:00:37. > :00:43.Hello and welcome to snooker extra, extended highlights of today's first
:00:44. > :00:49.round match from the Betfred World Snooker championship. Mark Allen
:00:50. > :01:07.takes on a man making his debut hit. Mitchell Mann making his debut
:01:08. > :01:16.here at the Crucible in Sheffield. I haven't seen him play before. Have
:01:17. > :01:25.you? Not a great deal. No, I haven't. But what you can say is
:01:26. > :01:29.that anybody who has gone through the qualifying sections of this
:01:30. > :01:35.event, three rounds to get through in the week before, the Crucible
:01:36. > :01:42.starts, he is a player. No hiding place now, really. The problem of
:01:43. > :01:50.course is that we rarely see debutante play well, that is a
:01:51. > :02:36.problem. A possible future world champion, Mark Allen.
:02:37. > :02:54.That's a nice feeling. To gnocchi and -- to gnocchi on your first
:02:55. > :03:02.reasonable chance. -- to knock in. I think how you perform here at your
:03:03. > :03:09.first outing at the Crucible can inform how much of a good start you
:03:10. > :03:18.get off too. It is not easy. -- get off to.
:03:19. > :03:30.Decent effort to get to a good area of the table, but he is betwixt and
:03:31. > :03:41.between. The cutback red into the corner. Looking to see how he is
:03:42. > :03:52.going to collide with the red and black he cuts his back. -- if he
:03:53. > :04:12.cuts this back. Something like that. Could never have predicted the
:04:13. > :04:19.outcome. Probably try and drop this black in, but he may have to go
:04:20. > :04:23.around the back of the red and play for the red in the corner. He might
:04:24. > :04:30.not be able to play it soft enough to play for the middle. He may be OK
:04:31. > :04:42.doing that though. I think that was a wise choice. So far, a
:04:43. > :04:43.doing that though. I think that was controlled opening four balls. Yes,
:04:44. > :04:51.he has not been in prime position yet, but he is now. The key to
:04:52. > :05:02.making your debut at the Crucible is to make every post a winning post.
:05:03. > :05:15.Don't go into it, just be straight on the next black.
:05:16. > :05:25.He may have finished straight. Just at a slight angle. It is worth
:05:26. > :05:29.actually playing for both reds here, you bounce at the cube also so it
:05:30. > :05:33.goes wide and sits on the cushion, but ideally you would like to finish
:05:34. > :05:37.low on the one that is at the back of the pack, but if it sits low on
:05:38. > :05:43.that he can bring other reds into play. Use that to bounce. OK, he is
:05:44. > :06:30.on the red now. Perhaps playing for the blue to open
:06:31. > :06:45.the black up. The problem with playing for the pink will make the
:06:46. > :06:59.bottom red not drop. He has lost the cue ball a fraction but if he does
:07:00. > :07:02.pot this red, assuming that the pink does spot... That is a mistake,
:07:03. > :07:12.isn't it? Why not take the blue if you are unsure? He didn't really
:07:13. > :07:20.have a look at the pink. It is usually not on its spot perfectly. I
:07:21. > :07:29.thought he could have perhaps played the pink with top spin and perhaps
:07:30. > :07:37.flecked red interplay -- flicked a red into play. You didn't look too
:07:38. > :07:44.disappointed when he played it, so he is certainly settled. Good start
:07:45. > :08:18.to the first visit at the Crucible. 28.
:08:19. > :08:26.Let's see if he can get through the yellow and black. He might catch the
:08:27. > :08:35.jaws of the right-hand corner pocket. He has cut to make sure he
:08:36. > :08:47.can do something thin. -- you has got to -- he has got to. Quite
:08:48. > :09:05.confident. That is a good safety shot. If he plays a plane ball it
:09:06. > :09:14.will kiss into that red. Excellent shot by Mark Allen. Having had no
:09:15. > :09:32.table time. Judge the pace nicely as well. -- judged.
:09:33. > :09:35.No heroics there and I don't think there are any opportunities into the
:09:36. > :10:07.right middle. Mitchell Mann's has had quite a
:10:08. > :10:30.journey so far to get into this tournament. -- Mitchell Mann's had.
:10:31. > :10:34.Football was his first love and he got a bad injury and bone disease
:10:35. > :10:42.and that stopped him playing foot wall. -- football. He took up
:10:43. > :10:47.snooker and has done a pretty good job of taking it up. He supports
:10:48. > :10:49.Aston Villa though, so he would be happy about those results this year.
:10:50. > :11:17.-- you want -- he won't be. A bit unfortunate to have stuck this
:11:18. > :11:50.up. Couldn't have possibly foreseen that outcome. Got a good white.
:11:51. > :11:59.That is a good cannon. Excellent chance now to take the opening
:12:00. > :12:03.frame. You knew he was going into the reds but you want to sure how
:12:04. > :12:07.the contact would have been. If it had just the pink it would have
:12:08. > :12:13.stayed on the blank but it missed it. Doesn't really want to move the
:12:14. > :12:19.blackout of the weight because it is in a good position at the moment. --
:12:20. > :12:29.out of the way. May be able to avoid the kiss on the black.
:12:30. > :12:42.He has kept the black and play though so that is OK. -- in late. It
:12:43. > :12:46.was a clever shot. Could have been forgiven for trying to be too
:12:47. > :12:53.precise but screwed the cue ball back, freed the black and will at
:12:54. > :13:10.some stage be looking to clear that red from the black spot before he
:13:11. > :13:14.pots the black again, ideally. I can only presume he played for the pink
:13:15. > :13:34.because he got into the cue ball too much. You can win it with pinks of
:13:35. > :13:39.course, but it is always nice to have a couple of colours at the top
:13:40. > :14:18.of the table. You can always come unstuck without ball. -- with that.
:14:19. > :14:32.I think you can roll on and off the cushion. You didn't get that right,
:14:33. > :14:38.he has had a bit of good, didn't play that properly. He was not
:14:39. > :14:42.certain where that cue ball was going to end up, but he will be
:14:43. > :14:46.pleased that he has got some type of shot. But from being in a prime
:14:47. > :15:00.position, he needs a good recovery now. At this stage of the frame, we
:15:01. > :15:05.are one panic, one error to letting your opponent) into it. He is a very
:15:06. > :15:09.considered player and very precise. Good controlled cue action. -- your
:15:10. > :15:23.opponent right back into it. Very impressed with the control of
:15:24. > :15:30.the backswing of the final pullback. A player that panics
:15:31. > :15:33.sometimes pulls the cue back to quickly. Some of the great players
:15:34. > :16:17.of the game controlling the backswing, you can control the hit.
:16:18. > :16:24.Excellent opening frame so far from Mitchell Mann.
:16:25. > :16:27.Excellent opening frame so far from qualifiers seems to have played
:16:28. > :16:34.pretty decently. Not all of them, but good standard. They used to
:16:35. > :16:42.playing the big names now because but good standard. They used to
:16:43. > :16:44.year. Years the Crucible, they had probably not
:16:45. > :16:52.played their the Crucible, they had probably not
:16:53. > :16:54.whole career. It is not quite an ordeal to play one of the top
:16:55. > :18:00.players. Playing safe. Usually you like
:18:01. > :18:10.play more exhibition snooker now to Playing safe. Usually you like
:18:11. > :18:16.get your arm going and the pace of the table. For instance, play
:18:17. > :18:20.get your arm going and the pace of the black instead of the pink to get
:18:21. > :18:41.the pace of the table. It needs to loosen up little bit now. -- he
:18:42. > :18:51.needs. Very impressed. First frame at the Crucible. It has been a lot
:18:52. > :18:55.more butch tree than this for the players over the years. Seems to
:18:56. > :19:00.have his head screwed on quite nicely and in good control. Mark
:19:01. > :19:15.Allen would never have taken this as an easy draw. That was the first
:19:16. > :19:20.person to come to the Crucible and make a century. It looks like he is
:19:21. > :19:36.going to win this frame without Mark Allen scoring a point. Chance of a
:19:37. > :19:44.century. Not too difficult to imagine getting on the pink from
:19:45. > :20:03.this red. Going to be stretching a bit over the top of the black ear.
:20:04. > :20:14.-- here. What a start for Mitchell Mann. He gets up for the ideal start
:20:15. > :20:20.and takes the opening frame. So, Mark Allen having not scored a point
:20:21. > :20:23.in the opening frame breaks off in friend too. Noses opponent is in
:20:24. > :21:24.good form. Excellent pot. Not far off a
:21:25. > :21:27.collision with the red past the black that would have possibly got
:21:28. > :21:34.him on the black. Difficult and very miss able pink, depending on how he
:21:35. > :21:43.tries to play it. Percy played positively or does he shut up shop?
:21:44. > :21:50.Not a terrible option to play defensively. One of the things you
:21:51. > :21:54.don't want to do is to let your opponent in with an easy starter,
:21:55. > :22:12.especially if he has not scored a point in the match so far.
:22:13. > :22:19.All the time your opponent is effectively cold in the session, you
:22:20. > :22:30.might as well make it as difficult as possible. Tough to keep the
:22:31. > :22:41.modern day players under wraps though. This would have been a shock
:22:42. > :22:42.to the system really to see that Mitchell Mann played so well in the
:22:43. > :23:04.opening frame. Well, that looks a bit thin. He
:23:05. > :23:06.needs that white to slow down, if it doesn't, it is right behind the
:23:07. > :24:07.green. Very good. Mark Allen saying it doesn't really
:24:08. > :24:14.matter where it is. He is going to play exactly the same shot.
:24:15. > :24:24.Hopefully better than the first. He has got a bit more pace on this.
:24:25. > :24:29.Heart in his mouth. And he has got a very acute red into the middle
:24:30. > :24:33.pocket. That would be tough to play and get onto the pink. It have to
:24:34. > :24:43.put a bit of pace into the cue ball. Very risky shot. Perhaps looks
:24:44. > :24:48.easier on our television screens than it actually is. If there was a
:24:49. > :24:54.cholera available, I think you would definitely go for it, but would the
:24:55. > :25:00.blackout play, he is looking at the question. He has good to be careful
:25:01. > :25:23.on the red that is loose on the right-hand side. .
:25:24. > :25:44.I am not too sure that was the best choice of safety shots.
:25:45. > :26:05.What a helpful nudge that was. He will play choice of colour now. What
:26:06. > :26:21.a great pot. Probably worth trying to get the black into play here. A
:26:22. > :26:26.small cannon. Way off. He didn't hit the black correctly, and it was a
:26:27. > :26:30.bigger target with that pack there. You have called the shot perfectly
:26:31. > :26:35.there, thinking he was bound to get the black into play. He wouldn't
:26:36. > :26:38.necessarily know what is ready but there was a choice of format reds
:26:39. > :26:43.and he has got on all four of them apart from the black being where it
:26:44. > :27:01.is. Perhaps that red behind the black does pot into the back
:27:02. > :27:07.cushion. Not happy. I think he has gone a fraction too fine. Is going
:27:08. > :27:14.to be difficult to make a break from here, isn't it? He would need the
:27:15. > :27:22.rest of you is going to play the green. A big shot to get the rest
:27:23. > :27:29.that with the yellow. -- the rest out. Well, this is an aggressive
:27:30. > :27:34.shot he is going to take on here. He has not had much table time and he
:27:35. > :27:38.is going to play a red into the right corner that is guaranteed to
:27:39. > :27:45.open up other reds. I wouldn't like this much. Shows you the competency
:27:46. > :27:49.has got at the moment. He is trying to scoop out for pink or blue.
:27:50. > :27:52.Hopefully move the red away from the black as well because they will be
:27:53. > :28:15.accruing far and wide. That would have been easy to panic
:28:16. > :28:27.on that one. A lot of cue movement without pace. The advantage is you
:28:28. > :28:34.have a good place to an. As long as you can generate speed in your cue
:28:35. > :28:57.arm. This could be a friend winning chance. -- frame.
:28:58. > :29:03.If he chooses the second red across the table of that line of five into
:29:04. > :29:19.the middle pocket. He could get on the pink. He has a wonderful
:29:20. > :29:32.judgement of pace. So far, excellent effort. He was going wide of the
:29:33. > :29:45.blues. The pink is the one he wants. Fascinating. A fascinating
:29:46. > :29:49.chance he has here to unravel. It really shows the experience of the
:29:50. > :29:52.top players. How often they go to the practice table it really shows
:29:53. > :29:53.the experience of the top players. With it really shows the experience
:29:54. > :30:22.of the top Doesn't look to be perfect here. The
:30:23. > :30:36.pink is available. I didn't think that went past. He will be
:30:37. > :30:41.disappointed with that. Trying to screw a fraction more. These are
:30:42. > :30:54.horrible. He will have to bite the bullet and
:30:55. > :31:02.play safe off the green. If it is dead straight there is no
:31:03. > :31:20.value. A bit of an angle... He has decided to play safe. It
:31:21. > :31:35.looks like he has played it well. APPLAUSE.
:31:36. > :31:51.He may have put his opponent in trouble here. Playing thin. The two
:31:52. > :31:57.Reds are together. Not easy to get these perfect. It opens up the lack.
:31:58. > :32:12.-- black. Never hit it big enough. That should find the ball without
:32:13. > :32:47.any problems. The pace is not bad at all. I think
:32:48. > :32:56.he caught that a bit thick. He was trying to play behind the green.
:32:57. > :33:08.This would hurt. That looks very gettable. I expect him to get it.
:33:09. > :33:33.APPLAUSE. I am surprised with the pace here. A bit of a wasted chance.
:33:34. > :33:47.He should have made sure to get a ball of colour, softer or harder.
:33:48. > :34:02.Rolling behind the yellow is OK. But you don't get many easy chances to
:34:03. > :34:08.win a frame. A possible two ball escape across the face of the black.
:34:09. > :34:12.He has decided to play a different one. A very risky attempt going that
:34:13. > :34:35.way. Surprising. This is the type of shot where you
:34:36. > :34:41.are presented with a relatively easy opener. It puts a little bit of a
:34:42. > :34:51.shop on the player in front in terms of frames. It looks easy. -- a bit
:34:52. > :35:52.of pressure. Excellent brown. Actually, a very
:35:53. > :36:08.nice chance to clinch this frame now.
:36:09. > :36:45.Leaving those two reds alone for the moment. He can get over the line
:36:46. > :36:54.without them. 22. APPLAUSE. 40 points in front, 47,
:36:55. > :37:28.48, 55. The first of the blacks. He can confidently play the cannon
:37:29. > :37:34.onto the two reds. Looks like he can just about get to the red. The
:37:35. > :37:40.middle pocket, not sure about the corner. A good response from Mark
:37:41. > :37:47.Allen. It will be interesting to see how he plays this year's
:37:48. > :37:52.championship after recent success and winning a PTC in the tournament.
:37:53. > :37:56.This could be his best chance to go a long way in the tournament.
:37:57. > :38:16.APPLAUSE. He plays little kisses and doesn't
:38:17. > :38:26.really play them hard. Likes to bump into balls. This was a very acute
:38:27. > :38:32.angle. I just question his temperament at times. He gets a
:38:33. > :38:35.little bit agitated sometimes. A slight Achilles' heel.
:38:36. > :39:00.APPLAUSE. He is a very dangerous type of
:39:01. > :39:03.player that nobody in the game really can be comfortable playing
:39:04. > :39:10.against. Hasn't won one of the three majors yet here in the UK. But he is
:39:11. > :39:14.the type of player that if he did get on a roll it wouldn't be a
:39:15. > :39:20.surprise to anybody, that is for certain.
:39:21. > :40:00.A little exhibition shot here to get around the table for the black. 74.
:40:01. > :40:29.Oh! A break of 74! They are all square at 1-1. The first interval.
:40:30. > :40:51.From what I have seen so far, he is doing very well.
:40:52. > :40:55.Just looking at the picture here, it is pretty straight. I am not
:40:56. > :41:05.Just looking at the picture here, it he can play it through and avoided.
:41:06. > :41:17.-- avoid it. He has played it safe, though. Well, he found a path, apart
:41:18. > :41:25.from the blue. Actually, he has left it awkward for Mitchell Mann. And a
:41:26. > :41:37.little bit of Russia on this one as well. -- pressure.
:41:38. > :42:13.Very nice. Black in open play. Blue APPLAUSE. --
:42:14. > :42:17.Very nice. Black in open play. Blue not on the spot, unless he puts it
:42:18. > :42:35.on there now. That is more difficult but the right shot. Perhaps it is
:42:36. > :42:48.wider than I can see, but the green is good for position... He said.
:42:49. > :43:00.Perhaps that was a bit of a jump too far to play the blue with easier
:43:01. > :43:19.pots on. Pressure on this red now. APPLAUSE Stock Another clean pot,
:43:20. > :43:23.and a chance to realistically open the reds with a guaranteed red on. A
:43:24. > :43:32.nice little grouping bear to be able to screw into. -- there. I can't
:43:33. > :43:37.really see this going wrong as long as he pots the black.
:43:38. > :43:57.APPLAUSE That was almost bound to bring five
:43:58. > :44:13.or six in. At first glance, I don't think Mitchell has left a red on. He
:44:14. > :44:16.can come into the side of the punch, but he has obviously held his hand
:44:17. > :44:29.up there and apologised for missing the black. It is tight. Talking
:44:30. > :44:41.himself into it. He has to play softer. Too much. He had to put a
:44:42. > :44:53.lot of righthanders spin on that. -- right hand. In the older days with
:44:54. > :44:56.the different ball you could import that much spin on it. -- couldn't
:44:57. > :45:13.put. No problem putting this red off the
:45:14. > :45:16.cushion, but position isn't guaranteed. Delighted with that. He
:45:17. > :45:40.cannot argue with the outcome. I don't know. He will be upset if it
:45:41. > :45:45.doesn't go on the black spot. The black is still relatively in place
:45:46. > :46:14.so he won't be too worried if it comes off its spot.
:46:15. > :46:20.Would have been nicer to have the pink in the black's spot and black
:46:21. > :46:31.in the blue one. He has to be careful pace-wise. Chose a good
:46:32. > :46:46.line. A brave shot to smash up into the pack. It is available... He is
:46:47. > :47:03.looking at it. It is the right shot, though, a bit of an angle. If the
:47:04. > :47:18.cueball was six inches closer... I don't blame him for that at all. I
:47:19. > :47:35.don't know. Perhaps it was a wider pot than it looked. It would have
:47:36. > :47:38.been brave to use power, and an absolute frame winning shot if he
:47:39. > :47:45.did it right. Now more work to do. Nothing wrong with the way he has
:47:46. > :47:58.played it. Early days in this frame and match. If he plays a good
:47:59. > :47:59.positional shot he could break the pack up again, even if not ideal
:48:00. > :49:01.from the black. Would like an angle here on the
:49:02. > :49:04.black. 24. Perhaps a bit straighter. Perhaps he can screw back on the red
:49:05. > :49:16.now and if things go badly he has the loose red. The first chance to
:49:17. > :49:26.see his cue power. Interesting to see what happens when he does. He
:49:27. > :49:35.may have picked out a far better way to use the pot than I spotted. I
:49:36. > :49:50.thought he was going to use backspin, but this is clever. Wasn't
:49:51. > :49:53.much room for moving. Could have opened the balls up and got the
:49:54. > :50:08.cueball in roughly the same position. Nothing wrong with keeping
:50:09. > :50:25.it tight but at some stage he needs it to open, unless he spots a plant.
:50:26. > :50:33.Well, that helps. Yes, the plant, obviously on. This will bring one
:50:34. > :50:42.more red into play. Sometimes you can be too careful.
:50:43. > :50:50.APPLAUSE. Very surprised he could put so much spin on that. Bemused at
:50:51. > :51:11.how easily he pushed through the pack. Yeah. I think there is trouble
:51:12. > :51:14.in not having the pack open. I know there was a plant, but once the reds
:51:15. > :51:31.are open it is a far easier prospect. A 45 point lead.
:51:32. > :51:43.Worthwhile playing colour-safe. Worried he's left a plant open for
:51:44. > :51:52.Mark. That isn't a very good shot if you can see the red below the pink.
:51:53. > :52:24.He has the blue safe. Part of the insurance policy. I don't know if he
:52:25. > :52:26.can get through to it. He can't. I think, Steve, we often talk in
:52:27. > :52:40.commentary how hard it is to get the first 50-60 points and how easy the
:52:41. > :52:45.next are. It is easier to see that from the box than playing out there,
:52:46. > :52:47.seeing how a game and frame unfolds. A very loose safety shot. Mitchell
:52:48. > :52:56.has dominated this frame. A very loose safety shot. Mitchell
:52:57. > :53:01.shot that cost it... That is how quick it can happen. There is no
:53:02. > :53:06.shot you can criticise. It is only at the level of the world champions
:53:07. > :53:09.standard against the standard of the players you are playing against that
:53:10. > :53:37.you have to be even more aggressive in your break building. Mark
:53:38. > :53:42.stretching. Even though it is a poor safety shot from Mitchell it looks
:53:43. > :54:14.like he will win the frame. Although, this is a bit of a reach.
:54:15. > :54:22.He missed a similar black trying to go into the pack. He still needs
:54:23. > :54:26.this black and couple more reds. A little bit of pressure. Rolling it
:54:27. > :54:38.in this time. APPLAUSE. A few friends and family
:54:39. > :54:52.there in the back knowing the significance of this shot. Friends
:54:53. > :55:03.often come to the Crucible knowing even the simple shots are difficult.
:55:04. > :55:14.APPLAUSE. His concentration is great. Temperament looks pretty
:55:15. > :55:51.good. APPLAUSE Stock Only been a pro for
:55:52. > :55:53.two years. While he hasn't done anything really significant in the
:55:54. > :55:55.ranks, qualifying for the World Championship... The confidence that
:55:56. > :56:05.would have given him means that he may be ready to jump up a level in
:56:06. > :56:07.the ranks. He looks solid. Solid cue action. Impressed with that. Not
:56:08. > :56:16.that all players don't have that these days. It reminds me of Nigel
:56:17. > :56:30.Bond. Tough to beat, but doesn't do anything to two outrageous. -- too
:56:31. > :56:52.Looks like he will frighten you, the way he plays.
:56:53. > :57:14.APPLAUSE. Getting a bit more of a flow on. This is his first time
:57:15. > :57:32.here. You have to consider that. Very impressive. It is OK to
:57:33. > :57:40.criticise some shots. But this is an excellent start to his campaign.
:57:41. > :57:46.Through the gap into the side. Very nice.
:57:47. > :58:03.APPLAUSE. And with the frame over you would
:58:04. > :58:38.guarantee he is going to pot the brown and get the blue into place.
:58:39. > :58:52.The two frames that Mitchell's one, he has kept Mark Allen of the table
:58:53. > :58:55.completely. He has made a great break of 77 in the third and leads
:58:56. > :59:09.2-1. Mark Allen will be wanting to level
:59:10. > :59:13.the scores up. Mitchell Mann will want to push on. Of course if he
:59:14. > :59:17.does push on and win this frame, Mark Allen will feel a lot worse
:59:18. > :59:24.than when he came into the auditorium. In those Mitchell is
:59:25. > :59:30.playing that -- he knows that Mitchell is playing very well and
:59:31. > :59:44.this is not the best break, Mitchell can take this on.
:59:45. > :59:51.Tempting red into the right corner. That has been turned down in favour
:59:52. > :00:02.of the containing safety to the top cushion.
:00:03. > :00:11.A lot of players would have gone for that red into that right corner.
:00:12. > :00:15.Name names. Always tried to protect his lead little bit. He could have
:00:16. > :00:38.played the red and gone up to the ballcarrier.
:00:39. > :00:45.Looked a risky one, because he has left the red on the black spot that
:00:46. > :01:01.is available. Struck that very well. So close to going on. -- going in.
:01:02. > :01:04.The real problem with the pot until you start to work out that he is
:01:05. > :01:10.good to try and manufacture a positional shot out of it. Trying to
:01:11. > :01:16.work out what happens when it goes to the pack, whether collisions in
:01:17. > :01:28.the reds are going to be. -- where the. Well, the way he lined up for
:01:29. > :01:41.that, I thought he was not going to be able to avoid going into the pack
:01:42. > :01:52.of reds. Last chance. -- nice chance. The two reds above the
:01:53. > :02:01.black, I think look on first glance, and even second glance, to be
:02:02. > :02:25.possible -- able to be potted into both corner pockets.
:02:26. > :02:41.Not really ideal. You are sort of playing for both balls in a way. He
:02:42. > :03:42.has left himself far more difficult on the pink then he wanted.
:03:43. > :03:48.The angle he has got, he has got every chance of running through the
:03:49. > :03:53.pink and getting into the opposite pocket to what he has potted the red
:03:54. > :04:02.in. I think there is a bit of milage in taking this on. The only trouble
:04:03. > :04:04.is he might lose the cue ball down into the green pocket area if he
:04:05. > :04:07.plays it with topspin, so into the green pocket area if he
:04:08. > :04:09.perhaps trying to control things here. Perhaps he can screw past the
:04:10. > :04:29.pack somehow. Took a bit of time on that one. He
:04:30. > :04:32.is obviously not happy with it. Sometimes after you have made a
:04:33. > :04:36.positional mistake, you beat yourself up a bit, so this is one
:04:37. > :04:50.that Mark Allen would love to get in. A very gettable red. But of
:04:51. > :04:51.course, Mr ball as well. Listed by so far, hasn't done any damage,
:04:52. > :05:02.really. A few tactics going to be coming up
:05:03. > :06:50.over the next few balls. Difficult to get an attacking safety
:06:51. > :06:54.shot here, whichever way he plays it round he plays it up into the
:06:55. > :07:22.ballcarrier and needs to get it up on the left-hand side. It came off a
:07:23. > :07:33.little bit square, he was probably playing off the line of the brown
:07:34. > :07:42.spot. He has got Mark Allen on the rack at the moment. Chances like
:07:43. > :08:16.this, you have got to take them on. You deserve what you get from here
:08:17. > :09:07.now young man and it could be plenty. Very, very good shot.
:09:08. > :09:12.Had eight century breaks so far this season. Obviously has not played as
:09:13. > :09:45.many matches as these higher seeded players. In two years, he has done
:09:46. > :09:46.pretty well. 16 centuries in total. He knows his way around the
:09:47. > :10:50.blackspot area. So disappointed there. I didn't
:10:51. > :11:12.detect a kick. The ball was at his mercy. He knows that was a chance to
:11:13. > :11:20.go 3-1 in front at the interval. And he may have missed the trickiest,
:11:21. > :11:23.because if it is 2-2 at the interval, Mark Allen will be
:11:24. > :11:28.thinking it is his birthday. Yes, when you get amongst the balls like
:11:29. > :11:35.that, you have got to try it can clinch the frame. Obviously you are
:11:36. > :11:40.trying to clinch the frame, but it does put pressure on the easy
:11:41. > :12:09.chances sometimes. Trying to be careful, trying to get over the
:12:10. > :12:12.line. Looks to be a formality. Here is that 28 seconds a shot at the
:12:13. > :12:17.moment. Over 17 days at the Crucible, the concentration level
:12:18. > :12:23.would have to be magnificent to last that long. Mark Allen, it is very
:12:24. > :12:30.pedestrian for him. He normally plays around 19 seconds a shot. Most
:12:31. > :12:40.of the time of the table he has been playing safe. 15 -18 seconds a shot,
:12:41. > :13:06.he is very, very quick when he gets on the balls.
:13:07. > :13:42.Not perfect. Just about. Struggling to keep position. That's nice.
:13:43. > :14:20.Unless he goes forward, just about... He is going to need both of
:14:21. > :14:27.those reds on the right cushion. The way this has come out, he can Esso
:14:28. > :14:32.choose to get this red off the side cushion. -- if so. Decided against
:14:33. > :14:49.it. Here is another chance, and perhaps
:14:50. > :14:57.a far better one to get this red into play. I am sure he will try
:14:58. > :15:07.now. Or is it me just making shots up? I agree with you, because he is
:15:08. > :15:09.sure to get the White in open play. The fact that he caught it then, he
:15:10. > :15:15.has got the shot The fact that he caught it then, he
:15:16. > :15:28.little careful here that he doesn't A little bit short but he is still
:15:29. > :15:48.on the red nicely. Realistically, just these two reds
:15:49. > :16:00.to get off the table. I think in doing that, there will be still in
:16:01. > :16:12.position. Not ideal to drop on the red. Right behind it. He's got to
:16:13. > :16:19.play this blue perhaps with a bit of left-hand side. Policy can get
:16:20. > :16:31.behind it, get around the back it, it was a clever little shot. Very
:16:32. > :16:35.well played. That was one of the best position shots of the
:16:36. > :16:38.championship. He could have been forgiven for trying to leave himself
:16:39. > :16:45.a bit further away from that, guaranteed to be on the red. Now
:16:46. > :17:18.this yellow into the middle pocket. It will clinch the frame completely.
:17:19. > :17:30.He has had the best chances to win all four of them. Mitchell Mann
:17:31. > :18:44.concedes, so Mark Allen has got himself on the scoreboard again.
:18:45. > :18:52.Good pot from Mitchell Leben not the desired position. -- Mitchell there
:18:53. > :20:23.bite. -- but. A little bit heavy, but the yellow
:20:24. > :20:32.could come to his rescue. Disappointed that he didn't find the
:20:33. > :20:39.black cushion as it were. I don't think you'll be playing this quite
:20:40. > :20:43.pacey. When you play these, it is a little bit of hit and hope. You try
:20:44. > :20:46.to make something happen but unfortunately he didn't make
:20:47. > :21:03.anything happen unless he wants to take the risky black.
:21:04. > :21:11.It's a horrible situation, in some ways, just checking that the pink
:21:12. > :21:15.doesn't go. Very hard to do anything with the cue ball off the black,
:21:16. > :21:23.makes the black and less able. Might have to just roll the black in. If
:21:24. > :21:34.it wobbles, gets it safe. If he puts it, he plays safe. It's one of those
:21:35. > :21:57.no-win situation, situations really, he is in. Depends on the exact angle
:21:58. > :22:18.he has got. I think you can cut the red back
:22:19. > :22:55.into the corner, the one he is nearest to. Mark Allen is one of the
:22:56. > :23:00.most attacking players in the game. This is very unlike Mark Allen. It
:23:01. > :23:07.would be a tricky situation. I think he is loath to sort of give up the
:23:08. > :23:14.opportunity. Just looking for some type of opportunistic shop, but
:23:15. > :23:17.there is none. -- shot. The safety shot, the trouble is, he doesn't
:23:18. > :23:33.feel like he can even get the advantage, safety wise here. Just
:23:34. > :23:35.looking up at the commentary box there, didn't have a clue what to
:23:36. > :23:49.do, sometimes there is an anything on. With that with both of the two
:23:50. > :23:52.reds in the bottom area, it is going to be who takes a risk first ordered
:23:53. > :24:43.makes a poor safety. It's a little bit dangerous. Trying
:24:44. > :24:48.to cut off Mitchell Mann's escape route back to the top cushion using
:24:49. > :24:51.the black ball as a snooker in ball. He has risked going in off.
:24:52. > :25:11.Far too close for comfort. Don't get many frames in the modern
:25:12. > :25:35.day game that go this way. For very long. Usually somebody becomes the
:25:36. > :26:00.aggressor earlier than that. Very close. Doesn't find the top
:26:01. > :26:10.cushion. There is one. The fact that the referee claiming the ball, there
:26:11. > :27:00.was potential that they got a kick and took the back spin off the ball.
:27:01. > :27:17.These are the kind of positions that Mark Allen relishes. You would
:27:18. > :27:30.expect him to win the frame at this point. Didn't have to go up for the
:27:31. > :27:33.blue, could have remained up for the black and I think he thought he was
:27:34. > :27:38.guaranteed to have good positional options after this blue, but as it
:27:39. > :28:02.has turned out, he has got a minor problem.
:28:03. > :28:14.One of the few players that have made well over 250 competitive
:28:15. > :28:26.centuries. Made quite a few this year, so he has had a good season.
:28:27. > :28:50.Yes, obviously, with many more tournaments now being played in the
:28:51. > :28:54.season, the centuries board is going through the roof. An interesting
:28:55. > :29:06.statistic these days is not just the amount there are but the frequency
:29:07. > :29:13.per frame. And how many frames per 100 break. I seem to remember last
:29:14. > :29:16.time we did those Ronnie O'Sullivan was at the top even though he had
:29:17. > :29:55.not played many tournaments that season. 26.
:29:56. > :30:00.Taking this red will open the pink into the corner. A frame opportunity
:30:01. > :30:09.now. Both of the brakes have come after mistakes. -- breaks. This is
:30:10. > :30:22.the first time he has come in quite early. Mark has the balls at his
:30:23. > :30:27.mercy. A nailed on century. Obviously, from a commentary
:30:28. > :30:34.perspectives, not pushing the boat out too far to say that as cliches
:30:35. > :30:55.go. Can't fail to make a century. Never
:30:56. > :31:01.really pushed the tempting boat out. You can have a go. I am worried
:31:02. > :31:16.about it. It is possible not to make one. I will say it again. Just to
:31:17. > :31:17.really risk it. Now he can concentrate on what Steve thinks is
:31:18. > :33:05.empty. The break goes to 85. This is 90,
:33:06. > :33:07.so... Should be a century. This will be the 25th Crucible century should
:33:08. > :33:33.he go on to pot brown and blue. 95. The blue for Steve Davis prediction
:33:34. > :33:36.to come right. And there it is. A wonderful century. A wonderful
:33:37. > :33:50.prediction from Steve as well. No complete clearance for Mark.
:33:51. > :33:57.Getting better and better as the day goes on. Now taking the lead. Mark
:33:58. > :34:51.to break. Settle down, please. A speculative long red. No damage
:34:52. > :35:21.done, unless Mark decides to take on a very risky cut-back.
:35:22. > :35:25.It is key for Mitchell to compete with Mark in the safety department,
:35:26. > :35:29.he can't do it in the break one. He still has a great chance in this
:35:30. > :35:38.match. Playing it in the right hand side. A bit like the break shot. At
:35:39. > :35:40.least I thought so. That was... Well, not really the best safety he
:35:41. > :36:24.has ever played in his life. Oh, that's certainly turned out OK.
:36:25. > :36:29.Excellent try from Mark there. Mitchell Mann, eyeing up the
:36:30. > :36:38.possibilities of dropping it into the bottom cushion and sticking Mark
:36:39. > :36:39.Allen over the top of the yellow. That makes for a difficult shot,
:36:40. > :37:36.your opponent, this. I thought the shot to leave Mark
:37:37. > :37:41.over the top of the yellow was a better shot. Very difficult to force
:37:42. > :37:48.an error from Mark Allen from this position. If this goes behind the
:37:49. > :37:51.green... It could be difficult for Mitchell Mann. OK, the red has gone
:37:52. > :38:06.over the pocket, but he had a Mitchell Mann. OK, the red has gone
:38:07. > :38:10.for Mitchell Mann. He just asked for that, didn't he. Didn't put on any
:38:11. > :38:14.pressure at all. The thing is he lined up
:38:15. > :38:16.pressure at all. The thing is he here that he was willing to do it
:38:17. > :38:24.and then he changed his mind. This is all that is left. He thinks that
:38:25. > :38:29.is his only choice. He is all that is left. He thinks that
:38:30. > :38:31.too much of a look at it but he is all that is left. He thinks that
:38:32. > :38:37.could get on the black is all that is left. He thinks that
:38:38. > :38:41.under that much pressure. I think it might not be guaranteed even if he
:38:42. > :38:47.did hit the red, but, you cannot really fault players too hard or it
:38:48. > :38:51.reduces the possibility of the red going in off the other one. He has a
:38:52. > :39:04.chance, but it is a horrible shot, though.
:39:05. > :39:08.APPLAUSE. He called it. And what a wonderful shot it was! Sometimes
:39:09. > :39:26.when you are forced into it, Stephen, it helps, doesn't it? Yeah.
:39:27. > :39:28.I thought cushion-first was the way he played it but he had
:39:29. > :39:32.I thought cushion-first was the way margin for error. He came down to
:39:33. > :39:34.look at the safety shot... Why did he go down to the bottom of the
:39:35. > :39:42.table? (LAUGHING). He is looking at the
:39:43. > :40:03.green. Oh, yeah, you are kidding me. He can... And he has.
:40:04. > :40:17.That is a frame-winning shot, going for the black down the cushion.
:40:18. > :40:20.Yeah, it will be tied up somewhere. But these days it seems to be the
:40:21. > :40:31.way you play regardless of how you are feeling, 3-2 behind. OK, it was
:40:32. > :40:43.a decent safety shot, but... APPLAUSE. So is that. I can
:40:44. > :40:50.understand how he is feeling, like a fish out of water. It is modern-day
:40:51. > :41:19.snooker to know that the way forward is to score. It was more of an
:41:20. > :41:22.old-school shot, that. From the era of "don't take a risk and be the
:41:23. > :41:28.first to make a mistake." These days you need to walk the tightrope a bit
:41:29. > :41:34.more. Now, I think, Mitchell Mann is sitting in his chair wishing he took
:41:35. > :42:07.a chance with the black, a 50-50 chance.
:42:08. > :42:12.I think the vast majority are times now you have a 50-50- chance, that
:42:13. > :42:13.with the black and the cushion was, and under most conditions, you play
:42:14. > :43:07.it. -- 50-50. He might just be able to roll
:43:08. > :43:16.straight forward, about six or nine inches, and leave himself a red. He
:43:17. > :43:44.could then have a path back down for the blue. It is not as he played it.
:43:45. > :44:04.Not a clear-cut opportunity from here. Pink goes into the left
:44:05. > :44:09.corner. It has to get on a red to be able to get on that pink. That is
:44:10. > :44:28.the key ball to opening things up. APPLAUSE. Very nice. Beautiful,
:44:29. > :44:38.wasn't it? All the room to get onto this red and now the pink is in
:44:39. > :44:55.play. Guaranteed that he was high on that pink. Just a bit more of a
:44:56. > :44:56.stretch than he wants. He has an extra bit on his cue, essential
:44:57. > :45:24.these days, to have that. Didn't take the option of freeing
:45:25. > :45:27.those reds below the pink. They will be the stumbling block for a while.
:45:28. > :45:36.I would have been tempted to. Ireland not dispute Mark Allen's
:45:37. > :45:48.understanding of breaking. -- I will not.
:45:49. > :46:24.Not too sure I can repeat what he said earlier, but a very funny line.
:46:25. > :46:41.Not perfect on the pink. Once again, would have wanted to be a bit
:46:42. > :46:45.higher. Certainly those two want to. You can see Mark's tip is a fair way
:46:46. > :46:56.away from the cueball. Some players, like the great Jimmy White, really
:46:57. > :47:01.close, others, a bit of distance. He used to be three inches away, and
:47:02. > :47:11.then as soon as he got close he improved overnight. It was amazing.
:47:12. > :47:17.And now, after this next shot, so long as he doesn't go around to
:47:18. > :47:23.played the red, which I am a bit surprised he isn't...
:47:24. > :48:00.He has lost it. A big bounce off the cushion perhaps.
:48:01. > :48:10.That is a good recovery. APPLAUSE.
:48:11. > :48:35.57. Absolutely fantastic red he has played there.
:48:36. > :48:40.57. Absolutely fantastic red he has played like he was in practice.
:48:41. > :48:41.Shows you the confidence. Getting over the line in
:48:42. > :48:43.Shows you the confidence. Getting important. And with a win under your
:48:44. > :48:49.belt it seems to make important. And with a win under your
:48:50. > :48:55.much easier. If he plays it slow, look how the pocket takes the black,
:48:56. > :49:25.this is a lot harder than the one Mitchell Mann refused.
:49:26. > :49:27.Back-to-back centuries. Will he bring the reds into play?
:49:28. > :49:46.APPLAUSE. 77. Not guaranteed to get onto a colour.
:49:47. > :50:02.If he kisses it full it could be on the cushion instead of the black.
:50:03. > :50:08.Regardless of whether he makes the century or not which you would
:50:09. > :50:09.expect from a top 16 player moving through the gears as the session on
:50:10. > :50:19.faults. -- unfolds. Here is the Mr Green. Another
:50:20. > :50:37.century this time. Even Here is the Mr Green. Another
:50:38. > :50:40.cannot fault him that. Left hand over the top of the cushion might
:50:41. > :50:45.pot it. That is the shot. No century for Mark Allen this time. That takes
:50:46. > :51:39.him two clear for the first time at 4-2. SYNTH MUSIC.
:51:40. > :52:09.His heart was in his mouth there. A bit too close to be comfortable.
:52:10. > :52:13.Tempting red for Mark. Can't win the frame from this position, but he can
:52:14. > :52:24.go a long way if he gets it in, and it is very close. Too reds and two
:52:25. > :52:24.colours would have it is very close. Too reds and two
:52:25. > :52:26.colours would have left it is very close. Too reds and two
:52:27. > :52:27.colours would have left him still needing the trickier red near the
:52:28. > :52:38.black. APPLAUSE. That is a good pot. Just
:52:39. > :53:20.failed though. He has left it now as brown or
:53:21. > :53:22.yellow. A bit of pressure on both. That was always going to be a tough
:53:23. > :53:25.shot. Plenty of mileage here by potting the red and playing the
:53:26. > :53:28.snooker. Tough to hit. It is one of those situations where the rules of
:53:29. > :53:33.the game dictates that if he did play the snooker it would be more of
:53:34. > :53:36.a negative shot than an attacking option. He can win the frame from
:53:37. > :54:03.the offensive point of view. How many points will he give away?
:54:04. > :54:10.That is the question. So, a relatively easy, if you can call it
:54:11. > :54:22.that, escape, because Mark Allen has not cut off the one-cushion escape.
:54:23. > :54:26.He has to hope for the best here, I think, pace-wise, and direction. A
:54:27. > :54:36.bit hard, what is the direction like? AUDIENCE GASPS. He may have to
:54:37. > :54:49.put that back. (LAUGHING). Unless the yellow is...
:54:50. > :54:59.Impossible to get out from there. If he cannot get out from their that is
:55:00. > :55:07.what Mark is looking at. -- there. He could knock the black in next
:55:08. > :55:19.time. Couldn't he? Mark Allen is starting to like where the white
:55:20. > :55:35.ball is. Know he is not. -- No, he. (LAUGHING).
:55:36. > :55:39.The referee, Greg, charged with the problem of putting these back
:55:40. > :55:40.exactly where they were. Might not be too much difference. I think they
:55:41. > :56:11.got it right. No, nowhere near. That is the original position. The
:56:12. > :56:18.black is nowhere near where it should be. Nowhere near it, and
:56:19. > :56:22.Mitchell Mann should say that, because he has more of a chance
:56:23. > :56:33.there. (LAUGHING). . The black is touching
:56:34. > :57:00.the jaw. It was never there. Walked out there and put it back.
:57:01. > :57:09.Put it on the cushion. That is all they have to do. It was on the
:57:10. > :57:18.cushion a bit more... The red is right. I don't know if they can hear
:57:19. > :57:25.me... If you put the black on the cushion it is fine. Where they were
:57:26. > :57:42.and where they are now. Not right, but pretty close. The black is a
:57:43. > :57:45.quarter of an inch, and now it is tight. No problem. He would do well
:57:46. > :58:01.not to knock the black in. He's to be so careful here, because
:58:02. > :58:09.he could give a whole lot of points away. -- he's got to be. That is
:58:10. > :59:00.another thought, that he can do. This is where the rule is a little
:59:01. > :59:06.bit awkward because now if he misses it and needs a snooker. It came so
:59:07. > :59:15.close. It has good to be put back because he wasn't close enough. A
:59:16. > :59:24.shame to lose a frame in this way but it was a good snooker that Mark
:59:25. > :59:59.Allen laid. It's a shame. That is definitely going to be frame over.
:00:00. > :00:02.Played that position. If he had played it off the green spot and
:00:03. > :00:04.just dotted the ready and it was all over. Just thought he could not miss
:00:05. > :00:24.it. of an issue, became one, didn't it?
:00:25. > :01:06.Very little risk involved in that line of play.
:01:07. > :01:28.Played the red up and down. The key is getting the red safe here. It is
:01:29. > :01:30.all about getting the red safe and I is getting the red safe here. It is
:01:31. > :02:51.think he has just about done that. Excellent choice of shot there from
:02:52. > :02:54.Mark Allen. He could have been tempted into rolling the red towards
:02:55. > :03:01.the middle pocket hoping it would go in but he would have sacrificed the
:03:02. > :03:18.tactical side of the frame. Now he has put Mitchell Mann under a lot of
:03:19. > :03:24.pressure. The cue ball didn't really have time to swerve. He is going to
:03:25. > :03:49.be in a hell of a snooker here as well. It is getting tough out there.
:03:50. > :04:06.He can get through the gap though, Cani? -- Kanti. -- can't he?
:04:07. > :04:25.Well... He played it off the cushion. Still got the desired
:04:26. > :04:30.amount of screw. There is enough angle on this escape route that Mark
:04:31. > :04:32.Allen has good to choose either one or two Mac, he can't have both as an
:04:33. > :05:00.option. 43 points in front, is Mark Allen.
:05:01. > :05:19.His only option is hoping for a free ball. I think you'll settle for
:05:20. > :05:24.that. Getting the yellow into play has another snooker in ball. Didn't
:05:25. > :06:25.play the pot. Let's not forget that Mitchell Mann
:06:26. > :06:36.started this so very well. Since then he has been all at sea. The
:06:37. > :06:41.first chance he led by 28 points and frame four, Mr couple of easy balls
:06:42. > :06:59.and since then he has struggled to get a foothold in this match again.
:07:00. > :07:07.Mitchell Mann I think will be deciding to concede, so once again
:07:08. > :09:12.Mark Allen controlled that frame and he goes further clear now.
:09:13. > :09:18.If Mark Allen gets himself to the quarter-finals say, can you play
:09:19. > :09:22.enough of the top players to win the event as Stuart Bingham did last
:09:23. > :09:28.year beating Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy? The question
:09:29. > :09:35.mark over that, perhaps the puzzle to be sold is the recent win that
:09:36. > :09:39.Mark Allen has had in the players championship has moved him up a
:09:40. > :10:02.level. Perhaps confidence is the key.
:10:03. > :10:08.Interesting comments from Mark Allen prior to the match, I wasn't aware
:10:09. > :10:19.that had been said I admit, and they assume that Mark has had previous
:10:20. > :10:24.experience. He lost 5-2 Mac to him. Yes, wasn't aware of that. -- 5-2
:10:25. > :10:46.Mac,. -- 5-2. Is always a problem, when you play a
:10:47. > :10:55.shot to nothing, when you put it, you get nothing. In the modern day,
:10:56. > :11:00.even that shot is a chance, perhaps you should not be playing for the
:11:01. > :11:05.bottom cushion any more. Once upon a time you always tried to play the
:11:06. > :11:20.pasted make the bottom cushion. -- pace. Overheating the shot a little
:11:21. > :11:41.bit. On very few occasions, under hitting. This is a tough green into
:11:42. > :11:45.the middle, if he is playing it. He played it in such a way that it is
:11:46. > :12:05.going to be a very difficult pot for Mark.
:12:06. > :12:17.That shot has forced an opening for Mitchell. Myler table time just
:12:18. > :12:23.lately. He has got what looks very gettable into the corner. It looks
:12:24. > :12:45.pretty bog standard but there is a bit of Russia on it. -- pressure. A
:12:46. > :12:51.good pot. He had to get the contact on the red to stay on the black. If
:12:52. > :12:58.he was just coming into the auditorium now you would fancy him
:12:59. > :13:19.to score quite heavily but having just lost four on the trot. That
:13:20. > :13:24.would have taken the pace out of it. What he should have done was made
:13:25. > :13:28.sure that he overhit that shot rather than underhit it. Pressure on
:13:29. > :13:57.the shot again. You've got to go into the pack now.
:13:58. > :14:09.Firm, guaranteed to be on a red. No screw back though. Perfect. A bit
:14:10. > :14:14.unlucky not to open up more reds. Couldn't have asked for it a worse
:14:15. > :14:30.outcome from playing the right shot, really. They need to get the white
:14:31. > :14:38.into open play and of course, if you don't hit this, you are faced with a
:14:39. > :14:42.cutback black and where you are under pressure, they are never easy.
:14:43. > :15:14.Well done. He is taking a bit of time, he
:15:15. > :15:23.hasn't got the flow in him in the moment. Sometimes difficult to build
:15:24. > :15:26.up the rhythm required to really start buzzing out there at the
:15:27. > :15:30.Crucible. He has had a look at the red into the middle pocket, like
:15:31. > :15:37.that up and now he has changed his mind and is playing for the red to
:15:38. > :15:42.the top cushion. Obviously it is not easy out there. He has had a
:15:43. > :15:48.disappointing second half of the session. Just trying to regroup,
:15:49. > :16:25.soap character builder would be a good break here.
:16:26. > :16:39.He hit the wrong red. The left-hand red, it is bound to be on one. Just
:16:40. > :16:55.hit are completely wrong side of it and that looks like you can only
:16:56. > :17:02.play a safety shot at first glance. That was a tough way to play that
:17:03. > :17:07.shot. You got to try and red the danger in going into the pack. If
:17:08. > :17:13.there was a little trap that could unfold. The way he played it, the
:17:14. > :17:15.speed he played it, I wouldn't say he is asking for trouble but you
:17:16. > :17:39.could make the case for it. Well, it was a generous sized pocket
:17:40. > :18:01.to aim for. Potting it was a lot harder. Looking again, that red was
:18:02. > :18:05.a long way away. You've got to take advantage when you have some good
:18:06. > :18:10.fortune. He almost looked as if he was embarrassed if he got that
:18:11. > :18:33.fluke. He had to take advantage when you do. He will be kicking himself.
:18:34. > :18:43.Well, you would expect Mark Allen to smell blood here.
:18:44. > :18:53.He knows even though his opponent is in front in this frame, he is all at
:18:54. > :19:07.sea. Chance to go into the pack and open them up Tripoli now. --
:19:08. > :19:26.properly. A bit surprised he played its urgently. -- played its --
:19:27. > :19:29.played it so gently. Should win the frame from here and it is another
:19:30. > :20:06.frame that Mitchell perhaps should and could have won.
:20:07. > :20:19.Guaranteed position the way he played that. This was one of the
:20:20. > :20:24.shots where you can play four reds at the same time, no matter how bad
:20:25. > :20:45.or good you hit it you will be on one.
:20:46. > :20:51.I think perhaps we are assuming that Mark Allen goes on to win this frame
:20:52. > :21:01.and retains the upper hand, but looking at Mitchell's plate, play
:21:02. > :21:04.and we have certainly all been there in the situation we get bogged down
:21:05. > :21:09.and trying to work out the right shot, a bit more fluency, sort of
:21:10. > :21:12.like the style you would play in the club also, even though it is hard to
:21:13. > :21:18.pull the trigger and do that, there could be the solution to the next
:21:19. > :21:20.level of play for him. Playing with a bit more freedom, easier said than
:21:21. > :21:57.done though. Big stretch but for a left-hander,
:21:58. > :22:06.it is no problem. The league goes to 17. Without doing too much in the
:22:07. > :22:11.last two frames, he looked pretty 17. Without doing too much in the
:22:12. > :22:37.good in frames four, five and six. That's why we talk so much about
:22:38. > :22:40.experience in the game. If there was one venue in one tournament in the
:22:41. > :22:55.world where it counts for something, it is here. It is weird, isn't it?
:22:56. > :22:57.world where it counts for something, Everybody, even the very, very best
:22:58. > :23:06.get nervous about coming to the Crucible. If anywhere is going to be
:23:07. > :23:12.a problem of trying to get a clear head on the shot and make your mind
:23:13. > :23:18.up on a shot, it's here. It is one of the reasons why Ronnie O'Sullivan
:23:19. > :23:28.plays such a fantastic game. This time, the break 78. Mitchell Mann
:23:29. > :24:34.just nods his head. Mark Allen goes for the clear and leads 6-2. Hasn't
:24:35. > :24:51.got the cueball tight on the cushion and it makes this red on the right
:24:52. > :24:56.to the middle little bit easier. At least I think you can get to it. He
:24:57. > :25:00.is not even attempting it. Is he just playing safe? Gets the
:25:01. > :25:20.is not even attempting it. Is he into the middle. Good try, but not
:25:21. > :25:25.good enough. And he stuck it up. With both pink and black being out
:25:26. > :25:32.of play, it will be on hand to get on the blue. Not this time. I am
:25:33. > :25:37.just looking at the pack of reds, if he does get the chance to get it off
:25:38. > :25:38.the blue in a few moments' time and get it on the pink, he will probably
:25:39. > :26:03.free up the black as well. He is having a look at the pack. I
:26:04. > :26:08.think it is a bit dangerous, he hasn't really got a half all angle
:26:09. > :26:18.on this blue so he wouldn't be able to generate the spin he would
:26:19. > :26:23.normally want. I don't think he played that last red that well
:26:24. > :26:32.actually. Just let the cueball runthrough and now he is going to be
:26:33. > :26:42.playing off able colour. It can always be good off the yellow and
:26:43. > :26:45.green. Couldn't eat them any better. And that is probably the reason why
:26:46. > :27:04.blue is the better option for going into the pack. He will take the cut
:27:05. > :27:17.on and if it does go in, this could become a frame when. Slightly the
:27:18. > :27:40.wrong angle on the yellow. A little close to the reds from here.
:27:41. > :28:20.Decision time. Push the boat out or wait for a better chance? He's in
:28:21. > :28:34.control but you don't really want to take a liberty. A bit shot to putt
:28:35. > :28:51.this red, collide with the red, then get enough to get the cueball out.
:28:52. > :28:54.Playing a runthrough of types. Yuck. To question that decision... He has
:28:55. > :29:02.his opponent in his pocket at the minute. A bit of a lifeline,
:29:03. > :30:15.stretching all over the place there. It has been quite some time since
:30:16. > :30:16.Mitchell has been in this position. He has to win the round with this
:30:17. > :31:28.visit. Trying to get the black onto its
:31:29. > :31:37.spot. The next couple of reds if he can. That frees the pink into the
:31:38. > :33:10.righthand corner as well. 15. Just the one more loose red now.
:33:11. > :33:17.That will open the other red. A good chance now to win the frame at this
:33:18. > :33:28.visit. APPLAUSE
:33:29. > :33:56.Both these reds are available. Taking the slightly more difficult
:33:57. > :33:57.one. I say that because you can't see the full pocket. 29. That's
:33:58. > :34:20.good. He's got himself in a bit of a trap
:34:21. > :34:36.again. No guarantee to be on the colour
:34:37. > :34:41.now. He has to play the little deaf cannon. Should be OK but you've
:34:42. > :34:59.gotta hit it well. Just. cannon. Should be OK but you've
:35:00. > :35:25.use the two reds to get the cue ball for the loose red.
:35:26. > :35:38.APPLAUSE. Use the two reds... Just a little bit harder to free the red
:35:39. > :35:51.and pink. But 14 points in front. Needs the remaining five to be sure
:35:52. > :36:07.of winning this frame. My mistake. 24. Not 14. 25 now, so two more reds
:36:08. > :36:30.and two colours. Taking these quite nicely considering he's been off the
:36:31. > :36:32.table so long. 50. And if he does go on to win this frame he's given
:36:33. > :36:35.himself an outside chance because when they come back tomorrow perhaps
:36:36. > :36:37.he will be more used to the surroundings. He could get a bit
:36:38. > :36:48.more of a flow on. Now, clearly didn't want to kiss the
:36:49. > :37:20.yellow. Oh dear. AUDIENCE GASPS. Well, a
:37:21. > :37:22.nice break, but 56 might not be enough.
:37:23. > :38:10.APPLAUSE. Screws him behind the one nearest
:38:11. > :38:21.the pink. Just about 3-4 inches short of pace. 33 points behind. No
:38:22. > :38:35.worries about what colour he pots here.
:38:36. > :38:39.Not an easy shot at the best of times, but with the extension of
:38:40. > :38:51.your cue it makes things even harder.
:38:52. > :39:00.APPLAUSE. Made that look easy, although, too straight on the pink
:39:01. > :39:16.to get across the table. Is he looking somehow to get that cueball
:39:17. > :39:19.behind the yellow? Yes, trying to leave the angle on this last red. No
:39:20. > :39:30.way he'll be playing the double off the red. A big target to get him
:39:31. > :39:44.behind the yellow with the two cushions. Now the blue is in the
:39:45. > :39:47.way. Now, he could play a harder shot with topspin to try and get
:39:48. > :39:59.behind that yellow, but it will risk the red. Perhaps he will try and
:40:00. > :40:10.line up red and white along the line of the blue, pink and black, or
:40:11. > :40:15.perhaps the pink and black. On the other hand, perhaps distance is the
:40:16. > :40:31.better solution with the cueball. Thank you. That is no problem at all
:40:32. > :40:43.with hitting this, but where the balls are, can't afford to leave the
:40:44. > :40:52.red. A controlled one to send the cueball to the side cushion and not
:40:53. > :40:59.away again. He can push it thin but that will go towards the top right.
:41:00. > :41:17.Yep, very nicely done. APPLAUSE. May have snookered him
:41:18. > :41:19.back, but I think he can see the red. Just has to miss the kiss on
:41:20. > :41:26.the pink red. Just has to miss the kiss on
:41:27. > :41:41.the pink on the way back. A risky double into the corner pocket. I
:41:42. > :41:51.suppose he can play it safe at the same time if he hits the left-hand
:41:52. > :42:03.side of it. I dunno. SLightly swerving it. Ehh, didn't like that
:42:04. > :42:12.one. A miracle, absolute miracle. Completely mishit it. Fortunate to
:42:13. > :42:26.get that safe. Mitchell has first chance to play a telling safety
:42:27. > :42:36.shot. This should be a way to guarantee some kind of snooker here.
:42:37. > :42:58.At the level we talk about you really need to make these types of
:42:59. > :43:01.situations pay. It is key when you are playing snooker you have to be
:43:02. > :43:03.careful the way the object is going. Didn't concern him with the red, but
:43:04. > :43:17.he overhit it. APPLAUSE.
:43:18. > :43:32.The angle on the green with the yellow of its spot is not good. Not
:43:33. > :43:35.much benefit. Looks good behind the black. A lovely shot.
:43:36. > :44:00.APPLAUSE. Right-hand side cushion. That's got
:44:01. > :44:09.to be the choice. Unless he can get just before the middle pocket. Might
:44:10. > :44:26.work. Enough room around the yellow to get right round the back of it
:44:27. > :44:29.and miss it. He'll settle for that. The yellow is cuttable, but he will
:44:30. > :44:41.have to go twice around the table. May come into the blue.
:44:42. > :44:57.APPLAUSE Excellent shot there from Mark Allen. A bit unlucky, really.
:44:58. > :45:09.And there's always the significance of the last session seeming greater.
:45:10. > :45:31.7-2 and 6-3 seems enormous for both players. Short of pace.
:45:32. > :45:47.Decides to swing the green round. You need to get a good object ball
:45:48. > :46:05.and cueball at the same time. Risky, but boy did he do well. OK. So, easy
:46:06. > :46:10.to get out of the snooker but if he wants the top cushion he has to
:46:11. > :46:22.judge it well. Misjudged the line and looks like the end of frame.
:46:23. > :46:31.Don't think there's any danger with this shot even though the balls are
:46:32. > :46:53.lined up. He can guarantee potting it. Don't fail on the blue, though.
:46:54. > :47:02.APPLAUSE. Even for a split second he started to worry he might not get
:47:03. > :47:22.that right. Well, 26 points in front. Mark needs a five-point
:47:23. > :47:38.penalty. Oh, miscued it! There was noise in the room. Someone had their
:47:39. > :47:45.phone on. Please switch that off. Using the spider... He may not have
:47:46. > :47:55.chalked his tip properly. That's unbelievable. He could tie. Let's
:47:56. > :48:16.look again. Wasn't even near the cushion. Half an inch away at least.
:48:17. > :48:19.Well, this is too hard. I don't necessarily think the cushion played
:48:20. > :48:28.its part in that. He didn't get enough sidespin on that to slow it
:48:29. > :48:43.down. So, now what? Safety. But he's going away from the black. That's
:48:44. > :48:52.very dangerous. At least he's back in the frame from that miscue from
:48:53. > :49:11.Mitchell. Mark, nine. Thanks so much. A partial snooker, and even if
:49:12. > :49:18.it is a full one, he can swerve it. Not guaranteed to get the pink safe
:49:19. > :49:23.from a swerve shot. Looks like he can hit it direct. That's OK.
:49:24. > :50:11.APPLAUSE. This is really tough to get safe.
:50:12. > :50:14.Might have to play double. If he hits the pocket, great, otherwise he
:50:15. > :50:28.has to get the other end of the table. No easy safety shot here, is
:50:29. > :50:39.there? No. Maybe he got away with it. Delighted with that. A tempter
:50:40. > :50:50.for Mitchell to go overnight at 6-3 with a double. Safety probably the
:50:51. > :51:10.right one. But the double is a tempter. Where is the cueball going?
:51:11. > :51:22.Goodness me. Heartaches tonight. Looked up at us with a smile on his
:51:23. > :51:28.face. Up and down. Avoid the double kiss. Should be a straightforward
:51:29. > :52:18.safety, this one. APPLAUSE. If the black wasn't there
:52:19. > :52:21.he could take this on confidently. He could try to nudge the black
:52:22. > :52:28.towards the top cushion for insurance. He could just play the
:52:29. > :52:43.pot, but it is very risky. APPLAUSE May take the double knowing
:52:44. > :53:02.he can get the white tight on the cushion. That is wide. Needed the
:53:03. > :53:18.white tight. Careless. Less pressure on the pink because the black is
:53:19. > :53:19.safe. Deep breath. GASPS. Wasn't easy at all, but I thought he'd pot
:53:20. > :53:46.that. Mark could try to get the black out
:53:47. > :53:53.here. Perhaps play the pink to sort of like the middle cushion. Right
:53:54. > :54:03.line to get the black out? Didn't like it. The pink too close to the
:54:04. > :54:13.black is pretty clever. One thing Mitchell won't be doing is moving
:54:14. > :54:30.the black. Could play cushion first. Not a bad option, that.
:54:31. > :55:21.A good safety shot. Not so easy this time. Maybe to get behind the pink,
:55:22. > :55:55.but too dangerous, to get it near the top corner pocket.
:55:56. > :56:14.APPLAUSE. Still a very good safety shot.
:56:15. > :56:24.Mitchell should be trying to play the same shot as last time, I think.
:56:25. > :56:29.Sen the pink up to the cushion and halfway back down the side. Oh, OK,
:56:30. > :56:59.nothing wrong with that, unless... GASPS. Hasn't gone anywhere near the
:57:00. > :57:05.pocket. How will you get this one safe? The toughest safety shot he's
:57:06. > :57:16.played today. Might be worth the risk to double kiss. It is too
:57:17. > :57:33.risky, if you miss he could now win. Double kiss is the way to go. Easier
:57:34. > :57:41.if dead straight. Oh. The second time he's hit the top of the cueball
:57:42. > :57:53.and miscued. As if he is too low. Oh, what a terrible shot. Sent the
:57:54. > :58:04.pink into the cushion instead of along to knock the black out. Maybe
:58:05. > :58:10.extra chalk from the miscue. Never seen anything in my life like those
:58:11. > :58:16.extra chalk from the miscue. Never three shots. Somehow Mitchell Mann
:58:17. > :58:23.won those last frames. Still trailing for tomorrow's session.
:58:24. > :58:27.Mark Allen has the advantage in the final session later today. We will
:58:28. > :58:33.be back at ten o'clock with further live coverage of the championships.
:58:34. > :58:37.We will see you then. For now, goodbye!