On the evidence of this season, it would appear to be a false dawn as Ebdon has not made it past the last 16 in a ranking event.

Worse still has been the manner of his defeats. At The Welsh Open, he lost 5-0 to Joe Swail, a player he normally owns. That is not the only whitewash he has suffered this season; at the last event in China, John Higgins inflicted the same scoreline on the hapless Ebdon, whose highest contribution was just 22.

The 35-year-old showed glimpses of his best in a 6-4 win over an in-form Stuart Bingham at Wembley but that was followed by a pretty abject display against Ronnie O’Sullivan in the next round, going down 6-2.

Whether or not his move to Dubai has adversely affected his practice routine, it is abundantly clear that Ebdon is struggling for form.

Having said that, he remains convinced that he can produce another good showing at Sheffield and with a favourable draw - Michael Holt followed by the out-of-form Jimmy White or David Gray – he may just be proved right.

Prediction: Semi-final agony