Second Round - Part 2

0:00:33 > 0:00:38I'll come back to the Barbican centre for our first day of coverage

0:00:38 > 0:00:44of the first of the three major championships in any given season,

0:00:44 > 0:00:49the Betway UK Championship and reappear in the lounge with Steve

0:00:49 > 0:00:54Davis, you have won six UK titles, the only record you still own the

0:00:54 > 0:00:59these days. But my change, Ronnie O'Sullivan could match your record,

0:00:59 > 0:01:04he starts in round two tomorrow but it is the reigning champion, Mark

0:01:04 > 0:01:10Selby, but we are watching. In round two this afternoon, Borini UK and

0:01:10 > 0:01:16world champion and he is playing Scott Donaldson. From Perth and

0:01:16 > 0:01:19Scotland, world number 66. Playing one of the most high-profile matches

0:01:19 > 0:01:25of his career so far, this man has made it to the semifinals of the

0:01:25 > 0:01:30Welsh Open, his greatest progression in his career. He has beaten mark on

0:01:30 > 0:01:34one previous occasion but he has his hands full with the man who just

0:01:34 > 0:01:40thrives in these big major events. We can return with the score at 1-0

0:01:40 > 0:01:46to Mark Selby, Stephen Hendrie is an commentary, alongside Dennis Taylor.

0:01:50 > 0:02:01Thank you. As we can see Mark rolling up behind the yellow, he has

0:02:01 > 0:02:05a chance, knocking that cracking long red to go in and looked like he

0:02:05 > 0:02:11was going to go on to make a winning contribution and look at where he

0:02:11 > 0:02:14left that cube all, the red over the left corner. And he has snookered

0:02:14 > 0:02:25himself on the red ball.

0:03:05 > 0:03:11He was a little bit fortunate, the cue ball just grazing the blue. It

0:03:11 > 0:03:15would be somewhere up in that direction anyway, but he has been

0:03:15 > 0:03:22staggered. If you can get to this one, just to the left of the table.

0:03:29 > 0:03:32Mark got in, just as we were switching channels, and this was a

0:03:32 > 0:03:39long red he got in, I thought he was going to go on to make a big break

0:03:39 > 0:03:44but he just left that white tight against the reds.

0:03:53 > 0:03:57I am not sure if this red will go past the green, it might do.

0:04:05 > 0:04:09Yes, every chance of getting onto the black. Oh, no!

0:04:14 > 0:04:23A long way off. There is no real pressure on that one. And Scott just

0:04:23 > 0:04:27tying his shoelace.

0:04:32 > 0:04:37He can play this red to the far left corner, he will not leave anything,

0:04:37 > 0:04:41the only red that he can leave is the one that he is playing. There is

0:04:41 > 0:04:51not much pressure on this one. Concentrate, Orlando %. -- 100%.

0:04:51 > 0:04:57That is a long way off as well. These are only half chances but

0:04:57 > 0:05:01these are the chances he has to take to win this game.

0:05:45 > 0:05:53Scott feels... He was looking at the potting angle, he can miss those

0:05:53 > 0:05:57reds, onto the pink, playing the safety shot. He did have a look at

0:05:57 > 0:06:02that potting angle but that was risky. I think he is still quite

0:06:02 > 0:06:06tense, Scott. The last attempt at the long red showed that he has not

0:06:06 > 0:06:08fully relaxed just yet.

0:06:32 > 0:06:40He has to get that white back to somewhere near where it is sitting

0:06:40 > 0:06:43at the moment, tighter on the cushion with the letter and he can

0:06:43 > 0:06:53screw off the cushion. Well, he tried to screw that straight back.

0:06:53 > 0:06:59Just getting a little bit of a messy table, all of those lower value

0:06:59 > 0:07:03colours, all off their spots.

0:07:13 > 0:07:19The red directly below the pink, potting to the right middle. That is

0:07:19 > 0:07:31risky to take on. I wonder if Mark will -- Mark will be tempted. He is

0:07:31 > 0:07:45taking the long red, the same pocket. That was a great shot!

0:07:45 > 0:07:50Played with a degree of safety, where the cue ball is.

0:09:47 > 0:09:50He think he is looking at the none too reds to see if there is a

0:09:50 > 0:09:54possible plant into the right middle, I do not think he can get

0:09:54 > 0:09:57past the black to see if there is enough of that to take that plant

0:09:57 > 0:10:03on, it is not far-away... He cannot see enough of the red to have a go

0:10:03 > 0:10:13at that.If he leaves the cue ball and plays the red, just touching the

0:10:13 > 0:10:18pink, off the left-hand side, that leaves the Care Bill up near that

0:10:18 > 0:10:23yellow pocket, not a safe place. -- cue ball.

0:10:43 > 0:10:49He would have to be pretty accurate but that is a possibility.Well,

0:10:49 > 0:10:57that is on the cushion, that is a big help. It has worked out that the

0:10:57 > 0:11:02red would not pass the blue, the one near the yellow spot.

0:11:06 > 0:11:17Or does it? It does. So, that wasn't the best shot from Scott.It is

0:11:17 > 0:11:21amazing, he came around to look after playing the shot so it

0:11:21 > 0:11:24obviously he did not look before playing that safety shot so that is

0:11:24 > 0:11:28pretty careless, if that is the case.

0:12:12 > 0:12:16Well, he thought any sort of cannon and he would be nicely on the red

0:12:16 > 0:12:19and it is amazing how things work out sometimes. He played that well

0:12:19 > 0:12:32enough. But... Absolutely nothing. And very thin snick, if you take

0:12:32 > 0:12:38that on to the right corner. APPLAUSE.

0:12:46 > 0:12:53I suppose he is looking at the possibility of cutting that in, he

0:12:53 > 0:12:57would not really leave a great deal, but this is so thin.

0:13:05 > 0:13:07Well, it is in. APPLAUSE.

0:13:35 > 0:13:40He will have to play for the red knew of the brown, here. -- near the

0:13:40 > 0:13:48brown. I don't think he will be taking that on now. The cue ball

0:13:48 > 0:13:50behind the brown.

0:13:56 > 0:14:00Yes, the green is there as insurance if he does not get tight behind the

0:14:00 > 0:14:01brown.

0:14:14 > 0:14:22Problems for Scott. He probably will attempt the two-cushion escape just

0:14:22 > 0:14:30to glance off... The one near the pink, you would think.

0:14:37 > 0:14:41There is no easy one to just land on, that one is near the cushion.

0:14:41 > 0:14:48There is no path through to that so that two-cushion flick to the red.

0:14:48 > 0:14:59Is he trying to land on one of them? The two-cushion, has he judged that?

0:14:59 > 0:15:02That is pretty good, that is a very good effort.

0:15:08 > 0:15:10He might be behind the brown again, here.

0:16:03 > 0:16:10APPLAUSE. That looks like being the

0:16:10 > 0:16:11frame-winning shot.

0:16:17 > 0:16:22I think Scott Donaldson has to do something different, he has to shake

0:16:22 > 0:16:28things up, the way thing is going, he is not putting Mark Selby under

0:16:28 > 0:16:33any pressure, these continuing safety exchanges. If it keeps going

0:16:33 > 0:16:36like this, you can only see one result and that is a comfortable

0:16:36 > 0:16:38afternoon for the world number one.

0:16:43 > 0:16:47Yes, he could do with a good chance in amongst the balls, just to get

0:16:47 > 0:16:52some confidence. Scott has had a few chances but he has not settled.

0:17:01 > 0:17:11This is the key shot coming up here. It is not an easy one.That opening

0:17:11 > 0:17:20long red... His head shaking. That was a solid part. Does not red pass

0:17:20 > 0:17:28black. -- those that red past the black?

0:17:33 > 0:17:40That means that Scott needs a snooker, 36 is the difference with

0:17:40 > 0:17:42just 35 remaining.

0:17:47 > 0:17:55The red did not part but he has to make sure of the bank. Barring that

0:17:55 > 0:18:07snooker, the defending champion will be leading to know. I don't think he

0:18:07 > 0:18:14can push the red past the black, here? No... Hang on a minute... If

0:18:14 > 0:18:22that keeps running... Well... I don't think it is quite a snooker

0:18:22 > 0:18:26but he might not be able to see enough to pot that, not without a

0:18:26 > 0:18:39trace the side. -- aside. He played that with left-hand side. And he

0:18:39 > 0:18:41secured that pot and the frame.

0:19:00 > 0:19:07Yet to be put under any pressure, so far, in this much, Mark Selby. --

0:19:07 > 0:19:09this match.

0:19:21 > 0:19:21-- this match.

0:19:49 > 0:19:54He is not going to bother with the black, that was a scrappy frame,

0:19:54 > 0:19:56that is why it lasted almost 35 minutes but at the moment it is

0:19:56 > 0:20:03pretty comfortable for the defending champion, Mark Selby leading 2-0.

0:20:03 > 0:20:08That is part of the reason this domination that the bookmakers think

0:20:08 > 0:20:13that Mark Selby has a very good chance of defending his title and

0:20:13 > 0:20:18making it a third UK title. It is Ronnie O'Sullivan that they have as

0:20:18 > 0:20:22a favourite, not surprisingly, because a fantastic record this

0:20:22 > 0:20:30season. Real application, four finals and he has converted two of

0:20:30 > 0:20:35them to sit on 30th world ranking titles.He does look great? He does

0:20:35 > 0:20:39but looking down that list to some of the players featuring in the

0:20:39 > 0:20:43final stages of events recently, there are some big prices and there

0:20:43 > 0:20:47are plenty of people who will be interested in trying to find some

0:20:47 > 0:20:50value in the betting and even though this is not my specialist subject,

0:20:50 > 0:20:59there is value all over the place. Mark Selby only 3-1.Others are

0:20:59 > 0:21:04producing at such a young age. He made the final in Belfast at the

0:21:04 > 0:21:08weekend.Sean Hamill, lots of people who could win this and that is the

0:21:08 > 0:21:12fascination of snooker these days, you just do not know when the next

0:21:12 > 0:21:19winner will come from and West, yes, Ronnie O'Sullivan, on the big stage,

0:21:19 > 0:21:24Mark Selby is dominant but you must play these bread matches, the best

0:21:24 > 0:21:28of 11. You must keep yourself in the frame and you can only win it if you

0:21:28 > 0:21:32are in it.Absolutely right but the breadth and the number of different

0:21:32 > 0:21:36winners this season does add up to a potentially fascinating nine days in

0:21:36 > 0:21:38front of us. Back to the third frame.

0:21:44 > 0:21:49I was just going to say that Scott did not make a particularly good

0:21:49 > 0:21:54break of that shot. The fact that Mark Selby missed that long red has

0:21:54 > 0:22:03given Scott a chance, as we show you that attempt at the long pot. As

0:22:03 > 0:22:07Stephen said, he has to make something happen. And now is not a

0:22:07 > 0:22:14bad time to start. Very capable and a very talented player.

0:22:27 > 0:22:33, straightaway, he has a good angle on this blue, smashing that into the

0:22:33 > 0:22:35pink.

0:22:37 > 0:22:47Well done. That was a good shot. If anything, he did not get the pink,

0:22:47 > 0:22:52full ball, but he has a choice of a couple of raids to the left middle.

0:22:52 > 0:22:56He just catches the pink on the left-hand side as he looks at it.

0:22:56 > 0:23:01That was a good attacking shot. This is not easy.

0:23:05 > 0:23:11Well done. He has to score, here.

0:23:22 > 0:23:26There are a few reds he can play for but he would like to get the one to

0:23:26 > 0:23:30the right of the black potted, it doesn't have to go that way but that

0:23:30 > 0:23:33red is a little bit of a distraction, there.

0:23:43 > 0:23:47The imperative is that he gets onto the black, here.

0:24:02 > 0:24:07As I said, that red is a little bit of a distraction, to the right of

0:24:07 > 0:24:12the black spot. When it goes back onto its a spot...

0:24:43 > 0:24:45APPLAUSE.

0:25:26 > 0:25:31That has caused us a little bit too far, he was hoping to be nicely onto

0:25:31 > 0:25:34the blue and then putting that red, but I have managed that one to the

0:25:34 > 0:25:39right of the black, he was hoping to be in a nice position to get onto

0:25:39 > 0:25:44that... But... That is not the correct angle for that.

0:25:58 > 0:26:03He has a couple of choices, he could play the green and screw back for

0:26:03 > 0:26:09the yellow to the left corner. That would be a simple safety shot, this

0:26:09 > 0:26:11positional shot, than this.

0:26:18 > 0:26:22He has played the cannon but he is still on this red to the right

0:26:22 > 0:26:27corner, he can use a couple of questions for the black to save the

0:26:27 > 0:26:38pocket. An opportunity... -- cushions.Yes, he has an angle, if

0:26:38 > 0:26:41he plots that and screw is somewhere near that line, he will leave

0:26:41 > 0:26:47himself on the black.

0:26:55 > 0:26:59That is nicely played and now he can play for that red to the right of

0:26:59 > 0:27:03the black and getting that out of the way just clears the black spot

0:27:03 > 0:27:04area somewhat.

0:27:45 > 0:27:51A couple of choices, he can play for the loose red or play for that

0:27:51 > 0:27:55cannon, those six red is closest to the white, he can play the cannon on

0:27:55 > 0:28:06that... His heart was in his mouth, he played that a lot firmer than I

0:28:06 > 0:28:09thought. Very forcibly, but still in a good position...

0:28:35 > 0:28:39We always say, you never really settled until you get your first

0:28:39 > 0:28:42frame on the board and he had a couple of chances in the opening

0:28:42 > 0:28:45frames but he looked a little bit tense. This is much better from

0:28:45 > 0:28:49Scott. He has to keep things going, though...

0:28:57 > 0:29:01And this is the key shot coming up because he will come in those three

0:29:01 > 0:29:05reds and he must make sure he gets onto the black, he does not want to

0:29:05 > 0:29:10stick into the reds, so that he can play that with quite a bit of top

0:29:10 > 0:29:18spin to make sure the white runs through. Yes, nicely played. This is

0:29:18 > 0:29:22much more positive, as you were saying, this is exactly what he had

0:29:22 > 0:29:26to do, he had to make something happen and they are certainly doing

0:29:26 > 0:29:36that here.-- he is. He has to keep his concentration here. Another four

0:29:36 > 0:29:40or five pots to make this friend said, look at the way the balls are,

0:29:40 > 0:29:48that as an elite -- easy clearance for Mark Selby.That is a good

0:29:48 > 0:29:53performance from Scott Donaldson.He has not really had much of a chance

0:29:53 > 0:29:57to score in the first few frames. He is taking advantage of this very

0:29:57 > 0:29:59well so far.

0:30:25 > 0:30:30He wants

0:30:30 > 0:30:33He wants to get this frame put beyond doubt at this visit. The last

0:30:33 > 0:30:40thing he wants is 15 minutes of Mark Selby going for snookers.Yeah, just

0:30:40 > 0:30:48coming up to the hour. That second frame was almost 35 minutes.

0:30:59 > 0:31:03The frame well and truly safe now, so he can just concentrate on trying

0:31:03 > 0:31:19to knock in a century break. At the moment, 137 is the high break - Judd

0:31:19 > 0:31:27Trump and Joe Perry both achieving that.

0:31:33 > 0:31:45That's interesting. Scot's highest ever break in competitive play is a

0:31:45 > 0:32:00137, back in 2016. He had a couple of centuries in round one. Can he

0:32:00 > 0:32:17get nicely on this red to give himself a chance? Nicely played.

0:32:26 > 0:32:32A little bit of distraction from the other table - he won't be too

0:32:32 > 0:32:34disappointed. He's got himself on the scoreboard, that's the main

0:32:34 > 0:32:40thing. HAZEL IRVINE: In fact Scot played

0:32:40 > 0:32:42very well in his opening round to win six two,including a couple of

0:32:42 > 0:32:48century breaks, and that was his first win in ten matches, he's been

0:32:48 > 0:32:53on a terrible run.Yeah, and trying to get form these days is very

0:32:53 > 0:32:56difficult, even though there are more tournaments, if you get on a

0:32:56 > 0:33:03bad role, it can unravel. All of the confidence from previous seasons

0:33:03 > 0:33:06matter for nothing, and sometimes you just need one lucky match or

0:33:06 > 0:33:15just a good performance, to get you off and running. Sometimes one good

0:33:15 > 0:33:19pot can make a difference as well. As Stephen Hendry was saying in

0:33:19 > 0:33:24commentary, it was a confidence building shot, and he went on to

0:33:24 > 0:33:29convert the frame.As an aspiring pro, it's tough in the early stages,

0:33:29 > 0:33:36particularly with so many vying for the top 64 spots on the tour, and

0:33:36 > 0:33:39we've got 128 professionals here - it is just the odd shot which can

0:33:39 > 0:33:43make the difference between a successful start to your career or

0:33:43 > 0:33:45not?Yeah, and the first problem you have is getting onto the

0:33:45 > 0:33:51professional ladder. You celebrate that but that's when the problems

0:33:51 > 0:33:53start! The next biggest problem is trying to keep your tour card. This

0:33:53 > 0:33:5864 cut-off is a very, very important thing for most players.Currently

0:33:58 > 0:34:04world number 66 is Scot. Shown some real province promised over the last

0:34:04 > 0:34:11couple of years. He has come through qualifying to become a professional

0:34:11 > 0:34:17in the first place. And here he is, one behind.

0:34:17 > 0:34:23DENNIS TAYLOR: Once again off the break-off shot, I think it has

0:34:23 > 0:34:26happened in most frames here, the black tied up. Amazing how that

0:34:26 > 0:34:38happens so many times. As Hazel mentioned, the interval is after

0:34:38 > 0:34:46this fourth frame. It's the best of 11, so I suppose it is nice for the

0:34:46 > 0:34:51players to be playing best of 11. A lot of the tournaments these days

0:34:51 > 0:34:55are best of seven.

0:34:57 > 0:35:00APPLAUSE

0:35:52 > 0:35:59The yellow is quite nice target to try and get in behind, off its spot

0:35:59 > 0:36:05but it's in a good position to try and get a snookered behind. Can he

0:36:05 > 0:36:14swing around the angles? A little bit too thick. FAR too thick! Well,

0:36:14 > 0:36:18if he's got away with that, he's very fortunate to. He was attempting

0:36:18 > 0:36:23to get round behind the yellow, and just got too much side, and it

0:36:23 > 0:36:34through the cue ball into the red.

0:37:00 > 0:37:05STEPHEN HENDRY: Just looking to see where the black is going to be

0:37:05 > 0:37:17spotted after he pots it here.

0:37:20 > 0:37:29He can play for the black again here, stun off the cushioned get

0:37:29 > 0:37:32that black back into play as soon as possible. If he runs a bit short,

0:37:32 > 0:37:35he's always got the blue.

0:37:49 > 0:37:56Well, heap did play for the back, but -- for the black, but it has

0:37:56 > 0:38:03furnished just as you predicted, Stephen! The pink is totally out of

0:38:03 > 0:38:10commission, but there are 45 loose reds. The black on its spot would

0:38:10 > 0:38:17really help. -- four or five loose reds. He'll have to just concentrate

0:38:17 > 0:38:25on the blue for a couple more shots. He could leave an angle on the blue

0:38:25 > 0:38:41and then go straight into the pink and reds.Staying on the blue.And

0:38:41 > 0:38:44he's got the chance now to go straight into the pink, as I

0:38:44 > 0:38:51mentioned, and he could bring quite a few reds into play and hopefully

0:38:51 > 0:39:03free the pink.If he plays that shot, as long as he hits the

0:39:03 > 0:39:09right-hand side of the pink as we look at it, he will be OK. If he

0:39:09 > 0:39:12hits the pink on the left-hand side, he could lose it, he could even go

0:39:12 > 0:39:22in off.

0:39:23 > 0:39:32That's OK. As long as he had that side of the pink he was always going

0:39:32 > 0:39:37to have reds to the corner pocket. The problem is, the pink has gone

0:39:37 > 0:39:38safe.

0:39:50 > 0:39:58Yeah, he's got a comfortable red to go at but he has what to find a path

0:39:58 > 0:40:05to the pink... Yes, took his eye off the pot. He didn't find the path,

0:40:05 > 0:40:16either. So, probably lost a little bit of concentration there. He was

0:40:16 > 0:40:23more concerned with the cue ball and took his eye off the red there. That

0:40:23 > 0:40:24was a golden opportunity that he's let slip.

0:40:38 > 0:40:48The

0:40:49 > 0:40:52good news from Scot's point of view is that he hasn't left Mark Selby

0:40:52 > 0:41:02with an easy opener.

0:41:06 > 0:41:12I suppose he could get the red up into the corner and he would be on

0:41:12 > 0:41:23the blue if it goes in.

0:41:32 > 0:41:40Well, almost a minute and a half thinking about this one. This red is

0:41:40 > 0:41:48a little bit of a distraction, the one just under his waistcoat.

0:42:04 > 0:42:10Well, he felt it was worth the risk, because had that red dropped, just

0:42:10 > 0:42:16look at the way the balls were situated. Now, can Scott yet on the

0:42:16 > 0:42:24black, as we show you this red? If he could not on the black here and

0:42:24 > 0:42:32get it back on the spot, it would be another great chance.

0:42:41 > 0:42:49One good positional shot and with a 21 point advantage, and the

0:42:49 > 0:42:56mid-session interval coming up, it could be 2-2.A lot of balls to be

0:42:56 > 0:42:59potted, though.

0:43:08 > 0:43:22That's perfect. Great chance. Already 28 points up in this frame.

0:43:22 > 0:43:25I don't expect him to miss this black, but he could have done with

0:43:25 > 0:43:35another couple of inches on the cue ball there. He's going to player

0:43:35 > 0:43:42cannon, but he has to keep his eye is on the pot.I thought he was

0:43:42 > 0:43:56going to cannon the OTHER red, and he would have been perfect! He would

0:43:56 > 0:44:04have been in perfect position. This is a little bit of a cutback.

0:44:09 > 0:44:17Nicely played. It's all about keeping your full concentration

0:44:17 > 0:44:27here. It is an important frame, from Scott's point of view.

0:44:56 > 0:45:03He would have preferred not to be playing little cannons, but he's

0:45:03 > 0:45:07going to have to play one here.

0:45:16 > 0:45:23Just slightly awkward bridging now, but shouldn't be a problem. Doesn't

0:45:23 > 0:45:27have a great deal to do with the cue ball. Wow! I think he thought he had

0:45:27 > 0:45:36missed that! Any harder, that wouldn't have dropped. It just shows

0:45:36 > 0:45:39you, when you have to play a little cannons that you don't really want

0:45:39 > 0:45:41to be playing, it can finish awkward. I'm sure he felt that

0:45:41 > 0:45:51wasn't going to go in. STEPHEN HENDRY: I actually can't

0:45:51 > 0:45:58believe it DID go in! That will have sharpened up his concentration, thus

0:45:58 > 0:46:01little scare!

0:46:26 > 0:46:36DENNIS TAYLOR: It was all looking pretty comfortable for the defending

0:46:36 > 0:46:39champion, first couple of frames, but he now knows that he should we

0:46:39 > 0:46:44heading off to the mid-session interval all square. Just a couple

0:46:44 > 0:46:48more pots to make absolutely sure.

0:47:24 > 0:47:32Well, that's very careless indeed. He's 67 in front. Just needs the

0:47:32 > 0:47:37black to make sure of the frame. It's as if he was concentrating on

0:47:37 > 0:47:46the cannon. And well, the balls are a little bit awkward here, but there

0:47:46 > 0:47:54is the possibility of a respotted black.

0:48:03 > 0:48:09And if there is one player you don't want to leave a glimmer of hope for,

0:48:09 > 0:48:16it's Mark Selby, and Scott can't believe he missed the black.

0:48:20 > 0:48:27He can just crop the black in and leave the red to the left of the

0:48:27 > 0:48:37pink spot.

0:48:38 > 0:48:44I don't think it was the wrong shot to play the cannon - I think he

0:48:44 > 0:48:52played the right shot, it's just he took his eye off it. Could have just

0:48:52 > 0:48:58rolled the black in, I suppose, but he played a positive shot. Don't

0:48:58 > 0:49:06expect to miss us.Do you think he had in the back of his mind that it

0:49:06 > 0:49:12was frame ball? It's amazing what it does psychologically to a player,

0:49:12 > 0:49:18even great players sometimes.

0:49:34 > 0:49:43Well, would you believe it? Mark Selby, world number one, misses a

0:49:43 > 0:49:46black off the spot. Giving himself a little bit of a telling off there.

0:49:46 > 0:49:53You don't see that very often. It'll be a relieved Scott Donaldson,

0:49:53 > 0:50:00that's for sure. Two snookers required.

0:50:08 > 0:50:16APPLAUSE

0:53:42 > 0:53:45The balls are in ideal positions for snookers. The black, the pink and

0:53:45 > 0:53:54yellow. So, Scott will have to be a little bit careful here.

0:54:00 > 0:54:10A little beauty. He's played a little beauty there. Mark Selby just

0:54:10 > 0:54:13tapping the table.

0:54:17 > 0:54:28And there you've got the perfect picture to watch this swerve shot.

0:54:28 > 0:54:36Oh! No problem. I say that, but Scott will roll in this red, and

0:54:36 > 0:54:43we'll all head off to the mid-session interval - hopefully. A

0:54:43 > 0:54:49little bit of a distraction, with the other table going after the

0:54:49 > 0:54:53interval. That's the problem you have, with four tables in play, and

0:54:53 > 0:54:59the dividing wall. Can see what's going on on the other tables. And

0:54:59 > 0:55:08that will do nicely. It has to be said, he's done very well. OK he

0:55:08 > 0:55:15missed that easy black, but he had a break of 88 to take the first frame

0:55:15 > 0:55:24- or HIS first frame. And we will go off to the mid-session interval.

0:55:24 > 0:55:27Scott Donaldson will be more than happy to be all square at two frames

0:55:27 > 0:55:32each. HAZEL IRVINE: I'm sure he is,

0:55:32 > 0:55:38especially having come back from, and suffer down. The man who won the

0:55:38 > 0:55:41European amateur to get his career going, and he's been there or

0:55:41 > 0:55:43thereabouts since 2013. He's really dragging him into a fight now,

0:55:43 > 0:55:50Steve?Yeah, it was a really good third friend, and he's reaped the

0:55:50 > 0:55:52rewards. That frame was not good from Mark Selby in a few ways. The

0:55:52 > 0:55:58first one was playing this red down the rail. I'm not sure if he was

0:55:58 > 0:56:05committed to having to play it that slow. You would like to play it

0:56:05 > 0:56:08where if you missed it, the ball would escape from the pocket. He

0:56:08 > 0:56:11more or less committed totally to that. It missed, and all of a sudden

0:56:11 > 0:56:18Scott got back in at the table. Something else the players have been

0:56:18 > 0:56:24mentioning quite often - Scott played this one and it looked like

0:56:24 > 0:56:27it was going to the near. , and really a ball off the near jaw

0:56:27 > 0:56:31shouldn't really be going in the pocket. And there's been talk that

0:56:31 > 0:56:37the corner pockets are playing a little bit easy. Not saying they're

0:56:37 > 0:56:40bigger at they're playing a bit easy. A lot of people saying the

0:56:40 > 0:56:46corners are getting a little bit sloppy. I have been chatting to the

0:56:46 > 0:56:52table fitters about, it can sometimes be that the slate is a bit

0:56:52 > 0:56:54rounded - it certainly isn't. The templates seem accurate. It could be

0:56:54 > 0:57:00good conditions, try cloths, thin cloths, conditions are helping it go

0:57:00 > 0:57:06in.An opponent who had never actually won a of snooker in his

0:57:06 > 0:57:12professional career actually took four off Mark Selby and really put

0:57:12 > 0:57:15him through the mill. So, he doesn't want to get dragged into that again?

0:57:15 > 0:57:19No, he doesn't, but towards the sharp end of the match, Mark Selby

0:57:19 > 0:57:25seems to focus everything down. He is tough to overcome if it gets down

0:57:25 > 0:57:28to a best-of-three, the last frame... He knows how to dig in at

0:57:28 > 0:57:34the end of a match.We will update you as to what's going on on some of

0:57:34 > 0:57:40the other tables. On table three, we thought this one would be a good one

0:57:40 > 0:57:52- Mark Allen, a runner-up in this tournament, he's 2-2 at the end of

0:57:52 > 0:57:58interval against Oliver Lines. And Mark Williams, the man who became

0:57:58 > 0:58:04the Northern Ireland champion on Sunday, his first world ranking

0:58:04 > 0:58:11title since 2003, well, Andrew Higginson, a former Welsh open

0:58:11 > 0:58:18runner-up, he has come back from 2-0 down as well. The witness warrior,

0:58:18 > 0:58:27who turns 40 next week, is certainly in the match as well. -- the Widness

0:58:27 > 0:58:33Warrior. This is one of the three majors of the season, as we've been

0:58:33 > 0:58:39saying. We have got this?128 players turning up. We've got the

0:58:39 > 0:58:42Masters at Alexandra Palace. Traditionally that was an

0:58:42 > 0:58:46invitational event - but it is invitational no more, because they

0:58:46 > 0:58:51actually have to qualify. It's the race to the Masters these days, and

0:58:51 > 0:58:54it's based on the current world ranking seedings. This is the way it

0:58:54 > 0:58:57looks at the moment, but you will see at number 17 is Neil Robertson,

0:58:57 > 0:59:02a former Masters winner himself, Triple Crown winner indeed. Neil is

0:59:02 > 0:59:06having a few problems in terms of the points that he's acquired,

0:59:06 > 0:59:12particularly in the 2015 UK Championship - they drop off after

0:59:12 > 0:59:16this, which means that provisionally he's out of the rankings. He's got

0:59:16 > 0:59:20to try and achieve a finish here in York urges better than that of the

0:59:20 > 0:59:2716th placed player at the moment, Ryan Day. Now, he has won an event

0:59:27 > 0:59:32this season, it was an invitational event in itself, the Hong Kong

0:59:32 > 0:59:35Masters. But he has had a bit of an up and down season, the Australian,

0:59:35 > 0:59:40and earlier this week he explained that its family matters rather than

0:59:40 > 0:59:46matters on the table that have been his priority of late. In fact he

0:59:46 > 0:59:51took to social media to explain and to praise his partner for combating

0:59:51 > 0:59:58and beating depression and anxiety.

0:59:58 > 1:00:03It has been very difficult to have that kind of killer instinct,

1:00:03 > 1:00:06winning at all costs attitude, which are usually have, they just have

1:00:06 > 1:00:10been more important things going on and coming into this was the right

1:00:10 > 1:00:15time because she is doing very well, winning the battle at the moment and

1:00:15 > 1:00:18this is something people generally bottled up inside and you never know

1:00:18 > 1:00:22for a lot of people. For a lot of people it has got to the point where

1:00:22 > 1:00:27it is too late to help before something disastrous happens. She

1:00:27 > 1:00:34has adopted the best possible attitude, she has bottled on and has

1:00:34 > 1:00:37a first-class degree at Cambridge University from last year and to be

1:00:37 > 1:00:40able to deal with anxiety and depression and to raise our son for

1:00:40 > 1:00:47the most part, while I am travelling away, it is incredible. The focus is

1:00:47 > 1:00:52shifting more on me, the first time for about 2.5 years that I have been

1:00:52 > 1:00:55able to practice every day for as long as I want to. Knowing

1:00:55 > 1:01:01everything at home is OK, Alexander is OK and I know that my game is

1:01:01 > 1:01:04definitely coming back and hopefully I will be a better player than two

1:01:04 > 1:01:12years ago.We are delighted to see his wife and her son here in York.

1:01:12 > 1:01:17Courageously speaking about that. Making it better for other families

1:01:17 > 1:01:22going through the same thing. And we were talking about life as a

1:01:22 > 1:01:27professional sportsman or woman and how difficult it is to come into

1:01:27 > 1:01:30family life and then go away, how difficult is the balance to strike

1:01:30 > 1:01:35when life gets in the way?It is a tough problem for a family unit. To

1:01:35 > 1:01:43have one person, talking generally, not specific situations, because

1:01:43 > 1:01:47depression can strike in always, shapes and forms and it is not

1:01:47 > 1:01:51dependent on anything else but that person. Thinking back to the time

1:01:51 > 1:01:55when you are self-centred and self-motivated, on the road all the

1:01:55 > 1:02:00time, you are not much help at all, let's be honest. By nature, anybody

1:02:00 > 1:02:05involved in a top-class sport, they have to be selfish and if there is a

1:02:05 > 1:02:10problem in any other part of the relationship, any other problems,

1:02:10 > 1:02:13that is tough to deal with when you have to be selfish yourself at the

1:02:13 > 1:02:17end result is possibly becoming more and selfish and your game suffers in

1:02:17 > 1:02:24some way.A very difficult balancing act. Neal has been very open about

1:02:24 > 1:02:27this, as has his wife and that is a very courageous step they have

1:02:27 > 1:02:32taken.It is good to talk and once you get past the level of the

1:02:32 > 1:02:36problem and to the stage where you can talk about it, perhaps you have

1:02:36 > 1:02:41broken the ice and you can get on with the job in hand. I don't things

1:02:41 > 1:02:44like this go away quickly so this is something you have to keep on top of

1:02:44 > 1:02:48God from Neal's perspective, he feels there is a weight lifted off

1:02:48 > 1:02:52his shoulders by talking about it. He can fully concentrate on his

1:02:52 > 1:02:56second-round match against a rather rejuvenated Ken Doherty. He fell off

1:02:56 > 1:03:01the tour last season and Jimmy White with him was given an invitation to

1:03:01 > 1:03:06keep going for another two years and he has made the most of it. Just a

1:03:06 > 1:03:12little taste of this much... Neal at the table in the opening frame, Neal

1:03:12 > 1:03:15is 29 points clear and watching this, Allen McManus and John

1:03:18 > 1:03:32this is dangerous. Going towards the left corner? That is unfortunate.

1:03:32 > 1:03:36That was an excellent safety shot. The total difference of having the

1:03:36 > 1:03:41cue ball type under caution as opposed to eight inches away, that

1:03:41 > 1:03:45made all the difference and made it much more difficult for Neil.

1:03:45 > 1:03:53Well... Ken Doherty, 30 in front. I great chance to take the opening

1:03:53 > 1:04:00frame, he can score here. This is not bad on the blue, the natural

1:04:00 > 1:04:05question...On to the pink spot.I wonder if they think will pass into

1:04:05 > 1:04:08the left corner? He has overcooked this.

1:04:14 > 1:04:18If he has landed on the red just above the pink and that goes, that

1:04:18 > 1:04:28is an absolute result. I think he has...Wow! What a result that was!

1:04:28 > 1:04:34I'm not sure if he knew that the raid was on, I think he played for

1:04:34 > 1:04:51the loose one. Either way, this is a frame-winning chance. 43 point lead.

1:05:00 > 1:05:05That is even nicer with a black going onto the pink spot.He looks

1:05:05 > 1:05:12confident. Hitting the ball well. The safety has been superb. Looking

1:05:12 > 1:05:21good at the moment. And both of us are dismayed by the fact he still

1:05:21 > 1:05:26has excellent eyesight at his age! We were both using glasses, he was

1:05:26 > 1:05:30showing off last night, he does not need those any more!

1:05:34 > 1:05:41Like an eagle. He must have eaten a lot of carrots!It has been a good

1:05:41 > 1:05:46start, his safety has been exemplary in the first frame, we can expect

1:05:46 > 1:05:56that from Ken Doherty. The ideal start. We said earlier in this

1:05:56 > 1:06:02friend, he is going to make Neil work for his chances. -- in this

1:06:02 > 1:06:08frame. Nothing is happening in the opening frame to make me change my

1:06:08 > 1:06:10mind. Great matchplay.

1:06:18 > 1:06:24Yes, never has been afraid to be anybody. If we both have a cue,

1:06:24 > 1:06:27let's go into battle, he has always been the same.

1:06:57 > 1:07:05That was a good idea to clear up, as well. Keep Neil off the table. In

1:07:05 > 1:07:11the first frame, keeping your opponent at bay, that will help you

1:07:11 > 1:07:18in the second frame, keeping them cold. A bit of tension.Just going

1:07:18 > 1:07:23back to that blew that he played up and down the table and he landed

1:07:23 > 1:07:26plum on the next red, that is what happens when you are feeling

1:07:26 > 1:07:30confident and in good form, the end result is he will win this frame

1:07:30 > 1:07:34with a decent contribution. Things like that, when they just go your

1:07:34 > 1:07:47way... Just clearing the table. Getting a feel of the cloth and the

1:07:47 > 1:07:50way the cushions are playing.

1:08:26 > 1:08:34The ideal start for Ken Doherty. Leading Neil Robertson 1-0.

1:08:34 > 1:08:40HAZEL IRVINE:No surprise, become Ken Doherty has been putting in the

1:08:40 > 1:08:45work, he made the semifinals of the first event of the season in July,

1:08:45 > 1:08:51losing there. This is a rejuvenated Ken Doherty. And indeed, he went 2-1

1:08:51 > 1:08:54in front over another former world champion and we will join them in

1:08:54 > 1:08:58the fourth frame, just before the interval, Neil Robertson with a 38.8

1:08:58 > 1:09:06Vantage.The area behind the green is a good spot if you can lead the

1:09:06 > 1:09:21cue ball player. -- 38 point advantage. He tried.He would love

1:09:21 > 1:09:28to take this red on, Ken Doherty. He is weighing the sub, is it worth it?

1:09:28 > 1:09:32More pertinently, the question is, how do I feel about it? Sometimes

1:09:32 > 1:09:38you feel confident. Can I leave the cue ball somewhere where I can maybe

1:09:38 > 1:09:44get away with it?I don't think this is one of those situations? This is

1:09:44 > 1:09:47one where you have to put all of your eggs into one basket, you must

1:09:47 > 1:09:52be committed to the pot and not worry about what will happen. If you

1:09:52 > 1:09:57are taking this on, it needs to go into the pocket.I could not agree

1:09:57 > 1:10:06more. How is he feeling? Taking this on? What a shot!

1:10:06 > 1:10:14APPLAUSE. And the perfect cue ball.

1:10:28 > 1:10:33He deserves everything he gets after that shot, absolutely excellent.

1:10:33 > 1:10:38Lots of players might have played the long stalled shot with that but

1:10:38 > 1:10:44Ken Doherty just drop that in. The way he fancied. -- stunt shot. It is

1:10:44 > 1:10:48just a matter of keeping the cue ball under control and a first

1:10:48 > 1:10:51priority is get yourself back into the frame.

1:10:55 > 1:11:02He has not really made a good shot after the last red, he has left

1:11:02 > 1:11:11himself slightly awkward here. The yellow is a problem. The blue...

1:11:11 > 1:11:18That long bridge. Great shot. To find the gap. And that was quite

1:11:18 > 1:11:20deliberate.

1:11:25 > 1:11:29Quite back in perfect position, I don't know if he can hold for the

1:11:29 > 1:11:37blue, playing this red to the left middle. It is not quite in position.

1:11:37 > 1:11:50Is he? Scrapping for it.Potting some great shots. The last

1:11:50 > 1:11:55positional shot was better than a blip. He just needs a really good

1:11:55 > 1:12:00positional shot, and do not miss the Brian! Goodness me! I did not see

1:12:00 > 1:12:09that coming! -- brown.Amazing, this game. All the professionals tell

1:12:09 > 1:12:15you, you can miss anything and you cannot take your eye off at Forest

1:12:15 > 1:12:20at second, you will miss it.It is funny how it happens because he has

1:12:20 > 1:12:27played the tricky shots, the gap, it is almost as if your concentration

1:12:27 > 1:12:39drops and you don't put it all in for the next pot.

1:12:46 > 1:12:51I am wondering if this could be a big turning point in the match? Ken

1:12:51 > 1:12:55has done really well so far this afternoon. The first really big

1:12:55 > 1:13:05mistake he has made.We always said this was going to be a big frame.

1:13:05 > 1:13:13With the mid-session. The insurer. It always is. A shrug of the

1:13:13 > 1:13:20interval. This black and one more red... For more insurance, then it

1:13:20 > 1:13:28will be all square again. Towards the interval. Already passed the

1:13:28 > 1:13:33point, once this red disappears, then Ken will not return to the

1:13:33 > 1:13:35table.

1:13:58 > 1:14:05Yes, concession from Ken Doherty, it will be 2-2, all to play for when

1:14:05 > 1:14:11they return. Neil Robertson makes it 2-2.

1:14:11 > 1:14:14HAZEL IRVINE:You can continue watching that on the Red Button

1:14:14 > 1:14:21right now. In fact, they are at the interval and behind me, Neil

1:14:21 > 1:14:25Robertson's son, Alexander, has been lapping up the attention. He is

1:14:25 > 1:14:30featured at the Masters also, he was at the table when Neil Robertson

1:14:30 > 1:14:38Juan Mata, here with Ben Woollaston's son, they are playing

1:14:38 > 1:14:42on the practice table. Always go, here. Always chock-a-block and the

1:14:42 > 1:14:48players want to make large. They come to this wonderful city of York

1:14:48 > 1:14:51to spend some time with families in this amazing city whilst are

1:14:51 > 1:14:56playing. We have much as professional or our minds as world

1:14:56 > 1:15:01number one, Mark Selby, is coming back out to resume his second-round

1:15:01 > 1:15:07match against Scott Donaldson and there is poised at 2-2. Is the best

1:15:07 > 1:15:12of 11. The first two six booth through to round three. Bafta

1:15:12 > 1:15:24Stephen Davis and Dennis. Hugh Dennis.Hazel and Steve are doing a

1:15:24 > 1:15:27great job on that very tight players' Lounge, huddled in the

1:15:27 > 1:15:41corner together. This will change once we get the studio back. Those

1:15:41 > 1:15:46outside tables are being used. Great atmosphere in the players' room, I

1:15:46 > 1:15:53just popped in for a coffee. He does make a mean copy, Stephen Hendry! I

1:15:53 > 1:16:01never get one but he doesn't mean -- make a mean copy! -- Coffeegate.

1:16:27 > 1:16:32-- coffee. That was a poor shot from Mark Selby. They are normally bread

1:16:32 > 1:16:35and butter to him, there was continuing safety is. But is has

1:16:35 > 1:16:41left Scott with the red to the left middle. -- he has left Scott.

1:16:50 > 1:16:56That was a long way out. In that player 's modern Atlanta, there are

1:16:56 > 1:17:00no practice table is because they are using that room for the matches.

1:17:00 > 1:17:05There is one table in the lounge, very tight but Mark Selby has spent

1:17:05 > 1:17:12his whole time potting long balls. Not easy, with those distractions,

1:17:12 > 1:17:21lots of people. He needs to get his focus back in this match. Scott

1:17:21 > 1:17:25played well to win the third and fourth frames. You could sense that

1:17:25 > 1:17:29Mark Selby was getting a little bit too easy, he let his concentration

1:17:29 > 1:17:38levels drop. He needs to get back and stamp his authority back on this

1:17:38 > 1:17:39match.

1:18:19 > 1:18:24With the black awkward and getting tied up, he gets a good angle on the

1:18:24 > 1:18:27blue after potting thus, he can open this frame up.

1:18:31 > 1:18:36Having said that, but has little bit too straight, there is a red to the

1:18:36 > 1:18:40back of the bunch are available but he had some heavy contact, I am sure

1:18:40 > 1:18:44he was wanting to leave the angle on the blue and cannon straight back

1:18:44 > 1:18:53into the pink and open things up, but... Slight change of plan. Just

1:18:53 > 1:18:58playing with a little bit of dry, hitting the white on the bottom...

1:18:58 > 1:19:04Just a slight kick. -- little bit of drag.

1:19:10 > 1:19:14Can he get the correct side of the blue this time?

1:19:22 > 1:19:24He has probably overcompensated this time.

1:19:29 > 1:19:36I think he is just about OK, then contact. The pink full ball would be

1:19:36 > 1:19:45great, here. Half all, there might be a red into the middle pocket but

1:19:45 > 1:19:50he did not get the cannon.

1:20:17 > 1:20:21That was not easy, but that was a long way out. Great chance. For

1:20:21 > 1:20:29Scott Donaldson... APPLAUSE.

1:20:38 > 1:20:50Into the reds, here. He needs to kill the pace of the cue ball. If he

1:20:50 > 1:20:54plays this at decent pace, he could possibly bring the black into the

1:20:54 > 1:20:59open as well. There are reds to play for but he could be tempted to go

1:20:59 > 1:21:01into the bunch, here.

1:21:50 > 1:21:54And that also seemed to jump a little bit, it has taken some of the

1:21:54 > 1:21:58pace out of the cue ball, he was hoping for the plant and you can see

1:21:58 > 1:22:02both reds to the left of the one that he just potted, maybe the fact

1:22:02 > 1:22:06he is to the wrong side of the blue does not matter because of those...

1:22:06 > 1:22:11Yes, he has got the red to the right of them also. But there did looked

1:22:11 > 1:22:17to be a plant. Yes. -- bearded look.

1:22:22 > 1:22:26And if he gets enough screw on this shot when he takes the plant, he

1:22:26 > 1:22:30will finish back on the blue. And possibly the pink...

1:22:38 > 1:22:49Just a little bit... In between, here.Yes, stretching a little bit,

1:22:49 > 1:22:53he could not get the action of the cue ball but he wanted. It takes the

1:22:53 > 1:22:57blue to the far right corner. This is testing.

1:23:06 > 1:23:14The sort of shots that professionals spend hours practising. Solid pot,

1:23:14 > 1:23:16right in the middle. Of the pocket.

1:23:49 > 1:23:53It would be ideal if he could get onto the black but it does look a

1:23:53 > 1:23:56little bit tight because of the red to the right of the black. He has

1:23:56 > 1:24:05got plenty of other options are available to him, here. He is on the

1:24:05 > 1:24:12pink but he will be just have a look at the black again. -- maybe just.

1:24:12 > 1:24:16If you can pot the black and nudge that red away, he would have

1:24:16 > 1:24:21everything in the open. He played that in such a way as if he did not

1:24:21 > 1:24:25feel that he could see enough of the black, he was always going to have

1:24:25 > 1:24:26the pink...

1:24:32 > 1:24:36If he is on the black he has to play it, obviously he is not. Because

1:24:36 > 1:24:38that is the shot...

1:25:03 > 1:25:08He has come up a little bit short body can screw up for the left of

1:25:08 > 1:25:20the blue. It just depends on the angle he has. -- but he can screw.

1:25:20 > 1:25:29Yes, nicely played.He is starting to look comfortable in this match.

1:25:29 > 1:25:35Scott Donaldson. He is starting to look like they are starting to

1:25:35 > 1:25:39believe. That he can do something here this afternoon. -- like he is

1:25:39 > 1:25:42starting to believe.

1:26:28 > 1:26:34Just one more easy red available to Scott. The one next to the black. I

1:26:34 > 1:26:40don't think it will pot, there is one either side of the table.

1:26:40 > 1:26:46Ideally placed, no problem. For the red that is just to the right of the

1:26:46 > 1:26:52black and red. It is not a straightforward run to the winning

1:26:52 > 1:26:53line in this frame.

1:27:06 > 1:27:10Look at that. They both scored 221 points.

1:27:22 > 1:27:28Dead straight on the red, as you can see. No problem screwing that back.

1:27:32 > 1:27:37What does he do? Try to drop behind that red on the right side of the

1:27:37 > 1:27:44table? I think that probably is the shot, if you try to move that you

1:27:44 > 1:27:46could maybe put that in a worse position.

1:27:52 > 1:27:57Does the pink block the path? He has played that to move it but the bank

1:27:57 > 1:28:03might be blocking the path. That could be the end of the break, a

1:28:03 > 1:28:16little bit unlucky, there. Look at that. It is amazing. Just fractions.

1:28:16 > 1:28:19That is what this game is all about.

1:30:00 > 1:30:10He might have to just come off the side cushion. Hit love to be able to

1:30:10 > 1:30:17get past the yellow just to flick this red and get back up to safety.

1:30:17 > 1:30:22He's playing it with a touch of swerve, as you can see. He's got to

1:30:22 > 1:30:25be careful he doesn't get too much on this.

1:30:33 > 1:30:36He was always pushing one towards the corner, but I'll tell you what,

1:30:36 > 1:30:42overall, that is a pretty good shot there.

1:31:22 > 1:31:29The thin safety shot, hit could get the double kiss, so I wonder whether

1:31:29 > 1:31:37he will attempt to pot it. Now, Scott had a look at this black. It's

1:31:37 > 1:31:47very, very tight. I was just watching Mark's face and he gave a

1:31:47 > 1:31:58nice smile, as if to say, I don't think I can pot this.

1:32:44 > 1:32:53Very good safety shot there from Scott Donaldson, you can see the tap

1:32:53 > 1:32:57on the table of appreciation from Mark Selby.

1:33:02 > 1:33:10Very high standard of safety so far from both players. Donaldson more

1:33:10 > 1:33:21than holding his own at the moment.

1:33:49 > 1:33:54DENNIS TAYLOR: Now, one good long pot here, he could yet himself onto

1:33:54 > 1:34:00the blue in such a way that he could then bring the red next to the black

1:34:00 > 1:34:08into play. But he's got to knock the red in first. There's the red. It's

1:34:08 > 1:34:14going to bit too far for comfort to be able to pot the blue and cannon

1:34:14 > 1:34:22that red. I suppose you'd have to say, that's a trademark shot from

1:34:22 > 1:34:25Mark Selby.

1:35:05 > 1:35:12That was about the best he could do, there was no way he could get onto

1:35:12 > 1:35:14that red or play a cannon from that position, it was very difficult. But

1:35:14 > 1:35:19the frame is now in the balance, even though Scott leads by 90

1:35:19 > 1:35:22points. All the colours are on.

1:35:29 > 1:35:32-- 19th points.

1:35:50 > 1:35:57He could do with kicking this red off the top cushioned try and get a

1:35:57 > 1:36:04bit of distance between red and cue ball. No, he's just playing to

1:36:04 > 1:36:07nestle onto it. But you could put yourself in trouble playing it that

1:36:07 > 1:36:13way. He could be in a worse position for his next shot.

1:36:29 > 1:36:34Yeah, this sort of situation, Mark Selby, so strong. Very few players

1:36:34 > 1:36:49get the better of him. Disappointed, he's just left the left edge of that

1:36:49 > 1:36:54red out - that careless.Well, I'm right in line with the shot and I

1:36:54 > 1:37:04think he's going to have to come off the baulk cushion. He's only 23

1:37:04 > 1:37:10years of age, his eyesight's a lot better than mine, that's for sure.

1:37:10 > 1:37:17But... If he comes off the baulk cushion, the red could go over

1:37:17 > 1:37:20either corner pocket.

1:37:24 > 1:37:36Well, he'll settle for that. You're never absolutely sure where they're

1:37:36 > 1:37:43going to finish. STEPHEN HENDRY: The red may have

1:37:43 > 1:37:50travelled just an inch too far for the double. So, cue ball in behind

1:37:50 > 1:37:59the black, red on the baulk cushion. Well, he's completely mis-hit that.

1:37:59 > 1:38:11Well, this is a chance now. You would think he would automatically

1:38:11 > 1:38:18finish on a colour. This could be a frame winner.It's

1:38:26 > 1:38:34And he's played it nicely, as long as it doesn't drop on the side

1:38:34 > 1:38:44cushion. Well, he's finish a little awkward, because if he pots the

1:38:44 > 1:38:52black, he's going to be 27 in front, with 27 remaining. Just make sure

1:38:52 > 1:38:57you don't smoke yourself on the yellow.

1:39:17 > 1:39:20And every chance now that he could take this frame - that would be

1:39:20 > 1:39:26three in a row, from 2-0 down. But there's plenty of snooker left in

1:39:26 > 1:39:28this frame.

1:39:58 > 1:40:16Well, he looked at the potting angle there, so he may be taking this on.

1:40:18 > 1:40:21He's played a few shots in this frame where he's been way out with

1:40:21 > 1:40:28his judgment. Scott Donaldson will pick up on that.

1:41:03 > 1:41:12Look whether white's finished! 21 ahead, he needs one snooker to tie,

1:41:12 > 1:41:14and Scott can't believe where the cue ball has finished, because it's

1:41:14 > 1:41:23not a straightforward escape, either. He would have felt when he

1:41:23 > 1:41:27potted the yellow, well, that's the frame secured. And look whether

1:41:27 > 1:41:30white's finished up.

1:41:37 > 1:41:42If he's going to come off the side cushion, Mark Selby knows that he

1:41:42 > 1:41:55will have to have a lot of swerve on this death raising the butt of the

1:41:55 > 1:41:58cue, as you can see.

1:43:09 > 1:43:21The brown is the only good ball in a position to get snookers behind.

1:43:21 > 1:43:23That's a bit of insurance for Scott - it's safe there on the side

1:43:23 > 1:43:41cushion. Might just be able to get up behind the brown this time.

1:43:47 > 1:43:51He's caught it a bit thin.

1:44:40 > 1:44:48Now, can he judge it better this time? Well, he's going close to the

1:44:48 > 1:45:02pocket. It's not a bad effort, though.

1:46:41 > 1:46:48A bit unlucky to knock the pink in. He has conceded the frame. So, Scott

1:46:48 > 1:46:52Donaldson, having been 2-0 down, all of a sudden he's leading the

1:46:52 > 1:46:55defending champion by 3-2. HAZEL IRVINE: That certainly

1:46:55 > 1:46:55defending champion by 3-2. HAZEL IRVINE: That certainly was not

1:46:55 > 1:46:58in the script but fair play to Scott Donaldson. That was a tough frame,

1:46:58 > 1:47:04and to come out on top of it, a real Philip?Yeah, and Mark Selby has

1:47:04 > 1:47:09effectively stalled the bit. Every player like to be dominating amongst

1:47:09 > 1:47:12the balls, but the scrappy stuff is... Those matches can be up in the

1:47:12 > 1:47:17air sometimes. It is going to be a fight for him now. The second of the

1:47:17 > 1:47:22tournament.And we spoke about the first-round Duke he has actually

1:47:22 > 1:47:25when you think about it had reasonably slow starts in the early

1:47:25 > 1:47:31rounds here in York on his way to winning two UK crowns in the past.

1:47:31 > 1:47:34He seems to get momentum as he goes along, but he can't afford to wait

1:47:34 > 1:47:41too long?No. Often it can be a victim of your own success, how you

1:47:41 > 1:47:46judge yourself. The level of expectation a player has coming into

1:47:46 > 1:47:49every tournament. Mark Selby obviously asks a lot of himself. It

1:47:49 > 1:47:54would be lovely to target events, and to some degree at the start of

1:47:54 > 1:47:58the show Stephen Hendry said that perhaps Mark Selby does that better

1:47:58 > 1:48:05than most. But the general form can wax and wane. This is an event he

1:48:05 > 1:48:08would like to do well in, but he can't guarantee it.And being the

1:48:08 > 1:48:11defending champion and the world champion, every time you meet a

1:48:11 > 1:48:17player from the Linux, it's an FA Cup final for them in effect. And

1:48:17 > 1:48:23they tend to raise their game! Fair play to Scott Donaldson! Back we go.

1:48:30 > 1:48:34STEPHEN HENDRY: He's done very well to get himself into this position in

1:48:34 > 1:48:38this match, Scott Olsen. Sometimes you can see the pressure reversed

1:48:38 > 1:48:40and he might start to get promotional thoughts of winning this

1:48:40 > 1:48:48match. -- Scott Donaldson. That was a big mistake early in this sixth

1:48:48 > 1:48:58frame.

1:49:01 > 1:49:14That was not the cleanest pot in the world.

1:49:26 > 1:49:38DENNIS TAYLOR: That certainly helps Mark's cause, the pink going on the

1:49:38 > 1:49:43blue spot. He mistimed that completely. In fact he's going to do

1:49:43 > 1:49:46well to get onto that red to the left of the bunch of. As we show you

1:49:46 > 1:49:54the shot again... Yeah, his timing is slightly out at the moment. Look

1:49:54 > 1:49:57at the top spin he's generated there, and his finished on that red

1:49:57 > 1:50:02to the right of the bunch that I mentioned. In fact there's a couple

1:50:02 > 1:50:08of reds available, there might even be three into this left corner

1:50:08 > 1:50:14pocket. But once again, the black was tied up off the break-off shot.

1:50:25 > 1:50:29Mark would say to me at the interval that he thought the table was not as

1:50:29 > 1:50:38fast as perhaps the players expect these days, a little heavy. He's

1:50:38 > 1:50:42underhit that shot as well.

1:50:45 > 1:50:52When you're not timing the ball as well as you should be, it does make

1:50:52 > 1:50:55the table seem heavier.

1:51:44 > 1:51:47He opened up with a break of 68 in the opening frame, but this has been

1:51:47 > 1:52:01his highest rate since then. -- his highest break.

1:52:33 > 1:52:41It doesn't matter how good you are or how big you are in the game... He

1:52:41 > 1:52:46would be too happy with that positional shot. Playing this red

1:52:46 > 1:52:51into a blind pocket - can be missed.

1:53:09 > 1:53:17Chance of a couple of reds to the right corner here.Getting the red

1:53:17 > 1:53:22to the left of the black - that's the more exact positional shot, is

1:53:22 > 1:53:36he on it?Well, he's smiling to himself, so I don't think he is on

1:53:36 > 1:53:46it. Just ran a little bit too far. And once again, just a fraction

1:53:46 > 1:53:56making all the difference.

1:57:26 > 1:57:32That was a useful little angle on the middle pocket to leave himself

1:57:32 > 1:57:44nicely on the pink.He's not getting through the cue ball well at the

1:57:44 > 1:57:52moment, Mark Selby - that was another slight deceleration. Didn't

1:57:52 > 1:57:59get the stun on the cue ball.

1:58:16 > 1:58:27Yeah, enough loose reds there to secure this sixth frame.

1:59:24 > 1:59:31So, he's stopped that mini run from Scott Donaldson, who took three

1:59:31 > 1:59:37frames in a row. As we both mentioned, he had lost his way a

1:59:37 > 1:59:48little bit earlier in this frame, the timing was just out. But we know

1:59:48 > 1:59:52that Mark Selby can soon play himself back into top form again -

1:59:52 > 1:59:55and he'll have to do that to beat Scott Donaldson here.

2:00:20 > 2:00:24It doesn't matter, the fact that he has not dropped on a red, he can

2:00:24 > 2:00:27still have a go at this but it does not matter whether it goes in or

2:00:27 > 2:00:38not. So, he has stopped the run of three in a row from Scott Donaldson

2:00:38 > 2:00:42and the defending champion, Mark Selby, is back at all square, he

2:00:42 > 2:00:46deserves that drink! HAZEL IRVINE:I will tell you who

2:00:46 > 2:00:49else deserves a drink, Ryan Day, becoming

2:00:52 > 2:00:59. After that six frames to three when over their child and no, a

2:00:59 > 2:01:03great relief because as we told you earlier, he is clinging on the 16th

2:01:03 > 2:01:07spot in the world rankings, guaranteeing that he plays at the

2:01:07 > 2:01:12Masters but snapping at his heels is the provisional number 17, Neil

2:01:12 > 2:01:17Robertson, who we have been watching earlier. There is a lot at stake, in

2:01:17 > 2:01:22these early rounds, not least the title, but going forward?It is a

2:01:22 > 2:01:27very exciting ranking list, people have their own ideas on the money

2:01:27 > 2:01:30ranking list and with the Masters and the World Championship being

2:01:30 > 2:01:35affected by the top 16 spots, two points in the season, everybody has

2:01:35 > 2:01:40to scramble for the top 16 so it makes things quite nail-biting for

2:01:40 > 2:01:45those players around that mark. Going back to Scott Donaldson and

2:01:45 > 2:01:49Mark Selby, Ryan Day is officially out of the conversation which starts

2:01:49 > 2:01:55with, who is the best player never to win a world ranking title? After

2:01:55 > 2:02:01that victory at the Masters, and at long last.All of a sudden he had

2:02:01 > 2:02:07his cue broken and he is playing with a relatively new cue, any

2:02:07 > 2:02:09performance at the moment with basically a brand-new piece of wood

2:02:09 > 2:02:15is fantastic.Snookered gives and takes away at the same time! Back to

2:02:15 > 2:02:17the match... -- snooker.

2:02:22 > 2:02:27We will surely that attempt again at that long pot, usually a trademark

2:02:27 > 2:02:31of Mark Selby's but he has done remarkably well with the outcome,

2:02:31 > 2:02:35once he missed the red he would have felt he would stick Scott Donaldson

2:02:35 > 2:02:39in amongst them.

2:02:48 > 2:02:56APPLAUSE. I did not spot that plant, but was a

2:02:56 > 2:03:03good safety shot. Does he have the angle on the brown to capitalise on

2:03:03 > 2:03:15that flicked plant? Or does he roll up tight to the yellow? -- fluked

2:03:15 > 2:03:22plant. He could drop the brown and play left to the blue, he is a

2:03:22 > 2:03:26pretty good long potter, Scott.

2:03:32 > 2:03:39That is what he has done. He needs good cueing, the sort of shot that

2:03:39 > 2:03:45players practice. For hours on end. You mentioned that he used to play

2:03:45 > 2:03:51at your club in sterling, I used to watch Stephen Hendry at Spencer's

2:03:51 > 2:03:54practising this type of shot.

2:03:58 > 2:04:00APPLAUSE.

2:04:15 > 2:04:20It looks like he is enjoying this challenge at the moment, Scott

2:04:20 > 2:04:23Donaldson, potting that red quickly and walking around the table to see

2:04:23 > 2:04:29what the situation was. Decent opportunity, this. The black is

2:04:29 > 2:04:32available, to the left corner.

2:04:44 > 2:04:52Decent long pot success Scott Donaldson, three quarters. Just

2:04:52 > 2:05:00edging out Mark Selby, his success is 52% with long pots, not good, not

2:05:00 > 2:05:01what you would expect.

2:05:09 > 2:05:14That is the sadistic we did not expect, 94% with the safety success

2:05:14 > 2:05:24rate against Mark Selby's 91%. -- sadistic. That statistic. Almost

2:05:24 > 2:05:28played perfectly, he can leave himself on the black full -- black.

2:05:51 > 2:05:57Yes, I think you sum that up nicely, Stephen. He is enjoying himself, he

2:05:57 > 2:06:01did look edgy for the first two friends. He knows he is quite

2:06:01 > 2:06:05capable of causing an upset here. -- frames.

2:08:13 > 2:08:23He has had breaks of 88, 47 and 50 one. -- 51. He did not score in the

2:08:23 > 2:08:28previous frame, 37 and 50. But this is a great response from Scott,

2:08:28 > 2:08:29here.

2:08:41 > 2:08:48He looks confident. You could argue and say he looks the more confident

2:08:48 > 2:08:50of both players at the moment.

2:08:54 > 2:08:59He certainly looks like the more likely to win a frame in one visit.

2:09:04 > 2:09:09Just coming up a little bit short, a few more inches and he could have

2:09:09 > 2:09:14played nicely onto the black. As you can see, the angle he is left with,

2:09:14 > 2:09:17he has to be careful because he is not that many points away from

2:09:17 > 2:09:18winning the frame.

2:09:22 > 2:09:30Yes. He avoided the cannon on that red, that was good. Nicely played,

2:09:30 > 2:09:37the last shot. He did not want to cannon that red and he managed to

2:09:37 > 2:09:39get around the back of it.

2:10:22 > 2:10:24APPLAUSE.

2:10:32 > 2:10:39Mark Selby needs a snooker. It has been very good break, Scott

2:10:39 > 2:10:41Donaldson.

2:10:44 > 2:10:48He has played this with a lot of authority.

2:11:22 > 2:11:27Just letting the cue ball drift a little bit, the frame has been one,

2:11:27 > 2:11:33he wants to make a century. He can use the red to cool down the pace of

2:11:33 > 2:11:42the Kubot. Well done. -- cue ball. He will need the difficult red as

2:11:42 > 2:11:47well to make that century, four centuries this season so far, and

2:11:47 > 2:11:54Ford of them last season and he made 24 in his professional career,

2:11:54 > 2:11:58turning professional in 2012. If he can get this difficult red, he has

2:11:58 > 2:12:03overscrewed that a little bit. He will have to take it because the

2:12:03 > 2:12:08other red doesn't bounce to the other. This has to go in to make the

2:12:08 > 2:12:12century, it is not imperative but always nice if you can. What a

2:12:12 > 2:12:20shame. APPLAUSE.

2:12:20 > 2:12:30He took that and made a fantastic 90 break. Back in the lead. 4-3. Very

2:12:30 > 2:12:38impressive from the young Scott. Losing both opening frames and then

2:12:38 > 2:12:43coming back to win three in a row with breaks of 88, 47 and 50 one.

2:12:43 > 2:12:50And 90, terrific. He makes up for it, losing the first two frames and

2:12:50 > 2:12:54be thought Mark Selby would have a lovely time this afternoon and

2:12:54 > 2:12:58breeze through this but Scott Donaldson is back into this and he

2:12:58 > 2:13:03looks the more confident player around the table. Mark Selby is not

2:13:03 > 2:13:07striking the cue ball very well. He does not look comfortable. This is

2:13:07 > 2:13:10the last thing you want as the defending champion, a tough match

2:13:10 > 2:13:16like this in the first round.He is thinking right because he could have

2:13:16 > 2:13:19rolled up behind the yellow in that frame added at the brown in the

2:13:19 > 2:13:23middle and went on to make that magnificent break. Thinking very

2:13:23 > 2:13:27positively at the moment, the young Scott Donaldson.

2:13:52 > 2:13:58He just has to stay in the moment, Scott Donaldson, and not start to

2:13:58 > 2:14:02think ahead, which is what might happen. This would be a massive

2:14:02 > 2:14:06victory for him but there is a long way to go. One frame at a time, one

2:14:06 > 2:14:08shot at a time.

2:14:53 > 2:14:59There is a red to the right middle. But he has to get it. He has to

2:14:59 > 2:15:03leave something on, if he misses that red it is going up to the left

2:15:03 > 2:15:04of the blue.

2:15:28 > 2:15:34Again, a long way off the pot. He has left Scott Donaldson with an

2:15:34 > 2:15:36easy opener.

2:15:58 > 2:16:03This time, the black is not tied up, the pink is the black is available

2:16:03 > 2:16:07and the red next to it is also available. He is thinking a few

2:16:07 > 2:16:11shots ahead, as you can see, where he was pointing the cue.

2:16:50 > 2:16:53He missed that completely.

2:16:58 > 2:17:05He has been pretty good at this sort of shot, so far. Mid-range. Again,

2:17:05 > 2:17:08right in the middle of the pocket.

2:17:13 > 2:17:18There is a chance to play for the black, here. Stun the cue ball, side

2:17:18 > 2:17:20cushion.

2:17:31 > 2:17:33Another excellent pot.

2:18:32 > 2:18:36When he pots this red it will clear the path for the red at the back of

2:18:36 > 2:18:41the bunch. It will then become available into the right corner. And

2:18:41 > 2:18:47then, that is it. No other red available so he will already be

2:18:47 > 2:18:57plotting his path to bring them into play.He has to go into them. That

2:18:57 > 2:19:05is a big target. Top spin, attached to the right-hand side. Into that

2:19:05 > 2:19:12main bunch, you must miss that loose red between the black and the pack.

2:19:12 > 2:19:22Well played. Very well played. Excellent shot.Worth another look.

2:19:22 > 2:19:30That is the best shot of the match so far, right there. Can he go on

2:19:30 > 2:19:36and pulled himself together and put himself in a very strong position?

2:19:36 > 2:19:41He would only need one more frame to cause quite an upset. He looks

2:19:41 > 2:19:47pretty cool and calculated at the moment. He still needs quite a few

2:19:47 > 2:19:50points to secure this frame.

2:19:54 > 2:20:00Showing good composure. Having a look around the table at the

2:20:00 > 2:20:04situation, not getting too excited. It is very easy to let things run

2:20:04 > 2:20:09away and play too quickly. Composure. That is the name of the

2:20:09 > 2:20:12game at the moment. For Scott Donaldson.

2:20:16 > 2:20:20And that man has got big problems. If he wants to stay and defend his

2:20:20 > 2:20:21title.

2:21:01 > 2:21:05A couple of longish frames, it all went a bit scrappy, but the rest of

2:21:05 > 2:21:14the frames have been won virtually with one visit. He could have done

2:21:14 > 2:21:18with bouncing a little bit further. He is going to have to use one of

2:21:18 > 2:21:24the reds as a stopper. If he can cannon the one that is in between

2:21:24 > 2:21:28the pink and the red to the left, he will be perfectly placed. It is all

2:21:28 > 2:21:36about putting the black. Bind to be on a red, you would feel. Well, he

2:21:36 > 2:21:41has cannoned the wrong red. He still has this on to the left corner but

2:21:41 > 2:21:46he played a delicate cannon and he wanted to hit the one between the

2:21:46 > 2:21:52pink and the red to the left of it. This one. He should be OK. He can

2:21:52 > 2:21:56stand behind the black again. -- stunned.

2:22:09 > 2:22:17-- stun.

2:22:39 > 2:22:44I think he is going to have to play a screenshot of this right-hand

2:22:44 > 2:22:48cushion, but he has to get this well. He has to take the cue ball

2:22:48 > 2:22:58into the middle of the table. -- screw shot.

2:23:04 > 2:23:08He doesn't look like missing at the moment. Very, very impressed with

2:23:08 > 2:23:19Scott Donaldson. I mentioned his breaks, 88, 47 and 51 and 90 in the

2:23:19 > 2:23:26last frame and then he is doing this. We mentioned that Mark Selby

2:23:26 > 2:23:31had lost his timing a little bit. But a lot of that is down to the way

2:23:31 > 2:23:35this young man is playing. He is going to have to win three in a row

2:23:35 > 2:23:43to stay in this year's Betway UK Championship. He is going to be

2:23:43 > 2:23:49unlucky again. He has had a few chances to get essentially break and

2:23:49 > 2:23:54that has just finished very awkward. -- as century break.

2:24:15 > 2:24:22He nods to the referee, concedes the frame, so Scott Donaldson with that

2:24:22 > 2:24:25magnificent break just putting himself one frame away from causing

2:24:25 > 2:24:29quite the upset here. HAZEL IRVINE:This would be the

2:24:29 > 2:24:34upset of the season! He has surely come on strongly in the last couple

2:24:34 > 2:24:41of frames and he has outscored Mark Selby 38 - 71, he is

2:24:41 > 2:24:43of frames and he has outscored Mark Selby 38 - 71, he is outplaying him.

2:24:43 > 2:24:48The upset of the season in one respect is from being 2-0 behind,

2:24:48 > 2:24:54not just from level scores. For Mark Selby, he seems to have dug himself

2:24:54 > 2:24:59into a whole. How do you explain that? I don't have a clue, this

2:24:59 > 2:25:04player should be dominant in his arena. If it goes 2-0 up against a

2:25:04 > 2:25:08player who has not shown any form, the next minute it all unravels. He

2:25:08 > 2:25:13is not over the line yet, this is the toughest one to win but when you

2:25:13 > 2:25:17look at the respective performances over the season, Scott Donaldson has

2:25:17 > 2:25:22not had a great time, where has this form come from?He had lost ten

2:25:22 > 2:25:28matches in a row before coming here and suddenly he has found something.

2:25:28 > 2:25:33There are cycles in your form, one minute you play badly and the next

2:25:33 > 2:25:35minute you find something that inspires you in practice but this

2:25:35 > 2:25:39would be a turnaround in this particular match, defined form and

2:25:39 > 2:25:44get over the line and perhaps have your biggest scalp.Mark Selby has

2:25:44 > 2:25:48succumbed to a lesser opposition, with the greatest of respect, Jo

2:25:48 > 2:25:53Scott in the past, David Morris, one of the lower ranking players,

2:25:53 > 2:25:58beating at this stage into -- 2014. My goodness, this would be a feather

2:25:58 > 2:26:06in Scott's CAB, I'll be looking at something dramatic featuring the

2:26:06 > 2:26:10world champion and the defending UK champ in. -- champion.

2:26:18 > 2:26:26That needs to pull up. I say that, there is still a possible pot to the

2:26:26 > 2:26:31right middle pocket.

2:26:34 > 2:26:37With the white right in the jaws of the pocket, it is very difficult

2:26:37 > 2:26:43indeed. Maybe this is a young man we are looking at that just likes the

2:26:43 > 2:26:47big stage, likes playing on television, and a lot of those

2:26:47 > 2:26:53defeats would have been in the best-of-7s and that. Maybe he is a

2:26:53 > 2:26:58big occasion player and he is showing that here, that is for sure.

2:27:10 > 2:27:16That was good judgment, that was too tough other pot to risk. -- too

2:27:16 > 2:27:16tough apart.

2:27:40 > 2:27:43-- too tough a pot.

2:28:04 > 2:28:08He would like to take the red next to the yellow and get the frame back

2:28:08 > 2:28:12to normal but it is a bit awkward. With the yellow next to the red.

2:28:24 > 2:28:27We could have one of those awkward frames, there is another red corner

2:28:27 > 2:28:32of the table.

2:29:33 > 2:29:38Just a little bit of a stalemate at the moment, with three reds at the

2:29:38 > 2:29:41other end of the table. There is nothing much available to other

2:29:41 > 2:29:46players here. -- either player.

2:29:52 > 2:30:01Touching again. It does not matter. He can play off the other red. As

2:30:01 > 2:30:04long as you don't move the red that you are touching. If you do that it

2:30:04 > 2:30:08is a foul shot.

2:30:36 > 2:30:48It might just take a few shots to resolve this situation here.Whoever

2:30:48 > 2:30:52gets the first chance, it's normally a good one, because the players has

2:30:52 > 2:31:05spent so long bringing the reds into the open.

2:31:09 > 2:31:13The most difficult frame to win, though, the one to get over the

2:31:13 > 2:31:23winning line.

2:31:27 > 2:31:35Of course, as the reds loosen up, it is not easy just to roll up to one

2:31:35 > 2:31:42and keep everything safe.You'd have to be tempted by this red to the

2:31:42 > 2:31:54right middle. Looks like it's the containing shot. Oh, that was a bit

2:31:54 > 2:32:06pacey. I don't know if he meant to hit it is hardest asked. -- to hit

2:32:06 > 2:32:10it as hard as that.

2:32:17 > 2:32:20DENNIS TAYLOR: Well, this man is going to have to call on all his

2:32:20 > 2:32:25years of experience here to keep himself in this year's UK Snooker

2:32:25 > 2:32:31Championship, that's for sure. He knows he can't make many more

2:32:31 > 2:32:41mistakes. But how many times have we seen him in the World Championship,

2:32:41 > 2:32:45the UK Snooker Championship, who various Championships, where his

2:32:45 > 2:32:53back has been against the wall, and that's when he's been at his best.

2:32:59 > 2:33:04STEPHEN HENDRY: Mark Selby will know how much pressure his opponent is

2:33:04 > 2:33:11under, so he certainly won't be taking any risks.

2:33:26 > 2:33:38Just enough room to get a bit of tax being and get the white back. -- to

2:33:38 > 2:33:41get a bit of backspin. There might be a long red up into the corner,

2:33:41 > 2:33:46but there's nothing easy, that's for sure.

2:33:59 > 2:34:12Over half an hour since his last pot.Yeah, the last thing Selby

2:34:12 > 2:34:19wants is a pressure pot, where if he misses it, it could be his last. He

2:34:19 > 2:34:25wants an easy opening at the moment.

2:34:44 > 2:34:52Has he got a choice of two or three reds to the right middle? He's got

2:34:52 > 2:34:59to take something eventually.

2:35:04 > 2:35:16Is there gap through to the red? There might just be enough room. And

2:35:16 > 2:35:29there was. Now, is he coming far enough? Yes.Yeah, and as I said

2:35:29 > 2:35:40before, after that safety exchange, look at the reds now. What a chance.

2:35:40 > 2:35:45You'd have to say, not a lot to do with the cue ball - just keep

2:35:45 > 2:35:53potting balls. He'll play a cannon into the three reds near the pink

2:35:53 > 2:35:57spot here, just to kill the cue ball, stop it running away. That's

2:35:57 > 2:36:10good, that's very good.Yeah, he played your shot, Stephen, and the

2:36:10 > 2:36:14red has just bounced that little bit too far. He was hoping to be nicely

2:36:14 > 2:36:25on the black.

2:36:30 > 2:36:41This is like a practice setup now, the way the reds are. It's all about

2:36:41 > 2:36:43keeping your composure.

2:36:50 > 2:36:55The backswing is getting a little bit shorter - that's down to

2:36:55 > 2:37:10pressure. Won't get a better chance than this to win this match.Mark

2:37:10 > 2:37:17has beaten him four times. Scott has had one victory against Mark Selby,

2:37:17 > 2:37:284-2, a couple of seasons ago. The first three times they played it was

2:37:28 > 2:37:334-0, 4-0, 4-1 to Mark Selby, but he's facing a much better player

2:37:33 > 2:37:42now. Scott, the way he's performed in this match has been fabulous, it

2:37:42 > 2:37:56has to be said. Can he keep it going?

2:38:03 > 2:38:09You'd have to say, it's only going to be nerves or a careless shot,

2:38:09 > 2:38:17because as I said, there's virtually nothing to do with the cue ball.

2:38:17 > 2:38:33Pink and black both in the open. Oh, he's let that cue ball drift. He's

2:38:33 > 2:38:43got red to the middle. Maybe if he had played a cannon into the two

2:38:43 > 2:38:48reds, that would have been the better shot.You could tell he was

2:38:48 > 2:38:51thinking, I don't really want to have to risk playing a cannon geek

2:38:51 > 2:38:59he tries to hold it -- to risk playing a cannon, and he tried to

2:38:59 > 2:39:12hold it. Oh, that's OK. Not an intentional cannon on the red, but

2:39:12 > 2:39:20he's recovered the situation.

2:39:44 > 2:39:50You have to say, from 2-0 down, he's been by far the better player. He's

2:39:50 > 2:40:01struck the cue ball with more authority than his opponent. And

2:40:01 > 2:40:06when he's got in, he's looked more likely to win the frame in one visit

2:40:06 > 2:40:11than his opponent.

2:40:19 > 2:40:35That's fantastic, 94% pot success rate. His long pot success rate is

2:40:35 > 2:40:39way above that of Mark Selby, and I think he's outplayed Mark in all

2:40:39 > 2:40:52departments, even the safety success rate. And maybe as I mentioned he is

2:40:52 > 2:40:57one of these players that loves the limelight, loves to play on centre

2:40:57 > 2:41:00stage, because the way he's playing here against the defending champion

2:41:00 > 2:41:17is brilliant. Still needs a few more to be safe.

2:41:18 > 2:41:22That was a bit of a nervy one, hit could have done with screwing the

2:41:22 > 2:41:30cue ball a little bit to leave this think straight. He's just not

2:41:30 > 2:41:35getting into the cue ball is much. That's understandable, a huge result

2:41:35 > 2:41:51this would be for Scott Donaldson. You have to say, he's hit a poor

2:41:51 > 2:41:58slump in form recently, Mark Selby, by his standards. Didn't play in

2:41:58 > 2:42:06Northern Ireland last week, so he's had a break, but it's not worked.

2:42:09 > 2:42:14APPLAUSE

2:42:20 > 2:42:25DENNIS TAYLOR: Just taking his time, composing himself a little bit.

2:42:25 > 2:42:36Applause from one of the other tables.

2:42:38 > 2:42:50Now, 55 ahead. Two more reds with two high-value colours would be

2:42:50 > 2:43:01enough. And that's just about perfect. He can put his white into a

2:43:01 > 2:43:08position where he will have a choice of three reds. You can see the angle

2:43:08 > 2:43:15he screwed the white into. Leaving himself options. 61 ahead - what a

2:43:15 > 2:43:24performance from this young Scottish player.Yeah, there will be a lot of

2:43:24 > 2:43:27talk about how poorly Mark Selby has played today, but they'll have to

2:43:27 > 2:43:32talk about how well Scott Donaldson's played. He's outplayed

2:43:32 > 2:43:35world number one.

2:43:43 > 2:43:46And I like his temperament, he's got a very good temperament. We thought

2:43:46 > 2:43:51he might struggle a little bit in this frame, the one that gets you

2:43:51 > 2:43:56over the winning line, but when he gets the chance, he's certainly

2:43:56 > 2:44:05taken it. And it's hard to describe how this young man will be feeling

2:44:05 > 2:44:07inside here, beating the defending champion, world number one, current

2:44:07 > 2:44:18world champion.

2:44:18 > 2:44:21He's a very modest young man, but I'll tell you what, inside, he'll be

2:44:21 > 2:44:30absolutely over the moon.Yeah, I am delighted for Scott. Sometimes you

2:44:30 > 2:44:36need these results just to kick start your career, a results like

2:44:36 > 2:44:44this.

2:44:58 > 2:45:07I think I detected a nice little smile there. Like he suddenly

2:45:07 > 2:45:24realised what he's achieved here. He'll be gutted, absolutely gutted.

2:45:26 > 2:45:29Well, he's come so close to making a century break in two or three

2:45:29 > 2:45:41frames. Can he get the cannon...? Oh, I'm lucky! Hit it as hard as you

2:45:41 > 2:45:50can, and hope for a fluke, but... Well, he lost the two opening

2:45:50 > 2:45:59frames, and Mark Selby comes forward to congratulate this young Scotsman.

2:45:59 > 2:46:02Absolutely brilliant! Brilliant performance from a Scott Donaldson,

2:46:02 > 2:46:07and he knocks out the defending champion by sixthree!

2:46:07 > 2:46:08HAZEL

2:46:08 > 2:46:13champion by sixthree! HAZEL IRVINE: And you've just been

2:46:13 > 2:46:16witnessing one of the great shots of recent times, because Mark Selby,

2:46:16 > 2:46:21undisputed king of this sport, for three years he's not been knocked

2:46:21 > 2:46:27off his perch in terms of his number one ranking, how did this young

2:46:27 > 2:46:3023-year-old do it?Well, the top players in the world are all great

2:46:30 > 2:46:35players, but very impressive how he held himself together to close that

2:46:35 > 2:46:40match out, when perhaps he might have been thinking, this is going to

2:46:40 > 2:46:43be a big scalp if I can get over the line. From Mark Selby's perspective,

2:46:43 > 2:46:48very rarely do you see a collapse like that. I think he took his eye

2:46:48 > 2:46:53off the game, foot off the gas, whatever you call it, and the next

2:46:53 > 2:46:56minute Mark Selby looked like a bit player - amazing.You always expect

2:46:56 > 2:47:01the rearguard action from Mark Selby, when he's really up against

2:47:01 > 2:47:08it. But he just didn't seem to be there today.No, I think he felt his

2:47:08 > 2:47:11form in the early part of the season wasn't good and he was searching for

2:47:11 > 2:47:14answers overboard he had a toe injury which caused him to miss a

2:47:14 > 2:47:16couple of events. But then he wins an event and you think business as

2:47:16 > 2:47:21usual, Mark Selby's going to go from strength to strength in the major

2:47:21 > 2:47:26events. But your form line every season is not going to be the same,

2:47:26 > 2:47:29you're going to go through peaks and troughs. It looks like Mark Selby

2:47:29 > 2:47:32has hit a bit of a break wall in being able to switch the switch, and

2:47:32 > 2:47:41great performances happen.It was only last month he was winning the

2:47:41 > 2:47:43International Championship, the fourth biggest event in the

2:47:43 > 2:47:49calendar. But here is Scott Donaldson, and no wonder they're

2:47:49 > 2:47:52clapping! Well done! Where did this come from?I don't really know, to

2:47:52 > 2:47:59be honest. It's been well-documented I've not won a game, this is my

2:47:59 > 2:48:04first couple of wins this season, but I got half an inch taken off my

2:48:04 > 2:48:12cue at the start of the season, I thought... Didn't like it. And the

2:48:12 > 2:48:18cue is playing even better than I had before, so...This is a

2:48:18 > 2:48:25technical point, but you're one of the few players who has your back

2:48:25 > 2:48:28arm outside the vertical. It is considered to be 90 degrees but

2:48:28 > 2:48:33Scott plays with his arm further back, so perhaps you were trying to

2:48:33 > 2:48:42shorten up your action?Actually it's now 57 inches, and I try it

2:48:42 > 2:48:45again this season and it was just a shambles. I'm happy with the cue and

2:48:45 > 2:48:51I feel like I can make breaks whereas before I was really

2:48:51 > 2:48:56struggling.It's not just that, is it? All of a sudden against a player

2:48:56 > 2:49:03like that, Ugo two behind, and then it all seems to change?I was

2:49:03 > 2:49:10thinking, I'm not playing quick enough here. I thought, just nick

2:49:10 > 2:49:16Ephraim and it will make you feel a lot better.That was a very

2:49:16 > 2:49:25important frame?Yeah, if I had lost that it could have been 6-0.How do

2:49:25 > 2:49:32you rate this in terms of all the matches you've played?It is up

2:49:32 > 2:49:34there. Actually I played him in Barnsley recently and I played quite

2:49:34 > 2:49:40similar to that level. Mark doesn't give you anything, he beat me 4-3

2:49:40 > 2:49:48that day. Whoever I play next is going to be just as tough as that

2:49:48 > 2:49:57game.This is an almighty Shokat you've created here. How do you push

2:49:57 > 2:50:09on from that? Stephen Hendry said in commentary that this could be a

2:50:09 > 2:50:11career starting performance - does it feel like that to you?I'm not

2:50:11 > 2:50:17sure, I've just got to keep playing fluently. Just keep doing what I'm

2:50:17 > 2:50:26doing. It is all good but I've got a really tough game whoever I play

2:50:26 > 2:50:30next.This was one of the most significant moments in your career

2:50:30 > 2:50:36in terms of the attention and the cameras. Did you feel the pressure,

2:50:36 > 2:50:40playing the world number one? Without a doubt, the UK is one of

2:50:40 > 2:50:46the best tournaments. It's not as big as the World Championships, but

2:50:46 > 2:50:50you can play under the lights and you get good experience. I love

2:50:50 > 2:50:56York, it's a beautiful place.And also enjoy the television exposure,

2:50:56 > 2:51:02enjoy saying on the big stage, it's a good confidence booster. It is

2:51:02 > 2:51:12great to do that against Mark Selby. Yeah, you know what it's like... You

2:51:12 > 2:51:17get so many knocks... Well, you didn't have many knocks, but...! A

2:51:17 > 2:51:23lot of people can't get through it but I'm delighted to get through

2:51:23 > 2:51:27that one. It's only two wins, so a I have to keep doing what I'm doing.

2:51:27 > 2:51:33My next opponent is going to want to beat me as well, so...It's very

2:51:33 > 2:51:45hard on this tour. You've been six years on and off the tour - what

2:51:45 > 2:51:51keeps you believing in yourself and what has kept you going all these

2:51:51 > 2:51:54years, having to come back through the Europeans?Yeah. It's hard to

2:51:54 > 2:52:05explain. For me it is difficult, that's all I can say. I want to keep

2:52:05 > 2:52:11playing at this level.What do you love about the game?I love being

2:52:11 > 2:52:14out there. It was a really hard day to day, when you've got a lot of

2:52:14 > 2:52:19people telling you what you should do and what you should do. I think

2:52:19 > 2:52:23everybody's different and you've just got to do what you think is

2:52:23 > 2:52:26best for you, because you know yourself better than anyone else, so

2:52:26 > 2:52:31I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. Well, you should, because that was a

2:52:31 > 2:52:34fantastic performance today. See you in the next round. We were talking

2:52:34 > 2:52:39earlier about Ken Doherty, who was out on an adjacent table, and he was

2:52:39 > 2:52:45playing Neil Robertson. Ken Doherty, as you know, came off the tour last

2:52:45 > 2:52:52year and was granted an Invitational by world snooker, and he's been

2:52:52 > 2:52:57trying very hard to justify world snooker's faith in him since then.

2:52:57 > 2:52:59That's a very serious proposition for Ken, but as you know with the

2:52:59 > 2:53:06Irishman, there's always a few laughs along the way.What artist do

2:53:06 > 2:53:18you like but rarely admit to liking? Neil diamond.What do you hope your

2:53:18 > 2:53:35last words will be?Oh! What would I hope my last words would be?! Cash!

2:53:35 > 2:53:44What would be your spirit animal? Tiger.What is the most annoying

2:53:44 > 2:53:51question that people ask you? What was the best compliment you've

2:53:51 > 2:54:03received?The best compliment I've ever received...

2:54:03 > 2:54:06Oh, I stopped crying for three hours during the World Championships sugar

2:54:06 > 2:54:22from a Chief of Police.What do you do most often?Golfing practice!

2:54:23 > 2:54:26Well, Ken was really making a good fist of this earlier on, he was

2:54:26 > 2:54:30leading 2-1, but he missed one straightforward pot on the brown and

2:54:30 > 2:54:34it was the Australian Neil Robertson who claimed up frame four. We're

2:54:34 > 2:54:38going to joined them in frame five, it's all square and it's watched I

2:54:38 > 2:54:46Alan McManus and John Parrott. REFEREE: Frame five, Ken Doherty to

2:54:46 > 2:54:49break.

2:54:55 > 2:54:58JOHN PARROTT: Ken Doherty breaks off in frame five after the mid-session

2:54:58 > 2:55:03interval, and it was a very good session before the interval, too.

2:55:03 > 2:55:11Interesting tactical play, some good long potting. Ken might be kicking

2:55:11 > 2:55:14himself a little bit, a chance on the brown that he shouldn't have

2:55:14 > 2:55:25missed. But that has all gone now. 2-2, and all to play for.

2:56:52 > 2:57:05Ken has got to be a little bit careful with this safety. Well, he

2:57:05 > 2:57:11would like to have that one again. The thing he had to avoid there was

2:57:11 > 2:57:28the double kiss.McManus label yes, he just caught the jaw the corner.

2:57:54 > 2:57:57ALAN MCMANUS: we said before the interval how tough Australian sports

2:57:57 > 2:58:04people are, and the Australian rugby league team won the World Cup Final

2:58:04 > 2:58:11this morning against England, 6-0. Danny at one point that split was

2:58:11 > 2:58:18looking stinky unpromising, but there's a couple of options for Neil

2:58:18 > 2:58:28now. There's one in the middle pocket if he is still it. Just one

2:58:28 > 2:58:41good pot, with position away from a very good chance here.Yeah, the way

2:58:41 > 2:58:43these reds are sitting, the next couple of shots are massive... Oh,

2:58:43 > 2:58:51that was good.As I mentioned earlier, his cue action is

2:58:51 > 2:59:00absolutely bowled straight and those shots are made to look effortless.

2:59:17 > 2:59:24Something else, actually, this season, the cushions have been

2:59:24 > 2:59:30really good, John, they've not been bouncing the way they were three

2:59:30 > 2:59:33seasons ago. This type of shot, is give you confidence that you can hit

2:59:33 > 2:59:38it properly and not lose the cue ball.Do you know why, Alan, wired

2:59:38 > 2:59:44has improved?Not really, I must be honest, but it's been a feature this

2:59:44 > 2:59:51season. Does not been any players complaining about tables misbehaving

2:59:51 > 3:00:02this season, which I hope stay the same.I'm just wondering whether the

3:00:02 > 3:00:05boys using that new chalk which doesn't give you any kicks is

3:00:05 > 3:00:10helping, I don't know. But it's good, because you want consistency.

3:00:10 > 3:00:17If the tables are doing the job, then great. Much has been made about

3:00:17 > 3:00:24this new chalk, Alan, are you an advocate?I do have one piece of it

3:00:24 > 3:00:29in my cue case, but I've not started using it as yet. I think I probably

3:00:29 > 3:00:33will. The only thing I've heard reports that a lot of players have

3:00:33 > 3:00:39been this cueing modern-day would, so that is a concern, but it's

3:00:39 > 3:00:41definitely takes away the chalk marks - why? I don't know, but it

3:00:41 > 3:00:47definitely does. You still get the odd bad contact, but I think it does

3:00:47 > 3:00:54reduce the number of kicks.

3:00:54 > 3:00:59Hugh Robertson is taking these brilliantly well. I mentioned before

3:00:59 > 3:01:02the interval, but brine that Ken missed, that could have changed the

3:01:02 > 3:01:06course of this match. I hope it doesn't but at the moment it is

3:01:06 > 3:01:13looking very promising for a meal. But before Neil. One of those shots

3:01:13 > 3:01:20that you were on about. The cue ball was coming up miles too far, this is

3:01:20 > 3:01:26the second one he has had in this break. Perfect, but it's great. If

3:01:26 > 3:01:31you know that is happening, that is exactly what you want.

3:01:43 > 3:01:50Even with that shot, it helps that he can punch it in properly and know

3:01:50 > 3:01:54you will not lose the cue ball topside, it makes a difference to

3:01:54 > 3:01:58players of this standard for a lot of shots. It is not something we

3:01:58 > 3:02:02want to be talking about. You don't want this to be an issue, long may

3:02:02 > 3:02:09it continue. Neil Robertson picking up a head of steam, here.

3:02:14 > 3:02:18Here's not daft, he has been around the block, he might have got away

3:02:18 > 3:02:24with one in the last frame. With Ken missing that Brian. Players can

3:02:24 > 3:02:27sense it. Certain parts of matches where you know your opponent has

3:02:27 > 3:02:33pressed ahead -- should have pressed ahead and he has not done that, you

3:02:33 > 3:02:38try even harder in the next frame to make him remember it. Taking these

3:02:38 > 3:02:46beautifully well so far. The cue ball has been exemplary. Already 64

3:02:46 > 3:02:52points in the lead. This will put him over the line in the frame,

3:02:52 > 3:02:55nothing like winning in one visit. He has not been able to do that so

3:02:55 > 3:03:03far in this match. Safety shot from Ken, the double-kiss, that will cost

3:03:03 > 3:03:09in the frame. -- cost him.

3:03:18 > 3:03:23They belittle Calan off the pink and take the outside red from the two,

3:03:23 > 3:03:30if he wants, just that little flick. Just dropped that in. That shot was

3:03:30 > 3:03:34on, if you wanted it.

3:04:11 > 3:04:14No reason why we should not see the first century of this match. He has

3:04:14 > 3:04:23taken these beautifully. Just the red and the colour will see him...

3:04:27 > 3:04:30Very impressive.

3:04:36 > 3:04:45APPLAUSE. Beautiful century. Neil Robertson.

3:04:45 > 3:04:54The red does not matter. He will be in the lead for the first time. 3-2.

3:05:04 > 3:05:08Hugh Robertson was born on the 11th of February 1892 in Melbourne,

3:05:08 > 3:05:18Australia. His nickname is the Thunder from Down Under.In 2003, he

3:05:18 > 3:05:22won the world under 21 championship in New Zealand.He has been at the

3:05:22 > 3:05:31gain since 2014.His first ranking title came at the 2006 Grand Prix,

3:05:31 > 3:05:38where he beat Jamie Cooke in the final.In 2014, he made 103

3:05:38 > 3:05:44centuries in a single season, smashing the record of 61.He has

3:05:44 > 3:05:49won £3.5 million in career prize-money.He is a good frame of

3:05:49 > 3:05:54John Terry and is a regular at Stamford Bridge.In 2010, he became

3:05:54 > 3:05:58the third player from outside the UK to lift the World Championship

3:05:58 > 3:06:04trophy.He has made more than 500 centuries in his career.

3:06:19 > 3:06:28Neil Robertson breaks in frame six. He will not be happy with that. He

3:06:28 > 3:06:39will need a bit of luck to get away with it. Has he?Ken can just about

3:06:39 > 3:06:43get through to the red. Very difficult pot.

3:06:48 > 3:06:52Those are not easy when you have been sitting in your chair, added to

3:06:52 > 3:06:59that interval of 15 minutes, that is a good 40 minutes.The double whammy

3:06:59 > 3:07:03was the red ran past the other one, running back light into a pottable

3:07:03 > 3:07:11position. He just hates those so nicely. Another example of that

3:07:11 > 3:07:14straight cueing, you cannot pot football unless you cue the ball

3:07:14 > 3:07:19straight. -- pot that ball.

3:07:41 > 3:07:46That was beautiful, the control, three or four times he has landed

3:07:46 > 3:07:50absolutely perfect on this blue. Into the reds again, how is his

3:07:50 > 3:08:03luck? Not great. The red corner, can he get through for the pink to the

3:08:03 > 3:08:07right middle? That is the question. One of the middle, it is not a

3:08:07 > 3:08:15cinch. But... It is not easy to control the cue ball, playing it.

3:08:15 > 3:08:21This is definitely an example of straight through the ball cueing.

3:08:21 > 3:08:27Once again, it is not a problem. That was bowled straight. It looked

3:08:27 > 3:08:34like nothing, that shot, but that was a beautiful shot.And for a

3:08:34 > 3:08:39left-hander, to be on the pink and not need the rest, that shows you

3:08:39 > 3:08:43the control. If you can just pick a spot for the next red he could be in

3:08:43 > 3:08:52business again. Is he playing the cannon into the reds? No, he can

3:08:52 > 3:08:59obviously pick one out. This is looking promising.He is just

3:08:59 > 3:09:05stepping through the gears at the minute, playing quicker. He knows

3:09:05 > 3:09:07the importance of scoring heavily.

3:09:11 > 3:09:16In this part of the match, he feels as if he has got Ken slightly on the

3:09:16 > 3:09:19ropes at the moment.

3:09:39 > 3:09:44That is a clever shot, it shows you how well he is thinking and he wants

3:09:44 > 3:09:52to get the reds opened early. Just about the topside of the blue. That

3:09:52 > 3:10:01will be fine. Are we back down to the next red. It will not be easy.

3:10:01 > 3:10:06The reds are loosely spread but covering one another. This is an

3:10:06 > 3:10:10important shot. Finishing a red, and the way he is playing you would

3:10:10 > 3:10:15fancy him.The red near the top right-hand corner, the closest to

3:10:15 > 3:10:19it, if he drops the blue and he is left-handed that would be OK, he

3:10:19 > 3:10:23will just run the cue ball through. He will look at that. That is a red

3:10:23 > 3:10:29I would have thought would be the one. Right there. And just play it,

3:10:29 > 3:10:34then clip and back down the table and maybe land on a colour. That is

3:10:34 > 3:10:37the best option at the moment.

3:10:42 > 3:10:47He has gone on the same line, going right across.

3:11:02 > 3:11:10That was like a two in one shot.He played for a choice of the plant,

3:11:10 > 3:11:18the red to the left corner, but he is in the knowledge that the

3:11:18 > 3:11:20overhead that, he would have been on that red and that was good thinking,

3:11:20 > 3:11:27thinking clearly. One good positional shot away from a bullet

3:11:27 > 3:11:32fired chance of winning this frame at this visit. -- mollified.

3:11:36 > 3:11:42We said earlier in the day that one of the breaks made by Ken, scrapping

3:11:42 > 3:11:46proposition, this has been another, he has not quite been right for the

3:11:46 > 3:11:50last three or four shots, Neil. There is another good positional

3:11:50 > 3:11:53shot required.

3:11:57 > 3:12:09This E.On one? -- is he on one? He is not on the one closest to the

3:12:09 > 3:12:14black on the right-hand side but he is on the one above. He has to not

3:12:14 > 3:12:18the same because you don't really know where the cue ball is going. --

3:12:18 > 3:12:28knock this in. What a shot. That is as good as anything today.Once

3:12:28 > 3:12:34again... Beautifully straight cueing. He has a choice of green or

3:12:34 > 3:12:45blue. If this goes in... It looks like the end of the frame. Just

3:12:45 > 3:12:49going through the gearbox, all of a sudden.

3:13:12 > 3:13:19That is worried Ken in his chair, 20 minutes since your last a ball and

3:13:19 > 3:13:27really, 45 minutes since he had any decent table time to speak of. --

3:13:27 > 3:13:32since he last potted ball.And he does not look like he is getting any

3:13:32 > 3:13:40soon. Playing really quickly at the moment, he is obviously very

3:13:40 > 3:13:48confident. You can always tell when a player is in good stroke.

3:13:48 > 3:13:53Certainly with Neil, his shoulders go back and he walks, pride as a

3:13:53 > 3:13:57peacock, around the table and it is very quick and fluent and that is

3:13:57 > 3:13:59what is happening at the moment.

3:14:08 > 3:14:11Hard to play any better than this.

3:14:31 > 3:14:38Beginning to enjoy himself. The first three or four frames today

3:14:38 > 3:14:43were hard-fought. Safety battles. Good single ball potting but not

3:14:43 > 3:14:48really the fluency we expect. But he is beginning to move through the

3:14:48 > 3:14:59skiers. He is looking good. -- through those years.-- gears. A

3:14:59 > 3:15:03couple of shots ago they could have flicked the pink off percussion and

3:15:03 > 3:15:08he ignored that because he wanted to make the century, did not even take

3:15:08 > 3:15:12the chance on that, he just wanted to make 100.

3:15:12 > 3:15:19APPLAUSE. And there it is. Extremely

3:15:19 > 3:15:27impressive. And in pretty quick time. Superb from the Australian.

3:15:49 > 3:15:53Great to see him playing back like this, he is one of the finest

3:15:53 > 3:15:57players I have ever seen playing this game and when he is motoring

3:15:57 > 3:16:00like this, he is a handful and it would take somebody playing

3:16:00 > 3:16:04exceptionally well to beat him, if he does continue in this vein.

3:16:09 > 3:16:11Great stuff.

3:16:24 > 3:16:28He is hitting this, that is a certainty.

3:16:31 > 3:16:33APPLAUSE. .

3:16:45 > 3:16:54102 in the last, 124 to open up this country frame lead. Leading 4-2 and

3:16:54 > 3:16:56he is looking good.

3:18:25 > 3:18:27My goodness! Well...

3:18:30 > 3:18:35This is what happens in sport, unfortunately, when somebody is

3:18:35 > 3:18:38playing well they tend to get the rub and that is one of those.

3:18:38 > 3:18:44Straight in the corner. I would not put it past him making another

3:18:44 > 3:18:52frame-winning contribution. That is tough to take.Yes, this game, it

3:18:52 > 3:18:59seems to have a memory. What has gone before, the last couple of

3:18:59 > 3:19:08frames, the century breaks by Neil. If it is not bad enough for Ken

3:19:08 > 3:19:14Doherty, your opponent playing well, but luck is also on his side.

3:19:14 > 3:19:18Clever, playing for the pink. That will go to the back of the cluster

3:19:18 > 3:19:29but that will not hinder Neil in any way. He just clears up the reds. A

3:19:29 > 3:19:34couple of shots to work out the order he is going to take these reds

3:19:34 > 3:19:43in. Already thinking about the best way to go into the bunch.

3:20:09 > 3:20:15A couple of loose reds before, any suspect thinking about that. Once

3:20:15 > 3:20:19again, that cluster, the way they are, off the blue... That will be

3:20:19 > 3:20:29handy. Mind you, he has come a little bit short on this one. In

3:20:29 > 3:20:36fact, he can sneak past the side of that pack. That is all right. He

3:20:36 > 3:20:40still has those two loose reds before he has to manoeuvre any more

3:20:40 > 3:20:42balls into play.

3:20:50 > 3:20:58This really will be about the split. Is there a plant on the same pocket?

3:20:58 > 3:21:03I think he is going to play for the loose red. Similar to the way he was

3:21:03 > 3:21:08on that a couple of shots ago. Finishing where his thumb is. That

3:21:08 > 3:21:17is perfect. That is perfect.He played that nicely, once again

3:21:17 > 3:21:21judging the cannon. You have to be careful of these, how hard you hit

3:21:21 > 3:21:29them. Also make sure you don't screw it off into the middle pocket, which

3:21:29 > 3:21:34is a possibility. It'll be interesting to see which way he does

3:21:34 > 3:21:43this.Bush the reds into play. I wonder if that plant is still on. --

3:21:43 > 3:21:45push.

3:21:52 > 3:21:56It can definitely be made, no doubt.

3:22:01 > 3:22:10It is all happening for Neil, he has found the plant as well. How is your

3:22:10 > 3:22:17luck, Ken?He will be pushing the reds into play and playing this

3:22:17 > 3:22:26plant. Just set for the left-hand jaws, the balls don't have to be

3:22:26 > 3:22:34touching... He can still manufacturing this, as long as it is

3:22:34 > 3:22:45into the middle of the pocket. Good shot.Goodness me. Honestly, this

3:22:45 > 3:22:50frame, Ken has had to sit there and look for the fluke, then there is

3:22:50 > 3:22:54the plant and the split has come perfectly. I would not be backing

3:22:54 > 3:23:01any horses if I was Ken!It is a tough life sometimes, the life of a

3:23:01 > 3:23:07snooker player! Playing a top player in this sort of form, since the

3:23:07 > 3:23:13interval, you don't have to do much wrong.You can bet he will try to

3:23:13 > 3:23:15make another century because it likes the sort of things, making

3:23:15 > 3:23:23three on a spin, word four. Obviously very motivated by the

3:23:23 > 3:23:28history of the game, he wants to win as many majors as he can, he scored

3:23:28 > 3:23:31those wonderful centuries that season with over 100.

3:23:37 > 3:23:41He has just come a little bit straight on this, otherwise he would

3:23:41 > 3:23:49have played it already.It is also very good matchplay in terms of

3:23:49 > 3:23:53experience, he has reached this stage of the match were the next

3:23:53 > 3:23:57half a dozen shots are so important to take him into that 5-2 lead,

3:23:57 > 3:24:03which you think would be, not unassailable, but a very strong

3:24:03 > 3:24:07position. Just making sure, taking his time, he has been fluent but

3:24:07 > 3:24:12there are times in a match when you want to hang back and we are your is

3:24:12 > 3:24:24one of them. -- weigh up your options.That was just, once again,

3:24:24 > 3:24:36beautifully played. That is just, well, superb. Well, it looks like

3:24:36 > 3:24:41they are all going to go, certainly enough to get him past the line, he

3:24:41 > 3:24:46is 48 ahead already. All he has to do is mind his work.

3:24:52 > 3:25:02Just taking his time. He knows how important this visit is. Just keep

3:25:02 > 3:25:09Ken in his chair, get that 5-2 lead. He is not on the red. As far as

3:25:09 > 3:25:12potting it directly. Should be all right with the plant, a virtual

3:25:12 > 3:25:13certainty.

3:25:24 > 3:25:27Even that shot he played to leave himself but the plant, he left

3:25:27 > 3:25:32himself exactly in the right place to play the stunt cannon. It looks

3:25:32 > 3:25:36like nothing but all the time, it is thinking, using his brains.

3:25:40 > 3:25:46There is not much Ken can do about this. As we always say about this

3:25:46 > 3:25:50sport, if you play golf you have your own ball and if you make

3:25:50 > 3:25:54birdie, your opponent has to, but when your opponent is on the cue

3:25:54 > 3:25:58ball, you just have to sit and watch and suffer. Absolutely brilliant

3:25:58 > 3:26:03from Lee Robinson. Nothing Ken Doherty can do about it. -- Neil

3:26:03 > 3:26:09Robinson. -- Neil Robertson.

3:26:20 > 3:26:27Chasing centuries again. Deep enough into this to just pushed that red

3:26:27 > 3:26:33over the left middle. He has tried it. Not quite.He needs to work on

3:26:33 > 3:26:42his positional play, I think. Absolutely superb for the last two

3:26:42 > 3:26:52and three quarters frames. Looking like someone who has lost -- one two

3:26:52 > 3:27:00of the last four UK Championship. Back to see him playing so well.

3:27:11 > 3:27:17The only way to get the red out.I think you try to get it out a couple

3:27:17 > 3:27:22of shots ago. What a shot that was! Everything working in perfect

3:27:22 > 3:27:24harmony.

3:27:46 > 3:27:48Pink, red and another colour and that'll be three centuries on the

3:27:48 > 3:28:00spin for Neil Robertson. Absolutely grade A. In the session after the

3:28:00 > 3:28:03interval. Just drop this in.

3:28:17 > 3:28:26Three times in a row. Neil Robertson is flying out there.

3:28:30 > 3:28:35Make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen, he is back, the real Neil

3:28:35 > 3:28:41Robertson has entered the building. He has not be -- been massively off

3:28:41 > 3:28:49is game but slightly awry with the work he has been doing. People have

3:28:49 > 3:28:53been playing good against him but he has not been playing this good

3:28:53 > 3:28:58against them. This is vintage stuff at the moment.

3:29:07 > 3:29:09He is really enjoying himself.

3:29:26 > 3:29:33124 then 129. Neil Robertson. Three frame lead, just one from victory at

3:29:37 > 3:29:42three centuries in a row, just as he did the other day and you suddenly

3:29:42 > 3:29:45looks menacing?And arguably the springboard towards this has been

3:29:45 > 3:29:51that horrendous miss of Ken Doherty in the fourth frame, he missed a

3:29:51 > 3:29:53very bad round and he might well be having nightmares about that if

3:29:53 > 3:30:00things go badly here. The balls, they are made of some sort of

3:30:00 > 3:30:06plastic but I think they have brains because they never forgive you! All

3:30:06 > 3:30:12of a sudden, Ian Robertson starts to get the luck. You should not have

3:30:12 > 3:30:20missed that brown!The rest of us... That is 378 points scored by Neil

3:30:20 > 3:30:29Robertson without reply. Does panic set in? As Ken Doherty?More

3:30:29 > 3:30:33important than the balls, the players knows that every player

3:30:33 > 3:30:37knows he has missed that golden opportunity and that plays on your

3:30:37 > 3:30:39mind, perhaps you play shots more negatively afterwards but you know

3:30:39 > 3:30:42you have let somebody off the hook and you know a big fish like Neil

3:30:42 > 3:30:46Robertson can take full advantage. It is not his fault he has become

3:30:46 > 3:30:50lucky but he has taken advantage because he is a class act.Six

3:30:50 > 3:31:03centuries so far. Can he tie things up in frame eight?

3:31:03 > 3:31:05Thank you, frame eight, Neil Robertson to break.

3:31:05 > 3:31:25JOHN PARROTT: It has been an absolute exhibition the mid-session

3:31:25 > 3:31:31interval from the Aussie. Nothing Ken Doherty can do about it - he's

3:31:31 > 3:31:34just got to hope it turns around.

3:31:56 > 3:32:03Well, the pockets are looking like buckets at the minute. Wonderful

3:32:03 > 3:32:05piece of cueing once again. When he's on like this, his long name is

3:32:05 > 3:32:20sensational. -- his long game. ALAN MCMANUS: There's a couple of

3:32:20 > 3:32:26ways of playing this - he seems to be going dead weight. And he's

3:32:26 > 3:32:31played it to the inch.Were you expecting anything else?!Not

3:32:31 > 3:32:44really! He's off and running again. I just love the way he plays the

3:32:44 > 3:32:55game, John.His safety is studious, but when he gets in the balls, who

3:32:55 > 3:32:57really likes to get motoring. His done that since the interval,

3:32:57 > 3:33:04wasting no time.

3:33:43 > 3:33:47That black means it's been 400 points without reply from Neil

3:33:47 > 3:34:00Robertson. I think the record, actually, is someone in the region

3:34:00 > 3:34:07of 560, maybe John Higgins against Anthony Hamilton at The Crucible?I

3:34:07 > 3:34:16suppose the good news is, this is looking like the last frame, because

3:34:16 > 3:34:18otherwise it could be happening here! He is not looking like missing

3:34:18 > 3:34:33out the moment. The quality of the break-building, everything. And of

3:34:33 > 3:34:37course, as soon as I say that, he loses the cue ball for the first

3:34:37 > 3:34:46time. Mind you, he's been knocking these info phone. -- knocking these

3:34:46 > 3:34:56in for fine.

3:34:59 > 3:35:07No hesitation again. Little deep screw, cannon into the pink - clever

3:35:07 > 3:35:24shot, actually. Is he on one...?I think this is end of break. Just

3:35:24 > 3:35:32needed a little bit of good fortune there. The way he's going, he has

3:35:32 > 3:35:43knocked everything in, but... 44 points in front, 5-2 ahead, and when

3:35:43 > 3:35:47you're playing as well as he is, it is difficult sometimes to steal

3:35:47 > 3:35:54yourself, but you still got to play the right shot. And the right shot

3:35:54 > 3:35:59here is to scheme out.Yeah. This is a medicine shot I think. Play each

3:35:59 > 3:36:07shot on its merits. If it doesn't cut, there is no point in playing

3:36:07 > 3:36:12it.He's not playing someone in a club handicap, is in the UK

3:36:12 > 3:36:19Championship against Ken Doherty, who's perfectly capable of clearing

3:36:19 > 3:36:31up if he misses it. That's why he's a champion.

3:36:43 > 3:37:02Now, then! That was nice to see! Just don't miss the brown now, Ken!

3:37:02 > 3:37:06It's been a long time coming, but will it be worth the wait in the

3:37:06 > 3:37:13end, because this was a decent chance? As you say, John, fully

3:37:13 > 3:37:20capable.He might try and get into the pack... Oh, and he HAS missed

3:37:20 > 3:37:37the brown! Unfortunately his positioning is good!Yeah, I think

3:37:37 > 3:37:41that was a symptom of the lack of table time. Look at that! . That's

3:37:41 > 3:37:54where you would put the cue ball with your hand.

3:37:55 > 3:37:58If this isn't match over now, Neil Robertson will be very annoyed with

3:37:58 > 3:38:06himself. Already 51 point in the lead. An easy 20 or 30 more to come,

3:38:06 > 3:38:08you would think.

3:38:17 > 3:38:20He's been hugely impressive this afternoon. This second session has

3:38:20 > 3:38:25been as good as he can play. The only reason he hasn't made four

3:38:25 > 3:38:33centuries on the spin was because he just lost the cue ball on a

3:38:33 > 3:38:40positional shot, he didn't miss a pot. He's going to take some

3:38:40 > 3:38:49stopping, whoever he plays against.

3:39:00 > 3:39:04Yes, make sure of the black, and that's frame and match. He's been

3:39:04 > 3:39:13good, Alan, hasn't he?He's been awesome, an exhibition of power and

3:39:13 > 3:39:27control. And it is good to see him play this way again. It's not like

3:39:27 > 3:39:32he's not been playing that well, he's still knocking in centuries,

3:39:32 > 3:39:39but to put it together all in one burst...Well, the red didn't go in,

3:39:39 > 3:39:45but it doesn't matter, and the Australian was absolutely awesome

3:39:45 > 3:39:51after the interval. Three consecutive centuries. Brilliant

3:39:51 > 3:39:55player from Neil Robertson, the Australian. Ken Doherty could not do

3:39:55 > 3:39:57much about it - the Australian was awesome.

3:39:57 > 3:40:02much about it - the Australian was awesome.Yeah, he started off

3:40:02 > 3:40:05brilliantly in the match, I didn't do a great deal wrong. His safety

3:40:05 > 3:40:15was awesome, he was potting really good long balls as well. I just had

3:40:15 > 3:40:18to wait for my chance, and he missed the brown trying to force the angle,

3:40:18 > 3:40:23which allowed me to get to 2-2. And then after that, I got in and I was

3:40:23 > 3:40:28able to make a few really good breaks.I had a few chances, I was

3:40:28 > 3:40:32happy with the way I played. If anything, it's nice to be back out

3:40:32 > 3:40:36there playing in front of the house, in front of the big crowds. I was

3:40:36 > 3:40:48really enjoying it cobbles and it's something to take top of that

3:40:48 > 3:40:50hopefully go forward. It will give me that little bit of confidence

3:40:50 > 3:40:54that I can still compete, albeit against a guy who... There's not

3:40:54 > 3:41:00many players who are going to knock in three centuries in a row. I said

3:41:00 > 3:41:04to him, you played really well. Yeah, since winning it, I've won it

3:41:04 > 3:41:11two years after, and hopefully history can repeat itself. I feel

3:41:11 > 3:41:15great about my game, I'm really happy, enjoying life, and just can't

3:41:15 > 3:41:20wait to get out there for the next game.In the end it was 422

3:41:20 > 3:41:25unanswered points for Neil Robertson and three centuries in a row, as we

3:41:25 > 3:41:34discussed. How pleased should he feel and how Linus does he look?

3:41:34 > 3:41:37Considering we spoke at earlier about how he has had some sort of

3:41:37 > 3:41:39cloud over things, getting back to winning ways when you're striving to

3:41:39 > 3:41:43do that is difficult. So, it's encouraging. But I think the same as

3:41:43 > 3:41:47Scott Donaldson who came in here, it's just two wins. We shouldn't get

3:41:47 > 3:41:54too excited about it. But he does make centuries for fun. And that was

3:41:54 > 3:42:00how he did so well the year before, he was winning lots of tournaments,

3:42:00 > 3:42:03making 103 centuries in the season. If the centuries start coming, it

3:42:03 > 3:42:09makes the game a lot easier.So, that's six centuries in two matches

3:42:09 > 3:42:13so far. What we can take from it? Great to see his confidence levels

3:42:13 > 3:42:19restored this season?He's going to go away from this match, he's going

3:42:19 > 3:42:23to look at that brown ball and go, I can't believe what happened. The

3:42:23 > 3:42:28whole game collapsed around that one shot. He could have had chances to

3:42:28 > 3:42:31go 3-1 in front. Looking at the bigger picture, Ken was at rock

3:42:31 > 3:42:36bottom of his game when he fell off the tour, he got given a wild card,

3:42:36 > 3:42:40and this year he's been pretty decent, he's started to turn players

3:42:40 > 3:42:44over that were supposed to be turning him over. Ken is now getting

3:42:44 > 3:42:48into a more competitive frame of mind, and he's getting results, the

3:42:48 > 3:42:56same as Jimmy White. Those two liars refuse to go away.It's almost as if

3:42:56 > 3:42:59they're determined to prove Barry Hearn chillies faith in them by

3:42:59 > 3:43:04giving them the wild cards?Yes, but also, UK and get the wild card, a

3:43:04 > 3:43:10bit like myself, actually, I got the wild card but my heart really wasn't

3:43:10 > 3:43:14in it. I think Jimmy White and Ken Doherty still think, I've got things

3:43:14 > 3:43:21to prove, and they've got a game which can, if they get confident,

3:43:21 > 3:43:24compete. It's good for their morale and they're proving that it was a

3:43:24 > 3:43:33decent decision. Form... Class... Class, form, whatever, temporary...

3:43:33 > 3:43:42One of those things!I know! But there's always the odd blip when it

3:43:42 > 3:43:44comes to performance, and Mark Selby has certainly experienced that

3:43:44 > 3:43:51today. Because the world number one, the defending champion and world

3:43:51 > 3:43:55champion, has been turned over in some style today by this fella, the

3:43:55 > 3:44:00world number 66, Scott Donaldson, the 23-year-old from Perth. The

3:44:00 > 3:44:09Perth potting machine, they're calling him! His biggest win in six

3:44:09 > 3:44:19years of professional snooker in this, the first major of the season.

3:44:19 > 3:44:22So, the top seed is gone. This was Mark Selby's reaction.Scott just

3:44:22 > 3:44:25played well. To come back to 2-2, I didn't really have thus much of a

3:44:25 > 3:44:29chance, I didn't do that much wrong. After the interval he just continued

3:44:29 > 3:44:33the way he started from 2-0 really. I've got no complaints, was

3:44:33 > 3:44:39appointed obviously to lose but it is not as if I've had chance after

3:44:39 > 3:44:43chance and through the match away as such. Scott has gone out there and

3:44:43 > 3:44:47played remarkable snooker. I've been saying it for most of the season

3:44:47 > 3:44:52that everyone seemed to be playing fantastic against me, and when I'm

3:44:52 > 3:44:55winning matches I'm also having to play my best as well. It doesn't

3:44:55 > 3:45:01always happen.It is his earliest exodus since 2014 in this jumper. It

3:45:01 > 3:45:05really is a major surprise. And it means we've now lost the world

3:45:05 > 3:45:10number one, the 13 and also Ali Carter in dramatic circumstances?

3:45:10 > 3:45:19Yeah. There's the possibility, if the standard of players further down

3:45:19 > 3:45:22the ranking list improves, it's going to bunch up, and there's going

3:45:22 > 3:45:26to be more and more suppose it shocks. We were talking about which

3:45:26 > 3:45:31tournament it would be where the vast majority of the 16 were already

3:45:31 > 3:45:37out before the 16.It was Belfast, actually.If this is the shape of

3:45:37 > 3:45:39things to come, it's going to be harder to prove your worth within

3:45:39 > 3:45:45the game. Perhaps like the golfing world, you have to be very patient

3:45:45 > 3:45:51to get your wins, and it's about your consistency throughout the

3:45:51 > 3:45:55season. And you get one win in one tournament in a season, is that a

3:45:55 > 3:46:03good season? Yeah, perhaps it is. It's going to be a Christmas without

3:46:03 > 3:46:11the UK Snooker Championship title this time for Mark Selby. We

3:46:11 > 3:46:13mentioned Belfast, and that was last weekend that Mark Williams claimed

3:46:13 > 3:46:18the title, he really did roll back the years, because he had not won a

3:46:18 > 3:46:21world ranking title for six years. In fact at the start of the season

3:46:21 > 3:46:24the Welshmen have thought about giving up the game and it was his

3:46:24 > 3:46:28wife who persuaded him to keep going, a new coach and a new method

3:46:28 > 3:46:33of sighting the ball and suddenly it comes good. However, it was in next

3:46:33 > 3:46:37circumstances, because all the while his wife Jo was ill in hospital and

3:46:37 > 3:46:42he was dubious about whether he should have carried on. He did, but

3:46:42 > 3:46:53it was a week of mixed emotions for the Welshmen. Once you start losing,

3:46:53 > 3:46:57I suppose you get used to losing and it is hard to get out of the habit

3:46:57 > 3:47:00of. I knew if I was going to carry on playing, I would have to do

3:47:00 > 3:47:04something else, something different to focus my mind on, and I found

3:47:04 > 3:47:11that and it's working. I've just got to keep riding the wave until

3:47:11 > 3:47:16obviously the wave comes crashing down. Always come crashing down, so

3:47:16 > 3:47:21I'm just writing this one as long as I can. Since I've been working with

3:47:21 > 3:47:27Steve since the start of the season, I game's come on 100% to what it

3:47:27 > 3:47:31was. Taking a few breaks, putting some long once, and I'm playing some

3:47:31 > 3:47:38good stuff. I think it was the night session I played really well, and he

3:47:38 > 3:47:42played really well as well, and I managed to get over the line. I

3:47:42 > 3:47:49played a really good last frame and he didn't printable. More than happy

3:47:49 > 3:47:54with that, to handle the pressure. Straight to the hospital now to see

3:47:54 > 3:47:59how my wife is and see where we go from here. My wife is in hospital,

3:47:59 > 3:48:06not too well. It was one of them, do I go back? Do I stay? She told me to

3:48:06 > 3:48:13stay and play. If I go back I suppose what can you do? Just sit by

3:48:13 > 3:48:18her bed, really. I managed to stay, and thankfully I did. I don't want

3:48:18 > 3:48:22to pull out of the second biggest ornament we play. I've just got to

3:48:22 > 3:48:26play it and see what happens, really. This is one of the hardest

3:48:26 > 3:48:31tournaments to win. Mostly it's the top players who win this tournament,

3:48:31 > 3:48:38so it's going to be very difficult for me to win it. But I'm coming in

3:48:38 > 3:48:41here in probably some of the best form in the last five-ten years, so

3:48:41 > 3:48:45you never know. I'll give it my best shot, it's just nice to be competing

3:48:45 > 3:48:51with the big boys again, really. HAZEL IRVINE: And sadly, Jo is still

3:48:51 > 3:48:55poorly, and we are all thinking of you right now and sending you our

3:48:55 > 3:49:02very, very best wishes. In this match, we saw Mark go 2-2, and in

3:49:02 > 3:49:14fact he went 3-2 in front against Andrew Higginson, the Widnes

3:49:14 > 3:49:20Warrior. However fate conspired against him and he went in off,

3:49:20 > 3:49:28handing Mark Williams the opportunity. And several minutes

3:49:28 > 3:49:30later, never want to spurn his chances, the man who is a double

3:49:30 > 3:49:38blow champion and indeed. Double winner of the fabled Triple Crown,

3:49:38 > 3:49:45mopping up the pink and the black to go 4-2 up after that gift from

3:49:45 > 3:49:52Andrew Higginson. That 4-2 advantage became five two, and here is Mark

3:49:52 > 3:49:59Williams in frame eight, on his way to wrapping up a 6-2 victory over

3:49:59 > 3:50:06the Widnes Warrior. And it has been great, Steve Davis, to see this man

3:50:06 > 3:50:14back to his best, hasn't it?It is, it's an exceptional -- it was an

3:50:14 > 3:50:16exceptional performance in Northern Ireland, especially considering

3:50:16 > 3:50:22what's been happening off the table. It just shows you the class of Mark

3:50:22 > 3:50:25Williams. He's always had a great game, he did have a drop in

3:50:25 > 3:50:29confidence but it is great to see him back. He has got a new coaching

3:50:29 > 3:50:33method, and that can always inspire you. It's always good when he's in

3:50:33 > 3:50:38the tournament, because he's a great character.And he says he is not to

3:50:38 > 3:50:45comment on Jo's condition any longer, he's playing, and he marches

3:50:45 > 3:50:48on into round three. We're going to catch up now with the remaining

3:50:48 > 3:50:55matches. It has been a blur of matches here. Mark Allen had his

3:50:55 > 3:51:00work cut out against young Oliver Lines today. World number nine from

3:51:00 > 3:51:05Northern Ireland had been 3-2 down against the former Rookie of the

3:51:05 > 3:51:11Year player Oliver Lines. You might remember the huge upset he pulled

3:51:11 > 3:51:19off a couple of years ago. Very tricky hurdle safely negotiated for

3:51:19 > 3:51:28Mark Allen. So, a quick look at some of the other matches that have been

3:51:28 > 3:51:33taking place. Neil Robertson, safely through. We've seen Scott Donaldson,

3:51:33 > 3:51:38with that incredible victory. Mark Allen, Mark Williams, and in the

3:51:38 > 3:51:42sports hall, it's the secondary venue, just like through the wall

3:51:42 > 3:51:48from where we are, actually. Peter Ebdon has gone out. Mark joys was

3:51:48 > 3:51:574-0 up before David Gilbert came back but it is joys who progresses.

3:51:57 > 3:52:05Ryan Day, the world number 16, has gone through. He wants to make sure

3:52:05 > 3:52:07that he has a place at the Masters

3:52:07 > 3:52:11that he has a place at the Masters next month. Rob Milkins has gone out

3:52:11 > 3:52:17to Li Hang from China, who has been putting together a decent season.

3:52:17 > 3:52:20Let's just remind you of tonight's matches, and we've got another eight

3:52:20 > 3:52:27for you this evening. And this one features Judd Trump. Now, all of the

3:52:27 > 3:52:30star attractions are on show this weekend. And Judd Trump is one of

3:52:30 > 3:52:36those. His match against Chris Wakeling will be live for you

3:52:36 > 3:52:39available via the red button from seven o'clock, and on the BBC

3:52:39 > 3:52:54website. Judd has already made a break 100 break. But Chris is

3:52:54 > 3:52:58someone who has beaten Ronnie O'Sullivan in the past and had

3:52:58 > 3:53:05several other big victories as well. Steve Davis spoke to him.I am here

3:53:05 > 3:53:08with Chris, one of the new up-and-coming players in the game,

3:53:08 > 3:53:16currently ranked 60th in the game check how are you finding the tour

3:53:16 > 3:53:21these days?It is the best time to be on the, or thing. Every time you

3:53:21 > 3:53:25play in a tournament, it is a chance to change your life. Could not ask

3:53:25 > 3:53:28for a better time to be playing.Of course, good win against Leigh

3:53:28 > 3:53:31Walker in the first-round, but the stakes are raised somewhat when it

3:53:31 > 3:53:36gets to the televised stages?Yeah, I played really well in the first

3:53:36 > 3:53:40match. Just glad to get over the line, really. That first-round is

3:53:40 > 3:53:43almost like qualifying. So, getting to the second round in the main

3:53:43 > 3:53:48arena, playing Judd, it's a great opportunity to showcase what I can

3:53:48 > 3:53:52do. If I perform how I did in the first round, then I've got a lot of

3:53:52 > 3:53:57confidence.Have you had much television experience?Yeah, I've

3:53:57 > 3:54:03been on television in China a few times, and also in the UK. In the

3:54:03 > 3:54:07early stages of television, but I would be fazed by the occasion. I've

3:54:07 > 3:54:13been doing it for four years now. Most of the players these days have

3:54:13 > 3:54:20been playing 20 years!It's not just about trying to do well in the match

3:54:20 > 3:54:26is, you've also got to keep on the tour for next year - 64 players drop

3:54:26 > 3:54:28off, so it's tough when you're around that area but only I think

3:54:28 > 3:54:31the more you think about it, its takes your attention away from what

3:54:31 > 3:54:35you're trying to achieve, which is to win matches and ultimately

3:54:35 > 3:54:38tournaments. In the back of your mind if you're looking at dropping

3:54:38 > 3:54:42of the tour, then it's the wrong way to be thinking.Judd Trump tonight -

3:54:42 > 3:54:52any game plan?Go out there and attack! Good luck! Thank you!

3:54:52 > 3:54:57Attack! That's what you have to do against Judd Trump, because he's

3:54:57 > 3:55:03certainly going to throw a lot at you! He had laser surgery on his

3:55:03 > 3:55:06eyes in the summer, but he's since gone on to win in Belgium. That was

3:55:06 > 3:55:10his eighth world ranking title, and in Shanghai he was runner-up to

3:55:10 > 3:55:16Ronnie O'Sullivan last month. Remember when he was playing that

3:55:16 > 3:55:23naughty snooker, as he called it? Well, he has allied that to some

3:55:23 > 3:55:33nous these days. The absence of Mark Selby, do you sense that for players

3:55:33 > 3:55:38like Judd and everybody else, there is more of an opportunity?Possibly.

3:55:38 > 3:55:45I think there was a time when a big name went out and the other players'

3:55:45 > 3:55:47ears pricked up and thought, that has made it easier. But I don't

3:55:47 > 3:55:50think now that's the case. There's so many good players administration

3:55:50 > 3:55:54it jars change the betting I'm sure. But I think Judd Trump knows that

3:55:54 > 3:56:06every round is difficult.We will be watching him this evening. And we

3:56:06 > 3:56:10will also be keeping an eye on the progress of a certain Jimmy White,

3:56:10 > 3:56:1555 years of age, after that victory over Ali Carter. And he strode over

3:56:15 > 3:56:21the line with a century and a 61 - there was no falling over the line!

3:56:21 > 3:56:26How well will he go tonight from what you've seento think he's

3:56:26 > 3:56:29playing with confidence, and that's the most important thing.And also

3:56:29 > 3:56:32when you've got confidence, you don't worry about things so much.

3:56:32 > 3:56:37You go in and just think, I'm going to fight. If you're worrying about

3:56:37 > 3:56:43your technique, already undermining yourself. Kurt Matthews is a great

3:56:43 > 3:56:46player, it's a tough match for Jimmy, and he's got to get the

3:56:46 > 3:56:50levels of expectation right. If he expects too much of himself, he can

3:56:50 > 3:56:55ruin his performance. Just go out and play.How much have you enjoyed

3:56:55 > 3:57:00this Saturday here at the UK Snooker Championship hammered it is always

3:57:00 > 3:57:05wonderful to be in York, but so far it has been a mixture of shocks and

3:57:05 > 3:57:08expected victories?This one has always been marvellous for the

3:57:08 > 3:57:13snooker fan. You can walk around and see which matches you fancy, eight

3:57:13 > 3:57:17matches at once. You don't get short-changed for your money which

3:57:17 > 3:57:20the quality nowadays.Let's remind you of what's coming up here in York

3:57:20 > 3:57:23over the next hours. That live coverage continues on the red

3:57:23 > 3:57:33button. I'll be back tonight with second round highlights of. We will

3:57:33 > 3:57:37shoehorn as much news and action as is humanly possible from the second

3:57:37 > 3:57:44round matches. That's at 20 past 11 this evening. Ten to 12 in Scotland.