Sina Snooker
It has been a great tournament for Stuart Pettman but his fairytale run in China this week was brought to an abrupt end today by the resurgent Peter Ebdon…
Afternoon Session
Results
Peter Ebdon 6-1 Stuart Pettman
100(100)-10, 64(57)-55(35), 25-60(34), 75(75)-0, 75-37(37), 66-55, 62(40)-25
Peter Ebdon will tomorrow be gunning for ranking event title number eight after ending the challenge of world number 62 in today’s first semi-final. From what I saw of the match, Peter picked up where he left off yesterday when he cruised past Stephen Hendry and again looked to be playing as well as I have seen him in at least a couple of seasons. The break building was not quite as impressive as yesterday but in a scrappy, tactical frame, one of the last players you would want to be up against is Peter Ebdon and so it proved today for Stuart as nothing seemed to go his way.
Coming into the event having won just two matches all season, this run is just what Peter needed and should ensure that he keeps his long unbroken spell in the elite top 16 going for another year. Given how he has played when I have seen him in action recently, I am really surprised that he has not only won matches and made the final, but genuinely looked to be cueing as well as I have seen him since he won the UK Championship back in 2006. Whoever he comes up against in the final it should be a really good match and you can bet that Peter won’t go down without a fight.
For Stuart he will be disappointed not to push Peter closer, but it has still been a hugely successful week for him and judging by the following quote on World Snooker, it has given him a taste for more.
“I couldn’t get going but it has been good experience and hopefully I can do better next year. This season has been a first for me with the time and effort I’ve put in. For the last ten years I’ve wasted my time. Rewards like this make you want to work harder.”
Having not qualified for the World Championship his season has now come to an end, but what a high note to end it on and it will be interesting to see if he can push on next season and repeat this kind of performance more regularly.
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9 comments
Templar
April 4, 2009 at 4:10 pm (UTC 0)
Is this the best performance from Peter since winning WC crown?
matt2745
April 4, 2009 at 4:11 pm (UTC 0)
I’d not go that far, in fact I thought that he played even better to win the UK Championship in 2006. Incidentally he beat an in-form Higgins in the semi-finals of that tournament…
Mal
April 4, 2009 at 4:24 pm (UTC 0)
Not only did he beat higgins then, but his record against higgins certainly used to be better than anyone. Good to see him back on form. When the pressure is on, there is noone better and he had pressure on his top 16 ranking. I think he will win tomorrow. I thought he was going to be an excellent bet for the worlds but his odds will now be dropping from 66s and he may well still do fine there but can’t see him winning it.
Templar
April 4, 2009 at 4:26 pm (UTC 0)
Yeah.. I forgot that one… too much F1,tennis and football statistics and records in my head
matt2745
April 4, 2009 at 4:28 pm (UTC 0)
Hmm didn’t realise that Ebdon had such a good record against him actually. On what I have seen this week I think that Peter has played the more consistent snooker but John is just so good too. Of all the ranking finals so far this season I think that this is the hardest to predict so far.
Templar
April 4, 2009 at 4:33 pm (UTC 0)
Guys,I must ask this because there is no stupid question,just a stupid answer..
Is Peter fully blind for colors? I know he have troubles with red and brown but not sure for others
matt2745
April 4, 2009 at 4:41 pm (UTC 0)
I think it is just the red and the brown that causes an issue for him because of how similar they are. Mark Williams has the same problem too.
CRO Snoox
April 4, 2009 at 7:46 pm (UTC 0)
Hm, but i have a feeling that John will take the title, cause his fighting skills when he’s couple of frames down are incredible on this tournament, really amazing so i’ll put him in front in that match!
dannyboy
April 4, 2009 at 9:34 pm (UTC 0)
Ebdon will win. No doubt about it in my mind, it will be about 10-7 ish. Ebdon tends to win finals, whoever he plays. He has that look about him this week and although you would think Higgins will win, I think on this week’s form Ebdon looks pretty invincible. Going into the WC both will be happy although how many of the players actually turned up fully focused? Shouldn’t these overseas events be rescheduled so players priorities aren’t tested so much. The Premier League caused problems earlier and now this event comes only two weeks before the WC. And yet despite having 12 months in a year 7 or 8 ranking events seem to get crowded! JP even put his beloved Grand National ahead of the travelling this week!