Last 16 - Part 2 UK Snooker Championship

Hello, good afternoon and welcome

back to the Barbican. It is the

second day of the last 16 in York

and this afternoon Shaun Murphy, who

first won this event nine years ago,

is preparing to take a huge stride

towards his second UK title.

I have

really developed sort of as a

person, very much more accepting

that you are going to make mistakes,

I am going to miss shots, I will get

safety shots wrong and that's OK

because no one plays perfect

snooker. It's OK to play perfect

snooker imperfectly is where it is

apt for me. I usually pot well and

score well, it's just the bits in

the middle where I could do with

being a bit better. I've got that

bit of belief in my game at the

moment. The longer I stay here, the

more dangerous I get.

So, another

afternoon of top-class snooker ahead

and this is how we line up. Shaun

Murphy, the 2005 Crucible champion,

has been taking in the sight of York

this week and has his eyes on the

prize. He plays world number 23

Ricky Walden. Martin Gould is

playing well, feeling confident, and

he will fancy his chances today in

his match. And your questions and

comments are very welcome. Use the

hashtag BBC snooker. Get in touch if

you want to, and this is how we line

up. We will take a break to some

rugby union at 1:30pm, then back at

five o'clock. With me as John

Parrott and Ken Doherty. People will

be thinking another big name has

gone from the UK Championship, who

will win this?

It won't be any

easier to win it. There are three

former UK champions so you will

still have to play well to win here.

And are still some good snooker

players involved in the draw. Yes,

Shaun Murphy, former winner, against

Ricky Walden who has been off the

scene a little bit but there's still

some great players in this

tournament. Everyone is obviously

talking about Ronnie O'Sullivan and

saying it is his tournament to lose

but it's not as easy as that.

And what sort of tricks will the

Magician howled up his sleeve today?

Ricky Walden plays a similar type of

game, he's an attacking player and

so is Shaun. That is probably the

case of death, but the two them like

to play open, attacking snooker and

it should be a good match.

We

sometimes forget about Walden. He

has been plagued with fitness

problems, back injuries.

Yes, I

spoke to him only a couple of days

ago in the practice room and he said

for the first time his playing

pain-free which is good because he

could only practice an hour a day

and that's why his form dropped,

terrible spinal problems but it's

good to see him back on the big

stage in front of the BBC of course.

When you look at the career

head-to-heads between these two, the

last time they met was three years

ago. Does Ricky Walden take any

confidence from that?

It doesn't

mean a thing, it's a different day

today.

Yes, as John said they are

both open, attacking and good

break-builders.

We are live on BBC

Two, then red button later this

afternoon as we break for the Rugby

union.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

We have four days of action before

we crowned the champion. 12 players

still in the hunt but only two from

the top 16. Another unpredictable

session of snooker is about to

unfold at the always atmospheric

Barbican!

APPLAUSE

Please welcome first of all a player

producing his best run in the UK

Championship, Shanghai Masters

runner-up, Aussie open semifinalist

bidding for his first ranking event

quarterfinal this season.

He will be fired up for this one,

China's Xiao Guodong!

APPLAUSE

And his opponent on table two,

bidding for his second UK

quarterfinal in three years, last

year 's German Masters champion,

once again hitting form at the right

time.

Make the quarters in Shanghai and

the semis at the International

championship, he is Martin Gould!

APPLAUSE

On table one, aiming for his first

UK quarterfinal in four years.

Three times a ranking event winner

in China, it is Ricky Walden!

APPLAUSE

And completing our quartet this

afternoon, a class act on and off

the baize.

Runner-up in the Paul Hunter classic

this year, but winner of the

prestigious champion of champions,

bidding for his seventh UK

quarterfinal, he is Shaun the

Magician Murphy.

APPLAUSE

A very warm reception to both of our

players there.

Remember, we are live with you until

2:45pm, then we switched to the red

button. Meanwhile the match between

Martin Gould and Xiao Guodong is on

the up and BBC sport website and

will be available on the red button

from 1:30pm. That afternoon to

will be available on the red button

from 1:30pm. That afternoon to our

match commentators Alan McManus and

Dennis Taylor.

COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon,

everyone. Ricky Walden won the toss

and he will get the match under way.

Always nice if you can make a good

break-off shot and that has left a

possible pot for Shaun Murphy. John

Parrott was saying at the top of the

show to Jason, these players play a

similar type of game, very

attacking.

A first attempt at a long part. It

wasn't very close. -- long pot.

Ricky has a red for the right corner

he will take and could possibly get

on the black. This would be an early

confidence booster.

And we might have an awkward opening

frame, as we show you the attempt

here. Cued across that one slightly.

Two roads at the other end of the

table so the safety zone is behind

the black now and close to the

cushion.

Yes, talking about styles

of different players, I think the

boys JP and Ken mentioned two words

very apt to this match, attractive

and fluent. Both players go for

their shots.

It's a pretty good effort. Wow! How

close was that? He played in such a

way he would be on the blue and not

leave anything. It looked as if it

was going to curl into the pocket.

The first chance falling to Ricky

Walden.

There's a loose red, a couple of

roads at the back of the pack. He

has the perfect angle if he wants to

go into the reds. He leaves it,

heads for the reds that are

available at the back of the bunch.

If he gets on the final loose red in

such a way he could pot it and open

the bunch, I think you can still

hold. On the black little thinner

than he would have liked. Gently

does it, and there's the angle on

the red, so as long as he doesn't

stick in the bunch or run-through on

to the cushion, he can open up quite

a bit of the game here. That looks

like a pair of trainers to me so

maybe he's having a few problems

relating to his back, that's why he

would be allowed to wear those. But

they are black anyway.

Yes, it's

been well documented, the trouble

he's had with his back. We will see

his stance when he plays a kind of

regular type of shot, both legs

bent, probably more so than any

other player. There are few players

on the tour who play that way, Peter

Ebdon, Wilson.

That red was a

distraction from having to bridge

over the top of it.

Here is a tough little shot in the

middle. Shaun will be aggressive at

every opportunity.

Both players attacking, aggressive,

very fluent. I think if I was in

Ricky Walden's corner, I would be

advising him to play may an extra

one or two safety shot. Shaun Murphy

refuses virtually nothing, always

trying to be attacking, and you can

use that to your advantage.

Touching ball.

A little bit of a

stalemate now at the moment with

those two roads near the baulk

colours. -- two reds.

You can see him putting the rest on

top of the spider, the first player

ever to do that was Ray Reardon.

Just gives you that little bit more

elevation.

Now this might help the situation,

Shaun playing the white up there.

REFEREE: Can I have the mobile phone

on silence please, thank you.

Jason was saying Shaun had won six

of their nine meetings, Ricky had an

important win in the UK Championship

in 2011. He beat Shaun 6-3. In the

quarterfinal that year, that the

only time they played in the UK.

Now we are getting the frame back to

normal.

It might go in off the white or

knock the white in. Ricky was --

mis-hit that completely, that has

confused him. He wanted to wobble it

in the jaws.

He wants to take the red on here,

Shaun, but he would like to play it

with some kind of decent pace. If he

missed it the red would come away,

that's the reason he chose to play

the safety but it's given the

initiative to Ricky. The first

telling safety. He does have a red

that he can play as a half shot to

nothing, mind you. Good, clean pot.

Yes, worth another look at that one,

right in the centre of the pocket.

If the white had run a few more

inches, he could have played the

yellow or the green and got into the

pink or reds and possibly brought

the black also into play. It's not

completely tied up, the black.

There's only one loose red he would

have to play four-point I don't

think he's got an angle to get into

the bunch. He might have. Still

played for the loose red. He can get

up for the blue now. And then into

the bunch.

Perfectly played. He can bring both

pink, the reds, and also free the

black little.

Yes, he was hoping to catch the

left-hand side of the pink, that's

why he's lost the cue ball there.

The red, as it cut back, just on the

limit. If you play it close to the

pot and don't get it, it's liable to

stay there. Having another look at

it.

That's disappointing. That was

developing into quite a good chance

there.

He plays those shots so well, Shaun

Murphy. Well documented, the cueing

action of his. Fluent and so strong,

to get top side of the blue was a

gorgeous shot, perfect angle.

Just playing to get right in the

middle of those two reds. He's OK

but he's hampered slightly. He's got

to really play it back for the pink,

you would think. The black is very

close to the cushion. Not a bad

chance now, there's only one thread

safe on the cushion. -- on red.

Because of that beautiful cueing

action, I always feel his quickly

into the running in these matches,

always important to get off to a

good start. He always seems to

settle quickly. A free-flowing

action almost takes tension out of

the cueing arm. Not frightened to

express himself out there with deep

screws, and he always gets the cue

ball moving around. Again, perfect

topside of the bloom. He will all --

already be thinking about the red on

the topside of the cushion.

He will have a choice to make, to

try and move that red, when potting

a red which is always a risk.

Leaving it to get nicely onto the

colour to bring the red into play.

He's got the angle here if he wants

to pot this and bring the difficult

red into play. That's what he's done

and he's played it beautifully. As

long as he didn't hit that full

ball, he caught it half ball and

that beautiful little cannon could

quite easily give sure on this

opening frame.

He's just not afraid

to play those shots. Early on in

frames. You think maybe leave it a

couple of shots and try to develop

the red in the last moment, but he

took his chance as soon as he got

it. Well on his way. Taking this

opening frame, this has been a

brilliant start by Shaun Murphy,

straight into his cueing.

This finished a little awkward

there. He's 20 in front, if he was

to pot the pink and the yellow Ricky

would need a snooker. If he takes

the blue, he will also have to get

the green. Because when he pots the

yellow, Ricky will still be able to

tie. Missed that green when he

normally wouldn't. You're looking at

the best player who has ever used a

rest and he missed one. I think in

his last match he was 100% with the

rest. And the fact he didn't put the

yellow, he didn't get on the green.

If he had taken the pink, he only

needed the yellow.

That wasn't the best from Ricky

Walden there.

He might have found a gap here, you

know. There's a gap to hit the

green, maybe not pot it. A

possibility we could have a

re-spotted black in the opening

frame.

He will have to get snooker. Don't

think he can get a two point

snooker!

Yes, that yellow should

give Shaun the first frame but he

would like to see the green

disappear. He wants to be careful

here. Where is the green going to

finish? This is a half chance for

Ricky. Just looks not quite the

angle where he can dropping behind

the blue. He's going to have to work

the cue ball. It makes it difficult

to control this.

Put some juice on the cue ball, that

was difficult to nestle in behind

the blue. Shaun has got to be

careful here to put the black safe.

Especially he doesn't want to leave

Ricky a chance to pot the green.

This possibility is in that as far

as getting a snooker.

I think he's got the snooker in the

middle pocket. It looks in the way

of this, he might have to go a

couple of cautions, baulk and side,

but very good from Ricky Walden.

He's asked the question. With the

cue ball so close to this cushion, I

don't know how much work he can get

on this. To widen the angle, he may

go two cautions. -- cushions. Don't

hit it too hard. There he goes.

I do not think there is a

double-kiss on here.

I do not think there is a

double-kiss on here.

Not if he plays

it as thin as that. I was thinking

the green, straight up and down.

Interesting where the pink has

finished though.

It doesn't really matter now, the

pink has been knocked into a better

position for snooker 's.

30 points is the difference. So he

would require two snookers. Just the

brown to keep Riki in his seat. --

Ricky.

This time Ricky raises his hands to

the referee. In the end, Shaun

Murphy with a break of 51 Leeds 1-0.

Shaun Murphy

Shaun Murphy beaten in the semifinal

stage by the eventual winner Mark

Selby and get off to a good start.

Alan mentioned in commentary that

his cue accuracy was superb. If you

can find better actions, let me know

what they are, because they bought

straight, like a laser and he is one

of the best ball strikers the

tournament.

You will hear when he

came in for a chat, and one of the

boys commented yesterday how well he

was hitting the ball.

Yes, and

beating Ronnie O'Sullivan has given

him some reassurance and confidence

that he might have been lacking over

the previous six months before that

win. And he is one of the best

hitters of the ball in the game,

gets through it lovely and is great

to watch.

The funny thing was is

that we picked out a shot in the

frame where he has missed the

yellow, shock horror that he misses

a shot with the rest, and he comes

up with a shot like this.

Ricky

needs all

up with a shot like this.

Ricky

needs all of them here and he tried

to knock the yellow onto the green,

and he had to try and get the cue

ball up behind the pink. But he

plays a nothing shot here and he

leaves the yellow on and Shaun

Murphy just needed the yellow to

leave Ricky needing a snooker.

Shaun

Murphy taking the early lead against

Ricky Walden, back to the boys.

I tend to agree with Ken. I was

thinking the exact same thing after

Shaun missed the yellow with the

rest. Maybe Ricky couldn't get the

cue ball down the end as much as he

wanted, but he could have lifted up

the green. Still, it is gone now. He

will try to hit back here, Ricky

Walden. But as the boys were saying,

Shaun Murphy is looking very good,

and that was not good. He is an

intimidating player to play against,

Shaun. People talking about his

cueing action, but it even

intimidates the best players. You

cannot help and sit and watch your

opponent and when Shaun is in full

flight, he is a sight to behold.

This is a bit of a chance now.

You can't ask for anything better

than this. A nice easy opener.

I think Ricky can play a soft screw

and push the one read into open play

-- the one red. It is not easy to

get a nice angle without disturbing

the pack. Maybe a little soft screw,

and it looks like he's playing for

blue or one of the ball colours. He

has landed short. Not good. -- one

of the baulk collars. -- colours.

He is looking to see if he could

leave the red to the right middle

pocket, but he did manage to get the

white around the table from here,

and he would have to do that off the

green or the brown.

He has plenty of power in the cue --

cue. If he pulls this off, that will

be some shot. Almost impossible to

get the white all the way around the

table.

He just took the five extra points,

and once again he has not played the

best of safeties.

He has got the brown, but the red

balls are all tied up there.

If there was ever a chance to see

the cue power, it might be here, or

will he take the four points? No,

he's attempted to get into them, and

what a great effort.

He sort of arced the cue ball there.

You see Ricky playing the outside

loose red and he does not want to

disturb the pack. That is because of

Shaun's prowess in the long game

department. An indication of how

wary Ricky Walden is.

Shaun might open them up here. Well,

just the one red came out. Pretty

good cueball both. -- though.

He might have to come off the side

cushion and into the side of the red

balls here.

Got to make sure he covers the path

through to the red balls between the

pink and black. And he hasn't. Has

the blue come to the rescue? Yes,

just about. Shaun having an anxious

look there.

This time Ricky is forced to play a

safety of the black. He needs a good

cueball.

And he has not got it.

That is a bit of a result there.

Tried to pop the red direct, and it

was a bonus to bring out the black.

Usually when you are playing well

you get those little touches, don't

you?

It has always been the nature of the

game. He looks in good touch here,

this afternoon, Shaun Murphy. I

always feel that with Shaun, when he

is playing at this level, a lot of

it is about the cue ball, but a lot

of it is about the potting side of

the game. Sean's action, it takes

the stress out of potting. It is

almost a given that he will knock in

the difficult balls with hardly any

effort. That is how well he hits the

ball, this fella.

It is just that long, sweeping

delivery.

Oh, dear me. The commentator's

curse. My apologies, Shaun. Did not

see that coming. A player of Sean's

class, that is very poor.

Not sure if he has landed on a pot

here. He can't see the one by the

pink nail or blocking this one into

the corner. -- and they are all

blocking this one into the corner.

He needs to get in amongst the red

balls and the colours to get

confidence going, Ricky.

Well, in playing that shot, I don't

understand it, because he has left a

cutback for Shaun Murphy. But if

there is a player in the game who is

going to play it aggressively in the

game, it is Shaun. Not as difficult

as the cutback that Ricky had in the

first frame.

Ricky was very loose with the last

safety shot. He should have left a

white tight on the cushion.

It just looks like he is under a bit

of pressure. Just early on here.

This is what I'm talking about with

Shaun Murphy. This is a tough brown

for most players. Just swept it in

again. Not a good cueball, mind you.

This is probably end of break. But

the pot was fabulous.

In actual fact, I think he potted it

a bit thin, off the right-hand jaw.

Probably put another 12 or 18 inches

out of the cueball and that is not

the best safety he has ever played.

I think the way to play this, I

would play it and try to go in off

because it's incredibly difficult to

do it. Don't try and pinch the

pocket, just try and pot it.

Whatever happens with the cueball

happens. Fantastic shot. Unlucky.

He knows he has to hide the red over

the right corner pocket, which is

why he has gone up the other end of

the table to find this spot so he

does not leave it on for Shaun.

Yes,

as I was saying, against some of the

players, he would have already

played yellow or brown by now and

maybe missed the red, but not so

with Shaun.

Did not fancy taking the white up

the other end of the table because

of the red that Shaun will play safe

off.

Not easy from this angle to get in

behind the green. He could go down

the left side of the table for the

blue and the black, but now back to

his original choice.

We often hear

that you go out and play the table,

but it's not as clear cut as that,

not at this level. There has been

evidence so far that Ricky Walden

has been extremely wary of Shaun

Murphy's long game. You have to

tailor your game to suit the

opponent, when it suits you.

Let's see how close he can get to

this. He's playing it with a lot of

top spin. No. Where is the red going

to finish? The last shot he took on,

he's usually very good at that type

of shot, but he did not get it close

and he has pushed the red on.

Again,

he missed it on the thick side and

was eager to get the cue ball

straight back up the table. That was

probably the cause of missing it on

the thick side again. Not frightened

of Shaun, but he is wary of him.

This is a top chance. He will have

to do develop the red balls at some

stage, and he will probably do it

now.

I know it is very early on in the

match, the first to 6, but it's

already worrying times for Ricky

Walden here.

He is well aware that Shaun can get

on a run and reel off frame after

frame in no time at all.

All these little shops, Shaun does

not feather them in, it is all

punchy. Look at that -- little

shots. Taking that out the equation

and taking the uncertainty out of

his mind, and once again, bang.

Yes,

like one of the players in the

studio, John Parrott, you always

knew when John was on the mixed

table, you could hear the ball

hitting the back of the pocket when

John was playing.

He needed a couple of chances in the

opening frame but he made a 51 break

which paved the way. That was for

Shaun to lead 1-0. If this black

goes in its another 50 plus break to

take frame. -- the second frame.

Very worrying times for Ricky

Walden. That break of 55 puts Shaun

Murphy into a 2-0 lead.

MUSIC.

Very interesting looking at all of

the statistics in his career. Four

frames before the midsession

interval as usual, even though it is

the best of 11. The crowds have been

superb since the start of the

tournament.

Interesting what Shaun said in his

pre-match interview about accepting

that missing the oddball here and

there, that will happen, because

this game is too difficult for

anything else to be the case, but it

is a good state of mind to be in.

The carefree. I'm going to make

mistakes and accepted. Players go

out and miss a couple of balls and

they find it difficult to deal with,

but not so Shaun Murphy. When he is

out there, he is enjoying every

minute of it, and that is important.

That is as good a shot as Ricky

Walden has played this afternoon. A

wee bit unfortunate. The two red

balls together, and Shaun can play

off them. And an excellent return.

That was nice to see, not feeling

the best having lost the two opening

frames, but he tapped the table in

appreciation of the safety shot that

Shaun just played.

Where he is stood here tells you

that he cannot see a path back down

the table. Just watch this here.

That is more or less saying, well

played, Shaun. Good sportsmanship.

The dead weight to land on the red

to the right.

Coming a little bit narrow. Well

done.

And does this red pot? That is why

he tried to get it on the

deadweight. Just enough room for one

to pass the other. Once again, an

indication of the cueing power that

he has. He hardly touched this. And

he avoided the cannon on the red.

That was stunning. The almost

bullied the red into the pocket. Not

too many players in the game would

have played it, I thought there was

a natural angle, but he just bullied

it in.

The pink is out of commission and

the black is perfectly placed. What

has Shaun got planned here? Yes, I

will bring the pink into play.

If he makes this and cannons in the

two red balls, he would leave the

pink to the right middle pocket. But

he decided that he was going to get

the black back on the spot, and he

made that look easy. Bridging over

the red balls and striking down to

get the back spin and get the gap.

Superb.

It sort of bounced because he was

striking down on it. The cueball was

bouncing.

Just watch the cueball here.

It bounced and sort of Arctic 's way

through the red balls. -- and arced

its way.

Yes, even their, not remotely

worried about leaving the cueball

close to the side cushion. Just

sweep the black in. A gorgeous

cueball again.

Yes, and he created his chance for

himself with a good safety that we

showed you when Ricky was tapping

the table. He was in a spot of

bother, but this is the result. So

it is not all about knocking big

breaks in. You have to have a good

safety game to get yourself in.

He's terrific to watch when he's

playing like this.

You almost get the sense with Shaun

Murphy at times when he's in these

positions he's not trying to win the

frame, he is trying to clear the

table. It's all that interests him,

he loves it out there.

The frame safe, now he can

concentrate on a century break. He's

only had one so far in this year's

Betfred championship. He made 37

last season. And 20 this season. And

438 in his career. 82 centuries so

far this year.

And that's developed the most

difficult of the reds, hoping to

negotiate this one along the

cushion, get the black and take the

lot here.

You rightly mentioned the safety

shot, the open red was an apt salute

piledriver. It's not often you can

say that about a short shot but he

bullied it in and since then it's

been fabulous.

He almost missed the

century! Big smiles all round that

he wobbled that black three or four

times. He certainly is enjoying

himself out there at the moment.

Ricky Walden hadn't done that much

wrong, but he hasn't really been in

amongst them since missing one off

the spot.

He couldn't get the high break

anyway but what a fabulous frame

played by Shaun Murphy there.

21 centuries now for Shaun Murphy,

our very own 21st-century boy!

Looking for a quick afternoon,

Shaun.

Yes, when he starts playing

well he starts stomping around the

table and looks like he will eat

every ball he looks at. The

table and looks like he will eat

every ball he looks at. The opening

red in the break, but only have you

got to be so accurate, but look at

the way the cue ball swings

the way the cue ball swings away

from the others. Not too many

players could hit it as sweetly as

that.

We have been treated to some

snooker but also which has tested

the patience of the pundits.

Yes,

it's great to see a player in that

lovely free-flowing mode, very

aggressive and trying to win the

frame in one visit. He also played a

lovely shot during that Blake to get

back on the black when he was

bridging over another red so he

looks confident. When a player gets

on a roll like that, as Allen said

in commentary it's very

intimidating. He bullies you and

there is nothing Ricky can do at the

moment.

The one minor criticism you

can have about him, the observation

is sometimes he's a little bit too

nice. When he's got players down he

needs to give them a bit more and

not let them off.

You mean that

killer instinct?

Yes, which is

sometimes the reason he wins with

6-4, rather than 6-2.

We should also

tell you tonight it will be a

thrilling game because Ronnie

O'Sullivan is taking on one of the

revelations so far, Sunny Akani.

Yes, a great achievement to get so

far but to come out tonight in a

packed arena against Ronnie

O'Sullivan, the fans' favourite,

it's a big test for him but he

should enjoy every minute of it.

And

a thumping win as well.

Yes, 6-0

against Barry Hawkins, not many

people have that on their CV. When

he wins or loses his on the practice

table.

John, a quick one for you

before we go back to the

commentators. If you are Ricky now,

what

commentators. If you are Ricky now,

what is the mindset?

He has just got

to tighten up. In the last one he

was in trouble because the safety

was so good, but when the chance

comes he just has to score from it.

Dennis knows Ricky well, he used to

practice with him, didn't you?

I

tried not to practice with him too

much because all you did was pick

the ball is out for him! We used to

practice in a club in Chester and he

just never missed. But is he going

to get a chance? That's the thing.

He hasn't really been in amongst the

balls to get confidence going. Shaun

Murphy is looking at a long red

here. That is incredible. Absolutely

incredible.

Sweet snooker, cracked

the back of the pocket, what a pot.

But what an opening red.

It's a cracking opening red, but the

blue he didn't play the cannon as he

intended. He had rights to play for

but he wanted to get the ball is

open again. Three open red and he

wanted to hit the pink full ball.

When you hit it half ball, you can

always go in off.

It was

ultra-aggressive. You can't

criticise him in any way for being

aggressive.

The opening red is the shot of the

week for me.

Can Ricky Walden play a few good

safety shots? To try to put Shaun in

a spot of bother. No, that's not it.

He had a chance to get the cue ball

back towards the brown and green and

he hit it far too thick.

You can see Shaun's right elbow with

the rest playing this, he keeps it

as high as any other player in the

game. Part of his technique, you

mentioned how good he is with the

rest. Look at the right elbow,

horizontal to his cue hand. Terrific

technique with the rest, Shaun has.

And a very aggressive shot coming

up, taking the blue off its spot.

It's feeling good at the moment,

isn't it?

Yes, a bit like that

opening red. Most players sitting in

the chair and it gets your

attention, oh he's taking on a tough

one. Deary me! He has potted an

unbelievable red, a stunning blue,

then what for him is an absolute

sitter will

stop he's not cueing well at the

moment, Ricky.

Just lacking in

confidence. Cute across that one

slightly. -- cued across that one.

The problem for Ricky is you almost

feel like you are not part of the

match, the way things are going.

That's a couple of misses from Shaun

Murphy now. Ricky Walden, if you can

get yourself going, this wasn't as

easy as the one he missed, but if

Ricky can get a few points here, the

mid-session interval is coming up

and if he can go into it 3-1, he

will still be in with a chance here.

And he can bring a few reds into

play because of that red to the

right of the black, that's a bit of

insurance. Now, what's happened? He

can't believe it, the little bit of

metal is stuck in the cue. I think

you will have to go to the

tournament office to get that out.

Don't often see that happen, that's

very unusual.

Yes, the extension

came loose and it is stuck in the

very unusual.

Yes, the extension

came loose and it is stuck in the

butt off his cue.

Neither have we, a ridiculous

delaying tactic!

The problem is

because it is so much extra weight

in the bottom of your cue, he has

got to find someone with a set of

players and get it out.

Have you

ever seen this before?

No, never,

it's quite unusual.

We have time to

talk about the tournament in

context. When you arrived here, did

you expect to lose so many big

names?

Not really, you don't

normally see so many big seeds going

out. We are playing a lot of best of

sevens, you would expect to see the

odd shock here and there but the UK

Championship not really. It's always

been the top boys who have got to

the latter stages and there's been a

lot of shocks this week already.

If

you'd seen the advertising board

outside and it had Mark Selby and

Judd Trump on it, you would never

believed they would have been out

already. There's also shocks, that

can happen in any sport, but I do

think being the first six as opposed

to the first nine has made a

difference.

Ryan Day gave a good

interview yesterday when he said the

top players are playing without

fear.

Yes, the reason is that so

many more tournaments so they are

more familiar with the top seeds and

some of them have success over the

best of seven against the top seeds.

So the familiarity and the fear from

those players is completely gone

now.

Do you think basically because

there's so many tournaments that

effectively the players if you like

our battle hardened, they are

trained and ready for the matches

against the big guys?

Yes, if you

have another tournament the week

after following, you think I might

have a go at this match, I'm not

expecting to beat him and all of a

sudden they get a loose arm. With

respect to Scott Donaldson, he's not

thinking he can win it.

Our cameraman is a bit shaky as he

walks onto the set but Ricky is very

much back and let's hand you over to

Dennis.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE.

Back to normal. Someone must've had

a pair of pliers in the tournament

office. I was just saying he has an

angle on the black to bring some

reds into play and he has the red

next to the black is a bit of

insurance. He has played it well,

and this is the first real chance

Ricky Walden has had in amongst the

balls, created by that very good

cannon.

Full focus now required.

That was a better piece of cueing,

that will give him a wee bit of

confidence. Just about the correct

side of the blue. You never know,

that little incident with the butt

off his cue cut through the tension

he was feeling.

It was always going to be a pretty

quick match, this, the way both

these players play. And that's

turned out very nicely. He was

hoping to maybe not have to play any

cannons but decided on that occasion

that he had to do and it's worked

out very nicely.

He would love to get to 68 there, as

you can see on the side bar. That

would leave Shaun needing a snooker.

Maybe just underscrewed that one

slightly. A long way from the black

again will stop its all about just

trying to keep close control and

make it as easy as possible for

yourself.

Making sure he got the right side of

the blue, just a little bit harder

than he intended. Just checking to

see if the one to the left of the

pink spot is available into the

right corner. If not, he might have

to have a change of plan here. The

blue is not the perfect angle to get

on the red he looked at. He could

play another cannon on potting the

blue, but he's hoping not to have to

do that. It's quite an important

positional shot here. There is the

cannon again, and that's worked out

OK.

That's three shots he's hit like

that. It will give him a nice

feeling inside. More solid. Of

course he wants to win the frame but

if he can win it in one visit that

will give him great confidence going

into the interval.

I agree 100% with

you, Alan. The incident where he had

to leave the arena has maybe taken

the edge off because he looked very

tense and maybe that has eased the

pressure slightly. Who would have

thought you would get part of the

extension stuck in the cue but he's

done well here. Doesn't need many

more.

Already 58 ahead. The red and a

colour would be enough.

I think

would like to see Ricky screw this

in off a couple of cushions. He

should still get it, mind you. Well

done. That blue is an easy shot for

the player of Ricky's standing. The

fact his 59th in front, he will take

the yellow but the blue shouldn't be

any issue. Yes, well done Ricky

Walden. This has been good

character. Especially after that

little incident that as Dennis said

possibly cut the tension, and he's

back in this match. That's the

important thing.

Yes, the first six,

going into the mid-session interval

3-1 down. Not all that bad, but very

little chance in the three opening

frames. Maybe the first frame he

could possibly have won that. Ricky

has had a couple of centuries so far

in this year's UK Championship. It's

going to be difficult to make one

here, the red tucked up on the side

cushion there. Doesn't matter about

that, he did what he had to do. He

won the frame in one visit and goes

into the mid-session interval a lot

happier, but Shaun Murphy still

happier, but Shaun Murphy still

leading 3-1.

If we are being honest, a long way

to go for Ricky Walden but showing a

bit of fighting spirit.

Yes,

absolutely. He had to go out, he

might have got himself together as

well, fixing his cue but it was a

break he needed to get his arm going

and get some confidence because he

looked all at sea. As John talked

about before that frame, every now

and again he had the odd miss that

you don't expect totally out of the

blue. It is 3-1 and now the match is

back on.

And it's all about taking

your chances at this level.

Yes, I'm

very impressed with Ricky. You said

what has he got to do, he had to

score when the first chance comes.

He also have the hiatus to sort his

cue out, but all credit to him he's

come back and made a good break.

When you are 3-0 down and you win

the frame before the mid-session

interval I suppose in a way you want

to carry on. Does that mentally

break up how you are feeling?

I

think you are just delighted to get

on frame on the board and the

deficit is only two now. You can get

back on the practice table if you

want and get ready for the next

session.

That's the other thing, it

is not best to nine so sometimes 3-0

is a bad result but who will settle

for 3-1.

Is Shaun kicking himself?

He got himself perfect, you would

fancy him to win it and he missed a

straight red. He just has that

little glitch now and again, it

happens.

Let's turn our attention to

the other match happening, Martin

Gould taking on Xiao Guodong, who's

looking for a place in the

quarterfinals.

Martin Gould, I was born in Pinner

England, 1981.

His nickname is the

Pinner Potter.

Martin has worked as

a croupier in a casino.

He is also

an excellent darts player and has

considered playing it

professionally.

His only ranking

title came at the 2016 German

Masters.

In the mid-noughties he

dropped off the tour to care for his

mother.

Martin is a lifelong Spurs

fan.

This season he reached the

semifinals in the international

championship, where he lost to Mark

Selby.

All you need to know about

Martin Gould. Xiao Guodong is

currently ranked 36th in the world.

He made his debut at the Crucible

the following year after his first

win. Very tough opponent for Martin

Gould, so we join it in frame one,

Xiao leading four points to nil.

Your commentators are Stephen Hendry

and Steve Davis.

In an exhibition when he was only 14

or 15, he knocked in a total

clearance against me.

I do feel

though slowly but surely the Chinese

understudies are starting to make

their mark on the world scene.

Very aggressive, and considering he

hasn't had much table time, that is

a tough shot to guarantee.

This red on the black spot is a good

one to get rid of, obviously. He

won't be able to play for the black

I don't think this time, but it

certainly makes break-building a lot

easier. Screw for the gap.

Underrated player, Martin Gould.

He doesn't seem to be overawed by

any situation. Quite unusual in the

respect that he wears normal classes

to play.

I think you will find they

are special classes that he looks

over the top off to play golf shots

with.

Why is he wearing them, if he

looks over the top of them?

For

balance.

Obviously when he's looking at the

table from this position, looking

through the glasses, when he gets

down his looking over the top and

clear of the rims. And hasn't got

that poor eyesight, you would

imagine. It's not the first time we

have discussed this, but it is quite

fascinating.

Cannon on the middle

red here. The only drawback with

that shot is tying the black up for

the right corner.

Actually harder

cannon would have pushed the red

free of that line. It probably won't

be an issue. Very, very efficient.

This cue ball hasn't moved any

distance at all so far in this

break, that the art of

break-building at the top of the

table.

To be fair, he was given a

gift in this opening frame. That's

just what you want, a nice easy

chance, the balls everywhere. It's

probably the same situation he had

on the practice table half an hour

ago and he's been given it in the

first frame of this match. A very

aggressive shot by Xiao Guodong. A

tough shot to place. The cue ball

was quite close to the side cushion

so he made the short even tougher.

Getting a bit more difficult now

with the lay out of the red balls.

Got a kick on the last red which

took the pace out of the cueball, so

more work to do here.

To sacrifice -- had to sacrifice a

little bit of distance between the

balls but as long as this red to the

right of the pink goes in, it is

pretty comfortable.

His striking the ball nicely. Crisp.

Always nice to get off to a good

start, especially in one session

match. It is important in even

longer matches but settling down in

a match is never guaranteed. He has

overscrewed that by a fraction. You

don't want to be that close to the

cushion. Perhaps it was unavoidable

to get straight on one of these red

balls. We expect him to get it.

The first shot that has not gone to

plan so far. He was looking for the

black but he will have do play the

pink to the left middle. It is

missable. I don't expect into, the

way he has been playing in this

opening frame. -- I don't expect him

to.

One more red, and this has been a

very comfortable visit to the table.

Never looked in any danger. Very

composed, very relaxed. Never had

any tough shots to play. And this is

the best way of punishing your

opponent, winning the frame in one

visit.

Yes, but on another day when

you are not so comfortable amongst

the balls you can make even an easy

visit like this go wrong. So very

good control. Very clinical.

Martin Gould out doing Xiao Guodong

in the Belt department, that is for

certain. That is a beauty.

No century, but 82.

Xiao Guodong

comes out for a bit more practice

but it is 1-0 in favour of Martin

Gould.

Let's show you what happened

in the second frame with Martin

Gould to play.

Struck that nicely. 11 points

behind.

The red is hampering both shots on

the outside cushion.

I think he has to play the black

now.

Would he be tempted to play for the

red closest to the cushion? He has

to do it at some stage if he wants

to win the frame in this visit.

He

could do, especially if it's an easy

option for positional play. He

doesn't have to do something with

the black, just the two cushions,

and release of the second. He has

played for the loose red.

He has to get a good angle. A good

angle on the black. He could choose

the red down the side rail first,

but it is not a clear cut chance.

The worst place would be straight on

the black. He has to play for the

right corner pocket, because then he

can play for whichever red he

chooses.

That has finished highly, so he will

play the along the black cushion.

More angle than he would have liked.

It definitely makes the red missable

now. We have seen them go in this

week, especially of the front

knuckle, which has been surprising.

He does not have to hold for the

black. The pink is available but the

black is the nicer ball to get and

then tuck in right behind the last

red. Just enough of an angle that it

made the red missable. He has stuck

it up and not covered the pocket. Do

you think there's any way Xiao

Guodong can shift the last red of

the cushion? It doesn't look like

it.

He could have played the

stunning shot, hit the cushion first

and screw that in, and he could have

missed that red. But maybe he

fancies it down the rail.

Going back to Martin's shot, I would

have preferred to drop the red in

than play the stunning shot.

That

was the more difficult shot.

Especially as we have seen, many

times, the ball going along the top

cushion effectively giving up as it

hits the jaws. He needs a good angle

from the blue to get on the yellow.

That is the only sticking point, in

some ways. He could screw back for a

red colour if he fancies. -- he

could screw back for a baulk: if he

fancies. Now he will have another

shot if he chooses to jack it up

into the air and screw the cueball

between brown and green. He missed

one earlier like this.

Anything but straight for the

yellow. I suppose that is not too

good either. These are horrible

shots. Cutting back to the pocket,

and for some reason along the baulk

cushion, it seems more difficult

than along the black cushion.

Well done.

Green and brown puts him 19 points

in front with 18 on the table. Three

balls needed to get over the line.

A good performance here from Xiao

Guodong. He has not had that much

table time to get going. Showing a

bit of character.

He has been to the final of a

ranking event, so he is used to the

big stage.

With that pink ball, Xiao Guodong

takes this scrappy frame, the second

one. It levels the match at 1-1.

One frame at age, but this is the

latest score and we said it would be

a difficult game for Martin Gold.

That match is continuing on the red

button, and soon as that frame is

over we shall bring you the Murphy

and Ricky Walden match. We are

leaving you on BBC2 very shortly,

and we were saying that Xiao Guodong

is a good player. As it stands, he's

only dropped five frames in four

matches.

This is a tough game. You

would think Martin Gould would have

it, but they are hard match players

they know their way around.

A

wonderful clearance to get up and

running. That first frame, it was

not straightforward. He made some

really good balls, particularly the

yellow down the baulk cushion. They

tend to be more difficult than they

are around the black spot, but it

was an impressive clearance.

Martin

is in a good frame of mind as well.

He's been giving interviews saying

he feels very comfortable and happy

with him for -- is born.

And he is

not afraid of anybody. He will get

his cue out of the case and he will

not care about the reputation and he

will want to get down and dirty with

you.

Think it will go either way?

6-5.

Either way.

We are leaving you

on BBC2 very shortly. But here is

Ricky Walden and Shaun Murphy

returning. Shaun Murphy leading 3-1

with Ricky taking the frame just

before the midsession interval, so

this is the plan. We will leave you

on BBC2 now for the Varsity match

and we will be back on the red

button with this match shortly as

soon as the Xiao Guodong frame ends.

Press red and now for more live

snooker action.