:00:35. > :00:40.Welcome to snooker extra where we take a nocturnal view of the match
:00:41. > :00:44.between John Higgins and Ryan Day. Your commentary team is Ken Doherty
:00:45. > :00:56.and Ryan Taylor. John Higgins won the toss and he
:00:57. > :00:59.broke off and has got this first frame under way. Up against a very
:01:00. > :01:23.tough Welshman in Ryan Day. Must have played well against you,
:01:24. > :01:30.Ken, in the final qualifying match. Yes, he did, Dennis. A very capable
:01:31. > :01:32.player. Three times runner-up in a ranking tournament final. Played
:01:33. > :01:43.very, very well. Well, that's an unusual way to play
:01:44. > :02:04.the safety shot, but it's not too bad.
:02:05. > :02:11.Very interesting when you talk about the greatest players that have ever
:02:12. > :02:16.played the game. Most players would use Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry,
:02:17. > :02:19.Ronnie O'Sullivan. Steve Davis, who retired yesterday, reckons John
:02:20. > :02:21.Higgins is the best player he has ever seen. Went on record saying
:02:22. > :02:33.that. Yeah, you could understand a little
:02:34. > :02:36.bit where he is coming from. Certainly got probably the best
:02:37. > :02:47.all-round game. His record, 28 ranking titles, won four sevens in
:02:48. > :02:51.tournaments, 616 career centuries, four-time winner of this event as
:02:52. > :02:59.I think, over the years, that you play different players, and Ronnie
:03:00. > :03:04.O'Sullivan, without doubt, the most talented player. But certainly John
:03:05. > :03:06.Higgins is up there with the best. On his day, nobody likes to play
:03:07. > :03:30.John Higgins, that's for sure. That's twice he has missed a ball
:03:31. > :03:38.that he attempted to hit. Might have left the free ball here. And that's
:03:39. > :03:43.unlucky. He has got the blue into the right centre here. I'm not quite
:03:44. > :03:47.sure whether the ball has been drifting down that side of the
:03:48. > :03:51.table, because we saw a couple of players yesterday, playing safety
:03:52. > :03:58.shots, that missed the ball coming down the left-hand side of the
:03:59. > :04:02.table. Well, this is the table that the players have been complaining
:04:03. > :04:03.about. The other table, on the other side of the curtain, is playing
:04:04. > :04:14.terrific. Very unusual to have two tables that
:04:15. > :04:18.are identical but play totally differently. I think we've only had
:04:19. > :04:22.two centuries on this table, whereas on the other one we've had eight
:04:23. > :04:30.centuries so far. It tells us a little story. That's not the worst
:04:31. > :04:37.shot Ryan Day has ever played, but it certainly up there. In the top
:04:38. > :04:43.three! He tried to Mr red and just didn't get into the cue ball.
:04:44. > :04:48.Dashmac to miss the red. Just tried to get by that read and have it into
:04:49. > :04:54.the same pocket as the blue. That could be the end of the break.
:04:55. > :04:59.Sometimes, when you play a poor shot, you are looking for some sort
:05:00. > :05:01.of a plant or something, but you've got to forget about it, play the
:05:02. > :05:22.safety shot. Could have played it better than
:05:23. > :05:27.that, though. This might be a test for John Higgins group was cueing
:05:28. > :05:37.action here. This read into the left corner. Into the right, coming off
:05:38. > :05:55.the back cushion here, he's got to pot this.
:05:56. > :06:02.He forced it in and can and it on the way up. That's a terrific shot.
:06:03. > :06:18.That's an early confidence booster for the former four-time champion.
:06:19. > :06:23.Nice little cannon onto the red, the other side of the black, to open up
:06:24. > :06:46.the pocket. There's a whole for the black,
:06:47. > :06:47.digging down on the cue ball. Got to play a nice little cannon into the
:06:48. > :06:59.red above the black. Yeah, these players have played each
:07:00. > :07:05.other 13 times. It is 9-4 to John Higgins. They've played twice in the
:07:06. > :07:14.world Championships, one each. John won 10-9, Ryan won back in 2004, but
:07:15. > :07:23.Ryan beat John in 2009 in the second round, 13-9. He is one of those
:07:24. > :07:29.capable players, isn't he, Ryan Day? On his day - excuse the pun - that
:07:30. > :08:06.he can beat anybody. Nicely played, judged that Canon
:08:07. > :08:31.perfectly. Should be able to just push through for the black here.
:08:32. > :08:37.He got a heavy contact there. It's prevented the white from running
:08:38. > :08:52.round into the perfect position. It's more awkward now.
:08:53. > :09:09.Yeah, he was on All Blacks, but he can't play for the black this time.
:09:10. > :09:16.And there's still a couple of red is available. He has got the angle.
:09:17. > :09:22.Well, he could have done with a few more inches up the table. Two reds
:09:23. > :10:05.are available, but he may have two go into them now.
:10:06. > :10:16.That was a wonderful shot. Obviously played for the black, and using the
:10:17. > :10:17.cue ball off the pack of reds to bring more into play, but obviously
:10:18. > :11:10.had to stay on the black. Nicely on the blue, on the right
:11:11. > :11:15.angle as well. Down for the red directly above the black, just the
:11:16. > :11:24.extreme red on the right-hand side. Got the choice of a couple of reds.
:11:25. > :11:29.There is one below the pink as well. This is a very well put together
:11:30. > :11:34.break. And it all came from that wonderful long part which we said
:11:35. > :11:45.was a test of course, and always is, the first long pot of the session.
:11:46. > :11:54.But his control of the cue ball has been absolutely pristine so far.
:11:55. > :12:02.Yeah, he started the match missing two reds altogether, playing thin
:12:03. > :12:07.safety shots. But back to vintage John Higgins - although he has been
:12:08. > :12:12.playing well for the past couple of seasons.
:12:13. > :12:23.This is a player that's made 616th centuries in his career.
:12:24. > :12:57.What a nice start it would be, should he go on to make a century in
:12:58. > :13:02.this frame. As I said, he's already scored 616 career centuries. That's
:13:03. > :13:12.incredible, only just behind Stephen Hendry and, of course, Ronnie
:13:13. > :13:18.O'Sullivan. Yes, Stephen is an 775. Ronnie is close to 800 now.
:13:19. > :13:24.But the way he is cueing here and getting through the ball... A great
:13:25. > :13:49.start. It really is. Well, he has been known, his
:13:50. > :13:52.nickname is the Wizard of Wishaw. Certainly waving that want in his
:13:53. > :14:01.hand this morning here in this opening frame. Fantastic start. A
:14:02. > :14:17.great confidence booster. Very difficult to pot this red down
:14:18. > :14:26.the cushion, if he is going to try for total clearance. Doesn't really
:14:27. > :14:30.matter. Almost got it, but Ryan Day couldn't do anything about that.
:14:31. > :14:34.John Higgins got a century break and Leeds 1-0.
:14:35. > :16:16.OK, the wrong side of the blue, but what a cracking opening read that
:16:17. > :17:28.was. Just run a little bit too far. He
:17:29. > :17:32.wanted to be straight on this one that's above the black, so it would
:17:33. > :17:42.drop nicely on the black, but just overrun that slightly.
:17:43. > :17:49.As I say, he was in first on the opening frame and played a poor
:17:50. > :17:50.positional shot. I suppose he is still getting used to the pace of
:17:51. > :18:01.this table. Just means that he has had to leave
:18:02. > :18:10.a slightly more difficult black then it would have been. Quite a tall
:18:11. > :18:12.lad, Brian, over six feet tall, so he can stretch quite a way over the
:18:13. > :18:25.table -- Ryan. Something is catching as he is
:18:26. > :18:30.leaning across the table. He took the chalk out of his pocket. I don't
:18:31. > :18:35.know if he is wearing a belt. Maybe a buckle. But there you go. That was
:18:36. > :18:38.all caused by the positional couple of shots ago where he just overrun
:18:39. > :20:18.it slightly. Just off the left jaw. I've noticed
:20:19. > :20:19.with these pockets, they are playing slightly easier than the ones in the
:20:20. > :20:34.qualifiers. This time John has just overrun that
:20:35. > :20:40.slightly. I think he can screw back and avoid the pink and red and get
:20:41. > :20:42.back for the blue. Not quite sure you'd need to be right behind the
:20:43. > :21:11.angle. But I think he's OK. He's just had a quick look. I'm sure
:21:12. > :21:13.the black is available into both corners. The red is just a little
:21:14. > :21:24.bit of a distraction at the moment. But that tells you there's plenty of
:21:25. > :21:29.room for the black to pass the red, so his plan would be the red, then
:21:30. > :21:34.the black, then remove that read to the right of the black. He is
:21:35. > :21:41.looking very, very sharp here this morning. He looked very relaxed up
:21:42. > :21:48.in the players' room yesterday. He was there for most of the day
:21:49. > :21:55.between practice sessions. I know he was a bit devastated yesterday when
:21:56. > :21:59.his team, Celtic, lost on penalties, but he said Rangers were all over
:22:00. > :22:05.Celtic in the first half. Used to be great when you went up to sterling
:22:06. > :22:11.where Stephen Hendry and a lot of those Scottish players used to
:22:12. > :22:15.practise... Not only was there snooker rivalry, but some of them
:22:16. > :23:28.supported Celtic, some of them supported Rangers.
:23:29. > :23:33.Well, this has been an amazing start for John Higgins. His positional
:23:34. > :24:00.play is top drawer. He has made this break look very,
:24:01. > :24:05.very easy, because all the time he has been so close to his object
:24:06. > :24:14.ball. It's not been so straightforward. OK, he has had to
:24:15. > :24:15.go in and out of baulk once, but in this frame of the first frame, he
:24:16. > :24:35.hasn't looked like missing. OK, here's points ahead. This red
:24:36. > :24:43.will certainly compound the end of this frame -- he is 52 points ahead.
:24:44. > :24:49.Another century break - what a start this would be. He is 41 years of age
:24:50. > :24:57.now, John Higgins. He is playing like he did 20 years ago.
:24:58. > :25:04.I mean, his positioning has been impeccable. OK, he has had to go up
:25:05. > :25:11.the table a couple of times. Well, this is as good snooker as
:25:12. > :25:31.anyone has played so far. If he gets this tricky one, it could
:25:32. > :25:46.be back-to-back centuries. Hit it too hard. Trying to punch it
:25:47. > :25:51.out from the black. But it won't bother him. Still a magnificent
:25:52. > :26:25.break of 79, and he takes frame two for a 2-0 lead.
:26:26. > :26:35.I wonder - will John Higgins be tempted? He could take this read
:26:36. > :26:42.on. He is just checking to see if the pink pots. If it does, the only
:26:43. > :26:50.red is the one he could have a go at here. As I said in the opening
:26:51. > :26:52.frame, it was a long pot. This is tougher than the one he knocked in
:26:53. > :27:44.in the opening frame. He is the wrong side of the blue,
:27:45. > :27:49.but he's OK. There's a red at the back of the bunch that can go. He
:27:50. > :27:51.can go for the brown and back up for that. A little bit of margin of
:27:52. > :28:01.error to drop on that one. The circle, if he could get the
:28:02. > :28:06.white anywhere near the circle, he has the red at the back. If he
:28:07. > :28:10.fancies, he could go into the bunch of the two cushions. Looks like he
:28:11. > :28:18.will go into the Reds. Well, he has missed them. It was worth the risk.
:28:19. > :28:20.As I say, he only had the one red open and thought, maybe I could get
:28:21. > :29:54.the bunch open. That was very uncharacteristic from
:29:55. > :30:02.John Higgins. Drifting down the table, we could see him at missing
:30:03. > :30:45.the red on the left side of the table. -- see him missing the red.
:30:46. > :31:13.One of -- one other loose red after this. Might just be wanting to go
:31:14. > :31:28.back into the bunch. APPLAUSE
:31:29. > :31:41.Just got into the cue ball, just wanted to not put any screw onto the
:31:42. > :31:48.cue ball. He got into it too much. He has to try and get it to the
:31:49. > :31:58.right centre, more difficult than it should have been. The title
:31:59. > :32:02.opportunities that Day has to be taking against Higgins. A bit of
:32:03. > :32:44.noise from the other table. Looks to have a straightforward
:32:45. > :33:01.safety shot of the right side to get back down the table. -- off. He
:33:02. > :33:11.tried it, and he's pulled it off nicely.
:33:12. > :33:18.Picked this one are very nicely, and easy safety down the right-hand
:33:19. > :33:30.side. Thought he might be able to take the pot on and find a gap, and
:33:31. > :33:34.he did. He should have been in behind the green there. So fast
:33:35. > :33:44.these tables, it is so difficult to judge that screw shot. He could have
:33:45. > :34:06.had Higgins in all sorts of trouble there. Almost got a good cue ball,
:34:07. > :34:16.you'll be disappointed that that rate has gone out of the left-hand
:34:17. > :34:26.corner pocket. Might be a bit too straight to get back up to the
:34:27. > :34:35.Brown, blue or pink. Could possibly hold for the black if he wishes.
:34:36. > :35:18.Very good, using all of the pocket. A nice little knowledge. -- nudge.
:35:19. > :35:52.APPLAUSE The pink might not be quite on the
:35:53. > :35:57.spot. We will find out shortly. Just enough room, it might still be
:35:58. > :36:10.available, looking at it. See if he can pot into the right corner. The
:36:11. > :36:22.one to the left... He was back working at the plant. The plant is
:36:23. > :36:48.not an absolute certainty. You needs a bit of distance between the reds
:36:49. > :36:57.-- he. You never really settle until you get that first frame on the
:36:58. > :37:26.board. Just want to hit on the draw with this. Pretty good. He is going
:37:27. > :37:34.around and having a look at that plant again, he just needs to pot
:37:35. > :37:54.the red and get a good angle on the next lakh. -- black. He is thinking
:37:55. > :38:05.about the red, the next black, and the next round after that. Left
:38:06. > :38:09.himself an angle on the pink. Looks a little bit straight. Not the best
:38:10. > :38:35.shot he's ever played. Going to have to take this plant
:38:36. > :38:40.now. As I said before, it's not dead set. A couple of inches between each
:38:41. > :38:49.ball, which makes it more difficult. You can see how he's cueing up. You
:38:50. > :38:53.forget about the second red. No problem.
:38:54. > :39:14.APPLAUSE Just the wrong angle. A little bit
:39:15. > :39:34.reluctant to play the Reg just below the black that is close to this top
:39:35. > :39:43.cushion -- red. It looks OK. Just this red required. Well played by
:39:44. > :40:03.Day! As he said, this will certainly
:40:04. > :40:16.settle him down, getting the first frame on the board -- you said.
:40:17. > :40:25.Three reds and all blacks, a possible century for Ryan Day. We
:40:26. > :40:38.can see where those threads when the frame is over, it's amazing. --
:40:39. > :40:52.where those reds are. This could really be a terrific match. Opening
:40:53. > :41:09.with a century break. A break of 79 to lead 2-0, his turn to sit in the
:41:10. > :41:16.chair for a while. Just trying to get a full ball can on that red. He
:41:17. > :41:26.can hold for the pink, the red and the pink. Might be enough to make it
:41:27. > :41:36.100 exactly. A good positional shot here from pink to yellow. The pink
:41:37. > :41:50.jump slightly, took the pace out of the cue ball. A difficult yellow if
:41:51. > :41:53.he is to make the century. Go on, get in.
:41:54. > :42:13.APPLAUSE A lovely break of 73. Trailing by
:42:14. > :42:32.2-1. So, Ryan Day breaks off. Last frame before the interval.
:42:33. > :42:46.APPLAUSE A beautiful long pot. The control for the blue was
:42:47. > :43:09.magnificent. Just cued this in beautifully. There's been a lot of
:43:10. > :43:16.talk about Ronnie O'Sullivan. Standing in favour of a little less
:43:17. > :43:36.than 2-1. Not so much talk about John Higgins. He is always there,
:43:37. > :43:52.thereabouts. It might suit him, being under the radar. A good few
:43:53. > :44:09.punters in Scotland. And a few in the rest of the UK as well. Do you
:44:10. > :44:26.remember where you are placed when you won? I was 40-1. Quite a few
:44:27. > :44:31.people picked up a few quid. -- you were placed. I wonder what the odds
:44:32. > :45:09.were when you were 8-0 down. --? Good job, really getting down on the
:45:10. > :45:22.shot. Very little movement when he delivers the cue. At's a key, have
:45:23. > :45:41.to keep your head still. It's amazing how difficult it is --
:45:42. > :46:04.that's. The first easy ball that John Higgins has missed in this
:46:05. > :46:10.match. Came right across it. That crept into John's Dame a few years
:46:11. > :46:14.ago. He would be going along playing well, then he would miss a sitter
:46:15. > :46:20.when there was a lapse in concentration. You always have to
:46:21. > :46:24.give 100%. I think as you get a bit older, you lose a bit of
:46:25. > :46:35.concentration from the moment. It can be costly. What a wonderful shot
:46:36. > :47:41.that was. One possible red at the back of the
:47:42. > :47:50.pack. He is going to need one more good split, coming in the frame from
:47:51. > :47:59.this angle. That rate is directly above the black. If he can get a
:48:00. > :48:21.nice angle on that, he could pot some more reds. -- that red is. It
:48:22. > :48:32.would have been easier to get on the one you mention. -- mentioned. But
:48:33. > :48:47.he thought, I'm going to get on the other one. Going to have the ball
:48:48. > :48:55.clean, just watched this shot. He played the pot down, he would have
:48:56. > :49:00.been perfect but he knew he had this other one as an alternative. Clever
:49:01. > :49:08.thinking. Sort of played two shots in one. I don't think you'll be
:49:09. > :49:19.playing the can, just trying to leave himself a nice angle. When he
:49:20. > :49:37.puts it, the cue ball will be hitting into the reds. It might
:49:38. > :49:56.bring the pink into play. -- pots. Bringing the pink interplay, still
:49:57. > :49:59.nicely on the ball -- into play. This looks very good, there were
:50:00. > :50:10.only two reds behind the pink that looked a bit awkward. That gives way
:50:11. > :50:19.to a run to the winning line in the fourth frame. If he could go to the
:50:20. > :50:25.mid-session interval two frames up, he would be absolutely delighted. He
:50:26. > :50:50.didn't get much of a chance at the opening frames. Just one careless
:50:51. > :50:56.shot. Came up short, did he get a heavy contact or was it mishit? He
:50:57. > :51:01.just decelerated on that a little bit. He won't be happy with that.
:51:02. > :51:09.Trying to get a top so he can drop the blue in and get down to that
:51:10. > :51:30.red. Just what it to decelerate slightly -- just watch it decelerate
:51:31. > :51:39.flatly. Left himself a testing shot. This could be the frame ball. He
:51:40. > :52:03.needs to get nicely on the black or blue. Not a foregone conclusion.
:52:04. > :52:09.Played it very well. Especially that extension, there was a lot of bridge
:52:10. > :52:17.between his hand and the cue ball. He fully committed to that. Wow. You
:52:18. > :52:30.can't believe he got through the gap! Absently incredible how he's
:52:31. > :52:55.gone through that gap. -- absolutely. He doesn't want to be
:52:56. > :53:16.hitting the brown, left the red on. A bit of right side, needs to can
:53:17. > :53:25.the red away from the pink. -- cannon. Look at this, he is tighter
:53:26. > :53:34.to the yellow. The red has got all sorts of problems now. He would have
:53:35. > :53:37.liked to get tighter on the yellow. If he had, it was going to be
:53:38. > :53:55.virtually impossible to get out of this. I'd like to be blocking the
:53:56. > :54:07.cushion on the right-hand side. Got to try and hit this and hope that he
:54:08. > :54:15.can get it safe. From the left-hand side, there is less margin for
:54:16. > :54:23.error. I don't even think that he can swerve around to get the angle
:54:24. > :54:41.to come off two cushions. That's the sort of curfew tapped to get, and I
:54:42. > :55:07.don't think he can do that. -- curve you tried to get.
:55:08. > :55:18.Got a terrific amount of swerve to make the first angle, but
:55:19. > :55:25.decelerated a little bit again here. What a tough shot. Tight on
:55:26. > :55:33.the cushion. But if it goes in, completes the frame. Would you say
:55:34. > :55:44.you would get this about four or five times out of ten? Yes. You just
:55:45. > :55:59.want to hit it hard, give it a chance to go in. This is the type of
:56:00. > :56:06.shot that Ryan Day is normally quite professional at. But there is a bit
:56:07. > :56:11.of pressure on this one. Just a little bit. Didn't push the cue
:56:12. > :57:04.through in a straight line. He's found the gap again, urging
:57:05. > :57:10.that. Wilmot finished in a pottable position. This is slightly easier
:57:11. > :57:26.than the one he had when the cue ball was tucked up on the cushion.
:57:27. > :57:33.Amazing, the importance of this frame. Had a chance to take a three
:57:34. > :57:43.- one lead. A bit of tension, it is important for him. -- 3-1. Not quite
:57:44. > :57:55.sure why he tried to play it so hard. It could have just tried to
:57:56. > :57:57.hit it in nicely. The harder you try to hit it, the more difficult it
:57:58. > :58:19.becomes. Might have changed his mind. He
:58:20. > :58:23.played a terrible safety shot. Hit the right side cushion when he
:58:24. > :58:48.missed the pot, let's see if he gets closer this time. It is John's turn
:58:49. > :59:01.to be in all sorts of trouble. The right of the pocket this time. John
:59:02. > :59:04.is going to have to get a bit of swerve on the right-hand side. If he
:59:05. > :59:13.goes down the left side of the table, that is where he would like
:59:14. > :59:17.to hit the cushion. Just bending it slightly, then at the side... He's
:59:18. > :59:35.actually got the perfect shot. Not enough. Foul and a miss.
:59:36. > :59:43.Thinking about cutting the yellow in because he only needs a yellow to
:59:44. > :59:49.leave him the snooker. It's in your hands if you put it back and it hits
:59:50. > :59:56.the yellow and gets it safe - anything can happen. Just the yellow
:59:57. > :59:58.to leave John needing one snooker. It would be 26 in front with 25
:59:59. > :00:11.left. We've been talking since the
:00:12. > :00:15.tournament started about this left-hand side cushion that's been
:00:16. > :00:21.playing a little bit square, and the reason I say that is because, on
:00:22. > :00:28.that occasion, the ball didn't slide of this commission. He is listed on
:00:29. > :00:34.the short side as opposed to the wide side. Just came off a little
:00:35. > :00:40.bit square. It's funny. John is making it board difficult for
:00:41. > :00:46.himself. When Paul initially put it back, it was slightly easier, and
:00:47. > :00:51.John said, it's nearer the black - I mean, snooker players are so fair.
:00:52. > :00:55.They know that it's difficult. He was going to gain an advantage, and
:00:56. > :01:01.he said, no, the White was nearer the black. That's how close it was
:01:02. > :01:07.to the black. John didn't get enough side on it. A little bit nearer.
:01:08. > :01:48.28, the difference, just 27 on, the double to clinch it. No double, but
:01:49. > :02:01.hang on... With the snooker, Ryan Day would
:02:02. > :02:10.have levelled it at two -2. Not quite safe just yet.
:02:11. > :02:16.Pot the green as well, and then, if he can get himself nicely on the
:02:17. > :02:23.brown, could quite easily get that one snooker he is waiting for. He is
:02:24. > :02:34.such a master of the angles as well, John Higgins.
:02:35. > :02:40.Do you think he could run tighter against the blue here? Doesn't want
:02:41. > :02:46.the brown to go near a cushion. It's a delicate little shop, and he could
:02:47. > :02:52.play too... I think that's what he's trying. He would have to be very
:02:53. > :03:01.precise with it. No, he is passing the brown. Well, he tried to. But at
:03:02. > :03:06.the snooker on the blue. Always much easier the more balls you leave on
:03:07. > :03:11.the table to get the snooker you need, but could he finish this frame
:03:12. > :03:25.with citric shop and pot the brown? -- a trick shot.
:03:26. > :03:29.I'm sure he can run this through and get it behind the black, double the
:03:30. > :03:41.brown on the table. Just tried to go twice across the
:03:42. > :04:16.table. It would be interesting to see if he
:04:17. > :04:31.popped the brown this time. -- pots. Well, to get the brown
:04:32. > :04:33.behind the black... You've got the snooker behind the blue, but pretty
:04:34. > :05:02.straightforward. Bit of a chance here to get up
:05:03. > :05:20.behind the black. And this is a better effort. Oh...
:05:21. > :05:27.Not quite. Not quite. That would have been a tough one had it nestled
:05:28. > :05:29.in behind the black, so one good long pot on the brown here and we
:05:30. > :06:04.can all go and have a cup of coffee. Well, that's not going to help his
:06:05. > :06:09.case, John Higgins. He will be very disappointed to hit the pink. What
:06:10. > :06:10.that does, it knocks it out of line with the black, so less of a target
:06:11. > :06:58.now. There's an angle to go back up
:06:59. > :07:03.behind the black again, but he will be close to potting blue if he goes
:07:04. > :07:11.that way. Just swung it around the angles but not enough side. I
:07:12. > :07:15.wonder, will be risky little drag shot and just leave the blue over
:07:16. > :07:17.the pocket and maybe force John to pop the blue if he doesn't put it
:07:18. > :07:23.himself? There's the little drag shot. Well
:07:24. > :07:44.played. Yeah, John Higgins says enough, so
:07:45. > :07:46.Ryan Day takes the fourth frame, and it is all square at the interval,
:07:47. > :08:03.2-2. John gets the first frame after the
:08:04. > :08:07.midsession interval under way. Just looking down the line of the shot,
:08:08. > :08:13.Ryan may be able to have a go at this read, get on the black. It's
:08:14. > :08:19.the only ball he would leave. No, it wasn't the correct angle. Going
:08:20. > :08:33.towards the black - that was the reason he didn't have a go at it.
:08:34. > :08:50.Well, we might finish up with a re-rack here.
:08:51. > :09:15.Yeah, I think... Got a little bit of an early stalemate here.
:09:16. > :09:25.This type of game will never catch on...
:09:26. > :09:36.It's called tipping and tapping. Touching ball. And touching! Well,
:09:37. > :09:43.have a little word with the referee and get the frame going again.
:09:44. > :09:51.Can you imagine if we had 17 days of this sort of play? That would be
:09:52. > :09:58.exciting, wouldn't it? Surely it can't be touching again... Touching
:09:59. > :10:03.ball. This is a record for touching balls.
:10:04. > :10:07.But they are gradually starting to open up, so maybe we won't get a
:10:08. > :10:15.re-rack. I was in there with the premature
:10:16. > :10:26.re-rack, Ken... That's touching both balls, I think.
:10:27. > :10:50.Touching ball, both reds. Yeah! Could go off the side of the pack
:10:51. > :10:53.here and try and get the cue ball somewhere behind the yellow. He is
:10:54. > :11:06.taking the loose red. There will be a big cheer, I'm
:11:07. > :11:10.sure! So, after six touching balls, we are back to normal. Might be able
:11:11. > :11:36.to take this in the middle pocket and play for the black.
:11:37. > :11:44.He has just had a looks to see if he has covered that one with the pink.
:11:45. > :11:47.Into the left middle pocket. I don't... Well, he can get through to
:11:48. > :12:10.it. I was just having a word outside
:12:11. > :12:16.with Ryan, and apparently they have changed the cushions, so that's why
:12:17. > :12:21.we've had such a good standard - the century from John in the opening
:12:22. > :12:29.frame, 73, 55. So it is playing different, the table. Something had
:12:30. > :12:49.to be done. Not the bed cloth. The cushions have been replaced.
:12:50. > :12:57.Yeah, normal procedure would be that the players would complain all go in
:12:58. > :13:00.and talk to the tournament director or the assistant tournament
:13:01. > :13:06.director, Martin Clarke, who will come out and check the table. Speak
:13:07. > :13:10.to the table fitters of course. I'm sure, because there's been so many
:13:11. > :13:11.complaints about this table, that that's why they decided to change
:13:12. > :13:21.it. Now, he has got a couple of loose
:13:22. > :13:25.reds but he has a wonderful angle to go into the pack if he wishes.
:13:26. > :13:37.Beautiful shot. Now, how is your luck? Not good. Well, it's hard to
:13:38. > :13:42.believe. Two reds went towards this bottom left-hand corner pocket, but
:13:43. > :13:47.just look where they landed. He couldn't have hit that much better,
:13:48. > :13:55.could he? To land where he did and have a straightforward red. Yeah, it
:13:56. > :13:58.was amazing, those two reds that went towards the left corner, how
:13:59. > :15:00.they both landed on that other cushion. Very unfortunate.
:15:01. > :15:06.He has got a red to the right middle pocket here. Didn't get the cue ball
:15:07. > :15:38.where he intended. Yeah, these middle pockets are
:15:39. > :15:42.tough. You've got to get it right in the heart of the pocket. If it
:15:43. > :15:47.touches the jaw, we've seen so many raffle the jaws and come out. This
:15:48. > :15:52.must be pretty tight as to whether this red goes to the corner. He is
:15:53. > :16:00.coming round to have a look at the other side. I could never see from
:16:01. > :16:03.this end - it always looks much better from the end you are
:16:04. > :16:09.striking. He feels there's enough room... Seems to be, as long as he
:16:10. > :16:17.puts it in the centre of the pocket or just right of
:16:18. > :16:28.You could get a Sheffield tram through there, Ken. And the driver!
:16:29. > :16:33.An opportunity here for Ryan. Jumping on a couple of threads here,
:16:34. > :16:41.the one beside the pink and the one directly above the black -- red is
:16:42. > :16:49.just nudged the pink. Just knocked the red into a potable position.
:16:50. > :17:02.Would love to have been straight on it.
:17:03. > :17:32.And he has overcome that one. It was the previous shot where he got a bit
:17:33. > :17:36.too much action on the cue ball, left the blue slightly more
:17:37. > :17:46.difficult. You'd still expect him to knock that one in.
:17:47. > :17:57.This was the shot where he just got a bit too much on it. Just left the
:17:58. > :18:02.blue slightly more difficult. Still expected him to knock it in, though.
:18:03. > :18:13.John hasn't got an angle on the blue to get towards the red, forcing it
:18:14. > :18:25.all the way around the angles. No, he had got the angle. Just to hold
:18:26. > :18:27.this side of the blue spot. But that was about the best you could manage
:18:28. > :19:04.there. Well, he might just be OK. Because
:19:05. > :19:09.he thought he was going to touch the pink and the red, but if he has got
:19:10. > :19:13.the gap here... Although the black won't go, he could get up for the
:19:14. > :19:18.blue, but could have been in all sorts of trouble. In fact he is
:19:19. > :19:28.having to swerve it. No, he can stab it in. That will do nicely if it
:19:29. > :19:41.holds up. One more good positional shot and he is back in business.
:19:42. > :19:51.That's a better shot. Nicely on the red into right-centre. Back down for
:19:52. > :19:55.the black, and he really wants that read that to the left of the black,
:19:56. > :19:56.closer to the left-hand corner pocket. He wants that out of the
:19:57. > :21:36.way. Not many pots away from sinking this
:21:37. > :21:40.fifth frame. Just touching the red but that doesn't matter. He is
:21:41. > :21:48.playing away from it, whichever red he chooses.
:21:49. > :21:55.I think this was an important frame for John Higgins after starting off
:21:56. > :22:02.so well. All of a sudden he missed a couple of easy ones, and Ryan took
:22:03. > :22:07.full advantage. Nice to get one up on the Welshman.
:22:08. > :22:18.Yeah, he just stopped the rot, as it were. Started off very well. Ryan
:22:19. > :22:20.Day came back strong. And it looks like John has his nose in front once
:22:21. > :22:37.more. Just needs black or pink. He has
:22:38. > :22:49.looked at This will leave Ryan needing a
:22:50. > :22:57.snooker. And safely in the heart of the pocket.
:22:58. > :23:10.There you see it, 57 ahead with only 51 remaining.
:23:11. > :23:27.So definitely changing the cushions has made a big difference to this
:23:28. > :23:48.table. Can he negotiate that difficult last
:23:49. > :24:16.red, give himself a possible century?
:24:17. > :24:28.You mentioned earlier about who holds the record of centuries at the
:24:29. > :24:36.Crucible. John Higgins did with 14 in the year you won it, and Stephen
:24:37. > :24:40.Hendry made 16 in 2002 here at the Crucible. Yeah, it's an incredible
:24:41. > :24:52.achievement, that. Particularly when you consider that
:24:53. > :24:56.some players wouldn't make that a season, so an incredible feat, 16
:24:57. > :25:11.centuries in five matches here at the Crucible.
:25:12. > :25:22.Exactly 100 if he cannot blue, pink and black in. -- can knock.
:25:23. > :25:25.The ball is definitely haven't been pinging off the cushions like this
:25:26. > :25:45.before. End set whether century break. Came
:25:46. > :25:49.out after the midcentury interval and made another century break. He
:25:50. > :26:01.is back in the lead. John Higgins leads 3-2.
:26:02. > :26:07.Nine to play, of course, in this first session, and any sort of lead
:26:08. > :26:12.for any player, I'm sure they would have been happy coming into this
:26:13. > :26:18.session. You normally play these type of matches in little mini
:26:19. > :26:22.sessions. First four frames, try and get a lead, particularly after that
:26:23. > :26:24.first session. If you are 5-4 or anything better, you are pretty
:26:25. > :27:04.happy with your day's work. Just tried to get around the back of
:27:05. > :27:15.the black there. He has gifted John and excellent opportunity here.
:27:16. > :27:21.Sometimes the interval can come at a good time for a player, but
:27:22. > :27:25.sometimes at a bad time as well, and that seems to be the case at the
:27:26. > :27:29.moment. John started off very, very well, and one day seemed to have all
:27:30. > :27:35.the momentum. The interval came and now it has swung back towards John
:27:36. > :27:42.Higgins. Just lost his focus a little bit at the moment, Ryan Day.
:27:43. > :27:48.Oh, well, saying that... You don't see that many times, do you? Yeah,
:27:49. > :27:54.he did that in the first four frames. He was flying along and, all
:27:55. > :28:00.of a sudden, he missed an easy red, and there's an easy black, and that
:28:01. > :28:03.sort of thing can be so costly. As I mentioned, it just seems to be that
:28:04. > :28:08.little bit of concentration - every now and again, John loses it.
:28:09. > :28:15.I mean, he looks at times as if he is never going to miss a shot, and
:28:16. > :28:41.all of a sudden, he throws one like that in.
:28:42. > :28:47.But, as you mentioned earlier in this match, Ryan has got to take
:28:48. > :28:55.full advantage, because John won't keep making errors like that.
:28:56. > :29:04.And you've got to punish your opponent when he slips up. Not a
:29:05. > :29:08.good chance just yet. Only the one loose red potable, the rest are all
:29:09. > :29:14.covering each other. So is it time to go into the bunch? Not a good one
:29:15. > :29:18.to go into, it has to be said. So easy to stick it into the back of
:29:19. > :29:24.the reds, if he tries to move them from the black here. That's why he
:29:25. > :29:33.has played for the loose one. Better to go into them from the blue. But
:29:34. > :29:34.he is not ideally on that red he played for into the right middle
:29:35. > :30:08.pocket. APPLAUSE Not a lot he can do, he
:30:09. > :30:11.needs a bit of angle on this. Trying to get it into the white middle
:30:12. > :30:32.pocket. What sort of angle has he got on the pink? A little bit of
:30:33. > :30:44.angle. Perfectly played. You could try and stop this red, just try and
:30:45. > :30:59.stun it in. Bring another one interplay. -- into play. Almost got
:31:00. > :31:03.a kick. Still OK, on the black. That red is still available just below
:31:04. > :31:19.the pink into this right-hand corner pocket. Just took all the pace out
:31:20. > :31:22.of the cue ball. This time there is no angle on the red. He will have to
:31:23. > :32:04.go for blue, possibly. Does he has an angle to try and
:32:05. > :32:23.disturb the red here? -- have? Too much into the side. He was never
:32:24. > :32:27.really in position. A foul. Sometimes you can force that too
:32:28. > :32:40.much, that's exactly what happened. Too much reaction on the cue ball.
:32:41. > :34:56.APPLAUSE He might be up to tucked in behind
:34:57. > :35:08.that red -- people. -- able. Good pot. Needs to cue ball to slow up --
:35:09. > :35:20.the. These cushions are lively, very fast. You didn't expect it to come
:35:21. > :35:31.up so far. He can just drop the blue in. The one in the right corner is a
:35:32. > :35:40.shot to nothing. It's one of those... If you put it, you could be
:35:41. > :35:43.on the green or brown. Not going to leave much unless it wobbles and
:35:44. > :36:06.stays in the jaws of the pocket. If he can't see the one past the
:36:07. > :36:24.yellow, he will have to come off the side cushion and nestle up to the
:36:25. > :36:35.two reds. Callous. Wanted it behind those reds. His left John Higgins a
:36:36. > :36:37.free shot here in the corner pocket. Was expecting a bit more slide of
:36:38. > :37:14.that cushion -- off -- he's. Excellent pot. Saw that red go in
:37:15. > :37:31.again. The middle red or close fought just below the pink, plotted
:37:32. > :37:43.to the left-hand corner. -- middle red ball close to the four. --
:37:44. > :37:54.potted. That one looks a little bit tight. That would have been a bonus,
:37:55. > :38:12.it would have released the pink. This looks tight. No problem. If he
:38:13. > :38:22.can pop the pink and get on that red directly below it... Now we are
:38:23. > :38:57.plotting this red, it will release the other reds -- potting. John
:38:58. > :39:04.Higgins has really cued well. He has had about three callous shots where
:39:05. > :39:16.he lost concentration. Other than that, he has cued beautifully. Had
:39:17. > :39:36.to century breaks and 79. -- two. APPLAUSE The key is the two reds
:39:37. > :39:50.near the right corner pocket. It's not going to be easy to get an angle
:39:51. > :39:58.and bring those into play. The pink is 19, the blue would be a better
:39:59. > :40:03.one to get. He left very little margin for error if he played on the
:40:04. > :40:12.pink. Is looking at the pink, he will have to be very precise to get
:40:13. > :40:17.the angle. He has gone too far for the blues. He is going to have to go
:40:18. > :40:25.for the yellow. Maybe he can hold it. It is tough to get from the blue
:40:26. > :40:36.to the red. I think he put it at an angle. He has really got to dig into
:40:37. > :40:45.that blue. Try to create a bit of an angle. Just over on the cue ball,
:40:46. > :40:51.about six inches, I would say. I don't think he can get enough grip
:40:52. > :40:56.on the cue ball. Any sort of Canada on those two reds will knock them
:40:57. > :41:02.into the corner pocket. There has to be a shot to try and make it from
:41:03. > :41:26.here. The pink is the obvious choice but it is very difficult.
:41:27. > :41:49.APPLAUSE A little bit of noise from the other table. Didn't quite hit
:41:50. > :41:56.the brown had enough -- hard. I was surprised he played that shot, I
:41:57. > :42:12.thought he might just nestle into those two reds. He had to be so
:42:13. > :42:28.precise with that safety shot. 21 points ahead. Just the red after
:42:29. > :42:44.this pink will be enough. A little formation going on here. They have
:42:45. > :42:50.each been winning two frames. But what's going to happen next? Day's
:42:51. > :43:46.going to win two frames. To snookers needed. Barring those,
:43:47. > :45:46.John Higgins has a two frame advantage -- two.
:45:47. > :46:05.APPLAUSE That's enough from Ryan Day, John Higgins goes back to a two
:46:06. > :46:20.frame lead. It's been a good quality match so far. A couple of centuries
:46:21. > :46:31.from John Higgins. A decent standard. An excellent pot and a
:46:32. > :46:47.beautiful kiss on the red. This time he had the angle to hold from the
:46:48. > :46:58.black. That was dead straight on the red. Not a good pack to go into from
:46:59. > :47:04.the black. Got a bit of an angle. Plenty of cue power, he will need it
:47:05. > :47:13.because it is so easy to get stock on the reds. This is where the cue
:47:14. > :47:28.power comes into its own, on this type of shot. Didn't count on the
:47:29. > :47:32.way he intended. -- cannon. A bit careless, he should have been a lot
:47:33. > :47:40.lower on the black so he could have stormed into the pack of reds.
:47:41. > :47:51.That's why you could see him shaking his head. Very disappointed after
:47:52. > :48:05.that opening red. You can see the angle, not fantastic. Needs a lot of
:48:06. > :48:22.cue power. He needed power rather than the screw back. Very
:48:23. > :48:47.unfortunate. It stopped him having a go at this left red to the corner.
:48:48. > :48:52.He played in attacking safety shot -- an. I think when you play with so
:48:53. > :49:00.much light on it, he just hit it too sick. That is why it careened into
:49:01. > :49:09.the pink. Now he just has one shot into the left corner. If he can get
:49:10. > :49:18.a Canada on the red, it it doesn't look as if it would go past. --
:49:19. > :49:46.cannon. Well played. He needs to get going again.
:49:47. > :49:59.He is having to cue ball cleaned because of the way he is going to
:50:00. > :50:08.take this shot. He wanted to just roll in. It was John that opened all
:50:09. > :50:13.the reds up, now he has to sit and see how many Ryan's going to knock
:50:14. > :50:57.in. You just have to be careful here.
:50:58. > :51:01.The reds are sort of in the way. If he pots the black into the
:51:02. > :51:07.right-hand corner pocket... Just having a look, he's got to be quite
:51:08. > :51:26.precise with this cue ball after potting the pink. The pink pots into
:51:27. > :51:30.the right-hand corner pocket, that would be OK. If he could get nice
:51:31. > :51:43.and straight on the red, he could run through to the black. He might
:51:44. > :51:47.just squeeze it in to miss the reds below the pink. He couldn't miss
:51:48. > :51:52.those, but he has negotiated a nice cannon on the red toehold for the
:51:53. > :52:54.black -- to hold. Can't avoid cannoning the black.
:52:55. > :53:08.Just has to be careful. That is not the way he wanted to cannon it. He
:53:09. > :53:21.just stunned into the black rather than getting a bit of screw on it.
:53:22. > :53:26.He could do with a colour safe, just as a bit of insurance. You might
:53:27. > :53:34.think about cutting the green and coming back up to the reds. He wants
:53:35. > :53:40.to leave the black tied up near the question. I think the only other
:53:41. > :53:46.colour you could see is the green. There is nothing wrong with doubling
:53:47. > :53:55.the green onto the side cushion, leaving it tight. He's had a good
:53:56. > :54:04.think about it. Is he contemplating cutting the green in? It's a bit
:54:05. > :54:11.risky, isn't it? It's amazing how players think completely
:54:12. > :54:19.differently. He is trying to protect his lead. Maybe leaving the red on.
:54:20. > :54:30.A police force your opponent into having a go. If he has a chance,
:54:31. > :54:41.Lisa Green will be safe -- at least the green. Just a bit worried about
:54:42. > :55:15.leaving this red on, difficult for Higgins to pot this.
:55:16. > :55:37.Another red his flicked on to the question as a bit of insurance --
:55:38. > :55:39.he's. -- cushion. Hasn't been a great deal of tactical play in this
:55:40. > :56:12.match so far. Usually pretty good at this type of
:56:13. > :56:21.shot. He hit that so hard. The only rate he could leave, he's left it.
:56:22. > :56:30.One good angle on the blue. If John is already looking at the pink,
:56:31. > :56:41.already looking at a few shots ahead... If not he could get on the
:56:42. > :57:08.blue and then it cannon the pink and reds. Just enough room. That's what
:57:09. > :57:21.John was looking out. Just moving back of a cushion. He could do with
:57:22. > :57:37.a cue ball -- the cue ball near enough to where it is at the moment.
:57:38. > :57:55.Faced with a tough pot to keep his comeback and this frame going. This
:57:56. > :58:01.has to go in. Beautifully cued! Got a half chance now. Show you that
:58:02. > :58:14.blue going right in the centre of that pocket. A couple of awkward
:58:15. > :58:31.reds, but not a bad chance. It was so important to keep that green safe
:58:32. > :58:36.from Ryan's point of view. Nothing pots into this left-hand corner
:58:37. > :58:50.pocket. Just contemplating how he will go into the pink. Try and track
:58:51. > :59:04.the loose red. Just a little flick would have been nice.
:59:05. > :59:18.Red maybe up behind the brown, cueball.
:59:19. > :59:37.Pretty good. A problem for Ryan Day. Moving into a possible position.
:59:38. > :00:14.Managed to avoid the two reds. That was a terrific pot and they
:00:15. > :00:32.deserve it kiss on the blue. Rather fortuitous and he deserved a bit of
:00:33. > :00:35.good luck. This would be one against the head because Ryan Day was going
:00:36. > :01:17.along very nicely and looked as if he was going to win the frame with
:01:18. > :01:27.one visit. He will be looking for a nice angle, possibly blue or pink of
:01:28. > :01:38.this red. Worrying about how he will get on with those two raids left of
:01:39. > :01:44.his pink -- two reds. A bit of a bounce, is going hold up? A bit
:01:45. > :01:54.straight on the blue and he cannot get on the reds from the blue. If
:01:55. > :02:11.you can get behind the two reds he will have them into the same pocket.
:02:12. > :02:45.Najim -- -- nudged in a think he is still OK.
:02:46. > :03:09.That was a tremendous shot, he could not have cute that much better. --
:03:10. > :03:24.cued. Yellow and green are both say. Gerry has an angle here if you chose
:03:25. > :03:34.to move the dream. He cannot get nicely onto the yellow now. If he
:03:35. > :03:43.can get behind the yellow when he is plotting this blue... It is the only
:03:44. > :03:46.shot that is available to him. He needs to leave the cueball somewhere
:03:47. > :03:55.in the vicinity of where the yellow is now. He needs to leave the
:03:56. > :04:09.cueball somewhere where the yellow is an play the double. He has cued
:04:10. > :04:23.at nicely. This could be the frame winner.
:04:24. > :04:30.Pretty good effort from John Higgins considering where all the Reds were
:04:31. > :04:39.when he came to the table, he is back in the frame. Earlier on, Ryan
:04:40. > :04:44.Day played a safety shot and I'm back in the frame. Earlier on, Ryan
:04:45. > :05:01.Day played a safety shot and sure he thought it was good but John Higgins
:05:02. > :05:10.picked out a good shot. He missed that totally. The only saving grace
:05:11. > :05:17.is that he has knocked the pink and it is not absolutely safe and that
:05:18. > :05:23.the black is over the pocket. Not that the black is going to make any
:05:24. > :05:34.difference. This is going to be difficult if he goes under pressure.
:05:35. > :05:40.The blue does not go past the black so a quick look to the
:05:41. > :05:47.scoreboard... He is going to need the brown, the blue and the pink. He
:05:48. > :05:49.has plenty of cue power. He has a slight angle if he can force it
:05:50. > :06:11.around. It was dead straight. This is a pretty good length with
:06:12. > :06:45.the cueball. There is this blue pot. He has not
:06:46. > :06:53.come out to have a look at it, he is coming around now. If he misses it,
:06:54. > :06:58.the black. The blue from going anywhere. The White will be flying
:06:59. > :07:08.around the table and may find it pocket. He has to be careful. He has
:07:09. > :07:15.put so much side on that. They could be costly because if John can get in
:07:16. > :07:24.behind the pink, the black is over the pocket. He has got an angle to
:07:25. > :07:31.swing it around. Just near where his head is at the moment. That is where
:07:32. > :07:45.he wants the cueball. This looks to be absolutely perfect. All the have
:07:46. > :07:48.to do is just drop the pink in. He only needs the pink, so just roll
:07:49. > :08:06.in. Very exciting frame of snooker. He
:08:07. > :08:17.has managed to pinch it and he has extended his lead. A simple fact for
:08:18. > :08:24.Ryan Day is that he needs at least one of the two remaining frames,
:08:25. > :08:51.they will be back at 230 tomorrow to play the conclusion of this match.
:08:52. > :09:06.A couple of raids he can go out. -- reds he has got to be careful here.
:09:07. > :09:09.That is careless. He could have studied that a little bit longer, he
:09:10. > :09:17.thought there was an easy and played it for a shot at nothing. He hit it
:09:18. > :09:23.too thin and look at the chance he has left John Higgins. Probably
:09:24. > :09:31.still reeling from losing that last frame as well. Seeing the ball and
:09:32. > :10:05.not thinking. It was like a little Illya Chucky
:10:06. > :10:11.played with that cannon. -- little billiard shot. People say that you
:10:12. > :10:16.have two learn billiard before you can play snooker. Billiards are
:10:17. > :10:26.still played at all the modern-day players would never play billiards.
:10:27. > :10:38.Two whites and a red, a very skilful game.
:10:39. > :10:54.John Higgins is a master pressing home his advantage. He just wants to
:10:55. > :11:19.dish up these loose reds before he contemplates going into the red.
:11:20. > :11:30.Just playing for the loose one, not ideally placed for those reds. In a
:11:31. > :11:31.few shots time I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't play up for
:11:32. > :11:46.the blue to cannon into the bunch. Still to read is available, he can
:11:47. > :11:58.to slide up past the pack and leave a choice of those two. -- still to
:11:59. > :12:07.reds available. He has not hit it hard enough. There is such a margin
:12:08. > :13:03.for error that. He is not happy with that one.
:13:04. > :13:32.You just sense that he has taken control of this match. He knows the
:13:33. > :13:42.importance of this frame as well. Every frame is important but he is
:13:43. > :13:47.guaranteed at least three frame lead going into the session. You can
:13:48. > :13:48.never win the match in the first session, but you can certainly lose
:13:49. > :14:04.it. If John Higgins wins this frame from
:14:05. > :14:20.this visit, it is a must win frame for Ryan Day. There is still a
:14:21. > :14:35.possible comeback, 7-2 against a champion is not going to be easy.
:14:36. > :14:50.Read on the cushion is just slightly hampering him here. He played it
:14:51. > :14:56.well. As I mentioned earlier he has cued beautifully in this match. He
:14:57. > :15:23.has missed some easy shots but that was just a lapse in concentration.
:15:24. > :15:43.He has had two centuries. He is not pinging off the cushions the way the
:15:44. > :15:49.other cushions were, 96% is high. He said the table was one of the worst
:15:50. > :15:56.he had ever played on, and Stephen Hendry wanted to take a sledgehammer
:15:57. > :16:14.to it. But they have put cushions on it and seemed to have solved the
:16:15. > :16:16.problem. Those little shots are soft screw shots, a lovely shot to
:16:17. > :17:01.watch. So skilful. It is not going to be easy but there
:17:02. > :17:15.is enough there to make a century. You would have to get that. A
:17:16. > :17:20.hat-trick of centuries there. What sort of angle? Canny move the red or
:17:21. > :18:16.play behind that? -- can he. The little flick helped. He can put
:18:17. > :18:23.this from here. He has already made two centuries so far this session
:18:24. > :18:37.but he'll be happy with the 77 and now he goes into a 6-2 lead. He gets
:18:38. > :18:47.the last frame of this session under way. A pretty good rake shot. --
:18:48. > :18:57.break shot. It is a must win for way. A pretty good rake shot. --
:18:58. > :19:14.break shot. It is a must win Ryan. He has hit that too thin and a
:19:15. > :19:30.little bit too hard. He would still be way behind but he is in with a
:19:31. > :19:46.shout. 7-2 is not going to be easy. Can John Higgins find the gap? He
:19:47. > :20:00.did not get the gap. He has left himself with a bit of a tester. This
:20:01. > :20:15.will test his killing. -- cueing. Great shot, super. It is this sort
:20:16. > :20:21.of shot that I is practice. -- players practice. I used to practise
:20:22. > :20:27.with John Higgins when he first turned professional. They would set
:20:28. > :20:36.the type of shot up, only the other way around stop the long straight
:20:37. > :20:44.pot. Stephen Hendry used to do that. They would play their all
:20:45. > :20:49.their long and John Higgins was a practice partner of Stephen Hendry.
:20:50. > :20:51.And Stephen Hendry was the reason that John Higgins got to be world
:20:52. > :21:04.champion so quickly. No doubt he is one of the best
:21:05. > :21:11.players that has ever graced the game. He has won this championship
:21:12. > :21:28.four times. His all-round game and his temperament is top quality. He
:21:29. > :21:39.is very good in every department. He is only behind in terms of break
:21:40. > :21:53.building. He is as another -- he has added another couple of centuries to
:21:54. > :22:09.his list. He has won four 7 is in tournament play as well. In fact one
:22:10. > :22:16.of my very last matches before I retired was against John Higgins. He
:22:17. > :22:28.never even made a maximum break in practice. I broke off and then he
:22:29. > :22:36.knocked in his first maximum. That was my very last competitive frame.
:22:37. > :22:56.Just before a big Stephen Hendry. -- I beat. I bet Stephen was pleased.
:22:57. > :23:13.It is a lively crowd that because in nearly screwed that into the middle
:23:14. > :23:22.pocket. The white almost dropped in. We will just show you the white
:23:23. > :23:23.again, just watch the cue ball. A little bit too much screw and just
:23:24. > :23:26.caught the little bit too much screw and just
:23:27. > :23:50.caught jaw. He has got a good angle, not a good
:23:51. > :24:00.pack to go into but he can do with just catching one of those reds to
:24:01. > :24:05.bring a couple into play. He is a bit unlucky, he has got a long
:24:06. > :24:17.straight great to go out. He could not have headed much better. --
:24:18. > :24:29.heated. The one he is closest to go up into the corner pocket. That is a
:24:30. > :24:48.lovely shot their, write down his cue, he has held for the pink. With
:24:49. > :24:50.the exception of those few misses, it has been a masterclass from John
:24:51. > :25:29.Higgins. Fantastic. From what I have seen since this
:25:30. > :25:35.championship started on Saturday, this has probably been the best
:25:36. > :25:40.performance from any player. Marco Fu was outstanding against Peter
:25:41. > :26:10.Ebdon. He is going to have a lot to do in
:26:11. > :26:43.the second session. He came back in one of the
:26:44. > :26:54.qualifying matches from 95 down. -- 9-5. It is nice to see Alfie still
:26:55. > :27:07.playing, he is a very talented player from London. Tremendous shot,
:27:08. > :27:18.knocking the red of the cushion. He is going to need this pink and two
:27:19. > :27:35.reds to make a century. Have a look at this shot again, lots of top
:27:36. > :27:38.spin, after the cue ball slightly. We will see a number century from
:27:39. > :27:51.John Higgins, just a couple of pots away. It is a thin one but I think
:27:52. > :28:01.he can avoid the in off. It is not a natural to go in off the corner. He
:28:02. > :28:05.doesn't want to finish tied on the cushion otherwise it will be a
:28:06. > :28:17.tricky black. He will have to try and cut this in.
:28:18. > :28:35.That is his third century. Look at that smile and John's face. He has
:28:36. > :28:41.certainly waved his magic wand at the Crucible. He takes an overnight
:28:42. > :29:27.lead over Ryan Day 7-2. If he could get this red to the left
:29:28. > :29:32.of the pink, get a nice angle, I'm sure that's what he's thinking. I
:29:33. > :29:42.know it's early and he wants to get back in the frame. If he plays the
:29:43. > :29:51.shot you are talking about, with the two reds, he could be alongside the
:29:52. > :30:19.blue. He could pot this red and release the only awkward red on the
:30:20. > :30:23.table. He would want to play this red into the right-hand side cushion
:30:24. > :30:56.first, before you go after the other two. The brown is in an awkward
:30:57. > :31:10.position at the moment. 18 points behind. Plenty of points to play
:31:11. > :31:23.with. He has landed perfectly on the blue to play for that red near the
:31:24. > :31:30.right-hand cushion. I thought for a minute it was going to run a couple
:31:31. > :31:53.of inches too far. But this is fine. The only awkward ball now is
:31:54. > :31:57.the brown. Trying to avoid the middle pocket, I sure he'll do that
:31:58. > :32:09.no problem. The cushion before the middle pocket. I think he's got
:32:10. > :32:17.choices. Got very close to that middle. But it's come out absolutely
:32:18. > :32:23.perfectly. One thing he didn't want to do is beyond this red in a
:32:24. > :32:31.position where he had to avoid the cannon on the green. Just that
:32:32. > :32:35.positional shot from green to brown, but that shouldn't be too difficult.
:32:36. > :32:53.It's the only thing I can see stopping him. Just one point behind.
:32:54. > :33:10.It means he will need up to and including the pink. It went inside
:33:11. > :33:16.the pocket, that is why the cue ball has come so far. A bit of work to do
:33:17. > :33:27.now with the cue ball to get the good position on the brown. That is
:33:28. > :33:41.imperative. He's played that on the lower right-hand side. One good pot
:33:42. > :33:55.in the brown, is he going to be hampered by the blue? No, he can cue
:33:56. > :34:09.past it. Just over them a little bit. He pots the blue, 13 points
:34:10. > :34:25.remaining. Still needs the pink. One question has a shot. Gotten to that
:34:26. > :34:35.cue ball far too hard. Just a sniff of a chance. Well played! Very well
:34:36. > :34:49.played. Keeping Ronnie O'Sullivan on his toes. Not a Reading when he was
:34:50. > :35:05.trying to break them up -- knocked a red in. That's all they can do, take
:35:06. > :35:35.it one frame at a time and keep potting balls. Very impressive. I
:35:36. > :35:44.was watching days in his chair, he was breathing so deeply. Really
:35:45. > :35:52.excited, he is coping with the pressure really well. -- Dave. He
:35:53. > :36:05.needs to get back on an even keel. I was watching a bit of snooker a few
:36:06. > :36:15.weeks ago. He has shown that deciding frame. He was as still as
:36:16. > :36:32.anything, I would have been shaking and going everywhere. Not ideal on
:36:33. > :36:48.the ground, you just wonder about how he will take it on. This match
:36:49. > :37:01.has been all about half chances. And when you get them, taking them.
:37:02. > :38:30.He's on the pink. Very fortunate. Just left the cue ball. A bit more
:38:31. > :38:51.work to do. I thought this was no problem... He thought he hit that.
:38:52. > :38:54.You never expect it to miss. Maybe just thinking too much about the
:38:55. > :39:06.position, we see that happen all the time. You forget the pot. Lucky not
:39:07. > :39:43.to have left anything easier than this. It wasn't easy.
:39:44. > :40:07.APPLAUSE Did that well. Missed his first opportunity, I don't expect
:40:08. > :40:25.him to miss this one. That could have been nice. Still on the red to
:40:26. > :40:34.the left of the cue ball. The cue ball behind! I just got the feeling
:40:35. > :40:41.was that the black, that they didn't have to go into the two reds. It was
:40:42. > :40:56.sort of a hit and hope shot. Starting to fill it a little bit. --
:40:57. > :41:18.feel. A tough shot to take on. Goes for it 100%. Wood, straight cueing
:41:19. > :41:39.it needed. Just seemed to hit that one a bit harder than it has been --
:41:40. > :41:52.good. Surely now a chance to win the frame from here. You are thankful
:41:53. > :42:10.for shots like that at this level. Doesn't happen too many times.
:42:11. > :42:55.We want more red. That would put this frame way beyond Dave Gilbert.
:42:56. > :43:07.Didn't he cue that beautifully! I think there is a difference between
:43:08. > :43:14.Ronnie now and a few years ago. He didn't let the brown affect him. A
:43:15. > :43:25.few seasons ago, if he missed that, it would affect him for the rest of
:43:26. > :43:36.the frame. I think he has learnt how to win matches. That is by not
:43:37. > :43:59.letting anything get to you. I think he has learnt that you can do that.
:44:00. > :44:03.It didn't matter about the yellow. Ronnie O'Sullivan one frame away
:44:04. > :44:25.from a place in the second round. Leading by nine frames to six. Not
:44:26. > :44:35.the best break of shot from Dave. Long pot success, 90%. That's very
:44:36. > :44:40.good. He hadn't this one this morning until that one. It always
:44:41. > :44:50.seems to be the way when somebody is in front. Dave Gilbert needs some
:44:51. > :45:12.easy starters, Ronnie fortunate not to leave anything there. This isn't
:45:13. > :45:48.the easiest return. Nice pot. Not the best safety shot.
:45:49. > :46:00.I think it's worth it, the black is off its spot and is a big target.
:46:01. > :46:14.Couldn't have hit it better. Absolutely plumb. Just has to be
:46:15. > :46:24.careful if he's going to play this with the black to the same pocket. A
:46:25. > :46:38.tough shot. He has to avoid the right middle. Well played -- plum.
:46:39. > :46:48.Couldn't have played it better. Got all the reds now. It is all about
:46:49. > :46:54.precise, positional play. He is looking for a red he can play to and
:46:55. > :47:47.make the black available. He's found the gap. He is very
:47:48. > :47:54.straight. You have to avoid the kiss on the black. I could not believe
:47:55. > :48:08.that about 20 and the corner pocket. -- that that went in the
:48:09. > :48:20.corner pocket. With the black available now into both corners,
:48:21. > :48:28.this is a great opportunity. All you can do is just keep potting balls
:48:29. > :48:45.and see what happens. It's a cliche, but one frame at a time. Try
:48:46. > :50:25.and ignore the scoreboard. He has to try and get the snooker.
:50:26. > :50:40.Striking the ball absolutely beautifully. Nice, tight control of
:50:41. > :50:47.the cue ball. It didn't matter if he was on the wrong side of the blue,
:50:48. > :51:07.because he had a red to play on quite comfortably. 59 points the
:51:08. > :51:26.lead. Look at that, he's gone ahead in the number of balls potted. Just
:51:27. > :51:41.this red and a colour, and the snooker will be required. It never
:51:42. > :51:44.looked like missing. I think he's ranked in the 20s at the moment, I
:51:45. > :52:00.think if he keeps progressing and playing like this, he will get even
:52:01. > :52:07.better. I think the thing is, in all sports, it's just the consistency.
:52:08. > :52:10.I've seen David play a few times, he is always consistent but then you
:52:11. > :52:25.won't see him play for a season. He just disappears. Only needed one
:52:26. > :52:43.snooker to tie. Still only one away from victory. Ronnie gets frame 17
:52:44. > :53:00.under way. Just one frame away from victory. Ronnie will know that his
:53:01. > :53:08.opponent is playing well. We's that cue ball Boeing? -- where's? --
:53:09. > :53:30.going? The other side of the blue, he's
:53:31. > :53:39.dead straight. Aiming for a red here. Unexpected out of that
:53:40. > :53:48.pinpoint position. I'm surprised he didn't come down and play for the
:53:49. > :53:50.black or the red. He wants to play for that red that's just above the
:53:51. > :54:31.black. He's played that left-hand, and a
:54:32. > :54:36.ton of right hand side is to get the black. I wonder what sort of
:54:37. > :54:45.reaction he's going to get on this cue ball? Deciding to play it
:54:46. > :54:57.gently. I thought he would have played that differently. He will be
:54:58. > :55:07.looking to continue the break. He's not well in. You need to disturb
:55:08. > :55:23.some more if you are going to win this visit. There it is. Snookers
:55:24. > :55:31.will be needed, the match will be over. Going to have to bring reds
:55:32. > :55:58.into play to get that amount of points.
:55:59. > :56:08.Is this red to the right of the pink available? If it is, no problem. If
:56:09. > :56:26.not, the other red is tricky. Made it look so simple. The writing is on
:56:27. > :56:40.the ball. You just felt from that first shot that this was going to be
:56:41. > :56:45.the time I think he should take great heart out of how he has played
:56:46. > :56:50.in this match. He is definitely a top 16 player. No doubt about it. He
:56:51. > :56:58.has all the ability in the world, just needs to do it more
:56:59. > :57:03.consistently. Ronnie O'Sullivan is the last draw he wanted after
:57:04. > :57:17.playing three difficult qualifying matches. He's not perfect, but he
:57:18. > :57:24.only needs the red. Right in the middle of the pocket. Ronnie
:57:25. > :57:29.O'Sullivan, always been a bit of a banana skin, this first-round match.
:57:30. > :57:46.We seen a few go by the wayside. Not going to trip up Ronnie. I think is
:57:47. > :57:54.average has been 14 seconds per shot. That is quick. Yesterday
:57:55. > :58:11.afternoon it was very solid. A few funny shots. Very impressive. He
:58:12. > :58:22.will be wishing they would all the best for the next tournament, Ronnie
:58:23. > :58:33.was up to it! -- David. At the end of the day, Ronnie O'Sullivan
:58:34. > :58:40.through to the second round. So, the Rocard is safely through to round
:58:41. > :58:45.two. Thanks for watching, we will see you at ten o'clock.