0:00:38 > 0:00:42Hello, good afternoon and welcome back to the Barbican. It is the
0:00:42 > 0:00:49second day of the last 16 in York and this afternoon Shaun Murphy, who
0:00:49 > 0:00:52first won this event nine years ago, is preparing to take a huge stride
0:00:52 > 0:01:00towards his second UK title.I have really developed sort of as a
0:01:00 > 0:01:03person, very much more accepting that you are going to make mistakes,
0:01:03 > 0:01:08I am going to miss shots, I will get safety shots wrong and that's OK
0:01:08 > 0:01:15because no one plays perfect snooker. It's OK to play perfect
0:01:15 > 0:01:22snooker imperfectly is where it is apt for me. I usually pot well and
0:01:22 > 0:01:25score well, it's just the bits in the middle where I could do with
0:01:25 > 0:01:30being a bit better. I've got that bit of belief in my game at the
0:01:30 > 0:01:40moment. The longer I stay here, the more dangerous I get.So, another
0:01:40 > 0:01:49afternoon of top-class snooker ahead and this is how we line up. Shaun
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Murphy, the 2005 Crucible champion, has been taking in the sight of York
0:01:53 > 0:01:58this week and has his eyes on the prize. He plays world number 23
0:01:58 > 0:02:07Ricky Walden. Martin Gould is playing well, feeling confident, and
0:02:07 > 0:02:22he will fancy his chances today in his match. And your questions and
0:02:22 > 0:02:27comments are very welcome. Use the hashtag BBC snooker. Get in touch if
0:02:27 > 0:02:34you want to, and this is how we line up. We will take a break to some
0:02:34 > 0:02:48rugby union at 1:30pm, then back at five o'clock. With me as John
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Parrott and Ken Doherty. People will be thinking another big name has
0:02:51 > 0:02:59gone from the UK Championship, who will win this?It won't be any
0:02:59 > 0:03:04easier to win it. There are three former UK champions so you will
0:03:04 > 0:03:09still have to play well to win here. And are still some good snooker
0:03:09 > 0:03:15players involved in the draw. Yes, Shaun Murphy, former winner, against
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Ricky Walden who has been off the scene a little bit but there's still
0:03:19 > 0:03:22some great players in this tournament. Everyone is obviously
0:03:22 > 0:03:29talking about Ronnie O'Sullivan and saying it is his tournament to lose
0:03:29 > 0:03:35but it's not as easy as that. And what sort of tricks will the
0:03:35 > 0:03:40Magician howled up his sleeve today? Ricky Walden plays a similar type of
0:03:40 > 0:03:47game, he's an attacking player and so is Shaun. That is probably the
0:03:47 > 0:03:51case of death, but the two them like to play open, attacking snooker and
0:03:51 > 0:03:57it should be a good match.We sometimes forget about Walden. He
0:03:57 > 0:04:02has been plagued with fitness problems, back injuries.Yes, I
0:04:02 > 0:04:05spoke to him only a couple of days ago in the practice room and he said
0:04:05 > 0:04:09for the first time his playing pain-free which is good because he
0:04:09 > 0:04:13could only practice an hour a day and that's why his form dropped,
0:04:13 > 0:04:17terrible spinal problems but it's good to see him back on the big
0:04:17 > 0:04:23stage in front of the BBC of course. When you look at the career
0:04:23 > 0:04:28head-to-heads between these two, the last time they met was three years
0:04:28 > 0:04:36ago. Does Ricky Walden take any confidence from that?It doesn't
0:04:36 > 0:04:42mean a thing, it's a different day today.Yes, as John said they are
0:04:42 > 0:04:48both open, attacking and good break-builders.We are live on BBC
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Two, then red button later this afternoon as we break for the Rugby
0:04:51 > 0:04:58union. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02We have four days of action before we crowned the champion. 12 players
0:05:02 > 0:05:07still in the hunt but only two from the top 16. Another unpredictable
0:05:07 > 0:05:15session of snooker is about to unfold at the always atmospheric
0:05:15 > 0:05:25Barbican! APPLAUSE
0:05:29 > 0:05:38Please welcome first of all a player producing his best run in the UK
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Championship, Shanghai Masters runner-up, Aussie open semifinalist
0:05:41 > 0:05:43bidding for his first ranking event quarterfinal this season.
0:05:43 > 0:05:56He will be fired up for this one, China's Xiao Guodong!
0:05:56 > 0:06:01APPLAUSE
0:06:06 > 0:06:11And his opponent on table two, bidding for his second UK
0:06:11 > 0:06:14quarterfinal in three years, last year 's German Masters champion,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17once again hitting form at the right time.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21Make the quarters in Shanghai and the semis at the International
0:06:21 > 0:06:40championship, he is Martin Gould! APPLAUSE
0:06:44 > 0:06:50On table one, aiming for his first UK quarterfinal in four years.
0:06:50 > 0:06:58Three times a ranking event winner in China, it is Ricky Walden!
0:06:58 > 0:07:08APPLAUSE
0:07:15 > 0:07:20And completing our quartet this afternoon, a class act on and off
0:07:20 > 0:07:24the baize. Runner-up in the Paul Hunter classic
0:07:24 > 0:07:28this year, but winner of the prestigious champion of champions,
0:07:28 > 0:07:33bidding for his seventh UK quarterfinal, he is Shaun the
0:07:33 > 0:07:46Magician Murphy. APPLAUSE
0:07:53 > 0:07:56A very warm reception to both of our players there.
0:07:56 > 0:08:03Remember, we are live with you until 2:45pm, then we switched to the red
0:08:03 > 0:08:09button. Meanwhile the match between Martin Gould and Xiao Guodong is on
0:08:09 > 0:08:13the up and BBC sport website and will be available on the red button
0:08:13 > 0:08:17from 1:30pm. That afternoon to
0:08:17 > 0:08:17will be available on the red button from 1:30pm. That afternoon to our
0:08:17 > 0:08:22match commentators Alan McManus and Dennis Taylor.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon, everyone. Ricky Walden won the toss
0:08:27 > 0:08:31and he will get the match under way.
0:08:34 > 0:08:40Always nice if you can make a good break-off shot and that has left a
0:08:40 > 0:08:45possible pot for Shaun Murphy. John Parrott was saying at the top of the
0:08:45 > 0:08:51show to Jason, these players play a similar type of game, very
0:08:51 > 0:08:55attacking.
0:09:04 > 0:09:13A first attempt at a long part. It wasn't very close. -- long pot.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18Ricky has a red for the right corner he will take and could possibly get
0:09:18 > 0:09:25on the black. This would be an early confidence booster.
0:09:30 > 0:09:36And we might have an awkward opening frame, as we show you the attempt
0:09:36 > 0:09:43here. Cued across that one slightly. Two roads at the other end of the
0:09:43 > 0:09:46table so the safety zone is behind the black now and close to the
0:09:46 > 0:09:58cushion.Yes, talking about styles of different players, I think the
0:09:58 > 0:10:04boys JP and Ken mentioned two words very apt to this match, attractive
0:10:04 > 0:10:10and fluent. Both players go for their shots.
0:10:14 > 0:10:23It's a pretty good effort. Wow! How close was that? He played in such a
0:10:23 > 0:10:28way he would be on the blue and not leave anything. It looked as if it
0:10:28 > 0:10:31was going to curl into the pocket.
0:10:41 > 0:10:47The first chance falling to Ricky Walden.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21There's a loose red, a couple of roads at the back of the pack. He
0:11:21 > 0:11:26has the perfect angle if he wants to go into the reds. He leaves it,
0:11:26 > 0:11:32heads for the reds that are available at the back of the bunch.
0:11:40 > 0:11:47If he gets on the final loose red in such a way he could pot it and open
0:11:47 > 0:11:55the bunch, I think you can still hold. On the black little thinner
0:11:55 > 0:12:01than he would have liked. Gently does it, and there's the angle on
0:12:01 > 0:12:07the red, so as long as he doesn't stick in the bunch or run-through on
0:12:07 > 0:12:15to the cushion, he can open up quite a bit of the game here. That looks
0:12:15 > 0:12:19like a pair of trainers to me so maybe he's having a few problems
0:12:19 > 0:12:24relating to his back, that's why he would be allowed to wear those. But
0:12:24 > 0:12:30they are black anyway.Yes, it's been well documented, the trouble
0:12:30 > 0:12:38he's had with his back. We will see his stance when he plays a kind of
0:12:38 > 0:12:42regular type of shot, both legs bent, probably more so than any
0:12:42 > 0:12:51other player. There are few players on the tour who play that way, Peter
0:12:51 > 0:13:03Ebdon, Wilson.That red was a distraction from having to bridge
0:13:03 > 0:13:07over the top of it.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Here is a tough little shot in the middle. Shaun will be aggressive at
0:13:18 > 0:13:26every opportunity.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44Both players attacking, aggressive, very fluent. I think if I was in
0:13:44 > 0:13:51Ricky Walden's corner, I would be advising him to play may an extra
0:13:51 > 0:13:56one or two safety shot. Shaun Murphy refuses virtually nothing, always
0:13:56 > 0:14:01trying to be attacking, and you can use that to your advantage.
0:14:18 > 0:14:26Touching ball.A little bit of a stalemate now at the moment with
0:14:26 > 0:14:38those two roads near the baulk colours. -- two reds.
0:14:49 > 0:14:54You can see him putting the rest on top of the spider, the first player
0:14:54 > 0:15:01ever to do that was Ray Reardon. Just gives you that little bit more
0:15:01 > 0:15:04elevation.
0:15:18 > 0:15:30Now this might help the situation, Shaun playing the white up there.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35REFEREE: Can I have the mobile phone on silence please, thank you.
0:15:56 > 0:16:03Jason was saying Shaun had won six of their nine meetings, Ricky had an
0:16:03 > 0:16:13important win in the UK Championship in 2011. He beat Shaun 6-3. In the
0:16:13 > 0:16:20quarterfinal that year, that the only time they played in the UK.
0:16:38 > 0:16:51Now we are getting the frame back to normal.
0:17:05 > 0:17:16It might go in off the white or knock the white in. Ricky was --
0:17:16 > 0:17:20mis-hit that completely, that has confused him. He wanted to wobble it
0:17:20 > 0:17:23in the jaws.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35He wants to take the red on here, Shaun, but he would like to play it
0:17:35 > 0:17:40with some kind of decent pace. If he missed it the red would come away,
0:17:40 > 0:17:46that's the reason he chose to play the safety but it's given the
0:17:46 > 0:17:50initiative to Ricky. The first telling safety. He does have a red
0:17:50 > 0:18:04that he can play as a half shot to nothing, mind you. Good, clean pot.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09Yes, worth another look at that one, right in the centre of the pocket.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13If the white had run a few more inches, he could have played the
0:18:13 > 0:18:19yellow or the green and got into the pink or reds and possibly brought
0:18:19 > 0:18:23the black also into play. It's not completely tied up, the black.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26There's only one loose red he would have to play four-point I don't
0:18:26 > 0:18:31think he's got an angle to get into the bunch. He might have. Still
0:18:31 > 0:18:40played for the loose red. He can get up for the blue now. And then into
0:18:40 > 0:18:43the bunch.
0:18:57 > 0:19:03Perfectly played. He can bring both pink, the reds, and also free the
0:19:03 > 0:19:07black little.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30Yes, he was hoping to catch the left-hand side of the pink, that's
0:19:30 > 0:19:37why he's lost the cue ball there. The red, as it cut back, just on the
0:19:37 > 0:19:45limit. If you play it close to the pot and don't get it, it's liable to
0:19:45 > 0:19:54stay there. Having another look at it.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33That's disappointing. That was developing into quite a good chance
0:20:33 > 0:20:43there.
0:21:13 > 0:21:19He plays those shots so well, Shaun Murphy. Well documented, the cueing
0:21:19 > 0:21:25action of his. Fluent and so strong, to get top side of the blue was a
0:21:25 > 0:21:29gorgeous shot, perfect angle.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43Just playing to get right in the middle of those two reds. He's OK
0:21:43 > 0:21:49but he's hampered slightly. He's got to really play it back for the pink,
0:21:49 > 0:21:56you would think. The black is very close to the cushion. Not a bad
0:21:56 > 0:22:14chance now, there's only one thread safe on the cushion. -- on red.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18Because of that beautiful cueing action, I always feel his quickly
0:22:18 > 0:22:22into the running in these matches, always important to get off to a
0:22:22 > 0:22:27good start. He always seems to settle quickly. A free-flowing
0:22:27 > 0:22:33action almost takes tension out of the cueing arm. Not frightened to
0:22:33 > 0:22:40express himself out there with deep screws, and he always gets the cue
0:22:40 > 0:22:48ball moving around. Again, perfect topside of the bloom. He will all --
0:22:48 > 0:22:55already be thinking about the red on the topside of the cushion.
0:23:19 > 0:23:27He will have a choice to make, to try and move that red, when potting
0:23:27 > 0:23:34a red which is always a risk. Leaving it to get nicely onto the
0:23:34 > 0:23:39colour to bring the red into play. He's got the angle here if he wants
0:23:39 > 0:23:45to pot this and bring the difficult red into play. That's what he's done
0:23:45 > 0:23:53and he's played it beautifully. As long as he didn't hit that full
0:23:53 > 0:23:58ball, he caught it half ball and that beautiful little cannon could
0:23:58 > 0:24:07quite easily give sure on this opening frame.He's just not afraid
0:24:07 > 0:24:16to play those shots. Early on in frames. You think maybe leave it a
0:24:16 > 0:24:21couple of shots and try to develop the red in the last moment, but he
0:24:21 > 0:24:34took his chance as soon as he got it. Well on his way. Taking this
0:24:34 > 0:24:40opening frame, this has been a brilliant start by Shaun Murphy,
0:24:40 > 0:24:46straight into his cueing.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02This finished a little awkward there. He's 20 in front, if he was
0:25:02 > 0:25:08to pot the pink and the yellow Ricky would need a snooker. If he takes
0:25:08 > 0:25:15the blue, he will also have to get the green. Because when he pots the
0:25:15 > 0:25:28yellow, Ricky will still be able to tie. Missed that green when he
0:25:28 > 0:25:40normally wouldn't. You're looking at the best player who has ever used a
0:25:40 > 0:25:45rest and he missed one. I think in his last match he was 100% with the
0:25:45 > 0:25:55rest. And the fact he didn't put the yellow, he didn't get on the green.
0:25:55 > 0:26:02If he had taken the pink, he only needed the yellow.
0:26:11 > 0:26:23That wasn't the best from Ricky Walden there.
0:26:42 > 0:26:55He might have found a gap here, you know. There's a gap to hit the
0:26:55 > 0:26:59green, maybe not pot it. A possibility we could have a
0:26:59 > 0:27:03re-spotted black in the opening frame.
0:27:13 > 0:27:20He will have to get snooker. Don't think he can get a two point
0:27:20 > 0:27:32snooker!Yes, that yellow should give Shaun the first frame but he
0:27:32 > 0:27:36would like to see the green disappear. He wants to be careful
0:27:36 > 0:27:41here. Where is the green going to finish? This is a half chance for
0:27:41 > 0:27:54Ricky. Just looks not quite the angle where he can dropping behind
0:27:54 > 0:27:59the blue. He's going to have to work the cue ball. It makes it difficult
0:27:59 > 0:28:02to control this.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22Put some juice on the cue ball, that was difficult to nestle in behind
0:28:22 > 0:28:27the blue. Shaun has got to be careful here to put the black safe.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32Especially he doesn't want to leave Ricky a chance to pot the green.
0:28:32 > 0:28:40This possibility is in that as far as getting a snooker.
0:29:08 > 0:29:14I think he's got the snooker in the middle pocket. It looks in the way
0:29:14 > 0:29:22of this, he might have to go a couple of cautions, baulk and side,
0:29:22 > 0:29:29but very good from Ricky Walden. He's asked the question. With the
0:29:29 > 0:29:36cue ball so close to this cushion, I don't know how much work he can get
0:29:36 > 0:29:52on this. To widen the angle, he may go two cautions. -- cushions. Don't
0:29:52 > 0:30:01hit it too hard. There he goes.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19I do not think there is a double-kiss on here.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23I do not think there is a double-kiss on here.Not if he plays
0:30:23 > 0:30:31it as thin as that. I was thinking the green, straight up and down.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36Interesting where the pink has finished though.
0:30:43 > 0:30:48It doesn't really matter now, the pink has been knocked into a better
0:30:48 > 0:30:50position for snooker 's.
0:31:12 > 0:31:2230 points is the difference. So he would require two snookers. Just the
0:31:22 > 0:31:29brown to keep Riki in his seat. -- Ricky.
0:31:42 > 0:31:49This time Ricky raises his hands to the referee. In the end, Shaun
0:31:49 > 0:31:51Murphy with a break of 51 Leeds 1-0.
0:31:54 > 0:31:55Shaun Murphy
0:31:55 > 0:31:58Shaun Murphy beaten in the semifinal stage by the eventual winner Mark
0:31:58 > 0:32:04Selby and get off to a good start. Alan mentioned in commentary that
0:32:04 > 0:32:09his cue accuracy was superb. If you can find better actions, let me know
0:32:09 > 0:32:13what they are, because they bought straight, like a laser and he is one
0:32:13 > 0:32:16of the best ball strikers the tournament.You will hear when he
0:32:16 > 0:32:20came in for a chat, and one of the boys commented yesterday how well he
0:32:20 > 0:32:25was hitting the ball.Yes, and beating Ronnie O'Sullivan has given
0:32:25 > 0:32:31him some reassurance and confidence that he might have been lacking over
0:32:31 > 0:32:37the previous six months before that win. And he is one of the best
0:32:37 > 0:32:41hitters of the ball in the game, gets through it lovely and is great
0:32:41 > 0:32:45to watch.The funny thing was is that we picked out a shot in the
0:32:45 > 0:32:49frame where he has missed the yellow, shock horror that he misses
0:32:49 > 0:32:53a shot with the rest, and he comes up with a shot like this.Ricky
0:32:53 > 0:32:54needs all
0:32:54 > 0:32:56up with a shot like this.Ricky needs all of them here and he tried
0:32:56 > 0:33:01to knock the yellow onto the green, and he had to try and get the cue
0:33:01 > 0:33:07ball up behind the pink. But he plays a nothing shot here and he
0:33:07 > 0:33:11leaves the yellow on and Shaun Murphy just needed the yellow to
0:33:11 > 0:33:16leave Ricky needing a snooker.Shaun Murphy taking the early lead against
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Ricky Walden, back to the boys.
0:33:22 > 0:33:29I tend to agree with Ken. I was thinking the exact same thing after
0:33:29 > 0:33:33Shaun missed the yellow with the rest. Maybe Ricky couldn't get the
0:33:33 > 0:33:37cue ball down the end as much as he wanted, but he could have lifted up
0:33:37 > 0:33:43the green. Still, it is gone now. He will try to hit back here, Ricky
0:33:43 > 0:33:49Walden. But as the boys were saying, Shaun Murphy is looking very good,
0:33:49 > 0:33:59and that was not good. He is an intimidating player to play against,
0:33:59 > 0:34:05Shaun. People talking about his cueing action, but it even
0:34:05 > 0:34:12intimidates the best players. You cannot help and sit and watch your
0:34:12 > 0:34:19opponent and when Shaun is in full flight, he is a sight to behold.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31This is a bit of a chance now.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42You can't ask for anything better than this. A nice easy opener.
0:35:16 > 0:35:22I think Ricky can play a soft screw and push the one read into open play
0:35:22 > 0:35:27-- the one red. It is not easy to get a nice angle without disturbing
0:35:27 > 0:35:36the pack. Maybe a little soft screw, and it looks like he's playing for
0:35:36 > 0:35:46blue or one of the ball colours. He has landed short. Not good. -- one
0:35:46 > 0:35:50of the baulk collars. -- colours.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04He is looking to see if he could leave the red to the right middle
0:36:04 > 0:36:11pocket, but he did manage to get the white around the table from here,
0:36:11 > 0:36:18and he would have to do that off the green or the brown.
0:36:24 > 0:36:34He has plenty of power in the cue -- cue. If he pulls this off, that will
0:36:34 > 0:36:37be some shot. Almost impossible to get the white all the way around the
0:36:37 > 0:36:41table.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54He just took the five extra points, and once again he has not played the
0:36:54 > 0:36:55best of safeties.
0:37:22 > 0:37:30He has got the brown, but the red balls are all tied up there.
0:37:34 > 0:37:39If there was ever a chance to see the cue power, it might be here, or
0:37:39 > 0:37:44will he take the four points? No, he's attempted to get into them, and
0:37:44 > 0:37:46what a great effort.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57He sort of arced the cue ball there.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17You see Ricky playing the outside loose red and he does not want to
0:38:17 > 0:38:24disturb the pack. That is because of Shaun's prowess in the long game
0:38:24 > 0:38:27department. An indication of how wary Ricky Walden is.
0:38:31 > 0:38:39Shaun might open them up here. Well, just the one red came out. Pretty
0:38:39 > 0:38:42good cueball both. -- though.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11He might have to come off the side cushion and into the side of the red
0:39:11 > 0:39:12balls here.
0:39:33 > 0:39:38Got to make sure he covers the path through to the red balls between the
0:39:38 > 0:39:45pink and black. And he hasn't. Has the blue come to the rescue? Yes,
0:39:45 > 0:39:51just about. Shaun having an anxious look there.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03This time Ricky is forced to play a safety of the black. He needs a good
0:40:03 > 0:40:05cueball.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10And he has not got it.
0:40:36 > 0:40:41That is a bit of a result there. Tried to pop the red direct, and it
0:40:41 > 0:40:44was a bonus to bring out the black.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52Usually when you are playing well you get those little touches, don't
0:40:52 > 0:40:53you?
0:40:56 > 0:41:08It has always been the nature of the game. He looks in good touch here,
0:41:08 > 0:41:13this afternoon, Shaun Murphy. I always feel that with Shaun, when he
0:41:13 > 0:41:17is playing at this level, a lot of it is about the cue ball, but a lot
0:41:17 > 0:41:21of it is about the potting side of the game. Sean's action, it takes
0:41:21 > 0:41:26the stress out of potting. It is almost a given that he will knock in
0:41:26 > 0:41:31the difficult balls with hardly any effort. That is how well he hits the
0:41:31 > 0:41:33ball, this fella.
0:41:37 > 0:41:45It is just that long, sweeping delivery.
0:41:49 > 0:41:57Oh, dear me. The commentator's curse. My apologies, Shaun. Did not
0:41:57 > 0:42:03see that coming. A player of Sean's class, that is very poor.
0:43:04 > 0:43:11Not sure if he has landed on a pot here. He can't see the one by the
0:43:11 > 0:43:18pink nail or blocking this one into the corner. -- and they are all
0:43:18 > 0:43:26blocking this one into the corner. He needs to get in amongst the red
0:43:26 > 0:43:29balls and the colours to get confidence going, Ricky.
0:43:44 > 0:43:49Well, in playing that shot, I don't understand it, because he has left a
0:43:49 > 0:43:53cutback for Shaun Murphy. But if there is a player in the game who is
0:43:53 > 0:44:00going to play it aggressively in the game, it is Shaun. Not as difficult
0:44:00 > 0:44:11as the cutback that Ricky had in the first frame.
0:44:11 > 0:44:17Ricky was very loose with the last safety shot. He should have left a
0:44:17 > 0:44:19white tight on the cushion.
0:44:28 > 0:44:36It just looks like he is under a bit of pressure. Just early on here.
0:44:36 > 0:44:41This is what I'm talking about with Shaun Murphy. This is a tough brown
0:44:41 > 0:44:50for most players. Just swept it in again. Not a good cueball, mind you.
0:44:50 > 0:44:56This is probably end of break. But the pot was fabulous.
0:45:02 > 0:45:11In actual fact, I think he potted it a bit thin, off the right-hand jaw.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14Probably put another 12 or 18 inches out of the cueball and that is not
0:45:14 > 0:45:22the best safety he has ever played. I think the way to play this, I
0:45:22 > 0:45:26would play it and try to go in off because it's incredibly difficult to
0:45:26 > 0:45:32do it. Don't try and pinch the pocket, just try and pot it.
0:45:32 > 0:45:38Whatever happens with the cueball happens. Fantastic shot. Unlucky.
0:46:02 > 0:46:08He knows he has to hide the red over the right corner pocket, which is
0:46:08 > 0:46:13why he has gone up the other end of the table to find this spot so he
0:46:13 > 0:46:20does not leave it on for Shaun.Yes, as I was saying, against some of the
0:46:20 > 0:46:27players, he would have already played yellow or brown by now and
0:46:27 > 0:46:31maybe missed the red, but not so with Shaun.
0:46:39 > 0:46:43Did not fancy taking the white up the other end of the table because
0:46:43 > 0:46:48of the red that Shaun will play safe off.
0:46:58 > 0:47:04Not easy from this angle to get in behind the green. He could go down
0:47:04 > 0:47:09the left side of the table for the blue and the black, but now back to
0:47:09 > 0:47:19his original choice.We often hear that you go out and play the table,
0:47:19 > 0:47:24but it's not as clear cut as that, not at this level. There has been
0:47:24 > 0:47:32evidence so far that Ricky Walden has been extremely wary of Shaun
0:47:32 > 0:47:35Murphy's long game. You have to tailor your game to suit the
0:47:35 > 0:47:38opponent, when it suits you.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26Let's see how close he can get to this. He's playing it with a lot of
0:48:26 > 0:48:37top spin. No. Where is the red going to finish? The last shot he took on,
0:48:37 > 0:48:42he's usually very good at that type of shot, but he did not get it close
0:48:42 > 0:48:48and he has pushed the red on.Again, he missed it on the thick side and
0:48:48 > 0:48:52was eager to get the cue ball straight back up the table. That was
0:48:52 > 0:48:59probably the cause of missing it on the thick side again. Not frightened
0:48:59 > 0:49:11of Shaun, but he is wary of him. This is a top chance. He will have
0:49:11 > 0:49:14to do develop the red balls at some stage, and he will probably do it
0:49:14 > 0:49:16now.
0:49:23 > 0:49:29I know it is very early on in the match, the first to 6, but it's
0:49:29 > 0:49:32already worrying times for Ricky Walden here.
0:49:44 > 0:49:53He is well aware that Shaun can get on a run and reel off frame after
0:49:53 > 0:49:56frame in no time at all.
0:50:10 > 0:50:15All these little shops, Shaun does not feather them in, it is all
0:50:15 > 0:50:22punchy. Look at that -- little shots. Taking that out the equation
0:50:22 > 0:50:28and taking the uncertainty out of his mind, and once again, bang.Yes,
0:50:28 > 0:50:33like one of the players in the studio, John Parrott, you always
0:50:33 > 0:50:37knew when John was on the mixed table, you could hear the ball
0:50:37 > 0:50:40hitting the back of the pocket when John was playing.
0:50:56 > 0:51:01He needed a couple of chances in the opening frame but he made a 51 break
0:51:01 > 0:51:09which paved the way. That was for Shaun to lead 1-0. If this black
0:51:09 > 0:51:16goes in its another 50 plus break to take frame. -- the second frame.
0:51:44 > 0:51:49Very worrying times for Ricky Walden. That break of 55 puts Shaun
0:51:49 > 0:51:51Murphy into a 2-0 lead.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17MUSIC.
0:52:56 > 0:53:06Very interesting looking at all of the statistics in his career. Four
0:53:06 > 0:53:10frames before the midsession interval as usual, even though it is
0:53:10 > 0:53:15the best of 11. The crowds have been superb since the start of the
0:53:15 > 0:53:18tournament.
0:53:27 > 0:53:33Interesting what Shaun said in his pre-match interview about accepting
0:53:33 > 0:53:37that missing the oddball here and there, that will happen, because
0:53:37 > 0:53:41this game is too difficult for anything else to be the case, but it
0:53:41 > 0:53:46is a good state of mind to be in. The carefree. I'm going to make
0:53:46 > 0:53:51mistakes and accepted. Players go out and miss a couple of balls and
0:53:51 > 0:53:55they find it difficult to deal with, but not so Shaun Murphy. When he is
0:53:55 > 0:54:00out there, he is enjoying every minute of it, and that is important.
0:54:27 > 0:54:35That is as good a shot as Ricky Walden has played this afternoon. A
0:54:35 > 0:54:39wee bit unfortunate. The two red balls together, and Shaun can play
0:54:39 > 0:54:44off them. And an excellent return.
0:55:02 > 0:55:09That was nice to see, not feeling the best having lost the two opening
0:55:09 > 0:55:13frames, but he tapped the table in appreciation of the safety shot that
0:55:13 > 0:55:14Shaun just played.
0:55:20 > 0:55:24Where he is stood here tells you that he cannot see a path back down
0:55:24 > 0:55:36the table. Just watch this here. That is more or less saying, well
0:55:36 > 0:55:38played, Shaun. Good sportsmanship.
0:55:47 > 0:55:51The dead weight to land on the red to the right.
0:55:56 > 0:56:02Coming a little bit narrow. Well done.
0:56:09 > 0:56:17And does this red pot? That is why he tried to get it on the
0:56:17 > 0:56:25deadweight. Just enough room for one to pass the other. Once again, an
0:56:25 > 0:56:30indication of the cueing power that he has. He hardly touched this. And
0:56:30 > 0:56:35he avoided the cannon on the red. That was stunning. The almost
0:56:35 > 0:56:41bullied the red into the pocket. Not too many players in the game would
0:56:41 > 0:56:47have played it, I thought there was a natural angle, but he just bullied
0:56:47 > 0:56:48it in.
0:57:00 > 0:57:08The pink is out of commission and the black is perfectly placed. What
0:57:08 > 0:57:17has Shaun got planned here? Yes, I will bring the pink into play.
0:57:31 > 0:57:35If he makes this and cannons in the two red balls, he would leave the
0:57:35 > 0:57:42pink to the right middle pocket. But he decided that he was going to get
0:57:42 > 0:57:49the black back on the spot, and he made that look easy. Bridging over
0:57:49 > 0:57:52the red balls and striking down to get the back spin and get the gap.
0:57:52 > 0:57:53Superb.
0:57:59 > 0:58:02It sort of bounced because he was striking down on it. The cueball was
0:58:02 > 0:58:04bouncing.
0:58:12 > 0:58:14Just watch the cueball here.
0:58:19 > 0:58:28It bounced and sort of Arctic 's way through the red balls. -- and arced
0:58:28 > 0:58:30its way.
0:59:22 > 0:59:29Yes, even their, not remotely worried about leaving the cueball
0:59:29 > 0:59:38close to the side cushion. Just sweep the black in. A gorgeous
0:59:38 > 0:59:40cueball again.
0:59:57 > 1:00:02Yes, and he created his chance for himself with a good safety that we
1:00:02 > 1:00:05showed you when Ricky was tapping the table. He was in a spot of
1:00:05 > 1:00:11bother, but this is the result. So it is not all about knocking big
1:00:11 > 1:00:16breaks in. You have to have a good safety game to get yourself in.
1:00:33 > 1:00:37He's terrific to watch when he's playing like this.
1:01:10 > 1:01:14You almost get the sense with Shaun Murphy at times when he's in these
1:01:14 > 1:01:19positions he's not trying to win the frame, he is trying to clear the
1:01:19 > 1:01:27table. It's all that interests him, he loves it out there.
1:01:39 > 1:01:46The frame safe, now he can concentrate on a century break. He's
1:01:46 > 1:01:54only had one so far in this year's Betfred championship. He made 37
1:01:54 > 1:02:06last season. And 20 this season. And 438 in his career. 82 centuries so
1:02:06 > 1:02:08far this year.
1:02:20 > 1:02:25And that's developed the most difficult of the reds, hoping to
1:02:25 > 1:02:28negotiate this one along the cushion, get the black and take the
1:02:28 > 1:02:31lot here.
1:02:40 > 1:02:51You rightly mentioned the safety shot, the open red was an apt salute
1:02:51 > 1:02:58piledriver. It's not often you can say that about a short shot but he
1:02:58 > 1:03:07bullied it in and since then it's been fabulous.He almost missed the
1:03:07 > 1:03:11century! Big smiles all round that he wobbled that black three or four
1:03:11 > 1:03:29times. He certainly is enjoying himself out there at the moment.
1:03:30 > 1:03:39Ricky Walden hadn't done that much wrong, but he hasn't really been in
1:03:39 > 1:03:46amongst them since missing one off the spot.
1:03:54 > 1:03:59He couldn't get the high break anyway but what a fabulous frame
1:03:59 > 1:04:04played by Shaun Murphy there.
1:04:07 > 1:04:1621 centuries now for Shaun Murphy, our very own 21st-century boy!
1:04:16 > 1:04:21Looking for a quick afternoon, Shaun.Yes, when he starts playing
1:04:21 > 1:04:26well he starts stomping around the table and looks like he will eat
1:04:26 > 1:04:28every ball he looks at. The
1:04:28 > 1:04:28table and looks like he will eat every ball he looks at. The opening
1:04:28 > 1:04:33red in the break, but only have you got to be so accurate, but look at
1:04:33 > 1:04:35the way the cue ball swings
1:04:35 > 1:04:37the way the cue ball swings away from the others. Not too many
1:04:37 > 1:04:45players could hit it as sweetly as that.We have been treated to some
1:04:45 > 1:04:51snooker but also which has tested the patience of the pundits.Yes,
1:04:51 > 1:04:56it's great to see a player in that lovely free-flowing mode, very
1:04:56 > 1:05:00aggressive and trying to win the frame in one visit. He also played a
1:05:00 > 1:05:04lovely shot during that Blake to get back on the black when he was
1:05:04 > 1:05:08bridging over another red so he looks confident. When a player gets
1:05:08 > 1:05:13on a roll like that, as Allen said in commentary it's very
1:05:13 > 1:05:17intimidating. He bullies you and there is nothing Ricky can do at the
1:05:17 > 1:05:25moment.The one minor criticism you can have about him, the observation
1:05:25 > 1:05:28is sometimes he's a little bit too nice. When he's got players down he
1:05:28 > 1:05:33needs to give them a bit more and not let them off.You mean that
1:05:33 > 1:05:42killer instinct?Yes, which is sometimes the reason he wins with
1:05:42 > 1:05:476-4, rather than 6-2.We should also tell you tonight it will be a
1:05:47 > 1:05:54thrilling game because Ronnie O'Sullivan is taking on one of the
1:05:54 > 1:06:02revelations so far, Sunny Akani. Yes, a great achievement to get so
1:06:02 > 1:06:07far but to come out tonight in a packed arena against Ronnie
1:06:07 > 1:06:11O'Sullivan, the fans' favourite, it's a big test for him but he
1:06:11 > 1:06:21should enjoy every minute of it.And a thumping win as well.Yes, 6-0
1:06:21 > 1:06:24against Barry Hawkins, not many people have that on their CV. When
1:06:24 > 1:06:29he wins or loses his on the practice table.John, a quick one for you
1:06:29 > 1:06:36before we go back to the commentators. If you are Ricky now,
1:06:36 > 1:06:37what
1:06:37 > 1:06:38commentators. If you are Ricky now, what is the mindset?He has just got
1:06:38 > 1:06:42to tighten up. In the last one he was in trouble because the safety
1:06:42 > 1:06:48was so good, but when the chance comes he just has to score from it.
1:06:48 > 1:06:53Dennis knows Ricky well, he used to practice with him, didn't you?I
1:06:53 > 1:06:57tried not to practice with him too much because all you did was pick
1:06:57 > 1:07:03the ball is out for him! We used to practice in a club in Chester and he
1:07:03 > 1:07:11just never missed. But is he going to get a chance? That's the thing.
1:07:11 > 1:07:17He hasn't really been in amongst the balls to get confidence going. Shaun
1:07:17 > 1:07:25Murphy is looking at a long red here. That is incredible. Absolutely
1:07:25 > 1:07:44incredible.Sweet snooker, cracked the back of the pocket, what a pot.
1:07:44 > 1:07:46But what an opening red.
1:07:57 > 1:08:01It's a cracking opening red, but the blue he didn't play the cannon as he
1:08:01 > 1:08:06intended. He had rights to play for but he wanted to get the ball is
1:08:06 > 1:08:13open again. Three open red and he wanted to hit the pink full ball.
1:08:13 > 1:08:19When you hit it half ball, you can always go in off.It was
1:08:19 > 1:08:25ultra-aggressive. You can't criticise him in any way for being
1:08:25 > 1:08:29aggressive.
1:08:32 > 1:08:45The opening red is the shot of the week for me.
1:08:46 > 1:08:52Can Ricky Walden play a few good safety shots? To try to put Shaun in
1:08:52 > 1:09:01a spot of bother. No, that's not it.
1:09:09 > 1:09:14He had a chance to get the cue ball back towards the brown and green and
1:09:14 > 1:09:17he hit it far too thick.
1:09:23 > 1:09:28You can see Shaun's right elbow with the rest playing this, he keeps it
1:09:28 > 1:09:35as high as any other player in the game. Part of his technique, you
1:09:35 > 1:09:41mentioned how good he is with the rest. Look at the right elbow,
1:09:41 > 1:09:49horizontal to his cue hand. Terrific technique with the rest, Shaun has.
1:09:49 > 1:09:57And a very aggressive shot coming up, taking the blue off its spot.
1:09:57 > 1:10:07It's feeling good at the moment, isn't it?Yes, a bit like that
1:10:07 > 1:10:12opening red. Most players sitting in the chair and it gets your
1:10:12 > 1:10:24attention, oh he's taking on a tough one. Deary me! He has potted an
1:10:24 > 1:10:28unbelievable red, a stunning blue, then what for him is an absolute
1:10:28 > 1:10:39sitter will
1:10:41 > 1:10:48stop he's not cueing well at the moment, Ricky.Just lacking in
1:10:48 > 1:10:59confidence. Cute across that one slightly. -- cued across that one.
1:10:59 > 1:11:04The problem for Ricky is you almost feel like you are not part of the
1:11:04 > 1:11:13match, the way things are going. That's a couple of misses from Shaun
1:11:13 > 1:11:18Murphy now. Ricky Walden, if you can get yourself going, this wasn't as
1:11:18 > 1:11:24easy as the one he missed, but if Ricky can get a few points here, the
1:11:24 > 1:11:29mid-session interval is coming up and if he can go into it 3-1, he
1:11:29 > 1:11:38will still be in with a chance here. And he can bring a few reds into
1:11:38 > 1:11:42play because of that red to the right of the black, that's a bit of
1:11:42 > 1:11:56insurance. Now, what's happened? He can't believe it, the little bit of
1:11:56 > 1:12:04metal is stuck in the cue. I think you will have to go to the
1:12:04 > 1:12:11tournament office to get that out. Don't often see that happen, that's
1:12:11 > 1:12:23very unusual.Yes, the extension came loose and it is stuck in the
1:12:23 > 1:12:25very unusual.Yes, the extension came loose and it is stuck in the
1:12:25 > 1:12:29butt off his cue. Neither have we, a ridiculous
1:12:29 > 1:12:32delaying tactic!The problem is because it is so much extra weight
1:12:32 > 1:12:39in the bottom of your cue, he has got to find someone with a set of
1:12:39 > 1:12:46players and get it out.Have you ever seen this before?No, never,
1:12:46 > 1:12:49it's quite unusual.We have time to talk about the tournament in
1:12:49 > 1:12:55context. When you arrived here, did you expect to lose so many big
1:12:55 > 1:13:00names?Not really, you don't normally see so many big seeds going
1:13:00 > 1:13:05out. We are playing a lot of best of sevens, you would expect to see the
1:13:05 > 1:13:10odd shock here and there but the UK Championship not really. It's always
1:13:10 > 1:13:14been the top boys who have got to the latter stages and there's been a
1:13:14 > 1:13:19lot of shocks this week already.If you'd seen the advertising board
1:13:19 > 1:13:23outside and it had Mark Selby and Judd Trump on it, you would never
1:13:23 > 1:13:37believed they would have been out already. There's also shocks, that
1:13:37 > 1:13:41can happen in any sport, but I do think being the first six as opposed
1:13:41 > 1:13:46to the first nine has made a difference.Ryan Day gave a good
1:13:46 > 1:13:51interview yesterday when he said the top players are playing without
1:13:51 > 1:13:57fear.Yes, the reason is that so many more tournaments so they are
1:13:57 > 1:14:01more familiar with the top seeds and some of them have success over the
1:14:01 > 1:14:07best of seven against the top seeds. So the familiarity and the fear from
1:14:07 > 1:14:12those players is completely gone now.Do you think basically because
1:14:12 > 1:14:17there's so many tournaments that effectively the players if you like
1:14:17 > 1:14:20our battle hardened, they are trained and ready for the matches
1:14:20 > 1:14:26against the big guys?Yes, if you have another tournament the week
1:14:26 > 1:14:33after following, you think I might have a go at this match, I'm not
1:14:33 > 1:14:38expecting to beat him and all of a sudden they get a loose arm. With
1:14:38 > 1:14:49respect to Scott Donaldson, he's not thinking he can win it.
1:14:49 > 1:14:54Our cameraman is a bit shaky as he walks onto the set but Ricky is very
1:14:54 > 1:14:57much back and let's hand you over to Dennis.
1:15:01 > 1:15:01APPLAUSE
1:15:01 > 1:15:08APPLAUSE. Back to normal. Someone must've had
1:15:08 > 1:15:14a pair of pliers in the tournament office. I was just saying he has an
1:15:14 > 1:15:18angle on the black to bring some reds into play and he has the red
1:15:18 > 1:15:27next to the black is a bit of insurance. He has played it well,
1:15:27 > 1:15:32and this is the first real chance Ricky Walden has had in amongst the
1:15:32 > 1:15:37balls, created by that very good cannon.
1:15:42 > 1:15:52Full focus now required.
1:16:21 > 1:16:25That was a better piece of cueing, that will give him a wee bit of
1:16:25 > 1:16:32confidence. Just about the correct side of the blue. You never know,
1:16:32 > 1:16:41that little incident with the butt off his cue cut through the tension
1:16:41 > 1:16:45he was feeling.
1:16:55 > 1:17:01It was always going to be a pretty quick match, this, the way both
1:17:01 > 1:17:12these players play. And that's turned out very nicely. He was
1:17:12 > 1:17:17hoping to maybe not have to play any cannons but decided on that occasion
1:17:17 > 1:17:23that he had to do and it's worked out very nicely.
1:17:34 > 1:17:42He would love to get to 68 there, as you can see on the side bar. That
1:17:42 > 1:17:46would leave Shaun needing a snooker.
1:17:59 > 1:18:04Maybe just underscrewed that one slightly. A long way from the black
1:18:04 > 1:18:11again will stop its all about just trying to keep close control and
1:18:11 > 1:18:17make it as easy as possible for yourself.
1:18:27 > 1:18:31Making sure he got the right side of the blue, just a little bit harder
1:18:31 > 1:18:38than he intended. Just checking to see if the one to the left of the
1:18:38 > 1:18:42pink spot is available into the right corner. If not, he might have
1:18:42 > 1:18:50to have a change of plan here. The blue is not the perfect angle to get
1:18:50 > 1:18:57on the red he looked at. He could play another cannon on potting the
1:18:57 > 1:19:06blue, but he's hoping not to have to do that. It's quite an important
1:19:06 > 1:19:12positional shot here. There is the cannon again, and that's worked out
1:19:12 > 1:19:17OK.
1:19:34 > 1:19:40That's three shots he's hit like that. It will give him a nice
1:19:40 > 1:19:45feeling inside. More solid. Of course he wants to win the frame but
1:19:45 > 1:19:48if he can win it in one visit that will give him great confidence going
1:19:48 > 1:20:00into the interval.I agree 100% with you, Alan. The incident where he had
1:20:00 > 1:20:07to leave the arena has maybe taken the edge off because he looked very
1:20:07 > 1:20:11tense and maybe that has eased the pressure slightly. Who would have
1:20:11 > 1:20:15thought you would get part of the extension stuck in the cue but he's
1:20:15 > 1:20:20done well here. Doesn't need many more.
1:20:33 > 1:20:37Already 58 ahead. The red and a colour would be enough.I think
1:20:37 > 1:20:42would like to see Ricky screw this in off a couple of cushions. He
1:20:42 > 1:20:56should still get it, mind you. Well done. That blue is an easy shot for
1:20:56 > 1:21:02the player of Ricky's standing. The fact his 59th in front, he will take
1:21:02 > 1:21:08the yellow but the blue shouldn't be any issue. Yes, well done Ricky
1:21:08 > 1:21:12Walden. This has been good character. Especially after that
1:21:12 > 1:21:20little incident that as Dennis said possibly cut the tension, and he's
1:21:20 > 1:21:29back in this match. That's the important thing.Yes, the first six,
1:21:29 > 1:21:35going into the mid-session interval 3-1 down. Not all that bad, but very
1:21:35 > 1:21:38little chance in the three opening frames. Maybe the first frame he
1:21:38 > 1:21:49could possibly have won that. Ricky has had a couple of centuries so far
1:21:49 > 1:21:54in this year's UK Championship. It's going to be difficult to make one
1:21:54 > 1:22:05here, the red tucked up on the side cushion there. Doesn't matter about
1:22:05 > 1:22:10that, he did what he had to do. He won the frame in one visit and goes
1:22:10 > 1:22:15into the mid-session interval a lot happier, but Shaun Murphy still
1:22:15 > 1:22:18happier, but Shaun Murphy still leading 3-1.
1:22:18 > 1:22:23If we are being honest, a long way to go for Ricky Walden but showing a
1:22:23 > 1:22:28bit of fighting spirit.Yes, absolutely. He had to go out, he
1:22:28 > 1:22:32might have got himself together as well, fixing his cue but it was a
1:22:32 > 1:22:37break he needed to get his arm going and get some confidence because he
1:22:37 > 1:22:40looked all at sea. As John talked about before that frame, every now
1:22:40 > 1:22:47and again he had the odd miss that you don't expect totally out of the
1:22:47 > 1:22:54blue. It is 3-1 and now the match is back on.And it's all about taking
1:22:54 > 1:22:59your chances at this level.Yes, I'm very impressed with Ricky. You said
1:22:59 > 1:23:05what has he got to do, he had to score when the first chance comes.
1:23:05 > 1:23:10He also have the hiatus to sort his cue out, but all credit to him he's
1:23:10 > 1:23:16come back and made a good break. When you are 3-0 down and you win
1:23:16 > 1:23:20the frame before the mid-session interval I suppose in a way you want
1:23:20 > 1:23:25to carry on. Does that mentally break up how you are feeling?I
1:23:25 > 1:23:29think you are just delighted to get on frame on the board and the
1:23:29 > 1:23:38deficit is only two now. You can get back on the practice table if you
1:23:38 > 1:23:41want and get ready for the next session.That's the other thing, it
1:23:41 > 1:23:53is not best to nine so sometimes 3-0 is a bad result but who will settle
1:23:53 > 1:23:58for 3-1.Is Shaun kicking himself? He got himself perfect, you would
1:23:58 > 1:24:05fancy him to win it and he missed a straight red. He just has that
1:24:05 > 1:24:09little glitch now and again, it happens.Let's turn our attention to
1:24:09 > 1:24:17the other match happening, Martin Gould taking on Xiao Guodong, who's
1:24:17 > 1:24:20looking for a place in the quarterfinals.
1:24:24 > 1:24:39Martin Gould, I was born in Pinner England, 1981.His nickname is the
1:24:39 > 1:24:45Pinner Potter.Martin has worked as a croupier in a casino.He is also
1:24:45 > 1:24:49an excellent darts player and has considered playing it
1:24:49 > 1:24:54professionally.His only ranking title came at the 2016 German
1:24:54 > 1:25:09Masters.In the mid-noughties he dropped off the tour to care for his
1:25:09 > 1:25:16mother.Martin is a lifelong Spurs fan.This season he reached the
1:25:16 > 1:25:18semifinals in the international championship, where he lost to Mark
1:25:18 > 1:25:26Selby.All you need to know about Martin Gould. Xiao Guodong is
1:25:26 > 1:25:33currently ranked 36th in the world. He made his debut at the Crucible
1:25:33 > 1:25:42the following year after his first win. Very tough opponent for Martin
1:25:42 > 1:25:56Gould, so we join it in frame one, Xiao leading four points to nil.
1:25:56 > 1:25:59Your commentators are Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis.
1:26:05 > 1:26:10In an exhibition when he was only 14 or 15, he knocked in a total
1:26:10 > 1:26:23clearance against me.I do feel though slowly but surely the Chinese
1:26:23 > 1:26:29understudies are starting to make their mark on the world scene.
1:26:33 > 1:26:41Very aggressive, and considering he hasn't had much table time, that is
1:26:41 > 1:26:44a tough shot to guarantee.
1:28:00 > 1:28:07This red on the black spot is a good one to get rid of, obviously. He
1:28:07 > 1:28:11won't be able to play for the black I don't think this time, but it
1:28:11 > 1:28:19certainly makes break-building a lot easier. Screw for the gap.
1:28:48 > 1:28:52Underrated player, Martin Gould.
1:28:57 > 1:29:07He doesn't seem to be overawed by any situation. Quite unusual in the
1:29:07 > 1:29:12respect that he wears normal classes to play.I think you will find they
1:29:12 > 1:29:17are special classes that he looks over the top off to play golf shots
1:29:17 > 1:29:23with.Why is he wearing them, if he looks over the top of them?For
1:29:23 > 1:29:26balance.
1:29:29 > 1:29:36Obviously when he's looking at the table from this position, looking
1:29:36 > 1:29:39through the glasses, when he gets down his looking over the top and
1:29:39 > 1:29:51clear of the rims. And hasn't got that poor eyesight, you would
1:29:51 > 1:29:55imagine. It's not the first time we have discussed this, but it is quite
1:29:55 > 1:30:04fascinating.Cannon on the middle red here. The only drawback with
1:30:04 > 1:30:11that shot is tying the black up for the right corner.Actually harder
1:30:11 > 1:30:17cannon would have pushed the red free of that line. It probably won't
1:30:17 > 1:30:26be an issue. Very, very efficient. This cue ball hasn't moved any
1:30:26 > 1:30:30distance at all so far in this break, that the art of
1:30:30 > 1:30:36break-building at the top of the table.To be fair, he was given a
1:30:36 > 1:30:42gift in this opening frame. That's just what you want, a nice easy
1:30:42 > 1:30:45chance, the balls everywhere. It's probably the same situation he had
1:30:45 > 1:30:50on the practice table half an hour ago and he's been given it in the
1:30:50 > 1:30:58first frame of this match. A very aggressive shot by Xiao Guodong. A
1:30:58 > 1:31:01tough shot to place. The cue ball was quite close to the side cushion
1:31:01 > 1:31:06so he made the short even tougher.
1:31:06 > 1:31:09Getting a bit more difficult now with the lay out of the red balls.
1:31:09 > 1:31:14Got a kick on the last red which took the pace out of the cueball, so
1:31:14 > 1:31:16more work to do here.
1:31:22 > 1:31:28To sacrifice -- had to sacrifice a little bit of distance between the
1:31:28 > 1:31:34balls but as long as this red to the right of the pink goes in, it is
1:31:34 > 1:31:44pretty comfortable.
1:31:49 > 1:32:00His striking the ball nicely. Crisp. Always nice to get off to a good
1:32:00 > 1:32:07start, especially in one session match. It is important in even
1:32:07 > 1:32:16longer matches but settling down in a match is never guaranteed. He has
1:32:16 > 1:32:20overscrewed that by a fraction. You don't want to be that close to the
1:32:20 > 1:32:26cushion. Perhaps it was unavoidable to get straight on one of these red
1:32:26 > 1:32:29balls. We expect him to get it.
1:32:45 > 1:32:50The first shot that has not gone to plan so far. He was looking for the
1:32:50 > 1:32:55black but he will have do play the pink to the left middle. It is
1:32:55 > 1:33:02missable. I don't expect into, the way he has been playing in this
1:33:02 > 1:33:09opening frame. -- I don't expect him to.
1:33:53 > 1:34:00One more red, and this has been a very comfortable visit to the table.
1:34:00 > 1:34:04Never looked in any danger. Very composed, very relaxed. Never had
1:34:04 > 1:34:12any tough shots to play. And this is the best way of punishing your
1:34:12 > 1:34:19opponent, winning the frame in one visit.Yes, but on another day when
1:34:19 > 1:34:23you are not so comfortable amongst the balls you can make even an easy
1:34:23 > 1:34:27visit like this go wrong. So very good control. Very clinical.
1:34:34 > 1:34:41Martin Gould out doing Xiao Guodong in the Belt department, that is for
1:34:41 > 1:34:43certain. That is a beauty.
1:35:12 > 1:35:18No century, but 82.Xiao Guodong comes out for a bit more practice
1:35:18 > 1:35:23but it is 1-0 in favour of Martin Gould.Let's show you what happened
1:35:23 > 1:35:26in the second frame with Martin Gould to play.
1:35:59 > 1:36:11Struck that nicely. 11 points behind.
1:36:31 > 1:36:34The red is hampering both shots on the outside cushion.
1:36:47 > 1:36:51I think he has to play the black now.
1:37:07 > 1:37:12Would he be tempted to play for the red closest to the cushion? He has
1:37:12 > 1:37:17to do it at some stage if he wants to win the frame in this visit.He
1:37:17 > 1:37:21could do, especially if it's an easy option for positional play. He
1:37:21 > 1:37:25doesn't have to do something with the black, just the two cushions,
1:37:25 > 1:37:30and release of the second. He has played for the loose red.
1:37:33 > 1:37:40He has to get a good angle. A good angle on the black. He could choose
1:37:40 > 1:37:48the red down the side rail first, but it is not a clear cut chance.
1:37:48 > 1:37:52The worst place would be straight on the black. He has to play for the
1:37:52 > 1:37:56right corner pocket, because then he can play for whichever red he
1:37:56 > 1:37:58chooses.
1:38:05 > 1:38:09That has finished highly, so he will play the along the black cushion.
1:38:20 > 1:38:26More angle than he would have liked. It definitely makes the red missable
1:38:26 > 1:38:31now. We have seen them go in this week, especially of the front
1:38:31 > 1:38:34knuckle, which has been surprising. He does not have to hold for the
1:38:34 > 1:38:42black. The pink is available but the black is the nicer ball to get and
1:38:42 > 1:38:48then tuck in right behind the last red. Just enough of an angle that it
1:38:48 > 1:38:54made the red missable. He has stuck it up and not covered the pocket. Do
1:38:54 > 1:38:58you think there's any way Xiao Guodong can shift the last red of
1:38:58 > 1:39:05the cushion? It doesn't look like it.He could have played the
1:39:05 > 1:39:11stunning shot, hit the cushion first and screw that in, and he could have
1:39:11 > 1:39:15missed that red. But maybe he fancies it down the rail.
1:39:21 > 1:39:28Going back to Martin's shot, I would have preferred to drop the red in
1:39:28 > 1:39:31than play the stunning shot.That was the more difficult shot.
1:39:31 > 1:39:36Especially as we have seen, many times, the ball going along the top
1:39:36 > 1:39:46cushion effectively giving up as it hits the jaws. He needs a good angle
1:39:46 > 1:39:52from the blue to get on the yellow. That is the only sticking point, in
1:39:52 > 1:39:58some ways. He could screw back for a red colour if he fancies. -- he
1:39:58 > 1:40:04could screw back for a baulk: if he fancies. Now he will have another
1:40:04 > 1:40:09shot if he chooses to jack it up into the air and screw the cueball
1:40:09 > 1:40:12between brown and green. He missed one earlier like this.
1:40:18 > 1:40:25Anything but straight for the yellow. I suppose that is not too
1:40:25 > 1:40:34good either. These are horrible shots. Cutting back to the pocket,
1:40:34 > 1:40:37and for some reason along the baulk cushion, it seems more difficult
1:40:37 > 1:40:39than along the black cushion.
1:40:45 > 1:40:46Well done.
1:40:52 > 1:40:58Green and brown puts him 19 points in front with 18 on the table. Three
1:40:58 > 1:41:00balls needed to get over the line.
1:41:12 > 1:41:17A good performance here from Xiao Guodong. He has not had that much
1:41:17 > 1:41:21table time to get going. Showing a bit of character.
1:41:29 > 1:41:33He has been to the final of a ranking event, so he is used to the
1:41:33 > 1:41:35big stage.
1:41:52 > 1:41:56With that pink ball, Xiao Guodong takes this scrappy frame, the second
1:41:56 > 1:41:58one. It levels the match at 1-1.
1:42:03 > 1:42:06One frame at age, but this is the latest score and we said it would be
1:42:06 > 1:42:10a difficult game for Martin Gold. That match is continuing on the red
1:42:10 > 1:42:15button, and soon as that frame is over we shall bring you the Murphy
1:42:15 > 1:42:20and Ricky Walden match. We are leaving you on BBC2 very shortly,
1:42:20 > 1:42:25and we were saying that Xiao Guodong is a good player. As it stands, he's
1:42:25 > 1:42:30only dropped five frames in four matches.This is a tough game. You
1:42:30 > 1:42:35would think Martin Gould would have it, but they are hard match players
1:42:35 > 1:42:40they know their way around.A wonderful clearance to get up and
1:42:40 > 1:42:45running. That first frame, it was not straightforward. He made some
1:42:45 > 1:42:49really good balls, particularly the yellow down the baulk cushion. They
1:42:49 > 1:42:53tend to be more difficult than they are around the black spot, but it
1:42:53 > 1:42:58was an impressive clearance.Martin is in a good frame of mind as well.
1:42:58 > 1:43:02He's been giving interviews saying he feels very comfortable and happy
1:43:02 > 1:43:07with him for -- is born.And he is not afraid of anybody. He will get
1:43:07 > 1:43:11his cue out of the case and he will not care about the reputation and he
1:43:11 > 1:43:16will want to get down and dirty with you.Think it will go either way?
1:43:16 > 1:43:236-5.Either way.We are leaving you on BBC2 very shortly. But here is
1:43:23 > 1:43:30Ricky Walden and Shaun Murphy returning. Shaun Murphy leading 3-1
1:43:30 > 1:43:34with Ricky taking the frame just before the midsession interval, so
1:43:34 > 1:43:38this is the plan. We will leave you on BBC2 now for the Varsity match
1:43:38 > 1:43:41and we will be back on the red button with this match shortly as
1:43:41 > 1:43:48soon as the Xiao Guodong frame ends. Press red and now for more live
1:43:48 > 1:43:49snooker action.