00:02Two more frames to come then in this first session, three each, Xiao Xin Tong once again levelling up, looking
00:08to take the lead for the first time today, there's still that option for one of these players at the
00:15end of this session, and as you can see it's been quick fire stuff, 14 minutes of frame is brisk,
00:23particularly for a final.
00:33John Higgins looking to move to 34 ranking titles, that would put him just two behind the great Stephen Hendry,
00:39and Xiao is looking to maintain his perfect record in ranking finals, he's won four out of four coming into
00:48this one.
01:13The paint, as Joe Johnson would say, and no more, that's why the cue balls come in and out of
01:18bork.
01:21That red is pottable, it's not very appetising is it, dead straight and close to the side cushion.
01:41Well that's an attacking safety shot from Higgins, and you do that with a little bit of trepidation, I think
01:47this world champion, because he pots so well, but I don't think he's going to put him on from there,
01:55because Higgins played the shot really nicely.
01:56Thanks.
02:26Next is Brady.
02:27Come on.
02:47I don't want to ask them.
02:55I don't know.
03:20Oh, well, that's a sensational safety shot.
03:22I mean, what a shot that is.
03:26He's got a really great putts in the world,
03:28but that is a magnificent safety shot from Xiao Xin Tong.
03:31And John Higgins will tap the table,
03:33know that, I wouldn't say he's made his match,
03:36but he's had one played against him there that was top-notch.
04:15Well, the pressure was put on Higgins there
04:17because it was an exceptional safety shot.
04:22But it'll only mean something if he can put one here.
04:25Now, the red along the cushion looks difficult.
04:31Does he want to roll this in?
04:32I think he does,
04:33but I just want to present a great chance straight back to John.
04:40Although John Higgins did not really get very close to that red.
04:44Big shot there to drop it in.
04:48Yeah, no problem.
04:49Beautifully played.
04:50So, is this the moment where he gets in and finds his head in front?
04:54It's worth remembering that he never led in the match with Mark Allen.
04:58He was 3-1, 4-2, 5-4 down.
05:05And he only led, really, at the end in the decider.
05:10How good was that initial red?
05:13Absolutely, perfectly struck.
05:14It was necessary for it to drop.
05:17What a chance he's got.
05:19Nine.
05:25Nine.
05:41Sixteen.
05:51Seventeen.
05:55He's got the slightly high angle on this black,
05:57which he wouldn't have wanted
05:59to get around for the next red.
06:00It's not so easy.
06:10It's on the red.
06:11Twenty-four.
06:11Is he able to get out for the black?
06:15In fact, he's on the red two up.
06:16Well, that makes things different.
06:18Twenty-five.
06:19It's a great chance.
06:34Thirty-two.
06:42Thirty-three.
06:55Well, this could be big.
06:57He already owns the top break, as we've discussed.
06:59A 1-4-2 against Murphy,
07:00which puts him in line for that £10,000 bonus.
07:04But all black so far.
07:07Forty-one.
07:08Oh, and look at the reds.
07:23Forty-eight.
07:30Forty-nine.
07:35It's been one of the themes of this season,
07:37the proliferation of maximum breaks.
07:40We've had 22,
07:42which is already seven more than the record set last season,
07:46with a lot of snooker still to be played.
07:50Yes, and I think when you're playing on reds to middle,
07:52you've always got a better chance of being able to play from red to black.
07:58I think you'll screw back and stay on the black here.
08:01But as I say, reds to the middle are always a direct route back to the black ball.
08:06No reason why you've got to get high on the red to get the angle to play down with the
08:11highest value colour.
08:17That's a good shot.
08:19That's perfect.
08:19He's on that red sticking out.
08:2264.
08:22On the right of the four in the bunch.
08:25The perfect angle to stay on the black again.
08:28And as we always point out,
08:30you get the frame one,
08:31which is two shots away.
08:35See where it takes you.
08:42That's the red to middle pot.
08:45I don't know if it's the simplest shot to ensure playing on the black,
08:48but you have to make sure you win the frame.
08:50It's really important in the big final at three all.
08:56He's already got the high break of the tournament,
08:591-4-2.
09:0773.
09:08So now that he,
09:09barring Snookers,
09:10has won the frame,
09:10he can afford to take this black on.
09:14It's not dissimilar to the one he knocked in at the end
09:17against Mark Allen last night.
09:19A big pressure shot that it was.
09:20And in that one goes as well.
09:22Brilliant.
09:23Now we have a real chance
09:25to stay on reds and blacks through the road.
09:29This tournament used to be known as the
09:31Players Tour Championship Finals.
09:35But since it became the Players Championship
09:37and part of the Players Series of three events,
09:41there hasn't been a 1-4-7 in this tournament.
09:47Recovery shot required here.
09:49Oh, it's Jorish.
09:52Oh, what a shame.
09:52Yeah.
09:53It was quite thin.
09:55So no maximum break for Zhao Zintong,
09:58who made his first this season in professional competition
10:00at the Championship League.
10:02But he's now in front for the first time at 4-3.
10:05So now I'll bring it to people's
10:05guasI have three.
10:06So now it's hard to bring people
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