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

MARK SELBY

Round Two - Match 23

(Best of 25 frames, 3 sessions)

Sunday 29 April - 14.00

Monday 30 April - 10.00

Monday 30 April - 19.00

Good afternoon, welcome back to the Crucible as this second round match sets out with the first eight of a possible 25 frames. Peter comes into today's match having won Nigel Bond, 10-7 in their thrilling first round match, While Mark Saw off Stephen Lee in a similar score.  It will be an interesting encounter, and if Peter needs to, the the game being played over three sessions, will happily become embroiled in tactical play, as he tests Mark's stamina.  The referee for the match is the highly respected Michaela Tabb, who refereed her first final ranking event, earlier in the season.

The spectators come to order, as Peter comes to the table to break-off in frame 1. As the players exchange safety shots to settle down, it is a good time to let you know about our exclusive 888.com competitions. Mark plays his first shot, and fails to hit any red, giving Peter four points after a foul and miss is called. Peter opts to play.  The balls are nicely spread in this opening frame, as last year's finalist, Peter Ebdon returns to the table. A safety shot is played, although leaves Mark to see a red very close to the black corner pocket.  Mark is not able to do anything in this visit apart from playing a safety shot.  This match features to World Champions, Peter as a former snooker champion, and Mark more recently, World 8 Ball Pool Champion. A risky red into the middle does not go and Mark comes to the table with a chance to pot it.  It goes down and Mark plays the pink. There is the possibility this chance could turn into a winning opportunity. The break ends on 21, and Peter is left with a chance to open again, putting a red into the middle. Peter will be hoping that he does not suffer a seven year itch, having won the championship in 2002.  He will be hoping for another good run this year, especially as he got so close to lifting the trophy last year, losing out to Graeme Dott. Peter levels the break on 21, taking a red into the black pocket to keep the break going.  It does look like a good chance to take this first frame. Three reds remain, and in trying an unsuccessful double, ends the break on 49.  For the third time in the frame, the opening red is potted into the middle pocket by Mark, before potting the pink to cannon one of the remaining two reds into play to keep the break going. A safety shot on the green ends the break at 23.  Peter comes to the table with the option of playing a swerve shot or playing off one cushion.  He opts for the latter, although is unlucky to leave the green in a pottable position into its own pocket. Mark pots the green, bringing the cue-ball across the table to play it into the yellow pocket to get good position on the blue, potting it to take a three point lead in the frame, although is unlucky to lose position, recovering to pot the pink to win the frame.  

The game on table 1 sees the opening 8 frames in the Ronnie O'Sullivan/Neil Robertson match.  As we start our second frame, that match is already into the third frame, with Robertson making a 87 in the first frame and O'Sullivan replying with a 104 in the second frame.  As we come back to our table, the frame gets underway and Mark gets us underway.  It is not too long before an error gives Peter the chance to get scoring. The score in the break climbs up to reach 18, before a careless shot from Peter allows Mark to get to the table to open his scoring account, ending on seven after missing a blue off its spot into the black corner. Peter immediately returns to score, and after a break of 7, gets the frame score to 29-11. Both players exchange attacking safety shots, until Mark breaks the deadlock in scoring a break of 6.  Both players are conscious of having to get position after potting reds, as the black, green and pink are tied up, until Peter attempts a very long black, sending the black up the table, catching the pink on the way back towards the top cushion. Both balls are now back in play, and it is Selby who takes his early chance. A break of thirteen brings the frame scores level at 30-30 and Mark has a real chance to extend his lead as the break continues. Mark gets the break up to 29, before playing a good safety. Peter escapes from the safety that Mark laid, but cannot get the cue-ball into a safe position.  Mark takes the last red with a brown to get on the remaining colours. Mark misses the yellow, only to be potted by Peter, to then take the green, brown, blue, pink and final black to snatch the frame and make it level.   

Michaela sets the table for frame 3, and as she does, Mark sits in his chair contemplating the last frame, as Peter has left the arena for a few minutes.  It is a good chance for you to take a quick look at the Global Cue Sports Centre Gallery, with pictures of all the players, the action and the sights at the Crucible. Peter comes back into the arena, playing a poor break-off shot in frame 3.  If Mark is feeling comfortable and lucky, he will attempt the red.  He looks closely, but in choosing the safety shot, splits the pack, with the pink rolling into a black pocket.  This is the third time that Mark has played his first shot, barring his break-off in the last and committed a foul, although is lucky a Peter cannot take any advantage.  In coming to the table, Peter unusually misses the reds, and plays the white in-off in his subsequent turn. Peter will be disappointed with two turns at the table resulting in two fouls. Mark does get a chance to add some points to the eight already on the board at the courtesy of Peter's fouls. A good run in this championship will push Mark into the elite ranked, top 16 players on the professional ranking list. The break ends on 57.  Six reds remain on the table, so Peter can still win the frame, although the present positions on the table, mean that it may be need than one scoring visit, to get over the winning line. Mark is first to pick off a red, before playing the blue and continuing to make a break of twenty ends the frame 85-6, with Mark taking a 2-1 lead.   

Mark is playing well, and has settled well to playing in this game, especially as the table has been re-clothed for the second round matches.  We head into frame four, and Peter will be looking to score some points in this frame, scoring none since the second, to get some rhythm going and level the match as the players head into the interval.  Mark gets the scoring underway in this frame. The balls are nicely spread in this frame, however Mark is forced to play a long pink into the green pocket.  He executes the shot with pinpoint accuracy and the break continues to mount up.  He will have to work hard in this frame to avoid losing position of the cue-ball.  The break fizzles out out at 24, as Mark misses the blue, which rolls around the jaws of the middle pocket.  He is lucky that the cue-ball ends up in baulk. Peter attempts a hard cut, which does not go in, and Mark plays another excellent long pot into the yellow pocket to again start another break, this break could be enough to take the frame, and it translates into a massive break of 76. Both players leave the arena, heading to their dressing rooms for the 15 minute interval break.

The players come back from the interval and we get underway with another four frames in this session.  Safety shots are exchanged as both players settle down to get into their strides.  Peter is first to score the points in this frame, although in both attempts has no option but to play the cue-ball safe after potting the opening red on both occasions.  Both players tussle to gain advantage from the excellent safety shots that are being exchanged, although Peter eventually gets a good chance to make a break, which becomes a frame winning break of 66, to now trail be only one frame.

As the table is re-set for the next frame, a replacement swan-neck rest is brought into the arena, as it fell apart during the last frame, after Peter used it to play a shot.  Before frame six opens, if you have a question or comment to make on this match, why not email us and we will give you a mention during our commentary. The frame begins, and both players test each other out with some safety shots, sending the cue-ball into baulk after each visit.  Peter gets a chance to start a break, and in choosing to play each shot with determination, spends quite a bit time looking at the shot, before playing it.  Consequently, time is passing and the break remains at only 39, having spent over 30 seconds on every shot so far.  Mark can only sit in his seat and wait until he gets a chance to come to the table.  Peter in concentrating on every shot, is freezing Mark out of the game. A cannon on the black ends the break on 62. 59 points remain on the table, with four reds remaining, in awkward positions, Mark opts for the red near baulk, knocking it into a pottable position, although Peter plays a safety to avoid the risk of presenting Mark with any opportunity. A red, green, unbelievable yellow, red ends the frame and brings the scores level at 3-3.  

Our news pages, have reports from all the matches in the world championship, with news covering other cue sports events and activities, including Mark  winning a pool event in Jersey last month.  Mark needs to score some points in the remaining two frames of the session, as with none scored in the previous two, he has been kept out of the game, not potting a ball in the last 43 minutes. A dead weight red drops into the middle pocket, and the break stays alive and now has increased.  The luck is with Peter, as in missing a black into the corner, it hugs the top cushion as it rolls the length of the top cushion, ending up in the other black corner pocket.  The break ends at 60.  After 51 minutes, Mark plays an excellent long red, but cannot hold position and has to play a safety shot off the yellow. Peter is able to pick off one of the reds, and the frame ends with a break of 29, winning the frame and taking the lead for the first time in this session.

We head into the last frame of the session, and Peter looks to be the early favourite to win this frame, especially having also taken the last three, with breaks of 60 in each.  It may be the frame we see a century, and that will certainly turn the heat up in sizzling snooker. Mark gets an outrageous fluke, which raises the roof, with applause and cheers from the spectators as Mark punches the air in delight at having potted a ball, after not having many chances in the previous frames. He takes the yellow and then plays a safety, with the cue-ball coming to rest in the Baulk area.  After a prolonged exchange of safety play, both players agree to re-start the frame. Mark again gets the scoring underway in this frame. Mark is cueing well in this frame as the break reaches 17 and looks increasingly likely that it could be a frame winning visit. Mark struggles to maintain position with the cue-ball.  A couple of excellent shots get the cue0ball back into position, until he completely loses position and has to play the black using the spider rest to bridge across a group of reds.  The break comes to its conclusion at 57.  Peter comes to the table and looks what it available as he requires the remaining five reds with high value colours if he is to wipe out Mark's lead of 58. Peter plays an attacking safety, but Mark pots a red and blue to get to the snookers required stage. An in-off by Peter, further extends Mark's lead to 68 points.  With the cue-ball in hand, Mark pots one of the remaining three reds, as Peter gets out of his chair to shake hands and concede the frame.  The scores are level at 4-4.

Coverage of this match commences again on Monday at 1000(BST).  Our live coverage continues tonight at 1900(BST) when we see the second session of the matches between John Higgins and Fergal O'Brien, currently at 6-2 on Table 1 get underway, with Ali Carter and Stephen Hendry playing on Table 2, with Carter 6-2 in front.

...Good morning, welcome back... the match is into its second session this morning with 8 frames to play... It's perfectly poised at 4-4... There's 8 early points for Selby but he couldn't keep position, but he's played a good safety to give Peter Ebdon something to think about... And here's another chance for Selby... He's progressed to 30 and leads by 39... but only a safety now, and a good safety... Ebdon is long way off with a long red but it goes right round the table and pops into the yellow pocket... what a fluke... that's balanced out as he gets a kick on a red which has spoilt ideal position on the blue, but a good shot round the angles and he moves on to 27... Ebdon is only 5 points behind now with two reds left, one is safe on the side rail... that's end of break he can't get on the open red... Good safety now from both players, no chance to take a red on... Ebdon missed that long red attempt, he's covered it but Selby successfully swerves and pots it... and he's laid a nasty snooker on the last red... Ebdon misses and it goes back and useful points for Selby who leads 47-34 now... another miss it goes back again... brave call by Michela Tabb, she hasn't called the miss this time, it was virtually impossible to escape... meanwhile Selby now leads 57-34... Selby gets the red but doesn't get position so he's 24 ahead on the colours... Selby adds the yellow so he's 26 ahead, Ebdon needs a snooker... he's taken green and brown and is trying to get the snooker off the blue... but he won't as Selby pots it and wins the frame...

...Into frame ten... Ebdon will want this frame, he doesn't want Selby opening a gap up... but it's Selby who has the first chance and makes 28 before losing position... He's back in again... and his lead has grown to 47... and now he's 69 up with 67 on... Selby is looking good this morning... another frame safely in the bag.... He's chasing down a century now... he can make exactly 100 here and add to our Snooker Sizzler... and he has...

...No real chance for either player yet in frame eleven... Selby has a red down and can take a long yellow to try and get back amongst the reds, good shot with the rest... and he's just sneaked the next red in and is off and running now... already on to 40... he's got a kick at 56, he's looking at a plant to keep the break going... he gets it and gets a good long red which was frame ball... he's playing exceptionally well this morning... he's on for another century... he's on to 95 and on the yellow... and there it is, he can clear with 122... a stunning blue, it's like an exhibition... and a wonderful 122 clearance...

... things are not going too well for Ebdon so far this morning... he's left a long red after fouling the yellow, which Selby slots home... and he's cruised along to 26 and is nicely in position despite the black being tied up and the pink is up on the brown spot... so he is having to work off blue and baulk colours but the reds are fairly well spread... this is another good effort from Selby, the break moves along to 54 and at last he's got the pink back on its spot... the frame ball red disappears and on he marches... could he make three centuries on the spin... he won't want to stop for the interval when he's in this sort of form... all Ebdon can do is sit back and admire his opponent's wonderful play... just the yellow now for the century... and in it goes, what a thrilling performance by Mark Selby... you can't play any better than this... he's emulated John Higgins' achievement of three consecutive centuries at the Crucible... a shell-shocked Ebdon goes off for the interval...

... the players return, now will Selby have gone off the boil... Well there's the first ball Ebdon has potted in three and a half frames... this is a pretty good chance for Ebdon, the reds are spread although the black is covered at the moment... Ebdon's garnered 34 points so far and is looking very determined, as he always does... this is a well-crafted break by Ebdon, and he's moved along to 55 now, without a single black, which is still tied up... and that's the frame secured for Ebdon... what a stunning standard of snooker we're seeing in this match this morning... the break ends at 69... Selby is playing on but there's only 59 points on the board so he needs snookers... Ebdon's potted a red and gone in-off, but as it's taken a red off the table there's only 51 on now... it often seems unfair that you can suffer when your opponent makes a foul... in a situation like this I often think that the red should come back onto the table... Selby is still battling on... he is now 49 points behind on the last red... which he doesn't get and he concedes...

... this frame is getting very tactical now.. Ebdon leads 42-8, the reds are spread far and wide and so are the colours... Ebdon's lead is dwindling as Selby fights back, he's 20 behind on the green.. and he's cleared up, what a body blow to Ebdon...

... Both players have made mistakes at the start of this frame, but Ebdon has left a red on for Selby... the pack is still tightly bunched, but if Selby can split them off the green then he'll have a great chance of building a substantial break... here's a problem for Selby, he can see reds and he's missed them twice and has got a warning... he must hit them now or lose the frame... third time lucky and reasonably safe although the reds have scattered in all directions... he's left a red for Ebdon and he can make serious inroads into these and pull a frame back at this visit... down goes frame ball red and this is a gutsy response from Ebdon after the barrage Selby has thrown at him this morning...

... into the last frame of the morning, can Ebdon pull back another frame to give himself a real chance going into tonight's final session... that's a helpful start for Ebdon as he flukes a red off his safety shot... but he's not on any easy colour... Selby's found another blinding long red and he is on a colour... only 34 there though so he leads 34-24 and they have to plot another opening off the safety exchange.... Selby's slotted home a long read but the white has landed tight on the side rail, no colour on... Ebdon's dug a red in now, brilliant long pot... he's got no colour either... all to play for with 2 reds left and Selby has a ten point lead... Ebdon's got Selby in trouble... he's missed the red first attempt, although he can just see an edge... and he's left a chance for Ebdon... he's got the last red, he's 5 ahead and needs yellow to blue to secure the frame... yellow disappears despite hard cueing and he's on the green... you will never see an easier brown missed... what a surprise, he looked like he was clearing up... he's ten points ahead... this is massive now, the difference between 9-7 and 10-6... Selby pots the brown... and blue, he's on the pink, needs black as well... that missed brown could prove the pivotal moment in this match... and down goes the black, what a frame to steal... the match resumes tonight at 19.00 don't miss it, and rejoin us at 14.30 BST as John Higgins resumes against Fergal O'Brien and Ali Carter seeks the one frame he needs to beat Stephen Hendry...

...the players will enter the arena in a few minutes for the conclusion of this engrossing match... Can Peter Ebdon launch a come back or will Mark Selby continue his brilliant form... Peter Ebdon will break off and get us underway... Selby gets the first red and is immediately on the black... In no time at all Selby moves on to 22, the pack is still bunched, he's got another open red though... well he's missed a red having opened a few up, so he leads by 33, nothing very easy on for Ebdon... He's slotted home a good mid-range red and lands plumb on the black... 23 so far for Ebdon, he's picking reds out of the pack so no need to split them at the moment... this is an excellent response by Ebdon, up to 60, need the last red which is on the top cushion... great shot to clip it off the cushion... and he's secured the frame, and clears up, not enough on for a century though...

FRAME SCORES

1. 54(49)-57

2. 57-50

3. 6-85

4. 1-100(24,76)

5. 72(66)-0

6. 71(62)-0

7. 89(60)-1

8. 0-69(57)

FRAME SCORES

9. 38-68

10. 0-128(100)

11. 0-127(122)

12. 0-123(119)

13. 70(69)-20

14. 54-59

15. 79(54)-16

16. 45-57

FRAME SCORES

17. 86(86)-33(33)

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QUOTES

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