EBDON KEEPS THINGS LEVEL
Peter Ebdon played a superb final frame to ensure he stayed on level terms
with Paul Hunter in their Embassy World Championship quarter-final at
Sheffield.
When he potted the final brown Hunter was set for a 5-3 overnight lead at the
Crucible against the defending champion.
But Ebdon achieved a snooker on the blue and then produced a blinding pot on
the same ball followed by the pink to force a black-ball finish to the frame.
Again the determined holder conjured up another excellent pot to end the day
deadlocked at 4-4.
Ebdon is clearly determined not to release his grip on the trophy without a
fight.
The father of four from Wellingborough is delighted with the decision to
recover the practice tables and match tables with a finer cloth.
And though he will never pot balls as quickly as Hunter or Mark Williams,
Ebdon played at a brisk pace for most of the session.
There was certainly none of the bad feeling that marred his previous match
with Tony Drago.
Two of the frames lasted more than 30 minutes but generally the game was
played at a decent pace.
Ebdon scored the highest break of the session - a 98 in frame four - while
Yorkshireman Hunter compiled runs of 89 and 75.
And Ebdon still holds the second highest break of the championship behind
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 147 maximum.
However, his effort of 135 was made during his first round game against Gerard
Greene on the opening day of the tournament.
Ebdon is trying to become the only first-time world champion to defend his
crown.
He will be pleased to still be very much in contention when the match resumes
tomorrow morning having never been in front.
Hunter led 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 but Ebdon refused to be swept aside as Matthew
Stevens had been against the world number nine in the second round 24 hours
earlier.
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