Third Round - Part 2 UK Snooker Championship

Hello and a very good afternoon to you and welcome to the York

Barbican. The big names continue to struggle here at the 2015 Betway UK

Snooker Championship. The current world champion Stuart Bingham was

dumped out by Peter Ebdon yesterday and in the early hours of this

morning, the current world number one Mark Selby just scraped through

against Jamie Jones. Introducing at the reigning champion of the world,

Stuart Ballrun Bingham! Stuart struggled and was trailing 2-1 when

this massive kick effectively cost him frame four. Despite only

finishing his previous day's match at 1:30am, Peter was still full of

fight. Frame number 7 and a man from Basildon was hanging on. A bad miss

cost him another frame and the 2006 UK champion ground relentlessly

forward and wrapped up a memorable 6-3 victory. Lesser men might have

buckled under the pressure of late-night finishes but not Peter,

the force was strong with him. I'm a vegan, we are used these things, we

can take it! A bit of fruit and I'm buzzing! It just shows you what a

class act he is. He's come out and played like that. It just sort of

didn't happen for me today. Obviously a bit disappointed but I

can't really grumble. I just thoroughly enjoyed it out there, I

was absolutely loving it. It's been a while. I felt like a professional

snooker player again today to be perfectly honest, for the first time

in a long time. Nobody was danger of falling asleep in a late-night

thriller between Mark Selby and Jamie Jones. Selby laid a sublime

snooker on the Welshman in frame eight. The snooker gods were smiling

on the world number one, as Jones heartbreakingly went in-off. It was

now 4-4. Certainly not on his A game, Selby hung on by his

fingernails. This great escape saved him in frame number ten.

And then he closed out the final frame decider with a break of 67 to

stay in the tournament. I thought I would have won it 6-4. I had him any

good snooker. It just wasn't to be. It was one of those games, I felt I

was the better player but the better player than always win. I don't

think it was even my B game, eye think it was my Z game. He deserved

to win the match. I just kept hanging in there and making friends

that I didn't deserve to win. I don't know but I just get the

feeling that he's trying to prove himself why he is worthy of being

world champion. He just looks under pressure and does not look

comfortable at the table at the moment. He has to get his game back

quickly. The Masters is next month and in the World Championship in

April. Mark Selby, the World War I, should have gone out last night. You

have played in tournaments when you have sometimes just fallen over the

line in a match. Many times. Sometimes you relax in the next

round and play your best snooker. The bookmakers have now made Mark

Selby the favourite. Arguable whether he should be. Who do you

fancy there? John Higgins has got an error about him. He looks really

relaxed around the table. -- he has got an air around him. 33-1, Peter

Ebdon. Has he got a chance? He will have loved coming up against the

world champion yesterday and beating him. Shaun Murphy can win this,

can't he? He's always a contender in any big event. I'm looking forward

to seeing how he plays. That forward to it. Thank you.

Thank you room last night. Onto today's

We will see Shaun Murphy, the 2005 up this afternoon.

We will see Shaun Murphy, the 2005 world champion, in his third-round

match. Seven years since he won the UK title. Can he do it this year?

Murphy takes on Ben Woollaston, ranked number 30 in the world.

Murphy takes on Ben Woollaston, has never beaten Shaun and three

previous meetings. Mark Allen from Northern Ireland will take on Martin

Gould. The world number 24 reached the final of the Austrlian Open this

season and will be a tricky opponent for Mark Allen. Don't get you can

get in touch on Twitter, Facebook and e-mail.

Do get in touch with us, we would love to hear from you. Our live

match this afternoon is Shaun Murphy taking on Ben Woollaston, and Murphy

has lifted that trophy, of course. If Wollaston is to cause an upset

today, he will have to be on his A game. It's my best tournament

definitely to date. It was amazing to play in the final. I didn't play

as well as I would have liked to in the final but it was great to be

involved. It was just the best week of my life, snooker-wise.

I've been playing well over the last few months. I had a good tournament

in China which is a tournament nearly as big as this one. Feeling

confident. I played well in my last match and if I play to the same

standard I think I have a good chance of winning. I think it will

be fast. He's pretty attacking always. I'm pretty quick as well. It

will be a good match. I've known him since I was about nine years old.

I'll is looked up to him. But now is just another match. -- I always

looked up to him. We have been married since 2011. She is a snooker

referee. She has been here for the first two matches but she is not

here today, she's looking after my little boy who has hurt his foot. We

met in Germany at a PTC in 2010. She actually refereed my game and ever

since we have got together, she is not allowed to referee me any more!

She's pretty good at understanding how hard it is and that I can be a

bit miserable after a loss for AQ hours. -- for a few hours.

It's a tough one for Ben because Murphy is of course a triple Crown

winner, having won the World Championship, UK champion should and

the Masters. We are all set for another thrilling day at the York

Barbican. The players are set to enter the arena. Let's say good

afternoon to our MC, Rob Walker. Good afternoon. Yesterday we had a

little bit of everything. The world champion knocked out and the World

War I taken all the way. I can tell you today promises to be just as

good, here in Yorkshire at the dried for the fourth round of the Betway

UK championship continues in earnest. -- the world number one.

Please welcome first of all a player who appeared in his second ranking

event final this, what a classic at Austrlian Open. He winner of

snooker's shoot out in 2013, he's a consummate pro, Martin Gould!

And his opponent, he played his part in an incredible final here in 2011

against Judd Trump. Twice a ranking event winner in China, runner-up at

the Champion of champions just last month, he's coming into form at just

the right time, the pride of Northern Ireland, here comes The

Pistol, Mark Allen! And on table one, please welcome a

player who made it through to the third round after a 6-5 thriller

against Ross Muir. He showed all that potential making it through to

the Welsh Open final back in April, here comes Leicester's flame haired

assassin, Ben Woollaston! APPLAUSE

And finally, a class act on and off the baize, a world Campion, a UK

champion... He completed snooker's triple crown when he won the Masters

back in January. World number four. Always sharp, always ready. He is

the Magician, Shaun Murphy! Fascinating music choices from the

four players there, a contrasting playlist. On table two you can watch

Mark Allen take on Martin Gould, that is available on the red button

and the BBC Sport app and online and connected televisions, in the

company Willie Thorne and Ken Doherty. Here on BBC Two it is Shaun

Murphy against Ben Woollaston for us, in the company of Steve Davis

and Dennis Well, I thought it was going to be a

good break off, but it has just slipped past the green and he has

got a pot on to the left corner. OK, the black is not available, but

it's the only red he can see, and it's the type of shot that Shaun is

so good at, but it's his first shot this afternoon. How close will he

get this? There is your answer! He really is a superb Key -- superb

cueist. Locale still he keeps his head. I love watching Shaun play,

he's got such a flowing cue action. Without doubt. Probably consistently

in the top three long potters in the game. The way he plays his matches,

you normally expect him to be up at 60%, 70% for his long potting. I've

not seen him play this week so far, so I'm looking forward to seeing how

Acra Sean performs this afternoon. He's always one of the favourites,

among the contenders for the big events. I thought he was going to

win the World Championship this year, but he was outdone by Stuart

Bingham in the final. Shaun Murphy, five. Well, that is

unusual, for Shaun Murphy to miss with the rest. One of the best in

the game. It wasn't an easy pot, but he misses very little with the rest.

His opponent here, Ben Woollaston, is starting to come into his own. He

has served his apprenticeship and he got through to that final in the

Welsh, when he lost to John Higgins. Smashing lad. His mum is here today,

I saw her in the players lounge. She's got a snooker club recently in

Leicester, so plenty of tables for this young man to practice on.

I think the third red, the middle one of the three below the pink,

that will go to the right corner, I think. You can play it as a shock to

nothing. He's come to have a look at it now. You would err on the side of

missing this thin rather than thick. He missed it thick and that

is why he has not thick. He missed it thick and that

the Shaun Murphy. This one is fraught with danger, the way the

reds are. It's amazing how all the reds have gone over to the right

side of the table. You very rarely see that. So, can he manoeuvre this

cue ball? Can he pot the red? Well, he's got away with it

somewhat. He hasn't left an easy starter for Ben. He missed that by a

fair distance. That doesn't fill you with confidence, when you do that.

Well, that's a bad miss Ron Ben, there. He would have been nicely on

the black, but look what he's left the Shaun Murphy. -- left for Shaun

Murphy. Yeah, that was a very nervy one, wasn't it? He hit that so

hard. He's got that type of cue action, but that was very twitchy.

This is just the sort of chance you want in the first frame of a match.

It looks almost impossible to get out of position, the way the reds

are. You can just keep potting and you're going to be on something.

It's just a matter of keeping your concentration.

Yeah, if you watch Shaun Murphy, if you were thinking of taking the game

up, you can model yourself on this player and his cue action, how still

he keeps his head, his stance, everything. Absolutely first class.

It doesn't matter how hard he hits the ball, he seems to be able to

keep that head perfectly still. OK the secret of the game of snooker is

getting the balls into the pockets, but technique certainly plays a big

part. He has not had the best of seasons,

Shaun. So he would be hoping to have a good run this year in the Betway

UK Snooker Championship. He lost out in the final in China, 6-0 he was

beaten by John Higgins. Just talking about Shaun's form, he

made 52 century breaks last season. This season he has only made 11. But

he's well on his way to a sizeable break here in this opening frame.

Not that many more pots needed to secure the frame.

Yeah, that red that then missed in the middle pocket, there was an

awful lot of pressure on because he knew he was putting Shaun right in

amongst the balls. As Stephen said, maybe he just hit it a bit too hard.

He would have been on the black. He had to punch it to try to get the

angle. But that is the one that has left these four Shaun.

Well, the number of times in the 90s I sat in the commentary box and

watched my colleague Stephen Hendry start his match, or most of his

matches, like this. Always seemed to get off to a flying start. It

certainly gives your opponent something to think about.

Yeah, that's one of the reasons why it was such a disappointing miss

from Ben, because you really need to be on it, as it were, from the first

frame in these big events. You can't afford to let someone like Shaun

Murphy get into their rhythm by giving them easy chances. He will

know himself, no need to tell him, that it was a poor miss.

The children's Hospice has already have more than ?10,000 from our

title Bonser, and he got a kick on that, so they are not going to get

any more in this particular frame. -- from our title sponsor.

He will not be too disappointed, 1-0.

Always interesting to see those stats on the players. 16 appearances

he has made. Where does the time go? Well, that is not a bad break-off.

He has covered everything, I think. Maybe you can just get past the

blue. Yes, he's OK. He can play a safety off that red, because it's a

bit risky to take the pot on, he would be going towards the black.

Best of 11, so as usual we will have an interval after the first four

frames. He could have a go at this red to

the left of the blue and play it in such a way that he could finish on

the lack and the only red he could leave would be the 1 he had a go at.

But if he leaves the pot, who knows where that red is going to go? He

has had a look at it and he may decide it's worth the risk. Great

shot! Terrific pot. As bad as his miss was in the first frame, this

was the opposite end of the spectrum. This was a fantastic shot.

Into the bunch here. Oh! He can't afford to miss too many blacks off

the spot today if he's going to beat Shaun Murphy. It's amazing the

number of times we see that, when a player is concentrating on what he's

doing with the cue ball and he forgets about the pot. Not going to

be easy to score, though, with the black on the side cushion and a pink

up the other end of the table at the moment.

It's not going to be a chance like had in the opening frame.

Well... That is as bad a shop as Shaun will play in this

championship. Obviously he was not expecting the cannon off the second

red. CHUCKLES

Well, what does he play? He has given himself a bit of a headache

here because if he plays one of the baulk colours he's going to have to

-- he could leave the red at the top end of the table. If he got the

spider out and played the black. Green?

CHUCKLES Let's see, Shaun. Let's count the

questions here. What an escape this would be. One two, three, there is

the fourth question. Here comes the cue ball. Here comes the cue ball!

Oh! Wow! Well... There is Paul Callier making

a decision there. He didn't call a miss and it didn't quite touch it,

but a lot of the referees would have automatically called a miss, there.

I'd Paul decided it was such a great effort. But the other way of looking

at it, it was quite easy to hit the black of the top vision. It is one

to debate. But personally I think it was the correct decision. -- off the

top -- the top cushion. And probably a

decision that has helped them, because he asked the referee if he

was going to call a miss and he said no, not a miss, and Ben has cracked

that -- knocked that cracking long red in, so that is much better than

having it replaced. He doesn't really want to pot the pink here

because it's still going to go back on its spot and that it will be tied

up, so not much point in playing that at the moment. He has an angle

here, he could get on the blue and then get into the bunch and possibly

clear that ink Yeah, that's what he played, the

shot that Stephen suggested. He may have come up a little bit short. He

could still take the blue and cannon into the reds. Just making sure

there are no plants on. That plant is an but there is no chance of

knocking it in from this position, so that's why he's just

knocking it in from this position, blue in, so he's got the red

knocking it in from this position, left or the plant. I'm really

supplies to didn't go into the bunch. I know there are plants on

but it is a big target. -- really surprised.

He didn't really time that well. That wasn't good cueing from Ben

because he didn't really get the action on the cue ball that he

wanted. He wanted that to come back much further. Now to negotiate the

brown and green to get back up to the reds. It's all about trying to

keep yourself as close to the next pot as possible.

He could choose to go into the bunch of six reds. It is a big target.

There is a red at the bottom of the bunch that will plot. Just missed

the middle of the bunch. End of break. He did not get enough bottom

on the left-hand side of the cue ball.

Very fortunate. He hit it far too thin. How he managed to come off the

cushion and off it again... He mis-hit completely and got away with

it. Have a look at this. He wanted to avoid cannon ink into the red but

hit it too thin. A good outcome. It was always going to be a bit of

an awkward frame. He has a free shot. He can take this

thread into the left corner. As long as he keeps the white away from the

middle pocket, he will pass the black. It is a natural angle. He is

stunning it. No, he is not stunning it.

Not a very favourable case on the brown. -- kiss. There is an easy

sneaker in behind the yellow all the green. -- and easy snooker. That is

the right shot. Well played! It looks like he is

starting to relax a bit now. He will need one of the three reds

on the cushion. If he pots to pinks, he will be 49 up and there is

51 on the table. The red is on the black cushion. If he gets it nicely

he will not have to play for a colour. He has not played the best

positional shot. Plenty of cue power. If the white

keeps on running, he must come up a little bit short. He is checking the

school board. -- score board. He is 41 ahead.

He did not really want to kiss that bread. He could have finished nicely

on the blue and got on to the red that Stephen mentioned. That has

taken that possibility out of the equation. If he can avoid the

black, key compartment pink to the corner and come for the red that is

closest to the left corner. He is in a good position. He needs to get it

to win the frame. It looks like he is moving on round the table. He

looked at the pink and then the blue.

Looking at the pink, I am not sure he will go close to hitting the

black. He might need a bit of action on it. He could not have avoided

that. He is just settling for his 48 point lead.

If you were really ambitious comic you could take the double on. The

other two reds are fairly safe. Up behind the green and tight behind

the cushion is the shot here. You need to make sure you do not

push the red over a pocket. Not the best shot he has ever played. A

chance for Shaun. He needs to be careful.

He needs a high value colour if he knocks this in.

At the moment, he needs high value colours if he does get the chance.

He could get away with to pinks and black. Look where the black is! So,

he is a favourite for this frame at the moment.

That red is not easy, the 1 that has gone near the top corner pocket, by

the yellow. If he could see enough of that, he

would love to send it around the ankles and into the baulk area. If

you have three reds, three pinks and all the colours, he could tie Shaun.

He had a look at that red to the left of the yellow but it is no good

to him. If he potted it he would finish on a lower value colour,

which would leave him needing a snooker.

He has been thinking about it for almost a minute.

This helped Shaun's cause. He has brought the black into play. It is

not a straightforward cut into the corner pocket. It is a frame-winner.

He thought he might have covered it but he has not. Shaun, as we show

you it again, the pockets are so tight, it did not drop and he can

get himself back on to the black, or a pink.

They say he does not have to take all blacks. I'm not sure if he can

can earn that one out. It was never going to be easy but that was

definitely worth the risk. He is never one to shy away from an

aggressive shot. This other red, it must be typed on the cushion. This

is not easy, more difficult than the 1 that then tried. That is the

reason he took it on. All of a sudden, he is right back in

this frame. What a great shot that was! Side cushion, baulk cushion.

A great effort. Look where he has put the red! The double is on. Check

the score board. 32 the difference. You can double this red, a pink or a

black would be enough. Well, you are faced with a long

straight pot to clinch the second frame. A bit of pressure on this

one. If you missed the part you might get the snooker. Well played!

It was the kind of shot as a professional you practice a lot.

Practice into the four corners. Two snooker is needed. This yellow

to make absolutely certain. Three snookers now required. Shaun

may decide to stay in his seat. He is thinking about it. Yes, he has

conceded. He has conceded. The opening frame with a break of 83. No

breaks in that. That little smile tells you he is delighted. He is

1-1. Dennis mention the confidence pot from Ben Woollaston. You just

saw his confidence getting back into the second frame. They always say

you do not settle until you win your first frame. He had a chance in the

first frame of the match he let go. As long as that goes on, you get a

bit nervous. He will settle down now and get a nice break. He is in the

match. What have you made of Shaun Murphy? He came out of the traps

really quickly. The boys are saying he has not had a brilliant Stephen.

He could kick-start it in the UK. Do you see Shaun Murphy these days? He

has the job. He is really comfortable with his game

generally. He has the balance right. He has been three times where he has

tried to search for answers as to whether he has the tactics right and

what is the right balance for him as a player. I think he is happy that

the way he plays is the best way for him. When he is playing against Ben

Woollaston, it is interesting that modern players like this just get on

with it. They let their talent flow. Around the table, he does not waste

any time or over think things he has a good balance to his game as well.

Well, Ben Woollaston gets the third frame under way. We always say, from

the break off, whatever you do, do not hit the blue. He may have left a

possible plant on here. If Shaun Murphy takes the plant on, watch

out! It is on and there will be reds flying all over the place.

You never know when they will finish when you play it like that. A bit

unlucky to knock the black safe. He will leave himself near the side

cushion with the cue ball. It could have worked out better.

It is that you know this man, answers or

It is that letters to Santa clause. See if you

can find out who it is. That is all right. Better going in

the pocket and bubbling in the jaws and staying up in among the reds. He

just did not get it. In fact he hit the wrong red. He wanted to hit it

thinner. There was not a lot of room passed

the other red. Falling little awkward at the moment

for Shaun Murphy. Another inch also with the cue ball and a nice angle

to get back to the reds. He looks to be straight on it.

He is looking at the red closest to the left corner. He could leave

himself on the black. He has gone back to his original plan.

He just hit them so well. shots differently. He hates it the

same way. He is a great calendar. I am glad there were no statistics

around in my day. I would get zero out of 100. He is the best.

Jimmy White is one of the best I have seen with the rest. It

Jimmy White is one of the best I very awkward table when he started

this. Sometimes you concentrate much very awkward table when he started

like the pink will go on the black spot, which will help his calls. --

his cause. He would like to have that one over

again. He can just about see enough of it.

He is hampered slightly with the pink. Good cueing. This time, the

correct side of the blue to get back to the reds.

He does not have to worry about the black, just concentrate on the pink

and the blue. He has to be careful he does not

lead himself hampered. He has played the cannon. That was a good shot.

He is still on this red. So much reaction from the cue ball.

These clocks are very lively. That one certainly came back further than

he intended. Listing to the players talking about the tables, Peter

Ebdon said it was the finest table he has played on for years and

years. Other players want to have the tables burned. He is using the

spider. He wants to make it easier to play that shot. It all stems from

the careless positional shot from the pink. If you use a normal rest,

you are more intended to play a per shot. This would hurt Shaun Murphy.

He had to get the cue out of the way. He did not hit it. It makes you

look a bit silly when that happens. It was not easy. He is having a

little smile about it anyway. He has such a good temperament, Shaun

Murphy. That is why he has won the three big ones, the Masters, the UK

and the world. You need a good temperament but a

lot of ability as well. He has that in abundance.

He could play a cannon but I do not think he well. The two reds may be a

plant. He knows he could make a plant otherwise he would have played

a little cannon. This will take him nicely on to the pink. But now, when

he pops the pink, it will be tied up. If there is room for the pink to

go on to its spot, he will need to play a cannon on to the three reds.

That could not have turned out any better. Absolutely spot-on! If then

could somehow pinch this frame, what a boost! Shaun was completely in the

driving seat until he took the spider out and miss hit the shot.

It will be interesting to see how Ben negotiates it. If he is not

going to play for the black he will have to move it.

The best colour to move that led from would be the blue, you would

have to say. The pink, you would have to be so precise. He is having

a think about how to go about the last red. If he gets an angle, he

can follow through. Cannon the red. That is what he played. He has gone

to throw -- too far. A shake of the head. It would leave a cannon on the

black. An angle to the pink. He may still be able to play the cannon of

the cushion. He has played it. Well done excavation mark a little bit

fortunate. He played the angle the other way. -- well done! He will

have to leave himself a tough read on the cushion. You cannot really

get too close to it of the black. That may be too straight as well. It

is tough. He will need some pace. The harder you hit them, the tougher

they are. That was well played. Not a bad chance of getting around the

back of the brown and yellow. Just show you that very good pot. A nice

angle to get around the yellow here. Gone round the back of the brown and

he has played this perfectly. Very well played!

Yeah, one good pot on this yellow. What a good clearance this has been.

That was a bit of a nervy one. Just didn't cue that as smoothly as he

had been up until that point. He just hit that one slightly harder.

And he should have done. It depends how he wants to play the

cue ball. It's awkward with the spider. We've seen what Shaun did

with the spider. This is a different type of shot, but... Tough. Well

played. If it keeps on running, he's absolutely... Well, it's gone a bit

awkward. It's weeks and between, amazing. He only needs the brown as

well. Shaun sits there wondering if he will get back to the table.

That's amazing, he must have thought I'm bound to be on the brown nicely,

corner or middle. As you say, right in between both.

Ben Woollaston, 62. He has got second prize. That's a great effort

from Ben. OK, he has flipped the snooker, but he was unlucky not to

finish on the brown. He took the brown on in such a way that he had

half a safety shop in mind, so he will be hoping that Shaun knocks

this brown towards a pocket, because after doing all that hard work he

wouldn't want to be losing the frame now.

He's having a little think about this one. He is a pretty attacking

player, Ben. So this round into the left corner is frame ball. Where's

the brown going? Look where it's finished! And now Shaun can pinch

the frame, after that 62 break from Ben.

So, a couple of minutes ago Shaun Murphy thought he had lost the

frame, when he made that blunder with the spider. Then hit a 62 break

and was unlucky not to drop on the brown. Then Shaun pinch the frame

and he leads to frames to one. STUDIO

The mark of a champion, the mart of someone ranked in the top five in

the world. Ben has got a bit unlucky, a great shock to knock the

green in but he should really have been plumb on the green and then it

is frame over. It's a tale of two spiders in a way, inasmuch as it was

the shot with the spider that cause the problem getting position. Shaun

Murphy let that chance go when he was at the top of the table and just

underhit the shot. At Ben Woollaston will be very upset to have lost that

frame. You don't get many chances and when you do get your chances to

clear up at the end of the frame, you're supposed to take them. It's

the equivalent of missing a double at darts. When you're in that

position, he is obviously replaying that frame in his mind, isn't he?

How important is that next frame? He had such a margin for error as well

on the yellow. The 1 thing you shouldn't do it overscrew it.

Anywhere between six inches and a foot and a half and he would have

been perfect. To do what he did, it will make him think. What he's

doing, he's scoring. The next chance he gets among the balls, that's not

necessarily a problem. As long as he gets equal chances, it could be a

decent fight. COMMENTATOR: The mid-session

interval coming up after this frame. Ben could do with taking this one

after the way he lost that previous one.

John mentioned in the studio the margin of error he had when bringing

back the white for that green. Anyway in that circle would have

been perfect but he just hit it too hard and left himself hampered by

the blue. He was still very unlucky when he blotted that green with the

spider. Meanwhile, Shaun has made a very good break off. That might be

touching. No. Well, this would be some shot,

wouldn't it? The cueing would have to be perfect.

Foul. Well, it was just off straight. Every chance that that

could happen, but it was a good effort. Worth another look. Kept

perfectly still and was not too far away. -- he kept his head perfectly

still. This is the sort of shots even mentioned in the first frame,

the shot that players practice our after hour. It's such a key shop in

the frame, Stephen. Well, he played it very positively.

He played for the black. But unfortunately he has left a red

along the back cushion. Tricky. As long as you don't hit the left-hand

knuckle. That little triangle of reds, that is where we will -- he

will bring the Whites in. Leave the red to the left-hand corner. Well,

he played that but I thought he might hit it a lot harder. He's like

that, Shaun. He doesn't necessarily go in and smashed the reds up, he

likes to pick them off. He's got another couple of reds available to

him. He looks to have a lovely angle on

this black to go into the bunch. Lots of top spin, right-hand side.

Park were cue ball into the pack. Just didn't get the cue ball moving

within a top spin. Still a bit unlucky and would expect to be on

something. He thought the cue ball would move other to the left after

he hit the cushion, but it didn't take effect quickly enough.

Just a safety shot. He can glance off this red and back up the table.

He might be able to get behind the green. That is the sort of shot that

is available to him. He doesn't necessarily have to do that, he's

got a few choices. But that doesn't look like a bad choice. Somewhere

near the line would get it perfectly safe. That says if he's stunning

it. -- it looks as if he's stunning it. Well, he didn't play it well.

That's very careless. REFEREE: Shaun Murphy, 24. It seemed

a straightforward escape, that. He just hit it too pick -- too thick.

He has to watch that sleeve. Paul Collier having a close look at it!

The black wobbled few before dropping. I think we've got new

cloth is on, Stephen. The pockets played just that bit easier when the

brand-new clots are on. -- clots are on. It definitely makes pots along

the cushion is much more comfortable.

Sometimes it's a good thing, when you almost miss a pot and you get

away with it, it sharpens your mind a bit. You think right, I got away

with that one. I'm going to make sure I concentrate even more now. He

would like to take that last shot again! It's finished very awkward.

Just played to open some of the reds up and didn't quite catch it how he

intended and we are back with the spider again. That's a lovely little

comment from Steve Davis, "a tale of two spiders". He's always very, is

Steve. Oh! This is another spider, this is the extended spider. Have a

look at that little baby. Oh! Well, was tough. The natural angle would

take it towards the black. Foul and a miss. Then Wollaston,

four. -- Ben Woollaston, four. He needed a thin contact, but... It

cost him four points. And it might just work to his advantage. Ben

fancied that read into the middle pocket. -- that red. Now, what angle

has he got on this red. Can he get back to the blue and pink without

cannon then you to the reds? He did it without touching them. That was

down to the cue action. He hit that so well.

REFEREE: Touching ball. This time it has finished a little awkward for

Shaun. This is a test of his cue action,

here. APPLAUSE

Maybe it's a light white, Dennis! He just hit that so well. He hit it too

well. He's had a couple like that. Look at that pause before he

delivers the cue. A couple of times he has overscrewed position. Well,

that's a great recovery. Yeah, that last red was a very comfortable

shot. He's got down and played it as if it was over the pocket. No

thoughts of the consequences, should he miss it. I think that's when

Shaun is at his best, Dennis, when he's playing aggressive snooker and

going potting balls. It's all to do with the mental

strength side of the game. 33 ahead. If he scores ten or above, he won't

need one of the difficult reds. Nice angle on the pink to force down

behind that red to the left of the yellow.

This red, and green or brown or above, would be enough to leave then

needing a snooker. -- to leave Ben needing a snooker.

Looks to be straight on the brown. Unable to pot the brown unscrew the

cue ball into those two reds. He's taking the green, so he's definitely

wanting to move the two reds, he's not making sure the pot.

Yeah, he's over stunned that as well. It is very, very lively, this

table. But still got to be a little bit

careful. He only needs one snooker, does Ben.

REFEREE: Shaun Murphy, 45. APPLAUSE

So, barring that one snooker, you would think Shaun Murphy would be

going to the mid-session interval with a 3-1 lead.

Well, he got a good cue ball, but he's left the red near the pocket.

Now, this is a test of your cue action. When you're tight on the

cushion. The man I'm sitting -- the man sitting next to Steve Davis in

the studio, John Parrott, was the best in the world at playing off the

cushion. Maybe Shaun not have to buy John's book on potting balls off the

cushion. -- maybe Shaun will have two.

Now then. If he can roll this black in, he could be back in this fourth

frame, but this is not easy. Yeah, good cueing, and all of a sudden he

has got a bit of a chance here will .

Oh! That's unforgivable. As soon as there is any pressure, like the

yellow that he overscrewed in the first frame and this one, you just

hits them pretty hard. Whenever there is any big importance to a

pot. As long as then can keep the red

safe, he's telling this frame. -- he's still in this frame.

He can't get down the right side of the table and it's more difficult

going the left side. REFEREE: Foul. That was the green,

had a free ball as well. He can take a colour as the extra red.

REFEREE: Green ball. It doesn't matter what happens here,

then will concede this frame. Hang on a minute! He will have a

quick look at the scoreboard all of a sudden.

REFEREE: Shaun Murphy one, Ben Woollaston seven. Because that going

in-off is the equivalent of two snoopers. What was Shaun Murphy

doing there? If he tucked in behind the black, Ben would concede and and

have a cup of tea. And now he can win! What have I done there? He's

saying to himself. If this drops tight in behind the black... Oh!

He's a fraction short. I'm sure Ben was on his way to the mid-session

interval and all of a sudden Shaun goes in-off the black. Interesting

to see if he knocks this in after doing what he did. And there's the

answer. He still looks a bit confused with himself.

That's terrific cueing. Tight on the cushion again. 19. 25.

What a bit of a bizarre finale to that frame. Shaun Murphy must be

delighted. It could quite easily have been 3-1 the other way. But he

goes to the mid-session interval leading Ben Woollaston by three

frames to one. STUDIO

Remember that Ben Woollaston has never beaten Shaun Murphy. What is

it about Shaun Murphy? One moment he makes that big mistake and we're

thinking he's lost the frame, and then we see the fluent side of his

game. I think Stephen Hendry summed up what we all feel about Shaun's

game and what he has worked out, he is better off playing an aggressive

game than trying to get involved in tactics. Sometimes strange things

seemed to start to happen to Shaun Murphy if he does decide what is and

isn't the right shot. Playing the black and screwing into the pocket,

maybe you shouldn't have been going anywhere near there, and then he is

over the line. For some people when they mess that up it could affect

them. But not for Shaun. The next chance he gets, he's completely

clear his mind of that and he just waxed this red in. And that's his

strength. We're sitting in this privileged position watching these

boys practice, one thing that you notice about Shaun is that he very

often pots those reds practising. It is a huge part of the game. He's got

one of the best games you can get. He has won the triple Crown that

way, playing aggressive snooker. He has steam-rolled his opponents and

knocked everything in. If it's working, keep doing it. Our other

match this afternoon, Northern Ireland Mark Allen's taking an

England's Martin Gould. Mark Ireland Mark Allen's taking an

bead Ryan Day in the final of the Bulgarian open last week, to win his

first final in 15 months. He's up against Martin Gould, a man who

almost gave up the sport if you years back.

I did give up back in 2004/. I had a lot of personal issues going on at

home. Snooker took a back burner for a couple of years. I did not miss

it. When you stop enjoying something and you do not miss it, after a

while, you kind of think, that journey has gone. A couple of people

persuaded me to give it another go. I did. I just looked at it in a

completely different way. I said to myself, it does not matter to me any

more. It is not everything in my life because of everything that had

gone on previously. I started playing quite well. The enjoyment

came back. The love for the game came back. My results started to

improve. I started to change my whole game plan. I went from being a

negative player into a very attacking player. That was working.

Before I knew it, I broke into the top 64 in the first year coming

back. I move myself up, 48, 32. All of a sudden, bang, top 16. That was

my ideal dream and I first started, to get into the top 16 and win

events and play on BBC and play in all the TV tournaments. Now I have

done that, it is now getting to the point where I want to be lifting

those trophies at the end of the week. Any normal pro will tell you

the same thing. You have good moments and bad moments. At the

start of the season I cannot complain. I got to the final of

Australia and lost 9-82 John Higgins. There was one of the best

matches I have ever been involved in. That was good. Me and Mark

normally tend to have a good game. Our records are quite even. I know

what I have to do and I am sure Mark is the same. Hopefully when we both

go out there, all guns blazing, we will put on a good show.

It is 2-2 in career head-to-head matches. Mark Allen took the first

frame. We join it in frame two. He will be disappointed with that

break off. He has not covered in red to the left centre. A

straightforward natural angle to get down for the black. Lots of reds in

the open. It is a pet hate for any snooker

player. They win the first frame and they popped some really tough balls

to get over that and get it on the board. Give your opponent the first

chance from the break. A pet hate of eco-players. People break off as

regularly as clockwork. It is a natural thing. -- of snooker

players. It really is one of the most important shots of the frame. A

lot of players will win the toss and let an opponent break. More times

than not read come over to the corner pocket and give your opponent

first shot to nothing. It is hard to get that cue ball in behind the

green and close to the baulk cushion. Sometimes when you slide so

much, this has left a good opportunity now for Martin Gould.

His highest break in tournament play is 139. I am surprised he has not

had a maximum break in snooker because he is a very good

break-builder. He will get a nice angle on the black. If the perfect

angle is there, he will play into them. He has put the cue ball to the

1 directly above the black. Ronnie O'Sullivan plays this shot.

He is now thinking about playing for a loose thread because he does not

fancy it. -- red. That is not bad. Well played! A good chance. He did

that perfectly. He played that very well, didn't he? He purposely went

off the corner. The cue ball is going to push through and still be

on this red. The other red has gone over the middle pocket. That is a

bonus. He can keep that in case he runs into a bit of trouble.

His first priority is winning the frame. Five reds, five blacks. He

did mention he has not had a maximum. If he stays on the black

here, he has half a chance. It is a massive prize this week as

well. No one has set a maximum now for a few months and it has rolled

up to almost ?40,000. 4000, 5000 for the break. All that money for a 147

break this week. A nice Christmas box. He can hold for the 1 directly

above the black. That is the shot he has played really well. This is a

really good chance. Certainly is. When he pots this red, the red to

the right will go into the corner pocket. Very nicely situated, the

reds, at the moment. I am sure without doubt the maximum is on his

mind. He will not be too pleased with that shot. He would only have

one option, to screw back. A slight angle. Not dead straight. He needs

to get topside. He played with the wrong side. If he played with the

right side it would have come higher up. I am sure he could easily go and

play for a baulk colour. Plenty of value potting this red into the

middle, up and down, side cushion, into the black.

He needs to slow down. That looks pretty good. Not slow down too much.

This is the time when he can possibly use the red for the middle

pocket. Unless he tries a lot of side, left-hand side, and go into

the pack, he can go above two cushions. What would be your choice?

I would want to get near the green and the brown. I think it is a

little bit risky. Whatever he plays is tough. He plays it playing ball.

He will not leave an angle. -- plain ball. He will be disappointed

because he has not won the frame yet.

That little bit of side has taken it away from the gap between green and

brown. He can see the brown. He can see the black full ball. He needs to

hit it on the left-hand side and swerve round. If he can get onto a

red from the brown, that is the 1 he will take.

He will know more -- you will know more than anybody what a body blow

this will be. It would have been a lot easier not going for the maximum

but you only get one chance to go for 45,000. You're going to play it.

but you only get one chance to go It is not within the realms of

possibility that Mark Allen will clear. Talking about pivotal frames

in matches, this could certainly be one of them. He still has a lot of

work to do. If you had to have ?1 on somebody to win the frame, you would

favour Mark Allen because he is in the balls. Absolutely. He played

that shot very well. Trying to get on the red. That will

open the two reds into the opposite corner.

The red is. Very close. There is loads of room. An excellent chance

for Mark Allen. He needs an angle on the pink. He

has that. He would like to take the blue because the pink hands tied the

two reds up. -- has tied. He will be favourite now to win this frame.

Would you believe it? believe it? What a

Would you believe it? Martin Gould. You

Would you believe it? disappointment. I'm not quite sure

whether that was a kick or not. It looked like he put some side on it.

Maybe it was a bad contact. I did not hear anything from our

commentary position. Maybe he is concentrating on clicking a bit of

side on it. I am not sure. I think he just did not get through it. It

was almost a proper stun shot. He did not get any bite on the cue

ball. That may be did not get any bite on the cue

ball over. What a reprieve! Martin Gould will be absolutely delighted.

He would have been sitting there thinking it is one each, but it is

2-0. He is just making sure of the black.

A little bit surprised where the cue ball has ended up. The most

important thing is he is 37 points ahead. That means that Mark Allen

needs a 4-point snooker to win this frame.

The frame is certainly not over yet. Barring the 4-point penalty snooker,

Martin Gould would be 1-1. That was a nice pot. He will be

relieved, Martin Gould. I am sure Mark Allen will be very

disappointed. I might get a chance to ask him later whether it was a

kick on that in the player 's room. If it was, it was very costly.

Four tables in action at the same time. It takes their mind off

things. You are always aware of what is going on at the other tables.

They are so close and checking out who is playing well. So, Martin

Gould pots the black in and gets his fourth frame on the board. A

relieved Martin Gould levelled the match now. If you want to continue

to watch that match it is available on the red button. Two other

third-round matches to bring you right up to date with this

afternoon. Let's show you how they are getting on. Stephen Maguire is

leading Mark Davis. A break of 127 in frame three. This is him wrapping

up frame four. Tom Ford, who got to the final of the reeger Open earlier

is also in control in his third-round match. He is up. A break

of 84, the highest break of the match so far. Our match live for you

this afternoon on BBC Two is Shaun Murphy against Ben Woollaston.

Layers of standing by. Let's rejoin the comedy team. -- the commentary

team. Thank you. Lots of matches still going on at the Barbican

Centre. This is the 1 on table one. And he gets the first frame under

way after the interval. He needs to forget about what has happened and

start afresh again. He could quite easily have led 3-1. A pretty big

match. They are both very fluent, attacking

players. Unless the balls run awkwardly, they will be fairly quick

frames. The two reds, virtually dead

straight. A pot to the left corner. You normally see Sean take this on

and screw it back. A lot more aggressive if he played for the

black. Lucky to get away with this. He has left a bed to the right

centre. It is just at the edge of the pack. He will be breaking the

reds up if he goes for it. He can play with top spin amp on the go for

the pink all the blue if he gets it. He might feel at 3-1 term it is a

bit risky. Sean was a bit fortunate the red when typed onto the cushion.

The red does not pass the pink. The 1 that Stephen mentioned, he is

turning down. I think he can get down on the left

side of the table. He is worried about coming onto the 1 near the

pocket. That is the reason he is taking the 1 like that. More of a

safety shot back he might sneak it in. That one is just a safety.

Dear me! What a cracking pot. How unlucky is that to finish in there?

Amazing! This is a very aggressive shot. He bounced the cue ball of the

main pack and gave himself a pot on the black to the corner. Struck it

so well. Once again, we talk about his

temperament, it is excellent. He has not bothered about the misfortune he

has had. He did that in the previous black -- frame. He got down and had

a cracking long red. It is putting bad shots to the back of your mind

as quickly as possible. He certainly does that. He has nominated the

blue. He should have nominated the brown, or the green. If he hits the

blue fall ball, he will leave a read on.

He can change his mind. He does not have to nominate it again. The thing

with judging this type of shot, you are striking down on it. You're

going to get a touch of unwanted side.

That was a good shot! He did not hit it fall ball. The red to the right

corner is much more difficult. He is itching to have a go at this read.

He is closest to the right corner. Having looked where the cue ball is

going, it is bound to be going into the bunch of reds. He would have to

be prepared to lose the frame should he miss it. A big shot. It is

important to play your natural game. And then commit 100%.

Well, that is a gem! The pace he has played that act, it is a little

beauty. It is such a tough shot. To roll in at that sort of pace, look

at the red, right in the centre of that pocket!

Dear me! A couple of times, somehow, he has managed to get in amongst the

reds. He did not play the cannon as he intended. He wanted to go

straight into the bunch of reds. A bit too much side on it. To finish

back in the middle of the reds is amazing.

Two fabulous long pots from Shaun Murphy with nothing to show for it.

Immediately it causes a stalemate. All because of the red up near the

green. I think he has to look to re-rack.

The first re-rack I have been involved with in their sheer's UK

championship. I was so unusual, to finish up leaving the white touching

three reds. I have never seen before. When he parted the black and

played the cannon, he got too much side on it. Too can earn the red and

comeback right in amongst the reds is amazing. Immediately he look at

at Ben and said, let's set them up again! A good decision. Just a few

late comers after the mid-session interval. They are not allowed to

come in while a few late comers after the mid-session interval. They

are not allowed to come in while frame is in progress.

At Wantage, Ben, in this frame. -- advantage. You can see how short he

was with the cue ball with the safety shot.

It was a good chance for him to pop this and get nicely onto a read. --

pot this. This will come up short. Play it to get up on that one.

The green looks to be the shot to play here. Of three conditions to

the left corner. He has taken a yellow. -- off three cushions. A lot

more margin for error playing the green.

Yes, he played that well. Just not come far enough. If he's playing the

cannon, he's got to judge to knock the black possibly on and off the

cushion. There's a problem because there is a red that might get in the

way of the black to the right corner. So this is tricky, this

shop. -- this shot. You called it right, Stephen. That red was always

going to be a problem playing that cannon. If it misses the red there,

you would have been perfect. But it was always in the way, that red.

Shaun will play the red next to the black to bring it into play. He was

a bit unlucky with that cannon, to be fair. I was just going to say, a

choice of playing the aggressive shot into the pack.

He has not played it well. That's another poor safety from Shaun

Murphy. Well, he can only see one red, can

Shaun. And it does what passed the black. But he have to play some shot

to get position on to that. I do know if he can avoid the cannon onto

pink and reds, or if he can screw across that he could get himself

across and back. He does have the cue power to do that. A little bit

of a mis-hit, there. But he has left everything safe.

For Shaun Murphy, 56% with his long pot success, that is very poor.

That's a clever little shot, there. I say a clever little shot, he knew

he was leaving everything safe up this end of the table, but does the

1 next to the yellow go? He thought, I can take this read on, I will get

myself on the black if I miss it, if I get it, and be safe if I miss it,

but I think you can see this one. Did Ben just forget about that red

for a moment? Where is that cue ball? Perfect on the black, by the

looks of things. So Ben thought he was playing a shot

than nothing. Didn't think he was going to leave the 1 next to the

yellow. I think if he can pot the black and

get a bit of an art and cannon that read, I tell you what, he would open

all those reds up. He needs a little bit of pace with it, though. It's

OK. As long as he played it with enough pace to make sure he didn't

stick right in the reds. This is the fourth time these

players have met. Shaun won the last three. They haven't played each

other since the 2013 German Masters. But he's starting to take control of

this match here, it has to be said. The red at the top of the line of

three nearest the pink I think goes to the right centre. He just

overscrewed it a couple of inches. To make this, well, it makes it

missable, now. Still shouldn't miss it. Right in the middle of the

pocket. You just feel he is stepping up a gear now, don't you, Dennis,

pulling away in this match? Yes, as I mentioned earlier, it could have

been two frames each or even 3-1 to Ben just before the interval. But

Shaun stepping up a gear. He would have had a century in the opening

frame of the match but for a kick. The frame is well and truly safe

now, he might try and bring that difficult read into play. Just make

sure that the frame is safe and then cannon that difficult read out.

Nicely played. If he can pot this in the middle pocket, every chance of

that century. Well, he played the other one. I thought he was going to

cut it in the middle pocket. So no century break, but 62 in front and a

couple of snooker 's, another one for Shaun.

Three snooker is needed at the moment. Make that end of frame. Ben

just nodded to Shaun Murphy. Shaun has come out of the traps very

quickly in this first frame after the mid-session interval. He extends

his lead to four frames to one. STUDIO

You have to wonder now whether the you can see this one even going 6-1.

It could do, quite easily. The next frame is massive for Ben. If it goes

five, you couldn't see him winning all the frames to get over the line.

This is a massive frame coming up. I feel as though if he doesn't win it,

it could beef the end of the match. Sean has Woody found his rhythm? Yes

and no. When you're playing in a match, you play one ball at a time,

you don't really look back and think about what it could have been, but

sitting here watching you realise how much things can just change and

turn with one shot and then the other guy looks totally dominant and

the scoreline could be 6-1 and you would be going piece of cake,

another great win for Shaun Murphy, that it wasn't necessarily the case.

Well, we are back at the table here. Frame six, Shaun Murphy to break. As

John Barrett said, this is a massive frame for Ben Woollaston. A must win

frame, you would have to say. Yes, when he missed that red in the last

frame he seemed to go at it like his head had dropped a little bit. Shaun

Murphy still needs to frames for victory. It would be different if he

were 5-1, his backward really still be up against the wall, but there is

still margin for error here. It's just about belief. Do you still

believe you can win from 4-1 down? Doesn't look like it. Things can

change very quickly. When Shaun played that shot, it was

obvious he was going to go -- it was going to go over the right corner,

he was pretty fortunate that the White went behind the blue. I think

safety play just gets in the way for Shaun Murphy, doesn't it? He just

wants to be potting balls. Yes, Shaun has had all his success, with

his three big titles, the World Championship, the UK and the

Masters, playing attacking snooker. It's the way he loves to play and he

loves to play like it. I used to practice with Shaun when he joined

the circuit and I was still on it, and he was terrific to watch. Just

needs to be careful not to follow the red into the pocket with the cue

ball here. The double case has left one to the middle pocket. But he had

to try and remove that one. Let's show you the swerve shop again. He

can play for the pink here, he doesn't have to play for the blue.

Pink is in a good position to part and go into the bunch of reds. Yes.

He felt this was better than playing for the blue to go into them. He

gets enough action on the cue ball but it needs plenty here with lots

of side to get into that bunch. APPLAUSE

He's opened the reds nicely, but he's a little unfortunate because

it's covered the black, a red has gone next to the black. Worth

another look at this one. Opened them very nicely indeed. But he was

left with, well, a tricky little one into the middle pocket. But the pink

now tied up as well. The black is available into the right corner

only. But that will be for a few shots's time.

The reds looked to be ideal, but they are covering each other

somewhat. They're not covering each other into the left corner pocket. I

think he's looking at a way of getting that read to the left of the

black to the corner. There are other reds available should he not get

that one on -- get on that one properly. Three cushions around the

top side 12. I think he's just playing for

one of the loose reds, the way he has cued. He needs to be absolutely

straight on this. To get onto the black again. And then possibly

while... Well, if he runs that through he's going to be a bit

closer to the blank then he would like. You don't want to try and

pinch a bit of the pocket to make sure you get a good cue ball. Yeah,

if he pots the red into that side Play it in between the green and

brown with lots of right-hand side to come off the baulk cushion

right-hand side. He could even play that shot and play for the red left

of the black to the corner, if he plays it with even more pace.

You could have had a choice of two or three red splaying the other way.

Just got to make sure that he avoids scanning into that read on the right

side of the table there, which he has done. I'm just wondering if that

one next to the pink pots, because there's a back down the table if it

does go. That's the one he could take, and that's the sort of angle

the white would take. Yeah, he was hoping to just miss the

red on the way up and just land on it, but he caught the red direct. A

tester to the left middle pocket for Ben, which wouldn't have been

available if Shaun had got in behind the red.

There are never easy, those. Especially if you are 4-1 down.

Made it look very easy, that. Lots of right-hand striking to square the

cue ball up so that he can finish on the black. Without the side, this

would have come across the table and he would have been snooker behind

that red. But it put it in the perfect spot, and a great chance now

for Shaun to extend his lead. It's all looking very comfortable at

the moment for the former World and UK champion.

Just the pink needed to leave Ben at the Leuchars required stage. Pot

success rate creeping up now at 92%. 44. Yeah, it's become very

comfortable for Shaun Murphy now. He's not been put under any pressure

at all. He has just overscrewed that one

slightly. I think he's going to have to change the plan here.

I think Ben missed his chance before the mid-session interval, he could

easily have been 2-2 or even 3-1 ahead, as we said, but now it's

looking pretty straightforward. 58. Still a bit of a chance of

getting a century here. 83 in the opening frame, 72 in the

last frame. He knows he's going to need the

green if there's any chance of that century.

And once again! At the same pocket that the black stuck in when he

almost made a century in the opening frame. It's not looking good for Ben

Woollaston at the moment. Shaun Murphy extends his lead and he now

leads five frames to one. Well, here I am in the practice room

with Leicester's own deep McQueen! The world number one. What a game

that was. I played really poor and Jamie deserved to win 6-2 or 6-3 on

paper. I showed my real self and dug in and ground it out. Be honest, how

many times did you think you were going home? Quite a few times. I won

a frame at 4-4 and I thought it might rattle him that he came out

and made a century in the next frame and put me under pressure. I was

snooker on the last red. You have many talents to get to 11, but it's

a classic case of just keeping going. Amazing what can happen on a

snooker table. I missed so many easy balls last night but the 1 positive

thing I can take out of it is that when I needed support the tough

balls, I potted them. I ported the pink to go for -4 and that is a big

clearance out to go 5-5. Luckily enough I got to The Shires

clearances. If you go on and win a tournament

nowadays you very rarely play fantastic every single match, you

always have a match when you probably should have lost but you

managed to get through it. Well done and the clean enjoy it, he was here

till about half past one! Yes, the Jester from Leicester there

with our own John Parrott. Meanwhile we've got another player

come to the table from Leicester. Ben Woollaston. We've had a few good

players from that neck of the woods. When you mention Leicester,

you've got to mention the great WT, our colleagues. Willie Thorne. He

used to be called Mr Maximum. I think he's changed

used to be called Mr Maximum. I Mr Minimum! We will be going for a

bite to eat later and he will give me a bit of stick for that comment.

Pop he is a fantastic talent. Great to watch. I used to practice with

them at Leicester and he wanted to be knocking maximum breaks in. He

will be opening the reds appear so he should make sure he gets a good

white. In behind the Brown would be ideal. To do that he has to hit this

thread quite thick. That is pretty good. He has stopped shone from

having the easy escape down the right-hand side of the table. He

seems to think he can get past the green to flick the red, but I doubt

it. It is a safety shot, but you would think he is trying to pot at

the way he's playing it, but it is just a safety shot. He hit it too

thin. The pink and black are out of commission. When the red is right

over the pocket like this, it is difficult to control the cue ball.

He could think of plugging the one read on the cushion, that would make

it slightly easier to get onto the blue. He is going directly to it. As

I say, not easy to control the cue ball here. That is the last place he

wanted the cue ball to stop. A big shot coming up. You would think if

he missed it it would be the last shot he played today. If he plays a

little cannon onto that, I would say it would be perfect and it has

finished awkwardly. A little bit unfortunate there. It might have

needed a little bit of Ston on it. Then the weight would have stayed in

between the pink and black. This is a tricky shot because he is so close

to the black he cannot see the angle with his eyesight. It is like a

total blind pocket he is playing into. He is looking at the cushion

and the pocket is a way to the right. It is difficult to judge.

Well played. It is a bit of a chance for Ben. It would be nice to see him

locked in a sizeable break here. He is coming round to see the angle he

wants on the black. He wants to cannon the red in immediately above

the black. In between the black and the pink. He has come to straight to

play that. That is not too bad. He did claim the cannon, but he still

has the comparable red to the centre. -- he did not play the

cannon. He may have a nice angle on his pink. The reds are covering each

other at the moment. He has blocked the black off, but it does not

matter, the paint is open to all four pockets. To middle and two

quarters. A great chance to get another free on the board for Ben.

-- free on the board. There are three easy read as he glances at the

scoreboard. There are difficult ones to negotiate if he is to make enough

to clinch this badly needed frame. He has lost the cue ball. He didn't

leave himself an easy pink. The only consolation from that last shot, as

we showed it again, is that the blue has gone safe which helps then. He

is 38 in front. The black is tied up. The blue is now out of

commission. He has developed one red and if he has an ankle on the pink

he might develop the two raids on the left side of the table, because

the other one is pretty pocket, he would be position. -- guaranteed

position. There is another one in play. He has an ankle when potting

this trickle-down of the cushion. I do not know whether he can hold it

or not. Maybe he can, yeah. He will play to cannon the red and the black

of one cushion. He is looking at possibly can knowing this red. This

is a bit ambitious. He is trying to come off at half ball and go over to

is a bit ambitious. He is trying to develop the red and black balls.

That is how he was aiming at. That is a very ambitious shot. Let's see

the outcome. I just wonder is a very ambitious shot. Let's see

pot this red in the middle pocket. I am not too sure about that. It is

not a good angle. He might still be able to take the pot on. I do not

know if he can hold it enough for the black. I think you can pot the

red, but I do not think you the black. I think you can pot the

pocket and not get a colour. -- pot it.

Just at the moment, area is the cushion behind the black

and those two red is next to the yellow and green. -- the safety

area. He did attempt the double there. If

you play it back behind the cushion, behind the black, you have to be

careful not to leave behind the black, you have to be

the pink. He will have two be careful. He has got to be sure he

gets the white back. Oh, where is the red? Where is the red going?

These used to be my favourite shots, these. It just finished a little

awkward, but that little extension will give him a better reach. That

will do nicely. That has helped the situation here. He got another angle

to move in behind the red. He can run through. 36 ahead. Just

double-checking that to see how many he needs. It shouldn't be a problem.

45, the difference. 35 on the table. At the moment, three smokers needed.

-- three smokers needed. Not straight forward because the green

is in the way of going across the table. He needs lots of side on

this. It is just that the balls are nicely placed for the sneakers, that

is the reason he is carrying on here. This looks good, this looks

excellent to me. There is just enough room to sail around the back

of this red, so he will have to be careful. That is the angle he wants

to go, but not with much pace. There is more margin for error there.

Is it hard enough this time? It is. He is back there again. He could do

with this otherwise they will only be one snooker needed and this is

more difficult than the previous one, twice across to land the red.

Now just the one snooker needed. There is a possible shot on here. He

might not have the move very far. He will head back up behind the black

again, I think. That is three times in a row he has got the cue ball

there. Just a fraction short. I think he can swerve around. He has

got to be careful if he plays the swerve shot because he could catch

the pink. Then we'll be in such a bad state of mind with himself. Even

a simple snooker might prove too much now.

APPLAUSE There is the snookers that you

mentioned. He needs to hit this one. He has brought the blue into play.

That is the worst scenario. All of a sudden Shaun Murphy has gone

favourite. He will not believe what has happened in the last three or

four minutes. Every chance now he could go out of the championship.

Checking the scoreboard. Takes the green. That counts as an extra red

on the table, or whatever colour he pots. He gets one point. He hasn't

played the best shot there. He has avoided the green. He has treated

this very well. -- he has two hit this very well. You would have two

say that it is much ball. -- match ball. If he can pot this red and get

the cue ball and this will be the pot of the match. The PSP had that

much more difficult. Ben Woollaston can knock this red in. He is still

in the championship if he does. He almost wants out of the arena.

in the championship if he does. He Murphy. -- shot. Clever

in the championship if he does. He enough room for Ben to

in the championship if he does. He back of the red. It is tough to

judge because he is so close to that cushion. Going this way he will not

slip behind it, but he has still got to be accurate. He will settle for

that. If he can see this red fruit bowl or even half ball he can get a

snooker here. That was a tough shot that he took on here. Looking at

that angle he might not be able to play the snooker behind the pink. He

might have two come back onto the cushion and hope for the brown or

the yellow to be the sniggering ball. He has played it well.

the yellow to be the sniggering will annoy Shaun Murphy if he loses

this frame. After getting three snookers and having a great chance

to win it. It will just irritate him. He should have had this much

one now, 6-1. APPLAUSE

The fact he played it with PS, I still expected him to knock it in.

If you are ruling goes in the slightly easier. -- rolling those

in. Not quite. I think he can hit enough of that to certainly get back

up the table. Then on the left side. That will do. He is a thin ball

wizard. He caught it on the way back, not by much. Oh dear. A coat

of paint, as they say. Well, that is a poor shot, it has two be said. He

had that far too thick. He hung his head as soon as he saw it. He knew

his contact was too thick. This is another chance for Shaun Murphy,

although they are not ideally placed. Usually you would be playing

off one cushion and taking the pink coat, but the yellow is in an

awkward position to get on. If you leave the cue ball around with the

pink is you can cut the yellow back to the right corner. This would be

about the blue, you would feel. He will play this with a touch of

left-hand side to make sure he does not catch the yellow too thick. You

have got to keep the cue ball this side of the table, as close to the

green as possible. He has played it well. It is all about getting a good

angle on the brown to get up to the difficult blue. He would love to get

the tuple are anywhere near that circle. Not tight on the cushion.

APPLAUSE Well, it is paid on the cushion, but

there might be a slight angle here. There is. But that is what can

happen when you force them. That is a lifeline for Ben Wilson. Yes, I

did not expect that much. This will be really annoying for Shaun Murphy.

He could have won the match with that frame. Well, he is coming to

the table, but Ben Wollaston has got a lifeline.

Two snookers needed but the reason Shaun Murphy is playing on is

because of where the black is situated, if you get a snooker

behind the black it will be tough to escape from. Well, he might be in

behind the black now. That is not a bad effort. Is it hard enough? Is it

hard enough? Almost. I think he has. And it is enough to make this

workshop very difficult. -- the swerve shot. We have had a couple of

strange frames where snookers were needed. And Shaun Murphy went in-off

the black. Also is have been happening. I bet he got down on that

shop thinking, I will catch the middle jaw. That is just the way

that you think when things are not going well. I don't think he can get

the white round this time. He will have descend the pink around. No, he

could hit it then enough will stop here it is again. Here comes the

white again. -- hit it thinly enough. Not this time.

You would say he could go to the yellow pocket, but if you leave the

cue ball close to the object ball it will be easier to lay a snooker.

Shaun Murphy gets enough side on this then he can get over to the

black. The thing with this is that you have to try to make sure that

you keep the object ball safe as well. When you are looking for the

snooker. He has played to stun it over. But he hasn't kept the pink,

well, I was going to say he has not kept the pink safe but he has, if it

is tight, coercion, he can just roll this dead weight -- typed on the

Well, he has called the magician... You would need to be some magician

to get out of this situation. It's not often you see a player getting a

round of applause for missing a pot. He's done it again. LAUGHTER

It's nice to see that Ben is able to smile as well. He is 5-1 down and he

is still hanging on, but only just. He might get another round of

applause for missing an easy pot. Well... He is going to roll this

over the same pocket again. Can he get it in this time? He is teasing

Shaun Murphy! But that is what you always do when

your opponent needs a snooker. It is called in all -- in or over. Does he

risk rolling it over the pocket passed the black? There are little

thoughts going through his head, if he tries to roll it in he could miss

it and give him a chance to get a snooker. And he refused it. He likes

that corner pocket. About ten minutes ago it looked as

though this match was all over. LAUGHTER

He can't keep it out this time, not even the Magician can keep this out.

If he keeps it out of the pocket... even the Magician can keep this out.

I was going to say I would eat my hat but I haven't got a hat. It has

to go in. It's not all over just yet for Ben Woollaston. It looks as

though it was, but he is somehow still hanging in there. He is still

smiling. STUDIO: Can you think other tactical that has got the crowd and

the studio laughing so much over the past couple of months? He just could

not get the pink in. Shaun Murphy must be kicking himself. How has he

missed that blue? One of those shops where you just have to concentrate,

frame and match ball. It's a strange one because you can't ever predict

what will happen on a snooker table. Some of the most ridiculous shots we

have ever seen crammed into one frame. He feathers the ball on the

last red, and you thinking you might as well see a sports psychologist

afterwards to work it out. As it turns out he has won the frame but

not in style so he will not necessarily be that confident into

the next frame. He would have liked to have won in style to give him

self-confidence coming into the next frame. His approach and his state of

mind, he just wants to get out into the arena? It was looking like that,

we have been around long enough to see warning signs for the players

but when I said earlier, I could not see him winning from 5-1 down, I

still can't, but he has to see warning signs for the players but

when I said earlier, I could not see him winning from 5-1 down, I still

can't, but he has if he makes a decent break in this frame then the

mindset will change because he will get his tail up. One more frame and

Shaun Murphy will be in the last 16. Let's get back to the commentators.

COMMENTATOR: This will be interesting to see how the frame

develops. He has got to win four frames in a

row and I tell you what, that's a pretty good safety shot to start off

with. Shaun Murphy, well, he will be just looking for that one opening

and he will be looking to clinch the match in style. But will he get any

easier opening? -- will he get an easy opening?

Two decent safety shots in a row from Ben. It's amazing that you can

send signals to your brain and give yourself a boost of confidence.

Shaun probably knock this in and get on the black now that you have said

that! It's the sort of shot that he is so

good at. Boy, was that a pot! One thing, after what went on in the

last frame, Shaun will want this match over as quickly as possible.

This is a chance to do it. That was a fabulous pot, though, to get in,

it really was. We talked about it earlier, he has

the knack of, when he makes a mistake or plays a poor shot, he

quickly forgets about it. It's worth mentioning the opening red a couple

of times, it really was very special. Here is another look at it.

That's the number of points he is looking for, 69 will get him through

to the last 16 of this year's UK Championships.

Just having a look at the seven reds, just weighing up and looking a

couple of shots ahead. He can please himself what he does here, I don't

think the back red goes otherwise he would can the right of the reds. He

stunned into the side of them. He made sure he did not stick in the

reds. If he screwed into them he could have stuck on the back red

which was on the end of the bunch, there. He has to be a bit careful

because he can't see the one nearest the pocket and the other one is

quite tight. We will get a perfect picture as we move around. Yes, he's

got plenty of room. I say plenty of room, he only just got past the

other red. He is doing what other great champions seem to do, they

always seem to be able to finish in style.

He has been pretty impressive today, Shaun Murphy. Very solid. If I were

to be picky I would say that his safety play needs to improve as the

tournament goes on. He has not been put under pressure. It could have

been 2-2 after the first four but generally he has had a pretty

comfortable afternoon. And that is surely the end of the match. He

started with a break of 83, he had a couple of chances to make a century

and got a kick on one attempt. Ben Woollaston, well, he has been having

a pretty good season, getting to the final of the Welsh Open. Gradually

climbing up the rankings. We will final of the Welsh Open. Gradually

seeing a lot more of Ben, but it's all about the

seeing a lot more of Ben, but it's Murphy, who has certainly waved his

magic wand on a few occasions this afternoon. 90. The Bluebell Would

children's Hospice has already got over ?1000 for the number of

centuries made, and this could add to that.

99. Very well played, Shaun Murphy. APPLAUSE

106. A classy break from a classy player. It doesn't matter about the

red. Shaun Murphy has done it in style and he has a chat with Ben

Woollaston. He did not really get going this afternoon. But we will

see a lot more of Ben Woollaston. A great player, but the afternoon

belongs to Shaun Murphy as he wins comfortably, 6-2. STUDIO: Well, we

said it earlier, it would be an uphill struggle for Ben Woollaston

this afternoon. Shaun Murphy showing his class. A fantastic shout from

Dennis Taylor, he will probably not in this and clear up! It was a good

shout. Shaun Murphy, for all of the fact that we have spoken over the

years about the fact that tactically he is not the absolute top, but that

part of his game is masterful and he made it look so easy. That is his

big strength. Jamie Jones has just tweeted that there is no cleaner

striker of a snooker ball on the circuit and Shaun Murphy. The way he

lost last night to Mark Selby, I can't believe he is looking at a

snooker table for the next six months! His cueing is superb, and

his break-building is excellent and when you can play as good as him,

you have got a chance at any tournament. Here he comes. This man

is looking like he is coming into is obviously to win, but also looking

comfortable in big tournaments. We have to give him some credit for

that, now that he's here! I think he has matured. It's nice to see

somebody get on the table and play with their natural instincts. Lots

of overthinking happens, and we are all guilty sometimes. If you can

somehow free up your brain to just play your natural game as if you are

in a club it is a much easier. Easier said than done, of course. I

have been on that journey for a few years and I have talked about it

over the past few seasons. I went to also observed different people for

help on tactical and safety play to become a better all-rounder. I found

out that I'm just not that good at it and realise I need to go back to

my original style of play that won the World Championships for me when

I was 22 years of age. It is the style I enjoy and I like to play my

shots. Long may it continue. Do you feel happier with your new-found

confidence in the game? Winning the Masters in January has changed the

snooker world for me. It has taken away the element of, will he ever

win the Masters and complete the triple Crown? Now I have done that I

can put it to bed and come to every tournament, the European Tour

events, the Australian open, the UK Championships, and just play good

snooker. Freeing yourself in that way and not worrying is massive.

There is no better example than Steve of just playing your normal

game, he just made century after century and if you don't score now,

you simply don't win. We were talking before we came on air and

you said the great thing about snooker, especially when you are on

a winning run, holding the trophy aloft. Is that something you gain

confidence from, nothing better than lifting a title and thinking, I can

win the next one? NXT my children being born, holding that trophy up

in the air is the most wonderful feeling. -- next to my children.

Shaun has been able to do the triple Crown and it's a wonderful

achievement. Your form can change with technique, but it's about how

long you can keep in the right frame of mind throughout your career,

maybe the defining moment in how many tournaments you win. Guaranteed

down the line come at you will have doubts. That is for every player in

the game, whether it is Ronnie O'Sullivan all players ranked much

lower. It is how long you can keep enjoying it but not be carefree, but

still enjoy it enough that you don't hamper yourself with the paralysis

by analysis. What's important is the gap between success that is

important, the gaps between wins, none of us are playing for second

place, but the gaps between tournaments, whether it is a small

European Tour event or a major championship, that's where it's at,

and if you can at least win one tournament season... You lose a lot

more than you win in our game. It's as simple as that. You play in and

if you win 20 that's fantastic. You have to be philosophical anyway. I

have not reached that stage as a man where losing does not hurt, I can't

just go home and think never mind. It knocks me for a few days. I need

good people around me, Elaine and my coach Chris and Chris and Brandon

and those people to pick me up and say, get back on the practice table.

You have a good team You need a team to pick you up and

get you back running. Are you one of these players who looks who is

remaining in the draw as well? No Ronnie O'Sullivan and we have lost

Stuart Bingham and Ding Junhui. We'll most lost the man in the

practice room. Are you thinking, I fancy this? Do you think that with

the Bing guns anyway? -- big guns? I prefer not to know and I only know

at the last minute. Until we shake each other's hands. I don't think it

makes any difference in snooker. There might be the odd tactical shot

where you play a shot you would not play against a left-hander or

right-hander, but I don't think it makes any difference, if you do your

job well and do your work nicely, you will have every chance. Do you

think other players worry about you? I have probably earned my right not

to worry any more. As you say, let them worry about everyone else. Ben

Woollaston has set the goal in the next year to try to get into the top

16. When you look at Ben Woollaston, can he cracked the top 16 from what

you have seen today? If you look at the top 16 there are definitely

players that he could beat. I would fancy that he would achieve his goal

if he goes about it in the right way and works harder than the rest of

the tour, I'm sure he can get in because he's a cracking lad. I hope

he does really well. Thank you for joining us. Let's bring you right up

to date with the other matches taking place on tables three and

four this afternoon. Tom Ford is through to the last 16 where he will

face either Judd Trump or Liang Wenbo. The man from Leicester went

3-1 up. Breaks of 70 in frame six and 75 in 7 means that he is now

through to the next round. Knocking out Wilson, the world number 22,

another Leicester man into the top 16, alongside Mark Selby of course.

Stephen Maguire is taking on Mark Davis. The UK champion from 2004 is

now leading 5-4. In the early exchanges in the 10th frame. We will

now turn our attention to Mark Allen against Martin Gould, at -- and the

three Wise men have been talking about Mark Allen's game. Mark Alan,

had a few knocks on the door before finally converting in the World Open

championship in China. He won again in 2013. Not being disrespectful, he

is not necessarily premiership, but Championship material? Knocking on

the doors of the premiership? I'm not so sure, when he performs at his

best, you can really come at you know, he will outplay anybody. He

wears his heart on his sleeve more often than not. When he gets in and

around them, what he is great at is positional play around the pink and

black and making big breaks. His consistency is not as good as the

other big players, and I understand where you are coming from, sometimes

he does not look interested and he might go in the towel too early.

When he is in around the pink and black he has a lovely cue action and

stones and develops the reds beautifully and he plays with a lot

of heart. On his day he is unstoppable and he can pot balls

from all over the place. He knows snooker inside out and he has a lot

of bottle. He has all of the attributes to make a winner. Yet he

does not feature in the winners enclosure as often you would think.

I wonder whether a couple of technical things that he does in his

game don't suit him to the kind of conditions we have in this part of

the world, in the UK, Ireland and Europe in general. I'm not sure that

his short, sharp, punchy technique and the way he strikes the ball is

suited to our very slippy and Spinney conditions that we

experience over here and that's why I think he has had the majority of

his success in the Far East. On a given day he could do a Stuart

Bingham at the World Championships and come through the field to win.

You are sort of expecting a big run in one of these big tournaments any

day now. He is quite outspoken and has upset the authorities over the

past few years a little bit. He won't hold back his opinion on

something, and I'm not convinced it always helps, I'm not sure that

sometimes you don't have two toe the line a little bit and sort of say

the right thing. It's not always wrong just to nod your head and move

on. Sometimes you have depict your fights. -- you have to pick your

fights. I've often wondered what it must be like to get the reaction

from the player they are talking about. Let's find out... Who was the

other bloke? I've never seen him before! Steve Davis! Let's find out

what they thought of that. I definitely don't like it but Steve

is entitled to his opinion and I respect his opinion. I see myself as

better than that. I think Steve, when he first played me in my first

match as a professional, said a lot of things, that I wouldn't make it,

but I've been in the top ten for seven years now. Completely

understand being consistency part, that has probably been my biggest

downfall. I don't know why it is because I work hard all year round,

the only time I put away my cue is over the summer. I might be a little

bit rusty initially but other than that I work hard. That could be part

of the reason I am inconsistent, I rely a lot on my timing and the way

I have a short action with a lot of wrist movement, it is not something

I would want to teach, but it's hard for me to try to change that now.

When we were last with these two it was 1-1 and we join it in frame

three with Allen 6-0 up. Well, it looked as though the cue ball

drifted, has he left the red at the back of the pack?

Well, what a mistake that is. I'm not quite sure why he played that

red initially, why didn't he just come off to cushions into the pack?

Pretty straightforward, same result. Sometimes when you are playing beau