0:00:34 > 0:00:38Hello, it's great to be back in the fabulous city of your work and we
0:00:38 > 0:00:44are here for the 15th event in what has been a very exciting World
0:00:44 > 0:00:48Snooker tour but the stock is extra special because this is the first of
0:00:48 > 0:00:52snooker's three majors in any season, it is the UK Championship
0:00:52 > 0:00:57and we are surrounded by 2000 years of history from the Romans, the
0:00:57 > 0:01:00Normans, the Vikings, through the medieval ages and beyond and there's
0:01:00 > 0:01:06no doubt that your work itself has played a very significant part in
0:01:06 > 0:01:09the long, well travelled 40 year history of this event.
0:01:15 > 0:01:22The champion man for the United Kingdom, 1977, the 26-year-old
0:01:22 > 0:01:33Irishman, Patsy Fagan. Alex Higgins is the UK champion of the 1983.
0:01:33 > 0:01:43Steve Davis has now won the UK Championship six times. Tonight,
0:01:43 > 0:01:4917-year-old Ronnie O'Sullivan. The United Kingdom champion, Stephen
0:01:49 > 0:01:57Hendry. This year's United Kingdom champion, Mark Williams.
0:01:57 > 0:02:05Unbelievable, a star is born, Ding Junhui. 2010 UK champion, John
0:02:05 > 0:02:21Higgins. The triple Crown! New Robertson. 2016 UK champion, Mark
0:02:21 > 0:02:27Selby.
0:02:30 > 0:02:351977 in Blackpool is where it all began, so it's happy 40th
0:02:35 > 0:02:38anniversary to the event and to this rather beautiful by the chunky
0:02:38 > 0:02:43silver trophy. Most of the game yet ingrates have one might get, not all
0:02:43 > 0:02:48of them on the Suite 128 players descend upon your work, or trying to
0:02:48 > 0:02:52become the latest to have their name inscribed upon it. Not surprisingly
0:02:52 > 0:02:56with the first round getting underway on Tuesday and that amount
0:02:56 > 0:03:01of match traffic here in the Barbican centre, we have had the odd
0:03:01 > 0:03:05unexpected bump along the way will start particularly and more
0:03:05 > 0:03:11surprisingly from the world number two, Ding Junhui. He was cruising
0:03:11 > 0:03:225-1 up against world number up but Fernandez left into action. Not that
0:03:22 > 0:03:27first time he's come a cropper early in this event. He has gone and
0:03:27 > 0:03:32another moment, Matthew Stevens has picked up the trophy 14 years ago
0:03:32 > 0:03:45but it did not faze him. Came through 6-3. 25 years after Jimmy
0:03:45 > 0:03:50White won the UK crown, he knocked out Ali Carter at the tender age of
0:03:50 > 0:04:0255. Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis would still like to be out strutting
0:04:02 > 0:04:08their stuff. Did not just get over the line, asset and 61 to clean it
0:04:08 > 0:04:14up.We don't wish Ali Carter any ill, but for Jimmy White, how
0:04:14 > 0:04:17wonderful to be in the televised stages. Been on a good run recently.
0:04:17 > 0:04:23A few wins has been great for the morale.The notable knockout, Ding
0:04:23 > 0:04:28Junhui and in comparison with when you guys were in Europe on, how
0:04:28 > 0:04:38treacherous are the early stages? Potentially for guys at the top.In
0:04:38 > 0:04:41tournaments, playing solid for the last couple of months and one
0:04:41 > 0:04:43tournament rolling into the other and these players getting used to
0:04:43 > 0:04:49playing the top players more often. They know that even after 15 events
0:04:49 > 0:04:53some of them have been playing in, they come here with the first major
0:04:53 > 0:04:58of the season, how different is that feeling as you build towards it?The
0:04:58 > 0:05:03very top players, Mark Selby today, he prioritises these events, this
0:05:03 > 0:05:07one, the Masters in January and the World Championship, he took last
0:05:07 > 0:05:10week off in Northern Ireland and it shows you what this tournament means
0:05:10 > 0:05:14to him.It is the man of the season so far?You have to say Ronnie
0:05:14 > 0:05:19O'Sullivan is making a good case for that, four finals, converted two of
0:05:19 > 0:05:23them, special mention to Mark Williams, who under difficult
0:05:23 > 0:05:26circumstances won and proving once again that the over 40s can still
0:05:26 > 0:05:30win on the main tour.That was brilliant, I must say and we will
0:05:30 > 0:05:36see my opinion because this is the start of the second round today, 64
0:05:36 > 0:05:44players, left. It will be a blur of cues and human. Faster moving than
0:05:44 > 0:05:50Debian EDS and -- Debbie McGee's footwork.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Ken Doherty making the most of his special Invitational status on the
0:06:08 > 0:06:10tour these days, going great guns.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25Mark Williams, great return to the winners enclosure in Belfast at the
0:06:25 > 0:06:31weekend. In the other venue, just adjacent to this one, four matches.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Ryan Day, who at long last as a trophy winner after claiming the
0:06:35 > 0:06:41Masters in July and then there will be Peter Ebdon, a former world and
0:06:41 > 0:06:44UK champion, very much on the scene and no doubt he has been meditating
0:06:44 > 0:06:51or swimming through miles and preparing and nut roast. He knows we
0:06:51 > 0:06:51love
0:06:51 > 0:06:53preparing and nut roast. He knows we love him really. When he's not
0:06:53 > 0:06:57competing, he will be a part of our broadcast team. We welcome another
0:06:57 > 0:07:02member of that team here, Scott is alongside John Parrott in the
0:07:02 > 0:07:08adjacent venue, but John, has he brought his tartan suit?Sadly they
0:07:08 > 0:07:14are no more. Why is that?I auctioned them a couple of years ago
0:07:14 > 0:07:18after a run at the Crucible and the charity got a few quid out of it,
0:07:18 > 0:07:24which was nice, just plain black. Four tables and here this afternoon,
0:07:24 > 0:07:28you are an old dog and been around the place, this isn't going to
0:07:28 > 0:07:32bother you playing in here.I don't care, as long as the table is good,
0:07:32 > 0:07:37I don't care. Being around the block a few times and I'm looking forward
0:07:37 > 0:07:42to playing regardless. There is incentive, you when you match and
0:07:42 > 0:07:46then you will be in the main hall. That's fair enough. Two Chinese
0:07:46 > 0:07:51players. Four in the quarterfinal of the last event, some good players
0:07:51 > 0:08:03now.There are lots coming through, 22 on the two, a big number. About
0:08:03 > 0:08:12nine professionals. Only 17, he will do big things. A lot to look out
0:08:12 > 0:08:16for.We will keep you up-to-date with what goes on in the afternoon.
0:08:16 > 0:08:23Allen plays tomorrow afternoon. First it is the reigning UK and
0:08:23 > 0:08:27world champion Mark Selby. He won this title in this arena against
0:08:27 > 0:08:32Ronnie O'Sullivan in a memorable final 12 months ago. He is as secure
0:08:32 > 0:08:39at the top of the world rankings as gold bullion in a sea of Internet
0:08:39 > 0:08:43investments. His unbroken run as world number one stretches almost to
0:08:43 > 0:08:48three years and with six big titles in the last 16 months, you could say
0:08:48 > 0:08:56this is Mark Selby's goal than you are.The first day I was really
0:08:56 > 0:08:59fatigued and it showed in my performance. The second day I felt
0:08:59 > 0:09:04more confident, I knew I was still in the match when I was a long way
0:09:04 > 0:09:09behind. The final was really tough against John, to play him again in
0:09:09 > 0:09:14the final of the world, last time I lost him.2017 World Snooker
0:09:14 > 0:09:20champion, Mark Selby.The first time a special but the feeling was just
0:09:20 > 0:09:25as good winning it this time.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36The first session, I sort of control that, in front and the night session
0:09:36 > 0:09:42was some of the best that could I have played for a long time. Got
0:09:42 > 0:09:45back to 8-7 and I thought that he keeps performing like he did and
0:09:45 > 0:09:51goes on and wins, I would have no complaints. When I did get my chance
0:09:51 > 0:10:01I stayed calm and managed to finish off the match well. In the UK you
0:10:01 > 0:10:06look at the years, all the history, the great names picking on the
0:10:06 > 0:10:11trophy and it inspires you looking at that trophy to try to win it
0:10:11 > 0:10:16again.UK champion, Mark Selby! APPLAUSE
0:10:16 > 0:10:21I had been number one for a period of time. I see that as a challenge.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Makes me want to work harder on the practice table and do a lot better
0:10:24 > 0:10:32in my career and try to win more tournaments. Today Mark Selby
0:10:32 > 0:10:35playing 23-year-old Scott Donaldson who has beaten Mark Selby before and
0:10:35 > 0:10:39the European tour event a couple of years ago and the Paris batting
0:10:39 > 0:10:49machine scored well to get by in his round with two -- potting machine.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54He is facing one of the most high profile matches of his life in this,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57the first major of the season and we are about to get underway and the
0:10:57 > 0:11:02rest of them with our MC. Phil Seymour.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03A
0:11:03 > 0:11:08A very warm welcome to the York Barbican for the UK Championships
0:11:08 > 0:11:13and time to meet the players. We begin with the 1997 world champion,
0:11:13 > 0:11:19the darling of Dublin, Ken Doherty.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28APPLAUSE
0:11:35 > 0:11:40And his opponent, the two time UK champion, the Thunder from Down
0:11:40 > 0:11:45Under, Neil Robertson.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49APPLAUSE
0:12:02 > 0:12:11Now, former ranking event semifinalists, Scott Donaldson.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14APPLAUSE
0:12:23 > 0:12:27And now, the world number one, the world champion and the reigning and
0:12:27 > 0:12:35defending UK champion, the Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby.
0:12:37 > 0:12:42APPLAUSE
0:12:47 > 0:12:53Here go, we will watch the opening exchanges the Donaldson match, the
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Robertson, Ken Doherty match is appealing and it is on the red
0:12:56 > 0:13:03button. You can see it uninterrupted on the BBC website. We are all
0:13:03 > 0:13:08strapped on for another nine days of play and that's enough to make
0:13:08 > 0:13:16Stephen Hendry and Dennis giddy with excitement. Always get giddy when
0:13:16 > 0:13:19the UK Championship comes around. COMMENTATOR: Cannot wait for this
0:13:19 > 0:13:23match to start.
0:13:23 > 0:13:32To Scott Donaldson who gets it underway. Best of 11 but even with
0:13:32 > 0:13:35that, you feel he has to get off to a pretty good stadia up against the
0:13:35 > 0:13:40number one. -- pretty good start.
0:13:44 > 0:13:51Couldn't have picked a tougher opponent. Possibly O'Sullivan as
0:13:51 > 0:13:59well as the two best players in the world, big test for Scott
0:13:59 > 0:14:04Donaldson's game. Every aspect of it will get tested today.
0:14:06 > 0:14:14Also a test for the world number one. Indifferent form last or two.
0:14:14 > 0:14:26-- the last month or two.Didn't get that close to that attempt at a long
0:14:26 > 0:14:33pot. The pink and black are tied up. I think you can remove the cue ball
0:14:33 > 0:14:36around the table from the blue year.
0:14:49 > 0:15:01Nice little flick. As you say, there is no easy chance with the two high
0:15:01 > 0:15:05value colours out of commission at the moment.
0:15:09 > 0:15:18That's a long way short. Sheik of the head. Very talented player from
0:15:18 > 0:15:28Perth. -- shake of the head. Got to the semifinal of the Welsh Open.
0:15:28 > 0:15:34That will have given him a certain amount of confidence.I have seen
0:15:34 > 0:15:41this young man play for years. Managed to practice in sterling,
0:15:41 > 0:15:52played in all the Junior league's.
0:15:56 > 0:16:02Leagues. That black is locked up. It makes for a slow start the Frewen.
0:16:02 > 0:16:09When you get an opportunity, it's so difficult to score points.
0:16:25 > 0:16:32Not the best safety but he wanted to open the reds up and he has
0:16:32 > 0:16:38certainly done that but left though quite a long way short but no easy
0:16:38 > 0:16:48start for Scott here. Just this safety. We'll be heading back up
0:16:48 > 0:17:03towards the yellow here. He didn't want that double-kiss.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08Looked as if he played it OK and catching that other red caused it to
0:17:08 > 0:17:20cannon into the red. First chance for Mark Selby.
0:17:21 > 0:17:27Still got quite a bit to do. The balls are opened up much better now
0:17:27 > 0:17:32but the pink and black still awkward.Interesting there, he
0:17:32 > 0:17:38concentrated on potting the red. Didn't make any effort to screw the
0:17:38 > 0:17:44cue ball back up to be high on the blue.
0:17:58 > 0:18:04May have to come twice across the table.
0:18:07 > 0:18:13He was able to hold one cushion. First decent scoring chance of this
0:18:13 > 0:18:20frame you would say.
0:18:48 > 0:18:57The pink is available. I think it's sitting on the pot,
0:18:57 > 0:19:01won't tie the pink up.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12That's the number he is looking for there, 66.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17That's to leave his opponent needing a snooker. A lot of balls to pot
0:19:17 > 0:19:19before he gets there.
0:19:20 > 0:19:26An excellent chance now. Having said that, as he drops
0:19:26 > 0:19:31straight on the blue I think he has a slight angle.
0:19:31 > 0:19:44All the great players have a knack of starting well in matches, more so
0:19:44 > 0:19:47than Stephen Hendry sitting next to me the number of times they'd start
0:19:47 > 0:19:57a match with a frame-winning break and a lot of the times a century.
0:20:04 > 0:20:12You could see the way he reacted there. He knew he hadn't played that
0:20:12 > 0:20:14as he intended.
0:20:15 > 0:20:23That will be difficult to keep the break going here.
0:20:30 > 0:20:36That was all he could do with the blue there being tight on the
0:20:36 > 0:20:46cushion.
0:21:18 > 0:21:29He has played a good safety there. He feels he can get past the pink
0:21:29 > 0:21:38and blue but there's not much sticking out there.
0:21:49 > 0:21:55Being very careful here, because he knows one mistake and he could lose
0:21:55 > 0:22:02this opening frame.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17You are right, Dennis, I think that's cost him the frame, that
0:22:17 > 0:22:21shot. I presume he was just playing the red dead straight to knock the
0:22:21 > 0:22:27red off two cushions and leave the cue ball in this left corner pocket.
0:22:27 > 0:22:39But the dreaded double kiss.It's not straightforward, the black looks
0:22:39 > 0:22:44as if it's not available into either corner. We will find out shortly
0:22:44 > 0:22:52whether it is or not. Maybe it is. It's just where it's
0:22:52 > 0:23:00going to when it's respoted. Just enough room to pass the red there.
0:23:02 > 0:23:09Had to play it into the left half of the pocket as we looked at it there.
0:23:09 > 0:23:16Is there enough room? The referee will just check with his ball marker
0:23:16 > 0:23:21there.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Doesn't really matter that the black is tied up. He has the pink and blue
0:23:27 > 0:23:33to work with here.
0:24:50 > 0:24:57Won't be happy with that one.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22He is quite a tall player, Mark Selby, about 6'3", and very useful
0:25:22 > 0:25:30there to stretch over the corner pocket and get to that shot.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37I have noticed, Stephen, down the years we have seen Mark with his
0:25:37 > 0:25:40head shaking around quite a bit, doesn't seem to be moving as much
0:25:40 > 0:25:46now. Still a slight movement there but it's something he has always
0:25:46 > 0:25:51done.
0:25:53 > 0:26:04Yeah, it's turned into a comfortable win in this first frame.
0:26:06 > 0:26:13Mistakes from Scott Donaldson has cost him this frame. Mark Selby does
0:26:13 > 0:26:23what he does best, just mopped things up.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48Wow, that's a terrific shot there. You could see the white leave the
0:26:48 > 0:26:57table he hit it that hard, it hit the blue and jumped up in the air.
0:26:59 > 0:27:05You can just see enough of this, I think.
0:27:21 > 0:27:33Every chance now that he can clear the remaining balls here. Needed a
0:27:33 > 0:27:43couple of chances, Scott had a couple of DDKs as we call them, the
0:27:43 > 0:27:50dreaded double kiss. That's what cost him the opening frame.Yeah,
0:27:50 > 0:27:58you can have that one, Dennis. It's been a solid start, though, for Mark
0:27:58 > 0:28:12Selby. Looked his normal calm, composed self.
0:28:27 > 0:28:33He is not bothered about the blue. Needed a couple of bites at the
0:28:33 > 0:28:38cherry, he certainly took the third one and has taken this opening frame
0:28:38 > 0:28:44very comfortably indeed. STUDIO: The world number one
0:28:44 > 0:28:48comfortable here in York. We are comfortable too in the players'
0:28:48 > 0:28:51lounge. There's so much going on here right now that this is where we
0:28:51 > 0:28:56have to be until we can get into the old sports hall. It's lovely to be
0:28:56 > 0:28:59with the players' friends and families, we get a real feel for the
0:28:59 > 0:29:04event.I think our studio is table five currently.I think it is!
0:29:04 > 0:29:08They're moving all the cups and everything around.Yes, all the bags
0:29:08 > 0:29:13of stuff under the table, but we won't go into that. In terms of
0:29:13 > 0:29:16comfort levels Scott Donaldson not feeling so comfortable, a mistake
0:29:16 > 0:29:21from him earlier that gifted that. Ultimately that frame was decided by
0:29:21 > 0:29:25one of those shots where you try to roll the ball to a corner pocket
0:29:25 > 0:29:28hoping you are going to get away with it. That didn't happen. For the
0:29:28 > 0:29:34likes of the players like Scott Donaldson, coming into the televised
0:29:34 > 0:29:38stages is a much harder ask to beat the likes of a Mark Selby, compared
0:29:38 > 0:29:42to the first round. We always get shocks in the first round. TV raises
0:29:42 > 0:29:46the bar a bit. Obviously, this is Mark Selby's office.Sure is. Back
0:29:46 > 0:29:52into that office we go.
0:30:04 > 0:30:09COMMENTATOR:Mark Selby breaks off. Again the black looks to be tied up.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13The red to the left is not available at the moment. I think there is a
0:30:13 > 0:30:23red available for Scott to take on. Left corner.
0:30:26 > 0:30:32Don't think he can shy away from these if he wants to win today.
0:30:32 > 0:30:38Can't really seeing beating Mark Selby in a tactical battle. He is
0:30:38 > 0:30:44going to play the containing shot. There's no one better at this game
0:30:44 > 0:30:50than this man coming to the table now. He will be busy, Scott, beating
0:30:50 > 0:31:04Mark Selby at this game.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20I think he got away with the one to the corner. We showed you the
0:31:20 > 0:31:25attempt to the middle, catching the job and heading towards the corner
0:31:25 > 0:31:32pocket. There is one into the right corner. Interesting to see how he
0:31:32 > 0:31:39plays this. He is going to try to develop the pack and put everything
0:31:39 > 0:31:49into the pot, it's got to go in, that has to be said. Not the easiest
0:31:49 > 0:32:00of positional shots, that's for sure.
0:32:03 > 0:32:10Needed just a little bit of luck and he didn't get any. Got the red. The
0:32:10 > 0:32:23red of corner pocket can make it past the green. Getting it back on
0:32:23 > 0:32:31the black spot as long as he covers the one over the corner pocket. Did
0:32:31 > 0:32:42not get any luck whatsoever. The first pot was very important.But
0:32:42 > 0:32:54not even to finish with a decent safety shot.
0:33:06 > 0:33:16You might be able to pot that but no colours.
0:33:27 > 0:33:38Potential situation here. Not just yet for that red into the corner
0:33:38 > 0:33:48pocket.
0:34:45 > 0:34:50He's got to find a spot on the cushion, he doesn't need the wanted
0:34:50 > 0:34:55to the left little or the right corner. Will he work that out? --
0:34:55 > 0:35:03left middle. Didn't leave the one to the left middle but the other red,
0:35:03 > 0:35:11might just be the past for it.The fact that Scott is looking at the
0:35:11 > 0:35:21path of the cue ball, there is pressure on it.It's a key shot
0:35:21 > 0:35:25early on in the second frame. Looks like he may cannon the brown, all
0:35:25 > 0:35:32about the red.
0:35:35 > 0:35:43He did cannon the brown but he will take that. Terrific pot. That is a
0:35:43 > 0:35:47confidence booster for the young Scot.
0:35:47 > 0:35:55APPLAUSE
0:36:20 > 0:36:25If he can play for the blue, get an angle for the blue to get onto the
0:36:25 > 0:36:29pink.Excellent time to do it because he has got that red towards
0:36:29 > 0:36:35the left middle pocket should display split go right. Deciding not
0:36:35 > 0:36:40to play for the blue in that instance. Green, red to the right of
0:36:40 > 0:36:45the green and then definitely play for an angle on the blue.
0:36:57 > 0:37:03Might not be able to do that now but has let the cue ball went further
0:37:03 > 0:37:11than intended, so will play for a baulk colour. The only problem is if
0:37:11 > 0:37:18it comes off the side cushion, the red could cannon into the reds.
0:37:18 > 0:37:23Stephen's option was much better and he won't be able to do that now. Not
0:37:23 > 0:37:28a good chance just yet.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37There is a red at the back of the bunch that is also available. Cannot
0:37:37 > 0:37:40really come off the side cushion into the pink and red is because the
0:37:40 > 0:37:50loose red is blocking the path. He will play for the loose red.
0:38:06 > 0:38:13Just taking a while while a few spectators get in. Four tables, as
0:38:13 > 0:38:23you can see, all was going to be some distraction. That seemed to
0:38:23 > 0:38:27spring off the cushion. Matt white ball flew off the side cushion and
0:38:27 > 0:38:32he is out of position.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46He can really afford to do this, Stephen, against Mark Selby, has to
0:38:46 > 0:38:53take full advantage and he has let it slip there?It wasn't the best
0:38:53 > 0:38:59brick building at the start of that break, he didn't really see the
0:38:59 > 0:39:06opportunities, the way to get into the pack as soon as possible. Going
0:39:06 > 0:39:10back to what Steve said, being on the TV cable, sometimes when you are
0:39:10 > 0:39:13put out of your comfort zone you don't think the same way you
0:39:13 > 0:39:27normally do. Definitely not the best planning at the start of that break.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06I think this is why it's so important that Scott takes his
0:41:06 > 0:41:10chances because Stephen mentioned, against Mark Selby, his tactical and
0:41:10 > 0:41:14safety game is one of the best we've ever had in the game. When you do
0:41:14 > 0:41:24get a chance, you got to really take it. Easier said than done. Big match
0:41:24 > 0:41:27for Scott.
0:41:39 > 0:41:44At least he's got in the back of his mind that he has beaten Mark Selby
0:41:44 > 0:41:48stub a couple of years ago he beat him in a European tour event 4-2.
0:41:48 > 0:42:04Then the English open he only lost on the deciding frame, 4-3.
0:42:39 > 0:42:46What it also means is that Scott has got to play at telling safety shot
0:42:46 > 0:42:50to try to put Mark Selby in a spot of bother so he can get a possible
0:42:50 > 0:43:05chance. There is no easy safety on here or one that can put Mark and a
0:43:05 > 0:43:15bit of bother.
0:43:38 > 0:43:43We have given you just a taster. You might see a snooker starter here in
0:43:43 > 0:43:49York in the UK Championship. The main course, if you like will
0:43:49 > 0:43:52continue on BBC Two and it will do until six o'clock this evening. We
0:43:52 > 0:43:56are going there now for continued coverage on the second round of the
0:43:56 > 0:43:57UK Championship and I