0:00:08 > 0:00:17MUSIC: "Drag Racer" by the Doug Wood Band.
0:00:36 > 0:00:42An a busy for the crews here at the Barbican in York. The 2017 victory
0:00:42 > 0:00:49UK Championship is hotting up as we go from beta-mac, to four, two two
0:00:49 > 0:00:54tables. Good afternoon to you. We have reached the fourth round of
0:00:54 > 0:00:59this tournament. As well as losing those tables, we have some big names
0:00:59 > 0:01:04along the way. Including defending champion Mark Selby.
0:01:08 > 0:01:17COMMENTATOR: Another one of the favourites Paul's.Barry Hawkins
0:01:17 > 0:01:19crashes out to Thailand's Sone Aluko.
0:01:26 > 0:01:33Ding Junhui loses five frames in a row. Graeme Dott, what a fantastic
0:01:33 > 0:01:40result. Brilliant performance from Scott Donaldson and he knocks out
0:01:40 > 0:01:50the defending champion.Six of the ten best players in the world
0:01:50 > 0:01:50the defending champion.Six of the ten best players in the world are
0:01:50 > 0:01:56out. Better still four UK champions left in the draw. Ten titles are
0:01:56 > 0:02:00shared between Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Stephen Maguire and Ronnie
0:02:00 > 0:02:09O'Sullivan. Sunny can he is 22, from Thailand, his reward is a
0:02:09 > 0:02:10O'Sullivan. Sunny can he is 22, from Thailand, his reward is a plum draw
0:02:10 > 0:02:17against Ronnie O'Sullivan.It is an interesting draw for the last 16.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Baby is the perception in the tournament, lots more big seeds
0:02:20 > 0:02:24going out in the tournament. Whether that is the case, what do you put it
0:02:24 > 0:02:29down to in this tournament? Is it because players are getting better,
0:02:29 > 0:02:34the gap is narrowing honours this tournament has went from Best of 17
0:02:34 > 0:02:40to best of 11.Players play so many tournament. Looking from the
0:02:40 > 0:02:43outside, top players, they are not prior Taarabt -- prioritising this
0:02:43 > 0:02:50as a massive event. Some of them not giving the opponents of the respect
0:02:50 > 0:02:54that they deserve.Back in our time, if we lost to a relative unknown
0:02:54 > 0:02:58that the public did not know, they would have been distraught. Bad
0:02:58 > 0:03:06press conference.It is infuriating. Mark Selby, the world number one,
0:03:06 > 0:03:12lost to Scott Donaldson. Scott Donaldson loses 6-1 and the next
0:03:12 > 0:03:16round and that makes you feel worse. Do the players of today have to
0:03:16 > 0:03:20change their attitude to bruising? Do they have to take it more on the
0:03:20 > 0:03:25chin and state there is another tournament a the corner?They are
0:03:25 > 0:03:28not prior traumatising these big events as much as we used to do.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32They know there is another tournament next week.Some big-name
0:03:32 > 0:03:40still left in and let us see what is coming up this afternoon.John
0:03:40 > 0:03:44Higgins, the three times UK champion has won a ranking title this season
0:03:44 > 0:03:49at the Indian open, could this be his year in York? He is against Mark
0:03:49 > 0:03:54King, he won the Northern Ireland open last season. He is the world's
0:03:54 > 0:04:0021 and has the highest break of 146. Stephen Maguire won this title in
0:04:00 > 0:04:052004 and it is an all Scotland clash for him this afternoon. He plays
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Graeme Dott, the 2006 Crucible champion who knocked out Judd Trump
0:04:09 > 0:04:16in the last round. And if you would like to get in touch with us we
0:04:16 > 0:04:21would like to hear from you. Use this hash tag. Mark King aiming to
0:04:21 > 0:04:26make his second semifinal of the season. He reached the last four of
0:04:26 > 0:04:31the Indian open. He has had some highs and lows.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41It has been full of lots of things of the table and on the table. In
0:04:41 > 0:04:46January I had a car accident. Not a bad one but I ended up getting
0:04:46 > 0:04:51tennis elbow. My dad's house was petrol bombed. Touch wood,
0:04:51 > 0:04:59everything seems to have died down. Thank God he is OK. Now I can crack
0:04:59 > 0:05:03on and begin practising, not worry about anything. Get on with my
0:05:03 > 0:05:13snooker. I had a couple of minutes with my family coming out after
0:05:13 > 0:05:17having so many years of thinking it will not happen. I had the little
0:05:17 > 0:05:23one as well. You could not write it. It was fantastic. I do not need to
0:05:23 > 0:05:29win to pay a bill now. To have that one decent one, I was able to be
0:05:29 > 0:05:33everything that I owed. I only actually playing to win and to enjoy
0:05:33 > 0:05:40it. Touch wood, I am doing all right. And I can play. I was on the
0:05:40 > 0:05:49yellow and I was thinking, see you later. I had a little sneaky 20
0:05:49 > 0:05:54seconds... I had a couple of days to think about it. Pretty devastating.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59In all fairness it was a poor positional shot. I am still in and
0:05:59 > 0:06:06still fighting. I could make one tomorrow, the next day. Whatever. I
0:06:06 > 0:06:12still have a chance of making one. John is a fantastic player and one
0:06:12 > 0:06:15of the all-time greats. You know what you will get. If I do not play
0:06:15 > 0:06:21well and will go home. Simple as that. He can play back, play well,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24score well, scrap it out. I am looking forward to it. I will enjoy
0:06:24 > 0:06:26it.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35We are looking forward to it as well. Long history between them. The
0:06:35 > 0:06:39vast aim that the one, Mark was victorious pipe - four. John Higgins
0:06:39 > 0:06:46is one the UK Championship on three occasions. He has 18 victories over
0:06:46 > 0:06:50three for Mark King. It is their third meeting at the UK
0:06:50 > 0:06:56Championship.Let us head over to Rob Walker. Good afternoon. Fourth
0:06:56 > 0:06:59round tie at the Betway UK Championships. What an important day
0:06:59 > 0:07:04for Scottish Luca. Three of the format are from north of the border
0:07:04 > 0:07:07behind the stage. Ahead of the chirpy cockney who is never short of
0:07:07 > 0:07:11the word or two. The battle for the quarterfinal starts right here,
0:07:11 > 0:07:17right now. APPLAUSE
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Please welcome, arguably one of the most underrated players on the
0:07:33 > 0:07:39circuit.Here in York he defeated Dale in a divide and 16 on the spin
0:07:39 > 0:07:43against Judd Trump. Lee MacKenzie world finalist and took the big one
0:07:43 > 0:07:52in 2006. He is the Pocket Dynamo, Graeme Dott.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10And his opponent, coming through a 6-5 Filip Kiss Liang Wenbo, to
0:08:10 > 0:08:14secure his 14th consecutive UK Championship fourth round
0:08:14 > 0:08:19appearance. He has got by ranking titles. When he is good he is on
0:08:19 > 0:08:21fire, he is Stephen Maguire.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41And on table one, a player making his first appearance in the fourth
0:08:41 > 0:08:45round for five years after that impressive victory over the Belgian
0:08:45 > 0:08:52Bullet Luca Bruxelles. Semifinalist in the Indian open this year. Here
0:08:52 > 0:08:56comes snooker's answer to the telly Savalas, who loves you, baby? Mark
0:08:56 > 0:09:00King.
0:09:18 > 0:09:25And finally, one of the sport's all-time greats. Beating promising
0:09:25 > 0:09:28youngster Yan Bingtao yesterday. Looking for his fourth quarterfinal.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33Three times a winner here. 29 ranking titles. The Wizard of
0:09:33 > 0:09:39Wishaw, John Higgins.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53And all Scotland a fear on table tonight. Stephen Maguire taking on
0:09:53 > 0:09:58Graeme Dott. That is light on the red button and on the BBC sport
0:09:58 > 0:10:02website. Live on BBC Two, it is John Higgins taking on Mark King. Good
0:10:02 > 0:10:12afternoon to the commentators, John Parrott and Ken Doherty. JOHN
0:10:12 > 0:10:18PARROTT: Thank you. Mark is a character. Robert knows him very
0:10:18 > 0:10:18well.
0:10:21 > 0:10:32Great introduction for Kojak. Wonderful pictures at the start of
0:10:32 > 0:10:38the show.I am so glad he
0:10:38 > 0:10:38Wonderful pictures at the start of the show.I am so glad he can
0:10:38 > 0:10:41appreciate it and do it. Wonderful thing to win the tournament.
0:10:41 > 0:10:47Wonderful scenes. He has been around for a long time. Great reward for
0:10:47 > 0:11:08the effort. This man has had some career.
0:11:22 > 0:11:29Sleeping too much water in that model.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52He waited a long time for his first tournament win and that gives you
0:11:52 > 0:11:56confidence.What you cannot do is plate loosely like that. That was a
0:11:56 > 0:11:58poor shot.
0:12:02 > 0:12:09Down to the nitty-gritty in the UK Championship. Last 16. This is where
0:12:09 > 0:12:15the big boys come out to play. John Higgins had a hard match yesterday.
0:12:15 > 0:12:21They might have won the 6-3 but had to work very hard. It was absolute
0:12:21 > 0:12:24granite. He glued his opponent to the bottom cushion and get nothing
0:12:24 > 0:12:25to look at.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43It was a study in top class to go yesterday.So impressed. Mark King
0:12:43 > 0:12:46was quite right when interviewed.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58He said that when John Higgins is playing badly he is still good
0:12:58 > 0:13:02enough to win. And when he is playing well he is one of the best.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06That was good to come off the side cushion. The side of the pack is a
0:13:06 > 0:13:06big target.
0:13:12 > 0:13:17He could have went in harder than that. He did cannon quite high up
0:13:17 > 0:13:18the pack.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Did not get into that as much as he could of done and still unlucky not
0:13:26 > 0:13:27to be on anything.
0:13:33 > 0:13:40I have not heard touching ball from referee Paul Collier. He does not
0:13:40 > 0:13:45want to leave a touching ball for Mark.They also do not want to play
0:13:45 > 0:13:51a push shot. That would be a foul.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03He is not the tallest on the circuit so it is proving to be a bit of a
0:14:03 > 0:14:05problem.
0:14:11 > 0:14:17Looks like a touching ball from here. The referee has confirmed it.
0:14:17 > 0:14:25That gives Mark the advantage. Twice across the table. Big target behind
0:14:25 > 0:14:27the yellow and the green.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38Not sure if it will come off the side cushion and nestle in behind
0:14:38 > 0:14:44the yellow. Trying to get the cue ball right behind the yellow. This
0:14:44 > 0:14:55looks pretty good.'S very dangerous opponent with Luca Bruxelles and the
0:14:55 > 0:15:00last round.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Mark has all been a good competitor but he is not one of the heaviest
0:15:09 > 0:15:12scorers on the circuit but it has got better. The boys have been
0:15:12 > 0:15:16telling me he has been working with Chris Henry who is a decent coach.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27His cue ball has definitely improved and his scoring has got heavier.
0:15:27 > 0:15:33Write that one down. Do not see many of those, John Higgins making a
0:15:33 > 0:15:36mistake in the tactical department.
0:15:53 > 0:16:01Shouldn't change your attitude. Today is another day. He is 18-3
0:16:01 > 0:16:07behind in matches. He should say he is in good form.Is there a chance?
0:16:07 > 0:16:13Absolutely. The Mark King of today is a better player than he may have
0:16:13 > 0:16:20been over the previous seven or eight years. That confidence. He has
0:16:20 > 0:16:23been more successful over the past couple of years. His confidence has
0:16:23 > 0:16:30grown. He is going to enjoy today. He will not be too fearful of John
0:16:30 > 0:16:31Higgins.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42The bookmakers and lots of people in the game will not expect him to win
0:16:42 > 0:16:45today but if you come out with that attitude then he has nothing to
0:16:45 > 0:16:50lose. He is a great competitor. If anybody can compete with John
0:16:50 > 0:16:55Higgins in the safety apartment then it is Matt -- Mark King. Scoring is
0:16:55 > 0:16:58different.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19I was not surprised about that. He came between everything. He was very
0:17:19 > 0:17:22straight on the yellow and he had a foresight to try to get an angle out
0:17:22 > 0:17:32of it. Early in the match it is not a shot that you want to be playing.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36Ultimately, I agree with you, it will be about how he scores today.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39He is much improved in that department and people have to be.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50I am surprised that John is not coming off the red on the left
0:17:50 > 0:17:55because he has a big target with the yellow and green. He does not fancy
0:17:55 > 0:17:57it for some reason.
0:18:20 > 0:18:26You may have heard Mark King, say, good shot. It is therefore easy to
0:18:26 > 0:18:32play these. -- it is never easy.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51UMPIRE: Foul and a miss.I am sure that John will ask for the cue ball
0:18:51 > 0:18:57to be put back. It is about making sure you get a thin contact on the
0:18:57 > 0:19:01red. You do not want to be thick. Anything nice and fun and this is
0:19:01 > 0:19:06straightforward for somebody of the capabilities of Mark.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49UMPIRE: Foul and the miss. The turn of John to Mr Boll.
0:19:53 > 0:19:59It may be more difficult for the return safety that John was playing.
0:19:59 > 0:20:06He has left it with tears. -- left it where it is.
0:20:17 > 0:20:27In just about see the outside edge. Can mark see the edge? Come on down
0:20:27 > 0:20:30the left-hand side of this table.
0:20:50 > 0:20:59I think he has left this red. It is not a gimme but he can get back up
0:20:59 > 0:21:07for the blue. This is the Department we are John Higgins has improved in
0:21:07 > 0:21:13the last couple of seasons. His long game has become better. Just like
0:21:13 > 0:21:16that.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24He was starting to struggle with the long game but it is no bank to its
0:21:24 > 0:21:35best.Topside of the blue as well. So important. It gives you the
0:21:35 > 0:21:46opportunity. You come to the table thinking, I can knock everything in.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52Gives you plenty of confidence when you are not losing.Just had a
0:21:52 > 0:21:56little sticky look at the point. He could stun the red and try to get
0:21:56 > 0:21:58onto the pink, back in for the blue.
0:22:02 > 0:22:08That is a little bit short. He has asked for the cue ball to be
0:22:08 > 0:22:13cleaned. Just about the right side of the blue. He will have a bit more
0:22:13 > 0:22:15of an angle.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Will still try to storm it in.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36He has played that very well, very well, indeed.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54Unfortunately that has gone awry. The little can inflict the red away
0:22:54 > 0:23:03from the bank. Not be contacted he wanted.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Slightly scrappy start to this match.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45Never a wasted shot with John Higgins, is there? Lost position.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Just trying to give the maximum headache.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Always pressure with every shot you play against John to make sure your
0:23:57 > 0:24:03return is correct. That was a great effort.
0:24:08 > 0:24:16Julie acknowledged by John, tapping the table. John Higgins has to be
0:24:16 > 0:24:19careful with the red. It is close to the left-hand side cushion. Poses a
0:24:19 > 0:24:28slight problem. Going to avoid that.
0:24:33 > 0:24:39That was a little bit short.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Markers come round to look at this. He could double that across the
0:24:51 > 0:25:04table. Good length again on the cue ball.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24All the time you're playing the shot you are worrying about sticking a
0:25:24 > 0:25:33red across the corner. Players will tend to be nice and thin. Doesn't
0:25:33 > 0:25:37make anything easy for you.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07But Mark takes the red on the left-hand side with the two reds.
0:26:07 > 0:26:13That was what he was thinking about. I don't know if you can come off the
0:26:13 > 0:26:19side cushion and drop it onto the two dates on the side cushion. Or
0:26:19 > 0:26:23onto the ones just three-cushion. I don't know if he has the angle for
0:26:23 > 0:26:29that. That is why he is taking his time.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Put the cue ball there and I don't know if he can come off the top
0:26:38 > 0:26:50cushion and nestle into that red. How do you like that one?What a
0:26:50 > 0:26:53shot that was. Look with the cue ball has finished.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05The only thing I can see about that, he has to work on his positional
0:27:05 > 0:27:12play with that one.What a shot this is. One of John Virgo's trick shots.
0:27:12 > 0:27:18He would have been happy with that.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33That is fantastic. That really is fabulous. That was sweet as a nut
0:27:33 > 0:27:38but to get at the cue ball up the table... There was lots of pressure
0:27:38 > 0:27:42with that one. Beautifully cued. Two long pots have been struck
0:27:42 > 0:27:46beautifully. He will need to strike this one beautifully as well. This
0:27:46 > 0:27:50is nasty. Horrible little short.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Deserves everything he gets out of this break. Those last two shots
0:28:02 > 0:28:13have been top drawer.Certainly. Good test of cueing.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22If any young amateurs are watching, look how still his head was when he
0:28:22 > 0:28:29played the shot. He is the wrong side of the blue so he will lead to
0:28:29 > 0:28:32negotiate the cue ball against the baulk.
0:28:44 > 0:28:54This looks very good. Excellent positional shot.He has given
0:28:54 > 0:29:01themselves options of four reds. He can run inside of the angles. He can
0:29:01 > 0:29:06be on the pink spot on the one at the corner. It was a big target but
0:29:06 > 0:29:08didn't he strike it well?
0:29:18 > 0:29:24Get the pink back on its spot. You would expect it to be plain sailing
0:29:24 > 0:29:34here for John Higgins in the first frame. The long pot and the
0:29:34 > 0:29:41positional shot, and even the blue of the cushion, fantastic.Great
0:29:41 > 0:29:45champions. 38 ahead. He is a few balls away from being over the line.
0:29:45 > 0:29:53You would not see him making a slap up from here. The players know the
0:29:53 > 0:29:57authority needed to stamp their authority on the match. Ever since
0:29:57 > 0:30:06he will do it here. He will hold his spot. The bank will go on the black
0:30:06 > 0:30:07spot and that makes the break easier.
0:30:34 > 0:30:43That puts him 52 ahead, just 51 remaining. I don't think Mark King
0:30:43 > 0:30:55will become an back to the table. A bit scrappy early on in this frame,
0:30:55 > 0:31:01but a couple of great pots, especially that positional shot, set
0:31:01 > 0:31:08this frame-winning clearance up.
0:31:18 > 0:31:29And he dried to stay on the black. It's not there but he won't be
0:31:29 > 0:31:38worried about that. He secures the frame. And he leads Mark King by
0:31:38 > 0:31:441-0. Just before we talk to Stephen and Steve, given that we've lost
0:31:44 > 0:31:48some of the world's leading players, let's have a look at the latest
0:31:48 > 0:31:56odds.Ronnie O'Sullivan going for his sixth UK title. So, initial
0:31:56 > 0:32:00thoughts from the first frame, Stephen Hendry?
0:32:00 > 0:32:01thoughts from the first frame, Stephen Hendry?It was a little bit
0:32:01 > 0:32:05scrappy but I was just thinking, it's very hard to make a case for
0:32:05 > 0:32:10Mark King in this match today, it really is. You think John Higgins
0:32:10 > 0:32:15will have it over him in every department - scrappy games, safety,
0:32:15 > 0:32:18scoring... It's just very difficult. Mark will have to play his absolute
0:32:18 > 0:32:23best.In fairness Mark said that just before the match started, he
0:32:23 > 0:32:31said, if I don't play well, I know I'm going home.Yeah, and that's...
0:32:31 > 0:32:35It's not necessarily a negative way to look at it, it is more of a
0:32:35 > 0:32:39realistic appraisal from his personal. But Mark King is the title
0:32:39 > 0:32:42player who just gives of his bet on the day and sees what happens. He's
0:32:42 > 0:32:47been in the game long enough to be a journeyman player as well as now a
0:32:47 > 0:32:53proven winner. His stock has risen, but it's still a big ask to beat the
0:32:53 > 0:32:56like of John Higgins in the UK championship. It would still be
0:32:56 > 0:33:05considered by Mark King I think a massive scalp.Let's get back to
0:33:05 > 0:33:08John Parrott and Ken Doherty.
0:33:12 > 0:33:21KEN DOHERTY: Not the best break-off. JOHN PARROTT: The only thing is,
0:33:21 > 0:33:24there's no natural way back. At first you think you've left him a
0:33:24 > 0:33:29chance, but the way the red and black is, it is hard to get through
0:33:29 > 0:33:37the gap.That it's a bit more pressure on the player. If he had
0:33:37 > 0:33:41have up there and there was a guaranteed way back to baulk, I'm
0:33:41 > 0:33:45sure he would have knocked that in. But there was a bit more to think
0:33:45 > 0:33:51about, especially when you're one behind.
0:34:09 > 0:34:14JOHN PARROTT: They seem to have stats for everything these days,
0:34:14 > 0:34:19Ken, but if you had a stat for whose cue ball was closest to the cushion
0:34:19 > 0:34:23after the break-off, I'm sure John Higgins would be close to the top of
0:34:23 > 0:34:30it! It is practically glued there. KEN DOHERTY: Yeah, it's like he's
0:34:30 > 0:34:37almost tempting Mark King here. The problem with this shot is, he's
0:34:37 > 0:34:42going to be bringing reds out from the pack. He'll be hoping he doesn't
0:34:42 > 0:34:48push one towards the corner pocket.
0:35:24 > 0:35:33That didn't go in, but look at the way he's played it. It's one of
0:35:33 > 0:35:41those shots, you can play it like a shot-to-nothing, because if you
0:35:41 > 0:35:46miss, this is what you leave your opponent.
0:36:45 > 0:36:50I'm not quite sure whether he's going to take on this red which is
0:36:50 > 0:36:55close to the left centre pocket. Just putting his hand on the table
0:36:55 > 0:36:58there, where he could possibly leave the cue ball without leaving
0:36:58 > 0:37:02anything into the opposite corner pocket.
0:37:08 > 0:37:16Oh, that's a great shot! That will do his confidence a world of good.
0:37:30 > 0:37:38Good pot that, wasn't it?It really was excellent. I thought it might
0:37:38 > 0:37:42have just been hitting that near jaw but anyway, it was very accurate.
0:37:42 > 0:37:47Stephen mentioned in the studio, he's got to score when these chances
0:37:47 > 0:37:54come up. Absolutely right.
0:38:03 > 0:38:08You won't be winning this match against John Higgins if you don't.I
0:38:08 > 0:38:11think the red that is closest to this bottom left-hand corner pocket
0:38:11 > 0:38:24would be ideal, it would free up the black as well. No. Not this time.
0:38:40 > 0:38:45That's nice for the confidence, when you play that for the first time in
0:38:45 > 0:38:48the match and you make sure you're the right side of the blue. Really
0:38:48 > 0:38:55nice.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03I don't quite know what shot he played there, but it wouldn't have
0:39:03 > 0:39:07been the one I would have played.I think he was trying to get onto the
0:39:07 > 0:39:18red to the right of the black. And he is overrun it by quite some way.
0:39:18 > 0:39:26What a few options, but as you say, it was a strange positional shot. He
0:39:26 > 0:39:32will be kicking himself if he doesn't score any more, because was
0:39:32 > 0:39:42a great chance.That's why I was a bit surprised couple of shots ago he
0:39:42 > 0:39:48didn't get on that red on this top cushion, it would have freed the
0:39:48 > 0:39:52black up into both pockets and made the break a lot easier for himself.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54Now, he's struggling.
0:40:20 > 0:40:25Good cueing there, easy to get a bit of side on those and throw them off.
0:40:25 > 0:40:33This one goes but it is tight - pressure on this... And because of
0:40:33 > 0:40:41that, he's missed it. I'll agree with you, Ken, the first thing he
0:40:41 > 0:40:45should have been doing in that break... As we see this one again.
0:40:45 > 0:40:51He should have been getting on that loose red straightaway off the blue.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55He's definitely missed a trick there. He had plenty of options to
0:40:55 > 0:40:59really open things up.
0:41:08 > 0:41:14APPLAUSE
0:41:14 > 0:41:19Great shot.Fantastic, and of course he's got the option if he wants to
0:41:19 > 0:41:24screw off the black into the pack and open them up. This is looking
0:41:24 > 0:41:35like a lovely target if he can get in there. Well, he couldn't have hit
0:41:35 > 0:41:38that much better. That's an early Christmas present - because that's
0:41:38 > 0:41:45lovely! And managed to play it in such a way that he could keep
0:41:45 > 0:41:53control of the cue ball. He didn't absolutely smash them everywhere.
0:41:53 > 0:41:59So, Mark King's positional play could be costing him a frame here.I
0:41:59 > 0:42:05just wonder, will John Higgins try and get down onto that red now,
0:42:05 > 0:42:10nearest this bottom left-hand corner pocket? There you see the difference
0:42:10 > 0:42:14each of straight on it, trying to open the black into both corner
0:42:14 > 0:42:20pockets.
0:42:33 > 0:42:40Yeah, he really missed a trick there, Mark King. Now, he's going to
0:42:40 > 0:42:48have to sit in the chair and watch John Higgins knock all of these in.
0:43:39 > 0:43:46Wow! Don't see that very often. I was about to say, he'll play a
0:43:46 > 0:43:50little cannon into the reds and hopefully won't stick onto the back
0:43:50 > 0:43:59of them. But he's over-screwed that one. So, Mark King looks like he's
0:43:59 > 0:44:06going to get away with it. Unless John can find something from
0:44:06 > 0:44:13somewhere that I can't see.Well, he's very good at playing doubles -
0:44:13 > 0:44:21I'm not sure whether that red to the right-hand side of the cue ball is a
0:44:21 > 0:44:28possible double. But he does have this one into the yellow pocket...
0:44:28 > 0:44:30Great shot! Fantastic!
0:44:30 > 0:44:35APPLAUSE
0:44:35 > 0:44:40But not a great cue ball. He's going to need another good shot on the
0:44:40 > 0:44:47black, a this break going.Yeah, I can see him knocking this end but I
0:44:47 > 0:44:51can't see where the next red is coming from, unless it's another
0:44:51 > 0:45:08mid-range one. Good pot, but he's going to need another one.
0:45:12 > 0:45:17And this is never easy into the corner pocket, a blind pocket, as we
0:45:17 > 0:45:29say. If he misses it, he could lose the frame.Yeah, interesting to see
0:45:29 > 0:45:32whether he will actually go for it. Because sometimes you've got to
0:45:32 > 0:45:36steal yourself, you feel as if you're in amongst the balls and you
0:45:36 > 0:45:41should have a go. But equally, you can miss and stick your opponent
0:45:41 > 0:45:49back in. So, big shot coming up. So big, in fact, he didn't take the pot
0:45:49 > 0:46:01on.Well, that's not the best shot he's played. He was trying to knock
0:46:01 > 0:46:05the black safe as well and put the red on the site cushion. But he has
0:46:05 > 0:46:10left Mark this red into the left centre.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30John was not pleased about the chance he gave to Mark, but he's
0:46:30 > 0:46:44back at the table again. He doesn't like making any mistakes.
0:47:47 > 0:47:51If I was Mark I would be getting one of those two reds off the site
0:47:51 > 0:47:57cushion now.One of them back in play. So, it's just the one red that
0:47:57 > 0:48:01is on the side rail now which is a problem for Mark, if he was going to
0:48:01 > 0:48:10make a counter clearance. There's only 90 and points in it, you know,
0:48:10 > 0:48:24but if you're going to clear up, you can need that red.
0:48:31 > 0:48:40Foul, Mark King, four.Well, this is one he will be taking on definitely,
0:48:40 > 0:48:52you would feel. Into the same corner pocket - could get onto the blue or
0:48:52 > 0:48:57pink from this. Big shot.Yeah, you've just got to be full-blooded
0:48:57 > 0:49:01on this. Great shot.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04APPLAUSE
0:49:25 > 0:49:37Slightly difficult for Mark, being a left-hander.
0:49:42 > 0:49:47Slightly off straight, I think, which is moving to be a little bit
0:49:47 > 0:49:57of a problem.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02So, it remains to be seen if that red that John Higgins pushed onto
0:50:02 > 0:50:06the site cushion earlier on in this frame is going to be his insurance
0:50:06 > 0:50:14policy.Bit of snooker to be played yet, but that red might yet save
0:50:14 > 0:50:25John from the counter clearance. We'll see.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31Yeah, and being on that side of the table, it is not ideal for the
0:50:31 > 0:50:39left-hander, so he might be playing it with the rest.
0:50:52 > 0:51:01Or square in this frame now. -- all square.
0:51:17 > 0:51:30KEN DOHERTY: -- KEN DOHERTY: It's imperative that he
0:51:30 > 0:51:34gets a nice angle on this, thinking about that red on the site cushion.
0:51:34 > 0:51:39JOHN PARROTT: Yeah, it is a horrible little spot, that red, he will do
0:51:39 > 0:51:47very well to flick it out. Sometimes if the black is on its spot, you can
0:51:47 > 0:51:51go off the black. The pink is a bit more difficult, to get from their
0:51:51 > 0:52:06onto the red to move it off. That's no good. That's nowhere.
0:52:06 > 0:52:13KEN DOHERTY: He'll be very disappointed with that. Even if he
0:52:13 > 0:52:19had just potted the pink, 20 points ahead, John would have needed red
0:52:19 > 0:52:26and all the colours which the tough black as well. So, this pink, the
0:52:26 > 0:52:33six points, makes a big difference. He's looking at trying to put the
0:52:33 > 0:52:45brown safe. Trying to hide that red with the green. Not too bad. Bit of
0:52:45 > 0:52:47insurance.
0:53:04 > 0:53:06APPLAUSE
0:53:39 > 0:53:47Mark pushed that brown safe on the site cushion. Red and pink and then
0:53:47 > 0:53:56colours up to green would be enough for him. Quite a few things can
0:53:56 > 0:53:59happen here.
0:54:05 > 0:54:11Clever little shot there from John Higgins, not bringing the black into
0:54:11 > 0:54:18play.
0:54:53 > 0:55:01Not straightforward. He cannot be certain there won't be a double
0:55:01 > 0:55:06kiss, with it being so close to the corners. Mark is having a little
0:55:06 > 0:55:14walk around. If he plays it plain ball and hits it off the two
0:55:14 > 0:55:19handles, he's got to make sure he doesn't come back and hit the green
0:55:19 > 0:55:30with the red. That's a good shot. And even better, knocking the blue
0:55:30 > 0:55:34onto the site cushion. But he hit that well.
0:56:28 > 0:56:40This looks too hard. Could be over the pocket here. It's not easy, but
0:56:40 > 0:56:44it's a chance, and it's just slightly off centre. If he runs
0:56:44 > 0:56:51through this, he can camera and the angles.
0:56:51 > 0:57:07REFEREE: Foul Jake Mark, four.Not to be. -- foul. Mark King, four. So,
0:57:07 > 0:57:16a Chancellor Mark King. It is a chance for the frame if he can knock
0:57:16 > 0:57:21it in.
0:57:53 > 0:57:56I'm just wondering, John, will he try and knock the blue out here with
0:57:56 > 0:58:05the red? It would be risky but if he hits it with enough pace... Well, he
0:58:05 > 0:58:11tried it! Just missed it! It was a clever little shot from John Higgins
0:58:11 > 0:58:12there.
0:58:51 > 0:58:58Trying to clip the red onto the side cushion here, and around the angles.
0:58:58 > 0:59:05Get the red behind the brown... How is the cue ball...?
0:59:12 > 0:59:17Yeah, you could hear the sigh from John Higgins - he wanted the
0:59:17 > 0:59:26full-ball contact there. That would have left Mark in a lot of trouble.
0:59:26 > 0:59:29That's a nice little double kiss - that red was going towards the
0:59:29 > 0:59:32pocket.
0:59:49 > 0:59:56Yeah, there's the black in play. He tried to move the blue on the last
0:59:56 > 1:00:03shot, didn't quite get it, but the black has now moved out. You can be
1:00:03 > 1:00:05sure if he gets other chances to move blue and brown, he will be
1:00:05 > 1:00:08doing it.
1:00:21 > 1:00:25That is a great shot.
1:00:31 > 1:00:36John can still seen the red but still excellent.You wanted off the
1:00:36 > 1:00:41cushion to put a touch of left-hand side on to make sure you do not get
1:00:41 > 1:00:47a double-kiss. Because it is on the cushion it is hard. Could not do
1:00:47 > 1:00:51much else. Just make sure that he got the object ball safe. That is
1:00:51 > 1:01:07the priority. Tough fame. Half an hour. It did not look like that when
1:01:07 > 1:01:11John Higgins was amongst the balls but the split did not go right and
1:01:11 > 1:01:17the cue ball was stuck. It changed the complexion. Since then it has
1:01:17 > 1:01:19been a hard battle.
1:01:35 > 1:01:40There is a shot you do not see very much in the game, double-kiss was
1:01:40 > 1:01:51played.The cue ball springs back. I went to John Harrison Lock, he will
1:01:51 > 1:01:56see if he can clip return. It is very fine but it is very fine but it
1:01:56 > 1:02:02isn't at -- a natural angle to come down for the black. With the cue
1:02:02 > 1:02:16ball going? That is tight. Even if Mark cannot see it directly, he can
1:02:16 > 1:02:25swerve that a little bit.He is OK but another couple of inches and it
1:02:25 > 1:02:28would have been tied up behind the blue.
1:02:35 > 1:02:41Mark, what did you do?That is the worst shot he has played in the
1:02:41 > 1:02:45frame and he will be kicking himself that he has done that. The cue ball
1:02:45 > 1:02:52should not be anywhere near the yellow. Just get on pink or black.
1:02:52 > 1:03:02And it is frame over. What a mistake that is.I am sure that the pink
1:03:02 > 1:03:08pots into the bottom right pocket. It is worth going for the pink just
1:03:08 > 1:03:10for the six points alone.
1:03:21 > 1:03:28No point in putting the green safe. He is 19 points ahead. If the points
1:03:28 > 1:03:33-- at the pots this pink then he just needs the yellow. That is what
1:03:33 > 1:03:36he attempted.
1:03:40 > 1:03:45He will be kicking himself.
1:03:51 > 1:03:55And you can bet your bottom dollar that John Higgins will be trying
1:03:55 > 1:04:00even harder now. If he wins this frame with it looked like he would
1:04:00 > 1:04:04never win it, Mark King will remember.
1:04:26 > 1:04:33He was heavy with the yellow but it is pottable. Not sure if John can
1:04:33 > 1:04:38get enough screw on the side of the cue ball to take the browned off the
1:04:38 > 1:04:51side cushion. This would be some shot. What a shot. What a shot. He
1:04:51 > 1:04:57has been so unlucky. Look where the brown has finished.What a great
1:04:57 > 1:05:02attempt. Fantastic. Great pot to try to flick that out. The only thing
1:05:02 > 1:05:07you can see that is OK about the shot, it is a natural angle of the
1:05:07 > 1:05:14game to get down for brown. Even potting the brown will be difficult.
1:05:14 > 1:05:16You don't have to do it all in one visit.
1:05:23 > 1:05:34That is the positional shot, gallon for the brown. If you were playing
1:05:34 > 1:05:38on a pub table, you would fancy playing on the brown and then
1:05:38 > 1:05:45spreading it out. But this is not a pub table. You might play a double
1:05:45 > 1:05:56on the blue. He might knock it on and leave the double.He is one of
1:05:56 > 1:06:02the best in the games with the doubles.This would be a steal and a
1:06:02 > 1:06:04half.
1:06:16 > 1:06:26That was frame ball. Ten ahead and Bach could not be to look at that
1:06:26 > 1:06:31double. Mark will have a go at this blue to get into the green pocket.
1:06:35 > 1:06:39And you have to be full-blooded on this wiki was earlier in the frame.
1:06:39 > 1:06:45We cannot think about what you might be about to leave. Give yourself the
1:06:45 > 1:06:51best possible chance of putting it in.
1:06:56 > 1:07:08Is it in the middle?It is now. Unless John Higgins is hampered
1:07:08 > 1:07:12severely, it looks like he will win a free and he never looked like
1:07:12 > 1:07:16winning. -- a frame.
1:07:30 > 1:07:35He was slightly hampered but I did not think he would miss that. He has
1:07:35 > 1:07:41slipped a bit of side on it and the cue ball has gone.Mark King, you
1:07:41 > 1:07:54have to knock on their sin. And he does. After much trials and
1:07:54 > 1:07:58tribulations, it was a frame that took well over 35 minutes, it is
1:07:58 > 1:08:08Mark King that takes it. The score is 1-1. Very long frame. 2015 was
1:08:08 > 1:08:13the last time it Mark King be John Higgins.It was arduous. He did not
1:08:13 > 1:08:18know who would win it at the end. Mark was in the ascendancy but John
1:08:18 > 1:08:21Higgins always fights back. In the end it was the missed the blue, over
1:08:21 > 1:08:29the top of the pink. It is difficult to play a shot when you are...He
1:08:29 > 1:08:35put in some decent mid range reds. This looks like it should go and
1:08:35 > 1:08:41because it's the first knuckle. It is a good shot. These are good pots.
1:08:41 > 1:08:46What Mark King is known for and what the top players not Mark King four,
1:08:46 > 1:08:52he could make games scrappy. He is very good at that. He is not known
1:08:52 > 1:08:57as being a prolific scorer, winning lots of things in one visit. It
1:08:57 > 1:09:00could get to someone like John Higgins.That is not detrimental to
1:09:00 > 1:09:05Mark King. It is not his game plan, he does not go out to make it
1:09:05 > 1:09:09scrappy, it is the style of play, he is a fighter on the table. As it has
1:09:09 > 1:09:15been said in the past, that he was playing top jobs... You get lots of
1:09:15 > 1:09:19dreams like that with Mark. He knows the tactics of the game. He is not
1:09:19 > 1:09:29the most prolific break-builder. He can be scrappy so he knows how to
1:09:29 > 1:09:32fight.It is not a game plan, I will miss up the table for my opponent.
1:09:32 > 1:09:37It is how it unfolds. The shot when he gets the red and should be on the
1:09:37 > 1:09:40yellow, but gets himself into trouble.Positional sense of
1:09:40 > 1:09:44something you can teach. Before you get down to play the shot, you do
1:09:44 > 1:09:49happen, I will pot of this and properly be on the cover. You have
1:09:49 > 1:09:53to ask what you're trying to achieve. Some players are better
1:09:53 > 1:09:59than others are doing that before they get down.Some players to play
1:09:59 > 1:10:03hit and hopes. I should play a specific shot, you can end up in no
1:10:03 > 1:10:09man's land. It is incredible. He was guilty of that with that shot.Can
1:10:09 > 1:10:14you eradicate that from your game? You can. Players go into the
1:10:14 > 1:10:16commentary box after many years playing and can see the game in a
1:10:16 > 1:10:21different way. It would be good if perhaps players generally amongst
1:10:21 > 1:10:24each other when they are still competing in the game, if they have
1:10:24 > 1:10:29a problem in that area, have one day trying to analyse every positional
1:10:29 > 1:10:33shot. Do not play the game but talk amongst themselves. That could be
1:10:33 > 1:10:38how players do it in the future, have break building coaches. The gag
1:10:38 > 1:10:43on my right, Stephen Hendry, would not be a bad coach in that scenario.
1:10:43 > 1:10:50-- the man on my right.Marquette King was desperate to get one frame
1:10:50 > 1:10:55on the board. It is a bit of desperation. You must always decide
1:10:55 > 1:10:56the shot before you get down.
1:10:58 > 1:11:07JOHN PARROTT: Interesting from the boys in the studio. Sports
1:11:07 > 1:11:12psychologists say it is better to be decisive than correct. It is true.
1:11:12 > 1:11:17Even if it is not the right shot, be decisive. That was the shot I am
1:11:17 > 1:11:25playing, and go ahead and do it. Another mistake.
1:11:31 > 1:11:37You do not see many of them from John Higgins. He is rattled after
1:11:37 > 1:11:40that last frame.
1:11:52 > 1:11:59There was some noise from the ground. -- from the crowd.
1:12:03 > 1:12:10Couple of loose reds. The difference between the two players is how they
1:12:10 > 1:12:13go about break building. The boys were talking about it in the studio.
1:12:20 > 1:12:30Good pots. Bit straight on this black.The first black he potted, he
1:12:30 > 1:12:33lost the cue ball pretty much straight away. It was an angle that
1:12:33 > 1:12:38was awkward. Now he is strictly off angle so he is straight on the
1:12:38 > 1:12:42black. Not really got this cue ball this afternoon as yet.
1:13:00 > 1:13:05He potted a good couple friends in the last frame. He will need some
1:13:05 > 1:13:10more here. -- good couple of reds. Very good.
1:13:14 > 1:13:21Nothing wrong with his mid range 14. Very clean. Couple of loose reds.
1:13:21 > 1:13:27Does not have to play into the pack. FP has a natural angle he will be
1:13:27 > 1:13:35tempted to play the pack. He has decided to go into them now. It does
1:13:35 > 1:13:43not look too bad.He will settle for that, John.
1:13:48 > 1:13:55Get a nice angle on this black. This is typical of Mark. He had allowed
1:13:55 > 1:14:01angle and now has overscrewed it.It is loose. He leaves a half ball-on
1:14:01 > 1:14:08the black. Goes into the back of the pack, stays on the loose red. At the
1:14:08 > 1:14:14moment he is fighting with the cue ball. He is doing well. He is
1:14:14 > 1:14:16keeping going but he is making it hard for himself.
1:14:47 > 1:14:51Difficult to judge whether he can play through the gap. He had a look
1:14:51 > 1:14:54to see a kicking pot that bread coming through the gap vote getting
1:14:54 > 1:14:59cannon. -- to see if he can pot that bread.
1:15:08 > 1:15:17To be a honest it was a struggle from the first ball, that break.We
1:15:17 > 1:15:22can see dismissed red again. Going into the pack off this must red.
1:15:26 > 1:15:33That was poor. That was such a poor shot from John Higgins. He did not
1:15:33 > 1:15:36take the opportunity to hit that is hard as he could, split the pack
1:15:36 > 1:15:37with the cue ball.
1:15:42 > 1:15:48It was worth taking a risk. The position is going to be off it. We
1:15:48 > 1:15:54have got all the reds and play. If you land on blue, pink or any of the
1:15:54 > 1:15:58baulk colours at it is a fantastic chance.
1:16:27 > 1:16:32He was a bit short with the cue ball and he is not interested in the red
1:16:32 > 1:16:37into the corner pocket, he will play a safety shot. I did not spot the
1:16:37 > 1:16:46plant. That was very fortunate and it could have mark in lots of
1:16:46 > 1:16:47trouble now.
1:16:57 > 1:17:02You can have the best cue action and play for hours and practice but you
1:17:02 > 1:17:11cannot beat the lot. Look at how that flicked on.
1:17:14 > 1:17:21He can get intake behind the bottom bed. -- even tight.
1:17:38 > 1:17:42This is a possible escape off the side cushion into the top cushion.
1:17:42 > 1:17:49Try to nestle into the red. He has to be very precise.
1:17:54 > 1:18:06I don't blame him taking his time but it is the only shot he has got.
1:18:06 > 1:18:13UMPIRE: Falque and Ruiz. -- Phil and a
1:18:43 > 1:18:50UMPIRE: Foul and a miss.There is a red at the back. It is pottable into
1:18:50 > 1:18:56the left centre.
1:19:18 > 1:19:29There's a third time lucky? That more like it. It was not
1:19:29 > 1:19:34straightforward. Tricky shot into the middle. He was only really going
1:19:34 > 1:19:36to be left with this.
1:20:04 > 1:20:08Let us look when Mark missed the second time. Look with the cue ball
1:20:08 > 1:20:15finished. The red at the bottom of the four, at the pink spot. It does
1:20:15 > 1:20:19go into left centre. He does not leave much of the screws back for
1:20:19 > 1:20:24the black. Did not even look at it. Good call.
1:20:55 > 1:20:59There is a good chance that Mark will be adept in the tactical
1:20:59 > 1:21:03department, he used to play hours and hours of snooker practice with
1:21:03 > 1:21:07Steve Davis. If you did not learn anything if he had not been
1:21:07 > 1:21:11watching. I can imagine a session with Steve will be taxing on the
1:21:11 > 1:21:13brain.
1:21:30 > 1:21:36What you also forget about when you play at this level of snooker, he
1:21:36 > 1:21:41had a tough afternoon, John Higgins. He had to play one of the
1:21:41 > 1:21:48up-and-coming players. John Bostic one month ago, 6-2. He would have
1:21:48 > 1:21:52been geared up for yesterday. They do not get much time before you are
1:21:52 > 1:22:01back out again.Mark King had that wonderful win against Luca Purcell.
1:22:01 > 1:22:03He has played well over the last couple of seasons.
1:22:10 > 1:22:17He had a tough enough match as well. This match is not caught fire just
1:22:17 > 1:22:24yet. Tactical play. The games have become scrappy. I am sure it'll get
1:22:24 > 1:22:26better, no about that.
1:22:33 > 1:22:37At the moment it is tough match play snooker from both players.
1:23:25 > 1:23:29Nice mid-range chance for John in takes.
1:23:33 > 1:23:38Quickly if you reds for John that unavailable to come down and play
1:23:38 > 1:23:40on.
1:23:59 > 1:24:04Just run a little bit too far, that cue ball.
1:24:10 > 1:24:14This is the red that John wanted to get rid of because I am sure that
1:24:14 > 1:24:18the pink pots in the same pocket. That has turned out beautifully. It
1:24:18 > 1:24:26was very nice. The pink now goes back on its spot but opens up the
1:24:26 > 1:24:34next red. That one shot has made it a totally different frame. At first
1:24:34 > 1:24:38I felt he would be hampered with that but he pleaded beautifully to
1:24:38 > 1:24:46get on the pink. Slightly hitting it down, could not strike it any
1:24:46 > 1:24:48better.
1:25:11 > 1:25:16No need for John to be contemplating the black at the minute, it is out
1:25:16 > 1:25:21of play as it is. He can look at these three Mac reds boss.
1:25:25 > 1:25:29Then he will have some thinking to do.
1:25:57 > 1:26:00He has to be careful. The green is slightly in the way every he the
1:26:00 > 1:26:08side cushion. So much so he has decided to go for blue instead. He
1:26:08 > 1:26:14was wavy playing it off the cushion back for the bank. -- pink.
1:26:31 > 1:26:42Is there a gap?Interesting to see how he will go about this.He will
1:26:42 > 1:26:46try to get on the green, here.
1:27:01 > 1:27:05I will just put down a little circle. It begin get the cue ball
1:27:05 > 1:27:18somewhere in that vicinity, this bottom right-hand corner does not.
1:27:18 > 1:27:25It is not like. It is the shot before. Being so straight on the
1:27:25 > 1:27:28blue gave him just one shot that he could play to leave it in that
1:27:28 > 1:27:34circle. He has got himself back into the frame. He will not be happy that
1:27:34 > 1:27:41he has let that can skim. -- let that chance go.
1:27:48 > 1:27:55He is just not completely filing in all cylinders, John Higgins.
1:28:29 > 1:28:34He has got to be snookered again. Those two reds on the top cushion at
1:28:34 > 1:28:35a big target.
1:28:40 > 1:28:47Is there a gap between the blue and pink? It looks like it is. Maybe
1:28:47 > 1:28:51clip the right-hand side of the straight and back up on the yellow.
1:29:01 > 1:29:06I would not have played that shot, that was strange.
1:29:33 > 1:29:37Mark is 17 points behind.
1:29:42 > 1:29:44It is just a clip of.
1:29:53 > 1:29:56Busy trying to tempt John Higgins into a double?
1:30:02 > 1:30:08If he was hit was not having it. Another hard-fought frame.
1:30:16 > 1:30:19Mark can see this red to the right-hand side on the top cushion
1:30:19 > 1:30:29but you have to hit these properly. Anything that here spells disaster.
1:30:52 > 1:30:56That top-quality. He couldn't have played that much better. He's got
1:30:56 > 1:31:01the snooker as well as double about as good a shot as he has played
1:31:01 > 1:31:12tactically in the match, that she shall. -- that's for sure.
1:31:33 > 1:31:37Mind you, you've got to be up very early in the morning to put one over
1:31:37 > 1:31:52John Higgins. Got to be something pretty special to trap him.
1:31:53 > 1:32:01Another excellent shot from Mark, though.Yeah, not only did he get
1:32:01 > 1:32:06the cue ball tight onto the cushion, but he's brought that safe red which
1:32:06 > 1:32:12was tight to the cushion behind the black spot into play now - very
1:32:12 > 1:32:24clever.Yes, the last two shots have been superb from Mark. He'll be
1:32:24 > 1:32:28hoping for a bit of luck here are, John, because he couldn't do much
1:32:28 > 1:32:36else - that was the only shot he had on. And he HASN'T got away with it.
1:32:36 > 1:32:39This is a Chancellor Mark King. His long potting has been pretty good so
1:32:39 > 1:32:47far in this match. One good one here... -- chance for Mark King.
1:33:03 > 1:33:06You don't get many chances when you're playing John Higgins, Ken,
1:33:06 > 1:33:14and you've got to take those.Yeah, it was one of those, he didn't have
1:33:14 > 1:33:21to hit it too hard - disappointed he missed that chance.
1:33:40 > 1:33:43He could play a little snooker behind the black, but it would be a
1:33:43 > 1:33:48very, very brave shot.And just thinking, if he plays it, he can
1:33:48 > 1:33:55screw back to the baulk. He's having a look at it now. He's got the angle
1:33:55 > 1:34:00to play the pot, it is worth having a go at if he has, because the other
1:34:00 > 1:34:13two safeties aren't straightforward.
1:34:17 > 1:34:24Well, that was sort of a semi quit, if I'm being honest. He didn't
1:34:24 > 1:34:30really get through that one,which is unusual for John. So, once again,
1:34:30 > 1:34:33another chance for Mark.
1:34:36 > 1:34:47Good pot. The green was always over the right centre. This next red is
1:34:47 > 1:34:53the one that's close to the pocket. Needs a good angle as well, doesn't
1:34:53 > 1:35:03want to be too straight. He's OK. Yeah, no excuse from here. This is a
1:35:03 > 1:35:14great chance for 2-1. That's not the best shot he's played.
1:35:25 > 1:35:34Now, just play off this one, Mark, up to the baulk end. Don't get too
1:35:34 > 1:35:39fancy trying to stay on pink. Just get up there and do yourself a easy
1:35:39 > 1:35:48shot. Lost the cue ball... Betwixt and between, isn't he? Should have
1:35:48 > 1:35:52been either short on the blue or up towards a baulk colour. I would have
1:35:52 > 1:35:58been up towards about the colour myself, try and make it easy.He can
1:35:58 > 1:36:05just drop the blue in and take the yellow. He's been quite good from
1:36:05 > 1:36:14the mid distance so far, but there's extra pressure on this yellow.
1:36:28 > 1:36:39Good pot. House here's cue ball? Very good. -- how is his cue ball?
1:36:39 > 1:36:45Should win the frame from here.
1:36:51 > 1:36:55He may have given himself a little palpitation. Didn't get off the last
1:36:55 > 1:37:00red perfectly onto a colour, but it looks like he's going to do it
1:37:00 > 1:37:05eventually.It's been a good performance from Mark King over this
1:37:05 > 1:37:11last couple of frames. He's dug in, competed well in the safety
1:37:11 > 1:37:15department, hasn't scored that well, but when it's come down to some of
1:37:15 > 1:37:22the pressure pots... As the pink goes in! Mark King leads the former
1:37:22 > 1:37:25UK Champion John Higgins by 2-1.
1:37:25 > 1:37:27goes in! Mark King leads the former UK Champion John Higgins by 2-1.
1:37:27 > 1:37:30It's been a fascinating couple of days, we've seen some of the big
1:37:30 > 1:37:35names tumbling out at we're wondering if another one is about to
1:37:35 > 1:37:39go?Well, such is the standard of players generally. There's different
1:37:39 > 1:37:45ways to skin that snooker. Even though Mark King hasn't scored that
1:37:45 > 1:37:49well, another player with perhaps high outbreak building prowess might
1:37:49 > 1:37:56be thinking, this is not so good, but Mark is used to that style of
1:37:56 > 1:38:01play, so therefore he doesn't beat himself up when he loses position.
1:38:01 > 1:38:06He just gets on with it, because he's a bit more used to that
1:38:06 > 1:38:11happening.What is happening out there for John, for you?He's not
1:38:11 > 1:38:15getting into much of a rhythm. People say John is the best
1:38:15 > 1:38:18all-round player of all-time but his strength is break-building and
1:38:18 > 1:38:24winning frames in visit. And he's not been able to do that. A couple
1:38:24 > 1:38:27of positional shots have let him down, which you wouldn't expect from
1:38:27 > 1:38:34John. I think Mark has put him a little bit out of his comfort zone.
1:38:34 > 1:38:39This is not going to make the best of DVD?Well, every match is
1:38:39 > 1:38:43different and sometimes, the story of a frame, it builds up to a
1:38:43 > 1:38:47crescendo. John Higgins knows very well but it is not how you start a
1:38:47 > 1:38:51match, it's how you finish. He's got plenty in the bank, he won't be
1:38:51 > 1:38:57disappointed, just play every frame as if it's the first.
1:39:02 > 1:39:09JOHN PARROTT: At a really good point Steve made about Mark's temperament.
1:39:09 > 1:39:14He just forgets about what's gone on, loses position, gets on with it
1:39:14 > 1:39:23and plays the next shot. Wanting he's always done his compete. There
1:39:23 > 1:39:28are people with a more subtle cue ball on the circuit than Mark,
1:39:28 > 1:39:31that's for sure, but at the end of the day, it's all about winning. And
1:39:31 > 1:39:35he's done plenty of that recently.
1:40:09 > 1:40:15Just to put that into context, looking at the scoresheet so far,
1:40:15 > 1:40:25Mark King has had one break over 30 - 37. And his leading 2-1. Mind you,
1:40:25 > 1:40:34John's is only 41, which is very unusual. Total points aren't exactly
1:40:34 > 1:40:44massive, either. It's been a bit scrappy. That's very unusual in-off.
1:40:44 > 1:40:49REFEREE: Foul. Mark King, four.
1:41:19 > 1:41:24APPLAUSE
1:41:24 > 1:41:30Excellent pot. He's mid-range stuff's been very good. OK, he
1:41:30 > 1:41:33missed one in the last which he probably should have got, but
1:41:33 > 1:41:38there's been some really good ones. And that is a better pot than it
1:41:38 > 1:41:52looked. So, two crackers there. KEN DOHERTY: He's left red to the
1:41:52 > 1:41:55left centre. Doesn't have to do anything with the cue ball, it's
1:41:55 > 1:42:00going to be topside of the blue. Well, he's played that completely
1:42:00 > 1:42:03different than what I would have expected. I thought he might have
1:42:03 > 1:42:11just dropped it in.
1:42:33 > 1:42:37JOHN PARROTT: That's mostly controlled from John - what a lovely
1:42:37 > 1:42:41shot. He'll be digging in here, he'll be trying to win the frame in
1:42:41 > 1:42:49one visit. To get normal service resumed.
1:42:55 > 1:43:06Well, that will pot up there, but it's very... There is the split - it
1:43:06 > 1:43:10didn't go how he wanted it. Difficult to know where the cue ball
1:43:10 > 1:43:15is going to finish off this one. Trust to look a bit. Main thing of
1:43:15 > 1:43:23course, can he knock the red in?He might be able to cannon the green
1:43:23 > 1:43:39and stop the cue ball. And that is a juicy bonus. What a result he's had
1:43:39 > 1:43:42there. Would have been completely out of position if it wasn't for
1:43:42 > 1:43:47that kiss on the red.
1:43:52 > 1:43:59Yeah, no need to go into the pack there. That was a lovely little case
1:43:59 > 1:44:05he had to go perfect on the blue. Wow! -- kiss.
1:44:15 > 1:44:21It's early days in this break, of course, but whether reds are
1:44:21 > 1:44:26positioned, John Higgins will be loving the sight of these.Yeah,
1:44:26 > 1:44:31there's at least two reds just above the black which will go into this
1:44:31 > 1:44:34right-hand corner pocket.
1:44:50 > 1:45:02That's opened a couple more reds. He's got to be slightly careful with
1:45:02 > 1:45:09this. Little cannon... Which he's got. And that's made all the
1:45:09 > 1:45:15difference. Once he got that one, everything else was opened up. These
1:45:15 > 1:45:25are lovely now. John will expect to win the frame from here.
1:45:42 > 1:45:52There's his target, 72, before his opponent will need a snooker. So,
1:45:52 > 1:46:00another five reds and colours.He would love to play the red in the
1:46:00 > 1:46:04other corner, but of course, hampered by the pack. So, up for the
1:46:04 > 1:46:15blue. They really are lovely, these, whichever way you look at them. For
1:46:15 > 1:46:29him to at least get over the line, that's for sure.
1:46:31 > 1:46:35And it was a wonderful slice of fortune, wasn't it? It was a good
1:46:35 > 1:46:40pot, but have a look at this... Gets a little kiss of the red, hits the
1:46:40 > 1:46:44knuckle... Perfect.
1:46:51 > 1:46:55If he had missed the red, John, I don't think he would have come down
1:46:55 > 1:46:59to make the black into the corner pocket. He would have been out of
1:46:59 > 1:47:08position. This is his highest break so far.With always save, when you
1:47:08 > 1:47:13get a bit of good luck, make the best of it, because you will have
1:47:13 > 1:47:19plenty of bad during your career. And we'll see if he can beat his
1:47:19 > 1:47:23highest wake of the tournament so far. Remarkably, only 80. It just
1:47:23 > 1:47:31goes to show you, it's about matchplay and winning. I wouldn't
1:47:31 > 1:47:38mind having the highest break of 80 if I had about 46 of them!It's
1:47:38 > 1:47:41amazing, Neil Robertson lost the other day, he's made eight centuries
1:47:41 > 1:47:47in this tournament. He's at home probably watching. John Higgins, in
1:47:47 > 1:47:53the last 16, his highest break is only 80.
1:48:07 > 1:48:12Yes, I think Mark Williams, when he won his first ranking event, his
1:48:12 > 1:48:17highest break in the whole event was only 79. It just shows you. As long
1:48:17 > 1:48:22as you're making consistent 70s and taking your chances, can still win
1:48:22 > 1:48:28events.
1:48:37 > 1:48:42That was frame ball, acknowledged by the crowd. And Stephen Hendry in the
1:48:42 > 1:48:50studio before this last frame, said that John Higgins hasn't got his arm
1:48:50 > 1:48:54going gets in which he hadn't - but this will make him feel better. Got
1:48:54 > 1:49:20into his rhythm. Oh, missed it! Was trying to get the cannon there. John
1:49:20 > 1:49:29Higgins won't be too bothered to. As they go off to the mid-session
1:49:29 > 1:49:37interval, it's John Higgins 2-2 Mark King.Yes, we're all square again. A
1:49:37 > 1:49:41quick chat with the lads before we talk about the other match taking
1:49:41 > 1:49:44place this afternoon, between Graeme Dott and Stephen Maguire. Where is
1:49:44 > 1:49:48this one heading, Steve?I think probably capacity first and then
1:49:48 > 1:49:48this one heading, Steve?I think probably capacity first and then get
1:49:48 > 1:49:56back out for action. Everything to play for, from Mark King 's
1:49:56 > 1:49:59perspective, the first hurdle has been done, he's playing a bit
1:49:59 > 1:50:07better. The game hasn't really taken off yet but the fireworks might
1:50:07 > 1:50:13start in the second half.John Higgins was able to win the frame in
1:50:13 > 1:50:19one visit, lysed cannons, most stands around the pink and black -
1:50:19 > 1:50:24it's what he's best at.A one session match is never as guaranteed
1:50:24 > 1:50:30for one of the top seeds, even if the lower ranked player is an
1:50:30 > 1:50:34excellent player himself. It is always a nervy start. You don't
1:50:34 > 1:50:40always get off to a flyer. John Higgins usually in a raises the
1:50:40 > 1:50:44tempo, as it gets close to the end, he starts honing in. That's probably
1:50:44 > 1:50:50what's going to happen.Also, given the fact that we've seen so many big
1:50:50 > 1:50:54names and top-ranked players going out, he might be thinking to
1:50:54 > 1:50:59himself, I don't want to be the next?It can make you a bit on edge,
1:50:59 > 1:51:03knowing that so many seeds have gone out of. It can affect you in terms
1:51:03 > 1:51:08of, it's not going to be me. John traditionally has always been very
1:51:08 > 1:51:17funny about cues and tips, everything. It may be that he's
1:51:17 > 1:51:22still not 100% happy with the tip on his cue, but that last frame will
1:51:22 > 1:51:25make him feel a lot better.Let's bring you up to date with what's
1:51:25 > 1:51:31happening on the other table Tameka all Scotland a fair. Stephen Maguire
1:51:31 > 1:51:39has been facing some tricky questions.What hubby would you get
1:51:39 > 1:51:45into if time and money you weren't an issue?Something to do with a
1:51:45 > 1:51:51boat so that I could just go out to seam and not see anyone for days.
1:51:51 > 1:52:02What job would you be terrible at? An office job. Anything can happen.
1:52:02 > 1:52:10What fad or trend do you hope comes back?Having a beer when you're
1:52:10 > 1:52:14playing.What is the luckiest thing that has happened to you.Meeting my
1:52:14 > 1:52:19wife and having three kids.What was the best compliments you've
1:52:19 > 1:52:27received?None! I don't get any!If you had to change your name, what
1:52:27 > 1:52:35would you change it to?My mum gave me this name, I wouldn't change it
1:52:35 > 1:52:38for nothing.What are you really good at but embarrassed that you are
1:52:38 > 1:52:43good at it?I'm awesome at dancing but I don't get embarrassed about
1:52:43 > 1:52:52it.If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?Smoke. It was
1:52:52 > 1:52:57smoke back in the day in the snooker room.What's the most immature thing
1:52:57 > 1:53:01that you do?You will need to ask my wife. I'm sure she can come up with
1:53:01 > 1:53:11a few answers.What would be your spirit animal?A tiger. Because
1:53:11 > 1:53:17who's going to beat up a Tiger I'm afraid what is the most annoying
1:53:17 > 1:53:24habit that other people have? Breathing on my hair! But other than
1:53:24 > 1:53:30that...!Well, we don't think the beer coming back when playing is
1:53:30 > 1:53:36going to happen sometime soon. Stephen, this is the 11th match
1:53:36 > 1:53:46between these two Scots, the first in this tournament, interestingly.
1:53:46 > 1:53:51And this year, Graeme is feeling confident.It felt really good to be
1:53:51 > 1:53:55back, playing a match, being introduced, even to step out there
1:53:55 > 1:53:59again felt Willie good. It was nice to show people that I can still
1:53:59 > 1:54:04play. 2006, when I won the world title, it was the slowest vinyl for
1:54:04 > 1:54:09so many years, so I think people just automatically think, slowest
1:54:09 > 1:54:14vinyl, Graeme Dott, he must be slow. I don't think I am. I think if I had
1:54:14 > 1:54:19the cue ball control of Ronnie O'Sullivan or John Higgins, I would
1:54:19 > 1:54:25probably be quicker than them. But my cue ball control is quite bad so
1:54:25 > 1:54:29I am still relatively quick in comparison with them! We're going to
1:54:29 > 1:54:36join it in the second frame, with Steve having won the first. And tree
1:54:36 > 1:54:39from Dennis Taylor and Peter Ebdon.
1:54:39 > 1:54:42Steve having won the first. And tree from Dennis Taylor and Peter Ebdon.
1:54:42 > 1:54:49DENNIS TAYLOR: Yeah, there was a bit of pressure on that. It was just a
1:54:49 > 1:54:53couple of shots ago when he got the wrong side of the blue and he wanted
1:54:53 > 1:54:56to be closer to that red, but at least he hasn't left it on. But he
1:54:56 > 1:55:01could be in trouble, you would feel.
1:55:21 > 1:55:25Had to play it with a lot of side... And this is a free ball. Unless the
1:55:25 > 1:55:32white goes in. REFEREE: Foul, and a miss, Stephen
1:55:32 > 1:55:35Maguire, four. DENNIS TAYLOR: I don't think it is a
1:55:35 > 1:55:43free ball. So, Stephen will just see... If the white was on the green
1:55:43 > 1:55:46spot, who could he hit the red on both sides hammered I don't think it
1:55:46 > 1:55:52is a free ball. So, he's got multiple choices here. He's having
1:55:52 > 1:55:57it put back. He could have played the shot himself and snookered him
1:55:57 > 1:56:11again behind the green - and maybe got a better snooker. And I do
1:56:11 > 1:56:16believe Stephen Maguire would have played the shot and put him in a
1:56:16 > 1:56:29more difficult snooker. REFEREE: Foul, and a miss, Stephen
1:56:29 > 1:56:33Maguire, four. PETER EBDON: Prior to that Miss
1:56:33 > 1:56:37referee decided to hold onto the cue ball - and I don't think Stephen
1:56:37 > 1:56:44Kerr have played it from there!One of the top referees now. Nice to see
1:56:44 > 1:56:50lots of ladies involved in our game. All doing superb jobs. Taking the
1:56:50 > 1:57:05pink as his free ball - that will count as one point. So, he's still
1:57:05 > 1:57:09going to need that difficult red. He's got a good angle on the black
1:57:09 > 1:57:15to drop down onto it. If he doesn't drop nicely on it, he can still play
1:57:15 > 1:57:17the snooker.
1:57:24 > 1:57:38The black will put him 30 in front. Was above 35 still on the table.
1:57:39 > 1:57:45I mean, he doesn't HAVE to pot the black. You could lay the snooker,
1:57:45 > 1:57:54but that's not what he's doing. Pushing the black near the cushion
1:57:54 > 1:58:03as well. Graeme has had a couple of goes at this escape. He needs a bit
1:58:03 > 1:58:13more left-hand side. And this time, well,... That was always a
1:58:13 > 1:58:24possibility. Has he got the snooker? I think he has! You can tell by that
1:58:24 > 1:58:30smile on Stephen Maguire's face! Well, Dennis, I think Stephen
1:58:30 > 1:58:35Maguire missed a trick there. I think he would have been much better
1:58:35 > 1:58:39off potting the black and then playing the snooker. Leaving the cue
1:58:39 > 1:58:45ball behind the green. Under the circumstances, he's played an
1:58:45 > 1:58:49excellent safety shot there. Having a wry smile to himself there,
1:58:49 > 1:58:55Stephen Maguire. Graeme Dott will be delighted at the moment, because
1:58:55 > 1:58:59he's still in the frame. But perhaps not after that shot.
1:59:11 > 1:59:16As I mentioned, 23 in front. No problem getting onto the blue from
1:59:16 > 1:59:36this one. Blue or brown will be enough.
2:00:41 > 2:00:49So, with very good rakes of 57 and 72 Stephen Maguire leads Graeme Dott
2:00:49 > 2:00:57by 2-0.A very good start for Stephen Maguire. That show you what
2:00:57 > 2:01:06happened.-- let's show you what happened. Well played. That is an
2:01:06 > 2:01:07excellent pot.
2:01:20 > 2:01:23He would have preferred the green that he is neither could on that, I
2:01:23 > 2:01:33think. That shot means he has a little further to travel to be on
2:01:33 > 2:01:40that red near the blue. He has played that well.
2:01:46 > 2:01:52It is all about the four reds. Just looking to see if that would go.
2:01:52 > 2:01:54That would be a help.
2:01:58 > 2:02:04It passes the other red, it is just the black that is in no way. Not a
2:02:04 > 2:02:09lot of room past the red. -- that is in the way.
2:02:13 > 2:02:21If he does not feel that that red goes, he has an angle here to get a
2:02:21 > 2:02:26cannon on to something with just to open it up. He is coming round again
2:02:26 > 2:02:31to make absolutely sure he can get on that red. It is very tight.
2:02:42 > 2:02:47The fact he was even looking at the yellow means he is going to play
2:02:47 > 2:02:54some sort of cannon. The green is not easy to get into the reds from,
2:02:54 > 2:03:01so it is the round. He shot coming up. -- be brown.
2:03:07 > 2:03:18The left hand red will go in one quarter of it. -- corner pocket.
2:03:18 > 2:03:26That is the one he has played for. Not a bad shot. When he pops this,
2:03:26 > 2:03:28it clear the path for another one.
2:03:35 > 2:03:47That was pinpoint accuracy with the brown.
2:03:52 > 2:03:58All of a sudden he only has one read that as a little bit awkward.
2:04:04 > 2:04:05-- red.
2:04:08 > 2:04:13That has pushed the other one awkward as well.
2:04:37 > 2:04:42He had to leave an angle this time. You do not want to play needs with
2:04:42 > 2:05:05too much pace. We have seen these missed played at pace. Did not get
2:05:05 > 2:05:09enough on it. We will have to watch the white go all around the table.
2:05:09 > 2:05:15If he is going to go on the last red, he does not have to. He could
2:05:15 > 2:05:21pot black and play the sneaker. Here's quite aggressive, so he is
2:05:21 > 2:05:25looking at the ankles. Would have to come between the yellow and the
2:05:25 > 2:05:32brown. -- the angles. If he was to hit the ball Klein, he would come
2:05:32 > 2:05:40right around the table. -- baulk line. Near the green.
2:05:44 > 2:05:52So, it is going to be a close finish to this third frame. Just three
2:05:52 > 2:05:59points the difference. He could flick this and get down behind the
2:05:59 > 2:06:05pink, but that is not straightforward. He does not want to
2:06:05 > 2:06:13push the red on for the left corner. It would have to be a thin one to
2:06:13 > 2:06:16send the red very far along the cushion.
2:06:51 > 2:06:57He will be fortunate. He got too much side on that. Wanting to keep
2:06:57 > 2:07:08the white up this end of the table.
2:07:16 > 2:07:20That was a very uncharacteristic mistake from Graeme Dott. He is
2:07:20 > 2:07:33normally so reliable with that sort of shot. He will be kicking himself
2:07:33 > 2:07:41because he has had chances.And that makes a huge difference potting the
2:07:41 > 2:07:47brown. It puts him two in front. He just needs the yellow, green, brown
2:07:47 > 2:07:56and blue. He won't need the tricky pink. One good positional shot from
2:07:56 > 2:08:07green to brown and it could quite soon be 3-0.
2:08:28 > 2:08:37That got a bit of a jump, a bit of it kick. To get onto the pink, he
2:08:37 > 2:08:38only needs the blue.
2:08:55 > 2:08:5716 now the difference with 13 on the table.
2:09:10 > 2:09:16So, barring a snooker, it is three in a row for Stephen Maguire.
2:09:16 > 2:09:22Maguire did win that frame. A blistering start by Stephen Maguire.
2:09:22 > 2:09:28Graeme Dott pulled one back before the mid-session interview. It is
2:09:28 > 2:09:353-1, live on the BBC red button, the website and the app, where you can
2:09:35 > 2:09:40choose which match to watch. Here on BBC Two that we have John Higgins
2:09:40 > 2:09:51taking on Mark King. Let's rejoin our match commentators.Yes, the
2:09:51 > 2:09:56boys are ready, just behind the screen. They are waiting for either
2:09:56 > 2:10:04table to complete a break. Scoring a few. They might have to show that
2:10:04 > 2:10:16later.You are wary of walking in, particularly the guys in line of the
2:10:16 > 2:10:32shot.Loud applause.No prize for guessing. This match is nicely
2:10:32 > 2:10:41poised after the interval. It is to four frames. The first 26 for a
2:10:41 > 2:10:51place in the quarterfinals. One of those opening sessions is not great
2:10:51 > 2:10:58for both players. John Higgins would like to be in front, Mark King, his
2:10:58 > 2:11:03highest break is only 37 and he 2-2. There had been something in the
2:11:03 > 2:11:17interval for both players. Not the best break off for Mark King. Very
2:11:17 > 2:11:25disappointed. He left a red to left centre. Also read in the right-hand
2:11:25 > 2:11:34corner pocket. -- also a red. This is the last thing you wanted.
2:11:43 > 2:11:51This is a surprise. Maybe it is a trap he set John.Not quite at it
2:11:51 > 2:11:56today, John. The worst thing of that myth is the Czech side on the cue
2:11:56 > 2:12:08ball. Mark King, the left-hander is absolutely plumb on the red. -- miss
2:12:08 > 2:12:16is the check side.. A long pot in mid range has been pretty good but
2:12:16 > 2:12:22his cue ball control has not been the best. It has been much better
2:12:22 > 2:12:27recently but, today, it has not been wonderful so far. He just needs to
2:12:27 > 2:12:31make it easier for himself will stop me know how good a player he is.We
2:12:31 > 2:12:38saw at the top of the show, on that maximum break, and that call, just
2:12:38 > 2:12:46missed the pink.That is the shot again. He will want to be a bit low.
2:12:46 > 2:12:53He has done a couple of times in this match already.A typical
2:12:53 > 2:12:58positional shot. It is a bread and butter shot for the pros. The hours
2:12:58 > 2:13:02he practises, he should not be leaving big cue ball there. Gives
2:13:02 > 2:13:14you less options more than anything. -- the cue ball. A salvage situation
2:13:14 > 2:13:20there. A good positional shot. He has a lot of cue power. He can pull
2:13:20 > 2:13:35back or run-through. He has a couple of options here. Played that nicely.
2:13:47 > 2:13:54It is important when he drops the red in, he has an angle again.He
2:13:54 > 2:13:58could play an angle on the outside right and play for the bottom one or
2:13:58 > 2:14:06he could go into the pack. He could leave at half ball, play a cannon up
2:14:06 > 2:14:10pots the bottom red in the Triangle and open more into play.
2:14:13 > 2:14:15Once again, too hard.
2:14:20 > 2:14:26Just a little. The shot you mention is the cannon. Needed the cue ball
2:14:26 > 2:14:31to get done a couple of inches. I don't know where he could play the
2:14:31 > 2:14:40cannon. The cue ball needs to go. That is it. Four times he has come
2:14:40 > 2:14:47straight on to the black. It has cost him.
2:15:01 > 2:15:06It is amazing, it really is. It is so basic. We know what a fantastic
2:15:06 > 2:15:10player and competitor he is. He is laughing to himself or stop he
2:15:10 > 2:15:15cannot get the half ball on the black. -- laughing to himself.
2:15:38 > 2:15:46Shock, horror, John Higgins plays a good safety shot. Absolutely glued.
2:15:46 > 2:15:51Both players are 90% at the minute. Mark, we know, knows his way around
2:15:51 > 2:15:51also.
2:16:01 > 2:16:06I love his attitude. Most players would be going back to the chair and
2:16:06 > 2:16:11mumbling to themselves can kicking themselves, not making a sizeable
2:16:11 > 2:16:14contribution. He has little laugh and joke to himself or stop it
2:16:14 > 2:16:24relaxes him. He has not played the best safety shot. Left the red into
2:16:24 > 2:16:28the right centre.
2:16:51 > 2:17:00He is helping to cover the red. I think he just about brands. -- just
2:17:00 > 2:17:02about has
2:17:02 > 2:17:02think he just about brands. -- just about has.
2:17:20 > 2:17:25I am delighted to see the red go for the top cushion. It was getting
2:17:25 > 2:17:31perilously close to the corner. Just a little drop on the red from John.
2:18:38 > 2:18:42Covered the right-hand side with the brown and the blue into the pack of
2:18:42 > 2:18:47reds, so he can hit the left-hand side. The problem he has is the red
2:18:47 > 2:18:53near the top cushion is stopping the natural angle into the baulk
2:18:53 > 2:19:01carrier. If you take the single red, you must hit it properly. So, here
2:19:01 > 2:19:04we go. He has to avoid the cannon.
2:19:11 > 2:19:18Which he has done very well indeed. Attack of the table by John Higgins.
2:19:18 > 2:19:24Why not? He has played some great safety. John Higgins looking at a
2:19:24 > 2:19:27possible plant.
2:19:34 > 2:19:39Just the red between the two reds, needs to knock it off line.
2:19:45 > 2:19:49I wonder if it is worth taking a chance.
2:19:57 > 2:20:10That is what he was scared of. It is not too bad but it is not the best.
2:20:10 > 2:20:15Certainly very attacking safety. He knew full well the reds would open.
2:20:15 > 2:20:22In heritage to get a good cue ball. He has not quite managed it. -- it
2:20:22 > 2:20:26was imperative to get a good cue ball. You think that Mark would not
2:20:26 > 2:20:31continue if he does not he will struggle.What is putting him off,
2:20:31 > 2:20:38the cue ball is going into other reds. It is not a guarantee of being
2:20:38 > 2:20:50on a colour. He has played it well. Played it very well. If he could
2:20:50 > 2:20:56just play it off the second red to control the cue ball... He did it
2:20:56 > 2:21:02very well indeed.
2:21:06 > 2:21:15We keep saying when Mark King gets these chances he must score. He is
2:21:15 > 2:21:262-2. 38 points in front in the next. You really do have to take these
2:21:26 > 2:21:34chances. That was a lovely cannon he has played. A really nice shot. He
2:21:34 > 2:21:37played a little stunned to force the cue ball over to get the correct
2:21:37 > 2:21:46cannon. -- stun. This is a great chance.
2:21:51 > 2:21:57Which, unfortunately, that black was not very good. Needed to be much
2:21:57 > 2:22:02higher with the cue ball. The red the bottom of the three, he should
2:22:02 > 2:22:06have been higher on that, to stand down from the black. Then he must
2:22:06 > 2:22:12stop to play cannons again. Just basic stuff really. Mon of Mark's
2:22:12 > 2:22:27capabilities. -- really for someone of Mark's capabilities.Not too bad.
2:22:27 > 2:22:31He will need to pot the blue and manoeuvre the cue ball in and out of
2:22:31 > 2:22:41four. The fact the red has come over the pocket has helped his case. --
2:22:41 > 2:22:49baulk. The pink also pots. I would be inclined to take the blue here.
2:22:59 > 2:23:05Back cue ball needs to run.Just all the time putting more pressure on
2:23:05 > 2:23:14himself with every shot will stop -- every shot. I know it is not
2:23:14 > 2:23:17intentional is not trying to do it do it. It is the way it is
2:23:17 > 2:23:24happening. He needs to tightened the cue ball up.
2:23:30 > 2:23:38Excellent. Now you have the cue ball perfect. No excuse from here.
2:23:45 > 2:23:56He is certainly pulling out some good pots. 58 ahead. So, not very
2:23:56 > 2:24:03far from the winning line with this frame.
2:24:10 > 2:24:15He has a wry smile to himself or I think he has gone a little bit far.
2:24:15 > 2:24:20What he must do is make sure he has the correct angle on the blue. The
2:24:20 > 2:24:25reds are below the pink spot you must be high on because the black
2:24:25 > 2:24:30only pots in one corner. That is just a little bit of thought.
2:24:37 > 2:24:42So, now he is on a red that is more difficult. He has put pressure on
2:24:42 > 2:24:46himself when he should have been on the simple one, just to come for the
2:24:46 > 2:24:57black. He has managed to get it. He will need the black to go 72 ahead,
2:24:57 > 2:25:0967 remaining. Well played! He has snickered himself on the red he was
2:25:09 > 2:25:17trying to get on. Smiles to himself again. But he is in a position where
2:25:17 > 2:25:29his opponent needs a sneaker, so it is not too bad. -- snooker. Should
2:25:29 > 2:25:35have been well ahead from there that he will be happy with the
2:25:35 > 2:25:39contribution. Disappointed that he did not get anything more.
2:26:01 > 2:26:05One part of Mark's name that has been firing on all cylinders is the
2:26:05 > 2:26:11long game for the it has been very good. One good pot should see the
2:26:11 > 2:26:26frame definitely one. -- long game. Not to be. Mind you, that is not too
2:26:26 > 2:26:27bad, where he has finished.
2:26:40 > 2:26:59Well, I said it was not too bad. What a pot that was! Fabulous. There
2:26:59 > 2:27:02are one or two players on the circuit I would not want following
2:27:02 > 2:27:10me when any one or two snookers, and here's one of them. The red behind
2:27:10 > 2:27:18the pink is lovely. It might not all be over yet. John Higgins will be
2:27:18 > 2:27:23trying to pot this black and take the two loose reds and leave the red
2:27:23 > 2:27:28behind the pink as the last one. Up the table and put the cue ball
2:27:28 > 2:27:29behind the pink.
2:28:02 > 2:28:10Just drop the red in and get on the black. Get behind the pink.
2:28:18 > 2:28:24Anywhere on the left-hand side of the table with the cue ball, potting
2:28:24 > 2:28:29the black. Open the reds to baulk and tried to get tight line pink.
2:28:29 > 2:28:35That is the key foot if you can get tight in behind it, I don't think he
2:28:35 > 2:28:41has stunned through enough. Really wanted to try to knock the red and
2:28:41 > 2:28:47get close to the green foot he cannot do that now. Still tight
2:28:47 > 2:28:54behind this pink as possible. That is pretty good. An excellent shot.
2:28:54 > 2:29:02He is 41 ahead. John Higgins needs two four point snookers. The worst
2:29:02 > 2:29:07thing that King can do is leave a free ball. He must be careful of
2:29:07 > 2:29:09that. Does not want to hit this too hard.
2:29:17 > 2:29:25He must be very careful here. This is a lot of his own doing. The frame
2:29:25 > 2:29:34should have truly been over. He has gone up and down using the extended
2:29:34 > 2:29:41rest. Much harder to hit the red this way. If he misses the red, he
2:29:41 > 2:29:47will not leave the free ball. If he goes across the table and tries to
2:29:47 > 2:29:51hit the red from a side cushion, you're possibly leave a free ball.
2:29:51 > 2:29:55This is harder, isn't it?He is looking at playing top condition and
2:29:55 > 2:29:59side cushion. It will be summer before the middle pocket with the
2:29:59 > 2:30:05cue ball. As long as you get the pace right. -- it will be somewhere
2:30:05 > 2:30:11for Stuckey has decided to go straight up and down. The first four
2:30:11 > 2:30:26point. It is game on. 27 points behind now, John Higgins. A snooker
2:30:26 > 2:30:38required. This is not going to be it. The cue ball behind the black.
2:30:38 > 2:30:42That is not like John. He missed a big chance. That was not difficult
2:30:42 > 2:30:47for him and he knows it.
2:30:47 > 2:30:54One those of situations where John could get a snooker back here.
2:31:28 > 2:31:32Wow, what a mistake from John Higgins. He's trying to hit it
2:31:32 > 2:31:38thing, but now he need to the two snookers again.
2:31:41 > 2:31:46-- hit it thin.
2:32:11 > 2:32:18Looks like a snooker, but it shouldn't be too difficult to hit, a
2:32:18 > 2:32:22run of side before hitting the middle pocket.
2:32:52 > 2:33:01I think he can just hit baulk cushion. Not too difficult, that
2:33:01 > 2:33:04one.
2:33:07 > 2:33:12Now, can he get the cue ball tied behind the black and red, somewhere
2:33:12 > 2:33:16in the proximity of brown and green.
2:33:20 > 2:33:24Didn't get the red close to the brown and green, but he's got the
2:33:24 > 2:33:32snooker. A bit more difficult to hit this one. I'm not quite sure what he
2:33:32 > 2:33:39can see on the left-hand side cushion. So maybe a swerve, or
2:33:39 > 2:33:42possibly coming off the right side cushion just before the middle
2:33:42 > 2:33:44pocket.
2:33:52 > 2:33:56That's the possible angle there.
2:34:05 > 2:34:07Oh!
2:34:14 > 2:34:18Well, there is a chance here, just a thin clip and write behind the black
2:34:18 > 2:34:25again with the side cushion. He couldn't get in kind, he didn't have
2:34:25 > 2:34:31the angle, so he's got it lined up with the brown. All the time, it is
2:34:31 > 2:34:36adding pressure on Mark King not to make a mistake. This has all come,
2:34:36 > 2:34:38really, from his poor positional play early in the break. He should
2:34:38 > 2:34:48have this frame already won. And there's the miss, and a free ball.
2:34:48 > 2:34:56Wow, what a turnaround frame of snooker this is. You don't want John
2:34:56 > 2:35:03Higgins on your tail doing this. Now he's got a chance.What a good
2:35:03 > 2:35:05snooker that last one was.
2:35:13 > 2:35:17So, pop the black, try to get the black again, and get a good
2:35:17 > 2:35:25position. He needs to be pretty close to the red. The only saving
2:35:25 > 2:35:29grace is the red being tied to the top cushion.It is the only thing
2:35:29 > 2:35:34that can save Mark.
2:35:34 > 2:35:43This looks like it has been hit a bit too hard. Mark can fight another
2:35:43 > 2:35:48day here. He won't be going for this, John Higgins. Leaving the cue
2:35:48 > 2:35:52ball exactly where the red is, send it down the table. Getting the
2:35:52 > 2:35:56snooker behind the brown.
2:36:02 > 2:36:07And he's got lucky there, because he certainly didn't play it like that.
2:36:07 > 2:36:11I was just about to say, the yummy thing he had to avoid was hitting
2:36:11 > 2:36:16the red into the yellow, so he avoided that. The clip off the blue
2:36:16 > 2:36:21didn't look great, but where it has finished, four ball snooker. Really
2:36:21 > 2:36:24turned round, this frame.
2:36:28 > 2:36:33He's played that very well. It was a good head. Not only a good hit, but
2:36:33 > 2:36:41he got the distance between the red and the cue ball.
2:36:43 > 2:36:52If he can play the red up and down, get the cue ball down the baulk, a
2:36:52 > 2:36:58big area behind green and brown again. Well he can plot it. I didn't
2:36:58 > 2:37:08think he could, wow. Yeah, went past the yellow. What a cracking pot. And
2:37:08 > 2:37:14this will hurt Mark King. What a steal this is. Never looked at any
2:37:14 > 2:37:20point like he was in the frame. Mark, what have you done?
2:37:37 > 2:37:42Hold the back page, it's not as straightforward as it might have
2:37:42 > 2:37:47been. He's got the cue ball clean, but he got a heavy contact on the
2:37:47 > 2:37:54cue ball. Really didn't get the cue ball out far enough for this green.
2:37:54 > 2:38:00He still should pop the green, but it's miss a ball.
2:38:07 > 2:38:13-- missable.Good cueing. Here is more. This isn't straightforward.
2:38:13 > 2:38:19Power through. What to hit the middle of the white here.
2:38:25 > 2:38:28These are the frames when you can mix one like this when you never
2:38:28 > 2:38:34looked like winning it, what a difference it makes.Could be the
2:38:34 > 2:38:36turning point of the match.
2:38:41 > 2:38:47It's there. Right in the heart of the pocket. Just pink and the black.
2:38:47 > 2:38:57This will certainly heard -- hurt Mark King.
2:39:01 > 2:39:04Black for a steal.
2:39:12 > 2:39:19Mark King sits in his chair. He will be absolutely gutted, John Higgins
2:39:19 > 2:39:24will be delighted. He takes the frame to go 3-2 in the lead.
2:39:24 > 2:39:25will be delighted. He takes the frame to go 3-2 in the lead.
2:39:25 > 2:39:28STUDIO: Class from John Higgins but John Parrott said in, tree, he saw
2:39:28 > 2:39:32the shot of Mark King and asked the question, what have you done? The
2:39:32 > 2:39:36answer is, completely blown the frame.There is nothing worse than
2:39:36 > 2:39:40effectively thinking you have thrown a frame away. You don't get many
2:39:40 > 2:39:44chances against top-class players. You know John Higgins is a class act
2:39:44 > 2:39:47when it comes to getting snookers. After John Higgins getting one
2:39:47 > 2:39:51snooker and failing to hit the ball, getting himself back in the hole
2:39:51 > 2:39:55with two snookers, Mark King in the safety department was sloppy in the
2:39:55 > 2:39:59end. They were good snookers, but you don't want John Higgins behind
2:39:59 > 2:40:01you. Especially at the state of the game,
2:40:01 > 2:40:05Mark King has done the hard work before the mid-session interval.
2:40:05 > 2:40:11Yeah, but also, he got himself 72-0 ahead. The black he potted to
2:40:11 > 2:40:11Yeah, but also, he got himself 72-0 ahead. The black he potted to go
2:40:11 > 2:40:1772-0, he is on the black, he thinks the frame is over. He's not trying
2:40:17 > 2:40:22to get on the red. If he has, it is a bad shot. John Higgins doesn't
2:40:22 > 2:40:24come back to the table
2:40:24 > 2:40:25a bad shot. John Higgins doesn't come back to the table if he pops
2:40:25 > 2:40:29the next red. Those things make the difference. The last red from John
2:40:29 > 2:40:31Higgins. Not different to what we were saying
2:40:31 > 2:40:37at the start of the match when we said the red for the yellow.I think
2:40:37 > 2:40:42from Mark King's perspective, the style of play, he plays an old
2:40:42 > 2:40:48school style of game, in a way. Get the ball in the hole. The modern-day
2:40:48 > 2:40:53way is, you can't just get over the line by one or two shots.That is
2:40:53 > 2:40:59the difference between, no disrespect, a player of his calibre
2:40:59 > 2:41:04and the best players in the world. Yeah, but it has changed. If you are
2:41:04 > 2:41:08going to stay in the game, and Mark King has done a lot of hard work in
2:41:08 > 2:41:11this department as well, he is better than before, you have to keep
2:41:11 > 2:41:17at the additional side to make it better.Going back to the clearance
2:41:17 > 2:41:21John May, the long red was also, and you could
2:41:21 > 2:41:22John May, the long red was also, and you could see, he knows when to
2:41:22 > 2:41:25switch on and how long he was taking, even the pink off the spot
2:41:25 > 2:41:31to get the black. He knew the importance of it.Is John Higgins
2:41:31 > 2:41:41switched on? For- two in front. COMMENTATOR: It is not about the
2:41:41 > 2:41:46frames you should win, it is nicking the ones you shouldn't. They change
2:41:46 > 2:41:50matches -- 4-2 in front. John Higgins definitely stole the
2:41:50 > 2:41:57frame there. But it's gone, and we mentioned today that Mark King has
2:41:57 > 2:42:03an excellent tech prominent. He will have to show it again -- excellent
2:42:03 > 2:42:10temperament. He must be hurting after the last frame.
2:42:25 > 2:42:32That's one way to forget about the last frame. Knocking a cracking red
2:42:32 > 2:42:38in like that and staying on the black.
2:42:39 > 2:42:49Needs a bit of luck here. Need a bit of luck. He's got it. A great shot.
2:42:49 > 2:42:57He had that a you minutes ago, John. He played it superbly well.He
2:42:57 > 2:43:02certainly did. Come on, Mark. You have these in a nice position here.
2:43:02 > 2:43:08Just get tight with your cue ball. Make this easy for yourself. This
2:43:08 > 2:43:11afternoon, he has competed, played well in the tactical department, all
2:43:11 > 2:43:16those facets that you need to be eight player is great, but his cue
2:43:16 > 2:43:20ball has been mediocre to say the least. That is why he should have
2:43:20 > 2:43:27won the last frame, and he hasn't. Just got to get it tighter. Had to
2:43:27 > 2:43:30use the left-hand side of the pocket with that one because he wasn't
2:43:30 > 2:43:37quite right. But this is where you have got to go to work.
2:43:58 > 2:44:03As to be straight on the Kroos to stay down for the black. He did have
2:44:03 > 2:44:12a chance, he missed the pink early in the week at 34. His body language
2:44:12 > 2:44:16suggests that he wanted to stay on the black. He had a wry smile to
2:44:16 > 2:44:24himself.I think if you are playing John Higgins in the last Ecstar in
2:44:24 > 2:44:35the UK Championship, -- the last 16.
2:44:57 > 2:45:00Pink in the same pocket.
2:45:05 > 2:45:09Just overran that slightly for the red to this bottom right-hand corner
2:45:09 > 2:45:16pocket. That's his target, 70, before John Higgins will play a
2:45:16 > 2:45:25snooker, but he will have to come back up for the blue here.He is
2:45:25 > 2:45:31always having to change plan, losing the cue ball, you have got it worked
2:45:31 > 2:45:37out in your mind, your next 3-4 shots, but he slightly loses the cue
2:45:37 > 2:45:41ball, and now he has to play cannons to look a bit of it where it would
2:45:41 > 2:45:50have been straightforward.
2:45:51 > 2:45:57That is a better shot. Choice of reds here.
2:46:07 > 2:46:13It's OK. He shrugged the shoulders, but he will have to play the cannon
2:46:13 > 2:46:18now into the pack of reds.There is a lovely gap in there. Right side of
2:46:18 > 2:46:23the pink goes into the reds there. A red has stopped the cue ball running
2:46:23 > 2:46:27away as well. If you want to play it that way, you would be unlucky not
2:46:27 > 2:46:35to land on something.That's too much. Should have played the cannon.
2:46:35 > 2:46:40Why didn't you play the cannon, Mark?
2:46:42 > 2:46:47No downside for the into the balls there for me. You would have to be
2:46:47 > 2:46:53cursed not to be on one, the way they work place. They were all there
2:46:53 > 2:46:55for hitting.
2:47:15 > 2:47:21Do you know what, I might not have played that either. I may have
2:47:21 > 2:47:24played a thin clip and left the cue ball somewhere approaching the
2:47:24 > 2:47:29middle of the table, really, and made sure I chipped the Kroos on the
2:47:29 > 2:47:33corner into the side cushion, 49 point lead come I would like to have
2:47:33 > 2:47:40an insurance policy stop he has left the plant here.
2:47:41 > 2:47:45It was close.
2:47:46 > 2:47:55He has left a good cue ball. Once again, will that poor
2:47:55 > 2:48:01positional shot from Mark come back to haunt him? It's the reason he is
2:48:01 > 2:48:05not 3-2 ahead, because of his position in the last frame. All the
2:48:05 > 2:48:12balls in the middle of the table, they are ripe for a counter
2:48:12 > 2:48:16clearance if he's not careful.
2:48:18 > 2:48:25APPLAUSE Excellent shot. Well played. A
2:48:25 > 2:48:32snooker back. What a shot he has played there.Yeah, absolutely
2:48:32 > 2:48:39superb escape. Sounds like I'm harping on, but that's not the
2:48:39 > 2:48:43department that's been in trouble today. He certainly knows his way
2:48:43 > 2:48:46around.
2:48:59 > 2:49:10A good shot from Mark King. Duly acknowledged. That was a good escape
2:49:10 > 2:49:21from John Higgins. I'd just wonder, it looks very tight. I think it just
2:49:21 > 2:49:29about goes. Cue ball back up into baulk.
2:50:05 > 2:50:09Can't go back to the Borg area down the left-hand side of the table now,
2:50:09 > 2:50:14for obvious reasons of the pink being there. So he has to be very
2:50:14 > 2:50:19careful, red on the right-hand side could be a problem. He took that out
2:50:19 > 2:50:23of the equation, playing round the angles. But where has the red gone,
2:50:23 > 2:50:31Mark? Chancellor John Higgins. And it looks like he can pot this and
2:50:31 > 2:50:36avoid the cannon on the red. It is on its own to the right of the pink.
2:50:36 > 2:50:41So this is a chance to get back in the frame.
2:51:00 > 2:51:06He's overhit it for the blue into the centre. He may take it into the
2:51:06 > 2:51:13corner pocket, jump it in for the red to the right of the pink.
2:51:19 > 2:51:23Well, he stole a frame when he should never have won in the last
2:51:23 > 2:51:28frame. Can he do the same again?I think the black goes, does it, as
2:51:28 > 2:51:32well. On the left-hand side, he is having a look to see if he can drop
2:51:32 > 2:51:36the red in and land on the black. The other goes in the other corner
2:51:36 > 2:51:40as well.
2:51:41 > 2:51:46Yeah, there's your answer.
2:51:48 > 2:51:56Someone, I'm sure, when he pops the Kroos below the black spot, I'm sure
2:51:56 > 2:52:09that goes into the right corner pocket. Just making sure that it
2:52:09 > 2:52:13does, running through with the Crew Ball. -- cue ball.
2:52:19 > 2:52:28And now the only real concern for John will be that red closest to the
2:52:28 > 2:52:34right-hand side cushion, but it not really tight to the cushion.
2:52:36 > 2:52:41Not really a problem for him to go to the top.Slightly overscrewed
2:52:41 > 2:52:47that one. Had a choice there, could have played the screw back and left
2:52:47 > 2:52:52a half-ball angle on the black to play the cannon back into the reds
2:52:52 > 2:52:56for the pink and flick the end one out. It is a change of plan, because
2:52:56 > 2:52:59he slightly overscrewed it.
2:53:02 > 2:53:05APPLAUSE
2:53:08 > 2:53:14He couldn't have played that much better.I think he has just got a
2:53:14 > 2:53:21slight angle to get back out for the black.
2:53:23 > 2:53:27Now he might play that little cannon that you mentioned, John. I think
2:53:27 > 2:53:33he's got to hit the red on the right, as opposed to the red close
2:53:33 > 2:53:36to the pink.
2:53:39 > 2:53:42It's OK.
2:53:43 > 2:53:49Just hit it hard enough to push them towards the right centre.
2:53:53 > 2:53:57Yeah, taking these well so far. It looks all about that red on the
2:53:57 > 2:54:01right, close to the right-hand side cushion. The rest of them, the way
2:54:01 > 2:54:09that John Higgins is going about this break, when they've gone.
2:54:09 > 2:54:18Plenty of room behind. The one you are talking about.
2:54:20 > 2:54:24John has spotted something on the red. He wanted it clean before he
2:54:24 > 2:54:27takes this into the right centre.
2:54:49 > 2:54:54You're watching a master match player at work here. Absolutely
2:54:54 > 2:54:59stole the last frame from Mark King.
2:55:01 > 2:55:07Came to the table well behind in this frame.
2:55:09 > 2:55:14And a chance to steal this one as well.
2:55:24 > 2:55:28That was a better shot than it looked. He was a little bit high on
2:55:28 > 2:55:33that one, had to play it with a bit of drag, just dropping it into the
2:55:33 > 2:55:39jaw. It is all about position on to the black to drop in behind the red.
2:55:39 > 2:55:43This is the key shot.
2:55:47 > 2:55:51He could possibly take the red out, but if he can get the cue ball
2:55:51 > 2:55:56somewhere there, it looks like he has the angle to knock the red out.
2:55:56 > 2:56:02Oh, John. I'm not quite sure if that was the right shot. Anywhere behind
2:56:02 > 2:56:10that red.
2:56:15 > 2:56:21APPLAUSE John Higgins on another day would
2:56:21 > 2:56:29have cleared to win that frame.
2:56:37 > 2:56:41Yeah, so a reprieve for Mark King. He would have been sat in his chair,
2:56:41 > 2:56:47thinking, "I am going to have another one stolen off me."
2:57:02 > 2:57:07Not that easy to play safe off this.
2:57:10 > 2:57:18That's about all he had. And he's played a brilliant shot. It has just
2:57:18 > 2:57:26stuck its snows out. What a difference that's made.
2:57:33 > 2:57:40It might be for Mark.
2:57:41 > 2:57:43APPLAUSE
2:57:44 > 2:57:50I think he can hit it. The problem is, he is going to clip it towards
2:57:50 > 2:57:56the corner. I'd be very careful with this.
2:58:13 > 2:58:26Pot a wonderful red in the last frame before the two snookers. Mark
2:58:26 > 2:58:31will be expecting John Higgins to knock this one in as well.
2:58:35 > 2:58:43It was close. Where's the red going to finish? Will he have a chance.
2:58:43 > 2:58:49Has a blue come to his rescue? It's very close, but it's an easy swerve.
2:58:49 > 2:58:55What can you do, Mark?
2:58:58 > 2:59:02Always the problem with that shot, you've got to put the swerve onto
2:59:02 > 2:59:05bend Proud and pocket.
2:59:09 > 2:59:18It swerves round, the side hits the cushion and kills it dead. So,
2:59:18 > 2:59:23decision time. Is it worth taking the seven points of the black? Even
2:59:23 > 2:59:28an awkward long yellow, or do you play the snooker and wait for
2:59:28 > 2:59:32another chance?
2:59:46 > 2:59:50I don't blame him for that. If the yellow had been on the spot, he
2:59:50 > 2:59:54would have played it straightaway. But because it is further down the
2:59:54 > 3:00:00table, it is not easy. Now, can John get this safe?
3:00:09 > 3:00:13Very well played.
3:00:14 > 3:00:17Absolutely perfect.
3:00:28 > 3:00:34Mark King has to be very careful here to avoid a double-kiss full
3:00:34 > 3:00:38stop cannot play across the face of it he would be guaranteed a
3:00:38 > 3:00:44double-kiss. If he plays it up and down he could get one coming back.
3:00:44 > 3:00:53He just has too plain baldness and push it up the table. He could avoid
3:00:53 > 3:01:00the double-kiss. -- plain wall this. Has he got it safe?
3:01:07 > 3:01:08He can pot it.
3:01:24 > 3:01:31Not only can he pot it! That was a great pot. What a run of the that
3:01:31 > 3:01:39was. If Mark King was not hurting after the last frame, he will be
3:01:39 > 3:01:45after that shot.He will. Two frames he should have one.
3:01:55 > 3:01:56-- won.
3:02:03 > 3:02:17And this will definitely hurt Mark King. They work two frames that Mark
3:02:17 > 3:02:22should have won and he has lost them both. John Higgins is the master
3:02:22 > 3:02:27match player.You get the feeling that this frame was absolutely
3:02:27 > 3:02:34pivotal foot look what Mark King has himself into.He has been in early
3:02:34 > 3:02:39in most frames. I am loathe to keep digging himself out about his
3:02:39 > 3:02:43position but this shot here, if I were playing this short, there is a
3:02:43 > 3:02:50gap between the red and the pink. Almost impossible not to land on
3:02:50 > 3:02:57something for the P has chosen to miss the pack. -- on something - he
3:02:57 > 3:03:01has chosen to miss the pack. He has played a good shot but you are
3:03:01 > 3:03:06making things difficult.There are loads of ways to play positional
3:03:06 > 3:03:11play but some are more accurate than others. Mark King has another chance
3:03:11 > 3:03:15to go into the bunch of reds, which seems natural to go into them but
3:03:15 > 3:03:22there is a loose red. He is trying to be accurate. He hits this one to
3:03:22 > 3:03:26harder now he has lost position. He lets John Higgins back into the
3:03:26 > 3:03:33game. Even know John Higgins was lucky with the yellow, sometimes you
3:03:33 > 3:03:38only have yourself to blame. Every situation is different. The problem
3:03:38 > 3:03:44is how you can improve your positional play. That is why you can
3:03:44 > 3:03:49have a day with another good player, analysing every positional shot to
3:03:49 > 3:03:53see if you can improve. Some people have more natural ability than
3:03:53 > 3:03:58others.There will be people at home wondering whether he should go into
3:03:58 > 3:04:04the reds.He should have gone in the first shot. He had another chance to
3:04:04 > 3:04:11go in when he only had one red left. When it is a chance to go into the
3:04:11 > 3:04:16pack of reds which it is most guaranteed you get unlucky, as
3:04:16 > 3:04:19Stephen was saying, perhaps that is the time to go into them.The best
3:04:19 > 3:04:25time is when you have one or two loose reds. If you are unlucky, and
3:04:25 > 3:04:30does not work out, you have an insurance of a loose red. It is
3:04:30 > 3:04:36putting all your eggs in one basket, keep picking off the loose reds.
3:04:36 > 3:04:40There are two parts to positional play. Cue ball control and putting
3:04:40 > 3:04:44the black we want to and with the correct amount of weight is one
3:04:44 > 3:04:50part. The route you go around the table can be the killer, the sat are
3:04:50 > 3:04:56part of the game. Some routes around the table, there are traps. -- sat
3:04:56 > 3:05:00now. When you start talking about going into the pack, that is another
3:05:00 > 3:05:06part of it. The route going into the pack is all-important.I quite like
3:05:06 > 3:05:14that phrase.It has been used quite a few times.What can Mark King do
3:05:14 > 3:05:25to stay in this one?I could not agree more. The two opportunities to
3:05:25 > 3:05:30go into the pack coming he had to go in now both times. I'd take the
3:05:30 > 3:05:35point that Steve made God are some people who are cherry pickers, who
3:05:35 > 3:05:44keep taking the loose red. -- Steve made - there are some people. If
3:05:44 > 3:05:49you're going to play like that, you need to get an accurate cue ball.
3:05:49 > 3:05:59Mark really has not had one today.
3:06:09 > 3:06:16Pretty close with this attempt. He has left a red. We will see whether
3:06:16 > 3:06:21cue ball will finish up. He takes this red on, the cue ball will
3:06:21 > 3:06:25career into the reds were beneath the pink. You need a little bit of
3:06:25 > 3:06:31luck.
3:06:34 > 3:06:42Well played! He has the luck. He is on the pink into the right centre.
3:06:42 > 3:06:48That was an excellent shot. No problems with Mark King's
3:06:48 > 3:06:56competitive instincts. He must be blessed with a good temperament and
3:06:56 > 3:07:04put the last two frames behind him. He should have been in front 4-2. He
3:07:04 > 3:07:05will stick in there.
3:07:14 > 3:07:20A bit of movement from the other table. That is putting him off
3:07:20 > 3:07:35slightly. It is a beautiful arena from the back of the hall.
3:07:40 > 3:07:48A terrific venue, the Barbican. York is a lovely town. Nice to walk
3:07:48 > 3:07:53around, shopping in the shambles and things like that. It has become
3:07:53 > 3:07:59synonymous with the UK, this great venue. The players are all like
3:07:59 > 3:08:10coming here. -- all like.That city and a beautiful time of year to come
3:08:10 > 3:08:14and visit. Certainly very much established as the home of the UK
3:08:14 > 3:08:17over the last few years, since it has moved to the Barbican. Great
3:08:17 > 3:08:28venue and great crowds, a great atmosphere.I hope you have not
3:08:28 > 3:08:30bought me too many presents.
3:08:42 > 3:08:44That was a good pot.
3:08:48 > 3:08:54Following a similar pattern to the last few frames, Mark King in first.
3:08:54 > 3:08:59Not quite scoring enough points and having to die a thousand deaths
3:08:59 > 3:09:03while his opponent comes back and mix the frame of him. I'm hoping it
3:09:03 > 3:09:10will not be the same in this one. -- and nicks. He is not high enough for
3:09:10 > 3:09:19the blue already. He is smiling to himself stop on the blue and trying
3:09:19 > 3:09:23to put the red in, getting a nice angle on the black.
3:09:46 > 3:09:51He decided to go for the blue. That is OK.
3:09:56 > 3:10:04The red at the bottom of the pack is on. He tried to drop onto that. --
3:10:04 > 3:10:09he will try. Imperative when potting this red to leave an angle.
3:10:25 > 3:10:32Has he got enough of an angle? He could have played this with a lot of
3:10:32 > 3:10:37spin off the top cushion, trying to get the cue ball into the pack. The
3:10:37 > 3:10:42grimace will tell us it was a little bit straighter than he would have
3:10:42 > 3:10:43liked.
3:10:46 > 3:10:53Watch the cue ball.That is not too bad. That is a great shot. He has
3:10:53 > 3:10:59done well. I thought he was up the creek little bit with his positional
3:10:59 > 3:11:04play. Getting out and landing on the red is good. Once again, trying to
3:11:04 > 3:11:09find an angle to get into the pack. Now, at last, he has a half orcs on
3:11:09 > 3:11:15the black, which is where he is trying to be all afternoon. -- half
3:11:15 > 3:11:21ball. You can fake cannons from their all day long. If you're
3:11:21 > 3:11:28getting straight, you have only got two options, forward and back. With
3:11:28 > 3:11:32the half angle, you have more options.He needs a good shot. He is
3:11:32 > 3:11:41going to screw back. Where is the cue ball? He needs a bit of luck.
3:11:41 > 3:11:46Did not get the side on the cue ball to try and bring the cue ball up
3:11:46 > 3:11:52towards the blue. Not quite sure why he did not follow through and try to
3:11:52 > 3:11:57stay on the black or play it hard with more side and go up to have
3:11:57 > 3:12:01yellow, green and brown. All you have to do after that shot is
3:12:01 > 3:12:04learned on a colour. That is the only think of them give yourself the
3:12:04 > 3:12:07chance to go up the table with more backspin.
3:12:23 > 3:12:34Smiling to himself. He seems to be enjoying himself out there. He seems
3:12:34 > 3:12:44very relaxed.
3:12:58 > 3:13:01The line of the cue ball looks pretty good.
3:13:13 > 3:13:19The last thing Mac wants to do is take the red of the right-hand
3:13:19 > 3:13:23cushion, particularly as he has a two point lead for the peers coming
3:13:23 > 3:13:29in the top end of the table. The cue ball is on the top end of the
3:13:29 > 3:13:43cushion.A very strange choice of shot. Absolutely no reason why he
3:13:43 > 3:13:48should take the pot on. Should have played the old dump shot up and down
3:13:48 > 3:13:52and tired of the cushion for the P has left John Higgins sniff of the
3:13:52 > 3:13:59red in the middle. -- and tight off the cushion.
3:14:10 > 3:14:16It has not been easy for either player this afternoon to be fluent.
3:14:16 > 3:14:26John Higgins had a break of 80. Quite a lot of 30 breaks. Mark King
3:14:26 > 3:14:36has had 32, 37, 40 and 40 nine. -- 49 will stop it was an excellent
3:14:36 > 3:14:38opening pot from Mark. Very good indeed.
3:14:44 > 3:14:47A 43 point lead. In amongst the balls.
3:14:54 > 3:14:57Surely has to win the frame from here.
3:15:21 > 3:15:25He is showing an excellent temperaments, Mark King. Chance
3:15:25 > 3:15:39after chance. That is since two frames all. John Higgins is needing
3:15:39 > 3:15:44two sneakers and getting one. They are still in their competing. You
3:15:44 > 3:15:58can see why he wins lots of matches. He does like a scrap. Just this red.
3:15:58 > 3:16:02That was well played.
3:16:11 > 3:16:15It does take a bit of character, no doubt about that, when you have lost
3:16:15 > 3:16:22a couple of frames like he has. You have to put it out of your mind as
3:16:22 > 3:16:29quickly as possible. The best way to do that is when the next frame. --
3:16:29 > 3:16:45win. Well, he has missed the red. That is enough.Mark King stops the
3:16:45 > 3:16:57rot. But John Higgins still leaves. He does indeed.We are trying to
3:16:57 > 3:17:01analyse the game with constructive criticism. It is a fair point. John
3:17:01 > 3:17:09Parrott in commentary, it was a strange choice of shot. If things
3:17:09 > 3:17:13were bad shots and he was beating himself up over it, that is no good
3:17:13 > 3:17:17foot of actually he still plays very optimistic thing gets on with the
3:17:17 > 3:17:22job. Has a laugh when it goes wrong and get on with it. That is a great
3:17:22 > 3:17:28attitude to have.It is about the mistakes you have made not playing
3:17:28 > 3:17:32on your mind and getting on with it. That is how it has always been foot
3:17:32 > 3:17:38he looks like he is really enjoying it. As Steve said, he still has a
3:17:38 > 3:17:45smile on his face and can put a good plant on it. Similar to yourself.I
3:17:45 > 3:17:48would be chatting to everyone, chatting to the audience, having a
3:17:48 > 3:17:54word with the referee. How are you doing tonight?Looking at some of
3:17:54 > 3:18:00the breaks, we had the 80 from John Higgins in the context of the match
3:18:00 > 3:18:06cricket has not been a classic.The standard of the potting has not been
3:18:06 > 3:18:15brilliant. It has been tough snooker.We are not seeing breaks
3:18:15 > 3:18:23all over the place. It has been very interesting and absorbing.Can Mark
3:18:23 > 3:18:29King draw level once again? We will find out.I cannot remember Stephen
3:18:29 > 3:18:39Hendry laughing and joking. His dog used to be scared when he got home
3:18:39 > 3:18:57if he lost the match. That was so close. A great attempt.Very close.
3:18:57 > 3:19:06I was really impressed with Mark in that frame. Two absolutely great
3:19:06 > 3:19:19body blows to the solar plexus, losing those two frames.
3:19:44 > 3:19:51He has not played many bad safety shots today. Back to safety has been
3:19:51 > 3:19:56quite good. I'm agree he has a shot on here. He complained a cannon into
3:19:56 > 3:20:04the side of the pack and stay on the black. The cluster of three, if he
3:20:04 > 3:20:09plays is done in their... He played to hold it and use the red. The same
3:20:09 > 3:20:16thing. Playing the cannon would always keep the cue ball there.
3:20:29 > 3:20:36So, that might be a very costly mistake from Mark King. Nothing
3:20:36 > 3:20:41worse than to get yourself a foothold in the match, play a good
3:20:41 > 3:20:47frame like he has played, get one behind and throw your opponents an
3:20:47 > 3:20:56easy opportunity.The problem for John Higgins is the black does not
3:20:56 > 3:21:01go into the corner pocket. He has quite a bit of work to do, if he is
3:21:01 > 3:21:10going to make it a sizeable contribution from this chance. That
3:21:10 > 3:21:17overran the cue ball. Needs to get straight on the blue to the right
3:21:17 > 3:21:27centre.
3:21:28 > 3:21:36I would love to get on the red behind the black. Just to free up
3:21:36 > 3:21:41the black to one of those pockets. Does not look like he can do it from
3:21:41 > 3:22:01this shot. No.
3:22:08 > 3:22:18A reprieve from Mark King. What can he do?I don't know. That will give
3:22:18 > 3:22:24him encouragement. He will have to do a bit with the cue extension on
3:22:24 > 3:22:32the end. Have to force it a little bit. I would have expected him to be
3:22:32 > 3:22:37potting that one. He has read in the open and he can play on them. He
3:22:37 > 3:22:44also has a fantastic angle into the side of the pack. A few loose red.
3:22:44 > 3:22:49He might not want to do it but it is that if he wants it. That one was
3:22:49 > 3:22:57not played really with a great deal of commitment that way it has worked
3:22:57 > 3:23:09out if he can drop the Reading, the black will go. -- the red in. After
3:23:09 > 3:23:13potting this black, you could take the red closest to the right-hand
3:23:13 > 3:23:22corner pocket. It could be open for both pockets. That has worked out a
3:23:22 > 3:23:33treat for Mark King.
3:23:38 > 3:23:48Again, imperative helium and -- he leaves a nice angle on the black
3:23:48 > 3:23:54when potting the red. It can go into the pack or he can play for the
3:23:54 > 3:23:59loose one foot he has a nice angle you can screw up into the pack and
3:23:59 > 3:24:08bring some read into play. -- the loose one. He played that nicely. A
3:24:08 > 3:24:15bit unlucky but the bottom red does not pot but he still has this one on
3:24:15 > 3:24:19the left hand side.
3:24:24 > 3:24:32That was the good shot. Absolutely perfect. I could not put that any
3:24:32 > 3:24:38better. A nice, half ball. He can go into the pack full he has had a look
3:24:38 > 3:24:42around to see if there are any plants are available. Not an ideal
3:24:42 > 3:24:48pack. He needs plenty of power. Knock the black king and fingers
3:24:48 > 3:25:03crossed. -- the black in and fingers crossed. Second prize...
3:25:22 > 3:25:29The first one that looked a little bit nervous. Not very smooth through
3:25:29 > 3:25:38that one. He will be disappointed with that. He was just one good shot
3:25:38 > 3:25:51away for the even more disappointed with the fact that this one goes. He
3:25:51 > 3:25:57has just gone a little bit off the boil, John Higgins. A very tough
3:25:57 > 3:26:09match yesterday afternoon. It may have been 6-3 yesterday afternoon
3:26:09 > 3:26:13but he will have to play hard, match play snooker to get past him. He has
3:26:13 > 3:26:25not quite been firing today.
3:26:25 > 3:26:38Might be a little bit of tipping and tapping going on here.
3:27:14 > 3:27:20Ideally, Mark would just like to tap the bread that is him now into the
3:27:20 > 3:27:24side of the pack but he does not want to leave the pot on the red
3:27:24 > 3:27:30pass the yellow you cannot really do too much with the ones on the top
3:27:30 > 3:27:34cushion, unless he decides to drop in dead wait and hope he does not
3:27:34 > 3:27:39leave a plant. That is the only downside of this shot. You can play
3:27:39 > 3:27:48it but not get unlucky and leave a plant for your opponent. He has come
3:27:48 > 3:27:53up to a minute of thinking time. I don't blame him. The last thing he
3:27:53 > 3:27:58wants is to make a stupid mistake. There we go. Drop on this and don't
3:27:58 > 3:27:59leave a plant.
3:28:04 > 3:28:09I couldn't have been playing that shot. No prizes for guessing where
3:28:09 > 3:28:10the cue ball is going.
3:28:15 > 3:28:22He could be in a lot of trouble. Higgins wants the cue ball almost
3:28:22 > 3:28:25exactly where it is now after playing this shot.
3:28:32 > 3:28:38Would have liked to have been tighter to the blue and black for
3:28:38 > 3:28:45the easy escape will stop -- escape.
3:29:10 > 3:29:13Foul and a miss. John Higgins four.
3:29:29 > 3:29:39He was asked if he wanted it back? And he said no, I don't.You could
3:29:39 > 3:29:42hit the cushion or go between the red and the cushion.
3:29:50 > 3:29:55I think he will still play the same shot and tried to nestle into the
3:29:55 > 3:30:03bunch of reds. If he hits it a little bit hard, that may not a red
3:30:03 > 3:30:16on. -- knock. He should be OK this time.Foul and a miss. John Higgins,
3:30:16 > 3:30:26four.He has left a pot on the green pocket?Depends on the angle whether
3:30:26 > 3:30:32John fancies this or not. No, he does not like it. If he could have
3:30:32 > 3:30:35played that unscrewed straight back, he would have taken it.
3:30:35 > 3:30:40APPLAUSE
3:31:02 > 3:31:06Now, Mark anxiously looking to see if he has left the red in the
3:31:06 > 3:31:11middle. It looks very tight.
3:31:14 > 3:31:23Has he left it into the corner? He can't pot that.He definitely can't
3:31:23 > 3:31:30pot it into the middle. Maybe worth trying to pot it up into the corner
3:31:30 > 3:31:38pocket, where the Queen pocket is, as we call it. Top right-hand corner
3:31:38 > 3:31:42pocket, play it as a shock to nothing, get back down behind the
3:31:42 > 3:31:49blue on black. -- where the green pocket is.
3:31:49 > 3:31:55It looks pretty good. Excellent pot.
3:31:59 > 3:32:05Since Mark King played that shot with the two reds on the top, he's
3:32:05 > 3:32:08been definitely, it's been John Higgins in the driving seat and the
3:32:08 > 3:32:13tactical exchange. Black back on its spot, so that's definitely going to
3:32:13 > 3:32:22be touching. He gave the initiative, playing that shot, Mark.
3:32:37 > 3:32:48APPLAUSE Another good shot.
3:32:53 > 3:32:59But again, big target behind the blue and black. Not a touching ball,
3:32:59 > 3:33:03so he's got to play it off a red.
3:33:07 > 3:33:14A possibility of a double, but it's quite risky. The red to the right of
3:33:14 > 3:33:19the cue ball is available for a double.
3:33:30 > 3:33:35He missed the cannon as well, he played the little cannon on the blue
3:33:35 > 3:33:38there, just if he got the double, it would have flicked away and left him
3:33:38 > 3:33:45on the black. That was a big shock, that was. Had it gone in the middle
3:33:45 > 3:33:50and got at cannon, all of a sudden, it would have been a great chance.
3:34:35 > 3:34:39Yeah, now it's Mark's turn to be in the driving seat. John couldn't do
3:34:39 > 3:34:43much about it in the last shot, all he could do was feather it into the
3:34:43 > 3:34:51red. He knew he would be in trouble for the next shot. Sometimes you've
3:34:51 > 3:34:57just got no choice. You know you have a shot to get out of trouble,
3:34:57 > 3:35:02and you might be in it on your next shot, and that is what happens has
3:35:02 > 3:35:11happened here. I can't see what shot he's got on here. Is he taking a
3:35:11 > 3:35:15shot of?
3:35:19 > 3:35:23Well. Is he taking this in the middle?
3:35:27 > 3:35:35And he did try to play it in such a way that he wouldn't leave anything.
3:35:37 > 3:35:41Quite a clever shot, wasn't it. He has just about left this red up into
3:35:41 > 3:35:46the green pocket.
3:35:47 > 3:35:55Just play it with a touch of left-hand side here. Just try and
3:35:55 > 3:36:02bring the cue ball out between green and brown.Yeah. Priority, of
3:36:02 > 3:36:08course, Ken, not get in. What ever you do, don't miss it trying to play
3:36:08 > 3:36:12too difficult a shot.Well played.
3:36:14 > 3:36:23Nice control on it. Drag it in. A great opportunity to win frame from
3:36:23 > 3:36:35this visit, and level things up once again.
3:37:10 > 3:37:15I don't think he's too straight. He would have liked a better angle, but
3:37:15 > 3:37:21it's still OK. Drop it in, take the green, then the red and baulk, if he
3:37:21 > 3:37:30wishes. He may be taking the pain, which may be the better option after
3:37:30 > 3:37:37this red. -- taking pink.I think the pink spot is occupied by those
3:37:37 > 3:37:40two reds that would have gone up onto the blue. Just trying to play
3:37:40 > 3:37:46on the pink forehand. With him being left-handed, this is a slight
3:37:46 > 3:37:52stretch for Mark. Hasn't got to do anything with the cue ball, just
3:37:52 > 3:37:55make sure you knock the green in.
3:38:10 > 3:38:13He has got to be a little bit careful with his positional shot
3:38:13 > 3:38:24after this red. Play on a baulk colour, green or brown.
3:38:26 > 3:38:30Sadly for him, he'd like to pop the green, come off the side cushion and
3:38:30 > 3:38:36come down. But the red on the side cushion is in the way.
3:38:48 > 3:38:53I will have to give him the benefit of the doubt. I don't believe he
3:38:53 > 3:38:57played that shot. I think he was trying to miss that red and get back
3:38:57 > 3:39:01down for the two reds below the pink.I'm not going to give him the
3:39:01 > 3:39:07benefit of the doubt for not just coming off the cushion and leaving a
3:39:07 > 3:39:11straight pink with the loss comes about. Pop the pink, and two reds
3:39:11 > 3:39:15are in the open. He has made his positional shot to get onto it much
3:39:15 > 3:39:19more difficult now. Easier to play a bit of running side, leave yourself
3:39:19 > 3:39:23on the pink, stun it in, the reds of there.
3:39:42 > 3:39:49Only just a few more pots from winning this frame, 32 point litre,
3:39:49 > 3:39:55red, pink, red. That will suffice. Needs to put the memory of the last
3:39:55 > 3:39:59shot out of his mind as well from the rest. Didn't do very well with
3:39:59 > 3:40:08the rest on the last go. That's better. He could have had it a
3:40:08 > 3:40:13couple of shots to go, but to his credit, he's there now.I must say,
3:40:13 > 3:40:18this has been a great performance from Mark King. I didn't know how he
3:40:18 > 3:40:26was going to react when he lost that frame, well, the 2-1, needing the
3:40:26 > 3:40:32two because, and the one after that, with a 9-point lead. But in all
3:40:32 > 3:40:35fairness, he has held himself together very well. Showing a lot of
3:40:35 > 3:40:39bottle here, Mark King, a lot of character.
3:40:40 > 3:40:44And the momentum has swung, it has to be said. John Higgins hasn't
3:40:44 > 3:40:51played his best today. At the moment, it is definitely there for
3:40:51 > 3:40:56the taking.If I was doing a school report on this much, I would give
3:40:56 > 3:41:02him a D -4 positional, but an A+ for temperament. Absolutely fabulous,
3:41:02 > 3:41:13Mark King. To come back, wonderful.
3:41:14 > 3:41:18-- D- four positional.
3:41:43 > 3:41:53This is a nice positional shot for blue into the corner pocket.
3:41:55 > 3:42:01A wonderful break of 52 there for Mark King. He was 4-2 behind, and he
3:42:01 > 3:42:11has now levelled up once more. Mark King 4-4 John Higgins.
3:42:11 > 3:42:13has now levelled up once more. Mark King 4-4 John Higgins.
3:42:13 > 3:42:23STUDIO:. This could go to the wire. I used to play him in practice and
3:42:23 > 3:42:27he came back every day for more punishment, because I used to beat
3:42:27 > 3:42:30him up when he was younger, beat him on the table. He would come back
3:42:30 > 3:42:35every day for more punishment. I called him the wee bull. He never
3:42:35 > 3:42:40fell over, but he came back again. I'm glad you clarify back, you beat
3:42:40 > 3:42:46him up on the table. Fair play for Mark hanging in.You look at the
3:42:46 > 3:42:50body language, if you go by body language, there was only one winner.
3:42:50 > 3:42:53We are not going to write John Higgins off by any stretch, but we
3:42:53 > 3:42:58have a best to get to the quarterfinals. It is anyone's match.
3:42:58 > 3:43:02At one stage, we thought John was on his way to booking his place in the
3:43:02 > 3:43:06quarterfinal. What happened to John? I don't think he is in the type of
3:43:06 > 3:43:10form he was in the last round. That is difficult for the players to
3:43:10 > 3:43:16guarantee that form. The UK Championship has gone from best of
3:43:16 > 3:43:2017 to best of 11. The top seeds in the game preferred the best of 17.
3:43:20 > 3:43:23All the players probably would say they prefer that, but it probably
3:43:23 > 3:43:27suited some of the top in the game. They can get their teeth into it.
3:43:27 > 3:43:31The likes of Mark Selby at the World Championship in the UK can get on a
3:43:31 > 3:43:37roll. Therefore, the short session matches, one session matches,
3:43:37 > 3:43:40perhaps there is more of a level playing field. Even so, every day,
3:43:40 > 3:43:45you have do hit the floor running. I suppose an example of that is this
3:43:45 > 3:43:52match. It is not over until the fat lady sings, because Mark King, from
3:43:52 > 3:43:56one stage this afternoon, we thought it was it, and John was closer to
3:43:56 > 3:43:59the line.You would have thought at 4-2 there was only one winner,
3:43:59 > 3:44:08definitely.Absolutely.But the way that John Higgins went in front, but
3:44:08 > 3:44:11Mark King has impressed with the way he has come back. His attitude and
3:44:11 > 3:44:16demeanour around the table looks positive. Talking about John Higgins
3:44:16 > 3:44:20being a strong favourite, but the last couple of months and
3:44:20 > 3:44:24tournaments, he's not been at the business end of tournaments. Maybe
3:44:24 > 3:44:27John is getting twitchy as well.The interesting thing is, maybe you can
3:44:27 > 3:44:33teach better positional play, but perhaps you can't always teach good
3:44:33 > 3:44:36attitude around the table.Fighting spirit?Fighting
3:44:36 > 3:44:38attitude around the table.Fighting spirit?Fighting spirit is a
3:44:38 > 3:44:41difficult attribute to draw on if you haven't got it. Some people
3:44:41 > 3:44:45after making big mistakes in positional play and throwing frames
3:44:45 > 3:44:54are wayward drop their head. Not Mark King.The crowd giving it,
3:44:54 > 3:45:00"Come on, Mark." Maybe his tail is up.
3:45:00 > 3:45:04COMMENTATOR: A lot of ingredients go into the recipe of becoming a top
3:45:04 > 3:45:07class snooker player. Temperament is definitely one of them. Mark King
3:45:07 > 3:45:11has been excellent today in that respect.It is true what the boys
3:45:11 > 3:45:16said, it is something you can't teach. You had to learn it yourself,
3:45:16 > 3:45:19or be blessed with it.
3:45:25 > 3:45:37First mistake from John Higgins.
3:45:53 > 3:46:03APPLAUSE
3:46:09 > 3:46:15Pace of the blue in the centre taking it up...Oh. True a quick one
3:46:15 > 3:46:16there.
3:46:37 > 3:46:41John hoping to pop this red into the right centre, trying to get a nice
3:46:41 > 3:46:52wrangle on one of the colours. Or even the blue.
3:46:54 > 3:46:58He can go into the pack will play on the loose red beside the black. It
3:46:58 > 3:47:07depends on the angle.
3:47:12 > 3:47:21That will do. Something to come out of the pack and flicked that red
3:47:21 > 3:47:26away from the black, but it nearly did. He has still landed on the next
3:47:26 > 3:47:33red, which is the important thing. Not an easy chance, this, though.He
3:47:33 > 3:47:36just had a quick look at the black, didn't he come to see if it would
3:47:36 > 3:47:44put into the left corner pocket. It doesn't look like it will. There you
3:47:44 > 3:47:57see it. I don't think that Potts, so back up for blue here.
3:47:58 > 3:48:04He hit that really well. Maybe a touch too well.
3:48:09 > 3:48:13Time just approaching three hours. It's been engrossing. We've seen
3:48:13 > 3:48:20matches with heavy scoring this week here at the Barbican, but this has
3:48:20 > 3:48:30been very interesting.
3:48:39 > 3:48:47Now, nice angle on the blue. OK, a bit of bit skinnier than he would
3:48:47 > 3:48:53have liked, but still, natural angle to go into the pack of reds.
3:48:55 > 3:49:08No. No, that's not there.Yeah, much thinner than it looked. Wasn't very
3:49:08 > 3:49:14committed on the shot. Blue nearly went into the cushion, but he's been
3:49:14 > 3:49:20quite fortunate to split the pack up and not leave Mark on anything. OK,
3:49:20 > 3:49:28he's got a thin clip, bridging over balls into a blind pocket. I suppose
3:49:28 > 3:49:31he can play it with the luxury of knowing, as long as he is in the
3:49:31 > 3:49:36baulk area, he should be able to get the blue.
3:49:39 > 3:49:46Just the last couple of shots, I think he's rushed them a little bit.
3:49:47 > 3:49:54He just hasn't taken as much time, particularly on the backswing.
3:49:54 > 3:49:59Playing just a little bit too quick.
3:50:01 > 3:50:09I don't like his next one...Help. Stepladder required for this one,
3:50:09 > 3:50:14I'd say. Scaffolding.
3:50:17 > 3:50:23Whatever you have, revelry. Whatever you have.Do you want an extension
3:50:23 > 3:50:35on it as well?Yeah. The spider as well here. I think.Extension on the
3:50:35 > 3:50:40end of the extended rest.
3:50:44 > 3:50:47They literally is no other book. He can't make an escape to any other
3:50:47 > 3:50:52ball, it has to be black. With the miss world, you can see the black,
3:50:52 > 3:50:55it is the ball he has got to play, otherwise he is giving point away
3:50:55 > 3:51:06left, right and centre. Difficult to judge this. Just hard to see the cue
3:51:06 > 3:51:08tip.
3:51:10 > 3:51:13APPLAUSE
3:51:17 > 3:51:23Under the circumstances, it's a fantastic shot.
3:51:23 > 3:51:27Well played.
3:51:33 > 3:51:37He was just trying to get out of trouble, but it's actually a very
3:51:37 > 3:51:43good shot. He has left Mark with a bit of a headache. The pink being on
3:51:43 > 3:51:47the side cushion's a massive problem. He can't get back down to
3:51:47 > 3:51:54the baulk area, because of coming off the side of the pack.
3:51:54 > 3:52:00Maybe forced into a pot.
3:52:09 > 3:52:13Only one area he can play, he can play the red to the right of the
3:52:13 > 3:52:19black really thin and go back up through the gap. Because there's the
3:52:19 > 3:52:27pink that way. He's hit the pink and left it over the jaws. Wow, that was
3:52:27 > 3:52:36close, Ken, wasn't it.A great attempt.
3:52:38 > 3:52:42Just wondering if he will try to pop the red into the pack. That
3:52:42 > 3:52:45surprises me.
3:52:46 > 3:52:51OK, he had the blue over the left centre, but he could have played the
3:52:51 > 3:52:55red, the cue ball into the pack of four reds, and still be on the
3:52:55 > 3:53:00black.
3:53:07 > 3:53:11Yeah, this is a big shot in the context of this brain. He puts this
3:53:11 > 3:53:14and it runs off the cushion slowly, he has the red on the right-hand
3:53:14 > 3:53:23side. -- the context of this frame. He has come off the bump.
3:53:23 > 3:53:26Originally thinking the one on the right-hand side, he could have done
3:53:26 > 3:53:29that and stayed on the back. As he follows up, he catches the bump of
3:53:29 > 3:53:32the middle.
3:53:40 > 3:53:48Lovely shot. Reverse side to bring the cue ball back to black again.
3:53:48 > 3:53:54Really well played.
3:54:23 > 3:54:28Really tough shots to judge, those, when you are close to the cushion
3:54:28 > 3:54:31and playing up for the brew. The number of times you don't get quite
3:54:31 > 3:54:36far enough, and a shake of the head from John. When you play at the cue
3:54:36 > 3:54:40ball, it gets trapped a little bit. It's like a break, and it takes a
3:54:40 > 3:54:45bit of pace out of it. He has got to go round the table if he wants to
3:54:45 > 3:54:50get back in position.
3:55:00 > 3:55:05If the pink wasn't in the way, he might be tempted to play brown. You
3:55:05 > 3:55:09come round on the other side of the table, two reds will pot that way.
3:55:09 > 3:55:16He is not to take it, he will screw back and the end red.
3:55:18 > 3:55:28A good pot. The positional play required. It is about getting the
3:55:28 > 3:55:30red and coming back down the table.
3:55:53 > 3:56:05A good pot. Jobs that one in, and it was an excellent shot.He is coming
3:56:05 > 3:56:11out to have a look at the red to the left of the black. If he can get on
3:56:11 > 3:56:18that, he can open the black up into both pockets then. He would be
3:56:18 > 3:56:22hitting into an area with a couple of reds he can go onto here. The one
3:56:22 > 3:56:28next to the black is the one he wants to be on. He is on both reds,
3:56:28 > 3:56:31as you can see.
3:56:31 > 3:56:40He is going to take the easier one of the two, back up for blue.
3:56:43 > 3:56:48And again, missed the red he'd like to get on. Just drop the blue in and
3:56:48 > 3:56:56try to hold left for the red by the black.
3:57:12 > 3:57:25Looks pretty good. So, 41 point lead, just red, black, and another
3:57:25 > 3:57:27red, black, and that will be enough.
3:57:34 > 3:57:38It looks like John Higgins is going to go one up with a possible two to
3:57:38 > 3:57:51play. But it's been hard-fought, hasn't it.He has used all those
3:57:51 > 3:57:53years of experience. Mark King can't complain, you had a couple of
3:57:53 > 3:58:00chances early on in the frames.
3:58:52 > 3:58:58A good break from John Higgins, that. Circumstances, 57 ahead, 51
3:58:58 > 3:59:00on.
3:59:04 > 3:59:12REFEREE:Foul.That's the end of that frame, that there is no doubt.
3:59:12 > 3:59:15Mark King concedes the frame. An excellent contribution in that one
3:59:15 > 3:59:21from John Higgins. He puts his nose ahead at five for Mac.
3:59:23 > 3:59:30Getting near the business and now -- 5-4. The shop Mark King had in the
3:59:30 > 3:59:33frame, you've just got to play it sometimes, and you can be a little
3:59:33 > 3:59:38bit unlucky.It got so close, didn't it. Just left, look at the
3:59:38 > 3:59:43situation. It all came from the safety shot when John Higgins hit
3:59:43 > 3:59:51the extended spider and extended rest. He left Mark King with this.
3:59:51 > 3:59:56Look how close he gets. He is trying to avoid the pink as well. How close
3:59:56 > 4:00:02was that going into the pocket? That's what cost him the frame. He
4:00:02 > 4:00:07was very unlucky. Still smiling, though.Listen, his temperament has
4:00:07 > 4:00:12been to the fore today, of that there is no doubt. John Higgins
4:00:12 > 4:00:16there, dug in, hasn't been an easy afternoon Goujon by a long stretch.
4:00:16 > 4:00:21Hasn't been his but it's about winning. Having a bit of a lollipop
4:00:21 > 4:00:30he was given today.
4:00:30 > 4:00:33A little bit of sugar.
4:00:50 > 4:00:58The audience has definitely been loving it this afternoon. Value for
4:00:58 > 4:01:03money as ever and I have enjoyed watching these two compete. No one
4:01:03 > 4:01:08has left the auditorium. They are all engrossed by it and why not?
4:01:08 > 4:01:21Great venue. They love their snooker in York. A fascinating encounter. A
4:01:21 > 4:01:29good safety. A bit of Czech side to stop the cue ball coming back and
4:01:29 > 4:01:35hitting the pack. One red has popped its nose out. A possible cut into
4:01:35 > 4:01:47the right corner pocket for John Higgins. That's a high percentage of
4:01:47 > 4:02:00those types of shots. He needs a bit of luck and has not got it. Very
4:02:00 > 4:02:13good at that particular shots, John Higgins. One of his many fortes.
4:02:13 > 4:02:24Just as safety shot.
4:02:55 > 4:02:59Part much he can do other than go off the side of the pack for that
4:02:59 > 4:03:11you don't want to be hitting the black. What a mistake that is! And,
4:03:11 > 4:03:16I could say straightaway, John Higgins can pot this, go up and play
4:03:16 > 4:03:19on the yellow, popped the yellow goes straight into the side of the
4:03:19 > 4:03:25pack if he wants. He can do it of the blue but the yellow is there as
4:03:25 > 4:03:31well. It is a great chance if he wants to open the pack up. He has
4:03:31 > 4:03:39played on the blue. He may have been tempted by the yellow. The angle has
4:03:39 > 4:03:45gone straight into the side of the pack and smashed them all "Anyway,
4:03:45 > 4:03:57he can do it here. He has been very fortunate. He got a split. That
4:03:57 > 4:04:13could've gone in. He managed to lead himself -- leave himself on it. A
4:04:13 > 4:04:23tricky situation, John Higgins, over the years. He has converted a lot of
4:04:23 > 4:04:30these situations. Just composing himself by keeping the cue ball
4:04:30 > 4:04:45clean. The red at the bottom of the pack, trying to stun it into the
4:04:45 > 4:04:57pocket. Not the perfect angle. He has played it nicely from the red to
4:04:57 > 4:05:13the right centre. Imperative he gets top side of this. Even the yellow,
4:05:13 > 4:05:23as you mentioned earlier.
4:05:24 > 4:05:30He has never been won over the years to baulk up the winning line, John
4:05:30 > 4:05:34foot he notices a massive opportunity for the frame and match.
4:05:34 > 4:05:48-- John. Now then, is he on anything? He will not have played
4:05:48 > 4:05:56many worse position shots land that one. -- band that one. You cannot
4:05:56 > 4:06:00believe that. The boys in the commentary were speaking about
4:06:00 > 4:06:06opportunities going into the pack when there were loose reds. He tried
4:06:06 > 4:06:10to get onto a loose red foot he could have got into the pack as
4:06:10 > 4:06:18well. He has played a careless safety shot will stop lost his
4:06:18 > 4:06:25concentration. Completely missed by that last positional shot, John
4:06:25 > 4:06:35Higgins. -- miffed.
4:06:52 > 4:07:00The good, opening pot. Just about managers to hold position for the
4:07:00 > 4:07:06pink. The cue ball and object ball are so closer it is tricky at times
4:07:06 > 4:07:17to work out the angle. I would be surprised. It could be vintage
4:07:17 > 4:07:31Higgins where he gets the one chance and get over the line but not to be.
4:07:41 > 4:07:48He has a big target up the table. If he can get up there and come back
4:07:48 > 4:07:52into the pack some point, you can make sure if you are high up the
4:07:52 > 4:07:59table you get an option of both of those to come back into the pack. He
4:07:59 > 4:08:05has chosen to play on the pink at the moment, Mark. That is OK but
4:08:05 > 4:08:19moving something about to get on the next red.
4:08:21 > 4:08:28Has he hit it enough to be on this red into the corner? Maybe just
4:08:28 > 4:08:35about on this red. He can nudge the red to the right of it and the pink
4:08:35 > 4:08:44into the left centre. That is a lovely shot he played. Tries to
4:08:44 > 4:08:50knock that into a possible position. A good chance of a counter attack
4:08:50 > 4:08:56from Mark King.That was a lovely cannon he played before. Really good
4:08:56 > 4:09:02touch will stop so nice to see a good touch when it means the most to
4:09:02 > 4:09:15you, at the business end of the match. Could be going to a final
4:09:15 > 4:09:31frame decider. He does love to compete, this boy. He really does.
4:09:31 > 4:09:41He hung around all day. Mentioned at the start of the afternoon, 18
4:09:41 > 4:09:46matches to three behind against John Higgins. They have played on 20
4:09:46 > 4:09:54occasions, twice in the UK will stop had a couple of dumping is of him.
4:09:54 > 4:09:59Here he is, still punching. Still in there and still competing. All
4:09:59 > 4:10:07credit to him. He has just come around to have a look at the two
4:10:07 > 4:10:12reds that have been left, make sure the top one pots into the bottom
4:10:12 > 4:10:22right corner.
4:10:23 > 4:10:28He wants to be nice and straight on the pink but it is just OK. He will
4:10:28 > 4:10:35take the top red of the two reds. That is exactly where he will take
4:10:35 > 4:10:44the cue ball. The other red will be open. He has gone about this break
4:10:44 > 4:11:01very well so far. He wants the cue ball to be bit straighter. 67 is his
4:11:01 > 4:11:10target appears on 42. The four reds and colours can he will not have to
4:11:10 > 4:11:14worry about the red close to the cushion.
4:11:26 > 4:11:31He has taken these very well so far. This is the toughest positional shot
4:11:31 > 4:11:38he has had to play on the break. Looking at his next red.
4:11:46 > 4:11:50It is on the bottom one but not exactly ideal. At least he has a
4:11:50 > 4:11:52shot at it.
4:12:03 > 4:12:14It went in.
4:12:21 > 4:12:27They must make contact with the two reds and blacks. It is a big target.
4:12:27 > 4:12:31The yellow into the right centre coming off the top cushion. Trying
4:12:31 > 4:12:44to split them. A big shot this one. If he gets it right he can win the
4:12:44 > 4:12:57frame from it.I was just about to say it is one of those once it is
4:12:57 > 4:13:03easy to quit on. He have to get through it. He is really in love
4:13:03 > 4:13:09with the shot. You can tell by the way he went about playing it. There
4:13:09 > 4:13:19was a degree of difficulty in it. Mind you can he has not let John
4:13:19 > 4:13:25Higgins anything easy. -- mind you, he has not left John Higgins
4:13:25 > 4:13:28anything easy. Here's enjoying that lollipop.
4:13:45 > 4:13:51It has just gone slightly awkward. He has been lucky. To clip that
4:13:51 > 4:13:56across the table and finish that close, then a short and bounce off
4:13:56 > 4:14:01the touch, it is a gimme. Where it has finished is enough to keep you
4:14:01 > 4:14:13honest. It looks easy. But it is not. Any flick on the near jaw and
4:14:13 > 4:14:17this is not going in. Particularly if he is going to play at bottom
4:14:17 > 4:14:25right hand side as well. That can always happen. Just pushes into the
4:14:25 > 4:14:35red. John Higgins has had a result. What can he make of it?
4:14:43 > 4:14:50Well, I don't believe that. He has left the cue ball in the one shot
4:14:50 > 4:14:54that John Higgins can get through the gap. No wonder he is shaking his
4:14:54 > 4:15:05head. Once he potted it, another red was in play, and so was the black
4:15:05 > 4:15:16and pink. Wow!
4:15:18 > 4:15:34Just depends on the yellow, how close it is into the middle pocket.
4:15:36 > 4:15:41It is definitely possible. It is how much you can get out of it to get it
4:15:41 > 4:15:51towards the green.
4:15:57 > 4:16:06He is just having a look at it now. Will he pot the red and leave the
4:16:06 > 4:16:14yellow?That is the way to play it. If you cannot force any of the
4:16:14 > 4:16:19angles, knock it in, drop the yellowing. The natural angle for the
4:16:19 > 4:16:23yellow on the spot. The further away with the cue ball and you have got a
4:16:23 > 4:16:33straight pot at it. That is the way I would be going if you can do it.
4:16:33 > 4:16:45Having to refocus. He has to be close to the yellow. The cue ball
4:16:45 > 4:17:02and potting this red. No. Would you believe it?
4:17:11 > 4:17:21One good pot from Mark King, as John Higgins missed the red.He only
4:17:21 > 4:17:26played the pink through the middle. Could have left himself pretty
4:17:26 > 4:17:30straight on the red full if he had, his clearance would have been
4:17:30 > 4:17:34easier. With the amount of angle it was more difficult.
4:17:44 > 4:17:53Look at the action on the cue ball. Have a look at this! A bit of
4:17:53 > 4:17:59adrenaline. He has to go in and out of baulk. This could be a really
4:17:59 > 4:18:02good shot if he can get it close.
4:18:10 > 4:18:20That is not close enough. It depends on how straight and angle he has.
4:18:20 > 4:18:25Trying to play this at pace is not a gimme, is it?It is one of those
4:18:25 > 4:18:29funny shots where you have to work out percentage-wise whether you
4:18:29 > 4:18:36think it is worth taking. What a lovely shot he has played. He could
4:18:36 > 4:18:39not hit that any better. A great shot.
4:18:45 > 4:18:51It will go on to a decider.That really was a fabulous shot on the
4:18:51 > 4:18:59yellow. To get up to the green, that shot he has played is the best in
4:18:59 > 4:19:06the match so far. It didn't look like it would go 5-5 but that is
4:19:06 > 4:19:16exactly what it is going to be. Well played, Mark King! Both players are
4:19:16 > 4:19:19leaving the auditorium. You know what is coming up. It is a final
4:19:19 > 4:19:26frame decider. It is all square at five frames all.
4:19:26 > 4:19:30None of us thought this was going to happen.Mark stuck to his guns, and
4:19:30 > 4:19:35in the end, in that frame, John Higgins failed to clinch the match
4:19:35 > 4:19:38because of poor positional play. He missed the Coombs at the end,
4:19:38 > 4:19:42because he was too far over it. What a great shot
4:19:42 > 4:19:47because he was too far over it. What a great shot from Mark King.There
4:19:47 > 4:19:53was no need for John to play from yellow to red. As the guys
4:19:53 > 4:19:54was no need for John to play from yellow to red. As the guys said,
4:19:54 > 4:19:59yellow to yellow is a good shot, but the yellow was pot able. Just make
4:19:59 > 4:20:03sure the yellow plays for pink and black. It is unusual for John
4:20:03 > 4:20:07Higgins to miss a chance. 2-3 chances to win a match. That is not
4:20:07 > 4:20:11like him. His form has not been great approaching this tournament in
4:20:11 > 4:20:16the last couple of months. Last season he had a purple patch. This
4:20:16 > 4:20:20season has not been the same, so maybe he is lacking confidence.You
4:20:20 > 4:20:24were talking about Mark King's body language when the chips were down.
4:20:24 > 4:20:28There was a little smile. You said, sometimes you have to get out of
4:20:28 > 4:20:33your corner if it does not go your way. He smiled when he potted the
4:20:33 > 4:20:36yellow, the confidence came back. Enjoying the occasion is half the
4:20:36 > 4:20:40battle. You can judge your performances over a period of a
4:20:40 > 4:20:44career by different yardsticks. You can say, the amount of times you get
4:20:44 > 4:20:52in position to win a frame. Or how times you can turn around a frame
4:20:52 > 4:20:58when you should have won it. The attitude you bring to the game is
4:20:58 > 4:21:02important.What you said about John Higgins was interesting, when he
4:21:02 > 4:21:05reached those finals last season and was playing consistently, Ahye
4:21:05 > 4:21:09suggesting, when you are in a good run of form, especially at the end
4:21:09 > 4:21:15of tournaments, looking for booking a place in a quarterfinal as well,
4:21:15 > 4:21:19those shots come.Things like finishing matches of, those become
4:21:19 > 4:21:25automatic. You get a chance and you kill. He played a shot, again, we
4:21:25 > 4:21:28are talking about Mark King earlier not going into the pack. John
4:21:28 > 4:21:32Higgins had a chance to go to the bunch. He played it wrong, you could
4:21:32 > 4:21:38see the smile on his face. Very unlike him. A deciding frame now, if
4:21:38 > 4:21:43you are looking at who will win, you would side with John Higgins.You
4:21:43 > 4:21:48have also got to say that a player in proving in standard, and Mark
4:21:48 > 4:21:52King won a tournament last year, in Northern Ireland, playing better
4:21:52 > 4:21:57snooker. He is a happier frame of mind. As his body length which
4:21:57 > 4:22:01shows, he is not beating himself up. That is a good way to go into a
4:22:01 > 4:22:07final frame, enjoying the challenge. Who is going to win, but you had on
4:22:07 > 4:22:11the block.You have to go with Mark King, he is more positive.
4:22:11 > 4:22:12the block.You have to go with Mark King, he is more positive.I
4:22:12 > 4:22:16wouldn't be surprised if Mark turned John over in the last frame. It is
4:22:16 > 4:22:23anybody's. The stats are not much different.Over his career, John
4:22:23 > 4:22:26Higgins has won so many of these deciding frames.We are staying with
4:22:26 > 4:22:33this match live on BBC Two. COMMENTATOR: The one thing you can't
4:22:33 > 4:22:40do in a final frame decider is make a break like that. Far too thick.
4:22:40 > 4:22:47Mind you, he may have gotten away with it. Match time coming up to 3.5
4:22:47 > 4:22:56hours, intriguing from the start.
4:23:12 > 4:23:17Not that much between the final frame-winning percentages, the boys
4:23:17 > 4:23:21asked them, Steve said in that you do, 56% for John Higgins, and 51%
4:23:21 > 4:23:32from Mark King. So, virtually 50-50, Ken.I suppose John Higgins has
4:23:32 > 4:23:40probably done it more. He has been involved in a lot more matches than
4:23:40 > 4:23:46I am sure Mark King has. But the way he's played... Oh. This could be
4:23:46 > 4:23:54dangerous. That was a tough pot, but also I
4:23:54 > 4:23:58think he's overhit it. He didn't expect to go into the pack and leave
4:23:58 > 4:24:03this red here.I think because he has hit it so poorly, the angle to
4:24:03 > 4:24:10go towards pack, he courted much too Finn. Nice to have first chance in
4:24:10 > 4:24:18the final frame. That's for sure.
4:24:30 > 4:24:36He can pot this yellow, just stunned across and put a red into the same
4:24:36 > 4:24:43pocket. I think that would be his choice. Just about.
4:25:09 > 4:25:13I don't think he'd be going into the pack of this brew, John. The angle
4:25:13 > 4:25:18is not good enough for him. He may like to play on the loose red here.
4:25:23 > 4:25:28Yeah, slightly missed a trick there, he might have gone higher up for the
4:25:28 > 4:25:33blue. The pack is looking really nice. The pink is not even on its
4:25:33 > 4:25:35spot, so a big target there.
4:25:40 > 4:25:44Oh... Can you believe it?!
4:25:48 > 4:25:58That was a shock.A shocker.
4:25:59 > 4:26:05He's just trying to get the angle to make sure he was nice and low. He
4:26:05 > 4:26:09just forgot to pot the ball.
4:26:16 > 4:26:24He has covered the red down the left-hand side of the table.
4:26:32 > 4:26:35He can only nestle into the red on the top cushion, just coming off the
4:26:35 > 4:26:44side cushion and trying to nestle onto the red. Will he be forced into
4:26:44 > 4:26:48having a go? If he tries to chip the one closest to the right-hand side
4:26:48 > 4:26:53cushion, the red may come across over the left-hand corner pocket as
4:26:53 > 4:26:57well. He may be forced into having a go here.
4:27:03 > 4:27:09That's a fantastic pot from John Higgins!APPLAUSE
4:27:09 > 4:27:15Yellow at what a shot. You're not kidding. That is what all the hours
4:27:15 > 4:27:25of practice are for. What a pot.
4:27:31 > 4:27:35I don't know what you saw, John, but look at Mark King's reaction when
4:27:35 > 4:27:40John Higgins potted that. He nodded in approval. He knew how good it
4:27:40 > 4:27:44was. Good sportsmanship.
4:27:48 > 4:27:52Wow. What's going on? I've never seen John Higgins missed so many
4:27:52 > 4:27:54easy balls.
4:28:02 > 4:28:09You can count on one hand the number he would miss of those in a season,
4:28:09 > 4:28:15not just one match. A lot of pressure felt from both players
4:28:15 > 4:28:20here, as we see this red again. Mark King has been so good in the safety
4:28:20 > 4:28:25department this match. But hitting the Brownhill has left another
4:28:25 > 4:28:31possible long pot for John Higgins. It's getting tense out there.
4:28:38 > 4:28:41-- hitting the brown here.
4:28:47 > 4:28:57Well, there's a red in the middle for Mark. He wants to take it on,
4:28:57 > 4:29:01along the top rail, it isn't particularly appetising. But this is
4:29:01 > 4:29:03massive, because he's definitely going to leave something on if he
4:29:03 > 4:29:06misses it.
4:29:06 > 4:29:14APPLAUSE Great shot. Absolutely great shot.
4:29:20 > 4:29:24We saw Mark King's reaction a minute ago, we have seen John Higgins's
4:29:24 > 4:29:32reaction when that one went in. A great pot it was indeed. Right in
4:29:32 > 4:29:35the centre. Cracking pot.
4:29:38 > 4:29:43You can see John kicking himself in the chair there. The chances he has
4:29:43 > 4:29:48had so far and missed. But there's a load of pressure out there, and you
4:29:48 > 4:29:51can miss anything.
4:30:01 > 4:30:04Tried to get on the red left of the cue ball into the left-hand corner
4:30:04 > 4:30:16pocket, left it short. He had this as a back-up.
4:30:19 > 4:30:23Yeah, finished short on this. Just have a walk round, make sure you can
4:30:23 > 4:30:27leaders of an angle on the corner, so you can screw it in and get
4:30:27 > 4:30:30towards the black.
4:30:32 > 4:30:38He can drop that in now and come off the cushion, so that's fine. Once
4:30:38 > 4:30:41again, just making sure you are leaving yourself a half ball on the
4:30:41 > 4:30:44black.
4:30:52 > 4:30:54APPLAUSE Taking a deep breath to relax
4:30:54 > 4:31:05himself. Pogba black, play the cue ball through the gap and hold the
4:31:05 > 4:31:10red into the corner pocket. He has played that really well -- pot
4:31:10 > 4:31:15black. This could be a key shot. He doesn't have the perfect angle the
4:31:15 > 4:31:19red, but he will have to manoeuvre the cue ball through a couple of
4:31:19 > 4:31:30reds above it, stay on the black. He's played it well.APPLAUSE
4:31:30 > 4:31:37Yeah, played that beautifully. Lovely touch. I think all John
4:31:37 > 4:31:41Higgins can do is sit and hope that Mark King makes a mistake. What a
4:31:41 > 4:31:46chance this is for Mark King.
4:31:47 > 4:31:51You just have to steel yourself in this position, keep your
4:31:51 > 4:31:55concentration, make your mind up, what shot are you going to play, and
4:31:55 > 4:32:08100% commit to it. Don't change your mind made shot.Nice angle to go
4:32:08 > 4:32:14into the two reds by the ping. Guaranteed to be on the red to the
4:32:14 > 4:32:18left corner.
4:32:19 > 4:32:24If he wasn't on that one, he was always going to be on the red to the
4:32:24 > 4:32:32right centre. Could have worked out a little bit better.Yeah, don't
4:32:32 > 4:32:37blame him at all playing the cannon, but it could possibly go a little
4:32:37 > 4:32:43bit awkward, which it has. Good recovery. APPLAUSE
4:32:53 > 4:32:594-5 good positional shots away here. He could have a fantastic victory,
4:32:59 > 4:33:06someone he has only beaten three times in 21 outings. In the second
4:33:06 > 4:33:11biggest tournament in the world. Oh...
4:33:12 > 4:33:19Betwixt and between again.He's just feeling the tension slightly. That's
4:33:19 > 4:33:25understandable. He doesn't have much work to do it, you can drop the
4:33:25 > 4:33:28Canter, come off the top cushion, Mr black and have the black to the same
4:33:28 > 4:33:40pocket. 29 points ahead, so three reds, pinks and blacks, that would
4:33:40 > 4:33:55be enough. Good shot. He just has too hold himself together 4-5 pots
4:33:55 > 4:33:58here.
4:34:10 > 4:34:18That was a nice pot.
4:34:20 > 4:34:2654 and counting, and it means the most.
4:34:26 > 4:34:35Hit the jaw.
4:34:41 > 4:34:44I have nothing but admiration for him today. We mention numerous
4:34:44 > 4:34:51occasions, he had the worst cue ball, and he went behind because of
4:34:51 > 4:35:00it. But boy, has he stuck at it. What a competitor.
4:35:05 > 4:35:10No heroics here, just the black required. Screwed back for the red,
4:35:10 > 4:35:16outside cushion, get behind it. If he gets this, it's all over. He has
4:35:16 > 4:35:28overscrewed it. Would you believe it? Goodness me.Only got to land on
4:35:28 > 4:35:35one more red, why does it had to land on that baulk, Ken? 51 ahead,
4:35:35 > 4:35:3952 remaining, but that doesn't mean a great deal when John Higgins is
4:35:39 > 4:35:47concerned. He needed two Leuchars in the fifth frame and got them. So
4:35:47 > 4:35:51it's not over yet.
4:35:53 > 4:36:04Could there be another twist in the story?
4:36:13 > 4:36:18APPLAUSE Under the circumstances, making 69,
4:36:18 > 4:36:22that was fabulous.
4:36:27 > 4:36:32He didn't want that to go in.
4:36:33 > 4:36:39May have to take the blue here. If he misses this, well, he's taking
4:36:39 > 4:36:46the ping. It could be shaking hands if this doesn't go in. And its best.
4:36:46 > 4:36:53There it is. John Higgins held his hand out to Mark King. A fantastic
4:36:53 > 4:36:57match this afternoon. Two brilliant performances, but Mark King stuck in
4:36:57 > 4:37:01there and refused to be beaten. He goes through to the quarterfinal. He
4:37:01 > 4:37:04wins, 6-5.
4:37:06 > 4:37:13STUDIO: Another one bites the dust. That was Queen, but this was King.
4:37:13 > 4:37:20Deducible but it?John Higgins showed frailty. He might have bit
4:37:20 > 4:37:24the bullet, taken the green and needed two Leuchars, but John was
4:37:24 > 4:37:28mentally shocked by how many shots he missed in the end, and wanted to
4:37:28 > 4:37:32get out of there.You could see that. It was playing on his mind.
4:37:32 > 4:37:36When they both went out and came back, the body language was not
4:37:36 > 4:37:41positive to John. He prodded a fantastic red, but two shots later,
4:37:41 > 4:37:45missed a red on the next was missed by a foot. The body language didn't
4:37:45 > 4:37:51look good. Even from going 4-2 ahead, his body language was great.
4:37:51 > 4:37:58Mark King dug in, looking at the career head-to-head is, 18 wins,
4:37:58 > 4:38:03John Higgins, Mark King has three. It comes down to, we can ask Mark
4:38:03 > 4:38:10when he comes in, the fact he won in Northern Ireland was something that
4:38:10 > 4:38:13has risen his stock up a bit in his own mind, a bit of pride. When it
4:38:13 > 4:38:18comes to a gritty part of the match, he fancies it a bit more. His
4:38:18 > 4:38:22performances in the tournament have been fantastic.So many big names
4:38:22 > 4:38:26have been lost on the way, maybe it is the year summary like Mark as
4:38:26 > 4:38:34well.Since Selby went out, I said it was body till -- Ronnie's to
4:38:34 > 4:38:40lose. It is amazing the way the seeds have dropped.Come on in,
4:38:40 > 4:38:44Mark. Well done, congratulations. John was talking about the pressure
4:38:44 > 4:38:51out there. Were you both feeling it out there?Packed crowd. You can't
4:38:51 > 4:38:55ask that any better. Sometimes you can go out there, there might be 30
4:38:55 > 4:38:59people in China, but a packed crowd, if you don't get yourself up for the
4:38:59 > 4:39:05games, you might as well pack up. Even at 4-2, you had a smile on your
4:39:05 > 4:39:11face. I couldn't do it. He couldn't do it.It is one of those things, to
4:39:11 > 4:39:14go 3-2, I didn't do anything wrong, you played two good sniggers and I
4:39:14 > 4:39:21missed them. I didn't put any or miss anything. I got into the next
4:39:21 > 4:39:29frame. Really confident, I was saying, keep still and calm, and
4:39:29 > 4:39:32keep confident.In the last frame after you made a couple of mistakes
4:39:32 > 4:39:36to let John Higgins back, in the end, you must have been surprised
4:39:36 > 4:39:41when he missed a couple of reds? Absolutely. I played the red in the
4:39:41 > 4:39:46middle, hoping to cover the other reds and I hit it thick. He went
4:39:46 > 4:39:50red, yellow, and missed an easy red. Then another easy red.The long one,
4:39:50 > 4:39:54you played a bad safety shop. You must have fancied him for the long
4:39:54 > 4:40:01one?Of course. One bad safety shot, I fought my best and I would go
4:40:01 > 4:40:06home.Through the match, which we were criticising some of your shot
4:40:06 > 4:40:09selections, but the final frame, you never put a foot wrong from the
4:40:09 > 4:40:14break. It was into perfect when you needed it.My cue ball is
4:40:14 > 4:40:19normally...LAUGHTER To be fair, I felt comfortable.
4:40:19 > 4:40:25Don't miss anything easy.It is easy to read things into things, but do
4:40:25 > 4:40:29you think now, because of the win in Northern Ireland that, all of a
4:40:29 > 4:40:32sudden, you have more about you, because you know you can get over
4:40:32 > 4:40:39the line?1,000,000%. I said in the interview last night on BBC that
4:40:39 > 4:40:44about 18 months ago I was playing to pay bills. Now I am playing to
4:40:44 > 4:40:51enjoy, and I am working hard. I feel comfortable. It ain't, like, the
4:40:51 > 4:40:56mortgage ain't been paid, clothes whatever, it isn't about that
4:40:56 > 4:41:03anymore. Now, I can played my game and and enjoy it. If I get pumped
4:41:03 > 4:41:086-0, that is the way it was. I have worked hard. That is what it is
4:41:08 > 4:41:11about, working hard and being confident in what I was doing.You
4:41:11 > 4:41:15which the semifinal of the Indian "Can you reach the semifinals or go
4:41:15 > 4:41:20on and win this?Lets not get too carried away!LAUGHTER
4:41:20 > 4:41:25I don't fear anybody. I've played Ronnie loads of times,
4:41:25 > 4:41:30played well against them, one of my only bogey men was John. I played
4:41:30 > 4:41:35him when he was dominant and he which to me in every way, shape and
4:41:35 > 4:41:39form. It was nice to get one over on him.We have lost so many of the
4:41:39 > 4:41:44best players in the world, the atmosphere around the Barbican right
4:41:44 > 4:41:49now is, players like yourself thinking, is it my year?It isn't
4:41:49 > 4:41:52light years ago that someone beat Stephen or Steve, it was, like, oh,
4:41:52 > 4:42:00my God. Nowadays, people play every week, the strength and depth in our
4:42:00 > 4:42:05game, number 60 in the world can have a decent run.Decent players.
4:42:05 > 4:42:10They can win, Mark Joyce beating Neil, that was no surprise, he is a
4:42:10 > 4:42:13great player.What you have in your are marine out is that you have
4:42:13 > 4:42:18enough experience on the TV table in front of a crowd that you are not
4:42:18 > 4:42:23going to snort at that chance.I have choked a few times, don't get
4:42:23 > 4:42:30me wrong!LAUGHTER I have had a twitch up! A lot of it
4:42:30 > 4:42:33is down to paying bills. But as I said, now I can enjoy it, feel
4:42:33 > 4:42:40comfortable. I can pay the hotel bill when I checked out.I will
4:42:40 > 4:42:44never forget some of the interviews you did in Northern Ireland,
4:42:44 > 4:42:49especially the one on five live was great. John Parrott said, "Nothing
4:42:49 > 4:42:57but at oration" for you.That is lovely.Good stuff.
4:42:57 > 4:43:01That is Mark King, who is through to the quarterfinals. We have time
4:43:01 > 4:43:04before we leave you on BBC Two to bring you up to date with the all
4:43:04 > 4:43:05Scotland clash
4:43:05 > 4:43:05bring you up to date with the all Scotland clash over on the other
4:43:05 > 4:43:13table this afternoon. When we left it, Stephen McGuire let Graeme Dott.
4:43:22 > 4:43:28COMMENTATOR: If that white bouncers, he is OK.
4:43:30 > 4:43:34I don't know if he can see enough of the one to take on to the left
4:43:34 > 4:43:43corner, I don't think he can. He has had a bit of a result there, has
4:43:43 > 4:43:52Graeme. Maybe he can see enough to take the pot on there.If he can,
4:43:52 > 4:43:56Dennis, we know what an aggressive player Stephen McGuire is.
4:43:58 > 4:44:02Trying to start around the back with some left-hand side, cannon into the
4:44:02 > 4:44:09red a foot to the right of the black. He may not be able to play it
4:44:09 > 4:44:13with enough pace to be able to play that shot, especially if he had to
4:44:13 > 4:44:25bend the cue ball a bit. Can he pop the red and play the cannon? -- pot
4:44:25 > 4:44:27the red.
4:44:29 > 4:44:33He got the most important part of the shot. And that's a very nice
4:44:33 > 4:44:41kiss on the yellow. Options of yellow with the rest, but almost
4:44:41 > 4:44:48certainly the brown. The reds are open, so he doesn't have to played a
4:44:48 > 4:44:56really aggressive shot into the pack.
4:45:10 > 4:45:14Just needs to be a bit careful with his waistcoat here in playing this
4:45:14 > 4:45:16shot.
4:45:26 > 4:45:37He is quite close to that.
4:45:39 > 4:45:44Peggy Lee, was right there, either lied. Making sure Stephen Maguire
4:45:44 > 4:45:55didn't foul the red with his waistcoat.
4:46:30 > 4:46:39I bumped into Stephen's dad in the corridor along with John Ray, former
4:46:39 > 4:46:45professional Scottish player, here to support Stephen.
4:47:25 > 4:47:30A very aggressive player around the table and sometimes can look a bit
4:47:30 > 4:47:39angry. Away from the snooker table, you couldn't meet a nicer lad. We
4:47:39 > 4:47:48have seen in the past, with his temperament he has given the table a
4:47:48 > 4:47:51good smack with his knuckles. But that is just to try and pump himself
4:47:51 > 4:48:00up. I remember when he first turned professional, he used to play in
4:48:00 > 4:48:05Stephen Hendry's club in Stirling. It's no longer there. All the boys
4:48:05 > 4:48:09used to play there and I remember having a few hours practice session
4:48:09 > 4:48:15with him when he first turned professional. I knew he was destined
4:48:15 > 4:48:22for big things.
4:48:56 > 4:49:04This is a good red to get out of the way. Has cleared the path for the
4:49:04 > 4:49:13one closest to it in the opposite corner. All these stun and screw
4:49:13 > 4:49:26shots played to perfection. This, in turn, when he pots this, would clear
4:49:26 > 4:49:31the one next to it. Just got to concentrate a little bit harder.
4:49:31 > 4:49:37Little bit of movement and noise. They are coming back into the arena
4:49:37 > 4:49:39for the other match.
4:49:48 > 4:49:56Can't do much about this. You can have a little sleep, I suppose. Just
4:49:56 > 4:50:02concentrating, trying to focus.
4:50:20 > 4:50:31He has taken the easy reds. Now it becomes a little bit more difficult.
4:50:31 > 4:50:39Not that far away from securing this fifth frame.I am sure Stephen would
4:50:39 > 4:50:46prefer to open the cluster, if he can. Doesn't want to be taking one
4:50:46 > 4:50:50of the reds along the cushion. Will want to leave one of those there as
4:50:50 > 4:50:57an insurance policy. And that looks just about perfect. That was a very
4:50:57 > 4:51:09well judged positional shot. Should be able to play the pink into the
4:51:09 > 4:51:16corner, followed the cue ball through. Play the canon. Looks like
4:51:16 > 4:51:24he is playing a hard stun shot. There is a red that goes in the
4:51:24 > 4:51:31middle.Yes. That was a bonus because if you play the cannon, you
4:51:31 > 4:51:42can always run out of position. The black will put him 69 in front with
4:51:42 > 4:51:53just 67 remaining. What a start for Stephen Maguire. Has come back from
4:51:53 > 4:51:58the mid-session interval and is just carrying on where he left off. He
4:51:58 > 4:52:04had a break of 70 in the previous frame.
4:52:12 > 4:52:17Might be easy to make a century break, but he can relax now the
4:52:17 > 4:52:26frame is safe. Made 32 centuries last season, on 16 at the moment.
4:52:26 > 4:52:32370 in his career.
4:52:42 > 4:52:49This has been a very well crafted break by Stephen Maguire. Very, very
4:52:49 > 4:52:56fluent player, very high scorer. You feel back Graeme Dott is going to
4:52:56 > 4:53:08have two step up now.When he is introduced, he calls him On Fire,
4:53:08 > 4:53:19Stephen Maguire. That is the case at the moment. Has he got enough angle
4:53:19 > 4:53:24to just done in behind the Red Bull bring it into play? Yes, slight
4:53:24 > 4:53:33angle. Just dropping in behind it. Going to need a little bit of
4:53:33 > 4:53:38assistance with the extended rest and the extension on his cue. Only
4:53:38 > 4:53:48needs the red. For the century break.
4:53:59 > 4:54:13That's the 77th century in this year's UK championship. And a big,
4:54:13 > 4:54:24generous round of applause for that century break.
4:54:29 > 4:54:35The break held by Michael White, of 142 will take a bit of beating.
4:54:35 > 4:54:41£5,000 for the highest break. A nice little Christmas present, this time
4:54:41 > 4:54:47of year.
4:54:54 > 4:54:57This is the blue that Graeme Dott knocked into this position from the
4:54:57 > 4:55:06break-off shot. It looked like we were going to have a scrappy frame
4:55:06 > 4:55:10when the blue went there. That is unlucky, but he won't be too
4:55:10 > 4:55:15concerned about that. What a superb effort from Stephen Maguire and he
4:55:15 > 4:55:26extends his lead it is now 4-1. STUDIO: 4-1, but Graeme Dott knocked
4:55:26 > 4:55:34in frame six but Stephen Maguire responded getting frame seven.
4:55:34 > 4:55:41Graeme Dott, too good for Judd Trump in the previous round, but not good
4:55:41 > 4:55:46enough to beat fellow Scot, Stephen Maguire, who was in complete control
4:55:46 > 4:55:53of this and is through to the quarterfinals. Well done, Stephen.
4:55:59 > 4:56:04Yes, I played well and was solid all-round. Potted a few long one,
4:56:04 > 4:56:08which haven't been going in. I just played a little bit better than him.
4:56:08 > 4:56:16There wasn't too much in it, 6-2 flatters the match a little bit, but
4:56:16 > 4:56:22he is so tough and I knew it wasn't finished up 4-2, 5-2, I was trying
4:56:22 > 4:56:27to get over the line as quickly as possible. Because if he gets his
4:56:27 > 4:56:32teeth into you, he doesn't let go. It was a superb break and we were
4:56:32 > 4:56:38keeping an eye on Stephen Maguire, completely in control today?He is a
4:56:38 > 4:56:43class player, his ranking is nowhere near it should be, as far as I am
4:56:43 > 4:56:51concerned. He looks to be coming back to form. If he hits top form,
4:56:51 > 4:56:54he is a danger to anyone?Do you agree with that, Steve? Yes, players
4:56:54 > 4:56:59have had a good match but not followed it up with another one.
4:56:59 > 4:57:03John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Graeme Dott, three that spring to
4:57:03 > 4:57:07mind.Let's look ahead to tonight. We have Mark Allen taking on Joe
4:57:07 > 4:57:14Parry on the red button and the BBC sports website. Steve, you are
4:57:14 > 4:57:17commentating on that one.
4:57:17 > 4:57:19sports website. Steve, you are commentating on that one.It will be
4:57:19 > 4:57:25very close, it could go all the way. I tipped it to be Mark Allen.
4:57:25 > 4:57:27very close, it could go all the way. I tipped it to be Mark Allen.You
4:57:27 > 4:57:33spoke to jail earlier, is he in good spirits?Yes, quietly understated
4:57:33 > 4:57:39and the calm before the storm. He is an experienced campaigner.Ryan Day,
4:57:39 > 4:57:44was in the studio talking about wanting to get in the Masters.
4:57:44 > 4:57:49Another player who has a victory under his belt. Considered one of
4:57:49 > 4:57:53the best players never to win. Same as Mark King, hopefully he can go on
4:57:53 > 4:58:00to better things.It is so open? Yes, but it puts pressure on players
4:58:00 > 4:58:05thinking they have a good chance. Now the question is, not normally a
4:58:05 > 4:58:08question some of the lower ranked players would have had. Now they
4:58:08 > 4:58:15have the chance, will they take the chance. This is a fantastic
4:58:15 > 4:58:18opportunity for Ryan Day.Let's look at the matches this evening and how
4:58:18 > 4:58:20you can keep up with them.
4:58:35 > 4:58:39Thank you very much indeed to Steve and Stephen, enjoyed your company
4:58:39 > 4:58:45and thank you for watching. Goodbye for now.