Second Round: Featuring Mark Selby - Part 2 UK Snooker Championship

A good jn to those of you just joining us on the first day of our

coverage from York. 6 players getting under way in what is the

second round, surprise news early in the week Neil Robertson is already

out and this afternoon we are keeping a close eye on the world

number one Mark Selby who is under way against Daniel Wells today.

Ranked 67 places below him. There is a battle in the opening frame and it

is the Welshman in the ascendancy. Dennis Taylor and Steven hen tri,

all yours. He knocked that red in, he could just see enough of it so

another chance for Daniel, to take this opening frame.

Mark got in early on but an awkward black off the spot when he tried to

power it in. Then it became a bit scrappy, that was the black, the

white will bounce before it gets to the black as you can see there.

They are very tough those. So an early confidence boost for the

Welsh play here. 26 ahead. Not quite over the winning

line just yet. He is going to need one of the

difficult reds. He will only need the red, should he get a red and

high value colour, which shouldn't be a problem.

He has an angle on the pin, to play up for the red next to the yellow,

although she left happeneder he would have preferred to be on the

black to roll it on the cushion to secure the frame, but having to take

the pink. -- he is a left-hander.

And he is going to need the extension on his cue to reach this,

he is 40 ahead, so he can just roll the red in.

Coming up to 32 minutes. The black went a bit awkward, as did the pin

for early on in the frame. -- pink.

I think Mark will carry on the way the balls are situated. It is only

the green that is in a bad position. In a pretty good spot for snookers.

That's a snooker and the red over the pocket.

Messy shot. Round the black. Might even pot this.

Didn't really want to pot it, but a beautiful shot to watch though,

wasn't it. So he needs this black, really.

Couple of snookers needed. You see, 35 behind, 27 on.

Chance of a snooker here. He is checking the score board. He

needs two snookers to tie at the moment. If he could get the yellow

somewhere in behind the black, stun in behind the brown, leave it

awkward. Didn't want the kiss on the blue. A

lovely picture of another little swerve shot coming up.

Would you risk trying to get through that gap or would you rather come

off the cushion, he could hit the pink or black, it is more or less

the equivalent of two snookers if you give six or seven points away.

Ooh! Where is the cue ball? In the pocket. He just flicked the edge of

it. A bit unlucky to go in-off. Have a look at this.

To hit the black and hit the pink, to go in the middle pocket. I mean,

how's your luck? Just one snooker to tie now. And the

black is in a good spot for a snooker, maybe not from this

position, but it is ideally placed. And he's gone in behind it. Very

clever shot, because he used the green as a stopper, otherwise the

yellow would have come back up the table. He really does no his way

round a snooker table. Look at this shot. I mean that is just as he

played it. Enough for him to slip round the back of the yellow here.

Two cushion, I think, or is he trying to get it off one? That is a

two cushion, it looks good. Nicely played, Daniel.

Acknowledged by Mark, just tapping the table there.

What Mark Selby does well, everybody if he doesn't get a snooker, he

never leaves his opponent a pot on. Daniel must have thought, he had

this frame in the bag. Ten minutes ago, but he has a lot of work do,

still, to get his first frame. Try and cut this yellow thin, second it

to the green, bring the cue ball back down the table.

Yellow behind the pink. He will cue back behind the black if he is

playing baulk. He is perhaps using the green as a cannon here, didn't

get into the cue ball enough. Commentators curse, say never lose a

pot on, very next shot. It is dead straight, so he has to play this

with a lot of bottom and leave the white with the yellow, as it looks

to be plum, there it is, right in the middle of the pocket.

Clever lit 8 shot from Daniel. He knocked the black shaif. Might be

snookered after this shot though. -- he knocked the black safe.

This is not straightforward to escape from.

Don't think he can reach to bend it round the blue and come off the

baulk cushion. And the brown looks to be in the way of the cushion. And

the middle pocket on the left side of the table sightly in the way of

quings escape. -- one cushion.

It looks as if he missed the middle pocket slightly. He could get it off

one cushion. Well... This should be the end of

the first frame. This time Mark looks to the referee

and he concedes, so that earlier break of 47 paved the way for the

Welshman to take the opening frame, and he leads the world champion by

one frame to nil. HAZEL IRVINE: Yes 43 minute opening

frame. We are in the player's lounge, a great play to enjoy a cup

of takes I tell you what, right from the outset he is having to work very

hard for anything he is getting from Mark Selby. Yes fascinating first

frame. Daniel Wells looks to be cueing nicely but the difference

between being the winners is the confidence level, and we spotted a

shot earlier, that Daniel Wells had on the brown. It is funny because

players like the play the shots they like, this is running side, down at

the cue ball and swing the white round the table. It is not the right

shot to play for that situation, but we have all done it. This is certain

shots you like on the table. He should have been dropping that in

coming down the table. He would have had the option of three reds to win

the frame with. You have to play the right shot even if it is not the one

you fancy. It is about comfort levels, you know you are up against

the number one, what makes you comfortable is not the right shot?

It is about trying to win the frame when you get an opportunity and

Stephen Hendry will sayness, once you get a chance among the balls you

have to make the most of it. Daniel Wells let control of the table go

back to Mark Selby, he got back in the frame but I think Daniel did

well to win it. He could have killed the frame off by playing the correct

shot. He chose a risky shot and all of a sudden it was hard to get over

the line. ? We know what he will be facing, Mark Selby will not give him

an inch here, into frame two we go. The way Mark Selby started that

frame where the beautiful long red. A tough black from the side cushion.

Thought possibly he was off to one of his fast starts. He will be

disappointed the way the flame turned out after that. The top

player, you want to stamp your authority on a match quickly.

-- the frame. You get through the early rounds

hassle free. Yes and you had a few hassle free

games your time Steven. Just a few! That is an excellent safety from

Mark, there. Say an excellent safety, it is so

good that Daniel might have to take the pot on because there is no easy

safety shot. What a nicely controlled pot that

was, he couldn't see a safety shot, he thought I will have a go at this.

He is a bit unlucky. How is this for confidence? You can see with the cue

ball, what he is leaving if he missed that. He was virtually forced

to play it, so that pace was good. Very unlucky not to be on the black.

Straightforward this safety, that is who I he is getting back up again,

there is a red near the middle pocket he could cannon into if he

doesn't get the correct contact. So change of plan.

-- that is why. Well, that is a bit of a risk,

because Mark Selby, if he pots this, he will automatically be on the

black and Daniel felt, well, I'll tease him, but the fact that the

white has finished tight on the cushion might, no, he is still going

to have a go at it. Mine, he doesn't like it.

If that white was fractionally off the cushion. He would have taken

this red along the cushion behind the black.

Much more open frame, THE this, than the first frame which went very

awkward. I think Mark Selby used his

experience there, he got down as if he was going to take the tricky

black along the cushion and decided I've lost the opening frame. Let's

keep things tight. Don't leave Daniel right in among the balls.

Well played. Swung that wide round lovely there.

He just acknowledged that good safety shot with a tap on the table

again, but a there is no easy route back down to the safety zone for

Mark Selby. He might have to be tempted to play

one of those deep screw, the first player that ever played this type of

shot was the Canadian bill Werbeniuk. No path down the table,

he has so much cue power he used to screw the white back down the table

from this sort of position. Bill Werbeniuk. No path down the

table, he has so much cue power he used to screw the white back down

the table from this sort of position.

I said the frame was nicely open, but straightaway the blue has been

knocked on to the side cushion. This is a out a chance for Mark

Selby. He should finish on pink and he has

the yellow and brown in the open. Green and blue is south of

commission but shouldn't be a problem here.

I said it shouldn't be a problem. It is not bad.

He has the yellow to the middle and can get back up. So a couple of

shots time he might be in round the black spot area.

A bit edgy, Mark Selby now. He missed that yellow in the middle,

that red was never going in. He was up straightaway, he knew he

mis-hit that. A shake of the head, chance for Mark

Selby now. This will bring the pink back on to

the spot. The black is in the open, the reds are nicely placed. Don't be

surprised if he doesn't knock a few in here.

Daniel Wells won't be expecting to get back to the table, certainly

been able to win the frame -- certainly won't be able to win the

frame. The best positional shot he could

have played there. He is still comfortable on the pink but it is

not pinpoint position. The situation if the players having

to use the cushion, it means they haven't got that cue ball on an

absolute string, the way the reds are situated, they will usually be

playing little screws and stuns. Definitely one of the great

break-builders in game, Mark Selby. He has made 439 century break, 47

last season, he is on 21 so far this season. He has made the maximum

break on two occasions. Again another example, he didn't cue

that nicely at all. The red on the wrong side of the

pocket, and again, he is on the pink but not as he wanted. Here you see

he wants, he virtually hit that straight on there.

Not sure if that wasn't a slight kick the red seemed to jump there,

as we showed you that shot again. Come up a bit short again, have a

look at the red here. Maybe it just threw it into the

right side of the pocket as you mentioned, Steven.

Well, there is a SatNav Selby special, all the ray round the

angles. -- all the way.

That is the frame-winning shot right there.

Yes that last shot was not unlike the black he missed off the spot. It

was slightly more difficult but it was a well controlled shot that one,

we showed you again there. Totely different frame to the

opening frame. -- totally.

This is where all snooker players like to be in round the black spot

area, with the reds open. Frame well and truly safe now. And

you just notice there with Mark Selby, for the last couple of

seasons he doesn't move round as enough as he used do in the shot.

Still had all the success in the world of but he has worked hard in

keeping that head much stiller. That is a pretty good shot. If he

drops this in, he will have a nice angle on the black to drop on the

last red and give himself the chance of a century.

I think this is one of the beauties of Mark Selby, quite a tactical

frame because the ball 's world awkward. The frame just over 40

minutes, but here he is. Virtually his first real chance. He is

finishing second off in style. Mind you, he has to play a good shot

to get onto the yellow to get a century. Not much to work with

there. That was about the best he could do.

Tricky yellow for his first century in the televised stages.

Well done. Doesn't matter about the green. He

got the one chance and he took it. A lovely century break, and he levels

the score at 1-1. HAZEL IRVINE: That is Mark's and century of the week,

because he beat Andy Hicks 6-1 in the first round with 100 there as

well. We were talking during the frame about the consistency this man

has shown. He has won three big events. Absolutely thumped Ding

Junhui. Really consistent now. Very consistent. Scoring as well,

winning frames in one visit. When he starts doing that, allied to his

ring craft, which is second to none, he is a handful for anyone. He

forced a mistake from Daniel and made a century from it. He is

playing really well at the moment. You can only be consistent if you

win a lot of the bread and butter matches. To get yourself into the

Frank to win tournaments. What Mark Selby does very well, even if he is

in a spot of bother, he can dig himself out of a whole easily. He

does not look totally comfortable in the first frame, or the first part

of the second frame, but he got one chance, really decent chance, dug in

deep and made a century break. He might have missed a couple of shots

before that, but we talk about big games and all of that, but he has

fantastic fighting qualities. It is not easy on the eye for some people,

but snooker players love to watch him grafting.

The proof is that he has now occupied the number one spot for a

longer period of time since the rolling ranking system came in and

that was 2010. He is dominating the sport, perhaps those that are not

watching it a great deal failed to realise how dominant a personality

he is at the moment. You have got to earn that. He works

very hard at his game, allied to everything else. If you get the

results he has been getting, he lost in a final as well, so he has won

three finals and lasting one. It takes a very good player to knock

him out. Back we go. COMMENTATOR: It is difficult to

knock him out if he keeps sniggering you like he has done there. It

shouldn't be a problem for Daniel to come off the side cushion and into

the reds. He has stuck a red up. Where is the

colour coming from? The Blackwood go, the pink is tied up -- black

won't go. He did well there. Quite a fit lad,

Mark Selby, as you can see him on the table there.

Well, where is the blue going? That is a very disappointing mess

after the century in the last frame. It is the sort of shot that in

practice he probably can pot 20 times in a row. A mid range, long,

straight blue to the corner. Lovely angle to top spin into the

main bunch here. He can leave himself on the bread between the

black and the pack. Oh, dear. The break is still going, but I thought

he would have taken an opportunity there. -- on the red.

Absolutely perfect there. And now he is not even on the red.

Doesn't matter the fact that he is straight on

he needs a good angle on the blacklist time to go into the bunch.

He still has a loose bread there, but you want to leave that as a bit

of insurance. Give yourself a couple of options. Oh... what did he do

with that? Did he put a trace of side? Whatever he did, he made a bit

of a hash of that one. It was fairly straightforward. I think you put a

bit of side, and has taken the cue ball off line.

Just a wee bit unlucky there, because he knew the red over the

middle, he could develop one of the two reds. He got the cannon, but

none of them went into a pottable position.

Well, a good chance now. As long as he misses the pink, he can get into

the bunch here. He has to be precise. The pink is a little bit

awkward, but he should be able to avoid cannon ink onto the pink. You

can see where he has got the cue, that is where he would like to hit

them. Somewhere near the line there would avoid the pain. He has got to

be very precise. I think that's the end of break,

unless there's something. As you can see, nothing will go.

The far left corner, there is a pocket for the blue as well.

I was going to say, he was unlucky for a minute there, but maybe he

still can. You can pop the pain, but he can't do much with it. If he

didn't hit the middle pocket, he would have been nicely on the blue.

On the pink and it would have been a nice chance to secure the third

frame. He is limited with what he can do. He has two just rolled it

in. But there will be one. It will go to the left middle pocket.

He had to say, once the cue ball, he was unlucky for it to land, hampered

by the pink. If he had, it would be frame over.

Still, he should get the red to left middle, but it is more difficult

than it would have been. Nothing to do with the cue ball, really.

I think everything pots to this right corner, it is a matter of

putting the cue ball down the left-hand side of the table.

He will be very disappointed with that one.

Well, I think we heard a sigh from Daniel as soon as he hit that. He

knew he didn't play that very well. As Stephen said, such a margin for

error anywhere, up past the middle pocket, and he was left with the

choice of five reds, believe it or not.

Now, he can pop this one but it is awkward. -- pot.

Instead of clinching the frame, he is now in a position where he could

quite easily lose it. He had a 31 point advantage, which is not much

for where the balls are sitting. A very good safety shot from Daniel

Wells there. His heart would have been in his mouth a little bit when

he saw the red going towards the left corner.

Very unlike Mark Selby to catch the jaw of the middle pocket there.

Really, it looks as if he has handed this frame on a plate to Daniel

Wells. Just a few high valued colours with a couple of reds.

Yeah, that really was a shocker from Mark Selby there. He really miss hit

it. Very unusual. Another red and a pink would be

enough. 46 ahead, as you can see. Very unlike Mark Selby to hit a shot

like that too Finn. -- Finn. He is coming around to look at the

school board, the Welsh player, to make sure he is safe. You don't get

a running total there, you have to work it out.

Poor shot from the red, on the wrong side of the blue. The blue puts him

32, 51 on the table. He won't want another 20 minutes of sniggering and

safety. -- snookering. Barring a snooker, he has got

himself in the lead again. Perfectly placed.

One good pot and Mark Selby won't come back to the table.

He can pop the brand, or roll up to the brand, and leave a snooker --

brown. Mark Selby looks at the referee and

concedes the frame. The man from Wales will be delighted, he leads

the world champion to- one. He will be absolutely delighted with his

performance so far -- 2-1. There was a shop where he should have polished

the frame. He gave a big sigh when he played the blue. He left himself

a nice angle, he had so much margin for error. Anywhere, he had a choice

of reds. He sighed because he did not play it as intended, and left

the white nowhere. He hit it far too flick. He tried a difficult red. But

went on to win the frame with an uncharacteristic mistake on safety

from Mark Selby. A century apart, and reds were perfect for a century

in the previous frame. Apart from that, he has looked ragged today,

Mark Selby. This is just something you never see him doing. He just

completely miss hit it, and caught the jaw of the middle pocket. One

more frame before the mid-session interval. The world number one and

current one champion could do with it. -- current world champion.

He's left this red on to left middle.

He's not even going to entertain that shot.

He doesn't want his cue ball to bounce too much. Another very poor

safety shot from Mark Selby. Sometimes, when a player plays bad,

you can take missed pots, but you don't often see bad safety shots

from him. Not one of the mill ones like that -- not run-of-the-mill.

He's not been punished. You have got to punish these mistakes. As the

match goes on, Selby is going to get stronger.

It wasn't a sitter, but I still expected Mark to pot that. I was

surprised he didn't even look at the red to left middle. He couldn't do

much with the cue ball on that shot. Good shot, good solid pot.

He really does keep very still on the shot. That long red that he

knocked in, it was a good indication of that.

A little bit of noise coming from one of the other tables.

In between frames. Four tables here at the Barbican. There are other

tables on the other side of the reader also. There are the four

tables. They are used to all sorts of conditions. The first time they

had four tables at the Barbican, a very good crowd in today, all on one

side, which changes when you get down to two tables. You can't have

people all around the table on three sides.

Doesn't want to be straight on this black. He might have a slight angle

to power it in and come off the cushion into the reds. A little bit

of angle there. There is a red near the pocket. That will go. He would

even be dreaming about a possible maximum break at this stage. I think

his highest break in tournament play was 136 in the 2015 German Masters.

But a good angle on the blue here, after putting the red, straight into

the pink, and he could have a terrific chance to go to the

mid-session interval with a 3-1 lead. It is all about the shop from

the blue into the pink and red. -- shot.

The two rents below the pink, the second one just brushes off the pack

towards the left corner pocket, that is what he is worried about. He

might not play this with so much pace. He might brush the left-hand

side after the pink as we look at it, and the red slightly away from

the bunch, try to promote that. I would be surprised if he goes into

them at pace here. He has played a controlled shot, and

has played it very well. He is unlucky with that red on the

cushion. That is very unlucky. He couldn't have played that any

better, really. Now, is there a gap between the two

reds to take one into the right middle, he had a look at it, but it

must be tired. He is looking again. He deserved to be on something, the

way he played that last shot, that Steven explained so well.

Oh, he can't see enough of that. 46 in front, and as you mentioned

Steven, a bit of good fortune there, and he would have had a 3-1 lead.

If he stuns the cue ball when the red is here he will be on the black,

to the right conner. -- corner.

Chose to play it with top-spin. And that for me made the pot more

difficult. Oh, I thought he was going to block the pocket but I

don't think he has, the red will go. Well there is a couple of reds will

go. Another chance for Daniel, after that misfortune. He ran out of

position. He looks pretty calm, cool and

collected, but he is under a lot of pressure out there, but he's giving

a very good account of himself here, so far. Oh that one wobbled. He

knows the importance of this frame and he knows he is pretty close to

the winning line, and this frame before the mid-session interval, pot

Sui success sup at 95%. That is excellent.

Smashing lad. From Neath in South Wales. Eighth year as a

professional. A couple of those seasons, he was

off the circuit, had to play his way back on to it again. He hasn't

played the best of positional shots there.

The last couple of shots he has looked a bit nervous. He is thinking

how important this frame is. Straight on the black. Come back off

the cushion. Finished just off straight. You have to cue these

really well. A lot of left-hand side, if he is going to play the

screw shot. That will do. Not winning the frames in one visit,

but he is just doing enough at the moment.

Very important that Daniel punishes him, he has done, he is 3-1 up.

Yes the fourth time these players have played. Mark has won the

previous three, but the last one was in India in 2013 and Mark only one

on the deciding frame, four frames to three.

Well, he is OK, if the red passes the pink. It doesn't matter about

that being touching, he is playing away from it any way.

Highest break so far was in the opening frame when he made a break

of 47. This is a timely effort here. But it is the best of 11, so 3-1 is

a healthy lead, but when you are up against world number one and current

world champion, you are a long way from the winning line, but it's a

great start for the Welsh player. Doesn't matter about that. Mark

Selby only one frame. The man from Neath go into the mid-session

interval 3-1. HAZEL IRVINE: 3-1 in front. And the man who made the new

cue he is playing with John Parrott is sitting behind you. He seems to

have a new lease of life this season, this young fella. Yes,

apparently Daniel said that the cue that he had before that, was so

lively that he was getting too much action on the cue ball on these very

lively conditions. So therefore perhaps you know, the art of trying

to get the right cue for the table, whereas that might not be the right

cue for a club table, it is like playing on the Masters of golf with

a different type of putter. Yes, sometimes you go into bigger

diameter on the cue, to make it, it takes a bit of work off, if you play

with something eight-and-a-half millimetres as oppose to ten you get

too much screw back. He is still producing the goods. You have to say

how comfortable do you feel 3-1 against Mark Selby. I don't think he

is. He has lost the cue ball a few times, it took two or three chances

to get over the line, he is thinking to himself t 3-1 is a good score, he

lost the cue ball a couple of time, you get anxious in front. It is a

funny psychology, he has done well to hold himself together. He is

looking the better of the two players against Mark who has only

made that century break, I think considering the fact this is

supposed to be Mark's office, he has been on the television cameras for

the last few years all the time, and for Daniel he doesn't get many

opportunities to be in this big a frame. I think that is an excellent

performance in the four frames. A couple of years ago Mark in the last

64 as we are now went out, it was real shock, to David Morris of

Ireland, that was a big scalp for David and Mark had become a father

at the time, as things happened with new babies and new families it was a

turbulent time for him. But I wonder whether an event like that entering

your mind, the fact you are scarred a bit from an experience like this

at this stage. It shouldn't be for him. He is too good a player and too

experienced. We are talking about Daniel being inner vows, Mark Selby

will be nervous as well. With any match a different day, you don't

know how the balls are going to run. You have to stamp your authority on

a game. If you goes wrong you can put yourself in trouble which he is.

Your assessment of the way Mark has started so far. He has got off to a

pretty ragged start by his standards, he dug in well to win

that second frame but he is back against the wall as much as his

point who you would expect was going to be the one who falters first, he

is knocking them in, they are going in the pockets, and for Mark's

position, he has been there many times before, the latter part of the

frame when the match where the best players usually come to fruition,

but you can't guarantee it. Best of 11, you haven't got too much

breathing space. To news is on him to start playing. In this interval

we will reflect on what is a burgeoning snooker tour, it started

two weeks after the Crucible final and it has been going great guns

ever since, they have been to 12 different big events in eight

different country since then, it is the first time in history, that the

total prize money for the tour has topped ?10 million, and that really

is a big milestone. Let us give you a look at the winners to date.

A couple of multiple winners and new champions but we should go back to

that point. ?10 million threshold, and 23 or so major events throughout

the whole season, a few years ago these guys were having part-time

work to keep going through six ranking event, what a turn round.

All credit to Barry for turning it round. To be 18, to be playing six,

seven hours to have your game and playing, what an opportunity to earn

a fantastic living plained in a wonderful sport. It has brought up

another problem, because to play on the tour now, costs a certain amount

more money, that throws up, you have to decide how strongly you fancy the

job of being a professional, because all of a sudden your overheads are

higher so you have to generate the prize money, when there was only six

events there was not much snooker but it didn't cost you so up many on

the tour, so the second phase is now can you justify being a

professional? Indeed. But those who have made their way and are doing

really well, some of the stand out things for me, Ali Carter's return

after getting the second all clear, to win, that was a huge milestone or

for him. You have had Antony McGill and Mark King, 25 years this man has

been on the tour, never won a world ranking tournament until last

Sunday. He did it against Barry Hawkins and it was hugely emotional.

He was joined by his family. I know you have been a great mentor to this

fella. Look at the joy in his face. How meaningful is that? To all of

his friends and associates in the game? Romford born and bred, he is a

fantastic character, everybody would have been rooting for him, he has

been through a journey, in life as well as on the table, and you can

only think, well, not only is it great for him because he is a

character, but all of the other players further down the rankings go

this is another inspiration not to give up, if it is going wrong, get

back on the horse and try again. It has been a fantastic journey --

journey for him. Would you believe it, he was knocked out in round one,

still in a daze here in York, in fact so much in a daze was he, he

forgot take his cue back into the arena after the mid-session interval

and was docked a frame. So he has gone, but he is going to join us on

Thursday, to reflect on that fantastic achievement, so from all

of us Mark, very well done indeed. John Higgins is full of confidence

as he should be, because he has won back-to-back events in November, and

in technical term, there are very few that get as good as the Wizard.

When you talk about match players John Higgins falled into that

category. John is on the top of most lists but consummate match player,

tactical player, all round player, you can't have those conversations

without mentioning him. What ability his technique? It is different from

others? His action is longer than would be accepted in the modern day

game, but on these cloths that we play on, trying to control the ball,

but that comes from years of practising with Stephen Hendry in

the old days where he would have seen what Steven was doing, John's

action repeats, it is very deliberate, and he will be down long

waggle, they are usually in the same rhythm. Doesn't hit it until he is

ready. A nice pull back, it is always the same. . He never zel

rates. -- decelerates. No, his shot election enables him to play with

commitment. He is never half, 50-50 on a shot where you can decelerate

because you are not committed to it. He is always thinking hard about the

shot and he can give it 100%. What about his break-building? You think

it is different. This is a very fine point, but from the start of a

frame, in a break-building position I would have him down as what I

would call a picker, myself, I might be looking into getting the reds

open as soon as possible. You here with Stephen Hendry, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, Judd Trump first good chance to get that pack open, they

splash the reds everywhere. Higgins is an older stale player, he will

look to pick the loose reds off, that is in case it goes wrong, he

leaves you the puzzle. Many players would get to the 50, 60 point mark

and the reds are everywhere. If it goes wrong you can lose in two or

three minute, I have played John so many time, where something will go

wrong at 50 or 60, you come to the table, and you have got a Rubik's

Cube of a problem to solve. He has left you nothing and not by

mistakes. He is 41 but still winning, why? I have done a bit of

thinking about this. Since we have had European tour and the PTCs with

the young player, we have 128 draws, I think John's and players like him,

they are experienced, which you can't buy, just counts for so much.

He very rarely leaves himself exposed to danger, he has been

through the mill so many times he has so many battle scar, he knows

the right shot to play and he usually plays it.

Thank you. John back in the top four, beating Noppon Saengkham.

Noppon is part of a healthy Thai contingent, most are based at the

star academy in Sheffield. These two share the first couple of frame, we

will go into the third and it is Noppon Saengkham to play. 16 points

down. Watching this match the man who lost to him in round one Ken

Doherty and John Virgo. He is hitting the pink is he?

Hitting the pink, does that leave a nice easy starter for John Higgins.

Think it does. There you see it. Gift.

Nicely little controlled cannon on the red. Hit it on the left-hand

side as the cue ball travelled to the red. He had to make sure he lit

it -- hit it on the left-hand side, to nudge it into play. Last of the

open reds this one. Two to the left of that, this red,

may still pot into this right-hand side corner pocket as well. Looks

like it did do, may not have to play into the pack here, could drop the

black in and either of those two reds directly above the cue ball as

we look, he has had a quick look to see both of them pot.

Building up a nice healthy lead in this frame.

69. Ahead, but there will be 79 on the table. He will need one more

red. He will need the black first. Incredible. Seeing a lot of balls

and misjudgments we haven't seen over the last few weeks from John.

Been in imperious form. At the minute, he hasn't just settled in

and settled in with the pace of this table. He is missing, playing some

strange shots at the moment. Yes. And if you look where the cue ball

finished he didn't really finish on a red. Now I would be surprised. The

red closest to the cue ball, or the one just separated, will go to the

far left corner. I don't know why he doesn't play the pot here, he could

screw back, he would be on the black if it goes and wouldn't leave

anything if he didn't. If he tries to play safe he could leave a red to

this right corner. Is he playing it to the far right corner? He must be.

Ooh so close. The only thing with playing it that way, If you miss it

you Leigh one. I couldn't believe he didn't get the

cue ball down tight to this top cushion.

Again disappointed, he didn't to be using the rest and extension, it

shouldn't make a great deal of difference, he has the black, but he

is still look for one more red. Once he pots this red and the black, he

will be 68 points in front, but there will still be 75 remaining.

Decided to go for the blue. That is OK, as long as he doesn't come too

straight. I think he just has the angle to play for the red along the

baulk cushion, to tie up this frame. I say that, 66, 67 and of course,

the black over the corner. He has got everything worked out

here. So this red goes 67 ahead, 67

remaining. As I say, the blacks a formality.

74 points the lead, 76 remaining. Nicely on the red to the middle. I

don't think any returns to the table for Saengkham here. Four frames

there will be an interval. Spotted a plant.

This is like Gardeners' World I have never seen as many plants.

John Higgins will be concentrating here, because he just hasn't found

the pace of the table just yet. OK, he will have a 2-1 advantage, he

knows this is a chance to have a bit of practise, any way he misses the

black, so that is it. So, that was a bit more like it, but still got the

odd miss in him. John Higgins now leads by two names

to one. But not getting too comfortable. Noppon Saengkham won

the next and went into the internatural at -- interval at two

frames a piece. And this young man, a long with several other Thai

players on the circuit, you might notice he is wearing a black

armband, that is in memory of the king of Thailand who passed away

last month. But Saengkham on a big break here guys and we are seeing a

very good talent here. He is on the verge of going 3-2 in front. A great

result in the first round. Yes and he looks like he is a seriously good

cuist. He has kept going for his shots. Shots. He keeps playing the

right shot. It is positive. I don't want to dig Ken Doherty. Anyone who

beats him 6-0 he has to have something about him. Ken can usually

tie up players. This is something Shaun Murphy was talking about after

one of his matches earlier in the season, the general standard of the

players all the way down the ranking list is so high, there is very

little breathing space for the top players even, if they are not on

form. You have the likes of him and others, and it is interesting that

James Wattana, who was such a trailblazer is still on the scene

and mentoring these young fellas. He has masses of experience, a

brilliant player in his time. Still playing on the circuit now, he lost

to Judd this week so he is still knocking round, there wouldn't be

too much Jame didn't know about it. It. Snooker in Thailand has been

round longer than anybody in in the UK thinks, they were playing in the

60, they have history and more so have the Chinese players. I didn't

want to mention the fact he beat Ken Doherty. I said how did you lose 6-0

to Ken? I am finding out why. He is moving round the table smoothly and

with a great deal of self confidence. This is Noppon

Saengkham. He is the world number 73.

24-year-old going 3-2 up on a four time world champion and you can

continue to watch that match via the BBC sport app, if you so choose. But

let me bring you up-to-date with with events on table four. We have

Mark Williams, a two time UK champion of course, and this is

Andrew Higginson, he has taken the first one after the interval. So he

is 3-2 down, Mark Williams. 3-2 up. Let us update you on the other

scores currently going on at the moment. So that is the situation

after five frames in that one. And there is a lot going on, four

matches out in the main arena, four in the sports hall. This is the

situation, Stephen Maguire trying to get back into the world top 16

having dropped out. 3-1 up. Wang Yuchen another good Chinese player.

Luca Brecel is 4-2 down against Sam Craigie. He knocked out Mark King. I

am hearing it has gone 4-3 so Luca Brecel back on the charge and Graeme

Dott could be on the verge of an exit here, because Dominic Dale, 5-2

up needing one more to knock out the former world champion. But we are

going back out to the match we have been enjoying as Daniel Wells from

Neath with that 3-1 advantage, Mark Selby, we have lost the defending

champion Neil Robertson, could there be another big surprise in the

making this afternoon? Could there just be that Hazel? Daniel has done

very well, but you know what Mark Selby is like, we have seen so many

times he produces his best snooker when he is put under pressure, and I

suppose he is at 3-1 down. That is the first pot in this frame. Quite a

bit of tactical play. In fact the pink and plaque were tied up before

you joined us, -- black. A couple of shots clear. The table starting to

open up somewhat. All a little bit congested as we

show you that nice pot into the middle pocket. If the pink is in

there, it will be out of commission. Four reds surrounding the cross for

the ball marker. It has definitely tied the that is

sure. I am just looking at it, the

Blackwood had to go on the green spot, so not a good chance by any

means yet. -- black would have to go.

There is enough room on the pink spot for the black to spot.

And the next shot will certainly bring reds and black in to play.

Don't hit the black on the bright side as we look at it. -- right

side. Four reds around the pink. The black

out of commission. No chance to win the frame at the moment. But every

cannon he plays becomes easier. He needs to get a move on in this

match, Mark Selby. Creeping up now, Mark Selby. Pot

success at 95%. He holds his hand up to apologise

for that nice little cannon there. Does he have the angle on the blue

to follow through on the right side cushion? Lots of top spin and he can

go into the four reds and pinks. At the very worst, he has the red on

the cushion to the corner. There we go. OK, he has a red to the

right corner, playing off two cushions to the right-hand side. Can

he just nudge the red away from the pink?

He missed the cannon. End of break. He wanted to nudge the

red away from the pink there. He did make contact. But not enough.

Two shots, putting the brown is safe and also a smoker. -- snooker. The

colour is safe, a bit of insurance. Coming the wrong side of a red here.

Having to put the white back, it ran too far to get the red along the

commission. -- along the cushion. Smiles all around. I had a chat with

Dan at the interval, lovely lad. He said there are no snooker clubs in

Neath now. There was a famous snooker club there. I remember going

there as a 19-year-old to play. Three professionals, but no snooker

club. Keeping things nice and tight here.

Daniel could do with getting the pink or black in to play at some

stage. He could play it down off the reds

near the black, but he would have to get a very good cue ball. It would

bring the black interplay, but leave a pot in the corner. If he was to

release the black, he would have to make sure he has a good cue ball. So

he will have to wait. I think he can get past the blue to

sneak this red in. He is usually pretty good at that

type of shot. He has left a possible chance here. The cue ball is close

to the cushion, but this would be a handy one to knock in. He has two

drop on the blue because the smaller colours are all out of commission.

That is exactly what he has done. He will take it in the corner, but if

it had pulled up short, he could have potted the blue in the middle

and nudged into the black and two rents. But he can't do that now. --

black and two reds. I'll tell you what, if he is on the

red in the middle, that was a terrific shot there. Now he has the

black in open play. A bit of a chance to come right back at Mark

Selby in this ring. Has he got enough pace to get the

right side of the blue to get to the two reds to the right of the black?

I think he is OK. And being a left-hander, the reds

are not too bad on that left side of the table. With a bit more pace on

that, it would have been easier. He will have to get the extension out.

Just another three or four inches on the cue ball and he would have been

perfectly placed. He said he was very comfortable out

there when he was just losing position a little bit in those first

four frames. He just overhit that one slightly as well. I am not sure

how long he has been using that new cue, Stephen, but it is certainly

working at the moment for him. This is a key shot coming up for him

here. Yes, right in the middle. Yeah, what happens is some players

are not used to it, and try to make sure they pop the ball, and the

position is not as automatic as it would normally be.

He has done well to get right back into this frame. He doesn't want to

be straight on the black, because that could be end of break. If he is

dead straight. Look at that long pot success rate,

seven out of seven. Unless he plays a double, and he is

straight on the black, it could be end of break. He has a great chance.

How is the pace? Nearly. Had he dropped in behind the yellow,

he would have had Mark Selby in all sort of trouble. Still pretty good

as it is. But in behind the yellow would have been perfect.

He has got to be a little bit careful here he doesn't slip past

the red that he is trying to land on. He has gone two cushions and

back down the table. REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

It was risky to try to land on the red. He knew that if he did not get

it right, he would leave Daniel in. Try number two, better to miss it

rather than hit it thick with the first attempt.

And he has hit it thick. But I think he is OK. I don't think that one

next to the pink goes. The target now is to try to get in

behind that yellow. Oh... REFEREE: Foul and a mess. I

wouldn't put him back in here, I would play the shot myself and try

to swing that right round towards the yellow. -- miss.

He doesn't have to try to get in behind the yellow, as long as he

gets a good cue ball approach to the cushion anywhere near the green is

good. But he is looking if he can swing it round the angles. But if

you try to get the snooker, you have to get the red fairly safe also.

He is just deciding, should I try to get these snooker, or just try to

get the cue ball? In fact, in the end, he has decided

to put it back again, which he thought long and hard about, and

decided was better. Mark is looking for as thin and edge as possible. I

thought he might have attempted to swing it around the angles towards

the yellow. The same shot played harder, and he

would have got in behind the yellow. A big shot coming up for the

Welshman here. Just looking at the school, if he

takes the pot onto the right corner, there is no colour available, but he

could put Daniel in a very difficult snooker -- score. Failing that, he

would have to try to get on the blue. If he was to just knock the

red in and roll in tight behind the yellow, he would have Daniel in all

sorts of trouble. There was nowhere to the last red,

even if he potted it he would be on the blue. The black was preventing

him from putting the blue and bringing up the red to bring it into

play. He has overcome that by a long way. -- overcut that. If Daniel went

4-1 up, what a great position that would put him in.

The last shot Mark Selby played opened up the red. He was hampered

by the pink, and now a poor safety shot from Daniel, he can get right

back into the frame now. He is only 12 behind. He is not going to win

the frame at this visit, but he can put himself in a commanding

position. If he can get two reds, and two colours, and an excellent

safety shot on the yellow. He can leave himself a half more

black. As long as he hits yellow first with the cannon, and not

cushion first, he will have a chance to pot the yellow and get on green.

But green to brown will be virtually impossible. He has gone too far to

the black. Mind, if he can't get to the yellow,

leaving the white, he can snooker him behind the brown.

He can't do that now. If he had left the white near the blue, he could

have stunned in behind the brown and sent the yellow running around the

angles. He can't do that now. I think he's OK. I think he can get

past the blue with a little bit of swerve to avoid hitting the green,

then come off the cushion and hit the yellow from behind. Lots of side

on this. Much better to come off a couple of

questions. You can judge it slightly better.

He could choose left centre, hit a cannon and get a good safety off the

green. He will be hoping to get the green

somewhere near the black, you would think.

Oh, it just caught the jaw, otherwise he would have had the

green up near the black with the possibility of the snooker behind

the blue. He only just hit the green, but look

how it turned out. It has opened the game up now the brown is in play.

Just trying to get in behind the brown. That's the pot and he has

done it. He needs to Mr brown, he doesn't want to cannonade. And he

played it perfectly. -- miss the brown. That really is a

frame-winner, and it deserves to win any frame.

That could be the shot that sparks the world number one into life in

this match. A 36 minute frame and the world

number one will be delighted that he has taken it. Now he is just one

frame behind, it is 3-2 to the world number one. HAZEL IRVINE: A hugely

important frame. We have been dipping into table two action, where

John Higgins is 1-0 down to Noppon Saengkham of Thailand. But he is in

frame six, and John Huh has been cueing beautifully in the last

couple of months says he is probably better an 15 years ago. Here he is

on his way to a very good break of 126. The second century he has made

in the championship this week after a 132 in his first round victory a

couple of days ago. So all square in that one, 3-3. And we have one

result from the second round here, Dominic Dale is the first man

through to round three, because he has completed a very good win over

former world champion Graeme Dott, who has never had the best of luck

in this championship, it has to be Z. Dominik played well, 6-3. He was

4-1 up and Graeme staged somewhat a revival, but will be going back home

tonight. I understand this is the busiest day in the Christmas market

up to Christmas and there are coachloads aplenty coming into the

city at the moment. But we have a full audience here at the Barbican

Centre. This is turning into an intriguing match.

Daniel Wells had a good chance, you don't get many of those, but you

expect even in the situation Mark Selby to wriggle off the hook. I

expected it near the end of the frame. The balls were awkward. He

has so much ring craft ant him, so much experience, he is brilliant

about we needling away the ball, playing the right safety shot. There

was an inevitability about him going to win that frame. A lovely pot on

the green to finish it off. That is right. You would expect the player

that is, you know, miles ahead in the money list, to be good under

pressure, but every match, especially in the early stages you

have to stamp your authority on it. He hasn't done as yet, I don't think

the frames have been won in one visit other than the century break

he made. Perhaps it is time for him to move through the gears. It could

have been 4-1, instead it is 2-3. Selby has broken off.

Not the best break-off shot he has made for Daniel toe have a go at. It

is the only one he would leave if he should misit. Would be on the black

if it goes in. He has potted -- some lovely long balls in this match.

I think that is the third long shot, similar, dropping them in dead

weight off the cushion for a colour. Can he cannon the middle one of

those three reds? Any contact on that would be good.

A key shot if he fetes the blue and gets the pink on the cannon, he can

open up things here. A quick look to make sure there is

no plants on, if he plays that shot. Amazing, he might be sitting in his

seat for quite a while now, he forgot the most important part of

the shot. The pot on the blue. You couldn't have the balls better

placed than this, that is one of the most frustrate things about the game

of snooker, you miss a pot, you open the reds up, and you have to sit and

watch your opponent knock in all the balls you should have been knocking

in. He didn't catch the ping as he

intended, but look at the way they split,

he has pecked the pace up quite a bit, Mark Selby.

They don't have to take as long as the balls are like this.

Can't really see a problem for Mark Selby here, they are all going to

clear each other. The reds. The only two, I think they are all available.

Even the two tobl together to the right of the Pink, one might go in

the corner. So they are all there for the taking. Pink, one might go

in the corner. So they are all there He will have to play a little cannon

here, but that shouldn't be a problem.

Seemings to have a more focussed look on his face in this match Mark

Selby. I mention that green he potted in the last frame. Sometimes

it takes one shot, to spark you into life.

S to have a more focussed look on his face in this match Mark Selby. I

mention that green he potted in the last frame. Sometimes it takes one

shot, to spark you into life. Moving up the gears Steve Davis said. He

has been pretty much in neutral for most of this match.

He had the week off last week, he didn't travel to Belfast for the

Northern Ireland open, which was a fantastic tournament. The crowds

were fantastic, the atmosphere was superb, a few of the top players

didn't go. Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, Stuart Bingham, but overall

it was fabulous tournament and for Mark King to win his first ranking

event after 25 years was something special. And the crowd absolutely

loved it over there. In the Titanic Exhibition Centre. And right next to

that building, opposite was where the film Game of Thrones. -- where

they filmed. Wondering if Daniel has missed the

boat. He had a bit of a chaps to go 4-1 and -- chance to go 4-1 and Mark

Selby is looking like a different player now, all do, but he is still

all square, if someone had given hem 3 each with the current number one

and world champion before the match he would have taken it.

You would have been surprised if Mark Selby continued to play as

poorly as he was the whole match, so, that opportunity, to really put

the hammer down and go 4-1 could be costly and obviously in this frame,

missing that blue off the spot. Presenting Mark with this

opportunity which he has taken very well. He has had the cue ball in

complete control. That is another terrific century

from Mark Selby. The second of the match.

Doesn't matter about missing the black. He is back on top form with

that lovely century break, and Mark Selby draws level, it is three

frames each. HAZEL IRVINE: He looks like he has

retrieved the situation for the time being. Three frames all as Denis was

saying and we have another result come through. It's the Welsh potting

machine Mark Williams through to the third round. He has completed a 6-2

victory over Andrew Higginson and Mark is in his 25th season as

professional. He said the other week, I'm rubbish compared to what I

used to be, I am still in the top 16, sometimes I laugh at myself. He

has a pragmatic approach to life, but good to see him getting through,

a former two time UK champion, and he goes through at the expense of

Andrew Higginson today. But a very very interesting match on

table two, we have seen John Higgins draw level in frame six, into frame

seven and this is extremely tight. Back to Ken and John.

Too thin! Well, would you believe it? It is hard to believe. The cue

ball is lying close to this baulk, but ping very close to this corner

pocket but this is no gimme, and he has to play it to stay on the black.

He has to He has to trust the table here. Oh and he did, and it didn't

let him down, we are going to a respot, surely.

We are. Well, this is now an absolutely enormous frame, because

both players have had chances. Noppon Saengkham had his chance in

among the ball, missed the last red and John Higgins overcutting the

ping, that was a surprise, so someone is going to get something

out of this frame, and it is going to be whoever pots this black.

-- pink. Noppon has won the toss and he will, John will break. The normal

shot for the players is black on the side cushion cue ball on the side

cushion. What will John Higgins do here?

He has gone for the double. Is it comes over this corner pocket? Is it

coming over this corner pocket? Ooh! Well, you could say it might just

cut, but beware the middle pockets, if he goes for the cuts, that cue

ball is going to be running loose, and in-off is likely. Strange shot

from John Higgins. Watch the cue ball.

Where is the cue ball going? Not in the pocket, so what a result. Very

strange choice of shot from John Higgins, he paid the ultimate price,

it cost him the frame. He trails 4-3. This young Thai player has only

one three opening matches in the ten events he has entered this season

and gone no further but he is putting up a real fight against a

very very well regarded opponent in John Higgins. So that one still

available via the BBC app, on all of your connected devices but we are

straight back to table one which has gone 3-3. What did we miss here?

Hazel you missed a nice trick shot from Daniel. Missed it, look at the

other one. It comes over into the pocket. But unfortunately for him,

he knocked the black off its spot, so... Mark let him in with quite a

poor shot, so just a safety here. And this was Mark Selby's shot here,

attempted a long pot. He was feeling good after than century, but he put

Daniel right in among them there, and he should have made more from

that chance. Obviously feeling the tension is Daniel now.

Almost mis-hit there from Mark Selby.

Doesn't even get close. Well I think he might have left a

path through. That is unlucky, he played a great cue ball. He knew he

was opening the reds up, to knock one over the pocket and leave a gap

like that, it is a bit unfortunate. So another chance for the world

number one here. Reds are nicely placed but the

colours are not perfect. He won't be playing for the black

until gets rid of the red that is to the left of the black spot.

Just having a look to see where the pink will go, if he puts it when it

goes back on its own spot. -- pots. He is playing for the pink, so must

go on its own spot. I would be very surprised if he potted it and it

went on the black spot. He has to just judge it himself, he

can't ask the referee for any help with that.

With his ball marker there, just checking and there is plenty of

room. Could have been better. Should be OK

though. Just needs one good positional shot

to get him back in to prime position here.

This could be the key to maybe going on and taking this frame, this shot

here. Now then, I don't think he can get through to it. I was looking at

his body language, think he has run out of position, it was a key shot

but it is end of break as you can clearly see there.

That can happen when you play a cannon into another ball. He had ran

slightly out of position, just previously.

Well cut in, the white will be flying round the table.

Where is that cue ball? It is OK. Good pot, well controlled. There is

not that many reds available, there is is a couple of reds that will

pot, after this blue. Was that a kick or did he just

mis-hit that? Not hitting the cue ball clean,

let's have a look at this. Good pot but is he straight on the

blue? If it is straight, he can't get on the red.

It must be dead straight. Is he going to try to force an angle

here? Well, it's not a bad effort. This is

a tricky one, though, that he is faced with.

The only red that he could leave is the one he is having a go at. But if

it goes in, he can develop again. No.

The only red he could leave was the one he was playing, and I think he

has left that. It is a free shot for Mark here, as we show you that

attempt again from Daniel. Definitely one of those reds cuts,

that's for sure. Where is that cue ball? REFEREE:

Foul. I think Mark was lucky, but he would have had a spot of side on it.

Let's have a look, where was it going? He thought it was going onto

the side cushion. If you looked at whether Green was

when he potted it, you can't see how there is a path to the corner

pocket, that is why he is used by that. -- where the green.

One of the best shots he has played in the last 2-3 frames. He played it

positively. Could have played the cue ball, but an aggressive shot for

pink and black. What a chance now to take a 4-3

lead. If he has any ambitions of winning

this match, these are the opportunities he has to take now at

3-3. You can't leave these chances begging now.

He shakes his head. That was a poor shot. He was perfect on the pink. He

could put the cue ball basically wherever he wanted there. This is

now very missable. Yeah, he didn't want that little

flick off the brown, he would have been perfect on the yellow. He will

have two role in behind the brown now. -- to roll in behind the brown

now. Just four points behind in a frame that would get him back into

the lead. You never know where you are going to knock these, no matter

how good you are at getting out of this sort of snooker. You can see

where the red is going. Always the possibility of that

happening when escaping from a snooker. The brown is the key ball

here. If he was playing in his club, he

would have played with lots of left-hand side to play the brown out

from the red. I am surprised he has not played it from there as well.

Imperative that he gets nicely on the green to give himself a chance

to get over to the brown. The only problem with the brown for

a left-hander is it is the wrong side of the table.

Daniel, you can't do that. Such an easy pot, and he took his eye off it

completely. All he thought about was how he was going to force a white

over to the brown. It was such a top shot to get on the

brown. Make sure of the green and he could have put Mark in trouble on

the brown. That is what Mark has done, made sure of the green and get

a good safety here. He needs the blue to come to his

rescue here. He can see enough of it, but it is a

tough shot if he wants to take this on and get onto the blue.

And all he will do is think for a while. It is not an easy safety

shot, so he will have a go at it. He had to get the cue ball back to the

blue. A mile away. Where is the brown

going to finish? Where is the brown going to finish. Surely not in the

pocket. Surely not in the pocket. Wow... what a fluke that would have

been. A tough way to play that brown. With

top spin. You have got to hit it so hard. I thought he might have played

it with bottom. You can see the cue was all over the place.

What an easy couple of shots to win such an important frame for Daniel

Wells. He will be absolutely delighted. He

lost two frames in a row, but he is back in front again. Daniel Wells

leads the current world champion by a frame, it is for- three. HAZEL

Daniel Wells giving himself a sound account of himself. We have another

match that has finished, and it is a victory for Stephen Maguire, 6-2.

Zhao Xintong is a very good player in the making. He beat Stephen in

the World Cup along lasted. Finishing off with a 128. The man

that has already made a maximum early in the season making a good

account of himself. That is the situation. Gentlemen, I know Stephen

Maguire is really fired up to get into the top 16, and has made a good

start to the season so far. He has always been a strong player,

but he has his focus back. For a long time we wondered what was wrong

with his game, is he not giving it enough attention? Now, I think he is

a more rounded player. He seems to have decided to focus on the hard

work, John. What I have heard is that he has put a table into an

office situation, and no longer a club, so that it feels like he is

going to work every day. It is a different focus for him. You have

got to try something different. I didn't realise, Shaun Murphy was

telling me, he has been prone to changes cue and you can't keep doing

that all the time. You have two five when you settle with and play with.

But changing your cue so much will help. He has everything to

consistently win tournaments. He should win a tournament every year.

He is capable of winning events every year, and it is a mystery why

he hasn't done it. Daniel Wells is in a good position, and is holding

himself together well here as we head back to Stephen and Dennis.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Hazel. Attempting that long pot, he is

eight out of ten, I think, so far. But he didn't get close to that one.

Mark also a long way off that attempted long pot, and black is

near the cushion and the pink it out of commission. It has all the signs

of being a very scrappy frame already.

Mark might have made a couple of century breaks, but a couple of his

long pot is missing by a long way. It is an indication that the timing

is not quite there. No value this time in attempting a

long pot because of the pink and black tied up. So a safety off the

edge of the pack here. I would love to see that shot again.

Daniel was having a laugh about it. He has missed one of these in the

match already a lot closer than this.

He just needs to get the match won now by any means he can.

Certainly struggling a little bit at the moment, Mark. With the pink tied

up and the black tied up, maybe he has lost a little bit of focus at

present. The white somewhere near the yellow

would do nicely. Behind it would be even better.

I thought Daniel's shot the previous time, he had a great chance to get

in behind the yellow, but he just played a safety shot, blocking off

the left side of the table. Now he has got himself in a bit of trouble.

We have had a few awkward frames where the ball has gone safe early

on. We had a couple of century breaks from Mark.

You can't do much about it when they go awkward like this. You just had

to battle away and play some good safety, hopefully getting a chance,

and getting one of the bigger colours into play.

One thing is for sure, Mark Selby will put everything into this frame,

because 5-3 behind, you have to win three in a row.

It might be worth taking a chance, putting this red, and going into the

red and pink. If not that, if he can get a good position on the blue, he

can cannon into the pink and red. There are two ways of going about

this. Now, is he going to get the right

angle? I don't think so. That's no good.

Bit of a chance. With a nice angle, he could have brought the red and

pink into play. This is quite a thin one. Difficult

to judge when you are that close. He is going to get the little

extension, which means he will try to take the blue on and get back to

the reds. STUDIO: As Daniel starts out here to

try to make some hay in this frame, I'm afraid we have to go, as we have

live rugby next, Wales taking on South Africa on BBC Two. The match

continues on the red button. A live update from table two, and it has

gone wrong for John Higgins. He was in a good position, failed to get is

issued on red. And thumped the table in frustration, actually. He is in

the ascendancy, but has let Saengkham in. It continues on the

red button. An update on the other matches still going, we have Mark

Selby and John Higgins involved here. The other two are finished

with wins for Stephen Maguire and Mark Williams. In the sports hall,

the other four matches, two are complete. Luca Brecel came from

behind to win against Sam Craigie 6-5. Dominic Dale is rude, 6-3. It

is squared between Liam Highfield and Wang Yuchen. And Michael

Georgiou has the advantage over Mike Dunn. The evening session starts at

7pm. The pick of them on the red button. I think the pick of the

bunch has to be Stuart Bingham against you to Lou. And Barry

Hawkins, who was starting his staff in Northern Ireland on Sunday, a

former British open finalist in Fergal O'Brien. It is not a foregone

conclusion for some of the top names, have you enjoyed it? I was

laughing with Fergal this morning because he is notably slow, and he

said there are tickets available for his match to light. Gentlemen, thank

you very much. Highlights later this evening, but in the meantime we will

see you, it is strictly snooker for us tonight. Goodbye.