. I said, if he beats you today, he's going to

take you home and put you on the mantelpiece excavation mark the

point remains, however... I will take one on the chin because he beat

me in the quarterfinals. The only one who beat him is Jimmy. The point

is that clearly there are players that one struggles to play against.

Why do you think it is in Stuart's case? What style does he have that

proves so problematic for Neil? Neil seems the sort of character that

would not get into that sort of thing. He seems to be oblivious to

people's records. It surprises me. But they play each other so many

times, these players, nowadays. I used to think it was very important

the first time you play somebody, I used to be conscious not to be lost

very early on. If that happens, he thinks, I can beat him. The very

first time you play him, I used to think it was important to play well

and so he did not get it in his head that he could beat you. In terms of

the way Stuart has played so far, we talked about how he has knocked out

Ronnie O'Sullivan and the fear factor of Ronnie O'Sullivan. I

looked at it last night. He was beaten 13-4 at the world

Championship by Ronnie O'Sullivan, and suddenly he has the confidence.

There was one session in the match that was the best but Ronnie has

played in the entire Championship. O'Sullivan was brilliant. But

yesterday, he stood up to him. From 4-1 in front, Ronnie stood up to him

and he was brilliant. An interesting conversation between

the two lads. Neil Robertson will be settled into the match now. Stuart

will be a little bit disturbed, he had a good chance in the middle of

that frame to win it. He could have taken the lead. That is better. That

is what we have come to expect from Stuart. That will make him feel a

lot better. It would have been a bit

disconcerting couple of Mrs, particularly the couple of long ones

-- misses. You must keep your eye on the ball. Concentrate on getting the

cue ball in and getting more reds into play. The old problem, he was

playing it on the right-hand side. If you saw were the green went on,

the right-hand side pushes the green in. He was lucky to get away with

it. Just watch the green, he has put the

right-hand side on the cue ball. He needed that to widen the angle.

Having gone into the reds, he was lucky not to leave anything for his

opponent. He should not have missed the green.

He has left reds to either corner pocket. It is not bad, but it is not

tight against the ball cushion which you need to be.

Maybe the fact that he was running into reds, it makes the part so much

more difficult. -- pot. If there were no reds, he would go for that

pot, without even thinking about it. Running into other reds makes the

pot so much more difficult. Where is the cue ball going? He had

better tiptoe back to his chair! Is there no gravity here?

It is very awkward cueing as you can imagine. He will have to put his

fingertips on the leather of the pocket to get any sort of distance

between his bridge hand and the cue ball. It makes it very awkward.

It nearly went in off the ball. It makes it very awkward.

He should have moved the red. It was such a simple shot. He obviously

thought the black went back on its spot. That is surprising.

It is obvious, but it is easy for us to say now. Surely if the black was

not going to go to the spot, he would play a soft run to remove that

bread. He could have played it slowly and nudged the red -- the

red. The pink is in the way if he moves on the blue.

The problem is, if he pots the red and gets on the pink, the pink will

go on the green spot. He was going to be high on the blue and he

finished up on the brown. He has not got good close control of his cue

ball. Not yet. There are plenty of reds in the open. He needs one good

positional shot. Ideally, he would like to get on the red which is on

the black spot. When he tried to get on it, he needs big kiss on the

red. That is not too bad. -- he needs their case.

The chance has presented itself to win the frame from this position. He

is asking the referee to clean the cue ball. That has given him some

thinking time. I do not know whether he will risk playing for the pink or

go for the blue. Back up for the blue, it is OK as long as you can

get an nice angle on the blue. No need to play cannons. There are

loose reds he can play on. He will not risk. When you play at Cannon,

you take a slight risk that you can run out of Opposition. Why take a

risk when there are reds there? He can pot the pink and leave the

cue ball close. That is OK. When he removed this red, he left the pink

open to both pockets. The photographer obviously has his flash

on. That just shows you the experience of Stuart now, with a bit

of time, he would have missed the red, and said that seller put him

off. -- fellow. He is the complete player and it is all down to belief.

From the moment he came on the scene, the first time I saw him, he

missed a pink for the 147. I thought he had a great future. It is just

believing you can do it against the top players. For a time, he did not

have that belief, but he has it now. An excellent break, but he had to

work for it. He is an excellent break builder. He has made a 140 73

times in his career. -- 147. I think winning his first tournament

in Australia a couple of years ago, I think that gave him the confidence

to really produce the goods at top level and against the top players.

We have already had 77 century breaks in this tournament. Could

this be the 78th and Stuart's fourth?

Playing for the pink, he will need the yellow and green for the 100.

Nicely played to! -- nicely played! He took it beautifully. Well

played! That puts down a marker. Always puts down a marker to your

opponent that if you make one mistake, I am in that type of form

that will keep you in your seat for the rest of the frame.

APPLAUSE. Just saying a few little exhibition

shots. -- playing a few. When he did get in, it was perfection. He is

happy, he leads to-1. There was the one where he missed

the green, played the cannon and got away with that and then he played as

safety shot and it looked as though the cue ball would drop in the

pocket. Here it is. It would have dropped. It looked like it was going

in. It put Neil Robertson in a difficult position. A fantastic

break. It all came about when he played the brown in around the

ankles and got a lovely kiss on the red. Once the blackspot was open, he

could win -- angles. How that cue ball did not drop them, I do not

know. That red would have been there for Neil to play. He had a difficult

safety and did not get it safe and sat down for the rest of the frame.

There will be an mid session interval after this frame. Neil

Robertson would like to stay close. We will play eight frames in this

first session and the remaining frames, possible nine, in the second

session this evening. This is why the UK Championship is rated second

only to the world, it is the amount of frames you play.

It was an excellent length, but that was the possibility of the red being

pottable, but it is covered. A beautiful shot. Perhaps a fraction

short of pace. Caught the red nicely, but you do

not want to leave Neil Robertson the chance of a pot at this stage.

He is refusing it. That does surprise me.

Do you think Neil Robertson has a better chance occurs he thinks his

tactical game is better? Diet -- occurs.

That was a fluke! It was not intended. Look at the position. I am

surprised that Neil turned that red down. He had no intention of trying

to cut that red in, but he will certainly take it. Not the best

positional shot. He had the choice of two reds to play on. He might

still play this red. He will be running into other balls, he can

screw back up the table. Do not take your eyes off the pot, that is the

most important thing. He will not want to miss this red. He will be

using the other reds and pink to get back. Perfect! He is on the black

perfectly. Another great opportunity for Stuart

Bingham. I wonder if Neil Robertson the reflecting on the shot he turned

down. -- will be reflecting. From Stuart's point of view, he

would have thought Neil would have a go. That would have given him

confidence. You can see big disappointment on Stuart's face when

he left the cue ball on their baulk line. He thought he had left him a

chance. For Neil to refuse it, that is a bonus in itself. -- the baulk

line. The head to head is in favour of

Stuart Bingham. He could have screwed back for the blue. It was a

decent safety, but if you get a chance to score, why would you

refuse it? You have to play your natural game. The only way you will

win these matches is to play at your best. To play your best, you have to

give yourself a chance. It can all get a little bit

negative, but it surprises me so early in the match.

That has worked out absolutely inch perfect. Just below centre.

They kiss on the red on the right-hand side just leaves the cue

ball perfectly -- the case. Stuart will be disappointed if he does not

win the frame. There is sure pot success, 94 each.

-- there is your pot success. I think that mid-60s is OK for a

long pots. Safety is a bit low. The opening red that Stuart Bingham

got was a fluke. That was a bad safety. That was not his best shot.

He may have to use the side of the reds to negotiate his next pot after

this red. He may have to use the side. This could go wrong. He has

already parted an excellent red at the start of this frame. -- potted.

It could go wrong and it has gone wrong. It was the previous shot, it

was a straightforward blue to red. He did not get on that red as he

would have liked. A report for Neil Robertson. -- a reprieve.

He could possibly put the green on the right side, on the cushion, try

and put it in a safe place. Neil Robertson is left-handed, anything

on the right-hand side of the table, is not that difficult for a

left-hander. Stuart Bingham will want to see the best possible place

to put the cue ball. If you could put the brown on the left-hand side

of the table, that would be better. -- if he could put the brown.

He will be disappointed if he does not run the frame. He has played a

good safety. -- win the frame. It is not a certainty to get this safe.

Where is the cue ball going? Foul, Stuart Bingham. If it had stayed in

the jaws it may have been saved, but now the chance of a long pot for

Stuart. There is judgement there for Neal and if he knocks that end,

automatically on the black and should win the frame -- Neil.

Close! Not quite there and a chance now for Stuart Bingham... Sorry,

Neil Robertson to punish Stuart. He had to take it on.

He makes these shots look so easy, but you have to be so accurate.

This one open red next to the brown. I do not think he will be able to

win the frame. Not that this visit, without needing the awkward blue.

Will he take a chance of trying to bring the blue into play here? It

would be a bit risky. It could come of two cushions with the red.

He avoided that. The last of the easy reds.

23 points behind, now. 43 remaining. He has just got an angle on this

thread. -- this red. As I say, they make them look so

easy but you have got to be spot on. He just caught the left-hand jaw

as we look. They never go in when they do that.

I think he has just come far enough up the table.

He could have played that a bit better.

You would have thought something a bit more attacking than that. He has

put Neil in no trouble. He tried to note that red but he

just caught it a little bit too thin.

Cleverly bringing the other brought into play. Perfect on the pink. --

the other red. The only hurdle now is the blue. The

only thing that could stop him from winning this frame.

I know it is a strange thing to say but if the room was on its own spot,

he would feel more confident about getting on the blue. But because it

is on a different spot, it is a slightly different table from when

you normally practice clearing up. The key will be to get a good angle

on the problem, and get on the blue. Will he leave an angle on the green

here? It is a perfect angle on the green.

He could stun onto the cushion and just bring the blue into the open if

he wishes. He has played it well. The only trouble with that was the

cue ball was going to stay relatively close to the cushion. But

he does not have to do much with the cue ball.

Stuart Bingham had the chance to take an advantage into the

mid-session interval, but Neil Robertson will be pleased with the

outcome, all square, two apiece. And Stuart Bingham might feel he

missed a trick in that frame with maybe a choice of shot that might

have bought him a bit of time early on, John? Yes. We are going to show

you the table. He has a 50 point lead. You have got

to put the brown on the side cushion. Neil Robertson is

left-handed and he is not like Ronnie O'Sullivan and can play

right-handed. He has clicked the green. Later on in that break, he

has come off the green and cleared the blueprint and cleared up. The

row itself... It stops the counter clearance.

As you said when we were watching, it is a little old-fashioned but he

would have done it. It is as old as the hills but I would have done it?

Stephen? You lost me at hello! I had to do it against him all the time.

You had to stop him clearing up. I was always looking for that shot.

What is your reading of the situation? Over a 17 friend match,

it sometimes can be about those frames rather than the ones where

you get centuries, the once you shouldn't have one. Those frames

could be important. Will Stuart be stewing on that? I do not think so.

He did not think of the shot anyway. He has been by far the

better player. So he will be happy with 2-2. It does not seem that long

ago that a certain Stephen Hendry was a bit of a teenage prodigy.

Actually, I am lying, it was a very long time ago! But since then there

have been lots of players cueing up to be the next big thing in

snooker. How about this? This young man is only five years of age. He

has been from -- he is from Gateshead and he goes by the name of

Bo Thirsk. Young players are the future of this game. Many players

developed a gift at a very young age and even at the UK Championship here

in York, we witnessed 15-year-old Shane Castle push the reigning

champion all the way. But could this young man, five-year-old Bo Thirsk,

be the next big thing? He had a little table when he was two and

within a couple of weeks, you could see he had cueing action and ever

since then it has got better and better. As soon as he was tall

enough, we put him on a snooker table, and ever since then he has

got better and better. His dad came in the club and he sent

me some clips of YouTube. I was really impressed with what I saw. I

said, bring him up to the club and we will have a look at what we can

do with him. I do it after school. And on the weekend. Two times a

week. At his age, I just told his dad to get induced to hitting balls

for another couple of years. Then he can start developing. But it is in

his hands. We are nothing his fringe and loving his style! Beau Thirsk,

you heard it here first. He has already had an exhibition matches

against Mark Williams, Steve Maguire and even Davis and he's looking

forward to playing Jimmy White early next year. Extraordinary! I was with

a three-year-old Chinese boy giving a similar thing. It is incredible.

You cannot believe how they can get the cue action going. Amazing.

Amazing that he has the mechanics so young, but when do you want to know

if you have the makings of a champion? Well, you can't, really.

If you have a natural ability that is the first thing. He will need a

couple of years just to grow for his cue action. Junior events, there are

so many things in the recipe, but he has the natural talent and that is

the start. But the enjoyment is surely the key thing at the moment?

Yes, don't teach in anything, just let him enjoy playing sleeper. 20 we

first see you playing? At 12 I got a table for Christmas. Same thing for

me, 12. I started playing and then that was it, I was hooked. You might

be seen Beau Thirsk in a UK semifinal in years to come. We will

have a quick look now at the other semifinal and it features Mark

Selby, the defending champion, who is very glad today of a day off, I

am sure. But as I speak, I notice he is packed in the background here. He

is up against Ricky Walden, defending champion. It is going to

be an interesting match. Let's get their views.

I am happy that I am still in the tournament so I have to take a lots

of positives from that. Saturday is another day. It will be my second

semifinal. I lost to mark in that one so hopefully this time I can get

to the final. But these are the times that you want to cherish. Me

and Mark have known each other for a long time, since university. He

improved so much when he came on the circuit. He is in the number one

spot and is an ultimate pro. He is a fantastic player. He has a great

all-round game. He scores very well, very heavy and quickly. He does not

have that many weaknesses. It will be a tough match. You are putting

your day's practice in and kicking around, waiting for your match, and

you have two plates top-notch snooker. It takes its toll a bit. It

has been a long season so everyone will be glad when Christmas comes

round just to have a rest and put the cue away for a few weeks.

Where he is, the defending champion. Last night after his match

against Barry Hawkins, Mark promised he would be in here working hard to

iron out what he said were a few weaknesses in the game. Ian and I

touched on this game last night, against Ari Hawkins. What was your

perspective right? He knows himself he's not playing his a game and his

top rate was 77 last night. Did he win? Sure did. That is the object of

the exercise. You have to keep going. Barry Hawkins got 135... 142

last night. The object of the exercise is to win and he has an

uncanny knack of being able to do it when he is not at his best. Mark and

I talked recently about this whole brinkmanship issue where he does not

feel he is actually in a match until his back is against the wall. And he

says that is when it really starts to kick in. He suddenly feels that

feeling that he does not want to go home. Did you get that? Yes, I think

all the top players get that. You sensed danger and you just go up a

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

results. 77 is not a good standard of breaks but he won the match and

that is the important thing. He is in the semifinal. Maybe slightly

behind Robertson as the favourite to win it. You can always find your

game here, find a bit of form, something right click all of a

sudden. That is why he is in here at dissing today. What is your

assessment of Ricky Walden? Semifinal at the Crucible this time

will stop he ran out of steam pedestal bit, by his own admission.

It is something different at the Crucible. But tournament is a long

haul. -- that tournament. He will be more used to it now, more

experienced. He is fluent, scores heavily on so he has a chance. That

match gets under way tomorrow afternoon and we will be seeing it

through on both sessions, morning and evening. We talked about Neil

Robertson, really regarded by most as a complete player will stop but

he needs this title to complete his CV, because inked into that CB

already is the Masters crown and the world title. He would love to

complete the set and get a triple Crown.

The UK is one of the top prizes that has just alluded to you. Did you

feel it is the right time to go for it this time? Yes, I think so. I am

playing really well. This season I think we have had five ranking event

so far and all but one I have lost to the eventual winner. I lost twice

to Ding in the quarterfinals. So I feel bizarre being very closed to

winning three of four ranking events already this season myself but there

are top players playing at the top of their game. I do not have to

worry about my game. I am as confident as ever. So I just need to

be patient, wait for the right time, and just try to prepare as well as I

can for the UK and see what will happen. I'm not going to put any

desperation all for it to become an session to win the UK. If you start

doing it you get into a little bit of trouble. I just have to keep

doing what I have been doing every tournament. This one is probably the

one I have prepared the best four. You have this natural aggression and

you go for long pots and then you almost inhibited course of a it by

trying to become spiky defensive at times, and then use the address this

situation and you go back to the aggression. Did you decide to play

more quickly after Robert Milkins? When I made that game I was playing

really well and I lost 5-4 up. I thought if I tidied it up I was

guaranteed to win. But the opposite happened, where it put me under a

bit more pressure. I lost every scrappy frame on the colours. I have

never had that in my love, losing every single frame on the pink or

the black or the blue. Even if I had one I would not have enjoyed it, the

strain that it would have put me under. Seeing a couple of Ronnie

O'Sullivan's interviews during the World Championship, and how he

always keeps his opponent under pressure, keeps going for it, he

does not go for really reckless shots but he keeps attacking, and

when you stop attacking in this game, you stop scaring people. Judd

Trump is probably at a bit of a crossroads now with his shot

selection. When he won the UK he was going for everything, scaring

people. The problem with being over attacking is you give your opponent

lots of chances so you are kind of banking on their bottling it,

basically, which is what is happening against Judd. You are

paying attention to the height and getting too involved in that and

bottling it against him. Now he's trying to win and play really good

safety. And now the fear is sort of gone, so people are not afraid of

playing him any more. He's definitely a much better player than

when he was playing the UK Championship, but he's nowhere near

as to play. Does he go back to being reckless, scaring people, or play a

much more brand game and that is something that I have had to deal

with. You can always adjust it. More attacking, more safety... I have

been much quicker this season, thinking more instinctively about

shots I want to play cover getting there and playing them. People like

Mark Allen have said sometimes I play too slow. I was not doing it on

purpose to try to slow them down. I was just trying to make the right

decision. I have much more enjoyed my sneaker, really enjoyed making

the centuries. People go on about making 70 or 80 or 100 this season.

I do not think I can make 100. But most certainly I will definitely

break the record this season. COMMENTATOR: Robertson, a century,

number 51 of the season. Yes, I am certainly enjoying my sneaker more

than ever. Neil has now made 55 centuries.

He is head and shoulders above everyone else. Ding Junhui is the

closest, on 38. He is almost certain to beat the record of 61 in one

season. People have taught about him making 100 100. Is that possible? He

does want to clear up every single time, and that gives you confidence

going into the next frame, even if it looks like it may mean nothing,

it gives you that boost. To clear it with a hundred.

He talked about speeding up, becoming more instinctive. When he

went out in the first round against Milkins, he felt he had slowed down.

It is, he says, a bit of a balance between natural aggression and

trying to be a bit more reserved. How did you get through those

periods? A lot of top payers are afraid of losing more than afraid of

winning. They play a bit too defensively. A lot of people make a

big deal about going out in the first round. It does not matter if

you are a fast player or a slow player, you play the game that

matches yourself. He certainly had a lot of success two years ago when he

won the world title. You might remember, his mother, Alison, flew

in from Australia to watch the match and arrived just before it got under

way. She is here again for the latter stages of this event and she

is with John now. Lovely to see you again. How is the jet lag? It is

awful. I am trying to remember the day I got here. Wednesday, about

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

really will stop you are here for another reason, to see your

grandson, Alexander. Yes, that is right. I cannot wait to make cookies

with him and play Lego. It must be a while since you saw him? A year and

a half. As for your boy himself, he is doing well. You are not the one

who goes in and gives him a team talk in the interval, are you? No,

but I'd like to see play his own game. The last time he came over he

won the World Championship will stop working Mac lets not jinx it just

yet, but I have my fingers crossed. Are you a good watcher? Yes, I try

not to get too nervous or make any loud noises! Nice to see you.

It is very tense and tied in this semifinal as Allison watches her

boy. This is the man he is playing, Stuart Bingham. It is poised at two

frames apiece. We welcome them back for another four frames this

afternoon in this best of 17 match. We hand back to John and Ken in the

box. COMMENTATOR: I think that Neil

Robertson would be mighty relieved to get that fourth frame before the

interval. Both players now into the match.

Didn't expect it to run away in this match anyway. It is a close to call

contest. Four more frames to be played in

this first session. Pretty quick smoker. We have had two

frames over 20 minutes, the first two frames, but then it speeded up.

I was wondering whether that was a plant or not. That was the break of

shock. He made the plant. Unfortunately, he has not got on a

colour. -- that was the wake of shot.

Not certain about that choice of shock.

And he has not played that are well, to be honest. And he's such a good

player at these long pots. He has not even looked at taking

that red on. He's such a good long potter.

It was thin, but not that then. He will be pleased with the outcome.

That was as good a safety shot as you have played, Stuart. Well done.

Went for that one but was more concerned about getting the cue ball

back to the balk cushion, which he has done very well.

An excellent shop there from Stuart. -- shot.

Neil just having eloped at the left-hand edge. -- just having a

look. He is wary of knocking something towards the right corner

pocket. It is still a good target behind the

green and brown. Stuart Bingham needs to come up with

a good one. There is a gap between the green and round to catch a red.

It is still tight to the ball cushion -- brown.

From what we have seen, perhaps Neil will not be tempted by the reds. He

is trying to get in behind the green and brown again.

The cue ball has not got enough pace in it. I do not think Stuart will

turn this down. That shot just had enough angle on

the blue. Playing this thread, he is hoping to

be on the black. -- red. He would like a bit more angle, but

now he is playing for the black, he should stick to that plan.

He just asked to roll this black in. He just -- he just has to to.

A good chance early on in the frame. It started with a good long pot.

He has two hit the red full-ball. He has to get a full-ball connection.

He feels it might hit the side and go through the gap.

Would you believe that? Would you believe that? The most important

thing is to pot the ball first and then worry about position.

Normally he is such a good player with the rest. He is thinking more

about position and forgets the pot. A schoolboy mistake.

He will not be too disappointed with that. He finishes on the black.

He does not want to use the rest, so he is at full stretch here. He has

played it nicely, good shot. He would love to get that red as

close to the cue ball and get that out of the way after he pots that

black. We are starting to get momentum in

this match. Stuart Bingham was in control of previous frames.

When you pinch a frame off a player, it gives you a great boost

and has the reverse effect on your opponent.

He will be thinking about those missed chances.

And there was the Black King missed. -- the black he missed.

There is no doubt about it, Neil Robertson would have been a happier

of the players being all square at the interval. -- the happier. To be

gifted this chance, he will be feeling very good inside. This could

be the key to the frame. A nice angle on the blue. If this goes

right, it should be frame over. You felt as long as he made contact

on the first red, it would open up nicely.

That Miss Black from Stuart will cost him his frame -- missed black.

You cannot give your opponents chances like this and expect to get

any reward. He was nicely on the black, I think he oversaw to it. --

over thought it. To red is needed, that is all -- to

reds needed, that is all. -- two. If he parts of this black, he will

go 65 points in front. -- if he pots.

He has stayed nicely at the business end.

Could not do a lot with that, came to straight. He would do well to the

century now. Stuart Bingham will be very

disappointed, he had first chance and missed a straightforward black.

Neil Robertson made no mistake and he now leads 3-2. We go back to that

black, he played for the awkward red so he could get the black on its

part. It looked perfect. He looked at this for a few moments and he was

not sure that he would get a full-ball contact. He tries to hit

the red just above it and try and force it down and because he was

trying to force it down, he took his eye off the pot. He will be very

disappointed, because he created that from a wonderful long ball.

That is another frame he will be sad to have lost. He could quite easily

have been 4-1 in front. He had chances to win every frame. Neil

Robertson, very impressive once he gets in amongst the balls. He was

cueing them so well. gets in amongst the balls. He was

cueing them gets in amongst the balls. He was

those chances from Stuart making Just let that cue ball run loose

slightly. That blue will make it very awkward

cueing. He has just lost the light somewhat. Just watch the white, it

when it comes off the cushion, it goes up the table away from the

reds. A little bit of a unintentional slide there. He feels

he can pot this, but it is awkward cueing. Well played! A good kiss on

the yellow. It looks as though he has an angle

on the brown, it is not all bad. That was a good pot. The only

problem is, the blue and pink are tied up for the moment.

He wanted to be down, and little bit further down and he could have been

perfectly on this pink in the corner pocket -- a little bit further down.

He is looking to be positive, he is looking to get the high-value

colours in place, so he can win the frame in one visit. He is just short

of pace, having to play the yellow, rather than the pink.

He rushed that a little bit. He was uncomfortable with that shot.

Neil was trying to cannon the blue and pink, but he missed the cannon.

He was probably on the yellow, but so tight on the cushion, he cannot

get on the next red. I think he is looking to play a tactical snooker.

That is unlucky. He will have to play away from the reds. It is a

similar position to where he was. It is a little bit more awkward to

get it behind the yellow. It is a lot easier to get in behind

the brown, but for some reason he does not like that.

If you can get in behind the yellow, but may be a he was not that

bothered about the snooker. Maybe he wanted Stuart to have the reds. The

way they are tightly clustered, if he got the snooker, there was not

much danger of Stuart leaving anything.

His main priority was to get the cue ball back to the ball cushion, but

he did think there might be a chance of putting the red, but it was

completely on the wrong side. -- potting.

He has left to chance, this thread goes to the right medal. -- left a

chance. -- this red goes to the right medal.

Nicely played, it he will kiss the yellow!

You could say it is unlucky, but that yellow was always close to the

pocket. He concentrated on the part -- pot, but it was unlucky.

The only problem to me, playing the yellow, he may just play this

snooker behind it. He decided to go for it.

He is on this red in a fashion. It is not as easy as it looks, it is an

acute angle. He will need a little bit of pace to get that position on

the black. The made light of it. He made it

look so easy. -- he made light of it. That was a very acute angle. It

never touched the side, good shot. That is a surprise. He tried to

screw off the cushion, back out, and that made it a little bit more

difficult. At that pace, you have to be so accurate. I am surprised he

missed, though. Will Neil Robertson have a go at the

red into the yellow pocket? It is certainly a more Conservative

Neil Robertson. It is certainly effective, a big target for Stuart,

he is a bit reluctant to disturb the pack of reds for fear of knocking a

red into one of the corner pockets, but there is a big target up behind

the green and brown should he risk moving the cue ball off three or

four cushions. He will settle for the outcome. He

obviously did not play the pot. That little flick on the black made it a

better shot than it looked it was going to be.

I do not think there is any shot he can play here, only roll into the

reds. It could go off the side of the reds.

The one thing you have to be wary of, and they do not think Neil

Robertson has the shot on, but if you could snick off the reds, it

would be a very telling safety. Does this black cover the reds in

the middle. It does not. This is where the game is slightly

different. If that blue was available, he would have every

reason to take this red on. He cannot just drop it in. The fact

that the pink and blue are tied up, he cannot drop it in and leave it in

the middle of the table. The brown is blocking the path of the green

into its pocket. I am not quite sure if he can pot the red and push the

cue ball through and miss the red which is closest to it. It is a

tough pot. Well, he got the cue ball clean. He

was going to size up the pot that there is no real value. -- but there

is no real value. Is he going to take this red on into

the pocket near the brown? Too thin, and that is why the cue

ball has gone in the pocket. He has now just gifted, as he has done in a

few frames, he has gifted a chance to Neil Robertson. Neil Robertson

comes to the table 24 points behind. Blue and pink are out of commission

but the blacks are available into both corners.

He purposefully played for the brown. It is stopping the green

going in that pocket. He has cleared the path. It was always going to be

a straightforward positional shot. But how careless was that?

Lucky to be on that red that he has not we covered the situation just

yet, such was the situation of the red. He put all his concentration

into the pot. Well, Stuart Bingham will come back to the table. I do

not know what Neil is feeling, but we have two reds adjacent to the

left level and just over it. If he thought he was going to hit that

line, he would have hit it harder and wrote all those reds into play.

Well, he caught it well. Could have done without the keys on the brown

but he has not left anything but he could be in trouble next shot.

Well, he has left a possible pot on this red into the corner pocket.

It is an important frame for both players, particularly Stuart King.

He needs to study this ship. A good pot gain from Neil Robertson. Needs

a bit of luck on the brown and he has got it. Kiss on the brown.

Excellent pot. The only slightly difficult ball is

the red closest to the top cushion. The field that is the only possible

saving grace for Stuart Bingham. Not the best positional shot there

from Neil close to the cushion. If Stuart finds himself for -2

behind, he will be very disappointed with the chances he has had. That is

a fantastic pot. Cleared that in so well.

A lot of pressure on that pot. Oh, but he did not cue that one so

well, and has he got away with it? Has he got the cover on the red

left-centre? Has the yellow come to his rescue?

A tremendous pot on the black. You never expected him to miss that. So

a chance for Stuart, but he will need the blue or pink.

April positional shot, just at the wrong time. -- April

He has had a few chances and it will be gnawing away at his confidence

that he has not taken them. Brilliant shot, that was. Lots of

top spin. And the added bonus that he has

clipped the pink away from the blue so there is not a safe ball on the

table now. If Stuart does not contain this situation, he could

lose the frame. This could be his last shot at it.

Just a little bit too much left-hand side on that cue ball. More

difficult than he would have liked. Another good shot needed here, it

seems. He has missed it. Would you believe

it. Can Stuart just see enough of this

yellow? Getting a bit tense out there now, John. Yes.

Not quite a snooker but he has got the yellow safe. He may consider it

unlikely but deep down he should be glad that he's in this frame still

because for all money it looks like he should have lost it.

Believe it or not this is a tricky shot to get it safe.

It is pretty good. It is not a snooker.

It looks straightforward, twice across the table with the yellow.

He has not made the best fist of that.

You cannot get much closer without them dropping.

It is not going to be the EEC used shot, though, as we say on many

occasions. -- it is not going to be the easiest shot.

He can play cushion first. Needs yellow, green and brown.

He has over screwed it. That is hard to believe.

You see, plenty of bottom. It was helped a little bit because it came

off the cushion, but still, look at the axe being that was in that cue

ball. The green will go to the middle so he could still win the

frame at this visit. Oh, tremendous! APPLAUSE

Neil Robertson knew the importance of that shot.

He gave it a little bit of a dash yes! Well, he

great part on the green. She do but indent will be very disappointed. --

great pot on the green. Stuart Bingham will be very disappointed.

Just beginning to exert the screw there. Ya, the yellow and green

fantastic. A little bit scrappy. Of the two players it has suited Neil a

bit more than Stuart. He has lost a bit of fluency. In the first round

Neil just wanted to get the match is over and done with. Stuart seems to

have lost a bit of fluency, why is that? In the last four or five years

he has played a much quicker pace. He is more confident in his game and

he likes to get the breaks. He has lost two frames a day where he was

ahead and that Neil has pinched. He started off stronger and he is

definitely happier when he's making big breaks. Is there any suggestion

at all that having had such a big victory the day before effects you

for the next day? Is it adrenaline? It is a possibility. I do not think

that has happened today. The balls has been awkward the last couple of

frames. Is he of the boil a little bit here, Neil Robertson? Sometimes

your rhythm goes a little bit. Neil has got to the first target, getting

to four. They are playing eight frames so he cannot be behind going

into the next session. But this next frame is pretty big in the context

of the match. This one coming up is very important. And the pressure is

piled on Bingham White a bit, with the overall context of this match

with the second session to come tonight? Yes, he has won smaller

events. He wants to be considered and he is considered for one of the

favourites to win tournaments that until he can win a major one he will

not be considered one of the top players. When Stuart has been on the

cusp of something... He won the Australian and that was a big thing

for him but he wants to cement his place. That is what you play the

game for and that is what he is hoping to do. At the moment he just

needs one good chance to get his fluency back. Not taking him to long

to bring a friend, just getting back into his rhythm. Penultimate frame

of the session. -- not too long to win a frame.

COMMENTATOR: Neil Robertson, to me, just seems to be winning the frames

on Stuart's mistakes. That could be worrying for Stuart. He must be

kicking himself. He has lost the last three frames in

a row and he has probably been the better player in amongst the balls.

And here is a couple of the mistakes. A straightforward black.

Trying to screw that with a lot of pace. This was another mistake.

Going off into the corner pocket. But he should not panic just yet. He

has been doing really nicely and when he gets in amongst them, he has

a really good pace. And he scores very well. He just has

not been clinical enough. Those frames that Neil Robertson Pinches,

when players do that, they really are a sucker punch.

Any frame you lose when you have not had a really good chance, what more

can you do about it? When you have had a couple of chances in the frame

and missed some easy balls that Stuart has missed...

No need to panic any more because it is not first to six, it is first to

nine, so Neil Robertson still needs five more frames to win this match.

Well, he went for it. Tried to screw the cue ball back to the book

cushion. Kiss of the yellow. It could have gone wrong. It hit the

cue ball, EQ bought it the yellow. -- the cue ball hit the yellow.

Well short of pace with that one. A chance for Neil to have a good

Just a safety, and that is an safety or snooker.

Just a safety, and that is an excellent shot.

Stuart had his head in his hands there.

I mentioned earlier I was talking to him and I asked how he was feeling

and he said he did not get much sleep. The euphoria of the match

with Ronnie O'Sullivan and thinking about this match, it can get to you.

When you are involved in a big tournament like this, it is hard to

get a good's nights sleep. He played that well, nice angle on

the blue. During the interval, John Parrott was chatting to Neil

Robertson's mother and she mentioned something she got for her grandson.

It is a chocolate biscuit. If he can just get through to this,

without having to bridge over the ball, it will be a good shot. He

would like to stay on the black, but I am not certain he can now. He will

want to play the red along the top cushion. He is not certain to be

able to hold for the blue. He certainly cannot play for the black.

He needs a good recovery. He needs a good positional shot.

Where is the cue ball going? Well, he will be fortunate if he has got

an angle on the green to send the cue ball back up to the other end of

the table. It looks as though he has. If he can get past the yellow,

he is perfect on the screen. He could not have had a better run

than that, he was fortunate to be on the brain. Look at the kiss. You

could not ask for a better one -- on the green. If he can get an nice

angle off the pot on the red. There is a red at the bottom of the pack

which is pottable. There are plenty of reds in the

open. This will be four in a row. This has been very impressive.

Excellent snooker. Yes, he must be delighted. He played his best

earlier on, but he gave Stuart chances earlier. He is getting more

confidence, he is looking more confident now. He looks more

positive and believes he will win the frame at this visit. I would not

go against that. Now you see the pot success.

71, with 67 remaining. This is going to be a masse of last frame for

Stuart Bingham. -- a massive last frame. If he can salvage and win the

last frame, he would only be two behind going into the session this

evening. He would be still well in the game.

A 6-2 deficit would be hard to overturn.

Well, if it did not go in, but he has a 72 point litre. He will be a

bit disappointed -- a 72 point lead. He has had chances, but he has not

made one. He will not be bothered about that. Stuart will need to get

position on the black. It may go all around the houses.

Nice pot. Very hard to keep your concentration.

He will start trying to lay his first one here. He will not be

trying to pot this last red. He should have kept this close, he

needs to get this red if he can, tucked up near the pink and brown.

He has got it near the pink and brown. He has got the snooker, this

is not easy to hit. If he comes off the right-hand side cushion, he has

not got all the red to head. -- to hit.

It is probably the line that the red took off the side cushion.

There is quite a tight gap between the yellow and brown, he will need

to hit this hard. He will not want to leave a free ball.

Foul. Stuart Bingham, four. Free ball. 44 points behind, 35

remaining. If he could pot the brown, get the

position on the black, he would only need one snooker. He is just trying

to work it out. If he was only 43 behind, he could

tie here. If you could get on the black, it

would be good. Good shot. This looks perfect. Very

well played! If the parts the black, he could

even play for the pink off the last red. -- if he pots the black. If he

can get the cue ball near that circle...

He only needs one four point snooker. The blue would put him

still in that one snooker required stage.

There is enough room around the back of the yellow. Neil Robertson will

be concerned with that. You still fancy him to hit the yellow.

He has got a nice angle he can go off the soft cushion and lay in

behind the black. It is a big target behind the black.

Just that extra role, it is not there.

The first priority here is to get the object ball safe.

If you get the snooker as well, good luck to you and he has got it. Good

shot! It does not look too difficult a

swerve to hit the yellow, but if he hits it with no pace, he will leave

himself open for being snookered on the next visit. That is a certainty.

If he does not hit it, Stuart Bingham can win the frame. A swerve

it is. He has over swerve debt. -- over

swerve it. This is turning into a massive frame

for Stuart Bingham. He looks certain to be 5-2 down.

Absolutely inch perfect on the green. A terrific pot.

He got the second prize. It is not too bad. It was a good chance to

steal the frame. Will he get another one?

He played that well. He left distance between the green and the

cue ball. This frame is still in the balance, but Stuart Bingham had a

great chance. He was not too bad on that green. A bit harder than what

it was, he thought. He should have potted it.

I think he played the other side of the blue. It is not bad. Even though

Neil Robertson is 24 points in front, you feel that he ever parts

the green, will win the frame. -- whoever -- pots.

Does this run past the blue and is it pottable? They are both looking

from one end to the other. I think Stuart thinks that with a little bit

of side, he can get to the potting angle of the screen.

I cannot believe he has overcooked it. He had to swerve it slightly.

Just look at this. He has overcooked it. He will not get another chance.

Neil Robertson will be mightily relieved. Blue has not gone end but

I do not think Stuart will bother carrying on. He concedes. It was a

chance to put those bad misses behind him, but he did not take the

opportunity. One more opportunity. Neil Robertson is in front, and he

is happy. He got away with that one. It was beautifully fought out. He

parted some great balls. We thought the frame was dead. The way he

worked out how to get the snooker was very good. The impact of losing

that, after all that hard work, what is that? I am not surprised he left

the auditorium. This is a huge frame coming up. 6-2, there is no way

back. He has two windows. -- he has two win this. When you get four

snookers, the pressure switches. The green was in a funny position where

he had to hold for the position. When you rewind in that frame, it

was that Henk from Robertson, if he had put that away, it was over. --

pink. All credit to Stuart for keeping going. They either frames

which really hurt. One minute you're playing shots freely because you do

not think you can win, then there is a chance to win it, and he missed

it. If you work in Stuart's Corner, what would you tell him? He has got

to hope to get a decent chance. He has been frozen out in the last few

frames. The mistakes have been pounced on by Neil Robertson. It is

time for the last one before the interval. The big question, will

Neil Robertson have a four frame lead or just two? It is must win for

Stuart Bingham and that is a good start. He could take the blue. The

red has gone over to the left-hand corner pocket. How he could do with

a good sizeable break here. He wasn't missing them at yesterday

against Romeo Sullivan. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan. Even at last spring,

when he had a chance from nowhere, he is hurting at the moment. -- even

that last frame. If the black is at the soft spot,

you can miss when you are in. It can be costly. He has been jumping on

these mistakes, has Neil. Stuart, he will be distraught if he goes into

this session this evening behind. It is the first to nine. An excellent

pot. He finished perfectly on the blue to smash into the pink and

bring the reds interplay. -- in to play. Not a lot moved. You have to

hit the pink full in the face and he did not. Then the pink goes into the

reds. He will be disappointed. Someone has got a fit of giggles in

the front row. Good sharks. -- good shot. It is not

too bad. Imperative he gets a good angle on

the blue. He has got it. One good split here

from the blue into the reds, if he can go into the ones bunched

together to the left of the pink... It is not too bad. By goodness for

the second red! It looked terrible for a moment. The red came off the

top cushion. That is OK. It stopped short of the

baulk line. What will the difference between

MBE, two or three frames? You can keep watching online. The second

session begins at 7pm. Nine more frames to play then. We have to

leave York and head to Brazil next, the shape of the World Cup draw is

about to be revealed. Goodbye.