:00:33. > :00:41.good evening and welcome to snooker extra, extended highlights of Day
:00:42. > :00:45.four of the 20 17th that Fred worlds in the championship. Our feature
:00:46. > :00:50.titan I'd is the second session of the match between John Higgins and
:00:51. > :00:57.Martin Gould. Higgins opened up the 7-2 lead overnight and was three
:00:58. > :00:58.frames away from bugging his place in the last 16. Your commentators,
:00:59. > :01:18.John Parrott and John Virgo. COMMENTATOR: Martin Gould gets this
:01:19. > :01:25.second session underway. Five frame deficit against someone like John
:01:26. > :01:32.Higgins, is going to be hard to pull back, JP? Yes. You would think so,
:01:33. > :01:38.John. One of the best match players, the game has ever seen. And he is
:01:39. > :01:45.approaching 42 years of age. All his sniggering faculties are still
:01:46. > :01:55.there, great break-builder. His long game has got better. He has found
:01:56. > :02:05.something. And he never gives you anything easy, John Higgins. You
:02:06. > :02:09.have got to earn your corn. There has only been one century break in
:02:10. > :02:15.this match. The average shot time, 23 seconds. 28 for Martin, but when
:02:16. > :02:22.you are behind you have to do a lot of thinking time. One century, that
:02:23. > :02:30.was made by Martin. He could do with a couple of them early on this
:02:31. > :02:37.morning. To try and get some kind of foothold in the match. He is playing
:02:38. > :02:43.somebody who has been there, got the T-shirt for times. Recognised by all
:02:44. > :02:57.as the best match player we have ever seen.
:02:58. > :03:04.He mentioned about the time it has taken Martin, 28 seconds, but you do
:03:05. > :03:09.tend to think a lot more when you are stuck in the baulk area. It is
:03:10. > :04:05.certainly not straightforward. This is an example.
:04:06. > :04:22.Clever. Normally, a player would try and... Little shake of the head.
:04:23. > :04:29.Just an inch short. As I looked over at John Higgins, I saw a slight
:04:30. > :04:36.grimace. So even 7-2 in front, he still disappointed if he doesn't get
:04:37. > :04:41.it inch perfect. Yes, he will be concentrating like mad in this first
:04:42. > :04:47.frame, just to dampen any fire Martin Gould has left in him to go
:04:48. > :04:50.AT two. It starts to look totally forlorn for Martin. This is a
:04:51. > :04:57.massive frame, John Higgins knows that. All that experience of being a
:04:58. > :05:15.matchplay. Don't give your opponent any encouragement.
:05:16. > :05:24.Whilst there is a safety exchange going on, congratulations, you told
:05:25. > :05:38.me the Grand National winner, eight months ago. Well done to you. Well
:05:39. > :05:46.done to One For Arthur. Second Scottish winner of the National. And
:05:47. > :05:47.didn't he win? Could be a Scottish double. John Higgins for the World
:05:48. > :06:09.Championship. Yes. Towards the corner. Now he needs the
:06:10. > :06:12.green to come to his rescue. It hasn't. The only thing you would
:06:13. > :06:25.say, he has a pretty good length of the cue ball. If you play this at
:06:26. > :06:33.pace, chance of potting it. John just puts a damper cloth on the cue,
:06:34. > :06:38.to get rid of any stickiness. This is a horrible shot he has been left
:06:39. > :06:44.with. The angle is all wrong for what he needs. Can't see how he can
:06:45. > :06:55.avoid a cannon here, if he knocks this in. He will do well to avoid
:06:56. > :07:02.one. Wow! That is amazing. Where did that gap come from? Good pot.
:07:03. > :07:14.Amazing, this game. How did he get through there. And it swerved twice.
:07:15. > :07:24.He is just going to try and nestle behind the green. Making sure he
:07:25. > :07:31.gets a good cue ball. Just overhit it slightly. He should have stopped
:07:32. > :07:57.this escape route down the left-hand side of the table, as we look.
:07:58. > :08:08.That is a better safety shot from John. Just shows you the standard of
:08:09. > :08:13.his safety play. No shots wasted with John Higgins. You get some
:08:14. > :08:16.players and they are still playing on the circuit thinking putting the
:08:17. > :08:21.cue ball in the baulk area is enough. He is always trying to put
:08:22. > :08:23.you in a position to force a mistake. There is a difference in
:08:24. > :08:40.that. And there is the mistake. Yes,
:08:41. > :09:26.kissing the blue. Left the cue ball this side of the baulk line.
:09:27. > :09:34.He can play the yellow, but I think he would like the blue back on its
:09:35. > :09:45.spot. Bit more work to do with the cue ball. Couldn't avoid the green.
:09:46. > :09:53.I don't think he will be getting many more.
:09:54. > :10:01.OK, it could be made. But his main concern will be getting that cue
:10:02. > :10:46.ball back to the baulk at end. This is a difficult plant.
:10:47. > :11:23.Excellent. Perfect length. Well played.
:11:24. > :11:28.Looks like he is playing the push up and down, trying to lead the cue
:11:29. > :11:40.ball behind the red on the top cushion. Tried to get it tight, but
:11:41. > :11:47.there may be a me the pink that goes. But that would top-class
:11:48. > :11:53.cueing. I suppose at 7-2 down, you might be tempted? There is one thing
:11:54. > :12:04.clear in your mind when you are this far behind, you have got to come out
:12:05. > :12:09.and play well. Close. I think sometimes you have got to give
:12:10. > :12:14.yourself a chance to play well. Just by refusing things and playing
:12:15. > :12:19.negative, I don't think you can get back into a match with such a
:12:20. > :12:26.deficit. He knows what he's got to do, Martin. That was a tough pot,
:12:27. > :12:32.but he took it on. He didn't leave anything. There will be read over
:12:33. > :12:38.the corner here, can he get through to it? The brown may have covered
:12:39. > :12:43.it, but a little swerve, the cushion first would pot it. The only thing
:12:44. > :12:54.is, he won't be certain where the cue ball is going to finish. He will
:12:55. > :13:00.need a bit of luck for position. Quite a decent swerve. Nearly three
:13:01. > :13:05.quarters of the ball covered. Got to get it right. The main priority, as
:13:06. > :13:16.ever, pot the ball. Don't get position, just play a good safety.
:13:17. > :13:24.But, knock it in. Well done. And I'd tell you what, he will settle for
:13:25. > :13:34.that. That is a bonus. Little help from his opponent to reduce this
:13:35. > :13:40.deficit. He has got a good chance to build up a useful lead.
:13:41. > :13:44.Frame-winning opportunity. Tough call, but just concentrate and try
:13:45. > :14:06.and get as many points in front as you can.
:14:07. > :14:12.Good, clean pot but I don't think if he has got enough out of the cue
:14:13. > :14:20.ball to get the right side of the blue. There we go. Just likely. Just
:14:21. > :14:25.a run through for the red on the right-hand side now. If the pink
:14:26. > :14:26.parts in the left-hand pocket as we are looking at the screen, that
:14:27. > :14:47.would be ideal. -- pots. It obviously does with that
:14:48. > :14:55.positional shots. Nice chance. Good signs. Struck that one beautifully
:14:56. > :15:06.right in the heart of the pocket. Didn't look like touching the sides.
:15:07. > :15:17.We were commentating together on the Gary Wilson much. He is another one
:15:18. > :15:25.who is predominantly left side. I know he has had one that is stronger
:15:26. > :15:30.than the other. Always amazes me there with his glasses. It is as
:15:31. > :15:34.though he looks over the top of them. When you look at the troubled
:15:35. > :15:42.Dennis Taylor had getting the correct pair of glasses he could
:15:43. > :15:44.play in. Martin wears glasses and looks like he is looking over the
:15:45. > :16:03.top of them. Don't tell me he's looking through
:16:04. > :16:07.the glass there. But it works for him and he has become one of the
:16:08. > :16:16.most dangerous players on the circuit. Vastly underrated. If those
:16:17. > :16:32.glasses are working, John, get me a pair.
:16:33. > :16:40.He has decided to play for the black. Not sure where the black will
:16:41. > :16:44.go after it is parted. The green spot is available. It is one of
:16:45. > :16:48.those situations, OK, you would love to win the frame at this visit, but
:16:49. > :16:58.don't miss anything easy and get what you can. Well, he has played
:16:59. > :17:00.that absolutely superb. I don't think the black will be available
:17:01. > :17:05.when it goes on its spot, but he couldn't have hit that any better.
:17:06. > :17:10.Look at the top spin. Shot of the morning that one. Hasn't been many
:17:11. > :17:13.shots this morning, but that's the best one. Can't wait for the next
:17:14. > :17:27.one. I said when he first came to the
:17:28. > :17:32.table, it was going to be a tough call for him to win the frame at
:17:33. > :17:42.this visit. It is looking likely now, just the start he was looking
:17:43. > :17:47.for. Couldn't agree with you more. This has been a fabulous break. Like
:17:48. > :17:51.you, I look at the table and thought, OK, there is a few reds
:17:52. > :17:56.available but that shot on the black was excellent. There is a crispness
:17:57. > :18:01.about the strike this morning from Martin Gould. Hitting the ball very
:18:02. > :18:07.well. Lots of authority. Certainly better than yesterday. He got off to
:18:08. > :18:11.a poor start, 5-0 down. He was a little bit at sea. But already this
:18:12. > :18:39.morning, the cueing looks a lot more assured.
:18:40. > :18:48.Red and colour, as soon as he plots this thread, there will be the red.
:18:49. > :18:56.There will only be 51 remaining. This thread, he will be 59 points in
:18:57. > :19:04.front. We'll be into the two snooker required stage. If he was to make
:19:05. > :19:12.this, it would be special. Terrific break, this. And just the start he
:19:13. > :19:41.was looking for. We could see his second century of
:19:42. > :19:51.the match. Little bit of a gap. Maybe able to drop it in.
:19:52. > :20:09.He couldn't do much with the positional side of the shot.
:20:10. > :20:19.Good pot. Nice kiss on the brown. It's not a bad one. Thing is,
:20:20. > :20:24.everything has gone right in the middle of the pocket, nothing sloppy
:20:25. > :20:32.about it. As a player, you always feel good when you find the middle
:20:33. > :20:37.of the pocket. And even as mentioning it, cannot stop them. He
:20:38. > :20:41.is in fine Vettel. Overrun a little bit. Little bit of work to do with
:20:42. > :21:11.the cue ball here. -- fine Vettel. We've already had 18 century breaks
:21:12. > :21:18.in the championship so far. This brown for 19, John and is not been
:21:19. > :21:22.any better than this. I haven't seen many centuries better than this.
:21:23. > :21:30.When he came to the table, it didn't look like he was going to clear up.
:21:31. > :21:51.Excellent. Well played, Martin Gould. Very well played.
:21:52. > :21:59.He just lost his concentration, probably thinking about the next
:22:00. > :22:07.frame. John Higgins, didn't do a lot wrong. Martin Gould, sensational
:22:08. > :22:37.century break, has reduced his arrears now the four.
:22:38. > :22:47.That looks to fix. Always a danger. Leave one of these mid-range pots.
:22:48. > :23:06.Players of this class with a hand on the table.
:23:07. > :23:38.Had an excellent start to the season, John. Won three events at
:23:39. > :23:45.the beginning of it and was in superb form. Still been playing
:23:46. > :23:48.well, obviously. You can lose the final frame deciders, anyone can
:23:49. > :23:56.lose those. His game has still been all right. When he has time to have
:23:57. > :24:00.good preparation, but the hours in in Scotland. Turns appear with these
:24:01. > :24:05.long matches, that is what suits him best. He can win those tournaments
:24:06. > :24:11.that are best of seven, best of night, but John Higgins' game is
:24:12. > :24:16.suited to the longer format. When he came in, there was a couple of
:24:17. > :24:20.quotes saying how well he has been playing, which is unusual, he
:24:21. > :24:21.normally keeps it to himself. So when John says he is playing well,
:24:22. > :24:37.you have to take notice. Got into that. I thought he would
:24:38. > :24:40.have stunned of the cushion. I am certain that was the idea. Got into
:24:41. > :24:49.it too much and didn't bounce it off the cushion. Tricky blue, this. He
:24:50. > :24:58.is playing it pretty quick, but it is difficult, this. I was amazed he
:24:59. > :25:02.got down and played it so quickly. You were right, it was very acute,
:25:03. > :25:07.that angle. Always horrible, chewing across. You have to make sure you
:25:08. > :25:13.are in the middle of the white. He has overcooked it. But it was the
:25:14. > :25:15.shot before. Maybe he wanted to play the screw shot onto the cushion but
:25:16. > :25:41.got into the white too much. Another example of excellent cueing
:25:42. > :25:46.and to pot that is tough enough and to flick the red out as well, very
:25:47. > :25:51.good. I think he might be struggling for another read. There is one goes
:25:52. > :25:55.there, you can see but he has two pot this and screw back off the
:25:56. > :26:07.cushion and this requires excellent cueing, to find the gap.
:26:08. > :26:14.That was a classical example of not hitting the centre of the cue ball.
:26:15. > :26:19.Mishap some unintentional side. Particularly when you are striking
:26:20. > :26:23.now and it has pushed the cue ball into the black, hitting it much too
:26:24. > :26:40.thick. He was a little unlucky to come that close to the cushion.
:26:41. > :26:49.This will be testing his eyesight, we mentioned before, John. If he has
:26:50. > :26:54.the right hand side of this pack to clip off, you have got to get these
:26:55. > :26:55.mighty thin. Anything thick he is going to contact the jaws of the
:26:56. > :27:13.pocket. He will settle for that. Not quite
:27:14. > :27:17.how he played it. But where it has finished is not too bad. In fact,
:27:18. > :27:18.where it has finished, the blue is blocking the left-hand side of the
:27:19. > :27:57.table of John Higgins. Can he get through to this red? He
:27:58. > :28:03.may be able to bend it with a trace of right-hand side. Another role, we
:28:04. > :28:04.say it is all about fractions, another role and he could have
:28:05. > :28:30.plotted this red comfortably. Well! What that was. -- pot.
:28:31. > :28:35.Absolutely stunning. I thought he was taking that read on, because he
:28:36. > :28:39.obviously looked at the safety shot and thought, whatever I play safe
:28:40. > :28:45.here, I might be sticking a read up, so decided to attack. The way he is
:28:46. > :29:04.hitting this morning, why not? Once again, beautifully cued.
:29:05. > :29:32.You just concentrate on the blue. He would love the black back on its
:29:33. > :29:37.spot, but I wouldn't sacrifice your position for that. Just overscrewed
:29:38. > :29:42.that slightly. He can still cut the blue in and play a little cannon. I
:29:43. > :29:46.wonder if he will do that? If he takes the chance, he could bring the
:29:47. > :29:51.pink into play and maybe promote the reds. Where he's finished, he may
:29:52. > :29:53.have to play the cannon now anyway. Just needs a little bit of luck
:29:54. > :30:13.here. He didn't bring the pink into play.
:30:14. > :30:17.That would have been a bonus. He is on a red so the break will keep
:30:18. > :30:22.going. He knocked a couple of read out into better positions. As long
:30:23. > :30:28.as he can keep getting the right side of the blue, which he hasn't on
:30:29. > :30:34.that one. He should be able to score a few. They always say if you are
:30:35. > :30:41.going to be the wrong side of the blue, be the well wrong side of the
:30:42. > :30:43.blue, which he is. No problem there. Didn't have the yellow to avoid.
:30:44. > :30:59.Made it a little bit easier. Just a 17 point lead. It's not a
:31:00. > :31:08.straightforward run to the line but we saw in the last frame how well
:31:09. > :31:16.he's potting. Needs to be right side of the blue this time. Just got
:31:17. > :31:21.there. Just got there. The right side of the blue, in this case, is
:31:22. > :31:44.the left side of the blue line. There is the side bar. 60 points the
:31:45. > :31:48.target. Basically, he's looking for another 29 points from this
:31:49. > :31:52.situation. Only two reds available at the moment. Not an easy 29 points
:31:53. > :32:02.to get. Not the right side of the blue this
:32:03. > :32:25.time. Will stun in between the green and
:32:26. > :32:31.brown here. He's striking the ball well this morning, John. Yes.
:32:32. > :32:35.There's a sound to it. You can tell when someone is hitting the ball
:32:36. > :32:39.with great authority, because the back of the pockets make a sound.
:32:40. > :32:44.He's not hitting any jaws, everything is pretty clean. This has
:32:45. > :32:50.been a tough break so far. Got to keep that consideration level up.
:32:51. > :32:56.Which can be difficult when there is more travel in the cue ball. That's
:32:57. > :33:12.another terrific shot. Hmmm, well, that's unlikely. Worst
:33:13. > :33:19.way, you would think he would be on yellow. I think he could pot this
:33:20. > :33:27.black. Or it is an easy snooker. Go for the easy snooker. He got a 30
:33:28. > :33:29.point lead and John Higgins will be doing well to hit a red here and not
:33:30. > :34:07.leave anything on. REFEREE: Foul and a miss, Martin
:34:08. > :34:14.Gould four. Decision time here, John. Would you take the miss? No, I
:34:15. > :34:18.would play the pot. I tell you why. You can play it claim ball. Well,
:34:19. > :34:25.I'm surprised at that. He's got a yellow over the corner pocket. If
:34:26. > :34:28.John Higgins plays this properly, and there's every chance he will,
:34:29. > :34:32.there's every chance he will be getting nothing. I would have been
:34:33. > :34:38.taking that one. That's what he's attempting to do, get that side.
:34:39. > :34:46.Well, this looks nice, this looks nice! Well, he didn't hit it off the
:34:47. > :34:51.back addition, but he hit it. As John said, probably now the wrong
:34:52. > :34:55.decision from Martin to have it put back. Well, definitely the wrong
:34:56. > :34:59.decision. Any time you are given a free shot to nothing like that, and
:35:00. > :35:04.the way he has ported this morning, you would fancy him to knock in that
:35:05. > :35:08.red five times -- nine times out of ten will stop the yellow was over
:35:09. > :35:14.the pocket, no position required, you are guaranteed to be on a ball.
:35:15. > :35:17.Of course, we'd played in an era where the miss rule wasn't as
:35:18. > :35:24.prevalent as it is now, and I think some players think, I've got him in
:35:25. > :35:28.a snooker now, I could get 20 points out of this snooker. The wrong way
:35:29. > :35:32.to think. I see that a lot now, particularly when there are a couple
:35:33. > :35:36.of reds left on the table. They think, they can get a tough snooker,
:35:37. > :35:41.they can get past the winning line just by getting foul points. In that
:35:42. > :35:45.instance as well, if you were playing against someone who didn't
:35:46. > :35:49.know his way around the table all was totally attack minded, then
:35:50. > :35:50.maybe yes, but you know this fellow knows his way around the table as
:35:51. > :36:06.well as anybody. You make your decisions and you
:36:07. > :36:12.stand and fall by them. That will all be forgotten if Martin Gould can
:36:13. > :36:22.win this frame. Is he taking this on?
:36:23. > :36:29.He did. Now, the red is running loose. Where is it going to finish?
:36:30. > :36:54.Well, he's left it. John just checking there. All he's
:36:55. > :36:57.got to do here with the cue ball is stunted, leave the cue ball
:36:58. > :37:04.basically where the red is, because the yellow will go through the gap
:37:05. > :37:14.between brown and green. Just concentrate totally on the pot. No!
:37:15. > :37:19.That was a surprise. Sometimes when you're that close to a ball, once
:37:20. > :37:24.again, he's just not found the middle of the cue ball, there are,
:37:25. > :37:29.or he sighted it wrong, didn't get of the shot. -- didn't get in the
:37:30. > :37:46.line of the shot. In it went. And this blue, I assume he's going
:37:47. > :37:50.to play the blue... Would put Martin 40 points in front with a possible
:37:51. > :37:57.59 left, so he is still looking for two reds in two colours after this
:37:58. > :38:03.point. Yeah, the positional side of this is not straightforward. He's
:38:04. > :38:07.got to try to play this with a little bit of screw and side, get
:38:08. > :38:14.between the two reds and the pink if he can. Or maybe flick one of those
:38:15. > :38:18.out. Hmmm. It was always a little tricky, that. Couldn't quite get
:38:19. > :38:22.into the cue ball enough to get through the gap, and if you played
:38:23. > :38:27.it like that, the position could go astray. It's one of those, after the
:38:28. > :38:30.event you think I could have done with hitting it a bit harder, but
:38:31. > :38:35.that's after the event and we are all wise after that.
:38:36. > :38:43.40 point lead, not a bad one. Yeah, I think if he can play a safety, he
:38:44. > :38:46.can put a red on the side cushion as well, it might be worthwhile just
:38:47. > :38:51.chipping off the one above. If he can just see the edge of that, push
:38:52. > :39:02.it on the side cushion maybe... Yeah, because the other two reds
:39:03. > :39:06.won't pass the pink. He obviously can't see enough of that. Is he
:39:07. > :39:16.playing this red to the middle? I think he is!
:39:17. > :39:23.And got it! Wonderful shot. Wonderful.
:39:24. > :39:28.APPLAUSE Wow. He has ported some balls this
:39:29. > :39:40.morning. That was an absolute cracker.
:39:41. > :39:51.He's only going for anything that's round, John, this morning! Well, I
:39:52. > :39:55.admire him. He could have left the one that was tight on the top
:39:56. > :39:58.cushion, but he has given himself a chance to see how he's playing this
:39:59. > :40:05.morning and so far he's playing well, and he must be very pleased.
:40:06. > :40:12.But take nothing for granted. And that's it. Snooker is needed --
:40:13. > :40:16.snookers needed. John Higgins had a chance when he had a red to this
:40:17. > :40:21.corner pocket and missed it. Didn't have much chance in the first frame
:40:22. > :40:50.this morning. APPLAUSE
:40:51. > :40:59.Nice little shop here, play this with a bit of running side to try to
:41:00. > :41:04.make it hard with the cushion. There you go. Every shot you like this
:41:05. > :41:21.morning from Martin Gould. In very good form.
:41:22. > :41:35.The frame is over. He can't make a century break. He doesn't want to
:41:36. > :41:40.play this, really. John said to him, don't bother, that will do! You've
:41:41. > :41:46.done enough! Nice to see a smile, but what a start this morning from
:41:47. > :41:50.Martin Gould. Absolutely superb. He's played great snooker, he is
:41:51. > :42:03.still three behind, but you could say match on.
:42:04. > :42:11.Of course, there's a possible ten frames in this session. We will play
:42:12. > :42:13.four before we get to a mid-session interval. Two very important frames,
:42:14. > :42:37.these. Missed it on the way up. A little
:42:38. > :42:43.scratch of the head, there, from John. He could have left an easier
:42:44. > :42:47.chance. He was playing with lots of left-hand side to try to swerve it
:42:48. > :42:51.that end, and he missed it. He pushed the cue ball out and it
:42:52. > :42:56.hasn't come back. That's what has happened there. All these little
:42:57. > :43:00.things will just give Martin Gould a little more encouragement.
:43:01. > :43:01.Especially when you see someone like John Higgins making a mistake on
:43:02. > :43:17.that safety shot. Well, if he can get through to the
:43:18. > :43:22.blue, he will settle for it, but obviously he can't. A little
:43:23. > :43:26.unlucky, there. I have to say that John was a bit fortunate to leave
:43:27. > :43:32.the cue ball near the side cushion, there you see him on the blue, that
:43:33. > :43:37.meant that he couldn't do much with the cue ball, he had to trust quite
:43:38. > :43:41.a bit to luck. That was massive there. If you just flicks out and he
:43:42. > :43:44.is on the blue, what a difference that makes. Because he's got
:43:45. > :43:49.momentum at the minute and he is scoring well. So he's going to take
:43:50. > :43:52.the brown on. A little bit tricky because he is also slightly hampered
:43:53. > :43:58.by a red that is under his arm there, when he's playing. This is
:43:59. > :44:02.one of those instances, even though you've been attacking all morning,
:44:03. > :44:07.do you just take this on or do you be a bit more prudent and play a
:44:08. > :44:18.safety shot? I think he's playing safe.
:44:19. > :44:23.Well, that's the balance you were talking about. I wouldn't disagree
:44:24. > :44:33.with that. He was a little unlucky, there. I'm quite impressed with
:44:34. > :44:37.that, actually. Sometimes it's really difficult to reel yourself
:44:38. > :44:40.in. You can be playing really well, knocking everything in, and you feel
:44:41. > :44:44.you should be making more of an opportunity, but he has been very
:44:45. > :44:50.professional there, just played the right shot, until there. This is the
:44:51. > :45:04.right shot for the instance, I'm going to play it.
:45:05. > :45:15.Close. It's over 20 minutes now since John Higgins has ported a ball
:45:16. > :45:19.-- has potted a ball, and I think he may have left this red just do the
:45:20. > :45:26.right of the black. Maybe not. It's close, that. Well, he wouldn't have
:45:27. > :45:32.been on a colour but he was just trying to contain the situation.
:45:33. > :45:36.Obviously Martin can't get through to the potting angle of the red that
:45:37. > :45:43.is immediately to the right of the black. Otherwise he would have
:45:44. > :45:52.played it by now. Well, is he playing the pot here? Well, he
:45:53. > :45:57.played the safety, off that. It always looked a bit risky to me. He
:45:58. > :46:02.just had to cover the one on the left. Initially he was going to
:46:03. > :46:06.play-off that one on the left and cover the cushion but he knew the
:46:07. > :46:11.only place he could play the cue ball was at the right-hand side, so
:46:12. > :46:12.is what he decided to do. He could have done with better length with
:46:13. > :46:27.the cue ball. That was a very aggressive safety
:46:28. > :46:40.shot, and look at the length of the cue ball. OK, an inch short, but a
:46:41. > :46:44.good one, a telling one. Yeah. He's got a bit more to think about here.
:46:45. > :46:52.I'm just wondering if he can play off the red that is near to the
:46:53. > :46:56.blue. The two reds near the left-hand pocket, that is the
:46:57. > :47:01.problem he's got. There is a safety off that read near the blue, but
:47:02. > :47:07.unless you get a really good cue ball, you could be leaving yourself
:47:08. > :47:16.open. Yeah, that is the shot that John is referring to. But you need a
:47:17. > :47:23.good cue ball to find that baulk cushion. Also, don't hit it too thin
:47:24. > :47:40.and catch the bump of the middle pocket. Oh! He's missed the bump.
:47:41. > :47:41.Played it well. Very good shot. Excellent, that was. He's in a spot
:47:42. > :47:50.of bother. He did get very close to that middle
:47:51. > :47:54.pocket, that has made a huge difference, not hitting that bump.
:47:55. > :48:10.It would have been unlucky, but it does happen. Well, as he left
:48:11. > :48:19.anything? Yeah, it looks like that was a fortuitous kiss on the green.
:48:20. > :48:27.If he had just run past the green, he would have left maybe a choice of
:48:28. > :48:32.two reds that were to bowl -- that were possible. His long game and
:48:33. > :48:36.medium game has been excellent but there is a lot more pressure on this
:48:37. > :48:44.one when you could be leaving something. That's the first one he
:48:45. > :48:56.is cued across. But has he been fortunate?
:48:57. > :49:02.Well, he has certainly covered the one down the left-hand side. Those
:49:03. > :49:06.of those have been covered. John is already playing the red down the
:49:07. > :49:14.right-hand side of the table, taking that pot on. All the hours of
:49:15. > :49:27.practice in your club, this is what it's for, shots like this.
:49:28. > :49:32.Beautifully struck. He has missed a couple this morning, John Higgins.
:49:33. > :49:43.But that will give him a bit more confidence. That was a beauty. And
:49:44. > :49:46.it's time for John to score, now. He has seen Martin playing very well
:49:47. > :49:50.this morning, winning two quick frames. He needs to restart his
:49:51. > :50:42.authority back on this match. Just a little overhit, but one of
:50:43. > :50:47.those shots that John has just played their where you're frightened
:50:48. > :50:54.of not getting up far enough on the blue. He has just overhit it, but
:50:55. > :51:02.the brown is available. Actually, the green is, so he can see both of
:51:03. > :51:05.those. Oh! And that is not the worst kiss.
:51:06. > :51:18.It's not what he played, but it's an opportunity now in potting this red
:51:19. > :51:26.to play for the black and get it back on its spot. When the black
:51:27. > :51:31.does go on its spot, it won't be available in either corner pocket.
:51:32. > :51:33.So he would like to get on one of the reds that would stop the black
:51:34. > :52:02.going in the corners. I don't think he'll be able to get
:52:03. > :52:08.through to the red immediately to the right of the black. But in
:52:09. > :52:13.moving this red, the black will become available into this corner
:52:14. > :52:17.pocket. He can't play for the black off this, but that is when you're
:52:18. > :52:25.thinking a few shots ahead. Once again, I think he went up for the
:52:26. > :52:28.blue, but would rather be too hard than soft. I think he's got a good
:52:29. > :52:36.angle as well. The green looks perfect to me, top spin, for the red
:52:37. > :52:39.to the side of the black. There are three that go but the one just above
:52:40. > :52:52.the black to the left-hand side would be perfect. And if he is on
:52:53. > :53:03.the bottom one, well, that is just perfect. Yeah, that's a bonus. As
:53:04. > :53:07.long as he pots it. He won't be taking it for granted, but getting
:53:08. > :53:16.this red out of the way makes the black available into both corners.
:53:17. > :53:20.Yes, it was quite a clever shot off the green. He played it full-blooded
:53:21. > :53:33.and he knew full well if he wasn't on one he would be on the other. He
:53:34. > :53:38.has got on the perfect red. He has had a nice couple of little kisses
:53:39. > :53:45.and nudges in this break. It has been really well construct it. He
:53:46. > :53:52.will want to win the frame in this visit, John Higgins, just to stem
:53:53. > :53:58.the tide. He needs another 32 points. To get to the
:53:59. > :54:12.snookersnookers the snookers required stage. There
:54:13. > :55:01.is a red on the left-hand side of the table available.
:55:02. > :55:15.Hmmm. Over done that. There you see it, 53 ahead, 75 remaining. He has
:55:16. > :55:21.given himself a little bit of work to do here. May be about a foot too
:55:22. > :55:27.far with the cue ball there. You still expect him to pot this, but a
:55:28. > :55:33.bit more on it will stop he has recovered the situation beautifully,
:55:34. > :55:39.there. Good pot, good position. This black would put him 61 points in
:55:40. > :55:44.front with 67 remaining. So this black, one more red and a colour and
:55:45. > :55:51.he will have his first frame on the scoreboard this morning. Yes, and it
:55:52. > :55:54.all started off with that excellent mid-range red, really crisp pot into
:55:55. > :56:01.the top right-hand corner from John Higgins. Lovely when they go in.
:56:02. > :56:07.Players spend hours playing these shots. And that is what it's for,
:56:08. > :56:10.when you're in the heat of battle, you need to lock them in. -- you
:56:11. > :56:27.need to knock them in. The pink spot not available. It goes
:56:28. > :56:35.on the highest available one, and that is the yellow spot. Just a red
:56:36. > :56:40.and a colour needed. Good thinking, that. He is tuned in there. Not many
:56:41. > :56:44.people would have noticed that the pink wasn't going to go back on its
:56:45. > :56:50.spot there, so decided that was the way to go about it. Yes, he has
:56:51. > :56:54.taken these well, considering he has not had much table time so far this
:56:55. > :56:59.morning. But that is what all the great players can do, of course.
:57:00. > :57:03.They can be frozen out. It was over 20 minutes since he potted a ball
:57:04. > :57:18.and then the first chance he gets, he wins the frame. He's a class act
:57:19. > :57:22.and he always has been. I'm a big fan as well off his cue action,
:57:23. > :57:29.John. I've always said I like watching John play. He lets the cue
:57:30. > :57:34.do the work. A modern phenomena, people have gone more compact and
:57:35. > :57:41.tighter into the cue ball, but John lets the cue ball do the work. I've
:57:42. > :57:46.never seen him be separate. If I were teaching someone starting off,
:57:47. > :57:54.I would prefer this cue action. He nearly comes -- it nearly comes off
:57:55. > :58:01.his bridge hand, he takes it that far back. But he always hit it
:58:02. > :58:11.straight and it's always smooth. I know you worked a with Frank Allen,
:58:12. > :58:16.was he the one that started this off? John worked with him and he has
:58:17. > :58:18.picked that up practising with Stephen watching Anne Frank was very
:58:19. > :58:33.much advocate of letting the -- letting the cue do the work.
:58:34. > :58:37.Worked with Steve Davis and Ken Doherty and yourself. He worked with
:58:38. > :58:40.several world champions, Frank. Sadly passed away last year. Great
:58:41. > :58:58.character, loved his snooker. So, the 20th century so far. Last
:58:59. > :59:03.year, the record number of centuries was equalled, and I think it's going
:59:04. > :59:09.to be bettered this year. Yeah, it's a good shout. I hope so, John. It's
:59:10. > :59:14.better to watch, people making hundreds breaks. As long as they're
:59:15. > :59:19.not every frame! You like to see the close frames. But this has been an
:59:20. > :59:29.excellent contribution. I think he has just played one poor positional
:59:30. > :59:41.shot. This has been top draw. That's why he's the champion that he is.
:59:42. > :59:43.Good shot trying to come round. Where's the cue ball going?
:59:44. > :59:56.Perfectly on the black! Wonderful. We have been treated to
:59:57. > :00:02.three marvellous frames so far this morning. It seems to be all Martin
:00:03. > :01:21.Gould. John Higgins, showing what a competitor he is.
:01:22. > :01:29.Mid-session interval, after this frame. Three marvellous frames we
:01:30. > :01:34.have seen this morning. There is nothing worse than doing that. You
:01:35. > :01:38.have played a great frame, made yourself a century then all of a
:01:39. > :01:43.sudden you make a break of like that and stick the red close to the
:01:44. > :01:50.centre pocket. You can see it in John's face. He is annoyed with
:01:51. > :01:55.that. Yes, he's going to finish close to the cushion, so he needs a
:01:56. > :02:02.nice angle on the blue. That's not bad. Not bad. Doesn't have to do
:02:03. > :02:06.much with the cue ball, just roll the blue in. I think he will
:02:07. > :02:11.probably play for the red that is at the back near the black. Seems like
:02:12. > :02:24.he has enough angle to just come off the side and be on that one.
:02:25. > :02:31.That's a good shot. Tight onto the cushion. John, JP here was known as
:02:32. > :02:36.one of the best players of the cushion. I would have been content
:02:37. > :02:44.to drop that in dead weight. But he achieved that beautifully. -- Kuyt
:02:45. > :02:50.that. It is amazing how your mind thinks because he would have played
:02:51. > :03:01.that shot exactly as Martin did. I was fortunate enough to be able to
:03:02. > :03:04.play of cushions. It is one of those things, never had any problem with
:03:05. > :03:31.it. He struck that lovely. Played that OK. He would like to
:03:32. > :03:35.have been another six inches away. I prefer playing the screw shot on the
:03:36. > :03:41.type of shot. You just feel like you have more control. He has opened up
:03:42. > :03:46.the reds. It is about potting the black and getting a nice position on
:03:47. > :03:52.the next red. Just wondering if he will play a little storm into the
:03:53. > :03:54.three reds, little cannon? I don't know if he can drop this in and get
:03:55. > :04:10.on one. Could have done with catching it
:04:11. > :04:16.slightly via the way. He has read to the left middle and want to the
:04:17. > :04:21.right middle. But just a little bit. Particularly the one to the left
:04:22. > :04:25.middle. Almost hitting the ball too well this morning. He got into that
:04:26. > :04:31.beautifully, a good, solid strike again. Just to the other side 's
:04:32. > :04:41.likely would have been perfect for the bottom read. Now this is tricky.
:04:42. > :04:46.I just think he cannot get the right side of the blue. If he plays this
:04:47. > :04:52.one, he would naturally be on the black. But this is a trickier red.
:04:53. > :05:00.Slightly blind pocket. It is there, no problem. Nicely in position and
:05:01. > :05:04.this is, as I say, the frame before the mid-session interval. It is a
:05:05. > :05:09.big one. As long as he can keep John Higgins two frames away from
:05:10. > :05:14.history, he has a little bit of room to manoeuvre.
:05:15. > :05:31.I don't think that is entirely how he played it, but he will take it.
:05:32. > :05:38.This has been a fabulous little mini-session this morning, it has to
:05:39. > :05:43.be said. Standard is superb. Are they paying us for watching this,
:05:44. > :05:53.John? It has been absolutely marvellous. Proof of what we were
:05:54. > :06:02.saying, 94% pot success for Martin Gould this morning. 91% for John
:06:03. > :06:06.Higgins. Wonderful stuff. And, take your hat off to Martin Gould,
:06:07. > :06:11.playing one of the best players who has ever picked up the cue. Coming
:06:12. > :06:17.into this 7-2 behind. He has had such a good approach to the match.
:06:18. > :06:24.That takes a bit of doing. Just let the cue ball will loose there. Once
:06:25. > :06:33.again, he will be relying on a little cannon. Can't really
:06:34. > :06:39.guarantee his position. Pot the black, main priority and keep
:06:40. > :06:43.yourself on the table. Just hope you can get a little cannon that keeps
:06:44. > :06:58.you in position. But it is not straightforward. Well played. One in
:06:59. > :07:04.the middle. And one in the corner. If he can just win this frame in one
:07:05. > :07:10.visit, which is a distinct possibility he can, it will make him
:07:11. > :07:22.feel good at the mid-session interval. Not like winning at one
:07:23. > :07:32.visit, John? He will settle for the blue in the far corner. That is OK.
:07:33. > :07:36.He has not done a lot wrong this morning. It just shows you, has made
:07:37. > :07:42.a wonderful century and he plays the break off and caught the end read a
:07:43. > :07:49.little bit too thick. But sometimes you think, maybe the reds will not
:07:50. > :07:53.set up right for the red to appear. But it looked, when we saw it then,
:07:54. > :08:08.he had hit it too thick. Perfect. I think that break of
:08:09. > :08:12.thing, it happens quite a bit after you have done something really good.
:08:13. > :08:16.Little dip in your concentration, just made a century, stand your
:08:17. > :08:21.authority in the match, and you don't concentrate at the break. Then
:08:22. > :08:28.you sit in the chair and think, why did I do that? We have all done it.
:08:29. > :08:35.But the worst thing is, you have to do sit down and suffer. This has
:08:36. > :08:40.been excellent stuff from Martin Gould. Excellent stuff from both
:08:41. > :08:45.players. He really is a cracking session. I am impressed with the
:08:46. > :08:56.belief he has shown this morning. Yes. I was impressed with the safety
:08:57. > :09:01.shot he played. I thought it was one of the best things I had seen this
:09:02. > :09:06.morning, because he was playing so well. He pulled his homes in and
:09:07. > :09:11.said, this is the right shot. I remember him refusing the shot on
:09:12. > :09:27.the brown. That show somebody thinking clearly.
:09:28. > :09:39.When they started this morning, obviously he would have loved to
:09:40. > :09:47.have won the four frames they played. He has played a poor
:09:48. > :09:53.positional shot. If he gets out of this 3-1, he has done some damage.
:09:54. > :09:58.He was a little bit too far, not sure. If he just plays up, the
:09:59. > :10:02.higher he goes up the table, the more he will be on the red in the
:10:03. > :10:11.corner. One thing you couldn't be was short. This is a tricky pot.
:10:12. > :10:16.Might not look it on your screens, but it is quite acute. Might have to
:10:17. > :10:31.flick a bit of side on this, so has to be careful. That flick on the
:10:32. > :10:37.second red has worked out perfectly. Scare over. John Higgins looks
:10:38. > :10:39.now... He started the morning session with a five frame lead, it
:10:40. > :10:58.is going to be cut to three. Another good example. To get ideal
:10:59. > :11:06.positioning, you might have had to put aside on it, but he said no, I
:11:07. > :11:17.will make sure I just pot the ball. Good thinking again. Very
:11:18. > :11:19.impressive. Yes, very good. I don't think John Higgins will bother
:11:20. > :11:33.coming back to the table if this black goes in.
:11:34. > :11:43.We have already had two centuries. Out of the first three frames this
:11:44. > :11:44.morning. Will we see a third one? It is not beyond the realms of
:11:45. > :12:21.possibility. Just choosing to play this one,
:12:22. > :12:25.little cannon. What a pity we didn't see a century, but it was more than
:12:26. > :12:31.enough. Martin Gould should be very proud of our performance. He came
:12:32. > :12:38.out, no negative thoughts, he trailed 7-2, it is now 8-5. This
:12:39. > :12:44.match will now be played to a finish. No more intervals. John
:12:45. > :12:52.Higgins, needs two frames. Martin Gould needs five. Every credit, the
:12:53. > :13:07.way he has come out and fought this morning, Martin Gould.
:13:08. > :13:13.Decent safety shot from John. No easy path back to the ball, unless
:13:14. > :13:26.he can get past the blue. He has had a few looks. Must only be
:13:27. > :13:48.the edge of the red. He probably didn't think he could
:13:49. > :13:55.hit it that thick. Catching the blue was dangerous, but that yellow has
:13:56. > :14:00.come to his rescue somewhat. This pot is on to the right corner, but
:14:01. > :14:05.John will be hampered by the yellow. Might just put him of playing the
:14:06. > :14:08.pot. If the yellow was in there, you would play it, no doubt. -- was not
:14:09. > :14:26.there. Looks like he has decided he is.
:14:27. > :14:30.Maybe his thinking is, if he just runs through a little bit on it, the
:14:31. > :14:39.only one he could leave is the one he's taking. Brilliant. It is a
:14:40. > :14:47.great pot, but just lost the cue ball.
:14:48. > :14:57.Tough enough pot, that was. As John rightly said, being hampered. All
:14:58. > :15:03.friends here at the Crucible are big, but this one is massive. 9-5,
:15:04. > :15:07.John Higgins will be thinking, he is more or less home and hosed. Martin
:15:08. > :15:11.Gould will be extremely disappointed. At 8-6, it is looking
:15:12. > :15:51.a little precarious. A better shot if Martin hadn't have
:15:52. > :16:12.flicked the yellow. Easy if John, with his hand on the table.
:16:13. > :16:19.Who is going to get the first chance? Always interesting piece
:16:20. > :16:23.tactical battles at the start of the frame. The way both players have
:16:24. > :16:27.performed this morning, even though Martin Gould has won three of the
:16:28. > :16:39.first four, John Higgins has played his part. Made a marvellous 127 in
:16:40. > :16:43.the 12 frame. This is a good shot. This is excellent. Couldn't have
:16:44. > :16:45.played that much better and a little tap on the table from John Higgins
:16:46. > :17:28.in appreciation. Couldn't risk trying to get back to
:17:29. > :18:05.the baulk and, so just containing safety.
:18:06. > :18:20.John, just checking. Not looking for a planned so much, just making sure
:18:21. > :18:25.he doesn't knock one over towards the left corner. It is a strange
:18:26. > :18:33.frame when the brown is off its spot. Not many places you can hide
:18:34. > :18:42.the cue ball. It is a very good shot as well. Nearly got the pot. But
:18:43. > :18:47.that wasn't what it was about. It was about getting the cue ball up
:18:48. > :18:52.behind the yellow. This has got to be thin, which ever way you hit it.
:18:53. > :19:00.If he hits it thin enough, he could pot it. And he has done. Is that a
:19:01. > :19:07.good flick on the blue? It's not a bad one. It's not a bad one. You
:19:08. > :19:17.better is. Wow! Great pot. I didn't thing he cut that in. Excellent. But
:19:18. > :19:23.the flicked on the blue, what a bonus that is. Absolute natural
:19:24. > :19:27.angle. Now, what shot does he play? Does he try and go into the reds
:19:28. > :19:36.odessey come round and play on a loose one?
:19:37. > :19:47.You can't miss the blue, Martin. Very surprising. How many times do
:19:48. > :19:54.we say, when you look at the shot it looks easy, but quite an acute
:19:55. > :19:58.angle. It wasn't that accused, to be honest. He will be disappointing to
:19:59. > :20:03.miss that after the excellent opening red. The way the balls are
:20:04. > :20:05.situated, it might not be that costly. It's not an easy table, by
:20:06. > :20:25.any means. I would settle for the last kiss.
:20:26. > :20:29.Looked like he could have been nothing. A coming of the other one
:20:30. > :20:34.has put him on the black. But as you say, it is not an nice table at the
:20:35. > :20:40.moment. The blue is off its spot, which always makes a difference.
:20:41. > :20:45.Brown is on the side cushion. I don't think John will be on anything
:20:46. > :20:46.after that when the black gets spotted. It could be the end of
:20:47. > :21:09.break. Just needed that cue ball to run up
:21:10. > :21:18.a fraction further. That situation when the referee spots the black,
:21:19. > :21:22.you want to say, thanks, rest. It's like the referee takes great
:21:23. > :21:33.pressure in slowly putting the black on its spot. I'm sure he doesn't,
:21:34. > :21:36.but as a player you feel that. So that missed blue only cost him a few
:21:37. > :21:56.points. Court that a little bit too thick
:21:57. > :22:05.and that's why he's not quite reaching the baulk line. John coming
:22:06. > :22:10.out to have a look what's available. If the blue passes the red to the
:22:11. > :22:20.right corner, he will take this red on. It does. Not much margin of
:22:21. > :22:28.error, but he will feel the only red he could leave in playing this is
:22:29. > :22:36.the one he is playing. Good, solid pot. An perfect on the blue. That
:22:37. > :22:42.was always looking like the shot. Beautifully cued. But where is his
:22:43. > :22:48.position coming from here? Is he going to go up the table and round?
:22:49. > :22:52.I think that is what he will have to do. But with the yellow not being on
:22:53. > :22:53.its spot and the brown not on its spot, not too many obstacles to
:22:54. > :23:28.avoid. Judged this nicely. Very good. Good cueing yet again.
:23:29. > :23:35.And from looking like an unpromising position, John Higgins pots this
:23:36. > :23:39.black, easy red on the right, leaves himself an angle and into the pack.
:23:40. > :23:48.Then, who knows? It might be enough points to win this frame. Has left
:23:49. > :23:55.himself a nice half bowl angle to stun into the pack or screw into the
:23:56. > :24:01.pack, however he sees it. Little stunned, up there I would suggest
:24:02. > :24:13.here. If the split goes right, good chance to win the frame.
:24:14. > :24:28.Where is the Red Bull going? Can he get past the blue?
:24:29. > :24:36.Didn't get into the cue ball. Just a tiny fraction of. He feels he can
:24:37. > :24:43.swerve around the blue to pot this bread. So close to going in. He
:24:44. > :24:52.thought he could swerve round, but in the end he was very lucky to pot
:24:53. > :25:00.it. Very lucky. Lucky not to go in. Fractions. They favoured him then.
:25:01. > :25:17.Looks like the blue, we'll just go past the yellow.
:25:18. > :25:27.If he is on that red and found the gap, that is an excellent shot. He
:25:28. > :25:37.will be so pleased with himself with that shot. To find back. Will
:25:38. > :25:43.he got lucky with the one over the middle pocket. He will take it. That
:25:44. > :26:07.blue was lovely. This is the last of the open reds.
:26:08. > :26:12.Got a 43 point lead. Still a possible 83 remaining. So still
:26:13. > :26:18.going to need three more reds, you would have thought to clinch the
:26:19. > :26:21.frame at this visit. He needs a good angle on the colour of this red to
:26:22. > :26:25.try and bring the three reds just below the pink into play. Looking to
:26:26. > :26:40.see if one of them goes to the middle.
:26:41. > :26:45.I don't think he's got the best angle on the black, but he may have
:26:46. > :26:52.a good angle on the pink. Although he's looking once again to see if
:26:53. > :26:56.the end red goes to the middle. It must be tight. If he plays the pink,
:26:57. > :27:01.he can open them up. It looks like he has a nice angle on the pink. But
:27:02. > :27:07.he would rather play this one, because the black is still missable.
:27:08. > :27:11.Because it is virtually touching the other one or close to it, he has got
:27:12. > :27:18.to get in the right position. It's not straightforward. Got to get that
:27:19. > :27:21.position in the right place, so the red is possible. Had a look at it a
:27:22. > :27:28.couple of times and I think that is perfect. If he pots this, he
:27:29. > :27:32.releases the other two reds into good positions. That will be
:27:33. > :27:43.sufficient, these three reds with colours. He will be past the point
:27:44. > :27:48.of snookers required. This really has been a break of the highest
:27:49. > :27:51.quality. OK, the red over the middle pocket, he was lucky with the
:27:52. > :27:56.double-kiss but the shot on the blue, to find the gap. And the rest
:27:57. > :28:01.of it, the way it has been constructed has been pure John
:28:02. > :28:05.Higgins. Wonderful control of the cue ball. I have to be honest with
:28:06. > :28:09.you, when he came to the table I didn't think he would be winning the
:28:10. > :28:14.frame from there. No, but it was a poor safety shot from Martin. It
:28:15. > :28:18.shows you, at this level, if you don't find the baulk cushion, you
:28:19. > :29:07.are in trouble. This, to win the frame.
:29:08. > :29:14.Just rolling the black in. He will do well to pot the next red. Plans,
:29:15. > :29:32.that is what he's at. -- a plant. Well, that was asking a
:29:33. > :29:36.lot, but it didn't matter. And Martin Gould says that's enough.
:29:37. > :29:42.That was an excellent contribution. You can see a puff of the cheeks
:29:43. > :29:45.from John Higgins, but he is now one place away from a place in the
:29:46. > :29:54.second round. -- here's now one frame away. He leads 9-5. Tea and a
:29:55. > :29:59.cigarette would be one of the biggest things I like to do in the
:30:00. > :30:08.morning. That would be one of the guilty pleasures. Someone like Adam
:30:09. > :30:14.Sam Love may be. I'm probably easy-going, very laid back. It's a
:30:15. > :30:18.bit of a strange one because I do have a short fuse as well when
:30:19. > :30:23.somebody wines near. I'm a big fan of steak so it would have to be
:30:24. > :30:27.something like a rib eye steak or a fellow steak. Doing a roast for
:30:28. > :30:31.myself on the week which normally turns out to be a roast dinner that
:30:32. > :30:36.is supposed to be for one but it could feed about five. I was sat
:30:37. > :30:39.next to Frankie Dettori and I couldn't believe it was him! I had
:30:40. > :30:42.to look at him to three times to be convinced it was him, and I still
:30:43. > :30:53.didn't bring myself forward to just speak to him. Have like 75 of them!
:30:54. > :30:59.You just put them all in one room and I would be like, next, next. I
:31:00. > :31:03.would go back to 1966 and the World Cup final, see for myself if that
:31:04. > :31:17.ball actually did cross the line or not.
:31:18. > :31:23.Well, John Higgins would love to win this frame because Martin Gould has
:31:24. > :31:29.certainly put himself under a little bit of pressure this morning. But
:31:30. > :31:38.now Martin in the situation where you can't afford to make a mistake
:31:39. > :31:42.are basically. You've got to play "Don't miss snooker". He's taking
:31:43. > :31:50.this on. He needs to get it. Oh! Solid.
:31:51. > :31:58.APPLAUSE It begs the question, how did he
:31:59. > :32:03.start this session 7-2 down? I tell you why, because he lost the first
:32:04. > :32:07.five frames. And we always say, you don't settle until you get your
:32:08. > :32:13.first frame on the scoreboard, it took him a long time. 70% long pot
:32:14. > :32:17.success, that's good. That's not bad from John Higgins. The reason I
:32:18. > :32:20.don't look for 90% on long pot success is because some of them are
:32:21. > :32:26.half played as a shock to nothing. Pot success isn't bad either. Could
:32:27. > :32:51.win any match, anything at 90% or above is good.
:32:52. > :33:00.Well, he didn't play that cannon but he has done well there. Good little
:33:01. > :33:09.shot. He will take where that has finished. Just trying to get through
:33:10. > :33:14.the gap. There is an expression we use and we say sometimes when people
:33:15. > :33:22.are in this position, he's got to pay" no miss snooker". -- to play.
:33:23. > :33:28.When the judges come, they got to go in the pockets. Otherwise he'll be
:33:29. > :33:34.going home. -- when the chances come. He's playing the run-through,
:33:35. > :33:41.which surprises me because the black doesn't go in the opposite corner.
:33:42. > :33:52.Well, maybe it does. Maybe it does. Yes, it does. I know what you mean,
:33:53. > :33:58.it's quite tight. It's tighter than it looks there. When it gets close
:33:59. > :34:02.to the red there won't be much margin of error. You've got to cue
:34:03. > :34:09.this well. APPLAUSE
:34:10. > :34:13.Did well. Now, I'm going to say that the black doesn't go in the same
:34:14. > :34:17.pocket as this red he's going to play, so he's got a bit of work to
:34:18. > :34:25.do with the cue ball. I think you're right with that one! My
:34:26. > :34:28.commentator's eye is back! Now, it would be easy if the pink would go
:34:29. > :34:33.to the left middle. I'm not certain that it does. If it doesn't, he
:34:34. > :34:39.could screw twice across for the black in the opposite corner. Well,
:34:40. > :34:46.the pink obviously goes. So it's a decent chance. And when we say don't
:34:47. > :34:51.miss snooker, don't miss anything easy. If you run out of position,
:34:52. > :34:52.you can always play safe. But don't miss a pot that you're committing
:34:53. > :35:46.to. The way these two have been playing
:35:47. > :35:51.this morning and scoring, you would probably think this is frame over,
:35:52. > :35:55.such has been the standard. John Higgins didn't miss much this
:35:56. > :35:59.morning to be losing that first mini-session 3-1, Martin Gould was
:36:00. > :36:04.excellent. Made a brilliant break in the last frame, John Higgins. And
:36:05. > :36:07.Martin Gould looks like he's in stroke here as well. Very high
:36:08. > :36:49.quality. Good stuff. A little bit bid to extend between,
:36:50. > :36:53.here. Straight on the black would have been ideal. Straight on the
:36:54. > :36:58.pink... Just got a little bit of work to do with the cue ball here. I
:36:59. > :37:03.don't know why he played the shot he played, John. I thought it was
:37:04. > :37:12.perfect to drop it in plain ball. Because he stunned it, he got a bit
:37:13. > :37:17.too close to the black, there. And all shots are coming alike at the
:37:18. > :37:22.minute to Martin. Yeah, he played that well. He has won a major
:37:23. > :37:36.ranking event, won the German Masters in 2016. I saw young Yan
:37:37. > :37:42.Bingtao, 17-year-old, playing yesterday. Martin now at the ripe
:37:43. > :37:45.old age of 36. But it seems to be not a barrier to winning
:37:46. > :37:51.tournaments. We've had Anthony Hamilton this year winning a
:37:52. > :37:56.tournament in his 40s. Mark King. Yes. I haven't had a chance to see
:37:57. > :38:02.Anthony since he has won, so if you're watching, well done, really
:38:03. > :38:07.pleased for you. Too good a player never to win a tournament. I spoke
:38:08. > :38:11.to Mark King after he won and he was still in the Illyria makeable of
:38:12. > :38:15.weeks afterwards. Yeah, and it was great for his father, Bill, as well.
:38:16. > :38:21.Because you know what it's like, the family follow you, they suffer all
:38:22. > :38:30.the heartbreak. And to get that victory and seek Bill's reaction was
:38:31. > :38:34.wonderful. Yeah. Just this red and a colour required. And he's keeping
:38:35. > :38:39.his hopes alive. You could say slim hopes, but as John has just alluded
:38:40. > :38:44.to, when he's getting his chances, Martin, he's making sure he scores.
:38:45. > :38:47.He will keep John Higgins on his toes, that is for sure. I've been
:38:48. > :38:55.very impressed with Martin Gould this morning. His attitude, his
:38:56. > :38:59.commitment and his play. Yes, very good. I suppose similarities in some
:39:00. > :39:03.ways with the Marco Fu match yesterday. Marco just didn't have
:39:04. > :39:09.his game than night before. 7-1 down at one point. Humming back to win
:39:10. > :39:16.10-9, incredible result. Played so much better. I bet Martin wishes he
:39:17. > :39:19.had started this match is a bit different. Different kettle of fish
:39:20. > :39:23.coming back against John Higgins rather than Luca Brecel, who is a
:39:24. > :39:26.very attack minded player, you tend to get a few more chances against
:39:27. > :39:30.him than you would with John Higgins. But in a way, a similar
:39:31. > :39:35.story. I think Marco lost the first five frames. All of a sudden you are
:39:36. > :39:38.playing catch up. You've done all the practice, you think you're
:39:39. > :39:40.playing well, you lose the first five frames and then start to
:39:41. > :39:51.question everything you've done. Well, it's not going to go in, but
:39:52. > :39:56.it won't matter. John will stay in his seat. So, a very good
:39:57. > :40:03.contribution there from Martin Gould. A break of 80. He is still up
:40:04. > :40:09.against it but still three behind, and one away from winning -- three
:40:10. > :40:18.behind John Higgins, who is one away from winning the match.
:40:19. > :40:24.Another couple of rolls and it would have been an excellent break-off
:40:25. > :41:06.shot. But John can just get past the yellow. No pot, just a safety.
:41:07. > :41:17.A bit pacey, this. Is it going to run up behind the yellow? Well, it
:41:18. > :41:25.has given John a problem here. He can't see a path back to baulk. Yes,
:41:26. > :41:26.I'm right down the line of it, John, and that is the only thing John has
:41:27. > :42:11.got, which isn't too advertising. REFEREE: Foul and a miss, Martin
:42:12. > :42:16.Gould six. Hmmm. I think you will have it replaced. There's no value
:42:17. > :42:23.in it from there. He wasn't far away from the two-cushion escape. I think
:42:24. > :42:27.if he makes a minor adjustment I fancy him getting it, but sometimes
:42:28. > :42:34.you can over adjust. He was trying to catch the red just below the
:42:35. > :42:40.pink. Only just missed it. John was doing the old lean back there. There
:42:41. > :42:45.was a bit of limbo going on there, wasn't it?
:42:46. > :42:50.CHUCKLES You see that in the club with some
:42:51. > :42:56.of the club players, he kept thinking that if he moved he was
:42:57. > :43:03.going to make the ball move! I know. It can get you like that, sometimes.
:43:04. > :43:07.I've seen people in snooker clubs, they play a thin cut and they are
:43:08. > :43:12.like running down the table, seeing if it's going to go in! Body
:43:13. > :43:18.movement after the shot. The same shot. This time, can he hit the red
:43:19. > :43:25.just below the pink. If he over adjust, he can hit it too thick. But
:43:26. > :43:28.this time... Well, he just caught it a little bit too thick and called
:43:29. > :43:35.the blue. But he's not left anything that a simple pot. Those two reds to
:43:36. > :43:42.the right of the pink, the right-hand one won't go and it's
:43:43. > :43:44.only the left one that will. I'm not sure that is the best potting angle
:43:45. > :44:09.to get position on pink or black. Hmmm... Well! Well, well, well. I
:44:10. > :44:10.thought that had stopped in the jaws for a second. Thank goodness for
:44:11. > :44:27.gravity. Well, I bet you his heart skipped a
:44:28. > :44:30.beat that, because for all the world it looked like that was going to
:44:31. > :44:34.stay on the jaws. Maybe just the pace and the fact that the clocks
:44:35. > :44:48.are still so new, just let that slide in. I know it struggled in,
:44:49. > :44:52.but fair play to him for playing it that way. It was the only way he
:44:53. > :44:56.could get position on a colour, by rolling it in dead weight. Not the
:44:57. > :45:02.easiest thing to do, particularly using the rest, and the scoreline as
:45:03. > :45:04.it was... A brave shot. But I still don't know how it went in, but it
:45:05. > :45:25.did. Even on the replay! Martin could do with getting an
:45:26. > :45:29.angle on a baulk colour here and then coming down and trying to
:45:30. > :45:36.cannoning to the pink and black. Because he isn't going to score much
:45:37. > :45:41.on colours up there. The problem funny thing is the blue is actually
:45:42. > :45:46.a problem there, where it is. He wants about a half ball on the green
:45:47. > :45:50.or something, pot the green. Although this will help, get the
:45:51. > :45:57.blue back on spot, that will be something. And then he can pot the
:45:58. > :46:00.red, up to the blue, and then play a cannon into the pink and black. But
:46:01. > :46:05.he's certainly going to have to move them. And, John, I suppose if you
:46:06. > :46:09.play that cannon, the black is going to go into the reds, if you get into
:46:10. > :46:17.the pink the black will move the reds about, so a chance here. He
:46:18. > :46:22.just needs to get good position. Hmmm, just overscrewed it a touch.
:46:23. > :46:26.You see the shake of the head, a bit disappointed. He could still cut
:46:27. > :46:35.this blew in, but when it's been like this, you can't inject a lot of
:46:36. > :46:40.pace in the shot. The green is unmissable but off the green, he's
:46:41. > :46:54.going to have to play a good positional shot for the next red.
:46:55. > :47:04.Once again, he struck that beautifully. He really did hit that
:47:05. > :47:10.nicely. So he has got a shot with the rest now. Just looking to see
:47:11. > :47:16.whether he has got the angle. Well, he had a good look at pink and black
:47:17. > :47:20.but surely they don't pot. Eight out of eight with the rest, Martin. So
:47:21. > :47:24.he would like to keep that going. Just looking at this angle, John, I
:47:25. > :47:28.don't know whether he can... It looks like it is too much and he
:47:29. > :47:35.would go too close to the blue, I think, to leave that angle back to
:47:36. > :47:40.pink and black. So he has played for the baulk colour. Now, here's his
:47:41. > :47:45.chance. Yellow, five cushion, into the pink and black and the pack.
:47:46. > :47:50.Absolutely. That's what you suggested before he could not be
:47:51. > :47:53.better situated now. This is an ideal opportunity. In an ideal
:47:54. > :47:59.world, he would like to just hit the black half ball and then run into
:48:00. > :48:03.the reds. But if the shot that John is referring to. As I say, you would
:48:04. > :48:10.love to just nudged the black before hitting the reds. Well, that doesn't
:48:11. > :48:15.surprise me. That doesn't surprise me. The only thing I can think of,
:48:16. > :48:20.is maybe he's going to play it the other way, off the blue. Well, it
:48:21. > :48:24.did look like he had a good chance to do it there. Act up for the blue
:48:25. > :48:29.and then playing a similar shot into the pink and black off the blue,
:48:30. > :48:34.again. You've got to go now. If he doesn't go now, I will never believe
:48:35. > :48:39.it. He will go now. Their play to him, I think you mentioned it
:48:40. > :48:42.earlier this morning's session, when he refused a shot, he is still
:48:43. > :48:52.thinking clearly and playing the shots that he thinks is the right
:48:53. > :48:57.one. Well. I'll never believe it. You've got to go into the pink and
:48:58. > :49:01.black, there. Yes, wrong choice. You can chip away as much as you like,
:49:02. > :49:06.but he needed those reds in the open. And it was a chance to bring
:49:07. > :49:11.the reds into the open and the pink and black. I mean, I know you're
:49:12. > :49:14.trusting to luck a little bit, John, but you're not going to win the
:49:15. > :49:19.frame from the way the Bulls are situated. No. The first decision
:49:20. > :49:24.that I would question from him this morning. Just got a little bit
:49:25. > :49:30.negative, there. Didn't think positively enough. He's been
:49:31. > :49:39.thinking positive all morning. Now he's taking this red on, it's risky.
:49:40. > :49:42.Well, he's potted it. Is he on a colour? Pressure brown. That's what
:49:43. > :49:56.he's left with. Straight into the top. You always
:49:57. > :49:57.feel with these as though you would rather play them into middle. Into
:49:58. > :50:32.the middle. No. Well... A disappointing end,
:50:33. > :50:40.there, from Martin. I think he made the wrong shot choice. And it caught
:50:41. > :50:43.up with him in the end. Yeah, it's a strange one as well, because he's
:50:44. > :50:49.been so positive this morning. That's the thing that got me, every
:50:50. > :50:53.shot he has fancied, he has taken it on, but it was just so obvious to go
:50:54. > :50:58.into that pink and black. The funny thing is, the last shot he played
:50:59. > :51:04.has made the pink and black possible for John Higgins now, as he comes to
:51:05. > :51:07.the table. Yeah, there you go. So all in all, the last couple of
:51:08. > :51:24.minutes has been a bit of a shocker for him.
:51:25. > :51:36.We said that he had to play no miss snooker, and missing that brown
:51:37. > :51:42.could be so, so costly. It is his challenge for the Betfred World
:51:43. > :52:02.Championship ending there? It could well do.
:52:03. > :52:09.He's always had a wonderful way of finishing off matches, John Higgins.
:52:10. > :52:14.He knows where the winning line is and he knows how to get over it.
:52:15. > :52:27.He's done this hundreds of times before. Can he do it again?
:52:28. > :52:38.Looks to have the perfect angle on the pink just to stun it in and play
:52:39. > :52:46.for the red in the same pocket. Still got a little bit of work to
:52:47. > :52:58.do. It's not a formality he can win the frame at this visit. Yeah,
:52:59. > :53:03.initially played in the other red there, but when he finished at that
:53:04. > :53:08.angle, he knew full well that with a little cannon he could flick the
:53:09. > :53:11.reds into possible positions. OK he has gone slightly awry because of
:53:12. > :53:15.it. But his intention was just to get them out in the open as soon as
:53:16. > :53:26.possible. But there's a bit more to do because of it. Yeah, just the
:53:27. > :53:30.wrong angle. If he were slightly the other side of the pink, it would be
:53:31. > :53:37.a formality. Let's see how he plays this, trying to develop a red with a
:53:38. > :53:41.cannon. He'll settle for that. He will settle for that! Hmmm, just a
:53:42. > :54:02.bit! Obviously the brown, slight problem
:54:03. > :54:05.with this break, you just have do not a view in before then, but he
:54:06. > :54:11.will want to move that brown so that the red will be pottable in the top
:54:12. > :54:40.corner. He's played that nicely. Had to
:54:41. > :54:44.screw up with a bit to get the correct side of the pink. So now
:54:45. > :54:49.when he stands down he can get the red above the black. If he can come
:54:50. > :54:59.and he may just play on the brown here. Yeah, I think he will have to
:55:00. > :55:03.play on the brown. Just got to be careful here when he plays this
:55:04. > :55:08.cannon. He doesn't want to leave himself too thin on the brown, but
:55:09. > :55:15.he doesn't want the black to block the red from going into this pocket
:55:16. > :55:23.he's playing into now. Yeah. That was about the best he could play
:55:24. > :55:26.that, John. May just be able to play a double screw back here and take
:55:27. > :55:35.the red into the same pocket. They ate cannon onto the brown. Yeah. So,
:55:36. > :55:44.it worked out well. Yeah, the only downside is that he is slightly
:55:45. > :55:48.hampered by the brown here. The other thing of course is that he
:55:49. > :55:52.would like to have got the brown up onto its own spot. That would have
:55:53. > :55:59.made the rest of the clearance a bit easier. Although he is is probably
:56:00. > :56:06.past the winning post by then, I would think. Taken these well, John,
:56:07. > :56:18.hasn't he? Rulli well. Martin Gould had a chance. Just question his shot
:56:19. > :56:23.selection at a vital time. Well, he's going to need good cueing for
:56:24. > :56:37.this. These can be missed. Red and a colour required.
:56:38. > :56:47.In it goes. Flicked the yellow, but that will do nicely. This yellow
:56:48. > :56:54.will put him 28 points in front with just 27 remaining. Martin Gould's
:56:55. > :56:58.race looks to have been run. And I have to say, John, if Martin Gould
:56:59. > :57:01.had been playing one or two of the other players this week, he would
:57:02. > :57:05.have been knocking some of them out, the way he has played this morning.
:57:06. > :57:11.He has played superb this morning and I give him every credit for it.
:57:12. > :57:14.OK we questioned one of two of the shots and he could have been more
:57:15. > :57:17.aggressive in this frame, but he has given John Higgins a little bit of a
:57:18. > :57:23.fright, and John Higgins will be very relieved now to just add the
:57:24. > :57:30.finishing touches to this match. And he has had to work hard today, make
:57:31. > :57:38.no mistake. He has had two absolutely outstanding breaks in
:57:39. > :57:41.this match. The one a couple of frames ago was brilliant and this
:57:42. > :57:47.one to win the match has been better. He's still got it, John. Yes
:57:48. > :57:50.he has. He started off and had a bit of a lull but he certainly proved
:57:51. > :57:54.early on in the season that he can still produce the goods, and he has
:57:55. > :58:00.produced it here and gone all the way four times before. Who's to say
:58:01. > :58:04.he can't make it five? In goes the pink, handshake, and Martin Gould
:58:05. > :58:08.will be saying well played and best of luck for the rest of the
:58:09. > :58:12.tournament. Every credit Martin Gould, did really well there, showed
:58:13. > :58:16.a really good attitude. He will be back for more, that is for certain.
:58:17. > :58:20.But John Higgins is now safely through to the second round. He wins
:58:21. > :58:24.by ten frames to six. STUDIO
:58:25. > :58:28.So, a very good fightback by Martin but not enough. John Higgins will
:58:29. > :58:32.now face Northern Ireland's Mark Allen in that last extreme tie which
:58:33. > :58:35.begins on Friday. That is it for now but we are back with more live
:58:36. > :58:37.coverage from the Crucible at ten o'clock. Get some sleep, goodbye to
:58:38. > :58:40.now. Once again your champion, Mark
:58:41. > :59:01.Selby! Spring is arriving -
:59:02. > :59:04.in a whirlwind of pink. We're in Japan to celebrate
:59:05. > :59:06.the sakura. So join us on Friday,
:59:07. > :59:10.21 April at 8.30 on BBC TWO. You are the cream
:59:11. > :59:17.of the French aristocracy.