08/12/2013 UK Snooker Championship

128 players start this UK Championship. Marco Fu, the first

seed to fall. Judd Trump, beaten. Shaun Murphy has gone down fighting.

John Higgins twice the winner, but he won't be making it three. Ronnie

O'Sullivan is on his way home. Now just two survive, it is Robertson

versus Selby, world number one against world number two, game on.

So much at stake here in York in the final of this UK Championship

because ?150,000 and the sport's number one spot are on the line this

evening, but that is not all. Both finalists have a chance to make

history. Neil Robertson is going for a career triple Crown, whilst Mark

Selby could become only the third player ever to successfully retain

this UK crown. What do we think of it all? Judge for yourselves from

this afternoon session. This has all the hallmarks of a fantastic

session. He laid down his early marker with a clearance of 130. Good

pot. Selby takes the opening frame. Robertson took the second frame in

threatening fashion. However, the Australian's play became

increasingly erratic as Selby began to turn the screw. By the interval,

he was 3-1 down. It went from bad to worse for the world number one as he

gifted another opening to Selby. Slightly worrying times for Neil

Robertson and his fans. 4-1 to Selby quickly became 5-1, he was firmly in

control. Robertson finally got a frame back and finished the match in

exemplary fashion. That was an excellent shot. This for the

century. Well played, very well played indeed, Neil Robertson. Selby

leads Robertson 5-3, just one session remains in this year's UK

Championship. It is anyone's game. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

the world number one, Neil Robertson.

APPLAUSE And his opponent, the defending

champion, it is Mark Selby! APPLAUSE

Both of them have their game face on tonight. It is the best of 19 final

here in the Barbican Centre, and in the hot seat first in the commentary

box we welcome Willie Thorne and Dennis Taylor. No making them laugh

now, Dennis! I will try not to get excited but the atmosphere and the

buzz... The whole of the Barbican Centre stood up and applauded. That

was fantastic. We go them for the final session in

this year's UK Championship. New code on Allred 's but it won't be

too difficult to land in the bunch. Now you will see just over three

hours of fascinating snooker. Great two last frames from the

Australian world number one. At 5-1 down it wasn't looking too good, but

you always knew who was going to make a comeback and this first frame

is important. Especially having lost those frames in the opening session.

It is nice to see Mark enjoying it again. He has not been his normal

self for this latter part of the season, I am so pleased he has got a

smile on his face again. The way he joked with the crowd at

the end of that magnificent 147 he made, potting the last few colours

he was having some fun with the crowd.

You can see those two high breaks, 123, and 130. It is Mark making the

audience laugh at the moment. Neil will be thinking it is you, Dennis.

He did say when he played Stuart Bingham in the deciding frame that I

was getting excited in the commentary box, but that is why I am

here. I love the game, I want to get excited. You and me both. It was

such a fabulous match, undoubtedly the match of the tournament. This

one here might be the match of the tournament if he can get a couple of

frames and draw level. His tactical game has improved so much, Neil

Robertson, and he is up against possibly the best tactician in the

game at the moment, but Neill has improved in that department.

Very good from Neil. He has blocked off all the avenues down the right

side of the table and he may be able to hit the roads to the left of the

pink, but there is no path, or no easy path back down that side, so it

is off the side cushion, nestling into the bunch. Needs to be a bit

careful. Too much pace and he could leave one on.

I was wondering if Neil can see enough of the red to that side of

the table. He is looking at the possible plant. That is not far off,

is it? If he was directly behind it, he could take it on.

He needs the blue to come to his rescue now, and it might have.

We know that the two reds were possible plant, but that red is

blocking that. The other one might just go past. It is pretty tight

though. Enough room. Well played. He does stroke that type of shot, so

well. He couldn't hit the right hon jaw and he played that beautifully.

The black is out of commission so he will have to work on the pink for a

moment. I don't think he can get to the red above the black for the next

few shots so he has a little bit of work to make a decent sized break.

The pink spot is covered so it goes on to the green. You have got a

birds eye view from back of the Barbican. A long way off the blue.

Terrific crowd this evening. There has been all week here. He wanted to

be a bit closer to the blue here. There must be a plant. He has looked

at the two before. I think he can make a plant off those. There is a

possible free ball plant, but the two at the back he can make. It will

be interesting to see how he plays the cue ball. If he leaves it by the

bulk line, it could develop into a good chance here. -- baulk line. I

can only presume he must have played to hit that a little bit thicker

than that, to get the white where it is. Yes he had to hit it slightly

thinner to make the plant. This is a brave shot he is taking on in this

opening frame. This is a great example of why it is

so important to keep the black in play. He is having to work so hard

at the moment. I think there was a break here this

afternoon when there were nine roads and nine blues potted, believe it or

not. This is a great chance now to get to the top side of the blue. And

he hasn't done it, he will be disappointed with that. It will be

difficult now to get onto a red. The green is in the way to go round the

baulk area. I think all those reds are covering

each other into the left corner pocket. I think there might be one

day. He has got one Red that he can take.

He has got the pink affair in case he hits it too hard. -- pink there.

Just a few inches too far. Yes, the brown is the one that will get him

to the reds. He is a little bit uptight at the

moment, but he is certainly cueing well.

APPLAUSE A good start for Mark Selby here in

this opening frame. The red is in the way of a safety further down the

table. Neal will have to be aware of that red.

Mark will want to keep the black tied up, and Neill will want to get

it into play when he has the chance. With the black being out of

commission, this is a red I doubt he will take on.

Well, that has tied the black up again, which Mark will be delighted

about. So much riding on this final for Neil Robertson. If he wins it,

he will join the elite group of players. He needs to get this right,

this is tough. That has got the lack back into play. -- black. Of course,

if Mark Selby can defend his UK title, he will be the first player

to do it since Stephen Hendry 17 years ago, believe it or not. And he

would go to world number one. It is all to play for.

I don't blame him for taking that on because he could not leave the white

up this end of the table. If that red passes the black, he can

have a go at that. He would finish on one of the four colours at the

other end of the table. It was a half chance, that. Mark is just

seeing if the red passes the black. If it does, he will take that on.

Yes, he can swing this right around the angles on the blue and pink and

would be in a great position. That looks good. Very good.

It is nice to see these players still showing appreciation of good

shots. Just looking to see if he left the white up in the jaws of the

corner pocket. He is in a bit of a hole here. He has got a very thin

snake that he could get the double-kiss from. -- snack.

I don't blame him for trying to figure out something here. He is 41

point behind. REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

The way he has played that, he is going to leave that tempt along the

cushion, which won't be easy. Same line with just a little bit

more pace. That is better. APPLAUSE

Neil knew that he would leave this half chance. He has overcut it. That

was a calculated risk from Neil Robertson. It tempted Mark Selby,

but I think he has covered everything. Yes, the double-kiss

could be on here. It would almost be better taking the middle red, just

below the pink spot, because that plant is a little bit easier than

the one that is in the middle of the table.

He needs to be careful not to cannon into the black and red there. Keep

an eye on the cue ball here. He could not have played that any

better. He knew he was going to cannon into the red and black. All

he did was concentrate on the plant and just hope that he dropped on a

colour. A massive frame now. There are three roads in difficult

positions, but they are no real problem with the black on its spot.

The last two frames, Neil Robertson made breaks of 54 and 123. A real

chance to get back into this opening frame. He could keep the come back

on track. This crowd is engrossed in this

final. You could hear a pin drop out there.

He could not quite reach it with the normal breast, so he needed the

extended rest. He has very little to do with the cue ball, just needs to

drop it in. Oh, goodness me. I did not see that

coming. In fairness, it was the previous black that was a poor shot.

It just caught the near jaw. What a bonus this is for Mark Selby's

supporters. If you seconds ago, it it possibly look back it would be

5-4. Yes, you don't usually see Neil react like that. But with the

extended rest and extension on his cue, identity got a heavy contact.

-- I don't think he got. He just needs this red and the Black

to leave Neill at the snooker is required stage. What a let off for

Mark Selby there. frame ball, he developed the other

red to make absolutely sure of this opening frame. He looked very

relaxed around the players' lounge with his wife and her family.

Doesn't matter about that. Neil is having a look at the scoreboard but

I think he might stay in his seat. Yes, he signals to the referee. He

did have his chance, he didn't take it, so Mark Selby opens up that

three frame advantage, he now leads 6-3. Our guests tonight, Ken Doherty

and John Parrott. The pattern of this match, Selby took that

wonderful lead, and it looks like he will capitalise on mistakes

tonight, any that come from Neil Robertson. I think there is a

significant difference between this final and the semifinal. He seems to

have more confidence, more assurance about him around the table and he is

picking a lot of stuff that Robertson is missing. Robertson

looks totally on a -- unassured of himself. What about this red? You

wouldn't normally see Neil Robertson missing one of those in a month of

Sundays. Sometimes you can put a little bit of side on it because you

are leaning over, but really he shouldn't miss it. How much better

than the 60% that Mark Selby assessed him out in the semifinal is

he playing today? Much better, he is still not playing at his best, but

up at 80%, 90%. He is obviously giving off that body language, he

looks more confidence and you can certainly tell in his play. And

significantly he is able to do it at the right time. We have been saying

it about him always. He turns up to the finals and he really looks like

he fancies the job. The black is tied up, they used to

be a time when that happened a lot but each frame is different. Neither

player wants the black tied up, that is why Neil Robertson played to have

the black freed up. They should be switched off!

As Dennis was saying, there is somebody on their mobile phone. Try

to keep them switched off, everybody with earpieces. It looks like there

is only going to be a safety shot coming up. Where the reds are

situated, it is not really an advantage.

Yes, he has tried to block the path into the reds from the right side of

the table. Somebody said "Come on, Mark" and he is tight behind the

green. It is nearer to the black. REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Now a bit

of a chance for Neil, can he bring the reds into play? His stock in the

back of them. The only possibility is if he could take a double on. We

can show you the whites just sticking in the reds. It happens

quite a bit. There is no double on there. Yes, he may have left a

double on here, and he can play to get onto the black. It is almost a

shot to nothing. I think he will play this. He hasn't got the right

angle for it, Willie, but he would have done. This will get it back to

normal. The white up to the other end of the table. Another bout of

tactical play coming up. It is fascinating watching that, to see

who makes the first mistake. The white is OK though. Had to get

it close to the cushion because of the road that would have been

available into the right middle pocket. He has got to be careful he

doesn't send this red into one of the other colours.

Unlike Mark not to get the pace of the cue ball to get back into

baulk. He will play for the black. What a tester this is. He has got to

get it because he would leave a couple of reds on. There is the long

pop success rate. Neil is ahead in that department. Boy, could he do

with one here. Brilliant! Lots of pressure on that because he

was leaving reds. Not a bad chance now.

It is not a bad idea actually not to get the pink on its spot because it

is a great target, and the pink spot is two or three inches away from the

reds. He may just take one of these two reds, then either go into the

black for the top side of the blue. He will probably leave the pink

therefore a while. Not a good angle so he may have to

get rid of that one loose red. Only just. That wobbled a few times.

They don't usually go in off the near jaw. I'm surprised at that pace

it did. He just needed to hit that a little bit harder with more screw on

it and the white would have kept spinning back through the reds. We

have seen Mark Selby do that so many times, in fact he is probably the

best in the game at that. Usually arcs it into the pack so it comes in

from the side. That was a tough shot he took on, he needs the pink to

come to his rescue here, and it might have. There you see it. There

is a red available into the other corner. He can get onto the black

off this. That was a little bit of tension

there at that time. He didn't cue that one smoothly, just across it

slightly. And a little bit of frustration that Neil had got away

with it. Neil Robertson should now reduce the deficit to two frames.

REFEREE: Please make sure your mobiles are turned off.

There was a possible 11 frames to be played this evening. We will still

have the interval after four frames. The first to ten lifts the

trophy. A couple more pots and he is back to just two behind.

Just the red needed. Neil Robertson in the driving seat, and almost

certain to win the frame if he pots this. Mark did have that half chance

there. He hasn't missed too many today but that was one that I

expected him to pot. Neil seems to have picked up the pace. He did in

the last two frames of the afternoon session. At one stage he was at 32

seconds or shot, now down to 27, the way he is playing here that will

reduce it even further. The second time at trying to move

this red interplay. This time he has got it. Unlocking. I bet you a fiver

he gets the double, Willie. What a shame. Neil Robertson takes the

second frame of the session and reduces his deficit 6-4.

Mark Selby will have a busy festive season because he is also trying to

defend his Masters crown in two weeks, that begins on the 12th of

January. The draw was made for next year's tournament this afternoon.

Let me show you how it looks. Ronnie O'Sullivan against Robert

Millkens will be a repeat of the past game which was wrapped up in 64

minutes. You have got the likes of Stuart Bingham, who had such a great

run here, knocking out Ronnie, up against John Higgins. That is how it

looks and you will be able to share the excitement with us from the 12th

of January. I think after all of that Christmas cheer, we will be in

the mood to watch snooker for a few days. Let's discuss the match in

hand, and there was one miss from Selby which allowed Neil Robertson

to get in and it has been rather symptomatic of game ball for him

over the last few games. I think this is a massive part of the game.

If he knocks this in, it is 7-3. That might be a huge ball in the

match. It has been quite prevalent during this tournament, particularly

with Mark Selby. If he just strokes them in, doesn't hit them so hard,

and he tends to do that sometimes and that is exactly what he has

done. He has come across the red and missed it, but when he strokes the

red he doesn't have a problem with it. But the power shots that he

knows he can win the frame from, he has been found wanting. So in other

words are we sensing some tension? He is looking at the pot thinking,

it I win this, I have got it. At some point he has got to play as he

can do. All Neil could do there was send the

Reg to the other end of the table. There was no escape route. Mark will

try to get that red up to the other end of the table and not make it

into an awkward frame. Can only see the reds to the right

of the pink and he has got to be careful. If he took that, he would

come in the pink which he has now elected to play off. Where is it

going to finish? Neil thought it was worth the risk because it was the

only red he would leave, but he has left mark with a terrific chance

because there is a red available to the back of the bunch in a couple of

shots' time. Mark Selby, what was that? ! Nobody saw that coming. That

was just a lapse in concentration. Hazel spoke about tension out

there. I think that proved her point, that miss. Watch the white

when it comes off the cushion. There is no side there.

He has pushed one near the pocket and the yellow will not come to his

rescue. This will cut in. It is a thin one, but it will pot.

He needs the white to keep coming further up the table. And he can

still plot the green, I feel, as we show you this fine cut in. I'm not

sure if he can pot this green and avoid the brown. He might be able

to, so he can screw up and leave himself a choice of rents I think.

-- choice of reds. He didn't avoid the Carmen on the brown but he will

settle for that. If he can get the red to the left of

the black, it would free on the red at the back of the bunch. He has got

an angle to go straight into the pink if he wanted to. We will see

what he decides. Straight into the pink. How is your luck? That is not

great, believe it or not. The black is not available so it could have

worked out a lot better than this. He sent the pink onto the side

cushion. And he cannot leave the black in the same pocket as the red

because he is hampered. When you see your opponent miss an easy ball like

Mark just did, that can give you the fire in your belly. He has got round

the back of the bark, Dennis. -- the black. That was much more difficult

than it looked. Great shot, that last one.

I think he thought he was going to miss the red and be straight on it,

but he can get up for the blue. We can show you, he was just trying to

screw past that red and flicked it. He hasn't played a great shot there

either, but there are two red Sea can get on. -- -- two reds.

I thought he could have screwed back, left the one near the pink

spot, stunned at into the black, but he feels this is a more comfortable

route. Well played. Didn't use that little

extension because it makes the shot a little bit more difficult with

that extra six inches on the end of the cue.

It looks as if Alison is getting over that jet lag. This is his

mother who has travelled over from Melbourne. Charming lady. I was

chatting to her in the players' Lounge. Over to see her grandson for

Christmas, this is a bonus for her, to see her son playing in the UK

Championship final. A good recovery, that was not

straightforward. A little straighter on the black

than he would have liked. He will have two bump it up and down to get

them in the same pocket as the black.

Is there anything else that will pot, or will he have to move

something else around? This is Mark Selby's last chance in

this frame. If this case goes right, it could be 6-5. He did have a great

chance, didn't he, Mark. That is OK. Just a delicate little cannon.

Didn't mean to hit that red but it is OK. Every chance now that there

is just going to be one frame the difference. And from 5-1 down, it is

going to be difficult to pick a winner now. We thought it was going

to be a close final before a ball was struck. There is a possibility

this final could go all the way. The pot success rate is changing all

the time. Neil Robertson suddenly is 1% ahead of Mark Selby, who was at

91% at one stage this afternoon. This has caused the problem here. So

just one more red to make absolutely sure after this black. Mark needs

one snooker, but if he can knock this red in, he will be certain of

the frame. The chance of another century now.

He has already made six in the tournament, this is his seventh,

should he get it. And it could be 84 for the tournament.

It is so noticeable, Dennis, the speed he is playing at now. It is

still quite a guest room for him, it is 26 at the moment. For the first

four or five frames, he hadn't spotted a black off the spot. That

was part of the reason. Well played, Neil Robertson.

He is sprinting round the table now, the Australian. A chance to develop

the pink. Comes off the top cushion. APPLAUSE

It doesn't matter about the pink. That was a great response from Mark

Selby. He made one mistake, but a superb century to get him to just

one frame behind. That is what he has got to do. The boys in the

studio was saying he has just got to kill the frame off with one visit,

and it was Mark Selby he was first to be fair, and I have never seen

him miss a ball as easy as this. He was just in two minds when he went

to pot it and lost his concentration. I think he tried to

play for the white to take it, but played off the cushion straight.

There was another red that was available at the back and do the

right of the bunch, so it was a good early chance, but I tell you what,

Neil Robertson has thrown the gauntlet down now with that century

break. Just look at the focus on his face there. Game on again. Yes,

absolutely. He has played very well this evening. He was likely

disappearing out of the match. This is the last frame before the

mid-session interval. I think it is almost more important for Mark Selby

to win this one. Neil Robertson must be feeling very pleased.

Easy path back down the table of the rates, as you can see there. -- of

the reds. But when you have a two frame

advantage, or you are looking for is to share the little mini sessions.

He needs to win this frame to do that.

I wonder, is he going to be tempted for stop Neil Robertson stuck to a

game plan. He refused a view game plans, but that confidence seems to

have returned. APPLAUSE

That was a Neil Robertson special. Yes, he wasn't potting those earlier

on today. His long pot success rate has improved. He has got to make

sure he gets past the blue here because brown and yellow are off the

spot, so addition is important with this shot. -- position is important.

He might even develop the black. The pink would be the better shot. He

could then bring red and black into play here. He has played for the

loose red. That was a great chance to open the game up. He played for

the red that is on the black spot. Interesting choice, that last shot.

A similar angle on the blue. Is he going to do it this time? There is

so much mileage going into the pink this time. He needed the cue ball to

finish a few inches further down. The black and pink are out of play

at the moment and he needs to bring one of them into play. If he prefers

to do it that side of the table rather than the other side, some

players do have a preference. It looks as if he played into that gap,

but that was always going to leave the pink and black still tied up. He

has got to get down the correct side of the blue again here. Not easy

when you are using the spider as well. In practice, you would hardly

ever use the spider. But I am not sure if he has got a

straightforward positional shot. If he screws back, he will flick of the

pink. It might not be a bad idea to do that. I think it is worth a

little risk, this screw shot into the pink. As long as he doesn't kiss

the pink full ball, there is no problem. He doesn't like it, for

some reason. The red looked almost straight. He

can maybe just leave the pink. A very delicate little positional shot

was needed. Is he OK? It is going to be tight, I think. He must be OK,

the way he is walking around the table.

Now he is not sure. He might have to put a bit of right-hand side on it.

Mark Selby has been kept off the table for the last few moments. That

is not the best shot in the world. He may have to play down the other

side. He needs to go left hand side of the

green on the way back, and probably down the right-hand side on the way

back. A little bit fortunate there. Yes, I think that red is available

next to the pink. It did not put him out of position.

APPLAUSE Things have changed. In the opening

frame, Mark Selby looked very good. All of a sudden now, Neil Robertson

has seen a little bit of weakness in Mark's game and upped his own game.

Probably a good job there is an interval soon. Mark is still a

slight favourite to win the game, the way things have gone during the

day. Mind you, to come back from 5-1. Neil Robertson will take a

little bit of confidence to that mid-session interval.

You might have to say that the world number one has gone back as

favourite. He will want to get further up the

table. You think he would swing it right round the table and get

towards the blue. He has decided to hold for the pink. The black might

also pot to the middle, I'm not sure. He did well to hold it. The

black is the easier pot, if it goes. Plenty of room. What a performance

from Neil Robertson here. His pot success rate has just flown

up. He was down at 63% earlier today. Mark Selby's has dropped to

87%, which has to improve. He just looks a different player now, Neil

Robertson. I mean, this is down to all his experience. He has been in

this situation so many times. APPLAUSE

What a great fightback this has been. From fine three macro 5-1

down, the Australian is going to go into the mid-session interval or

square. Yes, it is top class. He has dominated this evening session. This

could be the 85th century of the tournament. And, more importantly,

Neil Robertson has already made seven, and this could be his eighth.

He has been a sentry machine this season.

I have enjoyed every ball struck in this final, to watch a player fight

his way back from 5-1 down. APPLAUSE

And, that is the century. This barbican crowd give a generous

round of applause for it. Well, it could go all the way this one.

Absolutely, yes. He has played brilliantly this evening, Neil

Robertson. He missed a long part, got away with it, and Mark went for

the long pot and Mr. -- missed it. Yes, you book fees voice for an

exhibition and that of the type of shot you expect to see. If superb

performance from the world number one. There will be different

commentary after the interval, but what a fabulous friend to finish on.

He is right back into the game now. A little bit of a welcome drink for

Neil Robertson because he has ready gone to work in the last few games.

What a turnaround, to show such composure and such poise. Yes, he

has upped his game. We were waiting for him to come out of his shell a

little bit, and that was a fantastic break. He was only playing around

with the blue for quite awhile until he split the packs, and that only

had the pink. He had the cue ball on an absolute string. He showed great

composure there. The match is back on again, fantastic stuff. What has

inspired the turnaround, or is it something in your mind that Mark

Selby has done? When they are playing at this level, and you have

got the world number one and world number two, occasionally just one

shot can turn a match on its head. Mark Selby was 6-3 ahead at this

time, he was on struck. He knocks out in and it goes 7-3. The balls

were as their two knocking. From the minute he missed that, Neil

Robertson has gone right up to the gearbox and got himself to 6-6. A

real let off. Yes, it could turn out to be a turning point in the match.

The interval has come at a good time for Mark Selby. I have seen him in

practice. As we said, this final has all the hallmarks, you can't

separate these guys. They have shown some great snooker between them.

We'll match play, top-class match play snooker. They are back level

again. It is what you want. Fantastic. Don't go anywhere. It

looks like we are in for a long right. The Barbican Centre has been

a blur of big breaks. In fact, 128 players turned up here. It is a new

look format for this event. It has not been to everyone's taste. Lots

of the players revelled in it. Many did not like it, describing it as a

circus. Let's hear the case for and against.

The principle of a loving playing field, 128, seeded draw, is the

fairest principle in sport. It might be the fairest principle, but a UK

championship started with a lot of criticism over the 128 player

format. For tables in the main arena, four tables here by the

studio, and only one practice table, just a little bit too snug. I

had a wee rant at the press. When you come to these events, it is a

little bit too cramped for 128 players. When you are in the second

biggest tournaments, the last thing you want is to be playing out the

back. I wasn't the biggest fan of the change to the structure of the

game, but the 128 is fair. What I don't agree with is the devaluing of

these major events. We are on a journey. In any journey there will

be a few bumps in the road. Logistically, it has thrown some

problems at us, taking 128 players to a venue that is probably not big

enough. Among the stories wrapping the press's attention was that of

Ronnie O'Sullivan having to get changed in a toilet before his

first-round match. Not what top players had come to expect. I know

the players are coming from a different angle, some of them,

because they have been pampered in the past. Those days are gone. I am

personally against it, to be fair, but you have got to look at the

wider game and obviously Barry has head ideas -- his ideas, I just am

happy I am not 21 and having to play my way through this year of snooker.

It is not quite right at the moment for Barry, but he has got to try

everything, we have just got to grin and bear it at the moment. The way I

look at it, if you win matches you will be all right. I feel a little

bit aggrieved, but that's just the way it is now. Like he says, we can

all get another job now, can't we? But then there won't be a game.

There was not enough common sense in this game. People look at it through

a blinkered approach of what suits me. Those people that think like

that, I have nothing to do with them at all. Our opinion is what suits

the game. It is good for me, with my ranking situation. Obviously the top

16 are not happy about it, but the only good thing about being in the

top 16 these days is that you are in the World Championships, and you are

in the Masters. It is what it is, and we have got to get on with it.

Every player should be in the first round of every tournament. If you

have earned your right to call yourself a professional snooker

player, you should have the same opportunities as everybody else. It

is much better for overseas buyers. With this format and this

structure, if it wasn't like this, who knows what my career would have

turned into. Those on the outside, those on the bottom of the game, are

happy about the changes. It can't be right to have to play six or seven

games before you get to play one of the top 16. I heard the term

whipping boys, but we are just as good as them. It is just that the

atmosphere can get to us. There have been a few negative comments about

the tournament, now it has been formatted, but I agree with anything

Barry plays. I just love playing and I love winning. The crowd was good,

so hopefully I will be back here next year. The best players, if they

are that good, if they deserve to be at the top of the rankings, they

should get through. We have earned our right to be here. Shane Castle

seeded 128. He is only 15. A young star in the making. If you are a

young, upcoming player, we need a vibrant sports, not just the same

old names playing just the same old games. That, frankly, was what was

like it wasn't getting boring, it was getting tedious. We are seeing

the stories coming through, we are seeing kids getting their chance if

they are good enough. But, interestingly enough, the cream

rises to the top. 14 of the top 16 players made the last 16. So, I'll

be going wrong? -- are we going wrong? Despite any protests, there

will be no changes. The format stays because the format is the future.

There you go, the pros and cons. It has certainly be aimed logistic

challenge. When we play 20 years ago in Preston, there were eight tables

and everyone came in at around one and they brought it down to two

tables when the TV cameras came in. But I think it is a fairer system.

Particular particularly for the younger guys. Even as a top 32

player, I am affected by the change as well. For all the great stories

and all the amateurs and those in from overseas that are talented, in

the old system they would not get through. What will alleviate some of

these problems? I don't know, maybe the argument for not bringing 128 to

hear. I don't know, but one thing I wouldn't want to do is move from the

York Barbican Centre and take the tournament somewhere else just

because we have got 128 players. This is a brilliant venue with

brilliant support, and it is perfect for the UK. It would be like

throwing the baby out with the bath water. Some of the major events have

suffered from being taken around different venues and have lost that

identity. Is there a danger of moving it from here? I don't think

they should move from here. There have been teething problems, but I

am sure the authorities will have learned from that. Going forward to

next year, they will make adjustments. But it is a fantastic

venue, it has been packed out from day one. The crowds have been great.

Fergal O'Brien said he was playing in front of 150 people, and he said

it was a great atmosphere. He would rather be here than in a big open

arena. It is fantastic sponsorship to. The prize money is superb.

Nobody could do better. Obviously because of this new format, the

championship has been eventful and exciting. It has been great to see

some of the amateurs coming through, and great for us to see some of

those emerging players that we wouldn't otherwise neat because they

never got to this stage. The steep the top professionals have not been

protected, and one or two of them have found that rather ghoulish.

128 souls materialised in York. Moaning and wailing filled the

Barbican. The top players were haunted by the spectre of an early

defeat. 64 survived the ordeal. But in the

next round, for whom will it be heaven, and for whom will it be

held? -- help? Jimmy has a slight limp around the

table. I have never heard of policeman's heal before. You are a

dedicated follower of fashion. Fancy wearing a pair of those?

I knew my manager was waiting to go to dinner as well. I was trying to

run round the table. This time last year, others the sofa

watching it. Someone came up to me as well done, and I thought you are

my hero, why you talking to me? Number one in the papers a few years

ago. Into the third round and just 32

left. A ghost of a chance of getting their hands on the trophy. He has

got a pair of your old daisies on, Neil. You used to wear some of those

in the 1970s. I was not very old then, still at school. Those shoes

are not the worst either, by the way. With the glitter in them,. Not

got the spiky ones on tonight. If someone asks for a re-rack, I am

not going to be in favour. He has missed it! How has he won

that? I have to say, we are pretty flabbergasted. I think everybody is

in shock! Just not, I don't know, my brain has

gone to be honest. It is so painful to go out there and play like that,

I am lost for words. The dream remained for 16 men, but the next

match would be a nightmare for eight of them.

He is a cider drinker, Robert Milkens. Ronnie didn't win the

toss! I just want to congratulate Stuart... Rob, sorry, I have got

Stewart on the brain. Into the quarterfinals. Who will

feel the icy hand of defeat? Good cueing here. Brilliant!

Absolutely brilliant. You would think Alan Titchmarsh was out there

playing, there has been that many plants. I have played him three

times in the last three weeks, and I have had chances to beat him every

time so it is nice to get one. Just four to go. Hopes were high.

For two the semifinal would be the graveyard of their ambitions. A big

shot this is. Come on then! He is not on the black. What is shot he is

going to have to take here. Here we go. Get in, get in... Get in! Well

played, Mark Selby. What a black he has knocked in there. Absolutely

fantastic! That is the one. Neil turns to

Stuart Bingham. What a fantastic semifinal we have had here. So we

come to the end of our journey. The night grows dark for one of our

heroes, but for the other place with the immortals beckons.

That is Mark Graeme from the original ghost walk. One of the

marvellous things about this has been meeting some of these amateurs

and Mitchell Travis is a fantastic character. Yes, it was fantastic to

meet him because I knocked his father out! He challenged me to a

best of three, that is next week, but he is a great lad. He worked in

a call centre, and he was a barman as well. That is one of the great

things, giving players like him a chance. We have really revelled in

the progress of Stuart Bingham in this championship, we have seen 100

maximum breaks, and now it is the world number one and world number

two who will be competing in this last part of the final session. They

have got ?150,000 on the line, the world number one spot on the line

and history in the making for both of them. Now we are with Stephen

Hendry and John Virgo. JOHN VIRGO: Mid-session over and we

are in for a climax here. Yes, he looks very focused. Good pot, but

unintentional kiss on the second red has not given him position on a

colour. That aggression is back on his game. It was missing this

afternoon. He seemed to go into his shell a little bit this afternoon,

almost as if it was intimidated by Mark Selby's game. You have just got

to concentrate on your own game. He didn't want to risk going up to

the baulk end but I'm sure Neil Robertson will because he has left

him a nice easy safety shot here. He will try to get the cue ball up

towards the yellow pocket. He caught that a bit thick. Is there

a gap this time? There is. I think he can get through to this red

closest to the right corner. A good solid pot and the case,

second red has not ruined his position on the blue. It just

shows, this game is all about fractions. If the cue ball had been

half an inch one way or the other, you would not have been able to get

through to that red. Now he has potted it. First chance.

Played for the pink here. When he pots it it will have to go on to the

black spot, which is not a problem. If the ball spot is not available,

it goes on the highest available. And certainly picked up the pace

now, has Neil Robertson. Average shot time, 24. I remember at a stage

this afternoon it was at 32. Look at that, points without reply,

375. One-way traffic of -- or what! The problem is, when you go into

them off the top cushion, you have got to catch the edge of them. There

may have been a case for going up for the blue but it was an

opportunity and it was his choice. End of break.

Such a great competitor, Mark Selby, but having led 5-1, he will be a bit

disappointed to be all square, but never rule him out.

Tried to put the cue ball in behind the yellow. He has left this red to

the right centre, playing it as a shock to nothing, the cue ball back

to baulk again. That was a long way out. As you say,

it was half a chance, and it is those half chances that need to be

taken at the moment because Neil Robertson is in the ascendancy. 132

break in frame 12, he is the one with all the momentum at the moment.

Excellent length with the cue ball. Yes, this has become a massive test

of Mark Selby's temperament, his will to win, his belief,

self-confidence. 5-1 up, now 6-6. It is how much do you want it now. He

is looking at the plant. It looks as if it is just set towards the left

jaw so it is not a certainty. He would like to see it going in but

I'm not certain it will. He went all out for it and caught it much to

fix. -- too thick. As you see, it was always to the left, but the main

thing was to get the cue ball back to the baulk end, not just in line

with the blue. This is a chance for a meal. -- for Neil. He has turned

away. When he turns back he will be very disappointed here. He thought

he was certain to be on the black, or the pink. He is on neither. He

has got down very quickly. This is a test. That was absolutely superb

because he turned away and he thought he was on the black all the

pink, and he got down very quickly for the pink. He is beginning to

fire on all cylinders. There may have been a little bit too much

adrenaline on that shot, after potting that great blue. He has gone

too far past centre. Looking at that pots success, it has turned on its

head. It was the other way round, it was Mark Selby at over 90%, and Neil

Robertson below it. Now it is, as I say, it has swung the other way. He

has to be a little bit careful with the cue ball. That was a nice shot.

He had to use the Reg to hold the cue ball because there was too much

angle on the shot to get positioned directly so he just killed the pace

on that other red. Neil Robertson is really moving through the gears

now. That is what we say about snooker, you cannot do anything when

you are sitting in your chair. 130 in the first frame of this

match, and Mark Selby is just keeping that seat warm at the

moment, having to watch as Neil Robertson goes through the gears.

Black having to go as close to its own spot as a canned because there

are no other spots available. This black to go 62 points in front,

so one Reg needed after it. That was frame ball! Now, Mark Selby, what

have you got in the locker? I know he was flying, Neil

Robertson, but perhaps he should have stepped back and taken a little

bit more time. I suppose he was so full of confidence he didn't expect

to miss it. He needs a clearance to win the

frame. He has been given the chance, but he has been sitting out for so

long, 400 and odd points since he last got an opportunity. This is the

art of this game. You have got to sit out like that, when you get the

opportunity you have to get your cueing arm going immediately. This

is a test for Mark Selby. After potting the pink, I think he

wants to play for the pink again ideally. The red on the top cushion,

if he got on it nicely, he could role in dead weight. -- roll in.

Imperative now he gets a good angle on this pink. Doesn't want to be

straight on it. Well, what do you believe it? What a

chance that has gone begging there. And that will only fill Neil

Robertson with more confidence. 33 points behind, 43 remaining.

First priority, get this safe. Where is the cue ball going? That

will probably cost him this frame. Because Neil Robertson only needs

the red. Just didn't catch that red right. It just dropped. If it had

stayed there, it would have been safe. But that is the frame ball red

for Neil Robertson, who trailed at one time in this match five frames

to one, he will now lead. What a turnaround. Nicely on the last red,

so Mark Selby will not be coming back to the table. He has got a lot

to think about, as the man from Leicester. He was offered a

lifeline. This cue ball will be close to the

middle pocket. But it won't matter. Mark having a close look at the

scoreboard, but he has conceded. Neil Robertson's comeback is

complete. Made a mistake, gave Mark Selby a chance, he couldn't take

it, and now the world number one is leading 7-6.

This is the first time he has taken the lead and this is a complete

turnaround. Mark Selby was unable to pop a ball for three frames, he had

a chance. He split the reds beautifully, then he played one

shots which he over screwed, and from then on he never quite had the

cue ball. He had red in the middle you still wouldn't expect him to

miss, but he was just trying to hold an angle, but this is a bit wooden

if you are Mark Selby son. You are sitting down there and not at the

table for such a long time, does that clearly have an impact when you

go back? Absolutely because you have not had a chance to get your arm

going. You are a little bit stiff, you put all the pressure into the

mix and you can miss anything at this stage. This pendulum has swung

completely around from 5-1 up earlier on where he had Neil

Robertson exactly where he wanted him. Unfortunately for Mark Selby's

supporters, he is looking weaker. There is the odd exception but at

the moment the situation where he is, he is clinging on the moment.

There is only one player hitting the ball properly and it is not him.

Neil Robertson is doing Selby on Selby. It was pointed out in how

quickly he got down on that blue, but you can tell the confidence is

growing. He got down into the middle of the pocket and carried on with

the break. John mentions in the commentary that it was the speed

with which he played it. Earlier today 32 seconds was his average

shot time, that could not have been half that when he got down on the

blue. Who said earlier on in the season that he was consciously

trying to speed up, and he has already won one world ranking title

this season, made 58 centuries already this season. There will be

somebody who makes 100 centuries in a season, and if anybody can do it

he can do it, but he is looking a different player to this

afternoon's session. You are losing confidence, and that is always a

good sign. JOHN VIRGO: the world number one

player is in the ascendancy. Yes, an excellent break off shot from Neil

Robertson. He will be sitting there comfortably now. He looked very

uncomfortable for the most part in the first session. There is a plant

on here, I fancy this going in. He needs to be on a colour. Just about

on the brown to the right middle. Just overrun it. It is all about cue

ball control, this game. He played it nicely. He has got the perfect

angle on the blue. I think on either side of that cluster there are reds

that can go in either pocket. A bit low on it, which might suit

him. Pot the red and bring all the reds into play. He won't be too

happy with that. It was a bit of nothing shot. If you are going to

open the reds, you play it a lot harder to make sure the cue ball was

away from the cushion. Once he was near the cushion like that, he left

himself with an awful lot to do. At the moment, I think he is looking

for easier pots than this. Vicky will be getting a little bit

concerned, but she knows he can battle and he has done it before.

Nice angle on the blue, but he can't go into the red. He is checking to

see if that rate will pass the Black comfortably. He can just drop this

blew in. He is a left-hander, so he can leave

the pupil on the left-hand side of the table. -- cue ball.

He will go into them with not solve pace. Just checking no plans for the

middle pockets. It could have worked out a lot

better than that. You would have expected that to be a

frame-winning chance there. This red cuts to the right corner.

APPLAUSE Now, is he going to be on the

yellow? He is on the yellow, but it doesn't appear to be the right

angle. It is very straight. Can he pinch a bit?

Can he find just a little bit of angle? In the end, he didn't feel as

though he could. This is a tricky red that he has left himself.

He hit that well. You could say to well, but there was a lot of

pressure on that. Another good shot. Maybe he has put

the disappointment of that last frame behind him.

He has just not what good control of that cue ball at the moment. It can

happen. You put so much into the pot, you are just not getting the

positional play you would like. I don't know if the pink spot messes

up the five reds in the middle of the table.

Whether it does or not, he is not perfect on this red by any means.

No, he hit that all wrong. The pink was very straight. He had to force

it. He did not get the stun on the cue ball that he wanted.

He will be disappointed, but he never really had pinpoint position

with that cue ball, and that is the secret of making high breaks.

If he had hit it thinner, he could have run into the black. A little

nudge of the brand. This helps somewhat.

APPLAUSE It is right in the middle of the

pocket. He is on the black. Pink may be a better option. I am not certain

of the availability of the reds. He has a slight angle on the black, it

appears. Yes, you can tell when a player is

striking the cue ball correctly. Mark Selby is not doing that at the

moment, but Neil Robertson is doing it perfectly.

Although he won't be entirely happy with that one.

Yes, this is the last of the loose reds, so it is imperative now he

gets a good angle on the colour. If he gets a nice split, the frame

is at his mercy. He just didn't hit that with enough pace.

These three reds and three colours would do it for him.

APPLAUSE It is just one way traffic at the

moment. Mark Selby had a chance this frame, just couldn't get that cue

ball under control. Neil Robertson at the moment limiting him to an odd

chance. Ten frames, the target. Not bothered about the Green, so to

snooker is required to tie. It is not a forlorn hope.

APPLAUSE Well, he has got the snooker.

Come off the top cushion with a trace of left-hand side, there is no

way he is going to miss this. So, he has hit it, but he has left

it. Mark looks at Neil and says, no need to come back to the table, the

frame is yours. Neil Robertson has now won seven of the last few

frames. He now leads 8-6. He is really finding some authority

with his striking. He is hitting the ball really well. It has completely

changed around. From his point of view, Mark had two chances. He is 28

points of his two chances. You can tell with his cue ball control, he

is not striking it properly. I am sure Neil Robertson might start to

feel a little bit constable, but this is when we start to expect a

charge from Mark Selby. He is never going to give up. He has got great

character, great survival instinct. You will have two scrape him of the

table, there is no doubt about it. He is so good all round. But he will

have two produced his best snooker, something he hasn't done all week.

As John said, at the moment, it is one-way traffic for Neil Robertson.

He could be like one of those ready annoying boxes because he keeps

sticking in and sticking in. Neil Robertson is playing very well now.

Back we go. Mark Selby has got to find

something. By his own admission, he has not played his best this week.

He has played in fits and starts. Is it catching up with him?

Now, the Thunder from Down Under is really starting to produce the

goods. One of the best potters we have ever seen in the game, and he

is now beginning to find the middle of the pocket. Danger signs.

He is a completely different proposition when he is getting these

long pots. It just means you are getting in

first on every single frame, which makes such a difference.

Neil is looking up at the audience as if someone put him off. I didn't

hear anything. It could only have been a sound.

Perhaps it was the fact that some clapped his mess. That was not very

nice. What is he thinking of? Surely he is

not thinking of coming off the baulk cushion. He can only nestle into the

cluster. He knows it is time to dig in. He

needs to make things hard now for Neil Robertson and knocking out of

his stride, if he can. Yes, this afternoon when Neil wasn't getting

the long pots, he was getting dragged into these long frames. He

is out of his comfort zone, he doesn't enjoy it.

Both players agree quickly for a brief racks. That is good. Yes, that

was interesting. The onus seems to be on the player now.

We have got a packed a black macro -- a packed house here at the

Barbican. Not the best safety shot, catching a

colourful in the face. He should have played a better

safety than that. He just caught it a little thinner

than intended. That is an opportunity now for his opponent.

He is catching those safety is much too thick.

He is just not hitting that cue ball correctly at the moment.

Once again, not the best safety shot from Neil.

Mark Selby is just not hitting anything right.

It is one of those situations when you are not hitting the ball well

when you need a little bit of help from your opponent, and he is

getting it at the moment. This looks like a good safety.

A safety error, but it doesn't look as though he has done much damage.

He can't get through to the red closest to the blue. Can he get

through to this red? He will be a little bit disappointed

with that. It should have been behind the brown.

Is that red covered? It is. Well covered. A chance here to play the

swerve, and he could pot this red. If he plays it gently enough, he may

also get position on the black. Looks perfect!

Yes, that was a fantastic shot. The swerve was not too difficult, but to

get it that well on the black. That was excellent. He needs to score

here. 8-6 down. He needs to win a frame in one visit to get that

confidence back, that belief. He is just two inches short. That

was the red he played for. Back-up for the blue. He needs that angle.

Just about got it. He will play for that red again, just to the right of

the black. Just enough. This time he is on it. He has got nice control of

the cue ball. Can he keep it? Opened them nicely. Just covered one

to the middle. He played that shot just a little

bit firmer than was necessary. A little bit unlucky, but he just

didn't hit that split into the pack as positively as he would have liked

to. Yes, and that red he missed was tricky, but under normal

circumstances, you would expect him to pot it. A long Red now from Neil

Robertson. Selby has opened all the reds. There will be no work to do,

it is just this initial pot. Everybody wants this to go all the

way, once the drama to continue. That's why Mark is getting all this

encouragement. He can't get through to the red, but he has one to the

right corner. He is playing one to the middle.

So, a second bite of the cherry. He has got to take this on.

It is not guaranteed. He needs to be careful not to snooker himself.

If it had nestled on the red, he would have been on nothing, but he

is OK. He is definitely fragile though. You

can't sense that he is full of confidence. No, he is having to dig

very deep. He is still on the black, but he played the cannon.

That is something you have to do in all sports. If you are not feeling

your best, you just have to dig in and hope you can turn it around.

This frame now is almost certainly in the back.

This will make better watching for Vicky.

There is no way that Neil Robertson will be coming back to the table.

Mark has needed to chances. Thankfully, with a little bit of

help from his opponent, he got them. And now that the frame is well and

truly won, he is the fluency. -- he is increasing the fluency. Stephen

remarked on his stuttering when he first got this chance.

I think he just wants this frame to be over now and get ready for the

next one. As I say, he wanted to get to the

next frame. Breaks of 42 and 74, get Neal Robertson of the table. Mark

Selby keeping it in there but he is still behind.

HAZEL IRVINE: His scrapped and scraped his way into the final Mark

Selby and he is having to show those qualities again.

He is just remarkable. Neil Robertson has stepped up and played

really well but he just cannot get rid of him. He is the human limpet!

Every time somebody think they have got him, he finds something from

somewhere as he has done it throughout the tournament and other

tournaments. He is no way near best. Can you ever feel safe playing

against him? Not at all. His whole game, he never gives up. Is a great

characteristic to have. You should never give up until it is almost

impossible and he always stick in. You know what you will get from him,

you know it will be a tough match and hats off to him, . His

temperament is fantastic. Lots of players and I include myself, if I

had hit the ball as badly as he has in some of the matches that he has

won, you would kick yourself for not cueing well. He missed a shot as he

smiles to himself and all to himself, how did I do that? And then

he goes and hits a great shot. Fantastic temperament. He was

hampered from the brown and green and the fact he has not won in one

visit is still a problem for Mark Selby but had one of the others gone

in, it would definitely have been nine - six. Lots of the text in and

tweeting saying who is the gentleman in the background it is Vinnie

Calabrese. Hello, Vinny! This is Neil Robertson's flatmate at the

moment. He has come across from Sydney. You will get a full

biography now. He is waiting for a lift to go back home to Cambridge

with Neil Robertson. Go on to the BBC sport website because there is a

terrific feature on Vinnie Calabrese and his first season on the tour.

That is the mystery man in the background. Appearing on a practice

table near you soon! We have horribly embarrassed him now but you

will recognise that face for years to come. Trying to do what Neil

Robertson has done in this game. Neil Robinson has been a real

inspiration to players like Vinnie. It will only be a help to him. He

will be learning from watching Neil Robertson out there and watching how

he goes about that how he prepares. He has a pizza named after him in

one of the restaurants over the road here in York so he must be popular!

He has certainly stamped his name here. He is up against this man, the

human limpet as we have described him, this could be a crucial phase

of this final. JOHN VIRGO: both players went out

for a comfort I can now Neil Robertson is wiping his hands, they

are the paper towels in the toilets, you need a proper towel.

Neil Robertson breaks off, maybe not quite in the ascendancy in his mind

as he was when he was going 86 in front. He had a couple of half

chances and did not take them. And he had to sit out the frame.

He played it thinking it would run up the table and maybe not leave it.

The worst result, that is the one he has left. It wasn't the easiest

shot. Will he try to bring the black into

play or concentrate going up? He has played nicely. Going for the

blue. You could not pick it up and put it in a better position to slam

into the ping from here. -- into the pink.

For a moment I thought he would be nothing there, but a red appeared.

It is not the perfect position because the black is there on the

position and the pink and then the red just came off the top cushion

nicely to the left corner. He will have to concentrate on the blue and

baulk collars for the time being. It is a lovely view. And it is a

very good venue. And when it is full, the Barbican, it creates such

a tremendous atmosphere. All snooker arenas do but it has got a bearpit

atmosphere here. You are close to the action. Beautiful arena and it

has been a great tournament. Started off with 128 lawyers who came here

two weeks ago. Some shocks along the way and some great matches --

started off with 128 players. This final is not letting us down.

He was a bit fortunate there, did not buy a cannon on the red.

He has got a nice angle on the blue, he didn't want to go but the

pink. I think the reason was he felt he would leave the cue ball too

close to the cushion but also the wrong angle on the pink. But he is

perfect on the blue so no problem there.

And if he popped the pink, I don't think it will pot when it is

re-spotted. Another nice shot. The right side of

the blue. That was a poor shot, a bit pacey.

He will not be happy with that one. It needed to stop in a different

place. So this is a thin cut. He cut it in and was able to control

the cue ball and get it onto a baulk colour but when it starts to

travel, it makes things that little bit more difficult.

It may be worth the risk of going into the bunch here.

Just below centre on the cue ball, stunning it down. All the roads are

open now. This is a big frame for Neil, and he

knows it. Mark may be thinking, if he gets

another shot at this frame, he will be probably thinking he might not.

A little bit straighter on the blue than he would have liked.

Things are getting just a little bit or difficult now, he is not getting

the right angle on the blue in the second time now. He is not keeping

control on the cue ball. He missed the yellow and it is inch

perfect. That was an excellent recovery. If he kisses the yellow,

it could have been end of break. He missed it by a fraction. But enough

of one. He is hampered, it does not make

this pink any easier. It is wired! It always looked wide.

Did he put a little bit of unintentional strike on the cue

ball? Mark Selby is back at the table.

He is saying it rolled off, but it always look wide to me.

I thought Mark Selby might have played the cannon.

Maybe he has the chance to do it now but this time he does not have the

pink over the middle. Decided not to take the risk and

play for the pink, but this is not perfect. You call it a perfect when

you have the natural angle on the ball to take you on to the next

ball. But this is a little bit awkward.

Played it nicely, but so concerned with the pink. If he has got the red

into the middle, he has been fortunate.

That was well wide. Just as you alluded to not long ago, Stephen,

when he comes to these -- the table with these chances, he is not

positive enough. If you look at the two players, there is only one who

has confidence he will win this final will stop where is the brown

going? 35 points in the lead, a possible 51

remaining. So, after this yellow or green, he still needs a red and a

colour. He is not on the red. This frame

isn't over just yet. A good safety. Mark Selby, now has

got to make no more mistakes. One more mistake and the frame has gone.

He is looking to run this red into the black, bring the black into play

and hold the red near the top cushion. He has missed it. Where

does the red go? Does he leave it. He could have left it easier, but he

has left the part on and only a red and a colour required for Neil

Robertson. I'd tell you what, a little bit

harder and that might not have dropped. I thought it was going to

the left-hand door. I think it was in the middle of the pocket when it

started out. It just gradually moved over to the left-hand jaw.

Would you believe it? ! Mark Selby can still win. That was pressure,

that is the first shot he has hit badly in a long time.

Just a little bit of head movement. Whether the brown was just hampering

him slightly. But that pink was frame ball. Will he get a better

chance than that? Gone past the five hours much time.

You have to say, it has been enthralling. I would not say it is

swinging one way or the other. I don't think it has swung back to

Mark Selby's away just yet. But if Neil Robertson is missing frame

balls, it could do quite quickly. Mark Selby looking to see if he can

get the cue ball behind the yellow. He has not got the snooker, but it's

not the most important thing. The cue ball is tight against the

cushion. Much too thick. I know what you are

saying, but the problem is, you don't want to hit it that thing

because if you get in the pocket and it does not go in and stays in the

jaw. But as you say, he caught it too thick.

So close! He has got to pot the colour. If he doesn't, he will need

a snooker. I think this was a good cannon on the brown. He needs a

colour, or he will need the snooker. He is on the pink, but needs to get

it. Now he needs this cue ball to run

otherwise he could be snookered when the pink is re-spotted. I think he

can just get past it. He can use the black to stop the red

from the other right corner pocket. Plays the redfin towards the black

and the cue ball up towards the yellow and the blue. He could play a

good safety shot here. Yes, he really could. He could have the blue

or the pink as the snooker balls. Just got to catch this right. I

think if he was not using the rest, it would be guaranteed.

I am amazed he has played it like that. But, he has got the snooker so

OK. But, it was so much easier, the other one. At the moment, I don't

think he is feeling that good about himself that he can play little thin

safety shot. Positive shot will as it happens, it has worked out for

him. OK, the brown has been made safe but he cant you pass the

yellow. -- he can cue past the yellow.

Is he on a colour? Not perfect. Blue or pink. They will be tough. I don't

know how they can sit there and watch. It would be too tough for me.

The problem we have got here is the black. We saw when he made his

maximum break, he does not like using the rest. Can he get to play

the pot on the blue without fouling the black. Because the pink, he will

have to use the rest, surely. If he does not part of the colour, he

needs a snooker. -- if he does not pot.

He has to be so careful he does not foul the black.

Nicely on the LO. -- yellow. When Neil Robertson missed that straight

pink, you would still make him heavy favourite to win the frame. But he

will be fearing the worst. But maybe not after that shot.

Disappointing. He has never had any consistency in his positional play.

He has underhit this by a long way. It is an easy safety. He will be

thinking it was a chance to win the frame at one visit. Well short of

pace with the cue ball. If Neil Robertson cannot get direct to the

green, he will try and come off the ball cushion first. He is only

looking for the green. I think he will be playing ball cushion first.

If you are going to play that, you have got to get right in behind the

green. He did not play that very well.

This frame has become massive now in the context of this match.

APPLAUSE .

Right in the heart of the pocket. That was a terrific shot. This brown

does not go in does it? No, just playing safe off it. It needed to be

safer than that, I am afraid. Neil Robertson only needs the brown.

They are all suffering out there. Family -wise. Everybody else is

enjoying it. Well, that was a long way away

because he cut it too much though, he has gifted the chance to Mark.

Can you believe it? It is amazing what I should does.

Mrs a straight pink, goes 9-7 up and now he looks like you cannot put a

ball. He needs an angle on the pink.

Because he needs to get as close to this black ball as he can. The

closer he gets to the black, the easier the pot.

It becomes a black ball game. He would have likely to be and this,

don't be wrong, I fancy him to but it but there is a bit of pressure on

this. I can never understand why players get the cue ball clean like

this. You should have just got done and potted it. He is trying to

protect. would you believe it? What a let off

for Neil Robertson and what a downer. For Mark Selby. In goes the

black and in the most amazing game, Neil Robertson cannot believe that

he has won it and neither can I, but that is the fact. Neil Robertson now

is one frame away from victory. He leads 9-7, amazingly.

HAZEL IRVINE: What a let off, and you feel that could be crucial. We

were all feeling that. Why did he get the black clean? He did all the

hard work, just get down on pop the black. How straightforward was it?

Very, to be honest. OK, it is the circumstances, the one thing you

cannot do with that shot is hit the front jaw. That is the only thing

you must not do. It is not an absolute gimme and the circumstances

make it different but we are flabbergasted he missed it. Neil

Robertson must be feeling so relieved because that straight pink

that he missed almost gifted cell be the frame. A lot of work that Selby

had to do. That type of ink, you don't expect him to miss. He has

dropped a lovely red and he needs only to roll it in and Stephen said,

it is amazing we were talking, they don't forgive you. When you take

liberties. Look at the table there, the brown is not but pottable. Is no

-- has Mark Selby's chance,? Trying to come back from that, he will be

absolutely devastated, shattered. I think we have seen him over the

years with some resolve with his back to the wall in Masters finals

and this will be up there with his greatest ever performance of the

missing that black and playing the way he is. If he gets out of this,

it will be unbelievable. But he has climbed one mountains and now

another one has appeared in front of him. We have seen him have these

massive comebacks and now he will have to do it all over again. Yes

and it has happened to us all. When you miss walls like that, your

strength drained from out of you. Everything goes. -- when you miss

balls like that. He needs to master every bit of experience since being

a professional and tried to block it out of your mind. But how do you do

that? I don't think he is playing well enough so he will need a bit of

help and he will need meal to miss a couple. Neil is making him wait now.

He knows he's on the verge of something historic, he is wanted to

join a very illustrious history is only the eighth player in history to

win the triple Crown and he would be first series player to win it. You

saw his face going out when he left the black image, we couldn't believe

it and he couldn't -- black in the jaw. What does Selby have left and

is Robertson going to get over the line?

JOHN VIRGO: a good break of shot from Mark Selby.

-- break off shot. If that black had been

straighter... The you don't expect him to miss that.

It spoiled his rhythm getting it clean. It takes some guts after

missing that black to knock in a red like that so maybe it will free the

shackles. You never know in this game.

Sometimes he missed an easy chance and think you have lost the match

and then all the tension just trains out of your body and you can be a

different player -- drains out. Neil Robertson couldn't believe it

there. After he missed that pink, I think he went in that frame. The

first frame he has ever won putting it right-handed which is what he

did. He went into them. He has not got

the best results. A bit of a chuckle with the crowd

when the red went in so he has not lost his sense of humour. I think I

might have done with a miss on that black like that.

Is that what he is going to do now? Attack?

He did not miss a ball after that pink in the last frame, Neil

Robertson, so this is a test. That winning post can play tricks.

He hit it quite hard as well. That is a sign of tension.

And there is another example, that little bit of tension, hitting the

ball just a bit too hard. I think, after Neill was so wide

with that red he potted, Mark has said, hang on, he is thinking about

the winning line. Let's not give him an easy opportunity. Because that

was a long way away. And if you considered those a few frames ago,

he was sitting there is right in the pocket. Twists and turns. Is he

looking at the red pushes to the corner. -- closest to the corner.

He played the containing safety but that does not put much pressure on

Mark to buy a better one than that. I don't think you can get through to

the words read in the middle. Oh, he can so that was not the best

containing safety shot. But he has not got the right angle on the

yellow. If he plays the pot on the yellow, he will have to play it with

a bit of face. -- pace. After missing that black in the last

frame, he will be so annoyed. You can sometimes turn it to your

advantage. He was on the black and I think the only red he could play to

be on is the one just below the black. Can he hold for it?

This will be a test of whether he is prepared to chances are monitoring.

This red along the cushion will be difficult. And he has got a safety

and that is what he is playing. He couldn't have left the cue ball

more awkwardly than that. Don't think he was too interested in

the part, but he was hoping to have it rattle in the jaw and then go up

the side cushion. He turned down a yellow like this

earlier on in the week. Sometimes feel when it is a chance to win the

match, you have got to take it. I think he will prefer to go for the

one open red, rather than play into the cluster. I think if he can hit

the loose red in the baulk half of the table then he can play it. But

it cannot get it off just one cushion, the right-hand cushion,

which is what he would prefer. In a spot of bother here.

He was trying to hit the red, but missed it by a long way. Quite

rightly, Neil Robertson asking to have another go at that. Expect him

to get closer. He is hoping to hit this red just half ball and knock it

to the cushion and not leave it on. He was quite a way out the first

time around and not much closer second time around. He is OK as long

as the cue ball does not go in the pocket. He has a 27 point lead. I am

not saying you can afford to give these points away, but this is his

third attempt. I think the problem is, to get the

line he may be going close to the cluster and he does not want to

touch those. That was better. He has got its safe! It was worth the wait.

That was well worked out. OK, it needed a bit of luck at the end, but

it was a good shot to think of. Mark Selby is not snooker it any

more. A little bit thick, but I don't

think this red is comfortable into the middle. Just stopped short. Of

course it will go to the left corner, but that is a more difficult

pot. Straight cueing needed. Not had much of that from Neil Robertson in

the last few frames. 67% is pretty good.

-- knock this in. When you looked behind the shot, he had an angle to

run through to the black. Sometimes you don't get many chances to win

the match and if you keep refusing them, where is the next one coming

from? I would not like to be playing Mark

Selby and waiting for an easy chance to win. Every credit to Mark Selby,

after losing the last frame in those circumstances, he has done very well

to refocus his mind. He has not hit the blue fall in the

face and has left the pot on. He did not want the red to come to the

left-hand side of the table. But it has.

Just caught the bump in the middle pocket. He would have had a chance

at the black had he not done that. The red at the top of the bunch goes

to the left-hand corner. He has hit that so well.

As you were saying before, a little bit of tension in his arm. Some

players tend to overhit, some underhit and as I have alluded to a

few times this evening, cue ball control is so important in this

game. The best breaks are the ones we think that we could have parted

all of those, it is just manoeuvring the cue ball into the right

position. He has not at the cue ball tight to

the cushion. No real pressure on Mark Selby here. Mark Selby still

has a 21 point lead. He is looking for one more chance in this frame.

Close. I thought the only red he could leave was the one he was

playing. That was right, but it did not go in. He has left a fairly

comfortable safety shot now for Neil.

Mark Selby is in a spot of bother now. And the spot of bother is the

pink that will loom large on the right-hand side of the table. If he

tries to play self -- safe down the right-hand side, he has got to avoid

the pink. If he tries to play Sally down the left-hand side, it is more

difficult. He did miss the pink, but how did the red not go in? Neil

Robertson can get through to it. It looked as though it was about to

drop. He can play the green off one

cushion into an area where he will have a colour in the left centre.

Not for the first time, just overhit the positional shot. Mark Selby, he

will be thinking this is a decent chance for Neil Robertson. But some

good shots to be played. This of course the frame he needs to be UK

champion. Still not perfect, unless he decides

to play the cannon. Then it can go wrong. Yes, if he can get the cue

ball in that gap of the five reds, I don't see how he cannot be on a red.

He did not find the gap, did he? He did not find the gap. As you say, if

he finds the gap, a little bit of hope for Mark Selby, sat in his

seat. Can he cut this red ink? It is very

thin. If he does not do it right, it will stay in the jaws of the pocket,

you feel. It is risky. As Stephen said, if he had just

found the gap he would not have failed to be on one. But he didn't

find the gap. He has thought about playing a thin cut. He is thinking

again about it. He has decided against it. 11 points behind, still.

Good length with the cue ball. But Mark Selby will be very relieved to

come back to the table with a lead. That is an excellent shot.

Absolutely top drawer safety. Needs a good reply now from Mark Selby.

86%, not back. 78% for Mark Selby, that is low for him.

Eight good pot, kiss on the brown and a nice one, gives him a nice

angle to come down towards the reds.

This could be frame and match-winning opportunity, Alison.

After what has gone before. Nobody would be taking anything for

granted. A little wimps there. Mark looking

at Neil there -- a little wince. The position he had on the black, he

had to. This is key to frame and match.

And aiming without touching a side. -- in without touching a side. You

feel that this could be the shot. When you are world number one, this

gives you so much pleasure, to win these massive tournaments. To prove

you are the best player in the world.

He is on the yellow. The yellow to go 28 points and front. With only 25

remaining. Right in the heart of the pocket.

This has been a remarkable final, Mark Selby looked to be running away

with it at one stage. We just felt that Neil Robertson, the way he

played all week, was he ever going to produce it? He has produced its

this evening. A few shaky moments. A black ball game in the last frame

that could have gone either way. But now, it is like a lap of honour.

In it goes, they are great pals the two of them. On the table it is very

competitive but he has done it, the triple Crown. Neil Robertson UK

champion, former Masters champion and former world champion, you have

done it. Many congratulations. I feel a bit sorry for Mark Selby, he

didn't play his best all week for me but he got to the final, made a fine

event, Neil's mother Alison Rushing down to give him a hug and why not?

Great performance. Neil Robertson, world 11, UK champion. He wins by

ten frames to seven. HAZEL IRVINE: Ladies and gentlemen,

let's hear it for our two players today. Defending champion, Mark, but

as a complement to you, he has done a Mark Selby new in effect! I played

sort of OK in the first session scrap it out and then I did not

deserve to win, I had more than my fair share of chances and I did not

take them and Neil did. You were within a black ball of making it and

you wonder, should you have had that black ball clean? It was a tricky

one. LAUGHTER.

To be fair, I don't deserve to be here with the second session, Neil

was definitely the better player but at the end of the day, some of the

performances I have played a pretty poor so to get to the finals is a

massive achievement. A lovely Christmas bonus coming, small matter

of ?70,000 and 59,000 for a fantastic maximum yesterday.

Congratulations. APPLAUSE.

Our champion, ladies and gentlemen, Neil Robertson. Neil, he nicked your

Masters crown, you have got him back today. Yes, Mark in the first

session was too good for me. I had some chances but I thought he played

really solid and tonight, I came out and 6-3 down, I had to play my best

snooker to get back into the match. When I beat John Higgins Elia this

year -- earlier this year, I thought that was the best I performed in a

final but tonight is definitely better.

APPLAUSE. You one seven frames at that, what

did you summon out of that? At the interval, I got a text message from

a former world champion and it helped a bit. I will not tell you

who it was. If you try to take mark on with a safety, he is the best

safety player in the world and I had to give my shots and try to speed

the play up a bit and increased the tempo and I did that and I figured

what the best snooker out of myself with that session and towards the

end there, 8-6, 8-7 and then the black... Oh, he got the white and

black clean. I have done that before and I lost to Germany chief -- lost

to Joe. I was shocked as anyone to it still hang over the whole. I did

not want to get the long stuff out, I played right-handed quickly. And

the last frame there, just that chance there, really proud of the

way I handled myself. when you go 9-7 in front, do you ever feel

comfortable and safe like a man like -- against a man like this? He has

done it to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Masters final and he is one of the

worst ways in the world to have a good lead in front of. Mark is a

brilliant player. We are playing each other a lots now because we are

getting in the later stages as well. Hopefully, this will not be our last

UK championship final. White the crew I know you are keen student of

the game but he joined an exclusive club of winners of the triple Crown.

To become the first overseas player in history to have done it. I missed

Alex Higgins and Terry Griffiths docking about its it, sorry, guys.

And to become the first overseas player to win all three, and when I

came over and Ding Junhui and myself turned pro at the same time. To go

ahead of him is a fantastic achievement. I am sure he will

achieve it one day as well but to be the first is a really fantastic

feeling. You join a fantastic club. Your mother has flown in from

Australia, you have to keep here for Australia, haven't you? She will

have a good Christmas. So will you. Congratulations, our champion, Neil

Robertson! MC: ladies and gentlemen, please

welcome your visitation partner, Nicola Frampton from William Hill --

hasn't Haitian partner. -- hasn't Haitian partner.

Mazes and gentlemen, the runner-up -- ladies and gentlemen. The cheque

for ?70,000 and the bonus 59,000 for the wonderful maximum, put your

hands together for Mark Selby! Chimney APPLAUSE.

And the winner, the history maker, the record-breaker, receiving the

cheque for ?150,000, the trophy and the title 2013 William Hill .com UK

champion, Neil Robertson! ladies and gentlemen, your

champion, Neil Robertson! HAZEL IRVINE: There he is, the

history man, Neil Robertson and what a performance. What a transformation

in his game in that match. He talked about a bit of impetus from a former

world champion, yet to be revealed! Clearly gave him a bit of spark. It

did and as you said, he went for shots a bit more, increased his

tempo and how crucial those two frames were before the first eight

and that last black, it could have been different if that had gone in

for Mark Selby and they had gone 8-8. When you think about his

consistency, his second major title of the season. His third of the

year, is he the man who is exemplifying professionalism and

consistency in your sport right now? Absolutely, and if I was under

the professional playing, he would be a benchmark. I would be looking

at every event to try to avoid him because he turns up, it turns up the

first day, totally professional, knew what the prize money would be,

that is always an indication of how serious they are but he is dedicated

and he is such a good competitor. To turn it round from where he was and

I always felt he was hitting the ball better than Mark Selby but it

is too Mark Selby's credit he hung in so long. Yes, great character

showed by him from Mark Selby because at times, it did not look

like he was going to get to this final. It is a mark of the man and a

mark of the champion. He will definitely be hurting with this

defeat but he has to take an awful lot of admiration for the way he has

played. I hope you have enjoyed it, we definitely have. You will enjoy

our next event, the Masters and we will be live with the first game on

the 12th of January, 1pm on BBC Two, Alexandra Palace, a marvellous

tournament and only the top 16 players in the world with Mark Selby

defending that one as well. That is it from York, we will have to say

goodbye to this beautiful city, thank you very much for your company

all week. We have enjoyed some great stuff, meeting some of the amateurs

and the guys on the way up but the guy right at the top of the tree is

Neil Robertson who has proved it one more time tonight. That is it from

us. It is time that we hew Christmas. Goodbye. -- cube

Christmas. -- cue Christmas.