Day 2

:00:41. > :00:46.Snooker Extra, extended highlights of Day 2 of the World Championship.

:00:47. > :00:50.Our feature match from the first round is Ricky Walden taking on

:00:51. > :00:56.Robbie would yums from the were Ralph. Ricky made the semifinals at

:00:57. > :00:57.The Crucible in 2013. Your match commentators are John Virgo and

:00:58. > :01:08.Stephen Hendry. Robbie Williams breaks off. I have

:01:09. > :01:12.watched him two or three times on TV and to be honest he is a little bit

:01:13. > :01:17.like a rabbit in the headlights. Not able to play the form he probably

:01:18. > :01:21.would expect. Let's see if he is getting more comfortable out there

:01:22. > :01:26.in the main arena against Ricky Walden, who has shown some good form

:01:27. > :01:33.in the last couple of tournaments. He lost in the final in the last

:01:34. > :01:52.ranking event to Judd Trump. That was in China.

:01:53. > :01:58.That was turned out OK for Robbie. The brown has come to his rescue.

:01:59. > :02:06.Always dangerous when you knock a red towards a corner. Just looking

:02:07. > :02:13.at the ranking of the two, Ricky Walden comes in to this tournament,

:02:14. > :02:17.ranked world No. 9 and Robbie Williams is ranked No. 57, but they

:02:18. > :02:29.have met on two occasions and they have got one victory each.

:02:30. > :02:36.Trying to drop that in and stay on the black. A risky shot to play.

:02:37. > :02:39.Yeah. It was a confident shot to play, wasnt it? Very aggressive,

:02:40. > :02:44.play fogger the black straightaway. I don't think it was a path to get

:02:45. > :02:49.the cue ball back up the table, so he was forced in it. Now that he's

:02:50. > :02:50.missed it, he is gifted a chance to Ricky Walden, but he's not taken

:02:51. > :03:02.that. You just see this red. It just

:03:03. > :03:07.catches the top jaw and once it did that, it was never going to drop. On

:03:08. > :03:12.a fraction, but that is enough to keep it out of the pocket.

:03:13. > :03:18.Not always a certainty to judge how it comes out of the pocket when the

:03:19. > :03:22.red is over the hole, but he's played it well. So this could be a

:03:23. > :03:35.nerve-settler. If you just watch the red just flick

:03:36. > :03:54.the cushion there. Once that happens, as I say, they don't drop.

:03:55. > :04:02.A great chance here to get a good start in this match. If he was

:04:03. > :04:07.straight on this red, he could run it through and play for the black

:04:08. > :04:18.again. He's not got that angle. He may have to go for blue cover here.

:04:19. > :04:29.Went for the blue, but just short of pace. Just short of pace, so what

:04:30. > :04:32.was a good chance he's just made that a little more difficult. Just 3

:04:33. > :04:33.inches short of where he needed that cue ball to be.

:04:34. > :05:17.APPLAUSE He didn't get a good position on the

:05:18. > :05:24.blue, but it has to be said, quite a way away with that pot. It is a bit

:05:25. > :05:27.of a local derby this year now. Robbie Williams is from the Wirral

:05:28. > :05:45.and not far away Ricky Walden hails from Chester.

:05:46. > :05:49.That was a good escape route. Well played. Good shot.

:05:50. > :06:16.APPLAUSE Maybe there is a red just above the

:06:17. > :06:21.black that is available? So I don't think the miss will be taken. You

:06:22. > :06:23.would have to say it is a nervous start from the world No. 9, the top

:06:24. > :06:31.seed in this match. Easy red missed in the beginning.

:06:32. > :06:56.That safety shot. He is a bit of an enigma, Ricky

:06:57. > :07:01.Walden. He either looks like a world beater or sometimes he looks like he

:07:02. > :07:04.is ranked 50 times lower. Yeah. I always feel with Ricky he gets in

:07:05. > :07:10.his own way sometimes. I always think he's at his best when he is

:07:11. > :07:15.playing flu weptly and he is such a quick scorer and then sometimes he

:07:16. > :07:22.just seems to get bogged down. Exactly. Too much care and

:07:23. > :07:32.attention. All right, give it care and attention, but not too much.

:07:33. > :07:42.He needs to be on the blue and I don't think he's run quit far

:07:43. > :07:46.enough, has he? No. It is a bit more difficult now. If he was

:07:47. > :07:50.right-handed, the brown wouldn't be a problem, but being left-handed -

:07:51. > :08:02.that is why he is playing the green. A bit to do with the cue ball.

:08:03. > :08:09.That was a don't shot. It needed to travel another foot or so. Same sort

:08:10. > :08:31.of shot here. Well, obviously the black goes. I

:08:32. > :08:31.presumed the black didn't go to the red corner.

:08:32. > :08:40.APPLAUSE . Absolutely.

:08:41. > :08:45.He's had two decent chances, has Robbie, and independent made the

:08:46. > :09:35.most of them. -- and independent made the most of them.

:09:36. > :09:48.A debut referee here on this match. Greg Culliquo.

:09:49. > :09:55.He needs to do a delicate job of putting the black as close to his

:09:56. > :10:01.spot as he could because he's no other spots available. That is the

:10:02. > :10:06.black tied up. He may decide to cannon into the pink here. That

:10:07. > :10:15.brings the pink free. APPLAUSE

:10:16. > :10:21.Free for Robbie to play. You wouldn't put anything past, Ricky

:10:22. > :10:27.Walden. One of THE very best players. As Stephen and I were

:10:28. > :10:31.mulling over. He just seems sometimes to look for problems that

:10:32. > :10:33.aren't there. When he is fluent, as I said, he scores very quickly,

:10:34. > :10:48.indeed. Wrong side of the blue. I don't

:10:49. > :10:52.necessarily think that was his fault. I don't think that was the

:10:53. > :10:56.best of contact when the cue ball hit the red. But you would rather

:10:57. > :11:01.have an angle like this, than be just off straight. You should be

:11:02. > :11:06.able to get in between the groan and brown here. A touch of left-hand

:11:07. > :11:12.side. I was going to say yellow and brown, John. I meant to say -- It is

:11:13. > :11:21.a bit early, is it? That was the shot I was going to say and he's

:11:22. > :11:27.played it well. He might just be hampered to get the cue ball out to

:11:28. > :11:31.the black in the same pocket. The red is left to the cue. He may be

:11:32. > :11:36.able to pot that and just get out enough.

:11:37. > :11:50.There was a gap. This is tough. Unless he's going to play to the

:11:51. > :11:57.black from the middle. Ricky Walden, 26. I didn't expect him to miss it.

:11:58. > :12:01.I can only assume the black went into the opposite corner. I have to

:12:02. > :12:05.say when he played the cannon into those reds, he was a little unlucky,

:12:06. > :12:07.but once again catching that top jaw, they are not going to go in if

:12:08. > :12:22.that happens. That wasn't the best Robbie has

:12:23. > :12:31.played. Risky. APPLAUSE

:12:32. > :12:39.The potting has taken him away from the red. The pink is in the way.

:12:40. > :12:40.Drop this in off the cushion for a red to left corner.

:12:41. > :12:53.APPLAUSE He's travelled about 3 feet too far

:12:54. > :13:17.there. He may have got a fast bounce. We

:13:18. > :13:21.were doing the job last night. We'll give him the benefit of the doubt

:13:22. > :13:23.because he overhit that so much. It is a nervey first frame from both

:13:24. > :13:30.players. Where is the cue ball going? Foul.

:13:31. > :13:49.That was unlucky. Well, he does have a red in the

:13:50. > :13:59.middle of the table that is cuttable into the right corner. He knows the

:14:00. > :14:02.cue ball is going back to the ball again, so he has a chance to leave

:14:03. > :14:07.anything. APPLAUSE

:14:08. > :14:12.If he can get it on the brown, he's got a chance of the green to the

:14:13. > :14:14.middle, but you just fell that he needs the cue ball on the left-hand

:14:15. > :14:26.side of the table to be on a red. Well, he feels as though he can get

:14:27. > :14:38.on this one and he's played that nicely. Don't want too big a bounce.

:14:39. > :14:40.That is unfortunate. 4. He played that really nicely and unlucky not

:14:41. > :15:34.to be on the red. Without the kiss on the groan d,

:15:35. > :15:38.that was a pretty good safety shot from Ricky Walden. When you are

:15:39. > :15:48.going to cross the ball like that, it is so ceasey to catch them too

:15:49. > :15:54.thick. -- so easy to catch them too thick. If nothing pots to the right

:15:55. > :15:59.corner, Robbie Williams can just play this open red up and down.

:16:00. > :16:04.Leave the cue ball on the black cushion. That seems the easiest

:16:05. > :16:13.route. APPLAUSE

:16:14. > :16:17.He went straight past the blue. Quite a good amateur record, has

:16:18. > :16:25.Robbie. He was part of the England Amateur Team that won the 2012

:16:26. > :16:29.European Team Championship. 2012 he qualified through Cue School so you

:16:30. > :16:37.can bet your life he knows his way around a table. That is something

:16:38. > :16:43.that you don't see so much nowadays. People get spotted very early on and

:16:44. > :16:48.they don't really have an amateur career, as such.

:16:49. > :16:52.APPLAUSE Yeah, he's obviously a very good

:16:53. > :16:57.player because he seems to qualify for most events at the TV stages.

:16:58. > :17:02.But, as I said earlier, he's just not been able to produce that form

:17:03. > :17:03.on TV as yet. This is a big step up, The Crucible.

:17:04. > :17:33.APPLAUSE Trust in the table here. It went

:17:34. > :17:35.pretty straight. It did, didn't it? Fair play.

:17:36. > :17:40.APPLAUSE It is level. There have been

:17:41. > :17:51.complaints about the cushions, but it is level. Yes.

:17:52. > :18:00.That is a bit short of pace. That is careless. No way he should have left

:18:01. > :18:03.that there. There we go. Just playing the roller.

:18:04. > :18:18.Ricky Walden is going to be punished for that, I think.

:18:19. > :18:32.APPLAUSE Finished up choice of yellow or

:18:33. > :18:39.green. The red, he obviously would like to get on. That is the one that

:18:40. > :18:43.is up from the one that is tight to the cushion. The way this is

:18:44. > :18:48.running, he's played this absolutely perfectly. Good shot. Yeah, that was

:18:49. > :18:48.a lovely shot. 4. He hit that very well.

:18:49. > :19:01.APPLAUSE Once the red is gone he clears the

:19:02. > :19:05.red and hits the black for in the same pocket. I don't know if that

:19:06. > :19:11.was overhit and came off the cushion fast and went on. This has to be

:19:12. > :19:15.timed very well. If it is straight, just cue the ball back in a straight

:19:16. > :19:23.line for the red next to the black. That was straight. Has he come for

:19:24. > :19:28.enough? He would have given it a bit extra. He certainly struck it well.

:19:29. > :19:31.But this red, he would have liked to have been a little bit straighter

:19:32. > :19:33.and then it would have been unmissable. He's got a 26-point

:19:34. > :19:44.lead. Yeah, nice shot.

:19:45. > :19:51.APPLAUSE Right in the heart of the pocket. A

:19:52. > :20:01.quick glance at the score board. A good, clean pot. Now, a colour and

:20:02. > :20:03.one more red and a colour to leave Ricky Walden favourite for this

:20:04. > :20:11.match needing the snooker. Poor safety to leave Robbie Williams

:20:12. > :20:23.in for this chance. I don't know if the blue into the

:20:24. > :20:26.centre is a natural angle to cannon the red closest to the right corner.

:20:27. > :20:38.That is what he is trying. Don't miss the blue.

:20:39. > :20:45.Never guaranteed an easy pot, that was the only problem. I don't think

:20:46. > :20:46.is any way he will put the red along the black cushion. That would cost

:20:47. > :21:00.him the frame if he missed that. 32 points in front. As I say,

:21:01. > :21:08.another red and a colour, but he's got an easy safety shot here.

:21:09. > :21:17.Just be careful you don't pot the black.

:21:18. > :21:24.APPLAUSE Robbie Williams, 14. Big favourite

:21:25. > :21:58.to take this opening frame now. Another very poor safety shot from

:21:59. > :22:12.Ricky. His last two safety shots have been very average, to be kind.

:22:13. > :22:17.If he pots the blue, he is 38 points in front with 35 remaining. Looks a

:22:18. > :22:41.formality. Just confirmation of that, but he

:22:42. > :22:43.would love to pot this red and then he won't be having any anxiety about

:22:44. > :22:51.his opponent getting snookers. That should keep Ricky Walden in his

:22:52. > :23:15.seat for the rest of this frame. He's struck the ball pretty well in

:23:16. > :23:18.this first frame, Robbie Williams. Obviously independent made any big

:23:19. > :23:23.breaks. It has been a decent performance and that is the first

:23:24. > :23:30.goal in this match taken care of, get a frame and a board as soon as

:23:31. > :23:32.possible. Now he can relax and try and play his best snooker. Who knows

:23:33. > :24:03.what can happen. It didn't match the pink. Talking

:24:04. > :24:07.about safety shots, Robbie Williams was given the opportunity. He needed

:24:08. > :24:08.both of them, but in the end he ran out a very comfortable winner with

:24:09. > :24:25.that opening frame. 1-nil. He cut that safety shot a little bit

:24:26. > :24:32.too thin. Nearly cannoned into the blue and he's left his red on. I

:24:33. > :24:33.think there is enough room to play the pot in around the back of the

:24:34. > :25:08.black. Quite a tricky positional shot,

:25:09. > :25:12.this. He has an angle if he wanted to go into the bunch, but there is a

:25:13. > :25:18.good chance that would fire the black up even more. He is not

:25:19. > :25:26.guaranteed to get on a red here. That is why he's played that shot.

:25:27. > :25:31.He's hit it well. I think he's on a red to left corner as well. A good,

:25:32. > :25:34.confident shot that, from Robbie. That first frame has certainly

:25:35. > :25:38.settled him down. You can always tell when a player, if you like,

:25:39. > :25:43.plays the right shot. There was always a chance there, a bit lower

:25:44. > :25:45.down, he may have released the black and not let red away. Good, positive

:25:46. > :25:59.thinking. Now, is that pink? Did the pink go

:26:00. > :26:07.into the middle? He is not on it now. Will he be tempted by the blue?

:26:08. > :26:09.I think so. I think the way that he started, he looks to be quite an

:26:10. > :26:14.aggress I player. -- aggressive player. This is the

:26:15. > :26:35.only shot here, I think. A APPLAUSE A good stroke. A lot of this is from

:26:36. > :26:39.winning the first frame, John. Now it looks like he's relax need the

:26:40. > :26:43.match. We always say you never really relax until you get the first

:26:44. > :26:51.frame by your name on the score board and a couple of nice pots he's

:26:52. > :26:54.pulled out here. Has he got an angle to cannon that red second to the

:26:55. > :27:02.left of the black. If he had potted the reds in the

:27:03. > :27:07.middle of the pocket, he would have cannoned that red. Yeah, just

:27:08. > :27:12.misjudged how the path of the cue ball. As you say, if it had hit the

:27:13. > :27:17.red in the middle of the pocket it would have taken a different line,

:27:18. > :27:26.but I don't think he will be scoring now. Brown ball.

:27:27. > :27:32.Robbie Williams, 12. APPLAUSE

:27:33. > :27:39.If we just have a look at this. It just went in the sort of left side

:27:40. > :28:29.of the pocket, as we looked. Always looking to get the cue ball

:28:30. > :28:56.back, but it certainly would have been a bonus if the red had dropped.

:28:57. > :29:03.Once you cop a ball in the front of the face, you leave your opponent

:29:04. > :29:08.with a chance invariably with his hand on the table. He has to avoid

:29:09. > :29:12.that right centre pocket. Put it in the left-hand side.

:29:13. > :29:17.APPLAUSE He's let the cue ball run away a

:29:18. > :29:19.little bit. He didn't strike that one as well as he would have liked.

:29:20. > :29:44.Roll it behind the yellow now. He didn't get the snooker. They look

:29:45. > :29:48.easy, those, don't they? When you have got a bit of tension in the

:29:49. > :29:51.arm, there is always tension in the arm at The Crucible. It is a

:29:52. > :30:02.first-round match. It was a delicate shot.

:30:03. > :30:12.Ricky was expecting that ready play to run into another one and to run

:30:13. > :30:14.safe, but he's hit it and that ball lass come down to the centre where

:30:15. > :30:39.the cue ball is, Ken. It was tricky that one because the

:30:40. > :30:42.cue ball was running away and he didn't really have an idea where it

:30:43. > :30:44.would end up. Disappointing miss, though, after the way that he

:30:45. > :31:37.started the frame. He would love to get the blue on

:31:38. > :31:41.this spot. That would open up things a little bit more.

:31:42. > :31:52.I think he's overdone this. He is just about OK. Has he landed

:31:53. > :31:59.slap-bang in the middle of nowhere? Surely not.

:32:00. > :32:05.Well, he can't get to the one in the left and he can't get to the one -

:32:06. > :32:10.that is unbelieve ail where he's finished. Of all the places in all

:32:11. > :32:20.of the world, he had to finish up there.

:32:21. > :32:28.Yeah, that was a poor shot. Sometimes you play those shots and

:32:29. > :32:30.you think, "There is no way I am going to land there" and then it

:32:31. > :32:33.happens. LAUGHS

:32:34. > :32:35.. You just play the cue ball into an area thinking you are bound to be on

:32:36. > :32:57.something. I don't blame him giving this a bit

:32:58. > :33:03.of thought, but he's got to sneak off the red and play safe. He's got

:33:04. > :33:08.to be careful that red in the right centre doesn't leave a possible cut

:33:09. > :33:16.on that red. Ricky Walden. You have to say Ricky was unfurther Mate

:33:17. > :33:27.there. -- unfortunate there. You are very kind, John. Known for it. Known

:33:28. > :33:31.for it. -- unfortunate there. You are very kind, John. Known for it.

:33:32. > :33:31.Known for it. Bad shot for me. I am not kind.

:33:32. > :33:42.LAUGHS . You got to be careful here.

:33:43. > :33:47.He's got that cue ball back to the ball, Ken. You couldn't play the

:33:48. > :33:53.shot any better than that. APPLAUSE

:33:54. > :34:02.He knows his way around a table, does Robbie.

:34:03. > :35:17.Obviously, this red just above the black won't cut back into the left

:35:18. > :35:20.corner. It is one you need to get. Where is the cue ball going to

:35:21. > :35:22.finish? Is it going to be on anything? Once again, the ball is

:35:23. > :35:37.not running kind. You could question the fact that he

:35:38. > :35:39.played it so hard. Just a delicate little touch up to the green. Robbie

:35:40. > :35:58.Williams, one. The way the Reds are spread now, the

:35:59. > :36:04.colours are slowly but surely becoming available. Ricky has to be

:36:05. > :36:10.very careful here. He left a chance for Robbie. You can so in the fraum

:36:11. > :36:13.quit easily, as we look at the -- frame quite easily, as we look at

:36:14. > :36:30.the virtual image. Tight up against the green. I can't see much else,

:36:31. > :36:34.but it is in hope here. I love the hit and hope, but I can't see how he

:36:35. > :36:40.is going to get this safe, to be honest with you. I can't see how he

:36:41. > :36:48.can hit a red and not leave a pot on. I could draw you a few lines.

:36:49. > :36:51.But, I don't think they would help. I am going to come up with one now.

:36:52. > :37:14.Just to entertain Stephen. That's a Superman logo, isn't it? I

:37:15. > :37:19.don't even think Superman could get out of this without leaving a red

:37:20. > :37:24.on. He's having a look. For the white line all the way.

:37:25. > :37:41.He is having a go. He's going to miss that red in the middle. He's

:37:42. > :37:46.playing it pacey, but he still hit that red. He got it safe. I don't

:37:47. > :37:55.believe it. I do not believe it! APPLAUSE

:37:56. > :38:07.The things that happen on the snooker table. It is only 12 x 4.

:38:08. > :38:10.He's flicked the red, he's flicked the black, he's be hind the red and

:38:11. > :38:20.behind the black. Amazing! Amazing! Fair play to Robbie. He showed no

:38:21. > :38:34.emotion whatsoever. Inside he must be devastated with

:38:35. > :38:37.the result of that shot. Trying to get in behind the brown. Caught the

:38:38. > :39:11.red a little bit too thick. APPLAUSE

:39:12. > :39:34.Good shot. He rolled it in nicely. Oh, well,

:39:35. > :39:39.he's missed the green. As you saw and rightly said, Stephen, it is

:39:40. > :39:46.showing up on the table. Looks very edgy at the start of this match.

:39:47. > :39:51.When you consider most of the season they play the best of sevens. The

:39:52. > :39:58.best of 19 for the seed seems to be a short match. It is amazing how the

:39:59. > :40:02.mind can play tricks with you. I am sure he will settle down eventually,

:40:03. > :40:14.but he doesn't want to drop too many frames behind.

:40:15. > :40:27.OK, he's got the blue. A bit of pressure on this.

:40:28. > :40:39.He rolled it in A frame-winning chance now. The last

:40:40. > :40:43.thing you want to do - we will watch this shot - this was more tricky

:40:44. > :40:47.than it looks. There was a bit of pressure on it, but the last thing,

:40:48. > :40:54.as a seed in the favourite, is let your opponent get confident. You are

:40:55. > :40:59.supposed to stamp your authority on the match and your lesser-known

:41:00. > :41:01.opponent as soon as possible. He's not doing that at the moment. He

:41:02. > :41:16.looks like the qualifier. Looking at the start when they

:41:17. > :41:21.played, the major tournament they played in was the UK Championship

:41:22. > :41:28.which has been reduced to Best of 11, but Ricky only managed to bet

:41:29. > :41:43.Robbie by six frames to five. It was a close contested affair.

:41:44. > :41:50.This has been made a more difficult chance. A little bit of a fast

:41:51. > :41:53.bounce off that cushion there. Dead straight in his groan. This is tough

:41:54. > :42:08.to get on a red. The fact he's given it a lot of

:42:09. > :42:12.thought tells me he must be too straight. He is a little thin on the

:42:13. > :42:28.blue. He doesn't fancy the pot. The green is unmissable. # I saw it

:42:29. > :42:32.happen. It has happened again now. I know the ball was bouncing, but this

:42:33. > :42:36.was right in the heart of the pocket, wasn't it? Yep. I have to

:42:37. > :42:40.say that - I was with you, John, the blue that jumped out of the middle

:42:41. > :42:42.pocket last night, that one, that is scandalous, to be fair at these

:42:43. > :43:02.tables at a World Championship. Ricky Walden at the moment can't

:43:03. > :43:07.find the middle of the pockets. He's getting angry now. He threw his

:43:08. > :43:28.extension now. He is starting to get fuss straighted. It hasn't worked

:43:29. > :44:24.out to He caught that a little bit too

:44:25. > :44:30.thin. It seemed to fly off that top cushion. He may have been fortunate

:44:31. > :44:38.to think that the pink is blocking the path. But if Robbie Williams, if

:44:39. > :44:43.he decides not to take the pot on the red that is on the other side of

:44:44. > :44:47.the blue, if he stuns it and misses contact with the other side of the

:44:48. > :44:49.brown, he could have Ricky in trouble here. This red needs to

:44:50. > :44:52.bounce, though. It has just about run safe.

:44:53. > :45:40.Something went bump. Anybody hurt? APPLAUSE

:45:41. > :45:43.He got the boab news of the double kiss, the second kiss, he would have

:45:44. > :45:46.been on nothing but for the second kiss. Let's have a look at this

:45:47. > :45:51.again. He knocks the red to the cushion. The red comes back. He

:45:52. > :46:00.knocks the cue ball perfect on the black. Good spots and he deserved a

:46:01. > :46:05.bit of luck. To be fair, though, Robbie Williams has had two very

:46:06. > :46:09.good chances. All right, they weren't an ideal situation, but he

:46:10. > :46:10.didn't make the most of them, so he was always open to this

:46:11. > :46:42.counterattack. Nine. The red is close to the pink. He

:46:43. > :46:49.needs to get that into the play. The black will make the points all

:46:50. > :46:56.square in this frame. Not quite hard enough. The red will pot. But it is

:46:57. > :47:03.tricky now. As I say, points all square. It will still be a big ask

:47:04. > :47:04.to win the frame at this visit. This is a tough shot and of course the

:47:05. > :47:12.green tied up. Good shot.

:47:13. > :47:24.APPLAUSE You won't see many frames in this

:47:25. > :47:29.World Championship when all of the Reds have been potted and the scores

:47:30. > :47:35.are only 2 #, 28. It gives you a clue what sort of frame this has

:47:36. > :47:36.been. Ricky won't care. All he is thinking about is getting that frame

:47:37. > :47:51.on the board. Deliberately played, this frame and

:47:52. > :47:55.the yellow. That was a good shot off the black there. It is always

:47:56. > :47:58.difficult when playing this type of shot. Where you are trying to knock

:47:59. > :48:02.the green to, you try to knock it over the middle. You are just trying

:48:03. > :48:06.to disturb it and hope you leave yourself with a pot on. He's got the

:48:07. > :48:12.natural angle to pot the yellow and disturb the green.

:48:13. > :48:21.I would have played it a bit firmer than that. 33. . Even if he made

:48:22. > :48:25.contact with the green, independent certain what you will be on. You can

:48:26. > :48:30.only assume he was just playing to be shortly green and lay the snoker

:48:31. > :48:39.behind the blue. He's come too -- snooker behind the blue. He's come

:48:40. > :48:52.too far. He can still play the snooker, the but...

:48:53. > :48:58.You see, he has given this a lot of thought. It looks straightforward to

:48:59. > :49:00.me. Just bump the green off the side cushion, play a little bit of top

:49:01. > :49:14.and get the snooker behind the blue. Has he got the snooker? Ricky

:49:15. > :49:21.Walden. That is a shocker. I am with you, just dolly it off the cushion.

:49:22. > :49:25.It didn't look a tough shot. Well, if he's even left Robbie Williams a

:49:26. > :49:32.chance of a swerve, it is a bad shot. He has. If he hits it, you

:49:33. > :49:38.think he would pot it and beyond the brown.

:49:39. > :49:50.Another very, very loose shot for Ricky Walden. He had control of the

:49:51. > :50:04.table and gave it back. Yeah, I think he just tried to make

:50:05. > :50:09.the snooker too difficult or just played the actual, the exact shot,

:50:10. > :50:14.whereas the important thing was just snokerring Robbie. -- snookering

:50:15. > :50:18.Robbie. We always say it at the end of a frame, a snooker is so veil

:50:19. > :50:23.because even if your opponent hits it, he is not certain to get it

:50:24. > :50:33.safe, but obviously not a good angle on this brown to get on the blue.

:50:34. > :50:49.Trying to force it. He's had a result. He's had a result there.

:50:50. > :51:09.He's got on the blue and now it is making an awkward cueing for Ricky.

:51:10. > :51:18.The easiest way to get it safe is to hit the brown straight on and put it

:51:19. > :51:22.on the cushion. If he tries to be clever, this could go wrong. The

:51:23. > :51:27.only way to cut the brown thin and bring the cue ball back up the

:51:28. > :51:33.table. That is a little bit dodgy when you are bridging over d the --

:51:34. > :51:41.over the blue. At this stage, just get the brown safe. I agree,

:51:42. > :51:44.Stephen. That is the No. 1 priority because if he left the pot on the

:51:45. > :51:49.brown. APPLAUSE

:51:50. > :51:54.I see no problem playing the brown up and down. It is in across the

:51:55. > :51:59.brown, in fact, you could do that. Mmm. He's seen problems, though,

:52:00. > :52:01.Ricky. This is what sometimes happens in his game. He gets a bit

:52:02. > :52:16.bogged down. He's played the thin safety. Yeah.

:52:17. > :52:32.Our stats people back stage didn't play the pot there.

:52:33. > :52:42.This is a good line. This is a good line. Just a fraction lard, though.

:52:43. > :52:46.A good effort. Ricky Walden, six points in front. He needs the brown

:52:47. > :52:54.and blue. Robbie Williams needs up to and including the pink.

:52:55. > :53:02.APPLAUSE Yeah, that is as good a safety shot

:53:03. > :53:21.he's played so far in this match, Ricky Walden.

:53:22. > :53:31.It is one of those type of shots you want to play harder so it bounces up

:53:32. > :53:35.the side cushion. Still not a Ghan I tee to pot this brown and get a good

:53:36. > :53:47.position on the blue. There is a bit of hope for Robbie Williams still.

:53:48. > :53:51.There is a bit of hope for Robbie Williams still. This brown does pot

:53:52. > :53:55.to the right centre, but he would love a bit of brown on it. This is

:53:56. > :53:58.definitely missable. The pace you have to play, you think you are

:53:59. > :54:04.guaranteed to stick it up if you miss it. He needs the blue. That is

:54:05. > :54:12.what may tempt him to play into this right corner. If he gets a run it

:54:13. > :54:16.should run along the top cushion and of course if it goes in, he whips

:54:17. > :54:37.the frame. Is it middle or corner? For the frame?

:54:38. > :54:46.And in goes the pink. He will be pleased to have his first

:54:47. > :55:06.frame on the scoreboard. And he now levels 1-1.

:55:07. > :55:14.Well, that's a bonus. And also a bonus, kissing the blue full in the

:55:15. > :55:22.face. There's always a chance of that, don't get me wrong. But now

:55:23. > :55:25.it's gone in, and he's nicely on the brown, obviously it's still a

:55:26. > :55:30.difficult opportunity. Pink and black out of commission. These three

:55:31. > :55:34.up near the cushion. He's trying to bring them into placement he's

:55:35. > :55:37.trying to bring them into play. And it's just one of those matches, the

:55:38. > :55:43.way that it started. I'm not being funny - I think the balls are

:55:44. > :55:45.winning at the moment. They just don't seem to be running kindly for

:55:46. > :55:52.either player. And that can happen. And it's frustrating when it does.

:55:53. > :56:11.That's why you need experience. And to show a bit of patience.

:56:12. > :56:16.Well, this one needs good cueing. A follow-flew off two cushions, to get

:56:17. > :56:35.the cue ball back up the table. Many always looks worse when you

:56:36. > :56:38.miss the shot, these long shots, because the balls start going around

:56:39. > :56:41.the table. It looks like you've hit it too hard. But that was not good

:56:42. > :57:22.timing at all. And there is another chance for

:57:23. > :57:29.Ricky, but you have to say they're just not good chances. No matter -

:57:30. > :57:37.or how easy the starter is, the colours, the high-value colours,

:57:38. > :57:45.very awkward. Playing for the black. Has he got enough side on? Got some

:57:46. > :57:50.side on, but... Again, just finished slightly awkward. And the red, once

:57:51. > :57:54.the black goes back in its spot, the red in the open won't pot to left

:57:55. > :58:06.corner. He's gonna have to play a bit of pace to get the cue ball out.

:58:07. > :58:10.And that was nicely played. It wasn't that difficult a shot, but

:58:11. > :58:28.just the way the game has been going.

:58:29. > :58:38.This red along the top cushion... It's one of those that I always say,

:58:39. > :58:43.if they're tight to the cushion, they're easy. Just off the cushion

:58:44. > :58:47.like this, very, very missable. You've gotta be so accurate with

:58:48. > :58:51.this. It's 50-50 for me, this, if he plays it with any kind of pace.

:58:52. > :58:59.Well, he's played it lovely. He gave it every chance to drop.

:59:00. > :59:25.That good red puts him now just one point behind.

:59:26. > :59:34.Came a little bit too straight on the black. Six points, the lead,

:59:35. > :59:42.now. Looking for - oh, well, choices here. Other than play the pot. And I

:59:43. > :59:49.don't really see one. I don't really see an easy safety shot. You may as

:59:50. > :59:52.well play the pot. There's every chance you could cover it. If you

:59:53. > :59:57.try and get too cute and play safe, you could leave the red.

:59:58. > :00:04.Gotta play the pot here. It's a tough one. And he's having a problem

:00:05. > :00:09.just getting his bridge hand, because the cue ball is so close to

:00:10. > :00:13.the side cushion. And that's why he changed his mind in the end, and I

:00:14. > :00:22.tell you what, he's glad he did. Because he's played it well. I think

:00:23. > :00:25.he was intent on playing the pot on the red, but once you couldn't get

:00:26. > :00:30.his hand comfortable, he opted for the safety. Shouldn't be too

:00:31. > :00:34.difficult to swerve around this, strike him down. Watch the left-hand

:00:35. > :00:34.side, watch this cue ball bounce and swing.

:00:35. > :00:49.Played it well. But, of course, the age-old problem

:00:50. > :00:54.- it's can you get it safe? And this red is left on, six points to lead.

:00:55. > :01:20.So, he's gonna need the awkward blue near the pot cushion. Missed a red.

:01:21. > :01:29.Seeing the reaction there. He's still frustrated out there.

:01:30. > :02:36.Well, very careless to get the double-kiss. He's just put his hand

:02:37. > :02:56.up, so he's fluked the snooker. That was a poor safety from Robbie.

:02:57. > :03:04.Well, that was a nice, controlled swerve. That's the best you can hope

:03:05. > :03:06.for. As I say, when you're snookered, it's not hitting so much,

:03:07. > :03:13.it's trying to move the object ball safe. He did that.

:03:14. > :03:32.Well, look at that. You could hear that cue ball bounce off the top

:03:33. > :03:42.cushion there, couldn't you? It went, "Boinge!"

:03:43. > :03:51.You won't remember the magic roundabout. Zebeddy - boing! Yeah, I

:03:52. > :04:10.do. You do? Oh, there you go. Oh, this is close. That's close. So,

:04:11. > :04:12.we'll give him the benefit of the doubt, he knows he's gonna go close

:04:13. > :04:24.to pocket. He played one in the last frame.

:04:25. > :04:28.There's always a chance, and you know you're gonna get the cue ball

:04:29. > :04:31.back to the baulk end, and you would be unlucky if it stays in the jaws

:04:32. > :04:36.of the pocket. Not good on the green. You would think, if you were

:04:37. > :04:42.feeling confident, pot the yellow, yellow back on its spot, if he

:04:43. > :04:45.knocks this yellow in, he will be a frame-winner, you would have

:04:46. > :04:47.thought. He's not there. But it's gonna run

:04:48. > :04:51.safe. He missed it. The yellow could have

:04:52. > :05:16.gone anywhere. Now, where is this yellow ball

:05:17. > :05:17.going? Is it gonna run past the middle? He needs it to. Just about

:05:18. > :06:06.got it safe. When you get to this stage of frame,

:06:07. > :06:10.when you're down to the colours, a snooker can be so advantageous. It

:06:11. > :06:16.can really swing the frame in your favour. And Robbie Williams has got

:06:17. > :06:20.the snooker there. Can Ricky hit the yellow and get it safe?

:06:21. > :06:35.He's playing a direct swerve. He needs to get plenty on this.

:06:36. > :06:38.He's got it safe. But Robbie Williams has still got the

:06:39. > :07:01.initiative leer. -- initiative here. APPLAUSE

:07:02. > :07:06.It was a risky shot. The problem is, if you miss it, a perfect example

:07:07. > :07:10.there, and you hit the wrong jaw, it will come back towards the cue ball.

:07:11. > :07:14.So, this is half a chance, if Ricky does decide to take the pot on.

:07:15. > :07:19.Pots the yellow, doesn't have to do much with the cue ball to have

:07:20. > :07:21.position on the green. Seven points, the lead. Yellow, green, brown and

:07:22. > :07:32.blue needed. And in goes the yellow. And the fact

:07:33. > :07:37.that he only needs the blue to clinch this frame, he won't have to

:07:38. > :07:42.be playing a pacy blue to get up on the pink.

:07:43. > :07:52.Well, he wouldn't be happy with that. He's asked for the cue ball to

:07:53. > :07:59.be cleaned immediately. But did it kick? Well, maybe a slight jump. I

:08:00. > :08:05.don't know. But he's gonna have to play a good shot now to get up and

:08:06. > :08:16.down the table, back for the blue. Yeah. Looks like four cushions...

:08:17. > :08:37.So, 16 ahead. This blue to go 21 points ahead, with only 13

:08:38. > :08:58.remaining. He's potted it nicely. Scpra quick

:08:59. > :09:09.glance at a scoreboard -- and a quick glance at a scoreboard.

:09:10. > :09:13.So, two snookers needed. Pink over the pocket, a little nod of

:09:14. > :09:17.concession there from Robbie Williams.

:09:18. > :09:18.APPLAUSE Maybe just settling down. He leads

:09:19. > :09:43.by two frames to one. Straightaway, the black is blocked

:09:44. > :09:45.up. He could play the cannon off the cushion here. The red to the right

:09:46. > :09:51.of the black. APPLAUSE

:09:52. > :10:01.It's a long blue. To the yellow pocket.

:10:02. > :10:15.APPLAUSE He's just lost it.

:10:16. > :10:22.That is amazing. He's missed the blue. He's left himself a red to the

:10:23. > :10:26.left corner. Where has the blue gone? Up and down the table and

:10:27. > :10:39.blocked the path for that red. Considering Ricky would have been

:10:40. > :10:40.disappointed not to have had a go at that red, he's played a good safety

:10:41. > :11:24.there. Not the best of safeties that time

:11:25. > :11:28.from Ricky Walden. So, there's a chance this pots. And the only one

:11:29. > :11:30.he'd leave is the one he's playing, you would have thought, so he can go

:11:31. > :11:43.for it with confidence. Yeah, nearly part of this match, he

:11:44. > :11:47.was knocking a few good long ones in, Robbie. Seems to have dried up

:11:48. > :11:50.now, his long potting, which isn't a good sign.

:11:51. > :12:21.Not really in the jaws. Nice, aggressive safety shot there

:12:22. > :12:24.from Ricky Walden. Bringing the black into play, opening the reds

:12:25. > :12:36.up. That's the right way to play safety shots.

:12:37. > :12:42.This may go close, this plant, into the left corner. It depends on how

:12:43. > :12:46.thick he hits this red. Yep, he got it.

:12:47. > :13:10.APPLAUSE Robbie Williams.

:13:11. > :13:22.He played a good safety shot, but unfortunate to leave that plant. And

:13:23. > :13:24.now, having played the positive safety shot to open the reds up,

:13:25. > :13:56.he's now in trouble because of it. There's an obvious line, but I'm not

:13:57. > :13:58.certain how much he can get to that side cushion. If he can get past the

:13:59. > :14:08.yellow. He's looking to the one place, the

:14:09. > :14:12.top cushion. But I think the blue may just get in the way of this. So,

:14:13. > :14:16.he's not following my line. He's gonna come and try and avoid the

:14:17. > :14:23.blue. Yeah, I thought the blue would be in the way. The problem with

:14:24. > :14:32.playing that way, you can always drift past it.

:14:33. > :14:50.So close, wasn't it? So close. But this is the problem with this shot.

:14:51. > :14:53.That's what he's playing, but when he comes off that second cushion,

:14:54. > :15:08.it's gonna get very close to blue. Not guaranteed to get this safe.

:15:09. > :15:13.Because when you're in this sort of situation, in this type of snooker,

:15:14. > :15:18.you're looking for a red that, if you hit it, you'll leave it safe.

:15:19. > :15:23.And I'm not certain he can guarantee this, being safe. And as I say, I

:15:24. > :15:34.still would be concerned about catching the blue.

:15:35. > :15:51.Now, is he gonna be tempted with this red along the top cushion? No.

:15:52. > :16:02.Can't blame him. He's got Ricky in all kinds of trouble there.

:16:03. > :16:10.Yeah, I think our referee will have to have a look at where the blue is.

:16:11. > :16:15.I'm not certain it was there. Ricky just asking him to check where

:16:16. > :16:20.the blue was. That's where it was. So, he wants to be a little bit

:16:21. > :16:25.left, a little bit towards us. A little left, a little left.

:16:26. > :16:35.Not - back a bit, back a bit. Back a bit. Back a bit.

:16:36. > :16:46.APPLAUSE it does make a big difference, this.

:16:47. > :16:50.Because that blue, as I say, when we saw it before, on Ricky's last

:16:51. > :16:52.attempt to escape it, it is important where that blue is. That

:16:53. > :17:02.looks OK now. We'll have a look at the original.

:17:03. > :17:04.There's the original. And there it is now. Looks perfect. Well spotted,

:17:05. > :17:09.referee. But can he avoid the kiss on the

:17:10. > :17:21.blue? Well, he can if he gives it that

:17:22. > :17:32.high. Well, I think he flicked the red there. He did. He just feathered

:17:33. > :17:33.the red. But he's left to pot on. He just feathered this red. The red

:17:34. > :17:50.hardly moved. But it's a hit. Now he's gotta make the most of

:17:51. > :17:58.these opportunities, has Robbie. That cue ball just about stopped in

:17:59. > :18:42.time. This is the fourth frame and we've still not had a break over 40.

:18:43. > :18:48.Has to take advantage of these chances. If he's got any hope of

:18:49. > :19:05.winning this match. Looks to be a bit straight, but he

:19:06. > :19:11.would love to go around the around the reds and the black to the left

:19:12. > :19:14.corner. Yeah, that was very lucky, because

:19:15. > :19:18.that's not the shot he played. He miepght even have an angle to cannon

:19:19. > :19:31.away from the black -- might. Very nice. Yeah. A real bonus, that.

:19:32. > :19:40.Left it perfect. Pot the red, can knob the red. And be nicely on the

:19:41. > :19:42.-- cannon the red. And be nicely on the black.

:19:43. > :19:53.LAUGHTER Oh! Well. Robbie Williams, 12. Just

:19:54. > :19:58.as he was playing that, you could hear some... Some distraction from

:19:59. > :20:03.the other side. But I didn't expect him to miss that. Did he play it

:20:04. > :20:08.with a trace aside and just got a heavy contact? Yeah, I think you've

:20:09. > :20:08.gotta give him the benefit of the doubt there.

:20:09. > :20:32.APPLAUSE Now, surely we're gonna see, as we

:20:33. > :20:36.watch that black - he pointed the cue there, so he got a kick. Surely

:20:37. > :20:40.we're gonna see 33 break being beaten here.

:20:41. > :20:44.APPLAUSE Well, no, we're not.

:20:45. > :20:58.LAUGHS amazing.

:20:59. > :21:06.Well, there's the high break - 33. Ricky Walden. 25, Robbie Williams.

:21:07. > :21:12.And it's not as if they've not had opportunities here. The chances have

:21:13. > :21:17.been coming thick and fast. And even that, you see, I'm not

:21:18. > :21:24.certain - to play on the pink like that... Well, it's not too bad. But,

:21:25. > :21:33.you know, a little bit more effort to try and get a straighter pink.

:21:34. > :21:37.Yeah. It's almost - to be hard, it's almost amateurish. It's like he's

:21:38. > :21:41.making sure the pot is timed, he's not thinking about two shots ahead,

:21:42. > :21:49.getting the angle and colour for the next red.

:21:50. > :21:52.A nice pot there. But I think when the pink is respoted, it might tie

:21:53. > :21:57.up a couple of these reds. He needs to play this well.

:21:58. > :22:08.Now he's underhit it. Is he just about the on the red? Well, he must

:22:09. > :22:19.be, because he's getting down to play it. Just on it.

:22:20. > :22:26.Left himself a nice angle on the blue. May decide to play a little

:22:27. > :22:33.cannon on those three reds just below the pink. Unless one of them

:22:34. > :22:37.pots. The fact he's left-handed, he may play for the one - he's played

:22:38. > :22:38.your shot, John, he's played the cannon. He's played it well.

:22:39. > :22:59.That was a good shot. Yep. Wouldn't expect any mistakes

:23:00. > :23:06.from here. Although, we've said that before.

:23:07. > :23:12.Well, I would hazard a guess that Ricky Walden will go straight to the

:23:13. > :23:20.practice table and then to try and get some rhythm. Because it has been

:23:21. > :23:25.very poor from him this morning, from both players, really. But for

:23:26. > :23:29.someone ranked nine in the world, and, as I said before, he has been

:23:30. > :23:36.in good form. He was in the final of the last ranking tournament.

:23:37. > :23:45.Yeah. And I think he - was it the World Show Open or the Grand Prix?

:23:46. > :23:53.He got to the final of. So, he's had a good season. But I agree with you.

:23:54. > :23:57.I mean, Robbie Williams, it's understandable, it's only his

:23:58. > :23:59.third-ever appearance here. But Ricky Walden, he's had had the

:24:00. > :24:06.experience of being to semifinals and the like.

:24:07. > :24:13.And that pink, as you see, clinches the frame more or less. 63 ahead.

:24:14. > :24:20.Just 51 remaining. No heroics with this. Just rolled it in. That will

:24:21. > :24:24.mean he will not be coming back to the table.

:24:25. > :24:29.Well, decided to play it firm. But I think Ricky's had enough. He does

:24:30. > :24:34.concede. He's going back to the dressing-room. And I agree, probably

:24:35. > :24:40.to the practice table. We go to the mid-session interval two apiece.

:24:41. > :24:49.Midsession interval over. And you would have thought that both players

:24:50. > :24:51.will be hoping to improve on what we saw in the first four frames of this

:24:52. > :25:14.match. Just the one break over 40. Robbie Williams hoping for a

:25:15. > :25:19.touch-in ball here. Touching both balls. Touching both sfwhauls

:25:20. > :25:24.anyway, he is deemed to have hit -- balls? Anyway, he is deemed to have

:25:25. > :25:27.hit it. An easy return to the cushion, you would have thought.

:25:28. > :25:37.It's one of those situations where you'd rather not snooker your

:25:38. > :25:44.opponent, because it's an easy escape. Big target. Whereas when you

:25:45. > :25:53.force them to play safe, they could make a mistake.

:25:54. > :26:01.Certainly found the path around the back of the black. And there is a

:26:02. > :26:15.snooker. As I say, shouldn't be too much difficulty in hitting the reds.

:26:16. > :26:25.That's the wrong red to hit. Well, I was gonna say that he may have left

:26:26. > :26:26.the red to the right middle, but he's just about covered the pot

:26:27. > :26:46.angle. Just can't get to that red. Touch-in ball. So, once again, easy

:26:47. > :28:10.path back to the baulk end. Didn't catch that quite as intended.

:28:11. > :28:15.And he's left this pot on. The problem is with it, you have to play

:28:16. > :28:19.it and just hope for a position on a colour.

:28:20. > :28:25.Gonna be very difficult to avoid the other reds.

:28:26. > :28:30.Just don't want miss the pot. -- just don't miss the pot.

:28:31. > :28:37.Now, you need a bit of luck. Well, he's left himself a pink to the far

:28:38. > :28:43.right corner. A bit of pressure on it. Doesn't have to do anything with

:28:44. > :28:46.the cue ball to be on the next red. But, of course, if he misses the

:28:47. > :28:54.pink, that went over there for his opponent.

:28:55. > :29:13.Yeah, solid. APPLAUSE

:29:14. > :29:26.Pink looks like it's available to the right corner.

:29:27. > :29:31.So, a chance to score, the end to the left middle. So, a chance to

:29:32. > :29:37.score a few points here in this frame, before he has to think about

:29:38. > :29:38.going into the pack. He's just let that cue ball run, just let it run

:29:39. > :29:51.loose. Yeah, it looks such a simple shot,

:29:52. > :29:54.but it's just a poor shot. You're always putting yourself under

:29:55. > :29:57.pressure to play a good positional shot the next time. Should never be

:29:58. > :30:03.bridging over. Still expect him to get it.

:30:04. > :30:09.Try and make this game as easy as possible. He's back in good position

:30:10. > :30:28.now. He has got an angle, to fall into

:30:29. > :30:35.the reds and disturb a few, if he wants. But there's enough loose reds

:30:36. > :30:37.at the moment. Nice. Might have to start thinking about it sooner

:30:38. > :30:56.rather than later, when he's going to go into the bunch.

:30:57. > :31:10.So, one more red after this one. And going into the pack off the blue.

:31:11. > :31:12.Where the pink is, if he hits the pink full in the face, it might not

:31:13. > :31:22.open the reds that much. Well, he's gonna have to play for

:31:23. > :31:55.the remaining loose red here. Yes. Well, is he gonna play the cannon

:31:56. > :32:02.off two cushions? That's what he's attempting. Wow. And it's worked out

:32:03. > :32:10.nicely. Worked out very nicely, thank you. Great shot.

:32:11. > :32:13.Plenty of left-hand side to generate that pace around the corner of those

:32:14. > :32:27.cushions. May choose to play the same shot

:32:28. > :32:44.here, the opposite side of the table.

:32:45. > :32:50.The red to the right of the pink is the one he's looking at, because

:32:51. > :32:57.he's left-handed. He can get on that one nicely. And the cue ball is

:32:58. > :33:01.going through a gap between the four reds and the red next to the pink.

:33:02. > :33:17.So, not a guaranteed position here. Has to hit this well.

:33:18. > :33:28.Pressure on this pink. Yeah. A bit adverse to hitting it maybe as

:33:29. > :33:41.firmly as that. This frame could be decided by this pot.

:33:42. > :33:47.Yeah, cued it nicely. Cued it very nicely. So, he's got the frame at

:33:48. > :34:02.his mercy now. APPLAUSE

:34:03. > :34:35.And just underhit that slightly. But he's OK.

:34:36. > :34:47.Just taking a moment or two, just letting the noise settle down. A big

:34:48. > :35:12.chance, this. This is better from Robbie Williams.

:35:13. > :35:14.The first 50 break of the match. Can't see any problem with the next

:35:15. > :35:24.three reds. Would like to win this in one visit

:35:25. > :35:27.with a big break. Give him so much confidence. Looking for this pink.

:35:28. > :35:49.One more red to clinch the frame. Spur assist Ricky on, I was

:35:50. > :35:54.thinking. The fact his opponent is starting to score. Yeah, you find

:35:55. > :35:59.that sometimes. One player struggles and it drags the other one down. And

:36:00. > :36:01.the opposite, as you said - one player plays well, it can inspire

:36:02. > :36:10.the other player. As you said before, sometimes the

:36:11. > :36:18.balls dictate as well, don't they, John?

:36:19. > :36:23.That didn't go in. A 67-point lead. 59 remaining. Should be enough for

:36:24. > :36:58.3-2. Where's the cue ball going? Oh! So

:36:59. > :37:24.close to the black. He's looked up to Robbie Williams,

:37:25. > :37:27.said, "That's enough for me." And Robbie Williams gratefully accepts

:37:28. > :37:33.it. So, Robbie Williams now leads 3-2.

:37:34. > :37:38.Take your seats quickly, please. Thank you.

:37:39. > :37:45.A decent break-off shot there from Ricky Walden. Nine frames is played

:37:46. > :38:07.in this first session. Short of pace there. Very tentative.

:38:08. > :38:14.So, here's a chance for Ricky Walden early on in the frame.

:38:15. > :38:17.As we said before, with Robbie Williams, it's nice to win a frame

:38:18. > :38:28.in one visit. Here's a chance for Ricky now, being

:38:29. > :38:31.presented that fairly comfortable red. And that was a poor safety and

:38:32. > :38:43.that was Robbie's reaction. He's got an angle on a blue, but he

:38:44. > :38:47.won't be going into the pink this time. I think he will just stand off

:38:48. > :38:54.the black cushion for the red that's between the black and the pink, in

:38:55. > :38:56.the open to the left corner. Well, and he has put in a cannon. And this

:38:57. > :39:10.could go wrong. Touching ball. OK. He's got the red

:39:11. > :39:12.to the left middle. But he's badly hampered for that. Can't get to the

:39:13. > :39:24.easy red to the left corner. May have to just resort to a safety.

:39:25. > :40:04.Good chance. Not scoring off them at the moment.

:40:05. > :40:16.Ricky Walden, 6. Tried to get in behind the yellow, but I don't think

:40:17. > :40:20.he's quite managed it. Well, the fact that Robbie is looking on the

:40:21. > :40:26.other side of the table to come off the right-hand side cushion and

:40:27. > :40:31.nestle in to close to below the pink, doesn't mean that he can't hit

:40:32. > :40:33.all of this red. It's a big target, though. You would be surprised if he

:40:34. > :41:16.left anything. There is where twaxts it's a lot

:41:17. > :41:20.closer to the yellow than -- it was. It's a lot closer to the yellow than

:41:21. > :41:23.where the referee has got it. A lot closer.

:41:24. > :41:50.It makes a difference, because he's trying to get the speed by putting

:41:51. > :41:53.the right-hand side on, well, he's certainly had enough this time. But

:41:54. > :41:57.he's missed his target. Oh, well! He will settle for that. Didn't hit

:41:58. > :42:30.that well. And he's got it safe. Well, there's another example of

:42:31. > :42:35.Ricky's poor safety. I mean, to catch the bump in the middle pocket

:42:36. > :42:38.when you're that close to the red, just planting off it, is

:42:39. > :42:47.unforgivable, really. Yep. His head has looked scrambled

:42:48. > :42:48.from frame 1, today, Ricky. He's just not been on at all. Very

:42:49. > :43:22.surprising. Robbie Williams, one. Really gotta

:43:23. > :43:25.be taking those chances, Robbie Williams, because you wouldn't

:43:26. > :43:29.expect Ricky to keep playing like this. He's got a great opportunity.

:43:30. > :43:51.He can take a lead into the second session, Robbie Williams.

:43:52. > :43:55.Well, that was onto outrageous fluke. There's no way he played

:43:56. > :44:00.that. He caught the red much too thick.

:44:01. > :44:04.And was lucky enough for it to knock the other one in the pocket and

:44:05. > :44:07.finish nicely on the blue. Could that just be that little bit of good

:44:08. > :44:12.fortune that turns things around for Ricky? Because normally, as we said

:44:13. > :44:16.at the start of the match, this these types of positions he's such a

:44:17. > :44:26.quick scorer. But it's not happened so far in the match.

:44:27. > :44:41.Well, it did jump, but I've gotta be honest with you, he didn't really

:44:42. > :44:56.seem to strike it that well. Yeah, I was just about to say, in

:44:57. > :45:00.the sixth frame, I can't remember Ricky having a chance in the balls

:45:01. > :45:04.with the black yet in this match. And I'm with you, John, that black

:45:05. > :45:10.didn't fly off the table like they normally do when you hit them at

:45:11. > :45:11.that pace and you get a kick. I just think he's not playing with any

:45:12. > :45:32.authority at the moment. It's hard to describe in words. This

:45:33. > :45:35.is one of the top players in the world, make no mistake.

:45:36. > :45:44.APPLAUSE But he's not producing it so far.

:45:45. > :45:49.And as Steven said, it's up to Robbie Williams now to make hay

:45:50. > :45:52.while the sun is shining. Yeah, you're looking at a player there

:45:53. > :45:57.who's been to the final in the last two tournaments before coming here.

:45:58. > :46:19.He looks to have no confidence whatsoever.

:46:20. > :46:36.Is this a World champ inspect, John? Yeah, yeah. Well, only the World

:46:37. > :46:38.Championship, only can you have this effect on players. And that's the

:46:39. > :47:02.only excuse I can think of. There it is. The Crucible. Crowd so

:47:03. > :47:04.close. And if you're not playing well, it feels worse than anywhere

:47:05. > :47:13.or any venue in the world. APPLAUSE

:47:14. > :47:16.a good, solid pot. Just pot the blue, play a little plant on those

:47:17. > :47:25.two reds near the right middle. That shouldn't be a problem.

:47:26. > :47:30.In chances, it has to be said, for Robbie Williams are just coming

:47:31. > :47:36.thick and fast. He doesn't have to do anything. Just has to get out of

:47:37. > :47:43.his seat and come to the table and pot balls. Gotta take the risk here,

:47:44. > :47:47.go into the pink. You'd think he's bound to be on that red at least to

:47:48. > :48:02.the right middle. Yeah, well done.

:48:03. > :48:07.Just, he can't really play the cue ball exactly where he wants now,

:48:08. > :48:08.because he's hampered. But you would think he's gonna be on a colour,

:48:09. > :48:40.play off two cushions. Played for the red to the right

:48:41. > :48:46.corner. He may have gone to the left corner here. The one immediately

:48:47. > :48:50.above the black. But, of course, in playing that, he

:48:51. > :48:52.can play with a little bit more freedom, go back up for green or

:48:53. > :49:02.brown. Yeah, nice pot.

:49:03. > :49:16.APPLAUSE And he's got a better angle on the

:49:17. > :49:19.brown now. And there's a few loose reds in the middle of the table.

:49:20. > :49:33.He's three points in front. Could chance this.

:49:34. > :49:41.Well, I have no idea what he played for there. The red that's to the far

:49:42. > :49:43.right of the table, closest to theile right-hand side cushion, was

:49:44. > :49:49.the one he should have been playing for off two cushions. I can only

:49:50. > :49:54.assume he played for the red closest to the cue ball and he's overhit it.

:49:55. > :50:01.Yeah, but still it was a strange red to play for. Just had to get the cue

:50:02. > :50:03.ball in the middle of the table somewhere and would have had a

:50:04. > :50:33.chance for red. APPLAUSE

:50:34. > :50:42.Well, that's a bit more like it. Good pot. Not ideal on the brown.

:50:43. > :50:50.But that's as good a shot as he's played in the match so far. Just has

:50:51. > :51:01.to concentrate on the pot here. It's gonna be automatically on the red.

:51:02. > :51:06.You can't see anything going wrong from this position. But the way he's

:51:07. > :51:12.been playing so far, nothing's guaranteed.

:51:13. > :51:20.Just one point behind now. So, this black will put him in front,

:51:21. > :51:25.points-wise. And there's enough loose reds in the middle of the

:51:26. > :51:30.table, if he gets those he will get to the snookers required stage.

:51:31. > :52:51.Can't see a problem, but... We've said that a few times this morning.

:52:52. > :53:00.So, this pink and one more red. This is a bit more like it from Ricky

:53:01. > :53:08.Walden. This is what we expected. It's been a time coming, though. And

:53:09. > :53:11.now snooker is required for Robbie Williams, who will be a bit

:53:12. > :53:14.disappointed to have lost this frame, because he had a couple of

:53:15. > :54:07.good chances. Poor positional shots let him down.

:54:08. > :54:19.Well, it's taken six frames, but that's a bit more like the Ricky

:54:20. > :54:24.Walden we expect. APPLAUSE

:54:25. > :54:27.That's more like it. Robbie Williams missed an opportunity there. We're

:54:28. > :54:35.now all square again. Three apiece. Thank you. Frame 7. Robbie Williams

:54:36. > :54:55.to break. APPLAUSE

:54:56. > :54:58.A big roar from the other side. That's the problem of the Crucible

:54:59. > :55:02.Theatre there. You see it, just that thin partition. And you get all the

:55:03. > :55:09.reaction from the other table. And that was a poor break-off shot from

:55:10. > :55:12.Robbie. Maybe will be punished for it, because there were certainly

:55:13. > :55:16.signs in the last frame that Ricky Walden was getting his act together.

:55:17. > :55:23.Although, he's not landed good there. In fact, you'd think the only

:55:24. > :55:26.one, or only colour, he could pot if he could reach it t I think he'd

:55:27. > :55:30.play the brown. It needs to be played at a lot of pace to try and

:55:31. > :55:35.disturb the reds, because there's nothing available at the moment.

:55:36. > :55:41.Lots of pace needs to be put into this shot.

:55:42. > :56:00.Well, there wasn't a lot of pace and he missed a brown, by a long way.

:56:01. > :56:08.Foul. Well, that was careless. Straightforward. Run to the baulk

:56:09. > :57:28.end to find the pocket. Not good. Well, considering the noise coming

:57:29. > :57:34.from the other side of the arena, that was a good shot. I think he had

:57:35. > :57:40.have been waiting for the noise to die down, but he knocked it in

:57:41. > :57:45.nicely on the black. Oh, and that was unlucky. It was unlucky that.

:57:46. > :57:52.And he's gone into it with lots of pace and the cue ball just stuck.

:57:53. > :57:55.Let's have a look why. Mmm. Caught one red and then caught the other

:57:56. > :59:01.one full, dead on the white completely. A little unlucky.

:59:02. > :00:06.Couldn't do much else, really. Couldn't play to the baulk end

:00:07. > :00:12.because of that red near the baulk cushion. So, most of safety is gonna

:00:13. > :00:15.be played to this end of the table now.

:00:16. > :00:25.Oh, where's the yellow ball going? Oh.

:00:26. > :00:40.If that would have dropped, it could have been costly.

:00:41. > :00:53.If you can get the cue ball tight to the top cushion, then you get an

:00:54. > :00:57.advantage. But Robbie Williams won't be at an advantage with that one.

:00:58. > :01:01.But he may have left a pot on here. Red to the middle. One to the far

:01:02. > :01:12.right corner. OK, risky. But you just feel at the moment that

:01:13. > :01:13.Ricky, he's just getting dragged down to this. He needs to make

:01:14. > :01:28.things happen. I don't think he was too happy with

:01:29. > :01:42.the contact there. Did we spot anything? Not really.

:01:43. > :01:43.Although, in the way he jumped up, he felt that the red went straight

:01:44. > :02:03.on. Mmm. The pot in with Robbie at the

:02:04. > :02:18.moment has dried up. I fully expected him to get that.

:02:19. > :02:25.So, a red to the middle, a dangerous one missed by Ricky Walden. Next

:02:26. > :02:34.time he comes to the table, a nice, easy starter. It's been that type of

:02:35. > :02:36.match so far. Yeah, it looks like Robbie Williams, I mean, I don't

:02:37. > :02:41.know what kind of character he's like off the table, but when he gets

:02:42. > :02:44.chances, he doesn't seem eager to get to the table and take advantage.

:02:45. > :02:48.He seems to be very - almost too relaxed out there. You know, as your

:02:49. > :02:56.opponent is missing like this, you've gotta be jumping out of your

:02:57. > :03:00.seat and getting to the table. Yeah, of course, David Coleman, the

:03:01. > :03:05.great BBC commentator, used to always say, "He's not pogzed for

:03:06. > :03:09.being here today!" -- apologised for being here today!" I sense what

:03:10. > :03:14.you're saying. He's not coming to the table with a great amount of

:03:15. > :03:17.purpose. He's, like, apologetically coming to the table. You've gotta

:03:18. > :03:39.look at it as your stage and go on there and perform.

:03:40. > :04:20.27. Positional shot. Should have been using the rest for this red.

:04:21. > :04:53.Well, every time you think that Ricky is just starting to find his

:04:54. > :04:56.rhythm, he throws in a miss like that.

:04:57. > :04:56.No bad contact there. Just a bad shot.

:04:57. > :05:03.One. A big ask to win the frame from this

:05:04. > :05:15.visit. But certainly a chance to get right

:05:16. > :05:17.back in it. As Ricky ponders that missed pink.

:05:18. > :05:28.Eight. Yeah, I don't think we can repeat

:05:29. > :05:39.what Ricky's saying to himself in that chair. No. A little shake of

:05:40. > :05:44.the head. A raise of the eyebrows. Closed off this red now. Robbie will

:05:45. > :05:46.have to play for the yellow, because the yellow is blocking at least two

:05:47. > :06:04.reds to that corner pocket. Tried to take the opportunity to

:06:05. > :06:09.bring the brown into play. I don't blame him for that. He was always

:06:10. > :06:15.gonna play the yellow. And always gonna be on it. But he tried to

:06:16. > :06:18.bring the brown into play. But now he's not done that, it's gonna be

:06:19. > :06:24.very difficult to win the frame at the visit.

:06:25. > :06:30.So, think to yourself, "We're getting right back in it." These

:06:31. > :06:34.three reds in the open, three reasonably high-value colours.

:06:35. > :06:38.Wouldn't have been playing for the black. I do not understand that shot

:06:39. > :06:49.whatsoever. No. That was... I mean, I don't know

:06:50. > :06:54.whether he was trying to tip the pink off, but it was a complete

:06:55. > :07:03.mis-hit. Again. Quite an amateurish shot, really. Robbie Williams, 18.

:07:04. > :07:08.Yeah, I suppose maybe he was thinking about trying to bring the

:07:09. > :07:16.pink into play, but his main concern was that red that's tied up with the

:07:17. > :07:18.brown. There was a few more points available, and he can't afford to be

:07:19. > :07:41.potting reds and not getting colours.

:07:42. > :07:49.Just trying to nestle on this red that's near the brown.

:07:50. > :07:51.Looks like a good line, and does well. Good job.

:07:52. > :08:17.APPLAUSE That's not bad. OK, the red in the

:08:18. > :08:23.middle of the table, the one just above the black, is cuttable. In the

:08:24. > :08:33.right corner. I suppose you might as well take on the pot. Nothing like

:08:34. > :08:34.playing the safety. But if the red goes in, you get control of the

:08:35. > :08:53.table. But much too thick. So, two reds, two blacks, would put

:08:54. > :08:58.Robbie Williams right back in this frame.

:08:59. > :11:06.He would want to be a little bit careful now, will Ricky. He does not

:11:07. > :11:12.want to bring the brown and red into play. He may just be able to hit the

:11:13. > :11:22.red this side of the brown, thin enough to avoid running into the

:11:23. > :11:31.other red. He's got a 23-point lead. He wants to keep it tight. Well, he

:11:32. > :11:41.didn't avoid the kiss on the other red. He nearly fluked it. It is safe

:11:42. > :11:54.enough. Green and blue have come to his rescue.

:11:55. > :12:00.Just coming off the ball cushion and nestling up to this red. Just to

:12:01. > :12:04.contain his safety, but I don't see what else - well, he could knock the

:12:05. > :12:48.other red to the side cushion. APPLAUSE

:12:49. > :12:52.Just coming down do a have look. There is a pot he could pot this red

:12:53. > :13:04.closest to the corner, cushioned first. He will be thinking about it.

:13:05. > :13:09.The only thing worrying me at the moment, Stephen, is when he is

:13:10. > :13:14.playing these half-hearted shots - and I mean that in the best possible

:13:15. > :13:22.way half-hearted - he is just hitting them firm and hoping if he

:13:23. > :13:26.doesn't go right, he gets away with it - he doesn't seem to have any

:13:27. > :13:30.control over the shot. OK, it wasn't easy to come off cushion first and

:13:31. > :13:31.pot it, but play it with a bit more conviction than that. Lucky to get

:13:32. > :14:08.it safe. Once again, not the best safety from

:14:09. > :14:16.Ricky Walden. His safety play has been - well, poor, to put it mildly.

:14:17. > :14:37.APPLAUSE One. It looks like the yellow will

:14:38. > :14:41.be the ball. I think he's got a slight angle on it so he can go for

:14:42. > :14:45.the red that is partly covered by the pink. It is one of them, if you

:14:46. > :14:52.didn't get on the red correctly, you can always play the snooker. He is

:14:53. > :14:57.looking at the blue, so maybe he's got an angle on the blue to rescue

:14:58. > :15:00.for this red. He's had a look at that red just below the pink. He has

:15:01. > :15:15.got a nice angle on the blue. APPLAUSE

:15:16. > :15:19.He hit it nicely. OK, you wouldn't like to be this close to the

:15:20. > :15:24.cushion, but I don't think he has to do much with the cue ball. Roll the

:15:25. > :15:30.red in. It is bound to be on a colour.

:15:31. > :15:36.That was a dent shot on the blue, wasn't it? I expected him to play

:15:37. > :15:45.for the red in the green pocket, but he got on it perfectly. The obvious

:15:46. > :15:55.problem is the brown. The first job is to get an angle on the green to

:15:56. > :16:00.get onto that brown. And the brown will always be difficult because -

:16:01. > :16:04.that seemed like a heavy contact. You can forget about the brown

:16:05. > :16:10.because he is hampered by the pink now. He reduced his risk to just 12

:16:11. > :16:17.points. -- he's reduced the race to just 12 points.

:16:18. > :16:24.Stunning the green hoping to get the snooker behind the blue. Well, in

:16:25. > :16:28.the end, he decides to play the pot. I thought it was a certain snooker.

:16:29. > :16:36.Robbie Williams. If he stunned the green. He fancied going for it.

:16:37. > :16:43.Where that brown is, particularly for Robbie Williams, because he

:16:44. > :16:49.needs the remaining colours to pot that brown with pace to get on the

:16:50. > :16:55.blue. It will be very difficult. On the other hand, of course, Ricky

:16:56. > :16:57.Walden only needs green and brown. That gives him a big advantage. He's

:16:58. > :17:18.got the snooker. You can't really roll to the dead

:17:19. > :17:21.weight. If you do, you are asking for trouble. You roll with pace and

:17:22. > :17:28.hope you can get it safe. Hope you can get it safe. If you don't get it

:17:29. > :17:34.safe, oh, you leave it in a position where your opponent can pot the

:17:35. > :17:44.green, but can't get on the brown and that looks like the scenario.

:17:45. > :17:49.If Ricky does pot the green, then he obviously will be bringing the brown

:17:50. > :18:01.away from the cushion with the safety. It is new anyone's frame,

:18:02. > :18:04.really. I think if he can pot the groan, bring the cue ball back to

:18:05. > :18:12.where the green is and then play the brown down the table, but he is not

:18:13. > :18:17.taking the green on. I think a moss positive shot would have been to get

:18:18. > :18:20.the brown away from that cushion. -- a more positive shot would have been

:18:21. > :18:24.to get the brown away from the cushion. He could have played the

:18:25. > :18:27.brown off two cushions and put the brown somewhere up near the black

:18:28. > :18:29.and got a good safety. He didn't get much advantage from that shot,

:18:30. > :18:39.Ricky. APPLAUSE

:18:40. > :18:42.And now no advantage from it. If he plays the groan direct, it looks

:18:43. > :18:47.like it will go somewhere near the brown. -- green direct, it looks

:18:48. > :19:02.like it will go somewhere near the brown.

:19:03. > :19:09.It is not too bad. You have got to be careful when playing this one and

:19:10. > :19:13.you don't get the double kiss. That has worked out very nicely. It

:19:14. > :19:16.couldn't have worked out better because he's released the brown now!

:19:17. > :19:16.The brown isn't as difficult as it was.

:19:17. > :19:22.APPLAUSE So this frame is new well and truly

:19:23. > :19:43.in the balance. Well, he may have played the

:19:44. > :19:47.double-kiss safety. It's worked out all wrong with the cue ball running

:19:48. > :19:48.into the pink. What a chance now for Robbie Williams. He can regain the

:19:49. > :20:26.lead again. APPLAUSE

:20:27. > :20:35.This blue will make the points all square. So pink and black for an

:20:36. > :20:38.unexpected win. Ricky Walden has had so many chances in this frame, he

:20:39. > :20:48.will be very disappointed to have lost it.

:20:49. > :21:02.But the writing looks on the wall now.

:21:03. > :21:09.Well, that is the frame. Ricky Walden. He left it slip away. He

:21:10. > :21:14.always looked in control, but in the end a couple of poor safety shots

:21:15. > :21:26.and Robbie Williams goes if front once again, 4-3. Wald Wal wald to

:21:27. > :21:29.break. -- Ricky Walden to break. Scheduled two more frames to play in

:21:30. > :22:43.this match. A bit thin. Look at it bounce off

:22:44. > :22:50.the cushion. It flew off the cushion. You can hear it. The

:22:51. > :23:01.cushion is loose. You are getting a sound which you wouldn't normally

:23:02. > :23:07.get. Can we hear it? You see, boing. Yep, it takes you by surprise. It

:23:08. > :23:10.absolutely flew. I know he hit the red much thinner than he needed to,

:23:11. > :23:16.red much thinner than heneeded to, needed to, but...

:23:17. > :23:25.APPLAUSE There was nothing wrong with that

:23:26. > :23:33.strike. I mean, I suppose you could say why not play for the black?

:23:34. > :23:34.Possibly the black doesn't pop. That was an excellent shot from Robbie

:23:35. > :23:45.Williams. Going back to this table, John, we

:23:46. > :23:50.watched some matches yesterday and today. It looked a shocker to me.

:23:51. > :23:53.Two balls have bounced out of the pockets and cushions are bouncing

:23:54. > :23:59.all over the place. All of the years we have been coming here to The

:24:00. > :24:04.Crucible, you would think they would have found the secret now to have

:24:05. > :24:13.the tables in good nick. Wow, that is a disappointing miss. Robbie

:24:14. > :24:16.Williams, 4. He's missed a good chance there, has Robbie. If he had

:24:17. > :24:21.won this frame, he would have been certain to take the lead into the

:24:22. > :24:32.second session. That is a good chance gone begging.

:24:33. > :24:39.I don't understand it. He's won the last frame, he pinched the last

:24:40. > :24:43.frame, which should make him feel good. He had a great opening red.

:24:44. > :24:51.And then - I just don't understand it. I am sure he doesn't either.

:24:52. > :24:54.Always spare a thought for the player because they have got such

:24:55. > :24:58.great ability, these guys. Sometimes it is a shock to the system when it

:24:59. > :25:01.is not happening out there in the arena. That is what the major

:25:02. > :25:14.championships can do to you. But, just going back to the tables,

:25:15. > :25:16.we have the table heaters now and everything else. Maybe they will

:25:17. > :25:23.settle down. Maybe it is just the First Couple of days.

:25:24. > :25:30.It is the same table, same manufactured table, they have been

:25:31. > :25:32.using all season and from what I have been seeing, the tables have

:25:33. > :25:41.been playing beautifully. I spoke to Marco Fu in the players'

:25:42. > :25:44.lounge at the interval of this match and he said the other table in

:25:45. > :25:48.another area was beautiful yesterday. He won 10-2, so you are

:25:49. > :25:52.going to say that, but he said the other table was lovely. It is

:25:53. > :25:55.strange to have all of the materials are exactly the same for both

:25:56. > :26:14.tables, but for one to play like this, badly, is very strange.

:26:15. > :26:21.He's got a nice angle on the blue. We questioned earlier on when Robbie

:26:22. > :26:25.Williams had his chance when the black was available. I don't think

:26:26. > :26:28.it will go into the left corner now anyway with that red near the top

:26:29. > :26:38.cushion, top but... That is why, Ricky, the first

:26:39. > :26:43.opportunity getting rid of this red and if the black is going to be

:26:44. > :26:47.available. It looks as though there may be enough of the black sticking

:26:48. > :26:58.out. It will be tight, wouldn't it, if you played for the black?

:26:59. > :27:03.He's put himself under pressure in this match, Ricky Walden. 4

:27:04. > :27:09.portfolio 3 down. He needs the last two -- 4-3 down. He needs the last

:27:10. > :27:13.two frames to at least go into the second session with a load. Maybe

:27:14. > :27:23.the pressure is what he need -- lead. Maybe the pressure is what he

:27:24. > :27:26.needs to get his A game back. If he lands on a red, this has been an

:27:27. > :27:32.excellent result, opening the black up. 26. Fair play for him for taking

:27:33. > :27:39.that risk. He thought, well, I am not going to win the frame unless I

:27:40. > :27:43.get that black into play. It was a risky shot to consider, but if he

:27:44. > :27:53.can knock this red in, he will reap the rewards.

:27:54. > :28:02.Oh, played the cannon on the red just above it. He is still on the

:28:03. > :28:06.black, but if it had got the cannon on the second red, the red that is

:28:07. > :28:14.just the other side of the black. He just brushed past it. He may have to

:28:15. > :28:18.play the pink to the middle. Unless he plays for the red in bulk off the

:28:19. > :28:29.black here, which I think he is going to have to do.

:28:30. > :28:36.The red is oos easy enough. I know he will before using the reds. If he

:28:37. > :28:38.doesn't make contact with one of the bulk colours, he should be on one

:28:39. > :29:01.nicely. He would be looking for a nice angle

:29:02. > :29:07.on a bull colour, but I looks like the blue is the better angle. That

:29:08. > :29:13.will bring him down to the Reds. It is one of these occasions you would

:29:14. > :29:17.like the blue to be straight. Maybe the fact that it isn't is making him

:29:18. > :29:22.think about another one. There is a couple of also reds either side of

:29:23. > :29:28.the black. He calls for a precise positional shot. That is why he is

:29:29. > :29:42.favouring the blue. He feels like he's got more control over the cue

:29:43. > :29:44.ball. No. He is saying it wasn't a good reaction, but, let's have

:29:45. > :29:49.another lock. They are always going to lift up a little bit.

:29:50. > :29:53.Particularly when you are striking down slightly. I don't think he is

:29:54. > :29:58.cueing as smooth as he would normally. No, I still believe, it is

:29:59. > :29:59.not an opinion shared by many professionals, that a lot of the

:30:00. > :30:12.kicks are caused by bad cueing. This is a plan to be taking on,

:30:13. > :30:14.isn't it? Dear me. Such a distance between the two balls. This will be

:30:15. > :30:27.some shot. And is!

:30:28. > :30:36.You deserve everything you get after that, my man. That was great. Yeah,

:30:37. > :30:46.that was brilliant. It really was. So much distance between the two

:30:47. > :30:56.reds. 8. That was a fantastic shot. Can he take advantage?

:30:57. > :31:03.This would be a blow to Ricky Walden. I am just thinking, maybe

:31:04. > :31:06.that red at the bottom of that cluster of five may just be

:31:07. > :31:11.available into the same pocket as the black here. He can play for the

:31:12. > :31:20.one near his hand. He decided to play the cannon. Well, he saw the

:31:21. > :31:26.shot like that. But it's not worked out well. 16. Yeah, just didn't

:31:27. > :31:29.quite get enough action on the cue ball. Just to get away from that red

:31:30. > :31:41.that he ended up touching. Robbie Williams, 16. A decent

:31:42. > :31:54.safety. Yeah. You can see him being a tough

:31:55. > :32:01.nut to crack, particularly if he scores when he gets in. His safety

:32:02. > :32:05.play has been pretty good. Well, a lot better than his opponent, let's

:32:06. > :32:37.put it that way. His safety success is 88%. Ricky Walden is down at 74%.

:32:38. > :32:43.This is Ricky's view. He can only hit the red. To get back to the

:32:44. > :32:52.ball, he would have to catch it very thing. -- thin.

:32:53. > :32:59.Well, h decided to play it a bit thicker and looks as though he's

:33:00. > :33:01.played it very well if the cue ball slows up.

:33:02. > :33:13.APPLAUSE He did that very well. He played to

:33:14. > :33:21.come off the two cushions. He just stopped in time. Robbie is having a

:33:22. > :33:25.look at the possibility here of a three-ball plant, is he? If he take

:33:26. > :33:32.it on, he needs to get it because it is not a shot for nothing. No.

:33:33. > :33:36.APPLAUSE Well, he didn't look around and put

:33:37. > :33:47.his hand up to apologise so maybe he thought there was half a chance of

:33:48. > :33:49.that red going in off the other. He would be a better man than I am to

:33:50. > :34:10.see that. But he is on the green. Now, he Fridays to run past that red

:34:11. > :34:12.or -- now, he needs to run past that red or is it full? It is full. He is

:34:13. > :34:36.into the middle. 4. He couldn't play for the pink

:34:37. > :34:41.because he felt, particularly being left-handed, he would be the wrong

:34:42. > :34:45.side. He's just got to judge this cue shot or stun off the side

:34:46. > :34:54.cushion for these three reds in a row. I am sure two of them pot.

:34:55. > :35:01.He will have to play the one with the red now. Into the right corner.

:35:02. > :35:05.It is imperative after potting this red to get a nice angle on the

:35:06. > :35:10.colour because those three reds in the line, two of them definitely

:35:11. > :35:15.available into the left corner, but that is about all. He could just

:35:16. > :35:22.play a little cannon through the gap of the reds for the black here. He

:35:23. > :35:25.is playing with topspin. Those are always dodgy shots to play and

:35:26. > :35:30.didn'tened up very nice on a colour either. If he played that positively

:35:31. > :35:38.with a stun, I think it made the pot easier. It was quite interesting. We

:35:39. > :35:42.talk about Shaun Murphy as one of the best rest players in the game

:35:43. > :35:44.and you always say because he cues them as he would normally, that

:35:45. > :35:46.means when you play with the reds you need to have your elbow high.

:35:47. > :35:58.His elbow was very low there. A great opportunity missed and it

:35:59. > :36:01.looks like licky has landed perfect on this pink to rescue across for a

:36:02. > :36:15.red into the same pocket. -- to rescue across for a red into

:36:16. > :36:18.the same pocket. The chances have been coming thick and fast and you

:36:19. > :36:21.just don't count your chickens the way it has been going because you

:36:22. > :36:28.never know what can be missed. Se you never know what can be missed.

:36:29. > :36:32.Get my drift? Ricky Walden, 7. I just can't believe how bad a shot

:36:33. > :36:34.that was. Look where the cue ball has ended up. Ricky Walden has just

:36:35. > :37:13.been nowhere today. Very surprising. You couldn't ask for a better spot

:37:14. > :37:17.than this. It is adjacent to the brown. That won't be a problem

:37:18. > :37:23.positional wise. When Robbie pots this black, he will have a one point

:37:24. > :37:27.lead. Normally, you would consider just playing a little cannon here

:37:28. > :37:34.and potting the black, cannon the pink.

:37:35. > :37:41.He decided he didn't want to risk that and he's underhit it. OK, the

:37:42. > :37:44.red is still cuttable, but he should have played it more positively than

:37:45. > :37:48.that. Play it firm enough if you don't get the cannon on the pink. At

:37:49. > :38:00.least you run a bit further up the table. But it has gone in. How is he

:38:01. > :38:04.for position? Not great. Not great. That was the problem. If he had

:38:05. > :38:06.better position on the red, he would have had better position on the

:38:07. > :38:21.colour. The problem is he's got to avoid the

:38:22. > :38:28.pink and the right middle pocket to get back on the yellow. If he can

:38:29. > :38:32.get enough bottom on the cue ball he can try to come the left-hand side

:38:33. > :38:35.of the pink as we look at it, screwing off two cushions. He is

:38:36. > :38:40.independent even going to play the brown. He is just playing the

:38:41. > :38:47.safety. -- not even going to play the brown. He is just playing the

:38:48. > :38:49.safety. Now Ricky Walden not only hit this yellow, but can you keep it

:38:50. > :39:07.safe? Nope, he's left it. So another

:39:08. > :39:25.chance for Robbie the win this frame.

:39:26. > :39:33.A good solid pot. To be guaranteed add lead to go into the second

:39:34. > :39:38.session of this plach. Just have to be careful he -- this match. Just

:39:39. > :39:42.have to be careful he doesn't cannon a blue. It's a little bit tricky,

:39:43. > :39:44.this shot. If he just plays it dead weight off the cushion, he's gonna

:39:45. > :39:59.have an angle on the brown. He's a little bit concerned about

:40:00. > :40:06.it. Make certain of the green, whatever you do.

:40:07. > :40:16.Five. Well, it's not too bad, because he's left-handed. I think he

:40:17. > :40:29.can just about reach. Brown and blue needed.

:40:30. > :40:43.Nine. Tight to the cushion. Doesn't make this blue any easier. But he

:40:44. > :40:46.doesn't need the pink. So, all your efforts into potting this one ball.

:40:47. > :40:56.APPLAUSE And in it goes. So, this is another

:40:57. > :40:57.frame you could say slipped away from Mal Walden. Boys, he's had a

:40:58. > :41:02.bad morning. -- from Ricky Walden. Boys, he's had

:41:03. > :41:16.a bad morning. Robbie Williams now leads by five

:41:17. > :41:19.frames to three. More importantly, we want more frames to be played in

:41:20. > :41:24.this session. Guaranteed a lead going into the final session.

:41:25. > :41:45.Thank you. The last frame of the session. Robbie Williams to break.

:41:46. > :41:56.A massive frame for Mal Walden in the cob text for Ricky Walden in the

:41:57. > :41:59.context of his World Championship. Ricky Walden in the cob text for

:42:00. > :43:22.Ricky Walden in the context of his World Championship.

:43:23. > :43:30.A voice in the wilderness shouts, "Come on, Ricky!" Like a scene from

:43:31. > :43:57.Eastenders. Quiet, please. Mmm. That was a big deceleration

:43:58. > :44:01.from Ricky there. That's what happens. You miss it thin. You don't

:44:02. > :44:05.get a positive strike on the cue ball.

:44:06. > :44:13.APPLAUSE That's a decent first shot. He plays

:44:14. > :44:33.those shots well, those mid-range pots. He hits them well.

:44:34. > :44:42.Good shot. APPLAUSE

:44:43. > :44:46.Those are tough when you're down on the cue ball like that. He really

:44:47. > :44:49.cued it well. May have to go up for the blue to be guaranteed a good

:44:50. > :44:55.position. I don't think he would want to risk playing for the pink.

:44:56. > :44:59.Oh, well, once again. How many times do we see, from both players, they

:45:00. > :45:02.play a good shot, you think, "OK, they've found themselves and got

:45:03. > :45:05.themselves in a good situation," and miss an absolute sitter. No rhyme or

:45:06. > :46:19.reason. Oh, he knew he potted the yellow

:46:20. > :46:25.one. He didn't want to. He wasn't playing the pot.

:46:26. > :46:40.Missed the red on the way up. Caught it on the way back. But the first

:46:41. > :47:36.look, maybe no harm done. APPLAUSE

:47:37. > :47:41.Well, it went in. Made an horrendous sound when the cue ball hit the red.

:47:42. > :47:51.But that won't bother him. It went in. Brown ball.

:47:52. > :48:03.You can tell with the sounder this, look, when they hit - boom! It was

:48:04. > :48:18.more of a smack. Than a click. Oh, and another very poor... Well,

:48:19. > :48:21.lucky... Where's the cue ball going? Well, I suppose, in a way, he may

:48:22. > :48:28.have preferred it to have gone in the pocket. I think this red just to

:48:29. > :48:32.the right of the yellow will go. And there's a possibility here of a

:48:33. > :48:37.plant. To the right corner. You would have to be certain, though.

:48:38. > :48:42.This is a tough pot. But lots of reward if he can knock it in.

:48:43. > :48:51.Brilliant. APPLAUSE

:48:52. > :49:01.That was a much better pot. Really good. Well, I know there's not a lot

:49:02. > :49:04.on these tables, but when you're playing slightly across and close to

:49:05. > :49:12.the cushion to find the hearts of the pocket, super shot.

:49:13. > :49:18.I was just about to say, just looks like he's starting to know that he's

:49:19. > :49:23.got an advantage in this match, and he's gotta push forward and win this

:49:24. > :49:29.last frame. And then, well, I mean he's missed it by so far. Was it a

:49:30. > :49:37.kick? Mmm. The frustration. The frustration, you can see it there as

:49:38. > :49:41.he brushed his forehead. Maybe he played it with a little trace that

:49:42. > :49:45.sent the yellow straight on. There has been so many that you don't know

:49:46. > :49:48.whether it was a bad contact or just a bad shot. We don't know.

:49:49. > :50:03.Well, the fact that Ricky is walking around the table means he's on the

:50:04. > :50:07.black. So, this now... Well, we keep saying it, gotta take this chance to

:50:08. > :50:10.win the frame. But the way the frames are going, you could get

:50:11. > :50:12.another two or three chances to win it. But he wants to win it as

:50:13. > :50:56.quickly as possible. He's played that very well. And

:50:57. > :51:00.played absolutely perfectly. But as we've seen so far in this

:51:01. > :51:04.match, we'll take nothing for granted. Got plenty of action on

:51:05. > :51:07.that cue ball. The backspin threading the white through the

:51:08. > :51:13.reds. And it couldn't have landed better.

:51:14. > :51:14.All you've gotta do is just mind your work and not make any silly

:51:15. > :51:19.mistakes. Yeah.

:51:20. > :51:23.Yeah, playing this red because it's a natural angle. Just a drop on the

:51:24. > :51:36.black to the same pocket. There's plenty of pressure on Ricky

:51:37. > :51:51.Walden this break. Plenty of pressure.

:51:52. > :52:00.6-3 down in the first round would not be a good place to be.

:52:01. > :52:04.Yeah. And I think the fact that he's played so poorly in the first eight

:52:05. > :52:09.frames, you can't just flick it on like a light switch. He's gotta

:52:10. > :52:15.really dig in here to make the most of this opportunity. And he will

:52:16. > :52:17.still be disappointed at the end of it, because he will be a frame

:52:18. > :52:24.behind going naturopathy important final session. -- going into the

:52:25. > :52:25.important final session. These first-round matches, first to ten,

:52:26. > :53:05.remember. 32. Well, that's nudged them all into

:53:06. > :53:06.the open now, with a 33-point lead. Surely he won't make any mistakes

:53:07. > :53:13.here. 49. That wasn't in the middle of the

:53:14. > :54:06.pocket, but it's gone in. You would think now, just one good

:54:07. > :54:18.positional shot and he's gonna win this final frame.

:54:19. > :54:26.And that's not am good positional shot.

:54:27. > :54:35.52. 45 points, the lead. 59 remaining.

:54:36. > :54:44.Will there still be a twist to this frame? And as Steven has said, it's

:54:45. > :54:48.a big one for Ricky Walden. Don't want to go into that final session,

:54:49. > :54:57.which, funnily enough, is tomorrow evening. Doesn't want to go with a

:54:58. > :55:02.3-frame deficit into that. And if he makes a mistake here, every chance

:55:03. > :55:16.his opponent could pinch the frame from him.

:55:17. > :55:28.In the end, nowhere near the pocket. 52.

:55:29. > :55:41.Been given a chance, Robbie. Can you take it?

:55:42. > :55:56.No. Pity. That was a golden opportunity to really punish Ricky

:55:57. > :55:57.Walden. Yeah. You know, tough match. What's you've gotta do. You've gotta

:55:58. > :56:03.take these chance. -- chances. Good shot.

:56:04. > :56:25.APPLAUSE So, this black. To be 53 points in

:56:26. > :56:30.front with just 51 remaining. Well, he won't be happy with his

:56:31. > :56:34.performance, Ricky Walden. But the way the frames have gone, he could

:56:35. > :56:39.have been more than one frame behind at the end of this session. Nine. He

:56:40. > :56:49.will be thinking he could have been a few frames in front.

:56:50. > :56:54.Played some good shots, played some good safety. I think that's what has

:56:55. > :57:02.given the advantage at the end of this session. Robbie has played some

:57:03. > :57:05.good safety. 60. But he won't be getting back to the table now. Well,

:57:06. > :57:12.he will, only to shake hands and go up to the dressing-room.

:57:13. > :57:17.I suppose, all in all, considering how big a favourite Ricky Walden was

:57:18. > :57:30.at the start of this match, he will settle for being a frame in front.

:57:31. > :57:51.33. So easy, this game, when it doesn't really matter, isn't it?

:57:52. > :58:10.Well, didn't matter about the blue. APPLAUSE

:58:11. > :58:18.At the end of the day, I think that's a fair reflection of what

:58:19. > :58:23.we've seen in this first session. Robbie Williams, the young man,

:58:24. > :58:27.leads Ricky Walden, from Chester, by five frames to four.

:58:28. > :58:34.So, another seed under pressure here at the Crucible. We'll be back later

:58:35. > :58:37.today at 10 o'clock on BBC Two for more live coverage of the 2016

:58:38. > :58:39.Betfred World Snooker Championships. We shall see you then. From all of

:58:40. > :58:43.us here, goodnight.