Day 4 World Championship Snooker Extra

good evening and welcome to snooker extra, extended highlights of Day

four of the 20 17th that Fred worlds in the championship. Our feature

titan I'd is the second session of the match between John Higgins and

Martin Gould. Higgins opened up the 7-2 lead overnight and was three

frames away from bugging his place in the last 16. Your commentators,

John Parrott and John Virgo. COMMENTATOR: Martin Gould gets this

second session underway. Five frame deficit against someone like John

Higgins, is going to be hard to pull back, JP? Yes. You would think so,

John. One of the best match players, the game has ever seen. And he is

approaching 42 years of age. All his sniggering faculties are still

there, great break-builder. His long game has got better. He has found

something. And he never gives you anything easy, John Higgins. You

have got to earn your corn. There has only been one century break in

this match. The average shot time, 23 seconds. 28 for Martin, but when

you are behind you have to do a lot of thinking time. One century, that

was made by Martin. He could do with a couple of them early on this

morning. To try and get some kind of foothold in the match. He is playing

somebody who has been there, got the T-shirt for times. Recognised by all

as the best match player we have ever seen.

He mentioned about the time it has taken Martin, 28 seconds, but you do

tend to think a lot more when you are stuck in the baulk area. It is

certainly not straightforward. This is an example.

Clever. Normally, a player would try and... Little shake of the head.

Just an inch short. As I looked over at John Higgins, I saw a slight

grimace. So even 7-2 in front, he still disappointed if he doesn't get

it inch perfect. Yes, he will be concentrating like mad in this first

frame, just to dampen any fire Martin Gould has left in him to go

AT two. It starts to look totally forlorn for Martin. This is a

massive frame, John Higgins knows that. All that experience of being a

matchplay. Don't give your opponent any encouragement.

Whilst there is a safety exchange going on, congratulations, you told

me the Grand National winner, eight months ago. Well done to you. Well

done to One For Arthur. Second Scottish winner of the National. And

didn't he win? Could be a Scottish double. John Higgins for the World

Championship. Yes. Towards the corner. Now he needs the

green to come to his rescue. It hasn't. The only thing you would

say, he has a pretty good length of the cue ball. If you play this at

pace, chance of potting it. John just puts a damper cloth on the cue,

to get rid of any stickiness. This is a horrible shot he has been left

with. The angle is all wrong for what he needs. Can't see how he can

avoid a cannon here, if he knocks this in. He will do well to avoid

one. Wow! That is amazing. Where did that gap come from? Good pot.

Amazing, this game. How did he get through there. And it swerved twice.

He is just going to try and nestle behind the green. Making sure he

gets a good cue ball. Just overhit it slightly. He should have stopped

this escape route down the left-hand side of the table, as we look.

That is a better safety shot from John. Just shows you the standard of

his safety play. No shots wasted with John Higgins. You get some

players and they are still playing on the circuit thinking putting the

cue ball in the baulk area is enough. He is always trying to put

you in a position to force a mistake. There is a difference in

that. And there is the mistake. Yes,

kissing the blue. Left the cue ball this side of the baulk line.

He can play the yellow, but I think he would like the blue back on its

spot. Bit more work to do with the cue ball. Couldn't avoid the green.

I don't think he will be getting many more.

OK, it could be made. But his main concern will be getting that cue

ball back to the baulk at end. This is a difficult plant.

Excellent. Perfect length. Well played.

Looks like he is playing the push up and down, trying to lead the cue

ball behind the red on the top cushion. Tried to get it tight, but

there may be a me the pink that goes. But that would top-class

cueing. I suppose at 7-2 down, you might be tempted? There is one thing

clear in your mind when you are this far behind, you have got to come out

and play well. Close. I think sometimes you have got to give

yourself a chance to play well. Just by refusing things and playing

negative, I don't think you can get back into a match with such a

deficit. He knows what he's got to do, Martin. That was a tough pot,

but he took it on. He didn't leave anything. There will be read over

the corner here, can he get through to it? The brown may have covered

it, but a little swerve, the cushion first would pot it. The only thing

is, he won't be certain where the cue ball is going to finish. He will

need a bit of luck for position. Quite a decent swerve. Nearly three

quarters of the ball covered. Got to get it right. The main priority, as

ever, pot the ball. Don't get position, just play a good safety.

But, knock it in. Well done. And I'd tell you what, he will settle for

that. That is a bonus. Little help from his opponent to reduce this

deficit. He has got a good chance to build up a useful lead.

Frame-winning opportunity. Tough call, but just concentrate and try

and get as many points in front as you can.

Good, clean pot but I don't think if he has got enough out of the cue

ball to get the right side of the blue. There we go. Just likely. Just

a run through for the red on the right-hand side now. If the pink

parts in the left-hand pocket as we are looking at the screen, that

would be ideal. -- pots. It obviously does with that

positional shots. Nice chance. Good signs. Struck that one beautifully

right in the heart of the pocket. Didn't look like touching the sides.

We were commentating together on the Gary Wilson much. He is another one

who is predominantly left side. I know he has had one that is stronger

than the other. Always amazes me there with his glasses. It is as

though he looks over the top of them. When you look at the troubled

Dennis Taylor had getting the correct pair of glasses he could

play in. Martin wears glasses and looks like he is looking over the

top of them. Don't tell me he's looking through

the glass there. But it works for him and he has become one of the

most dangerous players on the circuit. Vastly underrated. If those

glasses are working, John, get me a pair.

He has decided to play for the black. Not sure where the black will

go after it is parted. The green spot is available. It is one of

those situations, OK, you would love to win the frame at this visit, but

don't miss anything easy and get what you can. Well, he has played

that absolutely superb. I don't think the black will be available

when it goes on its spot, but he couldn't have hit that any better.

Look at the top spin. Shot of the morning that one. Hasn't been many

shots this morning, but that's the best one. Can't wait for the next

one. I said when he first came to the

table, it was going to be a tough call for him to win the frame at

this visit. It is looking likely now, just the start he was looking

for. Couldn't agree with you more. This has been a fabulous break. Like

you, I look at the table and thought, OK, there is a few reds

available but that shot on the black was excellent. There is a crispness

about the strike this morning from Martin Gould. Hitting the ball very

well. Lots of authority. Certainly better than yesterday. He got off to

a poor start, 5-0 down. He was a little bit at sea. But already this

morning, the cueing looks a lot more assured.

Red and colour, as soon as he plots this thread, there will be the red.

There will only be 51 remaining. This thread, he will be 59 points in

front. We'll be into the two snooker required stage. If he was to make

this, it would be special. Terrific break, this. And just the start he

was looking for. We could see his second century of

the match. Little bit of a gap. Maybe able to drop it in.

He couldn't do much with the positional side of the shot.

Good pot. Nice kiss on the brown. It's not a bad one. Thing is,

everything has gone right in the middle of the pocket, nothing sloppy

about it. As a player, you always feel good when you find the middle

of the pocket. And even as mentioning it, cannot stop them. He

is in fine Vettel. Overrun a little bit. Little bit of work to do with

the cue ball here. -- fine Vettel. We've already had 18 century breaks

in the championship so far. This brown for 19, John and is not been

any better than this. I haven't seen many centuries better than this.

When he came to the table, it didn't look like he was going to clear up.

Excellent. Well played, Martin Gould. Very well played.

He just lost his concentration, probably thinking about the next

frame. John Higgins, didn't do a lot wrong. Martin Gould, sensational

century break, has reduced his arrears now the four.

That looks to fix. Always a danger. Leave one of these mid-range pots.

Players of this class with a hand on the table.

Had an excellent start to the season, John. Won three events at

the beginning of it and was in superb form. Still been playing

well, obviously. You can lose the final frame deciders, anyone can

lose those. His game has still been all right. When he has time to have

good preparation, but the hours in in Scotland. Turns appear with these

long matches, that is what suits him best. He can win those tournaments

that are best of seven, best of night, but John Higgins' game is

suited to the longer format. When he came in, there was a couple of

quotes saying how well he has been playing, which is unusual, he

normally keeps it to himself. So when John says he is playing well,

you have to take notice. Got into that. I thought he would

have stunned of the cushion. I am certain that was the idea. Got into

it too much and didn't bounce it off the cushion. Tricky blue, this. He

is playing it pretty quick, but it is difficult, this. I was amazed he

got down and played it so quickly. You were right, it was very acute,

that angle. Always horrible, chewing across. You have to make sure you

are in the middle of the white. He has overcooked it. But it was the

shot before. Maybe he wanted to play the screw shot onto the cushion but

got into the white too much. Another example of excellent cueing

and to pot that is tough enough and to flick the red out as well, very

good. I think he might be struggling for another read. There is one goes

there, you can see but he has two pot this and screw back off the

cushion and this requires excellent cueing, to find the gap.

That was a classical example of not hitting the centre of the cue ball.

Mishap some unintentional side. Particularly when you are striking

now and it has pushed the cue ball into the black, hitting it much too

thick. He was a little unlucky to come that close to the cushion.

This will be testing his eyesight, we mentioned before, John. If he has

the right hand side of this pack to clip off, you have got to get these

mighty thin. Anything thick he is going to contact the jaws of the

pocket. He will settle for that. Not quite

how he played it. But where it has finished is not too bad. In fact,

where it has finished, the blue is blocking the left-hand side of the

table of John Higgins. Can he get through to this red? He

may be able to bend it with a trace of right-hand side. Another role, we

say it is all about fractions, another role and he could have

plotted this red comfortably. Well! What that was. -- pot.

Absolutely stunning. I thought he was taking that read on, because he

obviously looked at the safety shot and thought, whatever I play safe

here, I might be sticking a read up, so decided to attack. The way he is

hitting this morning, why not? Once again, beautifully cued.

You just concentrate on the blue. He would love the black back on its

spot, but I wouldn't sacrifice your position for that. Just overscrewed

that slightly. He can still cut the blue in and play a little cannon. I

wonder if he will do that? If he takes the chance, he could bring the

pink into play and maybe promote the reds. Where he's finished, he may

have to play the cannon now anyway. Just needs a little bit of luck

here. He didn't bring the pink into play.

That would have been a bonus. He is on a red so the break will keep

going. He knocked a couple of read out into better positions. As long

as he can keep getting the right side of the blue, which he hasn't on

that one. He should be able to score a few. They always say if you are

going to be the wrong side of the blue, be the well wrong side of the

blue, which he is. No problem there. Didn't have the yellow to avoid.

Made it a little bit easier. Just a 17 point lead. It's not a

straightforward run to the line but we saw in the last frame how well

he's potting. Needs to be right side of the blue this time. Just got

there. Just got there. The right side of the blue, in this case, is

the left side of the blue line. There is the side bar. 60 points the

target. Basically, he's looking for another 29 points from this

situation. Only two reds available at the moment. Not an easy 29 points

to get. Not the right side of the blue this

time. Will stun in between the green and

brown here. He's striking the ball well this morning, John. Yes.

There's a sound to it. You can tell when someone is hitting the ball

with great authority, because the back of the pockets make a sound.

He's not hitting any jaws, everything is pretty clean. This has

been a tough break so far. Got to keep that consideration level up.

Which can be difficult when there is more travel in the cue ball. That's

another terrific shot. Hmmm, well, that's unlikely. Worst

way, you would think he would be on yellow. I think he could pot this

black. Or it is an easy snooker. Go for the easy snooker. He got a 30

point lead and John Higgins will be doing well to hit a red here and not

leave anything on. REFEREE: Foul and a miss, Martin

Gould four. Decision time here, John. Would you take the miss? No, I

would play the pot. I tell you why. You can play it claim ball. Well,

I'm surprised at that. He's got a yellow over the corner pocket. If

John Higgins plays this properly, and there's every chance he will,

there's every chance he will be getting nothing. I would have been

taking that one. That's what he's attempting to do, get that side.

Well, this looks nice, this looks nice! Well, he didn't hit it off the

back addition, but he hit it. As John said, probably now the wrong

decision from Martin to have it put back. Well, definitely the wrong

decision. Any time you are given a free shot to nothing like that, and

the way he has ported this morning, you would fancy him to knock in that

red five times -- nine times out of ten will stop the yellow was over

the pocket, no position required, you are guaranteed to be on a ball.

Of course, we'd played in an era where the miss rule wasn't as

prevalent as it is now, and I think some players think, I've got him in

a snooker now, I could get 20 points out of this snooker. The wrong way

to think. I see that a lot now, particularly when there are a couple

of reds left on the table. They think, they can get a tough snooker,

they can get past the winning line just by getting foul points. In that

instance as well, if you were playing against someone who didn't

know his way around the table all was totally attack minded, then

maybe yes, but you know this fellow knows his way around the table as

well as anybody. You make your decisions and you

stand and fall by them. That will all be forgotten if Martin Gould can

win this frame. Is he taking this on?

He did. Now, the red is running loose. Where is it going to finish?

Well, he's left it. John just checking there. All he's

got to do here with the cue ball is stunted, leave the cue ball

basically where the red is, because the yellow will go through the gap

between brown and green. Just concentrate totally on the pot. No!

That was a surprise. Sometimes when you're that close to a ball, once

again, he's just not found the middle of the cue ball, there are,

or he sighted it wrong, didn't get of the shot. -- didn't get in the

line of the shot. In it went. And this blue, I assume he's going

to play the blue... Would put Martin 40 points in front with a possible

59 left, so he is still looking for two reds in two colours after this

point. Yeah, the positional side of this is not straightforward. He's

got to try to play this with a little bit of screw and side, get

between the two reds and the pink if he can. Or maybe flick one of those

out. Hmmm. It was always a little tricky, that. Couldn't quite get

into the cue ball enough to get through the gap, and if you played

it like that, the position could go astray. It's one of those, after the

event you think I could have done with hitting it a bit harder, but

that's after the event and we are all wise after that.

40 point lead, not a bad one. Yeah, I think if he can play a safety, he

can put a red on the side cushion as well, it might be worthwhile just

chipping off the one above. If he can just see the edge of that, push

it on the side cushion maybe... Yeah, because the other two reds

won't pass the pink. He obviously can't see enough of that. Is he

playing this red to the middle? I think he is!

And got it! Wonderful shot. Wonderful.

APPLAUSE Wow. He has ported some balls this

morning. That was an absolute cracker.

He's only going for anything that's round, John, this morning! Well, I

admire him. He could have left the one that was tight on the top

cushion, but he has given himself a chance to see how he's playing this

morning and so far he's playing well, and he must be very pleased.

But take nothing for granted. And that's it. Snooker is needed --

snookers needed. John Higgins had a chance when he had a red to this

corner pocket and missed it. Didn't have much chance in the first frame

this morning. APPLAUSE

Nice little shop here, play this with a bit of running side to try to

make it hard with the cushion. There you go. Every shot you like this

morning from Martin Gould. In very good form.

The frame is over. He can't make a century break. He doesn't want to

play this, really. John said to him, don't bother, that will do! You've

done enough! Nice to see a smile, but what a start this morning from

Martin Gould. Absolutely superb. He's played great snooker, he is

still three behind, but you could say match on.

Of course, there's a possible ten frames in this session. We will play

four before we get to a mid-session interval. Two very important frames,

these. Missed it on the way up. A little

scratch of the head, there, from John. He could have left an easier

chance. He was playing with lots of left-hand side to try to swerve it

that end, and he missed it. He pushed the cue ball out and it

hasn't come back. That's what has happened there. All these little

things will just give Martin Gould a little more encouragement.

Especially when you see someone like John Higgins making a mistake on

that safety shot. Well, if he can get through to the

blue, he will settle for it, but obviously he can't. A little

unlucky, there. I have to say that John was a bit fortunate to leave

the cue ball near the side cushion, there you see him on the blue, that

meant that he couldn't do much with the cue ball, he had to trust quite

a bit to luck. That was massive there. If you just flicks out and he

is on the blue, what a difference that makes. Because he's got

momentum at the minute and he is scoring well. So he's going to take

the brown on. A little bit tricky because he is also slightly hampered

by a red that is under his arm there, when he's playing. This is

one of those instances, even though you've been attacking all morning,

do you just take this on or do you be a bit more prudent and play a

safety shot? I think he's playing safe.

Well, that's the balance you were talking about. I wouldn't disagree

with that. He was a little unlucky, there. I'm quite impressed with

that, actually. Sometimes it's really difficult to reel yourself

in. You can be playing really well, knocking everything in, and you feel

you should be making more of an opportunity, but he has been very

professional there, just played the right shot, until there. This is the

right shot for the instance, I'm going to play it.

Close. It's over 20 minutes now since John Higgins has ported a ball

-- has potted a ball, and I think he may have left this red just do the

right of the black. Maybe not. It's close, that. Well, he wouldn't have

been on a colour but he was just trying to contain the situation.

Obviously Martin can't get through to the potting angle of the red that

is immediately to the right of the black. Otherwise he would have

played it by now. Well, is he playing the pot here? Well, he

played the safety, off that. It always looked a bit risky to me. He

just had to cover the one on the left. Initially he was going to

play-off that one on the left and cover the cushion but he knew the

only place he could play the cue ball was at the right-hand side, so

is what he decided to do. He could have done with better length with

the cue ball. That was a very aggressive safety

shot, and look at the length of the cue ball. OK, an inch short, but a

good one, a telling one. Yeah. He's got a bit more to think about here.

I'm just wondering if he can play off the red that is near to the

blue. The two reds near the left-hand pocket, that is the

problem he's got. There is a safety off that read near the blue, but

unless you get a really good cue ball, you could be leaving yourself

open. Yeah, that is the shot that John is referring to. But you need a

good cue ball to find that baulk cushion. Also, don't hit it too thin

and catch the bump of the middle pocket. Oh! He's missed the bump.

Played it well. Very good shot. Excellent, that was. He's in a spot

of bother. He did get very close to that middle

pocket, that has made a huge difference, not hitting that bump.

It would have been unlucky, but it does happen. Well, as he left

anything? Yeah, it looks like that was a fortuitous kiss on the green.

If he had just run past the green, he would have left maybe a choice of

two reds that were to bowl -- that were possible. His long game and

medium game has been excellent but there is a lot more pressure on this

one when you could be leaving something. That's the first one he

is cued across. But has he been fortunate?

Well, he has certainly covered the one down the left-hand side. Those

of those have been covered. John is already playing the red down the

right-hand side of the table, taking that pot on. All the hours of

practice in your club, this is what it's for, shots like this.

Beautifully struck. He has missed a couple this morning, John Higgins.

But that will give him a bit more confidence. That was a beauty. And

it's time for John to score, now. He has seen Martin playing very well

this morning, winning two quick frames. He needs to restart his

authority back on this match. Just a little overhit, but one of

those shots that John has just played their where you're frightened

of not getting up far enough on the blue. He has just overhit it, but

the brown is available. Actually, the green is, so he can see both of

those. Oh! And that is not the worst kiss.

It's not what he played, but it's an opportunity now in potting this red

to play for the black and get it back on its spot. When the black

does go on its spot, it won't be available in either corner pocket.

So he would like to get on one of the reds that would stop the black

going in the corners. I don't think he'll be able to get

through to the red immediately to the right of the black. But in

moving this red, the black will become available into this corner

pocket. He can't play for the black off this, but that is when you're

thinking a few shots ahead. Once again, I think he went up for the

blue, but would rather be too hard than soft. I think he's got a good

angle as well. The green looks perfect to me, top spin, for the red

to the side of the black. There are three that go but the one just above

the black to the left-hand side would be perfect. And if he is on

the bottom one, well, that is just perfect. Yeah, that's a bonus. As

long as he pots it. He won't be taking it for granted, but getting

this red out of the way makes the black available into both corners.

Yes, it was quite a clever shot off the green. He played it full-blooded

and he knew full well if he wasn't on one he would be on the other. He

has got on the perfect red. He has had a nice couple of little kisses

and nudges in this break. It has been really well construct it. He

will want to win the frame in this visit, John Higgins, just to stem

the tide. He needs another 32 points. To get to the

snookersnookers the snookers required stage. There

is a red on the left-hand side of the table available.

Hmmm. Over done that. There you see it, 53 ahead, 75 remaining. He has

given himself a little bit of work to do here. May be about a foot too

far with the cue ball there. You still expect him to pot this, but a

bit more on it will stop he has recovered the situation beautifully,

there. Good pot, good position. This black would put him 61 points in

front with 67 remaining. So this black, one more red and a colour and

he will have his first frame on the scoreboard this morning. Yes, and it

all started off with that excellent mid-range red, really crisp pot into

the top right-hand corner from John Higgins. Lovely when they go in.

Players spend hours playing these shots. And that is what it's for,

when you're in the heat of battle, you need to lock them in. -- you

need to knock them in. The pink spot not available. It goes

on the highest available one, and that is the yellow spot. Just a red

and a colour needed. Good thinking, that. He is tuned in there. Not many

people would have noticed that the pink wasn't going to go back on its

spot there, so decided that was the way to go about it. Yes, he has

taken these well, considering he has not had much table time so far this

morning. But that is what all the great players can do, of course.

They can be frozen out. It was over 20 minutes since he potted a ball

and then the first chance he gets, he wins the frame. He's a class act

and he always has been. I'm a big fan as well off his cue action,

John. I've always said I like watching John play. He lets the cue

do the work. A modern phenomena, people have gone more compact and

tighter into the cue ball, but John lets the cue ball do the work. I've

never seen him be separate. If I were teaching someone starting off,

I would prefer this cue action. He nearly comes -- it nearly comes off

his bridge hand, he takes it that far back. But he always hit it

straight and it's always smooth. I know you worked a with Frank Allen,

was he the one that started this off? John worked with him and he has

picked that up practising with Stephen watching Anne Frank was very

much advocate of letting the -- letting the cue do the work.

Worked with Steve Davis and Ken Doherty and yourself. He worked with

several world champions, Frank. Sadly passed away last year. Great

character, loved his snooker. So, the 20th century so far. Last

year, the record number of centuries was equalled, and I think it's going

to be bettered this year. Yeah, it's a good shout. I hope so, John. It's

better to watch, people making hundreds breaks. As long as they're

not every frame! You like to see the close frames. But this has been an

excellent contribution. I think he has just played one poor positional

shot. This has been top draw. That's why he's the champion that he is.

Good shot trying to come round. Where's the cue ball going?

Perfectly on the black! Wonderful. We have been treated to

three marvellous frames so far this morning. It seems to be all Martin

Gould. John Higgins, showing what a competitor he is.

Mid-session interval, after this frame. Three marvellous frames we

have seen this morning. There is nothing worse than doing that. You

have played a great frame, made yourself a century then all of a

sudden you make a break of like that and stick the red close to the

centre pocket. You can see it in John's face. He is annoyed with

that. Yes, he's going to finish close to the cushion, so he needs a

nice angle on the blue. That's not bad. Not bad. Doesn't have to do

much with the cue ball, just roll the blue in. I think he will

probably play for the red that is at the back near the black. Seems like

he has enough angle to just come off the side and be on that one.

That's a good shot. Tight onto the cushion. John, JP here was known as

one of the best players of the cushion. I would have been content

to drop that in dead weight. But he achieved that beautifully. -- Kuyt

that. It is amazing how your mind thinks because he would have played

that shot exactly as Martin did. I was fortunate enough to be able to

play of cushions. It is one of those things, never had any problem with

it. He struck that lovely. Played that OK. He would like to

have been another six inches away. I prefer playing the screw shot on the

type of shot. You just feel like you have more control. He has opened up

the reds. It is about potting the black and getting a nice position on

the next red. Just wondering if he will play a little storm into the

three reds, little cannon? I don't know if he can drop this in and get

on one. Could have done with catching it

slightly via the way. He has read to the left middle and want to the

right middle. But just a little bit. Particularly the one to the left

middle. Almost hitting the ball too well this morning. He got into that

beautifully, a good, solid strike again. Just to the other side 's

likely would have been perfect for the bottom read. Now this is tricky.

I just think he cannot get the right side of the blue. If he plays this

one, he would naturally be on the black. But this is a trickier red.

Slightly blind pocket. It is there, no problem. Nicely in position and

this is, as I say, the frame before the mid-session interval. It is a

big one. As long as he can keep John Higgins two frames away from

history, he has a little bit of room to manoeuvre.

I don't think that is entirely how he played it, but he will take it.

This has been a fabulous little mini-session this morning, it has to

be said. Standard is superb. Are they paying us for watching this,

John? It has been absolutely marvellous. Proof of what we were

saying, 94% pot success for Martin Gould this morning. 91% for John

Higgins. Wonderful stuff. And, take your hat off to Martin Gould,

playing one of the best players who has ever picked up the cue. Coming

into this 7-2 behind. He has had such a good approach to the match.

That takes a bit of doing. Just let the cue ball will loose there. Once

again, he will be relying on a little cannon. Can't really

guarantee his position. Pot the black, main priority and keep

yourself on the table. Just hope you can get a little cannon that keeps

you in position. But it is not straightforward. Well played. One in

the middle. And one in the corner. If he can just win this frame in one

visit, which is a distinct possibility he can, it will make him

feel good at the mid-session interval. Not like winning at one

visit, John? He will settle for the blue in the far corner. That is OK.

He has not done a lot wrong this morning. It just shows you, has made

a wonderful century and he plays the break off and caught the end read a

little bit too thick. But sometimes you think, maybe the reds will not

set up right for the red to appear. But it looked, when we saw it then,

he had hit it too thick. Perfect. I think that break of

thing, it happens quite a bit after you have done something really good.

Little dip in your concentration, just made a century, stand your

authority in the match, and you don't concentrate at the break. Then

you sit in the chair and think, why did I do that? We have all done it.

But the worst thing is, you have to do sit down and suffer. This has

been excellent stuff from Martin Gould. Excellent stuff from both

players. He really is a cracking session. I am impressed with the

belief he has shown this morning. Yes. I was impressed with the safety

shot he played. I thought it was one of the best things I had seen this

morning, because he was playing so well. He pulled his homes in and

said, this is the right shot. I remember him refusing the shot on

the brown. That show somebody thinking clearly.

When they started this morning, obviously he would have loved to

have won the four frames they played. He has played a poor

positional shot. If he gets out of this 3-1, he has done some damage.

He was a little bit too far, not sure. If he just plays up, the

higher he goes up the table, the more he will be on the red in the

corner. One thing you couldn't be was short. This is a tricky pot.

Might not look it on your screens, but it is quite acute. Might have to

flick a bit of side on this, so has to be careful. That flick on the

second red has worked out perfectly. Scare over. John Higgins looks

now... He started the morning session with a five frame lead, it

is going to be cut to three. Another good example. To get ideal

positioning, you might have had to put aside on it, but he said no, I

will make sure I just pot the ball. Good thinking again. Very

impressive. Yes, very good. I don't think John Higgins will bother

coming back to the table if this black goes in.

We have already had two centuries. Out of the first three frames this

morning. Will we see a third one? It is not beyond the realms of

possibility. Just choosing to play this one,

little cannon. What a pity we didn't see a century, but it was more than

enough. Martin Gould should be very proud of our performance. He came

out, no negative thoughts, he trailed 7-2, it is now 8-5. This

match will now be played to a finish. No more intervals. John

Higgins, needs two frames. Martin Gould needs five. Every credit, the

way he has come out and fought this morning, Martin Gould.

Decent safety shot from John. No easy path back to the ball, unless

he can get past the blue. He has had a few looks. Must only be

the edge of the red. He probably didn't think he could

hit it that thick. Catching the blue was dangerous, but that yellow has

come to his rescue somewhat. This pot is on to the right corner, but

John will be hampered by the yellow. Might just put him of playing the

pot. If the yellow was in there, you would play it, no doubt. -- was not

there. Looks like he has decided he is.

Maybe his thinking is, if he just runs through a little bit on it, the

only one he could leave is the one he's taking. Brilliant. It is a

great pot, but just lost the cue ball.

Tough enough pot, that was. As John rightly said, being hampered. All

friends here at the Crucible are big, but this one is massive. 9-5,

John Higgins will be thinking, he is more or less home and hosed. Martin

Gould will be extremely disappointed. At 8-6, it is looking

a little precarious. A better shot if Martin hadn't have

flicked the yellow. Easy if John, with his hand on the table.

Who is going to get the first chance? Always interesting piece

tactical battles at the start of the frame. The way both players have

performed this morning, even though Martin Gould has won three of the

first four, John Higgins has played his part. Made a marvellous 127 in

the 12 frame. This is a good shot. This is excellent. Couldn't have

played that much better and a little tap on the table from John Higgins

in appreciation. Couldn't risk trying to get back to

the baulk and, so just containing safety.

John, just checking. Not looking for a planned so much, just making sure

he doesn't knock one over towards the left corner. It is a strange

frame when the brown is off its spot. Not many places you can hide

the cue ball. It is a very good shot as well. Nearly got the pot. But

that wasn't what it was about. It was about getting the cue ball up

behind the yellow. This has got to be thin, which ever way you hit it.

If he hits it thin enough, he could pot it. And he has done. Is that a

good flick on the blue? It's not a bad one. It's not a bad one. You

better is. Wow! Great pot. I didn't thing he cut that in. Excellent. But

the flicked on the blue, what a bonus that is. Absolute natural

angle. Now, what shot does he play? Does he try and go into the reds

odessey come round and play on a loose one?

You can't miss the blue, Martin. Very surprising. How many times do

we say, when you look at the shot it looks easy, but quite an acute

angle. It wasn't that accused, to be honest. He will be disappointing to

miss that after the excellent opening red. The way the balls are

situated, it might not be that costly. It's not an easy table, by

any means. I would settle for the last kiss.

Looked like he could have been nothing. A coming of the other one

has put him on the black. But as you say, it is not an nice table at the

moment. The blue is off its spot, which always makes a difference.

Brown is on the side cushion. I don't think John will be on anything

after that when the black gets spotted. It could be the end of

break. Just needed that cue ball to run up

a fraction further. That situation when the referee spots the black,

you want to say, thanks, rest. It's like the referee takes great

pressure in slowly putting the black on its spot. I'm sure he doesn't,

but as a player you feel that. So that missed blue only cost him a few

points. Court that a little bit too thick

and that's why he's not quite reaching the baulk line. John coming

out to have a look what's available. If the blue passes the red to the

right corner, he will take this red on. It does. Not much margin of

error, but he will feel the only red he could leave in playing this is

the one he is playing. Good, solid pot. An perfect on the blue. That

was always looking like the shot. Beautifully cued. But where is his

position coming from here? Is he going to go up the table and round?

I think that is what he will have to do. But with the yellow not being on

its spot and the brown not on its spot, not too many obstacles to

avoid. Judged this nicely. Very good. Good cueing yet again.

And from looking like an unpromising position, John Higgins pots this

black, easy red on the right, leaves himself an angle and into the pack.

Then, who knows? It might be enough points to win this frame. Has left

himself a nice half bowl angle to stun into the pack or screw into the

pack, however he sees it. Little stunned, up there I would suggest

here. If the split goes right, good chance to win the frame.

Where is the Red Bull going? Can he get past the blue?

Didn't get into the cue ball. Just a tiny fraction of. He feels he can

swerve around the blue to pot this bread. So close to going in. He

thought he could swerve round, but in the end he was very lucky to pot

it. Very lucky. Lucky not to go in. Fractions. They favoured him then.

Looks like the blue, we'll just go past the yellow.

If he is on that red and found the gap, that is an excellent shot. He

will be so pleased with himself with that shot. To find back. Will

he got lucky with the one over the middle pocket. He will take it. That

blue was lovely. This is the last of the open reds.

Got a 43 point lead. Still a possible 83 remaining. So still

going to need three more reds, you would have thought to clinch the

frame at this visit. He needs a good angle on the colour of this red to

try and bring the three reds just below the pink into play. Looking to

see if one of them goes to the middle.

I don't think he's got the best angle on the black, but he may have

a good angle on the pink. Although he's looking once again to see if

the end red goes to the middle. It must be tight. If he plays the pink,

he can open them up. It looks like he has a nice angle on the pink. But

he would rather play this one, because the black is still missable.

Because it is virtually touching the other one or close to it, he has got

to get in the right position. It's not straightforward. Got to get that

position in the right place, so the red is possible. Had a look at it a

couple of times and I think that is perfect. If he pots this, he

releases the other two reds into good positions. That will be

sufficient, these three reds with colours. He will be past the point

of snookers required. This really has been a break of the highest

quality. OK, the red over the middle pocket, he was lucky with the

double-kiss but the shot on the blue, to find the gap. And the rest

of it, the way it has been constructed has been pure John

Higgins. Wonderful control of the cue ball. I have to be honest with

you, when he came to the table I didn't think he would be winning the

frame from there. No, but it was a poor safety shot from Martin. It

shows you, at this level, if you don't find the baulk cushion, you

are in trouble. This, to win the frame.

Just rolling the black in. He will do well to pot the next red. Plans,

that is what he's at. -- a plant. Well, that was asking a

lot, but it didn't matter. And Martin Gould says that's enough.

That was an excellent contribution. You can see a puff of the cheeks

from John Higgins, but he is now one place away from a place in the

second round. -- here's now one frame away. He leads 9-5. Tea and a

cigarette would be one of the biggest things I like to do in the

morning. That would be one of the guilty pleasures. Someone like Adam

Sam Love may be. I'm probably easy-going, very laid back. It's a

bit of a strange one because I do have a short fuse as well when

somebody wines near. I'm a big fan of steak so it would have to be

something like a rib eye steak or a fellow steak. Doing a roast for

myself on the week which normally turns out to be a roast dinner that

is supposed to be for one but it could feed about five. I was sat

next to Frankie Dettori and I couldn't believe it was him! I had

to look at him to three times to be convinced it was him, and I still

didn't bring myself forward to just speak to him. Have like 75 of them!

You just put them all in one room and I would be like, next, next. I

would go back to 1966 and the World Cup final, see for myself if that

ball actually did cross the line or not.

Well, John Higgins would love to win this frame because Martin Gould has

certainly put himself under a little bit of pressure this morning. But

now Martin in the situation where you can't afford to make a mistake

are basically. You've got to play "Don't miss snooker". He's taking

this on. He needs to get it. Oh! Solid.

APPLAUSE It begs the question, how did he

start this session 7-2 down? I tell you why, because he lost the first

five frames. And we always say, you don't settle until you get your

first frame on the scoreboard, it took him a long time. 70% long pot

success, that's good. That's not bad from John Higgins. The reason I

don't look for 90% on long pot success is because some of them are

half played as a shock to nothing. Pot success isn't bad either. Could

win any match, anything at 90% or above is good.

Well, he didn't play that cannon but he has done well there. Good little

shot. He will take where that has finished. Just trying to get through

the gap. There is an expression we use and we say sometimes when people

are in this position, he's got to pay" no miss snooker". -- to play.

When the judges come, they got to go in the pockets. Otherwise he'll be

going home. -- when the chances come. He's playing the run-through,

which surprises me because the black doesn't go in the opposite corner.

Well, maybe it does. Maybe it does. Yes, it does. I know what you mean,

it's quite tight. It's tighter than it looks there. When it gets close

to the red there won't be much margin of error. You've got to cue

this well. APPLAUSE

Did well. Now, I'm going to say that the black doesn't go in the same

pocket as this red he's going to play, so he's got a bit of work to

do with the cue ball. I think you're right with that one! My

commentator's eye is back! Now, it would be easy if the pink would go

to the left middle. I'm not certain that it does. If it doesn't, he

could screw twice across for the black in the opposite corner. Well,

the pink obviously goes. So it's a decent chance. And when we say don't

miss snooker, don't miss anything easy. If you run out of position,

you can always play safe. But don't miss a pot that you're committing

to. The way these two have been playing

this morning and scoring, you would probably think this is frame over,

such has been the standard. John Higgins didn't miss much this

morning to be losing that first mini-session 3-1, Martin Gould was

excellent. Made a brilliant break in the last frame, John Higgins. And

Martin Gould looks like he's in stroke here as well. Very high

quality. Good stuff. A little bit bid to extend between,

here. Straight on the black would have been ideal. Straight on the

pink... Just got a little bit of work to do with the cue ball here. I

don't know why he played the shot he played, John. I thought it was

perfect to drop it in plain ball. Because he stunned it, he got a bit

too close to the black, there. And all shots are coming alike at the

minute to Martin. Yeah, he played that well. He has won a major

ranking event, won the German Masters in 2016. I saw young Yan

Bingtao, 17-year-old, playing yesterday. Martin now at the ripe

old age of 36. But it seems to be not a barrier to winning

tournaments. We've had Anthony Hamilton this year winning a

tournament in his 40s. Mark King. Yes. I haven't had a chance to see

Anthony since he has won, so if you're watching, well done, really

pleased for you. Too good a player never to win a tournament. I spoke

to Mark King after he won and he was still in the Illyria makeable of

weeks afterwards. Yeah, and it was great for his father, Bill, as well.

Because you know what it's like, the family follow you, they suffer all

the heartbreak. And to get that victory and seek Bill's reaction was

wonderful. Yeah. Just this red and a colour required. And he's keeping

his hopes alive. You could say slim hopes, but as John has just alluded

to, when he's getting his chances, Martin, he's making sure he scores.

He will keep John Higgins on his toes, that is for sure. I've been

very impressed with Martin Gould this morning. His attitude, his

commitment and his play. Yes, very good. I suppose similarities in some

ways with the Marco Fu match yesterday. Marco just didn't have

his game than night before. 7-1 down at one point. Humming back to win

10-9, incredible result. Played so much better. I bet Martin wishes he

had started this match is a bit different. Different kettle of fish

coming back against John Higgins rather than Luca Brecel, who is a

very attack minded player, you tend to get a few more chances against

him than you would with John Higgins. But in a way, a similar

story. I think Marco lost the first five frames. All of a sudden you are

playing catch up. You've done all the practice, you think you're

playing well, you lose the first five frames and then start to

question everything you've done. Well, it's not going to go in, but

it won't matter. John will stay in his seat. So, a very good

contribution there from Martin Gould. A break of 80. He is still up

against it but still three behind, and one away from winning -- three

behind John Higgins, who is one away from winning the match.

Another couple of rolls and it would have been an excellent break-off

shot. But John can just get past the yellow. No pot, just a safety.

A bit pacey, this. Is it going to run up behind the yellow? Well, it

has given John a problem here. He can't see a path back to baulk. Yes,

I'm right down the line of it, John, and that is the only thing John has

got, which isn't too advertising. REFEREE: Foul and a miss, Martin

Gould six. Hmmm. I think you will have it replaced. There's no value

in it from there. He wasn't far away from the two-cushion escape. I think

if he makes a minor adjustment I fancy him getting it, but sometimes

you can over adjust. He was trying to catch the red just below the

pink. Only just missed it. John was doing the old lean back there. There

was a bit of limbo going on there, wasn't it?

CHUCKLES You see that in the club with some

of the club players, he kept thinking that if he moved he was

going to make the ball move! I know. It can get you like that, sometimes.

I've seen people in snooker clubs, they play a thin cut and they are

like running down the table, seeing if it's going to go in! Body

movement after the shot. The same shot. This time, can he hit the red

just below the pink. If he over adjust, he can hit it too thick. But

this time... Well, he just caught it a little bit too thick and called

the blue. But he's not left anything that a simple pot. Those two reds to

the right of the pink, the right-hand one won't go and it's

only the left one that will. I'm not sure that is the best potting angle

to get position on pink or black. Hmmm... Well! Well, well, well. I

thought that had stopped in the jaws for a second. Thank goodness for

gravity. Well, I bet you his heart skipped a

beat that, because for all the world it looked like that was going to

stay on the jaws. Maybe just the pace and the fact that the clocks

are still so new, just let that slide in. I know it struggled in,

but fair play to him for playing it that way. It was the only way he

could get position on a colour, by rolling it in dead weight. Not the

easiest thing to do, particularly using the rest, and the scoreline as

it was... A brave shot. But I still don't know how it went in, but it

did. Even on the replay! Martin could do with getting an

angle on a baulk colour here and then coming down and trying to

cannoning to the pink and black. Because he isn't going to score much

on colours up there. The problem funny thing is the blue is actually

a problem there, where it is. He wants about a half ball on the green

or something, pot the green. Although this will help, get the

blue back on spot, that will be something. And then he can pot the

red, up to the blue, and then play a cannon into the pink and black. But

he's certainly going to have to move them. And, John, I suppose if you

play that cannon, the black is going to go into the reds, if you get into

the pink the black will move the reds about, so a chance here. He

just needs to get good position. Hmmm, just overscrewed it a touch.

You see the shake of the head, a bit disappointed. He could still cut

this blew in, but when it's been like this, you can't inject a lot of

pace in the shot. The green is unmissable but off the green, he's

going to have to play a good positional shot for the next red.

Once again, he struck that beautifully. He really did hit that

nicely. So he has got a shot with the rest now. Just looking to see

whether he has got the angle. Well, he had a good look at pink and black

but surely they don't pot. Eight out of eight with the rest, Martin. So

he would like to keep that going. Just looking at this angle, John, I

don't know whether he can... It looks like it is too much and he

would go too close to the blue, I think, to leave that angle back to

pink and black. So he has played for the baulk colour. Now, here's his

chance. Yellow, five cushion, into the pink and black and the pack.

Absolutely. That's what you suggested before he could not be

better situated now. This is an ideal opportunity. In an ideal

world, he would like to just hit the black half ball and then run into

the reds. But if the shot that John is referring to. As I say, you would

love to just nudged the black before hitting the reds. Well, that doesn't

surprise me. That doesn't surprise me. The only thing I can think of,

is maybe he's going to play it the other way, off the blue. Well, it

did look like he had a good chance to do it there. Act up for the blue

and then playing a similar shot into the pink and black off the blue,

again. You've got to go now. If he doesn't go now, I will never believe

it. He will go now. Their play to him, I think you mentioned it

earlier this morning's session, when he refused a shot, he is still

thinking clearly and playing the shots that he thinks is the right

one. Well. I'll never believe it. You've got to go into the pink and

black, there. Yes, wrong choice. You can chip away as much as you like,

but he needed those reds in the open. And it was a chance to bring

the reds into the open and the pink and black. I mean, I know you're

trusting to luck a little bit, John, but you're not going to win the

frame from the way the Bulls are situated. No. The first decision

that I would question from him this morning. Just got a little bit

negative, there. Didn't think positively enough. He's been

thinking positive all morning. Now he's taking this red on, it's risky.

Well, he's potted it. Is he on a colour? Pressure brown. That's what

he's left with. Straight into the top. You always

feel with these as though you would rather play them into middle. Into

the middle. No. Well... A disappointing end,

there, from Martin. I think he made the wrong shot choice. And it caught

up with him in the end. Yeah, it's a strange one as well, because he's

been so positive this morning. That's the thing that got me, every

shot he has fancied, he has taken it on, but it was just so obvious to go

into that pink and black. The funny thing is, the last shot he played

has made the pink and black possible for John Higgins now, as he comes to

the table. Yeah, there you go. So all in all, the last couple of

minutes has been a bit of a shocker for him.

We said that he had to play no miss snooker, and missing that brown

could be so, so costly. It is his challenge for the Betfred World

Championship ending there? It could well do.

He's always had a wonderful way of finishing off matches, John Higgins.

He knows where the winning line is and he knows how to get over it.

He's done this hundreds of times before. Can he do it again?

Looks to have the perfect angle on the pink just to stun it in and play

for the red in the same pocket. Still got a little bit of work to

do. It's not a formality he can win the frame at this visit. Yeah,

initially played in the other red there, but when he finished at that

angle, he knew full well that with a little cannon he could flick the

reds into possible positions. OK he has gone slightly awry because of

it. But his intention was just to get them out in the open as soon as

possible. But there's a bit more to do because of it. Yeah, just the

wrong angle. If he were slightly the other side of the pink, it would be

a formality. Let's see how he plays this, trying to develop a red with a

cannon. He'll settle for that. He will settle for that! Hmmm, just a

bit! Obviously the brown, slight problem

with this break, you just have do not a view in before then, but he

will want to move that brown so that the red will be pottable in the top

corner. He's played that nicely. Had to

screw up with a bit to get the correct side of the pink. So now

when he stands down he can get the red above the black. If he can come

and he may just play on the brown here. Yeah, I think he will have to

play on the brown. Just got to be careful here when he plays this

cannon. He doesn't want to leave himself too thin on the brown, but

he doesn't want the black to block the red from going into this pocket

he's playing into now. Yeah. That was about the best he could play

that, John. May just be able to play a double screw back here and take

the red into the same pocket. They ate cannon onto the brown. Yeah. So,

it worked out well. Yeah, the only downside is that he is slightly

hampered by the brown here. The other thing of course is that he

would like to have got the brown up onto its own spot. That would have

made the rest of the clearance a bit easier. Although he is is probably

past the winning post by then, I would think. Taken these well, John,

hasn't he? Rulli well. Martin Gould had a chance. Just question his shot

selection at a vital time. Well, he's going to need good cueing for

this. These can be missed. Red and a colour required.

In it goes. Flicked the yellow, but that will do nicely. This yellow

will put him 28 points in front with just 27 remaining. Martin Gould's

race looks to have been run. And I have to say, John, if Martin Gould

had been playing one or two of the other players this week, he would

have been knocking some of them out, the way he has played this morning.

He has played superb this morning and I give him every credit for it.

OK we questioned one of two of the shots and he could have been more

aggressive in this frame, but he has given John Higgins a little bit of a

fright, and John Higgins will be very relieved now to just add the

finishing touches to this match. And he has had to work hard today, make

no mistake. He has had two absolutely outstanding breaks in

this match. The one a couple of frames ago was brilliant and this

one to win the match has been better. He's still got it, John. Yes

he has. He started off and had a bit of a lull but he certainly proved

early on in the season that he can still produce the goods, and he has

produced it here and gone all the way four times before. Who's to say

he can't make it five? In goes the pink, handshake, and Martin Gould

will be saying well played and best of luck for the rest of the

tournament. Every credit Martin Gould, did really well there, showed

a really good attitude. He will be back for more, that is for certain.

But John Higgins is now safely through to the second round. He wins

by ten frames to six. STUDIO

So, a very good fightback by Martin but not enough. John Higgins will

now face Northern Ireland's Mark Allen in that last extreme tie which

begins on Friday. That is it for now but we are back with more live

coverage from the Crucible at ten o'clock. Get some sleep, goodbye to

now. Once again your champion, Mark

Selby! Spring is arriving -

in a whirlwind of pink. We're in Japan to celebrate

the sakura. So join us on Friday,

21 April at 8.30 on BBC TWO. You are the cream

of the French aristocracy.