By Richard Preen

World Ranking: 2
Date Of Birth: 27/08/70
Form: SF/R32/R16/SF/R16
World Championship best: Winner – 2002

The thrill of walking through the Sheffield curtains as defending champion is an accolade reserved for the best.

Peter Ebdon fulfilled all his ambitions and became the best last May by edging out six times winner Stephen Hendry 18-17 to be crowned world champion for the first time.

His new ambition is to successfully defend the title at the first attempt, a feat still to be achieved by any player.

It was Ebdon's sheer intensity and concentration that drove him to prevail in the sports showpiece event.

Mixed with impeccable stamina levels it was almost as if his sole purpose in life was to be ready for that seventeen day marathon, and he was.

The ask of a player returning to defend his first title successfully is a big one although this is a challenge that Ebdon will relish.

The omens are mixed for Ebdon going into the big fortnight.

His season's form is hardly that of a world champion not least one that that has aspirations to defend his title.

His best offerings have been appearances in the semi-finals of the UK Championships and European Open.

The UK like the World is played over a longer distance so it becomes apparent that Ebdon is suited to this style of matchplay.

So the positives are the longer matches plus, and a big plus at that, the top half of the draw that excludes this season's form players – Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry.

Ebdon freely admits that his preparation for this season had not reached his own high standards.

He has since refocused and has been working hard towards making an impact at the Crucible and the ultimate challenge of defending his title.