Day 7 World Championship Snooker Extra

Hello and welcome to Snooker Extra. Extended highlights of the 2016

Betfred World Championship. Our featured match tonight sees Ali

Carter, twice a runner-up taking on McManus who knocked out Steven

Maguire. Alan McManus gets the first frame of

the session. Just to remind you, there's three sessions in the best

of 25. First two sessions, eight frames. And then the remaining nine,

if that's needed to make up the 25. It's a very interesting opening

session and I wouldn't dispute Ali Carter at the table now having that

2-frame advantage. So it will be very interesting to

see how this second session pans out. He was 3-1 in front, Ali, and

looked almost certain to go 4-1 in front and the simplest of pinks into

the middle and Alan McManus, who looked to be struggling, really

found a bit of confidence. He got a 40 and a 65 in the eighth frame. So

all to play for in this. That was a poor safety shot. Caught

it much too thick. That was the problem with it last evening. Both

these players had tough opening first round matches. Ali Carter

getting over the line in a brilliant match against Stuart Bingham 10-9.

Fantastic shot. And Alan McManus, a great win over Steven Maguire 10-7.

So both have been looking for a good performance here.

And one person was enamored with that, more than the rest. It was

noticeable in the first session that Ali Carter, particularly in the

opening frames, didn't want to take on anything too risky. I wanted to

keep it tight. And that was his plan and well, he got a 2-frame advantage

out of the first session. It could have been more.

Yeah, John, there is the possibility that players play different styles

against different people. You can only play the balls but let's, for

instance, say that Ali Carter thinks that Alan McManus is not a great

tunist to get in amongst the balls -- opportunist to get in amongst the

balls and think that if I'm getting him easy chances, I could have the

upper hand. But that could mean that you fall into the trap of playing

the game that your owe ponent plays. Yeah, it's a fine balancing act

sometimes. But I agree with what you say. I think that he thought - well,

if I don't take any liberties here, I'm a big favourite to win the

match. I thought Alan McManus was superb

against Maguire. So scoring pretty well himself in the first round.

This isn't a nice opening for Ali Carter. He had the pots on, but with

the cue so close to the bottom cushion, he can't really dig down on

it. No real guarantee of any type of position, so he's on offer really if

he misses it. And of course, unless he gets the cue ball into a very

good safety area himself, Alan McManus will go for that red.

There's a few players would commit to this. Yeah, and I think if he's

going to play it, he's going to have to commit to it. I wouldn't try to

find a path back to the ball, because as Steve said, it's on. If

he tries to play the safety back to the ball, he has to be so accurate

and get such a good cue ball. No, he'll be now thinking - why

didn't I attempt the pot? Yes. And increasingly so in the game of

snooker, the modern day ethic is if you're in a position where you could

possibly mills the safety shot up, even if there's a risky pot, go for

it. Forget the consequences. Be first.

Short of pace there but he's still got the blue there. You would think

that that would be the choice. And here's the shot that Ali decided he

didn't want to risk the pot. But by the looks of that, hit the wrong red

first. You'd expect Alan McManus to pot this blue, although he's getting

the extension on, so perhaps he's trying to cut it in the middle as

opposed to into the yellow pocket. So a bit of run on the cue ball. It

changed the extension of the cue. Even though you can reach it more,

it does change the cue. It gives the cue more weight and if you're

putting any type of side spin on, it changes the aiming point.

S The opening red of Ali Carter played with back spin to slow the

cue ball down. Always a risky shot these days that you don't get some

unwanted side spin on, and that ball just got into the pocket to give him

this opportunity. Funny enough, years ago before we

got to the superfine cloth, you played it with a trace of side, just

to move the cue ball over. But you're playing with side on these

clothes and it's at your peril. S This is a real good opportunity

for Ali to stretch his lead. He was certainly the better of the two in

the opening session. Made a century break in the third frame. And the

reds he needs to clinch the frame in this visit, are all in the open. He

doesn't need the two reds near the side cushion.

I think the pink at the moment looks to be occupied. And if he's got the

right angle, he could nudge the red away and make room for the pink. But

if he hasn't, it won't be any great harm for the pink to go on the blue

spot. Depends how he sees it down at the table. Oh, would you believe it!

He missed a pink in the opposite middle. Last evening, it's

unbelievable! He's just thinking about the cannon. Took his eye off

the pot. Lightning struck twice. Yeah, I think that the last thing

that Alan McManus was thinking was that he was going to get back to the

table. Just a bit short of pace. That's made the situation a little

bit more difficult. I think he's probably just about OK. In line with

the pink, could have done with a little bit more. Shows you what I

know! Correct side. I leave the commentator's eyes up to

you, John! A couple of difficult reds that Ali Carter is pleased to

see on the side cushion now. He could have controlled the cue

ball slightly better. If he had the expension there. He would be wary of

the red next to the cushion when he's reaching over here.

As I was mentioning earlier, he was 3-1 down. Ali Carter looked certain

to go 4-1 in front. Roll in a red to funnily enough, the opposite middle

to where he just missed that last pink. And he missed the pink and all

of a sudden, it was as though Alan McManus got inspiration from that

mistake, but he's got it to do here with the two reds on the side

cushion as Steve mentioned. Ali Carter could have won the frame

without those, but Alan can't. Chance to move one of them. And

retain position on the pink. It's always a risk if you do decide to do

this. Very short of pace there. There

would have been players would have tried to have moved that red. I'm

not saying that it was right shot to do, but at some stage, you have to

get them off the cushions as well. This is a tough pot and position.

Tweaked it off to the left. And also wasn't on the red either. Playing

for the double. Don't know what was not committing anyway. I'm not sure

if that was... Might be me talking to a more positive frame of mind

there about knocking that red off the cushion, but I think it was on.

Yeah, and I think that it was a trick that he missed. Because there

was no way that he could win the frame the way that the reds were

situated. And when he's played that pink, as you say, he didn't play for

the red near the top cushion, which you would normally expect a player

to do. Nicely judged from Ali Carter. Not

going to get any advantage from it, but it do have gone wrong. Possible

double. There is the possibility that Alan

McManus could pot the red in such a way as to leave himself in a

position on the black in which to disturb the two reds, but that's

very aggressive. And forward thinking. As it was, missed the red

by some distance. That trade mark lifting up of Alan McManus towards

the end of the back swing and then just before the hit, a fraction of

head and body movement. That's been with him all the time. Not saying

that it's the reason why he missed it at all, it's just part of his

game. I think Alan McManus, depending if

the red goes past the pink, for mak, if it doesn't go past the pink, he

can play a very slow roll to keep the cue ball down there. Very nicely

played. Don't know if there's enough room to

get the cue ball behind the pink. There's your answer. Down the other

side! Amazingly, that red stayed in the

bottom half of the table and it's a very thin cut and one that Ali

Carter couldn't really have expected Alan McManus would have had. Very

thin. Cue ball is going to go off the top cushion down into the

girlfriend pocket area. -- green pocket area.

Well, that was an excellent pot and a nice kiss on the green because

it's left him a perfect angle on the pink.

In an ideal world, you'd like to leave the cue ball close to the

right-hand side cushion to leave yourself an angle over the black

corner and then pot the black and stun across and disturb the red over

the top cushion. I don't know whether he's got the angle to do

that off this red now. Well, that's what he's going for. He

needs to get closer to the cushion. He's maybe just got the angle. So,

will he play the cannon? You'd think he would. Otherwise the red along

the top cushion will be tricky. Played it well. Played it very well.

Yes, I would have been delighted to see the path of the cue ball which

more or less guaranteed position on the red. Just got to be careful with

this one. Would have liked to have been lower

on the pink. So now, some more work to do. A screw back off the side

cushion just before the middle pocket. He's caught that very well.

Neerl too well. -- nearly too well. 19 points the lead. Yellow and green

required. So Ali Carter missing that straight

forward pink to the left middle. Eventually it's cost him the frame.

And that's it for Ali Carter. He'll be very disappointed. Had a great

chance to extend the lead to three. It's reduced to one. He still leads

5-4. Ali Carter starts off the ninth

frame. With a decent break off. I don't know if he's covered the red

to the left-hand side of the table. Ali Carter can't really have asked

for any better a break off than that. Alan McManus can't play to the

top cushion because of the red behind the black so this is a bit of

a shot from Alan McManus without being snookered. He's playing the

two-cushion escape. He obviously had a big area. It wasn't just...

Because there was a line of four reds, perhaps he felt there was a

big area for error. I'd like to have that one again. S Well, you've got

to see... See what shot he would have played or would he play that

again? Because it could go wrong this one. Nearly went wrong. He's

introduced as Alan 'Angles' McManus, so the clue is in the introduction

that he's pretty good at this type of shot. No, that pink was close to

the reds. Do you think it's a bit like combing your hair in a mirror

or the other way around. No, combing your hair... In a camera. You mean

when you're looking at something and it's reversed on the table? Yeah.

Well, let's have a look at what it was? That's where it was. And where

is it now? Almost perfect. If you're looking at a TV screen and the

camera is on you and you try to comb your hair, you would go the wrong

way because it is different to looking at it in a mirror. A bit of

information for you! How very interesting! Shut up! OK, so he's

playing the same shot and that pink is in the way a bit. Yeah, great

shot. He does it again. Yeah, he didn't like the containing safety.

He didn't feel as though it was a return to there, getting straight

off the red. So played it like that. He has left a chance for Ali.

Straightish red. He's usually very good at these but this is the type

of shot he's been turning down in favour of safety. And there you see,

he's doing it again. Big target behind green and brown here. And

also, he's spotted that it was there. Does he get a good kiss on

the brown? No. So no prizes for guessing what comes next.

More angles required. Well, John, we're in the studio here in the

commentary box. You're in front of the telly straighter. Dennis is

recovering from appendicitis, so over to you. And in the blink of an

eye, that's my solution. The mark of Zoro! Zoro. And the reason I've put

him well away from that red to the left of the pink is that it is going

to slide off the second cushion. He's got to have it where I've hit.

If he doesn't hit there, he might miss the red. He slides.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. That's from the angles. Angles has let us

down there. Now, will Ali be tempted? I would be. Well, wow,

yeah! When you're looking at that shot on our TV screen, you think -

well, why don't you try it along the cushion, but it is a little bit more

of an angle on the pot than it looks. I thought he might have taken

that on, but as you say, if he's got a game plan. He has a plan. Those

angles weren't on by the way I think is the answer to that connundrum

that while your lines are lovely, I don't think that angles decides that

that is feasible with the slide. So now he's looking at God knows what

now. I was thinking to the line, I think he's got to get a little bit

closer to the blue. OK, he's found another alternative. I don't know

how he can get it safely in this way. I think that this slides as

well. Well, there's a line. Oh, it was of the perfect line. But not

hard enough. He gets put back you have again. But whether he can

replicate the exact release off the cushions of the cue ball. With a bit

more pace. Yes, with a bit more pace is... Is arguable. So not guaranteed

to get the line right even though he knows it's available.

A bit more pace this time. Does it affect the line of the cue ball?

Played it beautifully. He didn't let us down that time. That's why he's

called 'Angles'. He's back. Ali Carter has got a pretty easy path

back down to bulk behind the green. Could put Alan back in trouble. A

bit shallow on that. No trul at all. Just looking at the possible outcome

of the reds hitting other reds and plants that are on into the

left-hand corner. For a second, I thought he'd spotted a plant. He's

caught this far too thin. Didn't want to be hitting the far side

cushion. An attempt for Ali Carter. Not even considering it, I don't

think. Though, there's a bit of an angle on the shot. Quite a tactical

match, as you say, John. Ali keeping it tight. That's Alan's preferred

method, anyway. Good safety. He's got him in a bit of trouble, I

think. Yeah, on the first bit, and this is what we were discussing last

evening is that you'd think if it came to a tactical affair, that Alan

McManus might have the advantage. But I think now he as working on the

principle that if he gets in, he'll score heavier than Alan so keep it

tight and don't open the reds as much as he would normally. It's a

plan. It's working so far. If he's cut out those easy pots he's missed,

Ali. Alan McManus could just get through to that red, bent it with a

bit of left-hand side. And swung the right, the cue ball around off

three, four cushions into what is an excellent safety area himself and a

little tap on the table there from Ali Carter. A little less pressure

on the safety aspect. With the black out of commission, but the pink is

still in open play. He was more or less forced into

playing that pot. Sometimes the positions of the balls dictate what

shot you play and that of the case in question. But he didn't get the

double kiss so he's not left anything. Nothing easy.

I mean a lot of times in snooker, you play the balls this they dictate

the pattern of play. I don't think that Ali Carter really needs to

change his game at all. Perhaps he's had a thought coming into this World

Championship to just readjust the balance of attack and defend.

I don't know many players that have a game plan for each round, do you?

I mean, I don't remember that was the case, not strongly. No, no. But

he had to go through the three qualifying matches so maybe he

decided that he felt more comfortable playing this type of

game and not pushing the bolt out too much. Takes a little bit of

pressure off if you're not going for everything.

That was close to Mario Bernie who will be a name that not a lot of

people will have heard of but he was a great amateur player from Wales,

and he always used to say, "You've got to be fair to your ability."

Playing outrageous shots, sometimes you're not. This doesn't look bad.

Just a touch too hard, I think. I think Alan can just get to the edge

of the red. That's tight. That is tight.

Well, one thing is for certain, Ali Carter knows his way around a

snooker table in the tactical department.

Well, he's cut off escape routes down the right-hand side of the

table as we look on our screens. And a pretty low return on risk for

going for a pot for Alan McManus. What can he get on? The red is

relatively straight. Hard to see how he can get out into open play. There

is a gap. Not much of one. And effectively, a defensive pot really

just to contain the situation. You do no damage if you miss. You can

only leave that ball up and still hit it very nicely, though, so he's

controlling the tactical play by potting that red. Needs to get this

cue ball across to the left-hand side of the table sufficiently that

he cuts off the route back down the table, which he's done. Advantage

Alan McManus. Yeah, that containing pot there has given the edge here.

You don't want to get dragged into a tctical battle unless you can help

it -- tactical battle unless you can help it, I would have thought.

Especially if you're Ali Carter. He's got all of the shots in the

book. Well, he's hit that, but I think

that well, Ali has come around to have a look. There may be a red

available to the right middle. I don't know where the colour comes

from, that's anybody's guess. A tough one into the right corner,

which would give him position into the pink. The right-hand one of the

two we can see are available. But he's playing this one to the middle.

Well, maybe he can... Oh, just a safety. But there's not many players

of the new breed of players who would refuse that red into the roith

corner. That's old school -- right corn e. That's old school tactics

off the side cushion there. 25 years he's been coming here, Alan McManus.

Not criticising. He's old school. Not criticising the choice off the

cushion. That was so much of a choice that could have gone wrong

and presenting your opponent with an easy choice and Alan McManus makes

sure that he makes it hard for his opponent. He's not a slow player in

as much as the amount of time that he takes over the shots. It's not

that. He makes up his mind pretty quickly. But as you say, John, he's

old school. Won't be happy with that, though. He's left the red on.

But the way that the colours are situated, black out of commission,

pink tied up. He's going to have to pot this and just try to hope that

he finishes up on a colour. But don't miss the pot.

Well, you can hope and you can do what you like. He could have wished

for something better than that. The only upside is that that he can get

through to play safe off the pink. Much too thin. And this time if he

pots the red, you would think that he would be on a colour. He's got

the blue to play for. Such a good cuist normally, is Ali.

He is solid. The only thing is that we could see the line of the cue

ball when it was going straight back. Always looked as though he was

going to run into the blue. And was probably hoping for a kiss on the

blue, but not a full one. Such a superb cue-ist. Absolutely no head

movement at all when Ali Carter plays power screw backs.

Didn't really have to do a great deal with that yellow as far as

getting up the table with that red over the corner pocket. A bit of

left-hand spin, straighten the cue ball up off the cushion. Not enough

slnd spin. I thought that that was -- left-hand spin. I thought that

that was avoidable. And if he continues in his tactical play, he

won't go for a pot here. I think even if he was playing attacking, he

wouldn't be necessarily going for one. So trying to get in behind that

brown perhaps. It was his intention to get in

behind the brown, but he'll be pleased where the cue ball has

finished. Tight into the cushion. It doesn't make this an easy return,

particularly as there's quite a few reds could get in the way. Caught it

much too thick. Much too thick. Well, I've got a feeling that Alan

McManus had other options apart from that shot. I'll have to see it all

again. But too late now regardless. He's left a lovely position for Ali

Carter. But there was a bit of a ris yk that safety shot. Perhaps could

have played for the top cushion somehow. Might be doing Ali a

disservice there, but the last thing that you wanted to do was open all

the balls up in a situation that he was in.

Had to play for the pink in the middle pocket there. He's missed a

couple in the middles, whether it is on his mind or not is another

matter. Frame-winning chance. Without doing

a great deal of work. Poor shot. Very poor shot.

Yeah, just look at that. Surprised in a way that he didn't play for the

pink in the middle. Maybe the fact that he's missed a couple of them.

Anyway, he's potted the pink. Hasn't recovered the positional side of it.

Still got a pot on, but it's a tough one. Yeah, I think he chose not to

play the pink in the centre pocket because the position for pink in the

corner was easy in his own mind. It was guaranteed. He just got into the

cue ball too much. This is a tough shot.

Is he playing safe here? Oh, playing safe. Trying to get in behind the

brown. Well, he didn't get in behind the

brown but once again, an excellent cue ball.

Inchlths don't believe that. I don't think I've ever seen a cushion

bounce as badly as that. That's laughable. It must be some chalk on

the cue ball that's just got in the way of it. Just ridiculous bounce.

Like six foot bounced further than it was going to. Yeah, that

definitely came off a lot quicker than it went on. A springer. Gee

whizz! Do you think that was what he wanted? I think that the cushions

are playing very fast and bordering on too fast. I think we have tried

different cloth on the cushions. I think that it is different cloth to

the bed now, but it still doesn't slow them up enough and I think over

the years, players have wanted faster and faster conditions and

faster cushions rather than sluggish ones. We're now at the situation

where the cloth is seemingly so thin that the rubber tends to play more

of a part. There's no cushioning effect. And I know for one that

Jimmy White is an advocate of thicker cloth on bed and cushion to

try to stop kicks and bad bounces, but then of course, you have slower

tables. And of course, if you have a slower

table, then you have to hit the balls a little bit harder, as we

watch this excellent safety shot from Alan McManus. But just to

finish the point, slower table, you have to hit the balls a little bit

harder. Makes the pots more difficult.

You've retired now anyway. So you don't mind them being a bit tighter

or bouncier, do you? Don't care now! (LAUGHTER)

. I mean, the modern day players can play an amazing range of shots, and

it wasn't that the older mayors weren't capable of that, but I don't

think that the clothes were as responsive back in the 70s and 80s.

Well, didn't necessarily want to make contact with that red you

wouldn't have thought. But, it might cut back into the corner. Well, if

it does, he can do some damage to these six balls on the top cushion.

He's playing the pots. Ali Carter would be concerned here,

although he's got some insurance policy with the green on the side

cushion. Is this red going to spoil things?

No. That was the only thing that Alan could hope for then. So it was

a thin one. I've got to be honest with you, I expected him to get it.

Maybe he had a bit more of an eye on the cannon and trying to bring the

other balls into play, but Ali with a 41-point lead, chance to clinch

the frame now. Yeah, I commentated on the session

this morning on this table between ... Mark Williams and Martin... Yes.

Sorry, I was looking at the positional play there. And there was

so many bowed boups there. So many. So much so that Mark Williams was

trying to calm down the cushion covers with his towel to try to

re-align that and get all of the chalk off the cushions. Yeah, it's a

funny thing. Since day one, this table has been having plenty of

complaints. In fact, after day two, they recovered the cushions. Scus

this red needed here. And they recovered the cushions and yet, the

feedback from table 2 is that it's playing as good as any table that

they've played on here at The Crucible. You know the table on the

other side of the wall. So I don't know why they can't replicate it on

this side. So 62 ahead and just 51 remaining. If he gets this double,

no way back to the table for Alan. Well, this is the table that Stephen

Hendry said should be burned. Was it this one? I would think so because

this one is playing really well. That's the thing about Stephen, you

ask him a question - he certainly doesn't hold back with his opinion,

does he? Anyway, we're watching that and Ali Carter has finished the

break and Alan McManus stays in his seat. He's now two behind as we

started this session. Ali Carter now leads by six frames to four.

Two frames played and two more before the mid-session interval.

And it's Alan McManus getting frame 11 under way.

Very important session, isn't it, the middle one of the three? Did you

not always feel that? It was a chance to take that lead into the

final session? Nice pot, althoughs more of a

containing pot than anything else. No colour on. Yes, I think that the

second session is where perhaps the player feels that he's got a chance

to establish his dominance in the match. Fibs session perhaps is the

player sparring for position. A bit loose with the cue ball. Yes,

surprised that he just didn't concentrate there just to move the

cue ball tight against the cushion. Off the red for Alan. Ohhing well,

the black is not available and the pink is tied up. Have to go back up

for blue. Good clean pot. Going along nicely there. You feel like

he's got to go into the pink here at speed.

He hit the pink but he didn't get the back spin that holds the cue

ball after it hits the pink but he may be on the red to the left

corner. He was. OK. Just short of ideal

position on the blue there. So just going to have to drop the blue in

and play for the red to the left corner.

Temptation is to go in and out of baulk. As you say, just the wrong

side of the blue line. A lot more players favouring just

dropping the baulk, the blue in there and leaving themselves a

middle distance pot. That's not a terrible situation to be in. If you

go in and out of baulk, a lot of things can go wrong. That's the

problem isn't it on the superfine clothes. Once you start to add some

pace into it, unless you find the middle of the cue ball, you're going

to miss pots, aren't you? You see a fair bit of body movement when Alan

has to put any effort into the shot. He's always done it. Yeah, that as

well. I don't think that he's by any means the best power player in the

game. He'll admit that myself. Yeah, and as you mentioned earlier, he's

one of those people, when he brings the cue back and he's ready to

deliver it, he just lifts his head up slightly off the cue. It's been

something he's always done. Nice to see him back playing well, though.

That was 25 years when he made his debut here. Where has the time gone?

That's opened up the frame a little bit now that the black is in the

open. The red that Ali Carter is more or less forced to play does

push a third red samingly towards the right-hand corner pocket.

Arguably, even a plant of some port, a 3-ball plant. But probably

won't... It will probably go to the top cushion a bit. Didn't want that

red to the left of the table going anywhere near that pocket. Well,

Alan McManus had a shot very similar to this in the last frame where

after he hit the red, the cue ball was whizzing around like a ping

uponing ball. So that will probably be on his mind a bit on this shot.

Yeah, good pot. Pot. Well, not the best kiss on the yellow but I think

that the green is just off the spot so the green not too difficult.

Ideally, you would like to get on the red that is blocking the black

spot. If he doesn't get on that red, he

doesn't want to pot the black. Oh, just collided with the blue.

Looks like he's going to have to play that red by the black spot. It

you have spot. Yeah, he'll be a bit disappointed to have made contact

with the blue. He knew that the blue was there. He should have tried to

avoid it in some way. So good pot needed. He could possibly have

played the one to the right of the black spot and all for the black.

That's what he decided to do and he tell you what, he could not have

played it any better. Good shot. And because of the situation he was

in, he's opened up the black spot. OK, not ideal yet positional wise,

but he's got a chance to drop this red on the right in, just float

across the face of the other red for the black in the middle into the

opposite corner. But he could decide to play it firmer. Yeah, he didn't

trust playing it softly. They're not easy to control without the cue ball

going to the far cushion. Chance to open the reds up. Or are there

enough reds open anyway? I think in this situation, he's got

enough reds to play with that he'll get a chance to open the pack up

again with another date. Yes, he's going to have to disturb

that little cluster of five around the pink if he's going to win the

frame in this visit. That is now putting him 37 points in front. So

37, 24. 61 with five reds, there's still 67 on. So yeah. He's going to

need one of those reds. Yeah, there was a case to be made for opening

them up. I think that he had a nice enough angle on the black. And I

think he would have guaranteed to have been on a red as well.

You done really want to leave... Oh, it's got a kick and it's gone

straight. You don't really want to leave opening the pack of reds up to

the last. Because it can always go wrong. Yeah, so you would think. And

I think he's just got a slight angle. Play for the red close to the

top cushion and then in potting that, leave an angle on the black

and leave that red that's available to the right corner. But maybe

hasn't got the angle to play that. He didn't. He was dead straight.

Yeah, maybe running out of balls to get a good angle on this pack. Wrong

side of the black for the red on the top cushion, so looks like he's a

little bit... Well, perhaps he's OK for the pack here. Yeah, I think

he's got a screw in to the pack. He needed to anyway. Not guaranteed to

be on a red. OK, well, therein lies the case to be made for the

opposition on opening the pack early. I think he's got one into the

middle pocket but it's not ideal. He'll be just glad to have a chance

there for the frame. I thought for a minute he was on nothing. But he's

just about got one. Being ultra critical by discussing things in

this way, but he's get ago bit frustrated with himself out there

today, Alan. As you say, maybe he should have gone and opened the reds

a little bit earlier and left it to the last minute. A shake of the head

there. Anyway, chance now for Ali Carter to really hurt Alan McManus

here. The big problem, of course, is the red on the right-hand side of

the table. Not to say that if it was on that side for a right-hander, not

too much of a problem, but he's not close to the pocket. But time enough

to think about that. A few reds and colours to pot before. You'd love to

know what Alan was saying there, what was going through his mind.

I think the red up in the baulk will pass the brown so there's no need to

worry about that. It's just the reds at this end. I'm surprised that he

played for the pink there. Well, he might have to... Well, it looks like

he's going up for that red into the baulk there. Oh, he wants to slow

down a bit. He's overhit that a little bit. I'd be leaving this one

until last, I think, myself. Yeah, I think he was forced to play for this

one. Yeah, because of the angle he got on the pink. How can he play the

pot here and play the cannon to try to disturb the red from the

right-hand cushion. Obviously he couldn't. But he's missed the red.

And I think he's just missed the red really because he was so disapointed

with his position on the pink and then his position from the pink on

that red. And I know it shouldn't let you affect the shot, but it just

took him out of the comfort zone. And I think Alan can get through to

this red. He's got a 29-point lead. He needs to with the swerve. Yeah,

wasn't too of a problem. But he's not on the colour. He's got a

30-point advantage but there's 43 remaining.

REFEREE: Alan McManus one. Ideally, he would have liked to have got on

the colour safe there. But the snooker was very tempting. Obviously

if Ali Carter were to get out of this snooker and get the ball safe,

then effectively, all balls are still out in the open. Ali Carter

having to try to judge this in between yellow and blue. Not easy.

Well, 35 behind. If he doesn't have the balls replaced. Well, it's not

missed now. Is it, it's not a miss. No, he can't miss. About you I think

now with the scores, there's only 35 points on, it's not a miss. I think.

Oh, I don't know. That's a weird one. Oh! We changed the rules on a

misrule. Because he wouldn't have it put back because the red gets put

back on the table anyway. Yeah, but now he's 35 points in front. And

there's 35 remaining. You don't see that often.

But in the end -- but in the end, decided to play the safety. Gets in

there in the end if Ali is going to get anything there. Well, he can see

the red but if he's going to pot the red, he needs to be on the black to

be able to tie. Can he squeeze this in? Doesn't look like it.

Yeah, I forgot, you told me the rules had changed. When you can tie,

you can't be called for a miss. I've got to say, an

understandable... If I am correct in that, it's an understandable

misjudgment by the referee. It's a weird scenario that happened here.

Well, yeah, I think he called miss before the red had had gone in.

Before the red had gone in. Well, that's enough anyway. Alan McManus

has won that frame. So it's still nip and tuck now and Alan McManus

hanging on in there. One frame behind now. Still Ali Carter leads

6-5. REFEREE: Ali Carter to break.

So there's one more frame. This is it before the mid-session interval.

And it's Ali Carter who gets it under way. And the question is - is

he going to have a 2-frame advantage that he started the session with, or

are we going to be all square? Yeah, tough session of snooker in

many ways in that the opening break off shots seem to have tied the

black up on a number of occasions. Certainly that that's how it's felt

to me. I've not been doing the stats on it. The full-blooded attempt

there. He knew it was going into the side of the pack.

Yeah, good pot. Wouldn't necessarily be pleased with

the way that the cue ball has finished, but I think he's got a

nice angle on the blue and he can just drop it in and be on the next

red. Didn't have to do much with the cue ball here. Just don't miss the

pot. Yeah, played it confidently enough.

He'd like to be on one of the two reds above the black as we look at

our screens, above the black. And then be able to roll through and get

on to the black into the right corner. He'll be screwing back for

the blue here. He's got to try to concentrate on the pace. Further

back is better than short. Terrible contact on the short.

Is there a 3-ball plant in the middle of the pack into the left

corner? Hmm. I'll tell you what, it wouldn't be far off. Ali has not

spotted it. He's not even looked at it. I wonder if he knew that that

was very close. The 3 #-ball plant is gone. It's

gone. It's gone now. It's history. But a long pot. It was a tough one.

Don't get me wrong. Just trying to force the cue ball right back up for

the blue. And having missed it, doesn't look like there's anything

left easy for Alan. Good line-up using the green as a snookering ball

there. Puts a bit of pressure on safety shot for Ali Carter because

he's got to cover that red up. Part of the game. The most important

part of the game isn't necessarily the fluke because they happen all

the time. It's making the most of it.

This black is even more tied up now into both pockets.

If he pots the pink, it won't be in a desirable position on its spot

into corner pockets I think. Might go into a corner. Yeah, I

suppose the red that's to the left of the pink spot, if he plays on

that, he can play for the pink to the same pocket he's going to pot

the pink now and it will clear it to a corner. I think that's what he'll

be thinking of. Black completely out of commission

at the moment. Nah. Is it straight forward to play

for the pink in in the middle? Well, he might just have to run it through

slightly. And off the top cushion. He decided not to risk it and the

fact that it is alongside the blue, normally he would be criticising

that, but there is a red on that end of the table, so no problem there.

It's a bit wide. A too much of an angle on the blue to be comfortable

on that red in the bottom half of the table. I suppose he could play

for the red above the black. As we look on our screens above the black.

I'm sure that he can hold for the red somehow, in and out of baulk,

but it's not certain, so perhaps he is playing for that red just above

the black. Well, I'm sure that he didn't play

that. If he was going to play it, why didn't he play it between the

yellow and the brown? He's only got to drop it in there. Well, he made

that look a lot easier than it was. He over hit the shot or he... He

deliberately left himself there. But it looked like a misjudgment to

start with. Now a deep screw back for that red that I talked about

earlier. This looks absolutely inch-perfect. Well, not quite. Might

just have needed another roll or two. Straight on the red would have

been a lot better. Where does the colour come from, for certain. Not

sure that he can power screw this red in and use the black to get out

into open play. He might be able to just clip enough of it and get the

back spin on. Or use the red I stead!

Fe played it like that, it was very advanced.

He never really had pin point positional play at any time in

there. Maybe once and then he quickly post control of the cue

ball. That's why he didn't make the most of that opportunity.

A little bit thick on the safety, only just reaching that ball rather

than the baulk cushion. But no harm done.

Green is an ideal ball to try to get behind, but not from this shot.

But he did very well to get even close to it, but I don't think that

it would have been necessarily wide enough to get behind there. Although

if the cushions are squaring up a bit, sometimes you can get some

strange angles. That's a swerve there. Over-swerved and got away

with it. Trying to play the 3-cushion safety.

Hampered slightly by the brown. And he's a little bit reluctant to play

the cross double safety off the reds on the left-hand side of the table.

And the reason that is is because there's ever chance of the cue ball

back to the end could have got a double kiss, but you could not play

a better safety shot than that. Hampered as he was. That was superb.

So the miss called and accepted. REFEREE: Was it far from the

cushion? Alan showing the referee where the

line was. You would think that this type of shot, if you missed it on

the way up, you'd catch it on the way back. He's missed it again.

He'll get a warning now. He'll be warned. Two misses at this time. He

will lose the frame. Under pressure now. He thinks that the table has

rolled off. Never nice. He's got to hit it thin to avoid collision with

those two reds. He's hit it pretty firm and he thinks that the table

rolled off. It's a brave player that will play the same shot again. Or a

stupid one! Yeah, who was the first one... Oh, it was me. Don't, don't.

Oh, who got the missed three? It was you, wasn't it? Yeah, table rolled

off a mile! Lost a match! I wondered who it was! Change the shot. Still

got to hit a red, though. Don't want to miscue. I always feared that that

could happen one day. Change of shot. But that will surely cost him

the frame. And he'll go into the mid-session interval as he started

this session two frames behind. It's not taken off this match today.

But it's a long hard road to The Crucible final. You can't play

brilliant all the time. A bit of grafting required.

Oh, perfect. Kiss on the black. Now 56 ahead. Two reds, two blacks. Two

reds, two pinks would be enough. But the two reds that he needs are out

in the open. He needs to slow up. It's OK.

Under different circumstances, Ali Carter could have tried to develop

those two reds, but with him only needing this red, it's pretty

obvious on the shot selection. Can come off a side cushion and get

nasty on the red. Red. -- nicely on the red in the forefront of our

screens. Or just play safe now. Anyway, there you see, 71 ahead. 59

remaining. That equates to three stooges and Alan McManus said -

don't bother playing the safety. I've had enough. So they go to the

mid-session interval and as they started the match, Ali Carter with a

2-frame advantage over Alan McManus. Now, it's 7-5.

Midsession interval over. Four more frames to be played. In the second

session, best of 25. First to 13 for a place in the quarterfinal. Ali

Carter has been to the final. Made a maximum break here one year. I was

lucky enough to be in the commentary box in 2008 when he made it.

So close. Oh, where is the red going? Where is the red ball going?

He's on the black if it drops. He played that shot thinking... The

only one that he could leave was the one he was playing and that's the

red had a somehow has gone up and over the corner pocket. So a nice

easy starter for Alan. It's OK, he's on a baulk colour.

Big four frames this. In the context of the match.

Or will it be at closely contested contest? That sounds funny doesn't

it? Closely contested contest. I am sure there would be people that

would pick you up on that. Obviously, you have picked yourself

up on it. I thought you would have done that. That is why I got in

first. IM using words that aren't really words like gettable. If you

use it enough, it will be a word. It will be in the dictionary. That red

going next to the blue. He has options and positional shots. Well,

he made that angle using lots of left-hand side. In the ideal world

he would like to be a little bit more straight on the black. He could

play a little bit of a cabin. Just leave the red right next to the

black in the centre pocket. He wouldn't go wrong. He wouldn't have

thought that. 18. Yes, he wasn't low enough on the black. It is never

easy enough to judge the cannon off of a cushion. So, there is a little

bit of work to do here. Wow, not even close. It looks quite safe

though. Yes, it was one of those where he played it really quick.

When the red is next to the cueball you are aware that you must push the

Q3 Strait. -- two Strait. -- cue straight. When he is an easy starter

I would expect him to get more than 18 points there. A bit more pressure

on the safety shot here. 18 points there. A bit more pressure

on the safety shot here. A decent target green and brown. He has found

the gap, I feel. Soon, without the availability of the black or the

pink. There is some good cueing needed. Not quite. Decent chance.

Decent half chance. I think Ali Carter has the same problem. He may

be able to. Well, he could. He could have done without the four ball hits

on the red. It was not as straight as he would have liked.

Well, he did not play the pot. He did not play the pot. He really

didn't. It is not about safety but there is

a gap between green ground especially between the red and the

Greens. It is all about is that middle one is pottable. I wonder if

the top one is and he could swing out of that one? The idea is to get

the cueball back to the baulk cushion. He could have really tried

and potted that middle one. He just missed the green. He just select it

back flicked it. -- flicked it. He tries to get it kind. -- behind.

That is cutting in. I think that would have been a good option. I

think, it did cut in but it would not have controlled the cueball as

well. And Ali Carter is just trying to see if he has enough room to

manufacture a safety shot. Especially between the two reds and

the black. He will have to put a bit of right-hand side on this which

will send it towards the black ball. Now look. Yes, look at that

one. They're trying to get that cueball back to baulk. He has good

cueing power. That was a fantastic shot! Did you see how he launched

himself into that shot? Most shot seeking control with keeping his

head as still as possible. However, that one was put to wards the floor

kind of stuff. Yes, pedal to the metal as they say. This looks good.

This looks good. This looks very, very good!

Can he get out of that and keep it safe? Well, John, it is Lines

aplenty. You can always stuck out by saying this is the red he wants to

make contact with. How he gets to it, I do not know? Do you know?

Well, the rest I will leave to him. You have more chance of solving a

Rubik 's cube, then getting good on that one, I think. I mean, every now

and again you think it is worthwhile. When you whack them as

hard as possible. But, you can't even see getting lucky enough to get

out of it. I think he is going for the heat and roll. Wow where has the

cueball gone? Well, he would do well to do that again. Imagine the old

days, it would not have been called a mess. I would like to play this

with back spin. If he hits it with stun on bottom, he might get a bit

more speed on the cue. Wow, what a result. What a result. Nothing easy

with that cueball being in the side cushion. There is a lot of skill in

this game, but sometimes you just have to trust the luck. Alan McManus

is distraught with where that white wall would have ended up. Now he has

a lot of pressure put on him. APPLAUSE Well, he must leave his

disappointment behind him. He just floated it in with complete

nonchalance. That was a great shot. A great shot from Alan McManus. He

did so well to qualify for the Crucible winning three qualifying

matches. It takes some kind of player to be able to do that. It

would be nice to get the black on the spot. The pink is definitely out

of commission, to some degree. You can see that trademark slight lift

of the head here. Just as he starts to deliver the cue.

Well, I wonder if the black is available in that right corner. If

it is he could roll that one in. He could just hit it on the blue. That

does not necessarily mean that the black will go towards the right

corner. He didn't have the best angle to play towards the black.

He will be playing on the black from this one though. He hits it nicely.

It is a confident shot to play for that single red. Especially, if you

know that it is the right one to play. You could play that is done at

the lion of the spots colliding with the second red. -- at the line.

Well, from where he was on the side cushion he has given himself a

chance to produce their deficit to only one frame. 26. This is without

putting the heat on it. Well, you certainly wouldn't bet against it,

which you? He has 54 points in front now. 75 to win. So, red black red

would be just enough. So if he pots this red he goes 63 ahead. This is

with only 59 remaining. Yes, he played a good safety shot

and got the cueball tightly behind the green. Therefore, Ali Carter has

no option but to play the hit and halt. He has taken this well, Alan

McManus. Let us to see if this red goes in. There is no way that Ali

Carter will come back to the table. It is really just a question as to

whether we are going to see the second century break in this match.

57. As long as you have 73 points

carrying on towards the yellow you can make that century. He has been a

little bit ragged today been the first half of this second session,

that this would do a lot for his confidence. Though what a tilt. 77.

Well, that is a pity. No century, at 77 is pretty enough. He has got no

luck and Alan McManus reduces it to just one. There are still seven

trails. I think the story of those first

four breaks is pretty disk jointed. -- disjointed. Ali Carter was

playing not that defensively, but he really wasn't taking many risks.

Nothing really happened. That break by Alan McManus, the most

significant one. He would be feeling quite that after that break. He was

starting to beat himself up out there, and he has hung on in there.

So, I think it will set up quite nicely now. Just two more in the

second session. Will anyone have the lead in the final session, tomorrow?

The first to 13 will be the one who will play in the quarter-final.

Those who are not watching this match last night, John, you

commentated and you said you felt that Ali Carter had a game plan to

take no risks and perhaps get Alan McManus to do less scoring than him.

In open play he would feel that he could outscore Alan McManus. Of

course, we do not know that. Yes, I think he just didn't want to get

chances to Alan McManus. Wow that is a horrific pot! What an excellent

red. It is very difficult to get Thai behind the green with this type

of shot. At least he has covered his path to all the reds. The fact that

there is less nap on the cloth is then they used to be it means that

when the ball is hit each other they are separated more. It is hard to

get a tight roll out on those walks colours. -- baulk colours. One of

the reasons many people save the game is easier these days. The

reason really is because the pack of reds looks like it can open up a

little bit more. He seems a little bit more comfortable. Unless he can

cue past the blue and those two reds together. It is a massive shot of

the spiders to take on. He is using the spider in a very unconventional

way. Obviously, the spider company will not happy with this. What is he

doing there? I don't think we quite know. This is tricky. Marvellous

shot! Well played. Well played indeed. I can only assume the spider

he uses in his club has a year there you can use side on, which is not as

high. I think that Alan McManus was checking to see if he could play it

with his club spider. I can think of no other reason why you would do

that strange thing, just beforehand. Yes, of course we went through at

period where the grooves on the spider was round. When you push the

cues through it would get stuck in and that is why it went towards that

the shape. Not much more accurate with the V. You don't want a

U-shaped bottom at the best of the rest. Maybe he has a different

spider he practices with in his club? Good practice now. Yes, just

coming back from the 77 break. He is just in touch. Earlier on in this

match, in this particular session after three frames he lasted bit,

Alan McManus. He started muttering in the chair, talking to himself. He

would be getting himself under pressure. However, he has really

rectified that. Well, we have some particular pinks in this that could

spark a few that Ali Carter has missed in this match. I think it is

a couple for Alan McManus, especially when he looks like it had

to frame to his mercy. It is hard when he comes to the slate, doesn't

give it a chance. That pink that he missed came in time for the black.

If he is going to miss that Ali Carter is going to concentrate on

blue and other baulk colours. It will be difficult to make a mistake

with only those four balls to go at. It is quite tempting to try and open

that. That, pink and black with a positional shot off of the blue. You

could always do wrong going that way. It is not always easy to see

how he can guarantee getting a frame winning contribution without

resolving that particular situation. APPLAUSE

Well, just Lancing that is the right next to that black? -- just gland --

glancing. You just have to think, where would he like to be? I just

don't know why he played for that one instead of the red near the

black. It would be a fantastic shot in that fractional angle. I think

what he's trying to do, is play a positional play near that side

cushion. There are a few reds on the right-hand side of the table now,

depending on the right-hand side of the blue that he can actually try

for. Let us look at the blue line. He might be able to create a bit of

an angle here and just bounce it in. Superb. That is just superb. He has

the ideal position on the right to just be able to get in those massive

colours. You see that line that we have on the table looked more or

less dead straight. I think it had more of an angle than it was

simulated in the screen. Either way, you can just pot the blue in the

right-hand part of the pocket and create that angle. Yes, I think it

was an excellent shot. Yes, he had the right angle to pot the one and

gets the blue. He still refuses to play for the red above the green and

black. The red above the middle pocket will be his target year to

fit that into open play. It is not so easy with that except Shanshan

one. -- extension on. But, then his group that red into play. He missed

it. He just missed it. -- but can he get that read into

play? -- red. He might just have a slight angle on

the blue. I think he is trying to play the runthrough, play the

cannon. He has got the blue. Has he got the cannon? Wow we will

certainly find out. He just didn't stick to that top cushion a little

more than we would have liked, but it was a great shot. Yes, that is

exactly how he would have played it as well. Tricky with the red near

that top cushion. 19 points to the lead. APPLAUSE He just made light of

it and that is why he is not on the colour. A little bit surprised he

didn't fully commit there. Particularly with those two reds on

the right-hand side of the table. I mean, you play for the brown in the

middle pocket, it seemed like that is how he wanted to play it. I don't

know if he underhit it, he certainly didn't overheat it. -- overhit it.

Bad contact. Took a bit of pace out of the queue ball.

Bad contact. Took a bit of pace out of the queue ball. The cue ball. --

pace out of the cue ball. He has a few options of safety shots here

with a 24-point lead. He needs to force the pace still rather than

contain the situation. APPLAUSE

He did well there. Good 41, particularly where the balls were

situated. CROWD: Awwww!

APPLAUSE Yeah, I was going to say I've heard

of ways of getting the cue ball near the top position but you can't leave

the rest there, Of course, if Ali Carter, who's got

a 24-point advantage, was to win this frame, he couldn't be behind

going into the final session. So Alan McManus has to be very careful

here. If he catches this red too thin, he could run into the red

that's on the right-hand side of the table. It is not straightforward.

And if he catches it too thick, could knock one over the left corner

pocket. So he's got to Well, decided to leave Ali a tester

along the top cushion. And if the black goes into the left

corner, he's sort of got an element of insurance, should he try it along

the top cushion. He can use those three balls to block the red, if it

stays over the pocket, but he's loath to play it. It looks like it's

a natural, really, isn't it? : -- isn't it? Yeah, that's the shot the

play, whichever way you look at it. He won't miss anything should he

miss it. If he gets it, he'll hit the black. But it's not part of the

plan. I'm not too sure what I'm missing here. I don't really

know...I'll bow to his judgment on this, why he doesn't want the play

this along the top cushion and get on that black.

I assume it wept, the black. We had a look at it, didn't we? Yeah, I

think the black went but he just didn't fancy the pot. I'm a bit

worried I can't work that one out. There must be a reason. Well, the

thing is, I mean, and don't get me wrong - I'm not making light of it -

but if Alan McManus can get this cue ball back to where it is now, then,

to me, he'll become the favourite for the frame. There is a red pot to

be potted over the middle pocket. That's why a clever little

containing shot has been played. Now, Ali Carter could industry --

could try and screw in behind pink and black, but it is fraught with

danger. As someone once described to me, snooker is chess with balls - I

think this is a classic example, isn't it? A couple of positive shots

have been played. Only to risk it. I think Alan could play it now though.

Yes. A mathematician once said to me that if that was true, that it's

chess with balls, then that means that chess is snooker without balls,

which was disrespectful to chess, if you understand. OK. Which is a

chance to get behind pink and black. A bit of pressure on it, though.

Perhaps a better shot is just to play into this left corner of the

table. Well, surely, this red doesn't pass

the black, does it? Doesn't cut back into the right corner.

It's a big shot to take on. Is there a risk of an in-off in the middle

pocket? Surely this is a better option he's playing now? He

certainly doesn't want to present an easy opportunity for Alan McManus to

get back into the frame. He struck that well. Yes. Perfect.

The deign we are that shot was either the red or the cue ball to

run into the brown, but hit it just as intended. This is not easy. If he

plays thin off the red, there's a...might be a double-kiss. Don't

know. Perhaps not. Perhaps the red escapes.

But perhaps it doesn't. Did the red go? I don't think so, because Alan

put his hand up and apologised and if the red goes... It flies in. Alan

has apologised for... : -- Alan has apologised for... For nothing. He's

left himself a nice angle on the black, is Ali. When the black goes

in, you go 32 points in front, 51 remaining. He is only looking for a

cover red. So back to two frames in front. I don't think Alan thought

that red went. Well, that was just about as awkward

as it could. The red closest to the cue ball is available to the left

middle but it is not the perfect putting angle. Got to take it on

though. It is a frame-winning opportunity.

Neat position as well, so makes it a bit more difficult. A bit wide.

Well, for all of the swings in this match, Alan McManus has a pretty

decent chance to level the scores. The last time he was level, it was

3-3. Came to the table 32 points behind.

51 remaining. So, basically, he doesn't need particularly high value

colours, but these three remaining reds. But he'll need all the balls,

the red colours and the six remaining colours, to win this

visit. APPLAUSE

Played that nice. His heart would have been in his mouth for a moment.

Looked like he was going to kiss the red but got past it. This red on the

side cushion is far enough away from the cushion that it's quite nice to

get in behind it for the red into the left centre.

I think that's a really bad decision of Alan McManus' to try and shift

that red. Oh, amazing. I mean, as you say, I mean, you had the nice

hand to go up for the blue. To try and bring it into play... I mean, it

wasn't out of play, totally. No. It was sign of perhaps a player lacking

in a little bit of confidence. Arguably, a little bit of

confidence. Well, he is not on the red now. And

he's still 23 points behind. It's a thin cut into the left corner as we

look on our screens. An element of safety, playing it that way, into

the right corner. It is braver. In other respects,

it's betwixt and between and he's lined up for both and he's playing

it safe. Not going to argue with that, not going to argue with that

at all. Plaus... -- APPLAUSE

Yes, but he'll be very disappointed he didn't clinch the frame at that

visit. I think Ali can get in behind this red. With a little bit of

swerve, right-hand side. Though, the danger of this, to try and get right

in behind it, if you misjudge it, you don't want to hit the red on the

way up. You want to hit it on the way back. He could hit the black as

well with the red. No, he's got right

behind it But he's left the chance of a pot. And I think Alan McManus

can put this and get round the back of the green, perhaps for the black.

If anything, he's going to miss this to the left cushion, play a white

wider to guarantee missing the green. He's played it slow. That's

brave. What a great shot! APPLAUSE

Well, that's fully commitment, that was. Does it past the brown? It

does. Still needs this green and the six remaining colours to steal this

frame. And what a big frame it is in the context of the match. This to

draw level. Looks certain to go 2 behind. Ali Carter looks at the

scoreboard. It's fractionally shorter a space on that screwback

and he's left himself a little bit more work to do with this yellow

than he would have wanted rnd pressure. May play it twice across

if he didn't fancy rolling it in. Decides to roll it in. Stupid bounce

off the cushion again, has ruined the position. Absolutely destroyed

things. Potted that perfectly, the pace of this shot was perfect until

it bounced off the cushion. Alan was stopped in his tracks by the bigger

bounce than he should have. He now has an extension on his cue, that

makes this missable. Trying to dolly the red in off one

cushion. Just playing top spin. Nothing wrong with that.

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

I always say that the key to a clearance like this is the position

from brown to blue, particularly as the pink is not on its spot and

close to top cushion. A good angle on this blue now off the brown. It's

not bad. He's showing great character here, Alan McNanus. This

would be a marvellous frame to win and really boost up his chances. It

is all about this pink. It looks to have a nice angle. Doesn't have to

do too much with the cue ball. CROWD: Awwww! They're never easy,

those, believe we. Giving the cushion a gentle rub. But it has

nothing to do with the cushions. You've got to be so accurate. When

you're down actually playing it, you know how accurate you've got to be

and it just puts that little bit of fear in you.

He's had two good chances, Steve, and not taken them. Yes.

Unfortunately, you've got to say that was just tension. You don't aim

for the near jaw. You aim for the far jaw on these tables, and they

gulp the ball in. Pink onto the black. Leave the pink

where the black is, Obviously, the black does go safe to

the side cushion. It's all about pink ball safety.

APPLAUSE Ali Carter with the tang, five

points -- with the advantage, five points in front. He only has to get

the pink. Yes, but that was an excellent safety shot from Alan

McManus, playing the up and down, not to leave it in the corner and

halfway down the side cushion. Made a pretty good fist of that. Alan

McManus still putting his finger along the cushions just disgustd

with the bounce he -- disgusted with the bounce he got. He's tempted to

get this in behind the black but he doesn't know where the pink is going

to go playing it like that. So he just, once against, concentrated on

pink ball safety. APPLAUSE

Now, this is one you've got to be very, very careful with because when

the object ball is so close to the cushion line, this, if you hit it

just slightly thicker than you intend, that pink will come down the

table with the cue ball. You can send it up off two cushions towards

the black, the side cushion on the left-hand side on the table, or he

can play what he's done, which is the full-ball double kiss, which

is... He couldn't have played it any better. He couldn't have had a

better cue ball than that. Yes, seems to be a much-favoured shot,

these days. Yeah, it was always a shot that was on a lot of people

were very reluctant to play it. Got to say, of all of the times that

players are playering that, these days, it seems to come out

advantageous on most occasions. Ali Carter has got a chance to get in

behind the black. Of the... : Having a look at the potter. Yes, he only

needs the pink. Yes. May be worth the risk.

APPLAUSE And he's got it! He played well,

Alan McManus will be ruing those mistakes. He's having a look at the

cushions again. He's not happy with the table. But that won't matter to

Ali Carter. He has a 2-frame advantage and cannot be behind at

the end of this session now. He leads 8-6.

Alan McManus can choose a couple of safety shots. A cue ball to the

black cushion is probably the one with less danger.

Ali Carter has got a red to the left middle, similar to Alan McManus'.

A bit thin. Couldn't control the cue ball, so keeping it tite again,

John? .. ... So keeping it tight again, John? Yes, very important

frames now. Ali Carter will be thinking if he can win the next two

with a 4-frame advantage going into the final session tomorrow.

Break-off shot by Alan McManus. Reds over both corners. Got a good cue

ball though, which helps slightly. Yes, he had to risk not knowing

where the reds were going. He's blocked off the easier of the

two from a positional perspective. So Ali Carter, even if he does pot

this, can't guarantee going on a colour.

That's all he could do. The most important part of that shot, of

course, was to pot the red. And tucked under the bulk cushion as he

was, had to get the pot due care and attention. Any colour he could pot

would be the yellow. And if he could his hand on the table, not be

hampered, he may consider taking it on but he can't, so just a safety

shot. (APPLAUSE) Delicate path to the red over the

right corner. There is a couple of gaps here as well but he is playing

into this corner which is lined up with the blue. Has he hit it hard

enough? It is short of pace. I've watched his body language, Steve. I

think he's left it. Well, Alan McManus, if he can pot this properly

in the right part of the pocket, can get out for the pink at the very

least. APPLAUSE

Yeah, when you said 'the pink at the very least', I agree with you. With

the blue OK, not the right angle, but shouldn't be a problem to get in

between the, well, yellow and Brown you would have thought --brown you

would have thought. Coming in a straight line down, needs to slow

up. It's OK. Red to the right corner.

Missed a few good opportunities in the last frame, did Alan. He needs

to make the most of this one. This keeps him in close contact with

Ali Carter. A good chance here to reduce his

arrears to just one frame again. He obviously doesn't like it. The

face of it doesn't look too bad. I mean, OK, if you don't want to be so

precise to play screwback for the pink then screw back for the blue. I

think he's got to play the screwback. Just get it out to open

play. He was looking at a run-through, which could have gone

wrong. He took a long time to work out what looked like a relatively

certain shot. But these are big moments for Alan McManus. He just

has to steady himself. He has a great chance for 7-8. If he could

get out of jail in this session and go 8-8, that would be amazing,

wouldn't it? He hasn't looked the better player, that's for certain.

No, it would be a real boost. Of course, once he gets to that final

session and the pressure's really on, anything can happen - as we see

so many times. It's fair to say that Ali Carter has

not been scintillating himself. It's been a tough session for both

players. Considering the way they played in

their opening matches in this event, Ali Carter a brilliant match against

Stuart Bingham to knock out the defendering -- defending champion.

But neither player has got motoring in this match. Certainly not in this

session. No, there have been chances gone begging for both players, a few

steals. This match will be played to a finish, starting at 10 o'clock in

the morning. He has just overrun that slightly. I

don't see how he can guarantee position on a particular red. If he

plays a cannon, you think he'd be unlucky to land on one. I think he

can just about void. Yeah, just about. Back in prime position

though. I say 'prime position', it would have been nicer to have played

for the pink, perhaps, but he's going to make sure he get it is

screw back on, get on the right side of the blue, which is very nicely

done. Screwback for the red into the left corner.

Opens up the two reds into the right corner. So, getting ever closer to

the finishing line. Leaves three reds in open play.

Got to kick, make the red along the top cushion a little bit more

difficult. Ideally, he could have, perhaps, left that for a bit later,

but he couldn't have counted for the kick. So, a bit of care. In it goes.

APPLAUSE He certainly didn't want to be

straight on this. This pink will put him 57 points in front. Still 67

remaining. So he needs a red and a colour after this. Trying to force

it in. Now he's got the red to the middle. 57 ahead, 67 remaining. As

soon as he pots the red, it will only be 59 remaining, so just a red

and a colour required. APPLAUSE

He's hanging on in there! APPLAUSE

This contribution made possible by the careless, you'd have to say,

safety shot from Ali Carter when he needed to get the cue ball in the

jaws of the pocket to cover the red on the opposite corner. Just under

hit it. And at this level, just an inch or two short and it can be your

last shot. Here's an example. CROWD: Awwww! Pity. Thought we might

have seen a century, but that'll be enough. Ali Carter will concede. So

Alan McManus hanging on in there. There'll be another frame in this

second session. Will it be a 2-2 -- 2-0 advantage or will it be all

square? The next frame will tell us. Good break-off shot it is. I think

of the two players, if it did finish up 8 apiece, Ali Carter will be the

most disappointed. He played well last night in the first session.

He's not reached those heights today.

This red is on for Ali to the left middle. It looks, just looking at

the potting angle, it may just be colliding with the main bunch of

reds. But that might not be a harm, as long as he catches them a

glancing blow. He's on the pink, I think, just.

APPLAUSE Oooh, he keeps missing those pinks

in the middle. OFFICIAL: Ali Carter, 1. He missed

one last night when he was certain to be going in front. One this

afternoon. APPLAUSE

Easier than that, actually. CROWD: Oooh!

APPLAUSE A little bit of noise coming from

the other side of the arena. So Alan, being the experienced

competitor he is, just getting up and giving time for it to settle

down. The advantage of playing this red,

you bring the other reds into play, a few other reds. He's just

over-stretching slightly. That's why he's refused it. Well, want it is

middle pocket here. OFFICIAL: 12. OK. Well, he didn't

like it but, perhaps, if he had have got his extension out and played

that shot, he would have opened up the reds up, which is, to be quite

honest, pretty important. He may not get a better chance to get the reds

open. Now he's got to play an excellent shot to get back on the

blue. OK, he's still going but if he'd

have played that shot on the red, as you said, John, I know it was

stretching a bit but he could have done some damage to the reds and

that would have been far more assured from a positional

perspective. Now, this blue in and out of baulk to get on a pretty

tight red into the left corner is not easy, whichever one he goes for.

I'm just thinking whether he could play it firm and come off two

cushions and try and open up that cluster of reds. There's a big

target. Well, he's tried it but he didn't

have enough side on the cue ball. Official 23. --

OFFICIAL: 23. Well, that pink going over the pocket, is a bit of a

nightmare scenario. OFFICIAL: Alan McManus, 23.

APPLAUSE All things considered, that was a

pretty good safety shot. Not got the best length but he was in a spot of

bother there. If Alan decides to play this red to

the right of the black, that will bring the black into play but he's

hit it too thick. Now, is the black going to help him in but, there

another red available to the left corner. A big shot. A big moment in

the match, this, for me. A big misjudgment by Alan McManus.

You can see him in his chair there, steaming.

Doesn't want to look. Doesn't have to do anything with the cue ball. If

he pots it, he'll be on the pink. APPLAUSE

Well played! That's a fully commit, and that's exactly what he did. Now,

he's been given a chance here, Ali Carter, to take a 2-frame advantage

into the final session tomorrow morning.

I'm little bit surprised he's left this much potting angle on the red.

I would have thought you'd play that red to hold for the blue. Yes,

obviously he's got both colours and he has a nice screw across the face

of the red for the blue into the right corner. Judged very nicely.

It's all about opening the pack up, it would appear.

OFFICIAL: 18. Yeah, you'd like to do it off the next black. Yes, and

screw walk -- screw back across the face of the reds. So, low on the

back. Kick, and he's also gone high on the black.

OFFICIAL: 19. Yes, for me now, he'll just have to play for the red that's

next to the black. He could run into the red but he's not certain to be

on anything. Certainly, won't be on the one loose red. No, he's decided

to play the pink. This way he'll guarantee being in a nice position

on the red. But imperative now, he gets a good angle on the colour, to

disturb that cluster of five. OFFICIAL: 25. Surely he habit got

the angle -- surely, he hasn't got the angle to pot the red and screw

across the face of the reds for the black on this one? This would be a

very advanced shot, should he play this. A great way of opening the

pack up. Oh, and he didn't hit it right. Oh, the anger!

OFFICIAL: 26. Oh... Well, as you said at the time, it was an advanced

way to play. For me, I wouldn't...I couldn't dream of playing it like

that. Not unless I was absolutely certain. I think I he was. He just

didn't hit it right. He got a bit too much angle on the

pot. Perhaps if he could have potted it into the right-hand side of the

pocket a bit more and he could have afforded a bit of leeway, he would

have straightened the cue ball up, got more screw back on, screwed

across the face of the pack. But it is a lifeline for Alan McManus. He

must have been fearing the worst. What's the colour? He said, "Hang on

a minute." He's not decided. Green. Green he's nominated. Is it a

one-cushion escape. Needs to hit it. Nope. Guess it will be called a

miss. OFFICIAL: Foul and a miss. Ali

Carter 26, Alan McManus 4. I'm not digging our referee Terry out there

- I suppose I am... Go on, dig him out. I'm not too sure he should ask

whether what colour he is playing. If Ali Carter wants to nominate a

shot without nominating a colour, it's a fall, 7 points away. No

comment but I think they've always said if they're not certain, please

nominate. Perhaps I'm speaking out of turn here but it is up to Ali to

nominate, surely. Yes, but Ali would have nominated if he'd given a

chance to. I don't know the rules, and I should, because I'll on the

rules committee I was going to say, I thought you made the

rules LAUGHS No, no. Green again. Nope. The

problem is, because he's striking down, it's difficult to get the

amount of side-on he needs. It would be easiest to hit the black

but he knows, if he hits the black, there's every likelihood he'll use

the right to the left middle. I think the referee is the sole

arbiter of play and if he wants to find out, it's down to him to ask.

So it's not a problem, I think on reflection. Great shot!

APPLAUSE Yes, hit it this time. Ali, who got

himself into a bit of a lead, giving those foul shots away, is now 4

points behind in a very vital frame for both players. This is the type

of safety shot that Alan has not been hitting

He's either hit them too thin or too thick. So he's playing this one,

just playing the containing safety, it appears. Didn't want to risk

trying to play the orthodox back to box safety. He could have played the

long, deep, screwback but it is not necessarily a shot that Alan McManus

favours. I think a Judd Trump would have not thought twice about that. I

think Ali Carter would have considered it as well. No slouch in

that department. Didn't want to collide with the brown. Free shot,

perhaps, for Alan McManus, free try, a red in the middle pocket with an

element of safety. Or Does he just play the committed

safety shot? Well, to me, he's got to play the pot. The only one he can

really leave is the one he's maying. If he's striking down like this,

he's not playing the pot. He's playing the safety.

Was it worth a try in the middle? Don't know, it's hard to see the

angle from here. It might have been a bit dts -- bit...I don't know.

We've said once or twice this afternoon, Steve, there's been one

or two strange shot selections. Yes, but the shot selections could have

been traing -- strange from the commentary box, as well. You never

know. But the thing is when you're actually down on the table behind

the shot... Yes, you can see it. Only really you really know. Yeah.

But there have been few... Yes, a few positional shots refused. That's

what we're here for though. Alan McManus has a little problem in as

much as when he does play this red onto the black, he's not absolutely

sure where that second red is going to end up. But he's got a very nice

line behind yellow, brown and blue. APPLAUSE

Well, terrific length to the cue ball.

The only thing, and as good a safety shot as that was, I don't see a

safety shot for Ali Carter. So he may decide to take this pot on. And

if it goes in, it could set-up a frame-winning chance. I don't see a

safety. So if you don't see a safety, you may as well go for the

pot. No, it was tough, but there was no

return to baulk, so the opportunity now for Alan McManus. This red will

pass the black. Don't play Ali for taking that on.

Yes, such a tough shot. But as I was saying, no other shot that was on.

Ooh, well, and is it...well, is it covered in I'm looking to see if

Alan is going to think of apologising to Ali. He shook his

head a few times. Well, Alan gave it a good look. Ali Carter, not even

bothered. Well, not the most telling safety

shot from Ali, but he's not left the pot on and that was his main

concern. Super shot.

APPLAUSE It looked tight, didn't it? Played

it well. A chance to take a 2-frame advantage

into the final session tomorrow now. He's got the angle. Might be tempted

to go into the reds here. APPLAUSE

He'd want to be on the red that's jest to the left of the pink. Is he?

Does it past the pink? Just. Tite. -- tight.

So now that pink's gone in, he's got an 11-point lead. The three

remaining reds with colours more than enough to have an overnight

lead of two frames. Every chance if that being the case,

hasn't got to really do too much with the cue ball.

It looks for all money now that Alan is going to be two frames behind at

the end of this second session. He'd be thinking it could have been

all-square. He certainly had chances, Steve?

REFEREE: 27. Yeah, I think he's ruing a few things there. I think,

on reflection, on the day I don't think he's played well enough to

have won the session 5-3, which would have been the case if he had

drawn level. REFEREE: 28. Looks like 4-4 for the

session and nobody has really dominated, is a fair reflection.

Playing for the blue, but the brown will do. I mean, the brown will put

him 28 points in front with 27 left. And off the brown, he can bet

position on the yellow. He is not guaranteed position on the yellow

off the blue, but he thinks the blue is unmisable. Arghhh! Oh! He got a

kick and missed the blue. Mind you, it was dead-straight, more or less.

Wow! REFEREE: Ali Carter 28. I mean, it

wasn't dead, dead-straight. But a big gasp from Ali Carter. How on

earth could that...from the more or less dead-straight shot, kick that

much to go to that far jaw? Amazing. Usually, it's on more of an angled

pot. I think it wasn't quite straight. No, no, it wasn't

dead-straight, no, but obviously where the cue ball was widened the

angle. Can Alan McManus get past? He's had to play the safety shot...

He could but he'd have the play safe. I tell you what, he'd just be

pleased he's still in this frame. 27 points behind. 24 remaining. This

would be a body blow to Ali Carter. He has regroup, Ali Carter. There is

a possibility of a sneaky blue to blue side-to-side shot.

Sent the cue ball towards the blue and the yellow up the side cushion.

Perhaps a better choice. Alan McManus should be able to get

round the back of the black here, get this yellow ball nailed on the

bottom cushion. A bit close to the yellow pocket but far enough away to

be no problem. And Ali Carter has just got to try and send this yellow

up towards the black area. A bit wide. Is it going to bounce

off this cushion enough that it gaves Alan McManus a chance? Ooh.

He's coming round to have a look at the potting angle. It's very thin.

If he played it with right-hand spin, he could widen the line and

guarantee to be on the green. That's too thin. Funnily enough, he

overcut it by so far he got it safe. Yeah. Advantage Ali Carter in the

tactical department now. He's got first crack at a good safety shot.

The only thing that Ali will be concerned, though, I think, if he's

stun the yellow up and down the table, he doesn't want that yellow

to run into the blue and bring the blue away from the cushion. I think

it's worthwhile trying to play the perfect, thin cut in behind yellow

and...in behind pink and black here. It is not the type of shots the

players like to. When he's not playing it, he's going to somehow

get it in behind thek black, although that's going to be

difficult, I feel. Has to be care wfl the -- careful with the pace of

the yellow here. Not over the middle. Oh, no. It's just gone far

enough as it's nowhere near as easy as it looks on our screen. But you

can see it. It was straight enough that he can't pot the yellow and get

position on the green. He held the cue ball perfectly. But he did have

to hit the yellow a bit too hard. The safety shot from behind the blue

from Alan McManus here, I think. No. Quite a way out. Of course, now that

he's nudged the blue, he has knocked the blue into a more favourable

position, but Ali just needs the yellow. Oh, not a great shot from

Ali Carter there. Jabbed a bit at because of awkward bridging.

I think Alan McManus felt as if he played that yellow in and it rolled

off a bit. APPLAUSE

Perhaps a few fingermarks on the cloth at this late stage of the

session. Now, we were talking about this

shot, the double-kiss, John, it's arguably the shot to play, but not

if the cue ball is jammed up against the top cushion. Mmm. Because you've

got to guarantee hitting it very straight. Yes, you've got to hit the

yellow full in the face. Otherwise, you get nothing. When you're tight,

as you say, against the cushion, it is very hard to be that accurate. If

he had his hand on the tail, I would agree -- table, I would agree. This

is a horrible shot. He could get a bit fortunate and get

a safety shot but I'd say it's 50-50 whether he can guarantee safety

here. He's played the double-kiss...no, he didn't

actually. He's played a great shot. He's played an excellent shot. What

a fantastic shot that was. I think he's just left the edge of the

yellow sticking out but considering the trouble he was in, a good

safety. Oh, great try.

APPLAUSE . I think he'll feel relieved he hit

it. LAUGHS

He wasn't far enough getting the perfect safety shot there. Not an

easy one for Alan McManus to guarantee getting safe as well. I'd

say it's nigh impossible to get a snooker from here. He might be

forced to drive the yellow to the left side cushion, but looks like

he's playing to the right-side cushion. Could get behind the blue,

I suppose. He's hit it well. He's hit it very well. And that green is

going to make it slightly awkward cueing for Ali.

APPLAUSE A big frame and a big moment in the

match. A big difference between 9-7 and 8-8. Ali Carter's favourite in

as much as blue to pink is not easy. So whilst the blue is pottable, it

might take Alan McManus two goes to get all the balls down.

It's not exactly a yellow ball game because of that blue. He is 24

points in front, is Ali. He needs the yellow. He's having a good look

at this. Do you think he's considering playing the pot? He's

gone against the type of shots he's been playing again. But does he

think it's more tough to play the safety? I think he can go round the

back of the black. That's what he's doing, going round the black of the

black. Could be tempted, I suppose, to play the yellow. He'd be

delighted with the outcome. APPLAUSE

A little tap on the table from Alan McManus there. He's still very much

in this frame. Trying to get down behind the blue has its own danger.

There's a pocket down there as well. Yeah, and if it goes in, he'll go 28

points behind with 27 remaining. Got to be wary of that. Called it thick.

Got a bit of a kick, but he did catch it thick, and here's the

chance for Ali Carter. A shot to nothing as well.

It's there! APPLAUSE

It's there! And Ali Carter will be mightily relieved. So when he potted

the final red and was nicely on the blue or just to roll the blue in to

clinch the frame and missed it, you thought, "What's going to happen

next?" But after a decent bout of safety, it looks like Ali Carter is

going to retain that two-frame advantage that he came into this

session with for the final session tomorrow. Definitely now!

APPLAUSE Alan McManus is not going to bother

playing the blue. Well, it wasn't high quality but as we always get at

the Crucible Theatre, it was high drama. Both players don't look happy

but Ali Carter should be the happier of the two. He leads at the end of

the second session 9 frames to 7. So it is advantage Ali Carter going

into the third and final session. That is it from us but we're back at

10 o'clock with more live coverage of the Snooker Championship. We

shall see you then. Good night. Captions by

Ericsson Access Services.