:00:36. > :00:58.Hello and welcome to Snooker to Extra. We are live from The Crucible
:00:59. > :01:53.Theatre in Sheffield. 19 years ago Alan McManus beat John
:01:54. > :02:04.Higgins and we had the same referee. First chance goes to Alan McManus
:02:05. > :02:10.Alan McManus has been off the scene, as it were for the last three
:02:11. > :02:18.years. He has not been consistently in the top echelons. He needs to
:02:19. > :02:42.make a good start. He could have played for the black,
:02:43. > :02:53.but he knew where the pink was then decided to go for that. He has
:02:54. > :03:04.always had that little movement of his head, Alan McManus, hasn't he?
:03:05. > :03:07.He can still get onto the black that he will have to push through the
:03:08. > :03:45.red, it is not quite straight enough.
:03:46. > :03:52.There is not a lot of distance between the end of the table on the
:03:53. > :04:27.wall as you can see from that shop there. -- shot.
:04:28. > :05:03.Good plot. He needs to bounce. -- pot.
:05:04. > :05:22.It is the first frame, so there will still be a few nerves there. The
:05:23. > :05:30.legend of the game said that if you can play true to yourself and give
:05:31. > :06:05.yourself a chance the nerves will just go away. There is some awkward
:06:06. > :06:42.placement here. Good shot. Has hampered as he was hit couldn't have
:06:43. > :06:55.played it better. -- he. Alan McManus does not want to rough up
:06:56. > :08:12.the surface. Is purposely playing for the pink
:08:13. > :08:33.here. If this goes in, it is a chance for a frame win. This is
:08:34. > :08:48.going to be the first pressure pot he has played in this first frame
:08:49. > :09:02.here. You did not feel as though he had to hit the ball so hard on the
:09:03. > :09:13.pink. It has cost him. It made hitting that red more difficult than
:09:14. > :09:26.he would have liked. There are plenty of points on offer for John
:09:27. > :09:29.Higgins should he get the chance. John was always blessed with a
:09:30. > :10:00.wonderful temperament. A few times Alan McManus has looked
:10:01. > :10:11.as though he could have gone all the way in this World Championship
:10:12. > :10:24.Snooker tournament but he has had a fuse in the wilderness. -- you
:10:25. > :11:39.years. -- few. Who will do well to get back into
:11:40. > :11:48.this here. He might go for a pothead four pot. -- he might go for eight
:11:49. > :12:24.pot here. He just misses the yellow, and he
:12:25. > :12:32.did well to get into the position is in now.
:12:33. > :12:58.Just a fraction too hard. I'll bet he did not do that 19 years ago.
:12:59. > :13:11.That is a new one, the referee throwing the towel in. He was
:13:12. > :13:19.bending down to look at the shot and not that bottle of water over. Has
:13:20. > :13:37.reigned ever stopped play here John, ?
:13:38. > :13:56.Alan McManus has to keep focused here. Those look like expensive
:13:57. > :14:24.shoes, he would not want to get any water on those, Woody? -- would he.
:14:25. > :14:45.That was a good shot to catch it that thin.
:14:46. > :15:23.He has not had a go at putting a ball yet, has he? -- potting.
:15:24. > :15:51.I knew it would happen eventually. A John Higgins special. They think he
:15:52. > :16:15.has lost a bit of confidence knowing that he has changed his cue about
:16:16. > :16:22.three times recently. Just trying to nestle on this red that is just next
:16:23. > :16:32.to the pink, but he has hit the wrong red. I don't see why he is
:16:33. > :16:45.looking at playing another read, what about the red next to the
:16:46. > :16:54.black. He has not looked at this red yet has he, really? Surely this is
:16:55. > :17:26.the one if you can roll it in. Not a great deal of room there, but
:17:27. > :17:32.you can see that it is at least three or four inches off the
:17:33. > :18:04.cushion. He has just played for the pink in
:18:05. > :18:21.the middle but hit it terribly, did not measure that well at all. This
:18:22. > :18:36.is very tricky. But fair play to him he has sunk it. That is a good
:18:37. > :18:41.recovery, he will make sure he gets high on the pink this time I am
:18:42. > :19:09.sure. What is your opinion on why macro to
:19:10. > :19:39.has been off-colour the last couple of years -- John Higgins. The
:19:40. > :19:52.standard that is being set by the world champion at the moment has
:19:53. > :20:02.thrown many of the players off. You forget how good you are using too
:20:03. > :20:33.much about the standard that is being set. But as you say, if he is
:20:34. > :20:51.missing about with sticks then that is not a good sign. Looked dicey but
:20:52. > :21:07.he is well back the frame. They are all square. All of a sudden the
:21:08. > :21:08.yellow bounced off the cushion and that has flicked the white again,
:21:09. > :21:34.leaving a path. That is an excellent safety shot.
:21:35. > :21:35.Beautiful line and lovely length. A little bit of pressure on John
:21:36. > :22:34.Higgins this time. He will have to be a little careful
:22:35. > :22:47.with the red that is tight on the cushion their in playing this safety
:22:48. > :23:55.shot. I am surprised he took that on.
:23:56. > :24:00.There was a nice flick on the black, a chance to get the first
:24:01. > :24:35.frame now from Alan McManus. Overran that way about foot. -- by
:24:36. > :25:14.about a foot. Tight on the cushion, Orly can do is
:25:15. > :25:31.put the blue in. -- all he. He overcomes it. It always looked on
:25:32. > :26:13.the lower jaw, and that is where it stayed.
:26:14. > :26:18.He will be very disappointed if he loses in the first frame, he has had
:26:19. > :26:41.four chances in this first frame. What has happened there? He is not
:26:42. > :26:50.getting through the ball, you can only assume that his timing is just
:26:51. > :26:58.not there. He is not getting the amount of top spin that is required.
:26:59. > :27:06.There is an excellent chance to pinch this first frame. He will do
:27:07. > :27:25.well to pot the yellow if he goes for it.
:27:26. > :27:40.Well he did go for the yellow. He would have to know that if he did
:27:41. > :27:52.not get it in at that pace he would leave it in the jaws of the pocket.
:27:53. > :28:34.He could have played that is. -- better. The screen is tough.
:28:35. > :28:58.An excellent recovery. Where is the cue ball going? Unlucky. We have had
:28:59. > :29:10.a bit of everything in this frame. As you say, unlucky. Higgins
:29:11. > :29:24.deciding not to take that green on. It is still in the balance. Only two
:29:25. > :29:39.points in it. He just came around to have a look at the angle. You will
:29:40. > :29:46.want the green on the pink spot. The green has come away. John Higgins
:29:47. > :30:40.will want to take this on. This looks good. Not quite. It
:30:41. > :30:53.looked for all the world as if it was going to get in behind it. An
:30:54. > :31:02.easy safety shot. There is an edge. He will try and get in behind the
:31:03. > :31:16.cushion. He has missed it. That is a surprise. There have been a few
:31:17. > :31:21.misses. A few people have said that. I don't know why that is. That was a
:31:22. > :31:56.good adjustment. An excellent shot. That will be a
:31:57. > :32:01.big advantage for McManus in this match. He can compete with John
:32:02. > :32:47.Higgins in the tactical exchanges. needs green, brown and blue. He went
:32:48. > :33:13.for it. He is the favourite for it now, John Higgins.
:33:14. > :33:27.He needs a good angle on the ball. He needs the blue and the pink. The
:33:28. > :33:39.closer he can get to the pink, the better. He got good distance. That
:33:40. > :33:51.is excellent. He only needs the pink. He can just will return. --
:33:52. > :33:59.just roll it in. That could have gone either way. McManus will have
:34:00. > :34:16.been disappointed with the number of chances he has heart. -- had. John
:34:17. > :34:31.Higgins leads. He needed a few extra chances. He relied on McManus
:34:32. > :34:38.missing. There is the water being mopped up. Regular play with resume.
:34:39. > :35:02.-- will resume. I'm sure they will be happy with
:35:03. > :35:14.that. Just a fraction more and the blue would have been unmissable. It
:35:15. > :35:24.would have been straight. He wasn't expecting to miss it. He didn't do a
:35:25. > :35:44.lot with the cue ball. He goes to the right corner. He can play for
:35:45. > :35:56.the pink or the black. He would like to get rid of the red sooner rather
:35:57. > :36:16.than later. The one closest to the black. He will try to get it in the
:36:17. > :36:21.corner. You can't miss black there. Not at this level. A good chance is
:36:22. > :36:49.gone. You always rely a little bit on good
:36:50. > :37:05.fortune when you play this kind of shot. He will try to move the reds
:37:06. > :37:14.into play. He hasn't got the cue ball under control.
:37:15. > :37:28.There is another example. He needed to have the cue ball a further foot
:37:29. > :37:41.down the table. His timing is not fair. -- not there. There is tension
:37:42. > :37:54.in the arm. It is understandable, no matter how many times you have been
:37:55. > :38:27.there. Good recovery. A shot on the blue.
:38:28. > :38:50.That is always a danger. I will tell you why that happened. He pushed
:38:51. > :39:05.with his right. It is a good chance now for McManus, with the way he
:39:06. > :39:18.opened the reds. That will help with the disappointment of the first
:39:19. > :39:43.frame. He went to the right, and that is why that happened.
:39:44. > :39:55.I would imagine that they would use the same cue ball that they have
:39:56. > :40:04.used all tournament. They have both missed shots. Maybe they are not
:40:05. > :40:15.timing it right. That was not the best. It goes without saying. You
:40:16. > :41:06.have to be good with the pace of the cue ball.
:41:07. > :41:15.A very good shot on the blue from McManus. He will be very
:41:16. > :41:18.disappointed if he doesn't get the chance to put the disappointment
:41:19. > :41:32.behind him of losing the first frame. He played that a few inches
:41:33. > :43:04.to the right. Neither player getting the right reaction.
:43:05. > :43:41.29 points in front. If these three reds are left in play, it will be
:43:42. > :43:50.enough to win. Who knows how he is going to carry on if he leaves the
:43:51. > :44:05.red on the table. He leaves that nicely on the table. He never used
:44:06. > :44:15.to miss. He got this but nicely, -- the split nicely, but not for
:44:16. > :44:31.himself. He played that nicely. The middle of the table on the pink.
:44:32. > :45:13.It is very important for McManus to win this frame. He had several
:45:14. > :45:21.chances to win the open. -- opener. He will be sitting in his chair now
:45:22. > :45:36.thinking about it. He would have been kicking himself. It is a great
:45:37. > :45:44.venue here. He seems to have been playing at a quicker pace than I
:45:45. > :46:04.have seen him play in quite some time. He played a trick shot. A nice
:46:05. > :46:08.break for McManus. He has proved he is a great player. He has levelled
:46:09. > :46:43.the scores at 1-1. Is this the time when he comes to
:46:44. > :46:48.life? So far, he has not been the Higgins that we expect. He might try
:46:49. > :47:08.to steal a friend here. -- a frame. McManus will be feeling
:47:09. > :47:21.uncomfortable. He knows he has dominated this session. I really
:47:22. > :47:32.mean dominated. Higgins has now got every chance of levelling. He has a
:47:33. > :47:46.nice angle on the red. The blacks should be no problem.
:47:47. > :48:02.Better in the long-pot department. He has had success. This is not
:48:03. > :48:10.nice. This is not nice at all. He is close to read and just off the
:48:11. > :48:20.cushion. -- red. Definitely missable. That is not in. He has
:48:21. > :48:39.tried to get the cover with the black. He was a few inches to close.
:48:40. > :48:51.-- too close. It could have been easier. Nicely on the green. He
:48:52. > :49:01.needs positive thoughts. He can't think about all the things that he
:49:02. > :49:11.could have done. He should relax during the interval. He knows he has
:49:12. > :49:19.done the job. From what we have seen of Higgins so far, he does not look
:49:20. > :49:32.at ease with himself. He needs the brown to make sure. I have been
:49:33. > :49:42.pretty impressed with McManus. He has had a couple of poor safeties.
:49:43. > :49:52.Our part from that, he has looked pretty good. -- apart from. It
:49:53. > :50:07.hasn't been the highest standard in the first four frames, but McManus
:50:08. > :50:22.has looked better. A very poor session from Higgins. The first
:50:23. > :50:54.three frames have been won by McManus.
:50:55. > :51:03.There are a couple of reds he would like to make contact with. He has to
:51:04. > :51:16.do it right. He is going around to have a look. That is the one. He has
:51:17. > :51:28.to get the pace right. He misjudged that. He completely hit the black.
:51:29. > :51:37.It is coming off the cushion more squarely than they think to expect.
:51:38. > :51:48.It usually slides off the first cushion.
:51:49. > :52:07.He is asking for it to be marked left a little. That is where it was.
:52:08. > :52:17.The black is further to the right. I don't think that helps Higgins. It
:52:18. > :53:33.is all about pace. He looks to adjust it perfectly. Well played.
:53:34. > :53:58.That was a good long pot. There you go. Nine foot one. What an important
:53:59. > :54:12.pot. He landed on the ground. No. No. This is amazing. He just keeps
:54:13. > :54:23.gifting chances to McManus. A nice angle with the cue ball. McManus is
:54:24. > :54:30.27 points in front. You feel as if he couldn't fail to win the frame.
:54:31. > :55:14.Higgins is getting worse. This will put him 41 points in
:55:15. > :55:21.front, with this black. He needs a couple of reds. Another frame
:55:22. > :55:45.advantage. 15. With this black and one more
:55:46. > :55:56.rate, -- red, it will be snookers required. It will be interesting to
:55:57. > :56:15.see how he plays with the cushion. It was his choice to play with the
:56:16. > :56:24.open players. He looks a little bit betwixt and between. Oh dear. First
:56:25. > :56:37.signs of crucible nerves coming in there. I didn't expect him to miss
:56:38. > :56:49.that. That was a frame ball. He still has it all to do, but at least
:56:50. > :56:55.he has a chance. Nothing will give Higgins more confident than seeing
:56:56. > :57:05.McManus miss a frame ball. -- confidence. A confident player would
:57:06. > :57:13.have been playing for the two reds behind the black spot. He is
:57:14. > :57:23.knocking it against the cushion. Earlier on, he was playing very
:57:24. > :57:27.confidently. He is trying to protect the lead, rather than getting a
:57:28. > :57:51.massive lead. That is a pretty good hit. One thing
:57:52. > :58:06.that John had to avoid that was leaving an easy chance of a pot. --
:58:07. > :58:13.avoid there. There was a chance of a read. -- red. He has done very well
:58:14. > :59:47.to keep it safe. He has missed it. He now needs a
:59:48. > :00:19.snooker. That is what he intended the first
:00:20. > :01:22.time. Where is the cue ball going? Oh.
:01:23. > :01:27.Well I think that will be a concession. John Higgins is
:01:28. > :01:48.immediately potting the ball is back on the table. Alan McManus now leads
:01:49. > :01:55.by four frames to one. John Higgins needs to win at least two of these
:01:56. > :02:06.last frames, obviously you would like to win a lot more but he just
:02:07. > :02:19.needs to get back in the game. It is amazing isn't it this game? When you
:02:20. > :02:23.are playing well you get the run, when you are struggling a little
:02:24. > :03:42.bit, everything seems to go against your. -- you.
:03:43. > :04:09.If this ping goes back into its own spot it could tie a couple of red
:04:10. > :04:48.balls up. -- pink. He is quite content to just pick off
:04:49. > :05:06.the loose ones. It has nestled on the road to stop him getting that
:05:07. > :05:32.read just below the pink. -- read read Mac.
:05:33. > :06:27.Now he has just got to judge the Canon here. He misjudged it. It is
:06:28. > :06:34.amazing how many times you can overheat that shot. It just got into
:06:35. > :06:50.the red a bit too much. He is making it tough for John
:06:51. > :06:56.Higgins at the moment, just chipping away at what is there. He is playing
:06:57. > :07:42.safe, keeping the pressure on. If Alan McManus can get to the pot
:07:43. > :07:54.than that is a very poor safety shot from John Higgins. Alan McManus
:07:55. > :08:06.finding the top cushion with regularity now. 92% safety success.
:08:07. > :08:26.That is good. He should have noticed that. It
:08:27. > :08:32.looked as though it was pretty obvious the pink was going to go in.
:08:33. > :09:08.If he hit the red to fall, which he did. -- too full. Alan McManus did
:09:09. > :09:13.not fancy bridging over the yellow. There is a red in the middle of the
:09:14. > :09:17.table, but the blue may have come to his rescue. If he can get through to
:09:18. > :09:49.it. Another terrific pot. Particularly
:09:50. > :10:10.when you are playing those with pace, you need to be so accurate.
:10:11. > :10:28.The red to the left of the pink won't be available. Playing for this
:10:29. > :10:32.one that is near the top cushion. The one at the bottom of the
:10:33. > :10:46.cluster, can he get enough of that one? If he can he can play for the
:10:47. > :10:55.black in the opposite corner. Well once again, we have seen him do that
:10:56. > :11:11.before. He has sort of stopped the pot, but not on the colour.
:11:12. > :11:29.Not giving John Higgins a sniff at the moment. That is the first good
:11:30. > :12:06.safety he has played for quite sometime.
:12:07. > :12:18.When you are playing at 46 points in front, would you be playing that
:12:19. > :12:47.safety? I would not think so. There is a tough red to the left
:12:48. > :13:17.middle, but if Enoch City End it could a frame winner. -- knocks it
:13:18. > :13:19.in. Here is a chance for John Higgins to try and get ack in this
:13:20. > :13:52.frame. -- back. This is not good. I think that is
:13:53. > :14:06.just an example of how bad he is cueing today. You can forgive him
:14:07. > :14:21.for slightly over running but you cannot forgive him from where the
:14:22. > :14:24.cue ball has ended up. Another good chance and all it could get him his
:14:25. > :16:13.four points. -- is. That is a good pot from Alan
:16:14. > :16:29.McManus, every chance now to lead five to one. We did not see this
:16:30. > :17:07.result coming like this. Permit well if he hadn't picked it
:17:08. > :17:09.up and placed in his hand he couldn't have had it in a better
:17:10. > :18:33.position than that. Higgins, his highest break today
:18:34. > :18:40.being 35. He will attempt for a frame ball, but obviously John
:18:41. > :19:04.Higgins will continue this Alan McManus misses this red. While the
:19:05. > :19:26.red has not been potted but it should be more than enough to get
:19:27. > :19:32.Alan McManus another frame. John Higgins obviously knows he needs to
:19:33. > :19:42.up his game but he must know that if he continues to get these chances he
:19:43. > :19:48.will have to start converting them. He is looking for things to go wrong
:19:49. > :20:01.at the moment. That is a good starter though. That is an excellent
:20:02. > :20:03.starter. He is on the edge of a cliff and he is only hanging on at
:20:04. > :20:37.the moment. He wanted to be straight on this
:20:38. > :21:16.red. After this red terra couple of raids
:21:17. > :21:45.on the right-hand side of the table. -- there are a couple of raids. He
:21:46. > :22:01.decided to go into them and that has worked out absolutely perfect. Just
:22:02. > :22:05.got through that too much, that is always the problem when you play the
:22:06. > :22:16.run through. Just a little bit too much topspin. This is dangerous
:22:17. > :22:32.isn't it? I don't think he can avoid the kiss on the red. He has gone
:22:33. > :22:42.all-out for it. Well played. That was an excellent shot. It has to be
:22:43. > :22:51.said, one of the few excellent shots he has played in this match. Well
:22:52. > :23:29.done. His highest break of the match so far.
:23:30. > :23:40.John Higgins is obviously a world-class player but you can just
:23:41. > :23:53.never imagined things like that happening.
:23:54. > :24:05.That time he just did not get through the ball. He is just not
:24:06. > :24:14.timing the ball. It looked for a moment, as though he was going to
:24:15. > :24:22.get his act together. This would hurt if he lost this frame. There is
:24:23. > :25:27.every chance he could play for the black year as well. -- here.
:25:28. > :25:34.Very good shot. He has some sort of angle on the black, he may be able
:25:35. > :26:19.to sort of, no gin one of these two reds. -- note which in.
:26:20. > :26:50.He has disturbed all four of the red balls.
:26:51. > :27:07.You would have to say, from where the balls are, it would probably be
:27:08. > :27:19.Alan McManus in this frame. You have to allow for the throw. It is so
:27:20. > :27:28.close it could go to the left. Well played. More difficult than it
:27:29. > :27:53.looked. There are two red balls on either
:27:54. > :27:55.side of the table, you would think they are the only problems for
:27:56. > :28:34.Alan. When that pink is on its spot, it
:28:35. > :28:50.gives him options. He is 19 points behind. That would hurt. He has lost
:28:51. > :29:01.nearly every frame this session. He has to get a good angle on the
:29:02. > :29:12.black. He has to try to pot it in the middle. That flew off the
:29:13. > :29:25.cushion. That kind of ball can be hard to control. You have to play it
:29:26. > :29:40.with some drag. It is too hard for the blue. The brown ball is not too
:29:41. > :29:52.bad. I have had a quick look. The blue is just past the bank. -- pink.
:29:53. > :30:06.I don't think he would play for the red. He will be pushing the cue ball
:30:07. > :30:22.to the left-hand side of the table. He will try to make the cushion is
:30:23. > :30:30.here. -- cushion easier. This is a tough red.
:30:31. > :30:46.He struck that better. He finished on the pink. Absolutely perfect. The
:30:47. > :30:59.only thing that can go wrong here is a double kiss. I don't think he will
:31:00. > :31:11.play it directly. He has got it. He is the favourite now. Brilliant.
:31:12. > :31:25.Well played. He is two points in front. Higgins has a lock to think
:31:26. > :31:37.about. -- a lot. This is like the McManus of old. I can't remember him
:31:38. > :31:52.missing one easy won all match. -- one. He just has to mind his work
:31:53. > :32:00.now and he will be 6-1 in front. He has not played at his best, but that
:32:01. > :32:15.has not made it easier for John. It looks like it is a formality now. Up
:32:16. > :32:35.to and including the blue. He needs a miscue to stop him doing that.
:32:36. > :32:51.Higgins is on 49. He needs the black. A couple of them haven't been
:32:52. > :33:16.as important. That miss will hurt more. Very well down. He was 49
:33:17. > :33:34.points behind. McManus leads six frames to one. Higgins breaks off
:33:35. > :33:45.frame eight. Two more left. He has to get first Tuesday in touch. --
:33:46. > :34:10.get this to stay in touch. The match is slipping away.
:34:11. > :34:28.In the morning session, a play at was 5-1 behind. He won the last few
:34:29. > :34:39.to make it 5-4. I don't know if that can happen here. At this point, even
:34:40. > :34:55.the great John Higgins would struggle.
:34:56. > :35:14.Mm. One of the few times in this match that there has been a poor
:35:15. > :35:18.safety shot from McManus. Higgins has got to take these opportunities.
:35:19. > :35:42.There is no holding back now. Even that, he had to stop it
:35:43. > :35:54.virtually dead. The black shouldn't be a problem. The kiss on the red
:35:55. > :36:04.will be. He has taken that out of the equation. That was done nicely.
:36:05. > :36:17.You've got the impression that they was a frustration. -- there was an
:36:18. > :36:23.air of frustration. These two frames are so important. He has to believe
:36:24. > :36:33.he has got a chance in this second session. He might be better playing
:36:34. > :36:43.for a another colour. He might go for the blue. There is added
:36:44. > :36:52.pressure. They couldn't be better situated. Oh! I thought for one
:36:53. > :37:22.moment that he was a little bit wide.
:37:23. > :37:42.We would all love to see a 147. More often than that, when a player wins
:37:43. > :37:44.a 147, it is hard to get the next frame because you're on a high. It
:37:45. > :37:55.might be better to get another colour. He won't be thinking about.
:37:56. > :38:07.-- thinking that. He will want to make the frame safe. If he plays for
:38:08. > :38:22.the black, that will tell us if he has got a maximum score in mind. He
:38:23. > :38:36.has. Fair play. Every frame is so important to John. That is OK. A
:38:37. > :38:43.little flick into the middle. He has had to use the extended wrist. Easy
:38:44. > 1:31:47hadn't got that, he would have been on the