08/12/2013 UK Snooker Championship

Pencils and paint are all very well, but it is getting your name

etched onto this trophy that counts in the final of the UK championship.

Long considered one of snooker's biggest three titles, this event has

been among the liveliest we have ever known. 128 players began. We

have had shocks, surprises. But we have ended up with the world than

the one against the world number two in this final. -- world number one.

Neil Robertson takes on Mark Selby today.

He is world number one for a reason. I need to cut out and forced errors.

I have got a great chance -- cut out and forced errors. It is nice to

know I have a lot of gears to go through. That is exciting. Mark is

such a fantastic match player. He got the better of me in the Masters

final. I beat him in the Masters last year. Since then, he's has

seemed to have the edge over me. Hopefully I can turn it around. I am

looking forward to the final. To have your name in history, it would

be a great feeling. The record... You would obviously put me in the

group of one years 11, Stephen Hendry, other players who have won

all three. To join those guys would be amazing. He has got such a great

technique, very straight. He has not got that many weaknesses. His safety

has tightened up over the last few got that many weaknesses. His safety

Neil, he will be calm and relaxed. He seems really keen this week.

Playing really well. He has a solid all-round game. He likes to attack

and I am sure if we both play our best, it will be a great final.

There is tasty rivalry between these two.

They have both managed four wins a piece in previous matches. This is

the third major final this year they have met in. Selby nicked Neil

Robertson's crown at Alexandra Palace in January. We have got John

Parrott and Stephen Hendry, both winners of

Parrott and Stephen Hendry, both today. One and two in the world, we

cannot complain. Would be -- could be a reversal of that situation

today. A classic occasion. The prestige that comes with the trophy,

a considerable first prize, but if you win today, you will be world

number one. Mark Selby is trying to become the first man since you in

1996 to retain this trophy. He has already knocked in a maximum. What

are we to make of his overall form this week with Mac he has not been

his scoring best. He scrapped through a lot of matches. He has got

the results. He will be looking to play better today. Apart from the

maximum, he will have to score heavier today. A historic 100th

maximum in snooker. The UK championship is to play for today.

It is a very exclusive group he would be going into. He knew every

player who had done it before. It is very significant and he knows about

it. The triple Crown is on the line. From Neil's point of view what is

key for him to date? His long potting is his strength. Yesterday,

Ricky Walden was not able to put the long balls. If Neil Robertson does

that today, he will be the favourite. I cannot wait. It is

going to be terrific. Best of 19 frames, best two players in the

world. One of the showpiece event of any season in snow cover. It is now

time for the MC2 get things going. Good afternoon, ladies and

gentlemen. We started with 128, now there are two. This is the big one.

Welcome to the final of the UK championship. This could be epic.

Let us get the boys on the baize. CHEERING

Please welcome a man for whom it has been an incredible story and an

incredible journey over the last ten years since he arrived from

Australia. World champion in 2010, Masters winner in 2012, today

bidding to join and a late group -- an elite group of players to do the

hat-trick. His mum has flown in. Please welcome the world number one,

the Thunder from Down Under, Neil Robertson.

MUSIC: "Heart Of Courage" by Two Steps From Hell

and his opponent, one of the most colourful characters on the

circuit, his amazing maximum yesterday is a moment none of us

will ever forget, bidding to become the first player to defend this

title in 17 years, he is the reigning UK champion, he is the

Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby. MUSIC: "Fast Fuse" by Kasabian

tremendous sense of excitement here at the Barbican Centre for the

final. Best of 19. It is an all-day affair. This is the first of two

sessions. Eight frames to play this afternoon. Now it is time to say

hello to Willie Thorne and Ken Doherty.

This is what you play for in professional snooker, the final of a

major championship, the UK championship, they are just about to

have their picture taken with the trophy. What a great match this

could be. Snooker's number one and two in the world. Whoever wins goes

to number one. It could not be closer. I am really looking forward

to a great matchup. It has all the hallmarks of a fantastic final. What

a great crowd here at the Barbican in York. Super crowd. Two very good

friends as well. Hazel mentioned that they have played each other

eight times and won four matches each. One has made 313. One has made

316. They are close in every department. Robertson at this moment

in time is scoring a little heavier than his opponent, Mark Selby.

A little conversation with Mark Selby in the players' lounge before

this match. He said was he disappointed, the way he has been

playing. He said, I want to play better, I want to score more.

Hopefully he will find a bit of form in this final. It is an amazing

ability to have, even when you're not playing so well, you can still

manage to beat these top players. That is what he is blessed with,

Mark Selby. It is going to be tough. He is up against the world number

one who has been in fantastic form all week.

He could get on the one next to the pink.

His long potting might cause a few problems for Mark Selby. I am a

little surprised he is not taking the green on, looking at the angle.

He could have left it in the jaws of the pocket. I don't blame him. Selby

looks to be his normal self again, smiling again. He had lost that bit

of Jester from Leicester. If he gets back to enjoying it, I think he has

been trying to hard over the last season and a half.

What a wonderful maximum the other day. To make 147 in a semifinal. It

came completely out of the blue. Playing that snooker behind the

green, it is a nodding shop. So simple. That is why I thought he

would play to put the green. First frame. Needs to settle. Amazing

crowd pictures. Always packed. We have both played in the final of

these big tournaments. There is no better thrill. The crowds have been

good here. Packed out in the beautiful Barbican arena. All week,

so was supported. If the black was available, you may

see him take it on. Just a safety shot.

An army of supporters have come up from Leicester. Mark's mother-in-law

came on the train, arrived ten minutes before the game. Must be a

little bit difficult for Neil. His mother is here which is tremendous

but... Neil Robertson's mother has come

over specially for Christmas to see her grandchild. Another shot he has

not been knocking in this week. Fantastic pot. Nice angle on the

blue as well. Still the same problem. The black is

only available in the right-hand corner. He will have to go for

colour again after this. If you had to put your head on the

line, you would have to favour Robertson slightly. Yes, I think

overall form, Robertson has been scoring better and been disposing of

his opponents quite easily, you would have said. Whereas Mark has

struggled. But, as we say in sport, and particularly in snooker, every

single day is different. Some days you play well and the next day you

come out and it is not there. I am sure Mark Selby will be hoping he

can improve his game, at least 20%, 30%. I remember last year in the

quarterfinals he was 4-0 down to Neil Robertson. He came out after

the interval and won six in a row. If you can get on the black in the

same pocket, he has every chance of getting rid of the road that is

causing a problem. Needs to finish higher on the black. Perfect angle

to play the cannon. Also a good angle to come around the back of it

and play it in the same pocket. Purposefully played high on the

blue, travelled on a little bit but he is still OK. There is a red in

the middle of the bunch that is available into the right corner

pocket but he has to be quite precise with that.

He may like to go into the reds here.

A little bit unlucky that the red has gone in such a way that he may

have to play the Plantier. It is not guaranteed. Probably just played to

a glance off the front to reds but where'd that red has gone on the

left-hand jaw, he has got to be careful of this plant. Yes, well

done. A nice angle on the black, he can

merge the red out of the way and still be on the one to the corner.

An excellent opportunity now to win this frame at this visit.

It makes you wonder, Ken, how Mark can doubt himself sometimes. He is

not as confident as he normally is. He is such a wonderful player. I

have known him since he was 14 years of age and to see the improvement in

this young man is quite remarkable. He is checking that the act red

double pot. If it does, he will not have to play the cannon. -- that the

back red will pot. The cue ball has gone a little close

to the cushion but he still has a nice angle on this red into the

centre, back down for the black. Break goes to 58, so he needs one

more red after potting this black. This should be a great final. This

is Robertson's first shot at the table, right into the pocket. As if

to Selby was not to be outdone, what a great shot that is. It has got him

into this frame winning break, possibly.

That is the frame. Perfect on the brink. You could not pick it up by

hand and put it better than it finished there.

It is quite evident, Willie, just from the first opening exchange in

this frame that Mark Selby has picked up his pace a little bit. No

doubt about that. He must be feeling a lot better after yesterday. Maybe

that 147 as well will give him a little bit of confidence that he has

been lacking. I think that is the thing, Ken. He realises he can play

that they want -- played that way when he is not at his best.

Missing the cues on the brown here will be tough, playing in and out of

baulk. What a fabulous shot. He deserves a

century now. Our title sponsors,

williamhill.com, have kindly donated ?1000 for every century made this

week. We have 10,000 at the moment. What a fantastic start to the UK

final. Vicky enjoy that. -- enjoyed that.

Over the years, it is amazing how the

Mark Selby's wife is looking very pleased. A long way to go.

As a statement of intent, pretty impressive. It is like boxing,

getting in the first bunch. Neil Robertson potted his first long pot,

fantastic. Mark Selby potted his first long pot. He has done that in

a couple of matches, the one I dominated with Graeme Dott, the

first frame, bank on it. Interesting to see how he'd react in the next

few. Neil Robertson knows that it is the food were that have turned up.

We have been talking all week that he has been winning without scoring.

Neal will know that, he has been watching the games as well, but this

will change as mind. We talk about the big occasion, he tends to

produce something when it matters. That is a skill in itself.

Absolutely, this is when you need to produce your best snooker. Well,

Neil Robertson knows he is in a match today and we are building our

hands because we know we have got one, too.

KEN DOHERTY: We certainly do. A pretty good break off.

Robertson has not missed a ball and a safety shot because he snooker

team. That is amazing. -- because he snooker to him.

We talked about Selby's 147 break, his pot success rate only moved down

1%, he was a typhoon three in front and eventually 19 hyphenate.

He has got to be careful with the safety he is looking at.

Great return, super-short. -- super shot.

Half a chance for Neil Robertson. A couple of bread to go out but he

doesn't have the angle to get back into baulk. Not a good safety. That

was pretty straightforward for a safety shot, he will be disappointed

that he called the red. As he left anything?

They are blocking key to the. There is one red, of course. But it would

be very hard to control the cue ball.

That was a very clever shot. He would have had a tough safety shot

if he had not been lucky enough to kiss a corner. Rather than play the

risky shot, he brought the black into play with that safety shot, and

moved to the top cushion. I think he can get through to the

one to the right of the black. It is not straight, he could have got on

the black. I don't know whether he can bounce it in between the two red

Sox -- between the two reds. This thread is on, but, again, no

real control. It makes the pot a little bit more difficult. So, just

a good safety. He is not risking any. Shot at the minute. -- not

risking any sort of shot at the minute. There is no point in

bringing the tubal down the same side of the table as it is now, he

really wants to swing it behind the groin or the brand because anywhere

on the right-hand side of the table -- behind the Queen for the brown.

The red appears to have travelled to far past the middle pocket to make

it pottable. I don't know if he can risk playing back into the same

area. He may have to roll up to that red and push it kind the cushion. --

push it behind the cushion. That is what he is looking at, maybe to push

it towards the reds, use the knuckle of the middle pocket to try to

spring the cue ball back into baulk. Maybe just roll up to it, as you

said. He may use the corner of the middle pocket here. No, just rolling

up. Has he left anything? It is pretty good.

So far the safety has been top drawer.

I do not see the problem playing Finn and back into baulk. -- playing

Finn. Certainly one part of Neil

Robertson's game over the last few seasons that has improved immensely

is his safety. He is renowned for his break-building and long potting.

His knowledge as well has just improved quite dramatically and that

is what has made him so consistent as well. I have mentioned a few

times on commentary, both of these players started at my club in

Leicester and Robertson when he first came over lost his tour card

and was a fabulous potter but did not break-building very well, safety

was not good enough. Then when he got his wild card, he had improved

100%. And Selby very similar. He was not the best player in the club. He

was third or fourth. He used to cue three or four inches away from the

white then he got very close and improved 100% overnight. Now here

they are, number one and two in the world.

Got a chance of getting Mark in trouble here. As long as he avoids

the jaws, should be able to get behind the green on the baulk

cushion. You do not want to snooker a person in this position. It is too

risky to play up wind them, the reds, that is why most players play

for the baulk cushion. Now, this thread could be pottable in the

right-hand corner. Playing the cue ball back into baulk, the one above

the pink, that is the one he is looking at.

That is Mark Selby's first port safety shot.

An example there of how well he can get through the cue ball. Look at

the distance the cue ball cover so quickly. Perfectly on the blue as

well. That will be a bonus, getting it back on its own spot. A couple of

reds he would love to get rid of, particularly the ones next to the

black and another one that is pottable into the right-hand corner

pocket. There is a chance to play the blue

and play the cannon into the pink. Both

and play the cannon into the pink. at the moment. He is not playing it

He is going to have a bit of work to though.

He is going to have a bit of work to do to get onto the blue or the baulk

colour. Lovely screw shot. The white do to get onto the blue or the baulk

stops and the spin takes. I love looking at those shots.

Have a look at the cue ball. Stops for a moment and spins back.

Excellent chance to go into the pink now, if he wishes.

Quite unlucky there. Could have had more of the cue ball to work with.

Perfectly played cannon. Just tried to slide past that read

without touching it, trying to be on the pink into the same pocket as he

potted the red. That is the end of the break now. Just lucky. It does

not put Mark into trouble with his safety. He may decide to play

different shot. I do not really see the point of

playing the pink to get the white on the baulk cushion. He could have got

there by just rolling up to the yellow so I do not know why he

wanted to put the pink out of play. Maybe he wants to knock Mark out of

his stride. He has left a possibility here into

the right corner pocket. There may be a gap around the back of the

black. Trying to... He is refusing it. He does not think he can find

that gap. That is a surprise. He has definitely covered the

pocket. -- covered the red over the pocket.

The red two away from the Black will pass the black into the corner. He

will have to be careful he does not leave the cue ball three or four

inches off the cushion. We are still in a position where

both players have 100% pot success rate. Every ball they have gone for

at the moment has gone in. That was a dangerous choice of shot for Neil

Robertson. I think he may have left this red. Mark is coming down to

have a look from the back of the red. I think it does pot. There is a

gap of the top cushion to get back for blue.

He probably feels that to get back for blue or org-macro colour, he

would have to fit it too hard. -- baulk colour.

That is the first pot that has been missed in this match so far. How

costly will it be? May have got heavy contact on the

cue ball. Just taken the place out of it a little bit. He is still OK.

The yellow and brown are of the spot, and easy pathway back down for

a couple of reds that are closest to the right-hand corner pocket. He

would probably like to maybe take the two reds and two blues before he

contemplates bringing more reds into play.

He has a nice angle now. Sometimes if you have the angle, sometimes it

is better just to take a chance here. He has got the bonus if he

gets a bad case, the one second away from the black pots and the one in

open play is clearly available. It is worth the risk. I bet he wishes

he had not put the pink safe now. That is handy. It has moved the

black into a position where it puts into the right-hand corner. --

pots. Looking at the situation, it is

still going to be really tough for him to make more than about 30, 35

from here. The black is really hard to get onto in the right-hand

corner. Anything above 30 will be good. In fairness, he could have

played that a bit harder and brought the reds into play.

He may play at this time, what do you think? Lady cannon into the two

reds near the black. He may do. Two reds are close to the right-hand

bottom corner pocket. He has hit the wrong side of them.

He was always going to be on this red. It is not the one he wanted to

be on. He has brought the black into a pottable position now so he just

has to trickle this red along the cushion. Let gravity take over.

This is not a gloomy, this black. -- this is not a gimme. If he puts it,

he should win the frame. A bit of pressure.

Nicely in, and perfectly on the red. Excellent shot. He made it look very

easy. 52 points ahead, the Black would put

him 59, just one more red remaining. Neil Robertson would like to reply

to Mark Selby with a big break it. He has had a look at the plant in

the corner. He still has not missed a pot that he has gone for yet in

two friends. -- two frames. Once again, the knowledgeable crowd

applaud to say they acknowledge the situation. But he has to be sure of

the red. We thought we might have a classic

match, and that looks exactly what it is so far. Both look to be in

good form today. He is having a look at those two reds, to see if they

plant. What a wonderful shot that was!

Bringing the two reds into play as well. Might we see another century

break? Such a shame from Neil Robertson. But a wonderful 63 break.

He is off the mark. Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, one frame each. We saw a

long pot, this is the first one that Mark Selby have missed. We have

looked from directly behind, he was worried about not being able to see

enough of the red and actually saw too much of it. Yes, he was just

worried about, was there enough of a gap? But he could have glanced off

the two reds to get back of four blue, but as you said, Willie, he

almost hit it full ball. That is what caused the opening for Neil

Robertson to make that 63 break. HAZEL: Neil Robertson has gone out

of the arena for the moment. It took awhile for that frame to get

underway. Will that be a future for the next few frames? When the black

when safe, top players don't like it, it tends to spoil the frame a

little bit. But I think there will be a lot of frames like that because

they respect each other's game so much. Something we talked about with

Neil 's game is his care with his shot selection. How important is

that against Selby? He came here to make sure there was no banana skin

in the first few rounds. He came in, 6-1, 6-0, demolished everybody.

He has been a man on a mission, made sure he has not put his opponent

amongst the balls if he did not need to. He has been focused in that

respect. The bookmakers make him odds-on favourite. Yes, Selby was

very popular, looking like it might be like that.

WILLIE: yes, it was a little bit pedestrian, but the safety was

superb. Safety is about 90% for each of them, 57% each. -- 87% each.

Neal will come down and have a look at the pack of reds. He will be

quite reluctant to hit the pack too hard, always a chance of knocking

one of those reds by the corner pocket.

See, the red did come out but he has been slightly fortunate because a

red has come out to block the potting angle for that particular

red. Mark Selby have half a chance. Long red to right corner. He would

probably have to deep screw the cue ball back to the baulk.

Oh, super shot! Super shot! Well, he deserved a little bit of luck there,

Willie. He deserved to kiss that brown. He looked up at the

commentary box, we have been having a chat over the next couple of days

and we have said, you have to enjoy what you are doing. A little look up

to the commentary box there, wouldn't it be lovely to get that

kiss on the brown? Not his best to, Neil can get through, Conte? Maybe

not, might be a bit tight. A little look to the commentary box, how

unlucky was that? I don't think you can get through to the potting

angle. Well, that is a mistake. If the

black goes, it could be a costly one. Mark has just had a quick

glance at the black. The black definitely pots. A little bit

careless from Neil Robertson there. In it goes. Does he have an angle?

If he does not have an angle to move the red, the black may spot on the

brown spot, because I think the brown spot is available.

Yes, the pink spot is covered so it goes on the highest available, which

is the brown. Would have loved a nice angle to pot the back and move

the red off the black spot. But he is still OK.

The pink will not spot on its own spot, so now the black spot has

opened up so the pink can go on the black spot. There is a chance with

the way the reds have spread here. Just concentrate on the pink now for

the next five or six reds. If that cue ball comes another two inches,

he can play into the bunch. Just watch the bounce, probably took two

inches of pace out of the white said the cannon is not on, which he would

have liked to have played. You will get another chance, though.

He has got a choice of two reds here, the bottom red, at the bottom

of the pack of seven, was pot. I am surprised he has taken this one.

This will not necessarily... He should be OK, as long as he comes

into the side of the pack he will be OK. Normally there is not a better

player in the world at this type of shot and Mark Selby. He normally

gets a bit more gear on than that and screws the White passed the

pack. But still OK. He has played a lot of those shots this week. Yes,

he is very, very good at that. Obviously did not want the pink spot

to become available so he took the pace of the cue ball little bit. If

he had hit the cue ball any harder, the pink spot may have been opened

up, put the pink out of commission, said it was a clever shot. Good

point, Ken, I never thought of that. Good thinking.

It looks like these two players are in excellent form. You cannot afford

to miss anything easy. Neil Robertson played a poor safety which

gave Mark Selby a chance. Has he got on one? At first glance, probably

not. Just needed one more positional shot there.

You would have to say this is frame ball, so there is pressure on this.

Sometimes that little bit of added Drescher, he knew how important it

was, virtually frame ball -- that little bit of added pressure.

I think Neil will have to take on one of these reds, he cannot afford

to play a safety shot here. You have got to be a little

concerned with the red on the left-hand side. That is a reprieve

for Mark Selby. I fancied Robertson to knock that one in.

Part of you would have - a pot you would have expected Mark Selby to

get. And this is' only because of the importance of that particular

shot. The frame would have been the importance of that particular

over, if he was home and dry, I'm sure that wouldn't have touched the

sideds. But a little bit of extra pressure, sometimes you hit them

with a bit of side or hit them harder than you normally would.

APPLAUSE Yes, a good pot. He is on the blue

nicely. He would have been in Yes, a good pot. He is on the blue

travelled a few more inches. As it is, I think he can play the one

behind the blackspot. I don't think the one at the back of the three

pots, into the left-hand corner. We'll have a little look now for

you. It doesn't look like it can, does it? No, that doesn't pot. A

couple of reds are lined up into that corner pocket, but there is

quite a distance between the two reds for a possible plant. He is

having a look at this red that's over near the left-handside cushion.

So maybe pot this blue or take that red from mid-distance.

Well, a Robertson special needed here. He can't get on to the pink T

would be helpful to screw-back and get on to the black. If he can get

the white away from the cushion, he could screw-back and play for the

black. Mark Selby has been let off a couple of times in in frame. This is

the first frame we've had balls missed.

Just having a look at the cross double here, off the red. It is not

on. He is probably playing the one on the blackspot, having another

look at that cluster ball there. If the cross double is not on, he has

to be careful he doesn't push that other red that's to the right of the

blackspot close to the corner. He played it thin enough to make sure

he didn't. -- thass' close to the blackspot.

You'd be thinking of putting a red safe here, Ken, wouldn't you, if you

can? Yes, particularly with a a 44-point lead and not a safe ball on

the table, you'd like to have a little bit of insurance. Swinging

this around off four cushions and may even try to plant this red off

the other red and into the corner pocket here.

Missed the Cannon on the other red, but good cue ball.

LEAR That was an excellent safety shot. Good connection on the red.

Excellent shot. APPLAUSE

He couldn't have hit that much better.

He has got Mark Selby in a bit of trouble here.

He is trying to swerve around the green. The second red up from the

top cushion. Oh, that was close. UMPIRE: Foul and miss. It'll

certainly be put back. He just has to have a look at it to

make sure it is in the right place. He knows the swerve is on. Thing is,

Ken, he has a choice, if he doesn't hit the first red, he can hit the

second. That's right, if he was trying to hit the first red and

missed the and missed the second red by a fraction, it was close to it.

That's exactly what he is trying to play here. If he misses the first

one, he'll get the second one. An excellent shot. Well-played. He will

be happy with that. Very well well-thought-out, wasn't it? It

looked risky when he was playing the swerve, until I realised what he was

trying to do just look at the reaction he gets on the cue ball

here. Now, possible a choice of shots. He can play a

straight-forward safety shot but there is possibility with his cue

action and cue power, of course, that you could take this red on down

the cushion, but he is not looking at it.

Good pot. Where is the cue ball? Oh . It could have been a little bit

kinder to Mark Selby there. Excellent pot.

This game has all been about fractions. Another half inch, a nice

easy blue into the corner. It has just finished in between. It looks

like he'll attempt the green here. 41 points in front. I think he's

just going to - he may put it safe. Oh, I'm in the quut sure. -- not

quite sure. Well, he is going for it. It is a positive approach. An

excellent shot. Brilliant. Very good. It certainly sends out a

statement as to what sort of frame of mind Mark Selby is in. A very

positive shot. He was on a 40-point lead at the time. That was a good

shot. A chance to win the frame from this. The four reds are pretty safe,

apart from this. He needs two reds, two colours, we can see this one

disappearing, but does he have an angle to drop on that red on the

side cushion? It looks like he has. It looks a little bit straight. He

would have loved that at an angle to stun that pink in and get close to

the red furthest away from the cushion on the left. But there you

see the angle. Very straight. I'm not sure what he - yeah, maybe just

pot it and play a good safety. He could attempt a double as well. I'm

not sure - well it looks like he may be attempting the double. It may be

worth the risk. You can tell from where you put the

cue, he is going to attempt it. It is worth the risk, 51 ahead. Just

needs the red. Just leave the white safe on the cushion there.

Obviously a great safety player. Players have to play a lot of

doubles. Pretty good thinking there. It couldn't leave anything at all.

Strong favourite to win this third frame and take a 2-1 lead.

A good safety shot from Neil. Mark will be reluctant to move the red

off the side cushion and reluctant to split those two reds, but can he

get through to this one? A fraction of a swerve this time. Watch the cue

ball arc be around the green and arc around the blue. He'll push out

first and then go the other way it play the swerve.

Just over an hour's play. The play has been very good. Safety superb.

Break-building good. An opportunity for Neil Robertson.

Take the red off the right-hand side cushion and bring it into open play

and try to bring that cue ball up into that big target, of green,

brown and black. Oh, he has hit that very bad. I think that's the worth

safety shot he has played all week. Very good in terms of safety. He

will be very disappointed with that. A chance for Mark Selby here. Just

the red required. Still not happy with kind of what obviously, the

position, he needs the one red but every time it is game ball, he seems

it get up and down off the shot. But that won't worry him now. It is in.

It is interesting to hear Stephen Hendry's comment yesterday, Ken, he

said when he was playing these sessionses in UK, he had in

mind-set, not 5-3 but 6-2. You could always, as Stephen would say, you

could never win it the in first session but you could certainly lose

it. He always loved to have a big lead going into the evening session.

I don't think that's going to happen in this match. I think it is going

to be nip and tuck all the way, Will. I think this could go right

down to the wire, both players. They are both in great form.

Particularly Mark Selby, a vast improvement in his play this

afternoon, from what we've seen. He looks a lot more positive. You see

another excellent pot there. He looks more positive and confident.

Getting through the long shots better, not jabbing at them. Hello,

Ronnie O'Sullivan, left-handed. UMPIRE: Frame. Mark Selby takes a

2-1 lead. ?

STUDIO: This is a much more positive Mark Selby than we have seen for a

couple of days here in York. To give you an idea of how close these guys

are: It is the conversion rate in major

finals that is of interest. Mark's conversion rate is considerably

better, winning eight out of 13, whereas Mark has only converted

three into titles. That doesn't take into account the Masters in which

Mark has won three out of four finals and Neil Robertson has won

one out of two, John, what does this tell us about their liking for the

big occasion? It tells us about Neil Robertson, he is not one

out of 12 for Selby, does that surprise you, Stephen I said in

commentary yesterday, he has probably under-achieved when you

think how long he has been in the game and how good a player he is. I

know the three Masters are different. But to only have won

three Rajjing events is very surprising. That will change.

Clearly he has the upper hand here. But looking at what is at stake,

Neil Robertson to go on and win this would make nine world ranking

titles, to put him 7th on the all-time list. And he would still be

some 27 titles short of the tally amassed by a certain Stephen Hendry.

Quite some way to go. An interesting statistic. Mark

Selby, conversion rate, Willy, 12 finals and has only won three. Quite

surprising. A long way away from that, doesn't he? It pushed into t

the cue ball. These cloths are so fine. When you are digging down on a

ball to swing it at pace, the side doesn't get time to move. He pushed

straight into the ball. Well, that was a surprise. Pretty

straightforward there. He wasn't using any pace on the cue ball.

Mark Selby out of his chair like a greyhound. Couldn't believe it.

He has overran the blue but he is still OK. He has got it into this

corner pocket. Now, will anything go into the red corner pocket? The red

to the right of the black does pot but he has to be fairly - he has to

be very, very precise. You can see the black somebody

available into the same pocket as the red but you are going to have to

get there. If the red is either side of the black, both pot into the

left-hand corner. He maybe able it dig down on this blue and get on to

the reds in the pocket. But you can see he is coming around to see if

there is anything available in the other corner. That bottom one is not

available. He may go into them here. It is a big gap. That little gap in

between the two, the red to the left of the pack and the pack. If he can

get into that gap there, these will split nicely.

Cueing down. He needs a bit of stun. He won't screw it in. Oh, he decided

just to play the holding shot. Well, he has got a much better angle

now, hasn't he? The cue ball not so close to that right pocket. As you

said, Willy, plenty of pace here to screw into the pack of reds. He

needs a bit of luck now. He has lost the cue ball. How is his luck? He is

OK. He is on to the red in the right-hand corner pocket. It is

funny. I saw that shot slower into that bunch. He was almost bound to

nudge the back from one of the reds. He is on the red but he'll have to

go for the blue again. His pace has been very, very good in

this match so far. A nice little swerve. He had to

swerve it around the black. But, as you said, the pace of the

right-handside cushion, to hold it for the blue, perfect.

He is a bit fortunate. He didn't play on that red. He lost the cue

ball but managed to still be on it and pot it. He needs another good

positional shot here. He really has to get a nice angle, hasn't he, off

one of these reds. Try to get back on to the blue and maybe get the

black into play at some stage. In potting this red, he'll have room

for the one below the pink spot there, so he may not play that this

time. But looking at the situation, is that one more loose red?

The one nearest the pink spot, he'll probably play for that this time and

as long as he gets a good angle, go for the blue. The black does pot

into the bottom left-hand corner pocket, if he is lining up down

there. Now he has the chance to - well, he is just going to

concentrate on blues and build up a nice lead for the moment.

It is going to be tough now. Neil Robertson, amazingly enough in the

UK Championship, has never been behind in any match, this could be

the first time he is facing a deficit. This is an unusual start,

What an improvement we've seen - I know we've said it a few times - but

what an improvement from Mark Selby here. A lot of mistakes against

Ricky Walden. Of course, no-one has retained the UK Championship since

the great Stephen Hendry did a few years ago. Now he has lost position

here and he won't want to bring the black into play. If he thought that

kiss was on, why not use the kiss there to bring those two into play.

That's the first misjudgment of pace from today, Ken. I'm sure he was

trying to though, the red, to the right of the black spo. The black

did pot into that left-hand corner pocket.

UMPIRE: Mark Selby, 39. Well, he is a 39-point lead but I'm disappointed

he didn't win the round from that position. A chance for Neil

Robertson to open things up here. You can see the frustration, there,

Mark, sitting down. He chalked that cue very hard. He knew that was a

good chance to win the frame at that visit. But he is going to get

another one, unless the brown comes to his rescue. It hasn't. Winds

again the same scenario. He has to go for the blue. The reds are all in

the way of one another. To get into the reds and let's see what happens.

With the brown being off it's spot, would you want to spin this around

and bring reds into play He is coming down to have a look. I think

the top red, closest to the cue ball, that pots. Maybe you could

swing it around off two cushions and still get on to that red. The one

just directly above the black - it looks a bit pacy, this. I'd

definitely have been playing into those two. It was a massive target.

Impossible to miss the target. Still OK, I think you can just about clip

it in. Put his hand up there to acknowledge

a good kiss. He was planning on go in and out of baulk. He got nicely

into brown. We'll know from this shot whether one of these reds are

available. It looked to be pretty tight. The top one pots. And this

looks to be just about right. Well done.

Still probably needs two more reds. It's hard work, isn't it, this?

He hasn't found the gap, has he? That was so close, wasn't it? Look

at that. He played the gap there for that black red. I think he is just a

fraction too far. Now, the safety is not easy. He may have to play the

plant. An easy shot off the one next to the pink but would he want to

bring that one into play, Ken? Probably not. The only difficulty

with the plant is that there is quite a big distance between the two

reds. But he may not have an alternative. He is so reluctant to

move it, isn't he? You can't blame him but he lays down on to any of

these reds here, Neil will certainly bring that red into play. It maybe

worth having a go at the plant. But he still needs a colour. I can't see

how he can get on to a colour. Well, it looks like he is going to be

forced into it. - into taking this red off the right-handside cushion

and that would bring, in turn, the pink into play as well. I would love

to leave that red where it is, it is impossible to bring it into play and

get the cue ball back off the baulk. That red being out of play is so

much in his favour. I'm wondering if he did play the

plant, if he cannot get a colour, if the red goes in, at least he can put

a colour safe up in baulk and that would be an extra insurance. It is

worth having a go at this. Yes, well-played.

Well, I say well-played, but he has not had a colour. He was looking for

the green, wasn't he? Now, can he leave the back on the back cushion

and get the black safe? Maybe play the black on to the two cushions and

on to the top baulk cushion? That's what he is looking at now.

Looking at playing the black in between the blue and yellow and in

hyped the brown spot area. If he screws back on to the cushion, it is

going to be very difficult, then, for Neil Robertson to win this

frame. It is difficult now, but with the black and the pink out of play,

very difficult. How is the weight? Not very good. He needed that black

back on the cushion. That's not very good for Mark.

He has the possibility of trying to get that cue ball tight behind the

black. There is the poblted of a pot, as well, of course, into the

green pocket, but the fact that he has come down towards the black, it

is a big target but I'm not quite sure whether he is going to take

that. He'd love to bring the red into plain the pink, that are close

together. -- into play and the pink. I'm

wonder whether it is worth having a go at this red, into the green

pocket and try to get up for the blue. The pace he would have to play

it, Ken, would he almost kiss the pink? Safety it is. Trying to get

the cue ball behind the black. Mm, he has lost the safety exchange

there, not getting the snooker. Mark will have the insurance of two reds

being safe. He has the chance of getting another red safe here. He is

a little bit concerned about pushing the red on to the corner, and

pushing one red on to the other but at least he can try to get a good

white. Another good safety shot there. Just

pushed that red towards the cushion. Now he has gone massive favourite -

obviously clear favourite before those last two or three shots.

He will be pretty pleased, won't he, with the kiss off the yellow? This

is horrible. Probably play thin as you like, but then you would be

concerned about pushing the second red over the corner pocket.

He'll do very well not to leave a pot on here.

Well, he gets a round of applause, but he didn't play it like that. He

caught the cushion first there and that was rather fortunate.

He is contemplating trying to bring the pink and those two reds into

play here. It is very risky. I'm not sure where the reds are going to go.

He's maybe taking a chance screwing the cue ball back into baulk and

bringing, well, all three reds and pink into play here. But it is a

very risky shot. Reds could come up and down the table and hit the baulk

as well. He has to do something, because he is going to need all

these reds in open play and to put any pressure on Mark Selby, try and

get them into play. That was the difficulty. So, just

this red needed. Well-played Mark Selby.

He dominated the safety exchange and the break-building. Robertson has

gone behind for the first time in this tournament.

Well, that was a superpositional shot. And this is good stuff from

Mark Selby, no doubt about that. So, Neil Robertson has a few things to

ponder during the mid-session interval. The first time that he

will be faced with being behind all this week.

And a much-improved Mark Selby, there is no doubt about that. It has

been a good start, these opening exchanges. He won't be bothered

about missing the blue. He will be happy with his contribution so far,

as Mark Selby goes off to the mid-session interval. He leads Neil

Robertson by 3-1. ?

STUDIO: As the guys were saying, that's the first time in the entire

week that Neil Robertson has found himself with work to do. John, how

would you character size this display with Mark Selby compared to

yesterday when he said he was playing 50 to 60% of his form A lot

sharper. A couple of frames have gone hard tactically, he he is a

matcher. As for Neil, he wants a frame to get his hands on the table

and get in to skoemplt he has had a 63 in one but other than that, he

has been frozen out. What is your assessment. Neil looks --

intimidated is maybe too strong, but maybe it is intimidated. He doesn't

like the grind. I think he wants it get in there and pot long balls. We

said he played a good percentage game. If it stays like this Selby

could dominate the final. I think he has a healthy respect for his

opponent. He knows he can give him trouble. If he sees him knocking a

few balls in. You know, it is obvious, there are some players you

like playing and some you don't. I remember at the Masters, Neil found

himself 3-8 behind, 1 of 5, but it was all too late from. His

perspective he has to be careful this game doesn't run away from him

with memories of that strongly in his mind. Absolutely. He has to get

in and try to play the game at more his pace. Obviously the balls, if

the balls run awkward, it is hard to really impose it and impose your

game that much, but he has missed some balls. I saw him practising the

ball he missed. He has missed a few easingy ones. He needs to get into

his own pace One real good chance in amongst the balls, get yourself back

in cueing properly and scoring in one visit and re-establish yourself.

Well Neil doing practice, as you can see and I'm sure he will stay here.

We'll concentrate on events which are of historical significance for

this sport. A maximum break is a moment of perfection in snooker,

obviously. The first maximum break was made in 1992 but Steve Davis. 31

years' later we were on the cows am of history yesterday with the 100th

maximum break waiting to be slotted away T came in the 7th frame of Mark

Selby's semifinal with Ricky Walden. If he haven't seen this, you have

got to see it. We'll pick them up, eight blacks, and eight reds potted

so far. COMMENTATOR: Equals the record along

with Ronnie O'Sullivan. He has a chance here, Stephen Absolutely. The

only obvious problem is the red in baulk, it is not too difficult if

you get a nice angle on it, to get back for a black. This is possibly

what Selby needed to really focus his mind. He has been breaking down

a lot on the sort of 50s and 60s in this match so far.

That's the frame safe. So now concentrate, 100% on the big prize.

Our reds are in ace position. You would think the cue ball anywhere

around the pink or would think the cue ball anywhere

are going to be on the red to get back for the black. It is just

are going to be on the red to get matter of playing for that area each

time. He has achieved a maximum break on one occasion, 2009 in

China. What a place to do it, in the UK Championship semifinal?

If I was Mark, I would be looking to play for that red in baulk before

you get rid of the other three reds. If you don't get on to it properly,

you have the insurance of having another pot. Perhaps high on the

black here and stand off two cushions to get on that red in baulk

would be a good choice. It'll be interesting to see if he

takes your advice, Stephen. It is a great call that you made there.

And he has done. He has done exactly as you predicted. Key shot coming

up. It's there. It's there. And if the

brown passes the blue, if he gets that far, it may not be a problem.

Good shot. He needed to make sure he was high on that red.

Absolutely perfect on the black and even Ricky Walden would love to see

all these balls disappear for that magical 147.

All the colours for a 147. It still is very magical. I know it happens

more often but to do it in the UK Championship and when you have been

struggling a little bit with your game, this is something very special

we are watching here. Oh, smiles from Mark there, he knows

he has come up a little bit short. Oh, dear. Just another few inches

and it would have been so easy. Now he has a slight problem. Does he

just drop the brown in dead weight and leave a long blue or take the

chance of going around in between the pink and black? He is going

around the angles, I think. What a big shot this is. Come on then, come

on then. Drop on that blue. Fabulous shot.

APPLAUSE That was a brilliant shot. Around

the angles and missed the in-off in the right, middle pocket.

He needs to pull up. He is going to have another tricky pink. Can he

reach it? He is going to have to screw off the side cushion or just

drop it in off one cushion. The old Jester from Leicester has a

bit of fun with the crowd. And even Ricky has to smile. It's a bit of a

stretch. I just hope all that joking isn't spoiling his concentration.

This is a massive pink. And there is a massive amount of money on it.

?55,000 for the maximum. ?4,000 for the highest break. There is a lot of

cue I can sting out there. Get in. Oh he is not on the black. He is

going to have to roll it to the middle pocket. He is not on the

black. What a shot he is going to have to take here. Come on Mark,

everybody is urging him on. Roll this black into the middle pocket.

Get in, get in. What a black he has knocked in there. Absoluly

fantastic. The defending champion - as everyone gets to their feet - has

made the magical 147. What a special moment for everybody in the Barbican

Centre. It was a fantastically special

moment. You still get goose bumps seeing it now.

It was a fantastic moment for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was

almost like the Jester of Leicester came out It was completely natural.

Like it was in a practice game. It was really good -- it was a

fantastic moment for the Championship.

What has contributed to the huge increase in the numbers of maximums

we are seeing now? Standards are far more aggressive. People want it make

big breaks. They are much better winning the balls. The standard -

more good players than there was in the 80s. You are starting off

younger and practising line-ups. You want to get in the match and make

big breaks. They have seen the players in the 80s and 90s doing it

and the players coming in now want to do it. In the '80s and '90, and

then you came along and were sticking in 1 # 00s every day of the

week Yes people have watched myself and the owe soul vans and Higgins,

all the best break-builders and are making the most. It was a lovely

moment. A great 12 months or so for Mark Selby. Not only did he win this

event, four weeks later he went on to win the Masters. The Masters is

very much on our minds. It was Mark who beat Neil Robertson in the final

at Ally Pally in January this year. We are getting ready for it on 12th

January T starts again. Indeed we are now about to make t draw for the

fist round of the Masters. Let me remind you of the players who will

be in T the scramble for places. The world's best 16 get N these are the

seedings. Mark Selby is the defending champion. And Ronnie

O'Sullivan the World Champion, number 2. On world rankings, Ronnie

wouldn't be there, but he is the World Champion: Joe Perry managed to

grab the last spot. Courtesy of his gross to the quarter-finals. With

the likes of John Higgins at 13 and Shaun Murphy at nine, we could get

interesting first round match-ups. Time to see who will be facing whom,

Rob, over to you. Welcome back for our live draw for

the Masters. We have never done this before. We are very excited. Ladies

and gentlemen, can we have a round of applause for John Parrot and

Jason Ferguson, Chairman of the WPBSA.

OK, John, you are going to be drawing out the seeds, 1-8. Jason

you are 9-16. John, take it away. Who is the first ball Give them a

good shake. The first number out, number 1. Mark Selby.

Very popular after that 1 # 47. CROWD: Whhoo!

The ace in the pack, the pride of Bristol. It is like a pantomime,

this. Playing Marco Fu.

Number two, hold your breath, it is the rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

CHEER. He will play.

Much Number 14. Robert mill kins. He will be making

his debut at the Masters -- Milkins. Number 8. Stuart Bingham. A A

brilliant run in the semis. Only just losing out to Neil rob Earthed

son. He will play. Number 13. John hiking begins.

-- Neil Robertson. Number 6.

Stephen Maguire. 16. The gentleman, Joe Perry.

Number 3. Neil Robertson. CHEER Won the title at Ally Pally in 2012.

And he will play? 11. Mark Allen, great match.

Number 4. Ding Junhui.

Number 9. Will play number 9, Shaun Murphy. What a match, fantastic.

Finally, Rob. Last but by no means, least. Number 7. Barry hue kinces.

The last player in the bag, number 12. Ricky Walden.

-- Barry Hawkins. That's the matches to come in

January. Plenty of talking points. ?

STUDIO: Now a quick recap for you. Selby opens up against Mark Davis.

Barry Hawkins and Ricky Walden, a repeat of the Crucible final this

year. Ronnie beat Rob, it was a white wash

earlier in this Championship. He wrapped it up in.68 or 9 minutes.

Rob I'm sure will be in two minds about that. So much to look forward

to. That's just the opening round. You will, I'm sure, look forward to

enjoying the Masters with us at Alexandra Palace from 12th January,

at the start of what is a huge year of sport in 20146789 we are really

looking forward to going there, a venue this has proved so popular

since the move there a couple of years ago. -- in 2014. Stephens

knows what it is like to win the Masters. What is it, six times over

the years. Masters. What is it, six times over

the You regarded it as the second most prestigious title, why? Because

it is the top 16. The World Championship takes precedence over

everything. After that, the Masters was the one I wanted to win every

season. You are judging your own was the one I wanted to win every

top 16 player but was the one I wanted to win every

the world. I was laughing at Milkins. He won't be enjoying his

Christmas looking forward to that in January.68 minutes this week. Yes.

The other thing we must talk about is Alexandra Palace, which has

proved very successful. What has been the main point of difference

between that and Wembley over the last couple of years. It is better

than the Wembley Arena. It has atmosphere. The old conference hall

was fantastic, a tremendous venue but Alexandra Palace has created a

tremendous atmosphere. It has. We are looking forward to going back

there in a few weeks' time, after the new year. That's four weeks from

now. Now it is time to get back out into the arena. We have a change of

commentary team, as we say good afternoon now to Dennis tailor and

John Virgo, as Neil and Mark come out for another four frames to be

played in this opening session. -- Dennis Taylor.

Enjoying it so, far, gents? Dennis Taylor: Yes, thank you, Hazel,

superb. There is a fightback, for Neil Robertson. An awful long way to

G UMPIRE: Frame five, Mark Selby to break. Put your cameras down.

The referee just telling people to put the cameras down.

That is That's a praety good break-off shot from Mark Selby. He

looked very sharp at the start of this match. I thought it was an

interesting interview that Neil Robertson did yesterday, when he

said he lost in the final of the Masters, because he watched Mark

play during the tournament indidn't expect him to play that W well, you

don't judge a player like Mark Selby, just by the way he has played

in the tournament. You just have to accept that you are going to have to

play Mark Selby at his best. I just got the feeling that Neil felt he

took his eye off the ball in the Masters final. But 3-1 down. He

needs to make in-roads. Up at 94%. That's excellent.

Another four frames to be played and then the remainder starting at

7.00pm this evening. Stone the target in this final. Best

of 19. -- ten is the target. A tap on the table, you might have heard

as we were looking for Neil Robertson, from Mark Selby. He has

to be careful. The two reds available. So he needs a good cue

ball here. He has hit this a bit thin. He will be lucky not to leave

a pot on here. I think he has got away with it.

Everything is covered into that left corner, by the looks of things. Even

though, as John said, he hit it too thin, he is OK.

The crowd started ohhing and ahhing as that red went across the table.

He almost cut it in, even though he is playing a safety shot. I can't

see how he can plant one on to that and he can't get around the two reds

to the left of the cushion to flick it i

At least if he played that there is a chance he could get a cue ball

back to where it is now, which as we can see is covering the red near the

left corner. Mark Selby was as eager as Neal to

see whether he could get through. You could possibly see him playing a

slight swerve and maybe potting this but I could see him going in-off as

well, if he did play the swerve. Can he see enough of the one to the

right of the three that onto the two reds? Nearly.

There is a gap, you can clearly see it.

You know, if he could hit the question first, I don't know if he

can, just to the left of that, he would flick the other red out of the

way. He nearly flicked the other one out

of the way, but look where he has finished.

Oh, what a spot to finish in there. Well, he can hit the black. That is

all you can say for it. He will have to roll to the black, try to

generate a lot of pace but it is going to be difficult.

Mark is asking, is it touching the red? It doesn't really matter, if

the red means it is a foul anyway. I think he can sneak through to hit

the black. APPLAUSE

There certainly wasn't much available to mark there.

He couldn't play of the left, that is why he had to hit it full-ball.

Mind you, at first glance I don't think he has left anything. He tried

to screw back off that to make the plant. He tried to screw straight

onto the black there. But not a bad outcome. It has cost him four points

but everything looks reasonably safe. There is maybe one red to the

right, but it he would have to find a gap back down the table if he

takes that. There is a lot of reds there to avoid. Yes, he could

clearly see it was a planned and because it was a plant you could say

that was not a very good shot from Neil. He should have screwed back

direct to make contact with the black. A good long pot but not on

our colour. This time I don't think you can see one, not to get through

to directly, so as you say, it is not cost Neil Robertson much, that

four points away. Yes, there were so many balls in the

way there to try to find a path axed down the table. -- back down the

table. If he can get this right he could land tight on the yellow. I

think he can see enough of the question just to do that. --

caution. REFEREE:

Foul and amiss. He will have this put back, just looking at the table.

He is having a good look at it. I suppose he knows that Mark is going

to get it right next time so he will play a safety shot from here. There

shouldn't be any difficulty with the safety and if he gets a snooker at

the same time, he will have mark in all kinds of trouble. If he has it

replaced, every chance that Mark will do better the next time and hit

the yellow. I don't think he has quite covered

the escape down the right-hand side of the table. That is what he was

hoping to put out of the equation but I think he can just get, swing

the cue ball wrapped round and play safe down the right-hand side. If he

could not, he would be in a spot of bother here.

Well, that pocket has now cleared. There may be a red that will cutting

past those two reds and he can get past the black to sneak this in.

There will be a bit of a chance. Maybe he can't get past the lack to

the potting angle than the one I suggested. It is just a safety shot.

A little bit short of pace, leaving your opponent with his hand on the

table and the possibility of a long pot, it is not what he was looking

for. He is always introduced as the

Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby and a couple of weeks ago I went to

the funeral of one of our old buddies, the great Jackie Rae, who

kept the game of snooker life back in the 60s. Passed away, 92 years of

age. He was the crown prince of snooker.

I know you also got a mention at the funeral. He introduced a different

way of playing snooker exhibitions did Jackie Rae, what a great

character. His wife Betty was there, they had been married for 55

years. A few of the players turned up, David Taylor was there. Joe

Swail, just got back from China was there. He really was one of the best

exhibition players the game had ever seen.

That is the view you would get if you were sat in the Barbican.

I good effort. Has he got it? It is the one on the right-hand side of

the table he wants to cover. Don't think he can just come off it. It is

no easy safety. Yes, at first glance he would like

to get to the red near the left corner pocket but all the reds are

escaping the route to land on that one.

It looks as if he will land on the one near the middle pocket.

I don't think he is guaranteed to not leave a pot one if he plays it

off the Bork cushion and less long that red. He may leave a red to the

right middle. If he lands in behind it he might be

OK, but he will have to be very precise.

Will it reach? It is a good line. APPLAUSE

It has reached. He has left the red that John mentioned to the middle

pocket but it is difficult to negotiate the cue ball round for

colour. The natural angle would take him into the reds, you would feel,

if he took that pot on. If he plays with pace, the White

would hit somewhere near that angle so he wouldn't really avoid the

reds. What was his problem there? A good

pot, just a little bit of luck, on a good day, maybe on the black, but he

is not. But it was a good solid pot and it

is the type of shot that would give you confidence, because there was

pressure on it. If the red doesn't go in it would have left the red for

At least he has covered the danger Mark.

At least he has covered the danger reds on the left-hand side of the

table. He has got the safety shot on down

the right-hand side. I don't think you can get to the red near the

right-hand caution but it is one of those, particularly when you are

close to the cushion, those, particularly when you are

tight on the cushion it would have been more difficult but

tight on the cushion it would have to be very accurate with this. If he

catches it too thick the cue ball will struggle to go past the blue

spot. If he catches it to think the red near the right-hand cushion

comes into play. He has to hit this one just right.

He could not have caught it any better than that.

APPLAUSE Probably the best tactical player in

the game at the moment, certainly in the top two or three.

That's the reason he is battling here, to see if you can get back to

number one in the world, but he will have to win this final to achieve

that. A Neil Robertson special coming up. Almost. Now, where are

those reds going to finish? And it's not bad. There's no easy opener.

Unless this cuts into the middle pocket. He was more or less forced

into playing that part. A fraction too full. This red does catch to the

right middle. It's all about controlling the cue ball.

Well, he hated that all wrong because look where the cue ball has

finished. -- hit that all wrong. It's a bad mistake from Mark Selby

and it gives Neil Robertson atrophic chance here. He played with a lot of

right-hand side. He played a lot of cue ball, and it caught the red

toothpick. The priority for Neil Robertson is to get the black bonnet

spot as soon as possible. That's how you make big breaks. -- black on its

spot. Could have done with coming just a

little bit further across the table. Make the black slightly easier, but

I don't know if he's canning into the red onto the caution if he pops

this. It would leave the white tide on the caution. He has still got

reds you can pop. He does not like the black. He is taking the blue

instead. Well, slightly worrying times for

Neil Robertson and his fans, because how often do we see him miss a shot

like that? Yeah, I mean, we expect him to pot the blue. I can't believe

you didn't fancy the black. But it was a good chance if he had

got that black on spot. Immediately, Mark Selby is on the black. This is

a great chance to extend his lead. That's an unusual statistic. 25%

with a long putt success rate for Neil Robertson. One of the best part

is we have had in the game. -- potters. He's under pressure here,

the he is 3-1 behind. We saw Mark Selby miss that easy read in the

middle and Neil Robertson should punished for that, that Mark Selby

is back at the table. You don't see that very often, a

little shake of the head. He has got one of the best temperaments in the

game. That little shake of the head tells you that he has given himself

a bit of a telling off. I think he's saying there, "I can't believe it" .

The problem is, with this game, when you make that mistake you have got

to sit there and suffer. I mean, I suppose nine out of ten,

you expect him to pot the blue. But it's always funny, isn't it, Dennis?

He played for the black. The blue was the second thought. It just puts

a bit more pressure on you when you are playing a ball you didn't play

for. As I say, he's now got to sit there and suffer.

Just two more easy read is available. After this black. -- easy

reds. I suppose the one on the right side of the table is not too badly

placed for a right-hander. So, his plan here will be lack, red,

black game, and then just stop in behind the red on the white.

Very quick glance of the scoreboard. 67 remaining. Still needs two

colours. Not a formality as such. Yeah, he will want to leave this

last read full salinity could get anywhere in the circle, leave a

slight angle, on that red, he would be nicely on the black. Roundabout

there would be ideal if you could just drop the black in and get

there. I didn't even see the other red at

the other end of the table. That's what took you off the tour,

Dennis! Right, I will put that circle of the

game. He is 51 ahead. He is going to take the pink and make sure.

And excellent 57 break. He capitalised on Neil's mistake. He

needs a couple of snooker is, in fact. -- snookers.

Look at the average shot time. You could say that Mark Selby is making

the running here. In more ways than one. 32 seconds. Good shot for Neil

Robertson. That's very slow for him. Nice 130 in the opening frame from

Mark Selby. Niall Mac was highest, 63. -- Neil's highest, 63. But, he

has not even getting in very often. Yeah, he took the chance to bring

the black into play. The only problem is, he has left the red.

Percentage time, 62% of the table time goes to Mark Selby.

Where is the cue ball going? UMPIRE: Foul.

Bothered, the writers appearing there. He has got a red off the

table. -- I don't think he is too bothered there with the white

appearing there. He got rid of one of the red.

That is a good pot. Is it too little, too late? Now, pop the

black, leave the red rarities, snooker, and, strange as amazing, at

the moment, when he parts this black, only 35 remaining -- read

where it is. But one snooker, if he wants to get a free ball, that one

snooker would be enough. Yet, at the moment he needs four points.

He has got in behind the black but he wanted to be directly behind the

black and it would have blocked off this escape route.

Just load the middle pocket. Two cushions. He's pretty good at

getting out of snookers. The commentator's curse. Mark thinks

the red moved. He has asked the referee. The referee said he did not

see it move, so let's see if we can have a look. This is not privy to

the players out there. Did you see it move? Boy, it was close. Another

lock? -- look? He has a little smile at the

referee. Boy, dear me, how close was that? But I did not see it move.

Yeah, I think our referee, called it right. He has not got the view we

have. Well, how could you tell? Well, what

I'm looking at is the overhead lights which are deflecting the red.

They don't move, so if they did not move, surely the ball did not move?

Just look at the reflection of the lights. They don't move. If the red

had moved, they would have. But it properly does matter because it

looks as though this red is going to be left on. Oh, is it? Could play

the cat. -- cut. No reason why not to. Even if you missed it on the way

up, you can hit it on the way back because you're coming at it from an

angle. And he just played to hit of the as thin as he could. He knows,

if it goes in, it's the end of frame. If you miss it on the way up,

you are bound to hit it on the way back.

That's not going to reach the pocket.

The yellow, brown and blue are in a pretty good position for snooker. It

would be easy to get a snooker when you are faced with one. We have a

perfect picture of him playing this with a lot of side, a little but

it's worth to hit the cushioning and then the red. He looks around to

Mark Selby and the referee. Neil Robertson concedes the frame and

Mark Selby goes marching on. He now leads by 4-1.

HAZEL IRVINE: You get the feeling Neil Robertson is beginning to get a

little bit rattled out there, especially after that Mr blue,

Stephen? Yes, this is a shot he normally pots with his eyes closed.

-- mist blue. But almost like the back of a spot

for Neil Robertson. Snooker players are bullies, basically. He has

bullied everybody all week but does not like getting bullied today. Yes,

he seems subdued either situation and can't seem to get any momentum

going. Not at all. Sewers you see a sign of weakness, you jump on it

also he made a great 57 break on Mark Selby, Anderson with new

Robertson was over, he knew it was important part of the match. He's

not looking comfortable. This was his chance to jump on it. Neil

Robertson's shot time, 32 seconds. This is the man who consciously,

deliberately speeds it all up this season. With great results so far.

Yeah, he's been quite vocal complaining about other players,

being slow. Saying referees need to stand down. He's obviously not a fan

of slow play but we are him looking confident. And knocking balls in.

But he's out of his comfort zone completely today. Do you sense this

inhibition now beginning to creep into his play? This is dangerous. If

this goes the wrong way, this had 10-8 written all over the match but

if the next couple of frames go the wrong way it will not have that

scoreline. He has no momentum, he made a 63 earlier

scoreline. He has no momentum, he not the one you wanted to play, you

are not confident about it. He still should have taken the black on. He

needs to do something risky, just to change something. He needs to change

the momentum of how he is playing. If an opportunity comes, he has to

score. He needs 70 oh eight to rake fluently, wins it in five or six

minutes, just feel as if he is playing. White bobbin we have talked

about the rivalry between these two because they are playing each of the

more frequently especially on big occasions. Neil seems to think quite

deeply about his matches against Mark Selby. He has talked a lot

after matches about Mark's style, how difficult it is to play against

him. Is there any suggestion he has a mental block when it comes to

playing somebody like Mark? Possibly. It does not look as if he

is playing this type of snooker. Selby is not dominating the game or

winning in one visit, so when it gets down to the colours going

safely, he is out of his comfort zone. The problem which is really

difficult, we are saying try and get involved, if you open up the balls

against Mark Selby, they are let in. You can think he will bully him that

way, you have to weigh up the opportunities. It is difficult

because Selby's matchplay is fantastic. He is a tough customer.

He sure is. 4-1 up, dangerous time for the number one in the world,

Neil Robertson. COMMENTATOR:

I could not agree with John and Stephen Moore. He is such a tough

competitor come Mark Selby. All week we have been saying he's not playing

that well and I don't know if Neil has taken that on and thinks he is

coming into this match feeling very confident, that he was going to get

the better of Mark, but the first frame all has come as a bit of a

shock to him. But as I said last evening as we

watched that poor safety shot from Mark, which she may be lucky and get

away with, if he playing that he does not let it affect him, he will

dig in and find a way. A lot of people can't do that.

I am not sure if he can get past the brown to clip the reds. He would

like to. He might have to play at with a bit of side.

Well judged. If it hits the green though, well, it has clipped off the

green, I thought he would leave a possible pot to the right corner but

he has clipped off the green. That is the one that Neil possibly could

have taken on if he had been able to see it. A good safety required here.

It is a bit like back in the 80s, playing Steve gait -- playing Steve

Davis, you had to have good tactical play, good telling safety shots to

get a chance, otherwise he would play you out of the game. Mark Selby

is that type of player. He has a good tactical game. You can't just

throw your cue at something and be reckless otherwise he will walk all

over you. Absolutely, you open up the balls, they get in, he will

score heavily. When he played the blue, he should have played the

black. All right, bes he may not have fancied it is tricky but if he

had potted the black, he had a frame-winning chance, Neil

Robertson. I am not certain about directing the

cue ball around the past to get back on a colour. You would not want to

risk playing this for a lot of Czech side but he needs this pot. If you

see the ball the way it came off the cushion, a bit of luck! Not quite.

John mentioned he had so watch right hand side, the White would normally

have gone in the bunch. Look at the angle it took off, almost fluked it.

Well, what a little flick that is. You can now pot the brown and get up

to the reds. It is amazing, when you are playing well you always get the

run of the ball. If you are struggling, you don't get those

little flicks. It is one good positional shot and he could be up

in around the black spot area. Blacks only available into the left

corner, the pink looks as if it is pottable. It is not a bad chance.

Just passing the two hour mark. They know the right angle on the pink to

stay close to the reds. He would like to have been straight on this

red so he could have played for the black in the opposite corner but I

don't think it is an option. Back up for the blue.

He is having a look at the black. I don't know if he can get position on

the black. He would love to, he would love to get the black on its

spot but I think he's going for the blue.

He may just have a fraction of an angle. That is all he will need

because the reds are available to the left corner. Just enough angle.

Now how is he on the red here? Looks pretty good. Got a nice angle.

Took his eye off the pot, it happens to even the greatest players in the

game. How lucky was he there because there

was an easy starter for Neil and the red he missed has blocked the

pocket, so we're certainly having a good run of the ball at the moment.

Yes, and that will just make Neil more and more frustrated. To see

your opponent miss when he is in, that is usually when your best

chances come. I think the reason he will take the

plant on, he will leave the white on the caution here and he may not

necessarily leave it so he thought about it -- cushion. He is back

looking at the safety shot. I don't think it is a bad choice,

this, the only red macro he could leave is one of the reds.

Well played! APPLAUSE

Well, Stephen Hendry was saying that Neil has to make something happen.

Could that be that something? Just there.

Not the best angle on this black, he is looking to see if anything is

available into the opposite corner. It does, so he has to make the most

of this opportunity. A great angle to bring the reds into

play. A little triangle of reds. Lots of bottom.

Can you get your breath? E has done exactly the same thing that Mark

Selby did, took his eye off the pot. As John Parrott was saying in the

studio, a couple more frames from Mark Selby and this match could slip

away from the world number one. No excuse for missing the black like

that. This is the way it has been dictated

by Mark Selby. That was Neil Robertson's first attempt at a black

off the spot in this match so far. An amazing statistic, that.

around the pink or black spot. You wonder what is going on, I

this will bring the black back onto its spot and one of those six reds

will be available, you would think, into the left corner. Just coming

round to have a look. I think the one in the circle goes

into the left corner. The other three may be covering each other.

Maybe that red did not part into the left corner. He tried to develop

from the black, but it hasn't worked out. -- pot. Yes, that red

definitely would not have potted. This is the thin slick he's looking

at at the near cushioning. He is growing in confidence, the man

from Leicester, he really is. It's quite interesting, he was on that

red, and used a cloth to wipe his hands. He thought it was going to

get back to the table pretty quick, but it didn't happen. Still the

chance to win the frame, now, Mark Selby. Does not want to be hampered

by the pink. It's OK. Neil is one of those players who

always likes to see what's going on on the table. Some players tend to

not want to get too involved when an opponent is at the table.

That could have worked better. Might have an angle. The red to the left

of the white is available. Has he got an angle to screw across and

leave that on? Yeah, he can do it. So he's not on the black but he has

got second prize. The pink to the left corner. A little bit more

pressure on this. 59 left. That was the one. Now, do does that

pink go across? Won't reach. So share is your chance, Neil

Robertson. Here is your chance. He comes to the table, 39 points

behind. 59 available. It's not a straight run to the

winning post. The Green near the crash and there, I'm surprised Mark

Selby hit the pink so hard. He really did. He gave it a good old

belt. So difficult for the pot, at that

pace. Could be a big, big turning point in this final. Played that

well. The red is easy enough and he can go

for the blue, but he could have played for the black. Under

pressure. You want everything to be simple. You don't want that cube

running loose. -- cue ball. And he has not recovered the

situation. The wrong side of the blue. Positional shot needed.

In the previous frame, we saw a medium length pot on the blue. One

that you would knocking nine times out of ten. Left himself a medium

part here. -- pot. Tee shot coming up. Mark Selby knows

if he pots for black and gets a good angle on the angle, you can get on

the green. -- important shot coming up. Need to pull up. And it hasn't.

Now, I don't know if he has got enough angle to get around all the

angles here. It may be too thin. To do that. It just shows you, though,

he potted the black, he was short, OK, he left himself a medium length

pot on the red which he knocked in nicely, but you just felt then

there's maybe a bit of tension in the air, because he ran out of

decision. A straightforward black to play for one of those two reds. That

one, too much pace. So he is feeling it out there. He has got to do the

deep now. If he pots this and get onto the green, it will be one of

the best shots of the championship, because it is so thin, this.

It was so difficult to get anywhere near the green. And this is quite a

thin snick. What a scenario if he takes this, he has got to come up

the table towards the back and then back down the table, but if anyone

can pull a shot like this off, it is Mark Selby. He knows his way around

the table. Better than most players. It is a thin snick. If he takes it

on, he has got to Mr brown and the blue and pink. Is he taking it on? I

think he is. It was always going to be a problem.

A very tense six frame, this. So important. 5-1 behind. Maybe just

two. Well, that is pretty good, really.

He was always going to have a good cue ball. You just feel from the

state of mind for new Robertson, this is a big frame. He has missed a

golden opportunity. -- Neil Robertson. The only way he can get

something out of the frame, for me, is to win it. Well, he's thinking

about the pot. We have seen him knocking some fabulous pots, but he

has looked at the angle. Is he still going to go for it? Is it the

safety? He went for it. Where is the green going to finish?

It is a long green and he has got very little to do to get onto the

brown. 11 points in front. He will lead green, brown and blue, but the

green, you feel, will be the frame when, automatically going to be on

the brown if the green goes in. What a body blow this will be for Neil

Robertson. APPLAUSE

I think he enjoyed that. She knew the importance of that

green. But he did not hit it hard. He stroked it beautifully. So this

is definitely one which has got away from Neil Robertson. I said at the

time, it was one he needed. A four frame deficit. Still two more frames

to be played in this session. Mark Selby really is in the ascendancy.

The defending champion is now a four frames in front, 5-1. Well, we said

that Neil needed to make something happen. And he did in that frame. He

took on a very, very difficult plant. It was a superb shot to pull

off. He played with a little bit of safety in mind but to judge from

that position and distance between the reds, was played to perfection.

And, of course, he has got himself in, and then he can and the three

reds. He didn't want to come at the back of triangle all bowl and he was

thinking more about the cannon and this is what he did. He didn't get

the cannon as he intended but he took its eye off the pot, and you

can't afford to do that against someone like Mark Selby, John.

Absolutely. And then, of course, he got a second chance, on the blue.

And a great chance when he potted the black. He overran his position

on the lower lobe -- yellow. Maybe, in retrospect, he should've made

certain of the yellow and paid the safety shot on the green. But once

you get those opportunities, you just feel you have got to take them.

UMPIRE: Take your seats, please. Mark Selby to break.

So, two more frames to be played in this session. The last session will

start at 7pm this evening. And the world number one, Neil Robertson,

definitely needs at least one of these two. He could do with them

both. 6-2. 7-1, what a mountain to climb.

It is the first to 10. As we take you around the back of the audience

here. You can see our cameramen in the

distance who give you all of those wonderful pictures at home. That has

opened the reds app that he has cannoned the yellow. Can he get

through to the one for the right corner?

There you see it. Quite an interesting choice of safety from

Mark Selby. Maybe he feels Neil is struggling a little bit, so it was a

very aggressive safety. Not safe, but he's not certain to be on a

colour here. He needs a good shot. The reds are spread, so he must pot

red. He must pot red. The way the balls are. And that's why Mark Selby

played the aggressive safety. He just feels, at the moment, he has

got a new Robertson. A chance to test home his advantage here -- got

Neil Robertson. A good opportunity. Neil knows that the pink is out of

commission and the black is safe, so he knows there's not a chance really

for Mark Selby. Red which are available, just to the right of the

black, can't really get on a colour. 91%, he was 94%. Look at new

Robertson, 79%. We don't see that very often, from the Australian.

Back looking at these reds which are to the right of the black, and he is

striking down a little bit. Where is the cue ball? Where is it going to

finish? I'm not sure about that choice of shot.

Well, that is a let off for Neil Robertson.

Yeah, I thought he could hit the other red but, obviously couldn't.

He needs to dig deep down, the Australian. They are usually pretty

good at it. He hasn't pushed that red too far.

He should be OK. If he could somehow get an angle on

the blue and pop the blue and red macro cannon on the pink, he could

open things up. The delicate little cannon here just

onto the pink has to be the order of the day and could really give him a

chance. He is still OK, he wanted a fuller

contact but he still has reds to the right middle.

The fact he did not hit the pink full-ball, it is still tied up

there. He could do with a frame-winning effort here just to

get his confidence back again. Well, once again he needs an angle

on the blue. He hasn't quite got that better

angle. He is still OK but another little cannon on the pink would have

opened things up again but he has loose reds and at the moment he will

have to stay on the blue. I don't think the pink goes into the left

corner. But there is nothing wrong with

keeping taking reds and blues. All he is thinking about now is, do

I just stick with the reds and blues, or do want -- or do I try to

get the pink interplay? It is now awkward to get back to the

blue. I don't know if he will risk playing

for the black in the top cushion. The red, just above the top cushion,

he could play on that red. Will he risk playing for the black?

Probably an easier blue than the one he missed in the last frame, or the

frame before. He has got the cue ball, the blue and the pocket all in

line. APPLAUSE

Nicely on, but he is not out of the woods just yet because the red is

on, the one to the right middle would not give him a good angle on

the blue. I don't think he can pot the one to the right corner.

He's having to leave himself a long loop again. -- along blue again. You

would expect him to pot it but there is pressure on these.

After slotting those two, you wonder why he missed that one and the other

frame but it wasn't his first choice, he played for the black and

finished up playing for the blue. It is a different mindset. He played

for the blue there, both times. He has done well here. He keeps

getting the correct side of the blue. He has had seven blues, this

will be his eighth, but there is nothing one -- there is nothing

wrong with winning a frame just by taking reds and blues.

If you keep potting balls, no matter what value they are, you will win

the frame. A great amateur used to say, pot all the balls, you are

bound to win. But winning a frame just potting blues is

bound to win. But winning a frame because every time you have to get

The wrong side of the blue this the good angle on the blue.