0:00:34 > 0:00:38Welcome back to the Barbican, day two of the last 16. A lot of snooker
0:00:38 > 0:00:43to catch up on, since you have been away. John Parrott and Ken Doherty
0:00:43 > 0:00:50still alongside me. We are focusing on Shaun Murphy, the 2008 UK
0:00:50 > 0:00:56champion, taking on Ricky Walden afternoon. Murphy leads by a 6-3.
0:00:56 > 0:01:02When you left, Shaun Murphy was leading by 3-1 at the mid-session
0:01:02 > 0:01:08interval, firing in a brilliant break in frame three. And he needed
0:01:08 > 0:01:12just one to book a place in the quarterfinals against King. We
0:01:12 > 0:01:17joined it in the early stages of the next frame with Alan McManus and
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Dennis Taylor.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27I'm not sure if that red next to the black is great, there are other reds
0:01:27 > 0:01:31he can play. If it goes into the right corner, he may not be able to
0:01:31 > 0:01:37get to it this time but there's plenty of room, as you can see. And
0:01:37 > 0:01:41he's played at that side of the table so he has got the red at the
0:01:41 > 0:01:45back of the bunch and he can get nicely on the black and do something
0:01:45 > 0:01:51about the red. It is making that like a little awkward.
0:01:59 > 0:02:09He had to go for the blue because he was dead straight on that red.Just
0:02:09 > 0:02:19that shot there was typical of the modern game. He potted a
0:02:19 > 0:02:23straightforward red and deliberately played for a long blue. Did not even
0:02:23 > 0:02:34think twice about it.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42Welcome he has got the angle now on the blue to play for that red next
0:02:42 > 0:02:44to the black.
0:02:57 > 0:03:05These are little shots whether cue action comes in handy. These are
0:03:05 > 0:03:09missable. Clean as a whistle. Does not mind leaving the cue ball near
0:03:09 > 0:03:16the side cushion, Shaun Murphy. He's such a good potter. A great asset to
0:03:16 > 0:03:26have.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37It has certainly opened up the reds with that shot and if he can get to
0:03:37 > 0:03:4167 points as you can see with the side bar, he's into the next round.
0:03:41 > 0:03:49He does not want to hit the blue! That is the worst possible outcome.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54He's great with the rest. Boy, this is going to be difficult. I don't
0:03:54 > 0:04:05think he can get through to the green either. We keep saying he's
0:04:05 > 0:04:14the best in the world with the rest, he needs a good one here. Oh, look
0:04:14 > 0:04:30at that shot. But as we show you the great pot again, if the red does not
0:04:30 > 0:04:34pass the yellow, from the corner that he potted the blue, that is
0:04:34 > 0:04:49very tight. Half a pocket, you would say. Well, what a test of the cue
0:04:49 > 0:05:00action. Only that much pocket available to you.Yes, he doesn't
0:05:00 > 0:05:04like it, it does go but probably not even in the middle of the pocket.
0:05:04 > 0:05:16No. Once again, he has done all the hard work, Shaun Murphy, to get into
0:05:16 > 0:05:20a prime position. And it was a prime position. But the ramp -- but the
0:05:20 > 0:05:28red and the blue, why he did not go for a baulk colour, no idea. You
0:05:28 > 0:05:33don't want to be critical of players. He did all the hard work.
0:05:33 > 0:05:41This is the red, it actually makes the pot easier. Not for a baulk
0:05:41 > 0:05:51colour. Ricky Walden is in the last chance saloon. The match mentally is
0:05:51 > 0:05:55probably gone right now. We speak about pride performance. He would
0:05:55 > 0:06:05just want to show this Barbican crowd what he can do. You never
0:06:05 > 0:06:18know. You just have to hang in there as long as you can. It can happen.
0:06:18 > 0:06:29The only way it will not happen is if you mentally give up.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt, I think he got a heavy
0:06:40 > 0:06:50contact. Let's have a look at this. That did kick and that might be his
0:06:50 > 0:06:56last shot for this year at the UK Championship.
0:07:04 > 0:07:11Not a nice way to lose a match. But he's 5-1 behind. Just a
0:07:11 > 0:07:16straightforward little pot. And you would know it was a kick because the
0:07:16 > 0:07:25white finished where it did.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52If Shaun does prevail and win this match this afternoon, you would have
0:07:52 > 0:07:58to say he's playing very well. But he can do better. Concentration
0:07:58 > 0:08:05wise, he hasn't been up to it today, missing too many simple balls and
0:08:05 > 0:08:08too many elementary mistakes, but increasingly likely he will go
0:08:08 > 0:08:20through the play Mark King tomorrow. Yes, you would need to be in the 93
0:08:20 > 0:08:27department. With pot success rate. He did have a century, Shaun.
0:08:27 > 0:08:44Another couple of 50 plus, 49 break. Ricky Walden just missed too many
0:08:44 > 0:08:54pots this afternoon. And Mark King is waiting for Shaun Murphy, as
0:08:54 > 0:09:03Allen said. Rob Walker introduced him as Kojak and he was in his seat.
0:09:03 > 0:09:10Somebody gave him a lollipop. And he obliged by sucking on a lollipop
0:09:10 > 0:09:14throughout the match. What a win against John Higgins! But he will
0:09:14 > 0:09:20have to be on his guard to beat Shaun. Well, they will not go in at
0:09:20 > 0:09:27that pace, but Ricky Walden... He did not play well, but he
0:09:27 > 0:09:34congratulates Shaun Murphy. The former champion goes through to the
0:09:34 > 0:09:39quarterfinal, eating Ricky Walden by 6-1. -- beating.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47You know, I played nicely, there was some shots that did not quite go to
0:09:47 > 0:09:50plan and on another day, I think Ricky being a bit more clinical
0:09:50 > 0:09:55might have punished me and we might still have been playing. The game
0:09:55 > 0:10:00turns on a little mistake here all that. I have lost matches from 3-1
0:10:00 > 0:10:04ahead and 4-1 ahead and you can never afford to take your foot off
0:10:04 > 0:10:09the gas and I finished the match nicely. I'm playing with a lot of
0:10:09 > 0:10:13confidence. I'm seeing opportunities when I play rather than seeing the
0:10:13 > 0:10:17potential problems that can happen. My attitude to the game has changed
0:10:17 > 0:10:22slightly. I would probably give my game a seven, going on to eight this
0:10:22 > 0:10:27week. I'm a couple of shots here or there, a couple of bad moments of
0:10:27 > 0:10:32the cue ball, not putting it in the right place, from playing really
0:10:32 > 0:10:34clinical one visit to snooker. If I can sort that, it could be
0:10:34 > 0:10:37dangerous. A very good assessment of where
0:10:37 > 0:10:42he's. A good assessment of where he's this afternoon.He's always
0:10:42 > 0:10:46extremely honest. He's not stupid, he's bright and he knows the
0:10:46 > 0:10:51situation, 6-1 was a very square -- very flattering scoreline, Ricky
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Walden did not play anything like he can do and did not take his
0:10:55 > 0:10:59opportunities. On another day, it might have been three or four each.
0:10:59 > 0:11:05He's hitting the ball well enough to win the tournament, no doubt, it is
0:11:05 > 0:11:07the unforced errors and little lifelines to his opponent when it
0:11:07 > 0:11:12looks like he winning frames. Interesting hearing Shaun talking
0:11:12 > 0:11:15that he could be dangerous, he's going to be a very dangerous
0:11:15 > 0:11:20opponent for anyone if he irons out those mistakes.Every now and again
0:11:20 > 0:11:24he might make a century break and then he misses on 40 the easiest
0:11:24 > 0:11:28round and he did that a couple of times against Ricky Walden. Against
0:11:28 > 0:11:32the top players like Ronnie O'Sullivan or the other players
0:11:32 > 0:11:36playing really well in this tournament, he will get punished. He
0:11:36 > 0:11:40has the cut out those little mistakes and on his day, he's a
0:11:40 > 0:11:44handful for anybody and one of the best players in the world.This
0:11:44 > 0:11:48afternoon, we would talking about Ricky Walden playing with his back
0:11:48 > 0:11:52injuries. He once made a semifinal of the Crucible and you look at him
0:11:52 > 0:11:57now and you think, where is the Ricky Walden from a few years ago?
0:11:57 > 0:12:01He's making inroads to come back, he has had good results. In the last
0:12:01 > 0:12:06round, he beat Kyren Wilson by 6-2 who is a very good player. He just
0:12:06 > 0:12:11did not play well today, he did not play anything like he can do, but
0:12:11 > 0:12:14he's on the way back from having a bad back and terrible health issues,
0:12:14 > 0:12:18he will be glad to be near the business end of a major tournament
0:12:18 > 0:12:23but a little disappointed he did not do his stuff today.Firm favourite
0:12:23 > 0:12:25for the UK Championship is Ronnie O'Sullivan who is back in action
0:12:25 > 0:12:33this evening. He's taking on the Thai 22-year-old sensation Sunny
0:12:33 > 0:12:41Akani.I'm feeling very good and very happy about myself. I'm very,
0:12:41 > 0:12:46very happy to play with Ronnie in the next match. It is my dream to
0:12:46 > 0:12:58play with Ronnie. He's one of my idols.
0:12:58 > 0:13:04It is fantastic to play with him. The first match of snooker, it was
0:13:04 > 0:13:11with Stephen Hendry against Ken Doherty in the World Championship in
0:13:11 > 0:13:251997. I like Ronnie. Selby, Judd Trump. It is not the same, Ronnie is
0:13:25 > 0:13:30very very good at beating the best in the world. Mark Selby, his game
0:13:30 > 0:13:33is very good. Judd Trump, he's really attacking, he's very
0:13:33 > 0:13:42accurate. And Stephen Hendry, he's a machine. That is the biggest match
0:13:42 > 0:13:52of my career and my dream match to play with Ronnie and very happy and
0:13:52 > 0:14:06very surprised. Fantastic. Excited, displaying Ronnie's shots. Hopefully
0:14:06 > 0:14:10I will not miss a shot, not miss a safety.
0:14:10 > 0:14:18What a great interview, that is on BBC Two. Lovely to hear talking
0:14:18 > 0:14:24about a dream come true especially after dumping Barry Hawkins.To beat
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Barry Hawkins 6-0, not many players would have that on their CV and he
0:14:28 > 0:14:33played superbly well. A lovely young chap who goes round with his father,
0:14:33 > 0:14:36forever on the practice table. When he wins and he loses, he's out
0:14:36 > 0:14:42there. I think he's going to really enjoy it.This is this afternoon
0:14:42 > 0:14:45when he popped into the practice room. What a lovely interview and
0:14:45 > 0:14:49refreshing to hear him talking about watching his heroes and coming up
0:14:49 > 0:14:54against them tonight.Yes, fantastic match, great experience all week.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58That is a great result the Hawkins so you have you have to have
0:14:58 > 0:15:02confidence. As ever, so important at the beginning of these matches to
0:15:02 > 0:15:06get a good start. Just a couple of chances and getting involved, who
0:15:06 > 0:15:10knows what can happen? But you have to be careful, if Ronnie starts
0:15:10 > 0:15:15quickly, who knows?What would you say, be relaxed and enjoyed it?
0:15:15 > 0:15:20Exactly, play as if you have nothing to lose. Go out and smile and enjoy
0:15:20 > 0:15:25it and keep as calm as possible. Fantastic stuff and we wish him the
0:15:25 > 0:15:31best, you can see that on BBC Two. This is what is happening in the
0:15:31 > 0:15:34other match today, Martin Gould taking on Xiao Guodong, of China.
0:15:34 > 0:15:40When we left it, it was 2-2. We are now joining it in frame five and
0:15:40 > 0:15:48Martin Gould has a 30 point lead, it is Xiao to play commentary from
0:15:48 > 0:15:53Stephen Davies and Stephen Hendry. -- Steve Davis.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02Scoring opportunity for Xiao Guodong. A lovely angle to go into
0:16:02 > 0:16:07the bunch of greens. A big target. He might not feel that way inclined
0:16:07 > 0:16:13at the moment. He might not feel that confident. It could not be
0:16:13 > 0:16:25better on the green. He doesn't seem to have, when I have seen him as a
0:16:25 > 0:16:32youngster, he doesn't have the sea there he doesn't seem to have the
0:16:32 > 0:16:41flowing cue action. I can't remember the word used for it, Steve.
0:16:41 > 0:16:47Unflowing. He has put the cue ball in exactly the same position now to
0:16:47 > 0:16:53go into the pack of reds. You might as well have done it before. Perhaps
0:16:53 > 0:17:03he will choose another positional shot.Yes, well played. He did not
0:17:03 > 0:17:07go into the reds but it has turned out perfectly because he can stun
0:17:07 > 0:17:14this red into the same pocket.It does beg the question, why did you
0:17:14 > 0:17:18not do it the first time? You could not guarantee he would get it
0:17:18 > 0:17:22perfect on the green, the second. Regardless, this is now a great
0:17:22 > 0:17:30chance. And at some stage in this match, you would expect the
0:17:30 > 0:17:47standards to rise. Maybe it is who gets off the ground first.
0:17:53 > 0:18:00Yes, everyone has bad days, no doubt. Whoever wins this match, they
0:18:00 > 0:18:08know to play like this in the next round. Against whom we presume it
0:18:08 > 0:18:14will be Ronnie O'Sullivan, no disrespect his opponent. They will
0:18:14 > 0:18:24have to play a lot better. They are going to be sat on their chair for a
0:18:24 > 0:18:28long time, otherwise.
0:18:47 > 0:18:55I think the only red that is notable after this is to the right of the
0:18:55 > 0:19:06three, the right corner or the left middle.
0:19:08 > 0:19:15It looks to be quite straight, the black. So screw back and a touch to
0:19:15 > 0:19:22the right-hand side. Take the cue ball up the table.Not the best
0:19:22 > 0:19:35angle but he should get it right.He played it nicely. Even if he's not
0:19:35 > 0:19:41straight on the red, he can stomach the cue ball through, the black into
0:19:41 > 0:19:46the same pocket, he could possibly play the top spin to move the reds
0:19:46 > 0:19:58to the top middle, but I think the stun is the shot.He's going to need
0:19:58 > 0:20:12these remaining three reds.
0:20:12 > 0:20:21Cannon on the pink is ideal. Well played. Playing with a little more
0:20:21 > 0:20:31with them, Xiao Guodong, taking these well so far. -- more rhythm.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35He does not really want to be straight on the black, that is Kelis
0:20:35 > 0:20:38if he's. The shot he played previously, the screw-back shot, if
0:20:38 > 0:20:48he overdoes it, he could snooker himself with the pink.I don't know
0:20:48 > 0:21:00if he has checked to see if there's a plant into the left-hand corner.
0:21:00 > 0:21:14Because of the pink, that was the other side.
0:21:43 > 0:21:49He overhit that somewhat, and now this red is permissible. He just got
0:21:49 > 0:21:57a bit too much into it.Yes, the last thing he wanted was frame ball.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02To be difficult.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12It would be a horrible ending to this break, should you miss it.
0:22:20 > 0:22:29He got a kick on that. It is not his fault he got a kick, but it was his
0:22:29 > 0:22:38fault he was out of position.
0:22:43 > 0:22:55It could be a big moment in this match.
0:23:00 > 0:23:07He kind of playback shot like a hit and hope. Did not seem to have a
0:23:07 > 0:23:14plan to get on a colour. -- he kind of played that shot. Yellow and
0:23:14 > 0:23:25brown. Yes, this could be a bit of a moment in this match. Xiao Guodong
0:23:25 > 0:23:37should have been 3-2 ahead by now.
0:24:01 > 0:24:07I think I'm correct in saying that Martin Gould is still in with a
0:24:07 > 0:24:22chance of sneaking in to the top 16 in the race to the Masters. If that
0:24:22 > 0:24:27information has changed, I do apologise for my lack of knowledge.
0:24:27 > 0:24:32But I think yesterday, he was in the race. Depends on the results, of
0:24:32 > 0:24:36course.
0:24:48 > 0:24:56Well, because the pink is not on its spot, Martin Gould has played the
0:24:56 > 0:24:59pink to the left but it seems to have gone to the cushion a lot
0:24:59 > 0:25:06quicker than it went on.A lot of big bouncers we have had at the UK
0:25:06 > 0:25:11Championship. It seems to have been something we have not had to
0:25:11 > 0:25:24discuss. So this is a tricky cutback to hold for black.He hit it very
0:25:24 > 0:25:30nicely. To get over the disappointment of whether cue ball
0:25:30 > 0:25:38has ended up. So that was an excellent frame, Xiao Guodong should
0:25:38 > 0:25:42have got it and did not get position on the last red and Martin Gould
0:25:42 > 0:25:44takes the lead on 3-2.
0:25:47 > 0:25:54Martin Gould is back in front. This is frame six and it is Xiao to play.
0:26:43 > 0:26:50A good recovery from Guodong. A little bit of work to be done with
0:26:50 > 0:26:59the implements. Across the face of the black, it looks like, a bit of
0:26:59 > 0:27:06screw back. Strange. What happened there? It must have just caught the
0:27:06 > 0:27:12red, bounced the white ball a fraction. He thought he could screw
0:27:12 > 0:27:23back without touching that. Well, even though I said it looked like it
0:27:23 > 0:27:29was not going to be Guodong's day, he is not in an awful position, it
0:27:29 > 0:27:32is just his general standard he needs to increase if he is going to
0:27:32 > 0:27:37win. He is a player in this game that could potentially just fall
0:27:37 > 0:27:43over the line. It would be like pulling teeth. If it happens that
0:27:43 > 0:27:57way. But a win is a win.Two reds in the pink spot, I don't know if the
0:27:57 > 0:28:01bottom one will go into the top corner. He obviously doesn't think
0:28:01 > 0:28:06that. Sometimes you need to be a player down at the table to see the
0:28:06 > 0:28:12real angle, whether it goes or not. You feel for his own belief in
0:28:12 > 0:28:16winning this match that he has to win this frame at this visit. If he
0:28:16 > 0:28:21keeps failing, his confidence keeps taking a hit, you wonder how he can
0:28:21 > 0:28:22come back from it.
0:29:04 > 0:29:11Couldn't keep position on the blue, but always nice to have the Bal dock
0:29:11 > 0:29:12colours
0:29:12 > 0:29:15but always nice to have the Bal dock colours available. Let up of danger
0:29:15 > 0:29:21with those three reds to the right, could find yourself in a positional
0:29:21 > 0:29:26trap. So, he's playing down the right-hand side of the table. Looks
0:29:26 > 0:29:36to have over-screwed this by some distance... That's a long way out.
0:29:36 > 0:29:43So, this red into the middle pocket wasn't the one he played, but has a
0:29:43 > 0:29:46chance, obviously.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06Although you could say he was fortunate to have that red, he was
0:30:06 > 0:30:20that far out with his position, but it was a good pot.
0:30:21 > 0:30:3635 ahead. Red, colour, red.
0:30:57 > 0:31:03So, very similar to the last frame. Frame ball, he's left one which is
0:31:03 > 0:31:11missable.Doesn't have to play position, though. Should do, but
0:31:11 > 0:31:17doesn't have to. STEVE DAVIS: Position was more or
0:31:17 > 0:31:24less automatic. So he'll be feeling a bit better inside, that he's
0:31:24 > 0:31:35survived a little bit of a storm. STEPHEN HENDRY: Yeah, as you said
0:31:35 > 0:31:39before, Steve, although the last couple of frames he has had a couple
0:31:39 > 0:31:45of 60 breaks, he's not been playing well, but he's still 3-3.
0:31:50 > 0:31:5650 points find - very unlikely that you could get into the match from
0:31:56 > 0:32:02this position. So, barring snookers it will be 3-3 arablea real
0:32:02 > 0:32:11topsy-turvy affair, this. Zarco Donald Penn made it 4-3. Martin
0:32:11 > 0:32:16Gould then knocked in a couple of breaks to draw level again. Let's
0:32:16 > 0:32:25take you to frame nine, with Stephen Hendry and Steven Davis.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28STEVE DAVIS: Well, Martin Gould hoping to reap the rewards from his
0:32:28 > 0:32:35excellent safety shot. STEPHEN HENDRY: And talking about
0:32:35 > 0:32:40your scenario before, Steve, talking about winning the last two frames in
0:32:40 > 0:32:44one visit - I would fancy Martin Gould to be the more capable of
0:32:44 > 0:32:53doing that, winning if quick frames. -- winning two quick frames of. I
0:32:53 > 0:32:57think when he gets in, his positional play is just that little
0:32:57 > 0:33:05bit tighter than Xiao Guodong's.He missed that by miles!Perhaps his
0:33:05 > 0:33:14rest play is not good enough!That is an astonishing distance! He must
0:33:14 > 0:33:19have got unwanted side spin on it. The cue ball has ended up nowhere
0:33:19 > 0:33:26near where he wanted it.Xiao Guodong can play a very aggressive
0:33:26 > 0:33:31shot here, if he chooses, pot it and screw the cue ball through the reds,
0:33:31 > 0:33:37put them everywhere. He would have to be very unlucky not to be on a
0:33:37 > 0:33:39colour.
0:33:57 > 0:34:02Just got a duty to much forward momentum on the cue ball, it started
0:34:02 > 0:34:05to go forwards first, before it started to come back. Well, we've
0:34:05 > 0:34:15seen Martin miss a lot easier chances than this. Straight cueing,
0:34:15 > 0:34:20shots you practice all day long. Let's see how hard he hits this...
0:34:20 > 0:34:27No need to hit it hard. Hit kids do, though. Why is he screwing back?Why
0:34:27 > 0:34:32is he screwing back?! To get the right side of a red, but I mean,
0:34:32 > 0:34:39that red over the pocket... It makes that shot so much more difficult.
0:34:39 > 0:34:51Putting the extra pace in means that the ball won't drop in the whole. I
0:34:51 > 0:34:54don't think you would have seen Ronnie O'Sullivan play that shot as
0:34:54 > 0:34:59hard.
0:35:05 > 0:35:18Yeah, the priority there was just potting the blue.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25He's out on the table, he can see where that red is over the middle
0:35:25 > 0:35:34pocket. If he just pots the blue and stuns it dead. Surely he can get it
0:35:34 > 0:35:37back down the table again. I would love to know what was going through
0:35:37 > 0:35:42his mind there.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49This is tight - enough room, though.
0:36:00 > 0:36:13Now, will he risk cropping on the black? -- dropping. Oh, dear.Well,
0:36:13 > 0:36:20this is... This isn't good. He didn't have much of a cheque before
0:36:20 > 0:36:24he played that shot. That in itself was an error, not knowing exactly
0:36:24 > 0:36:31where the pink ball was going to spot. He always had this red with
0:36:31 > 0:36:43the extended rest, but not clever. Can hit drop on the black? I don't
0:36:43 > 0:36:48know if it's available to either corner... Probably some sort of
0:36:48 > 0:37:05cannon... Needs to be lucky here... And he has been, what a result!
0:37:08 > 0:37:10Well, he's played the aggressive shot, I suppose you could say
0:37:10 > 0:37:22fortune favours the brave. Just about going to drop in.
0:37:30 > 0:37:38That was in the middle when it started, ended up going in off the
0:37:38 > 0:37:44front jaw.Well, here's a chance for a frame-winning contribution. The
0:37:44 > 0:37:50first one fell short with a poor rest shot, but he shouldn't be
0:37:50 > 0:37:54needing the rest for a while here, if at all.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32Didn't really want to come away from the black, but must have felt he had
0:38:32 > 0:38:37to.
0:38:44 > 0:38:50Oh, and he's overhit that a little bit. But there's a red below the
0:38:50 > 0:38:57black that goes. Doesn't have to stay on the black, as I said, he can
0:38:57 > 0:39:04come back up the table. It's not ideal, is it, Stephen?I think he'll
0:39:04 > 0:39:09play for blue here.
0:39:16 > 0:39:32If he had gone the wrong side of the pink there, could have come unstuck.
0:39:56 > 0:40:01Well, he's kept this break going, and now starting to look more like
0:40:01 > 0:40:05prime position.
0:40:12 > 0:40:19One more positional shot he's got to get right, those five reds a bit
0:40:19 > 0:40:27crowded. Ideally, he would like to break them open and have an
0:40:27 > 0:40:35insurance red, get one over the corner. Perhaps he'll go into them
0:40:35 > 0:40:42now... I'm not sure he's got the angle. He would have liked to have
0:40:42 > 0:40:53been lower on the black. He may have to write the bullet and that
0:40:53 > 0:41:02apartment. -- he may have to bite the bullet. Guodong's only hope now,
0:41:02 > 0:41:06that after this next black, that somehow Martin Gould gets unlucky.
0:41:06 > 0:41:15It's a he's chance. -- it's a slim chance.
0:41:34 > 0:41:46The red to the right of the five is the one to cannon. He's played that
0:41:46 > 0:41:54well. He has a choice of two reds to either middle pocket. He's grimacing
0:41:54 > 0:42:01slightly, but this one on the left is OK, surely.
0:42:06 > 0:42:20Still a good positional shot. Should get this - and its frame over.
0:42:51 > 0:42:59Surprise in miss on the red. 69 points in front. That was a careless
0:42:59 > 0:43:08shot. JASON MOHAMMED: However he still
0:43:08 > 0:43:12took the frame, and Martin is now one frame away from the
0:43:12 > 0:43:23quarterfinals. Into the next frame, Xiao to break.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26STEVE DAVIS: I can't say that any player is favourite at this moment.
0:43:26 > 0:43:32STEPHEN HENDRY: Yeah, a player with Martin Gould's experience should
0:43:32 > 0:43:36have really seized that opportunity.
0:43:48 > 0:43:53Wrong side of the blue, so further away from the reds than he wanted.
0:43:53 > 0:43:56From what we've seen so far, I can't say that I'm absolutely confident of
0:43:56 > 0:44:04this is going in.
0:44:10 > 0:44:25Nice shot.Yeah, in the end, it was very well struck. But it's hard to
0:44:25 > 0:44:29know how many chances in the frame each player needs to get the job
0:44:29 > 0:44:43done.They are good for the morale, though, when you knock one in,
0:44:43 > 0:44:49especially after you've missed an easy one.Top spin is a strange
0:44:49 > 0:45:00choice for me here. It would be very hard to get right side of the blue.
0:45:00 > 0:45:05Just looking at where the break is going to end at the moment, aren't
0:45:05 > 0:45:10you? It's terrible, but it's been that type of game, you just fancy
0:45:10 > 0:45:18that this is going to be a frame-winning clearance. -- you just
0:45:18 > 0:45:23don't fancy. But we're talking about the best players in the world -
0:45:23 > 0:45:31they're just having a bad day at the office. It's not so easy to get back
0:45:31 > 0:45:40out into open play.He might choose to use the bunch here, there's every
0:45:40 > 0:45:43chance the cue ball will go up towards that end of the table where
0:45:43 > 0:45:55the colours are. He might possibly be on the pink. Exactly what he
0:45:55 > 0:46:06played, good shot.That was good thinking. Having criticised him for
0:46:06 > 0:46:18some bad thinking - that was the opposite. No! Actually I don't think
0:46:18 > 0:46:25he's even on a red! From Martin Gould's pass per if, once again,
0:46:25 > 0:46:32you've got to be pleased he's missed the blue. -- from Martin Gould's
0:46:32 > 0:46:48prospective. Does this one go past the, which yes, it does have.
0:46:50 > 0:46:56If you can't win the match from here, you can have no excuses.Well,
0:46:56 > 0:47:08he's 37 points behind, so he's basically looking at a clearance.
0:47:09 > 0:47:15If he doesn't do it from here, it's only the situation and the fact that
0:47:15 > 0:47:18he's not playing with full confidence. Another shake of the
0:47:18 > 0:47:25head - not where he wanted the cue ball to be.Looks as if he had a bad
0:47:25 > 0:47:31contact there that took some of the spin off the cue ball. Didn't sound
0:47:31 > 0:47:40like one.He might choose to play the cannon on the pink, leave the
0:47:40 > 0:47:47pink to the right middle here. Pretty straightforward shot - but I
0:47:47 > 0:47:50think at this stage nothing's straightforward.Could go off two
0:47:50 > 0:48:02cushions... A bit short of pace perhaps... That's a sign of tension.
0:48:02 > 0:48:10Yeah, tension in the arm. Blue in and out of baulk is never certain
0:48:10 > 0:48:23position the. -- never certain positionally. There's a lot at stake
0:48:23 > 0:48:34for Martin Gould.
0:48:34 > 0:48:39I think he's still involved the mix-up for the race to the Masters.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43Couldn't have played that much better.I was going to say, that
0:48:43 > 0:48:48could be the match-winning shot. Sometimes when you play a perfect
0:48:48 > 0:48:51positional shot, it just gets you right back in the right frame of
0:48:51 > 0:48:59mind, when you're struggling for position. Now he's in, I don't see
0:48:59 > 0:49:02him going wrong from here.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13Couldn't have slipped it up and placed it better. Is they're going
0:49:13 > 0:49:25to be one more twist? Will can hit it over the line in style here? --
0:49:25 > 0:49:34or can he get over the line?Shaking his head. He got in perfect has
0:49:34 > 0:49:39issued but then managed to leave himself the cannon, which he's done
0:49:39 > 0:49:58very well. Just a series of little stuns and screws now. Yeah,
0:49:58 > 0:50:02sometimes playing off the blue there's less Prussia than playing
0:50:02 > 0:50:09off the back. You've got four pockets to play for, rather than
0:50:09 > 0:50:16two. -- less pressure.
0:50:26 > 0:50:33STEVE DAVIS: Wouldn't want to leave himself dead straight on the pink.
0:50:33 > 0:50:38The line he's got on the red is perfect to make sure that he doesn't
0:50:38 > 0:50:49leave himself dead straight. So, pot the pink, off the side cushion, out
0:50:49 > 0:50:54into the open table - it really is a gilt-edged chance now to get over
0:50:54 > 0:51:02the line.Would you go up for the green here, Steve?Well, he should
0:51:02 > 0:51:13do. If he feels he's absolutely plumb on it, he could play for the
0:51:13 > 0:51:16blue, but really, if there is any tension in the arm, the green is a
0:51:16 > 0:51:28safer option.That's perfect on the blue, but if he had got straight on
0:51:28 > 0:51:36the blue...Yeah. Green gives more opportunities, but he looks good, he
0:51:36 > 0:51:43looks like he's got himself together and composed. He takes the lead by
0:51:43 > 0:51:50eight points. So, he needs up to the blue.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10A little bit further away from the green than would have been
0:52:10 > 0:52:20comfortable. Does he have to screw for the brown to the same pocket? He
0:52:20 > 0:52:27played it well. That's normally the big shot in clearing the colours,
0:52:27 > 0:52:31getting perfectly on the brown. Should be automatic from here.
0:52:37 > 0:52:50Steeling himself for the big effort to pot these two balls. He's done
0:52:50 > 0:52:57well, Martin Gould. He was 4-3 down, his won three frames in a row. Xiao
0:52:57 > 0:53:04Guodong has had plenty of chances to get back in this match. The crowd
0:53:04 > 0:53:08applauds, that's much more. It's been a good break, this, from Martin
0:53:08 > 0:53:16Gould. It's not been a pretty much to watch, by any means, but that
0:53:16 > 0:53:21doesn't matter from Martin Gould, who wins 6-4 to go through to the
0:53:21 > 0:53:23quarterfinals.
0:53:28 > 0:53:34Martin, good clearance and a big win?Definitely. It was a strange
0:53:34 > 0:53:37game, ebbing and flowing, I was going in front, he was going in
0:53:37 > 0:53:41front. It was one of those where I don't think either of us really got
0:53:41 > 0:53:46our true game together. Thankfully, I used a bit of knowledge and
0:53:46 > 0:53:51experience in the last two to make two good clearances, but I'm
0:53:51 > 0:53:54delighted to be through.It's your second UK quarterfinal in three
0:53:54 > 0:54:00years, so FI putting a decent run together here in York?There must be
0:54:00 > 0:54:02something about Christmas time, because the last couple of
0:54:02 > 0:54:09Christmases I've had a good run at some point. So, yeah, looks like
0:54:09 > 0:54:12there will be a fair few more Christmas presents having to be
0:54:12 > 0:54:16bought at some point this year.It has been a good season so far -
0:54:16 > 0:54:21semifinalist at the International Championship, things look like
0:54:21 > 0:54:25they're clicking for you?Yeah, to be fair, apart from the first event
0:54:25 > 0:54:29of the season, I've qualified for everything. It's not like I've not
0:54:29 > 0:54:33been playing half decent, it's just I've not really had the good results
0:54:33 > 0:54:38to show. And the last couple of events, Shanghai, now this,
0:54:38 > 0:54:44everything is starting to work towards the main target, which is
0:54:44 > 0:54:47obviously the World Championships at the end of the season. So,
0:54:47 > 0:54:52everything's going along nicely, so just keep wheels in motion.And
0:54:52 > 0:54:55potentially, although he is not guaranteed to be your opponent, but
0:54:55 > 0:54:59in all likelihood it will be Ronnie O'Sullivan - what an occasion that
0:54:59 > 0:55:04would be?Yeah, it would be, definitely. Tact house, obviously, I
0:55:04 > 0:55:11don't think many people would expect in me to win, and the crowd will
0:55:11 > 0:55:17certainly be on Ronnie's side I know what I can do on my given day. If it
0:55:17 > 0:55:30means that I'm playing him tomorrow, then let the show begin.Well done.
0:55:30 > 0:55:34Mohamed label fair play to Martin Gould, he's been saying all week he
0:55:34 > 0:55:38is feeling confident and in the groove?Yeah, it is a lovely way to
0:55:38 > 0:55:44win a match. Stephen made the point in commentary, he made two really
0:55:44 > 0:55:50good frames, 69 and 66 to get over the line.Yeah, very good, the way
0:55:50 > 0:55:55he finish off. He can do that. When he gets on run, it doesn't matter
0:55:55 > 0:55:58who he is playing in the next match, he won't care, he worries about
0:55:58 > 0:56:03himself, and that's the best way to be.Rob and Martin were just talking
0:56:03 > 0:56:08about Ronnie O'Sullivan, and he takes on the man who is practising
0:56:08 > 0:56:12in there, big occasion for the young man?Yeah, massive, the biggest in
0:56:12 > 0:56:17his career so far. We mentioned earlier, go and enjoy it, come out
0:56:17 > 0:56:21with a smile on your face, all part of the learning curve, you never
0:56:21 > 0:56:26know.Absolutely, with seems strange results.Yeah, we've had some shots
0:56:26 > 0:56:30this week but it's going to be a great occasion for him.Boys, really
0:56:30 > 0:56:35enjoyed your company as well. That's our first match tonight on BBC Two
0:56:35 > 0:56:40at seven o'clock. And later on this evening, the highlights. Thank you
0:56:40 > 0:56:48very much indeed for watching. Bye for now.