DRAGO SETS UP EBDON CLASH
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Fast-potting Maltese star Tony Drago edged out former semi-finalist Joe Swail
10-8 to reach the last 16 of the Embassy World Championship.
The 37-year-old from Valetta led 4-0 but lost seven of the next eight frames
to trail 7-5.
Drago won the next on the black, however, and knocked in a 113 break in the
15th frame to trail only 8-7.
He made it 8-8 by winning the 16th on the pink and ran through the next two
frames to set up a second round clash with defending champion Peter Ebdon.
Drago is renowned for his nerves and admitted afterwards he would not have
been favourite after losing such a big lead.
"I know what you are all wondering," he joked to the press afterwards. "How
did I hold myself together in the last frame?
"I played great to go 4-0 up, then the match went scrappy and Joe got the
better of it.
"I was 8-6 down and people would not have fancied me to win but I came here
this year determined to enjoy it.
"I was until I missed a black towards the end but that's the beauty of the
Crucible. It doesn't matter how easy the pots are, you are under pressure on
every shot."
Drago reached the Crucible quarter-finals on his debut in 1988 and is making
his 12th appearance in the televised phase.
Swail, the 16th seed, enjoyed runs to the last four at the Crucible in 2000
and again a year later but has struggled this season and his defeat to Drago has
cost him his place in the elite top 16.
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