Day 7 World Championship Snooker Extra

Hello. A return for the mack was the music chosen for Alan McManus for

his walk into the Crucible. He's been quite a return for the sole

surviving Scot. He beat Higginson in the first round. He is wanting a

quarter-final place for the first time in nine years. He is playing a

fell yoe veteran. He beat Allan to the title of oldest player in

Sheffield this year. It could be a match of old school type quality.

A close one to call. McManus is just favourite. I have Hendry. Who would

you fan fancies? Six times? Seven. I missed one. It's a match to look

forward to. Neither of the players would have expected to make it into

pt second round. That's experience for you.

A first shot fluke, that's unusual. Kifg the brown. Just to stun up

directly for the red to the left of the punch.

Took the aggressive route and a few more reds out. I am not sure whether

it will pass. He's OK on the red. Tough to get on the black. They may

have to screw back and try to get on the black, the pink in the middle if

it moves, he's playing with top stin, know. It was always going to

be tough. In fairness, better in than out with the safety shot

I any everyone expects us to have a tactical battle. Both players

renowned for their safety play. I was really impressed by his long

game, McManus. A part of your game that starts to surf as you get

older. He was very impressive against Higgins.

Of course, the pressure on both of these players, what an opportunity

for get to the quarter finals. A few years sings they have been at this

stage of tournaments. McManus leads the head to head. 15 matches to 8.

In all those matches u only two going to the last frame.

LEAR Cue ball back to baulk. Every time you play that shot, youer on

the side of missing. It was a Steven said, it's not so

bad being 12 points away when you play this kind of shot. That could

cost you a lot more points that he is likely to get away. I err on the

thin side. He doesn't want to go up the brown and leave a free ball,

though. So that's 12 points he has given

away. Once again, no too bothered about giving another 8 points away,

in necessary. He'll keep going at this, until he gets it right.

There it is. He got it right. That's why it's important to err on the

thin side. He's only 20 points behind. A nice

easy red opener. I don't think he will play for the blaks. He might

swing it around. R I commentators's curse. Was saying

how good his long game was. That missed by a long way. Perhaps not

settled yet. These two will be well experienced

Crucible players. They won't even bother about that.

A decent long pot. This match will be I would imagine, very tactical.

It will come down to who can score the heaviest. Which will decide it.

The black is out of commission. The brown is just off the spot. So,

having seen a few of these frames. A bit more like it. A looks like a

favrable kiss. McManus is now in with a chance to go straight to the

pink. It would be very unlucky to not push to both sides.

A first glance, there doesn't look like the possibility of the red

being knocked in. The white will go close to the corn pocket, like that.

As Stephen mentioned, any side, that he could play on, that side of the

pimpg. It wouldn't have gone in, and it would have stread them far and

wide. Kn has had a look at it. He's gck to flick off the one next to the

pink. You see the three reds that he's looking at.

APPLAUSE I have to be honest, for me, that's

a fluke. The way that whiets have finished as well. He did come around

and have a look at it. To land in the black, he didn't plan that. So a

tricky little black Not as easy as it looks. You see why.

He was only half a pocket. He knows he sloov potted. A big chance for

McManus to get back into the round. Winning a frame at this visit won't

be easy. In regards yellow to green. He can get back into the frame.

Just a bit of mental math. He can put himself well in front. That's

rid includes. He can't believe it and nor can we. It's happening so

much this week. The cue ball comes off the cushion twice as fast as it

goes on. It's really annoying. It makes the players look silly

sometimes. That was justd a poor shot. It

unsettles you a little bit. The worst thing a player can do is start

playing for a big bounce. Trying to rest on the one on the

back cushion, behind the black. That's excellent. He may have left a

pot on, but he would be pretty pleased with that. He's ten points

behind, if he has a angle on the red, it might be worth a risk. If

not, he'll play safe. Tome Ken Doherty has a big

advantage. He won't need the yellow and green.

Little bit surprised he didn't play it thin, at least now he has a very

easy chance to get behind the green. Play the shot harder and he can't

get behind the green. Can just about bend it without too

many problems, he may be able to get in throw direct. He can play for the

black, if he wants to. It bounced off the cushion perfectly. Strange

how we get the bonss this time. A ride hand side of the black. Halfway

don't know from where they normally play, off the cushion. That's come

of slow. Look how slow it's come off.

Both these players have not settled at all. They both raels td a great

chance to get to the nex stage, both players are missing at the moment.

It will improve. Has Ken got any angle on the red, to

get out for the black, if not, he'll be forced to play for the one on the

left centre. He has some angle. Just, you always want to aim far

knuckle on the shots. He has a chance off the far knuckle. So to

the right-hand side of the pocket, as he looks at it.

A good shot. APPLAUSE

. I don't think he can hold for the red to the same pocket.

Ten in front, so he has the problem of yellow to green. He has to clinch

the frame at this visit. Or if he's straight to the, he can do a direct

screw back. The simplest way of getting there. I just had a look at

the potting angle. He could play, yellow, yellow, not a bad choice if

you can reach it. That's the way hiz decided to play, yellow, yellow.

R He's gone too far. I don't think he needs a crew back, and

APPLAUSE In trouble with the safety shot. Not

quite enough room. Ken is 13 in front. He need freen in play and the

brown, for Ken, that is. It will be a brown ball game. Whoever gets on

it nicely. Well, needed check side, he didn't

get any on it. He couldn't get close enough to the green. Green to brown

is virtually impossible unless he can pray for it in the middle.

Always very tough. If he has just stroked it, you have a chance, but

playing at this kind of pace, it's very tough. When you're under

pressure, you right arm is not feeling great. Most players prefer

to play with a bit of pace. You have to think it's the first frame to Ken

Doherty. Alan McManus has not settled at all in the match.

He won't be impressed with that shot, Ken Doherty. He's left

himself, a tricky blue. He might concentrate on getting a good white.

He's left it tricky. Leaving the white on the side cushion, just in

case, been so poor on the blue. Ken Doherty eventually gets over the

line. Barring snookers he will take the opening frame.

The fluke no good to McManus. A bit of the pretracted frame. Ken Doherty

leads 1-0. In that break of shot, all wrong.

The cue ball is supposed to come between the blue and the pink. So

this is very similar to the break off shot, a same kind of shot. Tlie

cushions. That that is, for a player as renowned for his safety play,

that's a shocker. You can see it by Ken 's face. He

was expecting the first kiss to be okayed. But he was not expecting the

second key is to take him into the raids. He is not the tallest.

Green ball. Unless he is playing off three cushions he can't let it go

this way. Told you. He could not get it off that angle. The bounce off

the caution obviously widens it a little bit. -- cushion. Can you

believe he is not putting that here again? He can play from wet the cue

ball is now. -- where the cue ball. I suppose he is trying to go to

something here. Let's see if he gets it. He wants an angle of this red.

Closest to the left-hand corner. Into the left of centre.

One. Nothing fancy required with the cue ball here. He wants to make sure

he just leaves a little bit of angle with the red, to try and get the

right side of the blue. Clearly didn't settle in the opening frame.

He has got an excellent chance of getting 30, 40 points on the board

without doing anything too strenuous, as it were. 12.

For a second he had thought that he had overcut out. But he is still

okayed on this round. 28. 29. He could have spread these reds a

little bit further. He needed a couple of kisses to get to the

topside of the table today, and he done very well. He knew exactly the

path the ball was going take, and cannoned those two are reds. -- to

other reds. I think Alan was the higher scorer, consistently in his

match against John Higgins. That was a little bit careless, he will

straighten the blue. He needs a bit more distance. It just puts that

little bit of extra pressure on the pot.

You would think he hit on this left nicely. It is always nice at the

start of a match to be winning, it settles you down.

Another lead 76, he can start to play this with a lot of confidence.

His opponent cannot possibly come back. He has levelled the match, at

one all. This will certainly be a close match, going from the first

two frames. There will be eight frames in this session. 8-8 -9 is

the way they normally play them. They mentioned in the first frame,

if you are going to have a bad session, make sure it is no worse

than 5-3. This match was billed as a battle of the master tacticians. But

if anything, planned play has been the weakest part today. Six inches,

he will be on the black. He did not time that very well. He hit the ball

wrong, went through it. Getting the red into the right

corner, it is the right path. He does not want to miss a thing. He

missed it, but he still managed to catch the pack.

It isn't enough to put it, we have no idea where the white is going to

end up. -- it is enough to pot it. It has to go in. This angle on the

green will go in. It is perfect to take a red into the same pocket.

That did not have anything to do with the cue ball, just rolled in.

He did not make the same break, of 76 in the previous round, he still

looks the most settled of the two. It is hard to say what kind of angle

cannon has here. -- Ken has here. The red is to the right, the black

spot will come there for that finish, low. He will stay on the

black in the right corner. , that is what he is looking at now.

Stand-off the cushion for the black. He does not want to get off the cue

ball March. -- much. He will not be able to get the black out of that

corner, he will be disappointed with that shot. That was nowhere near the

standard you expect from Ken. At the very least, he should be tight on

that caution. -- cushion. They should have never been on Mt.

-- been on that. I think there is a bunch to be right which go to the

left centre. That was virtually the same shot as the green he missed a

few moments ago. He does not appear to have an angle on anything that

will nicely pot. He may play an offspinner with pace. It is hard to

generate pace of the angle he had. Now that has gone directly into the

reds. You have got to be a little bit

careful that you don't push the red write over to the left-hand side. It

is a big target now, to get behind the brown. That is one way to get

back to the back cushion. He raised his eyebrows there. A bit pacey. Got

second prize, it got him behind the blue.

It seems that the first frame, where Alan was trying to keep it heat it

thin. -- hit it thin. It is an excellent chance for Alan

now, to take this third frame. I feel a lot more comfortable with the

ball is now. -- balls. You can play the cannon, but I do not think it is

needed, at this point in time. Every straight in the black is just

a matter of falling through. The reds in the middle of that five will

pop into the opposite corner. He will hopefully pick them off one at

a time. It was an aggressive break, but a very very good break. You see,

just flicked that bread. -- red. Those two reds will go into the

bright corner now. There is a trace of the right hand side around that

cannon. The latest 60. The frame over now. He does not look solid any

more. He was quite solid in the first frame. Trying to get the

yellow into the green pocket. He could not generate the pace playing

that way, but he has gone pretty well. Going over the round three

cushions. It is an excellent break so far. A good pot on the yellow as

well. A chance now of the century. -- of century. Another solid pot.

This will be a touch on the left-hand side, just to square up

the angle for the blue into the green pocket. Playing at a decent

pace as well, this break. It has not been slow. 21 Crucible centuries in

virlly a week's play. A bit low. We played, McManus. . The 27th century

in The Crucible. An excellent break. He has made... He now takes a 2-1

Inchts kicks off in the fourth frame. He needs to get his scoring

boots on. We say that many, many times. You can't win the match in

the first session, but you can certainly lose it. Very, very early

days. Hen won't even be thinking of that. What was the worst session you

had here? Did I ever lost 7-1 to somebody? Possible, I lost a session

quite hvly. You play, so many matches. If you win the sessions,

you win the match Is that how you thought... Definitely, the first

session you try to win that. For the rest of the match, your opponent is

playing catch up. My target was to win it 6-2. As you play here more

often, you become more experienced and you realise you can't play your

best every session, it's about himming the damage. Again, a safety.

Not being placed correctly. REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

Because the red is on, if he misses it, he needs to get it right. You

don't need that pressure on the shoulders.

A chance of the long red. You don't have to do anything for the cue

call. The only red that he will leave, the shots had a most

professionalses practice a lot and expect toe get. There's a pure sign,

he's not cueing well at the moment. That never threatened the jaws. A

difficult pot, but you would expect to catch the jaws on that shot.

Didn't have anything toe do with the kau ball. Ta gives confidence in

your opponent, when you start missing balls like that. Trying to

get the white. On the cushion, behind where his head is now. So

he's covering red with the yellow. Needs to travel a bit. That's not

hard enough. A very poor safety for somebody like Alan McManus.

APPLAUSE that is going oto feel better. That

was a good pot. If he missed that, he would loov Alan in. A nice angle

on the black. I think the top wup of these two will pot to the right

corner. The red at the bottom of the bunch,

I don't nof if it's available. He would be opening the pack up, after

this red and black. He will be flicking to the red. I

think it does hot. We have another camera angle in the commentary box.

O he's on the red to the left corner. Slowly turning into a decent

chance. Looking to see where he wants to

leave the cue ball. Careful not to overscrew it. Well played.

Debate -- didn't generate enough top spin. He's playing the safety.

He'll be very disappointed with that. Whatever could go wrong haz

gone wrong there. I think this is the last red that he

expected after playing that safety shot.

Playing to the bunch here. There's a red, obviously to the left of the

table, to the left corner, but you may have the natural angle to follow

off the side cushion. He might take a gamble. It's bound to be on

something. Possibly bring the pink into play.

Didn't take your true self on. Playing the aggressive shot. Trying

to get the pink into play. He's only missed it by the fraction. He's

pushed tw reds into play. He's got too much angle on the red. Two reds

to the right of the black. Make a cannon to the left of it to the

black for the left corner. May have too much angle to play for that

shot. Find the gap and avoid the middle

pocket. I think cannon into pink is the

order of the day here. He did play it, got into the cue

ball too much. Still in position. Have to keep going back up to the

blue. He has po rely on the getting to the blue. It makes it so much

harder. Getting into the frame, with a

chance of winning it. He wont do that without the pitching or wlack

into pray. He may have to work on the blue. As Stephen mentioned, it's

so hard, get the top side of the blue all the time. Playing to the

pink this time. Missed it last time, could get it this.

Bet his heart was in his mouth there. Not too sure he can get out

here. Played it well. That's as good a shot he has played in

2-1 visit victories. 44 and counting here. He would be a match for

anything, the way he's playing at the moment.

Just decided whether to run through and kisses the red in the middle of

the other red. It's perfect. Well played, good shot.

APPLAUSE Yeah, if had goes on, to win this

frame, at this visit, kern has a bit to think about. As you say, you can

lose a match in the first session if you lose it 7-1.

Ten minutes into the practice table. Just a fraction, he's going to leave

the red, more difficult than he would like. He can't get to the

black. He has to finish in between pink and black spot, hoping to get a

good enough angle. He needs the white to pull up. Well done. Didn't

think he would get the left-hand pocket, but he has. The lead is 28,

this frame ball. Very, very good indeed.

APPLAUSE Once again, the pace to perfection.

He knows he can go to the dressing room if the red drops in. If it

doesn't, Ken might carry on. Well this has been flawless, to be fair.

No chance of the century now. This would be 71. Only 98 available. What

a shame. A trick shot required. 69, 107, and this break of 71. It's

taking him, first into the lead. Ken Doherty with plenty to think about.

He doesn't want to miss this thiks and take the other red of the

cushion. He did miss it thick but he managed to avoid the red.

Once again, once you have missed the red, you expect to leave it on, buzz

it's gone too far for a cut in the middle.

Good safety. It's key toe cover the red, which he has done.

Always very tough when you're playing that slow, there's finger

marks on the table that can make the cue roll off. All pretty true down

there. He plays the cue ball twice across.

He can't get into between yellow and brown. That's where thez played once

across and this looks pretty good. Has he fluked it? His first of the

day. Certainly since the first frame, when he fluked the first shot

he played. Now, 22 points in front. He could do

with hitting a first shot. He doesn't want to give too many points

way way. Not more than four, if you can help it.

That's four points away. REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Ken

Doherty, four. Try number two coming up. This is

where I mentioned the points difference. Could do with it at this

time. REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Ken

Doherty, four. I mean, looking at the angle that he's trying to come

off. He could miss this another couple of times at least. Ken could

be in front next time he comes to the table.

Seeing the way that it's sliding off the cushion...

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. He can play to the loose red, but he

doesn't want to do that. I don't know what's happened. He has

the ball marker on the yellow. It's touching. Why he would do that, I

don't know. Maybe it's touching the yellow and he feels it's the only

way he can get it to touch again. To stop the ylow moving. This is try

number four. So he's flaid for the loose one this

time, hit it poorly. Yeah, you see him lining up where he

wants the cue ball, screw in into the two reds. He overdone it, to use

the black. He's on the pink with an angle.

This is not easy to get safe now. Always he would love the cue ball to

go up and in between the blue, the way he's going to hit the second

red, he would do well to get it away from the pocket. He's flaucked it

away, I think. He's gone safe, so not too bad.

Red to the left centre. Not easy to get the colour nicely, unless he

plays it dead weight. Which he hasn't done.

For the brown, he's still on the brown. The brown is the most obvious

angle to get on the red, almost a natural of two cushions. Take it on.

I suggest not. Neighbour he can, Alan's turn to get

a few points off the snooker. McManus gave points away. How many

times can Ken hit it. More room to get around the back of the blue.

He'll do very well not to come left-hand side of the red. He wants

to hit right-hand side of it. A chance. McManus is leading by fours

poins. . A 40-minute frame. A good pot. A half ball pink, if not, he

has to take the green. That may be a big pocket. I the don't know if he

can screw back. Having a little look at where the green is now. He

doesn't have the angle oten pink to do that. He doesn't want to end up

straight on the yellow, you have to get back on the green, and the green

is respoted. A guaranteed finish nicely on the yelow.

In the end, not sure what pocket he played for the yellow.

R Need the cue ball to be tight on the brown, to cut off the escape on

the baulk cushion. He can, there's every chance he can get a snooker

back. Right where the yellow is, and snooker him on the green. Didn't cut

it off. Always been lucky there. How is the blue not gone?? -- gone in?

Quen still showing he has a sense of hummure. He is anything but laughing

inside. He plays off one cushion. In comet

the white in behind the black. Is it too thin, too thin to get both. It

was wort taking the risk. APPLAUSE

Now, has he got it? Looks like it from here.

Alan has had a big slice of luck. He has played it twice across. It's not

available. White in behind green and pink. A glance at the scoreboard

tells that he's ten in front. A bit of value in taking it on. You have

to take it somewhere, even to the left centre.

Well, thought he would take it on in the baulk pocket. He had a chance of

getting it away, should he miss it. Amazing enough, his highest break is

only 24. This clearance would give him the frame. The highest break of

the match so far would be 25, if it happens. Right in the jaws of the

pocket. He's not guaranteed to pot these. Iep always surprised. I think

it gives you more time to think about the pressure of the situation.

Get on with it, and clear them. Brown safely in. When the object

ball is so far in the jaws of the pocket, like the blue is, it's

really difficult to getti deal position. By no means, favourite to

win the frame at this visit yet. It has finished pretty well. This

pink in the middle takes the cue ball onto the cushion. Would you

want to play the black down the cushion at this stage? Not happy

with his bridge hand either, is he. The key thing is to thaick sure the

pink, whichever way you want to play it, make sure the pink...

APPLAUSE Needed the black. Ken Doherty hoos

won the frame. He now trails by four frames to two.

My apologies for the people watching. I made a mistake, thinking

that he needed the black to win the previous frame.

In the end, a decent clearance. Wasn't straight forward. Would give

him a bit of the lift. A possibility that he might get taken off before

the eight frames. Depends be on how long it takes. The evening session

at 7 o'clock. They need to start the next game before 20 past. That's not

a good start for being a quick frame.

It's a good line. APPLAUSE

The sort of safety shot that we expect from Alan McManus.

Well, similar to the other frames, apart from the middle three frames,

they were played in a very attacking fashion from McManus, but he's gone

safe again. Ken doesn't want to change the

pattern of the game very welt. He's not keying very well. Ken, unless he

can guarantee getting a ball of colour... Decided to bring the black

into play. That should quicken things up a little bit. Very nearly

an excellent safety. Playing that long shot with an

element of safety. Ken, just looking to see where he

wants to put the cue ball. Sometimes you think "Where would Alan not want

to play from? " That's where you put it.

Love to find a way to get on the red, the two reds together. Only

thep will it become a good opportunity to score a few points.

Ken was playing confidently. Get onto the red that Stephen has

mentioned. Me might decide to crew for the blue or even the black.

Thinking about screwing back to leave the blue in the yellow pocket.

That's asking a bit, the way that he's played today, so foor. That's

what he's done. Now, can he screw back enough to get on to the reds on

either side of the black spot? He's got the black, he's trying to

get on that. No quite on the black nicely, but he can swerve around the

pack. Well, he's tried to move the two

reds out of the black spot, there. But now, maybe wishing that he took

the blue op. A straight blue to screw back. Perhaps didn't think he

was confident enough in his cue action to play that 1409. Look at

where the black has gone. The last colour I would be playing.

Just not happening. Just not hafg. -- happening. Refused to try to get

on the pink. Took his eye of the shot and misses of missed the pot.

It's a horrible feeling. Just cannot see the balls. It's like using a new

kau. Can't get going at call. No better place to play snooker when

you're playing well, but when you're struggling, it's hard out there.

That's an excellent safety shot. If he can get out of this, he would

think it's his birthday. Not guaranteed to get to the last round

of the session. Just not been at the races so far.

Ref foul -- REFEREE: Foul.

Well, it may be slight frus fraigs from Alan on that shot. Not like a

shot that he would normally play. So often that happens when you're

struggling, you never seem to land fliesly on a colour. The green looks

the obvious, the ease yistd. -- easiest.

Quite a clever shot, forcing the red off the cushion. But unfortunately,

the white is next year the cushion, and this the last red in baulk is

tough to get on. I can't see him going nicely. He would be faced with

a tough pot. The angle is not on to do that. Roll of the green.

Practically his best shot of the game. Could not have placed the cue

ball any better with his hand. Oh, dear.

It's so hard to understand. Whether the occasion is getting to Ken. He

has been here many times before. He's losing. Not in his head. Cannot

understand why he's playing so bad, and nor can we. A big chance of both

these two players to get to a quarter-final for the first time in

a number of years. A little bit to do with the cue ball

here. Doesn't necessarily have to play for that one. He's played that

nicely. He came to the table some 27 points behind. He has toe work hard

to get back into the frame. Well, on Ken's form, that was a

decent pot. Can he string... The remaining shots that he needs? To

clinch in frame? And to be only one frame behind. It would be an amazing

result, the way that he's played. A chance to be 4-4.

On the other hand, Alan wont be happy at all. By far the stronger

looking player of the day. Expected to be in a formable lead. --

formidable. He's got in heart, hasn't he? It

would be his highest break of the match so far. There's a slight

chance he's going to win three frames. Need one more. That would be

the case. Yeah, I watt thinking the same thing. You have to admire his

battling qualities. To remain in a positive and focused, although, as

we say that, he's missed the red that he needs to clinch the frame.

But he's still battling away out there.

Very tough for Alan to get the clearance from here. He can

certainly get maybe two or three reds and pinks.

Perfect to drop on the one on the cushion. Then we can screw back.

Not quite right on this. I don't think he's going to entertain the

pot on the cushion. Well, it's borked out OK. But the

last thing he wanted to do was to bring the black into play. McManus

has to hit it and get it safe. If he does, he's back in the frame.

It's the last thing that Ken wanted to do, have the black in play.

Green ball along with black cushion, I don't think that Ken is thinking

of that on. He can play with more of the safety aspect to it.

APPLAUSE. Really very struck. In anything, too

well. He would have loved to be on the blue or the pink, even the black

would have been niece. -- nice. That's an amazing flick. We would be

going nowhere, with the way it was tracking. Did you play almost a

kisses to the blue, in your own mind? Yes, I suppose that's a shot

on. If you miss the cannon, you land nowhere on the black, you'll be

behind. That's what we talked about. The

shot was obviously wanting to go by the blue, the fact that he has

kissed it, it's a perfect angle, if he is see the black. A big shot. If

he misses it, he needs smoockers. Perhaps the biggest shot of the

match so far. So far. APPLAUSE

and the luck of the time, they may have a chance of playing the final

frame. So Ken Doherty has done a miracle. He trails 4-3. They are

taking them off. That's the end of the session. Ken Doherty weeb

absolutely delighted. A full day of snooker stretches before the

veterans. They will return at 10 am m and then this will have to come

back in the evening. A place in the quarter tienls beckons for one of

them. But also, the conclusion of the defending champion's real tusle

against Joe Perry. The first of 13 will be going through. So much to

look forward to. In the minority, good night.