Second Round - Part 1 UK Snooker Championship

Hello. When you turn up in York at this time of year there's so much to

look forward to. The famous Chris mat,et is in full swing. Very

tempting. But so too is the snooker championships over the next nine

days. It's the second biggest event of their year. If you are a sports

fan, the shops can wait. 39th UK Championship. Get in! What a

shot by Selby. 12 days of competition. ?732,000 to be won. 128

players. 11 former champions. One winner.

Hello. It's great to have your company here in York's Barbican

centre, this is where Ronnie O'Sullivan won his 5th Betway UK

title last year. But the defending champion is not here to try and pick

it up again. In fact, Ronnie hasn't played competitively for over seven

months, not since the Crucible and the World Championship in April.

With or without him it's always a superbly special event. And we are

at the second round stage already. We have four matches on the go. A

whole lot to look forward to over the next three-and-a-half hours.

It all started on Tuesday. 128 players all scrapping it out. It

always produces a few gasps of surprise and this year was no

different. Former world number one and twice a winner of this event was

sent packing by the amateur Adam Duffy.

Another ex-champion year, Matthew Stevens lost out in a final frame

decider with 23-year-old Chris Wakelin. And also going home to

Wales Michael White, that's a second top 16 player out already, this time

from the hands of Sydney Wilson. But no such jitters for a world

champion Stuart Bingham and a win over Jordan Brown, Stuart is in our

line-up today. And so indeed is John Parrott.

Lovely to see you. Are you starting up here rather than down there

obviously. You starred in this championship 24 years ago and Stuart

is trying to do what you did back then and do a significant double.

Yeah, trying to win the world and UK championship in the same calendar

year. It's you have to do. You know, our World Championship comes at the

end of a season. It gets fractured because you have the summer break

and you come back and you have to re-establish yourself and go through

the gears again and try and win the second biggest tournament and it's

tough to do. These days arguably it's getting tougher because we have

128 to start. These early rounds are pretty precarious. Yeah, and the

players used to playing in a cubicle situation are more at home. We have

seen people already this week, Barry Indeed. It's Maguire who goes

through. He is playing obviously but in terms of this set-up what's

difficult, how difficult is it to keep concentration when there's so

much play around you? I think the players have got used to that

situation now. It's not just something on the circuit, it's been

there for a while and rewards if you like is you get to come to the final

stages with the table separated, just two of them there. You have to

come through it, as my father used to say you have have beens on toast

before you can have steak and chips. Don't know what it means but I like

it! It's a busy day. We have 16 matches to get through today, eight

this afternoon. Four of them here. But there is another venue, as well.

It's a venue within a venue. We have the sports hall next door. Waiting

in the shadows there is the record six times UK champion, Mr Steve

Davis. Here I am in the sports hall at the

Barbican centre, another four matches are in action. Eight players

who are every bit as good as the players in the main arena and these

matches could be just as good on paper. Of course making the analogy

with Wimbledon and tennis, these are the outside courts. None like to be

here because the standard is so high they've got to be in this room. It's

a place where perhaps it's the graveyard for players dropping down

the rankings, they've to fight for survival. Graeme Dott and Doherty.

It's also a place where future champions fight for a right to get

on to the TV tables. Everybody has to do it at some stage.

This is the line-up through here in the main arena.

The honour is with the world champion, we are going to start with

his match today. I wonder, it's only seven months since that epic triumph

at the Crucible. What changes in the year after you become a world

champion? The first thing for him will be the euphoria of winning,

it's an achievement for every snooker player. You come to venues

now and you are the world champion, it's a massive thing to carry.

Sometimes it takes time to settle down. Also from being the hunter,

you become the hunted because people want to take you as a scalp and

think I am playing the world champion and people start playing

better against you. Stuart has found it difficult to settle in a bit

because he has gone out in the opening round of four major

tournaments this season. In terms of an achievement like that really

sinking in, does it take a real long time? It can do. It can be months.

The only good thing from this point of view is it's the World

Championship, so it finishes and you get time off. The circuit is busier

than it used to be, so you are back in playing. No better place to

kick-start than the UK. He will be hoping that. When we look back a few

months ago no one will ever be able to take away whfs a shining moment

for him when at the age of 38 he became -- what was - he became a

worthy if surprise world champion and the oldest since 1947. Let's

show you the memberships after he walked out as world champion after

beating Shaun Murphy. -- show you the minutes. What

happened with that table? He buys it! You can if you want. Yeah, I

will have it. Done! Half-price is it? Half-price for the world

champion. Are you tired? Oh! Your dad agencies

a world champion. -- Your dad's a world champion. I think it's helped

all the other players on tour. I have been around 20 years and people

think that they can't do it and they look at me now and I think

everyone's inspired. All it takes is a couple of good weeks and obviously

a lot of heart, a lot of determination. A lot of hard work.

You can get your dreams. That's all I have kept believing. He is the

2015 Betfred world champion. What a feeling. Unbelievable. Win Irwiner,

chicken dinner! -- winner, winner, chicken dinner! Missed the boat as

they say and to finally lift that trophy you can see in my face at the

end, it was a dream come true. No one can take it away from me but

it's like I want to get on with the season. I need to start practising,

I didn't really practice that much before the last trip, I need to put

the hours in and get back to what I do. Very, very pleased. Been close a

couple of times to get to the final. The last two years I have been in

the semifinals. To get the final, to think of picking that trophy up will

be great. The Masters for me is to win one game. I just look forward

now to every tournament. I still sort of look at Mark Williams and

John Higgins, they've won it multiple times but I have my hand on

the same trophy they've done and what we are all striving for, it's

nice to have the name on the trophy and it will be there forever.

What a great shot that is. Facing the World Championship Anthony

Hamilton with over a quarter of a century of experience as a pro. He

spent much of that time going by the dodgy nickname of the sheriff of

Potting ham but his snooker pedigree is not in question. He has had a

neck injury the last few seasons that has seen him slide down the

rankings a little bit. There you go, that's who we are watching today.

It's great to see him back. If you want UK champions I will see you and

raise you. One here, three down in that commentary booth, Steve.

As usual, here on the BBC experts crammed into the commentary box or

possibly ex-experts. I am not sure. 1979 champion John Virgo and Steven

Hendry. Expectations on Stuart Bingham but more importantly

expectations from within Stuart Bingham are the biggest problem and

hurdle. Absolutely, the Crucible must seem a long time ago now. He is

there now and is the world champion and that brings a pressure and also

he is a scalp. People will try harder and go back to the club and

say I beat the world champion, you know. Everything's up against him

but he has the game, he proved it in Sheffield and I think he will start

producing. Any tips for Stuart Bingham as a defending champion, all

of a sudden now? It's a great experience being introduced as world

champion into every arena. There is expectation within himself. And from

the crowd how well he is going to play. Sometimes maybe as he reached

the pinnacle in his career? Maybe he at thats taken his foot off the

pedal a little bit. Anthony Hamilton, newer viewers won't have

seen as of much of him. Explain what they're likely to see today. I

haven't seen him play in a big venue for years. He was a prolific scorer,

you could sometimes go three, four frames making century after century.

Looking forward to seeing how he performs. Predictions, lads. John, a

player in form against a player struggling perhaps to find form.

It's an interesting balance. Yeah, but Stuart will be up for this. Not

many people has got the world and UK in the same year. What an incentive

that is for Stuart. Anthony if he plays his game is dangerous? We have

seen this season that nobody is that strong a favourite on the day. It's

a big occasion for Stuart. Not only experts in the commentary box but an

expert is an MC today. Three-times he played Steven Hendry, an unbeaten

record against the world champion at the time. Mark over to you.

Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, the Betway UK

Championships, 2015! APPLAUSE AND

CHEERING First, a young man in fine form, from China, please welcome

Tian Pengfei. He is up against a legend in the

world of snooker, four-time world champion, ladies and gentlemen, the

mighty John Higgins! APPLAUSE

Table one. Great to see this man back in the big time. A great talent

and fantastic cue action, please welcome Anthony Hamilton!

APPLAUSE He is up against the best in the

business, seeded number one, he holds the biggest title of them all,

ladies and gentlemen, the champion of the world, Stuart Bingham!

APPLAUSE Bingham and Hamilton is where we are

heading this afternoon. Steve and and John, hello again, we are in

your capable hands. There he is, Stuart Bingham. First

thing I asked him, what sort of a summer did you have? He said, a

hectic one. Now it's back to business. Anthony Hamilton, who we

have not seen for quite a while but as we said before the match, a

prolific scorer when he is in stroke.

I think the most important thing here, Steven, is the fact that he

will have played Stuart on many occasions, there won't be a fear

factor for Anthony? Years ago when Anthony was more regular in the TV

stages, used to be ranked higher for Stuart for a lot of his career.

Got a bit of disco lights here. We either get them off or players start

dancing! Sglp Get them off!

Just waiting. Is there a sparkie in the house?

None of the other tables seem to be bothered about it. Yeah, they've

gone. Just while we are waiting for this, it's an interesting stat, that

they played on eight occasions and it's 4-4.

As I say, Anthony has dropped down now. 68 in the world. Of course, we

know Stuart's rise to fame, comes in here as world champion.

So the lights are settled. Pretty bold shot that. Didn't look

to me a natural angle. He finished on the black. If he potted it, I

don't think he was going to be on anything. Playing at that pace was

always going to leave this red on should he miss it.

So this was where Anthony was at his absolute best.

He does know his where around the table, particularly at the black

spot area. This is a decent opportunity.

Although it's at the start of the match, there will be nerves there.

Always had a very deliberate cue action, Anthony Hamilton.

Might have to force it wider than it is. He obviously thinks the red will

go to the right middle, if it does, he is on it perfectly.

Noticeable so far, playing at a nice pace, Stephen. Yeah, I was talking

about his cue action. He gets the cue moving nicely. Sometimes if you

are nervous you are unable to take that cue back and forward. The right

hand becomes a bit tight. But looks pretty relaxed. Cueing nicely.

Trying to find a place for the pink. As close as it's own spot without

touching any other ball in direct line in the middle of the cushion,

this black cushion. No other spot is available. There you see, the direct

line. Black, pink, blue, brown. Talking about Anthony's cue action.

We used to share the same coach years ago, Frank. He used to call

them waggles, when you bring the cue back. Yeah, Frank, of course, not

only yourself and Anthony, Steve Davis and John And turned Doug

Mountjoy's game around when Doug won this great championship in 1988,

turned it around completely. That's pretty good. There is no

other reds available, so could be a frame-winning chance if this works

out. That's pretty unfortunate. Hit that

really well. If anything he would have liked to have hit the red to

the left as we look at it. He couldn't have hit it any better.

Definitely expected once the blue had gone in to be on something. He

has possibility, but it's risky. He has played the double. He played

it as a shot for nothing. Now the double's gone in. It could be a shot

for something, the frame! Yeah, a clever shot. He thought that

was going to be the only easy red he was going to leave.

There is the barometer, needs to get to 78 points to get the snookers

required -- 68. Will be disappointed with that one.

Should have been better on the red than this.

Doesn't want to pot it. That's well done. If that red has gone touching,

I don't think he can pot it. 68 is the target. He can just about cut it

in, but it won't get him to that 68 points. Looking at the cluster of

reds at the business end he is going to need at least one of those.

They're not aeks in the -- exactly in the open. He overcut it.

Yeah, it all came from that careless shot on the black. The shot on the

red where he should have been able to play for the black.

If it's not tight on the cushion you would fancy it going in.

It's one of those where it's so thin you really are hoping to be on a

colour. He is on the green. You expect him to play the cannon

here, off the side cushion into the reds.

I think he is OK. I think he can get the red to the

right corner. All of a sudden within a couple of shots we may have a new

favourite for this frame. This is the best of 11, this has

already become an important frame, an important visit for Stuart

Bingham. This would really hurt Anthony the way he started, if he

was to lose this. He had his chance. This was the bad

shot. Stuart had the option there of

playing for pink or black. Doesn't have to disturb anything. They're

all there for the taking. Will be disappointed with that.

More screw was needed, rather than stun.

But played that one well. That was an excellent shot. He made it look

easy. Didn't get into it enough.

So what looked a golden opportunity, he is making hard work of.

More stun needed to miss the kiss and he would have been on a choice

of three reds. He can still pot this.

He played it well and was able to control it.

A problem but he coped with it well. Anthony just having to sit there now

and suffer. He knows that this frame was there

for the taking. If Stuart could win this frame from

this position, it would be a nice confidence boost. OK, best of 11,

but it will be a nice frame to win. I am certain at one time he was

thinking it was Anthony's. The player that's expected to win,

it's always good to put an early psychological marker down and this

would certainly do it if he can win this frame in one visit. Needs to

hit this well. Played it nicely. With that type of

shot you have to play them a soft screw so gives a chance for the back

spin to impart on the cue ball. He couldn't have played it better.

Deciding to go for the blue. Not quite hard enough.

If he pots the blue, it will be 12 points behind.

He will need up to and including the pink to win the first frame.

He played that nicely. This is what the world champion is

supposed to do. 56-0 down and one chance to pinch

the frame and he has done it. Just gone a little bit too far. The

reason I say that, obviously, just roll the blue in, but he is going to

be further away from the pink than he would have liked.

The pink is frame ball. Well played. Right in the heart of

the pocket. You can see the look on Stuart Bingham's face and the look

on Anthony Hamilton's face, the difference. He will be very pleased

with that. An excellent opening frame to the championship. Anthony

Hamilton looked to have had it for all the world but played a poor

positional shot and Stuart Bing hall, world champion, takes the

first frame. -- Bingham. That's a smashing start to our coverage

today. What a great frame. We are in the players' lounge. This is because

clearly there are four tables in the room where we normally put our

studio. It's busy here in York. We are here for the next couple of

days. Brilliant frame, John. And then Timmy Hamilton made a good

break. As Stephen said in country, that is what world champions have

got to do, clear the table. We haven't seen Anthony on our screens

for a long time. He is one of the very few who have made over 100

maximums. A great scorer. He has always been a threat. Therein

lies the problem for a player trying to keep up with modern day

standards. You don't get many good chances against good players and if

you do not convert a situation, you want the back foot. It sums up how

form happens. A relentless level of standard that

Stuart put in. It was inevitable he would clear up. Anthony sank in his

chair. The world champion is off in a

positive fashion. A decent break-off shot from

Stewart, good length with the cue ball. This bread on the left-hand

side is the type Stuart took on in the first frame which he missed

giving Anthony a chance. I do not think Anthony will be tempted by

this one. He is looking to see if he can get

past the yellow to play safe, but he cannot.

I can't see him playing the pot on this bed. He couldn't be on a

colour. Just plain the containing safety. -- playing. He did not get

it absolutely perfect. Good length of cue ball, that is

what you need. The reds are nicely spread. Good safety shot needed.

A little bit pacey. If Stuart can get his hand on the table, then the

safety hasn't put him under any pressure really.

The obvious is the red to the right-hand corner. Left corner

pocket. The way the reds are split, this is a great opportunity should

he get this. He seemed to hit that a little hard.

Couldn't agree with you more. The way he has played it, he might as

well have tried to play the school -- be screw that. He didn't fully

commit on that. The cue ball just about shotting --

stopping short of the baulk line. He could clear the black to both

pockets. He will try to use through the cue

ball directly back. The one directly next to the black he would love to

be on. I am wondering whether he can avoid the red knee his hand, to

screw back. In the end, he felt he couldn't. He has left himself a red

waiting to go back up for the blue. Now, I think he his just pointing

where he would like to be, playing for that bed. Then the black will be

available into both corner pockets. -- for that raid.

He played it with side but he's not on that bed. He might be OK. If he

pots a red then the black, if the black is on its own spot, then it.

Be available. Then, fine. He played it with top spin to nudge

the red towards the pocket, he has played it nicely. Slightly awkward

cueing. It all depends in this situation how much you have got to

do with the cue ball. If you can bounce off the top cushion and be on

the black, no problem, it looks as if he can.

Again, Anthony's first real chance in this frame. He will be

disappointed not to win the frame from this visit. The way it looked

in the first frame... He may have too played a red to the

right centre if he wants to stay on the black. He still feels he can

follow through the second red to stay on the black.

Again, John, it would only be a careless shot which would stop him

at the moment. Yes. He has put the deployment of

losing the first frame behind him. -- the disappointment.

He used all of the pocket there. And he breathed a big sigh of relief.

A little careless shot. You wouldn't expect him to miss it but it has

become missable from not putting that black in the middle of the

pocket. He played that well. Leaving himself

straight on the black and he would like. You always try to leave a nice

angle on the next ball, it makes it that easy to get position. This will

put him 48 points in front. Still a possible 91 remaining. Quite

a bit of work to do. He has landed nicely. A choice of reds to the

right middle, one to the right corner.

This time, he has left himself a nice angle on the black, he will be

stunning it off the top cushion. Two reds, two colours is what is

required. The barometer says 68. So, the

black... One more red and a colour, and it

looks a formality, this is a good response.

As I said before in a chat with Steve, a prolific scorer when he

gets going. Great build up, all the right shots.

When you see him like this, it is a pricing we have not seen him on the

screen for quite a few years. Now, there is so much talent out

there, you have to keep producing this kind of form.

You can imagine he is one of those players, I know for a fact from

people who used to factors with him, he was putting balls into of the

time. -- into pockets all of the time.

If he can make a century, it will be number 248 in competition.

He turned professional in actual fact four years before Stuart

Bingham, Stuart is on 225, 200 and Cindy for centuries in his career.

-- 274. Anthony has been in the wilderness for quite a while. That

is probably why he has dropped back on the centuries made tally. After

the disappointment of losing the first frame, this is an excellent

reply. Well played, very well played

indeed. Stuart Bingham missed a straight

long bed. That will put more pressure on his long parting. If

this is what is going to happen when he misses. -- potting.

A comfortable long shot for an experienced player. He would

probably do that 99 times out of 100.

He hit it a little too hard. That is a sign where a player is not that

comfortable on the shot. You would float it in more than anything.

A tremendous standard so far. Great first frame, it could have gone

either way. And then one chance and Anthony

Hamilton wins the frame. Century number 248 in his career,

beautifully played. Stuart Bingham had first chance, long red missed

it, that is all took. All square and ironically the name

of Anthony Hamilton is not on this graphic, he is 100-1. The joint

favourites, Neil Robertson and Judd Trump, Robertson, fresh from that

champion of champions when. If you had someone here winning

every single event, they would be 5-1. Judd Trump, you can't put a big

price because the punters like to see him play. Mark Selby, former

winner. Trump was runner up last year. Shaun

Murphy, runner-up at the Crucible. John Higgins, a surprisingly

generous price is to knock he was put in at 14-1.

An article in a racing tabloid put him as an each way selection. You

can see he has gone from 14, down to 11.

Steve, for you, of the better value on the other side, who stands out?

Not necessarily on the other side. Kyren Wilson has jumped up a level

you would assume by winning a ranking event. On the left hand,

Mark Allen has been in great form, he looks like he is ready to move on

a bit. World champion 20-1 is weird, the bookmakers do not believe in

him. Is he a one-hit wonder? Looking at the strength on the right hand,

Ali Carter, a massive price. Anthony McGill. He has had a 142

total clearance here. The possible winners are everywhere.

It is refreshing. We always miss one a bit icky as

defending champion, not the first time he has done this, he did not do

it in 1998. The interesting point is, will he come and play in the

Masters? He has until the end of play on Tuesday to decide whether he

will turn up. A few rumours on social media he

might but he has squashed those saying he is not sure himself. You

don't really know. Perhaps he doesn't have a plan. We are all like

that. You move from one feeling to another as a player. It is down to

whether he wants to have the competitive instinct and the drive

back in his game. Currently, he has not been showing those instincts.

Perhaps he can reassert those over Christmas and get the bit between

his teeth. We shall see. The battle to replace him as UK

champion continues, back to the match.

Looking at the pot success. 98% Anthony Hamilton.

That was a good pot, he played it confidently to keep that cue ball

short of the baulk line and beyond a baulk colour.

Those are always nice shots. A natural angle at the back of the

black. Stroking it in nicely. I always feel particularly when the

reds are not spread, that these few positional shots at the start of a

break very important. Obviously, you want to get round to those two reds

just above the black. That is where you will do the highest scoring,

obviously. Finishing nicely on the pink. Now on the reds just above the

black. The pink spot is not available so nestling it into the

cluster. It will not bother Stuart. Such is the standard so far. You

have to make the most A nice angle on this bed to finish

high on the blue. -- on the red. That is not bad to go into them. A

couple of loose reds. The fact they're rather than the two at the

top of the pack makes it a bigger target.

It could have worked out better. Flicking that third red. Other than

that, the cue ball had come back into the middle of the table. I

think this one to the left corner may cut. It is a thin one. Where the

cue ball goes, nobody knows. Just overdone it slightly. Unless

this red it is closest to those in between the pink and black. He has

won to the left middle but I don't think it does. He is looking. I

don't think he can get the angle on the blue he needs. Well, if he can

play it like that, he cued it beautifully. In fact, if anything,

he cued it too well. He knew he was taking a bit of a

risk, but he thought it was worthwhile. I don't think it has

worked out too well. There, you see it, the pocket

covered by the pink. The one to the right of the black does not go. Can

he dropped this in the middle? He has done. But he was never going

to be good on the blue. Now, can he drop the blue in and

delete himself with a chance with a thin cut to the right corner.

He played it with confidence. That kiss on the brown is not too bad.

They are missable, these. I imagine he will be playing it with

a bit of drag on the cue ball, keeping the cue ball away from those

three beds. Playing the drug shot, he still cue positively.

He didn't seem to do that positively for me.

That type of shot, if you are playing it firmly, no problem, but

with a bit of drag and side, on these superfine class, it is not

easy to judge. It nearly worked out for him. This

is the drug shot. Because it is travelling a distance, you see the

back spin slows the cue ball. If you just had to pop the red into the

middle, then, all of a sudden, see how it changes, and you get the top

spin. A great shot. But he potted the red, of course he did.

A good pot, he could have done without that kiss on the second red.

He is still on the blue but he had to take the cue ball in and out of

baulk, now. If he had missed the kiss he would have been perfect on

the blue. It is all about line and length here.

Maybe four christens. -- cushions. He has used four. Is he on it? Just.

Maybe too straight to get onto a colour. Too close to play a deep

screw. A 41 point lead. Can he get out of

position here? No. Unless he can get through to the pink M note. There is

proof. Just a safety shot. 42 points in the lead. Still a possible 83

remaining. Anthony Hamilton, not out of this frame by a long

Anthony would love to play the red on the right-hand side of the table

here. If he could get past the green. Bring it away from the

cushioning, then all of the reds are in place -- play. He can just get

through to it. The only thing is with this shot, you play the red

thin, you have to be careful, too thin and you can get the

double-kiss. You have to avoid that. He couldn't have played it better,

well played. Much too thick, he will be lucky to

get away with this. Very lucky to get away with it, and I think he

has. Having hit the safety shot so badly, Stuart was very fortunate

there. He hit it so thick, you thought he was bound to be on a red.

Needs to miss the yellow for this to be a good safety. He hasn't.

But Anthony will be feeling aggrieved there that he wasn't left

with a potting opportunity and I wouldn't blame him.

That shot made easier for the fact he didn't have to do anything with

the cue ball, just concentrate on the pot.

I think there is a slight angle on the yellow.

He played it well. The beauty of this shot now is he

doesn't have to do a lot, pot the red. Bound to be on the pink.

This pink will put him 52 points in front.

He will be very surprised if he didn't win the frame now from this

visit. 60 is the target. A little bit fortunate not to leave

a pot on for Anthony. But the best of 11, the run you

would hope would even out. Couldn't have been all luck, could

it, 13 titles? That was a strange shot. Didn't get

into the cue ball at all like he wanted to. It doesn't matter, the

frame was over but shakes you shake your head a little bit. That's

enough, that's kept Anthony Hamilton in his seat. It was just with luck

from Stuart on a poor safety. But Stuart Bingham now leads by 2-1.

We are enjoying a high-quality match so far. You spotted a nugget, if you

will pardon the pun. Nobody else in the auditorium spotted it. Look at

this yellow Stuart played to get position.

Perfect position on the red. This typifies the modern day game. We are

so used to seeing so much brilliance that a shot like that, that perhaps

back in the 80s would have had the house in uproar. All of a sudden

now, nobody in the auditorium clapped. Commentators went that's

just the way it is, that's the level we are used to. We are going it's

fantastic. These two fellas are no spring chickens and they've come

through that. They've learned how to play the game in a more aggressive

way. They came through at a time when the game was beginning to

change. In every sport the levels of

excellence seem to improve, in golf they're going more for the pin, in

gymnastics they're having to do more somersaults to get marks. In snooker

now you have to be aggressive, you have to go for shots. We are all

taking that on board, and now it's becoming difficult for commentators

and experts to criticise or make analysis in as much as what is the

right shot or what is a great shot? We expect so much. Indeed. John,

from what we are seeing here we always expected it to be a fluent

free-flowing match but as I said at the start this is no foregone

conclusion. Anthony's record is superior to that of Stuart in

head-to-head matches. I can believe that. It is the worst backhand

compliment I can give him, he is probably the most underachieving

player on the circuit. I think he is a fantastic cuist. He is a wonderful

scorer, Anthony Hamilton. He can make 100 after 100. He did it to me

one year, he made four centuries I think, 460-odd points. He said how

are you playing, I don't know, I haven't had a shot yet! I don't

think he has won an event. In two finals. For somebody who plays as

well as he does and he is a top cueist. It isn't enough. Back we go.

Mid-session interval after this frame. Will it be two-frame

advantage to Stuart Bingham or all square?

Steve complimented that yellow Stuart played. I said he would

finish perfect on the red, you called the shot. He is right, nobody

applauded. Oh! The dreaded rattle run along the

cushion and disappearing in the other pocket. Hand up to apologise.

I don't know why players do that. It's not going to stop him putting

every energy and every thought into potting this black.

Oh! We will see a few of them this week. You seem to get tables like

that. Rattle and run along the cushion.

Played for the black. Didn't play it as a shot to nothing at all.

This has to be potted in the middle of the pocket or he could lose

position here. He played it nicely.

Maybe a little bit straighter on the black than would be ideal, but he is

getting down pretty quick, so he must have a slight angle.

Another opportunity in potting to black just to cannon into the

cluster. A chance for a few reds here.

He is stuck on them. That noise was a bit of thigh slapping, should have

gone in a bit more. Didn't get power on the cue ball. When it hit the

pack it should have come to the right side of the table.

Well, I am not being critical but being close to reds that cue ball

should have been tight against the baulk cushion. It makes it that much

easier, but disappointment of breaking down and it was a

positional shot that cost him. Just a contakening safety.

Not played it great -- containing. The red on the left side of the

table that Stuart could play, and get the cue ball back to the baulk

end. There is a red on the right of the table which could possibly give

him position on the black if he potted it.

Is it attack or defence? It was sort of half of one and half

of the other really. Never looked that committed to the

shot. It's almost as if he didn't really mean to go for the pot.

Didn't hit it positive enough for the cue ball to get around for the

black. Looks bemused. A choice of a couple of reds to the

left-centre here. Left-centre it was. He has not

missed many. I don't think he has left the red he played. Anything 90%

or above is acceptable. Nothing left, it doesn't appear.

Neither player yet has found that baulk cushion.

Once again short. I think for both players they would

rather be this end of the table making big breaks and potting balls.

The green is just covering the escape down the right side of the

table and a cluster of reds below the pink. Don't think he can get to

them. Might try and swerve. The only thing

is when you swerve like this you are never quite certain on the contact

with the object ball. He is swerving it.

Have to miss the blue. Where is the cue ball going?

He had a chance there, Stuart. Only half a chance but sometimes that's

all you get now. Anthony has to be careful here trying to get this cue

ball back to the baulk end. Has to find the gap, which he has

done. Once again, not a great length with

the cue ball so no real pressure on Stuart here to play a better safety

shot than that. That could be the first telling

safety shot of this frame. Anthony is snookered on all reds, I

think. Can't get past the yellow.

I am sure he can't get down the other side. A little bit of a

problem here. OK. Shouldn't be a problem hitting a

red, but you have to judge this well. And have the right pace.

There is one possibility, if he nestled up to that red he wouldn't

leave anything. But he has other things in mind

obviously. Maybe he feels that the red just

above the one that I isolated was getting in the way of the one

cushion. Off two cushions but still trying to hit that red near the top

cushion. He has hit it. That's not exactly

how he played to hit it, but he will settle for it. He has left nothing

easy. I think the red just left of the

pink spot will pop to the right-centre.

Played it positively. It's Christmas, it's that time of

year. Where is the sacks, lads! You need a sack! Reindeers. That's the

only beard that's worth wearing. Obviously couldn't pot that red.

Well, that's not a bad safety shot as it turns out. He has a good cue

ball, in the jaws of the pocket. Doesn't make cueing that easy for

Stuart. Of course, Stuart 24 points behind,

he knows one more mistake and that could be end of frame.

Where is the cue ball going? Doesn't necessarily leave Anthony a

pot that he would be tempted by but with his hand on the table will be

expected to play a good safety shot here. Imperative you get a good

length with the cue ball. The red closest to the left corner

does pot, but he has to take it on 100%. The cue ball will be Canoning

into other balls. I am looking, is there an alternative? I always look

at situations is it an easier safety shot than having to go for the pot?

Don't think it is. He doesn't normally shy away from

the attacking shot. Played a great brand of attacking

aggressive snooker at the Crucible. Can't see an alternative. He has to

get it. Not even close.

With that type of shot you just fully commit, but he hit it so full

he didn't again eat in the jaws of the pocket so a chance for Anthony

Hamilton, comes to the table with a 28-point lead. A chance to level the

match going into the mid-session interval. He has not left it

straightforward. He would love to play this red to the right corner

and cannon the red above it and just leave the pink. But maybe there is

to much angle on this red to do that. In and out of baulk it looks

like. Disappointing.

Very disappointing that was. It was as if he wasn't certain where

the cue ball was going to finish so he was hitting the ball hard.

For me, the one thing you have to do in that situation is make certain of

the pot. This could be a big frame now. In

the context of this match, a chance for Stuart Bingham, albeit he has a

bit to do, to take a two-frame advantage into the interval.

He may choose to go into the pink here. He held the cue ball.

Not messing about. Just over the arc.

Over shot time, both the same. You can see from the outset that Anthony

was playing at a nice pace. He can sometimes get bogged down, Anthony,

but he is playing at a good place. He will be concerned now.

Because this is a really good opportunity for Stuart, although the

way he was scratching his head there with venom maybe he wanted to be

straighter on this red. Played the cannon nicely on the

black to retain good position. He had to play it.

A little bit straighter on this blue would have been ideal. He has to

control the cue ball here. Gone a little bit further than he

would have liked. I thought he maybe could have

cannoned into the pink. That was a little clumsy, that shot. I think he

can still hold for the black. Never like to be playing these across the

table dead weight, though. May choose to play three cushions back

up for the blue even. Has to watch that middle pocket. Well played.

Would like to have been straighter on the blue. This time it's a little

bit easier because he has two reds available to the right corner.

He must have a nice angle, just enough angle.

That's handy. He was always going to need one of these reds.

If he was going to clinch the frame at this visit, so took the first

opportunity to play on one of the reds.

The three reds in the middle of the table, if he can cope with those, he

would go into the interval with a 3-1 lead.

Anthony Hamilton, although he has a very good and high pot success, will

be disappointed. Doesn't always tell the story, does

it? 95% Anthony Hamilton, 88% Stuart Bing hall.

It looks like Stuart is going to have a 3-1 advantage. -- Bingham.

Long pot success 100% for Anthony. 30% for Stuart.

Funny old game! Total points Anthony is in front.

I will have to check the scoreboard in a moment!

This is the only shot to me that can go wrong. When he plays this red to

the corner he has to be careful he doesn't knock one to the side

cushion. Played it firm enough to send it on and off the cushion.

Still a clear run to the winning line in this frame.

You would have to say he has looked good today, Stuart Bingham. Could

have been nervous, big event and defending world champion. A couple

of long pots he would like to have hit better, but generally looks

confident. As world champion he will be looking

forward to this event, John. Closely followed by the Masters in January,

so two massive events. Yeah, absolutely.

Just this red now to give him that 3-1 advantage.

Right in the heart of the pocket. Yeah, has been some great

tournaments in the season so far, over in China and the Champion of

Champions, of course, but nothing like what we call the three majors.

A bad contact there but shouldn't make any difference. 49 ahead, 35

remaining. The frame to Stuart Bingham.

I think that's enough for Anthony. He has conceded.

The referees had a lack at the watch telling them when to come back and

Stuart Bingham will be very happy as they go into the mid-session

interval to hold a 3-1 lead. John mentioned the season, it's been

running for sometime. In fact, only the week after we finished February

Crucible we started in the qualifying school with the

professionals trying to get on the circuit and in June they were back

from tournaments from Australia to right here in York.

A real spread of talent and prizes. Out of ten finals, we have only had

two featuring the top 16 players in them.

There is no doubt about the man of the season, it is John Higgins who

has won two big titles, in Australia and China, the International

championship. With the Welsh Open this year, three in a year and

counting, takes him to 28 major titles in his career, putting him

second in the all Time stakes with Steve Davis, one ahead of Ronnie

O'Sullivan, eight short of Stephen Hendry. He is a major force and very

much back in business. Let us remind you who he is playing, up against

Tian Pengfei. 28, recently a runner up in Germany to Rory McLeod. How

pleased we were to see Rory get a title under his belt. We join them

in the first frame. Your commentary comes from Willie

Thorne and Dennis Taylor. Not that bad, he has left a ready

macro to the right-hand corner -- left a red. A few of those reds will

go. Taking the left-hand red, to get back down on a colour.

The middle one would go as well. He has detectable advantage of this.

Seeing his opponent missed a few easy shots. Yet this first frame

under his belt. That will fill him full of confidence.

That will help his confidence as well, you don't often see them

wobble, go across in the opposite pocket on these tight tables.

This is a great chance now, a delicate little touch on the other

red will leave him in perfect position.

Most matches have been the best of seven, not the case this time, best

of 11. The reason I mention that, with the

best of seven, the only thing Higgins will be perturbed about is

missing three very simple shots. I haven't seen too much of Tian. His

cue action, he has a few pauses before the final, a little bit

unusual. But, the key is delivering that cue

in a straight line. Just this red along the cushioning.

And the first frame will be his. He is in the snooker is required

stage but he needs to make sure of this last red. Make sure he plays it

nice and slowly. That can't go in, surely?

He is looking at the school board, John. And besides, no, he has had

enough, he concedes the opening frame. Tian will be absolutely

delighted. That advantage was quickly cancelled

out, Higgins won the second frame with a break of 60, we join them in

frame three, Tian leads by 42 points.

The referee just asking Tian to tuck his shirt in. From Romania, one of

the newer referees on the screen. It must be a new role, asking a

player to tuck his shirt in. Look at that for a shot, have a look at

that. You mentioned earlier being a great

safety player, that was a prime example of that.

As we said in Lancashire, trouble at the mill! I can't see a red he can

rest on to lead a pot. Even though he is 42 points in

front. And he is second favourite. He made a nice 60 breaks to secure

the second frame. He might have one of them into the

middle of the pocket but he does not have the pace of the table.

Still should be OK. Keep it as easy as possible.

You couldn't ask for the ball to be sitting any better. He has every

chance of going on to take this frame now.

Not always a long pact that gets you into a frame. That was an excellent

snooker, it was almost impossible to hit one and get its head. What Tian

did not want to do is to open the play.

Now, he can only sit and hope the green will come to his rescue will

stop looking at the points, he will need the green, John Higgins, that

could be the saviour. Glancing at the school board, John.

Working out he will need the difficult green. -- score board.

He would need to get perfect on the yellow if he gets that far to give

him a chance of getting onto the green.

He will have to go up the table this time. All he can hold for the pink.

How he leaves himself on the yellow here...

Doesn't want to be straight. And he doesn't get onto the green, he

leaves himself of playing an easy snooker. He had an angle and could

force it across the table. He will need the brown as well.

One of those, you would like to be dead straight because it means you

can see the pocket in your eye line. If he rolls it in, it is a certainty

to pop the green. But he is screwing it in which makes the pocket

tighter. This is admissible. -- missable.

Very good. What a clearance this has been.

You can tell he is growing in confidence. He had a few mistakes.

But, starting to look very good indeed.

It doesn't matter about the blue. Still checking the school board. --

score board. But he would like to make sure of the blue and run it in.

Awkward. You can't find a place to put the rest head.

Not quite over yet. Barring the Snooker, John Higgins goes into a

2-1 lead. 2-1 indeed. That is on the BBC sport

website, you can do it online. Some sad news, in September, slicker

lost a prominent figure in its ranks, Jim Meadowcroft, former world

number 12, a coach, admin, and a commentator for BBC and ITV on some

of the most iconic moments of sport, we have been looking back at his

career. Jim was a proud Lancastrian, born in

1946. As a professional snooker player, he reached the UK

championships, the first one in 1956. Quarterfinals, before losing

to Patsy Fagan. People forget how good a player he

was, the first to develop the maths side, the deep screws. Jim was doing

it before John Spencer. After retiring, he took up coaching and

was a fixture at Butlins holiday camps, and became a well respected

commentator for the BBC. He was very good, you could watch

him play, with the cue, a good knowledge of the game. One of the

nice guys in the game. I hadn't seen him for many years, you get caught

in your own little bubble. I saw him a lot, we commentated a lot

together. They were the days when you could have cigarettes in the

commentary box, rolled up cigarettes he had. You couldn't see the table

sometimes for the smoke! A nice lad, a pleasure to know and a pleasure to

work with. It was Jim who was alongside head

low in the Crucible box on the 1985 World Championship final.

COMMENTATOR: The biggest shot of his life. Jim was a great commentator, a

great knowledge, he could read the game very well.

A sad loss to the game of snooker. One of the really good guys of our

sport. Jim will be sadly missed by his

daughters, grandchildren and his many friends and colleagues in the

sport. Very sad actually. These fellas knew

him well, John, he gave you a lot of help in your young days.

He invited me to his house. I went up for the afternoon. Mesmerised by

how good he was. He never produced on the tournament table as in

practice. Seriously one of the best I have seen in practice, all of the

shots. A genuinely nice man. When I started to do well, he gave me every

encouragement. Like you, a player turned commentator in the end.

Commentated on that famous of nights when you and Dennis were battling it

out. An excellent commentator. Economic

with words, he knew the game. Gave everybody credit when they had

done something well. He didn't seem like a person who was jealous that

the game had become more successful and popular and he had missed the

boat. A solid guy. He knew the game. It is nice to know someone gives you

credit the something who has been a player.

We went to the Romilly Foreman and played Terry Griffiths in the

qualifier in 1939, and got beaten in the final frame decider. Terry went

on to win at the Crucible. We are back on here in the UK

championship. Not much happening in the main arena apart from one match.

Tom Ford, against a twice winner of this, Mark Williams. Williams needs

-- leads 49 points. Let me just show you what is

happening all over this Barbican arena. Marco Fu making short work of

Yu Delu in these best of 11 frames. Graeme Dott against Yong Jack Liz

Askey. Ken Doherty the former world

champion. And in the sports hall, Martin Gould who has been to a major

final, playing John Higgins in that international championships final,

giving a good account of himself. Gary Wilson has been to a big final

in the last year. That match at the bottom has just

gone 2-2. Marco Fu I am hearing has gone 4-0.

That is the situation in the main arena. Heading back to the world

champion, 3-1 up in a very entertaining and high-scoring match.

Yes, Stuart Bingham back in the arena. A nice lead. First to sixth.

Talking to Anthony at the interval and he was saying he hasn't been

playing on these match tables under the TV lights for quite a while.

Having a problem getting the pace of them, they are lightening quick.

Probably why he has not been getting a good length with the cue ball.

That is pretty good. He has been quick in the

break-building and potting, in the main.

That is the problem with that shot, if you catch them then, the danger

of a double-kiss. A gift now for Anthony.

Every frame now is very important. When you are playing catch up. You

have to take these chances. It is important for Anthony, these

opportunities, this is his strength. Stewart may have the upper hand if

he does not win from these visits. He is ten points in front. But the

scoreline shows 3-1 behind. He has overdone it slightly, another

example of not getting the pace of the table right. This was a little

bit clumsy. Needs to slow down a little bit. Run

it a bit too far. He is having a look, can he make it into a plant.

As you see, they are not directly in line but there is a little gap

between them. If he did make the plant he would be automatically on

the black. He is interested. Now, when you point, you have to hit

that first read where you are pointing at. If he pots it, he will

be on the black. Played it nicely. A bit of a bonus, I don't think he

played for the plant but he could not have landed on it better as it

turned out. You can hear the sky, immediately

asking for the cue ball to be cleaned. He has not really ruined

his position. He is still on the red he played for.

How is your luck? It is not bad. These are tricky. Very close as you

can see, this red directly in line to the corner. Hit them pretty well.

It is getting a run through on this. Another couple of inches

further away, and easy to get onto the black, but be careful of the

push. The fact the cue ball will be canning into another ball makes it

even more tricky. If this was dead straight he would have played it

already. He was looking to dig down and screw back thinking the same

pocket or pink in the middle. I would rather play that and play

through to the black. -- Dan play through.

That was the problem. You could say a little unlucky. As Stephen said,

he was always going to run into another red, and the red he has won

into has made the black not available.

A nice pot on the pink, though. It doesn't get any easier from there.

He is on a red to the left corner but can he hold for the pink to the

middle? I think if he was in the club then this further away from the

cushion, he could stand across and nudge the red away from the black.

Can he play that shot in the arena? I doubt it.

You can tell from his face, a little gap there. Can he get through to

this red? You mentioned the shot he played

before, if it was in the club. He would play this with a trace of

left-hand side on the cue ball to turn the red River. But this is a

safety. -- to turn the red ball over.

This needs good cueing to screw the ball back into the baulk area.

They always look worse when they battle the jaw. He got into that cue

ball, he has finished up near the baulk line. Leaping about.

Once again, that up and down safety, it is not good enough. It is a

chance of a pot, the red to the right of the pink. A big shot to

take on. You would think if he is playing

this for the pink, if he misses it it could cost him the frame. He

chose to play up with an element of safety. He tried to hedge his bets

there. He has released the black. That is the worst thing that

happened from that shot. 25% loan pot success. He needs to improve on

that. That should clinch the frame. Stuart

Bingham has had a couple of chances here. A couple of long parts which

is normally one of his strengths, but he has been disappointing with

them. You felt this one he could have fully committed but the problem

was not only did he miss it, but he brought the black into play. He

still needs one more red. He is still looking for one more red. He

is not perfect. A bit of a groan. Not as subtle as

he used to be. -- supple. Right in the heart of the pocket. The crowd

here know that that should be the frame-winner.

Didn't clinch it but 70 points in front. With just 59 remaining. I can

only assume that Stuart Bingham is carrying on because it is the first

frame after the mid-session interval and he wants a bit of table time.

Surely not much hope of winning this frame.

It is etiquette that you don't give up but I am certain that Stuart will

concede after this next shot. I will be surprised if he doesn't.

The frame was well and truly over the four so Stuart Bingham's lead is

reduced to just one frame and so this match is truly over. 3-2. The

world champion. It is great being in the player's lounge for a couple of

days because you get to meet loads of people and introduce yourself to

a few friends. I am glad to say that Lexi Perry is here, daughter of Joe

Perry. This young lady has never actually watched you play. No. We

thought it would be a great opportunity, come down and do a bit

of shopping and she could watch me tonight. How do you think he will

do? Well. I like that confidence. We were watching Stuart Bingham who is

a great mate of yours and is a very popular lad among all the people

here. You are in his generation bracket. What has he done for all of

you guys? He has given us that extra bit of belief that there is no age

limit on being a snooker player before. Now you have people who are

near 40 threatening to win the world title and it seems to be the age

where people are in form and it gives you that extra bit of belief

that it is worth still plugging away because you never know. You have

been in it for a long number of years as well. Up to number ten and

you're already won a player's championship in the springtime and

suddenly your levels have gone up. How confident are you feel this

time? I'm confident in general with every tournament I enter. But it can

all go wrong in a heartbeat but in general I am really confident. The

draw structure has made a hell of a difference to all of us and given is

that competition that we have craved to keep our game at a consistently

high level and we all seem to be benefiting from it. I wish you well.

What is your dad like when he comes after a match? Always happy, aren't

I, Lexi? Thank you for coming in. Lovely to chat to you. Don't spend

all of your dad's prize-money. Not the best break of shot from

Stuart Bingham. Left a red to the middle which Anthony coped with but

he has not played the best positional shot there. Funnily

enough, Joe Perry, I was looking at the betting and 50-1. I think he has

been playing very well this season. Thinking about some of the older

players doing well, the hardest thing, do you not think, is

practice? Now, with all of the tournaments, there is your practice.

Yes, and I think most of the players practice with each other now rather

than doing a lot of solo practice, which are used to do. It gets much

harder to put the five or six hours a day in on your own. That was a

pretty speculative attempt. Ambitious, to say the least. There

was so much distance between the two balls. As he went through coming he

knocked his chalk out of his pocket and left it on the table. You would

get a free drop for that, wouldn't you? Shaking his head. Well, what

would you believe it? Would you believe that one? Hit right across

this one. He has been lucky. He could have left an easy red to the

right corner. A tough starter, but automatic on the black, if he gets

it. Doesn't have too play at a great pace. Just shows you the run of the

polls in this game sometimes. He went for an outrageous plant, did

Anthony, in his last one, and Stuart missed an easy bowl. Didn't leave

anti-anything that easy. -- didn't leave his opponent anything that

easy. Couldn't do a lot with the cue ball and he is not ideal on this by

any means. Mistake cannon on the yellow. He missed the yellow and

also a little bit wary of being off. All of those things he was thinking

about, he forgot about potting the blue. That wasn't straightforward.

He saw too many obstacles there. I don't know why Anthony didn't just

play for the blue because I think if the cue ball was on the right-hand

side of the table, he wasn't leaving anything apart from the red he was

going for. I think he missed a little trick there. Maybe just a

little bit of tension starting to creep into this match. Yes,

certainly with that safety shot and a couple of Steward's last visit, he

will not be happy. He is trying to clear his mind. As we said, he has

not had the best start to the season, a bit hangover from the

World Championship, no doubt about that. 84% pot success is low. Tried

to skim past the blue but hit the blue. Got to try to find the target

in behind that yellow if you can. That's the target for both players

and then you can have a real good telling safety, which could force a

mistake and give you a chance of getting to score some points.

Yes, there is an escape passed on the right-hand side of the table as

really, but he is going to miss the pink if he catches it to them, and

he is going to miss the red if he catches it too thick. He has played

it pretty well. He has not left anything. Sometimes that is all you

can hope for. He needs the brown or the Jelle to

come to his rescue. -- yellow. I do not think it has. No, he can just

get through to the edge of this red. My commentator's I is back! -- eye.

In aid goes. If you stops near the baulk fishing, he will have a nice

angle on the green. It has gone too far.

Well, he should have had the snooker. OK, it is not going to be

the easiest safety shot for his opponent, but he should have been

snookered behind something. He has got to be careful with the

part of the cue ball. He caught the red thin enough. No damage, but if

he had caught it thick, it could have been an in-off. It is all a bit

messy. The pink and the Black are out of commission. That is much too

thin. Much too thin. It is OK. They cannot get through to the red over

the coroner and if he can get through to it, he has to cover it.

Now pass through there. -- no path through there.

Well he decided to go all out and he has played it beautifully, he is on

the blue. He purposely played the cannon. He did not see a path back

to baulk or to the red. It was a bonus landing on the blue. Slightly

hampered. Gravity took over. It never looked end. How did it drop?

Gravity. You have got to get closer than that

for gravity to take over and once again, I little shake of the head.

It is getting a little bit nervous now, for Stuart. He made a good

opportunity for himself there. He should not be missing those. This

must go past the green. Foul. And a free ball, is it? Three ball. That

is when you cannot hit both sides. You have got to say, it is a little

unlucky to knock in the green. So, the free ball being taken, brown

nominated. This will count as a red. No. It was a very good start to this

much, but it has gone very scrappy. -- match. Yes, both of these players

are attacking players, they want to be in the centre of the table making

breaks. This kind of frame does not suit either of them. At the moment,

both players have lost their 40s. They have lost a bit of

concentration. It is easily done in this type of frame.

He has played a good safety shot. He needs good length. He has not had

one for a while. That is pretty good. He has left the cut on this

red, the closest to the right corner, but it is very dangerous. As

we have said on many occasions, is it more dangerous to try and get it

save? Now guaranteed safety shot. I think if the pink or black were on

their spots, it would be worth taking their son, but when is the

colour coming from if he should pot it?

Well, as I say, you make your decision. His decision was to go for

the pot. It could not have had a worse outcome. It has brought five

reds into play. With Stuart Bingham coming to the table with a 12 point

advantage, he could build up a really useful lead and win the frame

at this visit. Doubtful. That was a terrible position shot to start

with. -- brown. Another bad positional

shot. The way the reds work, you would expect four, five reds and

colours. Once the cue ball starts travelling distances, it is hard to

be certain of positional play. If he stops short of the baulk line, he

will be OK, green or brown, or even the blue.

I do not know whether he has been suffering from anything, Stuart, he

has got a bit of a cough. It looks as though the blue would

have been a better ball to play. I can only assume that the blue would

not go on its own sport and this red was occupying it.

Knows he will mark mind putting the blue because he has got the red near

the right middle. As I say, the chances of winning the

frame at this visit, well, it is difficult, but he has three nights

reds in the open. He can build up a big lead. Not a frame-winning one,

but it is a chance. This is an important frame for Stuart to get

his focus back in this match. If you can regain his two frame advantage,

it will settle him down. He has been very nervous in this frame. You saw

on the barometer there, he needs 62 points to get to that stage. He has

got 37 of them now. As I say, a couple of open reds. Straight on the

blue. That is not going to help his cause. He wants to be on this blue

so he can get close to the next red. Cleverly holding the blue spot. The

blue will go on the black spot, which is the next one available.

This blue will put him 45 points in front. Still a possible 67

remaining. There you see it. He is going to

need three of these remaining reds. I think he will have to risk playing

the cannon, Stephen, I do not see any other way he can play it. There

is a red available to the right corner, but it is quite a tough

positional shot to land on that red. If it is a natural angle on the

blue, yes, I would play the cannon. That is what he has played. He has

taken his eye of the blue. That was careless. I have to say, worrying,

slightly worrying. He has brought the blight into play. The reds are

still a little bit awkward, but when you get opportunities like that, you

do not expect him to miss an easy blue from the spot. After the first

couple of shots in that break where he could not get position, he has

started to look more comfortable. That is what happens when you're not

focused. Completely took his eye off the pot

there. Anthony could play some sort of cannon with two threads

together. That would be a good shot. -- to rents. -- reds. I think that

is what he played. If he can pot this red and skew the cue ball

directly, he may still be able to take that red of the cushion. It is

a very attacking shot. The only worry with this type of shot,

particularly as he is digging in, you have to be so accurate. Played

it well. Just past that red. Don't see what option he has got now. He

is 39 points behind. I would like to pot the blue, if it was only just

for the five points. He made a fist of that. That is a

terrific shot. Just to give himself a chance of a pot. Top drawer. I

think he is looking to see is that pink was pottable to the right

centre. It is tight but if he was straight on it, he would be on the

last red to the right corner. If he is playing for the likely does

not have the angle to drop on the red. No. I think he did play for the

black. He wanted to be a bit further out in the middle of the table so he

could not be black and just dropped behind the red. Looks like pop the

black and then tried to play a snooker, send the red around the

table, snigger behind the pink possibly. -- snooker. Always feel

with this shot there are two things that can go wrong with it. You have

got to miss the black and then you have got to miss the bomb at the

middle pocket. If he judges it right, he could have a snooker

behind the pink. Got to avoid the black.

Is it hard enough? Yes, it is! Now, that is a very telling safety shot

at this stage in the frame. Stuart Bingham 26 points in front. He needs

to hit those red and somehow get safe.

Hello? He missed it for times, I think. I will be surprised if

Anthony doesn't have this replaced. Tell-tale sign, eating to the table

with a towel in his hand. -- he came to the table. There is no natural

angle here so he is trying to force the angle. Now, where is the red

going? It is on to the left corner. The only hope for Stuart Bingham if

Anthony was to knock this red in is the position of the pink because he

is going to need the pink. 22 points behind. Can't win it without the

pink. I wonder if he is looking to cut the red to the left centre and

play the cannon on the pink. This is probably the more straightforward

pot. Right in the heart of the pocket.

Because he needs the six remaining colours after this colour. It didn't

matter which colour he played for. He could basically say this is a

pink ball game. He is having a look to see if it will go in the middle.

I can't believe it will pot in the middle because he could have played

for it before but the pink is in the position where you think maybe he

could play a double on it. Seven. Ten. I always feel with this type of

shot, if you tried to play the cannon, because the pink is in the

middle, you can always just nudge it past the middle, can't you? You have

to get just enough angle to get nicely on the blue. He needs brown,

blue, pink, and black. I agree with you. He will leave

himself the double but he has got too much angle on the blue now so

will he play the cannon? I think it is too tight and angle to play for

the black when it is here. He has given himself a shot. If he is

straight on the pink, there is a chance and Stuart Bingham has had

opportunities in this frame. This will hurt if he loses this one. You

can look at the scoreboard as much as you like, but you need pink and

black. This is one of those where you just pick and angle and just

hope that you pick the right one. Keep still on the shot. Pity. Stuart

Bingham has been given a let off here. He needs the pink, don't get

me wrong. But pink is all that is required.

Yes, solid. Cute that beautifully. Not that is how you should play the

long shots. Don't make them so hard. He will be mighty relieved.

Anthony had a chance there, for sure. We will be back to that but

the first man in the second round has just been revealed. The third

round, I beg your pardon. It is Marco Fu. It compared to victory

over Yu Delu. He won an event in Hong Kong at the weekend. He has

brought that good form here to York and after the first round, that is a

6-0 victory over Yu Delu and Marco Fu going through to face either

Gerard Greene or one of the others this weekend. That shot on the pink.

Did he ask too much of it? It is one of those shots, where the more you

try to put into the cue ball the more it bounces on the cloth and he

had a chance to get back in the frame. If the black is an opera job,

at least you got first goal on it. Sometimes you can ask too much of

yourself. Just make the pink and then you have a shot at the black.

It is the age-old problem for a snooker player of judging how they

are going to go about clinching the game. He knows full well that if he

had knocked the pink in years got an easy black, so does he play the pink

dolly in and then have the difficult shot or play the difficult shot

first and that is shot selection and effectively your success as a

snooker player is determined to some degree by how many times you get the

decision right or wrong. If you miss a shot, you do not know where the

ball is going, so you could get away with it. There was a good example of

that from Anthony, because what was he going to do, and then he played

that wonderful shot to get into the penultimate round as well. He played

a fantastic blue around the ankles. There were some great shots in that

frame and Stuart will have been mightily relieved to pots that link

especially after he had missed the glaring error of the frame which was

the blue. How comfortable does the world champion looked at the moment?

I think is any really good match with someone who is playing very

well. Anthony Hamilton hasn't had very many finals over the years but

he is playing someone who is very good today. Stuart is in very good

form and it has been a cracking match. It is a really good standard.

One of the things about the UK championship, even though it has

been produced from best of 17 to best of the 11 and we have discussed

this in the park just the fact that you get a result in every session.

Well, Stuart Bingham is breathing slightly more easily at the moment.

He has a 2 frame cushion on Anthony Hamilton as we head into the next

frame. I have had a text to tell me that

Anthony Hamilton comes here on the back of winning a tournament. Jimmy

White laid it -- played in it. I don't know if the red next to the

black will pot in the corner because that would stop him playing the

black and he does not want to leave that. Wasn't tempted. But it was a

bit risky. But if you played the part and played for the black he

would lose the red just above the black. This could turn out to be one

of those frames now. There is not really a safety shot into the baulk

end. Stuart Bingham and a little spot of

bother. He is not certain to get this safe. Yes, I think this is an

instance where the safety might be as difficult as the pot to the left

centre. I feel that this is worth a go.

It is a tough shot, but as you say, where is the easy safety? I cannot

see one. That is a lovely shot. I think

winning that last frame was big for Stuart. You got the Birds Eye view.

Excellent. He stayed down on the shot. It is funny, sometimes the

shots can be dictated to you. I do not think it is a red he would have

liked to have taken on, but there was no other option, so he was

forced into potting it. Now he has got it, what a chance!

We said earlier, the red next to the black does pot to the left corner.

He will be desperate to get rid of that, because the black does pot to

both pockets at the moment. He is in a rush. We have just hit

the two Aramark. The last couple of frames have gone a little bit

scrappy, but that has just added to the tension, if you like. Before the

interval, it was excellent snooker. This time he can play that red that

is just above the black. He cued that nicely, he has left

himself a nice angle on the black, and he knows now that if he does not

make any silly mistakes, he will be one frame away from a place in the

third round. You have got to keep your focus and take nothing for

granted. Nothing you can do when you're sat

in your chair. He did not bother trying to bring the two reds in the

middle of the table into play because he does not need them. He

can clinch the frame without them. No need to risk a cannon. He has the

red that is close to the far left corner. He would like to play

another red and leave that as the reserve. He will have to play it

now. A red and the brain would put him 60 points in front. Sorry, red

and the blue would put him 67 points in front with 68 remaining. It is

the brown and one more red to get to the snookers required stage.

I think the way he won that last frame, the good, long pink, that he

struck perfectly, it seems to have given him his timing back. He has

played this break really well. He has never looked in trouble.

He just nudged in the reds in. 68 in front. There is only 59 remaining.

Just pot the brain. Maybe he is thinking, the chance of a century.

He has missed a few blues in the middle. Will Anthony Hamilton decide

to play on? Three snookers required. That is if he takes blacks of the

reds. There you see it, 68 behind, 59 remaining. He has got to get high

value colours if he has got to get high value colours if he's snookers

will go to four snookers. He worked to doubt that he could

afford the brain, but he is not even on the brain. -- brown. Good pot. 63

points behind, 51 remaining. Three snookers to tie.

So, in the grand scheme of things, pot this red, pot this black, and

try and play snookers of the last red. Stuart will not be too

concerned. Hopefully you can get the snooker, get your opponent to miss

it, and leave you a free ball. One snooker would be enough. When does

it happen? Once in a blue moon. These bowties are getting bigger,

aren't they? Very snazzy. Wyatt are used to have one like that. -- Wyatt

Earp. He is trying to sneak the cue ball behind the pain, but the red

needs to run on. A decent chance missed, just short of pace.

If Stuart knocks this end, that will be the end of the frame. Let's see

how he cues this? When he potted the pink at the end of the last frame,

he cued it smoothly. There was nothing smooth about that. He head

right across it. No consistent striking at the moment. In golf, it

would have been out of bounds. Anthony still needs three snookers.

Where is the red ball going? That is the last thing they wanted. OK, he

can part of the black, but now there is no opportunity for free balls.

39 behind, 27 remaining. Three or four point snookers, 12 points, and

he could tie. Once again, he has missed an

opportunity to nestle behind the pink. He will not get out of his

seat if Stuart can roll this yellow in.

He has left the yellow on. One of these, you would be thinking, I do

not want it going in-off, but surely, pot this. No return. He will

go on frame away from a place in the third round. His cueing action has

been a little bit up and down. Not the consistency we saw at the

Crucible earlier run this year. He will be glad to get this match out

of the way. He has not won it by any means. Anthony Hamilton has proved

that it he gets in around the pink and black, he will score heavily.

Well, not close with the pink. Where is the cue ball? It does not matter.

Anthony Hamilton really up against it now. The world champion, Stuart

Bingham, just one frame away from victory. He leads, 5-2.

It is looking good for Stuart and Marco Fu, who has become the first

man through to the third round. This is not bring your daughters to work

day, but Michael has brought his daughter. It is lovely to see you.

You have Roger family and I think that atmosphere is something the

guys love. There is a lot of friends and family here. Yes, coming up to

Christmas it is a lovely place to be. That's me! Before we start

speaking about Disney princesses and things like that, let's talk about

your victory. You must have been delighted. Yes, it looked

straightforward but I could have lost four of the six frames because

I was 50 or 60 points behind for most of the frames and I managed to

take some good chances and make some good clearances and took some

friends which was quite important. It is a relief for you fellows to

get through and now you're down to the last 32. You are one of the

first casualties if you years back and it is a hard lesson to have to

learn. Very hard because we used to just be seeded through to the last

32 and we did it for granted. It is very difficult because all of the

players have a chance. Because players have more opportunities to

play against top players in big arenas and with the cameras there,

so they feel a lot more comfortable now against the top players which

makes it very difficult for all of us. Well, you are through and we

will see you in the next round. I guess you now have two perform your

fatherly duties. Yes. Just having a look. He knows that

one more mistaken that could be the end of the UK championship.

Going to be difficult to get the cue ball back. The red on the right-hand

side, you could do, but we know there is always a the chance of a

double-kiss. He has to give this every due care and attention. He

avoided the double-kiss. I tell you what, it is not too bad, this. He

can clearly cue past the green. Just about got past the baulk line. I

tell you what, it is not too bad. I think Anthony can get to this

cluster of red just below the pink. But he needs a good cue ball because

he is going to be bringing every red into play now.

That is not a great cue ball by any means. Only just reached the baulk

line, never mind the baulk cushion. I think generally the safety has

been brought today. -- has been poorer today. Stuart Bingham has had

a look at this rate to the right corner.

If he is going to play this with power he has to watch that he

doesn't go left of centre if he is going to be screwing the cue ball

back. The chance to win the match. He is playing a containing shot. A

little surprised at this choice. He normally takes the aggressive play

to Stuart. I suppose there are two ways of looking at it. He has got

the lead and put the pressure on your opponent to take the risk. Once

again, considering he is so close to the reds, to cannon the yellow,

unforgivable. There you go. It is a head dropper.

You are always going to make that more difficult if you are going to

going to try to deep screw and paying it back to the baulk end.

Took a little bit of paying it back to the baulk end.

Took a little bit of spread. The

Took a little bit of Three. What you have got to do here

is clear your mind off the scoreboard and forget you are a 5-2

behind. Well, he seemed to be in two minds

there as to whether to play for the pink or screw back for the pink. He

finished in between. I think he played for it into the right middle

and just overdid it. Pink is tricky now. The next red is not guaranteed.

He is forced to take it on. He knows he has got to take these

opportunities. In it goes. Nice double-kiss. He

will settle for that. Eight double-kiss off that red there and

pull the Dubai -- rule the cue ball into the centre of the table. 11.

Just stretching slightly. He would want to get the rest out of the way,

with the blue being where it is. Right in the heart of the pocket.

Well played. Digging in. The reds that is closest to the left corner,

he is considering playing that but the trouble with the reds is that

they are admissible. -- missable. He thought that was the only one he

could play for. 31. Rolled it in nicely and he has just about got an

to the left corner and you have one to the right corner. Still

to the left corner and you have one He has got to guide it. 37. Just

short He has got to guide it. 37. Just

can be. If you are going to be short, the eight

can be. If you are going to be going to be very difficult now to

force this going to be very difficult now to

baulk. Needs to slow up a bit if he is going to have any chance of a

pot. Maybe there is one just to the left of the black I think there is a

red that is pottable but close to the side cushion. Doesn't make the

pot any easier. He is on it, but where does the colour come from? 43.

Well, fully committed. Fair play. Just dropped it in dead weight. Left

himself on the pink. Now these two reds together on the right-hand

side. Screw of the first red and then the second red should take him

back up the table for pink or blue. 66 points to target. That is your

worst result, finishing so close to cushion. Yeah, and with the way the

reds are now there is a bit of pressure is he is going to roll the

reds in. He's going to leave this red closest

to the left corner, I think. He will run the blue in.

He obviously feels he can get through to this red. The only thing,

that Green will make it slightly awkward. He has got to be wary of

the green underneath the cue. That is almost back to where it was

before, but this time, it he cannot just roll the blue in. He will have

to play that role pink which Stephen did not like the look of, and

neither would I. You would think this is frame ball.

Yes, he played it nicely. He has taken those well. When he came to

the table, it certainly did not look like an easy chance to win the frame

in one visit. Having done it, you would fancy him to go on and maybe

make his second century of the match.

That just confirms that Stuart Bingham will not be coming back to

the table. There you see it, 69 ahead, 59 remaining.

That is the only question now, the frame well and truly in the bag, can

he make his second century of the match?

There is every chance he can. He has got to drop the pink end and leave

the cue ball close to the top cushion. He will be able to get past

the black for the last red. He made his 248 career century. That

was in the second frame of this match. This for 249 career

centuries. What a pity. What a pity. Never mind, job done. He is going to

make Stuart Bingham fight hard for this victory. Now he is two frames

behind. 135 and the 98 from Anthony

Hamilton. He has not lost that cue action. He will have to watch that

one on the red button or online on the BBC sport website. We are just

about to end the first of our transmissions, but we can quickly

have a look at John Higgins, who looks like he is almost over the

line in his match. Let's join Willie and Dennis.

That nearly popped out again because he had to hit it at that pace to get

on the right side of the blue. It looks like the end now for Tian

Pengfei. It looks like it is a comfortable win for John, 6-2, but

there were a few frames that Tian Pengfei could have won. Absolutely.

We talked about it in between frames, the fact that he has got to

sharpen up a little bit in his safety play, but he looks very

capable in all departments. He could have easily won at least two more

frames of this. Can he finish with the century?

Yes, banning the opening frame for year looked edgy and Mr couple of

easy chances, everything else has been pretty good. 63, 96, 55, pretty

solid stuff. I have not seen anything apart from that first frame

that gave me the impression that he is not one of the favourites to win

this tournament. What a feather in his camp -- what a feather in his

cap it would be if he could win the UK Championship, the second major,

at more than 40 years of age. Generous odds for him, 12-1, but I

think they were even higher before the tournament started. He will take

some bit of beating on this form. He is safely through this match. If he

can make one more century, he will be in the 600 century club. There

are very few players in that. O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry. I cannot

think of any others off the top of my head. No.

Absolutely superb. John Higgins completes the match with 103. His

second century in the match taking him into the second round. He went

6-2. A good victory for John today. He is only conceded three frames in

two matches. This is the situation in the other matches. Jack lives of

ski, the 24-year-old, has come from 5-2 down to win that one and send

the former world champion home. Martin Gould is also over the line

against Gary Wilson. Liang Wengbo is in a similar situation. Lots going

on. I hope you will join us this evening. 11:40pm for highlights

programme. We have Shaun Murphy on parade. And Joe Perry, we met him

and his daughter earlier run. That is it from our opening transmission

at this year's UK Championship. We will see you much later tonight and

thank you for your company.