Quarter-Final UK Snooker Championship

Three days to go in York at the Barbican Centre in this UK

Championship. It is quarter finals day. It has been a long time

coming. We have in the mix a few of the usual big names, and that the

very least would be expecting a place in the last eight, but there

is also a couple of faces particularly in the first half of

the draw for whom today could be a career changing moment. Fame

beckons. A fascinating quarterfinal line-up

and if you want a considered opinion there is no better man to ask than

Steve Davis. Martin Gould takes on David Grace tonight and you would

think the greater experience for Martin Gould would stand him in good

stead. Yes, especially getting to the final in Australia and narrowly

losing. He is expected to press on. Perhaps more pressure on him, but

the way the David Grace put out Peter Ebdon on the TV stage, who

knows? He is enjoying it. Who knows what he can achieve? It is a shot

into the dark for him. We have Mark Selby the world number one. He was

better in his last March. You wonder if it is Mark Selby's tournament

because of the fact he should have been out. I do not think that sell

to is the player he was last year when he got rabbit in the headlights

syndrome. He has jumped up as well. It is much more difficult to pick a

winner for this afternoon, especially Marco Fu and Liang Wenbo.

You would expect Marco Fu to be too lover. -- clever. Liang Wenbo is the

X Factor in the tournament. He is the Judd Trump of China. We have one

for the purist. Neil Robertson was flawless yesterday against John

Higgins who has been researching the season. Playing the best at the

moment. It goes without saying, this should be the final. A considered

opinion. Always considered opinion from those

two. Eight men from the world number 1 Mark Selby to the world number 81,

David Grace. They have a few hours before they are due out this evening

but I think you are going to enjoy our line-up this afternoon. Some,

that is how Neal Robertson was described by Stephen Maguire

yesterday. If he plays like that he will win the title he said. John

Higgins may disagree. He is going to try to knock the sea off course

today. Marco Fu shouldering increased expectations on himself

and from others. He is facing an all Asian contest with his friend Liang

Wenbo. Their first meeting for four years. 90 for you and us to get our

teeth into to feel free to get in touch. We are starting with

Robertson against Higgins. Between then these guys have picked up fewer

than 14 major titles. It does have a real look and feel of a final. They

have not made in a major event since a final, two and a half years ago,

2013. Let us orbit is worth the wait. I have been building up to

this for a while. I missed the big chunk of the season because I knew

that the Champion of Champions at the UK would be the two biggest

events. Coming into his season with the Masters a couple of months

away. I paced myself and maybe some people would look at it as a bit of

a risk but people do that in other sports as well. I am happy with the

decision and I feel fantastic about my game at the moment. I think the

way Neil Robertson played against Stephen Maguire he played

flawlessly. I have watched a lot of Stephen Maguire this week and he was

playing great. That is the thing with snooker which is so destroying,

if you do not get a chance on the table there's nothing you can do and

you have to just sit and watch the other guy clean-up frame after frame

and that is what makes this one of the most difficult spots there is

because you go through some mental torture sitting in the chair when

the other guy keeps cleaning up. I hope to do that. It is going to be

difficult, but I will be underdog and I will try to enjoy the game.

John Higgins is probably the player of the season so far. He looks to be

somewhere near his best. Maybe not his late 20s are something like

that, but he is such a wonderful player, an all-time great. We have

had some unbelievable matches over the years especially on the BBC.

Someone I very much. And always look forward to. I know if I can get the

chance I can clean up. I fancy I will need to do that in a few frames

against Neil. Fingers crossed I can do it again. I have stumbled from

the auditorium into the commentators' room. I am here with

our two lumberjacks! You have heard me sitting on the fence about who I

think is going to win this match. Pick a player. Simply because I did

John Higgins' match last night I am going to go for Neil Robertson

because of the way he played against Stephen Maguire. I have never seen a

display like that and very rarely that comes along. Neil never looked

like missing. John lost his way a little bit last night. In the end he

had to pull off a fantastic 60 clearance to win the match. I am

going to edge it with Neil. Neil looks very strong and looks as if he

is going to continue strong. Yes. John is leading 7-5 but they have

only played in one of the big ones. John edged that on the deciding

frame. It is amazing they have never run into each other in the World

Championship or the Masters. Make the case for John Higgins winning

today. I think John has got fantastic belief in himself again

after winning two tournaments this season. He is pinching frames which

is his biggest strength after his break-building. He seems to have an

air of expectancy and the fact he is back to his best has put the fear

factor in other players. He struggled a bit last night. I did

not see it. They will have tremendous respect for each other

and both will want to win this match. Both of the players are

ready. I am going to go and get my other teeth in!

120 players have been eliminated over the last ten days and eight

remain in this year's UK Championship. Table two is peak-time

viewing in China and table one, Steve Davis has said it, it is good

enough to be the final. Let us get things under way. It is short time

in the atmospheric Barbican! Please welcome first of all the

Asian tour event when a raking through an epic 6-5 match against

Tom Ford yesterday. Winner in the Shanghai Masters in 2009 and bidding

for his first appearance in the semis of one of the big three, from

China, Liang Wenbo! His opponent, a brilliant ambassador

for the sport here and in the far east, twice a ranking event when who

beat Shaun Murphy in the fourth round. Runner-up in 2008, this

dynamo loses his cool, even when the pressure is on. From Hong Kong,

Marco Fu! On table one this could be absolutely immense. Please welcome a

player who has this year already won three ranking event titles including

the season's Australian Open and another championship. Four times

champion of the world, three Times UK Championship, the pride of

Scotland, the Wizard of Wishaw, John Higgins!

His opponent, a player whose influence on the game here has been

huge since his arrival from Australia just over a decade ago. UK

champion in 2013. Three centuries yesterday against Stephen Maguire,

he is right on form and he is ready to go. Can you hear the Thunder from

Down Under? He is Neil Robertson. Through against Wenbo gets going on

the red button and we will keep you posted on that through the

afternoon, but we are going to focus on this match. We are very much

looking forward to this. We certainly are. Good afternoon to

everyone watching. What an afternoon we could be in for here. Two of the

game great players. Scotland against Australia.

John won the toss and he is going to get this quarterfinal under way. I

cannot wait for this one. What I am really interested to see is if Neil

Robertson can produce the kind of form he did yesterday, two days in a

row, because he was awesome yesterday. He looked very serious

and focused when he was walking down the stairs in his introduction.

Just needs a thin snake of this red. It looks as if he is not playing the

safety shot, the way he is cueing. Did well to find the gap. A pretty

good shot. That is going to be some terrific break-building in this

match but these two players are up there with the best as far as safety

and tactics go. The deciding factor today will be who can win the frames

that they should not. Either by getting it with a clearance... I

think that will make the difference. John lining up this long pot. One of

John's biggest strength is was winning frames from 40 or 50 behind

and making it in one visit, the clearance, and I think today will

come down to that for both players, who can do that the most. John did

that against Jamie Burnett who was 48 behind. He had an unbelievable 60

clearance to win the match. It is the first chance that falls to the

Australian. He will probably play this in

between the yellow and brown both ways. Slight right hand side on the

cue ball. I do not think it got a big bones of the baulk cushion. It

is OK as long as he can avoid the contact on the green. That

definitely came off the cushion faster than it went on. This time it

came up a little bit short, possibly because of what happened the last

time. He was expecting it to come up quicker again. He is still OK. He is

making it a little bit difficult for himself now that the cue ball has

finished on the cushion but the yellow was not straightforward. He

could not have played it any harder or else he would have lost the white

up the table. This tells you how well you are cueing when you are

almost tight on the cushion. That was the problem. At least he has not

left the red. There was not a lot of room past the brown, but the white

jumped a little as well. Yes, I think it did jump a little.

We can have another look at it. It jumped a little and maybe that

through the red onto the ground. A bit awkward with the red up the

other end of the table to the right of the green. There was not a lot

Neil could do. REFEREE: Touching ball. That helps

the situation slightly. He can play away from that red. He has miscued.

That has turned out not a bad shot. That has brought the game back to

normal. Sending the red back up the table and normal play resumes.

It must be great for John Higgins to be back within these big matches

full of confidence. The last two or three years he was struggling with

his game and was not competing with the other top players. It is a great

feeling to be back. Just competing on a level playing field. They said

it is a young man's game but John has turned 40 and he is right up

there at the top, winning three major events in the last year.

Stuart Bingham winning the World Championship at 38. He was not

missing many of those against Stephen Maguire. They are not easy

by any means but the way this man pots you expect him to get closer

than that. Yes, when Neil first turned

professional John would've been one of the top players winning

tournament. The fear factor, John Higgins coming back to form again.

He will know full well what John is capable of. It might just make him a

little bit uneasy today. We will see if he can produce the same form as

he did yesterday. That is the amazing thing about the

game of snooker. You can beat an opponent 6-11-day and play the same

opponent the next day and he can do the same to you. Looking at probably

the greatest potter of the game has ever seen. He released is very

special in that department. John will be looking for a nice angle on

the blue to go into the bunch. A big target. The red is completely down

from the blue. If anything he will be looking to have that on the

left-hand side. Danger on the right. The left-hand side of the red is

perfect. The only problem for John as the black. Should not be too much

of a problem to go up for the blue. Against Jamie Burnett last night he

won the opening frame with one visit.

Could have been better, that one. He has finished a little awkward.

Hampered slightly for this one in the middle but I think he can get

through and get the correct angle on the blue.

Maybe just a little jump. Let us look. Yes. Maybe caused the fact

that he was striking down on it. The black might be available into

the left corner but there is a red on the black spot. He is having to

concentrate on the blue. The pinkies up on the brown spot, not a lot of

use at the moment. -- pink is. He could choose to play a cannon on

the red to the black, but it is risky. He was thinking about it and

has changed his mind. Back for the blue. Good shot. So many times you

see players coming short for the blue. He is perfect. He can almost

put his cue ball wherever he wants. He looks quite fresh today. Last 90

was rubbing his eyes a little bit at one stage. I do not know whether he

had something in his left eye, but he looks pretty fresh today. Yes, he

will be well up for this match today. It looks as if he has got his

complete belief in himself back. He believes he can win this

tournament. It is a great feeling to have.

I think he was quite clever in his press comments as well, saying he

was the underdog and how well Neil was playing, a little bit of

psychology, you would have to say. Every chance to clinch this opening

frame with this effort. This is the way Stephen Maguire started just a

day against Neil Robertson, making a century break in the opening frame.

-- yesterday. This really has been flawless. He

has had to use the blue for the majority of this break but he has

never once been the wrong side of the blue. Fantastic standard.

A nice pot on the black. He will want to clear these up. He will not

want Neil to come to the table. He will want to keep Neil on edge in

his chair. Not give him the chance to pot a few.

John has made 599 centuries in his career. 91 so far in this year's UK

Championship, there have been. What a start.

This brain for a little bit of a milestone in John's career. This

will be his 600th century break. What an achievement. Fantastic from

the Scot. Amazing. Exactly the same as the

match started yesterday. Stephen Maguire had a century. John Higgins

has a century. He takes the opening frame. Didn't he do it in style?

What a start. This is the frame. Didn't he do it in style?

betting odds after those matches frame. Didn't he do it in style?

yesterday. David Grace is the world number 81. Do you agree? With this

match today between Robertson and Higgins where it is so do forgot to

pick a marker it will re-form again no matter what happens. People who

took the 14-1 for John Higgins at the start will be very interested.

Shades of yesterday with Stephen Maguire getting 118 to start. How

much more wary will Neil Robertson be of John than perhaps he would

have been Stephen or is that uncertain?

He knows that he is a winner this season, a multiple winner so he's

giving him the utmost respect. But I don't think Neil Robertson worries

too much about who he plays. He thinks about himself, his own game,

which is an excellent way to do it. The discrepancy between Neil

Robertson's price and John Higgins' price as the best two winners of the

season is a bit of a gap. I think John could be a much shorter price.

John referred to himself as the underdog but not a bad start. The

best thing you can do as well, don't do the team talk for your opponents

by saying you are going in to do this, that and the other. The best

approach is softly softly. How will Neil Robertson respond?

He's got to be a bit careful he does not catch the reds on the left side

of the table. It is a bit thinner than normal.

APPLAUSE He is up there with the all-time

greats as far as the tactical side of the game goes, John Higgins. You

don't make 600 century breaks... There's only two players ahead of

him and the one sitting next to me made 775 and Ronnie O'Sullivan has

overtaken Stephen Hendrie to be at the top of the tree.

John is just coming around to see. If he takes the reds it is a

straight at macro more or less to the green pocket. The cue ball will

be fairly safe, if he misses the reds, as well. -- red. Somewhere in

the right middle pocket. He's got a choice of two roads will

stop neither is easy but maybe because John got a slightly heavy

contact, he has parted the cue ball quite tight to the cushion. --

planted the cue ball. Good, solid pot, right in the middle of the

pocket. I think he got a little kick, John. We might be able to show

you that. Look at the cue ball, yes, it just jumped and that took the

pace out of it. It was a great pot from Neil Robertson but it would not

have been available without that heavy contact. So, an early chance

for Neil so let's see how he responds to be century break made

against him in the opening frame. It looks like the black is available

to the left corner. The red to the right of it, I don't know if that is

also available to the left corner because it would be a nice one to

play for. You can see they are both available.

He would love to play for that red. The red in the pink spot is the one

he is playing now. 18. That is a poor positional shot from

Neil. We saw in the last frame how John managed to get on the right

side of the blue every time. That is a very slack positional shot. He

will be annoyed with himself. Yes, and being a left-hander, if he

screws back for the red to the left of the bunch, it is a bit awkward.

If he was a right-hander, it would not be that bad. He would have two

stretch a little bit for this one. -- have to stretch. He is quite a

tall lad, Neil, six feet, so he might be able to reach as well. He's

going to need his extension. He's got to get back for the blue because

the black is not available into the right corner. This is not

straightforward. It is going to run through to get there. That was all

caused by what Stephen mentioned, getting the wrong side of the blue.

Yes, when you put your extension into the cue, it never feels the

same, it is never the same balance. You never get the same feel in your

shots all stop he will be disappointed because the weight Neil

things, every opportunity is a chance to win the frame in one

visit. He will be frustrated. Even more frustrated now. APPLAUSE

Great opening red. This is a big shot early in this

frame. If he gets this right, and he has played it perfectly, he can pot

the red and just nudge the other red away. It had to be absolutely spot

on, there. And in to the pink and the reds, now. Got to be a little

bit careful, he played for the stun, having a quick look to make sure

those two roads are not a plant up into the corner when he cannons into

them. You can see that he is setting to play more of a Stander than a

screw. -- is stun. He is not straight on this thread but it is

not bad. Yes, quite a clever shot, those two reds were available.

Straight on the black is no good. You can see, even if he screws back,

the cue ball will be colliding with the red on the left cushion. He will

have to stun it to the right centre. If he can get straight on that read,

you can see the pink is available to the left corner. -- straight on that

red. Well spotted. I think he has finished straight on this red. When

he takes this on, you will free up a red to the right corner. He

APPLAUSE He is cueing well. He made a few

errors last night when he led 4-1 against his good friend, Jamie

Burnett, but he is not doing much wrong so far this afternoon.

APPLAUSE As I mentioned at the top of the

show, John leads 7-5 against Neil Robertson. 2009 was a big year when

they battled it out. In the UK Championship, John one on the

deciding frame -- won on the deciding frame. But two of Niall's

wins were in the same year, 2009 and they were both on the deciding

frame. -- Neil's wins. That was the Welsh Open and the Grand Prix. They

have had some terrific matches, these two.

He has just travelled about four or five inches too far with the cue

ball to make it a miss of but you still expected him to get it, the

way he has been cueing. You always have one eye on the cue ball,

pushing through the reds, for the black.

I think it will be relieved Neil Robertson, to get a second chance in

frame. APPLAUSE Yes, he missed that one with the

extension on his cue, that he would normally not in. It is not a

straightforward chance come here, as you can see, a couple of awkward

reds. He has got such a fantastic

temperament, he really has. Yes, the red that is near the side

cushion, there, not a bad side for Niall, -- for Neil, being a

left-hander. Not in a great spot, that red, to

move so he might have to drop in behind it in a few shots' time.

23. Has he finished straight on the pink? He will have to play for the

one behind the black if that is the case. No, he had a little bit of

angles. And he has got a slight bit of angle on this red. He is 20

points in front, so read much black, red would be enough. -- red, black,

red would be enough. He wants to push the cue ball through slightly

and leave the final red to the left-hand corner. He looks like he

is trying to move the red but I think that is risky because the

black will be a tough shot. He can't get it away from the cushion.

APPLAUSE 30. What kind of angle has he left

himself? I'm surprised he's left the cue ball there. Playing a cannon,

you are not guaranteed to be on the red. He only needs the last red. Why

not just leave the black dead straight so you can drop on it? Now

he is thinking about refusing the black and playing a safety shot.

That is definitely what he's going to do, now.

He needs to get a colour safe, also. Knock the brown onto the side

cushion and leave the snooker. Neil Robertson, 30. John needs lots of

side on this if he is going down the right-hand side of the table. I

think he would just have to do miss the middle pocket with lots of side

on it. -- have to miss all know, and it is going to be a free

ball, even if it goes in the pocket, it is still going to be a free

ball. If he sets it next to the green, the referee, he's got to be

able to hit the red on both sides. Do you want me to check that? What

he will do is put a red next to the other one and then put the white

next to the green and if he can hit the red that he has put on the

table, full ball, it is not a free ball. I think the black is in the

way of that. He can't hit that red, full ball. Just the edge of the red

sticking out. John wants another look! They are both having a look.

It is a tight one. But I think the referee has got it right. Yes, from

our view, if you are playing that red, it definitely looks like it is

going to clip the black. But sometimes you get a different view

from the opposite side of the shot. It is a free ball, that red is

sticking out. It is only fractional. It is a free ball. Yes? I think the

referee has it absolutely right. He would just tip the black if he tried

to hit the second red that he put on the table, full ball. It was a tight

one. 25 is the difference. It makes a

slight difference. The thing is, Neil is still going to need the

difficult red. He will take the yellow all the green as his free

ball which in theory is an extra red on the table and then get another

colour. Play the yellow into the left middle and follow-through, for

the blue. If you missed the pot, you still leave a snooker. Do you know,

he is still thinking about whether it is a free ball so maybe he's not

comfortable in taking the free ball but I think the referee has it

right. That was very sporting Neil, double-checking. -- sporting of

Neil. John Still has that little smile on his face. He still thinks

it might not be a free ball but there we go. It is the yellow which

will count as one point. And he is back to the same scenario,

if he had gone on the black straight, as you said, he only

needed the red along the cushion but if he pots the blue and leaves that

red, that will be framed ball. -- frame ball.

Six. He does not have to worry about getting onto the black, just make

sure that the red... APPLAUSE Seven.

Neil Robertson, seven. Two snooker is needed. It is going to be a tall

order for John Higgins. -- snookers.

APPLAUSE Arthur brown is in a terrific spot,

if he gets a chance to play a smooth curve in behind that. -- but the

brown. If this yellow disappears into the corner pocket, it will

definitely be the end of frame. Nope. He can pot this yellow and get

himself in such a position that he can play off the green, in behind

that brown. It is not over just yet, this frame. Make sure you leave the

white exactly where you want, to then play the snooker.

Two. That is not a bad thing, believe it or not, sending the blue

over there because you now have three balls that are in a pretty

good spot to get a snooker behind. He could pot the green, also.

Well, how is he going to get to this one? He's going to need a spider and

an extension on it and he's going to need an extension on the cue and a

parent steps. -- pair of steps. Do you want the long spider... ? He

wants everything you've got! I don't know if there's enough under the

table for this one. Well, you can't see the tip of the cue when you are

so far away from it. LAUGHTER John said, "have you opened your

wallet, Neil? " Because there was a moth flying around. This is so

awkward. Yes, he has decided he's just going

to come off the side cushion and if he can get a bit of bottom on this

and stop the white where the brown is, he might get the

and stop the white where the brown of bottom and the right contact and

he can send the brown up the table. Nearly. John Higgins, five.

That butterfly is going to wreak havoc! There you go. LAUGHTER

Oh, dear. It's having a look. " Yes, good shot". O! A bit of a miscue

from the referee. Let's see if he can get it. Nearly. Back on the

table. I've never seen this before. CHEERING

That's it. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

All sorts going on! Neil is trying to forget all of that and get

focused again. It looked a bit like a peacock butterfly to me. Are you

up on your butterflies? No. John Higgins, four.

Yes, I think it is, or it was. It is alive and well, anyway, if you want

to know. But at the moment, John Higgins just needs one snooker to

tie, now that he can get a 5 point advantage if he does get one.

Just thinking, if the blue had stayed right over the pocket, John

might have attempted to pot it and he would only have needed one

snooker on the pink to win, then, but of course, it is more difficult

with just the one ball on the table. We have had a bit of everything in

this frame. We had the, was it a free ball or not, a butterfly in the

middle of the table, watching everything.

Well, look at this for a shot. APPLAUSE

Now, wouldn't it be ironic if he comes across the table and finishes

up? He is looking to swerve this, I think this is more difficult than

going across the table. The only thing is, if he goes across the

table, he could go into the middle pocket. If he plays a swerve, he

would catch the black and John would win, you would be able to win the

frame. -- or he would be able. Well, it is a little bit like a trick

shot, this. But now he is looking across the table. You would think he

could escape from it if it goes across the table but there's just

enough room, if he does not fit the blue, the White could go in the

pocket and suddenly, we could have a re-spotted black. He has decided on

the swerve. It is not easy. No, it was never easy. Oh, look at this.

He's going to hit the blue. Can you catch your breath? I think John's

expression said everything. I'm just wondering if Neil, because

he never said anything to John or held his hand up, I'm wondering if

it was so far to swerve around the black he... Well, surely not, he

could not have played that. But the situation now is that John has

ported the blue and needs one 6 point snooker to win.

You would think, Neil could not have played that shot because surely

coming across the table was easier? There's no way he's played this, I

don't think. No, he just did not get enough swerve on it. But he never

batted an eyelid at and just went back to his seat.

Might have drifted slightly at that pace.

That was not a bad effort. He played the cushion first. He would have

halted the pink which he does not want to do so one long pot on the

pink and that will do it. Right in the centre of the pocket. A

fascinating second frame. In the end it is the Australian that takes it.

It had everything. A brilliant flute escape, the free ball incident and

the referee did not apply to present Springwatch! Was that a fluke? Yes.

He was thinking he could play this well. He hit it too hard for the

spin to grab the cloth. He did not get the bend in the cue ball early

enough. Definitely trying to play at first time. Unless he is a lot more

advanced than we think he is, of course. Is he that good? Is he that

lucky? He hit it with the right place, but I do not think so.

Earlier we had the free ball incident. Did that uncertain things?

It is another example of the sportsmanship. Neil was not entirely

happy that that decision was correct, but the referee is in

charge. It was tight. Really tight. Sometimes you can be a little bit

wary about playing a shot. He did not look comfortable. Neil Robertson

new at the start he was going to have to work very hard to get over

the line and that is how it has proved in the frame two. Yes, a good

effort from Neil Robertson, showing his mental strength. The second time

in the tournament, the same with Stephen Maguire, suffering a loss in

the first frame to a 100 break, and that mental strength is one of the

things that makes him so strong in the game. It has been fascinating

because we have seen that 600th century from John Higgins, that

break of 118 in his first frame. Century number 600 of his career. He

has seven years or Neil Robertson. That is the standard we are seeing.

The number of big breaks. It was the 92nd century of the championship so

far. It equals the total last year and we are only at the

quarterfinals. For all of the controversy and moaning about the

kicks on the table we are producing an of a lot of big breaks here this

year. Back we go. Yes, this band and has been

fantastic, it really has. -- the standard. No breaks in that second

frame, just a 30 by each player. Still a fascinating tactical frame.

He hit that one all wrong. Nearly cannoned into the red that John will

take on. Can he not a long one in? To get his confidence up and running

again. Probably just lost a little bit of

rhythm with the tactical play in that second frame. I do not know if

he can take the double on as a free shot. He has tried it.

That was a mile out. A complete mess hit by John Higgins. He was

expecting if he missed it to rattle in the jaws and go across the box

cushion. It is not the sort of thing you want

to be doing against an inform your Robertson. Leaving him in like this.

He can bring a few more reds into play and still finish on the black.

Yes, he deliberately wanted to be law on this. Maybe not as low as

this. Is admissible? The black will pot to the right centre but this was

a bit clumsy. I do not think he hit the red that he thought he was going

to hit. That is why he lost the cue ball. Great recovery.

I know we are only in frame three but Neil Robertson's highest break

so far is only 30. I am sure he will supersede that by quite a few year.

He will be wanting to win this frame in one visit. He lost the first to a

brilliant break by John Higgins. The second frame was very scrappy. For

his confidence and self belief, his rhythm.

Two or three options, none of them straightforward. That is why he has

gone round the table a couple of times. Squares of two cushions to go

round the black. He does like a little wander round

the table, Neil. A bit like one of his fellow countrymen who used to

work around quite a bit. The older viewers will remember Eddie Charlton

who made 112 trips from Australia to place looked in the UK. -- play

snooker. Back in the 1970s he was as well known in still your as some of

the top cricketers -- Australia. He was a great character. Steve Davis,

myself, Ray Reardon, did six-week tours with steady Eddie. The game

back in those days was as popular in Australia as it was in the UK. They

used to do their own version of pot black. I thought it might take off

again with Neil being so successful. They still go out there and play a

ranking event. It would be nice to get it back to being as popular as

it used to be. Yes, it makes it all the more

incredible how successful Neil has been when you consider he is from a

country that does not really follow snooker. To want to play the game in

the first place and to become this good is a fantastic achievement.

Without doubt the best overseas player I think we have ever had in

the game. He made 60 centuries last season. 14

this season only. The season before he made history when he made 100

centuries in a season. That is incredible. The frame is well and

truly safe. Just concentrate on trying to make another century here.

Yes, I think the amazing thing about that century at centuries as the

single-mindedness to be able to do it. Early on he was determined to do

it, so to carry that out is a tremendous achievement.

He has already made six centuries in this year's UK Championship.

Absolutely fantastic from the Australian.

It does not matter about that red almost leaving the table. He is back

right at the top of his game. John Higgins just a couple of mistakes

and one chance and Neil Robertson made that century break.

Not worrying times by any means, but John after that fantastic start with

a century break, just a couple of shots in that frame. Yes, he had

along red early on in the frame, a pretty comfortable long red for

somebody of John's ability. I would have expected him to get that. The

most worrying one is the 1 that led Neil in for the century. He

completely messes. The red he is potting, normally it would join the

pocket and see up that end of the table, but he misses it by so far

that the red comes back down on the right centre. Yes, that was the 1

that cost him the frame. The mid-session interval is coming

up after this fourth frame. John Higgins has only potted one out of

five. Neil has got one out of the mag. I am sure that will improve. --

three. A long way short

intended. He wanted to be near the cushion. This red to the right

corner... Similar to the one he missed in the previous frame. The

yellow is hampering him slightly. Looking at the 1 to the right

corner, not straightforward to get a good position. He will have to be

absolutely spot on with the cue ball if he pots this. No. Another long

one has slipped away. A is for Neil Robertson again. -- chance.

If you can get the red away from the black spot he can then get the black

bat -- back on its spot. He can do that with the angle he has on the

blue. The choice of reds. Yes, you would

think this one would play for the black to the same pocket. It looks

the same shot. Was that a kick that caused the cue

ball to go off line? It might have been. Let us look. It jumped

slightly. That white would have just sailed past the red and he would

have been perfect. It gave a different line for the cue ball and

he just flicked the red and I do not know if there is just as these into

the corner pocket. If it was he might just be able to recover the

situation. We had a glimpse and I think it might just go. It is a free

shot. He will not leave anything. That was one of those instances

where we kick did not cost him. This clears a path for the red to

the right corner. He can go into the pack, use the pack to set up for the

blue and possibly even go on the pink. He can play the cue ball into

the bunch, a little stunned shot to pull the cue ball away. He did not

feel it was worth the risk. That is surprising. A nice angle. Maybe

worrying about laying off into the right centre.

A key shot coming up. Wants to bring quite a few more reds into play. In

the end there was only one. One red that sprang out from the bunch. Even

though he hit it quite hard. That red is going to be awkward near

the side cushion. It will not be his normal stance the way he is having

to avoid catching that with his waistcoat.

He did not have to do too much with the cue ball to leave himself on

this red. It is amazing how this match is following a similar pattern

to his match with Stephen Maguire yesterday. Quite incredible.

Yes, when he gets in first in the frame he does not look like missing,

when he gets in his rhythm. This red goes. It did not look as if

it would pot from the overhead shot, but plenty of room. Came up a little

bit short on the blue, although with the red there to the right of the

little bunch of five he should be OK. He is going to need to open that

bunch of reds. If that one would go to the middle pocket tin-mac be able

to get on that without risking the cannon. -- he might. Looking at the

score, if he pots the black that is 59 in front. If he potted that red

and the black it would be 67 in front of 67 remaining so he is going

to need a couple more reds. He has come up quite a way short with this

one. He has to be a little bit careful because he knows that John

Higgins relishes this sort of situation by Mackie has cleaned up

from so many times, being 50 behind. A couple of important shots coming

up -- where he. As he stuck the red up? He is very fortunate in the end.

Once he had the job the middle pocket the red could have gone

anywhere. It makes a big difference in this game when you miss if you

can get a little bit of good fortune and the red runs safe.

John Higgins straightaway taking the opportunity to move the safe red

away from the cushion. If he has covered the path to the right side

of the table for a safety, which I do not think he has from his

reaction... He will be disappointed with that safety shot. Even more

disappointed if there is a plant. Yes, he just went a fraction too far

with the cue ball otherwise the Green have snookered Neil on all of

the balls. It is a free shot. He could possibly make it. Not quite.

Although he leads by 59, the weather reds are situated at the moment, if

John Higgins can put in a telling safety shot and force that chance, a

little bit of snooker left in this fourth frame. He is coming up short.

That is a poor shot from John. That is a rarity from somebody like John

Higgins, a safety shot like that. That is two careless once he has

played already. Neil Robertson eats those up for breakfast. John Higgins

has a lot to think about at the interval. He has missed two or three

long shots and then two careless safeties in this frame so he needs

to get his focus back quickly in this match because we know what a

great front runner Neil is, he can does run away with it, as he did

yesterday with Stephen Maguire. -- just. You cannot leave the white

ball-on the box lying, you have to get near the baulk cushion.

Both players cueing very well. OK, John has missed a few long pots that

he never looked like missing when he was in the balls in the opening

frame, John. The first to 6, so 3-1 is a nice

lead to have. John will be looking for a good start after the

mid-session interval. Pretty quick. Just one minute and

coming up to... Both players making century breaks. They have played for

just over one hour, as we showed you, one hour and 30 minutes. The

second frame was half an hour. Look at Neil's long pot success

rate, up at 60%. APPLAUSE

Well, he started this frame with a break of 59 and he finished it with

that terrific clearance of 71. Neil Robertson, after losing the first

frame to a century break, goes to the mid-session interval leading

John Higgins 3-1. STUDIO: Just as he did yesterday. Perhaps the signs are

a little ominous at this stage. For your money, what is the main

difference between them today? The long game, I think, two or three

shots that John has had that have not got in and he's left the

opportunity. Wonderful match play snooker from Neil, taking his

opportunities as he does. The worst thing you can do is win the first

frame against him. You end up coming away 3-1 at the interview but

terrific quality. Steve? There's very few players in the world who

round after round can look nigh unemployable. Neil Robertson looks

like that, John Higgins can do it and Ronnie O'Sullivan but not often

do they repeat it throughout the tournament. They have good moments

and might go off a bit and perhaps get it back together for the final

but Neil Robertson looks mentally very strong. That continuation,

frame after frame, is debilitating for his opponents. We had a chat

with him yesterday about pacing yourself for the championship and

that is some thing he has clearly been aware of, particularly after

the Masters. I don't know about you but that is not pacing yourself. It

is foot to the floor by our standards. He had a peak performance

yesterday and it is difficult to maintain that, nigh on impossible,

Stephen Maguire said it in his press conference, it's impossible he will

play that well again but his line just below his best is still

fantastic. That's the point because having played so beautifully at the

Masters this year, he gets to the final against Sean Murphy and was

blown away by Murphy in the final. He said, having learned that it will

be foot to the floor every time. He can't afford to take his foot off

gas. And if you get into that mentality, foot to the floor,

playing that standard, it becomes the norm. It's very hard to achieve.

If you don't think the last performance you played... Neil

Robertson's last match was incredible but if you say it was not

anything special and you will not overawed by yourself and you take it

on board, you can do it all the time. But that is for the likes of,

like in golf, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, who seem to have taken

the level of consistency up a gear. It is nice to talk golf with Steve

now! Now I am a golf fan. It's true. I'm sure there's a lot more to talk

about in this match but in the meantime, we're going to talk about

a sensational match on the other side which is the -- shedding a

beautifully between Liang Wenbo and Marco Fu, the man who for the last

18 years or so has very modestly and with wonderful talent made his mark

in the sport. He is not showy or a big head but he is absolutely full

of talent. Two world ranking titles but not in the big three in snooker,

the UK, the world or the Masters. He's been into finals out of three

in those events. So will the breakthrough come this time? -- in

two finals out of three. There's no doubting Marco Fu is one

of the top players in the game. His longevity has been testament to

that. He has won a couple of ranking event and got in the final of the

UK. But not that prolific a winner. He is such a great player. He really

is, a real great player. I remember when he burst onto the scene and I

was not on the tour at the time. I was watching at home. He burst on

the scene and you know what he was known for back then was he just came

to the table and kept on clearing up. His practice routines were based

on clearing the table, setting a frame up and clearing up. He was so

good in the balls and very naturally based. He just used to get on with

it and play. For me, over the years, he has got that little bit too

technical. He has opened a Pandora's box and looked into the technical

elements of the game a bit too much, for me. I do think it helped him.

You would expect with some of his talent, who's been very consistent

since he has been a professional, that he has not been in more finals

and won more tournaments. A very strange technique, that he does not

prepare for the shot with backwards and forwards movement. He puts the

tip to the ball and waits until he has judged the line and then slowly

pulls the cue back and pulls the trigger. We were always taught that

that was getting ready for the shot, feeling it out, preparing

yourself but he does not do any of it. Very little. He does not have

much power in the cue. That is not the end of the world but it helps if

you've got a bit. I don't think he has that super confidence that some

of the others have. When he does get to that position, that he has the

self belief that the likes of Shaun Murphy, Judd Trump, Mark Selby or

O'Sullivan would have, that he has the belief against the top players.

Even though he has excess against them, he does not lose confidence

like some of them. That might just be him. -- lose confidence. I always

thought he was quite an attacking play even though he would not think

it from the way he walks around the table. It is just a feeling, maybe,

he's quite aggressive when trying to win the frame with a few balls

left, not break-building, although he's a pretty decent break-builder.

He's very good in the balls and very heavy scoring. When he first came

onto the scene, that was his hallmark on immense scoring. One of

the critics we have had of other players has been their temperament

but you could not say that about him. Marco's temperament is first

class. You could watch any much of his from any time in history and you

would not know if he was winning losing. His temperament is first

class. Any kids watching out there should focus on his temperament

because he is somebody to emulate. Marco is buying the world number 29,

Liang Wenbo who no doubt has given himself a couple of laps around the

chops like he did yesterday to get himself going. He did the same thing

against Tom Ford yesterday and if he has gone it is certainly working

because Liang came straight out of the practice arena and got a 106,

his fourth century of the championship. We join them in the

second frame with Liang five points behind. Willie Thorne and John Virgo

watching this one. COMMENTATOR: And unexpected chance for Liang Wenbo.

But the bottom line is, once again, Marco was first in and did not make

the most of it. The black is available into both corners. OK, the

wrong side of the blue but as I always say, if you are going to be

on the wrong side, be well on the wrong side. He has got two reds on

the right-hand side as we look that are available to the corner. It

should not be a problem, just a little stunt in between the yellow

and brown with a touch of left-hand side. -- stunt. Just like that.

Perfect. The two reds either side of that

cluster of six are both available into either corner so he does not

have too plain to the pack at any stage for a moment. He would like to

get rid of one of those red and then go into them because it gives him

the option of the loose one behind the pack. He's got a chance to get

onto one of them. The fact he has finished low, he did not play that

very well. That cue ball should have been six or seven inches further

away from big ocean. He will have too pushed through the reds now and

he's not guaranteed to get nicely on the black. It is one of those

situations, if you do, you will bring a few reds into play but how

hard do you hit it? That is the problem. You feel as if you hit it

too hard and you get through the reds and you can finish up near the

top cushion. Did not put enough pace into the shot. OK, he can pot the

black but it is tricky. Yes, it was not the poor shot, that one can it

was the black before. But do you not feel when you play that shot, I

preferred stunning off the reds because I had more control? You knew

where the white was going to end up, guaranteed gum EU might leave a

half-board black but he would not end up like this, finish short or

you could finish tight on the other cushion. That is a good reply. Will

it drop? APPLAUSE Good shot. I think there is a red on

the top of the cluster that will go past the pink into the centre

pocket. It was a good pot on the black because he knew if he missed

it, he would be leaving this one. Now the work starts. He's got to

make something happen after the next two shots. It's not a good pack to

go into, of the blue and he looks like he's screwing it off the blue.

The pink pots which opens up one more red. I just wonder whether the

pink spot is available? I think it is. LAUGHTER

Yes, I think when the pink is potted, it can go back onto the

spot. It may still be available into one corner and one middle. He can

risk getting on the next pink to move reds into play.

Fair comment. I don't know if he is straight enough but he could roll

through and maybe leave a three quarters ball pot on the pink. Maybe

he could screw back and play for the pink in the same pocket. You always

favour running through for the black. You are almost guaranteed to

have an angle of some kind. Playing for the pink, you have to be very

precise. Now the only problem with the angle

he has got on the black, if he goes into the three reds, you could see

they are very flat and he would need to hit one of them half ball because

if it is full ball, it could stick and all the white ball would do is

to come back the way it is now. Probably the left-hand side of the

three in a line, as you say, stun it so you are bound to release at least

four reds. That is exactly what he did. Well, if he's not on anything,

he will be very unlucky. I think he's on something. Yes, the great

break-builders, like O'Sullivan and Mark Selby, they play that shot so

well, a power stunt to keep the white in the middle of the table. It

could have gone wrong because it had a little bit of back spin on it but

the stun would have sent it through the reds. Anyway, no problem. He

needed one chance in the first frame, and won it with a wonderful

break of 106. It could be a repeat dose, here.

That is a good shot, he generated an angle which was not really there.

That was why he played it so powerfully, on and off the cushion.

It was just off straight but he generated a lot of cue ball

movement, there, excellent shot, should be a frame-winner. That would

be a nice milestone if he gets a century, his 147th century break.

Yes, that has a nice ring to it. Oh, well, he has turned away,

there, because it was a heavy contact. I'm certain it probably was

but he did not seem to cue it that smoothly, to me. He just jabbed at

it more than anything. He did not really get the cue going through.

But he still has the red to the left middle which is not too difficult a

pot. I hate to keep going on about it but I'm definitely an advocate of

thicker cloth and a slightly heavier ball which I think would get rid of

all the kicks. Those were the conditions we used to have in the

snooker clubs years ago. I don't ever remember a kick in a snooker

club. Just rolling that in. He's got a

slight angle on the blue. This blue will put him 62 points in front with

67 remaining so the blue and one more red is all that is required.

A choice of reds, either one will help position on the pink. Good

stuff from Liang, it really has been. He has taken the game to Marco

Fu. Marco as yet has not had a hand on the table. Yes, well, he has had

his hand on the table but I know what you mean, briefly. Most of the

time, he's been sat there, sipping his water and watching a wonderful

performance. This is very impressive for the man from China. There's a

moth about, John. You haven't opened your wallet, have you?

Wanted to come down and look at the action. It is flying about. I'm not

sure if it has gone after the other table. It is buying about somewhere.

I think it has gone on to the other table. -- flying about. Fair play to

Liang Wenbo, with all this noise going on. He is keeping his

concentration. Just stepped back, then, because he was not happy. That

is what you have got to do, always a member, if you are not comfortable,

get up and start again. -- always remember. He wants to pot the last

remaining red down the side cushion and being left hand it will not be

easy. Perfect angle for the pink but will need the rest. Oh, that moth is

flying about. I hope it does not put him. It is having a right little fly

around from to table, wants to watch both matches. We are only watching

one. OK, just drop this in. Second century, will it be? Will it be?

APPLAUSE Beautifully played an perfect on the

black. Super stuff, this, from Liang Wenbo.

One visit snooker. A century breaks that he has made now. -- 147 century

breaks. The moth is back, nearly landed on Liang's head, then. I

think it is a butterfly, actually. LAUGHTER

Don't kill it! APPLAUSE

The referee at the other table went to catch the butterfly and missed

it. I'm not having him in my cricket team. Well, with all that is going

on, this has been a tremendous contribution from Liang.

Concentration or what? Come on, keep your head down. CHEERING AND

APPLAUSE Well, when you are in the zone, it

just proves, nothing can put you off. What a marvellous frame. Right

out of the top drawer of break-building, he made 106 in the

first frame and 132 in the second. Absolutely first class and he

deserves to be 2-0 up, quite obviously. STUDIO: How about that

for tunnel vision, right in the middle of the moth incident? By the

way, we are now convinced it was a peacock butterfly for those of you

who have been following on Twitter. That gave Liang back-to-back

centuries and his fifth of the championship so far. Liang Wenbo has

started beautifully. We heard about his opponent, got professional

opinion on Marco Fu and time to get some more on the man who leads our

other quarterfinal, Neil Robertson. Neil Robertson, one of the best

players we have ever seen, triple Crown winner, and a fabulous,

fabulous match player. On his. On his off days, he's very good, too.

Lovely, straight cue action and his break-building has improved in the

last few years, which makes him virtually one of the favourites for

any single tournament. Fit, very good and slim. Heat use the ball as

well as anyone out there. Great match player, great winner, great

champion. Obviously he is of Egan as well. When he's on form, he is up

there with the best in the world. Neil Robertson, typical Aussie, will

to win, second to none, fantastic long potter, one of the best in the

game. Off the table, he's into computer games also nothing wrong

with that, I suppose. As a player, I think he's the in the world. He's

got it all, the all-round game that everyone should aspire to. I just

feel with meal sometimes come he plays certain players, like Mark

Selby, and he can get Dawn into buying their style of game. Not very

punk show. Lead the latest player on tour. He's been known to miss games.

Some of his opinions, especially on football, really get to me and we

fall out quite a lot! The boards of his fellow professionals and that is

the situation in the arena. By the way, you can continue to watch the

other quarterfinal this afternoon, Liang Wenbo and Marco Fu on the red

button and unconnected TVs on the BBC sport website but we are back to

what we are considering a real heavyweight contest. Robertson

against Higgins, Robertson 3-1 up as we return to the commentators.

Remember, the first to sixth is in the semifinals. -- six. COMMENTATOR:

Thank you, Hazel. Will the mid-session interval change things

around? John Higgins will be hoping so.

That is the pot success rate, 93%, starting to motor, the Aussie. He is

improving on his long pot success rate and John is way down at 17%.

Straightaway in the fifth frame, it is going to be a bit awkward with

that red heading up past the green. Neither player like that but Neil

had no other shot available to him, there.

O! APPLAUSE The trick shop that he did not want.

-- trick shot. There is no real value in running up to the black

because it is so easy... Not a lot else he can do. In fact, he's not

going to run up to it, that is a good choice, really. It would have

been a straightforward escape of the side cushion so now we have three

red up the other end of the table. It is going to be a bit of an

awkward frame, you would think. Yes, he's just thinking about

pushing that red to the left of the black, up the table, leave the tube

or on the side cushion. He did not like it. He can get enough of the

cue ball to bring this back. That is another red joining the other three

on the other half of the table, now. All of these 14 reds could finish up

on the opposite end of the table to where they normally are.

But now he might have to play the shot he looked at previously because

he can't get back from there. He will just leave the cue ball on the

side cushion. The red does not pass the green which is why he has played

that. Just a little bit of a stalemate at

the moment. Not much available to kneel. He can

just nudge into the reds or slip off the side of them but he would have

to get the long rest out to do that. Yes, it is one of those frames where

you could get ten or 15 minutes of safety play. But when the first

chance arrives, because the reds will be so spread out, I imagine the

frame will be won in one visit. If they keep on rolling into the reds,

the referee will probably have a look at both players and then ask

them what they want to do. But John is now looking at the shot that Neil

had, just to slide off the reds, on to the cushion behind the black

spot. Oh, he has on the hit that by quite a way. -- underhit. No damage

done but it makes it so much easier for kneel. -- for Neil. Where is

that red going? Up the other end of the table, is the answer. It is

amazing, you never get two frames of snooker the same.

Difficult to get back from where the cue ball has finished. A little roll

up. Highly unlikely, now, that there

will be a rerun because they are starting to spread out a little bit.

-- a re-rack. In a few shots' time, there may not be a rich to roll too.

-- a red to roll to. Someone tuned in to watch snooker

for the first time will think, this is a funny game, one player rolls to

the red, the other puts the white on the cushion.

the red, the other puts the white on the cushion. But they can't do

anything tells at the moment. Gradually they are all going up the

other end of the table. Not touching, so not quite as

straightforward to get the cue ball back this time. Might have to raise

the butt of the cue, and have a swerve shot, lots of side. If not,

he's just going to roll into them. You used to love these sort of games

didn't you, Steven? This was not my cup of tea, this sort of frame.

Takes a bit of discipline this, not to play a loose safety just to get

the normal frame back up and running.

And the rolls have reversed now, it is John that's putting the white

back on the cushion. There is an attempt to the middle pocket. He's

just playing the safety shot, and another red will be heading up the

table. I can honestly say I've never seen

the reds in that sort of pattern before with a lot of them up past

the blue. I was only making a bit of a broke

when I thought there would be 14 reds up the other end of the table,

but it's getting near to it. There's only three more to be pushed up

there. It's a pretty dull frame. Gradually

it's going to resolve itself. There is not many more to roll to. As I

said earlier, we've had about 10 minutes of safety and whoever gets

in first is probably going to win the frame. And he might win the

frame with a 30 break. Reds and low-voweled colours. S and --

low-valued colours. This is a tough pot. It will automatically be on the

pink to the right centre. Looking at the red, the long red to the green

pocket. He has to take one of them on. I don't think there'll be a

safety shot here. The red to the left centre could possibly play the

cue ball back to the black cushion and send it back into baulk, but you

have to take a pot here. The fact that you mentioned it's been over 10

minutes of safety here, you've lost a little bit of rhythm. The first

attempt to pot's going be a little more difficult. The longer he looks

at it the more likely you think he's going the refuse the pot. He's

taking it on. That's a great shot.

APPLAUSE. After 10 minutes of tipping and tapping the cue ball

around, to have the concentration still to pot that red was excellent.

Did that kick? It pulled the cue ball up a little bit short. Let's

have a look. Not sure if it was the white or the pink that lifted

slightly that time. Whatever it was, it's left him hampered slightly. I'm

not, and not straightforward. You've got to play for a baulk colour. This

red he's taking is going to help clear the blue. It is not

straightforward. You have to concentrate that much harder.

Well, does the brown pass the green or the white pass the brown to get

to the green? It must be tight. You can just get through to the green.

You would think it's virtually impossible not to win the frame from

this visit. As long as you keep potting colours you are bound to be

on a red. I suppose the only danger, Dennis, is snookering yourself on a

colour behind all these reds if you're careless.

That's why he's not rushing things here, he's making sure he doesn't do

what you said. It's not a straightforward situation that

you're used to. He's potted four reds, but with

taking the lower-value colours he's only on 18. He's got quite a lot to

pot. He did free the blue with the opening red that he took, one of the

earlier reds, but got an angle on this red if the blue doesn't go he

could possibly get on pink or black. I don't know if the pink is blocked

into the corner, it might be, so he's staying with the lower-value

ones. Just finished a bit awkward there. Cannoned into the green, had

to play it with a bit more power. I think he can avoid the red for the

cannon when he pots this red. Five reds, five colours, and the

break's 21. This could turn out to be the lowest

break ever to win a frame. Back to the high-scoring end of the

table now. The two reds that are close

together, probably cannon those, cushion first.

Amazing, normally when you have potted nine reds and nine colours

you're usually near the winning line, but he's only on 35. I don't

think I've ever seen this before, so many low-coloured balls potted with

reds. One pink and one blue and the rest yellows and greens.

In the interval, it hasn't affected his focus or concentration at all. I

think the opening red that you said he would have to take on was a

terrific shot under the circumstances. It really was. He

hadn't seen a pot for over 10 minutes and he rolled that terrific

red into the left middle. It's amazing, he's potted 11 reds

and 11 colours and he's still not safe in the frame.

. Needs one more red, so he's going to play for one at the opening.

Needs to make sure he doesn't contact that red in the left

cushion. That wasn't straightforward and he's

not on it nicely. It does cut but it has become missable.

Quite Nazeing. -- quite amazing. You don't see that very often.

John nods to the referee and he concedes. It was an Newcastle break

but Neil Robertson potted enough balls to secure the frame and

extends his lead to 4-1. Neil Robertson needs 4-1, a huge

frame for John Higgins coming up. One thing John Higgins, this is a

strange thing to say, but John is going to have to tighten his safety

up. Last two or three frames played some pretty careless safeties for

someone of his standard. He's missed a few long shots. Pot success on

long ones hasn't been great. What one here to the right corner. A

great shot. In the middle of the pocket. Hoped for the cue ball to

stop short for a baulk colour but it's not going to. What do you think

he'll play here, Den? He'll block the path of the right-hand side of

the table, tuck into a brown and force Neil to try to go the other

side of the pack. But I don't think he'll fall for that. He'll go twice

across the table and into that pack from the right side as he look at

it. Does have to be a bit careful that he doesn't catch the blue when

going twice across. Foul. And a miss Wow, a shocker. You have to make

sure you don't catch the blue. I'm amazed. Misjudged the first cushion

completely. An early chance for John Higgins in a frame that he really

could do with. He opened with that magnificent

break of 119. He had a 33 break in the second frame which he lost, but

it's been all Neil Robertson since then. That's the problem when you

open the pack and you screw back, it's difficult sometimes just to

judge where that cue ball's going finish. It has sprung back and

finished awkward. In fact he can't get on to a red. I don't know if

he's got one that will go to the middle or one up into the corner

past the blue. He couldn't do anything else, with the black in

there. He doesn't like that one to the

middle. He's only going to make 24 from this effort.

Needs quite a thinnish shot if he's going to playback down the table off

this red. It's too thin. The second bite of the cherry for John Higgins.

It's a good thing the blue is off its spot. Maybes it easy for John to

leave the right angle on the blue. This is the last easy red. The rest

are all covering each other, so he'll Ned a good angle when he pots

this to play it a nice cannon to develop a few more. Looks as if he's

going to screw on to the other red to leave the pink. Not

straightforward this just yet. A little shake of the head. I was

thinking, where's his next red coming from once he played that

little cannon? I don't know if he can get on to that. But the pink

looks as if it would have to go in the middle of those reds, because

the pink spot is occupied. He's using the pink to see, and there is

no way it will go in there. He was using the pink as a cue ball there

to see if he could pot the red. So he feels he can, but the referee has

a little bit of a predicament here to get in behind the reds. He's a

tall man, Jan, so that helps. I know there's a few referees that might

struggle with this one. But Jan's about 6 foot 3 inches. There you see

it, no problem. The referee has been at the top of his profession for a

number of years now. Still as steady as the first day he refereed.

One good split here. Make sure you keep your eye on the black. It could

be frame ball, this. He is stuck in them. Just needed a little bit more

spin and the white would have just kept coming back. It just stuck on

those two reds. Look how the reds have opened. He's

51 in front. He needs a red on the cushion and he needs a good cue

ball. A wee bit unlucky that. Just one

good split and he would have got a frame back.

It's a nice lead to have, but sometimes it is not enough against

this man, but John did get the red safe there. A pretty good cue ball.

I think this red cuts to the left corner here.

There might just be a pot and a path between the pink and red for John

here. It's a free shot for him. No, it looks as though he's cutting one

into the right corner, but it's a similar scenario. Well played.

APPLAUSE. Well picked out. I mentioned it was a frame he badly

needed, and sometimes John Higgins produces his best snooker when his

back's against the wall. That's why he became world champion and world

number one in six seasons. Quite an achievement, that.

Just the black to leave Neil needing a snooker. You felt he was always

going to do this, Stephen, didn't you? Yeah, you don't get to achieve

in the game what John has without being a fighter. That allows things

like a 4-1 deficit, affect your desire to win the match.

Just having a look to see if the yellow will pass the pink.

Always nice when you win a frame, but if you can win the frame without

letting your opponent score a point, that's even better.

So we know he is back cueing very well again.

This is how he started the match, with that magnificent break of 119.

Doesn't matter about the pink. John Higgins has stopped the rot. He lost

four frames in a row. But that was a terrific break of 69. He takes the

frame but he still trails Neil Robertson 4-2.

STUDIO: That's the biggest break for John since 33 in the second frame.

He talked about being - well feeling soul-destroyed watching Neil

Robertson make big breaks. I wonder how cold he must feel at that point

going into that It's not great, but if you look at

John hiking his's career over the years -- Higgins he has been here

before. He knows what it feels like. But it still puts pressure on you

when you get your chance because you know you have to do something. You

have to fight the panic of perhaps going for one too many shots to get

back in the game. But also being aggressive when you get the chance.

I think that's where John Higgins is so good, his all-round game and from

behind or in front I don't think you necessarily know where he is in the

match, the game is the same. Do you think he will have gone through it,

do you identify with what he called the mental torture of seeing someone

at the top of their game stick in big breaks? You expect that to

happen by the nature of the game. It's not like golf where we talk

about it before, the cue ball, everything is about the cue ball. If

you haven't got the cue ball like we saw yesterday with Maguire, you

watch. It's important when you are in the chair and waiting for an

opportunity as soon as your turn comes up you do what John Higgins

has done and top players can do that. Sat there for ages, not had a

chance and made that 69 break. The rhythm you get into making a break

around the table is a wonderful thing. It's more a a rhythmal game,

perhaps billiards as well, but more than pool. In the chair you have to

start the motor again to get going but that's wh John Higgins does

well, he has such a routine when he cues, he is straight back into that

routine. He doesn't have to get the arm oiled. And so timely that break

and important to get that frame on the board. You got to re-establish

yourself but Neil Robertson knows John Higgins and he knows he isn't

going away. Persistence is another great quality, you don't get rid of

John Higgins easily, you have to beat him. This is the 2 ist time in

ten years they've met. -- 21st. John with a superior record, 11 to eight

in all competitions, but as Neil Robertson intimated they've had

great tussles in the past. Seven final frame decideders in those

matches, they've gone close. You would expect it to be a contest in

the coming... That doesn't sound like a bad record. I would imagine,

not that I have checked, I would imagine John Higgins record against

everybody in the game is strong. Ronnie O'Sullivan? I am not sure.

That's relatively level. That's how good Neil Robertson is. That's why

our expectations of this match were so high. You probably expect from

that record the first two or three times when Neil came through back on

the circuit the results would have been slightly different but now as

Robertson has got better as a break-builder he would probably hold

the edge, I think. When it comes to the crunch of the game, the final

part, I still think John Higgins is so strong, he seems to be able to up

his game enough. He is playing against another player who seems to

be able to do it as well, that's why I think it's a mouth-watering match.

They both don't shirk responsibilities near the finishing

line. Any time in the game of snooker there is only so many

players seem to be doing that, even though there is a lot of great

players, only so many seem to be actually producing the goods when it

matters. OK. Frame seven. Robertson is 4-2 up. Remember, six is the

finishing line. With John Higgins break-off shot he

seems to get the white there every shot, but he keeps leaving that one

red and this time Neil might have a go at it because the black is

available. He wouldn't leave anything. The only possible red he

could leave is the one he is going to have a go at here.

Oh, the cueing there is superb! OK he ran too far, but that is some pot

there. Almost on the cushion.

Just looking to see the path of the cue ball.

Not taking the black on, that surprises me.

Maybe he wasn't happy with the path the cue ball was going to take once

he potted the black, didn't think he was going to be on anything.

Looks like he will leave the white up this end of the table. And send

the red up. I think John will play that red that

Neil sent up towards the blue because we don't want another frame,

or John doesn't want another frame where the reds are all going up to

the baulk end of the table. So he will send it back down and back to

normal again. Jok OK. Maybe he can play this with

a touch of side to make sure he doesn't go near the green. -- just.

Oh, he knocked the red over the pocket, though. Needs the brown to

come to his rescue. I think it has. A bit of a problem for Neil with

that red over the corner pocket. He has to make sure he covers that.

I am wondering if John will risk playing off the reds down the right

side of the table and use the green and blue to cover that red that's

over the pocket? If he gets the white in the jaws of the right

corner pocket, he would cover that. I think he is thinking about

He needs to travel... He is OK. He's covered it.

It's not as straightforward for Neil to play a similar shot to John's. He

has a long way to travel. But he may have to play it. Can he

be as accurate as John? Looks pretty good.

His anxiously waiting to see it pulls up in time.

Has it? Maybe not. The black goes, Stephen. I think he

has a nice angle to follow through off two cushions. He has to not

snooker himself behind the red. Got closer to the pocket than he

intended but he is on the black. It's a tough shot, though. It's all

about the pot because he is going to cannon the red and he will be

perfect. It's not a gimme here.

You mentioned he was going to have to tighten his safety game up and he

played a terrific shot that forced the error. Neil tried a similar shot

and didn't pull it off. That has given him this chance.

He has a perfect angle here if he wants to cannon into the little

bunch because there is a couple of reds available, as well. He doesn't

have to do that. He gently nudged into them because he knew these two

reds were available. He could have played it with more pace, but he

wanted to make absolutely certain. Just over two hours, some brilliant

snooker. There you can see the pot success

rate, both 93% now so they're evenly matched.

It's amazing watching John Higgins how repetitive his cue action is.

Just the same over and over again. So effective.

59 ahead. He is going to need one of the reds in the little group of five

to make absolutely certain. If he pots the black, Neil would

still be able to tie. So one good cannon and he is going to win the

frame with one visit. And that will do nicely.

Obviously keeping Neil away from the table. Often you see a player get to

the stage where they play a careless shot and let the frame drag out, but

this is excellent match snooker, keeping your opponent in his chair.

John never let Neil score a point in the last frame. He has only had one

in this frame. That is John Higgins 5th century and

what a time to make it. Awesome display here from John

Higgins. His second century of this match.

Neil Robertson has already had one. Brilliant from John Higgins! He was

4-1 down. He has responded with a break of 69 and then his highest

break in this year's UK championship, that magnificent break

of 134 puts him just one frame behind at 4-3.

Well, what a match we have on our hands here. We mentioned John having

to tighten up a little bit on his safety, but he played a clever

safety shot here, Stephen. It was quite a long way to travel with the

cue ball but he knew he had the green and blue to cover that red

over the pocket and he judged this to perfection. Yeah, this is more

like the safety play you expect from John Higgins. Pinpoint accuracy with

the cue ball. Neil tried to take the cue ball back to more or less the

same place and failed. John puts the red over the pocket and we see what

happened. He clears up. It was more difficult for Neil because he was

such a long way away from the red to judge the shot. He thought it was OK

but then he had an anxious look and he knew he had overdone it.

John pots this red, didn't plan on getting the cue ball as close to the

pocket as this. Went on to pot a great black after that and a

fantastic break. As you said, match on, Dennis.

I notice when John was making that break Neil was spending more time

looking at the other table, which he wasn't doing in the first four

frames, maybe his concentration's starting to dip a little bit.

When I used to play against Steve Davis and then in the latter part of

my career against you, I didn't like watching you too clearing up, I

preferred to look somewhere else, as well!

We said he is a fantastic temperament, Neil Robertson. He is

going to have to prove that now because he scored one point in the

last two frames. Didn't have a chance.

Just a bit fortunate there. Wanted a thin one so he didn't cannon the red

to the left side and he missed it altogether on the way.

John Higgins has got that cue ball almost frozen on the baulk cushion

there. Every part of his game is in tact at the moment.

Gets a chance, he is clearing the table.

He is making sure that he is not leaving Neil anything.

The safety players and then there is safety players, some just play the

white up the table every time John leaves it somewhere it's awkward.

He is asking for more trouble playing that shot.

He has his eyes on the other table, that's a bad sign for me.

Foul. John Higgins four. It's not all that bad. He would rather go in

the pocket than bobble around the jaw. Can John find a path if he

takes this pot on? Not sure. He has two reds either side of the

black. He would have to be absolutely spot on to get around the

back of those. Does he risk playing a cannon on the

black? No, he is not even going for the pot. He fooled us both there. I

thought has he found a gap? He knew straightaway there wasn't a gap,

there was no way he was going to risk that.

This is a better shot. It's a very good safety shot from

Neil Robertson. Straightaway as John came to the

table he acknowledgeded good safety shot. Tapped the table with his

chalk. The red on the left side of the table is causing the problems

here. I think he can avoid that. If he gets a little trace aside on this

he can swing it past that red. Yeah, he had to play that like a

little swerve-type shot. He pushed the cue ball into the red

thicker, and then when the cue ball reaches the red it has the side to

take it around the angles. Well, this is brilliant from both

players. John tapping the table again there with his chalk.

You can see there with the chalk in his hand.

Great to see that. It's always been the case in our game.

Terrific sportsmanship. And declare fouls on yourself.

He is going to have to be careful here. He is going to leave the white

up this end of the table. Not sure if Neil can see the one

along the cushion there. Might possibly be able to see it.

John Higgins knew even if he left the red where the cue ball is there

is no colour after it. So Neil can't take it on.

This is terrific tactical battle. Some great safety from both players.

We have seen John make two century breaks and Neil make one century.

But I remember a few years ago they did a survey and a lot of people

said they enjoyed watching the tactical side of the game as well as

the big breaks. You are certainly getting a little bit of everything

here this afternoon. Once again taps the table, so who's

going to make the first mistake? That's the big question. John might

have to come off the side cushion and nestle on the red that's nearest

the right corner pocket. Dead weight here.

I don't know if he can get in wine the AR -- I don't know if he can get

in behind the brown. Just two from the cue ball. That's the one, the

little thin one off that. Slides past the green it will be in good

shape, but can he get it there? Looks as if he might be able to. No,

he's gone to the corner. I thought a thinner one might have taken him up

behind the green at least. He's playing the safety shot but look at

those two reds. He's been playing for coming up to

12 minutes. Not a ball potted. The only ball that was potted was the

white. That's why we've got four points on the scoreboard for this

frame. Eyeing up a plant to the right corner. He'll be screwing the

cue ball back up towards the blue at the baulk end. This will be an

attacking shot, especially as Neil's been frozen out for the past two

frames. If he takes that on it will scatter the reds all over the place.

Here we go then. Attention all pockets. He's got away with it. OK,

he was screwing the white up the table, but that could have finished

anywhere. Could have pushed the red over either corner pocket. A pretty

good result there. Looks as if he attempted that double

there. Knew he was going to cover it with the green. If he had potted it

he was on the green, but Neil can hit a couple of cushions and tempt

this red pack up the table. He hasn't judged it correctly but he's

got away with it again. Now it's John's turn to be

fortunate. A straightforward cue and that would have been no problem,

that red, judge US just a drop for the black.

This red may cut into the right corner. After not far off 17 minutes

of tactical play, can John cut this red in? Oh, he's hit it too thin.

Can you believe it? There's five reds behind the black spot but look

at the rest of the reds. He can get the black back on to the spot here,

didn't think he could hit it too thin. That happens so often when you

have so long without potting a ball. Unless it's an easy one it's so

tough. He was hoping for a more open frame

but it is just the way it panned out.

Didn't get a hold of the cue ball there. Playing for the pink to the

right corner. Normally you would expect him to get this no problem,

but he's not had much table time the last two frames.

That's what top match snooker is about, the highest level able to

cope with not potting a ball for a couple of frames and still have the

focus and concentration to take advantage of chances like this.

We've seen it earlier with Neil when he rolled that red into the middle

pocket. Show you the blue again. He slotted a lovely red in the middle.

He's given the right hand cushion a dirty look, as if the cue ball came

off quicker than it went on. Played for a pink to the same pocket.

Oh, hang on. Hang on a minute. There's an easier red into the left

corner but he never expected to miss that. Let me show you that again.

That sign of a little bit of tension there. Don't see that very often

from Neil. But it is a big frame, this. He's lost the last two frames.

So the chance is there for John Higgins, although it is not a good

chance with all those reds. Six reds along the top cushion.

There's been a few strange things in this match, six reds all lined up,

almost touching the cushion behind the black.

He wasn't expecting a trouble kiss. It's amazing where the cue ball has

finished. E It's amazing where the cue ball has

finished. -- a double-kiss. I think he feels that the pink is a risk

worth taking. He would probably screw the cue ball to the side

cushion first. The way the reds are he probably feels he wouldn't lose

the frame even if he misses it. It's such a delicate shot. That's what

he's attempting to do there, but he thought better of it.

I bet John was so disappointed with the way he took that shot that he

wanted to take the risky one on. A change of plan, and it might be the

right dis. Dis. Decision. Three or four safety shots, virtually the

same shot being played here. John can cover the right hand edge of

these reds. Well, that's a shocker from John if

he's left this red, in the black spot to the right corner. The only

consolation is the positional side of it isn't straightforward at all.

He's hit this far too hard. Neil has definitely lost that intensity of

concentration he had in the first four frames. Or has he got away with

it? He did. Can he see enough of this red to cut

it to the left centre, bring the cue ball back up to the baulk end.

Obviously he hasn't looked at that shot, so... It pots to the left

corner, but that's too dangerous, you feel.

APPLAUSE. That is a Neil Robertson special. He thought long and hard

about it. And what a pot! I think that shot sums up why this

Australian's classed as one of the greatest potters we've seen in the

game, if not THE best. It's worth another look. Hammered it

in the pocket. That was a good shot. Had to be high

on the black to be able to play for this red. What made it so good after

so much safety play and the balls being awkward, he slotted a red in

the middle pocket and once again that's the shot of a true champion.

Just didn't leave enough angle on that black there. Just had to force

this. Move that out of the way to leave the other one to the left

corner. 41 points, a good advantage with the

balls as they are at the moment. And that's a clever shot. He's put the

black into the middle of the table. He was hoping to maybe knock the

black to a safe position. Can John see enough of this red? If he could

knock it in, I don't think he will cannon the reds into the black spot

area. Maybe he'll have to cannon the reds. It's all about the pot here.

If he does flick the reds and open them up, as long as he doesn't stay

there with the cue ball, what a shot this could be. Well, he tried it. It

was a very attacking shot. Is he going to get away with it? That's

the slight difference, Neil had a couple of goes with a pot and the

red that he missed went safe. John had a go at a pot and he stuck it

up. I suppose the only one good thing, he hasn't disturbed any of

the reds. Neil can leaf himself a nice angle on the black here to this

red to go into the four. He can cannon anything as long as he

hits something now. Would have been better hitting

cushion first there, hitting the red direct was always going be a problem

at this pace. If he just misses the red it is going to hit here and it

is cushion first, he would have been perfect. He could just drop this in.

He played for the black. He's 50 in front so he only needs one more

colour and he had enough angle to get out on to the black. It was such

an important frame and we had that safety battle for about 17, 18

minutes, where a ball wasn't potted. But that long red that Neil knocked

in paved the way for this win in this frame.

Tough cueing, this. Doesn't matter if he misses the red. And he got a

kick, but it didn't matter. It was a frame that went very awkward at the

beginning. But in the end the Australian takes the frame and he

now puts himself just one frame away from a place in the semifinal.

34-and-a-half minutes long, that's the longest frame of this match so

far. I think you could just see perhaps how much pressure John

Higgins felt. Take the shot here he played. Before we play this shot,

he's got the red. He can only see that ball. Doesn't fancy moving the

others, decides to go for it. He knows he is going to go

full-bloodedly into the other four reds. If this was a player lower

down the rankings and he played that shot, we would probably criticise

them for playing a shot he didn't need to. But the problem is he's

playing against Neil Robertson and I think John Higgins thinks that was

the best chance he was going to get. You have to think he was being

ultrapositive. It could have been out of character. John can usually

play containing safety and containing snooker, but not against

a fella like this Your opportunities come few and far between when you

are playing someone of that quality. I've played for 25 minutes in this

frame and not seen a ball. Sometimes your hand is forced into taking a

shot on. I don't blame him for doing it. It is a good point Steve makes,

if he was a lesser player, you would think that can't be the right shot.

But with the two players being so competitive and so little between