Day 5 World Championship Snooker Extra

Hello and welcome to Snooker Extra from the 2014 Dafabet World

Championship. One frame separated Barry Hawkins and qualify at David

Gilbert, ranked 27 places below him. 5-4 after the first session. This is

the start of the second. Barry Hawkins gets framed tent under

way. Starting this second session of the first round match -- frame ten.

Against Dave Gilbert who is a very dangerous player. A nice player to

watch. And, amazingly enough, Dave Gilbert turned professional in 2001.

This is the first time they have ever met.

Already, the first poor shot of the session. An early half chance for

Barry. Barry did well yesterday, he was 4-2 down. He came back to lead

5-4 coming into this session. Good safety shot. A little bit

thick. Not enough pace on the cue ball.

Yes, I wasn't obvious match yesterday, but looking at the

scoreline, as you say, Barry Hawkins was 3-1 behind. Then, he really

caught on fire in frame five, making a break of 7-2, a break of 72. Frame

eight, a break of 115 and the final frame of the session, 69. I was

going to say. He didn't do a lot wrong. He will be disappointed

though that he missed that one. That was a sitter.

I will forgive him, because it's 10am in the morning.

Full ball Kiss of the yellow. That's OK. He's on the yellow. The brown

gives him better angle -- kiss. He doesn't mess about, does he gave. --

Dave. It couldn't have worked out much better than that. I think

this, closest to the cue ball, he can hold, close to the pocket. A

good positive shot. Good result. Barry missed that easy read. He must

have thought, it won't cost me much. Two shots later, he could lose a

frame from it. If Dave can capitalise on this tricky decent

opportunity. -- pretty decent. He hasn't got the cue ball there.

Yes, disappointing that was. OK, he has played for the red that is to

the left of the pink into the left corner, but he had a nice angle of

the black. You felt as though there were other shots he could have

played. He will be disappointed not to have got more here. There was a

good break of the reds. His main concern was to get the cue

ball back to the baulk end. He will be disappointed not to have scored

more. Because there doesn't appear to be

an escape route down the right-hand side of the table, he will have a

problem playing down the left-hand side of the table. He might be

trying to get down the right-hand side. This has got to be very

precise. And, fair play, it was. Dutiful shot. Beautiful shot! --

beautiful shot. Beautiful line, good length, well played. It looks simple

when they go right. If he had just hit the red a little too thick or

too thin, but he played it perfectly.

That was a poor one from Barry. He was lucky not to leave anything

there. And he has left something. Much too thick.

Now, he has had one good chance, Dave. He has to make the most of

this one. Is it Dave, or David? David. That's

what it says on the scoreboard, anyway, I am going with the

scoreboard. He managed to get a nice angle on

the blue sea can pretty much do what he likes. He could have done better

than that. -- blue, so he can. Very average. That's amazing. Two

glorious chances. He may suffer for that. In this frame, in the long

run. He wanted to stop about there. That's how far he overrun it.

It was more or less forced, and he thought the only one he could leave

was the one he was playing, but the dreaded double-kiss. Third good

chance. If you get three, you think it is a bonus.

Well, he has not woken up yet. More concerned with trying to find the

path of the cue ball, forgot about the pots. -- pot. He is playing

right into the hands of Barry Hawkins.

Sometimes it is tricky to get decent possession.

He has been let off a couple of times already. So, he will want to

punish David for not making the most of those opportunities. The first

frame of any session is always very important.

It must mean he has come very straight on this pink.

He was just able to screw back an inch. Play the red to the right

middle and then the pink to the left centre.

Certainly, came of age last season when he reached the final of this

World Championship. He was losing out to Ronnie O'Sullivan but at one

time he looked like he would be run over by Ronnie, but he stuck in

there. There were times when you felt as though he was maybe going to

turn the match around. In the end, finished up losing that final 18-12.

And, become one of the more consistent and solid players on the

circuit. He is up in the heady ranks of number four in the world now.

Without doubt, over the last two or three seasons, one of the most

improved players in the game. From being a player that used to hover

around the top 16, as you say, now, firmly established as one of the top

players in the game. Yes, I have always said. Obviously,

all the players who come here and get through to the Crucible

Theatre, no one doubts their ability. It is just about

temperament, really. Can you do it on the big stage? Can you hold

yourself together when it matters? Barry has proved that and he has

proven it to himself and that is why he is a very tough competitor.

I don't think the black is available. So he will have to do a

little bit with the cue ball. That was all he could do. So, slightly

tricky pink. Didn't have to do a lottery the cue ball. He can pot at

the pink naturally. Get the red that is closest to the pink for the left

corner. 33 points the lead. Two reds, two

colours. That would see him home in this first frame. -- didn't have to

do a lot. You could say it was a bonus given the three good

opportunities that David Gilbert had.

So, he is just having to sit and suffer. He knows he has had three

opportunities that could and maybe should have been won in this first

frame. Particularly as he started one frame behind. He wanted to

level. This frame was very important to David. But, he won't be getting

the chance now. This pink to go 47 points in front, with just 43

remaining. Obviously feels by dropping to the

top cushion he can get past the black and of course if he puts this

rate, that will mean David Gilbert will not be playing for sneakers. --

pots this red. He has taken this really well. But, on the other hand,

lucky to get an opportunity. He really hits the ball well. If he

pots the yellow, it will be 73, and then the 27 with the six remaining

colours, but will be exactly 100. Dafabet, Sponsors, are giving ?100

to the children's Hospice in Sheffield for every century break

that he has made the Crucible. A lovely gesture. -- that he has made

at the Crucible. A very worthy cause.

These three colours for the century. And, the hundred pound to the

charity. I am sure the players are aware. No

exhibition shots. Just make certain this black. Oh! Well! Well, what a

shame! But, David Gilbert had three chances to only accrued 19 points.

One chance for Barry Hawkins, break of 93, 6-4. David Gilbert to break.

A little bit pacey with the break and the possibility here with this

red. To the left corner. Close. Have the path to take the cue

ball back to the baulk end with the element of safety. Well, you could

see the expression on Barry's face, I think he thought that was in.

That is an attacking safety shot from David. But, it's only a good

one if you missed the ball colour. If you hit the ball colour, you are

asking for trouble. He didn't play the long pots. I

think he was slightly hampered by the yellow. He has played their

safety. Excellent length. Excellent. The black and pink are

tied up. He will try and leave the cue ball near this top cushion to

contain safety. He couldn't have played it much better than that.

that is a little bit careless. And, he can put the cue ball anywhere in

the D. It goes around from the yellow spot to the green spot and he

has a nice and easy cut on that spread. Position on the colour? That

is a bit more of a problem. Obviously no natural angle to come

down. It wasn't the easiest positional shot in the world.

The problem is with this safety shot that Harry is going to play. He has

to be wary that if he catches this too is the key could be hitting this

into the middle of the table -- Barry.

He has played it pretty well. Just a little bit short of length. I think

he will settle for that. David Gilbert is obviously not

settled this morning. Missing those two or three chances in the first

round. He has got a few safety shots too thick.

A decent cue ball. I think this red, closest to the red corner, will

pots. David Gilbert is not going to play at that rate. He is just

looking to see the potting line of the red in the corner pocket. --

red. Good shot. He was never certain

where the cue ball was going to finish. He has a bonus. This is pink

going to be left of centre. I was just saying, it didn't look like it

was going to be enough. All of a sudden, a flick of the pink and this

is pottable now. He didn't take advantage of his good

fortune. Not settled yet, this morning. As we track the pink that

just catches the jaw. He missed a couple of chances in the

first frame. Sometimes you can think, well, it is only the first

frame, I will get more, I will play better. But, it is amazing how it

affects you for the rest of the match. Yes, and particularly against

someone like Barry Hawkins, who is a very heavy scorer. He does it in his

own style. And, he is one of them players that, when he gets in a

break, you feel as though you are sat in your seat for a bit longer

than you are against other players because he gives everything due care

and attention. I mean, he is not slow, his average shot time is 22

seconds a shot, but this sort of air of inevitability when he gets in

amongst the balls, spread as they are...

He may not play the flesh off that other players might play, but many

aspects he has improved, including rake ability. He plays an excellent

game. -- break. His cue ball control is normally

excellent as well, which obviously is the most important thing in break

building. It looks as though he'll have to go

back up for the blue here. He's got a slight angle, he could play a

little stunned over it and kiss the red, but that could go wrong. If the

Brown goes past the red that's Koke. Of course the red just below

the brown ball to follow -- that's Koke.

He's having a good look round. Most times you can roll it in and leave a

nice angle on the yellow. All he needs is an angle on the colour to

be able to get back up to the business end and these reds in and

around the pink spot. Deciding to maybe knock that red

away from the side cushion. But he is nicely on the blue.

He looks to be inch perfect on this red to stand it in and play for the

pink in the opposite corner. A good chance here -- stun.

That now puts Barry 30 points in the lead. A few little obstacles to get

over to win this frame at this visit. It's not a formality. After

this pink there's one loose red just above the two near the blackspot.

But he will have to work for the rest.

Being left-handed, he can play for the pink and make certain he is a

little bit high on it. He looks to have got a nice angle.

44 points in front, a couple of reds still needed. Played the Canon

nicely, the red needs to bounce, though. By his body language it

hasn't. -- canon. He played it well enough. Maybe wanted to hit the

right-hand red a little further Almac Fuller. 67 remaining.

He now needs to end it with a good safety.

And they don't come much better than that. APPLAUSE. Well played. He

would have been disappointed to end the break there, but to be able to

gather your thoughts and put full concentration into the next safety

shot, that is what being a top player is all about. APPLAUSE.

Here we see this, a lot of players, including myself, would just be

happy to get the baulk cushion. But he made sure he got it really tight.

Always an air of disappointment when you break down. But the thing is to

just say, OK, that's the way it is. Now let's play the next shot better.

And that's what has made him over the last few years such a formidable

opponent. Situation of the reds at the moment

will suit Barry more than David. He will be liking to keep them close to

the cushion. Nearly a bonus, he nearly got the

snooker behind the brown. But this is not an easy safety. He has to get

it safe, David knows that. One more mistake could cost him the frame.

A bit thinner than he would have liked.

It is awkward, that cueball close to the side cushion. Has to be so

careful to strike the middle of the cueball. When you can only see the

top of the cueball, it is so easy to exaggerate the side, or any side

that you get on the cueball. APPLAUSE. Very good. Very good

indeed. And I think that David maybe snow could on all reds here --

snookered. If there is one poking out by the black it is tough. You

need good I is for this one, John. That was always the danger. A

certain Barry would like it replaced -- I'm certain. But there is a bit

of a problem here, just a fraction of the red sticking out, he's going

to get it back in the perfect position. Of course, he gets help

from the marker. So, originally they were there. That

looks pretty good, that red to the left of the black should be near the

cushion. The referee is giving him the

instructions. Jan playing the part of Bernie the

Fault. There is the original. And that is where it is now. I think

that is pretty good, although David is saying that he thinks he could

hit a little bit more of the red. It looks pretty good to us, both. Still

doesn't make the shot any easier. He can't afford to give too many points

away at the moment. He is 51 behind, only 67 remaining.

Giving it one last go. Trying to come off like the cushion first and

flick the red on the way back. I think the reason he is not coming

off like the left-hand side cushion and dropping onto the red on the

left-hand side of the table... He is thinking about it now but he is

concerned he may leave a plot to the middle. That is what he is playing.

Trying to drop on this red to the left cushion. -- a pot. The kiss

doesn't help. That was the problem. He got the double kiss and he has

left a choice of reds now for Barry Hawkins.

Fall caused by the quality of Hawkins' safety play -- all caused.

Getting the cueball into the most difficult position.

Just about online for this green. This green and one more red and he

will take the second frame with this morning session. This red will put

him 56 points ahead with just 51 remaining.

So there you see it now, 62 ahead and 51 remaining. Doubtful whether

David Gilbert would carry on. And I think that is a concession. So not

the best start this morning for David Gilbert, but Barry Hawkins

will be delighted. And he's not done much wrong. He now

Barry Hawkins breaks off, he has won five frames on the spin. Gilbert has

got to do something quickly otherwise this match will run away

from him. Catching the blue won't help. He may

have left a pot, but unless there is a path and an escape route back to

the baulk end, Barry may not play it. But with his hand on the table,

you would expect him to play a better safety shot than the one

David has just produced. If you put that up against his

previous safety shots, that was a poor one from Barry.

This time David caught the baulk colour, but just a glancing blow. It

has not turned out too bad. That red going close to the right

corner. That would have concerned Barry. May still be possible, but it

is a tough one. Yes, you can get through to it, but to play it with

the necessary pace to get back up for the colour makes the pot that

much more difficult. But is there an alternative shot?

Another good safety shot from Barry. David might be forced into

playing this red. In the end he didn't try any heroics

with this. He didn't get the double kiss. So safe enough.

A decent safety shot. He's getting the line but he's not quite getting

the length. It makes such a difference if you don't find the

baulk cushion. I'm not saying that this is the easiest safety shot. You

may even see Barry take this red onto the right corner. Something

that he wouldn't have probably contemplated if he had been tight

onto the cushion. Well, well. APPLAUSE. That was good

queueing despite being so close to the baulk crush on. What a pot that

was. This was excellent -- baulk cushion. Didn't have a lot of angle

on that shot to force the cueball around but he did so well.

Interesting to see how many left-handed players play the rest

with the right hand. Mark Wills is another. I remember my old mate,

Tony, he used to do exactly the same.

My old mate! I never used to talk like that until I moved to London.

That's one player I never played, Tony, amazing, isn't it? He was

probably just getting to the end of his playing days. He was a superb

player. We have all seen them, haven't we? But you played him in

practice, Tony Meo, and if he was on his game you were just picking balls

out of the pockets He's going to have to do some work

with the cueball now, he will have to be straight on this red to follow

through to the black in this corner. He will want to play for the blue

here, get that back on its spot. Done off two cushions. That is too

hard for the blue. It may even be too hard for a baulk colour. Is he

on the ground? Just. -- the Brown. Just about but quite a bit to do

here, especially using the rest. I think his idea was to play for the

blue. But he is on the brown, but as I said, using the rest. If he plays

the runthrough, lots of top. He is playing the screw shot. Or is he? He

is undecided. Particularly when you're so close it

is very hard to generate the pace that you need. He has decided to

play the screw shot. No, he has changed to the run through. I tell

you what, he's not made a bad fist of this. He is just about on this

red. Being left-handed, he may be able to reach across. It depends, if

it was a bit straighter he could screw. He could still play it, pot

this red, screw into the cluster behind the pink and he may even be

on the pink. If not a baulk colour. He will settle for that.

As I say, it was a good shot off the brown to get there and he made the

most of it, bringing the pink into play.

That's amazing, isn't it? Of all the places to finish, and that little

scratch of the head got a bit more vicious when you can't get through

to it. So much room for error there. That is a careless one.

And when you're going so well, you just want to keep it going and it

just annoys you when you do things like that.

He's not left the red, has the? Well, I looked at his body

language, his shoulder seemed to droop a little bit so maybe he has.

He has, he has left a path through to this red. Now, David, you need to

make the most of this. Not certain if the pink spot is available. If it

isn't it would suit David down to the ground because it could go on

the black spot. I think it would go on there. If it does, of course,

that means the pink ball will be tied up. The referee just checking.

. I presume the middle of that spot

will be in the middle, but he says no.

The pink goes on the black spot. He needs to make the most of this

opportunity. Barry was a little unlucky to nestle

on the pink as he did. But you've got to take advantage of any mistake

your opponent makes, particularly when you're behind in the match.

Statuesque. Barry Hawkins. But underneath he will be a little

bit annoyed. I was just going to say that, John. There was very little

emotion there, but inside he will be raging. And more the positional shot

and the fact he came off the red to nestle into the bunch.

That's unforgivable. How has missed that? Sometimes people miss pots

because they are thinking about position, he didn't have to think

about position, just pot the pink and he would automatically be on the

red. Well, that is a body blow. It's quite tricky to judge these

shots. There is a red that will go to the right corner, a couple of

reds to the left corner, but if you stun this to the right corner it is

not the easiest positional shot. Just a touch of left-hand side. That

is pretty good. I think he would have liked to have gone a little bit

further up the table. But, having said that, in potting this red now

he cannot open the reds. And hopefully finish on a baulk colour.

Only one came out, though. But maybe he's thinking one is enough, there's

another two available and if he gets those he will clear the path for the

others. A couple of good, precise positional shots could see him home

in this frame. I think I would favour the blue

here, but Barry is left-handed which obviously makes this easier. That's

well played. yes, the blue on its spot would have

been ideal but as you say, probably felt comfortable being left-handed.

The fact he is thinking about this means he is a bit straight on this

red, having to play for the blue or the baulk colour again. He would

have liked to have been in a position where he could come down

the table for the pink. This cueball is having to travel distances, but

one good positional shot and you feel the frame is in the bag.

Just caught the bump going into it too much, he wanted to hit just

before the middle pocket. But he overdid the side. And once he had

over screwed, he was lucky not to go in off. Still on this red, but could

have been easier. That missed pink by David Gilbert

has not cost him the frame. I never spotted that. Where did that

come from? I don't think that plant was on when

Barry Hawkins was at the table. It was probably on, but couldn't go

because of the red that he missed into the left corner. Awkward red

neither side cushion. -- near the. The yellow is tight to the baulk

cushion. It is a big ask on this visit.

That looks pretty good. Trying to screw the cue ball. Looks to have a

quite good angle. He has hit it nicely. Pot this right centre. If he

does what this red... -- pot this red... Too thick, and playing at

that pace. If he missed it, he was bound to leave it. But, that yellow

nearer the baulk cushion is going to be just as much a problem for Barry

Hawkins, although David, you can see from his reaction, couldn't believe

he missed that read. -- red. Going for the baulk colour. It is

not inch perfect, this. OK, he is on the green, but to get on the yellow

or to get me the baulk cushion, you have to play with an awful lot of

left-hand side. And, the players are reluctant to Lady with these

superfine clocks -- to play with these super fine cloths. If he comes

straight on the yellow, which looks likely, he is on the yellow. He is

just coming around to have a look. If he has a slight angle, he may

just be able to get the cue ball away from the baulk cushion, to

leave himself a pot at the green. He just had enough angle, so that

was a good shot from Barry Hawkins, and he is now one point in front. He

needs up to and including the pink to win the third frame of this

morning's session. The brown and blue will put him 13

points in front with 13 points remaining.

He has overdone that slightly. He didn't want to be using the rest. If

it is dead straight, this needs good He hit the cue ball in the middle,

with a dead straight shot. This has been a very solid performance. Don't

get me wrong, he always need a little help from your opponent.

David Gilbert, particularly in the first frame this morning, had three

chances and did not make the most of them. He has lost the first three

frames and is now 8-4 behind. Well, terrific shot. Perfection.

Coming off the side, it is easy to overdo that, but you just get the

feeling here that Barry Hawkins is in a nice comfort zone. He is not

thinking about anything else but potting balls and getting this match

put to better as soon as possible. -- put to bed. He just missed the

cannon. He knew that he was OK. The red to either middle. Doesn't

really have to be playing any cannons here. One of those

situations, if you pot one red, you can clear the path for another. He

just has to keep tight control of the cue ball. He must be feeling

really good at the moment. Getting plenty of table time. His opponent

not putting any pressure on him whatsoever. I was just going to say

that. You are not being punished for mistakes, it makes you more relaxed.

Such a psychological game, snooker, at the top level. You can keep your

opponent in the chair, suffering. Make them feel worse and worse. When

he does get a chance, he is in no frame of mind to take it.

That was a better shot than it looked as well. He had to play that

well on the left-hand side. It was slightly higher than the black.

Left, knew the right corner pocket, no man's land if you don't get them

properly. There is a mid-session interval after this frame. That is,

unless Barry Hawkins WinZip, which looks very likely. He only need one

more to book his place. The semi-? Don't get ahead of yourself. Into

the second round. I was thinking that he was semifinalist last year.

-- Barry Hawkins Windsor this. He proved to everybody and to himself

that he was capable of cutting it with the best. It is all right

thinking it, it is proving it and that is what he has done and he has

carried it on the season. Well, it's not there. But, 71 in

front. 67 remaining. One snooker to tie and he will be disappointed he

didn't make a century there. Straightaway, he didn't want to do

that, with the red in the cushion. He would have loved to pot the

former red. Keep the red below the pink and snooker him behind. Not a

very good shot there either. Not on form this morning, David, at all. As

we are looking at the black, it was one snooker to tie, but, now he is

playing for the blue, there is two snooker is needed -- snookers. It is

not getting any easier. In these situations, you leave the

last red on the table. You hope that you can get a snooker and a free

ball. Just about slip past this red to be on it. There you see it, 49

behind, 43 remaining, two snookers required. He will have to

pot the black and trying get something off this red.

Not quite a snooker. He doesn't know where he wants to be at the moment,

David. It's a lonely place out there, the

Crucible Theatre, when you are struggling. And that's the frame

conceded, so Barry Hawkins, who has won all four frames we have played

this morning is now just one frame away from a place in the second

round. He leads David Gilbert, the angry farmer, 9-4.

Barry Hawkins gets frame 14 under way. He is only looking for one

more. Some of the seeds have struggled in this first round. At

the moment, he is in a very comfortable position. David Gilbert

will be disappointed with his performance in the first four

frames. Now he needs to play, well, don't miss snooker. Can he produce?

I thought he may have flicked one there. He was long way away the

intended pot. Because he was a long way away, the red careered into the

main bunch. Nowhere near. He nearly had a bit of luck.

Barry Hawkins, as he did in the first four frames, looking very

solid. He won't want to be leaving him to many chances. Very focused,

very composed. Very confident looking.

Just looking at Harry's expression, it looks as though he has come a

little too straight on this red -- Barry's. It could be that the black

goes into this left corner, but, if he is straight, he won't be able to

force the cue ball out for the black.

That is as good as he could do. Obviously, he would like to be

straight on this black. But, there is the possibility. I'm not certain

what is available here. He could play the cannon. If you stay on the

stay on the right corner. It is easy. If you concentrate on the

cannon. What we call the blind pocket. That is the end. It didn't

catch the main bunch, as he would have liked. It meant that the cue

ball was going to drift away from the reds. Just having a look if

there is a possibility of a plant, a three ball plant it will be. You

can't see much fairer. -- there. It's not there. Seems to be a lot of

rates move before we saw the plant. Trickled towards the pocket. -- reds

moved. It was a good spot. It all depends on what sort of angle he has

got. Just a little angle. Hast to force the cue ball. That was a good

shot. We have seen a view of the seeds

already in this championship sort of start a bit. -- stutter a bit.

Yes, and every credit to him, because he didn't start of the match

that well. He lost the first two friends. -- frames. He went four -

two behind. David Gilbert has never been ahead since. Seven in a row.

Just this frame is needed to win the match -- 4-2.

Scoring heavily. I don't want to put the commentator's curse on him, but

he is not looking like missing anything that is easy, which is

always a good thing when you are a amongst the balls and they are

nicely spread like this. --when you are amongst the balls. He

just played the cannon to hold the cue ball at this end. I think David

Gilbert is sat in his seat wondering if he has played his last shot in

this year 's World Championship. As I say, he had plenty of chances in

the first friend this morning, which if he had taken, he could have

levelled the match. But, it slipped away very quickly since then.

Just a little bit thinner than he would have liked. He could play a

tool cannon of a pink, just a little soft tannin. -- a little cannon off

the pink.