2007 888.com World Championship

MATCH BY MATCH LIVE MATCH NOTES [CLICK ON MATCH FOR LIVE COMMENTARY, NEWS, QUOTES]

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PETER EBDON v NIGEL BOND

Round One - Match 13 (Best of 19 frames)

Match Notes - LIVE information as it happens.....  Good morning and welcome to a sunny Sheffield as Peter Ebdon and Nigel Bond get the early sparring under way... A nervy start as both have mishit safety shots... Peter Ebdon is resplendent in a dazzling cerise waistcoat, sporting a Dubai Property Logo. Of Course Ebdon now lives in Dubai, but is very familiar with Sheffield as the WSA Academy at the EIS is his practice base... The players have already given referee Colin Humphries plenty to do cleaning real or imagined foreign bodies from the cue ball... Well this is a very jittery start from Ebdon, he's a long way off an attempted red... now what can Bond make of this early opening... the reds are spread, the black in the open... but he's managed to go in off... Ebdon's got his attempted long red into the jaws but not into the pocket but he's got away with it... There's a comforting familiar look to the Crucible this morning, it's as if we'd never been away... the 888.com green set has become the new trademark of the event... while we can already see regular visitors in the audience... one of whom, David Jackson, has been coming on an annual trip from Australia for more than twenty years now... A great long red from Bond will  help him settle down but he's not got nicely on a colour... Neither players seems to be able to force the crucial chance yet... the balls are open and a good shot there from Bond has given him the chance... Bond's break has reached 21 but he's lost position but to be fair to him the white pinged off the side cushion... a new table, new cloth and new balls all add to the difficulty factors for the players while they attempt to settle into the unique Crucible atmosphere... After 18 minutes of play the scores stands at 29-5 in Bond's favour... Bond has tucked Ebdon up behind the yellow near the side cushion... this is not at all easy and the reds are open, but if Ebdon can reach a red on the top cushion he could get safe... Well he's hit on of the reds on the top cushion but he's left a chance... Bond's retired to his chair having spurned that opening... Ebdon's in with a red but he's totally lost position... well he's retrieved the situation with a superb black from the side cushion... but we're back to a safety battle on the last two reds... it's cagey stuff so far... cracking safety from Ebdon has put Nigel on the back foot... he can only see a thin edge and he's missed it... it's going back and he's missed it again.. he's hit it third time, but he hasn't left much... but Ebdon now only trails 29-37... Ebdon's not found his potting range yet, he's missed a snick to the corner and handed the initiative straight back to Bond... who's missed it... this opening frame is a chapter of errors.... with one red left the score is 37-37 after half an hour... Ebdon's slotted home the red but the colours are off their spots and he's got some work to do still... he needs up to the blue to clinch the frame and he'll feel a whole lot better then.... just brown and blue needed now... and the frame is in the bag... Will that spur Ebdon on?

The first chance in frame two falls to Ebdon... that didn't last long, just a 17 point lead for Ebdon... A very big welcome to our Global visitors... Global Cue Sports receives visitors from more than 170 countries, just going to prove that snooker generates truly global interest... Among visitors enjoying our match commentaries, live from both tables this morning, are guests from Moscow, Taipei, Israel, America, Warsaw, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Qatar, South Africa, Australia... welcome to you all, enjoy the coverage and why not join the new GCS FORUM and put your news and views from around the world... it's 20-20 in this frame and Ebdon has carved out another chance for himself... Ebdon's beginning to look much more assured now as the break reaches 17... he leads now by 21 with two reds left but he can't clear up from here... one red is snuggled up to the black and the other is on the side cushion... but Ebdon is known for his sometimes extravagant shot selection and he thundered in a long yellow and got the red off the cushion... and missed it! Bond is still looking a bit nervous, despite his countless years of experience and he's gone in-off and let Ebdon in to mop up the frame, the last red safely disappears and Ebdon will lead 2-0...

Into frame three and even at this early stage Nigel Bond urgently needs to gain a toe-hold in this match or he could find Ebdon building his confidence and running away with the match... but I'm sure there will be a few twists and turns along the way... they play nine frame in this first session and return for the conclusion Sunday morning at 10am.... Maybe Nigel Bond will gain inspiration from the fact that he's playing on the same table that he beat Stephen Hendry 10-9 on that dramatic re-spot black last year... and he's even got the same referee - Colin Humphries... Meanwhile Ebdon is carving out a lead in frame 3, well he was until he went for an almost impossible thin cut, so the break ends at 38... and he's left the red in the jaws for Bond... well he's pulled back to trail by only two points 38-36 but he's got a terrible kick... things are just not going right for Nigel this morning... that's given the table straight back to Peter... well somehow Ebdon's missed a red to the middle and left it... that's the quickest Bond has got out of his chair for years! He's got a good chance to get a frame on the board now... no it just won't happen for him, he's missed a red and has a 54-45 lead with one red left but Ebdon can dish up here and he's doubled the red at pace into the centre and laid a tight snooker... the yellow is out in the open and very hard to hit from tight behind the black and Bond has missed it at the first attempt, but he's hit it this time and got it safe... Ebdon's got the yellow, green and brown, he needs up to the pink for the frame... and he's got it to lead 3-0....

Bond is slumped in his chair, chewing his nails and wondering how he can get into this match, but Ebdon is sitting bolt upright, looking extremely positive, not that he doesn't always look "in the zone".... Ebdon's missed a long red, now can Bond make something of this good opening in frame four... the break has reached 23 without any mishaps, and he's got the black open and more reds waiting for him.... he's moved on to 39... this is looking a lot better from Bond... he's got 3 open reds still.... he's up to 62, the highest break of the match so far but there are still 75 points on the table... he's missed a tricky pink and hasn't clinched the frame yet.... the pink is now blocking a corner pocket but whoever finds the next red will have a very good chance of clearing with all the reds in the open... Some good safety now from both players... has sent the reds towards the centre of the table... any error and it could be frame over for either player... Ebdon's got that chance and his score has moved to 22... he's missed red to centre on 28, so trails 28-62 with two reds left... a superb red there from Ebdon and he's screwed back onto the baulk colours... the last red sits over the centre pocket, he could snatch this frame from Bond's grasp... and he just needs blue to black now for a 4-0 lead, what a disaster for Nigel Bond as we approach the interval... time to put the kettle on for a quick cup of tea while the players enjoy their 15 minute interval...

The players are back at the table and Bond has potted the first red in frame five, but had to content himself with a safety shot to follow... Ebdon's won the short safety battle and has given himself the opportunity to put a few points on the board... you would have to think that this is a must win frame for Bond... to fall 5-0 behind against an opponent of Ebdon's calibre would be very hard to claw back... well Ebdon's only made six before running back to the baulk cushion... Bond is looking rather frustrated and he's had a go at a long range red which didn't trouble the scorers.... Ebdon's opened a 41-6 lead but let Bond in here... and this is a very good opening... but Bond's not had a lot of table time and is losing his white a bit on the super fast cloth... well he's only made 14 but he's snookered Ebdon on all of the remaining three reds... A good escape by Ebdon but he's nudged a red into a pottable position... Oh dear that was an Ebdon special, everything that could go wrong did - he missed his intended red by a country mile, clattered into the black and knocked that into a pocket, giving away seven points, but somehow he's not left either of the remaining reds on... and after all that Ebdon still leads 41-30 and Bond is still pondering his shot as both reds are close to the side cushion but not far from the corner pocket.. oh he's worked out a great safety, and has manufactured a snooker... Ebdon's lay onto the reds, but Bond will put a lot of distance between the balls here... advantage Bond... But a great safety from Ebdon and it's all to play for still on the last red... there's a little bit of competition developing between the GCS text commentators as we vie for visitors on our matches... Welcome to visitors from Beijing, Lublin, Riga, Heifa to this match, while I hope those visitors from London, Warsaw, Budapest, Sydney who are watching the Dott-McCulloch commentary pop over to keep up to date with this intriguing encounter... and a big welcome to readers of Eurosport Hungary's forum who are avid followers of GCS coverage... I'm sorry my Hungarian isn't up to providing commentary in your language! While Ebdon and Bond strive for an opening on the last red, don't forget we love to hear your news and views... you can join the new GCS Forum or if you have any specific questions please email us at Global Cue Sports... Bond's got the advantage, he's got Ebdon in a snooker that he's missed twice already... third time lucky and he's got it safe... so the score now reads 41-39... a two point lead for Ebdon... the blue could prove the final key in this frame, as it's sitting on the side cushion, but everything else is on... Ebdon's failed to escape from another crafty Bond snooker...

I wonder if one of our Eurosport Hungary viewers would like to tell us what they're writing...

Aki marad, annak itt a két meccshez a szöveges kommentár:
http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/2006-7/2007-888-1-dott-mculloch.htm
http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/2006-7/2007-888-13-ebdon-bond.htm

at a guess you're telling everyone about our live coverage? Meanwhile Bond's snooker is yielding dividends... he's 19 ahead on the blue... he snookered himself on it, but he's hit it okay so Ebdon needs a snooker.... well at last Bond opens his account and how relieved he looks...

And Bond's carried his improved form into frame six, he's in amongst the balls on a run of 31 but the break ends at 40 as he misses the black... however Ebdon hasn't punished him, rattling a tricky red along the rail... but he's left it so another opening for Bond... he's cracked in a good long blue to keep the frame going but he's going to need to nudge the pack open to make any significant progress... Bond is close to the line in this frame now but not quite over it... he leads 62-11 but Ebdon is back at the table and with three reds left he could snatch the frame... and the luck is still against Bond as Ebdon flukes a red, but he must get a colour or he'll need snookers at 45 behind with 43 on... a valiant attempt on the long blue from the jaws of the green pocket... so barring snookers Bond will win the frame... and he has and now at 4-2 it's game on...

Bond is straight amongst the balls in frame seven and his break has reached 34 so far... he's looking more positive now... and he's got a 68 point lead, and there's only 67 left on... another red for Bond and it's another frame for Bond...

Bond's missed a black off its spot early in frame 8, there's an open red for Ebdon but he'll have to split the pack pretty soon.... He couldn't and Bond has nipped in with 24 useful points to lead 40-6 as they resume a safety exchange... and that has afford Ebdon an opening... but he's lost position on 18... Ebdon contrived to miss a red that he was only about a millimetre behind, but it was hard to avoid a push, but there's no advantage to Bond apart from the 4 points for the foul... Now it's Bond's turn to add a few more points and he's stretched the lead to 57-18, just one read needed for the frame, and he's got it, quite a turnaround now in this match...

Here we go into the final frame of the session... And coming up next in this afternoon's session we will see the start of the matches between Matthew Stevens, twice a former finalist, against Ireland's Joe Delaney, making his Crucible debut... and on the other table Anthony Hamilton sets out against last year's semi finalist Marco Fu... Bond has got his tail up now and he's whacked a long red in to start the frame, but he can only play safe off it... Bond is back in and he's opened a 45 point lead now... and there are more open reds waiting... well Bond won't want the session to finish here, he's flying now, five frames on the spin for an unlikely overnight lead... and he's made this year's first Crucible century to finish off in style...

Good morning and welcome back to the Crucible as Peter Ebdon and Nigel Bond resume play in this fascinating match... Yesterday Peter Ebdon rattled off the first four frames and Nigel looked like he might not pot a ball all day, only for a dramatic turnaround after the interval... Out came a rejuvenated Nigel Bond and he kept Peter pinned in his chair as he won five frames on this spin... Stay with us on GCS this morning as the drama unfolds...

We could have a re-rack as there is a red in baulk and they're playing tip-tap into the pack.... This is very cagey but now both players have agreed to a re-rack so we'll start again.... One false start... Here we go again as Nigel breaks off... and immediately the cagey safety starts again... this is very tense this morning... Ooh unlikely Ebdon, he's potted a great long red but found the middle pocket with the white... but not much damage done... It's Nigel's turn to slot home a red but he's not gained any useful position so it's back to the baulk cushion again... Ebdon's cracked the pack open and manufactured himself a decent opening here... he's got the black open as well... Ebdon's score has moved along to 25 and he's still got reasonable position although he's come a bit too straight on the blue... no problem though and he's back amongst the reds and the breaks goes to 37... well this will give Peter some confidence and impetus, he's up to 59, there are 5 reds left so one red and a colour more needed to secure the frame... well he's cracked the red in but has over-hit it and lost position on the black... it's a tough black but could be a frame winner... he opted for the pink to centre with safety the second option.. he's missed the pink but got a good white... he's 53 ahead with 59 on... well that should be the frame to Ebdon, an excellent long red.... and now a brilliant slow roll red to centre and it's going to be 5-5... Ebdon's making sure Nigel doesn't get to the table for any potting practice as he's mopped up the last reds and colours....

Bond has opened a 25-1 lead in frame eleven but there's a safety exchange now... the reds are still fairly tightly packed so whoever gets in will have to open them up to create a frame-winning opportunity... Bond's potted a red but gone in-off... but there's no pot on for Ebdon... Ebdon's attempted a long red but with a strong element of safety.. great cueing to screw the white right back to the baulk cushion... More cagey safety as most of the reds are getting pushed towards the top cushion with just one in the open near the blue spot... Nigel's caught a red thick and left the white at the top end of the table but the only red is a long shot to the green pocket... Ebdon's missed it but he's left nothing at all but the safety becomes slightly more complex with the red on the side rail by the baulk line... Ebdon's broken loose of the safety shackles and he's got a line of reds which will go to the black pocket... very good morning to our viewer from Kitchener, Ontario who's avidly following this match.... And I can tell you that Ebdon is making inroads into these reds, his break has reached 52 and he leads 57-25 and he's 32 up on this penultimate red... he's trickled the  red in, just the black and he'll regain the lead which he last held when he was 4-3 up... well the break ends at 60 and he's 40 up on the last red... Ebdon's fluked the yellow off his cross table safety so that put the frame beyond doubt...

A nice drag shot gives Ebdon the opening red as we moved into frame twelve... he hasn't managed to turn that into a break-building opportunity and the safety shots have pushed brown and blue to the baulk cushion... but Nigel has found a great long red but he's not on pink or black... and his safety has now knocked the yellow to the side cushion... the green looks a bit lonely on its spot... a fabulous safety shot from Ebdon has weaved the white through the red and back to tight on the baulk cushion... Bond has at last carved an opening and he's made 24 but the reds are awkwardly place on or near cushions.... this is a battling break and he's up to 43 leading by 43 points with 43 on.... Bond's safely potted the red down the rail and Ebdon is left sitting in his chair thinking about a brown he missed to give Bond this opening... So it's 6-6 who can win the last frame before the interval and gain a narrow advantage again... You get the feeling that this match is going right to the wire... Both players are playing well and no one is giving an inch... Even if one player gets a burst of a couple of frames, they both know that the other can do exactly the same....

So we move into frame thirteen, who is it going to be lucky for?... Ebdon's break off left the white on the baulk line and Bond has cracked in a long red, but no colour so he's laid a snooker.... Bond has slammed in a long red but his attempt to screw back for a colour has seen him touching ball on the blue so it'll just be a safety shot... this frame is already very cagey... Bond has developed another chance but the colours just won't sit up into nice potting positions and there's a red in baulk making the safety awkward as well... and he's not played a good safety, getting a double kiss on the brown... a chance for Ebdon on the red in baulk... well he's made nothing of that opening and he's given a good chance now to Bond... maybe the tide is turning again in this match.... he's not made the most of that but leads 29-15 as Ebdon sets about a recovery... this will be a low scoring frame... it's 29-16 and there are only two reds left... the blue is near the side cushion and could prove pivotal to the outcome of the frame.... Bond lead 29-25 and we're on the last red, everything except the blue is wide out in the open... an error could prove costly in this vital frame.... a very warm welcome to our many visitors from China, partly from Shanghai, where the first ranking event of 2007-8 will be staged early in August.... Bond has thought long and hard about his safety but forgot the in-off and he's handed a golden opportunity to Ebdon to snatch the lead.... he's one point behind but the blue is now open and everything is on for him, although only the black is on its spot... he's not nicely on the green so he'll play safe here... a bit more mileage in the frame yet.. Ebdon now leads 35-29... Well Ebdon's shot selection can catch out any commentator as he goes for a suicidal thin green and he's left it on for Bond... Nigel tucks the green away but he's not good on the brown... they both need brown to pink as we resume a tactical exchange.... the score is 35-32 which looks more like one of my frame scores!! Bond is giving the safety a lot of thought... Ebdon has put the brown on the side rail and all Bond can do is run to the top cushion... and Ebdon has responded by putting the white tight under the baulk cushion... some good safety shots here.... even better from Bond who's covered most of the brown with the blue.... well that's produced a chance for Nigel... a long range brown but the blue awaits him... he's missed it... so can Ebdon crack in a long brown... yes it's a cracker, but he's nudged the blue and this is thin to the middle... but it's in and the pink is unmissable... for Ebdon regains the initiative as they go to the interval... join us in 15 minutes for the resumption.

They're back at the table and now it's the run to the line... who will breast the winning tape? A good clean long red from Bond gets us off and running... he's only got two open reds so he'll have to find a nice angle to split the pack pretty soon.... well he's tried it but he's not really split them and now he's not got an open red, he'll have to play safe... so just a 26 point lead... Bond's sent a red up to baulk and he's left half a chance at a red to centre for Ebdon, who's pondering his options.... Ebdon's turned down the risky pot and opted to open the pack and play safe, but he's not got the white back to the top cushion, he's got away with it and it's Bond's turn to try and get a good white back to baulk, which he has... Bond's attempted a plant and left the red in the jaws, but there's a lot of traffic between cue ball and the red, he could play off the cushion but it's also going to be hard to find a path out for a colour... great control from Ebdon, just the right pace to clip the red in and hold for the pink off the black spot... Ebdon's already onto 29, while both players are taking time to consider their tactical options, they're playing at a fair clip once they're amongst the balls... Ebdon's got an excellent chance here to stretch his lead as long as he doesn't make any unforced errors... he's reached 49 and leads 49-26 but the reds are getting harder now... he's 31 ahead with 3 reds left... but they're not easy, one is one the cushion, one is tight on the black on a rail and the last will only go into the green pocket... he's hit the pink at 100 miles an hour to try and get position and it's bounced back out of the pocket... so 57-26 with 3 reds left... Ebdon's given Bond a chance here... an easy red, another in the open, but the last is still tied up by the black... ooh he's missed the red, the only excuse being he was cueing down over another ball... There's a lot of thought going into these safety shots, every shot is crucial at this stage of the match... Ebdon's tried to nudge up to the two reds on the cushion but he's just clipped one out so an error there and Bond's wasted no time in potting in.... well a great cut to the centre from Bond but how can he get the last red off the cushion... he trails 57-40 now... he's thinking about how to lay a good safety or snooker here... good shot but not quite a snooker... A very good day to our visitors from Jakarta in Indonesia and also from Singapore... Singapore has been selected to host the IBSF World Billiards Championship this year and they'll have high hope of their new countryman - Peter Gilchrist - the former World Championship has taken Singapore nationality and is permanently based in the country now... Well it's all going for Bond now, he's potted the red off three cushions, just eleven points behind as he eyes up the yellow... matches can turn on shots like that... oh No!! he's potted the brown and snookered himself on the blue, he's tight full ball behind the pink and this is very hard, not only to hit but to get safe... he's just skimmed the blue but there is a pot on for Peter, albeit it at distance... Ebdon needs blue and pink... a good cut blue to centre but he's not nicely on the pink... a thin cut to the middle or a long pot to corner... how big a shot could this be in the context of the match... excellent it's in... 8-6 and Nigel is leaving the arena to gather his thoughts...

Well a chance for Ebdon in the fifteenth frame as Bond has left a red right in the jaws of the pocket, playing with the extended rest... Ebdon's lead grows to 34-7 but he's going to have to dig most of the reds off the top cushion to turn this into a real frame winner.... well he's managed to scatter the reds but apart from a tough pink to centre he's not got a colour to go at.... Bond and Ebdon have met 7 times in major tournaments and Bond leads 4-3, could this be the day that Ebdon levels the head to head... maybe not as the pink has not troubled the centre pocket and he's left an easy red for Nigel.... Bond now faces the problem of picking the reds off, two on the top cushion, two on the side cushion (for a left hander), one covered by the black on the side cushion and one lonely red on the rail near the green pocket... but he's missed blue to centre... it's all getting a bit nervy now at the business end of the match... this could come down to who misses less... Ebdon leads 41-14 and he's found a red but can only play safe again now... the match on the other table is very close as Barry Hawkins gains a narrow 4-3 lead over Fergal O'Brien, but we hope our GCS competition winner Ejler Hame from Denmark, is enjoying his trip to the Crucible, having won tickets for both sessions of that match... Ebdon lead 50-14 with 3 reds left... Nigel has made a terrible mess of that red but he's got away with it... any bit of luck at this stage is useful.... a great shot from Ebdon there, he's got Bond snookered on all three reds and he's missed, it goes back... That stretches Ebdon's lead to 40 he'll only need red and colour... miss number two... Bond is in deep trouble here... third time lucky and if Ebdon can snick the red in he'll be a frame away from round two.. but he's opted for safety... Bond's head drops as he misses an easy red to the middle and Ebdon has potted a good red with the rest... the match is beginning to drift away from Nigel... but he came back from 0-4 to lead 5-4 yesterday so Ebdon knows it's far from over yet.... Ebdon's missed the black with the rest so only one snooker needed for Bond... he's 14-59 down with 43 left on the table... Bond's taken red and black and he's got a good chance to lay a hard snooker from the last red.... but that isn't a good shot, no problem for Ebdon to get it safe.... We're getting close to the time when matches will be pulled off to make way for the next session... Ebdon's got Bond snookered, so if he can win the frame quickly and start the next he could wrap the frame up, but otherwise they'll have a long very tense wait until tonight when a table is available... Ebdon is keeping the pressure on as again Bond has to play out of a snooker... If Ebdon pots this red he'll lead 9-6 and he has....

well it looks likes there's time for one more frame... can Ebdon wrap it up and save himself and the organisers scheduling problems... Bond is in early in the frame, he's got a nice clean table and a good opening... can he grasp this great chance... well he's up to 25 and the balls are nicely set although he will have to open the pack up soon... he's got a good angle on the black and he's got them open, the break moves to 52.... now up to 61 just the black to put him 68 up and only 67 on... a great fight back by Bond... it just remains to see if he can make his second century of the match as he's on 90 with 2 reds left.... he's kept it going with a cracking good blue and the last red disappears, just the blue for the ton... it's there... brilliant from Bond... it ends at 104 and so does the session... they will return later tonight....

... the table is just being prepared ready for Peter Ebdon and Nigel Bond to return for an unscheduled third session of this match... Peter leads 9-7, just one away from booking his place in round 2, where the winner of this match will face the winner of the match between Stephen Lee and Mark Selby...

...and the players come back into the arena to resume the match... and Ebdon has the first chance... but he's lost idea position... and missed a thin red and left it in the jaws... maybe he pushed the boat out too much there... Nigel Bond may be remembering a previous Crucible occasion when he came back to play a third late session... he trailed Cliff Thorburn 9-2 in 1994 and somehow clawed his way back to 9-8 behind when they came back after midnight to finish the match... and he finished a 10-9 winner... it was the last time we saw the Canadian former World Champion in a match at the Crucible, although he is still an annual visitor to the Championships... Bond went on to beat Terry Griffiths in round two before losing to Hendry in the quarter finals... Well there's a chance here for Nigel to mount another last gasp recovery... and he's doubled a red at pace to land on the black... but he's missed the black trying to force it at pace.... Ebdon's got a red and he's building a good lead now... he now leads 55-13, there's 3 reds left but he's looking to see if one will go to the middle... if it does it could be end of match... it's very tight, he's trying to convince himself that it pots... he's 42 up but if he gets it he'll be 43 up with 43 on... Hawkeye, the new technological innovation thinks it goes and so did Ebdon, it would have but it's rolled round the pocket and stayed out... Bond breathes once more... a good safety from Nigel has covered all three reds... that's paid dividends as Ebdon hits the blue and leaves the red on... he's missed an easy brown to centre, that should be all over, the red sits in the jaws of the pocket for Ebdon... Ebdon's clearing up in style, exhibition shots, great stuff... and a happy smiling Peter Ebdon acknowledges the support of the audience with a wave and a bow as he leaves the arena....

FRAME SCORES

1. 70-37

2. 88(41)-20

3. 70(38)-54

4. 65(37c)-62(62)

5. 41-71

6. 17-74(40)

7. 0-69(68)

8. 18-90(40, 46)

9. 0-114(115)

WINNER

FRAME SCORES

10. 110(60,45)-7

11. 70(60)-33

12. 9-67(60)

13. 50-32

14. 68(57)-55

15. 87-22

16. 0-104(104)

17.

18.

19.

QUOTES

PETER EBDON

"Nigel brought a lot of experience into the match and boy did that show. The way I saw the game I think
he outplayed me. His tactics were superb, his safety was brilliant and I think the difference in the game
was the amount of bad contacts he got and the bad run he got. It made a massive difference."

"He made it really tough for me out there and all credit to him. I’m just delighted to get over the line and be there
for the next round."

"In at least five frames Nigel won I didn’t get a single scoring chance. I was little surprised I didn’t play
better considering how thoroughly I had prepared for the tournament. But it’s so tough here – there’s an awful lot
of pressure. I might have been short of match fitness as I lost in the first round in China and Wales."

"I try and peak for Sheffield. I’m as fit as at any time in my career. I feel good in myself. I’ve been here
practising at the Academy for three weeks."

"I could have done with a few more games against Ding but he wanted to do more solo practise because

he was playing a new tip in."
"I find it quite hard to practise on my own, it can get boring sometimes."

"I much prefer playing best of nine frames against someone in a match-play situation."

"I have been scoring very heavily but it’s all about doing it in the matches."

NIGEL BOND

"It was a tough match but that’s what I expected with Peter. There wasn’t a lot between us. He won a
few more of the closer games than I did."

"Peter came into my dressing room after it was over and told me I played the better snooker, but I lost the match."

"There were still lots of positives to take out of it. I still feel I’m hitting the ball great."

"Peter’s been Champion here and he knows what it’s all about. He’s capable of going all the way again."

"I’ve been a bit inconsistent this year. In Malta and the China qualifier I may as well not have been there."

"Then in the Welsh I found a bit of form and was a bit unlucky to lose to Ali Carter 5-4 and I played well in qualifying for here."

"I love playing here with the atmosphere, the quality of tables – I just want to be back here next year."

"I’m still enjoying it – there’s no better buzz than winning matches in tournaments and while I feel that, I’ll carry on playing."