:00:35. > :00:43.Hello and welcome to extended highlights of the 2017 BetFred World
:00:44. > :00:46.Snooker Championship. Our featured match this morning sees Mark Allen
:00:47. > :00:53.of Northern Ireland who knocked out Jimmy Robertson in round one taking
:00:54. > :00:54.on the Scot John Higgins, four times Crucible champion, who dispatched
:00:55. > :01:13.Martin Gould in the first round. John Higgins gets this opening frame
:01:14. > :01:18.under way. This could be a cracker. Yes, it is often said these rounds
:01:19. > :01:22.could be finals. This one definitely could be. John Higgins four times a
:01:23. > :01:26.champion of the world already am Mark Allen certainly have the
:01:27. > :01:37.capabilities of being a world champion. This is a very tough
:01:38. > :01:47.matchup in the last 16. That is not a bad way to start. A cracking pot.
:01:48. > :01:57.It is worth another look at that one. The kiss on the blue could have
:01:58. > :02:09.been better. This is quite an attacking shot here if he is taking
:02:10. > :02:13.this on, surely. That is a snooker shot if he is on the red. He has got
:02:14. > :02:23.the one to the middle but what a very confident pot. That was a
:02:24. > :02:28.superb pot around the ankles of the rest. Very attacking. I don't know
:02:29. > :02:31.whether he has come on the right angle for the red just above the
:02:32. > :02:35.black but he has got one in the middle. He wanted a choice but he
:02:36. > :02:41.had a look at this before and I think he will play a little cannon.
:02:42. > :03:07.Well judged. Very positive. The good shot that, plenty of power.
:03:08. > :03:12.I wonder whether he has dropped on that screw back through the pack.
:03:13. > :03:20.Two reds have sort of stuck together. He is he is -- if he is on
:03:21. > :03:24.the bottom one it is perfect. The way Mark is getting the spider out
:03:25. > :03:32.there, the swan neck I should say, it looks like it does go. He has to
:03:33. > :03:46.be a little careful here, bridging over. Very good. The word on the
:03:47. > :03:48.street so to speak, before we got to the Crucible here, was that Mark
:03:49. > :03:58.Allen was playing absolutely incredible stuff in practice. If he
:03:59. > :04:06.can take that sort of form here to the Crucible and he is going to give
:04:07. > :04:10.John Higgins a very tough time here. He has beaten John on eight
:04:11. > :04:21.occasions, three times he has beaten them at the Masters. He has, but the
:04:22. > :04:26.interesting thing for me was that whenever he has played in the longer
:04:27. > :04:31.formats, on those matches, John Higgins has won all three, including
:04:32. > :04:35.a semifinal here at the World Championships, so maybe it suits
:04:36. > :04:39.John a little bit more over a distance of ground. You mentioned
:04:40. > :04:44.how well Mark was playing, he had for centuries and the maximum break
:04:45. > :04:49.when playing with Shaun Murphy, he went to his house and he wasn't very
:04:50. > :04:56.nice house guest! He won't be going back there as a guest I expect! I
:04:57. > :05:01.can already sense, even in this opening frame, that there is far
:05:02. > :05:05.more focus in Mark Allen. He played OK against Jimmy Robertson the other
:05:06. > :05:10.day and Jimmy did well as well, he is much improved, but Mark really,
:05:11. > :05:14.his concentration at the end was very good but in parts of it he was
:05:15. > :05:29.a little bit sloppy. He knows he cannot be like that today. 33.
:05:30. > :05:37.Mark is one of these players, he is left-handed but when he uses the
:05:38. > :05:44.rest, he uses his right hand. Amazing the number of left-handers
:05:45. > :05:52.that do that. How does that work? I still don't know why that is the
:05:53. > :05:59.kiss? Nearly everybody, I don't know, that is a very strange
:06:00. > :06:10.anomaly. Judd Trump is another one. Barry Hawkins another one I can
:06:11. > :06:14.think of. I think he got up or contact there, just a dead cue ball.
:06:15. > :06:19.He wanted it to go a little bit further. I think Mark was playing
:06:20. > :06:23.for the loose red at the top through the gap. Yes, just no reaction on
:06:24. > :06:44.it. He was trying to pick a spot on the
:06:45. > :06:48.cushion where he could knock the first red to make the angle to knock
:06:49. > :06:53.the plant is on but there is quite a bit of distance between the two
:06:54. > :06:59.reds. He has thought better of it. Just a safety shot. Or is he going
:07:00. > :07:06.for the middle? Maybe he is going for the middle here. That's a
:07:07. > :07:10.terrific pot. I will tell you what, the next shot, if it works out
:07:11. > :07:15.directly with the cannon, he could go on and take the frame with this
:07:16. > :07:18.visit. Was a wonderful shot, well controlled. Not only do you have to
:07:19. > :07:24.make the pot but to keep the cue ball for the back. This is an
:07:25. > :07:37.excellent contribution, what a way to start the match.
:07:38. > :08:10.He played that particular screw shot in that he had a choice of two reds,
:08:11. > :08:22.one close to the black and the bottom of these to register the
:08:23. > :08:26.right, little cannon of this. He is showing us here why he made 32
:08:27. > :08:31.centuries this season. He made 36 last season than 313 it in his
:08:32. > :08:43.career so he is one of the great break-builders of alligator.
:08:44. > :08:55.One of the great break-builders of the game. He won the World Open
:08:56. > :09:05.championship on two occasions, that was in China.
:09:06. > :09:12.The frame is safe, so he can concentrate on trying to clear them
:09:13. > :09:23.up here. I think that is not a bad idea either. Well, what a shame.
:09:24. > :09:25.John will probably come back to the table but barring the snooker, Mark
:09:26. > :09:58.Allen has taken the opening frame. And now he can continue as John sits
:09:59. > :10:11.down. He won't be getting back out of his seat until the next frame. He
:10:12. > :10:12.might get out of his seat Mark doesn't cut this blacking, just for
:10:13. > :10:40.a bit of practice. Not quite sure what that was. He
:10:41. > :10:49.stretched over as he delivered the cue. It was a very strange thing to
:10:50. > :10:54.see there. He is giving us a little bit of exhibition stuff, and look
:10:55. > :10:57.about for a shot. I know the frame is over, but, I tell you what, you
:10:58. > :11:11.won't see a better positional shot for the rest of the tournament. I
:11:12. > :11:14.think he is in good form, Dennis. He loves the big stage though, Mark
:11:15. > :11:42.Allen, he really does produce his best.
:11:43. > :11:47.He is not going to let John score a point in this opening frame. He made
:11:48. > :12:00.that look very easy. He is a fairly quick player as well
:12:01. > :12:06.because he was ranked at that yellow before the White had stopped. It is
:12:07. > :12:14.only 11 minutes for this opening frame.
:12:15. > :12:43.Unbelievable start from the man from County Antrim. He started off with a
:12:44. > :12:50.break of 71 and two finished off with a break of 65. 1-0. The second
:12:51. > :13:08.frame, Mark Allen to break. It is Mark Allen who breaks off in
:13:09. > :13:14.frame two, after that blistering start. Just over 11.5 minutes and
:13:15. > :13:17.some fabulous shots and building. The John Higgins, well he really
:13:18. > :13:22.needs to get his hand on the table and involved in the match. Cold at
:13:23. > :13:43.the minute. His opponent played so well.
:13:44. > :13:51.Yes, that was a good shot there from John Higgins. Mark Allen just tapped
:13:52. > :13:54.the table with his cue. There is an easy path down the left-hand side of
:13:55. > :13:58.the table but it is those two reds that are on for the right corner
:13:59. > :14:04.that he is concerned about. If he does play the shot, well, it seems
:14:05. > :14:21.he will do it, he has to get a good cue ball here. And how is the pace
:14:22. > :14:26.on this? That is pretty good. If that had come off the cushion the
:14:27. > :14:29.red was on for the right corner and the black was available. John Still
:14:30. > :14:34.might have to take it because there is no easy safety. It was excellent,
:14:35. > :14:38.wasn't it? The side of the red was very thin and he didn't want to
:14:39. > :14:54.promote a red so all in all it was an excellent shot. Pressure on this.
:14:55. > :15:16.Well, there may be a chance for Mark for the middle pocket.
:15:17. > :15:29.Perfectly on the blue. There are a few reds open, worth another look at
:15:30. > :15:35.this one. That was far from easy. He may choose to go in the pink here.
:15:36. > :15:40.Well, he just had to screw around the ankles for the one that was
:15:41. > :15:44.above the two reds. He decided that he would not need to that was good
:15:45. > :15:48.thinking because he is on it perfectly. He will be trying to
:15:49. > :15:53.flick one of those reds out but he obviously cannot do it out of shot.
:15:54. > :16:05.He has decided to go into the pack a little later.
:16:06. > :16:11.It is a very compact cue-action that Mark Allen has, it is not a flowing
:16:12. > :16:21.cue-action at all, very compact, he doesn't pull the cue back that far.
:16:22. > :16:25.That is why he is so good in amongst the balls at the break-building,
:16:26. > :16:29.there is very little can go wrong with it. It is an action tailor-made
:16:30. > :16:33.for these fast tables, if you're playing on cloth is a bit thicker a
:16:34. > :16:36.few years ago he would have to adapt it a bit but his action is certainly
:16:37. > :16:39.saluted for the quickness of these particular tables and where the
:16:40. > :17:00.balls are these days. A good chance to go into the pack
:17:01. > :17:05.there. . It is not the best. We will show you that again. He has hit that
:17:06. > :17:09.a little too hard to leave the red. There is one will go up into the top
:17:10. > :17:12.corner pocket and it will also cut into the left middle pocket by the
:17:13. > :17:43.way he is cueing you wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't put this.
:17:44. > :17:55.Very good. Any hard and it would not have gone in but he cued it lovely.
:17:56. > :17:58.It wasn't an easy shot. I was just about thinking how many players
:17:59. > :18:02.would have played in the middle? Many would have taken it up into the
:18:03. > :18:06.yellow pocket but it is always difficult into a blind pocket but a
:18:07. > :18:09.great pot. He just needs to drop this blue in because the bread on
:18:10. > :18:20.the left hand side there is perfect for a left-hander. It's there.
:18:21. > :19:02.He is off and running again in the second frame. The only thing that
:19:03. > :19:05.John Higgins has done is try to pot a very difficult long red from tight
:19:06. > :19:09.on the baulk cushion, and that is about it, he has been a spectator
:19:10. > :19:18.like the rest of us for this first frame and a half. An important
:19:19. > :19:22.contribution this, he has to make sure that he stays a spectator. He
:19:23. > :19:27.has to keep off the table and keeping cold and don't give him an
:19:28. > :19:33.easy opening. If Mark can manage to win the frame in this, what a start.
:19:34. > :19:52.2-0 and his opponent hasn't had a shot.
:19:53. > :20:21.Absolutely superb in the middle from Mark Allen. Ideally he would like to
:20:22. > :20:28.knock this in and get an angle on the black where he can screw up into
:20:29. > :20:31.the five reds. The two reds on the right-hand side of the pink, if he
:20:32. > :20:36.can screw in on there and get a cannon on that I am sure the bottom
:20:37. > :20:42.one pop is in the same hole as the black one is going in. It is all
:20:43. > :20:50.about their cannon here. And it is, perfect.
:20:51. > :21:40.He started off with 71 and 65 in the opening frame. Now, this... He won't
:21:41. > :21:54.be too anxious just yet. Yes, there is the frame. This is
:21:55. > :22:03.just a superb from Mark Allen, you couldn't start any better than this.
:22:04. > :22:07.He pulled out an excellent red in the middle pocket in the middle of
:22:08. > :22:14.this break, just to keep it going but his positional play has been
:22:15. > :22:35.superb. 215 points without reply tells the story.
:22:36. > :22:43.He didn't want the double-kiss there but now he is looking at this, he
:22:44. > :22:51.won at their sons he potted and he will take this one into the corner.
:22:52. > :23:02.Is it there? Is that there? It is right in the middle of the pocket.
:23:03. > :23:33.95. That is 32 centuries so far in this years World Championship. Make
:23:34. > :23:42.that number 33. It is Mark 's 33rd this season. It doesn't matter about
:23:43. > :23:46.the red, John Higgins has been sat and that's it for the two opening
:23:47. > :23:49.frames and he just cannot get to the table. Mark Allen leads the four
:23:50. > :23:55.times former champion by two frames to zero. Thank you, the third frame,
:23:56. > :24:24.John Higgins to break. Is he going to get a chance in this
:24:25. > :24:27.third frame? What I have noticed, this table seemed to be playing a
:24:28. > :24:30.bit slow yesterday with the new cloth on it but I think it is back
:24:31. > :24:40.to playing perfectly again. The slates have dried out.
:24:41. > :24:50.Foul and a miss. John Higgins, four. Before he played the shot he let the
:24:51. > :24:57.referee have a look at whether White was so it is for him to replace it.
:24:58. > :25:00.Yes, the slates would have been dry but maybe the cloth would have had a
:25:01. > :25:07.little slight bit of dampness, but it is running beautifully now. In a
:25:08. > :25:11.Mac writing the table heaters and obviously brushing and ironing
:25:12. > :25:18.between seconds -- sessions will get it quicker. Just trying to get it
:25:19. > :25:25.exactly where it was with the monitor. The can use that, it is
:25:26. > :25:29.technology at work. I think if he can get past the red and it is a
:25:30. > :25:39.guide to hit the second without going in off. It was a guide to miss
:25:40. > :25:47.the first red. What John Higgins needs here is one good safety shot.
:25:48. > :25:58.If he can get that white in behind the yellow, that is what he will be
:25:59. > :26:02.looking for. He got it a little bit on the thick side and he were cannon
:26:03. > :26:06.into the brown. That is not what he was after, but look at the black
:26:07. > :26:17.tied up, there was no point taking the pot on here.
:26:18. > :26:25.Taking the chance to just put the black in a better position. Yes, the
:26:26. > :26:31.way he is playing at the moment, why wouldn't you?
:26:32. > :26:35.It adds to the pressure of your safety shots because you know they
:26:36. > :26:51.have to be good. Not like that one. Left far too
:26:52. > :27:03.thin, that's why he hit the bump on the middle pocket.
:27:04. > :27:10.There was too much pace on it as well. Hit it too thin and it would
:27:11. > :27:16.have come in and out of the baulk area. As he hit it straight, or got
:27:17. > :27:17.a slight angle on it? Is taking the more difficult pot, better for
:27:18. > :27:26.position. Has he got a little bit of angle
:27:27. > :28:13.this time on this red? Yes, he's OK. But the thing with these pots, they
:28:14. > :28:16.are going right in the centre of the pocket, certainly the corners, they
:28:17. > :28:40.are not touching the sides. That's the end of break. A touching
:28:41. > :28:45.ball would help here. Wasn't much he could do there. It's not a shot you
:28:46. > :28:51.can get a lot of pace into, reaching over, and he could easily missed the
:28:52. > :28:54.black, so he's trying to play the maximum pace he can to guarantee the
:28:55. > :29:04.pot and hope he gets a bit lucky, which he didn't. I think Paul
:29:05. > :29:12.Callier did say touching ball, so the safety shot is a lot easier for
:29:13. > :29:16.Mark, twice across the table. He has to cover the one near the right or
:29:17. > :29:30.left corner pocket as we look at it, the one near his body now.
:29:31. > :29:31.And look at this, judged to perfection.
:29:32. > :31:04.APPLAUSE It's not a good angle if he was to
:31:05. > :31:09.take the one into the left corner pocket. Black just available on the
:31:10. > :31:15.right corner of so he's looking for a telling safety shot here. Look at
:31:16. > :31:23.that, 250 points and John has got four points.
:31:24. > :31:43.That's a better safety shot from John Higgins.
:31:44. > :32:11.Not much he can do with this, actually. Can't run away down the
:32:12. > :32:18.table. It will have to be a tip tap. Yes, it's a little bit of a
:32:19. > :32:27.stalemate. Unless he thinks he can have a go at
:32:28. > :32:38.this. How's that? That wasn't a tip or a tap, that was
:32:39. > :32:55.Apotex Mac -- it was a pot! It was superb, John is checking to
:32:56. > :33:00.see if he is actually on the black. There's a fair bit of pressure on
:33:01. > :33:10.it. How is your cueing, John? 2-0 down.
:33:11. > :34:01.Oh, and he should have done better than that. I was about to say, the
:34:02. > :34:05.black was a problem because it is stopping the right-hand side of the
:34:06. > :34:09.pack to get back in the Bork area. But he had to cover the one on the
:34:10. > :34:15.left-hand side and he hasn't done it. First mistake this afternoon for
:34:16. > :34:36.Mark Allen, or can John Higgins make something of it?
:34:37. > :34:42.Just had a little wobble before it went in the pocket there. He's left
:34:43. > :34:57.himself slightly hampered on the pink here.
:34:58. > :35:04.He made that look easy. A nice bit of cueing that, wasn't it? Very
:35:05. > :35:09.positive and well struck. Awkward, slightly hampered. That was
:35:10. > :35:15.definitely the middle of the white he hit there. And the bonus for John
:35:16. > :35:16.that the pink spot was occupied, it's on the black spot, highest
:35:17. > :35:26.available. This is what top-class professional
:35:27. > :35:31.snooker is all about. You have to sit on a chair for two frames and
:35:32. > :35:35.watch your opponents steam-roll you for two frames. It's your turn to
:35:36. > :35:39.score. The only solution is you've got to.
:35:40. > :35:48.Very impressive, Mark Allen is, so far in this match. First mistake
:35:49. > :35:54.he's made with the safety. There's your table time. The 20% John
:35:55. > :35:58.Higgins has had has been mostly safety shots.
:35:59. > :36:09.Has he got a good enough angle to cannon into the reds and bring them
:36:10. > :36:12.back into play also? -- brings back into play also? That's what he's
:36:13. > :36:17.attempted and he's on one to the left middle. I think there is one
:36:18. > :36:24.that might cut back, when we show you the cannon. To open things up.
:36:25. > :36:59.Such a formidable competitor, John Higgins. Always has been.
:37:00. > :37:04.He won't be happy with that shot. The run-through to catch the bump
:37:05. > :37:15.there. Just tried to force an angle out of
:37:16. > :37:19.it slightly. Didn't get it. Now it just looks like a safety shot. Once
:37:20. > :37:28.again, no big target behind the brown or the green.
:37:29. > :37:44.An excellent safety shot, he'll be -- disappointed he didn't score more
:37:45. > :38:09.but he's put Mark Allen in a bit of trouble.
:38:10. > :38:22.Wobble Woods -- the problem here is there's no easy ball to nestle onto.
:38:23. > :38:25.If he played the brown he would have played the two cushiony scope where
:38:26. > :38:30.he plays off the side of the pack. I'm not so sure that brown might be
:38:31. > :38:34.in the way. It certainly is, John. That's what he's round looking at.
:38:35. > :38:43.Can't see that one past the green and as we pan round, he's got a
:38:44. > :38:48.problem. That's why he's having to think long and hard about an escape
:38:49. > :38:54.route here. To come off two cushions and hit that one that's between the
:38:55. > :39:02.blue and pink and to hit it since and back down the table would
:39:03. > :39:10.require amazing judgment. Yes, might be his only shot.
:39:11. > :39:23.REFEREE: Foul and a miss. He's quite a character, Mark Allen. He always
:39:24. > :39:28.has a little bit of banter with the referee.
:39:29. > :39:35.LAUGHTER You wish! I notice when he played
:39:36. > :39:38.that one he erred on the side of caution, didn't it? You played it
:39:39. > :39:45.just inside, so he'll be having a look, if he's going to play it again
:39:46. > :39:50.now, just a little bit. He really is in a spot of bother here.
:39:51. > :39:57.I think you'll play that same shot again because he did think long and
:39:58. > :39:58.hard about it and as you say, he doesn't mind giving away a couple of
:39:59. > :40:23.penalty points. He's hit it too thick. Hang on a
:40:24. > :40:33.minute. The fact that he's hit the blue with the red... Now, what goes
:40:34. > :40:39.into this left corner? Just wondering whether the middle red of
:40:40. > :40:46.the three does and it does, it pots. OK. This is a very good chance. You
:40:47. > :40:51.may even be able to miss the cannon on the black.
:40:52. > :41:06.Yes. So at first, he had got away with that.
:41:07. > :41:21.Good shot that, to avoid both those colours there.
:41:22. > :41:26.And even for an experienced player like John Higgins, you never really
:41:27. > :41:34.settled until you get your first frame on the board in any match.
:41:35. > :41:39.He's got to concentrate here because obviously the blue is knocked off
:41:40. > :41:43.its spot so sometimes you hit that and play that. Realise that it
:41:44. > :41:51.wasn't there. But to experienced for that, John. I think we've all done
:41:52. > :41:54.that from time to time, using the blues on the spot, you play for it
:41:55. > :42:04.and then you come up a long way short.
:42:05. > :42:11.It's a fascinating match this, it really is. Two top-class players.
:42:12. > :42:15.John Higgins hanging on them there at the moment. Funny to say that at
:42:16. > :42:18.the start of a match, but whoever wins the first three or four frames,
:42:19. > :42:43.they are bang under it. That one wobble its way into the
:42:44. > :42:48.pocket. John just having a look around at the scoreboard. He's not
:42:49. > :42:49.that many pots away from securing this important frame, from his point
:42:50. > :44:13.of view. Unlucky there to snooker himself on
:44:14. > :44:17.the pink, or maybe he can just... Doesn't really matter, he'd have
:44:18. > :44:18.another quick look at the scoreboard. The frame is well and
:44:19. > :44:39.truly safe. Only 43 on the table. John Higgins 32 and the frame. And
:44:40. > :44:42.Mark Allen, he's off the mark, the former four times champion, but he
:44:43. > :44:50.still trails Mark Allen by 2-1 frames. It's Mark Allen who breaks
:44:51. > :44:53.off WinFrame four in a fabulous opening session in this last 16
:44:54. > :45:07.match. Three excellent frames of snooker. Good scoring. 104 Mark, and
:45:08. > :45:10.in the last frame, a really good granite matchplay snooker frame from
:45:11. > :45:48.John Higgins to get back into - one. A little bit of everything.
:45:49. > :45:54.Oh, he's got away with it. Look what he's done with the reds. Have you
:45:55. > :45:58.ever seen the pattern of the balls sitting like that? But what a
:45:59. > :46:02.result. I mean, he missed a long pot, I don't think he's missed one
:46:03. > :46:04.long pot, but missed that one. Look what he did with the reds. What a
:46:05. > :46:27.result. Any of the long matches that you
:46:28. > :46:30.play, you set your store before you go out, you are in the dressing room
:46:31. > :46:35.and thinking, I've got to try to take a mini-session, 3-1 frames and
:46:36. > :46:37.if you were to win all four that would be a bonus, but that's what
:46:38. > :46:48.you've got at the back of your mind. And then if you get a couple of
:46:49. > :46:53.frames in front, you get a little mindset, if I can keep sharing the
:46:54. > :47:15.frames now then I'm well on the way to victory.
:47:16. > :47:20.He's made things difficult here for Mark Allen. No easy escape back down
:47:21. > :47:26.the table. Now, is there one red that he can
:47:27. > :47:36.have a go at and find the gap? He didn't play the pot but I tell
:47:37. > :47:52.you what, he found the gap. It's a funny shot there really,
:47:53. > :47:58.because he's missed the green,... INAUDIBLE
:47:59. > :48:03.There a red on the right-hand side he can take. But he can't really
:48:04. > :48:20.guarantee position and you have got to knock it in. Big shot, this.
:48:21. > :48:27.APPLAUSE He deserved that little bit of good
:48:28. > :48:36.fortune there, because it was a cracking pot that John had picked
:48:37. > :48:40.out there. Well, John picked it out in the commentary box and John
:48:41. > :48:46.Potter it on the table. Yes, lovely little flick off the reds but the
:48:47. > :48:53.priority there was to knock sat in, which is what he did. -- the
:48:54. > :48:55.priority was to knock that in. It's all about two or three shots of cue
:48:56. > :49:06.ball control. The balls spread the way they are,
:49:07. > :49:15.it's a great chance to be 2-2 at the interval.
:49:16. > :49:24.He left himself straight on the blue. He's got a few reds he can
:49:25. > :49:31.play for anyway but it didn't want to be absolutely straight on it.
:49:32. > :49:34.Yes, if he just comes back a few inches there's two reds below the
:49:35. > :49:39.black, the one on the right-hand side would be absolutely ideal. He
:49:40. > :49:42.could pot that, stun across and play in the middle. It depends on where
:49:43. > :49:51.he's landed now but that looks like the one.
:49:52. > :49:55.Just a little soft stun on this and the black in the middle and it's a
:49:56. > :50:39.really good chance. That really has planned that one.
:50:40. > :50:44.John was trying two reds on the left-hand side, he's trying to get
:50:45. > :50:47.on that to get on the black, but change of plan this one and screw
:50:48. > :50:58.back. And Well-macro. Where did that come
:50:59. > :51:02.from? I was just thinking, he potted a cracking one similar to that in
:51:03. > :51:08.the last frame, but when you are striking down on the ball like that,
:51:09. > :51:18.he's hampered. Just a little trace of unwanted side can cause that.
:51:19. > :51:26.And now he's got to sit in his feet and he'll be wondering how long he's
:51:27. > :51:31.going to be sitting there, because...
:51:32. > :51:36.The way Mark Allen has been playing, you wouldn't put it past him to
:51:37. > :51:47.knock in a sizeable contribution here.
:51:48. > :51:55.Yes, John will be absolutely kicking himself. It was just a lot loss of
:51:56. > :52:00.position he had to have a change of plan. I still expected him to knock
:52:01. > :52:03.the red in. Sometimes because you have yourself all worked out which
:52:04. > :52:08.way you are going to go about a break and have to change direction,
:52:09. > :52:10.concentration can go awry and that's what happened there. Wouldn't see
:52:11. > :52:19.him missing it. Mark Allen can't believe he's back
:52:20. > :52:45.at the table, I'll bet. This was the miss, here, but that
:52:46. > :52:51.wasn't the red he played on. He was hampered slightly. Caused a problem,
:52:52. > :53:37.but I still expected him to knock it in.
:53:38. > :53:44.He's got to be a little bit careful with the position here. That's why
:53:45. > :53:45.he's taking a bit of time. Not totally straightforward, the red he
:53:46. > :53:56.wants to land on. Nicely played. Lovely little bit of
:53:57. > :53:58.Czech side there, just to straighten the cue ball. Couldn't have played
:53:59. > :54:07.any better. Success of 96%, that's very good. It
:54:08. > :54:21.will we knew most of your matches. Mark Allen will be focused on this
:54:22. > :54:24.particular opportunity. He will know how much it will hurt John Higgins
:54:25. > :54:42.if he manages to win the frame off it.
:54:43. > :54:51.A session interval coming up after this frame. Doesn't have to play any
:54:52. > :54:55.cannons. Even the two reds that are near the pink, if he pots one, it
:54:56. > :55:09.will free the other. Oh, oh, where did that come from? He
:55:10. > :55:20.hasn't looks like missing here. So far this afternoon.
:55:21. > :55:29.At least he didn't stick the red at from the Malnati missed. -- at least
:55:30. > :55:50.he didn't stick the red up, from the one that he missed.
:55:51. > :56:02.A good target here between the green and brown.
:56:03. > :56:09.A decent shot. Two reds on the left-hand side, the bottom one just
:56:10. > :56:20.off the cushion, that will be the one, up and down for John.
:56:21. > :56:23.Has he got it right behind the yellow, because if he has this is
:56:24. > :56:43.the proper bonus. Good shot. It should not be a problem this for
:56:44. > :56:47.Mark Allen. He will have a look to see if he comes off the side cushion
:56:48. > :57:02.and nestles near this red on the pocket or will he leave anything?
:57:03. > :57:13.He is going to be in a little bit of trouble again. John has a couple of
:57:14. > :57:18.potting angles but there was an easy safety down between the green and
:57:19. > :57:22.the brown. He is a bit close to red but he is certainly looking at the
:57:23. > :57:29.potting angle. He feels that he can take up into the corner. What an
:57:30. > :57:31.important pot this could be. He is having second thoughts but he wants
:57:32. > :57:53.to take it on. What is shot that is. Wow, very
:57:54. > :57:58.good. Horrible little shots when the cue ball and object ball very close.
:57:59. > :58:01.He couldn't have played that any better. A little bit of spin going
:58:02. > :58:15.and excellent pot. He has to concentrate a little bit
:58:16. > :58:19.harder now because there is quite a bit of noise from the other side of
:58:20. > :58:22.the curtain. We are at the mid-session interval and as you can
:58:23. > :58:24.see everyone is going out to stretch their legs and have a cup of tea or
:58:25. > :58:41.coffee. Not the best contact therefore John,
:58:42. > :58:47.the cue ball is being cleaned. He is OK. He wanted to finish pretty
:58:48. > :58:54.straight but just a screw back fought the red. You have to cue
:58:55. > :58:59.these wells -- well. You have to get right through them. He did keep it
:59:00. > :59:16.well. It is all about that breads near the
:59:17. > :59:20.middle pocket and it is the only one that is out of cushion. In a couple
:59:21. > :59:25.of shots time, John is already thinking about it, if he can get
:59:26. > :59:29.onto the red in such a way that he can pop one into the corner and not
:59:30. > :59:33.that one out, that is what he was studying there. The rednecks to the
:59:34. > :59:45.pink I would leave to the second last, you can play on the loose one
:59:46. > :59:47.second. He has played on that one there, he might have been leaving
:59:48. > :59:50.that one to last because it is such a natural angle to pot that, play a
:59:51. > :59:53.cannon on the Redding guaranteed to be on the blue. I would like to have
:59:54. > :00:02.been flicking that red out off the red.
:00:03. > :00:09.He just gets the one chance at bringing that difficult red
:00:10. > :00:18.interplay so it has got to be perfect with this position. And he
:00:19. > :00:26.has left an angle. He doesn't have to hit it all that hard. Yes, he has
:00:27. > :00:32.got the shot we were on about with the other red. Just enough just to
:00:33. > :00:40.flick it out. And that will do it. A great shot. When we ask how many
:00:41. > :00:49.shots ahead the players are thinking, John was looking at that
:00:50. > :00:55.shot about four shots ago. The only little bit of a concern is the green
:00:56. > :00:58.is in behind the brown bear and not on its spot so not a straightforward
:00:59. > :01:04.run to the winning line but it shouldn't be a problem. The good
:01:05. > :01:08.thing is the yellow is not on its spot so with the yellow a little bit
:01:09. > :01:12.of its spot he only has to stun the cue ball and even wear the yellow
:01:13. > :01:24.ball is now and he is guaranteeing position. It should not be a
:01:25. > :01:29.problem. He just needs the green and he will be very, very pleased to go
:01:30. > :01:34.into the mid-session interval at 2-2. Yes, he was in first and he
:01:35. > :01:37.missed a red in the middle and then Mark Allen Mr red in the corner and
:01:38. > :01:44.John must have been fearing the worst in his chair thinking he would
:01:45. > :01:48.be 3-1 down. Just this green, and it looks like it is 2-2 at the
:01:49. > :02:20.interval. A very good match, this. Very good.
:02:21. > :02:28.This match will be played to a conclusion tomorrow morning and
:02:29. > :02:29.tomorrow evening. If it carries on like this we will see some brilliant
:02:30. > :02:52.snooker. Mark Allen has had breaks of 42, 65,
:02:53. > :02:56.71 and 100. He will be all square. Terrific stuff from both players.
:02:57. > :03:02.Nothing to pick between them now as they head off to the mid-session
:03:03. > :03:03.interval at 2-2 and we cannot wait until the second instalment of this
:03:04. > :03:22.match. John gets the first frame after the
:03:23. > :03:26.mid-session interval under way. Are we going to get more of the same?
:03:27. > :03:36.The standard was superb for the first four frames out of this best
:03:37. > :03:45.of 25 frame match. A pretty good break-off shot. Any escape route
:03:46. > :03:49.from either side of the table could leave a possible pot on with the
:03:50. > :04:35.reds away from the main bunch the to the left and right.
:04:36. > :04:40.I don't blame him taking a little bit of time because it doesn't look
:04:41. > :04:44.as though there is any obvious drop into the pack, you can't going on
:04:45. > :04:50.the left-hand side because those two metal pot, so he can't do that. I
:04:51. > :04:54.don't think he can get past the brown to drop into the right-hand
:04:55. > :04:59.side of the pack and there is one red out on the side anyway. He will
:05:00. > :05:07.have 1.5 minutes so it will have to have to be to cushion escape, that
:05:08. > :05:09.is what it is, around the has mis-hit it, but he won't be too
:05:10. > :05:47.disappointed. That is all right. Foul. Mark Allen, four. Smiles all
:05:48. > :05:56.around about that one. It is nice to see. It is amiss, yeah. The referee
:05:57. > :06:31.said it is amiss. Yet, it is a mess so he can put him
:06:32. > :06:36.back in again but, yes, it was a little bit unusual. I think it
:06:37. > :06:44.wasn't touching so he was playing to just clip it and missed it
:06:45. > :06:54.altogether. Both players have a little giggle. He couldn't do much
:06:55. > :06:59.else, John, there, he just knows he is going to be leaving himself open
:07:00. > :07:01.to be back on the baulk cushion. I red on the right-hand side will be
:07:02. > :07:24.moved. I remember getting a bit of the
:07:25. > :07:30.giggles, Cliff Foreman and myself were paying David Taylor and Eddie
:07:31. > :07:32.in the world doubles and something happened with Eddie and we couldn't
:07:33. > :07:38.stop laughing at the crowd couldn't stop laughing and Eddie did think it
:07:39. > :07:40.was funny and he turned to the crowd and said, well, I am pleased
:07:41. > :07:42.everyone is enjoying themselves. Not the place to get a fit of the
:07:43. > :08:07.giggles, that's for sure. Just a little bit awkward with that
:08:08. > :08:15.red out the other side of the blue. If you play they have to get it just
:08:16. > :08:19.right. -- if you play up there you have to get it just right. He is
:08:20. > :08:23.looking for a possible plant up to the corner and there is one that
:08:24. > :08:32.will putt into the right middle but it is a very thin shot. Mark looking
:08:33. > :08:36.to see with his cue what he can leave, there are not many shots he
:08:37. > :08:41.can play here, just chipping down to the baulk area. He doesn't like the
:08:42. > :08:45.look of leaving the cue ball down by the yellow pocket because John might
:08:46. > :08:54.have a shot to nothing in the middle pocket so a change of plan. Is it a
:08:55. > :09:09.double? No, just a safety. He has left one of those outside reds.
:09:10. > :09:20.Not easy this, by a long stretch but this is a shot to nothing. If he
:09:21. > :09:28.screws it back in touch. A great pot. That was a mistake from Mark
:09:29. > :09:31.fair, he thought long and hard about what safety to play and in the end
:09:32. > :09:34.he didn't play a particularly good one but that is not taking anything
:09:35. > :09:55.away from that because that is an excellent pot.
:09:56. > :10:01.Just easy to play for baulk colour here and then next to the blue, and
:10:02. > :10:03.then once you have potted that the blue with black on its spot and then
:10:04. > :10:11.the break is looking a little easier. -- once you have potted that
:10:12. > :10:40.the blue is back on its spot. No real need to play any cannons
:10:41. > :10:45.into the pink or the reds just yet, he has got a couple of loose ones.
:10:46. > :10:55.One on the right-hand side at the back is available as well. John
:10:56. > :11:00.played in an area there, that is the art of break-building, played in an
:11:01. > :11:04.area where he is not on one than he is on the other one, he has given
:11:05. > :11:08.himself options. People try to make breaks out there in clubs and
:11:09. > :11:11.everything, a classic example of how to make a break, give yourself a
:11:12. > :11:31.couple of options. So that back red I mentioned is the
:11:32. > :11:45.one he will be playing on and Mark Allen can only sit and watch.
:11:46. > :11:52.Now, he has hit that way too short. What has he found there, does he
:11:53. > :11:58.think there was a plant on in the middle? Up, there is, but he would
:11:59. > :12:04.ideally want the cue ball to come down a little further than that.
:12:05. > :12:06.That is quite a gap between these two. You would expect him to get it
:12:07. > :12:23.but it could be missed. John Higgins 24. Yes, I think it was
:12:24. > :12:26.the blue, as you said, he didn't get far enough down to make the plant a
:12:27. > :12:30.little bit easier but I still expected him to get that really. He
:12:31. > :12:31.had overdone it and he knew straightaway that he had overdone
:12:32. > :12:48.that. Back in, Mark Allen. Back into the
:12:49. > :13:00.form that he had in the two opening frames where he never missed a shot.
:13:01. > :13:02.Mark just had a little look there. The red is virtually directly above
:13:03. > :13:07.the black and that is the one that he was thinking he might get through
:13:08. > :13:17.the gap to get on. It maybe he just has to play a cannon. Yes, decided
:13:18. > :13:27.to go right in there instead. Wow. How unlucky that? Looking for a
:13:28. > :13:29.cannon, just on that red there, missed it. I am not so sure he is on
:13:30. > :14:08.anything. Very unlucky. Well, he was on something, but that
:14:09. > :14:20.was an excellent pot, a great recovery. Yes, he deserves what he
:14:21. > :14:25.gets after that shot. Not only did he knocked the reddening keep them
:14:26. > :14:34.break going, he manoeuvred a few reds into portable positions. Tough
:14:35. > :14:37.school today, you can't make too many mistakes. John on that plant
:14:38. > :14:45.didn't get the cue ball far enough down. He just has to sit and watch
:14:46. > :15:02.and hope he misses. It was just a little awkward there
:15:03. > :15:26.and he left the blue this time. 25. Just looking at the reds, he
:15:27. > :15:32.doesn't have to play any cannons. Certainly not for some time anyway
:15:33. > :15:44.because the reds will clear each other potting this here just opens
:15:45. > :15:47.up the path of. Just stun off the cushion and leave himself a choice
:15:48. > :16:03.of two reds into the same pocket as the black.
:16:04. > :16:11.38. Nice little break this, he is taking them well but by the time he
:16:12. > :16:16.has removed the red it has opened the path for another one. A perfect
:16:17. > :16:21.position here, both threads either side of that little cluster will
:16:22. > :16:27.pot. He could have done with a bit more than that. It is still OK. He
:16:28. > :16:34.can potted. He will have to screw out.
:16:35. > :17:47.61. Yes, this is how he started the match this afternoon. A magnificent
:17:48. > :17:49.century break in frame two after making breaks of 71 and 65 in the
:17:50. > :18:05.opening frame. The frame as well and truly over, as
:18:06. > :18:13.you can see he was looking to get to 68 and he is well past that. If he
:18:14. > :18:27.could just concentrate and maybe make his second century.
:18:28. > :18:37.Slightly wrong there but you would still expecting to knock this in and
:18:38. > :18:41.he is taking these really well. Right in the heart of the pocket
:18:42. > :18:50.like most shots he has been playing today whilst he has been making a
:18:51. > :18:51.break of God in the pocket, by tin. -- have gone in the pocket, right
:18:52. > :19:23.in. This will be marks fourth century if
:19:24. > :19:27.he can carry on here. In this years BetFred World Championship, but
:19:28. > :19:33.without doubt is a different class, the way he has started this match
:19:34. > :19:45.against the four times former champion. Absolutely superb from
:19:46. > :19:50.Mark Allen. It doesn't matter about the black. He got the one chance and
:19:51. > :19:51.he took it and he won the frame with that century break and he is now
:19:52. > :20:12.back in the lead 3-2. They will play eight frames this
:20:13. > :20:18.afternoon and I bet he does not make a worse break of shot on that one,
:20:19. > :20:23.Mark Allen. Eight more frames in the morning and then a possible nine
:20:24. > :20:28.tomorrow evening. A little lapse in concentration that after making a
:20:29. > :20:32.100 break. To break off and leave an early chance but it still needs
:20:33. > :20:57.potting. Yes, not this time, and you could
:20:58. > :21:25.tell where the cue ball finished up that he hit that one all wrong.
:21:26. > :21:33.Mark did not get that one right either. He needs to stun that white
:21:34. > :21:37.damn pass the baulk line obviously, to get it up towards the baulk
:21:38. > :21:42.discussion, so he has left John Higgins a thin cliff here. It is
:21:43. > :21:44.virtually shot to nothing, basically the only red he has taken is the one
:21:45. > :22:24.he could leave. Too thick. He has potted some terrific long
:22:25. > :22:30.balls. So much for the shots or nothing theory. This one, no
:22:31. > :22:55.messing. That was an excellent shot, it
:22:56. > :22:57.really was, digging down deep on the cue ball there, could not have put
:22:58. > :23:13.that any better with his hand. One play on the bottom one on the
:23:14. > :23:18.pack, just got a little shot to leave this one on the top cushion.
:23:19. > :23:26.But the next red is available on the outside of the cluster.
:23:27. > :23:41.14. That is terrific, 97%. John is at 90%. I have red that John
:23:42. > :23:45.mentioned that he can get to at this time and the other John has to just
:23:46. > :23:53.sit and scratches chin there and see what develops.
:23:54. > :24:00.He has just come off an awkward angle there. It is just offshoot
:24:01. > :24:06.great. What a shot he got out of there, didn't look as though that
:24:07. > :24:10.was on. That is these very lively cloth that players play on these
:24:11. > :24:15.days. The action you can get on the ball is amazing, it is just the shot
:24:16. > :24:25.that was not available 30 or 40 years ago. The costs were much
:24:26. > :24:30.heavier, more nap on them. Yes, and obviously the balls have changed as
:24:31. > :24:33.well, and got a lot lighter and more reactive, so that helps, but
:24:34. > :24:41.nevertheless, it was still a very good shot.
:24:42. > :24:46.Well, we have always known he was a top-class player but he is in
:24:47. > :24:54.scintillating the good form today, making very few mistakes. Scoring
:24:55. > :25:03.has been extremely heavy and if John Higgins did not know he was in a
:25:04. > :25:08.match, then he does now. It is some really good stuff. A key shot coming
:25:09. > :25:24.up now. He is just OK. He can get the one to
:25:25. > :25:27.the right middle. You deserved to be on something because he played a
:25:28. > :25:30.very well. They weren't a good pack to go into but he has opened the
:25:31. > :25:49.nicely and he should be fine here. Well, this BetFred World
:25:50. > :25:53.Championship is really warming up and when you get to the second round
:25:54. > :26:02.three sessions, that is when the players really get into it and start
:26:03. > :26:06.playing their best. We are over that very nervy first round, it is the
:26:07. > :26:10.same for everybody. If you are involved in the event there is
:26:11. > :26:14.sometimes a potential banana skin in the first round. You are playing
:26:15. > :26:18.against people who have come through and had three matches and match
:26:19. > :26:23.sharp and that in itself can bring a problem. You probably played your
:26:24. > :26:26.match and had days off and watched everyone else sweat for a few days
:26:27. > :26:36.but then you come back and you know that the serious stuff starts.
:26:37. > :26:39.It is serious at the minute because he is in seriously good form. He has
:26:40. > :27:09.been wonderful. I think the only other player in the
:27:10. > :27:16.first round, Ding Junhui, made three centuries. He was playing fantastic.
:27:17. > :27:25.This is probably the best anyone has played. Yes, pretty impressive.
:27:26. > :27:28.Stuart Carrington had three consecutive is. Do you remember
:27:29. > :27:32.Dennis in the first round as well? Joined a very elite group of
:27:33. > :27:35.players, there was only four others that had ever done that in the 40
:27:36. > :27:55.year history, John. These centuries are overrated. You
:27:56. > :28:02.are bobbing there might be another one coming here. It's not easy. The
:28:03. > :28:10.frame is almost secure. It will be when this red disappears.
:28:11. > :28:16.A bit of work to do if he's going to make another century. He's just
:28:17. > :28:58.spotted something on the black. He's obviously brought his practice
:28:59. > :29:05.game to the Crucible here. Everyone was saying how well Mark Allen has
:29:06. > :29:09.been playing in practice, an awful lot of people can do that but to
:29:10. > :29:14.come to the Crucible Theatre and produce it, John. You are right,
:29:15. > :29:20.there. At the home, is just the gallops. This is the racecourse. Two
:29:21. > :29:20.different things. At the moment... INAUDIBLE
:29:21. > :29:44.. As long as he's not dead straight,
:29:45. > :29:51.and he's not, he can only drop this and he'll be on the black. Get in
:29:52. > :29:57.there. Yes, clinging to the cushion. He hit that well.
:29:58. > :30:05.What a performance! That's the 35th century and this year's Betfred
:30:06. > :30:14.World Championship. You can't play any better than this.
:30:15. > :30:51.This is scintillating stuff. Mark Allen at his absolute best.
:30:52. > :31:03.John Higgins, you've got a match on, my friend.
:31:04. > :31:09.And he just rolls the black in and mark Allen, well, this is some of
:31:10. > :31:14.the finest snooker I've ever seen him produce. The crowd appreciated
:31:15. > :31:24.and he extends his lead. It is now 4-2, to the man from County Antrim.
:31:25. > :31:34.John Higgins breaks off in frame seven. 4-2 down to a very much
:31:35. > :31:44.inform Mark Allen. An excellent session of snooker.
:31:45. > :31:49.It's a long time since I've seen Mark Allen play this well. He's been
:31:50. > :31:51.brilliant today. He's always been a top-class player, but brilliant
:31:52. > :32:16.today. The safety shot was made a little
:32:17. > :32:20.easier, hiding the writing between the two colours. Not quite. It's who
:32:21. > :32:27.plays the best safety shot here that will create an opening.
:32:28. > :32:41.He's going to catch the brown. It's safe, but... At the moment, the two
:32:42. > :33:05.high value colours are out of commission, the pink and black.
:33:06. > :33:22.It's left attempt for Mark. -- it's left something tempting for Mark. He
:33:23. > :33:26.doesn't have to take this on. He could push the cue ball up and down
:33:27. > :33:27.but I'm pretty sure the way he's potted today, he will be taking
:33:28. > :34:21.this. 240 points without reply. It tells
:34:22. > :34:26.you how well Mark Allen is plain. That is John Higgins sitting in the
:34:27. > :34:49.other chair, folks, by the way. Looking more meritorious.
:34:50. > :34:56.He's shaking his head, it looks as if he's misjudged this one, the
:34:57. > :35:02.black going back on its spot. He got a bad contact, Dennis. The kick,
:35:03. > :35:09.took all the weight out of the cue ball. He was actually in a perfect
:35:10. > :35:14.position. He thinks he can sneak past this, the black onto the red.
:35:15. > :35:29.He's letting the referee have a look, but it's very tight.
:35:30. > :35:36.It shows you how focused he is begotten of that little heavy
:35:37. > :35:40.contact it spoiled his position -- because with that little heavy
:35:41. > :35:44.contact it spoiled his position but it went straight to the back of his
:35:45. > :35:51.mind. A cracker in the middle pocket. And it's very early days,
:35:52. > :35:55.but he's made back-to-back centuries. Surely it couldn't happen
:35:56. > :36:02.again. We couldn't see three centuries in a row.
:36:03. > :36:13.I think the way he's hitting it, these are lovely, he's on stroke,
:36:14. > :36:17.his touch is fabulous. I think it's coming, Dennis. You mentioned Stuart
:36:18. > :36:21.Carrington making three in a row and then losing his match. John Higgins
:36:22. > :36:26.is another of the players who has made three in a row in the 40 years
:36:27. > :36:32.at the Crucible, Neil Robertson has also done it, Mark Selby has done it
:36:33. > :36:48.and running O'Sullivan. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan.
:36:49. > :36:53.I'm going to reiterate what I said before. If John Higgins can win the
:36:54. > :36:57.next frame and get out of this session only losing 5-3 today, he'll
:36:58. > :37:02.have done very well, the way Mark Allen has played. There's a bit left
:37:03. > :37:07.this frame, but the way he's been hitting it I don't see them being
:37:08. > :37:12.any mistakes here. The cue ball is on a string. Every pot was in the
:37:13. > :37:14.middle of the pocket. He's had his peak at the moment, Mark Allen, and
:37:15. > :37:24.it's tough to stop. Lots of people fancying John Higgins
:37:25. > :37:33.to win the autumn half of this particular draw. -- to win the
:37:34. > :37:39.bottom half of this particular draw. In this form he's got a heck of a
:37:40. > :37:42.match on his hands. It will be interesting to see where he goes in
:37:43. > :37:45.the betting now, with playing this type of snooker. The bookies might
:37:46. > :38:10.have to adjust their odds. SO15 now required just to be over
:38:11. > :38:14.the line in this. -- 50 is now required. It's safe to assume we're
:38:15. > :38:19.talking about the table early in the match, it looked a little slow
:38:20. > :38:31.yesterday. It's not now, it's absolutely beautiful. Screws, cue
:38:32. > :38:33.ball control has been of the highest quality from Mark. It's a wonderful
:38:34. > :38:36.feeling when you are out there playing at your best. Oh, what a
:38:37. > :38:49.kick. Yes, the frame isn't safe just yet
:38:50. > :38:53.and that's a terrible contact. I mean, the red still went in but it
:38:54. > :39:00.took all the pace out of the cue ball. A little mark on the red
:39:01. > :39:03.there. So he's going to have to go all the way around the ankles and
:39:04. > :39:14.avoid the yellow, brown and green, to get back up to the reds.
:39:15. > :39:23.Here it comes. Misses the covers. He needs to keep on running though,
:39:24. > :39:37.he's got the one next to the pink. Having to party with the rest.
:39:38. > :39:51.Well, I can show you this pot with the rest again, a pot that virtually
:39:52. > :40:00.secures the frame for him. Now, could it possibly be three in a
:40:01. > :40:29.row on the Mark Allen show? I've watched an awful lot of Mark
:40:30. > :40:33.Allen turned pro in 2005. This without doubt is the best I've ever
:40:34. > :40:40.seen him play. It's a tricky one, this.
:40:41. > :40:50.Yes, even the difficult ones are going in, but he was looking a bit
:40:51. > :40:55.concerned. He's got more to do here, but the way he's gone on I'd be
:40:56. > :41:04.surprised if he ends up on the ball. Right round the table. Oh. What a
:41:05. > :41:07.shame. He was on his way to three centuries in a row, but he's done
:41:08. > :41:12.the most important thing. He's made enough of that age as you break to
:41:13. > :42:15.extend his lead. He now leads John Higgins by 5-2.
:42:16. > :42:21.You can't guarantee, but if Mark Allen played like this the rest of
:42:22. > :42:24.the championship, he'd be crowned world champion. He's been that good
:42:25. > :42:26.this afternoon. That would be the exhibition of break-building,
:42:27. > :42:33.scoring, competing. Somebody playing at the very top of
:42:34. > :42:44.their game. He'll be desperate to win this
:42:45. > :42:58.frame, 6-2 overnight. Makes your dinner taste a bit better
:42:59. > :43:13.doesn't it, Dennis? Does it ever. He knows only too well with it being
:43:14. > :43:20.three sessions, he's up against one of the greatest players that's the
:43:21. > :43:22.picture cue up. -- that has ever picked a cue up. You have to just
:43:23. > :43:35.keep it going and don't let up. As I mentioned earlier, you play
:43:36. > :43:40.these long merchants, little mini sessions and if he was to take this
:43:41. > :43:43.frame he's won both mini sessions 3-1. But John knows he can turn it
:43:44. > :43:50.around in the second session tomorrow morning. But you can only
:43:51. > :43:56.turn it around if your opponent gives you a few chances. Now has he
:43:57. > :44:00.ran out of position here? It's the only chance he's going to get if
:44:01. > :44:03.Mark runs out of position because if there's any pot available, it's in
:44:04. > :44:09.the pocket, the way he's played today. It was slightly loose, that
:44:10. > :44:13.positional shot. This was one he got too much side and hit it full ball
:44:14. > :44:19.rather than just glancing off it. But he's looking up at the monitor,
:44:20. > :44:27.John. He knows that Mark is out of position now. Yes, he settled for
:44:28. > :44:31.that, John, 30 points behind. You might be down the baulk end but the
:44:32. > :44:32.way Mark Allen has played today you'd think he would lose the frame
:44:33. > :44:58.again. So a lifeline. Just caught that a little thinner
:44:59. > :45:14.than he intended. As I mentioned, there is only the
:45:15. > :45:18.yellow on its spot to try and get in behind, and you're not trying to get
:45:19. > :45:20.tight in behind the area. You're trying to get tighter and on the
:45:21. > :45:25.cushion. He's looking at the possibility of what you would call a
:45:26. > :45:34.shot to nothing, but that's very, very tight. I think it's just too
:45:35. > :45:36.tight. There was just a safety shot. And that's what he had to do, get it
:45:37. > :45:46.close to the cushion. Yes, it was an excellent shot.
:45:47. > :45:52.There's two reds he was lining up. It's more about the safety.
:45:53. > :46:01.And coming up to 40 minutes since he spotted a ball. -- since he's potted
:46:02. > :46:31.a ball. This is the only frame that the
:46:32. > :46:37.balls have gone awkward. And this is quite fascinating to watch as well,
:46:38. > :46:39.because we've seen everything. We've seen the three centuries from Mark
:46:40. > :46:50.Allen and now we're seeing some terrific tactical play.
:46:51. > :46:56.Needs the brown and blue to come to his rescue, because he didn't play
:46:57. > :47:04.like that. It was a tough shot that, by the way. But got away with one
:47:05. > :47:06.there. He's very good at this type of pot, a shot to nothing again. He
:47:07. > :47:21.cuts these reds in quite regularly. Not this time, but once again, look
:47:22. > :47:24.at the cue ball. It's been an excellent all-round performance,
:47:25. > :47:29.hasn't it? Scoring, break-building, matchplay, safety has been good. A
:47:30. > :47:42.very stern examination for John. There's nothing wrong with his eyes
:47:43. > :48:36.after that shot. Yes, 40 minutes, potted a ball. I
:48:37. > :48:42.hope he pots one before the end of this.
:48:43. > :49:00.Cut the red off the side cushion, back into the cluster. He decided to
:49:01. > :49:05.go for the pot. Had that option that I mentioned.
:49:06. > :49:17.Is he going to get that? That's what happens if you don't get that. He
:49:18. > :49:20.was trying to make it into a shot to nothing but if John can get nice
:49:21. > :49:23.Leon brown or yellow here, he can get up to those reds around the
:49:24. > :49:35.black and disturb quite a few. The brown is perfect, off the brown
:49:36. > :49:40.is absolutely perfect. Would you like to cannon the black here, or
:49:41. > :49:41.come in the reds? I would play down, hit it fairly hard and get to the
:49:42. > :49:56.black. He's got to put something on here.
:49:57. > :50:02.Yes, that will do very nicely. Good cannon, the reds into position. I'd
:50:03. > :50:05.have preferred to have the black in play, that would have been the
:50:06. > :50:12.ultimate. At least he's got a chance to make a break here.
:50:13. > :50:19.It's obviously going to be tough, but maybe worth while playing the
:50:20. > :50:22.same shot down here, playing off the side cushion and into the black and
:50:23. > :50:29.reds again, because he can't keep going up for yellows. And he can do
:50:30. > :50:32.it off is a blue again as well as the yellow, so similar type shot is
:50:33. > :50:42.the one he played on the brown to bring a few more into play.
:50:43. > :50:51.That's not too bad. He's got a red to the left corner. He'll have to
:50:52. > :50:58.play with a little bit of pace to get up for the blue. The blue is
:50:59. > :51:04.handy because you can go back up for it. You couldn't really generate a
:51:05. > :51:11.lot of pace off the blue to get that cannon. If he can pop this and get
:51:12. > :51:20.back up for the blue, then it's handy.
:51:21. > :51:29.A couple of shots away from having a good chance here. And this time I
:51:30. > :51:35.think he's got a slightly better angle on the yellow, to once again
:51:36. > :51:39.he may have to disturb something because the black is still tied up
:51:40. > :51:43.somewhat. So another one good cannon could really open things up here.
:51:44. > :51:45.Yes, in a perfect world if he could do it, the red to the right-hand
:51:46. > :51:58.side of the black. If he could, it would be lovely
:51:59. > :52:01.because it would feed the black. Here it comes and he's got it. Great
:52:02. > :52:06.shot. Absolutely brilliant. Three times he's had to go into that
:52:07. > :52:21.bunch because they were so awkward. And now it's back on may be going in
:52:22. > :52:25.overnight, just two frames behind John. At least the first thing is
:52:26. > :52:32.he's got himself with a chance and he's back in the frame.
:52:33. > :52:41.There's two reds glued to the top question are going to be a problem.
:52:42. > :52:48.-- the top cushion are going to be a problem. He's got a chance, some
:52:49. > :52:52.points on the board. But he'll do exceptionally well to win the frame
:52:53. > :52:54.from here, particularly with what's happened this afternoon. He's been
:52:55. > :53:24.second best for most of it. He's developed a few more. Is a bit
:53:25. > :53:29.unlucky for that one to go safe to the right of the pink. The way these
:53:30. > :53:33.balls are sitting when he came to the table, I mean, this is an
:53:34. > :53:35.exceptional break. He's all square in this frame but still an awful lot
:53:36. > :53:45.to do. The one thing I will say, the top
:53:46. > :53:49.cushion has been hugging, so that red that's tight on the top cushion,
:53:50. > :53:53.which is obviously one you'd ordinarily like to play, I don't
:53:54. > :53:56.think it's as bad as to when they are virtually touching the cushion
:53:57. > :54:00.they are all right. It's when they are a little bit off. I think that's
:54:01. > :54:04.possible. The war on the right-hand side. -- the wall on the right-hand
:54:05. > :54:16.side is a very nice at all. I'm having a check, I think it's
:54:17. > :54:33.pretty close to the cushion. It should hug when he plays that one.
:54:34. > :54:41.Here we go, let's see, pushing the ball together. And there you go, a
:54:42. > :54:48.great shot. It's all about the cannon. Or is it all about the
:54:49. > :54:51.double? Look at this, John, look at the way the table is sitting when he
:54:52. > :54:58.starts off. What a clearance this is.
:54:59. > :55:02.He's decided to play for the double and this has been an absolutely
:55:03. > :55:07.incredible contribution. He's been second best most of the afternoon.
:55:08. > :55:12.His opponent is an absolute fire. He's hardly seen any table. 40
:55:13. > :55:20.minutes since she's had a pot and if John Higgins wins the frame from
:55:21. > :55:25.that situation he was left. Oh. He's missed it but where is the red going
:55:26. > :55:33.to finish? He only needed that red once the black to make it 5-3. This
:55:34. > :55:39.will pot in the middle pocket. The green is the only saving ball, you
:55:40. > :55:46.have to say, but this is far from easy here.
:55:47. > :55:53.It's there. APPLAUSE
:55:54. > :55:57.I've not seen a better middle pocket display from any player this year's
:55:58. > :56:03.championship. His middle pocket play has been absolutely outstanding.
:56:04. > :56:13.And what a huge frame this could be in the match. For all the world John
:56:14. > :56:17.Higgins looks like he was going to Nexis frame for 5-3 overnight
:56:18. > :56:19.instead of potentially 6-2, and he is the double, which I fancied him
:56:20. > :56:28.getting. He's pretty good at them. He might be absolutely dead straight
:56:29. > :56:33.on this yellow, so he can't get close to the green. He could do with
:56:34. > :56:38.a little bit of angle. And he just had a little bit of angle. As long
:56:39. > :56:42.as he's not straight, he's going to have to play this with a lot of pace
:56:43. > :56:46.to get out onto the brown and we've seen these. He shakes his head.
:56:47. > :56:58.We've seen these wobble in the jaws, if you hit them too hard.
:56:59. > :57:04.At that pace it was always going to be difficult and he stuck the green
:57:05. > :57:08.up. Yes, I just don't think the yellow was the best way to play it.
:57:09. > :57:12.Left himself on a funny angle. He'd been better leaving himself slightly
:57:13. > :57:20.higher, or tight on the bottom cushion. But it was in between.
:57:21. > :57:43.Because he's potted it so well, he tried to force it in. 17 ahead.
:57:44. > :57:48.What a competitor this player is. He really is a competitor. The win that
:57:49. > :57:52.final frame of the session and be only 5-3 behind with the way Mark
:57:53. > :57:58.Allen has played, he'll be delighted to get out of that session only two
:57:59. > :58:04.behind. Well, without a shadow of a doubt this has been the best the
:58:05. > :58:10.snooker we've seen so far. Handshakes all around. It's been a
:58:11. > :58:14.pleasure to come on what has been a scintillating session of snooker.
:58:15. > :58:17.Mark Allen making three century breaks but John Higgins, four times
:58:18. > :58:23.a world champion, hung in there and he'll be delighted but he's still
:58:24. > :58:30.two behind. It's 5-3 to Mark Allen. Jason Mohammad macro He's looking
:58:31. > :58:36.marvellous, Jason Allen -- Mark Allen. We are back at 10am with more
:58:37. > :58:38.live coverage from the Crucible. Get some sleep and we'll see you in the
:58:39. > :59:03.morning. Our crack team of experts
:59:04. > :59:07.use pioneering research