Day 3 World Championship Snooker Extra

Hello and welcome to Snooker to Extra. We are live from The Crucible

Theatre in Sheffield. 19 years ago Alan McManus beat John

Higgins and we had the same referee. First chance goes to Alan McManus

Alan McManus has been off the scene, as it were for the last three

years. He has not been consistently in the top echelons. He needs to

make a good start. He could have played for the black,

but he knew where the pink was then decided to go for that. He has

always had that little movement of his head, Alan McManus, hasn't he?

He can still get onto the black that he will have to push through the

red, it is not quite straight enough.

There is not a lot of distance between the end of the table on the

wall as you can see from that shop there. -- shot.

Good plot. He needs to bounce. -- pot.

It is the first frame, so there will still be a few nerves there. The

legend of the game said that if you can play true to yourself and give

yourself a chance the nerves will just go away. There is some awkward

placement here. Good shot. Has hampered as he was hit couldn't have

played it better. -- he. Alan McManus does not want to rough up

the surface. Is purposely playing for the pink

here. If this goes in, it is a chance for a frame win. This is

going to be the first pressure pot he has played in this first frame

here. You did not feel as though he had to hit the ball so hard on the

pink. It has cost him. It made hitting that red more difficult than

he would have liked. There are plenty of points on offer for John

Higgins should he get the chance. John was always blessed with a

wonderful temperament. A few times Alan McManus has looked

as though he could have gone all the way in this World Championship

Snooker tournament but he has had a fuse in the wilderness. -- you

years. -- few. Who will do well to get back into

this here. He might go for a pothead four pot. -- he might go for eight

pot here. He just misses the yellow, and he

did well to get into the position is in now.

Just a fraction too hard. I'll bet he did not do that 19 years ago.

That is a new one, the referee throwing the towel in. He was

bending down to look at the shot and not that bottle of water over. Has

reigned ever stopped play here John, ?

Alan McManus has to keep focused here. Those look like expensive

shoes, he would not want to get any water on those, Woody? -- would he.

That was a good shot to catch it that thin.

He has not had a go at putting a ball yet, has he? -- potting.

I knew it would happen eventually. A John Higgins special. They think he

has lost a bit of confidence knowing that he has changed his cue about

three times recently. Just trying to nestle on this red that is just next

to the pink, but he has hit the wrong red. I don't see why he is

looking at playing another read, what about the red next to the

black. He has not looked at this red yet has he, really? Surely this is

the one if you can roll it in. Not a great deal of room there, but

you can see that it is at least three or four inches off the

cushion. He has just played for the pink in

the middle but hit it terribly, did not measure that well at all. This

is very tricky. But fair play to him he has sunk it. That is a good

recovery, he will make sure he gets high on the pink this time I am

sure. What is your opinion on why macro to

has been off-colour the last couple of years -- John Higgins. The

standard that is being set by the world champion at the moment has

thrown many of the players off. You forget how good you are using too

much about the standard that is being set. But as you say, if he is

missing about with sticks then that is not a good sign. Looked dicey but

he is well back the frame. They are all square. All of a sudden the

yellow bounced off the cushion and that has flicked the white again,

leaving a path. That is an excellent safety shot.

Beautiful line and lovely length. A little bit of pressure on John

Higgins this time. He will have to be a little careful

with the red that is tight on the cushion their in playing this safety

shot. I am surprised he took that on.

There was a nice flick on the black, a chance to get the first

frame now from Alan McManus. Overran that way about foot. -- by

about a foot. Tight on the cushion, Orly can do is

put the blue in. -- all he. He overcomes it. It always looked on

the lower jaw, and that is where it stayed.

He will be very disappointed if he loses in the first frame, he has had

four chances in this first frame. What has happened there? He is not

getting through the ball, you can only assume that his timing is just

not there. He is not getting the amount of top spin that is required.

There is an excellent chance to pinch this first frame. He will do

well to pot the yellow if he goes for it.

Well he did go for the yellow. He would have to know that if he did

not get it in at that pace he would leave it in the jaws of the pocket.

He could have played that is. -- better. The screen is tough.

An excellent recovery. Where is the cue ball going? Unlucky. We have had

a bit of everything in this frame. As you say, unlucky. Higgins

deciding not to take that green on. It is still in the balance. Only two

points in it. He just came around to have a look at the angle. You will

want the green on the pink spot. The green has come away. John Higgins

will want to take this on. This looks good. Not quite. It

looked for all the world as if it was going to get in behind it. An

easy safety shot. There is an edge. He will try and get in behind the

cushion. He has missed it. That is a surprise. There have been a few

misses. A few people have said that. I don't know why that is. That was a

good adjustment. An excellent shot. That will be a

big advantage for McManus in this match. He can compete with John

Higgins in the tactical exchanges. needs green, brown and blue. He went

for it. He is the favourite for it now, John Higgins.

He needs a good angle on the ball. He needs the blue and the pink. The

closer he can get to the pink, the better. He got good distance. That

is excellent. He only needs the pink. He can just will return. --

just roll it in. That could have gone either way. McManus will have

been disappointed with the number of chances he has heart. -- had. John

Higgins leads. He needed a few extra chances. He relied on McManus

missing. There is the water being mopped up. Regular play with resume.

-- will resume. I'm sure they will be happy with

that. Just a fraction more and the blue would have been unmissable. It

would have been straight. He wasn't expecting to miss it. He didn't do a

lot with the cue ball. He goes to the right corner. He can play for

the pink or the black. He would like to get rid of the red sooner rather

than later. The one closest to the black. He will try to get it in the

corner. You can't miss black there. Not at this level. A good chance is

gone. You always rely a little bit on good

fortune when you play this kind of shot. He will try to move the reds

into play. He hasn't got the cue ball under control.

There is another example. He needed to have the cue ball a further foot

down the table. His timing is not fair. -- not there. There is tension

in the arm. It is understandable, no matter how many times you have been

there. Good recovery. A shot on the blue.

That is always a danger. I will tell you why that happened. He pushed

with his right. It is a good chance now for McManus, with the way he

opened the reds. That will help with the disappointment of the first

frame. He went to the right, and that is why that happened.

I would imagine that they would use the same cue ball that they have

used all tournament. They have both missed shots. Maybe they are not

timing it right. That was not the best. It goes without saying. You

have to be good with the pace of the cue ball.

A very good shot on the blue from McManus. He will be very

disappointed if he doesn't get the chance to put the disappointment

behind him of losing the first frame. He played that a few inches

to the right. Neither player getting the right reaction.

29 points in front. If these three reds are left in play, it will be

enough to win. Who knows how he is going to carry on if he leaves the

red on the table. He leaves that nicely on the table. He never used

to miss. He got this but nicely, -- the split nicely, but not for

himself. He played that nicely. The middle of the table on the pink.

It is very important for McManus to win this frame. He had several

chances to win the open. -- opener. He will be sitting in his chair now

thinking about it. He would have been kicking himself. It is a great

venue here. He seems to have been playing at a quicker pace than I

have seen him play in quite some time. He played a trick shot. A nice

break for McManus. He has proved he is a great player. He has levelled

the scores at 1-1. Is this the time when he comes to

life? So far, he has not been the Higgins that we expect. He might try

to steal a friend here. -- a frame. McManus will be feeling

uncomfortable. He knows he has dominated this session. I really

mean dominated. Higgins has now got every chance of levelling. He has a

nice angle on the red. The blacks should be no problem.

Better in the long-pot department. He has had success. This is not

nice. This is not nice at all. He is close to read and just off the

cushion. -- red. Definitely missable. That is not in. He has

tried to get the cover with the black. He was a few inches to close.

-- too close. It could have been easier. Nicely on the green. He

needs positive thoughts. He can't think about all the things that he

could have done. He should relax during the interval. He knows he has

done the job. From what we have seen of Higgins so far, he does not look

at ease with himself. He needs the brown to make sure. I have been

pretty impressed with McManus. He has had a couple of poor safeties.

Our part from that, he has looked pretty good. -- apart from. It

hasn't been the highest standard in the first four frames, but McManus

has looked better. A very poor session from Higgins. The first

three frames have been won by McManus.

There are a couple of reds he would like to make contact with. He has to

do it right. He is going around to have a look. That is the one. He has

to get the pace right. He misjudged that. He completely hit the black.

It is coming off the cushion more squarely than they think to expect.

It usually slides off the first cushion.

He is asking for it to be marked left a little. That is where it was.

The black is further to the right. I don't think that helps Higgins. It

is all about pace. He looks to adjust it perfectly. Well played.

That was a good long pot. There you go. Nine foot one. What an important

pot. He landed on the ground. No. No. This is amazing. He just keeps

gifting chances to McManus. A nice angle with the cue ball. McManus is

27 points in front. You feel as if he couldn't fail to win the frame.

Higgins is getting worse. This will put him 41 points in

front, with this black. He needs a couple of reds. Another frame

advantage. 15. With this black and one more

rate, -- red, it will be snookers required. It will be interesting to

see how he plays with the cushion. It was his choice to play with the

open players. He looks a little bit betwixt and between. Oh dear. First

signs of crucible nerves coming in there. I didn't expect him to miss

that. That was a frame ball. He still has it all to do, but at least

he has a chance. Nothing will give Higgins more confident than seeing

McManus miss a frame ball. -- confidence. A confident player would

have been playing for the two reds behind the black spot. He is

knocking it against the cushion. Earlier on, he was playing very

confidently. He is trying to protect the lead, rather than getting a

massive lead. That is a pretty good hit. One thing

that John had to avoid that was leaving an easy chance of a pot. --

avoid there. There was a chance of a read. -- red. He has done very well

to keep it safe. He has missed it. He now needs a

snooker. That is what he intended the first

time. Where is the cue ball going? Oh.

Well I think that will be a concession. John Higgins is

immediately potting the ball is back on the table. Alan McManus now leads

by four frames to one. John Higgins needs to win at least two of these

last frames, obviously you would like to win a lot more but he just

needs to get back in the game. It is amazing isn't it this game? When you

are playing well you get the run, when you are struggling a little

bit, everything seems to go against your. -- you.

If this ping goes back into its own spot it could tie a couple of red

balls up. -- pink. He is quite content to just pick off

the loose ones. It has nestled on the road to stop him getting that

read just below the pink. -- read read Mac.

Now he has just got to judge the Canon here. He misjudged it. It is

amazing how many times you can overheat that shot. It just got into

the red a bit too much. He is making it tough for John

Higgins at the moment, just chipping away at what is there. He is playing

safe, keeping the pressure on. If Alan McManus can get to the pot

than that is a very poor safety shot from John Higgins. Alan McManus

finding the top cushion with regularity now. 92% safety success.

That is good. He should have noticed that. It

looked as though it was pretty obvious the pink was going to go in.

If he hit the red to fall, which he did. -- too full. Alan McManus did

not fancy bridging over the yellow. There is a red in the middle of the

table, but the blue may have come to his rescue. If he can get through to

it. Another terrific pot. Particularly

when you are playing those with pace, you need to be so accurate.

The red to the left of the pink won't be available. Playing for this

one that is near the top cushion. The one at the bottom of the

cluster, can he get enough of that one? If he can he can play for the

black in the opposite corner. Well once again, we have seen him do that

before. He has sort of stopped the pot, but not on the colour.

Not giving John Higgins a sniff at the moment. That is the first good

safety he has played for quite sometime.

When you are playing at 46 points in front, would you be playing that

safety? I would not think so. There is a tough red to the left

middle, but if Enoch City End it could a frame winner. -- knocks it

in. Here is a chance for John Higgins to try and get ack in this

frame. -- back. This is not good. I think that is

just an example of how bad he is cueing today. You can forgive him

for slightly over running but you cannot forgive him from where the

cue ball has ended up. Another good chance and all it could get him his

four points. -- is. That is a good pot from Alan

McManus, every chance now to lead five to one. We did not see this

result coming like this. Permit well if he hadn't picked it

up and placed in his hand he couldn't have had it in a better

position than that. Higgins, his highest break today

being 35. He will attempt for a frame ball, but obviously John

Higgins will continue this Alan McManus misses this red. While the

red has not been potted but it should be more than enough to get

Alan McManus another frame. John Higgins obviously knows he needs to

up his game but he must know that if he continues to get these chances he

will have to start converting them. He is looking for things to go wrong

at the moment. That is a good starter though. That is an excellent

starter. He is on the edge of a cliff and he is only hanging on at

the moment. He wanted to be straight on this

red. After this red terra couple of raids

on the right-hand side of the table. -- there are a couple of raids. He

decided to go into them and that has worked out absolutely perfect. Just

got through that too much, that is always the problem when you play the

run through. Just a little bit too much topspin. This is dangerous

isn't it? I don't think he can avoid the kiss on the red. He has gone

all-out for it. Well played. That was an excellent shot. It has to be

said, one of the few excellent shots he has played in this match. Well

done. His highest break of the match so far.

John Higgins is obviously a world-class player but you can just

never imagined things like that happening.

That time he just did not get through the ball. He is just not

timing the ball. It looked for a moment, as though he was going to

get his act together. This would hurt if he lost this frame. There is

every chance he could play for the black year as well. -- here.

Very good shot. He has some sort of angle on the black, he may be able

to sort of, no gin one of these two reds. -- note which in.

He has disturbed all four of the red balls.

You would have to say, from where the balls are, it would probably be

Alan McManus in this frame. You have to allow for the throw. It is so

close it could go to the left. Well played. More difficult than it

looked. There are two red balls on either

side of the table, you would think they are the only problems for

Alan. When that pink is on its spot, it

gives him options. He is 19 points behind. That would hurt. He has lost

nearly every frame this session. He has to get a good angle on the

black. He has to try to pot it in the middle. That flew off the

cushion. That kind of ball can be hard to control. You have to play it

with some drag. It is too hard for the blue. The brown ball is not too

bad. I have had a quick look. The blue is just past the bank. -- pink.

I don't think he would play for the red. He will be pushing the cue ball

to the left-hand side of the table. He will try to make the cushion is

here. -- cushion easier. This is a tough red.

He struck that better. He finished on the pink. Absolutely perfect. The

only thing that can go wrong here is a double kiss. I don't think he will

play it directly. He has got it. He is the favourite now. Brilliant.

Well played. He is two points in front. Higgins has a lock to think

about. -- a lot. This is like the McManus of old. I can't remember him

missing one easy won all match. -- one. He just has to mind his work

now and he will be 6-1 in front. He has not played at his best, but that

has not made it easier for John. It looks like it is a formality now. Up

to and including the blue. He needs a miscue to stop him doing that.

Higgins is on 49. He needs the black. A couple of them haven't been

as important. That miss will hurt more. Very well down. He was 49

points behind. McManus leads six frames to one. Higgins breaks off

frame eight. Two more left. He has to get first Tuesday in touch. --

get this to stay in touch. The match is slipping away.

In the morning session, a play at was 5-1 behind. He won the last few

to make it 5-4. I don't know if that can happen here. At this point, even

the great John Higgins would struggle.

Mm. One of the few times in this match that there has been a poor

safety shot from McManus. Higgins has got to take these opportunities.

There is no holding back now. Even that, he had to stop it

virtually dead. The black shouldn't be a problem. The kiss on the red

will be. He has taken that out of the equation. That was done nicely.

You've got the impression that they was a frustration. -- there was an

air of frustration. These two frames are so important. He has to believe

he has got a chance in this second session. He might be better playing

for a another colour. He might go for the blue. There is added

pressure. They couldn't be better situated. Oh! I thought for one

moment that he was a little bit wide.

We would all love to see a 147. More often than that, when a player wins

a 147, it is hard to get the next frame because you're on a high. It

might be better to get another colour. He won't be thinking about.

-- thinking that. He will want to make the frame safe. If he plays for

the black, that will tell us if he has got a maximum score in mind. He

has. Fair play. Every frame is so important to John. That is OK. A

little flick into the middle. He has had to use the extended wrist. Easy

hadn't got that, he would have been on the