Dramatic Finales | 2023 Snooker ShootOut R1

Because every frame is different. This is a quite difficult thin cut here. I can't afford to miss it all together. Well, it's very congested down there. I don't know if there's a plant on it. Clearly, it's not a plant. He had a long look at it. He couldn't work out quite how to get a red potted in that corner. So this is an intriguing one with both corner pockets blocked off. Now, can he get through to the red directly into the pocket here? I think he can. Wow, that is... Two winning. The game changer, that shot. And all of a sudden, I think we've got a new favourite. He's behind, but absolutely in here. Matthew Stephens. Of course, former UK Masters champion. He's been in the doldrums a bit. But he's a player. He still has a lot of support, I know. I don't know the... the ins and outs of why that might be. Unlike you, I think he's a terrific player with a lot to offer the game. As you say, there's still quite a bit of time. This frame is... It's at a fairly advanced stage, isn't it? Which means there's always a chance for a further twist. This looks like a normal frame. So the big colours are available. Going up in bigger increments. I think on the basis of what you're saying, it's a question of getting them... to the point of needing snookers here and forgetting the clock, because he's almost at that point now. Reds. Although that, he hit across it. You saw him do it, Dave. Come out the blue completely, and there's certainly time left here for Dominic Dale. Wow, what a miss. Dale back in. Q didn't go through very straight there. The pressure... It's enough for anybody, but he's only trying to pop that. It was a surprising miss. Oh, great shot. Now the red is going to be tough. We know that they're not unmissable down that cushion. It's been a terrific frame, this one. Does he have an angle? He needs to get onto a colour. Big shot for Dominic Dale, this. Shot around two cushions here, I think. He's gone for the big shot, and he deserves to win for that shot. That is an absolute gem. Yeah, it turned out the black was bigger. I thought he would try and get on it. He didn't. Feels like he's done the hard work here already. Dominic Dale, like Michael Giorgio, we saw in the previous match, can be called a shootout specialist, because he's won it. And we know that takes some doing. Well, that's him in front, but again, he's clock-watching now, but... there could still be... a twist here. That just crept in. Five in front. He doesn't want to miss this, because we could have the dreaded all-level. So he's got to be careful with this shot. He's got to play on the pinker's knee. Is it there? It's not. Wow. Is he on it? He is. This too tight. Yeah, he had to make sure of that first one. Now, what does he do? Does he double into the left middle? That's what he's tried. What's going to happen next? He might have one dart at this, or we could be heading for a blue ball shootout. It's a blue ball shootout. The blue is coming back on the table. It's our first one this year. A little shrug of the shoulders. All square. 49 each. What drama. First one of the 2023 shootout. Dominic Dale, first up. Well, he didn't get very close to it, but let's be honest. There's a lot of pressure on these. Matthew Stephens for victory. If it goes in that pocket, it doesn't count the one he's heading towards. It's got to, as Neil said, be the nominated one. I think Matthew tried to float it in. Didn't work. Well, that one did not touch the sides. Now the pressure's on. Well, we might yet see the cue balancing. We've come this far, Dominic. Then we go again. Matthew Stephens to stay in this. Not to be. So it's Dominic Dale, the 2014 shootout champion, who wins the most dramatic finish so far. Kisses that blue ball. Scoring opportunity here. Still only 11 in front, though, as it stands. Oh, dear. I think he played it with sort of top and a bit of right-hand running side, and it all did for him in the end. Colours are now all sort of here, there and everywhere. One. Look at this. John Astley, you're just trying to get yourself 25, if you could. Five. Six. Yeah, it's costly, that bramble that he missed, wasn't it? Panged in suit. He's a left-hander, so he could still potentially reach this, but it is a stretch. Might end up having to play the other red. He had a run-up to that shot, didn't he? He didn't have any time, really, to get settled on it. Oh, dear. Well, this again could end up a close one. When you're playing a shot, you know you're going to finish on a red. You almost wish you were not getting on a red, because it means the opponent's brought right back into the frame. And that's really nicely played. I'll try and play to the red on the right cushion here. Land right behind it, if possible. So, a worrying amount of time left in this match. Well played, though. Didn't roll it in, played it nicely. Still, necessarily enough. I don't think there's one of those on either. I don't think I'd have been freeing the black ball there. I'd have been playing something else, if possible. Still a decent little contribution, though, from Pang. And he'll probably get one more visit if this doesn't go in. What do you do if you're Pang here? By nature, he'd just try and pop this. Wow. So, John Astley sprints round, and this is a serious chance. 42 seconds. Time is not an issue here. Four shots. Four pots, it is. I think he can do it comfortably, if he gets on it, all right. Because he's definitely going to have time to take red-black. That was the problem. Pang didn't know what to do. But for him, it was the natural shot, maybe. You could argue, not the right shot at that time. John Astley was delighted, though. We saw him sprint to the table. And he's going to be the winner. He's already celebrating. John Astley sneaks it in at the dish, and it is John Astley who is delighted. Is he going to play on black? Five rounds, five blacks. I think he did, you know. But not this time. End of break, barring a miraculous blue. He's missed the blue, so... That's a good opening red. He's got to play on a bold color here, and try to recycle this break. That was a bit risky. All right, the pink's on, but for me, it's a... Almost for any player, he doesn't like it either. No wonder. This is, for any player on the tour, probably two in ten at best. Horrible shot, but what an effort. What an effort. Great shot. Brilliant. Terrific pot. The cue, an accessory store. Red has eluded her, though. That's a shame, because it was such a good pot on the pink. Not an unassailable one, certainly, with still half the match to go. But if he gets back in here, which he has, it could soon become so. That red, very delusive. He's just got to peel off to bulk now. No point in being aggressive. Now, then. It's tight, isn't it? It's tight at best, whether the red goes. Eh, she doesn't like it. Get cue ball up behind yellow. Good shot. That's excellent. All right, she's a wee bit unlucky with the kiss, but the red's tight. Look at that. Tight. Now, then. Now, then. Oh, he very nearly potted the blue there. The table's not too bad. Black's tied up. There's definitely still opportunities here. No, she's brought the cue ball back. It's okay, though. Black out of commission. Big ask. Five. Excellent shot. That's so unlucky. All right, she's still on the blue. Third shoot-out appearance. The first, of course, ending in big disappointment with that malfunction of the beat. 19. Can she put the icing on the cake? Remember to breathe, Rebecca. Don't get ahead of yourself. This looks good, this cue ball. Very good shot. No positional heroics. This puts her in the box seat. One behind. Ah, not this time. Well, the adrenaline would have been absolutely pumping there. Just one point between them. What a finale. Oh, this is tough. The in-off zone, if she over-swerves it. Ah, not this time. That'll be the end, unfortunately. Yeah, ball in hands. What a shot on that black. Put her in front. But what an effort to get herself in the position, wasn't it? Wasn't phased by going behind. What a terrific concessus has been, though. The crowd have loved it. Had some rather nervy moments there, for sure. Eight. Great match and a really creditable performance from Rebecca Kenner, who very nearly turned it her way from a long way down. That's poor. Now, this is not an easy starter, but it takes something to go out of here, Beresford. Well, in goes the red. Can't wait forever. She's got to try and make something big happen here. Not an easy shot. Count on Beresford, one. It's been a strange old frame, this one. There still is a possibility of a twist, but Beresford's been a bit over-awed so far, it seems to me. You know, he's a talented young player. Now, that's a great pot. Now, can he make it happen? And that is a good shot. The frame, you feel, has been set up for something to happen later on, and this could be the moment. There's two minutes left. Beresford is in now. This is kind of dawdling a bit, wasn't he? But he's got to make sure the pink snake goes in. A couple of these missed. Nice shot. That's all right. He's up for the red down the table. 13 behind. There's not many high-value colours on. Wow, what a chance. It really is. That's okay. Beautiful shot, Dave. He's on the red now as well. And you just sense that this could happen. Use up the time. As I say, at one stage, he really looked the only winner, but he didn't get far enough in front of him. He's got to protect these 12 points. I don't know how he's going to do it. I mean, they're all neutrals, but there's a part of me would like to see him win, just to get to another round. This was it. Banded around. Brilliant shot. That is a quality shot from CTRWin. He's a very good player. First real chance for him in the match. Takes the match away from Poonjang. Playing another container here. Up and down. These are all good shots. It's been a fairly quiet frame on the table. Not so much off the table. Although he has lifted something up the table. This is tough. Oh, what a shot again. What a shot. Got to go around the houses here, which means the blue could be missed. He's got to miss the bold colours with the cue ball. Wow. Poonjang's got to come out with something now. Can't defend any longer because he's behind. Yes, exactly. The whole dynamic has shifted. Now, can he roll in behind the yellow here? He could play behind that yellow. I can't argue with the shot he has played though, because he puts him in front. I feel there's an awful lot to be played for in these next couple of minutes. Oh, he got close to it. Goodness me, he hit that very well. I think he's got to go for it. Needs a little bit of a nudge. That will do him now. I'm not getting too excited, which probably isn't going to happen. Just over a minute's time. Oh, wow. Wow, wow, wow. That might be the end. Hang on. Is the red going in? He's willing it in. That is extraordinary. Well, he didn't exactly apologise for the fluke, did he? He celebrated like he'd scored the winning goal in the World Cup final. Is that in as well? Well, he's all kinds going. He's eight in front. He's nearly in the crowd. It's not over yet. What's going to happen here, Nick? Oh, it's over now, I think. And this is the victory lap, because he's got ball in hand. You've got to feel sorry for CJ, I mean, he was very lucky there, playing around with that fluke. But the crowds don't care about that. They're going to see him in the next round. And that's all they care about. What on earth is occurring there? Extraordinary business, eh? Explain that one. I literally can't speak. Mark Williams is another one that has been in the final here as recently as last season, and he's a multiple world champion. Someone will get that double up at some point anyhow. That was a cleverly played shot from Selby. Could get a bit lively in here tonight. I've just got a feeling that a few of them might have found their voice, and that might silence the locals who are supporting Mark Selby. That's a good shot from Mark Davis. He's a great out of snookers, but he doesn't want to finish short or anything. Well, he's not going to finish short at this speed, I don't think. I'll tell you what, the line was absolutely brilliant there. Tatiana had to be on the scene more than we did. He's created this chance for himself with that top-class safety shot. There's a bit of a distance away from this next red. It's 2018 that he made the title match of the English Open. He's only ranking final. He's been in five other semi-finals in ranking events. Now 50 years of age. Terrific shot with the rest. Screwing back up the table. That's where it ends. It's a handy lead, but it won't hurt Selby too much. And he said before, and it's the old cliche, all you want is a chance in an insider, and of course it applies even more. He's a cool customer though, this Mark Davies, like you say, in the advancing years. But I see nothing different in the way he plays to what he was like 20 years ago, actually. I guess Mark Davies beat him to the punch with the snooker. The lead isn't big enough at the moment for Selby to be panicking about things, but Alex Urson backer in the house. Isn't it just, he's desperately unlucky not to be on something. Play the cue ball out of there. He's playing the pink. And look at this shot as well. Terrific. I mean, that's an improvised shot. It's not really a shot you'd ever see. Just about potting the balls at great pace. It's knowing your way around the table, playing. What a pop that is from Mark Selby. We've seen some humdingers from distance today, an unbelievable man. Beautifully played from Selby. He needs luck here though. He really needs luck. Selby could have had an easier red than this cue and over about six balls. Good shot. That's excellent. Very much game on now. Just over two and a half minutes to go. Eminently retrievable, this deficit, but he's got to land on something first. I think the cue ball was out of control there. Nearly flew into the left middle, didn't it? We'll know about this one in a good time. What do you think? I think he's in. Right into the heart of the pocket, Selby. Is he going to have the last word here? Well, he's favourite now. Now, if he finishes short here, I don't know how he gets on a red and that means it comes down to maybe the next person to score wins the match. We might just be in for another thriller here. Selby hits the front. Yeah, nothing over that side, guys. We've got a bird's-eye view of it, didn't we? Where the next pot comes from. Now, for the moment, Mark Davies can maybe behind the yellow and pink with the cue ball. That keeps him in the frame. Just three points in it, but Selby crucially in front and on the table. Oh, but he's missed the red. Game changer. It would possibly lose in the match and he missed it. Now then, what is he going to do here? He's going to sneak in front and he's going to take as much time out as he can. Well, the expression on Mark Davies' face when he left the red suggests his chance had gone, but Selby couldn't pot it. Make sure that Mark Selby gets no further shots. I don't think he even wants to be thinking about it right now. He doesn't want to make a foul. Selby knows the game's up. The home favourite, the jester, is beaten. It's Mark Davies who has the last laugh in our first match on this second evening of the shootout. He wins by two points to move into round two. Just looking, I wonder if there's a three-ball plant on around the pink spot. Yeah, it's on. Well, the two-ball, but in it. Oh, wow. How close was that? This is a golden chance, isn't it? So can he find the plant? Not a certainty. Not a certainty. Yeah, opportunity to put some points on the board. One. Could help him push back towards the top 16. This is a ranking event. Six. Seven. Four or five reds tied up. That suits David. He'd stay at the table, peel off on paper the easy way. 13. Just play the cannon properly here. Which he has done. 20. You would expect at the very least, when he leaves the table, it'll be the best part of 25 or 30. To the good, but wow. How? How has he missed that? David Gilbert, 20. All right, short now. So that's not in either. Yeah, I think that miss by David a couple of shots ago was a case of trying to pinch the pocket to hold for pink. He didn't really have to. Count himself fortunate. Six. Seven. When you've seen a couple of unexpected misses, you sort of expect another one sometime along the way. At the moment, they're going in. Ten. Still three minutes on the clock. He's only 14 in front. Where's this cue ball? Where's this cue ball? Oh, wow. What a chance for Ashad Iqbal. Oh my goodness. Now this one makes the the mini break, if you like. This little cameo break. It makes it the easy way. I've seen a couple of poor choices so far. One ball in hand. That was excellent. Now red-blue to hit the front. One more red. It's massive, isn't it? After this one, that would be huge. Okay. Four-point lead is that's such a slender one. That's excellent. Just roll the blue in for ten in front. Makes it a four-shot game for Dave Gilbert. Oh, it's not there. So five points in it. Gilbert needs these reds in the open. Just roll on to the two reds in the right cushion, but he ain't doing. This is a risk. Bit risky. Red running around the table. Dave's got an out ball. This is a chance. This is where he's got to try and think clearly. Got to just park this. Don't take it on. Don't take it on. That's it. That's Chad. That's Chad. A little fortunate. He's actually come away from the pocket. And the ref's telling him to get out of the way. Still cuttable. But he's not in. Just push the red down onto the end cushion. Good shot. That's exactly what he needed. It's down the rail. Winner bust. That red by the black. Don't leave a double to right middle. Oh, he has done. It's a double to right middle. He's got time. He's got to get this. Oh, it was close. But not in. So it's a great win for Pakistan's Asjad Iqbal. And he is delighted. Look at that. There's no doubt the in-off was a major factor there from Gilbert's perspective. But that's a mistake. Black's at the wrong end of the table at the moment. Oh, but he's missed and screwing back. Somebody sent me a tweet. It's quite informative saying Ronnie O'Sullivan's last two 1-4-7s have come against this pair. This lesser one and one against Alan Taylor. But Alan Taylor has gone in off and that is crucial. Under four minutes to go and Slessor ball in hand. Can pick his spot here. So painful. Yeah, did he on the pink. It frees up the middle of the table for those reds to be got into open play. Well, like you say he is a good player Slessor. A determined player and uh, he's probably due a good run as you point out. He's never done all that well in the shootout. He's a very decent player. He's played that quite nicely and Taylor's going to be in a whole lot of trouble. Well It's not quite over yet this you know having two minutes he's plenty long enough to get back into this. But he's gonna have to do something soon. 25 the deficit. That had to go and it has gone. And he's on the black. Unlucky. I still think there's a chance. Because he's going to need to pop balls over and beyond what he's doing now. Yeah, that's good thinking. Now if he forces Slessor to play the other red here, this just makes it slightly interesting. Time is of a premium here. Oh goodness me nearly went it off. Wow, but there's a chance 17 points to make up. Now red, pink, red, black, yellow. I think we're level here. I see two blacks and the yellow wins it. There could be a twist in this. That's a nice shot. Surely he didn't put on too low a value color. No, so red, black, the yellow puts him in front. If he looks at it, he's currently one behind. Oh, he's played that well as he is. He's just gone on too far. I think that's a terrific shot. What an opportunity now for Taylor. If he knocks this in, he's in front. Oh, he's missed it. Incredible. Now, is he going to get any opportunity? Not if Slessor's got anything to do with it. He won't. He's going to have to just put it anywhere. Anywhere will do. Anywhere. It's a hit and hope. It's a hit and hope. And it's not to be. What a dramatic climax. One of the closest finishes we've had this winter. The delight and relief of Elliot Slessor who gets through. I think the Farrukh Ejaid, he didn't do himself justice on the tour when he was on it. I think that's safe to say he dropped off. And some of his matches this season have been really good. He had Judd Trump beaten, didn't he? Yeah, and that was a really good performance as Trump. How Trump won that, I'll never know that match. So he can certainly compete with the very best. He proved that. The score's not going to end up 21-18, I don't think. So someone's going to plot one. I suppose Farrukh Ejaid might be more inclined to open the balls up than Chris Wakelin. Three points. You're not going to be at a high behind that for long. That sort of lead. Yeah, it's just two pots away from potentially winning. Oh, that was close to dropping. Goodness, it's hung on the lip. At the table with time ebbing away. Green will come down for red. Be a brave shot to play, you know. Sort of half played it, hasn't he? He's only nicked some points there. He's not gone for it there. So he's just sort of treading very carefully. A moment of inspiration could be the difference. Well, it's going to have to be the next shot because he might get one more chance to put a red and a pink. And that would level things up. Yeah Yeah, it's now or never for Farrukh Ejaid. He's got to pull a rabbit out of the hat here. The end one might cut it on. Certainly, he's having a potential pockets. Anything? Oh, and the pink. Well, this is the match. This is to level the match. Wow. That is incredible. Extra blue. Who could have possibly predicted that ball shoot out? This is the shot. Just keep your eyes on the red here. Well, every time I look at it, I see something different. Chris Frakes and I should think he's in shreds. No, it's not to be. If it's fluked, it won't be anyway. What an extraordinary end. It was nearly lost, but he held his nerve on the blue. He slotted it in. And he has won an absolute thriller here in Leicester. Do You