Day 7 World Championship Snooker Extra

Hello and welcome to extended highlights of the 2017 BetFred World

Snooker Championship. Our featured match this morning sees Mark Allen

of Northern Ireland who knocked out Jimmy Robertson in round one taking

on the Scot John Higgins, four times Crucible champion, who dispatched

Martin Gould in the first round. John Higgins gets this opening frame

under way. This could be a cracker. Yes, it is often said these rounds

could be finals. This one definitely could be. John Higgins four times a

champion of the world already am Mark Allen certainly have the

capabilities of being a world champion. This is a very tough

matchup in the last 16. That is not a bad way to start. A cracking pot.

It is worth another look at that one. The kiss on the blue could have

been better. This is quite an attacking shot here if he is taking

this on, surely. That is a snooker shot if he is on the red. He has got

the one to the middle but what a very confident pot. That was a

superb pot around the ankles of the rest. Very attacking. I don't know

whether he has come on the right angle for the red just above the

black but he has got one in the middle. He wanted a choice but he

had a look at this before and I think he will play a little cannon.

Well judged. Very positive. The good shot that, plenty of power.

I wonder whether he has dropped on that screw back through the pack.

Two reds have sort of stuck together. He is he is -- if he is on

the bottom one it is perfect. The way Mark is getting the spider out

there, the swan neck I should say, it looks like it does go. He has to

be a little careful here, bridging over. Very good. The word on the

street so to speak, before we got to the Crucible here, was that Mark

Allen was playing absolutely incredible stuff in practice. If he

can take that sort of form here to the Crucible and he is going to give

John Higgins a very tough time here. He has beaten John on eight

occasions, three times he has beaten them at the Masters. He has, but the

interesting thing for me was that whenever he has played in the longer

formats, on those matches, John Higgins has won all three, including

a semifinal here at the World Championships, so maybe it suits

John a little bit more over a distance of ground. You mentioned

how well Mark was playing, he had for centuries and the maximum break

when playing with Shaun Murphy, he went to his house and he wasn't very

nice house guest! He won't be going back there as a guest I expect! I

can already sense, even in this opening frame, that there is far

more focus in Mark Allen. He played OK against Jimmy Robertson the other

day and Jimmy did well as well, he is much improved, but Mark really,

his concentration at the end was very good but in parts of it he was

a little bit sloppy. He knows he cannot be like that today. 33.

Mark is one of these players, he is left-handed but when he uses the

rest, he uses his right hand. Amazing the number of left-handers

that do that. How does that work? I still don't know why that is the

kiss? Nearly everybody, I don't know, that is a very strange

anomaly. Judd Trump is another one. Barry Hawkins another one I can

think of. I think he got up or contact there, just a dead cue ball.

He wanted it to go a little bit further. I think Mark was playing

for the loose red at the top through the gap. Yes, just no reaction on

it. He was trying to pick a spot on the

cushion where he could knock the first red to make the angle to knock

the plant is on but there is quite a bit of distance between the two

reds. He has thought better of it. Just a safety shot. Or is he going

for the middle? Maybe he is going for the middle here. That's a

terrific pot. I will tell you what, the next shot, if it works out

directly with the cannon, he could go on and take the frame with this

visit. Was a wonderful shot, well controlled. Not only do you have to

make the pot but to keep the cue ball for the back. This is an

excellent contribution, what a way to start the match.

He played that particular screw shot in that he had a choice of two reds,

one close to the black and the bottom of these to register the

right, little cannon of this. He is showing us here why he made 32

centuries this season. He made 36 last season than 313 it in his

career so he is one of the great break-builders of alligator.

One of the great break-builders of the game. He won the World Open

championship on two occasions, that was in China.

The frame is safe, so he can concentrate on trying to clear them

up here. I think that is not a bad idea either. Well, what a shame.

John will probably come back to the table but barring the snooker, Mark

Allen has taken the opening frame. And now he can continue as John sits

down. He won't be getting back out of his seat until the next frame. He

might get out of his seat Mark doesn't cut this blacking, just for

a bit of practice. Not quite sure what that was. He

stretched over as he delivered the cue. It was a very strange thing to

see there. He is giving us a little bit of exhibition stuff, and look

about for a shot. I know the frame is over, but, I tell you what, you

won't see a better positional shot for the rest of the tournament. I

think he is in good form, Dennis. He loves the big stage though, Mark

Allen, he really does produce his best.

He is not going to let John score a point in this opening frame. He made

that look very easy. He is a fairly quick player as well

because he was ranked at that yellow before the White had stopped. It is

only 11 minutes for this opening frame.

Unbelievable start from the man from County Antrim. He started off with a

break of 71 and two finished off with a break of 65. 1-0. The second

frame, Mark Allen to break. It is Mark Allen who breaks off in

frame two, after that blistering start. Just over 11.5 minutes and

some fabulous shots and building. The John Higgins, well he really

needs to get his hand on the table and involved in the match. Cold at

the minute. His opponent played so well.

Yes, that was a good shot there from John Higgins. Mark Allen just tapped

the table with his cue. There is an easy path down the left-hand side of

the table but it is those two reds that are on for the right corner

that he is concerned about. If he does play the shot, well, it seems

he will do it, he has to get a good cue ball here. And how is the pace

on this? That is pretty good. If that had come off the cushion the

red was on for the right corner and the black was available. John Still

might have to take it because there is no easy safety. It was excellent,

wasn't it? The side of the red was very thin and he didn't want to

promote a red so all in all it was an excellent shot. Pressure on this.

Well, there may be a chance for Mark for the middle pocket.

Perfectly on the blue. There are a few reds open, worth another look at

this one. That was far from easy. He may choose to go in the pink here.

Well, he just had to screw around the ankles for the one that was

above the two reds. He decided that he would not need to that was good

thinking because he is on it perfectly. He will be trying to

flick one of those reds out but he obviously cannot do it out of shot.

He has decided to go into the pack a little later.

It is a very compact cue-action that Mark Allen has, it is not a flowing

cue-action at all, very compact, he doesn't pull the cue back that far.

That is why he is so good in amongst the balls at the break-building,

there is very little can go wrong with it. It is an action tailor-made

for these fast tables, if you're playing on cloth is a bit thicker a

few years ago he would have to adapt it a bit but his action is certainly

saluted for the quickness of these particular tables and where the

balls are these days. A good chance to go into the pack

there. . It is not the best. We will show you that again. He has hit that

a little too hard to leave the red. There is one will go up into the top

corner pocket and it will also cut into the left middle pocket by the

way he is cueing you wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't put this.

Very good. Any hard and it would not have gone in but he cued it lovely.

It wasn't an easy shot. I was just about thinking how many players

would have played in the middle? Many would have taken it up into the

yellow pocket but it is always difficult into a blind pocket but a

great pot. He just needs to drop this blue in because the bread on

the left hand side there is perfect for a left-hander. It's there.

He is off and running again in the second frame. The only thing that

John Higgins has done is try to pot a very difficult long red from tight

on the baulk cushion, and that is about it, he has been a spectator

like the rest of us for this first frame and a half. An important

contribution this, he has to make sure that he stays a spectator. He

has to keep off the table and keeping cold and don't give him an

easy opening. If Mark can manage to win the frame in this, what a start.

2-0 and his opponent hasn't had a shot.

Absolutely superb in the middle from Mark Allen. Ideally he would like to

knock this in and get an angle on the black where he can screw up into

the five reds. The two reds on the right-hand side of the pink, if he

can screw in on there and get a cannon on that I am sure the bottom

one pop is in the same hole as the black one is going in. It is all

about their cannon here. And it is, perfect.

He started off with 71 and 65 in the opening frame. Now, this... He won't

be too anxious just yet. Yes, there is the frame. This is

just a superb from Mark Allen, you couldn't start any better than this.

He pulled out an excellent red in the middle pocket in the middle of

this break, just to keep it going but his positional play has been

superb. 215 points without reply tells the story.

He didn't want the double-kiss there but now he is looking at this, he

won at their sons he potted and he will take this one into the corner.

Is it there? Is that there? It is right in the middle of the pocket.

95. That is 32 centuries so far in this years World Championship. Make

that number 33. It is Mark 's 33rd this season. It doesn't matter about

the red, John Higgins has been sat and that's it for the two opening

frames and he just cannot get to the table. Mark Allen leads the four

times former champion by two frames to zero. Thank you, the third frame,

John Higgins to break. Is he going to get a chance in this

third frame? What I have noticed, this table seemed to be playing a

bit slow yesterday with the new cloth on it but I think it is back

to playing perfectly again. The slates have dried out.

Foul and a miss. John Higgins, four. Before he played the shot he let the

referee have a look at whether White was so it is for him to replace it.

Yes, the slates would have been dry but maybe the cloth would have had a

little slight bit of dampness, but it is running beautifully now. In a

Mac writing the table heaters and obviously brushing and ironing

between seconds -- sessions will get it quicker. Just trying to get it

exactly where it was with the monitor. The can use that, it is

technology at work. I think if he can get past the red and it is a

guide to hit the second without going in off. It was a guide to miss

the first red. What John Higgins needs here is one good safety shot.

If he can get that white in behind the yellow, that is what he will be

looking for. He got it a little bit on the thick side and he were cannon

into the brown. That is not what he was after, but look at the black

tied up, there was no point taking the pot on here.

Taking the chance to just put the black in a better position. Yes, the

way he is playing at the moment, why wouldn't you?

It adds to the pressure of your safety shots because you know they

have to be good. Not like that one. Left far too

thin, that's why he hit the bump on the middle pocket.

There was too much pace on it as well. Hit it too thin and it would

have come in and out of the baulk area. As he hit it straight, or got

a slight angle on it? Is taking the more difficult pot, better for

position. Has he got a little bit of angle

this time on this red? Yes, he's OK. But the thing with these pots, they

are going right in the centre of the pocket, certainly the corners, they

are not touching the sides. That's the end of break. A touching

ball would help here. Wasn't much he could do there. It's not a shot you

can get a lot of pace into, reaching over, and he could easily missed the

black, so he's trying to play the maximum pace he can to guarantee the

pot and hope he gets a bit lucky, which he didn't. I think Paul

Callier did say touching ball, so the safety shot is a lot easier for

Mark, twice across the table. He has to cover the one near the right or

left corner pocket as we look at it, the one near his body now.

And look at this, judged to perfection.

APPLAUSE It's not a good angle if he was to

take the one into the left corner pocket. Black just available on the

right corner of so he's looking for a telling safety shot here. Look at

that, 250 points and John has got four points.

That's a better safety shot from John Higgins.

Not much he can do with this, actually. Can't run away down the

table. It will have to be a tip tap. Yes, it's a little bit of a

stalemate. Unless he thinks he can have a go at

this. How's that? That wasn't a tip or a tap, that was

Apotex Mac -- it was a pot! It was superb, John is checking to

see if he is actually on the black. There's a fair bit of pressure on

it. How is your cueing, John? 2-0 down.

Oh, and he should have done better than that. I was about to say, the

black was a problem because it is stopping the right-hand side of the

pack to get back in the Bork area. But he had to cover the one on the

left-hand side and he hasn't done it. First mistake this afternoon for

Mark Allen, or can John Higgins make something of it?

Just had a little wobble before it went in the pocket there. He's left

himself slightly hampered on the pink here.

He made that look easy. A nice bit of cueing that, wasn't it? Very

positive and well struck. Awkward, slightly hampered. That was

definitely the middle of the white he hit there. And the bonus for John

that the pink spot was occupied, it's on the black spot, highest

available. This is what top-class professional

snooker is all about. You have to sit on a chair for two frames and

watch your opponents steam-roll you for two frames. It's your turn to

score. The only solution is you've got to.

Very impressive, Mark Allen is, so far in this match. First mistake

he's made with the safety. There's your table time. The 20% John

Higgins has had has been mostly safety shots.

Has he got a good enough angle to cannon into the reds and bring them

back into play also? -- brings back into play also? That's what he's

attempted and he's on one to the left middle. I think there is one

that might cut back, when we show you the cannon. To open things up.

Such a formidable competitor, John Higgins. Always has been.

He won't be happy with that shot. The run-through to catch the bump

there. Just tried to force an angle out of

it slightly. Didn't get it. Now it just looks like a safety shot. Once

again, no big target behind the brown or the green.

An excellent safety shot, he'll be -- disappointed he didn't score more

but he's put Mark Allen in a bit of trouble.

Wobble Woods -- the problem here is there's no easy ball to nestle onto.

If he played the brown he would have played the two cushiony scope where

he plays off the side of the pack. I'm not so sure that brown might be

in the way. It certainly is, John. That's what he's round looking at.

Can't see that one past the green and as we pan round, he's got a

problem. That's why he's having to think long and hard about an escape

route here. To come off two cushions and hit that one that's between the

blue and pink and to hit it since and back down the table would

require amazing judgment. Yes, might be his only shot.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. He's quite a character, Mark Allen. He always

has a little bit of banter with the referee.

LAUGHTER You wish! I notice when he played

that one he erred on the side of caution, didn't it? You played it

just inside, so he'll be having a look, if he's going to play it again

now, just a little bit. He really is in a spot of bother here.

I think you'll play that same shot again because he did think long and

hard about it and as you say, he doesn't mind giving away a couple of

penalty points. He's hit it too thick. Hang on a

minute. The fact that he's hit the blue with the red... Now, what goes

into this left corner? Just wondering whether the middle red of

the three does and it does, it pots. OK. This is a very good chance. You

may even be able to miss the cannon on the black.

Yes. So at first, he had got away with that.

Good shot that, to avoid both those colours there.

And even for an experienced player like John Higgins, you never really

settled until you get your first frame on the board in any match.

He's got to concentrate here because obviously the blue is knocked off

its spot so sometimes you hit that and play that. Realise that it

wasn't there. But to experienced for that, John. I think we've all done

that from time to time, using the blues on the spot, you play for it

and then you come up a long way short.

It's a fascinating match this, it really is. Two top-class players.

John Higgins hanging on them there at the moment. Funny to say that at

the start of a match, but whoever wins the first three or four frames,

they are bang under it. That one wobble its way into the

pocket. John just having a look around at the scoreboard. He's not

that many pots away from securing this important frame, from his point

of view. Unlucky there to snooker himself on

the pink, or maybe he can just... Doesn't really matter, he'd have

another quick look at the scoreboard. The frame is well and

truly safe. Only 43 on the table. John Higgins 32 and the frame. And

Mark Allen, he's off the mark, the former four times champion, but he

still trails Mark Allen by 2-1 frames. It's Mark Allen who breaks

off WinFrame four in a fabulous opening session in this last 16

match. Three excellent frames of snooker. Good scoring. 104 Mark, and

in the last frame, a really good granite matchplay snooker frame from

John Higgins to get back into - one. A little bit of everything.

Oh, he's got away with it. Look what he's done with the reds. Have you

ever seen the pattern of the balls sitting like that? But what a

result. I mean, he missed a long pot, I don't think he's missed one

long pot, but missed that one. Look what he did with the reds. What a

result. Any of the long matches that you

play, you set your store before you go out, you are in the dressing room

and thinking, I've got to try to take a mini-session, 3-1 frames and

if you were to win all four that would be a bonus, but that's what

you've got at the back of your mind. And then if you get a couple of

frames in front, you get a little mindset, if I can keep sharing the

frames now then I'm well on the way to victory.

He's made things difficult here for Mark Allen. No easy escape back down

the table. Now, is there one red that he can

have a go at and find the gap? He didn't play the pot but I tell

you what, he found the gap. It's a funny shot there really,

because he's missed the green,... INAUDIBLE

There a red on the right-hand side he can take. But he can't really

guarantee position and you have got to knock it in. Big shot, this.

APPLAUSE He deserved that little bit of good

fortune there, because it was a cracking pot that John had picked

out there. Well, John picked it out in the commentary box and John

Potter it on the table. Yes, lovely little flick off the reds but the

priority there was to knock sat in, which is what he did. -- the

priority was to knock that in. It's all about two or three shots of cue

ball control. The balls spread the way they are,

it's a great chance to be 2-2 at the interval.

He left himself straight on the blue. He's got a few reds he can

play for anyway but it didn't want to be absolutely straight on it.

Yes, if he just comes back a few inches there's two reds below the

black, the one on the right-hand side would be absolutely ideal. He

could pot that, stun across and play in the middle. It depends on where

he's landed now but that looks like the one.

Just a little soft stun on this and the black in the middle and it's a

really good chance. That really has planned that one.

John was trying two reds on the left-hand side, he's trying to get

on that to get on the black, but change of plan this one and screw

back. And Well-macro. Where did that come

from? I was just thinking, he potted a cracking one similar to that in

the last frame, but when you are striking down on the ball like that,

he's hampered. Just a little trace of unwanted side can cause that.

And now he's got to sit in his feet and he'll be wondering how long he's

going to be sitting there, because...

The way Mark Allen has been playing, you wouldn't put it past him to

knock in a sizeable contribution here.

Yes, John will be absolutely kicking himself. It was just a lot loss of

position he had to have a change of plan. I still expected him to knock

the red in. Sometimes because you have yourself all worked out which

way you are going to go about a break and have to change direction,

concentration can go awry and that's what happened there. Wouldn't see

him missing it. Mark Allen can't believe he's back

at the table, I'll bet. This was the miss, here, but that

wasn't the red he played on. He was hampered slightly. Caused a problem,

but I still expected him to knock it in.

He's got to be a little bit careful with the position here. That's why

he's taking a bit of time. Not totally straightforward, the red he

wants to land on. Nicely played. Lovely little bit of

Czech side there, just to straighten the cue ball. Couldn't have played

any better. Success of 96%, that's very good. It

will we knew most of your matches. Mark Allen will be focused on this

particular opportunity. He will know how much it will hurt John Higgins

if he manages to win the frame off it.

A session interval coming up after this frame. Doesn't have to play any

cannons. Even the two reds that are near the pink, if he pots one, it

will free the other. Oh, oh, where did that come from? He

hasn't looks like missing here. So far this afternoon.

At least he didn't stick the red at from the Malnati missed. -- at least

he didn't stick the red up, from the one that he missed.

A good target here between the green and brown.

A decent shot. Two reds on the left-hand side, the bottom one just

off the cushion, that will be the one, up and down for John.

Has he got it right behind the yellow, because if he has this is

the proper bonus. Good shot. It should not be a problem this for

Mark Allen. He will have a look to see if he comes off the side cushion

and nestles near this red on the pocket or will he leave anything?

He is going to be in a little bit of trouble again. John has a couple of

potting angles but there was an easy safety down between the green and

the brown. He is a bit close to red but he is certainly looking at the

potting angle. He feels that he can take up into the corner. What an

important pot this could be. He is having second thoughts but he wants

to take it on. What is shot that is. Wow, very

good. Horrible little shots when the cue ball and object ball very close.

He couldn't have played that any better. A little bit of spin going

and excellent pot. He has to concentrate a little bit

harder now because there is quite a bit of noise from the other side of

the curtain. We are at the mid-session interval and as you can

see everyone is going out to stretch their legs and have a cup of tea or

coffee. Not the best contact therefore John,

the cue ball is being cleaned. He is OK. He wanted to finish pretty

straight but just a screw back fought the red. You have to cue

these wells -- well. You have to get right through them. He did keep it

well. It is all about that breads near the

middle pocket and it is the only one that is out of cushion. In a couple

of shots time, John is already thinking about it, if he can get

onto the red in such a way that he can pop one into the corner and not

that one out, that is what he was studying there. The rednecks to the

pink I would leave to the second last, you can play on the loose one

second. He has played on that one there, he might have been leaving

that one to last because it is such a natural angle to pot that, play a

cannon on the Redding guaranteed to be on the blue. I would like to have

been flicking that red out off the red.

He just gets the one chance at bringing that difficult red

interplay so it has got to be perfect with this position. And he

has left an angle. He doesn't have to hit it all that hard. Yes, he has

got the shot we were on about with the other red. Just enough just to

flick it out. And that will do it. A great shot. When we ask how many

shots ahead the players are thinking, John was looking at that

shot about four shots ago. The only little bit of a concern is the green

is in behind the brown bear and not on its spot so not a straightforward

run to the winning line but it shouldn't be a problem. The good

thing is the yellow is not on its spot so with the yellow a little bit

of its spot he only has to stun the cue ball and even wear the yellow

ball is now and he is guaranteeing position. It should not be a

problem. He just needs the green and he will be very, very pleased to go

into the mid-session interval at 2-2. Yes, he was in first and he

missed a red in the middle and then Mark Allen Mr red in the corner and

John must have been fearing the worst in his chair thinking he would

be 3-1 down. Just this green, and it looks like it is 2-2 at the

interval. A very good match, this. Very good.

This match will be played to a conclusion tomorrow morning and

tomorrow evening. If it carries on like this we will see some brilliant

snooker. Mark Allen has had breaks of 42, 65,

71 and 100. He will be all square. Terrific stuff from both players.

Nothing to pick between them now as they head off to the mid-session

interval at 2-2 and we cannot wait until the second instalment of this

match. John gets the first frame after the

mid-session interval under way. Are we going to get more of the same?

The standard was superb for the first four frames out of this best

of 25 frame match. A pretty good break-off shot. Any escape route

from either side of the table could leave a possible pot on with the

reds away from the main bunch the to the left and right.

I don't blame him taking a little bit of time because it doesn't look

as though there is any obvious drop into the pack, you can't going on

the left-hand side because those two metal pot, so he can't do that. I

don't think he can get past the brown to drop into the right-hand

side of the pack and there is one red out on the side anyway. He will

have 1.5 minutes so it will have to have to be to cushion escape, that

is what it is, around the has mis-hit it, but he won't be too

disappointed. That is all right. Foul. Mark Allen, four. Smiles all

around about that one. It is nice to see. It is amiss, yeah. The referee

said it is amiss. Yet, it is a mess so he can put him

back in again but, yes, it was a little bit unusual. I think it

wasn't touching so he was playing to just clip it and missed it

altogether. Both players have a little giggle. He couldn't do much

else, John, there, he just knows he is going to be leaving himself open

to be back on the baulk cushion. I red on the right-hand side will be

moved. I remember getting a bit of the

giggles, Cliff Foreman and myself were paying David Taylor and Eddie

in the world doubles and something happened with Eddie and we couldn't

stop laughing at the crowd couldn't stop laughing and Eddie did think it

was funny and he turned to the crowd and said, well, I am pleased

everyone is enjoying themselves. Not the place to get a fit of the

giggles, that's for sure. Just a little bit awkward with that

red out the other side of the blue. If you play they have to get it just

right. -- if you play up there you have to get it just right. He is

looking for a possible plant up to the corner and there is one that

will putt into the right middle but it is a very thin shot. Mark looking

to see with his cue what he can leave, there are not many shots he

can play here, just chipping down to the baulk area. He doesn't like the

look of leaving the cue ball down by the yellow pocket because John might

have a shot to nothing in the middle pocket so a change of plan. Is it a

double? No, just a safety. He has left one of those outside reds.

Not easy this, by a long stretch but this is a shot to nothing. If he

screws it back in touch. A great pot. That was a mistake from Mark

fair, he thought long and hard about what safety to play and in the end

he didn't play a particularly good one but that is not taking anything

away from that because that is an excellent pot.

Just easy to play for baulk colour here and then next to the blue, and

then once you have potted that the blue with black on its spot and then

the break is looking a little easier. -- once you have potted that

the blue is back on its spot. No real need to play any cannons

into the pink or the reds just yet, he has got a couple of loose ones.

One on the right-hand side at the back is available as well. John

played in an area there, that is the art of break-building, played in an

area where he is not on one than he is on the other one, he has given

himself options. People try to make breaks out there in clubs and

everything, a classic example of how to make a break, give yourself a

couple of options. So that back red I mentioned is the

one he will be playing on and Mark Allen can only sit and watch.

Now, he has hit that way too short. What has he found there, does he

think there was a plant on in the middle? Up, there is, but he would

ideally want the cue ball to come down a little further than that.

That is quite a gap between these two. You would expect him to get it

but it could be missed. John Higgins 24. Yes, I think it was

the blue, as you said, he didn't get far enough down to make the plant a

little bit easier but I still expected him to get that really. He

had overdone it and he knew straightaway that he had overdone

that. Back in, Mark Allen. Back into the

form that he had in the two opening frames where he never missed a shot.

Mark just had a little look there. The red is virtually directly above

the black and that is the one that he was thinking he might get through

the gap to get on. It maybe he just has to play a cannon. Yes, decided

to go right in there instead. Wow. How unlucky that? Looking for a

cannon, just on that red there, missed it. I am not so sure he is on

anything. Very unlucky. Well, he was on something, but that

was an excellent pot, a great recovery. Yes, he deserves what he

gets after that shot. Not only did he knocked the reddening keep them

break going, he manoeuvred a few reds into portable positions. Tough

school today, you can't make too many mistakes. John on that plant

didn't get the cue ball far enough down. He just has to sit and watch

and hope he misses. It was just a little awkward there

and he left the blue this time. 25. Just looking at the reds, he

doesn't have to play any cannons. Certainly not for some time anyway

because the reds will clear each other potting this here just opens

up the path of. Just stun off the cushion and leave himself a choice

of two reds into the same pocket as the black.

38. Nice little break this, he is taking them well but by the time he

has removed the red it has opened the path for another one. A perfect

position here, both threads either side of that little cluster will

pot. He could have done with a bit more than that. It is still OK. He

can potted. He will have to screw out.

61. Yes, this is how he started the match this afternoon. A magnificent

century break in frame two after making breaks of 71 and 65 in the

opening frame. The frame as well and truly over, as

you can see he was looking to get to 68 and he is well past that. If he

could just concentrate and maybe make his second century.

Slightly wrong there but you would still expecting to knock this in and

he is taking these really well. Right in the heart of the pocket

like most shots he has been playing today whilst he has been making a

break of God in the pocket, by tin. -- have gone in the pocket, right

in. This will be marks fourth century if

he can carry on here. In this years BetFred World Championship, but

without doubt is a different class, the way he has started this match

against the four times former champion. Absolutely superb from

Mark Allen. It doesn't matter about the black. He got the one chance and

he took it and he won the frame with that century break and he is now

back in the lead 3-2. They will play eight frames this

afternoon and I bet he does not make a worse break of shot on that one,

Mark Allen. Eight more frames in the morning and then a possible nine

tomorrow evening. A little lapse in concentration that after making a

100 break. To break off and leave an early chance but it still needs

potting. Yes, not this time, and you could

tell where the cue ball finished up that he hit that one all wrong.

Mark did not get that one right either. He needs to stun that white

damn pass the baulk line obviously, to get it up towards the baulk

discussion, so he has left John Higgins a thin cliff here. It is

virtually shot to nothing, basically the only red he has taken is the one

he could leave. Too thick. He has potted some terrific long

balls. So much for the shots or nothing theory. This one, no

messing. That was an excellent shot, it

really was, digging down deep on the cue ball there, could not have put

that any better with his hand. One play on the bottom one on the

pack, just got a little shot to leave this one on the top cushion.

But the next red is available on the outside of the cluster.

14. That is terrific, 97%. John is at 90%. I have red that John

mentioned that he can get to at this time and the other John has to just

sit and scratches chin there and see what develops.

He has just come off an awkward angle there. It is just offshoot

great. What a shot he got out of there, didn't look as though that

was on. That is these very lively cloth that players play on these

days. The action you can get on the ball is amazing, it is just the shot

that was not available 30 or 40 years ago. The costs were much

heavier, more nap on them. Yes, and obviously the balls have changed as

well, and got a lot lighter and more reactive, so that helps, but

nevertheless, it was still a very good shot.

Well, we have always known he was a top-class player but he is in

scintillating the good form today, making very few mistakes. Scoring

has been extremely heavy and if John Higgins did not know he was in a

match, then he does now. It is some really good stuff. A key shot coming

up now. He is just OK. He can get the one to

the right middle. You deserved to be on something because he played a

very well. They weren't a good pack to go into but he has opened the

nicely and he should be fine here. Well, this BetFred World

Championship is really warming up and when you get to the second round

three sessions, that is when the players really get into it and start

playing their best. We are over that very nervy first round, it is the

same for everybody. If you are involved in the event there is

sometimes a potential banana skin in the first round. You are playing

against people who have come through and had three matches and match

sharp and that in itself can bring a problem. You probably played your

match and had days off and watched everyone else sweat for a few days

but then you come back and you know that the serious stuff starts.

It is serious at the minute because he is in seriously good form. He has

been wonderful. I think the only other player in the

first round, Ding Junhui, made three centuries. He was playing fantastic.

This is probably the best anyone has played. Yes, pretty impressive.

Stuart Carrington had three consecutive is. Do you remember

Dennis in the first round as well? Joined a very elite group of

players, there was only four others that had ever done that in the 40

year history, John. These centuries are overrated. You

are bobbing there might be another one coming here. It's not easy. The

frame is almost secure. It will be when this red disappears.

A bit of work to do if he's going to make another century. He's just

spotted something on the black. He's obviously brought his practice

game to the Crucible here. Everyone was saying how well Mark Allen has

been playing in practice, an awful lot of people can do that but to

come to the Crucible Theatre and produce it, John. You are right,

there. At the home, is just the gallops. This is the racecourse. Two

different things. At the moment... INAUDIBLE

. As long as he's not dead straight,

and he's not, he can only drop this and he'll be on the black. Get in

there. Yes, clinging to the cushion. He hit that well.

What a performance! That's the 35th century and this year's Betfred

World Championship. You can't play any better than this.

This is scintillating stuff. Mark Allen at his absolute best.

John Higgins, you've got a match on, my friend.

And he just rolls the black in and mark Allen, well, this is some of

the finest snooker I've ever seen him produce. The crowd appreciated

and he extends his lead. It is now 4-2, to the man from County Antrim.

John Higgins breaks off in frame seven. 4-2 down to a very much

inform Mark Allen. An excellent session of snooker.

It's a long time since I've seen Mark Allen play this well. He's been

brilliant today. He's always been a top-class player, but brilliant

today. The safety shot was made a little

easier, hiding the writing between the two colours. Not quite. It's who

plays the best safety shot here that will create an opening.

He's going to catch the brown. It's safe, but... At the moment, the two

high value colours are out of commission, the pink and black.

It's left attempt for Mark. -- it's left something tempting for Mark. He

doesn't have to take this on. He could push the cue ball up and down

but I'm pretty sure the way he's potted today, he will be taking

this. 240 points without reply. It tells

you how well Mark Allen is plain. That is John Higgins sitting in the

other chair, folks, by the way. Looking more meritorious.

He's shaking his head, it looks as if he's misjudged this one, the

black going back on its spot. He got a bad contact, Dennis. The kick,

took all the weight out of the cue ball. He was actually in a perfect

position. He thinks he can sneak past this, the black onto the red.

He's letting the referee have a look, but it's very tight.

It shows you how focused he is begotten of that little heavy

contact it spoiled his position -- because with that little heavy

contact it spoiled his position but it went straight to the back of his

mind. A cracker in the middle pocket. And it's very early days,

but he's made back-to-back centuries. Surely it couldn't happen

again. We couldn't see three centuries in a row.

I think the way he's hitting it, these are lovely, he's on stroke,

his touch is fabulous. I think it's coming, Dennis. You mentioned Stuart

Carrington making three in a row and then losing his match. John Higgins

is another of the players who has made three in a row in the 40 years

at the Crucible, Neil Robertson has also done it, Mark Selby has done it

and running O'Sullivan. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan.

I'm going to reiterate what I said before. If John Higgins can win the

next frame and get out of this session only losing 5-3 today, he'll

have done very well, the way Mark Allen has played. There's a bit left

this frame, but the way he's been hitting it I don't see them being

any mistakes here. The cue ball is on a string. Every pot was in the

middle of the pocket. He's had his peak at the moment, Mark Allen, and

it's tough to stop. Lots of people fancying John Higgins

to win the autumn half of this particular draw. -- to win the

bottom half of this particular draw. In this form he's got a heck of a

match on his hands. It will be interesting to see where he goes in

the betting now, with playing this type of snooker. The bookies might

have to adjust their odds. SO15 now required just to be over

the line in this. -- 50 is now required. It's safe to assume we're

talking about the table early in the match, it looked a little slow

yesterday. It's not now, it's absolutely beautiful. Screws, cue

ball control has been of the highest quality from Mark. It's a wonderful

feeling when you are out there playing at your best. Oh, what a

kick. Yes, the frame isn't safe just yet

and that's a terrible contact. I mean, the red still went in but it

took all the pace out of the cue ball. A little mark on the red

there. So he's going to have to go all the way around the ankles and

avoid the yellow, brown and green, to get back up to the reds.

Here it comes. Misses the covers. He needs to keep on running though,

he's got the one next to the pink. Having to party with the rest.

Well, I can show you this pot with the rest again, a pot that virtually

secures the frame for him. Now, could it possibly be three in a

row on the Mark Allen show? I've watched an awful lot of Mark

Allen turned pro in 2005. This without doubt is the best I've ever

seen him play. It's a tricky one, this.

Yes, even the difficult ones are going in, but he was looking a bit

concerned. He's got more to do here, but the way he's gone on I'd be

surprised if he ends up on the ball. Right round the table. Oh. What a

shame. He was on his way to three centuries in a row, but he's done

the most important thing. He's made enough of that age as you break to

extend his lead. He now leads John Higgins by 5-2.

You can't guarantee, but if Mark Allen played like this the rest of

the championship, he'd be crowned world champion. He's been that good

this afternoon. That would be the exhibition of break-building,

scoring, competing. Somebody playing at the very top of

their game. He'll be desperate to win this

frame, 6-2 overnight. Makes your dinner taste a bit better

doesn't it, Dennis? Does it ever. He knows only too well with it being

three sessions, he's up against one of the greatest players that's the

picture cue up. -- that has ever picked a cue up. You have to just

keep it going and don't let up. As I mentioned earlier, you play

these long merchants, little mini sessions and if he was to take this

frame he's won both mini sessions 3-1. But John knows he can turn it

around in the second session tomorrow morning. But you can only

turn it around if your opponent gives you a few chances. Now has he

ran out of position here? It's the only chance he's going to get if

Mark runs out of position because if there's any pot available, it's in

the pocket, the way he's played today. It was slightly loose, that

positional shot. This was one he got too much side and hit it full ball

rather than just glancing off it. But he's looking up at the monitor,

John. He knows that Mark is out of position now. Yes, he settled for

that, John, 30 points behind. You might be down the baulk end but the

way Mark Allen has played today you'd think he would lose the frame

again. So a lifeline. Just caught that a little thinner

than he intended. As I mentioned, there is only the

yellow on its spot to try and get in behind, and you're not trying to get

tight in behind the area. You're trying to get tighter and on the

cushion. He's looking at the possibility of what you would call a

shot to nothing, but that's very, very tight. I think it's just too

tight. There was just a safety shot. And that's what he had to do, get it

close to the cushion. Yes, it was an excellent shot.

There's two reds he was lining up. It's more about the safety.

And coming up to 40 minutes since he spotted a ball. -- since he's potted

a ball. This is the only frame that the

balls have gone awkward. And this is quite fascinating to watch as well,

because we've seen everything. We've seen the three centuries from Mark

Allen and now we're seeing some terrific tactical play.

Needs the brown and blue to come to his rescue, because he didn't play

like that. It was a tough shot that, by the way. But got away with one

there. He's very good at this type of pot, a shot to nothing again. He

cuts these reds in quite regularly. Not this time, but once again, look

at the cue ball. It's been an excellent all-round performance,

hasn't it? Scoring, break-building, matchplay, safety has been good. A

very stern examination for John. There's nothing wrong with his eyes

after that shot. Yes, 40 minutes, potted a ball. I

hope he pots one before the end of this.

Cut the red off the side cushion, back into the cluster. He decided to

go for the pot. Had that option that I mentioned.

Is he going to get that? That's what happens if you don't get that. He

was trying to make it into a shot to nothing but if John can get nice

Leon brown or yellow here, he can get up to those reds around the

black and disturb quite a few. The brown is perfect, off the brown

is absolutely perfect. Would you like to cannon the black here, or

come in the reds? I would play down, hit it fairly hard and get to the

black. He's got to put something on here.

Yes, that will do very nicely. Good cannon, the reds into position. I'd

have preferred to have the black in play, that would have been the

ultimate. At least he's got a chance to make a break here.

It's obviously going to be tough, but maybe worth while playing the

same shot down here, playing off the side cushion and into the black and

reds again, because he can't keep going up for yellows. And he can do

it off is a blue again as well as the yellow, so similar type shot is

the one he played on the brown to bring a few more into play.

That's not too bad. He's got a red to the left corner. He'll have to

play with a little bit of pace to get up for the blue. The blue is

handy because you can go back up for it. You couldn't really generate a

lot of pace off the blue to get that cannon. If he can pop this and get

back up for the blue, then it's handy.

A couple of shots away from having a good chance here. And this time I

think he's got a slightly better angle on the yellow, to once again

he may have to disturb something because the black is still tied up

somewhat. So another one good cannon could really open things up here.

Yes, in a perfect world if he could do it, the red to the right-hand

side of the black. If he could, it would be lovely

because it would feed the black. Here it comes and he's got it. Great

shot. Absolutely brilliant. Three times he's had to go into that

bunch because they were so awkward. And now it's back on may be going in

overnight, just two frames behind John. At least the first thing is

he's got himself with a chance and he's back in the frame.

There's two reds glued to the top question are going to be a problem.

-- the top cushion are going to be a problem. He's got a chance, some

points on the board. But he'll do exceptionally well to win the frame

from here, particularly with what's happened this afternoon. He's been

second best for most of it. He's developed a few more. Is a bit

unlucky for that one to go safe to the right of the pink. The way these

balls are sitting when he came to the table, I mean, this is an

exceptional break. He's all square in this frame but still an awful lot

to do. The one thing I will say, the top

cushion has been hugging, so that red that's tight on the top cushion,

which is obviously one you'd ordinarily like to play, I don't

think it's as bad as to when they are virtually touching the cushion

they are all right. It's when they are a little bit off. I think that's

possible. The war on the right-hand side. -- the wall on the right-hand

side is a very nice at all. I'm having a check, I think it's

pretty close to the cushion. It should hug when he plays that one.

Here we go, let's see, pushing the ball together. And there you go, a

great shot. It's all about the cannon. Or is it all about the

double? Look at this, John, look at the way the table is sitting when he

starts off. What a clearance this is.

He's decided to play for the double and this has been an absolutely

incredible contribution. He's been second best most of the afternoon.

His opponent is an absolute fire. He's hardly seen any table. 40

minutes since she's had a pot and if John Higgins wins the frame from

that situation he was left. Oh. He's missed it but where is the red going

to finish? He only needed that red once the black to make it 5-3. This

will pot in the middle pocket. The green is the only saving ball, you

have to say, but this is far from easy here.

It's there. APPLAUSE

I've not seen a better middle pocket display from any player this year's

championship. His middle pocket play has been absolutely outstanding.

And what a huge frame this could be in the match. For all the world John

Higgins looks like he was going to Nexis frame for 5-3 overnight

instead of potentially 6-2, and he is the double, which I fancied him

getting. He's pretty good at them. He might be absolutely dead straight

on this yellow, so he can't get close to the green. He could do with

a little bit of angle. And he just had a little bit of angle. As long

as he's not straight, he's going to have to play this with a lot of pace

to get out onto the brown and we've seen these. He shakes his head.

We've seen these wobble in the jaws, if you hit them too hard.

At that pace it was always going to be difficult and he stuck the green

up. Yes, I just don't think the yellow was the best way to play it.

Left himself on a funny angle. He'd been better leaving himself slightly

higher, or tight on the bottom cushion. But it was in between.

Because he's potted it so well, he tried to force it in. 17 ahead.

What a competitor this player is. He really is a competitor. The win that

final frame of the session and be only 5-3 behind with the way Mark

Allen has played, he'll be delighted to get out of that session only two

behind. Well, without a shadow of a doubt this has been the best the

snooker we've seen so far. Handshakes all around. It's been a

pleasure to come on what has been a scintillating session of snooker.

Mark Allen making three century breaks but John Higgins, four times

a world champion, hung in there and he'll be delighted but he's still

two behind. It's 5-3 to Mark Allen. Jason Mohammad macro He's looking

marvellous, Jason Allen -- Mark Allen. We are back at 10am with more

live coverage from the Crucible. Get some sleep and we'll see you in the

morning. Our crack team of experts

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