Fourth Round - Part 2 UK Snooker Championship

Hello. There has been a lot to get our heads around in the last few

days in York in this year's UK Championship. 128 players started

and have been whittled down to 12 and yesterday Marco Fu, David Grace

and Mark Selby all booked their places in the quarterfinals. Today

the remaining four spots are going to be filled. We have got an

absolutely plumb tied to look forward to this afternoon. The only

top 16 contests between Australia's Neil Robertson and Scotland's

Stephen Maguire. Why not settle down for less? -- this.

They are both former winners of this UK title, Maguire in 2004 and 2013

for Robertson. What came along with that is the missing piece of the

career jigsaw, the Triple Crown, a very significant win. On the way to

that title he beat Stephen Maguire but in the six times that they have

met since, quite surprising, Maguire has had the upper hand in five of

those six. Bring on the rematch. The Aussie is on a roll with his first

title of the season coming last month and an unbeaten run of seven

matches. Keeping calm and carrying on Stephen Maguire says he beats

himself up too much of the table. Keeping chilled food keep the men.

Liang Wenbo is walking tall after his memorable comeback against Judd

Trump. Leicester players are on the up. Jimmy Vardy and Tom Ford.

Whether you get a kick out of another text conversation but the

appliance of science is at hand and a machine mark top-seeded is about

to be unveiled and you can join in the conversation if you are up for

some chat. It is almost time to get cracking. The Barbican arena is

filling up nicely and the players will be out any moment. The

quarterfinal is calling and so is the trophy. Both of them have had

their hands on it before. Before they come out we have time for an

analysis of both. First the Aussie. Neil Robertson 2010 world champion

has been a dominant force in the game for a long time. Walks around

the table like a male peacock strutting his stuff. It must be

tough for his opponent. I like his mental strength. He has the desire.

He wants to win as many trophies as possible. His biggest rinses his

term temperament. You would never know if he is winning or losing. He

walks around like he owns the place. He has worked Snooker owed. He has

worked out how to play this game. He does not just rely on his

strengths. The way he plays is the way that a sports psychologist would

try to teach somebody to become. You do not get the feeling he is in the

dressing room having negative thoughts. He looks as if he is

always going out for the next shot to be a positive one. As he always

done it like that? I remember playing him very early on in our

careers and I did not think he was that good, not meaning to sound

horrible. He has turned out to be one of the best players we have ever

seen in the game. Back then he was a mad potter and would go for

everything. They had a bit of a brick wall. Unlike most he worked

out the way round it. He has used YouTube and studied old footage to

make himself better. He has worked out how to be a better player. He

dropped off the tour a couple of times so it shows you his mental

character. Mental strength. A very astute all-round player who stands

out in all areas. Great at cueing. Great cue power. He annoys me he is

so good. Does he have any weaknesses? He is not great at

catching flights. Good. He is the current world number 1 of light

mist. He is way ahead of all the rest of the tour. There are times

when we have sat in the studio and thought he has got bogged down, he

has taken too long over an obvious shot. He concentrates a bit too much

in trying to be exact and constantly walking round the table too much.

Sometimes he has slowed down that little bit instead of taking those

few seconds of your shot time. Sometimes he is trying to be too

exact. When he works he is very effective. He beat me in the Masters

final a few years ago. Sometimes he had me in a unworkable possessions.

He takes his time over shots. I was thinking, what is he playing here? I

might as well have had my hands tied behind my back. When it works he is

very good. On his day, very tough to beat, very good player, scores with

the best, safety is with the best. Very tough cookie. If he knuckled

down he could have won a lot more than he has done. His determination

is second to none. He is such a tough fiery competitor. A great

player and great guy. Very fiery character, shows his emotions, and

sometimes it works against him. He has underachieved. He is a fantastic

player. He is feisty, buying is the table. Most of us feel like that

most of the time. I do not want to sound a rocketry because he has done

more than me but I think he has underachieved. He shows his

temperament but that is just him. Once he does that he is ready for

the next shot. If he does not win a World Championship he will kick

himself when he looks back on his career because then his heart he

will know that he was good enough to be world champion. We all know he

has the ability. He is waiting for that spark to reignite. For him to

produce the snooker that he was producing seven or eight years ago.

I am with somebody who is definitely qualify to know about Stephen

Maguire because he used to be your practice partner. I used to play

hours with him. Fantastic potential. I knew he would be winner and he won

very quickly. A couple of the boys have said underachiever. I think he

has everything. What stopped him? At times his dedication to the game has

not been what it should have been. The last thing you want to do is to

look back and think I should have done this or that. He should be

world champion by now. He has a good record against the Australian. I

think it is 11-7. Neil has a really tough match today and if he is going

to win the tournament he has to do it the hard way. He could have Mark

Selby or John Higgins just to get to the final. Yes, but I think he

relishes that situation. He wants to beat the best. I am really looking

forward to this match. It is hard to believe there are only

four days to go in this year's UK Championship. By the end of tonight

we will identity of identity of all of our quarterfinalist. Once again

it is showtime at the Barbican. These welcome a former PDC Grand

Final and snooker shoot out semifinalist, after victory and the

reigning Shanghai Masters champion, this is one of the biggest

opportunities of his career so far, give it up for Leicester's Tom Ford.

His opponent, what a victory in the third round, coming back from 4-1

down to beat Judd Trump. He reached his second major final this season

at the six reds in Thailand. He is flying high, all the way from China,

Liang Wenbo. On table one, this could be an absolute classic. Please

welcome one of the most aggressive break-builders in the game. UK

champion in 2004 he made the semis last year. Five times ranking event

winner. When he is good he is on fire. He is Stephen Maguire. His

opponent, a player who completed snooker's trickle, actionable crown

here, winner of last month's Champion of Champions, what an

impact he has made since his arrival from Australia. Can you hear the

Thunder from Down Under? Here is Neil Robertson. Neil Robertson going

for the theatrical twist to his work on. Do not forget you have red

button and connected TV options for table two. We are not taking our

eyes of table one. Neither are Steve Davis and John Virgo.

Good afternoon. This has all the makings of a classic. Neil Robertson

just filling his glass with water. They check cancer. -- shake hands.

What a wonderful match this shapes up to be, so evenly matched. Yes, it

is the vegan against the carnivore. Maybe not technically, but Stephen

Maguire plays like one. One of the great keys to this match will be the

safety. Good safety for seizure opponent into a mistake and then

scored when you get in. Taking this one. Both great rate builders. Took

it on in the belief that the only red he could leave was the 1 he was

playing and that has proved the case, he is safe. If you look at

head-to-head I would not have got that right. Stephen Maguire is in

front. Yes. Not many people have a good record against Neil. Where is

this red going? Over the pocket. Stephen will be little bit annoyed.

He played off the reds. He misjudged the red hitting the bump in the

middle of the pocket and that is why it has gone over the corner.

Mistake. He will feel aggrieved. You cannot account for that. Well

controlled. A chance to split the pack open should you so wish over

yellow or green. Big targets from the side cushion into the pack. Just

below the pink. Either side. Into them it goes. You always need a

little bit of luck. He hit pink first instead of just below it. Even

so, still a great shot anti-gang count himself unlucky. A little bit

lower. And it would have stayed in the middle of the table.

Understandably early on in the match that was a very missable shot into

the middle pocket. Yes. One of the best poppers in the game.

Disappointed that he did not make the most of that opportunity, but it

is the first frame, nerves, tension. Stephen having a look to CV can get

through to this red. It must be tight. It is not easy shot. With the

cue ball. It is a tricky cut along the cushion. If you can get to this

one to the left corner it would give him position on the black. It looks

like it goes but it is typed. It is a very aggressive pots. It looks as

if you would have to play for the black if that does pot. He has given

us this enough attention that he must be going for it. That was a

wonderful pot. You can always tell it is good the way it smacks the

back of the leather. Good start. How straight did that you go through?

Very positive strike. Got the cue ball into a place that was

relatively safe if he had missed. That is an excellent shot. He did

not really wind the angle. Lots of top spin. Could not have hit much

better. -- it. He did have a look at this red that

is by the green to see whether it was available. I know it is

available into the opposite corner pocket to the brown. Obviously

available into the middle. It is not ideal. He would not have

liked to have been so straight on that ground. This is a lot more

difficult than it looks. On our TV screens.

Made to look easy. Really striking the ball positively. It is a trait

of the modern-day players, they do not roll balls into the pockets to

try to effectively make the pocket beggar, they beside to go

full-blooded for the shots, strike it for Mike and hope that the firm

strikers up better way of playing and trundling the ball towards the

pocket. Particularly on these superfine cloth is you cannot date

celebrate, you have to get through the ball. You have to go into them.

You always need a little bit of luck. Does the black go in the

opposite corner? Can he get up for the black? I thought he perhaps

played that a tad too hard. In hindsight I am seeing that. It was

not a blue that he could place soft to the pack. A bit tricky, this one.

not a blue that he could place soft He has had a look at the black. The

black only just goes. If you were straight behind the black universe

thing you could miss it but there is no other pocket available. These are

honourable shots. -- horrible. You try to play for the far job but you

know if you do not get the perfect contact you get the half kick and it

goes thick and you miss it and you cannot afford to play for the centre

of the pocket, you could clip the red. Do you play this small or do

you trust your good striking? -- slow. Played very well. Good start

from Stephen. That was the view he was looking at. The only pocket

available. They always look easy when they go in but before he played

it he had been very concerned. He is on a red to the middle pocket. I

think he may just be able to control the cue ball but he has to get into

it and find the gap. Could play for the black once again. Absolutely

marvellous shot. Superb. Stephen Maguire for a little while now has

been knocking on the doors and producing something very special and

he looks as if he is in that vein here. He may not have a better

chance to win the UK Championship again. A number of big players

already knocked out. I am not seeing the field this week, but he must be

chancing the an fancying his chances. He is certainly laying down

a marker. This is a tremendous contribution so far.

Neil Robertson had the first chance but being the first frame a bit

edgy, but he has seen one mistake can cost you the frame. The red into

the middle pocket does not have to be played but players these days do

not turn down half chances. I do not think you get anywhere in the game

if you are refusing to try to win frames when you get a good chance.

It is obviously not ideal on this black. It looks as though he can

just hold for the right-hand side of those two reds. That is what he

would like to do. If it was straightforward he would have played

it by now. He is on a red. He is going to be running into other

reds. Look a little bit as to where the cue ball is going to finish. A

bit risky to try to hold for the black. I think you want to bash it

up for the blue. Go through the reds. Deserves it, really, whatever

happens here. Neil Robertson will be sitting thinking he is more likely

to be on a colour, even though he was trusting to luck, than not. He

could not have foreseen the kiss on the red. What a confident start.

This black will put him 49 points in front. Probably another three reds

required. I absolutely love watching Stephen Maguire when he is like

this. He is an absolute animal, great to watch. Totally immersed in

every break he makes. Totally committed.

A quick glance at the scoreboard. This black will put him 57 points in

front with 67 remaining. Just red and the colour. He will not mind if

he has held the black spot. He did on purpose. Red and the colour. Once

he pot the next red there will only be 59 points available. You would

think he would play for the black. He decided to go up for the blue. It

has gone slightly wrong. 58 points the lead. Still 59 remaining. Made

bad contact on that. It did not mean that he missed the pot but the cue

ball came off a little bit wider. No problems with this black. Safely

negotiated. 65 ahead, 59 remaining. What a start from Stephen Maguire.

Wonderful first red. He could just get through to it. He has taken the

rest very well. He has certainly laid down a marker. Neil Robertson

will now that first red right in the heart of the pocket... Neil

Robertson will know that if he is to get anything out of this match he is

going to have to play at the top of his game. It could be a classic. I

think I am right in saying that Stephen Maguire had a very good

early practice partner in Stephen Hendry in Scotland. He learned to

play with the very best. I am sure Stephen knows all about the

potential of this young man when he was coming through the ranks.

What a superb start for Stephen Maguire in this match. He gave his

opponent Neil Robertson the first chance and he only got three points

from it. Since that opening red he has played some superb shots.

Position side of it, pots. Great start from Stephen Maguire. Telling

Neil Robertson you are going to have to play well if you're going to win

mismatch. 1-0 to the Scotsman. I was that for

a statement of intent? A pretty fascinating draw. Only one CD player

left, Marco Fu, the world number 14. What a chance for David Grace who

has landed ?20,000 by getting to the quarterfinals. The best progress of

his career. Martin Gould has already been another a big final this season

in Australia. Completely different story, Robertson, McGuire, Higgins,

Selby, all top 16. A great win formats felt last night. He has been

practising. He is officially very chipper. What a fight in the bottom

half. It looks incredibly tough. If Neil Robertson is going to win

this, it is going to be a really tough draw. Four potentially tough

matches. And who is your pick from the top

half to emerge into the final? That is very tough. You could make a case

for almost anyone in that half of the draw. Martin Gould is probably

someone to look for. What is interesting is how they cope with

it. This is an unbelievable opportunity to get through to the

final. It is who copes best with that. We will find out in the next

few days. Let's have a chat about what we have seen. That is standing

up to Neil Robertson. If you are playing any of the top players, you

have got to go out with the belief that you think you can win and you

have got to show that belief straightaway. Maguire is not

intimidated by the way Robertson plays. He struts around like a

peacock and it is as if he owns the table but Maguire will stand up to

him. We have talked about his temperament and couple of times and

in a couple of quotes after matches this week, he has said he is staying

calm. He has tried to tell himself that his own worst enemy has been

himself. Is this a change of philosophy? It is in his character

to show emotion sometimes when he is angry that we have said for a long

time he should stop some of the histrionics, banging the cue and

punching. But that is a break only a top player is going to make. It is

punching. But that is a break only a sheer determination. It is about

trying to get the first punch in early. You don't see lesser ranked

players making that sort of break in the first frame of the match. He has

been making some pretty good breaks. He has made back-to-back

centuries. He led pretty well in that match and then got pegged back.

When you can click on again after being pegged back. I have been

banging the drum for this fella for I don't know how many years. He

really is a top player. Neil Robertson is still out. He might not

be able to do this next season. Three minutes and 15 seconds he has

been out of the arena. Barry Hearn is looking at the issue of toilet

breaks. It is interesting. I think you have a lot of players that go

out every -- after every single frame. I played against Peter Ebdon

and he was going out after every single frame. I deliberately went to

my dressing room and told him to knock on my door. Players were

taking liberties with it. I don't know the right and wrong is and I

don't know how people's bowel movements work but I can't see that

you need to go after every single frame. It is four minutes and

counting at the moment. We are going to be running a feature on this in

the near future, probably tomorrow. We have actually canvassed some

opinion about it. Some very interesting listening. In the best

of seven, is it two times you are allowed to go? Including the

mid-session interval. I think they are going to put rules in place

quickly. Barry was to put a limit to how long players can be away for.

Now we are beginning to ask, is Neil all right? This is rather an usual.

Stephen Maguire has gone in there and is waiting patiently to see

whether his opponent will come back. I can see a nod there. I am not sure

whether he is on the way back. We can have a quick word about Stephen

Maguire. 2004, the winner of this event. He has clicked on and won a

number of world ranking tournaments since then. But you have talked

about his promise and potential but it has not translated into major

titles. I know it is very competitive and there are lots of

great players about but he is definitely one that has

underachieved. He should have more trophies. Better late than never, he

is back and we are under way in frame two. Strange times.

Could have been a dodgy nut cutlet, I suppose. A chance, John. A

speculative read, even though he is on the back cushion. It looks like

he is on the back -- black, and not necessarily any damage done if he

misses. Well, absolutely. And the crowd sentiments entirely. Everybody

thought that was in, including me. He got too close to it.

As in the first frame, the first chance falls to Neil. But he knows

now that his opponent is in good form so he needs to take these

opportunities. A very crisp sounding head. On the

cue ball from Neil Robertson. It sounds like he has got a very hard

coupon. Unless it is just the acoustic in the room. If not hard,

low, with not much left of it. Perhaps it is just my headphones.

Four reds and the fourth black coming up here.

Decided to play the run around off to cushions. You can never guarantee

a good angle and I don't think he has got an angle on the black to go

into the main bunch so he will have to play for the loose red here.

Still black, but it is questionable whether he will play for the black

of this red. The best way to get the reds open is off the blue.

No worries about the maximum but he is a bit short on that one. All the

pressure on the shot was in getting the judgment of pace right. It is

easy to crack up on that part of it. He could not overhead kick, he could

not underhit it. There will be some power on this off the side cushion.

Well, he could not have hit it much better but I don't think he is on

anything. Second time in the match Neil Robertson has gone into the

pack and not got on a red. He will be feeling a little aggrieved.

Certainly nothing easy. Is there a double, potentially? I don't know.

I thought that was a bit too acute but obviously worth the risk.

Assuming this black goes from this position. The referee is looking at

this closely. When he hits the black, if the red just op. Cit.

Against the potting angle. It is tight. A simultaneous hit is a

foul, unlike in the world of 9-ball pool.

Never in doubt, was it? He played it well. Where did the black though? He

has got a problem now. The cue ball holding the black spot. The pink is

off its spot. I take it all back. Here is an opportunity now for Neil

Robertson. He sat down for most of the first frame. A marvellous break

of 118 for Stephen Maguire. If he gets to 71 in this break, that will

put him in the snooker is required stage. This time he has landed

perfect on the blue because the bottom red in the cluster goes to

the left corner as Wheelock. Nothing shoppers up your senses more than

your opponent making a hundred in the first. He was out for four

minutes and whatever he did has taken the pressure off.

A great response. That is the power of positive thinking from both of

these gentlemen this afternoon. It could well be immense. Just a little

bit careless. He wanted to be straight on this red and then it

would have been a formality. Can he hold for the pink? No. He has to

come back up for the blue and he is the wrong side of the blue. What

looked like a straightforward run to the line is not any more. He did not

really get too much reaction from that cue ball. He had the ball

cleaned, which suggests perhaps a bad contact. It took all the spin of

the ball. Not ideal now to get on this next

red. There is one in the pack that goes into the right corner.

Trusting a big Dulac in getting through the gap and he will be quite

pleased with that. It could have gone anywhere. He has got a nice

straight pot. And also, what takes a little bit of pressure off him, he

has left the brown reasonably safe. In it goes. Can he get through to

the pink? If he can, he will pop the pink and go 73 points in front with

just 67 remaining. A great reply. OK, there was a comfort break for

Neal, but, playing time, we have not got to half an hour yet and the

second frame is over. Will we see another century? Every likelihood.

What a standard to start with. Neil Robertson is certainly not shy in

stabbing his authority on the match. After Thepchaiya Un-Nooh had almost

made a 147, he came back in the next set with a 145. Anything you can do,

I can do better. That is the key to this game. There will be a period

when you have got to sit down and watch your opponent pot balls. It is

how you react when you get your chance at the table. He could not

have done it any better than this. This is quality.

Am I correct in thinking every point over and above a century break is

money for charity? It is not just a hundred breaks, it is every point

over and above? I think you are right. I am not sure the players are

aware of that but mopping up these balls once he gets to 100 can equate

to 300 or ?400 for charity. In goes the red. Stephen Maguire made a

break of 118 in the first frame. It looks like he has had one chance, he

played the long red, it looked in, but it rattled in the jaws and he

has been sat in his chair ever since. He thought it was in, I

thought it was in. It is just superb to watch. How often do you get this

start to a match? Obviously, very hard to keep this standard ebb

throughout the whole match but it just shows what standards we are

likely to see for the rest of the day. That positional shot from brown

to blue, it could not have been played better.

Well, what a pity, but it does not matter about the black. We saw all

the quality of Stephen Maguire in the first. What a match we are in

for now. Both players at the top of their game.

Maguire in with that 118 and Robertson raises him. Maguire got

the first punch in, Neil Robertson has just proved he has got a good

chin. It is a reply you expect from the very best in the game but to do

that is a very high standard of snooker. It is a wonderful start,

and I hope you are enjoying it. John, there was one shot you picked

out. This would be a hard enough shot if you were right behind it but

to play it at this pace, with a little bit of side, with that pays

to get on the black. That is the best shot by a mile. What were the

hallmarks of his brick building abilities right now? It was here

about three or four years ago that you had a chat with him about how he

went about making big breaks and you said at the time it was not the kind

of thinking you expected. His description of how he would go

around the break was that he would just pop the ball and hope he was on

a colour. I thought, surely you have got to play for the angles of the

colours. He said, no, just make sure I am on it. I thought it sounded

very amateurish. But since then he has made a record break of a hundred

centuries in one season. And that is his fourth of this championship.

Pretty breathtaking start. Frame three.

No pot left of the break here. I suppose, for the connoisseur, we

would like to see a little bit of safety, wouldn't we? That would

spoil it, wouldn't it? I think the natural conclusion of a

match, if it gets close and tense, you always get one of those tactical

frames. They sometimes dictate the outcome.

I would not like to see who is the best in that department. What I

would say about Neil Robertson, as a professional sportsman, all you can

do is ask yourself that you give yourself every chance to improve on

as many different disciplines of the game as possible, whether it be

health, diet, fitness, practising, bridge building. -- break-building.

He is certainly committed to his career. Played a good shot there. I

am not sure he can pop the red and get back to the Borg end.

Stephen Maguire was eyeing up the red to the left of the black but

perhaps there is a danger of a collision with the blue. There is a

better path. A bit risky with the red, perhaps. A poor safety shot

from Stephen Maguire. He caught it to full. This is a chance for Neil.

He will be slightly hampered by the brown. That brown is just where he

would normally put his hand so his bridge hand is closer to the cue

ball than it would normally be. But no difference. Right in the heart of

the pocket. Now the red he would like to get on almost immediately to

the left of the black is at the moment stopping the black going into

the left corner. The sooner he can have the black available to both

corners, the better. Neil Robertson is coming off the back of a big win.

He has been taking it to another level. He is currently the most

dominant player in the game, the most confident.

He could well be standing here on Sunday evening and you would not be

surprised if Neil Robertson blitzed the whole of the rest of the

tournament. If he continues in this vein.

But it is funny, in his last match, which I commentated on, all the talk

was about the missed black by Thepchaiya Un-Nooh for the maximum,

and then Neil Robertson making a break of 145, but in the first

frame, with just a reasonable run of the balls, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh could

have been three or four frames in front. It is only after he started

to play that Neil Robertson started to play well. At the start of that

match, he did not play that well. He has gone into them and he may be

unlucky again. The third time. He has got thin cuts into either corner

but they are all horrible. When you go into them like this, you are just

looking for an easy read to help you continue. You have got to control

the cue ball. It is a bit harder with screw. Trying to hold the ball.

Easier played as a plain ball shot. But he did not make it look

difficult at all. Well, we could very easily be

looking at three centuries in the first three frames here.

If anything, if anything a sprain is the downside of snooker, it is this,

because as we so on so many occasions, no matter how good you

are, if your opponent is at the table potting balls, there is

nothing you can do about it. OK, it was a week safety shot from Stephen

but he is now thinking, that is the only shot I am going to get in this

frame. It is a tough school at this level. And the shot Stephen Maguire

missed in the second frame was only millimetres out at most from

dropping. It could have been him winning the second.

And we are talking as if this is a formality, which is far from the

truth, but the way Neil Robertson is strutting around the table, striking

the ball, it does not look like he is going to miss a shot.

That is OK. He may have to get the extension out but he has got a nice

angle on this red to pocket and stern of the side cushion. There is

the barometer. He is looking for 68 points to get to the winning line in

this frame. After what we saw in the last frame, you would be surprised

if he did not. He will not want to play for the red

that is near the top cushion but if he plays for another red, it could

go slightly wrong. Maybe he is playing the pink rather than the

black. That way he can just stun it in. As I say, he does not want to

play for the red near the top cushion if he can help it. In the

end, he thought, there is no other way. That is OK, as long as he has

left himself a good angle on this red.

There is a red on the right-hand side as we look, into the corner

pocket. He just wants to roll this black in. Should find the gap, no

problem. He is hitting the ball so sweetly. The cue ball under tight

control. It really is sensational stuff,

this. This black will put him 72 points in front with just 67

remaining. Did not really pop that black into

the right part of the pocket to get ideally on this red.

An easy game, really, isn't it? He gets everything right in the middle

of the pocket. Not the best flick of the brown but the frame looks well

and truly safe. They are quite hard shots, whacking

them full pace. Very easy to miss. Great try. A bit unlucky. That is

enough for Stephen Maguire. It is plain for all to see, one mistake

and it is going to cost you the frame. A high standard.

A fascinating look at Neil Robertson's career. He is certainly

proving today why he is number three in the world. Everything about his

game has been clinical. When you consider he sat out most of the

first frame it takes a lot of character to hit back as he has

done. The mid-session interval is after this frame so it is a big one

for Stephen. He does not want to drop two behind. He will be taking

this red on. That is the way he plays. As he got

away with it? He is having a look at Neal's face and whether he can get

through to the red. Can he? I think not. Perhaps yes. You play it with a

bit of right-hand side to turn it over, but tricky. Judging by his

stance, he is not ready to play this shot yet. He is just lining it up. I

am not sure looking from behind is going to make much difference. He is

just mentally preparing himself. Stephen Maguire has played that same

shot twice. Messed the frame up once, got away with at this time.

Was not far off. There was an element of safety as you can see by

where the cue ball has ended up but he was forced to go for that red

twice on the trot. The fraction is just favoured Stephen Maguire on

that occasion. No attempt at the pot. He is playing the containing

safety. This could slow things down a little bit. Always a danger in the

other half of the table. You have to try to cover that. I always felt

that when you were in the ascendancy in a match it was renewed interest

to clear the black as quick as possible just in case you got

another cast iron chance of a big break. Could have tried to have

knocked reds away from the black but chose not to. Not a great safety

shot. There is a possibility of a pretty aggressive shot and hear from

Stephen Maguire of the side of the pack with a bit of side spin. Could

get behind the brown. He has to be a little bit wary he does not knock

anything on towards the corner pocket. He has cast that a little

bit too fig. He is not going to get in behind the brown. He had a good

line. He has left a pot on for Neil Robertson. These are tough because

you know you're going to be running into the reds. It is a shot for

nothing guaranteed. He will be looking for the safety option, but

there's the safety option easier than taking on the pot? I do not

think there is any guaranteed route out of the top of the table after

potting this. Gaps are not exactly a premium. It has to be good safety.

You want to get as close to this baulk cushion as possible. Stop

Stephen Maguire getting his hand on the table and getting the red he has

turned down. I did not even think the pot was on. I thought it was a

pure safety shot. Not a commentator's I. You can see the

look on Stephen's face. How has he potted that? He is thinking. That

has left in the perfect angle on the brown. Stephen did nothing wrong.

Just a superb pot and Stephen Maguire is sitting wondering if he

will get a chance in this frame before the mid-session interval.

Having started the match so well, he could go into the interval 3-1

behind in the blink of an eye. Neil Robertson has eyed up a position on

this red into the left corner. He could have pocketed the red and

freed up the black. He has misjudged it. He actually might have come out

even better. A bit of a bad contact on that red.

Not necessarily plain sailing as yet in this break.

It is always a little bit tricky when the black is only available to

one of the corner pockets. Going up for the blue. Everything in the

moment is rates in the heart. That is usually a good sign for the

player. Not too good for your opponent. Both with very high pot

success. If you get that going you would win most matches, but there is

only going to be one minor. -- winner. I do not know how Neil

Robertson changed around his break-building from being, as

Stephen Hendry put it, amateurish, to being one of the top rate

builders in the game, but I would like to pick his brains and find out

how he did it. Did he watch videos on the game or did he just put more

attention into it in practice? He could play the red back of the

black but he is concerned about running into another red. Back up

for the blue. I remember when I first heard about Neil and he still

practices with Joe Perry and Joe said, an unbelievable plot of the

ball but that is about all he has got to the game. If you can pop a

ball, you can be successful at this game, because that is the key, being

able to pot balls. To acquire that touch to make these frame-winning

contributions as he has done so far, that takes hours of practice,

shot selection is key. You cannot do it unless you are a great potter. He

certainly has that. At the moment he is keeping Stephen Maguire, who we

know is in good touch, sat in his seat, and nothing he can do about

it. He has got three or four reds that pot into the left corner so

potting the blue and screwing between the brown and green should

more or less guarantee position but he really wants to get on this black

because he could come unstuck. Keep on going down for blues in the end.

A bit too hard. Unless he can get through. OK. That is handy. That

frees up the black should he want to. What's this red, either clears

the other red to the left of the black away, does not have to do it

that way, he could drop in out the back. Very precise. I thought he had

overhead that blow. He could have laid on those two reds. A couple of

good positional shots away from securing this frame. On slightly

wrong. He will have to play the red to the middle. Imperative he gets a

good angle on the blue. Image perfect. It all looked so good for

Stephen that first frame when he made the break of 118. He sets down

a marker. He has not had much chance since. That is not his best

positional shot. Not too bad. He thank you passed the reds but it

could have got awkward. Because he was not that good on the red he has

run out of position somewhat. He looked quizzically at the cushion as

if he got a bit of a bounce but that did not look like it to me. Still

needs, you would think, three of these reds after the colour, so he

is not over the line just yet. The yellow looks a good ball, if it

goes. REFEREE: Yellow. It is just a

fantastic shot. Unusual to see the yellow going

above its spot in a direct line with the top cushion, but that is what he

has had to do there. Obviously not something Neil

Robertson is bothered about. He is just bothered about getting over the

line, but it makes the 100 break difficult. Kick. I think he thought

for a moment that maybe he had missed it. It bounced. It went right

in the middle of the pocket, but if he catches that near jaw it could

have been a problem. He only needs the red. He will have the 3-1 lead

if he gets it. Amazing standard. Terrific snooker. Less than an hour

it will have taken for these four frames. To have completely stole the

day away from Stephen Maguire after what Stephen Maguire produced in the

opening frame is a monumental achievement really. It just shows

you the concentration and the belief that Neil Robertson has. Anyone

after that first frame could have been forgiven for being a little bit

shaken but it just seemed to spur him on. Some of his positional

shots here in this break have been superb because he has slightly run

out of position but every time he has come back for the reds he has

landed almost inch perfect every time and that is not easy to do. On

these costs. I do not think he will have bothered to do the maths but by

taking the high colours all the time he can make the 100 break. Too many

blues and he would have been struggling. Just a great

performance. I remember of the other night when he bettered Stuart

Bingham's break of 143 with 145 and I said to Stephen Hendry, do you

think he will be aware of what the highest breakers? He said, he is

aware of what everything is that is going on. This is for the 100.

Absolutely brilliant. He has missed the cannon. Just another tremendous

break. I think that yellow may have been going towards the middle. What

a performance from Neil Robertson. Stephen Maguire started off like a

house on fire and never really got a chance in the next three friends.

This is a quite brilliant performance and quite brilliant

match so far but I wonder how Stephen Maguire is going to be

reflecting? He started like a drain but was effectively halted in his

tracks. There is nothing you can do about it. There is nothing you can

do about it. There's I would be surprised if he comes and hit a few

balls. He brought wondering if the five-minute break had any bearing.

Not for Neil Robertson. Very dominant. It was almost like, I am

going to move up a gear. Stephen will not be too disappointed. It is

worth a few have had chances but the fact he has had nothing wrong, he

will probably still feel quite positive, but seeing your opponent

win the frame at one visit Time after Time demoralises you after a

while. Somebody accuses -- accused me last year of using the word

awesome too much. Just for you, that was awesome. 101, does not get much

better than that. That is top quality snooker. You talk about high

standards. That is the very highest. We are looking forward to more of

the same. We have the chance to reflect on events on the other side

of the arena. A matching the top half of the draw, Liang Wenbo

against Leicester's Tom Ford. He reached the final in a smaller event

and this run to the last 16 of the UK is his best ever run at the UK

Championship. He is very fast, a quick attacking player and he has

been moving up the rankings in the last couple of months. The TV lights

are calling. I think most of my friends will tell me that I play

worse when I am on TV that the trouble is when I get to the TV I am

always playing a good player or on the later stages of the tournament

so I have not won many on TV but will fully well and the cameras do

not really bother me anywhere. My confidence has come back and my game

has come back. I feel like I am back in form and I feel confident when I

am at the table. I have never beaten Mark. He has always been one of

those players that just beats me. To beat Mark felt good in the match. I

have taken that on into my next game. I feel good. It is a big event

but it is nice to play in those big events. With this being the

second-biggest there's a lot of pressure because there are a lot of

pros. I was pleased to get through and hopefully I can push on. I have

faced them I think a couple of times before. He is a very dangerous

player. The danger will play safe against them and think it is fine

and teapots along red -- and he pots along red. It is going to be an

attacking game. There are not going to be many safety battles. You never

know. It is snooker. We have been used to seeing the angry boar around

for a few years, 14 years as a professional. -- Liang Wenbo. He

beat Judd Trump and one of the best wins of his career. Ford took the

first frame. It is Liang to play in the second and he is ahead by only

two points. Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor teaming up for this one.

He has covered that red but he may be forced to pot this using the

cushion first and if he does I would think he could finish above the blue

or the box cover. He has to be careful. It looks easy to hit the

cushion and if it was closer it would be a lot easier. He will get

through the gap of those three reds if the judges this correctly. I

cannot see any other shot only to take that on. Yes. It is just that

little bit of distance away from the pocket that makes it a bit more

difficult to pot this red. I feel like you like he has to take it on.

I do not see any other opportunities. He is looking at the

cube. It does not take the red away from the pocket. He has to take this

on. Well played. I would not have hit it as hard as that. Maybe he has

dropped on the green. He has. If he has a bit of angle he might be able

to get up for the reds. He has a slight angle. Good chance.

A couple of easy reds and a couple of difficult reds. He is going to

have at least one of those if not both of those two reds that are near

the cushion. Yes, but position of these two reds, he could use one of

these to bring the other two into play. The Jews the next red

possibly. -- he could use. Pot the black, get a nice angle on

the red that is closest to the bottom pocket and try to bring those

to reds into play close to the bottom of the cushion. He has got

the angle. He has to hit this with the lot of pace. It is no good just

taking one red code. He has to knock the second, the first red onto the

second. He has just gone for the one, but he still has the problem of

leaving the other one there. The black will make M25 ahead. He could

be snookered. He has got such a flyer of that top cushion. You saw

the hand gesture. He is not happy. That took off of the top cushion.

That is frustrating for a player. I do not know why he had to hit it at

that pace. So much margin for error. Anywhere below the pink and blue. I

think he was trying to get a decent angle on the red to possibly pot it

and develop the last red but that has gone. He has a 25 point

advantage. He is having to bring the difficult red into play. This is the

only one he can see. That is a bonus. Knocking the pink safe is a

big advantage. For Tom. Wonderful pot. Pleaded with an

element of safety. When he hit the cube behind the pink. He is going to

have to bring this pink into play. He has to be careful he does not

snooker himself on the red with the pink when it goes back on its board.

It is just about OK. Plenty of room by the pink. He was always a little

bit worried about that. Just the red required. Yes. Well played, Tom

Ford. Could not have wished for a better start. This is a good start

from pencil for. -- him so far. Still a long way to go in this

match, but he looks very relaxed and confident around the table. Yes,

lots of good players coming through. Our viewers will be seeing newer

players but these boys are playing all the time with the amount of

events they have to play and they are getting so much experience and

it makes the difference when they get to this stage.

They are getting a lot of matchplay and building a lot of confidence.

The beauty about having so many tournaments, even if you lose one,

you know you have got when the following week or the week after

that so you don't have much time to dwell on bad defeats. Ford has

certainly taken advantage of his excellent play so far. In goes the

black and Tom Ford will be delighted with himself at the moment. A

fantastic start from him. He leads Liang Wenbo 2-0.

That match continues on the red button. We will go back to it later

on. This is a new piece of cloth that is being experimented with by

World Snooker to stop those horrible kicks we spent a lot of time

discussing yesterday. We have not had too many today but there have

been more than a few over the last few days.

Massive kick! It is the bane of a snooker player's life, I am afraid.

Unlucky. Would you believe it? Would you

believe it? That is horrendous. That is the

biggest kick I have seen yet. And that is frustrating, it really is.

It makes you look silly. It is pretty normal to expect one or two

kicks in a match. It does not matter. When it is getting four or

five, if you average one kit every frame, that is a bit ridiculous.

That kicked. That was not Jamie's fault.

He has got a kick on that green and it has slowed the pace of the green.

That seemed to jump a little bit. Maybe he did get a bad contact. It's

definitely jumped. What a horrible kick!

It just changed the game, through no fault of my own. You get a kick and

it changes the game because that would have been 5-1, the way I was

playing. I am very disappointed. A monster kick. I was quite low on

the black but as soon as I hit it, I felt the black was in, but as soon

as the white hit the black, it just bounced and sent it right off-line.

I felt a bit aggrieved. A monster kick. Dead straight.

It was frightening. Absolutely ridiculous. I have never seen

anything like it. Time and time again. It was soul destroying. The

table played quite a bit different today. A lot more bounces and the

number of kicks was soul destroying. You had no confidence in the shot

you were playing because you were having bad contact after bad

contact. It was very difficult. First things first, we have been

talking about this for 15 years as a team and I want to know, in this

championship, have there been more or fewer kicks than normal? I would

say it is probably about normal. The trouble is, when they happen as

well. Last night, Mark Selby looked like he was winning the match. He

hit the ball and it went dead straight. It is generally when it

happens and the importance of when it happens. But it is probably the

same level we have been seeing for a long time. There was a debate

yesterday about who is doing what to stamp this out. Shaun Murphy did an

item for us a few years ago when he took some scientific advice and it

was established that the cloth, when table heaters are used, impart some

chemical reaction and that might be when we are getting kicks. While

World Snooker are experimenting with this new cloth, we can't die bulge

the composition because it is awaiting a patented at the moment,

but a lot of the players have been practising on this over the last few

days. What is the main difference between this cloth and the normal

ones they are using? In layman 's terms, the nap on this feels a bit

heavier, it is almost like sandpaper when you go against the grain. Not

having played on it, it is hard to say how it will react. I played on

it the other night. They call it the mystery table and the only mystery

was, I could not find the pocket. It is a bit thicker, I thought it was

extremely reactive. You don't know what is in it yet. Jamie Burnett is

playing at the adjacent table and you have had a good number of

sessions. What do you think? The difference is unbelievable. The

reaction on that is ten times better than these. Fewer kicks, you have

been getting? On there, I got a kick,. How big a problem is it for

you as a professional? You get among the balls, you think you are doing

well, you are favoured for the frame, and the next it just

explodes. It can put you off in a match. So that is a big like from

you. Good luck against John Higgins tonight. We will be watching. There

is another thing that the World Snooker people are going to try and

it is a magic, secret box. This could be the answer. It is a ball

polisher. They put the special polish on these. In layman 's terms,

in they go. They have not ruled it out yet but there is a spin

underneath which cleans the balls. They already have the polish on them

and it gives them a very even coating. I am sure Pete Williamson

who has been referee in for a good number of years will be delighted

because he was doing it by hand at an event last year. They are going

to take this to Gibraltar for one of the smaller tournaments on Saturday

and we will see what kind of reaction we get. The other question

this raises, if they are going to do this, what happens? Do they have to

keep doing this? Do we have to get to the tennis situation of "new

balls please". You used to do it with a bit of polish at home. If the

cue ball is buzzing too much, it makes it like a brand-new cloth. It

makes the cue ball very light. We shall see. There is a lot to be

decided. We will continue to/this new cloth and we will get back out

to life play. Let's hope there are no more dreaded kicks out there for

the rest of the afternoon. The gladiators are back. And what a

performance so far from both players. But particularly the last

three frames from Neil Robertson. You feel that Stephen Maguire needs

a good start here in the second half of this match.

Stephen, at the mid-session interval, was quite philosophical

about it. He had done nothing wrong, he had nothing to reproach himself

for. I think that pot success for Stephen, 94%, but Neil Robertson

attitude 96% now. And the match time, for those first

four flames, just under the hour mark. Quickfire potting and

break-building. Stephen can get through to this

thread on the right-hand side of the table. -- this red. It looks very

straight though. It could not be straighter. He does not like it. And

he knows that if he is going to play safe and open these reds and, he has

got to get a good white and find that baulk cushion. A big bounce

could put him behind the brown. At least it covered the reds on the

right-hand side of the table. But you would expect a better safety

shot now with Neil, with his hand on the table.

The four cushion safety, cutting off the escape path down the left-hand

side of the table and giving Stephen Maguire a potential problem here.

That is one possible escape route but I think the reason he is

concerned about playing that shot, he thinks he may knock the red

towards the corner. He has got to be accurate with this though. Well,

read is going over the corner. Is the blue going to come to his

rescue? A long swerve looks potentially on.

If he does not like that, he may be forced into knocking one red on to

the other. The one to the left of the pink. This red looks like it is

right in the jaws of the pocket but, in actual fact, it is not. One red

onto the other is not guaranteed. If he did play the swerve, he could

very well hit the red fall in the face and the cue ball could go in

the pocket with the red. The problem is, the black is not available,

neither is the pink. Not certain where the colour would come from. If

he plays the swerve and pots the red, he is not on a colour, he could

go the other way around the blue. This could be on a colour if he gets

it in. Put that not back. I don't think it will be put back. It would

be funny if it was. Never much doubt of that but they could have been a

bizarre position. I can't believe he tried to swerve around the other

side of the blue. It did not look onto me. Funnily enough, by hitting

the blue, he has caused Stephen Maguire a bit more of a problem in

making a sizeable break. This first positional shot has got to be very

good. He is having a close look at the pink. I don't know whether the

pink is available into the opposite corner pocket. But we have seen so

many times, when the balls are close to the pockets like this, the pink

is not available, he is going to have to go for a ball colour.

It has not worked out and his big problem now, he sends a read to the

baulk end so he can't play safe at that end of the table. Anything

could have happened here. That black is not on its spot so a very thin

cut on the black. Other than that, it looks like the safety shot to the

middle of the baulk cushion and then sacrifice the tactical advantage. It

is decision time. He obviously has deemed the black to be too

difficult. Just as you say, I don't think he can possibly be playing the

part. Not with the awkward cueing. That would be even harder than

cutting the black in. He can get it safe, surely, across

the face of the yellow. You would think that is the intention, just

not to leave an easy pot on. But as Steve said, he just hands of the

initiative to Neil Robertson. It is strange, by hitting the blue, he got

away with it. There does not look to be a safety

shot down the left-hand side of the table as we look. Unless he catches

one very thin. I am just wondering, that red,

second right on the table, can he get through to play the pot and

maybe force the cue ball around the back of the black? It is very

aggressive. But there is no other shot.

He has got a path back to the baulk end but the red is going with the

cue ball. A little unlucky. He could have played the one to the right of

that as effectively a defensive shot. He could have played to roll

into the jaws of the right corner. Very aggressive. Questionable, I

think. Especially 3-1 behind. The only thing I would say, he did find

a path back to the baulk end. Could you consider yourself a little

unlucky that a red went back to that end of the table? Yes, although the

way he got back was pretty fruity. He did give it a chance to get back.

This is not easy but made to look easy. Now Neil comes to the table

and he has got the black in the open. It is only available into the

one corner but he has got a nice angle to play for the black in the

left corner pocket. After potting the black, play the

red into the opposite corner and then the black is available into

both corner pocket. From what we have seen so far, a chance to score

very heavily. Once again. A little surprise there that he did

not play for the red to the opposite corner. But he knows best. He will

certainly be playing for it this time.

The positive attitude and mental strength Neil Robertson is showing

is akin to the likes of eight Jordan Spieth Ouray Jason Day in the golf

world. Never doubting, just looking forward positively.

The red which is just to the left of the pink is available into the

opposite corner. Decided to play the cannon and it is

just about OK. I would not say it is inch perfect. In potting this red,

he will be running into a second red. She has got to judge the path

of the cue ball. That is the target in this frame, if

he can get to 68 points. Just over half way there.

The way this is going, from Stephen Maguire's perspective, he is going

to need a bit of help from Neil Robertson.

Just hoping that somehow, Neil is going to take his foot off the gas

at the very least. But it does not look to be the case at all.

Having a good close look here. Thinking of playing the blue to the

middle. Depends what angle he would have on the blue. He could play a

cannon into the pink as he runs through.

It is not a straightforward run to the line, this.

Those four reds in between the pink and black are obviously not

available because he could have played for the lowest one when he

potted the blue. He is having a look now. He has got the red on the

right-hand side of the table. It gets a little more awkward.

He has left himself a nice angle on the black. He is once again having a

look to see whether this low red goes. I got the feeling it did not

because I thought he could have played for rid of the blue. He may

play the cannon. It could go wrong. And it has done. Just hit it a

little bit too hard, a misjudgement really. Whilst it is not a potting

mistake, Stephen Maguire gets another chance. A little bit of help

from his opponent. With the green safe, it is advantage

Robertson. Apart from the lead in point. That is probably why he will

take this red on. He thought the only red he could leave was the one

he was playing and he has left that red. For the first time in the

match, a player gets the right to reply.

That is the first point he has scored since his 118 break in the

first frame. A tough school. He was hoping to be better on the pink. Is

there pressure on this or what? Fantastic! That really was, because

the way he has played it, he knew that if he missed it, the frame

would have gone. Cancel that, I just talked rubbish, but it did feel like

the first point he has scored. Backtracking now.

Did not quite find the middle of the pocket with that red and that is why

he is not as he would like on the blue. The pink is the second option.

Just went in the left side of the pocket.

Good cueing needed. I don't think he has to do a lot with the cue ball.

Once again, did not find the middle of the pocket, but he is just about

on the black. Neil Robertson did not have to go

for that long red. He could have tried to tie the rest of the flame

up. -- frame. This would be a marvellous counterpunch from Stephen

Maguire. This red ran a long way and brought the reds into play. In these

situations, what you have got to do as a player, just concentrate on the

reds and the colours. He will know in the back of his mind that the one

big problem he has got is green, if he is going to win the frame at this

visit. But don't look too far ahead. Of course we can, in the commentary

box, and try to work out how he can get that green of the cushion. Not

so easy of the yellow. It is a thin cut into the corner.

What we call a blind pocket because you can see the cue ball, you can

see the object ball, but the pocket is not in your eyeliner so you have

got to trust yourself. Write in the heart of the pocket. He

played that very well indeed. Is it a possibility that he could cut the

black in and run into the green? If he could run into the green full

ball, he could retain position on the yellow. He does not want to hit

it too hard. Just caught the wrong side of the

green. The other side of the green by the same angle, the cue ball

would have come of the cushion, the green would have been closer to the

green pocket. Now this is almost impossible to keep on the green in

potting the yellow dead weight. Such a dangerous shot. As you say, if it

had just hit the green slightly more on this side, he would have ended

nicely on the yellow and would not have been so close to the cushion.

It looks impossible to pot the yellow and get position on the

green. You could make a case for a safety shot her. He has got himself

back in, I just don't think he is able to play slow enough to keep on

this green. It is so risky, playing dead weight. Unless he thinks he can

go twice a cross. I would concentrate on the yellow.

Can't afford to put too much side on. Where's the cue ball going?

Foul. Well, made a mistake there. Should have made certain of the

yellow. I know they want to win frames in one visit but that was

always the problem, that cue ball running loose. You can see nearly

caught the jaw but just dropped in. It was such a positive shot but I

don't think it was on. He wasn't really going to be on the green even

from the jaws of the middle pocket. He was hoping to get a bit inside

that. I agree that would have been OK, but these aren't certainties.

He rolls it in. Steven's chance of winning this frame surely has now

gone. But that's the way they play the game today. They try to win the

frame in one visit. Maybe that was pushing the ball out a little too

far for Steven, but that's the way they play. It was his decision to

make. There you see it, 20 ahead, 18 remaining.

APPLAUSE. So for the first time in the match, somebody's had a chance

to make a counterattack, but it wasn't to be. Just ran out of

position on the yellow. Fractions in it but Neil Robertson goes three

frames clear now, 4-1. It is an attitude of mine, it is the culture

of the modern-day to try to win the frame, but the yellow was a big ask.

You couldn't drop it in dead weight to be on the green. The middle

pockets were always going to be in the way. Yes, a case of knowing

exactly the path of the cue ball here. When he plays the shot, if he

could have got some right-hand side on he could have straightened the

cue ball up off the first cushion. I don't know. I think he would have

known it was going somewhere towards there. Chancing a fraction to luck I

think. There is nothing wrong with cutting your losses if you're the

out of position. Very easy to criticise. With mind sight, of

course. Yes, we are all wise after the event, but it didn't look on. So

maybe it would have been better to make certain of the pot on the

yellow and playing a good safety snooker on the green. But it's

history now. There was I think a potential safety shot off the yellow

as well. That's me talking from the '80s.

Neil Robertson gets frame six under way. The cue ball has done a lot

better than I thought it would have done. He cut that break-off shot a

little too thick. A couple of times in the match he's

had this type of shot. This time hedging his bets somewhat. Trying to

get the cue ball back to the baulk end. It is not completely safe

though. Didn't want to risk rolling in dead weight. He could have left

any of those reds just above the black.

20% his long pot success, Steven. That's low.

The ball you are frightened of leaving if you are playing off the

main cluster. A bit pacy. He'll be a little bit dependented with that.

You don't put your opponent under any pressure if you don't find the

baulk cushion. Neil catching that one a little bit

too thick. Not really left anything. That brown just hampering Steven's

cueing. Trying to play safe down the right-hand side of the table. Is he

taking this red on? He did! A great shot.

APPLAUSE. More or less forced into playing

this. Couldn't play safe down the other side of the table because of

the awkward cueing which would have been caused by the brown. It is not

the best table for making a sizeable break at the moment. He's really

only got the blue, yellow and brown to play for.

I think Steve listen be glad to be in first. Just stopped himself there

in his stride because he's just overdone that. And because he's

overdone it, maybe he might see the value in trying to play a cab a

cannon into the pink and try to get that into play. Decided he can play

for quite a few loose reds. Just needs to hurry. No, not in a good

position now. Didn't really have the correct line up the table. Would

have liked to have come down the right-hand side more than that, and

a bit harder as well. I don't think he was ever playing for the red. The

red inside the pink, although might have opened things up nicely.

Easily done with the rest and putting a bit of sidespin on.

Especially with the extension on the end. Adds a bit more Kate to the

cue. When you put a bit of sidespin on it seems to push the cue ball

further off path. -- adds a bit more weight to the cue. The first

tactical battle unfolding here. Yes, and it's not easy to get a telling

safety shot. Once the green's off its spot it is one less ball to uses

a a blocker. He's played this nicely. This is a

good length. Neil's having a look at the right-hand side of the table but

look where the cue ball is Neil and you can't get there. He's got to

catch this very thin. Ideally would have liked the cue

ball on the baulk cushion. Given Stephen Maguire options of safety

shots, although the one he's choosing there's a way that a red

might get pushed over the right corner here, a three-ball plant if

he catches it wrong. A two-ball plant. Don't tell me it was on. That

was a misjudgment, surely. He should have looked at that I think, John,

looked at how that would potentially pan out. It's a big error. Did have

a safety shot down the other side of the table. Might have caught it a

little bit thin. At this standard, when you're going play the safety

shot when the red ball is colliding with other reds, you've got to come

round and try to plot the path of any red you're going to hit. That's

the one thing you've got to be aware of. We see it so many times. Players

have a look, but he just caught it I think a little bit too thick or

thin. Never expected that, but it is a nice easy starter, but the wrong

side of the blue. A bit of work to do. Good pot though.

APPLAUSE. And it's landed on this red. He could play for the black

along the top cushion. Will he be tempted by this? These blacks along

the top, could particularly when they are just off the cushion, are

tricky. Will he play for it? Problem is not the pot. Pot. His problem

also from his perspective is not even getting the black in. It's how

to then get on that red that's next to the black. He's chosen a simpler

way. But he is woefully short. Okay, perhaps not woefully but he might as

well be. A big mistake not to get right side of the blue there. He's

going to play another brown. He struck this last brown so crisply

Once again no problem. This cue ball he's going to do it again.

Once again no problem. This cue ball is running nicely on to this red but

here's the choice again. He won't be playing for the black, so he's got a

little bit of work to do with the cue ball. Ball.s How well did the

strike the brown again? A carbon copy. He's got a bit more angle now

on this shot, so the black isn't ideal. He'd love it on the spot, of

course. That's perfect. Now a chance to get into a nice bunch of reds.

Surely he can control the cue ball from this split. He doesn't have to

go into them that hard. Medium paced, perhaps a fraction under

that. Surely he's on a red. Yes, he's on it. But once again a

little bit of work to do with the cue ball. Hit that perfect.

You can't predict how they are all going to fan out, but what you can

sense is the pace they go into them, can't you John? Because they were

loose there was no need to use a lot of power. The reds would open up

easily enough. He's landed just about on the blue, but he's just

having a problem at the moment getting prime position. It will be

wonderful if there was a guaranteed three-ball plant on from this shot.

I will tell you what, they're not far off, are they? Might be the

right shot to play if it's guaranteed.

That's a bit adventurous with the rest. That means he's on the blue.

Funny how he got the rest out to judge it, you get the feel of the

shot. That's a new one on me. If he does play the three-ball plant

the problem is the two reds that he's going to play the loose red on

to are a plant. He's not going to play the plant. He thinks it's

risky. And that was the d that was the problem with that shot - he

wasn't guaranteed to be good on the colour. He must have thought it

wasn't 100% otherwise I would have preferred the three-ball plant

myself. A tough shot on the blue but usually knocks them in. Never in

doubt. APPLAUSE. A good, solid pot. Didn't

try to do too much with the cue ball. OK, he's got this red to the

middle, but they are quite tricky, these. They are not that

straightforward. Looks a lot easier up here than it is down there. But

once again such a good Potter. And the way he pushes that cue through

straight, time after time. Potter. And the way he pushes that cue

through straight, time after time. But still having to do lots of lots

of work with the cue ball on every other shot, it seems.

He's going to be on the centre pocket. He's played that very

nicely. He'll know that this is a very big

frame. If he was to win this and go one frame away from victory, Stephen

Maguire would have it all to do. Highly unlikely with the form that

Neil Robertson is showing that Stephen would need, he's bound to

get a couple of chance. The way he's playing, you think he will have to

take them. But having said that, that's gone wrong. Actually arguably

overhit that. Probably didn't intend to connect with that red half ball.

Once again with hindsight it is easy to criticise a shot that probably

would have come out alright under most situations. Can get in behind

the yellow here. Or could have attempted...

APPLAUSE. Could have attempted to get in behind yellow, perhaps brown,

but chose to keep a red safe on the side cushion, with a 30-point lead.

That's a good shot from Stephen Maguire getting the back into play.

APPLAUSE. Not absolutely sure that red on the side cushion is going to

be staying there. If he hit this, if it goes in, it looks a bit thin, but

a chance. Oh, that's not good. That's helped no end. Unless it goes

safe. Caught it much too thin. Not the green away from the side

cushion. Stephen having a look. Obviously it's not a plant but he's

looking to see if he hits it and it runs into the red near the top

cushion, will it leave win to the corner? There's a cross double on

with safety, and with the black where it is there's two chances of

getting it in. A good length here with the cue

ball. He's not quite got it. He's left a red here. They'll tempt Neil

Robertson. If he can knock it in, he'll be a frame-winner. Assume the

other red was a bit too far down the rail to be an ideal cross double.

A big shot. There you go, John. You would have thought he would have

gone for it wouldn't you? I can only think he thought the potting angle

was getting him to run into another red. He's not turned much down

today. Maybe a chance here for Steve on the play that red in the other

half of the table and maybe get the cue ball behind the yellow. So much

attacking snooker that you just assume it's attack all the time. But

trying to contain things so far. Since he put that red safe on the

side. Stephen just hoping he wasn't going to knock the red safe. It was

a clever shot playing one red on to the other and sending them both up

the table. Just got to hang on in there and stay positive and hope you

get a chance. He's done very little wrong.

Just trying to nudge a red safe. Stephen having a look. If he plays

this red that's closer to the cue ball in the far corner pocket, can

he told for the black? A good strike. And he played it in

such a way he could play it slowly and the pink and red would block the

path to it. But it was on the right-hand jaw. Neil Robertson is

very close to being able to play a screw shot in behind the black here,

but it is risky. Not a bad choice of shot, to play red on to the blue.

Destroy the table a bit. Depend how much of the red he can get.

I'm sure he can't get enough of the potting angle. It is not an easy

screw-back behind the black. Got to get close to that corner pocket.

Does he think he can get enough of it? Perhaps with a bit of left-hand

side. Foul. Well, he hit the pink. I would

have been maized if he could have got to the potting angle of that.

Hit the pink first. Stephen would have noticed that. Wouldn't have

played the cue ball if he thought the red was pottable. I'm not sure

Paul said foul and a miss. I suppose it is a miss, but there is no way

Stephen Maguire will be having the balls put back into the same

position. A good chance he's going to put Neil Robertson back in here

though from this position. The only danger with that, of course, the red

is cuttable into the left middle. Stephen doesn't particularly want to

play it, but if he puts Neil Robertson back in, maybe he'd have a

go at it. It is one of those weird situations,

John. That's the red I'm referring to. I know Stephen doesn't want to

play it, but would you risk Neil Robertson playing it? Looks like

he's found a safety, or thinks he has.

APPLAUSE. A very good shot but he's still left a chance of a pot on

here. Not as easy as it looks. More acute than on our TV screens. It's

scary sometimes. He just flicked the yellow and left a path to that red.

As you say, Stephen shaking his head. He rolled it in as if it was

over the pocket. I don't think Stephen Maguire wanted the cue ball

to come that far over, to be honest. I think he would have preferred it

down in line with the green, in line with the yellow spots. That would

have ahead that pot nigh on impossible.

Used all the pocket there. 35 ahead, 59 remaining. He's not absolutely

inch perfect here. But as we've seen so many times, he's such a good

potter. You wouldn't put anything past him. If he can get through to

this red I think he's got enough angle to rib round up to two

cushions. The blacks available into the other corner. He's run a little

bit too far. He's not on the black. He's not ideal on the pink. Maybe a

little bit of hope for Stephen Maguire, sat in his chair here.

He knocks these blues in inodes with amazing regularity. It will need

He knocks these blues in inodes with cueing well. He's decided to play

the pink. Another tricky shot. But no problem, didn't even look like it

was going to hit the jaws of the pocket. This is a wonderful

exhibition of snooker from the Australian this afternoon.

Just looking for the colour. And he is plumb on the brown. This brown

would put him 47 points in front with just 43 remaining.

Still not really much that Stephen Maguire can do about this.

Little mini screw back, there, from Neil Robertson.

APPLAUSE Well, once again, another tremendous

break from Neil Robertson. OK it was only 27 but some of the pots he made

were just superb. What can Stephen Maguire do? It's hard to know. Neil

Robertson now just one frame away from victory. 5-1.

STUDIO It is hard to know, 96% pot success

rate for Neil Robertson, 86% to Stevenage at -- full Stephen

Maguire. What can Maguire do at the moment? Just watch. It's

authoritative, the matchplay. If you had tuned in after the first frame

and said what would the scoreline beat, you wouldn't have gone for

5-1. His cue ball control is superb and everybody is going right into

the centre of the pocket. Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up

and say superb, well played. We often see Stephen Maguire in this

situation when the blood starts to boil a bit but he has remained calm

and sanguine about it, I don't suppose he had any option at the

moment? No, that was probably the most scrappy frame of the match but

he has had very few chances to get in among the balls and make

frame-winning contributions. It's a fabulous contribution. Possibly

coming from that 145 he made in the last match. He's very inspired from

doing things in snooker, from excellence. Since that match he was

probably fortunate to win that match in a way because the first few

frames he could have gone behind but he is possibly black and inspired by

that 145 and it's going to be hard to stop him in this tournament. He

made a couple of centuries against Aditya Mehta in the previous round.

I was speaking to a colleague of mine and I said it was almost like

Euro 96 when Scotland missed the penalty and then Gazza runs up the

other end and scores, it was a hammer blow, wasn't it? It's quite a

similar mindset to what I used to have. It's quite selfish. I think he

would be quietly pleased that Thepchaiya missed that like because

it means he can get the prize for the maximum now. I think it is one

of the reasons he had that smile up at the commentary box. I'm surprised

you consider yourself selfish, Stephen! Thepchaiya has been invited

onto DFI Friday tomorrow evening. The missed black in that match...

COMMENTATOR: Well, it's a cruel game. It's been very cruel for

Stephen Maguire at the moment. OK he has had chances in the last couple

of frames but I think what he needs now, he has got to start winning

frames in one visit, which we know he's capable of. He did it in the

first frame. When you're playing like this, you need to start racking

up those frames quickly. Neil Robertson will be in no mood to give

him any easy opportunities, you can bet your life on that.

We did see at the end of the last frame Neil Robertson try to protect

his lead a little bit more in that latter part of the frame. There is

the possibility when you've got somebody on the ropes and they need

all the frames that it can become a little bit more defensive. And try

to let your opponent throw himself off the edge of the precipice. But

it's not really the way Neil Robertson plays. It was an excellent

opening red, a great positive strike on the blue and he has got the ideal

angle now to open up the reds. Choosing the run-through as opposed

to the screw back. Jumped out of the back of the pocket. I think the ball

was in the air as he hit it so hard, I'm sure it jumped out of the back

rather than wobble. Well, it may have wobbled a fraction. Or a lot!

Never in. I take it all back! It just happened so fast. OK, you're

forgiven! Unexpected miss. This is the problem, though. This is the

nature of the game. He's missed but Stephen is left with an awkward

shop, having to use the spider. Does he just roll it in and play for a

difficult black along the top cushion? Nothing would be easy for

Stephen at the moment. Delicately. You have to remove the

spider yourself. He's having a look at this black, but boy this is

tough. But he probably feels as though he is at the point of no

return, he's got to play no-Miss snooker. He's got to take the bull

by the horns. But this is tough. Big shot. But he probably felt as

though he had to make something happen to turn this match around.

Horrible shots to play. If that was the first frame committee could have

been forgiven for turning that one down. But as you say, John, the need

to try and get into the game overrides shot selection sometimes.

Exactly what Neil Robertson is hoping for, that Stephen Maguire

starts to take more risks and Neil can just pick his way to glory.

I'm sure that Neil Robertson will be thinking this is a chance for frame

and match. It's not a clear-cut opportunity for

Neil Robertson. But in the type of mood he's in, you feel like it is.

If he pots the pink at some stage, it may release another red. But it's

not obvious thereafter exactly how the balls are laying.

Well, it wasn't easy to hold for the pink. I'm not certain where the pink

will go when history spotted. -- when it is re-spotted. He could play

the cannon and make room for it to go on its own spot. I think it will

go on his own spot. He may need to play a little cannon here. If this

goes right, John, I think the reds will be spread very nicely. The blue

is always available. You sort of feel like it's going to

be a You sort of feel like it's going to

spin on, try and run through them. But he may not have -- we may not

have the angle exactly right from the commentary box. He may not be

able to stun into them. It looks like the run-through.

Now. Does the pink go on its own spot? He would like it not to. But

it goes on comfortably. It wasn't a good outcome, really, was it? No.

You could hardly have thought of a worse one really. OK he has got this

red on the top cushion to the corner, but that is tough. This red

does go to the right middle. And he's just dropping these balls in as

though they are over the pocket. It is remarkable potting exhibition,

this, from Neil. 96% still. Just the confidence in

the strike, isn't it? He is coming round to see whether he

can just roll this red in and be on the pink to the middle. These four

reds in the middle of the table would be enough to clinch the frame

at this visit. He is going to have to play another

little cannon, here. He would know the worst way, he would still be on

this red to the top cushion. I see no reason why not two, when potting

the pink, play a little cannon. As long as he doesn't catch the red

just below the pink full ball he should be OK. Well, he feels as

though he can get to this, but... It just makes the positional side of

the shop a little bit tricky, as we pass the two-hour mark.

He just about held for the blue. This blue would put him 54 points in

front with 67 remaining. Well, he got the cannon the second

time. I thought he might have tried to nudge those two reds open off the

pink but he managed to get to them off the blue. You have to say, after

watching Neil Robertson here in this particular match and after coming

off the back of winning the champion of Champions in great style, beating

Mark Allen 10-5 in the final, it would be a brave person to bet

against Neil Robertson for the rest of this event.

Well, the form he is produced at the end of his match against the try

-- against Thepchaiya un-Nooh, when he really started to strike the

ball, and the way he has played in this performance after the start

Stephen Maguire made just shows you that he's absolutely brimming with

confidence. He's at the top of his game, queueing-wise. He's getting on

with it. Sometimes I always feel that if he had a weakness, he can

just get bogged down, but there has been none of that today. He has been

in a good place. And quite simply on the day he has been too good for

Stephen. And as John Parrott said, some days you've just got to shake

your opponent's hand and say well played. Really, he can't, you can't

play better than this. And even that black, even though the frame and

match is well and truly over, he gave it every concentration. We

caught a glimpse of Stephen, a wry smile, but at the moment Neil is in

that zone where he just wants to pot every ball on the table. He's even

playing plants now! Unbelievable. APPLAUSE

Well, Stephen has... You've just got to resign yourself to the fact that

it's not been your day. I think if you were Stephen Maguire

and you were looking back, maybe the yellow was one frame that got away,

but apart from that I can't think of many more mistakes he's made. No,

Robertson has been relentless. The level of player required to beat

this standard is of the likes of a Mark Selby or a John Higgins, to

match him in that area. John Higgins has been playing great. That would

be a bit of a match, wouldn't it? We've got some great matches to come

and as we say about this game, no matter how good you are, if the

other man is at the table potting balls, there's nothing you can do

about it. It could happen to kneel as it has happened to Stephen

Maguire today. -- to Neil Robertson. But this has been a performance of

the highest quality. As good as I've seen him play.

95. So this blue for his third century of the match. Superb.

Absolutely superb. It doesn't get any better than that. And as I say,

he just wants to pot every ball on the table. Brilliant! Absolutely

brilliant. And Stephen Maguire will give him a warm handshake as Stephen

is a great sport. He knows there's nothing you can do about that. That

was a tremendous performance from Neil Robertson. He will take all the

beating now. He runs out the winner, six frames to one.

Magnificent. STUDIO

Wow, three centuries, a 76, a 55, and a 96% pot success rate today. It

reminded me of the session he played against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the

semifinal of the a few years back. Absolutely incredible, almost

unplayable at times. It was unplayable. He wouldn't have lost to

anybody today, it doesn't matter who they are. That was as good as you

like. Match play fantastic, scoring a cue ball control total authority.

It doesn't get much better than that. How do you play against

someone like that weighed in they are in that vein of form? It's

virtually impossible. On this you get in first and you are able to do

what he's doing, you just sit in your chair. That's the sort of thing

about snooker that makes it such a tough thing at the top at this

level. Stephen Maguire makes a century in the first frame,

fantastic break, and you think this is going to be some match today and

then basically he just sits in his seat for six frames. He's having to

chase it and take some risks, he goes in-off the yellow in frame six

and suddenly he's really up against it. You get caught between two

stools because you are trying to get yourself back in the match. You

can't always clear up. Maybe a safety here and there. But you're

looking at the scoreboard and you're trying to chase him. Kneel, well

played! That was extraordinary stuff. How do you rate that

performance? Yeah, one of the best matches I've played. Gradual

improvement from the start of the tournament up until now. I played

really well there. Can't really fault too many things about my game

today. Obviously Stephen Maguire came out and made a very bold

statement with that opening century. You were out, we thought we lost you

for a while! Five minutes... Before I went out, I said to Martin I've

got to the toilet and he goes, you can't. I should have said to

Stephen, whatever happens after this frame I've got to go to the toilet.

I'm really sorry! When you've got to go, you've got to go. It's better

off that the players can do their business behind closed doors than

out in the arena! Well, anyway, that apart. You came back and suddenly it

was century after century, big break after big break. Can you describe,

we were talking about comparing the performance with something like the

semifinal win against Ronnie at the Masters a few years back, was it up

there with that? That was more similar to my match with Ali Carter

in the quarters. The match against Ronnie in the Masters, he wasn't

quite at his best, although I punished him. I forced a few

mistakes today out of Stephen. The first frame he looked in incredible

form. That can help you in some ways when you know someone is playing

well, you know you have to be at your best. That's when I play my

best snooker, anyway will stop the top half, people have been beating

each other. But the bottom half has still got a really tough look about

it. Is there helping you? You know you're going to have a hard match

every match? Well, you expect to have a hard match every match. The

first couple of rounds, as long as you play pretty decent, you would

expect to win. But you've got players like Thepchaiya un-Nooh

coming through who are so dangerous, you can quite easily draw him in the

first or second round. At this stage now, you've got to play well to get

through. You've potentially got a Higgins or a Selby. It doesn't come

much tougher than that to get to the final. But that's the way you want

to win tournaments, you've got to beat the best. You will take

tournament wins wherever they come along but you have got to play the

best players in the world. It's interesting because that is eight

wins in a row now, going from the Champion of Champions coming in

here. I read that you feel you are better able to pace yourself

throughout a championship, has that been a problem for you? The Masters

was a prime example, I peaked way too early for that. When you start

playing and you know you're playing Willy well, you're not going to go

down a couple of years and wait play well. The Worlds, I peaked way too

early, and the Masters. But that's what happens. I lost to two

fantastic performances from my opponents. That's just the way it

goes. Is that the same with the season itself? It has taken a couple

of years for you to tailor make your own season. I know you had five

weeks off in the summer. I should have done that last year, last year

I was not ready for the first three or four months of the season and my