Peter Ebdon dug deep to clinch a place in the Embassy World Snooker Championship Final as he made a fine recovery from the jaws of defeat to beat Matthew Stevens 17-16 at the Crucible on Saturday night. A long struggle ended after a near four-hour final session with Ebdon clinching a final spot against seven-times winner Stephen Hendry.
“I don’t know how I won that match”, said Ebdon. “Towards the end I didn’t think there was anyway I was going to win. I tried to believe that if I got my chances I would take them. But I didn’t handle the pressure very well and I was bitterly disappointed by that”, added Ebdon.
The match with Hendry will mean a repeat of the 1996 final in which the Scot triumphed 18-12 against the player from Wellingborough. But it was hard not to feel sympathy for Stevens, who had been runner-up in 2000 and a beaten semi-finalist 12 months ago after the tragic death of his father and mentor Morrell.
“I’m delighted for myself and I’m gutted for Matthew. He is such a lovely lad and a credit to the game”, said Ebdon. “I can’t remember what I said to him at the end of the match. I think I just told him that I’m sure he would become world champion one day”, he added.
Crucible latest:Stephen Hendry 6Peter Ebdon 10
Ebdon hit a break of 100 in the second frame, while Hendry didn't score a point in first two frames and trailed 4-1 at the half-time break. However, he has pulled level with a break of 46 giving him the eighth frame.
Filed by James Shortt
