Third Round - Part 2

0:00:33 > 0:00:40Good afternoon. We are spending our week here in York for UK

0:00:40 > 0:00:44Championship. This is one of the landmarks of this city, very popular

0:00:44 > 0:00:48at this time of year, with the Christmas markets in full swing. But

0:00:48 > 0:00:52not far from here somebody is going to win a sizeable Christmas bonus at

0:00:52 > 0:01:03the Barbican centre. This afternoon, we have the class of 92. They are

0:01:03 > 0:01:09like the sporting greats Ryan Giggs and David Beckham but these guys

0:01:09 > 0:01:14have been dazzling the crowds for 25 years. They are John Higgins, and

0:01:14 > 0:01:18the man who celebrates his 42nd birthday today, The Rocket, Ronnie

0:01:18 > 0:01:24O'Sullivan. Thank you very much. Brilliant!

0:02:05 > 0:02:09I played Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis, the legends of the game, and

0:02:09 > 0:02:17they've won the most, but I think he's somebody who just makes it look

0:02:17 > 0:02:24easy, right-handed and left-handed. He's just a one-off.He's probably

0:02:24 > 0:02:30one of the greatest players of all time. You know, me, John, Mark

0:02:30 > 0:02:32Williams, we've noted each other, we've probably been good for each

0:02:32 > 0:02:39other.Still standing indeed. Both 42 years young, O'Sullivan and

0:02:39 > 0:02:46Higgins are now very top two players left in this Championship, at four

0:02:46 > 0:02:50and five respectively, and they both have something in common today. They

0:02:50 > 0:02:52are fighting off the younger generation.

0:02:55 > 0:03:00Ronnie is officially the top man here in York now. So say both the

0:03:00 > 0:03:03rankings and the bookies, who make him a runaway favourite for his

0:03:03 > 0:03:13sixth title. Michael Whyte is in his way today. He has also struck

0:03:13 > 0:03:15lightning in the silverware. John Higgins has been putting in the

0:03:15 > 0:03:21miles ahead of his match back and forward to be tiptop today. Because

0:03:21 > 0:03:28he faces the amazing 17-year-old Yann Byng Tao -- Yan Bingtao, who

0:03:28 > 0:03:35reached his first semifinal. Any questions or queries, you know where

0:03:35 > 0:03:42to send them. These guys were once sensations

0:03:42 > 0:03:48themselves. This is a truly old Championship. It's getting very

0:03:48 > 0:03:52precarious now all those top seeds have gone, especially after that

0:03:52 > 0:04:00final frame decider last night.Yes, we all say you don't have to get

0:04:00 > 0:04:14that much from your top standard. They think is a bit easier to win

0:04:14 > 0:04:19but you just can't let your guard down.We have two cracking matches

0:04:19 > 0:04:24this afternoon. That's talk about this amazing 17-year-old, Yan

0:04:24 > 0:04:32Bingtao, against a wily John Higgins. How much of tasks as John

0:04:32 > 0:04:40face today?I've been watching Yan Bingtao and he has been improving

0:04:40 > 0:04:44hand over fist and he's a top, top competitor. Jermaine has a

0:04:44 > 0:04:50potentially very difficult afternoon. He's incredibly talented

0:04:50 > 0:04:55and works very hard. -- John has a potentially very difficult

0:04:55 > 0:05:03afternoon.It was Ronnie who won this title at 17 years of age. This

0:05:03 > 0:05:12guy is only 17 as well. Let's focus on Ronnie and John's longevity. It's

0:05:12 > 0:05:21incredible.I went round looking at the junior event once and then I saw

0:05:21 > 0:05:27these two, and once these two suss out what it it -- what is needed to

0:05:27 > 0:05:32be a professional, my goodness! And then to still be playing 25 years

0:05:32 > 0:05:40later, remarkable. Willie is the favourite for the event and John's

0:05:40 > 0:05:45matchplay is incredible. -- Ronnie is the favourite.

0:05:45 > 0:05:53Will this be more of a contest for Ronnie today?It depends how he

0:05:53 > 0:05:56plays, because when he puts his mind to it he has as good a safety game

0:05:56 > 0:06:02as anybody in the game and you would expect him to dictate the exchanges.

0:06:02 > 0:06:05Michael is seriously talented and he's going to have to play his own

0:06:05 > 0:06:11game today, so it will be fascinated.We are ready for it. We

0:06:11 > 0:06:15have another couple of crackers for you as well, on tables three and

0:06:15 > 0:06:30four. A former semifinalist here. Martin Gould, who knows there's a

0:06:30 > 0:06:34possible route back into the top 16 world rankings, if you can keep this

0:06:34 > 0:06:41one going this week, he takes on the 23-year-old Iranian player Hossein

0:06:41 > 0:06:49salsa, who has already been to a quarterfinal of an English Open. But

0:06:49 > 0:06:53it is Ronnie's match we will be watching festival. It has been clear

0:06:53 > 0:06:57skies and plain sailing for him but he doesn't want to get hit by White

0:06:57 > 0:07:03lightning today.

0:07:11 > 0:07:15It would be nice to win a sort of major tournament but I'm quite happy

0:07:15 > 0:07:21in general. I'm quite confident that it's going to happen. If not this

0:07:21 > 0:07:25week then maybe this season may be next season, because I'm doing all

0:07:25 > 0:07:31the right things to put myself in the best position I can, so my game

0:07:31 > 0:07:36is in a pretty good place at the moment and hopefully I can soon get

0:07:36 > 0:07:49back into the top 16. I've worked a lot on my safety. It's been a bit

0:07:49 > 0:07:53inconsistent. It's going to have to be as good as it can be. If I do get

0:07:53 > 0:07:57the chance is going to have to take them. I need to enjoy it and not put

0:07:57 > 0:08:01too much pressure on myself, which I'm trying not to, but it will be a

0:08:01 > 0:08:08great occasion for me. I think a lot of pressures came when I won my

0:08:08 > 0:08:11first tournament and I don't think I dealt with it as well as maybe I

0:08:11 > 0:08:15could have, but I was young at the time. I'm still pretty young. I've

0:08:15 > 0:08:20got years ahead of me so, yeah, I think I'm sort of getting back to

0:08:20 > 0:08:24playing some of my best snooker.

0:08:29 > 0:08:32COMMENTATOR: Once again, your champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan!

0:08:32 > 0:08:37CHEERING AND APPLAUSE He's the greatest player that has

0:08:37 > 0:08:42ever lived in my eyes, so he's going to be tough to beat, especially in

0:08:42 > 0:08:46the Barbican, where he is so comfortable. He's won numerous

0:08:46 > 0:08:52times. If I turn up and play as good as I can, I can do myself justice.

0:08:55 > 0:09:00Well, this is the biggest stage upon which these two have met so far. The

0:09:00 > 0:09:08two previous matches, the most who profile of which was a tournament in

0:09:08 > 0:09:14Belgium. Michael has become a multiple trophy winner this season,

0:09:14 > 0:09:18most notably in Germany. It might be Ronnie's birthday but Michael would

0:09:18 > 0:09:24be in the room -- in the mood to hand him any gifts yet! Let's get

0:09:24 > 0:09:25the show on the road.

0:09:28 > 0:09:33So many of the top 16 have gone but many of the all-time greats are

0:09:33 > 0:09:36still in contention in this Championship. Two of the member

0:09:36 > 0:09:43stage have amassed an incredible 59 ranking titles between them. This

0:09:43 > 0:09:54promises to be a very special Tuesday here in Yorkshire.

0:10:03 > 0:10:06Please welcome the most exciting teenage player we've seen for many

0:10:06 > 0:10:12years. Former world amateur champion and World Cup winner, he was one

0:10:12 > 0:10:16frame away from becoming the youngest ranking event champion in

0:10:16 > 0:10:20history last month in Northern Ireland, so here comes the Chinese

0:10:20 > 0:10:24sensation Yan Bingtao!

0:10:37 > 0:10:42And his opponent, one of the finest sportsmen Scotland has ever

0:10:42 > 0:10:46produced. He's been at the top for well over 20 years adding yet

0:10:46 > 0:10:51another ranking title to his huge collection in India this season.

0:10:51 > 0:10:56Four times a world champion, here comes The Wizard of Wishaw, here

0:10:56 > 0:11:05comes John Higgins!

0:11:13 > 0:11:17About to emerge on table one, a classy Welshman who's been banging

0:11:17 > 0:11:22in competitive centuries since the age of nine. His senior breakthrough

0:11:22 > 0:11:26came in India two years ago and earlier this season he doubled his

0:11:26 > 0:11:29ranking event collection, winning the Paul Hunter classic. Here comes

0:11:29 > 0:11:39Michael White Lightning!

0:11:49 > 0:11:54And finally, a man who has been thrilling snooker crowds for a

0:11:54 > 0:11:57quarter of a century. Superb form this season has seen him win the

0:11:57 > 0:12:02English Open and the Shanghai Masters. 30 ranking titles in all,

0:12:02 > 0:12:06five times a champion of the world, blink and you'll miss him, The

0:12:06 > 0:12:16Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan!

0:12:21 > 0:12:28So, here's how we are going to play this. Higgins-Bingtao will be on the

0:12:28 > 0:12:32Red Button. We'll be keeping you updated here on BBC Two and the

0:12:32 > 0:12:37matches are also available via the BBC sport website. It is table one

0:12:37 > 0:12:42where we are heading, and, Dennis Taylor and Ken Doherty, are you

0:12:42 > 0:12:43ready?

0:12:48 > 0:12:51DENNIS TAYLOR: We are. We are both looking forward to seeing how the

0:12:51 > 0:13:03birthday boy is playing today. A top Welsh opponent in Michael White. So

0:13:03 > 0:13:08off we go, then. Ronnie gets the match underway. And pretty good

0:13:08 > 0:13:19break-off shot there.Yeah, really looking forward to this match,

0:13:19 > 0:13:29Dennis. A classic already this season, Michael. But other than

0:13:29 > 0:13:36that, he hasn't played particularly well. But he's a man for the big

0:13:36 > 0:13:39occasions, you can certainly say that, and this is one of those.

0:13:43 > 0:13:49I think if he gets off to a good start, settles down quickly, then it

0:13:49 > 0:13:54could be a very interesting match. But like any player playing Ronnie

0:13:54 > 0:13:57O'Sullivan on the big stage, it depends how fast Ronnie starts as

0:13:57 > 0:14:01well.

0:14:05 > 0:14:14Another pretty good safety shot. From Ronnie. But Michael White, I

0:14:14 > 0:14:18mean, we're looking at a player here who made his first competitive

0:14:18 > 0:14:22century when he was nine years of age and won the world amateur when

0:14:22 > 0:14:28he was 14. That's amazing.He's got bundles of talent, no doubt about

0:14:28 > 0:14:36that. And he's very, very quick around the table. Scores very fast.

0:14:36 > 0:14:41It was quite interesting in the intro when he was being interviewed,

0:14:41 > 0:14:46he said his safety has to be top-notch. It certainly has to be,

0:14:46 > 0:14:50but also scoring has to be top-notch as well today, to put Ronnie under

0:14:50 > 0:14:55any pressure. It's one thing that sometimes we forget about with

0:14:55 > 0:15:08Ronnie O'Sullivan. For all his big breaks and 147s, his safety is among

0:15:08 > 0:15:13the best that there is. A match for anybody.

0:15:17 > 0:15:23Well, this is not the best safety shot he's played if this red keeps

0:15:23 > 0:15:27on running. It's pulled up just in time. Looked like it was going to go

0:15:27 > 0:15:33right over the corner pocket there. And it's put Michael in a spot of

0:15:33 > 0:15:37bother, the fact that it's finished there, because it's not easy to

0:15:37 > 0:15:44knock this in, and there's no easy safety shot on. So he just might

0:15:44 > 0:15:52have to take it on. It wouldn't normally be his choice. He's looked

0:15:52 > 0:15:58at the potting angle. If he doesn't get this, you could leave Ronnie

0:15:58 > 0:16:06right in amongst them. -- he could leave Ronnie. And that's a terrific

0:16:06 > 0:16:22shot. Deserves to be on the black. Superb queueing there.

0:16:32 > 0:16:38That's not bad.

0:16:47 > 0:16:55Looks to be a bit straight on this black.

0:17:08 > 0:17:14Didn't get into the cue ball the way he would have liked. A lot of cue

0:17:14 > 0:17:19power but didn't use it there at all. Trying to get onto that red

0:17:19 > 0:17:24just below the pink. Playing at off the cushion now at this angle makes

0:17:24 > 0:17:26it a lot more difficult.

0:17:31 > 0:17:36This is missable.

0:17:50 > 0:17:54Yeah, as Ken said, it was certainly missable from that angle. It was the

0:17:54 > 0:17:59shot just before where it was more of a stunned than the screw. He just

0:17:59 > 0:18:09didn't cue it the way he normally would have. And you can see Michael

0:18:09 > 0:18:14looking to see what Ronnie was going to do with that shot and he's just

0:18:14 > 0:18:24looking around the corner, around the back of Ronnie there.

0:18:31 > 0:18:34Just a bit awkward on the blue and that's the reason he's taking the

0:18:34 > 0:18:37yellow.

0:18:42 > 0:18:47Ooh! Now, then! He might get away with this even if the white goes in

0:18:47 > 0:18:54the pocket. There's a pottable red to the middle but that was an

0:18:54 > 0:19:01unexpected miss. No one saw that coming.

0:19:17 > 0:19:25He's got a couple of rates to the left centre. -- a couple of reds.

0:19:25 > 0:19:30Not easy with the jaws of that pocket. But certainly worth having a

0:19:30 > 0:19:36go at it. He's looking at the safety shot.

0:19:52 > 0:20:01Well, quite a long way away from that one. Has he left it?

0:20:08 > 0:20:26That's a bit too thin from there. Just planning the safety shot. He

0:20:26 > 0:20:30could do with a gap here between the green and the blue to get down the

0:20:30 > 0:20:35left side of the reds, and there just might be a gap.

0:20:39 > 0:20:45And there was, and he's played it well. Very good shot.

0:21:06 > 0:21:11Another mistake from Ronnie. Unexpected. But he hasn't left

0:21:11 > 0:21:14anything.

0:21:25 > 0:21:29It doesn't half make a big difference, that. That's twice

0:21:29 > 0:21:35Ronnie's missed one pot. He got it safe and then hitting the jaws of

0:21:35 > 0:21:39the pocket. He could quite easily have put Michael in on both

0:21:39 > 0:21:41occasions.

0:21:53 > 0:21:59This cue balls come very close to this pocket. He's played it very,

0:21:59 > 0:22:10very well. He has him in a spot of bother here.It's a bit of a messy

0:22:10 > 0:22:16table, though, isn't it? The black where it is. The pink off its spot,

0:22:16 > 0:22:20the yellow up this end of the table. You never know how it's going to pan

0:22:20 > 0:22:29out but it's bit of -- it's a bit of a scrappy frame. You never know how

0:22:29 > 0:22:36the balls will finish up.

0:22:56 > 0:23:02Well, that was a great shot. That was an excellent return from Ronnie.

0:23:02 > 0:23:10He duly acknowledges it.

0:23:29 > 0:23:35It's the type of frame both players went really enjoy very much. --

0:23:35 > 0:23:41weren't really enjoy. A bit of cat and mouse at the moment. Trying to

0:23:41 > 0:23:45find the first opening.

0:24:13 > 0:24:20He's covered most of the reds. The one between the pink and the red and

0:24:20 > 0:24:25the pink spot is the only one that is possible to pot.

0:24:33 > 0:24:37If he took that on, the white would be going towards the right corner

0:24:37 > 0:24:41pocket, so he's got to try to cut this in the middle, but this is

0:24:41 > 0:24:48awkward cueing. That wasn't easy. The cannon on the brown has kept

0:24:48 > 0:24:52everything safe, though.

0:24:57 > 0:25:02But gradually they are starting to open up.

0:25:22 > 0:25:26There's a couple of words Michael could have a go at here. That one is

0:25:26 > 0:25:30almost straight. A bit of angle. But the yellow is up this end of the

0:25:30 > 0:25:36table. That's what he's looking that, to see if he stopped it dead,

0:25:36 > 0:25:39would he be on the yellow? If he stopped it dead he would be

0:25:39 > 0:25:44snookered on the yellow with the red to the left of the one he would be

0:25:44 > 0:25:49taking. Playing it with topspin, he's got to be careful the white

0:25:49 > 0:25:51doesn't follow it in.

0:25:55 > 0:26:02It wasn't easy, that.

0:26:25 > 0:26:31He was hoping to get the cue ball behind the brown but he's left this

0:26:31 > 0:26:34red inside the blue. A very straightforward safety shot from

0:26:34 > 0:26:40Ronnie here.

0:26:51 > 0:26:55Just wondering, can he cut this one into the right-hand corner pocket?

0:26:55 > 0:27:01There's a couple of friends he can go at. Maybe get back up for blue or

0:27:01 > 0:27:10yellow. -- a couple of reds.Some good long balls already in this

0:27:10 > 0:27:16frame. That's another good pot. Trying to get back out for the

0:27:16 > 0:27:22yellow into that corner pocket. Does it go into the right centre? Well,

0:27:22 > 0:27:24it's very tight.

0:27:32 > 0:27:39No. Very tough to judge, those.

0:27:51 > 0:27:56He let the white runaway there.

0:28:04 > 0:28:12Good cueing. And just look at the table. There's very few points

0:28:12 > 0:28:17available but it's one of the situations sometimes where Ronnie

0:28:17 > 0:28:23O'Sullivan is good at break-building when there's not a lot there. But

0:28:23 > 0:28:27he's not timing the ball just as well at the moment. He didn't get

0:28:27 > 0:28:29into that one.

0:28:36 > 0:28:41It is the first frame and it takes the players just a while to settle

0:28:41 > 0:28:42in.

0:28:47 > 0:28:51He's got an angle on this red to clip the black and the red on the

0:28:51 > 0:29:00right side of the table. Doesn't have to but it's possibly on.

0:29:06 > 0:29:13Didn't take the opportunity. But it worked out OK.

0:29:17 > 0:29:21Now, he needs a nice angle after putting this red. Hopefully for the

0:29:21 > 0:29:33blue. Then try to go into those four reds at the top there. It's a tough

0:29:33 > 0:29:34target.

0:29:42 > 0:29:49Well, he hit them OK but nothing available.

0:30:07 > 0:30:14Certainly not the type of framework were expecting to start off. The

0:30:14 > 0:30:16balls can sometimes get tied up.

0:30:36 > 0:30:47Just got to be a bit careful here he doesn't capture -- catch a colour on

0:30:47 > 0:30:56the way back down. The yellow and blue are in the way of the cue ball

0:30:56 > 0:31:04heading back down the table, but this will cut in. The referee,

0:31:04 > 0:31:14Marcel Eckhardt, just removing the foreign object of the cue ball.

0:31:23 > 0:31:29It was a bit of a free shot, as I say.

0:31:47 > 0:31:55That's a few times Ronnie has put Michael down in this position, and

0:31:55 > 0:32:04it is always a very tough to cue. Almost over the pocket.

0:32:12 > 0:32:16You have got to be so precise.

0:32:24 > 0:32:28It wasn't the best safety shot, but he will certainly be happy with it.

0:32:40 > 0:32:42APPLAUSE

0:32:45 > 0:32:47Good effort.

0:33:07 > 0:33:15Well, how many times have we seen that white up in the jaws of that

0:33:15 > 0:33:20top corner pocket? But this will cut in. It is a half chance for Ronnie.

0:33:20 > 0:33:26APPLAUSE It has gone close on numerous

0:33:26 > 0:33:31occasions, and there again it is in the jaws, but he is on the brown,

0:33:31 > 0:33:36and there is a red, the one that is nearest the right corner.

0:33:36 > 0:33:38The other one might possibly be.

0:33:49 > 0:33:54He is now looking at the green. But you would think the brown would be

0:33:54 > 0:33:57the better one for position. Yes, back to the brown.

0:34:07 > 0:34:14Oh, the flick on the blue. What's the outcome? I tell you what, it

0:34:14 > 0:34:21might not be bad, because he flicked the red away, and now the black is

0:34:21 > 0:34:27available. So that could turn out to his advantage, that flick on the

0:34:27 > 0:34:28blue.

0:34:36 > 0:34:39APPLAUSE

0:34:44 > 0:34:51I tell you, that really takes superb cueing. That was a fantastic shot.

0:34:51 > 0:34:58The brown wasn't that easy either. Those two shots on their own will

0:34:58 > 0:35:06tell you how good he is cueing.Now, watch this, it was amazing. When he

0:35:06 > 0:35:10flicked the blue, I thought it was all going wrong, but look at the

0:35:10 > 0:35:15other flick on the red to free the black.

0:35:23 > 0:35:28This is another tough one coming up. It is not straightforward.

0:35:54 > 0:35:57He doesn't want this red to knock the black safe, he is playing a

0:35:57 > 0:36:02safety shot, that's OK.

0:36:20 > 0:36:2528 points, the difference. The game has now opened up. So, one mistake

0:36:25 > 0:36:27could be costly.

0:36:35 > 0:36:42At the moment, he may not be timing the ball as well as he would like,

0:36:42 > 0:36:45but his safety so far has been excellent.

0:36:52 > 0:36:58And Michael's hasn't been too shabby, either.

0:37:05 > 0:37:11First loose one.

0:37:15 > 0:37:20And as I say, we have had a lot of safety, because the frame went very

0:37:20 > 0:37:24awkward. Can Michael White convert this long read, give himself a

0:37:24 > 0:37:25chance?

0:37:40 > 0:37:48Oh, dear. There was a lot of safety play. This might be in, off the

0:37:48 > 0:37:55brown, is it? He cued that one very poorly, have a look at this. That is

0:37:55 > 0:37:58not the sort of thing you want to see happening.

0:38:14 > 0:38:18Yes, quite a lot of movement, and that will certainly worry him a

0:38:18 > 0:38:21little bit.

0:38:35 > 0:38:41Now, a chance for Ronnie to get a 28 point lead.

0:38:42 > 0:38:47He can hold for the black here with a little kiss on the yellow. Just

0:38:47 > 0:38:50the black and one more red for this opening frame, that has been a bit

0:38:50 > 0:39:00scrappy. He won't mind, they all count. He has got to judge a little

0:39:00 > 0:39:06cannon into these two reds here.

0:39:15 > 0:39:18That hasn't worked out well at all.

0:39:41 > 0:39:49No attempt at the double there, although the red almost went in off

0:39:49 > 0:39:56the pink. But Michael has got to get the white back up the table, and

0:39:56 > 0:40:03somewhere to the right of the yellow and towards the black, otherwise he

0:40:03 > 0:40:07will leave that red near the pocket, so it will be interesting to see how

0:40:07 > 0:40:09he plays this.

0:40:13 > 0:40:17And he did. Now he has got the white up the table, but not the way he

0:40:17 > 0:40:21intended. I was just about to say that that was the frame over, until

0:40:21 > 0:40:25he double-kissed the red.

0:41:15 > 0:41:22Another good safety from Ronnie O'Sullivan, still waiting for that

0:41:22 > 0:41:28one red that he needs. This friend coming up to almost 29 minutes.

0:41:32 > 0:41:41He has got to be careful here that he doesn't leave this red on.

0:41:41 > 0:41:56REFEREE:Foul and a miss. He has got hit it this time, because

0:41:56 > 0:41:58he is 40 behind.

0:42:11 > 0:42:15It is so easy to push this red into a portable position.

0:42:30 > 0:42:40APPLAUSE

0:42:48 > 0:42:53And where is the white going to finish? On the blue spot.

0:42:58 > 0:42:5946 ahead.

0:43:13 > 0:43:20Bit of a scrappy opener, a lot of safety, the balls went a bit messy.

0:43:20 > 0:43:26Yes, you never know how the frame is going to pan out. It will possibly

0:43:26 > 0:43:30turn out to be the longest frame of the match.

0:43:39 > 0:43:46I think we spoke about Ronnie's safety game that is up there with

0:43:46 > 0:43:53the best as well, and a few little shots during that frame just showed

0:43:53 > 0:43:57how good he was, got into all sorts of trouble a couple of times, and

0:43:57 > 0:44:04ultimately it cost him the frame. Yes, he has kept his focus, which

0:44:04 > 0:44:10you have to do, when you get an awkward frame like this. They are

0:44:10 > 0:44:15just as important to win, probably more important. It doesn't matter

0:44:15 > 0:44:19about the pink wobbling in the jaws of the pocket. It is a frame that

0:44:19 > 0:44:23lasted just over half an hour, and Ronnie O'Sullivan takes it, and he

0:44:23 > 0:44:32leads one frame to nil. Hazel IRVINE: Ronnie off and

0:44:32 > 0:44:36running, and there were points when the decisions needed to be made by

0:44:36 > 0:44:43most Michael White and Ronnie. He is in the situation, he is 30 points

0:44:43 > 0:44:47behind, the two reds on the table, I would have been tempted to play the

0:44:47 > 0:44:53other one that was in the baulk area. He plays it another way, clips

0:44:53 > 0:44:57the red, and he is making it harder for himself to make a clearance if

0:44:57 > 0:45:04he gets it anyway, by potting another red close to the cushion.

0:45:10 > 0:45:16He clips the red like this, and now he is snookered. It is funny how

0:45:16 > 0:45:19people see the game differently. I'm not saying what he did was wrong,

0:45:19 > 0:45:22but it is the way of looking at it and thinking, how will I get back

0:45:22 > 0:45:30into the game?He certainly played a fantastic safety shot from there,

0:45:30 > 0:45:36and it was such a difficult shot to play, there was a chance of going in

0:45:36 > 0:45:41off, so it was an excellent safety shot.You can't fault his

0:45:41 > 0:45:44preparation, he was here for a couple of hours, and beta you have

0:45:44 > 0:45:50been privy to the fact that he has been doing a lot of work recently.

0:45:50 > 0:45:53Yes, I popped into the Academy in Sheffield yesterday, and I had a

0:45:53 > 0:45:58best of nine with one of the lads before I came to York, and he was

0:45:58 > 0:46:01practising there. He was still there when I left, he is potting a lot of

0:46:01 > 0:46:06hard work in.And he is paying off, he has been in three of the four

0:46:06 > 0:46:10recent finals, he has two major titles under his belt this season,

0:46:10 > 0:46:26and he seems to be very committed. And he was fully focused, and if he

0:46:26 > 0:46:33keeps winning, and his attitude there was unquestionable.Dennis,

0:46:33 > 0:46:36back to you.

0:46:51 > 0:47:03That is a long pot, looks a little quicker than the other day, but

0:47:03 > 0:47:05playing absolutely beautiful.

0:47:10 > 0:47:16That was a good point Peter Ebdon made about the practice, you think

0:47:16 > 0:47:20here's a natural player, doesn't have to practice, there has never

0:47:20 > 0:47:24been a player that could play and get to the top of the game of

0:47:24 > 0:47:28snooker without putting the hard work in. There is no secret to

0:47:28 > 0:47:33getting to the top of this game, you have to put in the hours and hours

0:47:33 > 0:47:41of practice.A great quote from the great Sir Alex Ferguson, he said

0:47:41 > 0:47:47talent without hard work wins nothing. Ronnie has got bundles of

0:47:47 > 0:47:51talent, but he works hard to go with it, and that's why he's been so

0:47:51 > 0:47:59successful. 25 years ago he won this championship, just 17 years of age.

0:47:59 > 0:48:07And of course, he has won it five times, he is bidding this year to

0:48:07 > 0:48:15equal Steve Davis's six. A remarkable career, still going

0:48:15 > 0:48:15strong.

0:48:54 > 0:48:56Totally the opposite to the opening frame.

0:49:04 > 0:49:07Just a couple more reds available.

0:49:33 > 0:49:38Even the great players take their eye off the pot sometimes. He

0:49:38 > 0:49:42concentrated on the cannon into the reds there, had to play it with

0:49:42 > 0:49:51side, and just took his concentration of the pot.It is very

0:49:51 > 0:49:55important for Michael White here to knock a few in just settle down. But

0:49:55 > 0:50:00in off the left jaw.

0:50:05 > 0:50:09If he had hit this any harder, just have a look at this. It would have

0:50:09 > 0:50:16come back out again. But he is a very talented player, so he could do

0:50:16 > 0:50:20with knocking in a few here to get right back into this second frame.

0:50:26 > 0:50:30Yes, it is situations like this that he really has to score from, not

0:50:30 > 0:50:34only to give himself a bit of confidence but just to let Ronnie no

0:50:34 > 0:50:40that he is going to have to play well to beat him.

0:50:44 > 0:50:47He has to make Ronnie know that if he misses, he is going to get

0:50:47 > 0:50:53punished. It is an important break, this, for Michael.

0:51:20 > 0:51:27I think the red that is close to the pink doesn't pot, so he might leave

0:51:27 > 0:51:34the angle close so that he can nudge the red into play, that looks

0:51:34 > 0:51:41perfect.The only awkward red would be that one just below the black on

0:51:41 > 0:51:47the cushion, you would have to say. That may be the key to this frame.

0:51:59 > 0:52:03I think he tried to move it there.

0:52:08 > 0:52:12He definitely tried to take it off the cushion.

0:52:28 > 0:52:35He has changed his mind a couple of times there. That's OK.

0:52:40 > 0:52:45Very easy to get up for that red to the right of the blue.

0:52:49 > 0:52:54And he got a kick, he almost missed the pot. That would have been

0:52:54 > 0:53:00unlucky, he got a heavy contact there. It just jumped a little bit.

0:53:00 > 0:53:05Now, how is he going to go about this red that is behind the black?

0:53:05 > 0:53:11Is he going to play to get on it for either corner pocket? Or if he

0:53:11 > 0:53:15doesn't fancy that, he can leave the white in such a position that he

0:53:15 > 0:53:20could put Ronnie in all sorts of trouble. It will be interested to

0:53:20 > 0:53:24see how he goes about this and what his decision will be. When you are

0:53:24 > 0:53:28at the table, sometimes you think, I am going to go for it, but that is

0:53:28 > 0:53:34what he is already debating in his own mind.I think he has got to try

0:53:34 > 0:53:41to get on that baulk, try to get somewhere close to that red.

0:53:47 > 0:53:53I would just put a little cue ball up there, Dennis. If he gets

0:53:53 > 0:53:56anywhere within that vicinity, then he leaves a nice angle on the red.

0:53:56 > 0:54:07Has he missed the black? Just got a little flick on the black.He could

0:54:07 > 0:54:13put everything into just potting this. He has a slight angle, but

0:54:13 > 0:54:17that is the problem with these pockets, if you force them...

0:54:21 > 0:54:24It is OK we knew are just dropping the men along the cushion, but when

0:54:24 > 0:54:29you have to put in any pace, it is so easy for this to happen. I mean,

0:54:29 > 0:54:36it looked good there. But this was the position that Michael could have

0:54:36 > 0:54:49put Ronnie in. But you can't blame him for trying to knock the red in.

0:54:49 > 0:54:53Yes, maybe laying a snooker for Ronnie O'Sullivan. If you just drops

0:54:53 > 0:54:57the red in, the angle wasn't fantastic to get up for the black,

0:54:57 > 0:55:00but he could have dropped it in and maybe played a little snooker just

0:55:00 > 0:55:05up behind the black and put Ronnie and a lot of trouble, and now he has

0:55:05 > 0:55:10got to not only try and hit this red, but get it safe, that is going

0:55:10 > 0:55:13to be the most difficult part of this equation.

0:55:22 > 0:55:29He is going for the swerve shot, right down the cue. Now, where is

0:55:29 > 0:55:34the red going to finish? And where is the blue going to finish? Is the

0:55:34 > 0:55:40blue coming to the rescue on the cue ball? It is, he holds his hand up.

0:55:47 > 0:55:50APPLAUSE

0:55:54 > 0:55:59You never know where they are going to finish, and what a result there.

0:55:59 > 0:56:03That was a case of, anything you can do, I can do better.

0:56:06 > 0:56:13He has to clip the edge of this red, because if he clips it fourball, the

0:56:13 > 0:56:18Green will take all of the pace out of the cue ball, so he has to clip

0:56:18 > 0:56:28the edge. That is not too bad, he will be happy with that.

0:56:31 > 0:56:39I don't fit Ronnie can pot this red. If he sends it all around the angle,

0:56:39 > 0:56:46he will get somewhere behind the black, I would think. And here it

0:56:46 > 0:56:53comes. He caught the jaw of the pocket, otherwise he would have got

0:56:53 > 0:57:00the red in behind the black. I tell you what, if Michael can play one

0:57:00 > 0:57:04good safety shot here, double the red across, the white back up

0:57:04 > 0:57:09towards yellow and brown, the red might go close to the right corner

0:57:09 > 0:57:10pocket.

0:57:15 > 0:57:19Played it well, this is a very good shot. Excellent.

0:57:26 > 0:57:31Is there a gap?I think there is.

0:57:41 > 0:57:45Well, Ronnie's time to be extremely lucky, he got the double-kiss.

0:57:58 > 0:58:02There is a big target there, the green, and the pink and of course

0:58:02 > 0:58:07the blue, he can use them as Brockers. The yellow is not a bad

0:58:07 > 0:58:10one, either.

0:58:15 > 0:58:18That is a great safety, and he will need a little bit of luck, two

0:58:18 > 0:58:34cushions. REFEREE:Foul, and a miss. Michael

0:58:34 > 0:58:41White, four. Ronnie is not playing just hit this,

0:58:41 > 0:58:43he wants to clip it.

0:58:49 > 0:58:53And this could be a free ball, this could be very costly, it could have

0:58:53 > 0:58:59cost him the frame. It is, and I know it is the best of 11 and it is

0:58:59 > 0:59:03early days, but this is a huge frame for this young Welsh player.

0:59:06 > 0:59:08REFEREE:Yellow ball.

0:59:20 > 0:59:23The yellow counts as one point.

0:59:29 > 0:59:33I don't know about you, Dennis, but I think I would like to get the

0:59:33 > 0:59:40greenback up on its spot here, just to make the break a bit easier. OK,

0:59:40 > 0:59:46he is 18 points ahead, he could go blue, red, blue or pink and then

0:59:46 > 0:59:49yellow, and then Ronnie Wood need snickers, but he could go for the

0:59:49 > 0:59:51green here, if he wished.

0:59:54 > 1:00:01No, he is going to go red, blue, yellow. And Ronnie will need one

1:00:01 > 1:00:09snooker. This is a frame that Ronnie really should have won.

1:00:16 > 1:00:24Yes, surprised he left a three ball -- free ball there.

1:00:34 > 1:00:39But as you can see, only one snooker required, so this green might go

1:00:39 > 1:00:46past the black. I'm not sure.I think this was the problem. By not

1:00:46 > 1:00:49getting the greenback on its spot he's made life a bit more difficult

1:00:49 > 1:00:54for him. Well, just about.

1:01:07 > 1:01:11Well, Ronnie says that's enough so Michael White name gets his first

1:01:11 > 1:01:22frame on the board. It's 1-1. HAZEL IRVINE: So, one frame apiece.

1:01:22 > 1:01:25The way he went about getting over the line there, there was much

1:01:25 > 1:01:30discussion between you two about that process.Yeah, you don't expect

1:01:30 > 1:01:36O'Sullivan to miss the way he's done that, miss the red and then the free

1:01:36 > 1:01:40ball. The first shot out have been playing was yellow off side cushion,

1:01:40 > 1:01:44get the green, dead straight, greenback on its spot perfect and

1:01:44 > 1:01:47then the clearance is much easier, but he went another way and got over

1:01:47 > 1:01:55the line but did it the hard way. Questions of Michael so far, Peter?

1:01:55 > 1:01:58It's been an interesting game. They've shared excellent safety,

1:01:58 > 1:02:03potted a lot of balls. Michael White now really have to play his own game

1:02:03 > 1:02:06and he's gone out and attacked Ronnie but he's also tried to

1:02:06 > 1:02:08compete with him in the safety department, which will be difficult

1:02:08 > 1:02:12over the course of the match, but he's doing well and that was an

1:02:12 > 1:02:19important frame to him to win.This is one of the first times that he

1:02:19 > 1:02:24opened my eyes to think he could be one of the best players was when I

1:02:24 > 1:02:29saw him not at his best but, boy, did he compete. He took Selby to a

1:02:29 > 1:02:33final frame decider. He didn't have his best game that day but he showed

1:02:33 > 1:02:37me that even without his best game, he's a good competitor and he's

1:02:37 > 1:02:41difficult to beat.He has had a rough time of it of late. He came

1:02:41 > 1:02:49back and won an event in Germany. He has taken some matches against Selby

1:02:49 > 1:02:53this season, but even with that, he's had some mental health issues

1:02:53 > 1:02:56and address those and really seems to be getting back to where he was a

1:02:56 > 1:03:00couple of years ago, which is fantastic to see. In terms of his

1:03:00 > 1:03:06competitive ability, how would you rate him as a 26-year-old in this

1:03:06 > 1:03:09game now?He's a very good competitor and he such a natural

1:03:09 > 1:03:13talent as well, isn't he? When he's on his game he is capable of beating

1:03:13 > 1:03:18anybody. Going back to his mental issues, this is the most difficult

1:03:18 > 1:03:22game in the world bar none. When you get beat, when you sit and make a

1:03:22 > 1:03:27mistake -- when you met mistakes, then sit in your chair. There's so

1:03:27 > 1:03:32much luck involved as well.It's a story we've heard from many players.

1:03:32 > 1:03:37It's a hard game to master and it does inflict psychological blows

1:03:37 > 1:03:42upon you the longer you stay in. Scars, too, as we talked about,

1:03:42 > 1:03:49John. Back we go. One frame apiece.

1:03:53 > 1:04:00DENNIS TAYLOR: Once again, another very good break of shocked. --

1:04:00 > 1:04:06break-off shot. Tight to the cushion. That's what you're looking

1:04:06 > 1:04:12for. Michael pap the table there to acknowledge that. -- Michael tapped

1:04:12 > 1:04:22the table.Of course he plays it left-handed as well. You tend to

1:04:22 > 1:04:29forget about Ronnie breaking off left-handed and it just becomes so

1:04:29 > 1:04:32customary. You take it for granted.

1:04:41 > 1:04:47Coming off two cushions to try to get to the red.

1:04:55 > 1:04:59REFEREE:Foul and a miss.

1:05:02 > 1:05:10That's the perfect line. Can he remember where he hit the cushion?

1:05:14 > 1:05:23Well, if he doesn't hit it this time, this looks a bit weak as well.

1:05:23 > 1:05:31Will it reach? Yes, well played, well played.

1:05:55 > 1:06:07Good pot from Ronnie into a cute angle there -- a cued angle there.

1:06:40 > 1:06:52This is the only other red that's available. And those two reds are a

1:06:52 > 1:06:56bit awkward to get a good split here but he's so good at this type of

1:06:56 > 1:07:04shot. And he's played that very well indeed.

1:07:12 > 1:07:17Just going back to what the boys and Hazel were talking about in the

1:07:17 > 1:07:28studio about mental strength in this game... I haven't seen Doctor Steve

1:07:28 > 1:07:32Peters, who arrives a lot of the time with Ronnie. A sports

1:07:32 > 1:07:37psychiatrist rather than psychologist. When he's around,

1:07:37 > 1:07:42Ronnie's always in a good frame of mind.

1:07:50 > 1:07:55Yeah, well, I think his good friend Damien Hirst is here as well, the

1:07:55 > 1:08:01artist. Always seems to have a calming influence on Ronnie. They

1:08:01 > 1:08:06get on very, very well together.

1:08:13 > 1:08:18We talk about how tough this game is. Michael White bounced out of the

1:08:18 > 1:08:26arena after winning that close last frame. He's in a difficult position.

1:08:26 > 1:08:29No shot, plays out of snooker and has been sitting in his chair for

1:08:29 > 1:08:34the rest of the frame. Tough game.

1:08:39 > 1:08:43This just improves the importance of getting a good break-off shot and

1:08:43 > 1:08:52Ronnie have the perfect one. -- had the perfect one. I mentioned at the

1:08:52 > 1:08:56time I thought the first frame would be the longest of the match. It's

1:08:56 > 1:09:04certainly proving that way at the moment. Last frame was just 15

1:09:04 > 1:09:06minutes.

1:09:16 > 1:09:22Should be OK. Just need to avoid the baulk colours and a few reds still

1:09:22 > 1:09:32available.That was a lovely little shot Ronnie played there, and that's

1:09:32 > 1:09:36part of the art of break-building. He used the pack of reds, a bit of

1:09:36 > 1:09:41left-hand side to bring some more reds back into place to go up for

1:09:41 > 1:09:49the blue. Beautiful shot. And the control that goes with it.

1:09:58 > 1:10:02Ronnie's up at 95%. That's excellent.

1:10:35 > 1:10:39Yeah, you're watching a player who's made 908 century breaks in his

1:10:39 > 1:10:47career. That's remarkable! He's made two in this tournament. Made 50

1:10:47 > 1:10:58centuries last season. 34 this season. The highest break at the

1:10:58 > 1:11:05moment held by Ronnie's opponent, Michael White. 142.

1:11:27 > 1:11:31Another marvellous century from Ronnie. Never been out of position

1:11:31 > 1:11:46once. A wonderful break. So effortless, so easy. And often that

1:11:46 > 1:11:56break off...Just coming up to eight minutes in this third frame. He is

1:11:56 > 1:12:03slowing down a bit, isn't he? Everyone always brings up the

1:12:03 > 1:12:11maximum break in five minutes and 20 seconds! That was made in 1997 at

1:12:11 > 1:12:15The Crucible. Can you believe it?

1:12:23 > 1:12:28Well, what a magnificent frame from Ronnie O'Sullivan. It was the great

1:12:28 > 1:12:31break of shocked that opened the way for him to get that chance, and

1:12:31 > 1:12:35didn't he take it well? -- the great break-off shot.

1:12:38 > 1:12:45HAZEL IRVINE: You two were waxing lyrical about the shot that enabled

1:12:45 > 1:12:53him to go on and win previously. Yeah, he plays the cannon,

1:12:53 > 1:12:56deliberately just sending the white through there to leave himself the

1:12:56 > 1:13:02red into the opposite corner.You've got to get the correct angle

1:13:02 > 1:13:09absolutely on that. If you don't, it can and is the red out of the way,

1:13:09 > 1:13:15you don't get back on the ball. But so poetic. Every positional shot was

1:13:15 > 1:13:19perfect, the touch, the way he works around the break. You know they are

1:13:19 > 1:13:25going to go in. The touch is phenomenal.We were saying at the

1:13:25 > 1:13:28weekend, he crossed that 900 ton mark and now he's going so quickly

1:13:28 > 1:13:33to try to establish the 1000th. It's off the chart, really, that

1:13:33 > 1:13:39achievement, isn't it?He is phenomenal. I did an interview

1:13:39 > 1:13:43recently for the BBC website and he's a creative genius. That's

1:13:43 > 1:13:49exactly what he is as well. Even the red he played, the hardest on shot,

1:13:49 > 1:13:52he didn't perfectly get on the blue, then he played a lovely controlled

1:13:52 > 1:13:58screw shot. Brilliant and beautiful to watch.The trouble is, he makes

1:13:58 > 1:14:07it look too easy. I could do that! You can't! Trust me, you can't!

1:14:07 > 1:14:13There's nobody like him.Does he see a break differently? Does he go

1:14:13 > 1:14:19about it in a way that is fundamentally different?He does,

1:14:19 > 1:14:23and he's proved that because he's made more centuries than anybody

1:14:23 > 1:14:29else, but as John alluded to there, it's his touch, on these very

1:14:29 > 1:14:35difficult cloths. Just a genius. Brilliant to watch.Ronnie has given

1:14:35 > 1:14:39us some artistry, as Peter said, and it is Michael White with it all to

1:14:39 > 1:14:42do as we head into the last before the interval.

1:15:12 > 1:15:20KEN DOHERTY:Interesting from the studio there. It's a great sight

1:15:20 > 1:15:26when you see Ronnie O'Sullivan in full flight. Particularly some of

1:15:26 > 1:15:31the shots he sees, and he sees them so quickly. And plays them with the

1:15:31 > 1:15:35greatest of ease and aplomb.

1:15:49 > 1:15:53It would be some feat when he eventually does reach the 1000 mark

1:15:53 > 1:15:57in the century 's department. I don't think he's going to be too far

1:15:57 > 1:16:09away. Already 999. A couple of seasons, maybe.Could well reach

1:16:09 > 1:16:12that thousand but you never know what's around the corner for anyone

1:16:12 > 1:16:20in sport or life. You just enjoy it while you're doing it.

1:16:23 > 1:16:30And the double-kiss. Well, I thought it might come to his rescue but he

1:16:30 > 1:16:35can pot this one to the left corner. Just a couple of the long pots

1:16:35 > 1:16:39Michael's had a go but, he hasn't queued them very smoothly. He needs

1:16:39 > 1:16:44to get in amongst the balls but he's not getting any chances. -- he

1:16:44 > 1:16:49hasn't cued them very smoothly. Not getting in at the moment. Though he

1:16:49 > 1:16:57might get one here. Not happy with that shot.

1:17:02 > 1:17:10He was playing a delicate pot and the cannon to hold the black there.

1:17:28 > 1:17:31Well, I did mention there that Michael needed a chance in amongst

1:17:31 > 1:17:37the reds and he's got that. If he can go into the mid-session interval

1:17:37 > 1:17:45at two -- to-2, he would be a happy bunny.

1:18:07 > 1:18:15I like that shot. I really do. He took the risk there to open up the

1:18:15 > 1:18:23reds and stay on the back. Did it perfectly. He made it look very easy

1:18:23 > 1:18:28but could quite easily have run onto the cushion. So the chance is there.

1:18:28 > 1:18:31Can he knock this sizeable effort in?

1:18:36 > 1:18:45Just having a quick look at that top two. Doesn't feel they are on,

1:18:45 > 1:18:50otherwise he would have gone straight there. Try to stay on the

1:18:50 > 1:18:55black here. Potting this red.

1:19:00 > 1:19:08The top red of those two, the right, we'll popped into this pocket.

1:19:08 > 1:19:18Really open things up for him. -- we'll popped into this pocket.

1:19:29 > 1:19:38Ooh!He didn't have to hold for the blue there. By doing that it just

1:19:38 > 1:19:44made it a bit more difficult. He could easily have gone for a baulk,.

1:19:44 > 1:19:54-- a baulk colour. Could cost him dearly.

1:20:13 > 1:20:17It certainly quickened up on this table. A couple of the tables were

1:20:17 > 1:20:27playing a bit heavy but not now. Would you believe it? At first

1:20:27 > 1:20:32glance he hasn't left anything. The only possible red is the one up past

1:20:32 > 1:20:41the pink into the corner but he's down on one knee there and he

1:20:41 > 1:20:49thought he would be in his seat for a while! That's tight, isn't it? If

1:20:49 > 1:20:54he was right behind the red he might be able to take that on.

1:21:03 > 1:21:11He tried one in the middle pocket that caught the yellow with it and

1:21:11 > 1:21:20that was similar to this. He's missed it to the right.

1:21:30 > 1:21:35He thought he would put the white in a safe position but Ronnie can knock

1:21:35 > 1:21:43this in. No, yes!

1:21:51 > 1:21:58That second chance. How many can he make this time?

1:22:12 > 1:22:16Not gone far enough but still pottable. Wanted to be straight on

1:22:16 > 1:22:17this red.

1:22:24 > 1:22:31Just makes this next positional shot is a bit more awkward. He played a

1:22:31 > 1:22:35nice cannon on that red to hold for the pink.

1:23:00 > 1:23:08Would like to get that red away from the blue. Just sizing it up there.

1:23:13 > 1:23:18Just trying to leave a nice little angle on the red, and when he opens

1:23:18 > 1:23:22the blue up it will help his cause, back down for the black or the pink,

1:23:22 > 1:23:24you would suggest.

1:23:46 > 1:23:55It's not completely straightforward to win the frame from this visit. A

1:23:55 > 1:23:59few difficult pots to negotiate.

1:24:26 > 1:24:31Hmm, unexpected miss there, but when you force them into the middle

1:24:31 > 1:24:37pocket, that can happen. The red jumped there, so... It was in the

1:24:37 > 1:24:41pocket for a split-second but it jumped back out. That was the that

1:24:41 > 1:24:59caused that. -- that was the kick that caused that.

1:25:06 > 1:25:17That was a careless one. Now, will the red next to the pink... It might

1:25:17 > 1:25:21not pot but... It will go to the middle pocket as we look at it, so

1:25:21 > 1:25:27that is for a few shots' time. But not going to score many points from

1:25:27 > 1:25:32this petition with the way the reds are situated. He's just checking

1:25:32 > 1:25:37whether the red next to the pink goes to the left middle pocket. --

1:25:37 > 1:25:40many points from this position.

1:25:44 > 1:25:55He didn't want to be hitting the yellow. That's very careless.

1:25:58 > 1:26:07He had already planned his strategy there. That yellow spoiled all that.

1:26:52 > 1:26:57A good escape.

1:27:36 > 1:27:43He's played that nicely. Terrific shot there. He couldn't go down the

1:27:43 > 1:27:49other side of the table because of the reds near that cushion. He would

1:27:49 > 1:28:00have cannoned into bins. -- into those. That's opened them up. He

1:28:00 > 1:28:07needs a good cue ball here and he's going to come up a long way short.

1:28:07 > 1:28:13Maybe the brown's helping him slightly. A long, straight red. He

1:28:13 > 1:28:18is hampered by the brown so he'll take one of the others. Those two

1:28:18 > 1:28:27there to the left of the pink. Well...

1:29:01 > 1:29:08That red, he's just had a look and that red closest to the pink will

1:29:08 > 1:29:19pot into the centre pocket. So he doesn't have to nudge that. Nudge

1:29:19 > 1:29:22that red out.

1:29:30 > 1:29:38The black will put him 27 ahead. Just one red and a colour to make

1:29:38 > 1:29:45certain of this frame. A quick glance at the score.

1:29:50 > 1:29:54And it's a frame that Michael White, Dennis, will feel has got away from

1:29:54 > 1:30:04him. He had a good chance.Yeah, he's going to go into the middle

1:30:04 > 1:30:11session with things not all that bad but you can imagine if he had gone

1:30:11 > 1:30:16two each, he would have really enjoyed his cup of tea.Just that

1:30:16 > 1:30:20red to the middle that he missed to try to hold for the blue. It cost

1:30:20 > 1:30:21him this frame.

1:30:35 > 1:30:42This is the one that Ken was talking about, if he had rolled it in, it

1:30:42 > 1:30:46would have been much easier, but there was no way he was expecting to

1:30:46 > 1:30:48miss that, and it cost him.

1:31:17 > 1:31:20APPLAUSE

1:31:24 > 1:31:28Ronnie O'Sullivan takes his chance with a nice break of 64, and he goes

1:31:28 > 1:31:39into the mid-session now leading Michael white 3-1.

1:31:39 > 1:31:44What percentage increase in Ronnie's level do you think we are seeing

1:31:44 > 1:31:50today?Slightly, but Michael is a much better player than he showed in

1:31:50 > 1:31:54the opening session the other day, we know that. The difference in the

1:31:54 > 1:32:00match so far for me is the quality of the cue ball control. It was the

1:32:00 > 1:32:03shot before, he was perfect on the black and shouldn't have been

1:32:03 > 1:32:07anywhere near playing that shot. You wouldn't expect it to miss it, but

1:32:07 > 1:32:09when they have got in, the difference in who has got the cue

1:32:09 > 1:32:15ball in the best positions is noticeable. Sullivan has got it on a

1:32:15 > 1:32:20string.Full of admiration for him today, are you?Even the positional

1:32:20 > 1:32:25shot he played at the end from black to yellow was just sublime.

1:32:30 > 1:32:33More of the same possibly when we come back after the mid-session

1:32:33 > 1:32:38interval, but we are looking forward to seeing John Higgins plate Yan

1:32:38 > 1:32:45Bingtao from China, the 17-year-old wonder kid. After his last victory,

1:32:45 > 1:32:49he had a few problems with his cue, specifically the tip of his cue, and

1:32:49 > 1:32:53said he was going to go back to Glasgow to get it fixed, but in the

1:32:53 > 1:32:57end he went back to the eminent Les Dodd in Southport, and you might

1:32:57 > 1:33:03remember he did that also at the Crucible in May. That is the kind of

1:33:03 > 1:33:06level of attention to detail and dedication that has brought John so

1:33:06 > 1:33:10much success over the years. Either that or he just likes driving!

1:33:17 > 1:33:23John Higgins was born on the 18th of May 1975 in Wishaw, Scotland.He has

1:33:23 > 1:33:28been a professional snooker player for more than a quarter of a

1:33:28 > 1:33:32century.He has been in the top 16 in the world for an incredible 23

1:33:32 > 1:33:40years.He married Denise in 2000, and they have three children.The

1:33:40 > 1:33:49couple appeared in a TV show Mr and Mrs and won the final.John has also

1:33:49 > 1:33:52appeared on Celebrity mastermind, where his specialist subject was

1:33:52 > 1:33:59Dallas, the TV show.His nickname is the Wizard of Wishaw.Last season at

1:33:59 > 1:34:08the age of 41 he became the oldest Crucible finalist for 35 years.John

1:34:08 > 1:34:13has won more than £7 million in prize money during his career.In

1:34:13 > 1:34:202008, he was awarded an MBE in the New years Honours list.

1:34:20 > 1:34:24He has achieved a whole lot, and John knows he is going to have to be

1:34:24 > 1:34:30in tiptop form today. The defeat last month to Yan Bingtao is still

1:34:30 > 1:34:33raw, this teenager who were still two months away from his 18th

1:34:33 > 1:34:37birthday is apparently afraid of no one. He became the second youngest

1:34:37 > 1:34:41player ever to reach the Crucible final stages in April, and in the

1:34:41 > 1:34:44last month, he became the youngest player ever to reach the final of a

1:34:44 > 1:34:49world ranking event when he appeared in Belfast, Northern Ireland, open

1:34:49 > 1:34:54final, beating any end by Mark Williams. Sophie is a bull who is

1:34:54 > 1:34:59charging headlong up the rankings right now. The first frame of this

1:34:59 > 1:35:05match was a 41 minute one, and was taken in the John Higgins, and we

1:35:05 > 1:35:10are going to pick them up in frame two. It is Alan McManus and Steve

1:35:10 > 1:35:13Davis in have the ringside seats for this one.

1:35:16 > 1:35:22STEVE DAVIS: John Higgins has looked at the possibility of playing this

1:35:22 > 1:35:26down into the low pocket, he will be more concentrating on screwing the

1:35:26 > 1:35:32whiteboard back to the black cushion. If it goes in, what a

1:35:32 > 1:35:41bonus.And to big white honest, he didn't play for the cue ball on the

1:35:41 > 1:35:44back of the cushion. That was a very aggressive shot.What a pot, wasn't

1:35:44 > 1:35:51it? I think even John will be a little surprised he has potted that,

1:35:51 > 1:36:00that was so difficult. We spoke about his cue action.

1:36:06 > 1:36:10And attacking shot from John Higgins, nobody would have forgiven

1:36:10 > 1:36:14him for just playing a safety shot to the top cushion.

1:36:21 > 1:36:25OK, but even so, you have to be careful where these red Czar, you

1:36:25 > 1:36:34could, Cropper. -- you have to be careful where these reds are, you

1:36:34 > 1:36:46could come a cropper. It is closer than he would like to the middle.

1:36:51 > 1:36:57That little clip on the brown was nice, makes this yellow and little

1:36:57 > 1:36:59straighter, more controllable.

1:37:07 > 1:37:13That red that you mentioned earlier by the blue, still causing John

1:37:13 > 1:37:17Higgins some problems. The way to open this frame up would be possibly

1:37:17 > 1:37:22to use the blue to get into the pack. It is not so easy from where

1:37:22 > 1:37:26the balls are currently.

1:37:46 > 1:37:50He can maybe get things opened up now, little glance at the pink, I'm

1:37:50 > 1:37:57not sure it goes to the corner. Unless there is a plant, he is going

1:37:57 > 1:38:03to have to develop one or two.This wouldn't be the most ideal way of

1:38:03 > 1:38:08going about opening the pack off the bat cushion. Players like to go

1:38:08 > 1:38:11indirectly.

1:38:16 > 1:38:19He doesn't have to open the pack, but you feel like you would be

1:38:19 > 1:38:24tempted. This is the experience of John Higgins, knowing full well that

1:38:24 > 1:38:30going into the pack doesn't always come out correctly. And if that red

1:38:30 > 1:38:35is now going to be cleared, that you talked about at the start of this

1:38:35 > 1:38:40frame, but he still needs a good positional shot to get back on these

1:38:40 > 1:38:48four reds at some stage. But he has got a couple of reds to play with.I

1:38:48 > 1:38:53think again, not going into the pack a couple of shots ago is out of

1:38:53 > 1:38:56respect to his opponent. Against a lesser player, he would think, nice

1:38:56 > 1:39:00angle on the black, let's get them open and win the frame in one visit,

1:39:00 > 1:39:06but he has to build his way into the match, build the frame if you like.

1:39:06 > 1:39:12But if this goes wrong, then you could make the case if you were

1:39:12 > 1:39:18being critical that that was a chance gone begging.I think the

1:39:18 > 1:39:21reason he refused the split is simply because his opponent has got

1:39:21 > 1:39:27him under some pressure. Just clearly doesn't want to take any

1:39:27 > 1:39:35undue risks come possibly having a new tip was a factor in this shot

1:39:35 > 1:39:37selection.He needs an angle on this black.

1:39:41 > 1:39:46And he has got a nice angle, and this time, he will go into the pack,

1:39:46 > 1:39:49but I suppose it does beg the question, perhaps he should have

1:39:49 > 1:39:53gone into it last time, doesn't it? Some fascinating shot selections

1:39:53 > 1:39:58today.It is an ice pack, because they are set diagonal, you would

1:39:58 > 1:40:05expect to get a decent split.But there is a situation, you are not

1:40:05 > 1:40:08guaranteed. I think he is all right.

1:40:24 > 1:40:29It is funny, you can see the cue ball is actually in the way, I don't

1:40:29 > 1:40:33know whether this goes. I think it will. No problem.

1:40:51 > 1:40:55And it doesn't matter how John Higgins ever... Well, of course it

1:40:55 > 1:40:58matters how he plays, but almost regardless of how he is playing, he

1:40:58 > 1:41:05is so difficult to play against, so difficult to get on top. He keeps

1:41:05 > 1:41:11chances at a minimum, stingy he is as far as making mistakes.

1:41:15 > 1:41:21But there is no player in the game that can add class John Higgins, so

1:41:21 > 1:41:29it's no disgrace from Yan Bingtao's perspective to be going 2-0 down

1:41:29 > 1:41:34here. It is going to be a good work-out. Coming out with the

1:41:34 > 1:41:39cliches, he has got plenty of time and all that, he will be desperate

1:41:39 > 1:41:41to win, get a ranking tournament under his belt, as young as

1:41:41 > 1:41:50possible. But it is about learning your trade as well. And he could do

1:41:50 > 1:41:55worse than picked John Higgins as a master to learn from.

1:42:58 > 1:43:10Well, no century. John Higgins goes into a comfortable 2-0 lead.

1:43:12 > 1:43:18Looks comfortable, as Alan said, and Steve, too, but John was quoted as

1:43:18 > 1:43:23saying he would have to play 100 times better to see this fellow off

1:43:23 > 1:43:28in this match. He has great respect for him, and as Alan says, with that

1:43:28 > 1:43:31new tip on, he is not taking any liberties as we head into frame

1:43:31 > 1:43:32three.

1:44:16 > 1:44:23STEVE DAVIS: Made that opening reds look a lot easier than it was,

1:44:23 > 1:44:25didn't just blast at it.

1:44:27 > 1:44:29A couple of loose reds.

1:44:35 > 1:44:41Nicely judged. I think he's got enough of an angle that he can

1:44:41 > 1:44:46bounce the cue ball off the top cushion. And get back on that red.

1:44:46 > 1:44:55Might be going into reds here, though. First shot, I thought for a

1:44:55 > 1:44:59minute, it looked like he was setting up to disturb more. Now he

1:44:59 > 1:45:06will need a nice angle on this black to go into the pack, though. A

1:45:06 > 1:45:12little flick on that red creates the angle. And that second red of the

1:45:12 > 1:45:16two that are at the back looks inviting. That should disturb things

1:45:16 > 1:45:22quite nicely. Stun into it.

1:45:26 > 1:45:32Got a bit too low on that, I think, didn't he? Preferred more of a power

1:45:32 > 1:45:38stun there.May be just felt the shape of the wasn't conducive to

1:45:38 > 1:45:43going in with power and deep screw, but he has got one.

1:45:43 > 1:45:48Tough little red to middle, but should it going, they are opened,

1:45:48 > 1:45:53and it has. John Higgins slowly but surely finding his way into a bit of

1:45:53 > 1:45:55form.

1:46:22 > 1:46:30Yes, just sizing up the situation here, is it worth playing for a

1:46:30 > 1:46:34choice of pink and black?

1:46:40 > 1:46:47I wasn't sure what she was doing, whether he was deciding to play onto

1:46:47 > 1:46:51the blue because he doesn't like the shape of the pack? That is the only

1:46:51 > 1:46:57reason I can think of that choice of up and down. The pink as well as you

1:46:57 > 1:47:04say, but why he kept looking at that red in the middle pocket, I'd know.

1:47:04 > 1:47:08Perhaps he wasn't looking at the red, looking at the pink.

1:47:15 > 1:47:19I never really used to like this kind of shot, but sometimes you have

1:47:19 > 1:47:24to play it. Not always easy to guarantee how they are going to

1:47:24 > 1:47:34split. Now what?That was a brilliant shot, actually.It looks

1:47:34 > 1:47:40like that pink doesn't spot.But he may be covered. I think it will go

1:47:40 > 1:47:45close to it, but can he still get the red in the middle?

1:47:54 > 1:47:58The referee has got to make sure this is absolutely perfect, as close

1:47:58 > 1:48:02as possible to its own spot in a direct line with the line of the

1:48:02 > 1:48:05spots, but not touching the cue ball, as close as possible to it.

1:48:10 > 1:48:13It is actually very classy of John to just go back to his chair and

1:48:13 > 1:48:20have a little sip of water. Wherever she replaces the pink, he will deal

1:48:20 > 1:48:31with it. By his body language, he can still get it. Tatiana there

1:48:31 > 1:48:33doing a very good job.

1:48:43 > 1:48:47She is doing a fantastic job, not only is she refereeing this, she is

1:48:47 > 1:48:54looking after two children and Ben Woollaston as well, the ups and

1:48:54 > 1:48:57downs of the snooker player.

1:49:07 > 1:49:23That was a brilliant shot, he is an lucky that he is not on one.

1:49:24 > 1:49:29I think I am correct in saying that Tatiana, Ben's wife, she can't

1:49:29 > 1:49:34referee his matches. But also I don't think she can referee matches

1:49:34 > 1:49:41where he might have an interest. Just to be seen to be correct, not

1:49:41 > 1:49:49anything untoward, but correct decisions. That was tight, but he

1:49:49 > 1:49:56got it. So, this black is not guaranteed, he is a little bit out

1:49:56 > 1:50:01of position, said the biggest shot of this frame so far for John

1:50:01 > 1:50:17Higgins. Wouldn't want to take his foot off the pedal here.

1:50:56 > 1:51:00Well, after a tough start, this is starting to look like a John Higgins

1:51:00 > 1:51:03masterclass here today.

1:51:11 > 1:51:17Perhaps it needed a match of this quality for John to focus properly,

1:51:17 > 1:51:25or it could be the fact that he has had tip problems, one of the two.

1:51:29 > 1:51:36Yes, we are getting the full gambit of John Higgins' abilities. These

1:51:36 > 1:51:41first two and a half frames, he has toughed it out, a couple of really

1:51:41 > 1:51:44clever shots, that red into the yellow pocket that set up the frame

1:51:44 > 1:51:47when in chance in frame two.

1:51:50 > 1:52:03Yan 's highest break still only... Higgins building up of steam. It is

1:52:03 > 1:52:09that ability to just slip into scoring mode, even though it appears

1:52:09 > 1:52:15he is not quite on top of his game. Still well capable.

1:53:00 > 1:53:04No century, but a classy break of 80, and John Higgins is halfway

1:53:04 > 1:53:13home. 3-0. And John impressively freezing out this youngster for now,

1:53:13 > 1:53:17you can keep watching this on the red button, and we will be back for

1:53:17 > 1:53:24more of that later on. Mark King took the first with a break of 86

1:53:24 > 1:53:30against Luca Brecel, and he is now 3-1 up at the break. And on table

1:53:30 > 1:53:42four, Martin Gould lost the opening frame, against the very impressive

1:53:42 > 1:53:47remaining player, Vafaei, and Gould has just taken the second. But the

1:53:47 > 1:53:53top match we have been enjoying an table one, Ronnie O'Sullivan's 900

1:53:53 > 1:53:59and century, made against this man, former world number 15, Michael

1:53:59 > 1:54:04White, now at 26 in the world standings. And Michael, he got a

1:54:04 > 1:54:10handle on this match at 1-1, but Ronnie has pushed on with a 132 and

1:54:10 > 1:54:20a 64, and has a 3-1 advantage. So we hand you back to Dennis and Ken.

1:54:28 > 1:54:37DENNIS TAYLOR: Thank you, Hazel. He has made some very good breaks so

1:54:37 > 1:54:44far, not quite as good this time. He has left a possible long pot to the

1:54:44 > 1:54:49left corner pocket, but it is far from easy, that's for sure, and with

1:54:49 > 1:54:52the way the reds have opened up already, it puts a lot of pressure

1:54:52 > 1:55:01on this opening chance. Could quite easily have been two each, he has

1:55:01 > 1:55:06had the chances, he is just limbering up to take this pot on.

1:55:10 > 1:55:14He has missed a few long pots by a long way, and where is the red going

1:55:14 > 1:55:20to finish? Sometimes you get away with it, but he missed that by a

1:55:20 > 1:55:30long way.Yes, I think there has been a little bit of movement from

1:55:30 > 1:55:33distance, and I think again a slight bit of movement on the backswing

1:55:33 > 1:55:38there. Quite a long way out, he has put its good long balls, but some of

1:55:38 > 1:55:42the ones he has missed, he has missed the by quite a considerable

1:55:42 > 1:55:46margin.

1:56:08 > 1:56:12Not a straightforward, that red below the black is just slightly out

1:56:12 > 1:56:16of the way, he couldn't avoid hitting it.

1:56:19 > 1:56:23There is a red that will go up into a left corner pocket, you know,

1:56:23 > 1:56:27there is a gap between the pink and the other red, and that is what he

1:56:27 > 1:56:33is looking at there. He would be able to get back for the black.

1:56:37 > 1:56:39Oh, that jumped.

1:56:44 > 1:56:48Maybe he didn't hit it as well as he want, but have a look at the red

1:56:48 > 1:56:54here. Through it off-line slightly.

1:57:12 > 1:57:21Well, that was just the pace that kept that in the pocket. It was

1:57:21 > 1:57:24slightly drifting towards that near knuckle.

1:57:39 > 1:57:44Now, time for Michael White to fill his boots here. He has really got to

1:57:44 > 1:57:49make the most of these chances if he has any ambitions to win this match.

1:57:49 > 1:57:52Make it a contest.

1:58:02 > 1:58:08I'm sure the red below the pink pots, and that will free up the pink

1:58:08 > 1:58:09into all four pockets.

1:58:37 > 1:58:41Well, did he get a kick on that? We will have to have a look at that

1:58:41 > 1:58:46again. I'm not quite sure.

1:58:55 > 1:58:59I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt, the way he pointed the

1:58:59 > 1:59:02cue, I think it did just jump slightly.

1:59:10 > 1:59:14Well, he certainly can't grumble about the chances he's had, Dennis,

1:59:14 > 1:59:17in these first few frames.

1:59:19 > 1:59:26He just hasn't made the most of them. Ronnie O'Sullivan has been a

1:59:26 > 1:59:28little more clinical, whereas Michael White hasn't, and that has

1:59:28 > 1:59:32been the difference.

1:59:43 > 1:59:48Let's have another look to see what happened with that black there. It

1:59:48 > 1:59:52is hard to see the kick, but...

1:59:57 > 2:00:02Usually the ball lifts off the bed of the table.I'm not convinced it

2:00:02 > 2:00:09was a kick. I think he has just been struggling. He didn't look

2:00:09 > 2:00:16comfortable. Even the cannon he played, the pot on the red before

2:00:16 > 2:00:19the black wasn't played properly, he wasn't even trying to get on the

2:00:19 > 2:00:19black.

2:00:45 > 2:00:49DENNIS TAYLOR: It's not the best of chances here because the pink is in

2:00:49 > 2:00:54the way of splitting the red, so he might play for green or brown here

2:00:54 > 2:00:59rather than the blue. Because if he had played for the blue, the pink

2:00:59 > 2:01:03was in the way of the cannon, so now he's got the green off beside

2:01:03 > 2:01:09cushion and into the reds and he could open the whole game up here.

2:01:09 > 2:01:19-- the green off beside cushion -- the side cushion. It couldn't have

2:01:19 > 2:01:27played it better but has he covered them all? I think he's having to

2:01:27 > 2:01:30bend this. He'll have to play it with a lot of left-hand side to

2:01:30 > 2:01:32create the potting angle.

2:01:39 > 2:01:45He made it look easy but he had to bend that slightly.

2:01:56 > 2:02:01The red just below the pink pots. This wondered straight into this

2:02:01 > 2:02:12corner pocket as well. -- this one dead straight.

2:02:17 > 2:02:21He's already 37 points to the good.

2:02:40 > 2:02:43I think when you're playing Ronnie O'Sullivan it doesn't half add a lot

2:02:43 > 2:02:48of pressure to your game, because you know if you miss he's going to

2:02:48 > 2:02:53do this. A lot of the top players will do this but more so if you're

2:02:53 > 2:02:58playing and you're at the table and you know you make a mistake, you

2:02:58 > 2:03:00know you're really going to be punished.

2:03:07 > 2:03:11Yeah, and it's not only the pressure on the balls when you're in amongst

2:03:11 > 2:03:19them yourself and you do have chances, its pressure on your safety

2:03:19 > 2:03:26shots and you've got to try to cope with it. We thought after he won the

2:03:26 > 2:03:31second frame it might settle him down a bit. Hasn't made the most of

2:03:31 > 2:03:35his chances. I think you'll be kicking himself when he looks back

2:03:35 > 2:03:48on this match and went for micro-1 down. -- went for-1 down.Like Ken

2:03:48 > 2:03:52said, did have a chance there but it was Ronnie O'Sullivan with that one

2:03:52 > 2:03:59opportunity who made enough to secure the frame and an advantage.

2:04:59 > 2:05:04KEN DOHERTY: An incredible career this man has had. Birthday boy

2:05:04 > 2:05:20today. He was only ten or 11 years of age when he moved over and we

2:05:20 > 2:05:24used to practice together at the snooker centre together. When I

2:05:24 > 2:05:35moved over from Dublin. You could tell how good he was going to be.I

2:05:35 > 2:05:37think the darling of Dublin sounds better than the darling of

2:05:37 > 2:05:43Guildford! You spent many years practising there before moving back

2:05:43 > 2:05:53home, didn't you?Yeah. A couple of weeks before the World Championship

2:05:53 > 2:05:58in 97, we practised every day for almost two weeks and of course he

2:05:58 > 2:06:03made that magical 147 that year.

2:06:06 > 2:06:11I was lucky enough to avoid him in the draw and go on to win the

2:06:11 > 2:06:16Championship! But we had a lot of great days in Ilford practising with

2:06:16 > 2:06:22each other. He used to beat me up over time. I didn't like it that

2:06:22 > 2:06:35much! But certainly good practice! -- beat me up all the time.That was

2:06:35 > 2:06:41a tough enough black if he had rolled it in but to stun it in at

2:06:41 > 2:06:49that pace - excellent. No. He's anxiously looking to see if he

2:06:49 > 2:06:58covered it. And he hasn't. So a chance for Michael. It's time for

2:06:58 > 2:07:09the man from Neath to go to work here. This is a must-win frame. All

2:07:09 > 2:07:19about the cannon on the reds. Mustn't let that white slip away.

2:07:19 > 2:07:25That's nicely played.

2:08:01 > 2:08:08We will just show you it again. Still very unlucky. Wanted to screw

2:08:08 > 2:08:13past that red. Unfortunate to stick on them but just cannoned the wrong

2:08:13 > 2:08:16red there. But that's normally the case when you are struggling a bit.

2:08:16 > 2:08:21That sort of thing happens. When you're playing well, even if you can

2:08:21 > 2:08:28the wrong ball, you always finish on one. -- even if you cannon the wrong

2:08:28 > 2:08:37ball. Where's the safety shot coming from? Can't do much with this.

2:09:00 > 2:09:07Might be touching both reds here. It is. You don't see that very often.

2:09:07 > 2:09:15At least it solves the problem. Michael can come off this cushion

2:09:15 > 2:09:20behind the black and back up, and the frame will be back to normal.

2:09:23 > 2:09:36But this is a must-win for him. You wouldn't give him much of a hope

2:09:36 > 2:09:40with it being 5-1.

2:11:01 > 2:11:16That's a wonderful safety shot. Down the right-hand side. We'll have to

2:11:16 > 2:11:26use two cushions past the blue. -- had to use two cushions. Very well

2:11:26 > 2:11:29negotiated indeed.

2:11:40 > 2:11:45Might be tempted to have a go at this red into the left corner. He

2:11:45 > 2:11:49could get himself on the black. He's coming round the table to see what

2:11:49 > 2:11:54he could leave. If he takes it on and doesn't get on the black there

2:11:54 > 2:12:01is one available to the left middle. Let's see how this works out. A

2:12:01 > 2:12:11marvellous shot! I say marvellous shot. It was a marvellous pot but

2:12:11 > 2:12:15didn't get the cue ball where he wanted.

2:12:29 > 2:12:34He went full-blooded for it because he was leaving a red to the left

2:12:34 > 2:12:38middle pocket, but just lost the cue ball.

2:12:54 > 2:13:04He's left this red. You can't see a direct but he can play the plant.

2:13:04 > 2:13:08Put this red and still stay on the black, I think, pocket off the

2:13:08 > 2:13:25cushion. -- pot it off the cushion. Wow! Over swerved it.

2:13:30 > 2:13:35It's funny. It looked as if he could just play it off the side of the

2:13:35 > 2:13:38cushion but the swerve took it right into the other red, as we will show

2:13:38 > 2:13:46you. But the way they finished up here, and Ronnie knows only too

2:13:46 > 2:13:52well, that it's not easy to get good position from. If he can use the

2:13:52 > 2:13:57rest it might not be too bad. He might be able to get onto the black.

2:13:57 > 2:14:03But the spider would have been tough. He's played that nicely.

2:15:19 > 2:15:28It's just not happening for Michael White. For a few shots he looks OK

2:15:28 > 2:15:39and then like that, he just cued across it slightly. It's tough out

2:15:39 > 2:15:47there. Just at 79% there, as you can see.

2:15:58 > 2:16:04That didn't even get in the jaws of the pocket, that one.

2:16:43 > 2:16:48There's nothing over that side of the table to play behind because the

2:16:48 > 2:16:54green's off its spot. The brown's out of commission as well. Just

2:16:54 > 2:16:59plain to get the cue ball as close to the cushion as possible. And

2:16:59 > 2:17:08that's pretty good. -- just playing to get the cue ball.

2:17:49 > 2:17:54Doesn't want that red coming over the left centre pocket. And it looks

2:17:54 > 2:18:00like it's come far enough. I think this can cut in.

2:18:10 > 2:18:14Needs a bit of luck with the cue ball. If it runs past the red he

2:18:14 > 2:18:19could be on the pink... No.

2:18:28 > 2:18:38A slightly bewildered look from Ronnie O'Sullivan. It's not there so

2:18:38 > 2:18:50the cue ball will be going back. REFEREE:A foul and a miss.Ronnie

2:18:50 > 2:18:55hasn't moved from the position. Just to make sure. Let the referee know

2:18:55 > 2:19:01exactly where the cue ball is going. LAUGHTER

2:19:01 > 2:19:16Never seen that before. He's staying there! He's not moving, he's not

2:19:16 > 2:19:26moving... He's still there.He's not going to play this shot again, I'm

2:19:26 > 2:19:32sure, because he's going to get warned. He had forgotten about that,

2:19:32 > 2:19:40Ronnie, I think.He can just play the black and leave the white kite

2:19:40 > 2:19:54on this cushion. -- the white tight on this cushion.

2:20:13 > 2:20:18APPLAUSE

2:20:33 > 2:20:38He's got the white tight on the cushion but the trouble is he's put

2:20:38 > 2:20:52the black safe as well.Well, that's a poor effort from Michael. Ronnie's

2:20:52 > 2:20:5629 points behind, and, OK, he's got the blue in play but the pink's not

2:20:56 > 2:21:01ideally placed.

2:21:05 > 2:21:10There's no way he should have had a shot at that red. A bit careless

2:21:10 > 2:21:13from Michael there.

2:21:27 > 2:21:34He's just lost his concentration, Ronnie O'Sullivan, at the moment.

2:21:46 > 2:21:50Not a chance for Michael White.

2:22:09 > 2:22:14Normally such a proficient long potter, Michael White, but has been

2:22:14 > 2:22:18completely off today.

2:22:27 > 2:22:31Delicate little shot there, nice cannon on the blue.

2:23:08 > 2:23:17May have to win this frame by taking blues with the remaining reds.Yeah,

2:23:17 > 2:23:20that's why I mentioned when he pushed the black safe it was going

2:23:20 > 2:23:30to make it awkward for himself. That's not the best. Although he's

2:23:30 > 2:23:36on the blue. Could quite easily have snookered himself there. Shouldn't

2:23:36 > 2:23:38be a problem.

2:23:46 > 2:23:51Good pot but he's going to need another good position shot to get up

2:23:51 > 2:23:58the top side of the blue. -- positional shot.

2:24:09 > 2:24:15Sweet. Very sweet.

2:24:26 > 2:24:29Seems to like that blue up into the corner pocket.

2:24:42 > 2:24:45Wonderful shot.

2:25:05 > 2:25:13Well, he's had five blues up to now. This will be number six. But at that

2:25:13 > 2:25:18pace, it was never going to be easy. He didn't want the cannon on the

2:25:18 > 2:25:29pink. That was the problem. Almost tight on the cushion to force that

2:25:29 > 2:25:32blue in. Was always going to be difficult.

2:25:38 > 2:25:43The percentages against getting onto the last red there were very low

2:25:43 > 2:25:50indeed. As I mentioned earlier, this is a must-win frame for Michael

2:25:50 > 2:25:55White. He's still in it, just six points behind.

2:26:04 > 2:26:14Well, that's amazing. You could say the red shouldn't have been near the

2:26:14 > 2:26:17pink but still very unfortunate to leave it over the pocket.

2:26:33 > 2:26:44Had to be thin. Oh! That's a Michael White special coming at the right

2:26:44 > 2:26:51time! Is he going to drop nicely onto a colour? I think he's OK. He's

2:26:51 > 2:26:56got the yellow, which will come back nicely onto its spot. But the

2:26:56 > 2:27:03brown's going to be the problem ball. But the fact that the blue is

2:27:03 > 2:27:12up there means if he gets as far as the brown, he won't have much to do

2:27:12 > 2:27:16with it. But having said that, he hasn't left himself perfectly placed

2:27:16 > 2:27:19here by any means.

2:27:26 > 2:27:34He's missed it. He was trying to get through that gap.He's struggling a

2:27:34 > 2:27:42bit, Ken, isn't he? We've all been there. You have to feel a bit sorry

2:27:42 > 2:27:48for him but he's struggling with his game at the moment.

2:27:53 > 2:27:58When he part of the yellow after that good opening red he just didn't

2:27:58 > 2:28:01get into the cue ball enough to leave himself straight on the yellow

2:28:01 > 2:28:09again. Had to use the rest. Struggling a bit.

2:28:19 > 2:28:24But if you hang on in there, you never know what can happen, because

2:28:24 > 2:28:29Ronnie's lost a bit of focus, you have to say.

2:28:32 > 2:28:37That's close.

2:28:41 > 2:28:48Does this green go past the pink? He can play the snooker if it doesn't.

2:29:16 > 2:29:27REFEREE:Foul.He had to hit it to get it safe but to get it into the

2:29:27 > 2:29:33corner at that pace... I mean, goodness gracious me! You could

2:29:33 > 2:29:38stand there for a year and not see that happen again.

2:29:57 > 2:30:06Well, it's not over just yet! As I say, I think Ronnie has lost a bit

2:30:06 > 2:30:10of focus at the moment. That was very careless there. He only needed

2:30:10 > 2:30:15the blue. So any distance across the table and he was on it.

2:30:26 > 2:30:29It's not a gimme. It's certainly potable into the

2:30:29 > 2:30:30It's not a gimme. It's certainly potable into the right centre

2:30:30 > 2:30:46pocket. He only needs the blue. Looks like 5-1 now, Denis.

2:30:57 > 2:31:03Two snookers has made a very tall order.

2:31:21 > 2:31:26And where the black is, it's highly unlikely that he will get the two

2:31:26 > 2:31:28snookers that's required.

2:31:33 > 2:31:38This is not a bad effort. No, he's decided that he wasn't going to be

2:31:38 > 2:31:42able to get the snookers and he concedes the frame. He had his

2:31:42 > 2:31:45chances though, in that frame, Michael White. But it's Ronnie

2:31:45 > 2:31:49O'Sullivan who ends his lead. He only needs one more frame. He leads

2:31:49 > 2:31:515-1. STUDIO: It could be game over at

2:31:51 > 2:31:54this point. Michael White clearly not in a good place there. He had

2:31:54 > 2:31:59chances. In fact, you called it. There was a distinct possibility he

2:31:59 > 2:32:03might have got back into the frame. Yeah, there's quite a few unforced

2:32:03 > 2:32:03errors

2:32:03 > 2:32:04Yeah, there's quite a few unforced errors coming into Michael's game.

2:32:04 > 2:32:08One long red into the left hand black pocket as we're looking at the

2:32:08 > 2:32:12screen now. He played it with left-hand side and just got through

2:32:12 > 2:32:16the cue ball very quick, pushed it thick. He's not timing the ball very

2:32:16 > 2:32:19well at all unfortunately. He's had plenty of chances, which is

2:32:19 > 2:32:24disappointing.One safety shot in particular that left Ronnie on.Yeah

2:32:24 > 2:32:29there's nothing worse than when it's an unforced error. A massive gap to

2:32:29 > 2:32:33play the cue ball down in the area. He hit it completely wrong and

2:32:33 > 2:32:36nobody goes out with the intention of playing poorly. He will be so

2:32:36 > 2:32:40disappointed with the level he's played because he has had chances.

2:32:40 > 2:32:46It's been his cue ball today. He's never had it. Three, four shots in

2:32:46 > 2:32:52the break, he's usually lost it.All over by the shouting?Yes, he's lost

2:32:52 > 2:32:56all confidence. It's a shame, because there was a bit of an edge

2:32:56 > 2:32:59to this match. He's been playing well. You thought if he holds

2:32:59 > 2:33:02himself together but he's had chances and not taken them

2:33:02 > 2:33:11unfortunately. He'll be bitterly disappointed.Ronnie as the highest

2:33:11 > 2:33:17seed left, Stephen said something interesting he said in many respect

2:33:17 > 2:33:21this is Ronnie's Championship to lose. How do you feel about that?I

2:33:21 > 2:33:23wouldn't go that far. He's a favourite. Certainly he's been the

2:33:23 > 2:33:28best player on the circuit this year with his form. A brave man to bet

2:33:28 > 2:33:32against him. There's lots of good players here. When you have best of

2:33:32 > 2:33:3611s, we alluded at the start of the day, they're not best of 17s any

2:33:36 > 2:33:40more, best of 11s, some of the players consider they have more of a

2:33:40 > 2:33:43chance in that situation. Yes he's a strong favourite. If you give me a

2:33:43 > 2:33:46free fiver, I'd have it on O'Sullivan, but there's lots of good

2:33:46 > 2:33:51players left.In terms of his progress in this match. We've just

2:33:51 > 2:33:55seen the focus dim slightly from Ronnie's perspective. Probably no

2:33:55 > 2:33:59wonder at this point.No, it's because Michael isn't taking his

2:33:59 > 2:34:03chances. It's not surprising that Ronnie's concentration and focus has

2:34:03 > 2:34:07slipped a bit. If Michael were to step up a gear, it would be there

2:34:07 > 2:34:10again.Is this going to be the last one? Let's find out.

2:34:10 > 2:34:15again.Is this going to be the last one? Let's find out.

2:34:15 > 2:34:17COMMENTATOR: That's the question Hazel, will this be the last frame

2:34:17 > 2:34:23of the match?

2:34:26 > 2:34:31That's certainly opened the reds up from that break-off shot. Listen,

2:34:31 > 2:34:35he's 5-1 down, he might as well throw the cue at it now, try and

2:34:35 > 2:34:39re-Alex and give it your best shot. Sometimes you do relax and you start

2:34:39 > 2:34:48knocking these shots in.

2:34:53 > 2:34:57It can be the loneliest place in the world, in front a packed house,

2:34:57 > 2:35:00you're out there. And there's no hiding place, is there, Ken?No, not

2:35:00 > 2:35:04at all.It's not like a team game. Sometimes you get a little bit

2:35:04 > 2:35:08embarrassed that you're not performing the way you know you can.

2:35:08 > 2:35:16Particularly on the TV. And in front of a nice, big crowd. One of the

2:35:16 > 2:35:20biggest tournaments on the snooker calendar. He's had a couple of good

2:35:20 > 2:35:21wins to get here.

2:35:28 > 2:35:32We were all expecting a lot more, I'm sure he was as well. Just hasn't

2:35:32 > 2:35:36happened today. His confidence has drained as this match has gone on.

2:36:56 > 2:36:59I mean he's tight on the cushion. That's probably the best

2:36:59 > 2:36:59I mean he's tight on the cushion. That's probably the best pot he's

2:36:59 > 2:37:06had this afternoon. Look at the kiss he had on the black.

2:37:06 > 2:37:10If you don't get that bit of good fortune in this game, it's hard

2:37:10 > 2:37:14work.

2:37:20 > 2:37:25He may be able to screw the cue ball back behind the black here, bring a

2:37:25 > 2:37:30few more reds into play.

2:37:40 > 2:37:44This is a possible little shot, screw the cue ball off to the left

2:37:44 > 2:37:47hand red of that pack.

2:38:40 > 2:38:43He doesn't want this cue ball going into the pocket. Oh, no. Well it's

2:38:43 > 2:38:48all happening. It's all happening for Michael

2:38:48 > 2:38:49White.

2:38:54 > 2:38:59That could possibly be his last shot in this year's Championship.

2:39:35 > 2:39:39Not sure whether the pink will respot on its own spot. If it

2:39:39 > 2:39:44doesn't, Ronnie would prefer it to go onto the black spot.

2:39:44 > 2:39:48That was possibly the reason why he didn't go into the pack of reds from

2:39:48 > 2:39:53the blue.

2:39:59 > 2:40:03Nice cannon into the pack here.

2:40:09 > 2:40:14Has he gone too far? Looks too hard.

2:40:37 > 2:40:44Good recovery, on the yellow into the right centre.

2:40:57 > 2:41:03Gradually he'll work his way back up to the scoring end of the table.

2:41:05 > 2:41:09He's got the blue and pink available.

2:41:16 > 2:41:20I say the scoring end of the table, you can score both ends of the

2:41:20 > 2:41:28table, but the more points gained at this end. With the high valued

2:41:28 > 2:41:31colours. It's looking good now for Ronnie O'Sullivan, it has to be

2:41:31 > 2:41:35said. I don't think he'll be overjoyed by

2:41:35 > 2:41:43his performance today. He sets very high standards for himself. Even

2:41:43 > 2:41:49when you feel he's played really well, he'll come out and say he

2:41:49 > 2:41:55wasn't happy.I think the fact that Michael has struggled a bit probably

2:41:55 > 2:41:58hasn't helped Ronnie's game. He would have raised his game, but

2:41:58 > 2:42:02yeah, you've got to feel a bit sorry for Michael White. He was so looking

2:42:02 > 2:42:07forward to playing Ronnie O'Sullivan. It just hasn't happened

2:42:07 > 2:42:16for the man from Neath.I'm sure he'll be back. There's plenty more

2:42:16 > 2:42:21tournaments the rest of the season. He won that Paul Hunter classic

2:42:21 > 2:42:29earlier on this year.Yeah, well he has won two ranking tournaments and

2:42:29 > 2:42:37a lot of players go through their career without doing that.

2:42:52 > 2:42:5760 points ahead, just this red, leaving Michael White needing a

2:42:57 > 2:43:06snooker. APPLAUSE

2:43:06 > 2:43:08Acknowledged by the crowd.

2:43:13 > 2:43:19Yeah, I think the fourth frame Michael could have gone to the

2:43:19 > 2:43:22midsession interval 2-2, might have been a different story. But he

2:43:22 > 2:43:34hasn't really performed. Doesn't matter about missing the pink.

2:43:34 > 2:43:37Michael has picked up his extension and he comes forward to congratulate

2:43:37 > 2:43:44Ronnie O'Sullivan. He just couldn't get going, Michael. In the end,

2:43:44 > 2:43:48Ronnie O'Sullivan this year's favourite, runs out a very

2:43:48 > 2:43:56comfortable winner by 6-1. STUDIO: Congratulations to Ronnie,

2:43:56 > 2:43:57the birthday boy through to the last

2:43:57 > 2:44:00the birthday boy through to the last 16 here in York. Will he have

2:44:00 > 2:44:05enjoyed that one, because in the end, it was a little more

2:44:05 > 2:44:08straightforward than possibly we expected it to be.We all enjoyed

2:44:08 > 2:44:14it. If you won 6-1, and you didn't have to be at your best, we'd be

2:44:14 > 2:44:18delighted with that. He can tell us better in a minute. I'd be happy

2:44:18 > 2:44:21with #6-1.I think I would be as well. Part of Ronnie will be

2:44:21 > 2:44:26disappointed for Michael today. He knows what a talented player he is.

2:44:26 > 2:44:29Don't get me wrong, he obviously wants to win the match. He'll be

2:44:29 > 2:44:33delighted to win comfortably. But he knows that Michael is a far better

2:44:33 > 2:44:37player than he showed today. He'll be a little disappointed for him.

2:44:37 > 2:44:41He's coming in here shortly. Just before we speak to Ronnie, quick

2:44:41 > 2:44:45update on what's been happening out there. There are dramatic events

2:44:45 > 2:44:46here on table three.

2:44:46 > 2:44:48there. There are dramatic events here on table three. Mark King, this

2:44:48 > 2:44:54is a respoted black. Mark was 3-2 up here. It's all very dramatic of the

2:44:54 > 2:44:57Yes, funny thing is he's played the shot. You try to leave the cue ball

2:44:57 > 2:45:01higher than the black. Not this. This leaves a double and he's taken

2:45:01 > 2:45:07this it.Luca Brecel levels the match. Kingy not happy. What's going

2:45:07 > 2:45:14on? There you go, he's in a real fight. Meanwhile table four, Martin

2:45:14 > 2:45:24Gould in a tussle as well. Martin was 2-1 up. A good break of 75 for

2:45:24 > 2:45:30Vafaei in frame four has levelled it there. It's all happening out there.

2:45:30 > 2:45:34In fact we're hearing Gould has taken frame five. He's

2:45:34 > 2:45:36re-established a 3-2 advantage. There's a lot of

2:45:36 > 2:45:37re-established a 3-2 advantage. There's a lot of good snooker out

2:45:37 > 2:45:48there. That King, Brecel match, Luka is one to be watched here.And just

2:45:48 > 2:45:51discovered how to win. I've watched him in the commentary box the last

2:45:51 > 2:45:55few years. He's got tremendous talent. He can pop balls from the

2:45:55 > 2:45:58lamp shade. He's playing against certain players who wait and wait

2:45:58 > 2:46:01and tactically they wait for chances off him. Now he's got to grips with

2:46:01 > 2:46:05what he needs to do. He's a tournament winner now. That makes

2:46:05 > 2:46:08all the difference to confidence. He's only 22. It seems

2:46:08 > 2:46:13extraordinary. He was such a young man, youngest ever to play at The

2:46:13 > 2:46:17Crucible. Turned up there 17 years of age. I think he's established his

2:46:17 > 2:46:21own style. He seems to be his own man out there now.Very much so.

2:46:21 > 2:46:25He's one of the few players in the game that plays with a tremendous

2:46:25 > 2:46:31amount of side. He plays with a very small tip. He has fantastic cue

2:46:31 > 2:46:34power, pots incredible balls, scores well and his safety and tactics have

2:46:34 > 2:46:39come on a lot in the last season or two.They have to. The top players

2:46:39 > 2:46:44look for your weakness. Tactically he wasn't as adept at putting the

2:46:44 > 2:46:48cue ball in. They're going to make it difficult for you, put the cue

2:46:48 > 2:46:52ball in awkward positions, try to keep you away from potting.Come on

2:46:52 > 2:46:58in. Congratulations.Good to see you, bud.Into the last 16, happy

2:46:58 > 2:47:01birthday, Ronnie.Yeah, thank you. Cheers.How pleased with that today?

2:47:01 > 2:47:07We were saying that 6-1 sounds fairly straightforward, was it

2:47:07 > 2:47:10straightforward from your perspective?Michael didn't play

2:47:10 > 2:47:14well at all. He was just struggling. He was getting lots of bad luck as

2:47:14 > 2:47:20well. I wasn't feeling great either. We dragged each other down. I just

2:47:20 > 2:47:26think I managed to scramble better than Michael did today.A century in

2:47:26 > 2:47:30there, 909 centuries so far and counting. Have you lost count, is it

2:47:30 > 2:47:36something I take a mental note of? No, I know each entry gets me nearer

2:47:36 > 2:47:39the thousand, which will be nice to do. Someone else will beat it at

2:47:39 > 2:47:44some point.We've talked about the thousand, is there an expected time

2:47:44 > 2:47:49scale for this, or you just keep going?I've gone past all that. I

2:47:49 > 2:47:54just try to enjoy it if I can.You look like you're enjoying competing

2:47:54 > 2:47:58I'm trying my hardest. You know, it's just come here, have a bit of

2:47:58 > 2:48:03fun. If I win, great. If I don't win, you know, I've always got Plan

2:48:03 > 2:48:06B, which is nice, so it takes the pressure off really.In terms of

2:48:06 > 2:48:11what we've seen in this Championship so far, there's been so many top

2:48:11 > 2:48:14seeds going out, you are the top seed left at number four. A

2:48:14 > 2:48:17surprising Championship in some respects.I don't know. I've not

2:48:17 > 2:48:23watched a lot of snooker, what I can gather, a lot of players say they

2:48:23 > 2:48:26haven't been playing well. It's a tough game when you're not feeling

2:48:26 > 2:48:29confident out there. I'm not feeling 100% with my game. This game is a

2:48:29 > 2:48:34bit like golf. If you don't get the line right and you know, you can put

2:48:34 > 2:48:41the ball anywhere, so I'm a little bit fortunate. I'm a bit like Seve

2:48:41 > 2:48:46or Tiger, where I can manufacture shots. Whereas the more robotic type

2:48:46 > 2:48:51players, if they're not online, they really struggle. With me, like Mark

2:48:51 > 2:48:55Williams, we are shot makers as well. We can scramble a bit better.

2:48:55 > 2:48:58That's what you have to do sometimes.Do you think there's too

2:48:58 > 2:49:03much snooker now?No, I want to see more. Give us some more! #You're in

2:49:03 > 2:49:06a fortunate position whereby you can pick and choose your turn amounts,

2:49:06 > 2:49:11is there a question of players playing in everything burning out?I

2:49:11 > 2:49:13don't care any more. LAUGHTER

2:49:13 > 2:49:16I tried to get players together and do anything, but they all just

2:49:16 > 2:49:20bottled out in the end. I thought I have to do my own thing, live my own

2:49:20 > 2:49:24life. I do other bits outside of snooker because I can. I come here,

2:49:24 > 2:49:29have a bit of fun. This is a Brucie bonus for me. I understand what the

2:49:29 > 2:49:34players are going through. Until they get some, their bottle together

2:49:34 > 2:49:38and stand up together, then this is going to keep moaning. I got fed up

2:49:38 > 2:49:43with moaning. I thought I might as go and get a great life, which I've

2:49:43 > 2:49:46got a great life now. I don't care what they do. They can do what they

2:49:46 > 2:49:51like. Make us play outside, if you like, in the freezing cold, I won't

2:49:51 > 2:49:56ever complain about a ref or official. They're all fantastic.You

2:49:56 > 2:50:01are Mr Chill at the moment, I must say.No, I'm not. I used to be, I

2:50:01 > 2:50:04was ingrained in snooker, that's all I done. Every little thing bothers

2:50:04 > 2:50:09you. I can't. It's too painful. It's frustrating because you want things

2:50:09 > 2:50:13sorted and you want the players to stick together and they never do.

2:50:13 > 2:50:17You know, get on with, it have it. Have you found a formula, I don't

2:50:17 > 2:50:20know if anybody's quite got it yet. I don't have a formula.Seriously,

2:50:20 > 2:50:26you're trying to come in for the majors?No, I don't care about the

2:50:26 > 2:50:30majors, any tournament is a major. I don't care. I just come up, pitch

2:50:30 > 2:50:33up, the UK is the same as the British Open, China, they're all

2:50:33 > 2:50:37lovely. I take any one of them. There isn't a formula for success?

2:50:37 > 2:50:42No, this is a hobby. I don't care. LAUGHTER

2:50:42 > 2:50:46Otherwise you start to get driven mad by it. All the players players

2:50:46 > 2:50:49are moaning and you feel like you want to do something, I give up.

2:50:49 > 2:50:52They can do their thing. I do my thing. Good luck to everybody.

2:50:52 > 2:50:54You've just got to drive your own car. That's what I'm doing at the

2:50:54 > 2:50:58moment. It doesn't affect me as much. If I win here great. If I

2:50:58 > 2:51:03don't, I really don't care. I want to win. Of course, I'd love to win.

2:51:03 > 2:51:07I'm not going to drive myself mad. If the referee has a stinker, just

2:51:07 > 2:51:12let him have a stinker. Fair enough. Next year, when we come to the UK

2:51:12 > 2:51:16Championship, it has been suggested, I know there was a lot of banter in

2:51:16 > 2:51:19the press room the other day about your potentially doing a stint in

2:51:19 > 2:51:24the jungle. Jimmy has done it and Steve has. Would you do it?Yeah

2:51:24 > 2:51:27million per cent, I'd do anything now. I love it.

2:51:27 > 2:51:31LAUGHTER I'm up for the crack. I used to

2:51:31 > 2:51:35think, no I couldn't do that. I've got to be a pure snooker player. But

2:51:35 > 2:51:38you get to a stage, where you think this is painful. That's all fun and

2:51:38 > 2:51:42a good laugh. Everything I do away from snooker is great. I want to do

2:51:42 > 2:51:45as much of that as I can. Obviously I want to play a bit of snooker and

2:51:45 > 2:51:50do myself justice. As long as I'm in the top 64, being number one, number

2:51:50 > 2:51:55four, number 64 it doesn't matter any more. Why not, let's have a bit

2:51:55 > 2:52:03of the jungle.They'll think I'm a gorilla though when they look at me!

2:52:03 > 2:52:08As long as you don't walk round like Steve.No, no, please. If you are Mr

2:52:08 > 2:52:11Chill at the moment, how do you get the competitive head back when you

2:52:11 > 2:52:15have to come in?I love to win. Simple as that?I took up running

2:52:15 > 2:52:19and I wanted to be like, you know, compete for my county. I just have a

2:52:19 > 2:52:24natural desire to want to compete. That will never go. But I won't get

2:52:24 > 2:52:27bothered by tables and venues and referees and photographers.

2:52:27 > 2:52:29Photographers, they've got to behave themselves!

2:52:29 > 2:52:35LAUGHTER They have to come with a little

2:52:35 > 2:52:40stick, you know, tripod, otherwise no tripod, you're going. All you

2:52:40 > 2:52:46camera guys, get your tripods out. I'll even supply them as well.What

2:52:46 > 2:52:49are you going to do for the rest of your birthday?Go to the gym, treat

2:52:49 > 2:52:53myself. That's my birthday present. Then go and have some food. Then

2:52:53 > 2:52:57watch a bit of celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. I couldn't have done that

2:52:57 > 2:53:02trial last night with the snakes. No, I saw that.Don't they them

2:53:02 > 2:53:06that, that's what they'll give you. Say you love snakes.I want to start

2:53:06 > 2:53:09getting used to snakes! I'm getting trained.He's in the jungle next

2:53:09 > 2:53:12year, I'm not sure how we're going to cope without you. There we go.

2:53:12 > 2:53:17Ronnie, thank you very much. Enjoy the rest of your birthday.Cheers.

2:53:17 > 2:53:20Ronnie is through. We will get back into the match we've been enjoying.

2:53:20 > 2:53:27John Higgins took a healthy lead, taking no chances against this

2:53:27 > 2:53:30young, ambitious 17-year-old Yan Bingtao. We rejoin them in frame

2:53:30 > 2:53:33four. Back to Alan with Steve Davis.

2:53:40 > 2:53:44COMMENTATOR: Looks on. If John Higgins goes for it, I expect him to

2:53:44 > 2:53:49get it. Or get on black, depending the way

2:53:49 > 2:53:53he plays it. Oh, he's played it with control, this is brilliant. What a

2:53:53 > 2:53:58shot that is.

2:54:16 > 2:54:21This is currently a master surgeon at work.

2:54:29 > 2:54:35Not ideally placed on the red, but the way he started to cue, you fancy

2:54:35 > 2:54:39this red in the middle pocket.

2:54:40 > 2:54:50Not much of a pocket to go for, is there? Never touched the sides. What

2:54:50 > 2:54:56a performance so far this has turned into. Got to say, he's got to be one

2:54:56 > 2:54:59of the favourites for the UK Championship this year. A few big

2:54:59 > 2:55:05names have gone out. There's a few still in, of course.

2:55:31 > 2:55:36Not absolutely the way he played it. Still on one. He's going to have to

2:55:36 > 2:55:43put all his eggs in one basket here. This is dead weight. The fact that

2:55:43 > 2:55:46it's a fairly new cloth may help the shot.

2:55:46 > 2:55:50I fancy him to get it, but it is missable.

2:55:50 > 2:56:01It should go in. But no. Yan Bingtao, sat in that chair for most

2:56:01 > 2:56:09of the last couple of frames, has got, at long last, a decent chance.

2:56:12 > 2:56:17Yeah, very easy to say well, he's got to make something from this, but

2:56:17 > 2:56:23when you've been kept off the table for so long, it's tough.

2:56:29 > 2:56:34This is a difficult one to judge, to get the correct weight. Can't argue

2:56:34 > 2:56:41at that. Made sure he didn't leave it short,

2:56:41 > 2:56:45not too short. Assuming the black does go fully.

2:56:45 > 2:56:50Must do.

2:56:59 > 2:57:04Be a good boost for morale now for Yan Bingtao to win this in a classy

2:57:04 > 2:57:09way, this frame. Just to show John Higgins what he's

2:57:09 > 2:57:11capable of.

2:58:46 > 2:58:51This is not an absolute bona fide chance to win the frame just yet. I

2:58:51 > 2:58:56don't think any of those reds will go to this black pocket. They have

2:58:56 > 2:59:04to manufacture something. Wouldn't really want to play to right middle.

2:59:04 > 2:59:10That would be missable. He's looking for something a bit more certain.

2:59:17 > 2:59:21Just a little tester, just the fact that he's not any table time, you

2:59:21 > 2:59:25expect him to get it - nice and straight, not a lot to do with the

2:59:25 > 2:59:34cue ball. Just get the pot, opens the frame up a little.

2:59:36 > 2:59:40This is why you play eight hours a day, or whatever you decide to play.

2:59:42 > 2:59:47When you do get a chance, when you've been kept off the table,

2:59:47 > 2:59:50you're quickly into your stride.

3:00:18 > 3:00:23It's definitely a measured approach from Yang Bingtao.Even a certain

3:00:23 > 3:00:27black you'd already think he'd know which red he's going to play but

3:00:27 > 3:00:31he's taking his time. Average shot time of 31 seconds, which is

3:00:31 > 3:00:38pedestrian by modern standards.It is, but it's indicative of what he's

3:00:38 > 3:00:42put up with today. I don't think it's his natural speed. Floated

3:00:42 > 3:00:52past, does the other red go? I think it does. It's OK. I think if he was

3:00:52 > 3:00:56the one dominating proceedings you'd see faster speed.

3:01:02 > 3:01:10That one red at the bottom of the pack, you can't get the right side

3:01:10 > 3:01:20of it, and maybe the other red goes. Think is available, that helps.

3:01:20 > 3:01:25Yeah, the pink goes on the green spot now, so that's fine. A good

3:01:25 > 3:01:31frame-winning chance now. Not saying it's necessarily a bad thing, the

3:01:31 > 3:01:38pace he's played today. It's another strength to his bow.Exactly, yeah.

3:01:38 > 3:01:44You wouldn't always want to be playing at 30 seconds a shot, it's

3:01:44 > 3:01:48difficult to get rhythm but he's been up against it. It's impossible

3:01:48 > 3:01:53for him to have had any rhythm in the match, soap understandable that

3:01:53 > 3:01:59his shot times would be slow. Most of his shots have been head

3:01:59 > 3:02:04scratchers. Doesn't want to be straight on this. Not good if it's

3:02:04 > 3:02:12straight. He's got enough of an angle. He's got to judge the pace of

3:02:12 > 3:02:20this because it is he goes too far he won't be on the red. Not far

3:02:20 > 3:02:26enough and it's too fine Abe cut. That's very nice indeed. Going to

3:02:26 > 3:02:32disturb the other red now. A good lead of the reds and guaranteed

3:02:32 > 3:02:42position on the black, pace wise, he could be over the line.

3:02:47 > 3:02:55I think the other thing it tells us, the way he's taking his time this

3:02:55 > 3:02:58afternoon, and especially this contribution, he thinks he can still

3:02:58 > 3:03:04win the match. That's important. It's not like, some players can be

3:03:04 > 3:03:11forgiven for mentally almost giving up, just throw their cue at Bayview

3:03:11 > 3:03:17shots -- at a few shots.

3:03:22 > 3:03:28He's still in line with being the youngest ever winner of a major

3:03:28 > 3:03:34event. Up until the German Masters I think next year. But to be honest

3:03:34 > 3:03:40that would be just a small record. I think when the history books are

3:03:40 > 3:03:47finally closed on this game of snooker, if they are ever closed, I

3:03:47 > 3:03:53think you'll see Yan Bingtao's name cropping up a few times.How can you

3:03:53 > 3:03:58win the World Cup at 15?

3:04:01 > 3:04:17He did that with his compatriot a couple of years ago.

3:04:26 > 3:04:32John Higgins may decide to come back to the table here. Bingtao's last

3:04:32 > 3:04:36positional shot before the red was perhaps a bit risky. Might seem like

3:04:36 > 3:04:47he's well clear but as we've seen, when you look at the table, after

3:04:47 > 3:04:59potting the black he's going to be 55 points behind. It's a tough ask

3:04:59 > 3:05:08but not much different to the first frame with Yan Bingtao carrying on.

3:05:08 > 3:05:13He'll want to keep the last red on the table. That keeps open the

3:05:13 > 3:05:23option of free balls. That's a quicker way to get penalty points.

3:05:23 > 3:05:31So, no positional shot played. Can he get in behind this black? Should

3:05:31 > 3:05:42he so choose. He misjudged that by miles. Poor effort really from John

3:05:42 > 3:05:46Higgins.

3:06:00 > 3:06:10Frame conceded.So, Yan Bingtao gets a frame on the board but John

3:06:10 > 3:06:13Higgins goes into the interval leading 3-1.STUDIO: Looks

3:06:13 > 3:06:17comfortable but this youngster is on the move. He started the season as

3:06:17 > 3:06:23the world number 56 and he's jumped up to 27 already. He's a man on the

3:06:23 > 3:06:29move and will he keep moving here in frame five?

3:06:43 > 3:06:49COMMENTATOR: Bingtao straight back at the table. Bad timing for the ice

3:06:49 > 3:06:59bucket to come on the table. Just out of your picture, one of our

3:06:59 > 3:07:04officials delivered a fresh ice bucket to John Higgins. It was

3:07:04 > 3:07:15nearly in Yan Bingtao's by -- eyeline.

3:07:23 > 3:07:34Perhaps justice is served, back so early, that miss to the right middle

3:07:34 > 3:07:47by John.Pretty ramrod straight delivery of the cue. Always nice to

3:07:47 > 3:07:56see. Not every player goes through on a straight line. You'd think it

3:07:56 > 3:08:02would be essential but it's really only at the point of hitting the the

3:08:02 > 3:08:06cue needs to be in the straight line with the desired line to the object

3:08:06 > 3:08:15ball. Common sense says it would be better if it was in line all the

3:08:15 > 3:08:23time from the back swing to the end of the delivery. Plenty of cue power

3:08:23 > 3:08:31to get the right side of the blue. Excellent effort. Has he got there?

3:08:31 > 3:08:37I don't think he's quite got the angle. He's poker straight on it.

3:08:37 > 3:08:43Pink is the sort of shot normally well within his compass but he won't

3:08:43 > 3:08:54want to play it unless he has to. Just a case of how much he fancies a

3:08:54 > 3:09:03long-distance red. So this is a little tester.

3:09:28 > 3:09:35I guess you could say a little unfortunate there. Is there a plant?

3:09:35 > 3:09:44Possible. Oh, fabulous shot. Well played. That's a bonus, landing on

3:09:44 > 3:09:47the black

3:09:47 > 3:09:52played. That's a bonus, landing on the black. Drop in the black and

3:09:52 > 3:10:01he'll be back to just one frame behind, Yang Bingtao -- Yan Bingtao.

3:10:12 > 3:10:19That's motored up the table a bit. He's on the red but not as he would

3:10:19 > 3:10:34have liked. He just needs this red. Plant as well. That's nice. A bit

3:10:34 > 3:10:40lucky really, the plants have all planned out for him. The pink wasn't

3:10:40 > 3:10:50absolutely wonderful. So from being completely outplayed and getting a

3:10:50 > 3:10:56lifeline in the fourth frame, all of a sudden, Yan Bingtao gets it back

3:10:56 > 3:11:02to only one behind. Interesting times in this match.

3:11:09 > 3:11:16Another massive kick. What's going on? From having none to having a

3:11:16 > 3:11:18few.

3:11:25 > 3:11:28A bit of general consensus that the new brand of chalk on the market

3:11:28 > 3:11:34reduces the amount of kicks players get in matches. Yan Bingtao doesn't

3:11:34 > 3:11:40use that particular brand.

3:13:52 > 3:13:59Doesn't matter about the pink.And the frame.81 break, Yan Bingtao,

3:13:59 > 3:14:06hot on the heels of John Higgins. 3-2.And indeed in the next frame,

3:14:06 > 3:14:11Yan Bingtao made it all square. A break of 37 and a pretty elongated

3:14:11 > 3:14:17frame, 33 minutes and Yan Bingtao getting over the line so we're into

3:14:17 > 3:14:26a best of five. Let's rejoin in seven. COMMENTATOR:That could be a

3:14:26 > 3:14:37massive error.That one he seemed to play a bit casually. He probably

3:14:37 > 3:14:42didn't, it just seemed like he did.

3:15:03 > 3:15:09The red actually moved, the other red, when he potted that.Yes,

3:15:09 > 3:15:15played a combination shot there.

3:15:22 > 3:15:29Nicely judged. Didn't go into them too hard but he knew they'd open up

3:15:29 > 3:15:35nicely.A nice feeling when you play that well, the cannon and they

3:15:35 > 3:15:42spread open like they have. Doesn't guarantee anything but it makes the

3:15:42 > 3:15:45next probably 30 points fairly straightforward, as straightforward

3:15:45 > 3:15:50as they can ever be. Just gives you a nice warm feeling inside, a cannon

3:15:50 > 3:16:00like that. Works out as intended. He needs a few good things to happen

3:16:00 > 3:16:05right now, John Higgins. Re-establish some authority in this

3:16:05 > 3:16:08match.

3:16:21 > 3:16:25He could conceivably get over the winning post without needing that

3:16:25 > 3:16:31red on the side cushion. Not necessarily sure he'll have done

3:16:31 > 3:16:43those maths. Job in hand.That was sloppy, he'll have to be precise

3:16:43 > 3:16:53with this.Wasn't the end of the world. But as you say, there are

3:16:53 > 3:16:58easier ways of getting on those reds.

3:17:15 > 3:17:19Yes, that's a good point you make Steve, about the red on the side

3:17:19 > 3:17:26cushion.He needs blacks. I think he can get away with one more extra

3:17:26 > 3:17:36pink.He's got two points to play with. Two pinks and three blacks,

3:17:36 > 3:17:48sorry, four blacks and he wouldn't need that red.It is something you

3:17:48 > 3:17:52should do the maths for but there's so much work to be done, sometimes

3:17:52 > 3:17:56you're concentrating on keeping position. Where these balls are,

3:17:56 > 3:18:00you're more or less going to be going for blacks but if he took too

3:18:00 > 3:18:04many pinks, that is a sort of minor mistake, isn't it?John won't be

3:18:04 > 3:18:10thinking about it yet.But he should be. The future of the game, players

3:18:10 > 3:18:14should be aware if they need that ball on the cushion or not.It's

3:18:14 > 3:18:18just we have the luxury of sitting here and being able to count it out

3:18:18 > 3:18:24and we don't have two pot anything. That's a nice shot opening them up.

3:18:24 > 3:18:28I don't know if he's checked the school board. He's looking at it

3:18:28 > 3:18:44now. -- the score board.I think he'll look at the scoreboard now.

3:18:44 > 3:18:52Now, has he done the maths? He's doing it now.

3:18:57 > 3:19:10Is it the maths or is it the math? American.Singular is the posh way

3:19:10 > 3:19:21of saying it.Is there a Scottish way?Probably, yeah. That was a good

3:19:21 > 3:19:29shot as well. Three blacks.

3:20:27 > 3:20:32I think he can screw back to the side cushion. This is dead straight.

3:20:32 > 3:20:40Doing his job of keeping on the black. Didn't need to screw back to

3:20:40 > 3:20:53the side cushion.The best way to play for this red is the far corner

3:20:53 > 3:20:57because he can get back to the black for that. He doesn't want to play it

3:20:57 > 3:21:04in the middle. That's clever, a very clever shot. Just an indication

3:21:04 > 3:21:09again of the shot selection being the most important thing. The way he

3:21:09 > 3:21:14played it, he didn't have to play the shot perfectly. Just get top

3:21:14 > 3:21:17side of the red and the next black should be a formality. He's taken

3:21:17 > 3:21:22them well.

3:21:42 > 3:21:48After potting this black, he'd like to get the double as well just to

3:21:48 > 3:21:56put the lid on this frame.

3:22:11 > 3:22:20Barring snookers, John Higgins has his nose in front at 4-3. STUDIO: 67

3:22:20 > 3:22:25was enough for John to retake the lead at 4-3, the momentum back with

3:22:25 > 3:22:31the Scotsman. They just had a rewrite in frame eight. This is

3:22:31 > 3:22:38early in the restart of this frame. John has potted the red, so back to

3:22:38 > 3:22:39Alan and Steve.

3:22:48 > 3:22:58How is the split? Oh, this is good. It's just beginning to happen now. A

3:22:58 > 3:23:09big target, that. He got the pink half all. -- half ball. He'd settle

3:23:09 > 3:23:18for this, John Higgins.

3:24:18 > 3:24:27John Higgins smelling blood here. Realises the significance of Yan

3:24:27 > 3:24:30Bingtao's shot, not punishing him enough.

3:25:30 > 3:25:34John doesn't want to play for the red on the cushion. That would be

3:25:34 > 3:25:41last resort.

3:25:50 > 3:25:54Well, this was the shot that Yan Bingtao played. He'd turned down a

3:25:54 > 3:26:02pot to the left corner for the more safe safety shot. John Higgins got

3:26:02 > 3:26:09in from that shot.

3:27:11 > 3:27:16Yan Bingtao bashing the table with his cue, the modern-day sign of

3:27:16 > 3:27:33appreciation for your opponent. He's left a red to the middle. Can he get

3:27:33 > 3:27:41past the lack to the red to the corner? Doesn't look like it. -- can

3:27:41 > 3:27:52he get past the black. You'd expect him to get this. Wow, I thought that

3:27:52 > 3:28:00was going in. Just a fraction too hard. I still thought it was going

3:28:00 > 3:28:04in, didn't you?Yes, you could tell by John's reaction as well. He

3:28:04 > 3:28:16thought it was in. A puff of the cheeks.This is thin but I'm sure

3:28:16 > 3:28:27he'll get it.

3:28:28 > 3:28:36That's why they have experts in the commentary box, Alan!Yeah, a wry

3:28:36 > 3:28:44smile again from John, he's somehow covered the red with the blue, Yan

3:28:44 > 3:28:55Bingtao.Bingtao was trying to play a better position or shot than just

3:28:55 > 3:29:00potting the red -- a better positional shot. Would have been

3:29:00 > 3:29:17ideal place to pot the red. Not easy to get a telling safety shot here.

3:29:21 > 3:29:32That got a bit close to the pocket, didn't it? Yan Bingtao tapping the

3:29:32 > 3:29:41table. It wasn't that far off being a mistake. Now it's caused a few

3:29:41 > 3:29:48problems.If he's going to play the up and down safety he'll have to get

3:29:48 > 3:29:56this very thin, drop the cushion first on the left-hand red, which

3:29:56 > 3:30:12he's doing.Still need to give these respect. With the baulk colours as

3:30:12 > 3:30:21they are, not easy to sort of get telling snookers.Surprised here

3:30:21 > 3:30:28that John, the loose red left of the pink spot, slide off it, cue ball

3:30:28 > 3:30:33over the yellow pocket and Yan Bingtao would be in trouble. I don't

3:30:33 > 3:30:36think John will be in masses of trouble but he's giving up the

3:30:36 > 3:30:43initiative. Obviously there was thought behind it, 37 points in

3:30:43 > 3:30:47front, tying up those three reds.

3:30:53 > 3:31:00He doesn't make many tactical mistakes, does he?There's one here

3:31:00 > 3:31:07that he could play, leave John that tempter, get as close to the baulk

3:31:07 > 3:31:12cushion as you can. He's shifting that red. John's long game's not

3:31:12 > 3:31:15been on it. Not been on song today. I would have left him a tempter

3:31:15 > 3:31:25there. Possible plant to nothing.The thing

3:31:25 > 3:31:30about this situation now is there is a way of getting down the table. And

3:31:30 > 3:31:43getting a good snooker. Not easy. From this side of the table.

3:31:52 > 3:31:55That plant was a bit more on than you would have thought from

3:31:55 > 3:31:59distance. Red struggled in. But it's definitely John Higgins with the

3:31:59 > 3:32:07initiative.Playing in behind the brown here, I feel. Clever shot

3:32:07 > 3:32:15again. It takes out of the rest of the left side cushion. Yan's in

3:32:15 > 3:32:20trouble.Yan Bingtao will be seeing if he's got any type of route to

3:32:20 > 3:32:24those three reds on the top cushion.

3:32:32 > 3:32:38He's looking at possibly a three cushion escape.

3:32:43 > 3:32:53He'll have to get close to the green after two cushions. I don't think

3:32:53 > 3:32:59that shot is on. Too much slide on the cloth. He could probably try

3:32:59 > 3:33:05this all day long and not get it. He should know from what he's just

3:33:05 > 3:33:09done, unless he gets stupidly close to the green, he's not going to be

3:33:09 > 3:33:20able to get out of it. It's going to slide too much. I might be wrong.

3:33:23 > 3:33:31Put the green back, though.

3:33:33 > 3:33:36I don't think he can escape off three cushions here.It's not

3:33:36 > 3:33:40possible.Really, without being disrespectful, he should know this

3:33:40 > 3:33:45now. He's had one go and he must have seen how the ball released off

3:33:45 > 3:33:48that third cushion.

3:33:50 > 3:33:57It's important they get the green exactly where it was. It plays an

3:33:57 > 3:33:59integral part of the shot.

3:34:12 > 3:34:25He might just have made it. Wow.What a hit that was.Wow!I

3:34:25 > 3:34:28think he's having a chuckle at himself.That's the best he could

3:34:28 > 3:34:35have done to get across the table. That's the absolute limit.

3:34:41 > 3:34:49He obviously knows more than me! Unless that green wasn't exactly in

3:34:49 > 3:34:54the right place.

3:34:55 > 3:35:01A great escape. John will be making sure he doesn't

3:35:01 > 3:35:11shift this brown, I'm sure. Yeah just pushing a red safe.

3:35:13 > 3:35:20No way John wants to get involved at any time with having safety shots

3:35:20 > 3:35:24that go near that brown.

3:35:28 > 3:35:31Once again Bingtao in touch trouble. It seems he's going off a side

3:35:31 > 3:35:35cushion.

3:35:43 > 3:35:50What was he lining up there? Not too sure.I think he was just in between

3:35:50 > 3:35:53the top, the middle and the brown. Just looking at the natural and

3:35:53 > 3:36:00dropping the three reds. Obviously didn't fancy it.

3:36:05 > 3:36:10John playing this red near the baulk line. It's not a double kiss. He

3:36:10 > 3:36:16doesn't really want to shift it, unless he absolutely has to.

3:36:20 > 3:36:24He can just drop onto the three reds.

3:36:26 > 3:36:29It's Yan Bingtao who has to do the aggressive safety.

3:36:36 > 3:36:46Nicely judged. Bingtao can improve the situation. Needs a thin contact

3:36:46 > 3:36:50on the first red.

3:36:52 > 3:36:55Is there a gap between green and blue that he can get the black into

3:36:55 > 3:36:57play?

3:37:17 > 3:37:21Needed to play an aggressive one and has done. You've got to say that

3:37:21 > 3:37:26he's asked the best question possible of John Higgins.

3:37:29 > 3:37:35John's got a relatively easy path back to balk. At least it's opened

3:37:35 > 3:37:44the reds up and opened the colours up.

3:37:54 > 3:37:59There won't be many times in his career that he'll be tapping the

3:37:59 > 3:38:06table as many as he has done against John Higgins here today. Great

3:38:06 > 3:38:13judgment of weight there as well, caused as much problems as the line.

3:38:19 > 3:38:25Last resort shot once again? He's just coming down to see what type of

3:38:25 > 3:38:30shot John Higgins as got from the jaws this afternoon top left corner.

3:38:30 > 3:38:34-- of that top left corner. Not sure he's got many other options. Big

3:38:34 > 3:38:37shot to try and pot it.

3:38:46 > 3:38:52This is one in ten for me. Yeah, that was so difficult. He's

3:38:52 > 3:38:59not left an absolute sitter. But John Higgins you would expect to

3:38:59 > 3:39:02take full advantage.

3:39:09 > 3:39:12He obviously believes in his own ability. He could have possibly

3:39:12 > 3:39:15played a containing shot there.

3:39:16 > 3:39:20The score line in the frame and knowing how clever John Higgins is,

3:39:20 > 3:39:24perhaps he thought that was as good a chance as he was going to get.

3:39:36 > 3:39:39The last frame, the first frame really that's gone against the

3:39:39 > 3:39:41grain.

3:39:45 > 3:39:47Yan Bingtao couldn't successfully negotiate the positional side of the

3:39:47 > 3:39:53frame. John Higgins got back in. Now looks like John Higgins has smelled

3:39:53 > 3:39:56a bit of blood.

3:39:59 > 3:40:04Never balks at the finishing line, that's for certain.

3:40:11 > 3:40:14He's checked the scoreboard.

3:40:17 > 3:40:23Three loose reds with colours. He should be one away from victory.

3:42:17 > 3:42:24Would still like this red in to completely seal the frame.

3:42:32 > 3:42:37Striking the ball very nicely. Never overhits a shot, John Higgins. Knows

3:42:37 > 3:42:44when to stroke the shot, when to punch it in. The complete

3:42:44 > 3:42:51all-rounder. Apart from those shots obviously!

3:42:51 > 3:42:56And that's John Higgins. 5-3 in front. Needing one more for a place

3:42:56 > 3:43:03in the last 16. STUDIO: I'm sure this will be an

3:43:03 > 3:43:05almighty relief to John after that barrage of breaks from Yan Bingtao

3:43:05 > 3:43:11earlier on. This is a fascinating match. It's a real contrast of the

3:43:11 > 3:43:14generations. We've seen enough from Yan Bingtao to realise this

3:43:14 > 3:43:14generations. We've seen enough from Yan Bingtao to realise this fellow

3:43:14 > 3:43:18is pretty special.Yeah a very talented young player. John's

3:43:18 > 3:43:22experience showed in the last frame there. He really dug deep there. He

3:43:22 > 3:43:26knows that he has to go up a gear now against this young man. That was

3:43:26 > 3:43:31impressive from John there.He hasn't taken him lightly. He said he

3:43:31 > 3:43:36would have to play 100 times better than his previous opponent. How wary

3:43:36 > 3:43:41was John coming into this match?Who does he take lightly by the way? He

3:43:41 > 3:43:45plays the right shot all the time to an incredibly high standard. Two of

3:43:45 > 3:43:50the lads in the commentary box are exactly the same type of match

3:43:50 > 3:43:53players, if you play the correct shot and you play it to a high

3:43:53 > 3:43:56standard every single time you play, you are going to be a nightmare for

3:43:56 > 3:43:59whoever you play against. The last couple of frames, John's tightened

3:43:59 > 3:44:03up. He's still scored well. He's come to the table and he's tapping

3:44:03 > 3:44:06the table all the time. He's just in the maximum amount of trouble. Every

3:44:06 > 3:44:10time he comes, there he's being asked a question. It's a very stern

3:44:10 > 3:44:12examination paper you get when you play John. That's what he's been

3:44:12 > 3:44:18given this afternoon.We know that whoever wins this match, they're

3:44:18 > 3:44:23going to play Mark King in the next round. Mark has come through 6-3

3:44:23 > 3:44:27against Luca Brecel. After that losing that respoted black earlier

3:44:27 > 3:44:31on, he's won the last three in a row has Mark. That's really impressive.

3:44:31 > 3:44:36That's a great win. He's come on leaps and bounds this season, after

3:44:36 > 3:44:40winning in Northern Ireland last year.He's kicked on. All of us were

3:44:40 > 3:44:44so pleased for him to win his first ranking event after all this time

3:44:44 > 3:44:48last year. He's been working with Chris Henry for some time now. It's

3:44:48 > 3:44:52made a massive difference to his game. He's a tournament winner now.

3:44:52 > 3:44:57The biggest thing for Mark, with the greatest respect, he wasn't the

3:44:57 > 3:45:01heaviest scorers. He didn't score like a lot of the top boys did. He

3:45:01 > 3:45:04nearly had a maximum the other day, which he should have had. A nice

3:45:04 > 3:45:08break there to win the match. His scoring has improved.Mark will be

3:45:08 > 3:45:12watching the end of this one with great interest as indeed are we. Can

3:45:12 > 3:45:15John get over the line here?

3:45:21 > 3:45:28COMMENTATOR: If he can Hazel, he's still going to have to put the young

3:45:28 > 3:45:35Chinese player away. He led 3-1 early on, John Higgins. Yan came

3:45:35 > 3:45:41back strongly to 3-3.

3:46:04 > 3:46:10He hasn't done a great deal wrong today, Yan Bingtao. Last couple of

3:46:10 > 3:46:22frames, messed up position once. Then a sloppy safety shot. Other

3:46:22 > 3:46:27than that it's been an impressive performance.

3:46:32 > 3:46:36From our perspective in the commentary box, as players, Alan,

3:46:36 > 3:46:40you know, it's not about if a player just knocks him all over the place,

3:46:40 > 3:46:44you don't get impressed by that so much. It's shot selection,

3:46:44 > 3:46:49decisions, demeanor at table, temperament. That's how you judge

3:46:49 > 3:46:57whether a player's got longevity in the game.Absolutely.

3:46:59 > 3:47:03Yan Bingtao has been a wee bit more defensive than I was expecting

3:47:03 > 3:47:07today, I have to say that. His all-round game is

3:47:10 > 3:47:13-- certainly improving all the time. Regardless of the result today, he

3:47:13 > 3:47:20will learn plenty. He beat John Higgins 6-2 a few weeks ago out in

3:47:20 > 3:47:23China.

3:47:28 > 3:47:34Good to see a Chinese player not all about knocking in the reds all over

3:47:34 > 3:47:38the place, playing the fancy shots. He can get down and tough it out.

3:47:38 > 3:47:41Yeah getting that balance right between attack and defence is the

3:47:41 > 3:47:45art of it. A couple of shots we actually thought he might have gone

3:47:45 > 3:47:49for it and he turned it down. If you're not attacking enough you're

3:47:49 > 3:47:55in trouble as well. Plenty of years left to get the balance right of

3:47:55 > 3:48:01that.

3:48:43 > 3:48:48Just a half chance here for John to perhaps gain the upper hand in this

3:48:48 > 3:48:51early safety battle.

3:48:58 > 3:49:01Just trying to miss the brown on either side of it. Yeah, that should

3:49:01 > 3:49:07do. That should stop the easy return for Yan Bingtao.

3:49:07 > 3:49:12He does have a figure eight playing the other way.

3:49:16 > 3:49:20He's had enough of it. He's taken one on.Yeah, getting more

3:49:20 > 3:49:24aggressive here. Wouldn't say throwing caution to the wind. He's

3:49:24 > 3:49:32got enough screw power to stay clear of the pink.

3:49:32 > 3:49:44Foul.Can't really argue with that. He's hit it superbly well. It's just

3:49:44 > 3:49:50screwing clear of the pink. Unlucky.

3:49:50 > 3:49:53Can't really say you should know where the middle pocket is on that

3:49:53 > 3:49:58one. He hit it too well. Just to even get the pot doing

3:49:58 > 3:50:02anything with the cue ball, impressive. Amazing piece of ball

3:50:02 > 3:50:05striking.

3:50:19 > 3:50:23Got a good cue ball.

3:50:25 > 3:50:29Another tap on the table from Yan.

3:50:32 > 3:50:37If that red to the right corner is dead straight, he could play it as a

3:50:37 > 3:50:44sort of shot to nothing. The only red he'd leave on is the one he

3:50:44 > 3:50:49missed other than there's a red into the middle pocket that would

3:50:49 > 3:50:54possibly pot. He's got potential with this one as well.

3:50:58 > 3:51:02There was the potential. Never going to be rolling it in dead weight

3:51:02 > 3:51:08that. Was too risky. Not far off getting the snooker.

3:51:39 > 3:51:42Never really going to put his opponent in too much trouble from

3:51:42 > 3:51:55that shot. Yan Bingtao should be able to find a path back to baulk.

3:51:57 > 3:52:01It's been a feature of this match and to be honest, a bit of a feature

3:52:01 > 3:52:05of the modern game. Players are loathe to play the safety off the

3:52:05 > 3:52:10pack and open reds up, push a red potentially over left corner and

3:52:10 > 3:52:15you're sitting down the rest of the frame. I've seen it more and more.

3:52:15 > 3:52:21This looks good. Not quite in behind the brown. John

3:52:21 > 3:52:25Higgins perhaps here about to gain the upper hand again.

3:52:25 > 3:52:30He can't play the four cushion safety this time. There's that red

3:52:30 > 3:52:36between blue and pink in the way. He can play the two cushion.

3:52:44 > 3:52:50Slide it down to the baulk cushion, line it up on the yellow.

3:53:01 > 3:53:05Sound like I know what I'm talking about there!That was a brilliant

3:53:05 > 3:53:07shot.

3:53:12 > 3:53:17Can't see any return to the baulk area. I suppose he could drop dead

3:53:17 > 3:53:20weight into the top of the bluster of reds, but even that has a risk

3:53:20 > 3:53:25attached to it. Has he got another half ball one red

3:53:25 > 3:53:30into the pack behind the black? If he can see enough of the right-hand

3:53:30 > 3:53:35side of the second red on the left of the table, if that makes sense.

3:53:37 > 3:53:41Yeah, I think he can. Can't see many other shots at the

3:53:41 > 3:53:47moment.That's a good spot that, Steve. The reason he wouldn't like

3:53:47 > 3:53:50really playing it, unless he can maybe hit the red on the thin side