MATCH NOTES

MARK SELBY 10-3 STEPHEN LEE

Good afternoon and welcome to the SAGA Masters final live at Wembley Arena, London... Play is due to start at 15.00 GMT.. there will be 8 frames in this afternoon's session, during which we will be closer to learning who will become the new Master and have his name on the historic trophy for the first time... Both players receive a rip-roaring welcome and Mark Selby breaks off to get the final underway... of course congratulations are due to Michela Tabb, taking charge of her first Masters final and making a bit of history in the progress, being the first female referee to officiate the final... Lee gets a thumping kick on his first attempted red and an immediate chance for Selby who misses the red along the rail... it will take a few minutes for the players to settle into the match... Another chance for Selby to pot and few balls and get rid of any early nerves... Nicely on to 37 but he's missed a tricky black although the white has travelled back towards baulk, there's nothing easy for Lee.. that's a good pot as Lee clips the last red across to the corner, he's on the blue which is sitting over the green pocket... he's gone in off the next red... Selby is off target with a long red, again nothing particularly easy for Lee to get him started... Another good opening red by Lee, he really does look to be right back to his very best form this week... the split off the blue doesn't work too well for him but there's a good recovery red... now he's in good position and the break moves along to 26 with two reds left... another great long pot red to keep the break going, now it's all about getting on the last red on the side rail... Lee leads 47-41 on a break of 41 and he's nicely behind the last red - oooh, how didn't that drop, it's rattled and stayed right over the pocket for Selby... nice shot by Selby to get out for the pink and he's on the yellow and should clear up to win the opening frame... he's over hit yellow to green so it's not straightforward now and he's put the green onto the jaw... Lee leaves himself a ticklish brown but it's safely down and he's perfect on the blue, the pink will win the frame for him... still some nerves he's not good on the pink... but it wriggles in and Lee takes the first frame.

Lee clatters into the blue on his break-off, the white has still rebounded to the baulk cushion so no damage done... a brilliant shot by Lee puts Selby in all sorts of trouble... tight behind the blue, jammed against the baulk cushion... good shot by Selby to hit the reds and nothing easy for Lee... he's dug out another good long red, up to the green pocket... he next red stays out and rebounds over the corner pocket... the reds are nicely spread but are covering both pink and black at the moment... Selby manages to squeeze into a gap and get on the pink which goes in one middle pocket... and now it goes in one corner as well... Selby is gradually opening up a bit of space to manoeuvre... the break is now 25 and position is becoming a bit easier although he's still not got the black in play... Selby moves on to 37, the point at which he broke down in frame one... no miss this time and the break reaches 45 and now he's got the black into one pocket.. this will settle any remaining nerves for Selby, he's won the frame, the break grows to 89, can he make the first ton of the final now... yes he can, excellent break, and now we should be in for a great final, with both players carrying on their good form.

Selby earns the first chance in frame three after a very good break off, progressing nicely along to 24 with the colours open and a couple more reds before he needs to split the pack... he's gone into the reds on 47, only one hard red on, to baulk pocket and he's got it... on to 55 and he's faced with another tough red... a good red to middle but it's still not easy, on the black but close to a cushion... up to 69 now with 6 reds left, so he needs one more red... Selby gets the red, Lee needs snookers, but he won't get the chance... can he make back to back centuries, on to 82 now... no he can't but that 88 earns him a 2-1 lead.

Lee makes an early safety error and here's another chance for Selby at the start of frame four if he can get the long red... but he can't and he's left a red for Lee... Smooth progress so far for Lee as he puts 22 on the scoreboard and can make further progress if he can pick a red out the pack... he does and moves to 36 but he's got the same problem again.. he hasn't got on a red so just a safety shot... A great long red from Lee, beautiful cueing but he's not on a colour so a little roll up... a spot of bother for Selby here, he's hit the blue at his first attempt... onto his fourth attempt... another miss, he's even asked Lee for advice on the escape, much to the amusement of the audience, at last he hits it but that has boosted Lee's lead up to 54-0.. Selby has a chance after the safety and can get right back into the frame now... just 21 points at that visit and Lee manufactures a plant that Selby rejected... Lee stretches his lead to 71-21, 3 reds left so he only needs one red to level the match at the interval.

Back come the player to complete four more frames in this session... Selby sticks a long red out from his break and Lee pounces on it... he's made 22 but missed a red... there's a red to centre for Selby, a bit of work to do off the blue to get position, that's okay and he's on a couple of reds... he's left the pink short of the pocket and has left the red on for Lee... he can't break the pack open, missing it twice as he went right round the table... safety the only option for Lee who leads 35-7... Selby leaves Lee another chance, down goes the red, nicely on the blue, can he split the pack this time... he opts for the last loose red... he's missed the red and failed to open the pack, and nothing on for Selby... a poor safely by Selby gives Lee another chance but he can't get the long red and now Selby can knock one in and mount a revival... and there's a cracking red by Selby and he's on the blue... it's not happening at the minute for Selby, he's let Lee off the hook, Lee leads 41-13, now who can eventually grab hold of this frame, it's been a bit scrappy... there's the error from Selby, now Lee can and should clinch the frame... he's missed the pink with one red left but Selby needs snookers now, 47 behind with 35 on... Selby can't get a snooker yet and Lee can clip this red in, although he decides safety is the better option... if Lee hadn't carelessly missed the pink, we'd be half way through the next frame by now... at last Lee pots the red and put the frame beyond doubt.

Selby plays what looked like a good safety until Lee cracked home a brilliant red, unlucky not to gain decent position and Selby has a chance now... he's a bit unlucky as he tried to spin through the reds, got a thud on the white and stuck in the reds... he manages to hit the brown at the second attempt... he's got another chance.... Selby now leads 39-11, his first prolonged visit to the table since he led 2-1... he can't turn it into a frame winning chance and the safety resumes with Selby 44-11 ahead... an error from Lee see Selby back to the table, another scrappy frame, the match has stalled a little since the interval... he's missed the black at pace but no damage done... Lee has hit his safety shot totally wrong and there's a red to centre on for Selby... now he can get on the last four reds and close out this frame... no he can't, but he's snookered Lee on the last four reds with a 38 point lead... that's given Selby another chance, but he's not buzzing at the moment, 3 reds left, 41 ahead so just one needed for Selby to level the match again... he's got it.

Lee has caught his safety shot far too thick and left Selby right amongst the reds... now Selby looks right back in touch after those two scrappy frames, already on to 52... he's faltered at 60, losing position and missed that hard red, it's right in the jaws but Lee can't hit it direct... Lee gets a red but no more and the players revert to a tactical battle to seek an opening... Lee makes the error, Selby gets the red and needs one more to clinch the frame... so Selby leads 4-3, one more frame to play this afternoon.

Lee pinned the white on the baulk cushion but Selby has spotted a plant... and now he's spotted another but he's missed that one, Selby sits down with only 16 scored, straight back to the table though as Lee misses the red along the top cushion... he's smacked into the pack off the brown, he's on a red, awkward cueing but shouldn't be a problem and it isn't, Selby is on the black and leads 35-0, this is a chance to seize the frame and open a two frame lead at the end of the session... the break reaches 35, the lead 51, and still has open reds after this black... now it's hard to find a red, 61 the lead, one red needed and all four remaining reds are on or very close to a cushion... he's tried a double, doesn't get it, end of break at 45, he still needs one red... Lee doesn't try the double, opting for good safety... and that earns Lee a crack at a red, which he gets, nicely on the black, one red open and two still on the cushion... well now Lee needs a snooker because he missed the pink, he trails 61-9 and no doubt now as Selby pots a red.

Welcome back, just a few minutes now and the players will be welcomed back into the arena for possibly the biggest night of their careers... The introductions are over, a gladiatorial entrance by the players, huge applause form the 2,000 strong audience and that sets up a great atmosphere for this final session... Selby breaks off... Lee misses that long red shot which nearly rebounds into the yellow pocket but leaves an opener for Selby... he takes the green, nicely on the next red and good position on the blue, the black is pottable and he's heading in that direction now... smooth progress to 27 and everything is set up here for a substantial break... a quick glance at the GCS stats tells me that we currently have more than 90 countries online viewing the coverage... a very big welcome to you all, from Alaska to Archangel... it just goes to prove how popular our sport is, the world over... Selby moves on to 48, he hasn't put a foot wrong so far in the break... a good long blue takes him on to 60, red and colour to leave Lee needing a snooker now... a great start by Selby who looks like stretching his lead to three frames... down goes the black... no obvious red on but Selby leads by 68 now with only 67 left on... he's found one to middle and that nails down the frame... good chance for his second century of the match now... and there's the century, a superlative start by Selby tonight, a roar rattles round Wembley... and there a 132 total clearance.

Selby gets away with missing the opening red in frame ten... or does he... Lee has found a good red and he's perfect on the blue... a brilliant double on the black, or was it rather lucky and now he's fluked the red full length of the table, on to 22 but not so much luck with the split, he's right on top of this red...  he's got it, the white careers round the table behind the baulk line, will he risk a colour or take what he's got... Lee commits a foul cueing over the pack leaving an easy safety for Selby... not so good from Lee who leaves a chance after Selby snookered him, so here's another chance for the Jester... he's got the split on the reds but the white's gone near the cushion, Selby has a 23 point lead now... he thinks longs and hard and opts for safety leading 50-27 with 5 reds left, once of which Selby has pushed safe to the side cushion... good safety by Lee will force Selby to move the red he's just put safe... was it Steve Davis that said this game "is chess with balls"! That is a simply brilliant pot by Lee, an element of safety and he got both, the pot and the white has landed on the baulk cushion, that pot deserved better... he misses the brown to centre which was very hard, but so was a roll up... Selby bangs home another red and he's also landed behind the baulk line and he can roll up to the yellow... having removed those two reds without colours, the winning line is a little closer, Selby leads by 23 with 51 still on... Lee's left that red hanging in the jaws and he's gone in off... down goes the red and pink, now 34 up with 43 on, red and colour will secure the frame... maybe a bit more mileage in this frame as Selby has gone in off so Lee needs one snooker, 38 behind on the last red... Selby misses the red but snookers Lee... he hits the pink and concedes and now a four frame gap opens up for Selby.

Into frame eleven and you feel Stephen Lee must win this frame to stop Selby running away with the match... It's not going Lee's way at the moment, a beautiful long red but the white has stuck up the back of the pack... there's another good shot by Lee, nominating yellow to get out of the yellow and only fractionally missing laying a snooker himself... Selby misses and now what can Lee do with this chance... not much, he's gone in off and an outrageous shot by Selby, contrives a 5 or 6 ball plant while bring the cue ball back to baulk... so still no clear chance for either player... Lee somehow pots a red to the middle, it grazed the near jaw on the way in... he nearly screws back straight in off the blue, this time the near jaw keeps the white out... but now he's in position... he left too much to do on that next red and the break ends at 11, he's slumped back in his chair... Selby thumps home another good mid range red and is on the pink... the break reaches 20, Selby is on the next red and the congestion is clearing a little although most of the reds, together with black and green are all between pink spot and side rail... now he's rattled a red and left Lee on, Selby lead 44-20 at the moment... not any more, Lee moves 52-44 ahead on the yellow now... the problem is the green which is close to the cushion by the centre pocket, Lee has mis-cued trying to force the yellow and jumps right over it, a foul of course... not an easy yellow for Selby but he can't really have the balls replaced as the yellow was pottable for Lee before, so just a safety... in fact a snooker, from which Lee fails to escape, the scores are now level on the yellow... great yellow by Selby, now for the tricky green... no heroics on that, he still has a shot at the brown... it flies in, it looks like 8-3 now, he's on the blue and that's all he needs.... down it goes, it's 8-3.

Lee gives his supporters something to cheer with a good opening red... he is just so unlucky tonight as a red kisses the white into the pack, he can only play safe again... not safe enough, here comes Selby again... nice split, it's all running nicely for him in the opening four frames... another good break in progress, 60 now and looking like a frame winner barring an unforeseen error... 73 now and the frame is secure and as they go to the interval Mark Selby will enjoy his interlude knowing he is just one frame from becoming the SAGA Master this year... he started the session with a century can he finish with one, 87 now, one red left... 98 and on the yellow, what a brilliant burst of seven consecutive frames for Selby from 3-3, topped off with that 125.

We'll be back in about 15 minutes after the interval... The players are back, the audience has settled down, well nearly, a few shouts of encouragement echo round Wembley and applause on every shot... Selby breaks off, puts the white tight on the baulk cushion... Lee hits that red nicely but it didn't like the look of the dark interior of the pocket and stayed out... So Selby gets the opening red...  quickly on to 25, a few reds open, the black open... it's a pretty good chance... the split is good, he's on reds, up to 46 now and racing towards the winning line... 61... 70 and the match and  championship belongs to MARK SELBY... and he rounds off in style with a century... in fact he could share the high break, what a way to finish the match... and he does it, 141... fabulous.

STEPHEN LEE 6-2 MARCO FU

Welcome back after that brief break. WSA Tournament Director Mike Ganley completes the introductions and the match is underway... First chance falls to Stephen Lee, who's changed from his usual black shirt for white tonight... Lee has made 24 so far but a hard red next, and that's a brilliant shot up to the green pocket... another brilliant shot on the black, a slow roll back into a blind pocket keeps the break going, a very encouraging start by Lee who, as usual, seems to be cueing perfectly... the break reaches 45 and now it's a frame-winning opening as Lee reaches 68 and there's only 59 left on the table.

Marco gets the first chance in frame two, so we'll get a chance now to see if he's carried his good form through to this match... Fu makes 15 and leaves a red on for Lee... he's made 15 and now a key shot to see if he can open more reds out... he's missed a red to centre, no damage though, just a safety from Marco... Lee has left a red now, good pot across the table to the corner... Fu moves smoothly on to 26 and leads 41-22 now... the last four reds are scattered from end to end of the table, one on baulk cushion, one of side rail, Marco will need three of them... so now 34 points ahead, he needs the red along the baulk cushion... good pot, Lee needs a snooker, very cool and calm snooker from Marco here, a nice clearance and now we know he's in great form too.

A good opening long red from Lee in frame three, very few missed pots by either player so far... he's under hit the blue to the top pocket and left it in the jaws and nicely in position on the red for Fu... but he immediately position... another chance for Lee and better progress this time on to 40 now and nicely past the 50 mark... and that red puts Lee 52 ahead with only 51 left... and that plant means Fu won't come back to the table.

Stephen Lee is asking for the heating to be turned down... it's been a balmy 13° in London today and it is extremely hot under the tv lights, although Marco looks as cool as a cucumber... a mistake from Lee as he cannons the blue and that leaves Fu an easy starter... but the black doesn't go... Lee pots a nice long red to the yellow pocket and rolls up behind the green... with the reds well open this is hard to get safe... he's failed at the first attempt, hit the red this time and there's a red that Lee can clip across to the corner pocket... Lee is right back to his best form and has smoothly cruised to 50 now, his third 50+ of the match... and that's another frame winner for Lee with that 69, he leads 3-1 at the interval after four high quality frames.

Back come the players from the interval... Can Fu makes some inroads into Lee's lead... no opening yet and the pack is still tightly packed... Fu gets a red from Lee's safety, the pack has loosened a little, but he's got no easy red on... so only safety there with only 8 scored.. and at this visit scores only 3 and a chance for Lee, not good signs for Fu supporters tonight... but Lee only makes 19 so the fame is still wide open... one more red for Lee and he lays another tight snooker on Fu, Lee is controlling the safety here... Lee has let that red catch the middle jaw but he hasn't left much for Marco... it's very tactical, Lee leads 41-16 and with 6 reds left, this very important frame could still swing either way... Fu has managed 24 points but here comes Lee again now leading 46-24.. Lee is now 66-24 up with two reds left, this red along the rail and he'll lead 4-1... not yet as it rattles... will that reprieve spark Fu into life... a brilliant shot by Fu, a hard black and perfectly round the table for the yellow, a clearance here and he's right back in the match... and he completes an excellent 43 clearance to steal the frame.

Lee gets amongst the balls in fame six and a brilliant pink opens up the table for him... Lee continues to make good progress, his break is up to 36 as the key shot to break the pack looms... and Lee successfully opens up the pack, moves on to 56 and is in prime position to win the frame... and now 71 ahead with 67 left, and Lee regains his two frame advantage... Lee declares a foul but Marco concedes.

Fu has opened a 30 point lead in frame seven and Lee is trying to find an opening from the safety exchange... and he does now and he's taken the lead in the frame 49-31 ahead now and trying to get on one of the last two reds but he'll be left with a long pot... good shot and another good shot gets him on the last red, he's got it, 27 up now... and that's the frame safe as Lee is 30 up on the yellow.

So Lee leads 5-2 and very good value for that lead tonight, Marco just seems to have lost his edge this evening, while Lee's form still looks to be improving.

Lee cracks in a red, smacks the pack from the blue and unlucky not to land on anything, but he's opened a 30 point lead and the winning line is clearly in sight now... and for the first time a few signs of nerves from Lee, that red goes astray... Fu doesn't punish him and back comes Lee with an easy red to start... he can't do it yet but leads 42-1, but again Marco can't do anything at his visit... good safety from Fu keeps Lee at bay for now... Fu's missed the thin edge of a red and left a free ball... and now Lee has the match winning chance... just one more red and colour needed... and he's done it so Stephen Lee will face Mark Selby on Sunday afternoon.

KEN DOHERTY 5-6 MARK SELBY

Good afternoon, welcome to the first semi final featuring Mark Selby and Ken Doherty.. I'm not making any predictions after all the upsets and thrilling matches we've already had this week... Play commences at 14.00 GMT..

Mark Selby breaks off and the match is in play... We'll take a quick opportunity to wish Dennis Taylor a Happy Birthday, 59 today.. it's a cagey start, Selby turns down a possible red in favour of safety... It will be interesting to see if Selby can match his tactics and safety to Crafty Ken... Doherty gets the better of that exchange and gets the red but very hard colour as he's stuck on a red and can't cue, he opts for safety... Doherty leaves his safety short and there was a red for Selby but he turns it down... it's hard to get on a colour at the moment, so this could be a largely tactical period... Selby's taken that red but wrong side of the blue and some work to do to turn this into a scoring chance... he's scored 14 but now takes the white back to baulk... this could be a scrappy frame now, pink and black are on cushions and all bar three reds are near the top cushion... Ken has gone in-off and Selby smacks home a good long red but this is far from a good chance at the moment... a bad positional shot but a good recovery red keeps Selby at the table... and now he's carved out a frame-winning break, a 62 point lead now and that was a brilliant 54 break, he's 1-0 up...

Selby's started well in frame two putting Doherty in trouble with excellent safety... Doherty musters six points but gives a chance to Selby now... he's broken down and given Ken his first real chance... he's moved nicely along to 32 but the four remaining reds are all on cushions... he's got two of the reds, the break reaches 46 and Ken leads 52-16... Ken's fluked the red he needed and Selby wants two snookers now... it should be 1-1.. Selby  gets one of the snookers... Ken's lead is 38 points on the last red... Doherty gets a snooker this time... and now he's potted the red so he has levelled.

Into frame three of this very close match, Ken got a kick on an attempted red and there's a red for Selby, with the rest... he's got that but a hard safety left now... and the safety now has sent four reds to the baulk end and some hard shots to get back to the top cushion... Selby tries a pot, misses it and amazingly doesn't leave a lot on... he does now as Selby misses a red... 17 so far for Doherty and he's on the blue despite a kick... he reaches 42 but he's out of position here... Doherty is forced into playing safe... every ball is now in the open, so a safety error could be fatal... there was no error but that's a brilliant red by Selby... and now he's in excellent position although Doherty still leads 42-20... Selby makes 27 and narrowly misses a red, he's let Doherty off the hook there... and he's left the red on... Ken now has a 24 point lead again with one red left... disaster for Selby as he double kiss the red and leaves it on... Doherty takes red and black and Selby needs a snooker... god long yellow and it's 2-1 in Ken's favour.

Doherty breaks off and leave Selby a red which he's slotted home, a nice tidy table but he'll need to clip some reds out of the pack soon... Selby manufactures 33 but didn't regain position, so a little safety bout now... Ken's missed a red so a second chance for Selby to widen the gap in the frame, he leads 34-0 at the moment... the lead grows to 67 and one red needed... and he's found a plant so it will be 2-2 at the interval.

Play has resumed and Ken has created the first opening... that doesn't come to much, only 7 points and he lays a snooker... One point for Ken from the leave but he's given the table to Mark now and if he can get the pack open he'll have a good scoring chance... he misses on 14, so both players have spurned chances at the start of frame five... another chance for Mark who doesn't have a colour on, quite a scrappy start to this frame now... here's another chance for Selby and it is a very good open scoring opportunity now... and so far he's making the most of it, onto 53 now... and the frame is safe.

Selby continues to play good safety, into frame six, he's giving Doherty plenty to think about... Ken gets out of trouble playing a very improbable plant and now he lays the snooker and advantage in the tactics swing over to Ken... but it's Selby who finds a red to pot and moves along to 22 and he can add plenty more at this visit... Selby's score reaches 48... and now the break reaches 59... and there's the red he needed to secure the frame... a brilliant break, can he top it off with a century, on 92 and on the brown... yes he can, brilliant.

Selby is getting a grip on this match now, there's a red to start frame seven and he's spread the reds all over the table... not easy though with a lot of traffic to negotiate to good position, a good blue, thin clip with the rest, keeps him at the table... well that went wrong for Selby, tried to reverse double a red and only succeeded in sending the white into the top pocket and there's a red on for Doherty now... Ken missed that red to the corner pocket having made only 27... he shakes his head as Selby pots a red and sets about a break... Selby now leads 41-31, three reds left, none of them easy... so the break ends at 35 and Selby has that ten point lead... all three reds have now been pushed up the table, Doherty gets a snooker on all of them... Selby finds a good long red to regain the initiative... but no colour to follow... Selby has left a red on and the other red is near a pocket too... so Doherty could pinch this frame now and close the gap... and he has, what a crucial frame this could be.

That success seems to have spurred Ken on, a good red and he's got the first chance in frame eight... Ken reaches 28 but doesn't land on a red after splitting the pack... and he's missed his next intended red and left them on for Selby... 18 so far for Selby and all the reds are on for him... onto 40 and Selby looks in good shape to regain his two frame lead... but he's gradually lost position, the break ends at 47, but he's got Doherty snookered on the last three reds and leads 47-28... good shot by Ken and he's got them safe... there's a good red by Doherty but not a good angle on any colour to get on the last two reds, he takes green to the middle and leaves a long red... he's got it and now he can clear up to level the match again, another turnaround on the cards maybe... he's wobbled the last red in and rolls up behind the pink.... so Selby leads by 9 points on the yellow... Selby misses the yellow and Ken will have it put back again... the frame all hinges on the outcome of the yellow, the other colours are on the spots, albeit pink is on black spot and black on pink spot... Selby has left the yellow on... but not at an angle for Ken to get a shot at the green... but he's only 2 points behind now as the focus switches to the green... Selby misses the pot on the green but leaves it safe... Doherty drops Selby in another snooker... he's missed that by a coat of paint and there's a possible pot for Ken, but not easy with the white right on the cushion, he's missed it, and strangely, leaves Mark the identical shot... and Selby also misses it, the green runs safe... not any more, Selby pots it, he's unlucky to knock the brown up the table, a tough long pot and even harder position for the blue.... the brown eludes the pocket but the white doesn't and the frame turns again, in Ken's favour... that's a great brown by Doherty, the brown was tight on the rail and it's Selby's turn to sit in his chair and look worried... Ken is on the blue and is now 12 up on the pink... he pots it with the rest and the match is all square again.

Ken is so unlucky, he's found a brilliant plant to open the scoring but the white finds its way into the yellow pocket, worse for Ken, he's scattered the reds and left an easy one for Mark... 31 for Selby before running out of position, he leaves the white tight behind the brown... a well executed escape by Ken, nothing easy on... an error from Ken gives Selby another chance... again he can't do anything with it although he's got a 41 point lead now, and he's left a long tempter for Ken... nice pot by Ken but couldn't hold the white so has to play safe... it's a cagey safety exchange now and the tension is mounting... Selby breaks the deadlock and increases his lead to 64 points, enough to win the frame.

Doherty is battling hard in frame ten, he must win this to keep the match alive, onto 20 but he's gone in-off when splitting the pack... Selby moves 29-20 ahead but he's faced with a hard shot from the baulk cushion... another good safety shot from the Jester... Ken contrives a plant from the pack and he's on the blue, a chance... the frame is Ken's for the taking now, he leads 45-29 with three reds left... no mistake and Ken sends the match into a deciding frame.

A red comes into the open from Selby's break off, Ken thinks and then gets down and pots a great red to give himself the first chance in the decider, it won't be a winning chance until he gets the bulk off the pack open... onto 15 and he'll try and split off this blue... he took the gentle approach, a couple sprung out but they're covering each other, bar a very risky plant... he's going for it and he's missed it, he may live to regret that... maybe not as Selby gets the red but covers the black... he's pulled out a brilliant long green to bring the white round perfect on the next red, that deserves to be a match-winner... and he's got a good split of the pack and every red is on now... he can't retain position, 36 points on the board and a snooker for Ken to extract himself from... Ken misses the attempted thin clip round the table escape, back it goes, Selby's lead grows to 20 points... brilliant shot that time by Ken, caught the red perfect and back to baulk... this time he's caught the green and left a long red on... Selby's got it but not the best position on either pink or blue.. good solid pink and on the next red... 34 ahead now, 4 reds left... 41 up, 3 reds and 51 left... one red needed to Selby to book his place in the final... he's not got a pot on the last two reds but he has got a 48 point lead, Doherty need snookers... Doherty takes red and pink, he'll look to get a snooker on the last red... and there's the snooker... Selby leads 68-27, an easy escape... that's a better snooker, tight behind the pink and a lot of distance to the red... Selby misses but doesn't leave a free ball, so Ken is now 37 behind, one snooker still needed... obviously with this match running on now, tonight's match will follow about 20 minutes after this finishes... a lucky flick off the pink and Selby snookers Doherty, easy escape but a chance of a pot for Selby down the rail... he's got it - and Selby will go through to the final.

DING JUNHUI 3-6 MARCO FU

Here come the players and welcome back at 19.00 to the UK viewers and a very big welcome to all our friends from Hong Kong and China where it is now 03.00am... 欢迎来到全球斯诺克网站     世界知名斯诺克门户网站... Marco has the first chance to put some points together... Fu's taken the opportunity to split the reds wide open off the blue, onto 21 but with black covered he's got to play off the blue at the moment... he can't keep that going, so 28 points and he's snookered Ding on all the reds... Ding's escape leave one red but no colour, another good safety by Marco.... and a very special hello to Felicia, Ken, Fung, Au, Ricky and all our GCS friends in Hong Kong... Ding is forced into taking a pot on and a cracking red from the Chinese star, again no position so it's his turn to try the snooker behind the yellow but he's gone in-off... no damage done and Ding gets another red and this time he's on a colour and can make some progress... and he makes 34 before losing position.. the frame is still wide open with two reds left... Marco wins the safety and gets one of the reds, he's not on a colour though... Ding's turn to lay a snooker, both players have played some good tight safety in this opening frame... Ding forces one miss from Marco out of the snooker, Fu escapes second time... but Ding finds a got pot along the baulk cushion, a chance for him to clear up the frame... Ding now has a ten point lead on the yellow... he's missed it with the rest... not easy for Marco, he needs the rest... and now a rest shot on the green... another good shot, now Marco is favourite to win this half hour opener... and he does.

Brilliant safety from Ding to start frame two, he's got Marco in trouble... great escape from Fu, thin clip off the pack.. Ding's pushed a red on and Marco pots that to give himself first chance to get a break together... he's put a red onto the near jaw and left it for Ding and now the balls are nicely open... Ding's break reach 47 now, not plain sailing but he's still in position... he's run onto the rocks there - or rather the white has as he gets a massive kick and has no position on a colour... but he has a 48 point lead... Ding pots a beautiful long red and is on a baulk colour... can he split the reds - yes but he's not on one... Now it's Marco who strokes in an excellent long straight red and has a chance of the black to centre ... but he misses the black, but he didn't miss position so Ding can win the frame now at this visit... well maybe not, he's missed an easy opening red.... another  good red from Marco, this time with the rest... he's landed wrong side of the blue, tried to force an angle but he's a long way from a red now... so a run back to baulk... Ding leads 53-21 on the last two reds... Ding launches that red into the pocket, brilliant and now he has secured the frame.... the last time I remember Ding and Marco playing each other was in the final of the 2006 Asian Games team event, in which China took the gold ahead of Hong Kong.. Ding took three gold medals at that event, adding the snooker singles and doubles to his tally.

Ding misses a long red, the first he has missed, leave Fu a tricky red with the rest and it rattles and stays out... Ding conjures up a plant to get the red... just 30 points until Ding misses a red to the middle pocket, but the white carries on to baulk and nothing easy for Marco, but he's made that red down the cushion look easy enough... Fu only adds 17 to the scoreboard and Ding again has a good chance to win the frame now leading 52-17... and in not time he's cleared up with a superb 87.

A fluke by Marco on the first red but no colour as we start frame four.. Ding gets in but loses position and forced to play safe with only 13 points on the board... Marco slots a red home and is trying to turn this into a decent scoring chance... and he has and it's a frame winner so 2-2 at the interval.

So all to play for as we resume with frame five... and Fu gets the opening red... a tidy break so far by Fu, on to 36, and has split a couple of reds out of the pack now... but he's not on one of them so has to be content with safety... and now Ding has come right back into the frame to lead 62-36 and they're on the yellow... Ding pots green and Marco concedes so Ding leads again.

Ding is first in with a chance in frame six, onto 31... up to 46 but he still needs to split the remaining pack... and good shot from yellow achieves that, now the frame is at his mercy...  but the break ends at 50 and the chance now goes to Fu to come back into the frame... 8 points behind, on the yellow, Fu is favourite now... and he clears with 62 to level.

Marco takes red and blue to start frame seven, but not nicely on the next red... good long red to save the situation... and good shot from blue to split the pack, a very positive effort here from Marco... when welcoming all the Chinese supporters earlier I should have mentioned Marco's special posse of fans down in Llanelli, West Wales. When in the UK Marco is based at the Terry Griffiths Matchroom in Llanelli, where, of course he is coached by Terry, Marco is always on hand to give some advice to the many juniors in the club, who are honing their skills under the direction of Wayne Griffiths, also a Grade A World Snooker Coach and also the Senior EBSA European Trainer of Coaches... you can read a lot more about the club and its activities at www.terrygriffithsmatchroom.co.uk and one more little record for the Griffiths family is Terry's other son, Darren, who is a golf pro and also a leading coach in his sport, it must run in the family, although we haven't yet noticed Terry's wife Annette taking up coaching... meanwhile pupil Marco has moved nicely onto 52... up to 66 with 75 on so another red with colour still needed and what a red he gets, another perfect long shot up to the yellow pocket, this match is boiling up nicely now... a nice 86 break.

Marco is in again at the start of frame eight, and onto 28, quite a turnaround now in the match... Fu is on 46 now and further progress will be determined by position off this blue... he can't and the break ends at 51... Ding had a chance but has rattled the red, he's gone off the boil at the moment... and Fu finds a plant and is strong favourite now to stretch his lead... Fu now is 63 ahead with 59 left... and he leads 5-3.

It seems that Marco just can't miss tonight, another great red and he's off and running again, now onto 33 with another great red with power to the middle pocket... in the end a kick ends the break at 41 and after 262 points from Fu can Ding get a pot and a point from somewhere... well he does and the red was hanging in the jaws for him but he's run into the pack and has no colour... Ding has now missed the reds completely, there's a red for Marco and the writing could be on the wall here for Ding... looks like it, he needs snooker and unlikely he'll get back to the table... just a glimmer at Fu misses that red but leads 69-1 with 67 points left, so one snooker needed by Ding... he makes 24, misses a red, he hasn't left it but an easy snooker for Fu... he doesn't escape so now needs two snookers... and Marco is into the semi finals, a brilliant performance... Ding gives a waves to the many Chinese fans as he leaves the arena...

PETER EBDON 1-6 STEPHEN LEE

Welcome to another day of quarter final matches. First up at 13.30 will be Stephen Lee against Peter Ebdon.. this match is very hard to call, as Lee produced an amazing come back against Graeme Dott, while Peter Ebdon looked in pretty good form against Ryan Day... The players are being introduced so sit back and enjoy the LIVE coverage with us on the dreary winter's day in the UK... The players are getting the feel of the table with the opening safety exchanges... and Lee gets the better of that, and there's a cracking long red to get on the baulk colours... a bit of laughter as Lee has a piece of fluff stuck to his cheek, probably off his towel, or is it some new secret weapon! He's unlucky with the split on the reds, one very hard red cueing over the pack... good pot but he's not on black or pink so just a safety... Ebdon has a lash at a long red, doesn't get it and leaves it on for Lee in the green pocket... people may not understand the terms of green, yellow pocket etc, but it just means the corner pocket nearest to the green or yellow spot... we were a bit confused the other day by one BBC correspondent who declared that someone was potting in the brown pocket - and we still haven't worked that one out! Meanwhile Lee has opened a 42 point lead now, although he'll need to split the pack again to secure the frame... well he's missed that red to the middle pocket, a red left for Ebdon but not an easy starter... Ebdon is mulling over the shot... and he's found a good thin clip to the middle and now he's in good position... he misses his next red in the middle, only 7 points and now Lee can close out the frame... so an encouraging start for Lee to boost his confidence a little more...

A good opening red by Ebdon from Lee's break off... he settles for a roll up behind the green, but doesn't get the snooker... Ebdon gets another good long red and this time he has a pot on the yellow... and now he's opened the pack up but forgot to pot the black, only 20 points for Ebdon... and a nice opening for Lee... he's opened up more reds and has both pink and black to play off, so a very good chance now to get a fair sized break... Lee moves smoothly along to 35 now... he left a tough red along the rail and the break ends at 41 so Lee has a 20 point lead at the moment and nothing left on for Ebdon... now Ebdon gets a red from Lee's leave and he has the chance to counter again... he's got one open red which he's snookered himself on and the last red is on the cushion and he still trails by 6 points... he tries the red down the rail and leaves it on... Lee moves twenty ahead on the yellow... and clears up to lead 2-0.

A terrific red by Ebdon into the yellow pocket to start frame three with a bang, he's on the black as well... an extremely good break so far by Ebdon and now, at 41 he's opened all the reds, this could be a frame-winner now... he's let his white run away there off the black so next red is tough and he's missed it, so the break ends at 48... I don't know why he took the black, there was an easy pink for position, maybe he thought of a 147, but winning the frame is more important... Lee has gathered 36 points now, one more easy red but the last two are on the (right-hander's) side rail... an excellent effort by Lee, he's taken all the reds and is plumb on the yellow... and this is a frame winning 89 clearance and it's 3-0 to Lee.

A good break off by Lee snookers Ebdon... He's tried to swerve out of trouble and he's quite lucky there not to leave a red on... Lee's safety pushes a red over the pocket but he's covered it... Lee gets the red and snookers himself... at the second attempt he hits the yellow and he pots it so he's started with 2, doesn't happen very often and he's missed the next red... while everyone debates that interesting rules issue, Ebdon gets on with potting the balls... but breaks down at 30, leaves a chance for Lee but the yellow pocket must have superglue on the lip, somehow the red didn't drop... Ebdon, in turn, misses an easy red and it hangs in the jaws... Lee has 3 reds in the open, a couple on the side rail and the bunch of five still tightly packed so quite a lot of work to do here... and within one shot he's opened the bunch... he's cleared off the 30 point deficit now and can push on to get a decent lead here... just the two hard reds on the rail left, Lee has a 27 point lead now and he's missed the red and gone in-off, end of break at 54 and this frame isn't over yet... Ebdon's long red stay out and it's on for Lee and the last red is now in the open, looks like 4-0 at the interval... Ebdon needs snookers now so a lot for him to think about during the interval, trailing 4-0.

Back come the players and it seems imperative that Ebdon wins this fifth frame to get some sort of toe-hold in the match... Lee's left a tempter for Ebdon to contemplate... and that successfully disappears, he doesn't get position so either a long brown or a roll up, he's gone for the brown and got it... he's over-run for the next red, Ebdon seems to be over-hitting a lot of shots today... quite a lengthy safety exchange and the reds are all getting push to one side of the table... Ebdon spots a red then misses a long range green... another error by Ebdon, an easy red for Lee, he's clattered into the pack to open the reds and is unlucky not to have a red on... a slow start to this frame... Ebdon's had a wild lash there, missed by miles and scattered the reds all round the table and amazingly there's nothing easy for Lee, a tricky red to the centre which catches the near jaw and now Ebdon's error may turn to his advantage... this time Ebdon pulls out an excellent long pot up to the green pocket and a great opening now for Ebdon... he makes 26, gets a heavy contact and misses a black made harder than it should have been, just 26 points and the balls are on for Lee now... Lee responds with 25 and lays a snooker, two reds left, a slender 3 point lead for Ebdon... that's going back as Ebdon was nowhere near either red.. he's hit brown, and did Ebdon, who is colour-blind, mistake that brown for a red? Either way Lee has the balls replaced... this tie he comes the other side of the rest and Lee now gains a one point lead and back it goes for the third time... Ebdon hits a red this time and pushes it near the pocket... Lee adds another 8 points so leads 45-32 on the last red, a scrappy but very important frame... Lee wins the safety and down goes the last red, he'll need yellow and green to leave Ebdon needing a snooker... Lee has missed the yellow so a big reprieve for Ebdon, he's also missed it and he's really struggling today... this yellow is now unmissable for Lee... and it's now 5-0 to Lee, I wonder what the odds were on this score line before the start?

A sympathetic cheer from the audience as Ebdon gets a good starter red in frame six, and gets position on the black, he's got plenty of reds on here, a real chance to get his cue arm going at last... this is a bit more encouraging for Ebdon fans, he's onto 41, still not flowing but, as we'd expect, he's battling for every shot... if it only took courage and determination to win, then Ebdon would be champion in every event... up to 49, his best break in the match now... up to 65, this colour and a red to win the frame... the frame is safe, the break is up to 73 and there is a possible 147 on here, how remarkable would that be, Ebdon's has had tournament 147s before, in the 1991 Strachan and 1992 UK and many in minor tournaments and notable back to back 147s in an exhibition match... onto 96 now, it's still on... 104... two reds left... they are open near the pink... he's missed the black, what a shame, 105.. Ebdon is gutted... he's sitting in his chair shaking his head in disbelief.

Good red from Lee as he spots a plant and lots more open reds for him... already onto 22 and in prime position... Lee is carefully working through break, moved along to 45, three more reds and colours needed to secure the match and a place in the semi finals, to face the winner of tonight's match between Marco Fu and Ding Junhui...  the break reaches 60... a good red but the bounce off the cushion has spoiled position on the black... decision time for Lee, he's got a hard black to centre, or can play safe and put the black safe too... he opted for the pot and it just catches the near jaw and stays out... so Lee is 61 ahead with 67 points left and importantly for Ebdon, the black is still in open play and there's nothing safe if he gets a chance... good safety by Ebdon earns him a chance at a red... he's missed it and it's on for Lee who only needs the red... and Lee is through to the semi final barring snookers... Ebdon gets the snooker and a free ball, it's not quite over yet... Ebdon gets 8 points so trails by 30 on the last red and he's laid another snooker... good escape and safe by Lee... Ebdon has left the red on for Lee, so Ebdon's valiant struggle will come to nothing...

SHAUN MURPHY 5-6 KEN DOHERTY

Good evening to everyone, particularly the Irish and English fans of Doherty and Murphy respectively, although I'm sure our Global audience will favour one or other player also. Either way we should be in for another high quality match and more thrills and spills on the way to the winning line... Shaun Murphy gets a chance as Ken misses a red to centre... already on to 33.. and as he reaches 45 it's a real frame winning opening... onto 59 and one more red needed to clinch the opener... frame is secure, can he open with a century... no he can't but a nice 79 for Murphy.

Ken has potted the first red in frame two, an opportunity for the Dubliner to get the feel of the table and add some points, better now he's opened the reds out... Ken's onto 27 without undue problem... onto 46 but misses a straight red... Ken pots a red but the white lands right in the jaws of the yellow pocket, angling him on all colours except the brown, so only 1 point that time... now it's Murphy turn to gain the opportunity of getting right back into the frame, in fact it's a frame-winning opening... he's lost ideal position so takes his 27 and runs and hides... a good red by Doherty but he will still need the last two reds... he can't get on the last red so sends it round the angles...  Doherty leads 59-27... Murphy leaves the red on and Ken sinks it and levels the match.

Ken pounces an error from Murphy to carve out some points... onto 24 and didn't break the reds as intended so he's forced to play safe... Ken don't capitalise that time on Shaun's safety error and he's left the red on for Murphy... he's already cleared the deficit and looks in pretty good position now to make a sizeable break... and Shaun reaches 56 in very little time, he needs one of the two last reds... and he gets that and is 38 up with 35 on... Murphy misses the last red so Doherty still has some hope in the frame if he can get one snooker... but he won't now as Murphy gets a good last red cueing down with the spider.

Great long red by Murphy to start frame four, shots like that will put pressure on Doherty's safety... Murphy makes 36 and he's back in as Ken muffs that attempted pot... now Murphy is well on his way to a 3-1 lead at the interval, 59 ahead now... no doubt no as the break passes 50.

The players return from the interval... A full-blooded red by Murphy lands him nicely on the black... he speeds along to 25 and is in prime position for a sizeable break... well he was until he spun too far off the pack... and he misses a dodgy red to the centre pocket... 32 points for Murphy and Ken could punish him here... he's made 29 so far but is struggling a bit still to get decent position... he eventually runs completely out of position having made 40, so just an eight point lead for Ken... Ken's safety shot is too thin and Murphy pumps home another long red... and that creates the  opening to clinch the frame and a 4-1 lead.

Ken gets red and yellow but no position as frame six is in play... he's got another chance and Ken is fighting hard here but it not at his fluent best tonight, but he's progressed to 31 now... and misses another red... but Ken gets another chance as Murphy went for a rash red... and Ken has got the red he needs to take the frame and a hard-earned frame it's been.

Ken's perked up now, a good red and he's got the first opening in frame seven... he's made 23 and immediately gets another chance as Murphy attempted a red that couldn't squeeze its way into a pocket... it's a scrappy frame now, errors by both players... another chance for Murphy now but two reds are on cushions... and after that effort the points are level and they're on the yellow but Doherty is snookered... good escape and now Ken gets the yellow and he's on the brown... and he's clearing up to pull another frame back, a real battling performance by the Dubliner...

Doherty is at the table again in frame eight, already on 48 and that is six reds and blacks so far... and now onto 64 but he must win the frame before worrying about maximums, so he'll take the blue, now the frame is won he can concentrate on trying to set a very big high break target, he's got 145 on now and there is £10,000 for the high break, not as much of course as when he missed the final black for a 147 in the 2000 final against Matthew Stevens... there's the 100 and now he can make 143 but he's got a kick so a harder shot now to take on the pink, good shot to the top pocket, fabulous break... so just the colours now for 141... there it is, absolutely superb and not to forget he's levelled the match at 4-4...

Some good safety shots to start frame nine but Murphy finds a good red, but he's overcut the brown trying to get back up to the reds... the chance moves to Ken... and Murphy looks very thoughtful now as Ken moves onto 53, this match has turned on its head in the last few frames since Murphy 4-1 up and cruising... and now he will trail as Doherty wraps this frame up as his break reaches 65... and it looks like another century now and it is, great play by Doherty....

Murphy's long red rattles in the jaw and an immediate chance for Doherty in frame ten... and now Doherty is flying, up to 44, in good position... this could be a match-winner for yet another remarkable turnaround result... he's lost position but a good 52 and safe... cracking red by Murphy and a chance for the counter-attack... and what a break this is, 43 now and on the yellow... just blue and pink and down they go, great clearance and we've got another decider.

Ken is first at the table, only 21 so far and not a clear cut match winning chance as yet... onto 35 now, and he's got the black open into one corner pocket now... and clipped the pack open off the blue and now it is a match winning opportunity... just one more red for Doherty to secure a fabulous victory... and it's there... The GCS server is due for an overnight upgrade (UK time) we apologise for any down time you experience but we'll be back on Friday with two more thrilling quarter final matches.... and Doherty looks set to round off in style with his third century...

STEPHEN MAGUIRE 5-6 MARK SELBY

Hello everyone, welcome back to Wembley and today we start the quarter final matches. First up at 13.00 GMT is two of snooker's young guns going head to head - Stephen Maguire and Mark Selby, both having produced remarkable wins to defeat Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry... we will be back, LIVE, as soon as play commences.. and play has commenced... Selby and Maguire have only played each other once before, in the 2006 Welsh Open, an encounter won by Selby... Well that's a good shot by Selby as he manufactures a five ball plant... no colour on so he lays a snooker... perfect escape by Maguire... there's a cracking red from Selby and good position on the blue, first chance falls to the Leicester Jester... Mark is wasting no time in turning this into a frame-winning break, already onto 53 and all the balls at his mercy... but that's a bit careless, he took his eye off the pink and the break ends at 58 and he's left Maguire in good position for a counter-attack... but the last three reds are all on cushions and Maguire's missed one of them... and that costs him the opening frame...

Selby is progressing nicely in frame two, already on to 38... and up to 60 with 7 reds left... he's opened the remaining reds now so just one more red needed and he misses it on 68... Selby's knocked the pink safe though so it would take a remarkable effort for Maguire to get back into the frame, certainly at one visit... a good long red launches Maguire on the come back trail... nice shot to open the last three reds... onto 42 with just the colours left and the pink remains the problem ball... he's missed the double on the pink but got the snooker behind the black... so twelve points the difference, Selby needs to hit this pink and get it safe - but he's missed it completely and it's going back, the frame has swung right round in Maguire's favour... he's got it this time but left it on... Maguire nicks the frame on the black.

For the first time in the match the first chance falls to Maguire who's making good progress so far, on 36 now... up to 52 and in excellent position to clinch the frame here... the frame is safe now as the break reaches 74, can he make the highest break of the week here? He could make 140 here if he takes the black with the last reds... there's the century but a hard last red down the rail left now... he can't make that but still an excellent 105.

Into frame four and Selby attempts a long red, misses it, leaves Maguire the chance, who also misses a long one... Maguire doesn't miss the next red so he can put together some points now... he's got a bad kick, still on the black, but not so easy to get to the next red now... he sensibly opts for safety... Maguire wins the safety exchange and has another chance to open a good lead in the frame... Maguire's opened a 45-0 lead, he's faced with a hard black to keep the break going and he's missed it... he bangs the table in annoyance... Selby pots his first red for half an hour... and now he's got a good chance to turn the tables on Maguire and take the frame, especially now he's opened all the reds... he's missed the green at pace and it jumps back out of the pocket... so Maguire can now clear up to take a 3-1 lead at the interval... and he does... so they have a 15 minute break now...

Here comes the players again to start frame five, a frame Selby needs to win to keep in touch... Maguire produces a brilliant safety shot to leaves the white tight behind yellow... Selby doesn't leave anything on from that escape... another clever safety by Maguire, using the pack to shield an open red... we could be heading for a re-rack here as they're tip tapping into the pack at the moment... Maguire breaks the stalemate with a good return to the baulk cushion... Selby's in a lot of trouble here and he's taken nearly two minutes to try and work out a safe shot... he chooses to roll up to the reds, a couple of possible reds on for Maguire... the Scot misses the long red... now here's a chance for Selby... not easy with both pink and black tied up... but he's managed to compile 41 so far... the break will end at 42 and he's not on a colour... Selby's put Maguire in a snooker, hoping to get the chance to get back on the reds and clinch the frame... and he gets it and makes no mistake and pulls a frame back.

Quite a prolonged safety bout to start frame six and no end to the deadlock yet... Selby attempts an extravagant long red, misses by a margin and leaves it on in the centre for Maguire... this is a great chance for Maguire, black and pink on their spots and reds nicely spread... and it hasn't taken him long to move on to 63, one ball away from securing the frame now... the breaks ends at 67 but Selby needs a snooker now on the last four reds... Maguire pots another red and that puts the frame beyond doubt... so 4-2 to Maguire and Selby continues to have to play catch up.

Another safety bout at the start of frame seven, both players well aware of what their opponent can do if a chance comes their way... Wow what a stunning red by Maguire, forced into the pot as he couldn't see a safety, he deserves to get a good break after that... and he's well on course to winning the frame, up to 45 now... for no apparent reason he misses a red on 59... four of the last five reds are on the cushion so not easy for Selby to get back in the frame at the moment... he's got on the first of the reds along the top rail... Selby's mustered 28 points so far, but he won't have position on the last red, so he'll lay a snooker now... Maguire has a 59-28 lead on the last red but he is now snookered... he hits the blue so another five points for Selby and Maguire will try again... this time he's left it on for Selby and he can pinch the frame here... he's now 23 behind on the yellow and despite brown being off its spot, it shouldn't be a problem to clear the colours... pink and black still needed... and he's got them, a big difference that frame makes, from 5-2 down Selby is only 4-3 behind...

Maybe that's rattled Maguire a bit as he misses an attempted red and immediately gives Selby an opening... and he's turned it into a decent chance now, spreading the reds open... but he breaks down on 37 and Maguire produces a pile-driver red to get started... Maguire quickly moves on to 33 only 4 points behind now... he's got the wrong side of the blue there so with 44 points he's forced to play safe with 2 reds left... good shot by Selby to get safe again... Selby has pulled out a brilliant red to get back in and he's on the black, this frame could take another twist now... he's missed the yellow so Maguire returns to the table, 4 points behind, this could now prove to be the key frame of the match... Maguire should clear up here to regain his two frame advantage, well he should, but got a terrible kick on the brown, so needs a good long blue now... safely despatched and he's on the pink... job done.

Selby gets a red straight from the break off of Maguire, makes 10 before losing position for the black, so runs back to the baulk cushion... Maguire's found a red to get himself going, only seven points so far, but he's got a couple of reds open... but he can only make 19 and now Selby whacks in another crunching long pot to get started... and Selby's made some great shots so far in this break which reaches 30 and he's now 51-19 ahead with two reds left... the red he needed teetered on the brink of the pocket for a tantalising few seconds, but eventually it toppled in and he's won the frame...

A good response so far by Selby in frame ten, a frame he must win to stay in the match... within a couple of shots he's opened all the reds up... and already he's made 44 from this chance... well on course now to win the frame and send the match into a thrilling concluding frame... and  barring snookers Selby's won the frame now... 76 now, can Mark dish up with a century... onto 90 now and just one red left... and there's the ton, brilliant snooker from Selby...

So who's your money on now to win the one frame match? The players shake hands and here we go as Selby breaks off in the decider... and snookers Maguire on all the reds... A fabulous long red by Selby, plumb on the black, but only one more loose red at the moment... he's unlucky to stick in the pack as he tries to split them, so only 16 points from that visit unless he can take a very hard red to centre... good pot, but not much position and little chance of getting back on the reds... he's found another red and now it's vital to get a good angle on the blue to try and split the reds, he's not on the blue, over hit that a bit and will have to try and come round the table...  he's landed on the red at the back of the pack, no angle to split the pack off the black here though... just rolls it in for the points, so 37 useful points for Selby... Maguire has gone full blooded at a red, missed it and got away with it, nothing on for Selby... another good safety earns Selby a chance and now he's favourite... he's now 58 points ahead and the reds are there for him and he only needs one red and a colour to clinch the match... and he's now 68 up with 67 on but little chance for Maguire to return to the table... no chance now, Selby has won. A brilliant match.

GRAEME DOTT 5-6 STEPHEN LEE

Join us at 19.00 GMT as Stephen Lee and Graeme Dott make their appearance at this year's Masters... and with the exit there of John Higgins we are guaranteed to see a new name on the illustrious Masters trophy this year... Stephen Lee and Graeme Dott are just starting their match... first red potted by Dott... Stephen Lee looks like he's suffering another bad hair day, with some rather dodgy looking red highlights! No Position for Dott and a poor safety as well... Both players are striving for some good form this season, so this match is crucial to their hopes and their confidence... after a couple of misses apiece the first real chance falls to Dott who's contrived 24 points so far... Dott looks in good touch as the break progresses to 49 and should become a frame-winner... and it has, a very positive start by Dott..

Lee's potted a great long red to start frame two but no colour in sight so he reverts to safety... Dott's safety produces an error from Lee and Dott has a red over the pocket to get started again... and he needs no second invitation to compile another frame-winning break... in fact it's a century, what a great start for the former World Champion...

Danger signs for Stephen Lee fans, he's missed a long red attempt, given the table over to Graeme Dott and he's already made 24... but there's a careless miss on 45 and a let-off for Lee... As ever Lee looks very good in amongst the reds... he's made 28 but let the white go too close to the cushion and he's missed the next red... so there are five reds left, all but one in the open, so whoever wins this safety battle should be favourite... Dott leads 45-28... Dott makes the error and leaves a red to the yellow pocket... Lee gets the red and green and nicely up for two open reds... he's got those and this frame will hinge on whether Lee can get the last red off the cushion into a pottable position... he's left a tough red down the rail... it's rattled and he's left it on... Lee leads 56-45... Dott is already up to the brown, still needs brown to pink... a good blue but the pink isn't easy either... that's a good cut back to the corner and Dott leads 3-0

Dott smashes in a long red and he's got the opening chance in frame four... he's out of position so has to play safe, so only a 12 point lead for now... Lee responds with a run of 29 before missing although nothing on for Dott... A mistake by Dott and here's an easy red for Lee... and he's moved into a 61-12 lead but there are still 4 reds left, so a glimmer of hope for Dott still... A bad miss by Lee on a red give Dott the opening he's looking for, not much margin as he's 40 behind with 43 left on... he's missed the black so Lee wins the frame. and will be very relieved as they go off for their interval...

Lee starts the fifth frame with a good long red and he's moved along to 28 now, got the reds open and the black as well... this is more fluent from Lee, he's reached 53 now and in good position on the remaining reds... the break ends at 80, enough to pull another frame back.

Dott's cued across that red, it wasn't hard and Lee has reds to go at... Oh dear! Lee's missed the blue by a mile and it's smashed into the reds scattering them all over the place... Dott is setting about a break here, nicely onto 32... and ends at 42 as Dott lays a tight snooker... Lee's missed this twice but hits the red at the third attempt... all that leaves Dott leading 56-1... Another opening for Dott and just 4 points before he loses position... but he's squeezed that red in and now Lee needs two snookers... Dott gets another red to regain his two frame supremacy.

A nice long red by Lee to start frame seven... 21 points for Lee, but he misses another red and he's left one over the pocket for Dott... There's a let off for Lee as Dott goes in off... a scrappy frame now as neither player seems to be able to carve out a clear cut chance... Lee leads 26-15... not now he doesn't, Dott is battling back and takes the lead at 36-31 and he can improve this run of 21 still.. and Dott mops up to win another frame and now leads 5-2 and Lee is hanging his head at the moment...

A scrappy start to frame eight, Lee leads 28-4... unlucky for Lee there and a candidate for "What happened next"... as the white comes right round the table and contrives to knock the black down the rail and into the pocket... I think Lee's had about enough of this match... but he's battling on and now leads 61-11 with 4 reds left... a bad positional shot brings the break to an end at 37 but Dott needs a snooker now.... so Lee pulls a frame back but still trails 5-3.

First red to Dott to start frame nine... and he's got 12 on the board but can't find another red at the moment... Dott manufactured another chance but only adds 5 points... who can break the stalemate in this frame... Dott's slotted home a storming long red, but now goes in-off, this frame just won't open up for him... A chance falls for Lee, can he prolong the match here?  Not if he misses blacks off the spot... Lee leads 36-18 in this fragmented frame... A great red by Lee gives him the chance to snooker Dott on the last red... a very low scoring frame but Lee holds a 10 point lead... now Lee is favourite as he's fluked the last red and is 19 up on the yellow... Dott rattles the yellow and leaves it on for Lee... so another two points and just the green needed for Lee to stay in the match... but here's a chance for Dott to clear the colours for the match, but he's missed the green and left it for Lee... and he's saved the frame and match...

Lee gets the opening red and he's got a few more in the open, black on its spot, so a reasonable chance here... fine until he reached 39, then he put a red onto the near jaw of the centre pocket... and Dott fires home a brilliant red down the rail... only 14 and he's attempt a reverse double on a red and stuck it up for Lee... and a good split on the reds off the blue and Lee is in prime position now to win this frame and send the match into a deciding frame... but unaccountably he misses a perfectly simple red... and returns to his chair cursing to himself.. Dott grits his teeth and sets about trying to win the match although he's still 24-51 behind... Dott makes 17 and having lost good position misses a tough red and he's left that hanging in the jaws so Lee has one more life line... and it's going to be 5-5...

Dott gets a red straight from Lee's break in the deciding frame... smoothly along to 39 and it's now all about splitting the reds and he's on a red... Dott's rattled along to 61 but a big bounce off the top cushion costs Dott position... so a mountain for Lee to climb, 61 down with 75 points remaining... and Dott has pushed the black safe... Lee finds a long red to the yellow pocket and he's got the black out into play again... still a chance for him... he's made 30 but is faced with a very hard long red to keep the break going and a brilliant shot under pressure, he's on the last red now and is favourite... so 24 behind and on the yellow, all colours on their spots, but the pressure is high... he's landed straight on the blue so will have a hard pink... still needs pink and black to pull of a remarkable victory... great pink, nearly in off but not quite... he's done - fabulous clearance by Lee.

JOHN HIGGINS 5-6 DING JUNHUI

This promises to be fabulous match as the highly talented Ding goes head to head with the World Champion and World Number One... The players will be in the arena in a couple of minutes so sit back and enjoy the coverage with us... Here they come and off we go... within a couple of safety shots the reds are opening up nicely... a warm welcome to all our viewers from China and Asia today, no doubt cheering for Ding... John Higgins got that shot all wrong, he's gone in off the reds... but at least it means the cue ball is back in baulk but there's a long red for Ding... and it flies in... an encouraging start for Ding... but that's not so good, missing the brown and he's turned the table over to the Scot... Higgins can't get good position but a good green keeps him at the table... and now he's got the balls in good position to produce a frame winning break, already up to 50... just one red needed now and safely into the centre pocket, it will be 1-0 to Higgins with that 71 break...

Higgins is in at the start of frame two, looking in ominously good form... a surprising miss from Higgins just when he was cruising on 39, an easy red slips away... Ding gets a good long red to start his break, nicely on the black and several open reds... and in no time at all Ding scores 39 and a good red to keep going and everything is at his mercy now... just a good shot from black to yellow needed to secure the frame at he reaches 65.. down goes the yellow so the frame belongs to Ding as John Higgins sits and broods over his easy missed red...

Ding doubles the first red in frame three and he's in prime position here... the break increases to 25, a couple of reds left before he needs to split the pack.. the break ends at 41 as that red runs round the rim of the middle pocket, nothing left for Higgins... the remaining reds are scattered far and wide and Higgins has got the white to the top cushion, a problem here for Ding to get safe... no chance for Higgins yet and now the reds are all baulk side of the pink... now Ding has left a plant for Higgins and a chance to get right back into the frame... Higgins is having to pick his way round the table here to find the dispersed reds, but safely along to 33 and he could do to Ding here what he suffered in the last frame... down goes the last red, Higgins moves 6 points ahead now on the yellow, he needs up to the blue... great shot from brown to blue, and he regains the lead at 2-1... another excellent frame...

Ding misses a long red by a very wide margin as frame four gets underway... one good long red and Higgins is back amongst the balls... onto 31 and it's all about getting reds into play to keep the break going... but he loses position and break ends at 46... Ding misses a long red and leaves a red to centre for Higgins... no easy colour for him... pink is tied up, blue is off its spot so he's rammed home a long green and come round the table..  the lead grows to 61, one more red needed... down it goes, he should have a 3-1 lead at the interval barring snookers, 69 up with 59 left on... Ding takes 22 points and lays the snooker on the last red... easy escape there for Higgins... Ding gets another snooker but again easy enough to hit... Ding leaves the red on and concedes...

The players have returned to the arena and an error from Higgins gifts an opening chance to Ding... he can't get position off the yellow so a meagre 3 points there... Another chance for Ding from which he's made 27 so far... he needs to win this frame, if he went 4-1 down it would be a hard task to get back into the match... he's got a kick there so will have to be content with a 57 point lead.... John Higgins flukes the red from his cross table safety and he's landed on the yellow... a reprieve for Ding as Higgins misses a tough red cueing off the cushion... only 10 points for Higgins... Ding gets red and black and Higgins needs a snooker now... so Ding pulls a frame back and the match is wide open again...

First chance to Ding again in frame six, already up to 34.... and Ding's not rattled along to 51 and has all the reds open to clinch a frame-winning break... onto 70 and that's the frame secure, Ding now has a chance of the high break of the week... there's the century... and there's a 135 total clearance, brilliant from Ding.

It's John Higgins turn, cueing off the baulk cushion from Ding's break, a brilliant red and he's in the balls... and now up to 38 and in excellent position... not now he's not, he's over cut that red with the rest, end of break at 62... Ding has found a double and can make a severe dent on John's lead at this visit... but it's only 16 and he's lost position... Higgins finds another red and should close the frame out now... he does and regains the lead.

One red for Higgins but no colour and no clear opening yet, until Higgins misses a long red to the corner and it's rebounded over the middle.. Ding's going well so far with this effort, onto 44, plenty of reds open and the black on its spot... 73 and the frame is safe, can he make another century, no century but that brilliant 96 levels the match again, this match is as high a quality as yesterday's Doherty-Williams match.

Into frame nine and a little safety exchange to start, the pack is still tightly packed... Was Higgins lucky or unlucky there? he's fluked a red in the middle but the white has landed in the pack and snookered him on the colours... he's failed to hit the green but gets it second time and a good safe white... so no damage done... did I say safe white? Ding has produced another stunning long red, cueing from right under the baulk cushion, but no colour for him so another snooker laid... Higgins has missed this escape twice so far... got them the third time... Higgins pulls out a good long red and lands perfectly on the black... but he can't create good position on the reds so only 17 points at that visit... another good red by Ding and this isn't a bad opening if he can get pink and black back on their spots... he's stretched his lead to 44-18, but position isn't easy now to get on another red... he needs to nudge the last three reds from the pink, no luck there, he's stuck on the red so end of break at 44 but he's got a useful 39 point lead... Higgins has gone in-off so Ding leads by 43 now and just needs one of the three reds... It's Higgins who finds the next red, the blue will be his main problem to prevent a clearance here, as it's on the side rail... he's missed the pink trying to force an angle so he needs a snooker on the last red... which he's got so he can still pinch this frame... Ding's laid a tight snooker now and Higgins is in trouble... great escape and better result as he gets the snooker back... Ding's knocked the brown in by mistake, which gives Higgins a bit of leeway on the last red, which he's now potted but he's missed the long brown so back to needing a snooker, 29 behind on the yellow... Ding puts the frame beyond doubt and leads for the first time in the match.

There's a cracking long red by John Higgins to start the penultimate frame, but no reward so a good safety... and that has forced an error from Ding... Higgins can't get a long red this time but gets a good white to the baulk cushion... this safety has put all the reds into play, an error could prove fatal now... and that error comes from Higgins who was way off with that red... more disaster, this time for Ding as he goes in off... a simply brilliant red from John Higgins earns him a good chance of putting a substantial break together... onto 28 now and in perfect position... well he was but he's left a tough red this time... and he's missed it... the break comes to a halt at 34, but Higgins has a 39 point lead... it may not last long as he's left the whole table open for Ding... but after 23 points he's missed red with the rest and the frame is anyone's again... Ding's fluked a red now and he's put Higgins in trouble with a snooker... Higgins has a 15 point lead with 4 reds left.. One miss from Higgins and he's left the red on for Ding... a few nervy errors now, Ding misses a pink with the rest, so two reds left and only 2 points in it,  one red left now as Higgins strokes that along the cushion... Higgins has the upper hand now, 17 points ahead as we move into the colours... green and brown are nudged up together near baulk cushion... Higgins needs up to the brown to force the deciding frame... he's missed the yellow but not left it, a bit of mileage now in the frame.. Higgins leads 54-37... Higgins fails to escape from the snooker Ding put him in, that will go back again... he's hit it this time but left it on, but very hard to get on the green... Ding's missed it, it is now very twitchy... good shot from Ding snookers Higgins on the yellow, he's split green and brown apart as well... Higgins fails to escape, back it goes for another try... Higgins' lead shrinks to 9 points... Higgins hits it now and gets the snooker back... Ding needs to travel the full 24 feet to hit this yellow, he's miles off at the first attempt, it's all happening in this frame... he's missed again, and that rolled off as well... this is rock-hard, the white is moving off line every shot... and again he's missed, this is so hard to judge, perhaps he needs to try and hit this harder to avoid the white turning off... meanwhile Higgins now leads 74-45 and Ding needs a snooker, but no more misses now... more drama as Ding flukes the yellow! Of course he wasn't on the green but he's laid the snooker, this is real drama now... it's Higgins' turn to miss the green.. so Ding is now 23 behind with 25 on, he can win the frame again... shot of the day by Ding, fabulous green and he's on the brown but very little angle to get out for the blue and he's missed it, trying to force the angle, but it's safe... Higgins pins the white up behind the black, good hit by Ding and he's got a snooker back... there's not enough run in this frame for either player! Higgins hits the brown but there's a long brown for Ding... nowhere near it, the long brown is now on for Higgins... it stays out but runs safe.. Ding lays the snooker again... Higgins hits black instead of brown and it's going back for another try... he's hit the black again and now Ding is only 6 points behind and the tide as turned in his favour here... Higgins hits brown at his third attempt and gets it safe as well... well it looked safe but Ding's cut it in so he's two points behind on the blue which is also very hard... great pot from Ding.. pink for the match.... it's there and Ding has won a remarkable match...

NEIL ROBERTSON 5-6 MARCO FU

Good evening, welcome back, the players will enter the arena in a few moments... and here they are... not the best break off by Robertson, but only a very tough red left... A very big welcome to our many GCS visitors from Hong Kong, China and Australia and New Zealand, this will be a real Austral-Asia battle tonight.. Fu opts for safety and pins the white behind the yellow... this has cut off all the angles and Neil has taken more than a minute already trying to work out a path to the reds.. after two minutes Neil plays a perfect shot to nestle on the pack... the reds are opening up with this safety exchange... Robertson has clipped a thin red to centre but there's no colour so has to play safe, in fact he should have got an easy snooker there but has left a gap... Fu's found a red from the pack but no position for him either... and he fails to reach the colour so is now stuck in his own snooker... and he's left a red on... Robertson moves along to 21 now but it's not a clean opening, the reds are covering each other a lot... up to 42 and still not straightforward... the break reaches 55 and Neil only needs one more red now... he's got it and is 67 ahead with 59 on... he missed the next red and that gives Fu the chance for a bit of potting practice  and a slim chance of getting snookers, but he needs three... he's now 39 behind on the yellow... Robertson flukes a snooker and that secures the frame...

The first opening in frame two is created by Robertson... he's had to work hard to reach 53 but he's in the driving seat now... and he's secured the frame in one visit, a very encouraging start for the Aussie... can he put the icing on the cake with a century, onto 90 now... yes he can, there's the century and if he clears it will be the highest break of the week at 131, but it's only 118.

A brilliant long red from Fu from Neil's break off, will that spur him to gain a toe-hold in the match... he's unlucky to lose position after a hard rest with the rest... so only 9 points at that visit... and now Robertson is making inroads into the reds, onto 38 now... the break ends at 39 and now a chance for Marco to respond... and Fu moves to 38 and leads by 9 points now... the last red is despatched, Fu is favourite now to take the frame... and he secures the frame on the green and an excellent 80 clearance...

Fu is back at the table in frame four and with the reds well spread, this is a decent chance... Marco has moved smoothly onto 28 and there's plenty still on for him... now onto 48... like this afternoon we've had an excellent high quality start to this match, this looks like being the fourth consecutive frame winning break... up to 63, just one more red needed... excellent snooker and we'll be level at 2-2 barring snookers... Robertson is 41 behind with the last red left... Robertson choose to take the last red and black and will look to get a snooker on the pink, a high risk option with only the black to hide behind, so he could tie with one snooker and he's nailed the while behind the black, great shot... Fu's missed the pink so Robertson can now tie... not any more, Fu pots the pink and will be rather relieved as they go to the interval at 2-2.

The players are back in action, well Fu is, already 31 points ahead and with open reds and the black on its spot... and this run of 69 secures the frame and a one frame lead for Marco.

The safety play at the start of frame six is opening the reds out, an error could prove very costly... and Fu has Robertson in trouble after that shot and the Aussie catches the corner jaws and leaves the white amongst the reds... but he hasn't left on on for Marco so the safety continues... Robertson breaks the deadlock but he doesn't get on any easy colour... he's found another red at his next visit... again he can't get a colour and now a chance opens up for Marco... ominous signs for Robertson, Fu's won the last three frames and he's going well here on 39 so far... and there's another frame-winning contribution for the Grand Prix Champion and a century as well...

Robertson leaves his safety short of the baulk line and Fu gets the red to gain first chance in frame seven.. and a superb red there to get position, but there's a rare miss as the black stays out as Fu tries to force it to get position again... Robertson only moves his scores along to 13 before playing safe... excellent safety here from both players... Robertson finds an opening and makes 32 which gives him a 45-18 lead in the frame but still six reds left... Fu finds a red, but the last four are in a cluster... he's managed to break them open and moves onto 20, 7 points behind now... and now Fu moves a point ahead with two reds left... but he misses the red so the frame is still wide open... the red is on for Robertson and he can pinch the frame here and stop Fu's charge of four consecutive frames... and 32 to the pink secures the frame for Robertson...

Into frame eight and a crucial frame now as Robertson seeks to level the match and Fu hopes to push on to reopen a two frame gap... Robertson carves out the first opening... he only accumulates 23 points there... the reds are covering each other and blue and black are also embedded among them so not an easy chance for anyone yet... Fu digs out a red but this will be hard work to turn this into a real scoring chance... he manages to move along to 21 but Fu's left a red on for Robertson who now leads 44-21... and he's done enough to win the frame and level the match so we're set for an exciting climax to this match now...

Marco Fu gets the vital first chance in frame nine, he's made 27 now but he will need to break the pack now from the blue... he chose to go gently into the reds, they're open but he's left a hard red to centre, which stays out so Fu has a 42 point lead and will have to sit and see what Robertson makes from this first easy red... well he's made 24 so far and he's got another couple of reds in the open so he's right back in the frame... not now he's not as he breaks down and leaves Fu in and no mistake from Fu and Robertson needs one snooker on the last red to be able to tie... Fu doubles the last red so he will lead 5-4...

Into frame ten as Robertson returns to the arena and he must win this frame to stay in the match... Robertson is straight in from Marco's break and there are plenty of reds open for him... a couple of good shots to keep the break going but Robertson's up to 53 but he's unlucky there to kiss the black and has no colour on so end of break... and back comes Fu, onto 14 aided by an excellent red, the green brings him back to the last four reds... the is a good chance to clear up to win the match here, last two reds open for him and the colours all on their spots except the black, which he doesn't need... disaster for Fu as he's gone in-off in the middle pocket, that turns the frame back in Robertson's favour, leading 57-31 with one red left... Robertson had Marco snookered but a good escape... a good pot by Fu on the last red, he's on the green and that should put him nicely on the yellow with the chance to clear for victory... but he ended hampered by the brown and couldn't pot the yellow so Robertson leads by 22, or he did until he failed to escape from Fu's snooker... he hits it this time and he's snookered Fu now and the Aussie has a 17 point lead... Robertson has fluked another snooker and another good escape by Fu... it's very tense now... It's Fu's turn to lay a snooker... another escape executed by Neil... and still Robertson has a 17 point lead as this tense exchange on the yellow continues... Fu misses the yellow from that snooker and it's going back again and Neil's lead grows to 21 points.... Fu hits it that time but he's left it on, Neil also needs the green to win the frame... he's got it so it's 5-5 and we'll have another one frame decider.

Fu makes an error on his safety, first chance to Robertson in the deciding frame... already this is a promising chance for Neil, he's got reds open, the black is on its spot and he's moved on to 24 already... but the break ends at 41 as he lost position... Robertson has pushed a red over the corner pocket, Marco gets it and he's on the blue, he can get back into the frame here... Fu's made 14 so far but can't retain position so just a safety... Robertson misses an attempted long pot... and Fu misses one with the rest and he's left everything on here for Robertson who already has a 27 point lead.... he stretched for that red and missed it... so all change again as the table is open for Fu, but he's played a poor positional shot... and he's missed the blue... lots of nerves on show now... Robertson gets a red but lands down in the baulk area and not on a colour... he leads 42-15 with four reds left and he's pushed the yellow safe as a bit of insurance... Robertson clips in another red and is still not on a colour, but he's edging ever closer to the line, now 43-15 up with 51 points on the table... and now it's Marco's turn to get a good red, no easy colour and certainly not a frame winning opportunity... he plays safe to bring the black into the open, so he's now 27 behind and only 43 on... Robertson is lucky as the white heads for the corner pocket but just stays out and it turns out to be a good safety shot... Robertson's safety leaves a red in the jaws and he's brought the yellow open... this is now a test of nerve and it's not an easy clearance, the brown is up on the top cushion and only the pink is on its spot.... he's giving this plenty of thought... he's 20 behind now on the last red and he's got the brown into a better position there and he's on the brown to get up for the yellow... but he's played safe now and is 15 behind on the yellow which is now the key ball... Fu's played a great safety shot there to snooker Robertson and he's left a chance at this yellow... he's got the yellow but will have to take the long green with the rest... good shot and he's on the brown, the blue is sitting over the middle pocket and pink and black are open... although the black is up near the baulk line so it's not over yet... it is now, good position on the black and Fu has clinched a thriller...

KEN DOHERTY 6-2 MARK WILLIAMS

Good afternoon and welcome back to Wembley. Just a few minutes now before we see the entrance of Mark Williams and Ken Doherty in what should be an intriguing match... both players have been short of form, although Williams showed signs of a revival at the recent UK Championship...

Here come the players, two times Masters champion Mark Williams given a warm welcome as is Ken Doherty, who, as always, has a large Irish following in the audience... so we settle down for the Celtic Challenge between Wales and Ireland... Ken pots a good red to the centre to get the scores moving... Doherty looks rather sartorial this afternoon, in a purple shirt and two-tone shoes... two misses by Williams and he can see the reds, he must hit them this time or forfeit the frame... great shot time as Williams gets the white up behind the yellow, but it's easy to hit the pack.. Ken's left a red sticking so here's an early chance for the Welshman... this is excellent from Williams, he looks calm, cool and collected and has strolled through this break of 74 and counting... and there's a century to start the day...

Williams gets the first red at the start of frame two but he can't get into the pack so only 13 points... A good pot along the cushion by Doherty, who forced an error from Williams after excellent safety... Ken can't convert that into a real chance so back to baulk... Another chance for Mark but he can't get on the black although the reds have opened up now so the next chance could prove profitable... Mark attempted a slow roll to the colour on the baulk cushion but that rolled off and he missed the ball... this is the first prolonged tactical exchange of the match... both players are masters of the art, but it's sent all the balls into very scrappy positions, so this frame could be long and fragmented... a clever snooker by Doherty pays dividends as Williams misses and leaves a red on for the Dubliner... but he's attempted a three ball plant which didn't drop, and now a good safety from Williams... Ken leads 27-21 and we still have seven reds on the table... Ken misses a red and this gives Williams a good chance now... and he's opened a 39-27 lead.. his break reaches 39 and he's 33 up on the last red... down it goes and it's 2-0 to Williams with that 69 clearance...

A red is in baulk so the safety shots from the top cushion will spread the reds as we start the third frame... Ken wins the safety battle, forcing Williams into a tough pot which he didn't get so this is a great chance now for Doherty to make an impact on the match... so far so good as Doherty reaches 31 and still has plenty of reds in the open... the break is up to 62 just 59 left on the table.. a great last red put Ken in line for a century, great start to this match with three very good breaks... and there's the century for Doherty.

Doherty's safety has pushed a red over the pocket, but Williams has rattled it... so here's a chance for Ken to level the match at the interval.. he's nicely along to 39 now... the break ends at 42, Williams came back but he's given Ken the chance to clear up and level... Williams is trying to get  snookers on the green.

The players are back after the interval and we'll resume this excellent match... Immediately a red goes into baulk so Ken plays safe to the top cushion.. this exchange will open the reds up but Williams opts for a long pot to yellow, which he misses... The red is on for Ken... he's quickly developed this into a chance, but will need to prise the pack open soon... a spot of luck there as a couple of nudges leave Ken perfect on the pink to progress the break past 24... and he's produced another frame winning break, 89 this time.. and the high quality continues...

Ken gets the first chance in frame six and he's looking in very good form now... and he's reached 33 but he's over cooked that positional shot so it's end of break... but Ken's precision safety leaves Williams snookered... he escapes at the second attempt and doesn't leave anything and the next safety gives a chance to Williams who trails 41-3 at the moment... he's in good position now and should quickly knock off the deficit... his recovery ends at 53 as he's caught the pink on the way to the last red and he's left a free ball... Williams leads 53-47... Doherty takes brown as his extra red and he's nicely on the blue to get the last red, this could turn this match around in Doherty's favour...

Williams has missed a red cueing over a ball but there's nothing easy for Doherty... Doherty finds a plant and another nice nudge puts him smack on the blue.. he hasn't got position though so he's working out a good safety shot, which he achieves... and that good safety earns Ken another opening... Doherty moves along to 38 mainly from the pink as the black is tied up... onto 53 now and leads 60-13, only two reds left so Ken is going to lead 5-2.

Williams breaks off in frame eight and brings a red over the centre, but Ken has over-cut it, so the chance goes to Williams... he's opened the reds and a good pink to middle gives him a real chance to pile on some points... he can't retain position and now Ken can retaliate... a lot of careful positional shots needed to turn this opportunity into a frame and match-winner... a rare missed pot by Ken having made 33, and there's a red for Mark, but he's missed it with the rest... Now Doherty has the chance to close out the match... and this has been an excellent performance by Ken, after a bright start for Williams.

PETER EBDON 6-4 RYAN DAY

Peter Ebdon and Ryan Day start their match at 19.00... Ebdon and Day have got underway and the first chance falls to Day, who perhaps has an advantage, having played a match in the arena last night... and Day is quickly on to 40... but he's missed a long red but covered the open reds... Ebdon's pots his first red, and a very good red to the centre bag, this is a good chance... and in very little time Ebdon has rattled up 42 and counting... this is a bright and breezy start by Ebdon, on to 67 now and he's won the opening frame in double quick time with a brilliant 92 clearance...

It's a tactical start to frame two and the reds have scattered, mainly to one side of the table, black and pink have gone safe as well... this could take a while to resolve... Day finds the first red but only makes 15 before missing the pink... Ebdon's let Ryan off the hook there and another chance opens up for the Welshman.. but the balls are very awkward. Day holds a 26 point lead, good value in what will probably be a low scoring frame... Day has clipped out a couple more reds and leads 42-0 now... back to the tactics... all the six remaining reds are on the side rail, as are black and yellow... Ebdon has gifted another 4 points to Day as he catches a baulk colour with his cue... Ebdon has totally mis hit that safety and ended up snookering Day behind the pink, a big slice of luck there... and there's a good long red by Ebdon, now he's faced with the problem of trying to get on another red off the green... he's got on the red but there's no colour now so only 5 points for Ebdon at that visit... two reds left and Day leads 46-19... Day's nipped in with red and black and leads by 35 on the last red, but Ebdon has fluked a snooker there... Day hits it but leaves it, Ebdon gets the red but he's not on the black so he'll need a snooker... Ebdon attempts to get the snooker on the brown but doesn't achieve it that time, he now trails by 25 points on the brown so needs one snooker.... Day pots the brown so he's levelled at 1-1.

Day pots the first red in frame three and this is a good open chance... he's made 36 and left a red in the jaws for Ebdon... but Ebdon only makes 16 before over cutting a red to the middle so Day is back in control in this frame... he's narrowly missed the split on the reds so he's had to play safe leading 47-16... Ebdon slots home a long red but there's no colour on for him... so with four reds left Day leads by 20 points and a good safety there by Ebdon leaves Day snookered on all reds... that forces a foul from Day but no pot left for Ebdon, he reduces his arrears to 16 points but there are still four reds left, one of which he's potted with a good pot to the yellow bag... and now he's left Day in trouble again on the last two reds and Day's lead has shrunk to 12 points... good shot by Day there and he's snookered Ebdon... Day misses a long red and has left it for Ebdon, he's got a good chance now to pulling this frame out, but he's played poor position and snookered himself on the last red... and hit the black but no miss called... the last red goes to Day and he just needs the yellow to finally put the frame out of Ebdon's reach.

Ebdon has created a good opening in frame four and already he's leading 32-0 and he's got the reds reasonably open... a good black keeps his break going and it should be 2-2 now as Ebdon's lead grows to 58 and his break reaches 42, he's forced to play safe now leading by 64 points with 67 left on... Ebdon gets another chance and it's 2-2 at the interval...

The interval is over and the players have started frame five... Day fires home a great long red and is unlucky not to get on a colour... Now Ebdon gets a cracking red and he's on the black... Ebdon's compiled 44 so far from this chance and he's still in good position... and now onto 76 and this is a frame-winning break...

Another good long red by Ebdon as we moved into frame six... and he's carrying on where he left off in the last frame.. Ebdon looks very good tonight in break-building situations... and he's moved smoothly on to 48 now, he'll have to think about loosening more reds soon... but he's broken down on 57 and left a chance for Day to come back into the frame... but he's missed a red on 32... there are three reds left and Ebdon has already potted one and got nicely on the black... and no mistake this time and that's a two frame lead for Ebdon now..

An early error from Ebdon gives Day a chance to gain an advantage in frame seven... but he can't get a tricky red along the rail and the momentum swings back to Ebdon... although he's not got a red on at the moment... the reds are well spread now so any error on the safety could prove very costly.. the error comes from Ebdon and Day finds a plant to get started... he might need Sat Nav to negotiate round the scattered reds, but apart from the black all the other colours can be potted... he's moved along to 28 and the table is gradually opening up for him... the break reaches 50 but Day will still need to opening the reds up to secure the frame, but perhaps that was on his mind as he misses a routine pink... some cagey safety now has pushed the last six reds close to the corner pocket... Day's covered them all, but he's missed the red that Ebdon left on... there's an easy red for Ebdon but he has the problem of breaking the last five reds into the open... but a good shot off the pink opens the reds... but he's failed on 21 missing that long red with the rest... Day's got the red he needed and Ebdon needs a snooker on the last red trailing 22-58... which he doesn't get so Day pulls a frame back.

First chance to Day in frame eight, onto 21 and he's split more reds open... he's missed a red on 25 and left an easy starter for Ebdon... now it's his turn to miss on 24, so the frame is wide open, but advantage to Day as he's at the table with another chance... only another ten points and Day leaves a red, which Ebdon misses... no mistake this time by Day, he's taken the last two reds and leads by 25 and he's on the green now... Day clears up with 57 and we're all square again...

Ebdon has carved out 14 points so far in frame nine, he's on the black and has a couple of open reds still... he faltered at 26 but he's got another chance now... Ebdon still needs to get the rest of the pack open, but he's got a 52 point lead now... no mistake from Ebdon and that the frame safe, he regain his lead at a crucial time in the match.

Day has got the opening red in the frame he needs to win to stay in the match... but not if he misses and he has, a chance for Ebdon, but he's missed up his position... so plays safe, but a bit of luck for Day as he flukes a red, but gets a kick as well, but he's still on a colour and there are a few open reds here for the Welshman... and he's only made 25 from the chance... Ebdon's in the driving seat now, onto 21, with all three remaining reds available, but a huge bounce off the cushion throws him out of ideal position... he saves the break with a good red to middle, and although he only leads by 3 points, he's favourite to take frame and match here... and Ebdon pots brown to put the match beyond doubt, a good performance by the Doha cue man tonight...

STEPHEN HENDRY 5-6 MARK SELBY

Stephen Hendry takes on Mark Selby.. This promises to be an intriguing Masters encounter... the six times Masters champion against the Masters debutant... Hendry won successively from 1989-1993, his remarkable run was ended by Alan McManus who won in 1994, and surprisingly perhaps, Hendry has only won the Masters once, in 1996, since his glory days at Wembley... he famously lost the deciding frame on a re-spotted black to Mark Williams in 1998 and lost to the Welshman against in 1993... A warm welcome for both players, traditionally the London crowd love to hate Hendry and maybe Selby will get his share of support this afternoon.. Selby's first shot at Wembley is a thundering long red, but he's landed in the bunch of reds and snookered himself, but that fantastic pot will help him settle any Wembley nerves.. This time Selby misses a long red, there's a mid range red for Hendry but hard to get on a colour with pink safe and black and blue up in the baulk area... good pot by Hendry and he's onto a baulk colour... in fact he's got the black onto its spot but not nicely on a red this time... so just 8 points and a safety shot... another red for Hendry but again no position to get a break going... another excellent safety though... so good that Selby misses and leaves a free ball so here's chance for Hendry to build a break... he's only made 22 before missing although he hasn't left a red for Selby... Hendry's good safety forces another error from Selby and a very good chance now for Hendry to clear up with all the reds open... and Selby now needs snookers...

A good start for Selby in the second, right in among the reds and nicely on the black, as he moves on to 27... he's missed the black on 36, concentrating on splitting the pack, which he has and there all on for Hendry... Hendry misses a simple red for no apparent reason, that will give Selby a boost... but a terrible safety shot by Selby merely leaves the red on for Hendry... a chapter of errors at the moment as Hendry misses a routine green, that won't help his confidence... Selby increases his lead to 44-14 and the outcome of this safety exchange may dictate who wins the frame... the chance falls to Selby and he only needs one more red... no problem and Selby wins his first frame in the Masters.

Hendry makes a poor break-off, clobberi