:00:49. > :00:56.Our match is the opening session between Ding Junhui, who is tipped
:00:56. > :01:02.to win the title and Alan McManus. Ding Junhui is wearing a black
:01:02. > :01:12.armband in memory of the 188 people who lost their lives in the session
:01:12. > :01:22.
:01:22. > :01:26.one province. We join the action in where he put the cue ball. He was
:01:26. > :01:36.not 100% committed to that shot. Certainly not to the position
:01:36. > :01:36.
:01:36. > :02:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:02:41. > :02:49.There was another red corn up next to the brown and two reds. -- gone
:02:49. > :02:59.up. We have got the new game of snooker here. The idea is to send
:02:59. > :03:26.
:03:26. > :03:36.all the reds up to the other end of This black this Cup, but the thin
:03:36. > :03:45.
:03:46. > :03:49.one is going to be going into the You called it and it was risky, and
:03:49. > :03:56.the only consolation for Ding Junhui is that the black has gone
:03:56. > :04:06.safe. If the black had stayed in the open that would have been a
:04:06. > :04:31.
:04:31. > :04:36.very good chance for Alan. First time I have seen someone with a
:04:36. > :04:46.little chalk poached attached to their trousers. Usually the chalk
:04:46. > :05:05.
:05:05. > :05:15.What a shot he has played there, that was unbelievable. He could
:05:15. > :05:16.
:05:16. > :05:26.have done anything with that cue ball. It made him look silly, there,
:05:26. > :05:30.
:05:30. > :05:34.didn't it? More reaction on the cue This will test his angles, trying
:05:34. > :05:44.to come off two cushions to try and land on the green and maybe try and
:05:44. > :05:57.
:05:57. > :06:07.get a snooker. That's why they call him "Angles". He will be delighted
:06:07. > :06:09.
:06:09. > :06:18.with that result. Not only I don't see how Ding Junhui can get
:06:18. > :06:28.this safe. It will be hit and hope. You need the red near the cushion
:06:28. > :06:34.
:06:34. > :06:42.to try and land on, 1, 2, or even Even that red to the right of the
:06:42. > :06:51.brown and red, it would have to be a dead weight, to land on it. He
:06:51. > :06:57.has mishit that completely. Well, and a miss. Alan McManus, four.
:06:57. > :07:06.Ding Junhui has got to be spot-on with this escape. It is a similar
:07:06. > :07:12.shot to the one that Allen played, probably slightly more difficult.
:07:12. > :07:21.He's tried to land on the red that's beside the brown. If he hits
:07:21. > :07:31.it full ball, he should be pretty safe. Foul, and a miss.This will
:07:31. > :07:37.
:07:37. > :07:47.be a free ball. I don't see Allen seeking the green on. -- Alan
:07:47. > :07:51.
:07:51. > :08:01.He can hit the red on the extreme Left side, as we look at it. So,
:08:01. > :08:38.
:08:38. > :08:48.the second chance for the very He has got a chance now to take the
:08:48. > :09:20.
:09:20. > :09:24.frame but he has to get to the A little bit awkward to get onto
:09:24. > :09:29.the blue this time, although he has an angle to develop the pink and
:09:29. > :09:33.black, that was not what he was after and that has got an element
:09:33. > :09:38.of risk to it if he was to cannon the black. He would have preferred
:09:38. > :09:43.to stay on the blue, he is 22 in front, so he could have won the
:09:43. > :09:51.frame if he had stayed on the blues. He might be able to find the path
:09:51. > :10:01.through, but he hasn't. And these are pesters, especially when you
:10:01. > :10:04.
:10:04. > :10:08.have been away for so long from the Crucible Theatre. -- testers.
:10:08. > :10:18.will stun the white ball and leave the red to the left corner. That
:10:18. > :10:22.was well struck. That was a great shot. Havel cat the pause, and
:10:22. > :10:30.through as straight as you possibly can, with the delivery of the cue -
:10:30. > :10:35.that is the key. He still does it. He used to lift a little bit as he
:10:35. > :10:45.delivered the cue, Alan, and came up a little bit short there, but
:10:45. > :10:48.
:10:48. > :10:58.He's not hanging around when he is playing his shots. He is a more
:10:58. > :11:12.
:11:12. > :11:16.deliberate player than Ding Junhui, Just underhit that slightly, but
:11:16. > :11:26.there is a path between the yellow and that red that is next to the
:11:26. > :11:27.
:11:27. > :11:36.brown. He didn't want to cannon into one of those. Bringing the
:11:36. > :11:44.break to a premature end, here. That is nicely played. Played that
:11:44. > :11:54.with a touch of right hand side, check side as they call it. Well
:11:54. > :11:56.
:11:56. > :12:06.control. -- controlled. He finished awkwardly on that red to the right
:12:06. > :12:12.
:12:12. > :12:16.of the cue ball, having to take A little bit straight on the blue
:12:16. > :12:21.again but it should not be a problem, just screw the white back
:12:21. > :12:31.to near enough what it is no. A few inches away from where the cue ball
:12:31. > :12:31.
:12:31. > :12:41.was at the moment. -- knew enough where it is now. 46 ahead, so just
:12:41. > :13:16.
:13:16. > :13:26.He didn't want to finish with the cue ball on the cushion, but he
:13:26. > :13:27.
:13:27. > :13:33.saved the negotiated the blue. -- safely negotiated. In the only
:13:33. > :13:42.meeting they had, Ding Junhui won all five frames, so this is Alan
:13:43. > :13:47.McManus's first frame win against Doesn't matter about the pink. He
:13:48. > :13:51.played it with a lot of side, and Ding Junhui he's stays in his seat,
:13:51. > :13:56.so the best possible starter or Alan McManus. It looked like it
:13:56. > :14:06.would be a long frame, but in the end it wasn't, and with the aid of
:14:06. > :14:11.
:14:11. > :14:16.that 47 break, he gets himself 1-0 That stung that the floor before he
:14:16. > :14:23.plays shots, like he wants to get himself lined up properly. Which is
:14:23. > :14:30.a good exercise to do. It help you concentrate. He was still at the
:14:30. > :14:34.table almost until the white got back up onto the cushion. He's
:14:34. > :14:44.purposefully making himself stayed down on the shot. He does lift a
:14:44. > :14:57.
:14:57. > :15:02.little bit, Alan, he always has And, in complete contrast, Ding
:15:02. > :15:06.Junhui doesn't move his head a fraction. Just look how still he
:15:06. > :15:10.keeps on the shot. A little bit like Michael reach Stephen Hendry
:15:10. > :15:14.here. How did you manage to keep that he so still for all those
:15:14. > :15:23.years? In it wasn't working the last two or three years, I'll tell
:15:23. > :15:33.you that. Ding Junhui went for that long shot. It was the lonely one he
:15:33. > :15:38.could leave, and he has done. -- the only one. He just has to roll
:15:38. > :15:45.the black in and can and does two reds. Plenty of reds available, so
:15:45. > :15:55.he doesn't have to do too much with this stun shot. It might keep the
:15:55. > :16:01.
:16:01. > :16:11.white there. All, no, he has missed He can't afford many of those
:16:11. > :16:46.
:16:46. > :16:56.unforced errors today against Ding I consider Ding Junhui to beat one
:16:56. > :16:58.
:16:58. > :17:04.of the top two or three break- Just looking, he has made 51
:17:04. > :17:09.century breaks this season alone. Lots of players don't make that
:17:09. > :17:19.many in their career. It is amazing he has been a professional for 10
:17:19. > :17:22.
:17:22. > :17:27.years, with six ranking titles, yet to win the Masters or the world. We
:17:27. > :17:31.still have the four majors, we used to call them, World Championship,
:17:31. > :17:41.UK Championship, the Masters and the Grand Prix, and the Grand Prix
:17:41. > :17:42.
:17:42. > :17:48.is the the World Open, which is no pleading China. -- now played in
:17:48. > :17:58.China. That is a tournament that Mark Allen seems to like. He has
:17:58. > :18:01.
:18:01. > :18:10.He will be looking to leave an angle on the black. He wants to
:18:10. > :18:20.open the reds up as soon as He won't be going into them this
:18:20. > :18:25.If he was dead straight he might have to screw back off the cushion
:18:25. > :18:30.and take the white out towards the pink. He is just off straight. If
:18:30. > :18:40.he screws this back we have got the perfect picture. It will come back
:18:40. > :18:41.
:18:41. > :18:48.off the cushion and head out That will do nicely. Anywhere near
:18:48. > :18:58.the pink. It might have finished a little awkwardly. I think he can
:18:58. > :19:00.
:19:00. > :19:10.due to the side of the cue ball here. -- cue to the side. Just a
:19:10. > :19:23.
:19:23. > :19:28.He has got an easy pink to the centre to get the one remaining
:19:28. > :19:38.loose red, but he needs an angle on the black to go into the bunch of
:19:38. > :19:41.
:19:41. > :19:48.It looks as if it is going to be pink, red, nicely on the blue,
:19:48. > :19:58.possibly to go into the bunch. He had an angle. It didn't look as if
:19:58. > :19:58.
:19:58. > :20:08.he had an angle on the pink, so now, he has caught the reds open nicely.
:20:08. > :20:08.
:20:08. > :21:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:21:09. > :21:13.Such a simple, effective style, hasn't he? He just gets darling,
:21:13. > :21:23.straight back, in a positive straight line. It is difficult to
:21:23. > :21:30.
:21:30. > :21:35.When you Huw bingeing re getting interviewed now, his English is
:21:35. > :21:45.getting better by the week. -- when you hear Ding Junhui getting into
:21:45. > :21:48.
:21:48. > :21:58.view. -- interviewed. If he just plays a nice little cannon onto
:21:58. > :22:22.
:22:22. > :22:29.Every chance, no, of making a We have had seven centuries so far
:22:29. > :22:39.this year at the Crucible. Ricky Walden still at the top of the
:22:39. > :23:12.
:23:12. > :23:18.I'm sure when the draw was made, Alan knew that he has picked one of
:23:18. > :23:27.the toughest. He didn't know in the first frame, but he will know now
:23:27. > :23:30.what he's up against. This guy scores so heavily. He will remember
:23:30. > :23:40.the black that he should have knocked in, and you said, you
:23:40. > :23:46.cannot afford to do that against at their like Ding. -- a player like
:23:46. > :23:56.Ding. That one mistake has almost certainly cost him this second
:23:56. > :24:10.
:24:10. > :24:20.He has made 294 centuries in his 10 He is good to watch when he is
:24:20. > :24:23.
:24:23. > :24:28.He has never looked like being out of position at my stage in this
:24:28. > :24:38.break. Yours chance of that of luck when you go into the reds, but he
:24:38. > :24:41.
:24:41. > :24:46.has been flawless. -- you always This means to pull up a little bit,
:24:46. > :24:52.but it hasn't. I don't think he can see enough of this, he's going to
:24:52. > :25:02.have to fluke it, or try to bend it slightly round the pink. I am not
:25:02. > :25:07.
:25:07. > :25:17.sure, but he has done it, so well That is a terrific century break
:25:17. > :25:32.
:25:32. > :25:37.from this very talented Chinese I tell you what, there will be lots
:25:37. > :25:47.of people watching this back in China, delighted to see their hero
:25:47. > :26:01.
:26:01. > :26:07.As Stephen Hendry said, this break What a great response from Ding
:26:07. > :26:17.Junhui. He lost that opening frame, but didn't he bounce-back? That was
:26:17. > :26:18.
:26:18. > :26:28.a rig the doesn't break of 131, and they are all square. -- a
:26:28. > :26:38.
:26:38. > :26:42.Isn't it amazing what can be in your eye line in snooker? He can
:26:42. > :26:48.spot a little red or something - and it caught his eye. It is quite
:26:48. > :26:58.slippy, this carpet. There was a shot that Graeme Dott played and he
:26:58. > :27:01.
:27:01. > :27:10.was stretching and he took off his That was well played. If he can
:27:10. > :27:15.pull this off, Stephen, he can get himself a chance. Yes, a matter of
:27:15. > :27:25.stunning over for the black to the same pocket here. If he can get
:27:25. > :27:32.
:27:32. > :27:42.somewhere near the line towards the Just overran it rationally. --
:27:42. > :27:55.
:27:55. > :28:05.He took a slight risk there. He is unlucky he has gone slightly past
:28:05. > :28:15.
:28:15. > :28:20.this red. That is a little bit I think he wanted to make sure he
:28:20. > :28:30.didn't miss the black. He missed a black in the previous frame and sat
:28:30. > :28:43.
:28:43. > :28:51.down whilst Ding Junhui clear up Ding will probably play a safety
:28:51. > :28:56.shot off three cushions in behind the green, here. He didn't get
:28:56. > :29:04.enough side and bottom on the cue ball. That is why he has collided
:29:04. > :29:14.with the blue. There was another chance for Alan. Needs to play this
:29:14. > :29:18.
:29:18. > :29:25.with a touch of right hand side to Yes, he got the side on and he got
:29:25. > :29:29.the pot on this time. It makes it for the five times more difficult
:29:29. > :29:34.when you play it with lots of side, because you have to judge the
:29:34. > :29:44.angles, not just sighting on the normal position on the object ball,
:29:44. > :29:44.
:29:44. > :30:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:30:44. > :30:54.you have got to allow for that site. advantage now at this time in reply
:30:54. > :30:54.
:30:54. > :32:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:32:09. > :32:16.frames from to put any pressure on the number of players back using
:32:16. > :32:23.1-piece queues. Alan has a 1-piece cue there. You used a 1-piece. Andy
:32:23. > :32:27.Carter, all the rage was to peace queues. I was the first player in
:32:27. > :32:35.1975 to use a 2-piece cue. And then John Spencer won the first world
:32:35. > :32:39.Championship here at the Crucible with a 2-piece cue. Had them just
:32:39. > :32:42.purely for travelling, they were much easier to travel with. Now you
:32:43. > :32:52.are not allowed to take them on the aircraft. So it doesn't really
:32:53. > :33:05.
:33:05. > :33:12.matter whether it is a 2-piece or a aircraft. By one four titles and
:33:12. > :33:16.smashed into pieces. Yes, after that happened I went to the 2-piece,
:33:16. > :33:23.purely for convenience. A lot of the top 16 that use one pieces have
:33:23. > :33:29.always had them and are reluctant to change. Quick look at the
:33:29. > :33:37.scoreboard, 46 in front. If he takes the blue, Ding can only tie. If it
:33:37. > :33:43.takes the green, he has to get a cannon on one of the reds. The groom
:33:43. > :33:53.is a much easier part, but the blue will also take him into those two
:33:53. > :34:04.
:34:04. > :34:14.ringing somewhere in the Crucible. A very intimate theatre, the Crucible.
:34:14. > :34:14.
:34:14. > :34:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:34:58. > :35:03.it is for you, Stephen. How do they onto the two reds, so Ding can still
:35:03. > :35:09.tie at the moment. Are you a little bit surprised he did not play the
:35:09. > :35:19.cannon, Stephen? I think a lot of players would have played the
:35:19. > :35:22.cannon. I think Alan is a very deliberate player. He would know
:35:22. > :35:32.that the blue putting him 51 ahead would make it difficult for Ding to
:35:32. > :36:00.
:36:00. > :36:04.win the frame. Not wanting to take you need to be right in behind it.
:36:04. > :36:14.No, can't see enough of it. For a moment it looked as if he might
:36:14. > :36:16.
:36:16. > :36:26.if he plays it off, he can leave it on for the left corner so he needs
:36:26. > :36:37.
:36:37. > :36:47.to get the cue ball past the green Alan is not quite safe in this third
:36:47. > :36:55.
:36:55. > :37:01.that read safe on the cushion. But he was fourth to. This frame isn't
:37:01. > :37:11.over yet. Three reds, all near the black and off the table. Not
:37:11. > :37:27.
:37:27. > :37:32.difficult to get three reds and free see enough of the reds to get back
:37:32. > :37:42.down the table. You would not mind knocking the black safe here, if he
:37:42. > :38:21.
:38:21. > :38:27.watch the middle pocket with the cue ball here. A little bit of side
:38:27. > :38:32.before he got the middle pocket. It was one of those situations,
:38:32. > :38:41.Stephen, if he parts of the red he is still in good shape. A foul would
:38:41. > :38:51.not have cost him. But it is a good response from Alan McManus, here. He
:38:51. > :38:58.
:38:58. > :39:02.made one mistake in the last frame, longer matches and little mini
:39:02. > :39:09.sessions and four frames before the midsession interval. Alan knows he
:39:09. > :39:19.will not be behind going into that interval. If he can go in 3-1 in
:39:19. > :39:19.
:39:19. > :40:29.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:40:29. > :40:39.front, I think you will be well McManus, there. He has not quite hit
:40:39. > :40:57.
:40:57. > :41:04.himself at the Crucible this morning. Trying another little trick
:41:04. > :41:14.shot, didn't quite follow off. A good start from the Scott with
:41:14. > :41:31.
:41:31. > :41:37.breaks of 46 and 40 getting him into near hard enough. He has left a long
:41:37. > :41:44.read for Ding. Let's see if losing that last frame has knocked Ding out
:41:44. > :41:52.of his stride. He has an angle to stun this in. And go around the back
:41:52. > :42:02.of the black. This won't be a shot to nothing, playing for the black
:42:02. > :42:02.
:42:02. > :42:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:42:58. > :43:08.already and Alan McManus is in the onto the two reds at the back of the
:43:08. > :43:31.
:43:31. > :43:36.the side of the bunch here. He has plenty of loose reds, but he could
:43:36. > :43:42.open the game out. It does not want to go into the back of those reds,
:43:42. > :43:47.but he stunned into it, he would really open things up. Or even into
:43:47. > :43:50.the back of them, he might just have gone to the middle. Thought he would
:43:50. > :43:57.have played more of a stunt shot into the left side of the bunch,
:43:57. > :44:02.Stephen. Yeah, I think he was expecting to be on the red just
:44:02. > :44:12.below it in the right corner. It would have been easier and the way
:44:12. > :44:16.you said it, Dennis. Still, it is through to the right centre.
:44:16. > :44:20.this time, playing with side caused him to miss the pot. He was playing
:44:20. > :44:25.that with left-hand side to get the right angle on the blue. You can see
:44:25. > :44:35.him just to the left of the cue ball. That is a bad mistake from
:44:35. > :45:05.
:45:05. > :45:10.Alan. Now can he get on the black of times, but there is a lot of
:45:10. > :45:16.pressure on Ding to try and lift this world title. He has been the UK
:45:16. > :45:26.champion, but everyone in China would love him to be the very first
:45:26. > :45:38.
:45:38. > :45:44.of time in China and they adore sporting heroes. If Ding was to
:45:44. > :45:54.become world champion, he is already huge in China, but he would be
:45:54. > :45:57.
:45:57. > :46:00.come back the day before, from China, before you played in the
:46:00. > :46:10.world Championship and you thought you would be a bit rusty and you
:46:10. > :46:16.
:46:16. > :46:26.went out on a maximum break. Then style, making a maximum break at the
:46:26. > :46:40.
:46:40. > :46:50.shot he has played. He can still pops the red to the left corner, but
:46:50. > :46:56.
:46:56. > :47:01.he will hope to be in the black missed that for a minute.
:47:01. > :47:11.If he had hit it harder, it would not have gone in. It is going to the
:47:11. > :47:15.
:47:15. > :47:25.right of the pocket. I, like you, intended having the bridge over the
:47:25. > :47:35.
:47:35. > :47:45.going to be more difficult, he is the wrong side of the blue so he
:47:45. > :47:47.
:47:47. > :47:51.needs another good shots to get back natural angle would have taken him
:47:51. > :47:59.into the yellow. A little touch of the right-hand side straight in the
:47:59. > :48:03.cue ball up. Clever shot, that. Played for a choice of two reds to
:48:03. > :48:13.either corner pocket. If the pink goes, it will still be the white for
:48:13. > :48:30.
:48:30. > :48:33.to say maybe I did not quite cite it correctly. Alan is a pretty good
:48:33. > :48:43.player at doubles and he might take a double on here and get himself
:48:43. > :49:18.
:49:18. > :49:22.nasty little shots, aren't they? You are frightened that you don't reach
:49:22. > :49:26.and venue leave a free ball and put yourself in all sorts of trouble.
:49:27. > :49:30.Just wondering if he can see enough of this to screw back behind the
:49:30. > :49:40.black. I don't know if he can see enough of it to take the popcorn. He
:49:40. > :49:40.
:49:40. > :50:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:50:33. > :50:43.pink. He will have to play for the red, and then the white and the
:50:43. > :50:47.blue. The only problem, when he pot the red, if you was to leave himself
:50:47. > :50:57.with the blue and the kinks in the way and can then enter the four
:50:57. > :51:05.
:51:05. > :51:11.reds. He may have to change his plan pink? Can he roll it in with a bit
:51:11. > :51:21.of top spin and bring the reds into play? Just about OK, I think. I
:51:21. > :51:22.
:51:22. > :52:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:52:08. > :52:18.don't think he will slip past the had a 47 break in the opening frame
:52:18. > :52:29.
:52:29. > :52:39.and then that last frame had 46 and just a quick glance at the
:52:39. > :52:39.
:52:39. > :53:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:53:44. > :53:54.Alan playing this snooker in from behind the black. He hit it too hard
:53:54. > :54:13.
:54:13. > :54:23.missing a part, but when you play a shot like talented, it is
:54:23. > :54:28.
:54:28. > :54:38.snooker and Alan McManus, he will be delighted with the way he has
:54:38. > :54:38.
:54:38. > :55:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:55:18. > :55:24.played. We go to the midst -- an shots than that today. That was
:55:24. > :55:34.excellent. To be tight onto the baulk caution and get the cue ball
:55:34. > :55:39.
:55:39. > :55:49.back to the baulk cushion is great will leave a red to the middle. He
:55:49. > :55:53.
:55:53. > :56:02.is frightened of leaving a pot on, tight on this caution and he
:56:02. > :56:10.misjudged that badly. I think he got heavy contact. A big sign from Alan.
:56:10. > :56:20.The cue ball made contact with the object all. Just killed the pace and
:56:20. > :56:40.
:56:40. > :56:44.just had his hand up there. He would going to be here? The frame before
:56:44. > :56:48.the midsession interval, Alan played to roll up to the black, hit it a
:56:48. > :56:53.bit too hard and it cost him the frame. Wonder how much that Kate
:56:53. > :56:57.will cost him here? He would like to play for the red right next to the
:56:57. > :57:07.pink here, to clear the pink spot and play for that read into the
:57:07. > :57:07.
:57:07. > :57:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:57:55. > :58:00.top of the cue ball there to give himself top spin. Hitting the ball,
:58:00. > :58:04.if he had used the cue ball as a clock face, he is striking at 12
:58:04. > :58:14.o'clock to create the top spin. It will screw back if he hit it at six
:58:14. > :58:43.
:58:43. > :58:53.show you what happened. Strike above centre and watch, it stops and
:58:53. > :59:19.
:59:19. > :59:22.follows through. You can see the it is a bit easier to break from the
:59:22. > :59:32.pink because you have four pockets to play for rather than to with the
:59:32. > :59:36.black ball. Positional play is very comfortable. I will be very
:59:36. > :59:43.surprised if Ding does not win the frame at this visit. Just a series
:59:43. > :59:49.of stands and screws and follows through. The reds are covering each
:59:49. > :59:59.other so they will have to go to each corner pocket. Almost like a
:59:59. > :00:03.
:00:03. > :00:13.are awful lot of years of hard practice going to perfecting all of
:00:13. > :00:18.
:00:18. > :00:23.those little stone and screws shot path for another read. He is just
:00:23. > :00:33.making sure that the red to the left of the two is available into the
:00:33. > :00:47.
:00:47. > :00:54.left corner. He will be clearing the a bit like the old traditional
:00:54. > :01:01.stamps. The great Joe Davis who was 20 times world champion. Still a
:01:01. > :01:11.little bit like this. One foot slightly ahead of the other. Some of
:01:11. > :01:20.
:01:20. > :01:24.the modern-day players are a bit Anybody who has just cued into the
:01:24. > :01:34.snooker this morning at sees Ding Junhui wearing the black armband,
:01:34. > :01:34.
:01:34. > :01:44.it is because of the earthquake in China. There was no music played as
:01:44. > :01:44.
:01:44. > :01:51.the Chinese players into the arena, as a mark of respect. -- entered
:01:51. > :02:01.the arena. Getting a little more difficult low as he approaches the
:02:01. > :02:05.
:02:05. > :02:08.Looking to play the cannon off the side cushion to the red for this
:02:08. > :02:17.away from the pocket, if he can force the angle. It is very
:02:17. > :02:23.straight. We used very lively cloths, you can create an angle. It
:02:23. > :02:33.was very difficult to do that with the old, figure cloths. Almost
:02:33. > :02:38.straight, just watch the cue ball. He tried a shot you mention than
:02:39. > :02:42.almost pulled it off. He just try to flick that red away, but now he
:02:42. > :02:46.has cannoned that one he might be able to pot the one to the right of
:02:47. > :02:56.the black. He would have to play it with a touch of side but he would
:02:57. > :03:05.
:03:05. > :03:09.be on the pink if he could make the Because of the swear, I could not
:03:09. > :03:19.put as much power on the cue ball as he would like to get back into
:03:19. > :03:33.
:03:33. > :03:38.Is he in the pocket? No. He is 60 in front with a possible 67 on the
:03:38. > :03:48.table. He would have liked to have won the frame at this visit, but he
:03:48. > :03:51.
:03:51. > :03:58.will have to wait for another I wonder if he will try at the
:03:58. > :04:04.plant - he only needs to one red. He has looked at it and seems to
:04:04. > :04:08.have forgotten about it, and is backed looking at it again. Can't
:04:08. > :04:16.quite see enough of the one that is nearest the pocket to Cup it in. He
:04:16. > :04:26.doesn't want to bring the black into play too much. The black is
:04:26. > :04:29.
:04:29. > :04:39.Very good effort. Her the high standard continues in this first
:04:39. > :04:40.
:04:40. > :04:50.Alan McManus, far from out of this frame, certainly with the black
:04:50. > :04:59.
:04:59. > :05:02.That is a clever shot. Purposely played to hit the red full ball.
:05:02. > :05:12.The snooker with double-kiss the red and take the white back up the
:05:12. > :05:23.
:05:23. > :05:33.table. It is a shot you do not see The chance of a red going near the
:05:33. > :05:33.
:05:33. > :05:43.left corner here, leaving the plant on. The contact for Roux than I
:05:43. > :05:52.
:05:52. > :05:56.expected, and he has played a good That was a short work you do not
:05:56. > :06:06.see played often - very clever. -- that was a short whack you do not
:06:06. > :06:11.
:06:11. > :06:21.He has done it again. This time it has not worked. That has cost him
:06:21. > :06:33.
:06:33. > :06:42.the frame, that one. He hit it too He was coming across that the
:06:42. > :06:52.second time at war with angle, that is what made it more difficult. --
:06:52. > :07:29.
:07:29. > :07:39.It has been pretty fluent stuff, hasn't been a lot of tactical play,
:07:39. > :07:39.
:07:39. > :08:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:08:27. > :08:31.It doesn't matter about the yellow, it was the Maestro to wipe break of
:08:31. > :08:41.61 that paved the way for Ding Junhui to get himself into the lead.
:08:41. > :09:04.
:09:04. > :09:09.Again, not the best of break offs He would expect to get these.
:09:09. > :09:19.has the angle he can take if he pots the red, he can miss the black
:09:19. > :09:43.
:09:43. > :09:53.8 foot 6 is the distance. He is boat to get that, because it is the
:09:53. > :09:59.
:09:59. > :10:09.Chinese lucky number. -- bound to Anything over six feet is classed
:10:09. > :10:40.
:10:40. > :10:43.My favourite distance is about 18 If he plays to the black to the
:10:43. > :10:53.right, and then gets on the red to the left of the black, he has the
:10:53. > :11:03.
:11:03. > :11:10.black to baulk pocket. -- to both Those two reds between the pack and
:11:10. > :11:20.black are making it a little bit awkward. He decided just to get
:11:20. > :11:27.
:11:28. > :11:37.this red out of the way to the left No prizes for guessing what he will
:11:38. > :11:44.
:11:44. > :11:54.do here, though. He plays the shot I bet he has watched you play this
:11:54. > :11:56.
:11:56. > :12:04.shot many times on DVD. He might just be OK, able to sneak the right
:12:04. > :12:11.into the centre pocket. He did not get the quintet -- the contact he
:12:11. > :12:16.expected. The natural angle looks like it will take him into the blue.
:12:16. > :12:26.If he plays this clean ball, but he is playing it would stung, to avoid
:12:26. > :12:27.
:12:27. > :12:37.that. -- with stun. If he misses the yellow, he is OK. Good recovery
:12:37. > :12:48.
:12:48. > :12:58.I tell you what, there are very few mistakes in the match. Even Alan
:12:58. > :13:00.
:13:00. > :13:10.McManus has made very few mistakes. He's safety department has cost him,
:13:10. > :13:16.but he's not missing much. Yes, it has been no a very high standard.
:13:16. > :13:21.Pot success rate of 92%, that is very good, especially the first
:13:21. > :13:26.round. The top players tend to get better as the tournament goes on.
:13:26. > :13:36.It is all about the result in the first round. If you play well, it
:13:36. > :13:39.
:13:39. > :13:49.is a bonus. Win it is best of 25 frames, that is when the Crucible
:13:49. > :13:55.
:13:55. > :14:05.When you get to the single table, that is when the real business
:14:05. > :14:10.
:14:10. > :14:18.starts. It is one of an angle than he would like. -- will of an angle
:14:18. > :14:28.-- more of an angle. He can and do well red, there, that is why he has
:14:28. > :14:29.
:14:29. > :14:39.lost the cue ball a little bit. -- he can end the roll a rig. -- he
:14:39. > :14:43.
:14:43. > :14:47.cannoned the wrong red. If he hadn't cannoned that red you
:14:47. > :14:57.mentioned he would be in a good position to clinch the frame. It is
:14:57. > :15:14.
:15:14. > :15:19.quite a thin one. Well played. I think he's OK. He has an angle to
:15:19. > :15:29.pot the green and come back across the table, a natural angle and on
:15:29. > :15:32.
:15:32. > :15:42.for a red. Anywhere near that line, he has a choice of three or four
:15:42. > :15:56.
:15:56. > :16:06.reds. Nicely played. Warning signs for Alan McManus. Ding started
:16:06. > :16:07.
:16:07. > :16:17.looking very impressive. When he gets on a roll he takes some
:16:17. > :16:17.
:16:17. > :16:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:16:58. > :17:08.stopping. He was slipping slightly Looking odds on that Ding is going
:17:08. > :17:29.
:17:29. > :17:32.to make his second century of this session. He's made 51 centuries
:17:32. > :17:42.this season before the World Championship started. He's already
:17:42. > :17:42.
:17:42. > :18:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:18:23. > :18:31.made that 131. Eight centuries so He reminds me of somebody. Somebody
:18:31. > :18:41.who has made over 750 centuries, Stephen Hendry, still well out in
:18:41. > :18:44.
:18:44. > :18:54.Ding Junhui has made 295 centuries in his ten-year career. I out there
:18:54. > :19:19.
:19:19. > :19:29.Day four at the Crucible. And Ding looks as impressive as anyone.
:19:29. > :19:35.
:19:35. > :19:45.Ricky Walden looked good and had that 140 break but Ding looks, as
:19:45. > :19:49.
:19:49. > :19:59.they say in Lancashire, in fine fettle! 141 and frame too. And he
:19:59. > :20:18.
:20:18. > :20:27.goes into a two frame lead. 4-2 to He's good at the angles but he'll
:20:27. > :20:37.have to get this one right. He certainly knows his way around the
:20:37. > :20:39.
:20:39. > :20:46.table. He certainly took a risk. It wasn't too difficult to go into the
:20:46. > :20:54.bunch, dead weight. But his angles are as good as anyone that's ever
:20:54. > :21:02.been, I think. That two-cushion escape short, the first person I
:21:02. > :21:12.ever saw playing that was Cliff Thorburn, when he came over to the
:21:12. > :21:14.
:21:14. > :21:24.UK, all time a go, 1973. -- a little time ago. My first ever
:21:24. > :21:43.
:21:43. > :21:53.Worried about coming down this left side. He could cannon the red to
:21:53. > :22:02.
:22:02. > :22:10.the left of the bunch on his way back down. This is a clever shot,
:22:10. > :22:20.off this red to hit two cushions to get back to baulk. Is the yellow
:22:20. > :22:22.
:22:22. > :22:32.going to come to his rescue? Well, it hasn't. He hit that thinner than
:22:32. > :22:55.
:22:55. > :23:04.he intended. Had he hit it thicker, Looking to play the cannon into the
:23:04. > :23:14.bunch of reds here from this black. Easy to get on to the two reds that
:23:14. > :23:25.
:23:25. > :23:35.He judged it pretty well. He is on that red to the left centre pocket.
:23:35. > :23:45.
:23:45. > :23:55.We will show you this again, lots Looking to drop onto the blue, into
:23:55. > :23:59.
:23:59. > :24:06.That is what he has split. -- he has played. He wants the blue back
:24:06. > :24:10.on its spot. I just one very he can drop onto that red to the right of
:24:10. > :24:20.the pink and black and leave it dead straight, leaving the black
:24:20. > :24:23.
:24:23. > :24:28.If he is dead straight on this, you just needs the white where the red
:24:28. > :24:34.is, and the black is on, and he is dead straight. He is going round to
:24:34. > :24:44.have a look. I'm not sure if the pink goes, but the black certainly
:24:44. > :25:06.
:25:06. > :25:10.He is close to what would have been his first target of the day,
:25:10. > :25:20.getting to fight frames, to ensure a lead going into the second
:25:20. > :25:21.
:25:21. > :25:31.session. -- five frames. Again, he didn't come high up enough on the
:25:31. > :26:04.
:26:04. > :26:11.He has lost the cue ball a little I think he thought he missed that
:26:11. > :26:18.when he first hit it, it went in- off the far jaw. It was just the
:26:18. > :26:23.pace that took it into the pocket. Alan McManus must be thinking, this
:26:23. > :26:29.is like the 90s, when I used to play Stephen Hendry. He is not
:26:29. > :26:35.doing a lot wrong but he's sitting watching his opponent clearing up.
:26:35. > :26:40.This is four frames in a row for Ding Junhui, from 2-1 down with two
:26:40. > :26:50.frame still to play in this session. For Alan to have any chance of
:26:50. > :27:02.
:27:02. > :27:12.winning this match, he needs to win Just the colour needed. To make it
:27:12. > :27:39.
:27:39. > :27:49.4 run the roll, as Stephen said. -- 129 to go 4-2 up, and 50 and
:27:49. > :28:09.
:28:09. > :28:14.That little kick there, it doesn't No pink, but that doesn't matter.
:28:14. > :28:24.It is another good display from Ding Junhui, and that break of 52
:28:24. > :28:39.
:28:39. > :28:49.Similar break off. To the previous one, as the match goes over the
:28:49. > :28:59.two-hour hour mark -- mark. This one is more difficult than one that
:28:59. > :29:02.
:29:02. > :29:08.he knocked in, in and earlier frame. Now, then. This is the first chance
:29:08. > :29:16.Alan McManus has had for quite sometime. Couldn't ask for a better
:29:16. > :29:26.opportunity. If he had potted the red he would not have cannoned the
:29:26. > :29:36.
:29:36. > :29:46.It is coming up for 18 minutes since Alan has potted a ball, so a
:29:46. > :29:46.
:29:46. > :29:53.bit of pressure on this visit. It is important that he scores heavily
:29:53. > :30:03.from here. Just a little knowledge is all that is needed here on that
:30:03. > :30:03.
:30:03. > :31:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:31:10. > :31:18.perfect angle, but it might be because he could have gone too much
:31:18. > :31:23.into it and played into the reds and got stuck in the back of them. He
:31:23. > :31:33.has been kept off the table for four frames. I don't blame him on that
:31:33. > :32:07.
:32:07. > :32:12.occasion for not going into the After this red. He can't hold for
:32:12. > :32:22.the blue, looking at that angle. Still a few loose reds available to
:32:22. > :32:23.
:32:23. > :32:33.him. Big target here, though. Straight into the gap between the
:32:33. > :32:37.
:32:37. > :32:42.pink and the two red that are Stephen mentioned the angle he has
:32:42. > :32:47.on the green. That would take him on to the reds. There are a few reds he
:32:47. > :32:57.could play on, but this looks to be the angle, so maybe he will take
:32:57. > :33:07.
:33:07. > :33:10.anticipated and he is left with a very difficult one. A little bit too
:33:11. > :33:20.much side, otherwise he would have gone into that gap and open them up.
:33:21. > :33:31.
:33:31. > :33:34.It is the sort of shot who would normally knock in, but under the
:33:34. > :33:40.circumstances, having lost four frames in a row, it was always going
:33:40. > :33:50.to be difficult, that. It was slightly fortunate that he
:33:50. > :33:55.
:33:55. > :34:05.missed it by so far that he didn't the right shot and did not get as
:34:05. > :34:21.
:34:21. > :34:31.good a result as he would have a cannon. A nice opener therefore
:34:31. > :34:37.
:34:37. > :34:47.been terrific down the years at potting balls in the centre pocket.
:34:47. > :34:53.
:34:53. > :35:02.You see the black disappear in the a pot into the middle pocket so far
:35:02. > :35:12.in this match. James Watson was fantastic and the parts into the
:35:12. > :35:16.
:35:16. > :35:25.intended. He wanted a full ball contact on the two reds and pinks.
:35:25. > :35:30.He just lost the cue ball slightly. The red still pot, but more
:35:30. > :35:40.difficult to control the cue ball. There is a gap they can play off the
:35:40. > :35:47.
:35:47. > :35:57.the red slightly above and to the right of the black. You would leave
:35:57. > :36:02.himself quite high. I don't think this one is on. He might cannon
:36:02. > :36:09.another red. He could not get enough action on it to go over the line,
:36:09. > :36:19.there. He has just played a plain ball, but he has found the gap.
:36:19. > :36:45.
:36:45. > :36:49.because of the way he is going to play at the pink here. He has
:36:49. > :36:59.dropped the pink deadweight into the left-centre and can in the two reds
:36:59. > :37:10.
:37:11. > :37:15.is having to work very hard. The pink is going to go near to its own
:37:15. > :37:25.spot directly behind it meaningfully can't take the red up into the right
:37:25. > :37:41.
:37:41. > :37:51.corner. The pink is blocking it. has cannon and the red and is having
:37:51. > :38:04.
:38:04. > :38:14.to work so hard for these at the missed the blue by. What happened
:38:14. > :38:16.
:38:16. > :38:26.there? Let's have a look at the cue going through. Well, he is just
:38:26. > :38:35.
:38:35. > :38:41.indicating that he did not push the pots today. That was a shocker,
:38:41. > :38:51.wasn't it for Ding. Certainly the worst one he has hit
:38:51. > :39:17.
:39:17. > :39:27.the blue finished up there? How has it got between those two reds?
:39:27. > :39:32.
:39:32. > :39:37.Amazing. If this red goes next to red looks very close to being a plan
:39:37. > :39:47.to the left corner. If you pots the two open reds, he may be able to
:39:47. > :40:05.
:40:05. > :40:11.play one red onto the blue to pot that you mentioned. He still has to
:40:11. > :40:14.negotiate this pink and screw across the loose red or that possible
:40:14. > :40:24.through ball plant. I think the three ball plant would be on if the
:40:24. > :40:34.red was nearer the cushion there. What, is he 23 in front? Plus the
:40:34. > :40:42.
:40:42. > :40:47.six, 29 so he will need two of those the corner. Get himself nicely on
:40:47. > :40:57.pink or black. The only ball he could leave is the one he is having
:40:57. > :41:13.
:41:13. > :41:16.through ball plant that Stephen mentioned. If he hits the first red
:41:16. > :41:26.onto the cushion and then hit the blue, as you see, he might possibly
:41:26. > :41:33.
:41:33. > :41:38.make it. It would be a nice little put Allen). He is coming round to
:41:38. > :41:45.make absolutely sure if he sends the first red onto the cushion and then
:41:45. > :41:49.hit the blue, will he make it? don't think he can see the red, but
:41:49. > :41:53.I was thinking he could have played that as a shock to nothing and
:41:53. > :42:00.doubled that red up and down the table onto the blue and left the cue
:42:00. > :42:10.ball in baulk. Looks like he is playing the tricky three ball plant.
:42:10. > :42:20.
:42:20. > :42:30.special. That took a little bit of judging. Trusting old eagle eyed
:42:30. > :42:32.
:42:32. > :42:37.Stephen Hendry to have spotted that the cushion first before hitting the
:42:37. > :42:41.blue to create the angle and make the plan. Excellent shot. He has
:42:41. > :42:45.lost the cue ball here though. He has gone too far and will have to go
:42:45. > :42:50.round the table to get on this last red.
:42:50. > :42:57.If he goes around the table, he has to negotiate the pink and the middle
:42:57. > :43:03.pocket. So he has got to give this one plenty of care and attention. He
:43:03. > :43:13.has got to hit quite a few cushions. One two, three and then he has to
:43:13. > :43:24.
:43:24. > :43:30.avoid the colours on the way round. The fact that he finished near the
:43:30. > :43:36.cushion makes this pot more difficult. This will hurt if he was
:43:36. > :43:40.to lose this frame, Stephen. I was just going to say that, Dennis. He
:43:40. > :43:50.will be very annoyed to let this frame slip after playing that great
:43:50. > :43:51.
:43:51. > :44:46.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:44:46. > :44:51.Ding, when the cue ball came round Good point Stephen, yeah. He had the
:44:51. > :45:01.chance to get back to 5-3. Ding was unlucky when he did not hit the
:45:01. > :45:21.
:45:21. > :45:25.be five in a row for Ding and a lot for Alan to think about.
:45:25. > :45:32.Still needs to negotiate this positional shot, but if he gets in
:45:32. > :45:39.the blue it will be frame over. If he is dead straight on the blue, he
:45:39. > :45:49.will be happy. He is dead straight, so he will have to screw back of the
:45:49. > :46:15.
:46:15. > :46:20.caution, just passed his hand and get back into friends behind, but
:46:20. > :46:30.that clearance has put Ding in a very strong position now. He leads
:46:30. > :46:51.
:46:51. > :47:00.much pace. He will bring a couple of reds into play if he just flicks one
:47:00. > :47:10.away. If you nudge is that out of the way, he will leave the other two
:47:10. > :47:10.
:47:10. > :47:56.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:47:56. > :48:01.available. Doesn't have to hammer not screwed the white back far
:48:01. > :48:11.enough, believe it or not. A little bit careless, so it is more
:48:11. > :48:28.
:48:28. > :48:38.difficult. This is a bit of a test good pot. He was disappointed with
:48:38. > :48:46.
:48:46. > :48:53.his positional shot, but right in got the classics done a runner
:48:53. > :49:03.through to leave the black, strike the white in the middle. He could
:49:03. > :49:21.
:49:21. > :49:26.table so a little bit of noise coming through. I think the players
:49:26. > :49:30.are used to, not only at the Crucible, but at the PDC events.
:49:30. > :49:36.Some of them have four or five tables all in one room with plenty
:49:36. > :49:42.of noise going on. Yeah, it is one of those things that if you are
:49:42. > :49:45.focused on your own game, you don't even notice it. The only time you
:49:45. > :49:55.notice other noises is when you are not focused on the job you are
:49:55. > :50:06.
:50:06. > :50:12.pack after this red. As a pack I would prefer to be higher on the
:50:12. > :50:16.black rather than low. He looked at the red at the back of
:50:16. > :50:21.the bunch to see if it would pot. Maybe he might be output to pot the
:50:21. > :50:26.black and then split the pack. If he doesn't, he will have to go into
:50:26. > :50:32.them this time, as you say. It is not bad, little more pace and he
:50:32. > :50:42.would have been perfect. They are all a little bit half and half here.
:50:42. > :51:00.
:51:00. > :51:06.Tricky cut back to the corner. one.
:51:06. > :51:15.I think he knew immediately. He knew as soon is he made contact with that
:51:15. > :51:25.but he had put it on the far jaw. I thought it was safe, but Ding
:51:25. > :51:42.
:51:42. > :51:52.blue on and leave the red to the left of the pink? I think you may
:51:52. > :52:11.
:52:11. > :52:21.do. He is 40 points behind. That is another one now. Difficult to play
:52:21. > :53:01.
:53:01. > :53:07.with the cue ball as close to the are red available into the left
:53:07. > :53:13.corner, if not, he will have to play a cannon. No use just cannoning the
:53:13. > :53:23.single red near the pink. He could do with catching the one at the back
:53:23. > :53:42.
:53:43. > :53:52.of that little group of four reds. rescue here, the one near the
:53:53. > :54:01.
:54:01. > :54:05.cushion. But that could easily be safe just yet. He has an angle now
:54:05. > :54:12.to pot base and bring it into play, but he wouldn't want to risk it yet,
:54:12. > :54:18.I would feel. If he cannons the red ball, he would leave the cue ball on
:54:18. > :54:28.the side of the cushion. He might feel it is worth the risk, but he
:54:28. > :54:32.
:54:32. > :54:42.needs a half ball contact, that is left of the pink that he could lead
:54:42. > :55:05.
:55:05. > :55:15.himself on eventually and try and missing a comfortable lead into the
:55:15. > :55:47.
:55:47. > :55:57.right centre. He has a good chance himself on this red to the left of
:55:57. > :55:58.
:55:58. > :56:02.the pink with . He is just showing you where he would like to put the
:56:02. > :56:12.cue ball and then pot that and can then the other one out. You would
:56:12. > :56:16.
:56:16. > :56:26.think you would finish on pink or key shot coming up. If this works
:56:26. > :56:38.
:56:38. > :56:46.out. It would be six frames in a and red and bringing another red
:56:47. > :56:51.into play, he just did not catch it as he intended. He wanted a slightly
:56:51. > :57:01.fuller contact and he would have been perfect on pink. Tricky one to
:57:01. > :57:06.
:57:06. > :57:16.pot and a tricky one to hold for able to stay on the red. It is
:57:16. > :57:24.
:57:24. > :57:34.from Ding Junhui, it has to be said. 2-1 down and he has taken complete
:57:34. > :57:40.
:57:40. > :57:49.control of this match, Stephen. amongst the balls. Now just starting
:57:49. > :57:56.to run away from his opponent. He has done nothing to change my mind
:57:56. > :58:02.as one of my strongest fancies for this world championship.
:58:02. > :58:12.Yes, I think there might be one or two people in China thinking along
:58:12. > :58:12.
:58:12. > :58:20.your lines, Stephen. Wouldn't that be a story? Along Hardaway to win a
:58:20. > :58:30.world title here at the Crucible. 17 days, got off to a fabulous start.
:58:30. > :58:41.